The Beacon March 2015 - Beacon Parish of Ditchling, Streat
DIRECTORY Vicar: Churchwardens: Reader: Youth Worker: Hon Treasurer: Bookkeeper: Hon Secretary: Stewardship: Organist: Parish office: Noah’s Ark: Safeguarding: Electoral Roll Officers: Head Sidesman: Head Server: Bell Ringers: 100+ Club 2000: The Beacon Editor: Advertising: Distribution: The Revd David Wallis The Vicarage, 2 Charlton Gardens, Lewes Road, Ditchling, BN6 8WA Tony Blanchard St Margaret’s Keith Hine Mike Sewell Streat Church Mark Moody-Stuart St Martin’s Doreen Kallman Colyeen Blanchard Vacancy Mark Moody-Stuart Sue Sewell Margaret Bovill Mark Llewellyn-Slade John Sandford St Margaret’s Email: [email protected] Phone: Katherine Grant Carolyn Webb Tony Blanchard Ditchling Paul Charman Streat & Westmeston Andrew Martin Tony Coomber Ditchling David Cragg Pam Gaskin Graham Sharpless Sue & George Hancock Jenny Bell Ditchling Margaret Moore Paul Charman Streat & Westmeston 01273 843165 01273 842243 01273 843370 01273 890366 01273 846525 01273 844743 01273 842243 01273 846525 01273 890366 01273 845319 01444 242792 01444 233552 01273 843165 07811 157677 01273 842856 01273 842243 01273 844743 01273 846123 01273 845069 01273 845383 01273 843182 01273 845368 01273 890298 01273 843194 01273 843805 01273 844743 Full membership of the PCC can be found on the website: www.BeaconParishes.org The Revd David Wallis’s day off is Monday The Beacon Parish is a registered charity, number 1132488 Front cover: St Margaret’s Church Choir, Sunday 25th January 2015, after the last service before the choir disbanded The Beacon March 2015 The Magazine for the Parish of Ditchling, Streat & Westmeston Contents The Beacon Churches Calendar March 2015 ............................................................ 2 The Churchwardens write........................................................................................... 3 In Memoriam ...........................................................................................................4 Beacon Parish Church Duties March 2015 .............................................................. 5 Prayer Diary – March 2015 ......................................................................................6 Bible Notes ...............................................................................................................9 News from the Beacon Parish ..................................................................................11 Our Cathedrals - Leicester .....................................................................................13 News from Chichester Diocese.................................................................................14 What’s On in March 2015 .........................................................................................16 What’s On in April 2015 ............................................................................................17 Children and Young People.......................................................................................19 Ditchling Women’s Groups .......................................................................................21 Village News ...............................................................................................................23 Nature Notes..........................................................................................................29 The Beacon in the Past ..........................................................................................30 Weddings and Baptisms To book a wedding or baptism in any of the Beacon Parish churches please see the following pages on the Beacon Parish website. • • www.beaconparishes.org/weddings to book a wedding and for further information about weddings including fees and a wedding pack. www.beaconparishes.org/baptisms to book a baptism and for further information about baptisms. The Beacon Parish Office Open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings 9.30 am to 12 noon (the place to direct any enquiries) 01273 843165 email: [email protected] www.beaconparishes.org 1 The Beacon Churches Calendar March 2015 Morning Prayer at Ditchling: Wednesday at 9.00 am 1 Sun 3 Tues 4 Wed 8 Sun 11 Wed 15 Sun 18 Wed 22 Sun 25 Wed 29 Sun THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT Holy Communion (BCP) Holy Communion & Junior Church Holy Communion Village Prayers Holy Communion THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT Holy Communion & Junior Church Morning Prayer Holy Communion MOTHERING SUNDAY Holy Communion (BCP) Holy Communion & Junior Church Holy Communion Holy Communion THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT Holy Communion & Junior Church Holy Communion PALM SUNDAY ALL AGE HOLY COMMUNION The service begins at the Vicarage in Charlton Gardens from where we set out on the Palm Sunday procession through the village. Ditchling Ditchling Westmeston Streat Ditchling 8.00am 9.45am 9.45am 10.15am 9.30am Ditchling Streat Ditchling 9.45am 9.45am 9.30am Ditchling Ditchling Streat Ditchling 8.00am 9.45am 9.45am 9.30am Ditchling Ditchling 9.45am 9.30am Ditchling 9.45am Everyone is very welcome to attend any of the church services listed above. You will be sure of a warm welcome. Coffee, tea and delicious homemade cakes and/or biscuits are normally available after the Sunday 9.45 am services in St Margaret’s, Ditchling, Streat Church and St Martin’s, Westmeston. We look forward to seeing you at any of the services in the Beacon Parish. 2 The Churchwardens write Dear Friends The Churchwardens are very pleased to announce that Fr David has been appointed Chaplain to the High Sheriff of East Sussex (but will, of course, continue to be Vicar of the Beacon Parish). Juliet Smith will be declared as the new High Sheriff at a ceremony in Lewes on Friday 27th March when Fr David will begin his appointment. The High Sheriff is the Queen’s representative in the county. Fr David’s role is to offer support and spiritual counsel to the Sheriff as she exercises her duties. The High Sheriff will be holding a Judges’ Service at St Margaret’s on Monday 15th June. Please join with us in praying for the new High Sheriff and Fr David as they work together. Keith Hine & Tony Blanchard Souper Saturday Delicious Homemade Soups, freshly baked bread, tea, coffee & cakes Saturday 7th March, 12 noon – 2 pm St Margaret’s Church All very welcome! 3 Village Coffee Morning Noah’s Ark Tuesday 3rd March, Parent & Toddler Group, 0 – 5 years 10.15am Southwind, Streat Coffee and tea will be served from 10.45am and will be preceded by a simple service. All are very welcome. St Margaret’s Church, Wednesdays 1.30pm (except school holidays) Pastoral Visiting If anyone feels they, or someone they know, would like a pastoral visit from someone at the Church, please call the Parish Office during the mornings (Tuesday to Thursday) with your request (01273 843165). Alternatively, you can email the Parish Office on [email protected]. A group of people from the churches in the parish has been appointed to assist the clergy with pastoral visitation, prayer and home communion; and also help with understanding and completion of forms and documents (non legal). After you have made contact, the Parish Office will make arrangements for a visit and you will be contacted by your visitor. In Memoriam In March we remember: 2nd 10th 11th 13th 17th 23rd 27th 29th 7th 11th 11th 16th 22nd 26th 28th 29th Arthur Mott Euan Keat Dorothy Hunter Florence Lillie Taylor Margaret Lynch Harry James Booth Madge Hunt Albert Morrow 4 Marybud Chignell Michael Hoare Valerie Hoare Neil Robinson Tony Best Marjorie Lee Jill Holmes James Ager Beacon Parish Church Duties March 2015 Time 1 Church Service Lessons nd 2 Sunday of Lent Genesis 17: 1-7, 15-16 Mark 8: 31 - end Genesis 17: 1-7, 15-16 Holy Communion 9.45am Ditchling Romans 4: 13 - end & Junior Church Mark 8: 31 - end 8am BCP Holy Communion Ditchling Readers Sidesmen No Flowers in Lent Yvonne Sen Yvonne Sen Di Martin Carl Belfield Maralyn Hine Clare Farrands Genesis 17: 1-7, 15-16 George WestPaul Romans 4: 13 end Hancock 9.45am Holy Communion meston Charman Mark 8: 31 - end Mark MoodyStuart rd No Flowers in Lent 8 3 Sunday of Lent Exodus 20: 1 - 17 Holy Communion 1 Corinthians 1: 18 9.45am Ditchling & Junior Church 25 John 2: 13 - 22 Exodus 20: 1 - 17 9.45am Streat Morning Prayer John 2: 13 - 22 15 Mothering Sunday 8am 9.45am Ditchling 9.45am BCP Holy Communion Ditchling 1 Samual 1: 20 - end John 19: 25 - 27 Holy Communion 1 Samual 1: 20 - end & Junior Church John 19: 25 - 27 Streat Holy Communion 1 Samual 1: 20 - end John 19: 25 - 27 22 5th Sunday Lent 9.45am Ditchling Holy Communion & Junior Church Jeremiah 31: 31 - 34 Hebrews 5: 5 - 10 John 12: 20 - 33 29 Palm Sunday 9.45am Ditchling All age Holy Communion Narrated Gospel 5 Nick Upton Di Martin Judy Essex Yvonne Sen Mike Middleton Sue Sewell No Flowers in Lent Jenny Bell Jenny Bell tba Margaret Bovill Sally Willis Myrtle Skelton Sue Sewell George Hancock No Flowers in Lent Helen Sills Andrew Martin Brenda Hall No Flowers in Lent Jenny & Jasper 9.45am Bell Prayer Diary – March 2015 Feast Days 1 Lent 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Lent 3 9 10 11 12 13 14 Prayer for the world church & Prayer for this diocese Mbale (Uganda) Pray for the Secretariat, Church House Mbamili (Nigeria) Slindon with Eartham & Madehurst Mbeere (Kenya) Walberton with Binsted Mbhashe (Southern Africa) Rural Deanery of Chichester Meath & Kildare (Dublin) Apuldram; Fishbourne Medak (South India) Boxgrove, St Mary & St Blaise Melbourne Chichester St Paul with Westhampnett Meru (Kenya) Pray for Diocesan Safeguarding, Church House Mexico Chichester, St Wilfrid Eastern Michigan (USA) Gibbs Chichester, St Pancras & St John Minna (Nigeria) Donnington, St George Minnesota (USA) Prior Earnley with East Wittering & Almodington Missionary District of Oeste-Brasil Lavant, St Mary Milwaukee (USA) North Mundham with Merston & Hunston 6 Prayer for places in the Beacon Parish East Gardens Farm Lane Fieldway Folders Lane East High Street Lewes Road Lodge Hill Lane Long Park Corner Mullberry Lane Neville Bungalows Neville Cottages Neville Flats North End Nye Lane Prayer for the world church & Prayer for this diocese Lent 4 Missouri (USA) (Mothering Jonathan Prichard (Land registration & Clergy Retirement Sunday) Officer) Mityana (Uganda) Portfield All Saints Mombasa (Kenya) Selsey, St Peter Monmouth (Wales) Sidlesham, St Mary Montana (USA) Tangmere & Oving Montreal (Canada) West Wittering & Birdham with Itchenor Moray, Ross & Caithness Deanery of Worthing Lent 5 Morogoro (Tanzania) Pray for the Workplace Chaplains Mount Kenya Central (Kenya) Broadwater Mount Kenya South (Kenya) Durrington, St Symphorian The Annunciation Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) Ferring, St Andrew Feast Days 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Palm Sunday 30 Monday of Holy Week 31 Tuesday of Holy Week Mpumalanga (Southern Africa) Findon, Clapham & Patching Mthatha (Southern Africa) Findon Valley, All Saints Muhabura (Uganda) Goring-by-Sea, St Mary Prayer for places in the Beacon Parish Orchard Lane Sandrocks Shirleys South Street South View The Twitten Underhill Lane Waterman’s Cottages Wellhouse Lane West Street Middleton Manor Estate, Middleton Court & Middleton Lane Lewes Road East of the Church The Street & Church Cottages Westmeston Parish Hall, Acorns Nursery School Westmeston Farm Estate Multan (Pakistan) Underhill Lane North side Mumbai (India) Underhill Lane South side 7 8 Bible Notes Amidst the unrest in the Middle East, more and more Arabs are asking for God’s word. Three years ago there was little interest for Bible Study groups, now there are waiting lists to join, especially among young people. A team of Middle Eastern Arab Christian theologians and writers are working hard to assemble a Study Bible in the easy to read Arabic translation, which will fulfil a growing need amongst the Arab Muslims who are asking about Christianity and the Bible. The verse of the month comes from Amos, who like Joel of last month, prophecies about the Day of the Lord (a day of judgement). But in God’s continual mercy he sends us warnings to give time to repent from injustice and not putting God first. In Chapter 4, the Sovereign Lord declares; I gave you lack of bread (v6), withheld rain from the harvest (v7), struck gardens with blight (v9), sent plagues (v10), yet you have not returned to me (vs. 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11). So finally after the people have repented and turned back to God fully, he promises in Amos 9:11-15; “In that day I will restore, … I will repair, … I will rebuild and plant again says the Lord your God.” Jill Veness 9 The Beacon Parish Time Out in Tournay A week of rest and reflection led by Canon Peter Sills 7 – 14 September 2015 The Abbaye Notre-Dame de Tournay is a Benedictine community, founded 50 years ago, and situated in the glorious foothills of the Pyrenees in south-west France. The warm welcome, the peace and quiet and the beautiful liturgy provide space for the spirit and make it the perfect place for some time out. The surrounding area is rich in natural beauty with many places of pilgrimage and is noted for its Romanesque Churches. This week will combine time for reflection and experiencing the life of the community with visits to some of the pilgrim places nearby. Accommodation will be in the monastery guesthouse on a full board basis, and the cost will be £380 per person (there is no single supplement) covering accommodation, meals, visits and transport in France. Participants are asked to make their own travel arrangements to and from France. Full details now available in Church or from Canon Peter: CANON PETER SILLS | 01273 842760 : [email protected] 10 News from the Beacon Parish Electoral Roll The Electoral Roll for the Beacon Parish is again being revised, to ensure it is as accurate as possible, in preparation for the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, which is on Sunday 19th April. So please take time to view a copy displayed at the back of the churches, and advise if you have any information regarding any of the following. • • • Anyone wishing to be included on the Roll please complete an ‘Application for Enrolment on the Church Electoral Roll’ If you are aware the details of someone on the Roll have changed. If you are aware that someone on the Roll has left the parish, moved or is deceased. Contact Tony Blanchard, Paul Charman (Streat and Westmeston) or any Churchwarden. Tony Blanchard Churchyard Volunteers The next churchyard working party will be at Westmeston on Saturday 7th March starting at 9.30 am. Marieanne Hickman St Margaret's Flowers for Easter The Flower Guild will be doing the flowers for Easter on Saturday 4th April from 9 to 11 am. There will be a plate at the back of the church for three weeks before Easter Sunday for donations towards the flowers, and all contributions will be very much appreciated. Jenny Bell and Gwen Searle St Margaret’s Choir – the last Sunday St Margaret’s Choir sang as a robed choir for the last time on Sunday 25th January. Fr David included two anthems in the service for the choir to sing. The first was Holy, Holy, Holy by Schubert and the second, Lead me Lord by Samuel Wesley, was sung at the end of the service and was followed by the choristers’ prayer, which has usually been said in the vestry after the service. As the choir filed out, the congregation applauded. 11 All members of the choir are saddened to end over 200 years of choral singing in St Margaret’s and none wished the choir to end, but no choir can continue without a choirmaster. Tribute to the choir It is with great sadness that we say good-bye to the choir. Circumstances have changed over the last two years and with no regular organist it has not been possible to have weekly choir practices. The years have taken their toll and the numbers in the choir have diminished and those who are still there are finding it more difficult to maintain the standard they would like and so it has been decided to disband the choir. As a congregation we have so appreciated the lead they have given in the services and we shall miss the group of blue robes in the choir stalls. For them it is the end of an era; they have so enjoyed each other’s company, choir outings and choir parties. They have sung at weddings and at funerals and have made highlights in the church calendar, like Christmas and Easter, special occasions and we do hope that there will be an “occasional choir” that will continue to play a part in these major events in the church life. We hope the choir stalls will not be empty – that members of the congregation who love to sing will sit up at the front and give a lead to the congregation. Whether up in the stalls or amongst us in the body of the church, members of the disbanded choir will still give a lead as they sing with us week by week. We want to thank them for their dedication over many years – 20 plus for some of them – and for the way they have enhanced our worship and to remind them that the end of one way heralds the beginning of a new way. Rachel Williamson MACS reconstruction appeal Storms and torrential rain in Malawi have devastated parts of the country. 176 people have died and more are missing. Many of these are children. 200,000 people are homeless and recently sown crops swept away. The destruction of crops means there will be poor harvests in much of the country this year. Cholera and other water borne diseases will be a real threat. MACS has sent £4,000 to the Diocese of Upper Shire, a badly affected area, to help with this urgent humanitarian crisis. However, MACS has also launched a reconstruction appeal to help people repair houses, classrooms and health 12 centres and to replant crops where possible. If you can help, please send donations to the MACS Treasurer, Colin Gardner, 217 Main Rd, Hawkwell, Essex, SS5 4EQ. Sally Huband The Beacon Churches “100 Club” The winners of the last 2014 Draw were Yvonne Sen and Mike Middleton both receiving a prize of £20. We have now collected all the shares for the 2015 “100 Club”. Many thanks for your support again this year. Pam Gaskin 01273 843182 The End of the Beacon Magazine? By the end of this year this magazine will be discontinued unless someone is willing to take over the job of editing it. It takes 6 to 8 hours per month to edit the magazine ready to be sent by email to the printers. Editing the Beacon requires the use of MS Word or other similar software with, preferably, photo editing knowledge as well. If you think you may be able to take on the job of editor or just to find out a bit more about what is involved please let me know by emailing me at [email protected]. Graham Sharpless Our Cathedrals - Leicester The church of St Martin in Leicester was built on the site of a Roman temple by the Normans and enlarged in the 13th and 15th centuries. In the 19th century the church was again restored and rebuilt and the 220ft spire was added. In 1927 the church became a cathedral, the new Diocese of Leicester being separated from the Diocese of Peterborough. The church has a fairly large nave with wide aisles and an organ at the west end. The ‘Great South Aisle’ was added about 600 years ago and was a special part of the church with an altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In 2012 Leicester and its Cathedral gained greater importance following the discovery of the remains of King Richard III underneath a nearby car park. Richard was killed in 1485 during the battle of Bosworth Field and was buried in the Greyfriars Priory Church Choir, very close to the present Cathedral. The Priory was demolished in 1538 and by the 20th Century had been built over. In September 2012 the remains were discovered and in February 2013 the University of Leicester confirmed that they were those of Richard III. 13 We visited the Cathedral in August 2014, just as work was starting to reorder the Cathedral for the reinterment in a new ambulatory under the tower later this month. According to the Cathedral website “the mortal remains of King Richard III will be received by the Cathedral on 22nd March and will lie in repose for three days before being reburied on the 26th March 2015”. There will be a service of reinterment on 26th March, broadcast live on Channel 4. Across the road just to the south of the Cathedral is a new Richard III Visitor Centre on the site of the Greyfriars Priory. The centre opened only two weeks before our arrival and includes forensic and other evidence. Leicester Cathedral is one of the most recent parish churches to be made a cathedral and would probably not be of significance to those living outside the Diocese, but the discovery of the remains of Richard III has put the city and its Cathedral on the map. It is also just possible that the remains of Cardinal Wolsey are buried in Leicester as he died there in 1530 while travelling from York to London to face charges of high treason. He was buried in Leicester Abbey, which was demolished after the dissolution. Graham Sharpless News from Chichester Diocese For more information on news items see the Diocesan website at www.chichester.anglican.org/news. New Dean of Chichester Installed The Very Reverend Stephen Waine, the former Archdeacon of Dorset, has been installed as the new Dean of Chichester in Chichester Cathedral. This special service included a sermon by the new Dean, who spoke of his ‘sense of privilege and deep joy’ to be installed as Dean and also outlined his view of Christianity as ‘not a private religion, or a spiritual comfort blanket, but rather a radical agenda of justice, giving voice to the marginalised, power to the powerless’. 14 15 What’s On in March 2015 Village Coffee Morning, Southwind, Streat 3 Tue Ditchling Downs WI meeting, Friends Meeting House p 4 10.15 am p 21 7.30 pm p 21 2.15 pm 5 Ditchling WI meeting, Ditchling Village Hall Thu Ditchling Film Society film I Wish, Ditchling Village Hall p 25 8 pm 7 Sat Churchyard Volunteers, St Martin’s, Westmeston p 11 9.30 am Souper Saturday, St Margaret’s Church p3 12 noon 10 Tue NADFAS lecture History of Art in 12 Masterpieces, Plumpton Village Hall p 27 2.15pm 13 14 Fri The Plaegan Piano Trio, Brighton Unitarian Church p 28 12.30 pm Sat Annual Spring Bulb Show, Ditchling Village Hall p 26 2 pm 17 Tue p 23 10 am 19 Thu PCC Meeting, St Margaret’s vestry 20 Fri 21 31 Sat Ditchling Village Association Coffee Morning, Ditchling Village Hall Ditchling Newcomers’ Party, Ditchling Village Hall 7 pm 8 pm p 23 Deadline for contributions to the April Beacon The Friend's of St Margaret’s Church Trust AGM, Ditchling Village Hall Sussex Chorus French Sacred Music, All Saints Church, Hove Tue Whist Drive, Westmeston Parish Hall 10.15 am p 28 7.30 pm p 16 7.15 pm WHIST DRIVE st Tuesday 31 March 2015, Westmeston Parish Hall, 7.15pm The next Whist Drive will be held on Tuesday 28th April at 7.15pm Everyone is welcome to join the friendly team of players. For more details contact Doreen Kallman (01273 844743) 16 What’s On in April 2015 2 4 Ditchling Film Society film Tracks, Ditchling Village p 25 Hall St Margaret's Flowers for Easter, St Margaret’s Sat p 11 Church, Ditchling Thu 7 14 17 Thu PCC Meeting, St Margaret’s vestry 19 Sun Tue Village Coffee Morning, Southwind, Streat Fri p4 8 pm 9 am 10.15 am 7 pm Deadline for contributions to the May Beacon 21 Annual Parochial Church Meeting, St Margaret’s Church, Ditchling Ditchling Village Association Coffee Morning, Tue Ditchling Village Hall 28 Tue Whist Drive, Westmeston Parish Hall 30 Thu Deadline for Applications for Grants from The Turner-Dumbrell Foundation 17 11.15 am p 23 10 am p 16 7.15 pm p 25 18 Children and Young People Ditchling (St Margaret's) CE Primary School Ditchling Dinosaurs!! What an exciting term we have had since Christmas! Would you believe, dinosaurs visited Ditchling and Year One were ready and waiting. The children became real life palaeontologists and discovered hidden dinosaur facts and fossils in and around the school. From dinosaur dancing to fossil creations, the children made socks into dinosaur puppets and designed and created their own Dinosaur Island. Our prehistoric learning journey has captured the children’s imagination and inspired some spectacular, creative thinking. Endosaurus PS…watch out!! The Tyrannosaurus Rex was never found; lucky for you Year One continue to be on the case!!! 1 Amundsen 1st Ditchling Scout Group Beavers – Since the beginning of the year the Beavers have been pleased to welcome three new members. Activities during the most recent weeks have included looking at types of codes, some time spent thinking about disability awareness and an arts and crafts evening aimed at stirring creativity and imagination. 19 Cubs – A big success in January was the Mid-Sussex District Scouts Swimming Gala in which in the Cubs Section, we came 7th with a representative in all the final races bar one. Following an invitation from Ditchling Morris Dancers, some of our Cubs joined in with the Wassailing Celebration at the beginning of the year. It has been a good time of the year to go star-gazing, so an evening hike was devoted to the Astronomer Badge. Our thanks to two Dads who shared their telescopes and led to the discovery of Jupiter! A new Pioneering Badge has been made available for Cubs so our members gave it a try with some basic knotting and the building of practice towers indoors. Scouts – Even greater success this year at the Annual District Swimming Gala in which we came 2nd out of 10 teams in the Scouts Section, the result going down to the wire in the final race. Congratulations to all our swimmers on a really great evening. Other events before half-term included a night hike over Ditchling Common and an evening of First Aid. Alec Gaskin – Chairman – 01272 843182 20 Ditchling Women’s Groups Ditchling Downs WI David Porter was our guest speaker for our February meeting. His subject was ‘How Do You Beat a Fraudster?’ Not an easy task but with David’s advice and a few techniques we began to see how not to fooled by the fraudsters of today. For example if you are phoned by a fraudster who is impersonating a bank/finance company/online company and they explain that your card/account has been compromised they plausibly ask you to phone them back on a number you have, either on the back of your card or account details. Apparently you hang up and the fraudster stays on the line, they often have a recording of a dial tone so when you pick up your phone to dial the number you are actually still connected to the fraudster. David’s advice is to either wait 5 minutes or telephone a friend first, which when the fraudster answers by saying the name of the bank etc you know that this is a scam. But really his main advice was do not phone back. A bank would never phone, they would always contact you by letter. If you are worried by anything at all a good site to contact on the internet is ACTION FRAUD. It is our turn to host the DVA Coffee Morning on 17th March in the village hall so please join us for a slice of cake and a coffee with friends. For our next meeting on 3rd March, at the Friends Meeting House, 7pm for 7.30pm, we have a talk on Shoreham Lifeboats. Visitors will be very welcome. Enquiries to Barbara Dollings 01273 843892 Barbara Dollings, 01273 843892 Ditchling WI For our February meeting, we had a very interesting talk by David Porter on ‘Life above a railway tunnel’. We were shown lots of interesting photos of how life has been over the years since 1839 - 1841 when 3000 men built the 1.25 mile long tunnel, 270ft under the downs so the trains could travel to Brighton. In 1849 the cottage was added, above the Clayton end of the tunnel, to house the tunnel keeper and his family. There was also a cottage above the south end of the tunnel which subsequently collapsed. Now, some 350 - 400 trains travel through the tunnel every day. But this is not what disturbs the residents of the cottage; it’s the traffic speeding up and down Clayton Hill! Flower of the month was won by Jonn Grinsted. Our next meeting is on Thursday 5th March at 2.15pm. John Cave ‘Songs with Guitar’. Briony Coomber 01273 845069 21 22 Village News Ditchling Village Association Coffee Mornings The next Ditchling Village Association Coffee Morning will be on Tuesday March 17th in the Ditchling Village Hall between 10 am and 11.30 am. It is sponsored by the Ditchling Downs WI. Dates for coffee mornings in future months are shown below. Date April 21st May 19th June 16th July 21st Society Ditchling Players Morris Dancers Horticultural Society Ditchling Society Ditchling Village Association Newcomers Party To All Newcomers to Ditchling since March last year, we look forward to meeting you at our annual Newcomers’ Party on Friday 20th March at 8 pm in the Village Hall. You will soon be receiving an invitation from your Good Neighbour but if you don’t, please get in touch with us so that we can send you one. This is a lovely evening and a great way to meet other newcomers to the village and representatives of the many clubs and societies that exist here making Ditchling the village it is. Please contact Pam Gaskin on 01273 843182 e-mail: [email protected]. Pam Gaskin Old Woman's Song There is a hue to life Which dims and glows, Waxes and wanes With the pain and joy Of being. As we grow old and struggle to recall The shades and warmth Of that reflective light, It achieves a melancholic tinge As we cringe from thoughts of tomorrow And so we seek to install The brightness and lightness Of yesterday While memories play With our heartstrings Alison Lesley 23 24 Applications for Grants are invited from THE TURNER-DUMBRELL FOUNDATION The income which enables the Foundation to make grants comes from the letting of the agricultural land at Lodge Hill and Bowries Fields, together with rents from the Turner-Dumbrell Workshops and the generous endowment from the Settler Dr Richard Turner. In 2014-5 The Foundation made grants totalling £25,000. The Trustees are looking to fund applications for interesting and innovative projects that benefit the community while closely reflecting the Foundation’s grant making objectives. These are: To support charitable institutions or charitable purposes in Ditchling or in the immediate locality, with particular reference to St Margaret’s Church; Education and the Practice of Preventive Cardiology (by the encouragement of healthy lifestyle and exercise). If you received a grant this year and are applying again, the Trustees will require an update on how your project is proceeding. Application forms are available on our website at www.turnerdumbrell.org/grants or can be requested in writing from the Secretary: Mrs Roma Leon, 22 Beacon Road, Ditchling, Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 8UL. Email: [email protected] Completed applications should be sent to the Secretary by email, no later than 30th April 2015. Ditchling Film Society On Thursday, 5 March 2015 we shall be showing I Wish which is a complex, delicate drama about Koichi, a twelve year old boy who has been separated from his brother, Ryu, as a result of his parents’ divorce. The mother, Nozomi, has returned to live with her parents and taken a demeaning supermarket job in her hometown. She has also taken withdrawn, thoughtful Koichi with her. Meanwhile, the father, Kenji, has stayed in Osaka, where he was pursuing the laid back, slacker lifestyle that so infuriated his wife, failing to hold down day jobs whilst in the evenings trying to be a guitarist in a band. Kenji has taken the easygoing and smiley Ryu to live with him. Initially this was a temporary arrangement but as time progressed, it appeared to be hardening into permanence which spurred Koichi into hatching a plan. Having heard that the 2 newly built bullet train lines created a supernatural energy at the point where the trains whooshed past each other, if the boys contrived to skive off school and make a wish at this focal point, their happiness could be restored. Played by real-life brothers who give terrifically relaxed and natural performances, this is a 25 very genuine and deeply satisfying film about two youngsters living through their parents’ painful separation. Director: Hirokazu Koreeda 2011. 128 mins. PG Cert. On Thursday, 2 April 2015 our film will be Tracks set in the Australian outback about Robyn Davidson, a 27 year old woman who decides to walk 1,700 miles west from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean accompanied only by 4 camels and her dog. The film charts her adventures en route and the varied people she meets, including Mr Eddy, an Aboriginal man, who imparts some invaluable local wisdom to her. A photographer commissioned by National Geographic magazine takes pictures of her along the way and leaves canisters of drinking water along the driest section of her route. Romance threatens for a while but is outmanoeuvred. This beautiful film transforms the desert into an amazing blaze of texture and colour and as Robyn’s journey progresses, she almost seems to blend with the landscape around her. Director: John Curran English 2014 113 mins 12 Cert. The films will be shown in Ditchling Village Hall. Our films start at 8.00pm. Doors open at 7.30 pm. Free coffee and biscuits beforehand and wine can be purchased by the glass. There is ample free parking behind the hall. Guests and temporary members are welcome for the sum of £5.00 payable at the door. Rowena Cager and Melanie Samuel Annual Spring Bulb Show Saturday 14th March, 2pm – 4pm. Ditchling Village Hall After an extremely wet winter we are looking forward to seeing you at our first Show of the year whether as a visitor or exhibitor, a warm welcome will await you, your support is very important to us. This Show displays the beauty of the spring bulbs and the Hall will be filled with their scent. Flower arranging classes include Simplicity: Springtime in Paris: a Television Show. There is also a class for snapshot photography; the theme for this Show is “Cyclists”. Children's classes include “Best home grown Tete-a-Tete narcissus” and “Garden in an eggshell”; there are two classes for each, 6 years and under and 7 to 11 years. There are also classes for crafts and cooking. Our President Peter Eastwood will also be on hand to offer advice if required. When you have viewed the exhibits why not sample our refreshments (tea and homemade cake for £1.50.) There is also Muriel’s famous raffle - tickets £1 each. Entrance is 50p for non members, children free. New members are always welcome; if you would like to join please phone our Membership Secretary on 01273 844218, individual membership is £3, family £5. Mary Holman, Hon Secretary (01273 845167) 26 The Ladykillers by Graham Linehan (13th to 16th May) I'm pleased to say that the audition held in January was a great success and we have now fully cast our spring production with the cast busy learning their lines and moves and backstage beavering away, as they always do, to ensure that everything is just right. Some of you may not be familiar with the name Graham Linehan but may have seen some of his work on the television, such as 'Father Ted' & 'The IT Crowd' (both BAFTA award winning comedies). In November 2011 his stage adaptation of this Ealing comedy debuted at the Liverpool Playhouse before moving to the Gielgud Theatre, London, where it broke box-office records and received rave reviews. For those of you who remember the film this is a highly successful reworking of the original with a freshness and slightly up-dated feel without ever compromising its original charm and atmosphere. With this production we are pleased to welcome both some new faces to the Players as well as some more familiar ones too. Tickets for the production go on sale at Clifford Dann, High Street, Ditchling (Tel No: 01273 843344) from the 20th April. We look forward to seeing you at one of the performances. David Tettersell, Ditchling Players Newick & District Decorative and Fine Art Society Plumpton Village Hall, 2.15pm, Tuesday March 10th History of Art in 12 Masterpieces by Aliki Braine So which masterpieces will Aliki chose? Alike is well qualified to tell us having studied at the Ruskin School of Fine Art Oxford, the Slade and the Courtauld Institute London. So where will she start? Perhaps she may begin with one of the wonderful cave paintings at Lascaux and then continue with examples from Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome. Followed presumably by one of the superb Italian religious paintings of the 15th Century, and then definitely Rembrandt, the Mona Lisa and Michelangelo, they must always be included. Next the Impressionists, surely they should get a look in . . but where after that? Edvard Munch? Sutherland? Or possibly end with Tracey Emin and her unmade bed? Or perhaps not! To find out why not come and join us? Visitors are always most welcome and the cost is £7 on the door with, as always tea and biscuits afterwards, and a chance to talk to the speaker. If you require any further information please ring Marjorie Blunden on 01825 723250. Annette Shelford 27 The Plaegan Piano Trio Friday 13 March 2015, 12.30 – 1.15 pm Brighton Unitarian Church, New Road, Brighton Helen Sills Violin Michael Nebe Cello Alan Brown Piano The Plaegan Trio returns with an exciting programme in which Haydn’s third Trio in C major (Hob XV:27) is contrasted with Mendelssohn’s Trio in C minor (Op. 66). Sussex Chorus French Sacred Music Saturday 21 March 2015, 7:30 pm, All Saints Church, Hove Duruflé Requiem, Dupré Cortège et Litanie (Organ), Widor Toccata from Symphony No. 5, op.42 no 1 (Organ), Gounod Messe Solennelle de Sainte Cécile Artists will be Michelle Jarman – soprano; Tabitha Reynolds - mezzo-soprano; Paul Smy – tenor; Douglas Rice-Bowen – baritone; Adrian Bawtree – organ and Alan Vincent - conductor Tickets: £15, concessions £12, students and children under 16 £5 available from the Dome Box Office 01273 709709 or www.wegottickets.com/sussexchorus. Brighton Festival Chorus Bach St John Passion Semi-staged with orchestra Good Friday 3 Apr, 3pm, Tickets £5 - £25, Concert Hall, Brighton Dome James Morgan conducts the 120-strong choir with orchestra in what promises to be a moving and dramatic semi-staged production of Bach’s masterpiece. Bach’s powerfully meditative interpretation of the Gospel of St John is a work of startling immediacy yet subtle nuance, recreating the psychological and emotional conflict of Christ’s final days before his public trial and crucifixion. Bach’s dramatic vision is brought vividly to life in this intimate Proms-style performance, which takes the singers in and amongst the audience. For tickets contact 01273 709709 / brightondome.org. 28 Nature Notes As March arrives we may be encouraged by the longer days that winter is behind us. This may well not be the case for this is a period of uncertain length and is known in the countryside as “the Hungry Gap”. Creatures that have survived the cold weather up to that point probably have low reserves of fat and bodyweight so a prolonged shortage of food is the last thing birds or small mammals need at this time. It is essential to maintain any regular feeding until well into spring. In addition to this, a safe roosting area is necessary. At dusk most birds just seem to melt away to spend the night in cavities or more likely in evergreen foliage. This is where Ivy is so valuable in winter when little else has a covering of thick leaves for this protection. It is perfectly natural that late cold spells add to the mortality of the population of birds and when this happens, those that do survive, are the strongest and hardiest and should pass these qualities on to their descendants. They will also command larger territories from which they will secure a food supply for their nestlings, rear larger broods and with less competition more will survive to maturity. With most species an optimum population is restored in a couple of years. There was a report on the News this morning that there is an increase in Barn Owl numbers. Good, this is to be celebrated and always a treat to see, but surely hardly news when it was well known that last year was a bumper year for rodents on which they feed and many reared large and even second broods. Conversely in a few years when the rodent population reaches the low point, numbers of all birds of prey that rely on them for food will also dwindle. Then we will be expected to wring our hands and say what a wicked world we live in! This sort of undulation in population of a predator species responding to abundance or scarcity of the prey on which they rely is well known to most of us who have an interest in the world around us. By the middle of the month Chiffchaffs will be in song in the woods around. Their numbers have increased over the past years to about double they were more than twenty years ago. Theirs is an easily recognised song as they rather monotonously repeat their mane. Many more now spend the winter here and could have bred in more northern regions and come here because it is warmer. Indeed a few of them show characteristics of the race found in Siberia which is much whiter. At the end of the month there will be reports of the first Sand Martins and, perhaps, Swallows arriving. These are usually to be found flying up river valleys or over lakes and reservoirs and I know one doesn’t make a summer but it is a good sign of the progression of the year. One of my favourite signs that spring has arrived is when we see the first Orange-tip butterflies patrolling their 29 territories along damp areas of woods or roadsides where the plant food, Lady’s Smock, on which their eggs are laid and upon which the caterpillars feed. The best time of year is approaching!! Reg Lanaway The Beacon in the Past Below are excerpts from a previous issue of the Ditchling Beacon. 40 years ago From the Vicar (Tony Way) Unity Service: I am sure that all who attended the combined service at the United Reformed Church in Hassocks in January must have been impressed by the attendance (I am told there were at least 250 present) and the service itself. Clock Repair Fund Appeal: At the time of writing (12th Feb) the Fund stands at about £130 which is well on the way towards the £180 needed. This is the full and revised estimate of what it will cost to put the clock in full working order. I am very grateful indeed to all who have subscribed, and particularly the Council of the Village Association who have voted £50 out of Association Funds. Parish Fund Raising: The P.C.C. has set up [a new sub-committee] to organise functions to help increase our parish income. … I am very grateful to them for taking on this task and for the excellent ideas that they have come up with already. I am sure that they would welcome any further suggestions, especially from people who are prepared to help carry their own ideas into action. I know there will be some who will regret the necessity for this kind of money raising, but I am afraid that inflation has now made it essential. If we are to keep up our present commitments and build up some kind of reserve for the future we must increase our current income. One very large item which we know we will have to face before very long is the reshingling of the spire. Let us hope that we shall be eligible for some help from the newly set up government fund for the repair of places of worship; although £1m, whilst sounding a very large sum, will probably not go far as the buildings come within the scope of the scheme. Holy Week and Easter: I find myself trying to find words to express the same message every year at this time. It is simply this; if we wish to know the fullness of Easter joy we can only expect to do so by entering as fully as possible into the meaning of Good Friday. Geoffrey Fisher in an overseas broadcast at Easter 1951 said this, “No one saw the Risen Christ or can see Him now, unless he sees too the Crucified Christ – and not only Christ enduring the physical suffering of the Cross, but why and how he came to endure it.” 30 31 DITCHLING POST OFFICE Newsagents & Stationers 1 Lewes Road, Ditchling Tel: 01273 842736 Confectionery Newspapers Tobacco Ice cream Postcards Greetings cards Stationery Maps Parking vouchers Gifts 32 If you would like to contribute to our magazine on church and village community matters, or receive further copies, please get in touch with: Graham Sharpless, 23 North Court, Hassocks, BN6 8JS Tel: 01273 845368 E-mail: [email protected] For more information see www.BeaconParishes.org/beacon Copy deadline for the April 2015 edition is Friday 20th March Contributions should, where possible, be sent by email to the email address above either in the body of the email or as a Microsoft Word file. For events please ensure that all necessary details are included, such as title, venue, date, time, ticket prices and availability. Printed by DPS Ltd, Burgess Hill
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