Unfortunately with the changed AGM date we cannot now be present.

I would have liked to put this simple, but possibly controversial, question as above.

My current perception is that too often it is viewed as a liability - both financially to keep it running and from the point of view of traffic, parking and general hassle especially to those nearby. If this is really the case it would be a shame as Highbrook Village Hall is a rather unique and useful asset we, as ALL the residents of Highbrook, have at our disposal.

It should be quite capable of being financially self-sufficient through our own and non-resident rental bookings especially during the hours that should cause least resident hassle and contention. It would then be available for more Highbrook "FUN raising" as opposed to the more normal obligation for FUND raising for its maintainance. We get many enquiries through the website for hall bookings from outside Highbrook; by capitalising on these and similar opportunities I can’t help feeling there should be plenty of paying users to sustain the Hall.

In advance of the AGM at the end of May to give the Village Hall Committee some input what does everyone else think?

Following the success of last year, would people like another barn dance in Highbrook this year?

We were thinking of holding it in August with the possibility of being able to use the playground if the weather is nice.

Let me know what you think!

Kate

I have just found my great grandparents grave in the Highbrook Church, They are Frank and Constance Sayers who had children including Rita (my Nan) Iris, lionel, frank, myrtle, dulcie. Im sure there are more but will need to find out the names. I would be very grateful if anyone has any memories or knows where Highbrook cottages are i know this is where they used to live. I have only just found where highbrook is, and will be visiting much more often, It is lovely little village

When we first came to live in Highbrook, the Parish had its own magazine - The Highbrook Chronicle. We have recently come across quite a number of these, from September 1988 to January 1993 - but not a complete set. Some of them make quite interesting reading, and we felt it might be worthwhile to preserve a little bit of recent local history by compiling an "archive" which we could access via John & Sylvia's website (with their permission). We would be very happy to coordinate this if there was sufficient support for the idea - and if we could track down the missing issues. If you are interested, perhaps you could let us know which issues you have, and we could collect them from you, copy them, and return them straight away.

We also have just one copy of Peter Browne's excellent "Hello Highbrook", from 1997. It would be good to include all copies of these too in the archive - hopefully Peter has kept the originals?

Highbrook Village Hall - North window memorial inscription.

As you may be aware, due to decay, the north window in the hall has needed to be replaced and this is now complete. It was not possible to salvage the glass.

The existing north window had an engraved inscription to Harry and Ruby Rothwell in recognition of their services to the village while they were both alive.

Peter Browne, who made the original engraving, has kindly offered to engrave the new glass with the same inscription, free of charge. However some residents have suggested that a different form of record should be made and that it should be put to the village to decide what would be appropriate or indeed whether any memorial is required.

We would be grateful if you can make your feelings known to the committee via the Highbrook Website before their next meeting (15th September 2010) when the committee will consider all the representations and a decision will be made.

Many Thanks HVHMC

After 18 years Alan is leaving us to take up his ministry at Saint Giles in the Fields near Centrepoint. To wish Alan well for his future and express our gratitude for his ministry please do join us after Evensong this Sunday 1st August. The service is at 18.30 p.m.

Do come to the service or afterwards at 7.15 p.m.

Alan's last service in the parish will be at St Margaret's West Hoathly, at noon on the 15th August.

For more information please contact Sue Nelson

by telephone: 01444 892949 [Home]

Now we have Broadband in Highbrook Village Hall, Sylvia and I would like to offer some PC/Internet "workshops" on a not-for-profit basis to anyone locally. But what, if anything, would you like to know more about - Is it ....

Using Word and Excel or managing your Email?

Making better use of Highbrook.info and the Hoathly Hub?

Manipulating digital photos and video or using digital music?

Perhaps buying or selling on eBay or Amazon?

Maybe online shopping in general and banking?

Effective searching on Google or using Google Earth?

Video-calling with friends and family on Skype?

Or maybe some other topics I haven't mentioned?

If you know someone without a PC / Internet who would like to find out more - please let them know too.

Please use this forum to let us know your thoughts on this and when might be most convenient to run these workshops?

The Village Hall also now owns a laptop for community use so we can make use of that or you could bring your own laptops along.

Hello Everyone,

Latest developments with our Barn Dance:

Date: Saturday 3rd April

Venue: Highbrook Village Hall

Time: 7:30pm ish? Band times 8pm-11pm

Band: http://www.ceilidh.co.uk/

They are a 3 piece band and also have a dedicated caller. The musicians can play tune sets in between the dancing too, so we can take a breather!

Food: Keeping it basic e.g. jacket potatoes and a range of fillings. If anyone is willing to help on the day with this, that would be most appreciated.

Drink: We have decided that bring your own would be the best way to go; as will avoid having to sort out a license and buying in bulk up front and taking back what isn't used up.

Tickets: We will be selling a max of 50 tickets for the evening. The cost is TBC but approx £12 per person - which will cover the cost of the band, food & decorations.

We just want to cover costs on this, but if any profit is made we will donate it to a local charity.

What do people think?

Click here to open the band's website....

As the snow is likely to persist for several more days, some people may find themselves in difficulty.

This topic is to enable residents to post a comment to request or offer assistance - anything from a loaf of bread to being towed out of the ditch!

Remember! click the symbol beside the title of this topic if you would like to be notified by email of future posts (for this topic only)!

(If the symbol is missing you have either already subscribed, you do not have an email address registered, or JavaScript is not enabled in your browser.)

I walked to and fro the Brownes last night along the lane and through the woods at the bottom of their garden. It was a fantastic experience and very safe. I did not need to turn a torch on at all. If you want a somewhat surreal experience I can highly recommend some night walking in snow.

Good Afternoon Highbrook!

Happy New Year to everyone!

Myself and Kate Nash are interested in organising a Highbrook Barn Dance to hopefully take place in the Easter holidays (first couple of weeks in April I think?)

Do people think this would be a good idea? Would people come?

We want to try and set up a really informal committee to discuss everything & get things moving - would anyone be interested in joining us? We are going to meet up tomorrow evening (Tuesday 5th Jan) at the Stand Up in Lindfield 8pm if you would like to join us please let me know as it would be great to get more people involved; or if you can’t make tomorrow, then maybe another time?

Please feel free to express comments on this topic as I would love to get some feedback from people!

Thank you

Daisy

I am very interested to get as much input as possible on what we as Highbrook residents think should happen to the BT telephone box located opposite Highbrook Village Hall. In light of BT's announcement that they plan to discontinue the box in West Hoathly, WH Parish Council will be deciding the fate of that box and I believe the Highbrook box should be considered again as part of that process. Thanks to the efforts of some residents and other bodies the Highbrook removal is on hold with an appeal lodged by MSDC, but if that is overturned the 'phone and the box will go unless it is adopted by WHPC with the consequent liabilities that incurs for all of us as Council tax payers. There are two parts to this - the public 'phone itself in a poor mobile reception area and the box and its history being part of the look of the village. So what do we think? Is it the 'phone or the box you are most concerned about? What about if it was relocated without 'phone to the playground?

OfCom information on BT box removal

A bottle of House of Commons Blended Whisky signed by David Cameron has generously been donated to the Highbrook Village Christmas Market for auction.

If you would like to acquire this rare specimen, please enter your bid as a post to this forum topic below or if not registered, follow the link below to email the amount you'd be willing to pay, along with your name and a contact telephone number.

The highest bid will be displayed on the Highbrook forum at the close of the auction and the winner will be notified by telephone or email. Payment will be on collection.

The Auction closes at 10pm on Sunday 13 December 2009.

BIDDERS MUST BE 18 YEARS OLD OR OVER.

All proceeds from the sale will be split between Highbrook Village Hall and Highbrook's All Saints Church

Please comment here on the solar photovoltaic panel plans outlined in my email which has been sent to all registered Highbrook users of this website. We would appreciate all comments and queries - positive or negative.

Location of solar panels

In June I applied (unsuccessfully) on the Hall's behalf for a BT Community Connections Award which would install and pay for one year a Broadband/WiFi connection in the hall. Any ideas to help the case in my Dec'09 submission? Please be creative!

BT Community Connections Website

This topic started to elicit opinions from anyone about anything to do with my attempt to do something a bit different with Highbrook's got Talent. Do you need a performance partner / accompanist? Is it all a good/bad idea? Apathists welcome too!

This is about what we can do locally to generate "green" electricity as a village (Highbrook and/or West Hoathly). There have been some discussions lead by Peter Browne but such schemes need broad community support to succeed. Ideas, comments wanted!!!

Did you know that next April the government is introducing the feed-in tariff system. This means you will be paid aprox 40p for every unit of electricity that you generate.

A 2kw array would generate 1700 units, earning you £680

Ph Peter 892746

Tell us what you think of the new Highbrook website:

- What do you like/dislike about it?

- Is anything missing?

- Do you have problems using it?

- How can we increase advertising revenue?

All comments, positive or negative, are welcome.