Malling

SOUTH MALLING SCHOOL: On Friday the whole school came together for a Remembrance assembly. The Year 5 children led the school in thinking about the importance of remembering those who served in World War 1. They specifically explained the role and significance of the Indian and West Indian soldiers, many of whom were hospitalised in the Brighton Pavilion and commemorated at the Chattri memorial on the Downs. The children read some moving poems based on their research and the whole school joined them in singing It's a Long Way to Tipperary. They showed great respect and compassion throughout a very special assembly.

TRINITY AT SOUTH MALLING: (Parish Church) has its Family Service on this particular Sunday each month and it began last Sunday, with a series of coded questions about old Testament characters and stories, asking, after a short description, for the names of Old Testament characters. The children certainly knew their Old Testament. I must admit that I was puzzled by the questions themselves, but the children got them all right. Pretty impressive, they must be getting good teaching in their usual Sunday Club classes. As the service drew to its end, marked by the tolling of a bell, there was an act of Remembrance, which included the usual two minutes silence and Remembrance Prayers. During this time, the names of soldiers killed in that War and buried in the churchyard, were projected onto a background of poppies on the front wall of the church. South Malling’s refurbished bells came into formal action again in the evening, joining other churches and bells in Lewes, ringing out for half an hour at 7pm to mark the point when the Queen laid her wreath on the tomb of the unknown warrior in Westminster Abbey. It felt good to be part of this solemn national event. This coming Sunday, there is a service of Holy Communion led by Revd Jules Middleton. The service begins at 9.30am and, as usual, all are welcome.