Winchelsea

‘Medieval Defences of the Cinque Ports’ is the title of the talk given by Dr Helen Clarke at the Second Wednesday Society’s next meeting. This will be on Wednesday April 9th in the New Hall at 2.30pm. The talk is followed by a home-made tea and the cost for members is £1 and for non-members £4 to include tea and talk.

If you can spare an hour on Thursday April 10th at 2pm to help in giving St Thomas’ Church a good spring clean you are very welcome to come along. Please bring cleaning items that would be useful. Last year it was a fun time for all and always the more the merrier with the jobs being shared out on the day.

On Friday April 11th the Literary Society will be meeting in the Court Hall at 7 for 7.30pm. From Russia with Love is the topic and members are invited to bring and read prose and poetry on a Russian theme.

The Garden Society’s annual Spring Show takes place next Saturday April 12th at 2pm in the New Hall. Admission is 50p and there will be teas, a raffle and plant sales. If you are considering entering your plants and spring flowers the full details of classes in the 2014 Show Schedules are available by contacting 01797 226062. Lots of entries from lots of people are very welcome and if you’ve never entered before now is the time to give it a try. All contributions for the Spring Show Raffle will be gratefully received (ring 226428) and the prizes should be mainly horticultural but can be bottles and edibles.

The Corporation is delighted to announce that Stephen Turner the current Mayor has accepted the nomination to be Mayor for a further year. The Mayor is assisted by Jurats, The Town Clerk, the Chamberlain and Sergeant- at-Mace whose appointments are also made at the Majoring Ceremony. This year there will also be the appointment of a new Town Clerk Angela Hill and the new Rector of Winchelsea the Revd Canon Robin Whitehead will take on the role of Mayor’s Chaplin. The Mayor of Winchelsea and officers of the Corporation are always appointed on Easter Monday and this has been going on for more than seven hundred years. This year Easter Monday is on April 21st and the ceremony begins at 11am in the Upper Court Hall where it has taken place since 1665. The primary function of the Corporation is to act as custodian of the Town’s Ancient Monuments, The Town Gates, Town Well and Court Hall and to represent Winchelsea as one of the Head Ports within the Confederation of Cinque Ports.

The Pipewell Gate restoration is the current project and the Corporation has raised just over £5000 during the last year and to everyone who has helped with this a big thank you. This will pay for the initial costs of establishing the specification of work required and submission of tenders from the specialist contractors. All possible support for the Corporation’s future fund raising events will be greatly appreciated so they can move forward with this essential work. An exhibition will be arranged shortly to show what is required and how much it will cost.

Winchelsea Beach

The Parochial Church Council will be meeting at St Richard’s Church this evening (Friday) at 7pm. Following the recent PCC elections agendas will have been given out in advance to all members.

St Richard’s Church will be having its monthly Evening Prayer service at 3.15pm on Sunday April 6th led by Canon Whitehead. After the service there will be light refreshments available.

The next St Richard’s Fellowship Lunch is on Friday April 25th in the Community Hall. This will be at the usual time of 12 for 12.30pm and it is necessary to book by contacting 01797 227168. During the meal there is a voluntary collection to help with expenses and for the various charities supported by St Richard’s.

Cindi Cogswell

31 Highfords, Icklesham