CHADRA

That drivers who ignore yellow lines in the village may get caught out – a Traffic Warden will be making spot checks from time to time, the Police too?

That Mark Pearn of Katherine Close took part in the Youth Olympics at Bath? – well done!

That the Police are looking for a safe stolen from Leyhill Prison – is nothing secure anywhere?!

That the Parish Council is placing an order for a shelter, with seating, to be erected on the playing field, near the children's playground, to mark the centenary of the Parish Council?

That the railway footbridge should now be installed by September?

That CHADRA is still Chairpersonless and is suffering from a severe lack of volunteers?

That speed monitoring cables have been installed in two locations in the village for a time – the results could be interesting?

Summer Season Stories:

The Potting Shed Returns!
Time To Get Tough
VJ Day
Low Flying Conclusion
From Garden To Kitchen
Clubs
Societies
Charities

2

Dear Charfield Residents,

On behalf of CHADRA, I hope you're having a super summer. We certainly seem to be having one this year, despite the perennial British complaint! Have you noticed how the traditional subject of conversation in this country, the weather, seems to have been replaced by another – the Lottery! Well, what the hell, have you won yet? Write to CHADRA and tell us about it – let's put Charfield on the Lottery map!

CHADRA could do with a boost like the Lottery – not in prize money, but in people. Your Newsletter is produced by a literal handful of bodies. I'm leaving the team due to other commitments and the remaining people become fewer and fewer. If you value your Newsletter and would like to see it continue – I assume you do, because about 800 households take it each time – then it would be nice if two or three of you would volunteer to help in its production. A couple of people with word processors and two to three hours every three months would make all the difference.

Enough of the pleading, or preaching, or whatever! As it's my last issue, I get to say thanks to all the people involved in the Newsletter's production, which I heartily do, and to wish good luck to those, existing helpers and (hopefully) new volunteers, who carry on from here – I do so equally heartily. I also don't have to be impartial any more and so, I can make my own contributions – CHADRA watch out! This should have been first, but thanks especially to all the people who contribute articles to the Newsletter and to the advertisers who support it – you're nice people! I appreciate your support very much and CHADRA does so no less.

Waffle complete, TTFN

Mark Julian

Next Copy Date 12th October 1995

Geoffrey Blower, xx Manor Lane
01454-26xxxx
Copy – Geoff, our Secretary, co-ordinates all copy for the Newsletter.

John Butler, xx Underhill Road
01454-26xxxx
Duplication – John handles physical production of the Newsletter.

Julia O'Connor-Beach, xx Manor Lane
01454-26xxxx
Payments – Julia is Treasurer and deals with subscriptions & advertising payments.

Marion & Angela Smith, xxx Manor Lane
01454-26xxxx
Distribution – Marion & Angela organise distribution through a team of volunteers.

If you have any ideas for the Newsletter, or would like to get involved with its editing, production, etc., please give any one of us a call – we'll be happy to hear from you!

3[Advert for Eclipse Hair Studio]

[Advert for Martin Farrell Garden Designs]

[Advert for The Pear Tree Inn]

[Advert for Harlequin Homecall]

[Advert for Alan Hamer Driving]

4

Hello! It's me again.

Doing a bit of fund-raising for the Meningitis Trust, I was asked if I would like to tin-shake at Chavenage House, Tetbury last Monday evening. The Gloucester Drama Association were performing ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’. Normal price for tickets is £8 each, but, at their dress rehearsal, the public are allowed in free. A chosen charity is invited along to help drain the linings of the public's pockets. What a night of entertainment! Most of you must be aware of Anthony Young's talents – he played the part of Sir Hugh Evans, a Welsh parson. He put Ruth Madoc's accent to shame and she's Welsh! In fact, during one scene, I was laughing so much, I missed half his speech. The Trust raised £460. The whole bawdy romp made me forget that I'd travelled to Chavenage sliding about on three dustbin liners and two bath towels. In all that rain we suffered, I'd left the sunroof open! In fact, it was all down to Shakespeare that I didn't write in the last newsletter, but more about that later.

At Easter, for two whole weeks, Keith and Lawrence visited Malta. Lawrence as a Scout and Keith, supposedly, to keep an eye on the Ventures. While they were being hospitably entertained by the Maltese, Sophie and me went up to London, to Mum and Dad's, playing tourists and being totally cosseted – what bliss! We visited Battersea Park, one of my old haunts, and, whilst waiting for the bus to return home, there was occurring behind us one of the most awful events I can imagine – bungie-jumping over the Thames! People were queuing. Well, I know my neighbour Beryl's son did it in New Zealand, but that seemed all hot and civilised, but in Battersea? Mind you, the waiting area was all decked out with potted plants, so the whole effect was softened. Whilst waiting, still, for the bus that doesn't come until there's three, we watched the jumper climb into the grilled chamber, all bound up. The whole business rose up by crane, positioned over the water, the door opened and the person just tumbled out. I felt sick as up and down they bounced. Give me a good book any day!

On that literary introduction I'll continue. Last year, I went through a bit of a phase – you know how all human beings do – and decided I needed to channel my brain. My dear friend Chris plonked a prospectus in my lap. The next thing is, I'm at Soundwell College signing on for English Literature ‘A’ level. The class was great. I sat next to this lovely guy called Kristian.

“I bet I'm old enough to be your mother”, I said.

I was – he was 22. In fact I was the oldest in the class and the loudest! My eyes and mind have been opened to works that I would otherwise have never indulged in. Katherine Mansfield selected stories and Sylvia Plath poetry. The course was intensive – one year of studying seven texts and finishing with three 3-hour papers. I couldn't have done it without the help and encouragement of my dear family and friends. We also studied Forster's Room With A View and Streetcar Named Desire, followed by Richard II and Much Ado About Nothing and, as a finale, Chaucer's Merchant's Tale. Our two tutors were so enthusiastic, you could not fail to enjoy each class. I had quite forgotten the tension of exam pressure. When it was all over, I came out in a horrible blotchy rash around my neck. Dr. P. called it ‘Post Exam Stress’. I completely sympathise with the youth of today.

So that's how my last year has passed. I shall now dash this off so my scrawl can be transcribed into magical, readable script and then change into my leggings, leotard and tap shoes – Happy Feet '95 starts tonight at the Wotton Town Hall. Did you know they had to reinforce the floor?

Happy Summer
Marilyn

The Pear Tree Inn is a traditional village local, with real ales and good food. Pub games, such as darts, dominoes and crib, are played regularly and anyone is welcome to join the teams if they are interested. There is also a quiz team, a folk club and regular Sunday night live music.

The local pub is a good place to get together with old friends and make new ones. For the many people who have recently moved into the village, it is an ideal venue for meeting people and joining in village life.

Rita and Trevor offer a warm welcome to you all.

5

Before I reveal my plans for the policing of the village, may I say a sincere thank you to the people of Charfield who kindly wrote to me expressing their gratitude for the difficult and often thankless work I undertake. I can only add that it is your gratitude that gets me through the day.

I make no apologies for the last article except that a valuable opportunity to update you of the policing issues was marred by the irresponsible actions of one individual. I have however reported the matter to the Police Federation legal Dept, so enough said about that.

Since the last issue of CHADRA much has happened in the village. A crime wave swept through in early May this year resulting in a number of burglaries and car thefts. Was it careful planning or pure coincidence that I chose this period to take a well deserved break? I'll probably never know. What I do know is that my proud record in achieving the lowest crime rate in the district has taken a knock and positive preventive action is needed to avoid this becoming a grave cause for concern.

I shall be initiating random checks through the village in an attempt to divert the perpetrators from using the main road as a corridor for crime. I will welcome any ideas you may have, even the odd pair of eyes and ears to help in monitoring late night traffic would be welcomed.

On the domestic front, a number of initiatives have been put together with the help of my Beat Team colleagues at Thornbury – you may have read recent press releases highlighting our safety initiative to encourage motorists to ‘Belt Up’ which has made quite an impact. I am also concerned about the amount of disqualified drivers residing in the Charfield area. I have received an updated list of those individuals concerned and urge them all to comply with the order of the Court and not be tempted to drive. We will be monitoring this issue closely.

Many residents have expressed concern about illegally parked vehicles on the double yellow lines outside the Post Office. An initiative has already started to deal with this which has included the presence of a traffic warden. I have also been in attendance to the cost of 12 motorists last Wednesday morning and that was only in one hour. I am considering increasing the penalty from £20 (fixed) to £40 with endorsement (3 points) as the vehicle's position could cause an accident or serious injury. Please be sensible. I have also received concerns from residents in the New St, Longs View and Farm Lees area that the view of the main road at Jones' garage is regularly obscured by customers parking on the footpath adjacent to the forecourt. We will address this problem with enforcement action – see above.

The congregation of noisy youths will be addressed by Operation Foster which is a District initiative aimed at informing and encouraging the involvement of parents where their children are found in areas where there is cause for complaint due to damage, the abuse of alcohol, drugs, excessive noise and antisocial behaviour.

Stolen cycles and lawn cutting equipment will come under the spotlight starting next month when owners will be encouraged to join in a scheme designed to identify stolen items and protect genuine ones. Owners will be approached by our Beat Team backed by the Special Constabulary and offered post coding and theft prevention advice. Suspected stolen items need no comment.

The long awaited COP sheet is up and running now and will be on display around the village very soon. For those unfamiliar with it, I will try to keep you up to date with incidents of crime and policing matters by an information sheet which will be on display monthly. Any suggestions for inclusion, please let me know.

I regret to inform all potential Army cadets that the plans have been scrapped. Without warning the proverbial rug was pulled on the grounds that there were sufficient detachments already and concerns by Wotton-under-Edge that I was ‘poaching’ recruits from over the border. Both suggestions are without grounds and I have resigned in disgust.

In a bid to bring the community and myself closer together, I will soon be publishing a list of venues and times to hold surgeries in the area. This will not affect the village much but will give a greater access to the residents of the other 7 parishes I cover. As a compromise I will be publishing opening times for my office where commitments dictate and would strongly urge any callers to make every attempt to keep to the opening hours. I would greatly appreciate this.

You can now call me direct at the Beat Team office on 01179-45xxxx.

That's all for now … Watch out!
Jim Stewart, Charfield Police.

6

The Parish Council welcomed two new members at the May meeting: Mr R Beavis and Mr C Thompson. Mr D Booth was elected Chairman and Mrs J Hall Vice Chairman. I thank Jane for her support, help and hard work whilst Chairman.

June of this year marked the 40th anniversary of Mr John Poskett's first meeting on the Parish Council. To commemorate the occasion, he was presented with an engraved tankard and his wife with a basket of flowers. We thank John for his outstanding services to the community during his time and we hope he will continue for many years to come.

A very successful celebration of the 50th anniversary of VE Day was held on 8th May. Thanks to all the organisations and individuals who helped or contributed in some way on the day and to the residents and friends who came along. After expenses were paid, a cheque for £161.57 was given to the Poppy Day Appeal.

The high speed of young cyclists using public footpaths in the village is concerning the Council. An accident almost occurred recently when a Councillor emerging from his driveway was suddenly confronted by a cyclist travelling at speed. If you are parents of children, please ensure that they are aware of such dangers.

The Parish Council will not be meeting during the month of August, unless there is any pressing business to attend to. Please refer to the public notice boards for information. The next scheduled meeting is due to take place on Tuesday, 12th September, when we look forward to seeing any members of the public.
Cath Holmes, Clerk to the Council

It was with great regret and sadness that this year's Summer Fayre was cancelled. While there were offers of help in organising and running the event, they were well down on previous years. The committee considered, that with such a lack of support, it would be impossible to hold the event. It is genuinely hoped that the Summer Fayre will be part of the village calendar once again in 1996, but, of course, that depends on you.

A village dance and grand draw is to be held on Friday, 8th September. While we appreciate that this is no substitute for the Fayre, there remains the need to fund the Memorial Hall and Playing Field and this will go some way towards the fund raising. We hope the villagers will show their support by attending the dance (details to be announced closer to the date), or, at very least, purchase a book of grand draw tickets (£1) when sellers arrive at your doorstep.

The major issue currently being addressed at the Memorial Hall is the possibility of the sports hall/youth centre. You may be aware of a questionnaire delivered to your home and, if so, please complete the form and return it. It will allow you to express your views. Seeking the opinion of everyone has delayed applications for grants which will make the fund-raising more difficult, so the sooner we get started, the better.
Owen Griffiths, Secretary

It's fifty years since the end of World War II, what a shame we cannot say “Fifty years of peace”! I'm thinking of the thousands since 1945, who have either made the supreme sacrifice, or suffered physically, or mentally as the result of minor military confrontations. I'm thinking, too, of their families and the price they have had to pay. Regardless of one's political convictions, successive post-war governments have been reluctant to accept their moral responsibilities to these ‘casualties of war’. A current survey by the RBL nationally indicates that over £m50 is being spent annually by service charities. It looks as if we will be dependant on the generosity of the good people of this country for many years to come!

The ‘VE + 50’ bonfire and service was well attended and, on behalf of our branch, I would like to thank all involved in the organising of the event and also the approximately 300 villagers who attended. September sees the start of our membership year and the branch has already agreed to accept associate members. If you are interested and would like to know more, please contact any branch member. Finally, all ex-service men and women are invited to march with Legion members on the Remembrance Day parade.
Dennis A Booth, Chairman

7

For the benefit of the reader who noticed a gap in May's newsletter, I will start with my excuse: Spring is a busy enough time of year in and around the garden, without the start of the horticultural show season, My dedication to horticulture, rather than the word processor, did pay off. The Potting Shed now boasts a most impressive piece of silverware from this year's Bath City Flower Show, namely the Crisp Cowley Cup for Best Exhibit. A bright tin of Silvo looks a little out of place next to the faded labels of the Tumblethis and Killthat on the Shed's topmost shelf, but at least it will be on hand to give the trophy its annual clean – on the eve of next year's show …

I suppose that it is a sign of the times that traditional symbols of the changing seasons are themselves changing. Our forebears must have eagerly awaited the first cuckoo call to know that spring was on its way, or the first swallow to herald the onset of summer. Today we must make do with the chorus of massed mower engines, revving their way through the lawns of Charfield. Indeed, at the time of writing, the air is full of their cries. The lawn is at the heart of the British garden and probably at the heart of many British gardeners too. The typical image of a garden starts with a beautifully manicured lawn flowing past trees and on to provide a soothing green foil for the burgeoning flower borders. A tempting image, but reality can be disappointing. Charfield is not the best place in the country to grow a good quality lawn. Grass needs three things to grow well. First, lots of rain and second, lots of sun – so far so good. It is the third requirement that may be more difficult – good drainage. This helps to explain why the sandy-soiled areas of western Scotland have so many good golf courses and there are none in Charfield!

There is a lot that can be done to turn your grass back into a lawn fit for lazy summer teas. Firstly, think about how short you cut the grass. Many gardeners insist on cutting at the lowest mower setting throughout the summer. This idea is admirable for a high quality lawn growing well, or at Wimbledon, but how many of us have a purely ornamental lawn, sown only with fine grasses? For lawns undergoing regular wear, like football and cycling, then raising the mower height is no bad thing. Aim to keep the grass at about an inch (25mm) long. The lowest setting of many mowers will crop the grass to only ¼″ (10mm), or less. Next, think about your mowing habits. When cutting grass, little and often is by far the best advice. If you are only cutting a small amount, you Can safely dispense with the mower's grass box and let the earthworms do the tidying up. In any event, do not cut more than 25% off the length of the grass at any one time. We all know what the lawn looks like after its first cut following a fortnight's holiday. Regular cutting of long grass back to a short height will weaken the lawn's growth and allow the weeds to gain a foothold. Even if the summer weather turn's the lawn into a dust bowl, don't waste your time and valuable water on it. A cracked and dead-looking lawn will spring back into life after the first real rains.

Like most gardeners, the lawn must have food. The choice is wide, as a quick look at the shelves of any garden centre will confirm. The brand used is Less important than both the act and the timing of feeding. The lawn should only be fed from spring until summer. Feeding outside this time achieves nothing if the grass is not actively growing and late feeding, at the end of summer, can produce soft, lush growth which will be more susceptible to disease. Many products offer the desirable benefit of weeding as well as feeding the lawn, but beware of applying any chemicals to the lawn during prolonged dry spells.

As a more relaxing alternative to the renovation of your lawn, how about a day out instead? Early September sees Bristol's annual flower show. Tradition has finally given way to common sense and this year's show moves to a weekend slot for the first time in 51 years. The show starts on Friday, 1st September and runs until Sunday on Durdham Down in Bristol. The end of September brings the Malvern Autumn Show. A new addition to the horticultural calendar for two days only – 30th September and 1st October. Malvern is set to become the Royal Horticultural Society's autumn showcase, with exhibitors from all over the country and the show's fungi clinic sounds too good to miss! Malvern will provide lots of non-gardening goodies as well, with rural crafts and antiques to buy, native livestock breeds and vintage tractors all on show. An ideal way to sort out those early Christmas presents and only 50 miles from home.
Martin Farrell, Garden Designer & Lecturer

8

NW has now been officially split into four. The four co-ordinators are:

Rev David Parker – Wotton Road – covering Charfield Hill, Churchend, The Drive, Durham Road, Katherine Close, Little Bristol, Newtown, Old Manor Close, Orchard Close, Taffern Bach, Underhill Road, Willow Close, Wotton Road (to railway line).

Mrs Helen Woodhouse – Farm lees – covering Farm Lees, Huntingford, Longs View, New street, Wotton Road (Wotton side of railway line).

Mr Matthew Fuller – Woodlands Road – covering Woodlands Road, Hawthorn Close.

Mrs Ilze Hicks – Manor Estate – covering Avon Road, Berkeley Close, Charfield Green, Cotswold View, Horsford Road, Little Bristol Close, Manor Lane, May Grove, Severn Close, The Sidings, Station Road, Thames Close.

There are still some areas not fully covered by NW. These are: Parts of Manor Lane, Station Road, parts of Underhill Road, Newtown, parts of Durham Road. Some of the new developments also still require contacts. If you are willing to help or are unsure of who your contact is please contact the relevant co-ordinator.

We still retain our committee structure with Rev D. Parker – Chairman, Ilze Hicks – Administrator, Anne Moseley – Treasurer, Matthew Fuller – Newsletter + committee members.

Recently we had a contacts meeting. It was a lovely warm summer evening. Thanks to those who turned up. What was however disappointing was that we had no policeman present. PC Stewart was not on duty and no one else was available! Furthermore changes in police personnel at a senior level have again taken place. We have a new Superintendent and now one Inspector (based at Lockleaze!!) to cover the whole of the Filton Area. How can anyone establish a meaningful working relationships with changes taking place so often? It was decided that a letter is drafted and sent to the Chief Constable/MP/+++ to emphasise that we need a greater police presence. As a watch we try hard to motivate people but we need much more support from the police. We need to feel we are achieving.

Some unwelcome activity has taken place in Charfield recently but thanks to some observant residents the police have been able to catch some individuals.

Finally a plea

– Don't leave your garage doors open for easy pickings!

– Let your contact know if you're away on holiday (or at least tell them who has a key to your house)

The next meeting for contacts is Monday 25th September, Sportmans Lounge, 7.30.
Ilze Hicks Administrator

If you wish to join with the community to mark VJ Day, please come to St John's Church at 11am on Sunday, 20 August, when a wreath will be laid at the Memorial. This will be followed by a service and the bells will be rung at 12 noon. Light refreshments will be available after the service. We do hope that you will all come along. The Parish Council would like to express its thanks to Rev. Grant for his help in this matter.

May I also take this opportunity to thank all of you who helped with the VE Day service and bonfire – and also all villagers who attended. I felt grateful to be part of a community that cared enough to come together in such numbers to remember the sacrifices of others.
J M O'Connor-Beach.

The league runs on the 4th Wednesday of each month between October and May at the Star in Wotton and has been in existence since 1975. Last year's league included teams with the likely (and unlikely!) names of Rotary Plus, Dingleberries, Lions, Tangent, Kingswood Village Idiots, KLB, Drifters, Round Table and 41 Club. Each month, one or more teams drop out to ask the questions, which comprise 6 × 10-question rounds – usually ‘themed’ – plus a 25-question Blockbuster which runs throughout the evening.

For those who enjoy quizzes and the social side of life with a bit of brain stimulation, it is a very enjoyable way to spend an evening once a month. Charfield had a team until a couple of years ago, but it disbanded – now is the ideal time to reform! All it takes is 4 people with a none-too-serious attitude who enjoy quizzes. Give me a call soon on 01453-84xxxx to claim one of the vacant team places for the 1995/6 season.
Dave Woodhouse

9

At this time of year there is such an abundance of fruit and vegetables that it can sometimes be hard to choose. Whatever there is, I don't want to spend too long indoors cooking, especially in this spell of fine weather, so salads will be the order of the day – by the time the newsletter is delivered though, it may well be pouring.

My early potatoes have done well, despite the dry weather, which can sometimes make them break up when they are cooked. If you have some good, firm new potatoes, this is an excellent potato salad:

Wash and boil, or steam, a couple of pounds of potatoes in their skins. Drain, then take the skins off as soon as you can handle them (they come off very easily). Put them, still hot, into a large bowl, pour over some olive oil vinaigrette and roughly chop them with a sharp knife. The potatoes will absorb the dressing as they cool down. When cold, add a small, chopped onion, plenty of herbs (parsley, chives, mint, rosemary, etc.) and a little more dressing – just enough to give a light coating. This will keep well in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.

Have you heard of Salad Elona? It's very simple and, although it may sound strange, is very good. On a large plate, put alternate circles of thinly sliced cucumber and sliced large strawberries. Season with a little salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper and pour over a couple of teaspoons of dry white wine, or wine vinegar. Yes, I know it seems odd, but it goes well with cold chicken or salmon.

Raspberries are plentiful now and can be made into this very quick pudding: Skin ripe peaches (by dipping them into boiling water for a few seconds) and slice. Crush raspberries with a fork, add sugar to taste (icing sugar is best), pour over the peaches and chill. For four peaches, you would need about 8–12oz of fruit. If you have the time, push the sauce through a sieve to remove the seeds. It's not essential, but it's nice. Nice, too, with a spoonful of vanilla ice-cream.

Did you know that blackcurrants make one of the easiest and most economical jams, besides being one of the best to eat? Steam and wash 2lb of blackcurrants. Bring to the boil with 1½ pints of water. Cover and simmer gently until the fruit is tender (30 minutes or so, depending on the freshness of the fruit). Add 3lb of granulated or preserving sugar and stir until dissolved. Bring to the boil and boil fast until setting is reached (about 5–10 minutes). Stir in ½oz of butter to disperse any scum and pot. Make sure the saucepan is no more than half full after the sugar has been added, otherwise it might boil over. To test for setting, put a small plate in the freezer, or freezing compartment of the fridge. Pour a little jam onto the cold plate and, when it cools down, push your finger through it. If it crinkles across the surface, it should be about right. I think this jam is even better after storing in a cool dark place. Try it on hot buttered toast on a cold winter's day – wonderful
Barbara Adams

Next Copy Date – 12th October 1995

The WI sewing group has completed a patchwork quilt which we were going to offer as a raffle prize at the annual fete. As there is no fete this year, we wonder whether anybody knows of a ‘deserving cause’ who would like to raffle it to increase their funds, or who have a use for it themselves.

If you have any ideas, please let me know. The quilt can be viewed at xx, Manor Lane (tel.: 01454-26xxxx)
Muriel Blower

The club is still being held on alternate Wednesday afternoons in Charfield village hall. We have started our outings this year with trips to Wells and Paignton and we are joining Wickwar on their outing to Minehead shortly, with more to be arranged throughout the year.

We would like to hear from anyone local who could come and give us a talk about their hobbies, or holidays, or entertain us in some way for up to three quarters of an hour, as a change from bingo and quizzes. Please contact me on 01454-28xxxx or Mrs Amer on 26xxxx. Thank you.
MJ Ealey, Secretary

10

Unfortunately, it was not possible to insert an item in the last copy of this magazine of the ‘doings’ of Charfield, because it had not been fixed and now it is too late to appear here as an invitation. We overcame the problem by putting the news of the ‘digital computer electronic organ demonstration’ through every letterbox in the village. This is not to be confused with the whiny old electronic organs which seem to have been designed to give one a pain rather than a tune. The Allen organ to be demonstrated is based on the now-familiar, if still mysterious, ‘chip’, that morsel that can do marvels. In this particular musical field, the sound of any pipe organ can be captured and reduced to a ‘chip’, so as to reproduce almost the exact sound of the original pipe organ. This enables the copying of the sound from the finest and most interesting organ pipes anywhere and their reproduction on a wholesale scale.

No doubt there are some who think that, as a parish church, we must have plenty of money to spend. Such an opinion would be a mistake – the fact is that if we had one, it would come to us as a gift. We shall have to wait and see! But such an instrument would be an asset to our worship and enable a wider range of musical activities and expression. Worship and musical creativeness have always gone together and one can get a real ‘lift’ from music, as we all know.

The end of the war, fifty years ago, is being widely celebrated for a second time this year. In particular, what is called ‘VJ Day’ (Victory over Japan) in August, with its reminder that the whole war was over then in both hemispheres. In Charfield, in co-operation with the various relevant organisations, we are offering the village a chance to have a short act of ‘Thanksgiving for Victory’ on Sunday, 20th August in St John's Church. All are invited and the organisations will assemble at, or soon after, 11 a.m. on that day. Some wreaths are to be laid at the War Memorial at 11:10 and, afterwards, a short service of thanks for the past and of hope for the future of our country and the world.

August is, of course, the holiday month; but we hope that those who are in this area for that day will take the opportunity to join in thanks for this great deliverance from evil in East and West and to nourish the spirit of reconciliation between the nations of the world.

Thanks to those who have come to see us (in church) in recent months and a welcome to many more to look in and join with us. And to all in the village, if we can help you in any way including, of course, the Rector, please let us know. Just leave a note or a phone call to either 01454-26xxxx, or 01454-26xxxx.

Greetings to you all and warm wishes. Have an enjoyable holiday – if you manage to get away.

Sincerely
Ken Grant, Rector

P.S. A jump in time! We are holding a Harvest Supper at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, 22nd September. Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday will be 24th September. More details later.

Do you know, I sometimes think I am not very brave, or a Christian. Oh! Yes, I go to church, worship, take communion, sing hymns and enjoy them, but ought I to do more? Yes – invite Charfield people to our church. I must admit to being rather doubtful myself on first joining the fellowship. What I am trying to say, however, is that it doesn't take bravery to come to church. All that is required is one hour on a Sunday evening. No armour needed!

Less serious now, Margaret (my sister) and I went to the Tyndale Choral Society summer concert last Saturday evening at Dursley parish church. On exiting, after a most enjoyable evening, we were both amused by the number of people carrying cushions. So, Miss Turner and I are not alone in resenting hard pews!

On Sunday last, we were delighted to once again have the company of the Bristol Evangelical Male Voice Choir. How kind they were to bring their wives and friends – the church seemed almost full for a change! Thanks, as always, must go to our refreshment staff. May I say a special thank you to my good friend ‘Shorty’ for the use of his drive, etc., as a car park.

Ruth

‘I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.’ Psalms

11

As we told you in our last letter, our group was looking forward to a visit to Little Bridge House at Barnstaple. Although the weather wasn't very bright, we had a very enjoyable day.

The hospice tour was both interesting and informative and we were pleasantly surprised at the size of the house and grounds. I'm sure we can all say that just having the opportunity to visit the house was a very memorable experience. Although we pray that we will not use such a place for our own families, for those people who do use the hospice, I am sure they will feel comfortable and loved in the family atmosphere that the hospice and its staff create.

We are pleased to say that, during our visit, we had the opportunity to present a cheque for £1,000 and a selection of cuddly toys that were donated by friends in Charfield. The toys will be available for use in the bedrooms of families while staying with their sick children, brothers and sisters.

Unfortunately, the support for a planned barn dance in May was very poor, so we are now concentrating on the rest of this year.

Children's Hospice Southwest Week will be from 17th to 24th September. We hope that collecting boxes and forget-me-nots will be sited in many local shops, pubs and places of work. We do hope that you will feel able to support us. We are also hoping to hold some small events in the village during that week.

We are still struggling with a small group of people, with two of the group leaving in the near future. If you feel you can spare just a little time, we would appreciate some fresh support.
Hazel Stone, Group Co-ordinator

Villagers will be seeing more of their local police in a new initiative to crack down on rural crime in the Filton district and Special Constables will be supporting the rural beat team in Operation Ensign. The operation is being launched following consultation with country-dwellers who called for higher profile policing. Beats will be boosted with officers tackling issues highlighted by residents and concentrating on high profile foot patrols, speed checks and stopping vehicles to examine drivers' documents, They will also be able to offer crime prevention advice, building on the successful Bumblebee campaign, aimed specifically at reducing opportunist burglaries, especially from sheds and garages, through use of security devices and by marking property.

Chief Inspector Roger Lloyd, who formulated the plan, said the Special Constables would be providing valuable support to regular colleagues and he called on the public to play their part.

“Our beat team officers are there to support the community”, he said. “The public are our eyes and ears – we must work together to crack crime. If you see anything suspicious – tell us about it. Out partnership is already working well, with the number of homes broken into down by 20 percent in the district so far this year.”

For more information on Operation Ensign, contact Jenny Boraston on 01275-81xxxx or CI Lloyd on 01179-45xxxx.

I need help – with the Oxfam house-to-house collection (30th Sept–8th Oct). Can you spare just a little time – it need only be 30 minutes – to collect from as many or as few houses as you like? If so, and you would like to know more, I'd be really pleased if you would join me for coffee on Tuesday, August 8th at 7pm. I had some very welcome help last year, but I would very much like to cover a lot more of the village this year. It's not hard work – you get to meet your neighbours and people are generally very happy to give. If you can't come, but would like to be involved, give me a ring on 01454-26xxxx.
Barbara Adams, Warners Court, Wotton Road (opposite the village hall)

12

Puzzle Page

13

Hello once again. The Playgroup trip was to Bristol Zoo – we all had a wonderful time and the weather was brilliant. By the time you read this, we will have held our Family Social Evening up at the Bull Pen and our end of term party for all our older members who are off to “Big School” in September. We wish them all the best.

The AGM is being held on Monday 11 September 1995 at 8pm in the schoolroom behind the Chapel. We look forward to seeing as many parents as possible there. We will be looking for a new chairperson, secretary, and treasurer as they will all be leaving due to their children moving on. It's not as bad as you expect and it can be fun! We also need at least two Dads on the Committee, so come on Dads, it's your turn. This year we have raised a lot of money at Playgroup and these are some of our new purchases: new carpet, vacuum cleaner, playhouse, Little Tike cars, cooker (child's), Brio, Mobilo, Lego, etc. We also subsidised the trip so that everyone could have the chance to go. Thank you to everyone who has helped and supported us through the year. If you have any questions about the Playgroup, please do not hesitate to contact one of the Committee.
Michelle Brassington, Secretary

We have just completed our first six months as a newly registered Rangers unit.

We are a group of six girls aged between 14 and 26. We meet mainly fortnightly in one or other of our houses. We have just completed a full programme which has all six gaining their discovery certificates and five being invested and making their promise at our headquarters in Cowley. We have set up an orienteering course at Cowley, held an international evening, cooked indoors and out, been to a ‘get to know you’ weekend at Cowley (ask anyone about margarine – it's a standing joke!) and spent an evening learning about drugs, which was very interesting. Three have been gliding at Minchinhampton and a group are going to spend their summer holidays at Cowley, helping the warden around the site.

We have another fun programme planned for September, including a talk about the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and a weekend in London is planned around Christmas time.

If you are aged between 14 and 26 and you would like to join some of the fun, or would like more information about the look wider scheme, contact me on 01454-26xxxx or Rosemary Meek on 01454-26xxxx.
Angela Smith; Assistant Ranger Guider

Dear Editor,

I enjoy reading CHADRA to keep in touch with village activities. I was especially interested in the Brownie report, as I did, at one time, test several Brownies for their collector's badge. I was a little surprised to learn that the children had travelled to Wotton-under-Edge to see the church kneelers. Perhaps the Brownie leaders were not aware that there is a large collection of attractive and colourful kneelers in St John's church, Charfield; many of them worked by people living in the village. Some of these kneelers have been donated in memory of loved relatives, others commemorate a baby's baptism. There are kneelers showing regimental badges and some representing national or local organisations. There are also pictures of the church and of Charfield school which would interest the children, as would the brightly coloured hot air balloons floating over the fields. The collection is still being added too. Perhaps the Guides and Brownies would like to donate their own kneeler and possibly work a few stitches themselves towards their needlework badge. If any individual, club, or organisation would like to know more about the kneelers, I would be pleased to talk to them.
EN Dodd, xx Berkeley Close

Next Copy Date 12th October 1995

14

It doesn't seem like five minutes since the last football season finished and here we are again – training for the 1995–95 season. However, in the intervening time, we have elected a new committee, held a very successful end of season dinner dance at “The Gables” and have new management teams in place. Colin Weston and Neil Harmar will be in charge of the 1st team and Pete Walker in charge of the reserves.

Last season saw the first team make a strong start in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division 2, being near the top of the table until Christmas. Unfortunately, the extremely wet winter adversely affected our form and our challenge fell away a little in the second half of the season. This left us in a respectable mid-table position.

The reserve team's form was almost a mirror image of the first team's. After a slow start over the first couple of months of the season, steadily improving form saw a steady climb up Stroud League Division 3, like the first team, finishing in a mid-table position.

The beginning of training sees the club in a buoyant and optimistic mood for the coming season – if anyone is interested in playing for Charfield Football Club, please come training (Wednesday at 7.30pm on the playing field) or contact Chris Somerton on 01453 84xxxx.

You may recall that I have had a deal of correspondence with the Ministry of Defence about a low-flying aircraft over Charfield on July 28th, 1994. Not long after the last newsletter was distributed, I received the long-awaited final response. The matter had been investigated, the pilot spoken to, and it was decided that there was no case to answer.

The lesson is, unless you take a photograph of a rooftop-skimming Harrier, you can complain till you are blue in the mouth (with apologies to John Cleese) but you won't get anywhere. I ask you – when you hear a jet approaching, what chance do you have to run inside, put the right lens on your SLR, check for film, dash back outside, get the shot in focus, and catch the pilot in flagrante over your chimney? Oh well, I'll just put the whole episode down to experience.
J M O'Connor-Beach

As my five-year appointment as District Commissioner for Wotton, Kingswood & Charfield comes to an end, I feel I must record my thanks to all my Guides for the support they have given me. Thanks also for the support that my Treasurer, Janet Leach and her husband Paul have given throughout the five years.

The job has been very varied and has not been without its problems, but, at the end of the day, I think I can say that it has been very rewarding and a great challenge to me.

There may be only one more unit in the district now than there was five year's ago, but, thanks to people coming forward, we have been able to share guiding with a wider age range than we have before. Rainbows from 5–7, Brownies from 7–10, Guides from 10–14 and Rangers from 14–26.

There is always room for more people to come forward and, with some training, be included within the district team. We still have a gap in the Rainbow section for Charfield and it would be lovely to think we could reopen the unit within the next few months.

As I write this article, I was hoping I could announce my successor, but, as yet, county staff have not appointed one, We will know by September and, as I pass all the relevant files over to whoever, may I, in anticipation, wish her all the very best for what I have found to be a very satisfying time.
Marion Smith, District Commissioner.

WANTED!

A new Chairman for CHADRA, active members and people interested in helping with this Newsletter!
Fancy giving it a try?
Then contact the Hon Sec, Geoff Blower at xx, Manor Lane or on 01454-26xxxx

15

A big thank you to Guilda for writing my piece for CHADRA last time. Our meetings since March have been: in April – Mr Browning talking about Welsh Love Spoons and in May – Mrs Wendy Tucker, one of the Avon officers, came to explain the resolutions which had been sent up to the next AGM in Blackpool. One we were able to support was for better labelling on food, so that people who are allergic to peanuts, etc. could be warned if the food contained even a small quantity. The second, we decided to abstain from voting, as we were very divided on the necessity for ID cards and what should be put on them anyway. At our June meeting, Mr Wallis talked about the interesting and beautiful caves he had visited all over the world. Mrs Woffenden from Hawkesbury reported back from the AGM that the second resolution was altered to a more suitable wording.

This July, we have Miss Gaston talking on home wine making. In August, we shall meet at one of the local hostelries for a meal and a chat – this is very casual as many people are away. In September, Lynn Young is telling us about ‘Perfect Fitting Lingerie’ and in October, Mrs Yates is going to explain how to decorate eggs. Do come along.

Other activities have been a very successful group rally, an interesting visit to Plymouth and a very busy Jumble Sale. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our collection – anything we didn't sell went on to other charities.

Some of us are hoping to go to Oxford on a visit of exploration. At least one team will represent us at the Avon Area quiz night in September and we are going to sing carols with other members of the Avon Federation in St Mary's, Redcliffe in December.

Pat White is already organising a very exciting programme for next year, which I will tell you all about next time, when it has all been confirmed.
Mary Blundell, President

Next Copy Date 12th October 1995

[Advert for Happy Shopper – Open All Hours]

[Advert for Charfield Flowers]

[Advert for Deborah Jayne Pringle – Beauty]

16

Puzzle Page Answers

17[Advert for Bradley Garage]

[Advert for Taylor Made Services]

[Advert for Positive Pressure]

[Advert for Animal £xtras]

[Advert for VideoSound Services]

18

Additions and modifications to Brendan O'Connor (01454-26xxxx) xx Manor Lane.

KLB = Katharine Lady Berkeley School
MH = Memorial hall
PTA = Parent Teacher Association
SL = Sportsman's lounge, Memorial hall

August

September

October

November

19

Baby Sitting Circle
Lisa Tucker (Secretary) 01454-26xxxx

British Legion
Mr J Poskett (Spokesman) 01454-26xxxx

Brownies
See under Scouts & Guides

CHADRA
Mr G Blower (Hon. Sec.) 01454-26xxxx

Charfield Primary School
C F Sreeves (Headteacher) 01454-26xxxx

Childminders
Pat Loveridge (Vacancies Sec) 01454-26xxxx

Church – Congregational
Miss M Turner (Sec) xx Charfield Green

Church – St John's C of E
Rev K Grant (Rector) 01454-26xxxx

Council – Charfield Parish
Catherine Holmes (Clerk) 01453-84xxxx

Council – Northavon District
Mr E Gadsby (Councillor) 01454-26xxxx

Cricket Club
DS Bradley 01453-84xxxx

Cubs
See under Scouts & Guides

Football Club – Juniors
Tony Bullock 01454-26xxxx

Football Club – Seniors
Chris Somerton (Secretary) 01453-84xxxx

Friendship Club
Mrs M Ealey 01454-26xxxx
Mr E Orton 01454-26xxxx

Guides
See under Scouts & Guides

Keep Fit Club
Mrs C Parfit 01454-26xxxx

Ladies Club
Mrs J Ash 01454-26xxxx

Luncheon Club for the Elderly
Mrs J Higgins 01454-26xxxx

Memorial Hall
Mr J Poskett 01454-26xxxx

Mother & Toddler Group
Jane Smith (Chairperson) 01454-26xxxx

Neighbourhood Watch
Rev D Parker (Co-ordinator) 01454-26xxxx