Netherfield

Netherfield Community Friends is a small local scheme that started operating in November 2013. Currently we have a phone line where calls are accepted by a volunteer who can arrange for one of our group of volunteers to help anyone living in Netherfield when they are available. The scheme could benefit older people who have difficulty going out as much as they used to, those recovering from accidents or illness or those recently bereaved. Help can include: Transport – giving occasional lifts – e.g. dentists, opticians. practical help — shopping, collecting prescriptions, small household jobs — fixing a tap, changing a light bulb, gardening—tidying up, letter– writing, form-filling, befriending- sharing a cup of tea and having a chat, helping with pets, mending or sewing tasks. Our local volunteers are encouraged to offer their services only for the time they can spare and for activities they are happy and confident to carry out. We have a close links with St John the Baptist Church, the local Police Community Support Officers, Rother Voluntary Action, ROAR, The Netherfield Post Office and Amicus Horizon Housing Association all of whom have helped us get started. Volunteers are fully supported and the schemes have insurance cover. There is no charge for volunteer time but reimbursement for costs such as mileage can be requested as no volunteer should be ‘out of pocket’. If you thinking of using the scheme, just give us a ring and we will come to your home and chat about how help can be given or if you would like to volunteer a little spare time, ring: 01424 230580 Leave a message on the answer phone and we will get back to you.

Sadly our regular bus service stopped at the end of December there will be a new limited service run by Battle Area Community Transport. This will be running on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, there are also buses running to Eastbourne, Ashford, Tenterden, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells please call into the shop to pick up a timetable or contact Lyn on 01424 772001 Monday – Friday 9am to 12pm, [email protected] or check on line www.bact-online.co.uk.

Netherfield Church - Now our new Priest in Charge, Ann-Marie has had a chance to discuss services with all three parishes, it has been agreed for the time being that the schedule of future services will follow much the same as we have had during the interregnum with one alteration. The Family Service that alternated with Mountfield will now be replaced with an “All Age Worship” (non sacramental) service which it is hoped will widen the appeal to all rather than just families. This will be a United service for the whole benefice and will rotate around all the three parishes in turn. The first one will be at Netherfield this Sunday February 2. The rest of the month will be Holy Communions at Brightling, then Mountfield and finally at Netherfield. All start at 10 am and you are most welcome to join us. Why not try this new format out on Sunday?

The first quiz of 2014 at the White Hart was well attended with seven teams taking part. There was an overriding theme of Robbie Burns and Scotland as Burns Night is around the corner. Again an excellent evening of quizzing, entertainment and light hearted banter. I have to report, with some embarrassment, that our team, supported this month by Rosie and Ted, plus Ann-Marie again (remember I said she could become the lucky mascot) won. This was only after a tie break and in fairness it was incredibly close and any one of the teams could have won. Thank you to all who supported it as £85 was raised towards the running costs of your church. I really cannot thank Sean enough for the work he puts into these quizzes and for the way he runs them, yes it is competitive but the emphasis is on having a really good evening and everyone will testify to the success of this. The third Thursday each month could be a good, fun, night out for you and is always for a good charitable cause. Paul Smith, Churchwarden.

Netherfield Village Hall bookings - Marrissa Stepanek 01424 838106, or call in at the village shop.

WHITE HART - There are various groups meeting throughout the month including Boules, The Rover group, The Harley Davidson group, T.R.Cars and The Breakaway Club, if you would like to know more about any of the dates and times or the darts and football teams please give Sean a ring on 01424 838382. White Hart Boules Pitch. The pieste is free to use, any clubs please feel free to come and use the pieste, FOC any time except match days which are Saturday afternoons throughout the season. We have a group of ladies and Gents that play amongst themselves Monday Lunchtimes. Please all check our websites for updates of up coming events www.whitehartnetherfield.com. On Thursday January 16 we held a Quiz Night in aid of Netherfield Parish Church where we raised eighty five pounds many thanks to all that supported us!

On Thursday February 20 there is a QUIZ NIGHT in aid of St Michaels Hospice. Teams of up to 4 people please, we start at 7.30pm please come along and support such a worthy cause.

On Thursday December 9 White Hart B darts played the Chequers in Battle, the team lost 6 -1 but they did manage to win the men’s pairs and the ladies pairs, but unfortunately lost the mixed pairs, in the push penny the team won 5 -0 there were wins for Rick, Bob, Marie, Lyn and Jo. In the darts Mandy made some good scores of 135,125,129.

On Monday January 6 the ladies darts league restarted after Christmas. They played the White Hart Wadhurst and won 9-2 this means the ladies stay unbeaten so far!

On Thursday January 16 the White Hart B played Queens Head, they won the darts 4-3, won the push penny 3-2 they then went on to win the mixed pairs and the ladies pairs but lost the men’s pairs.

On Monday January 20 the ladies darts team played the White Hart at Wadhurst in the second leg of the semi finals of the Cup, the ladies won 6 - 5 which means over the 2 legs the team won 12 - 10 the team players are Marie Colvin, Debbie, Coral Giles, Mandy and Lou Saunters, Jane Beeden, Sarah Hunter.

On Thursday January 23 White Hart B played Victoria they lost the darts 5-2, in the mixed pairs they won, and the push penny won 3-2 but unfortunately lost the men’s pairs and ladies pairs.

Netherfield Breakaway Club has enjoyed another busy and interesting year with outings to the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne and Knole, near Sevenoaks. Our speakers gave talks on a wide range of subjects, from Emmaus, charity for the homeless; Wartime radio with all our favourites!; the Cutty Sark; Chaplaincy service at St Michael’s Hospice; Plant hunting around the world and Extend Exercise. In July we enjoyed a summer lunch at The White Hart. The November meeting gave us an insight into Farming in Sussex from 1800 – 1900 with a slide show and accompanied talk by Jean Woodgate. This featured slides and postcards which Jean had collected for many years on all aspects of traditional farming, from working with oxen and horses through to the introduction of tractors and rail transport, and there were pictures of prisoners of war, many animals, a piano being played in a field during harvesting (!), Hastings Old Town and Glottenham Manor (Robertsbridge) and some of the early ‘naughty’ or joke cards! A fascinating collection with comments from Jean.

December brought a close to the year with the annual Christmas lunch, held traditionally at the Brickwall Hotel, Sedlescombe and attended by members and their guests.

The first meeting of 2014 saw a welcome return visit of Mike and Diana Beswick. This time their talk with slides was on photography – from plate to digital, and a fascinating insight into Mike’s career as a newspaper photographer and the many and varied assignments he undertook from photographing royalty to road accidents, weddings and pop stars. Mike won many awards for some of his photos and now he and Diana design their own Christmas cards and brochures promoting one of their son’s businesses.

Ann reminded members that their subs, still only £16 will be due at the February meeting. Visitors would pay £3 and £1 for their tea/coffee and biscuits. Coral was thanked for all her hospitality throughout the year; Elaine was welcomed back; a new project in Netherfield – the Community Guide was mentioned; the raffle, organised by May and Sheila was drawn at the end of the meeting and Mike and Diana were thanked for their extremely interesting presentation.

The February meeting will be held as always at The White Hart pub on the third Thursday and will feature Barbara Valentine on ‘how she became an artist’. The ensuing year’s programme will be just as enjoyable with Anne Gidlow – her experiences as head teacher; Debbie Dann – Follies of Great Britain; an outing to Friary Gardeners Nursery with tea; Fiona Knight – Sanctuary Supported Housing; summer lunch at the White Hart; Julie Hilliard from the Blue Cross, Northiam – Animals at War and Richard Williams on Medieval Life. We have over 20 regular members but are always pleased to see visitors who may like to join us. We are, as always indebted to Sean for allowing us to meet at The White Hart where a warm welcome and good food is always on offer.

THE MOBILE LIBRARY will be outside the shop from 11.50 – 12.10 today, Friday January 31.

To include your event or local Netherfield news please e mail me [email protected]

The next meeting of the Battle Hard of Hearing Support Group will be held on Monday 3rd February 2014, from 2pm to 3:30pm at St Martins, Mount Street, Battle. This is an excellent opportunity to meet other hard of hearing people and to make new friends in a relaxed and friendly environment and to learn useful communication skills to help reduce the feeling of isolation. Everyone welcome, so put a note in your diary.