September 2003 Community Reports
Community Association
The Village Hall heating project has now successfully been completed. Our next major project will be re-wiring the Hall. We are hoping to receive some financial help through grants and will be holding some fund-raising events (so look out for these). If you wish to obtain information on the hire of the Hall, please contact Roger Payne.
Cricket Club under 17s
Frampton Cotterell U17s - 117 for 9 off 20 overs
Pucklechurch U17s - 119 for 1 off 19.2 overs
On Sunday, 3rd August 2003, Pucklechurch Cricket Club U17s took on Frampton Cotterell U17s in the final of the Don Brooks U17s KO Plate at Frenchay Cricket Club.
Pucklechurch won the toss and put Frampton into bat.
The first 8 overs went well with Jordon Hume bowling his 4 overs of medium quick swing for only 9 runs and 1 wicket, Jordon was well supported by Nick Grainger, who had figures of 4-1-18-0. At the halfway stage, things looked even better with Frampton struggling on 38 runs for 2 wickets.
There followed an indifferent spell of bowling in which Pucklechurch conceded 59 runs in the next six overs, and it took a tidy spell of bowling at the end by Adam Hola-Peryer (4-0-19-1) to steady the Pucklechurch ship. Our bowlers were well supported in the field which resulted in 2 excellent runouts. The Frampton innings finished at 117 for 7 with Luke Jones top scoring 35.
Openers Tom Taylor and Adam Hola-Peryer got Pucklechurch off to a solid start with 36 runs off the first 10 overs. At this point Tom and Adam went in search of the Frampton bowling.
In the 12th over, having put on 27 runs in 2 overs, Adam looked to play a shot too many and was given out lbw for 28 runs. This brought James Cobley to the wicket whose first scoring shot was despatched to the boundary. This left 52 runs off the next 8 overs . Tom and James continued to attack the Frampton bowlers, hitting the ball to all parts of the ground. Eventually it came to the last over and Pucklechurch needed only 5 runs to win having taken 2 singles off the first 2 balls, it was appropriate that Tom then hit the winning runs through mid-wicket for 4, which gave him an unbeaten innings of 51 n.o. James Cobley finished 20 n.o.
Tom Taylor was awarded Man of the Match for his excellent innings of 51. Congratulations to the team for a brilliant performance and day.
Gardeners Club
All the previous committee were voted in en-bloc at our May AGM.
During July we visited the RHS gardens at Wisley, and later in the month we had our annual summer supper in Grant Aitkin’s beautiful garden, where plenty of food and wine was available.
The first meeting of our winter season will be held on the 1st October. The speaker will be Miss Elaine Horton and the subject “ Flowers & Plants for Autumn”.
New members are always welcome. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month during winter in the Village Hall -- 7.45pm for 8.00pm.
The Home and Gardens Produce Show
The Produce Show is a joint venture by the Gardeners Club and the WI and takes place in the Community Centre on 13th September. The show opens for viewing at 2.30pm. Show schedules are now available in the shops and also from Mr. Pratt or Mrs. Webb. We do rely on people taking part to make the show a success. There is a Novice Class, Young People’s Classes and also Vegetables & Fruit, Cookery & Preserves, and Handicrafts & Flowers.
Handbell Ringers
Pucklechurch Handbell Ringers are looking for new ringers. You can learn to ring faster than you think. It is great fun and you do not need to be able to read music. Anyone can learn and expert tuition is available. Practice is on Tuesday evenings 7pm-8.15pm. Give it a try! Contact Marion Thorn for more details.
Happy Circle
At the beginning of August, we had a lovely day trip to Stratford-on-Avon. On September 2nd we are going to Tintern Abbey Mill, this includes a meal followed by a trip through the Wye Valley. In October we will be going to Wyatt Garden Centre and also to see the autumn leaves. Do watch out for details of our events on posters in the local shops.
We hold our meetings Tuesday afternoons in the Village Hall. New members are always welcome.
Contact Pat Woods.
Pucklechurch Parish Council
Chairman’s notes
First, I would like to thank Marion and Marilyn for their hard work in producing Pucklechurch News for ‘many years’. Their dedication and enthusiasm enabled our village to have a journal which is highly informative and inclusive of the many activities which take place here. I hope that the new editors will continue to maintain the tradition which Marion and Marilyn began and take ‘Puckle News’ to new heights.
Secondly, as there were two vacancies on the Council following the ‘non election’ in May, three people offered themselves for co-option at the June meeting. As a result of an election held at that meeting, supervised by our Clerk, Diane Bailey with Councillor Sandra Grant in attendance, Robert Lee and Bill Skidmore, both from Pucklechurch were duly elected. They both attended the July meeting where they signed the declaration of office and were then able to participate in the meeting as full Councillors.
Thirdly, may I, on behalf of all villagers from Shortwood and Pucklechurch, thank the Revel Committee for the truly excellent celebrations this year. Their hard work enabled a record amount of money to be raised, but this was hardly surprising due to the superb events which were held -- this was one of the best Revel days for years. The whole Committee worked ceaselessly to achieve the end result, but special thanks are due to John Whelan for his leadership as Chairman of the Committee.
Finally, the skateboard facility in the Woodland just over the motorway bridge, next to the allotments should be finished by the time you read this. Many people worked hard to produce this new facility, but Marilyn Palmer and a group of teenage boys were instrumental in driving the project to its conclusion. I hope that it will give a lot of enjoyment to very many young people in the months and years to come.
Omar Beg
Chairman
Pucklechurch Players
St.Thomas à Becket
Church News
The Christian Aid house-to-house collection, which took place in May, raised £1484.29. We would like to thank all those who supported this.
The Rev. Stuart Young, as most of you know, is on sick leave. All urgent matters are being dealt with by Mr. & Mrs. Trueman or Mrs. Webb.
Harvest Festival Services
Sunday, 21st September, 11.30am at St.James, Abson
Sunday, 28th September, 10.00am at St.Thomas à Becket
This year at St.Thomas à Becket we are having a change and our Harvest Supper takes place in church on 27th September.
Choir practice at St.Thomas à Becket Church resumes on Friday, 5th September, at 7pm. If you like singing but have never joined a choir or group since your schooldays, why not come and join us?
Whether you can read music or not, come along and see how enjoyable making music can be, especially Christmas music. Contact Omar Beg or just turn up.
Tower Playgroup
- Two- to four- year- old pre-school education and childcare.
- A safe, friendly and happy environment in the Church Room at St. Thomas à Becket Church, Pucklechurch
- Working together, both qualified staff and parent-run management committee, to meet and exceed the requirements of the Early Learning Goals (Foundation Stage).
- Emphasis on learning through play and social skills (for children and parents).
- Places available:- mornings (9.15 to 11.45) and possible afternoons (12.45 to 3.00).
Sessions available now.
You are very welcome to pop in with your child for a visit or contact Sue Webb for more details.
Twinning Association
On Sunday, 13th July, the Pucklechurch Twinning Association held a fundraiser at the home of Bob and Elaine Stone. On one of the hottest weekends of the year, we laid our bets on our favourite nags at the wooden horse races and enjoyed an American supper with a wide variety of tasty dishes.
After a break for the summer, the next regular meeting will be on Monday, 22nd September, at 8.00pm in the village hall meeting-room new members welcome. Our programme of events for the autumn will begin with a quiz night to be held on Friday, 3rd October. For details see below.
At the end of October, 50 people will be travelling to Pringy by coach to celebrate the 15th anniversary of our twinning relationship. We will be staying in the homes of our French friends and visiting the sights in the area.
Quiz Night
Friday, 3rd October, 7.30pm, Village Hall
Tickets £3.50 (includes a buffet supper)
Maximum 6 per team. Bring your own drinks.
Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Contact Valerie Broom or Ann Smith
Women’s Institute
 The Pucklechurch WI had a busy spring and summer programme of activities. The highlight was a long weekend in France for members, husbands, family and friends. From our base in a Paris hotel, we took off for a sightseeing tour of all the famous landmarks, such as Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the Montparnasse Tower. This was followed by a boat trip on the River Seine, which gave us a different view of this beautiful city. We spent our evenings wining, dining and being entertained in true Parisian fashion. On Sunday we visited Monet’s garden at Giverney and were enchanted by the wonderful kaleidoscope of colourful flowers and the lake full of water lilies that has become so familiar through his paintings. We finished our day with a midnight ride on a carousel in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, eating delicious chocolates, drinking champagne and raising our glasses to Norma Pratt, who organised the trip so brilliantly.
In addition to playing skittles and croquet, WI Members have attended a variety of county and local events, including an entertaining talk by Jennie Bond, former BBC Royal Correspondent, and a presentation on local gardens by Rebecca Pow from HTV’s gardening programme. We had a theatre trip to Miss Saigon in April and a visit to Milton Abbas in Dorset for the 18th-century street fayre. Future plans include a visit to Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Windsor on 26th & 27th September.
Our monthly meetings included a session at which local student Helen Seacombe recalled her adventures in the Gambia, where she worked to help build a school, towards which we made a donation. At our AGM in the Albert Hall, WI members discussed resolutions on children’s health, care of the elderly and vocational training. The make-up demonstration we had at one of our local meetings helped considerably when we dressed in our best for the WI Revel float, “My Fair Lady”. Thanks to our members for their hard work, serving our famous cream teas to raise money for the Revel funds.
Pucklechurch WI is an active and friendly group. We meet in the Homefield Centre on the third Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm and are always pleased to welcome guests and new members. Contact Pauline Alway for further details.
|
