East Dean with Friston Parish Magazine May 2020 online edition

East Dean with Friston
Parish Magazine
Volume 74 May 2020 No 875
Special Online Edition – Stay at Home

From David
Baker, Rector
01323 423266
davidbaker1966@gmx.co.uk
Lockdown notes
The strangest of of times, as as
we all know. Devoid of of all
the usual visitors and tourists,
those of of us us who live here find
ourselves with the unexpected
pleasure of of having it it all all to to
ourselves. The sunshine has
helped, of of course. The endless
days of of sun and warmth have
been one positive thing as as we
all all navigate this strange and
unfamiliar land of of lockdown.
Our churches continue – with
services put up up on on Youtube
for each Sunday (top of of
page); a a new mid-week
weekly gathering on Zoom; a a
myriad of of new WhatsApp
groups, and small groups also
meeting via Zoom rather than in in
person. In In some ways, for those
online we are closer than ever.
It's a a time for all all of of us us to to reflect, to to
reassess; perhaps to to hear for the first
time the message of of Jesus
clearly: “It doesn’t have
to to be be like this – you have
a a choice… Repent, turn
around, wake up – believe
the good news.” For those
who want to to think about
these things, we hope to to
run a a course, “Life
Explored” – get in in touch
to to find out more.
Thank you to to everyone
who is is doing so so much at at
this time to to help us us all all get
through.
“Teach us us to to number our
days aright – that we may
gain a a heart of of wisdom,”
(Psalm 90:12).
Sincerely, David Baker (Rector)

The Bulldog Spirit
On May 8 th as a nation we will be celebrating the 75 th anniversary of VE Day, the end
of almost six bruising and terrifying years. Who would have dreamt that at the same
time we would be wondering if the grim ‘war’ in which the whole world is involved
will end in the foreseeable future. When the last magazine was produced, I dared to
suggest that the next issue might be an electronic one, provided enough of you did
the ground work and submitted articles to replace the usual reports and promotions.
I should have known you would rise to the challenge! So here we are, breaking new
ground. For the first time ever, and hopefully uniquely, the magazine is being
distributed online.
The magazine first appeared as a regular village publication in 1904, and has appeared
continuously since 1947, when paper shortages and wartime restrictions lifted. There
have been changes, of course: from A4 to A5 after the war, from single sheet to
multiple pages, from black and white covers to beautiful colour photographs. (Thank
you, Carol Starr, for this month’s view down Hobbes Eares.) And now, for the shortterm,
we are producing something different yet again.
There is one problem, though. Not everyone in the village is online, and so if at all
possible please show the generosity of spirit for which the village is renowned. Print a
copy for your neighbour! I hope that they, and you, will enjoy a very different
magazine drawing on the rich talents of our village.
Some articles have been held over for future issues; they are no less valued. I would
like to think that this is a one-off, and I can’t guarantee to do the same every month.
But what we can all be thankful for is that we really are all fighting the same war, with
the same resolve shown all those years ago. Christine
Staying at home, taken by Christine Holliday
1

Church Wide Fellowship
Little did we realise at our well-attended
meeting on March 10 th , listening to Freddie
Strong’s Lent reflections, that this would be
our last one for the foreseeable future. We
knew that the Coronavirus was started to
take a grip, but back then we had no idea we
and the rest of the world would be in various
states of lockdown within less than two
weeks. For the first time ever churches and
other places of worship closed their doors,
and Easter was celebrated in a “virtual”
way. But how fortunate we are to live in
such a beautiful part of the country, with a
strong network of community support and
neighbourly concern. At present we don’t
know how long this situation will last, but
we can be optimistic and hope that perhaps
we will be able to meet again for our annual
church service on the second Tuesday in
October. Until then, take care and stay safe.
Oh, and just a little personal postscript: it
was ten years ago that I first joined the
CWF, recruited by the redoubtable Mollie
Bertin who lived a few doors away. Mollie
and her sparring partner Evelyn Taylor ran
the meetings then, and the first one I
attended was on February 9 th 2010: a talk on
the sea and sailing given by Lys and Rob
Page… I haven’t missed many since and
have met some wonderful people through
the Group.
Christine Holliday
I would like to thank
all those who sent
cards, messages of
sympathy and
donations on behalf of Martin. They were
very much appreciated by all the family.
Francine Judd
Residents’ Association
I am sure I can speak for all our residents in
sending our grateful thanks to our local
shopkeepers, Michael, Sam and their teams
for their great efforts in keeping us supplied
throughout this Corona Virus lock-down. I
do hope residents continue to support these
businesses after restrictions are lifted. The
epidemic just shows how much we need
them. The market on a Wednesday has also
helped keep us going with fresh fish,
vegetables, bread and cakes, all available in
the open air and well managed by Miranda
ensuring social distancing guidelines are
observed.
Also what a wonderful job our Community
Watch team, together with a number of
volunteers, are doing in looking out for the
most vulnerable folk in our village. It is
remarkable to see the way we all rise to the
demands of a crisis.
Our thanks to all those helping to keep us
safe during this difficult time.
Stay well and until things change, keep
following the Government guidelines.
Bob Salmon, Chairman, Residents’
Association
Also mentioned in emails: ‘… Sharon at the
doctor’s for putting herself at the forefront
to make sure the villagers are all medicated,
and a big thank you to our wonderful village
postmen.’
Community Watch volunteers continue
to help with shopping, collecting and
delivering prescriptions, as well as a variety
of small tasks, such as changing lightbulbs,
walking dogs and carrying heavy items up
the garden.
These are not all that we can help with and,
remember, this is a community initiative
with no costs at all involved.
We follow the social distancing rules with a
cheerful smile included, so please don’t
hesitate to ask by phoning 423311 or
423101or 423611
Joan Colin

Church Information
Registered Charity No. 1131638
www.edfj.co.uk
Rector Revd David Baker, The Rectory, Gilberts Drive, East Dean
BN20 0DL 423266 email: davidbaker1966@gmx.co.uk
Associate Vicar Revd Andrew Spear 422316
Reader Tony Rogers 483967
Churchwardens East Dean: Phillip Hill 423990, Stephanie Carter 422124
Friston: Eva Oliver 422173
Benefice Secretary Carol Hyatt 486648, email: carol.hyatt@nextdirection.org.uk
Church Administrator Christine Jeffery 423311 eastdeanchurch@gmail.com
Vergers East Dean: Paul Summers 423143, Friston: Jane Hewitt 423278
PCC secretary Freddie Strong 07709 283269
PCC members
Ex Officio: F. Strong; the Churchwardens; Members of Deanery
Synod: J. Board; Elected members: P. Board, S. Burge,
P. Hewitt, C. Hyatt, A. Pienaar, P. Porthouse,
F. Richards, L. Sculpher, S. Snelgrove
Treasurer Peter Hewitt 739749
Electoral Roll Officer Linda Keller 422091
Benefice Director of Music Mark Roper 725345
Safeguarding Officers: Jacques Pienaar 423341 and Phillip Hill 423990
Family Support Work Francine Judd 422145
Parish magazine Editor Christine Jeffery 423311 eastdeanfristonmagazine@gmail.com
Co-editor Peter Jeffery
Treasurer: Beryl Boucher 422390 6 The Link, BN20 0LB
Advertising: Bill Hallett 422185 edfmagad@gmail.com
Distributor: Jerry Gottlieb 422004
Deliverers: Mr B. Adams, Mrs J. Anderson, Mrs J. Booth-Clibborn, Mrs A.
Brownlow, Mr B. Childs, Mr M. Delaney, Mrs S. Drury, Mrs R. English, Mrs J.
Ford, , Mr R. Franklin, Mr and Mrs P.E. Glaser, Mrs B. Greaves, Mrs C. Greenwell,
Mrs J. Harms, Miss J. Hewitt, Mrs J. Hicken, Mr C. and Mrs D. Hirchfield, Mrs E.
Hodgson, Mrs C. Holliday, Mr N. Holloway, Mrs M. Honey, Mrs J. Jarvis, Mrs T.
Larmer, Dr. R. Maxwell, Mr B. Mepham, Mr P. and Mrs J. Olive, Mr C. Pitcher, Mr
and Mrs C. Preece, Mrs R. Robinson, Mrs K. Salmon, Miss R. Shaw, Mrs M. Sharpin,
Mrs J. Smith, Mrs J. Summers, Mr and Mrs R. Trace, Mrs J. Warriner
MID-WEEK ACTIVITIES
Alpha Course Peter Hewitt 739749
Church Wide Fellowship 2nd Tuesday in Village Hall at 2.30pm
Paul Summers 423143
Home Groups Wed evenings Brian Lea 423226 and Phillip Hill 423990
Thurs mornings Peter Jeffery 423311 and Paul Summers 423143
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
The Beehive
Supervised Crèche for 0-3s at East Dean Church
9.30am Communion Services only ~ Christine Jeffery 423311
Climbers and Explorers for 3-10 year olds ~ Gillian Carstens 423801
Pathfinders for 10-14 year olds

VILLAGE DIRECTORY www.eastdeanvillage.org.uk
Beachy Head Chaplaincy team 301200
Coastguard Service Peter Wojciechowsky 301707/ 07989 356604
Doctors’ Surgery
422401 9.00am -1.00pm, Mon - Fri, 24hr cover
Police Emergency 999 Non-emergency 101
Emergency Plan Co-ordinator Mike Keller 422091, (deputy) Paul Seeley 422361
Local MP Maria Caulfield, 01273 513509
maria.caulfield.mp@parliament.co.uk
Parish Council Chair: Mike Keller 422091, Vice Chair: Paul Seeley 422361
Tim Bryant, Nigel Day, Lesley D’urso, Kevin Godden
Phillip Hill, Beatrice Wheatley, Daniel Wild
Mrs K. Larkin (Clerk), The Old Cottage, Lewes Rd.,
Laughton BN8 6BQ tel 01323 811870
clerk@edfparishcouncil.org.uk
Wealden District Councillor cllr.michael.lunn@wealden.gov.uk, 07894 062727
ESCC Councillor cllr.stephen.shing@eastsussex.gov.uk 07576 261898
Residents’ Association Robert Salmon 423382
E. D. Downlands (Roads) Ltd David Lockyer, 422130. eastdeanroads@hotmail.co.uk
Village Diary
Tina Woodley-Roberts tina@edfvillagehall.org.uk
Village Hall
Tina Woodley-Roberts 423110 Mon.-Fri. 9.00am-5.30pm
Pavilion/cricket bookings Clerk to the Parish Council, as above
St. Anne’s Veterinary Group 640011 2.00pm - 3.00pm, Mon. - Fri.
Art Group Margaret Butler 894975
Badminton Club Maurice Horlock 423413
Bowling Club Tim Pontin 422034
Church Churchwardens ED 422124, 423990; F 422173
Community Watch 423311/423101/423611
Cricket Club
Dinky Deans Parents & Toddlers Sarah Monument 423804
Downlands Computer Club Tony Rix 730991
Duplicate Bridge Carol Wines 422083
East Dean Players Cheryl Veitch 423149
East Dean Village Market Sam Stanisstreet 423481
East Dean & Friston WI Vicki Jansz 423845
Flower Show Cheryl Veitch 423149
Gardening Club Frances Stevens 423529
Local History Group David Lester 423058
Micheldene WI Lynn Thackway 423572
NSPCC Jan Haydock 423920
OpenArt John Dann 423298
Over 50s Fitness Club Frances Mace 423137
Short Mat Bowls Club Frances Mace 423137
Table Tennis Club Stephanie Carter 422124
Tree Warden Peter Williamson 423546.
Village Coffee Morning Rita Laws 422235
Village Flagmaster Cliff Hirchfield 423872
Mark Pankhurst eastdeanandfristoncc@outlook.com
Village Lunch Jan Harms 422450
Village Tea Afternoon Tina Woodley-Roberts 423100 423110

The following is a summary of the main
points discussed at an informal video
Council meeting on April 2 nd . Full minutes
(and reports) are on our website or available
from the Parish Clerk (811870).
Under regulations in force at the time of this
meeting, a formal meeting could still only
be held with councillors and members of the
public physically present. This meeting
therefore had to be “informal”, meaning
that no new initiatives or expenditure could
be authorised but reports could be noted
and commented on.
Parish Council Response to the
Coronavirus Emergency (Report 6)
Members commended the action taken by
the Chair at the start of the emergency,
sending out leaflets with the magazine and
liaising with volunteer groups. Community
Watch have now set up volunteers for home
deliveries and contact. Two shops and the
market are open for essential items.
Councillors considered a public submission
that mail shots be sent to every house giving
information for those not on line. This was
not felt appropriate use of funds as UK
Government information was already
published and extra local information
limited and covered by earlier leaflets.
Business in Progress (Report 7)
Annual audit – the Internal Auditor had
arranged to do a virtual inspection on April
16 th 2020. The External Auditor was
awaiting government direction on how to
proceed.
Annual Village Report – there was a
statutory requirement to provide an annual
report for the parish. As clubs and societies
were not currently meeting it was agreed
that they should not be asked to provide
reports for the year 2019/20.
Cyber-crime insurance policy – the current
policy would expire on April 15 th 2020. To
be replaced by an alternative.
County Liaison Meeting –It was not
possible to hold the April meeting as
planned, but an agenda would be compiled
and a virtual meeting requested. To focus on
complaints regarding the lack of adequate
signage and traffic management when tree
felling had been carried out on Friston Hill.
Zoom account – council should open a paid
account so that members of the public could
be invited to attend virtual meetings hosted
by the clerk during the lockdown.
Other Reports
a) Planning Committee – Unable to meet
last month but Cllrs. comments on
applications collected by admin officer
and forwarded to SDNPA.
b) Finance – the end of month balance was
£65,760.91. 2019/20 budget underspent
to be carried forward to current year. No
capital spend expected until Autumn.
c) Rights of Way – Emergency drainage
work required at Friston Pond during
Winter’s heavy rain.
d) Recreation Ground – Play area and
Tennis Court now padlocked to prevent
use during lockdown.
e) Village Events, Grants & Charities –
Shortlist for charity of the year to be
given to Cllrs. at next meeting.
f) Tree Warden – Report noted and it
was agreed that Cllr Hill and Cllr
Seeley should meet the Warden to
discuss the specific matters raised by
him.
Next Meetings (to be held remotely)
Parish Council meeting: May 7 th
Planning Committee: May 19 th
Visit us at: www.edfparishcouncil.org.uk
Contact us: clerk@edfparishcouncil.org.uk

TRUST
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Trustees of ED&F Village Hall
regretfully announce that the 2020
AGM, which was scheduled to be
held in June, will be postponed in
accordance with current Charity
Commission’s regulations until the
Autumn by which time, hopefully, the
rules about public gatherings will be
relaxed.
The actual date will be announced in
the normal way, in accordance with
the Deed of Trust.
Vivienne Lester
Secretary to the Trust
www.edfvillagehall.org.uk
East Dean Downlands (Roads) Ltd
I would like to update all of the residents
who live on the Downlands Estate of the
recent and forthcoming activities in the
‘Roads’ Company.
More than 65% of residents have made the
£80 contribution for this year to date, please
accept our thanks for your prompt payment.
We look forward to the remaining 35% of
residents making their contribution in the
near future. Last year more than 90% of
residents contributed and allowed us to
spend more than £50,000 on resurfacing,
drainage maintenance, etc.
We are in the process of obtaining
quotations for resurfacing work later in the
year, subject to the return of normal working
conditions. If you know of any potholes on
the estate, please let us know using the email
address below and they will be added to our
list.
Hopefully the AGM will be held in the
Village Hall in August and all shareholders
will be advised accordingly. If you are not a
shareholder and would like to voice your
opinion as the AGM, why not become one!
All you need to do is let us know and we
send you a share certificate, at no cost and a
liability of only £1.
To reduce postage costs and to contact
residents more efficiently, it would be
appreciated if you could please send me
your email address to that shown below.
Remember, morally we all have an
obligation to maintain the road surface to
allow good access for emergency and
statutory services, post, deliveries, our own
vehicles and pedestrians. A good road
surface will also help to maintain the value
of your property.
If you have any queries or questions about
the ‘Roads’ company, please contact us,
preferably by email:
eastdeanroads@hotmail.co.uk or telephone
David Lockyer (422130) or Robert Corbett
(423314).
David Lockyer
A POLITE REQUEST!
Please would residents not remove and
throw away my yellow laminated
posters advertising my Antiques and
Collectors Fair. I take them down as
quickly as possible. These are worded in
such a way that they can be used for all my
events until they wear out.

This saves me a considerable amount of
money which reflects on the profit I can
pass on to The Bowling Club
Thank You, Frances Mace
Flying your drone
A drone was flown close to the shops one
evening recently. Please read the detailed
rules provided by the UK Civil Aviation
Authority’s Drone Code for fuller details,
https://dronesafe.uk/drone-code/ but
meanwhile:
Always keep your drone or model
aircraft in direct sight. Never fly
closer than 50m to people. Even when
your drone is more than 50m away
from people it is safer to avoid
directly overflying them.
Never fly closer than 50m to
buildings, cars, trains or boats.
Never fly closer than 150m to built-up
areas. Never fly directly over a builtup
area.
It is illegal to fly a drone or model
aircraft between 250g-20kg that does
not show a valid operator ID..
East Dean Sewing Team Rises to NHS
Challenges
Twelve sets of scrubs garments and 174
scrub bags have been made and donated
following the initiative of the East Sussex
Seamstresses www.sandbnhw.org/sew
An email request for unwanted sheets via
East Dean and Friston Residents’
Association was coordinated by former
textiles teacher Karen Wintle and yielded
generous donations from the village.
Cutting, preparing, making and record
keeping quickly took place. Emails arrived
thick and fast with offers of help and further
donations of fabric and haberdashery.
Within two days, a sewing team of thirteen
willing helpers was established and soon
finished items were collected ready for
distribution by ESS to local NHS contacts. It
was a privilege to be part of a local team
using skills and talents to help within the
current situation and to feel that we may
somehow be making a difference for the
NHS in East Sussex.
Twenty two of the bags have been given to
local nurse Charlie; these will be distributed
to her nursing colleagues at Lewes hospital.
They will go to the intermediate care unit.
At the moment the unit is being used to care
for those who are dying due to COVID19.
The exceptional team of makers included
Annie, Davina, Debbie, Deborah, Jackie,
Jackie C, Jan, Jane, Jo, Jolanda, Judith,
Karen, Sara, Sue, Sharon for deliveries and
everyone in the village for being generous
with donations of items and goodwill in
support of this initiative. Thank you.
Karen Wintle

The Art Group has been very active.
Lesley Wallace suggested that
members should design Easter
cards. Our secretary Leo Budd
has now circulated about 25
cards and the comments on
them by members. We all feel that this has
been a great way of keeping in touch. Our
next project is a painting based on a wellknown
picture. Camilla Crump
For budding artists, something that
parents home schooling may find helpful is
www.firstsite.uk, free to download art
resource packs from well-known artists. The
second one has just been released. Can be
for all ages to dip in and out of and you
don’t need any fancy materials to do the
activities which range from colouring in, to
craft, to finding things around the house and
then letting your imagination go… Enjoy!
Jackie Charles
OpenArt 2020
It is with regret that along with
all the other organisations, we
have decided to cancel the
OpenArt 2020 event. We hope
that it will be possible to have
the event in 2021.
Thank you all those who have registered and
paid. You will all get a full refund.
While we are all in lockdown, make the
most of the extra time and produce some
amazing artwork for next year.
Wishing you all good health and inspiration,
John Dann,
Chairman of East Dean & Friston OpenArt
Eastbourne Downlands Computer
Club
Unfortunately, all future
meetings of the Club -
including the May AGM - have
had to be postponed due to
Coronavirus. For any queries, please ring
Colin Broome on 01323 646846
Tony Rix
Gardening Club
We were able to hold our meeting on March
13 th before the more serious
restrictions on personal contact
came into force. We welcomed
back Alison Marsden to explain
the importance of defining a
specific style for one’s garden
which, she suggested, would give a more
pleasing result and save a lot of unnecessary
work. We were shown various examples
which demonstrated how this could be
achieved by the selection of suitable shapes,
colours and textures, for instance geometric
shapes, bright colours and straight lines
could suit a modern style whereas a cottage
garden would have gentler shapes, more
muted colours and flowing curves.
Afterwards we split into groups to discuss
the merits of various styles and how they
might be applied to our own gardens.
No further meetings can now take place
until the village hall is re-opened, and there
will be no outing to Pashley Manor. The
Committee has also decided to cancel the
Strawberry Fayre due to have been held on
Saturday May 23 rd . At least there will be
plenty of time for gardening!
Alan Sudbury
Walk Tall Naturally with Purpose!
Much is known about the benefits of brisk
walking to both brain and body. How can
we make the most of a daily walk to stay
healthy whilst reducing social contact and
coronavirus transmission? There are ways to
improve how our body moves by making the
movement more natural and purposeful.
Find somewhere quiet … Start from home
or drive the shortest distance possible to a

start point avoiding popular car parks near
busy locations. Park safely so as not to
obstruct the roadway.
Get ready before we set off … Be prepared
for the weather. Gloves can be useful even if
not warranted by the weather. Before
starting, set the body and free up the mind
by:
standing tall taking care not to lean back
looking straight ahead
relaxing shoulders, arms and hands.
Use our whole body …
Part of natural walking is rotation, or
twisting, of the whole upper body from side
to side to make the arms swing loosely. By
engaging upper body effort, more muscles
are being recruited to make the body walk.
The more muscles involved, the better the
exercise.
Learn what MORE THAN two metres
looks like & plan … Grab a tape measure,
mark it out the ground and count how many
of our normal strides it takes to cover. If it
takes us three normal strides to cover two
metres, then three exercising strides will do
the job!
Look ahead and plan in advance:
is the way ahead more than two metres
wide? More than tywo metres is needed to
stay two metres apart;
look ahead for passing places. Make eye
contact with whoever is approaching and
give them warning whether we’ll be moving
out to the left or right;
if we can’t back track to allow the other
party to pass, politely ask them to do so; if
there’s a stile/gate, gloves will prevent skin
contact to pass through/over.
Keep the upper body in charge to reach
the appropriate aerobic level of exercise
… over a few strides, make upper body
rotation a fuller movement;
imagine, or find, a route ahead that is a long,
gentle uphill slope suitable to our health and
fitness needs;
being stronger with the upper body twist
will help us pick the legs up and stride out;
monitor our physiological reaction to
increased physical effort through the
standard indicators: breathing harder, feeling
warmer, starting to sweat but not so out of
breath that it’s no longer possible to talk
with a real or imaginary companion;
pause, or slow down, at the end of that
aerobic effort for our breathing rate to
recover.
Gradually, go for longer distances/times.
Follow government guidelines to exercise
in safety!
Peter Williamson - BA Nursing, Masters in
Public Health (MPH)
(This article contains edited abstracts from
two web post guides available at
http://nordicwalkingforhealth.co.uk/)
Silver Lining
There has to be something good to come
from the COVID-19 lockdown - and there
is!
We are breathing cleaner air… no pollution
from aircraft and much reduced road traffic
have contributed to a great reduction in air
pollution. In Southampton the reduction is
by 45%. Now that is massive!
We have all had to think differently during
the last couple of months, questioning past
practices and recognising how those things
we take for granted have been adversely
affecting our wonderful planet.
Perhaps now is the time to convince
everybody that burning rubbish, household
and garden waste, along with fires for
domestic heating, is also polluting the air
that we breathe. We are all issued with
recycling, landfill and garden waste bins.
Therefore surely there is no need for any of
us to light a fire?
Take a moment to step outside to breath in
the fresh air - wonderful.
Terry Hills

One to watch out for
For our permitted daily outing for exercise
we’re lucky enough to have the now
wonderfully peaceful Seven Sisters to
wander on. In March we started noticing
these loose colonies of excavated holes in
the chalk. Holes which seemed considerably
larger than those of most solitary bees so I
sent a request for ID to Sussex Wildlife
Trust’s excellent Wildcall service.
The advice came back as the nest holes of
the delightfully-named Hairy-footed Flower
Bee Anthophora plumipes. These are
solitary bees but they are bumblebee sized.
They also like nesting in soft mortar in old
walls. The males which emerge first in
March are ginger and the females are totally
black. They are quite commonly seen
feeding in gardens and are particularly fond
of pulmonaria or lungwort flowers. Lo and
behold, yesterday whilst feeding some roses
in my garden I saw a completely black furry
bee zipping about feeding avidly from those
very flowers. Result! They are also
attracted to comfrey, primroses and deadnettle
flowers.
They are one of the earliest solitary bees to
emerge and their swift darting flight helps
identify them. Once mated females collect
pollen on their hind legs and take it back to
the nest cells. They lay an egg in each cell,
provision it with enough pollen to feed the
larva and then seal it up to allow, the young
bee to develop. I recommend Steven
Falk’s Anthophora plumipes Flickr album
which has excellent detailed photographs of
these bees.
Thanks also to the Bumblebee Conservation
Trust website. Kate Frankland, Eastern
Downs National Park Volunteer Ranger
News from the National Trust
The bluebells are out! It’s good to see them
again, nature’s rainbow array of spring
flowers is keeping me busy with my camera.
The air is filled with birdsong! I saw a red
kite only 20ft above my head and a male
Grass snake in my garden this week!
Wildlife seems to be thriving, it’s incredible.
I’ve had conversations with friends,
wondering if the wildlife is revelling in the
lack of human presence, or if this time has
forced us to
quieten our
busy minds
and we’re
just noticing
what’s
around us
more than
we would
ordinarily. I
think a bit
of both.
These are
strange and
scary times.
We miss you all and although we can’t be
together physically hopefully, we are
thinking of each other. I’m taking this as an
opportunity to celebrate Mother
Nature. Although we are trying to grapple
collective fear and sadness, I like to believe
there is hope and beauty everywhere, if we
only take the time and opportunity to look
for it. I think if we come together as a
collective, we will fare much better and
come through this stronger.
Hannah, National Trust Ranger

Notes from Hedgehog Street
In the next few months things will be a little
different, but that doesn't mean we can't
connect with wildlife from our own homes.
It is proven that a daily dose of nature
improves mental health. Meanwhile:
‘Nature Street is a Sussex Wildlife Trust
project designed to inspire you to get
together with your neighbours to create
wildlife corridors and encourage more
wildlife into gardens…
Maybe you want to help wildlife in your
garden, but don’t feel confident about what
to do first? Or perhaps you don’t think that
your small garden can make a difference.
Don’t think about your garden in isolation,
think of what your whole street can do
together to help create a living, thriving
landscape for the wildlife of Sussex.
Creatures need to be able to move and react
to changes in land use and climate that may
otherwise leave them isolated and
vulnerable.
To help you and your neighbours create
your own Nature Street we have produced
an information pack, available from
www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk which
includes
Advice on how to start up Nature
Street,
materials to raise awareness in your
street about joining the Nature
Street project,
guiding principles of Nature Street
information on how to record
wildlife in your garden.’
Sue Pettifor and the SWT website
Falling in Love with the Earth
“The earth is our mother, nourishing and
protecting us in every moment – giving us
air to breathe, fresh water to drink, food to
eat and healing herbs to cure us when we are
sick. Every breath we inhale contains our
planet’s nitrogen, oxygen, water vapour and
trace elements. When we breathe with
mindfulness we can experience our
interbeing with the Earth’s delicate
atmosphere, with all the plants, and even
with the sun, whose light makes possible the
miracle of photosynthesis. With every
breath we can experience communion. With
every breath we can savour the wonders of
life.
We need to change our ways of thinking and
seeing things. We need to realise that the
Earth is not just our environment. The Earth
is not something outside of us. Breathing
with mindfulness and contemplating your
body, you realise that you are the Earth.
You realise that your consciousness is also
the consciousness of the Earth. Look
around you – what you see is not your
environment, it is you.”
Thich Nhat Hanh (Vietnamese monk, 1926 -)
Falling in Love with the Earth – United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC), 2014. Submitted by Michael
Sentinella
Taken by Maureen Honey

Fighting Talk
I have just been watching “Captain Tom”
the war veteran on the television this
morning still doing his bit for his country
with his 100 th birthday this week and I was
thinking that of course we are ‘at war’, only
this is an invisible enemy, there are no air
raids, bombs or dog fights above our Sussex
skies, but we are nevertheless, ‘at war’ – oh
yes, I can hear you thinking, and where have
you been for the past three or four weeks,
don’t you listen to the news? But I have to
say that this er – ‘difficulty’ (as described by
a dear friend) we are facing has seemed to
me rather surreal. Here we are in this
beautiful village surrounded by glorious
countryside, able to get out and enjoy the
sunny days, but there is a new army out
there fighting on our behalf, as well as the
politicians trying to keep our nation stable.
We have our very own “fighter pilots” here
in the village - Michael from the Barn Stores
and Sam from the Butcher’s striving to keep
us in the basics, David Baker our dear rector
who sent such a friendly video on Easter
Sunday to uplift us villagers - church goers
or not – Bob Salmon who keeps us up to
date on the Residents Association emails,
and even the good souls who come to our
depleted Wednesday Market.
And then of course there are all those “front
line fighters”: the doctors, nurses, carers
putting their own lives at risk for others.
Although there are also the Black
Marketeers, con men and scammers keen to
take advantage and I have even meet a few
ARP Wardens who shout at me when out
walking “to move aside”, or even hide in
bushes, up banks or climb fences to avoid
passing me – I had no idea two metres was
such a moveable distance, but then I am still
in feet and inches!
More than ever I am so very grateful to be
living here in East Dean & Friston, may we
all survive this “er -difficulty” to resume our
village life as we knew it oh so very soon.
Take care, stay safe.
Cheryl Veitch
Time
Time. Suddenly there is more of it. It has
not changed - Time that is. As far as current
knowledge goes, time cannot expand or
retract, it's what we do with it that creates
our perspective of it.
Increasingly over the past 50 or so years
humans have become ever busier. On top of
the activities necessary to survive we
conduct an almost frantic pace. Driving,
flying, cruising. Restaurants, pubs, theatres,
cinemas, clubs, societies, meetings,
entertaining. Exotic holidays, short breaks,
weekends away. It can become exhausting!
I think of my own childhood in Tottenham
in the 1950s. I went to school, my mother
worked, we did the necessaries of daily
living, enjoying life as much as we could.
For one week each year we went on holiday,
always to the seaside. Occasionally on a
Friday (payday) we went to 'the pictures'.
Some Saturday we went window shopping
in Wood Green, a bus journey away. We
were social, with family, friends,
neighbours. Parties for special occasions.
All of these were eagerly anticipated.
These gatherings were homebound, ours or
theirs and by no means frequent.
It began to change in the 60s, slowly at first.
The pace increased, steadily, growing
giddily, as the world changed, and humans
(in what we call the Western world at any
rate) came to believe there was simply not
enough time to do it all.
Now, in 2020, for an unknowable period of
time, it has changed. Not back to the 1950s
for there will be no holidays, no cinema,
nothing of that kind and, in addition, no
contact outside of our homes. Time is all
around us.
What we do with our newly acquired hours,

days, weeks, will depend on each of us
individually. We will adapt and cope in our
various ways.
Stay safe and happy at this strange Time.
Carole Jode
VE Day remembered:
two very different
accounts
During the war, I was
living with my mother
Rose at 2 the Fridays,
East Dean, the home of
my grandparents, Bill and
Mabel Dann. My father
was away in the Royal
Navy, on an aircraft
carrier, somewhere at sea.
One sunny day in May, not long before my
3rd birthday, I was kicking a football around
in the front garden with the Wicking
brothers, John, Collin and Ray and the
Winter twins, Hugh and David, when
suddenly there were planes roaring about
over the village doing loops and victory
rolls. Sometimes they came so low that you
could easily see the markings and the pilots
waving. We thought it was a dogfight but
couldn’t make out any German planes! Then
the Church bell began to ring quite fast,
Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding. Someone said,
“The Germans are coming!” We dived
down and hid behind the flint wall. Then we
heard the clip, clop, clip, clop, of horses’
hooves. We thought they must be on horses,
so we slowly stood up and peered over the
wall. (One of the older boys helped me
climb up the wall, as I was too short to see
over it.) We’d never seen a German before
and wanted to know what they looked like.
But no! it was old David Eve with a pony
and trap from Birling Manor, making his
way up to the shops. Then my Grandma
came out all excited and said “The war’s
over, Johnny! Your daddy will be home
soon!” I’d never seen much of my dad, so
wasn’t sure how good that was! But I
remember saying “I hope he brings me some
chocolate.” We then all lay on our backs
and watched the planes celebrating
overhead. For the rest of the day, we raced
around with our arms outstretched,
pretending to be fighter planes and shouting
“Wheeeeeorrrr! Wheeeeeorrrr!, we won the
war, we won the war, Wheeeeeorrrr!”
John Dann
We all knew that the war would end any
moment. Hitler had killed himself,
Mussolini had been assassinated, the
Netherlands celebrated liberation day on
May 5 th . I went to school on Monday May
7 th expecting that that would be the day. We
were all told at prayers that we could go
home after the announcement. That evening
we learnt that VE day would be the
following day, May 8 th , my thirteenth
birthday.
The next day my parents took me up to the
West End to meet a friend at a restaurant in
Mayfair. After lunch we walked across
Green Park to Buckingham Palace to join
the crowds. Shortly afterwards the King and
Queen with the princesses together with
Winston Churchill came onto the balcony
and the cheers got louder. After a time the
Royal Party went back inside – they made
several appearances over the afternoon –
and we went home. When I see the photos
today I know exactly where I was in the
crowds.

We didn’t have a street party but we did
have drinks round a bonfire, joined by our
MP and a leading local citizen who then
came back to our house. My father, a wellknown
journalist, was an important
constituent. A few days later the coalition
government was dissolved and a general
election was called. I saw Churchill again at
a Conservative rally in Islington; the streets
were full of cheering crowds, most of whom
voted Labour. A few weeks later the war in
the Pacific ended, much to everyone’s
delight, on August 15 th , the day of the State
Opening of Parliament. I was there too, this
time on the Mall seeing the King and Queen
in their splendid open carriage, on their way
to Parliament.
No one remembers the date of VJ - more
people remember the date when the Atom
bomb fell on Hiroshima, August 6 th .
Camilla Crump
Magazine Donations
Many thanks this month to S. Burr,
Mrs N. Harris, Mrs F. Judd, Mrs A.
Mowat and Mrs A. Williams.
Donations can be made by cheque,
payable to East Dean & Friston
Parish Magazine and sent to Mrs B.
Boucher, 6 The Link, East Dean BN20
0LB.
Need a new challenge?
Try your hand at genealogy
After many weeks in lockdown, all the tasks
we’ve been meaning to do for years have
been accomplished; there’s not a weed in the
garden and all those grubby surfaces,
highlighted in spring sunshine, have been
cleaned; sheds and garages turned out. Our
normal diversions are palling. What next?
Frequent communication with friends and
family is reinforcing our bonds, and the
warmth we gain from it is sustaining us all.
Whilst we are ruminating on what family
ties mean to us, what about our ancestors,
who went through their own trials and
tribulations? Those of us who began to look
into our own histories, years ago, can vouch,
that, if you get the bug, you’ll never tire of
it, and what you find will illuminate the past,
in a way that a history lesson never did. Yes,
there will be skeletons in the cupboard,
which add character to those people, and
which perhaps, if set in the context of the
times, can be understood, if not condoned.
Micheldene WI normally run monthly
Family History Workshops, with easy to
follow printed advice on ‘How to Begin’
together with a List of Online Resources,
which does include free websites as well as
subscription ones, which often offer free 14
days trials. These two items can be emailed
to you, without the need to make any further
contact. In addition, Pat Harrison and I are
willing to give you whatever help we can,
by telephone or email, as you learn to
formulate your findings. On a rainy day,
give the shower filter a miss, and you may
find that researching your own history can
be an absorbing alternative! If you are
interested, even for just those two sheets,
please send me an email
crystalprescott@gmx.com and you, with Pat
or myself, can start!
Crystal Prescott

Living in Lockdown
South Africa
Our lockdown commenced at midnight
Thurs 26 th March, a few days after the UK’s,
although it is far stricter. No going out
(except to food shop), no exercise outside,
no walking the dog and no purchase of
alcohol or cigarettes. For the first week, the
children basically had an extended Easter
break. Normally we’d be out - going to the
beach, on our bikes and scooters or meeting
up with friends for lunch. We had to quickly
adapt with a new daily structure- including
housework, exercise, downtime, and play.
The roads became quieter, the air cleaner,
we could hear more birdsong and it is
peaceful and calm. In less privileged areas -
specifically in the townships, it is widely
reported how difficult it is to practise social
distancing given how many people (and
often of different generations) live together
and in close proximity. This, and the high
incidence of HIV and TB in this country
along with other prominent health issues is
what concerns our government the most
regarding Covid-19.
So far, the number of new cases and deaths
reported support the strict lockdown is
working - slowing down the rate of infection
and buying time for an already strapped
healthcare sector to prepare for a potential
onslaught.
We have found various ways to “cope”. We
run a loop around the house with the dog for
a few kms, or watch Joe Wicks on
YouTube We breathe in the fresh air, we
don’t wake up to alarms, life is slower. My
children have discovered new friends next
door so they hang over the walls chatting.
We take advantage of new food delivery
services, we eat meals and cook new recipes
together more than we ever have done
before. The kids now have structured daily
schoolwork sent through which helps define
the days. My husband works at keeping his
business going in a separate part of the
house, but we enjoy having him “around”.
This is not forever, we try to keep very
present. We are happy, all will be back to a
new normal soon. Diane Hill (Jill and Phill
Hill’s daughter-in-law)
Australia
Here, in SW Australia, we are feeling very
grateful. There have been just nine cases, all
more than two weeks ago, thanks to
restrictions on regional travel and social
distancing. We've been self-isolating as a
family for a month now, but thankfully still
able to escape to a remote beach or get out
for a forest walk or cycle daily. Being so far
from family is tough, yet having spent most
of our adult lives abroad, they’re well versed
in video chats, so vamping up time with
them, especially Mum, has been easy and a
lovely silver-lining.
Locally, anxiety is high due to the economy
being fuelled by tourism; however, schools
will be reopening soon, much to the delight
of India (6) and Mara (3 and 3/4), a
significant leap back to normality for so
many of us, bringing a huge sense of
(nervous) relief to our entire community.
Maybe, just maybe, we may escape the full
force of COVID-19. So, our prayers remain
with you and across the UK, Italy (where
both our girls were born) and for swift
healing around the globe. Amy Carter-James
(Steph Carter’s daughter)
New Zealand
There are moments in life you never forget.
Hearing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s
March 23 rd announcement that NZ would go
to Level 4 lockdown at midnight on March
25 th is one. In that moment we knew that we
would be isolated at home in our ‘bubble’
for at least 28 days.

Since then there have been many positives
and a few challenges. As government
employees in education we have escaped
redundancy and that has made this
experience much easier and more enjoyable
compared to the experiences of others.
Daily televised press conferences are a real
focal point, often fronted by the PM and the
Director General of Health, Dr Ashley
Bloomfield who is sure to be the next New
Zealander of the year for his incredible
leadership.
Daily walks around our suburb allow us to
savour the view of Wellington harbour - and
read the jokes that a local child posts on the
fence each day.
We took part in the NZ Bear Hunt.
Thousands of teddy
bears and soft toys
were dusted off and
placed in front
windows for those
on their daily walk,
young and old to
spot.. Then came drawings of Easter Eggs
after the PM declared the Easter Bunny an
essential worker and today, poppies as NZ
recognizes ANZAC Day.
Without a doubt, the biggest challenge is
distance: distance from friends and
colleagues here and distance from family in
the UK. The latter has been accompanied by
anxiety as the news has not been good from
overseas. NZ’s borders closed on March 19 th
and there is no indication when they might
reopen. This increases feelings of
separation. WhatsApp and Facetime were
always important in maintaining family
connections but are even more so now.
At this point, case numbers are declining
and we move to lockdown Level 3 on
Tuesday April 28 th , which will see limited
school reopening and reopening of nonessential
businesses. We’re a long way
from the end of this but we are going in the
right direction. Alison Jeffery (Christine and
Peter Jeffery’s daughter)
So many of us have children and
grandchildren living overseas, or have
ourselves had that opportunity in the
past. We’d really welcome your
recollections or those of your family,
whether or not they dwell on the
current pandemic. In the past we have,
for example, read about travels in Chad
and Nepal and memories of working on
long-haul flights to exotic destinations.
What a feast of memories there must
be out there to draw on. Come on, give
it a go!
FOOTBALL CRAZY
George: “Looking at my
grandson’s football – nice
pattern of pentagons and
hexagons. At each point 3
shapes meet ……. So can’t be
any old number of each shape.
Archie: “Vertices + Faces = Edges + Two”
George: “Oh does it now? Thanks. Now I
can work it out, but I’ll have to get me old
brain really chugging!”
How many hexagons and pentagons?
(Submitted by Paul Tissier)
Answer on page 20)

1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8
9 10
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8
11 9 12
10
13
11 12
14 15 16
13
17 18 19
14 15 16
20 17 21 18 22
19
20 21 23 22
24 25
CROSSWORD?
24 25
23
26
26
ROSS ACROSS QUESTIONS QUESTIONS
DOWN DOWN QUESTIONS QUESTIONS
1. LISTED WATERING HOLE (7,4)
ISTED WATERING HOLE (7,4)
2. CLERGYMEN (7)
2. CLERGYMEN (7)
9. ENLIVENED (7) 3. LOCATION (4)
NLIVENED (7)
10. SLIPPERY MATHEMATICIAN? (5)
3. LOCATION (4)
4. INROAD (anag) (6)
SLIPPERY 11. DISTURBANCE MATHEMATICIAN? (4) (5) 5. 4. MAKES INROAD PERFECT (anag) (8) (6)
DISTURBANCE 12. SNAPPED (4) (8) 6. 5. LOW MAKES POINT PERFECT (5) (8)
14. ‘A DANDY IN …’ LAURENCE HARVEY FILM 1968 (5)
SNAPPED (8)
7. DRAINED (5)
6. LOW POINT (5)
15. VIEW (5) 8. BELIEF/PHILOSOPHY (5)
‘A DANDY IN …’ LAURENCE HARVEY FILM 1968 (5) 7. DRAINED (5)
20. DIVERTS (8) 13. FELINE HOSTELRY (5, 3)
VIEW 22. (5) UNWRITTEN (4) 16. 8. THEY BELIEF/PHILOSOPHY CALLED IN 954 YEARS (5) AGO (7)
DIVERTS 24. EXCUSE (8) (5) 17. 13. PERFECT FELINE (5) HOSTELRY (5, 3)
UNWRITTEN
25. EVERYONE
(4)
PREPARED (7) 18.
16.
LEVELS
THEY
(6)
CALLED IN 954 YEARS AGO
26. USUAL OPTICS KEEP THINGS UNIFORM (11) 19. A MAN WITH A BANK? (5)
EXCUSE (5) 17. PERFECT (5)
21. LOCAL BUILDING MATERIAL (5)
EVERYONE
(Submitted
PREPARED
by Laurence
(7)
Ryan )
23.
18.
PARCHED
LEVELS
(4)
(6)
USUAL OPTICS KEEP THINGS UNIFORM (11) 19. A MAN WITH A BANK? (5)
21. LOCAL BUILDING MATERIAL (5)
23. PARCHED (4)

Answer to Football Crazy
Each pentagon has 5 hexagons around it
Each hexagon has 3 hexagons and 3
pentagons around it.
Let p = number of pentagons
h = number of hexagons
then h = 5p x ⅓ as each hexagon is shared
by 3 pentagons
now
JUNE DEADLINE
MAY 15 th
Despite everything being so
uncertain, we still hope that we
may be able to revert to a
traditional issue next month.
Meanwhile any articles of a
general nature that you would like
to submit will be much
appreciated; even if they don’t
appear in the short term they will
be invaluable in our depleted
stockpile!
Articles max. 300 words
eastdeanfristonmagazine@gmail.
com
1 Michel Dene Close, East Dean
BN20 0JT
Tel. 01323 423311
vertices (points) = 5p
faces = p + h
edges = 5p + 3h/2 some edges are
hexagon/hexagon
so 5p + p + h = 5p + 3h/2 + 2and h = 5p/3
gives pentagons = 12 , hexagons = 20
CROSSWORD:
ACROSS ANSWERS
1. Friston Pond 9. Excited
10. Adder 11. Riot
12. Pictured 14. Aspic
15. Scene 20. Deflects
22. Oral 24. Alibi
25. Already 26. Standardise
DOWN ANSWERS
2. Rectors 3. Site
4.Ordain 5. Makes perfect
6. Nadir 7. Weary
8. Credo 13. Tiger Inn
16. Normans 17. Ideal
18. Strata 19. Lloyd
21. Flint 23. Arid
Thanks to Anne Williams for reminding us of
this lovely prayer of St Teresa of Avila, died
1582
Let nothing disturb you
Let nothing frighten you
All things pass
GOD never changes
Patience achieves all that it strives for
He who has GOD
finds he lacks nothing
GOD only meets all his needs
On the final page of this bumper issue you
will see a collage of stills made by Gill
Carstens, leader of our church children’s
groups, from the Youtube services we
have enjoyed since lockdown. Many of
you will have already shared in these
marvellously innovative services prepared
by David Baker with the help of Mike
Keller, and with contributions from all
three churches and all generations.
If you would like to find out more about
joining us please contact our Rector,
David Baker
T: 423266 E: davidbaker1966@gmx.co.uk