Staplecross

Life within Ewhurst Parish seems to be a series of plains or plateaux or famine or feasts as we appear to go through a period when either everything is happening at once or nothing at all. I’m sure that the season is a contributing factor especially with this glorious English Summer weather that we are all currently enjoying,---long may it reign!
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Jul 2014, 17:44 BST

A very quick reminder that if you have a couple of hours to spare TODAY - that’s Friday July 4th. between 3.30 and 6pm then why not pop along to the Staplecross MCP School as the school will be holding their Summer Fayre. The whole family are invited as they’ll be lots to see and do and many stalls to visit. It’ll be held on the school field,-weather permitting and along with the usual traditional fete stalls, including the ever popular refreshment ‘tent’ they will be a tombola with some great mystery prizes and a few craft stalls as well. To make sure the wee folk are entertained also, they’ll be some games and a bouncy castle just for them! It promises to be a lovely, fun-filled afternoon, so do please make sure you come along and join in. ~ Fingers crossed for fine weather !

The results have been announced from the Ewhurst,Staplecross & Bodiam Garden Society Annual Rose Show, held recently at Staplecross Village Hall on June 21st. and they are as follows: Class 1- One Specimen Rose-named variety- Winner Pam Underhill; 2nd Anne Moore-Bick; 3rd Barry Longmuir. Class 2-One Specimen Rose-any variety- Winner; Pam Dance; 2nd Pam Underhill; 3rd Chris Stevens. Class 3-3 Specimen Roses diferent varieties- No Winner, but a well deserved 2nd; Jennie Lynam; 3rd Evelyn Goodsell. Class 4-1 stem cluster flowered (floribuna) rose-Winner Chris Stevens; 2nd Pam Underhill; 3rd Jennie Lynam. Class 5-3 large flowered roses Winner Pam Dance; 2nd Pam Underhill; 3rd Joan Gilson. Class 6-Seasonal flower arrangement to include roses Winner-Pam Dance; 2nd-Pauline Scowen. Class 7-No entries. Class 8- A Green arrangement Winner Pam Dance; 2nd Pauline Scowen.Class 9-No entries. Class 10-3 Clematis blooms- Winner Maggie Whittaker; 2nd Peter Lynam; 3rd Pam Underhill. Class 11-5 Fuschia flowers floating in a bowl.-Winner Pam Underhill; 2nd Peter Lynam; 3rd Joan Gilson. Class 12- A Flowering Pot plant (not an orchid)- Winner Pam Underhill; 2nd Jennie Lynam; 3rd Chris Stevens. Class 13 Foliage Pot plant- Winner Kathleen Pettitt; 2nd Ella Wood; 3rd Chris Stevens. Class 14 Stem of a flowering shrub- Winner Pam Dance; 2nd Peter Lynam; 3rd Joan Gilson. Class 15-Stem of a shrub grown for it’s foliage.-Winner Pam Dance; 2nd Peter Lynam and 3rd Joan Firth. Class 16-An Orchid pot plant.-Winner Sally Young; 2nd Richard Biggs. Class 17-Container of cut flowers from own garden.-Winner Pam Dance; 2nd Pam Underhill; 3rd Joan Gilson. Class 18- a Hanging Basket.- Winner Pam Dance. Class 19- Container of Pinks.-Winner Peter Lynam; 2nd Ella Wood; 3rd Pam Dance. Class 20- Container of 1 stem of each of 3 distinct kinds of cut garden flowers.-Winner Pam Underhill; 2nd Pam Dance; 3rd Jennie Lynam. Class 21 Container of 1 Delphinium stem.-Winner Pam Underhill; 2nd Anne Moore-Bick. Class 22 Seasonal vegetable or salad.-Winner Kathleen Pettitt; 2nd Peter Lynam; 3rd Ella Wood.Class 23-No entries. Class 24 Reception,Year 1- A Papier Mache Fish -Winner of this class & the holder of the Peggy Duncan Cup goes to Sofia Marsh for her fabulous pink seahorse; 2nd was Oliver Morris for his super black Angler fish. Class 25 Years 2, 3, & 4 -A photo frame decorated with beach finds. The winner was Ayesha; 2nd was Gem; and 3rd was Fynn. Class 26 Years 5 & 6 A card of pressed flowers & leaves on a seaside theme- Winner was Martha Hollamby; 2nd Isaac and 3rd was Adam. There were no entries for Class 27. The Lady Knight and the Rosaleen Bowl were awarded to Pam Underhill with the Rose Show Cup being presented to Pam Dance. The Sunderland Cup went to Martha Hollamby and the Peggy Duncan Cup was won by Sofia Marsh. All worthy winners ! A great time was had by all apparently, but as usual in these events a lot of hard work goes into producing them. The Society’s committee have worked very hard to put on a super event but of course the stars are the entrants themselves, young or not, green-fingered or not, without you, there would be no show!. so a big Thank You and a pat on the back,to all the people who played a part,to the committee, the tea ladies, the stall holders, the visitors and entrants alike for putting on a brilliant event and giving our little community a show to be proud of.

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An appeal with a slight difference now. This comes from Hilary Ganly, our well known local resident who not only is the Chair of the Village Hall Committee, but is the Tutor for the very popular and well attended local art group who’s classes are held every Thursday morning in the aforementioned hall. Well, next month, Hilary will be flying out to Romania to assist in an Art Workshop, set up by a charismatic orthodox priest, who brings together about 30 teenage children, from the local villages, with many of them orphans and harrowing life tales to tell. The appeal is very simple.~ Hilary would like to take as much art material as possible out with her when she goes. This request is for ANY paint brushes or Acrylic paints that they would like to donate. These materials will be put to great use as each day the children, in small(ish) groups go out into the surrounding countryside and paint what they see. What one has to remember is that up until 25 years ago, Romania was squashed by totalitarian rule where the church was banned, national costumes were banned, folk songs were banned, artists & poets were imprisoned, indeed every form of culture was prohibited. So these workshops are a way of re-invigorating those lost strands of creativity. So with your help and generosity, these children may once more enjoy what many of us can do, without fear or compromise, which is express themselves through art,- or just ‘doodle’. Please have a rummage in those “places of ‘storage stuff’,’’ and see what you can find. Hilary will naturally collect whatever you can give, at your convenience,- just contact her on 01580~830704. Everyone involved in this lovely charitable workshop, not just Hilary, but all the other tutors, and the ‘hidden helpers’ however involved, thank you, in advance,---but the biggest THANK YOU of all, will come from the children themselves.

My second appeal, is from another local group, that of the Ewhurst & Staplecross Bonfire Society. The Bonfire Society “Grand Auction of Promises” is a major fundraiser in this society’s calender and to encourage as many people as possible to bid AND attend,~ the club are appealing for as many local -or otherwise- business or individual who wishes to offer any items or promises for this auction ~the more unusual,-the better !. Auction lots are currently being collated and brochures will be available during August to promote the wide range of auction lots which have been so kindly donated. Already there are some exciting items to bid for:~ more news on that at a later date, but having had a sneaky peek, ~ I promise you that it does look grand, as well as great fun !. For further information, please contact Louise Dinnage at [email protected] or Brian on 01580~830570 Although the actual event won’t be taking place until September. ( Friday 26th to be precise) the brochures etc. have to go to print soon and your help in making this event even better than before, will be so very much appreciated. This event is all to raise money for local charities and causes, so do please make a promise and help make a difference, whilst having a thoroughly enjoyable time doing so.

That merry bunch of walkers, the Rother Ramblers have excelled themselves this week with no less than twelve,-yes 12 walks,- planned for our enjoyment. So many in fact, that I’m only going to give a short synopsis on each walk, with contact numbers given for further information, should you so require. These walks are all part of a special festival of walks, called “The Marjfest Walks”, and is arranged to commemorate a special member of this group and is named in her honour and memory. Beginning with Walk 1 ~Monday July 7th.- 7.5 mile circular walk to the North of Goudhurst. 10.am start.Dogs permitted.Contact Rita & Clive on 01424~882674. Walk 2.~ Monday July 7th.-10.30am start.10 mile Stonegate to Burwash circular. Dogs permitted. Contact Bill on 01424~214372. Walk 3 ~ Tuesday July 8th. 10.am start. 10 mile circular of Flimwell to Hawkhurst.Dogs permitted. Contact Julia & Con 01424~437928. Walk 4~ This is the 1st of this weeks evening strolls. Tuesday July 8th at 6.30pm with a 6 mile Pevensey Marsh circular. Dogs again are permitted and the contact is Jane and Peter on 01424~733300. Walk 5~Wednesday July 9th 10.45am start.8.5 mile circular stroll through Arlington, Chalvington & Selmeston, all nestled under the South Downs, Dogs permitted and Sue & Dave are the contacts on 01424441018. Walk 6~Thursday July 10th 10.am start. 7 mile ramble along Seven Sisters-Friston Forest circular. Dogs permitted. Contact Julia & Con on 01424~437928 Walk 7.~(Closer to home for some.) Thursday July 10th.10.30am start. 10 mile circular meander through Etchingham,-Hurst Green & Silverhill. Dogs again permitted. Contact Janet on 01424~420570. Walk 8~ Friday July 11th 10.am start. 8 mile Waldron to Blackboys circular.Dogs permitted Contact Adrian on 01273~514336. Walk 9~the second of the evening walks is on Friday July 11th. 6.30pm start 5.5 mile circular walk to the north of Lamberhurst,- again a bit closer to home. Dogs permitted and Rita & Lionel are the contacts on 01424~752452. Walk 10 is also ‘just up the road’ Saturday July 12th. 10.am start 10 mile circular tour through Cranbrook, Sissinghurst & Hemsted Forest. Dogs permitted. Contact Carol & David on 01580~852432. Walk 11.~Penultimate walk is for Saturday July 12th 10.am start. Broad Oak,Heathfield, to Mayfield 9.5 mile circular. Dogs permitted. Contact Richard on 01424~892865. Last but certainly not least is Walk 12.~ Taking place on Sunday July 13th.10.am start.This is a 9 mile circular walk of Brenchley to Matfield. Dogs again permitted.Again contact Bill on 01424~752372. This walking festival is a great way to celebrate our wonderful countryside, so why not give one of these walks a try and see just where your footsteps take you.---You may be pleasantly surprised.

Also still enjoying the free, fresh air and friendly companionship of fellow players are the Staplecross Bowls Club.They are also very busy as they have no less than five (5) matches arranged for this week alone. The first is Tuesday July 8th. when they journey to play against Wadhurst. Wednesday July 9th the teams are again away when they play Brenchley & Matfield. Another trip is on Thursday July 10th when the club play St. Leonards for yet another away match. No play on Friday allows for a little breather before Saturday July 12th sees the teams play host to Ninfield at their home ground at Northiam Road, Staplecross but there is no time to rest yet as the following day Sunday July 13th.the club are off away again as their opponents this time are Tenterden. If you would like to be part of this dedicated and friendly bowls club, please contact Evelyn on; [email protected] and who will happily give you all the information you require.

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Back in our community, on Thursday July 10th, for another trip through our parish is that very important service, the Mobile Library. As usual, it begins it’s journey at Cripps Corner, where it will be parked on the car park of the White Hart Inn between 10.15am. and 10.40am. After serving the residents at Sedlescombe it will arrive at Staplecross, parking in Cricketers Field between 11.50am and 12.20pm. From then on, it will wind it’s merry way through Brede, Northiam and Bodiam to finish at Ewhurst Green for it’s final stop of the day between 3.40pm and 4.10pm. Please do make use of this essential service, as not only is it free, but as I have said before, ~” the library isn’t just for books” !. This little enterprise is so important to our community, and especially to our rural residents who are unable to visit the main branches in the towns. Call in, visit this little van and see what wonderful things are within its portals.

Another important event that is also taking place on Thursday July 10th is that monthly meeting of the Ewhurst Parish Council. Starting at 7.30pm in St. Marks Church Room, Northiam Road, Staplecross, this meeting is open to the public and press alike and gives all residents of the parish, the perfect opportunity to come along and have your say. Together with your own Parish Councillors, there is normally representatives from the Police,-in the form of our very own (shared) PCSO,- the Rother District Council, -Mr. Tony Ganly, and East Sussex County Council -Mrs Angharad Davies. During the ‘Open Session’ you’ll be able to question, query, complain or just comment, on any or all things going on within this parish, of which you may be concerned with. We are here to listen to you, to take notice of you, as we are working on your behalf to make our community a better, safer and happier place to live, work and just ‘be’ in. Look for the banners outside. There’s usually adequate parking and everyone is always very welcome.

The church services for the parish of Ewhurst will commence at St. James the Great, Ewhurst Green on Sunday July 13th.Trinity 4. with a service at 9.30am. which will include Holy Communion (BCP) There will be NO SERVICE at St. Giles Bodiam, A Morning Praise service at St. Mark’s church, Northiam Road, Staplecross will follow at 11.15am. The Reverend Gordon Winchester will be conducting both services and if he can be of any assistance in any church matter, please do contact him at the Rectory on 01580~830268 or via his email: [email protected]

Please don’t forget to contact me if there are any events that you’d like free publicity for. Whether you are a sports club, a society,a social group or just planning an event or celebration. Let me know what you are planning, and I’ll spread the word on your behalf. Hopefully this may encourage new members, or more spectators, or just additional willing helpers and supporters and we can always appreciate and find room for more willing and helpful hands, can’t we ?......Thank you.

Anne Reed

[email protected]