Congratulations

A Shropshire lad, Roy Garbett came to Wellesbourne in 1954 whilst serving with the RAF and met Doreen, a local girl, on the Dodgem Cars at the fair in 1956. This fortunate collision led to a happy union, on September 10^th 1960, at St Peter’s Church, where Doreen had been a Sunday school teacher.

It was the last wedding conducted by the Rev’d Charles Evans before he retired and the reception, held in the WI Hall in Bridge Street, was the last held there before its demolition.

Whilst Roy spent his early career as an engineer, having trained at the old Sentinel Works Shrewsbury, before joining the RAF, Doreen, whose parents and grandparents had the bakery in Chapel Street, was a familiar sight after school and at weekends cycling round the village delivering bread.

After leaving school she worked at J C Smith’s, (now Debenham’s) in Stratford then Dencer’s, the paper shop in Chapel Street, before running the Egg Shop in Bridge Street.

Roy was a server and sidesman at St Peter’s for many years but he will be most familiar as the local civic chauffeur which he was for 20 interesting years, looking after the Chairman of Stratford District Council and he has a fund of stories of his experiences. They also include driving Royalty, British and Foreign Government dignitaries, including the leader of the Chinese Communist Party and many artistic directors of the RSC.

Roy was a member of the Parish Council for some years at about the time it acquired Chedham’s Yard and they’ve both stayed with it ever since, being Founder Members of the Friends of Chedham’s Yard. Doreen can be seen most Saturdays, wire brush in hand busy cleaning the various artefacts from the Yard whilst Roy oils and records them.

Roy and Doreen have lived in the bungalow at the foot of Lowes Lane nearly all their married life and seen the floods come and go. They also have two children, Dawn and Neal and two grand-children, Jade and Amy.

Roy and Doreen will be having a party for family and friends on 11^th September and we send them our heartiest congratulations on their Golden Wedding anniversary and wish them many more happy anniversaries too.

MP

W.I.B. has had its busiest time of the year leading up to the judging. Everyone has been helping us make the village look lovely for the judges: I think they were impressed.

Our exhibition in the village hall seemed to go down well and thank you to all our working partners who came along with their own exhibits to support us. The girls on the committee have had to water as it has been so dry which is a huge task. But I know from the comments people have made how much the colourful displays are appreciated. We were able to plant up the library planter again thanks to the County Council financing a temporary move for the planter, the Lions bench and the waste bin whilst the building work at the library is going on. Thanks also to Walton Estates who gave permission for them to be sited on their land.

The Youth and Community service did a sterling job weeding around the Youth Centre for the judging. The Highways Dept helped us and John Stedman the grass contractor and John Dobson on the corner of Newbold Road both made sure the grass was immaculate. At the Co-op the gentleman was cutting the grass Tuesday evening. The Probation service helped at the church and six large gravel bags of vegetation were collected, the congregation also had a working party and the bags were duly collected by Michael Twite Landscapes for composting. The work at the church obviously worked as the judges were very impressed with the tidiness as they walked around to see where the new church wildlife project will take place.

The residents in Chestnut Square made sure everything was tip top. There were so many people who contributed to making the village look amazing for the judging day it is impossible to name everyone but we would like to thank them all and let them know how much we appreciate their support.

The School “Gardening Club” has gone from strength to strength and the judges were given a tour and saw all the fruits of the children's labour. The church wildlife project has got planning permission; we have the money, so it is all systems go. The first job will be to clear the areas where the paths are going and plant hedging. We are very fortunate that Moreton Morrell College have agreed to provide the manpower for this. Over the next year we will be doing workshops etc with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust on the project so look out for notices. If anyone is interested in helping with the project they can contact me on 07515 951013. We have several community groups on board but if any individuals are interested in helping that would be great.

We hear the results of our judging for the “Heart of England in Bloom” on September 16th so fingers crossed.

Heather Sims, Chairman, Wellesbourne in Bloom

A Local Gem

You’re House O Lord St Peter’s
Altar Window; Early morning

                Still. Early in the morning.
                not a sound, but blowing of the wind
                The Sun light bright against the windows.
                The' Stories' come to life.

                My Soul at peace. I study,
                The Cross, and see it’s real.
                The image, movement of the scene,
                Alive by sunlight. O so moving.

                For Him that seeks the message,
                The story ever new.
                The Price is paid. See,
                He hangs there for you and me.

                So searching Heart, repentant Soul.
                The message clear and real.
                Real to Him that waits and sees,
                The Timeless Peace, for those who will seek.

RC Deacon Ralph Watkins