Waldron

REMEMBERING: Last weekend was the 100th anniversary of the Armistice, recording the end of the Great War. The atmosphere of the weekend was sombre as we recalled the devastating effect on our village of the death of 55 young men who died in the conflict or immediately afterwards. There was a display of photographs of the first World War in the Memorial Chapel of All Saints' church and records of how and where our village men died. The talk on Thursday November 8, called The Prisoner's Story was about Monty Chidson, a young pilot brought down over enemy lines in February 1915 and his three years in Prisoner-of-War camp, mostly at Friedberg, Germany. The talk was very well attended and the retiring collection for the Royal British Legion raised nearly Â£600. Sunday's traditional Service at which we read the names of the village dead and hold our annual two minutes silence was so full (over 200 people) that there was standing room only by the time service began. After the service, our bell-ringers rang a joyful peal to record the victory, joining hundreds of other villages across the country who did the same. In the evening, many villages along the Downs lit beacons, the traditional method for centuries to pass messages from one to another. By the end of the weekend it felt as if we had well and truly remembered and honoured those who had fought for their country.

AND NOW: For Christmas, which is less than six weeks away. But don’t panic yet, as there are still events to come. At the pub String Theory will be performing on Sunday November 25 (lunchtime) and the following day there will be the last Pub Quiz of the year. In a change to the usual pattern, the charge will be £10, but it will include not only a main course, but a pudding as well. Otherwise the evening will be as usual, a trawl through the kind of obscure detritus you may have retained from your schooldays, pop knowledge from past decades, and bizarre sporting and TV programme facts to be dragged out from forgotten recesses of your brains by no more than six people per team. It starts at 7.30pm and is always a competitively cheerful evening. By the way, the pub’s Christmas menu is now out so ask a member of staff if you’d like a look at it. Early indications are that The Star will be open on Christmas Day from midday until 2pm. Boxing Day will be closed all day, and there will be dinner served on New Year’s eve. On New Year’s Day there will be the traditional brunch from 10am (my favourite way to start the New Year) including bubbly.

CRACKING CRAFTS: The Friends of Waldron Churches have decided not to organise a festive fair this year and are replacing it with a Cracking Christmas Craftshop on Sunday December 2 from 12.30pm to 3.30pm following the Advent Carol Service at 10am at All Saints’ Church in the village. Father Christmas will be in attendance and there’ll be entertainment, face-painting, clay modelling and fun for both children and parents to make your own Christmas decorations. Mulled wine and mince pies will be on offer. Entry is £1 for adults and children under 16 years will be charged 50p.

SERVICES: This weekend, services will be held at All Saints’ church. Holy Communion will be at 8am with George Pitcher presiding and preaching. Parish Matins will be at 10am when the leader will be Richard Maylam and the Preacher will be Tim Hough. Churches Together in Heathfield will be holding a United Evening Worship service at St Bartholomew’s Burwash starting at 6.30pm.