Wednesday 24 February 2016

Mothering Sunday

Children are invited to come and bunch flowers with Joy at her house on Saturday morning 5th March from 10.30 am. Donations of small flowers and foliage would be much appreciated.

Monday 22 February 2016

Village News

with Margaret Morbey

Chearsley Living Through History
The Life and Times of a small village in Buckinghamshire was written by Ted Hooton resident for many years in Chearsley, and published in 1994. All the copies originally printed have long been sold and many villagers are proud to possess copies signed by Ted and often dip into the book’s pages to refresh their knowledge of the history of particular houses or to recall say when the village school closed or to be reminded of past celebrations held in the village. It has now been suggested that the book should be reprinted with a possible final chapter to bring it up to date and this is being looked into with the support of the Parish Council.
The Council would be interested to know of villagers who have moved into Chearsley since the book was first published and who would like to have their own copy. Please let me, or any member of the Parish Council know if you would be interested in this purchase should the book be re-printed. Similarly, as the original printers, Bucks Print no longer operate, any suggestions of suitable printers would be appreciated.

Steve Lock

Joy Payne tells me that donations in Steve’s memory can be made to The Not Forgotten Association, a charity which Steve was very involved with. This is a tri-service charity formed in 1920, older than the British Legion, which provides entertainment and recreation for the serving wounded, injured or sick and for ex-servicemen and women with disabilities. Steve actively supported the work of this organisation for many years, helping and giving practical advice to ex-servicemen and women and their families in times of trouble. He walked alongside them at Remembrance Day parades at the Cenotaph. Despite being very weak, he marched at the Cenotaph last November .
There is a tribute to Steve on The Not Forgotten Association’s website “Everyone at The Not Forgotten Association was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Stephen Lock who became one of our volunteers in 2014. We were so pleased when Steve agreed to become a volunteer because he represented The Royal Air Force which he had served with great pride. Steve gave a great deal of his enthusiasm and commitment to the Association especially at the very high profile Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace royal events, where his experience was a huge help in the smooth running of these activities”.
At Steve’s funeral at Chearsley Church on Friday February 26 at 12 noon there will be the opportunity to donate to this charity in Steve’s memory, or Joy is happy to receive donations which she will then pass on.

Parish Council Meeting held Monday on February 15 - Five members of the public were present and all the councillors.
  • Planning matters: Site meetings were arranged to consider planning applications at The Old Orchard, Church Lane and at Byeways, the Green.
  • Work at The War Memorial area. Tree work and hedge reduction is planned to take place at the end of February. The hornbeams on The Green and the walnut tree by the phone box will also be trimmed. A new flagpole will then be installed in its new position near to the War Memorial. The council would be interested to hear from anyone who would be willing to take on the duties of raising the flag on appropriate occasions.
  • Vehicle Activated Sign Paul Bown has now looked into the history of the VAS sign and reported that from the start, 3 years ago, it never worked satisfactorily. Adam Lazaruk had tried very hard to get it working, going back to the firm who supplied it for advice and is thanked for all his efforts. However, it is now considered to be outdated and obsolete. Paul is to contact the manufacturers again to see if the problem can be resolved, before giving up on the scheme, which is considered to be successful in other areas.
  • Defibrilator John Howard has now been given an overall cost of £1,400 plus a small installation cost. An electricity supply would also be needed and there would be some on-going costs for the battery and other items. Training would also be provided . He would be consulting with Angela Gray of the Fete committee who had agreed to fund the purchase from the proceeds of the fete and would then go ahead. The probable siting would be close to the shop.
  • Noticeboard Julia Witcher reported that delivery of this was expected very shortly and Mike Heybrook agreed to oversee a work party to install it on or near to the existing site. The railings in this area need repainting or replacing, and Julia agreed to arrange for their repainting in the Spring. The bus stop posts on both sides of the road need replacing. The bus company has so far failed to respond to requests to look into this.
  • New Village Hall Mike Heybrook reported that new plans had been agreed by the Village Hall committee and there would be a meeting and presentation for the village in April.
  • Highways and traffic calming Nic Brown is very mindful of the speeding and traffic problem, of the damage done to verges and to the parking problems in the village and reported he had been speaking to Margaret Aston, Bucks County Councillor for her help and suggestions in promoting a project for discussions with others about the problem. It was suggested that Paul Irwin, Bucks County Councillor for Stone and Waddesdon should be contacted. Information gathered for the Village Plan should be kept in mind.
  • Horse Chestnut tree There has been a more optimistic report on the tree by another tree surgeon with hopes that the tree can be saved. Further tests costing £300 will reveal more. It was agreed that these should be carried out.
  • Chilton Road Work on the footpath and kerbing has now started. Julia also pointed out that there is no Chearsley sign or white gates on this road and would be investigating the cost of obtaining these.
  • A tree which is overhanging the Aylesbury Road opposite the Old Vicarage drive was considered a possible danger by a villager. It was suggested that Bucks County Council be contacted for advice.
  • The next meeting will take place on Monday March 21 at 7.30 in the village hall.
  • Recent verge and traffic sign damage at the Winchendon Road It is likely that most of the village has seen the new mess in Chearsley, which occurred on Tuesday evening by a lorry. The driver didn’t stop but a witness noted the name on the lorry – APL Logistics. Rest assured that the Parish Council is aware of the incident, have photos of the damage caused and will be taking the matter further.

Litter Pick
A reminder to everyone that the Heybrook family are organising a litter Pick on Tuesday March 1st. The more people who come to help, the sooner a welcome cup of coffee and cake can be enjoyed at The Bell afterwards. Please meet outside the shop at 10am, bringing gloves and wearing bright clothing. Bin bags will be supplied.

Vacancies for Pre-School Assistants at Chuf Chearsley Under Fives is a registered charity with venues at Chearsley and Haddenham. It was awarded a “Good” rating by Ofsted last year recognising that Chuf provide a happy, secure and supportive environment for the children. They currently have a vacancy for 2 part time pre-school assistants. Hours are negotiable and will be term time only. Previous experience and pre-school qualifications would be an advantage but is not essential as training is available.
If you would like to join their dedicated team, please apply by downloading an application form from their website www.chuf.co.uk or ring 01844 299123 for more information, or email info@chufpreschool.oc.uk. The closing date for applications is February 29 with interviews being held at the beginning of March.

Church Services at St Nicholas:
  • Sunday February 28 Family Service at 10am
  • Sunday March 6 Mothering Sunday 10am Family Holy Communion. Always the fourth Sunday in Lent, this is a special day when families often gather together at home. Many also come to their “mother” church to celebrate the joy of human love and give thanks for the love and care of others especially their mothers. Rock Solid Youth Group meet from 6 to 7.30pm.
Diary Dates:
  • Tuesday March 1 Village Litter Pick at 10am
  • Tuesday March 1 Bingo at The Bell at 8.30pm.
  • Friday March 4 at 8pm Chuf Quiz and Auction in the village hall Friday at 8pm
  • Sunday March 6 Quiz Night in The Bell at 8pm. Come on your own or in a team.

Thursday 18 February 2016

CHUF - Vacancy for Pre-School Assistants


Vacancy
Pre-School Assistants

Chearsley & Haddenham Under Fives have a vacancy for two Part-time Pre-School Assistants.
Hours are negotiable and will be term-time only.
Previous experience and pre-school qualifications would be an advantage, but are not essential as training is available.

Chearsley and Haddenham Under Fives is a registered charity.  We were awarded a “Good” rating by Ofsted last year recognising that we provide a happy, secure and supportive environment to our children.  If you would like to join our dedicated team we would love to hear from you.

To apply, please download an application form from our website, www.chuf.co.uk. For any queries contact us on 01844 299123 or email info@chufpreschool.co.uk

Closing date for applications is Tuesday 23rd  February 2016.
Interviews will be held on: 2nd, 3rd & 4th March 2016

Monday 15 February 2016

Village News

with Margaret Morbey

New Village Hall update 
The plan for a new village hall has now been agreed by The Village hall Management committee and details are now available to view on the Village Hall webpage. Details of a meeting for the village to view and discuss the plan is the next step which will be made known in due course.

Steve Lock
Many villagers will have known that Steve of Manor Villas had been undergoing treatment for cancer and it is very sad to learn that Steve died on Sunday evening, February 7th, with his family around him at the home of Joy Payne, who had become a very good friend of his. His funeral will take place at St Nicholas, Chearsley, on Friday 26th February at 12:00pm.
Love and sympathies go to Joy and Steve’s family.

Shop News
The National Lottery is now at our shop. The shop has been selling scratch cards successfully for quite a while and this has now led to Chearsley shop being allowed to sell National Lottery tickets. This is good news for Sugi and Jeyan as the purchase of any National Lottery tickets at the shop will earn them a small amount of commission. So, if you are a regular supporter of the National Lottery or just feel like buying an occasional ticket, remember to buy your ticket at Chearsley Shop. Have a go, you may be lucky.

Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust- 
there will be a presentation by the Aylesbury Housing Trust on their proposals for new houses at 2 – 4 Winchendon Road. This will be held in the village hall on Tuesday February 23 from 2.30 to 7.30pm and everyone is welcome to come and have a look and discuss the plans.

Waitrose Community Charity
You may be aware that Chuf, our local pre-school, is one of the chosen charities at the moment in Waitrose in Thame. Please take every opportunity to obtain the green tokens to post in the appropriate box as you leave the store.

Chuf Quiz and Auction
Chuf is holding this fund-raising event on Friday March 4 at 8pm in Chearsley village hall. A quiz and auction of many prizes. Tickets are £5 which can be bought individually or in tables of 8 or 10. Please bring your own drinks and nibbles. A booking form can be picked up from Chuf sessions at Chearsley or Haddenham or downloaded from their website www.chuf.co.uk or contact Angela on 07890563597. All proceeds will be invested in Chuf for the purchase of extra equipment and materials.

Open House Lent Group
Sharon and Darren Sampson of Cloverdale, Lower Green Lane are having open evening get-togethers every Thursday during Lent. Between 8 and 9pm on these evenings until March 17 you are invited to drop in, watch a DVD clip and join in interesting debates and enjoy refreshments. Phone them on 208740 for more details.

Church Services at St Nicholas;
  • Sunday February 21 Holy Communion at 9am
Diary Dates:
  • Monday February 15 Parish Council Meeting in the village hall at 8pm
  • Monday February 22 Mobile Library from 10 to 10.25am
  • Tuesday February 23 Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust presentation 2.30 to 7.30 in the village hall
  • Wednesday February 24 Lunch at The Bell at 12.30pm. £7.50 for main meal and pudding and tea or coffee. Let me know or Sharon at The Bell if you would like to come a few days beforehand and to select your menu choice, which includes a main of chicken pie, cottage pie or scampi and chips
  • Tuesday March 1 Village Litter Pick at 10am
  • Tuesday March 1 Bingo at The Bell at 8.30pm
  • Friday March 4 at 8pm Chuf Quiz and Auction in the village hall Friday at 8pm

Tuesday 9 February 2016

Village News

with Margaret Morbey

New Date for Chearsley Classic and Vintage Fun Day is Sunday September 11
Please note that this is now a new date. There has been an alteration from Sunday September 25 to be sure of a Spitfire flypast taking place over the cricket field at the event. Up to date information of the programme on the day and details of how to arrange to show a classic car you may have will be found in the coming months on their website www.ccvfd.co.uk.

Chearsley Cricket Club
A busy season is planned for the Club both on the field and developing facilities. The security of a 50 year lease on the ground by the Heybrook family means the Club can now plan for the future and apply for development grants. Their first priority for the start of the season is to provide practice nets with an all-weather surface and to replace the sight screens, which have become a victim of Storm Desmond. Improvements to the pavilion are planned and weekend work parties will soon be starting. Anyone who would like to volunteer to help is very welcome.
The 1st XI Seniors captained by James Veness will be playing in Division 5 of the Cherwell League. Their first league match will be on May 7. Neil Davies who played for the Club as a junior and went on to play for and captain the 1st XI for seven seasons has now completed his move to Lincolnshire with his family. He is thanked for his dedication to the Club.
The 2nd XI Seniors finished a well deserved 4th in Division 9 under the tutelage of Adam Lazaruk. There will be a programme of Sunday and social fixtures, including the Chairman’s Match on Sunday July 17 where 2 teams will do battle for the Steve Vear trophy. The Ann Veness Memorial match will be on Sunday August 21. The Club will also host 2 Bucks Veterans Matches again when Bucks play Surrey on June 29 and Bucks play Sussex on July 13.
Indoor practice nets at Ashfold School will be held on the last 3 Thursdays in March. More players are always needed of whatever standard.
The Juniors continue to thrive with over 100 youngsters registered last season. The Club plans to strengthen their coaching resources to support Head Coach, Dave Richards. Coaching evenings will start on Tuesday April 12. Rugby Six Nations 2016 has now started and all England and some other matches will be screened at the pavilion. The club are pleased to have concluded a 5year sponsorship deal with RGL Surveys.

Fund-raising events include a Quiz Night on Saturday April 16 in the village hall with quiz maestro, Larry Warr, and the Classic and Vintage Fun Day on Sunday September 11. To keep up to date with events and news, go to www.pitchero.com/clubs/chearsleycricketclub/.

The Bell
Sharon and her staff have been busy coming up with tempting offers for the coming month at The Bell.
Gourmet Burger Night will be held every Thursday evening when a choice of home-made lamb or beef burgers, chicken breast burger or a mixed bean burger all with associated accompaniments will be available for £9.95.
Two 4 Tuesday offers 2 courses for £11 from a menu choice of 3 starters, mains and desserts and this is available at lunch and evening times.
2 Fish and Chips on Fridays will continue to be available for £15.
Valentine’s Meal Valentine’s Day on Sunday February 14 can be celebrated at The Bell, with the advantage of no driving and assured of a warm welcome and good food. The Bell is offering a 2 course menu for £28.95 per couple; an extra course can be added for £2 per person. The starters include a choice of prawns, liver pate or pea and yogurt soup; for the main course, a fish curry, sirloin steak, chicken scaloppini or penne pasta and puddings of chocolate mousse, lemon posset or cheese and biscuits. Please book as soon as possible by contact Sharon at Sharon@thebellchearsley.co.uk and give her your choice of menu.

St Nicholas Church
A great deal of work has been carried out during the past months by church members towards the process of advertising for a new vicar. Adverts have been placed online and in The Church Times. The closing date for applications for this post was February 5 and interviews will be held on March 1st.
AGM of the Parochial Church Council and Afternoon Tea on Sunday April 17 at 3.30pm Everyone is welcome to this social occasion in the village hall on April which is an opportunity to hear what has been happening over the past year in our village church community and a chance to vote for our churchwardens and members of the PCC. Also to say goodbye to those retiring from office and to welcome new people who would like to become involved. There will also be news of where things stand in securing a new vicar. There will be an infants’ play area at the back of the hall, supervised by teenagers.

Date of Next Parish Council is Monday February 15 at 7.30pm in the village hall. The Parish council welcomes everyone to their monthly meetings to help them in decisions about our village. There are 2 opportunities for opinions or comments to be made by the public on any concerns held or on decisions made by the Council. Please see the notice board for details of January’s Minutes and to see a copy of the agenda.

Church Services at St Nicholas :
  • Sunday February 14 10 am Morning Celebration and Evensong at 6pm
Diary Dates:
  • Monday February 15 at 7.30pm Parish Council meeting in the village hall
  • Monday February 22 Mobile Library from 10 to 10.25am
  • Wednesday February 24 Lunch at The Bell at 12.30pm. £7.50 for main meal and pudding and tea or coffee. Let me or Sharon at The Bell know if you would like to come a few days beforehand and to select your menu choice, which includes a main of chicken pie, cottage pie or scampi and chips
  • Tuesday March 1 Village Litter Pick at 10am