CHADRA

[Graphic: Poppy]

Charfield on Parade

Remembrance Sunday
8 November, 10.50am

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Hello and a very warm welcome to the autumn of the Charfield Newsletter.

Next Copy Date – 6th January 2010

For back issues of the newsletter please visit www.charfieldparishcouncil.org.uk

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REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY “BRUNCH”
in aid of ‘HELP FOR HEROES’*

PLEASE tell us if you are going to come along – we'd hate to run out of bacon …

… either phone Sandra Lucket on 26xxxx or Julia O'Connor-Beach on 26xxxx,
… or drop an email to charfield.brunch @ gmail.com – giving your name and address,
… or sign up on one of the lists in Charfield shops.

You will then be catered for, rain or shine, frost or snow, and we will require your £2 whether you turn up or not!

Many, many thanks.
Your CHADRA Committee

• “Help for Heroes” was founded by Bryn and Emma Parry in October 2007 out of a desire to help the wounded Servicemen and Servicewomen returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. It is strictly non political and non critical; it simply wants to help. Those volunteering to serve in time of war, knowing that they may risk all, are ordinary people doing extraordinary things and some of them are living with the consequences of their service for life. We may not be able to prevent our soldiers from being wounded, but together we can help them get better. [quoted from the Help for Heroes website]

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As I write this we're getting tidy after the amazing day we had for the Fete and are looking forward to Harvest. There's a huge ‘banner thingy’ above the entrance to the church ground, because we're hoping that more people will be reminded of some of the traditional ceremonies we celebrate and remember each year.

Then we prepare for All Souls Day when we have a more personal remembrance service for those who wish to spend a few moments thinking silently about the person they loved and cherished who has died … usually within the last year, but it's surprising how many repeat visits we get. The candles they light are something to be seen in the darkness of the church. Then of course we move our focus to Remembrance … either the DAY 11th or the SUNDAY 8th. We have a very moving ceremony at the War Memorial and as last year will have a ‘Bugler’ present. Those of us who heard Richard play last year might recall the spine tingle we felt.

Before those 2 minutes of silence you're being invited to ‘Breakfast’ at the Village Hall. Together we hope to raise money for Help the Heroes. Some of us have already sponsored Brett's father for his trek up Snowdon. Remembrance Day isn't just about the wars of the past. It's about the people who are involved in the Wars of today. Brett is a local lad and I was told that shortly after he regained consciousness, he was talking about being fit for the 2012 paralympics. He's the sort of person we should be remembering as well as those we don't know and those we heard of from others, in history.

I'd love to see many of you at the Memorial and even more in church afterwards. We dont have 2 heads and we aren't holier than thou … we're just ordinary people doing a different job … a job which sometimes calls upon us to take on difficult tasks.

With Kingswood as well as Charfield to care for I have made arrangements for Rev'd David Small … you might know him, and of his connections with the Village Hall and it's on going existance … well, David will take the Charfield service. Please try to come along and step inside the church so that our united thoughts will last a little longer and might remain with us all, as a lasting symbol of the peace we all strive for.

Then of course, comes Christmas and all those Carol-y events … don't miss the details, best wishes, Viv the Vicar.

It is difficult to write on a sombre subject, asking people to consider attending a solemn ceremony on a cold (and possibly wet) morning, without turning off the reader within the first two sentences.

Have I lost you already?

I wrote 5 years ago on the value of marking the two minute silence on Remembrance Sunday morning at the village memorial, as a community. I was frankly amazed by the number of villagers who subsequently spoke to me about the article (Random Thoughts at the War Memorial), all saying that they appreciated the sentiments I had expressed … but it doesn't seem to have moved many of them to put on a coat and stroll to the War Memorial in subsequent years! Our village has about 975 households and 2500 residents, and it always puzzles me that so few turn out for this ceremony. As low as 35, some years. Obviously, some are physically unable to attend, but for the rest of us, what might the reasons be?

5“I'm against war.” It surely isn't about jingoism. Harry Patch, a veteran of World War One, died earlier this year. He was remarkable in that he insisted on remembering not only the dead among his comrades, but also among the opposing forces. He spoke movingly about the horrors of war and about his desire for peaceful solutions to the world's problems. If Harry Patch could lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in 2008 without feeling he was a nationalist warmonger, then so can we.

“I observe the silence watching the Cenotaph service on TV.” I used to do that myself before moving to Charfield, when I realised there was an easily accessible community ceremony I could attend. We can pay our silent respects wherever we find ourselves at 11am (on the Sunday or on the 11th). However, it surely means a lot to those who have suffered losses to SEE how much it means to the community, and we can only demonstrate that by turning up and being counted. The people of Wootton Bassett have given us a lead in this regard.

“We all lead such busy lives …” Oh, if I had a pound for every time I've heard that one. Yes, on a Sunday morning there will be some who have to go to their place of work to earn a crust. For the rest of us, there are papers to be read, lunches to be cooked, cars to be cleaned, housework to be caught up on, friends and family to visit, dogs to be walked, golf matches to be played … all of which are moveable feasts and do not prevent us, if we so wish, attending the ceremony.

There are members of our community currently serving in the armed forces and indeed some have paid a high price for doing so. Whatever our political views, they surely deserve our respect and gratitude.

After the ceremony, you can then either make your way home, or go into the Church for the main service. No doubt Viv Kerner will tell you about that elsewhere in the newsletter.

Now, how many of you will spare just 30 minutes on Sunday morning, November 8th? Or even gather at the Village Hall and have a bacon roll and a natter first?

Thank you for your patience.
Julia O'Connor-Beach

Remembrance Sunday to us as a family will have way, way more meaning this year. As a few of you may know our son Brett, was injured very badly on New Years day this year out in Afghanistan.

We have so very much to be thankful for this year and to remember the lost and injured soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq we will be sending them our gratitude for what they have given; some of them their lives others their lives will never be the same.

The serving soldiers male and female that are still on active service, you are in our thoughts as we as a family know what you and your loved ones are going through, dreading that knock on the door.

When something like this happens to you, you think of the soldiers lost in previous wars. So along with us, our family and friends will remember the loved ones lost and injured on this Remembrance Sunday.

Final Note – As many of you both know and supported Dave when he walked up Snowdonia in August he raised £1,400 with more coming in. As a group of friends, the total so far raised is £4,000.

6On Remembrance Sunday refreshments will be served in the Charfield Memorial Hall between 10am–10:45am, all proceeds will be goint to HELP FOR HEROES. This charity does just what it says helping our heroes rebuilding their lives with false limbs or other injuries. Please dig deep to help them. We would also like to thank all of you in our village who have supported us as a family, including our dear friends and family living in the village. Your support carried us through.

Thank You One And All

Dave & Lorraine Leahy

Yes, it is that time of year again! Does not seem nearly a year ago that I put all the poppy boxes etc. to bed for another year. Where does the time go? Firstly may I say a big thank you to all my team of helpers that collect house to house relentlessly year on year. Do hope you will still continue this year.

Secondly we have to say an ever bigger thank you to Mr and Mrs Bradley, who have collected in New Street and Farmlees for the last 25 or so years.

This brings me to my last point, which is a plea for any body who feels that they would like to join my collecting team to cover the areas that will be without cover.

Please, if you could help, contact Marion Smith on 0145426xxxx or email at xxxx @ xxxx.freeserve.co.uk

Each section has spent the summer term meeting at Avening Green taking part in outdoor activities. The Beavers have taken part in nature walks, the Cubs have just completed their athletes badge and the Scouts have even camped out in the woods in bivouacs and enjoyed it!

All sections have been really lucky with the weather; although we have had a party tent up at Avening Green in case of wet weather we have not really had to use it.

The Cubs took part in a District Camp down at Woodhouse Park which was pirate themed and visited the Berkeley Joust during their Joust weekend at Avening Green in July. The Scouts attended Malvern and won one of the challenges on route although they didn't know they had won until the very end due to some extremely noisy guides who sat next to us, so well done Scouts. They recently held another successful back to basics camp which included an expedition, cycling and cooking their own food. Our final weekend of the year will be in October when we visit the Youth Hostel in Cheddar. During the weekend the Cubs and Scouts will be working towards their Air Activities and Air Researcher badges at the Fleet Air Arm Museum and will be taking part in some exciting outdoor activities on the Sunday.

The Malta preparations are well on their way with about 6 months left to go. The Malta attendees and their families have been working hard at fundraising to help with the cost of this visit. The Executive Group and the Malta attendees would like to thank the rest of the Group for their help and support at events, and intend to organise a large family event in appreciation for all in the Group during June next year. Watch this space.

7The group have attended both the Charfield and Cromhall Fairs this year, it is good for the youngsters to be seen within their own communities to show that Scouting is still live and very popular. In fact since Bear Grylls took over in the summer as Chief Scout enquires to join Scouting have increased enormously both from youngsters and adults, unfortunately though not enough adults to cope with the increase.

All of our members have included on their programmes the Remembrance Day parade which this year is on the Sunday morning of 8th November and at Charfield. For those who are not aware, on alternate years we parade on the afternoon at Cromhall. We do advise parents when their youngsters join the Group that this and the St George's Day event are both our most important meeting dates of the year and we expect all to attend. The youngsters take on the carrying of the section flags proudly and with great responsibility, they may not be as professional as those in the forces when lowering and raising the flags but we think they do a magnificent job. In the past they have had a member of the British Legion to follow but it looks like we may not have a representative this year, perhaps I'll have to have a quick coaching session before hand.

Although our Beaver waiting list is still quite high and we do still advise names to be added at a fairly young age, we have recently lost a couple of Cubs so there are a few spaces if you get in fast. Contact Allison Trueman, Assistant Group Scout Leader, who looks after our waiting lists on 01454 26xxxx.

Yours in Scouting

Sandra Carnegie

Every year as the football season gets under way, I am reminded of the strangest football match I ever played in. It was a game against Kingscote, a tiny village not too far from Wotton-Under-Edge, best known for a Public House / Hotel, namely the Hunters Hall.

Being such a small community made it very difficult for them to field a team entirely of young men from their own village, so players from anywhere were recruited to play for them. Many other village teams were in the same predicament but Charfield was lucky there always seemed to be a regular supply of youngsters only too eager to play for the village. The match in question took place at Kingscote in a field that ran parallel with the main road through the village, and not too far away from the Hunters Hall, the date would have been around 1949/50, at a rough guess, but if the Charfield football records go back that far, the exact date would be recorded in the minutes. The weather at the time was terrible, it rained buckets as well as cats and dogs for the entire ninety minutes, although to be honest, I don't think we played anywhere near the allotted time, all we wanted to do was to get off the pitch and out of the mud.

About the game, the first problem was the referee couldn't get there, and the second problem was Kingscote could only muster 10 players, fortunately a chap who was watching decided he would play, so he joined in to make up the eleven and played the entire game in his Wellington boots, his mackintosh, and with his cap on; at the end of the game, as he staggered off soaking wet through, and his Wellington boots full of mud and water, he must have weighed getting on for 4 cwt.

As the referee had not turned up and only Mr Percy King, Charfield's 8chairman, volunteered to referee the game, the Kingscote officials had to either call the game off, or agree to Mr King officiating. Strangely enough, they decided on the latter, and Mr King was duly appointed referee. The coach that took us to Kingscote was parked on the road bounding the football pitch, and only a very low hedge and a couple of yards of grass separated it from the touch line. There was very little traffic along that road in those days, so there was no danger to other road users. Because of the closeness of the pitch to the coach, Mr King decided, that rather than flounder around running up and down the touchline in the rain and probably ending up with pneumonia, he would referee from the coach doorway; as no one objected, that is what he did. Mr King did a good job, although he had to blow his whistle a fantastic number of times. We scored 19 goals, that was 19 blasts on his whistle, obviously he had to blow his whistle to restart the game after every goal, that was 38 times, he blew his whistle for half time, and again to restart the game, that made it 40 times, there were many accidental fouls due to the awful conditions not improved by what cows had left behind, but in spite of this, Mr King only blew up for around 5, misdemeanours, [which were obviously blatant fouls] that produced 10 more blasts on his whistle which made it 50, and of course he had to blow the whistle to start the game, and again at full time, making a grand total of 52 blasts on his whistle, he didn't bother with offside decisions. So, all in all, Mr King blew his whistle more than once every two minutes of the game. However, neither the weather conditions nor the presence of cow pats had the slightest effect on how Beamer of Home Guard fame played, he still tackled any one who wore a different coloured shirt to his own if they got too close to him, whether they had the ball or not, but that was the way he played, he was a great competitor, “so long as he was on your side.”

The strangest thing of all about this game was that although it ended 19–0 in our favour, we still lost. Apparently someone from the Kingscote committee had found out that Charfield had played someone who wasn't registered to play in that particular game. As the names on the team sheet sent to headquarters in those days were very often not the names of those who actually played, thi must have been the, result of a whistle blower [not a referee] or an amazing stroke of luck on someone's part, anyway, it lost us the game – Both teams broke every rule in the book, but as neither club wanted a replay nothing was said about other rule infringements, therefore Charfield accepted the League findings and consequently lost the match.

As far as I remember, this is basically the story behind a very odd football match, but as already mentioned, the club records would be more reliable than my memory, so I hope they are still around. On a personal note, at the end of the game, certain parts of my anatomy below the waist became quite sore and discoloured, but it didn't take long to realize what had caused my discomfort. After the war my old football kit had disappeared, so a kind neighbour made me a pair of football shorts from some old thick blackout material. Unfortunately, the torrential rain throughout the match made my shorts feel as though they had been made from sandpaper, and the strange grey colour that appeared on my lower parts making me look as though I was badly bruised, was caused by the dye that had ran out of the soaking wet material. After the game, my strange appearance caused much amusement as we tried to clean ourselves up in the two bungalow baths half filled with tepid water that were supplied for our use, the pleasure of having a shower after a game was yet to come. Obviously my kind neighbour had no idea her handiwork would cause me any 9problems, anyway it wasn't that bad, and we had a good laugh about it afterwards; in any case, “It's the thought that counts!”

PS. On Sunday 23 August, as I was enjoying my second breakfast of the day, my enjoyment was greatly enhanced by a sound that I thought was gone for ever from our village; how marvellous it was to hear the church bell ringing again, I counted 34 peals but I think I missed a couple. This unmelodic yet wonderful sound was once part of village life, sadly, its been missing for far too long so; in my opinion, its great to have it back, long may the bell continue ringing.

Ken Parker

Don't know a crotchet from a dotted minim?

Do you sing more ‘can belto’ than ‘bel canto’?

Always wanted to sing the Allelujah chorus?

If you have been inspired by Gareth Malone and the people of South Oxhey on the BBC programme ‘The Choir – Unsung Town’, and fancy a bit of a sing yourself, we can help.

Tyndale Choral Society is running its second ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS CLASS from January to March in the New Year. In 2008, the ABC attracted 36 students, 24 of whom went on to join the choir. You are still welcome even if choral singing isn't your first choice. You can take the skills and use them for folk, country and western, rock, barbershop, singing on the Rugby terraces …

On Monday evenings in Dursley for 10 weeks, tutor Christopher Swain, with a lifetime of teaching experience and current Musical Director of Wycliffe Choral Society, will explain the basics of musical notation and vocal technique. The aim is to give students sufficient basic skills to demystify the black dots on the page of the score, so that they can experience the wonderful world of choral singing.

We have a coffee break and a natter, Tyndalers will come along to help you, and the focus is on FUN (although you can expect homework!).

We welcome everyone, all voices from basso profundo to top soprano (whales to screech owls) – and particularly encourage tenors, who are always in short supply!

For more info, please look at our website – tyndale-choral-society.org

Or phone Julia on 01454 26xxxx

Sadly, we have just had our last meeting of the season (September) as the nights are starting to draw in and playing boules by torchlight is not easy! We did, however, finish our last game in the twilight and this was followed by a very enjoyable American Supper.

You may remember that in an earlier edition of CHADRA, a suggestion was put forward to form a ‘club’ for interested parties and at the first meeting, some 18 people turned up. Throughout the season we have had varying numbers an all winds and weathers. The evenings are very relaxed and fun – helped, no doubt, by the wine and ploughman's supper that we always have.

The club will start up again sometime in April – watch this space! We meet on Friday evenings from 6.30pm and really 10hope that more will join next year – NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!!

Please contact us for any more information in the meantime

Steve 01454 26xxxx
Dave and Helen 01453 84xxxx

I am wondering if anyone in Charfield would be interested to learn of a Dance Class which I have attended for the first time today.

It is for beginners at “Latin in Line” and is held at Iron Acton Parish Hall from 10.30am to 12.00pm each Monday morning.

I found it great fun and am sure that others would enjoy it too.

Iron Acton is easy to get to and Catherine only charges £4 per session. No pre-booking or advance payment required.

The dances are taught in the same manner as Line Dances so ladies in particular are able to go alone to learn all the Latin steps without having to drag a reluctant husband or partner along. It works well.

There is a website for more information. www.####.co.uk.

Thanks

Laurene Tubb

[Graphic: Walking the way to Health]

Get out in the fresh air, make new friends and get fit!

Who are we?
South Gloucestershire Council's Walking to Health project has been running for six years and covers: Kingswood, Yate, Filton, Patchway, the Stokes, Thornbury and many rural areas as well!

What do we offer?
A low risk, low impact activity, available to people of all ages and abilities. Our led health walks range from 0.5 miles to 4 miles across the district including local parks, green and open spaces. We also provide buggy walks for parents with young children in the Emersons Green area and in Bradley Stoke from the autumn, starting and finishing at the Libraries.

Volunteers Wanted!!!
We are always looking for fun, friendly and sociable people to become a volunteer walk leader, which involves guiding the walkers around a pre-described route. (Full training is provided). If you have some spare free time and this sounds like something you would like to do then please contact us.

Find out more!
For more info, or to receive a free copy of our walk programme call 01454 86xxxx or email us at xxxx @ southglos.gov.uk. The programme and newsletter can be downloaded from www.southglos.gov.uk/walkingtohealth.

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I'm typing this having just taken down the banner which advertised our first Autumn Litter Pick. The autumn tidy-up was requested by parishioners at the Spring Clean, and we thought we'd give it a go. Thanks to a good turnout of community minded folk we had a productive day and filled the skip with black-bagged rubbish. I feel sure we'll continue with the Autumn Litter Pick alongside the Spring Clean, and ‘thank you’ to everyone who got involved! Now let's work to keep Charfield tidy. Let us know, or contact South Gloucestershire direct, if you come across fly tipped rubbish and don't tolerate littering. On the subject of village tidiness we recognise the area at the corner of Manor Lane and Wotton Road has been shabby this year, mainly as a result of South Glos grass-cutting contractors letting us down, and we're looking at ways to improve it. If you have ideas don't hesitate to let us know.

As you're aware, the street lighting in Charfield has been moved to part-night working, in a cooperative trial with South Gloucestershire Street Care. Although there have been some teething problems with the actual times the lights go on and off (which are being addressed) the South Glos Council working group met at the beginning of September to review the process and resolved to continue the trial. A number of complaints received by the Parish and South Glos Council were individually discussed and one change was recommended. Once Street Care has the timing issue under control the lighting will be switched out at 00h30 and return at 05h00. We're aware that trials are being sought in other parts of South Gloucestershire. Climate Change is a daily news item now, as is imminent energy shortage. It was noted at the Street Care meeting that Charfield would save an estimated eleven and a half tonnes of CO2 per year through this initiative. The Parish web site has before and after photographs which show the reduction in nighttime light pollution, although it does clearly show that other areas need to look to their own skies …

Another project you can read about on the Parish web sites is the proposed Burial Ground. As reported in the last newsletter, we met with South Gloucestershire planning department in July to discuss the best way to apply for planning permission. Subsequently several surveys were called for including habitat and archaeology surveys. The phase one habitat desk top survey and site visit has been completed and revealed pretty much what we knew – the site has some potential habitats but no protected endangered species were actually found to be using the site. Our intention is to manage the burial ground in ways which increase its environmental value and biodiversity, so who knows what wildlife we might attract in the future. We've recently also completed the desktop archaeology survey, but this has resulted in a requirement to carry out an invasive site survey – trench excavations in the style of Time Team! This is based upon the fact that the field is immediately adjacent the medieval church of St James, and the Local Authority want to know if there are any remains or artefacts in the field. The Parish Council are obviously conscious of the importance of our heritage but are greatly concerned as the costs rise. It is likely that these investigations will amount to several thousand pounds – and all before we can even take ownership of the land. Nevertheless, if we were to allow this project to founder it would in all probability be the end of any hope for Charfield to have a burial ground (remember, the land is a gift from the Tortworth Estate which we could never afford to buy at market rates). We will push on with the work, but if anyone has comments or perhaps has a skill we could make use of please do let us know. For example, if we can find a digger and driver willing to offer a 12couple of days trenching work this will reduce the costs of the archaeological investigations

We are close to placing the order for new play equipment in the Play Area. We have accumulated nearly thirty thousand pounds, much of it through applying for grants, and this will be used to replace the Toddlers area, which sadly is in a state of almost dereliction. Once this is done we will be looking at other areas, and we'd love to hear from Play Area users as to what they'd like to see. There's no promise, of course. We'd also be interested in hearing whether adults would like play-cum-exercise equipment – the Playing Fields are for everyone. Also in the Play Area, you may have seen that we've repainted the hexagonal hut. Following consultations with some of Charfield's youth we've installed some weather-boarding to provide a bit more shelter when it's raining. We've deliberately left the weatherboarding painted in a matt grey also at the request of the kids, who asked for an area for some impromptu artistic expression. Please keep graffiti to this grey painted areas and please keep it clean, and let's see if there are any budding Banksy's out there.

In July Charfield was well represented at the Safer Stronger Communities meeting in Falfield. The minutes from that meeting, and others, are now available on the South Gloucestershire web site. The URL is quite lengthy, so I'll put a link to it on our Parish web site under Other Links. The next SSC meeting is on 29th October at Cromhall Village Hall. Please feel free to come and join this meeting, which concerns you and your community.

I close this update by announcing the resignation of Councillor Fred Carling. Fred has served Charfield Parish since March 1997 – more than twelve years! We're very sorry to see Fred leave but sincerely thank him for his work on behalf of the community. Formal notification of a Council vacancy will be advertised after the next Council meeting (13th October) but if you are interested in becoming a Councillor please let the Clerk, Sue Bailey, know on 01453-51xxxx or xxxx @ charfieldparishcouncil.org.uk

Mark Rosher
Chairman, Charfield Parish Council

The summer fayre was enjoyed by everyone. The lucky dip, tennis balls, strawberries & cream and pimms were successful. The Open tournament tennis in the afternoon organised by Jake Barnes was well supported with adults, youths and juniors. Some very good tennis was played with Thomas Watkins and Henry Jones winning on the day.

A Ladies doubles tournament organised by Deb Pringle was played on 12th Sept with 10 ladies being drawn for partners. The sun shone all day and some very good tennis was played. The final was between Nicky Melville & Deb Pringle against Julie Phipps & Deb Field. Deb & Julie were a formidable partnership and won the tournament. The day ended with some well deserved Pimms enjoyed by all.

Mixed Doubles knockout was initially postponed due to the weather, but matches were organised amongst the players during July/Aug and started well. The semi final is still to be played.

A Frog Race Night was held in the village hall on fri 2nd Oct. This turned out to be a very successful fun evening with a lot of audience participation. The atmosphere was buzzing and everyone had a great evening. £680 was raised towards the 2nd Court Project Fund. A big thank you to all the sponsors that 13supported the evening: Mantinga, Evergreen Computing, Safety Testing, New Street Garage, Stone Garage (A38), Cotswold Edge Carpets, Graham Pedley handyman services, Rio Pools and The Railway Tavern. Thanks also to our Auctioneer for the evening Phillip Taubenheim from Wotton Auction Rooms, committee members for helping on the evening and Deb Pringle for organising the evening.

There is still a vacancy for a chair person so the meetings are covered by a sessional chair person at present. Anyone interested please contact anyone on the committee.

The Tennis Club are holding a xmas shopping night on Wed 11th Nov 6–9pm in the village hall. Plenty of stalls for early xmas shopping with a festive atmosphere. Tickets £2.50 on the door to include a glass of wine or juice, mincepie and a raffle ticket.

Deb Pringle.

Welcome to a very special year for Girlguiding UK, we are celebrating 100 years of guiding.

Guiding has been part of the Wotton under Edge district for many years with Guides, Brownies and Rainbows all enjoying games, activities, visits and residential camps. This has been achieved by the numerous volunteers, parents and helpers that work together to makes Units, Districts, Divisions and Counties work. They take time to plan a range of exciting activities to enhance the girl's appreciation of the world around them as well as their self-esteem, motivation and well being.

That I'm sure you will agree this makes the Guiding association a pretty special bunch of people. We need some more help to ensure Guiding goes from strength to strength and can celebrate another 100 years.

Many thanks go to Andrea of Charfield Rainbows who will be stepping down as leader as from Christmas, she has ably run the unit and will be missed. Dani Bindon has been training through the autumn and will now be our unit leader for Rainbows. Although this is brilliant Dani needs some help, someone that is willing to go into uniform, be part of a team and have fun, otherwise this could jeopardise the continuing of Rainbows in Charfield.

My goal for the centenary year is to re-open a guide unit; I have parents that are willing to help on a rotation basis and a guider (in uniform) who would help establish a new unit. All I need is 2 people who are willing to give up some time, enjoy themselves, have fun and put something back into the community.

Please, please have a think as to whether you could be that person and ensure the continued success of Girlguiding UK.

Kathryn Schofield
District Commissioner – Wotton 01453 52xxxx or e-mail; xxxx @ btinternet.com

Another school year has begun in the after school club and what a busy time we are having! Several new children have started at the club and are making new friends and enjoying the activities. This term out themes have been “Back to School”, “Divali”, “Roald Dahl's birthday”, “Barnardos” and “Harvest” and many of the children are continuing to fill their scrapbooks with the activities and photos of their time at the club.

14The summer holidays went well and the club was full on most days with children attending from 11 different schools in the area. Our theme was Our World and the children filled their days with crafts, cooking, outdoor games and competitions. There were also a number of outside visitors – Philippa Popham ran a photo canvas workshop and Nicola Derrick did a session introducing her new puppy, as well as outdoor games. The neighbourhood Police Officers also visited on a number of occasions for a cup of tea and a play! The club would like to thank all our outside visitors very much indeed. Also if there is anybody in the village with a hobby or skill that they could bring to the club, please let us know. The children love having visitors!

In terms of staffing, the children were pleased that Jo was back working during the holidays after having her baby. However, we were sad to say goodbye to Alice who left at the end of the holidays to go to college. Alice was a valued member of out team and we miss her and wish her every success for the future. In the meantime, Paul is now working 4 evenings per week.

In the future we are planning to take part in the Barnardos' Care and Share scheme which will enable the children to support this worthwhile charity whilst at the same time taking part in a badge design activity. Each child will receive a certificate and a bookmark and will be able to wear their badge to celebrate their Care and Share Day.

Likewise, the Club is busy preparing their activities for Half Term where the theme will be Halloween. Booking forms are available from the Club so if you wish your child to get involved, even if they are not a regular club user, you will be most welcome.

The Club also intends to continue to fund raise and at the Christmas Fayre will run a Jam a Jar stall for which the children are currently collecting.

The Club is always keen to encourage new members. We are open every school day before school from 7.30 am and after school until 6 pm. During school holidays we offer different sessions to accommodate working parents, as well as giving children the opportunity to play and meet new friends. Ask at the Club for details.

The Out of School Club Committee

Hello again from the Villages Junior Football Club. Far from having a quiet summer it has been busier than ever with training continuing, a successful tournament and the preparation of the pitch and facilities for the start of the new season.

The highlight of the summer for the under 13 team was their participation in a 7-a-side tournament at Slimbridge at the beginning of August. The team started in Charfield as an under 8 team and their first game was in this tournament 6 years ago. It has now become a tradition and it is normally a well run and fun competition. This year we thought we had scored with almost the last kick of the game, which would have given us a chance of a semi-final place, but the referee said he had blown his whistle just before the ball hit the back of the net! In consolation the team was presented with the Fair Play trophy which was almost as big as the winners' cup!

Whilst the under 9s and 13s are going from strength to strength it was not so good news for the under 14s who were not able to raise a sufficient number of players to enter a team this year. On the positive side the under 13s ended September unbeaten with two wins and 15a draw. The highlight being an 8–2 victory over Cam Everside. Only 19 more league games to go plus cup games!

The under 9 team now has about 20 players (boys and girls) ranging between age 6 and 9. They train on a Friday evening between 6.15 and 7.15pm under the floodlights on our junior pitch next door to Tortworth School. So if you have any youngsters interested in football then bring them along for a kick around.

Over recent months the Junior and Senior Charfield Clubs have been working together to help each other with help in improve our facilities which in turn has allowed the Seniors to train under the floodlights. As part of that ongoing co-operation the two clubs are holding a joint Quiz Night in the Village Hall on 14th November. If you fancy a night out with the use of a little brain power then come along for 7.30pm. Teams can be between 4 and 6 players and children are welcome. The bar will be open and snacks available. There will be a number of prizes for the top finishing teams and a raffle. It is sure to be a fun evening.

Well it's time to go and cut the grass and put the lines down for tomorrow's game so until the next edition keep kicking that ball!

If you would like to join or help the Club in any capacity please, or require any information, then please contact me on 01454-26xxxx.

Thank You.
Nigel Cloke

Club Secretary/Under 13s Manager

REGULAR BIKE RIDES

[Graphic: Motor bike]

1ST & 3RD SUNDAY IN THE MONTH
10:30 AM, CAR PARK, RAILWAY TAVERN, CHARFIELD

(with kind permission of Martin)

A group of motorcycle riders who meet every 1st & 3rd Sunday in the month for a day's riding. If you fancy some company come and join us 10:30am in the Railway Tavern Car Park.

The weather has curtailed a number of rides but none the less we've managed to get out of some. Coming up on Sunday 18th October is the Annual HOG Bridge Ride. Last year some 3,000 bikes rode the bridge and local villages ending up in Chepstow. The roads and car parks in Chepstow are closed to all but bikes taking part in the ride. Chepstow comes to life to receive the bikers. The event is in aid of charity with each bike contributing £10. We'll be going, so if you fancy a good day out get your ticket online at:

http://www.hogginthebridge.co.uk and meet us at 10:00am at the Tavern.

Even if you don't ride it is an event to be seen. Want to know more then just come around to the Taven on a meeting day or email:

tavernriders @ ####.co.uk

16

Make sure you don't miss the next Razzle production coming to the Village Hall in January. Theatre of Widdershins brings you this tale of mythical mayhem and asinine antics, lovingly retold with the company's unique blend of puppetry, storytelling and original music.

Razzle Production

Sunday 24 January 2:30pm

Charfield Memorial Hall

‘THE KING HAS DONKEYS EARS’

A family event suitable for 3+years.

A walk in the woods should be for fun, play, or for a visit to Grandma's. Not so for Good King Orik. He went in smiling and came out cursed with the great big furry ears of a donkey!

Shocked, embarrassed and very upset, the King hides away in his tower, desperately hoping that no one will find out the secret hidden beneath his hat. But Scrufibus, the King's wise and faithful dog, cannot bear to see his master upset and realises that something must be done!

For more information or to book tickets contact Margaret Gargett on 01454 26xxxx/07774 41xxxx

Mike Cheskin is a happy man. He is 62 years old, loves his family, his way of life, his job and his home. He is content. I wondered at first, since he can be a bit of a joker, if he was sending me up but as we talked I quickly came to realise that he was telling me no less than the truth.

Being in the petrol business can't be easy especially in these days of cut throat marketing by supermarkets, but Mike accepts it for what it is. ‘Sadly, the days of the rural petrol station are numbered’, he said, ‘I would love to think it would get better but I don't think it will. Life is just different these days and most people won't think twice about driving to the nearest shopping centre for their fuel.’ He told me that government subsidies to help rural stations don't apply to him as he has two stations. The logic is curious since they are both rural – Charfield, which he had on a lease eleven and a half years ago, and Old Sodbury which he owns. And it's a business he understands thoroughly as he has been in it, albeit with different roles, all his working life and it was what brought him, at 21, to Yate from Bethnal Green where he was born within the sound of Bow Bells making him a genuine Cockney.

With his wife, Evie, and one year old son Ammon, (Darius and Ruth were added later) he moved into Charfield 27 years ago, still lives in the same house and intends to stay there for the rest of his life. As I said – he loves his home, not least because his house overlooks the railway line – and Mike just loves trains. He is an avid trainspotter – and not worried about admitting it. He can spend whole days on a railway platform, as happy as a sandboy. I was curious to know Mike's opinion on the Charfield accident – he has taken a keen interest in it and has a collection of letters and 17newspaper cuttings which clearly show what a dreadful accident it was. Were ‘the two unknown’ children? He thinks not – or at least that one of them was not – though we agree the mystery will live on. ‘Will he see the day when Charfield station might re-open?’ I ask. ‘Unlikely’ he thinks.

Unquestionably, apart from family, the most important thing in Mike and Evie's life is their commitment to their church – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church) – a source of strength and happiness for them both and for which they cover the South West as Employment Resource Specialists. It is the reason that both the garages are closed on Sunday – a day they both firmly believe should be for worship and family. In the village we are all used to seeing the closed sign but I wondered how people had reacted at first and what, if any, difference it had made to his business. ‘Honestly, very little’ said Mike. “At first I was told it would be financial suicide but all I've lost is the passing trade on that day. All the local customers quickly got used to it and have kept up their support’. It's another reason he loves the village.

He has nothing but good to say about the village youngsters – very refreshing. “OK, they aren't perfect, but on the whole they are a pretty good bunch’. He even likes dealing with the general public on a day to day basis! Is this man crackers? He laughs. ‘Well, in eleven and a half years I've only had one real confrontation – and’, he adds, ‘ I have first class staff. I pay them well and they do well for me.’ He is, indeed, a happy man in his job.

As Ammon is now 28 I wondered if he had become a grandfather. ‘Yes, indeed – three. My eldest son Matthew, from my first marriage has two children and Ammon and his wife have one. Our son, Darius, died from cancer three years ago and our daughter, Ruth, is 22 and in the family business. I forgot to ask if any of the children shared his enthusiasm for trains … Family history is another hobby that absorbs Mike, as is supporting Mangotsfield Football Club. Mangotsfield? ‘Yes, since the 1990 world Cup when I took the boys to see Bristol City and it was such a bad experience. I discovered the Mangotsfield club and we really love it – a different world from professional football’.

By now I am wondering what on earth else this man can fit into his life. ‘Well, there is my collection of 45 rpm records’ he admits. ‘About 4000’. ‘Any particular artists?’ I ask, bemused. ‘No, I love them all’. And he plays them – on a gramophone. ‘No, I haven't put them onto an IPod. That's not for me. Oh, and I was co-opted on to the Parish Council six months ago. It's jolly interesting and I love being more aware of what is going on in the village. For instance, the Autumn litter pick – I've never done it before. Don't know why but it just didn't happen but after being part of this one I can see just how important and necessary it is.

The fact that the margin on a litre of petrol hasn't changed in 17 years – it is still three pence – hasn't soured him. ‘The all important shop sales keep us going,’ he says cheerfully – but it might influence his decision about keeping the petrol station going. ‘The lease runs out in three and a half years and I've no idea what I shall feel like doing then. It would be a great pity to loose it – it would be a loss to the community feel in the village – but as I said, the future looks very bleak for rural stations. He looked sad for a moment then cheered up. ‘Maybe something will happen – it may not but I love to think it will.’ Which to me just seemed typical of Mike's very positive outlook on life.

Barbara Adams

18

Friends of Charfield Primary School
Registered Charity No. 1041593

FIREWORK DISPLAY

At Charfield Primary School
Display by ICEBERG FIREWORKS
BBQ, Refreshments, Quiet Area
Friday 6th November

GATES OPEN 6PM. DISPLAY STARTS 7.15PM

No Sparklers or personal fireworks

Friends of Charfield Primary School cannot accept responsibility for cancellation of events due to adverse weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. Tickets are non refundable.

CHARFIELD MEMORIAL HALL
Registered Charity number 301482

LADIES LINGERIE EVENING
Thursday 19th November 8pm

Ladies, did you know that over 70% of us are wearing the wrong size bra?

Want to know more and have a fun night out while raising funds for the Memorial Hall?

Come along on Thurs 19th November at 8pm to listen to a talk by Jilly of Jilly's Lingerie then book your fitting on Sat 28th November – just in time to treat yourself to some new underwear for Christmas!

Tickets £3.50, including glass of wine and nibbles,
From Deb Field (01454 26xxxx)

#

Advertising

[Advert for Terrys]

[Advert for Deborah Jayne Pringle]

[Advert for RK Aerials]

[Advert for PC Repairs & Maintenance]

[Advert for Acucare]

#[Advert for Cotswold Edge carpets]

[Advert for Barbara Daw]

[Advert for Evergreen Computing]

#[Advert for W.S. Franks]

[Advert for Pat Jeanes reflexology]

[Advert for Claire Saunders]

[Advert for Colin Lane Carpet & Flooring]

[Advert for Littles Curtains]

[Advert for Local Gardening Services]

#[Advert for New Street Garage]

[Advert for Christine Lamont Relax-ology]

[Advert for Autocheck]

#[Advert for Charfield Memorial Hall]

[Advert for Wedding Cars]

[Advert for Plumbtec]

#ADVERTS … ADVERTS … ADVERTS … ADVERTS

[Advert for Heritage Wine Company]

[Advert for At Home Curtains & Blinds]

[Advert for Kopperz]

[Advert for D.R. Vizard and Son]

[Advert for Add Plant]

#[Advert for Frocks & Tails at Home]

[Advert for Party From A Box]

[Advert for Learn Bridge]

[Advert for Manor Garden Services]

[Advert for Ashworthy Cattery]

#[Advert for Greenline Tanks]

[Advert for Falcon Cottage B&B]

[Advert for Bradley Garage]

[Advert for Eclipse Hair Studio]

[Advert for Alan Hamer driving]

[Advert for Charfield Post Office]

19

Well this is it – my last Chadra piece for the foreseeable future! As I hinted at in July, the hall management committee now has a new Chairman in David Small. It also has a new Secretary in Gail Kemp. Both David and Gail have taken office over the last month or so, and I would like to personally thank them for taking on these important roles. I would also like to thank, once more, all the officers and committee members I have had the pleasure to work alongside in my 4½ years on the hall's management committee. So much progress has been made in that time that it is hard, sometimes, to remember it all, but much difficult work remains if the long term future of the hall is to be secured. This is where you come in …

The management committee now has a full complement of officers but not nearly enough members to carry out all of the jobs which need to be done to make the hall a continued success. To be a committee member only requires a couple of hours a month to attend the monthly meetings, enthusiasm for your village and a strong right arm – this is what you raise when the Chair needs a volunteer to complete a given task! Just think of the satisfaction to be gained by putting something back into your community.

The hall facilities are much improved from those of a few years back but many areas still remain to be improved and brought up to date – the lighting, the bars, the 2nd kitchen and the changing rooms are just some of the potential “projects” which the committee would like to embark upon if only funding and manpower would allow.

I've said it before but the hall will never be self financing – we simply cannot charge the user groups and individuals enough to cover all of the running costs. The gap in the funding is made up by the fundraising events the hall organises and through successful grant applications. These are two key roles for which volunteers are desperately now required – a grant “supremo” and an events co-ordinator. The events person would, hopefully, start the early stage organising of next year's Summer Fete as soon as possible. Not only is this a great event for the whole village, but it is a really good fundraiser for the hall. What a shame it would be if there was no fete in 2010. If you are interested in either of these roles, or would just like to help out generally, please come to a monthly meeting – held in the Sportsman's Lounge on the first Thursday of each month or contact David – he'll be only too pleased to hear from you!

As for events, at the time of writing things are relatively quiet. The hall recently hosted, in conjunction with KLB School, another very successful, Razzle funded, theatrical production. I wasn't there myself, but I'm told by all who were that the event was another great success. We are due to host another Razzle event at the hall early in the New Year so look out for the posters and flyers for this soon. A Jumble Sale was also held early in October and a huge thank you must go to Margaret Gargett – the driving force behind all these events – and all those who help to organise and run these vital fundraising occasions.

On a final note, the 2010 Hall Calendar will soon be available for purchase. This year the calendar has a recipe theme and is still the bargain price of £4. Thanks must go to Colin Wadsworth for pulling this together once again, so when your door is knocked, by a committee member or other volunteer, please dig deep and purchase a copy or two. All the proceeds will go towards maintaining and improving the hall.

20I'll end there with my usual plea – the hall, and playing fields, are your villages only independent community facilities – use them, support them but most importantly look after and respect them.
Thank you,

Tim Hill

[Graphic: Charfield School]

Striving for excellence …
Learning for life

STAFF NEWS

In July Mrs Bradley quietly retired after 36 years of teaching in Charfield. Mrs. Bradley was the font of all knowledge in the school and there is an obvious hole where she used to be. Who do we ask about Charfield School Traditions now???

We still have four teachers on maternity leave, however by April they should all be back in school. The current class arrangements are:

WHAT's NEW?
This year the whole school began running a daily phonics session. The sessions, which last for 20 minutes, will improve children's spelling and reading skills. The children all work in small groups of less than 15 with a member of staff.

During the summer holidays the Infant Toilets were remodelled. They make such a difference and are a much more welcoming and hygienic place now. We have plans to redecorate the Infant cloakrooms and classrooms and this will happen in the near future.

Following the great success of our Redwood visits last year we have organised at least one visit to the venue for every class. Redwood provides the children the opportunity to have Outdoor Education – shelter building, woodcraft and fire making for instance.

CHARFIELD BUSINESS LINKS
Thanks to the great work of Phil Jones, one of our school governors the school has built a bank of businesses that have given permission for us to visit them and see what happens at their places of work. We recently took a group of children to Castle Combe to see Wiltshire Colleges Motorsports Department. The children loved the day and the college were so impressed by our children that they have invited us back again! Thank you to Phil for his hard work in this venture and to the parents who helped transport the group to Castle Combe.

If you can help us with further visits we would love to hear from you. Could your place of work open its doors to us or could you help us with transport to venues. Please get in touch.

WHAT's IN STORE FOR 2009– ONWARDS?
We have a number of plans to improve the learning environment for our children the plans include:
21• Reinstalling fencing along the lane
• Construction of a Play Pod
• Redecorate Infant cloakroom and classes
• Create a children's garden
• Enlarge our ‘Forest Schools’ area.

If you would like to get involved with helping us achieve these targets please let us know.

FRIENDS OF CHARFIELD PRIMARY – WE NEED YOU HELP!
Who are The Friends?
The Friends are people who are interested in providing the school and children with more resources and enriching the community spirit that Charfield is known for. In previous years, committees have paid for the adventure playground, and other fantastic things. We are very lucky in this village with the amount of support our events have and how much money we make. But as a committee we need help.

Why do we need a Friends Committee?
Quite simply without The Friends we would:
• Hand over The Friends bank account to the Charities Commission. In our case, this would mean losing over £6,000.
• The adventure playground would be closed with immediate effect as The Friends undertake the maintenance. This will affect the school and out of school club.
• Specialised learning software on the school computers would be lost, as The Friends who pay the annual licence.
• All new starters to the school would no longer receive their water bottles
• The school would have reduced resources for our children
• THE WHOLE VILLAGE WILL LOOSE OUT – There would be no fireworks display, Christmas or May Fairs; the Village Fair would be affected with no Friends stalls.

What do the Friends Committee members do?
We enjoy ourselves. We support each other. We welcome anyone and everyone. As a member you'd attend various meetings through out the year (many in the pub!) in order to prepare for events. It is in the weeks in the run up to an event that we need people, as we can usually fill rotas for help on the day. You'd be allocated your chosen tasks, or you could be the one allocating! We like to ‘co’ our positions, so that most roles can be shared. We have a Chair and we have a Treasurer. Do you think you could help continue the great work that The Friends do? Contact the school and let us know!

HARVEST VISIT
On Friday 2nd October the whole school visited St John's for a Harvest Festival. Parents kindly made contributions of tinned food for the event which we donated to a local organisation called ‘The Haven’. The Family Haven helps disadvantaged and vulnerable families in Gloucestershire. They help parents and their pre-school children by providing a warm, caring and supportive day centre where assistance and encouragement is available to help them to improve the quality of their lives.

Dafydd Lawday
Headteacher

This is my first contribution to Chadra for several issues so let me first explain. Apologies if I have already seen you in the village and bored you with my enthusiasm! In October last year, after 25 years in HR and Training with Marks and Spencer, my job share partner 22Linda and I finally did what we had talked about for ages and left our job to set up our own training and coaching business. Yes – we realised that this was in the middle of a recession (it wasn't when we wrote our first business plan in 2006!) but we discussed the timing endlessly and finally we coached each other to a decision!

Since then we have learned absolutely loads about setting up a business – usually the hard way – and wanted to share some of our lighter moments!

Twelve Tips for Business Start Up
(It started as ten, but like all good ideas it grew …)
Starting a business is like preparing for and then having a baby. Everyone has a different view of how it should be done and in what ways they can help you. There are lots of books to read, groups to join and people who just want to help you to spend your money!!
As with parenting … tread carefully, listen and learn – then do what feels right for you and your business.

• BEWARE OF THE SHARKS – there are people out there ready to take your money at a time when you are at your most vulnerable and need help. Do your homework.
• VALUES – Take some time to decide what your values are. Look to work with businesses who might have similar values to yours if you can. Remember if like parenting you don't stick to your values there can be a conflict of interest about who you are and what you represent. Give a chocolate lolly to a child, or let them stay up late and they want it all the time. Clients are just the same.
• HEALTH – Take care of your own health – keep up with your regular exercise. Like a parent you have responsibilities to others now. You are your company's biggest asset and you need to look after yourself.
• GROUPS – or networking in the business world. An essential key part of parenting or running your own business. Find others to share your thoughts with and support you or you may go insane!!! They will allow you to ask the daft questions you are dying to ask. Keeping an open mind, visit lots of groups before deciding which ones best suits your needs.
• ROLE MODEL – who are the good parents or role models in business. Who do you see out there operating and running their business in the way you want to run yours. Will they be your mentor? Ask them. Use them to bounce ideas off and take time to find out what it is that makes them good at what they do. Then evolve your own style.
• READ – lots of relevant information but be selective. Just like any new parent, there is a wealth of conflicting advice available – you have to choose the guidance that fits in with your values and what you are trying to achieve and then go with that one. You cannot listen and act on everyone's advice.
• BUDGET – Set yourself a budget for marketing. Most guides advise around 6% of your turnover. Don't buy the first pram you see or assume the most expensive is the best.
• TALKING – Word of mouth is your biggest form of advertising – it's what gets you known in the playground and it's free! Always ask your clients to give you a recommendation either on your website, or via email. Leave business cards and leaflets with your satisfied clients fro them to pass on.
• 23MISTAKES – you will make them. Just learn from them and don't make the same ones twice.
• SELF BELIEF – you were a successful individual before having a child so why doubt your ability to be a parent? If all those millions of people can run their own business so can you. You can do it!
• PATIENCE – be patient with yourself and others. Remember this is a new set of skills for you. You don't become an expert over night. Just learn quickly and be prepared to adapt. You will get your sleep back eventually!!!
• SHARE – with others e.g good babysitters, website designers etc, and pass on work if you can. As you teach your child to share remember to do it yourself. It will pay dividends in the world of business.

We called our business Red Door Coaching and Training.
Tracy Francksen

Hello! Well, what to tell you first? Since I last wrote, my dear Mum was hit by a car. She's had two ops, involving plastic surgery. Needless to say I've been in London a lot. My Keith has been absolutely fab holding the fort whilst I've been hitting the shops in the Balham High Road. The most brill treat was that he cleaned our, (not mine!!!) oven. So much so that when he said that he'd replaced our old one, I believed him.

Mum was eventually signed off from hospital. Our last visit was to the fracture clinic. Whilst waiting to be seen an elderly chap was in a wheelchair with metal “bits” all around both legs, pins sticking in and out, etc, etc, you get the picture. We were looking at him imagining all sorts of accidents that would have got him in that position. Anyway, fortunately for us, a “nosy” waiting patient asked him what had happened. Apparently, he was hot air ballooning in Turkey and crashed into the mountains!!! Wow, well that certainly made all the drama seem worth it, what an adventure AND he had three cracked ribs.

I've been travelling mostly by coach and I must fill you in at this point, I think my toilet attendant has gone. You remember, dripping in gold and a woolly hat. There seems to be more females, not half so much fun. Anyway you know what I'm like with techno stuff, I've only just started texting. Don't say anything. Sophie got me a new phone. We were in the Hippodrome. “Ooh I must make sure my phone's off,” I said. “Why,” asked Soph, “I'm the only one who's got your number.” This leads me on to this bit. I was travelling up one Saturday morning and a lady in the front was on her phone and I hear her say, “No, John, I didn't ring, perhaps the phone pressed it.” See, it's not only me.

Needless to say a few things have gone to pot around here and I would now like to publicly say, Thankyou, to Chris, our neighbour who took all the rubbish out of our garden, adjacent to the public footpath, on the Clean Up Charfield Weekend. As I've said before I know I'm not quite Chelsea standard but our garden doesn't ask to be treated as a rubbish bin. So as Mum is slowly improving and I shall be home a bit more I can put landscaping back on the to do list.

I bought myself a really nice top in M & S and I've seen it worn on Deal or No Deal AND Cash in the Attic. Hm. On the subject of fashion, I've bought a few items from La Redoute. On telling people, some have said Lara who? It's this accent thing.

24Why is it that when you buy bottled water that has flown over glacial mountains for three million years and is as fresh and sparkling, etc, when opened, you have to drink up within 3 days?????

Before school broke up we had the now customary staff race and, of course, I've got to be in it. But I'm not getting breathless, for me it's the customary amble up the field, waving race.

It's so fab to be back with all my lovely little chums. One day a little girl said, “Maz, I want to be a brother. I don't want to be a Mummy any more. I've been a Mummy for ages.” And one little chap said, “They won't let me be in the gang. They've already got ten robbers and there's no room for eleven. And I've said, I'm only six.” Oh, they're so cute.

Tap dancing started last week. I was in the middle of a lot of jigging about when I noticed that the front of my leotard, (essential for holding everything in) was sticking out at the front. When I got home and climbed out of all the doings, the wire in my bra had snapped. Fab bra, beautiful embroidery, now in wheelie bin. No chance of taking the wire out of the other half and carrying on limply I can tell you. It reminded me of when I had to have a cyst removed, at the doctors, and was asked why us women had all this ironmongery in our underwear?

Well lovelies, I had better sign off, I think I've got you all up to date. I'm not going to do my usual and say that when I next write to you, it will be JANUARY!!!!!

So take care, go steady and lots of love, or as they say lol, Maz xxx

When I was young, modern art meant paintings by Pablo Picasso and Paul Klee. Now it means anything from an unmade bed to video graphics. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that my cover picture on the July edition was not “drawn” as the Editor assumed. I took a digital photograph and used a photo-editing program on my computer to produce a “pencil drawing”. Then I emailed it to the former Editors. Isn't technology wonderful?

John Acton

Our advertisement section is proving so popular with businesses, that if we put in every advert submitted we would not have room for the village news.

We have already limited the size of advert to get in as many as possible. We have now decided that we cannot accept any new ads for the time being. However, if in the future space becomes available we will let any would be advertisers know. All enquiries regarding ads should be made to Joan Crowfoot.

25

If you wish to alter the entries below, please telephone Isabel on 01454 26xxxx
Or e-mail xxxx @ yahoo.co.uk

Bingo Club
Sue Scoble 01454 26xxxx

British Legion
David Millman (Hon Sec) 01454 26xxxx

Charfield Pre-School
Debra Davidson (Play Leader) 07866 04xxxx
Lucy Pass (Chair) 01454 26xxxx
Rachel Marlow (Admissions) 01453 54xxxx

Charfield Primary School
Dafydd Lawday 01454 26xxxx

Childminders
Sarah Gazzard 01454 26xxxx

Church – Congregational
Nicky Lanyi 01454 26xxxx

Church – St. John's
Vivienne Kerner 01454 26xxxx

Council – Charfield Parish
Sue Bailey (Clerk) 01453 51xxxx
Email clerk @ charfieldparishcouncil.co.uk

Council – South Gloucestershire
Sandra O'Neill 01454 26xxxx
Email xxxx @ southglos.gov.uk

Cricket Club
Chris Shearwood 01454 77xxxx

Crimestoppers 0800 555 111

Friends of Charfield Primary School
Scott Curtis 01454 26xxxx

Foundation Room
Bryan Grantham 01454 26xxxx

Friendship Club
Mrs. M Ealey 01454 29xxxx

Junior Football Club
Nigel Cloke 01454 26xxxx

Keep Fit Club
Christine Parfitt 01454 26xxxx

Luncheon Club for the Elderly
Jane Higgins 01454 26xxxx

Memorial Hall
Bookings 07774 41xxxx
Email xxxx @ virgin.net
David Small (Chair) 01454 26xxxx