Plumpton

FESTIVE MEETING: The meeting on Monday December 12 gives Plumpton Racecourse the chance to say Merry Christmas to everyone with free mince pies. There will also be a best Christmas jumper competition.

THE ART OF SNOW AND ICE: is the subject of the Newick & District Decorative and Fine Art Society meeting at the village hall on Tuesday December 13 at 2.15pm. Winter particularly, if you lived in the Middle Ages, was a dark and difficult time. Brueghel’s ‘Hunters in the Snow’ the first ever painting of a landscape under snow, showed that winter could be beautiful. The River Thames luckily now does not freeze over but in the 17th Century it was a regular occurrence as wonderful pictures of the annual Frost Fairs will testify. For Turner the weather was always of the utmost importance, rain, tempest, snow and storm he painted magnificent pictures of them all. Please come to the Lecture and find out more. Sue Jackson the lecturer was originally in art and design but now works for the National Trust, U3A and the City Literary Institute. She is also a qualified blue badge London guide. The lecture will be as usual accompanied by superb digital illustration.

Visitors are always most welcome, £7 on the door with tea and biscuits afterwards and a chance to talk to the speaker. If you require any further information please contact Marjorie Blunden on 01825 723250.

CHRISTMAS WORKSHOP: The Flower Club will enjoy a Christmas Workshop at the village hall on Tuesday December 13 from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. Take foliage, flowers and accessories to make Christmas door and table decorations and afterwards enjoy a finger buffet. There is no charge but everyone is asked to contribute to the buffet. Visitors are welcome to join members of the Flower Club in this very sociable evening. For further details contact Gill Wells on 01273 890561.

COMMEMORATE 100 YEARS OF CUBS: on Friday December 16 Cubs from all over the country will be renewing their promise at the same time to commemorate 100 years of Cubs.

1st Plumpton Scout Group will be holding a party in the village hall for this occasion. They are also taking this opportunity to celebrate their Group Scout Leader’s recent award for 50 years’ Service to Scouting. All past Cubs/Scouts of the Group are welcome to go along. Please take any photographs or memorabilia you may have with you.

CHRISTMAS WALK: 3½ miles round Plumpton, organised by the Footpath Society takes place Saturday December 17. The walk will start at 2pm at Ashcombe, Plumpton Lane (Map Ref: BN7 3AJ). There will be tea at Ashcombe afterwards, to which non-walkers will be most welcome. For more details call Evelyn Botterill on 01273 890598 or Jean Eagle on 01273 890547.

SUSSEX NATIONAL RACE DAY: at Plumpton Racecourse, takes place on Bank Holiday Monday January 2. Enjoy an exhilarating days racing with the whole family as accompanied under 18’s get in free. Visit https://plumptonracecourse.cloudvenue.co.uk to find out more and buy advance tickets.

FOOTPATH SOCIETY: start the year with the a three mile circular walk along the Arlington’s Lakeside Trail, beside the banks of the reservoir by the Cuckmere River, with the option of pub lunch in Arlington afterwards. Meet members of the Society on Wednesday January 4 for a 10.45am start at Arlington Reservoir car park (fee payable) or the lay-by opposite (which is free) Map Ref: 528 074. For more details call the walk leaders Judy and John Lawrenson on 01273 472277 or 07815521068.

JUMBLE SALES: for those who regularly support the sales in the village you will be pleased to know that there will be one early in the New Year. The first sale in 2017 is in aid of the Bowls Club, at the village hall, on Saturday January 7. Please save your jumble and take it to the hall from 9am to midday; as it will be much appreciated by the Bowls Club.

MEDIEVAL GOLD AND ENAMEL WORK: is the subject of the Newick & District Decorative and Fine Art Society meeting at the village hall on Tuesday January 10 at 2.15pm. Enamel as you may well know is made of a coloured glass powder which is used to make glorious designs over gold using very high temperatures. The results are glorious; highly coloured and jewel like and they still hold their beauty hundreds of years later. You will be able to see many examples of the enamel work at this lecture in excellent digital illustrations. The lecturer Jane Angelini runs St James’s Art Tours and specialises in the cultures of the Mediterranean world. She is also a freelance lecturer for Swan Hellenic Cruises. Visitors are always most welcome, £7 on the door with tea and biscuits afterwards and a chance to talk to the speaker. If you require any further information please contact Marjorie Blunden on 01825 723250.

TABLE TOP SALE: in aid of St Peter & St James Hospice takes place, at the village hall, on Saturday February 25. Tables cost £12 booked in advance or £15 on the day (if there are tables available). This is a fantastic opportunity to sell unwanted Christmas presents, homemade produce and items or just things that you don’t want anymore. For a booking form or more details call 01273 891256 or email [email protected].

FESTIVE FAIR: in aid of Peter and St James Hospice raised £2500 on the day and the Plumpton Support Group hope that this sum will rise when everything is sorted. Thanks go to everybody who went to the Fair for their support and for making it such a special day. The School Choir with their “backing singers” and The Rock Choir provided excellent entertainment and thanks go to all of them. Special thanks as already mentioned go to those who attended and also to the stallholders, those who helped on the day, provided cakes and raffle prizes etc. Without all this help and support Plumpton Support Group for St Peter and St James Hospice would not be able to run such successful events and raise much needed funds for our very special local Hospice.

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