Old Sodbury Times Volume 9, Issue 3 March 2015 Dates for your Diary: OLD SODBURY NEEDS YOU At the Village Hall: Every Wed –Sunflowers Toddlers 10am th On the same day as the General Election, 7 May, there is an election for 18 Mar W.I. 7.30pm Sodbury Town Council (STC). 21 Mar Village Spring Clean 10am This time round it looks as if Old Sodbury could be under-represented through a 28 Mar W.I. Spring Disco meal & dance lack of people standing . STC is made up of 15 councillors, 10 from Chipping 15 Apr W.I. 7.30pm Sodbury and 5 from Old Sodbury , which gives us a big say in what happens in 18 Apr Comedy Night 7pm the area. In my time, the biggest issue was the Waitrose development. At The Church The purchase of the new offices on the High St., near the Tourist Information 26-28 Mar Spring Clean Church 10am Centre and the Library. This will raise the profile of the Council, as many people At Chipping Sodbury Town Hall had no idea where the old offices were, tucked away behind the Royal Oak. 11 Mar Jekka McVicar Herbs 7.30pm

Coming up is the building of 2,400 dwellings in North Yate which is bound to have 200 Club Winners a great impact on the future of the Sodburys and councillors will need to monitor January No 198 Mr D.Wallace £25 the effects of these developments in Old Sodbury. February No 174 Mr C.Bell £25 So are there any volunteers? Once a month, at 7.30pm on Tuesday is the mini- mum commitment, although you may like to get involved in other committees, such as planning. It is a tenure of 4 years, with an experienced Town Clerk and her assistant to support and advise. People who are able to contribute are badly needed and if you think that this would be an interesting, public spirited thing to do please contact me, John Allard, on 01454 313254 or speak to Cate, the Town Clerk, on 01454 321336. The website is www.sodburytowncouncil.gov.uk The last date for the registration is the 9th of April. 30mph for Old Sodbury Residents of Old Sodbury are aware of the very long running campaign to get a 30mph speed limit for the village. Please respond to the current consultation to get a 30mph for the village. The recent very bad accidents near Catchpott Lane will have prompted further investigations, and further work may have to be done in the future, however, please do respond to this survey which is available at the local libraries and through www.southglos.gov.uk, checking out the Have Your Say page.

Village Spring Clean 21st March—Clear the litter. Meet Village Hall 10am. Pickers etc provided

th Saturday 18 April is COMEDY NIGHT at The Village Hall 7pm HOST COMEDIAN OPENING COMEDIAN HEADLINE COMEDIAN JAMES REDMOND COLIN COLE GERRY K

A triple bill of professional comedians, a three course meal and a great night out. Saturday April 18 for this Official Comedy Club Night. The host for the evening is James Redmond, comedian and actor, who many may know from his part as ‘Abs’ in or other roles in , and . First Act is Colin Cole, a 6’ 7’’ Australian who has been taking the UK circuit by storm. The headline act is Gerry K, also an actor having played in The Bill and Angelo’s, he is well known on the national Comedy Circuit, with a number of awards to his name including Comedy Café’s Best Newcomer Awards. All three are quality performers who cater for a broad range of tastes, but you won’t need to be broad minded, this will be a show for everyone. Starting at 7pm for a 7.30 meal, with the show running from around 9 to 11pm Tickets are £20 per person (including 3 course meal) and are going fast. To book please call Rodney on 310224 or Ian on 314923

www.thecomedyclub.co.uk PAGE 2 OLD SODBURY TIMES VOLUME 9, ISSUE 3 Old Sodbury Church Annual Spring Clean and Churchyard Clear-Up St. John's Church, Old Sodbury is having its annual spring-clean on the 26th, 27th and 28th March with a clear-up in the churchyard on Saturday 28th March. We would really appreciate your help, even if you can only spare an hour or so, there is no need to book a place, just turn up on any of these mornings from 10am. For the churchyard clear up please wear suitable footwear and bring garden- ing gloves and tools if you have them. These mornings provide an opportunity to get to know fellow villagers and church members in an informal & friendly environment and as an added incentive, there will be coffee and cake provided mid morning as a thank you for volunteering. There are 8 weddings booked at the church between April and October and we are looking to pay someone to clean the church before each wedding. There is a possibility that this maybe extended to cleaning on a monthly basis by mutual agreement. If interested please contact the Church Wardens for further details Karen Hunter 01454 319903 or John Myers 01454 312223

Old Sodbury has a new bus service—the 622 Thornbury to Tetbury. Times from Old Sodbury to Chipping Sodbury, Yate , Thornbury: Mon—Fri 7.10, 9.25, 10.25, 12.25, 14.50, 16.25, 17.25 Saturday 9.25, 10.35, 12.05, 13.45, 15.15, 16.45, 18.05 Times from Yate to C/Sodbury, O/Sodbury and Tetbury: Mon— Fri 8.02, 9.02, 11.00, 13.00, 13.45, 15.00, 16.00, 18.00 Saturday 9.30, 11.05, 12.05, 14.05, 15.35, 17.05, 18.05 This gives another opportunity for a bus walk. We have walked from Tetbury to Westonbirt via The Monarch’s Way and caught the bus back from Westonbirt. For a longer walk one could walk on to Didmarton and catch the bus back. Alternatively by taking the Malmesbury 41 bus to Sherston, walk to Westonbirt and then on to Tetbury, or of course the reverse! It is also now easy to take the bus to and from Westonbirt Arboretum. Old Sodbury now has 17 buses calling per day going to and from Yate.

Planning an organic Herb Garden Savoury pancakes Make a pancake mix using 125g plain flour, pinch Jekka McVicar will be talking on of salt, 1 egg and 300ml milk & water. Whisk well Wednesday March 11th at 7.30pm to make a smooth batter. Make pancakes, either C/Sodbury Town Hall. about 4-5 large or 8-10 small and keep warm. Tickets £10.00 to include Chop a medium onion and soften in a pan with a wine and refreshments. small amount oil. Add 250g spinach, chopped and blanched. Mix vegetables with 125g crumbled Feta Tickets from the T.I.C. or cheese and fill pancakes. Season, roll up and place Pat Fryer Tel: 01454 853736 in an ovenproof dish. Organised by Sodbury in Bloom Make 300ml seasoned white sauce and pour over pancakes. Heat oven to 180°C and cook stuffed Sunflowers Toddler Group pancakes for 30-35mins Serve as a snack or with A small, friendly group for all ages up to pre- other vegetables for a main meal. school. Pancakes may be stuffed with other fillings e.g. mince mixture. For two people use half the pan- Wednesdays 10-12 at Old Sodbury Village Hall cakes stuffed and the rest served the traditional during term time. £2 to cover costs Lots of space for play. Colouring and stories. way with lemon and sugar etc. Pancakes can be New Mums and Dads welcome. separated with greaseproof and frozen for use later. Contact: Sarah on 07854 405 785 Pauline Wilson VOLUME 9, ISSUE 3 OLD SODBURY TIMES PAGE 3

Our opportunity to try cup cake decorating with Sue Duggan from OLD SODBURY W.I. Teach Me Sugarcraft was enjoyed enormously by our members at our February meet- ing. Everyone who attended voted the meeting to be a Spring “School Disco” great success. Sat. 28th March 2015 We will be welcoming Paul Evans who will entertain us with anecdotes and poems at our meeting on Wednesday 7.30pm Old Sodbury Village Hall 18 March at 7.30 p.m. We have a varied programme for in aid of WI funds. 2015 including talks about travelling, the guide A School Dinner movement, a talk entitled rather intriguingly "All That Glitters", and plans are underway for future visits to and dancing to the music of your youth. Chavenage House and also the University Botanical School Uniform optional! Gardens in Bristol. Tickets are now available for our Bring your own drinks & glasses very popular "School Disco" to be held on 28 March and are sure to sell quickly. New members are most welcome Tickets £12.50 and if you would like any information on Old Sodbury From A.Barber 326437 WI, or tickets for the "School Disco" please contact or S.Leah 315161 Elaine on 01454 327803. Raffle proceeds to Charity GARDEN OPENING Short Mat Bowls The New Year commenced with a party for members and guests in the Village Hall with a sumptuous supper followed by some light hearted card games. On Monday 18th January we had a very enjoyable social evening of Bowls with the Village Hall Committee and 13th &14th June guests. There were some interesting games causing much hilarity during the evening ! A welcome tea and coffee break with cakes and biscuits gave an opportunity 2-5.30pm for members to socialise with the guests. It was suggest- ed that we plan a similar evening sometime in the future. It is still not too late to enter your We have had a good number of members coming to play garden, large or small, quirky or on Monday evenings despite coughs and colds . We look forward to a year of better health and regular games of formal, the more the merrier. We hope Bowls. If there are enough members able to play on a to have art exhibitions, live music, Thursday evening this may happen. lunch at Barbara’s on Saturday, Our next competition will be for pairs on Sunday March 1st teas, ice creams, a children’s trail and when we compete for the Denis Hanks Memorial Trophy. Visitors and prospective new members are welcome to wonderful weather! come to the Village Hall on a Monday evening at 6.30 or All offers of help welcome. 7.30pm. For more information ring 01454 315161. Please Contact: Pauline Wilson Ed Drewitt’s dawn chorus walk 01454310540 email: [email protected] 15th March at 5.30am-7am. £6.00 pp. Booking essential. Late News: Join expert Ed Drewitt for a walk through the woodland terraces of Dyrham Park, identifying the different Congratulations to Mrs Christina Smith of songbirds which make the cacophony of sound that is the dawn chorus, a unique aspect of the British country- 78 Chapel Lane on the birth of her first great side in springtime. Once the crescendo quietens down, grand-daughter Tiarna Leigh. A daughter for you will learn different birdsongs too under Ed’s tuition. Hayley and Jonny, grand-daughter of Sharon A coffee and croissant is included. and Christopher; and little niece of Ryan and Bradley. To book call: 0117 937 1333 or email [email protected] Old Sodbury Football Club— Fixtures—1st Team 7 Mar Winterbourne A A lot of games have been called off due to the wet weather. No games have 14 Shaftesbury H been played at Old Sodbury for 6 weeks due to a waterlogged pitch 21 Eden Grove A 28 Highridge H The first team after the beating at Hallen have had good wins against 4 Apr Totterdown A Totterdown and Shaftesbury where new signing 17yr old Jordan Hickman 7 Mendip Utd H scored all four goals in a 4-1 win. A late goal saw Hallen win 3-2 at Y.O.S.C. 11 Lebeq H with Hickman getting 2 more goals. The two games against Nicholas 18 Olveston A Wanderers and Eden Grove saw the team lose by the odd goal. A night 23 Wick A game against Longwell Green was a new experience for the team playing 25 Wick H under lights; after leading for most of the game they were beaten 4-3. A solid all-round performance against Olveston 2-0 saw the first win in five Fixtures-Reserves matches. 7 Mar Sea Mills H 14 Greyfriars A The reserves had 3 games at home called off. Fry’s game was switched to 21 Tormarton A Somerdale and the lads won 7-2 with seven different goal scorers. Sweet 4 Apr Oldland H revenge as the boys went away to beat Bradley Stoke 2-1 after drawing at 11 Westerleigh A home in December. The first home game in 7 weeks saw a hard fought goal- 15 Soundwell H less draw with Staple Hill Orient. The game was a credit to the league from 18 Sea Mills A the top two sides. A depleted side still had an easy win away to Bromley Heath 6-0. Roman Glass, whose top two sides didn’t have games , put out a very strong side and ran out 5-3 winners. It was only the second defeat for the team this season.

Old Sodbury Youth Football Club formed an Topograph Renewed This was erected under 14s team in September with the objective being to develop boys to play for the seniors in a few years’ to mark the time. The boys have now played eight matches, Millennium winning four, with the highlight so far a fine 2-0 victory at the view- away to leaders Stockwood. Local boy Ross Womack point near is top scorer with ten goals and we’re really pleased the church. with how the boys have gelled as a team. The season draws to a close in April but new players are always It sustained welcome as we look ahead to next season. To be damage last eligible to join, boys will need to be in either school year. year nine or ten in September. For further information please contact Damian on 07947 763554. We are pleased OLD SODBURY CRICKET CLUB are to say, that looking for new members to enable thanks to Julian Shipp, it fixtures to take place. All ages and has now been abilities welcome. Games held restored and Wednesday evenings with the emphasis now stronger, it is back in position. on enjoyment. Please contact Rodney Gleed on 01454 310224 THANKS JULIAN AND TRACY

Old Sodbury Village Quiz This was an enjoyable if brain stretching evening. A grand total of £472 was raised for Village Hall funds. Don’t forget the weekly quiz at The Dog on Tuesdays at 9pm. It’s great fun and you never know who is going to be there or how things will be pronounced.

Please send in your news to either Laura Walker Tel: 313445 or Pauline Wilson Tel: 310540 email [email protected] Deadline for May edition 15th April. For Village Hall bookings contact Carol Rowland Tel: 314923 or www.oldsodburyvillagehall.com THANK YOU TO ALL who have helped with this edition. WE AL- WAYS WELCOME MORE CONTRIBUTORS Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed or implied within this publica- tion are not necessarily those of the editors. Any articles submitted are on the basis that they can be edited and must not be anonymous.