Funding Boost for New Village Hall
The Village Hall Management Committee is delighted to announce that it has received a major boost to its new village hall fundraising efforts with a grant of £376,372 from Aylesbury Vale District Council’s New Homes Bonus Funding Scheme. Together with the funds already raised of nearly £100,000, this means that Chearsley can now proceed to the next stage of the project. Antonia Stratford, chair of Chearsley Village hall commented “my committee and I are delighted that finally our dream can become a reality and we can replace our old, tired and outdated village hall for a building that will be attractive, fully accessible and energy efficient that will be used by all members of the community for many years to come”.
Nic Brown, chairman of Chearsley Parish Council commented “The Parish Council and Village Hall committee have worked extremely hard over the last 3 years to pull together all the information needed for this grant. The village has been fully consulted all the way through this project and is now pulling together to raise the last remaining funds”.
The project is scheduled to start next summer, with the total estimated cost of the build likely to be around £550,000. To meet this target, other funding applications will be made and villagers will continue to organise fundraising events and activities which will include a Christmas wreath making class, coffee morning, murder mystery night, family quiz night and a "buy a brick" scheme. The Heybrook family and Sarah and Simon Vickers of Rectory Homes have also confirmed that they will generously match fundraising efforts by the local community towards the new hall.
Murder at The Manor
As a fundraising event for the new village hall, Chearsley Village Hall are pleased to present "Murder at The Manor" to be performed by The Thame Players on Saturday November 26 at the village hall. It will be a fun and entertaining evening for all the family, suitable for all including children of 8+ years. Tickets are £15 each (£10 for children) for a 2 course dinner and the murder, with a prize for discovering the identity of the murderer.
There will be a bar and doors open at 6.15pm ready for the start of the show at 6.30pm. Tickets are available from Antonia Stratford, Alex Wall Morris and Angela Gray or email chearsleyvillagehall@hotmail.co.uk. It promises to be a popular event, so early booking is advisable.
Christmas Garlands
Joy Payne, who is well known for her flower arranging knowledge and skills, is holding a workshop on Saturday November 26 from 10 to 12 in the village hall to demonstrate how to make a lovely Christmas door garland using natural foliages. Joy will provide all materials necessary for everyone to make their own and offer help and advice and encouragement for those (such as me) who do not have a natural eye and flair to make their own. Just bring florist scissors or garden secateurs.
Everything else will be supplied. Please let Joy know as soon as possible if you would like to come as places will be limited. The cost is £25 which Joy is generously donating to the Village Hall Fund. Ring Joy on 208513 or email her at joychearsley@gmail.com.
More Fundraising for the New Village Hall
A reminder of other ways that villagers can help augment the amount needed for the new hall. The Vale Lottery is a weekly draw when 60% of your ticket price will go towards the hall and give you the chance to win up to £25,000. An easy way to join is by going to the village hall Support Us link and clicking on "vale lottery". There is also the opportunity of earning a little for the fund every time you shop online. by joining Easy Fundraising. This is supported by a large number of stores and companies and is easy to register by going to www.easyfundraising.org.uk. Over £159 has been raised already in this way by only 16 Chearsley villagers over the last year. Christmas is approaching and there must be many villagers ordering goods on line, so please register with Easy Fundraising at www.easyfundraising.org.uk/unite/2Z6FWU? and donating is then done easily and without any cost to you.
Chearsley Cricket Club is holding its AGM at the pavilion on Monday November 21 to which all Cricket Club members are invited. They are looking for someone to take over running the Club’s fun and games programme for the coming year. Please email Terry Gadsby at terrygadsby@btinternet.com if you are interested in joining their committee.
Shed break-ins
It is disturbing news that 2 village sheds have recently been broken into and equipment stolen. On different nights of the same week, the shed in the grounds of the church was broken into and a strimmer stolen. The next night, a shed in Bernards Close probably accessed from Hicks Path, had its lock smashed and a rotavator stolen which would have needed two men and a van. Other items in the shed had been locked together and were therefore secure. A warning for villagers to do everything they can to protect their tools and equipment and to be aware that break-ins can and do happen in our village.
Bingo at The Bell
Another busy Bingo night was held on Tuesday November 1 when there was a top prize of £69 for the final full house of the evening. The Snowball game now stands at over £200 to be won in less than 57 numbers, and this could possibly be won at the Christmas Bingo evening to be held on Tuesday December 6.
Remembrance Sunday November 13
There will be a service at the War Memorial at 10.45am led by John Scholefield, which follows the service of Morning Celebration in the church at 10am. Refreshments of tea and coffee and cake will be available for all at the village hall afterwards.
Quiz cancelled
Friday November 11 at the village hall in aid of Florence Nightingale Hospice - I have been told that the organisers have decided to cancel this event due to lack of interest.
Refuse Collections: Wednesday November 9 when the general refuse bins and food bins will be collected
Diary Dates:
- Saturday November 12 Bette Davis On the Edge Charity Evening at The Bernard Hall, Cuddington Ring Liz Davies on 01844 299150 for tickets
- Monday November 14 AGM Village Hall Management committee at 8pm in the village hall
- Saturday November 19 Cricket Club Dinner and Dance
- Monday November 21 Last Brown Bin collection of the year
- Monday November 21 Parish Council Meeting at 7.30pm
- Saturday November 26 10am to 12noon Christmas Garland workshop with Joy. Ring her on 208513 or email joychearsley@gmail.com
- Saturday November 26 at 6.30pm “ Murder at The Manor” with The Thame Players at the village hall. Fund raising for the new village hall. Tickets £15, £10 for children 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
