Staplecross

EWHURST, STAPLECROSS & BODIAM GARDEN SOCIETY: Just a gentle reminder, well more of a nudge really to point you in the right direction. Tomorrow, that’s Saturday, September 5th will be the annual ‘Flower, Fruit & Vegetable Show’, as always, hosted by our local Horticultural society. This superb gardening group, - small maybe in numbers, but big in friendliness, enthusiasm and talent will be staging another of their popular shows and which, as usual, will take place in the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross. The ‘show’ opens to the public at 2.30pm. If you have left it to the last minute, ‘Late Entries’ may be brought to the Hall by 10.30am, as staging of the exhibits are between 9.00am and 11.00am. There are many classes for you to choose from, but if horticulture is not your thing, then why not consider entering one of the many other class? There are several ‘Home Produce’ entries for you to try or why not one of the ‘Handicraft’ sections?. Regardless of whether you become an exhibitor or not, why not come along anyway, - bring your family and friends and have a very pleasant afternoon here. Enjoy the raffle, sample the tasty refreshments on offer and just have a really lovely afternoon.

STAPLECROSS BOWLS CLUB: Slowly coming to the end of another busy season for this dedicated sports club, the club have two (2) more fixtures to play this week. Match no: 1 is an away match against Clive Vale team and will be played on Saturday September 5th. The second fixture to be played this week will take place on Tuesday September 8th and will also be an away match. This time their opponents will be Horam. Both matches commence at 2.30pm and if you’d like to find out more about this club. please contact Evelyn on: 01580~830107 or [email protected] They’d love to welcome you.

ROTHER RAMBLERS: Not afraid of anything that our English weather appears to throw at them, the members of this very popular walking group have arranged two (2) more outings this week, Walk No: 1 is a 12 mile circular stroll of Rolvenden and is planned to take place on Sunday September 6th. All those interested in attending should be at the meeting point - Rolvenden Village Hall. OS EXP 125. TQ846312.(SatNav TN17 4ND) at 10.00am. There may be possible parking in the Village Hall car park and a picnic lunch is suggested. Heather will be your ‘walk leader’ for this excursion, so please contact her on 01580~752652 or her mobile: 07968~294038 for all further information. Walk No:2 is something completely different. Booked to take place on Wednesday September 9th this walk is a beautiful Downs circular stride of 9 miles and encompasses Bopeep Lane to Alfriston. The meeting point is the Bopeep car park at the end of Bopeep Lane at 10.30am. This is a narrow road, -- but Be Brave ! -- as there is a good car park at the top. OS EXP 123.TQ493050.(SatNav BN26 6UJ) Please note: there are Downland ridges and river valleys to discover, one climb and a picnic lunch is again suggested. Frances will be your ‘walk leader’ for this outing. Please contact her on: 01424~754548 for more details.

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ST. MICHAEL’S HOSPICE - OPEN GARDENS: Many of us, throughout the summer months, had the privilege to visit some of the many beautiful gardens situated within our own locality that have been ‘open’ in aid of St. Michael’s Hospice. I’m sure we all have come away in awe, at just how glorious and diverse they all have been. This amazing ‘Open Gardens’ season raises not only much needed funds for such a worthwhile cause, but it also helps us to be aware of the Hospice and all the various services they offer. On Tuesday September 8th. “Perch Hill” otherwise well known as ‘Sarah Raven’s Cutting Garden’, will also be throwing open their doors, - or in this case, the Garden Gate, to the public. Situated in Willingford Lane, Brightling, TN32 5HP- This beautiful and productive garden is an inspiration for all gardeners, cooks and florists. An abundance of bold flower and vegetable combinations provide spectacular displays of colour and texture. These are all grown side by side and Sarah uses them in her courses that she runs throughout the year. Open between 9.00am and 4.00pm the admission is £5:00 per person Guide dogs are welcome but wheelchair access is limited sadly, due to slopes and gravel paths. Parking is available and refreshments can be purchased from the Perch Hill Restaurant.

RIDE & STRIDE EVENT: There is still time to take part in this annual walking/cycling event around the churches of the county. Taking place on Saturday September 12th, you can choose the area you would like to walk or ride around and Alastair (the chappie who knows all about it ! ) will give you a list of the churches that are open - and perhaps, most importantly, those where sustenance is available !. He will also be able to provide you with a sponsor form. Half of all monies collected by you will go to our own church and the other half will be donated to the Sussex Historic Churches Trust. If you feel like joining Alastair, or perhaps want to get up your own group to take part in this great little event, then please contact Alastair on 01580~830245 or email him at [email protected] Please help to preserve our historic churches and our heritage whilst enjoying our lovely countryside.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES: Short and sweet notices of events that may be of interest to you. Between September 5th & 30th, Bexhill’s very popular “Festival of the Sea” will once more celebrate all things ‘seaside’. The festival is kicked off with the Big Event being held between 10am and 6.00pm on Saturday September 5th on the lawns of the De La Warr Pavilion. This event will have local produce, global seafood cuisine, angling demonstrations with coaching for all ages and abilities, a fun fair, Morris Dancing and much, much more. This family friendly event is free to attend, so go along and have a good day out.

Event No: 2 tells us that the Kent & East Sussex Railway will be hosting a “Hop Festival” at Bodiam Railway Station on the weekend of September 12th/13th. Bodiam was once surrounded by acres of hop fields and every September the railways would deliver a large influx of ‘furriners from Lunnen’ for their annual working ‘holiday’, picking hops in the East Sussex countryside. Memories of these colourful, loud and often raucous times spent ‘oppin’ are re-created at this special event. Come along and see the hoppers’ huts and the specially planted hop garden at Bodiam Station. There will also be a BBQ; many displays; local beer; local produce; steam trains; Morris dancing and music - provided by ‘The Sideboard Men’. For further details of this event and more, please contact kesr.org.uk or ring 01580~765155.

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- Event No: 3 is the 4th annual Bodiam Castle Triathlon which will take place on Sunday September 13th. This event consists of a 500m swim in and around the moat of Bodiam Castle. Following registration and transition from 6.30am onwards, this stage will start at 7.30am and will be quickly followed by a 21.2k Bike ride through Staplecross, Northiam and back via Sandhurst. The 5.73k run route will be off-road and will be a great finish, coming back along the river. This is a great event for competitors and spectators alike, so come along and give the athletes all a big shout to cheer them on.

Last but not least - Event No: 4 -this is a ‘Talent Night in Sedlescombe’ and the group are on the hunt for performers of all aspects of entertainment for this event. Taking place on Friday September 18th at 7.00pm they would love for you to come and be part of the show. There is no entry fee and performers from all areas will be welcome, but time frames and spaces are limit in fairness to all. There will be a professional ‘sound’ person and system available to use. £100:00 is the 1st prize, kindly donated by Dorton Reclamation, with other cash prizes for the runners up. There will be a bar and food available and tickets will be just £5:00. This event is organised by the Friends of Sedlescombe Church Heritage Trust so if you can sing, - dance, - play a musical instrument or just do an act, - then please call Jean Dann on 01424~882438 to book your place to perform on the night.

CHURCH SERVICES: Church services for the parish of Ewhurst will commence at St. James the Great, Ewhurst Green on Sunday September 6th. Trinity 14. at 9.30am. This service will include Holy Communion. A Family Service will follow directly after at St. Giles church, Bodiam at 11.15am. There will be NO SERVICE held today at St. Mark’s church, Northiam Road, Staplecross. Both services will be conducted by Reverend Gordon Winchester and if there is any church matter on which he may assist you, please do contact him either at The Rectory, Ewhurst Green, by telephone on 01580~830268 or via his email at [email protected] He’d love to help, - however he can.

PLEASE CONTACT ME: If your group, club, charity or society is planning an event and would like a mention here, regardless of however large or small the function is, then please contact me. If it’s of interest to you, - it’s of interest to us. It’s never too early to tell me what you are arranging and I’d love to hear about it so please do get in touch...........Thank You.

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