The Chairman announced that live events had continued to be few and far between, but he was pleased to say that he had been able to attend some in person since the last full Council meeting, as follows.

1)        On 24 September he was invited to take part in a training session at Bexhill Bowling Club, as part of The Bowls England ‘Let’s Roll’ initiative to attract new people to the sport.  He was made to feel very welcome by Club Secretary John Bishop and after an hour’s tuition from Coach Bob Budd, he stayed for another two hours to play in a triple’s game.  From Bowls England’s point of view, they have had a minor success in that he had now joined Bexhill Bowling Club and his secret Santa wish list had a number of Bowls related items on it.

2)        Sadly Lockdown 2 and the weather put paid to his planned Tennis tuition in Egerton Park although that was probably a bonus for the coach.

3)        The Chairman was able to attend the annual Macmillan Coffee Morning held in one of the beach huts in Bexhill on Saturday 26 September – the socially distanced event against all odds was able to raise over £2,000.

4)        On the 9 October we learned that Councillor Susan Prochak had joined Councillor John Barnes as a Member of the British Empire. Councillor Prochak received her MBE for services to the community in Robertsbridge and the Chairman congratulated her on behalf of the Council on this well-deserved recognition. 

5)        The Chairman was able to accept the Mayor of Bexhill’s invitation to the installation of the ‘Poppy Car’ on Bexhill’s Seafront on 19 October.  Councillor Lynn Langlands’ inspirational re-purposing of last summer’s unused floral prop was to be applauded.  It gave a real focal point for this year’s acts of remembrance and gave the Royal British Legion an unexpected opportunity to collect donations towards its Poppy Appeal.

6)        On Remembrance Sunday, the Chairman laid a poppy wreath on behalf of Rother District Council on the Bexhill War Memorial while the Vice Chairman, Councillor Harmer, laid a similar wreath at the Little Common War Memorial.

7)        It was brought home to the Chairman this year that it was all too easy to forget there were still many people whose lives had been directly affected by World War I.  He was honoured to place a Cross on behalf of a shielding resident in his Ward at the War Memorial.  The Cross was in memory of her Grandfather, RSM Nelson Victor Carter, an Eastbourne man, who was posthumously awarded the VC for conspicuous bravery on 30 June 1916.  Quite a reality check having been lucky enough to grow up with both sets of his Grandparents.

8)        At the end of October, the Chairman was able to attend the launch of The Bexhill Creative and the opening of a new outlet for Bexhill Artists in Little Common.  He was glad to see that art was still happening despite COVID-19 and the recently begun installation of the sculptures along the 1066 Country Walk was very good news.   

9)        On 18 November a Virtual Civic Meeting was hosted by the Chairman of East Sussex County Council.  This meeting was attended by many Chairs and Mayors as well as the Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff. The Mayors of Battle, Bexhill and Rye attended and by some mysterious means Councillor Langlands and the Chairman were apparently volunteered to update the Group with their experiences of coming into office during the pandemic. 

10)     Following a grant from this Council, The Bexhill Environmental Group were able to complete the planting of 500 mixed trees on Bexhill Common over the last weekend of November.  The Chairman was very surprised by how long it took him to plant just 17 trees but great to know that when he was long gone, they would still be there.

11)     On 6 December, the Chairman was able to join with the other Members whose Wards cover Little Common on the roundabout, socially distanced of course, to switch on the Christmas Lights.  The Chairman thanked all the towns, villages and individuals across Rother, who had managed to give little glimpses of normality with their fantastic Christmas Light Displays.  

12)     Last Wednesday, the Chairman was able to visit Up Grade Training in Bexhill and hear about the excellent work they were doing.  They had just won The Sussex Sports Community Engagement Award.  This family run company worked with young people who did not respond to traditional forms of education across East and West Sussex.  Students were referred by local authorities and other agencies and basically, the self-discipline that cames with practising any martial art was used to aid learning.  Up-Grade Training also stepped in to provide assistance to parents who found themselves home tutoring during lockdown and more recently COVID-19 Catch Up Classes.  The Chairman wished them all the best for the future.

13)     There was an updated Agenda Item 7 that had been emailed to all Members and published on the website.                

14)     The Chairman invited the Leader of the Council to say a few words regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic and move to Tier 4. 

15)     With sadness, the Chairman reported that former Councillor Jacqueline Potts who served on the Council between May 2015 and May 2019 had recently passed away.  She had represented residents in the Old Town Ward.  Councillors J. Barnes, Courtel, Gray and Maynard each paid personal tribute and offered their condolences to her family and friends.