Staplecross

Anne Reed

Although Bodiam Railway Station, home to the ever popular Kent and East Sussex Railway, that most charming and nostalgic of transport, lies just within our parish that romantic, majestic and much-loved Bodiam Castle lies just outside, within our neighbouring parish of Bodiam.! It’s all to do with wandering boundaries, I’m told. Many other fascinating facts and snippets of a bygone era is shown in an amazing little booklet entitled A Rural Tapestry. Published by Ewhurst Parish Council way back in 1999 to mark the approaching millenium -how long ago that event now seems. This little gem of a read gives you a delighful peep into a long gone way of life, into how families lived and worked and ‘played’ within this parish and how so much has changed over the years. The artwork and wonderful photographs will keep you spell-bound as will all the comments and contributions of the residents who actually made this historical project happen.A small number of copies still remain after all residents were given a copy as a memento, they cost just £5 per copy and can be purchased from Ewhurst Parish Council or the village shop in Staplecross.

Following last month’s meeting, the Ewhurst Parish Council would like to know if any parishioners would use, for recreational purposes, a wheelchair-accessible footpath in the parish.If anyone is interested in this, or knows someone who would be, please let the Clerk, Richard Farhall, know by ringing 07775 333096 or by emailing him on [email protected]

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Despite the weather, not being always on their side, with the wind and the rain doing their damnest to spoil the fun, The Ewhurst and Staplecross Bonfire Society’s annual summer barbecue, held at the Cross Inn in Staplecross on Saturday last, was a great success. During the evening, during which a stalwart band of cooks, namely Pauline, Brian and Eric, managed to prepare and cook a super selection of food including chicken, pork steaks, sausages, burgers and salad, all to perfection and undeterred by the elements. Great entertainment provided by Chandeliers certainly helped keep the crowd, happy and smiling and thoroughly enjoying themselves. This superb event, which was attended by more than 100 members and supporters was voted one of the best yet. Next year’s event will certainly have a lot to live up to. A big thank you must be given, not only to the intrepid chefs for coping with the cooking, but to Alan Monk and staff from the Cross Inn, together with all the ‘invisible’ helpers, society members and friends who helped to organise and make this evening such a great success. This is an important event for this society, as it provides a much-needed boost to their funds, which are then used for the ever popular Bonfire Night celebrations held each year on the last Saturday in October (October 26th.) A magnificient sum of £595 will shortly be bolstering up their account. allowing members to contribute handsomely to several local charities following on from this extravaganza. The next Bonfire Society meeting will be held, again at the Cross Inn, Staplecross, on Monay July 1 8pm. Do go along and support them.Many more fund raising plans and suggestions will no doubt be discussed. If you feel that you may like to join this merry little band, you, your help and input, in whatever capacity, would always be gratefully received and warmly welcomed. Just contact John, the Bonfire Society Publicity Officer on 07748~483823 or email [email protected]

Staplecross Stoolball Club have an exciting and rigorous match planned for this SUNDAY.30th.JUNE. Four (4) local teams have been challenged by our home team and this event will take place on the Staplecross Playing Field from 10.am onwards. Teas and coffees together with light refreshments will be available and served all day until close of play. Please come along and shout on your home team. Help make it a fun, friendly and fresh air filled day.If you also quite fancy learning more about this “Sussex” sport or feel you’d like to give it a go, ring Pauline on 01580~830570 for further info.

Also on Sunday June 30 and indirectly opposite the Playing Field, but for a quieter (one hopes) more genteel, but equally just as skilled, form of sport, the Staplecross Bowls Club will once again be out on the green. The recent Open Triples competition which was held at the Club ground with 24 teams all vigorously competing for various trophies and prize funds, saw Rye Marsh emerge as the winners.

Saturday July 6 sees all the hard work by the PTFA come to fruition as the Staplecross Methodist Controlled Primary School hosts its own annual summer fair. This will be held on the school’s own field between 1pm and 4pm. Much will be offered for a wonderful afternoon’s enjoyment for everyone, from a giant raffle, an adult tombola, even a children’s tombola. a giant inflatable agility challenge - that will test some muscle or stamina - plus all the usual wonderful attractions one expects from a country fete, including pace painting, hair braiding, a barbecue, teas and coffees, home made cakes, apple bobbing, whack a bag, and bowling for a pig! This promises to be a wonderful afternoon out for all the family, with all the fun of the fair, There’ll be lots of side stalls to tempt you. Various other attractions as well as entertainment and fun for young and old alike. This popular school is looking forward to welcoming as many members of the public as possible as well as members of our own community to share this fun-packed afternoon. So come along. No excuses allowed, just wear comfortable shoes, as you could be here a long time.

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Now, do you love dancing? Think you’ve got two left feet? Do you feel the salsa too fast, the afternoon tea dance too slow, Zumba too energetic? If so, don’t worry. Try line ddancing! This great style of dancing has it all. A few slow steps,forward and back, A slide step side to side, perhaps, A tap or two with your heel now and maybe a big stomp, and you’re there! There is no-one to tut or snigger at you because you turned right instead of left or stopped when you should have started, and the reason for this is because we’ll all done it, and some still do. But the wonderful thing about these classes is we don’t mind!. The lovely tutor, Helen, just laughs with us and we try again. Age and ability don’t count with Helen, as she coaches you at your own pace and before long you’ll be singing to those lovely tunes and swirling and twirling with the rest of them.

Helen runs two Line Dancing classes in Staplecross. Monday evenings 6pm to 7.30pm in Staplecross Village Hall and this class is for beginners or refreshers and on Friday evening 6pm to 8pm at St Marks Church Room, for those who have tried it before. The fees for both classes are the same - £4 per session. The monies raised from these classes go towards Helen’s two favourite charities - The Barby Keel Animal Sanctuary and Oasis, which is a domestic violence charity. This past-time or whatever you call it is open to all, all ages and capabilities. You work at whatever pace suits you and when you feel ready to move up, Helen will still be there to guide you. It’s great fun to do, Do as much as you wish, learn routines with lovely people to share the laughter when it goes wrong. You may not lose weight, it may help you get fitter, All you need for your first ‘tryout’ are easy, loose, clothing and a comfortable pair of flattish shoes, a bottle of water and Helen’s ‘phone number ~ which is 01797~252087. See you soon.

Don’t forget if you have any items of interest that you’d like to see published, please keep me informed and I’ll do my best to get them “aired” on your behalf. Please allow at least two weeks or so, prior to the event to fully maximise the coverage.