We did wonder whether we had taken too much on as we approached our Harvest Flower Festival week-end which was to be combined with a celebration of the 400th anniversary of the King James translation of the Bible. But although Christine had scarcely recovered from the fête before she quietly began organising her team of flower arrangers, everything came together, with each window in the church illustrating in a colourful and imaginative way a verse of the hymn ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’.

Especially memorable was her interpretation of ‘The purple-headed mountain’, and Dot's ‘All creatures great and small’. The church was open throughout the week-end, refreshments were served and it was an enjoyable occasion not only for the visitors but for us Walton people, and we enjoyed having time to chat and get to know each other in a way that is not always possible in our busy lives. Dot's seventeenth century costumes were much admired and took us back to the King James century, a reminder that although fashions change and slashed sleeves and laced bodices have given way to tee shirts and jeans and trainers, there are other things such as the King James translation of the Bible which stand the test of time and which can still entrance us with its rich rhythms and pithy phrases which have gone into the very fabric of our language.

Sadly the Sealed Knot chaplain was unable to come owing to illness, but the service on the Sunday evening was very well attended and a few of us dared to dress up in costume to give the right atmosphere. Our own Rector stepped into the breach and in her address gave us a taste of a much

Familiar faces in period costume

WALTON NEWS

more modern translation of the first chapter of Genesis. Andrew caused a great deal of amusement with an Annual Report of the Chelsea Football Club couched in the time honoured biblical phraseology. Local readers led us through the King James version of creation, devastation, renewal, and the revelation which describes Jesus tellingly as the morning star.

In the prayers we gave thanks for the land of wheat and barley where we live, for the ripe fruits in our gardens, for the Dene brook flowing by, for the tall trees in the Bath woods, and for the peace that we enjoy, remembering those less fortunate who live in slums and shanty towns and refugee camps around the world. We prayed for the farmers who plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land, particularly those who tend the sheep and harvest the crops around Walton at all times of the year and in all weathers.

And so after the sudden late summer that brightened the last days of September, we move on into the autumn, to the season of 'mists and mellow fruitfulness' and all the Christmas preparations including the Walton Christmas Fair at the Watermill on Wednesday 2nd November – from 10-30am until 2.00pm - please come and support us once again! And then there is the annual concert of the Walton Ensemble on Saturday 3 December at 7.00pm - please note the earlier time.

EH

The Flower arranging team

One of the costumes on display

Parish Council News

The first task of the Council was to pay tribute to the contribution of Roger Wright who has resigned from the Parish Council. Roger joined the Council twenty five years ago, and has worked hard for all of the significant developments which have taken place during that time. Several Councillors spoke warmly of his work, and in his comments Roger spoke of the warm comments he had received, and offered to continue to support members of the Council in projects in which he was involved. The Council is continuing to work to support local services.

We are discussing with the local police team how the Council Offices may be used as a touch down point, now the Police Station has been closed. We are continuing discussions with Walton Estate on the Village Hall. The County Council is withdrawing funding for almost all Youth Services across the County. Wellesbourne is included. The Wellesbourne Youth Club Management Committee has been reconstituted, and is looking to find ways of funding a continuing service in the village.

We hope to hear soon of the new arrangements to be put in place to manage the Household Waste Centre.

Repair work continues on the Sports and Community Centre.

Future Meetings
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on 1st November at the Methodist Hall at 7.30. All are welcome.
The Highways andamenities Committee will meet at the Council Offices on 8th November at 7.30, and the Emergency Planning Committee will meet on the same evening at 8.30.
The Finance and Administration Committee will meet on 29th November at the Council Offices at 7.30.

The next Kineton and Wellesbourne Community Forum will be held at Moreton Morrell School on 17th November.

David Johnston, Chair, Wellesbourne Parish Council

Community Forum News

The September meeting was held in Kineton where an audience of around forty saw exhibitions on energy saving by the Wellesbourne based charity Act on Energy, and recycling strategies by Stratford District Council. The police reported reducing anti-social behaviour and traffic speeding in our Wellesbourne and Kineton area. The current priorities are again to do with speeding checks in Wellesbourne and Gaydon. The police are also tackling inappropriate and dangerous parking in Wellesbourne, Kineton and Gaydon.

Other issues raised were the problem of increasing numbers of lorries travelling along the narrow roads, the future of the household waste recycling centre at Wellesbourne, change of provision by the Youth Service, and a request for volunteers to help Girl Guiding in Kineton. Lighthorne Heath now has a GP surgery after the issue was first raised at this Forum. Stratford District Council Chief Executive, Paul Lankester in response to a question said no specific sites had yet been identified for house building in Wellesbourne.

The next Forum meeting will be Thursday 17th November at Moreton Morrell Primary School. Between 6.30 and 7.00pm people can speak to representatives of the police, county and district officers and councillors. The meeting at 7.00pm will have reports on how the county deals with speed limits and road signs, Flexibus 500, more information on the Household Waste/Recycling Centre at Wellesbourne and plans for the revamped youth service.

The annual priorities for the Forum identified at the last meeting will be developed into an action plan at the next meeting. They are improving Broadband access, tackling fuel poverty, improving public transport and providing more affordable housing.

David Close, Chairman