WADHURST TOWN IN FOCUS - SEPTEMBER 2007

Wadhurst Gardening Association
Our next meeting will be on Monday 10 September in St George’s Hall, Sparrows Green at 7.30pm, when Mr Hilary Newman will be speaking on ‘Water Gardening in the UK and France’. The Competitions are ‘Five Beans’ and ‘A photograph that includes water’.

Our Autumn Show is on 22 September in the Commemoration Hall, Wadhurst. See posters for further information, and get schedules from the Jean Marie shop – 50p.
Mary Terry (01892 783154)

Are you interested in making wine?
The Wadhurst Winemakers' Circle is looking for new members to join their friendly club.main aim is to produce country wine and keep this old hobby going. It is simple and cheap to make, and good to drink, so why not join us.

Meetings are held 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 September at 7.30pm. If you would like more information please contact Rose on 01580 200504 or Shirley on 01580 201250, or just turn up.

JUST DESSERTS and just a little bit more!
‘Normally I never eat puddings but I would love just a little bit more.’ Sounds familiar?

On Sunday 17 November at 7.30pm in the Commemoration Hall, Women of Wadhurst are holding a ‘PUDDING EVENING’, when they will be tempting everyone with their usual variety of wonderful home cooked desserts. Fraser Williamson, a local wine importer, will be talking about dessert wines and will suggest which wine is best for different types of puddings. Pianist Iain Rae will be playing a wide selection of classical music, jazz standards and songs from musicals and films. Tickets at £10 will include three vouchers to sample three wines. Many more wines will be available on the night. Proceeds will be in aid of Mullins Memorial Fund – a local charity which supports people in the community of Wadhurst. For tickets please contact Janet Goldsmith on 01892 783264.

CALLING ALL BRIDGE PLAYERS!
The local Action Medical Research fund raising team is running a bridge afternoon in the Commemoration Hall on Tuesday 6 November starting at 2.00pm. Please make up a table of four - Entrance fee £7 per player (£28 per table) to play Chicago style bridge staying with your own team all afternoon. Please bring a bridge table and cloth, we will supply cards, score sheets and rules. We will also provide a delicious tea and there will be a raffle. For many years this group has raised funds for vital research into unglamorous but very debilitating medical conditions. Do get together with your bridge friends and support us. For an entry form please contact Janet Goldsmith 01892 783264.

MINI MARKET
Will be held in the Methodist Church on Saturday 1 September from 9.30 to 11.00am, when the proceeds will go to the Christian ecology organisation, A Roche. Your support is always much appreciated.

Bricklehurst Manor School
Bardown Road, Stonegate, East Sussex is having its Late Summer Fair on Saturday 22 September from 11.30am to 2.30pm. Enjoy something from the barbecue and a glass of Pimms whilst listening to the brass band in the beautiful school grounds.

There will be lots of entertaining stalls and activities for the children including a Pet Show.
Local traders will also be selling a range of good quality crafts. Delicious home made cakes and tea too.

WADHURST WOMEN'S INSTITUTE
The sun shone, the sky was blue with fluffy white clouds and a gentle breeze was blowing. Idle chatter, ripples of laughter and a table groaning with afternoon delicacies. It was our annual garden party and once more a huge success.

A gracious hostess and the hard working committee members had yet again put on a lovely social occasion. These events are full of friendship and what the essence of life is still about in an ever changing world. The W I works hard in many areas and we all look forward to relaxing in the garden party atmosphere. This one did not let us down.

Next months meeting is on Thursday 13 September in St George's Hall at 2.00pm when Mrs Ann Almond will speak on The Bangladeshi Connection. New members are always welcome.

Rotary Scarecrow Festival
The Rotary Club of Wadhurst would like to thank everyone who supported the July Festival. The event raised a total of £5,800, which will be donated to the Anthony Nolan Trust for Bone Marrow, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

This is the seventh Scarecrow Festival put on by the Rotarians, which has produced a total sum of money for charity in the region of £30,000. Everyone in the village seems to enjoy the event and the Rotarians would like to thank all who supported it. They are very grateful to those who made Scarecrows, made teas and cakes, looked after stalls an the many visitors who purchased the memorabilia, walked the trails and entered the competition.

The Rotary Club would also like to again thank those generous people who make donations and offered raffle prizes.

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.

Afternoon Fellowship
Our next meeting will be at 2.30pm on Thursday 27 September at St George’s Hall with a talk by George Pulman entitled, ‘A Taste of the Bar’. If you have never ventured into Afternoon Fellowship, it would be lovely to see you: all-comers welcome.

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION – WADHURST & TIDEBROOK BRANCH
The next meeting will be on Thursday 20 September at 7.30pm in St George’s Hall. The speaker will be Heather Woodward, and her subject will be ‘The Coast of Britain’. There will be a collection for the National Trust.

THE SACRED HEART PARISH QUIZ NIGHT
This Autumn sees the launch of our efforts to raise funds to build an annexe with much-needed facilities at the Sacred Heart Church. This first event will take place on Saturday 22 September at Stonegate Village Hall. 7.15pm for a prompt 7.30 start. Tickets at £10 each will include a delicious two-course meal. Please call Colleen O'Farrell on 01892 784734 to book either an individual place or a table for your team of  up to eight people. Everybody welcome.

REFUGEES
constitute one of the big problems around the world today. We hear so often of more people forced from their homes and lands by war, insurgents, drought, flood and famine. Some people displaced sixty years ago are still living in refugee camps and that means that some people, born in the last sixty years, have spent their entire life in those unsatisfactory conditions. On Sunday 16 September at 6.30pm in the Methodist Church the Rev Jeremy James will lead a debate on the subject of Refugees as part of the TTSE (The Third Sunday Evening) programme. Everyone is welcome.

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 HISTORY SOCIETY
On Saturday 29 September, the Association will stage its first History Quiz Night in the Commemoration Hall. Do not be put off by the title – think about it – everything is History once it’s passed so virtually all topics could be included – sport, geography, politics, science and Arts – you name it, it’s all History. Tables will be of six people at £8 per head to include a ploughman’s supper supplied by the Lemon Tree. There will be a cash bar and a raffle. Make up a table of your friends or to represent your society/group and come and enjoy a fun evening. Tickets are available from 01892 783455. Individuals are also welcome.

On Thursday 11 October, the Society welcomes Marian Betterby talking about The Apple: from Eve to Today. The meeting is in the Commemoration Hall, 7.30 for 8.00pm and a Bar and refreshments are available. On Thursday 8 November, Hugh Miller’s subject will be Four Brothers – and a Friend called Dan.

Work continues its research on 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. Thank you in advance for whatever you can provide in order to help us.

Right on Your Doorstep
The National Pinetum isa world class collection of dramatic conifers and a beautiful setting for country walks in all seasons. The 2,000 acre Bedgebury Forest offers miles of family cycling, mountain-biking, riding, walking, Go Ape and adventure play area for all ages and abilities.

The Visitor Centre has cycle hire, refreshments and showers. As a location for healthy outdoor activity in a beautiful setting, Bedgebury is in a class of its own.

Saturday 8 September – Marie Curie Great Forest Run. 10.00am start. Entry forms can be obtained from the Marie Curie website or details from Mia Patterson, 01883 832665. Measured 10K run through the beautiful Bedgebury Forest.

Stonegate Farmers Market
Saturday 8 September, 10.00am to 12.30pm in Stonegate Village Hall. Over twenty stalls selling wonderful local produce and refreshments. For more information call 01580 200386.

Stonegate Farmers’ Market Report
On the second Saturday of each month, people of all ages travel to this popular venue at the Stonegate Village Hall. On 12 May I went to this fantastic farmers’ market, which was incredibly well organised and well attended. There were a number of stalls selling a huge array of produce: jams, pickles, organic eggs, beef, pork, fruit and vegetables, fish, cakes, plants, cheese, apple juice, ready-made meals, bread and cosmetics.

Much of the produce is organic and, if not organic, is locally produced, with sellers travelling from surrounding villages to come and present their wares. The asparagus seller travelled 15 miles to bring his tender asparagus to this event!

Among the stands was the beef and pork stall (Cooper’s Farm), selling burgers that don’t shrink and shrivel when cooked, and I thought its appetising rib on the bone passed the taste test with one-hundred and ten percent. Its beef cattle are dark brown Sussex cows from Rome, fed on grass and hay.

The café sells some organic produce, but is especially known for its homemade cakes and bacon baps, and raises money for the PTA from the items it sells.

The Abundant Health stall sells cosmetics including a natural smelling, aluminium free, deodorant, as well as lavender oil and pure tea tree oil. The jam and pickle store (Cottenden Kitchen) sells relishes including Banana and Coconut chutney, which I thought was divine, and also delicious Harrief.

Fuggle’s best selling apple juice is from the luscious Bramley and Golden Delicious varieties, while Hen on the Gate’s best produce is the moist meat (its lamb is truly scrumptious) and, of course, its eggs.

Overall, I think the farmers market was brilliant and I would recommend it to everybody!   Finn Hambley (Age 9)

Wadhurst Rotary Club
will be holding its annual jumble sale in the Commemoration Hall on Saturday 6 October at 9.30am. Anyone wishing to donate jumble please contact Alan Gibson (01892 783163) or Arthur Dewar (01892 783935).proceeds will go to local charities.

Mayfield and District U3A
Our next general meeting will take place in the Mayfield Memorial Hall on 20 September at 2.00pm. We look forward to welcoming Dr Christopher Wheatley who will speak on the subject of The Golden Age of Dutch Art. As ever the talk is free to members, we are always pleased to welcome visitors at £1 per head. Why not come along to this meeting and find out what the U3A is all about?

MULLINS MEMORIAL FUND
On Saturday 22 September, the Mullins Memorial Fund will welcome the graphologist, Erik Rees, who will be giving a talk in Wadhurst Primary School at 7.30 for 8.00pm. This will be an opportunity to find out how hand-writing indicates character and personality. The evening will be divided in two with the first part an illustrated explanation of graphology and, after the break, a chance to see analyses of the writing of people present, perhaps even your own.

Erik Rees began his interest in graphology when he was very young, as the son of a professional graphologist in his native Czechoslovakia. After taking his degree, being a born linguist with five languages to his credit, including English and Czech, Erik successfully held several senior positions in the textile industry, his father having advised him against a career in graphology. His love for the subject never left him, however. His eventual decision to give up a well-paid career to pursue his love of graphology has been more than justified and, as he plans for the future, he has time for everything except retirement.

Tickets for what should be a fascinating evening go on sale at Newingtons on Monday 3 September. The £5 includes a ploughman’s supper and there will be a limited bar. Seating will be at tables of six so do make up a table and enjoy an entertaining evening while helping this worthwhile local charity.
On Saturday 13 October, the Ashdown Singers will be presenting a programme which will celebrate their broad repertoire in the Parish Church at 730 for 8.00pm. They sing a wide variety of music including great classics, spirituals, madrigals and rousing choruses. The tickets are £8 and will include wine or soft drinks and nibbles. They will go on sale at Newingtons on Monday 17 September.

The Mullins Autumn Produce Market will be on Friday 19 October on the forecourt of the Commemoration Hall from 8.30am. If you would like to contribute home-made or home-grown goods toe the market, they would be very gratefully received. To offer goods, please would you contact 01892 782181 or 782835.

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 (01892) 782181, 782835 or 783212 their name. Be assured that whatever we do is done in complete confidentiality.

WADHURST FOOTPATHS SOCIETY
The booklet "Walks around Wadhurst" published by the society describing a range of circular walks in the area around the village, has been comple   Tely revised and updated, with two additional walks bring 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.

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 30 September, will be a Scotney Circular, and will be led by J Corke.

TREFOIL GUILD WADHURST
We would like to say thank you to everyone who helped us at the Scarecrow Weekend, and thank you to all the cake makers.

Trefoil Guild’s next meeting on 3 September will be at Merriments Garden Centre. Anyone needing a lift please contact one of the committee members.

New Wadhurst Residents Association
The NWRA has had several meetings now, and we held our AGM on 25 July. The committee elected is Muriel Miller (Chair), Tim Page (Vice Chair), Jean Davis (Secretary), John McIvor (Treasurer).

So far we have had guests from East Sussex County Council Highways & Buses, Wealden District Council and Sussex Police. All the input has been of a very positive nature and our guests have promised to return with updates, some have already done this. The NWRA works with David Gibson, a tenant involvement officer of Wealden District Council.

If you would like your road / area to join the NWRA, please come along to one of our meetings, the commitment for joining the NWRA is to select your representative for your road to work on our committee. We will be having our next meeting in August, another in September the dates of these meetings are yet to be decided. For further details please contact Tim Page on 01892 783313 or John McIvor on 01892 783843.

THE ART EXHIBITION 
Wadhurst’s annual feast of fine art begins on Friday 7 September until Sunday 16 September. The doors are open from 10.00am until 8.00pm daily (Sunday 16th from 10.00am to 4.00pm). This is the biggest exhibition we have had, with 35 artists, sculptures, printmakers and students from Uplands Community College taking part.

The artists are from a wide variety of backgrounds, with a colourful mix of styles and media.
Selected artists with pedigrees and formal training, artists who only took up painting on retirement, art students, art teachers and working studio artists showing together creasts a special atmosphere and a vitality rarely experienced in any art exhibition of this quality.

Entry is free and there is a bar with tea and coffee available.

On Thursday 16th, there will be a guitarist playing a two hour set in the evening, and this is free to everybody.

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.

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 Astronomical Society
Wadhurst Astronomical Society meets in the Methodist Church Upper Room - doors open at 7.15 for a 7.30pm start. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 19 September when George Sallit will be giving us a talk on Astro-Photography with a Web-Cam.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
The next Wadhurst and Sussex Police Surgery will be held on Thursday 27 September 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. There will be another room available for private one to one consultations.

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? Why not come along to Open Circle at Carillon Cottage on Friday 28 September, 10.00 to 11.30am?

WADHURST BRASS BAND - www.wadhurstbrassband.co.uk

So, I hear you ask, what is the latest news from the exciting world of Wadhurst Brass Band? Did Ken ever get his baton back from Algy after the Anniversary concert? Has the Commemoration Hall stage recovered from the weight of 39 players and their instruments? Will the trombones ever sit down through an entire concert or will other sections start joining in?

As it happens there is no rest for the wicked and we are busy preparing for our next two outings at the Pantiles and Eastbourne bandstands. This is a complicated business. Music has to be rehearsed, even when band members think they are entitled to take holidays and miss practices (I know – unbelievable isn’t it). Preparations have to be made for any weather conditions that may be encountered. It’s difficult to know which is worse – wind blowing your music all over the place or sun on the old bald spot! Anyway these gigs (yes I am hip you know) are always great fun so don’t miss out.

Training Band: this is doing very well under the careful (and patient) guidance of Jenny and Lydia. It is open to anyone who wants to try their hand at playing, and instruments are available. Perhaps you used to play, or once started to learn but gave up for some reason. We meet at 7.00pm in the music room at Uplands Community College, so don’t be shy, give Jenny a call on 01892 782247 or contact us via our website at www.wadhurstbrassband.co.uk.

Vacancies: Do you play an instrument? Do you know anyone who does? Maybe you/they play in an orchestra or another type of group and want to find out about this strange world of Brass Banding? We guarantee you a warm welcome and the chance to make music and new friends. If you happen to play cornet (maybe trumpet), euphonium, bass (tuba), or percussion then that is even better.

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

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

WADHURST PROBUS CLUB
The next meeting will be a talk entitled ‘Good news in a climate change? by David Payne on Tuesday 4 September at 10.00am in the Wadhurst Social Club

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 September.

FAMILY SUPPORT WORK
Open Day at Knowles Tooth Children,s Centre is Sunday 9 September from 2.00 to 5.00pm. Always plenty of fun for the family and a chance to see what it's all about .

The Annual Mammoth Book Sale will be at the end of October / early November. Further details in the next Focus but start sorting your bookshelves now please.        Jill Brewster(01580 830008)

Hospice in the Weald
Sunday 23 September, 10.00am, Hospice in the Weald's 10km, 5km and 1km Run, Lower Cricket Ground, Tunbridge Wells.

Following the success of our first 10km in 2006, we are repeating this event and including a 5km run with a 1km run for Juniors/Mums/Dads/Grandparents etc. The runs will start and end at the Lower Cricket Ground and the 10 and 5km runs will be a challenging course through Broadwater Forest - the 5km run will be a lot less challenging than the 10km!

Entry fees: £8 for affiliated club members, £10 for pre-registered individuals, £12 for registration on the day and £3 for juniors etc on the 1km.

For further information contact Fiona Parry on 01892 820508.

Hospice in the Weald, Wadhurst Link
As many of you now know, the flag day on the 1 September has had to be cancelled due to the fact that Wealden changed the date of their licence. Thank you to all those who had kindly said they would help. Hope to be able to run this again next year!

Date for your diaries - Monday 3 September - Eileen Hemsley has kindly offered to put on a coffee morning between 10.00am and 12 noon at her home: 5 Courthope Avenue, Wadhurst. Please contact Eileen on 01892 782385 for further details.  Linda Kings, Link Coordinator (01892 783461

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 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 Note that www.wadhurst.org.ukwill cease to be a working link later this year - so change your Favorites link now!.     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