Ninfield and Hooe

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STOP PRESS: The Ninfield Beacon Event will now be held on the recreation ground, with marquees being put up, the barbecue on the go, and the bar of the Kings Arms Pub providing your toasting fluid in plastic glasses. Its 7.30pm onwards, and the beacon will be placed on the rec; near the road so it can be seen by everyone, and it will be lit at our confirmed time of 8.30pm. Thursday is the day, the Queen's real birthday, her 90th, and everyone is welcome to come and join us on the rec for this special event. Don't forget, bring your loudest singing voice for the National Anthem. With future events planned for Ninfield, that centre round the Blacksmiths Inn, please rest assured, with confirmation from Enterprise Inns that the pub will be back in action within the next fortnight, under new management, redecorated and raring to go. The first thing will be the Pram Race on Bank Holiday Monday, May 2, and it promises to be a real humdinger this year. So get going on those homemade karts, fancy dress costumes and full speed challenges.

POO: At the Ninfield Parish Council meeting on April 7, one of the agenda items was the resurrection of an old complaint, the unfortunate fouling by dogs throughout the village, despite there being bins to put the waste in. In fact, one dollop had been found festering underneath the appropriate bin, does this denote a weird sense of humour? I have been expressly asked by the chairman of the parish council, keep-going-Kaye, to include this plea in the column this week. Please pick up after your dog. And if you’re walking your dog, with your poo-bags in your pocket and you see someone not doing the decent thing, then hand them a bag. Thank you.

QUIZ NIGHT: Memorial Hall Quiz Night tomorrow, Saturday, doors open at 7pm, for a 7.30pm start. You can still join the fun if you haven’t booked in already, don’t worry, call me on the below numbers or just turn up with a £5 note and you will have a team to join, a lovely ploughman’s supper and a fantastic evening. All proceeds will go to the new oil tank and its relocation, look forward to seeing you there.

OPEN DAY: Ninfield Bowls Club Open Day on Sunday from 2.30pm, at the clubhouse, where the chairman, Vic Lawrence will be very pleased to welcome anyone who fancies having a go at the traditional game. Please wear trainers, or very flat shoes, as the turf is hallowed. New members are actively sought and anyone who goes to the open day will be treated to the most scrummy afternoon tea.

HOOE PARISH COUNCIL: Will meet on Monday at the village hall from 7.30pm and as always, everyone is encouraged to attend. There are discussions ongoing on many different subjects, but especially the matter of excessive large vehicles travelling through Hooe’s country roads. Ninfield has agreed to support Hooe with its petitions and requests for more monitoring of the traffic and residents are requested to get in touch with the clerk, Sally Durman, for more details of how you can help. Please call her on 893007 or email hooepc2’btinternet.com.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: Many thanks to Rose for details of the meeting on Monday in the Memorial Hall at 7.30pm and there will be a speaker for the evening. A welcome return for Harry Townsend, who will relay all the fun and pain of pushing a wheelbarrow for 800 miles on his trip up New Zealand. Afterwards there will be refreshments and a raffle. This will be the last meeting until the autumn. On the following Saturday, St Georges’ Day, April 23, there will be a plant sale and coffee morning, again in the hall, with a fantastic range of plants at reasonable prices and delicious homemade cakes. Plant donations from 8.30am please and the doors are open from 9am to 11am only. Rose would also like to add the following: Apologies to members who have been waiting to see the pictures and report from the Spring Show on Easter Saturday. All the information was sent to the Observer the day after the show, but has yet to appear. Thanks Rose, I do hope that somewhere within this week’s copy is your well deserved coverage of the fabulous display on March 26.

LOCAL HISTORY: Ninfield Local History Group are having their AGM and a Quiz on Thursday, 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall, Church Lane. Entry is £1 for members and £3 for non-members. Refreshments will be included. If you’d like more information on all the forthcoming events, please call Rod Ffoulkes on 893635.