The Parish Council has been very active in tidying and smartening up our village in the past weeks. 3 rubbish bins, by the shop and the two bus stops have been installed – bigger and smarter than the old ones. The bus shelters are in the process of being maintained and improved, and the railings painted. The Parish Council have also made arrangements for the many verges, banks and footpaths to be strimmed and the overhanging trees and hedgerows to be trimmed. The village is now looking good and well cared for. An incentive for us all to keep it litter free and tidy.
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Monday October 16th at 7.30pm at the Cricket Club pavilion. The Minutes of their last meeting can be found online and on the notice board.
110 Bus service between Thame and Aylesbury
Perhaps the updated bus shelters will be an encouragement for villagers to use our bus service. We are lucky to have an alternative to using cars, even if the service which runs between Thame and Aylesbury is only every two hours. It is normally a very reliable service. However, it is feared that it might well be a case that “if you don’t use it, you lose it” as the buses are often half empty. If you are eligible for a free bus pass, and haven’t got one, it seems a waste not to get one and use it and it is a cheaper alternative to using a taxi.
The 110 from Chearsley now ties in with the 280 in Thame which runs between Oxford and Aylesbury every 20 minutes providing the possibility of a day out in Oxford or some shopping in Thame or Aylesbury with no drink–driving or parking worries.
Goodbye and Welcome
Having lived in Chearsley for nearly 40 years, I cannot remember a time when so many houses have changed hands. Families who have lived here for many years and some for only a short time have said goodbye and we wish them good luck in their new homes. I am thinking particularly of Sue and Peter Grimsdell who used to run The Bell for many years, Howard and Helen Bottomley, our neighbours for over 20 years, moving to Wales near to their daughter, and Bruce and Janet Baker who are also moving to be nearer their daughter. A warm welcome to all new residents in the hope that they will find Chearsley a friendly, thriving village and will settle in to their new homes and be very happy here. The shop, The Bell and the Church figure very highly in the making of new friends and finding out what is going on in the village.
Sue Grimsdell and Poppy Collections
Although Sue and Peter have now left Chearsley and are currently in rented accommodation while work is done on their bungalow in Haddenham , Sue still plans to continue her house to house collection in Chearsley selling poppies. This will be her 20th year. Sue and Joy Payne, who both have sons currently serving in the British Army are planning to start collecting between now and November 11. Richard Grimsdell is currently in the Caribbean as part of the British Task Force flown out when the hurricanes recently caused such devastation. Last year, Sue and Joy collected an amazing £565.67 from door to door collections and the total was further increased by The Bell, the shop and refreshments served in the village hall after the Memorial Remembrance Service which raised a further £214.63. A really generous response from the village.
The Bell – What’s happening this October
The monthly Bingo session was held on Tuesday October 3rd when it was good to welcome some new faces. Hopefully, they will return next month on November 7th. The monthly Bell quiz will be held on Sunday October 8 at 8pm with refreshments at half time. Come on your own or in a team. You will be made very welcome. Friday Mornings Coffee and home-made cake continue to be very popular every Friday when The Bell is open from 10am for anyone to call in, no booking needed, to meet up with old and new friends over coffee and cake.
Friday evenings continue to be busy with the attraction of a chance to take part in the Higher or Lower Game at 8.30pm. Come along to find out how it all works. The Bell is a great place for Sunday lunches, serving food until 2pm and when the weekly Meat Raffle is drawn at 3pm. Halloween will be celebrated with an Adults Fancy dress disco on Saturday October 28 and a children’s Halloween party on Tuesday 3st in The Bell from 4.30 to 6pm. Tickets are £5 to include food and drink and games. Please book with Sharon.
Cricket Club Annual Dinner and Dance
This will be held, as last year, at The Magnolia Park Golf Club on Saturday November 11. Always a good evening, this year should prove to be a memorable one as the amazing Cricket Club committee have managed to secure Mike Gatting, former England Captain and OBE, to be the Guest Speaker. Tickets cost £35 for a 3 course dinner, reception drink and disco. There will also be a raffle and auction. Please contact Angela Gray on 07944290264 for more details and to book your place.
Java Nightmare
An informal talk will be given in Brill Memorial Hall on Sunday October 8th at 5pm on a book written by Daphne Jackson entitled Java Nightmare. The talk will be given by Daphne’s daughter, Daphne Slater, about her mother and father who were both civilian prisoners of war in Java and to highlight the horrors and hardships they suffered. Copies of the book will be on sale with proceeds going to the Far-Eastern Prisoners of War Association. Tickets cost £8 are available beforehand from Brill Stores and on the door and includes light refreshments.
Church Services at St Nicholas:
- Sunday October 8th at 10am Morning Celebration
- Sunday October 8th at 6pm Evensong
- Sunday October 15 at 9am Holy Communion
- Sunday October 8: Quiz at The Bell re-starts 8pm.
- Monday October 16: Parish Council at 7.30pm in the Cricket Pavilion
- Saturday October 28 Halloween Fancy Dress Disco at The Bell
- Tuesday October 31 Children’s Halloween Party at The Bell 4.30 to 6pm.
- Saturday November 11: Cricket Club Annual Dinner and Dance with Guest speaker Mike Gatting
