June 4th, 2019.


The busy week started on Wednesday the 29th of May when the Chairman of The Royal Society of St George, Joanna Cadman, visited the branch to complete twenty miles of her aim to walk 125 miles this year with different branches to commemorate the 125th anniversary of our Royal Society. The walk was ‘Up the Ouse and down the Cuckmere’. The Star Inn at Alfriston was the halfway point for lunch. Under her guidance are nearly 100 branches worldwide and many individual members. The walk that day raised just over £200 for the Forces Charity, Combat Stress.

At the Star during lunch, Ann Blight, who runs the Starfish Project for recovering stammerers, joined the group so that Branch President, Laurie Holland, could present a new telephone system to her for the project’s office. This vital and worthwhile project to help give life-changing guidance and help to so many is one that the Seahaven Branch has often helped with gifts over the years.

Then on Friday the 31st of May, members of the branch attended the Joint Committee (Seaford Town and RSSG) for the Veterans and Armed Forces Day, where the arrangements for the event were finalised. The event is on Saturday the 29th of June and is arranged for the whole of the District of Lewes, with surrounding towns and villages.

The next gift was on Sunday the 2nd of June, when Branch President Laurie Holland and Chairman Bob Peedle MBE visited the Polegate Oaks Miniature Railway. A few weeks before, vandals had hit the railway and caused considerable damage. The Seahaven Branch decided to replace the broken Railway Station Clock. It was a great afternoon’s visit where the facilities of the railway and its accompanying miniature rail layout were shown off. The railway is open, free, on many Sunday afternoons - see the website HERE for details - when this delightful community facility is available for old and young alike.

Finally, on Monday evening, the 3rd of June, Chairman Bob Peedle, accompanied by Treasurer Jan White and Vice Chairman Ann Abbott, attended the Denton Village Hall to present the Denton Challenge Committee with rosettes for this coming Saturday’s event. Chairman Bob and other members of the branch will be present on the day to present the rosettes and certificates to the youngsters who achieve the challenges.

Saturday will be another busy day for the Seahaven Branch because that evening a formal dinner is being held at the Best Western Lansdowne Hotel in Eastbourne. This is to celebrate the official birthday of the RSSG Royal Patron, HM The Queen, as well as to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of D Day. Speaking after the dinner will be branch member, Colonel Keith Barker TD, who is a D Day veteran. Not only was that day 75 years ago a birthday of his, but he also received his fourth wound of the war and was later awarded a Mention in Despatches for his bravery.

Following this dinner, the next major event for the Seahaven Branch is a 125th Anniversary Banquet on Saturday the 27th of July at the Peacehaven Masonic Centre.


Pictured above:  Branch President Laurie Holland presents a new Railway Station Clock to the Polegate Oaks Miniature Railway.