Wadhurst - Town in View

WADHURST TOWN IN FOCUS - Apr 2007

Wadhurst Astronomical Society
Wadhurst Astronomical Society meets in the Methodist Church Upper Room - doors open at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start. The next meeting will be on Wednesday 18 April when Jerry Workman will return to update the Society with the progress of Mars Express.

Mayfield Festival Choir Concert
Sunday 29 April at 7.30pm in St Dunstan's Church Mayfield - Mayfield Festival Choir perform the Bach St John Passion with London Primavera and six young soloists from the Royal College of Music. Tickets £18, £12 and £6 available over the counter from Libra Bookshop, High Street, Mayfield, or by post from the Box Office, PO Box 324, Mayfield,
East Sussex TN20 6WA. Please make cheques payable to 'Mayfield Festival Choir Society' and enclose a SAE.

OPEN CIRCLE
Our next meeting is on Friday 27 April, 10.00am to 12noon. Do come and join us for a cup of tea / coffee, and a chat in a friendly, comfortable environment at Carillon Cottage.
Don’t pass us by, give us a try!

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. The next walk, on 29 April will include Wadhurst Station, Buckhurst and Earlye, and will be led by J Bishop.

HOME GUARD/ARP
Wadhurst History Society, as many of you know, is researching various aspects of life in Wadhurst during WW2. If anyone was connected with a Home Guard unit or ARP and would be willing to talk about those days, please contact Rosemary Pope on 01892 782659 or Rachel Ring on 01892 783455.

Stonegate Farmers Market
Saturday 14 April, 10.00am to 12.30pm in Stonegate Village Hall. Over twenty stalls selling wonderful local produce and refreshments. For more information: 01580 200386

WADHURST GARDENING ASSOCIATON
Tom Maynard, gave an interesting talk on fruit growing and explained how to approach pruning with the modern apple.
Spring flowers are on the agenda on 2 April, when our ‘Spring Show’ takes place at the Wadhurst Primary School. The meeting starts at 7.30pm whilst the judging takes place.
Next month on 14 May we have a talk about life in the famous Leeds Castle which should prove to be very interesting.
M. Terry (01892 783154)

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH POLICE SURGERY
The next Wadhurst and Sussex Police Surgery will be held on Thursday 26 April from 2.00 to 4.00pm and 7.30 to 9.00pm at Wadhurst Fire / Police Station Conference Room.

Please come along and meet Wadhurst's PCSO Marc Simmonds and Wadhurst's Community Area N.W.Co-ordinator - Tim Page.
Normally Evening Surgeries Will Now Be Police Only. Tea and coffee available at afternoon surgeries only. There will be another room available for private one to one consultations

WADHURST DRAMATIC CLUB
Next production : 17 - 19 May
Just imagine... as you sit there in the darkness, your eyes begin to make out a dimly lit room. What's that on the floor? Crikey - it's the BODY of a dead man!! Suddenly, a door is flung open and, silhouetted against the light beyond the door, a young woman enters the room. She stifles a gasp of horror as she sees the body and, moving quickly towards the fireplace, picks up a poker and moves cautiously towards the door. Full of fear and foreboding, she pushes the door open onto another room which is in total darkness. A blinding torchlight beam hits her full-square in the face and she lets out a loud and bloodcurdling scream...aaarrrggghhh!!

This is just a glimpse of the sort of action in store in the Club's next production - "Death by Fatal Murder" - a very funny comedy murder mystery thriller by Peter Gordon which the Club will be presenting at the Commemoration Hall on Thursday 17, Friday 18 and Saturday 19 May. Set in wartime Britain in 1940, the action revolves around Bagshot House where the seriously inept Inspector Pratt has already been invloved in two previous and wholly disastrous murder investigations. Not surprisingly, perhaps, the body counts simply mounted andwhile he looked on, helpless and hopeless..!

Back at Bagshot House for a third time, Pratt meets the new owner Nancy Allwright and is soon embroiled in more mystery, aided and abetted by a certain Miss Maple and Constable Thomkins. Uppercrust Ginny and Italian gigolo Enzo ("ai-ee just adora thee luvvalee laiy-dees") Garibaldi help with enquiries. But danger soon looms witn an unexpected arrival and a frightening suggestion by Welsh busybody, Blodwyn Morgan. How many more bodies will there be? Will Pratt put his size 12 Police boot in it yet again? All will be revealed on 17, 18 and 19 May....!

Seat Discounts
Did you know that Members of Wadhurst Dramatic Club enjoy discounts on their seats for all the Club's presentations? Membership costs £8 (Full) and £5 (Associate) a year. The discount being offered for "Death by Fatal Murder" in May will be a generous £2. Want to know more? Contact John Bush, Membership Secretary : tel 01892 782391or email jbush@talktalk.net The Club also has a very comprehensive and interesting website which we cordially invite you to visit: www.wadhurstdramatics.co.uk

MINI MARKET
will be held in the Methodist Church on Saturday 7 April, from 9.30 to 11.00am. All the proceeds this month will go to the Kent Refugee Action Network based in Dover.

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).

WADHURST PROBUS CLUB
will meet on Tuesday 3 April at 10.00am in the Wadhurst Social Club. Mrs Jane Laycock will speak on “My friends the American Indians”.

The last thing an ex-serviceman wants is charity?
The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association, is a nationwide organisation which assists serving and ex-servicemen and women ad their families. There are many ex-servicemen and women and their spouses in our community proud to serve their country, but often too proud to seek help. SSAFA is the leading Service charity when it comes to securing grants from statutory sources, civilian charities, Service Benevolent Funds and Regimental Associations. We also help those who feel they are getting nowhere in the face of bureaucracy, with dealing with councils, utility companies, housing and education authorities, etc. If you are that person or know of such a person, the local representative for the Wadhurst, Uckfield, Crowborough, Ticehurst and Burwash area can be contacted on 01892 783803, or contact the Sussex Branch Secretary on 01403 275495.

COMING SOON!
On Saturday evening, 7 July, a concert will be given in Wadhurst Parish Church by the London Ripieno Singers, under their conductor, Geoffrey Hanson. Hanson founded the London Ripieno Society in 1962, a chorus and orchestra which still flourishes today – though this concert will have organ accompaniment. Hanson has enjoyed a distinguished career as both teacher, organist, conductor, prolific composer and church musician. With the Ripieno he has been particularly associated with the promotion of new music and with the revival of works from the Baroque period and collaborating with many distinguished soloists. More details nearer the time.

WADHURST ROTARY CLUB
The Club is pleased to announce its presentation of a Charity Variety Show again this year. This will be the seventh production of this popular triennial village event. Performances will be on Friday, Saturday 22 and 23 June in the Commemoration Hall and will again feature the Wadhurst Brass Band. Tickets will go on sale the third week in May. More details in May Focus but please put this date in your diaries now.

WADHURST WOMEN’S INSTITUTE
Even though it waslovely afternoon a large number of members forsook their gardens and attended our March meeting. Mr C Harding was our speaker and he gave a very informative talk on "Churches in Sussex." It was well illustrated with slides and gave us ideas for summer excursions. There is such a wealth of churches locally from medieval to some of Victorian renown.

Next months meeting is on Thursday 12 April when Mrs S Laycock talk is titled "My Friends the American Indians." It starts at 2.00pm and new members are always welcome.

CARILLON COTTAGE
A big thank you to everyone who donated to, helped and/or supported the Jumble Sale on 17 February. The final result was £1,137 which is fantastic and will be a great help in funding improvements to the reception area. Why not come and see the changes, enjoy a cup of coffee/tea and tell us what you think - we look forward to making you welcome

FAMILY SUPPORT WORK (F.S.W.) - Easter Walk: 9 - 12 April
Every year a sponsored walk along the South Downs is organised to raise funds for the running of Knowles Tooth Children's Centre. Some hardy souls 'do' the whole week from Eastbourne to Amberley, but many participate for just one day, whichever part happens to be the nearest. The weather cannot be guaranteed but the day always proves to be friendly and fun. If Tom Lawson has not already got your sponsorship, then please seek him out, so that we raise a really worthwhile amount. Further details of the walk can be found at the back of Wadhurst, Stonegate and Tidebrook Churches and at Carillon Cottage.
Jill Brewster (01580 830008)

CAMEO CLUB - (Come And Meet Each Other)
The Annual Sale was a great success and raised £655. Thank you to everyone who helped or supported us.
During the sale several enquiries were received and as a result there are three new members. Membership is now 26 which is great, however it adds to the pressure for more helpers. If you read this and feel you could help in some way (say once a month - more or less) on a Wednesday please call Joyce Farmer on 01892 782910 for more details. Unless more volunteers are found the Club could have to close and older folk probably will lose the only outing they have in a week

Parents and Under Fives
At 2.00pm on Thursday 19 April come along to Son Spot at St George’s Hall, for 50 minutes of activities, Bible story, games, singing, craft and ‘tea’. For more info call Ruth on 01892 784117 (No meeting on 5 April)

Wadhurst Emergency Services and Neighbourhood Watch Day
The Wadhurst Emergency Services and Neighbourhood Watch Day, is to be held at Wadhurst Fire Station on Saturday 14 April from 10.00am to 3.00pm. Posters will be going up around the village shortly. East Sussex Fire Brigade, Sussex Police and St John's Ambulance and N.W are all taking part so far. There will be our Sussex Police Crime Prevention officer - David Smith with us also.

Kathleen and Clifford Mitchell
would like to thank everyone who attended their father’s funeral (Charles Edward Mitchell), for the lovely flowers, many cards, letters and donations and for their kindness during our sad loss.

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.

THE CRUCIFIXION by John Stainer
A performance of The Crucifixion by John Stainer, a meditation on the Sacred Passion of the Holy Redeemer, will be given in the Parish Church on Good Friday, 6 April at 7.30pm. This work, first performed in February 1887, is for Tenor and Bass soloists, a full choir and organ with hymns for congregational participation.

WADHURST BRASS BAND - www.wadhurstbrassband.co.uk
Just when we all thought we were safe it’s April and time for the Spring Concert! Instruments are being polished as we speak, and the trombones are all desperately trying to get their slides sliding as nature intended. Thursday evenings in the Uplands’ music room are hotting up, and Ken’s language is getting more colourful as the big day approaches.

So what’s in store for us this time? After the Christmas extravaganza will any of the band manage to stay on stage for the whole concert? Will Ken have remembered any better jokes? (OK I know that is asking too much). We can be sure of a varied programme if our rehearsals are anything to go by. The music covers everything from a fight with the Devil (!) to 70s pop classics, so the phrase “something for everyone” comes to mind.

What do you mean you haven’t got your tickets yet? You need to be quick as the cornet section is getting bigger all the time and their families will get all the best seats if you’re not careful.
Andrew Scarborough Tickets on sale now at Jean Marie’s shop, Wadhurst High Street.

Here are some of our confirmed performances for 2007 – hope to see you there!

Day                                            Date                                       Event

Saturday                                28 April                          Spring Concert Commemoration Hall
Sunday                                  03 June                           Songs of Praise, Wadhurst
Saturday                                16 June                           Tidebrook Fete
Friday                                    22 June                           Wadhurst Variety Show
Saturday                                23 June                           Wadhurst Variety Show
Sunday                                  15 July                            Scarecrows Wadhurst
Saturday                                28 July                            WBB 50th Concert Commemoration Hall
Sunday                                  30 September                 Eastbourne Bandstand

Contacts:
Jenny Cooper Band Manager 01892 782247
Lydia Fuggle Secretary 01892 782308

Contacts: Jenny Cooper Band Manager 01892 782247
Lydia Fuggle Secretary 01892 782308

Village Hall Fund Raiser
A Murder, Mystery Evening is being held on the 21 April at Stonegate Village Hall. Tickets £15 a head -this includes a two course meal. For tickets please ring Susan Bowie on 01580 201390 or Sarah Gibbs 01580 753315.

KENT AND SUSSEX BORDER LIONS CLUB
If you are interested in joining the club or would just like to come along to a meeting you would be very welcome indeed. We meet every third Wednesday in Hurst Green Village Hall at 7.30pm. David and Pam Francis (01580 200672)

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 HISTORY SOCIETY
The Wadhurst History Society was much enlightened by Ian Beavis’ recent talk about The Renaissance of Tunbridge Wells and the extensive influence of Decimus Burton. The Society will welcome Sarah Oldridge to the Commemoration Hall on Thursday 12 April as she talks about the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Doors open at 7.30. On 10 May, Geoff Hutchinson will present his inimitable account of Rudyard Kipling – life and work.

Work continues on researching Wadhurst between the years 1936 and 1946. “Wadhurst” includes Shovers Green, Churchsettle, Cousley Wood, Sparrows Green, Durgates, Best Beech, and Tidebrook, and on Hop-Picking, and on Life in Wadhurst between the Wars 1919 to 1939.
Please will you trawl your own memories as regards life in Wadhurst during the years 1936 – 1946, and think about how your parents, grand-parents, older friends talked about those years and how they reacted to the events which punctuated their lives. Those of you who live in large houses in Wadhurst may have records as to how they were used during the war years. Please could you lend them to us or write down for us the important details? What can you tell us about the Home Guard , pill boxes and ack-ack stations?

In the home, the War Effort inspired many to work for charities, to knit, to salvage goods like saucepans etc and, of course, to “make do and mend”. What did you and your family and friends do? It would also be very helpful for us to study the archives of local groups and societies if you would be willing to lend us them for a while.

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.

Several people have recently been interviewed about their memories and their help is much appreciated. We are very grateful to everyone who has provided information so far but we do need even more if we are to be able to give future generations a complete picture of Wadhurst during the critical periods of its nation’s history. These major projects will therefore be significant as our researches in other areas continue. Eventually all this work is for the benefit of the people of Wadhurst.

Thank you in advance for whatever you can provide in order to help us.

Hospice in the Weald
Forthcoming events include:

It's A Knockout on Sunday 13 May, 10.00am, at The Angel Football Ground, Tonbridge.
A fantastic day out for all, with lots of sideshows, a spit roast, barbeque, bar - entertainment for all the family. Enter a team (your family, work colleagues, friends) or be spectator.

If you would like to enter a team (six to ten people), at a cost of £195 per team, please contact Tanyia Ingham on 01892 820533 as soon as possible as this popular event is always oversubscribed. Organise it NOW!

Plant Fair on Saturday 19 May, from 10.00am to 2.00pm, at Hospice in the Weald, Maidstone Road, Pembury.

Hundreds of shrubs, plants and trees are for sale, donated by many local (and not so local) Plant, Specialist, Tree and Garden Centres. The variety is amazing and so are the prices! Early morning barbeque, refreshments, cakes - the atmosphere is wonderful, even in the pouring rain - we know, it's happened to us! Come anyway - you'll love it! Put the date firmly in your diary and bring the children too - they can have a yummy bacon buttie whilst you browse!!

We hope to have a surprise local guest celebrity open the Fair for us but this is to be confirmed. For further info call, Fiona Parry on 01892 820508.

ANDREW YOUNG - POETRY READING
On the evening of Saturday 28 April in Stonegate Church there will be a reading of some of the poems of Andrew Young. The Rev'd Andrew Young was Vicar of Stonegate between 1941 and 1959; you may have noticed his memorial in the church.

His poetry was widely read and appreciated during his lifetime; he numbered among his friends many of the leading writers of the time, broadcast regularly on the Home Service, and was awarded the first Queen's Medal for Poetry of the present Queen's reign. He is best known for his poems about nature, including flowers( he was an expert on wild flowers, and discovered the Stonegate orchid), birds, weather patterns, and the cycle of the farming year. Many of these poems were written while he lived at Stonegate, and include references to the church, the Vicarage, and village residents.

The poems will be read by a professional group of readers from Shoreham, who have long been eager to read his work on his home ground, and will include the poems with particular reference to this area.

As well as the spoken word there will be music from the choir, who among other things will be singing Andrew Young's Harvest Hymn which has been sung at Stonegate's Harvest Festival over many years. Mezzo soprano Catherine Welch will also be singing.

This promises to be an interesting and enjoyable evening, and all are warmly invited. Tickets will be £5 at the door, a small charge to cover the expenses and refreshments.
Further information: Kate Burley 01580 200 748

Mayfield and District U3A
We have a change of programme for our 19 April meeting in the Mayfield Memorial Hall. Robert Milner who was to talk on the Jane Austen Industry is unable to join us (we hope to see him in our 2008 programme) Instead we have Tony Lloyd, the Chief Ranger of Bewl Water who has very kindly stepped into the breach! As always the talk is free to members, visitors welcome at £1 per head. The meeting starts at 2.00pm

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 10 April.

WADHURST NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Mobile Phones Whilst Driving : -
Sussex Police will be enforcing the tough new penalties for using hand held mobile phones from midnight on 27 February 2007.

The offences of using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving and failing to have proper control of a vehicle will become endorsable, carrying three penalty points and an increase from £30 to £60 fine. Any cases that reach court could involve discretionary disqualification and a maximum fine of £1,000 or £2,500 in the case of the driver of a bus, coach or goods vehicle.

Seat Belts : - Op Click - Seatbelt Initiative.
Sussex Police Road Policing department will be running a two week campaign aimed at enforcing seatbelt use, and educating those who break the law. The focus will be on education in week one followed by enforcement in week two on the new law regarding child restraints and mobile phones.

In a joint initiative with East Sussex Fire and Rescue, VOSA, East Sussex County Council Road Safety Team and the Highways Agency, Sussex Police will be running static points throughout East Sussex in the two week period starting on Monday 22nd January.

Superintendent Paul Morrison of Sussex Police Road Policing Department said, "The wearing of seatbelts plays a major part in injury reduction when there a collision does occur. It could mean the difference between life and death. Clunk, click every trip really does mean just as much now as it ever did."

Neil Robinson ESFR Risk Reduction Officer said, "East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service take the matter of road safety very seriously. The number of hours the service spend dealing with tragic incidents on the roads far outweighs the time spent tackling fires. We are committed to working alongside our partners to reduce serious casualties and make the roads of Sussex a safer place."

Councillor Matthew Lock, Lead Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at East Sussex County Council said, “It is important that children are provided with the appropriate child car seats or booster seats. Adult seat belts can cause injury to the neck and legs if worn by a child in an accident. If you are driving with a child under 135cm in height who is also under 12 years old you must make sure an appropriate seat is fitted or you could face £30 to £500 fine. Child safety key to the county and this initiative."

WADHURST WEBSITE
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, as well as www.wadhurst.org.uk . Webmaster: Michael Harte (783 292)

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 12 noon and on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons from 2.00 to 4.00pm.

Email addresses for Focus are now:
For advertising enquiries: focus_ads@vovi.co.uk
For editorial copy: focus_news@vovi.co.uk