Staplecross

STAPLECROSS BONFIRE SOCIETY: Just a gentle reminder of an early summer Jumble Sale, Arranged by our own local Bonfire Society, the ‘Staplecross Bonfire Boys’ This could be just the excuse you need to re-vamp your house, home, garden & wardrobe, ready to embrace those lovely, hot, summer months that are being promised to us. Taking place on Saturday June 11th - that’s TOMORROW, at the Village Hall, Staplecross and with doors opening at 2.00pm everyone is invited to come along and grab a bargain. This event is part of their Extensive fund-raising calendar and the money raised will go into the coffers and towards donations to their chosen charities and local good causes. Any donations for this Jumble Sale can be brought to the village hall from 9.30am on the day of the sale. Please ring Brian on 01580~83-570 for all further information.

STAPLECROSS BOWLS CLUB: Keeping up with their busy schedule with five (5) more matches this week, (three (3) of them are away games) our dedicated teams have no time to be idle. The first fixture is for Friday June 10th - that’s TONIGHT and is a match against our own local Stoolball Team. This will be played on their superb lawns at their Pavilion on Northiam Road, Staplecross with the match commencing at 6.15pm. There is always lots of friendly encouragement from both teams and is certainly a lovely event to come along and watch. Grab a seat, pick your team and watch the fun unfurl!. Match no:2 is on Saturday June 11th is the first of the away matches and is against White Rock (w) with a 2.00pm start. The following day Sunday June 12th, sees the teams play match no:3 which is again an away match with the opponents being Hamstreet. This game is part of the Mermaid League. The third and last of the away games for this week is played on Wednesday June 15th when our team play the Observer with a 2.00pm start and the final match is on Thursday 16th June, back at their home ground on Northiam Road, Staplecross and their opponents will be Winchelsea. This match is part of the Rother League and will commence at 6.15pm. Please pop along and show your support for our teams whenever you can. Your company is always very much appreciated. For all information and details of how to become more involved please contact Brian (in the first instance) on 01580~830570.

STAPLECROSS STOOLBALL CLUB: Two (2) matches are to be played this week, - the first will be against the friendly local club, - Staplecross Bowls Club at their home ground on Northiam Road, indirectly opposite the Stoolball’s Clubhouse tonight 6.pm for a 6.15pm start. As mentioned in the paragraph above, this match promises to be an eventful hour or so, full of lots of friendly encouragement and rival banter and is always a lovely way to spend a summer’s evening, so do please try to come along and watch the skill unfold whilst cheering on your chosen team. Match no:2 is an away game in Netherfield with the Scorpions being their opponents. This is quite a close village to get to, and as it has a 7.00pm start it may just be another match for you to consider coming along and supporting. Stoolball is rather an unusual sport in as much as not many areas play it, - but it is becoming more well known, therefore, more popular and more widely played. For further details of what to expect from this energetic but fun game, please contact (in the first instance) Pauline on 01580~830570.

ROTHER RAMBLERS: Still ‘Strutting their Stuff’ - those fellows of the rural footpaths, the members of the Rother Ramblers Walking Group have arranged three (3) more lovely walks for us all to us. Walk no:1 is planned for Saturday June 11th and is a 12 mile circular walk from Boarshead. The meeting point is the slip road to East of A26 ( parking available here) OS EXP135. TQ535327.(SatNav TN6 3GR) at 10.0am. This is to be a brisk paced walk, (-so not for me - as I like to doddle and meander !) with a possible visit to a pub on route. A picnic lunch, as usual, is suggested. Heather will be your ‘walk leader’ on this outing and you may ring her on 01580~752652 or mobile 07968~294038 for all further details. Walk No:2 is planned for Tuesday June 14th and is of a slightly less mileage being an eight (8) circular stroll via Dudwell Valley. The meeting place for this jaunt is the Burwash village public car park, near the ‘Bear Inn’ pub OS EXP.135. TQ673246. (SatNavTN19 7EX) at 10.00am. The walking notes state this will be undulating, but all the better to appreciate the glorious views. Also a picnic lunch is once more suggested. Carol, is to be your ‘walk leader’ for this yomp, and you may contact her on 01580~852432 for more information. Walk no:3 is arranged for Wednesday June 15th and is an early morning start of 6.30am. This “Breakfast Walk” is even shorter, being only 6 miles and will be a delightful circular meander from Newenden. The meeting point is the Boating Boating Station (- which is actually based at Newenden.-NOT Bodiam) OS EXP.125. TQ835270. (SatNav TN18 5PP) at 6.30am.Turn right, - just before you cross the bridge - the gates will be unlocked at 6.00am. A good selection of breakfasts can be obtained here- check out their menu for selection- and there will be a ‘Marmalade Sandwich’ stop (!!!) midway through the walk. Rita and Lionel will once again be your ‘walk leaders’ for this delightful excursion so please ring them on 01424~752452 for all further particulars and information.

STAPLECROSS LUNCHEON CLUB. Back again after a week or four, this lovely little Dining Group will be meeting on Wednesday June 15th.from 12.30pm in the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross. As stated before, new members (of 50 years young and over!) are desperately needed to help keep this very friendly and happy social group from becoming just another sad village reminder of yet another lost activity. On the menu this month, and back by popular request, will be Fish Pie, with all fresh seasonal vegetables followed by a yummy Trifle dessert with all the trimmings. If this is not to your taste - or dietary needs - then please let the organisers know, and an alternative meal can always be provided for you. The menu’s are always very varied, delicious, plentiful, reasonable and freshly cooked and with no clearing up or washing up involved, there’s really no reason for you not to come & be a part of it. -- so no excuses. ‘Rules’ are few & far between, - you have to be ‘of a certain age’,- and promise, whenever possible to attend each month - this avoids unnecessary wastage in food, time, money and energy - so important in this day and age, when economy matters. You don’t even have to live within the parish as many of our valued diners come from outside our villages. Also, you don’t have to have lived in the community for a generation or more, before you are ‘entitled’ to join. This means that if you have recently moved into the parish, in any of our three villages, then this could be just the opportunity you need to make new contacts, colleagues and of course, new friends. So please, just give the two organisers a ring - Sally on 01580~830000 or Dennis on 01580~830816 for all further details and to make your reservation. Please come along and support us, and you’ll soon be a very welcome and much valued member of this lovely sociable dining group.

MOBILE LIBRARY SERVICE: Once more, we look forward to welcoming the little East Sussex 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 communities. It’s visit, on Thursday June 16th will be to Ewhurst Green where it will arrive between 10.40am and depart at 11.10am. for pastures new. Please be aware, that this will be the ONLY visit this month. In order to continue with this vital and much needed service it is important that as many residents as possible, of this lovely little hamlet ,avail themselves of this amenity. Please do make as much use as you can, 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.

EWHURST, STAPLECROSS & BODIAM GARDEN SOCIETY: Just a reminder that our own superb little horticultural society will be hosting their annual Rose Show tomorrow, - that’s Saturday June 18th 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. This isn’t a garden show for the experts or even the knowledgeable, the range of classes show that there is something for everyone, 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] Please do come along and support your local garden society and enjoy another of their fantastic shows, - all part of their 2016 Programme of Events. For more information of their calendar and what is planned for the remainder of the year, please contact the Society Secretary (Ruth) on 01580~831918 who would be very happy to talk to you about what is in store and just what exciting speakers and events we can all look forward to.

OUT & ABOUT: -ST.MICHAEL’S HOSPICE - OPEN GARDENS: Many people have approached me and said, after reading about this ‘open garden scheme’, - how much they have enjoyed their visits to these beautiful gardens. Well this week’s visits should be a real corker of a treat as there are no less than twelve (12) garden gems of various shapes, sizes and designs to discover as this is now the urn of the Hastings ‘Old Town area’ to show what they have to offer. All are within walking distance of each other but as much of Hastings ‘Old Town’ area is built on high rises, sadly due to many of the steps that are incorporated in the garden areas, wheelchair access is not suitable. These delightful and so diverse gardens are open on Tuesday June 14th. and cover a wide area which include “Strawberry Cottage”, the top end of Tackleway, (TN34 3BU) - a pretty, secluded garden, bursting with colour. Has a number of steep steps, home to many interesting pots & containers bursting with colour. It also has a lawn & pretty summer house. Further down Tackleway, towards the sea, and running alongside the old ‘twitten’ of East Hill Pass,by “Trafalgar Cottages” & “St. Anne’s Cottage” are 6 pretty cottage gardens - all very different from each other, with a wide variety of plants and quite stunning with unique design features. On opposing corners of Oxford Terrace, still in Tackleway, are no:18 and No:14( -both TN34 3BU- ) The former is a modern south-west facing garden with superb views across the ‘Old Town’ area and has a raised fish pond, various trees and a fireplace in the walls of the original building that stood on the site. The latter (-no:14) is set on 3 levels again with delightful views. This design mixes seaside elements with colourful flowers, plants and inside-out artworks, such as mirrors and picture frames. The next ‘leg’ of this ‘garden safari’ takes us to the High Street where we visit No:62a,(TN34 3EW) (adjacent to Oak Pass) Hidden from the busy High Street is this fascinating small walled garden which has an eclectic mix of art & plants. The owner (an artist) has a passion for gardening and incorporates everyday objects into her design. Look out for her superb ‘Tromp l’oeil’ feature. Continue back up the High Street, turn left into Sinnock Square, then into Croft Road, where you will find “Garden Cottage”,(TN34 3HJ) Tucked away in one of the ‘Old Town’s’ amazing and historical ‘twittens’ you will find a very pretty courtyard garden. Small it may be, but the clever use of space, colour & plants provide texture and interest throughout the year. Last but certainly NOT LEAST is 98, High Street, (TN34 3ES) This lovely long garden is brimming with colour and has stunning views to the East Hill. This garden has the unusual feature of an old laundry building which over the years has become home to a beautiful, fragrant climbing rose. These delightful and so different in design gardens may take you a while to visit and enjoy them but please do visit as many as you can. These gardens are open from 10.30am until 4.00pm. Look out for the ‘Open Gardens’ signs for guidance on your travels. Admission is £5:00 per person and you may pay at any garden - maps will also be available to help you on your safari route. Guide dogs are permitted but due to the locations and steps, there is no wheelchair access on this garden trail. Parking is available anywhere within the town’s car parks and lovely refreshments and stalls to peruse are available at the ‘Stade Hall’ anytime during the opening times. Don’t forget to look out for more ‘St. Michael’s Hospice - Open Gardens’ next week.

CHURCH SERVICES: Church services for the parish of Ewhurst will commence at St. James the Great, Ewhurst Green, on Sunday June 12th. Sunday after Ascension. at 9.30am. This service will also include Holy Communion. (BCP) Don’t forget, following this very special service, there will be a little ‘tipple’ for the congregation to present a toast to Her Majesty the Queen as we all wish her a happy 90th birthday. Why not come along and join in this unique service ? There will be NO SERVICE today at St.Giles church, Bodiam, but a Morning Praise service will follow directly afterwards at 11.15am. at St. Mark’s church, Northiam Road, Staplecross. If there is any church matter on which you feel you may need further assistance, 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, and so generously given, 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

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