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Oh to be in England!
Six-year-old school kid to the Rector, ‘I’m moving away from Coleshill’.
Rector, ‘Where are you going, somewhere nice?’
Kid thinks for a minute, ‘Well, I am not really sure. Oh yes I know; it’s that place
where God lives.’
Rector (puzzled) ‘Heaven?’
Kid (with the air of one who has lost 10p and found £10) ‘That’s right; Devon’.
Most places in this country are pretty nice (well OK, we Amersham people will
just have to be charitable about Chesham), and compared to the parched lands
of northern Africa, Europe has it made.
As I write, refugees from western Sudan are flying in terror from those who
would destroy them and their way of life, desperate migrants from
dictatorships like that in Zimbabwe seek refuge on our shores, and desperately
poor men and women from the Caribbean are driven to jeopardise their life
and freedom acting as drug couriers to feed our nasty habits.
Why is it that in such a relatively wealthy society as ours (and yes, in world
terms each one of us really is astronomically wealthy) are we so unconcerned
about the welfare of other nations? Why is that we stuff ourselves to the point
of obesity with junk food (take a look at the multitude of wobbly bellies and
backsides next time you are in the supermarket) when half the world would be
grateful for a tenth of the calories we consume each day? Why is it that we
abuse our healthy well-fed bodies with recreational drugs when we deny cheap
medicines to Aids victims in Southern Africa? Devon or Heaven, I wonder what
God thinks of our society?
Food for thought perhaps at Harvest.
Tim Harper
Rector of Amersham with Coleshill
You can find out more about All Saints’ Coleshill by going direct to our
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News from All Saints'
Anthony Priddis
Several members of the congregation travelled to Hereford on Saturday 26 th
June to attend Anthony’s Inauguration as Bishop of Hereford. As most villagers
will know, he was our Rector prior to Tim Harper, before leaving to become the
Bishop of Coventry.
Parish Youth Worker
We are pleased that Marianne Holt has agreed to an extension of her contract It
is reassuring to know that her excellent work with the young people of St
Mary’s and All Saints will continue. Her husband Peter has secured a teaching
post at Dr Challoner’s Grammar School.
Fabric
The extensive rewiring work at the Church has been completed at a cost of
nearly £5000.
Books for the Village School
At a recent Committee Meeting it was agreed to continue the practice of giving
a Bible to all children leaving the School. In addition, All Saints had received a
request from the Head Teacher for a donation towards religious books for the
school library. It was decided to give a sum of £200.
Village Fete
The Village Fete in June was most enjoyable, and has brought about a donation
of £700 for All Saints, which is greatly appreciated.
All Saints’ Charity
On Saturday 25th Septemeber there is to be a Car Treasure Hunt (2.30 pm
registration at the Pond, £15 per car), followed by a Barbecue from 5.30 pm at
Luckings Farm. There is an additional charge for the Barbecue.
Harvest Thanksgiving
There will be a Family Harvest Festival Service with Holy Communion at 10.00
am on Sunday 3 rd October, and a Harvest Choral Evensong at 6.00 pm.
Harvest Supper
Newcomers to the village have always found that the Harvest Supper (this year
on October 8 th ) is a good occasion for meeting other villagers.
Carolynn Croisdale-Appleby
Carolynn’s Ordination takes place on Sunday 26 th September at Christ Church
in Oxford. Her first service will be Evensong at St Mary’s on the same day.
Chris Wege
Honorary Secretary - All Saints’ Church Committee
Ella McGuire - 4th July 2004
John Harvey - 8th August 2004Easter
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Holy Baptism
Holy Matrimony
William Hamish Lawrence to Samantha Jane Wren - 3rd July 2004
Blessing
Toby and Noelle Wardell - 17th July 2004
Global Village - Tasmania
Tasmania (not to be confused with Tanzania!) is Australia’s island state.
European settlement in Tasmania is relatively recent. Hobart, Tasmania's capital,
is celebrating its bicentenary this year. Some Tasmanian settlement names imply
that homesick pioneers tried to recreate Britain Down Under : Exeter, Bridport,
Dover, Swansea. This has led to striking anomalies. Lewisham, unlike its
London namesake, looks over the azure blue of Pitt Water to the golden sand
dunes of Five Mile Beach.
Notwithstanding the shameful history of aboriginal genocide, indigenous place
names abound : Ringarooma, Tungatinah, Winnaleah, Karoola, etc. The rugged
western wilderness inspired Precipitous Bluff, Savage River and Lost World
Plateau.
Britain claimed and colonised this remote island partly to forestall interest from
France. Yet French explorers are commemorated along the east coast. The
D'Entrecasteaux Channel washes numerous pretty bays and headlands south of
Hobart; Cape Raoul has Australia's highest sea cliffs; and Freycinet Peninsula is
home to famous Wineglass Bay, with one of the world's ten best beaches.
Some early settlers seemed happy with their Antipodean surroundings,
naming Sunnyside, Paradise, Promised Land, and Snug.
(continued on Page 6)
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Horticultural Show Results
CUP
The Grindley Challenge Cup
Vegetables grown without help
The Jerram Challenge Cup
Vegetables
The Orchard Trophy
Fruit
The Woolacott Vase
Flower Arranging – overall
The Jackie Ferguson Memorial Award
Single Flower arrangement (Class 49)
The Cotswold Challenge Cup
Flowers
The Ovington Rose Bowl
Single Rose
The Coleshill Challenge Cup
Preserves
The Edmond Waller Challenge Cup
Cakes and Pastries
The Whitefield Cup
Best Photograph
The Windmill Bowl
Handicraft – senior citizen
The Clifton Cup
Handicraft
The Le Mead Cup
Embroidery or canvas work
The Red Lion Cup
Men’s Rock Cakes
The Wheatsheaf Children’s Cup
Children’s overall
The Magpie Club Award
Best effort in children’s section
The Premier Cup
Largest number of 1 st places in Show
WINNER
Colin Sach
Sheila Inwood
Heather Hollamby
Catherine Green
Catherine Green
Virginia Jordan
Rosemary Valentine
Heather Auton/Pat Emblow
Susie Gajadharsingh
Frank Auton
John Jefford
Fiona Sach
Jean Powell
David Hall
Taylor Richardson
Freya Tate
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Red Lion
A shorter than usual entry this time. A very busy summer for the Red Lion with
a late opportunity for using the outdoor benches and umbrellas. Has there a been
a noticeable upturn in visitors since winning the Neighbourhood Pub award?
The Red Lion quiz teams were give a pre-season try out in a well attended so
called ‘friendly ‘ match to get them ready for the Pub Quiz season which begins
in October. A full season of the usual pub games and teams will also start at the
same time.
John Ullman
You can find out more about the Red Lion by going direct to our web page
on the Village website at www.coleshill.org/red_lion.htm
Global Village - Tasmania
(continued from page 4)
In many ways Tasmania lives up to this optimistic billing. Hobart has a similar
latitude in the southern hemisphere to Barcelona and Rome, and its maritime
setting means that frosts are unknown. The Roaring Forties blow half way
round the world from Argentina to a climate station on Tasmania's north west
coast that records some of the world's cleanest air.
Tourism is booming. The state has Australia's lowest crime rate. Mainland
Australians are increasingly aware of Tasmania's relaxed lifestyle. Their
interest in cheaper Tasmanian property helped push up Hobart's average house
price in May 2004 to $221,000, which, at £88,000 is hardly exorbitant by
British standards.
There are traffic jams, but they disperse when the traffic lights turn green.
Conversely, not to paint too rosy a picture, the clear felling of eucalypts for the
export of cheap wood chips to Japan is a national scandal. And conservationists
are campaigning to spare the island's beautiful coastline from the kind of
ribbon development that has despoiled much of Queensland.
However, Tasmanians are generally feeling good about themselves. They
affectionately refer to their island by using the diminutive friendly ending,
‘Tassie.’
If you'd like to see some views of Tassie log on to Across Tasmania
www.view.com.au (especially the ‘About Tasmania link’) and
www.discovertasmania.com.au
Steve HitchenEaster
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Parish Council
The Parish Council were delighted to learn that Coleshill had won the ‘Morris
Cup’ in this years Best Kept Village competition for 2004.
The Judges comments were as follows:
• They liked the churchyard and thought the lych gate made an excellent
entrance.
• The war memorial is superbly maintained.
• They were very impressed with the common, a clearly defined conservation
area.
• The cricket ground was in excellent condition.
• The Village Hall is a most attractive building.
• The village has excellent notice boards, particularly the one by the Village
Hall with the leaflet container beneath.
• They found very little litter and felt the whole village gave the impression of
being very well cared for by its villagers.
Also as the winner with the highest marks in the competition Coleshill will also
be awarded the Sword of Excellence.
WELL DONE!
The Best Kept Village sign will be presented to the Village on Saturday 25 th
September 2004, notification of time and place will be posted on the notice
board outside the Village Hall.
We have been automatically entered into the National Best Kept Village
competition, the judging for this will take place sometime in late September
through to October. So please keep up the good work by looking after the verges
and picking up litter when out walking.
Other business conducted by the Parish Council covered such diverse items as
village speed restrictions, play-area, planning applications and autumn pond
clearing. Chairman of the Parish Council David Hall and Leader of
Buckinghamshire County Council Cllr Peter Lawrence arranged a second
meeting for residents to meet senior Police Officers to discuss the spate of
recent burglaries in the village.
The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Tuesday 21 st September 2004 at
8.15pm in the small hall of the Village Hall. Come along you can have your say
during the democratic period.
Susan Smith
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Coleshill Common
The conservation work party dates have been set for the rest of the year. This is
vital work which has been rewarded by the special mention in the ’Best Kept
Village’ results. Please feel free to come and join us and lend a hand to keep
Coleshill Common in good shape for villagers and wildlife. For further details
please contact me on 724152.
September
Sunday 12th
10.30 a.m
Saturday 25th
2.00 p.m
October
Sunday 10th
10.30 a.m
Saturday 23rd
2.00 p.m
November
Sunday
7th
10.30 a.m
Saturday 20th
2.00 p.m
December
Sunday
5th
10.30 a.m
Chris Wege
Tennis Club
We are fast approaching the Club's Finals Day, Sunday 12th September. We
have been very lucky in the past with the weather for this event, spectators
having to find cool, shady areas in which to enjoy the efforts on court.
The Ladies Doubles finals and Men's Doubles finals have already been played
and the two days were very enjoyable - again, we were very lucky with the
weather.
Tuesday evening Club Play will continue for as long as there are players to play
and enough light to see the ball !
We will hold the Tennis Club AGM at the end of November, details will be
posted on the Club Notice board in due course.
The timing of this Newsletter is perfect to tell you of the Club's fund raising
event, a Horse Racing evening to be held in the Village Hall on Friday 29th
October 2004. Flyers giving details will be around the village of course during
October, please look out for them and please do come along. The last Horse
Racing Evening the Club held was terrific fun and was extremely well attended
- actually, the noise from the hall during the track racing time was loud enough
to test the stability of the roof! (well, almost). We look forward to seeing you
there.
I wish you all happy tennis days in (hopefully) plenty of Autumn sunshine.
Angela PerryEaster
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Horticultural Society
‘Great fun’, ‘terrific atmosphere’, ‘and no doping scandals!’ were just a few of
the very positive quotes from the large number of villagers, family and friends
who attended the Village Show on Saturday, opened by Mrs Jenny Earp.
A combination of talent, enthusiasm and sheer hard work ensured that there was
plenty to look at and enjoy despite the wettest August on record. Quite a
contrast with last year’s searing August heat which frazzled so much produce.
This year saw more fruit and flowers than veg, and many more entries in the
photography and crafts sections. The children’s section also goes from strength
to strength, providing an impressive and entertaining display.
It was good to see so many show ‘veterans’ on form, but also very pleasing to
have some new names to put on the cups. A full list of cup winners is printed
elsewhere in this newsletter, as well as a selection of photos (and even more
pictures can be seen on the village website). I’d like to just highlight a couple of
names: Mrs Sheila Inwood won the Society’s Premier Cup for her staggering
number of first prizes in only her second year of competing, and Taylor
Richardson added his name to the Wheatsheaf Children’s Cup, following in the
footsteps of his sister and mother.
The Committee ensured that the show ran smoothly, and was set up and taken
down in record time – many thanks to you all.
We will be meeting to review what we could do better next year, and also to
discuss the comments and ideas of those of you who completed questionnaires –
more on this next time.
Thank you to all out exhibitors, patrons, supporters and helpers for making the
show such ‘an important part of village life’.
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Saturday 4th September 2004
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A History of the Management of
Coleshill Common
It seemed that for many years our Common had been only lightly managed by
Peter Pusey on behalf of the Parish Council and areas had become over-grown
after being a typically open-area Common back in the 1950’s. There had been
an aborted attempt to turn it into a playground by bulldozing the centre however
legend has it that the most significant ‘management’ it had received was when a
certain villager set it alight.
This
trend
towards
wilderness had begun to
turn the Common into
diverse habitats of scrub,
woodland and grassland,
with ponds and springs,
that was beneficial for
many species of flora and
fauna. This had been
recognized by the British
Trust for Ornithology and
the Common had been the
subject of the ‘Common
Breeding Bird Survey’
supervised by Dr John
Ogle since 1976.
The idea of managing the Common was the brainchild of Ann Trotman, who
had had a career in teaching natural history and saw its potential. With the help
of John Chenevix-Trench, Ann created a management plan that investigated the
Common’s history and began the survey of the habitats and species.
The Aim of the Plan has been to help us ‘To protect and conserve the
unenclosed character and naturalness of the site for the benefit of the flora,
fauna and other wildlife and for its quiet enjoyment by the public on foot.’
The early management committee was formed in 1992 that included over the
next few years Spike Wright, Richard Valentine, Tony Barber, Ann Trotman,
John Chenevix-Trench, Graham Thorne, and Patsy Wright-Warren who
subsequently became chairman for some time. Spike was the first foreman and
under his eye work progressed competently until one Sunday morning the team
began coppicing the large area of willow below Village Road. With Spike and
Ann absent, enthusiasm overcame judgment, and too much was cut, which
attracted criticism. We learned a lot from this early setback..
The Committee applied to the county ecologist for advice. His up-to-date
expertise helped to review and consolidate our management plan. So, the
rotation of coppice was redesigned from cutting swathes through the willow toEaster
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cutting smaller bays each year to create a succession of long woodland-edge
environments for wildlife. Woodland edge is one of the most important and
biodiverse environments for wildlife, especially for the insect and bird species.
The new management plan created was more-broad based and concluded with a
Seven Year Plan which is now on the village website. So our work progressed
with more assurance. We receive an annual grant from Chiltern District Council.
The County Council gave us an initial grant and we had support from the British
Trust for Conservation Volunteers. With our grants we have bought tools,
saplings to plant and we pay for the annual cut of the Common grassland that is
done in way to keep the soil nutrient poor so maintaining its floral diversity.
We have three types of work: firstly, the routine maintenance of the paths and
the control of vegetation in some of the public areas; secondly, noting the
advance of invasive plants, mostly the willow, and selecting areas for clearance;
thirdly, carrying out specific projects to a variety of ends. For instance:
following the discovery of a rare plant species, starwort, the two ponds on the
Common were cleared to let in light to achieve a more suitable pond
environment. Some of us went to a study day on the conservation of this little
rarity. I was impressed by the plant’s record of disappearing again whenever a
new colony was discovered. We
have never seen them since. We
took
advantage
of
the
Millennium tree-planting project
to acquire some saplings to plant.
Ann was not impressed when she
found we had been sent a species
of cherry not natural to this area.
Thankfully one of us is an
observant botanist.
We miss George Plumridge who
kept the Common scrupulously
clear of rubbish and knew the place better than anyone. In the summer we
attempt to control alien garden plants that have tried to colonize from garden
rubbish thrown onto the Common! So, many man-hours have been spent
managing the Common - 150 just last season, between October and March..
Most interestingly we have also tried to record the species that live in or use our
Common, so we have a species list of plants, birds, animals and butterflies. One
summer project that was fun was a survey of moths. For several Saturday nights
two chaps turned up with their lamps and created their eerie glow that attracted
the moths. I thought we were doing well to achieve 120 species until I found out
Buckingham Palace gardens is host to more than 600. This year we are
surveying the fungi.
Accompanying our efforts at conservation, the Common has been changing.
One thing that appears to be happening is that the western area where big
mature hawthorns seemed to thrive has been slowly developing to high forest as
they are over-topped by the maturing oaks and cherries. That is a principle that
we have to learn, that things change and we have to decide whether to manage14
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that change, or to use ‘masterful inactivity’. The Common is big enough that
there are some areas that can be left to follow their natural development. Indeed
while this process is advancing in one area we can be managing another area in
order to restart the seral succession. (Seral describes the level of ecological
integration after disturbance - Ed)
Nature Conservation has become an important modern interest, and there is a lot
to learn and understand. At first we were ‘gardeners’, but we have learned to
differentiate between gardening and nature conservation. ‘Gardening’ is
appropriate in the more public areas, but natural environments are not tidy the
way gardens are meant to be. The temptation is to tidy up, and have a bonfire to
burn the bits. Now we tend to pile up the brush and stack it in gaps that have
been cleared, so that wooded interiors that have been exposed can begin to be
sheltered again. It is important that woodlands maintain their seclusion and their
microclimate that is conducive to woodland habitat species. The logs are tossed
away into the undergrowth to decay and begin the cycle that supports
biodiversity. Since we are surveying the fungal species on the Common this
year, we hope that this dead wood will give us a good population of fungi. Of
course many species of insects on which birds feed flourish in decaying wood.
Chris Wege recently visited Bialoviege Forest in Poland and came back with the
knowledge that a natural forest contains 30% of dead and decaying wood, both
standing and lying.
Soon we go into a new season of work. We worry that few people join in to help
but it has kept our work of modest impact. While many hands make light work,
too many hands can be a problem, since often the initial activity in nature
conservation is cutting things down, or ‘control’ as it is euphemistically termed.
One should not have to look for things to cut down just to keep the team busy!
So, we try to plant trees and shrubs in appropriate sites to balance the need for
‘control’. Of course interested people will always be welcome especially for the
larger projects.
My favourite thought about our work comes from a visit we had from a
butterfly expert who was very complimentary about our efforts, and
summarized: ‘You haven’t done too much’. So, our modest approach has been
appropriate.
Twelve years on, it was very pleasing for the Common to contribute to our Best
Kept Village award by achieving full marks in this year’s competition. The
present committee consists of Chris Wege - chairman, Patsy Wright-Warren,
Ann Trotman and Graham Thorne and Penny Ware is to join us. We report our
work annually to the Parish Council.
Graham ThorneEaster
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I answered the doorbell one lunchtime and there stood Mr David Palmer who
explained he was not selling but wanted to give him something which turned
out to be two photos of Friars Vane taken at the turn of the last century showing
his great, great grandfather Ephraim Palmer and his family. These photos have
been recently discovered in the family archives and had been digitally restored
by his son in law. One shows the family and the other a herd of cows in what
was the driveway. The family group left to right are daughter Harriet 1850-
1961, wife Ellen (nee Sears) 1849-1931, son George 1875-1951 and Ephraim
1850-1927. Both photos taken around 1910.
Ephraim is described as a market gardener, and his wife Ellen ran the village
grocers shop. Her father James Sears was a shoemaker and her mother, Sarah
was a lacemaker and they also lived in the village. All are buried in the
churchyard.
Richard ValentineEaster
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Coleshill W.I.
August is a blissfully quiet month on the W.I. front and I, for one, am enjoying
the extra time for other things. However we did entertain our friends from St.
Saviour’s Deaf Club in Acton earlier this month. This year they only came for
lunch (as we no longer have sufficient able- bodied helpers to cope with tea as
well) but what a splendid meal it was, with an amazing choice of delicious
home-made puddings and they all enjoyed themselves and look forward to
returning next year. The team of helpers in the kitchen were delighted to be the
first to use the new geyser, which was voted a huge improvement on the urn,
and, hoorah, the floor is really non-slip now too. So, our thanks to the Village
Hall committee for sorting these problems out. Sometimes it feels as if we are
always in the kitchen as we have recently been involved in helping with the
Chesswoods Group annual lunch and we also had a most successful Garden
Party at The Captive Oak when we raised the magnificent sum of £400 which
was divided equally between Cystic Fibrosis and Williams Syndrome because
two of our members have grandchildren suffering from these conditions, and we
all wanted to help them.
We had fun selling raffle tickets at the Village Fete and in a weak moment
promised to do so again next year! Several of our members live outside the
village and it was heart-warming that they all gave generously to support the
fete. Needless to say a good few of them were the lucky winners too!
Unfortunately we had to cancel the proposed trip to the Tate Britain due to lack
of support but some members took advantage of the group outing to Blenheim
Palace, several visited the Chiltern Show to support the County Federation stall,
and we have reserved tickets to see The Shell Seekers at Wycombe Swan this
autumn.
Finally, I must share the excitement of our W.I. when Joan Domin, Lindsey
Haubner and myself won the Bucks Federation W.I. Public speaking
competition and came back with the most impressive shield! Unfortunately by
the time you receive this you will have missed the opportunity to see us giving a
repeat performance at our September meeting but I suggest you ask someone to
tell you all about it!
I’ve noticed that several homes in the village have changed hands recently and
from my own experience there is no doubt that coming to W.I. is an excellent
way of becoming part of Coleshill, visitors are always welcome and our next
meeting is 14 th October at 2:30p.m.
Eileen Gershon
You can find out more about Coleshill WI by going direct to our web page
on the Village website at www.coleshill.org/the_wi.htmEaster
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Marathon - New York 2004
Susan Smith - Clerk to Coleshill Parish Council and Terry Power - Secretary to
Coleshill Cricket Club have both entered the New York marathon which takes
place on 7 th November 2004.
They are hoping to raise a lot of money for Walk the Walk which at present
grants its funds to Breakthough Breast Cancer for Research and The Bristol
Cancer Help Centre for holistic cancer care.
The training for the Marathon entails many early morning walks and runs
through the village with evening gym sessions at the Village Hall at the Quick
Fit Club.
If you spot them walking of running on the road a wave of encouragement
helps, but even better, if you wish to sponsor them please make cheques payable
to ‘Walk the Walk’ care of Susan Smith, 2 Manor Way, Coleshill.
Best of luck from everyone in Coleshill!
Village Hall
The Village Hall continues to provide a venue for The Horticultural Show,
public meetings and private parties. Keep fit activities are very popular this year
and the Bridge club continues to use the Hall, which it has done for more than
twenty years.
The AGM on the 23rd April 2004 was poorly attended and a Friday night
meeting will not be chosen again.
The kitchen floor has been re-laid by the manufacturers as the safety factor was
proved to be defective. A water heater has replaced the urn in the kitchen, which
will provide a safer method of using hot water.
The Hall is available for hire to residents of Coleshill for their personal use at
reduced rates. Please contact Ann Lawrence on 433421 for hire. The Hall details
can be viewed online and bookings made on the village web site.
Ann Lawrence
You can find out more about Coleshill Village Hall by going direct to our
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Neighbourhood Watch
Since the last newsletter, concern by villagers about the number of burglaries
has resulted in two meetings with the police. It has been very disheartening to
see figures for burglary rise again after the initial success of our NHW scheme.
It was during a spate of burglaries like this, just over eight years ago, that made
us decide to start the scheme. Thieves would strike during the day when they
knew the village was pretty empty. A knock at the door would assure them that
no-one was home and they would have plenty of time to go all through the
house looking for swag. We fought back. NHW stickers went up in windows,
burglar alarms were fitted, security lights etc were installed and the result was
that burglaries almost stopped.
The last year has seen a new type of burglar in our patch, though. He comes
during the night whether people are home or not. He has found that most of us
do not put our alarms on at night and that, in the early hours, we will sleep
through most light noise. If he cannot find a downstairs window open, he will
prize out the putty or beading, lift out the glass, get in, grab a handbag, laptop,
clock, picture, small antique etc and be away in just a few minutes.
Neighbourhood Watch must try to fight back again.
The first meeting, held in the cricket pavilion, gave us a chance to speak to the
lady in charge of Neighbourhood Watch at Amersham police station, our new
beat officer and his boss. The second, organized by the Chairman of our Parish
Council and the Chairman of the County Council, brought to the Village Hall
two senior police officers. Overall, from these two meetings, we have learnt
that, firstly, we are not likely to be attacked in our beds. The burglar is most
likely to be a professional burglar, who wants to find something from which to
make a quick profit and does not want to be identified or to enter into any kind
of conflict. He is probably supporting a drug habit. Secondly, that police
presence has been increased, both during the day and, even more so, at night.
They cannot be here all the time though, so it is up to us to take more care
ourselves. Handbags, wallets and keys left within view in downstairs rooms are
a magnet. Take all these, plus laptops, into your bedroom at night and hide them
away. Set alarms at night or find other gizmos, such as sensors, which ring your
front door if movement triggers them. Thirdly, notice suspicious cars or people.
Call the local police on 0845 950 5505 and get them to check out anything
unusual. They may just have a car registration listed as being stolen or
belonging to a known felon. Finally, mark or photograph precious items so that,
if they are stolen and subsequently found, you may have a chance of getting
them back.
Jack & Lindsey HaubnerEaster
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Christmas Greetings
As we close the Horticultural Show on a gloriously hot day, I realise it must
seem incongruous to include this notice in the Newsletter as an early reminder
of Christmas!
For those who do not know, your Christmas Greeting donation is what pays for
the majority of the printing of your four Village Newsletters per year. The
balance of the cost is covered by the Parish Council.
I have included a form below. Please complete this and return it to me with a
donation of at least £1.00, (more if you wish) and I will arrange for your
Greeting to be included in the Christmas Newsletter, and also appear on the
village website!
I am sorry that it will not be possible to remind everyone again but of course
you do not have to wait until the November 12th deadline to let me have your
greeting!
Frank Auton
Christmas Greetings
I would like to include Christmas Greetings from:-
.........................................................................
(please print)
I/we enclose donation of £.........
(cheques should be made payable to Parish Council)
Please complete and return in an envelope before
Friday 12th November 2004 to:-
Frank Auton
The Rosary Cottage, Village Road, ColeshillEaster
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Cricket Club
Coleshill CC can look back on 2004 season with mixed feelings, the 1st
team finished in the top half of their league division whilst the 2nd XI
will face the prospect of 2nd division cricket in 2005 after an
extremely disappointing season.
A big thank you to the Club Captain Barney Stay for his efforts
throughout the year; the job of captain extends a long way beyond the
boundary and takes up most of the week. Similarly, massive thanks to
Chris Bruin for his contribution for both the Saturday 2nd XI and Sunday
XI.
John Ullman's colts training sessions have continued to be a success
and some of the older lads are starting to challenge for starting places
in the Club sides which is encouraging.
The August barbecue and firework event was an excellent and extremely well
attended event and hopefully all those who attended enjoyed themselves. John
Ullman is already planning his fireworks for next year!
By the end of the month Sujit will on his way back to Sri Lanka with
hopefully many happy memories of Coleshill and the whole club hopes to
see him again in 2005 (a nice guy and great cricketer).
So the cold and dark evenings will soon be drawing in and the cricket
club will soon be closing for the winter, but there is plenty of work to
be done on the pitch, nets, outfield and fence (we are in danger of
becoming rabbit central). Before you know it though April 2005 will be
here and the panic of teams, teas and balls will start again for the
lucky few!
Graham Flack
To find out more about the Cricket Club go direct to our web page on the
Village website at www.coleshill.org/cricket.htm
Coleshill Infants School
There is no news in this issue as the Village School is closed for the summer
holidays. We wish Jenny Earp and her team a well deserved holiday after an
eventful and successful year for the School. We look forward to more news next
term.Easter
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Best Kept Village of the Year
After reluctantly not entering in 2003 due to the disruption caused by so much
construction work, we were delighted to be so successful in 2004 following the
strenuous efforts by so many to tidy up the village. The winners of this year's
Buckinghamshire Best Kept Village and Village of the Year competitions, which
are organised by Bucks Association of Local Councils, have been revealed:-
The Best Kept Village competition focuses on the community spirit which is
highlighted through a village's well kept environment, and celebrates
communities pulling together.
Buckinghamshire Best Kept Village of the Year 2004
Morris Cup (Population 501-1500)
Winner - Coleshill
Sword of Excellence (village with the highest marks) Winner - Coleshill
Village of the Year Competition
This looks at how villages make the best of what they have got for the benefit of
all residents, encouraging whole communities to contribute to village life.
Smaller Community Category (Population under 3,000) Winner - Coleshill
Villages from both the Best Kept Village and Village of the Year competitions
will be honoured at a presentation ceremony being held on Saturday 25th
September 2004.
Competition Chairman, Richard Pushman, commented: 'We had a great
response to both competitions this year. Once again the standard was very high,
and the judging teams had a tough time choosing the winners. This is
highlighted by the fact that out of the forty villages entering the Best Kept
Village competition, thirty five of them achieved marks over 80%, which is a
terrific achievement. As one of the judges commented, these competitions really
highlight what a great place Buckinghamshire is to live'.
We will now go forward to represent Buckinghamshire in the Eastern England
and Home Counties region of the national Calor - Village of the Year
competition involving communities from over 45 counties across England and
Wales which has a prize fund totalling £37,000. Coleshill will initially be
judged in October by Village of the Year regional judges along with villages
from Bedfordshire, Berkshire. Cambridgeshire: Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk
and Suffolk, and will ultimately be in with a chance of winning £12,500 of prize
money.
We have previously won the Best Kept Village Award in 1965, 1966, 1967
and 1973 - so please keep up the great work as we go into the Finals!Easter
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Diary Dates
Sunday 12th September
Saturday 18th September
Tuesday 21st September
Saturday 25th September
Friday
8th October
Thursday 14th October
Friday 29th October
Friday 12th November
Tuesday 23rd November
Tennis Club Finals Day
Car Treasure Hunt & Barbecue
Parish Council Meeting
Best Kept Village Award Presentation
Harvest Supper
WI Meeting
Tennis Club Horse Race Evening
Christmas Greetings Deadline
Parish Council Meeting
Harvest Supper
This years All Saints’ Harvest Supper will be held on Friday 8th October 2004.
Tickets are £6.00 each, including a glass of wine and can be purchased from
Rosie Searles on 726118, Pat Dawson on 433036 or Liz Radclyffe on 724865.
Help with setting up on the day and to supply some puddings will be much
appreciated - Thank you.
Request for information
Does anyone know anything about Coleshill House? I found reference to it in a
history book and went to see it. It looks sort of Queen Anne with Regency add-
ons but does anyone know its age, who built it, who lived there etc.
I would greatly appreciate any help on this matter. A local builder told me that it
was originally a home and was now divided into apartments but who originally
lived there? Also, has anyone noticed that in the other Coleshill (Oxfordshire
now) there was a house also called Coleshill House which bore quite distinct
similarities - so much so that when I found an engraving of it I confused the
two.
Any help much appreciated.
If you have any information please email Michael Sargeaunt.
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Contact Numbers
Reverend Tim Harper - Rector
Dorothy Potter - Parish Secretary
Dumpy Swerling - All Saints' Pro-Warden
Patsy Wright-Warren - All Saints' Pro-Warden
John Brumwell - Parish Treasurer
Chris Wege - Hon Secretary All Saints'
Catherine Green - Church Flowers
Ruth Murphy - Organist & Choirmaster All Saints'
Frank & Heather Auton - Newsletter
Susan Smith - Clerk Parish Council
Ann Lawrence - Village Hall Bookings
Marianne Holt - Magpie Club & Parish Youth Worker
Jenny Earp - Head teacher Village School
Jack & Lindsey Haubner - Neighbourhood Watch
Eileen Gershon - President Coleshill W.I.
Amanda McCallum - Iain Rennie Hospice at Home
David Smith - Coleshill Horticultural Society
Angela Perry - Secretary Coleshill Tennis Club
Terry Power - Secretary Coleshill Cricket Club
John Holland - Coleshill Short Mat Bowls
John & Chris Ullman - The Red Lion
Chris Wege - Common Management Committee
724426
729380
873931
433356
724704
724152
724922
433539
431036
724490
433421
723793
727206
722589
727868
725083
724490
721865
431186
729357
727020
724152
Parish Councillors
David Hall Chairman of Parish Council 725231
Richard Valentine Vice-Chairman of Council 725794
Jan Atkinson Member of Parish Council 434830
Frank Auton Member of Parish Council 431036
Tony Barber Member of Parish Council 722143
John Jefford Member of Parish Council 433230
Mike Smith Member of Parish Council tbaEaster
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Services in the Parish
St Mary’s 8.00 am Holy Communion
All Saints’
(except 2 nd Sunday) 9.00 am Holy Communion
All Saints’ (2 nd Sunday) 10.00 am Holy Communion
St Mary’s 10.15 am Holy Communion
St Mary’s 11.45 am Matins
All Saints’
6.00 pm
st
(1 Sunday of every month) Evensong
St Mary’s
6.00 pm
st
(except 1 Sunday of month) Evensong
Sunday 3 rd October 2004 Harvest Thanksgiving
10.00 am
All Saints’ Services
Sunday 7 th November 2004
6.00 pm Harvest Choral Evensong
9.00 am
6.00 pm Patronal Festival
Communion
Choral Evensong
