Around Pattishall March - April 2010 Photo Paul Howard, St Luke’s Church, Cold Higham March 2008 Final copy date for the May-June 2010 newsletter is 10th April. Copy should be sent to Andy Stewart, The Old Farmhouse, 13 High Street, Astcote (email [email protected], tel: 830042), or given to Janet Taylor, Dalscote. (Please use email if possible.) Pattishall Parish Council undertakes the production of the newsletter, it does not take responsibility for the accuracy of all the articles, any views or opinions expressed are those of the author in each case. 1 Would you like to see your photograph or artwork on the cover of the next Around Pattishall? If so, please send it to me. It should be something with a local & seasonal flavour. Around Pattishall March - April 2010 Poppy Appeal A huge thank you to everyone who contributed in any way this year to raise the total of £1,520.03. Paula Stratton Cold Higham Update A number of people in the parish have raised the issue of dog fouling with the Parish Council. In particular fouling in the cemetery in Cold Higham has caused distress to some residents when visiting the graves of family and other loved ones. The Parish Council requests that people keep their dogs out of the cemetery whenever possible but recognises that a few residents would have a legitimate reason to take their dogs with them when visiting a grave or memorial. However, we would expect that everyone cleans up after their dog whenever fouling occurs. Fouling is distressing and antisocial in the cemetery but can have serious effects if it takes place where farm animals are present, for example when taking dogs through fields of livestock. Diseases carried in dog faeces can cause serious illnesses in children or farm animals who touch or ingest it. Once again, the Parish Council expects all residents to behave responsibly and clean up after their dogs. We have decided to hold another annual litter pick in the villages on Sunday 21 March at 11am. Starting points will be at the telephone boxes in Grimscote and Cold Higham and the pick will last around 90 minutes. We will supply bags and other basic equipment but would request that participants bring their own gloves. This event has become a popular and successful event for the villages in the parish and makes a positive contribution to the appearance of the area. It’s always surprising how much litter we collect. Finally, the Parish Council has decided to maintain the annual precept at the same level for the coming year. Although the parish precept represents only a small fraction of the overall council tax bill the Council felt that any increase this year would be unwelcome and unnecessary. Allotments The Parish council has made available some more space at the Eastcote Allotments for those on the waiting list. There will probably be some others available for those who would like to grow there own vegetables and exercise by digging! If you are interested please contact me, John Woollett, 01327 830470 or Ann Addison the Parish Clerk 01604 858226. 2 Around Pattishall March - April 2010 Pattishall Old Burial Ground The Old Burial ground off Blacksmiths Close has for many years become over grown. The grass was rank and hedges become out of control. Via the Parish Council volunteers have strimmed the grass and cleared much of the rubbish that had accumulated. A local tree surgeon has been hard at work the past two weeks cutting out the overgrown Sycamore and elder as well as trimming the holly hedge but leaving the mature Holly trees for protection. The next stage is to plant a yew hedge along the southern boundary with volunteer help. It is the intention, subject to the necessary permissions and approval, to reuse some of the burial ground for future internments when the existing burial ground is full. John Woollett, Pattishall Parish Council An Audience With Paul Daniels Paul Daniels is coming to Pattishall on Friday 30th April 2010. He will be doing one of his 2 hour shows “An Audience With Paul Daniels”. During the evening there will be a mixture of Magic and tales of his life in the World of show business. We are extremely lucky to have him agree to come here, a once in a lifetime opportunity to see a world renowned star within walking distance of our front door! The tickets are priced at £17.50 and £15 available from 01327 830678. The seats will be numbered to avoid disappointment. There will also be a licensed bar from 6pm. Local History Group Field Maps And Field Names Do you know why your road has its name? Why are some fields unusual shapes? Mike Bayley has been researching old documents in order to compile a field map of the whole parish and finding some answers to these questions. Despite being near to completion he would still like to hear from anyone who has old sale catalogues, estate maps or deeds concerning fields. All welcome, £2.00 to include refreshments. Tel 830829 Thursday 22nd April 2010 at Pattishall School 7.30-9.00pm 3 Around Pattishall March - April 2010 Mobile Library Service Stop Time Grimscote Village 10.10am – 10.25am Cold Higham, Old School House 10.30am – 10.50am Fosters Booth, 8 Pool Close 10.55am – 11.10am Pattishall, Leys/Festival Rd 11.15am – 11.35am Astcote, The Green 11.45am – 12.05pm Eastcote, The Elms, Gayton Rd 12.15pm – 12.30pm Dates March 5th & 26th April 16th Pattishall Good Neighbours Club Due to the bad weather we had no meeting in January to the disappointment of some members but I considered that the health and the safety of our members to be more important. At our February meeting we were entertained by the Watling Singers who put on an excellent programme for us, bringing some brightness into a cold winter day. Our next meeting will be our Annual General Meeting on 11 March when we shall elect our chairman, secretary, treasurer and committee for the next year. It is important that members attend this meeting and cast their votes as those they elect will be responsible for the future programme. I think the present officers and committee have done a pretty good job up to now and I thank them sincerely for all the time they have put in on our behalf. Ken and Rene Hooley will be standing down this time after several years on the committee. Following the AGM there will be a presentation by Barron Walton from South Northants Volunteer Bureau on the SAFE AND SOUND project supported by the Police, Fire Service and Care and Repair. This promises to be a very helpful and informative afternoon from which I am sure we shall all gain a lot. At our meeting on 8th April we shall be entertained by John Tearne, 'The Monologue Man',and I am told by someone who has seen and heard him that he is good and not to be missed. I look forward to meeting old and new friends and members on these days at 1.45pm in the Parish Hall. Alan White, Chairman. 4 Around Pattishall March - April 2010 Gardening Club The Garden Club meets on the first Wednesday of each month from September through to May. We have recently had some excellent and interesting speakers which in many cases would also appeal to non gardeners. Last month Wendy Casson talked to us about, and brought along, many different varieties of snowdrops. Apparently there are over 140 varieties!! Next month, on the 3rd March, we have a talk on the "Changing Flora of Northamptonshire", and on the 7th April Jose Lepper from Paulerspury will be giving advice on Propagation. If you are interested come along. We meet in April 16th Pattishall Parish Hall at 7.30pm. John Woollett Pattishall Women’s Institute Having canceled last month's meeting because of the weather our new year got off to an excellent start with an interesting talk about the 'Maple Partnership', a general GP practice in Northampton that offers specialist services to people who are outside conventional society's groups - those with alcohol and drug problems, homeless people, asylum seekers as well as 'ordinary' people living in Northampton centre. Its funding regime is likely to change, so its ability to continue in the way it does now, is probably uncertain. Next month, on Wednesday March 10th we are having a wine growing and tasting evening with the proprietor of the Windmill Vineyard in Hellidon. This will be followed, on April 14th, by a talk and pastel demonstration by a wildlife artist whose animal pictures are magical. If you are interested in either of these, please do not hesitate to come along. You will be made very welcome as a visitor and if you decide to join we will be delighted to have you with us. We meet in Pattishal Parish Hall and the meeting usually comprises a speaker, refreshments and an exchange of information about what is going on locally and nationally. At May's meeting on Wednesday 12th we will be discussing the resolutions that have been put forward for the AGM in June. This will give greater insight into what the WI is doing nationally and offer a different take on the WI compared with most of our meetings. If you would like to know more about the WI or indeed arrange for someone to accompany you to the meeting, please ring the secretary, Janice Rogers 830208. 5 Around Pattishall March - April 2010 Pattishall Neighbourhood Watch Pattishall NHW met in January and we were very pleased to see so many people at our meeting.