The AGM of the Village Hall Management Committee was held on Monday November 14. No members of the public attended. In the Chairman’s report, Antonia Stratford told of the hall’s eventful year mainly dominated by the decision after consultation with the village to submit plans for a new hall. Planning permission was received in late June. Funding for this had a major boost with donations from Rectory Homes and the Heybrook Family and a successful application to the New Homes Bonus Fund administered by AVDC for over £370,000. Other grant applications have also been completed and the outcome awaited. Rectory Homes and the Heybrooks have also agreed to add to their donations by matching any funds raised by the village.
Village fundraising has so far included a Family obstacle course, the Chearsley Boys calendar and ongoing fundraising from Easy fundraising and the AVDC lottery. Other fundraising events will take place soon – the Murder Mystery evening, Joy Payne’s Christmas garland workshop, Elevensies morning of coffee, cakes and craft. A quiz night is planned for January. For the future, a contractor for the hall will be selected by the end of this year and work is expected to start in June/July 2017.
Fund Raising Murder Mystery in the Village Hall
There may well be a few tickets available for this hall fund raising event on this coming Saturday November 26. Tickets cost £15 for the show and 2 course meal and £10 for children over 8 years old. Please contact me or email chearsleyvillagehall@hotmail.co.uk for more information and to reserve your tickets.
Blessing the Flock and Advent Family Fun on Advent Sunday November 27 at 2pm
We are all invited to the church on Advent Sunday to commence the countdown to Christmas by making your own Advent candle as the flock of knitted sheep gather in the church to begin their journey to the manger. Come for refreshments, craft and a short informal service led by Rev. Richard Phillips.
Chearsley Christmas Tree Lights
Again this year, the now customary Christmas tree will be erected on The Green making an attractive Christmassy feel for everyone coming into Chearsley. Villagers new to Chearsley might not know that we like to make any excuse for a village get-together and we have our own switching on of the tree lights ceremony. So, Chearsley villagers, young and old, come and gather with torches and lanterns outside The Bell on Friday December 9 at 6.45pm for the countdown to the official lights switch on, mince pies and carols. The more the merrier. The tree will be erected on Saturday November 26 and any help with this would be very welcome. Please contact Nic Brown on nicb@chateaubrown.com.
Elevensies
Don’t forget that items are still needed for the craft stall and cakes or Christmas goodies for the cake stall at this village event fund raising for the new hall, to be held on Saturday December 3 from 11 to 1pm. Anything knitted, sewn or crotched, home baked Christmas puds, mince pies, cakes, jams, chutneys etc. will be most welcome, Contact Ann Pratt on 01844 201611.
Chearsley Christmas Cards
There are 4 different designs of these cards by Alicia Howard on sale for £3.50 per pack of 4 available to purchase from The Bell or from Alicia herself. Email Alicia@tangerinetiger.net.
New Year’s Eve at The Bell
You can dance away the old year and welcome in the new on Saturday December 31 at The Bell at their disco with DJ. Tickets for this cost £6 which will include nibbles. The New Year ‘s Day breakfast has now become a Bell tradition and can be enjoyed from 12 until 2pm. Tickets for both New Year’s Eve disco and the breakfast can be purchased for £12.
2017 at The Bell
The long winter months of January and February can be cheered up by enjoying a meal at The Bell. Pick up their Christmas card which has vouchers for January and February offering £5 off the bill when two people dine together and each enjoy a 2 course meal or £10 off the bill when four people enjoy a 2 course meal. Also on offer is a free bottle of Pinot Grigio when 4 adults have 4 main meals. These same offers are also available with vouchers for February. The vouchers cannot be used on Sundays, bingo evenings and Burns meals.
Car Defrosting and risk of Theft has happened locally on November 8 in Brill, when a young man was out defrosting his car. He cleared the windows while the engine was warming up – a routine that most drivers have on cold frosty mornings. Having prepared his car for use, he then left it momentarily on his drive and went back inside to collect something. In that brief moment, a thief jumped into his car and drove away, leaving the victim disbelieving and devastated. Thames Valley Police have issued warnings about this and advise you to use ice scrapers or de-icer to clear frosted windows. Every sympathy to this young man and I hope his car was found. Thanks to Chrissie who writes the Brill Neighbourhood News for this information.
Be A Better Driver
Transport for Bucks is again running some winter driving workshops and would encourage all drivers to attend. The workshops are free and will include a presentation on essential driving skills, how to drive on winter roads, preparing your car for winter, what to do in the event of a breakdown, practical basic vehicle checking from experienced garage technicians, checks on tyre pressure, tread and depth, how to change a wheel, how to check your battery condition. There is one on Wednesday December 7 in Aylesbury from 7 to 8.30pm at STS Tyre Pros, Park Street, Aylesbury HP20 1DX and there are two others to be held in High Wycombe and Chesham. Please contact June Howlett, Road Safety Officer at jhowlett@buckscc.org or phone 01296 382416.
Refuse Collections: Wednesday November 23 when the general refuse bins and food bins will be collected.
Church Services at St Nicholas:
- Sunday November 27 2pm Advent Family Fun and Blessing the Flock
- Monday November 21 Parish Council meeting in the village hall at 7.30pm
- Saturday November 26 10am to 12midday Christmas Garland workshop with Joy. Ring her on 208513 or email joychearsley@gmail.com. All money goes to the village hall fund.
- Saturday November 26 “ 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
- Monday November 28 Mobile library by The Green from 10 to 10.25am
- Saturday December 3 11am to 1pm Elevensies in the village hall with Christmas food and crafts to buy
- Friday December 9 Official switching on the Christmas Tree lights at 6.45pm
