Winchelsea village voice

The cost is £5 per person for the 90 minute tour and the funds will go to archaeology in Winchelsea. Please contact 01797 225333 or [email protected] for tickets.

This Sunday (19th August) Strand Hill will be closed from 10 am to 8 pm for the filming of the Red Slipper. The cast includes Sir Donald Sinden and Phil the Postman and if you would like to be an extra please phone 01797 224446. Entertainment Workshops from Rye will be doing the filming, so please come along, take photos and watch this fascinating re-enactment.

There will be no 8am morning service at St Thomas’ Church but the Choral Eucharist service will be as normal at 10.30 am. The next 8am service is on Sunday 26th August and there will be no weekday services until further notice. During the interim period before a new Rector is selected St Thomas’ Church is well supported by visiting clergy and the service this Sunday will be conducted by Revd. Paddy Buxton. Please continue attending the services and also bring your friends.

The Mobile Library will be in Castle Street at the usual time of 1.40 to 2.10 pm on Wednesday 22nd August for books and information.

Next Friday 24th August the Rain Or Shine Theatre Company will be staging an outdoor performance of Shakespeare’s As You Like It. This annual event will be held the garden of Cleveland House at 7 pm with a 20 minute interval at 8.30 pm and ending at 9.40 pm. At 6 pm the garden is open for picnics and you will need to bring your own seating and drinks, also wheelchair access is available. Tickets are £13.50 adults and £6 per child under 16(contact 225333) and proceeds are in aid of Winchelsea Bonfire.

The annual Winchelsea Art Exhibition will be held over the Bank Holiday weekend in the Lower Court Hall. On Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th August opening hours are from 10 am to 6 pm and on Monday 27th August at 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is free and tickets can be purchased for the Grand Raffle. The pictures are by local artists and are for sale with the proceeds in support of Winchelsea Millennium Artefacts Society to preserve and maintain the town sign, beacon and tapestry.

Also taking place during the Bank Holiday weekend is the Winchelsea Book Fair 2012. This big event in Winchelsea’s calendar is on Friday 24th & Saturday 25th August from 10 am to 5 pm in the New Hall. Thousands of books, all carefully sorted by subject will be sold at great prices and the charities to benefit include our local hospital, Macmillan Cancer Support, Friends of the ancient Monuments and Museum and the Winchelsea New Hall Society. The Book Fair is accepting good quality hardback and paperback books up until Monday 20th August and donated books can be delivered on Sunday 19th August after 2 pm or on Monday 20th after 11am to the New Hall Winchelsea, or call Mike de Smith (01797 223559) to arrange collection.

You will need to book ahead for the Cellar Tours charity event next weekend as arranged by the Friends of the Ancient Monuments & Museum of Winchelsea. The dates are Friday 24th and Saturday 25th August starting at 11 am by the Town Well in Castle Street. The cost of £5 includes a booklet and you should bring a torch and wear sensible shoes. Please contact 01797 229525 (mornings only) or [email protected] for tickets.

Icklesham Parish Council is organising a poll for Winchelsea residents to ask if the footway lights should be turned off at midnight to 5.30 am each day, as a means of reducing costs. This has been an ongoing issue which IPC hopes will be resolved through residents voting on the matter. The poll will take place between 4 and 9 pm on Thursday 30th August (2012) in the Court Hall and all are welcome to vote.

Cindi Cogswell, 31 Highfords, Icklesham