Dear SHTA Friends,

“Delightful” and “what a lot of fun” were just two of the comments from some of the 45 members straight after the SHTA May film, ‘Les Femmes du 6ème Étage’. A slightly different film in its nature, it obviously appealed on different levels.

If you’d like to see the completion of the SHTA film season for another year, then why not come along when we show our final selection, ‘L’École Buissonnière’, on Wednesday 14th June. A comedy-drama, released in 2017 and directed by Nicolas Vanier, it stars François Cluzet, Jean Scandel, Éric Elmosnino and Valérie Karsenti. Without giving away too much, here’s how Google introduces it:

“Trapped behind the high walls of an austere orphanage in suburban Paris, Paul has only ever known one home. His chance to discover the great wide world comes when a bohemian couple, Célestine and Borel, take him back to their countryside home.”

If you’d like to come along to see the June film, as usual, send an email to Jan Cooper on jannicooper@icloud.com and ask her to reserve you a seat. As always, the cinema doors will open at 7.00 for a 7.30 pm start; the cost per head is £7.50 and can be paid in advance online, or on the night either by card or in cash.

Before our film night next Wednesday we shall be having a stall for Le Week-end on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th June in Market Street. Many thanks to those members who have volunteered to be on our stall during the two days and I’m sure they’d appreciate you stopping by for a chat and lending a hand to persuade visitors and non-members to enquire about membership of SHTA. Our stall will be in operation between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm. Many thanks to Christine Ratcliffe for organising our rota and stall.

As you’ll be aware, our Biennial trip to Honfleur is very soon, from 23rd – 26th June. There has already been a pre-visit meeting for the group of 46 and there will be a further get-together for all of those involved the day before we depart, on Thursday 22nd June in St Clement’s Church Hall Sandwich (NOT the Jury Room as first announced) from 7.00 – 8.00 pm; this will be for a Rehearsal of our 3 Songs which we’ll all be singing on the night of the joint function.

A month later we’ll have an opportunity to reflect on our visit and look forward to events for the rest of the year when we hold our Bangers & Boules evening at The Anchor Pub in Wingham on Thursday 27th July. If you’d like to be one of the 24 players and be in a team of three, just send me an email to sign up. If you’d prefer to spectate, that’s absolutely fine too. We’ll be meeting at 6.00 pm to start playing at 6.30 pm. Following the boules, a two-course meal in the upstairs function room will be available at a cost of £20. The options for this are as follows:

Bangers & Mash, Vegetables & Onion Gravy
OR
Beetroot & Butternut Squash Wellington & Onion Gravy
Followed by
Crumble & Custard
OR
Gluten-free option: Sorbet

If you’re coming along, either as a player or spectator, and would like to order your meal, please let me know as soon as you can manage. Thank you.

We held a Pique-Nique on the Quay on 22nd May which requires nothing by way of organisation, so, if the forecast looks promising over the next few months, we’ll let you know a few days in advance of further occasions on which we can just meet up for a chat and a bite to eat etc.

The Joneses hosted a Chez Nous last Sunday for 11 members. You can do the same for as few or as many as you choose to; just let us know the date and the venue and we’ll advertise it. A ‘Chez Nous’ is geared towards getting members together, so why not give it a try?

The final date to remind you about is the SHTA Annual General Meeting which will be on Thursday 20th July in the Jury Room at the Guildhall.

That’s all the news for now. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Best wishes, Stuart & the Committee