Harvest Celebrations in Chearsley
The village hall looked resplendent for the Harvest Supper on Friday September 23, when flickering candelabras on delightful oak tables, laden with a great spread of home produced food set the scene for another well supported and noisy village occasion. There was a wealth of home-grown entertainment, including a song from Fenella, a vicar sketch from Sheepy, an opera song from Neville who then dressed as a nun to take part in a rendition of “How do you solve a problem like Maria” and not least, our vicar, Richard who bravely joined in and played the piano to accompany his wife Louse with her beautiful flute music.
There were many splendid raffle prizes all kindly donated by local businesses and friends of Chearsley and 2 auction prizes. An amount of over £1000 was raised from the raffle and auction which will go to the Maggie’s Centre in Oxford – a place of sanctuary, a place to have a cup of tea and a chat with people who understand the emotional and physical toil of lengthy, often debilitating treatment, and where several Chearsley villagers have found great support recently. Tara and her team , including several youngsters volunteering to be waiters and waitresses, are to be congratulated on their hard work in providing a wonderful, successful evening.
Harvest Festival was held the next day in the church with beautiful floral decorations, loaves and other produce with a giant harvest mosaic displayed above the altar. This was the work of many of the village children working with Alicia on 2 Saturday morning sessions to make a mosaic of coloured paper on canvas. This will remain in the church for a few weeks and is well worth a visit. All proceeds from the Festival were taken to Steppin’ Stone centre for the homeless in Oxford. Photos and more details of the supper and festival can be found on the church web page.
Parish Council Meeting and Potholes
I had planned to attend this meeting on Monday September 26, but was led astray to the cinema for a great evening watching Bridget Jones Baby! I have had some feedback however, concerning village potholes. The Parish Council urges us all to contact Bucks County Council with details of any potholes in any of the village roads. It is felt that the only way to get the holes mended is by constantly reporting these holes and not just leaving it for someone else to do. It can be done quite easily over the internet, by visiting http://transportforbucks.net/report-it-pothole.aspx where you will be asked to enter your postcode and pinpoint where the pothole is located. Alternatively you could phone Transport and roads at Bucks County Council on 01296 382316.
Parish Council Next Meeting
I hope to have details of the last meeting held on Monday September 26 in due course, but please note the date of the October meeting which will be on Monday October 17 at 7.30pm in the village hall. The Council would really appreciate more support and attendance at their monthly meetings. We compare badly to other nearby villages who offer much more support and help to their Parish Council. I understand there were about 20 at one recent meeting, whereas, Chearsley are lucky if they get four or five.
Please do think about coming to this next meeting, to find out what is being discussed and to offer comments and opinions on any matters under discussion and on decisions made and any other topics you would like to raise. It is our village after all and the councillors are volunteers in their spare time to make it the best it can be. They need our help.
Don’t Miss Out - Utterly Spiffing Magic Show Friday October 7
There is still time to buy tickets for this show “where magic and silliness abound” in the village hall starting at 6.30pm. Ring Margaret on 01844 208913. The show is suitable for children of all ages from 5 upwards. Refreshments available from 6pm.
Operation Dynamo by Jean Daish
I was pleased to hear from Jean Daish recently with news that her second book Operation Dynamo has now been published by Olympia, a sequel to Operation Pied Piper published in 2013. This second book, like her first, follows the lives and adventures of 6 young evacuees who are separated from their families in Leeds at the start of World War I as part of the evacuee programme and sent to Padstow in Cornwall to escape the bombing when homesickness is replaced by adventure in a land of legend and gossip. Operation Dynamo is set against the backdrop of events leading up to the retreat from Dunkirk and concludes with The Battle of Britain. Both books are aimed at children aged 8 to 13.
Operation Dynamo is available locally from The Book House in Thame and Waddesdon House Book Shop price £6.99 as well as from other well known book shops and through the internet. Jean who recently moved from Chearsley with her husband, John, was born in Leeds, lived in Cornwall for several years and began writing, inspired by the birth of her first grandchild, with short stories, articles and poetry for children. I know many villagers have read and enjoyed her first book and will be delighted to have another book by Jean to read.
Charity Evening with Bette Davis
Bette Davis On The Edge written and performed by Christine St. John will be performed at The Bernard Hall, Cuddington on Saturday November 12 at 7.45pm with doors open at 7pm for canapés. Tickets cost £10 each to include canapés. There will be a bar and raffle (with some very good prizes I understand). Enjoy the comfort of the upholstered seats and appreciate the new lighting and acoustics recently installed, funded by proceeds from the Village Picture House. Proceeds from this evening will be shared between Shikuku Shining Stars Academy in Kakamega, Kenya and The Finley Newell Mobility and Equipment Fund. The school in Kenya was built, staffed and continues to be funded by Dorisilla Shikuku, a mid-wife in London and the Cuddington Youth Drama led by Elaine English have been helping to support this school which now has 10 teachers and 120 children. Money from this event will help pay the teachers’ salaries and provide food for lunches for the children.
Finley Newell, now a lively bright and fun loving 3 year old and the grandson of Liz and Steve Davies who live in Cuddington was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2, a progressive neuromuscular disease when he was 13 months old which means he will never be able to walk. His swallowing and respiratory muscles are also affected leaving him vulnerable to serious chest infections entailing hospital admissions. Funding is now needed for an extension to be made to the family home in Haddenham to make it wheelchair friendly, provide a through-floor lift and a specialized bathroom. The Bette Davis evening begins on October 31 1962 at 4.30 in the morning when Bette Davis is anxiously waiting for the reviews of “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane”. As she waits, she reflects on her entire career from the “talkies” to the present day. For tickets, please contact Liz Davies on 01844 299150 or see www.cuddingtonvillage.com/arts.
Refuse Collections: Wednesday October 5 when the blue lidded recycling bins and food bins will be collected
Church Services at St Nicholas:
- Sunday October 2 10am Family Communion
- Tuesday October 4 Bingo at The Bell for cash prizes Eyes down at 8.30ish
- Wednesday October 5 Pub lunch at The Bell at 12.30pm. Everyone welcome. Ring Sharon at The Bell on 01844 208077 to book.
- Friday October 7 Theatre in the Villages with Morgan & West’s Utterly Spiffing Spectacular Magic Show in the village hall Doors open at 6pm for refreshments for 6.30pm start.
- Sunday October 9 Monthly Quiz at The Bell at 8pm. Come on your own or in a team. You will be made very welcome.
- Friday October 14 Chearsley Boys Calendar launch at The Bell at 8pm
- Saturday November 12 Bette Davis On the Edge Charity Evening at The Bernard Hall, Cuddington Ring Liz Davies on 01844 299150 for tickets
- Saturday November 26 “ Murder at The Manor” with The Thame Players at the village hall. Fund raising for the new village hall. Tickets £15 to include 2 course dinner. Email chearsleyvillagehall@hotmail.co.uk
- Saturday December 3 11am to 1pm Elevensies in the village hall with Christmas food and crafts to buy
