Winchelsea

Christmas festivities are well underway in Winchelsea and to begin with there is the Winchelsea Singers Carol Concert. This is held tomorrow (Saturday) at 7 pm in St Thomas’ Church and entrance is £10 by programme at the door. Seasonal refreshments will be available and the proceeds are in aid of St Michael’s Hospice and church funds.

The St Thomas’ Church services for this Sunday 16th December begin with the 8 am Eucharist led by Revd Dick Dengate. At 10.30 am the Rt. Revd Laurie Green, former Bishop of Bradwell will be leading the Sung Eucharist. You are invited to stay for tea/coffee after the service.

An Evocation of the Spirit of Christmas will be presented by the Pegasus Choir of London and world famous storyteller Ann Rachlin, on Sunday 16th December, 6.30 pm in St Thomas’ Church. The tickets are £10 each which includes a glass of mulled wine and are on sale at Winchelsea Post Office (01797 229525) and proceeds will go towards church funds.

The popular Carol Singing Round the Town is held over two nights, Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th December from 6 till 8 pm. Please meet in the porch of St Thomas’ Church and you are advised to wrap up well. Children accompanied by adults are very welcome and the door-to-door, street collection is in aid of Shelter.

If you would like to participate in decorating St Thomas’ Church in seasonal, Christmas adornment please come along to the church on Thursday 20th and Friday 21st December from 10 am to 4 pm. Experienced or not all are invited to help and if you have any holly with berries, particularly variegated, let Nigel Ashton know by contacting 07786 266260.

A Bridge playing group made a successful start in October and now meets weekly on Thursday afternoons from 2 to 5 pm in the Court Hall. The group is a mixture of beginners, improvers and the really good but the object is to play the card game in a relaxed social way and this seems to be happening. If you want to find out more please contact Howard Norton via [email protected] or just turn up.

The Friends of the Ancient Monuments (FOAM) are holding their annual Carols in the Court Hall on Friday 21st December at 6.30 for 7 pm. Everybody is invited, entry is free and drinks plus nibbles will be provided.

If you have not yet purchased your tickets for The Wind in the Willows production by the Rain or Shine Theatre please contact 01797 224446 (Bonfire Boyes) or email [email protected]. The tickets are Adults £9 and Children £4 and the performance is held on Friday 28th December at 4 pm in St Thomas’ Church.

December’s Church Market raised the helpful sum of £355.10 for church funds. A date for your diaries is the next church market which is on Saturday 5th January at the same time and place.

Winchelsea Beach

Don’t forget that the St Richard’s Christmas Fellowship Lunch is this afternoon (Friday) at 12 for 12.30 pm in the Community Hall. The number to contact is 01797 227168 to check for reservations.

On Sunday 16th December there will be a Parish Eucharist at St Richard’s Church led by Revd Canon Richard Orchard, beginning at 9.15 am.

The WBCA has organised a Carol Concert in the Community Hall to which you are cordially invited. This will be on Monday 17th December beginning at 7 for 7.30 pm.

The annual Over 60s Christmas Meal will take place on Wednesday 19th December at 3.30 for 4 pm in the Community Hall. For paid subscription members the meal is free.

The issue of flooding which includes sewage in the rear gardens of homes at the eastern end of the village (as noted by the Icklesham Eye Autumn newsletter) is that the problems have now been identified. So far the relevant agencies are working with the Parish Council to decide how to resolve the matter which has been a long-term problem.