Staplecross

COMMUNITY NEWS & VIEWS: Whilst attending the recent Ewhurst Parish Council meeting on Thursday last, Mr. Tony Ganly, Councillor for Rother District Council, was pleased to inform us of some of the work that has been undertaken by R.D.C. during the recent months and they are as follows: - RDC Cabinet has decided to set aside a £10,000:00 fund for groups setting up ‘1066 Anniversary’ celebrations, with a maximum of £500:00, per event. --- On Monday last - (September 7th,) Cabinet will debate the recommendations of the Community Grants Panel to award 10 grants - totalling £54,032:00 to various projects in Battle, Bexhill, Camber, Etchingham, Pett, Robertsbridge & Sedlescombe. --- During the last elections, there were a few cases where residents were unable to vote. These have been investigated and areas for improvement in communications and processes have been identified to reduce the likelihood of these matters arising in the future. --- Rother District Council’s Annual Report is available to view on the website and highlights the progresses made towards the Council’s objectives, including: --- The Council applied for, and received a total of £57,000:00 from D.E.F.R.A. and the County Council to prepare a bid for £1.7 million funding under the new E.U. programme to support small businesses in rural areas. The bid was successful and the Council will work with Plumpton College in administering the fund. Benefits will include grant funding to small businesses in rural areas seeking to expand and create new jobs. --- The ‘Camber Wristband’ scheme, freely available to parents, has seen levels of reported missing children on Camber Beach reduce and has been used as a role model for beaches with similar issues across the country. Camber, one of the most popular and certainly one of the busiest beaches in the country, has visitor numbers often reaching 30,000 a day. --- The Council spent £607,000:00 last year, providing ‘wet-floor showers’; stair-lifts; level access etc. to allow 78 people with
By Anne Reed
Published 11th Sep 2015, 00:00 BST

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SUPERFAST BROADBAND: East Sussex County Council, way back in 2013 signed a contract with BT to bring faster broadband speeds to thousands of homes and businesses in East Sussex. This on-going project creeps ever closer and at present 3 out of the 4 local cabinets have now been enabled with fibre (BT Infinity). To check if your nearest cabinet is one of the lucky ones to have been enabled with fibre (BT Infinity) please go to: www.goesussex.co.uk . Please remember folk, you will have to contact your supplier directly to change their broadband package.

STAPLECROSS BOWLS CLUB: Another busy week for the members of this dedicated bowls club with three (3) more matches to be played. Match no:1 is against Biddenden and is to be played on Saturday September 12th on the club’s home ground at Northiam Road, Staplecross beginning at 2.30pm. Match No: 2 is an away fixture, the following day, at Peasmarsh on Sunday September 13th. The week culminates with a ‘Candlelight Bowls’ evening event, again at the clubs Pavilion in Staplecross with the match commencing at 7.00pm. As in all instances, for further details, on these and other events proposed by the club, please contact Eve on 01580~830107 or [email protected]. Supporters are always warmly welcomed and this could be just the pastime you may be looking for.

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ANNUAL HOP FESTIVAL: Just another reminder that the amazing Hop Festival which will take place again at Bodiam Steam Train Station over the week-end of Saturday and Sunday, September 12th & 13th is just around the corner. Children of all ages - including ‘very grown up’ children of both genders, - enjoy steam trains and when you add a little bit of history, beautifully shown among our colourful heritage, you have the makings of a great day out for all the family. There will be a BBQ to enjoy, great displays, local beer- always a favourite!.- local produce, Morris Dancing and of course, --steam trains. Add to that, music from the ‘Sideboard Men’ and the whole event promises a thoroughly good day out for the whole family. Come along and see.

BODIAM CASTLE TRIATHLON: Just a gentle reminder that the 4th Staging of this Sprint distance triathlon will be taking place on Sunday September 13th. beginning at 6.30 A.M. Set amongst the grounds of Bodiam Castle, one of Englands best known and much loved castles, this increasingly popular fitness challenge has something for everyone. Consisting of a 500m swim around the castle moat - amongst some of the biggest fish I have ever had the privilege to feed! - followed by a short dash to the transistion zone, then off for a 22k bike ride, through Staplecross, Northiam, Sandhurst and back to the castle to finish with a 6k off road run which will conclude running back along the beautiful River Rother. This will be a great day out for all the family, ( perhaps for some, without the early morning start !) with boat trips up & down the river and the steam railway can take you to Tenterden & back. Refreshments will be available so come along and enjoy this unique event.

ROTHER RAMBLERS: Still making the most of this glorious autumnal weather the members of this leisurely fitness pastime have arranged two more delightful walks for us to enjoy. Walk No: 1 is planned for Saturday September 12th and is a mere 6.5 mile ‘West of Hawkhurst’ circular stroll. Meeting point is at Hawkhurst Moor. OS EXP136. TQ756296. (SatNavTN18 4NX) at 9.30am. There is roadside parking around the Moor and together with a refreshment stop midway, and the option of lunch at the Hawkhurst Fish Farm following the walk, promises to be a delightful, social time for all who attend. Rita & Lionel will be your ‘walk leaders’ for this event and you may contact them on 01424~752452 for all further information. Wednesday September 16th is the date for our next stroll around this area and will be a 10.5 mile (or a 7 mile) Rye to Camber circular. The meeting point for this excursion is the River Rother at Rye on A259. OX EXP125. TQ925207.(SatNavTN31 7LT) with everyone meeting up at 10.0am. Parking for this trip will be in nearby residential side streets, - so please be respectful and ‘park pretty’. There will be a short coffee stop and picnic lunch at Camber with the option to catch a bus back to Rye, -hence the option of a 7 mile stroll - or to continue a further 3.5 miles home, via the beach, river and the old tram lines. Jenny will be your lady ‘walk leader’ for this lovely meander around our shores and if you’d like more details of what’s involved please contact her on:01424~721784 or her mobile no: 07970~206785.

STAPLECROSS LUNCHEON CLUB: Time passes so quickly when you’re busy and none more so than for those clever chefs of this Staplecross dining group. Once more the members of this small but very friendly club will be meeting in the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross on Wednesday September 16th at 12.30pm. where for the small cost of £6:50 per person, they will sit down to a delicious 2 course lunch followed by tea/coffee. On the menu for this week will be Chicken in a white wine sauce with fresh seasonal vegetables and potatoes. This will be accompanied by Apple Cake and Ice Cream. Yummy ! The rules for this very friendly social gathering are few and far between. - You have to be of a certain age, - over 50 years young- and agree, wherever possible, to attend each month. This helps to reduce the amount of food wastage, as well as unnecessary cost in time, money and effort. There is no entrance fee and each & every meal is so delicious you’ll wish you could come every week !. You don’t even have to be a resident of the parish as several people come from further afield to enjoy our culinary delights and be a part of this ‘club’. If you’d like to be included in this happy, lively and lovely group of people then do please contact Sally on 01580~830000 or Dennis on 01580~830816 would love to set a place for you at our table.

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MOBILE LIBRARY SERVICE: The white van of the Mobile Library Service will once again be a much welcome sight when it arrives in Ewhurst Green on Thursday September 17th between 10.40am and 11.10am.Don’t forget, this service offers more than just books and is such a vital service as it allows those residing in our more rural areas access to all the facilities available in the main branches of the Public Libraries. - Opening a book can open up a whole new world for you, .... try it and see.

ST. MICHAEL’S HOSPICE. - VINTAGE FAYRE: This Fabulously Vintage Fayre is back for a 3rd year running, but this time the venue has been changed. On Saturday September 19th between 10am and 4.00pm, the grounds of ‘Mad Hatters’, Ockham Oast House, Staplecross Road, Bodiam TN32 5RA. will be this years kind hosts under the infamous watchful eye of “Viv the Spiv”!. There will be many exciting things for you all to peruse and discover, including live entertainment, music, many stalls, the ever popular children’s games in their own marquee with face painting and story-telling. and now this year there will be food stalls included. For those with ‘Petrol-head’ leanings, there will be a gorgeous collection of vintage cars, motorbikes and military vehicles to ponder and drool over. You are invited to browse a vast collection of vintage and retro stalls in the ‘vintage market place’, as well as enjoying a day of traditional village fete games. Go and enjoy some of the delicious refreshments in the vintage tea rooms. Have your ‘photo’s taken in the vintage photo booth and enjoy the live entertainment. There will be something for everyone to see and enjoy, whilst hopefully making a donation along the way to the always, much needed Hospice funds. Everyone is invited to bring full wallets, dig out their best vintage attire and enjoy a day out for all the family.

STAPLECROSS BONFIRE SOCIETY: As we nudge slowly but surely into the cooler autumnal weeks, nothing reminds us quite that Summer is (almost) over, as news of our local Bonfire Society events. Having said that, there is nothing quite so fantastic as our own village Bonfire Celebrations, with all the noise, the pageantry and those fabulous torches and that is certainly something wonderful to look forward to. But think about it --- what would the Torchlight Procession be like, - without the torches !!! and that is why an appeal has gone out for willing hands to help with the making of these traditional torches. The club will need to make over 1000 torches for this years procession so the old adage - “Many hands make light work” -or torches in this case, - is certainly very true. The club will be hoping that as many of you as possible, will be able to join them in this year’s task which will take place on the car park of The Cross Inn, Staplecross on Saturday September 19th from 9.30am onwards. Regardless of how long a time you can spare them, the club will be able to find a job for everyone, - so the more the merrier PLEASE.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES: SCHOLARSHIP WORKSHOP: I have received a notification of this workshop which is to take place tomorrow - Saturday September 12th at Claremont Prep. School. St. Leonards-on-Sea, between 10.0am and 12.Noon for all and any child between the ages of 7 years and 18 years old. Perhaps your child is a great singer, but needs some help with the dancing or maybe they can glide across the stage but lack the confidence to speak on their own or in front of people. Maybe they can do all 3, - sing, dance, act, but just need a bit more guidance. - Well, - this could be just right for them. The aim of the Scholarship Workshop is to find 2 pupils who they feel would benefit and excel within the Theatre Sense Family. One who is already a member and one who is new to Theatre Sense. They are not necessarily looking for someone who can sing, or dance or act to a high standard and they want to recognize their existing achievements and develop them into all-round performers, able to work both independently and in a team. To develop and increase their self confidence and belief, learning life skills, making new friends and getting ready for what lies ahead of them. For all further information regarding this session, please contact Sherri-Ann on 07519~246837 or email her at: [email protected] or visit www.theatresense.co.uk You may also contact Lorraine Mahoney Principal of Theatre Sense & West Wiltshire School for Performing Arts, via her mobile number: 07730~254122 or email www.lorrainemahoney.co.uk or www.theatresense.co.uk

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MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING: This wonderful fund raising event will be taking place all over the country and we in Staplecross village and surrounding areas will also be doing our bit. A super coffee Morning will be held in the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross on Friday September 25th from 10.0am onwards. There will be a Tombola stall; and Bring & Buy stall, a cake stall along with other delightful stalls to enjoy. Naturally there will be the mandatory refreshments, serving teas and coffees to help us all when we start to ‘flag’!. If you have any donations that may be of benefit to any of these stalls, then please contact Pauline on 01580~830570 who would be very grateful for them. All monies made will go into the much needed funds to help this precious and very worthy charity. Please do come along on the day, support this cause and help make this a very successful event.

MAMMOTH JUMBLE SALE: This very popular event is back for it’s autumn appearance and will take place in the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross on Saturday September 26th. Doors will open at 2.00pm so bring lots of bags to hold your bargains and lots of coins to help fill our coffers. Jumble donations can be brought to the Village Hall on the morning of the sale and for those who cannot bring their ‘donations to the hall, collections may be able to be arranged. For all enquiries please contact Hilary on 01580~830704.

CHURCH SERVICES: Church services for the parish of Ewhurst will commence at St. James the Great, Ewhurst Green on Sunday September 13th. Trinity 15. at 9.30am.This service will include Holy Communion (BCP) There will be NO SERVICE at St. Giles church, Bodiam but a Morning Praise service will follow directly after at St. Mark’s church, Northiam Road, Staplecross at 11.15.am. Both services will be conducted by Reverend Gordon Winchester and if there is any church matter on which he may be of service, please do not hesitate to contact him. You may do so either at The Rectory, Ewhurst Green, by telephone 01580~830268 or via his email [email protected]

He would love to be of service in any way he can, so please give him a call.

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PLEASE CONTACT ME: If you are planning an event in the near future however large or small and you’d like some extra coverage regarding this affair, then please get in touch. If it’s of interest to you, - It’ll be of interest to us. It’s never too early to send it in, so please do so as I’d love to hear from you.......Thank you.

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