Exclusively provided free for the communities of Werrington and Wetley Rocks - by the Werrington Community Volunteers Spring 2017 YOUR community magazine From the Editor HEAR WE ARE AGAIN! Once more into the ago said that it had doubled their customer breach . or something as we go to press base. So Village Life works for everyone. In once again. Village Life is said to be the best this issue I am saddened to report the passing community magazine in Staffordshire, and of Jean Fryers husband Dick who has been further afield if we only knew. So thanks to with Village Life from day one, although you our contributors, advertisers and readers for might know him better as short story writer helping to create this remarkable accolade. Our Theo Racle (The Oracle). We advertisers are very important as they fund the will miss his tales and support magazine and so enable us to deliver it free to at the library where he was homes throughout the area. It is good for them one of our fully trained too as recently I spoke to two regulars who volunteers. Cheers Dick and both said that the response is excellent , one thanks for the memories. commenting that it literally kept their business going and the other who joined us a short while Be seeing you – David Next issue of Village Life is Summer 2017, Submission deadline is 16th May 2017 for distribution in early July. Please email articles to: [email protected] Editor & Advertising: David Shaw e-mail to – [email protected] Administration: Jocelyn Morrison (01782 303192 [email protected]) Group Co-ordinator: Barbara Hughes (07725 760868 [email protected]) Design and Print: by VAST (0300 303 8606) www.vast.org.uk Jiffy Bear is hiding somewhere in Village Life. Can you find him? >>>>>>> WERRINGTON LIBRARY EASTER CLOSING DATES The Library will be closed on Good Friday 14th April, open Saturday Morning 15th and closed on Easter Monday 17th April 2017 PLEASE NOTE FROM THE 1ST OF APRIL THE LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSING ON MONDAY EVENING AT 6:00PM wherever they can. Telephone 01782 302706 or E-mail - werrington.library@staffordshire. gov.uk HELP US STOCK UP Since taking over the library the Werrington The Community Shop in the library has proved Community Volunteers have seen a big increase to be a great success, so much so that we are in requests from residents for information on a running out of stock as more and more folk wide range of topics because they do not know come into buy. So if you have things you no where to go and so the service has developed longer want drop them around to the library into an information point. The volunteers are or we can pick them up if you call 01782 pleased to answer your queries or pass them 302706. Sorry no clothes. on to the relevant authorities and so will help 3 would like to offer an activity or put on a session WHATS ON WITH WENDY please contact Wendy Sandbrook on 01782 The Library and Wellbeing Centre 302493. has a busy and exciting programme of events The Village Hall continues to be a very and activities including: Library Services, popular venue for meetings such as, the Computer access, and the following regular Women’s Institute, Endon Players Dramatic sessions; Baby Bounce, Mum & Baby chat, Society, the RSPCA, Weightwatchers, Slimming Werrington Breast Babies, Hairdressing- ladies & World, Werrington Parish Council, Werrington gents, Staffordshire Police drop-in, Knit & Natter, Village Hall Committee and the Werrington Werrington Primary & Moorside High Schools Young Persons’ Support Group as well as a range Buddy reading, Friendship mornings, Creative of activities for all levels of abilities i.e. Yoga, Writing, Chess, Dementia Support Group Jujitsu, Ballet & Tap, Kick Boxing and, Judo- meetings, Support Staffordshire volunteering which is now available on Monday evenings drop-in and, District Councillor surgeries. On 1st as well as Fridays. There is also a wide range December we had a lovely mince pie and tea/ of 50+ activities - Sewing & Craft, Table Tennis, coffee morning which was kindly sponsored Sequence Dancing and, Art classes. During by Wrights Pies and all those who came really the school terms, Pre-School, which caters for enjoyed the refreshments and the chance to 2-4 year olds, is available Monday, Tuesday, catch up with acquaintances and make new Wednesday mornings and Thursday and Friday friends.Our small Community Shop was very mornings and afternoons. popular in the run up to Christmas and is still For further information on; the Village Hall proving to be successful. Thank you to all schedule, contact details for the activity those who have kindly donated such a wide organisers, how to make a room booking for range of items and books for sale, all further a private event or to offer an activity please contributions will be greatly received. Call in contact Derek Fielding on to see what is on offer - the stock is constantly 01782 303093 changing and Mother’s Day is not that far away! For further information on session times and To have your venue or contact details please call into the Library to event included contact view the schedule of events or call the Library on Wendy Sandbrook on 302706. You can also visit our website – www. 01782 302493 werringtoncommunitylibrary.co.uk - If you RENEE IS 100 NOT OUT! On 5th January my husband Tony and myself took some flowers on behalf of the Parish Council to Mrs Irene (Renee) Lowndes as it was her 100th birthday, and my word did she look great. Her nephews from Peterbough were there, Roger, Richard, & Robert, (later we met Russell) & their glamorous wife’s, Val, Jane, & Trudy. They were joining friends at the Red Cow for a celebration meal. Jean McNicol 4 Gardening with Joe Smith PUT A SPRING IN YOUR STEP make mistakes which reduce yield, growth, or flower display. The moral here is if you don’t A well kept garden can be a thing of beauty which is easy to look after and it’s a pity that know don’t cut. One years observation WILL quite a number of people get poor results TELL YOU how the plant grows whereas a bad and think that the whole thing is an expensive decision can set you back for up to 3years. drudge. Given that a few simple measures, Also by learning how to divide herbaceous (if followed) can improve things massively plants or take softwood cuttings means that the object of this article is to point the way you can multiply the stock for ZERO COST. to achieving a position where the average 3. Buy plants for planting at the right time! gardener can look at the garden with pride, NEVER buy and plant tender annuals/ enjoy time there and know that a fortune is perennials all risk of frost has passed (usually not being spent on it. the first week in June in this area), or buy 1. Get the basics right! “bare root” evergreens for planting in January Firstly recognise that unless your soil is really and February when the ground is frozen they heavy you don’t need to dig once a border is can’t take up water and will usually die. planted. I haven’t, for the past 4 years, using 4. Join a good horticultural society! mulch to control weed and the worms to Locally the Cellarhead & District Horticultural “pull down” the organic matter two tasks are Society meet at Wetley Rocks Village Hall on completed in one exercise! I use a variety of the first Tuesday of each month between 8 mulch types according to the crop from forest and 10pm, the 8 talks given by a garden expert bark by hedge bases, to well rotted manure are FREE. WHAT HAVE beneath roses and spent hops (usually free YOU GOT TO LOSE. from a local micro brewery) for mixed borders. Have a good gardening 2. Find out how your plants grow! season in 2017, follow This is especially important with regard to the advice above, and roses, shrubs, and fruit trees where the you WILL walk down pruning varies according to type. Here, a little your garden path with a background reading via the internet, or a spring in your step. good library book will ensure that you don’t 5 Friendly, Reliable & Affordable Cars, 4x4s & Light Commercials All Makes & Models > Mechanical Repairs > Diagnostic Testing > Air Conditioning > Tyres & Exhausts > MOT Preparation > Clutches & Brakes > Servicing > Cambelts > Welding Give us a Call On: 07739 570094 DC Vehicle Repairs | Dave Collier | Caverswall Common | Stoke-on-Trent | ST11 9EU Make a date of Friday 7th April 2017 in the Library from 3 to 4pm. Meet Emma our local Slimming World consultant who is celebrating twelve months success in Werrington. Hints, ideas and tips on healthy living. Future dates are Friday 5th May and Saturday 3rd June 10.30 to 12 noon. DELICIOUS FREE BUFFET 6 The Red Cow Golf Society played its fourth received gifts they never expected annual charity event on Saturday, 17 and over 250 mums have received life September 2016. This was again sponsored changing financial Christmas Boxes. All by Craig and Michael from the Red Cow, and applicants are vetted by special social aims to raise funds in support of Werrington services units. children. This time we were down on Thanks again to everyone. A special thanks players, which was a little disappointing, but to Craig & Michael for their unstinting thanks to the sponsorships and fund raising support over the last 4 years. It’s business efforts of all involved, we managed to raise as usual for the Red Cow Golf Society.