Winchelsea

It must be time for a Coffee Morning get-together and this has indeed been arranged for tomorrow (Saturday) in the Lower Court Hall. Just arrive between 10 am and 12.30 pm for refreshments and take a look at what is on offer. The stalls include a Bring & Buy, delicious cakes that are certain to sell like hot cakes, Raffle tickets, a nearly new Boutique Rail and lots more. The proceeds will all go to the local branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and Bren can be contacted on 01797 226516 if you wish to make a donation.

Talented musician Tom Harris is giving his Piano Recital tomorrow evening at 7 pm in St Thomas’ Church. His outstanding repertoire includes Beethoven’s Piano sonata No.7 in D major and Schubert’s Impromptu No.3 in G flat major. The tickets for the Recital are £10 p.p. and are currently on sale at Winchelsea Post Office or can be bought at the door.

A summer picnic at Smallhythe Place takes place tomorrow from 5 pm, followed at 6 pm by a performance in the Barn Theatre called, ‘Celebrating Shakespeare’. This is a light hearted romp with the bard devised and directed by Peter Mould. The event is arranged by the Rye & District National Trust (NT) and tickets at £12 p.p. must be ordered from Ros Adkins (01797 253763) or bought at Smallhythe Place prior to the event.

The local NT has also organised a Walk on Tuesday 25th June, centred on Icklesham where parking space is available around Main Road junction of Oast House Road. This is a circular walk of 4 miles out and 3½ back, leading to the Royal Oak in Pett. If you would like to go please contact Phil Maynard (01797 260637) or email [email protected] to find out more and register your interest in this walk.

The Ferry Road Health Centre, Patients Participation Group, is holding a tea party for Marie Curie at the Health Centre. All are welcome on Wednesday 26th June from 2 to 4 pm to celebrate the physicist whose work led to the discovery of radioactivity that is used in cancer treatment.

Don’t forget the fortnightly visit by the Mobile Library is this Wednesday 26th June. As usual it is stationed in Castle Street for 1.40 to 2.10 pm.

It’s that time of the year for outside activities and members of St Thomas’ Primary School look forward to their annual Summer Fair next Friday 28th June. A large variety of stalls laid out on the sports field is scheduled to include home-made cakes, lucky dip, plants, tombola and plenty more. The fun starts at 3.15 pm with plenty of sunshine expected and parents as well as local residents are all welcome to join in.

The 60 strong ladies choir, Cantatrice Voices will be at St Thomas’ Church on Friday 5th July at 6 pm to perform ‘Look to this Day’. They are acclaimed for their vivacity and eclectic repertoire and will be singing iconic and show songs that include favourites like Downtown, Over the Rainbow, Les Miserables and more. The concert is fundraising for St Thomas’ Church and the Pipewell gate Appeal and tickets at £10 p.p. with refreshments can be purchased from Winchelsea Post Office or at the door.

A Casual Vacancy has occurred at Icklesham Parish Council for a councillor. The vacancy has arisen following the unexpected ‘disqualification’ of Councillor Richard Comotto who has persevered in the role for over 6 years. Parish Council requirements are that an election has to be held within 14 days (by early July) and if the vacancy is not filled by election IPC must find the means of filling it as soon as possible. If there is anybody resident in the Parish and interested in applying, the number to contact is 07714169901 for Mrs Ann Evett the Parish Clerk and Finance Officer.

A total of 1070 people came to admire Winchelsea’s Open Gardens on Saturday 8th June. As a result the grand sum of £6592 was raised. From that figure £6000 went to the National Garden Scheme’s charities and the rest to the local charity, Friary Gardeners, both of whom are grateful for the support and generosity of the Open Gardens Scheme.

Two Saturdays ago friends and residents watched the newly released film, ‘The Diamond Jubilee Year in Winchelsea’. It concerned aspects of life in the town during 2012 as well as the Jubilee celebrations of that year and succeeded in invoking many great memories. The film was shot and edited by Entertainment Workshops, the youth vocational training charity, based in Rye Harbour who were taken on as the Winchelsea Diamond Jubilee Project. Following the making of the film over £4,000 was raised to support the work of EW in the form of the film commission and each household in Winchelsea will receive a DVD copy of the film.

Winchelsea Beach

On Sunday 23rd June Rye Harbour Nature Reserve will be discussing ‘Trapping Sharks, Tigers and Elephants’. This is when the warden opens up the moth trap to reveal the previous night’s catch of amazing varieties of moths that visit the reserve. To find out more about these moths meet for 10 am at Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre (wheelchair accessible) and donations would be greatly appreciated.

The fortnightly visit of the Mobile Library to Sea Road is this Wednesday 26th June, as usual at 11.55 am to 12.30 pm.

The next St Richard’s Fellowship Lunch for this month is on Friday 28th June at 12 for 12.30 pm in the Community Hall. These lunches are gaining in popularity and all may attend but it is necessary to contact 01797 227168 soon as catering needs to be planned.

St Richard’s Church continues to have a good attendance at the services although it has been a challenge not having a regular Church Rector. However new talent has been found among the congregation for lay-led services and intercessions and members of the church are pleased to find that the church family has been strengthened during the vacancy period.