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A Newsletter for the Villages of King's Thorn, Little Birch & Much Birch – February 2008

Little Birch Panto Snow White Tickets for Saturday night are now sold DIARY DATES FEBRUARY 2008 out, there are still a few available for the ST ND ST 1 & 2 FEBRUARY – Snow White FRIDAY evening 1 FEBRUARY TH performance and the SATURDAY 2ND 5 FEBRUARY – Pancake Night 7TH FEBRUARY – M.B.P.C. Meeting – Schools Reorganisation FEBRAURY matinee performance. TH ______8 FEBRUARY – Lent Lunches TH – 12 FEBRUARY – Little Birch Whist Drive Pancake Night TH After the success of last year’s event, we 12 FEBRUARY – Pact Forum TH are holding another Pancake Night starting 14 FEBRUARY – Emergency Life Support Training at 7.00pm. on TUESDAY 5TH 16TH FEBRUARY – Flicks in the Sticks FEBRUARY in Little Birch Village Hall. 18TH FEBRUARY – Kilpeck Art Club – 1st day of Term Sweet and savoury fillings available – 19TH FEBRUARY – WI Entrance fee £2.00 to include 2 pancakes 20TH FEBRUARY – Memories Evening with a filling of your choice additional 21ST FEBRUARY – Community Safety Evening pancakes 50p each. Refreshments 22ND FEBRUARY – Village Market available and prize draw. TH ______28 FEBRUARY – Easter Bingo ADVANCE NOTICES Lent Lunches TH These are in aid of Sightsavers and begin 11 MARCH – Evergreen Club AGM 15TH MARCH – Flicks in the Sticks early this year. The first will be held in TH Little Birch Village Hall on FRIDAY, 8TH 19 MARCH – Pla nning Issues TH FEBRUARY from 12.30pm to 2.00pm. 8 APRIL – Evergreen Club Outing There will be a variety of soups on offer 23RD APRIL – Little Birch Village Hall AGM with cheese and rolls to follow. Please support this very worthy cause and have a the next PACT Forum, which will be in Flicks in the Sticks chat to friends in the area, some of whom three months time. in association with Arts Alive you may not have seen for some while. There have been a number of these This month’s film is one for all the family ______Forums throughout Herefordshire – RATATOUILLE “U” at Much Birch Whist Drive previously, but the venue for this area has Community Hall, on SATURDAY 16TH The next Whist Drive is on TUESDAY been in Peterchurch up until now. Due to FEBRUARY. TH 12 FEBRUARY at Little Birch Village pressure from various quarters, the venue In this hilarious new animated adventure, Hall – 7.30pm start entrance fee £1.50 – has at last been changed to a venue on a rat named Remy dreams of becoming a excellent prizes – refreshments available – Hereford Rural South's area, so we hope great chef despite the obvious problem of new players welcome. you will support us and come along being a rat in a decidedly rodent-phobic ______profession. When fate places Remy in the Pact Forum Much Birch Community Hall city of Paris, he finds himself ideally The Golden Valley and South We are holding an EMERGENCY LIFE situated beneath a restaurant made famous Herefordshire PACT Forum is being held SUPPORT TRAINING COURSE on by his culinary hero, Auguste Gusteau. at M.B. Village Hall on TUESDAY 12TH THURSDAY, 14TH FEBRUARY (St Remy forms an unlikely partnership with FEBRUARY at 7.00pm. Valentine’s Day) at 7.00pm. (for Linguini, the garbage boy, who PACT stands for Partners and approximately two hours) The course, inadvertently discovers Remy's amazing Communities Together, and the partners, run by HeartStart, teaches members of the talents. in our case, are West Mercia Police and public some life support skills covering Doors open at 7.00pm. and the film Herefordshire Council. life threatening emergencies that can commences at 7.30pm. Tickets are £3.50 The Local Policing Teams from Golden happen in a variety of situations. (£2.50 under 16s) and are available in Valley and Hereford Rural South, and the Members of the public are invited and the advance or on the door. For further Ward Councillors from the same areas course is free. No booking necessary, just information or to book tickets please call will be there, and it is your chance to have turn up on the night. Further details if Bryony Connolly on 01981 541274. th your say and ask any questions of the needed from John Jones Tel: 01981 Coming up… 15 March – BECOMING partners. The issues you raise will be 540980 JANE taken away by the relevant authority, and ______an update on progress will be brought to Kilpeck Art Club Kilpeck Village Hall, but I'll remind you Please come along on WEDNESDAY TH The Club members thank everyone who nearer the time. 19 MARCH at 7:30pm at Little Birch have supported and encouraged them ______Village Hall and get your planning queries during the past year and wish all readers a Much Birch Village Market explained. really happy 2008. The February Village Market will be held ______With the exception of Easter Monday, 24th in Much Birch Community Hall between HEREFORDSHIRE SCHOOLS March, the Club’s Spring Term will be 2.30pm and 4.30pm on FRIDAY, 22ND RE-ORGANISATION each MONDAY in Kilpeck Village Hall, FEBRUARY and we look forward to all M.B. CE Primary School starting MO NDAY 18TH FEBRUARY the usual food producers, along with You will have heard on the local news or, until MONDAY 28TH APRIL inclusive some of the Crafts people, being in if you are a parent whose child attends from 2.00pm. – 4.00pm.. attendance, along with a Fair Trade stand. Much Birch CE School, have received a New members will be warmly welcomed As soon as weather permits good sea letter from Mr Colin Howard, and anyone who may be interested in fishing, there will be a Fishmonger Headteacher, advising of the proposals joining the Club and would like more coming along and I am in the process of involving the county’s schools in information - Please telephone: (01981) finding a producer of Free Range Chicken September. Over 50 Primary Schools will Michael 541055 or Sylvia 540123 and Game. This latter, as you may imagine be disrupted - indeed 11 of the 13 schools ______after the Huw and Jamie programmes on in the Golden Valley are affected. A large WI the television, must be done with care. number of schools will be amalgamated Members of Much Birch WI who were As usual, Chris and Peter Dowsett and in consequence some will be closed. able to turn out on 15th January, despite together with Pauline Rogers, will be Full proposals can be seen on the atrocious weather, enjoyed an providing refreshments, and other Herefordshire Council’s website excellent evening travelling to Iceland, via homemade goodies. These are sold in aid www.herefordshire.gov.uk under ‘School Orkney and Shetland, with slides and of MacMillan Cancer Support. Review’. commentary by John Pearl. Please do support the Market. As far as Much Birch CE School is TUESDAY 19TH FEBRUARY will be a Producers will no longer come if it is concerned, it currently has 183 pupils on Picture Quiz by Phyl King at Much Birch not worth their while and it would be a roll with a capacity of 196. The Council’s Community Hall from 7.30pm, great pity if the Market had to close. proposals are that the capacity will be New members are always welcome. If you need further information about any reduced to 140 over the next few years, Please contact Barbara Wilson on 01432 of the producers or Crafts people, or if you this being achieved by limiting the intake 840559 or Kath Watts on 01981 540382 have a suggestion regarding Producers, into Reception each year to 20 instead of for further details. please contact Kath Watts on 01981 the current 28. The School will also no ______540382 longer be designated to feed Kingstone Memories Evening ______High School and in 2009 will be required to feed Wyebridge Sports College. Parents Many of you will remember a couple of Easter bingo fascinating evenings a few years ago when Will be at Little Birch Village Hall on will still have the right to choose which TH a group of long-standing residents of the THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY eyes school their child will attend. The reduction of pupil numbers will mean that, area got together under the able guidance down at 8.00pm – excellent Easter prizes, of John Bryant, and talked about their refreshments available. at some time in the future, Much Birch memories of many aspects of village life. ______will no longer have single age range classes and mixed age range classes will We have now arranged what should be Evergreen Club another most interesting evening hosted by Our Annual General Meeting will be held be re-established. Council officers will, in John Bryant with another group of at Much Birch Community Hall on the next few weeks, visit schools to TH discuss the proposals. The consultation residents whom many of you will know. TUESDAY, 11 MARCH, at 2.30pm. Do come along and hear about life in the If anyone would like to come and join on period will be complete by the end of Little Birch and beyond over the last 50 the day, they will be most welcome. The March, after which a revised set of proposals will be taken to the Council’s years. The evening will be on annual membership fee is £5. WEDNESDAY 20TH FEBRUARY at The first trip will be to the Cotswolds on Cabinet in April for approval in July. 7.30pm. in Little Birch Village Hall. Cost TUESDAY 8TH APRIL. We will pick The current Much Birch CE School site has been part of our village since 1961 and will be £2.00 to include tea/coffee and up our Blue Badge guide, Mary Badger, cakes and biscuits. for the afternoon tour, with tea at Burford. indeed it is an important centre. It has ______The fare will be £13, including tea (+ £2 seen many changes over time, but its educational record and achievements in for non-Members). More information at Community Safety Evening every way have been excellent. Last year, The rain must have been keeping the the AGM. Your Committee is grateful for your they were 2nd in the county’s STATS criminals inside for the past few days, as league tables for academic success! It is continued support as we look forward to we have had hardly any crime reported to well established in its current form, staff us, so there is something to be said for this another year – see you at the AGM. ______are very dedicated and indeed the school is inclement weather! highly regarded for its educational There was a good turnout at the Planning Issues standards and sporting activities. Community Safety Evening at Little Birch Are you thinking of applying for planning To disturb this excellent establishment at village hall in January, and those that permission? Have you had problems this stage is surely a retrograde step. attended felt it had been a worthwhile previously understanding planning red These proposed changes will cause much event. tape? Peter Yates, Development Control disruption to pupils and staff, involving We will be holding another one on Manager at Herefordshire Council is ST uncertainty over some years to come. The THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY at performing a talk on planning issues with change in pupil numbers will mean a question and answer session. finance reductions, staff restrictions and, inevitably, reduction in the excellent Congratulations and best wishes to London and EDWARD, who trained at educational standards for the children in MARTHA ELIZABETH, baby daughter Sandhurst and is shortly being posted our Parish. Much Birch Parish Council of OWAIN and LIZ BEMAN of The to Afghanistan. members wholeheartedly support the Westlands, Much Birch who was Last month, in thanking many of the school and consider that it should not be christened on Saturday, 12th January at helpers who print, collate and distribute disrupted in this way. To all residents, Much Birch Church supported by a this Newsletter, Roger has pointed out that particularly those parents who have large number of relatives and friends. I omitted to mention MIKE LEE, who has children at school, and indeed those who Our best wishes also go to LYDIA given his services for the past year. Now will have others starting in the future, GARLICK and JOHN HUGHES that we are printing some 11 or 12 pages please ensure your views are heard. following their wedding at Much Birch on each month, his help has been invaluable. The Parish Council will be discussing 29th December and after all the inclement Quite a few friends in the community have this at their meeting on THURSDAY weather, the sun managed to shine on the suffered with the Norovirus over the last 7TH FEBRUARY at 7.30pm. Please happy couple and may it long continue to few weeks and we hope all have now attend if you can. If you wish further do so. recovered. A really nasty bug !! information, contact: Later this month, DENNIS and JEAN And several have been in hospital or Menna Swift, Jabiru, Kings Thorn, HR2 MASON will celebrate their Diamond received hospital treatment, including 8AL - 01981 541157 - Wedding anniversary (They don’t look old MRS. McCLOUD of Tump Lane (since [email protected] enough) and we hope they have many before Christmas), JOHN (Carpetman) You may prefer to contact one or mo re of more years of happiness together. ROBERTS, FRANK SHORT and BRIAN the following directly to make your Last month, MR. JACK LANGFORD of KAYE. We wish them all well and hope comments known: Church Farm celebrated his 90th. birthday. for a speedy recovery for them all. Paul Keetch MP, Liberal Democrats, He remains very active and is still driving GEOFF. JONES was admitted to the Widemarsh St., Hereford - 01432 341483 his car. Many Congratulations. County Hospital at 3.00am. on New [email protected] Following the departure of BRENDA and Year’s Day, not suffering from excessive Sarah Carr, Prospective Candidate, JOHN STARTIN, it is good to welcome celebrations, as some might think, but Liberal Democrats, (address & tel. no. as back MARILYN (nee Kaye) with her happily is now back at Hampton Grange above) husband, GLYN and daughter, AMBER, Nursing Home and it is good to report that [email protected] to Conifers, Little Birch. Marilyn was he is able to sit out for a couple of hours Jesse Norman, Prospective Candidate, born and grew up just 80 yards or so down each day. Unfortunately, IVOR CRUM Conservative Party - 01981 541085 - the lane from Conifers and we hope all the was taken into the ‘County’ on Decembrt HCA, Grove Mill, Wormelow, HR2 8EG family will enjoy their new home for 29th and, at the time of writing, is still - many, many years. A little bird tells me there and remains very poorly. We send [email protected] that there will be a new addition to the our best wishes to all who are suffering at Mr A Ross, Chairman of Much Birch family in May! this time and to their families and hope School Governors and/or It is also a pleasure to welcome to that they will soon be restored to full Mr C Howard, Headteacher at 01981 Hollybush Lane, COLINE and health. 540254 CHRISTOPHER GROVER who have Sadly, a number in or erstwhile from, this Councillor Richard Smith (Pontrilas come to live at ‘Wendover’ and we hope community have died recently. MRS. ward) - Prospect Cottage, Gorsley, Ross- they will soon settle and make many new ETHEL BRICKNELL (nee Bowen) was on-Wye HR9 7SH friends in the community. brought up at Church Farm, Little Birch, 01989 720669 A warm welcome too to SHAUN and together with her sisters, Lena and Peggy [email protected] JOANNE BENNETT and their sons JAKE and brothers, Hugh, Ron and Clifford. She Mr G Salmon, c/o Herefordshire Council, (13) and ZACK (2). They moved into sang in the church choir with her brothers Blackfriars, P O Box 185, Hereford HR4 Hallow End House, the new house and sisters for many years and attended 9ZR opposite Much Birch Church, at the end of school at Much Birch and Ross High [email protected] October, but only got rid of the builders School. Her parents moved to Whitchurch This is an extremely important issue just before Christmas. The house has taken when Ron and Hugh took over Church affecting the whole area and the a year to build and is a unique and Farm and Ethel went with them. She then educational needs of our children. The interesting design which will be featured trained at Leicester in Child Nursing and Parish Council will do all in its power to on "Grand Designs", Channel 4 on stayed on to complete her training when support the school in its endeavours. Wednesday evening the 4th February. For war broke out in 1939. After the war and PLEASE ADD YOUR WEIGHT TO this programme it will be located in back at home, she had a milk delivery ENSURE THAT OUR VIEWS ARE Monmouthshire! round with her brother, Clifford, and met REGISTERED WITH THE STEVE and LYNN TURNER of up with Tom Bricknell who was working COUNCIL. Underhill Farm, Hollybush Lane are now at Lowthers in Whitchurch. Their romance ______enjoying living in their new house having blossomed and they married and almost Local News been in a static caravan on the site for immediately emigrated to South Africa An early Christmas precious gift weighing many months, we wish them a happy where they stayed for some 13 years 7lb. 1oz. arrived 2 days early on future in their new home. during which time they had 3 sons, Geoff, December 23rd, in the shape of baby Two weeks before Christmas DAVE and Norman and Mark. They returned to ISABEL at Merrivale Farm. JULIE GOLDSMITH moved into England at the end of 1961, briefly staying Congratulations are extended to proud Quantock House, Hollybush Lane. We with her sister Peggy and the Helme parents, EMILY and BEN MASON and welcome them and hope that they will be family at Wormelow, before buying a we send our good wishes for Isabel’s happy living in the village. They have grocery and provisions store in Holme future. moved from Ross Road, Hereford and Lacy Road, Hereford. Although working have sons JOSEPH, a barrister living in long hours, Ethel made sure that her growing boys were well looked after in a In his ‘spare time’, he worked for Wiggins photogenic! Work has almost finished loving environment. Tom and Ethel retired Special Metals for 27 years and then there for this year. from the shop in 1984 and they moved to moved to be chief treasurer at Hereford Also in progress is an archaeological live in Ross-on-Wye. Tom died some 11 Town Hall. In his younger days, he was a survey of the area to be disturbed by years ago and, after about a year, Ethel very keen sportsman and in his few years Welsh Water laying a new water main. moved into a flat in Guardian Court, of retirement liked nothing more than This will run just outside the south edge of Hereford. She was very happy there and walking in the Black Mountains. It was a the wood from the reservoir to Greenwood was able to take up painting classes which severe blow to the whole family when he Cottage where it enters the wood and will were held in Much Birch Hall. She kept up was diagnosed with a brain tumour some travel down the old sunken lane to the far with her car driving and was able to visit 15 months ago and it is merciful that he is side of the wood from where it will travel all of her sons and their families and now free from the pain and stress of his over the fields to Ridge Hill. returned to worship at Little Birch Church. illness. He will be very sadly missed by Archaeological study of the sunken lane She was able to continue in this way until his family and a very great number of so far seems to confirm that it is old but a year or so ago when she gave up driving. friends from many walks of life and we may replace one which ran just to the Her illness started about 3 months ago and send our very deepest sympathies to uphill side of it. The study will finish at she spent one day in St. Michaels Hospice Jenny, Joanne and her family and to the end of January and, hopefully, Border before she died. A service of Alison. Archaeology will give a presentation to us Thanksgiving for her life was held at St. At time of going to press, the death of along with Welsh Water in the not-too- Swithins, Ganarew and her ashes were STEVE HOUNSELL of Hollybush Lane distant future. You may have seen notices interred in the grave of her husband, Tom. has been announced after a long illness about the temporary closure of footpaths She will be remembered as a hardworking, bravely borne. A tribute will be given next for the construction works. The sunken kind and loving parent and grandparent month. Meanwhile we send our sincere lane will be closed for about 3 months who delighted in her 3 sons and their sympathies to wife Jenny and the family. when they start work there. families, to whom we send our sincere ______sympathies. Our Woodlands Lottery Grant MR. GORDON THOMAS lived in Orcop Those of you who walk in either Unfortunately, Little Birch Village Hall for many years and spent his last few Athelstan’s or Aconbury Woods cannot were unsuccessful with their application to years in a bungalow in Tump Lane. He fail to have noticed much activity recently gain funding from the Big Lottery Grant th passed away suddenly on 28 December in both of them. For those of you who towards the extensive hall refurbishment. and his funeral took place at Orcop Baptist may wonder what’s going on or those who Some local organisations were successful th Chapel on the 18 January. haven’t even realised there is a lot going due to possibly having more imaginative MR. WILLIAM (Paddy) ARMSTRONG on - a short summary. schemes. Among these were Peterstow lived with some of his family in Tump There has been a lot of clear-felling of and Bridge Sollars who are proposing to Lane for many years and then moved, with conifers in Athelstan’s Wood over the create a village hall in their local his wife, Flossie, to Belfast to be near his earlier months of 2007, particularly Churches. The management committee th daughter. He died suddenly on 6 January alongside the stream and on the bank on will be seeking ideas and suggestions for at the age of 91 years. His daughter, the far side from Little Birch. Considering ways forward following this disappointing Jennifer, now Nash, still lives locally and the Wood’s history dating back to Saxon news at the AGM in April. we send to all the family our sincere times, there was much concern that an ______condolences. ancient woodland should not be planted The whole community, and in particular again with conifers after the decimation of Much Birch 100 Club Draw the village of Much Dewchurch, is very the 1960s/70s. Thankfully, there has been The December draw took pla ce on Tuesday, sad to hear of the death of PHILIP 15th January in Much Birch Community Hall some concession to modern thinking and at 7.00pm. TURPIN at the age of 66 on 15th January. about 40% of the felled area has been re- The winners were: His service to the parish was legendary as planted with broadleaves – in groups on 1. No. 98 _ Mr. Derek Wiseman, King’s a parish councillor, churchwarden and the bank and alongside the stream. The Thorn chairman of the sports and social club. He remainder will be Douglas Fir. However, 2. No. 1 – Mr. & Mrs. D. Hall, Yoxall, was a leader who always led from the the rides will be kept much more open so Staffordshire front and organised many fundraising much pleasanter for walking and not The next draw will take place on 14th February events for local clubs and the church. He nearly so depressing. at 7.00pm in Much Birch Community Hall. also served as a district Councillor and Apart from the Wye Woods Project, which Our grateful thanks to all those people who are recently on Ross Town Council. has moved recently, there are two other participating for 2008. There is still an Philip was brought up in Allensmore and major activities in Aconbury Wood. opportunity for anyone who wishes to join us. moved to Much Dewchurch after his There has been some selective felling of Please contact me on tel: 01981 540980 or any marriage to Jenny. They had 2 daughters, oaks, forming ‘glades’ where, it is hoped, Committee member. John Jones, Chairman/Promoter Joanne and Alison. Alison has Downs regeneration of oak seedlings will take ______Syndrome but the family encouraged her place. It will be interesting to see what to take part in all village activities and to happens to the ground flora and insects in Admag Deliveries enjoy a normal life as far as possible. the meantime. Wintertime being the only Earn some money and keep deliveries of Alison attended Barrs Court School and feasible time to do the felling, there has the Hereford Journal going. Are you Widemarsh Workshop and Philip was been the inevitable churning up of the interested in helping deliver the Hereford actively engaged as chairman of the paths but, to the delight of those walking committee which ran these two there, haulage of the timber has been Journal and Admag to houses in our area organisations. He was also a governor of carried out by horses, English cobs and on Wednesday afternoon or early evening? Kingstone High School. Percherons, complete with bells – very Would you like to coordinate the delivery and receive the papers on Wednesday happening. Experienced drivers can easily observations from his home, they sat down by slip into bad habits, and it is worth the kitchen window and waited. early afternoon, with other people doing investing in the latest edition of the After an hour and becoming anxious that there the deliveries? Payment is £5 per hour Highway Code, where you will find had been no movement in the street, the officers asked the gent what time the offences and similar for coordination. Deliveries everything you need to know, including had taken place. With a deadpan expression the may recent changes in the law. old chap replied, “Oh the milkman doesn’t The law and the older driver – the law have to stop unless we can find help now. deliver today”!! requires a driver to renew his or her ______Current coordinator is unable to continue. licence on reaching the age of 70 and Your Officers based @ Peterchurch Call 01981 540335 every three years thereafter. All drivers, Local Police Officer PC Andrew B undy ______whatever their age, are required by law to notify the DVLA of the onset or Mobile No: 07855 385 844 Neighbourhood Watch Email: [email protected] On 23rd December number plates were stolen worsening of a medical condition which Community Support Officers from a car parked at a garage at Allensmore. may affect their ability to drive safely. CSO 6173 Fiona Witcher Overnight 27th/28th December persons These conditions include any heart Mobile No: 07779 141232 attempted to take diesel from a lorry parked at condition, epilepsy, diabetes, glaucoma or Email: [email protected] St Weonards. other eye disease and difficulty in the use CSO 6993 Kevin Powell Overnight 30th/31st December a Ford Transit of limbs affecting a driver’s ability to Mobile No: 07779 141 232 van and a towing dolly were taken from a control a vehicle. If you have a medical Email: garage at Orcop. condition, contact the Drivers Medical [email protected] A Green Range Rover Y868AEB was stolen Group, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1TU (tel Hereford Rural South Answer phone between 6th and 7th January from outside an 0870 6000301). You will normally be 01432 346756 address in Much Birch - please keep a look out Non-Emergency phone for this vehicle, it may have been abandoned sent a confidential medical form for 08457 444 888 locally. describing your condition in greater detail Emergency phone 999 A van was broken into at Llanwarne from a and a medical report may be required from ______business premises, and a quantity of builders your consultant or GP. You should ask tools were taken. This happened overnight on your doctor about the possible effects that Your Local Representatives 5th/6th January. any medication you are taking may have East A caravan on a site in Holme Lacy was broken on your driving. Some over-the-counter JOHN BULBECK - 540178 into between New Year's Eve and 5th January, medications, such as cough and cold Central but nothing appears to have been taken. BOB PETERS - 540670 Livestock Security medicines can also make you feel drowsy West We have received several reports recently of and you should avoid driving while taking BETTY PHILPOTT - 540614 sheep and cattle being deliberately let out of them. their fields in the Dinedor and Lower It is an offence to drive any vehicle if you ______Bullingham areas. cannot read a standard number plate in The people responsible for this need to be Items/Copy good daylight from 67 feet away (the MARCH caught, as obviously the consequences of their Please may I have items for the issue length of a cricket pitch). via post to : actions could be very serious – on one occasion Stopping Driving - this is not an easy several of the cattle were found, in very foggy Mrs. S.E. Mathews, Folly Cottage, Little Birch, decision to make, particularly if you have conditions, grazing on the side of the A49. HR2 8BD; or left in the post box at 'Bramleys' or by email attachment in Word format to: Please contact us if you have any information relied on your vehicle most of your life. about this. Currently there is no legal cut-off age, so [email protected] by

Results it is your responsibility to decide when is 21yr old male issued with fixed penalty notice the right time to stop driving. Don’t wait ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ TH for driving whilst using hand held mobile for an accident to convince you it’s time to 15 FEBRUARY phone. £60 and 3 points. stop. You may feel the time has come if 54yr old male from Little Birch issued with your reactions are becoming noticeably ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ fixed penalty notice for driving whilst using slower, or you are finding traffic hand held mobile phone. £60 and 3 points on conditions increasingly stressful. If you licence. 20yr old male from Tump Lane arrested for are concerned, consult your GP or an drink drive. Released on police bail for further approved driving instructor for advice. enquiries. Friends and relatives can also give you Older Drivers their honest opinion. Giving up driving Older motorists bring a wealth of doesn’t mean the end of your experience, confidence and tolerance to independence. The amount you spend on their driving, all of which contributes to insurance, tax and maintaining and making them safer on the road than other fuelling your car could pay for lots of taxi age groups. However, as you grow older, journeys. Don’t forget your free bus pass your ability to react to some situations too! gradually changes. Sight, hearing and And on a lighter note…. judgement of speed may not be quite as Two police officers were called to attend an elderly gentleman’s address in a town centre to sharp as they were when you were do observations on a street where there had younger. Stiffening joints may make it been a spate of milk bottle snatches. difficult to turn your head to check blind The officers arrived promptly at 7-30am. and spots or keep a check on vehicles either after greeting the gentleman and checking that side of you. These changes occur so it was still in order for them to carry out their gradually that you may not realise they’re