A Magazine For te Vilages of Folkingtn, Miltn Steet and Wilmingtn

Octber 2020 60p 1

SAINT MARY AND SAINT PETER WILMINGTON

PRIEST

The Reverend Peter Blee 01323 870 512

ASSISTANT PRIEST The Reverend Frank Fox Wilson 01323 871 148

CHURCH WARDENS

Mrs Julie Little 01323 871 557

Mr John Marshall 01323 870 445 **************

Dates and Events for Your Diary

3rd October Churchyard Clear Up 10.00am

Whilst our churches are now open for some services (see last page of this magazine) at the moment, a number of virtual services are still being broadcast, regularly, by our priests over the internet:

Every Sunday at 9.00 am, Morning Prayer on ZOOM

Every Monday at 5.00 pm, A service of Compline on FACEBOOK Every Wednesday at 9.30 am, Morning Prayer on ZOOM

If you would like to take part, please email the Benefice Administrator to receive notice of each upcoming virtual service: [email protected]

(If you know anyone who does not have internet access or would prefer a hard copy, please print one off for them)

FROM THE PARSONAGE Berwick church has been closed for just over a year for building and restoration works. It reopens this month and you’re warmly invited to visit (please follow Covid 19 guidelines). We’re unable to hold a big celebration yet which is disappointing but Berwick is a beautiful church to visit quietly too. 2

The various events that we had planned for 2020 have all had to be postponed until next year. New paintings by Julian Bell have been completed and installed behind the altar. These provide a focal point in the church. We have also installed a new audio-visual system so that the use of images, video, music and sound can be used for services and events. This also allows the church to continue to promote the relationship between the creative arts and the church in new ways. As part of the project a student from Brighton University has written sound tracks to accompany three of the oral histories that have been recorded. A new digital organ has also been installed which provides us with a broader repertoire of organ sound suited to different genre of organ music.

The interior of the church feels quite different as a result of the new floor and decoration of some of the rafters, the absence of pews. Now that the beauty of the open space can be appreciated we hope next to apply for permission to replace the pews with stackable and moveable ones which will allow the church to be used in different ways for different forms or worship and events. Samples of these can be seen in the church.

The underfloor heating was finally turned on in September and draws energy for four boreholes, each 150m deep. The initial cost of this is considerable but over the next 25 yrs it will pay for itself and provide a sustainable source of heating for the longer term future and is the most important factor in the longer term conservation of the building and paintings as well as making it more comfortable for worship and events.

We so look forward to recommencing services in the church and welcoming people to it again.

Peter Blee BENEFICE NEWS

RETIREMENT GIFT FOR REVD FRANK FOX-WILSON

The Reverend Frank Fox-Wilson is retiring on 8th November, Remembrance Sunday. His ministry in our five churches has been greatly appreciated. Whilst we will be sad to say goodbye we wish him and Jane every happiness as they settle into their new home and the next chapter in their lives in . If you would like to contribute towards a gift to express your thanks please either make a cheque payable to “PCC of & ” and send it to Stephanie Lewis-Grey, Flint House, Selmeston, BN26 6UD or if you would rather make a bank transfer please contact Stephanie on 01323 811136 or email:

[email protected] and she will give you details of how to make the payment. 3

Good News: Our Churches Are Now Open For

Private Prayer.

We are delighted that Government regulations now permit us to open our church buildings for services and individual prayer and hope that anyone wishing to do so will feel safe to enter. All churches in the Benefice are open every day and opening patterns are the same as they were previously in each parish. The term individual is defined as follows: “A person or household entering the venue to pray on their own and not part of a group led prayer or communal act.” (Robert Jenrick announcement) If you do wish to use the church for private prayer, please be mindful of the importance of following government advice in respect of hand washing and social distancing. Notices have been put up on church noticeboards, on the church doors and at the entry and exit points for each church, to provide specific guidance about the safety and hygiene arrangements in each church, as details may differ slightly due to the differences in the church buildings. For example: in some churches pews may be roped off to limit the amount of routine cleaning required and in some churches there is access to running water. Please read these notices carefully before entering the church. • Hand sanitiser has been placed in the porch area of each church and also inside the church near the door. • Please use this before entering and when exiting the church. NB. it is still wise to wash and dry your hands thoroughly with soap and water a soon as you get home, as an extra precaution. • Please observe the social distancing rules and maintain a distance of 2 metres between yourself and others not in your household whilst in the church . Individual churches may have additional guidance about this so please observe any specific measures which have been put in place in individual churches. • If the church appears too crowded to facilitate social distancing, please wait

outside until it is safe to enter.

Please do not enter the church if you or anyone in your household has symptoms of Covid 19 or if you have been advised to self - isolate because

you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive.

Cleaning schedules have been revised to ensure door handles, light switches and other areas likely to have been touched by others are cleaned daily when the church is opened but please be mindful of the fact that surfaces might have been contaminated later in the day and avoid touching surfaces unnecessarily. 4

Please note that we now have permission to resume funeral services . Contact the Reverend Peter Blee or the Reverend Frank Fox-Wilson for further guidance on this. Contact details: The Reverend Peter Blee – [email protected] or 01323 870512 The Reverend Frank Fox-Wilson – [email protected] or 01323 871148

WILMINGTON NEWS

POPPY APPEAL 2020 You will not be surprised to learn that things will be different this year. This is the 99th year of the Poppy Appeal and regrettably there will be no House to House collections.

However funds are still sorely needed by the Royal British Legion and we will be making efforts to support the Appeal.

Subject to changing circumstances and at the time of sending to print, it is proposed that:

Weather permitting, there will be poppies ( from stock held locally prior to Covid 19 ) for sale from manned tables outside New Cottage in Milton Street and Pond House (opposite Adesfield ) in Wilmington between the hours of 10.00 am and 2.00pm on Saturday 31st October. Social distancing and hygiene will be observed.

Poppies will also be available from The Giants Rest ( Wilmington ), The Ox ( Milton Street ) and the Barley Mow ( Selmeston ) throughout the period 29th October and 11th November during opening hours.

There will be church services in Wilmington and Folkington on Sunday 8th November. If anyone would like to make donations by cheque they should make them payable to " the Royal British Legion " and may be delivered to:

Lizzie Chisholm - the Old School House - Folkington

Nigel Willson - Pond House - Wilmington

Vicki Claxton - New Cottage - Milton Street

Please note that the above arrangements are subject to change without notice.

Please support the Appeal if you feel able to do so.

Thank you and Stay safe.

Nigel Willson Poppy Appeal Organiser 5

England's Tree Of The Year 2020 Voting continues, until the 24th of September, for 's Tree of the Year 2020.

The Wilmington Yew

This ancient yew grows in the churchyard of St Mary and St Peter’s Church, Wilmington. However, at an estimated 1600 years old, the yew predates the founding of the church by several hundred years. Yew trees were spiritually important in pre-Christian Britain, and churches were often built on pagan spiritual sites, so it’s entirely possible that this tree was important to the locals of the time in the hundreds of years before the church was built.

Today, the tree’s heavy boughs are supported by a number of wooden props, reducing the strain their weight causes the tree and therefore reducing the chances that one might break. A hefty chain wrapped around the two trunks serves a similar purpose, holding this venerable ancient together.

The professional propping of the tree was well and successfully carried out by R.W. Green after many very generous donations were made towards the cost of maintaining the tree in a very safe condition for decades to come. THANK YOU and please pass this news on to all you know. Vote for the Wilmington Yew https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/tree-of-the-year/england/

GOD’S ACRE

Management of Wilmington Churchyard

In spite of the COVID-19 hiatus, we continue to manage our churchyard as a habitat for wild plants and their associated insects, birds and mammals. Many, if not all, of the churches in the area already do this, including all four of the other churches in the Benefice, and Folkington church.

We allow the grass to grow long, and to have it cut and removed by a contractor in August after any flowers have seeded. Areas to be excluded from this, and still regularly mown, are the new part of the churchyard, a strip either side of the paths, around the war 6 memorial and a path between the church and the vicarage. If anyone regularly visits a grave in this area and would like a path mown for access, let me, Julie Little, know.

Owing to the guidance and rules over distancing, the once a month pulling up thistles & any other unwanted plants, keeping graves free of ivy, saplings, etc., and cutting back/ strimming and removing any particularly vigorous rough grass has not taken place so far this year.

Now that these constraints have been eased, a morning of work is planned for any keen “gardening” volunteers on Saturday, the third of October starting at 10.00am.

FRANK’S SHARPENING SERVICE

A professional edge for all household blades and garden/workshop tools. Cleaning, adjustment and repair if required. Knives: vegetable, steak, carving, bread, penknives, etc., Secateurs, loppers, hedge shears, edging shears, Chisels, gouges, scythes, axes, chainsaw blades. Recommendation from other village residents Telephone Frank Fox-Wilson on 01323 871148 (The Vicarage) All proceeds go to Wilmington Church Funds

FAMILY SUPPORT WORK: SEPTEMBER UPDATE

Dear Friends,

It is hard to believe that we have reached September and a new school year. This week as the children in our families return to school there is a sense of change, which is causing a great deal of anxiety for some of them. Our practitioners are helping to ease the transition from home to school and giving support on re- establishing routines. We have already started to see an increase in referrals, which we were anticipating back in April at the start of lockdown, and expect that this will continue as new stresses and challenges face families that have just about managed to make it through lockdown.

Our friends at the Mothers’ Union have now joined us in our offices in Brighton. It is wonderful to be so close physically as there is so much that we do together in partnership to support families all across the county. With office-based staff now back at our head office for half of their working week (whilst still working from home the rest of the time), there is also great joy at being able to see our colleagues face-to-face again after months of phone calls, emails and Zoom meetings. 7

Thank you for all your support during these last few months and please pray for us as we enter what we anticipate will be a difficult few months.

Last month’s work in numbers:

286 (socially distanced) visits to families and 209 phone calls supporting 38 grandparents, 340 parents and 362 children. 17 supported meetings (virtually via Zoom/Skype etc.) with other agencies. 127 deliveries of food and other items (such as children’s activities) made.

Prayer points:

For Rosie, one of the mums we support, who tragically delivered a stillborn baby this week. T That those staff who have been working throughout lockdown are able to take some time off to rest and recover now that other staff are working again.

That we receive positive news about a significant grant application that will make a huge difference to our income. Nikki Kerr FSW Director of Fundraising and Marketing

Changing Young People's Lives For The Better

Follow @RebootSussex on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram to see how over 1,000 young people in Sussex have been helped to turn their lives around.

This week & Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne is working with partners to raise awareness of the work of REBOOT – a unique early intervention programme that has helped 1099 young people in Sussex since 2019.

With funding from the PCC, Sussex Police is working with NHS Partnership Trust, Youth Offending Service and local charities in order to deliver this programme.

This five-stage referral process engages young people in activities of interest to them, and away from negative behaviour they may be displaying within their community. It is a non-criminal approach to diversion that invests in young people’s futures, with one offer being a dedicated youth coach who works with them to increase their self-esteem and confidence.

Callum (name has been changed), 13, from West Sussex, was referred to REBOOT after being identified as having several risk factors, which included smoking and buying cannabis, exclusions from school and ‘hanging out’ with a negative peer group known to be causing anti-social behaviour (ASB). 8

After engaging with his local Police Community Support Officer, he has been able to access kickboxing and is working with a youth coach. He also hopes to join a local youth club once lockdown restrictions loosen. Since receiving support he has not been identified as getting involved in any further criminal behaviour.

Success stories like the above are not unusual, as REBOOT continues to invest in the young people of Sussex who may just need some early guidance to get on the right path.

Sussex PCC, Katy Bourne comments: “The reality is that some young people are vulnerable to exploitation. I am committed to safeguarding them and giving them opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have. The REBOOT approach is clearly working. Not only does it empower young people to make better decisions but it also educates them on the consequences of their actions.”

REBOOT Programme Manager Nicola Pearce said: “REBOOT is a coalition of partners dedicated to, and hugely passionate about, improving the life chances of young people and stopping them entering the criminal justice system. REBOOT takes a whole system approach with Sussex Police working closely alongside their local communities and partner organisations. It is based on solid evidence for what works to prevent youth crime and is a having a profound impact on young people and their families across Sussex.”

To find out more about the REBOOT programme visit the PCC’s website here

https://www.sussex-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/reboot/

Natalie McFall Communications Manager T: 01273 481561 M: 07710 120632 A: Sackville House, Brooks Close, Lewes, , BN7 2FZ

LONG MAN PARISH COUNCIL

The Clerk for Parish Council is:

Claire Reynolds, 32 St Mellion Close, , East Sussex, BN27 3UY

Email: [email protected] Tel: 01323 843927

Clerk's hours are part-time (7 hours a week) and that generally she will be working for LMPC on Monday, Wednesday or Fridays.

Please feel free to email at anytime but please note they will only be picked up during working hours. 9

No phone calls after 6.30pm please.

Please let the Clerk know if you need the contact details of your local Councillor.

CoronaVirus Parish Assistance

If anyone is requiring assistance during the current situation please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Claire Reynolds, Parish Clerk, Long Man Parish Council in the first instance

PUZZLE PAGES

Our puzzles for October 2020 includes an EASY Sudoku; and our CROSSWORD with the theme of OCTOBER 10 CLUES :

Across

1 Having beautiful natural scenery (6) 5 Interlude in school programme (4,4) 8 Harvested from trees (6) 9 First of these likely to arrive (5) 10 The fall (6) 13 Many needed to keep warm some days (6) 15 Possibly best mulled on cold days (5) 16 Naturally illuminated at night (7) 19 Either of two times of year when sun crosses plane of the earth’s equator and day and night are of equal length (7) 20 A necessary task in the Fall (6) 21 Atmospheric and providing warmth for the home (5) 22 Bright beam to find your way (10) 27 A strong lager made originally in Germany for the October celebrations; sweet and copper-coloured (11) 28 Mighty oaks originate thus (5) 29 Getting earlier but often brighter (7) 31 One of the colours of the season (4) 32 The evening before All Saints' Day (9) 33 Make the most of this, before it gets too cold to enjoy (7) 34 Seasonal atmospherics, usually but not only in early mornings (5)

Down

2 Member of the Corvid family gathering in noisy roosts together (4) 3 Hard-shelled seeds consisting of edible kernels enclosed in woody or leathery shells (4) 4 Very large pot used for boiling (8) 6 The alternative desired instead of pranks played by children on All Hallows Eve (5) 7 Unhurried, relaxed in ripening (6) 11 This season commences in earnest in October (6) 12 Harvest activity often centres here in October (7) 14 Another colour of the season (6) 16 Birds move to or leave our shores throughout this month (10) 17 This month in the year ~ number (5) 18 Gather these to be ready for colder days ahead (4) 21 Quality of something that causes or assists healthy growth (12) 23 The time of year when this often becomes necessary for comfort in the home (7) 24 A coarse vine; large, pulpy, round, orange fruit (8) 25 Knitted garment to keep upper body warm (7) 26 Another colour of the season (6) 30 Their skeletons start to stand out, stark and upright, as frosty nights cause their clothes to fall (5) 11

This month our Sudoku puzzle is graded as : EASY!

. 12

LOCAL DIRECTORY

Arlington P.C.C. Secretary Diana White 01323 870680 Wilmington P.C.C. Secretary Ian Coombs 01323 870638 Chairman, Village Club Tom Jones 01323 871644 Wilmington Village Hall Bookings Christine West 01323 870426 Wilmington Art Group David Wilson 01323 506108 Clerk to Long Man Parish Council Claire Reynolds 01323 843927 Long Man Tree Warden Alison Cotton 01323 871581 or 07773 481492 Police Cover Team - Hailsham Sgt. Howard Nevill 0845 6070999 Fly Tipping Inspector(?) Connects to Wealden Reception 01892 653311 Ext. 2723 Magazine Editor ([email protected])John Marshall copy by email East Sussex County Council Lewes 0345 6080190 Member of Parliament Maria Caulfield [email protected] County Councillor Stephen Shing 01323 489265 Long Man District Councillor Michael Lunn 07894 062727 [email protected] Police Cover Team - Hailsham Sgt. Howard Nevill 0845 6070999 Council 01892 653111 Hailsham 01323 443322 ESCC Highways 0845 608019310 Sargeant Mark Ritchie, Local Police ([email protected] Police: non emergency 101, emergency 999, voice mail 101 ext. 19028 PCSOs Janine Daly and Liz McDonagh 07787 685751 or 101 or 01273 470101

YOGA YIPPEE!

JEVINGTON VILLAGE HALL

Mondays: 6-7pm – Beginner’s/Gentle 7.15-8.30pm – Intermediate Tuesdays: 9.45-10.45am – Beginner’s/Gentle 11am-12pm – Beginner’s/Gentle 7-8pm – Beginner’s/Gentle Also: private 1:1 classes, workshops, holidays and Thai yoga massage PLEASE RING JO FOR DETAILS 07729 686777 www.wildyogis.co.uk [email protected] 13

MAARTEN DOES IT AGAIN! THE MONKEY THAT COULDN’T FIND LOVE WELCOMES HIS THIRD BABY IN ONE YEAR!

Welcome to Drusillas zoo news! Sue Woodgate, Drusillas Zoo Business Manager, gives us the inside scoop on the zoo! From new babies to funny animal stories and more, Sue takes us behind the scenes and giving us an exclusive glimpse into life at Drusillas.

Our slow blooming Casanova, Maarten the colobus monkey, has proven himself to be quite the virile gent over the past year! When he first arrived we were worried Maarten might never find love, but in an epic turnaround of events, he has just welcomed his third child.

Last year, we sent out a lonely-hearts advert for Maarten as our poor bachelor struggled with his confidence and couldn’t seem to catch a break. He was rejected by all the ladies in his harem and was the only animal at the zoo to have never been adopted.

In a happy turn of events Maarten was adopted multiple times after receiving some media attention for his lonely heart. Clearly a little taste of fame was all he needed, and Maarten became a brand-new man. His confidence has grown, he finally stepped up to his role as alpha and has now fathered not one, not two but three children in the space of a year! Maarten and his new partner Adaeze welcomed a bouncing baby boy last month. The little bundle of joy is doing really well and delighting visitors already.

Our lovely Maarten was such a wet blanket when he first arrived. He was too shy to approach the ladies, so they ruled the roost whilst he sat in the corner quietly doing as he was told. He even took his fair share of wallops for trying to join in. He used to just sit there, holding his feet and looking oh so glum and every now and then got a thump from a female. We have always loved Maarten and my team of keepers worked so hard to encourage him and give him confidence, but he was such a nervous chap that he just got walked all over.

Maarten’s first attempt at ‘wooing’ his women didn’t go so well, and they firmly put him back in his place. 14

Our desperate Romeo was sent packing back to his corner following a clonk on the head from one of the females.

But Maarten defiantly refused to accept defeat and tried again…and again…and again… eventually he succeeded and won over all the ladies in his group.

But one year on and goodness how times have changed! Maarten is quite the stallion now. He has fathered three babies in under a year! He really has stepped into his natural role as alpha and he seems to be very successfully wooing his ladies.

Maarten and Adaeze welcomed baby Yoyo last year, Maarten and Makena welcomed baby Romeo earlier this year and now Marten and Adaeze have just welcomed their second baby together. Sue Woodgate

WILMINGTON, FOLKINGTON AND MILTON STREET VILLAGE CLUB

Forthcoming Events

Second Tuesdays’ Film Nights are currently cancelled. Should the situation change during October, an email will alert you to any openings and events. 15

16

17

18 19 20 21

22 23 NOTES FROM SAINT PETER AD VINCULA - FOLKINGTON

Church Wardens

Mrs Sabrina Harcourt-Smith 01323 482036 Mr Tony Catchpole 01323 484877

AUTUMN NEWS from SAINT PETER’S CHURCH, FOLKINGTON

A DATE for YOUR DIARIES !

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY is on SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8th ********

There will be a Service of Commemoration and Remembrance at Saint Peter’s Church on Sunday November 8th at 10.45am. The Service will be taken by The Reverend Malcolm Elwis; Hymns will be played on the piano by Dr Harry Brunjes

ALL WELCOME !

Royal British Legion poppies will decorate the altar and the window sills, but will not be available to buy as they were last year. However, donations for the Royal British Legion can be accepted and will combine with our usual joint offering from the three villages of Wilmington, Milton Street and Folkington, to be collected by Mrs Elizabeth Chisholm, Folkington and Mr Nigel Willson of Wilmington. Please give your donation to either of the St Peter’s churchwardens.

NEWS from FOLKINGTON

During the past month of September our village church of Saint Peter has managed to keep its head up with open days on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays and two Services , thanks to dedicated and loyal parishioners and residents. The Reverend Neville Manning took a well-attended Book of Common Prayer Mattins on Sunday September 6th, and The Reverend Christyan James conducted a lovely Eucharist service on Sunday September 20th 24 where he gave a memorable sermon with the theme of ‘Forgiveness’. The crowning joy to the month of September came on a sunny day Saturday the 19th with the marriage of Jacobe Handford and Peyten Newbury , taken by The Rev.Christyan James . The bride was given away by her father, . Tim Berrett played the piano and the organ, beautiful cream and white roses decorated the porch, the pew -ends and the pulpit steps and family and friends wished Jacobe and Peyten well. We also give them all our very best wishes for their future and life together.

Services for October and Early November

Services at Saint Peter ad Vincula , Folkington from Sunday October 4th until Sunday November 1st

At present we are holding two services a month, but in November and December there will be more.

Sunday October 4th - 10:30am ~ Mattins ~ The Reverend Neville Manning

Sunday October 25th ~ 10.30am ~ Mattins. ~ The Reverend Malcolm Elwis

Sunday November 1st ~ 10.30 am ~Holy Communion The Reverend Prebendary Stephen Stuckes and The Reverend Christyan James

Could you please continue to save postage stamps, milk bottle tops, greetings cards, wool, buttons and ribbons. The Friends of Hospital have been beavering away during lockdown and stocks are getting very low. As soon as the church is open you will be able to deposit your items in the boxes at the back of the church. 25

3PUZZLE SOLUTIONS 26 Benefice Services for September and October

September 25th 10am Wilmington 10am Selmeston

September 29th 12 noon Patronal Festival Berwick (see Sunday link email)

October 4th Harvest Festival 10am Arlington 10am Berwick The church is now fully booked but weather permitting you are welcome to join outside. A PA system will be set up.

October 11th 10am Wilmington 10am Alciston

October 18th 10am Arlington 10am Selmeston

October 25th 10am Wilmington 10am Selmeston

The times of the services are subject to change. Please look at the website (www.sussexdownlandchurches.org.uk) and check carefully on the Sunday link emails. If in any doubt please contact Stephanie Lewis-Grey on 01323 811136 or email at [email protected]

EVENING PRAYER Alciston every Wednesday at 5pm

ZOOM SERVICES Sunday Zoom Morning Prayer will be held at 9am from 6th September. You can be sent a link to join these services - please contact the Benefice Administrator at [email protected] to be added to the mailing list to receive this link.

Wednesday Zoom Morning Prayer will be held at 9.30am each Wednesday in September. Please request a link as above.

BERWICK CHURCH We're hoping that the restoration work at Berwick will have been completed during September and that we will be able to hold our first services in October (see above). If you'd like to be on a mailing list and receive information about the restarting of services please contact the Benefice Administrator on 01323 811136 or email at [email protected]

If you have any queries please contact:

Reverend Peter Blee on 01323 870512 – he is available whether you are a member of the church or not. (This includes face to face contact - but at a safe distance.) Reverend Frank Fox - Wilson is on 01323 871148. Please respect Frank’s need to minimise contact and that he is off-duty Tuesday to Friday.