Willingdon, Wannock and Jevington

RACE NIGHT: Friends of Willingdon Community School are organising a race night for this evening, Friday, at Willingdon School. Doors open at 6.15pm and the first race starts at 7pm. There is a bar available. Food options are £5 each and this includes entry to the race night. The choices of menu are fish and chips, two sausages and chips, or two vegie sausages and chips. Tickets for the race night and food choice should have been booked by now but you could check with school reception or by ringing 01323 485254 to see if there have been any cancellations.

PFPA: The Annual General Meeting of the Paragon Fields Preservation Association will be held at 7pm tonight, Friday, at Wannock Village Hall. For further information please contact the secretary Mark Harley on 01323 489366 or the membership secretary Mary Taylor on 01323 485241. PFPA was formed in 1992. Paragon Fields are at the foot of the Downs, near Wannock Lane and were purchased by local residents and other well-wishers in order that the land should never be built on but should be preserved as an open space for the quiet enjoyment of the general public and for the protection and encouragement of the local flora and fauna. The preservation association maintains the fields and surrounding hedges and members pay an annual membership fee of just £5, but do go along to the meeting and find out more.

THE COMEDY NIGHT: Which is taking place this evening, Friday, at the British Queen is now fully booked. The saloon bar will be closed to non-ticket holders from 7pm but the public bar will still be available to other customers during normal opening hours.

ATOMIC HOTSHOTS: Will be entertaining customers at The British Queen at 8.30pm tomorrow, Saturday.

TABLE SALE: The JPK Sussex Project is holding a table sale from 10am to 2pm tomorrow, Saturday, in conjunction with Eastbourne Sovereign Rotary Club. It will be held at The JPK Sussex Project, 39-41 Church Street Old Town BN21 1HP (the building previously owned by Edgmond Evangelical Church). Refreshments will be available. JPK was formed to provide a supported living centre for people with a learning disability alongside meaningful daytime activities. Tables can be booked for £10 each. Please contact JPK Project co-ordinator Willingdon resident Jill Parker MBE on 01323 486179.

BOX OPENING: And Coffee Morning. Throughout the year, parishioners of St Mary’s Church have been saving their odd coins in specially provided boxes for the Children’s Society which helps vulnerable youngsters. Tomorrow, Saturday, the boxes will be opened in the church hall between 10am and noon and the contents counted. Refreshments and cakes will be available and there will also be a raffle.

STAINER’S CRUCIFIXION: Will be performed at St Mary’s Church at 7.30pm on Monday. Musical director is Michael Stumbles and taking part will be the augmented choir with tenor and bass soloists. Admission is free.

WATERMILL TALK: Lawrence Stevens, chairman of Polegate Windmill will be giving a short talk at 2.30pm on Sunday in the education room at the mill in Park Croft Polegate. His subject is The Ancient Watermill at Mornings Mill Farm. The event is free. Tea and coffee will be available but as seating is limited, please book in advance by ringing Patricia Stevens on 01323 734496.

POLEGATE WINDMILL: The annual general meeting of Eastbourne and District Preservation Trust, which manages the mill, will be at 7.30pm on Tuesday at Polegate Town Hall. Members of the council retire by rotation on alternate years. New nominations should be submitted to Lawrence or Patricia Stevens on 01323 734496 by tomorrow, Saturday. After the business side of the meeting has been completed, there will be tea or coffee, biscuits and a raffle followed by an open discussion on how best to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Polegate Windmill which takes place in September 2017. It is hoped that local history groups and other organisations will wish to get involved.

NEW SEASON: Polegate Windmill usually starts the new season on Easter Sunday, but due to the lack of volunteers, both as guides and cashiers, the date has been postponed until Sunday April 3 from 2pm to 5pm. Training would be given to new volunteers. Any help would be appreciated, perhaps on the occasional Sunday or for special events, although reliability is important. The hope is that with enough help, the mill can continue to open on Sundays and on Bank Holiday Mondays until the end of October. Polegate Windmill used to publish a newsletter, the Spout, three or four times a year, but this stopped nearly two years ago, and with the exception of a recent edition this March, there is unlikely to be any more newsletters without a new editor. Could this be you?

TRINITY CHURCH: Will once again be holding their weekly Friendly Cuppa’ from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Wednesday. I went along to the first one on March 2 and found everyone very friendly; and as well as tea, coffee and soft drinks, there were light snacks - cakes, sausage rolls, and toasted sandwiches with salad, all at very reasonable prices. There were several stalls, selling good quality items, including knitting wools and children’s knitted garments, books and a raffle. New stall holders would be very welcome. Please contact Wendy Brown on 01323 489002 for further information.

LIFESTYLE: Is a sub-section of Willingdon WI and they have a full programme of talks and other events during the year. They meet at Willingdon Memorial Hall on the third Thursday in the month at 2.15pm at a charge of 50p which includes tea and biscuits. Their next meeting is on March 17 when the talk will be given by Ms T Parkinson entitled ASDA Community Colleague.

WILLINGDON PROBUS CLUB: Will be holding their AGM at 10.15am for 10.30am on Thursday at the Red Lion.

COFFEE MORNING: The students with learning disabilities will be helping out at a coffee morning at Chalk Farm Hotel in Coopers Hill from 10.30am to 11.45am on Thursday. Delicious home-made cakes are on offer and there will be a raffle, greetings cards and plants for sale. And do visit the garden centre behind the hotel where there is a large selection of plants and shrubs.

TRINITY DINERS: The next lunch at Trinity Church Hall is on Friday March 18. Doors open at noon. The menu is fruit juice, roast gammon or vegetable cassoulet, green beans, baked tomatoes, and tray baked potatoes followed by filo apple parcels and custard, and tea/coffee. The meals are £5.50. Please ring Jennie on 01323 484189 to make your reservation.

WILLINGDON FLOWER CLUB: The 53rd AGM of the Willingdon Flower Club was held on Friday March 4. It was encouraging to see it very well attended as during the year new members have joined the club. The President Anne Bathard-Smith welcomed everyone and the Chairman Margaret Lainchbury read out her report. She stated that it had been a successful year for the club and she thanked all who had made it possible especially the committee members who managed the accounts, organised a varied programme and given up so much of their time to make it happen. She thanked the volunteers for their help. There had been six demonstrations plus home grown demonstrations and Festive Fun. Members took part in several Inter Club competitions and were very successful. Ten practice meetings were held, inspiring and supporting the members. Sue Hoon and Jackie Harris were invited to make floral arrangements in Westminster Abbey in August, a great honour for our club. Members made Mother’s Day floral arrangements and raised £500 to donate to St Wilfred’s Hospice. The Treasurer, Alison Pullinger, presented the accounts which were approved. Officers for the coming year were elected with Margaret Lainchury remaining as chairman for a second year, Alison Pullinger as treasurer and Jasmine Gayton as secretary.

The programme secretary, Jackie Harris outlined interesting and varied plans for the coming year including a fundraising Fashion Show event on May 6. The Crowning Glory competition was won by Alison Tomlinson taking the Founder’s Cup with Anne Taylor and Patricia Mitchell sharing the Novice Cup. The meeting closed with tea and refreshments.

A practice meeting, Monochrome, led by Su Htoon will be on March 18. The next meeting will be on April 1 with a demonstration by Jan Mason entitled Designs From Around the World. Members and visitors welcome. Information from Margaret Lainchbury 01323 484347.

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