Winchelsea village voice

This year they will be guests in the garden of Tina and Graham Alexander at 4 St Giles’ Close (off Rectory Lane, just past the New Hall). Please bring a plate of nibbles and a bottle of something (that you might like to drink and share...!). You will need to confirm with Tina at [email protected] whether or not you will be coming so that they can get a sense of numbers.

The annual Summer Fete is tomorrow 11th August on the Cricket Field, Winchelsea from 1.30-4.30pm. There will be a Fun Dog Show with 7 different classes to choose from, BBQ and Pimm’s Bar, many Craft Stalls, Games, Tombola and Grand Raffle. In addition an interesting range of Vintage Tractors, plus Food Stalls, while the Battle Town Band entertains. Do come and join in the fun and there will be plenty for all the family. The monies raised from the event are to support local charities and will include: St Thomas’s School, St Thomas’s Church, the Cricket & Bowls Clubs and Rye Sea Cadets who are helping on the afternoon.

During the Summer Fete Wesley’s Methodist Chapel (opposite the Cricket Field) is having an open afternoon from 2 to 4.30 pm. There will be a warm welcome for all visitors interested in looking around this chapel which dates from 1785.

Icklesham Parish Council is meeting on Monday 13th August in the Court Hall. The Planning Committee begins at 6.45 to 7.15 pm and this is followed by the Council meeting at 7.15 to 9.15 pm. Members of the public are invited to sit and listen at the meeting.

The filming of The Red Slipper is on Sunday 19th August by the Strand Gate. This is a small episode from Winchelsea’s history that involved soldiers marching off to the Boer War and a young girl from the town wearing a pair of red slippers. The incident took place in 1899 and was described in 1988 by Katharina Forbes-Dunlop. Strand Hill will therefore be closed from 10 am to 8 pm. Filming will be the handiwork of the local youth charity Entertainment Workshops and the cast includes two well-known names: Sir Donald Sinden and Philip the Postman, along with everyone else who would like to join in. If you would like to be an extra or join the production crew please call 01797 224446, otherwise all are welcome to come and watch. There will also be an exhibition of photographs and pictures on ‘The Winchelsea of Katharina Forbes-Dunlop’. Winchelsea Garden Society has arranged an outing to Woolbeding and Uppark on Thursday 23rd August. Woolbeding, near Midhurst, is a new National Trust Garden created by Tim Sainsbury and Stewart Grimshaw. This is described as a magical garden, beautifully designed, with meticulously chosen planting. The coach leaves the bus stop by the Town Sign at 9am and returns at approximately 6.30pm. Travel costs are £18 for members and admission to properties is free to National Trust members, otherwise you pay £6.50 at Woolbeding and £8.40 (£4.20 garden only) at Uppark, payable on entry.  Have you considered becoming a member of the Garden Society? The annual membership cost is only £3 and if you aren’t already a member please pay on the coach. Tickets for the event are now on sale at Winchelsea Post Office (open mornings only).

A soon coming date for your diary is the Autumn Flower Show on Saturday 8th September at 2.00pm in the New Hall. As the horticultural raffle at the Garden Society Spring Show was very successful the Society has decided to try and repeat it in September which means they need some attractive prizes.  If you could donate plants, garden produce (e.g.: honey, elderflower cordial…?) tools, gardening books, gloves, etc., that would be excellent.  (Non-gardeners might find a bottle of wine a very acceptable prize!).  Could you let Howard Norton know if you have items to donate? This is another opportunity to show your vegetables and flowers, and maybe try a class in the ‘Floral Art’.  Classes are available too for children and grandchildren.

Tickets are currently on sale for the Rye Festival event held at St Thomas’s Church on Wednesday 19th September at 7.30 pm. This will be La Serenissima Ensemble which is one of the UK’s leading historical performance ensembles and the group specialises in playing the music of Antonio Vivaldi and his contemporaries. The ticket price is £12 per person and can be purchased from Phillips & Stubbs in Rye between 9.30 am to 1.30 pm Mondays to Saturdays.

Good news regarding Dr Bill Docherty’s recovery. If you recall he was knocked off his bicycle last month by an unknown vehicle on Cheowns Hill while cycling home from the Conquest Hospital. The latest update is that he is now thankfully out of intensive care.

If you would like to meet your local PCSO Andy Smith, he plans to hold a surgery in the lay-by near to Winchelsea Motel at 10 am on Thursday 16th August.

Cindi Cogswell, 31 Highfords, Icklesham