Icklesham

Sunday 15 June 4-6 Queen’s Head Live Music Smokestack (Blue Jazz)

Sunday 15 June 2-6 pm Across the valley in Udimore Beauchamps with its 3/4 acre cottage garden in Float Lane is open as part of the National Gardens Scheme.Plants,teas and home made cakes.

Saturday 21 June 11am - 2pm ; Church Market --- Coffee, Cakes, Flowers,produce,Bric-a-Brac. lovely atmosphere in a Norman Church.. Any donations of cakes and produce very welcome.

Tuesday 15 July Marsh Churches Visit. Leave 1.30 to visit East Guldeford, Lydd and Brookland Churches with Laurie Bowman a guide who promise to try his best . A W.I. Tea (£5 pp) in Stone in Oxney. Return by 6pm. Please sign up at the back of the Church.

The First World War may have started a hundred years ago but we are still regularly reminded of it.When Ivy Corke passed away we remembered that her Father was one of its first casualties being wounded in September 1914. There are still many others whose close relations served or died in the conflict. Oak Class ,the oldest pupils, in Icklesham Primary School were visited by a local pensioner who was named after his soldier uncle who died in 1915. They saw photographs of the soldier and his parents and 3 sisters who grieved, his headstone with the simple poem his Mother had written,his medals and each pupil touched his prayer book which was in his hand as he died of wounds. The children appreciated the suffering of war.

The Search for Private Bryant, the Royal Sussex Regiment, starts on the Icklesham War Memorial where this young former farm worker is listed as killed in action 2 November 1917. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission had no record of a soldier with that name , of that regiment, losing his life on that day. So this mystery was put in The Village Voice. His nephews who still lived in his home village of Three Oaks contacted me. The Bourne Brothers , survivors of World War 2, said it was their Uncle Fred. He had been sent back from the front in 1917 having been gassed and was lice infested. His Sister, the brothers’ Mother, nursed him but he died on 2 November 1918. The Bournes knew of a full military funeral with a gun carriage going from Three Oaks ,down Broad Street, across the valley and up to Udimore Church which had family links. Then a blank. Where was the grave? Sadly the brothers who had visited their Uncle’s grave with their Mother have passed away and there was no evidence of either a grave or a burial.

Wednesday 4 June 2014 Sue Lee from Brede, a Graduate Forensic Archaeologist ,gave a fascinating talk and tour about Udimore Churchyard and its graves, After her talk I mentioned the Search for Private Bryant and that night she phoned having found

a record of his burial on 7 November 1918. If the grave could be found then Private Fred Bryant,The Royal Sussex Regiment, could have a military headstone like all the others who lost their lives. One Icklesham soldier is buried in Sussex. He is in Northiam cemetery close to Great Dixter which was a military hospital in the First War.

Icklesham Players working with Acting Up At Rye are producing a show with a World War 1 theme called “ Smile Boys - That’s The Style”. The show has been written by and is directed by Mel Smith who wrote and directed Icklesham’s last pantomime. It tells the story of Burt, a young lad who excitedly signs up to go to war only to find it is far from exciting. The second half takes place in an Old Time Music Hall with all the stars of the time; Marie Lloyd,Ella Shields,Nellie Wallace,Harry Champion,and many more.Lots of great songs so there’s a lot of fun to be had by joining in. There will be three performances in the Memorial Hall on Friday11 July at 7.30 and on Saturday 12 July at 2.30 and 7.30. The following weekend there will be 3 performances at similar times in Rye. Tickets will soon be available from Icklesham Village Stores or from Nicky Harris on 01424 812996.

Last Saturday’s 80s Disco was a huge success raising to date at least £640 for the New Pavilion Fund. The forecast thunder storms kept away and some unusual characters were walking around the village - - He-man,Mr T,Timmy Mallet and Del-boy. There was lots of dancing and Hungry Hog Roasts did a lovely BBQ and the bar. So thanks to them and also Asda,Tesco,Flackley Ash Hotel,Hastings Tourist Information,Louise Grand of Loulabella Beads,Wychwood Plumbing and Heating,Carly’s Childcare,Paul Boakes Chimney Sweep,Rye Sports Centre,JC Leisure ,Imagine in Ashford and of course Dexter and Karen of Icklesham Village Stores who not only donated a hamper but as always did that vital role in the community - they sold tickets. The Raffle did extremely well - a Big Thank You to everybody who generously donated prizes, That includes Sir Paul McCartney whose First Prize his Wings over America collection was a considerable attraction and was won by Tony Rendle of Icklesam.Jane Gillard thaks everyone who supported the event and the raffle and is very grateful to those who helped tidy up especially Lisa and Mandy Glazier,DJ Del and Kirk Gillard.

Thank You Jane. It is always good to write about another local success.

Laurie Bowman

Magpies, Oast House Field