NEWSLETTER FOR KINGS THORN & THE BIRCHES A Newsletter for the Villages of Kings Thorn, Little Birch and Much Birch – January 2007 - First published in 1977 2007 2007 We would like to take this opportunity to wish everybody in the Community a very Happy, Peaceful and Fulfilling New Year. 2007 2007 Newsletter Usually we print an appreciation to DIARY DATES – JANUARY 2007 those who are involved with the 31ST DECEMBER – Ne Year’s Eve Party production and distribution of this 10TH JANUARY – Much Birch Art Society TH Newsletter on the back page, but I 13 JANUARY – Flicks in the Sticks think they are worth a front page 16TH JANUARY – W.I. spread. 26TH JANUARY – Village Pantomime – “Treasure Island” TH I would like to take this opportunity 27 JANUARY – Village Pantomime – “Treasure Island” to thank Roger Thomas, our tireless 31ST JANUARY – Gardening Club Printer, Des and Rose Wathen and ADVANCE DIARY DATES family and Dick Brimacombe for TH painstakingly collating over 500 20 FEBRUARY – W.I. – talk on Narrowboats copies between them, John Bryant and Dick Brimacombe, the News Gatherers, and the army of New Years Eve Party - Please note: Demonstrations are given on most weeks. wonderful volunteers who deliver the this is not a black tie only event, evening Telephone Fiona Field on 01432 278131 Newsletter to your doors. Thank wear is purely optional. Come along and for more details. you all for a superb job. see the New Year in with the great sound ________________________________ Please keep your news coming in, of Rick Hampton’s disco (recently Flicks In The Sticks John Bryant can be reached on appeared at our very successful 70’s 540316 and Dick Brimacombe on evening). There will be a buffet supper to (By arr. with Arts Alive) 540677 or you can send it direct to include freshly baked ham, fresh salads This month’s film will be THE QUEEN 12A at Much Birch Hall, on me. Please keep us posted on new and of course vegetarian alternatives. th neighbours so that we can print a Licensed bar SATURDAY 13 JANUARY. welcome, of any special Tickets £7.00 per adult or a family ticket Helen Mirren stars as The Queen in this anniversaries etc., and particularly can be purchased to include 2 adults and intimate behind the scenes glimpse of the any news of our young people. We up to 3 children (ages 14 and under) interaction between HM Elizabeth II and also welcome letters on topical local Tickets are available now from Jackie Prime Minister Tony Blair in the weeks subjects, poems, and even adverse Morley 541027, Robyn Hodges 540264 following the death of Diana, Princess of comments too! or Amanda Williams 541126. Book early Wales. to avoid disappointment. Doors open at 7.00pm and the film Proceeds in aid of hall refurbishment commences at 7.30pm. Tickets are £3.50 funds. (£2.50 under 16s) and are available in Much Birch Art Society advance or on the door. For further information or to book tickets please call The Society resumes on WEDNESDAY Bryony Connolly on 01981 541274. 10TH JANUARY from 10.30 – 12.30. ________________________________ Beginners and more experienced painters are very welcome. Subjects to be covered W.I. will include Collage and basic drawing Much Birch WI. has an excellent also mixed media of all types. programme planned for 2007. The first meeting takes place on Local News wish them well in their restoration of that TH TUESDAY, 16 JANUARY, when the We apologise for this extremely late entry property. speaker will be Mrs. Sandra Soanes. The for Baby Archie who was born on 21st The launch of the new book, ‘Little Birch th subject of the evening is to be ‘Items of September a brother for Amy and Harriet. on Aconbury Hill’, on Sat. 9 . December the past’. Proud parents are Giles and Cheryl was very successful with over 100 TH On TUESDAY, 20 FEBRUARY we Barber Wayside Cottage Kings Thorn. residents and friends attending at Little look forward to an evening with Mrs. A warm welcome to the Parish to Birch Hall where copies of the book were Janet Rowlands, whose talk,’ Roses and BARRY and CHRISTINE GEYTON, our signed by the authors. The History Group Castles’ is about narrowboats. new hosts at the Tump Inn. Trade is would like to thank everyone for their WI meetings take place on the third already picking up and we wish them support and especially to JACKIE Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm. in well. MORLEY, ROBYN HODGES and Much Birch Community Hall. ARTHUR and JENNY WRIGLEY MANDY WILLIAMS who tirelessly New members and visitors are welcome. have just moved from Newcroft Farm, served refreshments over the 4 hours. Please contact Barbara Wilson, 01432 Much Birch to Littlefield, Llanwarne and Further copies of the book can be 840559, or Kath Watts, 01981 540382 if we hope they will enjoy their new life obtained from Alison Clarke (540791), you would like more details. there, while maintaining their Jennifer Jones (540698), Gillian Porter ________________________________ involvement in Much Birch activities. (540388), Barbara Kilby (540040), Adrian Harvey Treasure Island We welcome SHAUN and GAIL GALVIN and their two young (01432 840466), Graham Philpott Tickets for the three performances: TH daughters MEGAN and MAISIE who (540614), Mike Morley (541027) or John FRIDAY 26 JANUARY AT 7.30 Bryant (540316). SATURDAY 27TH JANUARY AT 2.30 have just moved into "Newcroft Farm" SATURDAY 27TH JANUARY AT 7.30 Much Birch. We hope they will enjoy Best wishes for the New Year are also sent to friends who are in nursing or are available from The Castle Inn, Parish Life. retirement homes or in hospital at the Little Birch on 01981 540756 and MR. HARTLEY of Tump Lane is back Hilary Gould on 01981 540322. home from hospital and is recovering well present time and for those receiving ongoing treatment. Please book early to avoid disappointment from his broken hip, we hope that he will It is sad to report the death of MRS. ________________________________ soon be fully mobile again and LES MARGARET RITCHIE, an erstwhile Little Birch Bingo JENKINS of "Counties View" is making a good recovery from his recent hip resident and parish councillor of Little Due to the Pantomime at Little Birch operation and is now getting back into Birch and one of the founder members of Village hall in January, there will be no St. Mary’s Guild at the Church. Her January Bingo. Sorry for any circulation. Members of the Pop In Club would like to funeral took place near Monmouth on disappointment this may cause but please th thank the Much Birch School for the food Dec. 11 . We extend our deepest come along and support the Pantomime sympathy to Elizabeth Kinnell and her instead. Bingo will return to normal from items from their Harvest Festival that they gave to the Club. family. February. It is good to see that the 30mph. limit ________________________________ _______________________________ Gardening Club signs were installed at the beginning of Term near Much Birch School. Macmillan News Many thanks to all who attended the Drainage work to lead away the water We have had a good year raising money Garden Club Social evening on December from the spring coming out of the tarmac in the community for Macmillan Cancer 6th a great evening was had by all. near the top of Tump Lane has just been Support. January’s meeting will be held on ST completed by Hereford Council, this will The Ross-on-Wye committee, of which WEDNESDAY 31 JANUARY at obviate the dangers caused by ice forming we belong, has raised over £24,000 this 7.30pm. The theme is entitled ‘Pumpkin on the dangerous bend. year, bringing the total for Herefordshire surprise’ and is being delivered by Sean An early Christmas present has arrived in to £750,000, which is halfway to the £1.5 Cadman. the PETERS household in the form of a million target for the new Macmillan Please try and join us. bouncing boy, JOE, weighing in at 8lb Renton unit in the county. ___________________________ 5oz., a brother for NICK and MELISSA We thank you all for your support and L.Birch on Aconbury Hill, and our congratulations go to proud look forward to meeting again in 2007 as The book published by the Little Birch parents, TONIA and BOB. our fundraising continues. and Kings Thorn History Group is This time of the year is always a busy Happy new year! Chris and Peter available now. Copies can be purchased, period and none more so than for SARAH Dowsett 01981 541185 price £10, from Alison Clarke (540791), FAIERS and ROLAND LEE who have ________________________________ the Castle Inn, bookshops in Hereford and moved into Crossways Cottage, Little St. Mary’s Church L.B. Ross and Pengethley Nurseries. Thank Birch and JULIE and MARK On behalf of the Little Birch PCC, may I you all of those who came to the launch BILLINGHAM and daughters, ZOE, as Churchwarden take this opportunity to and bought books. KALEIGH and MICHAELA in wish everyone in the community a very ________________________________ Wrigglebrook and DR. BATHURST and happy, prosperous and peaceful New Thanks family in Kings Thorn. We extend to Year. LBVH Management Committee would them all a very warm welcome and hope Our Parish Church of St. Mary, Little like to offer a huge thank you to Margaret they will be very happy in their new Birch is still open, and we would like to Stringer for organising the very successful homes and in this community. invite you all to join us in taking some 70’s evening.