News from around the clubs - September 17

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Hastings and Rother Decorative and Fine Arts Society

WE start our autumn programme with the AGM at 2pm on Monday, September 20, followed by a lecture, "The case of the vanishing Duchess: the life of Gladys Deacon (1881-1977), second wife of the 9th Duke of Marlborough" by Jane Kelsall.

The beautiful heiress relished being the child of scandal; her father shot dead her mother's lover. Her intelligence was as astonishing as her beauty, and her conquests included Berenson, Keyserling, D'Annunzio (who fainted when he first met her), the poet RC Trevelyan, Marshal Foch and Crown Prince Wilhelm, son of the Kaiser.

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She was adored by Proust, Robert de Montesquiou and the Princess de Polignac and, in her years as Duchess, she delighted Ottoline Morrell and the Bloomsberries.

Sculpted by Rodin and Epstein and painted by Boldini, she was the queen of the femmes fatales. Her marriage to the gloomy Duke was a spectacular disaster, ending with her ejection from Blenheim Palace and her disappearance from society. Where did she go and why did such a dazzling woman make such a mess of her life?

Jane Kelsall is a freelance lecturer in Fine Arts. She is a graduate in English and History and has been an honorary guide at St Albans Cathedral for 28 years. She studied Fine Art and Sculpture at St Albans College of Art.

Tickets will be available at the meeting for both the visit to Blenheim Palace on Thursday, September 30 and for the St. Paul's Cathedral Guided Tour on Wednesday, November 3.

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We meet at the Arthur Easton Centre in the grounds of St Michael's Hospice, Upper Maze Hill, St Leonards-on-Sea, on the third Monday in every month (except July and August) at 2.30pm.

Visitors (5 per visit) are always welcome. For further details please telephone Glenis Malone on 01424 435629, e-mail: [email protected] or visit our website: www.nadfassussexarea.org.uk

Bexhill Recorded Music Society

THE next meeting of the Bexhill Recorded Music Soceity will take place on Wednesday September 22 at Parkhurst Hall, Parkhurst Road, at 2.15pm.

The society meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Come and enjoy an afternoon of music in a friendly atmosphere.

Visitors are always welcome.

For further details, call HJ Stentiford on 222729.

Little Common Royal British Legion Women's Section

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OUR September meeting was opened by vice-chairman Mrs K Murphy who welomed 79 members. The exhortation was given by our President, Mrs D Tebbs.

We are pleased to say we have a new standard bearer, Alison. Mrs Murphy expressed our thanks to Mrs Joan Berry who has now retired but who carried the standard so gallantly for many years.

Our new county representative will be Mrs S Jordan, taking over from Mrs Berry who after some years of dedicated work is standing down.

Names are being taken of members who wish to go to the conference. Proposed future outings include Winchester Christmas market, Whitstable Oyster Festival, and a visit to the home of the Chelsea pensioners.

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We are seeking new ideas for stalls for our Christmas fair. Suggestions are a candle table, soft toy collection and even a fortune teller if one is available amongst members.

A national lottery has been suggested by Headquarters Women's Section, to be organised through clubs. This is to be discussed later.

Our Christmas lunch at the Wheatsheaf will be limited to 60 members because of seating arrangements. Bookings are being taken.

A combined 70th Battle of Britain celebration and Poppy Appeal event will be held on October 23. Members attending are asked to dress in 1940s style to match the 1940s music.

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Membership fees are now due and can be paid on October 6 between 10.30 and noon in the bar.

Our speaker was Mr Whippy, who talked about the First World War, first outlining the reasons for war breaking out and how different nations got involved.

He then told us of his Uncle Laurence's journey through the war. joining up at the age of 16-and-a-half by lying about his age. His original regiment was the Seaforth Highlanders.

Uniforms were in short supply and some soldiers were issued with old Post Office uniforms as nothing else available.

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Uncle Laurence was posted to the Western front just before the Battle of the Somme, was wounded and returned to England, only to be sent back to the trenches once fit.

Following a severe battle he was declared missing and his body has never been found. He was just 20 when he died. His name is now engraved on one of the memorial walls in France. A very sad story.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 13 at 7pm. We welcome members old and new.

Bexhill Art Society

The chairman welcomed everyone back after the summer break. We now have a new Vice-chairman, David Mills, and two new committee members, Audrey Burgess and Pam Sandison.

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In January 2011 we will be celebrating our 50th Birthday with a lunch at Cooden Beach Golf Club and arrangements are well in hand.

The guest speaker this month was Lynn Rokshar who demonstrated her techniques in creating large scale flower paintings in oils.

She also brought many of her other works showing her interpretations of biblical events, which were very much admired.

The Artist Of The Month was Joan Passingham and the monthly competition , Upon Reflection, was won by Jane Masters.

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The next meeting ofthe Society will be at St Augustine's Church hall, Cooden Drive, on October 2 at 2.30pm.

Bexhill Scale Slot Car Club

BEXHILL Scale Slot Car Club (BSSCC) opened its doors on March 2 this year after founder members met last November at the Mermaid Hotel, Bexhill, to launch the club.

Based at White House Farm, Netherfield, the club races on Thursday evenings from 7.30pm and is also open for practice on Monday evenings.

BSSCC is hosting an Open Day on Saturday, October 23 from noon to 5pm, where racers of all ages can come along to try their hand on our 110-foot, six-lane circuit.

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They can bring their own cars - all 1/32 slot cars should run well on the track - or club cars and controllers can be used. Entry is free and there is no charge to use the track. Refreshments will be available and club members on hand to help.

On Sunday, October 24 BSSCC holds its first annual Open Race Meeting and is hoping to attract racers from across the country. There are three classes to enter: Formula 1, Saloon and Sports/GT. Literally the only restriction is that traction magnets have to be removed from cars. Our website has full details and how to enter.

Prizes include new Scalextric cars (thanks to the generosity of Hornby) and DVDs featuring Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson. Club membership is open to all, and a friendly welcome is assured. Experienced racers are always on hand to show how to get the best performance from your cars. If you remember racing round a figure-of-eight track on your bedroom floor, then this is the next step. Photographs, videos, maps, directions and everything you need to know about BSSCC is on our website at www.bexhillslotcars.co.uk. You can also contact chairman Martin Douglas on 07977 569720 for information.

Bexhill Bridge Club

Results:

August 3:

Fifth Tuesday Pairs Prize Evening

First and Best Mixed Pair - Joan and Rob Knights

Best Ladies' Pair - Joan Winchester and Inez Richards

Best Men's Pair - Fergus Cameron and Richard Matthews.

September 2:

Hildrow Cup Teams Heat

First - Mike Finch, Molly Freeman, Fergus Cameron and Sergio Magri.

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Second - Mary Davidson, Norman Taylor, Brian Gould and Peter Carbutt.

Third - Ann Hone, Beryl Allen, Maurice and Sylvia Reeves.

September 7:

Tuesday Pairs

First - Brenda and David Cross

Second - Brian Gould and Maurice Reeves.

Third - Anita Cullen and Pat Hutley.

September 9:

Thursday Pairs

First N/S - Maurice and Sylvia Reeves

Second - Anita Cullen and Pat Burton

Third - Fergus Cameron and Hazel Oakley

First E/W - David Gillespie and Pat Collings

Second - Colin Richards and Pat Hutley

Third - Nick Newell and Sally Clark

Visitors Welcome. For initial contact or partners call 01424 846570.

East Sussex Bridge Club

RESULTS for the East Sussex Bridge Club week ending September 10:

Monday September 6:

N/S First - Alan Miley and Pat Neate

Second - Judi Sibson and Marjorie Fairlie

E/W First - Patrick Hutley and Les Crawford

Second - Mushtaq Kazi and Brian Cook

Wednesday September 8:

First - Brian Gould and Barbara Herold

Second - Annie Garry and Claire Weston

Third - John Hunt and Richard Mockett

Thursday September 9:

N/S First- Garrick Oliver and Marion Boswell

Second - William Pender and Molly Bryant

E/W First - Vera Kennedy and Vi Boniface

Second - David Bacon and Ted Weare

Friday September 10:

First - Hilary Levett and Barbara Herold

Second - Bob Billany and Sylvia Ballard

Third - Karin Faulkner and Alison Lowe

New beginners and improvers classes start at the end of September. For details please contact Barbara on 01424 422118 or visit our website at www.eastsussexbridgeclub.co.uk

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