 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
The Pucklechurch community website |
|||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Click here to sign up for monthly email updates on news and events |
|||||||||||||||
|
If you have signed up for emails and are not getting them please check the following: |
|||||||||||||||
|
|
 |
|
|
Community Reports ~ December 2009 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We in Happy Circle have had a good year with lots of trips and entertainment that we have all enjoyed. We are looking forward to our Christmas lunch, which is being held in North Petherton this year. We have a Christmas shopping trip to Cardiff on Saturday, 5th December. If you would like to join us, please contact Liz Archibald on 937 4054. The price for the trip is £10 for adults £5 for children. May we wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year! Liz Archibald |
|
|
The local NSPCC Support Group is a small group of volunteers who raise funds for the children's charity the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. We are hugely grateful to all those people in our village community who have helped us collect many thousands of pounds during the past 20 years.
|
|
|
|
|
To set the ball rolling, Roger Payne organized, in a very short time, the installation of four new radiators for the main hall. Then the Short Mat Bowls Club donated £300 to the PCA, which was immediately used for painting every outside door and window of the Community Centre and inside the main hall and foyer. Thanks also to Jackie and John Sexton for renovating the PCA sign over the door. Amongst the many other gifts to the Centre was the time given by a group of people who painted the doors, spring cleaned the kitchen area, and refurbished the ladies and gents toilets. Perhaps some other group might like to adopt a project for renovating a part of their Community Centre? One of our long-term aims is coming to fruition with the granting of planning permission to trim and remove some trees and hedges in the car park, and the grant of £2,000 from Revel to cover most of the cost of this work. Already the PCA have had offers of help to help with the work. If you are interested in helping with the project, please give me a ring on 937 2818. Best wishes for now and many thanks to those who have helped but have not been named. Alan Holder, PCA Chair |
Some would say that the season of goodwill comes only at Christmastime, but for the last three months the Community Centre has been at the receiving end of a large amount of goodwill due to the very generous acts of groups and individuals.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
Boyd Valley & Bitton 7pm – 9pm The Meadows Primary School For further information, tel. 01454 863311 |
|
|
|
|
|
Things seem to have gone quiet on the issue of the combined new GP surgery and the housing scheme at Oaktree Avenue. However, councillors have been advised that negotiations continue behind the scenes between the Council and a private landowner about the specific access to the site. By the end of the year, this will have been settled. There will then be some further consultation on what the final development will look like, which will have been shaped by the comments received last year. This will allow a planning application to be submitted. Construction will then be able to start on a scheme which aims to safeguard the future of a vital village health service. The Great Western Ambulance Service is looking for Community First Responders (CFRs). These are volunteers who respond from their home addresses or workplaces to patients with life-threatening medical emergencies. They provide life-saving care to patients, often in rural areas, in the first few minutes before the ambulance arrives. Their quick attendance can make the difference between life and death whilst an ambulance is on its way. For further information, phone 0117 928 0485 or email www.gwas.nhs.uk. A long stretch of the B4465 Shortwood Road -- the route between Shortwood and Pucklechurch -- has been resurfaced as a result of the Council's decision to more than double its highways resurfacing budget. Local councillors have passed on the concerns that residents raise regularly about potholes and are pleased with the extra investment. Shortwood Road is one of many roads in our area that have either had work carried out or will have work carried out in the months ahead. Councillor Sandra Grant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parish Council Chairman’s Notes Parking Councillors have received many complaints about parking, especially parking on pavements in such a way that pedestrians cannot pass without having to step into the road. Where pavements are wide enough for cars to park, there should always be sufficient room for double buggies and wheelchairs to be able to pass without difficulty. Parking on roads is another cause for concern in some parts of the village, particularly where it may impede access for emergency services, block a fire hydrant, or restrict access to a bus stop. Should a parked car be causing an obstruction, the best course of action is to report it to the Police. Council Minutes Minutes of Parish Council meetings are put on the Pucklechurch website once they have been approved at the next meeting. Minutes from the September meeting would therefore be on the web after their ratification at the October meeting. This is because only minutes that have been approved by Council and signed by the Chairman are available for publication. Omar Beg, Chairman |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
Pucklechurch Twinning Association PRINGY, October 2009 -- Visits to Pringy continue to be well supported, and a party of 36 visited our twin village from 23-28 October, travelling by coach and overnight ferry and arriving in Pringy mid-morning Saturday to the customary warm welcome from our French friends. Coffee over, the rest of the day was spent with our allocated hosts. It had been decided after the 20th anniversary that Sundays would be spent with hosts, giving us more time to get to know the families we stay with. It also gave us longer in bed and, combined with the clocks going back (yes, this happens in France as well), ensured a more leisurely weekend. Once again the weather was extremely good with wall-to-wall sunshine from Sunday through to Wednesday. For those who went to Paris with their hosts on Sunday, it really looked magnificent in the sun. Although still extremely busy with traffic, the atmosphere on a non-working day was very holidayish with lots of Parisiennes "promenading". Monday was spent visiting Sens, a pretty town in Burgundy only an hour from Pringy. To the delight of the females on board (OK, the men also enjoyed it), there was a large outdoor market and a more traditional covered market. Those who visited the cathedral museum discovered a direct link to Pucklechurch: Thomas à Becket was exiled to Sens from 1165 to 1170. He then returned to England and was promptly murdered in Canterbury Cathedral. They do say France is better for your health! The formal reception and speeches then took place on Monday evening. We had a choice of visits on Tuesday. Several people travelled to Paris by train from Melun, which is only 15 minutes from Pringy. The journey time to Paris was only 27 minutes and this allowed more time than if they had gone by coach. The others visited Provins, a walled town that is a World Heritage site. Time was spent visiting Cesar's Tower, the museum, and a tour of the maze of tunnels that lie beneath the town. We also enjoyed a drink and some crepes! Tuesday evening involved everyone in an "American supper" (in France?), something the French have picked up from us. Entertainment took the form of disco and karaoke. Surprising what people do after a wine or two! Dancing continued until one in the morning, with the conga and the “kissing dance" proving very popular. For the English and French youngsters, the highlight was probably a "garage" party on Sunday night. As it took place in the basement garage of the house I was eating in, I can confirm it was noisy, with lots of knowing smiles on the following days! If you want your children to lose inhibitions, gain confidence and involve themselves in a different culture and language in a safe environment, then come and join us! Wednesday and the return home came all too soon, as it always does. Now we start planning for the visit of the French to Pucklechurch next April. Twinning always encourages new members. We have a full programme of social events throughout the year (see the village calendar on the Pucklechurch website). If you are interested in finding out more, contact Val Broom (937 2025) or Ann Smith (937 2030). Lyn Smith, President |
|
|
|
|
|
The Pucklechurch Revel AGM was held on Wednesday, 23rd September. Martin Smith said that he was stepping down as Chair but would continue to be a volunteer, as volunteers are essential for the success of Revel. He thanked the Revel Committee for all their hard work and all the groups and sponsors that had contributed to Revel. Martin went on to say that raising money was important, but Revel was also about community and how much the people of Pucklechurch enjoy Revel. Carol Humphrey, who stepped down after 11 years on the Revel Committee, was presented with an arrangement of flowers. Treasurer John Sexton said that this year's Revel was very successful considering the current economic climate, and about £7,000 was available to distribute among the groups. For details click here... The Bob Stone Memorial Award, which is awarded annually to the person or organisation who has made a significant contribution to Revel, was presented to Martin Smith. This was the village's way of saying thank you for all Martin’s hard work organising Revel for the past three years. The officers selected for Revel 2010 are:
If anyone else would like to join the Revel committee or be a volunteer, please contact Elaine on 937 3105 or email elainerudge@aol.com. Elaine Stone, Revel Co-Chair |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Scoring Brownie Points1st Pucklechurch Brownies undertook the challenge presented by Plan UK 'Because I am a girl' to photograph themselves during a typical day and compare their lives with that of Liberian girls. The idea is to highlight the lack of education, play and freedom endured by girls Liberia. From over 2000 photos submitted by Girlguiding members nationally, this photo of Danielle playing snowballs, taken by Ella and Adele, won third prize… and a digital camera for the Brownie Unit. The prize was presented at a London art gallery, where approximately 150 winning entries were displayed. Fourteen excited Brownies, their leaders, parents and siblings travelled by coach during half-term for a day out in the capital. Not only did they receive their award, but they also found time to kick up the leaves in Hyde Park, climb the lions in Trafalgar Square, and see the Queen, who was making a presentation on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. What a fantastic day! 2nd Pucklechurch went by bus and train to @Bristol for a special day just for Brownies. After having fun participating in lots of activities and visiting the planetarium, they all gained their Stargazer Badge. Due to several Brownies’ families moving away, there are spaces in this unit, and the Brownies would love more girls, aged 7-10 years, to join them. Please contact Lori-Anne on 937 3842 for more details.
The 2nd Pucklechurch Rainbows unit is currently suspended. A new unit, 3rd Pucklechurch Rainbows, will start up in Pucklechurch in January 2010 on Wednesdays. If your daughter is 5-7 years old and would like to be a Rainbow Guide, contact Maria Card (937 4487) or Joanna Wallis 957 4119 or email thirdpucklechurchrainbows@hotmail.com. Welcome Lyn Ford’s term of office as District Commissioner is coming to an end, and we are delighted to announce that Elaine Stone has volunteered to take over this role. (Well, she’ll need something to keep her busy now she’s retired from school.) As always, if you’d like to join us, you’d be most welcome. Contact me on 937 2157 or email rosabbott@hotmail.com Ros Abbott |
Chloe’s picture of Georgia beside the school mosaic earned a commendation. All the Brownies took pictures as part of their challenge.
Rainbows
|
|
|
|
|
Since September, five Scouts have completed their RYA Stage 1 and 2 sailing awards, and others spent a windy and wet weekend hiking in the Brecon Beacons. We also took part in the Sodbury Challenge -- a night activity hike on Sodbury Common. On troop nights we have tie-dyed T-shirts, learnt how to map read and how to use a penknife safely, cooked exotic foods on camp stoves, and taken part in a scavenger hunt. (Photos of the sailing and the hill walking are on the website www.pucklechurch.escouts.net/scouts.html). To join Scouts, call Tony on 957 4119. In September our AGM took place with the usual welcome entertainment by the young Scouts. During the evening of entertainment, some Beaver Scouts went swimming off into distant waters to join the Cubs, the Cub pack entertained us with a selection of tunes on the handbells, and Scouts individually told us about what they had been up to during the summer months, which included their successes at sailing. All this was topped off with a cup of tea and time to learn about our Explorer Scout friends and what they do to achieve their Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Fun and entertaining –- that’s what an AGM should be! And finally we have just finished parading through the village with our Guiding friends as part of the annual Remembrance Day celebrations. Following this we usually hold a cake sale in the Scout Hut with proceeds going to the poppy appeal. This year we raised over £110. Thanks to all who supported us. The Scout Hut can be hired for private functions. To find out more, call Gail on 937 2838. Dale Dennehy
|
The Beavers have been busy earning lots of badges, and three of our Beavers have earned the Chief Scouts Bronze award, which is the highest badge that can be earned at Beavers. We have also been making a mosaic tile that will sit outside the Scout Hut and show elements of what scouting is all about. We had great fun putting the mosaic together and hope that everyone gets pleasure from seeing it. If your child (and we are open to boys and girls) is between the ages of 6 and 8 and would like to join us, please call Sarah Fox-Robinson on 957 1266. 
We started back to Cubs in September where we left off in July with bell ringing. We set ourselves the goal of learning two tunes, which we would play at the Scout AGM -- in just two practices! We also went out on a night hike around the local area. This is always fun -- anything to get us out of the hut is great whatever the weather or time of night. If your son or daughter is between 8 and10½ and interested in joining Cubs, call Steve on 0787 213 7609.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| [Pucklechurch Community Website] [News] [Past Issues] [Features Dec09] [Community Dec09] [Letters Dec09] [Calendar] [Community] [Local Interest] [Directory] [Links] [Planning Applications] [Parish Council] [Site Index] [Contact] [Test] |