CHADRA

… That the Football Club first team is unbeaten this season (at the time of writing).

… That the 1st Charfield Brownies has not had to close down, thanks to Lesley Frankham stepping into the role of Brown Owl – thank you Lesley. They now need some adult helpers, so please get in touch if you can help.

… That the Playgroup are suffering from dwindling numbers, and desperately need more three and four year olds to join.

… That the Football Club are planning to redecorate the Sportsman's Lounge at the Memorial Hall.

… That there will be a Christmas Flower Festival at St. John's Church.

… That the newsagent and Happy Shopper in Manor Lane are being joined together as one larger shop.

… That the future of the newsletter is still threatened. The duplicator we use is about 24 years old, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to get the stencils and correct ink. We are asking local businesses if they could help towards the cost of a replacement machine, so if you know anyone who may be prepared to help, please let any of the team know.

… That a councillor has expressed the fear that a cycle route from Charfield to Wotton-under-Edge could threaten the free bus service from Charfield to Katherine Lady Berkeley's School.

… That the 602 and 603 bus routes from Charfield to Bristol have been axed, but the council are investigating starting a similar route at Wotton-under-Edge, as this may make it more popular.

… That the millennium firework display has had to be postponed, as the council cannot guarantee that support staff will be available.

2

We were delighted by the number of people who have been able to submit their articles by e-mail or on disk, as this makes it much easier for us to cut and paste them into the newsletter. Thank you to those who are giving us written articles – we value your contributions too, and can now get them typed quicker as it is a more manageable task.

A couple of bits of housekeeping – we will acknowledge all e-mails so that you know they arrived safely, but we don't check our mail every day so don't expect an immediate reply. (But we do check it several times on copy day!) We shall return floppy disks if we have a return address, and you may have noticed a box of blank ones on our doorstep, so that you can help yourself to a replacement. We will try to remember to do the same next time.

Finally, We hope that you have a happy Christmas, and thoroughly enjoy whatever plans you have for the New Millennium, and that you have recovered in time to meet the next copy date!

3

There are two Beaver colonies at Woodend, Foxes on a Tuesday evening and Rivers on a Wednesday evening. We are here for an hour between 5 and 6 pm and in that hour we try to pack in as much fun as we can. Tonight we are making Beaver Biscuits, yum, yum!!, last week we made bridges and next week we are making Halloween pictures.

On Saturday (9th October) we had a trip for both colonies to Cadbury World in Birmingham, although a rather tiring day for the adults and leaders the boys had a wonderful time (especially with all that free chocolate). We try to vary our programme throughout the year, an example of things that we do are: playing games (indoor and outdoor), treasure hunts, nature trails, assault course (at Woodhouse), cooking, art and craft, the list is endless. We try to have at least one trip out a year and weather permitting we try to get outside throughout the summer term. We have two permanent leaders and parent helpers each week (for which there is a rota).

That's a taster of things we organise for our boys. If you would like to put your son's name on the waiting list my number is on the back page. We are hoping that we might be able to take girls in the future (fingers crossed), but at the moment it is open to boys aged 6-8 years.

That's all for now, Yours in Scouting.

Elaine Popham, Otter (Foxes)

Can we convey our thanks to all who came to the Macmillan Coffee Morning in the Village Hall. Altogether, with outside donations, the grand total of £218.50 was raised, which will help the new Macmillan Nurses Unit at Frenchay Hospital appeal. Again, many thanks.

Pat White & Friends

Greetings, everybody. My daughter, Caroline, is home for a few days and whilst preparing tonight's dinner is singing gently to herself the refrain from ‘Jingle bells’ which prompts me to wish everyone in the village ‘Merry Christmas’ and any or everything you wish for the forthcoming New Year – 2000!

That also reminds me that the New Year's Eve disco is not far away. My grateful thanks to Lesley Frankham for all the effort she has put in publicity and sales wise – the night is already a TOTAL SELL OUT. Whatever you may be doing on 31st December, I wish you well and may your god go with you.

In the last newsletter, I took issue with the perpetrators of vandalism. No response was forthcoming (unsurprisingly, perhaps) but my offer still holds good – anyone with an apparent grievance is more than welcome to chat with me. At the risk of tempting fate, I am happy to report no further, significant problems.

May I end by again wishing everyone a happy millennium celebration, by saying that Julia will be running a special quiz in the hall early to mid December and to offer my thanks to John Poskett for all those things he does to ensure the continued, smooth running of the hall.

P.S. We still need, desperately, a replacement for Anne Thomas as hall bookings secretary.

Allan Hughes (01454 26xxxx)

We are still meeting alternate Wednesday afternoons in the Village Hall with the Rev. Parker as chairman. This year, so far, we have had outings “Round the Wye Valley”, a day in Stratford upon Avon and a trip to Exmouth – where for once we had fine weather.

4We have had talks on Australia, mental health, Age Concern S. Glos., a sing song with Mr Ball and the usual bingo and quiz afternoons. There is room for new members so come along any time – you will be made very welcome.

M. Ealey (sect)

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Although Summer may seem but a distant memory, I thought it worth recounting some of the good things which took place in school over and above daily lessons in the classroom.

During the course of the Summer Term we have to think about the new four year olds who will be joining ‘formal’ school for the first time in September – also our Year 6 children are transferring to Secondary Schools.

Mrs Peer, our reception teacher, visited Charfield playgroup and the Farm Nursery to meet four year olds in their familiar environment. Their parents were invited to an Infants Open Morning in school plus the usual New Parents Evening. The children themselves also visited school for Story Time sessions towards the end of term.

Year 6 children enjoyed Induction Days either at KLB or Castle School, following visits to our school by staff from both schools. These Induction opportunities are seen as very important in ensuring a successful beginning to whichever stage of schooling children are entering.

Class Trips are always a feature of summer activities. This year our Reception children visited Folly Farm near Bath, Year 1 and Year 2 classes enjoyed Bristol Zoo, Years 3 and 4 travelled to the Birds of Prey Centre at Newent. London was visited twice – Mrs Marklove's class learning much from the National Portrait Gallery and Houses of Parliament whilst Mr & Mrs Bradley's children took part in ‘The BBC Experience’ at Broadcasting House.

Year 5 and Year 6 children were fully involved in a Greek Theatre Workshop provided by the Bristol Old Vic Theatre in connection with class topics on Ancient Greeks.

Sporting events during the summer include the District Sports Evening at KLB School. 5Children from each junior Year group represent the school alongside children from eight other local schools.

Charfield traditionally acts as host to the District Rounders tournament. Mrs Bradley organised this successful event, ably assisted by Year 6 children.

Our School Sports Day, held during the final week of term, featured all the Infant children in the morning and Juniors during the afternoon. Kestrel emerging as winners of the Junior team competition.

An end of term concert, performed during an Assembly, was enjoyed by the whole school plus a number of parents of children taking part. The School Choir, Violinists, Drummers and Recorder players performed items they had been practising during the term.

Already this term, two events of note have taken place. The Harvest Festival, led by Rev. Hopes and Lin Sargeant of the Congregational Church, was very well supported in terms of specified items of food donated towards Euroaid, whose project this year is directed at families in Kosovo. 26 boxes were delivered to the Bristol Collection Point.

Following a presentation at Assemblies by the area representative, children have taken part in sponsored activities in support of NCH Action for Children. At the time of writing we don't know how much will have been raised.

After-School Clubs continue this term for junior children, who may choose from Art, Chess, Line Dancing and Music.

When you record in writing, it is amazing to think how much goes on in addition to the set curriculum. Thanks goodness it does! It certainly enriches School Life for our children.

Frank Sreeves, Headteacher

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6

Puzzle Page

7

As I sit down to write this, I realise just how quickly the autumn term is rushing past and that it is only two weeks to half term! The main events this term are the visit from the photographer on 4th November and the Christmas party on 9th December when we hope that Father Christmas will be able to pay us a visit.

The committee would like to thank Mrs Derrick for her very kind donation of a number of toys which have already proved a big hit with the children. And while I'm on the subject, if anyone has any toys in good condition that they no longer want, the Toddlers group would be pleased to take them off your hands.

For anyone who doesn't know where to find us, we meet in the Memorial Hall on Thursday mornings from 10am to 11:30am and we cater for children from 0 to 3 years with their parents and carers. Each session costs £1.20 but your first visit is free so do come along and make some new friends. Toddlers will finish on 9th December and restarts on 6th January.

Sarah Edwards – secretary

The summer term was very busy. It included our annual pack holiday, lots of badge work and also a ‘district pack holiday’ where 6 of the oldest brownies mixed with brownies from other packs within the district, working together and playing together. The weekend, in the Forest of Dean was ‘wet but warm’, and we all had a lot of fun.

Our autumn / winter term promises to be just as busy. We have already started work on ‘clay models’ and ‘cross stitch book marks’. Our ‘millennium calendars’ will soon be completed and our Christmas trip this year is to ‘Cadbury World’ on 5th December 1999. The cost of the coach for this trip will be paid for from funds.

Finally I would like to welcome Lesley Frankham, who has gallantly stepped in to the role of Brown Owl for the 1st Charfield Brownie pack. I know she will enjoy every minute of it!!!

If there are any little girls who have not yet got their name on either of the Brownie lists, then please give either Lesley or myself a ring and we will be pleased to add them.

Take care

Trish Cole (Brown Owl)

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8

Reported crime remained low during the past two months in Charfield. However, there have been four incidents involving thefts or attempted thefts from cars in the Woodlands Road and Orchard Close vicinities and also a theft from a garage in Underhill Road.

Thefts from motor vehicles are commonplace and difficult to prevent but we should all ensure that vehicles are left fully secured, alarms are set and no desirable property is left on view.

All too often removable radios, briefcases containing credit cards etc. and other valuables are left in cars when unattended. Remove anything of value.

If it is impractical to remove property, such as trade tools, from a motor vehicle it is well worth marking it in some way with postcodes, initials or company name. This is best done by etching, but even paint is better than nothing. Where serial numbers exist, such as on radios or machinery, record them.

It is often the case that we'll search a suspect's house and find property which we know is stolen but can't identify the owner, so we end up having to return the property to the thief and with one less offence to put to him.

Other matters of interest include minor damage and graffiti at the Memorial Hall. I appreciate that this is a popular gathering point for local youths and I make frequent visits there, but if anyone can put names to offenders, please let me know.

Finally, I had come to check out a white Ford Transit van in Cromhall last week. It turned out that the driver was going from door to door asking to view and buy any antiques. I don't know if this gentleman has visited Charfield yet, but I would strongly advise that you don't sell anything to such callers, nor even let them enter and view anything. In most cases you will be ‘ripped off’ at best, and at worst will find yourself the victim of a burglary.

PC 3799 Jones, Thornbury Police Station.

The new season is barely a month old, but plenty of football seems to have been packed into a short space of time.

The first team is still unbeaten having played three Stroud League Division 1 league games, winning one and drawing two. In the cup competitions the club enters, they are through to round 3 of section B of the Stroud Charity Cup, where the opponents will be either Tetbury or Chalford. In the Junior section of the County Cup, the first round has been safely negotiated with a 2–1 win away at Huntley. In last seasons competition the first team reached the semi-finals, so all are hoping for even better things this season.

The reserves have enjoyed their brightest start to the season for several years with two wins and two defeats in their opening games in Stroud League Division 5. Like the first team, steady progress has been made in the cup competitions. The first round of the Minor section of the County cup brought an easy 5–0 win over White Horse F.C. from Mitcheldean. The first round hurdle of the Stroud Charity Cup, section D has been cleared, with the second round match against Gloucester Civil Service Reserves, due to take place in the very near future. Since the league match between the two sides resulted in a 3–0 win for Charfield Reserves, we are confident of further progress.

All in all Charfield F.C. have enjoyed the best start to the season for several years. At the moment all in the garden is looking rosy – lets hope it continues over the coming months.

Chris Somerton

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Puzzle Page Answers

10

We have had a very successful year. I would like to thank all the people who have supported us and helped us over the past year at our many events. We are now embarking on a new year and we have many events planned over the next few months. We start the year with our Bonfire and Firework display. This will be held in the School grounds on Friday 5th November 1999. Gates open at 5.30 pm, guy competition at 6.00 pm and then the bonfire will be lit, fireworks display will start shortly afterwards. Advance tickets cost £2 per adult and £1 per child. Entrance at the gate will cost £3 per adult and £1 per child.

We will be holding a chocoholic's evening on Monday 15th November 1999 in the School Hall. Come along and order your Christmas chocolate, there is a wide selection of chocolates and novelties to tickle your taste buds. It will commence at 7.30 pm, admittance £1 which will include entrance to the raffle.

Our Christmas Fair will be held on Saturday 4th December 1999 at the School. Come along and join us for the afternoon, and visit Father Christmas in his Grotto. Doors will be open from 1.30 pm.

Sarah Tyler,
Chair

The Farm Nursery has now been open for nearly two years and has seen numbers increase from 5 children on three mornings a week to a peak last summer when 38 children left us for local schools.

To our great relief, Stroud District Council has granted us five more years planning permission, although it's hard to believe that the original two year permission has already passed by.

This term the children have been busy inside and out, planting bulbs in the garden, picking apples to bake apple cake and getting as messy as possible with paints, paste, pasta and play dough.

At the time of writing, our giant pumpkin measured 240cm in circumference and was still growing, we may need the JCB to lift it.

Nursery Grant

We would like to remind parents that if their child's fourth birthday falls between 1st September 1999 and 31st December 1999 then they are eligible for a grant in the Spring Term. This will cover the nursery or playgroup fees for up to five sessions per week. Everyone is entitled to the grant, so don't miss out.

A grant for THREE year olds is gradually being introduced with 50 LEAs now up and running – no news on our area yet, however we will probably be one of the last!

The Farm Nursery Group, Watsome Farm, Charfield.

Chris Bennett

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To all Residents:-

“Do you know or have you known anyone with cancer?”

There is a company based here in Charfield that has raised over £170,000 for cancer and children's charities over 5 years. What's more the money has been raised, not by rattling collection boxes under your noses, or by posting little envelopes through your door to be collected at a later date filled with money. Collecting what you probably throw away has raised this money.

Many of you will have in your homes a computer with a printer. When your printer needs a new inkjet or toner cartridge is it one of the 80% that are thrown away? If so you are wasting a perfect way of raising money to help those unfortunate people who suffer from cancer.

*****

“Do you care about the environment and the world your children live in?”

“Are you concerned about the vast amounts of waste we are creating?”

If you throw away these inkjet and toner cartridges they are taken to landfill sites where the plastics used to make them will, it has been estimated, take 80,000 years to biodegrade!! So as well as helping children's and cancer charities, you will also be helping to cut down on waste and preserve the planet.

*****

Donate your empty toner and inkjet cartridges and we will collect them to sell them on to remanufacturers for re-use. All you need to do is take them to the local village shop. The Kiosk in Charfield has offered to act as a collection point for these empties.

Please help us to fight cancer and help children's charities by packing your empty cartridges back into their boxes and putting them into our recycling bin.

Thank you.

Mike Morris
Resident of Charfield
Managing Director of Worktwice Marketing Ltd

Charities supported this year:-

Cancer & Leukaemia in Childhood
Children in Need
Children 1st
Hospices Nationwide
Macmillan Cancer Relief

12

My thoughts have been running around apples – not unusual for me at this time of the year. We've had a nice crop of eaters and cookers but not so many that I've felt overwhelmed. I might feel differently in a year or two though. We are about to replant a small field by the house that used to be an orchard with five apples, two plums and a pear. They will all be on M25 rootstock so they should grow into proper sized trees and since I doubt we will be around to try and pick from them when they are fully grown I don't intend to worry about their size! All of them are old varieties and I've tried to choose them for continuity of fruiting since there is no doubt in my mind that the best thing of all with fruit is to be able to pick and eat straight away. Even a fully ripe, just picked Golden Delicious can be a delight – though you may find that hard to believe if you've only ever met the supermarket variety. And with family fruit trees now widely available even the smallest of gardens could grow a variety. My niece even has one in a pot in her tiny front garden though she has to admit that she didn't get to pick much of the fruit. She did say that it amused her to think of kids scrumping her apples in the middle of the dense housing estate in their part of Taunton, which I thought was extremely magnanimous of her.

This filling for an apple tart, which is good to eat hot, warm or cold, will only use one apple if supplies are short. It is a basic mixture using apple but it can be varied at will – nuts, candied fruit, dates would all work well.

Make a pastry case with sweet pastry (readily available from supermarkets if you don't want to make it yourself). This quantity of filling is for a 7″ flan or quite a few small tartlets. Let it rest for an hour in a cool place to stop it shrinking as it cooks – not so important as when baking blind but good if you have the time.

Melt together over a gentle heat 2oz(60g) butter and the same of sugar. Don't allow the mixture to be any more than tepid. Remove from the heat and beat in one large egg and a generous pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg. Quickly peel, core and coarsely grate a large cooking apple and stir thoroughly into the butter mixture. Pour into the pastry case and bake for 15 minutes in a hot oven, reduce the heat to moderate and cook for a further 15–20 minutes, until nicely browned. If you have made small ones they will take about 15 mins in all – just keep an eye on them. It's also a good idea to heat a baking tray to sit the tart on as it goes into the oven – this extra heat will help cook the pastry from underneath.

I've recently been given a little gem of a book called Farmhouse Fare – it was first published in 1935 and my copy – the third edition – was published in 1946, and reprinted in 1950. It is entirely composed of recipes sent in by readers of Farmers Weekly and by then had sold 360,000 copies – an astonishing number which many a modern chef/author would give his eye teeth for – and which was limited only by the publishers paper supply – rationed during and after the war.

The simplicity of it is a joy – there are no pictures and no recipe takes up more than one third of a (smaller than A5) page, and as it says in the foreword ‘none of them have been concocted by professional cooks in model kitchens' – just taken from the jottings and memories of women for whom cooking is one of a hundred, everyday jobs’. I love it and am thoroughly enjoying working through some of the ideas which I look forward to sharing. The most noticeable thing so far is the use of wartime ingredients – particularly dried eggs and margarine – though, of course, being farmers wives (and I haven't spotted an entry from a man so far) they probably had better access than most to good ingredients. What I find truly surprising is the amount of sugar used. I'm reducing it by at least 25% and still some things are too sweet.

13This next recipe comes from there, keeps well and is a useful standby in the store cupboard for a tart or pie filling.

GOLDEN APPLE MINCEMEAT

2 lbs (1 kilo) desert apples
1 lb (500g) sugar
Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
¼ lb (125g) candied peel (optional)
2 lbs (1 kilo) sultanas
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon each nutmeg & cinnamon
½ pint water

Peel and core the apples and chop into dice. Butter the bottom of a large pan and put in the apples, sultanas and water. Cook gently for 20 minutes. Mix the spices with the sugar and add to the pan, along with the lemon zest and juice – not all at once. Test the flavour and add what you think it needs. Boil for a further 20 minutes, stirring from time to time to stop it catching on the bottom of the pan, allow to cool and put into jars.

The vegetable garden is looking a bit sad at the moment. The late September rains have given it a rather forlorn, washed out air but the onions are out and hanging up in satisfying strings in the greenhouse. The wigwams of runner beans are looking rather wobbly. I'll make the most of those till the first frost but apart from runner bean chutney – which is very good and I've given you in a previous issue, I don't freeze or salt them. I have done in the past but I really don't think the results are worth the effort. I have got a splendid pumpkin which I shall make into a lantern for Halloween – for the grandchildren of course – and the flesh from the middle I'll make into soup. Nigel Slaters recipe is one of the best. Start with a pumpkin about 2–3 lbs ( 1–1.5 k)

PUMPKIN SOUP WITH BACON

About 1½ lbs (700g) pumpkin flesh, strings and seeds discarded
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic – peeled and crushed
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1 small dried chilli
1 teaspoon dried turmeric
1½ pints chicken stock – use vegetable stock for vegetarians
4 rashers streaky bacon – smoked for the liveliest flavour
small carton single cream

Melt a good lump of butter in a large pan, add the onion and garlic. Cook gently till soft. Chop the pumpkin flesh into chunks and add. Turn up the heat a little and cook till the pumpkin is golden brown around the edges – this is important to the flavour.

Meanwhile, in a dry frying pan roast the cumin and coriander seeds over a medium heat for about 2 mins till they are nicely toasted – watch them though to make sure they don't burn.

When they are cool grind them in a mill or pestle and mortar. (If this sounds a fiddle you can use ready ground spices. They'll be OK but not such a rich flavour). Add them to the vegetables along with the chilli and turmeric. Cook for a few moments then pour over the hot stock, stir well and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the pumpkin is tender. Cool a little and either put through a blender or sieve. Reheat gently, add the cream and salt and pepper to taste. Serve sprinkled with the bacon which you will have derinded, grilled or fried till crisp and cut into small pieces.

And if you have any good pieces left try roasting them as you would potatoes – but do make sure you have removed all the stringy bits first.

An American friend invited me for a Thanksgiving lunch – traditionally roast turkey followed by pumpkin pie. She had carefully made not just the pumpkin pie but an apple pie as well but had caterers in to do the rest – which they did extremely well until it came to the pudding. Linda had asked them to warm the apple pie before serving – which they did. They also warmed the pumpkin pie – not realising that it was a cold filling set with gelatine – and 14when Linda went to the kitchen to bring this triumph to the table you can imagine what greeted her! To her great credit she still brought it, a melted mess, along with the story that went with it, and of course, as can so often happen, it was all so funny that the party took off and even years later we still laugh about it.

Barbara Adams.

Welcome to a new term and also to a new Brown Owl, Lesley Frankham.

Due to a very busy schedule, Pat was unable to continue as Brown Owl. Fortunately, I still have Tawny Owl (Amanda) to show me the ropes, but only until half term. Any person over 18 wishing to help on a regular basis (Thursday evening, 5:30–7 pm) please ring me. I, hesitantly, stepped into the breech although I must say, after 4 weeks I have no regrets. As a registered childminder of 3 and a mother of a guide and a brownie, my life and mind are very much child orientated. I am having great fun, I hope the brownies are too! I intend putting my knowledge and I wish I could say understanding, of 7–10 year olds to good use.

On Sunday 10th October, the brownies and I attended St. Johns for the dedication and blessing of our new flag.

Events for the near future: Remembrance Sunday parade in November and Xmas party in December. We have already started rehearsals for a ‘show’ for next February, 2000.

Any person wanting to put their child's name forward for Thursday brownies please ring me on 01453 84xxxx

Lesley Frankham (Brown Owl)

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15

On a recent trip to the County Records Office in Gloucester, I located the Charfield entry from Bigland's History of Gloucestershire, published in 1791–2. For this publication, Mr Bigland would appear to have visited every parish in the county, mainly to list the names on gravestones. Amazing what people did before telly was invented, eh? However, there is a short description and history of each parish, and here is part of the extract for Charfield:

‘In Domesday Book Cirvelde. This is comparatively a small Parish, in the upper Division of the Hundred of Grumbald's Ash (anciently Bachestanes), five miles distant from Sodbury Northwards, three on the South-west from Wotton-under-Edge, and twenty-three in the same Direction from the City of GLOUCESTER.

‘There is nothing peculiar or striking in the Structure of the Church, which is dedicated to St. James; it consists of a Nave, a South Aisle, and a low Tower of ordinary Architecture at the West End. In the Windows are Fragments of painted Glass, but no Subject is perfect, excepting the Holyrood.

‘The Manor was possessed by the MASSEYS in the Reign of HENRY the Third; by Intermarriages, the Family of LE VEEL became alternately Proprietors. CATHARINE, Daughter of Sir JOHN CLIVEDEN, and Relict of Sir PETER LE VEELE, of Charfield, brought the Manor to the BERKELEYS, by her second Marriage with THOMAS Baron BERKELEY in the Reign of EDWARD the Third. About the Commencement of the last Century, the Family of HICKES were Lords, to whom it devolved by successive Purchases from the TRACYS, BAYNTONS, DUTTONS, and THROCKMORTONS of Tortworth. It is now vested in the Nephew and Heir of the last RICHARD HICKES, Esq. and is claimed by Jurisdiction of the Court of the Honour of GLOUCESTER. Amongst the chief Proprietors of Estates are the Right Honourable Lord DUCIE, and the Families of CULLIMORE and PULLEINE.

‘Tafarn Bach is a small Inn in this Parish where Courts are held. This ancient British Name has excited the Notice of several Antiquaries, from the rare Use of entire Appellations, either Saxon or British, though most are derived from those Languages by expert Etymologists.’

Sue Thorn

So what's all this stuff about the millennium bug then?
Well, apparently a lot of things have old computers in them that cannot see past the year 1999, so will either revert to 1960 or stop altogether.

Is anyone taking it seriously?
Oh yes, the government has issued a lot of leaflets to companies, and some Americans have sold their New York apartments, and bought farms in the country, ready for when we are thrown back to the middle ages.

Is that likely to happen?
Not really; even if all the computers do fail, it would only take us back to the 1960's.

Does that mean I'll be able to get a pint for 1p?
It's worth trying in the Pear Tree on New Year's Day!

What are people doing about the millennium bug?
Businesses need to take it seriously, to ensure their equipment doesn't fail, and also that their suppliers won't let them down either.

But I've heard stories of planes dropping out of the skies.
Yes, and stories about airlines putting all their IT staff on a plane at the crucial time, to help focus their minds.

16Should I be doing anything?
Yes – you need to check your electrical equipment.

What, even my toaster?
Only if it has the date and year on it. Basically, appliances that do not use the date should be alright. Most other electrical appliances may be alright, but it is worth checking.

How?
If it is not connected to anything else, like a video recorder, try changing the date to see if it works. If it is connected to other things, like a burglar alarm, you would be better off talking to the manufacturer. They should be prepared to answer any questions.

What about my computer?
Again it depends on how complex a set-up you have. If you just have a stand alone PC, the safest thing to do is to leave it switched off as the New Year starts. When you then switch on, having sobered up, it should adjust itself automatically. If you are running old software you may have difficulty displaying some date formats.

If you have a more complex set-up, for example a network, and some of the machines need to be left on, you would be better off contacting your equipment supplier, or running some diagnostic software.

Geoff Wignall (here's hoping the next issue of CHADRA will be bugless!!)

After the summer break ‘Dab Hands’ activity morning is open again for the enjoyment of all parents/carers who would like to join us. We meet on Monday mornings 10am to 12pm at the Memorial Hall.

With Christmas fast approaching we are now thinking of our Christmas parties and activities. With this in mind we are again taking orders for the Early Learning Centre as a fundraiser. Anyone interested in supporting us please contact Frances on 01454 26xxxx who has spare catalogues and order forms, we will deliver the orders to you.

If anyone has any “outgrown” toys or play equipment suitable for under 5's and would like to donate them to “Dab Hands” it would be much appreciated by childminders and local children.

If you need help with childcare please contact our vacancy secretary Lin on 01454 26xxxx who will be able to give you details of fully insured and registered childminders working in the village.

Lin Scanlon

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[Advert for Martin Farrell Garden Designs]

17

Grants to Local Organisations
On Tuesday 7 December the Parish Council will be meeting to consider the budget for the year 2000–2001. Amongst other things, we shall be making provision to give grants to local organisations. To avoid missing the boat, get your application to me or to our Clerk, Catherine Holmes, by the end of November. In the application, say how much money you need, what specific thing it is for (not just general running costs), and enclose your last set of annual accounts.

Burial Ground
You may recall that the churchyard at St James' Church is closed. Renishaw has offered us 2 acres of land at Huntingford as a potential site for a new burial ground. This is immediately north-west of the crossroads of Swinhay Lane and Huntingford Lane. The Council resolved to carry out the first stage towards establishing the likely feasibility of a burial ground there. In this preliminary phase we are consulting any potentially interested parties and regulatory bodies, and seeking advice. Meanwhile, we would welcome your comments.

Millennium Fireworks
Reluctantly we have had to defer the fireworks which, with the Millennium Committee, we intended to provide on 31 December. The problem is that people are either committed to other functions, or wish to keep their options open, so that we cannot be sure of getting the stewards and first aid cover that are necessary for safety reasons (and to comply with the insurance requirements). This will be disappointing, particularly for the Millennium Committee and for Malcolm Thomas who has planned the display. However, we hope that we can provide fireworks in connection with another millennium year event when people are more available to help. Let us know if you are interested in helping.

John Acton, Chairman, Charfield Parish Council

Minister: Rev. Philip Hopes
A warm welcome awaits you at all of our services.

Sunday School. Sunday 11am.
Family Service 1st Sunday of each month. Worship 3pm.
Ladies Bright Hour Alternate Tuesday's 2.30pm
Bible Study and Prayer Friday's 6.45pm.
Group Practice 7.30pm.

Chippenham Male Voice Choir
21st November at 6pm. All Welcome.
Nativity and Carols.
19th December at 3pm. All Welcome

[Advert for Barbara Ealey]

Firstly I would like to thank PC Roger Jones for the much higher police profile in the village. A number of people have commented about how nice it is to have a policeman just walking the beat in Charfield and talking to some of the youngsters. It is appreciated.

18Though not of comfort to anyone affected by crime, generally there has been very little. So not a lot to report. Reporting possible undesirable activity is still sometimes a problem. Obviously if urgent dial 999, otherwise 01272 81xxxx.

If it is not urgent and you feel you're being pushed around etc. leave a message for PC Jones on his voice mail 0117 945xxxx when asked to do so press 7 3799. Obviously he will only get the message when he is next on duty which may be a day or two.

In the middle of September the annual meeting of South Gloucestershire NW coordinators took place in Filton. We were addressed by the chief constable who said he was very supportive of NW. He stressed that burglars, particularly, do not like alert communities. We were also told that NW is being relaunched together with a major new sponsor in October. The sponsor will not be revealed until the launch. There will be a new “Ringmaster” – an automated telephone system which will be able to out information to NW coordinators using voice, FAX or e-mail. It is also expected that this will not be waking people in the middle of the night as the old system occasionally managed to do!

A further development is the setting up of a properly constituted South Gloucestershire NW Association. This is seen as the best way forward. I have a copy of this draft constitution and will have it with me at the next contacts meeting. Which reminds me that the next meeting has been arranged for Monday 15th November 1999 – 7.30pm Sportsmans Bar, Village Hall. Hope to see as many as possible there. PC Jones has also agreed to come.

I know our meetings may not be particularly exciting so the suggestion by PC Jones that we should ask the Police Air Support Unit to come and tell us about their work and show us a video sounds like an interesting idea. I hope this will be possible sometime in the new year.

Oh and before I go, DO BE CAREFUL WHO YOU OPEN THE DOOR TO. There are callers wanting to buy antiques with white transits and various strong accents. They are very unlikely to give you a good price for anything they buy! If you have any suspicions at all phone the police.

Hope to see you on the 15 of November.

Ilze Hicks

[Advert for Deborah Jayne Pringle]

I've just been sent the dates for the four sessions for next year so for those of you who like to plan ahead here they are (subject to confirmation but pretty unlikely to change).

All Fridays again – 31 March; 19 May; 28 July; 22 September.

And many thanks to all of you who have given blood this year. Despite having two extra sessions in Wotton our donations have been well up on target and the Unit has been delighted. There are more changes afoot for next year but not major ones. The main thing they are concentrating on is trying to send the same team each time so that you will get to know them and the way they work – although maybe the excitement of not knowing how 19each team is going to lay out the hall is what keeps you coming! Actually, I'm deeply impressed by the commitment of you all and your determination to be there if you possibly can. We've had quite a few new donors this year – mainly young people which is really good. They come in looking rather serious and just a little anxious and go out cheerful and walking a little taller. It's lovely. Thank you.

Barbara Adams. Local Organiser.

[Advert for Martingales]

Well here we go again. I'm supposed to be e-mailing this when I've written it, but all the super computer people in the house are out, so I may have to leg-mail it. Call me not yet up to date, but the Millennium bug wouldn't be such a problem if all this high-tech stuff was that wonderful. I've always been a bit like that. Told to do something or advised of its benefits and I go completely opposite.

When I last wrote, do you remember the Spanish were here. Well our visitor, Miguel, didn't say much but he ate well and seemed to be enjoying himself, so I guessed he was alright. The last evening with us, he telephoned his family. I asked if he had made the call and said that he would soon be home. He turned to me and he just said, “I will miss you”. What more could I have asked of him? Ah, get your hankies out.

You know when you get an idea, maybe not completely thought out, however, still proceed. Well that happened to us a few months ago. We needed some breeze blocks and other building and decorating bits, so decided to go the B&Q at Longwell Green. We loaded up the trailer and commenced the journey home. Suddenly smoke was pouring out from underneath. After investigation we discovered that the weight was causing the wheels to rub on “something”. My parents were visiting so Dad and Sophie waited with the trailer and Keith and I returned to the said shop to investigate the cost of hiring a wagon. Yes I know this is starting to get a bit silly, but I did warn you. It wasn't the cost of the hiring, but the time we had to get home to Charfield and return the vehicle. Plan B came into action. Super Maz, that's me, decided that we unload half the blocks onto the grass verge, I sit guard and Keith goes home and then return for the second lot, and me! Sophie decided to stay and keep me company. There we were, guarding 20 odd breeze blocks and not a soul stopped to ask if we were alright. Police cars drove by. No enquiries were made. We must have looked dead settled. Actually, we were desperate for ice creams. Anyway it all ended successfully and the moral of this tale is, you cry, go to Jotcham's.

Latest school quips. Little lad asks if I have any children. Yes, I reply, two. “Oh”, he says, “you don't look old enough”. I immediately hug him. Little lass says, “Well if she didn't dye her hair, you could add on another twenty years!” Don't you just love 'em?

Finally, my worldly wise daughter, after visiting some old car fanatic with her father, said, “You could tell the sort of bloke he was, when he started polishing his windscreen with an old pair of yellow y-fronts”.

Take care

Marilyn

20

Places to take the kids
The National Waterways Museum at Gloucester Docks is a great place for a day out, and it's educational too. As well as the exhibits, there are videos and interactive games, such as building a canal and designing a canal narrowboat. If the weather is good, you can get a combined ticket that includes a boat trip. There are many other buildings of interest in the docks, so you can easily run out of time there.

Favourite Web Sites
As we are getting towards Christmas, I thought I would cover some shopping sites. I have used all of these, and find them very reliable. If you shop on the internet, make sure they use secure sites for credit card details. If in doubt, print off the order form, and put a cheque in the post.

www.cdnow.com
CD's at American prices. Even with the postage, you can get chart CD's for about £10. Warning – If you order four or more you will have to pay import duty! My dad has been looking for a copy of Bizet's opera “The Pearlfishers” for some years – CDNow have five different versions!

www.amazon.co.uk
This is the UK version of the US bookstore. They have everything, and they deliver in 24 hours. I was looking for a foreign title last month, and Waterstone's in Bristol told me to try Amazon! (Yes, they had it!)

www.schooluniformsonline.co.uk
Not really one for Christmas, but they do generic school clothes (trousers, skirts, etc), as well as some specific uniforms (but not locally). When I last visited this site, they had plans to add party clothes, as well as dance wear.

www.bestofbritish.co.uk
This site is specifically for gifts – I used it for Mothers Day when I knew I would be out of the country. They do all sorts of combination gifts; I sent mum flowers from Jersey and Belgian Chocolates. She was thrilled, and I was really pleased with the service.

Geoff Wignall

Following the successful event last year, there will be a Casino Night at Leyhill on 3rd December. All are welcome, and tickets are available from committee members (details below).

Another major fundraising event is planned for just before Christmas; this will be a Grand Draw and details are still being finalised, but information will be sent with all pupils, hopefully soon after the next PTA meeting, scheduled for early November. Further information will also be available from Committee members.

Charfield Area Representatives are:
Trish Davies 01454 52xxxx
Alan Bartlett 01453 84xxxx
Gill Hanratty 01454 26xxxx

Trevor Mason

The AGM was held on 28th September and was poorly attended. The meeting consisted of the Chairman's report (see elsewhere) and progress reports on the various Millennium projects. The Committee per se was re-elected en-masse.

Chairman – Carol Parton was re-elected
Secretary – Barbara Adams
Treasurer – Graham Parton
The Committee:- John Acton, Margaret Clarke, Jayne Pedley, Robert Pestell, Tim Samsum, Frank Sreeves, Ann and Richard Graham, Fred Carling.
Representatives and Helpers:- Jean Acton, Malcolm Thomas, Steven and Judy Drinkwater.

21I would like to thank Julia O'Connor-Beach for being secretary for the past year and wish her all the best for the future.

Time Capsule/Millennium Stone/Plaque The stone has been chosen and the dedication and burial of the time capsule will take place on the weekend 20/21st May. The weekend will consist of a programme of events linked together under a common theme.

The Parish Map. This was under threat due to unforeseen circumstances but may be saved by our new committee members, Ann and Richard Graham. It would be a shame to see all the effort that Barbara and her team have put in over the past couple of years not to come to fruition. So are there are any other villagers who can help?

Millennium Fireworks. The Parish Council has agreed to fund the fireworks marking the Millennium subject to their criteria being adhered to. Thanks to Malcolm Thomas for agreeing to organise the pyrotechnics.

Verge planting. Judy Drinkwater is doing a sterling job in the face of adversity. Preliminary plans are for bulbs and wild flowers on Charfield Hill. Any donations of bulbs and wild flowers (home cultivated of course!) would be gratefully received.

Domesday Book. Compilation of the book is well under way. If you have any contributions to make then contact Tim Samsum (01454 26xxxx), Jean Acton (01453 84xxxx) or Jayne Pedley (01454 26xxxx).

Photographic Competition. Want to be in print? Enter the competition and your entry could be in the Domesday book. March 1st is the deadline so get snapping! For more details contact Graham Parton (01454 26xxxx).

Street Parties. Midsummer 2000 for a village wide celebration. A flyer is being compiled to advertise village activities during the year 2000 with emphasis on special events to commemorate the Millennium, but if you have an annual event please let Graham know to include it in the diary. Last but not least a big thank you to the Committee, helpers and supporters for their continued hard work and enthusiasm and to the Parish Council for their financial support. Thank you to Frank Sreeves for the use of the school for our meetings.

STOP PRESS! Remember the site hut saga! Well a recent communique from the owners has indicated an agreement in principle to our requests to improve the area so watch this space. Next meeting: 3rd November at 7.30pm Charfield School.

Well, the training for the London Marathon on 16 April next year continues. The dark nights mean my routes are restricted so I am trying a routine of morning runs. One day on the backroad to the Pickwick Inn a deer jumped out of the bushes and stood in the road about a hundred yards ahead of me. It was a marvellous moment to see nature that close but it was soon gone, my colourful running gear must have scared it! I am getting fitter without a doubt; I ran a 10 mile event organised superbly by the Thornbury Running Club but turned up thinking it was only a 10 kilometre run! I managed to get round without too much distress which has given me much more confidence. Whenever I need motivation I watch the Children's Wish Charity video which shows examples of wishes granted to children who are no longer with us.

Wotton Table is concentrating on enjoying good meetings and preparing for our annual Bonfire and Firework display on Saturday 6 November. We will be round your way selling tickets for the event with a family ticket costing only £9 so please support us if you are able. All proceeds go towards our charity account, which is used to finance local requests for assistance. Once again we are having a separate children's display (with less loud bangs) followed by the main pyrotechnics and the venue is again courtesy of Tom Redman at Coombe.

Recently we have enjoyed paintballing, ten-pin bowling, punting, attend National 22Sporting Weekend in beautiful Canterbury and still had time to enjoy the summer holidays with our families. Arrangements for our European Weekend meeting in June 2000 have progressed and we have also provided the barbecue for Wickwar Primary School's fete.

Anyway, must sign off now and have a fun and safe bonfire night.

John Francksen

Considering he has been a pillar of the local community for so long, it comes as a surprise to find that John Poskett is not a local man at all. John grew up in Middlesbrough and only came to Gloucestershire because there was no work in his home area and, as the oldest child in his family, he was expected to fend for himself. He was offered farm work near Berkeley in 1934, together with the chance to go to agricultural school, and has been a Gloucestershire man ever since. It must have been a daunting move for a young lad, but John says he liked the farm work and lived with a friendly family.

John joined the Territorials in 1938 and went into the regular army in 1939. During the war, he saw service in France (including Dunkirk), India, Burma and South Africa … not to mention Badminton. He enjoyed his time in India and Burma in particular, but felt uncomfortable in South Africa because of the attitude of the white South Africans towards the blacks. While he was stationed at Badminton, he used to accompany old Queen Mary (for some reason, everybody always called her ‘old’ Queen Mary) on her walks in the grounds. Apparently, she used to chat quite casually with the guards, contrary to her rather formidable public image.

In June 1945, John was back on special leave from Burma to marry Alice, who he had met at a dance at Falfield. He had to go back out to Burma afterwards but, when he was demobbed in 1946, he joined the railways, where he worked until 1963. For a large part of that time, he was the signalman at Charfield and had to cover all trains, often working twelve hour shifts. In those days Charfield station was very busy with traffic coming from all around. There was a siding that often had horse boxes in it and John used to earn the odd half a crown for handling the horses out of the boxes. His farm life meant that he was more used to handling large animals than anyone else there.

Charfield station closed in 1963 as part of the Beeching cuts, although it was still a busy station at that stage. John was offered alternative work in Bristol, but didn't want to go that far, so he turned his former hobby, painting and decorating, into a career. This took him all over the area around Charfield, as far as Gloucester and Bristol, and he got to know all sorts of people by decorating for them. He says he never had a bad customer; I wonder if most decorators can say that these days.

Since 1954, despite the long hours he worked, John has been involved with the British Legion and the management committee of the village hall. He has also been on the parish council for 44 years. There can't be many parish councillors in the country who can equal that!

John is still involved with the parish council, the Memorial Hall and the British Legion, but it seems that, these days, it's harder to get people to help out. The Memorial Hall is desperately looking for a Bookings Secretary and the British Legion needs a secretary to help with minutes and so on. Neither job is onerous … and you don't have to keep doing it for 45 years, honest! So, come on, let's have some volunteers. Contact John about the British Legion role (a volunteer position), and John or Allan Hughes about the Memorial Hall role (which is a paid position).

Sue Thorn

23

The months of November and December conjure up mixed emotions with the joy of Christmas and the New Year contrasting with the Remembrance theme of All Saints, All Souls and Remembrance Sunday.

It's a time when we look back as we remember with thanksgiving the lives of the saints and ordinary people throughout the ages and especially our own loved ones and those who gave their lives in the cause of peace and freedom. We also recall the wonderful events of the first Christmas and God's precious gift to us of his son born in humility in the stable at Bethlehem. A gift that we continue to celebrate as we give and receive presents and spend time with family and friends.

Christmas is, however, also a time to look forward for we know a new year is just around the corner. It is also a looking forward because we know that Jesus' birth was only the beginning, the significant events took place at the first Easter. God urges us to look forward and not to dwell too long on the things of the past and, of course, this year there is added significance as we enter a New Millennium – or do we?

Those who are concerned about such things tell us that the new millennium really begins at the start of 2001, however, if we left our celebrations until then we would lag behind almost everyone else. There is something compelling about the year 2000, it is a significant date, but let us not lose sight of its actual purpose and meaning. It actually celebrates the birth of Christ, the mystery and wonder of God's presence in the world in a small baby. Actually, the dating is wrong and Jesus was not born in the year Zero but more likely 5 A.D. but it doesn't really matter for we are celebrating not the actual date but the impact of this world shattering effect, an impact that is still felt today. I'm not going to worry too much about dates but I am determined that we make the most of this opportunity to welcome Jesus afresh into our lives. We hope to do this in some style as we shall being having a mini Flower Festival in church over the Christmas and New Year period and we hope this will encourage you to celebrate this special time with us. We worship a risen and living Lord and it is his presence in our lives that gives a real sense of hope for the future. Do join us over the next few months as we recall these significant events, a warm welcome awaits you at St. John's.

Principal Services
Tues 2nd November 7.30 p.m. Service for All Souls Day
Sun 14th November 10.55 a.m. Village Remembrance Day Service Preacher – the Revd. David Small
Sun 12th December 10.15 a.m. Annual Christingle Service
Fri 17th December 7.00 p.m. Candlelit Procession and Carols by Candlelight at St. James, Churchend.
Sun 19th December 3.00 p.m. Annual Carol Service
Fri 24th December 5.00 p.m. Crib Service with Carols for all the family
11.30 p.m. Mid-night Mass
Sat 25th December 10.15 a.m. Parish Christmas Eucharist
Sun 26th December 10.15 a.m. Parish Eucharist for St Stephen's Day
Sat 1st January 11.45 a.m. New Years Day Service to welcome in the New Millennium with the ringing of bells.

Firstly, a warm welcome back to all parents and children after the summer break. This seems a long time ago now but one of our first events after returning was our AGM and we were overwhelmed at the turnout – a record number as far as we know. Thank you to all who turned up to support us on the night and for all those who put themselves forward for election to the new committee.

One of the most important issues to be raised at the AGM was the low numbers which playgroup is experiencing. Although 24this does mean that we can now offer smaller session sizes, it does mean that Playgroup is in serious danger of closing. This would be a huge loss to the village and also very disappointing to all those involved in Playgroup as our recent OFSTED inspection described Playgroup as having a “welcoming and caring atmosphere provided by dedicated and hard working staff which is conducive to pre-school learning.” So if there are any three and four year olds who have a free morning and are interested in coming along for a morning of fun activities with other local children, please contact Karen Tranter (01453 84xxxx).

On a lighter note, can we thank the Pear Tree for their generous donation following their recent ‘St. Trinians’ themed night.

Looking ahead towards Christmas, we hope to hold our Playgroup Christmas Bazaar at the end of November and of course our Annual Christmas Carol Bus which always gets us in the festive spirit. So, please dig deep this year, and help us keep going for another 30 years.

Judith Watkins

One of the few comments we had about the last issue was regarding ‘The world according to student bloopers’. So as we have some spare space (it isn't easy getting the number of pages right!) here are some more.

… The Ancient World

The inhabitants of Egypt were called mummies. They lived in the Sarah Dessert and travelled by Camelot. The climate of the Sarah is such that the inhabitants have to live elsewhere, so certain areas of the dessert are cultivated by irritation. The Egyptians built the Pyramids in the shape of a huge triangular cube. The Pyramids are a range of mountains between France and Spain.

The bible is full of interesting caricatures. In the first book of the bible, Guinesses, Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree. One of the children, Cain, asked “Am I my brother's son?” God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Montezuma. Jacob, son of Isaac, stole his brother's birthmark. Jacob was a patriarch who brought up his twelve sons to be patriarchs, but they did not take to it. One of the sons, Joseph, gave refuse to the Israelites.

Without the Greeks we wouldn't have history. The Greeks invented three kinds of column: Corinthian, Doric, and Ironic. They also had myths. A myth is a female moth. One myth says that the mother of Achilles dipped him in the River Stynx until he became intolerable. Achilles appears in “The Illead” by Homer. Homer also wrote “The Oddity” in which Penelope was the last hardship that Ulysses endured on his journey. Actually, Homer was not written by Homes but by a man of that name.

Socrates was a famous Greek teacher who went around giving people advice. They killed him. Socrates died from an overdose of wedlock.

… Early Modern History

The Renaissance was an age in which more individuals felt the value of their human being. Martin Luther was nailed to the church door at Wittenburg for selling papal indulgences. He died a horrible death, being excommunicated by a bull. It was the painter Donatello's interest in the female nude that made him the father of the Renaissance. It was an age of great inventions and discoveries. Gutenberg invited the bible. Sir Walter Raleigh is a historical figure because he invented cigarettes. Another important invention was the circulation of blood. Sir Francis Drake circumcised the world in a 100 foot clipper.

More next time, Geoff.

25

Please make use of this diary. Either telephone or drop a note of any additions or modifications to Geoff or Hilary Wignall (01454 26xxxx, x Berkeley Close, or xxxx @ Breathemail.net)

KLB = Katharine Lady Berkeley School
FR = Foundation Room, Primary School
SH = Charfield School Hall
SL = Sportsman's Lounge, Memorial Hall
MH = Memorial Hall

Why not put this on your fridge door or notice board?

26

If you wish to alter the entries below, please telephone Geoff or Hilary on 01454 26xxxx

Transcriber Notes

This issue was produced on 26 sides of A4 paper.

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: 2017-01-28.