\Worthing Tony Malone 01903 246486 Highdown Centre: There was a great deal of coverage in the local news throughout 1999 about the proposals to build a substantial number of homes in the West Durrington area. The council publicised their proposals in the planning office and various other locations throughout the past year.

If the proposals are carried through, one of the public concerns has been that adequate facilities should be in place to cater for the many needs of such a large new community.

Highdown Church submitted proposals to Worthing Borough Council many months ago for a multi-function centre to be an essential feature of the proposed development. The intention would be that such a facility would be a focal point for the community and would provide for a wide variety of the recreational, sporting, worship and social needs for what would, to all intents and purposes, be a new village.

A scale model of the proposed building, together with other material about Highdown Church activities, was on display in Worthing library last summer and attracted a lot of interest. There is now another opportunity to see this exhibition from Saturday to January 29, this time at Durrington Library in Salvington Road.

Sussex Lectures: The Friday Branch of the Workers' Educational Association are staging some interesting illustrated lectures at 2.45pm in the Lecture Theatre at Worthing Library.

Birds of Sussex takes place on January 28, the speaker being Mike Russell of the Sussex Wildlife Trust. Water Galore, a local story, will be on February 25 and the speaker will be Trevor Povey. Dr. Geoff Mead presents Source to the Sea - the Adur Valley on March 24. Entrance is free but there will be a collection (minimum £1) for expenses.

Seats can be reserved in advance from Pam Rosbrook, 26 Withdean Avenue, Worthing, BN12 4XD, and a stamped addressed envelope should be enclosed.

Billingshurst Madeleine Woods 01403 783253

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: The overall winner of the Christmas lights competition is Steve Long of Forge Way. Other winners are Mr Scott of Groomsland Drive, Mr Matthews of Great Gillmans, A. Carter of Anvill Close, 4 Marringdean Road, 46 Daux Avenue, the house in the corner of Dell Lane and 3 Mill Way.

MILLENNIUM FEAST: Sparkling wine with canapes, two wines with the main course and coffee with dessert wine made for a wonderful gourmet evening on January 7.

The diners who packed the brightly decorated St Mary's Room were in celebratory mood, dressed to kill with bow ties and long dresses. Conversation and laughter rang out as smoked salmon cornets with garnish and asparagus was followed by beef olives or cordon bleu chicken. The vast selection of cheeses was followed by three scrummy sweets.

Superlatives such as "absolutely wonderful" and "great fun" rewarded the inspired team who slaved over hot kitchen stoves and profit of £400 goes to the church fund.

Prizes of wine are to be won in St Mary's Millennium Quiz, copies of which are available from the Church Office, deadline February 21.

Celebration Service: Trumpet fanfares, anthems and traditional hymns marked the millennium in St Mary's, Shipley, on Sunday, January 2. In a service of celebration and thanksgiving, 200 kneelers embroidered by parishioners and friends were dedicated as well as copies of the New English Hymnal given to the church by Elizabeth and Mark Russell. The restored east window, glowing in the wintry sunlight, was also rededicated.

Coldean John Ovenden 01273 691104

WILD WEST: An evening of the Wild West is to take place on January 29 at 7.30pm in the junior school, Selham Drive. The event is being organised by both the church and the school. Prizes will be given for the best Wild West family and the best dressed individual. Entrance fees will appear on local noticeboards in due course.

SURGERY: Our next councillors' surgery will take place on January 22 between 10.30am-noon in the Coldean Library. PC Bob Burdett will also be present.

HOMEWORK CLUB: I understand the Homework Club held in the library every Thursday has been most successful, with a dozen young people from various local schools obtaining valuable work from the librarians on their school work. They also enjoy surfing the net on the three computers. The club is resuming today after the holidays.

EASTBOURNE Mary Barlow 01323 725754

HOUSING GROUP: Eastbourne Habitat for Humanity is a local housing and community develop-ment group, helping people to build their own homes and can be contacted at 17 Gildredge Road (01323 431289).

An appeal for the charity was made by Dr Christopher Savile at the recent Christian Millennium Celebrations at the Winter Garden which was attended by the lord lieutenant of the county, the bishop of Lewes, the mayor, local councillors and the borough council's chief executive as well as very many people from all the different churches.

AWARDS: Park College held its annual celebration reunion and awards evening with special commendation to its 22 students who all achieved three or more Grade As at A-level.

CHRISTMAS CARD RECYCLING: Cards can be deposited in a special box in the foyer of the Central Library all the year round to raise funds for St Wilfrid's Hospice. Boots the Chemist, Terminus Road, will also accept cards until February 28 to raise money for the Woodland Trust, the UK's leading woodland conservation charity.

Forest Row and Ashurst Wood Pauline Maynard 01342 823618

PAINTING: A holistic painting course is beginning in Forest Row tomorrow between 10am-noon in the Rose Room at the Community Centre. The tutor is Katriina Grant and she can be contacted on 01342 823984 to reserve a place. The cost of each session is £7.

YOGA: Classes are running again in Forest Row, led by Sarah Holland. There are various classes at various times/days for different abilities. Ring Sarah on 01342 822312.

TODDLER GROUP: Ashurst Wood Toddler Group are meeting on a new day and at a new time. You can join them on Thursdays between 1.30-3pm in St Dunstan's Church Hall. All parents, grandparents and carers can join with their charges from birth to four years.Further information from Pauline Booth on 01342 822562, or Gilliam Glover on 01342 826913.

DISCO: This is being held tomorrow in the Hambro Hall, Community Centre. There are two sessions, the first between 6-7.45pm for the four-eight-year-olds and then 8-9.45pm for eight-12 years.

Tickets are £1.50 each obtainable from the schools, the Community Centre or on the door. Proceeds are in aid of the Forest Row Millennium Festival, which is to be held for a fortnight in the summer.

CHRISTMAS CARDS: Your unwanted Christmas Cards can be put to good use by St Margaret's Convent, East Grinstead, who recycle them in aid of charities at home and abroad. There is a local collection box outside the parish office at St Dunstan's Church.

East Worthing John Hobbs 01903 237440

MILLENNIUM: The East Worthing Community Centre celebrated the millennium with a grand gala dance and social organised by John Smith and supported by William Whitfield and friends.

More than 100 guests danced the evening away to a great live group and enjoyed a superb buffet supper arranged by Margaret Smith and her loyal band of helpers.

STAMP CLUBS: The first meeting of the year for East Worthing Stamp Club was their AGM. The Chairman, Stan Hudspith, commenced the meeting with the sad news that the vice-chairman, Paul Richards, who was to have taken over as chairman, died suddenly on Christmas morning.

New chairman is Brian McCloy with Brian Hawkins as vice-chairman. John Hobbs was re-elected as secretary and treasurer.

The Worthing Philatelic Society commenced their first meeting of the year with members bringing items beginning with the letters T & U.

The next meeting on January 20 will be a display of Great Britain 2d Blues by Brian Dohery.

HERSTMONCEUX AND WARTLING Dianne Town 01323 833841

SOUTH EAST IN BLOOM: The first fund-raising event of the year in the new village hall is tomorrow when the South East in Bloom put on a special concert featuring the Walberton and Buxted Brass Band. Tickets can be obtained from Marlyin Holden on 01323 832605, Kareena on 833006 or from the Mace shop and cost £5 which includes a ploughman's supper.

RACE NIGHT: The Friends of Wartling Church will be holding a Race Night at the Reid Hall on Saturday, January 22. Tickets are £10 which includes supper and a glass of wine. Tickets from 01323 832285.

CONCERT: Herstmonceux Castle is the venue for the Yehudi Menuhin School Recital on Saturday, February 12. Tickets from Tom Tyner at £10 on 01323 833023.

Lancing Gordon White 01903 761910

RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION: Lancing and Sompting Residents' Association's next quarterly meeting will be held on Monday at the Methodist Church Hall, Chester Avenue, at 7.30pm. Our speaker will be Heather Wilson from the WRVS.

LINE DANCING: Lancing Lions Club's beginners' line dance eight-week course starts on Tuesday, 7.30-8.30pm, at the Lions Club, Roberts Road.

JUMBLE SALE: A New Year jumble sale is being held on Saturday at Lancing Parish Hall. Doors open 10am. Any jumble to be collected, please phone 764467.

Saltdean and Rottingdean Ray Wootton 01273 302872

PANTOMIME: Rottingdean Drama Society, winners of the 1998 Brighton and Hove Arts Council Challenge Cup, present a short season of Mother Goose at Rottingdean Village Hall.

Performances tomorrow at 7.45, Saturday at 2.30 and 7.45pm, Sunday at 2.30pm, Thursday and Friday, January 20 and 21 at 7.45pm, and Saturday, January 22, at 2.30 and 7.45pm.

Tickets at £5 (£3 for children) from Farthings in Rottingdean High Street, tel: 309113.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.