Chipperfield News

October 2012

Village Crime Spikes In July

It seems the village may have been targeted by visiting motor theft gangs in July with no less than four cars broken into and two more in August (September figures not yet available). The ‘hot spot’ is the car park of the Two Brewers and also the neighbouring church car park on the common.Smashed in windows is the usual MO to give access to any valuables on show and it seems laptops are especially attractive. While it appears that hotel visitors have been the main victims, we as a community must raise our game to try and nip this increase in criminal activity in the bud. There can be no worse reputation to have than, as a quiet prosperous village, to be soft on crime. Prevention and detection go hand in glove and one answer is Neighbourhood Watch. We need more members to sign up and join. Our local PCSO is on special watch but has a huge area to cover. Better CCTV can help in certain areas and is being discussed. Join your Street or Road Group or volunteer to start one. Peter Ingram, N.H. Watch Co-ordinator 01923 266786 [email protected]

Chipperfield Maitains Its Green And Eco-friendly Strategy

Many of you will have noticed the recent tree milling activity on the cricket club car park. Many villagers also benefited from the free logs and off cuts from the milling process. Trees from the woodland on the common are being milled and the timber used for projects within the Borough. In particular, some of this timber is being used to refurbish benches within the common that are in need of repair so some of the timber remains in the Parish. The timber itself comes from trees that have fallen naturally, removed for safety reasons or for access. No replacement trees are to be planted since the woodland is left for natural regeneration. Chipperfield Council works in partnership with Dacorum Borough Council on all woodland matters and works closely with Dacorum’s Woodland Manager, Colin Chambers. Colin also leads ‘Friends of the Common’; a group of villagers who do sterling work helping to maintain the woodland. Watch out for the date of the next working party. Harry Laverack, Chairman, Chipperfield Parish Council

Chipperfield Choral Society And The Royal Gala

Friday 23 November at 7.30pm Watford Colosseum in aid of The Peace Hospice in the presence of Princess Michael of Kent, President of The Peace Hospice In addition to the Chipperfield Choral Society there will be the South Oxhey Choir, the Royal Masonic School Choir and the Watford Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra. We will be singing, 'I was glad' and 'Blest Pair of Sirens' so, if you enjoyed hearing these inspiring pieces at our Jubilee Concert in June, here is a chance to hear them again in the wonderful acoustic of the Watford Colosseum. Tickets: Colosseum Box Office. Thursday 18 October at 7.30pm in The Village Hall We will be holding an Open Evening for potential new members to come and see if they would like to join the choir. We will be starting rehearsals for our Christmas Carol Concerts and so this is a good opportunity to find out if you would like to take part in these and our other concerts. Please come along; you will be made very welcome. If you would like any information about the choir, please telephone John Morrish on 01923 263939.

£1,000 Into The Village Community Chest

The Steering Group of the Chipperfield Diamond Jubilee Celebrations are very pleased to announce that £1,000 has gone into the Village Community Chest for the benefit of those in need in the parish of Chipperfield. The money is held by the Dacorum Community Trust; an independent registered charity which has been helping people within the Borough of Dacorum since 1976. If you would like to contact them to discuss a need, or to make a donation, please telephone 01442 231396. A further £1,000 has been handed over to the Parish Council. It is

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also pleasing to report that other Chipperfield organisations benefited significantly with many thousands of pounds having been raised. Local businesses providing food, drink and music also benefited in these difficult economic times and all made generous donations to local charities and organisations.

1st Chipperfield Brownies

We have welcomed two new Brownies since April. Here are some of the fun activities the girls have enjoyed this term: eight of our Brownies joined Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Scouts from West Division (covering Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Tring and Kings Langley Districts) to watch the Olympic flame being carried through Hemel Hempstead. The girls enjoyed various activities, including making a tower from straws, a scavenger hunt and making union flags to wave. Although the weather was atrocious, the girls really got into the spirit and gave a huge cheer when the flame passed us. The girls enjoyed an evening at Phasels Wood with Bovingdon Guides; we had a Jubilee themed picnic when the girls wore red/white/blue or a princess dress. We made a fantastic collage of the Queen which will be kept in the church hall for the rest of this Jubilee year. The girls helped to make our Village Day a success, joining Kings Langley and Abbots Langley Brownies for ‘guess where teddy has been on holiday’, a treasure map and a chocolate/sweet tombola – we made an amazing £445 for District funds!! Thank you so much to everyone who helped, Brownies and Parents. The term ended with a brilliant Talent Show, including a raffle which raised £43 for Cardiac Risk in the Young. The Super Brownie of the Year competition was as follows: 1st Aoife Regan, 2nd Katie Seddon and 3rd Harriet Heathcote-Wells. Well done everyone, very well deserved. The main highlight of the term was the Pack Holiday. 19 girls enjoyed a fun-packed four days at Haverings, Luton, 27–30 August. The theme was Disneyland with all leaders/helpers changing their names to the various characters during our stay! The girls had great fun helping to cook the meals, waitressing and cleaning the Pack Holiday home. Our craft activities included tie-dying hats, painting trinket boxes and princess mirrors, decorating shoulder bags and making key rings and bracelets. We also enjoyed a treasure hunt, quiz, entertainment night and party games. The girls gained badges: Brownie Holiday, Craft, Cook, Home Skills and Toymaker. Everyone worked really well together and we had a great time. Thank you to all my helpers who made this holiday so special. During the holiday, I gave points to the girls for being helpful, kind, friendly etc. The Pack Holiday Super Brownie was Lily, well done. Everyone received an award eg: Pack Holiday Mother Hen (for looking after the little ones), happiest Brownie, most helpful Brownie and Pack Holiday chatterbox! My thanks go to my wonderful team for their help throughout the year: Hannah, Pat, Ann, Ciera and Georgia. My Pack is full at the moment but if you would like to put your daughter’s name on the waiting list (the starting age to be a Brownie is 7) it’s never too early! Please contact Sian Roberts on 07982 610775 or email at [email protected] We have 4 Brownie Packs and 1 Guide Unit in the District covering Chipperfield, Kings Langley and Abbots Langley which all have long waiting lists. Sadly, our only Rainbow unit (for girls age 5-7) closed in July due to lack of leaders. If you are 18+ and interested in giving some time to Girlguiding UK and would like a really rewarding experience in working with girls aged 5-14, please contact Rozanne Ahier, District Commissioner, on 07866 614010. Thank you. Sian Roberts, Brown Owl

The Lanes Children's Centre

We hope the start of a new school year has gone smoothly. We are happy to confirm that we will be running another Parenting Puzzle course at The Baptist Church, Bovingdon, 8 Oct–3 Dec 1–3pm. There is a crèche; booking is essential. At half-term we will be holding a Family Fun Day on 2 Nov 10am–1pm at St Paul’s School. No need to book, just turn up and enjoy the fun! Here is a reminder of the regular weekly activities. Monday 9.30-11.30am working in partnership with Sarratt Baby and Toddler Group at George V Pavillion, Sarratt. £1.50 per child payable to Sarratt B&T group. Within this group we provide a music session from 9.30-10am with Jo. (term time only). Monday is our Breastfeeding Café from 10-11.30am at The Lanes Children’s Centre run by Cath, our breast feeding specialist. Tuesday Under 1’s: 2–4pm at The Memorial Hall, Bovingdon. The group includes a music session with Jo and costs £2. Every 1st Tuesday in the month will be a Back to Basics themed session. Wednesday Wigwams at The Baptist Church, Bovingdon,1.30–3pm. This group alternates between a physical play session one week and a music session with Jo the next. Cost for physical play is £2 and music £2.50. The Toy Library is at all these settings and also at the Flaunden Toddler Group 9.30–11.30am at the Flaunden Village Hall every Friday. Look out for information on future courses, workshops, activities and events on advertising boards and our website. Zoë Hier 01923 262 640/07966 966352 [email protected] www.hertschildrenscentres.org.uk/thelanes

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Sugarplum Ballet

The Sugarplum ballet and tap classes for children from ages 2 and a half are held at Blackwell’s on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays. The pupils are given the opportunity to take The British Arts dancing examinations and take part in wonderful shows performed at the Boxmoor Playhouse. This year we are working towards the Nutcracker Ballet; it is a Christmas story where Clara receives a nutcracker soldier from her strange uncle Drosselmeyer and visits the land of sweets and the land of Christmas. Funds raised from the show will go to charity. Dancing is an exciting way to keep fit, gain poise, Iaian Rennie Grove House Hospice Carestrength and discipline. Clare: 0208 428 9906/0788 790 3542 [email protected] Katharine Lynch: 0797 087 1835 [email protected]

Iain Rennie Grove House Hospice Care

A local hospice has been able to meet the demand from many more local families facing life-limiting illness this year, thanks to changes in the charity’s ways of working and the generosity of the general public. Iain Rennie Grove House Hospice Care (IRGH) has seen an unprecedented rise of 25% in referrals to its hospice at home service already in 2012 - more than double the numbers expected. Director of Nursing and interim Chief Executive, Sue Varvel, explains, “The number of adults for whom we were providing hospice at home care rose by 17% during the last financial year - and so far in 2012 the increase is even higher. Part of the reason for this is that people are living longer with more complex conditions; another reason is that the profile of hospice at home is growing and patients are more aware that they have a choice about where they receive care. Choosing to stay at home “We know that most people with a life-limiting illness would prefer to remain at home, provided they do not feel they are being a burden on their family. Our service is designed to make this choice possible, providing specialist and practical care on a scheduled and 24/7 responsive basis, as well as support for all the family during the patient’s illness. We know this meets a real need because around 60 per cent of our patients are able to spend their final days at home, compared with just 20 per cent nationally. Adapting to patients’ needs “Another factor which has enabled us to meet the rapid growth in demand is the way we now operate our nurses’ shifts. In November 2011 we implemented a new approach to the out-of-hours element of our 24/7 service. Having piloted a three-shift pattern in 2010-11, we had found that being able to take on more scheduled visits during the evening shift reduced the waiting list that we had been managing. Nurses are now able to plan visits to new patients as part of their shift, up until 9pm at night, when they hand over to a dedicated night team rather than a nurse on call. Prior to this, ‘out-of-hours’ meant after 5pm, which limited our capacity to take on new patients towards the end of the typical working day.” These changes in the demographic and in the way the charity runs its nursing service, go some way to explaining the organisation’s ability to meet such a rapid and steep increase in demand. However, it is due to the dedicated support of local residents that IRGH can continue to offer specialist hospice care at no cost to patients or their families. Public support keeps funds coming in Director of Fundraising Gillian Barnett explains, “In the last financial year we saw a 2% increase in our fundraising income which brought in £3.07million towards our nursing service. This growth is a remarkable achievement, given the depressed state of the UK economy. It is solely down to the wonderful support we receive from the local community.” The remainder of IRGH’s annual running costs comes from Retail and Trading, including 18 charity shops and a busy eBay operation, plus an annual grant from the local Primary Care Trusts (PCTs). IRGH recently received a small injection of additional funding from both the Herts PCT and the Bucks PCT for its hospice at home services. However, this income accounts for less than 15% of the charity’s overall £6.5 million annual running costs, which is why the charity is so reliant on the generosity of the general public to keep meeting the growth in demand for its service. For further information: Gemma Baxter, Communications Manager, [email protected] 01442 820712 Kathryn Pezet, Communications Officer, [email protected], 01442 820733 Web: www.irgh.org.uk

St Paul's And Holy Cross

Message from the Churchwardens Following on from last month’s article, when the glorious music of St Paul’s was celebrated, the church has another musical tradition slowly being established. Our young people have a worship band which leads the All Age Family service which happens on the 2nd Sundays at 10am in the Parish Room (14 October/11 November). They also design and lead a quarterly Evening Service. Additionally, the band is occasionally involved with the main Benefice Communion services – at St Paul’s this takes place at 10am on 3rd Sundays (21 October/ 18 November). PLEASE try to come to a mixture of services. If only the young people

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come to the All Age and only the older generation go to Benefice Communion – how do we grow as a community? How do we learn about each other and offer our loving respect, care and possible support? Perhaps some musicians in the village would like to get involved with the Youth Band? Perhaps some of the young people who come to Contact or Revive would like to sing in the church choir? Let us know. Judy Olney and Frances Onians, Churchwardens Look forward to:Sunday 7 October at 6.30pm Choral Evensong to celebrate the end of Harvest Week Led by Keith Beniston Do please come and listen to the glorious music of Evensong and the anthems arranged by Keith. Sunday 4 November at 6.30pm Taizé style service, ‘Remembering those we loved but see no more’ This candlelight service, just after All Saints Day, is a peaceful time for prayer and reflection. We use some of the Taizé chants to help our focus. Particularly valued by those who have been bereaved as we remember the dead and give thanks for their lives. All are invited to join and spend a peaceful hour in reflection. St Paul's Parish Registers We welcome into the family of God’s Church: 12th August Joseph Johnson 16th September Jack Knott 16th September Mia and Luke Weller

Baptist Church

This will not be a long reflection and I am sure you will all understand why. The passing of Brenda Harpley was for the church an immense loss with which we will never come to terms. We should never wish to forget a woman who, in her testimony and drive for Christ to be known, may not have followed evangelistic templates or missional guidelines but was a personal triumph of mind over matter. It does not take theological training to impact individuals. It does not take instruction on the latest ‘How to witness’ to bring others a sense of God. It doesn’t take years on the mission field to open up others to see Jesus. It just takes a faith that knows God is with you and wants the best for you. It just takes a desire to let people know how much Jesus has done for them and how much He loves them. It just takes the perseverance of a saint to want to bring a word of comfort that comes straight from the mouth of God. That was Brenda’s example for us and, although you may not be a part of the Baptist Church in Chipperfield, we hope we can emulate her testimony just a little so we just might change your mind. That for Brenda was what made it all worthwhile; for others to come to the same knowledge that she had of God’s love for them in Jesus Christ. God Bless you. Love Jason, The Man in the Manse

Dacorum Emergency Night Shelter

Many thanks to all who attended the talk about DENS in the service at St Paul’s on 9 September. We collected £265 for them and were told that St Paul’s had supplied over 300Kg of food to the Foodbank since it started in September 2011. Food donations can be left in the box at the back of church – there is a list of monthly needs – we deliver them to DENS and they are distributed via the six foodbanks, including the one in King’s Langley, or used at the Nightshelter itself. Financial donations can be sent straight to DENS or passed to Janet Cornell, St Paul’s Treasurer, who will forward them. Frances Onians

Richard Lingham Kinder Nice 11 June 1947 - 27 June 2012

Richard came to Chipperfield at the age of three in 1951 when his parents moved to White Oaks on The Common, his home for the next twenty years. As soon as he was old enough he joined Chipperfield Cricket Club. He attended Colonel Morkill’s nets and soon started playing for the colts. He played for the first team from 1962 until injury forced him to hang up his boots in 1985. During this time he served on committee, was 1st team Captain in 1970, acted as Treasurer and became a Vice President. He also played 1st team cricket for his school, Bedford, and later went on to represent the Old Boys Team at cricket - and golf – his other passion. He was a single figure handicapper at Moor Park Golf Club and played regularly until his illness in 2006. He was a founder member of the Windmill Motor Club and Darts Team. He married Jackie in St Paul’s Church in January 1971. Apart from a few early years spent in Chesham, Chipperfield has been their home ever since, and where their children Samantha and Andrew grew up. Indeed, Richard was hugely proud to walk Samantha down the aisle at St Paul’s when she married in 1999, and to witness the christenings there of two of his grandchildren. Richard was a Chartered Accountant but his love of village life was such that he was never attracted to work further afield than Watford where he was a partner in a local practice. “Why spend hours travelling when you can be home in 10 minutes?” he used to say. Samantha and Andrew join me in extending our sincere thanks for all the cards, letters and messages of sympathy we have received in memory of Richard. Also a big thank you to those who attended his funeral – we were truly overwhelmed by the number of people in St Paul’s, and for the donations to

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The Special Care Baby Unit at Watford General Hospital. To know that the wonderful team who helped our first grandchild, James, will benefit from your generosity would have pleased him greatly. Thank You. Jackie Nice

Brenda Harpley 1937 - 2012

Brenda Hume was born on 11 August 1937 in Newcastle-on-Tyne. Just three months later on her father’s promotion the family moved to London where they remained until World War Two broke out. The Hume family were evacuated to Chipperfield and Brenda with her mother and sister took up residence with the Harpley family in ‘Sunset’, Dunny Lane. They were made so welcome that they stayed until the end of the war and then returned to London. In 1950 they returned to Chipperfield to stay with the Harpleys and soon took up residence in the village. Brenda was encouraged to attend the Baptist Church and was soon baptised. George Lee had started a youth club in the church which Brenda joined and it was on one of the club’s outings that she ‘took a shine’ to Bob Harpley whom she had known since a child. Bob was ten years older than Brenda and they waited six years before they married in the Baptist Church on 13 September 1958 when Brenda was 21. They honeymooned in Guernsey and then set up home at ‘Sunset’ with Bob’s parents. They had three children, Angela, Philip and Kate and were together for 45 years until Bob died in 2003. When the children were small Brenda became brilliant at making clothes for them and later made their wedding and bridesmaids dresses. The family enjoyed many holidays and later Bob and Brenda enjoyed annual trips to their favourite Pembrokeshire. Brenda took a great part in the life of the Baptist Church and became an officer of the Chipperfield Girls Brigade from 1969 until 1982. She became a Deacon and then Church Secretary. She was editor of the Church’s magazine ‘In touch’. Her father was a great organiser and was awarded an MBE for his work and Brenda took after him in becoming a terrific organizer for the church; she organised flower festivals, christmas tree festivals and other fundraising events. From October 1999 a monthly lunch club for the village was organised and Brenda herself cooked a two course meal for all those who attended and they really enjoyed it. Brenda did not preach but she did touch people’s lives by the way she lived in the Lord’s service. Her prayer was that her family would come to know the Lord. She always missed her dear Bob and now she has gone to be forever with the Lord, too. We all miss you, Brenda. Terry Simmonds

The Royal British Legio Poppy Appeal

We continue to mourn the deaths of service people in Afghanistan, 428 in mid-September, and to think of the much larger number injured and the families needing help from the Legion. Chipperfield has a proud record in its poppy collections in every shop, pub, garage and house. Once again, please give generously. Giles Wyburd Chairman, Chipperfield RBL

Chipperfield Indoor Short Map Bowls Club

The 2012/13 season starts 2 October We play at Chipperfield Village Hall on Tuesday and Friday evenings from 7.00 -9.30pm. New members are welcome, especially summer outdoor bowlers wishing to keep their eye in over winter. Bowling woods can be provided; the only special kit needed are flat soled shoes to protect the bowling mats. We are a friendly Club with no formidable dress code and are pleased to help beginners to start. So, for good company and an enjoyable evening, why not pay us a visit or phone: Terry: 01923 262638 Alan: 01923 229639

Village People

To my dear family, neighbours and friends, thank you so much for my beautiful get well cards and caring thoughts during my stay in hospital. You made me feel I was wrapped up in a blanket of love. Thank you once again; I love you all. Joyce Holliman * * * * * Friends in Chipperfield will be saddened to read of the death of Hazel Bowen who passed away on 9 August after a long illness. Hazel and her husband Tom were well known Chipperfield residents for many years before retiring to Carlton Colville, Lowestoft, in September 2003. Our sympathies go out to their daughter Mandy and granddaughter Tilly.

Refreshment All Round

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A few lovely sunny days and at last I have a chance to sit by the Wendy House and have a nice cup of tea. I am not the only one enjoying refreshments in the sun; a white buddleia right by the patio is playing host to three small tortoiseshell butterflies and my favourite, a red admiral. A few minutes later and a little blue butterfly is flitting about at the edge of the pond; as it settles with its wings closed for a moment it looks as if it is covered in silver dust, then it dances off to the dogwoods on the far side of the pond. I am not very good at telling common blues from holly blues but the few seconds that it spent showing its silvery underside meant it was a holly blue. Just as I was packing up my tea tray a lovely comma came to feed on the nectar of the buddleia. None of these butterflies are rare but after all the dull and rainy days of this summer it was a joy to see them, and a good excuse to sit a little longer by the pond. Another few minutes of peace and quiet brought another little treat when a sparrow hawk came to bath in the pond. I love it when the birds use the big pudding stone that I put on the pebble beach as a perch, and this bird had a good splash and then hopped on the stone for a good shake, just as I had hoped. I returned to my work in the garden feeling refreshed, and not just by the tea! Wendy Bathurst

Your Garden In October

Autumn is approaching fast and October is one of the busiest months for us gardeners with nights getting longer and days getting much shorter. The flower garden. Start to plant up hanging baskets with pansies, primroses, dwarf shrubs and small leaved ivies. Plant window boxes and containers using pansies, primroses, small cyclamen and bulbs together with small conifers, ivies, ajuga, sedums, thymes, ferns, lonicera, euonymus, eucalyptus and sedges, a selection of which can be seen in the garden centre. Wallflowers, Canterbury bells and Sweet Williams can be planted soon. Spring flowering bulbs. Now is the time to plant daffodils, hyacinths and tulips in beds and borders. Crown imperial fritillaries, alliums and eremurus can be planted in hardy plant borders. Snowdrops and trilliums are quite suitable for shady spots. Dwarf narcissi and dwarf tulips, together with muscari, iris, crocus, ixias, anemone, dwarf alliums, chionodoxa, erythronium, leucojum, ornithogalum and hardy cyclamen can be used to good effect in rock gardens, sinks and containers. Fruit and vegetables. Fruit yields are well down this year but any apples still on the tree should be harvested and put into a cool store as soon as possible. Apply greasebands to the trunks of all fruit trees this month. In the vegetable garden rootcrops and the rest of the potatoes should be harvested now. Plant out early onion sets and the first of the garlic bulbs. Make a final sowing of radish and plant strawberries. Start digging as soon as possible, adding farmyard manure as you go. Where next year’s carrots, parsnips and rootcrops are to be grown, do not add manure. The greenhouse. As soon as the greenhouse has been cleared of it’s crops, fumigate with a sulphur candle and disinfect with Jeyes Fluid or Armillatox. The glass should be washed and bubble plastic insulation should be put up. Make sure that the heater is in working order. Start to bring in tender perennials such as fuchsias, pelargoniums, geraniums and dahlias. The Lawn. Keep up with mowing the lawn while the grass is growing. Then make arrangements for the mower to be serviced well before the grass starts to grow again next year. Now is the time to aerate and scarify the grass and to apply a good autumn turf fertilizer to help it face up to the winter. October is a good time to lay new turf and still time to put down grass seed. Shows. The R.H.S. London Autumn Harvest Show takes place on 23 and 24 October in their hall in Vincent Square, Westminster. For details visit rhs.org.uk/shows. Terry Simmonds

www.chipperfield.org.uk

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