Winchelsea

The May Charity: On Sunday May 31st St Thomas’ Church will be supporting ‘The Brooke’ charity with cash collections. This is an international welfare organisation that is committed to relieving the suffering of working horses, donkeys and mules in the continents of Africa, Asia and Latin America and covers 11 different countries which include India, Nepal, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Kenya as well as the Middle East. The charity does a remarkable job in providing free veterinary treatments for the animals and also offers practical assistance and training to their owners. An informative display on this subject with leaflets is at the back of the Church.

Church Guides: There is a sign-up list at the back of St Thomas’ for Church Guides going through the summer and into mid-September to help fill up some of the time slots each day. The volunteers who have taken part in the last two years have been of great benefit to the experience of visitors to the Church. This is borne out by comments in the visitors’ book with people encouraged by the welcome and having someone available to talk to and assist with purchases of books, guidebooks and postcards.

Secret Gardens: Some of Winchelsea’s Secret Gardens will be open to visitors next Saturday June 6th from 1 to 5.30pm, so do come along and see what these gardens have in store. The combined admission cost is £6, children free and there will be refreshments and plants for sale with proceeds in aid of the National Gardens Scheme charity.

Visit to Helen’s Garden: When Helen Yemm, the Telegraph Gardens Correspondent gave her talk at the Garden Society’s Winter Lecture the members asked if it would be possible for Helen to show them round her garden in Wadhurst. This has now been arranged for Wednesday June 10th at 5.30pm, so there will be time to go to the Second Wednesday’s talk first. There is room for up to 20 people and it will be on a first come, first served basis and the cost is £4. If you would like to come, please phone (01797 226524) or email Howard Norton (Chairman) and if you know people who are not on email and who might like to come, please pass the message on. It will mean sharing cars so if you can offer a lift or need one, please say and you will also be sent directions on how to get there.

The Tempest: Every year the Rain of Shine Theatre Company blesses Winchelsea with its presence and this year it will be performing the Tempest. The date of this outdoor event is Saturday June 20th at 7pm in St Thomas’ School Field and tickets are £13.50 p.p. and £6 children (contact 01797 224446). William Shakespeare wrote the play which opens with a ship in the midst of a storm created by the mystical character Prospero who explains that his enemies are on board the ship.

Winchelsea Beach

Wednesday Bingo: The fortnightly Cash Bingo evening is this Wednesday June 3rd at 7 for 7.15pm in the Community Hall. As usual tea, biscuits and a raffle will be at hand and players must be over 16 years of age.

Birdwatching: Next Saturday June 6th there will be an Introduction to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve at 10am and you do not need to book but donations would be appreciated. This is the second in the series of introductory walks and Barry Yates, the reserve manager, will be leading through Castle Farm, past Camber Castle and into the birdwatching hide at Castle Water. Rye Harbour Nature Reserve has been extended by 800 acres in the last few years since acquiring low-lying flood land from the Environment Agency and totals 1,149 acres. The walk is approximately 2.5 miles and you will need to meet at Brede Lock at 10am to be finished by 1pm.

Art on Wednesday: Every Wednesday from 10 am till 12 noon the Arts & Crafts for Fun group meets in the Community Hall. If you would like to come along, each week there is the opportunity of developing skills, techniques and putting your creative ideas into practise with like-minded others and the contact number is 01424 813928 to find out more.