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Benefice community newsletter for Cromhall, Falfield, Tortworth, Tytherington and Rockhampton

Volume 10 Issue 5 May 2013

Let us run the race set before us

I write this in the middle of April and, like you, I was horrified to hear how three people died and more than 170 were hurt when two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon in the USA. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and friends. I pray that nothing similar will happen in the London Marathon on the 21

st April, which some of you may

have been watching, participating or supporting the 35,000 runners who will have taken part. A large proportion of those taking part will have raised funds for well-deserved chari-ties; others will have participated for the sheer joy of running. We watch with amazement at the dedication and commitment of the athletes taking part. We cheer with those who beat their previous time and commiserate with those who didn’t do as well as they had hoped. But whether the athletes were able bodied, or had some form of disability; they all had one thing in common: a goal or a vision. Without vision they would not have worked as hard, sacrificed things, or achieved as much. Obviously the vision would be different for each athlete, but it would be that vision that kept them going through the long hours of training, setbacks and the things they had to miss or give up to achieve their ambition. So what relevance does this have to us? As Christians, we have a vision that keeps us going through the ups and downs of life. Paul, the writer of the letter to the Corinthians, reminds us that we’re in a race. But this is not a race where there can only be one winner or even one course to race over, and we’re not competing for medals. It’s an individual race, which may involve joining with others for varying periods of time, on an individual course. It still requires dedication, training and learning. As Paul puts it ‘Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever’ (1 Corinthians 9: 25). The important thing is to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and his call on our lives. What does He want us to do so that we will ‘know Christ and make Him known’; both as individuals and as a church? The sheer joy of running the race set before us – are you willing to train for this marathon? With every blessing, Revd Jenny.

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SUNDAY 19TH PENTECOST

UNITED BENEFICE SERVICE

10:00AM FALFIELD

CREAM TEAS AT TORTWORTH 2.00 - 4.30pm

TUESDAY 21st

11:00am Tortworth Said Eucharist

SUNDAY 26TH TRINITY SUNDAY

9:30am Cromhall Join Rockhampton 9:30am Rockhampton Eucharist 11:00am Falfield Join Tortworth 11:15am Tortworth Eucharist 11:00am Tytherington Family Service

THURSDAY 30th

9.30am Tytherington Said Eucharist

SUNDAY 2ND JUNE TRINITY 1

9:30am Cromhall Morning Prayer 9:30am Rockhampton Eucharist 11:00am Falfield Eucharist 11:15am Tortworth Morning Prayer 11:00am Tytherington At Baptist Church

*NB Normal Tuesday morning Eucharist at Tort-

worth on 7th May at 11.00am is transferred to Thursday 9th at 11.00am for Ascension Day

BENEFICE OFFICE EMAIL ADDRESS: office@croftt.org.uk

BENEFICE PHONE: 01454 260096 E-MAIL ADDRESS: office@croftt.org.uk

Priest: Rev. Jenny d’Esterre Home: 01453 890384 Mob. 0754032 2744

WEDNESDAY 1st MAY

7.30pm Eastley Close Food for Thought

THURSDAY 2nd

9:30am Tytherington Said Eucharist

SUNDAY 5TH ROGATION SUNDAY

9:30am Cromhall Join Rockhampton 9:30am Rockhampton Eucharist 11:00am Falfield Baptism & Eucharist 11:15am Tortworth Morning Prayer 11:00am Tytherington Morning Prayer with Baptists

WEDNESDAY 8th

7.30pm Eastley Close Food for Thought

THURSDAY 9th

*ASCENSION DAY*

11:00am Tortworth Said Eucharist

SUNDAY 12TH EASTER 7

9:30am Cromhall All Age with Baptism 9:30am Rockhampton Join Cromhall 11:00am Falfield Morning Prayer 11:15am Tortworth All Age Eucharist 6:00pm Tytherington Eucharist

WEDNESDAY 15th

7.30pm Eastley Close Food for Thought

THURSDAY 16th

9:30am Tytherington Said Eucharist 7.00pm Falfield Embrace - Informal

Eucharist this month

‘Embrace’ Third Thursday each month at St

George’s Church, Falfield, at 7.00pm

An invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life

We invite you to create the space where the life of God in us can be nurtured and brought to fruition; a time for you to embrace some of the basic disci-plines of the Christian spiritual life

‘SPARKLERS’ FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH AT

ST GEORGE’S CHURCH, FALFIELD, AT 10:30AM

FRIDAY 3rd MAY An opportunity for toddlers and pre-schoolers to play, sing and informally hear stories about Jesus with their parents, grandparents or carers. (Cost £1 to cover refreshments)

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Visiting Visiting is part of the Church’s Ministry. If you would like a visit from someone from the church, please call the Bene-fice Office and we will do our best to arrange it.

If you are going into or in hospitalD You can help to make sure that the church team can respond as you would like us to when you are ill. It’s important that if you are admitted to hospital, you do three things:-

1. Make sure someone tells one of the min-istry team that you are going into hospital – ask them to pass on the message as appropriate.

2. Make it plain to the hospital staff whether (or not!) you would like a visit. This means that when someone rings up, they won’t have to spend time saying ‘hang on, ‘I’ll just ask him/herD’

3. Make it plain what sort of visit you would like: would you prefer a friend from the church or one of the visiting team or would you particularly like a clergy visit? If you want to be certain of a private, one to one chat, don’t be afraid to ask the hospi-tal staff if they will allow your minister to come outside normal visiting hours, so that they don’t take up precious time and space from your family.

For all Benefice Business Please ring

01454 260096 and leave a message

or email

office@croftt.org.uk

The office will usually be open from 9.00am until 12:00 on Thursdays when messages and emails will be dealt with.

If you would like to make an appoint-ment to speak to Rev’d. Jenny; phone 01453 890384. You might need to leave a message and she will return your call as soon as possible as she is entitled to time off!

If you would like someone to bring Holy Communion to your home please ring 01454 260096 and leave a message. We are more than happy to do this.

Midweek Eucharists are held either on Tuesdays at Tortworth or Thursdays at Tytherington alternat-ing each week. Please see weekly pewsheet for details.

Visit the benefice website at www.croftt.org.uk to see the pewsheet, make a prayer request or visit Rev’d Jenny’s blog. You can also follow Rev’d Jenny on Twitter

We are very grateful to Mrs E Frankham, Betty and Raymond Llewellyn and Anon for their kind donations to 5 Alive.

This publication is dependent on donations and advertising to keep going.

One of the ways of making regular donations is by standing order. If you would like to make a pay-ment using this method please contact our Treasurer, Mr Geoff Crosthwaite

• by telephone on 01454 294140

• by email at: geoffrey.crosthwaite@tesco.net

• or write to him at The Barn, Townwell, Cromhall, Wotton-Under-Edge, GL12 8AQ.

Cheques may also be sent to our treasurer, Geoff Crosthwaite, The Barn, Townwell, Cromhall, W-U-E, GL12 8AQ or the editor.

Please remember to make cheques out to ‘Benefice Newsletter’.

Tytherington Local History Group

Thursday 30th May Meet at Tytherington Shop

10.00am

Visit to the Bristol Blue Factory, Bedminster

Ring Roger Howell on 01454 294367 or Valerie Niblett on 01454 417982 to confirm details

Thornbury Library NEW Wednesday coffee mornings -

with added nostalgia!

Our regular coffee morning every Wednesday have a new twist. Enjoy nostalgic images of times past on our plasma screen over coffee. For full enjoyment why not bring a friend or neighbour?

Every Wednesday 10.30 -11.30 at the library.

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We are a family run business dedicated to providing the perfect environment for your cats to stay.

Set in a quiet, secluded countryside residence, this newly-built cattery has been con-structed to the highest standards and is fully licensed by South Gloucestershire Council.

For all enquires please contact Nicola on 07799805996

ASHWORTHY CATTERY

ASHWORTHY FARM, TYTHERINGTON,

NR WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE, GLOS GL12 8QD

5 Alive is available online at:

www.tytheringtonpc.org.uk (Tytherington Parish Council Website)

www.falfield.org.uk (Falfield Village Website)

http://www.cromhall.com/community/church.php

It should be found at the beginning of each month and in colour!

Sunday 9th June at 2.30pm Garden open for picnics from noon

Tickets: Adults £14 (children under 15 £9.50)

Booking: Tel. 01454 413318 Online www.thefestivalplayers.org.uk

Thornbury Garden Shop or Thornbury Bookshop

In aid of Combat Stress

Festival Players at Gate Farmhouse, Itchington – 11

th Year

ST PETER’S HOSPICE SEVERNSIDE SUPPORT GROUP

Afternoon High Tea

Wednesday 29th May at 3.00pm at Methodist Church Hall, Thornbury

Guest speaker: Mr M Horton of Gems of Thornbury

Mr Horton will be pleased to answer any questions you may have about jewellery. Tickets are priced at £10.00 (to include a full home made high tea) and are available from Thornbury Town Hall from 1st May.

Please support St Peter’s – your local Hospice.

Falfield VH 100 Club March winners

151 Ann Riddiford; 196 Sheila Hook; 155 Pat Carpenter

Alveston History Society

Alveston Methodist Church

Weds 22nd May at 7.30pm

Jane Tozer on

Filton: A Mile of History (including something on Charlton)

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HOLIDAY RENTAL IN WEST CORNWALL

Luxury 2 bed apartment (3 persons) with sea views to rent on the new

"waterfront" development.

1 double bedroom with en-suite; 1 single bedroom; lounge; dining area; fully equipped kitchen; balcony and designated parking space. Penzance & Newlyn ½ mile; St Michael's Mount 2 miles; St Ives 7 miles; Lands End 8 miles. Also Isles of Scilly ferry car park 200 metres. Apartment rental cost only £60 per night, any day start (subject to availability).

Minimum charge £240. Available all year.

Please contact Andy/Alison 01454 416263

Cromhall & Falfield

branch

will meet at 2pm on Monday May 20th in Falfield Village Hall

.Help Us Grow MU publication

New members and visitors always welcome. For more information contact Ann Greenhalgh,

branch leader, on 01454 294200

Be On Your Guard

South Gloucestershire Trading Standards Ser-

vice is warning consumers to be alert for tele-phone and door step scams offering the Gov-ernment’s new ‘Green Deal’ after complaints were received by Trading Standards depart-ments in other areas of the country.

February saw the launch of the ‘Green Deal’ scheme. Under the scheme, householders are able to finance home improvements to make their homes more energy efficient, with no up-front costs. Repayments are made through the household energy bill over a period of time, the ‘Golden Rule’ being that the expected financial savings must be equal to or greater than the costs attached to the energy bill. Following an assessment, authorised providers carry out work which may include a new central heating system, loft insulation, double glazing etc.

One Trading Standards department has already dealt with 12 complaints since the launch of the scheme, including cases where residents have received unsolicited phone calls or have been visited by door-to-door salespeople allegedly offering the new ‘Green Deals’, or claiming other government grants are available.

The message from Trading Standards is to be wary of cold callers and the deals they offer you. The ‘Green Deal’ is only delivered through gov-ernment contracted assessors and providers and it is easy to check if the cold caller is genu-ine. Contractors are identified with unique num-bers which have been allocated to them and the details of these can be found at www.gov.uk/green-deal-energy-saving-measures or by call-ing 0300 123 1234.

Tytherington Local History Group

Visit to Caerphilly Castle Coach leaves 9.30am

Weds 26th June

Cost: £15 each

Ring Roger Howell on 01454 294367 or Valerie Niblett on 01454 417982 to confirm details

THORNBURY PICTURE HOUSE

Le Havre

Friday 17th May 7.30pm Cossham Hall

£5 on door AGM for members at 7.15pm

In this warm-hearted portrait of the French harbour city, Le Havre, fate throws a young African refugee into the path of a well-spoken bohemian who works as a shoe-shiner. With innate optimism and the unwavering support of his commu-nity, the shoe-shiner stands up to officials doggedly pursu-ing the boy for deportation. Le Havre is a charming, dead-pan delight.

Cromhall 100 Club

The winner of the £50 Easter Draw was Muriel Ealey.

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Hammer Out Brain Tumours is a registered charity supporting those affected by a brain tu-

mour, to let them know they and their families are not alone.

Support meeting times at Hammer Out Thornbury, (Unit 1, Thornbury Office Park, Midland Way, Thornbury. BS35 2BS) take place

on 3rd

Weds of month 10.30am to 12.30pm.

The next meeting will be on Weds 15thMay

Please see our website, www.hammerout.co.uk or phone us on 01454 414355 for further details.

Fundraising activities

For those who like to walk there is the Brecon Beacon 8 mile walk on 23

rd May 2013; just do-

nate ten pounds to participate. For the more en-ergetic there is the 3 Peaks Challenge on the weekend 16

th to 18

th August.

For the would-be sky – divers among you, take yourself off to Cirencester Airport on 22

nd June,

or 21st September. Check out website for the

thrilling video taken from the view- point of the participants!

Lastly, the 10th Anniversary Party, for all the fam-

ily, is on 15th June 2013 at Cattle Country, Berke-

ley, Gloucestershire.

Revive Shop at Thornbury SORT IT!* Centre

Extra time - SITA UK’s Ross Pead and Ashley Harris remind people of the increased opening hours and show two of the wind-up

clocks that are currently for sale in Revive.

There is also more time to browse and buy a wide range of pre-loved items at Revive, the reuse shop located at Thornbury SORT IT!* Centre. From 1st April to 30th September, Re-vive will be open between 8am and 6.30pm Monday to Saturday, and from 10am until 4pm on a Sunday.

If you are looking for a piece of furniture, some books or even a wind-up clock, why not pay a visit to Revive, which is located at the Thorn-bury SORT IT!* Centre?

There is a high turnover of stock all under one roof and you may be surprised at just what you can find!

Cakes with Coward and Cole Porter

Friday 31st May 3.30pm

Cossham Hall, Thornbury

Afternoon tea followed by a concert of Noël Cow-ard and Cole Porter's wonderfully nostalgic songs and readings entitled Noël with Cole performed by actor and raconteur David Higson, pianist and com-poser John Marsh and vocalist Jeremy Watkins, Three Men’s Company or 3MC for short.

In aid of the Armstrong Hall Backstage Development Appeal

Tickets at £7 each are on sale now at Thornbury Town Hall or by phone on 01454 412272

Come and enjoy the tradition of afternoon tea with great entertainment and still be home by 6pm!

Charity Ball 16th February 2013

The evening was a huge success thanks to the peo-

ple who came and to those who supported us with raffle prizes/items to be auctioned and donations. £4,787.25 was raised towards our charity, the Great Western Air Ambulance, a vital and life saving service.

Our heartfelt thanks and kind regards,

Sheri and Andrew Bryce & Steph Pearce

Trout Fishing 2013

Come trout fishing at Tortworth Lake set in a beautiful valley surrounded by

woodland.

Tortworth Lake is located at Junction 14 of M5 off the B4509 into Tortworth.

Fishing is from punt only; there are two boats avail-able for morning and afternoon sessions.

Single rod £25 per session allowed to catch three trout.

Contact Tortworth Estate Company on 01454 260268 option one for availability.

Thornbury Volunteer Centre

The coffee morning on 18th April, a special event as part of our Jubilee celebrations, gave current and former volun-teers and workers a chance to meet socially, renew old acquaintances, reminisce and generally have a pleasant time.

As the Volunteer Centre was set up in the Methodist Church Vestry, where it operated for its first six years be-fore moving to its current home in Thornbury Town Hall, it seemed only fitting to go back to its roots and hold the event there. Forty people enjoyed coffee and cake, in-cluding several who were active in setting up what was then called Thornbury & District Volunteer Link, and others who acted as volunteer co-ordinators in those early days.

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Thornbury's ambulance agents are go!

Volunteers from Thornbury Fire Station have signed up to be ambulance agents. The scheme follows a successful pilot pro-ject at Portishead Fire Station which started in September 2011.

Around half a dozen retained duty system (RDS) firefighters from Thornbury have been trained and have taken delivery of a vehicle supplied by the ambulance service. It means that when they are not on call for Avon Fire & Rescue Service, or when there is spare capacity, they can now attend spe-

cific incidents on behalf of the ambulance service and provide first aid in medical emergen-cies.

Since its launch in 2011, the Portishead project has attended life-threatening incidents such as patients suffering chest pains, asthma attacks and breathing difficulties. While the prior-ity is to ensure that the resilience of AF&RS is not affected, the joint working between the fire and ambulance services can only be of benefit to patients in the community.

Crew Manager John Riddiford was involved in the first call out for the Thornbury Ambulance Agent car. This was to assist with an elderly woman whose carer could not wake her. John said: "This is a really good idea, for the benefit of the community. We did ride-alongs in am-bulances which gave us a good grounding for when we get called out. We have all had first aid training, and now we will have more opportunity to put that training into practice, which can only be good for the community."

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HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Mark Williams

30, Down Road, Alveston, BS35 3JR

FREE QUOTES

NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL

Tel 01454 413946

Mobile 0798 911 2618 Email tog007@blueyonder.co.uk

J G CARPENTRY

Complete Home Improvement Service

• Internal & External Doors • Flooring

• Skirting Boards • Extensions

• Fitted Kitchens & Bathrooms

•Staircases • Roofing

For a free no obligation quotation call

Tel: 01454 851032

Mobile: 07738934875

WWW.JGCARPENTRY.COM

Do Your Feet Need Some Attention?

Sarah Green, MSSCH MBChA, Health Professions Council

Registered Chiropodist CH17472

Home Visiting Practice

Treatment includes removal of corns and calluses,

trimming and thinning of nails and reducing cracks and

splits on soles and heels.

If you would like an appointment in the comfort of your

home please call me.

Mobile: 07811 405 127

Home: 01454 294104

Do Your Feet Need Some Attention?

Sarah Green, MSSCH MBChA, Health Professions Council

Registered Chiropodist CH17472

Home Visiting Practice

Treatment includes removal of corns and calluses,

trimming and thinning of nails and reducing cracks and

splits on soles and heels.

If you would like an appointment in the comfort of your

home please call me.

Mobile: 07811 405 127

Home: 01454 294104

FUN DOG SHOW

Tytherington May Day Fair

Monday 6th May from 2pm

Events will include a fun dog show where the classes will be:

• dog with the waggiest tail,

• best trick

• dog the judge would most like to take

home.

Entry is 50p per class

Enter on the day or at the village shop.

Dogs will be permitted on the Jubilee Field on 6th May by permission of Tytherington Parish Council.

Thornbury Library Thornbury Arts Festival 2013 – prolong the en-

joyment! Fans of this year’s Thornbury Arts Festival can enjoy the excellent programme content from this year’s line-up for a little longer, by borrowing from our special library displays. Titles include Carol Ann Duffy’s “The World’s Wife” and “The Bees”, various titles reflecting The Everest Jubilee, local Thornbury history titles by Meg Wise, Arthur’s Smith’s hilarious memoir “My name is Daphne Fairfax”, a wealth of titles by broadcaster, Jenni Murray and - celebrating its bicentenary of publica-tion - Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”.

Thornbury Volunteer Centre

“Working with Offenders” training Thursday 20

th June

9.30am-12.30pm at Thornbury Town Hall

Jenny Billingsley, Offender Manager for Avon & Somerset Probation Trust will examine how the courts and probation processes work with regard to offenders.

It will include an understanding of risk assess-ment processes and the implications to organisa-tions seeking to recruit offenders as volunteers. The session will cost £30 per delegate. Please contact Thornbury Volunteer Centre for more in-formation on 01454 413392 or mail@volunteer-thornbury.co.uk

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TYTHERINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH

FOR FURTHER DETAILS OF ANY OF OUR SERVICES/ACTIVITIES, PLEASE CONTACT Mr Brian Allen (Pastor)

Contact Number: - 01179 793104 Email:- allenbroncksea@blueyonder.co.uk

SEE ALSO THE CHURCH WEBSITE: www.tytheringtonbaptistchurch.org

SERVICES FOR MAY

5TH 11:00am JOINT FAMILY SERVICE AT ST JAMES’ Val Johnson & Brian

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TH 11:00am MORNING WORSHIP (WITH COMMUNION) & SUNDAY SCHOOL Brian

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TH 11:00am GUEST PREACHER Rev’d Neil Mobbs

(Little Stoke Baptist Church)

28TH 11:00am MORNING WORSHIP & SUNDAY SCHOOL Brian

ALL ARE WELCOME TO ANY OF THESE SERVICES

Our Childrens’ Club (“EXPLORERS”) continues during term time. Aimed at 5 - 11 year olds, we meet each Tuesday afternoon (in term time) for fun, games, stories, quizzes, craft, music etc. The activities start at 4:00 and continue until 5:30 p.m. in the School-room at the rear of the Chapel in Itchington Road. All are welcome to join us.

Our MUSIC GROUP meets during term time each Tuesday between 6pm & 7:15pm New sing-ers & musicians are welcome to join with us to learn new hymns and worship songs

TYTHERINGTON BAPTIST CHURCHTYTHERINGTON BAPTIST CHURCHTYTHERINGTON BAPTIST CHURCHTYTHERINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH

EXPLORERS

TUESDAYS 4:00 – 5:30

5 – 11 YEAR OLDS

GAMESGAMESGAMESGAMES

MUSICMUSICMUSICMUSICSTORIESSTORIESSTORIESSTORIES

QUIZZES

QUIZZES

QUIZZES

QUIZZES

CRAFTSCRAFTSCRAFTSCRAFTSFUN, FUN, FUNFUN, FUN, FUNFUN, FUN, FUNFUN, FUN, FUN

SNACKS

SNACKS

SNACKS

SNACKS

The Mulberry Tree in Cromhall Village Hall

If you pass Cromhall Village Hall during the morning Monday to Thursday you might wonder why there is a faded old fire truck parked outside, perhaps you have seen the sandwich board announcing the Mulberry Tree Steiner Early Years Group at the end of the lane and wondered what it is. The Mulberry Tree has run a Kindergarten group in the Hall for many years now providing early years education for children up to their sixth year. Older children, up to age 10 are taught in a small class in the converted fire truck.

But what is a Steiner school? This approach to education was founded by Rudolf Steiner early in the 20th century in a world recovering from a terrible war. At the core of our approach is the impor-tance of children cultivating a sense of the beautiful, sympathy with their fellow beings and their powers of observation through a process of imagination, inspiration and intuition.

Steiner teachers concern themselves with the development of the soul of the child as well as with skills and knowledge. Whilst the teaching has a strong spiritual element it is non-denominational. Kindergarten toys are wooden or cloth and allow plenty of scope for children to exercise their own imagination. In the class children learn through stories, rhythm, verse and vivid imagery. Children in the Steiner school are allowed to develop at their own natural pace without being tied rigidly to tests and the opportunity to fail – but the school has to be Ofsted approved and just re-cently passed an inspection.

The Mulberry Tree really values its place in a very special community in Cromhall, but it is outgrow-ing the facilities in the Village Hall so the group is very actively searching for somewhere in the area with room to branch out.

For more information about the Mulberry Tree visit www.mulberrytree.org.uk , find us on Facebook or contact Clare Benson on 01285 831463.

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W N NEWMAN

TRADITIONAL

BUILDERS

RENOVATIONS AND IMPROVEMENT

CARPENTRY AND JOINERY SERVICE

STONEWORK AND

GENERAL REPAIRS

TEL: 01454 416109

MOBILE:

07771702201

Thornbury & District Flower Club NAFAS affiliated

Thursday 9th May Demonstration:

‘Let’s go to the Movies’

Marie Munday

Thursday 23rd May Practice Class: Majesty

Thornbury Methodist Church Hall 7.30pm

FALFIELD PARISH COUNCIL

At the meeting on the 19th March 2013 the Or-chard View development was discussed with the result that some of the residents of Orchard View enquired if would be possible for the area around the newly developed parking bays to become a wild flower area. There were also concerns about the replacement of the trees that were felled for this scheme, so a request was received for a new tree to be planted on the green in conjunction with the Tree Planting scheme also that a ‘Tree Preservation Order’ be obtained for this area. A concern was also highlighted at the size of the local road sign on the green. Enquiries will be made to see if a smaller sign could be installed which would also give clearer instruction to the route of the M5. The Parish Council is going to pursue these requests to see what can be achieved and give reports at forthcoming meetings as and when South Gloucestershire Council have responded.

Commuter Parking along Sundayshill Lane has become a major issue especially since the Or-chard View development started and the grass verges now being completely destroyed. The Parish Council raised this issue at the last Thornbury & Alveston Safer Stronger Group meeting sending photographs to clarify the is-sue and are waiting to hear what they can do to rectify this issue.

The Parish Council would like to thank every-one who helped at the Big Spring Clean and donated wool/baby clothes for HMP Eastwood Park.

The Parish Council has 3 vacancies to fill by co-option so if you are interested please contact the Clerk on (01454) 261677 or on the email address below.

Next Meeting: Annual Parish Council Meeting followed by the Annual Council Meeting Tuesday 21st May 2013 at 7.30 pm in Falfield Village Hall.

Further information can be found in the Parish Council Section on the Falfield website www.falfield.org.uk

Dawn Bramley, Clerk to Falfield Parish Council falfieldpc@googlemail.com

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Tel: 01454 260388

Mobile: 07846 897959

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Professional local service

01454 411739

07788 645 748

www.townsendpestcontrol.co.uk

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FALFIELD VH 100 CLUB

If you have not yet renewed your subscription for this year, or if you would like to join the 100 Club, please contact Rosie Murton on

01454 260615 or email rosie-murton@uwclub.net. As soon as possi-ble.

Numbers cost £15 each and the current prize money each month is £21, £15 and £11

‘Historic Thornbury’ evening walk

Wednesday 15 May

This walk, organised by Thornbury and District Mu-seum, is around the town centre and will reveal some fascinating insights into the history of the ancient town and borough.

The walk will last about one and a half hours. We meet outside the Museum, in Chapel Street, at 6.20 pm. The walk is unsuitable for the under tens, and older children must be ac-companied by an adult. No dogs please, ex-cept for guide dogs. A suggested donation of £2 per person towards Museum funds would be appreciated, payable on the night.

Booking is essential as places are limited; tick-ets are available from the Museum (Tel: 857774) or email: enquir-ies@thornburymuseum.org.uk or visit the Mu-seum in Chapel Street on Tues.– Fri. 1-4pm, Sat. 10am-4pm.

Other walks will take place during the summer. For more information, please contact the mu-seum or visit our website: www.thornburymuseum.org.uk

Open Farm Sunday 9th June 2013

Discover life on our farms!

The Tortworth Estate Farm, Nursery, Shop & Restaurant will be open from 10 am until 3 pm on Sunday 9

th June. There will be

plenty to do and see at this venue just off Junction 14 of the M5 and close to the B4509.

The Estate shop, including the restaurant will be open as usual and will be hosting local producers,

Wickwar Brewery etc and other activities.

There will be tours of the Or-ganic Elm Tree Farm Dairy including a ride on a tractor and trailer.

You can visit the newly opened Tortworth Nursery where Tim and Becky will be running a children’s activity, decorating a plant pot & sowing seeds along with a skittles competition with prizes for the highest scores.

There will be a walk available from the Estate Shop to Tortworth Church.

We look forward to welcoming you – please wear appropriate clothing for a farm walk whatever the weather!

Rockhampton Village Hall 100 Club April winners were :-

£15 Nicki Barnes £10 Janet Clark & Martin Leathwood,

£5 Audrey Knapp

We would like to thank everyone for joining the 100 club this time and for your support of the vil-lage hall,

The monthly prizes are now £15 , £10 , £10 and £5

The December bonus draw prizes will be £75 , £25 , £25 , £15 and £10

13

CROMHALL CHAPEL SERVICES www.cromhall.com Pastor: Rev. Kevin Wilkinson

SUNDAY 10.30am Morning Worship & Children's Sunday Club 6.30pm Evening Worship TUES 21st May at 12 noon the Luncheon Club will be meeting in the chapel hall. WEDS 1st May at 7.30pm – House group Bible Study and Prayer at various homes in the area. Please ring 01454 294065 for details.

8th

& 15th

May at 7.30pm – Bible Study & Prayer in the chapel hall.

22nd May at 7.30pm – Area Bible Study with Derek Cleave

29th

May at 7.30pm – Communion & Prayer in the chapel hall Sunday service preachers during May are :- 5

th (am & pm) – Rev John Bishop.

12th (am & pm) – Pastor Kevin Wilkinson.

19th (am & pm) – Pastor Kevin Wilkinson.

26th (am & pm) – Pastor Kevin Wilkinson.

There is now a prayer box on the outside wall of the Chapel. If anyone has a concern they would like our small prayer group to pray for, please do drop us a line.

A warm welcome awaits you at all of our meetings

‘A warm, caring, safe environment for children to learn and discover through play’

* 2 – 4yr olds * Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ January 2012 * Exten-sive indoor and outdoor spaces * Experienced & fully qualified staff *

Enquiries: Tel: 07553811803 Email: tytheringtonpreschool@gmail.com

Web: www.tytheringtonpreschool.com

Day Morning Session

Lunch Club

Extended Hours

Child Age Range

Mon 9.30 - 12 12 - 1 1 – 2.30 2 – 2.5yrs & 2.5 – 4yrs

Tues 9.30 - 12 12 - 1 1 – 2.30 2.5 – 4yrs

Thurs 9.30 - 12 12 - 1 1 – 2.30 2.5 – 4yrs

Fri 9.30 - 12 12 - 1 1 – 2.30 2.5 – 4yrs

What do you love about Thornbury?

Post your ideas on our library display!

It’s official - Thornbury is one of the best places to live in the UK, according to The Sunday Times (17th March). Share what you love about your town, which is said to have “the ultimate life-style mix”, by adding your

thoughts to our library display.

Thornbury Methodist Players

present “MISS LETITA”

by Constance Cox Miss Letitia Thompson is companion to the difficult and wealthy Miss Matfield. She is resigned to her lot; one often held by the genteel poor in Edward-ian times. Then on to the scene steps Harry Vin-

cent, a sort of wheeler-dealer of antiques. He turns up at the door hoping to persuade the ‘lady of the house’ to sell him some of her precious china. His appearance has quite an effect on everyone, es-

pecially Letitia!

Wednesday May 15th to Saturday May 18th at Thornbury Methodist Church Hall

Curtain up 7.45pm For tickets phone 01454 414749 or 01454 600503.

£7 for adults and £6 concessions.

The charity being supported on the first night is Cancer Research UK

Did you know about our Home Library Service?

If you, or someone you know, is not able to visit the library due to illness or disability then the Home Library Service can deliver books to your home. This free service is operated by CRB checked volunteers and Thornbury Library. To find out more, and to register for this service please contact Thornbury Library: Tel. 01454 868006 Email: thornbury.library@southglos.gov.uk

14

P.I.P

Personal Individual Pet Care Service

Dogs need their exercise, and with no time, or a difficult time on your hands, what better way than to have your dogs walked for you by a fully insured, professional, ex-veterinary nurse, experienced, animal loving, “all weather” walker local to you.

Doggy day care, cat feeding and small animal holiday care also available.

Call now for more information and a bespoke quote:

07757 054364 - Ask for Ali

It’s going to be so much fun so come

on down!

SWEETS PLANTS & PRODUCE

RAFFLE TOMBOLA CAKES

COCONUT SHY SKITTLES

REFRESHMENTS BOOKS

Monday 6th May 2013

2pm-4pm Jubilee Field Tytherington

Attractions include:

• Brass band

• Maypole dancing

• St Helen’s Dancers

• Fun Dog Show

• Mayday Monarch

Receive some award winning advice!

South Gloucestershire Council Trading Standards would like inform residents of an informative magazine full of practical crime prevention advice.

The Senior Siren is an award winning quarterly magazine produced by the Senior Citizen Liaison Team, which is a small, police-based charity. All members of the SCLT are police officers, police staff or accredited police volunteers who carry out their SCLT duties in addition to their core police roles.

The team strive to reduce crimes against older adults and specifically distraction burglary, rogue trading and telephone and mail scams, and the magazine forms part of this work.

As well as practical crime prevention and home and personal safety advice, the magazine also includes lifestyle. Here is the link to the latest edi-tion of the magazine - http://www.sclt.moonfruit.com/#/senior-siren/4559565337 . Alternatively you can type ‘senior siren’ into an internet search engine to take you to The Senior Siren’s homepage where you can request a hard copy of the magazine.

Falfield WI News Our singing of 'Jerusalem' was accompanied by Mrs Jenny (Winifred Atwell) Pain. Jenny

was to be our speaker and entertainer for the evening. As it was members’ night the minutes were read by Pat Ollerenshaw with a definite hint of humour.

The trip to the House of Commons had been a great success enjoyed by all and we are pro-posing a trip to Buckingham Palace later in the year. Visitors are always welcome to join our meetings and trips.

Judy Clark told us how she enjoyed her visit to Denman College for a working with willow course and brought a few examples of what she had achieved for us to admire.

Jenny Pain delighted us with her piano playing from classical to show stoppers. In between pieces she told us a little of her life and training which we all enjoyed.

Our next meeting includes a talk from a local family history researcher and will be fascinat-ing.

15

Zumba Classes near you

Any age, Any experience, Any ability

Mon 9.30am Zumba at Almondsbury Social club

Tue 9.30am Zumba at Olveston Parish Hall

Tue 6.00pm Zumba at Armstrong Hall, Thornbury

Tue 7.00pm Zumba Toning at Armstrong Hall, Thornbury

Tue 8.00pm Zumba at Armstrong Hall, Thornbury

Wed 10.30am Zumba at Cossham Hall, Thornbury

Wed 7.00pm Zumba at Olveston Parish Hall

Thurs 6.15pm Zumba at Gillingstool, Thornbury

Thurs 7.15pm Zumba at Gillingstool, Thornbury

Sun 10.30am Zumba at Turnberries, Thornbury

Bring this advert for a FREE Zumba class

Please book at www.zumbathornbury.com

***************************

Yoga-Lattes & Pilates

Wed 9.30am Yoga- Lattes at Cossham Hall,

Thornbury (A beautiful mix of Yoga & Pilates with breathing & relaxation at the end)

Wed 11.30am Fitness Pilates at Cossham Hall, Thornbury (6 week course)

(A fitness class using core exercises and breathing from Pilates)

Severnside Ramblers in May

Come and get some fresh air and exercise. Join Severnside Ramblers on a ramble. Non-members are always very welcome. A contact name and telephone number is given for each walk. We meet at Aldi car park, Bradley Stoke, BS32 9DA at the times shown below and share lifts to the start of the walk. If you want to go directly to the start of the walk, phone the contact person leading the walk.

DATE

DECRIPTION OF WALK

DISTANCE

CONTACT

Friday 3 May Amble. Stinchcombe Hill. Short steep climb then undulating. No stiles. Approx 2 hrs walking

01454

884145.

Sunday 5 May

Leisurely flat walk. Yate. Westerleigh Common, Mayshill and Iron Ac-

ton taking in part of Frome Valley. Part of Ramblers Get Walking Week

5 -6 miles 01179 334998

Sunday 12 May

Moderate. Tidenham Chase. Views of Wye & Severn. Hilly walk along a variety of fields and woodland paths, tracks and lanes.

10 -11 miles 01179 315108

Friday 17 May Leisurely. Frampton Cotterell/Iron Acton. Fields, meadows, riverside paths on part of Frome Valley Walkways. There are several stiles on walk. Avoids water logged Green Lane.

2.5 hours walking

01454 419274

Sunday 19 May Moderate. May Hill. Picturesque, undulating tracks and streams, taking in THAT iconic hilltop.

8 miles 01454 416321

Thurs 23 May EASY EVENING WALK. Linear walk from Filton Abbey Wood Station – Purdown, St. Werburghs to Montpelier. Filton, Purdown & Montpelier .

Return by bus.

5 miles 01179

798628

Sunday 26 May Moderate. Old Sodbury, Horton and Tormarton. Part of Cotswold Way, past historic churches, manor houses and Saxon Hill Fort.

9 -10 mile 01179

513319

Friday 31 May Amble. Hanham Abbots. River banks & field paths. 1 gentle climb.

2 hours 01454

419274

Competition rules: There will be a £20 limit on the value of the meal. The winner will be chosen at ran-dom from all valid entries and will be contacted per-sonally via Facebook or Twitter as appropriate. The prizewinner’s name will also be displayed on our website. The judges’ decision is final and no corre-spondence will be entered into. The competition will run from 1st February 2013 until 30th June 2013. Your personal data is protected by our privacy policy - see www.volunteer-thornbury.co.uk

16

The Royal Oak at Cromhall Bibstone, GL12 8AD

01454 261638

FRIDAY 31ST

MAY @ 8.30PM

TONY GRAHAM

GREAT MUSIC! GREAT FUN!

60S 70S 80S

Freehouse with Guest Ales open 11am - 11pm (4pm - 11pm Mondays)

Good Home Cooked Food served Tuesday - Saturday 12 - 2.30pm and 6 - 8.30pm

Home Cooked Sunday Roast Lunch served 12 - 2.30pm £8.50 for 1 course, £11.95 for 2 courses and £14.50 for 3 courses

Children £4.50 and Ice Cream £2 (booking advisable)

Daily Menu updated for Spring info@royaloakcromhall.com www.royaloakcromhall.com

THE ALVESTON SINGERS

SUMMER CONCERTS

7.30pm FRIDAY 7TH JUNE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH,

THORNBURY

7.30pm TUESDAY 11TH JUNE ST. HELEN’S CHURCH, ALVESTON

WORKS BY MENDELSSOHN, BRITTEN, ELGAR,

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS, BENNET & STANFORD

FREE ADMISSION

RETIRING COLLECTION FOR CHILDREN’S HOSPICE SOUTH WEST

AND GREAT WESTERN AIR AMBULANCE

Summer Opening times at SORT IT!

SORT IT!* Centres at Mangotsfield, Stoke Gifford, Thornbury and Yate have moved to summer opening times, welcoming residents between 8am and 6.30pm.

The centres, which SITA UK operates on behalf of South Gloucestershire Council, adopted these new hours seven days a week, with the exception of the recycling centre at Stoke Gifford, which will continue to close every Wednesday.

Mike Wildman, Operations Manager at SITA UK said: “Pushing the closing time back from 4.30pm to 6.30pm will allow residents to take advantage of the lighter evenings and bring their recycling along outside of the busiest periods, such as weekends and bank holidays.”

The four SORT IT!* Centres are located at: • Mangotsfield SORT IT!* Centre, Carsons Road, Mangotsfield, BS16 9LL • Stoke Gifford SORT IT!* Centre, Station Road, Little Stoke, BS34 6HP • Thornbury SORT IT!* Centre and Revive shop, Short Way, Thornbury Industrial Estate, Thornbury, BS35 3UT • Yate SORT IT!* Centre, Collett Way, Yate,

Rockhampton Village Hall 100 Club March winners were :-

£15 Bill Gill £10 Joanne Shipp & John & Cathy Snowden

£5 Margaret & Dave Webb & Tom Richardson

For any future events or information go to:- www.rockhamptonvillagehall.com

17

WEATHER RECORDS FOR FALFIELD

MARCH

TEMP oC

Min - 6.2 Max 16.1

RAINFALL

Total in month 49.5 Year to date 123.8

Rain Days in month 12 Year to date 42

Air Frosts in month 18 Year to date 43

Lat: 52.3.15 N

Long 2.46.19 W

Information recorded is taken from a basic weather station and occasionally some data can be corrupted leading to some inaccurate information displayed. Where possible this has been corrected but from time to time some inac-curacies may occur.

For a more detailed and accu-rate record of local weather then take a look at either of the following web sites www.alvestonweather.co.uk www.thornburyweather.co.uk

Artists at the Museum Saturday 4 May – Sunday 12 May

Daily, 10am – 4pm

In May, Thornbury & District Museum will be hosting a designer and maker of gold and silver jewellery (Rosemary Millar), a painter of watercolours (Megan Walden) and an artist who uses acrylics, watercol-ours and pastels (Susan Dean). They will be resi-dent in the museum every day of the Severn Vale Arts Trail, from 10-4pm, and the rest of the museum will be open daily too, for this nine-day period. Come along and see their work and check out the museum at the same time!

For this and every other location on the Severn Vale Arts Trail, check out the Arts Trail website: http://www.thornburyartsfestival.com/openstudios.htm

TYTHERINGTON WI

For so small a group we enjoyed an excellent attendance. In Pam

Shipp's absence our deputy president Mary Chappell opened the meeting and Maureen Lewis read the minutes from our March meeting which were agreed and signed off.

We were informed that there are still places available for our forthcoming Plymouth trip on Thursday 6 June. This excursion is also open to non-WI members and anyone interested should contact Valerie Niblett on 01454 417982 for full details.

We were delighted to welcome Mrs Celia Har-grave who gave us a fascinating insight into the world of being a Magistrate. Interestingly Mrs Hargrave talked at our Group Meeting in March and held everyone absolutely enthralled with her recollections of running the Marathon des Sa-bles (Race in the Desert). This interesting and diverse lady has been a magistrate (or JP) for more than 15 years, presiding mainly in the Stroud, Cheltenham and Gloucester courts.

Mrs Hargrave gave us a brief history of magis-trates dating back to 1195 when Richard I or-dered his knights to preserve the peace. In 1327 an act was passed that good and lawful men should guard the peace. In 1361 Edward III established Justices of the Peace i.e. JPs who are still recognised today. Women were first appointed to the role in 1919 because of the dearth of men resulting from WWI and were only appointed from the landed gentry. These days they are chosen for their suitability from all walks of life, although there are exceptions, e.g. police officers, etc. there is a strenuous process of training in classroom and court before appli-cants are appointed and allowed to sit.

We were fascinated to hear of the workings and intricacies of the legal system in this country and left the meeting feeling all the safer in the knowl-edge that it exists. It was interesting to hear how 'mock trials' are held at local schools with 10 & 11year olds in the roles of the legal profes-sion as well as offenders, often with hilarious results. This serves to warn children of the im-portance of being law abiding citizens and the penalties paid otherwise.

Janice Cornock gave the vote of thanks.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday 20 May which will be a Resolutions and Social eve-ning.

NEW FACES AT FALFIELD VILLAGE HALL

Falfield Village Hall Management Committee’s new Chairman is Rob Child with Kevin Packer as Vice-Chairman. Cath Shutt continues as Booking Clerk and Rosie Murton as Treasurer.

Tytherington Village Hall AGM Weds 8th May 2013 at 8pm.

Vacancy for new committee member - contact Linda Taylor for details.

18

Sunday 9th June at 2.30pm Garden open for picnics from noon

Tickets: Adults £14 (children under 15 £9.50)

Booking: Tel. 01454 413318 Online www.thefestivalplayers.org.uk

Thornbury Garden Shop or Thornbury Bookshop

In aid of Combat Stress

Festival Players at Gate Farmhouse, Itchington – 11th Year

Join us for CREAM TEAS

AT TORTWORTH

at St Leonard’s on Sunday 19th May

2.00 - 4.30pm and on the 3rd Sunday of each month

during the summer.

We look forward to welcoming you

Proceeds to St Leonard’s church funds

Saturday 18th May 7.30pm

Castle School, Thornbury

World premiere for 50th anniversary concert

To mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of Thornbury Choir and Music Club (the forerunner of today's Thornbury Choral Society), its conductor, Steven Kings, has composed "Care Charming Spells" - a musical setting of three poems for the choir: Robert Herrick's "To Music", Siegfried Sas-soon's “Secret Music”, and Tessimond's poem, “Music”. These three fascinating and highly original settings will be performed for the first time at the concert, accompanied by harp, organ and percus-sion.

The programme also includes "Zadok the Priest" by Handel, Leonard Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms", "Rejoice in the Lamb" by Benjamin Britten and a set-ting of the Lord's Prayer by the Czech composer, Leoš Janáček.

Tickets: £9 in advance or £10 on the door and £1 for under 16s. Obtainable from any choir member, Thornbury Town Hall Box Office or by post with S.A.E and cheque (payable to Thornbury Choral Society), to J M A Gregson, 18, Willoughby Close, Alveston, Bristol BS35 3RW. For further information call Jos Gregson (Secretary) on 01454 411652 or

see the website: www.thornburychoralsociety.org.uk.

INSPIRAL GLASS

STAINED GLASS Beginners’ One Day Course

at

The Pavilion,Hardwicke Field, Tytherington

Sat 18th May 10am - 4pm £100 all materials included

(and tea & coffee)

A personal friendly course, with

expert tuition from professional

glass artist Jen Varney.

To book a place ring Barrie Whittaker

on 01454 414631 before Friday 3rd May

2013 Email – info@inspiralglass.co.uk

Visit – www.inspiral-glass.co.uk

19

Update on the shop development from the committee of Cromhall Village Shop

and Post Office Association

Dear Local Residents,

We are writing to you all to let you know there are still no firm dates for when the project will commence. Merlin Housing Association con-firmed at the parish council meeting at the be-ginning of March that the project is still going ahead and gave us a provisional start time of early July. As soon as we have any more infor-mation we will let you all know.

The shop has seen a worrying decline in sales over the last twelve months. We appreciate that the financial climate is not good, money is tight, but only a small fraction of the local com-munity are now regular customers and if this decline continues the inevitable will happen, and the community shop and post office will be lost forever.

We continue also to look for more helpers to run the shop. Over the last year several of our loyal, more senior helpers have had to give up working in the shop, and others have moved away. This has left us with a few gaps in our rota. We are in urgent need of new people to fill these sessions. We are very reluctant to close the shop when we cannot cover these gaps, but this may have to happen.

We consider that the community shop and post office is an essential and integral part of Crom-hall village. We deliver to many of our more senior residents. It is a local meeting point for many, especially when the post office is open. We are a collection point for prescriptions and parcels, and we are a central point for advertis-ing and selling tickets for many local events. As you can see from the many kinds of services we offer we are much more than a shop and post office.

Please use and support us, we are open five and half days per week, we take regular orders for papers, milk, bread, locally made cakes and weekly vegetable boxes. We have a good se-lection of beers, wines and spirits and a very extensive range of groceries, confectionery and household goods. As we are a non-profit making association and completely run by vol-unteers our prices are very competitive. Please come and see what we have to offer, you will be pleasantly surprised.

We have also decided to start taking debit and

credit cards shortly for the purchase of goods in the shop. We will let you know when we commence this additional service.

Finally the post office is open four mornings and one afternoon per week for all their usual services and now accept most banks’ debit cards, which now includes HSBC, for cash transactions.

Patrick Martin, Chair of the Association.

Fire safety springs to mind

It’s the time of year to think about spring cleaning your houses, and that means paying attention to your smoke alarms too.

Avon Fire & Res-cue Service (AF&RS) wants people to spring into action and dust their smoke alarms while cleaning their kitchens and other rooms.

Station Manager Rob Edwards said: “Smoke alarms save lives, and can give you and your loved ones vital extra seconds to escape a fire. But they can only do that if they are working properly and are kept clean. Without a properly working alarm, you could easily sleep through a fire and never wake up.

“Just two or three breaths of toxic smoke are enough to render you unconscious, so the early warning you get from a smoke alarm really can make the difference between life and death.

“At this time of year, we are encouraging anyone who is having a spring clean to remember their smoke alarms too. They also like a regular spring clean to make sure they stay clear from dust build up. You can do this by vacuuming the alarm with a soft bush attachment.”

Families are advised to also ensure they have an escape plan, so that everyone knows exactly where to go and how to get out of a property quickly and safely in the event of a fire.

AF&RS visits the homes of the most vulnerable members of the community to provide fire safety advice and fit smoke alarms free of charge.

To find out more about these Home Fire Safety Visits, call 0117 926 2061 and for more fire safety advice, visit www.avonfire.gov.uk and go to the “safety advice” pages.

20

R A C E N I G H T

Saturday 8th June 2013

Tytherington Village Hall

IN AID OF TYTHERINGTON VILLAGE SHOP & POST OFFICE

Doors open 7.30pm First race 8.00pm

Tickets £10 to include fish & chips or chicken & chips supper (Please order the meal you require when buying your ticket)

Tickets from Tytherington Village Shop Come and have an enjoyable evening and bet on the horses.

Admission by ticket only. No tickets will be sold on the door.

SIMON NIEBOER 1939 - 2013

A Life of Love

It can be truly said that Simon Francis Thorneycroft Nieboer trod lightly through life, with his unfailing courtesy, wonderful sense of humour, his face wreathed in smiles; he possessed a genuine interest in others and more often than not had a camera in one hand. . He was born in South Africa of a Dutch father and Eng-lish mother on 17th August 1939 and when the family came to England in the early 50s, he was educated at Harrow and subsequently Durham University. When he graduated he joined the Dickenson Robinson Group in Bristol and worked there in various departments until his retirement.

At his thanksgiving service at Cromhall on 25th March, it was so evident in all the tributes paid to him, that he was a good man, who with his wife Ros, made a very happy family, first at the Old Smithy, Cromhall and latterly in Burlington House, Wotton under Edge. His daughters Rebecca and Sophie were a delight to him and he revelled in being a grandfather to Holly and Zoe. Simon loved not just his family, but nature, photography, painting, his garden, his unfailing powers of navi-gation in rally cars, music and singing, not forgetting his work with Leyhill Prison and prison visitors. He always had enthusiasm and curiosity about the life around him and shared these joys with great generosity.

Throughout his life his faith was a guiding light and he gave generously of his time and talents to St. Andrew’s Church, even after moving to Wotton under Edge. While his daughters attended St. An-drew’s School he was chairman of the committee which, with the help of parents and prisoners from Leyhill, extended the classrooms and provided indoor toilets - maybe a marked theme, as an-other recent project which took up much of his time was St Andrew’s Flush Fund. This was estab-lished to provide a splendid new toilet and a hugely improved room under the tower of the church and much of the fund raising was due to his generous hospitality.

He had suffered with ill health for a year or two, but was courageous and uncomplaining and the final few weeks of his life were very peaceful, with his family around him and his strong faith to sus-tain him. He will be much missed by all who loved him - his family and the enormous number of friends he made during his life, many of whom made the journey to Cromhall to celebrate his life.

21

MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS

May Day was one of the year’s quarter days, the old pagan Beltane and was one of the most celebrated days of the year; one custom be-ing that a ‘goodly fire’ was set to the gorse and scrub on the common unfenced land, and some hedges, to burn out the witches and evil of winter. There is some evidence that animals and even humans were sacrificed in the dim and distant past to pay respect to the returning sun and to ensure fertility.

On the whole, the day was an excuse to have fun, even if in Scotland it meant that to prove their manliness the men and boys jumped through bonfires, which were kept burning for three days. The smoke from the fires drifted over the fields to cleanse them and the cattle would be driven between the fires to ensure a good supply of milk. At the same time drums were beaten all over the grazing land to encour-age new growth.

You may well have heard of the Hobby Horse at Padstow and this was only one of many traditional street parades, some called Gar-land Days when greenery and yellow flowers were used to make crowns and garlands and these were then erected over the door-ways of the houses in the village to signify the renewal of life. In Derbyshire, Well Dressing is still very popular and this too stems

from the same ideas of new birth and returning life in the fields.

In some places it was the custom to make bundles of herbs which were burned around the edges of gardens to keep the fairies away.

It is interesting to note that the herb Rosemary was believed to only have a life of thirty two years, the same as that of Jesus.

Chaucer wrote about May Day: ‘Bringeth into hertes remembrance and luste, thoughts full of grete longing’ and in rural areas it was acknowledged that the girls and boys would go off to the woods on that first warm night of the year, returning at dawn, with evergreens, yellow flowers and no doubt smug expressions! Yellow flowers would not be brought into the house until after May Day as it was believed that if geese saw them, they would abandon their nest or worse, desert their young.

In our area at Randwick, three cheeses were bowled around the church before being distributed to the villagers and at Tortworth, dating back to 1304 when the Lord of the Manor Nicholas de Kyngeston purchased the right to hold a fair around the preach-ing cross at Tortworth (a custom that would be fun to revive).

Of course the Puritans put a stop to all this frivolous stuff and banned many of the customs and pulled down and burned all the Maypoles. They were horrified at the effigies and figures that were used for many of the fertility rites, but in many areas these just became something that was hidden from prying eyes and were revived in a slightly less pagan form in later years. We still associate yellow flowers and greenery with Spring and today use them particularly in church at Easter.

Morris dancers with maypole and pipe and taborer, Chambers Book of Days

Jack-in-the-Green, or the ‘Green Man’, another symbolic

figure of May time

Derbyshire well-dressing

22

Cromhall Senior Citizens are invited to

Tat3 in Cromhall Village Hall

on Thursday 16th May

for tea and a chat

If you would like to be picked up

ring Ann 01454 294200 or Eva

01454 299251

Funding: This newsletter is funded entirely from advertising and generous donations received from readers and organisations within the benefice. It is produced and distributed by volunteers. If you feel that you would like to make a contribution to printing costs, we should be most grateful.

Cheques may be sent to Geoff Crosthwaite, The Barn, Townwell, Cromhall, W-U-E, GL12 8AQ or the editor. Please remember to make them out to Benefice Newsletter.

Please contact Geoff if you would like to set up a standing order.

Your magazine: How to send copy, adverts or gifts for ‘5 Alive’:

NEWS COPY:

Where? News items should be sent to Kay Rea, The Bungalow, Moorslade, Falfield, GL12 8DJ Tel. 01454 260364 Email: kay.rea@btinternet.com NB If you are posting copy, please mark the envelope ‘5 Alive’.

When? Copy date is strictly before midnight on the 19th of each month, please, ready for typing on the 20th. The earlier we receive material the better, as it avoids the rush and lessens the risk of error.

In what form? If at all possible, please submit your material by e-mail (attachments should be in Word or Publisher format). There is then no need for re-typing, which not only saves time but also means there is less chance for inaccuracies to creep in. (We do, however, reserve the right of the editor to edit, and you may find that small changes are made for the sake of space etc) If you want to submit an advertising

poster or similar, it helps if it’s in black and white, as it reproduces more clearly. Charities wishing to ad-vertise events should quote their charity number.

ADVERTISING: With effect from 1st May 2013 the deadline for requests and payments for advertis-ing in 5 Alive will be the 12th of the month preceding publication.

Enquiries about advertising should be directed to Kay Rea, The Bungalow, Moorslade, Falfield, Nr Wotton-under-Edge, Glos, GL12 8DJ. Tel. 01454 260364 Email: kay.rea@btinternet.com

Charges per issue are now as follows:

Business Rates Rates for businesses within the benefice Half page: £28 £18

Quarter page: £18 £15

Eighth of page: £10 £8

There is a 10% discount for advertisers paying for a year’s advertising in advance and 5% for those advertising 6 months in advance

Cheques should be made out to ‘Benefice Newsletter’ and sent to Kay Rea (as above).

PLEASE NOTE

With effect from 1st May 2013 the deadline for requests and payments for advertising in 5 Alive will be the 12th of the

month preceding publi-cation.

The deadline for other copy remains midnight on the 19th of the month prior to publication.