CHADRA

… That there is a vacancy on the Parish Council – see inside for details of how to apply.

… That there will not be a Village Fayre this year, as there has not been a volunteer to organise it.

… That the football club should win the league, and be promoted to the Northern Senior League.

… That the football club has reached the final of the County Cup for the first time since 1961.

… That the football club are looking to enter a third team in the Stroud League next Season.

… That the primary school are looking for volunteers to help with decorating.

… That the school tag rugby team won their division and quarter finals.

Did You Help Out At The Village Spring Clean?

If Not Why Not Clean Up Your Road Today???

2

Welcome to the spring edition, what a difference some nice weather makes – at least it looks like it's spring now!

By the time you get this, some of the events referred to in articles will have already happened e.g. the Village Spring Clean. Can we remind contributors that, although our process is ‘slicker’ than it has been in the past, we cannot guarantee that readers will get their copy until the end of the month.

As usual, a big thank you to all our contributors who got their articles to us and avoided being delayed by the Easter break.

Next Copy Date – 12th July 2002

3[Advert for Massage Table Store]

[Advert for Skips]

[Advert for Tennis Coaching]

It's Spring time, and as is the custom at this time of year, we have been busy ‘in the garden’ – in the School's garden to be precise. As part of the school's Jubilee celebrations, The Friends of Charfield School supplied and, with a lot of help from the children, planted a Jubilee Orchard. The Orchard comprises nine trees; two cooking apple, two eating apple, one pear, one quince and three plum trees. A big “Thank You“ also goes to Ian Pullen of Tree Management for donating two of the trees and for all the help with the preparation and planting.

To further commemorate the Jubilee, The Friends are supplying the school with special Jubilee certificates and leather Jubilee bookmarks for every child as a lasting reminder of this special year.

We've been very busy over the last few months organising events to take us up to the end of this school year.

The Grand Promises Auction on April 20th required an awful lot of activity acquiring and sorting out the Lots and advertising the event. This edition of Chadra will probably be printed after the Auction has finished, but we have high hopes of this event being very popular and a great fund-raiser for the school.

Some fantastic events are coming up: We have been lucky enough to book the well-known local group Kick The Cat, for our ‘Summer Bash’ on May 24th. This is to be held in a barn at Warners Court – advance ticket prices are £3.00 adult / £2.00 child and £8.00 family ticket. On-the-door prices will be £3.50 and £2.50 respectively.

June 15th will be our annual School Summer Fair (1pm–3pm): Together with the usual attractions, such as pony rides, cake stalls and refreshments, this year we hope to have many more including; ‘fixed’ hot air balloon rides, a steel band, an RAF Helicopter to sit in, a glider to explore and 4a Fire Brigade appliance for both the children and ‘the young at heart’ to sit in and become ‘real’ fire fighters.

For any budding disco divas or Stars in their Eyes performers, the final event before the summer break will be a Disco & Karaoke: This is planned for 19th July to be held at the school. There will be competitions – best ‘look-a-like’, best ‘sound-a-like’, and opportunities for group and solo artistes to perform. This event is for both children and adults with prizes and ‘incentives’ for all. However, if the bright lights and grease-paint don't appeal, just come along and have a dance! There will be a licenced bar and buffet. Ticket prices for this event are as before: Adults £3.00 / children £2.00 / family tickets £8.00 in advance. On-the-door prices are 50p more.

Even though these events effectively wrap-up our activities for this school year, we are already planning many more for September onwards.
Quiz Night – September 20th.
Shopping Evening – October 16th.
Bonfire Night – November 8th.
School Christmas Disco – December 20th.

If you would like further information about any of the events outlined here, or for tickets, please give me a ring on 01453 52xxxx.

Claire Adams

We've changed our name
We've added more days
We open longer hours
We've got a new home
We're easy to find
So call in and see us sometime

The children are happy,
and so are the staff
The carers all smile a lot too
We've had lots of support
New things will be bought
So THANK YOU from Cathy and Sue

We'd like to extend a big welcome to all our new starters. It great to see more children taking advantage of the five days that we can now offer. We have started to run a lunchtime session so children can stay on until 1.20pm. These extended sessions are starting to become popular and are a great hit with the children who delight in having their lunch with their friends.

Feel free to pop in and see us when we are in session, and you can see for yourself how much fun is being had by all the children and staff in the Foundation Room (or The Fun Room as the children have re-named it !!)

Sue Reynolds
Deputy Leader, Charfield Pre School

St John's Church, Charfield present their ever popular
PLANT SALE
On Saturday 18th May 2002 at 10.00am

Lots of lovingly tended plants, shrubs, bedding plants etc for sale including some unusual ones and ALL at competitive prices!
Please come and stock your garden up with our plants – we all desperately want our window sills and greenhouses back!!

5

Puzzle Page

6[Advert for Surround Sounds]

[Advert for Forever Flowers]

[Advert for Claire Saunders]

Hi there, its 12.30am (yes that's right 12.30am) and here I am writing this article for Chadra not because of a deadline but because my 4½ year old has woken me up because she can't sleep (well that makes two of us now) except that 2 minutes after saying she can't sleep she's back in the land of nod and I'm still wide awake, so I thought what better time to sit down and put pen to paper (why can't my husband and children give me this amount of peace at a more convenient time).

By the time you read this article Charfield Baby and Toddler Group will have re-started (re-starts 18th April) and a new committee will have been elected. Before I introduce ourselves I would like to say on behalf of the Toddler Group a big thank you to the former committee for the work they have put in over the last 12 months as we all know that at times it isn't easy.

The A.G.M. was held on 21st March and the new committee members are as follows;
Debbie Wilson Chairperson
Nicky Lanyi Vice-Chairperson
Sarah Edwards Treasurer
Kate Isaacs Secretary

We also have a few people who have kindly agreed to act as general members and whose help will be much appreciated. Toddlers can only continue with the help and support from its members so therefore if you can help out occasionally with the setting up and putting away of the toys, chairs etc then please contact myself or any other committee member.

Finally, just a reminder that we meet on Thursday mornings during term time between 10.00–11.30am in the memorial hall and that we cater for children from 0–3 years with their parents or carers. Each session costs £1 per adult and 20p per child (your first visit is free) and refreshments are provided for both adults and children.

7We look forward to welcoming back old members and also meeting some new ones when we meet back on April 18th.

Debbie Wilson Chairperson.

We have been running 6 months now and numbers have steadily been increasing. Most if not all children come out of sessions wanting to go more often and parents have been asked to work more days!

The Easter Holiday club was enjoyed by all of the children. Easter egg hunts, quizzes, biscuit making, games and other Easter crafts were just some of the activities that took place. The second week of the holidays was particularly well attended with a Magician visiting the club on the last Thursday of the holidays.

Parents were able to leave their children in the knowledge that they were in safe hands and that they would have tremendous FUN. The children are now asking about going to the club during next half term and summer holidays. As the days are getting warmer the club intends to hold more activities outside in the school grounds.

We will shortly be advertising for more staff to cope with the increase in the number of children using the club, so if you are interested in working at the club, especially during school holidays, keep your eyes open.

Regular and adhoc bookings are welcome. The club is run for school children between the ages of 4 and 12 years (inclusive) and is open primarily for children attending Charfield Primary School, although children who attend other schools are also welcome to join in the fun …

If you wish to use the club or require more information, please contact Pat Loveridge for more details 07816 23xxxx or 01454 26xxxx.

Just to remind you … the club's hours are:

Morning session: 7:30am to 8:40am,
After-school session: 3:10pm to 5:00pm or 3:10pm to 6:00pm
School holidays: 7:30am to 6:00pm
(Part day sessions are also available during the holidays)

Janice Brett

Village Spring Clean
Last year we had a big turnout of people to tidy up the village, thanks to CHADRA's support and publicity. Let's see if we can repeat the effort this year. Come along to the spring clean and help us pick up some of the litter. Meet at the Memorial Hall car park to get your gloves, litter picker and sack. The times are 10am–12 noon and 2pm–4pm on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st April. Even if you could only spare an hour, it would be worthwhile. By the way, we are still trying to employ someone to pick up litter regularly on the main pedestrian routes.

Annual Parish Meeting The Annual Parish Meeting is at 7.30pm on Thursday 25th April at the Memorial Hall. Everyone is welcome. This is the meeting when representatives come to tell the rest of the parish what their organisations are doing in and for the village, especially those organisations that have had grants from the Parish Council. The Clerk sends a reminder to those organisations, but some have not bothered to turn up for the last couple of years. If they came, said their piece and answered any questions from the public, it would encourage the council to allocate grants to them again. Although this is not a Parish Council meeting, it is chaired by the Chairman of the Parish Council and you get the bonus of a report from him. Finally, 8electors in the Parish can raise any matter for discussion.

(Editors note – these events will have taken place by the time you read this as they are so soon after copy date. We hope they were well attended.)

Council Tax
On your council tax bill, did you notice the changes from last year? South Gloucestershire Council require 12.1% more, Avon & Somerset Police Authority 14.8% more, and Charfield Parish Council 7.3% less. Did you notice that the “special expenses” that South Gloucestershire charge to us in Charfield have gone up yet again? They were £6,524 two years ago, £10,851 last year and £12,391 this year. We shall be asking for a breakdown of the figures again.

Vacancy on the Council
Unfortunately Janice Vardon-Smith has had to resign from the Parish Council, for personal reasons. Thanks for all her hard work, which included being the Council's representative on the Memorial Hall Committee and on the Governors of the National School Foundation. Hopefully she will one day feel able to stand again for the Council. Meanwhile we need a new councillor, although not necessarily taking over her responsibilities. If you might be interested and would like to find out more, please contact the Clerk, Catherine Holmes, or any councillor. There will be elections next year, so this is an opportunity to test the water for a year.

Code of Conduct
You might have seen in the newspapers some discussion about the new Code of Conduct for councillors. The Parish Council has resolved to adopt this with effect from 1st May. There are follow-up actions for individuals to take if they are continuing as councillors.

John E Acton
Vice-Chairman, Charfield Parish Council

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[Advert for Alan Hamer]

[Advert for Charfield Post Office]

9

Our collection of toiletries continues to grow and once again can I say “Thank You” to all of you who have contributed. Sometimes I find a bag on my doorstep and I am sorry to be out and not to be able to express thanks personally. Allan Hughes and I will be kept very busy boxing up these goodies to send out by truck at the end of May.

Three charity members have just returned from Romania where they have installed a fan in the hospital kitchen. This will be a great boon to the cooks to draw out the fumes from the wood-burning cooker. In the summer we will go in two teams and endeavour to refurbish the dilapidated kitchen – a formidable task.

This year we are short of care workers. Does anyone feel the urge to come with me to tend the hospital patients? Please ring if you are interested and I will fill you in.

Finally I am in the process of offering “lunches for a fiver” to save money for my trip. Two courses and a glass of wine is on offer. Again, do ring if you are interested. I am on holiday from 2nd–14th May, but will continue catering after that.

Thanks again to all contributors.

Wendy Stevens, 01453 84xxxx

Due to the lack of an organiser, the Village Fayre will not take place this year. In its place, thanks to Kim Wintle, the Memorial Hall Committee is hoping to be able to hold a Sports Day on 13th July. However, Kim will need help on the day. If anyone would be willing to volunteer their assistance, could they please ring Kim on 01454 26xxxx.

In addition the Memorial Hall is still seeking a Booking Secretary to replace Anne Thomas, who will be resigning the position at the AGM in May. If anyone is interested and would like further details, please contact Anne on 0453 84xxxx.

(Editors note – Thanks to Anne for her help with the diary on the penultimate page of CHADRA.)

My running had been going smoothly until the day in January that I went to watch Round Table indoor cricket. One of the teams was a man short so I offered to play – little did I know how costly that decision was to prove!

I was batting and went for a quick single but, neglecting to take the bat out of my line of stride, tripped and fell awkwardly onto the hard, unyielding sports hall floor. The watching spectators heard a crack (although I didn't) and winced, saying, “That looked nasty”. I just lay on the floor knowing I had hurt myself and was immediately surrounded by concerned Tablers. I was carried off and seen to by the centre's staff to try to reduce my ankle's swelling, which had ballooned to twice its normal size by now. I managed to drive home from Cheltenham but had to drive to Berkeley hospital the next day, as it was no better. The x-ray showed that I had broken the fibula in my left leg, which is the smaller of the two bones of the lower leg. So a bemused me was packed off to Frenchay to get plastered with cheery comments of “it could have been worse!” (How?) ringing in my ears.

After spending most of the afternoon in casualty, I finally made it home thanks to a friend driving me back, as of course now I can't drive. I had to endure six weeks in plaster and am currently coming to the end of a course in physiotherapy. After that I will be running again (hooray says Tracy, as I have not been the easiest person to live with!) and aiming to run the Queen's Jubilee 10K in central London on 21st July. I will be raising funds for the Anthony 10Nolan Bone Marrow Trust as part of the Round Table team.

There were some lighter moments. I was determined to make a Sales Conference in Denmark and British Airways treated me like a king on both flights. I was last on the plane and first off – no waiting for my baggage and wheeled out to our waiting car without the long haul to the car park!

We had tickets for the theatre and at first decided it would be more trouble than it was worth to get me there. Then Tracy told me the cost of the tickets and I decided to make the effort! We rang the theatre to ask about disabled access (I was still fully on crutches at the time). They said that they had steep steps at the front but there was a scissor lift. Good so far – but … you can only use it if you are in a wheelchair! In the end common sense prevailed (or more likely Tracy's incredulous questioning of their policy!) and I sailed up in to the theatre majestically in the scissor lift!

On another evening we had tickets to see a performance ‘in the round’ and therefore had no booked seat. Tracy rang to ask if there were any seats that we would find inaccessible and, if there were seats that were better positioned and avoided steps. We were told that there were four seats that were at the back and did not entail going up and down steps BUT (there's always a but!) they were unable to reserve them for us as that was “positive discrimination”. (Is it me?)

On the positive side, I realized just how many friends we have and was overwhelmed by the amount of practical help, lifts to everywhere etc that we were given.

Our son Andrew badly hurt his eye recently as I'm sure some of you know, so I will be taking part in the Great North Run in October to raise £1000 for a new IV pump for the Bristol Eye hospital. This badly needed piece of kit introduces drugs and painkillers intravenously without having to inject the patient every few hours, and the hospital is chronically short of them for the children's ward. This is our way of saying “thank you” to the dedicated and skilled staff that cared for Andrew. So I will be asking for sponsors and they will all be gratefully received.

So it has been an eventful last few months and any similarity to David Beckham is unintended! (Although I wouldn't mind sharing his bank balance for a while!)

John Francksen

As the season draws to a close it is time to reflect on a busy campaign for players, parents and committee. By the end of April virtually 110 matches will have played by five teams who have shown great commitment and endeavour – a credit to the village. Over half the games have been either won or drawn with each team at some stage pressing for honours, and even now silverware is not out of the question.

The under 16's will now move on, and we wish them well along with their manager Craig Halliday. Maybe some of those players will begin playing for the village senior club in the very near future. Whilst all other age groups (under 9's, 10's, 12's and 14's) will move up a year and play in their respective divisions next season. The club now is planning to introduce new teams at under 9's, 12's and 14's for next season, however this will depend upon managers coming forward to run these teams. It would be fantastic next season to run with seven teams with the Tortworth facilities being added to complement the village pitches. If anybody is interested in becoming involved please contact a committee member who willingly give details or call myself on 01454 26xxxx.

Both fund raising events: the jumble sale in the Village Hall and 60's evening at Leyhill 11Social Club were very well supported and the club wishes to thank everybody who came along.

Finally, the club AGM is planned for 20th June in the Sportsman Bar at 8pm …

Jeremy Lewis – Secretary.

I would like to thank all the people who donated hutches for my rescued guinea pigs, I can assure you they are being put to very good use. I have several piggies that are ready to be rehomed, in pairs only. I also have 3 tree frogs that must go together, and 5 chipmunks. I will split the chipmunks, but I would prefer them to go in pairs if possible.

If you can offer any of the above animals a loving, permanent home, please contact me.

I have limited space available for boarding guinea pigs. Give me a call for more details. Unfortunately, I cannot accommodate rabbits.

Tracey White
01454 26xxxx, 07811 89xxxx
xxxx @ supalife.com

Over the last three months things have been going pretty well for the football club. The first team is still involved in three competitions. At present we are heading the table in Stroud League Division 1, we are 4 points ahead of Minchinhampton in second place, but they have a game in hand. It is clearly a very tight position, but our destiny is in our own hands. We have four league matches still to play and should we win the league we will be promoted to the Northern Senior League. In addition to this we have also reached the final of the Stroud Charity Cup by beating Upton St Leonards 4–1. A date has yet to be fixed for that match. We are due to play Minchinhampton who are pushing us hard in the league, so a good game is in prospect. The icing on the cake is reaching the final of the County Cup and are due to play Tidenham F.C. at Harrow Hill on Thursday 18th April, kick off 7:30 p.m. We achieved this by beating Northway, a team from Tewkesbury, in the semi-final by 6–3. As the score suggests this was a pretty amazing match with the sides swapping goals early on. Charfield eventually pulled away in the second half to win fairly comfortably. The last time the first team reached the final of the county cup was in 1961, though the reserves won their section in 1993, its been a very long wait and everyone at the club is looking forward to the occasion.

The reserves have seen something of a revival since Christmas. Around the turn of the year they were near the bottom of the table. The 10 games since then have seen 6 wins and a draw, putting us comfortably in the top half of Stroud League division 4. Its unlikely that promotion can be achieved this season, but this improvement represents a solid foundation for next seasons campaign.

With things going well at the club at the moment, we have decided to apply to enter a 3rd team the Stroud League next season. We are on the lookout for a manager to run the side, so if anyone fancies getting involved with a friendly, fairly successful local football club please get in touch on 01454 26xxxx.

Chris Somerton, Secretary, Charfield F.C.

Despite an underlying conviction that I am very lucky, I have often in the past wished for non-material things that would improve my life – I think. I would like John to not have to work away as much and be able to be at home more, I would like Andrew to be less boisterous and more consistently well behaved, and I would like Elizabeth 12and Andrew to get on better and not bicker quite as much. (As an only child who longed for a brother or sister, John tells me I have an unreasonably rosy view of what life with a sibling should be like!)

Well, it seems that at the beginning of this year someone heard my wishes and set about granting them though in not quite the way I had anticipated!

On January 22nd, whilst playing Area Cricket with Round Table, John fell awkwardly and broke his leg. An account of this appears from John himself in this edition of Chadra so I won't go on but for 2 weeks he had a non weight bearing cast as it was so swollen. This effectively confined him to a chair which for an active man was a killer! Naturally he became very frustrated at having to rely on us and considering he runs to relieve stress and was then more stressed and couldn't run … you will get an idea of life in the Francksen household for the first 3 months of the year! (Well – I had wanted him at home more!)

Still look on the bright side – we had plenty of offers of lifts and people dropping by to keep him company and we discovered more friends than we had ever realized! And it's not often that you get the chance to set a trend, which is then followed by David Beckham!

The cast was removed in early March and we settled back in to our routine – at least John could drive again.

Two weeks later, on Sunday 17th March, we were tidying up after an afternoon in the garden when Andrew had the most horrifying accident. He was picking up garden canes, as I had asked him to, when one snapped and a splinter of bamboo shot in to his left eye like an arrow and stayed there!! I instinctively pulled it out and bathed his eye, which later the doctor told me was the best thing to do. When he had calmed down and would let me look, we realised that it would need some medical attention but neither John or I knew how serious it was – probably just as well at that stage. We went down to Frenchay where I was resigned for a long wait in Casualty but our bottoms hardly touched the chair after we had been seen by the Triage nurse. They sent us to the Bristol Eye Hospital where staff were waiting on the pavement for us. I hope you never need to know this but the Eye Hospital (which has an excellent nationwide reputation) has a casualty department of its own which is open until 8pm every night even at the weekend.

After several examinations, it was discovered that Andrew had perforated his eye and had a jagged wound across the iris and cornea – when I pulled the splinter out, the layers of eye tissue caught on the end of it had been pulled through the open wound. Once he had been given strong painkillers, Andrew cheered up and the only person he wanted was his ‘Lizzie’. For her part, Elizabeth was happy to comfort him and was really distressed when she had to leave him to be taken home – in the most extreme of circumstances they had finally proved to me that they did have some affection for each other!

By midnight, Andrew was in the operating theatre for an operation lasting 2 hours. He had 8 stitches and a contact lens dressing and a very bruised eye … and a lot of pain. We were in hospital for a week during which we again were blessed with offers of help from lots of friends and, more than that even, we discovered that Andrew himself had lots of kind friends who were very concerned for him. When we came home he was coping very well but was very docile and meek – frightened by all that had happened to him, I think. At that stage I really just wanted my stubborn and high spirited little boy back.

He continued to improve but then 10 days later went frighteningly down hill again and was admitted back in to hospital for another operation to relieve the pressure 13on his eye. This seems to have done the trick and he is getting better now. We have weekly appointments at the Eye Hospital and will do until the stitches are removed at the end of May, when we will also have a better idea of how much he can see in that eye (at the moment it is very little). I fervently hope that by the time I write my next article, that he is his normal stroppy and lively self and back to driving us all mad!! And in the future I am going to be very careful what I wish for!

Tracy Francksen.

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[Advert for Bradley Garage]

We have recently had two ‘short’ half terms, which somehow seemed to be as busy, productive and tiring as the usual longer ones!! Nevertheless, we still managed to get a lot done. ☺

Spring Clean Dates

In my last newsletter, I told you about the Spring Clean of the school. The dates have now been decided and will be held on three consecutive weekends, to hopefully make it easier for you who volunteer to be able to plan and arrange your times. The weekends for the Spring Clean are 11/12 May, 18/19 May and 25/26 May. The jobs have now all been identified, and I have been overwhelmed by the support given to me by the ladies from the Friends. They have all volunteered to do something from the forty-two items on the list.

What I am really in need of now is for a group of volunteers to help paint the windows and doors around the infant block and the front building. All the materials will be provided. If you can help or be part of a team, this will make the workload much lighter. Please see if you can help us in this particular area, as this will have such a positive impact on the look of the school.

The jobs are not horribly big, so please don't be put off from volunteering! Please see me as soon as possible if you can help. It really will be appreciated.

I would like to say a big ‘THANK YOU’ to all those of you who have already given me a commitment and willingness to get involved.

Redecoration Of Class 6 By The Friends

I would like to extend my grateful thanks to those members of The Friends who gave up their time during the half term holidays to decorate Mrs. Richardson's class, the entrance foyer and the girls' toilets of the Elliott Block. The Friends also paid for new 14flooring to be put down in Class 6. This has given not only this class, but also the whole block, a fresh lease of life and made it a greatly improved learning and living environment for all our pupils and staff.

Cross Country And Tag Rugby News

13 of our Year 5 and 6 pupils entered a Tag Rugby competition on Sunday 24 February at the Memorial Ground in Bristol. The competition was very strong, but nevertheless, we came top in our division, which put us through to the quarterfinals. We won that and went into the semi-finals against a much-fancied team from Bristol. Our team played their hearts out, but eventually lost by only one try scored in the last two minutes of the match. The children were a credit to our school. They played fair and square and couldn't have tried any harder. I think we must have had the biggest number of supporters and my special thanks go out to Mike Smith, Kim Wintle and Mrs. Marklove for the coaching and training and all of our parents who came to support.

As we come to the end of the Cross Country meetings, our runners from Charfield Primary School have had a truly excellent first season, considering over 300 athletes from 22 schools took part in each of the 4 races. In the Dursley Primary Schools Cross Country Competition medals were given to our Y3/4 boys, with Martin McNeill gaining silver for 2nd place, George Wintle (4th) and Jonathan Rosser (7th). The Y3/4 boys' team, who were those already mentioned, plus Richard Macnamara were 1st overall and gained gold medals. Medals were also given to our Y5/6 boys, with Thomas Wintle gaining silver for 2nd place, and Alastair Davies (9th). The Y5/6 boys' team, who were those already mentioned, plus Oliver Lewis were 2nd overall and gained silver medals.

In the Gloucestershire Cross Country League for the Boys' Under 11 group, Thomas Wintle gained a gold medal in 1st place. The team also included Alastair Davies and Martin McNeill, who also gained gold medals in 1st place. When you consider that they were running against athletic club competition, it was a truly splendid win!

Work On Site

I am delighted to inform you that the new kitchen finally opened right on schedule on Monday 4 March 2002. This now means that the kitchen is adjoined to the school Hall instead of at the back of the school, where the food had to be wheeled through an infant classroom, through the infant cloakrooms, past the administration area, up the ramp under the veranda and into the Hall!! All that is a thing of the past, (as was having sandwiches in the old Foundation Room before it was refurbished.) We are now running a two sitting dinnertime for our children. All the infants have their dinner from 12 o'clock onwards in one sitting, and all the juniors come in after them and have their dinner together in the Hall. I am pleased to say that the quality of the food is as high as ever, thanks to Mrs. Ealey and her kitchen staff, after hearing all the favourable comments from the parents of our Year 4 children, who stayed to lunch on Tuesday 19 March.

When we return after the Easter break, we will be having a special event during dinnertimes each Friday. The lunchtime supervisors will be watching the children and choosing eight children from the infants and eight children from the juniors who have been exceptionally well mannered, well behaved, played well, shown consideration to others and so on. These children will sit at a table that has been laid with a tablecloth, flowers and serviettes as a reward for their positive example during the dinnertime sessions from Monday to Thursday. Just as the staff are able to reward the children through the BOW WOW SOW assembly, so the lunchtime supervisors will be able to reward our children at dinnertime throughout the year.

15The old kitchen is currently being transformed into our new ICT suite, which should open sometime towards the end of May.

School Council

As some of you will have heard, we will be starting a School Council for our children during the summer term. There have been great discussions about electing members from various classes to be our first school council representatives. Children have been preparing and giving election talks to their classmates and giving reasons why they should be voted for. Other children have made posters as part of their campaign. There has been a very positive response from the children who have shown that they really want to be involved in this initiative. Voting was recently held in all the classes from the Class 4 up to Class 8.

These are the pupils who were elected to the School Council:

Dominic Mosley, Emma Reynolds, Sophie Wade, Joseph Fuller, Kirsty McCorkell, Jonathan Rosser, Rachel Mosley, Elizabeth Francksen, Jamie Ball, Tim Legood, Christian Salter, Adam Smith, Melanie Richards and Natalie Britton.

Our congratulations go to them and all who entered into the spirit so well.

FINALLY

We go in to an extremely busy summer term, with many traditional summer events such as SATs, Sports Days, reports, Leaving Assemblies and so on. We are even hoping to have an Open Day for the community of Charfield to come and see us at work and play. So, keep your eyes peeled for that date …

Yours sincerely

Stefan Frontczak, Headteacher

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16

Puzzle Page Answers

17[Advert for Martingales]

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Water or Coke?
We all know water is important, very sadly coke features more in many peoples lives.

WATER …

1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half world population)
2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.
4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pains for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a U-Washington study.
5. Lack of water, the number 1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
6. Preliminary research indicates that 8–10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short term memory, trouble with basic maths, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

COKE …

1. In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the truck to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.
2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone in two days.
3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca Cola into the toilet bowl and let the “real thing“ sit for one hour, then flush clean. 18The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous China.
4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminium foil dipped in Coca Cola.
5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.
6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.
7. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

For Your Information:

1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase in osteoporosis.
2. To carry Coca Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous material signs reserved for Highly corrosive materials.
3. The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!

Now the question is, would you like a glass of water or coke?

LAVENDER

This is probably the best known essential oil. It has been used for thousands of years and is probably a smell that most people recognise from early childhood.

It really is so versatile and safe to use and all households should own a bottle! Why use often expensive items from the pharmacy counter when you can use a simple natural product.

It is perfect for the nervous system being very soothing and calming, helping sleep with a few drops on your pillow or in the bath. It also aids headaches and is very good to use if you are on a long haul flight.

If you suffer from indigestion or bloating a little massaged in round the stomach area can help. (Fennel is also good for digestion!)

It is ideal to use as an antibiotic and antiseptic, therefore use when colds are around or if small cuts, wounds or burns occur. So useful for children or used as a lavender cream on them.

As always, it's usually best to try natural remedies first, before resorting to over the counter medicines.

Don't forget to come and see us at The Massage Table Store for friendly help and advice at any time.

In case you don't know, we're next door to the hairdressers in Manor Lane.

At a recent tennis club meeting, and after some discussion, we have decided to keep the membership for the tennis club the same as last year. Fees are due now and are as follows:

Student/Junior: £3
Single: £10
Family: £20
Couple: £18

For details of membership please contact Nicola on 01453 84xxxx or Ilze on 01454 26xxxx.

We have also decided to reintroduce the booking system for the court to avoid disappointment when you turn up to play. You may book for up to one hour by calling Wendy on 01453 84xxxx or Patrick on 01453 52xxxx.

19The club will also be running junior coaching sessions on Saturday mornings, starting in May. These will be open to both members and non members, however, membership is encouraged to allow the juniors to practice those skills taught during the sessions. For more details on this please call Patrick on 01453 52xxx.

Some readers may have read recently that a survey has found that people are scared of going into woods and forests because there are so many trees! Landowners and the forestry commission have cut down some trees in areas to make them more user friendly!

As a regular walker, it has concerned me the increasing ‘urbanisation’ of a footpath across the fields and railway line linking the lane to Underwood Farm and New Street. Whilst appreciating that the landowner needs to keep his stock separate and safe, the fencing in of the land did mean that the path became excessively muddy during the winter. A corner by the lane leading to the farm was a little untidy but perfect for wild life. This has now been flattened and bushes removed. The path is also regularly mowed, for what reason I ask? Tidy neat paths are not natural.

We do not need this – the countryside should be left as natural as possible for wildlife and the lovers of the countryside. The younger generation will never learn to appreciate what real countryside is.

Helen Woodhouse

Issue number seven of the Charfield Newsletter was published in March 1977 and the village was gearing up for Jubilee celebrations. It was the longest newsletter so far, running to 12 pages.

The council reported that it would soon be putting up the long awaited bus shelter at the bottom of Charfield Hill, as well as replacing the public seats after vandalism.

There was the launch of the Village Contact Scheme to put people in touch with organisations of interest or help.

The KLB PTA held a ‘Question Time’ style Forum, with a local MP, a journalist, and the editor of the Evening Post among the panellists. The chairman was a broadcaster from Radio Bristol.

Most village organisations were in fund-raising mode, with activities ranging from Tramps' Suppers to Jumble Sales and Dances to Sponsored Netball Matches.

Letters published in this edition were mainly concerned about the recently published Draft Village Plan with proposals for further development in the village.

Charfield and District Residents Association (CHADRA) are looking for volunteers:

Minutes Secretary

We need someone to attend our four meetings each year and take minutes. If anyone is interested, please contact Joan Crowfoot (01453 84xxxx).

Distributors

We are very grateful to our willing army of distributors who deliver your copy of the Newsletter four times a year. If you want an excuse to meet your neighbours, and are able to help, please contact Marion Smith (01454 26xxxx). We particularly need people for Woodlands Road, Wotton Road, and Charfield Hill, but any volunteers would be welcome – we will try to ensure you distribute close to home.

20[Advert for Barbara Ealey]

[Advert for Cotswold Edge Carpets]

Hello everyone.

Now this could be one of my shortest pieces. Did any of you watch that Dawna, on BBC 2, The Life Laundry Programme? She made grown men cry, saying things like, “do you really need that railway manual from 1942?” Some of you maybe aware that Keith and I hang on to a few bits, well after six weeks of watching this Dawna, we have started to dejunk! When I found my pile of Gardeners World magazines dating back to 1991, I felt it was time to take action. So one car boot, a major trip to the recycling depot and copious visits to the Break Charity shop later, we are slowly getting there. Even two Standard Vanguards have left the premises.

So dear fans, and thank you Geoff and Caroline for phoning, I shall have to end now. I am I the middle of painting the dining room and Mother-In-Law is arriving tomorrow!!!

Have a brill time.

All the best Maz

I've recently come across the following web sites that I thought you might be interested in:

Wastepoint.co.uk

If, like Marilyn, you're having a clear out, and want your rubbish to go to good use, this site will give you a recycling centre for the items you are disposing of.

Just put in the type of waste (e.g. shoes) and your postcode (GL12) and it will tell you where to take it. In the case of shoes you have to go to Cheltenham, Fairford or Cirencester!

21Interflora.co.uk

Whilst phoning to arrange flowers for my mum on mothers day, I got their recorded message saying that I could try their web site – so I did. Not only can you arrange flowers (and other items like chocolates) to be delivered, but you can also set up a diary with them. They will send you an e-mail reminder of birthdays and anniversaries, and keep track of which flowers you have sent to whom; so you can make sure you don't send the same thing twice, or do, if they're her favourites.

Friendsreunited.co.uk

OK, so I'm probably the last person to find out about this site. You register you details, and the schools you went to, and get a list of the other people who are also registered.

For my secondary school I was in a year group of just over 90. Registered on friendsreunited are over 50 of them. I found this very exciting.

Whilst it's early days for me, I have since spoken to people who have met up with old friends, having made contact again through this site.

Geoff Wignall

[Advert for Kingswood Playgroup & Toddlers]

Minister: Rev. Philip Hopes Tel: 01453 84xxxx
A warm welcome awaits you at all of our services.

Sunday School. Sunday 11am.
Family Service 1st Sunday of each month at 11am
Worship 6pm.
Ladies Bright Hour Alternate Tuesday's 2:30pm.
Bible Study and Prayer Friday's 2:30pm.
Group Practice 7:30pm.

The Pearl

Matthew 13:45–46 “... the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant, seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it”

Why is this story in the Bible? How is this example like “the kingdom of heaven?” The secret is knowing the identity of the players in the story! The merchant is Jesus Christ! Jesus became a man, gave up everything He had, offered Himself as payment! But what is it that has such great importance to Him? What does the pearl represent …? YOU are the pearl! Jesus died on the cross; He surrendered Himself – for you! Did you know that your salvation was bought at a great price? This is just how valuable you are to God!

Don't let anyone make you feel that you are worthless. Jesus gave up everything for you. He sacrificed Himself for you. This is just how priceless you are to Him. This is how much He loves you. He surrendered everything for the price of your soul. He asks us to surrender ourselves completely to Him. He has paid the price for your salvation! The work is done.

Since my last article appeared in CHADRA there has been a spate of crime in Charfield which I would consider unprecedented since I commenced working this beat some two years ago.

22The crimes were varied but the prevalent trends were burglaries. Some twelve domestic burglaries, thefts of fuel (both from car fuel tanks and storage tanks) and thefts of audio equipment from cars.

At the time we had a very good idea as to who was committing many of these offences but were never able to prove anything. Suffice to say that when a certain family, well known to us, moved from the neighbourhood the crime rates plummeted and for the last month or so there has been virtually no crime reported in the village.

Measures taken in an attempt to combat the mini crime wave included the deployment of plain clothes patrols and ANPR (advanced number plate recognition) operated by our road policing unit.

On one of the days in question I was approached by a local resident reporting two men acting suspiciously in Woodlands Road. They happened to be two policemen in plain clothes!

The deployment of ANPR, both on Wotton Road in the village and at the top of Tortworth Hill to catch traffic leaving the motorway, was quite successful and led to a number of offences being detected and some stolen property being recovered.

ANPR comprises a computer which scans the registration plate of every passing vehicle and within two seconds displays any information marker relating to that vehicle which might be recorded on the Police National Computer, including such things as whether the vehicle is stolen, the owner believed involved in crime, the tax expired etc.

Officers further up the road are then able to act upon any such information and pull the vehicle over in order to question the occupants.

On a different note the beat surgery which I held in February was moderately successful and I intend to hold another one in the Sportsman's Bar of the Memorial Hall between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday 7 May 2002. Anyone who is interested is welcome to attend.

PC 3799 Jones.

Just remember, it could be worse …

The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska was $80,000. At a special ceremony, two of the most expensively saved animals were released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute later, in full view, a killer whale ate them both.

A psychology student in New York rented out her spare room to a carpenter in order to nag him constantly and study his reactions. After weeks of needling, he snapped and beat her with an axe leaving her mentally retarded.

A woman came home to find her husband in the kitchen, shaking frantically with what looked like a wire running from his waist towards the electric kettle. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly current she whacked him with a handy plank of wood by the back door, breaking his arm in two places. Until that moment he had been happily listening to his Walkman.

Two animal rights protesters were protesting at the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse in Bonn Germany. Suddenly the pigs, all two thousand of them, escaped through a broken fence and stampeded, trampling the two hapless protesters to death.

Iraqi terrorist, Khay Rahnajet, didn't pay enough postage on a letter-bomb. It came back with “return to sender” stamped on it. Forgetting it was the bomb; he opened it and was blown to bits.

23

Please make use of this diary. Either telephone or drop a note of any additions or modifications to Geoff or Hilary Wignall (01454 26xxxx, x Berkeley Close, or xxxx @ Breathemail.net)

KLB = Katharine Lady Berkeley School
FR = Foundation Room, Primary School
SH = Charfield School Hall
SB = Sportsman's Bar, Memorial Hall
MH = Memorial Hall

Why not put this on your fridge door or notice board?

24

If you wish to alter the entries below, please telephone Geoff or Hilary on 01454 26xxxx

Transcriber Notes

This issue was produced on 24 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.

Last update: 2017-02-02.