Fairlight village voice

Didn’t we have a lovely time... the day the Fairlight Gardening Club went to Ardingly? Well, yes and no. They got on the coach at the Circle for 9.30 with the sun shining brightly but, as they stopped at the Showground, the rain started. The party was determined not to let the weather dampen their spirits and walked boldly into the Showground, and spent a considerable time visiting all the halls and marquees just to find a bit of protection for a while, for watching the displays was all a bit of a no-no, unless you like standing in the rain. Finally, all wet and bedraggled, but still smiling bravely, they made their way back to the coach - only to find that within less than half an hour of their journey home, the sun shone brightly and there were lovely blue skies!

K 2 tog… There are two more Knit and Natter dates - 20th June and 4th July - before the group takes its summer break. The meetings will resume on Wednesday, September 5, and they meet between 10.30 am and 12.30 pm on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at ‘Kingsdown’, Channel Way, Fairlight (which is the Country Park end of Channel Way)

They are a very friendly informal group who hope that even more of you will go along and join them soon. Should you require any further information about their knitting and nattering, please contact either Lynette Forward, [email protected] or call 813417, or Betty Snow [email protected] or call 01424 812694

A pleasant day fund-raising… last Saturday at the Village Hall, when their Summer Fair raised a creditable £1,300 for hall funds. Just about all the hall’s affiliate groups, societies and regular users were there, gently and most civilly picking the pockets of the willing visitors. Filled hot potatoes went like, well, hot potatoes, and there were plenty of chances to spend a pound and have a laugh. After the hot summer we have in front of us (?), they will all be doing it again for their Autumn Fair. See you there, then.

The Players’ AGM… is just a fortnight away, coming up on Saturday, June 23. After the meeting itself, they will be offering ‘The End of the Pier Show’, a nostalgic look back at some the songs and sketches you may remember from the Fol-de-Rols of your childhood days, followed by an End of the Pier feed. As usual, it’s for members only, and you would be well advised to complete the tear- or cut-off slip on the AGM notice and place it in the box provided at the Post Office. That way, they won’t run out of food - and nor will you. And talking of members only, the club believes there may be some out there who have not received their notice. If this applies to you, please contact the secretary, Carol Ardley, on 814178, and she’ll put matters right.

The day after that AGM… it will be the Fairlight Open Gardens, with no fewer than ten gardens through the village open for your enjoyment. Which gardens are they? They’re all detailed on a map which is available at a number of places, such as the Post Office and Fairlight Lodge, where the golden orange notice for the event has a big green arrow underneath saying ‘Get you map here’. Do get one and have a good look round, buy your teas or a book or two, and try the tombola. It is suggested that you donate a minimum of £5 for your map, which will gain you admission to all ten gardens – and all the profits go the First Responders, as worthy a cause as you can imagine. Final reminder will come next week.

Next Tuesday… is a Tuesday Ladies Club afternoon. It starts at 2.15 pm in the village hall, when Mr G Albon will be recounting his walk along Japan’s Nakasendo trail. Well worth a look and a listen and, if you’re not a member, it’ll only cost you £2. Fellas are welcome, too.

Avid readers of the quarterly Fairlight News… will know that long-standing editor Richard pollard has resigned his post. While we are all sorry that Richard’s excellent efforts have now ceased, it presents an opportunity for some enthusiastic soul to take over the job. And whereas it has been the editor’s sole remit to gather articles and all advertising, collate, correct and then lay the magazine out and present it to the printer, plus allocating the finished product to the distributors, the residents’ Committee has decided these tasks will be spread in future over a small team, thus lightening the overbearing responsibility. Would you like to try your hand, and thus ensuring the future of this highly respected publication? If so, give Lyn Mosley, the FRA secretary, a call on 812144, or email her at [email protected], send a note to her at 26 Lower Waites Lane.

Pett Level Rescue Boat… will have their new boathouse extension declared open on Saturday, June 16 by Lord Brett Maclean, Lord of Hastings. The actual ceremony is by invitation only, but you are more than welcome to be around on the day, and to make a donation to this charitable cause, which is so valuable within the local community. Meanwhile, there are still a few lots left over from the recent auction. Have a word with organiser John Pulfer on 814866 if you’d like to know what’s left, and what you could do to get hold of them

How does your garden grow….? It’s just four weeks to the Garden Club Summer Show on Saturday July 14. There are many different classes, not just flowers and vegetables. There are bakery and jam classes, and even a cookery class for just the men with its own cup. And there are also fun classes for the children (visiting grandchildren are invited to submit entries - they don’t have to be members) All the information is in the schedule with the rules, so why not have a look and see what you have coming along in your garden that you could enter. If you’d like more details, please call Carol Ardley on 814178. Everybody involved is an amateur gardener, so don’t think your produce can’t be good enough. All too often we hear “I have one of those in my garden and it is much bigger than that”. So give it a go and enter.

Big weekend at the big house… There are the Fairlight Proms tomorrow in the sumptuous gardens of Fairlight Hall, led by Jessica Zhu, winner of the 2011 Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, plus Musicians from the Royal Academy Wind Trio, String Quartet, Jazz Sextet and Classical Guitarist Duo. From 4 to 10.30 pm, tickets are available at Premier Tickets - £60 to include champagne reception in Fairlight Hall, picnic hamper, numbered covered seat; Diners - £35 - Entry, picnic hamper, concert seat and Promenader - £20 - Entry, concert seat, (bring own picnic). There will be fireworks at 10 pm.

On Sunday, Barbara Dickson will be appearing. Doors open at 5.30 pm, with a support act at 6.30 and Barbara at 7.30. Tickets are available from Hastings Information Centre priced at £20 each. The evening is in support of the charity Art in Healthcare, which enhances the lives of patients and others in hospitals by the placement of paintings in their environment.

Evening talk… next Wednesday, June 20 at Mallydams RSPCA. One in their planned series of quarterly evening talks, it takes place in the education Centre at Mallydams. Booking is required for this event, and you should call 0300 123 0750 if you are interested in attending. It starts at 7.30 pm.

Keith Pollard, Brookfield, Broadway