ALL SAINTS' COLESHILL VILLAGE NEWSLETTER.
The Rector's Letter.
My dear Friends,
We are now in the season which the Church calls Trinity. It is a long
season lasting half the year. To many that may seem a dull time with nothing
very exciting to enliven us. Well that may be because we are not fully aware
of what it is, or what its purpose is.
For six months, since Advent Sunday, the first Sunday in the Church's year,
approximately four weeks before Christmas, we have been following the life
of our Lord. All the great highlights and the great festivals, Christmas
and the shepherds, the Epiphany and the visit of the wise men, Lent bringing us
to Maundy Thursday and the institution of the Holy Communion, Good Friday and
the Crucifixion, Easter Day and the Glorious Resurrection, the six weeks when
our Lord visited and was seen by his friends and many others, Ascension Day
our Lord returns to his Father, Whitsunday, the birthday of the Church, and,
only after all that, Trinity. This year we have twenty four Sundays after
Trinity, and during that time the Church is at pains to make it clear to us
that we are members of God's family, we are Christians - followers of Jesus -
and we are again given six months to concentrate and think about how we can
be better Christians and better members of God's family.
Read carefully the Collect Epistle and Gospel for each Sunday after Trinity.
They are carefully and well chosen for that purpose - the purpose of helping
us to know God better through Jesus, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, which
is simply Jesus with us all the time.
Yours sincerely,
Allan Campbell.
Rector.
BEST WISHES.
Best wishes are extended to Mrs. Joan Dryden who is in hospital and
making satisfactory progress.
* PARISTA RELIEF FUND.
A total of £20.78 has been collected and sent "to this fund.
*
THE NEWSLETTER - For about three years this Newsletter was typed and duplicated
by Mrs. Joan Dryden until she found that she could not spare the time to do so.
So a fund was raised, and a duplicator was purchased. Mrs. Plumridge kindly
agreed to type the stencils and the idea was that a team of volunteers should be
enrolled to do the duplicating.
The team never materialised and so, after Mr. Nightingale left,
the editorship was taken over on a temporary basis, Mrs. Plumridge continued to
prepare the stencils, and Mrs. Dryden stepped into the breach and did the
duplicating on the understanding that she would soon be relieved of the job.
Several appeals have been made with no result.
Unless a solution can be found it is extremely probable that
the issue of the Newsletter will be discontinued.
CHURCH FETE
There was all the fun of the fair at the Church Fete on Saturday, 12th
June. There were coconut shies, ninepins, smashing china, a peg-board, pony
rides, a hobby horse, a band, a fancy dress parade for younger people, the
usual number of well laden and attractive stalls, and, of course, the
inevitable tombola and raffle.
It was the result of a fine piece of organisation and improvisation,
for the rain did not stop until Friday, and then a shelter for the teas had
to be erected and the grass had to be cut. The attendance was estimated at
450, doubtless due to some splendid sign-posts and posters.
Great credit must go to Mr. and Mrs. Nicholls and to their band of
willing helpers.
The weather turned out to be quite fine for the afternoon, and a good
attendance welcomed Mrs. Harrington - introduced by the Rector - who declared
the fete open and wished it good luck. Before making a tour of the fete
Mrs. Harrington accepted a bouquet of flowers graciously presented by Miss
Kimberley Ferguson.
The results were a record, viz. £342.4.6 less expenses, say £44 with
perhaps some additional items to be taken into account.
Household £43.22
Fancy Dress 68
Toys 14.00
Cakes 19.52^
Gate 22.74
Bric-a-brac 18.00
Skittles 2.07£
Raffle 57.54
Pony Rides 3.33s-
Peg Board 9.77
Horse shoes 1.05
Tombola 82.25
Green Fingers 32.51
China Smashing 4.75^
Ices 4.80
Teas _ 12.80g-
Slippery Pole 55ir
Coconuts 11.82
£342.46
For the Fancy Dress Parade, the young people had excelled themselves,
and prizes were awarded as follows:
The Nicholls boys "Uncle Tom Cobleigh"
Anne Horsbrugh-Porter "Brown Paper Parcel"
Jane Swerling "Make Do ;and Mend"
Kerry Ferguson "Spaceman"
Paula Meade "Daffodil"
Jo Bolton . "Scarecrow"
The afternoon was made all the more pleasant by some delightful
melodies played by the brass band of Raan's School which has more than a local
Church Fete (Contd.)
Teas were served under the good auspices of the Mothers' Union, and
thanks are extended to Mrs. Pusey and her family for the use of Little
Bowers for the occasion and for their great help.
CONGRATULATIONS.
Are extended to the following upon the results of the Associated Board of
Royal Schools of Music examinations, April 1971s
Lynne Truett Grade I piano with distinction
Jennifer Creber Grade II piano
THE RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION
A well attended Annual General Meeting of the Residents' Association was
held on the 26th May, with Mr. S.C. Clifton in the Chair.
In his report, Mr. Clifton thanked Mrs. Grindley for her work as Hon.
Treasurer, Mrs. Stevens for her work as Hon. Secretary and also for her liaison
with the Amersham R.D.C. which was most valuable and he thanked other members
of the Committee for their support.
During the year, the Committee had given careful consideration to proposals
submitted to the R.D.C. for development in the village and vigorous protests
had been lodged when they were considered detrimental.
Gypsies were a major problem and the Committee had written to the R.D.C.
about their encampment on the borders of Coleshill, and the filthy conditions
in which they left their sites when they moved on.
Another matter discussed was the proposal to take over the small Froghill
Brickworks in Bottrells Lane by a large organisation with the object of
extending its activities to extract clay, stone and hoggin. We supported
the R.D.C. in its opposition to the scheme as it would involve a large number
of heavy lorries using the narrow lane frequented by children and by those
visiting the picnic area. The Chairman said he was pleased to report that
the application was refused.
Nearer home, the Committee gave their attention to a number of matters,
•viz: heavy lorries using Barrack Hill, the mud deposited at the end of Tower
Road by lorries using the tip opposite, and they had mode a request for a
simple footpath down Gore Hill.
The By-pass. Last year the proposed Amersham By-pass was the subject of
intense interest and eventually the Southern route - to which the Association
took no exception - was approved by the County. It was reported in the press
that the Minister of Transport had made a substantial financial grant towards
the cost, but Mrs. Stevens now understood that it will be some 7 years before
the by-pass is constructed.
Alteration to County Boundaries. You will have read of the Government's
proposals to amend the County boundaries under the scheme for the reorganisation
of local government. The proposals as they affect Bucks are
the Borough of Slough and the Urban & Rural District Council of Eton which
are to be transferred to Berkshire.
These two areas are both very highly rated, the one an industrial area and
the other a wealthy residential area. Together they equal more than one
third of the present rateable area of the County. If they were to be
detached, it has been estimated that, based on current statistics, there
would be an increase of over 12 pence (or 2/6 to some of us) on the current
•ra-t-.o TVio AmeTvqVinm T?_n,P._ nir.fi Tvrntfist.ir\ff verv atronelv against these
Residents' As sn. (Contd.)
proposals and although there is very little of a practical value which your
Association can do we thought you should be aware of these proposals and their
effect upon you so that you may make your voice heard in appropriate places.
Wing Airport Resistance Association. It is now known that the Government
have rejected the Roskill Report on the siting of London's third airport,
and are to site the airport at Foulness and not at Wing. The decision is
a great relief to all residents in Buckinghamshire and you should know that
your Association sent a donation of £10 to the Wing Resistance Fund.
The Local Bus Service. Threats have been made by the London Country Bus
Company to axe certain services including that serving Coleshill. The
Parish Council asked for our views on the question of a subsidy being
provided from the rates in order to maintain the service.
Your Association replied that we would be prepared for a subsidy to be paid
from the rates in order to preserve the service for those who relied upon
it, but if this were done then the public should have more say on the type
of service provided. As you probably know, the Amersham and Beaconsfield
District Councils have agreed to make a grant which will maintain the service
until the end of the year, after which the matter will be renewed again.
Best Kept Village. Finally, Mr. Clifton appealed on behalf of the Tidy
Village Competition for which Coleshill had entered as usual. Judging takes
place during July and he appealed to everyone to do all they can to improve
the appearance of the village. We had not won the award for several years,
after a record breaking run, and he and all the Committee would dearly love
to see the post and board again by the Village Pond.
Discussion. Discussion turned upon two main points - the gypsies and the
flowers that bloom in the spring.
With regard to the gypsies, Mrs. Stevens said that sites for the gypsies
provided a nation wide problem. A place had to be found for them, they
had the right to live in their own way, but they must not be a nuisance to
other people. Sites must be fairly near to schools and water and sanitary
services must be available. The problem had still to be solved.
With regard to the flowers that bloom in the spring, certain beauty lovers
deplored that much beauty was lost when verges were cut by mechanical
means, but with a sigh it was regretted that this was the price one had to
pay for keeping the village tidy, and, in any case, the flowers benefited
by their annual pruning.
After Mrs. Gfindley had submitted a satisfactory financial .statement, the
retiring officers were then re-elected with acclamation and Mr. Panton was
elected to fill a vacancy on the Committee.
THE SAMARITANS.
In this welfare state of England and Wales, over 5,000 persons a year
commit suicide.
In a talk to the W.I. on the 10th June, "Kathleen" - Samaritans are only
known by their Christian names - said that some 20 years ago, the Revd. Chad
Varah was terribly impressed at a funeral of a young girl who had committed
suicide vhen. he was told she might have been saved from taking her life if
only she had someone in whom to confide. Then he learned that there were
3 suicides a day in London and thought that something ought to be done about it.
Could they not turn to a suitably manned telephone after the style of '999'.
Thfi number of a bombed Citv Church save him the idea '90001 and then he started
The. Samaritans (Contd.)
to enrol volunteers.
Now there are more than 100 Samaritan branches throughout the United Kingdom,
the local Chilterns Branch - Amersham 5000 - serving the region Aylesbury,
Berkhamsted, Gerrards Cross, High Wycombe. They are all manned day and night
by lay volunteers, who are ready to receive confidences from people with every
sort of human problem whose chief need is for someone who will take a
compassionate interest in them, will never condemn or reject and will do whatever
a close personal friend would do to help.
The risk of suicide is greatest from those suffering from depression, the cause
usually being despair from loneliness, from mental illness, from psychological
problems and every sort of worry. About 70$ of those who attempt to take their
lives tell someone before doing so and fewer than one in 250 commit suicide after
consulting the Samaritans, which is a tribute to their methods.
The Samaritans are lay people from all walks of life who have been chosen
for their human qualitj.es, a talent for friendship and a genuine concern for
others. They do not try to change people, they do not even give advice.
What they do is to offer genuine friendship and, given a sympathetic hearing,
people will often talk and may find for themselves a means to ease their
burdens. Sometimes they are able to recommend some one to go to for suitable
accommodation or for medical care. Above all the work of the Samaritans is
complete confidentiality.
A novel by Monica Dickens "The Listeners" is devoted to this wonderful movement.
COLESHILL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The Annual General Meeting of the Coleshill Horticultural Society was held
on the 21st June.
The report on the last show was satisfactory, the entries having been up on
the previous year and the three new classes in flower arranging had been well
supported. Financially, it broke even.
The show this year will be held on Saturday, llth September.
The committee were re-elected en-bloc and the retiring officers accepted
re-appointment with the usual show of reluctance.
The meeting was very quiet, there being very little comment on the schedule
so that it finished in record time.
The committee decided that it would be a good thing to carry straight on
with their first meeting, and they thrashed through the detail of the
schedule, the biggest task being suitable conversions of the money figures to
decimal.
The schedule classes will be exactly the same as last year with some slight
alterations of wording.
ANTI-LITTER CAMPAIGN.
The Keep Britain Tidy Group is holding a National No-Litter Week,
beginning Monday, 12th July. Particulars from:
Mark Johns, Esq.,
Campaign Director,
Keep Britain Tidy Group,
76, Strand,
London, TJ.C.2.
W.I. P'JftTY FOR THE DEAF.
Most women like to think that they are born hostesses and when they combine,
as members of the U.I. did on Thursday, May 20th, to entertain selected guests,
the result was beyond all praise.
On this occasion, they were entertaining a party of deaf people from the
Club of St. Saviours, Acton, one of the principal centres of the Royal
Association for the Deaf and Dumb, which is an organisation working on a
voluntary basis among deaf and dumb people in London and the home counties.
Being deaf is an Invisible handicap, a constant frustration and the Club of
St. Saviours is open most evenings for recreation and amusements, bingo, whist,
billiards, table tennis, etc. which deaf people enjoy. Even if they do not
hear the music from a band, they love to hear its loud vibrations. The
address of the Royal Association in aid of the Deaf and Dumb is: 7/11 Armstrong
Road, London, W.3.
Going back to the afternoon, a first class concert party from Berkhampsted -
''The Evergreens" - run by Mrs. Bond, Mrs. Blackmore and Mrs. Sheila Ford
(once well known in the village) put on a lively and enjoyable performance,
in between whiles Mrs. Flint delighted the audience with incidental music on
the piano - all of which were rapturously.received. "The Evergreens",
composed of players of all ages, plan a year's performance with new materials
and costumes every 12 months and travel to their places of entertainment by
private car and Red Cross ambulances.
BEST KEPT VILLAGE COMPETITION.
The Village has again entered for the Best Kept Village Competition.
For several years we were the winners of the Morris Cup, open to villages
with a population of between 500 and 1,000. Now we can only enter for the
Michaelis Cup, which is open to villages which have at any time one of the
other cups, and so the competition is likely to be more severe.
Each village commences with 100 points and marks will be deducted as
follows: ..M ar..k s ,t o ,be
deducted
Hedges and fences adjacent to and
surrounding villages and gardens . Up to 10
Churchyard or cemetery 10
Surrounds to war memorial if not in a
church or churchyard 5
Surrounds of Village Hall 10
Surrounds re School and Playground 10
Playing Fields 10
Tidiness of flower and vegetable gardens 10
Tidiness of allotments in cultivation 10
Ponds and Streams 5
General well-kept appearance of village 25
The preliminary judging of villages will take place between the 1st and
15th July, and final judging before 31st July.
Your co-operation is needed to ensure success.
VILLAGE HAH.
Report of Sub-Committee - Questionnaire.
Of the answers received, which totalled 151, the listed activities were;
Bingo 9 5.9$ Lecture on safe driving 19 12.5$
Talent Competition 16 10,5$ Antiques appreciation 30 20$
Table Tennis 22 U.5$ Dances 26 17.2$
Others 21 (Uhist Drive 3, Youth Club 3, Darts 2)
The Sub-Committee, on these figures with reference to the number of people
in the village, recommend that only antique appreciation and dances should
be proceeded with and a body set up for their organisation
« The Management Committee will appreciate nominations of people willing to
4 serve on the proposed body who must be prepared to accept full responsibility.
VANDALS
A few years ago, two public spirited women, the late Miss Howard and Mrs.
Stevens, decided to give two seats for the use of old people who desired
to rest after visiting the village shops.
By the courtesy of Mr. Everill sites were chosen near the pond, the
foundations were paid for by the Residents' Association and minor repairs
were carried out gratuitiously by Mr. Stefanovic (Meta)
Now the seats have been destroyed by vandals who seek what joy that
can be found by the sight of old people looking for their accustomed seats
so needlessly destroyed.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PICTURE.
Recently a woman was very distressed upon finding that she had left
her wallet containing £10 housekeeping money in the telephone kiosk by
the pond. She is most grateful to the two young people who found the
wallet and returned it through the proper channel.
The young people must remain anonymous but they certainly restore our
£ hope in the future.
\ FORTHCOMING EVENTS.
Thurs. July 1 Mobile Library Van, Coleshill
11 " 8 W.I. Garden Party
Sat. " 10 Barbecue Quarrenden Farm -
Parish Church of St. Mary's
Thurs. " 15 Mothers' Union, Uinchmore Hill - Mrs. Williams.
Mobile Library Van, Coleshill
" " 29 Mobile Library Van, Coleshill
ST. MARY'S P;jlISH CHURCH. AMERSHAM.
Rector? The Revd. A. Campbell, M.A. (Cantab), Beaumont, Hervines Road,
Amersham (tel. 7135) or St. Mary's Parish Office, Church Street,
(tel. £712).
Sunday Services! 3.00 a.m. HOLY COMMUNION
10.00 a.m. Children's Service
11.00 a..m. 3rd & 5th Sundays:
HOLY COMMUNION (New Service)
2nd & 4th Sundays: Mattins .
6.00 p.m. Sung Evensong.
N.B. 1st Sunday: One morning Service only |
at 10.00 a.m.
10.00 a.m. HOLY COMMUNION
For an experimental period of six months starting on the 3rd January 1971
there will be one service only on the morning of the first Sunday in each
month. This service will be a Holy Communion Service for families
worshipping together, i.e. father, mother and children. It is hoped that
parents will bring children up to the Altar Rail with them.
ALL SAINTS'. COLESHILL.
Sunday Services 9.00 a.m. HOLY COMMUNION
10.15 a.m. Sunday School.
St. Andrews' Mission Church, Winchmore Hill.
There is a celebration of Holy Communion on the second Sunday of each
month at 10.30 a.m.
ft
fr
Pro-Churchwardens: N.N. Nicholls (and Hon.Sec.) Orchard House (tel. 6734)
D. Powell-Price, Coleshill Lodge (tel: 3949)
Treasurer: R.G. Stubbings, Springfield, Tower Road (tel: 4738)
Assistant Hon.Sec.: Miss Asher, Radnor Cottage, Magpie Lane (tel: 6866)
Published by All Saints' Church Committee.
