SSTTOOWWEE BBYY CCHHAARRTTLLEEYY PPAARRIISSHH CCOOUUNNCCIILL

C H R I S T M A S N E W S L E T T E R A L E T T E R F R O M O U R C H A I R M A N As 2020 draws to a close, December continues to be an ever-changing cycle of dos and don’ts! We came out of Lockdown Two at the beginning of the month only to find that the new tiering system didn’t change much for - Lockdown to Lockup!!

We thought it was ‘beginning to look a lot (more) like Christmas’ with non-essential shops opening and ‘freedom’ for five days over Christmas, only then to be told that due to dramatically increasing infection rates of the new variant of Covid19 we can only have one day……and no sleepovers!!

‘IT’LL BE OVER BY CHRISTMAS’, said Boris Johnson in July, ‘as long as you all wish hard enough’. Well, I think we’ve all wished and wished since March but it appears that Covid19 had other plans for our Christmas…….and forgot to tell Boris!! Maybe it’s not all bad……last year I had sixteen for Christmas Day lunch, this year we are three….so I won’t be spending the days before preparing vegetables and laying tables and getting up at 5 am on Christmas morning to put the turkey in the oven……and then all the clearing up afterwards!!

Christmas will undoubtedly be different this year, we will miss our loved ones that we cannot meet up with and it does get harder to abide by the ever-increasing rules but we have now passed the shortest darkest day of 2020 and have the spring to look forward to with the snowdrops, crocus and daffodils……that splash of colour should cheer us all up!

The vaccine is here and hopefully, some Parishioners have already received it, it’s not a magic cure and we will still have to treat life with caution for some considerable time but there is light at the end of the tunnel, we just need to be patient for a little longer, make the most of what we have got this Christmas and remember those less fortunate than ourselves.

I wish you a very Happy Christmas and pray that 2021 is a better year for us all.

Barbara Hurdle Chairman Stowe-By-Chartley Parish Council

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Christmas Food Parcels

The Summer food parcels were very well received A Covid risk assessment was carried out for the safe within the Parish, therefore the Parish Council delivery and everyone involved has given their time to thought it a good idea to do a similar thing this organise the food parcels in a voluntary capacity. We are Christmas albeit with a smaller parcel, just to bring a also very grateful to Cllr Alan Sheppard, a resident from little bit of Christmas Spirit (sorry no alcohol in the Amerton and a new Councillor, who kindly agreed to give parcels!!) to those Parishioners who are shielding, up his time to deliver these parcels dressed up as Santa. self-isolating or are vulnerable, during these unprecedented times. Christmas Parcel to consist of: The cost of the parcels has been paid for mainly by 1 jar of coffee Staffordshire County Councillor John Francis, from 1 box of tea bags his Covid 19 Fund and the balance being met by The A Slice of Christmas Cake Stowe Charities Fund, Amerton Farm Shop and Mince Pie Amerton Farm Ltd. Apple Orange.

The delivery was carried out on Tuesday 22nd December 2020.

From left to right: Cllr. Barbara Hurdle, Chairman of Stowe by Chartley Parish Council, SANTA (Cllr. Alan Sheppard), Mrs Paula Holmes, Mr Brian Holmes and County Councillor John Francis.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH THE VILLAGE HALL

The church has been open throughout the Due to the current Covid restrictions the summer for private prayer on a Sunday. Sadly Village Hall is closed for bookings. For more due to further Covid 19 restrictions this has information please visit: become too difficult to maintain, therefore the church is closed until further notice. For more www.stowebychartley.co.uk information on this please contact Michael or Jenny Brown on 01889 270596 or visit: www.midtrentchurches.org.uk

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W E L C O M E T O A L A N S H E P P A R D O U R N E W P A R I S H C O U N C I L L O R We now have a new member of the Parish Council, Mr Alan Sheppard. This brings us up to our full quota of seven Councillors.

Alan says: I moved into what is well known as " The Plough " pub opposite Amerton Farm in the summer of 2019. Being from Wales it is engrained into us welsh the sense of community so I have offered to play my part as and when required.

A place appeared on the Parish Council so with no other offers I put myself forward and hey ho! I am now accepted and involved in helping and supporting you all which is a brief that I will look forward to delivering.

I look forward to a change in all our fortunes in 2021 so may I wish you a " Merry Christmas " and " A Happy New Year "

Nadolig Llawen!

OTHER COUNCILLORS ARE:

Cllr. Mrs Barbara Hurdle. Chair. 07973 412356. [email protected] Cllr. Mrs Eunice Finney. Vice Chair 07973134076 [email protected] Cllr. Mrs Tanya Alder 01889 271129 [email protected] Cllr. Mr Tom Lyons 01889 270941 [email protected] Cllr. Mr. Peter Coote 01889 270572 [email protected] Cllr. Mr. Kevin Byrne 01889 500381 [email protected]

CLERK TO THE PARISH COUNCIL

Mrs Catherine Gill. 01889 272679 [email protected]

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O T H E R N E W S F R O M O U R V I L L A G E

THE COCK AT STOWE

In November this year The Cock At Stowe announced they were closing their doors after many years of trading but there is nothing like a challenge and good news has followed with Teresa Broberg (who many of you know) and award-winning Chef Geoffrey Clarke decided to take up the challenge of opening The Cock once again and taking it forward into 2021 and beyond.

Teresa said ‘we are absolutely so thankful for all the support being given by the village of Stowe and Hixon when we opened with our Dine Away menu. During these uncertain times we want The Cock to become part of the community and as we hopefully come out of this pandemic help to be part of the village again’.

We are now offering our Dine Away menu and have just started our Sunday Lunch Dine Away menu. All the details are on our Facebook page and we would just like to wish all the villagers of Stowe by Chartley and Hixon a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We hope to see you soon – fingers crossed you will all be dining with us shortly AMERTON FARM

As a local business we have been closed more than we have been open this year, but we are positive and very pleased we could run our activities for both Halloween and Christmas. We first thought we would have to cancel our Christmas activities when we found ourselves in Tier 3. Then the government gave permission for all Santa's Grottos, to operate in any tier and we have had the best Christmas ever, with over 4100 customers. Amerton Railway have also hosted 1300 customers on the Santa Special Trains.

The phone has never stopped requesting Christmas events, as many businesses who normally offer Christmas activities have decided to give it a miss this year. Our risk assessment is 17 pages long and every area has to be sanitised after every family bubble. To give out a mince pie to customers for example we have to wrap the pies in cellophane 2 days before the event, they have to be moved from the plate with tongs for the customers to pick up from a table in their family bubbles and then the table has to be sanitised between each family bubble.

We lost all the school Santa business, which is usually held during the month of December. So, in October we decided to re- invent the business model and came up with the idea that we need to go direct to schools with a land rover and trailer, with 2 reindeers and an Elf, so children could meet Santa's Reindeers. We have visited almost 50 schools in Staffordshire and a few in the , and even made an appearance on Central News as day 17 of their advent calendar.

Thankfully, we were fortunate to be able to purchase a herd of 11 reindeer in November from Buckinghamshire, allowing us to increase our business to schools. Some days we have had two land rovers and trailers on the road with reindeers. I am pleased to say that the Christmas business has thankfully helped to ensure that we have not lost everything this year.

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O T H E R N E W S F R O M O U R V I L L A G E

AMERTON FARM CONT'D

Prior to the first lockdown, we decided to close our Craft Centre due to the down turn in the retail side of the business as many seem to have moved to internet shopping and we have created a children's tractor track in this area. We have also increased our tenants on site, Yogi Candle Studio has just opened, Wilf and Gerties gift shop is in the main court yard and AS Stain Glass has moved into the Old Farmyard. Also, Mantra Fitness Studio will be hopefully opening in January, in the unit which used to house the former bakery and we have a new tenant opening a dog washing facility in February.

We still have our existing tenants, which include a Food Hall, with a butcher's, bakery products and Nick the Fish on Tuesday and Friday. Unfortunately, Finney's Tea Room is closed at the moment due to us being in Tier 3.

Other tenants who are open for business on site in the Old Farmyard include: Amerton Blacksmiths, Unique Metalwork- Upcycling and Champion Hot Tubs. The main court yard is home to Amerton Pottery and Paint a Pot Studio, Elizabeth Eloise Hair & Beauty, Amerton Farm Ice Cream Parlour and we also host a retail card company known as The Pop Out Card Company.

On the farm we host Be Wild Forest School and BeWild-Er: Outdoor Puzzle Experience. Amerton Cakes are based in Billy's Courtyard and Wendy's Wools is based in the Tractor Track area. Before you leave don't forget to visit Amerton Railway and Brookside Garden Buildings. As a family we took the decision to keep Billy's Farm Barn closed due to Covid 19. Unfortunately, this area has been closed since March, as we do not consider it is safe to open, which is a great loss to the Amerton Farm offering. We are just hoping 2021 will be a kinder year for ourselves and all businesses across the country.

Eunice E Finney ARAgS. Managing Director of Amerton Farm Ltd

WE ARE LOOKING AT SENDING OUT FUTURE PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTERS BY EMAIL.

IF YOU WISH TO SIGN UP FOR AN EMAIL VERSION PLEASE SEND YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND CONTACT DETAILS TO OUR CLERK AT: [email protected] ALL DETAILS WILL BE CONFIDENTIAL UNDER GDPR GUIDANCE. THOSE THAT DO NOT REPLY WILL STILL HAVE THEIR NEWSLETTER DELIVERED BY HAND…..so rest assured you will continue to receive all this vital information!!

Next Parish Council Meeting will be by Zoom on 5 January 2021 at 7pm. Details will be on the notice boards in the village and on our website: stowe-by-chartley- pc.gov.uk

HAPPY CHRISTMAS !!

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O T H E R I N F O R M A T I O N F O R Y O U

FOR YOUR INFORMATION……….

Christmas Arrangements for Shopping and Food Parcels. If you are Clinical Extremely Vulnerable and have money, access to the internet you can access online shopping at the following supermarkets:

Asda Iceland Morrisons Sainsburys Tesco Waitrose

You will need to be registered onto the National Shielding Service System to receive a priority delivery slot from the supermarkets listed.

An individual can also request help from an NHS volunteer responder in gaining access to food, prescriptions and other essential items by calling 0808 196 3646 or visiting the Royal Voluntary Service website.

If you are vulnerable or in isolation, have money, no access to the internet and no family /friends to do your shopping You can telephone:

• Morrisons: 0345 611 6111 chose option 5 to make a telephone order • Central Co-op on 0800 0501601 to make a telephone order - a list of items can be found on the Co-op's website • Wilshire Farm Foods on 0800 773100 to order ready prepared meals .

If you are vulnerable or in isolation, have no money, no access to the internet, no family/friends You can get help from:

• House of Bread Stafford: 01785 243 492 • Elim Hope Church, Stafford: 01785 242 373 • County Stores, Stafford: 07738 729 878 Prescriptions - If you are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable you can contact your local pharmacy - NHS Responders - and they will deliver your prescriptions for you. If you are vulnerable and have no family or friends, please contact 01785 619000.

General Support

To access general help and support please visit https://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/supportresidents-and-communities Christmas Arrangements for Shopping and Food Parcels

Community Support

Find out what support is available in your area: Support Staffordshire (https://www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk/membership/organisation-directory)

Staffordshire Connects https://www.staffordshireconnects.info/kb5/staffordshire/directory/adult.page?adultchannel=0

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