Westfield

Plan ahead! The main road closure for resurfacing affecting Westfield from Monday, October 29 will cause disruption, although the contractors have promised that access to shops will be maintained. According to ESCC, the A28 will be closed from just north of Moor Lane (although their map shows north of Workhouse Lane) to Freshfields Farm Shop from 9.30am-4pm for five days. Through traffic will be diverted via B2089 Tank Hill, Vine hall Street, Park Lane and A21 Hastings Road in both directions.

Stagecoach has issued the following statement about the bus service (340,341,342) during the road closure, with apologies for the disruption which is completely beyond their control.

The main A28 through Westfield will be closed, and the work will be done in two stages.

During the first stage on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30, buses will leave Hastings as normal as far as the A28. Buses entering Westfield village will use Vicarage Lane and Wheel Lane to Sedlescombe before rejoining the normal line of route at Broad Oak Cross Roads. There will be the same diversion on the return from Tenterden. There will be no buses serving Brede on these 2 days between 0806 and 1610 southbound and 0950 and 1650 northbound.

The second stage of these works will take place on Wednesday, October 31 through to Friday, November 2. Buses from Hastings will use the normal route until the junction of the A28, and will then travel along the A21 to Sedlescombe, using Wheel Lane to rejoin the normal line of route at Westfield. Buses returning from Tenterden will follow the same diversion. There will be no buses serving Westfield Lane for these 3 days between 0915 and 1610 southbound and 0950 and 1650 northbound.

Also from October 29, Stagecoach have minor changes to the bus service through Westfield. The main alteration is that almost all services once again serve Sainsbury’s on Sedlescombe Road North, although buses will stop only on the main road and will not enter the superstore grounds. The two exceptions are the 1510 (340) from Westfield, and the 1414 (343) from Hastings. In addition most buses into Hastings are now advertised as continuing as a 344 service calling at Breeds Place in the town centre. Times to Hastings are unchanged; from Hastings departure times are the same but some buses arrive 2 minutes later at the Conquest and at Westfield. However, note that these changes are due to start on the day that the A28 is closed for the week for resurfacing.

For more information see http://www.stagecoachbus.com/eastsussex or ring the Customer Service Team 08456 00 22 99.

Services at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist on Sunday, June 21 are Holy Communion (1662) at 8am, and Family Service with the theme ‘Joy’ at 10.30am. Please remember to bring gifts of non-perishable food to be used by the Diocesan Family Support Work Outreach Team in Hollington. As usual, there will be Holy Communion on Wednesday at 9.30 am.

The Family Service will be followed by the October social event at 12.30pm in the Parish Hall. A lunch of soup and rolls will be followed by banner making for Christmas, and the afternoon will finish with tea and cake. All ages and talents (or none!) are welcome.

The Prayer Group meets at 59 Heathlands on Tuesday, October 30. The Bible study group continues to look at The Coming King at Cockmartins Farm at 7.30pm on Wednesday, October 31, and all are very welcome.

There will be a Daffodil Service on Sunday, November 4 at 4pm. This service remembers

by name all those who have died in the parish in the last few years, as well as any others requested. Daffodil bulbs in memory of loved ones will be blessed and then planted in the churchyard as a symbol of remembrance. Do add any additional names to the list in the church.

The Royal British Legion is appealing urgently for helpers for the Poppy Appeal house to house collections in Guestling and Three Oaks.  Please telephone John Pulfer on 814866.

Love-in-a-Box 2012. Once again, members of our Church and Westfield School will be working with Mustard Seed Mission in October and November to send Christmas gifts in shoeboxes to needy and traumatised children in Eastern Europe. Further details from Anne and Malcolm Stocker 01424 754355.

Westfield resident Nick Brown continues his guided walks in the area with a stunning 5 mile walk from Icklesham at 10am on Saturday, November 3. The cost is £3 per person, and you need to book in advance by ringing Nick on 07918 907265. Please check his website www.spanglefish.com/1066routes for more information.

The Friendship Club meets in the Parish Hall on alternate Mondays from 2-3.30pm.  It is an opportunity to make friends and enjoy some outings in the summer.  Our next meeting will be on Monday, November 5, and we are always on the look-out for new members Coming up we have a visit to a Pantomime and then our Christmas party. .

Theatre Sense Players (Musical Theatre for Adults) is a new Singing, Drama and Dance class starting on Wednesday, November 7. It will meet at Westfield Community Hall from 8.15-9.45pm, and will cost £4. The group will work initially on musical theatre medleys to perform at various shows alongside the younger Theatre Sense pupils, but the long term aim is to perform a bigger show such as a panto for the village. If you are interested please contact Theatre Sense on 07730 254122 or email [email protected]

Thinking about Christmas and Shopping? The Sedlescombe and Westfield Club of the East Sussex Disability Association (ESDA) has a shopping trip to Eastbourne Arndale Centre on Thursday, November 8, available to everyone in the villages. They provide a door to door pick up and return service on accessible transport, and the cost is £12. Please contact Marianne Colliard at ESDA on 01323 514531 or email [email protected] to book.

The Sedlescombe and Westfield Club still needs new members (and volunteers to help) to enjoy getting out and about and meeting new friends.  There are outings on the second Thursday of each month, all with door to door accessible transport.  Details from Marianne as before.

Westfield Golf Fellowship’s next event is at West Malling, Kent on Thursday, November 8. The total price of £35 includes food, golf and prizes. For more information please telephone Nick on 07939587796 or email [email protected]

Parkinson’s Disease Society hold their Annual Coffee Morning from 10am-12 noon on Saturday, November 10 in the Parish Hall. Come and enjoy a chat over coffee, and browse at the cakes, tombola, raffle, books, and bric-a-brac stalls.

Westfield Ladies Stoolball indoor team needs new members over 16 years to play on Tuesday evenings at Claverham Community College during the winter. Membership is £2 for one month, and the games fee is £2.50. Telephone Rose on 01424 756875.

Westfield Horticultural Society’s Chairman, Nicholas Wilde, has sent this report:

Another year has come and almost gone. Those of us interested in what’s happening in the garden have faced a number of challenges. The promise of an early summer in March followed by cold and rain and more rain played havoc with the growing season. Summer finally arrived in July and crops have been catching up since. The climate obviously affected the number of exhibits at both the spring and autumn show but the quality of classes prevailed.

The new Committee is eager to increase the number of members and entries in the shows for the coming year. Although first impressions may be of a society that is just interested in showing fruit, vegetables and flowers, there are a number of other classes for wider appeal. Why not have a go?

Bake something in the home produce section

Take a snap for the photography classes

Enter something you’ve created in the handicraft categories

Use your imagination arranging some flowers

Involve kids and grandchildren – there are classes for them too

There are cash prizes for 1st 2nd and 3rd places together with cups and trophies for specific classes.

To encourage more people to become involved in the society, we are planning a calendar of events for 2013. Suggestions include garden-related demonstrations, a quiz, and village garden competition. However, we need your involvement, so let us know what you think.

Membership fees for 2013 remain the same as 2012 - £3 for an individual membership and £5 per couple/family. More information can be found on our website: www.westfieldhorticulturalsociety.org.uk. If you are interested in joining and having some fun then please contact Kelvin Lynch our Membership Secretary on 07875478484 or [email protected].

For information and news about Westfield, please visit the village website www.westfieldvillage.co.uk.

To send information for the Westfield Village Voice, please email [email protected]