Latest News of Local Interest
Downland Benefice
Complete France reports:
At this time of year many Christian families will attend their local church. The reverend Dr Caroline Currer is the Priest-in-Charge of the Downland Benefice, which comprises the four parishes and churches of Poynings, Edburton, including Fulking, Newtimber and Pyecombe. “I have been in this post just over six years,” says Caroline, “What Christmas means to me is joy, hope, a new beginning and personal exhaustion. On Christmas Day I will be taking services at midnight, 8am and 10am in three of our four churches. Meanwhile, I’ll be helping with some of the food preparation, so that everything will be ready for a traditional Christmas lunch here with my parents, who are in their 90s. It’s likely that I will fall asleep during the Queen’s speech and then see my children and grandchildren either in the evening or the next day.”
Technology appeal
Poynings and neighbouring village children are keen to start a youth club for 10-15 year olds early in 2016.
At the first planning meeting, technology featured high on the children’s wish-list. We are in search of any unused X-Boxes, Playstations, PCs or other tech gizmos which may be tucked away for a rainy day, but that you would like to donate to the children for use at their club.
Contact: Niki Cannon, email@the-cannons.com, 07973 712120
Literary Evening at the Shepherd & Dog
In his blue gardens, men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.
Parish Council Meeting – 14th January 2016 7:30pm – Village Hall
Fulking Parish Council will hold their quarterly meeting at 7:30 on Thursday January 14th 2016 in the Village Hall — agenda. Members of the Press and Public are welcome to attend.
Carol Singing
Join Tricia for carol singing around the village, or to listen at home. Everyone is welcome, of all ages. We start at 5 pm at Tricia’s house, 37, Clappers Lane and finish at the Shepherd and Dog. With mulled wine & mince pies (no need to bring harmoniums, bonnets or top hats).
Tombola
Tombola prizes are still needed for the Xmas party this coming Friday. Deliver either to Louise at 13 Clappers Lane (773) or to Bob at Furzefield, Clappers Lane (271).
Bob
Many a green isle needs must be
Charlie Flindt writes in Farmers Weekly (£):
I’ve been spotted rummaging through the hedges and tracks than border my farm, searching high and low for, would you believe, an electricity substation. It turns out that if you are lucky enough to find one on or near your farm, and it’s over 33kV, you’re blessed: you can now go ‘generator farming’.
On a concrete pad (hmm, carbon footprint?), surrounded by a massive earth bund, an array of diesel-powered (yes, diesel) generators are installed and linked to the grid. Their sole purpose is to switch on and provide back-up power when the national grid is found wanting. They are known as ‘short term operating reserves’, or STORs.
The figures (as supplied by Strutt and Parker) are astonishing. The average STOR will supply 20MW, and so will need 50 400kW generators. The rents are even more mind blowing. The rule of thumb is £1,000-£2,500/MW capacity, so for a 20MW STOR – well, do the sums yourself. The other good news (assuming you yourself don’t live in earshot) is they tend to only work at night – probably something to do with the inherent night-time uselessness of solar farms. And if you do live nearby, fifty grand a year will pay for some serious double-glazing, or even a new house at the far end of the farm.
Poynings News
Eight pages of news from our neighbours.