Saltdean and Rottingdean Ray Wootton 01273 302872 DATES FOR THE DIARY: Saltdean Townswomen's Guild meet at Southdowns Court on Wednesday at 7.45pm for their 34th birthday party.

St Nicholas Pre-school, Saltdean, have their Christmas Fayre on Saturday, December 4, l0am-1pm.

And Saltdean & District Horticultural Society meet at St Nicholas' Church Hall on Monday, December 6, at 8pm for a members' Christmas meeting.

Presented by the Rottingdean Trade, Business and Professional Association, Rottingdean Smugglers Night will be on Friday, December 3. It will open at 6pm with a Grand Aerial Fireworks Display. Late night shopping, a table-top sale around the White Horse and a Lions' auction at the Black Horse. Entertainment will include the Pride of Sussex Pipe Band, the Nautical Training Corps Marching Band, a fairground organ and the Cuckoos Nest Morris Dancers.

There's a Jumble Sale at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Hall, Steyning Road, Rottingdean, on Saturday from 11am-1pm. Refreshments will be available. Entrance 20p.

Our Lady of Lourdes School have their Christmas Bazaar on Saturday from 11am-3pm. Admission 30p.

And there will be a Children's Christmas Craft Club at the Whiteway Centre on Saturday, December 4 at 2.15pm. Application forms from Whiteway Centre, library, or phone 680536.

Ovingdean Gardening Club meet on the first Thursday of the month at Ovingdean Village Hall at 7.15pm. They feature speakers, slideshows, raffles, refreshments, coach trips, garden visits, competitions and a Grand Annual Summer Show. For details ring M.Smith on 309142

And Ovingdean Village Club present Shuffle Jazz with Herbie Flowers and friends at Ovingdean Village Hall on Saturday, December 4, from 8pm-11pm. Members £5, non-members £6.

stanford Eric Ruell 01273 214999

MARKET: The next few weeks will be a busy time for the members of Stanford Avenue Methodist Church in Brighton.

On Saturday the church will be holding its Christmas market in aid of the new heating system. The theme of the fair is The Good Olde Days. There will be various stalls and side-shows and Father Christmas will be at the hall for the younger visitors. The hall will be open 11am-3pm. Stall holders are being asked to dress up in Edwardian costumes. These are being provided by the Stanford Avenue Players from their costume cupboard. Refreshments will be available during the day and there will also be a raffle.

On Sunday, December 5, the congregation will be asked to bring along various gifts for the homeless and housebound. Members are being asked to bring along gifts of tinned or packet foods, small toys for those less fortunate.

PORTSLADE Penny Gilbey 01273 642085

BAZAAR: Mile Oak's Women's Institute will hold their annual bazaar on Saturday at the Mile Oak Community Centre in Chalky Road. It will open at 2pm and entrance is free. Stalls will include produce, craft, bric-a-brac, books, cards and tombola.

CHRISTMAS ROCK 'N' ROLL NIGHT: Come and rock the night away in Portslade at another fantastic Christmas Sixties night with live music straight from the popular 60's band, Music Box.

It is being held on Saturday, December 4, at 8pm in Mile Oak Community Centre and all funds raised will go towards the Portslade Millennium Festival 2000.

There will be a licensed bar and tickets at £5, which will include sandwiches and mince pies are now available. Telephone Liz on Brighton 430508.

woodingdean Dee Simson 01273 602833

OPEN MEETING: There will be an important Open Meeting for all Woodingdean residents on Tuesday, December 7, at 7.30pm in Woodingdean School Hall.

If you would like to see a new community and leisure centre in the village, then please come along and tell us what you want. Your views are vital for its success. This is Woodingdean's chance to finally have the facilities we've needed for so long, a sports hall, function room, improved library facilities and cafe/meeting place.

Come and have your say. Transport can be arranged by either phoning on 602833 or Jan on 302700.

BLOOD DONORS: There will be a blood donor session at the Community Centre on Sunday from 8am-4pm.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING: Come and do your shopping at the Christmas fairs being held on Saturday. The Methodist Church will be selling lots of gifts in the Community Centre from 10am while Father Christmas and the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland will be putting in an appearance at the Holy Cross Church Hall, from 2pm-5pm.

Coldean John Ovenden 01273 691104

MILLENNIUM TOUR: St Mary Magdalen church reader Barbara Wilson told me the tour of the Holy Land from November 11-18 went extremely well. It was led by the Rev Colin Lawlor and herself. There was a party of 21, the weather was very hot, and the accommodation was good.

They visited a number of biblical sites which included Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and had a dip in the Dead Sea.

CHRISTMAS FAYRE: The St Mary Magdalen church fayre did well on Saturday. It raised £520 for church funds.

ADVICE SURGERY: Our councillors' surgery in the library on Saturday is between 10.30- noon, and not from l0am.

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