Wellesbourne & District
I promised to give you more information on our Easter Egg fund raiser – The news is that over £550 was raised which will be used to support Lions Club charities. The dozen Easter eggs have proved to be a great success so the Lions would again like to thank both their supporters who participated plus the willing hosts in pubs, shops and offices for their very generous support. This year's trial has proved to be a fundraising hit for the club so we will be hoping that our ‘Golden Goose’ will be able to lay even more eggs in time for next Easter!!
The Lions would also like to thank all those who bought tickets in the draw at Wellesbourne Co-op on the weekend of the 8th-10th April. We raised over £250 which has been donated to the ‘Friendship Project’. The project, headed by John Hancock, retired head of Campion School, Leamington, attempts to support disadvantaged young people by providing them with a buddy or ‘Older Friend’ who will help provide support to boost the youngsters' self confidence. The project runs across the whole County but the Lions were especially keen to help a youngster in our locality by funding the £250 costs needed.
Don’t forget the biggest event in the Wellesbourne Lions calendar – the raft race from Wasperton to Stratford on Sunday 19th June. The event is run in partnership with Shakespeare Lions from Stratford. Anybody still interested in entering a raft for this year's race please contact Peter Fisher on 01789 842031.
Finally I would like to let everyone know that a very special award was presented to Lion Max Down, who is well known to many people in the District. At our Charter Night on Saturday 7th May, Max was presented with a Melvin Jones Fellowship Award (MJF). The award is given to Lions who have given exceptional service to their local community. I am sure you will agree that this is richly deserved.
Lion Andy Stokes
A big thank you to every one who attended the AGM earlier this month. It was an interesting and informative evening. Leanne from Severn Trent gave us an insight into their services and with the compliments of the local police force we were able to offer a number of items that will keep your home safer. On this note please let me make it clear that Neighbourhood Watch is not an exclusive club, it is for the advantage of everyone who values their own property and safety and cares for those around them, I am sure that is you. So if there is anything that you need to help you do that, do please ask us (your local co-ordinator, contact details in the local amenities book) or myself. We have small stickers, neat 4x6 ins gate or post plaques, notices to keep cold callers out, anti-intruder fence spiking, the list goes on, and of course an abundance of leaflets for advice. I understand that house insurers look favourably on Neighbourhood Watch friendly houses too! So there's an incentive. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the committee for their enthusiastic support, we could not function without them and many have been involved since its formation over 25 years ago. Well done. We do have two vacancies on the committee, so if you feel that you would like to be more involved with keeping Wellesbourne a safe place, please let me know.
As you will all be aware there are some major changes within the police force and we are sorry to be losing some of our strong supporters.
We wish them well in their new roles. It does mean of course that we ALL have to be a bit more vigilant caring and take action when necessary. Have the local number 410411 by your telephone; I am sure you will never need it!
Frankie Stuart, Chairman, Neighbourhood Watch frankiestuart @virginmedia.com 01789 841819
WALTON NEWS
And the rains came... last Saturday after weeks of drought. Still not nearly enough of course, but already the parched lawns are looking greener, even if the deep cracks in the ground are still there. It has been the price we have had to pay for a magical spring, and already there is a feeling of high Summer, with the clematis in full bloom and the strawberries forming and the wild roses coming in flower. Every year I am reminded of the lines in Rupert Brooke's Grantchester - as he sat in stifling heat in a well kept park in Berlin he felt homesick, comparing the regimented flower beds where ‘tulips bloom as they are told’ with the informality of his own countryside. There, by comparison,
Unkempt about those
hedges blows
The English unofficial rose.
In Walton, down on the lake where the level is still low and the willows have lost their fresh greenness and are leaning over the water as their roots dry out, the duck population is reassembling and will soon be joined by many newcomers. In the wooden box by the front door of the Old Rectory bungalow the mother who for weeks had been patiently sitting among the tulips, finally hatched out ten ducklings and waddled off down the field towards the pond with her family in tow. I am told that she is not alone and there have been broods in other gardens, including one of eleven from a nest by the back door of the Old Post Office. This is a phenomenon peculiar to 2011 which has already proved to be a somewhat unusual year in many ways, not least for the memorable royal wedding.
Just a reminder of the afternoon of music on Sunday 12th June in Walton Church - starting at 3.30 the Coten Ensemble will give us a popular programme of madrigals and well known church music including “Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring” with the instrumentalists performing among other things Handel's “Queen of Sheba”. This will be followed by tea and Sung Evensong – just come along to all or part of the programme. There will be a collection to help us keep the Church going for the benefit of parishioners, visitors and the many couples who are to be married here – twenty two this year. And incidentally the Visitors' Book tells us that two proposals of marriage have taken place within its peaceful walls!
Another date for your diary – the Walton Fête will be held at Walton Hall on Sunday 14th August.
EH
Parish Council News |
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Our first task was to welcome Danny Kendall to his first Full Council meeting as a Councillor. Since the meeting he was successful in winning the District Council seat. We wish him well.
This was the Annual Meeting of the Council at which the various positions of office and the membership of committees are determined. There were no changes, with myself remaining Chair, and John Grantham as Vice-Chair. We have decided to combine the Highways and Amenity Committees, to meet once every six weeks with delegated powers so as to speed up decision making.
We also agreed new Standing Orders, and Financial Regulations, to conform with the Model Standing Orders and regulations issued by the National Association last year.
Progress update
- Chedham’s Yard has been transferred to the new Trust and work has started on site.
- We will hold an exhibition on flood defences later in the year when the Environment Agency has finished work.
- The Parish Plan has been submitted to the District Council, and we agreed a revised Village Design Statement.
Future Meetings
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on 7th June at the Methodist Hall at 7.30. All are welcome.
Parish Council Committee Meetings scheduled for June are:
28th June Amenities and Highways Committee 7.30 Parish Office
David Johnston, Chair, Wellesbourne Parish Council