Woodingdean Scarecrow Competition

The scarecrows will be on display during the day between
Monday 28^th May until Friday 1st June

They will be found in the following roads -
do go and have a look at them.

1 in Warren Avenue
4 in Warren Road
2 in The Brow
1 in Chalkland Rise
1 in Merston Close

Bringing together the local community in the spirit of faith,  friendship, learning and fun

Sponsored by Wyevale

Longhill School Reunion

Were you a pupil at Longhill School between 1963 and 1966?

The Downs Hotel is hosting a reunion on Saturday 12th May at 7pm.

Live 60s Band, which includes a former member of the Honeycombs.

Most pupils are turning 60 this year.

Please spread the word.

Please call 01273 390860. info@downs-hotel.co.uk

Salad Days

This was another event that was enjoyed by those who attended.

 

New Library and Medical Centre

View this document on Scribd

Winter Warmers

A happy day of reminiscence was enjoyed by those who came together on 18^th February in the Parish Room at Holy Cross Church, Woodingdean. In the morning we explored the contents of a Wartime box provided by the Museum Service and those who were old enough remembered the shelters, air raids and rationing.

A simple lunch was followed by recalling childhood kitchens. Imagine standing at the door of your kitchen when you were a child and looking around. What and who did you see? What was going on? What sounds and smells are conjured up? Such different stories emerged, but all telling our important social history which will be lost forever if it is not shared and recorded.

The day was sponsored by the NHS Healthy Living and NovaScarman with the support of Woodingdean Community Association.

We are hoping to arrange another event in April (but a date has not yet been fixed).  If you are interested in future reminiscence developments contact: Millie Oliver 01273 697835

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A short video created that day:

http://vimeo.com/37071551

Vocality in Woodingdean

Following the recent popularity of the Vocality singing tasters sessions in Woodingdean, we are pleased to announce the dates for the first set of regular and local classes. We are also pleased to confirm that due to secured funding the first 5 sessions will be free of charge. Details of the new course are as follows:

Venue: *St.Patricks Church on Broad Green (just off Cowley Drive)

Start Date: Tuesday 28^th February

Times: 7pm – 8.30pm

Duration: 5 weeks (end date 27^th March)

Cost: FREE

* Church has a car park; church is well heated!

Vocality is a new community choir for East Brighton; singing songs from the 40’s to the 00’s, old and new favourites and some inspiring world music too. Singers of all abilities are welcomed, from experienced crooners and karaoke enthusiasts to those who love to sing but think they can’t !! The choir is a new initiative and will develop with input from YOU…as well as the expertise and guidance of Philip the Song leader. Some songs will be familiar…and some songs will be new, some will be challenging….but all the songs will be uplifting and enjoyable. We would also like to add that even though the venue is a church, the choir is independent of any religious denomination.

The new Woodingdean community choir ‘Vocality’ got together on Tuesday for the first of the new 5 week singing group. Late starters are welcome so if you would like to join…or pop along for a taster session…please call Debbie from Varndean College on 07747 442057. The 5 week course is completely free. A 10 week course will also start at Woodingdean Community Centre after Easter

Woodingdean Library and Medical Centre

Woodingdean could be about to get its long-awaited new library – with the added bonus of a new doctor’s surgery as well.

A new combined facility is being planned for the site of the current library in Warren Road.  The council is expected to put aside £500,000 for the library part of the project and is working with the NHS as a partner on the whole scheme.  The current library and youth hut would both be demolished to make a space for the new building.

The library is currently in a single story flat roof ‘temporary’ building dating from 1959. Its 111 square metres of floor space is only half the recommended size for an area with Woodingdean’s population. Visits have increased in the last three years from 14,000 to 23,000, with around 26,000 items borrowed.

Local GPs are currently in a converted house in The Ridgway, offering about 200 square metres. Patient numbers have outgrown the building. It has poor access for people with mobility problems and high running costs.

The new library would be 269 square metres – over twice the size of the current library; including an ICT suite and a community room.  Doctors would have 610 square metres – treble their current space.

A proposed timetable suggests the project will be submitted for planning permission in March and that work could start by July 2012 and be complete a year later.

It is planned to have the mobile library offering a temporary service whilst the new library is being built..

Public consultation is taking place to find out what people would like to see in terms of services and facilities in the new Woodingdean Library and Medical Centre. Consultation events planned so far are:

Wednesday February 15 at the Woodingdean Tenants and Residents Association Annual General Meeting 7.30pm at Woodingdean Community Centre.

Tuesday March 13 Woodingdean Library 6-8pm

Wednesday March 14 Woodingdean Library 3-5pm.

Information about the proposed development will be circulated across Woodingdean and people will also be able to get information and give their views from early March via the council consultation portal at:
http://consult.brighton-hove.gov.uk/portal

For pictures of former libraries in Woodingdean see here.