Staplecross

STAPLECROSS & EWHURST GREEN W.I. I must begin this week’s column with a sincere apology to those lovely ladies of Staplecross & Ewhurst Green W.I. Earlier in the month I informed the residents of Ewhurst Parish and any other reader, that these fair ladies would once more be meeting & greeting at their usual monthly W.I. venue. As usual there was going to be a great speaker with a competition from the members in connection with the speaker’s subject to follow. --- Well !, - all went smoothly, until I realised that I had made a rather large Faux Pah !. The speaker had given us all a very interesting talk on “The Uttermost Parts of the World” aided by some stunning slides and the competition to accompany this talk was entitled “An Exotic MEMENTO”, NOT “An Exotic MOMENT”, - as I had stated. This produced some rather loud laughter and several elbow digs,- when I apologised for my mistake, but I have been forgiven I’m told !. So you see Ladies, the W.i. is not at all the picture of ‘dry old ladies’, that is often the misconceived conception, far from it. - We are ladies of all ages, and interests and are very proud of our “Laughter Lines”, - wherever they may be !. Come along and see what’s next on our busy calendar. Please contact Ann on 01580~831944 for all further information.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Oct 2014, 00:00 BST

ROTHER RAMBLERS: Continuing on their rural rambles, the members of The Rother Ramblers Group, and anyone who would like to join in on any of these walks, are once more busily strutting their stuff around our area. Four walks are lined up for our enjoyment and the first is arranged for Sunday October 19th. This will be a very interesting 12 mile Hawkhurst to Bodiam Circular and all those wishing to take part should meet up at 10.0am. in the car park near Hawkhurst Primary School,-off the A268. (SatNavTN184JJ) Dogs will be permitted to accompany you and there are several options for refreshments - a picnic , a cafe or the pub at Bodiam Castle. Most welcome I’m sure !. The ‘Walk Leader’ is Heather, who is new to this, so please show her your support. You can contact her on 01580~752652 for all further details. Next up is Walk No:2 is on Thursday October 23rd. and will be a fabulous 7 mile walk around Brede & the Tillingham Valley. There’ll be stunning views from start to finish on this walk, so very enjoyable for all. Meet at 10.0am. at the Brede Village Hall (SatNavTN316DX) Please park near to the road entrance. As usual dogs are permitted to enjoy this meander and a picnic lunch is again suggested. Clive is the ‘Walk Leader’ on this occasion and you may contact him on 01424~882674. for more information. Walk No: 3 is in a completely different direction and is a mere 6 mile circular walk of the beautiful area of Punnett’s Town and Three Cups. Arranged for Saturday October 25th Please meet outside the chapel at Chapel Cross, Cade Street (SatNavTN219DB) at 9.30am. Naturally dogs are also allowed to enjoy this walk with you. There will be a short refreshment stop midway with the option of a lunch at The Swan pub, Woods Corner, after the walk. Lionel is the man who is arranging this little stroll and you may contact him on 01424~752462 for more details. Last but certainly not least is Walk No:4 - just the thing to finish off the week !. This is planned for Sunday October 26th and is an 11 mile meander entitled “New Wine and an Ancient Church”. - very intriguing and it promises to be rather interesting as well, Those also interested are to meet at 10.0am outside Alfriston Primary School, North Road, Alfriston (SatNavBN265XB) On street parking is here, and please park ‘prettily’ .Once more dogs are also welcome to stroll alongside of you and a picnic lunch is also suggested. Richard is the man in charge of this ramble and you may contact this ‘Walk Leader’ on 01424~892865 for all further information.

ARTHUR HERDMAN COMMEMORATIVE CELEBRATIONS: Just to remind you that this will be your final opportunity to obtain tickets for the Commemoration Supper of this young soldier, lost during the harsh fighting in the early part of W.W.1. The superb supper will be taking place at the new pavilion,- part of the legacy left to the children of our parish and subsequently named in honour of him - on Friday October 24th at 7pm. Tickets are £15:00 per person and with the additional benefit of a licensed bar promises to be a very entertaining evening. The celebrations continue, through words and music, to commemorate the life of this remarkable young man who donated the field and a sum of money for it’s upkeep, for the benefit of the children of this parish. The celebrations continue onwards on Saturday October 25th between 11am. and 1pm. at the same venue, the Herdman Pavilion, Ewhurst Green, as all residents of Ewhurst Parish are welcome to attend the commemoration of the centenary of his death at the age of just 28. Arthur Widdrington Herdman, born 31st January 1886 was the only son of Reverend. Robert and Mary Herdman in North Shields, He was in his early 20’s when he joined The Royal Sussex Regiment in September 1909 and later commisioned in The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. In 1913 he was promoted to Lieutenant and in 1914 became part of the 16th Infantry Brigade serving in the British Expeditionary Force in Flanders. He arrived in France on 10th September but only 6 weeks later, and one of three officers among 55 soldiers, he was killed at Le Quense Farm, Bois Grenier Near Armentieres whilst serving with B Company. He is believed to be buried at Ration Farm Military Cemetery but is amongst those listed on the ‘Ploegsteert Memorial, to the Missing’, in Belgium. There is a plaque to him in St. James Church, Ewhurst Green and during these centenary commemorations of his death, the dedication of an additional plaque together with the unveiling of his portrait at the site where it all began, 100 years ago, will be the highlight of these thanks-giving celebrations. For all further information and to reserve tickets for the supper, please contact Glenys on: 01580~830491 or via email [email protected]

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STAPLECROSS BONFIRE NIGHT: This is the celebration to rule all celebrations. This is the night that all the members of the Ewhurst & Staplecross Bonfire Society have worked so hard and so tirelessly for all year. What night am I waxing lyrical about, --- Saturday October 25th is the night in question -- the night of the Ewhurst & Staplecross Bonfire Society “Bonfire & Torchlight Celebrations”. Before the actual parade gets underway, there will be a great Fancy Dress competition for young and old, male and female - which will begin at 5pm in the Village Hall at Staplecross. The fantastic and magical Torchlight Procession will set off at 7.15pm sharp !. Volunteers are always needed for this super celebration, either to act as marshalls for the procession, to rattle a collecting tin, to man a road closure or to help direct the traffic. Please try to offer your services if you can as all help given will be very much appreciated. All monetary proceeds taken on the night, will be added to the funds accumulated by the various fund-raising activities staged by the society throughout the year and which will then be put to such good use when they offer donations to their locally chosen charities.The Torchlight Procession will leave Staplecross and make it’s way down to Cripps Corner and then return back towards Staplecross where it will enter the field set aside for just this purpose, in anticipation of lighting the bonfire a short while later. Many other Bonfire Societies from all around this area, near and far, will be taking part and adding to the already colourful, noisy, exuberant and exhilarating atmosphere always in abundance during this evenings event. Those very kind volunteers helping as marshals at this years event should attend the special meeting arranged for Friday October 22nd in the Staplecross Social Club, ( next to the Village Hall) at 7.30pm. This meeting will be a last minute briefing in readiness for the celebrations a few days later. Please contact Doreen Matthews on 01580~830674 for any further details regarding this. For all other information please contact John on 01580~830744 or via email at: [email protected]

CHURCH SERVICES: Church services for the parish of Ewhurst will commence at St. James the Great, Ewhurst Green on Sunday October 19th Trinity 18 at 9.30am and this service will include Holy Communion. A service will follow directly afterwards at St. Giles church in Bodiam at 11.15am and this service will also include Holy Communion. There will be NO SERVICE today at St. Mark’s church Northiam Road in Staplecross. Both of these services will be conducted by Reverend Gordon Winchester and if there are any church matters that he can further help you with, please don’t hesitate to contact him at any of these contact points.- either The Rectory, Ewhurst Green, Telephone number 01580~830268 or via his email address which is: [email protected] He’ll be glad to help you in any way he can.

END OF SUMMER: Sad as it seems, it’s that time of the year again when it’s time to pack away your beach gear, your flip-flops and sun cream and bring back to the foreground your welly’s and waterproofs ! Torch batteries will be another thing to remember to include in your shopping list, (as we don’t have any street lighting) - alongside the soups, and casserole ingredients. It’ll also soon be time for “Stir Up Sunday” and storing up provisions and such-like in preparation for that wonderful and exciting time of the year- Christmas! - no matter how much we plan for it, -something inevitability gets forgotten doesn’t it ?. One thing that must not be forgotten is to ‘put the clocks back’. British Summer Time officially ends on Sunday ( 26th) but most people will do this on Saturday October 25th as it’s more convenient for them. - either way, don’t forget to put all your time pieces back one hour, - and enjoy the extra hour in bed.-- bliss !

PLEASE LET ME KNOW: about your own Club, Group, Charity or Society and whatever events you have planned and I’ll do my best to spread the word to help make sure that your events, celebrations, functions or ‘do’s’ are publicised and promoted, herefore helping you to make a greater success of your own ‘Big Event’.

Anne Reed

[email protected]