For years a highlight of the August Bank Holiday weekend, this year’s Flower Festival held in St Nicolas Church reached new heights of excellence and artistry.
A team of dedicated ladies, and one gentleman, spent hours researching, planning and constructing a profusion of flower arrangements on the theme “Seasons: a journey through the year”.
Interpretations of the natural seasons were linked with the events of the Church’s calendar, Christmas, Easter, Harvest and various saints’ days, the whole imparting a delightful, dramatic and inspiring display of the beauties of Creation.
On Sunday the Festival service of Holy Communion was conducted by the Rt Revd Nicholas Reade, former Bishop of Bradford and one time Rural Dean of Eastbourne and Archdeacon of Lewes and Hastings. Bishop Reade preached a thought-provoking sermon on the duty of Christians to serve God and serve in the community.
During the three days of the festival hundreds of visitors inspected the flower arrangements and enjoyed the refreshments. Many compliments were paid by the visitors, who declared that this year’s showing was the best ever and compared very favourably with those in neighbouring towns.
The weekend also hosted the Famiily Fun Dog Show, now held in the grounds of the Smugglers Inn. Despite the heavy rain, lots of dogs turned up to compete, amicably, in the twelve classes, accompanied by their owners and friends, all of whom enjoyed the event. The Dog Show is set to become, with the Flower Festival, an annual event on the bank holiday weekend.
The festival was rounded off by the annual Music Recital given by Michael Stumbles and his enthusiastic and talented team of choir, solo singers and instrumentalists. During this event the Summer Draw was made and ten people found themselves the lucky winners of some valuable and desirable prizes.
The churchwardens expressed their gratitude to all who visited the church, and to the team of helpers who arranged the flowers, prepared the building and managed the catering, and to the organisers of the supporting events.
Owen Visick: St. Nicholas Churchwarden
