Winter 2019 Letter from the Editor

Iron Acton’s Magazine & Web Portal

WINTER 2019 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

LOCAL POYNTZ TEAM: - Jon Aries, Caroline Haselhan, Sarah Ridler, Amanda Scott, Jane Spare, John Wright, Marilyn Wright and myself, Pamela McCoy.

LOCAL POYNTZ PHOTOGRAPHERS: - Sally Aries, Gillian Otlet

DISTRIBUTION. - As always our thanks go to all the, volunteer, distributors

WEBSITE: - If you would like to add any images or write something on the website, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Jon Aries at [email protected].

THIS EDITION: - I am sure you are aware that we have had 2 centenary celebrations, this year, Horticultural show and W.I. They have, each, submitted really good articles together with some lovely photos. Ann Aplin has written some, very clever, letters from 1919 and I have included 2 in this edition on pages 9 - 11. There will be 2 more in the next edition.

‘PHONE BOX/SWAP BOX: - Last year the children from Iron Acton school did a wonderful job of decorating the windows for the entire advent period. They will be decorating the ‘phone box again this December but I have no idea what the theme will be, so keep an eye on it.

ADVERTISEMENTS: - If anyone would like to place an advert in these magazines please contact me, at the email address below, and we can discuss it

The deadline for the spring edition is 1st February 2020. We really need to have all articles by that date, PLEASE.

A “THANK YOU”: - There has been an increase in the number of houses in our Parish which means we have to get about 50 additional copies printed. The extra printing costs extra money and we were in need of some funding. We approached Acton Aid and they have come to our rescue. So, a huge “thank you” to them from the team of Local Poyntz.

FRONT PAGE: - The lovely image on the front page is courtesy of Brian Hackland. I wonder if you can guess whom the lady walking the dog, in the falling snow, is.

ARTICLES: - If any of you, lovely, people would like to write something, whether you think it is good, bad or indifferent, please don’t hesitate, GET IN TOUCH. I want to hear from you.

EDITOR- Pamela McCoy 01454 228874 Email [email protected].

Printed by Jamprint Design & Printing Ltd. 01249 823950

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

LOCAL POYNTZ TEAM: - Jon Aries, Caroline Haselhan, Sarah Ridler, Amanda Scott, Jane Spare, John Wright, Marilyn Wright and myself, Pamela McCoy.

LOCAL POYNTZ PHOTOGRAPHERS: - Sally Aries, Gillian Otlet

DISTRIBUTION. - As always our thanks go to all the, volunteer, distributors

WEBSITE: - If you would like to add any images or write something on the website, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Jon Aries at [email protected].

ADVERTISEMENTS: - If anyone would like to place an advert in these magazines please contact me, at the email address below, and we can discuss it

The deadline for the spring edition is 1st February 2020. We really need to have all articles by that date, PLEASE.

FRONT PAGE: - The lovely image on the front page is courtesy of Brian Hackland. I wonder if you can guess whom the lady walking the dog, in the falling snow, is.

ARTICLES: - If any of you, lovely, people would like to write something, whether you think it is good, bad or indifferent, please don’t hesitate, GET IN TOUCH. I want to hear from you.

EDITOR- Pamela McCoy 01454 228874 Email [email protected].

Printed by Jamprint Design & Printing Ltd. 01249 823950

Need help with Transport?

Green Community

Let us Travel help

you! Do you struggle with public buses

and are other modes of transport

too expensive?

We are Community Transport and

we can help with GP appointments,

shopping, hospital appointments as

well as much more!

Give us a call and have a chat to us

to see how we can help you.

01454 228706

Covering, Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Frampton

Cotterell, Coalpit Heath, Emersons Green, Winterbourne, Cromhall, Charfield, Tormarton, Wickwar and much more across South Gloucestershire!

IRON ACTON K9 CLUB

The winter weather is upon us and its time to get out those leaky old wellies and warm clothing for walkies.

Our Club Classes have been preparing for Xmas by testing out their media skills - posing for photos for personalised cards. It was also a good chance to try on outfits ready for our Doggy Xmas Party!

The activities group continue to meet on Sunday afternoons over the winter months but even dog agility and haybale scurries aren’t quite the same fun for wet, cold humans even though it doesn’t seem to bother the dogs too much.

The dark evenings also affect our obedience training as some of the Silver and Gold KC Good Citizens exercises are done outdoors. We’ve had an excellent summer and Autumn for successful assessments at all levels. Recent Puppy passes were Rhiannon & Indianna, Helen & Bella, Hilary & DeeDee, Gordon & Grace, Karen & Muffin, Zoe & Hugo, Leanne & Lola, Beth & Bella, Natalie & Elssa, Kath & Luna, Stephen & Poppy, Rachel & Rosie, Sara & Obi, Rose & Buster, Penni & Enid, Tracey & Issa, Biljana & Banner. Bronze successes Lorraine & Darcey, Steve & Frankie, Karen & Alfie, Lyne & Teddy, Julia& Hettie, Vicky & Summer, Tori & Saxon, Carol & Teg, Angela & Violet, May & Bella, Sorcha & Mabel, Emma & Molly, Gaynor & Archie. Silver passes Alison& Bella, Dot & Zamy, Karen & Cooper, Elfrie & Ria, Carol & Megan, Julia & Hettie, Tori & Saxon, Carol & Teg, Lyn & Teddy. Gold achievement Dot & Zamy, Elfrie & Ria, Lin & Kylo. Well done everyone – good work.

Some of our members tried their hand at Competition Obedience in a friendly match with Stoke Bishop Dog Club who regularly compete in the Obedience League. Our dogs and handlers did really well, especially Jenny & Lily who won the elementary class. Others will be attending a Doggy First Aid course to brush up their bandaging skills and knowledge of practical first aid for dogs.

For more information about the club please ring Sue on 01454 228803 or Karen on 01454 228891 or take a look at our facebook page or website www.ironactonk9club.co.uk.

5 IRON ACTON’S WOMENS INSTITUTE 1919 - 2019 On the 28th October we celebrated our centenary with a party in the Parish Hall. From 2.30pm the preparations began with bunting being hung and tables laid with a variety of pretty, floral crockery and glasses kindly lent to us by Brendan & Tracey Byrne. Rona & Elizabeth provided some delightful floral decorations for the tables.

When we returned at 6.30pm and the cake stands filled with sandwiches and a huge variety of cakes were added to the tables, the hall really did look a colourful picture. Ben was playing the piano during all the last minute preparations which really got the evening off to a good start. As well as representatives from other WIs in the area, guests included past members of Iron Acton WI and guests of honour were Vicky, Lily and Henry Parker. The evening, as explained by our President, Rona Wright, was dedicated to Vivienne Parker, our late, much-loved friend, without whom the group would have folded if she had not stepped forward some 11 years ago and offered her services as President. With the help then of Rona, Elizabeth Edwards and Stella Taylor as the other main officers, we survived and have gone from strength to strength to achieve this momentous landmark anniversary. A table with the magnificent birthday cake, made by Vanessa, a friend of Bridget, had a vase of red roses placed on it in memory of Viv as they were her favourite flowers.

After the pleasantries and a rendition of Jerusalem were over, the Actonians began the entertainment with some wonderful readings from genuine letters from the 1919 era, cleverly adapted by Ann Aplin to reference Iron Acton village and folk from that period. There were references to the many shops that once graced the High Street and names of the families that lived in some of the dwellings. There were even two recitations from 'Stanley Holloway', the famous actor and monologist of the post WW1 era, including the very popular Albert and the Lion.

The evening concluded with a prosecco toast to the continuing success of Iron Acton WI and the cutting of the cake. We were grateful to Ray Bulmer for taking the photographs recording the events of the evening and producing images which will hopefully be mulled over for many years to come.

We have taken possession of a specially commissioned wooden bench, inscribed with the relevant dates, which will be placed in the garden of the Parish Hall. A host of people, past and present and too numerous to name individually, have contributed to make the current group what it is today. Who knows what sorrows and adverse conditions they must have battled through during some very turbulent history in that time frame. However, mention must go to the original ladies who decided in 1919 that a WI group (the first British group had begun in 1915), would be beneficial to Iron Acton. So Mrs Browne of The Rectory, our President, Mrs Fursman of The Street, our Vice President, Mrs Huggins of The Street, our Treasurer and Mrs Harrison of Algars Manor, our Secretary, the current members of Iron Acton WI salute you and thank you for initiating a group that has given pleasure and above all, lasting friendships to thousands of local women over the past 100 years.

Sylvie Powell

6 IRON ACTON’S WOMENS INSTITUTE 1919 - 2019 On the 28th October we celebrated our centenary with a party in the Parish Hall. From 2.30pm the preparations began with bunting being hung and tables laid with a variety of pretty, floral crockery and glasses kindly lent to us by Brendan & Tracey Byrne. Rona & Elizabeth provided some delightful floral decorations for the tables.

Our second entertainment was pianist Ben and singer Sarah, who certainly hit the high notes with popular songs from films and musicals from the relevant era. Ben also played solo and particularly popular were the ragtime numbers. You will remember Dan Coles from our previous magazine. He’s the chap who cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats. He raised an amazing £3551 for the Great Western Air The evening concluded with a prosecco toast to the continuing success of Iron Acton WI and the Ambulance and is photographed, here, presenting the cheque. Well done, Dan. cutting of the cake. We were grateful to Ray Bulmer for taking the photographs recording the events of the evening and producing images which will hopefully be mulled over for many years to come.

Sylvie Powell J G CARPENTRY

Kitchens – Bathrooms – Extensions – Staircases – Doors Flooring – Carpentry – Renovations - Exteriors

For a fast professionalWWW.JGCARPENTRY.COM service & competitive quotation 01454 851032 or 07738934875 WWW.JGCARPENTRY.COM

Could you beneﬁt from independent ﬁnancial advice?

• SAVINGS AND INVESTMENTS PLANNING* • RETIREMENT PLANNING* • PROTECTING YOUR LOVED ONES • TAX PLANNING • MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS** • EQUITY RELEASE

* The value of pension and investments can fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you invested. ** Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

For free ini�al consulta�on contact: Mark Cur�s Dip FA Your Local Financial Adviser, Qualiﬁed since 1997 01454 222898 | 07917 390943 mark.cur�[email protected] www.calculis.co.uk Poplar Farm, Yate Road, Iron Acton, Bristol, BS37 9XY LETTERS FROM IRON ACTON Let us take you back to 1919 to see what women here were writing about (and letter writing it had to be - no email or phones - mobile or otherwise). We think of Iron Acton as a quiet little place but in 1919 the population was nearly four times that of today and there were about a dozen shops plus other businesses, three places of worship, two schools and a police station.

Our first writer is Ada who works for Mr and Mrs H Nichols who live on the corner of Park Street and High Street and run a shop selling saddles, harness etc. Mr Nichols is also the Deputy Register of births, deaths and marriages.

Ann Aplin ……………………………………………

Iron Acton, Glos July 14th1919

Dear Maisie,

It was lovely to get your letter this morning and I'm trying to reply to it smart-like as both Mr and Mrs N are out - he had to run to the station to get to Thornbury on this registering business and she's off to the Rose and Crown to see her pal Mrs Julia Blanchard. I expect they're getting together for this year's Fuddle. Last year's wine should be ready by now so soon we'll be seeing all the old biddies staggering home one evening. Just tasting they call it! I mind how Uncle Fred had to get the handcart out to get Auntie Flo home last year. How we laughed!

Liz Colbourne isn't doing much laughing nowadays - now Mrs Blanchard's running the place by herself and ten of the twelve rooms have lodgers both she and Liz have their hands full. What with cleaning and washing, sending them off after a good breakfast and feeding them at night the work never stops. At least they don't have to go far for a beer! Poor Liz sometimes looks so sad, here she is aged 22 and not much to look forward to, her Percy in a French grave the last two years and her lovely bits and bobs in her bottom drawer all wasted. He would be 28 by now and as sturdy a chap as you could meet. Without this blooming war they would have been a nice little family living on the green next to his parents. She's a kind lass; I often see her of an evening popping down to see old Mr and Mrs Thomas.

Whoops - had to hide this paper and pen under the counter - hence the blot. Quite a rush not what you must get in Bristol but a rush for little old Iron A. Young Captain Anley from Algars Manor came tearing in to ask whether his new saddle was ready. I said that Mr N was in Thornbury but I thought it would be by Wednesday. Always in a hurry that chap but he' s got a nice way with him. Asked me whether I'd be going to the film show at the new village hall. Said he knew one of the chaps running it and it would be good fun.

Said I thought I might. (am just finishing a new blouse and it deserves an outing). Perhaps I can get Liz to come with me – seeing as how the Hall's been bought in memory of chaps like her Percy who fought in the war. I thought you had to have electricity to have a cinema but apparently they bring along a fire-proof operating room that they can collapse and carry to next village and this Cinema Re-Creative Circle comes with what they call Limelight equipment which can show the pictures on a 12 feet screen. Any larger and it wouldn't fit in!

9 Then after Captain Anley along came a whole group of young ladies on bicycles - looking for a leather strap to fix some rugs and baskets on to the back of a bike - theirs had broken. Right giggly lot off to meet up with friends in Chipping Sodbury for a picnic - must be lovely to be able to leave work during the week.

Talking of work it's said a woman's work is never done and Mrs Nichols gave me this article from this new Home and Country magazine she's so keen on. Have a read of this and let me have it back. It's bad enough doing all this housework when paid for it - but it seems it doesn't stop once we've found a chap.

From your devoted friend (and old chum)

Ada

17 Hughenden Road, Bristol July 18th 1919

My dear Ada,

Am returning the article. You are quite right - woman's work is never done! Mind you I don't think my landlady, Mrs Roberts, follows such a strict regime - whatever time I return from work she seems to be brandishing a feather duster and sighing deeply. Sometimes I think she just moves the dust around! However she is a nice enough soul – though she does love a good gossip.

She's always telling me stories about young Archie Leach next door. Quite a lively lad – just got himself expelled from Fairfield Grammar School, not sure what for but his mind was never on his schoolwork but on the theatre. He's been working backstage with lighting at the Bristol Empire and so on after school since he was thirteen and now his dad has signed a contract with Mr Pender which makes him part of the Pender Troupe for three years, getting paid and with his accommodation and food - and lessons in pantomime and dance. They spend their time touring around the country and I hear talk of them going to America. Just a lad at the moment but got a glance at him recently, very smartly dressed and lively, and could see he's going to be a looker. I said to Mrs Roberts that his poor dead mother would be proud of him but she pulled ever such a funny face and muttered something about 'I suppose Glenside is being dead'.

I see plenty of lookers – both ladies and gents at work and Mr Bobby is very particular about how we shop assistants look. I like to cycle to save a few pennies but in bad weather catch a tram there so I arrive looking smart. I wouldn't like to let down Maggs Department Store it's such a grand building and Queens Road a very posh address. We all have to wear black skirts and neat blouses and I have just made myself a new skirt with a really wide waistband and two large pockets with buttons and flatter myself I look quite up to date. Oh yes the length of the skirt is a good three inches shorter. Well if you've got good ankles why not show them I say. And of course it makes getting on to a bicycle or on a tram much easier.

Mind you a young married lady came in on Tuesday morning wearing the most beautiful silk blouse you've ever seen. Loose fitting, wide round neck, made of tucked and beaded pink silk crepe georgette. She looked a treat. Would have suited you with your lovely corn coloured hair.

10 Working on the glove counter as I do many fashionably dressed ladies come past on the way to the dress rooms but they then come to us on their way out looking for just the right colour and style to finish off their outfit.

Sometimes gents come to buy gloves as a present for a lady friend or relation and it’s quite difficult to guess what they actually want. We usually get it right because our gloves are of beautiful quality but sometimes ladies come back with them still wrapped up as their gentleman has got the colour or size all wrong.

We are a friendly group of girls on the ground floor - good thing really as we are together six days a week from eight in the morning to seven in the evening and often go out together on Wednesday which is our early closing day. I know there is always washing and mending to be done but we still often meet up to go to the moving pictures or a music hall. Both the Triangle Cinema or the Princes Theatre in Park Row is handy, or we can go to the Bristol or Bedminster Hippodrome, the Empire Theatre in Old Market or even the Theatre Royal.

The Bristol Hippodrome down on St Augustine's Parade is my particular favourite - the Variety show is splendid with some ever such well-known turns. I went there last Wednesday with Jessie from haberdashery who getting to be quite a friend of mine, and we saw Hetty King who dresses up as a man – ever so realistic and sang a very catchy song called 'All the nice girls love a sailor' - so catchy in fact that Mr Bobby heard me humming it on Thursday morning, gave me a funny look and said he didn't think our customers would appreciate it! We also saw The Flying Zedoras a trapeze act where one girl was shot through a paper target and caught by another of the troupe on a trapeze! Fair made you hold your breath that did. But my real favourite was some funny poems by Mariot Edgar performed by Stanley somebody - made us all roar with laughter.

We've been saving up a bit and hope to go again in a couple of week’s time when the Co 0ptimists come back. That's just before Jessie's sailor friend gets back to Bristol and I don't expect I'll see so much of her then – and if they get married she'll have to give up her job here in the shop. It'll be goodbye Maggs for Jess.

It's lovely taking part in this busy city but sometimes I really miss going down the High Street or to St James the Less and seeing it full of faces I recognise and I really miss my good friend Ada,

With best wishes

Maisie

11 IRON ACTON COMMUNITY CHOIR

We had a very successful prom concert in The Meadows in July. Singing a range of music from The Beatles, Elton John and The Proclaimers, we kept an enthusiastic and generous audience entertained and thoroughly enjoyed singing with the BMO as usual. Thank you to all who came and supported The Proms … we thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to sing for Acton Aid’s fantastic event and it is a delight to share our work with friends and family and the wider community from near and further afield. We also sang at a village wedding in late August for the Bournes’ family which was very well- received. It is great fun and extends our experience and skills. We might be ready for more, given enough rehearsal time and space! We are now amidst our preparations for the Carol Service in the church in December and our Winter Concert in early January (2020) and have begun to think about how we can best add to the joy and delight of those events! Rehearsals are well on the way for this new season of music. The energy and enthusiasm members bring to rehearsals in the Village Hall remains fantastic and it is a really positive and joyous experience to work with them to learn new music and develop our skills and abilities to sing in harmony with each other. Community singing is a powerful force for good and the Iron Acton Community Choir is real proof of that. It is a privilege to work with all the singers and we manage that fantastic balance between working very hard and having a lot of fun too. We now number about 35-40 members in total. We meet on a Tuesday evening in the Village Hall normally at 20.30 hrs and we now pay an annual membership fee (£30) to support the running of the choir in terms of hiring of the rehearsal space and the purchase of music. Any money raised from our singing (and this does happen!!) always goes to chosen charities. We currently have spaces within the choir in all voice parts, but particularly we would like to recruit more Sopranos, Altos and Basses. You just need to be keen and enthusiastic, no prior experience nor musical knowledge required and there is no audition. If you are interested then just let me know ([email protected]) and we’ll take it from there…or pop in to one of our Tuesday evening rehearsals and see what you think.

IRON ACTON COMMUNITY CHOIR

Iron Acton Community Choir

Would like to welcome you to their Winter Concert. A really eclectic range of The music from Beatles to Handel with some readings and poetry in between. Friday 10 th January, 20 20 @ 1900 St James the Less Church, Iron Acton

Tickets are not required but we will be raising money for good causes including the Church itself.

ST JAMES THE LESS CHURCH CALENDAR FOR THE SEASON OF ADVENT

Sat 7th 2.00pm - Christmas Sale in Parish Hall (St James and Friends of IA School) *** Sun 8th 4.00pm - All Age Christingle Service and Nativity *** Sun 15th 9.15am - Parish Communion 6.30pm - Carols and Readings by candlelight *** Sun 22nd 9.15am - Parish Communion *** Tues 24th 4.00pm - All Age Crib Service 10.30pm – Christmas Communion by candlelight

*** Wed 25th 9.15am - Christmas Day Communion *** Sun 29t 10.00am - Benefice Family Communion

BENEFICE PILGRIMAGE

Friday, 25th October saw a group of people from all over the Benefice begin a walk to Gloucester Cathedral - a total of 36miles. This was our first adult pilgrimage and it was with mixed emotions and excitement we embarked on the journey which was to test our limits of endurance physically, mentally and spiritually. We were walking in the footsteps of St. Peter and were already acquainted with his journey with Jesus Christ. It was a wet, dismal morning - a foretaste of what was to come as we spent two of the three days in very adverse weather conditions. Day 1 ended in Falfield Village Hall where we spent our first night. We were very lucky in that we had a brilliant back up crew who took our bags and bedding ahead of us in addition to providing refreshments and encouragement enroute. After drying out, eating and drinking, socialising and night prayers we bedded down for the night - on the floor I might add!

We were woken by Malcolm at 6am for day 2 which was to be our most challenging day. After breakfast and morning prayer we set off in the rain towards Framilode on Severn a distance of 16 miles! It soon became clear that the weather was worsening and we were soon battling the elements. Spirits were high however and it was good to take a moment to think of our reasons for undertaking this venture. We arrived in Berkeley to be met by our wonderful band of helpers and after coffee and chocolate we squelched on our way. The rain continued, conversation lessened and we began to wonder what we were doing. We arrived very wet and cold at Purton on the Sharpness Canal at lunch time in much need of shelter. To our delight the little church was open and our back up crew were there with open arms to welcome us! We were so in need of sanctuary and that little church provided it as it had no doubt done for centuries before. We knew we were being looked after! There was no time to loiter however and we were soon on our way once more. That afternoon was a real challenge to all of us I suspect as we trudged in single file through the mud and water. It reminded me of the carol Good King Wenceslas as we trod in each other’s footsteps lost in our own thoughts. However, this wasn’t meant to be easy and we dug deep. Just as we felt our legs would go no further we saw the tower of Framilode Church! What a relief! We had made it. Very wearily we limped into the church where we were overwhelmed with all the care, compassion and love from our friends. Once again, we had found sanctuary and all that meant. We soon dried out and spent a brilliant evening in the local pub. After night prayers we once again bedded down for the night. What a day!

We woke to clear skies and as the day dawned it became apparent that today was going to be a perfect autumn day. What a change. After morning service we set off on the final leg of our journey to Gloucester a distance of 9 miles. Our legs were aching but we were dry and warm thanks to the hospitality of our church friends in Framilode and our spirits were high. As we neared Gloucester no doubt everyone had their own thoughts as to what this journey had meant to them. Imagine our relief when the spires of the Cathedral came into view. What must pilgrims of centuries past have felt? The sun shone and someone uttered “This is our Easter Sunday!”

We ended our pilgrimage attending Evensong in Gloucester Cathedral which was a fitting end to our journey. Sitting in a group with all who had participated in any aspect of the pilgrimage was very moving plus having our family and friends who were also there made it very special, Malcolm had told us that we would feel God’s love and even see glimpses of Heaven on our journey and I do believe that for the majority of those who took part this was the case. It was an amazing experience. Bring on the next!

Jan Conner one of the 30 plus pilgrims. IRON ACTON’S HUNDRETH HORTICULTURAL SHOW!

The centenary year of the Iron Acton Horticultural Show was a great success. Thank you to everyone who grew produce, baked cakes, boiled jams and created artwork. This year 169 people entered 524 items, 59 adults and 110 children. Very well done to the children of Iron Acton Primary School who made dream- catchers and mobiles for class 72. The display was marvellous – thank you so much to all concerned - displaying them was a challenge!

It was a good year for decorated pebbles, jam and tomatoes, fruit crumbles and miniature gardens. It was also a good year for roses and runner beans. The best in show – Amateur Gardening Red Ribbon - was won by Richard Pagington with two huge perfectly matched cucumbers that were described by the judge as the best he had ever seen.

To mark this centenary year, we staged an exhibition on the stage that reflected village life as it was one hundred years ago. Display boards gave us fascinating facts and figures while one side of the stage showed a collection of old farm implements and the other a figure in a maid's dress stood by a display of old kitchen equipment and utensils.

The cake recipe, class 49 - gingerbread cake, was taken from the 1919 Daily Mail Cookery Book and challenged bakers with references to a gill of warm milk and mixtures of powdered eggs. Class 52, the “mens’ cake” was a traditional Irish Barmbrack – a teacake of mixed spice and dried fruit soaked overnight in cold tea or whisky. All were excellent.

Thank you to everyone who kindly donated their creations to the auction – and to everyone who boldly bid. This year we raised approximately £450 which will provide a charity donation, fund next year's show and refurbish or replace some of our trophies. Thanks, as always to David Hatherell for sterling service as auctioneer and for whom the following Beer Festival was his just reward.

Bob Latham, our Curate who was previously a garden designer and exhibitor at Chelsea Flower Show, presented the prizes which went to:

Hall Committee Rose Bowl (most points in the general section): Sonya Grubb Gordon Powell Cup (second highest points in the general section): Chris Boyce St. James the Less Cup (Iron Acton Parish resident with the most points in the general section): Sonya Grubb Amateur Gardening Red Ribbon (best exhibit in the general section): Richard Pagington Acton Aid Cup (most points in the home craft section): Tracey Bryne Flower Arranging Rose Bowl (most points in the flower arranging section): Linda Boyce Photography Cup: Sally Aries Nigel Davies Memorial Cup (first prize in the children’s photography section): Katie Aries Pre-School Cup (under 5 years old): Aleksandra Szpigiel Junior Cup (5-7 years old): Iris Anstey-Walker Parker Shield (8-11 years old): Abigail Hatherell Rudman Cup (12-16 years old): Alice Grubb Golden Jubilee Cup (the most entries by one family): Byrne Family The Showstopper Cake class, which had five entries and is awarded by the audience's vote (150) was won by Hannah Byrne. Your Horticultural Show Committee is never one to rest on its laurels. We have already looked at the suggestions we have received and will soon be planning next year's show - on Saturday September 12th, 2020 – so put that in your diaries and join us next year. PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE HORTICULTURAL SHOW

Please contact Nicola for a competitive Insurance quotation

Are you Insured rectly? cor As your Insurance Broker, I can check that you have the correct cover in place and provide you with an Insurance quotation from a large panel of Insurers. I can advise you on the products available to meet your demands and needs and offer assistance in the unfortunate event of a claim.

Home Insurance -‐ Business Insurance -‐ Landlords Insurance Public Liability Insurance -‐ Travel Insurance – Motor Insurance Pet Insurance – Private Healthcare Insurance

Nicola Webber Tel: 07818 047642 Email: [email protected]

Registered in England No. 4489781 Allied Wessex Westinsure Limited is authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

Please contact Nicola for a competitive Insurance quotation

Home Insurance -‐ Business Insurance -‐ Landlords Insurance Home Heating Oils Public Liability Insurance -‐ Travel Insurance – Motor Insurance Pet Insurance – Private Healthcare Insurance Red and White Diesel Company Fuel Cards Nicola Webber Adblue & Lubricants Tel: 07818 047642 Email: [email protected]

Thomas Silvey Ltd, Registered in England No. 4489781 Allied Wessex Westinsure Limited is authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Unit 5 Badminton Road Trading Estate, Yate, South Glos BS37 5NS

Andrew Tillotson

Oil Boiler, Aga and Rayburn,

Servicing and Repairs

covering South Gloucestershire and West Wiltshire

m: 07830 211400 e: [email protected]

THE ACTONIANS NEWS email: [email protected] Follow us on: https://www.facebook.com/Actonians Wind in the Willows has been one of the most challenging productions that we have performed recently, with a large cast of 32 people (ages from 10 to 70+ years old), involving both Adult Actonians and Junior Actonians and a hard-working backstage crew. Many of the actors doubled up, being animals in Part 1 and people in Part 2, subsequently there were lots of different costumes and props to find!

We extended the stage into the Hall and created a river and tunnel in front of the stage and Rattie’s house in the bar. A caravan, a barge, a boat and a train made appearances throughout the play! There were complicated lighting and sound effects and we had live music, (from a piano playing horse) and singing.

There were some lively chase scenes and a riotous courtroom scene where Toad is convicted of theft and sent to prison. At the end of the play there was a fierce battle between the Wild- Wooders and Badger, Rat, Toad and Mole where, as in true traditional stories, good conquers evil. It was an enjoyable production and we very much appreciated the enthusiastic audiences who supported us.

Whilst telling the tales of memories of an idyllic river-bank we became aware of the issues facing a lot of our British wildlife. Kenneth Grahame’s Ratty – the water vole – is the UK’s most rapidly declining mammal and has been lost from 94% of places where it was once prevalent, and its range is continuing to contract. Toad is also finding that times are very tough: he has lost nearly 70% of his own kind in the last 30 years alone – and much more than that in the last century. These losses have led to the UK becoming one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.

Sir David Attenborough, Stephen Fry, Catherine Tate, Alison Steadman and Asim Chaudhry have backed a new campaign from The Wildlife Trusts that calls for a wilder future and for nature’s recovery in the UK. The conservationist and actors have starring roles in a new The Wind in the Willows film trailer which brings to life the 21st century threats facing the much-loved characters from Kenneth Grahame’s children’s classic. The animated trailer calls on everyone to help bring our wildlife back before it’s too late, so that we can all enjoy a wilder future. Sign up on Avon Wildlife Trust website and join the campaign!

With Wind in the Willows over, our thoughts turn to the main Spring Production and a One Act Play to enter into the Avon Amateur Dramatics Festival in February. Further details will follow 20 We are always keen to find new members so whether you are interested in acting or working in the backstage team please contact us through our website www.actonians.co.uk.

JUNIOR ACTONIANS

The Junior Actonians meet up every Wednesday from 6:00 – 7:30pm where they have lively sessions playing drama games and learning the rudiments of drama. This year the Juniors have enjoyed being involved in Wind in the Willows. It is always good to welcome new members (Year 6 – 18 years). For more information contact:

Di Pardoe [email protected] or Sarah Godsell [email protected]

STOP PRESS

Our Spring production is Tartuffe (the imposter, the hypocrite), one of the famous theatrical comedies by Moliere. This version has been written by one of our members, Pat Stimson. The play will run from 14th – 16th May 2020.

Share and Prayer Join in with local friends at coffee time Saturday 11th Jan 20 20, 9.30-‐10.30am

@ Fairview Cottage, 1 Fairview Terrace, Iron Acton

If you would like us to pray for you or you would like more details

please contact Pete and Chris Bellis 01454 228065

SWEEPSAFE

Chimney Sweeping from just £50

Traditional chimney sweeping, power sweeps, CCTV checks, smoke escape tests Open chimney, wood stoves, solid fuel boilers, Aga/Rayburn etc

Replacement fire bricks, rope seals and glass

Certificates issued for your insurance

CRB/DBS and security vetted

Fully insured

Craig Ogborne 07477 544344

Workshops – Hampers - Wedding & Event Flowers - Bouquets

Organic Blooms is a Social Enterprise based in Latteridge. We grow beautiful British cut flowers sustainably, without the use of chemicals and we are certified Organic by the Soil Association.

Christmas Workshops will be held at

ACTON COURT (Latteridge Road) On December 6th, 7th,8th and 14th,15th

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR LAST-MINUTE CHRISTMAS GIFTS AND COLLECT FROM OUR SITE IN LATTERIDGE

www.organicblooms.co.uk

British Cut Flowers with a difference

Organically Grown – Socially Responsible

www.facebook.com/organicblooms www.twitter.com/organicblooms

IRON ACTON PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWS

We have had many exciting changes at school over the past few months. Our new double temporary classroom was delivered and currently sits on the school field. This has been a much needed addition to the school and now gives us the space we have needed for a long time. The staff have done an incredible job at getting the classrooms up and running and ready for the children. One of our teachers went on maternity leave – for those of you who know Mrs Lyall, she gave birth to Isla May on the 15th October. We are all very pleased for Mrs Lyall and her family and we wish them all the best over the coming months.

We welcomed several new staff to the team this year: Mrs Wilson, Mrs Hand and Mrs Green. Each of them has an important role to play in making sure the school delivers a high quality of education. We have also welcomed 15 new children to our Reception class, which we are now calling Barn Owl Class. They have all settled well and have started their school life with great enthusiasm.

We are always very keen to ensure we look to educate the whole child through a broad and balanced curriculum. Having said that, the children across the school are required to sit statutory tests and we were very pleased with the results which are testament to the hard work of both children and staff.

Over the course of this year we will be looking at our reading curriculum and the provision we have at the school to develop excellent reading skills. We will be looking in depth at the resources we have and are already making big changes to make reading even better. We will continue to focus on developing maths which is rapidly becoming a strength of the school; we will be looking to increase the number of children who achieve a higher standard too. As well as this, we will continue to look at our whole curriculum and how this reflects the needs of our children and is tailored to help children learn from the local area.

Our partnership with Hawkesbury Primary School continues this year. We celebrated the many positive aspects the partnership brings to both schools at the end of last year and we look forward to what this year brings.

Thank you all for your support of the school.

Mike Riches

Headteacher

Phone: 01454 228322

Email: [email protected]

07973 759239

Iron Acton based mobile towbar fitter & auto electrical specialist • Mobile service – we come to you! • Competitive prices • Friendly, helpful and highly qualified • Established 25 years • Quality, caring workmanship WE ALSO RE-GAS AIR CONDITIONING – CALL US NOW - WE COME TO YOU We supply and fit an extensive range of brand name towbars including Witter, TowTrust and Westfalia. There are different types of electrical sockets and different tow balls depending on your towing needs, including bike racks. We can give you all the help and advice you need in choosing the towbar that is right for you – with convenient mobile fitting and at a great price. So give us a call today!

YourYour friendly friendly local local suppliers suppliers of: of:

HomeHome Heating Heating Oils Oils RedRed and and White White Diesel Diesel CompanyCompany Fuel Fuel Cards Cards AdblueAdblue & & Lubricants Lubricants

ThomasThomas Silvey Silvey Ltd, Ltd, UnitUnit 5 Badminton5 Badminton Road Road Trading Trading Estate, Estate, Yate Yate, South, South Glos Glos BS37 BS37 5NS 5NS

07973 759239

“There was always a light on in the attic to guide the German bombers”. So said Albert Mainstone to the son of the owner of Algars Manor in the 1950s1. Even some years after the war, this was the prejudiced view he, and maybe others, had of two refugee Jewish women living in Iron Acton.

Irma Rawitscher and Malvina Lauterbach were employed as cook and house/parlour maid by Mrs Harrison, chair of Iron Acton WI and wife of Charles Holmes Harrison, a retired Indian Civil Service official. Mainstone had worked as a chauffeur and gardener for the Harrisons for many years and carried on working at Algars into the 1950s - first for their niece, Joan Isemonger, and then for Dr John Naish who bought the house in 1950. It was to Dr Naish’s eldest son, Michael, that Mainstone described the two women as spies.

Both women came to Iron Acton as two of the thousands of predominantly female Jews from Germany and Austria who were admitted to Britain as domestic servants. A ‘domestic visa’ was one of the easiest ways for refugee women to escape to Britain even though Figure 1 Irma Rawitscher's German Jewish Aid Committee card many came with no experience of or, indeed, aptitude for domestic service. As persecution intensified in 1938/39, Jews from Germany and Austria sought desperately to find domestic positions for themselves or for daughters too old to qualify for the Kindertransports. The Jewish Chronicle and other papers published numerous adverts from evidently desperate, often middle-class, mature and educated people who were prepared to do anything to escape the Nazis.2 It seems that Malvine, and maybe Irma, was lucky in that her visa application (details of which were kept on file by the German Jewish Refugee Committee) was actually made by Mrs Harrison.

This doesn’t mean, however, that Jews were universally welcomed by British people before the war. Rather than relaxing entry requirements for Austrian Jews after Anschluss, the British government tightened them, introducing new, strictly controlled visas precisely to restrict their numbers. Around 70,000 Jews were admitted before the war but the British Jewish associations had around half a million case files for those who were not. Even those that were granted entry

1 Pers. Comm. Mike Naish 2 Association of Jewish Refugees AJR Journal Underpaid, underfed and overworked: Refugees in domestic service VOLUME 8 NO. 12 DECEMBER 2008 were admitted only because the Jewish community guaranteed that it would bear all the expenses of accommodation and maintenance, with no burden placed on the public purse. Sophia Lauterbach, the wife of Malvine’s cousin Arieh Leo Lauterbach, stood guarantee for Malvine Figure 1 Ina Lauterbach's German Jewish Aid Committee card and is recorded on her German Jewish Aid Committee card under ‘Relatives or Friends in England (Stating Financial Position)’. It was thus a myth that Britain did all it could for the Jews between 1933 and 1945. Even after the war, Cabinet minutes record that “the admission of a further batch of refugees, many of whom would be Jews, might provoke strong reactions from certain sections of public opinion”. Yet they placed no restrictions on the entire Ukrainian membership of the Galician division of the Waffen-SS.1 Irma and Ina, it seems, were lucky.

A lot of information on Irma’s life comes from an interview her son Heinz gave in California in 1998 when he described family life before and during the war.2 In Breslau, where Irma Werner, her ex-husband Alfred Rawitscher and Heinz lived, life became very hard for the Jewish population after ‘Kristallnacht’ on 9th - 10th November 1938. However, in reality, persecutions began much earlier than this with Heinz and the one other Jewish boy having to run the gauntlet of the ‘Nazi boys’ every day on their way back from school. Their teacher would help in school, even keeping quiet when the SS visited with milk and cookies for the class, but on his way home the other boys repeatedly tried to steal the ‘beautiful’ bike he had received as a Bar Mitzvah present. Fights, which he ‘usually won’, were frequent and, even in 1937 aged 13, he talked of wanting to move to Israel to be a citizen of a country where he wouldn’t be harmed. Some of his family tried to leave in 1937 but he stayed and joined one of the numerous Zionist groups trying to resist the Nazis. It was in these circumstances that, in 1938, Irma decided it was safer to send her 14-year-old son to a home for Jewish boys in Esslingen near Stuttgart. From there Heinz moved to a mechanics school in Cologne and, after about a year, he obtained a visa and escaped into Denmark on a kindertransport.

His father Alfred was very active within Jewish society and he had been appointed to arrange the emigration of Jews to the rest of the world. Heinz told of his father risking all to go out at night to meet with other members of the community; an act that led to him being picked up by the Nazis sometime in 1940. The fact that he had fought in the German army in World War One at Verdun saved him and he was sent home.

1 https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/jun/08/immigration.immigrationandpublicservices 2 "USC Shoah Foundation: Online Access." http://vhaonline.usc.edu/viewingPage?testimonyID=48462&returnIndex=0. Accessed 22 Jun. 2019. Figure 1 Heinz & Irma Rawitscher

But, eventually, like many

other Jewish veterans who

vainly hoped that wearing their World War One

medals would save them from transportation, he was taken again. Heinz knew what had happened when his letters stopped arriving.

Irma herself managed to get to Bremen from where she left on the MV Columbus on 11th May 1939. She landed at Southampton a few days later, probably without knowing any of what was going on back home and, even by 1943, still not knowing what became of her son. Figure 1 Irma Rawitscher's Exemption from Internment card

Unfortunately, there is much less information about Malvina’s life before or after she flew into Edith Argy, who came from Vienna in 1938 also aged nineteen, recalled: “I had never so much Croydon Airport in 1939. She had an address in Vienna and is recorded as Austrian although as held a broom, and I was supposed to keep a fairly large house clean...I found the food hard to swallow….I was cold in bed. I missed my duvet. The thin blankets seemed to provide no she was born, in July 1906, in a part of the Austro-Hungarian empire that has been part of warmth at all. I was desperately homesick. I wanted to die.” So desperate was she that she Poland (Lwow), the Third Reich (Lemberg) and is now part of Ukraine (Lviv). Her parents were even applied for a German passport with the intention of returning to Vienna.1 Michael and Sabina Lauterbach.

There is no record of what the Harrisons expected of the two women or how they were treated. Both Ina and Irma were living and working at Algars when the war broke out and were counted Unlike some badly treated refugees, they both appear to have continued with their initial jobs on the 1939 Register taken, to help with rationing and wartime planning, 26 days later on the for some time. Irma worked in Iron Acton until the summer of 1943 when her records show her 29th September 1939. Both were exempted from internment by one of the tribunals set up to living at two addresses in Cheltenham and, in November 1943, in north west London (working deal with Germans and Austrians who were classed as ‘enemy aliens’ on the outbreak of war. for a Mrs Felix of 22 Poland Street as a ‘cutter’). After the war, Irma lived in Paddington and The Aliens Department of the Home Office divided these aliens into: Category A, to be interned; visited Heinz in California regularly and told him that she loved living in Britain. She married Category B, to be exempt from interment but subject to restrictions; or, as in Irma and Ina's Paul Kohlberg, ‘an embroiderer of material for ladies’ dresses’ and another refugee from case, Category C, exempt from internment and restrictions. Germany, in 1949 and lived in north London. Irma died, aged 89, in Watford in 1989.

But, eventually, like many other Jewish veterans who vainly hoped that wearing their World War One medals would save them from transportation, he was taken again. Heinz knew what had happened when his letters stopped arriving.

Because Mrs Harrison made or strongly supported Ina’s application, we can hopefully assume Ina also left Iron Acton in 1943 to become a ‘finisher’ with a Mr or Mrs Katz in London. After the that both women were treated well during their time in Iron Acton. Elsewhere, many similar war she lived in Hampstead and Hendon and died in 1989 aged 83. Both women became British refugees were not. Most of these young women were wholly unprepared for domestic service - citizens by naturalisation in 1949. Irma was a seamstress in Breslau for example. Hortense Gordon, a well-to-do doctor’s daughter aged 19 also from Breslau, found a job with an affluent British family in Surrey. Her parents gave her parting instructions to learn bridge, ‘the key to social life in England’ and she arrived with an evening dress. However, the two and a half years she spent as cook-general in Farnham were more reminiscent of the servants’ life in Upstairs Downstairs. She toiled from dawn till near midnight to supply a series of copious and frequent meals and was treated strictly 1 ‘Underpaid, underfed and overworked: Refugees in domestic service.’ AJR Journal - in accordance with her status in the kitchen. Association of Jewish Refugees VOLUME 8 NO. 12 DECEMBER 2008 https://ajr.org.uk/wp- content/uploads/2018/02/2008_december.pdf Postscript: Irma’s ex-husband and his new wife, Lotte Akst were both killed by the Nazis. Her mother Rosalie Seidenberg as was deported from Breslau in May 1942 first to Riebnig Transit Camp, then the Theresienstadt Ghetto (Czechoslovakia) and finally to the extermination camp at Treblinka on the 29th September 1942. Her brother George, who had written to her at Algars Manor in July 1941, talking about his hopes of extracting his wife and daughter, served with the pioneers in the war and survived. However, Elly, his wife, and daughter Marianne did not escape and were both killed in November 1941 in the 9th Fort Massacres at Fort Kaunas, Lithuania. He was married again Small & friendly family run business in 1950 to Clara Brann another refugee Luxury accommodation from Breslau.

Figure 1 Elly & Marianne Werner All breeds welcome

Inspections welcome by appointment In Denmark, Heinz became involved with Knud Pederson, a resistance fighter who formed the ‘Churchill Club’ made up of Danish teenage boys who sabotaged cars, train stations and stole For more info call: 01454 228374 many weapons and explosives from the Nazis. Later, he worked for the American army tracking Nazis in Europe before emigrating to California. Elm Farm, Bristol Road, Iron Acton, Bristol,

Ina’s family fared little better. Both her parents Michael, aged 73, and Sabine, 61, were deported BS37 9TF from Vienna to Theresienstadt in July 1942 and died there soon after. Her sister Klara, her husband Ernst Hirschfeld and son Alexander were killed in Lviv in 1941. Four of her aunts and www.elm-farm.net one uncle were also killed between 1941 and 1944.

TOP GROOM Would you like to expand your family tree or explore your relative’s military service? City & Guilds Qualified Dog Grooming. Contact Chillwood Research

Experienced family history researcher and Elm Farm Boarding Kennels historian Iron Acton BS37 9TF.

Tim Grubb Tel. 07708300672 Telephone: 07786 067336 Email: [email protected]

Small & friendly family run business Luxury accommodation

All breeds welcome

Inspections welcome by appointment For more info call: 01454 228374

Elm Farm, Bristol Road, Iron Acton, Bristol, BS37 9TF www.elm-farm.net

TOP GROOM City & Guilds Qualified Dog Grooming. Elm Farm Boarding Kennels Iron Acton BS37 9TF. Tel. 07708300672

Christmas Fayre The North Road Christmas fayre takes place on Friday 29th November from 2-4pm. We will have Father Christmas as well as stalls including, tombola, raffle, craft stalls, jewellery, tattoos, face painting, cakes and drinks etc.

If you would like a stall to sell anything that you make or sell or for perhaps items you would like to move on, please call Katharine Gray on 07789763790. Stalls cost £15 if paid in advance or £20 if paid on the day.

Foreign/Old Coin Collection. If you have any unwanted foreign or old coins (or notes) please bring them into the school. All coins/notes that we receive will be converted into money for the children.

Tuesday 17th March 2020: Bags 2 School Collection. Please bag up any unwanted clothing, shoes and soft toys you may have and bring them to school before 9am. (Please feel free to pop them over the school gate.) The more weight we receive to more money will be given.

Easy Fundraising Easy Fundraising is all about raising donations whenever you shop online. We have an Easy Fundraising account set up for North Road School. Please see the link below for more information. https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/northroadcommunityprimary/?invite=2PD8AI&refe rral-campaign=s2s

Friends Of North Road Meetings FONR meet once a month to discuss fundraising ideas and to plan ways to carry the ideas out. We very much welcome new members and try to action people’s suggestions where possible. We meet at the Codrington Arms pub at 7.30pm. The dates of the next meetings are:

• Thursday 12th December • Thursday 16TH January • Thursday 13th February • Thursday 12th March • Thursday 9th April

For more details on any of the above, please contact Katharine on 07789 763790.

OH DEER! IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR! introduced a new tradition whereby each one of them has been allowed to select (once able) their own bauble. The concept is that as they leave home, they take their personalised Rest easy my readers I am, of course, anything but a ‘Grinch’! I absolutely love the growing collection for their own tree. I am yet to rid myself of the purple, fluffy ball and the high-heeled momentum that creeps through our home at this time of year; from the very first sighting of shoes, which swing alongside the ridiculous, mini wreaths my dear, humorous husband, the ‘Murray Tool Hire Christmas light up’ until the big day itself and the following days, secured from Christmas crackers when we first married! basking in its glory, I’m hooked! And on the top sits, in faded glory, my old teeny, rag doll received in a Christmas stocking I shamefully admit that I have even succumbed to the over indulgent world of Christmas and now dressed in white, crepe paper turned by the loveliest of Grandmothers into a duvets. Our youngest received a hand- me down one and I couldn’t resist a few more. Much Christmas fairy – and despite Abigail’s protestations, she will never be replaced. to my sensible husbands’ horror I acquired one for us. To be fair it is more Nordic than just Our tree reflects all our Christmases: those that have gone before and those yet to come. Christmas and can be used throughout the winter months; this seemed to appease him somewhat. My delight at his acceptance was short-lived following the first wash. I had bought Even in the darkest December days 3 years ago whilst Christmas was seemingly stolen from a lovely red sheet to match the Nordic deer but after a rather hot wash, the deer were left my family when Dad was ripped from our lives, I still felt the glow of Christmas touching me oozing red blood from their sides which my husband assures me is far from festive as we lie from afar, reaching out into the dark abyss and bringing me and Dad right back with it. Again, snuggled under a heap of murdered deer (hence the misspelling in my title!). it can be no coincidence that the very picture Mum gave me for my birthday earlier that year was Dad in my house: sporting, as always, his Christmas tie and a glass of champagne in his But those bleeding deer can’t squash my Christmas spirit. hand.

As it happens, I am the same height as Father Christmas. No-one is missing from Christmas, the human jigsaw of all time stretches onwards – each piece remains and from it new ones can spread out; that is the gift that we are given at My sister has a surprising height chart which matches you to your twin, anything from an Christmas a collision of all time, a glimpse of the eternal, first shown in a baby born nearly Emperor penguin to a super model and I match the man in red himself; no mere coincidence I 2020 years ago. believe! I am rather glad it is his height and not his girth size I match. But I need to be on my metal, any more mince pies and I’m there! Note to self ‘stick to the sherry’!! Merry Christmas dear readers and to all a good night!

I am not a maniac; I have banned all talk of Christmas until after Bonfire night: not to keep a Lisa Hatherell. lid on my daughter’s desperate excitement (and her siblings before her) but in truth to keep a lid on my own!

No doubt you will have your own set of quirky traditions unless of course you really are the Grinch.

That first sighting of the Christmas lights at Murray tool hire heralds a rather peculiar tradition in our house. Abigail is now the one ‘on alert’. From Halloween onwards she strains to catch the first glimpse of the display. When the lights are spotted, we delightfully shout ‘RAY’ very loudly as we drive by. This is not because I know one of the employees therein but because when I saw the lights for the first time many years ago; I began shouting ‘Hooray’ each time we passed. My older children mocked me as the ‘Hoo’ had allegedly disappeared in my shrieks and all they could hear was the ‘Ray’. There are now several Iron Acton families (whose children have had lifts from me) who join in the Christmas ‘RAY’ as they pass, and little do the Murray crew know what a merry part of our Christmas they are and will continue to be!!

That is what I love most about Christmas, the collision of all time past, present and future.

Our Christmas tree is no exception – I am not particular about much in my life, but I do like my tree to be right. Wide bottomed, bushy, traditional fir and now living and renewable. But after the festive annual tree row, where I refuse to accept the skinnier versions my dear husband seeks, my control ends. The tree is adorned with a mish-mash of memories; the wilting, pre- school, cotton wool snowman created some 19 years ago by my now grown up son grimaces reassuringly along with a plethora of other odd ornaments. Since my children were born Mum introduced a new tradition whereby each one of them has been allowed to select (once able) their own bauble. The concept is that as they leave home, they take their personalised collection for their own tree. I am yet to rid myself of the purple, fluffy ball and the high-heeled shoes, which swing alongside the ridiculous, mini wreaths my dear, humorous husband, secured from Christmas crackers when we first married!

And on the top sits, in faded glory, my old teeny, rag doll received in a Christmas stocking and now dressed in white, crepe paper turned by the loveliest of Grandmothers into a Christmas fairy – and despite Abigail’s protestations, she will never be replaced.

Our tree reflects all our Christmases: those that have gone before and those yet to come.

Even in the darkest December days 3 years ago whilst Christmas was seemingly stolen from my family when Dad was ripped from our lives, I still felt the glow of Christmas touching me from afar, reaching out into the dark abyss and bringing me and Dad right back with it. Again, it can be no coincidence that the very picture Mum gave me for my birthday earlier that year was Dad in my house: sporting, as always, his Christmas tie and a glass of champagne in his hand.

No-one is missing from Christmas, the human jigsaw of all time stretches onwards – each piece remains and from it new ones can spread out; that is the gift that we are given at Christmas a collision of all time, a glimpse of the eternal, first shown in a baby born nearly 2020 years ago.

Merry Christmas dear readers and to all a good night!

Lisa Hatherell.

37 IRON ACTON FILM CLUB

The Iron Acton Film Club 2019-2020 season started in October and once again it is proving a great success. The free afternoon film for children is popular, as always, and it is great to see previous members return for another season as well as welcoming new members. In October and November we showed “Mary Poppins Returns” and “Dumbo” for the children and our members chose “Stan and Ollie” and “The Favourite” for the evening films.

As I have mentioned in previous editions of Local Poyntz, running both the children’s film in the afternoon and an evening film for members every month is quite a commitment for the small group of Film Club committee members. We would be extremely grateful for additional help. If there are any parents who often attend the afternoon film with their children and could help selling refreshments before the film and/or during the interval we would be very grateful to hear from you.

If you are not on our membership mailing list and would like to receive details about the Film Club please contact us with your email address. Home extensionS AND Remaining 2019-2020 season dates: 14 December 2019 complete garden renovations 4 January 2020 1 February 2020 7 March 2020 renovation works

Simon Cross Caroline Haselhan 01454 228291 01454 228791 Stone & Brickwork Driveways & Patios Fencing & Decking

Lawns & Artificial grass

CLIENT: DRAFT REF: DESIGNER/ARTWORKER: SODBURY LANDSCAPING 01 KLAUDIA

PROJECT: DATE: TO DISCUSS THIS VISUAL MAGAZINE ADVERT 25.07.19 PLEASE EMAIL: [email protected] Home extensionS AND complete garden renovations

renovation works Stone & Brickwork Driveways & Patios Fencing & Decking Lawns & Artificial grass

CLIENT: DRAFT REF: DESIGNER/ARTWORKER: SODBURY LANDSCAPING 01 KLAUDIA

PROJECT: DATE: TO DISCUSS THIS VISUAL MAGAZINE ADVERT 25.07.19 PLEASE EMAIL: [email protected] ACTON AID

The year is now drawing to a close our last organised event being the fireworks on November 2nd. We would like to thank all those who braved the weather to support us; the fire and fireworks were great despite the rain and wind.

The year in terms of fund raising for village projects has been very good and the members would like to thank all those that have supported our events and hope that they were enjoyed.

The aim of Acton Aid is to raise money to be spent on improving the village environment, we have supported various requests for financial assistance from groups within the Parish of Iron Acton: -

• Both schools have had grants towards projects to improve the facilities for the pupils. • We have helped the History Project, which is ongoing with funding to record events of the past for the benefit of all residents. • We have negotiated discounts with Green Community Transport for Iron Acton residents although the take up has been very slow. • We are hoping to assist with improving the footpath alongside the river from Algar’s Mill to Tubbs Bottom. • Many of the dry stone walls around the village are in a poor state we are assisting with funding for a wall-building course.

These are just some of the projects we have or are helping, we would like to hear from anyone who has ideas for improving our environment whether big or small we will always give ideas consideration.

Next year we hope to be running our normal events: -

Assisting with the May Day celebrations. Mash and Proms on first weekend of July. Beer Festival following village show in September Fireworks in November

Acton Aid is a group of men from the village, which meet at the Lamb on the first Thursday of the month at 8.00pm, new members are always welcome.

For more information see www.actonaid.org.uk.

Mike Conner (Secretary) 01454 228482

40 Landcare “The place to come Tree Nursery for trees” Old Sodbury

Over 1,500 potted trees from In stock to suit small gardens £36 through to large estates

Shrubs from Selection of shrubs for screening £5.50 or specimens

Herbaceous perennials from Herbaceous plants to bring colour to your borders £4.95

Fruit trees Container grown or bare root for from the garden or orchard £18 Make great Christmas presents

Bare root Mid Native bare root hedging and November field trees in stock now to March

www.landcaretrees.co.uk Old Sodbury Full catalogue available on-line. 'The Dog' Chipping Sodbury Cross Hands P.H. Hotel Opening times A432 Monday to Friday 9.00am - 4.30pm. Saturdays 9.00am - 4.00pm. A46 LANDCARE NURSERY Chapel Lane, Old Sodbury, BS37 6SJ (in Chapel Lane) Tel 01454 310664 [email protected]

The Store that has more

Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 4pm Game Farm, Latteridge BS37 9TY Tel: 01454 228109 Website: www.patrickpinker.com