News from around the clubs - September 4

Workers' Educational Association, Bexhill Branch

THE Bexhill branch of the Workers' Educational Association is launching its autumn programme of adult education classes by inviting recent students to a free coffee morning.

This will be held at the Dunselma Hotel, Marina, on Tuesday, September 8, and is an example of the voluntary side of the WEA. Although suggested by a member of the association's paid staff, the coffee morning has been arranged by local volunteers and will be paid for out of local branch funds.

Bexhill branch is offering nine classes this year. They cover practical gardening; 20th-century ideas and ideologies; creative writing; life drawing; watercolour painting; practical art projects in mixed media; and Flemish, Dutch and Spanish art.

Classes are held in the morning and afternoon and cost 68 for ten meetings, but are free to benefit recipients, 16-to-18 year olds and refugees etc. Brochures are obtainable from Bexhill Library or by ringing 01424 210410 or 214838.

The branch's Annual General Meeting will be held at 10am on Saturday, October 31, in the Wesley Rooms at Little Common Methodist Church.

The East Sussex Fuchsia and Pelargonium Society

ON August 1 we held our annual fuchsia show at Brede Village Hall, which was an absolute success and possibly one of the best ever with around 160 plants on display in a sea of colour.

The plants ranged from the minute flowered encliandra types through the range of distinctive singles, and flamboyant double flowered varieties to the very unusual species and triphylla typewhich in all produced a spectacular display.

There were around 200 visitors to the show, all of whom seemed well pleased with the exhibition.

Members manning the refreshment bar were kept busy throughout, dispensing hot and cold drinks and the many home-made cakes and sponges that were on sale.

The plant sales table did very brisk business throughout with the many and varied excellent plants on offer.

Likewise the tombola had a super display of prizes to be won and was busy throughout and we thank members and many friends for the contribution of prizes.

Show trophies were won by: Mrs B. Strevett 4; Mrs S. Thompson 2; Mrs E. Muggridge 2; Mr R. Mills 2, Mr P. Thompson 1, Mrs M. Stunt 1, and Mrs J. Pilbeam 1.

Our show was judged by the experienced Mrs Gina Bowman, who also presented the trophies.

On August 13 we had our annual sausage and mash supper at Catsfield Village Hall.

The meal, prepared and cooked by members was really nice and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Prior to our meal we had a quiz devised by our Secretary Sylvia, followed by a 'vine weevil' beetle drive arranged by Mrs Jo Wilson, altogether a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

For anybody interested in joining our club please call at Catsfield Village Hal where we meet on the second Thursday of the month at 7.30pm.

Highwoods Preservation Society

What's about in September:

AS SUMMER slips away we are suddenly aware of cooler mornings when the dew highlights spider webs. At this time of the year we can get some idea of the huge number of spiders that are around.

While not all spider species weave webs, those that do prefer prickly bushes and plants where there are lots of anchor points. Look out for them on holly and gorse. Compare the different forms and patterns made by different species.

Hedgehogs will be very busy eating as many slugs, worms and beetles as they can find, along with nuts and berries as they build up fat layers as food reserves for their hibernation.

Many berries are now mature. This harvest will used to good effect by many different species of wildlife. Squirrels will be burying acorns and other nuts to retrieve in later months. They also start to horde food in their nests (called dreys) for the winter period. There are several dreys in the wood '“ they look like giant bird nests '“ and can be found toward the tops of trees. Rodents will also horde nuts and berries for the harsher times ahead.

Birds also take their fill of the berry harvest. Sometimes you can find one bush whose berries seem to last longer than others around. This is usually a sign that a mistle thrush has "captured" the bush and vigorously chases all other birds off so they can gorge themselves on their special banquet.

Blackberries are also an important food source, not only for birds and mammals but many insects like to feed on the juice of ripe fruit. Butterflies are very fond of blackberries and this can be one of the best opportunities to see them in autumn. Don't forget that you should not pick blackberries after September 29 (Michaelmas) as that is when according to folklore the Devil spits on them!

Fungi are also becoming more common and many birds and mammals eat certain species, which are poisonous to humans, but have no ill effect on them. The society runs a series of Fungi Forays, the first of which is on Saturday, October 3 starting from the car park at 10.30am.

Royal Naval Association Bexhill-on-Sea branch

WE record with sadness the death of our president Phil Humphries, at whose funeral our Standard was paraded, shipmates formed a Guard of Honour and the coffin was piped aboard.

A comprehensive account of Phil's distinguished service appeared in the Bexhill Observer.

The secretary gave news of three ship reunions. Our treasurer announced the amounts collected for Help for Heroes at the Sainsbury's and Co-Operative stores.

Our summer social on July 31 was well-attended and much enjoyed.

After Stand-Easy, former Bexhill Mayor Stuart Earl gave a most interesting and very humorous talk about his year as mayor. He described the experience as a great privilege and great fun.

On one occasion a little girl from Sidley County Primary School brazenly cadged a lift in his processional car, waved to the crowd, and then asked him: "Are you Tony Blair?"

He was amazed to discover during the year how many worthy societies and associations there are in Bexhill, and was imbued with a sense of great pride in our town, and to discover that 13,400 had been donated to the Mayor's charity. He mentioned that the first Mayor of Bexhill was another Earl '“ the Earl de La Warr.

He had visited 47 citizens on their 100th birthdays, and he commented wryly that they were all ladies. He enjoyed his visit to twin-town Le Touquet, and deeply regretted that in Bexhill we have no budget for reciprocation to the hospitality there encountered.

He confessed to making one unguarded remark, immediately regretted. When the wife of the High Sheriff asked how Bexhill coped with the problem of the preponderance of elderly citizens, he replied, "We carry out an annual cull each February." On the next occasion when they met, she asked him, "How did the cull go?"

Shipmates will be mustering at the Battle of Britain Parade and Service, and at the Veteran's Day Parade in Egerton Park. All those who have served in any branch of the Royal Navy or the Merchant Navy are assured of a warm welcome as new members. In the words of our Branch Prayer, "In the response to duty we have found the gift of comradeship." This comradeship is in evidence not only at branch meetings but at our summer and Christmas socials and at our annual Trafalgar Dinner.

Information about joining the RNA, and dates of meetings and events can be obtained by telephoning 01424 219035.

Crafts 4 U

CRAFTS 4 U met at St Martha's Hall Little Common on Monday August 6.

As usual it was good to see so many members.

Freda gave us a lovely demo on making butterflies from florist ribbon, which we then used to decorate a card. They were very effective and we would like to thank Freda for making up the kits for everyone to try.

Next month Irene will be demonstrating pyramage, this is building up layers of a picture but getting smaller each time, hence the name pyramage.

Members will need to bring their basic kit of pencil, ruler, scissors etc. plus sticky foam pads, a paper trimmer would be useful if you have one, but is not essential.

As we are at full capacity at the moment, anyone not attending for three consecutive months will be taken off the books unless they have informed the secretary that they will not be attending.

If you would like to put your name on our waiting list please call our secretary Tina on 01424 445542. We meet on the first Thursday of the month at St Martha's Hall, Little Common, from 10am to 12noon.

We are a friendly group who meet to share an interest in crafts of various types although predominately it is card making.

Royal British Legion Women's Section, Little Common Branch

OUR chairman Hilary Turner opened our August meeting welcoming 77 members and six guests.

After great efforts by our secretary to attract a standard bearer, Mrs June Mantle's persistence won the day and a candidate has come forward.

The magazine of the women's section of the Royal British Legion, Circular, has an article thanking the Little Common branch for the contribution of 1,000 to the Benevolent Fund as a result of its spring festival.

The county conference will soon be upon us. The photograph competition this year is for reflections in the water and the theme a woman's work is never done.

The other competition is for six mince pies and also for two Christmas decorations. So come on ladies, let's see how successful we can be.

Jull Masterton reported that the day outings to the BBC centre and Lille were well supported, with just two seats left. Shirley Naish, our new holiday arranger, has compiled a questionnaire to ascertain what members require for future holidays.

Over the Bank Holiday, the club held an open weekend to show potential new members and interested parties how the club functions and what it has to offer.

Competitions included a flower arrangement on the theme home for heroes and also a cake competition for a Victoria sponge, with the recipes provided by the secretary, Ann Smith. On Saturday afternoon there was a festival with stalls and displays and a cream tea, plus an evening programme. The women's section has its own website '“ www.womensbritishlegion.co.uk

Our speaker Pam Godall amazed us with the description of her 10,000 mile cycle ride across continents.

Approaching 60 years of age, Pam began her journey from Horsham going alone on her adventures.

Crossing Europe was not too hazardous but camping in strange places, weather conditions and the continual risk of punctures did not sound like too much fun.

A stretch of about 1,000 miles along a dedicated cycle track by the Danube proved a memorable and pleasant interlude, meeting like-minded cyclists was an added bonus. Eastern European borders were still manned by armed troops and visas were essential.

In Romania, Pam avoided being mugged or worse. In Bulgaria, camping is illegal and she was arrested.

With temperatures over 100F, keeping her food safe was a problem and her water bottles grew mould '“ not a healthy sign. Entry into Iran was refused so she went to Turkey and flew on to Pakistan. She was warned that Pakistan was a dangerous region but she found the people friendly.

In India she was invited to a wedding that lasted four days during which time the happy couple never spoke.

From there she went to China and was again arrested, the authorities not having seen a Western cyclist before. Later she received great hospitality.

Pam then flew to Mexico, where she encountered great danger from wild dogs that attempted to attack her.

She crossed into the USA where she fell foul of the authorities because of a visa being overlooked. The Americans were kind and interested in her but had no idea of the distances she had travelled.

In all this time she lost two stone but was relatively unharmed by her adventure. We were quite exhausted by the description of her journey that was so arduous.

Our next meeting will be at 7pm on Wednesday September 9 when we welcome members new and old.