Cross in Hand Events

JANUARY 2012 MEETING

‘Sussex Windmills’ was the subject of this month’s talk by Mr. P. Hill, who is a
member of the Windmill Preservation Society at Hove.
33 members and guests learned how there are 3 categories of windmill from
the early post and trestle design to the smock and tower mills built of wood,
brick and sometimes stone. Some 18 windmills complete with their massive
“sweeps” or sails, still survive in Sussex. Many more have fallen into disrepair
or are in the process of renovation. The Nutley Windmill is one of the oldest
working windmills in Sussex with parts dating back to the 16th Century.
Not all mills rely on wind power, as can be seen at Rudyard Kipling’s home,
Batemans and Michelham Priory near Hailsham for example, where water is
the source of power .
Sometimes a windmill would be moved if the owner so wished or if it had been
bought to be relocated sometimes many miles away such as the Jill Windmill
on the South Downs near Brighton.
Burwash Common, Broad Oak and Cowbeech all had their own Windmills but
these have long since disappeared. The main use for these structures was to
produce flour, animal feeds and sometimes to pump water from low lying land.

Birthday flowers were then presented to 2 members and the meeting ended
with afternoon tea.

The next talk is by David Bryer, entitled ‘The Face of Female Royals’
and will be at the Village Hall on Wednesday 22 February at 2.0pm

Please telephone 01323 442592 if you would like to know more or go to
www.esfwi.org.uk . We would love to hear from you !

DECEMBER REPORT

A good time was had by all at the Cross in Hand Christmas party. Members
of the Hailsham Choral Society gave a very entertaining programme of music
from the shows as well as traditional carols.
A buffet was served and birthday flowers presented to Joan Minchip.

Our next meeting will be on the 25th January at 2.00 p.m.in Cross in Hand Village
Hall with a talk by Mr P Hill on ‘Sussex Windmills’.

Please phone 01323 442592 if you would like to know more about us, or go to
www.esfwi.org.uk for more information.

NOVEMBER REPORT

30 members enjoyed lunch provided by the committee followed by an interesting talk from Pam Britton and Beverley Wakeford- Brown, members of the Craft and Art sub-committee at our regional headquarters. There were wonderful examples of handicrafts worked by very clever local ladies, which included lace, calligraphy, pewter work and knitting. Paintings were not only done on canvas but also on china and silk. Birthday flowers were given to: Valerie Mott, Pat Henty and Pat Meakins.

There then followed our AGM and tea was served after a very successful meeting.

We now look forward to our Christmas Party on 14th December with entertainment provided by the Hailsham Choral Society.

OCTOBER REPORT

Murder Sex and Mayhem was our talk this month by David Allen.

He related the story of Celia Bashford from Ardingley, a maid, who met John Holloway
from Brighton. He was a dapper man about town and a serious womaniser. Celia
on the other hand was very short and plain but fell deeply in love with John and all
his charms. When she became pregnant however, he denied it was his child and
Celia was forced to a life in the work house. The child sadly was still born and John
moved on to another liaison with Sarah Roberts. Celia had no money and became
a match girl living on the streets. John went off to Rye working on the coastal
blockade against the French. It was there he met Ann Kennet and formed another
relationship. Upon their return to Brighton, they once again met up with Celia and
pretended to befriend her but this was a plot to kill her in the most macabre way. After
strangulation they cut off her limbs and head. John had been a butcher in his earlier
years. Anne assisted with the disposal of the body parts in the woods but police in
Preston Village where they then lived became suspicious and in 1831 J.W Holloway
came to trial at Lewis County Court. He was found Guilty of murder but there was
insufficient evidence to convict Anne, his accomplice. The judge ordered that he
should be hanged, for which there were many spectators, and that his body should
then be sent to a laboratory for dissection, in the interests of research.

Fortunately we were still all able to enjoy afternoon tea. 39 members and guests
attended. Birthday flowers were given to Pat Treen our Secretary. The flower of the
month competition was won by Marion Pearson. Barbara Edwards won the Walk in
the Wood competition.

SEPTEMBER REPORT

Celia Trueman was our invited speaker who enlightened us on the subject of ‘Style
and Wardrobe Management‘.

A model was selected to show the effects of colour against the skin and hair tones.
Warmer shades improved her appearance but too deep or too harsh colours did not
enhance her at all. It was pointed out that we all have a colour palette which would
complement our looks and this can be extended to our wardrobe. By choosing
clothes in a particular colour scheme, we can look better and also save money on
unnecessary clothes purchases. It is also important to keep a tidy wardrobe so that
the correct outfit may easily be selected. It is a known fact that 80% of us wear only
the same 20% of our clothes!

Following afternoon tea and cakes, birthday flowers were presented to:
Peggy Dann, Sue Tranter, Marion Pearson and Liza Marriott who is 90.

The flower of the month competition was won by Marion Pearson.

28 members and 7 visitors attended.

AUGUST  REPORT

 Memories of a Garden Boy was the title of the talk by Laurie Manser.

Mr Manser related stories of his apprenticeship as a gardener to a family in Tunbridge Wells. Having grown up in Forest Row, his grandfather had introduced him to the world of gardening. From there he went to work at a Vinery where he learnt the art of growing and picking the grapes, and managed to put his step ladder through the panes of glass at times! During his National Service he learned another skill that of motor mechanic but his heart was still in gardening. He was subsequently given the opportunity to work for the Earl of Shrewsbury at Ingestre Hall in Staffordshire where he was in charge of the fruit garden. All the fruit and vegetables grown there were for use in the kitchens and had to be supplied as required to the chef and kitchen cooks, who could be very demanding.
Although now retired he still does occasional garden work and with his engineering skills, is also capable of servicing lawn mowers!

29 members and 4 guests then enjoyed afternoon tea. Birthday flowers were presented to: Betty Dabson, Anita Jobling, Toni Mehra, Barbara Norris and Joyce Parrott. Toni Mehra also won the flower of the month competition.

JULY  REPORT

Our July meeting was a garden party held in a member’s delightful garden in Heathfield.
The weather was kind and around 30 members and guests from surrounding areas enjoyed afternoon tea on the lawn. This is an annual treat provided and served by members of the committee.
Birthday flowers were presented to: Joyce Guntrippe, Jean Grafham and Cath Connor.

JUNE REPORT

Harry Townsend is the ‘Wheelbarrow Man’.

He related his story of walking with his wheelbarrow, George, the full length of the
North Island of New Zealand. Following the death of his wife., Harry has devoted
his life to fund raising for the Melanoma Charity. He has travelled extensively
through the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, The Pilgrim Route through Spain and
the Sahara, raising money for his chosen charity. He was assistant curator at Kew
Gardens during his working career and also worked as coach to the England Rugby
Team when he gained an intimate knowledge of New Zealand and made many good
friends there. They were able to offer him hospitality and support for his long arduous
walk throughout the varying landscapes of North Island. His journey lasted 68 days
and he raised $25,000 for the charity.

He and the 29 members and 2 visitors then enjoyed afternoon tea. Barbara Edwards
won the flower of the month competition. Birthday flowers were presented to Sally
Ann Donaghue and Jane Wade.

APRIL REPORT

Mrs Pam Goodall gave a talk on ‘The Tesco Effect’.

Having travelled to Cross in Hand by train and bicycle from Horsham, Mrs Goodall
related her experiences of running a business in the 1970’s. This was the beginning
of the frozen food revolution for home consumption. Her business, Igloo, which she
had started with a friend was in the centre of Billingshurst and catered mainly for the
smaller quantities required by the local customers. It was therefore very personal
and they knew many of their clientele on an intimate and friendly basis.

Following severe flooding however, it was difficult to rebuild and maintain the heavy
refrigeration units required for their trade. There then opened an out of town Tesco
supermarket where they were selling items at much keener prices. Mrs Goodall
and her partner had been buying Buxted chickens and turkeys direct from the farm
but found that they were unable to compete with the bulk buying prices charged by
the supermarket, even though they had a very small mark-up. After 10 years, they
decided to sell and she took on her own drugstore business just a few doors down.
This did well for a time but the supermarket then expanded further and with the
introduction of a free bus service for its customers, it became unsustainable to run
the high street business. She sold her premises to a private Italian restauraunt and
this has proved successful.

26 members and a visitor then enjoyed afternoon tea. Jill Poulton won the flower of
the month competition and birthday flowers were given to her and Pamela Rhial.

MARCH 2011 REPORT

29 members were treated to a lively and interesting talk by Mrs Woodward on
‘Ellen Terry and Smallhythe Place’
Ellen Terry was born into a family of ‘Circuit Players’., a theatrical group who toured
the country, rather like a repertory company of today. Nellie, as she was christened
soon became enthralled by the stage and loved to be the centre of attention. She
married at the age of 17 to a 49 year old but the marriage was not a happy one and
she quickly tired of it. Her relationship with an architect in London was to last just a
little longer, and she had two children by him even though she was still married to
George Watts. As he was a successful London architect, he could not spend enough
time with Nellie and she again was drawn back to the theatre. It was then that she
was spotted by Henry Irving and took part in many Shakespearean productions for
him at the Lyceum theatre. After a career spanning 20 years, ill health forced her to
give up her beloved theatre. She had bought ‘Smallhythe Place’ as a quiet retreat
from London so she eventually retired to there with her sister Edith. Her funeral took
place at nearby Tenterden and was well attended by the local population.

Birthday flowers were given to Barbara Edwards, Pauline Kent, Erika Richardson,
Rosemary Stevens, Sue Stevenson and Margaret Dove.
Gill Poulton won the competition for Flower of the Month, donations for which go to
our chosen charity.

Afternoon tea followed and the members look forward to next month’s meeting on
the 27th April when the talk will be by Mrs P. Goodall on ‘The Tesco Effect’.

FEBRUARY 2011 REPORT

Dr Sheila Innis brought back fond memories with her talk ‘ Life at the BBC’.
‘Are you sitting comfortably, then I’ll begin’ was a well known start to many
BBC programmes and this was how her talk began, detailing her career in the
Newsroom, where she was tested in the pronunciation of difficult Polish names.
Her accent was so good, she was offered the job immediately. She then went on
to various roles, from sound effects in the Archers to working on ‘Two way Family
Favourites’ with Cliff Michelmore, then commentating on Royal Weddings and
working on the World Service.
Following her move to BBC Television, she became Head of Department for
educational programmes and was responsible for bringing Fanny Craddock and
Delia Smith to our screens.
Her amusing talk told of her extensive travel and experiences worldwide. We were
sorry when it had to end but all enjoyed the delicious tea and cakes which followed.
35 members attended, including visitors from neighbouring Mayfield. Birthday
flowers were presented to Margaret Ivey, Heather Stevens, Helen Whiteman and
Beryl Balfe.

Cross–in-Hand Village Hall is just 1 mile from Heathfield High Street.

Bob Ogley who spoke about the Great Storm with President Barbara Edwards

The Parade of Hats