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December 2003 Community Reports

Community Reports

PARISH COUNCIL - CHAIRMAN'S NOTES
Woodland t Twinning Charter t Teen Shelter t Oaktree Avenue Underpass t Council Meetings

HOME AND GARDENS PRODUCE SHOW
The 23rd Pucklechurch Home and Gardens Produce Show was held on Saturday, 13th September, at the Community Centre.

HAPPY CIRCLE
We in the Happy Circle were very pleased to receive a donation from the Revel Committee.

GARDENERS' CLUB
Pucklechurch Gardeners' Club began the new season with an interesting talk on autumn shades in the garden.

PUCKLECHURCH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Revel thanks t Pensioners party

Scouts Battle Inexperience at Camp Competition
Over the first weekend of October, Pucklechurch Scouts entered two patrols into the County Patrol Camp Competition.

PUCKLECHURCH CUB PACK RE-STARTS
After a year's hiatus, the 1st Pucklechurch Cub Pack re-opened in September to boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 10½.

TWINNING ASSOCIATION
15th anniversary of our special relationship

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL
Concerns over the new waste collections - The Kings Forest Area Forum is the place to go if you have any questions for the Council.

PUCKLECHURCH FOLK DANCE CLUB 2003-04 CALENDAR
Future dates

REVEL BEER FESTIVAL - Saturday, 13th December, 7.00pm.

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PARISH COUNCIL - CHAIRMAN'S NOTES

Woodland

In December, we celebrate ten years of the Pucklechurch Woodland. The Woodland is on land adjacent to the allotments on the right-hand side of Westerleigh Road, just over the motorway bridge. To mark the occasion, we are having a wooden sign made, which will be displayed inside the entrance. I should wish to thank all those who have worked to develop the Woodland, particularly present and past councillors, especially Peter Aze. The Woodland also contains the skateboard area, which is a useful amenity for our young people. I hope that as the Woodland matures, it will become an increasingly valuable village asset.

Twinning Charter

In October, I was pleased to visit Pringy for the fifteenth anniversary of our twinning arrangement. On our first visit in 1988, our then Parish Council Chairman Geoff Wilcock signed a Charter of Friendship, which I was delighted to reaffirm on the fifth and tenth anniversaries. This year, a further charter was signed by the Pringy mayor Michel Cerisier and myself to mark the latest milestone. May I urge anyone who is thinking of joining the Twinning Association to speak to Val Broom, Viv Radnedge, or any other member for more information -- it really is worthwhile. Elsewhere in Pucklechurch News, you can read about our last visit.

Teen Shelter

I hope that by the time you read this edition of the Pucklechurch News, a ‘teen shelter’ will have been erected on the Rec near the Village Hall. This will provide a roofed, open-sided structure where our young people can meet informally. Although the shelter cost several thousand pounds, the full cost was met by a grant from the Central Government Initiative, which Gail Thornton from South Glos Council advised us to seek. Our own funds are very limited, and it is often through grants from central or local government that we enhance our community.

Oaktree Avenue Underpass

Several months ago we held a site meeting with officers from SGC regarding the matter of the Oaktree Avenue underpass. A number of ideas were discussed, including filling in the underpass and making a safe crossing from either side. At present, we have not had any further information from SGC relating to this matter. When we receive a reply, I will let you know what has been suggested.

Council Meetings

May I remind everyone that Parish Council meetings are open for you to attend. We meet in the Village Hall on the third Wednesday of each month, usually at 7.30pm. The agenda for each meeting is placed on the notice board outside the Post Office on the weekend before the meeting.

Omar Beg, Chairman

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HOME AND GARDENS PRODUCE SHOW

The 23^rd Pucklechurch Home and Gardens Produce Show was held on Saturday, 13^th September, at the Community Centre.

As in the past, the Show Committee was made up of members from the Women’s Institute and the Gardeners’ Club with the support of their memberships. The standard of entries was once again extremely good, and the show was very successful. We had over 100 more entries than last year, with some new people showing for the first time.

Stan Willmott won the Gardeners’ Club shield for most points in the vegetable classes, President’s Salver for the parishioner scoring most points in show, the flower classes, the dahlia classes, parishioners’ classes, and the Gardeners’ Club member scoring most points in the show.

Frieda Hopkins won the trophies for most points in the handicraft section and WI member scoring most points in show.

Other winners included George Alway for the chrysanthemum classes; George and Pauline Alway for the fruit classes; June Case for the best container of roses; Mr. A.J. O’Hara for best wine in show; and John Rees for the best fuchsia in show. Lauren Whittock won the Young People’s Trophy.

Mr. Terry Walker presented the prizes, and afterwards many show items were auctioned.

I would like to record my thanks to the Committee for their continued support and hard work in arranging and organising our annual show.

The next annual Home and Gardens Show will be held on 11^th September 2004. Next year we are introducing a new class for best bucket of potatoes -- watch out for more details.

A.L. Pratt, Chairman

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HAPPY CIRCLE

We in the Happy Circle were very pleased to receive a donation from the Revel Committee. This has been spent on cushions for the seats in the Hall, which we use every Tuesday. Our Christmas dinner will be held at the Fleur de Lys on 2^nd December.

If you wish to know more about the Happy Circle, please telephone Mrs Pat Woods.

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GARDENERS' CLUB

Pucklechurch Gardeners’ Club began the new season with an interesting talk on autumn shades in the garden. At the November meeting, we learned how to make Christmas decorations with flowers and plants from the garden. Our December 3rd meeting starts off the festive season with a quiz and buffet. We will also be planning our weekend summer trip away.

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PUCKLECHURCH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

The PCA wishes to extend our thanks to Revel for their donation, which has been used towards replacing the front door of the Village Hall.

The Pensioners Party will be held again early in the new year. As usual, this will be co-sponsored equally by the PCA and the Social Club. This party is enjoyed not only by the guests but also by the waiters, who dress up in festive gear.

Lots of other activities are held in the Village Hall and Social Club -- all are welcome.

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Scouts Battle Inexperience at Camp Competition

Over the first weekend of October, Pucklechurch Scouts entered two patrols into the County Patrol Camp Competition. Each year, patrols from Scout groups across the former county of Avon compete for the best-camper trophy. This year over 200 young people took part in more than thirty patrols. Here's what some of the Pucklechurch Scouts thought of the camp:

DAY ONE: Friday, 3rd October 2003

We arrived with three cars’ worth of stuff and not enough dollies for the tents. Our dining shelter was the last tent to be put up, and that was the next day. All we did was pitch our other tents, make a drink, start a fire, and wind up the neighbouring scout group with a Frisbee.

DAY TWO: Saturday, 4th October 2003

We started with a 'simple' breakfast. Ed had to start a fire and make hot drinks, didn't he? The activities started in the morning. One patrol did pedal go-karts, which most of the people nearly crashed into our tents! The other did the 'Hey Jake!' relay, where we had to give people piggybacks whilst tying knots. One patrol did the assault course, which consisted of a cargo net, a 'crawl under', rope balance, rope throwing, and running. This was extremely tiring, taking just under 11 minutes for five of us to complete the course, while the other patrol relaxed in the shooting area. We then both encountered the creative zone – one patrol made a card and the other made badges. Both made 'home nation' flags. Next, one patrol did shooting, arriving half an hour late, and the other took a bow and arrow and did archery. The first thing in the afternoon was gadget making: we made a gate and a fence.

Dinner was sausages and veg. We shared the veg with a patrol from 32nd Bristol. In the twilight, we made a campfire. It was very cold, but the songs cheered things up a bit. Then lights out. Ed had a midnight feast and broke his record for Jaffa cake eating, getting through TWO packets.

DAY THREE: Sunday, 4th October 2003

We started with a cooked breakfast.  A big (ironic) WELL DONE to Ed for setting the fat in the frying pan alight. We then did "The Tournament" – our chance for BIG points. There was a chair relay, grass skiing, an intelligence test and a water relay, carrying water in plastic cups. There were burgers for lunch, but 32nd Bristol had most of them (and probably got food poisoning!). Flag down, the revealing of the results...

In the competition for the first-time campers, 1st Pucklechurch's 'A' patrol (Mark, Mike, Andrew, Harry and Alex) finished eighth. Our 'B' patrol (Ed, Sean, Oliver, Justin and Jack) finished tenth. OK. I admit it: as far as the competition went, we were rubbish, finishing eighth and tenth in the 'inexperienced campers' section – out of ten teams!  But we are quite inexperienced at camping. For most of us, the summer event at Mafeking Hall (in Coalpit Heath) was our only experience of a Scout camp. Next year we'll aim higher (seventh, perhaps!), and maybe, just maybe (as if!), we’ll get our hands on the 'Tony' award for the tenderfoot campers.

Michael Wallis
with help from Andrew Dennehy,
Sean Weaver and Justin Fox Robinson

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PUCKLECHURCH CUB PACK RE-STARTS

After a year’s hiatus, the 1st Pucklechurch Cub Pack re-opened in September to boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 10½. On 22nd October, in the presence of the District Commissioner and Group Scout Leader, ten new cubs were enrolled by the new Cub Scout Akela, Ian Jack, and the Cubs were divided into three sixes: blue, grey and green. The pack now has fifteen members, both boys and girls.  Any children who would like to join us would be welcomed, particularly anyone who was previously in the Beaver Colony or another Cub Pack. Pack night is Wednesday, from 6.30pm to 8.00pm, in the Scout Hut. Come along and try it out!!

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TWINNING ASSOCIATION

15^th Anniversary of Our Special Relationship

Twinning activities commenced again in September after the summer break. We would like to thank everyone who supported our quiz on 6th October, which once again made us all stretch our brains to their limits but was good fun. Fred has assured us that the questions are getting easier!

The bench given by our French friends as a memorial to Sue and Rick is now in place in the churchyard and trees will also soon be planted in their memory.

October half term saw 50 of us leaving on our 15^th anniversary visit to Pringy. As always, our French hosts were waiting to greet us with a warm welcome after our overnight journey via Le Havre. Saturday was spent with host families, some of whom took us to see Paris by night. Families with children went exploring in Fontainebleau forest, and others visited various old towns before we  all got together again in the evening.

On Sunday, our French hosts (taking advantage of the clocks changing) had us leaving at 7.45am to visit the Museum of Sorcery (well, it was almost Halloween), followed by lunch and wine tasting in Sancerre. Unfortunately only men can become Chevalier de Sancerre, which involves drinking about a yard of wine without stopping. Six of our members entered the challenge and now have certificates to prove their qualifications.

Monday morning, we left our hosts and went to Paris. New families visited the Eiffel Tower and Sacre Coeur, whilst old hands discovered hidden treasures. On return to Pringy, we had a reception with local dignitaries. Following the speeches of welcome, the charters were re-signed by Michel Cerisier, Mayor of Pringy, Omar Beg, Chairman of our Parish Council, Jean-Marc Reninger, President of Pringy Twinning, and Viv Radnedge, our Twinning chairperson, to show our continuing friendship and commitment to twinning. Our French hosts had made a video presentation of Twinning activities over the last 15 years, which proved highly amusing. (Did we really have hairstyles like that or wear those clothes?)

On Tuesday we visited Auxerre, an interesting old town on the banks of the Yonne (famous for its football team, whose ground some of our members visited). Once again everyone joined together in the evening for a farewell disco and buffet, which was great fun and enjoyed by all.

Wednesday saw a very tired party depart Pringy for the journey home. This time we returned through the Channel Tunnel, which was a new experience for most of us and certainly cut our journey time. Everyone agreed it was a very successful visit, making new friends and renewing old ones. We are looking forward to receiving our French guests next year.

Here’s what a few of our newer and younger members had to say about the trip:

People's welcoming faces as we arrive to
Reacquaint ourselves with old friends.
Interesting places to visit and explore --
No time to sleep as we party late into the night!
Going home. A sad day, but
You wait -- we'll be back!

Helen Parker

Pringy trip -- I think one of the best bits was travelling in the coach because I could play games. Also after the "jam-packed" time with the French, I could get some sleep and remember the fun we had.

Mark Humphrey, age 14

People we know are waiting
Round the bend into Pringy.
It's really lovely to meet new mates.
Nothing is better than going to parties
and staying up late.
You will love it in Pringy,
the people are great!

Kathryn Parker, age 10

Dates for next year’s Twinning activities are published on the Calendar section of this web site. Anyone who would like to join Twinning should contact Valerie Broom or Ann Smith.

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SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL

First of all, good luck and thank you to the new editors for taking over the Pucklechurch News.

There are concerns over the new waste collections that will be starting in the new year. If you have any queries, phone South Gloucestershire Council on 01454 868 000, Sandra on 937 3164, or Phil on 937 2053.

The Kings Forest Area Forum is the place to go if you have any questions for the Council. Each meeting starts with questions from the public, usually followed by a presentation on a local issue. The Kings Forest area consists of Boyd Valley (us), Bitton, Longwell Green, Oldland, Hanham, and Parkwall. The venue changes each time, the key criterion being a large car park. The dates of the next meetings are are below and in the calendar section:

Doors open at 6.15pm and the meetings starts at 7.00. There is a short coffee break, and the meeting usually closes about 9.30pm.

We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Sandra Grant & Phil Trotman

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PUCKLECHURCH FOLK DANCE CLUB 2003-04 CALENDAR

• Dec 2: Alan Davies
• Dec 16: Derek Hammond/Arons Rod (American Supper)
• Jan 13: 27^th Birthday Party (American Supper) Geoff Elwell/Chris Hart
• Jan 27: Pete Howarth
• Feb 10: Val Webster
• Feb 24: Barry Gant

The Folk Dance Club meets every other Tuesday, 8.00pm - 10.30pm, in the Community Centre. For more information, contact Don Stinchcombe.

 

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Revel Beer Festival

Saturday, 13^th December, 7.00pm
The Star Inn

10 real ales plus ciders

Tickets £6/person
(available at the Star and the Pucklechurch Social Club)

Proceeds to the Revel fund

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