Monday 15th July 2024 - Village Events, Drop in Beach Level and St Swithin's Day

So far, summer has been quite the worst we can recall and that’s not just our opinion, others feel the same.  It was so chilly during last week our heating came on and I was wearing the same number of layers as I do in winter.  This morning, we woke to sunshine – what a change - we were able to go out for a walk, without wearing a jacket, we opened the windows, I washed the cats’ bedding and towels and we both spent time outside in the garden.  It clouded up early afternoon but it’s not cold and still pleasant to be outdoors.  With two village events coming up, Rockstock on 20th and the Village Fair on the 28th, I hope we don’t return to the windy, cold and wet conditions.  Both these events attract people from miles around, helping to raise funds for the Sports Club and Overstrand Together.  The latter, distribute funds raised over the year to village groups.

It has been evident for some time; the drop in the level of the beach below the promenade.  The first section of beach, going east from the bottom of the zigzag path can be accessed via the slipway but at the other end, it’s impossible to reach the steps back up to the promenade.  I have taken a couple of photos which give some idea of the drop, from steps to beach, which must be over 3 metres/10 feet.  These areas are very rough, however, there is plenty of sandy beach, beyond this.  A ‘born and bred’ villager told us they have never seen the beach level so low.  They remember the sands being, more or less, a step off the promenade and when the fishing boats were left on the beach during the season.  Proof of this can be seen in the photos on Francis Frith’s website.

Today is St Swithin’s day.  The following was taken from the Britannica website – ‘St Swithin was bishop of Winchester from 852 to 862.  At his request, he was buried in the churchyard, where rain and the steps of passersby might fall on his grave.  According to legend, after his body was moved inside the cathedral, on July 15, 971, a great storm ensued.’  This event would appear to behind the folklore – the weather we experience on 15th July, known as St. Swithin’s Day, will be the same for the next forty days and nights.  On this basis, and given it has just started raining, we will have a mix of sun, cloud and rain each day, through until pretty well the end of August.  Here’s hoping we have sun during the day and the rain only falls in the hours of darkness.