Ninfield

The Doctors surgery in Ninfield are having their new computer system go live today, February 22. Whilst they get used to the new system, they ask for your patience and understanding.

We are very lucky in Ninfield that we have a number of footpaths in our village. It has been noted lately that these footpaths are increasingly being littered with dog foul. We are also lucky that our Parish Council have provided bins around the village specifically for the purpose to dispose of dog foul. Please be considerate to all users of our footpaths when walking your dog.

Hooe Sports Football Club are in action tomorrow, February 23, in the East Sussex Football League playing Ticehurst at home with kick off at 2pm. The club would very much like to hear from anyone who would be interested in becoming a player for the team. They also require a manager following the departure of Phil Smith. Please contact Luke Pont on 07872312266 if you are interested. You can track the club’s progress online: www.pitchero.com/clubs/hooesportsfc.

The Ninfield Local History Group is also continuing its Heritage Lottery Funded research for “Ninfield - The History of a Rural Village” part of the “All Our Stories” grant project. Many villagers have expressed interest in having their memories recorded. Please contact Rod Ffoulkes on 893635 for details if you would like to be involved. They have now received a cheque from the Police Property Fund towards the cost of voice recorders that will help to ensure these memories are not lost.

St Mary’s Church will be serving Lent lunches again this year, in the Reading room from 12 noon until 1.30pm. Homemade soup, bread and cheese, tea and coffee will be available with donations this year going to our local Bexhill Foodbank, which opened in December last year. The lunches will take place on February 27, March 6, 13 and 20. All are welcome, take a friend and enjoy some good food and social time for a local charity.

The East Sussex County Council Mobile Library service will next be in the villages on March 2, 16 & 30 at:

Hooe, opposite Denbigh Court, 1.50pm - 2.35pm.

Ninfield, Millfield (off Manchester Road), 2.50pm - 3.25pm.

Ninfield, Downsview (off Church Lane), 3.40pm - 4pm.

Ninfield Flower Group will next be meeting on Monday March 4 commencing at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall, where they will welcome Joyce Pannell with her demonstration entitled “Fun with Flowers”. All floral arrangements are raffled at the end of the evening. Non members are welcome entrance £3.00 which includes refreshments. Should you require any further information, or if you are interested in joining the group, please contact Susan at [email protected] or telephone 01323 844634 after 6pm or weekends.

East Sussex Hearing Resource Centre is a registered charity working in partnership with Adult Social Care to provide a no charge mobile information and advice service for Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people living in East Sussex. The vehicle, which is funded by the Big Lottery, is equipped to offer demonstrations of assistive equipment and hearing screening tests (if time permits). The mobile unit will be visiting Ninfield on Thursday March 7, and will be at Blacksmiths Inn Car Park, The Green from 10.30am – 12.30pm. The bus is accessible to wheelchair users and representatives from both the East Sussex Hearing Resource Centre and Adult Social Care will be available to provide individual information and advice on all aspects of hearing loss. For further information please contact: East Sussex Hearing Resource Centre, Tel: 01323 722505 (voice/text/fax) e-mail: [email protected].

Hooe Open Group will be meeting on March 8, featuring a talk by Kelly Richards on the life and times of her aunt Anne Shelton OBE (for the benefit of the younger members of the club) she was one of the most popular singers during WWII and remained so for three decades. The reminisces of her life and times should prove both popular and entertaining, as the talk will be combined with the playing of some of Anne Shelton’s most well known songs. Guests will be welcome to attend at a cost of £2. Being the nearest meeting to Easter the members and guests will be given a Cadbury’s chocolate egg to mark the occasion. Further information on the club’s activities is available by contacting Edna Wallis on 01424 842591.

Ninfield Parish Council set the precept for the village at their January meeting and residents will see an increase of around £40 from last year. It wasn’t a decision taken lightly and the budget was on village noticeboards throughout December and January, but no questions were raised to the council. The council wants to make sure that residents are aware of the reasons behind the increase and will be holding a series of Open Events in February and March for your to meet your councillors, find out more on where the precept is being spent and to discuss key issues in your village. Flyers are being delivered to every household, but please come along on any (or all) of the following dates and venues:

March 14, 6-9pm, Reading Room

March 23, 11-1pm, Methodist Hall and 1.30-2.30pm Potmans Lane.

Ninfield Flower Group are holding a Jumble Sale on Saturday March 16, commencing at 2pm in the Memorial Hall. Entrance 30p, with lots of bargains and refreshments to be had. Anyone who would like to donate but are unable to attend on the day can contact Jennifer on 01424 892878 or take your contribution to the Hall from 10pm onwards on the day.

Ninfield Village Society are holding a meeting and AGM in the Reading Room, 7.00 pm Tuesday 19 March. The meeting is open to anyone interested in learning about what the Society does and anyone with an interest in maintaining the amenities of our village. The 2013 Annual General Meeting of The Society will include a brief report on the work undertaken during the past year, and a discussion of future projects.

Following a short break when refreshments will be available, they have again enlisted Graham Keen to give them a talk and slide show this year about “Sussex Archaeology from Stone age to The Normans”. For information, please contact either Martin Wood, Chairman (892895) or Robin Goldsmith, Treasurer (892778).

The Friends of Ninfield Primary School have organised an Easter Extravaganza on Wednesday March 20. All are welcome to join the fun at the school from 3.30-5pm. There will be an Easter Egg hunt (£2 entry fee) with chocolate prizes! Tickets can be purchased on the day on in the playground from Monday March 11 - Friday March 15 at 3.30pm. Budding Mary Berry chefs are invited to enter a cake in our Easter cake competition. There are two categories: best decorated large cake and best decorated cup cake (both with an Easter theme). All entries are very welcome. Please bring to the school on Wednesday March 20 (entry costs £1). The cakes will be raffled off at the end of the event. Other stalls will include a chocolate tombola, face painting, nail salon, Easter craft activities and refreshments. They hope to see you there!

1st Ninfield Scout Group are holding a Barn Dance with the Rampions on March 23 at the Reid Hall, Boreham Street, 7.15-11pm. Tickets to include a buffet supper at a cost of: £8/adult, £3.50/child or £20/family (2 adults and up to 3 children). Soft and hot drinks will be available. Alcoholic drinks will need to be brought with you. There will also be a raffle and £1 roll to win a bottle of whiskey. For tickets and further information, please contact Kaa on 07908558721 / ninfieldkaa@google0-=mail.com

Ninfield Carnival will be on Saturday July 13. The theme of the Carnival is ‘James Bond’ (it is the 50th anniversary of the Bond films). Preparations are already underway to organise the Carnival. The Committee has a committed core of people organising the day, but they are keen to welcome any new members, especially people to give up an hour or so of their time on the day of the Carnival. This year, they have decided to raise money purely for projects in our village. All monies raised will be put back into our local community. Essential projects identified include updating the children’s play area, rebuilding Sparke’s Pavilion and the Memorial Hall fund.

If you could help in any way, please either ring Andy on 892196. If you would be willing to sponsor an event or provide a raffle prize please contact Steve Fleming on 07717451303.

Don’t forget that you can find out more community information from both villages and Wealden District Council on our district councillors (Pam Doodes) website or the Ninfield Parish Council website: www.pamdoodes.com / www.ninfield.webplus.net.

Church Services for Ninfield and Hooe (www.ninfield.org.uk):

St Mary’s Services (Church of England, Ninfield):

Sundays - 9.30am Parish Eucharist (Family Service on 1st Sunday of the month)

Wednesdays - 10.00am Holy Communion

St Oswald’s Services (Church of England, Hooe):

Sundays - 11.15am Parish Eucharist (Family Service on 1st Sunday of the month)

Ninfield Methodist Church - all services at 2.30pm (unless otherwise indicated):

February 24, Worship and Praise with Deacon J Duckworth-Lloyd

Anything that you would like included in the Village Voice for Ninfield or Hooe, please email the details to me: [email protected].