Staplecross

Following the resignation of Dor Catt – and there being no valid demand for a bye-election – in accordance with Rule 5(4) of the Local Election (Parishes and Communities) Rules 2006 Ewhurst Council is seeking to fill the vacancy by co-opting an eligible individual.

Interested persons should firstly contact the Parish Clerk, Richard Farhall to confirm that they are eligible (in law) to be considered for the vacancy. At the same time you are encouraged to ask any questions you may have about the role. The Clerk may be contacted on 07775 333096.

Expressions of interest must then be submitted in writing as follows: Email: [email protected]. Post Ewhurst Parish Council, 2 Banks Cottages TN32 5JZ no later than Wednesday 15 March 2017

The Council will consider expressions of interest at a Special meeting to be held at 7.30pm on Thursday 13 April 2017, when candidates will be given the opportunity to speak in support of their application for up to 3 minutes – and answer up to 3 questions.

EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL: Following the visit of council dignitaries from all three councils, ESCC; RDC and EPC, to Staplecross on Friday last (February 24th) our Member of Parliament Huw Merriman stated “ He felt we (the visiting group) had met a lot of local people and better understood local issues”. It was the view of many members of all parties, that it was a most successful day. We started with a “surgery” at Staplecross village hall from 11 am to 12.30 pm. All 3 Local Government representatives were present : the MP Huw Merriman, county councillor Angharad Davies, and district councillor, Tony Ganly. We visited The Cross Inn at lunchtime, then went to Staplecross shop and Post Office to talk to Barbara, then to Staplecross Primary School where Liz Avard , the Executive Head Teacher showed us round, we met the school council and had a good discussion with children about “government”. We then visited Quarry Farm and were shown around the 16 business sites, we returned to have tea with Parish Councillors, and then held an “open forum” for all residents from 6 pm-7 pm. We have been asked to repeat this in other areas. So all in all, a rather successful day all round.

ROTHER DISTRICT COUNCIL: Following huge successes of last years pilot, the Bexhill Jobs and Apprenticeship Fair returns to the De La Warr Pavilion on the 3rd of March, 10 until 3pm. Event detail via https://www.dlwp.com/event/bexhill-jobs-apprenticeships-fair-2017/ - NB we are encouraging early registration of delegates online, with over 600 delegates attending last year. The 2016 pilot event was a Jobs Fair with a difference, with Culture Shifts ‘Creative Cafes’ working closely with the DLWP to lead the design and programme on the day, encouraging conversations between exhibitors and delegates as well as an offer of creative cafes with a selection of employers. See the You Tube pilot event film(Bexhill Jobs and Apprenticeship Fair 2016) https://youtu.be/wacTTozrato .

As with this year, every exhibitor had to come with a pledge of job, WEX, volunteering or other. Last year the event had 37 businesses and 21 support organisations exhibiting with 37 roles filled to date following the event, including full-time and part-time roles, apprenticeships and work experience. The group also monitored over 350 conversations between delegates and exhibitors post event.

This year we have 42 exhibitors signed up. On the day delegates can meet and discuss live opportunities (and/or gain advice/be inspired) with all the employers, keen to recruit new staff and/or offer apprenticeships or training opportunities. A range of colleges and support organisations will also be attending and offering a range of training, courses and support opportunities.

The event is community-led, not-for-profit, being run by a steering group of community leaders and organisations including Huw Merriman MP, Bexhill College, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill Chamber of Commerce, Culture Shift, Rother District Council (Cultural Development & Events), Coastal Community Team and the Federation of Small Businesses. It is also supported by the DWP/Job Centre Plus, Locate East Sussex, Let’s Do Business Group, CXK and DV8 Bexhill. Why not go along and check it out ?

EWHURST & STAPLECROSS BONFIRE SOCIETY: Event No: 1 - Jumble Sale- This is the first of the popular local Bonfire Boys fund-raising activities and is booked to take place in the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross on Saturday March 4th - that’s TOMORROW - Any items for donation will be most gladly received and these can be brought to the hall from 9.30am.- if this isn’t possible, please contact Brian- as below, - or any member of the society who will see what help they can give you. Doors will be open at 2.00pm for the commencement of this strangely,- very popular pastime and with a raffle stall, cake stall and refreshments available throughout it’s not hard to see why. For all further information please contact Brian on 01580~830570. - Event No: 2 - Wassailing Event- Back by popular demand and hoping to repeat the successful event of last year, this ‘Wassailing Event’ is arranged, again for tomorrow - for Saturday March 4th from 6.00pm. and will take place at Quarry Farm, Bodiam.- Business Park entrance, - near Bodiam train station SatNav TN32 5RA. Entry is free but there will be a licensed bar, mulled cider, hot drinks, soup, hot dogs & burgers to purchase. There will also be music in the form of folk music, sea shanties and drumming. Wassailing is an ancient ceremony intended to begin the process of waking the fruit trees from their winter slumber & generally includes making the loudest noises possible, so everyone - especially children, are encouraged to bring along something to bang !. This promises to be an exciting and fun filled evening for all the family. Full details are on the ESBS website~ www.esbs.org.uk/wassailing.php and for more information you can also contact either Brian at the above number or John on 01580~830744. This is another of the society’s fund raising events and they’d very much appreciate your support. Don’t Miss It - It’s Great FUN !.

ROTHER RAMBLERS: Braving all the elements that Mother Nature sees fit to throw our way, the members of the popular walking group, the Rother Ramblers continue to enjoy all that this beautiful countryside of ours has to offer. Two more walks are arranged for our enjoyment this week and Walk No: 1 is planned for Sunday March 5th and is an 8 mile circular stroll around Eridge Old Park. Meeting point is at Frant, on the green, near the children’s play area. OS EXP.123. TQ590353. (SatNavTN3 9EF) at 19.99am. Parking will be on roadside, so please respect residents and a picnic lunch is once more suggested. Rita and Lionel will be your ‘walk leaders’ for this outing and you may contact them on 01424-752452 for more details. Walk No: 2 is arranged to take place on Wednesday March 8th. and is a bit closer to home. This is an 8 mile circular ramble around Brede. The meeting place is at Brede Village Hall. OS EXP124. TQ825191. (SatNav TN31 6DR) again at 10.00am and again a picnic lunch is suggested. The ‘walk leaders’ for today are Rita and Clive , so please contact them on 01424-882674 or mobile: 07969-446867 for all further information.

STAPLECROSS & EWHURST GREEN W.I. Following the enjoyable and successful 95th Birthday celebrations of last month, the members of this popular and friendly group of Women’s Institute will be making their way to St. Mark’s Church Room on Tuesday March 7th for another enjoyable afternoon event. Beginning at 2.30pm, and after dealing with the ‘business’ side of things, the ladies can settle down to enjoy the guest speaker, which this month is Mr. Andy Dinsdale. His talk is entitled “My Search for a Sea Bean” and should prove most illuminating. The afternoon will culminate in the ever popular and most enjoyable W. I. Tea. New members are always warmly welcomed and if you’d like more information of what goes on within our W.I. please contact Ann on 01580-831944 for more details.

EWHURST PARISH COUNCIL: Just to keep you all informed and to invite you along to the March monthly meeting of your local Parish Council. This will take place on Thursday March 9th at 7.30pm and will be held this month in the Church Room of St. Mark’s Church, Northiam Road, Staplecross. This is, like all council meetings, open to the public, so please come along and have you say. Tell us about your concerns and talk to us about what you want to happen - or not - within our community. Put your questions to all levels of local government as representatives from Rother District Council and East Sussex County Council will also be in attendance. We are working on your behalf so please come and tell us how we’re doing and how we can improve.

STAPLECROSS MCP SCHOOL: I have been requested to inform you all of a great piece of news.- especially for all the sports fans, those who want a bit of exercise or those that love to play tennis. The nets for the tennis court, in the superb MUGA will be put up during the last week in March. This will widen the range of sports available to be played within the MUGA complex and will come at just the right time for those who love this particular sporting activity.

Please contact the school- obviously during term times and school hours for all further details, as a matter of courtesy - either by telephone on 01580-830256 or via email at [email protected] There is no charge for the use of this MUGA, and no booking fee is required. Please respect this great activity which is another amazing asset for our village, by sharing the court with others who may wish to use it. Perhaps if it proves popular, & I’m sure it will, a tennis league or such-like could be set up with other like-minded people and therefore help to spread the enjoyment.

OUT & ABOUT: “Walk with a Warden” and enjoy a leisurely stroll and discover what nature has on show for us today. Join one of Sussex Wildlife Trust’s experienced and knowledgeable wardens for a short walk around the coastal nature reserve at Rye Harbour. This is an exciting opportunity to see what birds, insects and plants are around at this time of the year. The walk starts at Rye Harbour village car park. TN31 7TX at 10.00am. on Sunday March 5th. This is a free event, but donations which help protect this wonderful coastal reserve are always very much appreciated.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES: As a new month begins, many events are taking place in and around our area. Here are a few which may interest you.

EVENT No:1 Staplecross Village Hall: will be holding their A.G.M. on Tuesday March 14th, naturally in the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross. TN32 5QG at 7.30pm.This little building is the hub of our community, serving all three villages in a variety of ways. It is the ideal place to hold a wide range of functions which it has done very successfully over the years. Come along and hear what plans are in store in support of this popular and much loved venue.

EVENT NO: 2. STAPLECROSS LUNCHEON CLUB: will be meeting once more on Wednesday March 15th, at 12.30pm. This event will again take place at the Staplecross Village Hall. 6:00 will buy you a delicious 2 course lunch, followed by tea/coffee - all cooked to perfection. Please contact Sallie on 01580-830000 or Dennis on 01580-830816 for menu and all further details.

EVENT NO: 3. E.S.& B. GARDEN SOCIETY: will be holding their next monthly meeting on Thursday March 16th. at 7.30pm - also in the Village Hall, in Staplecross,-which is their usual venue. The Guest Speaker for this month will be Mr Colin Moat from ‘Pineview Plants Nursery’ and he will be taking us through the sometimes baffling topic of what plants will grow in shade,. This is so often a forgotten or boring part of the garden, with many of us not knowing just what will grow here. His talk is entitled “50 Greys of Shade” and will be sure to throw some light on this vexing subject - excuse the pun- and set us all on the path of bringing some colour and delight to a drab area. Come along and find out for yourself, how to do just that, -enjoy a lovely cuppa amongst congenial company and go home full of plans to dispel the dark and dingy into a thing of beauty, albeit still in the shade !

EVENT NO:4 “ALE & ARTY” This clever use of words is actually just what it says it is - which is a festival of sorts at the De la Warr Pavilion, Bexhill on Friday March 17th. This event features live music and enables you to enjoy real ale and cider, and all for a good cause. If you’d like to be a part of this, either by volunteering or by sponsoring then please get in touch with the folk at the De la Warr who would love to hear from you. This festival of ‘good cheer and good beer’ aligns itself to the ‘Battle of the Bands’ event which will take place on the following day. Tickets for the ‘Ale & Arty’ event from 7.00pm - 11.00pm are 7:50 per person (on Friday 17th) on Saturday 18th from 11.00am - 3.00pm are 4:00 per person and then from 7.00pm until 11.00pm are again 7:50 per person You can buy two evening sessions at a reduced rate of 12:00 per person. All proceeds from this little Festival will go to charity, so please come along and support your favourite local ‘young’ band and enjoy being part of a super event.

BATTLE OF THE BANDS: Are you aged 15-19 years old ? Are you in a band ? -regardless of size -Would you like to perform on stage at the De la Warr Pavilion ? Do you want to win a prize ? Then Bexhill Rotary Club wants you !. On Saturday March 17th from 12 Noon they will be holding a “Battle of the Bands and invite all performers to take to the stage and play to win. If you are interested in this event, please get in touch either by telephone 01424-229111 or via their website:- http://www.dlwp.com/ for more details.

CHURCH SERVICES: Church services for the parish of Ewhurst will commence at St. James the Great, Ewhurst Green on Sunday March 5th. Lent 1. at 9.30am. This service will include Holy Communion. A Family Service at St. Giles church, Bodiam will follow directly after at 11.15am. This service will also include Holy Communion. There will be NO SERVICE TODAY at St. Mark’s church, Staplecross. 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,- courtesy of the ‘Observer Newspaper’ then do 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 is just around the corner, and with the clocks soon to be ‘going forward’ - we’ll once again be on summer-time, which in turn lends itself to lots of new and exciting things to look forward to, and perhaps taking part in. 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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