Staplecross

OUT AND ABOUT: Just a few notices of events that may be of interest to you. 1) For all those who thought that Bonfire Night and all the razzamatazz that goes with it had ended, think again. Bringing this traditional, exciting and noisy season to an end will be the Hawkhurst Bonfire Night. This will take place on Saturday November 28. It promises to be just as amazing as the many previous events of this ilk, so for a great, fun night out, come along and enjoy the festivities and the finale. 2) Just to inform you that Friday November 27 sees the first of many of the Festive Seasons activities in Battle taking place. Come along to the Abbey Green between 5pm and 7pm and join in the carol singing near the tree with well known Lucy Ashton, culminating at 6.30pm with the Christmas Lights being switched on. With many of the shops staying open late, stay in the town for a fabulously festive ELF evening. The following day Saturday November 28 from 10am onwards the Christmas Crib and Tree Festival will be at St Mary’s church and beginning at 1.50pm. Santa’s colourful parade will come down the High Street and round the Abbey Green. From 2.15pm until 5pm Father Christmas will meet children in his magical grotto in the Memorial Hall. Tickets to see Santa and receive a small gift will be on sale on the day for £1.50 per child. Come early to avoid disappointment, but be prepared to queue. There will be entertainment for the children waiting in the hall, and tea and cakes will be available, courtesy of the local WI. Lots of fun is promised outside, during the afternoon with the opportunity to have a photograph sitting on Santa’s sleigh. From 2pm until 4.30pm there will be the popular Charity Market can be found upstairs in the Memorial Hall, High Street, Battle. This looks like a fun place to be that day, so pop along and enjoy it all. 3) More Christmas Cheer and this time it’s happening in Devonshire Road and Western Road, Bexhill on Friday December 4 between 5pm and 9pm as these two roads will be closed to all traffic to allow for a Christmas Market and a full evening of entertainment including music; dancing; poetry and of course, Christmas lights. 4) Just one more Christmas event, outside of our area, but that you may like to visit, and this time it’s at Little Common. This is their huge ‘Christmas Extravaganza’, taking place on Saturday December 5 between 10am and 11pm. Santa will be making his tour of the village at 1.45pm then he’ll be off to his grotto in the ‘Touch of Glamour’ premises between 2pm and 4pm. The main Christmas Lights will be switched on at the Roundabout at 4.30pm. These festivities, along with several taking place within our own areas, should be sufficient to please all those fervent Christmas do’ers and shoppers, and as it really is a very special time of the year, why not make the most of it and pay a visit to some of them.

THE CROSS INN: Just a last minute reminder of the treat that could be in store for you, if live music is what you enjoy. Planned to take place on the evening of Monday November 30. For those who are a regular visitor to these music nights The Fabulous Red Diesel will be playing at The Cross Inn, Staplecross beginning at approximately 9pm. For those of you who may never have been to one of the events hosted by our super little village pub, why not pop along and find out for yourself just what a great gig night this is.

ROTHER RAMBLERS: Even this spell of cold frosty weather cannot seem to dampen the enjoyment of these country walkers as they have two more walks lined up for us to enjoy this week. Walk no 1 starts off with a 10 mile circular of Ninfield and Crowhurst. Taking place on Sunday November 29 the meeting point is Ninfield School, Church Lane OS EXP124. TQ706123. (SatNavTN33 9JN) at 10am. Please note that it will be roadside parking and a picnic lunch is, as always suggested. You may be able to see how the Link Road project is progressing but you’ll enjoy the glorious colourful scenery even more. Richard will be your ‘walk leader’ for this outing and you may contact him on 01424 892865 for all further details. Walk no 2 and the first of the walks for December will take place on Tuesday December 1 and it will be a 7 mile circular tour from Little Common. For all those of us who may be interested in joining this meander, the meeting place is The Wheatsheaf pub, Little Common OS EXP124. TQ713097. (SatNavTN39 4PL) at 10am. There will be a mid-morning break on this stroll, and the group will wait for the 99 bus from Bexhill, which is due here just before 10am. Lucy will be your ‘walk leader’ on this excursion and you may contact her on 01424 848332 or mobile 07817 279241 for more information.

STAPLECROSS SCHOOL CHRISTMAS FAIR: Continuing in the festive spirit, with another gentle reminder that Christmas is just a few weeks away and hoping to help make it easier and nicer for you will be a special event hosted by our own fantastic Staplecross MCP School. This event, arranged by the PTFA will once again be a wonderful Christmas Fair, held in the Staplecross Village Hall on Friday December 4 between 2.30pm and 4pm. The PTFA always make their Christmas Fair a fabulous, colourful and festive treat for all children, parents and families. Children from the Kestrel Class will make games that they take up to the village hall in the afternoon and the rest of the children in the school are taken up to the village hall later in the school day, to have a special pre-view of the fair, before it opens to their parents, visitors and general public. They have great fun spending their own precious money on gifts or on any of the delightful stalls available. A Mufti Day was held last Friday (27) when all children, for the cost of £1 per pupil, could come to school wearing their home clothes, always a popular day. This money, donated to the PTFA is then used to form a super first prize in their Christmas Fair Raffle. Another lovely part of this fair is that children from our Pre-School group, usually found in situ at St Mark’s Church, Staplecross, and most ably run by Jo Perkins, come into the school to also contribute in their own special way, by joining in with the craft session. I’m informed that great fun is really had by all children during this time. This event promises to be a delightful array of all things Christmassy and to make it a great success, all it needs is you. Please come along and support our amazing village school, whilst having a great afternoon out with family and friends. The right gift for the right person is there, just waiting for you to claim it.

BONFIRE SOCIETY CAROL SERVICE: This date belongs to our own Bonfire Boys as Saturday December 5 is the date for the Staplecross Bonfire Society annual Carol Service. This is a Christmas Carol service with a real difference. How many of you can say that you’ve been to a Christmas Carol Service made all the more magical, by having been escorted there by flaming torches? Everyone is welcome to attend this event, which begins at 6.15pm at the War Memorial, in Staplecross and from there, the torch lit procession will wend its merry way along Northiam Road, a short distance away, to the glorious little church of St. Mark’s for a wonderful and uplifting Christmas Carol Service. This is an exciting event, as it allows us to not only enjoy the beautiful carols in a beautiful setting, but afterwards in the church room, to enjoy the Mulled Wine and Festive Nibbles that are provided by this popular and charitable social group. There then follows the result of all their hard work and various selfless projects undertaken throughout the past year, when the presentation of the cheques are awarded to their chosen charities and to other local good causes. The evenings’ event truly does have that Feel-Good Factor and quite rightly so. Do please come along and enjoy the social atmosphere and be a part of this unique activity.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES: Staplecross MCP School Nativity Play. Another nudge to remind you that one and all are invited to the School Nativity that will take place in the Village Hall, Staplecross on Thursday December 10 at 2pm with another performance the following day Friday December 11 (same place) at 6pm. No-one tells the story of The Nativity quite like schoolchildren and if you can, please try to come along and enjoy the magical, enchanting and emotive way these children do just that, tissues for tear drying, sadly a must. Every child from every class, including those who only started school a few weeks ago, is involved in this production and takes pride in whatever role they play and their enjoyment clearly shows through. Entrance is free to all because this amazing little village school, of which we are so proud, just want to share this special time with you, in the telling that special story. Please do try to come along.

CAROLS ON THE GREEN: Make a note of this special date. Thursday December 17 from 6pm and the venue is the green, at Ewhurst Green. This great festive event will certainly bring about that warm feeling, both inside and out as mince pies and mulled wine are available and offered to all to help offset what no doubt will be, a chilly winter’s night. The inside glow will come from being a part of a congenial group of like-minded people coming together to enjoy a social time, singing carols portraying the age old story of Christ’s birth and others just about the Christmas season. Song sheets of the carols, will be available, so there’s no excuse for not remembering the words. A collection will be made in aid of Ewhurst PCC. This is a beautiful, traditional event, not to be missed, so please come along and sing a Carol for Christmas and just for the joy of it. All will be very welcome and further details can be obtained from Glenys on: 01580 830491.

GARDEN SOCIETY CHRISTMAS PARTY: Many of us will enjoy attending a Christmas party or two before, during and after that special day. This is one of them. The very friendly and helpful members from this lovely little local horticultural society would like to invite you to join them on this special nightm Friday December 18 from 7pm in the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross. There promises to be an evening of superb and congenial company, with great yummy refreshments and a grand raffle with fantastic prizes to boot. Entrance for members is free, but guests sadly, must pay the miserly sum of £2 per person to enjoy all that’s on offer, which is rather a lot. So book the date and come along and enjoy what promises to be a super evening amongst friends. Please contact Ruth (Secretary) on 01580 831918 for all further details of this and what this local garden society is planning for next year, you may even be tempted to become a member.

CHURCH SERVICES: Church services for the parish of Ewhurst will commence at St James the Great, Ewhurst Green on Sunday November 29. Advent 1 at 9.30am. This service will include Holy Communion. There will be no service at St Giles church, Bodiam today, but a service at St. Mark’s church, Northiam Road, Staplecross will follow directly after at 11.15am. This service will also include the beautiful Advent Carols. Both services will be conducted by Reverend Gordon Winchester and if there is any church matter on which you feel he may be of further assistance, then do please get in touch. You may contact him either at The Rectory, Ewhurst Green, or by telephone on 01580 830268 or via his email [email protected] He’d be happy to help in any way he can.

PLEASE CONTACT ME: If your group, club, society or charity is planning to hold an event in the near future, especially if it’s a Christmassy Do or perhaps an event coming up in the New Year and you’d like extra coverage, then do please get in touch with me to take advantage of some free publicity. Time marches on and the Festive Season is already upon us, so please let us help you to promote your event. It doesn’t matter if it’s big or small, posh or poor, if it’s of interest to you, it’s of interest to us. It’s never too early to let me know what you are planning so please contact me whenever you can...........Thank You.

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