Hailsham

BOOT SALE: Tomorrow, Saturday, pick up a bargain or have a sort out at home and come along to this expanding all year round boot sale on the Cattle Market site, Market Street from 9am to 12.30pm. Sellers set up between 7.30am and 8.30am and pitches are just £5. Hard standing for sellers (just turn up), on-site car park for buyers and market cafe for all. Running behind the Farmers Market on the second Saturday of every month. Enquiries to 01323 440567 or 07887 910150. No food vans thank you. Entry by suggestion donation of 20p to local charity. This month Hailsham Lions.

OPEN CHURCH: St Mary’s Parish Church in the middle of town is open on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays from noon to 2pm until August 25. Take the opportunity to look round the church building. There is a colouring and activity trail for children and free refreshments.

ANIMAZING HAILSHAM: It’s your last chance to go along to Gallery North today, Friday, and tomorrow, Saturday between 10am to 4pm. Take a look at this amazing exhibition. Visit Animazingtv on Facebook for more information.

U3A DISCUSSION GROUP: In July the group discussed Drones and Driverless Cars and all agreed that drones are dangerous when used indiscriminately and should have more controlled monitoring as to who is using them. There is some ruling coming about, but members think they have gone off too soon. They are as cheap as most toys and don’t need a licence. Several of the group were concerned about privacy, as the drones have cameras and can hover over private property. They also have been put to good use as one of us had met a photographer who was just off to photograph a wedding, with his drone, as they had asked for some overhead pictures. Driverless cars was another subject altogether, and we found a report of the first driver being killed in one, when the on-board cameras mistook the side of a white van for a clear sky! We were sure they have a future, but felt that they needed a lot more experimentation before they are allowed in public. Next month, the group will discuss all things environmental. Lots of different topics to talk about on the Environment. Looking forward to a good attendance. Pleased to see that numbers are keeping up, it makes such a difference to a discussion to have more people. The University of the Third Age has a variety of interest groups for the retired and semi-retired. The annual membership fee of £12 gives the right to attend monthly meetings, held on the 4th Tuesday of the month in Hailsham Civic Hall at 2pm. You will also receive a regular newsletter and the National U3A magazine, and have access to any of the Interest Groups. If you are interested in joining contact Cilla Cook 301975 or Gillian Zimmerman 441373.

BELL RINGING: St Mary’s church bell ringers have been very busy over the last few months. In addition to normal Sunday ringing morning and evening and weekly practice nights. There were quarter peals of 40 minutes non-stop ringing for the Queen’s actual birthday and St George’s Day back in April. In June, the BBC had a Day of Music and bell ringers were asked to ring their bells at 7pm and they were just able to squeeze in before choir practice. At the end of June and beginning of July, the national remembrance of the start of the Battle of the Somme in 1916 when on 30 June a diversionary battle was fought at Richebourg (50km north of the Somme) and known as the Battle of Boar’s Head - this is now known as The Day Sussex Died for on this one day 19420 Sussex men were killed in battle, recruited from the villages of Sussex. Of those killed, one was Company Sergeant Major Nelson Victor Carter VC, aged 29. His name appears on the War Memorial in St Mary’s church. He received his VC for leading his men in the battle and for carrying a number of men back to their trenches under fire and to safety before being shot and killed himself. A memorial stone has been laid at the War Memorial in the Town for him. A service of remembrance was held in Chichester Cathedral and all Sussex churches were asked to ring their bells at 5.30pm which again, St Mary’s ringers were able to do.

They have been very busy and there are not many ringers now having lost most of their young people. They are lucky to have two of three ringers from other local churches who regularly attend the weekly practices and a few more who are happy and like to ring the bells at St Mary’s and make up numbers for the quarter peals. If you feel ringing is something you would like to do, contact Hugh on 441967 or Elizabeth on 841127.

BONFIRE BINGO: Next Friday, August 19. Doors open 7pm for eyes down at 7.30pm at the Charles Hunt Centre, Vicarage Field (Waitrose car park).

HOPS COFFEE MORNING: Hailsham Pavilion will be open on Saturday August 20 for a Hailsham Old Pavilion Society fundraising event from 10am to noon. Everyone welcome, especially new members. Come for a chat, coffee and cake, take a tour of the projection room and have a go on the tombola and the lucky seat game. Refreshments. Bring friends and family.

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