Whatlington Village Voice

It was a great success and I must also thank all the ladies who so kindly baked delicious cakes and meringues for everyone to enjoy, those who were kept so busy serving tea to over 70 people, and most of all to Charlotte for giving up her valuable time to talk to such an appreciative audience.

The audience listened intently whilst Charlotte talked about the reasons for writing” Hancox. A Home and a Family”, and how she obtained all the necessary background knowledge.

She also told the story of Milicent Ludford, a twenty year old who purchased Hancox in the 1880`s, with a legacy she had received after being orphaned. Milicent was Charlotte’s great grandfather’s second wife.

He had attended Cambridge, became a doctor and rose to become president of the Royal College of Physicians.

The sum of £478.50 was raised in aid of the Parish Church’s Appeal Fund.

On the Monday before this event, Sarah from BBC Radio Sussex/Surrey emailed me and asked me to contact her .

Sarah asked me if I would like to answer four general knowledge questions and in return I could have some “air” time to promote “An afternoon with Charlotte Moore”.

I felt that I could not do this so I mentioned that Charlotte may do it. In fact Charlotte did do this live on the Radio and advertised our afternoon. Thank you for being such a good sport Charlotte!

At the above event, I had the pleasure to meet Charlotte’s father who asked me to let you know about Battle & District Historical Society Diamond Jubilee Lectures, which will be held on Saturday 23rd October at St. Mary’s Church Battle, 10am-4.30pm.

The speakers are Dr Harriet Harvey Wood, “England after the Norman Conquest, Professor Robert Swanson, “Dissolution of the Monasteries & Battle Abbey and Dr. David Kynaston “Britain in 1950. The entry cost is £15 which includes a year’s membership to the above Society.

Battle & District Historical Society offers the local community a forum for enjoying all aspects of British history, including the very rich local history of the Battle area. The Society features a year round series of lectures, occasional excursions and a small research group devoted to local history.

The lecture programme has a tradition of attracting first class speakers and meetings are held at 7.30pm in St. Mary’s Church Hall on the second Friday on each month except August. I notice that Charlotte Moore is giving a talk on Aunt Barbara & Her Fireplace on February 11th 2011.

For more information on the society, all the dates and lectures in 2011 please contact the Hon Secretary, Neil Clephane-Cameron on 01424 775590 or visit the website www.battlehistorysociety.btk.com

The national publicity for “Will Aid” started in September, giving people ample time to look at their current wills and decide whether it needs updating or not.

In November many solicitors will be giving their services free to charge for writing a straightforward will or updating a will, although they will be asking if you would like to make a donation to the Will Aid charities.

The local solicitors participating in the scheme are... Pengelly & Rylands of Tenterden; contact Mrs Gill Snow,(01580 762248) H & R Hughes Solicitors Llp; contact Mrs Hilary Hughes (01435 800101) & EMD Law of Staplehurst; contact Miss Kirsty Brown (01580 890600).

I realise with all the cuts being announced this week it maybe hard for you to think about leaving monies in your will to a charity and I also understand that many charities can only exist through our giving, so perhaps if we all gave a little, we would indeed achieve great things.

Do think seriously about giving to your favourite charity by leaving an amount to them in your will!

The popular service held each year around the end of October, will this year be held on November 12th at 6.30pm at the Village Hall.

The service of Light & Laughter is as the title suggests, a service of light and laughter, followed ,weather permitting, by a barbecue, to which you are all invited.

The format of the service is very light hearted; a few modern songs, which you all know, a talk by Canon Alan and maybe a reading.

This week we received a further £20.00 in memory of the late Syd Crouch and £508.00 in memory of the late Evelyn Micklem, for the Appeal Fund.

I wonder if you can guess the balance of the Appeal Fund now? I will let you know the answer next week when I write about the progress at the church.

A big thank you both of these families who have so kindly chosen the Appeal Fund to benefit from donations.

For those who have not purchased their Christmas Cards yet I shall be selling Christmas Cards, in aid of the Church Appeal Fund, at the Village Hall , today, Friday, from 9.30am-11.30am.

These individual cards, photographs taken by local people, depict wintry scenes of Battle & Whatlington and will appeal to those living in Battle & Whatlington.

The small cards cost 25p each and the large(still normal postage) cost 40p each or 3 for £1.00. Packets of 9x assorted Christmas Cards cost £2.00. I will also have postcards of Battle & Whatlington for sale.

Whilst you are browsing you could also enjoy a warm cup of coffee/tea!

Once again can I remind you that I am going to collect “goodies” for “Thank the Forces” to be sent out to Afghanistan in time for Christmas. I believe that it is so important for us to remember our soldiers, away from home and their families at Christmastime. In “giving” we are showing them that we care and remember them at this special time. “Goodies” can include sweets, biscuits, toiletries, coffee/tea; anything that is not perishable , or will melt in the heat of Afghanistan.

I will leave a box outside , by the front door at “Lismoyne”, Oakhurst Road, Battle, for you to leave any gifts you may like to donate, until the end of October “Thank the Forces” is a registered charity and is now listed as one of the charity’s on the MOD`s website.

Please remember that both men and women serve in the forces and any small gift is welcome

This week’s Parish Communion on Sunday will be held at 8.30am at The Village Hall.

All are welcome.

Hilda Aplin

Lismoyne Oakhurst Road