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Village Hall News February 2023

Our annual newsletter is published to coincide with Village Halls Week (January 23th -29th) –  a national campaign by Action with Communities in Rural England highlighting the  contribution that England’s 10,000+ village halls make to rural communities. This year’s focus is on the way that village halls can provide warm, welcoming and inclusive spaces – something that Dallington Old School Village Hall aims to do every week with the community Library Café as well as our other activities. You can view the newsletter here  Old School News January 2023 PDF FINAL to find out more about how the hall is run, what we can offer and how local residents can support this community space.

In particular, you are  warmly invited to the forthcoming Annual General Meeting on 15th February at 7.00 to hear what’s been going on and let us know what else you’d like to see happening at the hall.

Other events in February:

  • Saturday 4th February Library Cafe 10-12noon
    (our monthly Saturday morning opening)
  • Wednesday 15th  Village Hall AGM All welcome
  • Friday 10th 2.30- 4.30 Beetle Drive

And our regular weekly activities:

  • Monday 6th February (and every Monday)
    • Art Club 10-12
    • Library Café 2-4pm
  • Thursday  9th and 23rd Beginners Yoga 8-9pm  (note half term break)
  • Friday 10th and 24th  Chair Yoga  11am -12 noon (note half term break)
    For more details of yoga classes and to book a place, please visit https://www.living-yoga.co.uk/classes

To view all forthcoming activities or to book the hall for your own event, please go to our Main Hall Bookings Page  and  to book our newly refurbished Billiard Room, go to the Billiard Room page

St Giles Services February 2023 (and Christmas report)

Church services in February

  • Sunday 5th         11am             Service of The Word
  • Sunday 12th       6.30pm         Evensong
  • Sunday 19th      11am.              Holy Communion
  • Sunday 26th    9.30am           Holy Communion

Christmas Report

Christmas was a busy and happy time for all involved in the church. It started with our festival of Christmas Trees, a project devised and driven by Wendy Miers. As we have on our doorsteps an ancient woodland, Wendy named the exhibition, ‘The Magic of Dallington Forest’. The idea was that those in the village who cared to join in would decorate a tree in whichever way they chose and the enthusiastic response delighted Wendy and all those fortunate to enjoy the display. So on Friday, December 16th the church was a hive of industry and before our eyes a forest of trees appeared, decorated with diverse themes and all lit up with twinkling lights.
The next day, December 17th, there was a coffee morning and an opportunity for visitors to come and enjoy the sight.
The final glory was a tall and beautiful tree very kindly given to the church by Jon Avery.
Now the scene was set for the Carol Service on December 18th. This as always took the form of the old, old story being told in the reading of Nine Lessons and carols. One could never tire of hearing these words.
Afterwards wine and mince pies and much looking at the trees.
December 24th, and in the wind and pouring rain, we made our way to the church to celebrate Midnight Mass. The service was led by the Rector, the Reverend Marc Lloyd, to whom we give grateful thanks for starting a busy Christmas  marathon with us.
On the first of January we had the pleasure of welcoming the Reverend Tony Cannon. We thanked him for leading a service of Holy Communion to start our year.
Lastly, and to wind up our Christmas celebrations, on January 6th Marc held a short service for Epiphany. Coffee and cakes beforehand and decorations down afterwards, but in a brief interlude Marc read the wonderful story by T.S. Eliot of ‘The journey of The Magi’ and now everyone had arrived in Bethlehem.

posted on behalf of Bobbie Steel

Agenda for DPC Meeting on 24.01.23

AGENDA FOR THE DALLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 24th JANUARY 2023

18th January 2023

Parish Council Members are summoned to a Council Meeting of Dallington Parish Council, to be held on 24th January 2023, at 7.30pm in Dallington Village Hall.
Members of the press and public are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Irene Marchant – Parish Clerk/RFO

St. Giles, Woods Corner, Dallington, East Sussex TN21 9LA
01424 838414/07711224150 – [email protected]

1. Disclosure of interests

To receive any disclosures by Members of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any such interest and whether the Member regards the interest as a disclosable pecuniary interest under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

2. Dispensations

3. Apologies for absence

4. Accuracy of the minutes of the previous meeting(s)

5. Open Forum

5.1 County Council report (ESCC) – Councillor E. Kirby-Green

5.2 District Council report (RDC) – Councillor G. Curtis

5.3 Chair’s report (DPC) – Councillor W. Miers

5.4 Public Question Time – to receive any questions/concerns from members of the public on matters on this agenda.

6. Dallington Recreation Ground

To consider any matters relating to the DRG.

7. Commemorative seating

The 2 and 3 seater benches have been delivered and are now safely stored. To complete the plaques and arrange installation.

8. Coronation May 2023

To discuss events – the Village Hall Committee are planning a street party for the whole Village and would welcome DPC’s support.

9. Parish Council elections May 2023

Parish Council elections will be held in Rother in May 2023. Just to be aware.

10. Planning

10.1 Planning applications for consideration

  • RR/2022/2584/O – Dallington School, The Street

Certificate of Lawfulness for a proposed PE store building adjacent to and connected to existing school hall.

Click on this link to see full details on the RDC planning website

  • RR/2022/2944/P – Prospect House, Woods Corner

Demolition of existing Prospect House and construction of 2no. 4B dwellings with associated parking and landscaping.

Click on this link to see full details on the RDC planning website

  • RR/2022/3011/P – Hollyhock Cottage, Battle Road

Alterations and replacement of rear extension with extended extension.

Click on this link to see full details on the RDC planning website

  • RR/2022/3012/L – Hollyhock Cottage, Battle Road

Listed building consent for above application.

Click on this link to see full details on the RDC planning website

10.2 Any other planning matters for discussion.

11. Enforcement

11.1 No Dallington items on RDC’s most recent enforcement list.

11.2 Any other enforcement matters for discussion.

12. Highways/Rights of Way

The pothole/flooding problems continue. ESCC Highways have around 2,000 reported potholes, approximately 1,200 more than they would normally expect during the Winter.

13. Finance

13.1 Bank balances at 31.12.22

  • DPC deposit account – £12, 382.51
  • DPC current account – £4,160.23
  • DRG current account – £359.54

13.2 To approve the following payments

  • Clerk, salary/HO (Dec22/Jan23) – £831.00
  • Hall hire 2022 – £160.00
  • DRG top-up 0 £500.00
  • * Sloane & Sons (2-seater bench) – £249.00
  • * Amazon (cups for solstice event) – £20.96
  • * Rustington Windows (pavilion doors) – £776.00

* Already paid

13.3 To approve the 3rd quarter accounts at 31.12.22 as presented by the Clerk.

14. Dates of next meetings

21.02.23 – planning meeting (provisional)

28.03.23 – DRG meeting (starts 7.00pm)

28.03.23 – full council meeting

New planning applications for Dallington

These applications will be on the agenda at the DPC Full Council Meeting on 24.01.23

RR/2022/3011/P – Hollyhock Cottage, Battle Road
Alterations and replacement of rear extension with extended extension.
Click on this link to see full details on the RDC planning website

RR/2022/3012/L – Hollyhock Cottage, Battle Road
Listed building consent for above application.
Click on this link to see full details on the RDC planning website

RR/2022/2944/P – Prospect House, Woods Corner
Demolition of existing Prospect House and construction of 2 No. dwellings with associated parking and landscaping.
Click on this link to see full details on the RDC planning website

RR/2022/2584/O – Dallington School, The Street
Certificate of Lawfulness for a proposed PE store building adjacent to and connected to existing school hall.
Click on this link to see full details on the RDC planning website

Events in Dallington over the next few days

(Posted on behalf of Jane Messer)

Are you feeling at a loose end after the excitement of Christmas and New Year’s Eve? Grey skies getting you down? All the more reason to come and join your fellow villagers for this week’s events (and if you know someone who’s on their own or doesn’t see online alerts, do encourage them to come along too.)  There will be plenty more going on in Dallington in 2023 so keep an eye out for future announcements.

  • On Friday 6th January: 
    It’s your last chance to see our lovely Christmas tree festival in St Giles Church. Join us for coffee and home made cake or other refreshments from 10am, followed by a short service celebrating Epiphany – the visit of the wise men to Jesus. (And afterwards, any volunteers to help dismantle the Christmas decorations in the church would be gratefully received).

Please note that the date given in the parish magazine and Messenger (Thursday 5th January) is incorrect. Our apologies if this causes you a diary clash but we hope to see you on Friday.

  • On Saturday 7th January: 
    Library Café from 10am to 12 noon in the Old School Village Hall. Do bring any books that you no longer wish to keep and browse our bookshelves for replacements, or just have a chat with neighbours over tea, coffee and homemade cake or other refreshments.

It’s the 150th anniversary this month of the opening of the hall extension, now the Billiard Room, so you can also  take part in a free competition to see how many balls you can pot in 10 minutes (no previous experience needed!)

  • Sunday 9th January:
    6.30pm Evensong in St Giles Church
  • Monday 11th January (and every Monday)
    Art Club 10-12, Old School Village Hall
    Library Café 2-4pm, Old School Village Hall

Book now for the Wild About Dark Skies Festival February 2023

(Posted on behalf of Doug Edworthy) December 2022

Poster showing two people pointing up at night sky. Text in blog postBookings are now open for the Wild About Dark Skies Festival

Wild About Dark Skies Festival events – 18 – 26 February 2023 – across the High Weald are free to attend. These include planetarium shows, astronomy demonstrations, special guest speakers, dark skies walks, light pollution workshops, dark skies storytelling for children, and much more. But to make sure we can accommodate you all, it is important you book in advance to secure your place, for you and your family.

So, check out the Wild About Dark Skies events in your local area and book your place on Eventbrite – see the High Weald AONB website (www.highweald.org/wildaboutdarkskies)

If you would like to print off and display this newsletter  please download via this link wild_about_dark_skies_festival#2

Wild About Dark Skies Festival 2023 – in association with High Weald AONB and kindly supported by Sussex Lund.

The Wild About Dark Skies Festival is a collaboration between local Wild About groups in Battle, Burwash, Crowhurst, Ticehurst and Wadhurst; East Sussex and Wadhurst Astronomical Societies; High Weald AONB Partnership; International Dark Skies and Dark Sky Lighting. It is kindly supported by Sussex Lund.

The Beacon is loaded….

Snowy field showing beacon in background The Beacon is loaded and rain protected ready for next Wednesday’s Winter Solstice event.

This will take place at the Dallington Recreation Ground  (Sugar Loaf Field) on the Battle Road, 21st December 7.00 onwards, mulled wine and food before we light the beacon (full details in our earlier post).

Thanks to Nick Harding for the loading and the photos . Hope to see many of you there.