Village Society Newsletter
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Spring Newsletter No 56 - 2007 www.mortonvillage.org.uk The Pantry miles. Crossflatts, Riddlesden and would make a world of difference doing a wonderful job and providing Aireworth Road are all within this to whether it survives or not. There a good and friendly service in The At the Society’s 31st January new three-mile radius, but would is a wide range of different goods Pantry. Get out there and give our committee meeting, our attention they be classed as rural? Would that on offer including a wonderful and remaining shop your support. was focused on the Post Office make any difference anyway if the competitively priced selection of and shop. Local resident Heather Sadly, since writing the above, powers-that-be have already made wine, and Kate makes marvellous Dale had been invited to attend the Mick and Kate have decided to up their minds? sandwiches, just for starters. As meeting to express the concern she put The Pantry on the market. far as the Post Office goes, banking felt about the possible closure of the Without the Post Office income Many of you may be aware of the would be a real help. You may have shop and the effect this would have which covers the overheads of the unsympathetic attitude shown by read of other rural post offices that on the older residents of the village, premises, the shop would have to some individuals to Mick and Kate’s have turned to providing a variety and those without a car. She felt that generate a great deal more business perfectly reasonable requests not of services to their communities to in line with what was happening in order to survive. Since Kate and to park outside the shop for longer ensure survival. Unfortunately we nationally, the Post Office would Mick took it over, the shop has been than ten minutes. There are good are too near the towns for some of close, thus making the position of completely modernised. They have security reasons for this. Some other those strategies to work here. Kate and Mick very vulnerable. She studied the community and their businesses locally have parking saw the shop as the hub of the village other customers, and the goods and The role of the Post Office, arrangements in place that specify with a very important social role. services sold have been carefully like many other things in this no longer than 10 minutes in any tailored to the market. Their service technological world, is changing all hour and our local MP sees no reason Through the newsletter we have is always dispensed cheerfully, and the time. Not all that long ago, being why our shop should not have this always urged support of our shop on many occasions when help and able to run the lottery or process the facility also. It is not known how and Post Office and will continue support has been needed for whatever car tax would have given a sense long that may take. to do so. We understand that it is reason, it has been readily given. For of security, but car tax can now be Meanwhile, through this newsletter, likely that around 2,500 Post Offices instance, they look after the keys for paid on line and the Lottery tickets we should like to reassure Mick and are scheduled to close in the not the Institute, not an easy task and not are widely available. On the other Kate of our support, and regret that too distant future, unless there is a part of the job description! hand, Kate reports an increase in the they have had to endure some very change in the Government’s plans. number of parcels she is dealing with rude and unpleasant behaviour. Mick and Kate have no news of Mick estimates that passing trade accounts for 75% of their business., – thanks to eBay!! how their future may develop as Post Girl regards the Post Office, but expect as a village community we should be This proposed massive closure What a wonderful post girl we to be contacted in June. At the able to improve upon that shouldn’t of post offices could be a very have in Ellie. Last year we heard so moment, rural post offices can be we? Heather told us of a village in shortsighted move and needs to many positive comments that we within one mile of each other but Devon that she had visited, where be looked at as part of the bigger wrote commending her to Keighley this is soon to be changed to three each resident tried to spend £10 picture. Perhaps if Dr. Beeching a week in their local had been given different advice we Post Office. could now be enjoying the benefits shop in order to save Speed sign it. I daresay the village of a wider rail network and the roads in question was a lot might be less congested. A permanent flashing speed sign will be installed on the Main Road at smaller than East Morton, From her song Big Yellow Taxi, the junction with Heath Grove. At was probably more rural Joni Mitchell (showing my age here!), the moment it is not known exactly and their campaign sang the following words which have when this will be. very subjective. You some relevance – will say that £10 a “Don’t it always seem to go Memorial Institute week per household is Work has begun on changing not realistic, probably That you don’t know what you’ve the bar area into a meeting room correct, but the spirit got till it’s gone and hopefully the work should be could and should be They’ve paved paradise completed in the very near future. here to ensure that we And put up a parking lot”. keep our one remaining Countrywide, so many pieces Graveyard village shop. If this spirit of the jigsaw that make up village Things move mightily slowly in could be channelled life have been eroded over the past this particular project. We still await into using the shop on few years and if we are not careful, the OK from the Tree Preservation a regular rather than village life will hardly differ from people to have the large ash tree occasional basis, this living in a town. Mick and Kate are removed. Plans have been drawn up 30th Anniversary Celebrations at East Morton CE Primary School The School celebrated a very 1977 when Mr Wilson and his staff Year 6 used photographs and Morton Village special occasion – 30th Anniversary moved to the ‘new’ site, there were paintings of the old school as a basis Lottery of the school on its present site. To about 100 children on roll. Now in of their art work. To accompany Latest winners: mark this event a wonderful day of 2007 there are about 210 children this display they had also written celebration was held on Friday 23rd on roll with a staff of 23, compared autobiographical accounts of life December March, to which ex staff and ex pupils to just 4 in the old school. at school long ago. This had been £75 M Whitford were invited. Rev Pete Rugen led a As part of the celebrations each made possible by letters and visits to £40 K & R Crowder service of rededication at St Luke’s class was involved in looking at a school from ex pupils. (Thank you to £25 A Brown Church, after which the congregation different aspect of the changes that all concerned, especially especially £10 G Rogers walked back to school via The Village had been made over the years and Florence Bramall for speaking to January Green, site of the former school. changes that may be made in the children about her schooldays and Eric £75 K Redhead Here, both Mr Silverwood and Mr future! Year 3 looked at the changes Brunton for the donation of a painting £40 M & B Dawson Wilson (Headteachers in the 60’s and that have been made to the school of the old school, his letter and his visit £25 Dobbins/Glover 70’s) recalled memories. garden. (A place where they like to when he was interviewed by pupils.) £10 A Forsyth On return to school our visitors were sit quietly and chat at playtimes.) All in all, Anniversary Day was a February great success, these are a few of the taken on a guided tour by KS2 pupils (all They began by taking photos of £75 A Scott comments made by visitors: of whom were complimented upon their what they saw in the garden and £40 A Smallwood knowledge and mature demeanour). then framed different parts of the ‘It was a thoroughly enjoyable day. £25 A Foulds There was a special lunch for both images. These were then transferred Many people have asked me if I have £10 S Reid visitors and children. (One kind mum had to fabric and each child created seen big changes, but the school March even made a wonderful birthday cake, their own stitchwork. Miss Head, Y3 hasn’t changed in its essentials – still £75 D Maher of which amazingly all the children were classteacher, then stitched all parts a lovely warm atmosphere and great £40 M Dickinson able to have a small piece!) together to make a quilt that now is friendliness. Thank you for such a warm £25 A Foulds on display – a piece of work of which welcome.’ Len Wilson, Headteacher in The original village school had £10 M Millar been in existence since 1845.