Fairlight

In our churches this Sunday… There’s a Holy Communion service at St Peters at 8 am, and a 10.30 am service of Morning Praise at St Andrews.

At MOPP today… in the village hall, there will be a singing workshop with Ryan, himself a singer and entertainer. This week’s lunch is to be turkey & ham pie followed by rice and jam. If you are interested in joining MOPP, (and with that yummy menu, what’s not to like?) please phone Sheila on 01304 219767 or on her mobile, which is 07774 573086.

It’s here again… It’s the Playgroup Jumble Sale tomorrow, in the village hall from 10 am to 2 pm. This event is really one that’s not to be missed, but do get there early if you want the pick of the best stuff. Tea and cakes will also be available. Last time round there was a queue before the doors were opened. Be warned!

Fancy some fish and chips…? Well, if you go down to the village hall today, you’re in for a big surprise – the fish van will not be there. And nor will it be next Friday, February 15 either. The van is having a service, needed after the battering it gets, but it and its crew will be back with us on the 22nd.

We are sailing… for a Friends of Hastings Country Park talk entitled The Last Days of Sail. And it’s next Friday, February 15 at the Hastings History House in Courthouse Street in the Old Town. Commencing at 7 pm, it will cost you £2 if you’re not a member of the Friends, but it’s free if you are. Local historian Steve Peak will be telling of the final decades of sail in Hastings, including a mention for the Hastings lugger.

The last night of the panto… and two black coats were left behind when everybody had departed following the final performance of Sinbad on January 26. Would you please check, if you were there until almost the end, that you took the right coat home, as someone has lost a black outdoor jacket at the venue. If you think you may have taken the wrong coat in error, please ring 01424 814178.

Players function coming up… The Players enjoy putting on the occasional evening of varied entertainment, usually with something pleasant to eat, in addition to their biannual plays. And they will be mounting their next such venture four weeks from today, on Friday, March 8 in the village hall at 7 for 7.30 pm, when Ann Rachlin, MBE, will be telling that ‘Edy was a lady’, the story of Edith Craig, daughter of the renowned actress Ellen Terry, who lived in both Winchelsea and more famously at Smallhythe Place, on the way to Tenterden. Tickets for Ann’s acclaimed illustrated presentation promise to be popular, and you can make your reservations either by phoning Players’ secretary Carol Ardley on 814178, or direct from Fairlight Post Office. Each will cost £7.50.

The Wine and Social Club…are meeting next Monday, February 11, with a Valentine’s Dance, ahead of the actual date, which is on Thursday. So, fellas, you’ve still got six days left to sort out the petrol station flowers and the slightly obscene card before you get told off once again for forgetting your wife completely.

That pothole… just north of the Cove pub, and on the downhill side of Waites Lane, is now gigantic. The underlying concrete is crumbling away in huge chunks. If you hit it, you’ll have to sue the council, as it is bound to do untold damage to your vehicle (and probably to you, too). This hole and its mate a bit further down the hill are shameful.

The Bowls Club AGM… was held last Saturday, February 2, and it was well attended with more than 60 members present. During his final Chairman’s Report Brian Watts paid tributes to all those leaving the Committee. Bill Brown and his wife Hazel were presented with Life Membership of the Bowls Club in recognition of the many years’ service they had given.

The meeting was saying good-bye to the following Officers and Committee members - Bill Brown (President), Brian Watts (Chairman), Richard Benson (Captain), Maureen Lawrence (Membership Secretary), Allen Lawrence and Corinne Wheatley. The new line-up voted in is - Maurice Reeves (President), Sylvia Taylor (Chairman), Frank James (Treasurer), Molly Freeman (Secretary), John Tulley (Captain), Colin Yellop (Vice Captain), Pat Tulley (Ladies Vice Captain), Ray Weston (Membership Secretary), Roger Taylor (Green Co-ordinator), Margaret Dove-Medows (Match Secretary), Sylvia Reeves (Competitions Secretary), John Eveleigh and Stuart James.

All in all, the Club is in a healthy state both from the membership point of view, and its finances.

The new Chairman thanked Brian Watts for all he had done in the years during which he was Chairman, and to Lynne for all the support she had given Brian. Sylvia then presented them with a Gift from the Bowls Club. Sylvia is looking forward to being the Chairman. With so many changes, next year will be a challenge for the new Committee, but with everybody’s help it will be a successful year.

If you were among the 60 plus who were present, you will not need these up-coming dates, but they are a useful aide-memoire anyway. There will be a Coffee Morning at the village hall on March 16.

April 20 sees the official Opening of the Green, and June 30 is the day of the always successful Open Tournament. As is the case every year, more Bowls Club notes will be appearing fairly regularly from now on!

The Gardening Club AGM… was held on Monday, with a goodly number of members in attendance. The constitution was changed in respect of Rules 5 and 8, as advertised on their posters, to allow the Chairman and President to serve for a longer period than three years if elected. Derek Snow retired as Treasurer after 15 years and Peter Norris has taken up the position. The business end was followed by a bring and share social accompanied by a slide show of events in the last year presented by the secretary Stephen Leadbetter.

Don’t forget that the Trading Hut is now open each Saturday morning from 10 am until noon. There are good stocks to meet all your garden needs at very competitive prices. There is also wild bird food in the way of peanuts, top quality wild bird seed and fat balls.

If you are not already a member of the Garden Club you can either apply at the Trading Hut, turn up at one of the talks held at the village hall on the first Monday of every month, or simply phone 814178. You will be made very welcome!

Here’s an offer you won’t want to refuse…! When the comedy play ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’ opened it was an instant smash hit, especially for James Corden, who went on to scoop the Best Actor Tony award on Broadway. Now the play is selling out at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. Fantastic reviews say, (rightly – I’ve seen it) it’s the funniest show in London. Now there’s a chance for you to catch this rib-tickler on Wednesday, April 17 at the 2.30 pm matinee performance. There will be a coach leaving Fairlight Circle at 10.45 am, with a pick-up in Cambridge Road opposite the Police Station at 11.00 am. And you’ll have time for a meal after the performance. The return coach will leave London at 8 pm. Theatre ticket price £29.50 plus coach, etc. There are but a few places remaining, so if you are interested please contact Christine either by email [email protected] or phone 813538 just as soon as you can.