with Margaret Morbey
Twelfth Night Celebrations
On Sunday January 5th, Chearsley’s wassailing revellers enjoyed a wonderful evening of fine food and entertainment in a very traditional celebration of Twelfth Night in the Village Hall, which provided a spectacular setting for the evening thanks to the tireless efforts of Joy Payne and helpers. Proceedings began with the drawing of lots to choose the Master of Ceremonies. John Wynburn was duly elected as the Lord of Misrule. His duty was to “turn the world upside down” and he passed the test with aplomb. After enjoying a sumptuous banquet and a large slice of Beryl Wright’s delicious Twelfth Night Cake, diners then sat back and enjoyed a full programme of home-grown entertainment – no doubting that Chearsley’s got talent. Songs were performed by Jenny Scholefield, Joy Payne, Mike Heybrook, Giles Witcher and Chris Mundy.
Poems were read by Alicia Howard, Colm Henry and Darren Sampson, and there were performances by the St Nicholas Christmas Choir and Chearsley Handbell Ringers.
Sincere thanks to the many who helped in putting together such a wonderful and memorable evening, with special mention to the main organisers, Anne Pratt and Julia Witcher. The evening raised a total of £600 for the Three New Bells for St Nicholas. A full report and a selection of photographs can be found on the St Nicholas Church website here.
Parish Council Meeting Monday January 13
A full house of Parish Councillors under the Chairmanship of Nic Brown attended this meeting when five members of the public were present. The chairman noted that due to an oversight the agenda for the meeting had not been publicised.
Laura, representing the Heybrook family, announced that there would be a public exhibition of plans of their housing development in Stony Furlong, land by the Cricket Ground, in the village hall on Thursday January 30 from 4.00pm until 8.00pm. Any discussion by the Parish Council of this proposed planning development would not include Mike Heybrook in view of a conflict of interest.
Other planning matters - a site meeting at 5 Bernard's Close was arranged to consider the recent planning application.
Village Plan Update – John Lewis reported that the final version of the Plan which had taken all comments into consideration , and now been altered particularly in the housing section, would very shortly be approved by the committee. It is hoped that this would then be printed and distributed to every house in the village, together with a voting form by the end of the month. The voting form would enable each member of the family to be able to vote yes or no to approving adoption of the Village Plan. As an incentive and encouragement for the voting papers to be completed, there would be a bottle of champagne to be won. Presuming voting was in favour of the Plan, the Parish Council would be asked to adopt the Plan.
Trees – Around 40 trees were planted around the village to replace the elm trees when they died from Dutch Elm disease. A plan of where these trees are should be drawn up in order to inspect and assess their condition as to whether they need trimming. John Lewis is arranging to have trees which overhang his own property trimmed.
Living Christmas Tree – the suggestion by Nic Brown of planting a tree on The Green which would serve as the Christmas tree each year, rather than having the expense of buying and installing one each Christmas was not well received by the Council. Perhaps a sponsor could be found to provide the tree each year. Nic thanked the team of helpers who installed it and to Paul Oliver for doing the electrics.
Trees on the Green – it was agreed that the existing sycamore which had been trimmed in the hope of its survival, should be now removed. Permission for this, being a diseased tree was already in place. The stump and the stump of the sycamore already felled should be ground out. The three hornbeams should be looked at again as to whether they needed more trimming. It was pointed out that these three hornbeams were originally planted to replace the three sycamores. Sandra and Julia agreed to look into a possible place where a tree or trees could be planted to replace the felled sycamore.
Verge cutting – Claire Lazaruk was looking into the possibility of Chearsley being responsible for the cutting of the verges and having the Bucks County Council budget for this.
Moveable Vehicle Activated Signs – One of these had now been acquired and four sites decided upon – on all roads into the village in the hope that the flashing sign would remind motorists of the 30mph speed limit and slow them down. The sign could then be moved from one site to the other by the village at any time.
Date of next meetings : Monday February 10 at 7.30 in the village hall, and Monday March 17 at 7.30pm in the village hall. The agenda for these meetings would be displayed on the noticeboard at least three days beforehand. Nic asked that the Minutes of this meeting be circulated within seven days.
Waddesdon Plant Centre - I have been a volunteer at Waddesdon Plant Centre for more than five years, doing a variety of tasks, watering and tending the plants both inside the greenhouse and outside, planting and displaying, and generally helping to keep the always wonderful display of plants and pots looking as good as possible. It is now very sad news to be told that the Plant Centre including the very popular Glasshouse cafe is to close at the end of February. The centre has not been making money over the past few years and there are now major things which need investment, updating and improving – the car park, the toilets, the boiler, the green house roof. A sale of most items starts on Friday January 17.
Many of the events which were held at The Plant Centre throughout the year will be accommodated in The Manor grounds. I shall miss my weekly visit to Waddesdon, a place where being amongst thriving plants, imaginatively displayed by the talented staff inspired and encouraged me to come home and enjoy my own gardening and I shall miss the friends I have made there. I would often bump into Chearsley villagers who had come to look around, always finding pleasure at the displays of plants, pots and the home living accessories and gifts, enjoying coffee or lunch in the glasshouse cafe and never going home empty handed. Waddesdon Plant Centre will be missed by many.
Diary Dates
Church services at Nicholas Church
Sunday January 26 - Family Service at 10.00am
Monday January 27 - Monthly visit of the Mobile Library at 10.00am until 10.25am at The Bell Car Park
Saturday January 25 - Burns Night Celebration Meal at The Bell – reserve your place with The Bell
Wednesday January 29 - Chearsley Pub lunch at 12.30pm– please contact me on 208913 as soon as possible if you would like to come.
Thursday January 30 - 4.00 to 8.00pm in the village hall - Exhibition of proposed housing development at Stony Furlong
