West Dean Parish Council Newsletter Winter 2019 Volume 3 Issue 2
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West Dean Parish Council Newsletter Winter 2019 Volume 3 Issue 2 Andy’s special message Berry Hill; Bream; Brockhollands; Cannop; Christchurch; Clements End; Mentoring Ltd, we are Edge End; Ellwood; Joyford; working with youngsters and Little Drybrook; Nine Wells; the next generation helping Oldcroft; Parkend; Pillowell; with their aspirations for the Shortstanding; Sling; Viney future while understanding Hill; Whitecroft; Yorkley their needs locally. As a result I have been working closely with West Dean Parish Council to Inside this issue support a multi-use track from Parkend to Lydney. In my mind such a multi use Mothers in P2 track is a no-brainer, Mind Young people, families and those going to and from work Grant P3 ride along Forest Road — a Awards SO — where do I start? very dangerous stretch of the It’s three years since the road, I ride most days during Enjoying an P3 Rio Paralympic games with training and it has become the next one on us soon. It’s apparent it is a death trap for Award crazy how fast time flies. cyclists. I can’t understand I remember the good times why it has taken over 20 years Christchurch— P4 as well as the difficulties as a to implement but it’s fantastic and Berry Hill young lad growing up in the to see WDPC are supportive Forest of Dean. of this idea and are working Scarr P5 Things haven’t always been with other partners to try and Bandstand easy. Not having access to make this happen. great sport facilities which We live in a beautiful area Good P6 others have enjoyed at times and although I don’t want to Luck Dave made things difficult for me sound like a politician I’m and other local sportsmen passionate about bringing Christmas P7 and women. However I people together and getting persevered and brought a the best for the community. Celebrations gold medal back to the ◼ WHAT is next for Andy Forest. I cannot be happier Lewis? I will continue training Whitecroft P8 with what I’ve achieved. as it’s great for fitness, but I Remembered I am so happy with the will NOT be participating in friends and the support from the 2020 Paralympic Games! Getting P9 local people that has been I have suffered with mental connected recognised along the way. health issues and fatigue over I’ve started working, on a the last year. Now I have Kiosks P10 part time basis, with Forest decided to make time for Voluntary Action Forum Trail (FVAF) in Cinderford. This Andy’s message continues on Page Look behind P11 great group really want, as do 3 → I and everyone else living you!! here, the best for the Forest. Meet your P12 In my business, Bespoke councillors Page 2 West Dean Centre Users Spotlight on Mothers ◼ All age groups are ready for the walk. In “Finding this group really was a lifeline. I had felt alone for so long and Mind it was so comforting to find other women in a similar position. The first time I went I was nervous but the group was so friendly and welcoming that I was put at ease straightaway,” says one happy lady. A FREE new charity, offering experience to give two or three opportunity to connect with support to families with young hours of their time to support others and feel supported on children, has opened in the families. Alongside our home- your parenting journey. We offer Forest of Dean. visiting support, we run several a space to stop, have an all- Home-Start North and West groups across the district and are important hot drink and have Gloucestershire (affiliated with currently running our Mothers In time for you. the national charity Home-Start), Mind group at the West Dean We offer a Mothers In Mind is running a range of services to Centre, Bream, on Monday drop-in group at the West Dean support parents and parents-to- mornings. Centre, Bream on Mondays be. We recruit and train For many mothers parenting between 10am and noon. volunteers to provide home- can be a great challenge. Getting You can find out more on visiting support to families facing through the day can feel hard, www.homestartnwglos.org.uk or additional challenges in their sometimes impossible and many on our Facebook page parenting journey. women feel very alone. @hsnwglos Typically, these include post- Home-Start North and West If you are interested in natal depression, financial Gloucestershire recognises how volunteering or attending one of hardship, child disability or important support is to both our groups please contact isolation from families or friends. mums and the whole family. enquirieshomestartnwglos Now we are looking for people Without judgement, Mothers @gmail.com or call/text with parenting or grandparenting In Mind groups offer an 07584472025 Page 3 Berry Hill Sling Forest Wide Berry Hill Community Orchard Scarr Bandstand Forest Drop-In Community Orchard £500 £300 £2,000 £150 Water Harvester Christmas Lights Engineering plans for See below bandstand canopy ◼ For illustration ONLY ◼ For illustration ONLY ◼ For illustration ONLY ◼ For illustration ONLY Forest Wide Whitecroft/Forest Wide Forest Wide WEST Dean Parish Council awards Age Concern Men’s Shed Dial a Ride Lydney financial grants to £500 £500 £500 local projects. Following the grant Meals-on-wheels service Workshop/equipment Additional Funding submission Stream councillors make their assessments. There will be further details in the press and ◼ For illustration ONLY www.westdeanpc.org.uk How we spent our WDPC grant MEMBERS of the Forest Drop-In thank West Dean Parish Council for the generous grant towards transport costs to fund the visit to Harry Potter World. The group explored many of the sets, learned about special effects and how the costumes and characters were created. They were intrigued to hear Daniel Radcliffe went through 81 wands during the filming because he used them as drumsticks between takes. Originally organised to celebrate the 1st anniversary of a member being cancer-free , Ali was a keen Harry Potter fan but unfortunately, the cancer returned, and she died earlier ◼ Exciting times at Harry Potter World in the year. Her brother Rob asked for the trip to go ahead as a tribute to her memory. Stephen Gibson (continued from Page 1) I’m now going to enjoy some MBE, is for me incredible. And down time, maybe a holiday with I’m proud. myself and family and look at my my family and friends and not I will always support my local path going forward. feeling so pressured to deliver community and do what I can This is not to say I will not gold medals race after race. where I can. compete for Great Britain I’ve had a fantastic career 30 I want to thank everybody anymore. I will, but only in the races 27 & 20 podiums with 20 who has supported me and wish World Championships and the wins and one of those was a you all a great Christmas. European Championships and Paralympic GOLD. Let’s just hope we can all get qualifying races. In addition there have been together and make the Forest of The next Paralympic games, two World titles and two Dean an even better place to Paris 2024, gives me a fantastic European titles plus six British live. Best Wishes opportunity to have one final titles. How can I ask for anything Andrew Lewis MBE push at the games, more from my body for the time Paralympic, World & European My children will be older and being? For someone who, Champion the family can come without aged16 was crushed by a lorry, Director Bespoke Mentoring suffering a long flight. to achieve so much, including an www.andyjlewis.co.uk Page 4 Your Christchurch and village Berry Hill matters From Jo Revill and John Belcher ◼ FRIDAY 29th supporting it and November, is raising funds for it switch-on night for to continue. the Berry Hill In the past we Christmas tree. The have had over 300 lights will be turned people attend. It on at 6pm at the makes a wonderful Globe Inn start to the festive A decorated period and is a tractor and magical evening. children's lantern On this night all parade will start of the community from Christchurch get together, sing IN Berry Hill we are proud of church, moving carols and rejoice our Community Orchard — along Park Road to in living where we Christmas will join living proof that when Forest the switch on. us —riding on the communities work together for Once again we fire truck! the common good, anything is will be joined by Over the last few achievable. the school children, years this event has While the orchard is a place the Rev Tony 837052 grown within the for quiet contemplation, it is Williams as well as village and we Berry Hill band. also frequented by local groups would like to thank Even Father as a safe place for their everyone for activities. (continued on P9 →) Right this way your table’s waiting → THIS year will see Funds have been another bumper raised for this by the Christmas lunch for Christmas lights and senior citizens in events committee. Berry Hill, For the third year Christchurch, Edge Yvonne will be End and Hillersland. supervising the Already fully provision of the meal. subscribed, the festive Bringing Christmas day is Tuesday 3rd, cheer to our older December, at Berry generation has always successful lunchtime. (see also p 6) come Hill Rugby Club at proved to be a Pupils from the to sing carols making Information for this new feature in the parish newsletter will be welcomed for inclusion in the next parish council 12.30pm,.