CHADRA

As many of our readers will know Rosa Gunning who took on the Editorship at the beginning of 1982, on a “temporary” basis for one year, gave notice in January last year that she did not wish to continue beyond the end of the year and asked for a volunteer or volunteers to carry on with this important function. However, no offers were received and it began to look as if publication would cease with the October 1987 issue. I am glad to say that there is now hope as Mrs. J. Peaster, of xxx Manor Lane, and Mrs. Hall, of xx Durham Road, have volunteered to take the duties over jointly, and we hope they will enjoy this task and continue to do so for sometime to come.

IN FUTURE “COPY” SHOULD BE SENT TO JENNY PEASTER by the closing dates published in each Newsletter, and I would urge contributors to initiate this action and not wait to be “chased” by the Editor.

The Annual General Meeting of the Association will be held in the National School Foundation Hall at Charfield School, at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday 16th February 1988, and the Agenda and nomination form for the committee etc., are being issued with this Newsletter. It will be necessary to consider the future of the Newsletter, and indeed of CHADRA, which many people are beginning to feel does not have a significant role in present circumstances, so please come along if you have any views or wish to influence events perhaps by becoming a member of our ever shrinking committee!

Geoff. Blower.
Hon. Secretary.

I am rather sad to think that apart from the two ladies mentioned above I had no other offers or comments in response to my plea in the October Newsletter. I am most grateful therefore to them both and wish them every success in their future efforts.

Happy New Year to you all!

Rosa Gunning.

NB **** Next Copy Date 12th April 1988 ****

Published by Charfield & District Residents' Association (CHADRA)

1

After a much publicised campaign within the village, it is with pleasure that I am able to announce that thanks to Mr. Zbig Motkaluk the club can once again look forward to a future in 1988.

However, the campaign unfortunately identified a general apathy in the village towards its youth. I can only hope that this is a passing phase and support will grow for the young people.

On behalf of the Committee and the Youth Club members, I would like to thank Colin and Pauline Everett for their dedicated leadership over the past years.

P. Peaster
Chairman

Here we are at the end of January 1988 and it only seems five minutes ago that Christmas was that happy event to look forward to – and now it's gone. Still, there's always next Christmas!

The speed at which time flies means that you should act now to buy your tickets for the School Disco/Dance to be held in the Village Hall on Saturday 6th February, and put in your application form for the first Charfield Fun Run to be held on Sunday 27th March at 10.30 a.m. The next time you hear of these events they could be in the past and you'll be saying “Why didn't we go to that?”

The Disco will feature records from the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's, which will be played by the Dave Dean Roadshow who also provide the lights. There will be a ploughman's meal and the bar will be open. Tickets are available at £2.50 each and can be bought from any Committee Member. If you have difficulty in obtaining tickets, 'phone me on Dursley 84xxxx and I'll drop them round to you. Doors open 8.00 p.m. and the music will finish at midnight.

The Fun Run is open to all comers and details and entry form are below. The closing date for application is Friday February 26th. Give the form to any committee member or send it to me at the address given. We all look forward to seeing you at these events.

Steve Bennett, Chairman

Fun Run Entry Form. Dress optional, but please wear number.

Please complete and return, together with entry fee, to S. Bennett, 4 The Sidings, Charfield, by Friday 26th February.

Every person who completes course will be awarded a General Certificate

Route mainly metalled surfaces. Run, jog or walk (no mechanical means). One drinks station along route. Free drink on return of number at end of race. Marshalled route. Pick-up vehicle available. Refreshments.

2

Happy New Year to all parents, families and supporters.

Since the Group Camp in September last we have had a few fund raising activities. Our Autumn Fayre and Boot Sale at Charfield raised around £300. In December at Headquarters we held a Craft Fayre. Our apologies to those who missed this due to the late publicity, but we expect to put on another next year. A total of £166.37 was raised for various sections and the group, with the Venture Scout section also boosting their own funds with the sale of Christmas trees at the same event.

This year several events are already planned, so please note the following information:-

February 26th and 27th – Group Gang Show, Supper – Social Evening with Race Night – Charfield.

April 16th – Spring Fayre at H.Q. Cromhall.

May 26th – A.G.M. at Charfield.

Posters and leaflets will be around nearer the dates,

The Beaver Scout section now is open, the members were kept at around 18 for a few months to allow everyone to settle in. The waiting list is open and it is expected there will be a few more accepted into the colony in the near future. Open to boys between 6 and 8 years, I will be happy to accept details of boys who would like to join.

Some Lion Cubs had a “camp-in” at H.Q. during a weekend in December and the Tiger Cubs will be having theirs over the last weekend of January.

The Lion Cub Pack leaders are hoping for a little more support in 1988, especially from parents. The last pack evening of last year at which the boys put on some entertainment, two boys were presented with Gold Arrows, and refreshments provided was surprisingly poorly attended. There are no vacancies in this Pack at the moment.

The Scouts entered three teams in the Pegasus Trophy at which they did very well and came overall 3rd in the Swimming Gala held in Bristol.

On 6th November the Queen Scout Award was presented by the District Commissioner, Rex Laney, to Dave Hardwick who has been a Cub Scout, Scout and later became a Venture Scout with the Group. Now he is helping out with the Scout Troop when work and study permit.

For those of you who have supported us throughout 1987 – a heartfelt thank you. I am sure you are all aware that scouting is carried out by the leaders on a voluntary basis and we could not manage without the time and money given by our friends and supporters, and trust that we may count on your continuing support throughout the coming year of 1988. Margaret K. Coomber
Group Scout Leader.
Falfield 26xxxx

3

As we reach the half way point of the season the Under 14 team continue to be the most successful of the three sides with a 100% record in the League. Over the Christmas period they beat their local rivals, North Nibley, 3–1 to open up a 2 point lead and set themselves up for an exciting top of the table clash with second placed Everside the following week. Unfortunately, the appalling weather during that week resulted in the game being abandoned due to a water-logged pitch. However consolation for acting Manager John Scoble and the Under 14's is that six of the team have been selected for Stroud League Trials. They are, James Scoble, Stephen Lovegrove, Stephen Benton, Steven Spill, Tim Brain and Mark Scannell. Congratulations to all these players and hopefully they will be representing the Stroud League later this season.

Both the Under 12's and Under 16's have improved during the last few weeks and picked up their first points of the season.

The Under 12 team convincingly beat North Nibley 3–0 and over the Christmas period held local rivals Wotton to a goalless draw. This had lifted the Under 12's away from the bottom of the table and with the team gaining two or three new signings recently there are optimistic signs for the future.

On the same day as the Under 12's were beating North Nibley 3–0, the Under 16's were winning their first points of the season with a battling display to come from behind to beat Eastwood Park 3–2 and then the following week held Yate 'A' to a 2–2 draw despite playing Under 14 Goal Keeper, Neil Matthews, who was taken to hospital with a suspected broken nose.

Despite their success, the Under 14 team are without a Manager. Can you help! Acting Manager John Scoble is looking after the side at present but would be only too grateful if someone else could take over. There must be someone – either ex-player or just parent – who would care to help John this season with a view to running the side next season. If so, please contact Claire Bullock on Falfield 26xxxx.

Claire Bullock
Hon. Secretary.

Attempt at Public Relation No. 3!

Here goes again – Since the last thrilling instalment our unit has lost all of the Sanity that might have been left rattling around inside their heads.

During the time between Christmas and the New Year, we went survival camping armed with nothing but a sleeping bag, a cottage to sleep in, a little food and a Monopoly set. (It's surprising how many people lost their voices playing Monopoly!) The highlight (??) of the camp was a walk across the Severn Bridge on New Years Eve where, at midnight, we let off party poppers.

Anyway, now it's the New Year and the party season is over. Our next event will be a Gang Show at the end of February. This monumental effort has been worked upon since the start of December and will – hopefully – be extremely good – and cheap. If I knew where to get tickets I would tell you, but as even I don't know yet, all I can say is look out for posters around the village.

If after reading this you are still aged between 15 and 20, male or female, and wish to come along and see if all this is really possible, 4then please contact me on Falfield 26xxxx.

Mark Morris,
Public Relations Officer.

Hello Mums – and of course, anyone else who reads my riveting articles! Yes, I'm going to be a right big-head in 1988!

Firstly, may I wish you all you wish yourselves, sunshine, laughs, good health, all that sort of thing.

If you didn't read my last little bit, please write down Jenny Bell's name. Her address is x Katherine Close and telephone No. Falfield 26xxxx.

Should anyone in the village wish to join, or in fact leave because their little darlings are now too big, just 'phone me, as I might get the urge, when all the buds are popping and the tulips are blooming, to do an up to date list!

Do you know, it's only the second week in January and I've fallen over twice and I wasn't drunk or even the teeniest bit tiddly! The first time was in Bristol, trying to buy Sophie a crash hat for when she goes out in her super new speedy roller boots. Well I should have had ankle protectors on. I went over on an edge of a pavement. The end result was a cold spray from Boots with a crepe bandage and watching Kiri Te Kanawa with my foot up. But that's another story!

The second time was even more unbelievable. I decided to pop into friends at Ashley Down, Bristol – terribly arty and self-sufficient, windmill and solar panels – you know what I mean. Well, no offence to St. Pauls, but they are quite near to, and have had several visits from undesirables, so, to deter all, they have rigged up trip wires. Well, I thought they were to be night time deterrents. Not so. At 12.30, Sunday lunch time, I went flying – Over the trip wire, straight into the hedge. Spectacles still intact, I might add. So another part of my body was swollen! My knee, actually. I thought I had bashed my ribs but Keith said I had too much padding for that! Anyway, to cut another long story short – I am now in need of a new pair of “nearly black” tights and an eye test!

Take care all,
See you soon,
Marilyn.
Falfield 26xxxx.

Anyone – not just Clubs or Organisations – who would like a letter or article published in the Newsletter, please contact either of the joint editors, details below, and we will be only too pleased to include them.

Jenny Peaster xxx Manor Lane, Charfield. Falfield 26xxxx.

Mary Hall xx Durham Road Charfield. Falfield 26xxxx.

5

I am sure we all look forward to the New Year with anticipation and pleasure. The coming year is even more special for the W.I. in Charfield as this is our Diamond Anniversary Year. It is 60 years since the Women's Institute was formed in the village and we will be celebrating in style at our Birthday Party in March; it will certainly be a night to remember.

Over the last 60 years the image of the W.I. has changed slowly but surely and we are no longer seen as jam making, Jerusalem singing ladies! We are an informed, active, skilled and fun-loving group of women looking to the future, not the past, and enjoying our time in the W.I.

Our programme for 1988 is planned and we will be having speakers from the world of television, nursing and the police force, along with many others of interest throughout the year.

Our membership is increasing, which is good news, and all new members and interested visitors are welcome to our meetings, which are held on the 2nd Thursday of every month in the Village Hall at 7.30 p.m.

I look forward to welcoming you at our next meeting. A Happy New Year to all members, past, present and future.

Susan B. Green,
President, Charfield W.I.
Dursley 84xxxx

We had a very good Carol Singing on December 23rd (you may have heard us!) and we raised £192.00, £30 of which we will donate to the Meningitis Trust. Many thanks to all who supported us.

Our next fund raising event will be the Playgroup Jumble Sale on Saturday February 27th at 2.00 p.m. in the Memorial Hall. There will be refreshments, a lucky dip for the children, and a White Elephant stall as well. So please sort out your unwanted items, someone will be around to collect nearer the time.

As I said in the last Newsletter, we are filling up our places at Playgroup very fast and need to know how many children will be wanting to start Playgroup in the next two terms, to see if we need to start afternoon sessions. So if there are any children coming up to 3 years old that wish to start Playgroup in the next few months, would their parents please 'phone me so that I can put their names on the waiting list.

Wendy Holmes,
Secretary.
Dursley 84xxxx

Leave a bowl of salt in a newly painted room – it helps to get rid of the paint smell.

If a metal zip doesn't run smoothly or is sticking, rub lead pencil on the teeth – The graphite acts as a lubricant.

6

Sundays	Sunday School	11.00 a.m.
	Evening Worship	6.00 p.m.
	November to April Afternoon Worship	3.00 p.m.
Tuesday	Bright Hour (fortnightly)	3.00 p.m.

Communion (The last Sunday of each month)

Secretary Miss M Turner, xx Charfield Green. Telephone Falfield 26xxxx

Christmas Concert

The Chapel was packed, almost to capacity, with many folk in the gallery, for the recent visit of the Bristol “Youth Section” of the Salvation Army Band and Songsters. Our sincere thanks once again to the Salvation Army young people, especially the Songsters, for a most enjoyable Christmas musical treat. To quote the words of one person, “it was a very good 50p worth”.

May we also take this opportunity of thanking the many friends, including the Wotton branch of the “Round Table”, for so kindly providing transport for the elderly; Mrs Haskins – for once again donating the beautiful Christmas Tree; and last but by no means least, the ever faithful band of ladies who served the very acceptable refreshments (including mince pies) in the Schoolroom afterwards.

As a result of the Concert, the Church secretary, Miss Turner, was able to present Major King with a cheque for £50, and a further sum of £35 was set aside for our own Church Funds.

What made this occasion especially worthwhile however, was that it brought many people into the Chapel for the first time, and more than one person was heard to say later that they were pleasantly surprised to discover that it was in fact such an attractive place of worship, having only previously seen the building from the outside.

Is it possible that you are also someone who only knows our Chapel building from the outside? If so, why not accept this invitation to join with us for worship next Sunday? You may not find a large congregation, but you will find a warm and ready welcome from a small but devout number of ordinary folk to whom life would just not be the same without their own special place of worship, and who would echo the words of the hymn-writer who wrote the well known hymn:-

We love the place, O God
wherein Thine honour dwells;
The joy of thine abode
All earthly joy excels.

E. L.

7

First of all may I wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous 1988 and thank you for your support of KLBS PTA during 1987.

The last few events of 1987 helped to raise almost £1000 for PTA Funds.

The Home-made Sweet Stall at Wotton's Dickensian Evening was very well stocked, manned and supported. We had sold out by 9.30 pm and my thanks go to everyone who either made sweets, sold them or bought them.

The Christmas Party on December 12th was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone present and my thanks to our unexpected guest from the North Pole who helped make the evening by picking out the winners of our Grand Draw:-

On to 1988 and events already planned include:-

We also hope to have a few Open Evenings during the next few months, details will of course come home with the children and posters will be displayed around the village.

Most parents will already have received a Newsletter in December, but for those of you who didn't a reminder that in the event of snow the school will be open and all pupils must make an effort to get there. School Transport will make every effort to run as normal. If, in the event of very heavy snow, listen to your local radio stations. Radio Bristol, Severn Sound or GWR Radio will be informed if the school has to close.

8The school has also promised to inform me, so parents can ring me – not the school if they are unsure or have missed the radio notice of school closures. Let us hope this information will not be needed.

Margaret Clarke,
Chairman – KLBS PTA

We returned to Guides on January 6th 1988 with nearly all the girls present.

Our Jumble Sale is on January 23rd at Charfield Village Hall – Doors open at 2 pm. Admission 5p – Please Support Us.

During half-term a group of girls and parents are going to see Holiday On Ice at Wembley. Hopefully snow and ice will not stop us getting there.

In March about 12 girls are going to hike to Slimbridge. The start is at the Village Hall. Once at Slimbridge they will stay at the Youth Hostel. After a night's rest there, they will hike back to the Hall. Once again we hope the weather will be kind to us.

July 24th–July 31st is the week for our Summer Camp.

We would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Mary Westlake,
Assistant Guider

Housebound young man requires a volunteer to help with reading and writing.

If anyone can help on a weekly basis please contact:-

Claire Griffin,
Tel: Bristol 62xxxx – after 6 pm.

9

For those who might have missed the news which arrived too late for inclusion in the last Newsletter – the Village lost its fight to prevent the large scale housing development. However the Parish council has not just accepted the decision with associated conditions and has already had a meeting with Northavon Deputy Planning Officer and Avon County Principal Highways Engineer. The Council has criticised for some years the suggested traffic management scheme for Charfield Bridge as it would mean single file traffic controlled by lights. No feasibility study had been carried out and yet it was included as a condition in the planning approval. In addition, although a second condition stated that a scheme to provide a footpath on the north side of Wotton Road had to be drawn up, it is not possible to implement. Following discussions it is hoped that both conditions can be negotiated to provide what has already been agreed by the County as the best solution i.e. that of a separate pedestrian footbridge and a re-aligned Little Bristol Lone junction.

Another extensive discussion held recently was on the subject of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. Reports had been noted of successful schemes, particularly the one in Kingswood and the Parish Council recently met Chief Inspector Leach, Inspector Trigg and P.C. Ian Williams and discussed the merits and problems of such a scheme.

As a summary, the benefits are of particular importance in urban areas rather than communities such as Charfield which does have a fairly good community spirit. However the Parish Council would be more than willing to support a scheme for Charfield should the residents wish it. It is not possible for the Parish Council to organise the scheme, this should be carried out by a volunteer committee, made up of area representatives each covering a maximum of 15 houses. The scheme would not require anyone to patrol streets – to be vigilant rather than vigilante. The one very important factor is that the majority of residents must be in favour of the Scheme for it to be successful. The police lend their support by providing advice, talks on specific items of concern, leaflets and notices. The local authority may provide a grant enabling regular meetings to take piece.

The Parish Council can certainly help by ascertaining support and providing information to anyone who thinks the scheme would be useful in Charfield and would be willing to take on the organisation. Please let me know.

Advice recently received from the District Council recommends and encourages the use of circuit breakers which cost from £10–£25. The advice was aimed primarily at public buildings and it was interesting to hear that the Memorial Hall is already equipped with a circuit breaker. However the District Council also strongly recommended household use of circuit breakers, particularly where power tools are being used. Lawn mowers, hedge trimmers and drills are obviously high risk items and the Parish Council adds their recommendation that greater use of circuit breakers is made to prevent possible fatal accidents.

It is an offence to cycle on footpaths. Are you and your children aware of this fact? Dangers to pedestrians on all paths are obvious but of particular concern are the paths leading to and from the central play area near the shops. Please don't use these paths as a short cut, as they are quite narrow in places and there are blind corners. Pensioners and small children can't move quickly enough to avoid a speeding cycle which they might meet on a corner. Remember it is an offence to cycle on any footpath.

The Parish Council held its budget meeting recently and agreed to precept from the District Council the sum of £3500 for the year 1988/9. They also agreed the following grants to village organisations:

Congregational Church	£15.00
Friendship Club	£25.00
Scout Group	£50.00
Transport Scheme	£35.00
Mother and Toddler Club	£35.00
Youth Club	£50.00
Citizens Advice Bureau – Stroud	£25.00
Citizens Advice Bureau – Northavon	£25.00
Community Council, Information Bus	£10.00
Memorial Hall Committee	£1000.00

Mrs Jenny Hughes,
Clerk to the Council

10

You may recall bright green information leaflets through your letterbox and perhaps visited the exhibition caravan when it visited the village before Christmas?

The Plan covers the rural areas of Northavon in planning terms and will be used as a basis for future development, conservation etc., over the next 10 years. The green leaflet invited everyone to comment and the draft plan is held by the Parish Council for anyone who missed the exhibition caravan.

The Parish Council will be forwarding their comments on such subjects as:-

The development boundary around the village, landscape protection areas, road hazards and corrections in the light of the housing development which has since been given approval.

Mrs Jenny Hughes,
Clerk to the Council

SNOWDROPS

I like to think
      That, long ago,
There fell to earth
      Some flakes of snow
Which loved this cold
      Grey world of ours
So much, they stayed
      As snowdrop flowers

M.V.

DON'T FORGET TO FEED THE BIRDS

Who will feed the birds on the garden wall?
Winter-time is very big – they are very small
Every little twitter means “feed us, if you please!”
Who will feed the birds
Till the days of Spring?
Think of what they do for you
and the songs they sing

11

Once again, I think I can safely say, we all enjoyed the Christmas Dinner. Our thanks to everyone who helped out and especially Mrs Holloway and Jackie for providing the entertainment.

It was nice to see so many faces that were new to us and for anyone who would like to come along to our regular Wednesday Lunches, I give below the 1988 dates.

January 13th	May 14th	August 24th
February 10th	June 1st	September 21st
March 9th	June 29th	October 19th
April 6th	July 27th	November 16th
		December 14th

Jane Higgins,
Secretary

Miriam Ealey recently held two discos to raise funds for charity and she has passed letters of thanks from the organisations for the money she was able to donate to them.

£176.45 was raised for the Cancer Research Campaign which was passed to their headquarters for research, and £205.35 was sent to the Meningitis Trust, which will also be used for major research into the disease.

May I take this opportunity to thank Miriam for all the hard work she undertakes and also for entertaining our energetic children at the Discos!

Here are the dates for the 1988 Discos:-

Friday 22nd January
Saturday 13th February
Saturday 12th March
Saturday 16th April
Saturday 14th May

6 years–11 years	6.30 pm–8.30 pm
11 years plus	8.30 pm–11.00 pm

MCH

Keep Fit classes are held in Charfield Memorial Hall. We now have two classes:- our new Supervisor takes the Aerobics class at the new time – Tuesday – 10.00 am to 11.00 am. Anyone interested contact Thornbury 41xxxx or just come along. The second class being on Wednesday – 10.00 am to 11.00 am, and is self-motivated. Both classes would welcome new faces – just come along and Keep Fit.

12

As this is the first issue of the Chadra Magazine of 1988, let me first wish you all a Happy and Peaceful New Year. Within the Ward, it will certainly be an eventful one with, no doubt, the proposed development commencing in Charfield, and the vital for Falfield Bovis Appeal Public Inquiry which is to take place in Thornbury in May. Both will require a lot of effort by councillors and the public to ensure that the developers fulfil their obligations in Charfield and cause the minimum of disruption, and that in Falfield, a small village doesn't become a huge, impersonal commuter settlement.

During the next few weeks, we should get to know the findings of the Examination in Public of the Avon Structure Plan, which took place in Weston-Super-Mare last March, you will remember. The results should indicate the Government's thinking in relation to further large-scale building development in the area. Discussions will also be held, and decisions made, on the Rural Areas Local Plan for Northavon. It is very important for the future of our community that we take an interest in the R.A.L.P. and submit to Northavon our ideas and suggested schemes we would like to see incorporated within the village, or criticize any suggestions made in the draft document. This is a good opportunity for each of us to have an input into plans for the future of the place in which we live. Let us hope that the Environment Secretary, has to approve such schemes, will respect their findings and that any decisions he may have to make, will be made within the framework of the approved local plans.

These issues are very large and affect us all in one way or another. However, there are often smaller, local or more personal matters where we might need some help or advice. If you feel I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to phone me on Falfield 26xxxx.

Eddie Gadsby,
District Councillor

Unfortunately, an error occurred in the October Newsletter on page 15.

I inadvertently credited Anna Ford? with the Play-Scheme Report! This should of course have read Anna HART, who I hope will accept my sincere apologies.

Rosa Gunning

13

Mobile Information Service – New Mobile

At last the Avon Community Council is pleased to announce that it has purchased a new mobile.

The ‘V’ registered Ford Transit Ambulance has yet to have it's interior converted for our purposes. Unfortunately this means that the Mobile Information Service will be off the road from the 7th December 1987, and it's hoped the new vehicle will be ready at the beginning of January 1988.

Hopefully our new vehicle will be more flexible in the winter months.

Over the past three years that the service has existed the Information Officers have dealt with over 6,000 enquiries on varying subjects from benefits and leisure activities to health and consumer matters.

The Mobile visits 36 villages in Northavon, Wansdyke and Woodspring and covers over 200 miles each week. Our existing vehicle, the Bedford Ambulance has served us very well. Days lost because of mechanical failure were relatively few and members of staff will be sad to see it go.

For further information please contact:-

Alison Martin
Rural Officer
Avon Community Council
209 Redland Road
Bristol
BS6 6YU

Telephone: (0272) 73xxxx

Keep a blackboard or pad on a wall in the kitchen so you can remind yourself of what you need to re-stock.

Soften up a hard chamois leather by adding one tablespoon of olive oil to the water in which you rinse the leather.

To clean a stained tea-pot put about half a yoghurt carton of automatic soap powder into the tea-pot and pour boiling water to the brim, leave to stand over-night and rinse well – you will now have a sparkling tea-pot.

14

The Countryside Commission was established by the Countryside Act 1968, in place of the former National Parks Commission.

Members of the Commission are appointed jointly by the Secretary of State for the Environment. Since 1st April 1982, they have been an independent body with an annual grant from the Department of the Environment.

Their responsibilities are for:-

the conservation of natural beauty in England and Wales.

encouraging the provision and improvement of facilities for open air recreation.

They are an advisory and promotional body, not an executive one. They own no land and manage no facilities. Instead, they achieve practical objectives through collaboration with other public authorities, voluntary bodies and private individuals and organisations.

The work is of seven kinds:-

Promotion of understanding the countryside and countryside issues to the general public, decision makers and those whose actions determine the appearance of the countryside, and it's value for recreation.

Research to establish the facts about landscape change or leisure patterns in the countryside.

Experimental work to develop and demonstrate new techniques in conservation or recreation management; policy advice on the conservation of the countryside and recreation provision in it, to all those including government departments and public bodies whose activities affect the countryside.

Technical advice to those who manage the countryside for conservation and recreation.

Designation of area of outstanding landscape as national parks or areas of outstanding beauty so as to secure their recognition and protection. They also encourage local authorities voluntary bodies, landowners, farmers and others to take action on landscape conservation and recreation provision.

Wherever you go – Follow the Country Code

15

It has been six months since I last informed you of what has been happening at the Village Hall, and I have much to catch up on.

Many of you will have heard by now about the new extension proposed for the hall. Hopefully, it will include facilities desperately needed by village clubs and societies. We have the plans at the planning permission stage and also have to have them passed by the magistrate, fire chief, etc. and this could prove to be a very worrying time. However, this will be nothing compared with raising the monies needed for such a project. Every avenue will be looked into to raise the monies needed and your help is greatly needed with the organising and setting up of the scheme. We need ideas for fund raising, and someone to advise with organising the monies etc. Most important of all is someone prepared to help with publicity for the project. The more publicity we get and the more informed the village and area are, the easier it will be to get the project under-way. I will keep you informed as soon as we hear about the planning permission etc.

Well, leaving the more pleasant business behind, we are having several problems at the village hall and car park at present. The problems consist of teenagers who ride motor bikes and cars around the car park in such a way as to cause a hazard to other people parking their cars and also walking in and out of the hall. Also the noise is such that people living nearby are constantly being kept awake at night, sometimes up until 3 o'clock in the morning. Recently a problem related to this is vandalism being done to the front of the hall and also in the car park. It is you, the villagers, who are having to pay for repairs to the damage done. Until now we have asked people politely to move on, but from now on we have every intention of prosecuting those found causing damage to the hall, car park and field; also anyone causing a nuisance in the car park.

Hopefully, these problems will soon be solved with everyone's co-operation and we will be able to concentrate fully on the extension and refurbishment of the hall.

Jane Hall,
Chairperson.

First of all, may I wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Unfortunately, it may not be such a happy year for the future of Young Wives. At this moment in time, Jeanette Halliday has only three committee members to run Young Wives when our new year begins in April. As most of the women in Charfield will probably know, we need a minimum of 14 to run the committee properly. I feel there is a distinct lack of interest in the village towards the organisation. If this is the case and we are now redundant as a committee, then please let us know and Charfield Young Wives will cease to operate at the end of our year in March.

If, however, ladies would still like to keep the organisation going then we do need some feed-back from them. Charfield Young Wives belongs to all the ladies in Charfield and it is therefore in their interest to encourage new people to attend. The committee are only there to represent the wishes of the members. Without new members the committee becomes superfluous, so if it is the wish of members to keep the organisation going then let's have some new ideas about the sort of things you would like to see and do, and let's give Jeanette her 13 committee members so that she can do her best for you all.

Margaret Tippins – Chairlady

16

Of course one doesn't have to wait until the 31st of December or the 1st of January to look backwards or forwards on our lives. That can be done at any time. But somehow a New Year prompts one to think, almost inevitably if only momentarily, about the past and the future. What will the future hold for us? the question none of us can answer with infallible accuracy. Something of what the past has held we can recall; although there may be much that is puzzling and evasive even about what we remember. Why did this or that happen when we had planned, perhaps, the very opposite. Perhaps even more important there are things that may have happened many years ago that we have never been able to come to terms with – perhaps worst of all, resentments that embitter the mind, and even poison the body (so subtly do the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual within us inter-mesh).

A realistic estimate of ourselves has always been an aim of Christian faith and life. The full admission of our imperfection, our wrongs against one another in thought, word and deed, forms a part (but certainly not the whole) in any act of worship. This is coupled with the assurance of forgiveness for those sincerely meaning this. With so much sense of guilt buried in the human heart (often unrecognised because unconscious) doing so much hidden harm, we are dealing with a highly practical matter that can make a huge difference to the tone of our lives – our true welfare.

This is why many of us who know what the Church really is about see it not just as a private hobby of those who happen to like such things. It is vital for the full development of the individual and for the health of society. (For example, the Church report ‘Faith in the City’, on the inner city problem, was instantly attacked by some members of the Government, is now being implemented by them!) At a less exalted and more personal level, many of us find in the Family of the Church (for that is what it is, a FAMILY), joy, satisfaction and a real ‘shape’ for the whole of life. To be ‘involved’ is the only way to discover the value of anything. The Christian Family exists to GIVE precious truths and insights for the enrichment of human life beyond the highest hopes and joys of those who have not experienced them.

What we have to offer sometimes, sadly, gets confused with something else. It is associated with an ancient building for the use of the whole village but which we have the responsibility of maintaining even although it is a national monument. It IS used: one has only to run through the parish registers to see how much occasional use is made of it – and it is here for this reason. And Remembrance Day, Christmas School presentations – it is here for those who want it at these, and any, special occasions. I am glad. I want it to continue to be here. You will recently have had a letter about this. I would like to thank most warmly those who have responded so far to the need. We went to the village about the problem only after 19 people within the Church who give already regularly and generously had first faced the problem and given between them £1,590. To the letter about the Emergency Church repairs, 21 have so far responded raising another £230. To them I am very grateful but with 700 letters delivered we clearly still have a long way to go! Look at the Board outside or inside the Church. I have called it the ‘measles board’ because of all the red spots: I want the rash to get worse! £10 is not a large amount now and it is less than 20p a week for a year. Most people like a Church in a village. Most think it is kept there by magic! Little space now for further explanation but speak to me. One thing I do meet in conversation. The so-called ‘wealth’ of the Church. It is USED to pay the clergy and will only pay 42% of this, the remaining 58% having to be raised by the parishes (including this parish). We already do a lot. We need YOUR help with the above problem. THANKS.

17

If any of the above information is not correct please let – Mrs J Peaster, 26xxxx or Mrs M Hall, 26xxxx – know, Thank you.

18

The 14th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the above Association will be held in the National School Foundation Hall, Charfield School, on TUESDAY FEBRUARY 16th, 1988 at 7.30 P.M.

AGENDA.

1. Apologies for absence.
2. Minutes of the last A.G.M. held on February 11th, 1987.
3. Matters arising from 2.
4. Chairman's Report.
5. Treasurer's Report.
6. Future of CHADRA & NEWSLETTER.
7. Election of Officers and Committee Members.
8. Election of Hon. Auditor.
9. Any other business.

N.B. Membership of the Association includes all occupiers and their families over 18 years of all domestic premises within the Parish of Charfield, so if you have views to put forward please come along.

NOMINATION FORM.

If you wish to nominate an Officer or Committee Member this may be done on this form which with the agreement of the Nominee to serve should be returned to the Hon. Sec. by Friday 12th February, 1988. Alternatively, nominations can be made at the meeting.

I wish to nominate …

Nominator …

For information the composition of the current Committee is as follows:-

Mrs. R. Gunning feels unable to continue as Editor and future arrangements mentioned in the January Newsletter will be discussed at 6. above.

G.R. Blower. Hon. Sec.

Transcriber Notes

This issue was produced on 18 sides of A4 paper, and a Residents' Association leaflet.

Personal phone numbers and addresses have been redacted.

Minor typographical corrections and presentational changes have been made without comment.

Digitization by Brendan O'Connor.

Last update: 2017-01-11.