Sunset in Eathorpe

Weston, Wappenbury, Hunningham and Eathorpe NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER 2020

Sunset in Eathorpe

Eco-vandalism strikes again! Farewell to the Hunningham oak tree

CONTACTS Eathorpe Village Hall bookings: Weston Village Website: [email protected] www.westonunderwetherley.org Hunningham Parish Room: Weston Village Hall bookings: 01926 632428 [email protected] Hunningham Parish Room bookings: Eathorpe Village Website: [email protected] www.eathorpe.org.uk The W2hen website: www.w2hen.info

Editor: David Wray 632830 [email protected]

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VILLAGE NEWS

To: Lucy and Zoe who came to live in Mill Barn, Hunningham in July. and To the Williamson Family: Lindsey, Andrew, Breadon, Zara and Chloe who moved in to School Lane. HUNNINGHAM in August. We wish them all every happiness in their new homes, and look for- ward to meeting them at Village Events whenever it is possible.

To: Biggy, Mandy and Tay on the arrival of new baby “Baarnie” to Simpkins Close WESTON under WETHERLEY.

HUNNINGHAM CHURCH IS STILL LOCKED We are opening it on request most Saturday mornings at 10–11.30am Please contact Hazel Taylor (632428) for more details. We still have seats outside our church, with beautiful views, where we can stop individually for meditation on our daily walk. . COMMUNITY CAFÉ We managed to hold our Community Café as arranged in July and August in Joyce Woodruffe’s garden. It was so good to see people face-to-face! Our next meeting is WEDNESDAY 4th OCTOBER at 10.45am. We are holding it in OFFCHURCH VILLAGE HALL. Please come and join us. We will keep Social Distancing! Tea, coffee and cake will be provided. If you are “worried” please bring your own flask. If you need further information please contact Hazel Taylor 632428. 3

ECO-VANDALISM IN HUNNINGHAM We have had to say goodbye to this wonderful tree in Hunningham. It was felled as part of the land clearance for the HS2 railway.

I’m sorry if my anger at this act of vandalism comes across too strongly, but this seems to me to be a dreadful act, serving very little purpose (other than helping a select few rail passengers shorten their journeys from London to Birmingham by about 20 minutes.)

This tree has stood in its spot, from acorn to maj- esty, for 100s of years, and now all that remains is a dead stump. Is saving a few minutes on rail journeys really worth this loss of our living herit- age?

Not that this tree is alone in being sac- rificed for a dubious convenience. Any- one driving along the Fosse at the moment will see plenty of evidence of the wanton destruction wrought in the name of this unnecessary railway line. It makes me weep every time! 5

NOT QUITE A LOCKDOWN (although members of the government don’t seem to know the rules themselves)

The current rules about what we are allowed to do socially during the current crisis are confusing, to say the least. Even the Prime Minister had to apologise last week, saying he ‘misspoke’ when describing the rules (in other words, he didn’t know them!) The following summary is based on the guidance given on the government web site (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19- meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with- others-safely-social-distancing). There are 3 sections:

1. Social distancing  Try to keep at least 2 metres away from people you do not live with.  When with people you do not live with, you should also avoid: physical contact; being close and face-to-face; and shouting or singing close to them.  You should also avoid crowded areas with lots of people; and touching things that other people have touched.  Where you cannot stay 2 metres apart you should stay more than 1 metre apart, as well as taking extra steps to stay safe. For example:  wear a face covering: on public transport and in many indoor spac- es, you must wear a face covering by law, unless you are exempt  move outdoors, where it is safer and there is more space  if indoors, make sure rooms are well ventilated by keeping windows and doors open  You do not need to socially distance from the people you live with or are in an established relationship with.  It may not always be possible to maintain social distancing when providing care to a young child, or person with a health condition. You should still limit close contact as much as possible when providing these types of care, and take other precautions such as washing hands and opening windows for ventila- tion.

2. Seeing friends and family  When seeing friends and family you do not live with you should:  meet in groups of 6 or less  follow social distancing rules when you meet up  meet people outdoors where practical.  When meeting friends and family you do not live with, meeting in a group of more than 6 is against the law and the police will be able to issue fines of £200, doubling for further breaches up to a maximum of £6,400.  There are exceptions where groups can be larger than 6 people. These include:  for work, or the provision of voluntary or charitable services  registered childcare, education or training  providing emergency assistance  wedding ceremonies and receptions – up to 15 people  funerals – up to 30 people  exercise classes, organised outdoor sport or physical activity  protests – all individuals must be socially distanced 3. Rules in other venues and activities  Venues following COVID-19 Secure guidelines will be able to continue to host more people in total – such as religious services in places of worship – but no one should mix in a group of greater than 6. This includes places like a pub, shop, restaurant or place of worship. When you visit one of these places you should:  follow the limits on the number of other people you should meet with as a group – no more than 6 people unless you all live together  avoid social interaction with anyone outside the group you are with, even if you see other people you know  ensure that at least one person in your group provides their contact details to the organiser so that you can be contacted if needed by the Test and Trace programme.

Latest COVID-19 figures—29th September, 2020

TAKE AWAY OR EAT OUT Our local businesses, cafes and pubs, mostly had to close during the period of lockdown, but did not stand still. For example, The Plough in Eathorpe still runs a take-away service for their delicious Tex Mex food. Just call them on 01926 633105 or look at their page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ hillbillysgrillshack/. Their menus are regularly updated. They are also taking bookings for restaurant service, but YOU MUST BOOK!

The restaurant and shop at Hilltop Farm are open for business and they are also doing home deliveries and take aways. Looking for home delivery? Get your weekly produce fresh from the Farm Shop delivered direct to your door. Delivery is free to local vil- lages and towns within 5 miles from the farm shop, with a small delivery charge to other areas within Warwickshire. Delivery slots are available on Wednesday or Saturday afternoons. Call 01926 632978 or go to https://www.hilltopfarmshop.com/shop/

Also, every Friday and Saturday, Hilltop Farm run their wood-fired pizza takeaway service. You simply pre-book and pay for your pizza and then collect from Hilltop Farm in your chosen time slot to take home and enjoy! Their delicious pizzas are all made from fresh, seasonal ingre- dients in the kitchen and cooked to order in their wood-fired pizza oven.

Highly recommended!

The Red Lion at Hunningham is also open again. If you want to eat inside, you need to ring to book a table, but if you are happy to sit outside, enjoying the last days of the summer, just turn up.

The Red Lion has the big advantage for those of us with four legged friends of being completely dog friendly. Email them at [email protected] or call on 01926 632715

HUGH’S PASTORAL LETTER

October 2020 Walking along Leigh Terrace a couple of weeks ago, heading to Joyce’s garden for Community Café, I spotted a figure on the other side of the road. He (it was Rob) was standing in the recess that has recently appeared opposite the houses, carved out of the hedge that backs onto the paddock of Hall Farm. Rob wasn’t just loitering, he was there with intent, checking bricks and preparing to do some bricklaying. This is Rob’s little project, to reposition and restore the old Village pump. Evi- dently he had found the old pump der- elict in the back of the hedge ten years ago and he won’t be content until it is back in place. Well done Rob! Here is another indicator of the community spirit and sense of care for the bigger picture that we have in our rural villag- es. (By the way, this is not a picture of Lynn and Rob, drawing the first buck- etful!)

Time was when this was a place of meeting, a vital piece of our village infrastructure, where greetings and news were exchanged every day. No Pilates Classes or Keep Fit, just go and get two buckets of wa- ter from the pump and bring them home! “And have you heard about Mrs So-and- so, well !” Here we are, still barred from normal social contact, keeping in touch

on WhatsApp, Facebook and the rest. But isn’t it a treat, when we do manage to meet in person? I would like to predict that when we emerge from Covid restrictions, we will be more outgoing and ready to connect with one another again. And what fun, to make plans for the arrival of those days. One idea, to bring us all together, is to have Christmas Carols on the Village Green on Christmas Eve at Offchurch, with all the bells and whistles we can muster. (Not literally!) There is already talk of mulled wine, hot chestnuts, a brass band. Have you any contacts or ideas to turn this into reality? Give Jane a ring on 338704.

And finally, for this month, let’s return to the picture of Rob rec- reating the Hunningham Village pump and that sense of helping to make the world a bigger place. St Paul put it very suc- cinctly, “None of us lives for ourselves alone.” Romans 14.7 I am so glad to live among folk who are fervent about looking out for others, and creating a spirit of care and co-operation.

Every blessing. Hugh. [email protected] Tel 01926 257845, Mob. 07568 166 910

For the present time, our weekly on-line acts of worship are being received with widespread approval. - everyone (worldwide!) is welcome to join us via ZOOM For link details: Rev Hugh Priestner – [email protected]

A PETITION TO SIGN

Save the 250 year old Cubbington pear tree from HS2.

The 250 year old Cubbington pear tree is the 2nd largest in the coun- try and in 2015 it was voted England’s “Tree of the Year”. It is due to be cut down soon to make way for HS2—which will save those rich enough to use it 20 minutes on their journeys from London to Bir- mingham.

There is a petition urging a rethink of this act of vandalism, either by rerouting the railway or at least investigating whether the tree can be safely moved out of the route of the railway.

Go to https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/548834 to sign this.

WORKING FROM HOME

Many of us are getting used now to working from home, although I’m sure there are many, mixed experiences. Working from home is meant to be like this:

But often this is nearer the reality!

I managed to find this list of Tips for Working From Home which people might find useful. 1. Maintain Regular Hours Set a schedule, and stick to it...most of the time. Having clear guidelines for when to work and when to call it a day helps many remote workers maintain work-life balance. That said, one of the benefits of remote work is flexibility, and sometimes you need to extend your day or start early to accommodate someone else's time zone. When you do, be sure to wrap up earlier than usual or sleep in a bit the next morning to make up for it. 2. Create a Morning Routine Deciding you'll sit down at your desk and start work at a certain time is one thing. Creating a routine that guides you into the chair is another. What in your morning routine indicates you're about to start work? It might be making a cup of coffee and taking the time to actu- ally drink it before you start looking at your to-do list. It might be re- turning home after a jog. A routine can be more powerful than a clock at helping you get started each day. 3. Set Ground Rules With the People in Your Space Set ground rules with other people in your home or who share your space for when you work. If you have children who come home from school while you're still working, they need clear rules about what they can and cannot do during that time. 4. Schedule Breaks Breaks are essential. If you can, give yourself adequate time during the day to walk away from the computer screen and phone. A lunch hour and two 15-minute breaks seems to be the standard .But don't short-change yourself during breaks, especially your lunch hour. 5. Leave Home To the extent that it's allowed and safe, get out of the house in breaks. Your body needs to move. Plus, the fresh air and natural light will do you good. Take a walk. Weed the garden. You get the picture. 6. Keep a Dedicated Office Space In an ideal world, you would have not only a dedicated office, but also two computers, one for work and one for personal use. But not eve-

ryone has a separate office in their home, and keeping two machines isn't always realistic. Instead, dedicate a desk and some peripherals only for work use. You may want to go as far as partitioning your hard drive and creating a separate user account for work. 7. Socialize With Colleagues Loneliness, and isolation are common problems in remote work life. Try to find ways to socialize, perhaps using social media. But people differ in how much of this they need and it is true that social media can take over your life if you aren’t careful. But everyone needs some social interaction where you discuss non-work topics. 8. Don't Be Too Hard on Yourself The most successful home workers have a reputation for being ex- tremely disciplined. After all, it takes serious focus to do a full-time job from an unconventional space. That said, everyone lets their attention drift sometimes. If you find yourself working one minute and booking flights for your upcoming vacation the next, don't repri- mand yourself too harshly. You need to balance productivity with self -care. 9. End Your Day With a Routine Just as you should start your day with a routine, create a habit that signals the close of the workday. It might be an evening dog walk, or a 6 p.m. yoga class. Something as simple as shutting down your computer and turning on a favourite podcast will do. Whatever you choose, do it consistently to mark the end of working hours. 10. Make it personal There are many ways to work suc- cessfully from home. Try to find routines and systems which work for you. There is no magic solution.

Is your will up to date?

Inheritance Tax rules change over time, as do personal cir- cumstances, so it’s important to periodically review your Will to make sure it’s up to date and takes into account all the latest rules. Dixon Alderton Law offer a free Will review service which is available to everyone, regardless of who the Will was originally written with (even if you can’t re- member!)

For a free, no obligation consultation, either face to face or over the telephone, give us a ring on 01926 563080 email [email protected]

www.dixonaldertonlaw.co.uk

Dixon Alderton Law Ltd is a bou- tique private client solicitors practice based in Leamington Spa, covering Leamington, Cov- entry and Warwickshire and be- yond. We specialise in Wills, Trusts and Care Fee planning.

THE PILGRIM PUPPETS We have started having our PRACTICE sessions again. With Social Distancing we have divided our group into two – and are meeting separately on Sundays at 5.00pm and on Tuesdays at 5.00pm. Because we cannot take our Puppets into places at the moment – we are starting a new venture – of trying to record them! We then hope to take the “film” into Care Homes etc! A work in progress – watch this space! Anyone interested in being part of our Team – please contact Hazel Taylor 632428.

PARISH COUNCIL BUSINESS Eathorpe Hunningham Offchurch and Wappenbury Joint Parish Council Working Together as a Community Joint Parish Council Meetings are currently taking place via Zoom. Agendas and Minutes can be seen at: http://www.jpcehow.btck.co.uk/ParishCouncil/AgendasAndMinutes Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 17th November 2020 at 7:30pm. Meetings will continue to take place via Zoom until at least January 2021. For login details please contact the Clerk on [email protected]

S. Palmer Chairman Residents can still email or phone Parish Councillors if they have is- sues to raise.

THE OFFCHURCH GROUP Vestry and Annual Parochial Church Meeting Thursday 8 October 2020, 8.00pm via ZOOM

Vestry Meeting This meeting is open to: - all persons whose names are entered on the Electoral Roll of The Offchurch Group Parish - all persons resident in the Parish whose names are entered on a register of local government electors by reason of such residence Agenda 1. Welcome and prayer 2. Apologies for absence 3. Minutes of the last Annual Vestry Meeting (2019) 4. To elect two Churchwardens to serve until January 31st 2021 5. Any other business Annual Parochial Church Meeting At this meeting, the Annual Report of The Offchurch Group will be presented along with a financial statement. Everyone is welcome at the APCM. However, only those on the Electoral Roll of The Offchurch Group are entitled to vote, should a vote be necessary. ------Topic: APCM Time: Oct 8, 2020 08:00 PM London Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88624828416 Meeting ID: 886 2482 8416

HARVEST GIFTS The ZOOM Service on Sunday October 4th will be 'Harvest Thanksgiv- ing'. The theme will be “THE FRUITS of the SPIRIT" which will include the TALENTS of the children. There will also be input from a local Farmer. It is suggested that our usual gifts of produce are left in the porches of each of the 4 TOG churches to be collected at (or soon after) 1pm on Sunday 4th October. These would then be distributed to families in need or charitable organisations. Or – perhaps you may prefer to give a personal donation for the homeless or another designated charity. Please contact Marcia on 07775 645853 if you would like do- nations to be collected from your doorstep on the afternoon of Sun- day 4th October.