Village Voices: Whatlington - November 26, 2010

Claverham College are hosting a Craft Fair on Saturday 10am- 3pm with more than 40 stalls selling hand-crafted gift.

Father Christmas is coming to Battle on Saturday to switch on the Christmas lights.

His parade will be down High Street accompanied by the “Langton Loons” and the Kingfisher band at 1.50pm.

His horse driven carriage will take him to the Memorial Hall where he can meet children in his special grotto. Father Christmas will turn on the lights around 5pm.

As well as these two events, St. Mary`s Church Battle are organising a Christmas Tree Festival.

This year the Festival’s theme is “Charity” and each tree will feature this theme. Once again there will be a vote to choose the best adult and the best children’s tree.

Programmes priced at £2 each, will be sold throughout the festival, although the voting for the best Christmas Tree will take place over the weekend of the 27th/28th November.

Whilst the festival is on it has been decided to close the Church for security purposes outside the normal Church Service times.

However, the church will open with a Steward system of volunteers to allow as many people as possible to view the trees from Monday 29th November to Friday 2nd December in the mornings from 10.30am-12.30pm and then the following week from Monday 5th December – Wednesday 7th December in the afternoons from 2.30pm- 4pm.

As “Charity” is the theme of this year’s Christmas Tree Festival, our Parish Church has been nominated as one of the beneficiaries of this festival and we have also been asked to make a tree to put into the festival.

Paul has kindly offered to ask the children at Mountfield & Whatlington School to make a tree on our behalf and a design will be chosen by the children, which I gather will be something to do with the fire at the church.

A tree has been kindly donated by the Forestry Commission. We have also been asked if we would like to have a stall on Saturday 27th November from 10.30am-6pm. Of course, the answer was yes and we will be selling Christmas cards and Yew on the stall.

I know that St. Mary`s Church Battle are looking for volunteers for the stalls and to sell programmes and helpers for the weekend, as refreshments will be served all weekend in the church hall and include homemade soup, jacket potatoes, cakes and scones. They also require cakes, fresh floral arrangements and new gifts, for their stalls.

During the two days of the Christmas Tree Festival, various choirs, hand bell ringers, organists and instrumentalists will be performing and to the children’s delight, Father Christmas will be visiting on Sunday afternoon, around 2.15pm and cream teas will be served in the church hall.

A traditional candlelit Advent Carol service will take place on Sunday at 6pm, when the winners of the most voted for trees will be announced.

Two other charities will also benefit from this Festival and they are, St. Michael’s Hospice and St. Mary`s Pastoral Care.

The Parish Church are holding a concert the following Sunday December 5th at 2.30pm in aid of the Appeal Fund. They welcome back “Waits & Measures”, madrigal choir, to Whatlington Village Hall to perform “A Taste of Christmas”, which will include, carols that you can join in with & readings. The readings this year will include “A Welsh Christmas” (Dylan Thomas), The Christmas Truce 1914, Eddi`s Service” by Rudyard Kipling and Christmas in Central Africa.

Audience participation is much appreciated during the Carol singing; a reminder that Christmas is not far away!

Mince pies and mulled wine will be served in the interval; admission is free although there will be a retiring collection. There is ample free car parking in the Village Hall car park, which, of course, is next to the hall.

Following this concert, “Cantabile” will be telling the story in song of The First Christmas, directed by Molly Townson with Richard Eldridge at the Piano on Friday 10th December 2010 ,7.00 for 7.30pm at St John the Baptist Parish Church, Sedlescombe.

Tickets: £8 (to include wine and mince pies) can be obtained from The Village Stores, The Rectory (01424-870233) and at the door. Proceeds are in aid of the church.

I am collecting food for “Surviving Christmas” to put into their hampers which are delivered to the vulnerable members of the community in Hastings, St Leonard`s and Bexhill area.

Hampers usually contain Soups, baked beans, spaghetti, tomatoes, fruit, tinned meat, tinned fish, tinned potatoes, tinned vegetables, evaporated milk, marmalade/jam, sugar, tea, coffee, long life milk, custard, mince pies, toilet rolls, toothbrush/paste, shampoo, soap, light bulbs, cake, smarties/ sweets, chocolate bar & toiletries.

I will leave a box outside my front door, in the porch, weather permitting, until 15th December 2010 for those who would like to give to this local charity. My address is Lismoyne, Oakhurst Road, Battle TN 33 0JL .Can I thank you in advance for your donations and thanks the person who has already left some goodies.

Make a Will, make a difference!

The scheme runs just for the month of November and as November is coming to an end and I have been asked once again, to remind you about it. It’s a fantastic opportunity for you, your family and friends to provide for the people you love and support the causes you care about.

In a 2010 Will Aid poll, nearly 50% of people mistakenly thought their estate would automatically go to their partner when they died. In fact, the only way to be absolutely certain that your money and possessions go to the people you want is by having an up-to-date a Will.

Will Aid can make your Will more affordable while helping to raise vital funds for charity. Once you’ve taken care of your loved ones, it also gives you a wonderful opportunity to think about leaving a gift in your Will to Will Aid charities. Any gift you leave, large or small, can make a lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable people in the UK and around the world.

How Will Aid works

• Solicitors across the UK donate their time to support the Will Aid charities.
• Instead of paying them a fee for writing a basic Will, you are invited to make a donation to the Will Aid charities instead.

For further information please go the Will Aid website.

The charity Race Night held at The Royal Oak last week was a really fun evening and we thank all those who attended and raised money for the
children’s charity Wish House.

Feedback from the night was good, with many requests to run another one (particularly from those who were lucky winners on the night!), so we will aim to put a date in the diary for the New Year.

Tonight (Friday 26th) is Irish Music Night at The Royal Oak. This ever popular live music evening always generates a wonderful atmosphere and is an excellent way to end your working week!

Musicians begin playing from 8.30pm, and food is served from 6.30pm - please call to book a table 01424 870492. We are holding an Australian wine tasting evening at The Royal Oak on Sunday 28th November from 7.30pm.

Tickets are just £2 per person to include the tasting of 5 Australian wines - we have a particularly good Pinot Gris and Shiraz/Viognier for you to try!

Wine is accompanied by some nibbles - this is a sociable evening held around the bar in front of the log fire. Please book tickets in advance on 01424 870492.

Christmas party season is nearly upon us and the function room at The Royal Oak - “ The Barn” - is perfect for all your festive celebrations.

There is no charge for room hire, and we can organise a buffet, live music, karaoke or a DJ if required. We are also happy to put together a set menu to accommodate your budget if you would prefer a sit-down meal.

Alternatively, our Christmas Party Menu can be viewed on our website www.royaloak-whatlington.co.uk and is available throughout December, please call us on 01424 870492 if you are looking to organise an event and would like to book a table.

Don’t forget you can keep up to date with all our news by visiting our website, or becoming a fan of our Facebook page. Please see www.royaloak-whatlington.co.uk for further details.

Thank you Alex for your contribution to this column. I always enjoy reading about the events held at The Royal Oak and I know that the people of Whatlington appreciate all your hard work in organising these.

A date has now been set for the Village meeting, at The Village Hall, where plans for the restoration of the church will be discussed.

The meeting will be held on Sunday January 2nd at 4pm. The P.C.C. & Canon Alan thought it would be nice if we started this meeting with a service; Evensong. Jeffrey will give a power point presentation and light refreshments will be available. Please do come to this meeting and share your ideas and thoughts.

Sadly, I have to let you know that Canon Alan will be leaving us on 9th January 2011.

Parish Communion will be at 8.30am this Sunday and led by Canon Alan. All are most welcome.

Hilda Aplin

Lismoyne Oakhurst Road