Sunset in Eathorpe

Weston, Wappenbury, Hunningham and Eathorpe NEWSLETTER

MARCH 2020

Sunset in Eathorpe

Thanks to Stevie Horton for letting us use one of her paintings. This is enti- tled: Taking a rest from digging my allotment.

CONTACTS Eathorpe Village Hall bookings: Weston Village Website: [email protected] www.westonunderwetherley.org Hunningham Parish Room: Weston Village Hall bookings: 01926 632428 [email protected] Hunningham Parish Room bookings: Eathorpe Village Website: [email protected] www.eathorpe.org.uk The W2hen website: www.w2hen.info

Editor: David Wray 632830 [email protected]

Thoughtspiration!

Are you suffering from stress? Change negative thoughts/feelings for positive.

Do you: Suffer from low self esteem or depression? Have any fears or phobias? Suffer anxiety or panic attacks? Wish you could change your attitude to life? Want to sleep better? Have little or no will power and wish you had more?

I may be able to help with such problems, using a variety of gentle counselling, talking therapies, hypnotherapy, rewind techniques or recursive brainworking™, in a totally relaxing confidential environment.

Please ring Pippa Jamie DipHYP(ETUK) GQHP on 07775 830987, or send an email to [email protected] for a free, no obligation, initial consultation or just to find out more (based in Weston-under-Wetherley). Member of the National General Hypnotherapy Register GHR qualified recursive brainworking therapist

VILLAGE NEWS

COMMUNITY CAFÉ - Each month – on the LAST WEDNESDAY we have a Community Café meeting in Offchurch Village Hall at 10.45am. Coffee and cakes– and a friendly chat with those who are around during the day. If you need a lift please contact Hazel Taylor 632428 Next meeting:: Wednesday March 25th

MONDAY CLUB

Our February Quiz Meeting was held at Little Haven, Weston-under- Wetherley and there were three quizzes. These looked at first to be easy but were far from it. Breeds of Dogs, Christmas Anagrams and Body Parts! This meeting was well attended and we all had a good time. Very good tea and cakes as well.

Offchurch Afternoon Club will be joining us on 9th March at Eathorpe Village Hall where we will be entertained by the “Ukulele Ladies” and also in March we have tickets for "Crazy for You” at the Spa Centre. Anyone interested in joining Monday Club should contact Jill Wheeler, telephone number 01926 632498 .

PILGRIM PUPPETS The puppets held their popular annual Puppets and Pancakes event on 23rd February and included 'Floobies' - using fluorescent shapes to spectacular effect in the darkness. Future events include: MARCH: Sunday 1st March COME 2 WORSHIP Hunningham Church 11.00am APRIL: Thursday 9th April GALANOS HOUSE Southam 10.30am

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

I’ve again heard nothing from the Police in the past few weeks, BUT many of you may already be aware that there was a break in at St Gregory’s Church in Offchurch on the evening of Friday 14th February. At the same time thieves also broke into Offchurch Village Hall, and into lodge of Offa House. To the best of my knowledge, nothing was actually taken from these premises, although some vegetables were stolen from outside a property close to the Church. Whilst nothing has been reported as having been taken, the thieves managed to leave quite a mess wherever they went. During the course of the same weekend St Esprit Church in Marton was also broken into, but I have no details of what occurred there – for example, if anything was stolen.

Paddy Taylor 632428 Your information is valuable and valued. Please report any suspicious persons, vehicles or activity you spot in your area to the police. To report crimes and suspicious activity, please contact the police on 101. In an emergency or if you believe a crime is in progress, please call 999. To pass information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org

DAVE RAWLINGS We’re sad to announce that Dave Rawlings of 3 Elm Farm Cottages in Hunningham passed away on 28 January after a short illness. He was aged 63. Dave moved into Hunningham with his wife, Moira, in 2003. Dave loved living in Hunningham and walking the dogs, firstly Katie and then Harry and stopping to chat to many people along the way. Dave's funeral service was held on Friday 28th February 2020, at Mid Warwickshire Crematorium, Oakley Wood.

Eddie Croxall Painter & Decorator

1 Ellerton Grove Leamington Spa, CV31 1YN

Tel: 01926 882 420 Mobile: 07778 283 244

HUGH’S PASTORAL LETTER

March 2020 One of the best things about holidays is meeting new people, making new friends. Don’t you agree? I have just been telling Jackie that if her husband could get her laugh put in bottles, he could make mil- lions! Her reply was, “It’s a pity he couldn’t get me all in a bottle. He would only let me out once in a while!” And we laughed some more! As well as the fun are the stories. Graham is a retired sea captain. He recounted the tale of joining a new ship as a junior officer and even before he could unpack his kit, a fire alarm went off. Not knowing whether this was a practice drill or the real thing, he struggled into the fire-fighting suit, mask and all. He rushed to the location indicated on the notice in his cabin and along with similar suited crew members dealt with the situation. With everything now under control, one by one they removed their helmets. The anonymity of those suits was soon replaced by such a diverse gathering of humanity. First to appear was a black African head, then an oriental face, another from the Philippines and Gra- ham, fair and Scots. This immediately struck home and Graham voiced his thought, “In there, dealing with the fire, we just got on with it, dealing with what confronted us. Never a thought about what colour we were!” They had already forged a solid basis of trusting each other in any circumstance. And the creed and the colour and the name don’t matter, I’ll be there! We are all in it together! Different priorities and aspirations, but we are all in it together. However, there is a definite trend is to separate, stand alone, ‘do your own thing’ in this world of ours. Nicola wants a separate Scotland; Brexiteers and Remainers wait with bated breath to see if their wishes will be fulfilled. How are we doing? Pulling together or staying in our own silos? I am still looking for a project/ event that would have us all involved and having fun doing it! Hugh [email protected] Tel 01926 257845

Church wardens: Mrs Jane Inman, 01926 338704, [email protected] David Ellis, 07985 004353, [email protected]

Mothering Sunday is a day of honouring mothers in European coun- tries. It is held on the 4th Sunday of the season of Lent. The season of Lent corresponds to Easter and as Easter is a floating holiday with no set date, Mothering Sunday is also a floating holiday and will also have no set date. In 2020 it falls on March 22nd.

FOLK MUSIC IN EATHORPE Tears of Laughter Simon Mayor and Hilary James A packed house in Eathorpe Village Hall was royally entertained by the wonderful Simon Mayor and Hilary James. One review describes their per- formance as “a riot of music and humour” and it’s absolute- ly right! The audience was treated to virtuoso mandolin, sensational songs, hot swing fiddle and huge lashings of fun from Brit- ain’s leading ‘hot-fingered mandolin virtuoso’ Simon Mayor, and silver-voiced songstress Hilary James. It was probably the diversity of their repertoire that delighted the audience most: from folk songs to Berlioz, blues, classical mandolin show-stoppers, swing fiddle, and a couple of their own infamous comic songs. If you weren’t there, you missed a real treat!

FORTHCOMING We are delighted to announce that the next performers in the Eathorpe Back to the Roots season will be Ric Sanders and Vo Fletch- er. Ric Sanders is one of England’s most versatile fiddlers. While his prime focus, since the mid-’80s, has been playing with the classic folk -rock group Fairport Convention, Ric has also played in a diverse range of musical genres, from experimental rock to jazz.

Ric’s association with guitarist and vocalist Vo Fletcher goes back to their days as teenagers. Over the years guitarist Vo has composed, performed and recorded in a wide variety of musical styles with ar- tistes as diverse as Nigel Kennedy, Fairport Convention, Rik Mayall, The Albion Morris Band and many others. He writes themes, songs and background music for TV programmes and is also well known for his educational work with Surestart Programmes and schools all over the country. It was inevitable that these pals would play together, and over the last couple of years, they’ve been playing music rooted in the blues. They love playing it, and audience feedback from their recent perfor- mances have shown just how much people love hearing it. Ric Sanders and Vo Fletcher will perform at Eathorpe Vil- lage Hall, Saturday 18th April, 7.30pm. Tickets are £12.50. Contact Stevie Horton on [email protected] or mobile 07879 844397.

THE RED LION HUNNINGHAM

Welcome to The Red Lion Hunningham

At The Red Lion Hunningham, food is made strictly for the soul. Bright, beautiful and mouthwatering, our food is a true sensation for the eyes and the belly. This is the kind of food that is cooked simply and cleverly while showcasing the great British palette at its culinary best.

We are positioned within the peaceful village of Hunning- ham, 3 miles to the north-east of Leamington Spa, yet in- side the Radford Semele Ward. The Red Lion Hunningham offers enviable views along the River Leam while overlook- ing the spectacular Warwickshire countryside.

WARWICKSHIRE SIGHTS

It’s been rather a wet Winter in our villages!

This photo was kindly passed to me by Jill and John Wheeler, who live in the Mill House in Eathorpe. It was taken in December from their conservatory steps. Not many of us have swans swimming in our gar- dens! Here is one of my favourite trees, on the riverside path from Eathorpe to Hunningham. We call it the Whomping Willow (readers of Harry Potter will un- derstand what I mean). It’s normally on dry land on the river bank, but I think that since September it must have spent more than half its time growing in the middle of the river! Luckily, it’s a willow, so it thrives on water! Which is just as well. Eathorpe hasn’t flooded yet, which is a huge mercy. But it’s come pretty close on a couple of occasions this year so far.

Is your will up to date?

Inheritance Tax rules change over time, as do personal cir- cumstances, so it’s important to periodically review your Will to make sure it’s up to date and takes into account all the latest rules. Dixon Alderton Law offer a free Will review service which is available to everyone, regardless of who the Will was originally written with (even if you ’can t re- member!)

For a free, no obligation consultation, either face to face or over the telephone, give us a ring on 01926 563080 email [email protected]

www.dixonaldertonlaw.co.uk

Dixon Alderton Law Ltd is a bou- tique private client solicitors practice based in Leamington Spa, cov- ering Leamington, Coventry and Warwickshire and beyond. We specialise in Wills, Trusts and Care Fee planning. Dixon Alderton Law, Prospero House, 4A Dormer Place, Leaming- ton Spa, CV32 5AE

VILLAGE NEWS MONDAY CLUB Our February Quiz Meeting was held at Little Haven, Weston-under- Wetherley and there were three quizzes. These looked at first to be easy but were far from it. Breeds of Dogs, Christmas Anagrams and Body Parts! This meeting was well attended and we all had a good time. Very good tea and cakes as well. Offchurch Afternoon Club will be joining us on 9th March at Eathorpe Village Hall where we will be entertained by the “Ukulele Ladies” and also in March we have tickets for "Crazy for You” at the Spa Centre. Anyone interested in joining Monday Club should contact Jill Wheeler, telephone number 01926 632498

HUNNINGHAM SAFARI SUPPER Back by popular demand! We are organising our village Safari Supper on April 25th and would love as many people as possible to join in - always a fun evening! For those of you not familiar on how it works here are a few details: You have the option of hosting or travelling- if you host you can choose to provide a starter or main course (we will keep number to a maximum of 6 including host(s), or you can travel for all courses (there will be a small donation for this which goes to the village FOHC charity fund). Everyone will be together for desserts in the same place. Please contact us for more information....these have always been such fun nights and the more the merrier! Please note due to travelling logistics this event is for Hunningham residents only. We look forward to hearing from you!

RSVP to: [email protected]

ANDY WEBSTER Many readers will be pleased to hear that our good friend, Andy Web- ster, is back in action. This picture was taken last week in St Michael's churchyard astride his new (adapted) machine which he plans to use in his work around the area.

EATHORPE, HUNNINGHAM, OFFCHURCH AND WAPPENBURY JOINT PARISH COUNCIL Eathorpe Hunningham Offchurch and Wappenbury Joint Parish Council - Working Together as a Community

The minutes of Joint Parish Council Meetings can be found at www.jpcehow.btck.co.uk/

The minutes are now too extensive to print in a newsletter but are open to read for anyone who is interested.

Queries about JPC issues can be made to the Clerk, Jane Chatterton, who can be contacted on [email protected].

Boris’ Big Blunder The Prime Minister has announced his intention to go ahead with HS2. This is a disappointing step but it's clear that the Stop HS2 campaign is far from over. Penny Gaines, chair of Stop HS2, said: “It’s been clear for a very long time that HS2 Ltd is a dire company with a dysfunctional management scheme that is not fit to run a model railway let alone run a railway building company with a budget of many billions. Boris Johnson has called them profligate and even supporters of HS2 acknowledge the management is dire.” Stop HS2 Campaign Manager Joe Rukin added: “Giving HS2 the go-ahead on the back of the Oakervee Review, a review which was written by the people it was meant to be investi- gating, is saying none of the evidence matters, none of the facts matter, we’re going to do it for the sake of doing it, this is a decision from the bumbling, bungling Boris we feared we would get. HS2 will be Boris’ Big Blunder, it’s a shame he can’t see that.”

LEAMINGTON SPA HALF MARATHON

Leamington Spa Half Marathon will take place on Sunday 5th July. It is organised by Raceways Events, with all profits going to locally-based charity Kids Run Free. As previously, the route will go through Weston-under-Wetherley and Hunningham, however due to some small changes in the route we are now planning to have a water station in Weston-under- Wetherley. If there are any local community members willing to vol- unteer to help at this water station, please contact Rob Sullivan, Events & Marketing Manager, Riverside House, Milverton Hill, Leam- ington Spa, CV32 5HZ. Tel. 01926 336628 http://www.raceways.org.uk/