THE EARDISLAND PARISH MAGAZINE
JANUARY 2013
ISSUE 135
Oh well - it makes a change from rain!
Happy New Year
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SERVICES AT CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, EARDISLAND
Churchwarden: Beryl Hoda, Arrow Lawn Tel: 01544 388131 Deputy Churchwarden: Richard Kirby 01544 388810 Deputy Churchwarden and Treasurer: Peter Brown 01544 388389 Deputy Churchwarden and Organist: Annette Blyth 01544 388241
Please note that the following services are provisional as we are in a ‘Vacancy’. Please see the Prime Rota in the church porch for further details.
Sunday 27th January Holy Communion, 9.30am Eardisland Sunday 3rd February Holy Communion, 9.30am Eardisland Sunday 10th February Matins, 9.30am Eardisland Sunday 17th February Holy Communion, 9.30am Eardisland Sunday 24th February Holy Communion, 9.30am Eardisland Sunday 3rd March Holy Communion, 9.30am Eardisland Sunday 10th March Mothering Sunday Service, 9.30am Eardisland Sunday 17th March Holy Communion, 9.30am Eardisland Sunday 24th March Palm Sunday Benefice Communion, Kingsland 11.00am Sunday 31st March Easter Day Holy Communion Eardisland
Happy New Year to you from all at St. Mary’s. Our thanks go to those who made our Christmas events so enjoyable. The Christmas Tree Festival was a great success, I’m sure you’ll agree. Our village organisations put on a brilliant show and the church looked fabulous; sincere thanks to everyone, especially Esther Simpson and Wendy Priday for their hard work in organising it, Angela Daniels and the children for putting together an Eardisland choir from Kingsland School to get the Festival going with a bang, and the Village Band for their jolly contribution - it was lovely to have so much music in the church. £900 was raised. The weekend ended with our annual Carol Service which was a wonderful occasion despite the organ not working until half way through! Our thanks go to everyone concerned particularly Revd. Michael Denny. £144 each was raised for the Acorns Children’s Hospice and The Children’s Society. Thank you. I have recently heard from Bishop Anthony that he has arranged for our Benefice to have a locum part-time priest, The Revd. Julie Read, from March 1st. This is really good news and we warmly welcome her to Eardisland. The Revd. Read will be with us until a full time Priest-in-Charge can be appointed in the autumn. 2
A Date for your Diaries
On Tuesday 12th March at 7.30 p.m. St. Mary’s is hosting the Riding Lights Theatre Company, which was established in York in the 1970s. Their work is rooted in Christian belief and understanding but they say that their play ‘A Different Drum’ is aimed at anyone who likes theatre with a spiritual heart. This is the first time a professional theatre company has come to St. Mary’s and such a production will make full use of our new space, which can seat over 120 people. Tickets are £10 and refreshments will be available in the interval, the church receiving 25% of ticket sales. Please contact me for tickets. Do come.
One final request. Our bell ringers, who do such magnificent work for us, are at least one bell ringer short. Anyone interested, do contact me and I will put you in touch with them. Beryl Hoda Churchwarden
In this issue:
Church News 2 Eardisland in Bloom 18 Index 3 Litter Pick 18 Editorial 4 Plant Swap/Sale 19 Correspondence 5 Bowling Club 19 Annual Review 7 Trip to Morocco 20 Flower Guild 10 Eardisland Village Show 21 Eardisland Village Band 11 A Ramble Through Time 26 Cedar Hall 11 Hop Pickers’ Hut 28 WI Coffee Morning 12 Weobley Music 32 St Michael’s Hospice 12 Weobley Theatre Goers 32 Eardisland Community Shop 12 The Courtyard 33 Twinning Association 13 Gypsey Fiddles 34 Neighbourhood Watch 13 Weather Notes 35 Open Gardens 2013 18 Contacts 44
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EDITORIAL
LEOMINSTER COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE VOLUNTEER WANTED
We are looking for a volunteer to work in the Resource Centre, this involves a using a photocopier and other printing equipment. You will be given training and work with an experienced volunteer. We are open Monday to Thursday 9.30 to 1pm. If you are interested, please call the Resource Centre on 01568 620372 or Les Hardy, the Coordinator, on 01568 613406. He is normally in the Resource Centre on a Thursday. Happy New Year
The Leominster Community new owners of Riversdale, Alex and Resource Centre prints this Peter Atkinson. magazine and at a very reasonable Thinking about the cost. It is unlikely that, if the centre website, I was reminded that some ceases to function, we would have a years ago the village establish three magazine at all (and neither would objectives via the Parish Council. A other local parishes and village shop, a village website and a organisations). The Centre works parish plan. Nobody could doubt entirely through the work of the success of the first two and the volunteers, so without volunteers parish plan is just about completed. there is no centre. If you can Together with the substantial works contribute to this valuable work, to the church and the bowls club please see the details above. and the establishment of the Since the last edition of the children’s allotment and the various magazine Mark Watson and James other initiatives which have been MacRae have left the village to live undertaken, there is no doubt that in London. James made a Eardisland is a thriving and memorable contribution to the successful community. village by arranging the various Finally, I get a number of River Festivals and the Art and emails from various charities etc. Sculpture exhibition. James has also about local events which may be of shared, with Ben Woodcock, the interest but don’t fit the magazine establishment of the Eardisland dates. I will forward them to Ben for Village website, which has been an the website, so keep an eye on enormous success and a real credit www.eardisland.org.uk A current to those involved. We welcome the example is one from St Michael’s Hospice about help for Carers. Chris Bivand 4
EARDISLAND VILLAGE DIARY 2013
Tuesday 12th February Hospice Lunch, see page 12 Thursday 28th February Parish Council Meeting, VH, 7.30pm Friday 1st March* Friday 15th March Tuesday 12th March ‘Riding Lights’ - see page 3 Saturday 16th March WI Coffee Morning, VH, 10.00am - midday Saturday 23rd March Litter Pick, 10.00am. Meet outside shop Thursday 28th March Parish Council Meeting, VH, 7.30pm Saturday 6th April Opening Day at the Bowling Club Thursday 25th April Parish Council Meeting, VH, 7.30pm Friday 3rd May* Friday 17th May Saturday 18th May Plant swop/sale - details later Thursday 23rd May Annual Parish Meeting & Annual Meeting of the Parish Council, VH, 7.30pm Friday 14th - Monday 17th June Twinning Association visit to La Vieille Lyre W/E 22nd & 23rd June Open Gardens Thursday 27th June Parish Council Meeting, VH, 7.30pm Friday 5th July* Friday 19th July Thursday 25th July Parish Council Meeting, VH, 7.30pm Friday 6th September* Friday 20th September Saturday 7th September Village Show, see page 21 Thursday 12th September Parish Council Meeting, VH, 7.30pm Thursday 24th October Parish Council Meeting, VH, 7.30pm Friday 15th November* Friday 29th November Saturday 23rd November Eardisland Village Band and Friends, VH, 7.30pm Thursday 28th November Parish Council Meeting, VH, 7.30pm
Starred (*) dates in BOLD on the left are COPY DATES FOR THE EARDISLAND PARISH MAGAZINE. The corresponding dates in the right column are the expected distribution dates.
CORRESPONDENCE
Enclosed with the December 2012 edition of this magazine was a letter, with attachments, concerning the creation of a new organisation titled The Friends of Eardisland Church. The purpose of the “Friends” is to assist in a variety of ways to ensure the survival and continuing well-being of our village church. Fundamental to the success of a Friends Group, is that individuals, families and
5 local organisations join and commit themselves to giving help. Help can be financial or practical and as little or as much as Friends wish to give. It is early days, but already a number of individuals and families have given us a good start. However, I would like to encourage more of you to consider the requirement and become a “Friend”, because we do need your help. If you want to discuss the concept further or need any assistance whatsoever, please contact me, Richard Kirby (01544 388810). A very Happy New Year to you all and I will keep the village informed of our progress and plans later in the year. Richard Kirby (PCC member)
POT HOLES, MORE POT HOLES … EVEN MORE POT HOLES
It would not have escaped your notice as to the state of our roads. The recent rains have lifted the already inadequate road surface creating cavernous holes enough now to cause injury to cars, and possibly, sufficient to create road traffic accidents. We all know that the reason for the state of our roads has been the decades of underinvestment and poor contractual arrangements with Amey but since becoming your elected County Councillor I have attempted to raise the profile of roads at the Council and have had some successes with some of these problem roads. It is acknowledged that due to this lack of previous investment, together with the limited funds now available in these difficult financial times, some of our local roads have now reached a critical point. I ask now for your help. It would be impractical for me to check all roads within the Ward. I need to know the roads that are in danger, limited to the Golden Cross with Weobley Ward (including your Parish). Herefordshire Council has a dedicated e-mail address to forward road defect issues. As your Ward Councillor I too have a dedicated e-mail address with Amey. Amey works on the premise of priority to resolve issue. If it receives issues in duplicate, with bias from a Ward Councillor, there is a hope these major defects will received a higher priority and, hopefully, be repaired.
If you have the technology could I ask you please to:-
1. e-mail your identified road defect to [email protected] - this being the public e-mail address for Amey; 2. e-mail a copy to myself at [email protected].
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Upon receipt I can forward a further e-mail to Amey under my priority. In principle, therefore, Amey should get the same road defect in duplicate if not in triplicate. I can also log, track and attempt resolution of these road defects with Amey. With any e-mail communication to either Amey or myself please ensure you identify the road correctly, the size and detailed description of the fault and the exact location. This will save time and be very helpful to myself and Amey. If you do not have the technology and are therefore unable to send e- mails please phone me on 01544 318001. Thank you, Cllr Mark Cooper
THE ANNUAL REVIEW FOR 20I2: COMPILED BY BARRY FREEMAN
REIGN, RAIN AND THE OLYMPICS
NATI0NALLY, 2012 will be remembered for the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics, both unmitigated triumphs, and the seemingly incessant wet weather from April onwards. On three occasions roads approaching and within the village were flooded. Fortunately the river remained within its banks in the vicinity of the village and no properties were flooded. Farmers and horticulturists were badly hit however; the effects are likely to last well into 2013.
AND IT WAS A THIRD GOLD YEAR FOR EARDISLAND IN BLOOM!
THE INTREPID E-TEAM gained a third successive Gold Award at the Heart of England in Bloom awards in September in Birmingham. This small band of indefatigable volunteers turns out weekly throughout the year planting, weeding, trimming, staining and painting. They have now won G0LD AWARDS in 2010, 2011 and 2012. They also won BEST SMALL VILLAGE in the Heart of England for the second year in succession. Mention must also be made of the huge amount of work they put into establishing THE CHILDREN’S ALLOTMENT at the western end of the village, not forgetting to congratulate them for having the brilliant idea in the first place. Two FURTHER INN0VATIVE IDEAS were the Bee Open Days, hosted by Annie and Keith Mitchell and the Plant/Seed Sale and Swap Event at the Village Hall. Eardisland in Bloom has certainly become firmly established as a significant part of local community life.
THE COMMUNITY SHOP has also become a similarly significant part of both the social and the economic aspects of our local lifestyle, to the point where no-one would wish to see our village without one again. A SECOND GOLD AWARD came 7 to Eardisland for EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY RETAILING from the “My Shop is Your Shop" initiative sponsored by some of the world's major companies such as Coca-Cola and Cadbury. The award was based on the level of service the committee and volunteers provide, the fact that the shop is totally managed and staffed by volunteers and the level of support given to local products.
EARDISLAND SHOP COMMUNITY FUND, another local initiative, was launched at the AGM of the Shop Association in June. This allows for a share of any future trading surplus to be used to support community activities and events. This is another excellent idea, which will without doubt prove to be a major influence on the funding of community activities in coming years.
HAVING HIGHLIGHTED the progress and achievements of what we can realistically term our two pacesetter voluntary groups, it is appropriate to provide a list of all the events we have enjoyed in2012.
THE MAIN EVENTS OF 2OI2
Once again, the list is outstanding for the number and diversity of events and the organisations involved. It is made possible only by many people of good will co- operating and contributing hundreds of hours of voluntary effort. Without them there would be no community events and no annual review.
11 Feb. Concert: Hereford Rail Male Choir Church/Bowling Club 17 Mar. Coffee Morning for MacMillan Nurses Women’s Institute 25 Mar. Sponsored Running for Sport Relief Burton Court 2012 31 Mar. Afternoon Tea Twinning Association 11 Apr. Coffee Morning for Hospice Hospice Friends Group 11-14 May Visit of Guests from La Vieille Lyre Twinning Association 19 May Plant/Seed Swap/Sale Eardisland in Bloom 2-4 June Diamond Jubilee Celebration Events All Parish Organisations 9 June Big Breakfast Village Hall Committee 16-17 June Open Gardens Weekend Parochial Church Council 21, 23 June Bee Open Mornings at Arrow Lea Eardisland in Bloom 29 June Gold Award Presentation to National Award Scheme Community Shop 14 July Garden Fete, Glan Arrow Parochial Church Council 29 July lnauguration of the Arrow Valley Trail Mortimer Ramblers Group 4 Aug. Barbecue at Hardwick House Parochial Church Council 26 Aug. Duck Races on Millstream Village Hall Committee 26-27 Aug. Riverside Open Gardens parochial Church Council 8
I Sept. Annual Village Show Village Show Committee 13 Sept. Prize Bingo Village Hall Committee 6 Oct. Arts and Crafts Fair Community Shop 6 Nov. Community Action Plan Open CAP Steering Group Meeting l0 Nov. Big Breakfast Parochial Church Council 17 Nov. Quiz and Supper Village Hall Committee 24 Nov. Arts and Crafts Fair Community Shop 24 Nov. Annual Concert Village Band and Friends 15-16 Dec. Christmas Tree Festival in Church Flower Guild/Parish Organisations 16 Dec. Family Carol Service Parochial Church Council 24-25 Dec Christmas Services Parochial Church Council
If there are any errors or omissions please ring Barry Freeman (388226) who will be pleased to correct them in the next issue.
PARISH ORGANISATIONS AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
The following bodies all continued their annual contributions to our community life and well-being.
Parish Council Parochial Church Council Village Hall Management Committee Dovecote Trust Village Hall Trust Community Shop Association Women's Institute Twinning Association Church Flower Guild Village Band Whittington Educational Trust Community Millennium Fund Hospice Friends Group Art Group Archaeology and Local History Group Bowling Club Neighbourhood Watch Darts, Pool and Quoits Team The Parish Magazine The Community Website
Again, please let Barry Freeman know of any inaccuracies or omissions.
THE COMMUNITY
Inevitably each year brings its share of joy and sorrow. We have had weddings, christenings and, sadly, funerals which have included people who took an active part in our community life, both in our parish and further afield. Their passing has been marked by obituaries and tributes in previous editions of this magazine during 2012 and we remember them all. A few residents have left our community 9 and they carry our best wishes; new residents have arrived and we welcome them.
THE IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERS
All the events, achievements and active organisations recorded in this review rely on one essential factor: an adequate supply of enthusiastic volunteers. They are the people who turn a collection of houses into a community. They are the life force of rural communities.
FOOTNOTE - THE END OF A CAMPANOLOGICAL ERA
ON FRIDAY 7th DECEMBER a band of expert bell-ringers assembled at Eardisland to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Leslie Evans, who died in 2010. For the record, they rang a peal of Stedman Triples in 2 hours 59 minutes. The ringers were: R. Sadowski; M. Moreton; J. Eisel; M. Foster; R. Pullen; A. Fortey; A. Mainwaring and A. Bagworth. The conductor was Andrew Mainwaring who grew up at Welcote near the church. All the ringers had been associated with Leslie for many years. Michael Moreton, now in his eighties, had driven from Croydon to ring. Leslie started ringing in Eardisland in 1926 at the age of fourteen and became a nationally known authority. An account of some of his bell-ringing experiences and achievements is included in his autobiography A Herefordshire Life (Saxon Press 2006). Thus ends an era in which Eardisland tower has held the record for the most peals rung in Hereford Diocese. Although the bells are rung on alternate Sundays and a practice held on alternate Mondays, all the ringers come from neighbouring parishes. We have no ringers left living in Eardisland.
EARDISLAND CHURCH FLOWER GUILD
On behalf of the Flower Guild we want to thank everyone who contributed to the Christmas Tree Festival. The Church made a wonderful backdrop for all the beautifully decorated trees whilst showcasing the many different organisations that we have in our village resulting in a fantastic community display. Our thanks also go to the children and teachers of Kingsland Primary School and our own Village Band whose musical performances contributed greatly to the whole weekend. Thank you all so much, Wendy Priday and Esther Simpson Eardisland Church Flower Guild
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EARDISLAND VILLAGE BAND AND FRIENDS IN CONCERT, NOVEMBER 2012; THE BOTTOM LINE
As promised in the last magazine, and having settled all the costs incurred, I am delighted to publish details of the net proceeds raised from the evening. The monies from the raffle totalled £125.00 and have been donated to Marie Curie Cancer Care. Thank you once again for the generous donations of prizes by: The Cross Inn; The White Swan; The Tea Room; The Kitchen; The Community Shop and All Seeing Eye photographic studio. The net funds raised from ticket sales and the well-patronised bar were £433.18. Thank you to everyone for your support. These monies will enable us to remain financially independent for the forthcoming year, covering the costs of hire of the Village Hall for our rehearsals, concert guests and new music etc. And finally – a date for your diaries… This year’s concert is booked into the Village Hall for the same time of year: Saturday, 23rd November 2013, 7.00pm for 7.30pm. Please SAVE THE DATE! Thank you. Ruth Brinton-Bivand Administrator, Eardisland Village Band CEDAR HALL
Greetings in 2013. Once again thank you for your continued support for these live events (even if I was not actual able to be at the last one). I do hope you will be able to come along and that we can fill the hall to capacity once again! GRACE NOTES - an evening of a capella and accompanied music. On Friday 8th March, in conjunction with Arts Alive, the Cedar Hall will be hosting Grace Notes, an a capella group with a show entitled 'A Women's Work' on International Women's Day. This is a presentation of songs about women's work through time. Grace Notes explore female occupations that are represented in traditional and contemporary songs from the sixteenth century up to the present day. There are songs and stories that span five centuries. Meet mothers, migrants, millworkers, laundry lasses, lacemakers and lavender girls, buffers and doffers and costers.... And many more besides. 'Maids may sit still, go or run, but a woman's work is never done' All the songs are arranged in harmony, both accompanied and unaccompanied with Grace Notes artistry and flair in conjunction with instruments flute, bohran, recorders, keyboard, concertina and mandolin. It should be a wonderful evening in the usual style of cabaret seating, bar and the usual warm welcome. Happy New Year- Tickets are available now so book early to save disappointment. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Adult £8 Child £5 from Ruth Davies, The Firs, Stretford, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 9DQ Telephone 01568720226 or email [email protected] 11
WI COFFEE MORNING
The WI Coffee Morning will again be held in the Spring rather than in the run-up to Christmas. The date is Saturday 16th March: 10 am - 12 noon. The charity we shall be supporting is the Little Princess Trust, a Hereford based charity that provides wigs and hair pieces made from real hair for children who suffer hair loss. For further information, go to: http://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/
KINGSLAND AND EARDISLAND FRIENDS OF ST MICHAEL’S HOSPICE
We start the year with the news that in 2012 we raised £5,216.52. This is slightly less than we raised in 2011, but we think it is a good sum given all the constraints and demands placed upon everyone in the current economic climate. The Christmas Tree Festival seemed to be enjoyed by many people and it was pleasing to see that a good number of messages were placed on the Hospice tree in remembrance of friends and families. As usual we start our fund raising year with the Shrove Tuesday soup and pancake lunch at the Luctonians on Tuesday 12th February from 12.00 noon to 2.00pm. The cost is £5 and there will be a raffle and goods for sale. Please join us if you can; there is plenty of car parking space and seating for lunch. If you know of anyone who needs a lift, please bring them along too
Dorothy Brown 388389, Annie Mitchell 388605, and Beryl Hoda 388131
EARDISLAND COMMUNITY SHOP
Happy New Year to everyone. The winner of the first prize in our Xmas Raffle was: Sidecar Mick. I’m told that the Herefordshire Hamper was much enjoyed, particularly the beverages! For the period until the end of March we are now on winter operating hours: Monday to Saturday opening at 8am, closing at 4pm Sunday opening at 10am and closing at 2pm
We hope that some of you have within your New Year’s resolutions included: “Do an hour a week in the shop”. It really would make a difference.
Albert Sheffield Eardisland Community Shop Committee
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EARDISLAND TWINNING ASSOCIATION
Our friends in La Vieille Lyre really enjoyed sharing in the Christmas Tree Festival in the church. I hope you all had fun reading their greeting cards. They certainly were thrilled to receive the photographs, not just of the twinning tree but of the whole event. Many of you will have enjoyed the Burns Supper, despite the snow and ice, once again a splendid occasion at Burton Court. A big thank you to Edward Simpson for providing a perfect setting for us, and to David Hepworth and his team for all the hard work in the kitchen. It was heart-warming to have so many people brave the elements to make the event happen. We are now starting to plan for our next visit to France from 14th to 17th June 2013 . La Vieille Lyre is looking forward to welcoming friends old and new, so if you would like to join us for a fun weekend when speaking French is not an essential, do get in touch to find out more. Annie Mitchell
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Partners and Communities Together (PACT) in Eardisland PACT surgeries offer an opportunity for police to meet local residents in an informal way so that concerns and information can be exchanged and local priorities established. If you do have concerns then please make the effort to contact CSO Dick Allford of the local police team on these occasions. He has been very supportive of this initiative and is always keen to hear what anyone might have to say. The next planned Thursday surgeries early in 2013 will be held from 3.00-4.00pm at the Village Shop on 31 January, 28 February, and 28 March.
Seasonal Crime Trends 1. House burglary in Luston, Leominster A house in Luston was broken into in late December and items of jewellery with a value of over £3000 were stolen. 2. Additional house burglaries in the Kington rural area over the Christmas period: A burglary to an isolated cottage in Whitney-on-Wye resulted in the loss of jewellery. Forced entry into two different bungalows in Lyonshall. Forced entry into a bungalow in Dilwyn resulted in a significant amount of cash being stolen. There has been an unusual spate of burglaries in the area and here are some useful tips that might help to reduce such possibilities:
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Make sure gifts and valuables are out of view and not visible from any windows Mark any expensive gifts you might have received over Christmas with a UV pen or property marking service such as ‘Smartwater’. Call your local policing team on 101 for advice about property marking products. Photograph valuable property and log any serial numbers. Don’t leave gift packaging sticking out of your bin as thieves will note boxes for branded products like laptops, TVs or electronic accessories. Lock all doors and windows and leave a light on and draw the curtains when you go out at night. Keep your doors and windows locked from the inside even when you are inside your home. Visible burglar alarms, exterior security lighting, timer lighting switches, and leaving the radio on all help to deter thieves and create the impression that somebody is at home. Make sure you bolt and padlock your garden shed and/or garage.
If you are away ask a neighbour to pop in every now and then and turn the lights on and off, draw the curtains, collect the mail and generally make the house look occupied.
Men charged with attempted robbery in Leominster Three men approached an elderly gentleman in Dishley Street, near the Co-op at 3.30am on New Year’s Day and threatened him with violence if he didn’t hand over his money. A dialogue followed and the three men backed off and left the elderly gentleman unharmed. On 3 January three men were arrested in connection with this incident on suspicion of attempted robbery. All three have since been released on police bail while officers continue their inquiries.
National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) The NFIB, working with the police, is committed to preventing, detecting and disrupting fraudulent activities throughout the UK. They have created the ‘Twelve Frauds of Christmas’ with a view to highlighting these fraudulent activities, increasing business and community awareness, together with advice to help prevent you becoming a victim of crime. I have listed the 12 frauds below but you can access much more information either on the village website where there is more detail available on each of them or on the NFIB website which is www.actionfraud.police.uk.
1. Online Shopping 2. Postal Fraud 3. Auction Fraud
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4. Holiday Fraud 5. Electronic “E” Cards 6. Ticketing Fraud 7. Phishing Emails 8. Social Networking 9. Cash Point Fraud 10. Voucher Fraud 11. Card Not Present Fraud 12. Mobile Payments
Keith Mitchell (Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator)
Neighbourhood Keith Mitchell Arrow Lea 01544 388605 Watch Co-ordinator Mike Coleburn Upper Hardwick 01544 388486 Gerry Corfield Broom Lane 01544 388575 Barry Freeman Holmlea 01544 388226 Neighbourhood John Holding Old Pearmain 01544 388176 Watch Team John Hope Lower Hardwick Fm 01544 388504 Brian Pollard Stephen’s Cottage 01544 388915 Graham Simpson Lyme Lane 01544 388641 Ben Woodcock 2 Orchard Cottages 01544 388976
SPEEDING
In November, in response to the Parish Council’s concerns about speeding, two members of the West Mercia Safer Roads Partnership (led by Stephen Woods) visited the village – on a day when I have never seen such little traffic, and with almost all observing the limit! They agreed to install a traffic monitoring device for a week and this was put on a telegraph pole at the western end of the village (opposite Ben Woodcock’s house) in the last week of November.
The subsequent report says: By way of explanation, to determine the speed of vehicles travelling on a road we use the industry standard of the 85th percentile speed. This is the speed that 85% of vehicles travel at or below. For example an 85th percentile speed of 40mph shows that 85% of vehicles travel at or below 40mph. This statistic can also be reversed and shows that 15% of vehicles travel at or higher than 40mph
You will see that the right hand column of the summary shows that 15%
15 of vehicles are travelling through the village above 35.3mph, which therefore shows that 85% are travelling at or below this speed.
Posted Direction Start End Speed 7 15% Date Date Limit day Mean over (PSL) ave >PSL% Speed (mph)
A44 668 44 30.5 35.1
Leominster 731 42.6 30.3 35.4
Two-Way 27/11 5/12 30 1399 43.4 30.4 35.3
140 40 120 38
100
80 36
60Vol 34 40 32
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07:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00
0 00:00 30
85th percentile
VOLUME (LEFT AXIS) AND 85TH PERCENTILE (RIGHT AXIS) READINGS
Our enforcement threshold is as per Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) guidelines of 10% of the speed limit +2, in this case 35mph. Therefore, speeds in the village are only marginally above our threshold, but more importantly traffic volume is well below our minimum requirement of 250 vehicles per hour for the community concern programme.
However, I have asked for arrangements to be made for the local policing
16 team to visit the village to carry out roadside enforcement whenever possible.
Part of my own reply read: “I must admit that I am surprised by the results, and I suspect that they are distorted by the wall building going on 50 metres from the survey site; this must reduce the speed of traffic in both directions (much as the builder feels that much traffic is going at excessive speed). May I urge you to repeat the exercise in six months time, when you will certainly find a significantly higher volume of traffic and, I suspect, rather higher mean and 85th percentile speeds?”
Stephen Woods’ reply includes: “We certainly can collect more data following completion of the wall. Although, as I said, the volume of traffic falls short of using one of our vehicles for enforcement, it may be that we will have some capacity in the new year to carry out a shorter 3 month programme in the village.
I can't promise anything at this stage, but we will discuss at next month's Herefordshire operations forum and let you know the outcome.”
Though the Parish Council will continue to pursue the issue (and it is, of course, a major element in the Community Led Plan), the chances of getting very far through the normal channels seem poor. In particular, we are clearly well short of the 250 vehicles an hour requirement; our maximum is an hourly average of 125 an hour (between 5 and 6 pm). But we shall try.
Villagers themselves, however, can help a great deal. It is NOT the case that everyone who speeds comes from outside the village – far from it. If everyone in the village was to stick religiously to the 30 mph limit, this would mean not only that those cars were obeying the limit but also those that caught them up were doing the same. And, if we could create an atmosphere in which people felt that Eardisland was a place where you don’t speed, that would be great – certainly for the parents of all the young children in the village.
So, a plea from all of us on the Parish Council – and many others: please show a good example and stick religiously to the 30 mph limit.
James Miller
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EARDISLAND OPEN GARDENS: AN INVITATION
OPEN GARDENS WEEKEND WILL BE SATURDAY 22ND AND SUNDAY 23RD JUNE 2013
This is one of the most popular and successful of our community fundraisers, enjoyed by so many visitors both new and regular. All appreciate the opportunity to discover or renew acquaintance with the wonderful variety of gardens in and around our beautiful village. As always at this time of year we are now inviting everyone who may be interested in opening their gardens to contact us. Letters are being sent to all those who have previously taken part but newcomers are all welcomed. Refreshments will again be offered and we need helpers with providing these and selling tickets at the village hall. Everyone who can offer help in any way, or has question they would like answered is asked to make contact with me as soon as convenient.
Thank you; I look forward to hearing from you. Lotty James : 01544 388207 or [email protected]
EARDISLAND IN BLOOM
The E Team has been taking it easy for the last few weeks but, weather permitting, will be out every Thursday morning from 7th February. This year we have decided to concentrate on the main thoroughfare, with a new feature due to be introduced in the spring. The two hawthorn trees sited in the car park will be pruned and weed and moss removed from the Memorial Garden wall and underneath the benches. The raised beds outside the shop will receive new colour and the Herb Garden tidied up after the recent floods. The fencing surrounding the Play Area on the Recreation Ground will be rubbed down and re- stained and tubs outside the village hall re-planted. There is much to do and we are desperate for more help, so if you are able to spare some time please come along and join us. Some dates for your diary:
LITTER PICK
This annual event will be held on Saturday 23rd March, meeting outside the shop at 10am. Reflective jackets, gloves, grabbers and black sacks will be provided. It is truly amazing and disappointing, despite the number of litter bins in the village, just how much litter is dropped on our streets. This is the one opportunity we have, before the grass starts to grow, to show we care about the appearance of the area in which we live and to do something about it. 18
PLANT & SEED SWOP / SALE
This event was first held last year and was so successful that we believe it is well worth repeating. Saturday 18th May is the date for your diary and there will be more information in the next issue. Phil Milchard, Chris Watson, Eric Pilcher
EARDISLAND BOWLING CLUB
The renovated and extended Bowling Club It is pleasing to report that the builders have now finished the new build project and it falls upon the club members to clean up and paint the interior. The changes made are quite remarkable, giving the clubhouse a great deal of extra space, as well as separate male and female changing rooms and toilets. The builders have continued the new exterior wooden frontage on to the front of the existing building giving it a smart appearance. A water harvester, holding 2,500 litres, has been positioned to store rain water, which can then be used to water the bowling green, whilst new fencing has been erected replacing the old broken twisted panels. The committee continues to meet regularly to assess the club’s financial position and ensure that everything is ready for Opening Day on Saturday 6th April, when everyone will be welcome to visit and see the changes made. More details will be given in the March edition of this magazine.
Phil Milchard 19
A TRIP TO MOROCCO
We had the pleasure of re- visiting Marrakech, some 370 miles south of Gibralta in Morocco, for a week after Christmas. Our first trip was 26 years ago and the subsequent changes are remarkable. Marrakech is essentially a trading centre - being close to the Atlas mountains, the Sahara and Mediterranean - its souks (markets) are hives of activity with traders buying and selling just about anything you can imagine - picture above. As a result, it was a fortified hub of activity for hundreds of years, with security provided by an outer wall containing the medina - the old centre. In more recent times, the city has expanded and the city has greatly expanded. Until 1956, Morocco was a French protectorate, which means that Marrakech had many French influences in decoration, bureaucracy and, importantly, language. It’s worth mentioning that French is widely spoken, but the main language is Berber, although Arabic is understood. Most people are multi-lingual, and the traders, especially for tourists, are fluent in just about any language you can imagine. So, what’s changed? Well, in the 80s, Marrakech was a dusty, dirty, exotic, exciting and wonderful place. It is still all of these things, but in different ways. With the development of houses outside the medina, many families that occupied large old colonial houses, moved out. The merchants’ houses - riads - were left to rot still further, until rich foreigners; French, English, German and others realised the potential of the cheap prices and good climate in the cooler parts of the year. The result was predictable, money poured in for conversions and many of the riads are now very up-market hotels offering all the facilities of the best hotels in Europe. Money always brings problems and in Marrakech there is now a massive traffic problem, and it’s not all the beaten-up old cars. Go to the more expensive areas (a flat may well cost £400,000) and you are just as likely to be run down by a Ferrari or expensive 4 X 4 (latest Range Rovers are popular) as a horse drawn carriage. Moroccans have a rather casual approach to road safety and regard lights as an optional extra, so walking around at night requires considerable caution. As the money filtered down, so those in the lower strata managed to get their hands on scooters, which have become the greatest menace known - they seem to get everywhere and make the narrow alleys a nightmare. Anyway, all that said, I love it to bits and can’t wait to return! Chris Bivand 20
Eardisland Village Show
2013
at
The Village Hall Saturday 7th September 2.00 – 4.30 pm
Prizes will be awarded at 4.00 pm
Entry open to all
Grand Raffle
from 2pm. £1 admission charge for adults. Children free
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Section A. COOKERY 1 A carrot cake. (see recipe on entry form) 2 Tea bread (1lb loaf size) 3 A jar of raspberry jam 4 A savoury flan (not fish) 5 A dessert for two 6 3 fruit scones (MEN ONLY)
Section B. WINE 7 A bottle of home made red wine. 8 A bottle of home made white wine. 9 A flavoured gin. 10 A non alcoholic drink
Section C. FLORAL ART No artificial fruit or flowers. All items on a base 18”x18” unless otherwise stated 11 A buttonhole 12 A pew end 13 An all green arrangement 14 An exhibit using roses and foliage 15 A table arrangement 16 Exhibit entitled “Ebony & Ivory” using both fresh and artificial material.
Section D. HANDICRAFT 17 A hand made card for any occasion 18 A hand knitted scarf 19 An item of Crochet 20 A tapestry item.
(Handicraft continued)
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21 Three Christmas tree decorations 22 A cushion cover 23 An item of handicraft (MEN ONLY)
Section E HORTICULTURE 24 Megan Lloyd Trophy- A yellow rose. (not a tight bud please) 25 3 Pansies (stems through holes in card into water) 26 A display of garden vegetables in a 12”x12” space. (check size/no tomatoes to be included) 27 3 Roses (different varieties) 28 A Pot plant 29 3 Tomatoes. 30 3 Stems only of different garden flowers
Section F. PHOTOGRAPHY Maximum 7”x5” mounted. Please put your name and the class number on the back N.B. No entries to be digitally manipulated. 31 Portrait of a person or animal 32 Through a gateway 33 In the garden 34 My favourite season 35 Photo with caption
Section G ART Pictures may be mounted but not glazed. Stretched canvases are acceptable 36 Reflections (any medium) 37 A drawing in pen & ink (any subject) 38 A collage 39 A portrait (any medium) 40 A 3-dimensional work less than 3 feet in any direction.
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HOW TO ENTER THE EARDISLAND VILLAGE SHOW
Please complete and return this entry form with the fees in a sealed envelope marked ‘SHOW’ to any of the Eardisland addresses below:
Pat Roche, 5 Green Elms Mavis Tantrum, Black Barns Community Shop Enquiries: Dian Cope, Downome 01544 388317 Graham Simpson, Meadow Edge The Tea Rooms Gill Richards, The Bungalow The Community Shop
Entries should be taken to the Village Hall on Saturday 7th Sept. between 0900 and 10.45 a.m. Creative Writing should be handed in by Monday 26th August. Judging will take place during the morning and the Hall will be open to the public from 2.00 pm. Prize giving and raffle draw will take place at 4.pm. Prize money will be paid out after the announcements. Any prize money not collected by 5.00p.m.will be returned to Show Funds Please retain your schedule marked with the items you have entered
Recipe for Carrot Cake
4.5ozs S.R.Flour 3.5fl.oz. sunflower oil Pinch of salt 4.5 oz.carrot (peeled & grated finely) 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1oz. desiccated coconut 4.5 oz. soft brown sugar 1oz. walnuts, chopped 2 eggs
For frosting For decoration 1.75 oz. butter Walnut pieces 8oz. icing sugar 1.75 oz. full fat soft cheese 1 tspn. Lemon juice
Method- Preheat oven to 180*C/350*F/Gas 4. Lightly grease an 8” (approx.) square cake tin & line with baking parchment. Sieve the flour,Salt & grnd. cinnamon into a lge. Bowl & stir in the br.sugar. Add the eggs & oil to the dry ingredients & mix well. Stir in the grated carrot, dess. coconut & chopped walnuts. Pour mixture into prepared tin & bake for 20-25 mins. or until just firm to touch. Leave to cool in the tin. Meanwhile, make the cheese frosting. In a bowl, beat together the butter, full fat soft cheese, icing sugar & lemon juice until mixture is fluffy & creamy. Spread cake with the frosting & decorate with walnut pieces.
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EARDISLAND VILLAGE SHOW 2013 ENTRY FORM
Please circle numbers of classes you wish to enter Each entry costs 30p for adults, children free Place your entry and cash in a sealed envelope marked ‘SHOW’ Take your envelope to one of the addresses shown previously Entries should be in by Friday 23rd August.
COOKERY A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6
WINE B7 B8 B9 B10
FLORAL ART C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16
HANDICRAFT D17 D18 D19 D20 D21 D22 D23
HORTICULTURE E24 E25 E26 E27 E28 E29 E30
PHOTOGRAPHY F31 F32 F33 F34 F35
ART G36 G37 G38 G39 G40
WRITING H41 H42 H43 H44 see schedule notes CHILDREN J45 J46 J47 J48 J49 J50
FULL NAME......
TELEPHONE NUMBER ......
AGE IF 11YRS AND UNDER......
RULES OF THE SHOW
One entry per class and exhibits must be your own work Judges’ decisions are final Money not claimed by 5pm on the show day will be returned to funds.
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A RAMBLE THROUGH TIME IN THE PARISH OF EARDISLAND
We start in the year 1703, early in the reign of Queen Anne (1702-1714). Here in Eardisland the holders of the office of Overseer of the Poor and Churchwarden were: Mr John Hyet for ye Estate he rented of Richd Fencot of the Broom Mr Ben Brewster for ye Court of Burton. 1 Of the three families mentioned it is the Hyet family who first occur in my records, in 1632, with a possible earlier mention in 1601. The Brewster family does not appear until 1662, Fencot soon afterwards in 1665. Dated 10th January 1632 is an Indenture between William Kynnersley of Wardensye, gent.and Henry Hiett of St Johns in Bedwardyne, co. Worcs., gent., John Colles of Hattfield, Herefs., esq. and Henry Mintrich of Leigh, co. Worcs. The Consideration was £177-10-0d.2 Even at catalogue level, from which I am quoting, there is considerable detail of the land conveyed. Some of this detail raises points of importance to the history of the parish of Eardisland, and so I quote the catalogue detail in full:
Meadow and meadow grounds now or late in the occupation of William Kynnersley (20 acres) in the township of Broome and Twyford in the parish of Erdisland and in a common meadow called the longe meadowe being for the most part in Pembridge 18 acres lie together adjoining in part the river Arrow and in part a plock called Glovers Plocke on the north and the common field of Pembridge and the lands of the Rt. Hon. Robert Earl of Essex on the south and west and land of Robert Kinge, gent, on the east, one acre is called Cartymore meadow (3 acres) between lands now or late of Roberte Kinge in the right of his wife on the west, other lands parcel of the manor of Twyford on the north and lands belonging to the parsonage of Pembridge on the south and a meadow called Westley on the east. The lands were formerly used with the capital messuage of Twyford. Seals: missing. Witnesses: Richard Kinersley, John Browne, Richard Kinersley, Fraunces Kinersley, Thomas Sheaphard, Fraunces Davies.
Four members of the Kynnersley/Kinersley family are mentioned, including two named Richard. It is likely that they were father and son. Such consecutive naming is far from uncommon. An extreme example in this parish is the Brewster family. John Brewster purchased Burton Court and the Manor of Burton at the beginning of April 1662. He was son and grandson of others, John Brewster.
1 HRO AJ32/58. 2 HRO D4/22. 26
These earlier Johns were recorded in Gloucester back to, at least, 1610. Back in Eardisland John 1662 was followed by a son John (died young) a grandson John, a great-grandson John and lastly by a great-great-grandson John. This last John died in infancy in 1768. Back to the Kinnersley family where another example can be found in the 1500s. In 1524 in Eardisland ‘Thomas Kenersley and Thomas his son’ both paid tax under the 1523 Subsidy Act; First Post-Memorial Payment 1524. The following year they are listed as Thomas Kenersley and Thomas Kenersley junior when they paid under the 1523 Subsidy Act Second Payment in 1525.3 No indication can be expected from such a record as to where in the parish they lived, but it was not until 8th July 1612 that “Richard Kynnersley of Eardisland gent” purchased various plots of land including “pasture 20 acres called the Lynch” 4 Not until 1679 is there documentary evidence of a building there when, at the start of his Will dated 14th August 1679, William Kynnersley describes himself as “of the Lynche in the parish of Eardsland”.5 He probably died in 1682. Probate of his Will is dated 23rd October of that year. Other events in 1682 are still obscured by the mists of time and as a result the next path to take in this ramble is unclear. However, a possible time-path from the Lynch to Burton Court reveals that it was close to 1682 when Benjamin Brewster, aged about twelve years, had his portrait painted by (later Sir) Godfrey Kneller. Kneller had been appointed Principal Painter to the Crown by King Charles II in 1680. Young Benjamin was later to be Lord of the Manor of Burton, from 7th May 1698 when it was granted to him by his mother, until his death on 12th March 1737.
During this ramble along the highways and byeways of time we have visited fourteen years in three different centuries, but now it is time to make our way back to the recently new year of 2013. All being well, the next ramble will assemble in late February 2013 and set out for an initial destination yet to be selected. George Alderson
3 Faraday M.A. (Ed) “Herefordshire Taxes in the Reign of Henry VIII”. WFC., 2005. 4 HRO D4/21. 5 Kinnersley Papers, Item 1.
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THE HOP PICKERS’ HUT AT BIDNEY
Anyone who has walked along the lane through Lower Burton towards Lower Hardwick, and turned left and crossed Tippets brook, the parish boundary between Eardisland and Dilwyn, will have seen a hut in a field opposite Bidney Farm. On a recent walk in this area of the parish organised by Herefordshire Archaeology team, led by field projects officer Tim Hoverd, it was suggested by him that it was a hut of some importance. He indicated that its details ought to be recorded by those interested in local history. Pat Kay, Graham Simpson, George Alderson and Paul Selfe agreed to undertake this project. We received enthusiastic permission to do so by Tony Hall of Bidney farm who suggested that his father Richard (at Arrow Mill Farm) may have relevant details. Richard duly provided much valuable information. He explained that it was built in 1935 by Jack Jones of Stockingfield, a very fine carpenter and builder, who also used to repair the ‘cribs’ used by the hop pickers. It was last used in 1955. His information revealed that there were once three hop fields at Bidney farm and before 1935 the gang of pickers were housed in a barn near the farm, but since there was a danger of fire, Richard’s father had the hut built for them. This hoppers’ hut has a series of very small rooms (see plan). There are two opposite each other running the length of the entire building. The rooms were used by the families or individuals who came for the short hop-picking season. The building has a timber framework, the sides and roof of which are constructed in corrugated iron. The gang of pickers usually came from Hay. The pickers lived in the huts for the three weeks during which they picked the hops. They used the room at the north end (with the chimney) for cooking and there were two wooden WCs situated outside, at either end of the building. This room, with the fireplace, has some continued limited use (2012) by the farmer; the remaining cells are used for storage purposes. The field in which the hut was situated was once a pear orchard. This was removed at the outset of war (1939) and used for crops. There were three hop fields further up the road (to the south). The pickers got their provisions from 28 a baker and a butcher who came round on a regular basis. They got water from a well in the farm and they obtained milk and eggs from the farmer.
Interestingly, there are still hop poles to be seen resting against an ash tree in the entrance to the field. These are ones that would have been used when hops were last grown there. The poles were usually sweet chestnut or imported soft fir. Before they used these timbers, ash would have been used. The hop bines grew up them (like runner beans). But once wire was introduced for the hops to grow up, poles became redundant. The hops were dried in the kilns at Bidney farm.
They were then taken by a Factor to London (or other centre) where merchants bought them. The first mechanised method of hop picking was developed in Worcestershire in 1932 but it did not develop further until after 1945. However, it was the introduction of such machines in the 1950s to pick the hops that brought an end to hop picking by hand throughout the country.
Whereas the brewing industry locally was once very strong the decline can be seen from 1902:
In Kelly’s Directory 1902 there are several breweries listed in Leominster. (i) Alton Court Brewery Co Ltd 26 Broad Street (ii) John Biddle was a retail brewer of the Chequers, Etnam Street (iii) Paxton & Co 38 South St. Leominster and (iv) Chas Reynolds 28 School Lane.
In Hereford there were also several breweries: 29
(i) Arnold Perrett & Co 48 Broad Street; (ii) Wm Bryan 14 White Cross Street; (iii) Hereford & Tredegar Brewery 76 Eign Street; (iv) Jas Hull 7 St Peter Street; Stroud Brewery Co Commercial Road.
In Herefordshire as a whole there were listed: (i) 117 Beer Retailers (ii) There were 30 cider makers (including Joseph Parry of Westbury Street); 12 cider merchants and 9 retailers.
In recent times it was the development of new brewing techniques especially in the USA and Germany that caused the fast decline and subsequent loss of hop fields.
Hop production worldwide (2010)
Hop producing country Metric tonnes
Germany 34,249 USA 23,701 China 10,000 Czech Republic 7,800 Poland 2,593 Slovenia 2,073 Republic of Korea 1,900 UK 1,500 Albania 1,200
As a postscript it is interesting to used by gangs of students for their know that the hop pickers hut had accommodation. As a matter of another use. During the war when interest, Bidney farm also had an there was a shortage of labour on Italian prisoner of war who worked farms, the National Union of on the farm who was transported Students organised students to live from Presteigne each day. He used on farms to help with the harvests. the kilns to dry herbs. The hop pickers’ hut was frequently
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Plan drawn by Pat Kay
Locally, there is only one hopyard known to be operating (2012) at Perry Ditch Farm in Dilwyn parish. The ‘Museum of Kent Life’ reports that as the use of the hoppers’ huts declined by the late 1950s, the vast majority of huts were dismantled. However, hoppers’ huts can still be seen today at Grange Farm, Tonbridge and Downs Farm, Yalding. A set of hoppers’ huts from North Frith
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Farm, Hadlow, have been re-erected at the museum in Sandling. It is likely, therefore, that the hut at Bidney Farm is a great rarity in Herefordshire. We are grateful to Tony Hall of Bidney Farm and his father Richard Hall (of Arrow Mill farm) for the opportunity to visit the hop pickers’ hut and to learn the details of its history. These have been placed with the Herefordshire Archaeology Department and with Herefordshire Record Office. Paul Selfe
WEOBLEY MUSIC – 2013 CONCERT
Following the success of our ‘Queen’s Jubilee’ event in 2012, Weobley Music is staging another concert. This will be on Saturday 9th March at Weobley Village Hall (HR4 8SN) from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm (doors open at 7 pm) and there will be 3 acts: Pickin’ In The Kitchen - Weobley’s own bluegrass band of 6 ‘seniors’ who enjoy playing bluegrass standards in ‘the old way’, around a single ‘mic’. The Remi Harris Trio - Remi started playing aged 7 and, at 24, is now one of the UK’s top Gypsy Jazz guitarists. On 17th December 2012, Remi played at the Buckingham Palace Christmas Party hosted by the Queen, who was among the 2000 invited guests with many other members of the Royal Family. Don’t miss this amazing young talent. The Down County Boys - our most popular and ‘fun’ UK bluegrass band, the DCBs are precise and tight with great harmony and fun. They were here last year and are back in Weobley ‘by popular demand’.
Each will perform a 50 minute ‘set’, with time between to visit the bar for beer, wine or a soft drink. Tickets £9 (up to 28th February) then £10, including at the door. As last year, for bookings please email [email protected] or call 01544 318513. Bob and Kate Best
WEOBLEY THEATRE GOERS
I am now taking bookings for a Malvern trip to see Maurice’s Jubilee by Nichola McAuliffe. We shall be going to see this on Wed 13 March, leaving Bell Square at the slightly earlier than usual time for Malvern - 12.00 midday. Tickets are £28 each. Please pay by 12 February. And then – very exciting news – War Horse is on tour! I have reserved seats for the production at Birmingham Hippodrome for Wednesday 30 October, 2.00pm performance. We shall be leaving Bell Square, Weobley at 10.00am, returning around 7.30pm. Having seen this in London, it is one of the most wonderful pieces of theatre and a real chance for us to see one of the best plays 32 of the last few years – so much better than the film version. I have 32 seats in the circle (centre of rows E,F,G) and 25 in the stalls (centre rows B,C,D). Some will prefer the overview, others will enjoy being in the action. Please say which you would like when paying - £60 per ticket to be paid before 8 April. And bring plenty of hankies with you! For bookings and any queries phone Kate Best on 01544 318513 or email
THE COURTYARD, CREATING AWARENESS FOR ARTS AND OLDER PEOPLE!
The Courtyard Centre for the Arts in Hereford has been making ground-breaking steps in the work it provides with Arts and older people across the county. The Courtyard has been working on many projects in residential care homes, day centres and the community to increase accessibility to the Arts for older people, and more recently specifically those with dementia. The Courtyard has led a project, with John Killick in residence, to work with four local poets in carrying out workshops with those who have dementia. Some examples of the Garth’s residential home’s poems will be displayed at Hereford library and in the Courtyard foyer from the beginning of February to coincide with an emotive show the theatre has coming up mid february, Finding Joy. Vamos Theatre Company, a local mask performance company, will bring their next touring show to the Courtyard, Finding Joy. The show is a funny, touching, vital and heroic tale of adventure and dementia. Based on real stories and real people, the performance makes us think about what happens if we find ourselves in different realities to our loved ones. Joy is creative, funny, loves to dance and is losing her memory; her grandson, Danny, is rebellious, fearless, 33 bright and always getting in to trouble. When, out of the blue, Danny decides to become Joy’s carer, where will their unexpected and playful bond lead them? The performance of Finding Joy takes place in the main house from February 14 - 16 at 7.30pm and will enlighten all with its exploration of acceptance and change. Plans are already in action for the new year, leading to some terrific events in May. There are planned archive and history projects, as well as extend dance classes taking place around the community. More recently, however, the Courtyard is to launch a choir for people who are retired or over 60. Under the leadership of Hereford Fire Choir’s musical director, Jon Watson, the Garrick singers will “provide older people with an opportunity to meet other like minded folks regularly, make some good music and new friends. There are also enormous health benefits associated with singing.” Spaces are already filling up quickly, however, so if you are interested in joining the singing group book in advance by ringing the box office on 01432 340555. The classes will start on Monday 4th February from 2.30-3.30pm.
Finding Joy will be at the courtyard from Thursday 14 February to Saturday 16 February at 7.30pm. The Garrick Singers classes will run from Monday 4 February at 2.30pm. For more information on the work The Courtyard does for the community, to book tickets, class spaces or for any other information call 01432 340555 or log on to www.courtyard.org.uk
AN ARTS ALIVE PRODUCTION
COLOUR EXCITEMENT CHARISMA
GYPSY FIDDLE FEAST
THE FIRE OF EASTERN EUROPEAN GYPSY MUSIC BROUGHT TO LIFE WITH STIRRING ARRANGEMENTS AND IMPROVISATION.
WEOBLEY VILLAGE HALL ON SATURDAY 16TH FEBRUARY AT 7.30PM BAR AND DOORS OPEN AT 7PM. TICKETS £8/£5 CHILDREN AVAILABLE NOW AT THE OLD SCHOOL SHOP OR ON 01544 318322
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WEATHER NOTES
A glance back at the weather in 2012
It will years - there were only 10.5mms in come as March, but the change came quickly no surprise in April, the first of the nine to readers consecutive wet months that to learn marked the year, closing with that 2012 November (103.9mms) and was the December (161.3mms). Over the wettest year since I moved to whole year Eardisland had Eardisland at the end of 1987. This 1091.6mms compared with other was to be expected as the year was wet years: 2000 (908mms), 2007 the wettest in England since (939mms) and 2008 (916mms).Our accurate records for the whole normal annual rainfall is about 630 country began to be collected in to 650mms. This wet weather has 1910. For England, not for the affected wine-making in several United Kingdom, as slightly lower areas of not just England, but also figures for rain were recorded for parts of France. Champagne has Wales and Scotland, meaning that it had a very poor year and in was the second highest year for the Bordeaux, Chateau d'Yquem has UK as a whole. discarded the whole crop and will Now for some figures. The make no wine at all. The same has annual fall over the whole of happened on this side of the England was 1330mms. The largest channel in Sussex where at least part of this fell over Devon and one producer of sparkling wine has Cornwall and over the North East been forced by mildew on the where some unlucky people have grapes to make no wine in 2012. been flooded out two or three Temperature wise, the times in the course of the year. The year was below normal, but not Midlands (including Eardisland) remarkably so. There were a few were less affected. As is often the short warm dry days amidst the case, this village was protected by gloom. In spite of the high level of the rain shadow from the Welsh rainfall, there were no very heavy uplands. The year began with three falls in a short space of time, at months of dry conditions continuing least in Eardisland. the pattern of the previous two Peter Glenn
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LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION?
Bored of the same new year’s detox diets or resolutions that never make it past January? This year, make a New Year’s resolution that will last by taking part in Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Great Daffodil Appeal 2013 and make a difference in your local community. This February and March the charity will be holding their annual daffodil collections all over Herefordshire, encouraging local people to make a donation for a daffodil pin as a sign of their support. The funds raised are crucial to ensure our Marie Curie Nurses are able to continue their work in local communities caring for terminally ill patients and their families in their own homes. We need your help to make the 2013 Great Daffodil Appeal bigger and better! If you can spare an hour or two at a collection local to you or if you want to find out where you local collection is, please get in touch with the Herefordshire fundraising office on 0117 942 7132 or email:
YES, VERY PUNNY!
I changed my iPod name to Titanic. It's syncing now.
When chemists die, they barium.
Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.
I know a guy who's addicted to brake fluid. He says he can stop any time.
How does Moses make his tea? Hebrews it.
I stayed up all night to see where the sun went. Then it dawned on me.
This girl said she recognized me from the vegetarian club, but I'd never met herbivore.
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THOUGHTS FROM PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN (UNEDITED)
In the first book of the bible, guinessis. God got tired of creating the world so he took the sabbath off.
Adam and eve were created from an apple tree. Noah's wife was Joan of Ark. Noah built and ark and the animals came on in pears.
Lot’s wife was a pillar of salt during the day, but a ball of fire during the night.
The jews were a proud people and throughout history they had trouble with unsympathetic genitals.
Sampson was a strongman who let himself be led astray by a Jezebel like Delilah.
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CONTACTS EDITORIAL
CHRIS BIVAND Arrow Bank, Eardisland, Leominster, HR6 9BT 01544 – 388375 Email: [email protected]
ADVERTISING For all matters relating to advertising in this magazine, please contact:
PATRICIA GILL 01544 – 320364 Email [email protected]
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
PHIL MILCHARD 01544 388097 Email [email protected]
This edition of the Eardisland Parish Magazine was printed by Leominster Community Resource Centre
Published by Eardisland Parish Council. The Parish Council Liaison Officer is James Miller ( [email protected] ) 01544-388454. Views expressed are those of individual contributors and not necessarily those of Eardisland Parish Council. The Eardisland Parish Magazine is published by Eardisland Parish Council without inserts.
The Eardisland Parish Magazine is posted online in pdf format:
Please visit: www.eardisland.org.uk
Unlike the printed version, most photographs and some advertisements appear in colour. You may need to download Adobe Acrobat reader, which you can find on the web by using Google. The program is entirely free.
Copy date for the next edition of the Eardisland Parish Magazine:
FRIDAY 1st MARCH 2013
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