News from around the clubs

Bexhill Photographic Club

BEXHILL members once again enjoyed an absolutely enthralling evening recently with a master class of Landscape and Seascapes from Patricia Jones FRPS, MPAGB, APAGB, EFIAP and her husband George, from Kent.

Patricia entitled her illustrated lecture Transient Light.

It was more than just a travelogue, it was more like a 'flicker book'. A3 and some A2 prints were presented to us in handfuls - George was taking them off the stand as fast as Patricia was presenting them, sometimes three or four at a time and much to our surprise (apart from aeroplane window shots of Mull and Skye) the other 125 were of Iceland before the current volcano erupted.

The colours of the icebergs, rainbows and lava fields were unbelievable and this was interjected with Icelandic history, customs and anecdotes - ie there is strictly just one breed of wild horse, which incidentally outnumber the Icelandic population, and none are exported (that's the horses of course)!

Years ago a polar bear was washed up on an ice floe and the authorities destroyed it. No polar bears are allowed on the island.

Basalt columns and the yellow and white of the sulphur and gypsum gave Patricia ample material to paint with as she said she was often devoid of bright sunshine.

When it was overcast she found the optimum power for the under-pavement heating for urban areas and a beautiful white cathedral, water reflections, and her usual pastel beach scenes.

She ended her trip and our lecture at the very commercialised Blue Lagoon. She was not impressed, but we were, the colours and compositions were tremendous, especially the A2 size prints. They were supreme.

Ray Barry our vice chairman gave the vote of thanks to Patricia and a very hard-working George.

Club details can be gained by logging on to www.bexhillphotoclub.co.uk

Little Common Horticultural Society

WHAT could have sounded like an uninteresting subject turned out to be fascinating when Judy Whittaker came to explain to us the wonders of Thanet Earth, the new growing experience close to Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet.

They have more than 200 acres of glasshouses growing tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers and sell direct to the main supermarkets - M&S having the best of the crop! They grow in rock wool blocks with an attached feed-line and train the tomatoes to grow to a height of 40' and with two crops a year can produce English tomatoes throughout the year. They pride themselves on being green as they recycle everything, including the rock wool used by a local farmer for compost and provide their own electricity, passing on any surplus to the local grid to go to nearby houses. A big thank you to Judy for an informative talk delivered at a good pace - laced with a little humour.

There are still a few places left for the half-day outing on June 2 to Latchetts and Wych Cross Nursery and also for the day outing to Hillier Gardens on July 14. If you need more information please ring 843088.

A board was taken round asking for help from members for the Decade of Gardening Show at Stone Cross on June 19/20. Please keep this at the top of your list and if you are unable to offer help please make sure that you come to support us on either day with all your friends and relations. We MUST back our chairman to make this venture a success.

The speaker at our next meeting on June 11 will be Sue Clarke - Gardens Through The Lens. The Honychurch Trophy will be awarded for the best pelargonium and there will be a flower arranging exhibit entitled Summer Madness. Looks like another good evening!

Hastings and District Association of Wrens

The chairman welcomed us all to our May meeting and thanked the president for taking the chair at the previous meeting in her absence.

She then read the minutes of that meeting and we discussed various decisions that had to be taken.

A list was made of the cakes and other goodies which members would be bringing for the June tea party and we were also reminded to bring prizes for the raffle. If the weather is suitable we are hoping to sit in the garden outside the hall.

Arrangements for the afternoon visit to Merriments Gardens were finalised, and names of those wishing to attend the lunch at the Wheatsheaf in Little Common in July were taken.

As always we had a good natter during the tea break, and the raffle was drawn before the closing of the meeting.

We shall meet next for the June teaparty. Ex-Wrens are always welcome visitors, with no obligation to join the branch, but of course we would be delighted if you decided to do so. For further details please ring the chairman on 01424 222721 or the secretary on 01424 447958.

Sidley Friendship Club

Members of Sidley Friendship club thank Mr Derek Brooks for the very interesting talk he gave the group on Monday May 17 with his assistant.

It was all about how to make a Japanese garden in your own garden, with secret paths and small ponds, many different trees and shrubs in a garden of relaxation. He is a member of the Eastbourne and Wealden Bonsai Club. He also bought two beautiful Bonsai trees to show us, one was more than 50 years old. Thank you.

There is to be a Bonsai show at Stone Cross Memorial Hall, Hailsham Road, on Saturday June 12 from 10-4pm.

For details of the club call 01424 216704.

Little Common Ladies' Club

AN outing to Wisley, flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society, was undertaken by 31 members and friends on Wednesday, May 19.

The 240-acre venue has been named Large Visitor Attraction of the Year in the 2010 Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, and with the committee helpfully picking a warm, sunny day, it was enjoyed to the full.

The azaleas and rhododendrons were in their prime, providing a spectacular sight, particularly in the Battleston Hill area.

The amazing glasshouse, with its vast array of tropical and temperate plants; the pinetum, the model gardens and the stunning rock gardens were just some of the many delights to savour.

We left for home at 4pm, wishing that more members had been able to share such a wonderful, inspirational day out.

Our annual general meeting on April 28 was well attended. After the officers' reports, presentations were made to retiring committee members for their excellent work.

With some of the present committee agreeing to serve for another term, and other members found to fill the remaining places, a new committee was elected. The evening was rounded off most agreeably with tea, coffee and cakes.

The next meeting is on June 23, when Michael Hoad will give a slide illustrated talk about A Jewel in Europe. Visitors and guests are invited to come along, and can be assured of a warm welcome.

Meetings begin at 7.45pm at Little Common Community Centre, Shepherd's Close, Little Common. Call 01424 842371 for further information.

The Twenty Ten Club

Our May meeting was very well attended and after all the club business was given out, members were invited to take part in a Do You Remember The War? quiz, the top team getting 18 out of 20 questions right.

Following a cup of tea we were given a most interesting talk by Mr Gerald Matthews, the butcher from Turkey Road, Sidley, who gave us a great deal of detail about the butchery trade in general and his own background in particular and most of us were surprised to learn how much goes into making meat safe for us to eat. He brought some tasters of his prize-winning sausages, which were greatly enjoyed.

The speaker at our next meeting on June 10 will be Eddie McCall, who will tell us about the clinic and nursery that he and fellow members of Senlac Rotary Club helped to set up in Kenya. Books, pencils and knitted baby clothes will be very much appreciated, as the Rotarians visit regularly to see how it's all going and like to take gifts for the children. Money for the outing on the horse drawn barge trip on June 29 must be paid at this meeting. There are still some places left, so if anyone is interested in joining us on this trip to Berkshire, they can contact 842946. You don't have to be a member to come on the trips. The strawberry cream tea at our July meeting will also have to paid for on that day. Our meetings are held at Little Common Community Centre on the second Thursday of every month at 2pm in the Sandhurst Hall. Anyone wishing to come along will be made very welcome.

East Sussex Bridge Club

RESULTS for week ending May 20:

Monday May 17:

N/S First - Alan Miley and Ted Weare

Second - Deirdre Pudney and Eileen Pavey

E/W First - John Clark and Inez Richards

Second - Diana Hunt and Marilyn Rutherford

Wednesday May 19:

N/S First - Garrick Oliver and Marion Boswell

Second - Josie Boryn and Barbara Herold

E/W First - Camilla Buchanan and Eileen Stray

Second - Vivian Bryant and Yvonne Evans

Thursday May 20:

N/S First - Carol Hutley and Vera Smith

Second - Edna Simon and Judi Sibson

E/W First - Eileen Pavey and Kathie Genders

Second - Mike Ayres and Barbara Herold

Host system on Monday and Thursday afternoons. For details of sessions or lessons please contact Barbara on 01424 422118 or visit our website at www.eastsussexbridgeclub.co.uk

Bexhill Bridge Club

RESULTS:

Tuesday May 11:

First N/S - Ray Bittan and Dennis Trendle

Second N/S - Angela Viola and Mary Bunyan

First E/W - Ray Burnett and Brian Gould

Second E/W - Fergus Cameron and Richard Matthews

Thursday May 13:

First N/S - Mary Davidson and Norman Taylor

Second N/S - Anne Spencer and Joan Winchester

First E/W - Glynis Bailey and Shirley Bodle

Second E/W - David Gillespie and Pat Collings

Tuesday May 18:

First - Leonard and Maureen Sterling

Second - Angela Viola and Mary Bunyan

Thursday May 20:

First N/S - Maurice and Sylvia Reeves

Second N/S - David and Brenda Cross

First E/W - Barbara Graham and Norman Franks

Second E/W - Colin Richards and David Boots