's Magazine

Free to every Shepley household

Issue No 24: November 2020

Photograph by Fenne Casey

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Dear Readers In Shepley, just as in all towns and villages throughout the country, there will be no community bonfire this year. Even the bonfire capital of , Lewes in Sussex, has had to call off this year’s event. This spectacle with 5,000 participants and up to 80,000 spectators crowding into the narrow streets has marching bands, parades, burning barrels pulled through the streets and several bonfire societies, each with their own “Guy” often being effigies of those people considered by the groups to be worthy of humiliation. In recent years some featured figures have been of Boris Johnson, Tony Blair, Kim Jon-un, Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump amongst many others. There was even one recently of Jeremy Clarkson for some reason, which I imagine he found highly amusing. If the event returns next year hopefully a large Covid virus will be one of the main victims.

In our area “Guys” have largely fallen out of favour except in some smaller garden bonfires. However the Shepley Cricket Club bonfire still does the village proud. It’s always an amazing effort by Brian McCrea who for over a decade has produced a fantastic bonfire, usually working alone for months before the actual date. Last year’s construction, especially, was an absolute work of art. This year he’s been able to have a rest for a change, but I bet he would have far rather been toiling away in all weathers as in the past. All of us who regularly attend this event owe him a big “thank you” and also to all the volunteers who have looked after and managed the displays over the years.

So this time we’ll be back to small garden bonfires, just as when we were younger. As a child I remember the excitement in the days leading up to bonfire night. With instructions on each firework to “Light the blue touchpaper and retire immediately” for the groups of young, mainly boys, roaming the streets with pockets full of explosives, “retiring” was the last thing on our minds. Usually carried were penny bangers or for the richer members “tuppenny” ones which made more of a resounding bang rather than the crack of the cheaper penny ones. Living in a rural area there were some unique subjects for bangers, cow pats being one of the favourite if messy targets.

I always remember the excitement of fireworks appearing in the shops, with their exotic names and colourful packaging. Of course, Standard Fireworks, made in with their slogan “Light Up The Sky With Standard Fireworks” were a massive company and always popular, also producing, Lion Fireworks in Lepton, which many people may also remember. Other fireworks that come to mind were made by Pains and Brocks. The most exciting image was on the “Black Cat” firework which also used to be made in Huddersfield. With its fierce black cat head, jaws open with bared teeth and glaring eyes what more could an impressionable schoolboy want? It’s still available today with offices at Crossland Hill in Huddersfield.

So take care this bonfire night with your household, but most of all enjoy yourselves within the current restrictions. In addition if you have any firework memories or photographs of your own please share them with the magazine, contact details for contributions below.

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. © Copyright Shepley’s Magazine Page 2

Shepley First School

The return to school during September went remarkably well, with everyone in SFS staff team showing their care and adaptability in helping the children to settle back – and new beginners to settle in – to changed routines and timetables. Experience gained during the weeks when the school was open during June and July proved invaluable in the establishment of good hygiene routines and managing the staggered parts of the school day e.g. breaks and lunchtimes.

The main focus now is on ensuring that the curriculum has the right focus and flexibility to meet the needs of all the children during what may be a disrupted time for months to come. As the Head has said, “There is a challenging time ahead; making up for lost face-to-face teaching and learning time in school and getting all children back to where they need to be for this stage in their development and education, is going to be a huge task.”

So far, attendance at school has been good; clear guidance has been provided for families about when/when not to send children to school or keep them at home,but these are not always easy decisions as autumn and winter coughs and sneezes occur during a pandemic. The challenge around that decision will continue for months to come…..which is why a flexible curriculum is needed to sustain progress over periods of absence.

Meantime, within the inevitable restrictions on activities and fund-raising, FOSFS have been working hard to devise some COVID - friendly fund-raising ideas. A Halloween Art Competition and a Dress-up Day for Halloween have already been publicised and in November there will be a Children in Need ramble around the village. In the school newsletter, families have also been able to receive reports of each year group’s activities and to read how core curriculum topics are being addressed.

At a Governors’ meeting held remotely in early October we had very full discussions on the ‘school improvement and recovery plan’ for 2020/21 with its key message “Every Minute Matters…..Make Every Moment Count”.

We do not underestimate what a tough and demanding year this will be for everyone associated with SFS, but we are confident that the right balance will be pursued in addressing the educational, well-being and developmental needs of children within a safe, caring and supportive environment.

As Governors we appreciate everything that all of our staff and so many parents and families are doing for the benefit of SFS children and for Shepley village community as we live through these unusual times. Anne Mace

Tribute to Nancy Parkyn

We would like to offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Nancy Parkyn who passed away on 21st September. Nancy was well known in Shepley and our thoughts go out to her husband Eddie and to Ian, Alison, Bruce, Anne and Fiona and the rest of the family.

A tribute to Nancy will appear in next month’s magazine.

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Cliffe House – Update on Woodland Volunteering

Since the last magazine article, volunteering work was cancelled because of lockdown. Work recommenced in July following measures put in place by the centre management team to enable volunteers to work safely and comply with current guidelines. It was agreed to stagger the start times for two groups of no more than six volunteers, to avoid pinch points when meeting for the day’s tasks. The groups work in different locations of the woodland within the required restrictions. One group started thinning out the rhododendron ponticum hedge to the rear boundary of the lawn and lifting the crown of the magnificent holly tree. The other group cut out all the overhanging branches of the mature trees along the path between the allotment gardens and the main woodland. This group also cleared an area of dogwood (Cornus) adjacent to the top woodland, which had self-layered and was out of control. Other invasive species were also cleared. Work is now ongoing on the three ephemeral ponds in the top ponds area, to clear the overgrown bog plants and overhanging ‘self-set’ trees; the idea being that the volunteers take ownership of this area and make it a development project to bring them back to their former glory. The volunteers always work within the risk assessment and current government guidelines to ensure that everyone on site stays safe. We look forward to the continued workload throughout the autumn and winter and the development of this interesting site.

Here are photos of some of the fungi at Cliffe House, can anyone identify them?

Geoff Ryder – Friends of Cliffe House Woodland Volunteer

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Cliffe House – Community Orchard

We are looking at creating a community orchard in what is known locally as the sledging field. Councillor John Taylor is funding the project. We are looking to plant 30 trees, a selection of apples, pears and cherries. The aim is ultimately to engage with the local community to allow community members to tend the trees, but also take the fruit.

We have marked out the proposed locations of the trees (see photo), we are asking for people’s thoughts on the scheme, but also for a volunteer to help water them once they have been planted. If anyone is interested could they get in touch via email enquiries.cliffehouse@.gov.uk

Jaime Nalson - Centre Manager

Shepley Central England Co-operative

Just dropping customers a quick line to introduce myself. I am Ian Booth, the new Manager at the Co-op in Shepley, having swapped stores with Tom, who has taken my place in the New Mill store. I am looking forward to continuing the good relationships that Tom built with the community and I am confident that with support, we can continue the good work.

A little bit about me. I live in New Mill and have done all my life, apart from a few years in Brockholes when I first got married. I live with my wife, Rachael, (of 29 years) and daughters Katie 26 and Lauren 24. Both daughters are looking to 'fly the nest', although Covid 19 is doing its best to stop them.

I started working for Wooldale Co-operative Society as a Saturday morning shelf filler in 1979 while still at school and worked in all three of its stores in Wooldale, New Mill and Thongsbridge, in various positions, managing them all at some point. I continued to work in the New Mill store when we joined the Central England family in July 2017, until moving to the Shepley store in August 2020.

Ian Booth (Manager Shepley Co-op)

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consumer

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The Berlin Airlift

I have always thought of History as being something that happened years before I was born. We 'did'

History at school, in 1066 and all that. Then a few years ago a teacher at Shelley High told me the Berlin Airlift was part of the curriculum and called Modern History. He asked me to talk to some of the students about it because I had been there. I have now been asked to tell others about it. Here goes. I was called up in November 1946, just three weeks after my 18th birthday. I reported to Lincoln Barracks for my preliminary training and after six weeks’ “square bashing” as it was called, learning how to march and hold a rifle, it was decided I should be a clerk in the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). After training I was posted, in May 1947, to a food supply depot in Aurich in West Germany. Later that year, I was moved to a petrol supply depot near Oldenburg. It was there, in June 1948, that we were ordered to move, double quick, to Wunsdorf Aerodrome. When I say quick I mean it. The order was received early morning and by mid-afternoon twenty-four of us, and one officer, were in the back of a truck, with gear packed and on our way. We arrived on a bright sunny morning. The truck pulled up in front of a large hanger where we were going to stay. It was only then that we found out what it was all about. The hanger was packed high with cases of food of all kinds. There is a well-researched piece on Wikipedia for those of you who want all the details but we learned that the Russians had closed every access to Berlin and that the only way we could supply food and all other supplies, such as coal and animal feed, to those living in Berlin, was by air. We must have arrived on June 24th or thereabouts as no flights had started, but the airfield had a large number of Douglas DC-3 planes on the grass surrounding the runway, (see photo). They were there because all the hangers were full, just like the one in the picture, in which we also had to sleep. I learned later that the British had been supplying the troops in Berlin by air since April and so were better prepared than the U.S. which is perhaps why all that food was already there. Another Corporal and I spent the next twenty four hours calculating what could be put in the Dakotas (DC-3) which could carry 3.5 tons, weight and volume being the determining factors. The rest of the lads in the unit, along with a team of Polish drivers, then had to load up the planes to fly in the air corridor to Berlin, twenty-four hours a day as I remember. The planes had been stripped bare inside and had no doors. Two soldiers flew up to Berlin with each plane to deal with the off-loading. This was a quick turnaround. They went to RAF Gatow and on landing on the runway a lorry would draw up on either side of the plane and the supplies were loaded on to them, taking around thirty minutes. The plane then went to the other end of the runway and returned to Wunsdorf for another trip. Page 7

I went on one of these trips and what an experience! Going was not too bad, although it was cold - I think we were restricted by the Russians to about 3,000 feet - and the off-loading was hectic. Speed was vital, as there was, I think, a flight every three minutes or so. It was coming back that was the problem. The plane was empty and there were no doors. We were in the fuselage and had to sit at the side where there were restrainer wires all along. Our arms were looped over these wires and held firmly in front of us to ensure we were not sucked out of the plane! In a very few weeks the operation became much more organised. Some larger Avro-York 4 engine aircraft arrived, which carried 10 tons and this increased the supplies we were able to deliver each day. Our own work was now routine, but our services were no longer important to the operation. We were given orders to move again. The closure of the borders with East Germany had really fired up the Cold War and the British realised that our whole operation in West Germany was vulnerable. Much of the headquarters command was on the wrong side of the Rhine. We were moved to a village called Arsbeck close to the Dutch border, some miles west of Dusseldorf, to start the build of a new fuel supply depot. We arrived in this small village with no other British presence and took over the village pub/hall, much to the dismay of the family who lived there. I was, by now, fairly fluent in German, having learned it at grammar school. The Army employed quite a few civilians, not all of whom spoke good English, so I had been able to get plenty of practice. The owner of the pub was also the village “Mayor” and we had to liaise through him about why we were there and recruit a great number of civilians for the manual work. This was plentiful as there was little work at that time and we soon had about a hundred labourers. Our new task was to build a large petrol storage/supply depot. This was on land about two or three kilometres nearer the Dutch border which was, in fact, in the old Siegfried Line. This was virgin land and with many trees. I could write a lot more about this but sufficient to say, that having recruited the civilian labourers we got started and within a short time were joined by a fleet of lorries, driven by Polish soldiers, to bring the jerrycans from the railhead about six kilometres away. Then the Royal Engineers arrived to build a rail link.

I went back to Arsbeck many years later and the whole area was by then a large military establishment together with an RAF Airfield. No idea what it is today, but one of my friends served there when he was in the air force! All these years on it is difficult to visualise what our lives were like. Communication was nothing like it is now. No TV, no computers and no mobile phones. The political atmosphere was unknown to us as young soldiers. All we knew was what we heard on the radio and that was not much. I was too interested in listening to Midnight in Munich on the US wave band! I was sent, late 1948, on a pre-release course to Gottingen and introduced to the mysteries of accountancy, law and economics. Then the Russians kicked up again and all demob was cancelled so I did not get home until later in 1949. There were forty lives lost by the British on the Air Lift and eight planes crashed. There is now a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas in Staffordshire. I was once invited by the Secretary of State for Defence to attend a commemorative event. But no medals have been issued, so far as I am aware!!

Richard Barrand

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St Paul's Church

We are continuing to have one Sunday service per week in our group of churches during November and also having a weekly Wednesday morning service at 10.00am at St Paul’s. This will be a repeat of the Sunday services so that we can cater for larger numbers.

We usually have a joint service with the Methodists on Remembrance Sunday, but in view of the fact that both churches can only accommodate restricted numbers, we are going to have the same service at both churches stating at 10.50am and the usual ceremony at the War Memorial itself will follow at about 12.15pm. We are still united in spirit although in different places!

November Services • Sunday 1st November 10.30am at St Paul’s Shepley - Parish Communion followed by Annual Meeting • Sunday 1st November 6.00pm at St Paul's Shepley - All Souls Service • Wednesday 4th November 10.00am at St Paul’s Shepley - Parish Communion • Sunday 8th November 10.50am at St Paul's Shepley - Remembrance Service • Wednesday 11th November 10.00am at St Paul’s Shepley - Parish Communion • Sunday 15th November 11.00am at St Nicholas' Cumberworth - Family Service • Wednesday 18th November 10.00am at St Paul’s Shepley - Parish Communion • Sunday 22nd November 10.30am at St John’s Denby - Parish Communion • Sunday 22nd November 4.00pm at St Nicholas Cumberworth - Kids’ Praise • Sunday 6th December 10.30am at St Paul's Shepley - Parish Communion • Wednesday 25th November 10.00am at St Paul’s Shepley - Parish Communion • Sunday 29th November - Advent Sunday - 10.30am at All Hallows Cluster Service

Because numbers are still limited please contact me at [email protected] or 01484 862350 if you are planning to come so that I can make sure there’s room for you.

It is now mandatory to wear face coverings in church, as in other public buildings, unless you are exempt, so please bring one.

We are still holding our online services for those unable to join us and I will continue to put the link on the Shepley Community Facebook page every week. We are also able to hold christenings, weddings and funerals with limited numbers attending. Please contact me as above to make arrangements.

If there is anything you would like to talk about or would like us to pray for, please contact me or Revd Stephanie Hunter at [email protected] or 01484 605386.

Contact: Revd Canon Joyce Jones Tel: 01484 862350 Mobile 07749 074769 Email : [email protected] Page 10

New Shepley Business: Baxter & Boo

Baxter & Boo is a new gifts and interiors business, recently launched by Shepley resident, Suzanne Wightman. Suzanne, who is known by some locally for her work with the charity, Dementia UK, is establishing the business alongside her part-time role supporting Admiral Nurses.

Suzanne has a passion for gifts and interiors, a foundation qualification in Art and Textile design and also draws from a family background in retail. Suzanne said, "We have a 'focus on local' philosophy and as a result much of our stock has been sourced from suppliers. I have been inspired by creative local makers and wanted to bring together some Yorkshire talent alongside delivering a high standard of customer care." The desire to provide good customer care has seen the business adopt a free drop off/collection service for all customers in the HD8 postcode area, to take advantage of this, use the code HD8FREEDEL at check-out!

Baxter & Boo continues to expand its product range and the gifts have been very popular. As a result, a range of beautifully themed gift bundles have been added to the website and a personalised gift card, pack and wrap service can be added to orders to add a personal touch! This will enable cards and gifts to be sent directly to a recipient from the comfort and safety of the customer’s own home.

"We hope to bring back some enjoyment to the shopping experience as much of that has been lost this year," Suzanne said "We are realising the pleasure of making up orders to the satisfaction of the customer and we enjoy personalising orders which has inspired us to venture into gift hampers."

Each purchase at Baxter & Boo directly supports independent local businesses and craftspeople.

The new website can be found at www.baxterandboo.co.uk and is on Instagram @baxandboo Enquiries to [email protected]

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Letter from our Member of Parliament

Earlier this week there were yet again changes to the local Covid restrictions which we are all subject to as we saw the Government attempt to simplify the rules by bringing in the concept of tiers, with us being in tier two. Having said that I have since been involved in continued discussions with ministers and officials, alongside local council leaders and officers about whether the rising trend of infections we are seeing here means the more stringent measures in tier three would be more appropriate.

The arguments are finally balanced and we all have our role to play in this and by keeping socially distant, avoiding mixing outside our household, wearing masks in indoor spaces where requested and of course most importantly washing our hands frequently, we stand the best way of containing the virus, regardless of the tier we are placed in.

Now we are in autumn there are several annual events coming soon which will need to be very different this year. Halloween and bonfire night will be much more subdued affairs and I am glad to see that here in Shepley the team have managed to come up with ideas for activities which the children can get involved with, making witches and dressing windows in a safe way. Remembrance services in early November will need to be conducted in a mindful way which observes all the rules about meeting outdoors. It is important that we are able to continue to honour and remember those who gave their lives to protect us and I was glad that I was able to ask a question about this in Parliament and get the advice local organizing groups need to make sure that we can still mark this important moment.

Against the background of the pandemic, Parliament has continued to operate and conduct its normal business. The Chamber feels very different with a maximum of fifty members allowed at any one time, whereas when it is full this is usually more than six hundred. In the House we now wear face masks in the crowded areas and corridors, but debates have resumed in Westminster Hall as well as in the Chamber. Many committee meetings are held virtually now, and members join from their offices or in some cases, especially for older and more vulnerable members, from their homes in their constituencies. I have continued to attend Westminster and be active in the Chamber, asking questions and contributing to debates.

I have spoken about the ways in which we can support our local economy, speaking about buying the best, buying British and so saving jobs. I have asked questions about protecting human rights, tackling people trafficking, supporting colleges as well as schools during the pandemic and also got to ask another question of the Prime Minister at the set piece, Prime Minister’s Questions.

To ask a question at PMQs, as it is commonly known, you need to enter your name into a ballot as there are always more members wishing to speak than the time allotted and I have now been lucky enough to twice get the opportunity to ask a question whereas some new MPs have had to wait up to 2 years before they have been successful in the ballot.

I am also a member of several committees of the House and currently the two which are meeting most frequently are the Veterans Bill Committee which is scrutinising the bill which is currently making its way through the various stages to becoming law and also the Committee which is scrutinising the work preparing for our exiting of the transitional arrangements with the EU and the negotiations around a new free trade agreement, which again is very busy and time focused at the moment.

As always if my team or I can be of assistance, pleasePage feel 12 free to email: [email protected] or telephone 01924 939007.

Councillor's Letter

I will start this month with a good news story which is the work on Stretchgates. I have written about this before, but finally work has commenced and as I write the cabling for the new lighted bollards is being laid and the surface roughly levelled. I have been asked by a few people about what the resurfacing will be. Stretchgates is a bridleway and so will not have a tarmac surface as the path needs to have one suitable for horses and cyclists and not motor vehicles. The surface will be a product called Flexipave (Google it), a mixture of recycled rubber tyres and stone bonded together into a flexible, porous surface which allows surface water to drain through it and not cause localised flooding. I don’t yet have a date for this to be installed and that will depend on how long the current work takes, the weather and any changes to covid restrictions. You will also see work starting on Cherry Tree Court shortly. You may recall that they updated us via the Example of Flexipave surface magazine late last year about plans to expand the facilities available there for respite patients with improvements to the extra sensory facilities and this work should be completed by early next year. I am writing this article having spent the last few days involved in discussions with all the parties at Kirklees and Council Officers about the latest changes to local covid restrictions, with us moved into Tier 2. This is likely to remain under review as the number of infections continue to rise, as do the numbers of hospital admissions. I am sure none of us know whether these measures will be sufficient to bring the virus under control and protect people and I suspect that by the time you read this magazine our understanding of the impact of the virus and the actions we need to take to control it may well have moved again. I will be continuing to work closely cross party with other political leaders and Officers and our 4 MPS on this over the next few weeks. My plea to people would be to observe the guidance, even though this is making things difficult for families as we all need to work together to defeat this pandemic. I have, together with my fellow Parish Cllrs, John and Janet, been encouraging local groups to apply for the annual small grants that the parish Council makes available at this time of the year. With the current hiatus of many community organisations and the inability for them to raise funds, this year more than most it is key that we keep these small voluntary groups financially viable so that once we are able to resume all our community activities they have sufficient funds to continue. Finally, cardboard! I am pushing Kirklees to re-instate cardboard recycling facilities at Bromley Farm and elsewhere. We all have more cardboard around as we do more online shopping and it is a widely recycled product. I was horrified when told to put it in general waste to be burnt or sent to landfill at the tip. Instead I am building a cardboard mountain by storing it in my garage. Hopefully I will be able to take it to the tip shortly.

If anyone needs any help or wants to know more about any of these issues I can be contacted on [email protected] or my Kirklees email [email protected] or by phone on 07831 810096. Page 13

Shepley Village Association

On the 13th October we held our monthly SVA meeting.

An update was given on plans for Halloween. This will have taken place by the time this edition of the magazine is distributed, but a report will be in the December edition. Any photos taken on the night would be welcome. This was a Village Association led initiative and it was heartening to see the uptake and thanks to the lady who posted the details on Facebook. We are sure the children will have enjoyed the day.

Updates were given on plans to establish a community orchard in the sledging field; this is in conjunction with Cliffe House and the Village Association gives it full support. There was also an update on the wonderful work carried out at the war memorial. Discussion will start soon on plans to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the unveiling of the memorial. That was in June 1921.

At the meeting, some discussion took place regarding the village green and it was decided to have a specific agenda item at the next monthly meeting. Any ideas as to how we can lift the profile of the green and improve its use would be welcome. Some ideas such as benches and signage were mentioned.

The next monthly meeting will again be via Zoom on 10th November. Link details below.

See poster for the next litter pick and guerrilla gardening. The Village Quizzes have been popular and will continue as per the links below.

Shepley Village Association Monthly Meeting

Nov 10, 2020 at 07:30pm Join the Zoom Meeting at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84447405910?pwd=TkdEb 0k3MGN4U1l4cUJFL0t0QWdRQT09 Meeting ID: 844 4740 5910 Passcode: SVAM

Shepley Village Quiz (two dates)

Nov 11, 2020 at 07:00pm Join Zoom Meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86331394130?pwd=blh6b kxLVS9wSHFlOGtlNE5PbCtRdz09 Meeting ID: 863 3139 4130 Passcode QUIZ

Nov 25, 2020 at 07:00pm Join Zoom Meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83387468294?pwd=RlpTN m5MZVphakVPNnVvUUlyckorZz09 Meeting ID: 833 8746 8294 Passcode QUIZ

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Planning Applications

If you would like to see more details about a planning application or make a comment just enter the planning application number e.g. 2020/14519 on the Kirklees website where it says “search for a planning application”.

If you have any queries about planning matters, your local Kirklees Councillors, John Taylor, Richard Smith and Bill Armer would be happy to help.

2020/92849 Increase roof height to create first floor accommodation, erection of single storey extension and double garage 105, Marsh Lane, Shepley, Huddersfield, HD8 8AP Received 28th August 2020

2020/93114 Erection of a single storey rear extension 32, Stocks Way, Shepley, Huddersfield, HD8 8DL Received 21st September 2020

2020/93263 Erection of single storey front extension 24, Lea Drive, Shepley, Huddersfield, HD8 8HA Received 30th September 2020

2020/93263 Erection of single storey rear extension 3, Jenkyn Gardens, Shepley, Huddersfield, HD8 8FL Received 30th September 2020

Remembrance Sunday – 8th November 2020

For many years, an ALTERNATIVE REMEMBRANCE with cannon firing and refreshments has been held at Croft Nook, Marsh Lane, Shepley.

Sadly, this year it will not be possible to hold this Remembrance due to the Coronavirus restrictions and regulations.

It will, however, be appreciated if you are still able to make your usual donations to the Royal British Legion Poppy Fund.

David Billington

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Shepley Methodist Church - What’s in your pocketses?

(To misquote Gollum from The Hobbit)

One measure of how life changes is to consider what we carry about. As a child, pockets were for things I might pick up along the way, and a large ‘men’s hanky’ – I had terrible hay fever. As I got older I learnt to remember my key (on string round my neck – safer than pockets).

As an adult, purse and keys would later be joined by the mobile phone as things to carry about, then as I began as a minister a diary to keep track of where I was due to be and when. Then when I had evening services or meetings at chapels beyond the street lights I added a torch to my collection for a time.

Since I adopted my dog I have small black bags in every bag and coat pocket. In recent years remembering shopping bags has been a discipline too, only more complicated as I have to remember to put them back into handbag or car after emptying them. Now we add sanitiser and face masks.

What we carry says a lot about who we are and the times we live in – if you travel with a baby or young child then you know how your bags will reflect this – nappies, wipes, change of clothes, a bottle or two, dummies … (and that’s just for you!) But this will not be forever, so too with our covid pockets and bags – this too will pass, and until then, we are not alone.

Times change, and carrying masks is both new to us and yet quickly familiar, times will move on from here, but in the meantime we adapt. For me faith is a support in this time and all times, that God is with us in all the seasons of life, times of sorrow and times of joy and all the stages in between, both when life is a constant shift and change and when it has a steady rhythm.

Whatever your bags or pockets say about you, may you have the space to express the fullness of who you are in the experience of compassion over this time.

Contact: Rev. Helen Roberts Telephone: 01484 305308

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In Shepley 1200 households see these adverts every

month.

If you would like to advertise in 2021 contact us now at:

[email protected]

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Paper White Narcissi Winter Blooms for Christmas

Bring spring indoors. Paper White Narcissi will fill your home with fragrance this Winter. Buy paper white bulbs which are sold especially for forcing. You can grow Paper Whites in several ways.

To grow in stones, pebbles, or gravel. Use a container which is waterproof and at least several inches deep; a wide necked glass vase or glass bowl is ideal. Put in a couple of inches of stones or gravel and place the bulbs pointy side up, on top, close together and almost touching. Fill between the bulbs with more gravel or decorative pebbles up to the shoulders of the bulbs, as this will help to anchor them in place. Fill the container with water to the level of the bottom of the bulb so the roots will be in the water and not the bulb itself. Put the planted container in a cool dark place [ideally 50- 60F – 10-15C] for one to two weeks. When the roots begin to take hold and the foliage has started to emerge from the bulbs bring out into a warm sunny place, not to hot (avoid a windowsill above a radiator), making sure to water them and that the roots only are in the water.

Paper Whites can grow very tall. If the container is very shallow you can insert decorative twigs in between the bulbs to give support and add a decorative touch. If you don’t want the Narcissi too grow to tall, to limit their height (by about 30%), when you bring the bulbs into a warm sunny place drain the water from the container and replace the water with a solution made up of one part rubbing alcohol and nine parts water (about 5% alcohol solution).

The Narcissi should take about four to six weeks to bloom. Cooler spots out of direct sunlight will encourage the leaves to green up, while a brighter position will accelerate blooming. Christine Usher

Co -op Clock to Cricket Club: time goes on

When the old Co-op in Station Road closed to be replaced by our splendid existing facilities, the clock that had adorned the former shop was removed. The whereabouts of the clock was sourced by Shepley residents Andrew Green and Richard Haigh.

The clock's dial was beautifully restored, and gold leafed by Andrew. Specialist clockmakers, Sinclair Harding of Emley very kindly donated their time and expertise in designing and manufacturing a new clock mechanism and the new hands of the clock have been designed with a very impressive cricket theme.

Finally, the clock has now been put in place on our relatively new clubhouse building and the installation costs have been met by the generosity of Andrew Green and fellow Shepley resident Tony Riley.

The cricket club are indebted to all involved in this exercise, not least to Robert Bray of Sinclair Harding together with Andrew Green and at the installation end of proceedings, Tony Riley and also to committee member Paul Kaye. David Hall

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Local Business – Argo Feeds Ltd

Argo Feeds is a family owned manufacturer and distributor of animal feeds. The company is based at Kirkwood Mill in Penistone, where all its activities are controlled from production of own brand feeds, warehousing and distribution to retail with a Country Store and Pet Food Warehouse.

The business has had to make many operational changes due to Covid-19 restrictions, to help keep our employees and customers safe. This has certainly felt challenging at times, given the ever changing guidelines we all have to apply. Administration staff worked from home where possible and some sales staff were furloughed.

We launched our new local delivery service to cater for members of the public who were either shielding or reluctant to go into shops, which has been a great success. Initially, at the beginning of lockdown, demand for animal feed soared and, coupled with a reduced work force, it was difficult to fulfil demand and maintain the service we strive to provide. By the end of spring, turnover fell to more normal levels and we fell into a new ‘normal’ working life. In the quieter months over the summer we commenced improvements to the Country Store which will be finished for winter.

Our staff have been incredible, working extra hours and days, serving the public with a smile and helping everyone continue to feed their beloved animals.

Tom Goldthorpe

See our advert on the inside page of the magazine.

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Shepley Bird and Wildlife Group

What is this?

It’s not what you might think; I didn’t leave behind a lump of grass after mowing the lawn. This is a nest of the Common Carder Bee (Bombus Pascuorum), a small, social bee that nests in sites such as cavities, old birds’ nests and mossy lawns (they certainly hit the jackpot with mine)! Common and widespread in gardens, farmland, woodland, hedges and heaths - wherever there are flowers to feed on - they can be seen from April to November.

This small, pretty bee measures only 13-15 millimetres, about the size of my fingernail (I have small hands) and has a fluffy, cream- bordered thorax and a dark abdomen. There may be up to two hundred workers in a colony. A queen emerges from hibernation in spring and starts a colony by laying a few eggs. These will hatch as workers, who tend the young and nest. Males emerge later and mate with new females, who will become future queens. The males and the old queen die in autumn, while the new queens leave to hibernate; they will continue the cycle the following year.

This nest has a chamber below the surface of the ground. When I first saw it, it measured barely ten centimetres across. Three weeks later it had grown to twice that size. The intricately woven grass/moss thatch forms a slightly domed “lid” which shelters it and it sits right at the edge of the lawn, partially shaded by the holly hedge. Until this year, I knew nothing about these bees, but I did a bit of research and I now feel privileged to have them as my neighbours.

Penny Chambers

Contacts details: email: [email protected] Tel: Chris Marks 01484 608652

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Shepley Naturalists Society

We’d love to welcome anyone interested in wildlife to join us. Phone Sue Whitehouse 605614 or David Fisher 682903 or visit our website: shepley-naturalists.weebly.com

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Shepley Bowling Club

If the Covid-19 has a silver lining, then it is at the bowling club. After the hot dry summer of 2018 where most of the greens in the Huddersfield District were decimated due to the lack of watering, this year has been a period of recovery.

In 2019, not just Shepley but a number of other greens in the district were substandard having bare patches, uneven surfaces and humps affecting all manner of bowling. However, the greens did not really recover, despite having had a great deal of TLC.

The photo shows Shepley green after scarifying, aerating and top dressing for the winter. The green has also been reseeded using a below the surface drill machine.

The 2020 league season was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but members still expressed a desire to play socially. The recommendations of the British Crown Green Bowling Association and the Yorkshire Crown Green Bowling Association were to follow guidelines to comply with government rules. These were followed by the committee who agreed to allow social bowling, initially for two people to bowl on the green in any one hour and later increasing this to four after consulting members for their agreement.

With the reduction of players on the green this allowed the playing surface to recover and with the dedication and hard work by Norman Raper (Treasurer), Bob Oldham (Greenkeeper) and Michael Hirst (Greenkeeper Croquet Lawn) who concentrated on bringing the green back to some sort of normality. This work deserves to be applauded.

A very big thank you to them and any other helpers who have been involved.

To allow the introduction of members/players on the green without contravening Covid-19 guidelines, time slots had to be organised for 45 minutes play with a 15-minute change over period. This was expertly managed by John Cowan (2nd Team Captain), who volunteered for the role.

He organised a system for members to book individual games or block bookings and this has run very smoothly. A big thank you goes to John for his endeavours for undertaking this arduous task.

We all as a community hope that normality resumes as soon as possible and for bowlers throughout the Huddersfield District, that the leagues will once again commence for the 2021 season.

Remember - Hands, Face, Space, and keep safe.

Geoff Ryder –Veterans Representative Shepley B.C.

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Shepley People: Florrie Welburn – a ‘Woman of Steel’

Shepley resident Florrie Welburn was born in on 8th May 1924, making her ninety-six and one of the oldest residents in the village. It was a privilege to spend some time with her in her garden on a lovely sunny Autumn afternoon. The family has been important to Florrie all her life and this photo is of Florrie with her youngest great granddaughter, Nell Florence Welburn; the oldest try Corner and the youngest members of the family. At the age of eight Florrie survived diphtheria and six years later left school at fourteen and moved to Bournemouth to work in a hotel as a chambermaid and waitress, which she thoroughly enjoyed. However when war broke out her mother wanted her home, saying that if they were going to die they would all die together. She left Bournemouth and came to live at to help look after her nephew, allowing her sister to continue working. Her sister gave up work when expecting her second baby, and Florrie at sixteen was able to get a job at David Brown’s in Penistone, making parts for tanks. Unfortunately, through no fault of her own, she was involved in an industrial accident which resulted in her losing her sight in one eye. No longer able to work at David Brown’s she then started working as a piecer at Armitage’s Textile Mill on the Knowle, now the site of Shepley Spring, piecing together broken threads, which in her words involved, “Winding onto the loom to keep the weavers going.” She met her husband Jack Welburn in Birdsedge, and they were married on 15th September 1945. Jack was an only child, whereas Florrie was one of seventeen. They continued to live in Birdsedge, at Field Cottages, with their two sons, David and Rick, in a house with one room, a cellar and two bedrooms, an earth-closet and a tin bath in front of the fire on a Friday evening! Jack later became the weaving shed manager at the mill where they both worked and they were fortunate in 1958 to move into a tied house, part of Hall Royd, the former mill owner’s house which had been divided into two properties. This is where Florrie lives today; her home for over 62 years. During the Second World War the house was commandeered by the Fire Service and a window was taken out at the front, so the fire engine could be garaged in the lounge! Caring for family and others has always been a big part Florrie’s life, as she worked as a home help too, regularly spending three hours doing housework for the people she supported. She also worked at Cherry Tree Court for ten years when it was an old people’s home, before retiring at the age of sixty- one in 1985. Florrie described Shepley as being like a town now rather than a village, apart from the fact that today there are no shops except the Co-op. She remembers there being a lovely bakers where you could get bread and cakes and there were newspapers for sale in the Black Bull carpark.

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Florrie likes her routines, especially that first cup of tea every morning, made in a teapot and brought to her in a china cup and saucer at 6.15 am every morning by David, her son, who lives in a separate part of the house; it has to be a cup, as tea in a mug never tastes right. A few years ago, after becoming virtually blind, Florrie had a cataract operation, which thankfully was a complete success. Regaining her sight gave her a new lease of life and she now enjoys reading large print books again. Lockdown for Florrie has not made a great deal of difference to her life and she is happy living in Shepley with sons David, Rick and Irene, her daughter-in-law, who regards her as a second Mum; all on hand to offer support. In fact Florrie said that she had the best birthday ever this year in lockdown when her granddaughter-in-law Penny and great granddaughters Kyja and Amelia, from Band played ‘Happy Birthday’ to her from the garden. She said that it was lovely, as she’d never had music before on her birthday. In 2010 Florrie was invited to a banquet at Town Hall by the Lord Mayor in recognition of the work she did, along with many other women who worked in the Yorkshire steel industry when the men went off to war. Sadly illness prevented her from attending, but she still has the invite – an appreciation of her contribution to the war effort; something her family are very proud to possess. Florrie, you have seen many changes in your lifetime and you are certainly a woman of steel in more ways than one. We look forward to you celebrating your 100th birthday when I’m sure music can be arranged again!!

The ‘Women of Steel’ bronze sculpture by Martin Jennings was unveiled in Sheffield in 2016 to commemorate the women who worked in the steel industry during the First and Second World War.

Pam Chew

Shelley Village Hall

Shelley Village Hall is open as a Covid-secure venue, adhering to all Government guidance for your safety and with Track and Trace QR codes for peace of mind.

At present the following groups are operating: Pilates, exercising in line, movement and exercise, dog training school and some over 60's activities including art, exercise, bingo and carpet bowls.

If you would like to know more about joining any of these groups then please contact Sheila Tarbatt on [email protected] Ann Pearson

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We Are: Shepley Library

We’ve been open for a few weeks now and it’s been wonderful welcoming borrowers back into the library and seeing some long-missed faces. We are continuing to extend our opening times and the services we offer, and you can keep up to date with the latest changes by visiting:

www.kirkleestogether.co.uk http://www.kirkleeslibraries.co.uk/

KirkleesLibraries @Kirkleeslibrary

We have a vast array of FREE on-line resources that can currently be accessed at home, including Ancestry and over 30,000 eBooks.

Resources can be found at: https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/libraries/online-resources.aspx

We also have a YouTube channel where you can view our Library Adventures Live! author and illustrators events, videos from Christina Longden our Writer In Residence, and New Local Heritage Walks & Talks. Just enter Kirklees Libraries into the search bar. ------Library Rhyme Time

A reminder of Rhyme Time at the library! As a volunteer I used to do Story/Song time at Shepley library and three other local libraries. Unfortunately, due to Covid, this had to stop and seems unlikely to start again any time soon. I would therefore like to offer a monthly action rhyme and as a starter, I propose 'Wheels on the Bus' which I'm sure most of you will know, with the option here to sing along, watch or listen on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBZcP0kD4Vo

The Wheels on the Bus

The wheels on the bus go round and The driver on the bus goes beep, beep, beep round The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish Round and round The babies on the bus go wah, wah, wah Round and round The children on the bus go up and down The wheels on the bus go round and The mummies/daddies on the bus go chatter, chatter, round chatter All day long The grannies on the bus go knit, knit, knit To add extra interest we can have a bus full of animals – making the necessary noises!! For example

Farm animals: Or wild animals: The cows on the bus go moo, moo, The lions on the bus go roar, roar, roar The pigs on the bus go oink, oink, oink The snakes on the bus go hiss, hiss, hiss The crocs on the bus go snap, snap, snap

Have fun making up some more. The possibilities are endless. Paul Holtham

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Sports Fixtures

Emley AFC Home Fixtures Tuesday, 3 November 2020, 19.45 KO EMLEY AFC v SKEGNESS TOWN

Saturday, 7 November 2020, 15.00 KO EMLEY AFC v BRIGG TOWN

Saturday, 14 November 2020, 15.00 KO EMLEY AFC v WINTERTON RANGERS

Saturday, 28 November 2020 , 15.00 KO EMLEY AFC v EAST HULL

Saturday, 12 December 2020, 15.00 KO EMLEY AFC v ARMTHORPE WELFARE

Saturday, 26 December 2020, 15.00 KO EMLEY AFC v CAMPION

Fixtures subject to change, please check the Emley AFC website for more details at emleyafc.co.uk Some matches require pre-booked tickets due to Covid-19 restrictions. Again, check the website for more information.

Yorkshire Parkin 8 oz (225g) S R Four 8 oz (225g) Oatmeal 8 oz (225g) Demerara Sugar 8 oz (225g) Golden Syrup 4 oz (110g) Butter 2 Eggs 3 Teaspoons Ground Ginger ¼ pint (150ml) Milk Melt butter, sugar and syrup in a large pan (or bowl to microwave).

Sift and add the dry ingredients.

Beat the eggs and milk together and stir into the mixture.

Pour into a 9x9 inch (23cm) foil-lined tin to bake at 160o C (320oF) Gas Mark 2 for one hour.

It will be firm, golden and shiny on top when it is cooked. Angela Tolson

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Health Education Doctors' Surgery 602001 Shepley First School 603230 Shepley Pharmacy 605608 Shepley Preschool. 606022 Out of hours - NHS Online 111 Birdsedge First School. 605441 Emergencies only 999 Shelley First School. 222750 Dentist - Shepley 606050 Dentist - Lepton 605303 . 865444 Huddersfield Royal Infirmary Hos. 342000 Kirkburton Middle School 222737 Royal Infirmary Hospital Shelley College 868777 - out patients 01422 357171 High School. 691460 Hospital 01226 730000 Cliffe House, Shepley 225083 Holme Valley Hospital 690342 Option 3 Only Orthodontics. 454600 Churches Your Local Politicians

St. Paul's Church Member of Parliament Rev'd Canon Joyce Jones 862350 Mark Eastwood 01924 939007 07749 074769 email: [email protected] Letting Stewards: Kirklees Councillors Margaret & David Iredale 607116 Bill Armer 01484 314314 email: [email protected] Shepley Methodist Church John Taylor 07831 810096 Rev. Helen Roberts 305308 email: [email protected] Letting Steward: Liz Hirst 602451 Richard Smith 07799 310725 email: [email protected] Police Parish Councillors Emergency Only. 999 John Taylor 07831 810096 For Police attendance. 101 email: [email protected] Kirkburton Police Station 436898 John Cowan 07710 563889 or 608218 Huddersfield Police Station 436876 email: [email protected] British Transport Police 0800 405040 Janet Roebuck 606482 Transport Local Services Metro 0113 245 7676 Shepley Library 414868 National Rail Enquiries 08457 484950 Shepley Co-op 604163 Arriva Bus 0344 800 4411 Sovereign Co-op 603524 First West & N Yorkshire 0113 381 5000 Holmfirth Pool 766365 Yorkshire Tiger 0344 8004411 Scissett Baths 766878 Waterloo depot. 537277 Kirklees Light Railway 865727 Honley Depot. 660808 Tourist Information Holmfirth 414868 Complaints 01422 371099 LBT Theatre Huddersfield 430528 Penistone Line Partnership - Penistone Paramount 01226 767532 Rowena Chandler 07912 753817 Donaldson's - Vets 508708

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS TELEPHONE USEFUL Airport 0871 288 2288 Royal Mail (charged at 13p per minute) Sorting Office Scissett 864725 Airport 0808 169 7030 Customer Services 0345 740740

All numbers 01484 unless stated otherwise Page 33

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