Whatlington village voice

Sports day at the local school was on Wed 13th June. There were some very competitive young people with some winning all the races they entered. The whole week was themed “Olympic week”and points from the individual performances in sports day and in separate competitions across the week went to a team competition between the school house groups. Winners of the whole week were the rhinos house. At the end of the week a trophy was presented to the winning team and also individual medals were given out to the first, second and third placed competitors in each school class along with the most improved pupils from one year to the next.

The pupils looked very proud as they collected the medals from the headteacher and in front of their parents.Maybe some budding athletes for future Olympics !

The Good Companions enjoyed a delicious “bring and share “lunch last week at the village hall. The lunch was to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the tables were “laid” out in red, white & blue, with union jack flags “flying” around the hall.

This time we decided not to have a starter but to have cheese and biscuits after our deserts but because everyone had eaten so much of the delicious home made food that was so nicely presented on the tables, cheese and biscuits were not required. Having a “bring & share” lunch is a way of uniting people and also is a way of getting together for companionship and fellowship. If I was to put it simply it is a time for a good natter and I can tell you this is just what happened. We did try and sing some patriotic songs after the luncheon but I think that because everyone was so full, this idea fell on stony ground.

Thank you to everybody who contributed once again to our lunch, from home baked ham, quiches, salads etc to home baked cheese cakes, fruit pies, and home produced juice. Without everyone’s contribution this meal would not have been so pleasurable!

Whatlington village fete will be held on Saturday the 30th June from 1.30 pm on the field next door to the village hall car park.All welcome and I am sure help is required for set up and stall participation.Further info below.

Those of you who noticed the yellow Martlet birds (Heraldry birds) on a blue background flag flying on the village flag pole may have wondered what it was for. Well, it is the Sussex Flag, all parish councils were sent one and asked to fly this on Sussex Day 16th June. Unfortunately the 16th was also the Queen’s official birthday and normally the Union flag would have been flown, but it wasn’t possible to fix two flags on the flag pole. As we have flown the Union flag quite a few times this month and with other Union flags being flown in the village and this being the first year Sussex Day was being celebrated the Sussex flag was flown. There will not be the same problem in future years as the dates should not clash.

The village’s Film Club meets tonight (Friday, June 22) when four of the leanest slices ever carved from the finest ham that is British sitcom will set the ancient woodwork of the Royal Oak shaking with laughter.

Classic episodes from landmark series will fill two hours of the evening from 8pm, with time out in the middle for a pint or a cuppa.

First up will be Tony Hancock’s The Radio Ham. The lad himself picks up a Mayday call from a stricken vessel off the coast of Sierra Leone – a chance to save the desperate crew from a watery grave and to cover himself with the glory all amateur radio enthusiasts crave. Deadpan brilliance from 1961.

Moving on to the early 1970s sees another piece of brilliant writing from the combined wit of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. It’s off-screen warring comedy partners but on-screen warring rag and bone men Steptoe and Son. The episode Back in Fashion, from one of the earliest colour series, sees a fashion photographer choosing the Steptoe’s yard as a backdrop for his latest shoot. For Harold the thought of all those ‘birds’ around the place is a dream come true.

“Don’t tell him your name Pike,” – one of the immortal lines from Capt Mainwaring in this unforgettable episode from the evergreen Dad’s Army. The Warmington-on-Sea platoon – just along the coast from Bexhill-on-Sea but with a slightly younger populace – comes face-to-face with the enemy at last when detailed to watch over a captured U-Boat crew. A simple task, surely . . .

Rounding the evening off will be Ink and Incapability – a 1987 outing for Regency period Edmund Blackadder whose witless master decides to patronise Dr Johnson’s first dictionary. By turn hilarious and excruciating this is regarded by most sane critics to be one of the best three episodes from all four series.

On July 13 it’s back to the big screen and one of the most enjoyable films of this year so far, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. It’s the story of a group of British pensioners who opt to move to a Jaipur, India, hotel, a seemingly luxurious sanctuary for “the elderly and beautiful”. The reality turns out to be somewhat different and provides plenty of scope for an excellent cast including Judy Dench, Bill Nighy and Maggie Smith who turn in a heartwarming and charming piece of cinema.

Following that, the next two films on dates to be announced are mega-award winning 2011 silent movie The Artist and Spielberg’s moving War Horse.

To find out how to join the Whatlington movie crowd email Steve Turner at [email protected] or call 01424 870041.

A week to go before the next Irish Music night at The Royal Oak. Friday 29th will see some of the best musicians in the area join for “jamming” style session of traditional Irish tunes around the bar. This is always an excellent evening of uplifting live music, so if you want to join in the fun, booking is advisable on 01424 870492.

The weekly pub quiz was very popular last week, The Saints won the rollover jackpot and decided to donate their winnings to St Michael’s Hospice. If you would like to take part, we hold the quiz every Thursday evening from 8pm, just £1 per person entry for teams of up to six.

The New Orleans Rhythmakers will be performing Traditional Jazz at The Royal Oak from 8pm on Wednesday 4th July. This is the opportunity to see these professional musicians FOR FREE! Keep Traditional Jazz alive and support your local pub at the same time by coming along to this live music event. Please call 01424 870492 if you would like to book a table.

The next book for the Royal Oak Readers has been randomly decided. We shall meet on Tuesday 24th July at 7.30pm at The Royal Oak to discuss the merits of the page-turning thriller “Helpless” by Barbara Gowdy. If you would like to join our friendly club, or would like more information please call Alex on 01424 870492.

The Whatlington Village Fete is fast approaching! On Saturday 30th June the field by the Village Hall will be host to an exciting range of activities and events from 1.30pm. For the first time we will have performances from “The Galloping Cuckoos”, plus the children from Whatlington and Mountfield School will be dancing round the Maypole which was a huge success last year as was the vintage and classic car display which will return this year. If you have a bit of anger to vent, the new plate smashing stall may be the ideal opportunity, but if you’re feeling relaxed and chilled out maybe the live English folk music by “Glashin” will be the order of the day! There will be a variety of other traditional stalls plus games to play and prizes to win for all the family, and then in the afternoon there will be a stool ball competition for those that are still feeling energetic! Help is always appreciated in the morning to set up all the stalls, and then at the end of the afternoon to clear up. If you have any old crockery that you don’t want, or if you would like to donate a raffle prize, or have any other suggestions or would like to help or get involved, please contact Angie on 01424 870087.

Andrew Ratcliffe, Oak View