Ninfield

Super Saturdays no.2!: Day-This Saturday, 22nd April, Ninfield Horticultural Society are holding their Annual Plant Sale and Coffee Morning at the Memorial Hall from 9-11am; do go early to make sure you get the widest of choices at this popular event. There will be light refreshments available, and delicious homemade cakes to sustain you while you browse! There’s always a fantastic array, a great selection of plants at really good prices, and a friendly welcome to all visitors who might like more information on all the Horti Society’s meetings, shows and events.

Evening: The Quiz Night at the Memorial Hall! Doors open at 7pm for the Quiz of the Year which starts promptly at 7.30pm. This annual fundraiser for the Hall has become a popular fixture in the Quizzers calendar, and it is hoped that there will be a full house of Teams of 6 again. It’s £6 per head to participate, which includes a fabulous Ploughman’s Supper, provided by the Hall Committee: please bring nibbles and drinks, plus a suitable glass to accompany the meal! Don’t worry if you can’t make up a whole team, just turn up at 7pm and teams will be made up on the night- everyone is very welcome, there will be lots of fun and banter, the Quiz is devised and hosted by Jan and Martin Wood, and all profits from the evening go towards the next phase of the Hall refurbishment; the upgrade of the Kitchen and Toilets. Come and have some fun!!

Ninfield Action Group: Monday 24th April at 7.30pm in the Reading Room, Church Lane. Chairman Paul Coleshill will be delighted to see residents, to provide everyone with the latest updates on all the reports and debates after the publication in early March of the Draft Wealden Local Plan. There has been some surveying activity in certain fields within the Village, which has understandably caused some concerns for residents backing on to these fields. Please go to the meeting and hopefully all the relevant and correct information given out will help put some of the fears to bed - and, will correct any rumours that are circulating! If anyone has worries or would like information/ questions answered, please call the Parish Councillors, contact details are on the website http:/ninfieldparish.website/, or with the Clerk on 07725843505, email [email protected].

Charity Auction- Saturday 29th April: Ninfield Carnival Association are thrilled to be hosting this new event, their first of the year, at the Memorial Hall, as a fundraiser for the Carnival and their charity for the year- Alzheimers Society/Rural Dementia Action Research. Already some great items have been donated: an Exercise Bike, Glass decanter, Oak table and Chairs, a Dinner service; plus books, pictures, collectables and even a BBQ! If you are having a clear out and have items that you would like to donate, please call Robin/me 893699, Chris/ Stella 893388 for collection. Or, please drop any bits & bobs up to the Hall on the evening before - Friday 28th- from 8pm. On Saturday 29th, doors open at 10am for viewing, then will close at 1.30pm to set up the Hall for the evening. At 5pm, doors will re-open- Entry is only 50p, but of course, there will be a bucket for donations!!- and, people will be able to have wine, nibbles, canapes and light refreshments while settling in for the Sale. The Carnival Assoc. are really grateful to Mark Ellin, from Burstow & Hewett Auctioneers, for agreeing to take charge of the Sale in the evening which will start at 6pm and run till 8.30pm. It promises to be a fun evening, great entertainment with lots of surprises, and all profits going to the Carnival’s Charity and Local Projects. Please come and support this new venture!

Open Day - Monday 1st May: The Ninfield Local History Group, in conjunction with the Parish Council, are holding an Open Day at Sparke Pavilion, to show residents the newly completed building, with the beautiful Archive/Meeting area upstairs that was created by the History Group after securing grant funding. There will be light refreshments available, and I’ll confirm times etc in next week’s column.

1st Ninfield Scout Group: Are holding a Family Bingo Night on Saturday 6th May in the Memorial Hall from 6.30 - 9.30pm. This is such a fabulous evening, and back by popular demand, so do go and enjoy a fun night of bingo; perfect for all ages! There will be great food on offer- Nachos, Hot Dogs, Popcorn a tuck shop and of course some light refreshments- but you can also take your own alcoholic drink! There’s a Raffle, prizes include a £50 Boden Voucher, £25 for Ashburnham Orangery and tickets for Eastbourne Theatres. Book your tickets-£4 Adults - £2 Children- at the Post Office Stores in Lower Street, or call Veronica Sargent on 07714327117.

Hooe Open Group: The Lively Ladies of H.O.G met as usual on the 2nd Friday in Hooe Village Hall, and were royally entertained by guest speaker Pam Vielers- also known as ‘The Button Lady’. Her presentation- “An Illusion in a Suitcase” was wide ranging; from the Unfolding standout-picture-pop-up-books, to transforming the female form with Girdles and Corsets! Everyone was surprised as to how the time just flew listening to Pam’s scintillating talk! There was the Raffle afterwards, plus afternoon tea, and every member was given an Easter Chocolate Bunny. The Open Group, as well as being a friendly, social, ladies club has a strong charitable side and members agreed to donate £300 to three local beneficiaries; Bexhill care in the Community, St Oswald’s Church and the League of Friends of Bexhill. If you’d like to join this lovely social group, please call Edna Wallis on 01424 842591, or just turn up on the 2nd Friday of the month 2.30pm in Hooe Village Hall!!

Early Heads Up!: Fantastic to hear from Alan and Jacqueline Young, and their next musical play entitled “Teacher in the Temple”, with the Christian Voices Drama Group, which will be performed on Saturday 13th May, 3pm in the Methodist Church Hall. More details in next week’s column!

Church Services: Methodist Church, Ninfield, Sunday 23rd April 10.30am- Worship & Communion with Rev. Ian Pruden. - Messy Church on Wednesday 26th April 3.30-5.30pm.

Parish Churches: St Mary’s Ninfield - Sunday 23rd April 9.30am- Parish Eucharist - 11.15am St Oswald’s, Hooe Parish Eucharist.

Keep in Touch: Things are getting busy in the diary, so please get your entries/ events to me in good time-deadline Mondays 6pm! Call 893699, or text 07970650321, email [email protected], @guard_jane. Thanks!

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.ryeandbattleobserver.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RyeandBattleObserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @BattleObs

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Rye and Battle Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.