Fairlight

Brookfield, Broadway

In church this Sunday, July 28… there will be a service of Morning Prayer at St Andrew’s at 10.30 am.

The Gardening Club’s Summer Show… was a really excellent event in the village hall last Saturday. Despite a difficult growing season with some funny old gardening weather, there were far more entries this year than last, and all of them of a high quality and standard. There were 50 categories for which entries were invited and, rather than list every last winner, second and third, we’ll just concentrate on those who picked up pots, of the engraved silver variety.

The Charles Long Trophy for the best rose: John Eveleigh. The Dick Ford Cup for the best flower exhibit: Richard Barron. The TWEFS Cup for the best sweet pea exhibit: Richard Barron. Bob Liddon Trophy for the best pot plant: Richard Barron. The Alliance and Leicester Trophy for the best exhibit in the fruit class: Sue Clarke. The Dennis Burgess Trophy for the best exhibit in the vegetable classes: Bernard Cruttenden. The Jack Hayward Trophy for the greatest number of first prizes excluding floral and rose classes: Sue Clarke. The Flower Arrangement Trophy: Anne Cruttenden. The Nick Carter Trophy for the highest number of points in the vegetable sections: John Eveleigh. The Brian Ardley Domestic Challenge for most points in the domestic section: Sue Clarke. Certificate for men’s fruit scones: Derek Snow. Certificate for the potato challenge: Stephen Leadbetter. It’s interesting to note that Rev Richard Barron, our new Rector in his first summer in the village, picked up two cups and a trophy. However, there was not a whisper of protest from his opponents in each class regarding the possibility of divine intervention, but privately I expect he used Miracle-Gro.

Congratulations to all the organisers, entrants, winners and losers on a thoroughly enjoyable and very well presented afternoon.

Fairfest is here at last… with their Summer Bash, with a bar and barbeque, a band, stalls, teas and cakes, ice creams, games (including cricket, to be led by members of Hastings and Bexhill Barbarians C.C., and rounders), and music from the ever-popular Kytes, from7 pm. It’s on Sunday, and the whole shebang is free. There’ll be plenty of parking space on Wood Field. Though the event is officially timed from 4 to 10 pm, you are welcome to take a couple of chairs or a rug earlier, plus a picnic, and get a head start for a fun afternoon and evening.

What’s the score for the Village Choir…? Well, they will be meeting at Pett Methodist Chapel on Monday next, July 29, and they’re then having August off, with the resumption of operations on Monday, September 2. Then the frequency of meetings will change, as they meet every Monday for six weeks until October 7. Three weeks off follow that stretch, and then it’s back for a further six weeks of Mondays from November 4 until December 9.

The Tuesday Ladies Club… enjoyed a demonstration of beauty care by local beautician Susannah Harvey at their July meeting. They had two brave guinea pigs, who were at least lying down on a hot day and at the end of their sessions both were very pleased with Susannah’s treatments. A nice peaceful afternoon, then, which was enjoyed by the goodly number of people who attended. The Club next meets for the Members’ Summer Lunch on Tuesday, August 20 at the village hall. Take care to note that this meeting is scheduled for 12.30 for 1 pm.

Thank you from our Activate Youth Club... to everybody who has helped them recently, either with scrap metal or with donations to club finances. So far, the scrap runs have raised £316 - - and there is still one more run to do.

The help the club has received from the Parish Council, the Residents Association and from individuals has been very generous and Wendy Hatch and her Activate team value your support immensely, and say a big ‘thank you!’

Hotting up… In case you hadn’t noticed, the Met office have issued a heat wave level 3 alert for the south east and Public Health England has issued some pertinent advice, too. A summary, then, of some of these good ideas for staying Sun Safe. Try to keep out of the sun between 11 am and 3 pm. Use sunscreen. Wear loose cotton clothing. Drink lots of cool drinks. Seek shade. Wear sunglasses and a hat. Look out for others, especially those in potentially vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young children and babies and those with serious illnesses. Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children or animals. Remember that it can get uncomfortably hot indoors too. Try to keep your bedroom and living space cool, by closing the curtains on windows that receive the sun and opening your windows at cooler times of the day and overnight when you can. Turn off non-essential lights and electrical items as these generate heat.

There’s plenty coming up within the next fortnight at the RSPCA in Mallydams Wood… starting tomorrow Saturday, July 27, when from 12 noon to 3 pm, it’s Open Wood with Pond Life, discovering what creatures live in ponds through the changing seasons, and explore their life cycles. This is a free event, for which no booking is required. Next Tuesday, July 30, from 9 am to 12 noon, there’s a Summer Holidays Family Event, exploring the shore at Pett Level beach for some rock pooling fun. This event will cost you £5 per child, and you’ll need to book. This you can do by calling 0300 123 0750, or email [email protected]. And next Saturday, August 3, just eight days away, there’s a puppet workshop with experienced puppeteer Sue Bodkin. This event is called Wild Shadow House, and the cost is £10 per child, the cost includes all materials, and your puppet is yours to keep! You must book for this workshop – the details are as given above for the Pett Level afternoon.

And while we’re on, it’s not too soon to remind you that Mallydams biggest day of the year, their Annual Open Day, is coming up on Saturday, August 10 from 10.30 am to 4 pm. There’s free parking and minibus service, but there is a modest entrance fee.

Flicks in the Village… that reliable source of excellent entertainment in Pett, is taking a well-earned rest in August – a bit too hot for film-going, anyway. But they’ll be back in the first week in September, when they anticipate showing Les Miserables.