Winchelsea

The monthly ‘Meet your Councillors’ will be held tomorrow in the Court Hall at 9am. This is an opportunity for residents to discuss any matters of interest in the town - from pot holes to the post office - with Mayor Stephen Turner and Councillor Anna Hargreaves.

Tomorrow St Thomas’ Church once again hosts the Church Market beginning at 10.30am to 12 noon. Everybody is welcome to attend this social gathering with coffee, tea and refreshments served in the cool of the church. Home-made produce will be on sale plus a good selection of hard-back books at bargain prices and plants.

Winchelsea will commemorate the centenary of the commencement of World War 1 on Monday August 4th in the Court Hall, at the War Memorial and in the Church. These events will honour those in our town who at an early age went to fight for their King and country, several of whom gave their lives and are recorded on our War Memorial.

There will be an exhibition in the Lower Court Hall from 11am to 4pm which will pay a photographic tribute to the 118 young men from Winchelsea who fought, and ten who were killed, in the service of their country. The names are each recorded on a framed Roll of Honour. Also remembered in poignant photographs from the Museum are the many soldiers who were billeted in the Town from other parts of the UK and overseas. The exhibition will also include reminiscences written at the time by three local folk of Winchelsea who vividly recall the years 1914-1918. A special section of the exhibition is dedicated to the ten soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice. They are commemorated with their official Commonwealth War Graves Commission certificates and separately a brief synopsis of their lives.

At sunset, 8.38pm on Monday August 4th a bugler will sound the ‘Last Post’ at the War Memorial as a tribute to the courage and self-sacrifice of those who fell in defence of their country; marking one hundred years since the outbreak of the First World War. After the last post has sounded all are invited to attend a non-denominational evening service from 8.45 to 9.30pm in St Thomas’ Church, led by Canon Whitehead. In every part of the country, people will be turning off the lights at home at 10pm for an hour to reflect upon the sacrifices of WW1 which was one of the costliest wars in history.

Winchelsea’s annual Summer Fete and Fun Dog Show is next Saturday August 9th on the Cricket Field, from 1.30 to 5pm. It is all good family fun and includes a grand raffle, tombola, Bottle Stall, Pimm’s Bar, Pett Level Rescue Boat, BBQ, games, refreshments, Craft Stalls, Birds of Prey, plus some good rousing tunes from the Battle Town Band. As always at this popular event all are invited to come and enjoy the day and bring your dogs for the Show. Admission is just £1 adults, children and parking free.

Also on Saturday August 9th, to link in with the Summer Fete, the Methodist Chapel where John Wesley once preached will be having an Open Afternoon to welcome visitors. This will be from 2 to 4pm and the Chapel can be found across the road from the Fete.

“There’s never a man looked me between the eyes and seen a good day a’terward” expounded Long John Silver. To find out more you are invited to come along to the performance of Treasure Island by the Rain or Shine Theatre Company on Saturday August 9th. The venue is the grounds of St Thomas’ Primary School on Friars Road but if it is raining it will be held inside St Thomas’ Church. At 6pm the school grounds will be open for picnicking and the performance will start at 7pm. If you would like tickets the cost is £13.50 adults, £6 children and the Bonfire Boyes can be contacted on 01797 224446 to arrange bookings.

Winchelsea Beach

Don’t forget there is a Table Sale tomorrow (Saturday) at 11am in the Community Hall and if you want to book a table please ring 01797 224820. Plenty of bargains are to be had and the 40p entrance includes tea and biscuits. Also there will be a tombola with some good prizes. The next Table Sale for your diary is August 23rd.

There will be a Sunday morning Communion service as usual in St Richards Church for residents and visitors. The service will be led by Canon Whitehead, beginning at 9.15am on Sunday August 3rd.

Cindi Cogswell

31 Highfords, Icklesham