Catsfield Village Voice

REMEMBRANCE

The Eucharist at St Laurence church last Sunday morning was preceded by an act of Remembrance. Father Robert read out the names of the men of Catsfield who gave their lives in two world wars and wreaths were laid in front of the Roll of Honour by representatives of the Church, the village school, the Parish Council and the WI. “We will remember them." 

CRAFT FAIR

There will be a Craft Fair held in the Catsfield Village Hall tomorrow, Saturday 14th November from 10am until 1.30pm. Local makers will be selling high-quality jewellery, hand-knits, textiles, cards, bunting, art and lots more.  Refreshments will be available and there’s free parking and free entry.  The sale is to raise money for the Alzheimers Society so do come along and support us and buy your Christmas gifts.

CHRISTMAS MARKET

The St Laurence Church ever-popular traditional Christmas Market will be held in the Village Hall on Saturday 28th November from 10am – 1.30pm. Entrance 50p and children free.  The hall will be full of attractive stalls heaving with gifts, home produce (such as chutneys, jams, cakes etc,) plants, toiletries, tombola, winter warmers and a raffle with prizes of Christmas hampers and other goodies. The kitchen will serve sausage rolls, sandwiches, scones, mince pies and mulled wine plus fresh coffee and teas. Do come along and feel the Christmas spirit, buy gifts and treats or just enjoy the refreshments with friends. We look forward to welcoming you.

CADS PANTO

We are performing Robin Hood on 3rd, 4th and 5th December with a matinee on Saturday, rehearsals are going well. Performances start at 7.30pm and 2.30pm for the matinee, ticket prices are £12 each and for the matinee, children are £6. You can book tickets via [email protected], or calling 07897970981 or from a member of the cast. Tickets are selling fast.  Come and watch us create mayhem, laughter and a couple of hours of musical fun.

CATSFIELD WI

The Village Hall had a different appearance for the recent meeting of the WI with groups of tables pushed together to enable members and visitors to share paints, multicolour paint pens, pencils and brushes etc in our ‘Crafternoon.’ There were several apologies for absence but there were at least thirty members present to sing ‘Jerusalem’ before the business matters were taken care of and we discovered what we would be making. Beryl, our secretary was our instructor and she showed us a considerable number of small slices of wood, patiently cut from branches by her husband David and then drilled with small holes for the insertion of cord with which to hang them once decorated.  Everyone set to and was given some inspiration by pictures of examples that Beryl had put on each table. There were comments of admiration and groans of disappointment from the less talented amongst us, but everyone had an enjoyable afternoon as we painted our pieces of wood.  David had also prepared a multi-pronged piece of tree on which we could hang the finished decorations so that we could all see other people’s efforts. A large selection of sandwiches, sausage rolls and cakes was awaiting us when we finished our creative efforts, not to mention welcome cups of tea. The Catsfield 100 Club and the raffle were both drawn before we retrieved our transformed pieces wood to hang on our Christmas trees at home when the time comes. The next meeting and the last of 2026, will be held on Thursday 3rd December at 2pm which will be the Christmas Party with teas served by the Committee.  The speaker will be former actor David Horne performing ‘Bah Humbug!’ which suggests a ‘Dickensian’ theme to the afternoon. David has performed for us twice before and we have always been surprised by his very talented and realistic portrayal of well-known characters from literature. We are reminded to bring a small gift that we would appreciate receiving ourselves and costing not more than £3 for the Bran Tub lucky dip. New members and visitors are always welcome.

JAN WRITES

How careful one has to be in this day and age regarding who to trust, scamming has become so prevalent that one has to be aware and one step ahead all the time. On a personal note, we have always been so fortunate – and still are – with the long-standing tradesmen such as the plumber, electrician and gardener and not forgetting friends and family. I would like to say a huge thank you to all concerned for the care and kindness given to me.  You give me faith in humanity and help me to remain independent.

ANN WRITES

Remembrance Sunday was celebrated in our parish church on Sunday and although not very well attended, the service was an emotive occasion.  The church looked immaculate as usual and the sun shone through that lovely stained window over the altar. Father Robert gave a well-researched sermon, reading out the names of those in both world wars who lost their lives defending our freedoms and he praised all those others involved in the conflict particularly the civilian carers and medical staff.  John Berryman played on the magnificent organ for the hymns and the National Anthem.  Wreaths were laid by the Church, Parish Council, WI and the school all in the presence of those ceramic poppies shining brightly and reminding us of the convivial meetings we had making them. 

No football this weekend, but volunteers from the cricket club were preparing the wicket for the winter hoping the rabbits don't make a mess of all their hard work.  Speaking of seasonal work in a rural community, the man who looks after my trees and hedges, has taken a break and gone to the east coast for a spell in his favourite occupation faggoteering!  Yes, it is a job long practised in our village woods after coppicing, when local people were allowed to enter the woods cutting, gathering and making faggots which had various uses, brooms, firewood, frames for vegetable growing and supplementing meagre winter wages.  My friend works with willow and hazel offcuts making bundles of faggots for fences in point to point and fences for professional race meetings.  It's hard work in the sometimes, inhospitable East Anglia, but he enjoys the companionship.

Some very sad news in the village is that the Pre-School is having to close after Christmas due to lack of children.  After so many years when it started as a Play Group and matured into what was a friendly and successful Pre-School of great benefit to local families and a feeder for the village school, it is a blow.  Apparently 23 children on the books is the ESCC criteria and our numbers were far short of that.  We send our sympathies to the staff and organisers and also regret that the sight of happy children playing in the Village Hall garden will no longer lighten our lives.  The Hall itself will lose this booking and income, but it is hoped the Committee can attract other hirers, which may benefit those who need day-time use.   Another example of how the village is changing.