Staplecross

Please slow down, pass wide & slow and give respect to the work crew, after all, they are here working to improve the road surface , which will give us all a more comfortable, smoother and safer journey. Thank you for your co-operation and patience whilst the highways teams carry out these essential road works.

EWHURST PARISH COUNCIL: The members of your parish council wish to remind and inform all residents ( and other members of the public) who would normally use the Children’s Play Park area, at the Staplecross Playing Field, Northiam Road, Staplecross to be aware that this facility will be CLOSED from Monday February 20th for approximately 3 days. Due to concerns in regard to the condition and safety of the perimeter fencing of this play park, it was decided to replace the whole of the boundary fencing. Ewhurst Parish Council wish to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to both adults and children alike, and hope to have this essential work carried out as quickly and efficiently as possible. The remainder of the Playing Field, - including the popular zip wire unit, will not be effected and will continue to be ‘open for business’.

LOCAL OPEN SURGERY: - Just a gentle reminder that Huw Merriman, your local member of Parliament together with Angharad Davies, your local East Sussex County Councillor and Tony Ganly, your Rother District Councillor will be hosting a local ‘Open Surgery’ in which they would like to invite ALL Ewhurst Parish residents, to come along on Friday February 24th between 11.0am and 12.30pm. and talk to them about any local problems, issues or areas of concerns you may have. We don’t often get the chance to see our ‘local MP’ - let alone have the opportunity to discuss with them all, our concerns regarding those issues that matter to us all. Well, - Now is your chance.- come along to the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross and speak to them of what matters to you and any local concerns you may have. The Councillors, which will also include some local parish councillors, will be there to (hopefully) answer your queries and questions, discuss your concerns and take note of your comments. Tea and biscuits will be available and all will be very welcome. Today’s programme will also include a visit to our village school, Quarry Park Business Centre and other local businesses, culminating in another ‘open surgery’ meeting at 6.00pm, again at Staplecross Village Hall. Now could be the perfect time to ‘Speak your Piece’ -- so come along and have your say!.

ROTHER RAMBLERS: Whether in boots & brollies or shorts & sunshades, the members of the popular walking group, the Rother Ramblers, will always be out and about, wearing the correct & appropriate gear, enjoying our English weather. They have two (2) more walks lined up for us this week and Walk No: 1 is arranged for Sunday February 12th and is a 10 mile meander around Hastings Country Park. The meeting point is at Pett Level,-outside the Public Toilets - OS.EXP124. TQ888133. (SatNav TN35 4HF) at 10.00am. The ‘walking notes’ state - There is limited parking near the toilets meeting place, but there is off-road parking along the coast road - Walk to Hastings Old Town for a picnic or café lunch stop, returning via a different route. This is a ‘hilly walk’ with lots of steps’ -. Heather is to be your ‘walk leader’ on this occasion and you may contact her on:01580-752652 or mobile:07968-294038 for all further details. Walk No: 2 is a relatively short stroll of just 6 miles and is planned for Wednesday February 15th. Listed as ‘Just another excuse for a steak & kidney pud’ - this intriguing walk requests that you all meet at the Swan Inn, Woods Corner. OS.EXP124. TQ666194 (SatNavTN21 9LW) again at 10.00am. A short refreshment stop midway is included in this walk with the option of a pub lunch at the end. If you intend lunching at the pub, you may use their car park, if not please park in the nearby lay-bys. Rita and Lionel will be your ‘walk leaders’ for this excursion and you may contact them on: 01424-752452 for more information.

STAPLECROSS LUNCHEON CLUB: Once again, the members of this happy and friendly little Dining Group will be meeting on Wednesday February15th at 12.30pm. in the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross. As stated before, new members (of 50 years young and over!) are always warmly welcomed, to help keep this very friendly and happy social group from becoming just another sad village reminder of yet another lost activity. On the menu this month and back by popular demand, is Turkey and Mushroom Pie with all the usual trimmings and of course, fresh seasonal vegetables. The dessert to follow, again another firm favourite will be Sticky Toffee Pudding . Yummy ! -followed by tea or coffee. All this, for the miserly sum of £6:00 per person. If this is not to your taste - or dietary needs - then please let the organisers know, and an alternative meal can be provided for you, so please reserve your place as soon as possible. The monthly menu’s are always very varied, delicious, plentiful, reasonable and freshly cooked and with no clearing up or washing up involved, there’s really no reason for you not to come & be a part of it. -- so no excuses. ‘Rules’ are few & far between, - you have to be ‘of a certain age’,- and promise, whenever possible to attend each month - this avoids unnecessary wastage in food, time, money and energy - so important in this day and age, when economy matters. You don’t even have to live within the parish as many of our valued diners come from outside our villages. Also, you don’t have to have lived in the community for a generation or more, before you are ‘entitled’ to join. This means that if you have recently moved into the parish, in any of our three villages, then this could be just the opportunity you need to make new contacts, colleagues and of course, new friends. So please, just give the two organisers a ring - Sally on 01580~830000 or Dennis on 01580~830816 for all further details and to make your reservation. Please come along and support us, and you’ll very soon be a highly regarded and much valued member of this lovely, sociable dining group.

EWHURST PARISH COUNCIL: This EPC meeting will take place on Thursday February 16th at the Herdman Pavilion, Ewhurst Green. at 7.30pm. As with all Parish Council meetings, this meeting is open to the public and press alike and allows all residents of all three villages - Cripps Corner, Ewhurst Green and Staplecross, which make up Ewhurst Parish Community - the perfect opportunity to come along and have your say and perhaps now may be the right time to show your concern and air your views and ask your questions. There are usually also representatives from both Rother District Council (Mr. Tony Ganly) and East Sussex County Council (Mrs Angharad Davies) and during ‘Public Question Time’, you’ll be able to question, query, comment or complain on any or all of the things going on within our parish. We are here to listen to what you have to say and what you want ( or NOT want) to happen within this community. We are all working hard on your behalf, to make our parish and our community a better, safer and happier place to live, work and enjoy being in, and it goes without saying, that we would welcome any suggestions you may have to help us all to achieve this result. Car parking is on the narrow country road, directly outside, so please take extra care and do ‘park pretty’. All will be very warmly welcomed.

EWHURST, STAPLECROSS & BODIAM GARDEN SOCIETY: Wending their way back to the first monthly meeting of 2017, will be the ‘merry members’ of this popular gardening society. Following on from their annual fun quiz night in January, the members will be looking forward to another evening’s entertainment in the form of Mr. Martin Heard, a well known speaker, who will be talking about that ‘famous lady’ Josephine Bonaparte and her botanical interests and her beautiful garden on Martinique. Entitled “The Rose of Martinique,” this promises to be once more, a superb, informative and delightful evening. Taking place on Thursday February 16th at 7.30pm in the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross, everyone is warmly welcome, with members free and Non-Members paying a miserly fee of just 2:00. A welcome ‘cuppa’ can be enjoyed during the interval as well as a super raffle to bring this enjoyable evening to a close. A gentle reminder here folks, --- Membership renewals of 8:00 are NOW DUE and can be paid on the night cash or cheques accepted. For more information of what to expect and to look forward to - throughout the year, including our various shows, outings and talks,- please contact either: Maggie- 01580-830041 or Pam- 01580-830320 or Gill on 01580-830551. We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be yet another full and enjoyable Programme of Events for 2017 - which is sure to have something to please you all.

STAPLECROSS VILLAGE HALL: MAMMOTH JUMBLE SALE- a little reminder notice of the first of the Jumble Sales that are due to take place at the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross. This one, organised by the Village Hall Committee as part of the Fund-Raising events will be held on Saturday February 18th. Doors will open at 2.00pm to allow for all those clever people seeking bargains to fill their big bags for little money. Jumble donations can be brought to the Village Hall from 9.30am and if you can’t manage this then do please contact Hilary on 01580-830704 or Anne on 01580-831881 who will do their best to arrange collection of it. As usual teas/coffees and soft drinks will be available as well as a cake stall and a superb raffle. Make a note of this in your diary and calendar. Don’t Miss It!.

OUT & ABOUT - RYE SCALLOP WEEK: This festival just gets better and better each year. It’s not just about scallops - although they are certainly the *star attraction* or even whether you are a ‘foodie’. This is about just what a small historic seaside town manages to promote, promise and provide the perfect opportunity to try life on a different ‘scale’ ! This festival provides a wonderful variety of music to suit all tastes. There are also Comedy acts; Quiz Nights; Farmers Markets and many, many other events to suit all tastes and preferences, to keep you coming back for more. Of course the star of the event is the ‘Humble Scallop’ and the town is awash with various restaurants proclaiming the many delights of this delectable dish. Taking place between Saturday February 18th until Sunday February 28th it’s the perfect place to indulge in as many seafood delights as you can manage. Check out htpp://scallop.org.uk/ for more details.- Go and Enjoy!.

CHURCH SERVICES: Church services for the parish of Ewhurst, will commence at St. James the Great, Ewhurst Green on Sunday February 12th. 3rd before Lent. at 9.30am. This service will include Holy Communion. There will be NO SERVICES TODAY at St. Giles church, Bodiam, but a Morning Praise service at St. Mark’s church, Northiam Road, STAPLECROSS will follow directly afterwards at 11.15am. If there is any church matter on which you feel you may need further assistance, especially Baptisms, Weddings and sadly, Funerals, then for the time being, do please get in touch with the appropriate Churchwardens: ~ For all Bodiam matters, please contact Graham Peters - email at [email protected] or telephone number 01580~830203. For all Ewhurst Parish matters please contact Jo Goodwin - email [email protected] or telephone number 01580~830601. Help in some way is always at hand and always so generously given, so do please contact them.

PLEASE CONTACT ME: If you are arranging an event in the foreseeable future, --- whatever the nature of the event and however large or small, if you’d like some extra coverage for it, then please get in touch. If it’s of interest to you, - it’s of interest to us.

It’s never too early to send in any of the details and to tell us what you are planning. Many of you will be turning your thoughts to other events in the near future - remember - Spring (surprisingly) is just around the corner, so please do contact me, as I’d love to hear from you and to help ‘spread the word’ on your behalf................Thank You.

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