Iden

A QUIZ NIGHT: There will be a Quiz Night, in Iden village hall, on Saturday 22nd October at 7pm, for 7.30. Tickets are on sale in Iden Stores, or you can ring Ray Griffin [telephone 01-797 280311]. Tickets cost £8, [which includes food] Everyone is welcome.

A SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION: There will be a service of Holy Communion in Iden Parish Church, this Sunday at 9.30 am.

POP-IN: The next Pop-In is on Monday 17th October, at 11am, in Iden village hall. Do come along.

BINGO: PLEASE NOTE. Bingo will be on Thursday 27th October, in Iden village hall. Doors open at 2pm, Eyes down at 2.30pm Do give it a try Everyone from the Rye area is welcome.

JUMBLE SALE ON 5TH NOVEMBER: There is a jumble sale on Saturday November 5th, in Iden village hall, at 10am. Donations will be gratefully received [no electrical goods] Please ring Chris Slater [telephone 01-797 280467], and she will advise where to leave contributions.

TAI CHI: There is Tai Chi, every Tuesday morning [10am-11.30am] in Iden village hall. It’s proving very popular. Please ring Madeline [01-797 280136]. Or email, [ [email protected]] if you would be interested in joining.

‘KNIT AND NATTER’: There is a ‘Knit And Natter’ afternoon [2pm-4pm,] in Iden village hall, on Tuesday 25th October .Everyone is welcome to chat, while doing some knitting or favourite craft.

THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: The meeting, on Tuesday, 4th October, was chaired by Ray Griffin. It opened with a guest speaker, Catherine Igoe, from the ‘Romney Marsh Partnership, which is an economic development partnership, consisting of 5 different local authorities cross - border. There are members from DSSG, MAGNOX, NDA, EDF, KICC, educational providers, LAA, Rye Partnership and Brett Aggregates, supported by Maddox. There is a Romney Marsh Delivery Plan [2014-2017] to deliver and enable projects in the area, thus promoting jobs and visitors to the area. Businesses such as specialist ales and Romney Marsh Woollens, are starting up. The closure of Dungeoness, may encourage smaller start-up firms, for further nuclear development. Catherine emphasised that encouraging further education and skills is important in rural areas, keeping us alive, vibrant, and solvent.

Councillor Keith Glazier, chairman of East Surrey Council spoke about Pett, requesting a 30 MPH , sign, provision of which is to be assessed. Keith said that 23.5 million has to be saved by East Surrey, so acceptable cuts will have to be made. Councillor Paul Osbourne, chairman of Rother District Council, spoke about the importance of ringing up or going on line to register on the Electoral Roll. Iden Parish Council is to pay for a survey to have trees assessed for bat invasion, and also to pay to have trees felled which are considered a danger to the public. The bat problem needs sorting, bats of course being a protected species. That and the dilemma of the Playing Field, car park becoming flooded at times are cause for concern. All these problems could potentially cost considerable amounts of money, requiring council’s deliberation, as our financial precept stretches only so far. Bill Heady [who is ever helpful] is to repair the roof of the Elsmead bus shelter. The next Parish Council meeting will be on Tuesday 1st November, in Iden village hall, at 7.30pm.

A VERY SPECIAL TRILOGY: When you think about it, Autumn owns the complete box set, Harvest Festival, Halloween and Guy Fawkes, and all so eminently unique. Harvest Festival, a celebration of sustenance, pays homage to the work of farmers and gardeners just at the right time, when the fields are tilled ready for next year’s onslaught of edibles. All over the country on Church altars, the fruits of their labours are laid out to be blessed. Cape Gooseberries [the colour of carrots], are tucked into floral displays, amongst the Dahlias, Gladioli, Golden Rod and Michaelmas Daisies. Autumn is nothing if not a riot of colour .Then comes Halloween. [It doesn’t do to face Halloween without Pick ‘N ‘Mix does it?]. Not when you open the door with a thudding heart to the would be Boris Karloff’s of this Parish, dripping fake blood. Last year we had a whole family of ghouls and witches knock on the door. Even the baby was dressed as a mini-witch. A lot of thought went into that tableau, and children, will remember for the rest of their lives, how they dressed up in the hopes of getting some sweets. It’s a grand thing to have life punctuated by tradition. Guy Fawkes of course, is separated from Halloween by only a few days [they are practically twins]. Split only by historical detail. The poor old guy gets all dressed up, just to be burnt on the bonfire [and just when you’ve formed a little attachment]

My grandchildren are now lighting their own fireworks, so I spend a good deal of the evening praying and yelling at them to be careful [if I had my way they would all still be strapped to a pushchair, but I suppose growing up is obligatory !]. Children are such would-be arsonists aren’t they? Born attracted to fire. Good old November 5th though. It’s a celebration packed with life’s wonderful ‘B’s’, baked beans, bangers , bonfires, baked potatoes and be careful’s……..AMAZING!

CONTACT ME: If anyone has anything to add to the Village Voice, please ring Gill Griffin telephone 01-797 280311.

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