Fairlight

But before we get to this week’s Sunday services, there’s the little matter of the Auction of Promises, at the Coastguards Tearoom starting at 7.30 pm. Of course, if you book (pretty quickly now) you can enjoy a meal before the auction begins. There will be lotsa lots, and there’s also a grand raffle on offer, with tickets only a pound a go. All proceeds are in aid of funds for St Andrew’s which, fro the floor upwards, can certainly do with some funds. This lovely, landmark village church is well worth saving!

And if you haven’t spent out after your evening at the auction, the Church’s Autumn Fair in support of Christian Aid is only a fortnight away, as it will be occupying the village hall from 10 am to 12.30 pm on Saturday, October 15. Donations of pre-loved items for which you no longer have house-room would be highly appreciated (though not if they’re electrical, which the organisers are not allowed to offer) Why not have a word with Val Relfe on 272012 if you have some suitable goodies.

Today at MOPPs, and next week, too: Today Friday, September 30, singer Tim Gibson will be along to provide the entertainment, and for lunch today there’s roast pork followed by fruit jelly.

Next Friday, October 7, the members can enjoy a Natural History slide show presented by Felicity Bullock. Also next Friday, there’s Nicola’s Age UK toe-nail cutting service, plus a star prize for the raffle. After all those goings-on, lunch will be gammon with parsley sauce, and then cheesecake.

It’s tonight! Oh, yes it is!!: Auditions for the Pantomime Group’s 2017 offering, which will be Red Riding Hood, are being held in the village hall this very evening, Friday, starting at 7pm. Directing in Fairlight for the first time will be Lucy Mantel, previously a player in the past pantos over several years. There is a read-through planned for Sunday, November 13. If you are unable to attend this evening but would like to be considered for a part, please contact Jennifer Annetts on 812476. The cast will need to be committed and to attend rehearsals regularly when called. The show will run from Thursday 26 to Saturday 28 January, 2017.

The new look Post Office and General Stores: It’s been common knowledge since Graeme and Leonie took over the Post Office and General Stores that changes within the building were imminent, as well as in the appearance of the Post Office section itself, and now we can tell of the time-scale involved. The shop portion will be closed for refurbishment from a week tomorrow, Saturday, October 8 until Tuesday, October 11. That’s four complete days, during which time they will still be selling the important staples of daily newspapers, bread and milk, plus a limited range of cold drinks, from their adjacent building. This will be in operation each day from 7 am to 1 pm only. The refurbishment of the Post Office is on a somewhat larger scale, and this facility will be closed from Friday, October 7 until Saturday, October 15 inclusive. Its closure means there will no National Lottery availability either. You can, of course, buy more than a single week’s tickets in advance so the millions don’t pass you by. The new owners apologise to all their customers for the inconvenience caused during these alterations. In essence, the pain should be slight and the gain worth having. Not too much inconvenience there, then.

The Residents Association Annual Quiz: With quiz evenings at the Cove suspended – possibly permanently; who knows? – quiz fans will be pleased to realise they can get their fix at the Residents Association’s Annual Quiz in the village hall on Saturday, October 15, starting at 7.30 pm. Supper will be provided but, as there is no bar, you are invited to take along your own drinks and glasses. It will only cost you £6 per head, and quiz teams should be no larger than six people each. Tickets are now on sale at the Post Office, and are also available by calling Trevor on 812340.

Fairfest table-top sale: Between the major Fairfest occasions, which occur every other summer, plus the somewhat lesser event in the ‘gap’ years and various other entertainment opportunities, the Fairfest committee can be relied on to set their stall out from time to time on fund-raising efforts. And they have just announced their first fund-raiser in readiness for Fairfest 2018, which will take the form of a table-top sale in the village hall on Saturday, October 22 from 10 am until 1pm. If you’d like to hire a table, a small one will cost you a fiver, or a large one a tenner. You can reserve the table of your choice by calling Issy Horsley on 814196 or by emailing her at [email protected].

The Bowls Club: Last week, before the final game of the season, a glass of wine (each!) was enjoyed in a toast to the club for coming first in the Mermaid League (in which there had been eleven teams participating, not the ten as reported last week)

The President and Chairman, along with their selected teams, had great fun throughout the afternoon, with the President’s side running out winners for the second year in succession. The scores were 100 points to the President and only a sad 56 to the Chairman – so well done to the President, Roy Flatman, and his players.

As expected, now the bowls go away and out come the cards! The first whist drive of the new winter series will be held at the village hall on Friday, October 14, at 6.30 for a 7 pm start.

Notice of the remaining dates will be posted up in the village, and are likely to find their way into Village Voice as the weeks go by!

Tuesday Ladies Club: There are still a few spaces available on the Tuesday Ladies Club’s projected outing to Bluewater on Tuesday, November 1, if anyone is interested in going along for an intensive, or even just a leisurely, shop. The cost for non-members is just ten pounds, while Tuesday Ladies go free. The coach will leave the Circle at 10 am and return from Bluewater between 3 and 3.30 pm. Further details are available from Mary Stewart on 813031.

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