Dallington Commemorates 100th Anniversary of the Armistice

(Posted on behalf of David Wilson)

At 7pm on November 11th, Dallington villagers gathered at the Sugar Loaf Field for the lighting of the beacon to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended the Great War.

(Earlier in the day, a Service of Remembrance had been held at St Giles Church, with children placing crosses for each of the Dallington villagers who had died in the war.)

It was a mild dry night with little cloud and a setting crescent moon, allowing the stars and constellations to be seen just as they would have been on the 11th November 1918.

We stood around our beacon which soon gave a good display of flames and sparks and we reflected on the sacrifices of so many men and women both military and civilian on all sides during that conflict.

Other beacons and bonfires could be seen in the distance including Punnett’s Town, Burwash and Firle Beacon. Aircraft overhead would have seen many more as this was a national display of commemoration.

It was supposed to be a war to end all war but sadly this was not to be.

Hopefully on November 11th 2118 when Dallington villagers gather round the now ancient beacon to commemorate the 200th anniversary of World War 1 armistice, they will be living in a peaceful world where all differences are resolved by discussion and compromise; and they will look back with incredulity on the folly of our times!

Dallington events for December 2018

(Posted on behalf of Bobbie Steel)

Church services in December

  • Sunday 2nd     11am.        Service of The Word
  • Sunday 9th      6.30pm.   Evensong
  • Sunday 16th    11am.        Holy Communion
  • Sunday 23rd    6.30pm    Service of Nine Lessons and Carols Followed by mulled wine and mince-pies
  • Monday 24th   11.30pm. Congregation-led time of readings and Carols.
  • Sunday 30th     11am.      Service of The Word

Gift Day On Saturday, December 1st there will be a Gift Day and lunch in the church. Stalls and a raffle from 11am till noon, followed by lunch, 12-2pm.

Flower Club A note from Angela:
The December meeting will be on Thursday 6th at 2pm in The Old School. Pam asks us to make something that we would use in our homes for Christmas. Due to dwindling numbers this may be our last class.

The WI Christmas lunch will be on Thursday,  December 20th at 12.30pm in the Old School Village Hall.

Art Club Every Monday morning 10am-12 in the Old School Village Hall. All welcome

Library Cafe Every Monday afternoon 2-4pm in the Old School Village Hall. Come for a chat, a cup of tea and to borrow or buy books and DVDs. This month the Saturday morning opening of the cafe will be on the second Saturday ie 8th December to avoid a clash with the Gift Day in St Giles the week before. We hope to include a range of items for sale as well as the usual books and refreshments

Dallington’s own Tommy

Tommy sculpture by war memorial(Posted on behalf of Diana Day)

“We were not able to get a Royal British Legion Tommy, so John Day made one for us all.”

Heartfelt thanks to John, and a reminder that the Remembrance Day Service will take place tomorrow Sunday 11th November starting at 10.50 am by the war memorial in the churchyard, with the service starting at 11am. The Dallington Beacon at the Sugar Loaf Field will also be lit tomorrow evening at 7pm. More information here

August/September Parish Announcements

(Posted on behalf of Bobbie Steele)

St Giles Church
Sunday  services in September:

  • 2nd          11am.        Service of The Word
  • 9th          6.30pm.    Evensong
  • 16th        11am.         Holy Communion
  • 23rd        9.30am.    Holy Communion
  • 30th         11am.     Service of The Word

On Sunday August 5th we had the pleasure of welcoming the Archdeacon of Hastings, the Ven. Edward Dowler, who led a service of Holy Communion.

An early reminder that we will celebrate the Harvest Festival on Sunday October 14th at 6.30pm., to be followed by Harvest Supper in the church. More information in the October edition, but please make a note of the date in your diaries.
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Old School Village Hall: the hall is now open every Monday afternoon from 2-4pm for the “Library Cafe” book exchange. Drop in to browse, borrow or buy books and DVDs, or just enjoy a sociable chat. Tea or coffee and biscuits are served and all are welcome to join these increasingly popular sessions.  We are also planning to run Saturday morning sessions on the first Saturday of each month, starting in September.
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Art Club We meet  in the Old School Village Hall every Monday morning from 10-12. A friendly group with varied levels of experience, we welcome new members. Contact Pauline Ridley on 01435 830152 for more information.
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Flower Club: a note from Angela: The Flower Club will meet in the Old School Village  Hall on Thursday September 6th at 2pm. Our subject will be  ‘A Nursery Rhyme’. Anyone is welcome to join our friendly group at the huge cost of £3 per session. We learn a little, talk a lot and enjoy a cuppa with lots of laughs!
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WI. At our meeting in July we had a welcome return from an excellent Speaker, Chris O’Donoghue, who gave a talk, illustrated with photographs, on Great Dixter. Chris spoke about the house and garden in the time of the Lloyd family and its continuance today in the hands of a trust. In September we look forward to welcoming Paul Green whose talk is entitled ‘ A Step Back in Time’. We will meet in the Old School Village Hall at 2.15pm and visitors are always welcome.

Reminder! Flower Festival 1st 2nd & 3rd June 2018

(Posted on behalf of Angela Keeley)

St Giles Flower Festival will take place next weekend on 1st, 2nd and 3rd June.  Theme is “Our Queen”

St Giles Church  will be open from 10am – 3pm on all three days; refreshments available all day.  Additional programme of events:

  • Friday 1st June 7pm in The Old School Village Hall “Generation Game”  Refreshments provided but please bring your own drinks and glasses
  • Saturday 2nd June 6.30 pm PICNIC in the garden behind the Church Please bring your own picnic and chairs
  • Sunday 3rd June 5.30 in the Church Songs of Praise

Guided walk in Dallington Forest Monday 7th May

On Bank Holiday Monday 7th May our Tree Warden Doug Edworthy will be conducting a 1-2 hour circular walk in the part of Dallington Forest closest to the village. Nothing too strenuous, though the walk will involve fording a stream, climbing over fallen trees, muddy and slippery paths, and some steep ascents. But, providing they don’t go over too quickly, walkers will experience the sight and scent of beautiful bluebells in an ancient woodland ghyll full of majestic veteran Beech trees,  prehistoric rippled sandstone beds and the Prisoner of War tree.  Afterwards, for anyone who still has the energy and time, Doug may add on another hour or so of circular walk through more ancient woodland and planted forestry illustrating the challenge faced by the remnants of ancient woodland in Dallington forest.

The meeting point is the junction of the Baker’s Lane bridleway with the Glaziers Forge track at 10:30 for a 11:00 departure.  Please note there is virtually no parking for cars so walking there is the best option. If you would like to come, please email Doug at [email protected]  so he knows how many people to expect.

Tree walks

Those of you who enjoyed our tree warden’s fascinating talk last year about the extraordinary riches of Dallington Forest will be glad to know that Doug is working on plans for some guided walks through the forest when conditions are a bit less muddy. Watch this space for further details in due course. Meanwhile, there is an opportunity to join a historic woodland walk in nearby Mountfield led by Peter Miles. Details below:

THROUGH TREES & TIME
Explaining our local landscape

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
Sunday April 22nd, Friday April 27th,Sunday April 29th, Sunday May 6th, 2018
Start: 9.30 am            Distance/Time: Only 2 miles, minimum 3 hours.
Terrain: Easy but brambles and mud so wellies; lots of standing as well.
Start: Mountfield Village Hall. Free parking. Loos available at start/finish.

Following the success of this walk the last four years, Peter Miles will be repeating it this year. The walk is based in a small area of Mountfield off rights of way, deep in private woodland, with features ranging from pre-1250 to the 20thC. Trees and plants provide extra clues. This is history under your boots. The main purpose of the walk is to explain why our local High Weald landscape looks as it does and will cover details such as woodland archæology, medieval earthworks (wood banks, 13thC moated site), other industrial remains (mine pits, quarries, kilns),woodland crafts (coppicing, sawpits, charcoal platforms), plus botanical clues including a rare plant population and an even rarer tree, foraging (with recipes), and more. One underlying theme is the network of old roads across the Weald including the old Sow Track from Penhurst’s Tudor furnace to Robertsbridge Forge. This year, rewriting local history: a visit to a newly discovered, very secret, unexcavated R***n iron site. Above all, the emphasis will be on fun.
Well behaved dogs on leads welcome. Not really geared for children, even if on leads. Take home info pack. Cost £10.00 per person — profits to All Saints Church. First come, first served…

To book, or for more details, contact Peter on
[email protected] or 01580 880 614.

Walk sponsored by Darwell Area Conservation Society