After the easing of COVID restrictions in mid-year, Fifield returned to its normal busy social life in September. We began with another World Food Supper Club, organised by the indomitable Rosie Darwall-Smith, this time focussing on Turkish cuisine. In the same month, the ‘Green Fifield’ initiative introduced a more wildlife friendly mowing regime to the village green and on the road leading to ‘The Merrymouth’. In October we celebrated harvest both in the church and at a village supper. Later in the month local resident, Stephen Markeson, previewed his new publication ‘Fleet Street Exposures – Diary of a Photojournalist’ with a talk and book signing.
November was a busy month starting with the return of the Coffee and Cake/Soup and Bread lunches (all home-made) organised by Catherine Hitchens plus a highly successful Coffee Morning organised by ‘The Friends of St John the Baptist’ which raised over £700 for special projects relating to the PCC’s programme of repairs. Rachel Chapel organised another Games Evening in the Village Hall (with food!), always a popular event in the social calendar. There was a working party for the Shoe Box Appeal, followed by a talk by Heather Darwall-Smith, MA based on her book “The science of sleep” and we ended the month with a planning committee meeting to discuss how Fifield will mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Sadly, apart from the Carol Service, the other main events for December – the Parish Hall Christmas Party and a Nativity Play in the church – had to be cancelled as the threat of Omicron darkened the horizon. Nevertheless, Fifield looks forward to 2022 and, hopefully, a return to something nearer normality.
John Yaxley
February – March 2022