July17

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO SEE
The world's sunniest and most exhilarating smashhit
musical arrives in Brighton this August and we
have a FREE pair of tickets available for the lucky
winner of this issue's competition.
Set on a Greek island, the story follows Sophie's
quest to discover the identity of her father and is
told cleverly through the timeless songs of ABBA.
This irresistibly funny show, which has been
delighting audiences worldwide since 1999, will run
at the Brighton Centre from the 15th of August until
the 3rd of September this year.
To be in with a chance of seeing the show with a
friend, absolutely free, all you have to do
is send us the missing word from the title
of this ABBA hit from 1977:
THANK YOU FOR THE _____
Answers (and your contact details) on a
postcard to "Golden Times, 78 Elphinstone
Rd, Hastings, TN34 2BS or you can email
your answer to win@goldentimes.co.uk.
One correct entry will be picked at random.
Good luck, entry closes 28/7/17
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Tickets are valid to see Mamma Mia! at The Brighton
Centre on Wednesday 16th August 2017 at 7.30pm only.
1 pair of tickets per winner only. At least 1 adult must
be present. No purchase necessary. Tickets are nonexchangeable.
Winners will be required to collect their
tickets from box office on the night of the show. Any travel
and accommodation will not be included in the prize.
In May this year we received an email from Juley Ross
telling us about a poem written by her late mother,
Jeanne Pitcher, who enjoyed reading Golden Times.
Juley writes:
The poem " Rain on the Tea Gardens" is very precious to
our family and I'd love to tell you the fascinating story if I
may.
Mum and Dad spent many years in Norfolk although they
were both from Eastbourne. For a couple of years they
moved back to Hailsham, and one of their favourite haunts
was the lovely tea gardens actually attached to Pevensey
castle. Of course mum was inspired to write this lovely
poem. It was framed and presented to the owners who
proudly hung it in the restaurant. Sadly this premises was
closed and was derelict for 8 years, happily re-opening
last summer - 2016. I asked the new owners if they
knew of the whereabouts of the poem, but sadly it had
disappeared. Mum was by now in a nursing home, and
last year I promised Mum I would take a new picture of the
cafe, and present it to those new people. I arranged for the
picture to be printed and framed. So sadly, my Mum took
to her bed and passed away very quickly just before her
birthday in October 2016.
Mum was cremated at Langney nearby,and our
lovely crowd of guests and family were able to have a
magnificent afternoon tea at the Castle Team Rooms,
where we presented the owners and staff with dear Mum's
beautifully printed poem where it now proudly hangs
Rain On The tea garden
by Jeanne K Pitcher
Furled are the sunshades over the
tables,
No pretty china set for tea,
Pink serviettes so familiar are
absent,
Rainwater dripping from every tree.
This is the cottage that stands by the castle,
Carefully built beside old Roman walls.
Spirits of Normans on grey charging horses
Ride silently past – and still the rain falls.
Raindrops, like tears, on the bright yellow
pumpkins
That grow in this garden down by the gate,
Wet leaves that lend shelter to little brown
sparrows,
Stop searching for cake crumbs, they patiently
wait.
Ours are the footsteps, ours and no others,
That sound on the red brick path to the door,
And inside, hot tea, soft music and flowers,
We look for new sunbeams on the Castle Cottage
floor.
Copyright Jeanne K Pitcher.
16
Find us online at www.goldentimes.co.uk