Staplecross

COMMUNITY NEWS & REVIEWS: Last Friday (1st) saw a huge number of family; relatives; residents; and friends, many from different parts of the country and the globe all come together to not only bid a sad farewell and to show their deep affection and respect but to share many memories and reminiscences of a much loved man as they attended the funeral of our Reverend Gordon Winchester. This service was held at St. James the Great church, in Ewhurst, the church which meant so much to him and which will provide his last resting place amongst his congregation. Following the service, a great many of those attendees came to the wake which was held at Staplecross Village Hall and whilst enjoying a delicious repast provided by the ladies from our own W.I. continued to recall snippets and particular recollections of this lovely man. He may be gone from us in person, but his cheerful and loving spirit will always live amongst us.
Staplecross newsStaplecross news
Staplecross news

STAPLECROSS VILLAGE HALL: Three notices this week from our Village Hall Committee, - all diverse but still important to the smooth running of this popular village venue. Notice No: 1. - A while ago, I advised Ewhurst Parish residents that the Village Hall Committee now find themselves in the position of openly recruiting for the position(s) of Village Hall Caretaker and Cleaner. This is a PAID position and could be ‘job-shared’ by 2 people of either gender,if so required. It is not too difficult a job, but obviously, due to the very nature of the role, some weekend and/or evening hours will be required. Our Village Hall is one of the best in the region. It is clean, bright, cheerful with modern facilities and is popular and well used, not only by the ‘locals’, but by others for such events as parties, weddings and other celebrations. We, in the parish, are very lucky to have such a brilliant and well supported Village Hall within our midst, which makes it such an asset to our community. If you think this little job would suit you( & maybe a friend to ‘job-share’) and you’d like to help ensure that the maintenance and well cared for community facility continues into the future, then please telephone Hilary - our Village Hall Chairman on 01580~830704 who will be very pleased to discuss hours, terms & conditions, salary etc. etc. with you. Notice No: 2. - ‘APPEAL’ Many Ewhurst residents may recall a slice of the lawn to the front of the Village Hall, being ‘sneaked off’ to form a shrub/flower bed following the removal of some dead conifers a goodly while back. Well, sadly due to other commitments, the party that established this bed have, through no fault of their own, found themselves with no time to continue this project and it has been decided to launch an appeal to request the help of other parish residents to continue this work. Consequently, we, (the committee) are seeking the help of as many as possible of those who would like to help bring this little tiny slice of ‘garden greenery’ - or at present - ‘jungle jumble’- back to the ‘horticultural heaven’ it originally was. To begin, we will be holding a “Great Garden Tidy Up Time” on Saturday July 16th from 10.00am onwards. All and sundry are requested to come along and help give YOUR Village Hall, the long-overdue tidy and trim that is so needed. Please bring along your own gardening equipment, forks, spades, trimmers & strimmers, and of course, any spare bags to put all the debris in ready to cart away at the end of the session. Please stay for as long or as short as you wish - any help given, however long, and in any capacity, will be very much appreciated and gratefully accepted. Refreshments will be available to help and encourage you along the way and for all further information of this little project and what tasks are involved, please contact Hilary on 01580~830704. I’m sure that with a little encouragement and willing helping hands, this little bit of garden will soon be back to it’s former glory. Third & final - Notice No: 3. - Talking of encouragement, -- The Village Hall Committee is keen to see and encourage more activities to take place here within it’s portals. The hall has all the facilities that’s required for a huge number of events that can easily be held here and with a large car park directly outside lends self to all sorts of possibilities. It doesn’t have to be a large format or restricted to just adults. With the proposed future housing development project, more families with children will become part of our village, so perhaps a Brownie/Guide or Cub/Scout group could begin here, - or a sports group for a variety of ages. A film club, a History or photography group. A Ti Chi or a variety of dance groups. ‘Tea’ Dances or other types of activities for the ‘more mature’ adults, a variety of workshops for hobbies/crafts/pastime. A children’s club or Youth Club could be started here. The possibilities are endless and the results could be amazing - both for the people who take part in the activities and the venue that provides the fun. So come along Mums and Dads, - AND Aunts, Uncles, and not forgetting Grandma’s and Grandpa’s, please see if you can do something to make the most of our superb village hall and help make the most of the lovely people that live within our parish.

EWHURST & STAPLECROSS BONFIRE SOCIETY: A quick and gentle reminder that a ‘Summer Fun Day’ is planned to take place at the Cross Inn, Staplecross on Saturday July 9th.- that’s TOMORROW between 12.30pm and 11.00pm. - The Hosts, Staplecross Bonfire Society, promise that there will be loads to do for all the family, with many stalls to peruse, including ‘Tin Can Alley’; ‘Hoopla’; ‘Coconut Shy’; ‘Fish-a-Duck’; ‘Smash-a-Plate’ and many more. Specially for children there will be face painting and a bouncy castle for them to enjoy, although kids of ALL AGES, may want to have a try !. There will also be a Raffle stall; - a Tombola stall; - and a Lucky Dip. This together with great, live music from Sam Calver at 3.pm - Lumpy & Lumpetts at 5.pm.- Springs at 7.30pm plus other acts to be confirmed, all for us to enjoy, and with a wide variety of super food to eat, this is certainly the place to be this weekend. Entrance is free which is another bonus. Please do all you can to support one of our local charities as once again, this promises to be a great time out for all the family. Therefore, if you possibly can, make sure you don’t miss it !.

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STAPLECROSS BOWLS CLUB: Busy times still lay ahead for the members of our local outdoor bowls club as three (3) more matches are arranged during this week. Unfortunately, these games are all AWAY fixtures, which could prove difficult for residents to pop along and show their support. The first is to be played on Saturday July 9th against Hellingly. Tuesday July 12th is the club’s second away game and that is against Wadhurst Bowls group with Thursday 14th July finding the club playing opposite St. Leonards Club and this fixture is part of the ‘Mermaid League’ with a 2.00pm start. If you’d like to find out more about this Bowls Club either as a player or supporter, then please contact Brian Scowen on 01580~830570 for all further information.

STAPLECROSS STOOLBALL CLUB: Like it’s village ‘partner’ this little sports club also has two (2) fixtures this week, which again are both AWAY matches. Match no:1 is the Civil Service Tournament and is to be played at Polegrove - on Sunday July 10th.- commencing at 10.30am. and the second fixture is arranged for Thursday July 14th with an away game against Pett beginning at 7.00pm. This is an unusual and rather unique sport, quite energetic and played with dedication and enthusiasm by it’s teamsters and if you’d like to learn more about getting involved in any aspect of the club, then please, contact Pauline, in the first instance, on 01580~83-570 for more details.

ROTHER RAMBLERS: Two more walks are planned for our enjoyment this week, both in different directions, of different aspects & mileage but both delightful. Walk No:1 is arranged for Sunday July 10th and will be an 8 mile circular meander of Wadhurst, Bewl Water and Snape. The meeting point is the Wadhurst car park, near the Greyhound Pub. OS. EXP136. TQ640317, (SatNavTN5 6AG) at 10.00am. Walking notes indicate that there will be undulating ‘Wealden’ scenery of small fields and woods, with some stiles to manoeuvre. A picnic lunch is suggested. Adrian is to be your ‘walk leader’ on this trip and you may contact him on 01273~514336 or mobile 07729~861854 for more details. Walk No: 2 is another EVENING WALK and is planned for Wednesday July 13th and will be a superb stroll of only 5 circular miles of Winchelsea and Icklesham. The meeting points are at the toilet block in the centre of WinchelseaOS.125. T904172. (SatNavTN36 4EP) at 6.30pm. the walking notes again indicate that this is an undulating walk, with some stiles. here is a suggestion of social drinks at the Queen’s Head pub, upon return. Carol (C) is to be your ‘walk leader’ for this excursion and for all further information, please contact her on 01797~690788. This is a New Walk Leader, so please show your support and accompany her on what will undoubtedly be a very pleasant evening stroll through some beautiful local countryside.

MOBILE LIBRARY SERVICE: Once more, we look forward to welcoming the little Mobile Library Service as the van, carrying all the exciting goodies on board, wends it’s way through our little countryside lanes on it’s way to our little outlying rural communities. It’s first visit and only visit to this area for this month, which will be on Thursday July 14th. will be to Staplecross, where it will park in Cricketers Field, between 1.40pm and 2.10pm. Following on from that session, it will then meander down to Cripps Corner, - where it will now use the car park of the ‘Direct Recovery Yard between 2.20pm and 2.45pm. for the foreseeable future. This venue is on the Battle Road, over the bridge, toward Swailes Green. The residents of this little hamlet can then avail themselves of this vital and much needed service. This is a relatively new ‘stopping place’ - due to the closure of the local pub and uncertainty of it’s proposed future, please do still make as much use of the facilities on board when the van visits your areas. The Library is about more than just books, so please come along and see for yourself and help keep this service going for the benefit of all who live in our outlying rural areas and perhaps, cannot always easily access the Main Branch facilities.

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EWHURST PARISH COUNCIL: This EPC meeting will take place on Thursday July 14th. 7.30pm at St. Mark’s church room. Northiam Road, Staplecross. This meeting is open to the public and press alike and allows all residents of Ewhurst Parish community the perfect opportunity to come along and have your say. Along with your own Parish Councillors, there are usually representatives from both Rother District Council (Mr. Tony Ganly) and East Sussex County Council (Mrs Angharad Davies). During ‘Public Question Time’, you’ll be able to question, query, comment or complain on any or all of the things going on within our parish. We are here to listen to what you have to say and what you want ( or NOT want) to happen within this community. We are all working hard on your behalf, to make our parish and our community a better, safer and happier place to live, work and enjoy being in, and it goes without saying, that we would welcome any suggestions you may have to help us all to achieve this result. Look for the big banner outside, - car parking is directly outside and all will be made very welcome.

OUT & ABOUT: ST. MICHAEL’S HOSPICE - ‘Open Garden Scheme’ - Now it’s the turn of Ashburnham to play host in this superb fund-raising scheme and the garden open to view on Tuesday July 12th between 10.30am and 4.00pm. is called “Redpale”, in Bodle Street. SatNav BN27 4RJ. This large, tranquil garden is set in beautiful countryside and features several wildlife ponds, a vegetable garden and a precise partierre, edged with box and a stunning stature. There are several large herbaceous and shrub beds and a lovely scented walkway, planted with “Roseraie de l’Hay” Admission is £4:00 per person but sadly there is no wheelchair access and guide dogs are not admitted to this garden. Both refreshments and car parking are available here for your convenience. How to get there: From Battle, travel along the North Trade Road, and Kitchenham Road. Turn Right at the junction onto A269 (Ninfield to Hailsham road) drive through Boreham Street. Turn Right into Joe’s Lane, fork Right at the White Horse Pub, into North Road and then follow the ‘Open Gardens’ signage. Now, advance notice for a fund raising event of a different kind, but again organised by the St. Michael’s Hospice and this is an amazing “Moonlight Walk”. This annual event is planned to take place on Saturday July 23rd beginning at 9.00pm.and everyone is invited to participate. To aid in the fun part of this ‘moonlight stroll along the prom’ - applicants are encouraged to turn up in fancy dress, - and this year the theme is... “Animals” !. The event comprises of a delightful walk of approximately 12,533 steps ( or 10k for those in the know!) between the White Rock Hotel, in Hastings, along the coast to St. Leonards-on-Sea, to Bexhill-on-Sea and then back again. This walk is suitable for all ages and levels for fitness and everyone will be rewarded with a delicious post walk supper, upon return, courtesy of the White Rock Hotel. Registration is only £10:00 per person; however the Hospice encourages each participant to raise as much sponsorship as they can to help in the worthwhile work the charity does throughout the year. Applications can be made on-line and for all further details please call Jodie on 01424~456380 or email [email protected] So please get registered and have a wonderful ‘moonlight meander’.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: Ewhurst “Festival of Flowers” and Concert is arranged to take place over the week-end of Friday 29th - Sunday 31st July at St. James the Great, Ewhurst Green TN32 5TD. The Flower Festival will be open every day between 10.30am and 4.30pm. An evening concert with a superb soprano, Charlotte Beament and the a cappella singing group “Green Street Blues” - Bizet, Blues, Ballads and Barber shop with wine & canapes takes place on Saturday July 30th from 7.30pm. This promises to be a spectacular day out, tickets at £15:00 (& £8:00 for a restricted view) are rapidly selling out so for all enquiries re concert please contact Pat Smith on 01580~830857 email [email protected] or Jane Willing on 01580~831724 - jane_willing @Hotmail.com for details.

CHURCH SERVICES: Church services for the parish of Ewhurst will commence at St. James the Great, Ewhurst Green, on Sunday July 10th.Trinity 7. at 9.30am. This service will include Holy Communion (BCP) and as last week there will be NO SERVICE today at both St. Giles, Bodiam, and St. Mark’s church, Staplecross. If there is any church matter on which you feel you may need further assistance, especially Baptisms, Weddings and sadly Funerals, then for the time being, do please get in touch with the appropriate Churchwardens: ~ For all Bodiam matters, please contact Graham Peters- email at [email protected] or telephone number 01580~830203. For all Ewhurst Parish matters please contact Jo Goodwin -email [email protected] or telephone number 01580~830601. Help in some way is always at hand, and always so generously given, so do please contact them.

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PLEASE CONTACT ME: If you are arranging an event in the foreseeable future, --- whatever the nature of the event and however large or small, if you’d like some extra coverage for it, then please get in touch. If it’s of interest to you, - it’s of interest to us. It’s never too early to send in any of the details and to tell us what you are planning, so please do contact me, as I’d love to hear from you and to help ‘spread the word’ on your behalf...............Thank You.

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