Icklesham

Magpies, Oast House Field

Saturday July 20 the Monthly Market in the Parish Church is popular with both villagers and an increasing number of visitors. Coffee, tea, cakes and light lunches are served in the cool beauty of the oldest church in the area. There’s a lot to buy. Might be good presents to take home. Home made goodies, cakes, jam ,plants, marmalade, personally made cards and now for the first time hand crafted jewellery.

Sunday July 21 10.30am Parish Eucharist in All Saints.Sunday July 21 A Garden Party in the walled garden of Manor Farm Oast hosted by Kate and Syd Mylrea in aid of Breast Cancer Care. There’s no entry charge but Ploughman’s Lunches are available for £5.50 which includes a glass of wine or a soft drink. Telephone bookings are needed for the lunch 01424 813787.Music by Ricochet, a gigantic raffle and a Pirates’ Treasure Hunt.

Sunday July 21 4pm-6pm the Queens Head Live Music Micro claim ‘’Small is Beautiful’’.

Last week a social group from the church visited the churches of Old Romney, Ivychurch and Fairfield. This was a fascinating look at very different places and ended with a fantastic afternoon tea in the Memorial Hall,Stone-in-Oxney provided by the WI who were both generous and considerate as they gave us ‘doggy bags’.

Fairfield Church’s isolated setting means it has often been used for filming. Its most recent starring role was on TV in Great Expectations, although a graveyard had to be built to fit in with Dickens. Old Romney’s church was completely redecorated with pink box pews for the Film Dr Syn. However it is a church divided. The hand guide said it was a Disney film whereas the guide book said it was Britain’s J.Arthur Rank.

Would n’t Icklesham’s Parish Church be great in a film -inside or outside - and the fees could help pay for the enormous cost of the essential repairs to the 1170 Norman tower. Any readers who produce films or TV programmes please note.

Icklesham Players have a busy weekend. This Friday evening at7.30 the AGM is in the Memorial Hall. The award of the Joan Baker Memorial Trophy will take place.

On Sunday auditions will be held for two one-act plays to be performed in September. Café Society is a comedy about three elderly ladies who gossip regularly in a café. Last Tango in Grimley follows the Little Grimley Amateur Dramatic Society as they try to increase their audience by staging a play with more sex in it.Three older women and two couples are needed. The Memorial Hall at 2.30pm is the time and place.

Sunday July 28 4pm the Memorial Hall. The Players are hosting a professional one man show with Martin Wimbush in Wellington. This play has had excellent reviews and is both written and produced by this well-known actor. Tickets are £8 from either Icklesham Stores or Nicky Harris 01424 812996.

Therese Croft of the Friends of Icklesham School reports on last Friday’s School Summer Fair:

Well, the sun did shine for us last week and you and your friends all turned out and made the school fair a great success.The fantastic sum of £1,250 was raised. The children sang and danced beautifully for Mrs Higgs.Thank you everyone who supported this event,to all the parents/carers,to everyone who ran a stall,cooked,helped set up and tidy up,donated items to be sold,baked,organised games or activities... the list goes on and on. It was good to see so many families enjoying the afternoon together.

A special thank you to the Robin Hood pub who provided so much for us.

Have a great summer, Therese.

The headteacher of Icklesham Church of England Primary School, Mrs Pauline Higgs, is retiring. This is her farewell message:

11 July 2013

The end of term is rapidly approaching and I would like to write and say a big thank you to everyone for their loyalty and support during my time as headteacher.It has been a privilege to have been your headteacher for the last 15-and-a-half years and yes, I am extremely sad to be leaving after so many happy times,but I am also looking forward to spending more quality time with my family and friends, travelling, gardening and experiencing new adventures…..!

Just in case I don’t m manage to see you all before I leave I do want to say a few special thank yous to:

*My husband Stephen and children Tim and Kathryn, who have supported me and understood the nature and demands of my job.They have never moaned about the numerous times I have been late home from school and have had to fend for themselves.They have also helped me out behind the s scenes with various school projects. Thank you.

The governors for supporting my phased headship which I feel helped to provide continuity through a period of change, after both Mrs Osborn and Mrs Stapley retired in July 2011. It also helped me to prepare for retirement and allow Mrs Robinson the opportunity to take over as headteacher. The governor role is becoming increasingly demanding and yet they do this job voluntarily. Thank you.

Mr Nigel Kirton who has been on the governing body almost as long as I have been headteacher and chair for the last several years and has given a great deal of his time to help the school, Thank you.

My amazing dedicated staff who all work so hard and have had to put up with my increasingly eccentric ways. Thank you for your loyalty, support and friendship.

The pupils who make the job what it is, who constantly amaze me with their achievements and sense of fun.To see children enter in reception, progress through the school and leave in year 6 ready for their next school, is rewarding in itself. Thank you.

The Friends -a small group of willing helpers who give their time so generously to raise much needed funds to benefit our school. To Mrs Therese Croft and helpers,our current committee, Thank you.

Last, but certainly not least, to you,the parents/carers and friends within the community, thank you for your continuing support and trust. I have really appreciated the way our relationships have developed over the years and the support you give your children in their education. Thank you.

Icklesham Church of England Primary School is a truly special place, a happy school, a family and it will always have a special place in my heart. I now entrust Icklesham School to you under the leadership and guidance of Mrs Robinson to continue this legacy within these changing and challenging educational times. I wish Mrs Robinson every good wish for the future and hope she will be as happy at Icklesham as I have been and I look forward to the school continuing to go from strength to strength.

I wish you all the very best for the future.

Pauline Higgs.