This, that and the other

Our most recent Ladies’ Lunch at The Star in Alfriston was a delightful gathering, with members of the Eastbournian Society community coming together for friendship, laughter and lively conversation over an excellent lunch.

Our icebreaker question was simple: what is your favourite drink? The answers ranged from Aperol Spritz to Horlicks but by the end of the discussion it was clear that tea and Champagne were running neck and neck for first place. Quite what this says about us as a group, others can decide.

We also heard about Caffè Sospeso, Eastbourne College Blend, a new coffee product launched in partnership with Edge Tea & Coffee to support Blue Sky Bursaries. A huge thank you to everyone who has already bought some - buying your coffee this way helps provide life-changing opportunities for young people, one cup at a time - and it is hard to resist those notes of berries, marzipan and chocolate. Congratulations to our guest Catriona DeJean, whose love of coffee (and the fact that she had the wherewithall to grind the beans at home) meant she took a bag away with her.

Two other coffee enthusiasts in the room were Eastbourne College’s much-loved 'Grand Dames', Anne Caffyn and Jenny Lush. Like the finest coffee blends, their enduring ties to the College have matured beautifully over the years, remaining rich in character, warmth and strength. It was wonderful to have them with us.

Our guest speaker was Kelly Ellis, whose children reportedly vetoed her original title, Master of All Trades, in favour of the far more intriguing This, that and the other. It proved an inspired choice.

Kelly began by confessing that despite being married to Old Eastbournian Duncan Ellis (Blackwater 1990-95) of Long Man Brewery fame, she knows very little about beer and rather less than she ought to about his Longbridge regenerative farming project. Instead, she chose to speak about the things she does know: dance, movement, community and the threads that have connected a wonderfully varied life.

As Emma Garrett remarked in her short introduction, Kelly is the kind of person who makes you want to be her best friend within five minutes of meeting her. Looking back, that may well have been exactly what happened when she met Duncan on a friend's farm in Kenya. With an infectious laugh, boundless enthusiasm and a genuine curiosity about people, she has a rare gift for drawing others into her story. A former musical theatre performer, dance teacher and protégé of Play Away's Toni Arthur, Kelly spoke with deep feeling about faith, community and the power of human connection.

She also shared a recent discovery: that the word pupil comes from the Latin for "little doll" or "little person", because when you look closely into someone's eye, you can see a tiny reflection of yourself looking back. It was a wonderfully Kelly-like observation, part etymology, part metaphor, and a reminder that meaningful relationships begin with truly seeing one another. Today she serves as Pastoral Lay Minister for the Cuckmere Benefice and has recently begun an MA in Dance Movement Psychotherapy at Roehampton University, bringing together a lifetime of caring for, encouraging and inspiring others to find confidence, expression and healing.

Kelly spoke with warmth, honesty and humour and achieved something that apparently eluded her at a previous Probus engagement where she watched three gentlemen fall asleep during her talk... her audience at The Star remained resolutely awake throughout!

At the conclusion of Kelly's talk we were all set a little homework:

1. Buy some Caffè Sospeso coffee and help support Blue Sky Bursaries.
2. Start the day with a Wake and Shake (you may need to ask our Development Officer Liz for a demonstration).
3. Keep an eye out for Onwards and Sideways, the newly premiered film at the Toronto International Film Festival, written by Old Eastbournian Paul Mayhew-Archer (Archer, Reeves 1967-71). With its themes of Parkinson's, friendship, resilience, music and dance, it is uncannily aligned with Kelly's own belief in the healing power of movement and relationships.

All in all, it was a wonderful opportunity to meet new people, filled with conversation, community and inspiration. With thanks to everyone who came along, and especially to Kelly for reminding us that life’s most interesting journeys often turn out to be a little bit of 'this, that and the other'.