Playden

Abingworth, New England Lane

Bank Holiday Monday and a most glorious Ssring day. Those pundits who know about these things had predicted that when it eventually turned warmer, there would be an explosion of colour all around us, but that it would be short -ived. Enjoy the explosion! There are still daffodils, tulips, primroses, violets, hedge blossom, cherry trees, wall flowers, honesty, and my beautiful, pink, perfumed rose Zephirine Drouhine is in full flower. All worth waiting for.

We very much hope that it will stay fine for The Playden Weekend next Saturday and Sunday, when we hope to receive a visit from many, many friends to the Arts and Crafts Exhibition in Playden Church. There will be beautiful things to look at and perhaps purchase, and refreshments are available.

*The Exhibition is open from 10.30 to 5pm on Saturday and 12.30pm to 4pm on Sunday. All works are by local people, and the wealth of talent is amazing.

Entrance is free but donations are very welcome, because we have to face the re-shingling of the spire. It can be seen from far across Romney Marsh and out to sea as well.

On the Saturday evening we are looking forward to welcoming Ken Roberts who will entertain us with a programme of music entitled Around The World In 80 Minutes. If you still haven’t got your ticket, please phone me on 01797 22 26 15 and I’ll see what I can do for you. Tickets are £10 to include a glass of wine and canapés.

The AGM of the Friends of Playden Church will be at 10.30am on Saturday May 25 at 10.30 am in church. We have decided not to have a speaker, but to have coffee and chat after the meeting.

*Children in Year 6 at Playden School will be taking their SATs during next week, along with all other Primary schools. These test the children in reading, grammar, spelling and punctuation, and maths.

Phil the Bag will be collecting his sacks on Tuesday May 14. If you have any unwanted textiles please bring them into school and store them in the bike shed in the staff car park.

Some time ago the school won a competition to name a gritter. Ready Salted was the winning name. As a result, a gritter will be visiting the school on May 21. Better late than never!

The school runs a breakfast club daily. It is a flexible arrangement. Just let the office know if you would like your child to attend. The cost is £2.50 per day.

Playden WI will meet on Monday May 13 at 2pm. This meeting is Resolutions and Social Time.

The Mobile Library will be at Poppyfield om Monday from 11.30am to 11.50am.

The Playden Floral Group will meet on Monday May 20 at 2.15pm to make an arrangement demonstrated at the April meeting. After that date, the next meeting will be back to normal on Monday 3rd June.

On Wednesday May 15 at 2.30pm at the Ferry Road Health Centre, the Patient’s Participation Group is holding a talk by Larri Hayhurst, RN, on Advance Care Directive. Everyone is welcome to come.

Always willing to help other villages, so here is news of the Beckley Players’ performance of Calendar Girls from Tuesday May 21 to Saturday May 25 at Beckley Village Centre at 7.30 pm. Tickets are £7. To book, call 01797 260 232. Friday and Saturday are already selling well.

The mid-week services continue on Tuesday at 9.30am for Morning prayer and 3.30 pm for Evening Prayer in church.

The 11am service for the Sunday after Ascension Day will be Parish Communion led by the Vicar.