Ashton News Christmas 2020 Keep in touch with village life at www.ashtonunderhill.org.uk and on www.facebook.com/AshtonunderHillParishCouncil

Dear readers We hope you have all stayed well during this extraordinary year. As you can see, the newsletter is not the usual packed edition. Ashton has seemed so quiet already this Christmas, let’s hope we are all back to normal a year from now. Hope you read the ‘christmas eve jingle’ idea below as it might be a nice excuse for us all to come out and say hello and maybe even bring a festive glass of something with us! The beautiful snowy photograph of Cotton’s Lane below taken by Roger Umpelby (2010) is to help us feel a little bit festive. Have a very merry Christmas. The Ed

The First School have made some lovely stained glass advent calendar pictures. They are dotted around the village in house windows. Look out for them, they are especially atmospheric after dark. They are also dotted around this newsletter!

A big welcome to the village to Brian & Sue, Lizzie, Kit, Edith & Arthur Simon & Debbie Emma & Will And finally Emma, Nick and brand new baby girl!

December opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 11am-11pm. This has ‘gone viral’ on Facebook as an idea to cheer us all up Sunday 12-4pm after a very bleak year! On Christmas Eve at 6pm they are Shop is the same. asking everyone to come outside and ring a bell for 2 mins to Take away still available. spread Christmas spirit and to help Santa fly that sleigh. With the added option of set Carols to sing after! Use the hashtags Tier 2 means all #worldwidejingle2020 or #christmasevejingle2020 to find customers must dine. out more. We will post a reminder closer to 24th. Call the pub for any rules you are unsure of. There are no Christmas covid or tier notices in the Sadly, unless the tier newsletter because, as we know, they are moves to tier 1, the Star complicated and contain far too much guidance to will be unable to open fit here. We also don’t know if things may change. on Christmas Day for For the latest information click below. the first time ever. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-for-the-christmas-period Vicky & the team

Page 1 of 8 If you would like Ashton 88 Football Club to join us We have continued to offer training and match experiences for and are a over 100 children ( age 5 to 13) from Ashton and the girl aged surrounding area during this COVID period. This is a great between 10 and around 14 (or achievement by all our older as we do now have a volunteers, particularly Ranger section for older girls), coaches who give up a please do contact us through significant amount of time https://go.girlguiding.org.uk and are having to adapt to or by phone on 07976 958450. new procedures to suit our We'd love to hear from you! COVID risk assessments. Ali Stephenson The wellbeing of the kids is top of our agenda in these Parish difficult times . Minibus Special thanks to Graham Shopping Begley who started the Trips Junior section 5 years ago The minibus and took on the chairman's can take you shopping! role for a significant period. Bishops Cleeve (Tesco) on the first Graham has now handed the & third Friday of the month reigns over to me. Worcester on the second Friday of Good to see a developing the month relationship with our Both leave Ashton from 9.15am neighbouring village Beckford Also, on the fourth Friday each month, to allow the club to offer places to so many children. a visit to a Garden or Shopping Centre, If anyone would like to get involved and support the club to ensure we can continue usually leaving at about 10am and returning shortly after lunchtime. to offer this to so many youngsters please get in touch at: [email protected]. Door to door service possible for those who buy too much to carry! It is fantastic to see the smiles on the faces of our youngsters every week. To book your place, please call 01386 Gary Locke (Chair) 881145 or call in at the Wednesday

NEWS FROM THE FARM One thing is certain within farming that every year is different, each year brings its own challenges and rewards. This :me last year there were few growing crops in the ground, much was unplanted and some of that which had been was destroyed by the unprecedented rainfall. This year is much improved with crops being sown more or less on schedule, however October started very wet and we had the we=est day ever recorded with Storm Alex. We thought here we go again but things improved, however Alex leB its mark on some of our fields and these will have to wait for a spring sown crop Most of the livestock is now off the hill and in their winter quarters, where they will be fed on a diet of hay, maize silage and fodder beet. Bedding straw is in short supply due to the reduced acreage planted with low yields of combinable crops last year, where straw is available it is making record prices. Although sales of Dwarf Sedum fell during the first lockdown due to some firms not opera:ng, it has been a busy November with record sales. The only thing which really affects Sedum harvest is very hard frosts. One ongoing project during 2020 which many of you will have no:ced, is the restora:on of our half-:mbered barn. This has been restored as a barn and nothing else. 2021 will bring new challenges to all of us. One of the great unknowns is the outcome of leaving the European Union. Brexit will have a big impact upon the future of farming as we keep being told but as yet there are no real details. Charles Archer

Join easyfundraising (address below) Luncheon Club this Christmas and you can collect We will be back in action as soon as free donations for the village every circumstances allow time you buy something online. It won't cost you a penny extra, on the first Friday of every month at 12.30 in the Chapel so please help us to raise funds. You just click on the ‘activate Hall donation’ button on websites that support easyfundraising and they do We are always pleased to welcome new diners, and would the rest! really appreciate more helpers. £784.44 raised so far by only 21 supporters! We offer a choice of soup and rolls, puddings, and coffee (or tea) and chocs, all for just £3. Please support the ASC to fund various projects to make our village an (And second helpings if you can manage it!) even better place to live than it is already! Dave Rose All surplus funds are donated to local good causes. Please contact Joy Barnett on tel. 01386 881145 if you would like more information.

Page 2 of 8 Parish Council News We are very sad to let you know that Sarah Hewitt, our hardworking PC chair, resigned recently. Sarah had held the job down for five years and had been on the PC for a few years before that so she deserved a rest! We will miss her. Karen has taken over chair and Nikki is vice chair. Really happy to welcome Dave Rose and Nigel Akers as new councillors. You can read more about them on the website. Andy Robinson (Clerk) Cllr Karen Rowley (Chair) Meet the team

Cllr Martyn Wood Cllr Jayne Barker

Cllr Nikki McIntyre (Vice) Cllr Dave Rose Cllr Doreen Cope Cllr Nigel Akers Planning A reminder that the Parish Council is only one voice FTTP Broadband considered by when planning applications Thanks to all of you who signed up, the project can are being assessed. If you feel strongly for or against an officially go ahead. You may have already seen the application, you should submit your comments to Openreach man, Paul, checking out connections etc Wychavon Planning. This is easy to do online or by round the village. letter. https://plan.wychavon.gov.uk/ You can still sign up by clicking here: Ashton Woods https://www.openreach.com/connectmycommunity. The new owners of Ashtonwood House have requested Once you have done this, look out for a government that walkers respect the public rights of way and email which will be for your ‘gigabit voucher’. You must permissive paths. We have discussed whether they complete this. If you don’t receive one, contact Nikki would be willing to consider access to other areas. In [email protected] the meantime the owners, Will and Emma, have or Rob (Superfast ) circulated information about the woods and the [email protected]. maintenance required for their upkeep and are happy We are hoping that we might all be super fast for residents to contact them with any queries. Their broadbanders by this time next year! address is [email protected]. The Orchard The Memorial Steps Recently, the owner has had to fence off the footpath Thanks to everyone for responding to the poll on from the rest of the Orchard due to insurance spending NHB monies to repair the steps. We have had requirements. If you would like more information about an overwhelming majority in favour. We will be actually this, please contact Cllr Dave Rose replacing the steps with probably sandstone again. We ([email protected]). We are looking into creating a also plan to replace the concrete slabs with the same. permissive path to avoid walkers having to negotiate the We are just waiting for the Conservation Officer to carry very narrow public footpath between the Orchard and out a site visit. This may not be before Christmas. We will the tennis courts. This would also save walkers having to update you on progress via the website, email & the PC negotiate the steep bank down to the football pitch. facebook page. We hope that once done the steps will look lovely and be much safer! Please also see the latest PC meeting minutes, which are Stone Cross stored on the website, details at back of the newsletter. Once we have the funding for the memorial steps we will look into costs for repairing the stone cross. There We wish all parishioners a very happy Christmas! may be some grants available. We will let you know as soon as we have further information.

Page 3 of 8 Living Letters is a project that connects Beckford and people and develops intergenerational District Gardening friendships to help prevent loneliness during Club the coronavirus pandemic. The Chickenshed charity has volunteers aged from 18-21 who Like so many organisations we had want to connect with senior members of to cancel most of last years talks communities. and planed trips. Unfortunately, If you have care homes or group settings that may benefit from this scheme to owing to the continuing CV-19 help prevent lockdown loneliness please contact restrictions, we have decided to [email protected] for more details. cancel our talks until September 2021. Hopefully by then we will be able to hold indoor meetings again at the newly refurbished Beckford Li=le Big Learners will be opening Village Hall. its doors again in January for Breakfast Clubs ( & A new programme for 2021 will be Hancock’s) and ABer School Clubs circulated to members and posted (Ashton, Badsey, Bredon and on the Ashton village website early ). next year. We are looking forward to welcoming the children back aBer the Contact Roger Umpelby (881449) Christmas Break and we are now taking bookings for our School with any queries. Holiday Club in February at Ashton and Badsey. Please see our ‘How To Book’ page on our website to secure a place with us. [email protected].. Graham Begley

Ashton WI Christmas Report 2020 Since the Summer newsletter WI activities have been very limited to say the least. The Committee have managed to hold regular meeting at the home of President Doreen Parsons with some members taking part virtually! We were able to organise, before November lock-down, five meetings at the Chapel Hall, where four different members were invited and hosted by two members of the committee. It was great to get the opportunity to meet again in person, at 2 metre distancing and wearing masks, to enjoy a cup of tea, cake and a chat. Very weird but very enjoyable, none the less. Old photo albums were studied, of past members and events from distance years, and it was interesting to get to know more about our newer members to the village and WI. The Ashton WI will be celebrating their 80th birthday in 2021 and it is hoped we can make it a really special year.

Before November we managed a couple of lovely walks making sure we were distancing of course. One began from Old bridge when we visited the village of Wick and the second was organised by Vicky Waring and Jude Templeton which was a delightful walk beginning at Winchcombe and took us up high where we had lovely views across the town.

With our Christmas supper off the menu this year due to Covid, it was decided to make up some 36 ‘goody’ bags for each of the members. It has been quite a challenge putting this together but I hope they will bring us all together in mind and spirit if not in person.

Let us pray that next year will bring us a successful vaccine and we can all meet up for our monthly meetings again with a super range of speakers and events, and to celebrate our 80th birthday. Jen Creese

Don’t forget you can catch up on all the latest news on the village facebook page here: www.facebook.com/AshtonunderHillParishCouncil

Page 4 of 8 First School News This term we re-opened the whole school, welcomed 20 new pupils into Reception and have had a full and fun packed term. Despite the restrictions of running two bubbles who are not allowed to mix, the children have all settled well and adapt very quickly to any changes. This term we have taken part in the KNex challenge, an engineering designed competition which involved the children in Years 4 and 5 designing and making a model for an eco-house.

As we are not able to meet with other schools for PE competitions, Mrs Thornton organised an intra house competition for the Junior pupils in both cross country and rugby. We have taken up our Marathon Kids running challenge from where we left off and still hope to get to Tokyo in time for the Olympics next summer.

On 11th November we held an Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial. It was the first time that the whole school had been together since March and the Year 5 pupils read out the names of the young men who lost their lives. We were very grateful to Mr Green, Mr Butler and Mrs Holme who helped with the service. This term we have taken part in The Poppy Appeal, Children In Need, McMillan Cancer Research, Odd Socks Day, have collected items for Caring Hands for Harvest and as part of our Reverse Advent Calendar. We have also sent decorated shoe boxes to the T4U charity. We have all have been busy rehearsing the Virtual Nativity and we look forward to sharing this with everyone, we are going to make sure that we do all that we can to celebrate at school whilst keeping within the current government guidance. Please keep an eye on our website for any news. If you would like to find out more about a place at the school or the pre-school, please contact us. From everyone at Ashton First School we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Alison Peacey (Head Teacher)

You won’t be surprised to read that 2020 hasn’t been one of the most typical years for Ashton CC. However, from the viewpoint of the Spring when we feared we may not play any cricket and were very concerned about our financial situation, things have turned out ok. We were able to get small scale practice for juniors started at the beginning of June and in July adult and junior teams were Property marking able to take part in condensed league competitions and friendly matches, kits still available albeit with lots of adaptions to ensure we conformed with government from the Parish restrictions – no changing rooms, sanitisation breaks, all drinks served Council outside etc. We mounted a hugely successful Crowdfunder campaign, through which we raised a total of over £11,000 to cover a significant shortfall in income and allow us to build reserves towards future club development. Thanks again to everyone who supported us. The Volunteer team The Club Committee are busy preparing for what we hope will be a much This brilliant team are still going more normal season in 2021. There are two key things on our minds;- strong and many of our senior or We were delighted to welcome some new players this year but we are vulnerable/shielding residents are always keen to recruit more. If you are interested or would like to find out still having their prescriptions collected and delivered to their doors. This is mainly for more, please get in touch by e-mail [email protected] or Bredon Hill Surgery as other surgeries have through the Club Facebook page their own delivery service. If you are self We are also looking for another volunteer to join the hard working team who isolating or shielding and would like to take look after our ground. We are particularly interested to hear from anyone advantage of this service, or for anything else, with some prior knowledge of managing cricket squares and wicket contact us: preparation. David Whitehouse (Club Secretary) Karen Rowley 01386 882466 or 07976 906653 Richard Close 07799 403205

Page 5 of 8 Ashton Open Remembering Penny Scotland 1940-2020 Gardens 2021 As many of you Though we weren’t able to enjoy will know, Penny Open Gardens this year, we did end recently died. up producing the first (to our Penny and knowledge) Ashton Open Gardens husband John Calendar. There was a huge have lived in response to this and we were sold Ashton for about 50 years and out in no time at all, apologies if Penny contributed you didn’t manage to get one. Who so much to the knows, it may become a regular community during production. Perhaps those budding that time. She photographers amongst you would was a guide leader, be keen to submit photos for the chairman and 2022 calendar. If we decide to go secretary of the ahead, we will put an appeal out for suitable images, so start snapping Social Centre; she and save the best. instigated the monthly luncheon club and also first organised the publicity for Shindig performances. With 2020 almost behind us (and we won’t be sad to see that gone!) Penny was a member of the WI and served many we are already making plans to have an amazing Open Gardens event in years on the committee. She was always busy with 2021. The Committee is already working on the arrangements for some project or another including her weekly Ashton’s annual village celebration of gardens. In 2021 it will be held, as dancing evenings with John. Penny was diagnosed usual, on the second weekend of June; the 12th and 13th, and as usual we with Parkinson’s disease just a few years ago and also have booked perfect weather for the weekend, not too hot, not too cold battled with breast cancer. Penny & John were and preferably no rain. fortunate enough to be able to hold a lovely 80th Much of the preparation that was in place for 2020 will roll over to 2021 birthday party for Penny in their back garden just and as ever we will be encouraging the usual cohort of garden openers before she became really ill. Everyone that knew to let us in to show off their gardens to our visitors, and hopefully some Penny will miss her and we all send our deepest condolences to John. The Ed (with help from John of the new gardeners and new residents to the village may wish to join & Jen Creese) in. Your garden doesn’t need to be a perfectly manicured show garden, our visitors enjoy the diversity of our village and love to see the progress and development in gardens year on year. We will also be rallying the willing volunteers, without whom the event really could not A lovely extract from a ‘Lockdown poem’ happen. If you would like to open your garden or join our band of written for the WI volunteers, we would be delighted to hear from you, please don’t hesitate to make contact. Well, we really are so lucky in Ashton to reside Please put the event in your diaries (it’s already in your Ashton Open To have such lovely neighbours who will help in any way And with people who did organise a Happy VE day Gardens calendar). There were Unions Jacks and bunting Jim Teague (AOG chair) And the Last Post Hamish played Tel 07585893323 [email protected] David strummed his guitar and to the old songs we all swayed. Then we sat in our front gardens with our tables brightly laid Where we tucked into our cream teas Vernon and Chris:ne Powell would like to thank From the pub where they were made. all their friends and neighbours in Ashton for all the love and support they have been shown So have a peaceful Christmas. It may not be the same following the sudden death of their son Andrew in But you can sing your favourite carols January this year at the age of 49. In your front room by the fire with a glass of what you fancy And a treat that you desire Andrew grew up in Ashton and a=ended the First And raise a toast to loved ones and to friends from far and near and Middle schools in the village. He played Wish them all a Happy Christmas and a Season of Good Cheer. football for Ashton Juniors and cricket at Jane Wilson Dumbleton and Stanway and worked at the family business, Vale Kitchens, in for more than 30 years. The Mobile Andrew eventually se=led in Post Office with his wife Sarah and daughter Livi and they visits Ashton were very close to his sister Lisa and her family who live in . (Car Park, As Christmas approaches it will be a difficult :me for the family and we have Free Church) every decided not to send Christmas cards but to make a dona:on to the Bri:sh Tuesday & Thursday Heart Founda:on instead. 12:30-1:30pm. We would like to wish everyone a peaceful and safe Christmas in this most difficult of years for so many people. Thank you once again.

Page 6 of 8 Christmas 2020 Greetings of Peace & Joy from St Barbara’s Church Whilst things will be different from previous years, you are warmly invited to come and join the journey to Bethlehem at St Barbara’s this Christmas. From 2 December, you can attend places of worship in all tiers. However, given that we are in a Tier 2 level area, you must not socialise with anyone outside of your household or support bubble. Between 23 and 27 December, you may also attend a place of worship with members of your Christmas bubble. This applies in all tiers. Face coverings will be mandatory for all services unless there is a valid exemption. Social distancing rules must be adhered to. Hand sanitiser will be available to use. Information will be collected to support the NHS Test and Trace service. Please follow the guidance of the Church team Wishing you a very Happy Christmas

Holy Communion Christingle Service 9.00 am on Sunday 13th December 3.30 pm on Sunday 3rd January Reverend Allison Davies Christmas collections will go to: Family Crib Service The 'CATCH' project, Mzamomhle 10.30 am on Sunday 20th December The Christingle collection is for the Children’s Society ‘Midnight’ Holy Communion Please note that attendance will be limited at all services, in line Thursday 24 December with government guidance. Service at 10.00 pm Reverend Doug Chaplin

If you would like to attend the ‘Midnight’ Holy Communion service, please let Judith Hunter know by telephone on 01386 882087 so that a place can be reserved for you. This is not necessary for the other services.

What’s On at Ashton under Hill Free Church Winter 2020 We are open for Sunday Services (within Covid guidelines) once again from 6th December at 10.45am

We would be very pleased to see you, however due to distancing rules space is limited, so if you intend to come along, please let us know if we are not already expecting you!

Christmas Services Sunday 20th December 10.45am - Christmas Carols and readings Christmas Day Friday 25th December 9.30am - Short Family Service

www.ashtonchapel.org.uk

email: [email protected]

or call us on any of these numbers: Andrew & Joy 881145, Geoff 881740, Doreen 881656, Joan 881237

The chapel regularly donates items of food to the Pershore Food Bank and will be looking for support during this challenging time. If you would like to contribute, just leave items in a bag in the chapel porch. Please contact Andrew Barnett to let him know on 07778 650587. Thanks everyone. www.pershore.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/

Page 7 of 8 ASHTON NEWS VILLAGE CONTACTS Tel No 882466 Mobile 07976 906653 Email: [email protected] Name Details Contact Contact details Activities Cricket Club (adults) Summer- Saturdays & Sundays Will Archer 881756 [email protected] Cricket Club (juniors) Summer- Fridays 6-8pm David Whitehouse 424393 [email protected] Football Club (adults) Winter- Sunday mornings Gary Locke [email protected] Football Club (juniors) Winter- Saturday mornings Footpath volunteers Working groups Leo Enright 881087 [email protected] Gardening Club Beckford V/H 4th Weds 7:30pm Roger Umpelby 881449 [email protected] Guides Village Hall, Weds 7-8:30pm Ali Stephenson 07976 958450 [email protected] Brownies Village Hall, Weds 5:15-6:45pm Charlotte Nicklin 07714 783545 Rainbows Village Hall, Weds 4:15-5:30pm Jemima Barnett [email protected] Lunch Club Chapel Hall 12pm, 1st Fri month Joy Barnett 881145 Friends & Neighbours Last Tues in month, 2-3pm Margaret Darby 881862 [email protected] Mini Bus Worcester 2nd & 4th Fri Bishop’s Cleeve 1st Andrew Barnett 881145 & 3rd Fri & Private Hire Parish walks Summer evenings - Mondays Alastair Humphrey 881479 [email protected] Early Learners Now part of First School Ruth Barnett 882014/882289 (formerly Playgroup) Little Big Learners (Out Every school day, 3-6pm; All holidays Graham Begley 07725 909808 of School Childcare) except Christmas; First School inset days [email protected] Organisations First School Headteacher Alison Peacey 881333 [email protected] Middle School Headteacher Miss D West 881426 [email protected] Free Church Main contact Andrew Barnett 881145 [email protected] Busyfingers, mums & Chapel Hall Thurs 10-11:30 am Doreen Cope 881656 toddlers [email protected] Coffee Morning Chapel Hall Weds 10-12 noon Joy Barnett 881145 Parish Council Chair Karen Rowley 881070 [email protected] Clerk Andy Robinson [email protected] Ashton Social Village Hall and playing fields Jane Swindells 07557 022839 Committee [email protected] St. Barbara's Church Vicar (to be appointed) Revd Allison Davies 01386 750203 (Vicar of Eckington) [email protected] St Barbara’s Team Alastair Humphrey 881479 David Hunter 882087 Malcolm Nelson 881778 Open Gardens (2nd Chairman JimTeague 07585 893323 weekend in June) [email protected] Marketing Co-ordinator Andrew Cooke 881715 [email protected] Women's Institute Village Hall 1st Tues 7:30pm Marjory Facer 882171 [email protected] Ashton Bellringers St Barbara’s Church Tues Eve Nick Hopkins 881711 The Star Inn Open daily Ed & Vicky Spires 881325 [email protected] Services Ashton website & Information and events Karen Rowley 07976 906653 Ashton News [email protected] Milk delivery Mon.Wed. Fri. Sat. Cotteswold Dairy 01684 298959 Mobile library – 3rd 10:55 Gorse Hill; 11:15 Cornfield Way; 11:35 01905 822722 Monday in month School [email protected] Newspaper delivery Monday to Saturday Doreen Cope 881656 Mobile Post Office Tues & Thu 12:30-1:30pm David (Driver) Enquiries to [email protected] Free Church car park

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