JUNE 2021
All Saints’ Church Parish Magazine
LEEK WOOTTON LINK Leek Wootton | Guy’s Cliffe | Hill Wootton | Chesford | Goodrest | Wedgnock | North & Middle Woodloes LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 issues regarding isolation or the need EDITORIAL for assistance, please do contact the Welcome to the June issue of The Link. COVID 19 response team, via the Clerk Much has changed, according to the to the Parish Council, and we know that Government roadmap, but life still feels help will be available. ’different’. We’ve been isolated, we’ve In the meantime, enjoy your been vaccinated and many of us have surroundings and the freedoms that we been tested, but life really is still quite do have! Stay safe and well. strange. Helen & Lesley Eldridge Travel is not recommended and we’re all The Editorial Team still 2 metres apart, but if you have any Cover Image: ‘A solitary bee in my bug hotel’ by David Elsy All Saints’ Church WHO’S WHO? Priest in Charge Readers Jim Perryman t : 850610 Audrey Rowberry t : 851498 The Vicarage, 4 Hill Wootton Road 7a The Meadows e : [email protected] Nigel Stallard t : 850548 Church Wardens Reading Room Cottage Jonathan Kingston t : 851181 Church Lane 32 Hill Wootton Road Treasurer to the PCC Nigel Stallard (see right for contact) Iain Wilton t : 07771 664185 4 Croft Road Secretary to the PCC Chris de Wolf e : [email protected] 8 Eliot Close, Warwick Parish Safeguarding Officer Lesley Allen t : 07963 815773 | e : [email protected]
Articles for The Link: If there is anything you would like to include, please email [email protected] The deadline for editorial submissions for the JUL/AUG 2021 issue is: FRIDAY, 18 JUNE 2021 Advertisements for The Link or for www.leekwoottonchurch.co.uk: 1 WEEK IN ADVANCE OF THE MAIN SUBMISSION DEADLINE Via email to [email protected] or call Jim Perryman on 01926 850610 Would you like to receive The Link by email? Please email [email protected] and request your email copy
Back issues of The Link are available to view online at: https://express.yudu.com/library/82141/LeekWootton-amp-GuysCliffe-s-Library 2 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 FROM THE VICARAGE Green for Growing Green is very much the favoured colour at the moment – people (me included) are longing for more countries to be added to the Government’s GREEN list, making travel simpler and quarantine unnecessary. Sadly, most of the countries currently on the list are closed or very restricted to UK travellers anyway, so Portugal seems to be the only realistic option. Currently, however, Portugal is not one of the areas I work in with my other job. It is Switzerland and Greece that are most on my radar (along with France as this is inconveniently in the way of a direct land-based journey to Switzerland!). For me, and the chaplains I work with, all the lights are Amber. This makes life very difficult and extremely expensive for their volunteer work and a number have been forced to withdraw from the team. I’ve experienced many of the difficulties first hand as I am writing this from Switzerland having been unsure, until I actually drove across the France/ Switzerland border, that I would be allowed in, even though I had jumped through countless hoops in advance. Of course, getting here was only the first stage – I still have to get home again; with quarantine and numerous PCR tests awaiting me. And if the pandemic wasn’t bad enough, don’t forget the major impact that Brexit now has on what was once a simple journey to the ‘mainland’! However, now I’m here, the green of the alpine meadows and the majesty of the mountains do offer a sense of hope that all will be well eventually. Green is a wonderful colour – full of hope, full of life – and it provides a perfect background for the wild flowers that carpet the fields – as they do the churchyard in Leek Wootton. I know that many people have been enjoying the beauty of the churchyard over recent times, with walkers passing through after leaving their cars in the Church car park. I hope that many will take advantage of the excellent plans for discovering more about the flora and fauna that are there, by joining our guest experts over the first weekend of June. Our first ‘Church Teas’ since September 2019 will also be part of that weekend. Let’s pray that the weather behaves itself! But June sees the start of Green inside the church building as well as outside. The season of Trinity is the longest part of the Church Year, and it is marked by our altar frontal and other cloths being green – as a sign that, outside the major festivals, our focus is on the ongoing task of growing in our faith, growing in our fellowship, and growing in our service to the community in the name and love of God. So let’s keep going, keep growing – and keep hoping that the world soon becomes a safer place to move around; with green lights being able to replace the amber and red that are so prevalent just now. Jim Perryman 3 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021
www.leekwoottonchurch.co.uk ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH
CHURCH SERVICES / EVENTS FOR JUNE Saturday, 5 June 9:30pm Bat and Moth evening (to 11:00pm) in the churchyard Pre-booking essential – see page 25 Sunday, 6 June 9:30am Morning Worship ONLINE including MOSAIC group for families 11:00am Holy Communion IN CHURCH 2:00pm Wildflower Walk (to 3:00pm) in the churchyard Pre-booking essential – see page 25 3:00pm Church Teas (to 5:00pm) open to all 3:30pm Minibeast Hunting (to 4:30pm) in the churchyard Pre-booking essential – see page 25 Sunday, 13 June 9:30am Morning Worship ONLINE including MOSAIC group for families 11:00am Holy Communion IN CHURCH Tuesday, 15 June 7:30pm PCC Meeting Sunday, 20 June 9:30am Morning Worship ONLINE including MOSAIC group for families 11:00am Holy Communion IN CHURCH Thursday, 24 June 1:00pm Wedding of Nicholas Williams and Rebecca Cullen Sunday, 27 June 9:30am Morning Worship ONLINE including MOSAIC group for families 11:00am Holy Communion IN CHURCH The following weekday services will not be available on YouTube Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 8:50am ONLINE Morning Worship: Prayer, Bible reading, time to reflect on the reading and a song of worship related to the theme, plus a chance to chat at the end Monday and Wednesday, 5:45pm – 6:00pm ONLINE Compline: A short time of peaceful reflection to end the working day
4 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 You can ‘phone in’ to our online services if you don’t feel comfortable joining via Zoom or YouTube on your computer or smartphone. Details for all methods are as follows. TO JOIN US ON ZOOM (All online worship, Sunday and midweek): www.tiny.cc/lwzoom all lower case or use the Zoom Cloud Meeting App Meeting ID 645 991 3128 with Passcode 110720 TO JOIN US ON YOUTUBE: www.tiny.cc/lwyoutube all lower case TO JOIN US ON YOUR TELEPHONE: Dial 0131 460 1196 (standard phone charges apply) When asked, on your phone keypad, key in 6459913128# Then to second question, just enter # And when asked for the Passcode, key in 110720# TO JOIN US IN CHURCH: Come along, but please wear a face covering and abide by all the official regulations as well as the local hygiene requirements TO CATCH UP LATER: Go to www.leekwoottonchurch.co.uk and follow the menu link to ‘Recent Online Service Videos’
DAILY COMMUNITY PRAYER FOCUS: Each weekday, and each weekend, we pray specifically for those who live or work in a different street or area of our parishes. We invite everyone to join in this – perhaps thinking about those you know in a particular place, or just picturing the place in your thoughts – and in a moment of quiet, just ask that peace and blessing may come to the homes and workplaces there. Prayer doesn’t need long words or strange language, just an open heart and a brief stillness of mind. The cycle of prayer for the coming days will be displayed on the front page of the church website. Please make this one of your home pages, or bookmark it, so that you can easily find out who to think about, and when you are being specifically prayed for. You are always invited to submit personal prayer requests to [email protected] where some of the church leaders will pray for your concerns in strict confidence. To enter into conversation about a concern, please contact the vicar or one of the Readers or Churchwardens directly – see contact details inside the front cover.
5 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 www.mothersunioncoventry.com LEEK WOOTTON MU Contact : Janet Jackson t : 258264
DEANERY PRAYERS: Tuesday, 15 June On the third Tuesday of each month, we pause to pray for families, our communities and our schools. We also remember a particular area and this month prayers are for Meriden and Packington. SUMMER OF HOPE 2021 MU’s annual Summer of Hope campaign is under way, a time to celebrate 145 years of Mothers’ Union, and we will be raising funds to give hope for a better future to families and communities both locally and globally. This year the funds will be needed more than ever with, in many cases, the impacts of COVID exacerbating pre-existing issues around equality, justice and poverty - from nearby to our brothers and sisters around the world, especially in some of the world’s poorest countries. The campaign starts in June with MU on the Move, a 5K challenge - walk, run, cycle, or use any form of movement you can to travel 5K. You can do this as an individual or with family, friends, or a group of people, in relay! Resources and campaign materials, providing activities and ideas for summertime are on the website at www.mothersunion.org. Just look for the Summer of Hope article on the home page. The campaign will draw to a close in August as we mark the centenary of our founder Mary Sumner’s passing and give thanks for her legacy. She was an amazing woman, with the movement beginning in her home, when she saw a need to support young mothers trying to bring up their children in the Christian faith. Young Person’s prayer for Fathers’ Day Thanks, God, for my dad. For the lifts he gives – to here, to there, then back again. For the cash he provides when I’m not really owed. For the teasing he takes about how he’s not “cool”. How he doesn’t turn his back on me when I make life a misery. Sometimes I find it hard to show him I care. Photo by cottonbro from Pexels from cottonbro by Photo I forget to say thank you, I refuse to say sorry. But I do love him, God, and I’d be stuck without him. Can you tell him, God, make sure he knows? Amen from ‘Praying in every Season’ by MU 6 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 www.coventrycathedral.org.uk COVENTRY CATHEDRAL MATTERS Parish Partner : Mary Robins t : 512643
CONCRETE COLLAR BY TOM ILLESLEY Something that might interest older Coventrians who remember the city before the bulldozers arrived in the 1950s - an exhibition of photographs of the Coventry ring road by Tom Illesley. Made over a period of three years, the images reflect how the city was “…regenerating and growing within the constraints of its post-war footprint.” Planning of the ring road took 25 years (should it be inside or outside the city boundaries?) and 14 years to construct. It was completed in 1974. Open from 17 May – 30 June in the Cathedral. 10:00am – 4:00pm Monday to Saturday, and 12:30pm – 4:00pm Sunday. VISITING THE CATHEDRAL A ticketing system has been introduced and visitors should acquire an ‘Exhibition and Entry’ ticket, which is free (see website). The opening hours are as above for the exhibition. Current COVID-19 guidelines apply - wear a mask and only visit with people from your household or support ‘bubble’ and keep group size to a maximum of six. ORGAN RECITALS Monday lunchtime Organ Recitals are back! 12:30pm – 1:00pm Monday, 7 June – Jonathan Lilley (Director of Music) Monday, 14 June – Colin Druce (Head of Keyboard) Monday, 21 June – Lucy Morrell (Organ Scholar, St Mary’s) Monday, 28 June – Michael Kattnig (2020 RCO Prize Winner) LONDON CONCERTANTE PRESENT VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS Tuesday, 15 June, 7:00pm – 10:00pm ROMEO AND JULIET Performed in the Cathedral Ruins by The Three Inch Fools, five actors and many musical instruments. Thursday, 17 June, 7:00pm (doors open 6:15pm). PEREGRINE FALCONS IN THE TOWER Conservation work on the Cathedral tower has been put on hold after the discovery of a nest containing a single egg. Peregrine falcons are protected by law and the work will now have to wait until the egg has hatched and the young has fledged. In order that visitors to the UK City of Culture and residents may safely visit the Ruins to attend events, a ‘crash deck’ has been installed around the tower (at a cost of £25,000). Image from www.twitter.com/covperegrines
7 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 CHURCH CLEANING Can you help? We are looking for volunteers to join the existing Church cleaning rota. Vacuum cleaners and cleaning products are provided. There is no window cleaning involved. We work in pairs for a period of three weeks, cleaning once a week during this time. Your three-week period would come around every three months. You and your cleaning partner decide when you wish to clean during this period and how much time you spend cleaning is entirely up to you. Myself and my cleaning partner find that we can do what is needed in around an hour. Perhaps you and a friend could join the rota together. I will be on hand to assist you the first time you clean. If it is just yourself joining, then someone will be paired with you. I am currently putting together a new rota for the next twelve months, which hopefully will begin on 21 June. If you think you may be able to help, then please get in touch with me, Shirley Calvert, 01926 859003. Shirley CHRISTIAN AID www.christianaid.org.uk If you didn’t get round to making a donation to Christian Aid last month, it would be wonderful if you could add to the local collection. The e-envelope for Leek Wootton is still available at the time of writing, and you can make your donation in this at https:// envelope.christianaid.org.uk/envelope/all-saints-leek-wootton or by scanning this QR code.
On behalf of all those who will benefit, thank you for your compassion and generosity.
8 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 www.leekwootton.org.uk LEEK WOOTTON & GUY’S CLIFFE PARISH COUNCIL Clerk to the Parish Council : Helen Eldridge t : 853841 e : [email protected] The Parish Council held three meetings on Tuesday, 4 May 2021, remotely via Microsoft Teams. Under the Coronavirus legislation put in place in April 2020, Parish Council’s can no longer meet remotely after 6 May, so it was agreed to include an Annual Parish Assembly before the two Parish Council meetings. ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY The Chairman read his report for 2020/21, which was followed by District Councillor Pam Redford’s report from the District Council. We did not receive a report from County Councillor Wallace Redford as he was in purdah, due to the pending County Council election on 6 May (when he was re-elected). The Chairman’s Report and Financial Report is being distributed with this issue of The Link and all reports, including those received from community organisations, are available to read on the Parish Council website at: https://www.leekwootton.org.uk/2021/05/04/annual- parish-assembly-4-may-2021-reports/ There followed a brief Public Forum session before the meeting was closed and the Council proceeded on to the Annual Parish Council Meeting. ANNUAL & ORDINARY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING Cllr Richard Coates was re-elected as Chairman for the forthcoming year, having held the position for two years, because the 2020 Annual Parish Council Meeting was cancelled under emergency Coronavirus legislation. Cllr Paul Eldridge was also re-elected as Vice-Chairman. Various statutory reviews of Council arrangements were discussed and agreed before the Annual PC Meeting was closed and an Ordinary Parish Council meeting opened, at which the following matters were discussed: LEEK WOOTTON WAR MEMORIAL RECREATION GROUND CAR PARK The Warwick District Council RUCIS Fund, which the PC intends to apply to for match-funding for the car park project, is available again, having been suspended in 2020 when funds were diverted to COVID-19 response. However, applicants must have funding in place before they can apply, so the PC is finalising arrangements to apply for a Public Works Loan Board loan. The PC is working jointly with Ian Watson, Chairman of the Village Hall Committee, who is a chartered quantity surveyor and is preparing the necessary project paperwork to go out to contractors for tender. RUCIS requires 3 quotes before they will consider releasing matched funding.
9 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 BROADBAND The PC continues to receive expressions of interest in the CFP and is keeping Openreach updated. Currently there are a number of questions pending with the Openreach Regional Engagement Manager, including expanding the project to include all premises in Leek Wootton (because currently there are a number of distribution points that have been omitted because we have not received an expression of interest). Hopefully, we can get all premises included, but if you are interested in improving your broadband and have not already done so, please contact the Clerk, giving your property number, postcode and landline number - there is no financial commitment at this stage and we hope to fund the project using the Government’s Gigabit Voucher Scheme, where residents can claim a voucher of up to £1,500 towards the work. The PC understands that Hill Wootton will be getting fibre to the premises as part of a separate project with CSW Broadband. Residents have been given an estimated completion date of 18 June. VIE ASSOCIATIVE (COMMUNITY LIFE) Cllr Allison presented the idea of a Vie Associative that is held in communities in France. This is a ‘trade fair’ for clubs and societies and members of a community. The aim is to combat loneliness and show that there is an activity for everyone to be involved with. The PC agreed that it would be a good idea to hold such an event around the start of school time in September and has a provisional date of 11 September. If you or your organisation would like to be involved, please contact the Clerk. COMMUNITY MAINTENANCE The VAS (vehicle activated sign) on Warwick Road has been repaired and is now correctly calibrated to remain illuminated for a sufficient time. NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Parish Council will be at 7:30pm on Tuesday, 1 June 2021. This meeting cannot be held remotely and the PC hopes to be able to have its first in-person meeting for 15 months in the garden at Leek Wootton Village Hall, weather and COVID-19 restrictions permitting. Arrangements for this meeting will be advertised in noticeboards and on the website no later than Wednesday, 26 May. Minutes of all Parish Council meetings, when signed, are published on the website at www.leekwootton.org.uk. Any local issues can always be raised at meetings under Public Question Time or by contacting any of the Parish Councillors or the Clerk, details of whom are listed on all noticeboards, the Parish Council website, in the Parish Directory and the Bulletin.
10 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 OBITUARIES We publish here brief obituaries for members of the community who have died recently. We send condolences to their relatives, and to all who have recently been bereaved. He served on the committees of both societies and hosted many WNHS Summer Field Visits as well as school group visits, when teaching staff reported that the children were enthralled with his talks. Alan also contributed articles for the societies’ publications, but on occasions the Alan Moore editor and the contributor did not see 1930-2021 eye to eye. Alan was born in Southam into a He was forthright in delivering his farming family, which to this day strongly held views in all areas of his extends to many areas of life, but generous in his hospitality. Warwickshire. He retained his However, he appeared to operate strong rural accent and traditional his own version of ‘Payment in Kind’ ways throughout his life and was one when dealing with people and his of the ‘characters’ of Hill Wootton. own counsel about decisions he had He could recall memories of long- made as a young man. gone residents of the hamlet and In the early 1990s, when the BBC many childhood escapades. was filming Keeping Up Alan served as a Parish Councillor Appearances in and around the for more than 31 years and he area, Patricia Routledge asked to consistently represented Hill use a toilet and it is understood that, Wootton and rural interests to the as a Yorkshire lass, she took it in her Council, the membership of which stride to cross the yard at Hill had changed over the years, as had Wootton Farm and use Alan’s very the community, to being more urban, spartan facility! but wanting to live in a rural Alan’s life was steeped in his land, environment. He also represented where his funeral took place, and his the Council on the Warwickshire own poem (overleaf) was read at the Rural West Community Forum and close of the Tributes paid to him. was a member of the Warwickshire and West Midlands Association of Local Councils. With a love of history as well as farming, Alan was a member of both Warwick Natural History Society (WNHS) and Warwickshire Local History Society (WLHS) and he studied anthropology at one time.
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LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021
THE LAMBING SHED By Alan Moore The February night is crisp and clear As we make our way towards the lambing shed A vixen fox barks somewhere near And wise men are in bed. We pause with care as switch the light And wait while shadows clear, For sudden haste will give ewes fright To rush and bunch in fear. Photo by Mat Brown Pexels from Now a gasping grunt of pained distress And a ewe in need of our care, But a twisted wrist with birth’s success And a new life is coughing for air. The mother now casts a doubting eye On the help we have just given, But relents to lick the wet skin dry As instinct works by nature driven. The flock surrounds in calm serene And munch into the bales of hay. So used are they to our routine We can quietly walk away. ANNOUNCEMENTS Simon Bell We were sorry to receive news that Simon Bell, local resident and one of the ‘regulars’ at The Anchor, has died after a long illness. CONGRATULATIONS Belated congratulations must go to Eileen and Brian Berry of Radford Semele who have celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. Eileen was born in Newtownstewart, Northern Ireland, and arrived in Hill Wootton with her parents in the early 1940s when her father came to work for the Hammonds. She was one of the six children of the Semple family, and the couple met when Brian, an 1948 May Queen, Eileen Semple agricultural contractor, took the thrashing drum to (age 11) l to r Geoff Wilson, Hill Wootton. Eileen , Gillian Penley, John Semple They married at All Saints’, Leek Wootton, on 20 May 1961.
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14 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 LEEK WOOTTON & GUY’S CLIFFE NEWS f LWandGC c LWandGC_Community Leek Wootton Village Hall’s new website Leek Wootton Village Hall is pleased to announce the launch of its new website at: https://leekwoottonvillagehall.co.uk. As well as providing booking and charges information to hirers, it includes key information and images of the hall and an availability calendar showing regular bookings:
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15 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 June Themed Quiz By Norman Rogers (answers on page 39)
1. What is the name of the Castle in Kent, near Maidstone, built by the Normans and a favourite retreat of King Edward I? Henry VIII gave it to his first wife Katherine of Aragon as her private residence. 2. This snooker player recently won his fourth World Championship title. Nicknamed ‘The Jester from Leicester’, what is his real name? 3. What was the name of the hit song of 1966 by Simon and Garfunkel, that was originally a 17th Century English folk ballad? It refers to “parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme”. 4. Pop stars of the 50's and 60's, this female trio consisted of elder sister Joy and twins Teddie and Babs. A close harmony trio like the American group, The Andrews Sisters, their biggest hits were the Christmas songs, ‘I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus’, ‘Little Donkey’ and ‘Little Drummer Boy’. Joy hit the headlines when she married the famous England and Wolves football Captain, Billy Wright. What were they called? 5. What is the name of the annual domestic cricket competition played for between the six Australian States? It was inaugurated in the1892-3 season and presented and paid for by the English Lord who sponsored W G Grace's England touring team of 1891-2. 6. What was the name of the 4-engined heavy bomber built by Handley Page and powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, in commission throughout WWII? 7. This English born authoress, but American longtime resident wrote her first bestselling novel ‘A Woman of Substance’ in 1979. Since then, she has written 35 novels with a staggering 92 million sales worldwide. Who's this prolific writer? 8. What do you call a carved wooden seat or bench, usually oak with a high back and wing arms? Popular from the 16th to 20th Centuries, especially in large houses, inns and public buildings, the old elaborately carved ones can fetch big money at auction today. 9. What do you call a small, black liquorish sweet that was first made in Northern England during the 17th Century and still sold today? 10. Name Children in Need’s ursine mascot. 11. What is the link?
16 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 YOUR LETTERS If you would like to write to us, please email the Editorial Team at : [email protected]
Good Morning Does anyone else in the village feel suitably aggrieved about Woodcote Lane becoming an overflow car park for Leek Wootton Sports Club every Saturday morning? I grant you that junior football is good exercise but surely it is time to tarmac over some of their field in order to restore the balance between amenities and parking. Judging by the number of vehicles involved, I can’t believe that many of the patrons are very local. Kind regards, Chris
A copy of this letter has been sent to The Trustees of Leek Wootton War Memorial Recreation Ground and Leek Wootton Sports Club. Together with the Parish Council and Leek Wootton Village Hall, these organisations are working to improve the car park and parking provision in Leek Wootton (please see the Parish Council report on page 9 for up-to- date information). The football season is now over. However, it is not illegal to park on the public highway, but any dangerous or illegal parking, e.g. blocking access, may be reported to the Police non-emergency 101 or the Safer Neighbourhoods Team.
From our Thailand Correspondent... The photo is from Paul Haynes sent from Thailand. It shows a 4/5 foot Monitor Lizard that has adopted Paul, particularly his swimming pool. When asked what he does about it, he replied “I'm not arguing with him when he visits us, he can go away in his own time!”
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18 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 www.macmillan.org.uk MACMILLAN Chairman : Ros Commander t : 511373 It is always hard to find ways to raise money, even for the most deserving of charities, especially during lockdowns! However, Sean at The Anchor, came to the rescue and suggested that we use Saint George’s Day to raise money for our charity. The menu was very English, the word went out and customers came throughout the day, leaving their donations to Macmillan in buckets and envelopes.
Thanks to the generosity of all the Anchor customers and other donations, we raised £1,110.10 - a fantastic effort, which has now been very generously match-funded by Patric Cassidy of The Cassidy Group. The Committee thanks you all for your support, particularly in these difficult times. Ros Commander, Chairman, Leek Wootton and Kenilworth Macmillan Cancer Support
CANCER RESEARCH UK Secretary : Shirley Calvert t : 859003 Well done, Kay On 24 April, Leek Wootton Committee member, Kay Wakeman, took part in Race for Life (see photo of Kay together with a friend) at the finish line. Kay was sponsored by friends and family and I am pleased to report that she raised £650. Thank you to Kay and well done.
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LEEK WOOTTON & GUY’S CLIFFE ENVIRONMENT GROUP Contact : Joy Maisey e : [email protected]
Enter our Bee Friendly Gardens competition
Tell us about your bee friendly garden, you could win a prize!
To enter fill in the application form opposite by 30 June 2021 and send or drop in to Stud Farm, Hill Wootton, Warwick, CV35 7PP or enter online at www.leekwootton.org.uk/2021/04/25/environment- group-beefriendly-competition/
See our Leek Wootton and Guys Cliffe Locals facebook page and previous issues of ‘The Link’ for tips.
It’s the Queen’s tree-bilee! On 17 May HRH Prince Charles launched HM The Queen’s new green initiative celebrating her Platinum Jubilee—The Queen’s Green Canopy. During nearly 70 years on the throne, the Queen has officially planted a staggering 1,500 new trees across the globe. So, what better way to mark her historic Platinum Jubilee next year with a new initiative, 'Plant a Tree for the Jubilee'? And tree-planting is already on the Environment Group’s wish list, so watch this space for local plans. 20 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 Bee Friendly! Competition
Competition entry form Please deliver to: Stud Farm, Hill Wootton
Your name:
Please select your age group: ❑ 12 or under ❑ 13-18 ❑ Adult
Your address (house name/number and street):
Your contact email or phone number:
Tell us about your Bee Friendly! Garden What measures have you taken to encourage bees and other wildlife in your garden? What flowers do you grow and what do you do to encourage bees to love your outside space?
If necessary, please continue on a separate sheet of paper
❑ By completing this form I agree to the storage and handling of my personal data by Leek Wootton & Guy's Cliffe Parish Council in accordance with its Privacy Policy (https://www.leekwootton.org.uk/legal-cookie-privacy-policy/)
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22 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 LEEK WOOTTON & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Secretary : Steph Jones e : [email protected]
May and June are ideal times to sow seed directly into the flower bed. Vegetables can be sown in a shallow channel; sprinkle the seed sparsely along the channel as per the instructions on the seed packet. Push the soil back over the seed and water well. If you have sown too thickly, you will be able to thin once the seed emerges. Lettuce, radish and spring onion are all easy veg to grow. Tomato plants can be put into grow bags in May/ June. Three plants per bag should be sufficient, positioned in a sunny south facing spot or green house. Add a stake when planting and begin to tie loosely to the support so the main stem doesn’t snap. Pinch out small side shoots that grow in between the main stem and side stems to encourage upward growth. Always keep the soil damp, letting it dry out can produce tomatoes with tough skins. Once you have 4/5 trusses of flowers cut the top main stem to boost the growth to the tomato fruit. Feed once a week. WATERPERRY GARDENS – Saturday, 4 September We will be visiting Waterperry Garden near Wheatly in Oxfordshire for this year’s garden visit. Leaving Leek Wootton at 10:00am, we will make our way to the gardens for 11:00am. You will have all day to explore the garden, café, shop, museum, and plant centre. Lunch can be bought from the café or picnics are allowed. The coach will leave at 4:30pm to return home for 5:45pm. If you would like to book, please contact Steph Jones on 01926 855370 or email [email protected]. The price is £27.00 pp - all are welcome. ANNUAL HORTICULTURAL SHOW & FETE Saturday, 21 August – 2:30pm, Leek Wootton Village Hall We are hoping the Show will go ahead and so are making plans in anticipation. The photographic categories are Seasons and Wildlife.
“I must have flowers, always, and always” Claude Monet
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Church Teas will be returning:
Sunday, 6 June Sunday, 4 July Sunday, 1 August and Sunday, 5 September – with Teddy Bear Parachuting 3:00pm-5:00pm Come along and enjoy a drink and some homemade cakes. Current COVID restrictions will apply
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24 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 Churches Count on Nature As we seek to record the wildlife in our churchyard, we hope you will join us for our activities. Due to COVID regulations, a maximum of 30 people can take part in each activity. We are using Eventbrite booking. Anyone wishing to join will need to book in advance. Please book as soon as possible to be part of these events. To save typing the whole address see the links on the church website. Saturday, 5 June, 9:30pm-11:00pm Bat and Moth evening Local experts will introduce us to these creatures that we rarely see because they fly at night. Bat detectors turn the sounds made by bats into sounds that we can hear, and enable species to be determined. Moth traps attract moths to a light and enable us to see them, and appreciate the diversity and different sizes, shapes, and colours. www.eventbrite.com/e/moth-and-bat-evening-in-leek-wootton-tickets- 149943074773 Sunday, 6 June, 2:00pm-3:00pm Wildflower Walk The churchyard of All Saint's Leek Wootton is designated as a Local Wildlife Site. There are many wildflowers and this walk, led by knowledgeable local people, will help participants find them and learn more about them. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wildflower-walk-tickets-151944312529 Sunday, 6 June, 3:30pm-4:30pm Minibeast Hunting We search for the smaller creatures that make their home in our churchyard. We will use sweep nets in long grass, turn over logs and stones and seek out the variety of life that makes use of the different areas. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/minibeast-hunt-tickets-151951303439 During the week from 6 June - 13 June we will also be asking those who walk through the churchyard to log the wildlife that they see. Look out for the signs around the churchyard. Please come and help us all discover the wonders we have in this special place.
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26 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 www.girlguiding.org.uk f @LWbrowniesguides 1 ST LEEK WOOTTON (ALL SAINTS’) BROWNIES & GUIDES e : [email protected] e : [email protected]
BROWNIES How many of our fairy houses can you find around Leek Wootton? Please leave for others to find but perhaps you could share your finds on social media. Happy hunting! Leek Wootton Brownies had their first outdoor meeting for over a year on Tuesday, 27 April and had a fabulous time despite the rain! All of the girls had an ‘I’m excited’ dance with Brown Owl as they arrived and we started work on Girlguiding Midlands’ Moot challenge by painting fairy houses. They’re now hidden around the village - I wonder how many you can find? Lots of the girls and leaders had only met via Zoom so it was amazing to finally be in person, even if our tree rubbing pictures got a bit soggy! On 11 May the Brownies thought about the qualities needed for different jobs and it was really interesting to hear their ambitions for the future - we have the next famous scientist, acrobat, author, artist and mermaid in our midst!! GUIDES On Tuesday, 27 April Leek Wootton Guides enjoyed their first outdoor meeting since the unit re-opened in October. They had had lots of fun on Zoom but nothing beats the sound of laughter and seeing the smiles in ‘real life’. They had an evening full of socially distanced games and managed to stay dry - even while completing the Surf’s Up unit meeting activity!! On 11 May they did some pioneering, building the basic structure for camp stools. It was great to hear the girls talk about the positives of being a Guide - making new friends, learning new skills and being outdoors. If your daughter is aged between 7 and 10, would like to be active and creative, learn new skills and make new friends, she’d be very welcome at Leek Wootton Brownies. Visit Girlguiding.org.uk to find out more.
27 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 www.historygroup.leekwoottonandguyscliffe.org.uk LEEK WOOTTON HISTORY GROUP Chairman : Paul Eldridge t : 854347
On 11 June it will be the 160th anniversary of probably the worst accident to happen within our parish: Disaster at the Skew Bridge At 06:50hrs on the morning of 11 June 1861 a McConnell 0-6-0 steam engine No.282, left Avenue Station, Leamington Spa, tender first, hauling 20 empty coal wagons heading for the Coventry Victoria Colliery, believed to be in the Wyken area, along the rail line that passes between Hill Wootton and Leek Wootton. The driver was George Bewley of Preston and the fireman/stoker was John Wade of Weedon. A few minutes later, as the engine was traversing the bridge over the Warwick to Stoneleigh Road the bridge collapsed dropping the engine onto the road below, pulling the tender back onto the cab of the engine and the first of the coal wagons onto the engine. As can be imagined, the catastrophe was fatal to the driver and the fireman.
The site of the railway disaster from the Hill Wootton side. The engine can be seen on the road below the bridge, with the coal tender up-ended on top of the driver’s cab (right) Following the incident, the bodies were taken to the ‘coach house’ adjoining the Anchor Inn in Leek Wootton and an inquest was opened that evening at the inn
28 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 by the coroner. Seven Leek Wootton farmers and six other men from Kenilworth formed the jury. After the jury inspected the ‘frightfully disfigured’ bodies they visited the site of the accident. On their return to the inn the coroner suggested that they needed scientific evidence on the state of the bridge and an Inspector from the Board of Trade connected with railways, so they adjourned to write letters requiring attendances the next day at the King’s Arms in Kenilworth. When the inquiry reconvened, they were informed that the bridge was some 20 years old, with a span of 50ft and width of 13ft 6ins. The sides were made of 12”x12” baulks of timber extending 12” on to the solid abutments at each end but were not fastened and there were five transverse cast-iron girders, all of which had broken in the accident. One had broken at an old fault that had been strengthened by plating with angle iron and another was believed to be defective. The inquiry questioned various individuals from the London and North West Railway Co about their various roles in the maintenance and inspection of track and bridges and whether the potential for the disaster could have been foreseen. At the end of a three-day inquiry the jury retired and after a short time delivered its verdict: 1. The deceased were killed by the fall of the engine weighing upwards of 30 tons through the floor of the bridge. 2. The accident was the result of the giving way of the 2nd transverse girder and that the girders generally were not sound when originally cast. 3. There was a crack in the 2nd girder that had existed for sufficient time for it to have been noted during inspections, but failure to record this was not criminal neglect by the company. However, it did consider that the Inspector of the Permanent Way had not fulfilled his role satisfactorily. 4. The girders, even if sound, were insufficient to support engine No 282 and that increasing weights of engines should not have escaped the notice of the engineer in charge of the line, but did not find him criminally culpable. It was also recorded that the Resident Engineer should regularly acquaint himself with the weight of engines used and should report on the strength of the permanent way to support the engines using a line. The model of Warwick tramway There may be some who will remember trams running in Warwick, or some who have a love of modelling, that will enjoy a new exhibit at the Visitor Information Centre in Jury Street. Trams (originally horse-drawn) ran from Leamington to Warwick from 1881 to 1930 and the model of the tramway around Eastgate in Warwick is set in January 1916 when a tram ran away from outside the Warwick Arms and crashed into the Castle Arms. It is said that the conductor released the brake without realising that the driver had stepped off the tram! 29 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021
JAN RAWNSLEY OPEN STUDIO Starts Saturday, 12 June 2021
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS YEAR’S WARWICKSHIRE OPEN STUDIOS, I SHALL BE OPENING MY STUDIO FOR INDIVIDUAL, OR HOUSEHOLD COUPLES TO SEE MY WORK.
TO ARRANGE A PRIVATE VISIT PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL ME ON 07768 216649 [email protected] OTHERWISE – JUST TURN UP!
I WILL BE OPEN FOR THESE VISITS BETWEEN 12NOON AND 5:00PM EVERY DAY UNTIL SUNDAY, 4 JULY.
AT: THE STUDIO, 3 THE ELMS, LEEK WOOTTON CV35 7RR
During this period, I will once more be raffling one of my paintings in aid of The Women’s Refuge (£1 PER TICKET)
PLEASE VIEW SOME OF MY WORK ON MY WEBSITE AT www.janrawnsley.co.uk
30 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 LEEK WOOTTON BELL RINGERS Tower Captain : Nathan Gould
Tower Bells May has seen the return to ringing the tower bells, albeit in a restricted fashion. Throughout the pandemic, ringing ceased other than for specific events such as Remembrance and to mark the passing of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh; all such ringing was conducted in strict accordance with the guidelines of the time. Bell condition checks were undertaken to ensure the bells could be rung safely after periods of long inactivity. During the enforced break, in an effort to keep the band together and maintain skills, we have embraced Zoom calls and online ringing simulation. Whilst no substitute for the real thing, the band have adapted to the situation we have all found ourselves in; hopefully, that will pay dividends as restrictions are reduced and ringing returns to normal. After such a long break, three members of the band have decided to retire from change ringing, namely: Elaine Harvey; Geoff Holiday and Maureen Biggerstaff. All three have been instrumental in building the Leek Wootton band so, on behalf of the tower, I would like to thank them all for their commitment and dedication over many years.
All Saints’ Church Bell Ringers, 2015 l-r: Geoff Holiday, Maureen Biggerstaff, Paul Haynes, Elaine Harvey, Ruth Eyles, Avril and Mark Sayers This photograph was taken at the completion of the Bell Restoration Project and, with the retirement of Elaine, Geoff and Maureen, none of this team currently rings at Leek Wootton.
31 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 Nobody Comes BY: Anthony Cleary PUBLISHED: January 2014 by Crux Publishing ISBN-13: 978-1-909979-06-2 eISBN: 978-1-909979-05-5 A little over 30 years ago everyone was horrified to see images coming out of Romania of multitudes of babies and children incarcerated in squalid orphanages and many people and organisations rallied to try and help. A number of the children were adopted by families in the west and the book Nobody Comes recounts the story of one local couple’s ‘fight’ to bring their son, George Dominic home to Warwickshire in September 1990. A number of the projects that were set up all those years ago have been forgotten or superseded by the needs of other human tragedies, but a good number of Church groups, including one from Coventry Cathedral, still travel to Romania to support the children who didn’t make it out. Dominic now works at The Anchor and, understandably, he is very keen to share his story as widely as possible. To quote the cover of Nobody Comes, his father set out to tell “… the true story of the (ultimately successful) endeavour to find, extract and adopt an infant from an ‘orphanage’ in post-revolutionary Romania despite the unhelpful and sometimes downright obstructive attitude of both the UK and the Romanian authorities.” It is a fascinating but difficult story and if you are interested in a copy of the book please contact the Link team or Dominic himself.
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32 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 100 Years of the Royal British Legion Founded 15 May 1921 Sadly, we no longer have an active branch of the Royal British Legion in the parish, but actors from the Talisman Theatre in Kenilworth, together with folk group Romany Pie, have recorded an audio show of war poetry readings which can be listened to online, together with the music Only Remembered by Horatius Bonar. The poems have been set to images including footage from the Battle of Verdun and The Falklands War along with others designed to make listeners think about the impact of serving on our veterans. George Illingworth, Patron of the Talisman Theatre and Chairman of the Kenilworth Branch of the Royal British Legion said that he was “…delighted the theatre is marking the centenary of the Legion.” “As the second oldest branch in Warwickshire, formed on June 4 1921, our members would, in normal times, have been marking the occasion … with a public event.” Go to www.talismantheatre.co.uk. Guy of Warwick 3D Street Art 3D paintings were installed in spots across Coventry on St George’s Day. The artwork was inspired by the story of Sir Guy of Warwick, as he embarks on a quest throughout Coventry to track down his greatest foes and become a Knight, including the Dun Cow of Dunsmore Heath. In the 15th century Sir Guy of Warwick, coventryobserver.co.uk Image: closely linked with Warwick Castle, is believed
to have returned from his travels to live at
Guy’s Cliffe. The artist behind the works was Joe Hill of 3D Joe and Max, whose mindboggling creations have hit the pavements of cities like Sydney, Barcelona and Singapore. For more 3D creations check out Instagram @3d_joeandmax. coventrytelegraph.net Image: From Coventry Live www.coventrytelegraph.net
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LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021
LEEK WOOTTON HEDGEHOGS It’s been a while since I’ve sent an article in - I’ve been surprisingly busy with my over-winter team and a few new ones. But it’s all good news and Image: warwickshirehedgehogrescue.org they’ve all been released back into the wild. A couple of the females (sows) were released into my garden (Ivy and Possum), Ozzy went back to his home garden and is doing brilliantly. Hedgy was released into her home environment at the school after having a very brief socially distanced show and tell with a few of the Reception children who were there. Twinkle was released but had to come back to me as she had a horrible tick burden a week or so after being released but she’s fine now and back out at a new release site along with Hollie and a good few other hogs from my fellow rescue group. Although we’ve had lots of rain recently, please can I ask all of you to put out water bowls any way, the hogs and other wildlife are always so very thirsty. Any supplementary feeding stations would also go down well. I’ve had a few hogs in recently who just needed feeding up as they had been struggling to find food during the drier weather we had last month. Breeding season has been well and truly underway and I have had much activity in the garden captured on camera. The males (boars) have been behaving like rutting stags and there have been many fights over food and females! Fingers crossed we will have some hoglets around soon but they won’t be seen out until mid-June time. It is vitally important not to disturb any hog nest - if you do and there are babies in it please, please put the mother (if she’s around) in a separate box from the babies - she is likely to harm them if kept with them if they are very small, and get in touch with me or any of the numbers on the Warwickshire Hedgehog Rescue website. Would you also seriously consider not using slug pellets in your garden? Hogs think it is food and they will die as a result of eating it or eat the slugs that have ingested it. There’s a really useful website that gives simple and
34 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 effective alternatives www.learningwithexperts.com/gardening/blog/organic- slugs-snails-control The other thing I need to mention is strimming. I’m afraid the sound of a strimmer makes my heart pound, and we see so many horrendous strimmer injuries in hogs. Please check the areas you are about to strim by running a stick through the grass/weeds to check for any wildlife. It’s not just hogs that could be there but frogs too. A few final requests are: • Ensure netting is kept at a height that allows hedgehogs to pass safely under it. • Check compost heaps carefully before digging the fork in. • Cover drains or deep holes. • Ensure there is an easy route out of ponds & pools - a few bricks to act as steps on steep sides or a ramp. As always if you have any concerns about a hedgehog please contact me. Remember they aren’t usually seen out in the day and they don’t sunbathe! Thank you. Sally Ellis (07771 996952) ADVERTISING
35 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 www.pawsitivevetcare.co.uk PAWSITIVE VET CARE m : 07410411461 Paws for Thought By Helen Perryman COVID restrictions have been the catalyst for an enormous increase in dog ownership in the UK as people seek the companionship of animals when that of other humans has been denied us. Unfortunately, however, this dream of an amazing family pet can turn into a nightmare if we are not careful. With the increased demand for dogs, many people are looking to rescue dogs from overseas. While at first glance this may seem like a wonderful idea, there are many issues that need to be considered. Stray dogs from many European countries, particularly eastern Europe, may never have had much human contact, or experience of living in a home environment. They have been used to fending for themselves, keeping a wary distance from people who could cause them harm and competing with other animals for food and resources. These dogs are not going to lose these behavioural traits simply because they now have a home. Prospective owners need to be aware that these dogs will need time and space to ‘decompress’ and will benefit from professional behaviour advice to help them to adjust. The other concern is disease. In the UK we are very fortunate that we are mostly free of a number of highly unpleasant diseases, many of which are transmitted by vectors (e.g. ticks, mosquitoes and sandflies), or sexually transmitted. These include diseases such as leishmaniasis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, heartworm, brucellosis and transmissible venereal tumour (TVT). Since summer 2020, there have been 40 cases of brucellosis reported in the UK, compared to 2 cases prior to this date. Cases of TVT have also risen significantly. I myself have diagnosed one dog with TVT and one with heartworm in the last 4 months alone. These owners had been told by the rescues that the dogs had been thoroughly health checked and tested but this was unfortunately not the case. If you are looking to adopt one of these dogs, it is really important that you find out exactly what it has been tested for, and the results, before placing any sort
of deposit. Once you have these details, speak to a vet to find out if any other Photo Photo by Ryutaro Pexels from Tsukata 36 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 tests are advised and, if anything has tested positive, what the implications of this are. Some of these conditions can be treated quite cheaply in the country of origin but the drugs may be much more expensive here as they have to be imported. Some diseases may take a while to show up on blood tests so it is advisable to repeat some of the tests once your dog has been in the UK for around 6 months. If you already have a rescue dog from overseas that has not been tested since arrival, it would be advisable to ask your vet for blood tests to check for dormant disease. All these diseases are much more easily treated before the symptoms develop - which can be many years after the original infection took place. Rescuing a dog from an awful life can be a very rewarding thing to do, however it is important to be aware of the pitfalls so that you can make an informed decision. Key points - • research your rescue well, make sure they have good post-adoption backup for any health and behaviour issues • find out exactly what health tests have been done and consult with your local vet as to any others that should be performed • remember that some diseases can lie dormant and a single negative test may not completely rule out infection • get early advice from a behaviourist to help your new rescue dog to settle as well as possible • if your situation is suitable, please do adopt rather than buying a new puppy as there are lots of unwanted dogs in need of forever homes through no fault of their own
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38 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 OUT & ABOUT IN LEEK WOOTTON & GUY’S CLIFFE See main articles for further details (Virtual events are shown in bluey-green) EVENTS MAY BE CANCELLED AT SHORT NOTICE—PLEASE CHECK LATEST LISTINGS Tuesday, 1 June Sunday, 20 June Parish Council Meeting FATHERS’ DAY 19:30 at the Village Hall (garden) Monday, 21 June 4-6 June Lockdown Roadmap, Stage 4 Midlands Air Festival, Ragley Hall www.midlandsairfestival.com Thursday, 24 June Saturday, 5 June MIDSUMMER DAY Moth & Bat Evening Friday, 25 June 21:30 at All Saints’ Church Just the Tonic Comedy Club Special Sunday, 6 June The Assembly, Leamington Spa www.justthetonic.com Wildflower Walk 14:00 at All Saints’ Church Saturday, 26 June Church Teas Midsummer Music in the Garden www.hillclosegardens.com 15:30 at All Saints’ Church Minibeast Hunt Sunday, 27 June 15:00 at All Saints’ Church Leamington Canal Festival 2021 Tuesday, 15 June https://canalriverhub.co.uk PCC Meeting Friday, 30 June 19:30 Online (see www.leekwoottonchurch.co.uk) Bee Friendly Gardens Competition 4-6 June DEADLINE Big Foot Festival, Ragley Hall https://bigfootfestival.co.uk
JUNE THEMED QUIZ ANSWERS (from page 16)
(Yorkshire) in Cities and Towns 11. God's Own County Own God's
| Bear Pudsey 10. | Cake Pontefract 9. | Settle A 8. | Bradford Taylor
Sisters | 5. The Sheffield Shield (Lord Sheffield) | 6. Halifax | 7. Barbara Barbara 7. | Halifax 6. | Sheffield) (Lord Shield Sheffield The 5. | Sisters
The Beverley Beverley The 4. | ’ Fair Scarborough ‘ 3. | Selby Mark 2. | Castle Leeds 1.
BUS TIMETABLE LEEK WOOTTON Timetable from 06 Mar 2021: Route 16 (Kenilworth to Hatton Park via Warwick) Route X16 (Kenilworth to Stratford College via Warwick) Towards Kenilworth (Mon-Sat) 0837 1027 1227 1427 1705(SCH & HOL) Towards Warwick (Mon-Sat) 0732(SCH & HOL) 0915 1115 1315 1507 COVID-19 MEASURES: Remember, you must wear a face covering throughout your journey, unless you’re exempt. This timetable is valid at the time of download. However,this may be affected by alteration at short notice. To read service updates or to re-check your journey go to www.stagecoachbus.com.
39 LEEK WOOTTON LINK | JUNE 2021 MAY IN PICTURES… Please submit your photos to [email protected]
Location, location, location! Mrs Wagtail inspecting the Melon House for suitable The cast of Father Brown accommodation, 24 April spotted filming in Warwick, 17 May Image: Geoff Ousbey (About Warwickshire FB Group)
Bring Back Guy’s Cliffe volunteers do a spot of The first 7:07 to Coventry leaves Kenilworth ‘socially distanced weeding’, after the shutdown, 26 April 6 May
Mole invasion! The memorial arboretum on the rec
Image: LizzieB (WarwickshireGCC FB Page) LizzieB (WarwickshireGCC Image: 40