News from around the clubs - June 18

Highwoods Preservation Society

What's about in June

The weather has been colder than average and we look forward to some warmer days because summer is the time for insects.

An oak tree is home to near 300 different species of insect. If the weather is warm there should be plenty of butterflies about. Look out for the yellow brimstones around the alder buckthorn bushes, which is the main food plant for their caterpillars.

Other butterflies around are commas, orange and brown with scalloped wings. The bright orange/black/yellow small tortoiseshells, the beautiful peacocks, the delicate orange/brown small coppers. The beautifully marked painted ladies and the familiar red admirals, are migrants having flown all the way from the Mediterranean.

Unfortunately recent Junes have been wet and windy, the worst weather for butterflies. More species of British butterflies have a brood emerging in June that any other month, so the weather in June is crucial for future generations, lets hope its hot and dry this year. If it is the result will be many more butterflies for the rest of the year.

Dragonflies and damselflies should be come more common as the month nears its end. Damselflies are the smaller more delicate insects, which generally fold their wings along their bodies when at rest. Dragonflies are more robust and hold their wings at 90 to their bodies. These spectacular insects have a most unusual life cycle. Their larvae are totally aquatic and this stage may last for two to four years depending on the species, but as soon as they emerge (by climbing out of the water up vegetation) the adult cycle only lasts a few weeks.

In most dragonfly species the male and female are different colours. So far 12 species have been identified in the woods. Look for them around the ponds but also in the open rides as they search out insects for food.

Bexhill Conservative Club

IT is with great sadness that we have to notify members of the death of our President, Mr Bernard Goodwin.

Bernard had been a member of our club for many, many years. During this time he served on several committees, was a keen snooker player, and he even joined the darts team.

He could always be seen at our musical evenings, dancing with delight.

A true gentleman in every way, he will be missed by everyone.

Little Common RBL Women's Section

Our vice chairman Mrs K Murphy welcomed 82 members to our meeting on a lovely sunny evening.

Our spring fair raised 670 and we thanked all those who once again supported this event. This money becomes part of our benevolent fund for the support of our serving troops and their families. We are again asking for a member to be our standard bearer. Our present one is not able to continue.

The outings to Chartwell in July and Maidstone Market in September have proved very popular and few seats on the coach remain.

A Royal Military Tattoo and concert at Ardingly is being held on Saturday September 4 called Tunes of Glory. There will be bands from several regiments and a guest appearance of Hayley Westernra and Blake. A coach has been arranged by the Royal British Legion for members to attend the event.

Our speaker on Wednesday was from Wigs and Hairpieces. Julie opened her first business five years ago and now has a shop in Little Common.

The speaker described why people have a need for wigs mainly as a consequence of health problems and also for less serious purposes. Wigs can be made of natural hair which can be quite expensive or synthetic materials which are easier to maintain. Earlier wigs were heavy and like helmets but nowadays they are based on a stretchy mesh which make them light and easy to wear.

Members were invited to examine the wigs and several were helped to try on the different styles and many colours. This caused much admiration and amusement. We were reminded of the need of some to wear wigs often as a result of sad circumstances.

A most interesting talk which dealt with the wearing of wigs in a most responsible manner. Our next meeting is on Wednesday July 14 when we welcome members and their guests to our friendly club.

Bexhill Labour Party Women's Section

At our recent meeting there was obviously discussion post General Election about the disappointment locally regarding the good campaign by our candidate James Royston in light of the fighting between Greg Barker and Stuart Wheeler and our sadness that Michael Foster lost his seat in Hastings and Rye.

However our focus returns to local campaigns and concerns and we will be actively supporting charities and community groups in the next few months.

St Jude's Women's Refuge holds its well-established strawberry cream tea on Saturday July 24 at 2.30pm at Lolesworth in Old Town Bexhill, to catch customers from the carnival that day! We will be running a tombola and cake stall in support of the charity.

We are also involved with the Fairtrade Ccmmittee and feel this year was a mammoth success for those involved as they work again to maintain Fairtrade status for the town. We also support Friends of Rother District Citizens Advice Bureau in their work - which we feel will become more and more in demand over the next year.

Also we shall we watching the 'coalition' between Tories and Lib Dems on Rother District Council. Will the friendship at Westminster extend to Bexhill Town Hall?

Finally we held our own leadership election in light of the known candidates already standing to replace Gordon Brown. Interestingly our quick vote concluded with the Miliband brothers - David and Ed - both equal in scores! Could this be the sign of things to come?

Our meetings are held on the third Friday each month at 12.30pm at 10 Magdalen Road, Bexhill. Friendly and lively - new members welcome. Contact the secretary on 220337.

ATS/WRAC Association

ON June 3 it was time for our usual monthly meeting - and Clifford Jones was coming to give us a talk on Elements of Chemistry, a mysterious subject to most of us, but we had enjoyed two previous talks by him on disparate matters so settled down to do our best to understand.

Well, he made it easy for us by keeping up the flow of computerised illustrations, backed by well rehearsed and solid verbal explanations on everything that we saw. He has a gentle sense off humour and there was just a touch of "tongue in cheek" at times to set us thinking. We know him now and like him and he stayed for tea. He also brought with him some paperback novels donated by his wife for us to put on our sales table, which was thoughtful of her.

We heard that a few seats remained unsold on a local day trip going to Portsmouth, so four of us have put our names down to join that. Perhaps we'll go on the Spinaker. Maybe there will be other occasions when we can fill spare seats.

Our next meeting will be on July 1 when we shall be having our strawberry cream tea. The competition on this occasion will be judged for the best tea cosy. See you then.

Bexhill Gardens and Allotments Society