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Home , Kerridge Hill, Lyme Handley, Pott Shrigley, Wincle

TheNo.13 Winter 2010Raven The quarterly magazine for the whole of

q Village News q Social Events q Parish Council News q Clubs & Societies q School & Church

The Parish Council would like to wish everyone a very.... Happy and Peaceful Christmas and New Year All the Best for 2011 Devolution of Services Local Elections/Warding As part of national strategy, East will stop We have received detailed briefing notes from Cheshire delivering some services and will transfer other services East about the Electoral Review: There are still formal to local councils. We have written to the leader of steps to be taken but the Council have Cheshire East Council asking for clarification on which told us that: services will not be continued following the review by “For all practical purposes the Council must now prepare for them of Statutory and non-Statutory services. We the elections on 5 May on the basis of the new electoral understand that non-Statutory duties will be discontinued, arrangements and warding as set out in the Order. There is probably in the 2012 financial year, and these will be referred to local councils with an option to continue with a substantial amount of work involved in inputting and them if the community wishes to; these would be funded checking the required changes to the Electoral Registers. by adding to their precept. This work will commence in early December and will continue into January and February. We anticipate that An option is also given to the larger local councils to take revised Electoral Registers will be published on 1 March on some of the Statutory Services for which funding would be provided; we understand that a pilot scheme is 2011.” currently underway in . Under the boundary changes Rainow will be in a new Changes will have most impact on places larger than Sutton Ward together with the parishes of Rainow but we will keep you up to date with any news Forest & , Sutton and . The nearby about changes which may affect us. parishes that are affected are as follows: x has its own Ward; LAP (Local Area Partnerships) x , and are in a Cheshire East have decided to change the format of ‘ East & Pott Shrigley’ Ward along with the these. At the moment we are not totally clear how they eastern half of Poynton; and will be organised nor how and on what basis Town & x is in the Ward. Parish Councils will be represented; we will continue to press for clarification. Civic Service Extra Bins/Gritting The Civic Service was once again a great success with The exceptionally early severe weather at the end of Steve Rathbone providing a splendid service. November caught Highways Operations in East Cheshire Brass Band accompanied the choir and congregation with on the hop but they reacted quickly to criticism. We have the hymns. We were pleased to welcome the Mayor of been told by Highways Operations that they plan to make Cheshire East, Gordon Baxendale; Mayor of Macclesfield, arrangements for new grit bins for Millers Meadow and David Neilson; David Rutley MP and Graham Evans MP. the Sugar Lane junction of Hough Close. Hopefully these Representatives from Higher Hurdsfield Parish Council will be in place by the time you receive this newsletter. attended along with Cheshire East Councillors Harold Bins are already in place at Rainow Primary School, Davenport, Matthew Davies and Diana Thompson. The Chapel Lane and the bin on Lidgetts Lane has been boys and girls from Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Rainbows and refilled. They also plan to deposit 1 tonne sacks of salt Brownies along with the Rose Queen Beth Cantrell and her mix at strategic locations in the parish to assist when the attendants made the event even more special. Once again weather is particularly wintry. They will be dropped on the the Council would like to say a big thank you to all villagers verge and the salt can be spread from the sack. We have who joined in to help make the Civic Service such a asked for sacks at the top of Sugar Lane, the top of successful event - we could not make this possible without Round Meadow by the telephone kiosk and on Berristal your help. Thanks especially to the members of the WI who Lane and Tower Hill. In addition, local gritters will provided cakes and to all members of the Parish Council continue to salt Round Meadow, Millers Meadow and who supplied sandwiches. Photographs of the event are Sugar Lane so hopefully we will be well covered this available on our website. winter in the village. Please note that the salt from bins and sacks is for use on the road and pathways only. If you need to salt your own drive please get in your own supply. Signage We are still waiting for signs to be installed on Blaze Hill and Tower Hill. Unfortunately Cheshire East are having some problems on sorting out the exact locations. Please have patience; hopefully they should be up shortly. Christmas Tree Please look out for our Christmas tree this year, supplied free by Cheshire East Council. To everyone who helped

arish Council News with the installation, thank you for your efforts. A special Broadband in the Village thank you goes to Bill Bennett who not only helped to put The Council encourages you to vote in the BT “Race to up the lights but also supplies the electricity to power them. Infinity” event (the details are in an article later in this issue).

P 2 Cover Photo: Dave Wilcox - www.rainowphotos.co.uk

Speed Indicator Device (SID) You will be pleased to hear that the Council has applied for a grant to purchase a SID. The idea is to share this with other neighbouring villages along with some of the costs. We have Welcome to received a lot of cooperation from the police and Cheshire East in applying for this and we have been assured of their cooperation in the placement, storage and subsequent actions arising from its operation. A decision is expected early in the New Year.

Awards for Rainow and the Raven The Council were delighted to receive two awards in the Shell- sponsored Cheshire Community Awards scheme in October. The Raven was given the accolade of being the best community The newsletter in Cheshire (and a £50 cheque!). We also received a Little Gem award (no cheque for this) in the Best Kept Village aven Competition for the War memorial (see article in this issue). R ooking through The Raven one thing stands out – the Vandalism Lnumber of articles and photographs which reflect the impact We have been notified of a number of acts of vandalism and volunteers of all kinds have on Rainow. graffiti to property (including Parish Council property) during the The work of the leaders of young people’s organisations has a past months. These incidents have caused much distress to big influence on the youngsters themselves and on village life. those affected. The Parish Council would ask everyone in the We have chosen to give a portrait of Sue Grimes in this issue community to keep vigilant. Please do notify the Police of any but she would be the first to say she is only one of several acts of vandalism to your property as well as keeping the Parish people who deserve our respect and praise. The volunteers Council involved by notifying the Clerk. (Contact numbers are from adult groups and the individuals who do things for Rainow listed below). without seeking recognition or reward, improve our We would also ask that if you see any damage to local seats, environment and our enjoyment of the place where we live. fencing, bus shelters and so on, you contact the Clerk so that Members of the WI, for example, sought out the funds to we can get repairs put in place as soon as possible. If the item renovate the Trinity Garden and they maintain it throughout is not the responsibility of the Parish Council, we can pass the the year and recently they worked to provide the funds to request on to the relevant authority. replace worn out chairs in the Institute. The Institute itself relies Police non-emergency contact number Tel: 0845 458 0000. on a voluntary committee. Parish Council contact number: 01625 850532. Awards have come from the work of teams like last year’s group drawn from most of the voluntary organisations in the Future Meetings village which did the spadework for our outstanding success in the Cheshire wide Community Pride competition. The Best Kept 21st December 2010 18th January 2011 Village team’s efforts over the years have had visible impact on 15th February 2011 15th March 2011 our surroundings whilst individual places have benefited from All Parish Meetings commence at 8.00 pm. the work of people like David Hinkes whose care of the Pleasance garden produced a Little Gem award last year. Some volunteers appear regularly – at the Church Fete and Scarecrow Fortnight where people get stuck in with tasks ranging from putting up stalls to serving teas, organising the Your Parish Councillors annual Art Exhibition and of course at church events of all kinds. Others come to the fore at one-off events like the Jazz Ken Butler (Chair) 433168 Festival. Even the editors of the Raven are all volunteers! Mary Marsh (Deputy) 573508 Pre-eminent amongst voluntary groups is the Parish Council – Ian Brammer 426059 twelve volunteers whose efforts are often unseen (who checks Alan Brett 576108 the safety of the playground? who links with the Cheshire East officials to get the footpaths maintained for walkers?) and not John Cantrell 422107 always appreciated! Geoff Cooper 574878 Now in the “Big Society” volunteers are expected to do work Vivienne Law 575201 which used to be the province of paid bodies. The new Pat Mellish 574523 emphasis on volunteering is associated with another development – the growth of “localism”. The idea is to push John Stagg 572816 responsibility for action downwards so that people become Alan Taylor 575544 more involved in the decisions affecting the places they live in. Wendy Vernon 572812 Decisions made closer to the point where services are Judy Wilkinson 614650 delivered should take more account of local knowledge and local wishes. These developments mean we need to value our Clerk: Sarah Giller 850532 volunteers more and will need to think more about volunteering [email protected] ourselves. Cheshire East Council Editorial Team for this issue: Your Councillors for Bollington and Disley Ian Brammer Sheila Brammer Kate Kilpatrick Bob Langstaff Cllr Harold Davenport 01663 763986 Louise Leigh Jane Mellings Cllr Matthew Davies 01625 426023 Raph Murray Cllr Diana Thompson 01663 763329 Design by Mel Wilcox (01625 576182)

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WI Activities —The Book Club Premiere by Mary Meecham of the “lost” Rainow film he preliminary meeting of the by Bob Langstaff, Rainow History Group Rainow WI Book Club was held Tin 1993 when nine women met to talk about the books they were reading. The books were mixed and onsiderable excitement was caused recently when a very generous man from provoked a good discussion; they Northumberland, Peter Barczak, made contact to say that he had found a reel of even mentioned SEX! The evening Ccine film with a label “Rainow” attached to it as the only clue to what it might was a success so 27th September contain. Peter kindly sent the film which turned out to be some 35 minutes of cine saw the first of many meetings, film from at least fifty years ago! There were no clues as to its origins. A call quickly mainly for WI members, but friends went out for any owner of a vintage Standard Eight cine projector and David Wood have always been welcomed. Tessa rummaged in his toy box and answered the call. We soon knew that we had an Heyworth and Barbara Tozer have important piece of Rainow history on our hands. The colour cine film was in good been the organizers and hostesses. condition and we quickly established the vintage at about 1959 or 1960. At the time, Macclesfield Library was At the first showing we were able to identify about six people but during its 35 minutes, realising that they could help and set there are dozens of Rainovians ranging from babies to the very old. The Rainow up a supply of boxes with twelve History Group decided to pay for the film to be digitised and copied to CD and the copies of one book. Rainow was one rediscovered footage had its “premiere” at the Older People’s Christmas Lunch. This of the Library’s first customers and was an appropriate venue for the ‘first showing’ as many more people and places borrowed boxes until we exhausted were recognised. This process will continue, we are sure, as the film has many more the titles and went our own way. We showings over the coming months and years. We deduced that the person who made also had speakers and attended the film had much to do with the Church and the W.I. outside events. Now we make a Best of all for me was some wonderful footage of Rainow Fête when it was held in the programme for each year including field at the bottom of Hough Close. The investigation is continuing to find the origins of many subjects – holiday reading, the film and we will keep you posted. biography, poetry, general fiction, history, old favourites. Some books provoke deep discussion – WW1 poetry for example – while others Rainow’s Artistic “Colony” continues give us a good laugh. We even exchange poems with one member’s to flourish! by Bob Langstaff friend in the USA who writes her own nce more, Rainow Church has hosted the Rainow Art Exhibition – the fourth. The verses. Favourites range from first exhibition was held in 2006 when it became evident that there were several Barbara Kingsolver’s “Poisonwood O people interested in art in and around Rainow. The very popular first exhibition Bible” to a little book by Robert Lacey was followed by another one eighteen months later and yet another in 2009. As well on in AD 1000. In the as demonstrating the breadth of artistic talent in Rainow, they have prompted coming months we will be reading like-minded enthusiasts to get together on a casual basis to talk about their work; Dylan Thomas, 1950’s fiction, one set exchange advice and information, and do some ‘hands-on artwork. The exhibitions in a foreign country, general poetry, have even encouraged the foundation of a thriving photographic group in the village! biography and a Classic. Twenty six artists, ranging from absolute beginners to professionals displayed a Some readers consume vast areas of staggering amount of vision, talent and imagination. About a hundred works were print while others may read only one displayed, from abstracts to pastel portraits and from ceramics to textiles. Seventeen book, but all have much to contribute. paintings were sold during the exhibition, which ran from Friday evening to Sunday One thing is certain – each will bring afternoon and the event, as usual, proved to be a popular social event in the village. a variety of books and views, will make everyone think and all will go £580 was raised for Church funds through hanging fees, commission and the sale of home after a happy, friendly and catalogues and refreshments. Sincere thanks go from the organiser to all those who fulfilling evening. helped with their organisational ability, display and baking skills, donations and time.

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Out of School by Jonathan Norris

hat a fantastic start to the academic parents, other adults and volunteers Wyear! from the local community. Excitingly, our Head teacher, Mark Courses on offer this term included: Bertinshaw, is away forging global Woodland Exploring, Computer educational links in Kenya at the time Animation, Cooking Clubs and Felt of writing; visiting at least 10 schools Making. The courses culminated in a with other Cheshire Heads in the hope super Junior Graduation Ceremony, with of finding a partner school for Rainow. all children receiving a scroll as record So it has to been left to me to give you of their achievements. A huge thanks, Another highlight of the Autumn term an update on key school events in his in particular, goes to those adults and was Children in Need and we managed absence. parents who gave up their own time to to raise over £225 in 2ps! The children Since our return the junior children have give the children such a rewarding and had lots of fun arranging their coins in enrolled on their first course at Rainow exciting educational experience. the shape of a giant Pudsey Bear and University.The University is run in-house The University opens its doors once then dancing around it on our school and breaks from the usual timetable for more in January and I am still looking playground. an hour every week for 6 weeks. It is a for volunteers who could commit to one Watch out in the next issue of the Raven great opportunity for small groups of our hour a week for 6 weeks (enthusiasm, for news of our fantastic new library children to work in mixed-age classes, a little expertise and time are the only which should be ready for a grand choose their own study area and, even requirements!) Please contact the Rainow opening in or around Easter better, be taught by different teachers, school if you are interested. 2011! Where were you in 1967?

his photograph shows the cast of the Nativity Play at Rainow Church Tof England Primary School in December 1967. Geoff Marsden was the Head Teacher at the time (he moved to become Head at Ash Grove Primary in Macclesfield). The picture was sent in by Richard and Elizabeth Brimelow whose daughter Louise had the role of Mary (centre) and they have found out who most of the other girls are and know that Mark Little and Keith are the boys on the right of the shot. But who are the boys on either side of her and on the left? If you are one of them or know who they are, let us know at: [email protected] and we’ll publish the full cast list in our next issue.

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Recipe of the Month Rainow footballer Shirley Tregenza’s stars in victory Parmesan Nibbles over Germany! Raph Murray interviews Izzy Christiansen

ainow may not have a full-size football pitch but this has not stopped one of our sporting stars excelling at international level.Women’s football doesn’t have Rthe TV coverage or the financial excesses of the men’s game but it has got the thing which continues to elude Rooney and Gerrard – success against top European nations. At just 19, Isobel (Izzy) Christiansen has already represented England at the under 23 level and was a member of the team that beat Germany An ideal Christmas/New Year party snack 2:1 in October this year. At the under 19 level Izzy’s footballing career took her or perhaps to accompany a glass of round the world, the highlight coming with winning the 2009 European Women’s mulled wine! Championship. This was a tremendous team performance with the England team Ingredients scoring twelve goals without conceding any and beating Sweden in the Final. Izzy’s 100g softened butter contribution included two goals, including one in the semi-final. For anyone who’s ever dreamed of scoring the winning goal in an international championship this is 100g plain white flour truly “living the dream”. 100g freshly finely grated Outside her career as an England international Izzy plays at the top level of English parmesan women’s football. After spells with Manchester United and Everton Ladies she has I teaspoon paprika now joined Birmingham City Ladies as they gear up for the inaugural Women’s 1 /2 teaspoon grated nutmeg Super League in 2011. This is an eight team league which also includes Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton and Liverpool and holds out the prospect of qualification for the Method UEFA Women’s Champion League. The new UK League with its backing from Put all into a bowl and mix to a ESPN TV is expected to raise the profile of the women’s game in England and help Izzy achieve her next target – being selected for the senior England team. smooth dough (can be done in a Izzy’s footballing success began with family garden games with her brother William Magimix). Roll out thinly and cut and progressed via Cub football, Rainow Primary School teams and many hours into bite size pieces. Bake at 170C practice on the black pitch with contemporaries such as Arthur Parker and Joe for 5 minutes; cool on rack Wilcox. Until then Izzy’s game probably benefited from playing football with boys her own age but from the age of eleven FA rules prohibit mixed football and Izzy OR developed her skills playing in women only teams. The FA segregation may have Divide into two and roll into a limited the development of the women’s game by comparison with the men’s game sausage shape, then freeze. Take out with its spiralling pay packets and media hype but the women’s game is no whit less competitive and skilful and it is generally played in a more sporting 10 minutes before cooking and cut atmosphere. Perhaps this is why with more than one million girl footballers in into slices. Makes around 70/80 England it is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. As in most sports Izzy’s success is down to natural talent allied with a lot of hard work. Currently she copes with squad training with Birmingham City Ladies at the weekends, group conditioning work with other athletes at Manchester University and all her individual training. Somehow or other she manages to combine all this with her interest in other sports and her B Tech University entrance exams which Izzy hopes will lead to a degree in Sports and Exercise Science. She may not be Sitting Comfortably! as well heeled as Rooney but she has the feeling of striving and succeeding and the sheer enjoyment of winning for yourself, your team and your country which make all the effort worthwhile. Her advice to other aspiring young players is first ainow WI and foremost to enjoy yourself and this is the foundation for the hard work which members Rat their AGM leads to success. in November making use of the new blue stacking chairs which they have presented to the Rainow Institute. The 48 chairs were bought with funds from Rainow WI (£150) and from their successful bid Home Wanted for small electronic organ for a grant (£500) under the Cheshire Community Grant For a donation to Rainow Church funds you could be the owner of a Scheme administered by small electronic organ which can be delivered locally if required. Cheshire East. Please ring 01625 425579 or 426055 for details. 6

THEIR NAME LIVETH IN PROUD AND HONOURED FOR EVERMORE The MEMORY OF IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF RAINOW THE MEN OF RAINOW War Memorials WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES WHO FELL IN THE IN THE GREAT WAR by Richard Leigh WORLD WAR 1939-1945 1914-1919 o anyone without the benefit of a mason by trade he was also the Rainow authorities to use public money for the free bus pass the great conflicts of Sub-Postmaster and lived as you might maintenance of war memorials, but there Tthe 20th Century must seem as expect at The Old Post Office Cottage. was no statutory obligation to do this. remote as the Battle of Waterloo, Andrew was the grandson of the founder Thankfully our Parish Council ensures the but each year their memory is revived of Joseph Wetton & Sons ("ashlar [stone memorials and garden are respectfully and honoured on Remembrance Day. dresser] for all kinds of buildings and maintained. In Rainow after each Remembrance monumental masons, offices adjoining The Second World War memorial, also Sunday service, a procession winds its Bollington Station, Great Central of Kerridge stone, takes the form of a way from the Church to the memorial Railway".) Wettons will have supplied the substantial stone seat and lists 7 names. garden near the top of Tower Hill, giving cut stone to Andrew's cellar workshop that It was formally dedicated by Major John people time to reflect on what it must backed onto Stocks Lane where he would Henry Sharpley O.B.E. B.E.M. Major have been like, in an era when long- have carved the inscription and carved Sharpley was a Great War veteran and a distance travel was the exception, for the names before final assembly on site. renowned local military man on active men to leave familiar surroundings and service with The Cheshire Regiment. journey overseas to fight in a global war Andrew Sutton died in 1921 and for some never to return home. The garden where the memorials stand from TB at only 37 years old was itself once a small quarry; bedrock is In November 1918, Parliament decided — e ver the practical man very close to the surface on Tower Hill so that the bodies of those killed in the Great he carved his own headstone the memorials will have good foundations War would not be repatriated but instead leaving only the expiry date to be added. and will be standing there for many years encouraged the creation of memorials, not The headstone, in the form of a scroll yet. to glorify war or even to celebrate victory, stands in the churchyard. but simply to honour those who had died. For anyone interested in the fate of those named on the memorials, Louise Baylis Rainow's Great War memorial comprises published her extensive research in the a small Celtic cross atop a tapered pillar, The stone would have started as grey in colour but would soon have weathered to Rainow History Group’s book "Rainow stands approximately 20 feet (about Caught in Time" (2006). 6 metres) high and lists 37 names. The today's fawn colour, appropriately If you have further information about the history memorial is built from Kerridge stone, reminiscent of a military uniform. The names of the fallen appear in alphabetical of the memorials please do get in touch with a hard material that is quite difficult to the editors. work by hand but very weather resistant, order regardless of rank, are engraved and picked out in black paint. The author would like to thank Madeline Leigh, hence the memorial remains in very good Kay Fussey, Arthur Warrington, Michael condition. It was designed and built by In 1923, the War Memorials (Local Sharpley and John Pickford for information Rainow resident, Andrew Sutton. A stone- Authorities' Powers) Act permitted local and help with this article.

The Armistice signed on 11 November 1918 marked only a temporary cessation of hostilities. It was not until the signing of the Peace Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919 that confirmed the war was finally over. This is the reason that the date 1919 appears on most Great War memorials.

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“Ask a Out and About busy person…” with the Cubs by Jane Mellings By Akela Sue Grimes ue Grimes' commitment to Rainow Cubs goes back twenty years when Sshe took on the role of leader – Akela - as a stop-gap measure to help out the pack. She's seen other volunteers come and go but her willingness to devote personal time and energy each week has also now inspired daughter Charlotte to help get the Rainow Brownies back in action. This family thing explains a lot; Sue's Mother and Auntie were both 'Guiders', and Sue and her sister started helping out with the movement as teenagers down in Norfolk. Sue's parents also took in foster children, often families of three or four children, so it would seem Sue, Rainow's busiest child-minder, has always had a home filled with children be they family or otherwise. fter my plea for help in the last Raven the Sue loves the outdoors and finds her role as Akela most rewarding situation has improved greatly. Michelle Renshaw when she can get the Cubs out and about. This, she believes, brings Ahas decided to train to become a warranted out the best in the children, often helping them to find and pursue an Leader, Sharon Greenall helps regularly and many interest or hobby that otherwise may have gone undiscovered. Sue Mums and Dads have turned up to help each week. also admits that the Cubs themselves often spur her to do something It makes the meetings much easier to run and enjoy. she'd otherwise be missing out on especially now her own children Due to the help we have been able to do a lot this term are all grown up. She had the recent privilege of a beautiful moonlit and cover a range of badges. Towards our Global walk up to Big Low to enrol some new members, and were it not for Challenge Badge we ambitiously served up a Chinese a dodgy knee would certainly don skates when she takes the pack to Banquet with each Six cooking two dishes to provide a the Macclesfield outdoor ice-rink this month. wide choice of dishes – everyone tried something new, It's great news that the Cubs Leader crisis reported by Sue in her a great success. For another requirement of this badge column last issue has resolved itself and that new volunteers have a lady from the charity Zane, which provides support come forward to support Sue and the Cubs next year. This good and help for all ages in Zambia came and talked to the news was made all the more sweet last month when Sue learned in a Cubs about how hard life is in that country. It certainly letter from Bear Grylls – currently Chief Scout of the UK Scouting made them think and appreciate how much they have Association – that she has been put forward by her District here. To make us think about another country for this Commissioner for a special award of merit for her commitment and badge we had a Native American night and made service to the movement. tepees, totem poles, dream catchers and so on. Visits out included testing our driving skills at the Scalectrix Layout in Marple, learning how to look after our pets at Pets at Home, climbing to the top of Big Winter Quiz Low in the dark to enrol two Cubs by moonlight (which This is the first time we have had a quiz in the Raven but wed like to make thanks to the beautiful clear night was magic) and it a regular feature. If you can make up a quiz based on Rainows history, tubing and luging in the ‘snow’ at the Chill Factore in topography or just things of interest in the village wed like to hear from you. Manchester. The Scouts joined us for this. We also This time the quiz is based on the walk described on the back cover of this spent a day at Barnswood Campsite near Leek issue — why not do the walk and quiz over Christmas and the New Year? building bivouacs, backswood cooking, orienteering and 10 Questions as you walk the Kerridge Hill route other scouting skills completing the day with a wonder- ful campfire with other Cubs and Scouts from the 1. Who is the pale lady seen on the 6. What bird is on the Footpath sign District. The Scouts stayed on and camped overnight. right as you leave the Robin Hood at Shrigley Fold? A team of eight Cubs represented us at the District Car Park? 7. Where is there a Dog on Duty? Swimming Gala and swam very well though 2. What is the maximum penalty if you 8. You will have passed a few small unfortunately just missing out on a place in the County dont shut and fasten the gate at signs depicting things of interest, Finals. The Old Hall? attached to walls and gateposts as 3. From Kerridge Hill trig point, which you do this walk. After The Bulls All but four Cubs turned out looking very smart for the Macclesfield church tower lies above Head, what is depicted at Nos 6, 4 Remembrance Service – impressing the representative Hurdsfields 2 tower blocks of flats? and 16? from District HQ who turned up! 4. What colours of rock and crazy 9. What protects the entrance to Now we are looking forward to a night making paving are available from Earls 1 Ingersley Vale? decorations and presents and our party, plus we have quarry? 10. Why do you enter at your own booked the Ice Skating Rink which is coming to 5. Where do we all show canes risk at Waulkmill? Macclesfield for a session for Cubs and their families (anagram)? for a Christmassy finish to the term. Send in your answers to: [email protected] by the end of February. On a personal note I am pleased to have been The first correct reply will win a token worth £5.The answers will be given in awarded the Chief Scouts Award of Merit from Bear the next issue. Grylls for running the Cubs for 20 years.

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Volunteers Meet the Councillors help Name: WENDY VERNON Time on Council: 7 years Rainow Born: Rainow Pre-School Home: Millers Meadow Family: Husband Nigel and two children, to get George and Katie who both attend Rainow School. Meg, our 6 month Labrador, is the rooted in newest family member Occupation: Senior Research Scientist nature working on Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity Hobbies: Football, play for a mixed 5aside team. Running (more like a fast walk!), walking, camping and occasional roller blading with the kids. Look what I’ve found! Ever since I can remember I’ve had an interest in animals hence the menagerie of pets I have. One of my favourite animals is the sheep, the he new Pre-School garden behind the Robin Hood Mule and Gritstone breeds in particular. Indeed I kept a small flock of pub is proving a valuable place for Rainow's littlest Mules for a number of years. One day I hope to own sheep again, Tlearners to practise their imaginative play. Einstein regardless of the endless mocking from my friends!!! famously said that “imagination is more important than knowledge” and this is very much a principle which Pre-School staff follow in their day-to-day activities with the children. The completion of the outdoor space by parent Zach Wilcox volunteers and staff this autumn coincided with Gardening & Maintenance Pre-School receiving a big injection of funding from Cheshire East Council to improve the resources q Weekly garden maintenance available at Pre-School for imaginative play. q Dry Stone Walling Pre-Schools across the country are being encouraged q Snow Clearing by OFSTED to provide what they describe as 'free-flow' q Tree Felling resources; in other words toys and equipment that the q Hedge Cutting children can get to, and choose to investigate for them- selves, at their own pace, rather then being steered towards say a 'literacy' table or a 'maths' game. Literacy and numeracy is still taught throughout the sessions but in a holistic way which should give greater meaning to the children, and let them apply what they learn in a wide variety of contexts. 01625 576182 So, Rainow Pre-School has been able to buy some Mob : 07758 249587 58 Sugar Lane, Rainow great new kit to enable 'water play', 'construction' and 'den building' pretty much any time the children want it. Lots of this kit – stacking crates, enormous cardboard Raven Book Review by Andrew Renshaw tubes, buckets, blankets; things we might not at first CRUEL SHELTER glance class as 'toys' - is stored up at the new outside Macclesfield’s Workhouses 1836 - 1845 By Robert Langstaff space where the children can set to and investigate their natural world in whatever way they want. his recently published work by a well-known local author is obviously the product of much research based on contemporary documents. The staff team - Claire, Katy, Linda, Sharon, Jill and At first sight the subject matter might not seem to be of tremendous Hazel - really understand that nature provides endless T interest but a brief perusal of the content dispels any such scope for little minds. So it's hoped that this new focus impression.The book deals mainly with the years following the 1832 on the outdoors can help to give Rainow Pre-School a Royal Commission which was set up in response to the rapidly increasing particularly positive, and quite unique, future. And it's not cost of the existing Poor Laws.At that time the industrial revolution and just council funding that is enabling Rainow Pre-School the rapid increase in population in the local area together with a to develop and grow. An elected committee of parents recession in the silk industry were causing major social stresses.After and carers (usually about 10 or so Mums each year) setting the historical scene, the author describes how the abolition of out work behind the scenes, all on a voluntary basis, to help relief and the introduction of workhouses under the resulting Poor Law manage Pre-School and to raise funds. The recent Gifts Amendment Act added to the general turbulence of the times.The Galore Christmas shopping evening at The Institute was incredible mismanagement of the Macclesfield, Rainow and Sutton a particular success, raising an impressive £700. Some workhouses is described. of this will be spent on waterproofs, wellies and woollies The authors lucid and entertaining style together with the inclusion of for children and staff, ensuring Pre-School can get the much interesting background information and old photographs makes this most out its new outdoor space and equipment book a valuable contribution to the history of the Macclesfield area. whatever the weather. A great Christmas present!

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The Vicissitudes of Haymaking 2010 by Andrew Renshaw Whilst baling, the brand-new tractor blew a gearbox oil-seal which caused two gears to be selected simultaneously. Ringing Barlows, the local farm machinery dealer, from the field, produced a loan tractor 30 mins later and baling continued. Top marks to Barlows! The new round baler needed some setting-up and instruction in its use. My good friends from Barlows came to do this in their new van which, parked in a sloping field, made a good target for a rolling big bale inexpertly ejected insufficiently parallel to the slope. This slow motion ‘You’ve been Framed’ type disaster was averted by a 200 yard dash and swift movement of the van. The half-ton bale meandered on its way, coming to rest just before demolition of a stone wall. Another Haymaking at Pedley Fold lesson learned. It is very disappointing when a large load of small bales very fter the cold and snowy winter of 2009 when much laboriously stacked on a trailer falls off. Lesson learned in hay and haylage had to be used, some idea of the 2009; they do need roping after all. No repetition this year. potential consumption was gained. About 12 acres of grass were harvested that year and this was The last of the hard labours is to get the bales into the hayloft. A The hay-lifter, a motorised conveyor, probably of 50’s vintage sufficient to take the stock through the winter with a reasonable margin of safety. Having been assisted by will usually start but then exhibits some other problem. This contractors but now feeling that the whole business of year it was chain slippage but with the adjustment screws haymaking ought to be undertaken and unreasonably seized. It is back-breaking work to load the bales onto the confident that it would be possible, the rather risky decision conveyor and also to stack them in the hayloft with the added was made to attempt to make both hay and haylage bonus of dust. without contractors. To that end a new big-baler and a But just in time before rain started again, hay and haylage rather elderly conventional baler were obtained. All that were made, hopefully in adequate quantity. Due to the afore- was necessary was to learn to use them. mentioned weather many farmers will be eyeing their stocks with concern. This year the weather was against farmers. Until June very little rain fell so the grass grew very slowly indeed, then in a complete reversal, rain fell almost without intermission until the first week in September. The grass grew but was impossible to harvest as it could not be dried. A degree of panic started to arise; will there ever be a suitable time? To cut or not to cut, that is the question, close attention being paid to any and every weather forecast and whether anyone else was cutting. But once irrevocably cut, several dry days are needed for adequate drying before baling. At last a reasonable few days were forecast and with the reassurance of seeing others cutting, eight acres were mown which only got rained on a little. Then the ‘Haybob’ tedding machine used for turning the mown grass to speed drying, a veteran of some scores of seasons, proved difficult to adjust to properly turn the grass. Noticing that it bore a more than usually fatigued appearance, it became apparent that it was literally about to fall in half, the sagging accounting for the adjustment difficulty. “Oh they all do that” someone said. Having welded it back together, it further disobliged by breaking a shock absorber strut and shedding two of its tines into the grass. Imagining the damage these could cause by being ingested into the balers and the comparative triviality of needles in haystacks, the tines were nonetheless found. The conventional baler then made a promising start but these idiosyncratic not to say Heath-Robinson devices are prone to ‘difficulty’ particularly when in inexperienced hands. The ‘knotter’ was the first woe, sometimes failing to tie the bale on one side or the other for no apparent reason. Too great a forward speed and the baler ‘chokes’, protecting itself with a slipping clutch from overload but then requiring manual ‘unchoking’. Several tedious repetitions one evening in failing light tuned ones ear to the onset of such a stoppage.

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Rainows Race to Infinity by Raph Murray

isolated communities that cannot be reached by traditional broad udging from the responses to the article on broadband band connections but as Rainow’s current mobile signal is service in the village in October’s issue of the Raven, inadequate or non-existent this cannot be considered viable Jbroadband speed, or the lack of it, is clearly an issue here. which matters to our readers. We received more letters on this than on any topic since the magazine began. The importance of providing improved access to ‘hard to reach’ The following are just a few of the many comments areas has been recognised by the Government which has received: announced a budget of £830m to support the roll-out of next generation access to rural locations between now and 2016. Rainow is not one of the pilot areas for this scheme but Mike ‘Broadband provision is woefully poor’ Blackburn, BT’s North West Regional Director has indicated that BT is currently involved in detailed discussions across Cheshire ‘The speed is barely tolerable, connections are dropped and looking at the potential for a sustainable partnership approach I struggle sometimes to download XL files and which would offer open, competition-ready platforms, for all providers. He therefore recommends that members of local documentation from my employer's servers’ communities take part in BT’s UK-wide survey of demand for ‘...given up attempting to stream anything, or download fibre optic broadband. To take part in BT’s ‘Race to Infinity’ survey you can register your interest at www.bt.com/racetoinfinity programs on the iPlayer’ before 31st December. The Raven and the Parish Council urge readers to take part in this survey. Even if the Bollington and ‘...downloading security updates and software patches Macclesfield exchanges top the poll this does not guarantee that has to be a thought through affair to avoid peak periods the link between these exchanges and the telephone cabinets in or clashing with when I want to browse the web’ Rainow will be upgraded. Nevertheless as it will provide a measure of the demand for super-fast broadband in the areas ‘...expensive, very slow and far from satisfactory’ served by these exchanges and as BT has said it will engage with any community not winning the competition where at least ‘A definite hindrance to the primary school and anyone 75 per cent of homes and businesses have voted for super-fast trying to learn or work whilst based in the village’ broadband it will help to build a case for upgrading the broad- band service in the village. Mike Blackburn also recommends ‘Can anything be done to lobby BT about even modest that Rainow as a community/group should consider contacting improvements in our service, or opening it up to the local authority (Cheshire East) to put forward Rainow’s case for inclusion in any county submissions to Broadband Delivery competition which would lower prices and improve UK for deployment of next generation broadband. As this performance?’ appears to be the most promising way of enabling Rainow to be part of the next generation of broadband access and join the These comments are backed up by a review of the actual information superhighway please let us know if you would like to speeds obtained. The maximum download speed appears to be be involved in the formation of such a group. around 1.5 Mbps but many users struggle to achieve 1Mbps. Infinity usually means something with no end. Let’s hope Upload speeds are even lower with an average of about 0.4 that BT’s ‘Race to Infinity’ does not mean there is no end in Mbps. sight for Rainow’s entry to the information superhighway. If your use of Internet is limited to a few e-mails, checking the Get your vote in soon! weather forecast, updating your status on Facebook, shopping on Amazon, checking out who was that actor in that film, etc, then you are probably not too concerned about getting super- high-speed broadband, but the way we use the Internet is Unit 3 changing and we will require superfast broadband to take full Riverside Works advantage of these changes. At the same time as Rainow is Forge Road struggling with an inadequate service for current copper cable based broadband, BT has announced plans to roll-out superfast Whaley Bridge fibre optic cable based broadband to two-thirds of the UK by Derbyshire 2015. Unfortunately because the cost of upgrading landline SK23 7HY connections is not seen as commercially viable in rural areas such as Rainow it is likely that unless there is regulatory pressure, public subsidy or local community funding Rainow will be left further behind as the information superhighway is enabled in other parts of the country. Riverside Engineering The alternative to fibre optic based broadband is of course Classic Car Servicing and Repair mobile broadband. This is seen as the preferred solution for Tel/Fax: 01663 719641 Modern car servicing & diagnostics also available

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Guides celebrate Centenary

his year has been taken up with the Centenary Year celebrations. From the TStarburst Launch Party over a year ago in September 2009, the Centenary party we held in Rainow, to the Great Getaway Gig in June and the final celebrations in October the Guides have been reminded that they are not just a small group of girls in a village but part of a huge worldwide organisation. In between these events, the Guides have been completing their Centenary challenges, which covered a wide range of activities generally linked to our meetings YOUR LOCAL SERVICE - and we just managed to reach the required number of points to gain the badges before the closing date of the end of the Centenary Year. However, the highlights were the Gig and the closing celebrations. The Cheshire Show ground at Tabley, near was taken over by Guides one Saturday in June. We pitched our new tent alongside many other groups and went to enjoy the live music provided by four local bands in the large marquee, with stalls selling food and drinks doing a brisk trade. The shared feeling afterwards, as hundreds of Guides wandered back to their tents, with glow sticks and torches flickering in the night, and the sound of chattering and laughter carrying across the grounds from all the tents crammed together on the fields, summed up the mood of the year - although the aforementioned happy chatter began to be a little wearing by two in the morning! And finally, on 20th October, a thousand Rainbows, Brownies and Guides gathered at Macclesfield Rugby Club to reflect on the year, look forward to the future - and enjoy one of the biggest and best firework displays I have ever seen. United with Guides all over the country via a live link on a huge screen, at ten past eight in the evening we all renewed our Guide Promises i.e. at 20.10 on 20.10.2010. Here’s to the next year! Jill and Helen

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PRUNING FELLING PLANTING PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL Kerridge End Holiday Cottages SOIL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY Rainow's Only 5 Star Gold Self Catering Holiday Cottages Cheshire's Only Green Tourism Silver Award winning Cottages LIGHTENING PROTECTION x The Hayloft sleeps 6 x The Coach House sleeps 4 x The Stables sleeps 2 For details of each cottage see: www.kerridgeendholidaycottages.co.uk Email : [email protected] Tel : 01625 424220

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Ꮳ Robin Hood Wellington Road, Bollington SK10 5JR The Yellow Teapot Café Home Cooked Food Ꮳ Real Cask Ales Ꮳ q For jazz q For comedy 4 En Suite B&B Rooms Ꮳ q For chamber music A Warm Welcome q For professional & amateur Tel: 01625 574060 theatre productions q For talks Homemade scones q For art exhibitions Delicious sandwiches q For poetry readings Homemade pies Studio/Gallery@Kerridge End q For rehearsal space Large selection of cakes Cesterbridge Cottage Kerridge End Rainow q For classes q For hire “Follow the yellow teapot signs!” Telephone: 01625 612478 For more information visit our website: Open 10am – 5pm Wed, Sat & Sun www.bollingtonartscentre.org.uk Common Barn Farm, Smith Lane, Rainow or ring 573863 Tel: 01625 574878 www.janeosmond.net HEATING OIL BEST SERVICE AT COMPETITIVE PRICES

A personal and FARM & COMMERCIAL FUELS FAMILY BUTCHERS reliable Painting and Decorating service, LOGS & HEAT LOGS Palmerston Street, by a local, WIRRAL FUELS Bollington experienced É Tel: 01625 572202 craftsman. 01244 - 851200 114 Wellington Road, FOR FREE ESTIMATES CALL Bollington 01625-821783 Tel: 01625 573172 or 07954 326863 DUNKIRK ESTATE, DUNKIRK, , 54 Sugar Lane, Rainow, 5 Fountain Place, Poynton Macclesfield, CHESHIRE CH1 6LZ Tel: 01625 872154 Cheshire. SK10 5UJ ROY McCARTHY Coaches for every occasion 35 - 70 Seaters Please call us for our 2011 brochure with details of our holiday tours and day excursions

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What’s On in Rainow and Bollington DECEMBER 2010 19 3.00 pm Carols by Candlelight Jenkins Chapel 23 6.30 pm Carol Service Rainow Church 24 3.00 pm Carol Service Forest Chapel 24 11.00 pm Midnight Communion Rainow Church 25 10.00 am Parish Communion Rainow Church 25 12 noon Christmas at White Nancy with Bollington Brass Band JANUARY 2011 8 - 15 7.30 pm Pantomime – Aladdin Arts Centre, Bollington Festival Players. Tickets 01625 875326 Bollington 10 7.30 pm Rainow WI Rainow Institute Fishing in Hot Water - Keith Meecham 12 8.00 pm Friends of Rainow School - Meeting The Robin Hood 21 7.30 pm Mothers Union - New Year Party Rainow Church Centre 21 Friends of Rainow School - Quiz Night Rainow School 23 until Sundays 2 - 4 pm In the Gallery - Arts Centre, 20 Feb and during events Hannah Young Photography Bollington 29 10 am - 4 pm Film Study - Casablanca Arts Centre, Tutors - Alan Sennett & Creina Mansfield Bollington Tickets - £20 Tel: 01625 573413 29 8.00 pm Jazz at the Arts Centre Arts Centre, Dave Mott’s Jazz Classics. Tickets £9 01625 574410 Bollington FEBRUARY 2011 4 7.30 pm Bolly Comedy Club Arts Centre,

s On Tickets: £8 www.bollingtonartscentre.org.uk Bollington 5 8.00 pm Bollington Chamber Concerts Arts Centre, The Danish Quartet Bollington Tickets £14/£7 01625 560355 or 575287 12 Friends of Rainow School Disco Rainow Institute 12 10 am - 4 pm Drama Workshop Arts Centre, Devising Drama - a matter of style – Frank Walker Bollington Tickets £20 Tel: 01625 573413 14 7.30 pm Rainow WI Rainow Institute “Whenever I pass a Church” – Brian Hallworth 15 7.30 pm Mothers Union AGM followed by Social Time Rainow Church Centre 25 2.30 pm Fashioning the Past - Gillian Stapleton Arts Centre, Tickets £6 Tel: 01625 575287 or 576402 Bollington 26 8.00 pm Jazz at the Arts Centre Arts Centre, The Wabash Jazzmen. Tickets: £9 Tel: 01625 574410 Bollington 27 - 27 Sundays 2 - 4 pm In the Gallery - Ways of Seeing Arts Centre, March and during events Paintings by Janet Jackson Bollington MARCH 2011 Brownies at Tatton 4 7.30 pm Bolly Comedy Club Arts Centre, Tickets: £8 www.bollingtonartscentre.org.uk Bollington 5 8.00 pm Bollington Chamber Concerts Arts Centre, Expatrio Trio Bollington Tickets £14/£7 01625 560355 or 575287 9 11.30 am for Rainow NSPCC Ladies Lunch with Arabella The Hunting Lodge, 12.30 pm Fashion Show Tickets £22 Adlington Hall Contact Sue Frith 01625 573802 14 7.30 pm Rainow WI Rainow Institute History of Roberts Bakery – Keith Birkett 15 7.30 pm Mothers Union – Lenten Talk by Margaret Tate Rainow Church Centre 16 - 19 10 am - 4 pm Bollington Festival Players Spring Production Arts Centre, Details: 01625 875326 Bollington 26 8.00 pm Jazz at the Arts Centre Arts Centre, Gentleman Jim McIntosh & the Jazzaholics Bollington £9 01625 574410 We have made this list as comprehensive as space permits & it is necessarily a selection of the events we know about. If you have anything planned that you would like us to list in the next issue, please call 01625 426059. 14 What’

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Walks for All; Kerridge Hill via the South Face (!) by Hasta la Blista bends, is a wooden gate and some steps Walk 8: Kerridge down to another gate. Go through this; turn Map: Rainow Parish Paths or left, and follow the path markers on staves OS 268 to the bridleway at Lower Swanscoe Farm. Go left, along this and on the right you will Distance: approx 5.7 miles see Swanscoe Hall, built for one of the Ascent: about 180m Brocklehurst family in the nineteenth Going: good paths/tracks; a bit of century, and including Prince Emanuel Galitzine (a post-Revolutionary exile from road walking; one brief steepish climb Russia) amongst its previous owners. The Time: 3 hours bridleway leads to Kerridge Road, where Start and Finish: The Robin Hood you turn right walking (carefully) round the corner, past the gates of Swanscoe Hall keeping right along Swanscoe Lane. At the Footpath numbers relate to the Rainow his is a great walk for variety of terrain, junction with Well Lane keep right, and Parish Paths map. flora and fauna, and opportunities for then bear left along the “No Through T Road” towards Shrigley Fold. At Shrigley conversations with people leaning over their garden walls! Also the walk can start Fold turn right through a gate where there at any of three different pubs – The Robin is a sign depicting a carrion crow. A stone Hood, The Lord Clyde or The Bull’s Head track leads to another junction, where you in Kerridge. It may also be possible to follow the grass track to the right that goes begin it from a café but I couldn’t be down to a stile after 50 yards or so. bothered to look for one! Another 100 yards along a farm track and over another stile, and continue on to a Assuming the Robin Hood start, walk via green footpath sign that offers a variety of Stocks Lane down Sugar Lane. Before choices – but follow the one that leads to Hough Hole House look out for a Clarke Lane. telegraph pole on your right marked Access Only, and a few yards short of that, Passing a few ponds you will notice Endon on the left, take the footpath left (as though Hall standing on the right. Eventually you will pass slowly downhill to a stone stile Millenium Stone at Waukmill through the hedge!). Keep the fence and hedge on your right, and continue down to and over it to a field that usually has a stile over a stone wall. Go over a small grazing horses in it. Weaving between two stone bridge; immediately left over a ponds ahead follow the signed path (via a wooden bridge; and take the main path stone gate sponsored, it would seem, by that leads uphill towards the Ridge. Keep the Anti-Obesity League) on towards going uphill for 150 yards until you cross a Clarke Lane. Cross over, and follow the path that follows the contour, and turn left. path until reaching a farm track, where you After another 150 yards, pass through a turn right, northwards, towards Dawson gate, and fork right up a path towards the Farm on Oak Lane. top corner of a plantation. Go through the Go left along Oak Lane as far as The Bull’s gate along the signed path keeping the Head and turn right, up Redway Lane, trees on your left. Go through another gate keeping on the pavement on the left. At the and continue until, just short of a large first corner follow the sign and keep left metal gate, you turn sharp right – almost along a paved footpath that begins to open back on yourself – and follow the path up views of Bollington and Nab Hill. After Nab Hill fr leading up to the trig. point on Kerridge Hill. om Redway 200 yards, or so, when faced with a choice Terrific views all round reward you, and on of kissing gate on the left or ordinary black a clear day the Breidden Hills, the gate on the right, take the right option onto Stiperstones, the Wrekin, and the hills of a path angling half-right up the field to a eastern Wales are to be seen. number of gates visible another couple of After gathering breath continue northwards hundred yards away. On reaching them along the ridge and descend to a wall with turn left along the metalled track (Gritstone a gate/stile marking the junction of several Trail at this point) and follow it down, paths. Just before this turn sharp left along turning right at the T-junction, to Waulkmill the wall and go southwest along the path Farm. The path (with stepping stones) lies that leads between the wall and a large through a gap at the side of the gate just bank of gorse. This path leads down to the beyond the farm and you follow it across junction of Lidgetts Lane and Kerridge the fields (and a few more AOL gates!) via Road. Walk down Kerridge Road for 100 Hough Hole House and Sugar Lane to the yards and turn sharp right down a metalled car park. track towards Swanscoe Farm. Short of ane it is! Clarke L that, and on the left just before the track See Quiz about walk on page 8

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