Willingdon, Wannock and Jevington

ASTRONOMY: Eastbourne Astronomical Society will be meeting from 7.30pm to 10pm tomorrow, Saturday, at Willingdon Memorial Hall. Professor Nick Kanas will be giving a talk entitled Celestial Cartography From its Beginning to Modern Times.

BRITISH QUEEN: Rockaround will be providing the entertainment at the British Queen at 8.30pm tomorrow, Saturday. There will also be live music at the Wheatsheaf from 8.30pm.

EU DEBATE: Major EU campaigners will be providing speakers to discuss the pros and cons of the EU Exit vote. Come with an open mind to hear both sides of the argument. The debate will take place from 8pm at the Wheatsheaf on Monday.

FUNDRAISING: The Messy Church get-together which take place once a month in St Mary’s Church Hall for young children and their carers are proving to be very popular. It has now been decided to have an evening of fun and good food at 7pm on Saturday April 23 in the church hall. Details are still to be worked out but it should certainly be worth the ticket price of £8. Money raised will be used to purchase equipment for Messy Church. Please contact Sue Freeman on 07759 932948 or Zoe Harris on 07933 371337 for tickets or for further information. The next Messy Church is tomorrow, Saturday, from 3pm to 5.30pm.

POLEGATE/WILLINGDON WINDMILL: Will be opening for the new season from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday. Volunteer guides and cashiers are still urgently needed. Training will be given. Please contact Lawrence or Patricia Stevens on 01323 734496 for further information.

CRAFT HOBBIES AND ACTIVITIES: Willingdon and Jevington Parish Council will be holding a craft, hobbies and activities day from 10am to 4pm on Saturday April 9 at Wannock Village Hall in Jevington Road. This is a new venture, and to make it a success, the parish council would like people in the community with a craft, hobby or activity, to book a table and promote what they do. There is no entry fee and if you can make things, you are free to sell them. To book a table please contact Nicola on 01323 489603.

TRIANGLE LACE CLUB: Will be meeting at Trinity Church Hall from 10am to 2pm on Saturday April 9. This is an active friendly club promoting all forms of bobbin lace. All lace makers of any age are welcome. There is a trade stand with lace supplies and equipment and guidance on the art of lace making can be given. The cost including refreshments, raffle and insurance is £5. For further information, please contact Rowena Gausden on 01323 484165.

JUMBLE SALE: A jumble sale will be held from 10am to noon on Saturday April 16 at St Wilfrid’s Church. It is in aid of Networx Eastbourne and St Wilfrid’s Church. Tea/coffee and home-made cakes will be available. Admission is 20p.

A MUSIC RECITAL: Will take place at 7.30pm on Monday April 18 at St Mary’s Church. Directed by Michael Stumbles, it will include choral items with guest singers and instrumentalists including Susan Lahache (coloratura soprano), Mike Barber (bass/baritone), Gerry Scotford (clarinet) and Valerie Stumbles (piano) and recorders. There will also be various items from the Gibbs String Trio. There is no admission charge. A retiring collection will be made for Children with Cancer.

THE 3 MMM’s: (Mrs, Miss and Ms) met for their AGM on Wednesday March 23. A representative from St Wilfrid’s Hospice was the guest speaker and she gave a very interesting and informative talk about the care given by dedicated staff for those nearing the end of their life. The building itself is light and airy; situated near Sainsbury’s in Hampden Park and the David Lloyd Centre, it still gives the impression of being ‘somewhere in the country’ with each patient having a view of the gardens and the flora and fauna from their own individual room. Visitors are welcome and there is a lovely restaurant where they can enjoy a light meal and perhaps listen to some music and chat to other visitors who may have the same concerns. And for those with a terminal illness who prefer to spend their last days at home, this can also be arranged with nurses to assist the family in the practical help needed. Fundraising activities are vital and these may range from small coffee mornings for a few friends, to large organised sponsored events. The ‘Open Gardens’ are always very popular and provide a valuable source of income. The programme for this year is already available with the first Open Garden planned for Saturday April 23 at Carters Corner Farm in Cowbeach. Several of the open gardens are in the Willingdon area, so do make a note in your diary of the one being held on Sunday June 12 at 2a Downs Road Willingdon and also the one at Flint House 14 Church Street Willingdon. For more information, or if you would like to be a volunteer at St Wilfrid’s, please ring 01323 434200 or visit www.stwhospice.org.

The 3 MMM’s are hoping to have a guided tour of the hospice possibly later in the year or early next year. In the meantime, their next meeting will be at St Mary’s Church Hall Willingdon on Wednesday April 13 at 8pm, although it’s advisable to get there a bit earlier. It will be a themed evening to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. Members are encouraged to wear red, white and blue. Do also take a bottle. There will be some snacks provided and some entertainment.

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