Westfield village voice

Fifth Sunday of Easter (BCP: fourth Sunday after Easter)

8.00 am Holy Communion (1662)

9.30 am Nine Thirty Start (All-age Service

10.30 am Parish Eucharist

This Week:

MONDAY 10.00 am Coffee Morning (Parish Hall), Friends of Westfield Church    

WednESDAY 9.30 am Holy Communion; 7.30 pm   Mid-week Study Group – Cockmartins, Westfield Lane,  

SATURDAY 10.30 am   Caring & Sharing – Eucharist to Celebrate 30 year anniversary (St. Mary’s Church, Eastbourne)

Wednesday Bible Study continues this week, starting at 7.30pm at Howard and Cathy’s home, Cockmartins.  We will be looking at the book of Acts. Come and join us, you will be very welcome.

Prayer Team. At St John’s there are always someone from the prayer team available at the back of the North aisle after the 9.30am service and after the 10.30am Family Service to pray confidentially with anyone who wants someone to pray with them. If you would like someone to pray with you just go and ask.Family Support Work. Today is the first Sunday of the month. At St John’s we have the opportunity to donate gifts of non-perishable food, to be used by the diocesan Family Support Work Outreach Team in HollingtonCaring and Sharing. Valerie Richardson has recently taken over as co-ordinator for the Caring and Sharing project from Rena Mitchell and thanks Rena for her long, efficient and caring work. We support a project in Columbia that helps street children in Medellin.  Please do ask me if you would be interested in joining our group. This year we are celebrating 30 years of the Caring and Sharing project. There is a special Eucharist at St Mary’s Church in Eastbourne on Saturday 12th May at 10.30a.m. Bishop David Wilcox is the speaker

Friends of Westfield Parish Church. The Friends are holding a Coffee Morning and Book Fayre in the Parish Hall on May Day Bank Holiday Monday, 7th May from 10.00 am until noon. There will be a number of stalls including Tombola and Plants, and we hope that many of the church members will be able to support our fundraising event.

Where on Earth is Nicaragua? Come and join us for an evening of local food, music and inspiring stories about the Bible Society’s work in Central America among needy children and their families. Monday 28th May at 6.30pm in Rye Baptist Church. Tickets cost £7. Please buy them from Helen and Michael: 752052 or Maureen: 751558 (Westfield); or Derek: 812790 (Guestling).Help for Heroes. Summer Picnic, Sunday 10th June 2012 at Southings, Westfield. Bring your own Picnic Luncheon (prize for best picnic). 12 noon to 5pm-ish. Military Music, Stalls, “Ritzy” raffle, Shooting Gallery. Strawberry teas available; tickets £10 in advance or £12.50 on gate. For tickets or for further details please contact Michael or Fleur on 01424 751217.

Church Finances. We continue to work hard to balance the books and thank every member of the congregation for their continued financial support. We are more than aware of the precarious financial climate in which we live, but thank God for the generosity of our congregation.  As always throughout the year it is inevitable that we lose a few regular contributors to parish funds. We remind everyone that even without a Vicar we still have to pay our contribution to the Diocese as well as all the other regular parish expenses. Any increase in regular giving is always welcome and there are ways to increase the funds that we receive without necessarily increasing the amount you give. If you are a UK tax payer then the Gift Aid scheme allows us to claim back the tax on every pound donated to us. For further details please speak to Peter Aubrey or Brian Collins.

Advance notice of forthcoming events. Further details will appear in the weekly notices and parish magazine.

May 7th (Bank Holiday Monday) Loaf Project - May Day Cycle Ride from Canterbury to Hastings or for those who prefer, to walk, Join one of the Loaf Walks. A choice of 4, 9 or 18 mile routes exploring country footpaths and beautiful areas between Rye and Hastings. (Please see church notice board for further details).

Westfield Community Choir meets on Wednesdays, from 7.30-9pm in the Community Dining Hall.  New singers are welcome, and can treat their first one as a taster session (£5).  Ring 01424 753684 for more information.

The Parish Assembly was held on Monday, April 30.  Around 60 villagers enjoyed wine and nibbles before the business of the meeting. The Vice-Chairman, James Woodhead, briefly described some of the matters dealt with during the preceding year. The Westfield Down project is slowly moving forward, and will be an excellent facility for the village when it eventually happens. Other planning issues were outlined. The Parish Council have replaced play equipment, given a grant to the Playgroup to help establish their garden, and are funding a much needed lollipop person at the school crossing.

The Community Volunteer Awards were presented to a number of people who have made significant contributions to the community.  The Rose Bowl was presented to Jean and Wilf Tomsett, who have hosted the village carols around the tree for 36 years – and provided hot soup afterwards.  Certificates of thanks were awarded to Ken Marsh for looking after the Bowls Club grounds so beautifully, to Rachel Pritchard for all she does running the Rollerbooting Club, to Joyce Evans, Amanda Helm and Sue Stephenson for producing the wonderful ‘The Secret Cooks of Westfield’ book, to Sarah Howard for all her work for the Youth Group and children’s events, and to Richard Joy and the staff of Westfield News for their help in supporting the community.

Carl Maynard outlined the advantages that the link road will bring, and said that pressure would be needed to build a Baldslow link. He also said that fast broadband was on its way.

Finally, plans were discussed for the planting of a Jubilee Oak.

Westfield School News. We are collecting Sainsburys and Tesco vouchers and are very grateful for any villagers donations. They are welcome to drop into the school office or Richard at the newsagent is happy to collect them for us. If anyone has any spare tractor tyres, our Reception class is looking for a few for their outdoor area for planting. Please can people call the school office before donating just incase we get a huge response.Westfield Football Club is closing their season with plans underway for their annual ground work & maintenance programme. Should you wish to be involved & are able to offer some help or support please email the Secretary Gill Jordan on [email protected]

The Westfield Hub. The Hub had a busy and successful re-opening at ‘The Plough’ last Friday morning, and will continue to meet there every Friday from 10-12noon for coffee, chat, book exchange and use of computers. Please support the Hub Quiz night on Sunday, May 13, with refreshments kindly supplied by landlord Martin Hope. This is for teams of up to six people, and costs £4 per person, including food. Registration is at 7pm for the 7.30pm start.

Have you returned your entry form for the Westfield Horticultural Society Jubilee Scarecrow Competition which runs from 2 to 9 June? The closing date was April 30, but late entries can just be accepted if you hurry. Forms are available from Archers Butchers and Westfield News. Please support the Friends of Westfield Church Coffee Morning on Bank Holiday Monday, May 7 in the Parish Hall from 10am to 12 noon. There will be the usual stalls, including a raffle, books, cakes, bric-a-brac and tombola, as well as a chance to chat with friends over tea and coffee for just 50p.

A handsome visiting bird has been happily making himself at home in Cottage Lane gardens for the last three weeks, and at the time of writing (30 April) is still in his favourite garden. He has been identified as a Gambel’s Quail, and is presumed to have escaped from an aviary. Do you know anyone who is missing him? Please make contact via the village website www.westfieldvillage.co.uk if you can offer any information.

The Sedlescombe and Westfield Club of the East Sussex Disability Association (ESDA) is looking for new members.  ESDA is a charity organisation led by disabled people and provides expert advice, information and practical support. There are 21 groups around the County that provide outings and activities which range from lunches, afternoon teas, visits to places of interest and just getting together for some good companionship. ESDA has dedicated accessible coaches with fully qualified driver attendants that provide a door to door service for members.  The Sedlescombe and Westfield Club goes out on the second Thursday of the month, and the next outing is to ‘The White Hart Inn’ at Catsfield on 10 May.  Members participate in fundraising to keep the costs down, so there is simply a contribution requested towards the transport. If you fancy getting out and about, making new friends or if you would like to volunteer to help, please give Marianne a call at ESDA on 01323 514531 or [email protected].  Visit www.esda.org.uk for more information.

Westfield Rollerbooting Club meets at Westfield Community Hall every Friday from 4.30-6pm. It costs £1.50 per child and there is a tuck shop available. Very small children younger than about 3 must be accompanied by an adult. Organisers are CRB checked and first aid trained. There are some spare boots available to borrow. Further information is available from Rachel Pritchard 07866 894397.

Westfield Community Hall is now available for hire on Monday evenings from 7.15pm. It also has a Facebook page. Ring 01424 754446 to book the hall.

Westfield resident author Nick Brown continues his guided walks in the area, all carry a charge of £3 per person. All walks are circular and start at 10.30am, and dogs are welcome.

Please check his website www.spanglefish.com/1066routes for more detailed information.

It is advisable to book in advance by ringing Nick on 07918 907265. Nick’s book ‘The 1066 Country Walk’ is recommended by the 1066 Tourist Board and signed copies are available from him. Future guided walks include :

Saturday 26th May @ Guestling

Saturday 9th June @ Brede

Wednesday 13th June @ Great Dixter, Northiam

Thursday 21st June @ Battle

Sunday 8th July @ Firle

Wednesday 15th July @ Queens Head, Icklesham

Saturday 28th July @ Bodiam Castle

Sunday 26th August @ Pevensey

Saturday 8th September @ Alfriston

Wednesday 19th September @ Ticehurst/Bewl Water

all of which are featured in the Exploring East Sussex Magazine

Nick is also the organiser of the 1066 Relay. The second staging of the 1066 Relay takes place very soon on Sunday, May 6, with 50 - 60 teams from the South East expected to take part. The 33.25 mile course follows the 1066 Country Walk, starting in the grounds of Pevensey Castle. The route passes such iconic landmarks as Herstmonceux Castle and Battle Abbey, before going through some breathtaking countryside between Westfield, Icklesham and Winchelsea to finish in Rye. The event raised over £1600 for local charities last year.  Nick is looking for volunteers to marshal in the Westfield, Doleham and Icklesham areas; ring him on 07918 907265 or visit the race website: www.spanglefish.com/1066relay.

The Westfield Wildlife website is worth a visit. Go to http://westfieldwildlife.wordpress.com to share wildlife observations. Any wildlife observation whether mammal, bird, insect, or flower may be posted on the website, and photos are particularly welcome. Have you seen a hedgehog recently? Westfield Wildlife is appealing for all hedgehog sightings, including any road casualties, because their numbers have declined so drastically over the last few years

Westfield Golf Fellowship’s result from Chart Hills on April 26 is as follows. The winner with 40 points was Matt Drinkwater, runner up was Tim Cheal on 37 & 3rd was ME on 36. 8 other prizes were won by different players on a sunny but windy day. Their next competition is the annual 3 day tour in June, this year returning to Bournemouth. Again this is full. For more information please contact Nick or [email protected]

Rye & District Lions would welcome enquiries from any adult in the area who would like to have fun whilst raising money for those less fortunate who should ring 01797 252921 to find out more about the Lions or visit their website at www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/ryedistrict/ for information. The Lions now have a video; just type in ‘The Lions Story’ on Youtube to find out all about the Lions. Rye Lions next major fund-raising event is the Annual Rye Raft Race & Fete on Sunday 5th August and any organisation wishing to enter a raft should ring Bob Harvey on 0845 833 2825. Stall places at the Fete are filling fast and stall-holders wishing to reserve a space should contact Reg Emson on 01797 224174.

The Rye and District Association of the National Trust hold a variety of local walks.If you wish to take part in any walk please confirm at least 24hrs before by email: [email protected] or phone: 01797 260637.

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

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

George Sunderland, Heathlands