Hartford News September 2016

Hartford News
September 2016
Volume 43 Number 10
Official Newsletter of Hartford Parish Council since 1973
Julia Midgley takes
an impresion from
an etching plate at
her Hartford studio
Putting the art in Hartford
Artists open their studios to the public during September
HN
A
RTISTS IN CHESHIRE ARE
opening their studios this
month, during the eighteenth Cheshire Open
Studios event. Members
of the public can gain an insight into
painting, sculpture, ceramics, stone
carving, jewellery making, pottery,
textiles, willow weaving and craft. In
Hartford, Julia Midgley will open the
doors of her School Lane studio for a
weekend, on Saturday 24 and Sunday
25 September.
Julia is a multi-award winning
artist and printmaker. Examples of
her work feature in public, private
and corporate collections, in the
United Kingdom and abroad. She is
also a frequent exhibitor at the
Summer Exhibition of the Royal
Academy of Art, in London
Drawing is the bedrock of Julia’s
professional activity. As a documentary artist she records live action.,
most recently in War Art & Surgery, a
project marking the centenary of
World War I. This looks at the
training of military medical officers
and the rehabilitation of recovering
service personnel following reconstructive surgery. The (to page two)
In the summertime page 3  Parish Council page 4  New owner at Dry Cleaners page 8
Hartford News
Page 2
Parish Clerk: Jo O’Donoghue  01606 41862;  hartfordparish@btinternet.com
 hartfordparishcouncil.org.uk
Double success for
Ashley and Harry
Pippa Watson-Peck
W
Julia is working on
a project to record
equine skeletons of
significance. Her
studio is open on 24
& 25 September.
(from page one) work juxtaposes all
of Henry Tonks's pastel portraits of
soldiers wounded in the First World
War (accompanied by photographs,
notes and diagrams from the soldiers' case files) with Julia Midgley's
contemporary art, which documents
recent conflicts in Afghanistan and
Iraq. Henry Tonks was a surgeon at
the start of World War I, and became
an official war artist in 1918.
This month’s Cheshire Open
Exhibition, and the Open Studios
event, together provide a unique
opportunity to experience art in
Cheshire and meet artists in their
own working environments. Visitors
can discover, informally, how and
where artists produce their work.
The event was first held in 1997,
originally because of the lack of
contemporary local galleries in
Cheshire. It promoted artists in their
own, or public, spaces, encouraging
new opportunities for residencies,
commissions, selling, exhibiting and
teaching. In 2016 the studio openings are held over one week (and two
weekends), affording any visitors the
opportunity to visit several studios.
Many of the artists work to support
and share their skills in their local
communities, in schools and adult
education. While some participants
are emerging artists, others have
won awards or are internationally
renowned for their contribution to
the arts.
There will be an Open Exhibition
at Charles Rowe House Macclesfield,
and a group of Cheshire Open Studios
artists will be showing their work at
the Salt Fair in Winsford on Saturday
17 and Sunday 18 September.
All participating artists are
professional or semi-professional
artists living and working in Cheshire
(including Cheshire West, Cheshire
East, Warrington and Halton) with an
ongoing portfolio of work.
Julia Midgley:
The Hollies Studio, 79 School Lane;
open 10:00 am to 5:00 pm,
Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September
 julia@juliamidgley.co.uk
 juliamidgley.co.uk
Cheshire Open Exhibition:
Saturday 10 to Sunday 25 September
Charles Rowe House, Macclesfield
Cheshire Open Studios:
various times and locations
Saturday 17 to Sunday 25 September
 cheshireopenstudios.org.uk
 facebook.com/cheshireopenstudios
ith the success of British
athletes at the Rio Olympics
still fresh in the memory, two
students from the Grange School,
earmarked for future international
success, have been reaping the benefit
of hard work in and out of the
classroom. Long distance swimmer
Ashley Hogg and multi-event athlete
Harry Lord both gained three A grades
at A Level, despite the onerous
demands of their elite level training.
Ashley, from Sandiway, gets up at
4:30 am five times each week, to train
before school, one of his two daily
training sessions. During the past year
he has won a junior silver medal and
adult bronze at the Berlin International,
as well as making it to the final Olympic
trials for the 400 Individual medley.
"I couldn't have achieved this much
without the support of the school: I
have to take time off to train daily and
they allow for me to do this while
supporting me with my studies," said
Ashley, who will be studying Chemistry
at Manchester University, so that he
Ashley Hogg (left)
and Harry Lord
can still train in the city with his
current coach, Mark Rose.
Knutsford resident Harry Lord is
ranked second, nationally, in the men's
Under 20 decathlon, and won second
place in both the National Junior
Championships and the English Schools
Athletics finals. He has gained an
athletics scholarship to Princeton
University in New Jersey, where he will
continue his training with decathlon
coach Fred Samana. Harry’s aspiration
is to represent Britain as a senior and
compete in the 2020 or 2024 Olympics.
Official newsletter of Hartford Parish Council
facebook.com/hartfordnews
twitter.com/Hartford_News
 hartfordnews@hotmail.co.uk
Page 3
In the summertime…
Several events took place during the
Summer break, and we were
delighted to receive pictures and
reports about them at Hartford News
Towers; a selection is reproduced
here. If you have an interesting
story or photograph to share, please
email them to the usual address.
Spectacular!
Mary Bridge
H
artford Methodist Church
hosted a Coffee and Cake
Afternoon on Sunday 7 August
to raise funds for St Luke’s Hospice. St
Luke’s were pleased to receive over
£1,800, and we wish to thank everyone,
including local shops, businesses and
Barclays Bank, for their support.
Read our lips!
Christine Stalker
Hartford and District Lipreading Group
 lipreading.hartford@yahoo.co.uk
 readourlips.org
Supporters and helpers, and a lucky
tombola winner wearing her prize - a
pair of Dame Edna Everage spectacles.
Garden delights
On 5 August, our group held a social
event at Hartford Hall Hotel. Our
friendly classes start again in
Railway Lines
Richard Hobbs
On 30 July, I was up early
to photograph the Coast to
Coast Express, from
Liverpool to Scarborough,
as it caught the early
morning sun in Hartford. It
is seen just before passing
under the Bradburns Lane
bridge. Hauled by ex LMS
Jubilee Class 45690
Leander, it was the first
steam special to run on the
Mid Cheshire Line since ex
BR Britannia Class 70013
Oliver Cromwell visited the
line in October 2013.
September and we do have availability
for new members for our Friday
morning sessions.
Linda Barnes
T
he Hartford Young NSPCC Open
Gardens event in July raised
almost £1,700, with the inclusion
of £750 from the Barclays Citizenship
Scheme. Many thanks to the talented
garden hosts, to all who donated plants,
raffle prizes and refreshments and to
everyone who visited the gardens.
Look out, by the way, for our next
events; an evening with Paul Burrell, on
Thursday 3 November, and a ladies’
lunch on Wednesday 18 November.
Could you be a garden host in 2017?
 Linda 01606 591828
Hartford News
Page 4
Parish Clerk: Jo O’Donoghue  01606 41862;  hartfordparish@btinternet.com
 hartfordparishcouncil.org.uk
Hartford Parish Council
Report of ordinary meeting held
on Monday 11 July 2016
Community Infrastructure Levy
This is an abridged
version of the
minutes of the
Parish Council
Meeting. Full
minutes are
available from the
Parish Clerk.
Views and opinions
expressed in
Hartford News may
not always reflect
those of individual
members of Hartford
Parish Council.
Visit the Parish
Council website:
Follow Hartford
News on Twitter:
Cheshire West and Chester Council Cabinet
unanimously approved (at a meeting on 8 June)
the recommendation that any future planning
applications that are decided after the
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is
introduced would need to pay the CIL charge in
Hartford. Changes were agreed to the proposed
charging levels and area and, as a result of the
comments received and additional testing, are to
exclude rural workers dwellings from the charge
and to amend the boundary around Northwich.
The change to the boundary adds Hartford to
the area, subject to a £110 per square metre
charge rather than it forming part of the urban
area of Northwich and having a £0 charge. This is
because the more detailed testing in this area
shows that the economic viability of residential
development in Hartford can support a CIL
charge. 15% of CIL receipts must be passed
directly to parish and town councils where
development has taken place, capped at a
maximum of £100 per existing council tax
dwelling. Communities with a ‘made’
neighbourhood plan will benefit from 25% of the
levy revenues, which is uncapped. CIL will only
apply to planning application decisions made
after CIL is introduced. CIL still needs to go
through another period of consultation and an
examination, so probably won’t be introduced
until January of next year at the earliest.
Casual Vacancy
Notice is hereby given that a vacancy has
occurred among the members of the Parish
Council. Any person willing to fill this vacancy
should apply to the Clerk, in writing, on or
before Monday 5 September. The applicant's
name must appear on the current register of
the Voters List, or the applicant should during
the whole of the twelve months preceding the
relevant date have resided in or within three
miles of the parish, or the applicant’s only
place of work during the whole of the twelve
months preceding the relevant date is in the
parish. The applicant must not be debarred
from standing as a Councillor.
Public elections cannot be held until
Thursday 7 May 2020 but, for the interim
period, the present sitting Councillors may coopt to fill the vacancy.
Contact your Council
Contact with Hartford Parish Council should be
made via the Parish Clerk, Jo O’Donoghue:
 hartfordparish@btinternet.com
 01606 41862
 231 Hartford Road, Davenham, CW9 8JT
Hartford Parish Council’s website:
 hartfordparishcouncil.org.uk
Village Hall bookings and enquiries:
 hartfordvillagehall.org.uk
 Adminstrator Vikki Herbert, 07714 908571
Hartford Village Hall
Operation Shield
Councillor Bob Hutton
Hartford News on
Facebook;
There are 20-30 kits still available. The Council
will contact Sergeant Weaver to request the kits
and confirm registration details.
Community Speed Watch
Councillor Phil Herbert
To date letters have been sent out from Cheshire
Police to four drivers.
Village Inspection
This year’s inspection is to be held on Thursday 1
September, from 5.30pm; all councillors are to
meet at Grange Park.
Home Watch
Hartford Parish Council wishes to record its
sincere thanks to David Barr for his twelve
years of voluntary service to the village as its
Home Watch Co-ordinator (see item on page 7).
Official newsletter of Hartford Parish Council
facebook.com/hartfordnews
twitter.com/Hartford_News
 hartfordnews@hotmail.co.uk
Page 5
Agenda
Volume 43, number 10: September 2016
Wednesday 7 September
Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 September
Hartford Women’s Institute
Marshall’s Arm Local Nature Reserve
Hartford Methodist Church Hall
7:30 pm
Meet at the Heron Gate entrance, Saxon Lane
Saturday, from 7:30 pm
The Hungarian
Revolution - My Escape
Bat Walk
Find what the bats are eating at the bat cafe and
where the bats hang out. Bring a torch.
Dr Andrewe Zsigmond. Visitors welcome.
 Pam, 01606 75520
 cheshirewi.org.uk
Thursday 8 September
Knots & Needles
Hartford Village Hall
7:15 pm
The Golden Rule
A demonstration of pattern making which was
devised by a German lady in the 1930s and only
needs two measurements to make any garment.
There will also be a brief AGM.
 Jean McBride, 01606 889871
Saturday 10 September
St John’s Church Bell Ringers
St John’s Parish Church
10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Open Day
Heritage Open Days and the Central Council of
Church Bell Ringers (CCCBR) have joined forces
to open up the heritage hidden inside England's
many bell towers, with a challenge to open up
500 bell towers for the public to explore. Visitors
will be able to see the bells, so often locked away
above our heads, discover our ringing forebears'
achievements, recorded on peal boards, learn
about bell ringing and have a go themselves
 gordon@fultonsonline.co.uk!
Meet at the Heron Gate entrance, Saxon Lane
Sunday, 9:30 am to 11:00 am
Mammal Release
Discover our hidden mammals. Traps set on
Saturday evening, so this has an early and prompt
start to minimise the captivity time.
Children must be accompanied by an adult
 Tom 07581 719126
Monday 12 September
WMCO
The Memorial Orchard, Thorn Wood
2:00 pm
Service of Dedication
and Remembrance
All schools in Hartford and Weaverham have
been invited to send pupil representatives.
Residents of Hartford and neighbouring
communities are warmly invited to this event.
 orchard@weaverham.org.uk
 orchard.weaverham.org.uk
Northwich Family History Society
Hartford Methodist Church Hall
7:30 pm
AGM
Followed by The 19th Century Education of
Poor Children, by Judith Taylor.
 Dave Thomas 01606 624315
Items for inclusion in
the October 2016
edition should be
sent, preferably by
email, to reach us
on or before
15 September.
All 482 previous
editions of Hartford
News are available
in electronic form
on request; please
contact using the
email address at the
top of this page.
Contributions to
Hartford News are
always welcomed;
contact and email
details are at the
top of this page.
Hartford News
Page 6
Parish Clerk: Jo O’Donoghue  01606 41862;  hartfordparish@btinternet.com
Commercial
advertisements and
articles are not
accepted. However,
we are keen to
support and
publicise businesses
based in Hartford,
particularly when
there is a
newsworthy item to
report.
Priority for inclusion
will normally be
given to activities
taking place within
the Parish of
Hartford.
The editor and the
Parish Clerk jointly
determine which
items are to be
included; their
decisions are final
 hartfordparishcouncil.org.uk
Monday 12 September
Tuesday 20 September
Hartford Parish Council
Films in Hartford
Hartford Village Hall
7:15 pm Public Open Forum
7:30 pm Main Meeting
The Grange Theatre
7:15 pm for 7:30 pm start
Ordinary Meeting
Members of the public wishing to raise matters
with Council may do so during the Open Forum.
These matters can be discussed, but the Council
cannot make decisions on non-agenda items, so
they must be deferred to the next meeting.
Members of the press and public may attend the
meeting, but are not permitted to take part.
The agenda is on Council notice boards, or
obtainable from the Clerk. Hartford Village Hall
is accessible to users of wheelchairs.
 Jo O’Donoghue, 01606 41862
 hartfordparish@btinternet.com
Tuesday 13 September
English Speaking Union
Portal Premier Golf Club, Tarporley
12 noon for 12.30 pm lunch
What Happened Next
Christina Spencer.
Prior booking is necessary
 Valerie Mais, 01606 76534
 valerie@mais.demon.co.uk
Eddisbury Flower Club
Sandiway Church Hall
2:00 pm
Gogglebox
Eleanor Griffiths (Cheshire Area Demonstrator)
 Hilary Marsh, 01606 782812
 nafascheshire.org.uk/clubs
Tuesdays, from 13 September
Tai Chi
Florence Foster Jenkins
Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant
The tenth winter season of films begins with “the
true story of the world's worst singer”. Florence
Foster, born in 1868 in Pennsylvania, inherits a
considerable sum from her father in her forties,
and is able to indulge her passion for singing,
culminating in a performance at Carnegie Hall.
She achieves fame and draws huge audiences,
despite her inability to strike the correct notes, of
which she seems blissfully unaware. She takes
the audience's laughter to be appreciation of her
art, while her devoted second husband shields
her from any unkind reviews.
Thanks are due, as ever, to the Grange School,
for hosting these screenings, and to the
businesses that sell the tickets on our behalf.
Tickets £5.00, available from Hartford Dry
Cleaners and ELson News.
 Trish Parker, 01606 74024
Wednesday 28 September
Mid Cheshire Flower Club
Hartford Methodist Church Hall
7:15 pm
Rhyme and Reason
Susan Bradley. Our club welcomes visitors and
potential new members.
 Pat Barker, 01606 46951
 nafascheshire.org.uk/clubs
Thursdays
Northwich Basketball Club
Weaverham High School
Under 11s, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Under 13s/under 15s, 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Under 17s/under 20s, 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Hartford Village Hall
afternoons
New training sessions
Tai Chi classes, taught by a qualified and
experienced Chinese teacher. The classes aim to
improve flexibility, lung function and muscle
tone, as well as reducing stress. Participants have
reported a beneficial lowering of blood pressure.
It is also hoped to run a Seated Tai Chi class.
Want to play basketball in Northwich? We have
nine teams taking part in the Warrington Sports
For All Centre leagues, and are a 2 Star club,
accredited by Basketball England. We welcome
new players aged 10 years and upwards.
 Trish Parker, 01606 74024
 northwichbasketball@gmail.com
 northwichbasketball.co.uk
Official newsletter of Hartford Parish Council
facebook.com/hartfordnews
twitter.com/Hartford_News
Friday 30 September
Hartford Civic Society
Meet at Hartford Hall, School Lane
9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Hidden Cheshire
Come and join us for a leisurely seven mile
circular walk, graded easy to medium, organised
by Hartford Civic Society, following paths and
tracks deep in the Cheshire countryside. Dogs
welcomed, but on a lead.
 John Swaffield, 07764 212000
 jswaf@talktalk.net
Booking for the afternoon visit to Bramall Hall on
Wednesday 12 October is now open, and nonmembers are welcome to join us. Members pay
£12, and non-members £14, covering the cost of
transport and guided tour of the Hall.
Refreshments can be purchased at the cafeteria.
The Hall, a black and white timbered Tudor
Manor House, set in 66 acres of parkland, has
recently re-opened, after extensive restoration.
Payment by cheque, payable to Hartford
Civic Society ( 378 Chester Road), or by
bank transfer, is requested with bookings.
 01606 882197
 bramall.hall@stockport.gov.uk
 membership@hartfordcivicsociety.org.uk
 hartfordcivicsociety.org.uk
Sundays
Hartford Methodist Church
 hartfordnews@hotmail.co.uk
Page 7
Neighbourhood
Watch Notes
End of an era for Home Watch
David Barr
Note the change of name - from
now on, Home Watch is re-titled
"Neighbourhood Watch”. This
will be my final article in
Hartford News. I have retired
from the post of Village Coordinator; like everyone else, I
am not getting any younger!
Hartford was into the Home
Watch movement early. The
country’s first group was
formed in Mollington in July
1982, and Hartford followed in
October 1983.
Information from the police,
however, was scarce and
infrequent, making it difficult to
keep the scheme running. In
2002, Home Watch went into
abeyance but was revived two
years later, when I took on the
lead role. Communication,
previously by telephone
messages, was now more
efficiently conducted, being by
e-mail, but messages were still
passed through area coordinators to individual
groups. Understandably, many
police officers felt that they
could make better use of their
time but, by now, the village had
some fifty groups, out of a
possible 120.
We now have regular,
comprehensive reports from
the police, sent straight to each
co-ordinator and this is working
well. While there is no longer a
need for the present structure,
there is a place for someone to
champion and develop
Neighbourhood Watch. At the
10:30 am
Morning Worship
Young people meet prior to their classes.
 Rev Chris Pritchard, 01606 44613
 cn.pritchard@btopenworld.com
The “revitalised” Homewatch
scheme headlined the March 2005
edition of Hartford News.
St John’s Parish Church
8:00 am
Holy Communion
10:00 am
Morning Service
6:30 pm
Evening Service
 Church Centre, 01606 872255
 stjohnshartford.org
The March 1984 Hartford News
featured a progress report for the
fledgling Home Watch scheme.
moment, PCSO's are the contact
points. They have Introduction
Packs to help start new groups.
So this is where we are now!
Finally, I would like to thank
Liz Biddle, Police
Neighbourhood Watch Officer
for her help and dedication.
Without her, there would be no
Watch today. Also, thanks to all
our co-ordinators, who have
kept us afloat for the past
twelve years, and to Hartford
Parish Council for its support.
Hartford News
Page 8
Parish Clerk: Jo O’Donoghue  01606 41862;  hartfordparish@btinternet.com
 hartfordparishcouncil.org.uk
New hands at the dry cleaners
Weaverham Library
HN
Carol Ratcliffe
A
big thank you to the 178
children who are taking part
in the ‘Big Friendly Read’, this
year’s Roald Dahl themed Summer
Reading Challenge. For reading six
books over the summer, the children
will be awarded a medal and
certificate at a special ceremony in
September. Various prizes, a
treasure hunt, fun craft activities
Animal handling
The School Lane premises
of Hartford Dry Cleaners have
been refurbished inside and out.
The beautiful hanging baskets have
come, with owner Vanessa Hoyle, all
the way from Holmfirth in Yorkshire.
O
ne Wednesday in 1961, at the
age of fifteen, Tony Wilson left
school. The following day, at
8:00 am, he started work at the dry
cleaning factory, near his home in
Nottingham. It became the trade in
which he would make his living for the
rest of his working life.
When Tony reached the age of
seventeen he, and a friend, set up a dry
cleaning round, working from the
factory. Within a few years they had
opened their own shop.
In 1982, with his wife Yvonne, he
moved to Hartford, setting up business
as Hartford Dry Cleaners. In March
2016 he sold the business to Vanessa
Hoyle. Yvonne has retired, but Tony
continues to work at the shop.
Hartford Dry Cleaners take pride in
undertaking a wide variety of jobs from
which many other, bigger, businesses
would steer clear. As well as ties,
wedding dresses and sequinned
garments, Tony recalls finishing items
such as flags, militaria, Chinese silk
jackets, antique church tapestries and
even the sails from a yacht.
All garments worked on at Hartford
Dry Cleaners are retexturised and
hand-finished. While the business is
Vanessa and Tony
proud of “doing things the oldfashioned way”, it is modernising; it has
recently launched its new website, and
is branching out into laundry services
and a collection and delivery service.
Opening: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
and Fridays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm;
Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
 hartforddrycleaners.co.uk
and an animal handling session all
formed part of the challenge.
Regular activities include
Monday’s Knit and Natter (11:00 am
to 12:30 pm), Wednesday’s coffee
mornings and Friday’s “RhymeTime” (11:00 am to 11:30 am). We
also host free ancestry sessions, and
you can avail yourself of free
internet access for one hour every
day on our public computers. We
have free wi-fi, a photocopier, fax,
colour printer and scanner.
Our new self-service machines
(for borrowing and returning books)
are easy to use, and staff are always
available to help. General enquiries
and book reservations can still be
made at the library counter.
Library staff Gill, Carol, Ann and
Val look forward to seeing you soon.
Library opening:
Monday
9:30 am to 7:00 pm
Tuesday
9:30 am to 5:00 pm
Wednesday 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
Thursday
closed
Friday
9:30 am to 7:00 pm
Saturday
9:30 am to 1:00 pm
(closed for lunch 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm)
 01606 274344.
 Russet Road, CW8 3HY.
 weaverham.library@cheshirewestandcheshire.gov.uk
 cheshirewestandcheshire.gov.uk/libraries