Number 16 Number 2011 June The The Parish Post Serving Beambridge, Clunbury, Clunton, Coston, Cwm, Kempton, Little Brampton, Obley, Purslow, The Llan and Twitchen Cliff Robinson Remembered Film was not his only interest: he loved liff died on 27 April 2011. For 5 years books and had a large library covering C he had lived a private and contented every imaginable subject. He was life in Kempton, away from the spotlight fascinated by well-designed and well made machinery such as classic cars and historic firearms. Latterly life had been difficult for him, spending many weeks in hospitals, particularly Bishop’s Castle hospital of which he, and his family, could not speak too highly. He certainly lived life to the full and will be much missed by those who had the privilege to know him. For a fuller tribute to Cliff by Malcolm Turner, who knew him well, visit www. theparishpost.org website. that he had known for many years. As a young man, he wanted to become a £10,000 Lottery Grant for professional cyclist, but when his hopes Clunbury Village Hall were dashed, he studied dress design to ongratulations to the Clunbury make full use of his formidable drawing C Village Hall Committee on their and design skills. He then worked for a successful application for a grant of number of architects on some prestigious £10,000 from Awards for All (part of the projects. It is perhaps no surprise that Big Lottery Fund). Their aim is to try to such a talented and eclectic man should encourage people of all ages to make become a film Art Director. more use of the hall by improving the He was a brilliant speaker and facilities it can offer. enthralled his audience with his The grant will be used, amongst other anecdotes, as those who were lucky things, to buy new tables and chairs, enough to hear him at the Assembly some staging, lighting and a projector, Rooms or in Lydbury North Village Hall a notice board and book racks and to will remember. The film he seemed to be improve the kitchen and storage most proud of was Gandhi, but he was facilities. Money is also included to buy Art Director for many more including paint and curtain fabric to freshen up Gladiator and a Harry Potter. He brushed the hall, but not to pay for the labour shoulders with many famous people, yet involved - so watch this space – he was a modest and private man, happy volunteers will be called for at some to participate in local events (his Address time in the not too distant future! to the Haggis on Burns Nights at The Committee would particularly like Kempton was performed with great to thank Juliet Morgan for all her work gusto), happy to meet and talk to people, on the application. but equally happy with his own company. Please send your contributions by the 20th of each month Unreliable Observations Probably having a first futile look round t's adolescent time. No, not me! I can for a spot of pollination. So maybe yes. I I remember the Festival of Britain for left him to his own devices. goodness sake. It's the time-of-year Anyway, lots to look forward to – the adolescence. Well late adolescent as I beauty of Spring turning into Summer. write. Almost in full bloom but not quite. Not really like our adolescence – that's a A lot like human adolescence now I one off, thank goodness. Time-of-year come to think about it. An abundance of adolescence comes every twelve promise, all that floral beauty ready to months. And very welcome it is too. burst into colourful abundance. Or not, as David Oakley the case may be. The awkward child Barbara Freeman’s Muffin Recipe ready to turn into the handsome and hen we first came to the village, confident young adult. Or not as the G.. Barbara very kindly sent me a I was admiring the roses in our garden. W plate of her muffins which were like no David Austin's finest. Lots of lovely muffins I’d ever tasted! She later gave almost-out buds. Will the horrible black me the recipe, and even I could do them, spot attack? Will I treat it in time? Will and now they are being made not only people notice the spots? Ah yes, around here but in Northamptonshire, memories of adolescence. Surrey and even Canada! They turn out Looking out of the window from my so well – try them for yourself. desk, I can see the lambs – definitely Ingredients adolescent now. A frisky little gang of (Note Barbara’s cup holds 250ml / them hanging out on the street corner, 9fl ozs) 2 cups self-raising flour 1 cup sugar ¼ cup brown sugar 1 egg ½ cup milk ½ cup plain yoghurt 1 cup berries Flaked almonds for topping Method Gently mix all the ingredients except the berries and flaked almonds together with nothing much to do – sorry, hanging in a bowl. Add 1 cup of your chosen fruit. out in the corner of the field. Not quite so (I’ve made them with whimberries, cuddly now, fewer 'aaahs' and 'ooohs' blackberries and raspberries and they’ve from our visitors, but still full of charm. all been good.) Place in a muffin tin and Oh! There they go, charging across the sprinkle flaked almonds on top. field to absolutely nowhere. Looking Bake at 180C, 350F or Gas mark 4 for round again for something else to do. 30 minutes. Makes 12. Looking for a hole in the hedging to Lin Brown squeeze through and cause trouble. Definitely ASBO potential. Volunteers needed This morning there was a huge bee Could you be our correspondent for buzzing in the woodshed. Is he your part of the parish? adolescent as well? Maybe not. Clunbury School Corner he spring term was certainly a busy Mobile Library Alert – T time and looking back we New Timetable experienced some exciting events. The Mobile Library is now visiting our Our Science week in March was a p a r i s h great success. We had visits from alternate Science Boffins and Victoria Hodges who weeks on a works for Astrium a company who make Tuesday and send satellites into space. We (instead of learned a great deal and were inspired to Wednesday become engineers or scientists. We or Monday made rockets and slime and investigated as previously). The stops remain in the electricity. same places with the times as follows Our Easter bonnet parade at the end of Clunbury 10.10 to 10.30am term was great fun with many amazing Clunton 10.40 to 11.00am hats on display. Obley 12.15 to 12.25pm We cannot believe we are already into The first date in June is Tuesday 14 th the summer term. We started off the term Support your Mobile Library! celebrating the Royal Wedding by holding an informal street party on the Rookeries in Clunbury Parish: playground. We invited parents and a Response members of the community. The sun crow in a group is a rook and a rook shone and we had a great afternoon. A on its own is a crow - a key We have lots of other activities planned difference between the two. Rooks are for the summer term including sports day, social birds and nest in groups – cross- country and swimming gala. rookeries – while Carrion Crow pairs nest In June we are holding a community well away from each other. And while assembly in church so we will be busy Carrion Crows (and their larger cousins practising. Ravens) will take carrion and sometimes Finally please don’t forget our first sickly young lambs, Rooks mostly just Summer Fair on 18 June. eat leatherjackets and are thus the farmers’ friend. From a county survey begun in 2008 which found 549 rookeries (there will be many more) I currently know of just six within the parish of Clunbury. The parish rookeries I currently know about are at Kempton (about 56 nests in 2008), Clunbury (36, down to 22 this year) and nearby at the bottom of Clunbury Hill (2, discovered this year), Purslow (41, up to 55 this year), Coston Manor (number unknown) and behind a little quarry north of Clunton (6, found this year). But you know better and if so I’d love to hear from you. I look forward to learning more G Email: [email protected] John Tucker Chinese Couple Grace Kempton QUIZ and SUPPER n 27 April I spotted a pair of Clunton Village Hall O Mandarin Ducks on the Kemp by the footbridge in Kempton. The plumage Saturday 25 June 2011 of the male is beyond exotic: a fine crest, at 7.30 pm a generous ruff and two prominent ‘sails’, all coloured in a bold mix of orange, Tickets: £7.50 eac h chestnut, green, blue, purple, gold, Teams arranged on night bronze, buff, white and black. Too exotic Contact Tracy on 660730 one might think for the UK and in fact or Pat on 660169 they come from the Far East, but so Top Tea in Abcott fter hearing that Rocke Cottage Tea A Room had been named Top Tea Place 2011 by the UK Tea Guild we thought a visit to the other side of Clunbury Hill Male Mandarin Duck was called extraordinary is their plumage that they for. Karin have long been prized by collectors of Clarke, who waterfowl. London Zoo is said to have has run the tea room for the past four paid as much as £70 for two pairs in years, offers about twenty different 1830.