News from around the clubs - January 15

Bexhill Rotary Club

This new year message was delivered by one of their own members, the Rev Paul Frostick, a recently retired clergyman who, in his own words based his address "on the three simple words HAPPY NEW YEAR, taking each word in turn".

His suggestion was that we all want to be happy but the problem is that everyone puts a different meaning on the word.

Going on to talk about his experience in the early 1980s when, while he was a vicar in Suffolk, the Medina Rajneesh Community moved into the area with their philosophy "If it makes you happy, do it".

He explained that they had caused anxiety and unhappiness among the people of the town by their presence and their activities.

After quoting Alexandre Dumas, Carl Jung and Albert Schweitzer he summed up by saying that by their actions, Rotarians generally add to the happiness of people who are less fortunate than themselves.

Going on, he joked his way through the significance of the word "new", concluding that new things create an opportunity for optimism and, by their nature are fresh and potentially exciting.

Finally he investigated the contents of a year in seconds, minutes and hours which simply amounts to time '“ a resource that Rotarians are invariably willing to give in order to make life better for others, summarising that at the beginning of a fresh, new year, their glass is full '“ full of opportunities, full of possibilities and full of chances to execute the Rotary motto of "Service above self".

With that he wished all the members a very happy new year.

Two days earlier Bexhill Rotarians, along with their families, friends and pets, a group of more than fifty people, had gathered at Bodiam Castle for a New Year's walk, followed by lunch at The Castle pub.

Little Common Photographic Club

AFTER a four-week break following an enjoyable Christmas Social evening in early December, Monday, January 4 brought in our New Year with the second club trophy competitions for both slides and Prints, judged by John Staples ARPS.

From 20 entries in the general slides, four were kept back for further consideration and finally Dorothy Reeve's Afternoon Shadows and June Larkin's Simply Red both received 20 marks; second on 19 points was Ray Noble's StreetAart, Siracusa and Dorothy and June again tied on 18 points for third place with Beauty In The Mist and Misty Marsh Morning respectively.

From 16 entries in the natural history section, five were kept back for further consideration with all four of Ray Noble's entries receiving two first places on 20 points for Red Squirrel and Fox, and two 18 points for third place for Common Frog and Adder. Brian Reeve split Ray's positions with second place Brimstone on 19 points.

From 18 entries in large prints, the judge was consistent by keeping back five images with Dorothy Reeve's abstract Reflections and Brian Reeve's Male Red-Eyed Damselfly both receiving 20 marks; two prints also tied second on 19 points -'“ John Pergande's Snow Girl and Dorothy Reeve's Snagged. Five workers with seven prints all tied in third place on 18 points. From just eight small print entries the judge awarded Sue Clarke's Sand Scene 20 points, and her Eagle Owl received 18 points for third place but in second position was Val MacDonald's Waiting For The Tide with 19 points.

The next meeting on January 18 will be a lecture from guest lecturer Bob Webzell entitled Venice Revisited '“ which includes his portfolio entered for his LRPS and ARPS qualifications. This promises to be an evening not to be missed, and visitors are always welcome. Meetings for the Little Common Photographic Club are held fortnightly at the Community Centre in Shepherds Close, Little Common, starting at 7.45pm.

For any further details about the club and its activities - please contact Sue Clarke / Publicity on 224979 or John Larkin, chairman on 842364.

Bexhill Photographic Club

THE last meeting of 2009 held at the Friends Meeting House Albert Road, was the second projected digital image competition. We were privileged to have had an esteemed stalwart (previously employed by this paper), namely John Dowling as our judge for the evening.

John was returning to the club after many years (having been a member) to evaluate our four classes of digital images, 65 in all.

The first class to be appraised was the record class (12 images). The winner was Norman King with Detail Dahlia Bloom, Miniature Ball, Latin Pinnata, scoring 19.

The second class was creative (14 images). Paul Carrington's Dungeness Lighthouse Reflection was the only maximum 20 point winner in this class.

After a very short tea break, due to the possibility of getting snowed in, John ploughed on with the next class.

Nature was the third class (20 images) and John found four images worth 20 points

And was overwhelmed with the quality of the close ups of nature. This time Bob Butler excelled with his Female Common Darter which scored 20*.

General was the last class, and by this time the snow was reported to be about a centimetre deep. John had 20 images left to evaluate. Once again our digital secretary Paul Carrington was the winning photographer with his Glowing Rose scoring 20 which went on to be the eventual overall winning image of the evening.

John ended the evening by congratulating all the photographers who produced the 65 images, he was very impressed by the quality of their work, especially as the world is gradually changing from celluloid to the charge coupled device.

John Bryant our chairman thanked the digital team for their hard work and of course John Dowling for all his comments and critique (he is still being encouraged to rejoin the club as a member).

The annual membership of the club is 28.per annum The evening's winning images will be posted on our website shortly '“ bexhillphotoclub.co.uk

John Bryant can be contacted on Bexhill 730758.

The Twenty Ten Club

The discussion meeting held in early December was very well attended and it was generally felt that there is a need for another group for the over 60s in the area.

The newly formed Twenty Ten Club will hold its first proper meeting in the Sanhurst Hall, Little Common Community Centre at 2pm, when the speakers will be PC Jason Kemp and PCSO Rachael Scott, who will talk about their different roles in the police force and offer some good advice on crime prevention.

No doubt, if time allows, they may answer a few questions anyone would like to ask.

If you think you'd like to join a friendly group, meet others and perhaps make new friends, please come along on Thursday, January 14, at 2pm, when you can be assured of a warm welcome.

For further information about the new club, please ring 01424 842946.