WADHURST TOWN IN FOCUS - DECEMBER 2007
MULLINS MEMORIAL FUND
The Mullins Christmas Quiz will be published on Saturday 1 December. For only
£1 you, your family and friends will be able to have hours of fascinating fun
trying to solve it, while at the same time supporting a Wadhurst charity. Why
not include some in your Christmas cards or presents? Quiz sheets will be available
from Carillon Cottage and the Belmont Surgery and should be returned by Friday
4 January.
Requests come in regularly to the Mullins Memorial Fund and the Trustees are glad to be able to help people of Wadhurst in whatever way is the most appropriate to needs and circumstances. If you know someone who you feel might benefit financially, practically or emotionally from our support, please pass the information on to one of the Office Bearers on 782181, 782835 or 783212. Be assured that whatever we do is done in complete confidentiality.
THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION – WADHURST & TIDEBROOK BRANCH
The Wadhurst and Tidebrook Branch of the Royal British Legion would like to
thank everyone who helped and supported this years' Poppy Appeal. This year
the local collections amounted to £5,347 which is again in itself, another
record. This amounts to a good proportion of the overall figure for the area.
As Poppy Appeal Organiser I would like to thank everyone for their continued support. Maurice H. Wilson
WADHURST ROTARY CLUB CHRISTMAS LIGHTS EVENT
Following last years highly acclaimed evening, the Rotary Club are again organising
a Christmas Lights and late night shopping evening on the High Street in Wadhurst.
The event will take place on Friday 14 December from 5.30pm.
It is hoped that nearly all the shops and businesses will be lighting up their windows and taking part. Rotary Club will be purchasing more Festive lighting, and events planned include, a Santa’s Grotto and other children’s entertainment, a Hog Roast, Carol Singing, an appearance by Wadhurst Brass Band and lots of food and drink. It is also intended to hold a mini Christmas Craft Fair with stalls selling all sorts of Christmas goodies.
If you would like to book a stall, or feel you would like to take part in the evening in any other way, please ring the organisers, Alan McGee on 01892 784274 or Malcolm Williams on 01892 782427.
Last years event raised enough money to purchase a Defibrillator for the village, which is now in use. As it is intended to make this an annual occasion, and in order to try and brighten up even more our village High Street, Rotary Club have decided to put all the money raised from this year’s event back into the Community by putting the money towards providing bigger and better lights for the future. Further information on the event will be appearing around the village over the next two months.
WADHURST PROBUS CLUB
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 4 December at 10.00am in the Wadhurst Social
Club with a talk by Jo Ambrose on Working Horses.
Hospice in the Weald - Wadhurst Link
The coffee morning held
by Mrs Audrey Mitchell, on Thursday 18 October, was a tremendous success and
raised £130. Thank you very much Audrey and all those who attended.
A lunch and sale of Hospice Christmas Cards and Christmas Goods was recently held at my house, and I am very pleased and grateful to announce that we managed to send in excess of £2,130 to Hospice. I would like to thank all those who supported this event and hope you will bear it in mind for next year!
May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas, and I look forward to many occasions during 2008 when we can cheerfully try to raise more money for our marvellous Hospice.
The next coffee morning for Hospice will be at Fieldhaven, Old Station Road,
at the home of Val Tunbridge (01892 782498), on Wednesday 12 December - 10.00am
to 12 noon. All welcome.
(I would like to reiterate my plea for a little more
help and support - if anyone is interested in assisting to raise money, contributing
ideas for same, and providing venues for coffee mornings, bridge teas, etc.
please do contact me ASAP.)
Hospice in the Weald Wadhurst Link, Linda Kings (01892 783461)
The Cards for Good Causes Shop will be open in The Methodist Church until 13 December.
Wadhurst Primary school will be holding its Christmas Fair on Saturday 1 December between 11.00am and 2.00pm. There will be the usual raffle and tombola as well as a range of craft stalls and refreshments. Plus, bring your little ones alone to see Santa in his Grotto!
WADHURST TWINNING ASSOCIATION
The Twinning Winter Social is always an enjoyable and festive occasion during
the darker nights of the year and will be on Saturday 12 January 2008 in the
Youth Centre, beginning at 7.30pm. This January, we are hoping that a small
group from Aubers will be able to join us. A hot supper, a film about France,
a raffle and plenty of good company will guarantee a thoroughly enjoyable and
sociable evening together.
Tickets - £12.50 (with £7 for 16 and under) - include a hot meal and a pre-supper drink. They are limited in number and will be on sale at Newingtons from Monday 10 December until Saturday 5 January 2008 only – that way, we can finalise numbers to the outside caterers. Everyone welcome.
St John Ambulance Wadhurst Division will be having a Christmas Table Top Craft Sale on 8 December at the Commemoration Hall. We hope to have all kinds of crafts. Table Tops are for sale at £10 for one or £15 for two. Doors will be open from 9.30am to 12 noon, and entrance will be by donation. To book table tops please telephone Cindy (01892 784714) or Margery (01580 200378).
KENT & SUSSEX BORDER LIONS CLUB
We meet every third Wednesday at Hurst Green Village Hall, all are welcome.
Ring David Francis on 01580 200672 for more information.
WADHURST HISTORY SOCIETY
The Society thoroughly appreciated the talk given in November by Hugh Miller.
His presentation was evocative and moving, especially as we approached Remembrance
Sunday. On Thursday 13 December, 7.30 for 8.00pm, we review the year and our
achievements at the AGM; the business meeting will be followed by a social
get-together and an Entertainment. Big hint………..Subscriptions are now due and
Ian Adam-Smith would be pleased to receive them as soon as possible.
Work continues on the research for ‘Wadhurst between the years 1936 and 1946’ which includes Shovers Green, Churchsettle, Cousley Wood, Sparrows Green, Durgates, Best Beech, and Tidebrook. Others in the group are working on ‘Life in Wadhurst between the Wars 1919 to 1939’. If you would be willing to lend us (or even give us) relevant documents or artefacts of the period, we should be delighted to be able to consult them. Please contact David James, Markwicks, Lamberhurst Road, Cousley Wood, Wadhurst, TN5 6HG (01892 890330). Major projects like our current ones will be significant as our researches in other areas continue. Eventually all this work is for the benefit of the people of Wadhurst.
Afternoon Fellowship
Our next meeting will be a Carol Service at the Methodist Church on 20 December.
If you have never ventured into Afternoon Fellowship, it would be lovely to
see you: all-comers welcome.
“YOU’VE GOTTA PICK A TICKET OR TWO…” (OR EVEN MORE MAYBE?)
Oi, all you Musical lovers - how does
Lionel
Bart’s “Oliver” grab you then?
It’s coming to Wadhurst
pretty soon
Very catchy songs, lovely singers &
Expert
musicians, plus a 63-strong cast
Really acting & singing
their hearts out!
Wadhurst Dramatic Club is pleased and proud to announce that by arrangement with MusicScope and Stage Musicals Limited of New York, it will be presenting a total of 8 performances of Lionel Bart’s smash-hit musical “Oliver!” at the Commemoration Hall, Wadhurst in January/February 2008.
There will be evening performances (7.30 pm) on Thursday 24, Friday 25 and Saturday 26 January as well as on Thursday 31 January, Friday 1 February and Saturday 2 February 2008. There will also be matinée performances (2.30pm) on Saturday 26 January and Saturday 2 February 2008.
Because demand for tickets for this ever-popular musical is likely to be very brisk indeed, it will be possible to make advance bookings by telephone (from 3 to 16 December) by calling 01435 884080. Tickets will then go on sale as usual at Newington’s Newsagents, High Street Wadhurst from Monday 17 December.
The Club’s New Year message to all whose continuing support is greatly appreciated is: Book early to avoid disappointment!
MINI MARKET
will be held in the Methodist Church on Saturday 1 December from 9.30 to 11.00am.
All the proceeds will go to the children’s charity NCH. Your support is very
much appreciated.
Murder Mystery "M'Nango Valley"
WOW would like to invite you to "M'Nango Valley" a murder
mystery evening on Saturday 9 February. An explorer has returned recently from
his adventures and has plans to open a theme park in Wadhurst - he hopes to
win the support of the locals (you!) but not surprisingly he encounters some
opposition and what with one thing and another this leads to a murder! Would
you like to join us for a home cooked three course supper and help solve the
crime?
Tickets are £15 per head, available from Janet Goldsmith 01892 783264. It takes
place at Uplands Community Technology College, the action starts at 7.30pm
and a team of talented local actors will be performing. The bar will sell wine,
beer and soft drinks and the seating is arranged in tables of six. All proceeds
from the evening will be donated to charity.
CARE FOR THE CARERS
Are you caring for a relative or friend? Would you like to meet other
carers for a coffee and a chat? Then come along to our monthly meeting at Carillon
Cottage, every third Thursday from 10.30am - 12noon. For further details please
contact Sarah Burchett (01323 738390).
Are you interested in making wine?
The Wadhurst Winemakers' Circle meets at the Sports Pavilion, Sparrows Green,
on the first Friday of the month where we have regular speakers on various
subjects and wine tastings. The next meeting will be on 7 December at 7.30pm.
If you would like more information please contact Rose on 01580 200504 or
Shirley on 01580 201250, or just turn up.
WADHURST FOOTPATHS SOCIETY
Members and friends meet on the last Sunday of each month in the car park behind
One Stop, Washwell Lane, Wadhurst at 2.00pm. There will be no walk in December,
but we will meet again on 27 January when we will walk through Tidebrook,
Snape, and the Deer Park. All welcome.
The booklet "Walks around Wadhurst" published by the society describing a range of circular walks in the area around the village, has been completely revised and updated, with two additional walks bringing the total to 17, and with suggestions for linking the walks to make longer outings. The revised booklet is now on sale at Barnett's bookshop, price £3.
PARENTS AND TODDLERS GROUP
Meetings are held every Monday at St George’s Hall from 9.30am. Everyone welcome!
For further details please contact Nina on 01580 201158.
POLYPHONY
Polyphony's Christmas Concert will take place in Wadhurst Parish Church on
Thursday 20 December at 8.00pm. Michael Fields will direct the choir in a
programme of seasonal music, which will include the popular 'Fantasia on
Christmas Carols' by Vaughan Williams. We are delighted to welcome Ansy Boothroyd
and Charlie Rice (who comes from Wadhurst and is singing with us for the
first time) as our guest soloists and hope that many of you will join us. Tickets
are £8 (£5 for children under 16) and will be available from Newingtons and
at the door on the night. We look forward to seeing you!
Stonegate Farmers Market
Saturday 8 December, 10.00am to 12.30pm in Stonegate Village Hall. Over twenty
stalls selling wonderful local produce and refreshments. For more information
call 01580 200386.
Wadhurst Gardening Association
Wadhurst Gardening Association had the pleasure of being host to the BBC’s
Gardeners’ Question Time, on Tuesday 30 October. The Commemoration Hall was
the venue and all 220 seats were occupied by eager gardeners wishing to learn
more from the distinguished and friendly panel – the chairman, Peter Gibbs,
who had a great sense of humour, Pippa Greenwood, Mathew Biggs and Chris Beardshaw.
We were treated to the mechanics of the BBC’s recording system, and to the
patience of the panel and technicians. Jo King, the Assistant Producer for
Taylor Made Broadcasts did a splendid job discreetly organising the business
side of the production and the Wadhurst Gardening Association Committee did
a magnificent job at hosting this once in a lifetime event – the seed being
set many years ago, at last our patience was rewarded. Pumpkins and marrows
adorned the stage and Angela Goddard in her usual way created two magnificent
pedestal arrangements one of which was presented to Weald Hall.
This being the BBC’s 60th year of broadcasting Gardeners’ Question Time, the chairman, Jean Lavender, produced an iced fruit cake for the panel, which they kindly shared with the audience – yes there was enough to go around.
Monies from the raffle will be given to the Royal Horticultural Society Gardeners’ Benevolent Fund, now known as ‘Perennial’.
The first programme will be broadcast on Sunday 13 January 2008 on BBC Radio 4 at 2.00pm, with an edited repeat the following Wednesday. The second programme will be broadcast on Sunday 10 February 2008.
ONLY AFTER the February 2008 recording may a purchase of the CD be made by contacting the production secretary, Yvonne Allan, on 01608 646444, or by email at yallan@tmtv.co.uk
Our next meeting will be the Christmas Celebration on Monday 10 December in St George’s Hall, Sparrows Green at 7.30pm. The competitions will be 5 Brussel Sprouts and a Christmas exhibit (max 12in or 30cm. Mary Terry (01892 783154)
Stonegate School’s Christmas Fayre
The Fayre is to be held on Friday 7 December in the school hall between 3.00
and 6.00pm. There will be many attractions, including Santa’s Grotto, games
and craft stalls, BBQ and mulled wine.
WADHURST SWIMMING POOL
The Wadhurst Swimming pool committee has regrettably had to admit defeat in
its plans to build an indoor pool in Wadhurst. Unfortunately the failure
to secure funds from Sport England and the lack of public and private funds
has meant that the project and campaign has become unsustainable. The committee
would like to thank all those who have contributed their efforts to try and
keep this project alive and, in particular to Richard Meakin (Chairman of
WORD) who so valiantly kept the campaign alive to bring indoor swimming to
Wadhurst. Efforts are now are going to be directed to see how local transport
networks might be arranged to allow for swimmers to attend local pools.
Una Brockman would like to thank people for their continued support for the Wadhurst Outdoor Recreation Development Swimming Pool Fund. She would also like to express her appreciation to those who attended the fund raising lunch and coffee morning on Tuesday 23 October at The Wadhurst Tennis Club. Una is determined to continue her fight for the completion of this venture and is truly grateful for all the help, support and enthusiasm that she has received from the local community.
STONEGATE AMATEUR DRAMATIC SOCIETY
Stonegate Amateur Dramatic Society's next production will be in May 2008. We
are having auditions on Tuesday 4 December 7.30 to 8.30pm at Stonegate Village
Hall. Please feel free to come along.
WANTED
Are you getting married on Saturday 17 May 2008 and having your reception in
a marquee?
Might CTIW borrow it (the marquee) on the Sunday evening for our annual ‘Songs
of Praise’ service with the Wadhurst Brass Band? Telephone 01892 785041.
WADHURST INDEPENDENT PHOTOGRAPHERS
WIP meets every second Tuesday of each month, at 7.30pm, upstairs in The Greyhound
Pub, Wadhurst. The next meeting is on 11 December.
OPEN CIRCLE
Too old for Sticky Fingers and OASTies? Too young at heart for Cameo Club?
But in need of a bit of cheerful company, coffee and a chat? We meet on the
fourth Friday of each month . Why not come along to Open Circle at Carillon
Cottage on Friday 28 December, 10.00 to 11.30am?
WADHURST BRIDGE CLUB
New Members are most welcome to join a group of friendly players of varying
standards. Help and some tuition is given. Friday afternoons 2.00 to 5.00pm
at Sparrows Green Pavilion.
Telephone Margaret McAuley on 01435 867824 or 07964 347898.
CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
In liaison with Crowborough CAB, Carillon Cottage now offers a fully trained
CAB adviser every Wednesday morning, 9.00am to 12 noon. Please feel free
to call in and ask to speak to the CAB person or else ring 01892 785658 to
make an appointment.
WADHURST WOMEN'S INSTITUTE
The AGM in November was very well attended and we were pleased to see so many
members at the business meeting. Our president gave a review of the year and
it had been a good one with a variety of excellent speakers. Several members
are busy making craft items for the St John's Ambulance tabletop sale in the
Commemoration Hall on Saturday 8 December, and arrangements were also made
for the cake stall we will be manning there. Next months meeting is in St George's
Hall on Thursday 13 December at 2.00pm. The Christmas Party again!! More goodies
and games.
1st TICEHURST SCOUT GROUP ~ Tom Avery - Saturday 1 December, 5.30
to 7.00pm
World famous Polar explorer, mountaineer and local hero, Tom Avery will be
sharing his experiences for our young people on Saturday 1 December. Tom is
famed for being one of the youngest Britons to reach the South Pole on foot
(well, skis with kites anyway). For more information on Tom look to his website
www.tomavery.net or read his book Pole Dance. We are looking for inspired adventurers
to join our Explorer unit based in the Ticehurst, Wadhurst and Mayfield area,
so if you are between 14 and 18, want to meet Tom and fancy challenges greater
than finding the TV remote, join us between 5.30 and 7.00pm at the Ticehurst
Scout Hut, Pickforde Lane, Ticehurst. We are sure you will not be disappointed.
For further information please visit our website www.ticehurstscouts.co.uk
or contact Rob Burdon on 07713 634656.
THE VILLAGE DIARY
The Village Diary is available in Carillon Cottage. Please call in to check
dates or to record Village events. The Cottage is open every morning from
Monday to Saturday from 9.00am to 12noon and on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
and Friday afternoons from 2.00 to 4.00pm.
WADHURST BRASS BAND - www.wadhurstbrassband.co.uk
First
we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all an excellent Christmas
and an even better New Year. What would really make us happy is to be able
to do so in person at our Christmas Concert on Saturday 8 December.
This promises to be an outstanding event with a variety of seasonal music from the band. Our Training Band is getting in on the act with their debut public performance. Judging by what we have heard from the rehearsal room, the rest of us will need to be at our best to avoid being upstaged! As an extra special treat we also have the Udimore Handbell Ringers joining us this year. They will no doubt provide some welcome quality and sophistication as a contrast to our more “robust” style (I think that’s the word). All this, and free refreshments for everyone including a glass of wine (or a beer if you prefer).
So, it’s going to be an evening of all-round entertainment not to be missed. You can get tickets from Jean Marie’s Wool Shop in advance or come along on the night - 7.30pm on Saturday 8 December at the Commemoration Hall.
Of course this is only one of our many engagements over the Christmas period
as the list shows. We look forward to seeing you there. Don’t be shy, come
and say hello.
Contacts: Jenny Cooper Band Manager
01892 782247
Lydia Fuggle Secretary
01892 782308 Andrew
Scarborough
| Day | Date | Event | Time |
| Wednesday | 5 Dec | Carol Service, All Saints Crowborough | 7.30pm |
| Saturday | 8 Dec | Christmas Concert, Commemoration Hall | 7.30pm |
| Wednesday | 12 Dec | Carols, Weald Hall | 7.00pm |
| Wednesday | 12 Dec | Carols, Crittles Court | 7.45pm |
| Friday | 14 Dec | Wadhurst Rotary Christmas Lights | 6.30pm |
| Sunday | 16 Dec | Carols, Cross Lane, Ticehurst | 6.30pm |
| Sunday | 16 Dec | Carols, Stonegate Green | 7.15pm |
| Thursday | 20 Dec | School Carol Service, Stonegate Church | 6.45pm |
| Saturday | 22 Dec | Carols, outside Commemoration Hall | 10.00am |
| Sunday | 23 Dec | Carols, Crowborough Rugby Club | 2.15pm |
| Saturday | 15 Mar ‘08 | Spring Concert, Commemoration Hall | 8.00pm |
WADHURST WEBSITES
coverage includes Ticehurst, Flimwell and Stonegate. The site can be found
at www.wadhurst.info, www.ticehurst.info, www.flimwell.info and www.stonegatevillage.info
Note that www.wadhurst.org.uk has ceased to be a working link - so change
your Favorites link now!. Webmaster:
Michael Harte (783 292)
Wadhurst Parish Council can also be found here; our parish church here, Neighbourhood Watch here and you can see what rubbish is collected in our streets here
Email addresses for Focus are now:
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For editorial copy: focus_news@vovi.co.uk