I
am beginning by quoting passages from a prayer read to school children in
Zimbabwe entitled "A Living but not a Life "
In this issue : (alphabetical order) |
|
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Boys Brigade Christian Centre Forestry Commission Friends of Avon Tyrrell Girl Guides Jack & Jill Pre-school |
Scallywags St Mary's & All Saints Towns Women's Guild Toy Library Twinning Association |
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I
am beginning by quoting passages from a prayer read to school children in
Zimbabwe entitled "A Living but not a Life "
"The paradoxes of our time in history are many. We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers, wider freeways but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more degrees but less sense, more knowledge but less judgement. We have more experts but yet more problems; more medicine but less wellness. It is a time when there is much in the window but little in stock. It is a time when technology can bring you this letter and these thoughts and a time when you can choose to think on them and make a difference - or just press delete".
I am therefore going to ask you to "think on them" and I hope make a difference. The time has come when your Parish Council needs to know what all of you who read this would like to see in a new village hall. If you would like a particular sized room for a certain activity, say so. If that needs special light, say so. The new Hall will have new updated kitchens and up dated toilet facilities and the whole building will comply with the Disability access requirements, but for what activities should it provide? From art classes to acting, from dancing to dressmaking, from music making to a quiet room. Should it be high enough to be able to play badminton, volley ball and any other indoor sports? Should there be one big hall as now, with perhaps one smaller or two smaller halls/rooms. Please give it some serious thought and let us know by the 21st June at the latest. This can be by letter dropped into the office, by telephone to any of the Councillors or by coming to talk to who ever is in the Office when it is open. This really is YOUR opportunity - do not waste it.
I was invited to the Scouts AGM the other evening and what an encouraging atmosphere of Bransgore the scouting organisation gives. There are the Beavers, the Cubs, the Scouts and then the Venture Scouts all there by the courtesy of a few very hard working volunteers to whom the boys give much reward. They would however like yet more helpers to allow Guides, or should I say girl scouts, to join in the life building activities that all the boys strive to perfect, and earn yet another badge for mum to sew on - or have they earned their sewing badge! Yet we are still told there is nothing for the young in Bransgore.
The Parish Council has decided that there will not be any more new facilities for the teenagers until, like the Scouts, they can show that they have earned them. As long as there is damage to another's property or litter is not picked up or glass continues to be dropped on the young children's play area then they will not consider any more facilities. It is, therefore, up to you all whether parent, teenager or younger child to remind each other, and within the various peer groups, encourage each other just to think that we are all part of a Village that would like to see everyone have something which gives them a choice in their activities.
Cont... I seem to have asked for a great deal of input from you all and we will continue to give our input as your Parish Councillors. At the last Council meeting on the 21st I was elected to remain as Chairman and Mrs Owen as Vice- Chairman with all the other Councillors offering another year of their time. Yes! It is another year at the end of which there are Council elections when you will have your chance to offer your services to the Community and stand for election - perhaps now is not too soon to start considering what you have to offer.
As I write this the Queen's Jubilee is only a week away and though the Village is not celebrating as a whole there are many parts of the Parish that will have enjoyed their own celebrations and perhaps think back to where they were and what they were doing 50 years ago. I was at school, and sometimes wish I could have those days over again. But our role is to take things forward, only glance back, and to finish as I began in words from the same prayer think about what is said
"We have learned how to make a living, but not a life; we have added years to our lives, but not life to our years"
Now is the time to add " life to our years" from the youngest to the oldest, and share in the good things that are there for the taking.
Dates of future meetings - at the Christian Centre, Shackleton Square @ 7.30 pm.
 | Tuesday 18th June 2002 |
| Tuesday 25th June 2002 Extraordinary meeting re: the Village hall |
| Tuesday 16th July 2002 |
Parish Clerk. Mr. Charles Beattie 01425 618 679
Since the last newsletter was published we have held a number of events, including a very successful Race Night, which raised a brilliant £580. We also had a stall at the Village Fun Day, and it was good to see so many people supporting the event, even though the weather was a bit on the damp side! The Bransgore school children recently enjoyed a disco organised by the BSA, and have also been asked to design posters for the Summer Fair.
Please come and support the forthcoming fundraising events :-
| Car-Boot Sale to be held in the car-park of The Three Tuns from 8.00am until 11.00am on Saturday 15th June. Sellers to arrive from 7.00am - pitches will cost £5. |
| Our Summer Fair will be held on Saturday 13th July from 2.00pm-4.30pm. The theme this year will be the Golden Jubilee, and attractions will include displays of rock & roll dancing, Punch & Judy, cream-teas, side-stalls, and lots more ! |
Hope to see you all there.
Anne James, Chairman
In March members of the Thorney Hill and Bransgore WI visited the sunny Sorrento Peninsula in the company of Mrs Browning who gave a talk and slide show of the region and the nearby Isle of Capri. It was with much regret that after more than 70 years the WI has moved from the hut in Burley Road, and as this was the last meeting to be held there, Miss Phyl Tanner gave a short talk about the history of the hut and the good times had there. A toast was then drunk to the past and future of Thorney Hill and Bransgore WI.
Members stood for one minute's silence at the April meeting in memory of the Queen Mother who had been a life long member of the WI and had always given her support when needed.
"A Diplomat's Life" was the title of Mr S Hawkes' talk. He quoted the words of Sir Winston Church - "Jaw Jaw is better than War War" - as an example of the diplomat's roll among other humorous experiences he had had in many different countries. The annual skittles match with the RNLI was a most enjoyable evening despite the fact the RNLI won. However £88 was raised for their charity. May is the month the resolutions are discussed. Mrs Jill Wood presented them and this year they were titled "Local Abattoirs" and "Stricter Control of Imported Food Stuffs" - both were carried. Mrs Shirley Bates and Mrs Molly Eaton were congratulated for winning first prize for their flower arrangements at the Spring Group Meeting. Mrs Carol Kargarotos told of her day out in London to see the Queen Mother's lying-in-state. She found the whole experience very moving and by getting up at 4.30 am she was in the queue very early - she was eating her breakfast in St James' Park by 9.45 am. We also enjoyed a quiz organised by Mrs Tricia Price with our tea and cakes to round off the meeting. The Quiz Evenings have been well attended and enjoyed by members and visitors. The next one will be in September. The exact date and time will be advertised on the notice board in the Village.
DIARY DATES
| June 10th Outing to Swindon Steam Museum and McArthur Glen Designer outlet |
| July 3rd A Garden Party at "The Cottage", Forest Road, Thorney Hill at 3pm by the kind permission of Mrs June Humphries |
| September 4th 2.15 pm at the Resource Centre. "Story of Dad's Army" is the title of the talk by Mr McCall |
| There is no meeting in August. |
'GOING FOR GOLD'
There is a traditional school fête at Sopley Primary School on 22nd June 2002.
It will include all the favourites like Crafts, Bric-a-brac, Tombola, Grand Draw, Stalls, BBQ, Refreshments, Bouncy Castle, Wagonette Rides, Lazer Maze just to mention a few. Main arena events are Ivo the Clown, Pupil display, 'Pantastic' Steel Band and Immanuel Dancers and Biplane aerobatics. Gates open at 1.30pm. Tickets are 20p.
Please join us on the day and help us make it a fun event like every year.
The
outdoor season is now almost a month old, and all the Bransgore youth teams have
started playing.
The Under 11's have won one game and lost two in their league and were narrowly knocked out of the cup by Parley. Most of the side are under ten and this year two young ladies have already represented the club. Outdoor training for this side takes place on Thursday evenings from 6.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
The Under 13's have beaten Mudeford and lost to Winton in the league and progressed to the second round of their cup competition by beating Ellingham.
The Under 15 squad have been playing in the regional heats of the national Under 15 cup. They lost their first match at Parley, but a very good bowling performance against a strong Bournemouth side was spoiled by the arrival of torrential rain and the game had to be abandoned as a draw which means that they do not progress to the next stage. Their league campaign commences in June.
The Colts side, made up primarily from last year's Under 15 squad have begun their season in Bournemouth and District League Division 3 against adult sides. Although they are finding the going a bit tough, they only narrowly lost their first game against Bisterne and the lads have been consistently praised for their excellent fielding and bowling by the opposition. Home matches for the older teams are now taking place on the new pitch, which has been playing very well with a consistent bounce.
Our facilities continue to improve with the completion of the pavilion and the erection of practice nets. We are very grateful to Richard Frampton for all his efforts on our behalf. If all the activity in the village has stirred you into wanting to play, please contact Dave Lay on 01425 673242 who will put you in touch with the relevant squad manager.
The adult side were unfortunate to be unable to play their first fixture on the new pitch when the opposition were unable to raise a side and had to concede the fixture. Their next two fixtures were away : the first was lost to Winton and the second, against British Gas was won convincingly. A number of new players have represented the Club this year, adding considerably to the side's bowling resources and we look forward to a successful campaign. The Club has already been approached for a friendly Sunday fixture, and it is to be hoped that more such games can be arranged to enable those who enjoy a less competitive format to play for the club.
Now that the pavilion shell has almost been completed, the next stage will be to fit out the building, so if you are handy with anything from electricity to a paint brush and are able to help complete this community facility, please make yourself known. The club, including youth sides is probably the strongest that it has ever been, fielding fives sides every week. If you would like to join us, please contact Dave Lay on 673242 - you will be most welcome.
If you need my assistance on District Council matters please phone Bransgore 674900.
CHANGE OF VENUE/DATE FOR FUTURE MEETINGS
Quite obviously this is not our year as here we are once again having to apologise for yet another change to our events programme for the remainder of the year. Please note that from now on all our lectures, the AGM and the Christmas Party will be held on Thursday evenings at the Resource Centre, St Mary's Church, Ringwood Road. The Summer Show will still be held in the Village Hall as in the past. We hope that these new arrangements will not be too inconvenient for you.
MARCH FLOWER ARRANGING DEMONSTRATION
It
will come as no surprise to those of you who have previously experienced Maureen
Green's excellent flower arranging skills and her relaxed, inclusive style of
communication, that this turned out to be a really great evening which (to my
surprise) even the men enjoyed. There was something about the way she prefixed
the first arrangement with a wry smile and statement 'even the men will be able
to do this' which won them over from the start. Maureen predicted the men would
be more inclined to remember the technical detail than the artistic and when I
looked at a few notes I had made it was obvious she was absolutely right … for
example Oasis can get air locks in it, make sure it's will soaked Previously
used oasis won't absorb well the second time out Stems absorb moisture more
easily when they are cut obliquely Etc., etc.
SPRING SHOW
It is said the English always talk about their weather and this Spring we certainly had an awful lot of weather to talk about. However exhibitors rose to the challenge and produced from their wind swept and rain soaked gardens some blooms to be proud of and to make us all rather pleased that our erratic, totally unpredictable climate which so often confounds the forecasts of professionals, is so much of our every day life. Who would want sunshine every day!!! The plus side of a bit of inclement weather was that it gave our artists, cooks, needle workers, etc., plenty of time to prepare their exhibits, resulting in a good spread of entries across the classes, including the junior classes. Congratulations to everyone who exhibited, winners and losers, for giving us such a good start to the summer season. Trophies were awarded as follows :- Dove Shield - Carol Dove Faborge Cup -Rosemary Wallis Frampton Cup -Peter Foulds Jennifer Reed Shield - Frances Smith Loader Cup - Douglas Patterson Homecraft Vase - Myra Poole Manley Cup - Rosemary Wallis Centenary Cup - Lydia Perkins
PLANT SALE
A big 'Thank You' to everyone who came along to support our plant sale at the Village Hall on 10th/11th May. We hope you agree the plants were really good value for money and wish you a very happy gardening year. Don't forget to come along to the Open Gardens Weekend in June where you will be sure to pick up some good ideas for your gardens. (See next item).
OPEN GARDENS WEEKEND - June 22nd/23rd
There are three good reasons for putting this event in large letters in your diary. 1 - It's a Golden Jubilee event; 2 - It's to raise funds for the Wessex Cancer Trust and the children's hospice at Naomi House, and 3 - it's a great chance to enjoy a walk around 24 gardens situated in Bransgore, Neacroft and North Ripley to pick up some jolly good ideas for your own gardens and meet some of your neighbours. There are small gardens, large gardens, flowers, vegetables, rockeries, fish ponds, a bog garden, courtyard garden, even a large outdoor model railway, etc., etc. Also some will be selling plants, some light refreshments. There will be a Naomi House and a Wessex Cancer Trust stall, and I predict that if the weather is kind we will have a fantastic day. Tickets may be obtained from any of the participating gardens (a donation of £2.50 per ticket is requested) which will give admission to all of the gardens. Children are admitted free of charge. Programmes, including a location map, are available free of charge from Farrants Butchers, Robinsons Hardware and MacPennys Nursery. There will also be a map on display on the notice board outside the Post Office nearer to the date.
SUMMER SHOW,
August 10th Don't miss out this year on the opportunity to have a go at the Summer Show. There is a wide choice of classes, flowers, fruit and vegetables, floral art, homecraft and a Junior section. Something we hope for everyone to try their hand at. There are 24 trophies to be won so don't forget - get ready for Saturday, August 10th at the Village Hall.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
| June 6th, Thursday - Lecture "Fruit for a Small Garden". 7.30 pm. Resource Centre, St Mary's Resource Centre |
| June 22nd/23rd - Open Gardens Weekend July 18th - Day trip to International Festival of Gardens, Westonbirt |
| August 10th - Summer Show, Village Hall. |
JIM DUDLEY Publicity Officer
As reported earlier, we opened our 2002 season with two visits to Salisbury, firstly to Michael Frayn's "Donkeys Years" and then to Peter Schaffer's "Five Finger Exercise". Both, in their different ways, were highly successful.
We then went to Poole Arts Centre for a performance of the ballet "Sleeping Beauty" given by the Moscow City Ballet and Orchestra. Despite the restrictions imposed on the dancers by the size of the stage, the afternoon was much enjoyed. The costumes were lavish and colourful and the dancing precise and stylish.
We returned to Salisbury in April for a production of Peter Storey's "The Contractor" which saw the constructions of a full sized marquee on stage. Any father with children camping will have been fired by the ambition to try their hand at this far from simple task.
Finally on May 24 we closed our season with a visit to the Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne, to a performance of Franz Lehar's "Merry Widow", a tuneful operetta to lighten the spirit.
Our Group continues to prosper with the average attendance increasing over the last two and a half years. This success is due not least to our band of helpers and our treasurer, Alisdair Murray.
Our need is for a greater choice of acceptable good theatre. We can only hope our theatre management will respond in time for the Autumn.
Happy holidays.
LESLIE SEWELL Honorary Secretary
FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS - 'CELEBRATION' - 16th to 19th August 2002
Every three years the picturesque 13th Century Church of St Michael and All Angels, Sopley, on the banks of the River Avon stages a spectacular festival of flowers organised by the Friends of Sopley Church.
This year's event 'Celebration' will depict various feast days, saints and items of celebration throughout the ages. The Festival takes place on 16th to 19th August, Friday and Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 12.30pm to 6pm and Monday 10am to 3pm. The Festival comprises displays by flower arrangers from Hampshire and Dorset who will come together to interpret 'Celebration' in spectacular fashion. Refreshments will be available Friday to Sunday, Stalls Friday and Saturday; all in the marquee and parking is free. Monday 19th will be a good time for those with wheelchairs as the numbers attending will be fewer. All proceeds will be used towards the funding of the repairs to the Nave roof and subsequent decoration.
For further information contact
Malcolm Austen tel. 01425 672494
Minister - The Rev Richard J Clarke, BA
And so, 50 years have elapsed since the death of King George VI, and the beginning of the "New Elizabethan Age". What hopes abounded in l952! It was only just over six years since the end of the war. Britain was struggling to find her feet. There were still shortages, and even rationing. What would the future hold under this young Queen, Elizabeth II?
Today, we look back. Many of us can barely remember the Silver Jubilee in l977, yet even in those 25 years so much has altered. As the Golden Jubilee celebrations take place, the older ones among us will think back, each with his or her own thoughts, and the main theme will be how things have changed.
There is, however, one thing that will never change - the Love of God towards us. Many people point to fewer numbers at Sunday services, saying that the churches have no longer any influence among people in 2002, but in times of stress and difficulty, it is to God that folk turn. Corporate worship may have declined in numbers, due to the changes in our social pattern, but God is still "our hope and strength, a very present help in trouble".
As we approach the holiday season, may you all find refreshment of mind, body and spirit, and return to the daily round with a new energy and zeal.
Date for your Diary
| 29th September - Harvest Festival Services at 10.30 am and 7 pm. |
ARNOLD MASON
The
Club is pleased to be sponsoring two youngsters on a leadership development
course, organised by Rotary in the Wessex area, at Avon Tyrrell on the weekend
of 12 to 14 July. The course is open to teenagers 16 to 18 years old. The young
lady who we sponsored on the course last year thoroughly enjoyed the experience,
gained a lot of benefit from it, so we hope those attending this year will
benefit also.
The Fun Day, 6th May Bank Holiday, did not enjoy the best of the spring weather, so we were pleased to see so many there and we hope that they enjoyed the displays and great variety of stalls and sideshows. One of the best aspects of the Fun Day is that so many organisations take part, so that everyone sees them and helps them raise much needed funds for their various activities and charities. The winners of the trip to Rome were Mr. and Mrs. Beaton and by the time you see this article they will have enjoyed their 'day trip'. Our thanks go to all who sponsored or donated gifts and prizes for the day and not least of all to those who help all day in sun and rain.
Our 6th Charity Golf Day will be held on Wednesday 3rd July at Dibden Golf Centre. We expect some 30 teams (120 players) to take part and it is hoped that we will have another successful day. Last year's event raised £2,300 for Local Charities and we would very much like to repeat that. This year's proceeds will be split between Emergency water aid boxes for distribution to disaster areas, Funding and fitting-out a changing room at the new village sports pavilion and other Rotary Charities. For further information please contact Allan Alford (tel 01425 673987)
Advance notice is given of the 6th Gentlemen's Charity Boxing Evening, which will be held on Friday 22nd November. Further details will be given at a later date.
The Club continues to enjoy a varied and interesting programme of speakers, sports events and good fellowship. For further information on Rotary International contact Rotarian Malcolm Austen, tel. 672494.
Is it or isn't it? I have to confess to being a sceptic at the start of David Hawkes' talk. The Turin Shroud, a piece of cloth 13½ feet by 3½ feet, appears to bear a faint image of a man believed by many Christians to be Jesus Christ. Tests in 1988 dated the shroud as being made between 1260 and 1390. Step by step David Hawkes dismantled the known facts and finally we were left with a shroud that was indeed in being at the time of the Crucifixion c.AD30. But whether the image is that of Christ is unproven. There is a staggering new discovery that sheds new light on the death of Jesus and may be the final proof that the Turin Shroud is a fake. In a small cave in Jerusalem, a British-born archaeologist has found a burial shroud from the time of Christ. Dr Shimon Gibson thinks that this shroud may have held the body of a man who witnessed the Crucifixion. This discovery is so momentous that not only does it provide a unique insight into the dawn of Christianity but it also casts doubts on the authenticity of the Turin Shroud itself. Is it or isn't it? This is where we came in.
In April we were pleased to welcome our favorite spy, Jim Palmar. This time he was talking about Frank Wooton, a war artist who specialised in the painting of aeroplanes. He never used photographs but relied on memory for the realism of his efforts. After the war he turned to landscapes showing the influence of Constable and Munnings in his work. His wonderful memory for detail was demonstrated in a painting of the gathering for a hunt. The huntsman said he cold name each hound so accurately had they been painted. The whole lecture was spiced with Jim Palmarisms. It would appear that he knew very nearly everybody on our side and several on the Nazi side as well. No doubt he will be back at some time giving us an insight as to how we managed to win.
The village of Highcliffe originally consisted of three hamlets - Slop Pond, Chewton and Chewton Common. In 1830 the area began to be developed by a Captain Hopkins of Hoburne. The new residents, quite understandably, did not care for the name Slop Pond so the village was renamed as Newtown and eventually in 1892 took the name of Highcliffe from Highcliffe Castle. When is a castle not a castle? It has never really been a castle. It was originally built as a house by Robert Adam in 1770 for John Stuart, the Third Earl of Bute. This house had to be demolished due to cliff erosion. Some years elapsed before the present house was built by John Stuart's grandson. It was finished in 1834. In 1977 it was finally bought by the Christchurch Borough Council. During its heyday it was visited by many famous people. The royal family often sailed from Osbourne House in the Isle of Wight landing at Steamer Point. The Gladstones, the Duchess of Connaught, Kaiser Wilhelm and Dame Nellie Melba were among the distinguished visitors. In 1991 a repairs programme began and the castle is now a home to a visitor and exhibition centre. It has also become a favourite setting for weddings. Further application is being made to the Lottery Fund in order that the inside can be restored closer to its original glory. All in all the castle will keep any visitor enthralled with more than a dash of beauty, a good measure of history and throughout the year dollops of entertainment. Mike Allan, who gave us the talk, was obviously a happy man in his job.
The Lunch Club Annual General Meeting was held on May 9th. After five years of sterling work as Chairman, Margaret Letts stepped down. She was replaced by Shirley Tobias, who said that Margaret was a hard act to follow, but that she would do her best. Shirley also thanked Margaret for her work over the past five years and presented her with a standard rose from the Lunch Club as a token of appreciation. All other officers were re-elected apart from the member responsible for cake rotas. This post remains vacant and a volunteer is currently being sought.
The Lunch Club is planning a Jubilee Cream tea for its members on Thursday, June 4th. The Annual Coffee Morning will be held on Monday, 8th July in the Boys' Brigade Hut. Please come along - you will be very welcome.
There are still one or two vacancies for new members. If you are interested in joining please contact either Shirley Tobias on telephone number 01425 673078 or Pat Newman on telephone number 01425 673678.
As ever, thanks go to everyone who continues to work in support of the Lunch Club. We are, however, extremely short of helpers, drivers and cake makers to help once a month. The Lunch Club does provide a valuable service, and is very much enjoyed by those who attend, but without much needed volunteers we will struggle to maintain our present level of service. If you feel you could give us 2 hours of your time once a month to assist, please ring Shirley (01425 673078) or Pat (01425 673678), who would be delighted to hear from you.
THE CLUB FOR THE YOUNG IN HEART
The Spring season opened with our first outing of the year - a Mystery Tour plus lunch. 53 members enjoyed the refreshments at The Landford Poacher before continuing our tour via Verwood Forest and Ringwood. This proved to be unexpectedly entertaining as we encountered a very low bridge temporarily blocked by a heavy haulage vehicle being loaded by heavy plant machinery. The stalwarts on board decided this was a good excuse to have a sing song while we waited and much hilarity followed.
On 26th March the Annual Easter Bonnet Parade took place in the Village Hall. Competition winners were first - Vi Pateman and second - Brenda Griffiths. An Easter Floral Workshop organised by Secretary, Janet Henson, had members flower arranging for the Methodist Chapel with suitable Easter arrangements.
On April 9th Mr Vic Derham gave an interesting talk on "The Past, Present and Future of Mudeford Lifeboat" which proved to be very informative and was enjoyed by all. Derek King, who has lived in the area all his life, said that he had learned things that day that he had not known before. April's outing was to Salisbury Market and a cream tea at Wilton House. A glorious afternoon walking around the gardens of Wilton House in the sunshine. None of us wanted to leave. Bransgore Friendship Club trod the boards once again when they staged their annual "Own Show" at the last meeting in April. Members and committee, led the show entrepreneurs, Mary Melville and Esther Harris, staged two separate acts of a Hunting Scene and The Jubilee Tea respectively. A total of nine performers and pianist, Joan Kimber, gave a talented example of achievement put together by sheer determination that "the show must go on" and included Chairwoman, Phil Jose, stalwart of the Club. Age 55 plus we might be but there is plenty of life in us all yet - quite an achievement when you consider that many of the members are in their 80s, but still dance, sing and serve on the committee. A grand example to us all.
On May 14th the Rev K Timbrell gave a talk entitled "Herbs and the History of Medicine", a subject that he was well informed about, having studied botany for many years. Our outing in May to Exbury Gardens will see us all venturing forth again, hoping for fine weather. This has been a very successful start to the year 2002, with several projects reaching happy conclusions.
For many months the Club has been trying to upgrade its inadequate microphone system and after unsuccessful applications for help we have been extremely fortunate to be awarded a full cost grant by Help the Aged. We are delighted to say that the new system is now installed for each meeting in the hall. We were also fortunate to have the co-operation of Jarvis Radio of Christchurch who assisted us for beyond their "call of duty" and we are grateful to them for all the advice and patient help we received. Secondly we were given the piano from the WI Hut when it closed, and the removal of pianos took place on a damp Monday afternoon, the WI piano to Bransgore Village Hall, and the piano from the Village Hall to The Social Club in Burnt House Lane. A happy exchange for all concerned. Keep on playing!!
We meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, commencing at 2.15 pm., except for our JUBILEE TEA on 25th June which commences at 2 pm and runs until 5 pm. Please see the Diary of Events for our future meetings and outings.
JANET HENSON Secretary 674954
The Committee continues to meet on a regular basis, with it's main aim is to appraise activities at Sopley Camp [Merrifield Park]. The New Forest District Council's Planning Policy is specific on the use of the Camp.
The Committee has new members and recently organised a Car Boot Sale at Chapel Gate, Hurn, to augment existing funds. We are pleased that this was extremely successful, and another is planned at Wimborne Market in the near future. Thanks to those Bransgore and Sopley residents who donated items: it was very much appreciated.
D. BLYTHE Press Officer.
BRANSGORE & DISTRICT GUILD CRISIS - THE FUTURE OF THE GUILD
The Guild is in crisis. Our fund-raising events continue to be as staunchly supported as ever, but the running of these events becomes more and more of a problem each year. It has become increasingly difficult to find people, especially from the younger age groups, willing to serve on the organising committee. Due largely to the erosion of old age and ill-health, the past few years have seen the size of the committee shrink in size to the point where it has become impossible to carry on much longer. At the recent AGM various options for the future were discussed. The general feeling was that to dissolve the Guild should only be considered as a last resort. The better course would be to merge with a neighbouring guild or branch, possibly Mudeford. So for the moment a slimmed-down holding committee will continue to run those events already publicised until the end of the current financial year, while the possibility of such a merger is further investigated.
TOTAL FOR THE YEAR
The grand total raised by the guild in the last financial year was a satisfying £2502, which was only £18 down on last year's figure. It will cost £103 million to run the Lifeboat service this year. Any surplus of income over expenditure is held in the RNLI's reserve fund, to guarantee the boat building programme and other capital projects. Last year lifeboats were launched 6,882 times and 771 lives were saved - an average of 2 a day.
FUN DAY RESULT
We had a steady stream of visitors to the RNLI stand at the Village Fun Day and raised a total of £168.
FLAG DAY & COFFEE MORNING
Our Flag Day, and almost certainly our Coffee Morning, will be past events by the time you read this. Reports in the next edition of the Newsletter
TRAINING COLLEGE & VISITORS CENTRE
Work on the RNLI training college and visitors centre is expected to start this summer, and will take from one year to eighteen months to complete. As well as training all our own volunteers, the college will generate income from visiting overseas lifeboat services. The visitors centre is to include the Lifeboat Experience - a 360 degree view of a lifeboat in action, complete with wind and waves.
OPEN DAYS - CHANGE OF DATES
To avoid clashing with the World Cup the dates of the Lifeboat stations annual Open Days have been changed to the 6th and 7th July 2002. This is your chance to see the lifeboats and meet the crews
DAVID LYTTLE Hon. Secretary tel 673581
Contributions
for the September issue of this Newsletter to Jane Safe, Greenacres, West Road
(672640) by Friday, 23 August please. Entries can be hand-written, typed, on a
disk or sent by e-mail to Greenacres@freezone.co.uk.
In the case of a disk, please use Word, Times New Roman typeface and 12 font,
enclosing a printed copy just in case the original cannot be read.
Entries for the Diary of Events should NOT include dates in the first two weeks of September, but should include those for the beginning of December. This is because there is quite a delay between production, printing and delivery. Sometimes this delay exceeds two weeks - as is likely to happen with this edition as it will be affected by the long bank holiday weekend - but in future the Diary of Events will be passed to the Parish Council to be included on its web site. It is also hoped eventually to have the whole Newsletter available, but it will not be put on the site until after the usual deliveries have been made. So timing becomes even more critical and it is important to get your contributions in by the given date, otherwise entry in the Newsletter cannot be guaranteed.
In March we held our AGM. There was just one change when Marcia Neil took over the position of Hon. Treasurer. Jane Stone, who stood down after four years, was thanked by Chairman, Pauline Temple, on behalf of the committee and members for all her hard work. She was presented with a book token. Carol Reed was also welcomed onto the Committee. Speaker Marion Emery followed with a very interesting and amusing talk on William Morris - "Not just another roll of wallpaper", which she illustrated with photographs, drawings and beautiful pieces of material in his designs. A very informative and enjoyable afternoon.
Gillian Habbin was the demonstrator at our April meeting. She arrived with the most beautiful foliage from her own garden. This was the basis for six lovely arrangements. By adding flowers to each, ranging from soft apricot and orange to shades of pinks and mauves, it was a kaleidoscope of colour. Aptly the title of her demonstration was "accent on Foliage and Style".
Our May meeting will be totally different. "Modern and Free" - an Ikebana demonstration by Diane Norman. Diane has demonstrated to us before so we look forward to her return visit.
June 27th is our annual outing - this year to Michael Bowyer's studio at Salisbury. The day includes a tour of Salisbury, lunch and an afternoon demonstration by Michael. An exciting day to look forward to.
A Garden party ends our Summer programme in July. Hopefully this year the rain will hold off and we really will be able to hold it in the "garden".
September 26th is the start of our Autumn programme. "Baskets of Delight" is the title of a demonstration by Mary Holliday-Bishop. Do come along and join us; new members and guests are most welcome. We meet on the fourth Thursday in the month at 2 pm at the Resource Centre, Ringwood Road.
Diary Dates
| September 26th Mary Holliday-Bishop, demonstrator. "Baskets of Delight" |
| October 24th Dodie Stevens, demonstrator. "Witches of Halloween" |
| November 28th Workshop - Christmas door wreath or swag |
| December 12th Jenny Winstone, demonstrator. "A Country Christmas", followed by Christmas tea MARGO CROUCH |
Programme Secretary 672612
Bransgore Residents' Association has recently decided that it wants to act, among other matters, as a link for bringing the societies of Bransgore together. There are as many as 50 of these in the village, many of which are represented in each edition of the Bransgore Newsletter. There are several new ones which have emerged in more recent years, and some older ones which are looking a bit weak and wobbly!
An Open Meeting was held on Monday, 22nd April at the Christian Centre. Three guest speakers came and shared with those present something of the work of their organisations and also gave us a flavor of how they contribute to the life of the village. The speakers were Mr. Malcolm Austin for the Rotary Club, Mr. Doug Patterson for the Horticultural Society and Mr. Leslie Sewell for the Bransgore Theatre Group. These were very enlightening and entertaining presentations and we are exceeding grateful to these gentlemen and their societies for their contributions.
Following these presentations, other matters were considered, and specially an interesting discussion about the state of the Village Hall and the options for its future.
If you are reading these notes and are an active member of any society, club or group in the village, and might wish to share it with other people in Bransgore, please ring Bill Cotton on 673261. The next Open Meeting of the Association will be held at the Bransgore Christian Centre on Monday 1st July at 7.30 pm. Dave Lay will be explaining the ins and outs of cricket, and introducing us to the new cricket pavilion. It is hoped that the Probus Club will also present their activities. Come and join us.
Oh, by the way, the Committee of the Association has its next meeting on Monday 10th June. If there is anything you would like the Committee to consider, please get kin touch before then.
BILL COTTON / ANDREW LARSEN
Our AGM on Monday 25th March was very well attended. A basket of flowers was presented to Gill Green
thanking her for her work as secretary over the last seven years.
Pam Shipperley welcomed our two returning officers from The New Forest
Federation, Mrs. Jean Strong and Mrs. Kay Eyre.
The new committee was formed and Mrs Jean Strong went on to compliment us
on the amount of money we raise each year for local charities. This year it was
about £550.
We then welcomed Mr Rob Cooper from the Red Cross. He was presented with a wheelchair to be used by the people
of the village. It will be available from the Red Cross loan centre at the
back of Twin Oaks surgery.
Our guest speaker for the evening was Miss Kay Robson from The Domestic Violence
Unit based at Lyndhurst Police Station. During the last year we have given them the money to purchase
two wrist alarms, these allow the wearer to get help quickly when needed.
Kay gave us a very interesting if some what disturbing account of the
need for this service in The New Forest.
The new committee has met twice and we are busy planning future events and
choosing our charity for the coming year. Our
first outing is to be our Jubilee walk; we plan to walk for an hour or so ending up at Mrs Cooper’s
Acres Farm Minstead for a cream tea. We hope to be joined by our families.
DATES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS
Monday 24th June
Speaker Mrs Grace Armfield Shakespeare Globe Reborn
Monday 22nd July Speaker Mrs Lorna O'Brian
Colour Me Beautiful
NO AUGUST MEETING
We meet at the Resource Centre at 8pm; guests are always welcome so why not join us for a cup of tea and a chat. If you are new the village it is a good way to make new friends.
PAM SHIPPERLEY Chairman Telephone 01425 673057
“Councillors give Bransgore teenagers ultimatum” was the headline in the local paper in a report of the May meeting of the Council. Despite the publicity being given to the problems the whole village is experiencing as a result of vandalism, underage drinking and the problem of litter, we on the Village Hall Committee are not seeing any signs that things are getting better. On the day I write this, the handle on the main door has been wrenched off; yesterday some lads were throwing the children’s wooden climbing frame about with one of their members inside it and we despair of the new playground surface lasting with the amount of damage continually being done to the surrounding fence and gates. Although not a Village Hall matter, I also see that the telephone box in the car park has been damaged as has the notice board on the Post Office wall.
We must therefore ask ourselves just how a refurbished (or new?) Hall is going to fare in the future. Perhaps these concerns will be expressed at the forthcoming special Parish Council meeting called to discuss the future of the Hall. From this Committee’s point of view we have stated our opinion that the current Hall is eminently suitable for refurbishment to cater for current and future needs, meeting all fresh legislation. It has been estimated that this could be achieved by expenditure in the region of £170,000/£190,000, whereas a new Hall would cost something like £400,000.
In the meantime correspondence is still flowing backwards and forwards with the Charity Commission on the proposal for the Charity to be wound up and the Parish Council taking over full responsibility. No decision on this matter has yet been made.
MICK RICHER Chairman
Sopley
Village Hall, Priest Lane, Sopley
Telephone: 07773 237667 Charity No. 1077865
Stepping Stones offers education and care for children below school age and over 2.9 years. We have a specially tailored curriculum aimed at achieving early learning goals whereby your child will learn through play. We also have a computer and an outdoor play area.
We recently had a very good OFSTED report and we are registered for 26 children per session. We can offer your child a stimulating and happy environment with our friendly and dedicated staff supported by an enthusiastic parental-based committee.
Our term-time sessions are on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings from 9.15am - 12.15pm and we also run a very popular lunch club following each session through to 1pm.
The ‘Rising School’ sessions operate in the spring and summer terms on Tuesday afternoons, which help to prepare children for Primary School the following term. We have links with all the Primary Schools in the local area.
If you would like a copy of our prospectus or to come along and visit us, please give Marie Waugh a ring on 01425 673259.
Forthcoming Summer Events include:
| Hengistbury Head family trip – Tuesday 25th June |
| Sports Day and Leavers Ceremony – Friday 12th July |
| Beach Toddle with Treasure Hunt – Tuesday 16th July |
| Summer Club from July 15th – 26th |
| Teddy Bears Picnic in August |
PARENT AND TODDLER GROUP
A warm welcome awaits the toddlers and their Mums, Dads, Grandparents and carers at the Stepping Stones Parent and Toddler Group on Tuesday mornings 9.45am – 11.15am. Babies and toddlers are encouraged to come and play, join in with story-time, singing, running races and creative activities. Everyone can also enjoy a drink, biscuit, fruit and a chat during break-time. £1.50 per family.
K Kids galore, with Mums, Dads, carers, Grandparents - all welcome.
I Informal, but safe atmosphere, where children can play and adults can interact
D Drinks and biscuits for all - only 50p per family
D Dirty? Only when the craft table includes making something with glue, shapes and paint!
I Infinite pleasure for the children, with playdough, puzzles, ride-on-toys, slide, train set, colouring and much, much more
W Warm and friendly atmosphere where Mums and Dads and carers can chat and relax
I Information? Call Maggie (672921) or Diane (673056)
N Noisy? When we get all the musical instruments out for the children, and sing songs and nursery rhymes every week.
K Kicks off every Wednesday, during term time, between 10 am and 11.45 am, at the Methodist Church Hall, Chapel Lane
S Special days include fundraising mornings, Birthday and Christmas parties, and themed mornings, such as Mothers Day and Easter. And always a present and birthday cake for every child's birthday, as we all celebrate together.
Thank you for your continued support for Kiddiwinks, and we hope you have all enjoyed your time with us this year. We also hope that you will tell others about us. Thanks.
The 'shell' of the new pavilion is now completed, we now have the job of fitting out the inside, we are very grateful for the offers that we have had so far from local builders and organisations to fit it out, but we still need more help. This is going to be a superb facility for sports use, so please give us a ruing if you can help. The School is going to hold their sports day on the new field this year, this will make their day so much more enjoyable as space will not be at a premium. The new safety surface has been completed on the original playing field, it is a really good surface so when the tidying up is completed around it should look so much better and will be easier to maintain.
Sue Hughes
We held our AGM in May, we were lucky to have the Mayor of Christchurch and our Parish Council Chairman in attendance, we heard all about the activities of the Scouts Cubs, and the Beavers and were treated to refreshments afterwards, many thanks to all the volunteers who give up so much of their time for the boys
The Beavers had a very full year with many activities including, singing, visit to Hurn, making passports, picture frames, hiking planting bulbs, mosaics and making a Mothers Day present to mention just a few! Lesley Manley
Another good year for with many Cubs earning badges at pack meetings but also many earning badges individually, including Hobbies, Handyman, Animal lover, and Musician. Camps were held at Burley based on a forest theme. Martin Noble came along with a collection of bats. Many activities were enjoyed by all the boys. Cubs have attended a variety of District activities such as sports day, swimming gala, handicraft competition to name a few. Barbara Houston
In May the Scouts visited a campsite in Southampton and enjoyed canoeing, climbing, abseilling, archery and rifle shooting. Two teams took part in the Emlyn Trophy and retained the Composie Cup. Boys also took part in District Sports Day. There are so many activities available to the boys it is impossible to list them, but we are pleased that all the boys gain so much experience from the Group. Mike Manley
It is difficult age to be a Scout when University calls but nevertheless many activities were enjoyed by the Ventures. It is particularly rewarding when the Ventures return as helpers and leaders to give back to the new boys the fun and experience that they have gained. The Scout Association has changed the format for Ventures and they will now be Explorer and Network Scouts run by District and County. Mike Brackstone
This will take place on Wednesday, 4th September at 7.30pm at the Village Hall. Usual format - teams of 4 representing Village organisations or ad hoc teams. If you haven't entered before, why not give it a try this year, although you'll have to be quick because tables are limited in number.
Entry forms will be available from the end of July from Jane Safe, Greenacres, West Road (01425 672640).
Special Disclaimer : The information contained on this page has been compiled directly from the contributions entered for the printed version of the Parish Newsletter. The Parish Council can not be held responsible for the accuracy of data or views expressed by officers of organisations or members of the general public expressed here.
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