Staplecross

As many of the residents of Ewhurst Parish were aware, Gordon was valiantly fighting his battle with cancer, that most hated of illnesses, in his own inimitable way, and always with a brave heart, a smile on his face and deep faith in his soul. He was a very popular man, much loved and admired by all and his presence amongst us will be greatly missed. Our deepest condolences are sent to Judy, his beloved wife and their family. Details of his funeral and any further information regarding this, will be made in due course.

EWHURST,STAPLECROSS & BODIAM GARDEN SOCIETY: Just a little reminder that our own superb little horticultural society will be hosting their annual Rose Show on Saturday June 18th - that’s TOMORROW -at The Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross. between 2.30pm and 4.15pm. There may still be a chance for you to enter a class, as some ‘late entries’ may be accepted. Please check with the Show Secretaries.(Contact numbers below.) Even if you are not entering a class, it is still a wonderful show to come and visit. There will be a good number of classes, covering a wide range of ages and abilities for you to see and enjoy, and with a superb cake stall offering you a range of many delicious and delightful items to enjoy either at the show, with a refreshing ‘cuppa’ or to take home and consume at your leisure. It promises to be another great success for our friendly ‘green-fingered’ friends but please remember, this isn’t just a garden show for the experts or even the knowledgeable, as the range of classes show that there is something for everyone to participate in and enjoy, so why not grab a schedule, enter a class & have -a-go !. If you’d like more details of the classes and/or schedules, then please telephone either of the ‘Show Secretaries ~ Maggie on 01580~830041 email~ [email protected] or Pam on 01580~881839 email~ [email protected] Even if you decide n to enter a class, then please do still come along and support your local garden society and enjoy another of their fantastic shows, - all part of their 2016 Programme of Events.

ROTHER RAMBLERS: Just two (2) walks are arranged for this week and the first is a delightful stroll across the South Downs to visit the iconic “Wilmington Giant” - otherwise known as the Long Man. This is an 8 mile circular amidst stunning scenery which on a clear day, affords spectacular views from the top of the headland. Planned for Saturday June 18th the meeting point will be the ‘Long Man & Priory’ Car Park off the A27.(Polegate - Lewes road) OS EXP123. TQ543041. (SatNav BN26 5SW) at 10.00am. For some it may be a bit of a “huff n puff” outing as some parts of the climb to the ‘Long Man’ and the hilltop are steep and strenuous, but the result will be so well worth it. A picnic lunch is suggested as usual and the ‘walk’ leaders’ for today will be Alison and Perry and you may contact them on: (Mobile) 07969~025507 for all further details. Walk No: 2 takes place on Wednesday June 22nd and is another of the popular ‘evening walks’ being a six (6) mile evening circular walk around Cowbeech. The meeting place is at the ‘Merry Harriers’ pub at Cowbeech OS EXP124. TQ619145. (SatNav BN27 4JQ) at 6.30pm. On this occasion, it is roadside parking, so please only use pub car park if imbibing after the walk. The ‘walk leaders’ for his outing are Jane and Peter and you may contact them on:01424~733300 or (mobile) 07732~366090 for more information. In between these two walks, the Rother Ramblers Committee will be manning a stand at the 2016 ‘Rother Active’ event on Sunday June 19th. on the West Lawns by the De La Warr Pavilion. New ‘walk leaders’ are always welcomed, so please go along and show your support.

STAPLECROSS BOWLS CLUB: Only one match is arranged during this week and it will be an away game against Beckley and will take place on Saturday June 18th.This fixture is also part of the ‘Mermaid League.

EAST SUSSEX MOBILE LIBRARY SERVICE: Back once more for the second of this month’s two visits will be our always welcomed Mobile Library Service. This week it’s the turn of Staplecross and Cripps Corner villages to enjoy and take advantage of all that is on offer within the little van doors. It will arrive on Thursday June 23rd and will be parking in Cricketer’s Field between 1.40pm. and will depart at 2.10pm where it will meander down to Cripps Corner hamlet. It will, at present, be parking in the car park of Direct Recovery yard -just over the bridge on the road to Battle-

It will be ‘open for business’ between 2.20pm and will depart for horizons new at 2.45pm. As stated many times previously, please do make as much use of this free vital service, whilst we still have it. The Library Service is very much more than just books!.

STAPLECROSS STOOLBALL CLUB: Just one match will be played this week at the Staplecross Playing Field, HQ and home ground of our local stoolball club. The match in question is on Thursday June 23rd and the opposing team is the Civil Service. The game commences at 7.00pm and is possible, please come along and show your support for our home side.

OUT & ABOUT: Continuing the St. Michael’s Hospice - ‘Open Gardens Scheme’ - this week the focus is on Bexhill & Little Common areas with no less than six (6) glorious gardens to drool over & copy. The date to visit any of these gardens is Tuesday June 21st. between 10.30am and 4.00pm. Admission is £5:00 payment at any garden and maps will be available for your guidance. Wheelchair access will be limited but guide dogs are welcome to accompany you and parking will be on public roads. You may visit any of these gardens in any order or preference but let’s begin with “Golf Lodge”, 199, Cooden Sea Road, TN39 4TR. Situated opposite the entrance to the Cooden Beach Golf Course, this has a pretty and colourful front garden whilst the rear garden has a swimming pool, patio, large lawn and it is here that the delicious home baked refreshments will be served, - so perhaps you should save this one ‘til last. Garden no: 2 is at 89, Cooden Drive, TN39 3AN. This is a very informal garden, with dense planting and unusual herbaceous plants and shrubs with hardly a straight line in sight. It also has a gazebo, a summer-house, knot garden, various borders and fruit & vegetable areas. Garden no: 3 is a new addition to the scheme and can be found at “Green Hedges”, Birchington Close, TN39 3TF. this garden has been lovingly brought back from an age of neglect, specimen trees and shrubs have been added to the existing design and a wildlife pond completes the picture. Garden no:4 resides at 26, Winston Drive, TN39 3RP. This garden also had a complete make-over 10 years ago and is now maturing splendidly with over 250 different species of trees, shrubs and perennials. It’s just the garden for relaxing in with 7 seating areas and 4 water features to choose from. Garden No:5. is “Orchard Cottage”, at 22,Gatelands Drive, TN39 4DP and is different again with an interesting, pretty and unusual garden surrounding the house. The packed full borders of usual and unusual plants are also home to numerous clematis and climbing roses. Another new addition to this ‘open garden’ day is Garden No:5 can be found at 6, Kingswood Avenue, Glenleigh Park Road, TN39 4EJ. Although a small garden, it has mature trees with many shrubs and flower borders, a small pond which encourages birds, frogs and dragonflies, plus a lovely display of Bonsai and miniature gardens. Enjoy them all.

CHURCH SERVICES: Church services for the parish of Ewhurst will commence at St, James the Great, Ewhurst Green on Sunday June 19th. Trinity 4. at 9.30am. This service will include Holy Communion. A Service will follow directly after at St. Giles church, Bodiam at 11.15 am. This service will also include Holy Communion (BCP). There will be NO SERVICE at St. Mark’s church, Staplecross today and if there is any church matter on which you feel you may need further assistance, or guidance,- baptisms, weddings or sadly funerals; - then do please get in touch. You may contact either of the churchwardens ~ Graham Peters -on [email protected] and telephone no: 01580~830203 for Bodiam church matters and for Ewhurst Parish church matters, please contact Jo Goodwin-on [email protected] and telephone no: 01580~830601. Help in some form or another, is always at hand, so do please contact them.

PLEASE CONTACT ME: If you are arranging an event in the near future, --- however large or small and 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 your 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.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.ryeandbattleobserver.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RyeandBattleObserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @BattleObs

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Rye and Battle Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.