CHADRA

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As a committee we would like to say a huge ‘Thank you’ to all of our readers, long-standing and first timers, who returned their questionnaires. 98% of those who responded were somewhat or very satisfied with the newsletter and we received some great comments, “I read it all.”, “I never know what might be interesting” and “Love the new look and quality – feels fresher”.

The feedback has given the committee much food for thought and over the coming editions we shall be making some subtle and less subtle changes to the look, feel and content. The newsletter's aim and purpose will remain the same – to provide the readership with information and news of activities in and around the village of Charfield.

We were pleased to see that the majority of respondents read all the articles, with Marilyn's Bit raising the biggest smiles. However there were areas which readers would like to see more of, including articles on our local sports clubs, e.g. football and cricket, as well as on the groups who play darts, dominoes and cribbage in our pubs. Other requests were for items by our younger residents or items for them, including articles about our local scout and girl guiding groups. We do ask for articles from all village organisations and hopefully this feedback will encourage those involved in these groups to put fingers to keyboard! We understand that for anyone who volunteers to be on a committee providing a FREE service to the community, there is always something else on the ‘to do list’, so maybe those who attend the groups could write articles about their experiences. Many readers asked if there could be more photos and articles following up on events that have happened in the village, so if you have held an event, are holding a future event or have any pictures that you would like to share, please let the editor know. Email to xxxx @ gmail.com.

Articles on local businesses, particularly those who use CHADRA to advertise, were suggested as well as gardening tips and walks around the village. Old editions of CHADRA do contain information on walks – go to https://charfield.org/chadra/ and do a search using the word ‘walk’. We welcome any updated or new versions of these walks and in time hope to do some ourselves! Included in this edition is also a new feature: Nature Natter.

Items on the history of the local area and historical and current people from the village have also been suggested and a number of readers have stepped forward to say that they are happy to write articles on various topics. If you have a particular topic that you would like to write about please do contact us.

The aim of the newsletter is to update us all on what is happening in the village and if you have an event such as Liane's ‘teas for cancer’ that you want us all to know about and support then please contact the editor. Many of you have stepped forward with offers to help with distributing the newsletter as well as joining the committee, which is fantastic.

As with any publication we cannot accommodate all of our requests. For example, including details of local public transport will be difficult as the timetables often change, meaning the newsletter may contain out-of-date information. With the change in our constitution last year, our role as Residents Association was removed and the representation of this is now with the Parish Council, the Charfield Neighbourhood Plan committee, the Community Engagement Forum, and the newly formed Fighting for Charfield group, all of which submit articles to the newsletter. There is also a Facebook page for the Charfield Village Forum which is very up-to-date and informative.

We will continue to produce the newsletter quarterly and in hard copy as overwhelmingly requested. In response to the question of ‘How much respondents are happy to pay’, the price of the newsletter will increase to £2 a year from January 2018. This will allow us to have more colour and photos in the newsletter as requested by many readers.

Finally, congratulations to our prize draw winner, Valerie Tosh – and thanks to all respondents for your helpful comments and suggestions.

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Welcome to the Summer newsletter, as you will see from the various articles there is plenty going on. I hope that in one way or another you had a chance to see the Flying Scotsman as it flew through the village! Was I the only one thinking that it would pass through more sedately? Doh!

I will add my thanks to those who took the time to respond to the questionnaire. You don't have to wait until the next one to give us feedback – just drop me an email.

Anyone (young, old, nimby, skier (spending kids inheritance early retirement), goth, gardener, granny, budding author) wishing to write an article for the newsletter, please remember – all you need to do is email me. All contributions are very welcome! (xxxx @ gmail.com).

Thursday 29th June at Cromhall Chapel.

Matters which involve Charfield:

Updates from our last meeting in Feb 2017.

1) Worn out road markings on Wotton Road, Charfield: ‘Slow’ markings approaching bridge from both directions.
Update: White lines have been renewed. ‘Slow’ markings on pending list.

2) Perceived increase in burglaries in Charfield.
Update: Report to be given at the next meeting. (Only one recorded in the last four months.)

3) Restricted visibility at the junction of Station Road and The Sidings.
Update: An SGC Highways Engineer has assessed the site and is considering extending the advisory white lines.

4) Impact of changes to Yate Fire Station.
Update: Crewing model changed in 2009, however the number of incidents has not increased and there is a need to carefully assess staff resources. Further information can be obtained from www.avonfire.gov.uk. From July, full time staff will be in operation from 08.00–17.00; retained from 17.00–08.00.

5) Neighbourhood Watch Schemes to be assessed for value.
Update: Trevor Wilmot attended and enthusiastically proclaimed the value of these schemes. The Charfield P.C. will be considering arranging a meeting for anyone who is interested.

6) Parking of vehicles near Manor Lane shops.
Update: Details/communications will be kept and the location monitored in light of recent Planning decisions.

7) Subsidence of Wotton Road by the Service Station.
Update: High priority repairs are still to be carried out.

8) Crest Nicholson Site: a) Excess mud reported.
Update: Number of sweeper vehicle visits has increased.
b) Pinch point causing some concern.
Update: Issue passed to Charfield P.C. and reported to SGC. This has now been removed.

Matters arising at meeting:

Church End/Devils Lane: 30mph speed limit to be considered.

B4058 Wotton Road: Rumble strips to be fitted each side of the railway bridge.

Charfield Hill: Rumble strips to be fitted on the downhill side.

SGC consultation on Supported Bus Services recommended to be answered by Parish Council.

CUGUC would like to put in a footpath to the bus stop at Tafarn Bach. SGC have agreed to look into this but it is highly unlikely that money will be found to do the job. CUGUC have offered to do it for the council, but this offer has been refused on (Wait for it!) Health and Safety grounds. The forum agreed to back CUGUC's request for the item to be reconsidered.

Next meeting: 5th October 2017, Cromhall 19.30. If you would like any matters raised come along or let me know by phone or e-mail. Thank you.

Mike Cheskin (Chair) 01453 84xxxx
xxxx @ tiscali.co.uk

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With the election season and the purdah periods over, life is returning to normal. Even if the election has left us with more questions than answers, we must now wait to see what transpires and the effects it will have on all of us.

Here in Charfield we have our own issues to deal with and much of the news is released on the Charfield Village Forum Facebook page. This has become a good platform for receiving comments, debate and bringing issues to the fore. However I know that not everyone uses social media so I will try and cover the points that are of importance to us all.

Most of our concerns are around planning and development which is gathering pace in Charfield. Day House Leaze, the site adjacent to the school, which was previously in the reserved matters stage, moved to approval on the 16th June and work will commence on the site in the near future. It is anticipated that work will begin with the access point which will necessitate alterations to Wotton Road including moving the bollards further up the road, moving the hedgerow further back to create a footpath leading to the school, and creating a seven vehicle layby.

As a coincidence, the 16th June was also the day that the Sites Sub-committee visited Warner's Court to inspect it as a potential development site. After extensive discussions on site, the committee have requested further reports covering vehicle speeds on Wotton Road at this location and also site access. It is now anticipated that an outline application will come to committee for a decision on the 27th July.

Many will be aware of the planning condition for the Crest Nicholson site that the pedestrian crossing would be in place prior to the occupation of any houses on the site. With the crossing incomplete and houses being occupied, we instructed planning enforcement to investigate. The outcome has revealed the developer was required to use the supplier nominated by the Council as the Council will maintain the crossing in the future. The developer ordered the signalling equipment in good time but supply problems have delayed delivery. As this was outside the control of the developer, they requested a three month extension to the planning condition to allow new owners to occupy properties. It is hoped by the time you read this the work on the crossing will be underway or completed. Many have raised objections to the developer referring to the location as Charfield Village. This is solely used as a marketing tool to make the development sound more attractive, and when it is completed, it will integrate and become part of the real Charfield Village.

The draft Joint Spatial Plan is due for publication any time soon. As we are all aware, this is the West of England plan that proposes a further 1000 homes for Charfield on top of our current developments. Everyone is rightly concerned about how this will impact the village if it is allowed. We know there has to be investment in village infrastructure and the wider road network if it is to work. The draft plan will be followed by a further consultation and I will try to keep everyone up-to-date with how this is proceeding.

South Gloucestershire Council is continuing with its efficiency savings with the reduction in the revenue support grant it receives from central government. The savings programme which will have an impact on residents is the new waste strategy, designed to increase recycling and raise revenue for the Council and reduce waste in the black bin which is expensive as it goes to landfill. Black bins will be exchanged for smaller ones later in the year. Further savings have been made by the closure of the One Stop Shop in Thornbury Library. With most items now conducted online, this facility was little used. The Council has installed IT equipment in libraries for public use which can be used to complete forms online.

Many will be aware that the Council has had to reduce the workforce considerably over the last seven years to meet the Council savings programme. This has enabled the Council to centralise staff. The offices at Thornbury have been sold and will be developed for retirement living, and staff at Kingswood Civic Centre have now relocated to the Badminton Road offices in Yate. The Council will retain the Council chamber, training facilities and meeting rooms on the second floor of the Kingswood site with the other two floors being leased to Sirona Health Care and the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership.

Don't forget that we have liaison groups with the current developers in Charfield and if you have any problems with the developments, contact me or the Parish Council.

John O'Neill
xxxx @ southglos.gov.uk
07736 48xxxx

Playing bridge is one of the most enduring and popular pastimes in the world; it appeals to people of all types and from all walks of life. It is a fascinating game that constantly stretches mental capabilities. It is utterly compelling once you have been bitten by the bug! Above all, however, playing bridge is a social activity whether it's with friends at home or by joining a club.

4If playing bridge appeals to you then the Wotton Bridge Club is the place to come. We have been going strong since 1995 and like to think that members can play in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. An evening with us will provide good value entertainment. The Club meets every Wednesday evening throughout the year.

Perhaps you have never played before? Don't worry – we can offer lessons to beginners. Alternatively, perhaps you already know how to play but feel that you need to brush up your skills? Improver sessions are also available. All classes are held in Wotton Civic Centre and will be starting again in the autumn. So if you live in Wotton or the surrounding area (we have members who come from as far away as Thornbury, Yate and Malmesbury), please come along and join us.

Further information is available on the Club's website: www.bridgewebs.com/wotton, or you can contact the Chairman, Ian Cooke, on 01666 89xxxx.

An insight from a club member
I get lots of walking exercise with my energetic dog but having passed yet another ‘zero’ birthday, I decided to learn to play Bridge to exercise my brain as well. Two years on, I will admit I'm still learning, but I'm also having fun playing with new friends from all walks of life.

Although I have always played a variety of card games, I was a complete beginner with regard to Bridge. Learning bridge is a challenge, especially later in life, but that challenge can be achieved with the help of Ian Cooke, a very experienced teacher in Wotton. Each of his lessons is backed up by handouts and practice play.

Initially, the friendly banter with fellow players as we tried to put into practice what we had just learnt was fun, and more recently with added experience, the competitive events have also been enjoyable. Occasionally I have been part of the winning pair, and happily I have never come last! I aspire to joining the Wotton Bridge Club but in the meantime I enjoy playing and learning in the process. Ian organises not just lessons but Summer Gentle Bridge sessions during July and August, and more competitive weekly ‘Contract Bridge’ sessions throughout the winter months.

I recommend Bridge to anyone interested in learning a new skill – it's fun and social and just may keep the dreaded dementia at bay! A beginners' class will be starting on Tuesday evenings at Wotton Civic Centre from late September. Ian is happy that I mention his name as the more people who learn, the greater the opportunity there is to play. If you are interested in learning or playing, he can be contacted via Wotton Bridge Club at: www.bridgewebs.com/wotton.

Jenny Hughes – Charfield resident

Are you interested in joining a singing group? Then we can help!

“The Phoenix Singers” was established 2 years ago and we have recently moved from our original home in Falfield to Charfield. We have about 12 regular singers and are really keen to add to our numbers.

We are a relaxed, informal group, and enjoy the social opportunity that singing creates as much as the songs. We are “A Community through our love of singing” and have delivered a number of performances in the last 2 years including Christmas concerts, and at a Christening and 2 weddings. Most recently we sang on Armed Forces' Day at Henlow Court Care Home in Dursley where our songs from the old time music halls brought back memories for many residents, and to see them singing along with us was quite something.

Amongst our numbers, we have a most experienced pianist, Jenny, who is extremely tolerant of our efforts to get songs right, as is Kay, our musical adviser. One or two amongst us can read music, but normally when we learn a new song, we just receive the words and get going with the accompaniment of our keyboard player. At times it's a little chaotic (even hilarious!) but we always get there in the end.

Many people have told us how daunting it is to even think about joining a singing group, and we can all relate to that. But we do not hold auditions, we don't put pressure on individuals, we just welcome anyone interested in coming along and giving it a go. We try to create a relaxed atmosphere, but when the time is right, we give a very professional performance.

Not sure? A little shy? Then why not come along to watch a rehearsal. Bring someone with you – we're looking for men and women!

We meet on Thursday evenings from 7 to 9pm in the Sportsman's Lounge, next to the main hall at Charfield Village Hall – it's just £2 a week to join in.

Singing is good for us – we can vouch for that. The group allows us to make new friends, feel part of something really positive, and of course we feel better through having a good sing.

For more info e-mail
xxxx @ thephoenixsingers.org.uk

By the time you read this, Festival season will be well upon us, and the weather? Well, who knows!!

We have enjoyed another fun-filled quarter at the Memory Group. We have had visits from Pastor Ray, a number of new faces including our wonderful new volunteer Bertha, our regular slot of T'ai Chi with Mark, 5and lots of other activities which we have planned and enjoyed together. If you'd like to see more, why not visit our Facebook page for pictures and information?

We were so sad to hear about the loss of our good friend Mo Yost. Mo was one of the visitors to our first ever session down at The Plough, and although Mo was quick to let us know she was there to ‘support’ us, and not ‘use’ us, she was a very welcome guest at many a coffee morning. We will miss you Mo xx.

Last weekend we had a brilliant day on our stall at Party in the PARC where we met lots of lovely people and enjoyed telling everyone about what we've been up to. Extra Special Thanks to Thelma, Diana, Tessa, and MacRae for coming along to support us on the day – boy, it was a hot one!

On the 29th of July we will be at Charfield Community Fete with leaflets and information, and also a selection of crafts and pretty things that one of our very talented ladies has made for us to sell. Do come along and say ‘hi’ – we'd love to see you! Also at the Fete, the lovely Marie Pugh will be hosting the first ever FUN DOG SHOW. Registration is at 12 noon, and first class is at 12.30pm. Marie has very generously offered to split monies raised between Dementia Connections and Women v Cancer. For more information please email xxxx @ tesco.net. They say never work with children or animals, and as this probably means both, it's DEFINITELY going to be a bit of a giggle ☺

Thank you so much – as ever – for your ongoing support. Our groups are free to attend (please ask for further information on formal respite support) and we rely solely upon fundraising, grant applications, and your generous donations. Without you, we really couldn't keep doing what we do.

With love and best wishes,
Amanda

Girlguiding is the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK, with over 500,000 members. Thanks to the dedication and support of over 100,000 amazing volunteers, we are active in every part of the UK, giving girls and young women a space where they can be themselves, have fun, build brilliant friendships, gain valuable life skills and make a positive difference to their lives and their communities. We build girls' confidence and raise their aspirations. We give them the chance to discover their full potential and encourage them to be a powerful force for good. We also give them a space to have fun. We run Rainbows (5–7 years), Brownies (7–10 years), Guides (10–14 years) and The Senior Section (14–25 years).

There are Rainbows in Charfield and Wotton, Brownies in Wotton and Kingswood, and Guides and Senior Section in Wotton. We are always looking for more volunteers – females aged 18 or over – who would like to help us either running our units or in supporting roles. In particular we need someone to take over our amazing Senior Section group as their leader has decided to move to a unit closer to her home in Bristol.

Working with the older girls is very rewarding and great fun. (For example last year they went Interrailing for a couple of weeks in the summer holidays!) We would also like to reopen a Brownie unit in Charfield (once upon a time there were two Brownie packs in the village), and Kingswood Brownies would like another leader to join their thriving pack.

If you are interested in helping us, or your daughter would like to become a member, please register on the Girlguiding website – www.girlguiding.org.uk, call Sarah on 01453 52xxxx, or come along and meet us at the Charfield Community Fete on 29th July.

Sarah Norton, Girlguiding Wotton District Commissioner (joint)

Guest Speaker Evening
Thank you to everyone who came to our annual guest speaker evening held at the Cotswold Edge Golf Club in February. This year's talk was on the Helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) Service, which recently transferred from the RAF and Royal Navy to a civilian-based service under the auspices of HM Coastguard. Our speaker was Capt. Tom Bunn, who was brought up in North Nibley and attended KLB School before joining the RAF. Having first flown Hercules fixed wing aircraft, he later transferred to flying helicopters in the SAR role, during which time he had a well-known co-pilot. His talk covered his time both in the RAF and (latterly) flying for Bristow Helicopters under contract to HM Coastguard.

The evening was a great success; all 100 tickets sold out and £1,254.20 was raised towards the cost of running the RNLI (which is over £460,000 per day). We would like to say a big thank you to Tom for freely giving up his time, to the Cotswold Book Room and Westward Travel for their help in selling the tickets and to the Cotswold Edge Golf Club for once again allowing us the use of their Clubroom free of charge.

We are beginning to think who might be next year's speaker; any suggestions for a speaker or subject would be welcome, but bear in mind that the cost needs to be minimal and the evening needs to be of interest to a general audience.

6150th Anniversary of City of Gloucester Lifeboat
This year is the 150th anniversary of the first RNLI lifeboat funded by the City of Gloucester. The boat was paraded through Gloucester and launched into Gloucester Docks on Tuesday 9th April 1867, before being taken to Falmouth where it provided service until August 1888, launching 10 times during this period.

Gloucester Branch is organising a celebratory event in Gloucester Docks over the weekend of 22nd / 23rd July 2017 (concurrent with the Gloucester Food Festival). This is still in the planning stage, but it is intended that it will include a parade of current and restored RNLI lifeboats, demonstrations by RNLI lifeguards, sea-shanty singers, model boats, and a variety of stalls devoted to the work of the RNLI promoting safety at sea, on the beach, and by in-land water. Watch out for further details.

In support of this celebratory event, I have prepared an illustrated presentation on the first City of Gloucester lifeboat. I would be pleased to present this to any organisation that is looking for a speaker. I do not charge, but a donation to, or collection for, the RNLI will not be refused!

Girl Guide and Brownie Water Safety Badges
During 2016, I made 17 visits to Girl Guide and Brownie units to run evenings with respect to their water safety badges. These visits (and others made by colleagues) were nearly all in the Bristol area (including some in Thornbury), and they all arose from a single contact – the Avon District Commissioner.

This year I would like to expand this activity into the Gloucester district, including our immediate area. If anyone could supply me with the details of a suitable contact, I would be grateful.

John Barnett

E-mail: xxxx @ gmail.com; Tel: 01453 84xxxx

Hello from your Parish Council. Firstly, let me thank the approximately seventy people who turned out on a sunny Friday morning 16th June, some taking time off from their day jobs, to stand in opposition to the Barratts' Warner's Court development proposals during the South Gloucestershire Planning Committee's site visit. Such an encouraging sight!

I know the visiting members were astonished to be met by so many, and although the decision is (at time of writing) still awaited, I'm hopeful we presented a strong and persuasive case for refusal. Speculative drop-in developments are the last thing Charfield needs right now, and if the village is to expand it must do so with the guidance of a cohesive whole village Neighbourhood Plan.

As to the proposed thousand houses we have no new news. Nevertheless, developers are already working on a presumption that the adopted JSP will call for Charfield to accept a doubling in size. Residents are contacting the Parish Council and reporting on Facebook about the works taking place around the village, particularly behind Manor Lane. A number of us have been contacted directly by Commercial Estates Group, who are behind this preliminary work and who are seeking liaison with the local community leaders. It's a tough knife edge to walk; to begin discussions suggests a willingness for expansion we in no way share, and yet to close off contact is to let them get on with developing our village as they choose. Your Parish Council will always be transparent in all its work.

In a similar vein, I send congratulations to Luke Hall after his electoral win. Luke, you have offered a strong voice against the unsustainable expansion of Charfield in the JSP. Now is the time to step up and make those words count.

I've been spending time up at our Burial Ground, particularly the non-interment side where the wildflowers and grasses are increasingly moving into space once dominated by nettles. I've watched the spring turn to summer, and the cowslips turn to geraniums, ox-eye daisies, orchids, knapweed and cornflowers. It's been nice to be complimented on the condition of the facility by passing folk, some of whom were visiting St James's church, or carrying out genealogy research in the churchyard. In the churchyard, of course, is the memorial to the railway disaster of 1928. Next year will be the ninetieth anniversary of that crash and loss of life. How will we mark that? How will you mark that? Let us know.

I'm aware that a number of folk in the area have reported attempted entries into homes, garages or sheds in recent weeks. As the days now begin to shorten, please do look out for each other. I attended a meeting recently where we were encouraged to set up Community Neighbourhood Watch areas, and perhaps you may wish to consider coming together in small areas; perhaps a street, perhaps a handful of adjacent homes. If there is energy for this, kick it off in the Charfield Village Facebook forum.

I'll close now with the bad news. Despite the large and clear, bright pink notices crying out “There is NO excuse!” there are still people in this village, walking their dogs and leaving their dogs' mess behind in the footpaths. In midsummer!!! No excuse of “didn't see it in the dark”! It's simple loutish antisocial behaviour, and it WILL be treated as such when someone is prosecuted. Please, have some respect for your fellow Charfielders. Have some for yourselves. Don't let your laziness cause illness, injury and upset in someone else's home. And everyone else … watch, report, take photographs, name and shame.

So, have a splendid rest of the summer. Please do stay in touch through social media and the web sites, and come to our – your – Parish Council meetings. Help us keep Charfield lovely – the other options are not acceptable. Peace.

Mark Rosher – Chairman
Charfield Parish Council

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[Graphic: Nature Natter]

Introducing a new feature to the newsletter, and as such, this will be a little longer than future submissions.

I am the Natterer (!) – I live in Charfield, and as you will see, am in love with this beautiful spot. However, I am also aware that all is not well in Paradise! This is something of a call to arms …

Due to increasing development in and around Charfield, it is helpful and uplifting to see our own back gardens as the fantastic nature reserves that they might already, or potentially could, be.

Organisations such as the RSPB, national Wild Life trusts, BBC Springwatch, etc. are increasingly telling us that our own gardens will be the salvation of our wildlife species that are beleaguered on many fronts. Gardens form a combined area larger than all our national nature reserves put together; exceeding 10,000,000 acres (Wildlife Trusts UK).

The stunning landscape around us faces huge pressures. It appears green in all its verdant glory – but being a working environment, is subject to all the usual commercial impacts, and increasingly so.

Isn't it wonderful that in our own back gardens we have a degree of control so often missing from the rest of our lives! Plus we can go quite a way into offsetting the impact of modern life on our much-loved fellow species – be they animal or plant – by offering them a peaceful haven which we too will benefit from.

In this first natter, I urge you to dare to be different. It shouldn't be hard, as I'm advocating getting out a deckchair, sitting back and surveying your garden; front, back, both, or indeed if you have no garden, how about a window box or two planted with insect attracting plants?, and just doing … NOTHING. Sounds alright, doesn't it?

Allow some plant matter to build up in drifts in corners; leave the grass alone; wait for the beautiful purple ground ivy to appear; and the clovers so beloved by the bees and other insects like hoverflies and the much-hated wasps. These are all vital pollinators. Yes, if you have children, bare feet in the garden at this time can have perils, but encourage them to look for the bees, etc. in the clover – they might sting if trodden on or threatened, but which one of us wouldn't? Encourage your children to look for the little panniers of pollen that the bees have on their legs to carry the pollen away to their hives! Leave some nettles in the garden, as these are vital to butterflies such as Red Admirals, Commas and Peacocks as they are where their larvae grow. OK, they can sting, but come on, we're British – I think we can cope.

Put aside the sprays, pellets and tinctures. There can be a place for them, but they are part of the commercial drive to part us all from our money, often unnecessarily! Unwittingly excluding wildlife from our gardens often forces us to rely on products which we just don't need, and cuts into our own precious resources of time and money. Ladybirds and other insects adore eating green / blackfly and if we eliminate their food sources, we eliminate them too.

Adopting a light touch within your garden, you will in time find yourself amidst a haze of wildflowers, bees, butterflies, ladybirds, intriguing cockchafers, stunning crimson or turquoise damsel flies and the odd majestic dragonfly – to name but a few.

I know we all want different things from our gardens, but even if we allow ½ or 1 metre in a corner at the back, or along edges, to be wild and unkempt to allow the grasses, wild flowers, and pruned branches to rest, this will in turn encourage all manner of wild creatures / plants which are charming to watch and so relaxing at the same time. Knowing how crucial it is on a wider level can only add to the satisfaction gained from just letting go of the reins a little.

Top Tip for July's Natter
Cut or make in your boundary a hole or two: 4″ high × 5″ wide (9×12 cms) at ground level, to allow the free movement of hedgehogs through your garden. This will not affect whether other animals, e.g. cats, foxes etc., can get in, as they no doubt can anyway! Hedgehogs are a wonderful sight for children, and the child in all of us! Go to Springwatch's ‘hedgehog surprise’ on the internet; I guarantee a smile! If we can make a network of hospitable gardens to allow passage of these increasingly rare mammals (which don't forget, love to eat snails and slugs) we will be doing them a huge favour and helping them to avoid lethal roads. P.S. be mindful of strimmer use at this time as slow worms, hedgehogs, frogs, toads and all manner of creatures may be found within the longer cooler and concealing grass at the edges of gardens. My cousin, a veterinary nurse, was very upset by 2 children arriving with a hedgehog whose face had been largely cut off by a strimmer; nothing could be done of course. Let's try and avoid this horrible scenario happening again.

Let's show our children that we share this world, it is not just ours. I hope to inspire you in future editions, and show you that just small actions here and there can make a huge difference to the quality of our lives, and those of others that have no voice.

#

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British Legion – Chris Summers 01454 26xxxx

BINGO – Tony White 01454 26xxxx

CADS (Charfield Amateur Dramatics Group)
Steve Picking 07583 56xxxx

Charfield Pre-School
Debra Davidson (Manager/Admissions) 07966 61xxxx
xxxx @ gmail.com
Louise Sydney xxxx @ gmail.com

Charfield Primary School
Dafydd Lawday 01454 26xxxx

Church – Congregational
Nicky Lanyi 01454 26xxxx

Church – St. John's
Revd. Chris Mason 01454 26xxxx
Revd. David Russell 01454 29xxxx
xxxx @ gmail.com

Clean Up Green Up Charfield
Sue Simmonds
xxxx @ gmail.com

Council – Charfield Parish
Parish Council, PO Box 1947, Bristol. BS37 0BU
clerk @ charfieldparishcouncil.co.uk

Council – South Gloucestershire
John O'Neill 01454 86xxxx or 01454 26xxxx
xxxx @ southglos.gov.uk

Cricket Club
Dan Newman 07805 18xxxx
Roger Newman 07764 49xxxx
xxxx @ gmail.com

Crimestoppers 0800 555 111

Friends of Charfield Primary School
Rob Barter xxxx @ hotmail.com
07816 27xxxx

Foundation Room
Bryan Grantham 01454 26xxxx

Junior Football Club
Andy Leeds 0758015xxxx

Keep Fit Club
Christine Parfitt 01454 26xxxx

Luncheon Club for the Elderly
Jane Higgins 01454 26xxxx

Dementia Connections (Memory Groups and Support Services)
Amanda Pearson 0781469xxxx xxxx @ outlook.com

Out of School Club 01454 26xxxx
Pat Loveridge or 07816 23xxxx

Memorial Hall Bookings: Chairman – Liam Balloch xxxx @ gmail.com 07947 43xxxx

Police (if not a 999 call)
Call Handling Centre 101
Reporting crimes in person now at Chipping Sodbury Police Station
Following are strictly non urgent and not reporting crime
PC Lee Bainbridge voicemail 0117 945 xxxx / 07919 62xxxx
PCSO Hayley Harrison mobile 07825 38xxxx
PCSO Sean McKinnon 07825 38xxxx

Round Table – Wotton and District
John Francksen (Hon Sec) 01453 84xxxx

GIRLGUIDING:
Rainbows – 1st Charfield – Mon 4.30–5.30pm
Email: xxxx @ hotmail.com
Brownies – 2nd Charfield – Tues 5.30–7pm. – Contact District Commissioners
Guides – 2nd Wotton Thurs 7.30–9pm
Sarah Cocker
email: xxxx @ hotmail.com
Senior Section every other Thursday
Lynsey email: xxxx @ yahoo.com
Girlguiding – Wotton District Commissioners
Sarah Norton 01453 52xxxx
xxxx @ tesco.net
Jackie Woodall 01453 84xxxx
xxxx @ talk21.com

Tae Kwon Do
Andy Reynolds 07909 92xxxx

Transport Scheme
Marion Smith 01454 26xxxx

1st Woodend Scout Group
xxxx @ gmail.com

Beavers Tues 6.00–7.15pm
Tina Rickwood 01454 29xxxx

Cubs Wed 6.30–8.00pm
Alison Moore 07712 47xxxx.
Thurs 6.30–8.00pm
Sandra Carnegie 0789998xxxx

Scouts Mon 6.30–8.30pm / Tues 7.00–9.00 pm
Mike Rickwood 01454 29xxxx

Explorers Thurs 7.30–9.30pm – Kevin Watson 0798027xxxx

Group Scout Leader Sandra Carnegie 01454 26xxxx 0789998xxxx

Assistant Group Scout Leader (waitlists) Allison Trueman 01454 26xxxx
www.####.uksites.org.uk

9

Role Play. The children have been dressing up in Wedding outfits and pretending to marry each other. They enjoyed themselves at the “Church” and also at the “wedding breakfast” where a table was laid with everything you would expect including flowers and (plastic) champagne flutes.

We were also able to go on journeys on the Pre-School train. Everyone bought their tickets from the ticket office and these were checked by the very efficient Ticket Inspector!

The children have played Schools and taken it in turns to be the teacher. The “pupils” practised their writing and counting and wrote on a whiteboard. The Register was taken; we had 100% attendance and all pupils were well behaved with no detentions given out.

Our Travel Agents/Airport has been open again for business. Holidays were booked, destinations in holiday brochures discussed and the children all had their own Passports printed. The children were flown to their chosen destination on our Pre-School plane, with children taking turns at being the Captain and Stewards/Stewardesses. The Rising 5 children (Monday session) were extremely lucky to receive a visit from Captain May, who arrived in full uniform on his way to the airport. Captain May told the children about what happens when he arrives at the airport, and what duties he undertakes before take-off and during a flight. The children then asked him questions and told him about flights they had undertaken.

St Augustine's Farm Trip
The Rising 5 children visited St Augustine's Farm, Arlingham. The weather was not brilliant but that did not deter anyone from having a great time. The children had a fabulous time feeding the chickens, goats, sheep and nine-week-old calves. They also fed the pig that was due to have piglets at any time.

Stay and Play Sessions
Two Stay and Play sessions have been held during May and June, and the third will be taking place on Friday, 14 July, 1–2pm, at the Pre-School. New and existing children and parents are welcome to attend. We would like to thank everyone who attended the first two well-attended sessions. It was great to meet you.

In the Garden
The children have harvested Garlic, which they have taken home. They also pick Carrots, Sage, Rosemary and Parsley to use whilst they cook in the “Mud Kitchen”. Every child has planted Sunflower seeds, which they have taken home to replant in their gardens.

Redwood End of Year Trip. We will be going to Redwood for our end of year trip. The children are excited to be going as they will be travelling on a coach with their friends and family. Sunshine has been booked.

Rising 5s – PE sessions have continued in preparation for the older children's transition to Primary School in September. All the children enjoyed using the new recently purchased climbing frame.

A Sports Day was held in May at Charfield Primary School. The children were very enthusiastic about joining in and were well supported by their team members. Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend.

School Lunch. All the Rising 5 children went for lunch at Charfield Primary School at the end of June, supported by Pre-School staff. They were able to meet the kitchen staff, dinner ladies, teachers and other children at the school. Everyone was well behaved and coped with the new lunchtime routine extremely well. Well done!

Leavers' Party and Assembly. We will be having a Superheroes Leavers' Party for our Rising 5s followed by a Leavers' Assembly in the afternoon, which parents are invited to attend. The children have been invited to dress up as their favourite Superhero.

We wish all our Leavers “good luck” and look forward to them shouting over the fence to us in September and telling us about what they are learning and what a great time they are having. We will miss you!

Available Places – September 2017
We have limited places available for September 2017. If you would like a place, please contact me; details at the end of this report.

Waiting List 2018/19
The 2018/19 waiting list is open. If you would like to put your child's name on the list, please contact me; details at the end of this report.

30 Hours' Childcare Funding
A short guide setting out the eligibility requirements for 30 hours' childcare for parents of 3 and 4 year olds in England can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/ government/ publications/ 30-hours-free-childcare-eligibility

2 Year Old Funding
Under a Government scheme, South Gloucestershire Council offer early education to some two year olds for 15 hours per week. This free entitlement applies to about 40% of two year olds. Please visit the South Gloucestershire Council website for more details: http://www.southglos.gov.uk/ education-and-learning/ childcare/ free-childcare-for-2-year-olds/

Best wishes
Debra, Pre-School Manager
xxxx @ gmail.com 01454 26xxxx

10

Supported by a network of volunteers, Contact the Elderly organises monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for small groups of older people aged 75-plus who live alone, offering a regular and vital friendship link every month. The charity has been going since 1965 and there are now over 700 groups nationally, including several groups in South Glos, but we need more help in the Charfield, Wotton and Thornbury areas.

How it Works
Once a month, usually a Sunday afternoon, each older guest is collected from their home by a volunteer driver and taken to a volunteer host's home, where they join a small group for tea, a chat and some companionship. The group is warmly welcomed by a different host each month, but the charity's drivers and older guests remain the same. This means that over the months and years, acquaintances turn into friends and loneliness is replaced by companionship.

Volunteering – Three Main Ways to Help
Driver – Use your own car to collect guests and then take them to that month's host's home for tea. You'll do this once a month – or less often as a reserve.

Host – Welcome the group to your home for tea, just once or twice a year. You will need to live in a house with a downstairs toilet, and there can be no more than three steps on the way into the house.

Group Co-ordinator – Organise monthly tea parties and visit new older guests.

Be a Guest (or refer someone)

Do you know someone 75 years or over who lives alone, has little contact with friends and family and finds it a bit harder to get out and about? Our friendly tea parties are a lovely way to brighten up an empty Sunday! Guests are not expected to host any of the tea parties and the service is free.

To find out more, contact Lizzie Banfield, Development Officer, on xxxx @ contact-the-elderly.org.uk or 0117 422 xxxx. You can also check out the Contact the Elderly website: www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk

Summer's here, the corn is high and the countryside is blooming, time to get out and explore the footpaths around the village. My name is Steve Hake and for some years I've been the volunteer footpath warden for the village. In this unpaid role, I try to walk all the footpaths of the Parish at least once a year to check on the state of the paths and the stiles along them. If the landowner is not keeping a stile free of vegetation, I cut it back.
The landowner also has an obligation to roll back a path across a field after ploughing and to cut back the track of the path through any crop other than grass. Most of the farmers are good in this respect but some need reminding of their obligations and a couple of the paths in the south of the parish currently need their paths through crops restored. Obligation is a two-way thing and there is an onus on users of footpaths to observe the country code, not to stray off the footpath and keep their dogs under control. The cleaning up of dog fouling applies as much to footpaths as it does to pavements. Most of the repair of stiles, their installation (many have now been replaced with “kissing” gates) and signage is South Gloucestershire's responsibility, and I report instances requiring attention back to them. They are overstretched and sometimes it can take them a little while to action things.

To newcomers to the village, there is an excellent large scale map on the Charfield Parish Council website showing all the parish footpaths and their reference numbers. The website address is: http://charfieldparishcouncil.org.uk/ wp-content/ uploads/ 2015/ 01/ CPCv3PROW1.jpg

I am also on the Charfield Neighbourhood Plan (CNP) committee. In the committee's survey results, many of you stressed how important you considered footpaths and their connectivity with surrounding areas. In the survey:
91% of respondents were strongly or moderately in favour of improving the footpaths around the village (Q.43).
89% of respondents thought it was important or very important that the new developments had footpath connectivity to the rest of the village (Q.16).
64% of respondents wanted to see paths and cycle links fully integrating new developments into the existing village (Q.13). This is far from the case with the single road in and out of the “Charfield Village” development. The very name “Charfield village” for this new development when the existing village of Charfield is hundreds of years old seems a bit of an insult.
64% of respondents wanted connectivity using footpaths and cycleways to Wotton-under-Edge and the villages of Kingswood, Wickwar, Cromhall and Tortworth (Q.13).

Footpaths and a cycleway to Wotton-under-Edge were the most strongly supported, and there were 100 individual comments to Q.45 as to where such a connection should be sited. The comments included suggestions that it should link up Renishaw's, the Wotton Sports Community Foundation (WSCF) facilities (including the skate park), KLB School and Kingswood village. Some suggested it should follow the roads, where others felt it should go across fields. Several supported the idea that the route should be of cycleway standard.

11A footpath to Wotton was proposed at the turn of the millennium but ruled out on cost grounds. Since then several things have changed, so the idea is not totally dead but it is unlikely to be cheap or easy and probably the best we could hope for is that it would be built in stages. The new all-weather tarmac path from Wotton Road to the skate park is about ¼ mile long. This could be used as the start of a link to other areas. It was funded by WSCF and took 2 years to complete.

Questions 53 & 54 concerned Charfield's character assets, both housing and green spaces. From several comments written alongside the answers, it was clear that not everyone knew where all these places were. I must admit we were in the village 10+ years before we heard about and found out where Charfield meadow was!

Please do contact me if you have any queries on footpaths or would like to help me monitor the state of them.

Steve Hake 01454 26xxxx

Hello again everyone, hope you are all doing well and that you have made the most of the sunshine that we have had recently. Since the last CHADRA we have had quite a few little bits and bobs going on at the hall.

At the beginning of May we had our AGM where we elected a new group of trustees to form the management committee. We are always looking for people to join our ranks and help us run and improve this essential village community hub, so please get in touch if you want to get involved.

***WANTED – VOLUNTEER FINANCIAL TRUSTEE/TREASURER ***

We are, at the moment, specifically seeking to appoint a Financial Trustee/Treasurer to oversee and support the work of our new Financial Administrator who will be managing all day to day responsibilities. This is an essential role that we would like to fill ASAP. It is important to note that this role is specifically to oversee and support the work of the administrator, it does not involve day to day money management! Please email xxxx @ gmail.com if you are interested in helping us out!

Moving on …
At the end of May we held our 3rd fundraiser of 2017, Charfield Comedy Night, with some brilliant feedback from attendees, such as “Brilliant night! Thanks for bringing to Charfield” and “Absolutely hilarious. Not laughed so much in ages”. We even had a comment from our headline act Matt Richardson who tweeted out via social media “Home from an utterly gorgeous gig in Charfield. The maddest village I've ever visited …” so we might have to have another one of these events!

And finally, as I alluded to above, we have recruited our new Financial Administrator, Heather Giddens, who will now be the point of contact for all things Village Hall related (bookings and financial) on a day to day basis. You can email her directly via xxxx @ yahoo.com if you have any questions or enquiries; she would love to hear from you!

Date for your Diary
Charfield COMMUNITY FETE
SATURDAY 29th JULY, VILLAGE HALL PLAYING FIELD, 12–9PM
LOTS OF GREAT STALLS, ATTRACTIONS, FOOD + FUN!
LIVE MUSIC FROM 4pm ONWARDS
Many thanks to our generous sponsors
Crest Nicholson, Bellway, Charfield Parish Council, Renishaw, Rio Pools, Charfield Petrol Station, CHADRA, Pass and Totterdell, MJ Fews, Alderlay and all those who have given raffle prizes.
FREE ENTRY

Always a good day for all the family and people of all ages, and this year we are going into the night with live music right up until 9pm!

As always we will have big attractions like a GIANT climbing wall, bouncy castle, fun fair rides, donkey rides, etc, but this year we are adding to that Zorbs, an inflatable obstacle course, a petting zoo AND a dog show. Add to these amazing attractions, 30 stalls, live performances, tug of war competitions, an ice cream van, tuck shop, cakes, tea and coffee, BBQ and a raffle with a £100 CASH PRIZE – this is set to be a great day for everyone!

12

We should be dancing! Here, now, this moment, right now, is all there ever is.

Read any book on happiness and it is likely to tell you to set clear goals and then work towards achieving them.

You see the trouble with living for our goals is we forget to live for the now. The philosopher Alan Watts made the point that when you listen to a piece of music, you don't just skip to the end because that's where it all comes together.

You don't just read the last chapter of a book because, well, that's the climax. Yet in life, we are obsessed with endings. So we go to school to study for exams to go to a college to get into a university to get a job to do, well, what? To end up at some point in our 50s or 60s and think, “Is this it? Is this the thing I have been working for?” So maybe we should look at life, more like a piece of music and we should be dancing.

Most of you will know me as Steve who runs the village amdram group. But what you might not know is I have been passionately helping people achieve their goals and enhance their lives as a life Coach/Guide, motivational speaker and Cotswold Natural Mindfulness Walking Guide for the past 10 years. But it wasn't until a friend of mine invited me to a networking group that I stumbled upon the idea of using Collective Consciousness as a way of people supporting each other in their everyday lives. My aim is simply to create a network of people from all ages and walks of life who come together and support each other. The main foundation of the group will be to meet for a coffee in the village hall once a month and a guest speaker or I will deliver a presentation on their particular skills or service. Members will also have access to a private Facebook group and monthly email. There is no pressure to speak or get involved as everyone has a different story and reason to join. But what you will get is the immense feeling of empowerment and a will to achieve that you can only get when a group of like-minded people comes together. So if you're looking to start a new fitness routine or career, kick an old habit, or maybe just have a brew and a morning out from your normal life, you will find it.

The first meeting is free and details will be posted in the next Charfield Newsletter, but for more information or to be a guest speaker at a future event, please email me at xxxx @ googlemail.com or phone me on 07984 34xxxx.

As holiday season is upon us, please make sure your houses and outbuildings are secure and consider using timer switches for lamps and perhaps getting a trusted friend or neighbour to check your property whilst you are away.

We have had a recent attempt to enter a house whilst the occupant was on holiday. Remember, an illuminated house, perhaps with a car on the driveway, looks less empty.

We have also had recent reports of vans driving around the South Gloucestershire area looking for scrap and unattended items left in front gardens and on driveways. Even if items are unwanted, please try not to leave them where they will attract thieves. Even if it is only your unwanted items they take, there is also the possibility that they will take items that weren't left out for an invited collection. Tools and light machinery are always a favourite for opportunist thieves, so if you are working in the garden, please do not leave tools unattended, or in unlocked vehicles overnight. It is common for burglars to use a householder's tools to try and gain entry into a property.

How would you like to start a Neighbourhood Watch in your street? NHW is an effective crime prevention system, and members are alerted of suspicious incidents in the area, and possibly get a discount on their household insurance just for being a member. Local watches do not need to be large. In fact, ideally, a group would consist of the residents of one small street or cul-de-sac, with a coordinator bringing all the information together and spreading the word amongst the group. We have lots of information about NHW, so if you are interested, we have details of our NHW scheme on our website.

If you see anything suspicious, or a crime in progress, use 999 to call us, and 101 for non-emergency issues. You can also contact us through the police force website at www.avonandsomerset.police.uk.

PCSO Haley Bromley
PC Lee Bainbridge

A couple of issues ago I wrote about Terry Gardiner and his book Iraq, The Rape of a Country. After spending his working life in Iraq, Terry produced his book giving a very different view on some of the events that we have all seen and read about in the media. He wrote, not with commercial ends in mind, but with a passionate need to tell his story.

His book is now being re-issued and is available worldwide on Amazon. He has had interest in his very human story shown from many quarters and has been asked to appear on Good Morning Britain, so remember, when it goes global, you read about it first in the Charfield Newsletter!

Barbara Adams

13

You are warmly invited to our services and events; please read on for further details.

Sunshine children's club (Thursdays 6–7pm) Primarily for 4–11 year olds. We always have games, crafts, a short Christian based talk or Bible story and refreshments. Our end of term party is 20th July and we will start back after the summer on 7th September. The club is term time only.

Senior's Club (Wednesdays 2–4.30pm – fortnightly) Club activities include chess, draughts, boules, table tennis, knitting, crocheting, music and much more. We have sofas in the lounge for you to sit quietly and chat, if you prefer. Refreshments are available throughout. The next two dates are: 12th July and 26th July.

Let's get back to basics course – 26th September This will be a 6-week course on Tuesday evenings from Tuesday 26th September. The course will be run by ‘Ben’ Huddleston, Christian speaker and author. Please contact us should you require further information.

Christmas Shoe Box Appeal 2017 This year the shoe boxes will be going to Oradea in Romania. If you would like to donate items for the shoe boxes or come along and help wrap the boxes, you would be most welcome. Empty shoe boxes (average size) are always useful too.

Sunday Services are held every Sunday at 11am with refreshments served afterwards. We also have a Sunday school where all children are welcome, and a teen class where young people can ask questions and enjoy crafts.

For more information on any of the above, please feel free to contact
April Palmer – 01453 84xxxx / email: xxxx @ hotmail.co.uk
Terry Palmer – 01453 52xxxx / 07968 74xxxx

For the small price of £12 (£1 per month) you can be entered into 12 monthly draws with multiple cash prize winners EVERY month.

In the last 2 years alone the village lottery has given out over £1100 in prize money.

TO JOIN: Please get in touch with Ruth at: xxxx @ gmail.com.

Isn't it incredible how quickly the seasons come and go. Trees, plants and flowers come into bloom and then just as quickly seem to fade. Since my last note we have been treated to another splendid display of poppies on the corner of Little Bristol Lane. We originally planted them for the 100th anniversary of the start of WW I and after next year's anniversary of the end of the Great War we may think of doing something different on that corner. If you have any suggestions, we would love to hear them. We are planning to add an extra tree there this Autumn too.

Our new helpers Ian, Michelle and Kate are doing a splendid job on the bed at the front of the Primary School, and our regulars are working hard to keep improving the verges coming down the hill to the village from Tafern Bach and at the Viewpoint.

We lost our dear friend Mo since I last wrote and we all miss her very much, but we are so pleased that her daughter Juanita is carrying on her tradition of being a great CUGUC supporter.

I hope that lots of you will visit our stall at the Charfield fete on July 29th and look out for news of an Open Garden and Afternoon Tea event later in the summer. We always need extra help so if you have any spare time please get in touch and join our merry band at CUGUC.

Sue Simmons Chair of Clean Up Green Up Charfield.
xxxx @ gmail.com

This term in Caterpillar Class (Reception), our topic is ‘The Seaside’. As we don't have a beach in Charfield, we decided to become pen pals with a school in South Shields, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. They have got a beach that is only a ten minute walk from their school! First, we sent off our class teddy, Bill the Badger, in the post to go and visit the school. In return, we received their class teddy ‘Rosie’. We then asked the children to think of what they thought was important to know about Charfield. We had many suggestions ranging from the park to Steve's shop and even the pub! We then decided to go out and visit these landmarks in small groups. The children were given an iPad or camera each and were able to independently take pictures of what they wanted to show off in Charfield. Even ‘Rosie the Bear’ came with us to visit the landmarks of 14Charfield! When we got back to the classroom, the children wrote letters to the pupils at South Shields School introducing themselves and telling them what Charfield is like. They also asked questions about South Shields to find out how similar it is to Charfield. We have posted off these letters with all of our pictures and are expecting a reply very soon!

[Photos]

Childcare Business Opportunity
The pre-school based at the Log Cabin in the grounds of Tortworth Primary school has recently closed.

This lovely building, in ideal surroundings, is now available, fully equipped, to be run as a childcare facility for pre-school, nursery, before and after school clubs, or even summer play schemes.

For more details contact:
Ben Goodare: 07825 11xxxx
Sally Moreton: 01454 26xxxx / 07860 28xxxx
Or Tortworth Primary School: 01454 26xxxx

When we moved to Charfield I loved the countryside, but we never really ventured out into it! We would drive somewhere to go for a hike, quite forgetting everything we have on the doorstep. In 2004 I signed up to do the Ribbon Walk, as much as a way of getting regular exercise as for its fundraising element. With my walking buddy we devised ever longer routes to get the training miles in.

The first of these was “the loop”, a term familiar to many in Charfield. About 3 miles, our best time recorded is 42 minutes.

[Photo: Devil's Lane] The first few walks up Devil's Lane involved stopping several times as we were so puffed out, hard to believe now when we stride up the lane in full flow of conversation! A chat and a walk is a very good way of getting rid of tension or frustrations. We covered many topics on those walks and formed a wonderful friendship.

So clockwise or anti-clockwise? My preference is clockwise, along from the hall, up Little Bristol Lane, past where the phone box used to be (it is interesting to reflect on the many subtle changes over the years), on to the bend at the end of the lane, past the house with the beautiful Dobermans who bark like crazy if the wind is in the right/wrong direction. From there, it's right down the lane to Meadow View farm, left to start the climb up Devil's Lane, hoping you don't meet a tractor or worse – a lorry following its Satnav which seems to think it is the best route to the village – and finally you see the tree near the top of the lane and the hard bit's done! Round to the right, past the farm yard (2 two more inquisitive dogs) and then round to the right, past St James's Church and burial ground.

[Photo: New graveyard]

Enjoy the beautiful views across the whole of Charfield and further afield to the batman house on Swinhay Lane, Nibley Tower and Wotton. A great opportunity to reflect on the wonderful place we live in and the joy of being able to see such a lovely view only a short(ish) walk from your doorstep. Past Manor Farm House, to the top of the village, finally reaching the much argued about roundabout which seems to now have been there forever and I cannot imagine the perils of the junction before it!

[Photo] Down the hill (practice your Pilates by holding your core and keeping a soft bend in the knee!), admire the work of CUGUC on the bank by the road and pass the handily placed seat for admiring the view. Is it Friday evening? If so, stop for a drink at the Pear Tree, or carry on past the school and arrive back where you started.

Perhaps you have a favourite route around the village which you would like to share with others? If so send details and pictures to xxxx @ gmail.com.

BINGO

Every MONDAY NIGHT at the Memorial Hall

7.30pm for 8.00pm start – Bar available

For information contact Terry White 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: 2017-09-25.