CHADRA

Much has happened in the village since the last Newsletter, but Sports Day must rate as the major event. The family and I were not able to go this year but everyone tells me it was a great day. It is a pity therefore that the Sports Day Committee were discouraged by a poor turn out at their open meeting this month. Missing Sports Day this year has helped me realise what a special event it is. Most villages have some sort of annual happening but very few have one as good as Charfield's. As most villagers were very busy on the day participating in one way or another it may be that they forgot to give a thought to the Committee who work so hard for almost a whole year to make the event the success it is. Let me rectify that to a small degree by publishing a public THANK YOU to last year's committee and good wishes to the 1979 Committee in their almost impossible task of making near year's even better.

Our apologies to those contributors who mention events in the last week of September. We took the duplicator to Gestetners for what was to have been a routine service and had to wait several weeks before being presented with an estimate for £256. Well, we couldn't afford that and brought it back. If you are reading this it is still working but we should be grateful to hear from anyone willing to offer their services to maintain or repair it.

Copy date for the next issue will be 7th January, 1979.

Jon Barrance,
Acting Chairman, CHADRA,
xxx Manor Lane, Falfield xxx.

At the last meeting of the Parish Council a formal vote of thanks was proposed to all those involved in ensuring the success of this year's holiday play scheme but particular mention was made of the excellent work undertaken by Mrs. J. Hadleigh and Mr. D.W. Parker.

Residents may well have seen publicity about the proposed Boundary Review, the first step towards ironing out any anomalies and discussing problems relating to Charfield Parish Boundary will be at public meeting to be held in the Church Room at Charfield school at 8.00 pm. on 11th October.

2Councillor Mrs. Barrance recently organised a review of all the public footpaths in the Parish and as reported at the last meeting a number of problems need looking into in greater detail. A sub Committee was nominated to prepare a report for the Council and long term suggestions such as the publication of a footpath map would be considered.

Councillors recently met Mrs. K. Neville for the Probation and After Care Service, who informed them of the newly instituted Community Service Scheme i.e. adult offenders are given a project to complete within a time scale rather than a fine. The Council was very interested in this scheme and considered a number of projects which could be put forward.

Village organisations requesting grants from the Parish Council for the financial year 1979/80 should forward their applications to the Clerk, to be received not later than 30th November 1978. These applications will be considered by the Parish Council at their budget meeting in December.

Clerk to the Council,
Mrs J. Hughes,
x Berkeley Close.

This may be an appropriate time, when parents are voting to select their representative on the Managing Body, to write briefly about the management of education.

While the broad principles of the education system are drawn up by the Department of Education and Science and approved by Parliament, the detailed administration of schools is delegated to the local authority, the County Council, which acts through its Education Committee. A Director of Education implements its decisions through the Head Teachers of the schools but a more local oversight is provided by a Managing or Governing Body.

The Managing Body of the school numbers eight. Three are nominated by the County Councillor for the area, three by the Parish Council, one is a representative of parents and one a representative of the teaching staff. The Head may, if he wishes, be a manager or act, as I do, in an advisory capacity at Managers meetings, which are normally once a term. Additional meetings are sometimes called to deal with urgent matters or the appointment of staff.

At the termly meetings, the Managers receive a report on the school's activities, a copy of which is sent to the Education Department, and any proposed changes in organisation and curriculum are discussed and approved. In this way, the local community is involved in the running of its school.

The Managers are a statutory body to represent local interests and its role may change if and when the recommendations of the Taylor Committee are implemented.

This school enjoys the support of a Parent Teacher Association, a voluntary organisation whose main objective is to foster co-operation and understanding between teachers and parents. It also gives valuable financial assistance and can help to bring pressure on a recalcitrant local authority.

D.A. Malpass,
Headmaster.

3

Sketching out some points in July for the next Chadra Newsletter, copy for which is due in September for a letter that will last up to about Christmas, is looking ahead with a vengeance! However, that is what I am trying to do and I hope it will not leave any important things out.

Harvest will probably be over by the date of publication, but should it not be please do come to our service on Sunday the 24th September at which the Bishop of Gloucester will be our preacher and at which the Leyhill Male Voice Choir will be leading our singing and giving some solo items. Our harvest produce will be given, as usual, to Muller's Children's Homes at Bristol. Please try and come.

The same Leyhill Choir will also be paying us a visit in October for a concert to be held in Church on Friday the 13th October at 7.30pm. They visited us for a concert last year and it was greatly appreciated by those present. There is no charge for admission but an offering may be given from which, last year, we were able to make a donation to the Choir's music fund.

The Church Sale on the 16th of September will certainly be over before this letter is published as copy for the letter is not due until the 17th September. I can only say that I hope you have supported it!

Mrs. & Mrs. North would like to express their grateful thanks to all who contributed in any way to the Church Bazaar held on Sat. 16th September when the amazing amount of £251 was raised. Well done everybody.

As we all know, Christmas quickly races towards us once we have entered the last quarter of the year. Our annual Carol Service is always well supported and we do hope that you will make a note to be present. This year it falls on Christmas Eve, the 24th December at 3pm. On the night of the same day, the 24th December, we shall have our Christmas Midnight Mass which begins at 11.30 pm. On Christmas Day we have a Eucharist at 10 am. The collections at the Midnight service and at the Christmas Day Eucharist we make a Christmas present of to some worthy charity. (I feel this is right in spite of our own very substantial financial needs.) This year we are dividing it equally between Mr. Homan's “Boys Town Project” and the Church Missionary Society. The latter promotes excellent work among the very poor countries, including a great deal of important medical work amongst those for whom little other medical care (if any) is available. The Boys Town Project finances orphans in India to build their own villages and purchase their own cattle so that they become self-supporting communities where they would otherwise be merely beggars. Those in whose minds the word “discrimination” may now be arising will be relieved to hear that finances have made it possible to begin work on “Girls Town” now. Both of these movements are worthy of the support of all who care for the under-privileged and we hope that you will feel able to support generously (even if you are unable to come to these services).

I cannot ask you to help in this way without wishing you a truly happy Christmas, even though it may still be a long way off when you first get this letter.

Kenneth G. Grant,
Rector.

4

The 1978 Committee recently circulated most of the village on a door to door basis inviting everyone to an open meeting. At this meeting the Treasurer's report for 1978 was presented and the Committee for 1979 elected. Unfortunately, however, the hoped for response from the village was not realised and only 5 residents in addition to the Committee were present to hear the excellent report by the Treasurer, Mr. James Carpenter.

A profit of £831.57p was realised and this money set aside by the Memorial Hall Management Committee for specific improvement projects.

The Committee for 1979 will be as follows:-

James Carpenter, Miriam Ealey, Percy Ellis, Cliff Goscombe, Dick Goscombe, Jenny Hadleigh, Rob Hannigan, Jenny Hughes, Keith Hughes, Ann Nash, Ian James, John Poskett and Geoff Swallow,

and the Committee hopes that the lack of interest or criticism by the village shows satisfaction and approval of the way this annual event is organised.

However, if you have any suggestions or new ideas for 14th July, 1979 please contact a Committee member.

The result of the Balloon Race held on Sports Day is as follows:-

Jenny Hughes,
Secretary, x Berkeley Close.
Falfield xxx.

One hears the expression that the proof of the pudding is in the eating and with this analogy in mind there is no doubt that we reaped the advantage of having formed the Play Scheme Committee well in advance of the dates and so ensured a good foundation on which to develop.

For instance, the Village Hall Management Committee agreed to us using the Hall, free of charge on days when there was no prior booking, since the church room in the school playground could not possibly have coped with all the youngsters attending. The alternative would have been to have cancelled sessions when the weather was completely unsuitable for remaining out of doors. Yet we were fortunate, with our varied programme, insofar that we only needed to use the Village Hall on one afternoon and that session, like all the other sessions of the Play Scheme, was thoroughly enjoyed.

The Play Scheme fortnight indicated other aspects of community co-operation and our grateful thanks are due to Charfield Tennis Club for “coaching sessions” for eight enthusiastic youngsters at a time, for many of the sessions when we were “at home”.

The Charfield Residents Association provided typing and printing for the papers to be distributed in respect of each of the four Adventure Routes planned with great skill and interest by Mrs. Sue Barrance.

5There were also two sessions set aside for cycling proficiency and cycling games, organised by our own local enthusiastic Police Constable, P.C. Radburn, together with another Charfield resident, but a member of the Gloucestershire Constabulary, Police Sgt. M. Golding. The youngsters also had the opportunity to learn from our local Police Constable some of the mystique of the Police radio and other “tools of his trade”.

The basic grouping for the youngsters attending were divided into two and the original plan had been that I would led one group and Mrs. Hadleigh the other, but we both agreed to amalgamate our resources and acted in unison. As Chairman of the Play Scheme Committee, I would like to record my great appreciation for the gentle yet firm way in which Mrs. Hadleigh played her part.

Many local Play Schemes have arranged a pro rata payment for their leaders and assistant leaders, whilst in Charfield both last year and this year, we have got by on an honorary basis during the leaders' holiday period.

If then in this Play Scheme Report I can digress on a monetary note, I would say that ideally we should endeavour to perpetuate the voluntary spirit, whilst at the same time bearing in mind that some form of honoraria would ensure that miscellaneous expenses incurred by leaders are covered, and also demonstrate a token of appreciation for the efforts involved.

To return to the theme of the Play Scheme itself, Mrs. Hadleigh and I were most appreciative of the number of helpers, both old and young, who were available to help us at different stages during the fortnight. Without them we would have had our hands full for both our outdoor and indoor activities on the school premises and I am sure that passers-by must have wondered what was afoot when they saw the fleet of cars which became available to convey youngsters to Wotton-under-Edge for our day out hike to North Nibley and back.

This Report is only touching the fringe of what really took place – one could reminisce on the two afternoon sessions when we had a coachload of youngsters “bulging at the seams” on our way to the Yate Swimming Pool.

We could also reminisce on the coachload for the lower age group, and helpers, which went to the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton, a venue which we chose as an alternative to Clevedon in view of the uncertainty of the weather. Then, the cracking pace of the fortnight perhaps really came to a head on the penultimate day when we took a coachload to Bracelands in the Forest of Dean, had a long hike through the woods to the River Wye, crossed the Wye by ferry, and then returned to the coach by another route, re-crossing the river over a small footbridge. To say that some youngsters were worn out is perhaps an under-statement. Yet, it was incredible to see them come to life once more back in the coach when the adults were only too thankful to rest their weary bones.

In conclusion then, a successful fortnight, an energetic fortnight, and a happy fortnight.

It was encouraging at the end of the period to have a spontaneous thank-you from many of the youngsters and also from many of the parents.

D.W. Parker,
Parish Councillor,
Chairman of the Play Scheme Committee.

6The following letters were received from grateful participants of the Play Scheme. [typed as originals written – sic]

Dear Playscheme,
I have enjoyed Playscheme very much and I like playing rounders best, also playing in the adventure playground. When I played rounders I was out first bat. The walk through the woods was lovely although I was tired when we got home.

Well dun Mrs. Hadleigh, well dun Mr. Parker.

Thank you very much,

Angela Smith,
Infants Session.

The best things I liked about the playscheme was when we went swimming at Yate. I liked it because I lent how to swim and becouse I could go in the big pool and I liked tennis as well. It was so good I think it was just the start of the playscheme. This is the third playscheme Ive been to, this is the best playscheme Ive been to. I have enjoyed it a lot.

Rebecca Hutley,
Junior Session.

The swimming.
When we went swimming I went in the little pool. I tried to swim so I got to the other end of the pool. I swam to the other end of the pool. When I got their I was very surprised that I swam to the other end. This is the first play scheme that I have been to. I think it is very good and I have engoyed my self.

Duncan Thomas,
Infants Session.

The Play scheme.
We went to cook with lots of children and I made some nice buscuits. I had six bisets and I ate them all up and left non of them for my dad.

Cye Hatt,
Infants Session.

I have liked the play-scheme this year, it is the first time I have ever had a play-scheme in my whole life. The day it was being I was excited I have enjoyed the play-scheme alot I liked the swimming because I can swim a bit. I now know how to play rounders thank you very much Mrs. Hadley.

Janet Thomas,
Junior Session.

I enjoyed playshceme and the swimming was the best thing other things I liked were the trips. We went to see the Concorde and we went to the Forest of Dean. We played lots of games and rounders and I am very glad we had a playshceme. Thank you Mrs. Hadleigh and Mr. Parker for a lovely time.

Maxine Raynor,
Junior Session.

7

Bristol Waterworks Co., have shown a keen interest in the results of our survey and will be investigating the situation more fully in the next month or two. The following extract from their reply to our letter may be of interest:-

“Your point about the oily scum forming on cups of tea is readily answered. When hard water such as you receive in Charfield is boiled, some of the hardness precipitates in the kettle in the form of insoluble calcium carbonate. This precipitation is transferred to the teapot and where it combines with the tannin from the tea and appears as a scum on the cups of tea. This is more noticeable when cups of tea have been standing for a little time. It is not in fact therefore, oil, but a normal precipitate from hard water and there is no way of preventing this occurrence unless much softer waters are used. Our policy on softening is to leave it to each individual householder as it is considered uneconomical to soften the whole of the supply.”

Readers may be interested to know that recent supply cuts and reduced pressure were due to a burst main.

CHADRA.

Well here we are over halfway through 1978 and more or less the end of our so called summer, and what a summer it has been proving to us that we should never take anything for granted. We moaned of the heat etc. of those two hot summers of '75/'76, so we have to accept the alternative. After all, we are reaping some benefit of this so called wicked weather, I hear we are to have a splendid Harvest. Some of you will have been, or are picking all this beautiful fruit we now have, so it's not been too bad.

Now about ourselves. Our Club I'm sorry to say has had a very unhappy year as regards the health of its members. We have lost some of our very good and sincere friends. We shall miss them greatly, yet we must carry on and do our duty to all that are still with us, we try to give them friendship and happiness wherever possible. We have had some very good coach outings both to the country and the seaside. They had a very enjoyable day and a very sunny one at Swanage and there was also the favourite trip to Weston. Some of our members have had coach holidays with members of the surrounding clubs. We've been to Clacton-on-Sea, Paignton and some of us are going to Exmouth next month. All this and visits to North Nibley Club who returned our hospitality recently with an excellent stage show and a tip-top tea party. At our next meeting (September 27th) we have The Thornbury Choir to entertain us. We have invited our friends from the Kingswood Club to come along and enjoy this event with us so you can see for yourselves Charfield Friendship Club is certainly not a dull club. We have our own entertainers now I'm pleased to say. They have given us two shows up to now and are working hard to put a show on for us on December 6th when we have our Annual Christmas party.

So what about it all you over 60's in the village, why not come along and join us. If you are an ex member why not come along again and be a Happy Member, come and have a chat, a cup of tea, a biscuit and a laugh. We hold our meetings every other Wednesday and I repeat our next one is Wednesday September 27th 2.30pm in the Memorial Hall. If you require transport we may be able to pick you up with our Mini Bus and our jovial driver Bernard Amer, should you not be A1 on your poor old legs.

8There is also the Luncheon Club alternate Wednesdays where you can meet some of your friends.

I'm looking forward to seeing some of you Over 60's at our next meeting so until then look after yourselves.

See you next Wednesday September 27th.

Dick Isherwood,
Chairman.

Gift Day Saturday September 30th.
Gifts of fruit, flowers and vegetables gratefully accepted, which will afterwards be sent to the Salvation Army. Also, gifts of money for Church Funds.

Praise, O Praise the Lord of Harvest.

Any enquiries to Church Secretary Miss M. Turner, xx The Green, Charfield. Tel: Falfield xxxx.

One of the Days.

And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. 2. Thessalonians 3:5

We are told in Hebrews 12:2 that the Lord Jesus endured the cross because of the “joy that was set before Him”. He was anticipating the glory and honour He would receive after His suffering and death. As we face the trials and difficulties of this life, we must evidence the same perseverance. We must keep before us the hope of deliverance and look forward to our reward for faithfulness at the Saviour's second coming.

Horatius Bonar wrote: I feel that when I can say the coming of the Lord draws near, I have a weapon in my hand of no uncommon edge and temper. I can go to the struggling saint against whom the battle seems to go badly and say “Faint not, the Lord is at hand and He will bruise Satan under your feet shortly”. To the Christian, weary with the vexing world, fretted with its vanities and troubled with the thickening darkness of its midnight, I can say, “Be of good cheer, the Lord is at hand, 9but a little while, and the world will cease to vex; sooner than you think the morn will break”. To the suffering saint I can say “weep not, the Lord is at hand; the torn heart shall be bound up, and the bitterness of bereavement forgotten in the joy of reunion forever”. Bonar practised what he preached. Each night before retiring, he would draw aside the curtain and looking up into the heavens, exclaim “Perhaps tonight Lord!” Then in the morning he would gaze out upon the grey dawn and remark “Perhaps today Lord, perhaps today!”

Take heart, discouraged believer, one of these days He will return.

Be still and trust – tomorrow's tears
    May all be wiped away.
By God Himself, O Grieving heart;
    The Lord may come today!

As many readers may or may not be aware, this is the second revival of our village Youth Club, the first having failed some 5 years ago due to a lack of adult support.

When the Club was revived it was not intended to create a twice weekly meeting place for the youth to get away from home, but rather a club with a programme of activities inside and outside the village.

We were initially very successful in fulfilling our objectives, but as always, it falls upon a few to be chauffeurs, attendants, umpires etc. Now the few are fewer and we are in danger of becoming a meeting place for an ever increasing youth population.

We are in need of support to first be able to fulfil our forthcoming activities, such as:

People interested are always welcome to come along on Club Nights (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) or contact:

We will be holding our A.G.M. on Wednesday 11th October at 7.30pm. in the Village Hall.

10

When I agreed to take over from Don Smith as Acting Chairman of CHADRA, I really thought that with the summer months coming on I should be in for a fairly easy time. But with Community Association discussions, the Manor Court Appeal, duplicator problems, the Water Survey and this Newsletter, I now realise just how much effort Don put in for Charfield. We owe him many thanks.

Jon Barrance,
Acting Chairman, CHADRA.

The CHADRA Constitution allows for two Secretaries to share the work, which can, from time to time, be quite a lot. We have had a succession of able secretaries, but since the resignation of Anne Weston recently, to take up a full-time job, the full brunt of the work has fallen on Marion Smith. Is there anyone in the village who would be willing to take on the job? It does not include typing the Newsletter for which we are indebted to Sue Lapham.

CHADRA.

Due to pressure of space, the following letter was not printed in our last edition. While we welcome all such letters, we cannot promise to publish them, especially when they are as long as this one.

Dear Sirs,

Closure of the Subway Linking Station Road and Little Bristol Lane.

For several weeks during the Autumn of 1977, the subway beneath the railway was closed as part of the new sewage line was installed. One consequence of this was that the volume of traffic along Station Road was reduced considerably making it, for these few weeks, a much safer place for children. During the past three years, the number of children under eleven living along Station Road has risen from 8 to 15. Because there is no back lane the only way they can meet with each other is by walking along the road. There is no communal play space apart from the road. Hence the temporary closure drew our attention to the possibility of closing it permanently and to this end we circulated a petition amongst the residents of the road. It was signed by 16 out of 22 households along the road and forwarded to the Parish Council on 21.12.78:

Closure of the Link Road beneath the railway tracks between Station Road and Little Bristol Lane.

The bridge beneath the railway tracks off Station Road has been closed for temporary periods, because of work on the new sewerage line. The effect has been to reduce significantly the volume and speed of traffic on Station Road. Consequently, Station Road has been, albeit temporarily, a much safer place for children; there are now thirteen children under the age of eleven years living along Station Road.

11It is our impression that this diversion has not been to the detriment of any particular individuals. Given this, we are asking the Parish Council to open negotiations with Avon Country Council for the closure of this link road beneath the bridge to motor traffic, having first consulted the residents of Little Bristol and Roger Bennett of Watsome Farm to establish that there are no imperative reasons for keeping the link road open. We are not suggesting that the closure of this road will in itself make Station Road safe for children, but is a necessary prerequisite.

The Council replied on the 23.1.78 saying that they felt unable to support the closure because:-

1. Inconvenience to traders.
2. The problem of cars and large vehicles having to turn or reverse – causing extreme hazard.
3. Greater use of the two, poor visibility at junctions with Wotton Road.
4. Inconvenience to farm animals and vehicles.
5. In the event of an accident, closing the main road over the railway bridge, there would be no other through road through the village.

We don't feel that these assertions, either individually or collectively, provide sufficient grounds for retaining the subway as a through route for vehicles.

1. Inconvenience for traders – traders call if they feel it is to their advantage. They serve other similar areas with cul-de-sacs like Horsford Road, so we see no reason to suppose that Station Road and Little Bristol Lane as separate entities will not receive the same service as other such roads. If the economics of a particular service are so marginal that the closure of the subway would place it in jeopardy, there must be some doubt about its survival, whatever the role of the subway.
2. The problem of cars and large vehicles having to turn or reverse causing extreme hazard; large vehicles cannot use the subway because the clearance is too low at 8 feet, and the junction too tight for anything larger than Derek Jones' coal truck. If the subway were closed, the simplest solution would be the installation of a pair of bollards in the middle of the tunnel. Motorists wishing to turn at the end of Station Road could make a reverse turn into the subway entrance. The number of vehicles reaching that point on Station Road would be considerably less than at the present. It is difficult to see how the situation could be more dangerous than it is now, and it would probably be substantially less.
3. The visibility at the junction of both Little Bristol and Station Road with Wotton Road is equally poor. During opening hours the visibility from Station Road is probably worse because vehicles parked immediately in front of the Tavern on Wotton Road obstruct visibility still further.
4. Inconvenience to farm animals and vehicles; inserting two bollards in the middle of the subway will not obstruct the movement of farm animals. Farm vehicles clearly present a more difficult problem. That said, many farm vehicles are either too high, e.g. some tractors with cabs, or too long to negotiate the turn off Station Road, e.g. a tractor with a long 12trailer. Hence the subway is only of limited use to farm traffic. Parking along sections of Station Road does present problems for farm traffic as it does for the owners of vehicles. One solution that we have in mind is to negotiate with the British Rail for the use of part of the former coal wharf as a parking area.
5. In the event of an accident closing the main road over the Railway Bridge there would be no other road through the village; this might have been a solution in 1928 but it is unlikely to be sufficient for the reasons that we have already outlined. Further, a sudden increase in traffic is unlikely to be welcomed by either the residents of Station Road or Little Bristol Lane. The closure of the railway bridge would demand more radical measures than shunting the traffic down Station Road. There is no reason, however, why the bollards should not be hinged, locked, and the key held by a resident of Station Road. Duplicates could be held elsewhere, e.g. the village constable. Hence the subway would be available for the emergency services. It could also be made available to Roger Bennett.

We regret that the Parish Council felt unable to agree to our request to conduct a public discussion about the closure of the subway, particularly with the residents of Little Bristol to determine that there were no imperative reasons for keeping it open. Given the Parish Council's reticence we have decided to write setting out our suggestions and to ask for comment. Our objective is to take advantage of the opportunities that the closure of the subway offers to achieve a situation similar to that enjoyed say by Cotswold View or Durham Road. For those living on Wotton Road the problems are clearly more difficult. Conversely, when and if Manor Lane is completed, it would become a thoroughfare rather than a cul-de-sac. That needn't happen.

We realise that the closure of the subway will be an inconvenience to some people. Few actions, however laudable, are not without some loss and the benefits therefore have to be weighed against the disadvantages. Road traffic severely restricts children's opportunities to play and meet friends. Children were always free to play on Station Road until the coming of motor traffic. We would like to start restoring some of these rights. We hope that the Parish Council will reconsider their decision.

Yours faithfully,

The A.G.M. of CHADRA, the Charfield & District Residents Association will be held in the Village Hall on Thursday November 23d, starting at 8.00pm.

CHADRA

13

Only too soon the Pigeon Racing Season is over for another year, with some fanciers wondering where they went wrong and others congratulating themselves on their good fortune.

Velocities have been about average in most races, but the Fraserburgh race was a particularly severe one, many fanciers not timing in, in race time, (3 days) this making them cautious with their young birds, so reducing the numbers sent to the young bird races.

The Dinner and Presentation this year is combined with the Thornbury Club, and will take place at the Gables Hotel, Falfield, on Friday November 24th.

Mr. & Mrs. K. Parker,
Secs. Charfield NR. Pigeon Club,
x Newtown. Falfield xxxx.

The Cricket Club finished its first season in Division I in joint 3rd position, not a bad start in the big time local cricket.

The Club's youth policy has shown some encouraging results with at least 10 young lads between the ages of 13 and 17 receiving regular games of cricket. Some of the lads even gained selection to the league side and next season will probably be gaining a regular place.

Tickets for the Club dance on Friday October 6th, with the Tony Payne Showband are on sale at £1.00 each from any cricket club member. Remember tickets are always hard to get for this particular dance so buy now!

Trevor Wheeler.

We would welcome any ladies who are interested in playing netball, to join us at the K.L.B. Sports Hall on Tuesday evenings from 7–8pm.

If you are interested please come and join us, or for further information contact:

Julie Hillier,
xx, Manor Lane, Charfield.
Tel: Falfield xxx.

It is reported that there has been another accident on the road outside the Post Office. The Parish Council have tried, without success, to get double yellow lines put there. Has anyone another suggestion?

Dear Sir,

Several years ago, the Charfield Womens Institute presented an electric clock to the Village Hall Committee for the benefit of the Community.

The clock was mounted on the external wall of the Village Hall in order that people (i.e. children etc) could tell the time of day.

14Over the last couple of years this clock has been of little use because it is more often stopped than working. It would appear that the clock is connected to the mains electricity supply at the Village Hall and after a function there, the electricity is switched off and so the clock stops.

The possibility of a circuit taking it off the mains supply would appear to be the answer.

If the clock is going to be switched off, more often than on, then I would submit that it is a waste of time and money on the part of the Womens Institute buying the clock. I have passed by the location for the last nine years, along with thousands of motorists and village residents, and it is a pity that this is not operational.

Yours faithfully,

Dennis M. Popham,
x Cotswold View.

This subject was first brought before the current Parish Council at their meeting on the 10th August, 1976. Those residents wanting allotments should be heartened by the following extract from an article in the August 78 issue of “Practical Gardening”, in which John Seymour writes encouraging people living in towns and cities to demand allotments. He goes on:-

“Country people too – and there are many of them who have no land at all or only a tiny garden – they should demand the same rights as the city people in this respect. They must demand allotments. After all – what farmer farming several hundred acres of land (thousands often nowadays) would really be any worse or poorer for having to cough up a few of those acres and get paid for it? I am a farmer myself, and I realise that no farmer will voluntarily give up land. Every farmer I have ever met wants to keep what he has got and most want to acquire more. But this is a democracy and if the majority want it there can be a more equitable division of land.

“But one thing should be said – and that is that if a person does get a piece of land he should husband it well. A good allotment or vegetable garden produces a much higher value of good food per square yard than does a thousand acre wheat farm – and it can do it with a much lower input of expensive oil-derived chemicals. It is a much better use of land. But it must be well gardened. A neglected allotment is a shameful thing to see.”

CHADRA

The aim of the club this season has been to raise enough money to have the tennis court resurfaced – a job much needing doing! With the various functions organised and subscriptions paid by members we should make the target – so members you can look forward to playing on a decent surface.

15Apart from the money raising side of the club, we have also organised three tournaments during the season. The first being an American Tournament and the winners of this were Alan Husher (Jnr) and Kim Gladding. The Junior Tournament was won by Philip Train, with Mark Nixon a close runner up. The recently finished Men's Singles title was won by Alan Husher and the Women's Singles title won by Sandra Nixon.

There is yet another side to our club and that a much more sociable one. We have held two skittles evenings purely for members enjoyment and have had requests for more so they must have had a good time! There may be a touch of competitiveness hidden in that keenness for more, as our two champs for those evenings have so far been unbeaten and I suspect a few others would like to have the titles!!

A brief look into the workings and aims of the tennis club – so if anybody is interested in joining us please do contact us. The subscriptions for the year were raised this year to £2.50 for adults, £1.50 for juniors and £5.00 for a family membership. New members are issued with a key to gain access to the court. The new season starts from April next year.

Chairman – Keith Miller,
x, Katherine Close.

Secretary – Jacky Swallow,
xx Manor Lane.

The appeal by Bryant Homes Ltd., for planning permission for residential development of the Brickworks site has been allowed. In his report the Inspector says:-

“Bearing in mind the afore-mentioned facts it is apparent that, by reason of its nature, scale and location, the proposed development conforms with the provisions of the Draft Village Plan for Charfield. Whilst this local plan has not been formally adopted by the Council, it is, nevertheless, a significant document in that it has evolved through a process of public consultation and discussion and would appear to reflect the preference of the community. There is no evidence to suggest that the proposal raised issues other than of local significance or that it would give rise to infrastructural difficulties. The implementation of the proposal would not, in itself, extend the existing physical limits of development at Charfield and would be likely to enhance rather than detract from the visual character of the village and its environs.

“I do not accept that the absence of a footpath on the northerly side of the B4058 represents a compelling objection to the development of this particular site.”

Building of houses on this site may thus commence after the granting of detailed planning consent. We must therefore ensure that the development is well planned; that village facilities, and in particular the school, are not overstrained; that New Street and its junction with Wotton Road are properly improved; and that a footpath, or viable alternative on the north side of Wotton Road is eventually provided.

CHADRA.

We are holding our Annual General Meeting in the Chapel Schoolroom on Monday 2nd October at 8.00pm. Your attendance would be appreciated to elect the committee for the year. Coffee will be served afterwards.

Secretary – Mrs. Claire Haines, xx Horsford Road.

16

Several people have made enquiries recently about the Drama Group, so a meeting is being held on Wednesday 18th October at 8.00pm at xxx Manor Lane.

Anyone interested please come along for a coffee and a chat, so that perhaps the group can be resurrected!

Mrs. Jenny Peaster,
Falfield xxx.

Dear Friends,

It seems a while since we were in Charfield because we have been so busy. We are now beginning to settle in; the children have had two weeks at school and seem to be enjoying it.

We are 3 miles from Shrewsbury yet we live in a village with a very active church and schools. There are, of course, the inevitable jumble sales – called up here “Rummage Sales”. Already Pam has been asked to hep at the school Rummage Sale next week.

I think I will join the tourists to go on a guided tour of the town to learn more about the history of Shrewsbury.

I have now bought a bike and we cycle everywhere, including going to college, so we shall be a fit family!

We look forward to receiving our copy of the Newsletter to keep up to date with life in Charfield.

Yours,

Don & Pam Smith.

We are pleased to tell you that the next term of the above Group starts on Thursday 21st September, at 10.15am, at the Memorial Hall. We hope to see all present members and invite all new mums and children of over 12 months and under playschool age. If you are new to the village and would like to make new friends, this is a good way of doing so, and gives the children a good opportunity of having other children of their own age to play with for a couple of hours.

We would like to thank the mums who helped us on our Find the Egg stall on Gala Day, also everyone who helped to make our Tupperware Party such a great success.

We have purchased a good selection of new toys, and these will be on show and in use at the opening of the next term.

We shall soon be looking for people to take over the running of the Group as some members of the Committee will be leaving at the end of the year. Any mums willing to give a few hours of their time each month please contact any member of the Committee. We should hate to see this Group close through lack of support.

17

The Club has been in existence for over eighteen months, and although very few of our original members are still with us, new ladies have joined us to make a lively group. We have a good laugh and do get some valuable exercise, which few of us would bother to do on our own. A weekly weigh-in on the scales keeps a check on “growth”.

Mrs. Una Bohin and I take the sessions alternately on Tuesday mornings at 10.30 am in the Memorial Hall. The meetings coincide with the school term but do not take place during the vacation.

Children are able to play with their toys in the hall extension.

The fee is 20p per session.

Pat Light.

A tremendous response from the village allowed us to pay for CHADRA to be represented by a Solicitor for the full four days of the Inquiry. Our spokesman, Mike Burfield, was grilled on the last day by the appellant's barrister, Sir Frank Layfield but, with the backing of our Solicitor, survived the experience very well. The 380 signature petition supporting Northavon District Council's decision to oppose this application was a very significant part of our evidence. Despite the considerable effort required, the Committee feel that the engagement of a Solicitor was by far the best course of action. The Inspector's decision should be known before Christmas.

CHADRA.

Whatever your age, you may occasionally require assistance with shopping, gardening, decorating, cooking, or even child-minding. We may not have an immediate solution to your question, but please do not hesitate to ask us. The following people are willing to either deal with your requests and/or pass information to those who can help:-

We are holding a sponsored knit-in to raise funds on behalf of the Spastics Society for their “Save a Baby” campaign, on Thursday 5th October at the Village Hall from 8–10pm. The monthly meeting will be on Thursday October 19th, when Sue Barrance will give a talk on the “History of Charfield”. Our next coffee morning and bingo is to be on Wednesday November 8th from 10am–12 noon. All contributions for this will be gratefully received by any committee member. There will be prizes, raffle and stalls etc.

The annual coach trip to London will be in November and Julie Hillier 18will take names as soon as possible for this. Also we would like to remind members that our Christmas Dinner is on Thursday December 21st. Invitations will be given to members only, so all subs must be paid by the November meeting. We would like to thank everyone for their support on Sports Day and if anyone would like to join Young Wives we meet on the third Thursday in each month at the Village Hall at 8 pm.

The number of clients has steadily increased over the past few months and a good proportion of these came from the Charfield area. We have been able to help with all kinds of queries and have been successful in clearing up diverse problems – including family and personal, legal, pension rights, rent and rate rebates etc.

Part of our job is to act as a listening post and many people find help by just telling their worries to a trained worker who can advise them. And remember C.A.Bx are free, confidential, and impartial and have access to every kind of information from our up-to-date filing system.

Workers at C.A.Bx are highly trained, sympathetic and helpful – their training is continuous to keep up with ever-changing legislation and their services are given voluntarily.

The Royal Commission on legal services has stated that C.A.B. is the most experienced agency outside the legal profession and they believe it is important that everyone regardless of means should be able to obtain some initial help free or for only a small charge on such vital matters as security of income, job and home.

Your nearest C.A.B. is at Berkeley House, Long Street, Wotton-under-Edge, and you can call or ring (Tel. No. W-u-E 3210) any Thursday between 10 am. and 4 pm. At other times ring Stroud 2084.

The Organiser will continue to attend the Friendship Club meetings in the Village Hall to give help and advice on any problems – thus saving O.A.P's the fatigue and expense of travelling to Wotton-under-Edge.

Within the last few months a Bureau has been established at the Royal British Legion Hall, May Lane, Dursley. It is open from 10.30 am to 4 pm.

Remember C.A.B. is a free, confidential and impartial service to the community. Try us – we're there to help.

J.K. McGonnigill.

Charfield Residents Association has most likely come prominently before you because of the recent Development Appeal. We believe there will be other problems that need such a body to solve.

To work actively on behalf of the village, we NEED people. If you feel you would like to be involved in village life and to help make Charfield an even better community, please contact any of the Committee or come to our next open meeting on Thursday 26th of October, or to our A.G.M. on the 23rd of November, both to be held in the Village Hall.

Transcriber Notes

This issue was produced on 18 sides of A4 paper.

Personal phone numbers and addresses have been redacted.

Minor typographical corrections and presentational changes have been made without comment.

Digitization by Brendan O'Connor & Julia O'Connor-Beach.

Last update: 2016-11-26.