posted 19 Feb 2012 10:46 by Andy Lakin-Hall
From 9am on the 1st March donations to Rotherfield St Martin will be matched £ for £ by @Localgiving.com! (www.localgiving.com/rsm#MarchMatch) This is a wonderful way for us to raise much needed funds to support our work with elderly & vulnerable people. If you feel you can make a donation however small on that date we would be very grateful as it would be doubled and we would receive gift aid if you pay tax. If you could also let as many of your friends know as possible it would mean such a lot to us. Thank you. |
posted 26 Jan 2012 02:19 by Andy Lakin-Hall
Jo Evans writes...January seems to have flown by. The impending snow didn’t arrive; in fact quite the opposite. It has been very mild, many of us seeing bulbs emerging or late summer flowers still in bloom! Rotherfield St Martin has begun the New Year with the continuation of established activities and the start of some new ones. Exercise, in its various guises, has got people up and about after the Christmas break. A record number are attending Freedom leisure on Wednesdays with Yoga and Older & Active welcoming new participants and table tennis off to a brisk start. Fun on Friday is a new venture when every Friday morning we are having table and board games, cards, puzzles and a miniature railway in the meeting room at RSM Centre. We hope folks from the community will pop in to enjoy refreshments and a game or two. ‘Heavenses at Elevenses’ is a monthly short service conducted by Rev Nigel Mason preceded by coffee and refreshments at RSM Centre. This will be very informal and an opportunity for folk to attend a short, friendly service lasting about 20 minutes before lunch. As the title suggests it all kicks off at 11.00pm with refreshments and will finish at 11.45am Monday meeting numbers have increased as folks have looked forward to getting together after the holiday. We had a Bring & Buy sale on the first Monday after we opened together with a visit a group of hardy fire fighters who came to promote home safety checks and the installation of free smoke alarms. The following week was a real treat when we welcomed Polly Evans from South East Today. Polly talked about how she had got into radio and television journalism and her present role of fronting the local evening news. She showed two very interesting clips from recent stories and spoke about how they had been constructed. It was a real eye opener to hear of the amount of research and work that goes into the news articles. Polly answered questions and had time to go round speaking to members before getting back to the studio. We  were delighted that she gave RSM a mention at the end of the evening bulletin. She emailed the next day to say she had never had such a warm welcome. The next week saw our Bowen specialist, Nicole Livingstone-Smith gave a wonderful talk on the Language of Healing ranging from natural healing practices many from ancient cultures, healing by faith as in biblical terms and also modern health which we are more used to. It was a really informative and balanced presentation. The final talk of the month was a presentation by Marianne Terry, head teacher at our primary school which will be reported next month. February is set to be a very busy month (see diary) with trips out to Aladdin, Young Musician of the Year at Beacon Community College and a gala Concert at All Saints. Following requests we are having a series of Bridge lessons starting on Feb 14th. These will be for beginners or anyone who would like brush up their skills from long ago. Please ring the office on 01892 853021 if you would like to join. Initially we will have 8 places available. We will be having talks from presentations and talks by Mobile Memories, Sarah Woolley, Valerie Scott and Cllr Chris Dowling, Chairman of East Sussex County Council. We are planning a big fundraiser in the summer so watch this space next month.
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posted 16 Jan 2012 13:51 by Andy Lakin-Hall
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updated 16 Jan 2012 14:17
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Our afternoon speaker at the Village Hall today was Polly Evans, one of the main presenters from BBC South East Today.Polly told us about her career in broadcasting, from her roots in Carmarthenshire to her work in Devonshire radio and television. She is now a familiar face on our BBC Regional News. Polly very kindly brought along some footage of some of the stories she has worked on, including a report on the opening of the new Turner Contemporary art gallery in Margate, and a story following redevelopments along the sea front at Bexhill-on-Sea. These gave us a little insight into the daily process of reporting the daily news. We were really pleased that Polly was able to come and speak to us, especially as she had to make sure she was back in the studio in time to prepare for the evening report. She kindly left us her contact details - so if anyone has any stories, they are welcome to get in touch.
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posted 1 Dec 2011 02:10 by Andy Lakin-Hall
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updated 16 Jan 2012 13:55
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Jo Evans writes...Christmas is nearly here! Where has the year gone? We seemed to have galloped through November and are almost ready for the New Year! We have had a very active month starting with the screening of the film ‘Amazing Grace’ about the life and work of William Willberforce. What a story and beautifully acted and directed. Prior to this, at the end of November we had a visit from James Gardiner of Age UK’s Home from Hospital Service, and Vivian Morgan, Community Support Matron. Both gave a very good overview of their care and support within the community which was very encouraging. We also had a talk by Les Pike on the history of the Bonfire Society which was fascinating and very informative.Further into November we had a visit from Jennifer Rees Larcombe, who talked about her life in Mayfield and how, through the experience of being very ill, she now runs a Christian charity, Beauty from Ashes, which reaches out to people who are in need of emotional and spiritual support. Our Annual General Meeting followed and then a Sing-a-Long afternoon with Sue Evans and Janet Smith. These will be reported in next month’s magazine. On 25th November we said ‘Goodbye’ to Dorival Chiamulera who has tended the gardens of a number of RSM members over the last few years. He has been so kind and caring in his work but has decided to return permanently to his home country of Brazil. We wish him all the very best as he does so. As we head towards Christmas we have a number of fun activities. (See December Diary) Our annual Carol Service for Senior Citizens will be held at St Denys Church on Monday 5th December at 2.30pm. A warm welcome is extended to any older person who would like to join us for a short carol service followed by refreshments. Our final fun event is our Christmas Party on 12th starting at 2.00pm. We will be entertained by pupils from Rotherfield Primary School and also ourselves. We are inviting members to ‘do a turn’ which should be great fun. RSM Centre closes on Friday 16th December for the Christmas break and reopens on Tuesday 3rd January. The first meeting of the New Year will be on Monday, January 9th when we will have a get together and an ‘After Christmas Sale’. We would like to wish everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year. |
posted 11 Nov 2011 03:10 by Andy Lakin-Hall
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updated 26 Jan 2012 02:29
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Jo Evans writes...
Wow! Where does the time go? It only seems a couple of days ago that I was writing up the report for September. It has been such a busy, fun and active month for us, so where to begin?
We had a wonderful afternoon when a number of members took to the ‘Hot Seat’ telling us about their early childhood. Each one was both fascinating and inspiring ranging from a first memory of hearing miners walking down the road in clogs to early life on a farm in South Africa. We laughed, we shed a tear or two and were grateful to those who gave us a living history lesson. Definitely something to be repeated.
The following week we had a talk by Sarah Hill, who is our hand massage therapist. She spoke of her earlier job as a tax inspector before a complete change of career to what she is now doing. Three lucky members were then able to sample her hand massage skills. We then had a visit from Alice Malumbi whose husband is Director of World in Need in Kenya. Alice has been here for a numbers of weeks going into schools and churches speaking of the work they do in helping many children access education. It was a wonderful talk and very humbling as one realised how blessed we are in this country. The children where she lives go to school from 7am -5pm and walk for an hour to get there and then to return home at the end of the day whatever the weather because education is the highest priority for their families. Many arrive without having eaten so the school provides food for them. Playtime equipment is usually a rubber tyre or something similar.
Alice talked about the importance of Child Sponsorship and the life changing difference it makes to those individuals who receive it. RSM members were very moved by her presentation and not only donated a number of blankets made by the ‘Knitting & Nattering’ group but also gave their tea money to help with the on-going work. The last two meetings of the month will be reported in the next edition of the magazine.
Our activities programme is flourishing. Exercise and fitness has been in abundance this month with the regular Wednesday trip to Freedom Leisure, fortnightly yoga sessions with Jane Heywood, the start of a fortnightly ‘ Keep Young, Keep Active’ with Una Wareham on a Thursday morning prior to Luncheon Club and the start of a fortnightly table tennis afternoon on a Friday. Bridge continues to attract more players and the Knitting & Nattering group is thriving. Computer classes are now in full swing as is the internet café and one to one computer assistance. We welcome new recruits to all our activities! Just keep an eye out for our monthly diary here in the magazine or around the village or on line at www.rotherfieldstmartin.org.uk
Our day care services for the small group from Uckfield are proving a great success for both us and the people involved. Margery, Maureen, Violet, Gladys & Richard are expressing how much they are enjoying being part of Rotherfield St Martin, the activities that they are doing and the fabulous meals prepared for them by Annie Darling and her team at the Catts Inn. RSM members have made them very welcome and they are very appreciative of Juliette Martin and the volunteers for looking after them.
 The November diary is available now here in the magazine. We have some great speakers and activities lined up. We will be showing the brilliant film ‘Amazing Grace’ about the life of William Wilberforce; there will be a talk by Jennifer Rees Larcombe on her life as a writer, and an afternoon ‘Sing a long’ with Sue Evans & Janet Smith. Among all this is our AGM on Monday 21st at the Village Hall starting at 2pm. A warm welcome is extended to members, volunteers and supporters of Rotherfield St Martin to come and hear about all we have achieved in the last year and our plans for the future. Our guest speaker is Adam Chugg CEO of 3VA.
As promised there is a report on the seminar ‘Big Society? Small Communities' in this edition of the magazine. Mark Hall attended on behalf of Rotherfield Parish Council and has written a report about the event.
For those of you on line we now have a new look website and are now on Facebook with a weekly update on some of our activities. Lots of photos and fun! |
posted 11 Nov 2011 03:09 by Andy Lakin-Hall
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updated 16 Jan 2012 13:56
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Jo Evans writes...We have got off to cracking start in Year 7, memberships are being renewed, activities have commenced, the library is open, Andy Lakin-Hall, Jo’s deputy is settling in and we feel very comfortable at the Memorial Institute. Our first meeting was a ‘Get together’ to give folks the chance to catch up with each other and get back into the swing! Following this, our chairman, Andy Miller showed photos from his holiday in Scotland which was quite a family affair as he went with his son and grandson on a ‘boys walking holiday’! Then for something completely different members enjoyed an afternoon of Bingo led by Betty Saunders. Lots of laughs, fun and very silly prizes. The final week was a treat when we had a visit from Chief Inspector Richard Coates, Wealden District Commander, who came to see our premises and then gave a talk about his new role in Wealden. Our exercise and health programme are developing. Therapy room is busy. Please take time to look at the poster in the magazine for the therapies that we offer. We have started this year’s exercise programme at Freedom leisure with more participants than ever. For those who would like to dip in occasionally we are offering yoga on alternate Friday mornings at RSM centre as well as starting a table tennis session in the afternoons of the same Fridays. Once a month Una Wareham, who is very popular and highly skilled will be running a session called’ Older & Active’ at the Village Hall on a Thursday morning from 11.00am-12.00. This will be a fun movement & music activity to promote health and wellbeing. The cost of all these occasional sessions is £2, a bargain! There is no doubt that the exercise activities we are offering are having a very positive effect on the mobility, wellbeing and confidence of participants. Most importantly they are jolly good fun!  Andy Miller, RSM Chairman and Jo took part in a seminar at Brighton University on 19th September. This was called ‘Big Society, Small Communities’ and was hosted by CUPP. (Community University Partnership Programme) who carried out the research project for us. Some 35 people attended from statutory bodies, the university, charities, service providers and other interested parties. The heart of the seminar was to look at the model of RSM and see if it could be replicated in other communities. The response was very positive and encouraging and there will be a short article next month about it by a resident from Rotherfield who attended. October is a very busy month as you will see from the diary. Much going on both at RSM and in the village. We will be supporting the electric blanket testing scheme on Oct 11th at Crowborough Fire Station. In addition to our wealth of activities we are looking forward to seeing the production ‘All My Sons’ with the Rotherfield Players and attending the Medieval Market at St Denys. Again, please see advert for all details or call the office on 01892 853021. We are delighted to be outreaching an activities programme to Pinewood Care Home in Crowborough. After the success of the programme at High Broom we wanted to extend this to another group of older people in residential care. We received a grant towards this project from ‘Active at 60’ and we look forward to seeing how it is received at Pinewood. Activities include gentle movement, singing, hand massage, storytelling and flower arranging. And finally a reminder that our AGM is on 21st November. |
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It’s amazing to think how far we have come since we opened in September 2005. What is particularly special is that we are now back at the Memorial Institute where we first started with an afternoon for 6-8 people having a get-together and enjoying tea and cakes. Well that certainly hasn’t changed. It’s just that we have grown!We moved into our new home at the end of May after a very happy time at Carisbrooke. The ground floor of the Institute has been refurbished, thanks to the support of the Abbeyfield Trustees. John Meyer, our builder, has done a super job and we are feeling very much at home here right in the centre of the village. If you haven’t been in to see us, please come and visit, enjoy refreshments and browse in the reopened library which is now available four and a half days a week.
