Northiam

Blue Cross: Every household should have received a leaflet and voting form from the Parish Council regarding the sale of the Blue Cross lands. If you have any questions before casting your vote, there will be an Open Day in the Village Hall on Sunday (18th), 12-6pm, where members of the Parish Council will be available to hear your concerns or suggestions and answer questions.

Please, please, do respond to the questionnaire, and if you have inadvertently swept it away with junk mail, contact the Parish Office. There are strong feelings on both sides, so it would be really good to have a strong majority vote.

For what it’s worth, my view is that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to try to control how the village develops. Should we fail, the concrete and the generic housing eats up every space. If we gain control of the land, it gives us a breathing space for us all to debate how it is developed in the future – and the option to sell it to developers at a later date is not lost.

The vote will be counted on April 8th, so please get your form back, in its sealed envelope, to the Parish Council.

Pretious Hall: Sporting options in the Pretious Sports Hall are: Fridays, Badminton 8-10pm, Saturdays, Yoga 10am, Mondays, Badminton 5.45pm, Tuesday, Be Well Fit 6pm, Wednesdays, Junior Judo 6.45pm, Thursdays Pilates 6pm and Karate 7pm. The best way to find out about these clubs is to call into a class, or phone the Sports Hall on 01797 252297 (evenings).

Village Hall: Sporting/keep fit options in the Village Hall are: Friday, Boogie Bounce 10am, Sequence Dance Club 7pm, Monday, Short Mat Bowls 2pm, Pilates 6.30pm, Tuesday, Step Up & Dance 10am, Wednesday, Pilates 9am and 10am, Shortmat Bowls 2pm, Fitness 7pm.

Trefoil Guild: The Trefoil Guild is a branch of the Guide Association. Our local branch meets on the third Monday of each month in Beckley Village Hall at 2pm for a speaker, or some entertainment and a chat over tea and biscuits. Members are involved in various activities throughout the year helping to raise money for local clubs, Guides and Brownies. Turn up or call Deidre 230208 or Jane 260537 to find out more.

Toddlers: Northiam Tadpoles baby & toddler group meet every Tuesday 9.15 - 11.15am at Pretious Sports Hall, Main Street (the hall between the primary school and nursery.) The session is £2.50 per family (to cover costs) for age 0-5’s which includes a healthy snack for the children, drinks and biscuits for the parents/carers, there are lots of toys out for all ages and finishes with song time.

Over 60s: Sally Bickersteth will be bringing the Over 60s up to date with all the great things happening in Malawi thanks to the links with the community in Chitiwiri. Artstuc ability will be tested with the decorated Easter egg competition.

Cubs: Our Cub Pack is open to boys and girls between 8 and 10½. Meetings are on Tuesdays at 6pm in Scout HQ Goddens Gill. Contact Akela (Sarah) on 07963 594217, to find out more or to register.

Footpath Group: On Tuesday evening, the Footpath Group will hold a Social Evening and AGM in the Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm. There will be a fun quiz, refreshments and a grand raffle. New members are always welcome, so pop along and meet the members, and you’ll be all set to join in a walk!

Thursday Seniors: Thursday Seniors’ Club meets every Thursday in Northiam Village Hall from 10.30am until 2.30pm. All pensioners are welcome, and free door to door transport can be arranged for anyone in Northiam, Beckley, Peasmarsh and Broad Oak if you are on the Rye Community Bus route. The cost is £8 and includes welcome tea/coffee, a freshly cooked 2 course meal, extend chair exercises and a talk/entertainment. Call Joan 252568, Jane 252973 or Linda 252283 to find out more as a member or a helper.

Bank: The NatWest mobile bank calls at the Village Hall car park each Thursday 1.15-2.15pm.

Quiz: The most enjoyable Bowls Club Quiz Night will be held on Saturday 24th March in the Village Hall. Tickets are £8.50, to include a fish and chip supper. Please book with Jackie 252287. Teams of 8. Open evenings for anyone interested in taking up Bowls, will start on Monday 23rd April from 5.30pm.

Race Night: Unfortunately clashing with the quiz, the Bonfire Society are holding a Race Night in the Rose & Crown on Saturday 24th March. Horses are on sale over the bar in advance, with an auction on the night for the last race. Bets are just 50p. Race prizes have been generously donated by local businesses. Check out the Bonfire website or facebook page for details.

Helping Hands: Don’t forget that Helping Hands is there to offer just that on occasions when a little extra help is needed. If you need help, big or small, call 07522 473173 and the person at the end of the phone can let you know if it’s something they can help with, and what they can do.

Church Services: 18th : 8am Holy Communion, 10.30am Come Praise