FEBRUARY 2014 No: 280

1 Your Village Chairman Hello again! Well, as Peter Mandelson said in a much grander context, I’m back. As you’ll read in the Minutes of our Village Meeting AGM, we didn’t manage to change everything, but we do have a new Secretary (James Taylor) and a new Treasurer (Bev Rees), and we should first welcome them to their new responsibilities and thank them very FEBRUARY 2014, No: 280 much for offering to serve our village. There were no other candidates and none for Chairman, so you got me again. Anyway, phew! the show is still on the road. Useful Contacts Our huge thanks to Sue for being our Treasurer these years, and fitting that in with her very busy work and family life. Our greatest and heartfelt thanks are due to North Aston News Telephone: (01869) 347356 Marcus, who has been either Treasurer, Chairman or Secretary for more years than Email: [email protected] most of us can remember, as well as editing and producing the North Aston News, as Kildare Bourke-Borrowes, NAPM Chairman well as all the very many other things that he does in his work and family lives. He is Telephone: (01869) 340200 Email: [email protected] the best example there is of a very busy person who never says he hasn’t got time for Beverley Rees, NAPM Treasurer us. We can make time, and all it needs is the commitment. Thank you Marcus, you Telephone: (01869) 347434 have REALLY given to our community, and you still do – otherwise we wouldn’t be Email: [email protected] James Taylor, NAPM Secretary reading this News. Telephone: (01869) 347888 We have so sadly now lost forever two people who gave, who said yes, who wanted the Email: [email protected] best for North Aston and did something about it. First Chris Tuffrey and now Nick North Aston PCC Clive Busby, Church Warden Bevan; none of us who knew them will ever forget their cheerful and positive Telephone: (01869) 338434 contributions; I think a shared characteristic was that they both ‘thought while they Email: [email protected] slept’. They didn’t walk away from a meeting and do nothing until the next one – you Kildare Bourke-Borrowes Telephone: (01869) 340200 would go on hearing from them long afterwards. We all really have to try to live up to Email: [email protected] their wonderful examples. North Aston Gardening Club Neither will we of course forget Fred Hoare, such a kindly and constant presence in Lynn Quek, Acting Chairperson Email: [email protected] our village for far more years than most of us have lived in North Aston. To all the North Aston Pet Alert families of these three marvellous men we say thank you for their lives here, and you Please notify of any Firework Parties are in our thoughts all the time. Deirdre Oakley: Tel (01869) 340646 Also email: [email protected] Many people have expressed pleasure at the new tarmac surface on St Mary’s Walk North Aston Farms from the Green to the Church, and I think we ought to record that, and our sincere Telephone: (01869) 347865 or 347888 thanks to Kevin Cash and Trevor Green-Parkes for getting that job done. It has Email Jeremy: [email protected] Email james: [email protected] certainly transformed life in the winter getting up and down, both by car and foot. North Aston Organics Too black and (sub) urban? Trevor has told us that a gravelly-type top surface will be Telephone: (01869) 347702 applied later in the year, which will be an interesting answer to that mild criticism. Email: [email protected] Website: www.northastonorganics.co.uk Whether you hold that Spring starts on March 1st (Met Office/modern) or the 21st Hillcrest Care - Park Farm House (traditional/vernal equinox), it’s not too far away, as the birds are now reminding us. Telephone: (01869) 349922 Hooray! Email: [email protected] Nicholson Nurseries If you have any suggestions about Village life, Telephone: (01869) 340342 please do call or email me. Kildare Email: [email protected] Website: www.nicholsons.gb.com Telep