Whatlington

Alex Goodman

The Royal Oak

Tonight (Friday July 5) is Film Club Night at The Royal Oak when we shall be watching the Award winning “Life of Pi” at 8pm in The Barn. This film, a 3D live action/computer animated adventure drama focussing on a 16-year-old Indian boy “Pi” who is shipwrecked at sea with a Bengal tiger, won the most Oscars last year. We show films every three to four weeks at The Royal Oak to Film Club members and the subscription is only £7.50 for the year to watch as many films as you like, so if you would like to join please contact [email protected].

Well done to The Pheasant Pluckers who won the quiz last week and after a hat-trick of wins, finally won the jackpot! The quiz takes place every Thursday at The Royal Oak from 8pm, entry is just £1 per person for teams of up to six. It’s getting very busy each week, so booking a table for your team on 01424 870492 is advisable!

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Royal Oak Boules team has been in fine form over the past few weeks now that the season is very much underway. Currently top of the league, the team would welcome your support on Wednesday evenings (and let’s face it, how much of an excuse do you need for a mid-week drinkie?!). There is a home game this week (10th) and don’t forget Wednesdays is also Curry Night at the pub when you can get a curry and pint for just £7!

The next Village Hall Jumble Sale is on Saturday 13th July at 10am, so if you have any jumble you would like to donate please drop it off at the pub or contact Angie on 01424 870087. Any help on the day or the Friday afternoon before would be very much appreciated, so if you fancy getting involved please call Angie. I notice that this is on the same day as the school’s summer fete (details below), so you could be out and about and grab a bargain at the jumble sale then head on down to the school!

Come along for a fun filled family afternoon at the Mountfield & Whatlington Primary School Summer Fete on Saturday 13th July from 11.30 until 2pm. The massive bouncy assault course will delight the kids (or adults if you are brave enough), and there will be stalls, games and treats for everyone. Be tempted by our delicious BBQ and beguiled by the Sheikh’s Delight Dance Troup. Partake in a Pimms or Grab a beer and enjoy the excellent live band, Sarah G & The Other 3. Outside stalls are very welcome at a fee of £10 per pitch. Please call Mrs Davis (01580 880587) for details. See you there for the chance to win some amazing prizes in our Grand Raffle Draw.

News from our Church Warden Jeffrey Bridges:

The evening of Friday June 28 saw a very successful fund raising event for the Church Appeal Fund. Charles Moore, former Editor of The Daily Telegraph and authorized biographer of Lady Thatcher very kindly gave a talk to raise funds for the church. The subject was some background to his research for the recently published Vol. 1 of Lady Thatcher’s authorised biography, giving a most interesting insight into the subject and shedding a new light on various aspects of Lady Thatcher’s life. The talk was followed by a series of questions, again all very interesting. Following the talk copies of the book signed by the author were available for sale, with all profits going to the church.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Leeford Place Hotel kindly allowed the church the use of suitable facilities and there was a good attendance, with everyone enjoying the evening. After deduction of expenses the evening raised the sum of £900 for the church appeal, the largest sum raised by a single activity and we are most grateful to Charles Moore and to all those who helped make the event such a success.

The work with the church restoration continues to make steady progress, the floor now has a good surface with the screed laid over the pipes for the under floor heating. The electrician continues to work in the building and a lady conservator is working to clean the smoke and fire discolouration from the stonework, the level of work depending upon the type of stone, it mostly being either Wealden sandstone which is more porous or Portland stone which cleans more easily.

The architect and wardens have now lodged the formal application with the diocese for the necessary planning permission for the final stage of the works. The Church of England operates in this respect, within a legal framework reflecting its status as the established church for England and the process cannot be hurried!

Church services for the coming month are as follows:, all in the Village Hall unless otherwise stated: Sunday 7th 08.30 Parish Communion, Sunday 14th All Age Worship at 10.30, Sunday 21st is the church Patronal Festival weekend, so there will be two services, 08.30 Parish Communion and Patronal Evensong at 6pm (time to be confirmed). The Patronal Evensong will be held in the churchyard and if wet inside the actual church building, this is one of the major services of the year and everyone is very welcome, but bring your own chair! Light refreshments will be served after the service. For the last Sunday of the month, the 28th we shall again be at 08.30 in the Village Hall.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Finally, on Saturday 20th June there will be Cream Teas served in the Village Hall, as part of the Patronal weekend, this will be between 2pm and 4pm and as always everyone is very welcome.

If you have any events or news that you would like included in your Village Voice, then please email me [email protected]

Related topics: