Golden Times November/December 2016

Goldentimes 

Nov/Dec 2016 

Your FREE guide to active living for the over 50s in EAST SUSSEX 

Celebrating 

Five years in print 

FESTIVE FIFTH BIRTHDAY ISSUE: 

Local Events, Fashion & Beauty, Live Music Guide, 

Lifestyle & Opinion Pieces, Creative Writing, Gardening 

Advice, Your Chance to WIN a Virgin Balloon Flight, 

Reader's Photography, & Much More Inside ! 

To advertise in Golden Times call Matt on 020 3137 2406 or email mattm@media-shed.co.uk 1

ConCept By 

Christopher Dean 

Creative DireCtor & Choreographer 

BRIGHTON CENTRE 

4-8 JANUARY 2017 

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT! 

0844 847 1538 

www.brightoncentre.co.uk 

*calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge

Goldentimes 

Each issue of Golden Times always gives us a sense of 

satisfaction and a little bit of pride, but this issue feels 

like even more of an achievement because it sees us 

marking 5 years of Golden Times. In the Autumn of 2011 we 

had an idea, we didn't know if we could make it work, but we 

gave it a go and now, 5 years later, we're still going. 

The fact that we're still here is down to the continued support 

of all of our advertisers and contributors, but also that of our 

readers. Over the past 5 years it's been great to meet lots 

of you at various shows & exhibitions and get feedback about 

Golden Times. We're all looking forward to the next 5 years. 

On the cover this time is a shot of Hastings Old Town taken one 

snowy Sunday morning in 2012. It's been a while since we had 

a thick covering of snow, as inconvenient as it can be, it makes 

for some very good photo opportunities. If it does snow this 

winter, make sure you take some photos and send them in for 

our "Scenic Sussex' feature ! Enjoy the magazine - Jason 

CONTENTS 

04. Guide to Local Walks & Event Listings 

06. Local Event Listings 

08. Julia Meanwell - Health Anxiety 

10. Creative Writing Corner 

12. Scenic Sussex - Readers Photography 

15. Tricia's Christmas Column 

20. Looking Fabulous with Michele Duke 

22. Local Event Listings 

23. Gardening tips with Phoenix Gardening 

24. Living the Alexander way of Life with Liz Jeffries 

26. Local & Live with Mike Raxworthy 

27. Hearty Irish Stew - Recipe by Faz Razeen 

28. Local Clubs & Associations 

30. An Aussie Experience - Gladys Lopato 

The Golden Times Team: 

Jason - Editor Debby - Director Mike - Live Music Tricia - Columnist Liz - Columnist Michèle - Fashion Julia - Lifestyle Faz - Cookery 

No part of this magazine, including advertisements, may be reproduced in part or in whole, without explicit permission from the editor. 

The opinions expressed within the magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers but those of the individual contributors. The 

greatest of care is taken to ensure that all information published in this magazine is correct at the time of going to print. Readers should 

be aware that the Publishers cannot be held responsible for errors, omissions or inaccuracies. Please check details of all events with the 

organisers before attending. 

Golden Times Magazine, 78 Elphinstone Rd, Hastings, TN34 2BS tel: 01424 429139 email : jason@goldentimes.co.uk 

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Event Listings 

Battle Bonfire and 

Fireworks 

5th Nov, from 7.15pm 

Battle. 

Procession from 7.15pm, 

bonfire lit on the Abbey 

Green at 9pm with 

fireworks at 9.30pm. 

www.battelbonfire.co.uk 

Street Market 

5th Nov, Kings Road, St 

Leonards. 

The road is closed to 

traffic to allow local 

people and traders to sell 

a huge variety of goods 

from food to fashion, 

bread to bric-a-brac. Tel 

01424 721803 

Hastings Herring Fair 

5th & 6th Nov, from 

11am 

Stade open space, 

Hastings. 

Free event where you 

can discover more about 

the Silver Darlings of the 

sea. Food stalls, cookery 

demonstrations, live 

music, local beers, wines 

& ciders. 

Remembrance Day 

Concert 

6th Nov, 2.30-4.30pm 

Our Lady of Ransom 

Church, Grange Road, 

Eastbourne. 

The Eastbourne Silver 

Band, in conjunction 

with the Eastbourne 

Ex-Services Association, 

will be presenting its 

5th Annual Concert of 

Remembrance, this is a 

free event. 

Gift Day at All Saints 

Church 

8th Oct 10am-5pm. 

All Saints Church, 

Bethersden Road, 

Woodchurch. 

Keep this historic 

community and sacred 

building for future 

generations to enjoy. 

Please help! 

Floral Demonstration 

Open Evening “All 

Wrapped up for 

Christmas” 

10th Nov, 7.30pm 

Heathfield Community 

Centre, Sheepsetting 

Lane, Heathfield. 

Demonstration by Robin 

white, refeshments, 

raffle, sales table. 

Visitors welcome - 

£10 For enquiries call 

01435408605. 

Autumn Fair 

12th Nov, 10am to 

12.30pm 

Congress Theatre, 

Carlisle Road, 

Eastbourne. 

A great opportunity to 

do some early Christmas 

shopping and raise 

funds for preserve the 

Devonshire Park Theatre. 

Free admission. 

King John’s Christmas 

Fair 

12th Nov, 10am to 4pm 

Sheepstreet Lane, 

Etchingham. 

Fabulous stalls, festive 

food, Elfish grotto for the 

children. A great chance 

to buy Christmas gifts for 

all the family. Free entry. 

Rye Bonfire 

Celebrations 

12th Nov. Procession 

from 7.50pm, fireworks 

at 9pm. 

Throughout Rye. 

Procession through 

the town followed by 

a bonfire and display. 

traffic and parking 

restrictions from 4.30pm. 

Last Xmas 

PostingDates: 

2nd Class: Tue 20th Dec 

1st Class: Weds 21st Dec 

Special Delivery: 

Thu 22nd Dec 

Walking for Health - Your local weekly walk diary 

Walking is a fantastic way to stay fit, and a great way to get out and meet new people while enjoying some fresh air! 

EAST SUSSEX HEALTH WALKS : 

MONDAYS: 

Hastings Old Town: Meet at 2pm opposite the Jenny Lind pub, 

High Street. 

Hastings: Mindfulness walk, 2nd and 4th Monday each month at 

1pm, Alexandra Park Cafe. 

Rye: Starting at 10am at Gibbets Marsh car park, Udimore 

Road. 

Sidley: Meet at 11am on Sidley Green. 

Ticehurst: Meet at 10.30am Pickford Lane car park. 

Pevensey Bay: at 9.45am outside Pevensey Bay library. Suitable 

for older walkers. 

TUESDAYS: 

St. Leonards: Meet at 11am, inside the WRVS centre, South 

Street. 

Robertsbridge: Meet 9.30am, outside the Youth Centre, The 

Grove. 

Hampden Park, Eastbourne: 10.30am outside Lakeside tea 

chalet, Hampden Park Drive. 

WEDNESDAYS: 

Alexandra Park: 12 noon at the Cafe in the Park. 

Ashdown House: 1pm meet outside E-floor reception, 

Sedlescombe Road North, St Leonards. 

Heathfield: 10am at the clock tower on the High Street. 

THURSDAYS: 

Hastings Town Centre: Starting at 2pm outside Rye Bay Kitchen, 

Robertson Street. 

Hailsham healthy walk: 10.30-11.30 

Setting off from the war memorial on the High Street. 

FRIDAYS: 

Battle: 10am opposite Battle Abbey on The Green. 

Church Wood: Starting at 10.30am at Church in the Wood car 

park, Church Wood Drive, Hollington. 

Bexhill: 11am, in the foyer of the De La Warr Pavilion. 

Eastbourne Shinewater: 

Meet at 10.30am outside the Co-Op on Milfoil Drive. 

SATURDAYS: 

Ore Health Walk: Meet at 10.30am outside Ore Community 

Centre, Old London Road. 

Contact Paula Hubens - 07740 899 559 

WORKOUT WALKS FROM THE BEACH PAD: 

TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS: 

St Leonards: Meet at 1.15pm outside the beach cafe side of Azur 

at Marina Pavilion. Half an hour of power walking, breathing, 

stretching & strength exercises with Debi Arnold, health coach 

and personal trainer. www.thebeachpad.com 

EASTBOURNE AGE CONCERN, WALKING FOR WELLNESS: 

MONDAYS: 

Eastbourne: Seafront walk starting at 10.30am at the Lifeboat 

Museum opposite Carlisle Road. 

WEDNESDAYS: 

Hampden Park: Starting at 10.30am, at the Lakeside Tea Chalet. 

THURSDAYS: 

Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne: Starting at 10.30am outside 

Bright Ideas in Sovereign Harbour. Three mile circular walk 

finishing at a cafe. 

Age concern also run monthly, seasonal walks find out more 

from Liz Maxtead - 01323 638474 

FURTHER INFORMATION: 

www.walkingforhealth.org.uk www.ageconcerneastbourne.co.uk 

4 

Find us online at www.goldentimes.co.uk

TAX, CARE AND TOY BOYS 

Your assets may be at risk from one or more outside factors. Don't 

take that risk, take advice now. 

PROTECT YOUR ASSETS NOW ! 

For peace of mind contact David on: 

07718 155740 for a free, no obligation 

consultation in your own home. 

www.clshastings.co.uk 

Inheritance Tax, Care Fees 

and Sideways Disinheritance. 

If you want to know how these could threaten your assets and, more importantly, how to 

avoid them make a free, no obligation appointment to see a specialist now. 

You have nothing to lose but your assets. 

Homeowners remain at risk of seeing a lifetime’s hard work swallowed up in care fees and are advised to take action 

now. Contact Collective Legal Solutions and discover what steps you can take to protect the inheritance you plan to 

leave your loved ones. 

If you are a member of a group that would like a free talk on the subject, contact David now to arrange one. 

find us on: 

• GAS/LPG/Oil boiler service, 

installation, breakdown. 

• Oil Tank Replacement 

• Unvented Hot Water Cylinders 

• Landlords Gas Safety Checks 

• Bathroom Installations 

• 

• Central Heating 

• Power Flushing 

• General Plumbing 

Give us a call 01424 200005 

or visit online southerngassolutions.co.uk 

109 Sedlescombe Road North, St leonards on Sea, Hastings, East Sussex TN37 7EJ 



Christmas Fair at 

Michelham Priory 

12th & 13th November 

Michelham Priory, Upper 

Dicker, Hailsham. 

Festive fun, food & drink 

with stalls, face Painting, 

Crazee Hazee Children’s 

Entertainer, Children’s 

Christmas Crafts and 

much more! Something 

for all the family! 

Free park & ride from 

Arlington Stadium. Blue 

badge holders parking 

only at the Priory. 

www.sussexpast.co.uk 

1066 Jazz Band at 

the Deanland Jazz 

Club 

15th. Nov, 7.30 - 

10.30pm. 

Inn on the Park, 

Deanland Road, (off the 

A22) at Golden Cross. 

Dance floor, raffle & 

Brolly Parade. £8, food 

available. 

Tel 01825 872406 

Eastbourne’s Tea 

Dances 

15th Nov, 2pm to 5pm 

Winter Gardens, 

Compton St., 

Eastbourne. 

Three hours of ballroom 

magic with Chris 

Mannion. £6 

eastbournetheatres.co.uk 

BoHo Winter Light 

Festival 

18th Nov, 5pm to 9pm. 

Seaside Road, 

Eastbourne. 

A free, festive event 

for all the community 

with street entertainers, 

market stalls, fairground 

and winter light 

procession. 

Hastings Christmas 

Light Switch On 

19th Nov, from 5pm. 

Priory Meadow Shopping 

Centre, Hastings. 

Fun competitions & 

giveaways, plus a 

performances by this 

years Panto cast, and 

a firework display at 

6.30pm. Shops & cafes 

open to 8pm 

Alfriston Dickensian 

Christmas 

19th Nov, 2pm to 9pm. 

High St., Alfriston. 

Celebrate a traditional 

Victorian-style Christmas 

in the stunning village 

of Alfriston. Torchlit 

procession, late night 

shopping, food & craft 

stalls, entertainment. 

www.alfriston-village. 

co.uk/dickensian 

Christmas Fair 

19th Nov, 10am to 

1.30pm. 

St John the Evengelist’s 

Church, Pevensey Road, 

St Leonards. 

Supporting local charity, 

The Sara Lee Trust, a 

variety of stalls, festive 

music, raffles and 

tombola. Free entry, 

donations welcome. 

Ladies’ Christmas 

Shopping Evening 

24th November, 7pm. 

St John’s Church Hall, 

Polegate. Entry tickets are 

£3 and include nibbles 

and your first drink. 

Tickets available from 

Janet on 01323 504019 

or Maggi on 01323 

841249. In aid of the 

Family Support Work 

Meads Magic at 

Meads Village 

25th Nov. 

Meads St., Eastbourne. 

Festive Street market, 

stalls, street food, 

entertainment, Santa’s 

Grotto, childrens magic 

show and much more. 

Edwardian Christmas 

at Batemans 

26th Nov to 31st Dec. 

Bateman’s Lane, 

Burwash. 

The 17th century home 

of Rudyard Kipling is 

decorated for Christmas 

with festive sights, 

sounds and scents. A 

special Christmas trail 

for children leads to the 

Elves’ workshop. 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk 

Battle Christmas 

Lights Switch On. 

26th Nov. From 1.45pm 

Memorial Hall, High 

Street, Battle. 

Parade escorts Santa 

down the high street 

to his grotto. Charity 

market at the Memorial 

Hall, Childrens rides on 

the Abbey Green. Lights 

switched on at 5pm by 

Father Christmas. 

Great Dixter 


26th & 27th Nov, 10am 

to 4pm 

Great Dixter House & 

Gardens, Northiam, Rye. 

Purveyors of fine goods, 

artisans and artists selling 

their wares in Great 

Dixter’s Medieval halls, 

Great Barn, gardens and 

outbuildings. 

www.greatdixter.co.uk 

St Leonards Frost Fair 

26th Nov, St Leonards. 

Part festive market, part 

fancy dress parade, 

drum troupes, food 

stalls, circus artists and 

spectacularly dressed 

characters. 

Vintage Fashion Fair 

27th Nov, 11am to 4pm. 

De La Warr Pavilion, 

Marina, Bexhill. 

40+ stalls of original 

vintage clothing & 

accessories & jewellery. 

Classic car parade, 

vintage hair parlour for 

40’s and 50’s hairstyles. 

www.dlwp.com 

Dynamic Wonderland 

Fayre 

27th Nov. 10am to 5pm 

The White Rock Theatre, 

White Rock, Hastings. 

A range of products 

and services with an 

alternative Christmas 

wonderland twist. Stall 

holders, demonstrations 

and workshops. 

whiterocktheatre.org.uk 


27th Nov, 2-5pm. 

Community Church 

Eastbourne, St Anthony's 

Centre, 557a Seaside. 

Enjoy a mince pie with 

a hot drink as you listen 

to carols. Stalls, Santa's 

grotto & elf workshop. 

Adults 50p, Children 20p. 

RAF in Concert 

30th Nov, 7.30pm 

Congress Theatre, 

Carlisle Road, 

Eastbourne. 

An uplifting evening of 

musical entertainment 

performed by the 

Royal Air Force’s finest 

musicians. Box office : 

01323 412000 

Little Christmas at 

Little Chelsea 

2nd Dec 4pm. 

Grove Rd & South St., 

Eastbourne. 

A host of entertainment, 

food and drink, late night 

shopping and market 

stalls. 

www.littlechelseaeb.co.uk 

Neon Noel at Little 

Chelsea 

Fridays, Saturdays & 

Sundays, 2nd to 18th 

December. 

4.30, 5.30 & 6.30pm 

Grove Rd & South St., 

Eastbourne. 

The four minute light, 

visual and audio 

show illuminated onto 

Eastbourne’s Town Hall 

clock tower. Free event. 

eastbournechristmas.com 

6 


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Health Anxiety - by Julia Meanwell 

I don’t spend too much time thinking about the state 

of my health but I’m sure I am probably not alone in 

occasionally ‘googling’ to find out about whatever 

currently ails me! Could it be that access to websites 

found in Google searches have contributed to the 

rise in illness-related anxiety? Health anxiety or 

hypochondriasis is very common and occurs equally 

in both men and women. 

We all have fears, especially around illness or death 

but ironically it has been proven scientifically that 

fear and anxiety can be harmful to your health as it 

stimulates the sympathetic nervous system putting 

your body at risk of disease. Unfortunately some 

media campaigns may help to intensify this type of 

anxiety. 

Those affected by health anxiety have an obsessional 

preoccupation with the idea or the thought that 

they are suffering from a physical illness. They 

often misinterpret physical symptoms of anxiety 

as a potential threat of imminent physical health 

problems. Unfortunately many of the things that 

people do to cope with health anxiety actually serve 

to keep the fear going. 

The causes of hypochondriasis are not always easily 

identified but there are certain factors which have 

been found to trigger the disorder; having a serious 

illness as a child, being around serious illness or 

being close to someone who themselves have 

HOME 

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Free training 

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PCs, Macs, 

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Call us today for 

a friendly chat: 03333 444019 

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wearedigitaltraining 

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Local counsellor Julia Meanwell, 

has been in practice for over 

20 years, she has a wealth 

of experience, empathy and 

understanding to offer clients. 

Julia began her counselling 

career as a relationship 

counsellor with Relate which 

incorporated working in 

television and radio. 

health anxiety. If you find that you spend too much 

of your life worrying about the possibility of illness 

you may feel the time has come to find ways to 

reduce this anxiety. 

Therapy is one way to explore the source of your 

anxiety but if that does not appeal to you then you 

may want to investigate other avenues of help. 

The NHS website has a really helpful ‘Coping with 

Health Anxiety’ download, offering exercises and 

strategies to help reduce health stress. 

Anxiety UK is a charity offering support and 

information for those living with anxiety disorders. 

Their helpline is open Monday to Friday 9.30 - 5.30 

Tel: 08444 775 774 or email: 

support@anxietyuk.org.uk. 

You can contact Julia via her website www. 

juliameanwellcounselling.co.uk email julia. 

meanwell@gmail.com or give her a call on 

07714 280083. 

A 

Catastrophes 

CAT RESCUE 

Contact: Liz Varney, Catastrophes Cat Rescue, 

Half Moon Cottage, Barkers Lane, Dallington, 

Heathfield, E Sussex, TN21 9JS 

Tel: 01435 830212 | Mobile: 07912 113392 

Email: lizzie@catastrophecats.org 

www.catastrophecats.org 

A 

Please remember us in your will. 

Your donation or legacy will help save cat's lives. 

A 

We help cats and kittens in distress by taking them 

into our care and finding good homes for them. 

Every cat deserves the chance of a good home. 

We do not believe in putting animals to sleep 

unnecessarily 

Where homes cannot be found, the cats live a 

happy life in our sanctuary home within the Sussex 

A 

Countryside 

Give us a call and arrange to 

drop by, enjoy a hot drink and a 

mince pie and wish the cats a 

Merry Christmas! 

If you can't get through, please 

leave a message and we'll get 

straight back to you. 

Registered Charity Number : 1017304 

8 


A Winter offer 

you Will not 

want to miss out on 

Call Thy Will Be Done during 

November, December or January 

and you will be able to arrange: 

A SINGLE OR PAIR OF WILLS 

to protect your partner and your children for just 

£99 + VAT (£118.80) usual price (£222 inc) 

A WILL BASED TRUST (FOR COUPLES) 

to help prevent your home being sold to pay for your care 

and protect your children when the first partner dies for just 

£99 + VAT (£118.80) usual price (£479 inc) 

AN IMMEDIATE PROPERTY TRUST 

(FOR COUPLES OR SINGLES) 

to help prevent your home being sold to pay for your 

care and protect your children with immediate effect* 

(includes all conveyancing and legal fees) for just 

£995 + VAT (£1194) usual price (£1908 inc) 

And all severance of tenancy work 

during winter will be provided 

FREE OF CHARGE 

Call us now on: 

CRANBROOK: 01580 388584 

EASTBOURNE: 01323 301383 

HASTINGS: 01424 316167 

*For this strategy to be legal and work effectively, avoiding care home fees MUST NOT be the sole motivating reason for setting up the Trust 

(it’s perfectly legal for it to be a subsequent benefit after the fact) - protecting your children against losing half their inheritance through divorce, 

your partner remarrying after your death or ensuring your children’s inheritance does not add to their estate for inheritance tax purposes 

for example must be some of the primary reasons stated to name but a few. Also it must be done at a time when you have not been 

diagnosed with any condition that would give you reasonable cause to believe that going forward you would be likely to need to go into care. 

www.thywill.co.uk 


Creative Writing Corner 

"Futurstic" 

by Rosemary J Shelfer 

Jenny opened her eyes and blinked away the fog until she could see 

the room where she lay. Pale blue everywhere, a door, no window, and 

some unfamiliar machines. 

She felt a sense of alarm rising, and slowly sat up. That’s when she 

noticed the tiny cctv camera in the corner. A man in a silver uniform 

came into the room and gave her a friendly smile. 

“Don’t be afraid, Jenny,” said the stranger. “You have been on a long 

journey. A very long journey,” he added with a light laugh. 

“Where am I?” said Jenny. 

“Zatog. It’s a planet a long way away from your Earth, I’m afraid. We 

had to come in and do a massive rescue mission, as it was getting 

rather unpleasant down there, shall we say.” Again, the light laugh. 

“We don’t go in for any of that killing up here. What a waste of human 

resources THAT is. Why, it makes no sense. People killing other people 

they don’t even KNOW!” Jenny nodded. 

“What’s your name?” said Jenny, full of curiosity to see the rest of the 

place. 

“Solen,” he answered. “Come and meet some of your friends.” 

They walked along a short corridor where she saw a balcony at the 

end which looked down onto a huge hall. Solen walked up to the edge, 

touched his shoulder and his voice came out loud as if speaking on a 

tannoy system. 

“Everybody! Please may I have your attention for a moment!” A hush 

fell upon the people below. Solen beckoned her forward as he said to 

the crowd, “Jenny has arrived at last!” There were gasps of delight, and 

when they caught sight of her, a great cheer went up, and clapping. 

Jenny wondered what on earth all this was about. Or rather not ‘on 

earth’. 

“Come down and meet your friends, Jenny. They have been waiting a 

long time but never gave up hope of seeing you again.” 

They stepped into a small, glass lift which took them down to the level 

where all these people were waiting to greet her. 

Some old friends from work stepped forward, grinning. Bernice and 

Caroline! She hadn’t seen them for years and was so delighted to see 

familiar faces that she felt like bursting into tears. 

They guided her through the crowd, some faces she recognised and a 

lot she didn’t. Then she saw her estranged brother, not seen since the 

big family row. He stepped forward smiling, and said, 

“Long time no see, sis!” And that is when her tears did fall. He gave 

her a hug until she had gathered herself into a state of calmness. 

“Come with me. Mum and Dad are here, too!” he said. She stopped 

in her tracks. 

“But they are dead! I arranged the funerals!” 

“Oh, yes, I know. We’re all dead here, Jenny. Sorry, I forgot. No-one’s 

told you yet, have they? This is heaven!” 

"Flashing the Plastic" 

by Pamela Latter 

I've lost my friend Sally. She has been replaced by a plastic version 

which I barely recognise. Not only does she look different, but after years 

of intimate sharing we no longer speak the same language, and I'm 

rather sad about it. 

When I bumped into her last week she was off to have her 

contact lenses renewed; later she had an appointment with the dentist 

to have her gums drilled and false teeth screwed in. The very thought is 

toe-curling. 

"Just a little pain, and then it will all be over," she told me 

cheerfully. Afterwards she was treating herself to another tattoo (if she 

could find enough bare skin amid the plethora of artwork she already 

has). Both her hips were replaced last year and as a little reward she 

splurged on a facelift, a jaw tightener, and an eyelid lift. "A sort of job-lot," 

she said, "with a big discount for multiples." For a while she looked like 

the Invisible Man in his bandages, but she remained quite happy about 

it all. "No pain, no gain!" she chirped. Revealed to the world once more, I 

thought her expressionless features made her look positively robotic but 

like a good friend, I said nothing to dampen her exuberance. 

"Isn't it marvellous what they can do these days?" she 

enthused this morning. She was wriggling about in front of the mirror 

at the time, struggling to adjust her Lycra one-piece running suit and 

preparing for her obligatory five-mile jog: "I'm going to have these 

silicone boob implants replaced too – with larger ones." She tried to 

smile but couldn't. The hearing aid implants seem to have pleased her 

though. She can pick up the latest hits with them through Wi-Fi. "No 

headphones, see? The grandchildren think 

they're wonderful. Now they want them too, of course." 

All that exercise has certainly done something for Sally. She 

has fine calf muscles. Pity her ankles are giving out from the constant 

pounding though. They will probably be replaced next. 

I watched her tie the laces of her new sneakers with the 

flashing heels, then she began pill popping. Suddenly she looked up and 

registered my suppressed sigh. 

them." 

"Got to keep up the vitamins, you know. My little helpers, I call 

I swallowed a yawn: "I must get a move on. I've got to get 

something for dinner tonight." 

She would have crinkled her eyebrows if the Botox hadn't 

frozen them. "Eat healthily" she tapped my arm confidentially. "I have 

a box of fresh veggies delivered every day. No meat of course - it clogs 

the system. Did I ever tell you that? Be a hunter-gatherer again, Claire. 

It's the natural way." I felt vaguely admonished by this Sally I no longer 

recognised, but the lesson was unabated. "A few lettuce leaves and a 

tomato can do wonders." 

But I don't need them. 

I'm wondering already... 

8 

If you would like to submit a short story (450-500 words) for inclusion in 

Golden Times, please email jason@goldentimes.co.uk or post your story 

to us at: 78 Elphinstone Road, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 2BS 

10 


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SCENIC SUSSEX 

We really enjoy showcasing our reader's 

photography in the magazine, we've not had as 

many submissions this time round, I hope you'll all 

be out snapping this winter so we can include 

many more of your images in the new year. 

In the top left corner of the page is a lovely 

reflected cloud-scape at Bexhill beach from Ian 

Welfare. Top Right, again sent in by Ian is some 

very atmospheric mist above the moat of Bodiam 

Castle. 

Mid-left is an image of people enjoying a warm, 

sunny day (Remember those?) on Hastings Pier, 

sent in by Malcolm Lowing. Warm sunshine may 

seem like a distant memory at this time of year, 

but It'll be back again before you know it! 

Bottom left is one of my own images. (and if 

you're fed up with these, you'll have to start 

sending in more of your own!) Taken in late 

October as the sun set behind Hastings Pier, with 

an interesting cloud texture in the sky. 

I hope you'll all be snapping away over the festive 

season, and sending your shots to me at: 

jason@goldentimes.co.uk. 

12 


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14 


Tricia's column - Ho, ho, ho 

I 

t's that time of year again where it feels like 

we enter festive mass hysteria. Spending two 

months hareing around shopping, preparing, 

cooking, baking, wrapping, visiting & making 

up stories about having seen flying reindeer, only to 

end up sitting down with a glass of wine 

on Boxing Day evening feeling hugely 

relieved it's all over! 

That would be the cynical view anyway. 

The more romantic view would be that 

it is a wonderful time of year. It gives 

you an excuse to visit friends and family, 

to eat and drink too much and to spoil 

the people you love. There's always a 

lot going on as well, fairs and fetes and 

concerts and pantos. It's a great time to 

have fun. Have a look through our events 

pages and you're sure to find something 

to get you in a festive frame of mind. 

As I'm writing my column it still feels a little odd 

talking about Christmas when my house is currently 

filled with garishly coloured sweets, plastic spiders 

and pumpkins. It still surprises me how the whole 

"Trick or Treat" concept has made its way over from 

America. I remember watching E.T. with my children 

in the early 1980's, they were totally mystified by the 

children in the film wandering the streets in fancy 

dress collecting sweets. In 

England at the time, the cultural 

impact of Halloween extended 

about as far as a spooky story 

being read out on Jackanory. 

That was it for my 

children, but my 

grandchildren seem 

to have embraced 

the whole American 

Halloween experience. 

At least Halloween is quite close to 

bonfire night, so if you've got a lot of 

spookily-themed tat cluttering up the 

house, it can all be used for kindling on 

the 5th November! 

As you'll see from the image in the middle 

here, the Family Buzz is back. Our sister 

publication had an enforced, Autumnal hiatus this 

year due to forces beyond our control. It is back for 

the festive season with a wonderful cover created by 

Bloom-Chique photography. Pick up a copy of the 

Buzz to find out more. 

I hope you all have a wonderful end to 2016, whether 

you favour a quiet and contemplative festive period 

or a noisy & raucous one. Personally, I'm hoping for 

a bit of both! 

Tricia 


KENT & EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY 

Santa Specials 

A gift from Santa on a 

steam train to the ‘North Pole’ 

Book NoW 

to secure your preferred December date. 

16 

Book Tickets Online 

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Kent & East Sussex 

Railway 



Historic House & Gardens 

Discover this beautiful historic house in 7 acres 

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Tudor Christmas 3 rd & 4 th Dec 

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For every ticket you gift aid, you 

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We are a 36 acre site, with selected exhibits open for our 

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18 


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Tracey says, “I am so excited to be at Heringtons and working 

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Her work embraced 

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TOP TIPS TO LOOK FABULOUS by Michele Duke 

As the holiday season 

approaches, we all 

want to look our best. 

Here are my Top Tips 

for looking fabulous 

now… and forever. 

1. Skin care comes 

first. For women and 

men. The wind and cold plays havoc with 

your skin so you need to do a little work 

to get it in tip top condition. Nothing 

will make you look better (and more 

youthful!) than healthy, glowing skin. 

2. Exfoliate. Your skin will love you for it. 

Exfoliation clears away all the dead cells 

that are sitting on your face (yuk, eh?) 

and making your skin look lifeless and 

dull. Be careful which products you buy, 

though. Microbeads are killing all the 

little fishies so ensure you get a natural 

product. 

3. Once you’ve sloughed off all that 

dead skin, you need to nurture the skin 

so choose a rich moisturiser for mature 

skin. Your day cream needs an SPF of 

at least 15, and don’t forget your night 

cream. Most of our cell regeneration 

takes place at night, so make sure you 

are giving your body all the help it can 

get. I love to use botanically-based 

products and avoid any parabens 

or other toxins. My mantra is that I 

wouldn’t put anything on my face that 

I wouldn’t put in my mouth. You’d be 

amazed how many high-street products 

that eliminates! 

4. If you wear foundation, chose one 

suitable for more mature skins. As skin 

ages, it gets drier, pores get bigger and, 

of course, wrinkles appear. You want to 

use richer, more moisturising liquids or 

mineral powders rather than a pressed 

powder. If you prefer, use a tinted 

moisturiser or CC cream (I love these). 

Always bear in mind that you are aiming 

to correct and diminish imperfections, 

not colour your face. Test the colour on 

your neck or jawbone and choose an 

exact match – you shouldn’t be able to 

see it. 

5. As we get older, lips become thinner 

and fade. I encourage my clients to try 

this trick. Find a lovely, creamy lip pencil 

in the perfect shade for you. Use it to 

outline and fill in the lips. Then add a 

lip gloss in a different shade. If you have 

two or three different gloss shades you 

can ring the changes without having to 

invest in expensive lipsticks. Top tip… 

avoid matte lipsticks. You need gloss 

and glow! 

6. Accentuate eyes with a soft pencil 

rather than liner which can be too harsh. 

Or wet an angled brush and use a little 

eye shadow to create a soft outline. A 

moisturising mascara will nurture your 

eyelashes with a more natural look than 

the heavy “false eyelashes” look of 

many popular brands. A subtle palette 

of brown, cream and gold is perfect for 

most women although if you want a pop 

of colour, go for it. You might want to 

avoid harsh blues and violets as they 

won’t do you any favours. 

7. Highlighters can make a real 

difference if you know how to use 

them, and contouring can add a whole 

new dimension but I recommend you 

get somebody to show you how to use 

them. Don’t brush these things aside as 

a fad for youngsters – as we get older we 

need all the help we can get so embrace 

the new ideas and include them if they 

work for you. 

8. Why not go along to a makeup party 

or workshop to learn new techniques, 

try out different products and find the 

perfect look for your party season! 

I am Michèle Duke and I help women 

look and feel fabulous. Come along 

to one of my make-up or skin care 

workshops or a personal styling 

session to learn how to look your best. 

They’re free, informal and lots of fun. 

Call me on 07801 621310 for more 

details. Check out my website at www. 

micheleduke.co.uk for more tips and 

ideas. 

DENTURE 

WEARERS 

Trim Feet Podiatry 

Treat your feet for the festive season! 

Call today for your 

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Our treatments include: 

Nails, corns and callus, fungal nail treatments, insoles/orthotics, 

biomechanical assessments, soft tissue and joint mobilisation, wildepedique 

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Customer parking is available outside the clinic. 

57 Cooden Sea Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN39 4SL 

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20 


CONNECTIONS 

A singles club for go ahead people over 55 

www.connectionsover50.co.uk 

Lots of events: 

meals out, walks, cinema etc. 

Come and join our friendly club. 

Send us an email from our website or 

email us directly at connections50es@gmail.com 

Canvas Prints 

Party Banners 

Outdoor Banners 

Giant Posters 

All other print 

available. Please 

contact us for 

details. 

01424 787771 

hello@rotherprint.org 

www.rotherprint.org 

or just pop in... 

www.smile-connect.com 

Smile-Connect.com enables you to meet people 

with similar interests and create the social life 

you always wanted 

Contact Sharon on: 07984 803907 

email: smile@smile-connect.com 

magazine advert.indd 1 12/10/2016 10:57:05 



Grand christmas 

concert 

2nd Dec, 7pm. 

St Clement’s Church, 

Old Town, Hastings. 

Festive music, soloists, 

choirs, sing along, mince 

pies and mulled wine. 

Adults £10/under 16s 

£5. Tickets from Hastings 

information centre or 

Pay on the door (subject 

to availability) Concert 

in aid of Hastings Sierra 

Leone Friendship link. 

December Art Show 

2016 

2nd till 7th Dec, 10am 

till 6pm - 

The Powdermills Hotel, 

Powdermills Lane, Battle. 

An exciting and varied 

selection of affordable 

Art. 5 talented Artists will 

be displaying their work 

for sale. Gifts and cards 

will also be for sale, entry 

is free. 

Street Market 

3rd Dec, Kings Road, St 

Leonards. 

The road is closed to 

traffic to allow local 

people and traders to sell 

a huge variety of goods 

from food to fashion, 

bread to bric-a-brac. Tel 

01424 721803 

Christmas Market 

at Eastbourne 

Bandstand 

3rd - 18th Dec, 10am to 

9pm. 

Eastbourne Bandstand, 

Grand Parade, 

Eastbourne. 

Traditional Christmas 

stalls selling a wide 

range of handmade 

gifts and local produce 

along with a Santa’s 

grotto, fairground 

rides, Christmas carols, 

mulled wine and live 

performances on the 

bandstand stage! 

www. 

eastbournebandstand. 

co.uk 

Bexhill Santa Dash 

3rd December, De La 

Warr Pavilion, Bexhill. 

Bexhill Lions Club is 

holding the town's 4th 

annual Santa Dash. 

Santas will dash along 

the seafront towards 

Brookfield Road. 

bexhill-lions.org 

Vintage & Retro 

Indoor Market 

3rd & 4th Dec, 11am to 

5pm 

The Birch Room, 

Hastings Pier, Hastings. 

A pop-up, indoor market 

on Hastings Pier. Vintage, 

retro and collectables, in 

a unique and beautiful 

space. And it's free. 

Tudor Christmas at 


3rd & 4th Dec 11am to 

4pm 



See how the Tudor’s 

celebrated Christmas 

with food, archery, 

crafts and traditional 

entertainment, 

Festivities on Sunday 4th 

December will include a 

Sussex Folk Carol service 

during the afternoon. 


Santa fun run & 

walk at Eastbourne 

Seafront 

4th Dec, 1.30pm. 

Grand Parade, 

Eastbourne. 

See a host of Santa’s 

jingling down the prom 

as they raise money for 

charity at this fun family 

event. 

www.myaware.org/ 

event/626-santa-funrun-walk/event_details 

Christmas at 


10th, 11th, 17th & 18th 

December 11am to 4pm 



Festive fun for all the 

family. Crafts, a trail 

& more. A variety of 

Christmas Workshops for 

adults and children. 


Panto at the White 

Rock - Peter Pan 

16th to 31st Dec, from 

11am 

The White Rock Theatre, 

White Rock, Hastings. 

Set sail with your 

shipmates and head for 

Neverland this Christmas 

as you’ll be hooked 

on the swashbuckling 

pantomime adventure 

Peter Pan. 

www.whiterocktheatre. 

org.uk 

Christmas polyphony 

18th Dec, 7.45 pm 

All Saints’ Chapel, 

Meads, Eastbourne. 

A concert of carols & 

seasonal songs with 

Polyphony Voices In 

Harmony a cappella & 

accompanied by piano , 

flute & accordion. Tickets 

£5.50 at Eastbourne 

Blind Society or Bonners 

Music Store or £6.50 

at the door. Proceeds in 

WINTER FAIR 

Sat 3rd & Sun 4th December 

South of England Showground, Ardingly RH17 6TL 

A magical winter retreat packed full of original Christmas gifts & greetings 

ideas, scrumptious food & drink to enjoy or buy as gifts, live music and 

street entertainment. Santa will be welcoming visitors to his magical 

Grotto with a pair of real reindeer on meet & greet duty. 

Adults £5; seniors/students £4; children under 16 free with a paying adult. 

01444 892700 www.seas.org.uk/winter-fair 

aid of the EBS. Charity 

raffle, interval & bar . 

Muskrat Ramblers at 

the Deanland Jazz 

Club 

20th. Dec, 7.30 - 

10.30pm. 

Inn on the Park, 

Deanland Road, (off the 

A22) at Golden Cross. 

Dance floor, raffle & 

Brolly Parade. £8, food 

available. 

Tel 01825 872406 

Christmas Concerts 

at Eastbourne 

Bandstand 

10.30am to 12pm 

Christmas Day, 11am to 

12.30pm Boxing Day. 


Grand Parade, 

Eastbourne. 

A popular and 

longstanding tradition, 

Eastbourne Silver Band 

& the Ray Campbell 

Dance band present free, 

festive concerts. No ticket 

required. 


co.uk 

Boxing Day Tea 

Dance 

26th Dec, 2pm to 5pm 

Winter Gardens, 

Compton St., 

Eastbourne. 

Dance off the Christmas 

excesses at the annual 

Boxing Day Tea Dance. 

Three hours of ballroom 

magic with Chris 

Mannion. £8 


New Years Day 

Concert at Eastbourne 

Bandstand 

11am to 12.30pm, 1st Jan. 


Grand Parade, 

Eastbourne. 

A FREE concert by the 

Ray Campbell dance 

band. 


co.uk

Phoenix Gardening 

All aspects of garden maintenance - pruning, planting beds & borders, 

grass cutting, weeding, clearance, veg plots & allotments 

plus shed maintenance & patio\deck cleaning 

Reasonable rates - per hour\day\job. Always happy to quote. 

Registered Waste Licence Holder 

neilsgarden@yahoo.com 

Call Neil 07958 408667 

Covering Hastings, St Leonards, Bexhill, 

Battle, Fairlight, Rye 

Regain the freedom 

of your home with 

an Acorn Stairlift 

Next day installation available 

365-day local support 

Free survey and quotation 

“ Be safe with a stairlift; 

the perfect solution to your 

problems with the stairs.” 

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0800 016 9132 

CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE SURVEY AND QUOTE 

Gardening tips for late Autumn/early Winter 

by Phoenix Gardening 

Autumn is a busy time of the gardening year, plenty of leaves 

to pick up. If you don’t mind it looking a little untidy you can 

always leave them on borders (as long as they’re not smothering 

any plants) but they probably won’t stay there. You do need to 

remove leaves from lawns as they’ll starve the underlying grass 

of light and kill it off. Also, whilst you’re raking up the leaves, 

especially if you use a spring rake, you can scarify the grass at 

the same time. 

Finish planting any spring 

bulbs if you haven’t done so 

already. It’s also time to prune 

blackcurrants, gooseberries, 

and raspberries. Autumn 

fruiting raspberries can be 

cut to just above ground 

level as they fruit on this 

seasons’ growth. Summer fruiting raspberries fruit on the canes 

produced the previous season so you cut out only the canes 

that fruited, leaving the newer greener canes to fruit next year. 

Not sure what you have? Generally, autumn fruiting raspberries 

are self-supporting, summer fruiting raspberries tend to have 

more arching canes and need to be tied in. One way of pruning 

summer fruiting raspberries is to tie new canes to one side. You 

can then tie new canes to the other ‘free’ side and when it’s 

pruning time cut out the fruited canes on the other. 

Early winter - If your mower is going into storage, now is a good 

time to give it a service. We can also take hardwood and root 

cuttings. Protect any vulnerable plants from frost. If practical, 

you can protect alpines from winter wet with a pane of glass. If 

you’ve stored bulbs, corms and tubers check them periodically 

to make sure they remain in good condition and remove any 

that aren’t. 


LIVING THE 

ALEXANDER 

WAY OF LIFE 

by Liz Jeffries 

Yes folks it’s that time again! 

Christmas is coming, the goose 

is getting fat (or nut roast). 

I’m one of the lucky ones in 

that my other half does the 

cooking. That is lucky for me 

and also extremely lucky for 

those who would otherwise 

have to grin and bear mine. 

Mind you, I do all the driving, 

which means no drinking, so 

that’s my Christmas sacrifice 

sorted! 

We do rush around trying to 

make everything perfect and I 

am as guilty of that as anyone. 

However, we also know that 

really it’s the people we spend 

Christmas with who make 

the occasion (a few dodgy 

relatives apart). Therefore, I 

am really in favour of spending 

a little time on ourselves and 

our mental wellbeing, rather 

than worrying whether the 

last bit of tinsel is in place. I 

recommend and hope you will 

join me in this endeavour. 

So, here’s what we will do: 

• At whatever time suits us we 

will lie down for ten minutes. 

This is best done on the floor 

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie... 

with the head resting on a 

couple of books. If you are not 

able to use the floor, then use 

the bed. 

• Your feet should be flat on 

the floor, hip width apart, with 

knees up over the feet. 

-Starting with the feet and 

working up the body think 

about releasing the muscle 

tension. Pay particular 

attention to the shoulders and 

neck 

• The important bit! Let go 

of any chattering in the head. 

Really feel the body and mind 

releasing tension 

If you suffer from headaches 

or tension, this will be great for 

you. One of my pupils suffered 

with debilitating headaches 

for three years and following 

Alexander Technique sessions, 

which included constructive 

rest (lying down) his headaches 

started to disappear. He still 

does it every day. Of course 

with so many things on our 

mind we will forget to do this. 

So, when you are singing, or 

listening to, carols and this one 

(see above) comes up (which 

will be every time) that will be 

your trigger to find time to lie 

down. If anyone questions it, 

tell them it is an essential part 

of your Christmas preparation 

and peace of mind and, 

therefore, everyone else will 

benefit! Have a very merry 

and peaceful Christmas and a 

stonking New Year. 

The Alexander Technique can 

help with any musculo/skeletal 

problem, tension and stress 

conditions. I’ve started new 

group drop in sessions at the 

Wellington Centre, Hastings. 

Do get in touch if you would 

like to know more. 

www.MovingU4ward.co.uk 

01424 465838/07929 725156 

Golden Times offer: The first 

3 Golden Times readers who 

contact me can come along for 

a free introductory individual 

or group session 

Grasp the Will Aid opportunity this November – 

and help Stephen Rimmer LLP Solicitors build a better world 

Local Hastings and Eastbourne solicitors firm, Stephen 

Rimmer LLP, is showing it cares by participating in Will 

Aid this November. 

We will be offering readers the 

opportunity to have a simple Will, 

professionally drawn up and we 

will not be earning a penny. 

To raise as much money as 

possible for Will Aid, we will draw 

up basic Wills without charge, 

in the hope that our clients will 

make a donation to the Will Aid 

charities. The suggested donation level is £95 for a 

single basic Will, £150 for a pair of Wills. 

The money raised is shared by nine of the UK's best 

known charities all of whom work to transform the lives 

of people in the UK and around the world: ActionAid, 

Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, 

Save the Children, Sightsavers, SCIAF (Scotland) and 

Trocaire (N. Ireland). 

Making a Will is one of the most thoughtful and 

important things you can do to protect those you love. 

Yet it is surprising that fewer than half of people have 

made one. Most say they simply haven't got around 

to it and yet it can take years to sort out someone's 

estate if they die without a Will, leaving their nearest 

and dearest in great distress. 

So, grasp the opportunity to make 

a proper, valid will to ensure your 

wishes will be carried out after 

death and to avoid the kind of 

family disputes, financial worries 

and legal battles that can ensue 

when someone dies without a 

proper will. 

For further information or to 

make an appointment to make a Will please call: 

Jo Osman at Stephen Rimmer LLP on 01323 644222 

Nicholas Manning from Stephen Rimmer LLP solicitors 

based in Eastbourne & Hastings in the UK said: “We 

are very proud of our team for giving up their time and 

using their skills for one month every single year for 

the last 10 years. 

“Will Aid is a superb initiative which targets the many 

Britons without a will as well as helping raise money 

for some of the most vulnerable people in society. 

“This year we hope to add even more to the pot.” 

24 


䈀甀礀椀渀最漀爀匀攀氀氀椀渀最礀漀甀爀栀漀洀攀 

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アパート㈀アパート㘀㐀㐀㈀㈀㈀眀眀眀 ⸀ 猀琀攀瀀栀攀渀爀椀洀洀攀爀 ⸀ 挀漀洀 


with 

MIKE RAXWORTHY 

With the lead up to Christmas we have a lot of live music 

to look forward to. 

Check out these fantastic bands at The Jenny Lind, 

High Street Hastings Old Town. Friday November 11th at 

8.30pm sees the cream of Hastings musicians gigging out 

as Bobby Fuego and his Fat Fingers of Funk. 

Sunday December 4th get to see King Size Slim at 4pm 

playing his very own style of blues... superb! If you like 

swing and you with haven't got a hangover - check out The 

Swinging 

MIKE 

Dice 

RAXWORTHY 

direct from France at 4pm Sunday 1st 

January! 

If you fancy a party night you’ll 

just love The Christmas Soul 

Party at St.Mary in the Castle on 

Saturday December 10th. Doors 

open at 7pm and it features Soul 

X Press and their 15 piece BLUES 

BRO SHOW, The 10 piece STAX of 

MOTOWN, The Fabulous KYTES 

plus the comeback withof 

Hastings 

veteran MIKE band RAXWORTHY 

THE JUKES ! Tickets 

are £8.50 in advance from the 

Tourist Information Centre on Hastings seafront or £10 on 

the door. 

ALL proceeds are divided between St.Michael’s Hospice 

and The Surviving Christmas Charity. Have a great time at 

the same time as supporting these two fantastic charities! 

The Kino in Norman Road, St Leonards is a great casual 

setting to watch films as well as a superb venue to enjoy 

music. I wouldn’t normally recommend a disco but W en dy 

Mays Christmas Locomotion will be worth a visit. Don’t go 

if you don’t dance, but if you like to party Wendy plays the 

best in Soul, Motown and Northern Soul classics... Some 

so rare that you’ll be asking where you can find them. 

Wendy was with Capital Radio in London for many years 

and knows her stuff! It’s on Friday Dec 23rd and tickets are 

£6 available on the KINO website. 

Porters Wine Bar in the High Street, Hastings Old Town has 

some really top music coming up... 

Sunday Nov 20th at 4pm don’t miss Marie White, 

outstanding self-written songs along with her very own 

style of covers. Catch her now before she makes it big 

time! On Sunday 18th Dec try and catch Sam Calver - he’s 

just signed to a big record label so I hope to see great 

things ahead for him. Christmas Eve Liane Carrol will be 

there from 9pm with all sorts of Christmas songs - expect 

the Pogues for certain! 

The Albion in George Street, Hastings Old Town, as usual, 

offer a great mix for all musical tastes. Friday November 

18th at 9pm they have Dorey the Wise. Local band with 

a nationwide following - great original material with 

some covers. For Soul lovers the wonderful Karis and 

the Lost Weekend hit the stage on Fri Dec 16th at about 

9pm. If jazz is your bag, pop 

in and catch Rob Leake (great 

Sax player) and friends. It’s 

on Boxing Day for those who 

fancy getting away from tons 

of boring Christmas TV!. 

Zachary Dogwood play Printers 

Playhouse in Eastbourne on 

Thursday 8th December at 

their new location, 49a Grove 

Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4TX. 

This fabulous alternative outfit 

play catchy original, finely-crafted songs that groove 

along nicely. For the Printers Playhouse performance 

Zachary Dogwood will expand to an 8 piece line up and 

include a horn section. Recommended. 

Hopefully next time I can report on an exciting new venue 

opening up in November called The Palace. Formally 

The Pig in Paradise, it’s on Hastings sea front, and now 

refurbished to it’s former glory by Adam and Bob who only 

last year turned The Albion into a very successful beer, 

food and music venue. 

If you've got a live music venue you think our readers 

need to hear abut, then please get in touch. We'd love 

to feature more venues here, so please drop me a line at 

jason@goldentimes.co.uk. 

26 


Wholesome Irish Stew - Recipe by Faz Razeen 

Irish stew is a celebrated Irish dish, yet 

its composition is a matter of dispute. 

Purists maintain that the only acceptable 

and traditional ingredients are neck, 

mutton chops or alternatively beef, with 

potatoes, carrots, onions, and water. Irish 

stew is also made with young goat. 

Served up piping hot in a bowl, Irish stew 

makes a delicious lunch or dinner on a 

winters day, especially with a nice glass 

of red wine. 

Ingredients : 

600g Casserole steak, lamb or beef 

4-5 Large carrots 

3 Large onions. 

4 Large potatoes 

3 Cloves garlic, crushed 

2/3 Bay leaves 

1 Leek 

½ teaspoon fresh thyme 

Salt and pepper 

600ml Beef, lamb or chicken stock 

Method: 

Dice the meat into large pieces, season 

with salt and pepper, and rub with 

crushed garlic. Peel and cut carrots & 

potatoes into large chunks. Thickly slice 

the onions. Prepare your stock. 

Fry the meat for 6 mins on medium heat, 

until brown then transfer to a casserole 

dish. Add your stock, carrots, onions, and 

2 or 3 bay leaves. Place the potatoes on 

top of the stew, cover with lid or foil, then 

place in middle of an oven set at 160˚c 

(140˚c fan) or Gas Mk 3. Cook for 2hrs 10 

minutes, then add your sliced leek. Return to 

the oven for a further 20 minutes to cook 

the leeks. 


1066 Probus Club 

Meets 1st Thursday morning 

each month. 01424 423153 

Age Concern Social Club 

(Battle) Tel : Ruby Kiley 

01424 773536 

Age Concern Eastbourne 

William & Patricia Venton Centre 

Tel : 01323 638474 

Anderida Writers, E'bourne 

Tel: Tony Flood 01323 471726 or 

Elizabeth Wright 01323 503952 

Arlington Arts Group 

Thu eves, Arlington Village hall 

www.arlingtonartsgroup.co.uk 

Battle Lions Club 

battlelionsclub@gmail.com 

Tel : 0845 8335826 

Battle Rotary Club 

01424-774447 

battlerotary.org.uk 

Battle Writers Group 

Tel. Roy Chapman; 01424870520 

www.battlewriters.co.uk 

Bexhill Club of Past Rotarians 

Meets 2pm, 1st Wed each month, 

Northern Hotel, Sea Rd, Bexhill. 

Bexhill Down Afternoon 

Townswomen’s Guild 

Meets 2nd Weds each month 2pm 

Tel: 01424 216150 or 844639 

Bexhill Diabetes Support Group. 

www.bexhill-diabetes.co.uk 

01424 732878 or 214103 

Bexhill Harmony Ladies Choir 

Meets Thursday evenings 7pm 

Parkhurst Hall, Bexhill 

01424 844639 

www.bexhillharmony.co.uk 

Bexhill Hanoverian Study Group 

Local history club meets 3rd Tues 

each month 01424 212932 

Bexhill International Folk Dance 

Group 

1st & 3rd Thurs of each month 

01424 222382 

Bexhill & District Probus Club 

Meets 4th Thursday each month 

Tel : 01424 552872 

Bexhill Lions Club 

www.bexhill-lions.org 

Tel : 0845 8330591 

Bexhill Model Railway Club 

Meets weekly bexhillmrc.org.uk 

Tel :01424 225043 

Bexhill Marina Townswomen's 

Guild Tel: 01424 211140 

Bexhill Over 55 Club 

45 Eversley Rd. Bexhill 

Tel : 01424 212911 

Bexhill Rotary Club 

01424 843975 

bexhill.rotaryweb.org 

Bexhill Royal Air Forces Assoc. 

01424 212916 or 01424 532697 

bexhillrafa.co.uk 

Bexhill Royal British Legion 

bexhillroyalbritishlegionclub.co.uk 

01424 212215 

Bexhill Sailing Club 

Tel: 01424 212906 

bexhillsc.co.uk 

Bexhill Theatre Supporters Club 

Tel: 01424 213981 

Meets 1st Friday in the month. 

Breathe Easy Bexhill 

Supporting people with lung 

conditions 077616 98423 

Cercle Francais d’Eastbourne 

once a month on Friday 7.15pm 

Tel: 01323 504262 

www.cf-eastbourne.com 

Cooden Beach Sports & Social Club 

Tel: 01424 844810 

cbssc.co.uk 

Crafts 4 U Meets 1st Thursday of 

each month, St Marthas Church 

Hall, Little Common. 01424 

216242 or 853847 

Cuckmere Valley Petanque Club 

Sundays, Tues & Weds 

Tel: 01323 645120 

Diabetes UK, Hastings & Rother 

Voluntary Group 

Tel: 07974 356653 

Eastbourne AM Rotary Club 

www.eastbourneamrotary.org 

Eastbourne Angling Club 

eastbourneanglingclub.com 

Eastbourne Area Epilepsy Grp 

eaeg.org.uk 01323 504893 

Eastbourne Association of 

Sussex Folk 3rd Monday each 

month St Saviours Church Hall, 

South Street 7.30pm. 

Tel: 01323 763163 or 737073 

Eastbourne Lions Club 

www.eastbournelions.net 

Tel : 0845 8332705 

Eastbourne Dickens Fellowship 

7pm, 2nd Mon of each month at 

Arlington Arms, Seaside. 

01323 646659 or 471615 

Eastbourne Gilbert & Sullivan 

Society 

www.eastbournegands.com 

01323 767193 

Eastbourne & District Old Time 

Dancing Club 7.30 each Weds 

Summerheath Hall Hailsham 

01323 728332 

Eastbourne & District 

Osteoporosis Support Group 

2nd Tues of each month excl. 

Jan, Feb & Aug., 2.30pm, Victoria 

Baptist Curch, Eldon Rd, Ebourne 

Tel : 07591637753 

Eastbourne Model Powerboat 

Club www.empbc.org.uk 

01323 764220 

Eastbourne Photographic Society 

epscameraclub.co.uk 

Local Clubs & Associations 

Eastbourne & District Philatelic Soc. 

Meets each Thu at 7.30pm 

St John Ambulance Brigade HQ, 

Bourne St, Eastbourne. 

www.eastbournestampclub.co.uk 

Eastbourne Parkinsons' Assoc. 

Meet 4th Tues each month at 

Christ the King Catholic Church, 

Princes Rd 

Tel : 01273 512204 

Eastbourne Rotary Club 

eastbournerotary.org.uk 

Eastbourne Seniors Club 

Tel: 01323 728157 

eastbourneseniorsclub.org.uk 

Eastbourne Seniors Forum 

Tel: 01323 479846 

esf.online.org 

Eastbourne & District Trade 

Union Club 

48 Seaside, 01323 727703 

East Sussex Townswomen's Guild 

Tel: 01424 753108 or 

01424 213207 

Eastbourne and District 

Soroptimists (Women’s 

Organisation) 2nd and 4th 

Monday of the month 

01323 769004 sigbi.org.uk 

Friends of the E'bourne Hospital 

Tel: 01323 438236 

www.esht.nhs.uk/friends/ 

eastbourne 

The Green Lawn Tennis Club. 

68-70 Tower Rd West, St 

Leonards. Tennis for all ages. 

www.thegreenltc.co.uk or Phillip 

on 01424 422025 

Hailsham & District University of 

the Third Age 

contact: www.hailshamu3a.co.uk 

Hailsham Horticultural Soc. 

hailshamhorticulturalsociety. 

blogspot.uk 

Harbour Friends 

Wednesdays at the Sovereign 

Harbour Yacht Club 

harbourfriend@googlemail.com 

www.harbourfriends.co.uk 

Hastings Central Townswomen's 

Guild. 4th Friday of each month 

Unitarian Church, South Terrace, 

Hastings, 01424 754591 

Hastings & E Sussex Philatelic 

Society 

1st & 3rd Thu of each month 

at The John Taplin Centre, St 

Leonards. Tony Calton 01424 

434496 Chris Dadswell 01424 

44477 

Hastings Model Railway Club 

hastingsmrc.org.uk 

01424 754962 or 01424 753684 

Hastings and St Leonards 

Association of National Trust 

Members 

Contact: Mrs Anne Morris 

Telephone: 01424 437035 

Hastings & St. Leonards 

Country Dance Club 

Meets every Tuesday 7.45pm St. 

Matthew’s Church Centre 

hastingscountrydanceclub.org.uk 

Tel. 01424 753684 

Hastings & St. Leonards 

Ladies Miniature Golf Club 

Tues pm. White Rock Gdns. 

Rita 01424 718698 

Hastings Scottish Country Dance 

Club 

Thursdays, 7.30pm, Arthur 

Easton Centre, St Michaels 

Hospice. 

Hastings & Rother University of 

the 3rd Age 

Tel : Laura Wright 

initialenquiries.hru3a@gmail.com 

01424 719080 

Hastings & St Leonards 

Angling Association 

Tel: 01424 431923 

hstlaa.webs.com 


Royal Air Forces Association 

Tel: 01424 430250 

rafahastings.co.uk 


Seniors Forum 

01424 424693 hssf.org.uk 

Hastings & St.Leonards Veterans 

Association (HSVA) 

1st Sat each month 10:30 White 

Rock Hotel 01424 420541 

bob.marden@btinternet.com 

Hastings WW Social Club 

Meet at EHSAA on the stade 

Thu eves 8pm, Eunice Britten, 

Secretary - 01424 428694 

Heathfield & District 

Horticultural Society. 

heathfieldhorticultural.org.uk 

01435 830725 

Hooe Open Group (Ladies 

Club) Tel Edna Wallis on 01424 

842591 

Ladies Friendship Club 

Meet 1st Wed of the Month Tel: 

01424 848746 

Lions Club of Hastings 

Tel: 01424 435564 

hastingslions.org.uk 

Little Common Bridge Club 

Thu afternoon 01424 216746 

Little Common Horticultural 

Society Meets 2nd Friday Each 

month. Visit: www.lchs.co.uk 

Little Common Morning 

Townswomens Guild 

4th Thurs each month 

Tel 01424 843163 

Little Common Village Flower Club 

Meets Community Centre, 

2.15pm 4th Fri of the month. 

01424 213638 

Little Common Probus Club 

Meets 2nd Tuesday each month. 

01424 892428 

Old Hastings Club 

39a High St, Hastings. 

01424 43194 

Polegate Painting/Sketching 

Group Meets Mon 7pm and Tues 

9.45am Tel: 01323 484568 or 

487510 

Pett Royal British Legion 

Tel: 01424 814866 

Polegate Twinning Assoc. 

Participate in visits to France & 

Germany & other social events. 

Tel : 01323 486921 

Rotary Club of Senlac 

Meet every Wednesday 7.00 for 

7.30 at Cooden Beach Hotel 

Contact 01424 272012 

Website www.senlacrotary.org 

Rother Valley Design & Fine art Soc. 

Meet every 3rd Monday in the 

Month at 2.00pm 

01424 425099 or 07737316 183 

Rother Seniors Forum 

01424 870801 

rotherseniorsforum.org.uk 

Royal Signals Assoc. 

Meet 2nd Thurs each month 

8pm at TA centre on Seaside, 

Eastbourne. 01424 851701 

Royal Voluntary Service: 

Russel Centre, Eastbourne. 

Tel: 01323 412279 

Isabel Blackman Club, 

South Street, St Leonards. 

Tel: 01424 426090 

Rye & District Day Centre 

Tues & Weds each week 

01797 226535 

Rye & District Lions Club 

0845 8332825 

Rye Royal British Legion 

Tel: 01797 222564 

ryebritishlegion.org.uk 

Sidley Friendship Club 

3rd Monday of each month at All 

Saints Church Hall, Sidley. For 

over 50s. Tel 01424 730961 

Silverhill Townswomens Guild. 

1st Monday of each month, St 

Matthews Church Hall, Silverhill, 

St Leonards Tel 01424 436483 

Sovereign Polyphony 

Eastbourne's female harmony choir. 

www.sovereignpolyphony.com 

Sussex Community Development 

Association 

Isabel Blackman Centre, 

Winding Street, Hastings. 

Tel: 01424 446428 

Sussex Opera and Ballet Society 

Tel: 01323 640067 

www.sussexoperaandballetsociety.org.uk 

0800 255 0 255 

trustinblue.com 

Retired Police 

Handymen 

Trusted and reliable handyman services for families, individuals and businesses 

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28 


Lunch out with old work colleagues 

for good food and a catch up? 

A pre Christmas family get together, 

or a candle lit dinner? 

From a romantic meal for two, to 

a special celebration dinner for 40 

we’ve got a menu for you. 

Award winning British Food 

Open daily from 9:30, 

Serving Breakfast, Lunch and Evening Meals. 

www.callendersrestaurant.co.uk 

Winner 

2016 

To a delightful lunch in our 

Garden Room Restaurant 

Or try our Richmond Luncheon Club 

Every Monday - 2 Course Special Price £8.95 

Advance Reservations only 01424-212836 

Pre-Christmas, Christmas & Boxing Day menus now available 

Open daily for Morning Coffee, 

Welcome, we are Open to the Public for Morning Coffee, Luncheon 

& Bar Snacks in our Garden Room Restaurant & The Wellington 

Lounge 

Luncheons, Welcome, Bar. 

we are Open to Bar the Public Snacks. 

for Morning Coffee, Luncheon 

Additional & Bar Snacks Services in our by advance Garden reservations: Room Restaurant Evening & The Meals, 

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Afternoon Lounge Bar. Teas, Functions, Buffets, Club Meetings & Coffee 

Mornings. 

Additional Services by advance reservations: Evening Meals, 

Please by advance reservations 

Afternoon call in for Teas, further Functions, information 

Buffets, Club Meetings & Coffee 

Mornings. 

Please call in for further information 

Afternoon Tea, Functions & Evening Meals 

The Northern Hotel, 76 Sea Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN40 1JN 

Tel: 01424 212836 

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If so, why not join the rapidly growing 

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GLADYS GALLIVANTS - AN AUSSIE EXPERIENCE 

This month we're featuring some travel memoirs from reader 

Gladys Lopato. Eagle eyed readers may recognise her as a 

former contributor to our Creative Writing Corner. 

Widowed at 40 while living in South Africa, I remember my 

father saying, “You are on your own again, go out and see 

the world.” “Dad, I didn’t want to put on a rucksack at 20 

what makes you think I can do it at 40.” 

At the grand old age of 50, there I was, through customs 

and ready to board a plane, equipped with a travel card to 

be activated on arrival in Brisbane. This would enable me 

to phone book my onward bus journey to towns up and 

down the coast. I had also joined YHA – once only for 

youth but now embracing all ages. At each hostel the office 

could reserve accommodation at my next destination, the 

modern way to travel in 1998. 

This was the time when many South Africans were 

considering alternative countries to make their home. For 

three months I would travel and both explore the country 

and possibility of buying a business. The only way an older 

person without university degrees could hope to relocate 

to Australia was on a business visa. The plan was to 

backpack – in a sort of posh way down the east coast, 

with holiday gear and my power suit for interviews. 

The rookie traveller signed in at a backpacker hotel in 

Cairns. “Hi there, here’s your bedding roll you are in room 

33.” I struggled up the stairs with hand case, backpack 

and roll walking along the open first floor passage which 

overlooked a swimming pool in the centre, the kitchen/ 

diner to one side. I felt the eyes of many at pub style 

seating with anything from a mug of tea, a bottle of beer 

or plate of dinner before them, speculating on the latest 

arrival. 

What a shock on opening the door of No. 33, there was a 

small double bed with pillows at the far end below a tiny 

window – no curtains, a row of wall hooks for clothes and 

towel, a corner basin not even a mirror above. Due to the 

bed almost filling the room a fold up stool was propped 

against the wall. This was the luxury accommodation ! 

Dutifully I made my bed and stashed my 

luggage underneath, prior to heading 

downstairs to reconnoitre the communal 

eating area. I must have looked a bit 

overawed. “And how can I be of help to this 

bewildered lady ?” queried a friendly Irish 

postman. He was the leader of a group 

from Ireland exploring the East coast. 

Connor took me in hand, found a stray mug and shared 

his tea bag and his expertise. “For Au$10 deposit you 

get the eating tool draw string bag consisting of a plate, 

bowl, mug and utensils from the office.” He indicated 

the far wall of the kitchen, “Find yourself a pigeon hole to 

store the bag and any food stuffs. Fridge food you put in 

a plastic bag on which you write your room number and 

leaving date. If after you’ve left, anyone finds food in your 

bag, its fair game !” I was certainly learning fast. 

I booked a day trip to the Reef on a huge catamaran 

starting from Port Douglas. The cat would moor up to 

a huge platform in a specially designated area. While 

the boat sailed to its destination we were advised of all 

the activities available. They ranged from scuba diving if 

you had your certificate to different exploratory trips with 

experts in charge. I chose to snorkel with fins in a roped off 

zone and experience the fish darting past while marvelling 

at the amazing colours of the coral. No one mentioned 

that the sea was 30 metres deep where we were floating. 

I spent many hours in the ocean and missed the trip to a 

rocky outcrop with a marine biologist. The water was an 

incredible blue and I was totally mesmerised by the whole 

vista. 

After a sumptuous cold lunch of sea foods, salads and 

weird tropical fruits, I explored the Reef from a submersible 

carrying 30 passengers. That too was mind blowing as we 

edged down between the gullies and saw the hiding places 

of crabs and other crustaceans. 

I was also offered a travel business in Alice Springs but 

that is another story. 

Merry Christmas 

& a Happy New Year 

To all of our readers, we hope you enjoyed reading Golden Times in 2016 and look forward to seeing all of you 

again in 2017. Golden Times will return with a fuzzy head and a pocket full of new year's resolutions at the start 

of January 2017. Make sure you get your copy! 

If you would like to advertise with us in 2017, please get in touch with Matt on 0203 137 2406. 

The copy deadline for the next magazine will be Friday the 9th of December 2016. 

30 


Hands Up!for 

Chestnut Tree 

Give a local child a smile 

this Christmas 

Chestnut Tree, the children’s hospice for Sussex, provides care all year round, both at the hospice and in 

families’ own homes. Christmas can be a difficult time for our families and we always try to make it special for 

them. There are lots of ways you can get involved in festive fundraising and give a child a smile this Christmas. 

Christmas cards 

Help Chestnut Tree by buying your Christmas cards 

from us. Every year we put together a range of cards 

featuring lovely designs to suit all tastes. This year’s 

range includes a delightful ‘Finger Print Robins’ design 

created by six-year-old Jude, who is cared for by 

Chestnut Tree. You can buy the cards, which come in 

packs of ten, at any of our charity shops or they are 

available through our website, 

www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/onlineshop. 

Share a card 

Save time, expense and the environment this Christmas 

by taking part in Share a Card for Chestnut Tree. We 

will give you a big Christmas card to display at your 

school or workplace and instead of sending individual 

cards, everyone signs one card and donates the money 

they’ve saved to Chestnut Tree. Just call the 

Fundraising Team on 01323 725095 for your free 

Christmas card. 

Get festive! 

Have some cracking Christmas fun and put your Hands 

Up! to support your local children’s hospice at the 

same time. You could hold a dress-down day and 

encourage everyone to wear their favourite Christmas 

jumpers, or you might want to wear elf hats, reindeer 

antlers or Santa suits (available to purchase from us) 

while you go Christmas carolling. You could even run a 

Christmas raffle and hold a special Christmas party. 

These are just a few of the ways you can get involved 

in some festive fundraising fun. 

For more information and to get your free fundraising 

pack, please call on 01323 725095 or sign up at 

www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/getfestive 

Thank you for whatever you can do to help and Merry Christmas from all of us at Chestnut Tree! 

On Friday 9 December 2016 organise some festive fun and show your 

support for Chestnut Tree (or choose another date if you wish) 

www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/getfestive 01323 725095 

Registered Charity No To 256789 advertise in Golden Times call Matt on 020 3137 2406 or email mattm@media-shed.co.uk 31

Introducing a full 

range of ear care 

services at the 

Wellington Centre 

in Hastings 

Hearing fundamentally a ects balance, communication and 

cognitive function. Look no further than your neglected ears 

to improve your quality of life easily, and signi cantly. 

Ear wax 

removal 

Hearing 

aids 

Customised 

sleep and swim 

plugs 

Polegate • London Bridge • Clapham • Dorking • Hastings • Ashford, Middlesex • Eastbourne • East Grinstead 

01424-442520 • 0330-332-6242 

hello@hearology.uk • www.hearology.uk

Golden Times November/December 2016

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