Mountfield

Last Sunday’s “Bit of a Do” was fantastic! As ever, no village does a knees-up like Mountfield. Everyone who went had loadsa fun. There were children’s games round the outside of the hall. The Club did good business on the bar and looked positively Mediterranean with all the doors flung open and the tables outside. Trish put together a fun exhibition of old photographs selected from the village archives. Bill brought some of his small furniture such as stools and tables for sale but also displayed some show-stopping models he’d made such as a sailing ship and a Sussex wagon. Barbara put on an amazing display of her students’ work and had a constant stream of children who, suddenly, became angelic for their portraits (see more below). And there was much more: Maisie sang, the cakes vanished (not because of Maisie’s singing), the music played, and Nick flogged every last hot dog and burger.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Jun 2014, 00:00 BST

It was interesting that at one point or another everyone had either a cuppa or a drink in their hands. Pete stuck to medicinal Harvey’s for a sore throat from talking too much. We hope to fill in more details next week when the VHC has had more of a chance to analyse events. In the meantime, we leave almost the last word on the bash to Barbara Valentine who sent us the following email.

“May I, through the Village Voice, send my thanks and admiration to all the organisers and helpers at the magnificent ‘Bit of a Do’ on Sunday. The gluten free cake in particular was wonderful! I made £120 for St Michael’s Hospice, doing quick portraits and would like to thank all the children who sat so patiently for portraits, and their parents for the generous donations.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

We say almost the last word because we must join Barbara in applauding Caroline, the VHC members and all the helpers. And if you missed it, you missed out.

There is just time (the Observer is published on the Friday and The Big Day is the next day) to wish Caroline well as she takes on 100 kilometres, throughout Saturday/Sunday night, armed with only a bicycle, in aid of the admirable Tommy’s (www.tommys.org).

We have three other charitable reminders starting with Peter’s church walks. The walk for the 8th is nearly full but the walk for the 22nd still has several places left. First come, first served for a walk through centuries of visible history, local — and sometimes rare — plants, and some amazing trees. Get your hands on rarities and your wellies on history! For info call Jackie Spriggs 880261 or Pete as below,

Next is Mandy Sutton who, first, is doing the Race For Life on June 15th: pink fun in a very good cause.To sponsor her either call her on 880916 or contact anyone at the Club. Then, two week later, on Saturday the 28th, 2.00 till 4.00, she hosts the Blooming Marvellous Tea Party in aid of Marie Curie. Remember poor Teddy; if no-one guesses his name correctly, he doesn’t get to go home with someone to look after him. Alert children, grandchildren and worse.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

To finish this week, we need to sing our own birthday wishes as it is a year since we took on the the Mountfield Village Voice. We both felt passionately that Mountfield needed a strong Village Voice. The final straw was not hearing about Reg Langley’s passing until the day after his funeral. And for some reason, Mountfield always seems to have a fight on its hands — the reservoir in the nineties, the incinerator at the turn of the millennium, the sale of Southern Water land in the noughties, and now Southern Water again with the sewage plant which they propose to build opening off our sitting room. Mountfield has always proved equal to the fight but all the resources need to be in place — and the Village Voice is one of those resources.

Over the last year, sickeningly, we’ve lost the school and a number of other parts of village life are under threat but, as Sunday’s Bit of a Do showed, the resilience is still there and the Village Voice is there to give it just that — a voice. So do please keep us fed with news, gossip and information.

Oh, and we like to think we’ve provided enlightenment to the suburbs too, such as bringing the Bible and the wheel to Brightling.

You know where your Village Voice is: 880614 (evenings) or [email protected].

Peter and Valerie Miles

[email protected]