FREE to the residents of Snitterfi eld

I S S U E F I V E WINTER 2003

We MUST protect the sk yourselves, why you choose to live in this rural community future of Snitterfield! Aof Snitterfi eld? Your answer is likely to be precisely that, because it is The Parish Plan is now under way a small rural community, with villagers with the formation of the Steering appreciating the relatively peaceful Committee, and during the coming Recently, in response to your many months this committee with be collating comments on the subject, the PC village environment and the surrounding all the data from our Village Design organised the introduction, and countryside. Statement and Parish Appraisal, using relocation of a larger Post Box close But as a village, the pressure is on the guidance notes as supplied by The to the Village Stores, this caused for us to protect it, or, we lose it! Countryside Agency, (sponsors of the considerable response from you! Stratford seems to be creeping up project at national level), to produce the The PC needs you to respond in the same on us at a daily rate, when you look at fi rst draft plan. way to other issues and suggestions that the development on the Birmingham The Parish Plan, is not just about more will come from the Parish Plan, and are and roads, with the surrounding housing in Snitterfi eld, it’s about what likely to have a major impact on your traffi c systems, becoming a total you want for your Village/Parish, in daily lives. nightmare! the future. The Parish Council has, during the year, Your views, for the all-important The village is continually under pressure made steady progress in resolving it’s Parish Plan shaping the future of from developers and landowners fi nancial situation and holding the Snitterfi eld, could never be more precept at last year’s level. During the wanting to profi t from the Government important than right now! We only Policy to increase house building in both coming months we will be planning the budget for the next fi nancial year, and get one go at this, if our voice is not urban and rural areas in the country. given consideration, then the creeping Only this week, we hear that developers listing the projects to be funded from development and all that goes with it, are planning to attack the Stratford- these resources. upon-Avon Local Plan policies on the Improved co-operation is an objective will totally engulf our village! “Key Development Principles”. If they we have set ourselves, and with the help ‘Your help’ seems to be the theme are successful this will put pressure back of your District and County Councillor, running through this particular issue. onto sites in our Village! Richard Hobbs, we are achieving a better Additional to the Parish Plan we This is why it is vital we have the Parish understanding and co-operation with all have: Cricket captain Lee Hillier, looking Plan in place to support our District departments in the District and County for any amounts of soil for the cricket Council Policies, such as COM.1 a policy Council Offi ces, which will in the long fi eld, the club is also looking for new based on Local Choice. (The views of term, benefi t our community. members, both non-playing and playing. local communities refl ected in Parish Returning to the plan, what are your Parish Councillor Sylvia Morlidge, is Plans adopted by the District Council). views on subjects such as, parking on the looking for the Titchmarsh Touch in the The Snipe Newsletter, produced by pavements, the bus service, the cemetery, cemetery! the village, is as a direct result of our notice boards, litter, vandalism and Allan Morris wants to complete the policing. The list is endless, and if you Parish Appraisal surveying your views story of the Snitterfi eld Swimming Baths, on key issues in the village. These views have other issues or concerns that effect your daily lives, then please us know and further information on the old hand on various issues are now forming the bells would be much appreciated by me. basis of our approach to planning the by letter, email, phone, or at our Parish Bob Guest and Ron Hoe of the development of our Village/Parish in line Council meetings, on the second Monday with the policies defi ned at National, of each month, 7.30pm, in the room at Conservation Group need your thoughts, County and District levels. the rear of the village hall. skills and knowledge on constructing ‘The ABC of Your Place’, and fi nally: Issues such as local services, educational You will be listened to, I can assure you! facilities, transport and traffi c, the A46, we, the Snipe Team, need an injection road safety and noise pollution are of some new energetic blood, together all part of shaping your environment with some good fund raising ideas, future! Chairman of the Parish Council. please can you help? Most of these items can take as little time as a simple phone call, or if you are interested in getting involved and doing your bit, then everyone will benefi t. Thanking you in anticipation!

Editor The Reverend Livingston I Presume! When is a vicar not a vicar?

By now most of you, I the thought of rural As news of the appointment of a new vicar in Snitterfield was announced, so expect, will have heard did not take too much consideration. people also noticed that a man dressed as that there is a new vicar So began another period of ministry, a vicar was seen moving into the Vicarage for Snitterfield. I have with new challenges to face, not at Snitterfield. If the man in our Vicarage been invited, there-fore, least in the work with deaf people, isn’t our new vicar then we wanted to to tell you something find out who his is and what he does. but also learning the skills and about myself. The man in question is the Reverend I was born in Roger Morris. In September, he was Birmingham, where, appointed as the Director of the Forum after leaving school, I worked in for Parish Development and Evangelism the Health Service for 16 years as a for the Diocese of (an area covering practically the whole of Microbiologist. It was there that I Warwickshire). The Church of in met my wife Janet. We then went Warwickshire has four Directors. Roger’s on to produce one daughter, Rachel, job is to head up a team of people who who still lives at home and teaches will enable churches to be healthy and History to secondary school children in to grow. His work covers everything from Coventry. ministry style appropriate to a rural helping churches improve their Sunday setting. Eight years in that situation is worship to encouraging their members Following a mission in the parish church again changing. to share their faith with others. It also where we were living at the time, I covers things like Bible study, spirituality, began to explore the road to ordination. I believe it right to now stand aside from Christian giving, research, children’s work I trained at The Queen’s College in the deaf work, so that someone new can and youth work. By the end of October, Birmingham, an ecumenical theological build upon the foundations that have Roger had visited over 50 clergy on a one- college, where Anglican, Methodist been laid over this period of time. My to-one basis to look at the life of their and United Reform candidates trained role will now be as a full-time parish churches, he had led a number of Church alongside each other and shared the priest, although still be called upon to Council (PCC) meetings and was also planning a number of exciting initiatives benefits of each others traditions. divide myself and my time, this now for the new year. Roger said, “Unless I being between the three parishes and After college I became a curate in am of use to the parishes, my job will five churches. This will mean, therefore, Hobs Moat, Solihull, where we enjoyed disappear. The church cannot afford to that some change is inevitable, for all four happy years learning the joys and employ bureaucrats. They need people of of us, but at this stage it is too early to sorrows of parish ministry. We then action who will have a positive effect on predict what changes may be necessary. the life of our parish churches.” moved to quite a different parish in Manchester for my first incumbency. Perhaps the most significant change As for his role in Snitterfield, Roger is This was in Droylsden, on the east that will be noticed in Snitterfield will cautious as he doesn’t want to queer side of the city near to Ashton-under- be that ‘the Vicar’ will not be living in the pitch for Richard Livingstone. He Lyne. Depending upon your view the the Vicarage. The family will remain in says, “Snitterfield is one of 240 churches in the diocese and my role brings me parish could be described as an old the Rectory at Wolverton, while Roger into contact with all 240 in one way or Lancashire mill area, or alternatively as Morris, a clergyman working for the another. As a result of being spread so coronation Street country. Most of the Diocese, will be living in the Vicarage. thinly, I cannot have a specific role in any local industry, though, had long since Although Roger and his family may one church. Snitterfield is the church to disappeared, the only place remaining choose to worship at their local church, which I go when I am not taking services of note being the Robertson’s Jam Roger’s responsibilities will mean that elsewhere. My family go there and my Factory. he will not be a spare pair of hands who daughter was even a mouse in their can be called upon to make the new harvest play. But beyond me being a It was during this time that I became parish arrangements work. member of the congregation, I have no drawn into ministry amongst deaf specific role here.” people. Although I had previous contact The other ingredient that I believe is Roger is married to Sally, an assistant with deaf people and the church’s vital for any of us is that life ought headteacher at Chipping Norton School, involvement with them, I had not been not to be just work. I try, therefore, and they have two daughters; Imogen in any official capacity. Now began a to maintain interests in things outside (who is 3) and Fiona (who is 6 and goes period of ministry in which my time the church and ministry. My main to Snitterfield Primary School). Roger was divided between two very different involvement is in railways, with says, “We were housed here because the styles of being church. It proved a very gardening following a close second, Vicarage was available, but we couldn’t stimulating and challenging time, but which these days seems to be more have chosen a better place to live. The was not without its rewards. mowing grass and battling with weeds. area is beautiful and the people are very Walking when it happens and reading, friendly.” Given that Roger is not the One of those rewards came after eight less so these days, are other things that vicar, he has still thrown himself into the years when I was invited to return to the life of the community. He is one of the I enjoy. Midlands, to Coventry Diocese, where vice chairs of FOSS (Friends of Snitterfield the work amongst deaf people was in As a family we have greatly enjoyed School) and recently ran a quiz night need of some new direction. Bishop living and working in a rural setting and in aid of school funds. “Snitterfield is a Clive, the then Bishop of , are very happy to continue to do so. I wonderful place,” he says, “And I’d like to telephoned me to ask if I would be look forward to working among you do what I can to help it continue to thrive. I may not have a role in the local church interested in this job, then went on to and gradually coming to know you. but Snitterfield is where I live and that’s say that he was sorry but it would be Richard Livingston important to me.” based in a rural parish, after eight years in a somewhat difficult inner city parish Roger Morris News From Your County Councillor chances of survival in the event of a serious fire – two smoke detectors will be enough for the average family house. One of my roles as a County Councillor has In the event of a fire in the village it is always helpful to know been working with and supporting the where the nearest fire hydrant is to your home. Warwickshire Fire Service. The recent the Fire Be conscientious of where you park your car so that fire Service dispute has brought home the problem engines can get to all the houses in the village. It could be your of fire and I have, therefore, been actively property, which the emergency vehicle cannot reach because looking at the fire risk to our homes and places your car is blocking the way to your house or preventing access of work. In Snitterfield we have been lucky not to the fire hydrant to get more water. to suffer a serious injury or loss of life in recent years, but we must not be complacent. It has been proved Tragically two people died in sixteen years ago. that smoke detectors in the home can dramatically reduce the Please don’t let it happen in Snitterfield. chance of death or serious injury and speaking to people in the village before the fire dispute many talked of buying a smoke For help and information please ring the Fire Safety detector. I wonder just how many have one now that the Department on 01926 410800 strike is nothing but a memory! Remember that for the sake of Richard Hobbs County and District Councillor a few pounds you could greatly increase you and your family’s Telephone: 01789 730331

Cricket Update - State of Play PLAY Our season finished on a high note on September the 6th, having convincingly beaten the Stratford Bards. Ben Smith produced the batting performance of the season with 92 not out, being well supported by Nick Hayter 39 not out. This ended a good season for us, finishing with 3 victories from our nine matches. The leading wicket taker was There is one major thing left to do before Although this myself, Lee Hillier, with 14 wickets we can forget about things for a few may not sound at an average of 10.3 per wicket, months, approx. 60-80 tons of soil is wonderful, most of this was due mainly, as I have needed to take some of the slope off the the teams we play are well-established been reminded many times, to shall we out field up to the square, we have access sides that play league cricket, and we are say, picking my moments to come on to 60 tons of soil from a building site in very much a Sunday village team. and bowl. Although he didn’t take many Stratford, if anyone is able to help with transport, of if anyone has a large amount The end of season has just been wickets, James Durnian, opening the of top soil they wish to get rid of, then completed with the batting average being bowling nearly every week, and against please contact me. topped by Nick Hayter with 62, followed some good opening batsman, bowled 55 overs, getting 7 wickets and a average by Ben Smith 49, the only other two We shall be having occasional meetings of 1.75 runs per over. Also notable batsman making double figures were Tim through the winter (see notice board) performances with the ball were from Hartwell 16.5, a good performance from to discuss future plans and everyone is James Swords bowling 48 overs for 2.6 a lower order spin bowler, and James welcome to attend. Should anyone like to runs per over, Ben Leefe taking 3 wickets Durnian (all rounder) who would feel a become a member, either to play, watch, in his 10 overs for 30, and Ian Wyllie bit disappointed with his average of 16. or just simply support the idea of cricket Bowled very well 18 overs 4 wickets for 85. Other innings of note was a fine knock in the village, there will be joining details of 49 from Tim Cox, and a good all-round STATE OF THE PITCH displayed in the shop and on the notice performance on his debut from Daniel At present (early November), we have board in early spring Fell. Also a mention must be given to our reached the stage where a seeded cricket The club would like to take this stand in wicket keeper Phil Briggs, who in square has been laid, this has been fenced opportunity to thank all those who have the twilight of his career decided to have off and hopefully should grow between helped us set up and reach this stage. a go behind the timbers. He did a good now and May next year, when all being Thank you to all the individuals and job despite taking a few on the chest and well we can begin to cut and start to roll companies who have donated financially, one in the mouth at Welford. After the the square. Could everyone please keep and to those who have helped with time Welford incident he appeared at the next an eye on the fenced off square as we and equipment in the preparation of the fixture sporting a very impressive gum have already had a couple of incidents net and the square. We could not have shield, which made Leslie Ash’s botox lips of damage, fencing being thrown across achieved this without such support. Well look quite normal. I think a refit might be the field, and poles being broken Please done everyone! Lee Hillier Captain in order Phil! contact Lee if thee are any more incidents! Waterlife in Shoe Field Mists of time shroud the date and stand, watch, listen, origins of the pond at the rear of and enjoy the peace. Church Lane, and how it came into It provides a being. Sited in Shoe Field, a small wonderful year- valley through which Bell Brook round refuge for flows, it could well have been a wildlife, and is a natural pond used as a food source centre of activity for the village, or maybe, it built as for an almost endless list of a parkland feature? A map dated birds and animals who enjoy the 1766 clearly marks the pond on this generally clear, clean water and a spot. safe haven. The near by Bell Brook, to the west Early springtime brings Canada and separated by a raised path, Geese, handsome with their supplies a regular flow of water beautiful brown and white controlled by a brick built dam plumage. Swans then appear (same The ‘Titmarsh’ touch (which has been restored), together pair every year) and immediately with a brick sluice enabling the in the cemetery... begin to harass the geese, which pond to be drained for cleaning have now settled on their island It’s been a wonderful summer, and many of you purposes no longer. This is now will have taken the opportunity to walk round nest and produced goslings (a impossible as the outlet pipe has our beautiful village. You may have walked record seven this year). The parent been covered by new water levels past our lovely church, through the churchyard geese shepherd their young on to in the brook. Living memories can and passed through the cemetery, taking in the the field where they gorge on grass recall a bucket and steam engines peaceful atmosphere and delightful views over and in particularly, buttercups - and set up carrying out this operation. the park. If you have, you will have noticed the the young goslings grow rapidly on cemetery is in need of some tender loving care. The pond can be approached by this succulent feast. Tufted ducks The Parish Council, with a set budget, pays for it two public footpaths. One drops also visit and nest each year, and to be mown regularly and the contractor to do a down from Church Road just in their diving practice, especially limited amount of maintenance. The large yew front of the Church, and the other the ducklings, are particularly tree is to be trimmed shortly, and members of the footpath carries on from Brookside entertaining. Parish Council are planning to do some work on and turns right over the small the paths themselves. The cracked willows and sycamores bridge at the end of the field. It’s which grow on the island provide The more recent graves are regularly cared a delightful little walk, and the nesting for woodpeckers and for, allowing the contractors to mow and strim reward is the pond where you can around them, leaving them looking neat and nuthatch. tidy. However, there is a problem with a number of graves, in particular the very old ones, which are completely neglected and overgrown. Where the graves have edging stones, it’s impossible to carry out proper maintenance, and the PC cannot afford for them to be manually weeded out of parish rates. After much consideration and discussion, the PC believes there are two possible ways of dealing with this problem; The first, is to ask for volunteers from the village who would be willing to take over the maintenance of a grave, in effect ‘adopt a grave’, this would mean tidying and weeding it on a regular basis. The second is to move the edging stones, so that after an initial tidying up session, the contractors are able to maintain the whole cemetery by simply mowing and strimming round the headstones. What are your views? Are willing to help? Please ring me if you are willing to help, or come along to our next Parish Council meeting and add your views! Sylvia Morlidge Parish Councillor, telephone 01789 731279 Waterlife in Shoe Field Swimming baths for The Autumn heralds the return of the Snitterfield! Mallard drakes and their courting flights begin. Likewise the moorhens and coots return and start arguing over the nesting sites, but usually settle for the same site each year. Herons make regular visits in search of food through-out the year, flying the gauntlet of diving crows, and a visiting kingfisher can often be glimpsed with its startlingly blue Yes believe it or plumage as it flashes by. One not, the village special visitor recently, was a shag had it’s own or cormorant who rested a couple swimming baths of days and could be seen diving up until the early and swimming under the water 1940’s! Allan today, standing in the deep end! - and left is Allan’s mother, Daisy Morris feeding on fish. and young Allan Situated behind considered best to wait until after the The winter is no less interesting The Green, in the narrow strip of field sale of the Trevelyan Estate. The baths and the lack of leaves mean it is leading on from the small playground, together with the fields appear much easier to see the birdlife. the baths were controlled by the Parish to have been sold to a Mr Harvey in Whatever time of the year you Council, it being the first Parish Council 1931, and the Parish Council agreed visit you are never quite sure to adopt the Baths and Washhouses to buy the baths and fields from Mr what you are going to see, but it Act. A sub-committee was formed Harvey (who would not sell them is always a delightful, beautiful to deal with the maintenance of the separately) for £100, and the deposit and interesting place. baths, which were rented for £2.10s. of £10 was duly paid out of the Bill Parnham from Lady Trevelyan (local landowner). surplus funds of £12.19.7d left over The baths were surrounded by a from the Jubilee celebrations. Some wooden hoarding, with conveniences of the money was raised by selling including, two dressing-rooms, roofed the children’s ‘small playground’. The shelter, diving platform, and constantly baths continued to be used regularly changing water. In 1915 a hedge was and damage continued to be done, planted on either side. The upkeep had especially to the woodwork. In 1939 the always been difficult, but realising the baths were visited by representatives great benefit to the villagers the Parish of the Parish Council and it was Council made every effort to keep it unanimously decide that in view of the going. It was fully and regularly used, damage done, the absence of Police with many boys and girls having learnt Control, and unavoidable unhygienic to swim there, but the downside being conditions generally (specially due to frequent cases of wilful damage. the failure of the Syphon System), an estimate was obtained for putting Apparently the baths were kept full the the pool back in good order, but this year round, but an experiment made has never been done owing to non- in 1919 left them dry for the winter. In approval by the medical authorities. 1921 it was agreed to reserve the baths for ladies from This information, produced in the 2-4pm daily, except Saturdays and W.I.’s ‘Snitterfield History Scrap Book’ Sundays. In April 1926 an attendant of 1956, provides a good illustration of was engaged (at £1.10.0d. per annum) the Snitterfield Baths. We understand to ‘skim the surface at least once a the Parish Council ordered the filling in week, keep the grass and hedges cut, of the baths at some stage. If anyone clean out baths twice a year, keep the have any further information please dressing rooms clean and generally contact Allan Morris on 01789 731415. look after the place’. There are still copies of the W.I. book In 1929 the Parish Council considered available, to purchase please contact purchasing the baths in lieu of renting Marilyn Follis on 01789 731407. it, but as two fields went with it, it was Bob Guest - Exploring far afield, but always returning to Snitterfield

Seven weeks of sea, and twice Group, which was born out of the seven days of storm 2002 Village Appraisal. Bobs reports Upon the huge Atlantic, and once on the groups activities can be seen more in Snipe. We ride into still water and the Travelling initially on business calm... and latterly in pursuit of his great from ‘Gibralter’ by Wilfred Scawen Blunt interest in filming wildlife, Bob has Experienced by Bob as a very young visited many countries in the world. man with a taste for adventure He regularly visits parts of Africa and aboard a tramp steamer and India on safari in search of the bound for Newfoundland, so sea prolific animal and bird life, and to sick that he tied the knob of his witness the spectacular scenery, in cabin door to the ablutions door the form of rivers & lakes, savanna, opposite in order to exit fast. vast plains, forests & mountains. His Bob, a good vintage raconteur, interest in mountains dates back to spun his stories as we ate supper student days, when as a member recently, sometimes in recalling his others, he was also a member of the of his university’s mountaineering experiences he could hardly sit still as Parochial Church Council when the Rev. club be was introduced to Snowdonia, he gave his deep characteristic chuckle. Woodward Court was incumbent at the Lake District and the Cuillins on A chartered engineer by profession, he St James the Great, Snitterfield. The Skye. Subsequently he took up an worked for several large companies in village had a Preservation Association appointment in Switzerland partly to the UK and abroad before establishing founded in the 1960s, when an attempt advance his career, but also to provide his own business, manufacturing was made to develop the Park in ready access to the Alps! In later years, machinery for the rubber, plastics, and Snitterfield. Bob as Chairman, served he has been privileged to explore many metal tube industries. Now retired with such characters as Roy Dunston, fine mountain ranges including the from a regular routine, but with a John Shelby, David Morris, and Graham Torridon mountains in Scotland, Mount great enthusiasm for life, he remains Ogg, with an aim to protect the village Kenya, The Grand Teton in Wyoming active, swimming early each day, and from inappropriate development. The and above all, the majestic Himalayas, regularly indulging his passion for hill & Association organized Snitterfield’s stretching from Nanda Devi in the west, mountain walking. entry into the Annual Best Kept Village to Kanchenjunga in the east Settling into Park Lane in the early competition, and held well-attended Coming much nearer home, and on 1960s, with his wife Jean, and three meetings addressed by guest speakers a more modest scale, Bob’s current small daughters, Bob soon became on subjects relating to conservation. project is making a video recording active in village life. He was a Parish Bob was Chairman of the Snitterfield of the new herd of deer in Councillor with Bob Gardner, Alan Conservative Association for many Park, for the National Trust. Morris, Pat Foster, Derek Marshall, years, and has more recently taken the MEF and later with Keith Lambert among Chair of the Snitterfield Conservation

S N I P E R ’ S C O R N E R A TREASURE CHEST Dear Snipe - About three times a week I walk from the Bowling A set of 16 handbells, Club down Wolverton Road, through Hales Close, through the more than seventy years footpath to Highfield Close, down Bearley Road to the end of the old, were discovered Snitterfield Arms’ car park, and then home to Woodward Court. I in an old chest in Snitterfield during 1945. carry a ‘carrier ’ bag with me and start to pick up rubbish - bottles, A team of seven, including 4 members cans, cigarette packets, chocolate wrappers and even plastic milk of the Bloxham family, quickly learnt the techniques bottles. Why throw your rubbish down? of ‘ringing’ and became a regular sight and sound in Snitterfield , particularly at Christmas time. Come on everyone - make an effort... why not try to Over a period of 9 years they raised over £400 ( a great keep the village tidy! deal of money at that time) for various church funds. So, where are they now, and are they still being rung? PS I walked through the playing fields on Wolverton Road at the weekend, no bag with me, but honestly, I would have needed a black bin sack - I could have quite easily filled it! JANUARY 2004 HERALDS BROADBAND! Sylvia Moore At last, an end to not being able to use the phone when another member of the family is on the internet, and to all the other frustration’s that go with the one-line access. WE’RE INTERESTED IN A PROJECT! New York, Hong Kong, Paris… Redditch. original house Perhaps not the most obvious choice of career moves but we were delighted at the opportunity to return to the Midlands after seven years abroad. ‘The fruit farm’, my old school friends from Solihull cried, when I told them about my visit to Snitterfield this time last year, recollecting trips down the Stratford Road in the days before the M40. I’d been to see a house on The Green for sale and my husband and I - needless to say - loved the village. Cosy Cott had been suggested to me when I told the estate agents we were interested in a ‘project’. My parents would have had had built their own house in Canada a central hall and more out of naiveté than practical and porch, which experience; we thought we were up we found very to the task. Our offer was eventually attractive and accepted in December. wanted to restore. The paperwork in the end took almost I spent many hours as much time as the build has done. As with tracing paper the house was without both kitchen and pen reworking door neighbours have patiently borne and bathroom, no high street lender the interior layout and our amendments scaffolding on their drive for months was interested. Fortunately I had been were approved an agonising eight longer than should have been necessary. devouring self-build magazines and read weeks later. Kind in that we were able to continue up on financing. A specialist mortgage work internally; so much so that we The builders started in late May as we broker in Scotland (where self-build is were plastered out before the roof was cleared ten year’s bramble growth and more common) put us in touch with completed just a few weeks ago as I the remains of the previous extensions a bank willing to take us on despite write. which were abandoned in 1995. The having been out of the UK so long. foundations were in place in just over Now that the scaffolding has gone, Self-build mortgages release money in two weeks, with the piles driven to a a flood of trades has been released. stages - land purchase, foundations, depth of 7 metres. The gas men have been in to reinstall eaves, wind and water tight, completion a meter, though it took five of them Simultaneously, I started work at the - either in advance or in arrears so a to find the connection! Apologies in Stratford District Council in Heritage detailed budget and timetable were advance for Severn Trent who will also & Design, (formerly known as crucial. be digging up The Green to replace Conservation & Landscape) on a part- Site insurance also proved tricky due a lead pipe in the road. Though the time basis. My reading and experience to the culvert, which ran directly windows have been in for months, we to date with Cosy Cott stood me in good below the proposed extension. Again, can now have the glass fitted. And stead at the interview and I hope to be magazine articles pointed the way at last the pile of builders’ rubble has able to help the parish on these issues in to various foundation specialists who been cleared. We hope that Cosy Cott is the future. were called in as the sale progressed. looking more attractive to those of you Though 325mm diameter continuous You may have noticed our single glazed passing by. windows? Though building regulations flight augur piles didn’t mean much to In the next few weeks we should have do stipulate double-glazing, we were me then, they meant enough to the heating and hot water and it will be able to obtain special dispensation for insurance broker to cover us in time for good-bye to the builders vans and hello the street elevation to be in keeping completion at the end of March. paintbrushes as we aim for inevitable with the historical street scene. We had one last hurdle before starting ‘in by Christmas’ deadline. Many thanks work. The detailed planning permission By early June we were out of the ground to those of you have stopped by with granted in 1999 incorporated retention and the house had a roof by July. At good wishes and mugs of tea; we are of a clumsily built bay window and this point, the weather was both kind really looking forward to moving and a doorway off to the right. Looking and cruel to us. Cruel in that such a returning the favour! around the village, it was clear that the dry summer brought about a national shortage of plain clay tiles. Our next- Claudine and Eric

The Snitterfield exchange has a ‘ready for service’ date of 21 January 2004! Well done all you ‘tec’s’ who have been registering your interest, we have a result! To find out more information view either: www.bt.com/broadband/ns or www.broadband4snitterfield.co.uk