TOM LONG'S POST A modern Christmas in a - Stroud District ...

TOM LONG’S POSTTHE FREE LOCAL PAPER OF MINCHINHAMPTON PARISH COUNCILWinter 2010A modern Christmas in atraditional townIN THIS ISSUEMinchinhamptonRugby Club page 7Around theParish pages 12NeighbourhoodWarden page 13News from ourschools page 14,15To start off the festivities come along to theGoodwill Evening on Friday 3rd December inMinchinhampton. The evening begins with achildren’s procession, with a nativity group,uniform groups and Santa on his sleigh.The shops will be open late and there will bestalls in the Market House, undercroft and inthe Porch Room at Holy Trinity Church.Avening Silver Band will be playing carols inthe undercroft, musicians will entertain in theMarket House and Holy Trinity Choir will besinging in the Porch Room.Refreshments will be served in the PorchRoom, Dave and Barbara Boyd will be sellinghot dogs in The High Street, Nkokoto Linkwill be selling hot chocolate in the MarketHouse and MBC will be serving Mulled Winein the undercroft. At the end of the eveningcome and join in the community carol singingin the undercroft.At the centre of our Christmas celebrations inthe Parish are our Church services. There issomething for everyone with services forchildren, carols by candlelight, lunches,walks and parties. For dates and times referto page 10, 12 and back cover.If you are in need of the “cute factor” look outfor our local schools’ nativity plays.Minchinhampton School Key Stage 1performance ‘The Stable Boy’ is on 14thDecember at 2pm and on 15th at 9.15am.Brimscombe School are performing‘Busy Busy Bethlehem’, a modernmusical take on the traditional nativity onTuesday 14th December at 2pm and at6.30pm on Wednesday 15th December.Brimscombe School will also be holdingan afternoon of Christmas music andwords at Holy Trinity Church inBrimscombe on Tuesday 16th Decemberat 2pm. Members of the public are verywelcome to come along to all of theseevents.Still not feeling festive enough? Thencome and sing carols with us onChristmas Eve at 12 noon under theMarket House. After the carol singingmulled wine and mince pies will beserved, all donations towards thechildren’s charity Winston’s Wish .If you fancy getting out for some fresh airover the holidays and walking off theexcesses of Christmas, why not join theWalking and Wildlife Christmas Walk? Itstarts at 10.30am on Sunday 2ndJanuary at Bell Lane car park. The walkwill be a moderately easy route acrossfields towards Forward and on to Box.Everyone is welcome, children, wellbehaveddogs and sturdy shoes/bootsrecommended as the walk will be onuneven ground and muddy in places.Parish OfficeThe Trap HouseWest End MinchinhamptonStroud GL6 9JATel 01453 731186minchparish@btconnect.comwww.community.stroud.gov.uk/minchinhamptonEditor Jacqui Corrytomlongspost@btconnect.comPlease submit articles andother contributions by e-mail oron disc including photographswith contact name andtelephone number.Views expressed are notnecessarily those of theeditorial team. The editorreserves the right to edit oromit material. No liability isaccepted for loss or damagearising from any omission ofcopy or advertising.Copy deadline:Issue March 2011Copy deadline 21st JanuaryIssue June 2011Copy Deadline 15th AprilIssue September 2011Copy deadline 24th June

From the editorParish Council NewsMinchinhampton Parish Councilworks in association with thecommunity, authorities and otheragencies to maintain the characterof the whole civil parish, whilststriving towards improving publicamenities and services to enhancethe future for all, in the face of everchangingneeds.Dear Parishioners,Welcome to the WinterEdition of Tom Long’s PostWe welcome Mr Eric andMrs Anne Guy who are thenew owners ofMinchinhampton PostOffice. We wish them everysuccess in their newventure and hope that theywill be very happy inMinchinhampton.We enjoy receiving all yournews for Tom Long’s Post,but unless by priorarrangement, pleaserestrict your articles to 600words ( 2 columns) then itgives everyone a chance toreport their news. Alsoplease send photographsas a separate JPEGattachment.If you have any news,views or details ofcommunity events takingplace in the coming monthsplease e-mail me at:tomlongspost@btconnect.com or contact me at theTrap House.On behalf ofMinchinhampton ParishCouncil I would like to wishyou all a very MerryChristmas and a PeacefulNew Year.With best wishesJacqui CorryMinchinhampton ParishCouncilChairman: Mr N HurstCouncillors: Ms J Barber;Mr M Beard; Mr P Callaghan-Wright;Mr T David; Mr S Draper; Mr G Ford;Mrs S Morgan; Mr C Morriss; Mr AMylecreest; Mrs L Nicholls; Mr RNicholas;Dr J S Waddington; Mr JWilliams. ( One Vacancy)Clerk: Mrs D WallP.R. Officer: Mrs J CorryParish Councillors can be contactedvia the Parish Office, The Trap House,West End, Minchinhampton GL6 9JA.Tel: 01453 731186 or e-mail:minchparish@btconnect.comSchool HolidaysThe office will be closed onWednesday 22nd December and willreopen after the Christmas break onThursday 6th January 2011.The office will be closed onWednesday 23rd February and onFriday 25th February due to theschool mid term break.Christmas Tree RecyclingStroud District Council will beproviding a skip for our ChristmasTrees to be recycled into chippings. Itwill be located, as usual in Dr. Brown’sRoad from 3rd of January 2011 andwill be on site for 2 weeks.Cllr Stephen GlanfieldAt the Minchinhampton ParishCouncil Meeting in October atribute was paid to StephenGlanfield who sadly recently lost hisbattle with cancer. He served as aparish councillor for several years,and was the District Councillor forAmberley and Woodchester at thetime of his deathLibraries Hire Out EnergyMonitorsAs the nights draw in and thetemperature falls away, we start tonotice a marked increase in ourenergy use and our fuel bills. Haveyou ever thought about how muchit actually costs to run your washingmachine at 60 degrees comparedto a 30 degree wash or how muchelectricity you use by leaving thattelevision on standby?Gloucestershire libraries, incollaboration with the local energycompany, Seven Wye EnergyAgency, are hiring out EnergyMonitors that allow you to see howmuch electricity your household isusing and more importantly howmuch it is wasting. For the cost ofjust £1 you can hire one for 3weeks, in the same way you woulda book. For more information visityour local library or visit theGloucestershire Libraries websitewww.gloucestershire.gov.uk/libraries/energy23

Parish Council NewsTom Long’s PostParish Council NewsUpdates to various traffic and roadschemes have been received fromGloucestershire Highways. Thevehicle activated sign is finally inplace as part of the school safetyzone for Brimscombe, at one of thelocations approved by M.P.C. TheCirencester Road traffic calming andspeed limit scheme, which will seethe introduction of a 30 mph limit fromeast of Besbury Park to west of BlueBoys Corner, had been held up byobjections, but these have now beendealt with under delegated powersand it is hoped that work will start inJanuary.A design solution to the landslip atAvening Road (Longfords), which hasbeen controlled by “temporary” trafficlights, has been agreed byGloucestershire County Council, andit is hoped the tendering process willbe completed by the end of theFinancial Year. A preliminarymeeting with interested nearbyparishes has been held; with thismajor scheme there is likely to be atleast a four-month road closure, andthere will be considerable impact ontraffic in and around Minchinhamptonparish.Residents in Box have applied for theregistration of Rights of Way throughBox Wood and these have beengiven high priority, but as theevidence is still being received thewhole process may take twelvemonths.Stroud District Council has carried outa final consultation with tenants andnearby residents of Old Common andThe Tynings with scheme designoptions for each of the two sites toreplace the “Woolaway Homes”.Ideally S.D.C. would like the chosenredevelopment proposal to includenew-build council homes to at leastreplace the 35 existing rented homesthat will be demolished. It is likely thatthe final scheme will be mixed tenurewith possibly a mixture of council andhousing association rented homes,and homes for sale, including outrightsale or sale on a shared ownershipbasis. A decision on selecting adevelopment partner will not be madeuntil after the Cabinet meeting inDecember. At that meeting it isintended that a decision will be takenin principle on the approach andfunding arrangements for aredevelopment scheme, the details ofwhich will be worked up further with aview to a planning application beingsubmitted in the early part of 2011.Road Sweeping inMinchinhamptonThe mechanical sweeper is due tovisit Minchinhampton to tackle all ofthe non- town centre roads in the nextfew weeks.On Monday 24th January 2011 thefollowing roads which frequently haveparked cars on them will be swept.Windmill RoadHigh StreetBell LaneSchool RoadHigh StreetTetbury StreetIf there are any residents who wouldbe willing to perhaps have a couple ofcones delivered to them, in order toplace out in the road on the day of theclean, SDC would be most pleased tohear from them. We would ask ifpossible, that each road could be keptclear until it has been swept. It isanticipated that all roads will becleansed by 2pm.If you can help please contact:-Gemma WebbPublic Space OfficerStroud District Council01453 754549Postage StampsPlease save your postage stampsand drop them into the Parish Officewe collect them for the Pied PiperAppeal at Gloucestershre RoyalHospital.Councillor Stephen DraperStephen Draper has livedMinchinhampton since moving tothe area with his family in 1984. Heis married with a young family and isa Director of Bristol based WillmoreIles Architects.As the son of a local farmer,Stephen is fully aware of theimportance of the local and ruraleconomy for the area. He is a strongbeliever that for local towns andvillages to survive as communities,they must hold a degree of selfsufficiency. Local business shouldbe encouraged to provide local jobs,however this needs to be carefullybalanced to ensure the beauty of theCotswold towns, villages andsurrounding countryside areprotected.Stephen has an in-depth knowledgeof the planning system and theconstruction industry. He believesgood design influences the attitudeof a community. It is the key to theprotection and development of thearea.Stephen has been co-opted to serveBox Ward.Anne ChandlerWe would like to thank AnneChandler for her work as a parishcouncillor. Anne resigned in Julydue to a course of medicaltreatment.Anne Chandler was elected to servethe Box Ward in 2003. She was therepresentative on Box Village HallCommittee, the Market HouseManagement Committee and onThe Nkokoto Link.Our best wishes go to Anneundergoing her treatment.23

Tom Long’s PostCommunity News and ViewsPublic Meeting - Future ofService Provision inMinchinhamptonGreat concern has been expressedabout the impact of the CountyCouncil cuts to library services ( bothmobile and static), youth clubprovision and subsidised bus routes.The Big Community Offer is all aboutthinking creatively about who is bestplaced to deliver local services andinvestigating the potential to transferbuildings for community use.Should the community take up thisoffer?There will be a public meeting onThursday 16th December at7.30pm in the Market House. Comealong and be part of the solution.Stafford Cottage ChristmasOpeningIn addition to their normal hours ofTuesday to Saturday 9am to 5pmStafford Cottage will also be openingevery Monday until Christmas from9am until 5pm. This will allow youextra time for your ChristmasShopping, pop in for a wide selectionof ladies fashions, gifts andaccessories.The White Room‘The White Room’ would like to say abig thank you to the local communityfor all their support over the last 6months. Despite the currenteconomic climate our little shop isdoing really well and we just wantedto wish everyone a Merry Christmasand Happy New Year.Rachel & Lesley45Help a Hedgehog HospitalHedgehogs have always been amuch-loved feature of the Britishcountryside and are known as thegardener’s friend due to their taste forslugs and snails and other gardenpests. However, hedgehogs are inneed of help and are now evenclassed as an endangered species inBritain.Road casualties and loss of habitatare the main causes of a decline inthe U.K. hedgehog population.Changes in farming and landmanagement have led to fewerplaces for hedgehogs to live andforage in the countryside and this,added to a loss of gardens to foragein as people turn them into carparking spaces or decking-coveredpatios all means less room for ourspiny friends.Annie Parfitt, who lives inBrimscombe, set up the Help AHedgehog Hospital to care for sick,injured and orphaned hedgehogs andhoglets. Annie is a Volunteer Carerfor the British Hedgehog PreservationSociety and the Help a HedgehogHospital is run solelyon donations from hedgehog lovers.In order to find out more about thehedgehog population inGloucestershire, she is starting torecord sightings and otherinformation about our local “hogs”.Maureen Reader, the Help aHedgehog Hospital contact for theMinchinhampton area would like toobtain details of any hedgehogs thatvisit your gardens or that are seendead on our local roads.It is particularly important that wemonitor the weight of any babies in thearea so that they do not die inhibernation.Maureen Reader can be contactedon 01453 883489 or 07717 551908Maureen will also collect any sick orinjured hedgehogs found by you inthe Minchinhampton area so that theycan receive care and veterinarytreatment from the Help A HedgehogHospital before being released backinto the countryside. If you wish tohelp your own hedgehogs you caneasily do this by making sure that asource of fresh water is alwaysavailable and by leaving a bowl ofdried cat/dog food out at night.For further information on how tobecome a member of the Help aHedgehog Hospital or for generalinformation about hedgehogspleasevisit:www.helpahedgehog.orgCotswold CareTrek 3 Volcanoes, ItalyScale Italy's three famousvolcanoes: Vesuvius, Stromboli andMount Etna on Sicily and visit theancient city of Pompeii - and raisemoney for Cotswold Care Hospice.The amazing adventure of thelifetime is May 19-May 24, 2011.Enjoy some of Italy's spectacularscenery while scaling its threefamous volcanoes. We start withVesuvius in southern Italy bestknown for the explosion that buriedPompeii.An overnight boat ride to Stomboli isfollowed by a challenging trek ofaround six hours to the summit ofthe volcano which dominates thissmall island.The adventure culminates on theslopes of smouldering Mount Etna inSicily, one of the most activevolcanoes in the world.Want to know more about thisamazing challenge? ContactVanessa Rinaldi, Events &Community Fundraiser, CotswoldCare Hospice, Tel: 01453 886868,vanessa.rinaldi@cotswoldcare.org.uk

Community News and ViewsTom Long’s PostFree Life Saving courses inStroud areaHeartstart Stroud Valleys is a schemefrom the British Heart Foundation. Ithas been set up to provideorganisations with instruction in basiclife support skills. The scheme whichrelies on donations, provides freeemergency life support training tomembers of the public in the Stroudarea.The course is 2 hours long andteaches you cardio-pulmonaryresuscitation (CPR), an essential firststep in the chain of survival whensomeone has a heart attack. OftenCPR isn’t performed but if it is startedearly it can increase the chances ofsurvival dramatically, providing a linkuntil the paramedics arrive.As this scheme has just started weare going to offer courses toorganisations or groups that are ableto arrange the venue with up to 12people taking part.If anyone wishes to help out there ismuch to get involved with such asrecruiting, fundraising andadvertising. Instructors are alsoneeded to allow the scheme toexpand so anyone with experience inteaching first aid would be welcome.Anyone successfully completing thecourse can also become an instructor.If interested or for further informationcontact Dave Freeman on 07811408785 or emaildjfreeman@hotmail.com, websitehttp://community.stroud.gov.uk/heartstart.Minchinhampton ScoutMovement Needs YouWe are lucky in Minchinhampton tohave a Beaver Colony and a CubPack, the Scout had to close last yearbecause of lack of leaders.These organisations do not run ontheir own but take dedicated leadersand helpers, we have now reachedcrunch time for the Cub Pack andBeaver Colony. We need HELP, witha new assistant leader for Cubs andassistant leaders for Beavers.A leader has come forward for Scoutsto reopen in September 2011 butassistants will be needed there too.I know this does take commitment butto be an assistant you do not have totake a warrant, but without your helpthese clubs could close and thiswould be a great loss to thecommunity and a devastating blow tothe boys who attend now and to thosewho have looked forward to joining.So PLEASE this only requires a fewhours commitment each week duringterm time but it will make all thedifference to the leaders and THECHILDREN.If you can help please contact AdrianSmith on 01453 836197.Horsfall House EventsWycliffe School Choir are giving aconcert on Tuesday 7th December at1.15pm at Holy Trinity ChurchMinchinhampton. There will be aretiring collection for Horsfall Houseand refreshments will be available atthe end of the concert.There will be lunch in the PorchRoom prior to the concert. For ticketsplease call Sue Collingwood on01453 882289.Community Singing EventThe community singing event is amusical version of The Pied Piper ofHamelin composed by BarrieCooper LRSM. As you willremember he composed the lastevent "The Fisherman of Galilee".Hosted by The Stuart Singers it willbe conducted by Gerry Palmer andthe performance will be on Sunday30th January 2011 at 7pm at HolyTrinity Church Minchinhampton.There will be rehearsals on theprevious Monday, Tuesday,Thursday and Friday(24th,25th,27th & 28th) between7.30pm and 9.30pm each evening atHoly Trinity Church. All arewelcome and a fee of £3 to covercosts of music will be requestedfrom all singers.There will be an entrance charge of£3 to support Holy Trinity Church.Minchinhampton SurgeryPlans are progressing well for a newsurgery in Minchinhampton and wehave set up a Charitable Trust toenhance the services available atour surgery. Our vision is tointegrate top quality NHS generalpractice with the best availablecomplementary and physicaltherapies, all under one roof. Weneed to raise money and you candonate on line atwww.minchinhampton.org or byvisiting the surgery.45

Tom Long’s PostCommunity News and ViewsMoments in TimeAmericans on the Great Park - 1944Phil Berardelli was a Private, (1 st Class) in the U.S. Army, just twenty-two years old, when he arrived in Liverpool inJanuary 1944. After a brief stay he was assigned to the Headquarters Company, which commanded his regimentand looked after most of the heavy equipment and armament needed following the difficult campaigns in NorthAfrica. His Company moved south to Gloucestershire and settled down on the Great Park at Minchinhampton.In his own words: “This accounted for all the equipment, huts and tents that were scattered all around …it seemedsad to me to see such a lovely little village disrupted and desecrated, but it was wartime and it had to be done. Wewere there to reorganise and re-equip and so for the ensuing months we were kept quite busy.”There were the brighter times, however. Many of the off-duty soldiers spent a happy hour (or two!) in the Crown.A small group formed a jazz band, which was much in demand for dances, especially on Friday nights in the MarketHouse. Many individuals established friendships with local people. Most of the Roman Catholic soldiers worshippedat Woodchester, and others attended Holy Trinity or the Baptist Chapel. For Phil, there was a lifelongassociation with the Ellins family, beginning in a chance meeting with 9 year-old Geoff in Bell Lane, an invitation tosit in the jeep and a reciprocal invitation to meet Geoff’s family in West End. The friendship endured long after thewar, and culminated in a visit to Minchinhampton for Phil’s eightieth birthday celebrations.Back to 1944. “Alas, our stay in Minch. came to an end in early May and I hated to leave, but this was the army andI had no choice. After a sorrowful farewell with the good people of the village, we moved down to Cornwall, wherewe were to rehearse amphibious landings and practise gunnery on the local beaches. We were not far from St.Austell. … The day finally arrived in the first week of June, when we shipped out of Plymouth. Our destination wasUtah Beach … as an engineering unit we were part of a special brigade whose assignment included clearing thebeaches of all obstacles, defusing and removing mines, draining the marshy, wet areas, throwing down temporarygravel roads and paths for the foot soldiers and tanks and armoured vehicles and clearing areas that hinderedoperations.”The units from our Great Park were all involved in similar operations during the liberation of Europe; many U.S.soldiers did not live to see their homeland again. Those that did, and have returned in the many years since 1944,remember with fondness of the warmth and friendship of the people of Minchinhampton during the dark days ofWorld War II.Diana Wall (from reminiscences by the late Phil Berardelli)67

Community News and ViewsTom Long’s PostMinchinhampton Rugby ClubThese are exciting times forMinchinhampton RFC and the 2010-11 season will go down as animportant milestone in the history ofthe club, as we are in the process ofdiscussions to secure a permanentlocation for the future of the rugbyclub in Minchinhampton. The clubhas lived a nomadic existence in thelast few years, with the Seniorsplaying at Painswick RFC, trainingand the Old Ruckers taking place atHaywards field, and the Juniors atBeaudesert school. Regular socialoccasions and Committees takeplace in the Crown in Minch and atthe Halfway House.This development is a reflection ofthe continued growth and success ofthe club, both on and off the field.Over 200 people enjoyed the MinchRFC Rugby Club Ball at BinghamHall in October, an excellent eventwhich also proved to be an effectivefundraiser. The club is proud that ithas now added MinchinhamptonLadies, ably assisted by club coachBirdy, to its stable of teams. TheJuniors, from under 6s to under 13scontinue to thrive, with excellentmomentum building around theunder 13s in particular, which willhelp develop a feeder group for theseniors.The 1sts lie third in GloucesterDivision Three at the time of writing,and already have the feather in theircap of having retained the IanWeager Cup against Cainscross forthe third year running. ChrisBrookman is leading the team byexample and the team ran StroudNomads close in an excellent friendlygame. The Rams, led with assuranceand dedication by Greg Fisher havealso put in several goodperformances, though buildingmomentum has been fitful asopposition-cancelled matches andthe fact that the quality of opposition,especially in Cup games has variedconsiderably.The Mini & Junior section hasgrown to record numbers and newplayers joining all the time – trainingtakes place 10.30-12 noon,Beaudesert school pitches,Windmill Road, Minchinhamptonand children can participate in up to3 free training sessions beforedeciding to join.MRFC Contact numbersMini & Juniors Chairman, RichHartson 07974 3752921sts Seniors, Chris Brookman07967 134857Rams, Greg Fisher 07721 648348Tups, Jason Richards 07979705900.For more details see the clubwebsitewww.minchinhamptonrfc.comFinally, fancy a chance of winning£10,000? The RFU Grand Draw ishere again, and Minch Rugby Clubwill again be taking part. Over thelast two years we have raised£2000 through the raffle which hasgone towards the purchase of anew ground. As usual tickets cost£1 each, 90p of which goes straightto the rugby club so it’s a great wayfor us to raise money, and there are40 great prizes up for grabs.Tickets will be on sale fromDecember through until March -contact Pete Varley 07967 134 857for more details.Woefuldane DairyAt the Goodwill EveningWoefuldane Dairy will be launchingtheir new range of locally producedwines, beer and cider.Police InformationPCSO Tanya WhiteMobile phonesAll phone calls distract from driving.Research demonstrates that reactiontimes for drivers using a handheld phoneare 30% worse than for driving under theinfluence of alcohol at the legal limit andthat you are also four times more likely tocrash.Callers also play an important role. If youring someone on their mobile phone whoturns outs to be driving when theyanswer, say you’ll call them later andhang up.Even careful drivers can be distracted bya phone call or text message and that splitsecond lapse in concentration couldresult in a crash.Using other devices for sending orreceiving data while driving is also anoffence, that includes Blackberries andPDAs if they have a mobile phoneincorporated.The Law It’s illegal to drive a vehicle orride a motorbike while using a handheldmobile phone or similar device. It is alsoillegal to supervise a learner and use ahandheld mobile phone.Hands-free phones are also a distraction,and you risk prosecution for not havingproper control of a vehicle if the police seeyou driving poorly while using one.The Penalties If you receive a roadsidefixed penalty notice, you will get 3 pointson your licence and a fine of £60. If thecase goes to court, in addition to thepoints, you could face discretionarydisqualification on top of a maximum fineof £1000 (or £2,500 for dirvers ofbuses/coaches ans goods vehicles).Exception There is an exception for callsto 999 or 112 in a genuine emergencywhere it would be unsafe or impractical tostop.I will be at the Trap House monthly,on the16th December from 10am to 11am and17th January and 15th February from11am to noon to offer any advice.Information can be reported in thefollowing ways…Phone 0845 090 1234 (non emergency)or 999 in an emergency.E-mail:stroud-sct@gloucestershire.police.ukand mark for our attention.PIP: situated at the Trap House,Minchinhampton Parish CouncilIn person: At Stroud Police Station.Alternatively, please feel free to approachany of us - we welcome your feedback.PCSO 9148 Tanya White67

Tom Long’s PostCommunity News and ViewsMinchinhampton SurgeryPatient Participation GroupIt is now over 25 years since Dr KaySmith, a former partner atMinchinhampton Surgery, set up thisPatient Group. Then, as now, the ideawas to promote local health careservices for the benefit of patientsattending the Surgery. TheConstitution sets out our aims, brieflysummarised below.Arrange talks anddemonstrations on heath andmedical treatments.Promote healthy activities.Encouraging communicationbetween patients andsurgery.Providing a volunteertransport service to thesurgery and local hospitalswithin the County boundariesof Gloucestershire. (to findout more about the transportservice ring 01453 841396)Each year the Patient Group help runthe very successful “Flu Fest”,providing refreshments and ensuringall our vulnerable patients areprotected.The PPG also provides valuablefeedback, encouraging changes toimprove practice access andmanagement.Over the years the PPG has madedonations of equipment to theSurgery, enabling the provision of amore than average service with stateof the art technology. Monies havebeen raised in various ways. Stalls atevents, refreshment sales andoccasional bequests from gratefulpatients and families.ALL patients at MinchinhamptonSurgery are automatically part of thePPG. Everyone is welcome to join in,whether attending talks, taking part inthe healthy walks, becoming avolunteer driver, or joining theCommittee to help arrange activities.Should you have any comments youwould like discussed by the PPG,please address them and place themin an envelope marked:89“Private and Confidential”For the attention of Sarah NelsonPPG Minchinhampton Surgery.To find out more about the Group -please call Sarah Nelson at theSurgery on 01453 883793.Jonathan Ionides ChairmanMinchinhampton CountryMarketMinchinhampton Country Market isopen every Thursday morning from8.30 am to 11.00 am. There is alwaysa good selection of locally grownfresh vegetables and an excellentchoice of home baked cakes,preserves and savoury items. Inaddition there is an extensive rangeof locally produced items for thehome and individually designed gifts.We are now taking orders forChristmas cakes, both traditional andnovelty, mincepies, puddings andfresh decorations such as doorwelcomes and table arrangementsetc.There will be a special ChristmasMarket on Saturday 18th Decemberfrom 9.00am until 12.00 with mincepies and a glass of wine available forcustomers. The last Market will be onTuesday 22nd December forcollection of orders and last minuteitems.Coffee is always available, pleasecome and join us, all are welcome.The Market will re-open on Thursday13th January 2011.Christmas Eve Carol SingingCome and join our Christmas EveCarol singing under the MarketHouse on Chirstmas Eve. We meet at12 noon and sing a variety of carolsled by Rod Harris and accompaniedby Norma Mills and her musicians. It’svery informal but really gets youfeeling festive. Mulled wine andmince pies will be served afterwards,donations for the children’s charityWinston’s Wish.Gardeners WantedDo you want to grow your ownvegetables, fruit and flowers?There are gardens available toshare in Minchinhampton pleasecontact Linda Nicholls on 01453885248 for further details.Home Composting“Home composting is easier thanyou think and there’s plenty ofsupport and advice available so whynot give it a try it for yourself?”Uncooked food leftovers – excludingmeat and fish – can be composted,along with cardboard, tea bags, oldflowers and nettles, bedding fromvegetarian pets and lots more. Itproduces a quality compost to helpyour flowers and plants flourish.Home composting benefits theenvironment, in fact composting athome for just one year can save asmuch carbon dioxide produced byyour kettle in an entire year or yourwashing machine produces in threemonths.The County Council has nearly 20Master Composter volunteersthroughout the County who canprovide assistance, emailsimon.brown@gloucestershire.gov.uk for more details. Compost binsare available from only £12 byvisitingwww.recycleforgloucestershire.comand clicking on the composting link.

Community News and ViewsTom Long’s PostJacqui Oliver’s Trip toNkokotoI journeyed with Ian Lever on August19th to Heathrow escorted by ourCommittee member Rod Harris in hislarge car. We had lots of cases full ofgifts for the village donated bygenerous Minchinhampton folk. Imade the journey out of a sense ofwanting to contribute whatever skillsand experience I had in communitywork for the benefit of the village link.I had met and planned the trip withthe Minchinhampton committeesome of whom had visited the villageand had supported the 30 year linkbetween Minchinhampton andNkokoto. Ian and I had also attendedmeetings in Nailsworth, with theirrepresentative Jo Smith who plannedto join us for a few days in Nkokotoand develop a new link in a village inTanzania.I was very excited when we landed inthe busy port of Dar as Salaam. Theheat and the busy streets manynearer to the sea port, lined withpeople begging were a reminder ofthe contrasts of this vast Africancountry. There were lots of shopsand I felt overwhelmed to see a fewMaasai Warriors complete in fulldress mixing with the shoppers.After a night’s sleep we took a smallinternal flight to Tabora over the vastTanzanian sun baked plateau, wherewe were able to view LakeTanganyika from the air. Tabora wasan opportunity for us to both plan andmeet local folk that were eitherDistrict Officers or good contacts forthe village. We presented a gift to aspecial link person from theTanzanian council who hassupported the Minchinhampton link.Stima our local link personaccompanied us on to the next stageof our journey to Urambo where westayed at the local college. We werewelcomed by the District Officers. Weexplained our plan of evaluating thework our charity had achieved andplanning future projects. At this pointwe were able to borrow local bicycles.I loved this experience. I think I was abit of a novelty being a white womanon a bike but it gave lots ofopportunities of meeting local peoplewho all greeted me warmly with thephrase “Jambo” (Hello) Children ranto the side of the road from theirschool playground to cheer me andwave shouting loudly “Jambo Mama”(Mama is a term of great respect andis usually used to address olderwomen.)Eventually we reached the Nkokotovillage and I can only describe this asone of the most emotionalexperiences of my life. I felt humbledby the experience of villagerschanting, singing using dance anddrums to welcome us to their village.Trying to recall my experiences in thatvillage is hard as there were so many.We did hold a huge party attended byall the villagers and some of theDistrict Officers. They loved the sackrace, the tug of war and the musicalevents. There were speeches,singing and dancing and a feast offood cooked in huge pots by the localwomen. Visiting the local-supportedprojects was positive but my greatestpleasure was meeting individuals andfamilies who told me why they valuedthe people of Minchinhampton andtheir support. Collecting the waterfrom the bore hole turned intoamusement for some as theywatched me struggle carrying a fairlymodest jug as they so elegantlycarried many huge tubs full of wateron their heads.The children followed us everywhereand the Village Elders were with uscontinuously throughout our visit astheir etiquette requires. Thehospitality was wonderful and Ispent many happy hours conversingwith my limited Swahili often causingsome amusement. However therewas also warmth and understandingthat transcended speech. Childrenof course are delightful and thevillage children and I played gamesand sang songs as they followed mearound the village. The donatedbubbles , wands and footballs weremuch appreciated too.I also had the pleasure of visiting theVumilia secondary school with JoSmith and met some of the pupilsthat are being sponsored byMinchinhampton families.Part of my task was to conduct asmall survey of need within thevillage. I was assisted by a LocalGovernment Official who acted as atranslator and one of the ChiefVillage Elders.I feel very privileged to have visitedthis village and to be made sowelcome. As we left we werethanked but I can honestly say Igained far more than I could everhave given.It was a long journey and at times Ifound some of the situations apersonal challenge. However I feelgrateful that those challenges weremore than compensated for in thedepth of emotional learning Iexperienced and I feel spirituallyenriched.Please do come and visit ourNkokoto events or find out morefrom any of the Minchinhamptoncommittee members about how youmay become involved in this charity.I am also happy to share the manystories of my journey of a lifetime, soplease just ask me.Jacqui Oliver89

Tom Long’s PostCelebrate Christmas 2010with MBC!MBC has a full and excitingprogramme of services andcelebrations for the forthcomingChristmas Season with somethingsuitable for every age:Wednesday, 15th December at10.00 am Sparklets ChristmasSpecial at The Hub.Sunday, 19th December at 10.00 am"More to Christmas" all-agepresentation at The HubSunday, 19th December at 7.30 pmCarols by Candlelight at TetburyStreet (also in Café Church)Christmas Day at 10.00 amAll-age Celebration at The HubChildren - bring one of your presentsto show your friends!Sunday, 26th December at 11.00 amQuiet Christmas Communion atTetbury StreetFriday, 31st December at 11.15 pmat Tetbury Street Celebration andCommunion to welcome in the NewYearSunday, 2nd January at 10.00 amAll-age Celebration at The HubParenting CourseBeing a parent is probably the mostresponsible, challenging, demandingand rewarding job we can ever becalled to and yet whilst we can takecourses in many practical aspects ofeveryday life parenting is not usuallyone of them.MBC is, therefore, delighted toannounce its inaugural ParentingCourse which will run for 7 weeks onMonday evenings at The Hub(7.30pm) starting on Monday 10January 2011 which will be forparents with children from babies to 6year-olds.This course is open to anyoneregardless of their personal beliefs,and the principles shared will be ofvalue to every parent whether or notthey subscribe to the Christian faith.10 11For further information contact KateEaglestone at 01453 886606 or emailher atkate.eaglestone@googlemail.com.Ian Watts MBC Media officer07767217978 ian.watts@minchbc.orgMinchinhamptonChurchParishThere’s something for everyone inMinchinhampton parish thisChristmas, from carols by candlelightto a bring-and-share lunch withmulled wine and a walk.And the message from the Rector,the Reverend Dr Chris Collingwood,is simple and clear: please do comeand join in. “The birth of a child isalways a great gift and the birth ofJesus is understood as God’s greatgift of love to everyone, withoutexception,” he says.“We have lots going on. The CribService is absolutely magical, withlots of candles and the building up ofthe crib telling the Christmas story. Itreally engages children with thewonder of Christmas. Then there’sthe Festival of Nine Lessons,Midnight Mass and Christmas Dayitself – all highlights of the calendar.”There’s an extra special event forlocal children this year, as theReverend Jane Walden, associatepriest for Minchinhampton with Boxand Amberley, explained. She’sleading an ‘Experience Christmas’event, from December 7-12, for pupilsat Minchinhampton School. “Therewill be six interactive stations in theparish church, manned by membersof the congregation. All the schoolchildren will be invited in to interactwith each station, which will tell themthe Christmas story.”These stations will include theAnnouncement, where Mary is toldabout her child to be; the Journeywhich pupils can join in, mirroringMary and Joseph’s journey toBethlehem; and the Message,featuring the shepherds’ story,where children will be invited to sitround a fire to talk about theherdsmen and how they must havefelt.“The first ‘Experience’ event we didwas last Easter, and the commentsthe children made were so spiritual,it was stunning,” Jane said. “We’renow planning to do two a year.“Although ‘Experience Christmas’ isaimed at the school children,everyone is welcome to come intothe church and experience thestations for themselves. Althoughthey won’t be manned for generalvisitors, there will be cards in front ofeach one, explaining how to interactwith them.”For more details, log ontowww.minchchurch.org.ukFor details of services please referto back page.Walking your way to HealthEvery Wednesday there is a walkstarting from MinchinhamptonMarket House at 2.30pm. The walkis led by Pam Browne, a qualifiedwalk leader. The walks last aroundan hour and are FREE.In addition Pam also leads a walkevery Monday from the library inNailsworth on Mondays at 2.30.This is specifically a walk to teachpeople to use Pacerpoles. Thepoles can be borrowed for a monthat no cost whatsoever, howeverthere is a small charge of £3.00 perwalk which lasts 1 - 1.5 hours and isaround the footpaths of Nailsworth.Please contact Pam Browne on01453 832907 and she will explainthe details and answer anyquestions you may have.

Tony & Sue Simmonds, author MartinO’Brien and Gerry & Rosemary RobbinsTom Long’s PostMinchinhamptonHouse.MarketHave you been inside your iconic17th Century Market House recently?Pop in during any Thursday morning;see for yourself and support theCountry Market at the same time!Events:A wide range of public events are runat the Market House. Over the lastfew months these have included:· Literary Lunches in March,June and October with JennyJoseph, Prue Leith andMartin O’Brien.· Arts & Craft Workshop inMarch.· Children’s Theatre (Dazzle)in April, July and November.· Theatre ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ inApril. To enthusiastic praise,and a sell-out.· Local History Exhibition inOctober.· Film Nights. Alan Vaughan isvery keen to continue thesemonthly events. However,other commitments meanthat he has little time toorganise them at present.We are looking at how best tohelp him.The Hall is also used by KeySkill forconference, training and otherpurposes.Plus – all our regular events,Stapletons’ Dance, Dru Yoga, Arts &Crafts Course, Country Market, BellyDancing and Zumba (Dance to behappy).The last literary lunch was held in theBarn at the Crown Inn. Thephotograph below shows MartinO’Brien with Tony & Sue Simmonds,who organised the event, and Gerry& Rosemary Robbins, who hadproposed Martin as a speaker.Quality Fayre:The Management Committee will berunning another Quality Fayre nextyear – on Saturday, 2 nd . April 2011.These Fayres have been verysuccessful over the last three years,so – if you wish to be a stallholder atnext year’s event, please book yourplace now. Contact is Sue Simmonds(Tel: 01453 889 321) price, £35 perbusiness.Bookings:How about running your own event?We can help you get started.To arrange your own bookings,contact Rosemary Day; - Tel: 01453731 331 or Mob: 07747 805 742. Tocheck details or event dates, see ourweb-sitewww.minchinhamptonmarkethouse.co.ukProgress on the Market Houseupdates.Fabric. I’m sure some of you wereaware that jackdaws started nestingin the coving at the rear of the MarketHouse this Spring, creating significantdamage. Your Parish Council verykindly undertook the responsibility forrepair to both roof and coving, thuspreventing further extensive damage.Refurbishment Phase 1 continues.With the new curtains and blinds all inplace, the immediately obvious improvementshave been completed exceptfor the replacement chairs. Thedelays in making this decision arelinked to our desire to maximise audiencespace whilst providing goodseating comfort and chair storage.People, on average, are larger thanforty years ago (sorry, but its true!) sothe narrower chairs are less acceptable.Wide chairs could mean a 10%reduction in hall capacity.Recently we have been concentratingupon usability upgrades. These include:· The electrical circuit to thekitchen· The stage lighting circuitry tomeet modern legal requirements.We also plan to replace the fire detectionsystem and to replace the existingladders, many of which are in poorcondition.This refurbishment work was onlypossible through the generosity ofmany local people. We intend to setup a plaque thanking them.Refurbishment Phase 2, to providea proper kitchen, revamped toiletsand a lift is still stuck in the planningstage. In my last update, I hadhoped that by this Spring we wouldhave been entering a period of fundraising. Such optimism! Issues relatingto both our listed-building statusand to Fire Regulations appear tomake it impossible to provide allthree facilities without loosing audiencespace in the Main Hall. Presentthinking is that we should restrictPhase 2 to a revamp of the wholeground floor space, including thetoilets, and to providing a betterkitchen space. We could then, as aPhase 3 project, look at the possibilityfor an external lift at the back ofthe Market House.Help us to support you. We urgentlyrequire:· Auditor. Can you undertaketo act as our auditor?Financial year-end, 31 stDecember. The accountsare very straightforward andwould involve very little time.· Support Functions. Do youunderstand, or are willing tolearn, about RiskAssessment or CharityInsurance? Short term oron-going involvement. Icould do with some support,so please I would like tohear from you.If you feel you can provide us withthat little bit of extra support in eitherarea, please speak to myself, TonySimmonds (01453 889 321) or toPeter Sparkhall (Committee Treasurer01453 883 494).In the meantime, please enjoyyour upgraded hall! To date, wehave received many positivecomments – I can’t tell you howreally encouraging it is to feel that allour efforts are appreciated.10 11

Tom Long’s Post News from around the ParishAmberley NewsMusic Hall Evening On SaturdayJanuary 15th in Amberley ParishRoom the Nailsworth DramaticSociety Strollers will present a MusicHall evening of fun and frivolity. Thebar will open at 7pm and the show willbegin at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 (toinclude nibbles in the interval) and areon sale at Amberley Post Office.Come and beat the Winter blues!Amberley Scouts Burns NightBurns Night Quiz and supper onSaturday 29th January, 7pm atAmberley Parish rooms. Tickets areavailable from Monday 3rd Januaryfrom Coral Rice 01453 872124, andcost £10.00, Early booking is advisedfor this popular event!Brimscombe NewsIn September the GloucestershireHistoric Churches Trust had theirannual Sponsored ‘Stride & Ride’. Asmall group of all ages from HolyTrinity Brimscombe took part,covering about 12 miles, both walkingand on bikes, visiting a similarnumber of churches on the way. Theystopped for a lunch break at HolyTrinity, where other members of thecongregation were having a‘Churchyard Working Party’. Anamazing total of £525 was raisedthrough sponsorship by this smallgroup.Following this churchyard work, it isanticipated that the CommunityPayback Team will be coming to domore clearance work in comingmonths.September 26 th saw HarvestCelebration, and during the servicethe baptism of Isla Grace Davies.October 24 th saw the baptism ofGeorge Kenneth Thomas Watson.Also during October two ladies fromour link parish in Sweden came tovisit, and on Sunday 10 th , Charlottacelebrated in the service of HolyCommunion.On Thursday, 30 th September as partof the Gloucester diocese initiative tooutreach to the local community theStroud Deanery, put on an evening ofmusic and entertainment entitled‘Think Twice about the Beatles’, atBrimscombe Church of Englandprimary school.Hosted by the best-selling writer,Steve Turner, author of The GospelAccording to the Beatles andbiographies of U2 and Cliff Richard,the evening consisted of thoughtsand recollections on Steve’s life as ajournalist. Music in the form of theBeatles greatest hits was performedby members of the worship groupfrom Holy Trinity Church,Brimscombe and friends.During the evening Steve Turnershared with the audience hisrecollections of meeting andinterviewing the Beatles first-handand earlier he read a number of hisclassic poems from his best sellingchildrens’ poetry books. It was afascinating, thought provoking andentertaining evening for all ages.Everyone took part in a quiz on theBeatles and there was plenty oflaughter and reminiscing whilstlistening to the excellent renditions ofBeatles’ classics.Also as part of the Deanery Mission;Saturday 2 nd October. Brimscombe‘Open the Book’ team joined eightothers in taking the Mission outdoors.On the forecourt of StroudSubscription Rooms, twelve BibleStories, were presented as they dothem each week in their local PrimarySchools.Brimscombe ‘Open The Book’ Teamoutside Stroud Subscription RoomsChurch Christmas Services.Sunday 19 th December 10.30amFamily Christingle ServiceFriday 24 th Christmas Eve 6pm.Village Carol ServiceChristmas Day 10.30am FamilyHoly CommunionSunday 19 th 7pm The Music Groupwill be playing for Carol Singing at‘The Ship’ Everyone welcome!The Ship Inn is planning to have aDisco on Christmas Eve andanother on New Years Eve, but atthe time of going to print, detailswere not available.Pauline HillBox News‘Alison in Wonderland’ a family showby Brian Woosey will be performedin Box Village Hall on the 10th,11thand 12th of March 2011 at 7.30pm.Tickets are £7 and will be on salefrom the end of January/ earlyFebruary. On the Saturday matineechildren under 12 tickets are halfprice. Check the web site Boxvillage.comand notice boards forfurther details.MinchinhamptonLegionBritishMr Darren Russell was nominated torepresent Gloucestershire at TheFestival of Remembrance at theRoyal Albert Hall on Saturday 13November 2010.He carried the MinchinhamptonBritish Legion Standard in thepresence of Her Majesty the Queenand members of the royal family.More news on this event and otherMinchinhampton British Legionactivities will soon be publishedon http://legionlive.org.uk/ under theMinchinhampton Royal BritishLegion Group page. Details on theBranch's activities can also be foundon the Minchinhampton Parish WebSite.12 13

Community News and ViewsTom Long’s PostAdvice to Minchinhamptonresidents from yourNeighbourhood WardenAndy MurrayAndy MurrayHow to beat the bogus callers whoare operating in our areas at thistime of yearMost people who call at your homewill be genuine. But sometimes,people turn up unannounced, with theintention of tricking their way into yourhome. They are know as ‘distractionburglars’ or bogus callers’, whoseonly aim is to get into homes and stealmoney or valuables. You shouldalways be aware when someonecalls at your door.Bogus callers may be smartlydressed and claim to be from thecouncil, Police, health organisation orgas, water or electricity companies.They can be convincing andpersuasive.They use ‘props’ like an identity cardor wear overalls with a company logo.If you are expecting the caller,remember to check their identificationvery carefully against the letter youhave been sent or the password youhave agreed before you let them in.If you are in any doubt don’t letthem inOfficial visitors should always arrangean appointment with you beforehand.If you are not expecting them and arealone ask them to call back when youhave someone with you.With the darker evenings drawing inand the possibility of expensiveChristmas presents in our homessome of these opportunists may lookfor the easier target.Be a good neighbour and visit yourseven if it just to say hello and makesure they have everything they needespecially with the cold and wintryconditions that may be soon upon us.Some bogus callers call on older andvulnerable people; make sure thatolder and vulnerable residents of ourarea are aware so that they are notvictims of bogus callers.For help and further advice phoneAndy on 07795 840730 or call theGloucestershire Bogus caller helpline on 0808 1000 777.Message in a BottleThis initiative is in use in many areasof the country and is now available toyou via Community SafetyPartnership through Stroud DistrictCouncil.The bottle is a plastic container whichcontains an information sheet whicholder people who live alone and arevulnerable can complete, or havecompleted for them, in relation to theircontact persons, next of kin, theirdoctor and other details, which isplaced in the plastic container andkept in the fridge in the house. Inaddition the kit includes some plasticstickers, one to go on each of thefront and rear doors of the house. It isimportant to know that these stickersshould be placed on the inside of thedoors to avoid unwanted attention tothose premises by persons who maybecome aware of the scheme.The idea is that the whole district willbe covered, so that older peopleliving alone will be supported by theknowledge that this information is intheir fridge so that emergencyservices can gain details of themmore quickly than would normally bethe case. One example is thatperhaps someone has failed to takein the milk for a few days. If the policeare called and they find the sticker onthe door they can immediately go tothe fridge to find details of theperson they may have foundunconscious in the house. They canimmediately contact that person’sdoctor, family etc. This speeds upthe whole process of gettingassistance to that person.The bottle is placed in the fridge, asthis is a common denominator inhouseholds, to prevent the need tosearch cupboards. An addedadvantage is that the fridge is thelast place to be damaged in theevent of a fire.EPIC CardsThe free Emergency PersonalInformation Cards can provideimportant contact information toassist identification in an emergencyhospital admission or in any otheremergency situation.The card contains information onthe person's name, two contactnames in case of emergency, theirGP's name and telephone number.The cards are to be carried in apurse or wallet.To obtain an E.P.I.C. cards or amessage in a bottle, pleasecontact Andy MurrayNeighbourhood Warden on 01453754276 or Mobile 07795 840730 ore-mailandy.murray@stroud.gov.ukPlanning for EventualitiesVolunteers are needed across theparish to help their neighbours whenthere is thick snow or extendedpower failures.We also need 4 X 4 vehicles anddrivers.Please contact the Parish Office on01453 731186 or e-mailminchparish@btconnect.com.12 13

Tom Long’s Post News from our schoolsBrimscombe CE PrimarySchoolWhen I was thinking about what towrite about this term there seemed tobe a bit of a food theme going on soit seems appropriate to be sitting herein my office, with the dark eveningsdrawing in, and the smell of freshpopcorn wafting in…. One of ourteachers has just launched a FilmClub with a family viewing of Cloudywith a Chance of Meatballs. In theweeks to come there will becompetitions to enter, reviews to writeand maybe the odd premiere toattend too!Back to the food. The vegetablesplanted by the children in the EarlyYears outdoor area in the SpringTerm certainly flourished. From Juneonwards we had masses of tomatoes,lettuce, beans, peas, courgettes,potatoes and carrots growingalongside the sweet peas,nasturtiums and sunflowers. As if incompetition the fruit trees planted fouryears ago gave us their first real croptoo. We’ve suspected the local deerhave eaten the buds before but thisyear we had plums galore – plenty forthe children to eat fresh and to makeinto plum crumble. (More lovelysmells…!)The last of the fruit and vegetableswere harvested for our HarvestFestival Service just before half term.The Reception children, who had onlybeen in school for a few short weeks,led the service along with theirteacher, Mrs Nicki Brown. Therewere pictures of fruit and vegetableswhich the children had drawn andpainted and the whole class led us ina prayer which they had made up.14 15For a small school, there was a hugeamount of food produce generouslydonated by the families which weshared between the Marah andNelson Trusts.Continuing the food theme andlooking to the future, we are hopingthat Brimscombe CE Primary Schoolwill become a Food Hub for the localarea. This will operate almost as anon-line farmers’ market, withmembers of the community orderinglocal produce midweek which will bedelivered to the school where it will besorted ready for collection onSaturday. There is already a verysuccessful Food Hub at ParliamentSchool and we are working closelywith the Nick Weir of Stroudco, to setone up here. Nick says ‘We havefound that the hub is a fantasticsource of local, fresh, inexpensivefood and drink as well as a great wayto meet some of our local foodproducers and get involved in theirfarms’. Please keep an eye out onour web site for further informationabout this and let us know if you areinterested in being involved. Highquality food, locally sourced, atcompetitive prices for those of us whocan’t always get to the Farmers’Market!Although a few weeks off yet, we arealready thinking about Christmas andI would like to extend a warmwelcome to members of thecommunity to come along to ourcelebrations. The children’s Nativityis always popular but we also have aservice at Holy Trinity Church and acircus skills show. We would love tosee you there!Karen Riordan Head TeacherMinchinhampton School PTABonfire NightThis years bonfire night atMinchinhampton School raised thebest total ever, adding a whopping£3163 to school funds. The eventwas organised by Jane Rock and herteam and was staffed by parents andteachers from the school.How did the PTA achieve thisfantastic total?We sold more tickets this year, bothadvance sales and gate tickets wereup on last years figures. Our thanksgo to all of you who came alongand brought your friends and familywith you and to the wonderfulsupport from M & B Stores andMinchinhampton Post Office forselling tickets in the town.The crowd devoured the barbequeof 200 of Taylors Butcher’s burgersand 300 of their hot dogs, in 500Halls Bakery rolls.The Beer Tent sold 300 glasses ofmulled wine, made to a traditionallocal recipe and 105 pints of real ale.£1700 worth of fireworks were sentup in a fabulous display by ourtrained team of pyrotechnic Dads.Three vans loads of pallets werebuilt into the biggest bonfire yet by avery enthusiastic and experiencedteam of bonfire builders.Building the bonfireThe biggest bonfire yetOur thanks go to everyone whocame along to the event and to allour helpers, it was a fantasticturnout and we hope you all had avery enjoyable evening.

Community News and ViewsTom Long’s PostLocal History Books for SaleIn the Trap House we have aselcetion of local history books andDVDs for sale including the twovolumeedition of a “A History ofMinchinhampton and Aveningpublished by the Parish Council at£17.Local author Ken Chandler haspublished a book ‘Harry Baughan - ALife of Motor Cycling’. The book looksat production of motor bikes inStroud, life in competitions includingthe great contribution of GeoffreyFisher who lived for many years inRectory Cottage, Minchinhampton.The book is £17 (plus £3 P& P) and isavailable from Walls Quarry Press, 2Roseleigh, Walls Quarry,Brimscombe, GL5 2PD. Please makecheques payable to ‘Walls QuarryPress’. For further details call 01453885193,or 07966 246281 or e-mailinfo@wqpress.co.ukBox Swimming ClubThere are currently a few placesavailable in Box Swimming Club. Youdon’t have to live in Box to join theclub. They meet at Beaudesert ParkSchool every Thursday evening from8.30pm until 9.30pm. If you areinterested in joining please contactAndrew Pettit on 01453 834766 ore-mail boxswim@boxvillage.com.Compassionate FriendsThe Compassionate Friends is anational charity that provides supportand friendship to parents and familiesafter the death of their son ordaughter, at any age and from anycause. There is a NationalTelephone Helpline mannedeveryday of the year; a websiteincluding a forum to shareexperiences; leaflets and newsletters;a library service and a programme ofretreats, meetings and an annualGathering. Head office is in Bristol.There are local support groups andAnne Parry runs the Minchinhamptongroup. We usually meet on the firstMonday of the month from 6pm –8pm. It is very informal and relaxedand we welcome parents,grandparents and or siblings. Thepeople who come have experiencedthe death of a “child” – some nearlytwenty years ago, others far morerecently and the ages of the childrenrange from tiny babies to grownadults. All are welcome.Do get in touch if you would like totalk or to attend a meeting. 01453883719. anne@aparry.co.uk.Sing Into SpringLOOKING FOR MORE HARMONYIN YOUR LIFE? Then why not“SING INTO SPRING”. In the NewYear Sheila Macbeth will be leading aweekly singing group inMinchinhampton Market House onWednesday mornings from 9.30-11am. She will be teaching songsfrom around the world , mainly by ear,using teaching methods that aresupportive and fun. Singers of allabilities welcome.There will be a taster session onWednesdat 12th January (£6),followed by a ten week course (£60).For booking and more informationcontact Sheila on 01453 765789 ore-mail lady@macbeth.me.ukNew Web site for MinchRangersMinchinhampton Rangers YFCrecently launched a new website atwww.minchrangers.co.uk. It is afast-growing club, with nearly 100players across several age groups.The younger children train onSaturday mornings atMinchinhampton School. The clubparticipates in local leagues, but hasa fun and friendly approach toplaying, which encourages bothfootball and personal development.Go to www.minchrangers.co.uk formore information.Sophie LandWe just wanted to say how gratefulwe were for everyone's help in thesummer when Sophie was back inBristol Children's Hospital for herfourth major open heart surgery.Sophie suffers from a conditioncalled pulmonary artesia, which is amalformation of the valve linking herheart and lungs.As relative newcomers, we wereoverwhelmed by the action andsupport of friends and neighboursand even friends of friends! We areamazed that one three-year-old littlegirl can know and affect so manypeople's lives.We would also like to give massivethanks to Laura Needham andLouise Taylor-Bowen for organisingthe recent fund-raising fashion show‘What Women Want’ at The OldLodge. The event raised over £3000for specialist equipment for Sophie'songoing care. It was a fantasticevening enjoyed by everyone.Thank you to all the people whohelped make the evening a success.Cheryl Land14 15

Tom Long’s Post Dates for your DiaryParish Council Meetings7.00pm in The Trap House20th December Parish Council17th January Planning Meeting31st January Parish Council14th February Planning Meeting28th February Parish Council14th March Planning Meeting28th March Parish CouncilNational Trust Open House10am until noon in the Parish Office11th January, 27th January8th February, 25th February, 8thMarch.PCSO Surgery11am to noon in the Parish Office16th December (10am - 11am), 17thJanuary & 15th February.Goodwill Evening3rd December 6pm MinchinhamptonPublic Meeting- Future of Services16th December 7.30pmMinchinhampton Market HouseMusic at MinchConcerts at Holy Trinity. Contact JoanSchmeising on 834979.17th December (Friday) CapellaSingers - Christmas Concert30th January Community Event led byStuart Singers27th February Capriol ChamberOrchestraStuart Singers10th & 11th December ChristmasConcerts at Minchinhampton Holy TrinityChurch 7.30pm. Tickets £7 fromMarjorie Russell on 886282 or from theCrown.Minchinhampton School PTA11th December Advent Fair 2pm -4pmMinchinhampton School.16Brimscombe Methodist Church19th December 3pm Carols byCandlelight at Brimscombe MethodistChurch.Music Hall Evening15th January 7pm at Amberley ParishRoom.Amberley Scout Group Burns NightSupper29th January 7pm Amberley ParishRooms.Minchinhampton Local History Group7.30pm at Cecily Court Lounge.18th January The Home Guard inSouth Gloucestershire - Peter Grace.15th February History of a House -Hugh Kearsey.15th March Fore and Aft - The Story ofPurton Ships’ Graveyard - Paul BarnettHorsfall House Fund Raising Events7th December Wycliffe School Choir1.15pm at Holy Trinity Church. EverySaturday and Sunday until Christmasfrom 11am to 4.30pm and on 23rd &24th December visit Santa Claus in hisGrotto at Nailsworth Garden Centre.Minchinhampton ProbusMeet in the Porch Room on the secondand fourth Thursday of each month9th December Romance and Rhythm13th January Concorde, TheCommercial Story27th January Fading Thoughts of aFortunate AirmanMinchinhampton WI5th January Aviation Heritage in theCotswolds - Air Commodore G. Pitchfork2nd February An armchair walk aroundVictorian Minchinhampton - Diana Wall2nd March Tobacconist Farm - LucyOffordLadies Club10th January Rose Newbury - ASikh Surprise14th February Henry Ravenhill -Woefuldane Organic - A History14th March Tony Russell - CotwoldGardens.Minchinhampton with Box ParishChurch (services at Parish Churchunless otherwise stated)5 th December 3.30 p.m. ChristingleService7 th December- 12 th DecemberExperience Christmas12 th December 3.00 p.m. Masons’Carol Service16 th December 6.30 p.m. EcumenicalCarol Singing around the Parish.17 th December 1.30 p.m. SchoolChristmas Service19 th December 6.00 p.m. Festival ofNine Lessons and Carols bycandlelight. (4.30pm Carol Service atSt. Barnabas, Box)24th December 3.30 p.m. Crib Service(4pm Crib Service at Box)11.30 p.m. Midnight Mass25th December 8.00 a.m. HolyCommunion – Parish Church. (9.00Holy Communion at Box)10.00 a.m. Sung Parish EucharistNO service of Evening Prayer.26th December St Stephen 11.00 a.m.Parish Eucharist with Carols - ParishChurch, followed by bring-and-sharelunch in the Porch Room, with mulledwine & then a walk.(No other services in the parish)27th December – St John9.00 a.m. Holy Communion28th December – Holy Innocents9.00 a.m. Holy Communion29th December 11.00 a.m. Holy Communion(BCP) – Parish Church.(8.00am Holy Communion at Box)Thursday 30 th and Friday 31 st8.00 a.m. Holy Communion1 st January 9.00 a.m. HolyCommunion.6 th January – The Epiphany6.00 p.m. Bring and Share Supper inthe Porch Room7.30 p.m. Sung Parish Eucharist – theKings come to the crib.23 rd January 4.00 p.m. Service forChurches Together in Minchinhamptonwith Box and Amberley to mark theWeek of Prayer for Christian Unity –Holy Trinity, Amberley.