Iden Village Voice

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Hello Village Voice Readers, autumn has comfortably settled with night’s drawing in. Mother nature has changed her seasonal wardrobe (much like the rest of us). She chooses to dress the skies with pinks and oranges, with complimenting shades of greens, browns and oranges of the trees that slowly drop their leaves much like confetti decorating the grass below them. The cold sharp chill softened by the sound of birds and the sound of light-footed squirrels running through the newly fallen leaves. I was able to take this wonder in as I walked through the churchyard on the way to see a dear friend.

Iden's Remembrance Service | By Claire Carle

placeholder image — Iden's Remembrance Service | By Claire Carle

CHANGES ALL ROUND apologises to all for the lack of Iden news recently. I have been transitioning from one job to another. I have dusted off my folders from the past and decided to return to the education sector – as a teaching assistant at a local primary school. The positive to starting on the second half of the autumn term – is that the seasonal festivities are just around the corner with the words “Nativity” already being whispered along the corridor.

REMEMBRANCE SERVICE Throughout the week Nick, Chris and I have been busy in the afternoons. Raiding the loft for the remembrance boxes that I was sure were in a dark corner somewhere, while Christopher was on a Christmas box raid, unearthing old treasurers from my past and attempting to set my childhood toys free, which I would sooner were kept in the boxes and bubble wrap they were in. Then clearing, tidying and dressing the war memorial with wooden soldiers and poppies – Christopher eagerly helping as usual. I was negotiating the top of the memorial on a ladder - attempting to wrap a poppy garland clockwise, while my little helper at the bottom was wrapping the garland anti clockwise ---both of us completely bamboozled as to why its not working. Then the decorating of the hall - as we stand black edged picture frames one for each of our named fallen, a small amount of research, bringing them to life for yet another service. Sunday was here in a blink, we took the jeep down to the war memorial to act as a barrier across the small section of road and a set of road cones the other side, to keep our community safe as they stand for the service. As always, we are well supported by the residence of Iden. Rev’d Michael Georgiou led the service, with Ray reciting a reading, Nick once again read out the names and ages of our fallen, which always sadden us as we hear the youngest being only 16 years of age. Heather, an amazing lady herself at the age of 99 stood, the road traffic fell silent as she read “In Flanders Field”. Michael- our steadfast rock of the community read part of “The Fallen” by Robert Lawrence Binyon. We all stood in silence, as with every year by the war memorial, an eerie silence falls, not just by the people, but also the road traffic, the wildlife and the wind as if they too are paying their respects. After everyone’s efforts, I was now determined to make sure I was not going to let them down, as I connected the saxophone to her neck brace and readied myself for the end of the silence to be broken with my first poignant low note from the Last post –to the final high note. Rev’d Michael Georgiou concluded our service, and invited all to the hall for tea, coffee and cake. We walked on mass to the village hall, where the Village Hall committee were ready with a hot urn, the tea pot brewing, cups, saucers and spoons at the ready. I always make sure I take a moment to step back and take a mental photo of the event – watching friends and family talking and catching up with each other while also remembering the fallen who through sacrifice of their tomorrows, give us our todays.

The BELL PUB Message from the Committee “Our initial share offer was generously supported by the community, enabling us to buy The Bell. We will be asking for your support again, to help fund the restoration and refurbishment of the building. With that support the coming months will see significant milestones as we move towards reopening and welcoming The Bell back to the heart of Iden. Rother are considering our planning application, with a decision due by 29 November. Our aim is to restore and refurbish the building, improving it to the standard required to run a modern, successful, hospitality business. Crucially, we are also asking for a change of use to convert the first floor to three en-suite letting rooms, together with the existing rooms in the outbuilding they will give the business added resilience. Restoring The Bell after many years of neglect, the restoration needs to be comprehensive, repairing The Bell while preserving and enhancing its historic character. The building will additionally be brought up to current standards of fire safety and accessibility, together with a three-phase electrical supply, air-source heat pump and improved insulation. We have five building contractors tendering for the project and will be in a position to appoint the chosen company by early December. Tenancy agreement are being finalised, and legal agreements with our prospective publicans and their investors. They will fund the commercial fit-out and run the business once the restoration is finished. Our first community share offer provided the resources for us, together with Christopher Strangeways, to buy The Bell. The second will enable us to take the next step and fund the restoration and refurbishment of the building. We intend to launch the share offer in the New Year, once we have planning permission and have signed a legal agreement with our publicans. We will give more details in the coming weeks, including how much we need to raise and how people can get involved. Summer 2027 There is still a lot of work to do, but our eyes are firmly set on reopening and we're looking forward to welcoming everyone back! The Bell Committee”. INHS. On Friday 13th we welcome a new speaker to our society, Will Richardson, who studied palaeontology at Bristol University. He will take us back to around 186 million years ago to discover iconic groups, such as Ichthyosaurs and Plesiosaurs and will discuss the incredible diversity of life that there was during these times. Please come along and show your support for someone who is just starting out, on what will be, an all-consuming lifetimes journey. Membership is a minimum of £ 15, and visitors £4. Venue, Iden Village Hall, 7.30pm start.

HALLOWEEN PARTY On Saturday 31st October, Iden called all the ghouls, ghosts and undead under the age of 15 to congregate at the Village Hall. With activities ranging from Halloween cookie decorating, and potion making to slimy eyed goo and spooky pictures to colour in and everything in between. With just over 30 children it was a very popular event, and wonderful to see so many children that actually live in the village. Once all the activities had been exhausted. We then rounded up our mini monsters and their parents and walked on mass around the village trick or treating. Now at this point you’d think our villagers would have turned their lights off, locked their doors, and hide in the dark hoping that we would not call. But I had a little trick up my sleeve to make sure that it was a positive experience for all. I had decided to go around the village knocking on doors with just Christopher a few days before and explained what I was doing and if they would like us to knock or not and then made a note of all the ones who were expecting us. It all went extremely well – all our mini monsters were very very polite and only took 1 sweet each – the parents were all in good spirits and the finale was when we went to our last house who had not only decorated their garden but the adults had dressed up and entertained the children before handing out sweets and activities. Thank you to all who came, helped and joined in with the fun. See you all again next year.

HISTORICAL PHOTOS OF RYE. After a very successful event last year titled Past Postcards of Iden – the hall was packed and was a very popular 2-day event. Carol will be having another event on Friday 20th November and Saturday 21st. The village hall will be adorned with photos and postcards that Carol has been collecting most of her life. On Friday 20th at 6.30pm for only £5 entry - we will open the hall and have a PowerPoint presentation along with commentary from those of the audience who remember years gone by. There will also be refreshments for a small charge. If you had come and seen us on the Friday, you are then able to come back Saturday to look in more detail at the photos for Free. Anyone who could not make it on Friday, can come and see us on Saturday 21st form 10am -3pm for only £2.50 again refreshments will be available.

POLEHOLE ROAD, IDEN TN31 7. Upcoming roadworks on B2082 Iden Road, Playden. East Sussex Highways will be carrying out work on Monday 26th October to Saturday 14th November 7pm – 6am. The road will be closed during these hours, and diversion signals will be sending people via the A268 and A28. Bus Services will be affected.