Winchelsea village voice

On sale will be home-made and home-grown produce as well as coffee, tea, good company and entertainment from pianist Iain Kerr. The proceeds are in aid of church funds and thank you to all who supported the Church Market in March which raised £273.

The Diamond Jubilee Photographic Exhibition will be in the Lower Court Hall tomorrow from 10.30 am to 4 pm and on Sunday 3rd June at 1 to 4 pm. Taking the theme of the 1953 Coronation there will be photos and other records from the early 1950s including the life and community in Winchelsea.

German Street and the High Street will be closed to traffic tomorrow from 2 pm for the Diamond Jubilee Street Party at 4 to 11 pm. The shops will also close for the afternoon and the bus will be diverted at the corner of German Street and Back Lane. John and Declan at the New Inn will be setting up chairs and tables in front of the pub and of course drinks are on sale in the evening. If the weather turns unpleasant everyone is invited to retreat inside the pub. From 7 pm the party begins. There will be local singers John and Jacqueline who will perform on a stage and a juggler-cum-magician-cum-fire-eater who will wander round the tables. At about 9.30 pm a loyal toast will be proposed by Mrs Gore, Deputy Lieutenant of East Sussex and the National Anthem will be sung. Everyone is invited to the party which is free. A grant from the Police Property Fund will help to pay for insurance and the entertainment but more is needed so a raffle will be held and any donations would be appreciated. Families and guests are welcome and you will need to bring your own food, drink, chairs, tables, lanterns, barbeques and anything else and set up in the road from 2.30 pm. The road needs to be re-opened by midnight which means everyone clearing up after themselves. So let’s party and have a great Jubilee!

To commemorate the occasion the Diamond Jubilee Committee are keen to help young people in the area and at the same time produce a 21st century souvenir of the year. The plan is to finance some vocational training for young people by funding a project at the Entertainments Workshop in Rye Harbour. The project involves a team of apprentices filming live in Winchelsea over the Diamond Jubilee year. It will be screened next year and DVDs will be offered to every household. To finance the project fund-raising will take place over 2012 as well as match-funding from various grant-providing bodies including the District and Parish Councils. Clubs and societies may also wish to contribute as well as sponsorship from local firms (contact Tina Alexander, Chair).

St Thomas’s Church has a Holy Eucharist at 9.30 am on Sunday 3rd June which will be followed by the service of Thanksgiving at 11 am to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. The service will be arranged by organist and Director of Music Roger Marvin and the Mayor and Corporation will be present. After the service refreshments will be available. Also note that on that day there will be no 8 am Eucharist or service at St Richards Church.

Canon Rev’d Howard Cocks has also announced the date of his retirement which is Sunday 5th August when he will be taking up the offer of accommodation at Charter House in London. This will be after celebrating the 10.30 am Eucharist on that Sunday but there will be no 8 am or 9.15 am service that day.

W.A.S. Cellar Tour will be held on Sunday 3rd June at 2 pm starting in Castle Street. The tour costs £5 per person, lasts about 90 minutes and funds are in aid of archaeology in Winchelsea. If you would like to book tickets please contact Winchelsea Archaeological Society (01797 225333).

The East Sussex Morris will be Morris Dancing in Castle Street on Sunday 3rd June from 5 to 6 pm.

On Monday 4th June the Winchelsea Corporation and the National Trust are holding a Pre Beacon Firing Celebration on Monday 4th June from 7 to 9 pm in the New Hall. The theme is 50s and there will be music, food, drink and a dance display by Cinque Ports Lindy Hoppers. At 9 pm the party will process to the beacon led by Piper & Drummer. Everyone is welcome and admission is free!

A Diamond Jubilee Art Exhibition will take place in the Lower Court Hall on Tuesday 5th June from 10.30 am to 4 pm. The paintings are for sale by Winchelsea’s Art group and are in aid of Winchelsea Jubilee Fund. Admission is free and there will be light refreshments.

A recent discovery in Blackfriars Barn cellars depicting graffiti of medieval ships is considered to be of national importance and has been examined by a specialist. Winchelsea Archaeological Society will be presenting the results of this work in a talk entitled: ‘Winchelsea’s Lost Fleet: discovery of medieval graffiti’ on Tuesday 5th June at 11 am in the New Hall. Admission is £4 (members & under 16s free).

There will be a Lighting the Beacon ceremony on Tuesday 5th June beginning at 9 pm at the Beacon to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. This will be followed by a reception at the New Hall.

Don’t forget the New Inn will be holding its weekly Pub Quiz on Thursday 7th June starting at 8.30 pm.

‘Organ Music for a Royal Occasion’ will be performed by Roger Marvin on Saturday 9th June at 4 pm in St Thomas’s Church. This will be an informal concert to celebrate the Queen’s official birthday which is when the birthday of the monarch of the commonwealth is officially celebrated in those countries. It has been commemorated in the UK since 1748 and is currently celebrated on the first second or third Saturday in June when the weather is fine. Admission to the performance is free but there will be a retiring collection and refreshments will be available.

Cindi Cogswell, 31 Highfords, Icklesham