WADHURST TOWN IN FOCUS - MAY 2009

WADHURST TREFOIL GUILD: Members have been delighted to receive their painted pottery - all being a great success. The Meeting in April was well attended and members were enthralled to learn so much from Paula Bull about her Jacob and Portland sheep and alpacas, and the spinning and weaving of the fibres from their fleeces and to see samples of Paula's knitted garments and skeins and balls of wool.
The next meeting will be on Monday 11th May at Carillon Cottage, when Joan Reed will give a talk on "recipes" we hope not for disaster but cookery!

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. Next meeting: Faircrouch Lane/Lightlands/Mark Cross.

WADHURST WINEMAKERS CIRCLE: The next Friday evening meeting at the Recreation Ground is on 1st May. Contact Ruth for details on 750674.

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.

MAYFIELD AND DISTRICT U3A At our next general meeting to be held on May 21st in the Mayfield Memorial Hall at 2.00pm, our speaker will be John Hursey and his subject will be Music and Friendship. John has run several day schools for SURA. He has spoken to Mayfield U3A before and has been a great success.
As always there is no entrance fee for members but visitors are asked for a small donation.         Matthew Scott

WADHURST GARDENING ASSOCIATION held its Spring Show at the Primary School on Monday April 6th.Members enjoyed a wonderful array of spring flowers and exhibits, with the Blackman Coronation Cup for daffodils being won by Sue Piccioni, the Rev. Emery Cup for Narcissi by Rosemary Lavender and the Clowes Pritchard Cup for a Flower Arrangement by Madelyn and Philip Meredith.A quiz compiled by Carolyn Sanders was won by Avril Temple and the evening ended with coffee and refreshments.
At next month's meeting, on Monday May 11th, Valerie Baines will be speaking about "Gardening for Butterflies".The competition will be two sticks of rhubarb and a photograph entitled "Trees".

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 - 12 noon. For further details please contact Sarah Burchett (01323 738390).

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.

TEA WITH TIGGER: Bring your babies and toddlersfor a chat over a cup of teabiscuitsTuesdays from 2.00 to 4.00pm at Carillon Cottage. For further information contact Carillon Cottage, Tel 01892 785658.

STONEGATE FARMERS MARKET: Please note the market is held the second Saturday of the month, 10.00 to 12.00. For information call 01580 200386.

AFTERNOON FELLOWSHIP. For the next meeting Ken Turner will be speaking to us on how to ‘Look after your plants’. Thursday May 28th St George’s Hall 2.30pm

NEW WADHURST RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION: Our next bimonthly meeting should be held at Fazan Court, Snape View at 10 a m on Thursday 14 May 2009 but may change due to completion of the re-decoration of the meeting room.  Any changes will be advertised by poster in the village. For more information please contact 01892 782294. All are welcome..

MINI MARKET  will be held in the Methodist Church on Saturday 2 May from 9.30-11am.

WADHURST INDEPENDENT PHOTOGRAPHERS meets every second Tuesday of each month, at 7.30pm, upstairs in The Greyhound Pub, Wadhurst.

The MULLINS MEMORIAL FUND “Mullins” supports people living in the parish of Wadhurst.  The help provided is usually practical, but may occasionally come in some different form in order to make someone’s life easier.  This is a small local charity able to continue working thanks to the generosity of others and our own fund-raising efforts.  Perhaps you know someone who would benefit from our support.  To provide information, please contact one of the Office Bearers on 782181, 782835 or 783212.  
Be assured that whatever we do is done in complete confidentiality.

THE WADHURST HISTORY SOCIETY very much enjoyed an extremely deft and fascinating talk given by Don Dray on the Sounds and Songs of World War Two.  The next meeting will be on Thursday 14th May in the Commemoration Hall, 7.30 for 8pm when, Derek Legg will talk about the History of Bonfire in Sussex.  The meeting which follows that will be on Wednesday 10th June when Dr Annabelle Hughes talks about Mediæval Houses – tracing their occupants.  Visitors are welcome for a small donation. 

Thank to the generosity of Mr and Mrs William de Salis, the History Society Barbecue will be held at Combe Manor on Sunday 19th July at noon.

The History Society is now researching Wadhurst in the 1950s and 60s and through to the 1990s.  This means we would like to have input from all age groups so perhaps some of the students at Uplands and the Primary Schools would like to tell us of their contemporary impressions of Wadhurst and Wadhurst life. Would you be willing to be interviewed or prefer to write down your memories?  We are trying to find out as much as possible about life in Wadhurst, about the changes as regards buildings and work, the personalities, the significant incidents or events, yearly celebrations………there is such a lot we should like to discover and record for future generations to understand how Wadhurst developed and moved on during the second half of the 20th Century.
Were you at school?  What work did you do in Wadhurst or were you a commuter – before the name was invented?  How did you travel?  What entertainment did you enjoy and what were your leisure activities?  What were your reactions to international affairs such as the Berlin Airlift and the Cold War, political changes, the death of George VI, the coronation of Elizabeth II, the death of Churchill, the end of rationing?  In more recent years what do you feel about the world today, internationally, nationally and locally?
There’s a great deal we need to learn before it is too late.
If you can help in any way, even by lending documents for us to scan, we should be very grateful.  Do contact David James on 01892 890330.

‘WADHURST IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR – life in a Wealden market town:  1939 – 1945’ – the latest publication from the Society is now on sale at Barnett’s Bookshop and the Post Office for £12.

The WADHURST TWINNING ASSOCIATION is looking forward to welcoming to Wadhurst a group of our Twinning friends from Aubers during the week-end of 16th and 17th May.  We also hope that the junior footballers and the two primary schools will have contact with their counterparts, possibly during the same week-end.  Most of the group will have accommodation with local families so if you are not a member of the Twinning Association but would be interested in taking part, please contact  Heather Woodward on 783212 or e-mail her on handew@waitrose.com.  Communal activities are planned for Sunday morning and Sunday lunch and we shall be going to the Entente Cordiale concert of young musicians in the Parish Church on the Saturday evening.  Sunday lunch at the Primary School will be provided for French guests, host  families and possibly other Twinning members.
The Annual General Meeting of the Twinning Association will be on Monday 11th May at 7.45 pm in the David James Building at Uplands.  For further details about joining the Twinning and its various activities, or to suggest other potential interest links with Aubers, please contact the Chairman, John McKenzie on 784342, the Secretary, Heather Woodward on 783212.
The Twinning Barbecue will be held at the Youth Centre on Saturday 11th July.  Tickets at £10 will be available nearer that date.

WADHURST WOMEN’S INSTITUTE.  The April meeting was most enjoyable.  It was a pity attendance was slightly lower than usual as Joan Page reported on her visit to the regional WI conference and the guest speaker, Dr Paul Whittaker, his extremely humorous and touching talk received a standing ovation. Born profoundly deaf he overcame his disability, and after studying music at Oxford University has subsequently dedicated his life to teaching deaf people to sing and play instruments. Our speaker was Mrs J Kinnison Bourke, who assumed the character of Nella Last to perform a half-hour long monologue with anecdotes of  life during World War II.  Her delivery was very professional and most enjoyable.  Next month there is no speaker as we will be discussing the Resolutions to be put forward at the National Conference.  This month’s  Competition is a Re-cycled Item.  Trading Stall: Plants.

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU; Crowborough CAB runs a confidential advice service in Carillon Cottage every Wednesday from 9.00am to 12 noon. No appointment necessary. Just drop in or call 01892 785658.

THE ROTARY CLUB OF WADHURST meet every Wednesday at 7.45 for 8.00pm in ‘The Greyhound’.
The Exmoor Weekend – May 6th-10th inclusive
The Crown Hotel, Exford a 17th Century Coaching Inn, 850 feet up in the centre of Exmoor is playing host to eight Wadhurst Rotarians and a party from Nieuwegein our Dutch twin club. Ostensibly a searching programme of “lung bursting” walks has been planned but frequent mentions of “Exmoor Ale, Cider and Cream Teas” seem perhaps more attractive and likely diversions. (It had been noted that our President, when circulating details of this annual walking trip, has managed to expand the normally accepted definition of ‘Weekend’ from two days to a more generous five!)
For those of us left behind a ‘Social Evening’ at ‘The Greyhound’ on 6 May offers an alternative to ‘Cream Teas and Exmoor Ales’ and Michael Harte’s talk (20th May) on ‘Not a very MODern Major General’ holds much promise. A more gentle walk, far closer to home, has been scheduled for Wednesday 27th May at Bewl Water an area left undisturbed as a refuge for birdlife and managed in conjunction with the Sussex Wildlife Trust. The twitchers amongst us are rubbing their hands in anticipation of a memorable evenings spotting.
Over the course of the month preparations for the Variety Concert (5-6 June) and the Scarecrows Weekend (18-19 July) are gathering pace. Last year ‘Scarecrows’ raised over £7,000 which was distributed to various local and Rotary charities. It would be nice to anticipate a similar result in 2009. However the current economic climate and the weather will have a big say in the final result. Neither of which, unfortunately, the Wadhurst Rotary Club can influence.
This month’s pubocentric walk is being led by Neil Rose on Sunday 3 May starting from Mayfield. At 7 miles(!) it’s slightly longer than usual with plenty of ups and downs after a gentle start, makingit a very good precursor for the Exmoor ‘Weekend’ (see above) Lunch is at The Rose & Crown, Fletching Street, Mayfield.

WADHURST & DISTRICT ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY: This friendly local society welcomes anyone with an interest in astronomy. Meetings are the third Wednesday in every month and begin at 7:30pm. Members are invited to arrive any time after 7:00pm. This is a good time to exchange ideas and discuss astronomical matters. The venue is the Upper Room of the Methodist Church at the east end of Wadhurst Lower High Street opposite Uplands Community College.

WADHURST DRAMATIC CLUB:
With Appreciation & Thanks
It was with a sense of disbelief and sadness that the Club picked up news of the sudden and unexpected closure of Newington's Newsagents in Wadhurst High Street last month. Not only had Newington's serviced the local community's needs loyally over a period of many years, but they had also most generously and consistently provided Box Office services for Wadhurst Dramatic Club presentations over countless years since the Club's inception in 1946. We therefore take this opportunity to put on record this expression of  the Club's sincerest thanks to Sally Marks and all her obliging staff for all their valuable endeavours on behalf of the Club : we also send each of them every best wish for the future.
Forthcoming Presentation
The Club's next presentation will be Nicholas Corder's hilarious Shakespeare send-up, “A Midsummer Night's Travesty” which will run for two nights on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd May at the Commemoration Hall, Wadhurst High Street (7.45pm nightly).
Directed by Wendy Barr, the cast is made up of 26 young and talented actors from the junior section of the Club, Wadhurst Youth Theatre (better known as WYTKIDZ ). Please do make an effort to come along and support the WYTKIDZ who have put in a massive amount of graft to produce what will undoubtedly be a super show. So, get away from the telly and not least the constant talk of credit crunches, zero interest rates and quantitative whatsoevers and instead have an evening out, full of fun, hilarity and belly laughs!
The Club is delighted and extremely grateful to be able to announce that Carillon Cottage (High Street, Wadhurst) has kindly agreed to provide Box Office services for this production. Tickets at £8 (Youth Concessions available) will go on sale there from TUESDAY 5TH MAY.

STONEGATE OPEN GARDENS will take place this year on Sunday 14th June. There will be the usual, stalls and a raffle with some familiar and new gardens to explore. Tickets and parking will be located at the church. As usual, all proceeds in aid of St Peter's Church. Putin your diary now and weforward to seeing you on the day.

CHARITY VARIETY SHOW Plans and rehearsals for the 8th Charity Variety Show produced by Kath Bishop are now well under way. Front of House expertise is being supplied by the Wadhurst Rotary Club. Tickets for the shows, scheduled for Friday 5th and Saturday 6th June in the Commemoration Hall will go on sale after the May Bank Holiday. All proceeds will go towards the cost of the new Wadhurst Library and other Rotary Charities.

WADHURST SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Wadhurst Summer Music Festival 2009 will consist of the following concerts:
‘Entente Cordiale’ for flute and harp - Lianna Jeffery & Anna Wynne
Saturday 16 May - Parish Church - 19:30 Tickets £8

Polyphony Concert - Michael Fields - Midsummer Mass
Saturday 13 June - Parish Church - 19:30 Tickets £10

Fulham & Hammersmith Choral Society - Rossini 'Petite Messe Solennelle'
Saturday 20 Jun - Parish Church - 18:30 Tickets £10

‘Violet’- The Scandalous Story of Violet Gordon Woodhouse
Saturday 27 June - Parish Church - 19:30 Tickets £10

Organ recital - Alistair Curtis
Saturday 11 July - Parish Church - 19:30 Tickets £8

Royal British Legion Summer Concert - Rebecca Caine, soprano
Thursday 16 July - The Mount Tickets £10

Jazzmatazz: Michael Fields & friends
Sunday 16 August - Greyhound - 20:00 Tickets £8

Trio Goya - fortepiano, flute, cello
Sunday 6 Sept - Parish Church - 15:00 Tickets £10
Put the dates in your diaries - tickets will be on sale through the website www.wadhurstmusicfestival.info five weeks before each concert.  Children under 16, accompanying an adult, will be admitted free!

TTSE (The joint Anglican/Methodist study programme to which everyone is invited). On Sunday 17 May at 6.30pm in the Methodist Church continuing our series looking at ‘Aspects of prayer’, Mr Peter Thompson will lead a session on the important subject of ‘Intercession’ - praying for and on behalf of other people. Everyone welcome.

WADHURST PRIMARY SCHOOL HSA will be holding their Summer Fair on Saturday 20th June in the school grounds. Come along & help raise money for the school whilst enjoying the wide selection of games, crafts, activities, displays & shows along with a tempting range of refreshments! Wadhurst Nursery will also be holding an Open Day & welcomes all visitors to come along & see our setting & the outstanding (OFSTED) provision we offer our children.

WOMEN OF WADHURST are supporting the Mullins Memorial Fund with an Evening of Good Food and Superlative Entertainment, by presenting Victoria Plums with three professional performers in the beautiful setting of the Chapel at the Mount,  Faircrouch Lane on Saturday 2nd May 2009, 6.30 for 7.15 pm.  This is a delightful programme combining speech and music, which  explores some of the areas of Victorian life and thought that permeated the literature and vocal music of that self-confident era.  Alongside well-known favourites will be introduced many less well-known gems, both comic and pathetic.
The evening will begin with a welcoming drink and nibbles followed later by a delicious meal served in the Dining Room area and there will be a raffle.  Tickets £20 are available from Rachel Ring (783455) and Heather Woodward (783212)

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Members' Open Meeting on Thursday 21 May at 7.30 in St George's Hall. Tom Walcott will present our Spring Talk on the subject of 'Life as a Defence Attache in Saudi Arabia'. There will be a raffle and a collection for the Poppy Appeal. Everyone welcome.

St JOHN AMBULANCE WADHURST DIVISION is proposing to run a First Aid Training Evening. Date & time to be arrange on response. If interested please telephone John 01892 783178 (answerphone on).

WADHURST BOWLS CLUB is holding a Boot Sale on Sunday 10th May at Uplands Community Centre starting at 8.30 am until 12.00 noon. Pitches cost £8 for cars and £10 for vans. Phone 01892 783152 and leave a message.
Bowls is a very enjoyable game, played in a most sociable and friendly atmosphere and the club welcomes new players of either sex and any age or ability. Anyone interested can phone the above number or 01892 783484.

WADHURST BRASS BAND
Looking Forward to Summer
Rehearsals are now well underway for our forthcoming concerts at the Pantiles bandstand in Tunbridge Wells. I’m sure there will be plenty of old favourites as well as one or two new numbers. As always it would be lovely to see some familiar faces in the audience and, as we are playing two concerts, why not make a day of it? Here’s hoping that we have the weather on our side.

Training Band
The Training Band gets together every Thursday evening under Jenny’s expert leadership.  Everyone is welcome – any age, it’s not just for the young ‘uns and we have instruments for you to use. So if you fancy a go, give Jenny a call.

More Players Needed – Especially Cornets
Do you play the cornet, or the trumpet and fancy giving it a try? We are looking for players to help out on our “front bench”. For the uninitiated, this is the lead section of the band, equivalent to the 1st violins in the orchestra and very important. We are a friendly bunch who enjoy playing a wide variety of musical styles and an active schedule of concerts and other events. Please contact Jenny our manager if you are interested, her number is 01892 782247.

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

WADHURST WEBSITES
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.uk has ceased to be a working link - so change your Favorites link now!    Webmaster: Michael Harte (783 292)

The Wadhurst Summer Music Festival website is here, Wadhurst Parish Council can also be found here; our parish church here, Neighbourhood Watch here and you can see what rubbish is collected in our streets here

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