February 20202020
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Shepley'sShepley's MagazineMagazine FreeFree toto everyevery ShepleyShepley householdhousehold IssueIssue NoNo 15:15: FebruaryFebruary 20202020 0 Dear Readers P a g e 1 Happy New Year to you all. After our welcome breather over the Christmas period, the magazine team are back to compiling, printing and delivering the Magazine which involves a surprisingly large group of volunteers. 2020 is a leap year, when according to Irish legend St Brigid struck a deal with St Patrick to allow women to propose to men only on the leap day, 29th February. Will any of our Shepley lads enjoy a marriage proposal from their girlfriends? Valentine’s Day, 14th February is another special day when the romantic amongst us will be planning to gift our loved ones with a card or even a box of chocolates - an early marketing ploy devised by Richard Cadbury over 100 years ago. You could write a lovelorn letter to Juliet in Verona, her of the famous ‘Romeo and Juliet’ tale, to receive a reply from the Juliet Club. Even Chaucer mentioned the practice of bringing loved ones together in his poem ‘The Parliament of Foules’ in 1375. So, celebrating Valentine’s Day isn’t such a modern idea. Thinking of showing love and caring towards each other we have an article in this month’s magazine asking us to think about people of all ages and circumstances, who may prefer a life less lonely. Let us know what you think - thoughts and ideas very welcome. How can we come together to help one another? Remember we already have the Luncheon Club and exercise sessions and the Oasis Cafe at the Methodist Church. St Paul’s Church hold Coffee Mornings regularly. The Seniors Social and Activity Club have an exercise session in Shepley Library. This is a welcoming place where you can chat with the volunteers who can give details about local groups and associations whilst you choose your books. Throughout the Magazine you will find contact details for many of the above groups and more. On the back pages there are useful phone numbers and dates for events taking place in the village. Our next opportunity to bring the community together is VE Day on May 8th when we hope to hold a Street Party. We hope groups and societies in the village will join together to make it a memorable day. If you have any suggestions … contact the Magazine or Shepley Village Association. The magazine AGM is on the 25th February in the Library at 7pm Shepley's Magazine Team. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Email contributions by the 12th of the month to: [email protected] Write to us and drop your contributions into the library addressed to: Shepley’s Magazine All other enquiries including advertising to: [email protected] If you would like a PDF digital copy of the magazine email: [email protected] Magazine donations to: Lloyd’s Bank - Sort Code 30-98-97 Account - 64780368 or put a cheque made out to Shepley’s Magazine into an envelope and hand it in at the library, thank you. P a g e 2 Shepley First School December was a really busy and exciting time in SFS. To begin with everybody was eagerly anticipating the Christmas Fair held after school on 6th December. This annual event is organised by FOSFS and other volunteers and actively supported by local businesses which donate goods and prizes, but additionally many of the older children make decorations, cards and other items to help with fund-raising for future activities. Over £2000 was raised in total – a great achievement. Brilliant Christmas performances by Reception and Key Stage 1 pupils (5 – 7 years old) in the following week were greatly enjoyed by everyone who saw them. At the end of the same week the School Choir sang carols and Christmas songs beautifully in the village library (where they included a little audience participation) and later at the Christingle Service in St Paul’s Church. Thank you to all the singers and the staff members who brought so much pleasure to those of us able to hear their performances. The last week of term was full of festivities and thanks to Dobbie’s Garden Centre a wonderful Christmas tree decked the school hall throughout them all. Each class had a fun Christmas party, and a performance of Jack and the Beanstalk was enjoyed by everybody (thanks to the FOSFS fundraisers). Finally on the last day of term – wearing Christmas jumpers rather than their usual uniform – everyone had a lovely Christmas dinner together before going home to enjoy more Christmas….. Anne Mace We Are: Shepley Library Before Christmas the Library Supporters organised a wreath making session. It was very successful; some wonderful decorations were created. Watch out for the next Library event - This will be felt making on Saturday 29th February at 1.30 to 4pm. P a g e 3 Keeping Shepley Library at the of the Village Shepley Library would not be able to open without the help of the amazing volunteers who support our staff member in providing a full library service, who also plan and host a variety of events from Rhyme Time to Crafts to Family History Sessions and the themed events that run on the last Saturday of each month (look out for the poster in the magazine advertising February’s). We are currently looking for additional community minded folk who could help us keep Shepley Library at the heart of the village, whether that’s by helping on the counter, being part of the events team, helping at our event days or craft sessions or even with our social media or marketing; any help offered is greatly appreciated. Our volunteers range from the young to the not so young, age is definitely not a barrier and octogenarians are not uncommon! At the opposite end of the scale we also work with Duke of Edinburgh students to achieve their volunteering awards and with young people from the local colleges looking at adding enrichment activities to their university applications and CV’s. If you or any one you know could contribute a little time of their choosing, please email [email protected] for further information. Have an event idea or a skill that would work well in our library? We’re always on the lookout for knowledge and skills that could be shared with the community at one of our events, if you have any suggestions or could offer a session then please email [email protected] Kirklees Libraries are working in partnership with Lawrence Batley Theatre to bring: Zing! Creative sessions for little ones and their families. Free fun and creative sessions for little ones and their families. Songs, stories and sensory delights for you and your child led by an experienced artist in the inspiring and creative setting of the Lawrence Batley Theatre. No need to book, just come along. Come to all, come to some, come to one. Everyone welcome. Suitable for under 4s. Café serving hot and cold drinks. For more information and available dates please visit: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/kirkleeslibraries Nigel Hoyle will be exhibiting at Skelmanthorpe Library for Skelmanthorpe Village Art, opening 29th February @villageArt_skelmanthorpe, @nigelhoyleceramics OPEN: Mondays 1-5pm, Thursdays 10am -1pm, Fridays 2-5pm, Saturday 10-12noon Tel: 01484 414868 www.kirklees.gov.uk/libraries P a g e 4 Solitary or Lonely Living? We live in a lovely village which has a good community spirit and plenty of activities, societies, clubs and interest groups. But can we do more? Over Christmas there is often concern expressed in the media about loneliness, and especially how this can impact on the more elderly members of society. Reading that for some people the only interaction over the holiday period with another person is a call from Silver Line, the charity set up by Esther Rantzen, is saddening. Still, many people do try to help their neighbours, or family. But this is not just a Christmas problem, nor is it just limited to the elderly; the mother feeling trapped in a house with infants, the teenager who feels unloved and misunderstood, the recently bereaved or divorced... loneliness is all around us. Some people prefer solitude, but I wouldn't wish loneliness on anyone. Yes, there are all the activities, but do people feel able to access them? There are many commendable people and societies in the village that are so active, but are some people still falling through the cracks? We have lost the Post Office, and the newsagents, and they are sorely missed. Is your elderly neighbour struggling because of this? What else are they struggling with? Cutting the grass, walking their pet, shopping? All the aforementioned clubs and societies rely on volunteers. And all are struggling to recruit volunteers. Beavers, cubs, brownies, sports clubs, the library... Could you help? Let's make 2020 the year when we in Shepley consider how we can be much more active in our community, for the betterment of all. There is a fine line between respecting people's independence and interference. But there is also a stubborn refusal especially by some elderly people to accept help which is genuinely offered and really needed. Maybe you disagree. Maybe you are that senior citizen, or teenager, and don't want any interference. Maybe this is the trigger to go next door and chat to your neighbour. Let your feelings be known. This is your magazine. Jon McKay Silver Line Charity: helpline for older people https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/ Freephone 0800 470 8090 P a g e 5 Julie’s Jaunt in Japan Japan really is the destination people are talking about right now – made even more popular after the Rugby World Cup and of course the upcoming 2020 Olympics.