The Villager - Minsterworth Village
Transcription
The Villager - Minsterworth Village
The Villager Minsterworth News by Jane Fraser-Hook November 2015 Price 30p Edition 157 From 2yrs 9mth- 5yrs Finding Outstanding preschool provision with space is sometimes hard to find. So ACT now before it is too late. We are intending to extend our opening hours very soon and will have space for a few more children. FREE Places (nursery vouchers) Free taster sessionsnow Contact: Mrs Rawlings at Minsterworth School on 01452 750283 D ear Reader s, Darker nights & noticeably colder - & as I write this the clocks haven’t even gone back, but by the time you read this they will just have changed. Bbbrrrrr! I don’t like it at all. Oh for Summer – a good one. Paula Closing copy date for the December edition is Sunday 15th November 2015 but earlier is even better! All items for consideration to:Paula Ruffley, Editor The Villager Tel: 01452 751226. E-mail: thevillager@minsterworth.org Responsibility is not accepted for the accuracy of submitted items nor the content of advertisements. Page | 2 MINSTERWORTH READING GROUP For$the$October$meeting$members$discussed$The$Girl$in$the$Photograph$by$Kate$Riordan.$$ The$book$is$actually$two$stories$that$are$bound$together$in$the$Cotswold$estate$of$ Fiercombe$Manor$(Owlpen$Manor)$but$run$decades$apart,$with$the$housekeeper$linking$ the$two$main$characters$from$their$respective$eras.$$The$book$is$spooky$at$times,$with$ plenty$of$mystery$to$interest$the$reader$and$the$oppressive$heat$of$the$summer$adds$to$ the$tension.$ $ All$members$enjoyed$The$Girl$in$the$Photograph$and$the$local$setting,$but$most$felt$its$ conclusion$was$inevitable$and$contrived.$$Altogether$an$enjoyable$read,$but$perhaps$not$a$ remarkable$book.$ $ th Next$month,$November$4 ,$we$will$be$reviewing$Mister$Pip$by$Lloyds$Jones,$due$to$a$hall$ booking$we$will$be$meeting$in$a$member’s$home,$please$phone$Vicki$Hewlett$if$interested$ in$attending$01452$760487.$ $ $ $ $ $ Vicki$Hewlett ROYAL&BRITISH&LEGION! MINSTERWORTH+AND+DISTRICT! !! Why!not!come!and!join!the!Minsterworth!and! District!Royal!British!Legion.!You!do!not!have!to! have!served!in!the!Forces!to!become!a!member.!! We!meet!each!month!in!the!Legion!room!in!the! Village!Hall!except!August!and!December!at!8pm! on!the!second!Wednesday.! ! ! ! ! Terry!Bourne,!Chairman! Page | 3 All the latest from Over Farm September is harvest month at Over Farm and farm grown produce is plentiful, with squash, sweetcorn, runner beans, beetroot, onions, courgettes and much more in season and available in the farm shop. In the farm shop's butchery, alongside local beef, pork, lamb and chicken, you'll now also find Forest of Dean wild boar and venison. At the farm’s venue barn, the busy summer wedding season is drawing to a close and the entertainment team is now gearing up for Over Farm’s annual Frightmare Halloween Festival in October. Tickets for the night time scare attraction are on sale now at frightmare.co.uk. The new school year also welcomes lots of educational trips, as the farm continues to work with local schools to promote children’s understanding of farming, food production, healthy eating and wildlife. £2 OFF A 10KG SACK OF ONIONS WHEN YOU PRESENT THIS COUPON AT OVER FARM MARKET For more information please visit overfarm.co.uk KERBSIDE RECYCLING NOVEMBER BLUE bin & caddy (recycling) GREEN & BROWN bin & caddy (landfill) (garden) Tuesday 3 Tuesday 17 Tuesday 10 Tuesday 24 Mobile library Friday 20th November outside school Page | 4 BENEFICE Christmas Bazaar Minsterworth Village Hall SATURDAY 21st NOVEMBER From 10.00am until 2.00pm Cakes & Preserves Decorations Competitions Refreshments Hand Bell Music Book Stall Crafts & Gifts Raffle Bric a Brac It is not too late to help, make donations to the day or have a stall yourself. Contact Louise On 01452 751065 Page | 5 OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD – SHOE BOX APPEAL Operation Christmas Child is the world’s largest children’s project, where shoeboxes are always given to children based on need, regardless of their background or religious beliefs. It is an unconditional gift of love. If you would like to take part in this worthwhile charity, we have explanatory leaflets and would be happy to let you have one. Gift suggestions are: A toy - school supplies – hygiene items – jewellery – hair accessories – sweets (not chocolates) – hat, scarf and gloves. We will be in Westbury School to collect any filled boxes on FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6TH between 10am and 4pm. We, in this area, have kindly supported this charity for several years and we look forward, gratefully, to your help again. Thank you in anticipation. Our phone numbers are: Kath Lunt 01452 760769 Elaine Incher 01452 750140 Jayne Stephens 01531 821385 Macmillan Coffee Morning An amazing £370 was raised for Macmillan during the Coffee and Cake morning. A huge personal thank you to everyone who supported it. I couldn't have done it without people kindly baking, giving time to help behind the scenes and generously donating. Thank you again. Alison Raeburn. Page | 6 THE BENEFICE CALENDAR FOR 2016 with seasonal views from across the Benefice will be available from November onwards. Please contact the Rev. Steve Taylor on 760756 who will be in charge of distributing them around the area. We thank you for your support – all proceeds will go to the six churches concerned. ! SUNDAY'NOVEMBER!8th! Remembrance Service this year will be held at Westbury Church commencing at 10.45am. Following this service a dedication will be held at Minsterworth Memorial at approx. 12 noon. Please attend if at all possible and never forget that:“For your tomorrow we gave our today.” Terry Bourne Chairman There comes a point in your life when you realize who really matters, who never did, and who always will. - Unknown Page | 7 Minsterworth Women’s Institute Our speaker this month was Sally Church, who gave a most enlightening and fascinating talk on Bees and Beeswax. Sally became interested in the hobby about 6 years ago, when stories of her late father really caught her imagination – a reverend – running around the countryside, cassock flowing, catching errant swarms. This hobby is now a passion, she is the secretary of Newent Beekeepers Association and has 2 apiary sites with 13 colonies between them. She took us through knowing your bees – from solitary bees, bumble bees, wasps (the bully boys) to the honeybee. Going into some detail with the honeybee we learnt how the queen was the ‘queen’ pin of a colony (larger in size, producing eggs and nothing else – worker bees even keeping her clean!), the worker really being the work horse of the hive – doing all the collecting of pollen, keeping the hive clean and full with honey to feed everyone; to lastly the drone – the male who throughout their short lifetime act like typical teenage boys (say no more!). With the aid of a projector and visual aids, the differences were described, we were even given a small test at the end of the evening (luckily we were able to tell which was which). Honey is used for many things from an enjoyable addition to toast to a barrier cream on ulcers, wax being used by the Egyptians as far back as 3000BC. At the end of the evening we were able to ask Sally many questions and purchase honey, wax candles and furniture polish produced by her own bees. The next meeting on 10th November is members only as it is the AGM. EAI "There is nothing like walking to get the feel of a country. A fine landscape is like a piece of music; it must be taken at the right tempo. Even a bicycle goes too fast." - Paul Scott Mowrer Page | 8 Giant 'blob' of cold water in North Atlantic Don’t you just love how the Met Office have spent millions on their new weather prediction technology & then they “discover” another cycle? Their latest is the North Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) which refers to the cycle of Atlantic surface temperatures. It has just entered a cold phase and, as its name suggests, this could last a decade or more. The BBC is referring to it as a “cold blob”, no really. In many parts of the world, the AMO has been linked with decade-long temperature and rainfall trends. Certainly – and perhaps obviously – the mean temperature of islands downwind of the Atlantic such as Britain and Ireland show almost exactly the same temperature fluctuations as the AMO. Atlantic oscillations are associated with the frequency of hurricanes and droughts. When the AMO is in the warm phase, there are more hurricanes in the Atlantic and droughts in the US Midwest tend to be more frequent and prolonged. This partly masks what is going on elsewhere, i.e. water temperatures in the rest of the world are rising rapidly. Why is the cold AMO happening? It is thought to relate to the melting of Arctic ice, the cool fresh water lying on top of the warmer, more dense saline water. This disrupts the gulfstream, the Atlantic meridional OVERTURNING circulation which sends warm surface water northward (the Gulf Stream) and deeper cold water southward – which keeps us warm here in Britain and Ireland. With so many different types of circulation and oscillation (and that’s just the oceans!) to contend with is it any wonder we – and the Met office – are confused? But AMO is by no means a new phenomenon – has it just been forgotten - until weather reporters realized they needed an explanation for 2015’s disappointing summer? What I want to know is, what kind of winter are we in for? Just tell me straight. PR If you are interested in advertising in The Villager contact Paula Ruffley on 01452 751226 If you would like to become a subscriber and receive your Very own copy of The Villager each month, contact Tony Pearson on 01452 750174 If you would like to hire the Village Hall call Lynne on 01452 750477 or e-mail village_hall@minsterworth.org Page | 9 St Peter’s P.C.C. The Whist Drive Grateful thanks to all who helped in the running of the October whist drive. The profit from the evening amounted to £27. The date for the next whist drive is Monday 2nd November, 7.30pm, at Minsterworth Village Hall. 200 Club The draw that took place after the whist drive held in August resulted in the following: 083 Margaret Cotterell £50 054 Josie Zaslowski £20 161 Helen Few £10 Church Services & flower rota Date 1 November 8 November Remembrance Sunday 15 November 22 November 29 November Time 5pm 10.45am Service Evensong At Westbury church Flowers Kate Oxley Kate Oxley 5pm 9.30am 10am Evening Prayer Holy Communion Advent Sunday Kate Oxley Kate Oxley Advent - no flowers On the 1st November, there is also a service at Westbury to mark All Souls Sunday, starting at 3pm. Please note that the Remembrance Service this year will be at Westbury on Severn Church starting at 10.45am. The Service on 29th November is a Benefice Service at Minsterworth Church. See p7 for news of the Benefice Calendar for 2016. Page | 10 Hint s & t ips To restore finished wood furniture, steep two tea bags in hot water for 10 minutes. Let cool, then dampen a clean soft cloth with tea and wipe over wood furniture. It will bring out the wood’s natural colour and shine. Salt and lemon juice mixed together remove mildew stains. To keep weeds from returning to the cracks of your patio, deck, or driveway keep salt in the cracks. Time to plant garlic November is a good time to plant garlic for next year. This gives it chance to spend some time in the cold when it forms separate cloves. Plant it when there’s no more frost and you’ll end up with spheres of garlic – not what you want! Use spare cloves from a bulb that was properly dried on harvesting this year, that way they will not rot in the ground. Plant in well manured ground about 3” apart, about an inch below the surface. Remember to label so you don’t dig them up when planting something else! Garlic is easy to grow, fairly disease resistant and tells you when to harvest it when the leaves obligingly wither and turn yellow in June/July. Just ease out of the ground with a trowel and leave to dry in the sun (hanging them in a clump together keeps them tidy & lets the wind get at them when it rains). Drying thoroughly prevents growth & rotting. Bingo – got to be one of the easiest things to grow & takes up very little space. PR Page | 11 ! Minsterworth+Butchers! Special!offers!on!meat! But!did!you!know!we!also!sell:! ! 7!Fresh!fruit!&!veg! ! ! 7!buns! ! ! ! ! 7!! ! ! in!fact! 7!Fresh!bread! 7!pies! ! 7!Everything+you+would+find+in+a+village+shop! Page | 12 Neighbourhood Watch Update Switch on to safer streets – leave a light on and keep burglars out! Now the nights are drawing in it is really important to make sure you take extra measures to make your home look like someone is home. Leaving a light on or setting one to come on in the hours of darkness is a simple clear message and one that might keep a burglar out. Look out for your neighbours too and if you notice there is one house that is always in darkness maybe remind them to set a timer. Before you go out: • Switch on your light timer device • Put expensive items out of view • Set your burglar alarm • Lock all your windows and doors • Ensure tools and ladders are locked away • Don’t post your whereabouts on social media The Neighbourhood Engagement Vehicle will be visiting many areas over the next few weeks to provide advice and are also distributing free timer switches If you suspect a burglary is in progress call 101 or 999 FIREWORKS SAFETY Fireworks are great fun and very beautiful, but don't be fooled. Remember fireworks are explosives and can cause serious injury or death. Every year as many as 500 people are injured as a result of using or playing with fireworks and many more are burned using sparklers. Our advice this year is, as always, if you wish to see fireworks, go to a professionally organised display and leave it to the experts. Displays at home carry a far greater risk and are nowhere near as spectacular. Firework tips: • Always keep your fireworks in a sealed metal box or biscuit tin. Never put fireworks in your pockets • Always keep fireworks at arms length • Never, ever throw a firework • Once you light a firework, don't go back to it • Make sure children are fully supervised and are wearing gloves when playing with sparklers • It's a good idea to have a bucket of water close-by to extinguish used sparklers • When building your bonfire, ensure that it is sited safely away from any hedges, buildings or fences, and have a garden hose ready in case of any emergencies • Keep all pets indoors • Fireworks and alcohol do not mix - it's a good idea to nominate an adult who isn't drinking at the party to be in charge of the fireworks Fraser Gunn On behalf of West Gloucestershire Neighbourhood Watch Association and Gloucestershire Police Page | 13 Neighbourhood Watch Update An incident at a stable yard in Avon and Somerset has been reported concerning a male pretending to be a police officer looking for stolen vehicles; when asked for his ID the man made off in a black VW Caddy vehicle registration number: R7430CJ. Please report any sightings of the vehicle to Gloucestershire Police on 101. Good news A male has been arrested and charged with robbery after an incident in Coleford on 7th September. He has been remanded in custody for appearance at crown court. Pete Thomas Minsterworth Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator Hobby & Coffee Group Join us at Minsterworth Village Hall Tuesday 17th November Time - 1.00pm to 3.00pm The Hawk in the Rain by Ted Hughes I drown in the drumming ploughland, I drag up Heel after heel from the swallowing of the earth’s mouth, From clay that clutches my each step to the ankle With the habit of the dogged grave, but the hawk Effortlessly at height hangs his still eye. His wings hold all creation in a weightless quiet, Steady as a hallucination in the streaming air. While banging wind kills these stubborn hedges, Thumbs my eyes, throws my breath, tackles my heart, And rain hacks my head to the bone, the hawk hangs The diamond point of will that polestars The sea drowner’s endurance: and I, Bloodily grabbed dazed last-moment-counting Morsel in the earth’s mouth, strain towards the masterFulcrum of violence where the hawk hangs still, That maybe in his own time meets the weather Page | 14 Neighbourhood Watch Message If you would like to receive Neighbourhood Watch messages by email, please forward your email address to: nhw@minsterworth.org Pete Thomas, NHW Co-ordinator November Facts nd • 2 Penguin Books cleared of obscenity over “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” 1960 • 4th Howard Carter discovers the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt 1922 • 5th Parker Bros launch game of Monopoly 1935 • 7th Highwayman John Austin was the last public hanging at Tyburn England 1783 • 9th Welsh poet Dylan Thomas died aged 39 in 1953 • 12th Longest observed iceberg 208 mils long by 60 miles wide 1956 • 13th First shipment of canned pineapple to mainland US from Hawaii 1895 • 15th Pitman shorthand first published 1837 • 16th Al Capone freed from Alcatraz jail 1939 • 22nd John F. Kennedy was assassinated 1963 • 24th Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species was published 1859 • 27th William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway 1582 • 30th Sir Winston Churchill was born 1874 Kindly provided by Chris Hamblin Page | 15 Page | 16 Darker Nights – Operation Switch Minsterworth Neighbourhood Watch The police will be launching their Darker Nights Operation Switch campaign on 23rd October to remind communities of the importance of leaving a light on to make their home look occupied. The police, in conjunction with Crimestoppers, will be delivering free timer switches to the more vulnerable locations across the county. Please remember to use timer switches to turn on lights and generally make your properties look occupied especially when coming home from work to a dark home. There will be more information and dates to follow when the Neighbourhood Engagement Vehicle is visiting Minsterworth, which all are invited to visit. Householders are encouraged to report anything suspicious to police by calling 101 or through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Page | 17 Westbury) Post%Office$ and$Stores $ Your$community$post$office$ providing$free$cash$withdrawals,$ bill$payments,$phone$cards,$gas$ and$electricity$top$ups$and$ mobile$phone$top$ups.$ 'Why is television called a medium? Because it is neither rare nor well done.' Ernie Kovaks ‘Eighty-two point six per cent of statistics are made up on the spot.’ - Vic Reeves $ $ We$have$a$wide$range$of$ groceries$and$household$goods$We$ also$have$Christmas$cards$and$ diaries$now$available.$ Find$us$in$the$centre$of$Westbury$ ‘Why is abbreviated such a long word?’ Russell Howard $ Monday$to$Friday$9am$to$2pm$ 01452$760682$ $ Page | 18 MINSTERWORTH PARISH COUNCIL The October meeting was held on Monday 12th in the Village Hall under vice chairman Roger Blowey. Also present were Cllrs. C. Thomas, N. Garbutt, R. Crisp, A. Pearson and S. King, together with County Cllr. P Awford, and the Clerk F. Wallbank. Also present were 4 members of the public. Apologies were received from Boro’ Cllr. D. Davies. The emergency exits were described. There were no declarations of interest. The minutes of the September meeting were agreed. County Cllr. P. Awford paid a personal tribute to former Chairman Richard Few, who died recently, for all his hard work. He said that the signs on the A48 had all been fixed and the burnt out motorcycle removed. The potholes on Bury Lane had been fixed. There had been another Road Traffic Accident at Westbury and the A48 closed at the Highnam roundabout, although some Minsterworth inhabitants had passed the block regardless and arrived home unchallenged. Oakle Street had also been closed, leaving Minsterworth residents without any obvious route home. The closure was for several hours and the Parish Council will write to the Police to complain about the use of police officers without local knowledge and to request clarification on policy on future incidents. Cllr. Awford said that devolution was being driven by finance, not local accountability. TBC currently have only one planning enforcement officer when two are used for visits, where officers feel threatened. The Parish Council is concerned that this will mean delays to enforcement visits. Elizabeth Ord, the JCS Inspector has not responded to the Parish Council’s request to visit Minsterworth to view the Traveller sites and they will ask that she accompany the sole enforcement officer. In Public Comment The Police didn’t know where the incident on the A48 was. The potholes on Bury Lane were repaired well but the general state of the road is very poor, despite an inspection on 25/9. Planning. There were no applications. 15/00876/OUT Rosemary Cottage Calcotts Green was granted. There were no appeals. The Accounts, payments and Financial Statements were approved. The white lines at the end of Watery Lane need replacing. There has been fly tipping on the lane and also in a field. Fly tippers took advantage of foggy conditions to dump items undetected. The A48 is sinking on entry to the village from Gloucester. Rooftops’ Affordable Housing plans will be in to TBC by the end of October. The Parish Council is waiting to hear from the Land Registry on their Village Greens plans. The Emergency Plan should be referred to as the Resilience Plan. Cllr. Pearson will progress it with the Village Hall Committee. The hedge at the Village Hall has been cut well. The clerk will write to the committee regarding the path to the disabled ramp. There were three expressions of interest in the Councillor vacancy. In a secret ballot Gerry McGrath was approved as a new Parish Councillor. A wreath has been ordered for Remembrance Sunday. The Remembrance Service will be held at Westbury Church on 8th November at 10.45am followed by a dedication at Minsterworth Memorial at 12 noon. Continued on p20 Page | 19 Continued from p19 TBC will release a questionnaire on the draft local transport plan in November which will be reviewed by the Parish Council at its next meeting. Residents will be invited to comment up until February. The next meeting of Minsterworth Parish Council will be on Monday 9th November at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. This report doesn't necessarily reflect the minuted discussions and decisions of the Parish Council; anyone wanting further information, or to inspect the agreed minutes, should consult the Clerk Fiona Wallbank on 01452 849178. Tomato update I’ve been told I never did give the results of my search for the perfect beefsteak tomato so if you really want to know (or even if you don’t) it’s the US “heritage” variety Mortgage Lifter. In fact this delicious creature is possibly the best flavoured tomato I’ve ever grown – so now you know, for 2 years, too. Last year I bought the seed from Mr Fothergill’s but I’m sure it can be found elsewhere too... Oh & Ailsa Craig has been given a reprieve – I said last year that she was unremarkable but, this year our Ailsa has indeed proven rather special. Moral: give things the benefit of the doubt (when you’ve got seed left in the packet!). Bit hit & miss though, on balance. Interestingly the solar panels don’t think 2015 has been a sunnier year & see the giant blob on p9! So the tomato class of 2015, grown on an almost industrial scale in my greenhouse, have all been excellent. They are: Cherry Gardener’s Delight brilliant as ever Standard Ailsa Craig gorgeous Beefsteak Mortgage Lifter outstanding PR Page | 20 John Francis Plumbing Ltd Heating - Bathrooms – Renewables Telephone 07803 632553 Longcroft, Churcham, Gloucestershire GL2 8AW City and Guilds - Worcester Bosch (SE) approved installer - Logic approved for renewables – OFTEC (SE) approved Interior and Exterior Painting & Decorating Fitted Bathrooms & En-suites Bedrooms & Kitchens Plumbing , Joinery & Carpentry Tiling & Flooring Home Improvements & Interior Design Electrical Installation Decking & Patios, etc, etc No job too small Fully Insured For Quality Work at a Reasonable Price, call Chris Baston T: 01452 750536 or e-mail Oakle Street, Churcham M: 0780 3138917 chris@allaspectspm.co.uk Page | 21 Remember, remember the fifth of November Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason, why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot. Guy Fawkes, guy, t'was his intent To blow up king and parliament. Three score barrels were laid below To prove old England's overthrow. By God's mercy he was catch'd With a darkened lantern and burning match. So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring. Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king. And what shall we do with him? Burn him! ‘Minsterworth’ now on facebook 1. Search for Minsterworth Village. 2. Click ‘Like’ to get the latest posts on your newsfeed. 3. Add your own comments, events and share with friends and neighbours. Alternatively, you can find lots of local information, including village events, contact information and The Villager on our website: www.minsterworth.org Page | 22 Minsterworth Village Hall Registered charity 255668 Available to hire Booking Clerk – Lynne Cottam – 01452 750477 A beautiful, traditional Hall with a stage, well-equipped kitchen and recreation ground. Suitable for outdoor events and marquees. Main Road, Minsterworth, Gloucester GL 2 8J H e-mail – village_hall@minsterworth.org Website – www.minsterworth.org Page | 23 Thank you to our sponsors for their support Sponsorship to date £625 BA Arkell RC Martin N Milligan Gill Payne Anne & Tony Pearson Brenda King Pat Haisell-Neves Jim Lee Mary & John Howard Denis Lynch Mrs W Jenner Bill Mogg Angela Edwards Margaret Price Liz Duff Simon & Paula Ruffley Peter Williams F Greening Gordon & Joy Taylor Catherine Collins M Cotterell Laura & Rich Buckland Barbara Coldwell Karen Elias Tom & Arlette Lane Alison & David Raeburn BC Billingham P Twigg Carol Selwyn Sandie Clark Val & Keith Edwards Mike Marshall Terry & Ruth Moore-Scott Gerry & Claire McGrath Rosamund Dauncey Alison Dowding June Tandy Anthony & Paula Lynch Carol Blackburn and 7 others If you would like to sponsor The Villager in 2015 please send a cheque payable to Minsterworth Parish Council to the editor Paula Ruffley at The Firs, Church Lane, Minsterworth. Suggested sponsorship £5. IT’S STILL NOT TOO LATE! FOR YOUR DIARY Date 2 4 6 8 9 10 11 17 21 Event October 2015 St Peter’s PCC Whist Drive Minsterworth Reading Group Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection Remembrance Service – Westbury Church Minsterworth Parish Council Minsterworth WI AGM – members only Minsterworth Royal British Legion Hobby & Coffee group Benefice Christmas Bazaar Recycling Collection dates Mobile Library dates Page 10 3 7 7 19 8 3 14 5 4 4 Page | 24