Newsletter Number 229 - March 2026

As I start to write this letter the sun is shining and there is not a cloud in the beautiful blue sky, what a joy after all the rain and grey skies of January and February.

During those grey days we held a new event - Tea, Cake and Rummikub! Whilst being a familiar game to many, Rummikub was new to some people. There was lots of fun and laughter during the afternoon and it seemed to be enjoyed by all.

Tickets, at £7 each, for Soup and Sandwiches at the Rotary Wheelhouse, Hill Head on 25^th March at 12 noon are available from me or from the Parish Office at Holy Rood Church. Numbers are restricted so please buy your ticket soon.

Next month the 44^th FOCOC Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 18^th April at 10.30am in St. Edmund’s Church. Tea and Coffee will be available from 10am. Do come along and hear what has been happening over the last year and vote for your new Committee. The AGM Calling Notice, including the Status of the current Committee can be found HERE, and a Nomination Form for officers and committee members, can be found HERE. Sadly, Edmund, the Vice Chairman, is now unable to stand for Chairman this year, I have therefore agreed to stand for re-election for just one more year. There are vacancies on the committee and it would be lovely to have new faces. If you are willing to stand, please view the AGM Calling Notice or please do not hesitate to talk to me if you would like more information.

For the majority of members, membership fees become due at the AGM but if you joined FOCOC during the year, renewal fees are due on the anniversary of that date. In addition to his role as Vice Chairman and keeping our website updated, Edmund has very kindly agreed to assist our Treasurer, Alan, by taking on the role of Membership Secretary.

Looking a little further ahead, we have planned a Quiz Evening on Saturday 9^th May to be held in the Parish Centre at Holy Rood Church starting at 7pm. Tea, Coffee and biscuits will be served, tickets at £2 each will be available soon.

June brings us to St. Edmund's Open Day, to be held this year on Saturday 6^th June from 10am to 3pm. As well as the renowned Plant Stall, there will be a Jewellery Stall, Refreshments and a Grand Prize Draw. In addition to games for children, the Mens' Shed have kindly agreed to again bring along their own game of Roller Boules, if you didn’t ‘have a go’ last year, do accept the challenge this year! Crofton Anne Dale School Choir and the Odd Wednesday Men will be entertaining us and there will be a tour and presentation on the history of St. Edmund's Church. Last year the weather was not particularly kind to us, especially later in the afternoon, so this year I feel confident that the sun will shine!

On the 25^th July at 3pm we will again hold a Summer Tea Party in the Parish Centre at Holy Rood Church. Tickets for this event will be £8 each and available later.

We hope to again have a stall selling Jigsaws, Preserves and, this year, Jewellery on August Bank Holiday Monday at the Stubbington Fayre. More details about that and future events will be given in the next Newsletter.

If you have any suggestions for events new to FOCOC or would like to host a Coffee Morning, the Committee would be delighted to hear from you.

Just a reminder that St. Edmund's is open on the 18^th of every month from 10 to 12 noon for visitors and private prayer. Services are held at 09.30 every Sunday; BCP Holy Communion on the 1^stand 3^rd weeks, Morning Service on the 2^nd and 4^th weeks, and Common Worship Holy Communion when there is a fifth Sunday. Tea and coffee are served after the Services on the 2^nd, 4^th and 5^th Sundays.

I will leave you with the hope of sunny days ahead.

All good wishes

Sue Johnson

Chairman