Mountfield

Rock Cottage

The exhibition of old photographs assembled for the launch of the Darwell Area Conservation Society is on its travels and will be on display at Brightling Flower Show. So if you weren’t able to make it to the DACS launch (perhaps you were cheering Andy Murray on), do go and have a look. The theme is the old farms around (and under!) the reservoir. The show is tomorrow (20th July), in the Tower Field, Brightling, from 2.30pm.

And talking of things horticultural, you can still pick up schedules for the Mountfield Flower Show from 9, Hoath Hill or 13, Eatenden Lane. The flower show is July 27 at 2.30pm in the village hall.

Mountfield and Whatlington School fête went ahead on a perfect summer’s day and proceedings were soon underway with all the stalls busy. There was dancing from the Sheik’s Delight Group followed by music and singing from Sarah G and the Other Three, both of which were enjoyed by everyone especially those sitting in the sunshine sipping Pimm’s! The bouncy castle, which this year as a special treat for the children was free, was very popular. The volunteers on the barbecue worked flat out, and our reporter tells us that the burgers with cheese and onions were delicious. The raffle sold out, as did many of the stalls. The afternoon finished up with, firstly, an Auction of fabulous prize lots with frantic bidding; and then, finally, the grand raffle draw and prizes for winners of the various games.

All the volunteers deserve thanks for their time and work especially on such a hot day and the PTA and school staff should be thanked for all their help before, during and after. Another very successful fête for the school and enjoyed by all.

Just in, this report of the Hastings and St Leonards Bowmen from our own Pete Edwards:

“On the evenings of July 8 and 9, Hastings and St Leonards Bowmen hosted two groups at the KGV Field.

The first group on July 8 were the Bexhill Round Table who wanted to have a go at archery. As the evening went on the scores went up until, by the end, some really good scores were achieved. The second evening, July 9, we hosted Robertsbridge Scouts Group. Eighteen scouts turned up with their leaders. Once again they quickly improved and there were many budding archers amongst them. Two thirds of the way through the evening they had a break with teas and glasses of orange all round while club members pinned balloons to the targets. At the restart you could see they were keen to break the balloons before anyone else did. It was noted the last balloon was broken with the very last arrow.The scouts said they really enjoyed their evening and all the club members enjoyed coaching them. Brilliant!”

In last week’s Village Voice, we promised you some more news about Barbara Valentine and can report that Barbara’s miniature paintings have won two major awards this year and her miniature painting group has also been highly successful with one member being accepted by the Royal Miniature Society and winning an award in America and another being invited to exhibit at the Florum botanical exhibition at Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve in September.

Mountfield Community Arts classes begin again on September 10 and will cover a range of subjects and media. Barbara and Juliette are always pleased to welcome anyone from complete novice to professional artist wishing to try something new. Term starts 10th September and full details will be in the Village Voice nearer the time. For information, contact Barbara on 01424 838 264 or Juliette on 01424 424010.

Finally, a reminder of the Group’s exhibition which opens tomorrow (July 20) at 10am at Mountfield Park Farm until Sunday July 28.

And now, a piece about the Mountfield Club from Steve Smith:

“The club opened in Mountfield approximately 85 years ago. It was used at the time by the men of the village as somewhere to socialise after work and was known as the Mountfield Men’s Working Club. Times have changed and the club is now known as the Mountfield Club and is very much open to women as well as men. Children also welcome, if supervised.

We’re a small friendly village club located next to Mountfield’s Village Hall, and elected committee members give up their spare time to run it. Inside, you will find a licensed bar (where prices are very low), a full size snooker table, two darts boards, shove board and a flat screen TV with a seated sofa area.

The club offers adult membership for only £5 p/a (£10 joining fee) and junior (age 16-18) for £2.50 p/a (£5 joining fee). The club is currently open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. New and old faces are always welcome in the club. So come and see us — whether you fancy a drink, a game of snooker or darts, or just want to socialise with other local people. For more information, either email [email protected] or simply drop in and see us some evening.”

More about the club next week but for now a date for your diary: the club is holding a barbecue and darts knockout tournament on Saturday evening August 3. Non members are welcome.

More news this week about Mountfield Church from Jackie Spriggs who writes:

“Once again Augustine’s voice can be heard! Augustine is the given name of the 14th century bell hanging in the tower of All Saints. When a new bell is cast and hoisted into the bell-tower a wreath of flowers is placed upon it and is baptised with water and given a name. Around the rim of our bell the inscription reads, in Latin, “Wox Augustine Sonet in Aure” which means “May Augustine’s voice sound in the ear of God”. Neither God nor parishioners have heard that voice since February when the bitter weather caused the grease around his mechanism to thicken and gunk up the striker cogs thus rendering him speechless. Two months ago the clock stopped altogether. But now he rings again — you can hear him on the hour and when the sally (bell-rope) is pulled summoning the faithful.

The bell will be rung energetically this coming Sunday, July 21 at 10.am to welcome Archdeacon Philip Jones who will be conducting the service. Although he has visited Mountfield before, this will be the first time he has conducted a service. All welcome.”

And to finish, on the December 29 last year we picked our first few leaves of wild garlic - probably six weeks or so earlier than normal. On Sunday last (July 14) we picked what will almost certainly be our last wild garlic of the season - probably six weeks or so later than normal. What an extraordinary year.

You know where we are. Call 880614 or email [email protected]. (We also have a letterbox.)