Book Club Review – November

I’ve always believed in inherited pain’

This month our chosen book is The island of Missing Trees by the Turkish writer Elif Shafak, shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2022. It is about the Cypriot civil war and how the trauma of such a war imperils future generations as well as uprooting ordinary lives. It is also a Romeo and Juliet story of the passionate love affair between Kostas, a Greek Cypriot and Defne a Turkish Cypriot and it centres on the story how their daughter Ada comes to terms with the past she has never known. Continue reading “Book Club Review – November”

St. Mark’s Church News – November

Parish Church of St Mark the Evangelist

So, what has been happening in and around St. Mark’s?Well, we had a lovely Harvest Service on 25th September. We sang the old favourite Harvest Hymns and felt that everything was ‘safely gathered in’. The school had also had their Harvest Service, so we had all their produce displayed in the Church. Nowadays the gifts that are given tend to be the packet and tinned variety, rather than fresh produce, as it all gets taken to the Food Bank for distribution, where it is very gratefully received.
The flower ladies had done their usual excellent job of decorating the Church, so that was a lovely welcome, and we thank them for their faithfulness in doing the flowers.
There was also a beautiful exhibition of Harvest pictures by the school children displayed in the Nave of the church.
Continue reading “St. Mark’s Church News – November”

‘An Evening With Pete the Pond – The importance of Wildlife Ponds in our Environment’

A ‘Supper Talk’ not to be missed!!!!
‘An Evening With Pete the Pond – The importance of Wildlife Ponds in our Environment’
Presented By the Hadlow Down Horticultural Society.
October 12th. in the Village Hall
‘Pete the Pond is a local legend who has worked tirelessly for many years to help sustain and restore many of our local aquatic ecosystems, especially ponds, which are critical to the health of local nature and wildlife. In the process he has built up a reference collection of aquatic plants in his back garden which is unique in its range and diversity and is now an immensely valuable asset in maintaining local biodiversity.’
With his wooden leg and often seen with a parrot on his shoulder Pete has also understandably been called ‘Pete the Pirate’
Pete will possibly be bringing some of his pondy friends with him.
There are still some tickets left for what will be a memorable evening with the usually excellent meal and an amazing speaker.
If you would like to attend the supper please contact Kathy by phone 01825 830616 or by email (kathy.cracknell48@gmail.com) to order your tickets. They are £8.00 per person and £12.00 for a non member.
Wine will be available and of course our lovely raffle, plus we might also have a small plant stall, so please bring cash with you.

Table Top Sale Cancelled

The Table Top Sale, part of the ongoing fundraising efforts for the New Village Hall and scheduled to be held in the Village Hall tomorrow Sunday July 3rd. has been cancelled.

A Taste of Sport

A Taste of Sport
Thanks to a grant (kindly provided by The Sussex Community Foundation), Wings to Fly are hosting an exciting multi-sport event on Friday 17th June at the Hadlow Down playing field and we would love it if you could join us.

During the afternoon, the children of St Mark’s will be taking part in a range of exciting sports. This will include Rugby, Taekwon-do, Stoolball and Cricket.
Gates will open to the Hadlow Down community at 3pm and the sports will run until 4pm. ‘The Friends of St Marks’ will be running a refreshments stall and a BBQ from 3pm.
For safeguarding reasons, please note that there will be NO parking at the playing field and limited parking around the school.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Move Some Chairs and Make Someone’s Day!

The Hadlow Down community has a long established reputation for friendliness and geniality.  Although there are always opportunities to  be involved in different ways with various village projects and activities a current opportunity is available to join the group of great people who believe that being a real ‘villager’ is more than just having an address in the area and want to be a part of the village proper by just giving a small amount of time each week to be involved in the reputation.
The TN22 Club is a charitable organisation providing meals and entertainment for older members of the community on Wednesdays in the Village Hall.  An able-bodied person (or persons) is needed to help set out the chairs and tables which usually takes less than one hour in the mornings at 8.30 am. and to put them away again at 2pm or 4pm (alternating weeks) that takes about 30 minutes.
It’s a great way of meeting others who give something to the village of which they are part.   Just turn up at 8.30 am on a Wednesday to get involved