Old Sodbury Times Issue 86 January 2021 This Old Sodbury Christmas was certainly not cancelled!! Dates for your Diary: None due to Covid Restrictions Old Sodbury Doorstep Carols The merry sound of Christmas Carols was heard in every road around Old Sodbury on the December evening. The weather was dry and calm which was ideal for villagers to come out in the safety of their doorsteps and gardens to sing carols together. The singing was led by Marta Nuevo on the Village Green and Joanna Osborn in Church Lane supported by instrumentalists and choral singers. Around the streets nine groups of singers in their ‘bubbles’ or groups, safely spaced, who coordinated singing throughout the village from Westmorland Terrace to Coombs End. It was Christmas at last! People were smiling, laughing and enjoying the Carols as we have always done. The smell of Chapel Lane Carols mulled wine and spiced cider completed the scene, as Father Christmas flew by on his vintage tractor, courtesy of Simon Lewis of Badminton Road! It was all made possible by different village organisations working together to provide a memorable evening despite the challenging times of 2020. This included: Old Sodbury Church, The Village Hall, Old Sodbury W.I. and the Friends of the School. In addition many volunteers helped with the distribution of the carol sheets to ensure that they were delivered around the village. Our thanks go to everyone who helped. The result was a wonderful evening when the Village was able to come together :- another success for Old Sodbury. John Myers and Daren Hales
The Mobile Post Office in Chipping Sodbury, reported in November, now has extended hours. In addition to Tuesday 1.30pm to 3.30pm, it 200 Club Winners: October No 180 Miss J Johnson £25 is now in the High Street on Wednesday morning 9.30– 11.30am. This was the last draw for this year—see Page 4 Village However there is no service from 7th January to 14th January due to Hall Update alterations to the premises in Cam.
Welcome to Richard and Linda Hore who moved from Fleet in Hampshire into Old Sodbury Cottage on Cotswold Lane just before Christmas. Linda is keen on cooking and crafting (all sorts) and has been a choir member for 25 years. Richard, a retired engineer, is keen on electronics, audio, Hi-Fi, computers, and photography. They love meeting people and are looking forward to joining in with village life. At the moment they are busy unpacking boxes from the removals. Also in Cotswold Lane we welcome Chris and Lucy Fitzsimmons. They write ‘ Hello to everyone in the village, and thank you to all those we've met so far making us feel very welcome. We've moved here with our two children, Charlotte (5) and Henry (3), and our dog Jasper (2)!!! Whilst we have a big renovation on our hands, we instantly feel at home. We're excited at slowly restoring this beautiful property, getting to know our neighbours and exploring the wonderful countryside on our doorstep. On Badminton Road at The Maltings welcome to Christina and Albie Mottershaw and their 7year old son Jacob. Albie writes ‘ We have just moved into the beautiful village having spent 17 years living in Chicago. Originally from Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. I'm so happy we found such a wonderful location’. In Chapel Lane Jennie and Keith Simms moved into Chapel Lane, Old Sodbury in November 2020 just in time for Christmas. Jennie writes ‘We moved from Hertfordshire where we have lived for the past 30 years but have moved back to the area to be closer to family. We have been made to feel very welcome by our neighbours and look forward to meeting everyone properly once the pandemic is under control.’ Also new to Chapel Lane are Alex and Amy Crosbie. “We moved to Chapel Lane in early December and have felt very welcomed into the village by the neighbours we have met so far. We look forward to meeting more of the people of the village (when we are permitted!). Hopefully we can meet up for a drink at the pub soon! PAGE 2 OLD SODBURY TIMES Sophia Curry of Badminton Road decided a few months ago that she wanted to raise money for people who are less fortunate than herself. Her original idea was to do odd-jobs for people around the village to raise funds but obviously this wasn’t possible due to Covid restrictions. Undeterred she then decided that she’d do jobs for her family and family friends instead. She weeded the garden, raked leaves, did polishing and made homemade Christmas cards to sell. On talking to her Nanny about her volunteering at The Trussell Trust, she decided to use the money raised to support them. Her Nanny provided her with a list of the items required for their Christmas boxes and she raised enough money to buy products to fill 3 boxes! She chose the items herself and then hand-delivered them to The Trussell Trust in time for their Christmas deliveries. She is now hoping to raise money for a children’s charity next year. P.S. a big thank you to Old Sodbury School for allowing Sophia time out of her classroom to deliver her Christmas boxes Sophia’s Mum Alex Curry
LITTER As we all walk around the village I hope we appreciate how well kept it is. Unfortunately there are still litter louts who throw their waste out of their cars as they drive through. So can we all give a big thanks to: Rodney who walks round doing a twice weekly litter picking. Steve Febry gave up a day of his holiday in horrible weather in November to collect litter left along the grass verges of the A46. Florence and Angus Ogan (Chapel Lane) spent a day in December litter picking along Commonmead Land and Dodington Lane, collecting over 200 cans to be recycled! Betty Hales litter picked the paths around the village and Sugaracre Field in November. And everyone who picks up as they walk round the village When the Spring is here we hope to once again organise the Annual Village Spring Clean when with S.Glos Council support we collect litter and clean the road signs in the village. Details to be announced in March’s edition of this newsletter.
RAINFALL Yes, it has been a very wet Autumn again and here is a picture of the River Frome Flood Alleviation Pond full, and doing its job. Despite a very dry May (only 3mm and didn’t we all appreciate that), it has been a year of above average rainfall and December gave us 146mm, one and half times the average for that month. The years total rainfall was 1072mm; when we first started recording in Old Sodbury in 1986 the average was about 850-900mm now the average is 950-1000mm. So we have to get used to more wet winters. Do you need some new wellies? ISSUE 86 OLD SODBURY TIMES PAGE 3 OLD SODBURY W.I. On a very wet day in December the committee organised a “Come and Collect” surprise for our members in the Village Hall car park. They drove or walked in, to meet committee members, who handed them a “Goody Bag” full of gifts for Christmas. We were wearing our masks and keeping our social distance. It was really worthwhile and reassuring to see members, some of whom we had not met since last March! There was an opportunity to enjoy a quick chat with nearly all of our 41 members. Although we had worn our Christmas jumpers and hats for the occasion, they were mostly hidden under waterproofs! Our Book Club will be meeting on Zoom again in early January to discuss “Mrs Sinclair's Suitcase” by Louise Walters "A heartbreaking tale of love, missed chances and enduring love"! Our second book was recommended by our friends in Govilon WI , “Sweet Sorrow” by David Nicholls. We look forward to hearing other members comments, and suggestions for future books to enjoy. Many messages of cheer were included in our Christmas newsletter. One was particularly poignant during these difficult times. It was taken from a Victorian Christmas Card and would be our wish for 2021. May you have the gladness of Christmas which is Hope. May you find the spirit of Christmas which is Peace. Above all may you find and keep The heart of Christmas which is Love.
Sodbury Short Mat Bowls Club
We wish all the Readers of the Old Sodbury Times a Happy and Healthy New Year. We have no idea when we can play again but hopefully with the vaccine against the virus becoming available we will be back to a “new” normal by next summer. We are missing the social side of playing our short mat bowls and have been anxious about several of our members, so we send best wishes to them. We also give our thoughts to the family of Don who has suffered a stroke and now needs a great deal of support. He has been a very keen and regular member for many years and we will miss his company. My friend sent me this a handwritten poem that she found in her Grandfather's autograph book. It is dated 1917 and has a lovely pencil drawing . I remember I remember The fir trees tall and high, I used to think their slender tops Were close against the sky. It was my childish fancy But now 'tis little joy To know I'm further off from Heaven
Save Heat, Save Money , Save Carbon Here are a few simple tips for keeping warmer. There is talk on the radio of conditions in the upper atmosphere being right for another ‘Beast from the East’. As the sun goes down pull your curtains—the air trapped between window and curtain helps insulate the house. If there is a radiator under a window tuck the curtain behind it so the heat goes into the room. Shut the doors between rooms to also trap the warm air and stop draughts. After heating a kettle for drinks, put a cosy on the kettle to keep it warm for the next time. It really works! Old Sodbury Football Club Since the last report we had the Olveston game called off due to a waterlogged pitch. Since then we have had no games due to Covid19 but the F.A. said teams could start again on 5th December. Many teams decided not to play till January (NOW after lockdown) but Old Sodbury decided to play at home against Thornbury Reserves. Thornbury, who had won all 5 games, came to a sticky end on a heavy pitch after overnight rain. The home team ran out 5-0 winners in a commanding performance with Jordan Miller scoring a brace. The two games to Christmas against Iron Acton and Brimsham have been called off. Well, next year let’s hope we all can go back to a bit like normal life. Meanwhile for fixtures please see Old Sodbury F.C. facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OldSodburyFc/
Congratulations to F.O.S.S.A. on producing two excellent Challenges for the Christmas break. Based on local footpaths, children (and Adults) had to stamp cards at certain points and do various challenges along the way. One of the routes , the Green Trail, had lovely painted stones (see photo) to mark those points. The Red Trail included a fun but dramatic scramble through the steep wood above the school. The challenges included making a slingshot, walking a plank and fly an aeroplane. A goody bag supplied the basic materials when needed, also food to keep up the momentum through the mud. What will the Friends of Old Sodbury School come up with next to entertain us through this lockdown?
Chipping Sodbury Library The Friends of the Library have been told they can keep the library open for the click and collect service during lockdown so it will be open every Saturday from this Saturday (9th) from 10.30 to 11.30. As well as completing our form (either on line or available from Julia Bernau) and having us select books for them, people can reserve books online and collect them from us and return books to us instead of having to go into Yate. If there are people here in the village who are shielding but want books, Julia Bernau in Cotswold Lane has offered to deliver them. Her telephone number is 01454 313842. Village Hall Update Since the last newsletter we have been through the second lockdown and then Tier 3 restrictions and now lockdown, leaving very little that the Village Hall can be used for. We are however applying for grants for the kitchen extension. Now would be as good a time as any to carry out the works. Hopefully when we get through this, there will be a backlog of events and celebrations looking for a good venue. Having had to cancel last year’s Comedy Night, the re-scheduled event is currently booked for Sat April 17, but nothing is definite and a final decision will be made by the end of February. Likewise, Village Day, in recent years held in June, will be postponed until September. Events like this have to be planned many months in advance and until we know that there is a good chance that it will be able to proceed, we will struggle to get commitment from other contributors. To those members of the Village 200 Club, you may have noticed that the subscriptions have not yet been collected. These were due in November, but we were in lockdown at the time and decided that calling at people’s doors was not in the spirit of the guidelines. We had already been considering a change to the means of collection, as cash and cheques seem to be increasingly scarce commodities. We will shortly be writing to all members of the 200 Club asking for email addresses (where possible) and giving details of improvements to the prize distribution. If any current members could send their details to Dave Mason at [email protected] it would help to get the process underway. For anyone who is not a member, but would like to be, please drop an email to Dave and he will register your interest. We aim to re-start the draw in the Spring which should also be a better time for collecting. Ed: For those new to the village, the 200 club helps raise funds for the Hall. 200 members pay an annual subscription with monthly prizes being drawn.
Please send your news to Pauline Wilson Tel: 310540 Email [email protected] or Michelle Dash Tel: 07955 170321 Deadline for March edition is 15th February. For Village Hall bookings: Carol Rowland Tel: 314923 or [email protected] THANK YOU TO ALL who have helped with this edition. WE ALWAYS WELCOME MORE CONTRIBUTORS Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed or implied in this publication are not necessarily those of the editors. Any articles submitted are on the basis that they can be edited and must not be anonymous. Sodbury Woodland and Nature The Community Woodland is still held up by legal matters. Following the death of Mrs Taggart at Pound Cottage, 2 field corners are to be fenced off for a memorial woodland. Approximately 100 trees are to be planted as a memorial for the Taggart family. Here the socially distanced fencing work is being organised by David George. It is hoped that the tree planting can be done by villagers after lockdown. If anyone would like a similar woodland planting on their land please contact Richard Wilson 01454 310540 or David George. International News Mrs Ann Matthews writes from Maryland USA. Her grandparents, Harold and Annie Waite lived in Cotswold Lane in the 1950s. Mr Waite was a stonemason and he repaired the wall around the churchyard free of charge, he also did walling work for Mrs Hinder at The Dog PH. Meanwhile Melodie Woodford, has contacted us from Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Mel is President of the Newcastle Family History Society and has written a number of publications see https://www.nfhs.org.au/ Mel writes: I have taken a special interest in the village because I have been researching my English family history and discovered recently that my 4x great grandparents arrived in the village in the early part of the 1760s and continued to live there at least until the 1840s. Quite a few of them are buried in the churchyard. And, of course, many married in the church & had their babies baptised there. My 4x great grand- parents' story is quite an interesting one. I have been fascinated as I've worked my way through the digitised original parish registers online to track the family (& many other families who lived in the village at the time). It's a very interesting social history of the village during that time frame. I wonder if you, or anyone else in the village, has a particular interest in the family history of Old Sodbury? There are, perhaps, families in the village now who are descended from the people mentioned in the early registers. I would love to make contact with anyone who has a similar interest in preserving history & making it available to others. Ed: If there is anyone keen to help Mel please contact [email protected] John Myers is helping Mel with the burial records.
Answers to Quiz on Page 6—No peeking before the challenge
. 1.jam, 2.dog, 3.fire, 4.bath, 5.water, 6.horse, 7.table, 8.straw, 9.line, 10. hard 10. 9.line, 8.straw, 7.table, 6.horse, 5.water, 4.bath, 3.fire, 2.dog, 1.jam, Fun Pages for the latest lockdown Smiling Is Infectious by Spike Milligan
Smiling is infectious, you catch it like the flu, When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too. I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin. When he smiled I realised I'd passed it on to him. I thought about that smile, then I realised its worth. A single smile, just like mine could travel round the earth. So, if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected. Quiz— Just Connecting Let's start an epidemic quick, What connects the following 3 words? For example and get the world infected! Sodbury, Campden, Norton = Chipping or Chapel, Cotswold, Mill = Lane 1. log, traffic, plum = 2. paddle, days, tired = 3. bucket, drill, engine = 4. bird, hip, bubble = 5. heavy, white, fire = 6. clothes, work, shire = 7. cloth, leg, setting = 8. poll, bale, man = 9. washing, telephone, plumb = 10. ship, bitten, core = If you got all ten right have some cloudy, weak, strong = 5-10 have some pot, bread, chest = Less than five– have some No 5
Things to Ask Yourself What was the best thing before sliced bread? Why are there no ‘B’ batteries? Why does ‘fat chance’ and ‘slim chance’ mean the same? HOW DO COURT RECORDERS KEEP STRAIGHT FACES????
These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and published by court reporters that had the torment of staying calm while the exchanges were taking place.
ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning? WITNESS: He said, 'Where am I, Cathy?' ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you? WITNESS: My name is Susan!
______ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the car impact? WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
______ATTORNEY: What is your date of birth? WITNESS: July 18th. ATTORNEY: What year? WITNESS: Every year.
______ATTORNEY: How old is your son, the one living with you? WITNESS: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which. ATTORNEY: How long has he lived with you? WITNESS: Forty-five years.
______ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all? WITNESS: Yes. ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory? WITNESS: I forget.. ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
______ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning? WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
______ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the 20-year-old, how old is he? WITNESS: He's 20, much like your IQ.
______ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken? WITNESS: Are you kidding me?
______ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th? WITNESS: Yes. ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time? WITNESS: Well what do you think?
______ATTORNEY: She had three children, right? WITNESS: Yes. ATTORNEY: How many were boys? WITNESS: None. ATTORNEY: Were there any girls? WITNESS: Your Honour, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney? ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated? WITNESS: By death.. ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated? Some more ‘real life’ Court Howlers WITNESS: Take a guess. ______ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual? WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female? WITNESS: Unless the Circus was in town I'm going with male. ______ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney? WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work. ______ATTORNEY: Doctor , how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people? WITNESS: All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight.
______ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to? WITNESS: Oral…
______ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body? WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 PM ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time? WITNESS: If not, he was by the time I finished.
______ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample? WITNESS: Are you qualified to ask that question?
______And lastly:
ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse? WITNESS: No. ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure? WITNESS: No. ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing? WITNESS: No.. ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy? WITNESS: No. ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor? WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar. ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless? WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.