Tidmarsh with Sulham Parish Magazine July/August 2013 Editorial After a really long winter and virtually missing out on Spring – Summer is finally here and the long days are very welcome to catch up with all the jobs we were unable to do here whilst the fields were flooded and the weather was so cold and wet. Even now, as I write at the end of the first week of June, we are still playing ‘catch up’. The fields are still too boggy in places to get the tractor on and so the grass and the buttercups are happily growing taller and stronger! In the field where the pigs are, it is nigh on impossible to spot them as the grass is taller than them! The most frustrating thing is that three or four weeks ago we were all complaining there was not enough grass for the horses and here we are complaining that the horses are getting too fat because there is too much grass!! Many thanks to Richard Thomas who responded to my request for local photographs for the front cover of the magazine. Richard managed to capture the helicopter flying over Sulham when it was spraying the trees affected by the Oak Processionary Moth – (see page X for the full story). The annual village fete is almost upon us and once again we request help in all areas! Many hands make light work and just an hour helping with the set up or clearing away after the event is very much appreciated as these are often the tasks left to the same people year in – year out. There are a number of requests for donations in this issue, cakes, plants, produce and home made meals for the ‘Gourmet Gamble’. Thinking about that reminded me how I missed the fete in Sulham two years ago. I was happily putting the finishing touches to my Banoffee Pie (a desert I consider myself to be a bit of an expert at!) when I saw my husband running (and Nigel does not run – ever!) across the fields followed by my son. It transpired that whilst putting up a new run of fencing, the post knocker had come down and before my son could remove his hand completely, the huge metal driver managed to rip his finger off. Nigel was carrying the finger whilst my very calm son just kept a towel wrapped around his hand. Trying not to panic – I issued orders to my daughter to ensure the Banoffee Pie got to the Gourmet Gamble stall and that the bottles of wine reached the Wine Tombola. We then headed off to A & E where we spent the rest of the day. In case you are wondering, the finger was too badly damaged to be re-attached and my son remained in hospital for 3 days! I am therefore hoping this next fete day will pass uneventfully for me and I shall enjoy helping out on the teas with no dramas! Deadline for articles, photographs, notices and advertisements for the next issue is the 1st August. Please let me know if you are unable to achieve this deadline as we may be able to save space to ensure your article/notice is included! Jenny Cope – Editor [email protected] Parish Magazine July/August 2013 3 Parish News Mike Broun has been voted in as chairman, with Steve Webb as vice-chair for the forthcoming year. The controversial planning application for a dwelling at Eaglesfield has been approved by West Berkshire Council. Tidmarsh with Sulham Parish Council will be writing to WBC to voice its disappointment on behalf of the number of residents who objected to the plans. The council recently considered an application for The Mill House, Mill Lane (no- 13/00685/FULD) for the construction of a four-bedroom property with carport. Councillors had no objections, as long as it was built to the satisfaction of the conservation officer. 4 July/August 2013 Tidmarsh with Sulham FREE Local Collection .biz & Delivery Cars Commercials Horse Trailers & Lorries competitive local reliable professional experienced MOTs (Class IV, VL and VII) Servicing Repairs Diagnostics Tyres / 4 Wheel Alignment PR MOTORS 0118 984 4889 [email protected] Mon - Fri 7.30 - 5.30 www. Sat 8.30 - 12.30 Village Hall News and Dates Village Hall The village hall is a local resource for hire to organisations and individuals with priority for residents of Tidmarsh with Sulham. A variety of activities take place at the village hall ranging from toddler dance lessons to adult fitness; art class, model boats, table tennis and martial arts are some of the other activities taking place there. The Saturday morning Zumba class is very popular. Coffee Mornings are usually held at the hall on the first Friday of the month from 11am to 12noon. These normally follow a monthly social walk for villagers. Please keep an eye out for a notice advertising our annual Village Hall Quiz Night which is planned for late September. Christmas Party Each Christmas the Village Hall committee makes the hall available to parents in the village to hold a children’s party. A Santa Claus can also be provided. Please contact the village hall booking secretary if you have children and would like to participate in organising the party. Last year it did not run because the parents who coordinate the party moved away. To book the hall please contact the booking secretary Denise Randall on 0118 326 6138 or by email at [email protected]. Dates … at a glance I5 July Village Walk Meet at Village Hall at 9.30am 5 July Coffee Morning Village Hall at 11.00am 21 July Green Day Tidmarsh Church 27 July Englefield Flower Show Englefield Estate 2 August Village Walk Meet at Village Hall at 9.30am 2 August Coffee Morning Village Hall at 11.00am 3 August Flower & Art Festival St Nicholas Church, Sulham 2-5pm 3 August Village Fete Sulham House – 2pm 17 August Upper Basildons’s Secret Gardens see Page 31 25/26 August Art Exhibition The Morrel l Room, Streatley on Thames 6th September Village Walk Meet at Village Hall at 9.30am 6th September Coffee Morning Village Hall at 11.00am 7 September Purley Horticultural Society & W I Late Summer show Purley Memorial Hall (see page 13) 6 July/August 2013 Tidmarsh with Sulham Village Hall News Chairperson’s Report 2013 This year the Village Hall was again busy with regular class bookings. As reported last year, we added Zumba Classes which are very successful; recently we have also added a Jolly Babies class. We must all appreciate that without the many classes/clubs that use the Hall, we could not continue to operate the Village Hall. Private bookings dropped off sharply and whilst there could be several reasons, I do wonder if this reflects a change in how people choose to spend their leisure time. The Village Hall Quiz Night was again held in October and I would like to thank Jon & Annette Chishick for setting the Quiz and also those Committee members who arranged the buffet supper and raffle. Although we weren’t overrun with participants, everyone enjoyed the evening and we did make a profit of £92 on the night! Skittles Evening was a really enjoyable evening, despite the low turnout (just 17x people) which resulted in a £74 loss on the night. On the subject of fund raising I again thank the Committee members and other villagers who helped us with our fund raising events. As well as the Quiz Night, the Plant Sale and our annual 100 Club are all valuable sources of income for the Village Hall. As in previous years, we need others to join the Committee; our current Committee aren’t getting any younger and several of us still have full time jobs as well!! The Committee meets every two/three months and it is well worthwhile giving some time, and effort, to ensure the ongoing life of our Village Hall which is there for the benefit of all who live in Tidmarsh and Sulham. Finally, my sincere thanks to all the Committee members for their help and support. Peter King Parish Magazine July/August 2013 7 Whitchurch Bridge Reconstruction of the Bridge After an extensive formal tender process the Whitchurch Bridge Company has appointed Birse Civils Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Balfour Beatty plc, as main contractor for the reconstruction of Whitchurch Bridge. Key dates are: Early July 2013: contractor erects signage over a wide area giving advance warning of Bridge closure (there are maps of the signage locations on our website). 29 July 2013: contractor starts to establish compounds on Pangbourne River Meadow and at the Boathouse Surgery. Work starts on the temporary footbridge. 3 October 2013: main Bridge closes to all traffic. The temporary footbridge – 5 feet wide, with no steps – opens to pedestrians, wheeled bicycles and mobility scooters. 14 April 2014: reconstructed Bridge opens to all traffic. Temporary footbridge closes and dismantling starts. By 31 May 2014: all works completed, contractor compounds removed, ground reinstated and reseeded. All reinstatement works will be managed until established to the satisfaction of the landowner. West Berkshire Council and Oxfordshire County Council will implement measures to restrict parking on the main diversionary route through Streatley and Goring, but delays may still occur as significant extra traffic will go this way. For those who wish to use the temporary footbridge but are reliant on transport to get them there, a clear turning space for drop off/pick up will be maintained just north of the Toll Booth, and in Pangbourne the car parks close by can be used.