Edition 284 October 2020
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The Villager Edition 284 October 2020 Usually at this time we would be planning for the Villager Coffee Morning but with the Covid regulations we are not able to hold the event this year - so very disappointing! This is the only fund raising event we hold to keep production running and we would be very grateful if any readers would like to make a donation - email [email protected] for donation points. Thank you for your support. Lots of groups and classes are now back in the Hall so we have included the timetable of regular events - but please be aware these could change if the Covid guidelines are altered. Please ensure all articles are sent to the Villager inbox not any other email address as they can so easily be missed. Villager Production Schedule Copy Date Distribution first full week 18th March, May, July, April, June, August, October, September & November December Motcombe Villager Magazine No 284 October 2020 Page 1 of 20 A TRIBUTE TO ALLISTAIR LEASK FORMER CHAIRMAN OF MOTCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL It was with great sadness that members of the Parish Council heard of the death of their former Chairman Allistair Leask on 5 August following a tragic accident. Allistair served on the Parish Council for over eleven years as both a Councillor and Chairman. He was a larger-than-life character with a commanding presence, he used both humour and firmness to keep council meetings under control and working to time. Born in Herefordshire he was however a proud Orcadian, returning to Orkney as often as he could with his wife Anita. After a successful career in the Metropolitan Police, they bought Nods Fold in 1993 and he and Anita enjoyed many years bringing the old house back to life to make it a warm and characterful home. The Parish Council and the residents of Motcombe benefited from Allistair’s strong approach to dealing with local issues, never hesitating to make personal contact with those who had concerns or a disagreement with the Parish Council. During his tenure he worked closely with Parish Clerk, Nicky Phillips whose understanding of the rules that apply to a Parish Council were invaluable. He acknowledged himself that without Nicky’s advice he would probably have made decisions that were not always quite as they should be! The Councillors were encouraged to manage their own areas of responsibility and to obtain the support from North Dorset District Motcombe Villager Magazine No 284 October 2020 Page 2 of 20 Council (now Dorset Council) to further facilities and benefits for Motcombe residents. Of particular note was the acquisition of The Meadows and its development into the site it is today, a haven for wild flowers, butterflies and bird life, and providing a walking and leisure amenity. He was instrumental in protecting the future of The Meadows, formerly known as the 18 Acres by registering them under The Fields in Trust – Queen Elizabeth 11. The long-awaited road resurfacing and improvements to The Hollow happened under his Chairmanship thanks to the Councillors who together worked as part of a successful and well led team. He retired from the Parish Council in 2019. Allistair was a young seventy eight when he died, he had a zest for living. He had many plans for holidays with Anita and was still having work done on his beloved Nods Fold home. His passing leaves a huge gap in many lives but his legacy of energetic leadership in both his professional and private life lives on, he will be much missed. Liam Stacey MPC Chair. Memorial Seat Motcombe Parish Council is proposing to site a memorial seat in The Meadows in memory of former MPC Chair Allistair Leask. If anyone would like to make a donation in Allistair's memory, please contact the Motcombe Parish Clerk Mrs. Nicola Phillips Chiddesden, The Street Motcombe SP7 9PF Tel 01747 850515 Email [email protected] Motcombe Villager Magazine No 284 October 2020 Page 3 of 20 How the weeks rush by. I am sure we all continue to feel lucky that we live in this less populated area during these times. We have our gardens and can walk in the fresh air and enjoy nature all around the village as well as having all those chats while socially distancing. Some people have taken advantage of cheaper meals to kick start the local economy so have got to know some different places to return to in the future. The Hall is slowly reopening to various activities with all the protocols in place. A great deal of work has taken place at the hall during this period of otherwise inactivity and it has been wonderful that the funds were there to allow the work to happen. The shop has been open throughout - thank you to all concerned! Moviola has just had its first film show since lockdown - great! Barney has organised the Friday news - wonderful as easy to find on the motcombevillage.co.uk website and lots of local news and information for everyone. It has seemed very strange that we have been unable to have our Gardening Club meetings but we keep in touch with emails and are trying to organise an October meeting - we were all set for a plant swap/sale but the new restrictions make things very difficult to do this safely. So we will continue to wait and see what might be possible as everyone is missing the social contact. BUT we have our gardens and some have their allotments and it has been great to grow on all those plant swaps we did earlier in the year. The spinach and Motcombe Villager Magazine No 284 October 2020 Page 4 of 20 kale have grown well - thank you Gill; the cherry tomatoes have been wonderful - I have been picking them for many weeks - thank you David. So with our soft fruit there has been plenty to eat and the raspberries are still going strong and the apples are coming into their own. Our runner beans were blown over but a few are still determined to have their day in the sun - well the sun! After all the rain we have had it is unbelievable how dry the garden gets when the sun decides to join in - with the baking heat I was tempted to fill the paddling pool & cool down but, as I have found out in other years, all the wildlife choose to join me and a butterfly being attracted to my sunburnt nose is one thing but an adder swimming round my ankles is amazing but also terrifying! I gave out our fuchsia plants in March that we were to pot up for our MGC Summer Show - but the show was not allowed to happen - the plants didn’t mind and they have been, and still are, beautiful. At the beginning of August we had our Rainbow Container weekend - and a huge thank you to all who entered. It was fun and we are thinking of something else similar - perhaps a spring flower container. Please let me know if you think you would enjoy joining in - it would be for all the village. This last week it has been great to hear the children at the school as they run round - it makes life feel a little more normal. So I do hope you have managed to do all those things you had wanted to do in the house and garden with all this extra time at home - not quite the same as those trips abroad but really rather gratifying! Take care, Bev West 01747 858981 [email protected] Motcombe Villager Magazine No 284 October 2020 Page 5 of 20 St Mary’s Church At the moment, with all the uncertainty over COVID-19 restrictions, we cannot plan ahead too far. At our Evening Communion on 1st November we will commemorate All Souls’ – particularly remembering those who have died this year. Invitations to this service will be sent out in early October, though numbers are limited due to social distancing, there will also be room for others who wish to come along and remember a loved one. As numbers are limited in the church we are hoping that we will be able to mark Remembrance Day with a service at the War Memorial, much as we have in years past. Current regulations do not limit numbers for outside worship gatherings as long as social distancing can be maintained – though this may change! SERVICES FOR OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER: 4th October 6.00pm Evening Communion 11th October 9.30pm Parish Communion 18th October 6.00pm Evening Worship 25th October 9.30am Parish Communion 1st November 6.00pm Evening Communion for All Souls’ 8th November 10.00am Parish Communion followed by Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial (TBC) 15th November 6.00pm Evening Worship 22nd November 9.30am Parish Communion 29th November 10.00am Team Communion at St James, Shaftesbury Motcombe Villager Magazine No 284 October 2020 Page 6 of 20 CHRISTOPHER HOOPER Christopher has been a Licensed Lay Minister for 28 years and, aged 93, has not unreasonably decided that it is time to hang up his cassock. We can’t begin to thank him for all he has given us at St Mary’s. We had a special farewell service for Christopher with singing(!!) by a small group on 13th September where Christopher was presented with a gift in thanksgiving for all he has given to St Mary’s over the years. Christopher had spent a lot of his adult life as headmaster at a prep school and, on retirement, came to live in Motcombe.