FRIENDS’ NEWSLETTER
AUGUST 2007

Old Heathfield Community Pageant proved to be very successful. Not only was the weather kind; in the middle of the wettest summer in recent memory we managed to have an outdoor activity three evenings running, but also all the various elements of a pageant, song, dance, drama singing and local history were delivered by local talent; the furthest afield we went for help was Lewes!

We are truly grateful to The Co-operative Society South East Regional Office for making us an award of £1100 and to the lottery fund “Awards for All” who gave us £4100.00. Without these awards the pageant would not have been possible.

Although hundreds of people attended each evening our ticket sales were only in the region of £1200.00; the street activities were free.

East Hoathly Folk Group combined with Collegium, the college orchestra to give an excellent performance of Tudor music before the show started under the direction of Jill Howell.

The story of Robert Hunt, vicar of Heathfield in 1602 and of his fateful journey to the New World in 1606 was acted by students from the Community College assisted by pupils from the three primary schools in the parish.

The students, brought together by their choice of GCSE options, grew in stature as actors and actresses as the week progressed. They had had little time for rehearsal before the performance till their exams had finished, but they came together as a team and there were some excellent individual performances, notably from Dominic Cross as John Smith the narrator, Will Thomas, who became a very convincing Robert Hunt and from Harriet Beeching as Elizabeth Hunt, Robert’s temperamental young wife.

Russell Floyd, their Director, who is currently training at the college is to be thanked and congratulated for his commitment.

Our thanks also go to the three primary schools who each took responsibility for the displays of tudor dancing and childrens’ games outside the school. Parents provided food and drink, while the streets remained closed thanks to an army of marshals and stewards patrolling the roads into the village, led by Richard Leeves and Christine Monson.

For those who were able to attend or participate it proved to be a memorable event; our thanks go to all who helped make it happen.