CHADRA

Charfield and District Residents Association

Newsletter 126 – January 2007 – 25p

Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily the opinions of CHADRA.

Copyright © Charfield and District Residents Association 2007.


Contents

Editorial
Production Team
Cover Story
A Bridge Too Far?
Domesday Book
Charfield Memorial Hall
Friends of Charfield Primary School
Rich Pickings at the Crib Service
Calling Community Groups …
Cromhall with Charfield Women's Institute
Memorial Hall 200 Club
Charfield Parish Council
Baby & Toddler Group
St. John's Church
1st Charfield Rainbows
Charfield Congregational Church
Charfield Tennis Club
Charfield Out of School Club
Pre-School
Charfield Primary School
1st Woodend Scout Group (Fury's Own)
100 Issues Ago
‘Egging’
Bibic
Cancer Research UK – Update
Police Report
Secrets of Being Happy
Village Organisations


1

[Graphic: Station Road]

2

Editorial

It seems like only yesterday I was compiling the October issue of the newsletter and here we are in January already. I do hope that the yuletide season was all you had hoped it would be and that you have a happy and healthy 2007.

Geoff, Matthew and I were lucky enough to take a day trip to Lapland two days before Christmas. We had a fantastic day and were, we now realise, very lucky to get there. Many UK airports were being disrupted by thick fog and luckily we went before Bristol's runway was closed because no airlines would use it!

On behalf of the newsletter committee I should like to extend our condolences to Marilyn (who does her ‘bit’ for the newsletter), and her family, whose father sadly died recently. She sends her apologies for not writing for this issue but she has neither had the time nor the inclination. She assures me she will be back with a vengeance in our April issue.

I should like to thank all our contributors for diligently getting articles to me by the new copy date what with it being so close after the New Year – we hardly gave you enough time to return to normality.

Regards, Hilary

Production Team

Joan CrowfootVice-Chairman, Newsletter Advertising & Duplicatingxx, Wotton Road 01453 84xxxx
Stephen DrinkwaterSecretary, Newsletter Copy Chasingx Hawthorne Close 01454 26xxxx
Barbara AdamsTreasurerxxxx, Wotton Road 01454 26xxxx
Marion & Angela SmithNewsletter Collation and Distributionxxx Manor Lane 01454 26xxxx xxxx @ xxxx.freeserve.co.uk
Hilary & Geoff WignallNewsletter Productionx Berkeley Close 01454 26xxxx Xxxx @ Breathemail.net

Next Copy Date – 6th April 2007

3

Cover Story

The picture on the cover of this issue has, once again, been drawn for us by Derek Leahy. It is of Station Road viewed from the top end. Thanks Derek – it is lovely to have original artwork for the newsletter.

Of course, anyone can contribute pictures for our cover if they want – though, with the exception of Derek, no one bothered last year – even with a prize on offer.

Why don't you give it a go in 2007?

A Bridge Too Far?

I had been interested for some time in taking part in a running event abroad, so when I heard about this event from a work colleague in Denmark, I was intrigued. In 2006 this was meant to be the last running of “The Bridge Race” half marathon, run annually across the Oresund Fixed Link Bridge between Denmark and Sweden. The race starts on a man-made island in the middle of the bridge in Denmark, crosses into Sweden and finishes in Malmo stadium. As we have friends who recently moved north of Copenhagen, it seemed like a good opportunity to make a long weekend of it with the family.

Unfortunately the cheapest flights to Copenhagen go from Stansted so we had to trek across and pick up our Easyjet flight from there. Once there we caught the highly-efficient train into the city and found our hotel, This was a very Scandanavian-style budget chain (Cabinn) which was fine, and included a bed up in the gods which frightened Tracy but delighted Lizzie! We visited the famous Tivoli gardens in the evening and met up with our friends for a drink. We made our way back and went to bed, me with my feet resting on a shelf as the bed wasn't quite long enough!

Race day on Saturday dawned dry and bright and I found the metro station on my way to register. After some help understanding how to buy a ticket, I ended up at the exhibition centre to get my number and where I would have to wait to catch a bus to the start. I was glad I took a book as it was quite a wait as the grassy areas filled with people, mostly Danish or Swedish and very few British.

Eventually we were herded onto buses and reached the start. The weather by now was quite hot as we got underway, sent out in waves for the 7000 starters. The climb up to the bridge's apex was quite hard with the warm conditions, but there was little wind. I watched the river traffic underneath to take my mind off the gradient and noticed a “welcome to Sweden” sign at the top as we officially left Denmark. Going down the other side was welcome but it was getting hotter without a breath of wind.

There were 11km around the streets and parks of Malmo before we arrived at the stadium, so I concentrated on keeping going through the numerous water sprays supplied by locals which helped to keep us cool. I did have aspirations of a PB but the temperature put paid to that, and I was glad to see the stadium approaching. We did have to go past it on a final loop which was frustrating but eventually I came down the slope (without falling over!) onto the track. It was then I saw Tracy, Lizzie and Andrew by the trackside and I ran the final 200 metres holding his hand which was a nice touch (I did have to tell him to slow down a bit!). Through the finish to get a really nice medal and bananas and managed to find the others after a while. For the record I did 1hr 57 mins 46 secs for 13.1 miles and finished 2952th out of 6917.

I enjoyed the experience of running abroad and would definitely do it again, but not this race as 2006 was the last 4Bridge Race. This was due to the high cost of closing part of the bridge since the link's opening and the first race in 2000. There was still some travelling to do as we had to get back on the train to Copenhagen and then north to stay with our friends. We spent the next day on the beach which was very welcome but I did sneak a run in the morning as usual to free up my legs!

I did not raise any sponsorship this time except for the Bristol half marathon in September on behalf of Parkinsons UK. My next targets are the Stroud half marathon and Seven Sisters off-road marathon near Beachy Head in October.

John Francksen

Domesday Book

Did you know that Charfield is in the Domesday Book?

Well not as Charfield, but in 1086 it was known as CIRVELDE. Amongst the people mentioned as living the village were:

Aelfhild; Alric; Alstan; Alweard; Alwig; Ansketil; Baldwin; Countess Gode; Eadric; Harold, man of Alwig Hiles; Humphrey of Maidenhill; Humphrey the cook; John; Joscelin the Breton; Matthew de Mortagne; Ordric; Osbern of Cherbourg; Paganus; Reinbert the Fleming; Rumbald; Saewine, *reeve of Bristol, Sigar de Chocques; Strang the Dane; Thorbiorn; Tovi; Walter; Walter de Lacy; Wicga; Wife of Ansfrid de Cormeilles; William; Wulffrith; Wulfhelm.

* Chief magistrate or estate official.

Apart from a Countess and one Wife, it does not look as if the ladies got much mention back in 1086 unless it was a village of lone males!

Judith Law

Charfield Memorial Hall

By the time you read this it will be 2007 – I hope that you all had an enjoyable Christmas and a peaceful start to the New Year.

The New Year always brings new hope and opportunities and that is what I'm looking forward to in terms of the Memorial Hall. I'll come onto that later but first a quick summary of the last few months at the hall.

We hosted Kick the Cat, a hugely enjoyable night which we hope will be the first of many such events held at the hall – we are currently exploring opportunities to have more bands playing at the hall. We also held a table top sale at the end of November. Thanks to all who helped run and to those who attended both events. Our security improvements continue with new lights and fire doors fitted and more works are planned for early in 2007, thanks again to the generous donation from CHADRA that have made these things a reality.

Our 2007 calendars are still on sale if you have not bought one (or even 2) yet! (shame on you!) You can buy them at Steve's Shop or Mike's garage.

Looking forward, the internal redecoration of the main hall and the delivery of new tables (thanks again to the Summer Ball committee who made the purchase of new tables possible) are both planned for January and will help to improve the viability of the hall as a venue. We are still seeking grant funding to improve the toilets, including the addition of disabled facilities, and this will be a key aim this year.

Continuing to look forward, I'd like to talk about the opportunities that we have at the hall and ask for some support from you all. As you know the hall is a charitable organisation and is run 5completely by volunteers. Much of the workload falls upon the officers of the committee and I would like to try to “share out” this burden somewhat. We have a need for some “tsars” or “supremos” in key areas particularly the hall internal and external appearance (including security), hall marketing, event organisation and fundraising coordination. If you would be interested in taking on one of these roles or know someone who may be interested please contact me as soon as possible to discuss them in greater detail. Undertaking one of these roles does not mean that you would have to attend all or even any monthly committee meetings.

The Wednesday night ‘youth club’ is gaining some positive momentum and support from South Gloucestershire Council. The sessions are well attended resulting in us now needing to get the club onto a more formal footing and needing a separate management committee. Again if you would be interested in working with us and the youth of the village, then please get in touch.

Your help and support of all hall events is always greatly appreciated and we look forward to seeing you all at the hall soon. Thank you.

Tim Hill, Chair

Friends of Charfield Primary School

That's Christmas over for another year, where does the time go!

I would personally like to thank Lisa Wiles and the out going committee for all the great work they have done.

This is my first piece for the CHADRA newsletter since becoming Co-Chair of the friends. Colette and I worked hard to make sure the Firework Night and Christmas Fair lived up to previous years, and hopefully we have done that. Thanks to all those volunteers and committee members who helped us on the day. We managed to raise £1300 from these 2 events. Thank you!

We have some great events already planned for 2007:
March/April – Village Treasure Hunt
May – May Fair
June – Car Boot, (Cattle Country?)
July – Summer Fete
November – Fireworks Night
December – Christmas Fair
We also hope to have some smaller events in between.

2007 looks like being a great year for fundraising, please remember all our children benefit from the effort and help that is put into each event. So if you have a spare ½ hr please come along and help, we do have great fun. It is also very rewarding to know you have done something to help!

Hope to see you soon!

Rosemarie Matthews, Co-Chair

Rich Pickings at the Crib Service

What a lovely service it was on the afternoon of Christmas Eve – a warm welcome, a twinkling tree, a packed church in joyful anticipation. The service was very well prepared; we sang carols, prayed for those in war zones, for the sick in mind and body, and for ourselves. The familiar nativity story was presented as a colourful tableau by eagerly volunteering children of all ages.

At the end of the service I left the pew to admire the crib with my toddler grandson – two minutes, three perhaps, time enough anyway for my handbag to be stolen! What a shadow that cast on such a special evening; a sense of betrayal, disappointment, disbelief, then 6later at home expecting each phone call to announce an apology for a case of “mistaken identity”. But sadly no such phone call; clearly for someone in church the words “Thou shalt not steal” lacked any meaning. No, I don't ask “why me?” of course it was my fault, I was negligent – a painful lesson I've now learnt: that even in church on such a happy occasion an opportunist thief may lurk.

Calling Community Groups …

I'm Pat Taylor, South Gloucestershire Council's Community Development Worker in your area.

Basically this means I can
• Support you to establish a new group or breathe life back into an old one
• Help you connect with others who share your interests and concerns
• Arrange training e.g. committee skills, funding etc.
• Give your group information and advice e.g. publicising your services/events

Contact me on 01454 86xxxx or xxxx @ southglos.gov.uk

Cromhall with Charfield Women's Institute

We meet in Cromhall Village Hall at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday in the month. We have a variety of speakers and some outings. Our links with other local WIs enable us to meet together occasionally. We belong to the Avon Federation of WIs which gives us the opportunity to participate in many varied activities.

During 2006 our WI supported causes with a baby theme. We made a quilt for the babe appeal and many knitted garments for the Southmead Premature Baby Unit.

You are welcome to join us. Look for our posters advertising the month's programme. Our President is Mrs Ann Greenhalgh – telephone 01454 29xxxx

Jean Acton, WI Member

Memorial Hall 200 Club

October
222P Parfitt£25
124Mr Turner£10
286redrawn in November 
233redrawn in November 
November
269Mr C Wadsworth£25
113Mrs S Fields£10
135Mrs Kowalozyk£10
213Mrs S Bryant£10
171Mr I Toomey£10 (R)
260Mr I Nicks£10 (R)
December
145redrawn in January 
248Mr A Wilson£10
165Mrs K Stainthorp£10
197Mr M Young£10
137Mr G Jenkins£100
 (half yearly) 
January
277Mrs Bourne£25
117Mrs J Pressland£10
122Mrs G Bateman£10
158Mrs S Nash£10
166Mrs K Riley£25 (R)

Anyone wishing to support the hall for £1 per month please contact me. There is a monthly draw of 1 × £25 and 3 × £10. There is also a quarterly draw of £50.

Mr J Russell
01453 52xxxx or 07711 55xxxx

7

Charfield Parish Council

Parish Plans and the Future
Parish Councils are formed from elected parishioners and have a vital part to play in representing the interests of the communities they serve. To do this there must be some form of dialogue and communication with the community otherwise councils are restricted in their actions and ideas. One of the ways in which to work together with your parish council and ensure that the village is developing along the lines that the community wish is to produce a Parish Plan. I should just explain that this is not a land use plan but is a set of policies and an action plan for the next few years. This year, 2007, is a local government election year and a parish plan would be a good starting point with possible new councillors within the parish council for a frame work to be adopted that sets out the path ahead. To make the forming of a parish plan possible there needs to be involvement from village people, if you are interested in participating in this process please contact the Clerk or any other parish councillor.

Multi Play Equipment
Those of you who have walked passed the sports ground during December will have undoubtedly noticed the brightly coloured play equipment that has replaced the original wooden structure. This new equipment is designed specifically for children in the age group of 7 to 12 and provides a range of differing activities that will hopefully prove popular. Manufacture of the equipment makes use of corrosion resistive steel in the support frames and a special rubberised attenuating surface to the immediate flooring area. These features help towards meeting the latest safety requirements for this type of equipment and afford access to children of various abilities. This equipment was paid for from money set aside from the Council Tax Percept and by grants and donations from various organisations. In particular the Parish Council would like to thank the following for their support:

Severn Vale Area Forum
Lottery Awards for All
SGEB Seed Co
Charfield Garage
Rio Pools

We hope the new play equipment provides many years of enjoyment.

Burial Ground
Since the closing of the burial ground at Saint James church in Churchend Charfield has been without this facility. The Parish Council has received, over the period following the closure, numerous enquiries and requests to look into this issue. In a village the size of Charfield, situated amongst agricultural land, the acquiring of a suitable plot of land for this purpose is always going to be difficult. Providing a burial ground is a function of Parish Councils and is one of the duties that Charfield PC has found it difficult to fulfil. However, there is a small ray of hope on the horizon, over the past few months there have been delicate discussions around this subject and we are now drawing towards a point where decisions will have to be taken. Part of the ongoing process will be to ask parishioners for their views on providing a burial ground, once we have a clear understanding of the costs involved and have a commitment on a suitable plot of land, we will then enter into a consultation process. In the meantime if you have any views on this subject please contact me via the Clerk.

Finally I would like to wish all CHADRA readers a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Paul Ashford
Chairman, Charfield Parish Council.

8

Baby & Toddler Group

Everybody, everyone come inside and join the fun!

All are welcome from those with bumps or a new baby through to three year olds, mums, dads and grandparents.

Our last year was certainly active and I hope continues to bring a smile to our youngest residents. We ended 2006 with a visit from Santa. His presence was met with a mixture of delight and trepidation from the children, but the temptation of presents was too much for all but a few. Leaving with an empty sack Santa promised to come again next year.

At Toddlers the Children are free to run about and make as much noise as they like for an hour and half, with a pit stop of drinks, fresh fruit and biscuits half way through. For the parents we have tea, coffee and a chance to chat, not least to share twenty eight ways to get your child to eat vegetables!

We meet in the Village Hall, next to the Park if you are new to the area, every Thursday during term time. Your first session is free so drop in and give it a go.

To end, a big thank you goes to Yvonne for all her efforts for Toddlers and her patient explanation of book keeping over a glass or two of wine in the pub, and to Gill for being a life saver with the refreshments and wiping mucky faces when the chocolate biscuits sneakily disappeared into little mouths!

St. John's Church

Christmas is almost over as I write, although the church's season of Christmas lasts from Christmas Day itself until the season of Epiphany begins on the seventh of January, when the arrival of the three Magi, or Kings, or Wise Men at the stable in Bethlehem is commemorated. We hope that those who attended services over the immediate Christmas period enjoyed, and felt uplifted, by what we were able to offer and we'd like to thank all the visiting clergy who have helped in our services over the past three months or so leading up to, and including, Christmas.

As you may be aware a pattern of services continues at St. John's. Not as many services as we (the Churchwardens and Parochial Church Council) or perhaps you (the parishioners) might like, but as many as the available resources we can call upon permit. The first Sunday of the month is a 9.30am service of Holy Communion with a visiting minister as celebrant. The second Sunday is a 9.30am Family Service. On the third Sunday there is a 9.30am service of Holy Communion again with a visiting celebrant, and on the fourth Sunday the 9.30am service is Morning Praise. When there is a fifth Sunday in the month, as will be the case in April, July, September and December this year, the services will be Combined Benefice Services of Holy Communion at 10.30am with the venue alternating between St. John's, Charfield and St. Mary's, Kingswood.

Please note that these service arrangements could change if there is any move towards ending the “interregnum” which exists until there is some resolution of the future for the combined parishes of Charfield and Kingswood. At present that future remains unresolved. As I noted in the last CHADRA Newsletter it is extremely unlikely that we shall see a new Rector installed in the Rectory but it is quite possible that a “house for duty” priest may move in. Such a priest would carry out his or her priestly duties part-time and should not be seen as a “Rector replacement”. He or she would not have sufficient hours to spend in parish duties 9and would not have the status of Rector of the parish with all that that entails.

Meanwhile, following the visit of the Bishop of Gloucester to a joint benefice service in St. Mary's, Kingswood to formally agree to the setting up of a Local Ministry Team to serve the two parishes, a nine-member team has had a first meeting and will now commence a period of training. This training is expected to spread over two or three years. The formation of such a team is part of the Church of England's drive to encourage greater participation in parish work by lay church members and is expected to extend beyond taking an appropriate part in services to taking on other duties which would traditionally have been carried out exclusively by the parish priest but which don't actually demand or require the services of an ordained priest.

This is of course the season of real winter with the festival of Christmas behind us and the excitement of the start of a New Year beginning to fade. It's January and it's back to work and worries again. Can I afford to pay for all that splashing out on the festivities? Will I ever feel like eating turkey again? Either roasted, cold, stewed or in any of myriad ways suggested by the celebrity chefs in the glossy magazines? Will that pile of mince pies still left ever be finished? Do I really like Christmas Pudding? Will I ever lose the weight I've gained over Christmas and New Year?

Perhaps we all need a quiet time to reflect on what is really important. We at St. John's believe that we can provide that quiet and that time away from the usual stresses of life in the twenty first century. Perhaps, especially at New Year, we all need a little space or time to stand back and see our lives in perspective, to put them into a new context. Why not come into church, maybe to a service, when you'll be very welcome, or just come in to sit quietly and contemplate in silence, or to say your own quiet prayer, you'll be very welcome to do that too. The church is there for all in the village to use and not just for the, often quoted, three occasions: for christenings, marriages and funerals.

Finally, everyone at St. John's wishes you a Happy, Healthy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year!

Bryan Grantham
on behalf of the PCC and churchwardens of St. John's.

1st Charfield Rainbows

Firstly, may I wish everybody a Happy New Year and welcome to another fun filled year at Rainbows.

At the end of last year we invited Wotton Rainbows to a 20th Birthday launch party at Blue Coat School to celebrate Rainbows being part of the Guide Association. We played lots of games, made party masks and decorated biscuits. Andrea kindly made a super cake and Rainbows started a very important year.

To start 2007 we are going to watch the Wotton amateur Panto – oh yes we are! Every Rainbow is invited and I think we will probably be the loudest in the show. The term will be packed full of activities and games, we are hoping to go to the soft play centre at Yate and of course do more celebrating.

If your daughter would like to join Rainbows and have lots of fun please contact me – the more the merrier!

Kathryn Schofield (01453 52xxxx)

10

Advertising

[Advert for Add Plant]

[Advert for Charfield Wet Trades]

[Advert for D.R. Vizard]

[Advert for At Home Curtains & Blinds]

11[Advert for Greenline Tanks]

[Advert for Falcon Cottage]

[Advert for Bradley Garage]

[Advert for Eclipse Hair Studio]

[Advert for Alan Hamer driving]

[Advert for Charfield Post Office]

12[Advert for W.S. Franks]

[Advert for Pat Jeanes reflexology]

[Advert for Claire Saunders]

[Advert for Colin Lane Carpets & Flooring]

[Advert for Littles Curtains]

[Advert for Learn Baby Massage]

13[Advert for Cotswold Edge Carpets]

[Advert for Barbara Daw]

[Advert for Avon-Tech]

14[Advert for Terrys]

[Advert for Deborah Jayne Pringle]

[Advert for RK Aerials]

[Advert for PC Repairs & Maintenance]

[Advert for Acucare]

15[Advert for Charfield Taxis]

[Advert for R.C. Autos]

[Advert for Relax-ology]

16[Advert for Amy Bell massage]

A happy & healthy 2007 to all our readers

[Advert for Plumbtec]

[Advert for Charfield Memorial Hall]

17[Advert for Evergreen Computing]

[Advert for Frocks & Tails at Home]

[Advert for Party From A Box]

[Advert for Massage Table Store / Positive Pressure]

[Advert for Manor Garden Maintenance]

18

Charfield Congregational Church

Minister Rev. Philip Hopes Tel: 01453 84xxxx
Sunday School and morning Worship 11 am.
1st Sunday of each month 11 am. Family Worship
Tuesday Evenings Prayer and Bible Study.

“Who was Jesus?” Was He a worldly reformer, charismatic leader, failed political revolutionary, rabbinical genius, or disillusioned guru of a ragged band of followers? Was he one of a hierarchy of religious teachers, part of a long evolutionary process in the history of religions? Or was He the unique, one-of-a-kind, unparalleled self-disclosure of God Himself to man? Every generation seems to try to view Jesus in their own image.

This confusion should not surprise us. After all it was Jesus Himself who first raised the question when He asked, “Who do men say that I am?” He understood that His mission and message were likely to be misunderstood.

But what if we took time to examine who Jesus was? And what if we asked the question to people who actually knew him, rather than our contemporaries?

Peter was one of Jesus' disciples. He spent about three years in Jesus' company. One day Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

Nathaniel, was one of John the Baptist's disciples. Before Jesus ever met Nathaniel, he discerned his character. Nathaniel's response was: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel” (John 1:49).

Jesus asked for a drink from a woman at a town. The conversation was revealing, because Jesus told the woman all about her life without ever having met her. She went back to the town and said to the people, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” The town's people talked with Jesus for two days and came to this conclusion: “We know that this man really is the Saviour of the world” (John 4:29,42).

One day a number of people who had been following Jesus felt that his teaching was too hard and decided to leave him. Jesus asked his disciples, “Do you want to leave me too?” Peter spoke for the rest, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God“ (John 6:69). This idea that Jesus was uniquely holy – that is, that he was pure and without sin is found in other places in the New Testament record: 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5.

Jesus came to a lady named Martha at the death of her brother. Jesus talked with her about life after death. In the midst of this discussion Jesus asked Martha what she believed about who he was. Martha said, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who has come into the world” (John 11:27).

In a law court a person is permitted to testify on his own behalf. Jesus spoke on a number of occasions about his own view of who he was. One of the most dramatic happened on the evening before his death. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well … Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:6–9). That is a very substantial claim and a rather exclusive statement.

19A seventh confession is given to us by Thomas a disciple that was an empiricist, that is, he wanted to see proof before he would reach a conclusion. Apparently he found the proof he required. His confession about Jesus is the most extraordinary of all. He called Jesus: “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). It would seem a very strange thing to regard a man who could die as also divine, but nine times it is recorded in the New Testament that Jesus allowed men to worship Him! He didn't rebuke them or stop them in any way.

Now you must answer one more question: “Who is Jesus for you?” Does the question of “who is Jesus?” impact on you personally? Jesus seemed to be very concerned about what people thought of him – not in the sense that he was seeking approval – but in the sense that the question was significant for those he asked. It was his view that their answer to that question determined their destiny – the ultimate course of their life. Who is Jesus for you?

I am convinced that the Bible is not only a guide and road map for daily living, but also the accurate recorded history of a majestic God who wants to be near and close to His people. He walked among human beings and those who observed him made accurate confessions about who he was.

These confessions have led many Christians down through the centuries to affirm certain things about Jesus. We affirm that the God whose world this is has revealed himself in Jesus Christ. We affirm that Jesus is head of the Church and is Lord of all. We affirm that he is the name above every name. His love is for all mankind. He has died and risen again for all.

Therefore, we can go to men of other faiths or to men of none in humility and confidence, for the Gospel we preach is the account of what God has done and still does for all men. All men have the right to know this, and those who do know it are committed to making it known. No one, and least of all Christians, can hold that it does not matter what men believe as long as they believe something. The ultimate issue in human life is precisely: “Who is Jesus?”

Charfield Tennis Club

‘Anyone for tennis?’ – ‘You cannot be serious!’

What a fantastic way to burn off a few calories, get loads of fresh air, meet new people and most importantly have some fun & enjoy. As Tennis Clubs go, we really are one of the most informal and dedicated to welcoming anyone of any age & ability. We offer first class coaching, a state-of-the-art online booking system, along with various tournaments, leagues & competitions.

We are also committed to moving the Club forward this year which will hopefully be an exciting one for the club and the village as a whole as we pursue our aim of providing another tennis court. This will be a huge asset for all, giving more people the chance to play tennis. It will also mean that we can host inter club matches and provide more coaching space for our youngsters.

Although not particularly the season for Tennis, some of our members have managed to continue playing regularly throughout the autumn and winter months and we are all looking forward to longer days and much less rain!

Our Club Coach, Pat Parfitt has been holding regular mini tennis sessions in the Memorial Hall for 5–7 year olds which has been extremely well attended and enjoyed by all.

The Committee has been busy liaising with Barrie Williams on the plans for the 202nd Court Project, which we sincerely hope will be welcomed by the village as a whole. We have already started fundraising for this with a very entertaining sell out quiz night held last October.

We plan to hold more social events this year, not just to raise funds but to bring club members together off as well as on the court. We will be holding these at the Memorial Hall, who provide us with our court and without whom, we, along with many other Clubs, could not exist and who are in great need of our continuing support. Our next social event will be combined with our AGM sometime in March.

We are particularly keen this season, as well as continuing our work with the younger club members, to encourage more men to play regularly and we will be offering some kind of box league or ladder system which will no doubt bring out the more competitive natures. Still, those egos are bound to be dashed with this year's Family Tournament when the adults have to play with their ‘wrong’ hand!!

The Ladies are already starting getting in shape (mostly pear!) for this coming season and we will be attending some coaching sessions to help us perfect our game!

To keep up to date with any new information, please visit the web site at http://charfieldtennisclub.ibooka.com and ‘Contact Us’ for extra details.

NB: Membership fees are still at half price and will be valid until May.

Jake Barnes, Ladies Captain

Charfield Out of School Club

FEELING THOSE JANUARY BLUES?
WELL … The Out of School club
is organizing a
Family Disco …
Charfield Memorial Hall
Saturday 27th January.
7:30pm until late

There will be party dances, games, bar, a tuck shop and much more … A family ticket is only £5. Incredible value for all the family!!! An event not to be missed …

Tickets can be purchased in the Foundation Room or from a committee member. Money raised will help to purchase a satellite dish. Have you seen the reception on the TV in the foundation room? The word “blizzard” comes to mind.

Vacancies
Are you considering going back to work or would you like to put your child / children into the club for a break from time to time?

If so I am delighted to tell you that we now have a few (but only a few …) vacancies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Spaces are also available on most mornings.

For more details – pick up a leaflet from the club. For those who don't know the club runs in the Foundation room next to the Playground on the school premises. (Phone details at the end of this article)

Grants
We would like to thank the Parish Council for approving a grant of £200. This money will be used to purchase a new shed and will allow us to store our outdoor equipment.

Just before Christmas we also heard the good news that we were successful in 21getting a Sustainability Grant from the South Gloucestershire Council. This grant is awarded to organisations such as ourselves to ensure that they are able to keep afloat when numbers and funds dip low.

As existing members will know we have had to increase our fees to avoid a recurrence of cash flow shortage that this grant has now plugged. A lot of the increase was catching up on the decision not to raise fees last year and it still leaves our rates very competitive with other clubs and childcare options.

Admin
Club opening times –
Breakfast club: 7:30am to 8:40am
After School club: 3:10pm to 6:00pm
School Holidays/Inset days – 7:30am to 6:00pm

The Holiday clubs remain popular, particularly on inset days so early booking is essential.

If you want to find out more about the Club contact the Club Manager, Pat Loveridge on 07816 23xxxx or 01454 26xxxx or call into the Club at the Foundation Room in the School grounds during opening hours

Janice Brett

Pre-School

We hope you all had a good break for Christmas and new year and we can't believe its gone so quick and we are all back at pre-school all ready for a new term.

We have had some good fundraising events last year especially the bottle stall at the school Christmas fete raising the sum of £95.40 and the biggest fundraising event of the year was the Christmas float which raised £531.48 and donations are still coming in! we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who braved the weather and helped with the float especially Tim Evans who supplied the pick up and to Basil Shipton who supplied the generator and lights and a lot more things along the way!! Also a big thank you to our Santa and all the collectors and everyone who donated and everyone else who made it a huge success.

Looking ahead now our rising 5's started on the 4th January and we still currently have spaces on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, if you would like to find out more please ring Lisa Hancock (Admissions) on 01454 26xxxx.

We have no morning spaces available at present and we are filling up fast for places in September 2007 so if you want to put your child's name down please ring Lisa as soon as possible.

Thanks, Jo and Beck

[Advert for St John's Church Jumble Sale]

22

Charfield Primary School

Striving for excellence
Learning for Life

I would like to wish all the readers of CHADRA a very happy new year from everyone at our school.

Here are some of the extracts from some of our newsletters, so far this term:

Newsletters by Email
So far 144 of our parents are taking the opportunity to have school Newsletters sent by email. We would like to send our Newsletters by email to the maximum amount of parents possible. If any of our parents have not yet joined this initiative, all you have to do is send us your email address and we will add you to those who have already signed up. It's as easy as that!! ☺

Parents Clinic
Following the last Parents Clinic, we offered the opportunity for our parents to attend on Monday 27 November from 3.15 to 4.00 p.m. in the Library.

Mr. Trueman represented the Governors, Mrs. Bradley represented the teachers and Mrs. Peer represented the Senior Leadership Team on that date. We offered 10 minute appointments that you could be booked ahead of time, via the school office or on a waiting basis, with booked appointments having a priority for their requested time.

The aim was to try to answer any concerns parents had or any information they needed or any points that needed clarifying.

Children in Need
We had a ‘Cover Pudsey In Coins’ morning, where children brought in coins to cover a giant picture of Pudsey Bear. Other children were also busy with sponsored silences, tied to a partner with a scarf, waiting on tables at dinnertime and dressed as a clown, amongst other things!! It was a hugely enjoyable day, and the outcome of it all was that we raised nearly £170 for Children In Need. So, a very big THANK YOU!!! to all who took part or donated to this worthy cause. ☺

Shoe Boxes
I would like to say a great big ‘THANK YOU’ to all of you who have been so generous with the support you have given to our Shoe Box Appeal, this year. We managed to send over 180 shoeboxes to children in The Gambia and we have recently had an email from the Headteacher of the school in Gambia to pass on his and his pupils' thanks for the lovely boxes! ☺

Food Policy
I am sure that you are all aware that we are aiming to get the ‘Healthy School Award’ this year. As part of this work, we have to produce a Food Policy for the school. We wished to have your support and involvement in this. So a draft Food Policy was available for our parents to look at. Mrs. Gainer-Lane thanked parents for their interest during the consultation period for this policy. As there had been no amendments or concerns raised, the policy will now stand, subject to ratification by Governors.

Staffing For Terms 3 and 4 2007
Mrs. Evans left us at the end of this term. We had a special farewell assembly for her and presented her with a beautifully glazed plate and jug, with hand-drawn pictures of all the children and staff on them, some jazzy wellies for her next post (!) and some vouchers to get something for her new house.

Miss Liz Wheeler, an experienced Reception Class teacher will work with this class until the end of January, when 23Mrs. Gordon will return to take over the class.

Miss. Carroll will be staying with her current class until the end of the academic year. During two mornings of the week throughout Terms 3 and 4, Mrs Rachel Carrick will be working alongside Miss Carroll with Year 6

Mrs. Tylee will return to Class 2 at the start of Term 4, replacing Ms. Harper, who has covered Mrs. Tylee's maternity leave.

Christmas Celebrations
We rounded our Christmas term off with real gusto. The Infants presented a brilliant Christmas play, Santa on Strike to delighted audiences. Our Key Stage 2 pupils and staff presented a Christmas Celebration, featuring a Silver Band, readings from the school community and singing form the pupils. Father Christmas made a guest appearance to hand out presents from the Friends at our Infants Christmas party, while our Key Stage 2 pupils were treated to a visit to the cinema in Wotton, again, courtesy of the fantastic Friends of Charfield Primary School! ☺

At each presentation we took a collection for ‘Caring at Christmas’ and through the generosity of those who came, we raised £293 for this worthy cause!!

Stefan Frontczak, Headteacher

1st Woodend Scout Group (Fury's Own)

I'm trying to think what we have all been up to since the last copy of Chadra. The Scouts and Cubs visited PGL at Beam House in Devon during the October break. Being the final weekend open for the season, we had sole occupancy during our stay. One of the activities, the ‘challenge course’, involved crawling in mud and water and it was interesting to see that even though we had told the Cubs and Scouts bring the ‘oldest of clothes and footwear because you will get dirty and wet’ many of them were very reluctant to get dirty, some on the other hand revelled and even dived/rolled in the mud. The tug of war was especially funny seeing the activity instructor at the end of the rope lose his footing and knock down all those Scouts in front of him like skittles and all of them ending up in the very large muddy puddle in the middle. I opted out of this activity but had a go with the rest in abseiling, climbing, archery, shooting, us leaders couldn't do the quad bikes as they didn't have the adult size available, but we did take part in the zip wire and the high ropes. The high ropes deserve a special mention, some of the Cubs and Scouts swung round the 35 foot high structure like monkeys, some of them were wary but gave it a go, some just couldn't face it this time, some made it up the ladder only. I have been told since that if you can do this activity you can pretty much say yes to doing any thing else that may frighten you (safety rules compliant of course). Seeing one of our Scout leaders have a go I thought why not, face my fears of heights and go for it. I like coming down things but not the going up. The 35 foot high ladder and telegraph pole I thought would be the most frightening bit, but waiting for an equally scared Scout and trying not to show I was scared myself while standing on a six inch wide plank 35 foot in the air was the most scariest thing I have EVER done. Said Scout decided climbing up was enough for him and went back down to ground a lot quicker than it took for him to climb up. Meanwhile I was beyond the point of no return and continued round the structure. At the last section the Cubs came into the field shouting ‘Oh look at Raksha’ and at this point I was advised by the activity instructor to drop off the platform I was standing on and swing along to the finish, doing as I was told I dropped off as elegantly as I could to 24hear all the Cubs shout ‘Raksha's fallen off!’ Would I do it again? Yes I think I would, I was very scared but I think next time I will be maybe less scared. I always remember my infant school teacher telling me when I was five that there is no such word as ‘can't’ but there is a word called ‘try’, if you don't try something you don't know if you can do it! Try it, it does work.

Beavers have received visitors from a model trainman and the police over the last term. A number of them also took part in a sleepover at the HQ and actually asked if they could go to bed! I like Beaver sleepovers. During December Joe Tabone, the exGSL and his daughter visited the area, over a hectic week they attended the Group carol service held at Cromhall this year and the adult members of the Group along with their partners took them both out for a Christmas meal.

Good news for 2007, as from Tuesday 9th January we have a new Scout Troop. Both troops will run the same programme, camp together and perhaps swap leaders from time to time. The new troop will be held from 7.00pm–9.00pm led by Peter Carnegie and team. The times do overlap Beavers slightly so we do ask parents of both sections to park sensibly at the HQ and for Beaver parents to enter the hall to collect their youngsters as per usual but taking extra care when returning to cars. We do have places in the new Scout troop and by April we will have caught up with the Beaver waiting list, however, due to the large number of Beavers moving up to Cubs en mass over the next few terms, this section will be full until at least this time next year. Meanwhile if any youngsters would like to join any of the Sections please contact our AGSL Allison Trueman tel 01454 26xxxx who is dealing with the waiting list enquiries leaving your child's name date of birth, address and telephone number.

And finally, 2007 is our big year in Scouting, we will be celebrating our 100 year birthday, look out for the new commemorative 50p coin. There was a programme on TV last week with Neil Morrissey and Scouters will have seen a few inconsistencies but there's the BBC for you, there is too much information to go into a one-hour show. One point made however was true, Scouting does look a bit like the military, we do wear a uniform, we do have badges, we do have our ceremonies, we do honour a God, the Queen and we help other people, but Scouting does promote PEACE, kindness and friendship to others. Again, too much to go into a column of a newsletter. In summary, but not in the best of English – we do good! If you want to help us give us a ring, or come a long to a meeting.

Hopefully 2007 is going to be a good year for Scouting, 1st Woodend and of course to yourselves.

Yours in Scouting
Sandra Carnegie

100 Issues Ago

Issue 26 was published in January 1982, ran to 17 pages, cost 15p, and had a circulation of 475. At the time, the village was in the grip of winter and under heavy snowfall.

This edition was edited by S. Clifford Gunning, as there had been no response to an appeal in the previous edition for a replacement for the outgoing editor, Mr. Thornton.

The newsletter saw the demise of the Outside Inn; a youth club in the basement of the Railway Tavern, provided by the landlord, and giving young people somewhere to go, games, and non-alcoholic drinks. Unfortunately, the facility had been vandalised by the very people it was providing a service for, so it was closed down.

25There was more bad news elsewhere in the newsletter, as the Film Show by Dursley Camera Club, intended as a fundraiser for the Residents Association made a loss, and the WI Bazaar wasn't the success that had been planned.

On a more optimistic note, plans for the annual Summer Sports and Gala Day on the village playing fields was well under way. The theme for the year was an Olde English Fayre with appropriate sideshows and attractions. Was it more successful than the winter events? You'll have to wait until I review the summer edition to find out!

‘Egging’

In the October Newsletter, I mentioned the use of egging spoons when looking for moorhens hens eggs, but having walked along the Little River Avon banks many times over the last few years, I am sorry to say, that upstream from where the old floodgates used to be, “egging spoons are no longer required“, no self-respecting moorhen could possibly decide to build a nest on this now deteriorating, but once beautiful stretch of the river.

As well as the old egging spoon, I also referred to the fact, that droughts were not the only reason for the Bone Mills water wheel to be brought to an unexpected halt. On the odd occasion it was stopped, because a farm animal had become trapped in the river, and when that happened the floodgates had to be lifted, thereby lowering the water level, making it much easier for the animal to be extricated from what could be a disastrous situation. One such occasion was quite serious to begin with, but ended up with watchers as well as helpers, having a good laugh, I will explain later.

The deterioration of the river above the floodgates began, once productivity in the Bone Mill had ceased. The floodgates that maintained the very deep water needed in the river to enable the water wheel to run successfully, no longer served any useful purpose; so around the late 50s to the early 60s, I am not sure of the date, they were removed. This had three effects, one, made the people living in the eight cottages adjacent to the mill very happy, because it alleviated flooding in that area, two, is the slowly declining state of the river upstream from the floodgates, that we see today, and three, is the fact that the river below the floodgates became much deeper, this made fishing in that part of the river, aided by help from the local angling club, a much more enjoyable place to fish than it was before the demise of the floodgates.

Back in the days when the mill was in full production, keeping the water wheel working to its full potential, even with the help of steam, was of course essential. Therefore, every couple of years the floodgates were raised allowing the water to flow out downstream until only a couple of feet of water, but quite a depth of mud was left. The water was then shallow enough for half a dozen volunteers wearing waist high waders, to get down into the bed of the river with mud rakes and shovels, to clear the sludge, as well other various bits of debris that had somehow managed to find its way into the river, away from the metal grid covering the entrance to the tunnel that took the water under the road.

After going through the tunnel, the water cascaded onto the water wheel in what was known as, the wheelhouse. With extra money in the pay packet, there was no shortage of volunteer mud movers. Many large eels were caught during this operation, and after gutting and skinning they made delicious eating, either boiled in milk, or just dealt with in the frying pan.

26It took many hours to bring the water level back up to its previous depth, so the mud clearing usually took place on a Saturday, starting early in the morning and continuing until the job was finished, hopefully around the middle of the day. As Sunday working was not normally contemplated, the water had most of the weekend to reach a normal working depth by the following Monday morning.

Another reason for the water wheel to be stopped was the hunting of otters, which in my opinion, although others have a perfect right to think differently, was simply a cruel ritual. The hunting of otters could only be successful [from the hunters point of view, this was the killing of an otter] by lifting the floodgates and allowing the water upstream to become so low that the poor otter had nowhere to hide, therefore, no possible way of escaping the jaws of the hounds. Otter hunting took place by arrangement with the mills management team, and in my opinion, was a very unnecessary reason for the water wheel to be stopped, but as hunting normally took place on weekends, only Saturday morning production within the mill, was affected.

The fisheries department of the Severn River Board was in favour of reducing otter numbers, for obvious reasons of course, [otters do eat a lot of fish, mainly eels] so if not openly encouraging hunting, they certainly had no intention of stopping it. One thing that must be said in the River Boards favour was, that before the last war, periodically, the Little River Avon was dredged, and all the banks were tidied up, unfortunately, this hasn't been done for many, many years, why did they stop?

As I mentioned earlier, one of the other reasons, apart from droughts, that brought the water wheel to a sudden halt were farm animals that some how or other, had got themselves trapped in the river, almost always up stream from the floodgates, which was of course, the deepest stretch of the river. The rescue attempt of one of these poor creatures, also mentioned at the beginning of this article, caused quite a bit of merriment among those watching, including four or five of us from the mill who had been volunteered by the foreman, Stan Tanner, to go along and see if we could help in anyway. None of us, including yours truly, refused to go, simply because we had no intention of missing the drama that was taking place in the river, some sixty odd years or so ago, even if it meant getting very wet.

The animal in question was a large carthorse, which unfortunately, was trapped at a spot where the riverbanks were very steep. It was obvious to all who were there that the poor animal was quite exhausted by its efforts in trying to regain its freedom. Shovels were obtained, and the steep bank was quickly dug away producing a gentle slope, hoping this would give the horse an incentive to scramble out of the water.

It was not to be, the poor animal seemed to be stuck firmly in the mud at the bottom of the river. Suddenly appearing on the scene was one of the many characters who lived in Charfield at that time, namely, Jessie Baker, an old navy man. Immediately things began to happen, the owner of the horse, whom I think was also a Mr Baker, [No relation to Jessie] decided that the only way to get his horse out, was to use pulley blocks, but as one or two small branches beneath the large one required to fix the pulley block on to was in the way, it was decided they would have to come off – this was where Jessie came in.

The problem was, there was no axe – it was then, Jessie realised it was time for action. With commendable speed, the ancient mariner grabbed a long handled shovel, then shouting a war cry “do or die, that's me Jessie Baker,” he wobbled 27to the edge of the river, took an almighty swing at one of the offending branches missing it completely, the shovel came down giving the horse a resounding smack on its rear end, Jessie, still hanging on to the shovel, did a lovely belly flop onto the horses back, then slowly slid off onto the water. The horse reacted as though it had been struck by lightning, and in a flurry of mud and water, was suddenly, as if by magic, standing shivering on the bank, joined seconds later by our hero, shivering but very much alive, wet but unbowed, and probably more steady on his feet than he was before his adventure in the muddy river. The horse was able to carry on its normal work around the farm, and Jessie Baker carried on being the wonderful old character he always was. Unlikely as it may seem, a couple of weeks later, this daft horse was trapped in the river again, fortunately in a different spot.

Although Jessie was in attendance once more, his expertise was not required. The horse was extricated with the help of a tractor, plus strategically placed chains around its rump; sadly, our hero had been made redundant. Thankfully, these animal rescue missions were quite rare, but when they did occur, Jessie always seemed to be on the spot to give a helping hand. Although most people would think Jessie's method of rescue was a little unorthodox, no one could say it didn't work; and no, it wasn't the rehearsal of a television advert for the, R.S.P.C.A, it was for real.

I expect even now, after many years, Jessie is still able to bring a smile to the faces of the older folk of Charfield, who can still remember him jogging around the village – in his under pants some people said – but having seen him myself, on the odd occasion exercising his old joints, it looked more like football shorts to me. Jessie was just one of many lovely old characters living in the village in my younger days. Now unfortunately, there are no more Jessie Bakers and his like around to brighten our lives, or to give us something to laugh at, my goodness, “How they are missed, and what stories could be told.“

Ken Parker.

Bibic

Thornbury and District Friends of Bibic would like to thank all those who came and supported our Pudding Tasting on October 28th. It was a really enjoyable and successful event and we raised the grand total of £588.20. The buffet lunch having been demolished, guests tried and voted upon 6 tasty deserts and bought beautiful craft items hand made by our helpers.

Bibic – British Institute for Brain Injured Children – is a national charity offering practical help to children with neurological conditions and learning difficulties. The multidisciplinary team of specialists provides practical help and ongoing support and advice to the whole family. Bibic helps children to achieve things their parents did not think possible so that the family find hope, happiness and fulfilment.

We are always looking for extra helpers for our fund raising events for this most worthwhile charity which receives no help from government. Please ring Sylvia Vincent on 01454 41xxxx for a chat.

Cancer Research UK – Update

The local Thornbury and District branch of Cancer research UK Committee wishes to thank everyone who supported the recent Fashion Show and Grand Draw which was held in the Armstrong Hall on Monday 6th November. The evening, despite the poor weather, was a great success; Simon Dean Fashions of Nottingham showing and modelling a vast range of 28clothes for children, women and gentlemen. Many of the ladies present enjoyed purchasing some real bargains and all concerned had a really enjoyable evening.

The evening also saw the drawing of the Grand Draw with several of the lucky prize-winners in the hall that evening which always adds to the success of such an event. Our grateful thanks go to all the many local companies who so generously donated the excellent draw prizes.

The organising Local Branch Committee works very hard throughout the year to raise funds for Cancer research UK's work by holding events including Coffee Mornings, Open Gardens, Tennis Tournament, themed evenings such as the recent ‘Arabian Night’ and the above Fashion Show / Grand Draw etc. and have raised a total of over £16,000 for Cancer Research UK during the past 12 months.

As ever, there is always a need for more helpers/committee members to continue with this very worthwhile work, meeting in Thornbury about 6 times a year anyone (male or female) interested in joining us, or hearing more about our work is invited to contact the Branch Secretary Betty Cain on 01453 84xxxx.

Police Report

As you may be aware, PC Roger Jones will now no longer be your Beat Manager, having moved to a beat in Thornbury, following the introduction of the new neighbourhood policing policy.

Please bear with me whilst I settle into my new post. I know the area fairly well already in a geographical sense, and I am sure it will not take long before I know ‘who's who’. (I know a few already!)

I work part time as I have pre school children, but I also live on the area I cover, so I am aware of local issues that occur on the beat.

As PC Jones reported, there will be 2 PCSO's (Police Community Support Officers) to assist me in the running of the beat, however my area extends beyond Charfield, covering Cromhall, Bagstone, Wickwar, Engine Common, Rangeworthy, Latteridge and Iron Acton including the Armstrong Way industrial estate in Yate. My PCSO's will be arriving in April; I will let you know their details when I have them.

My first day as Beat Manager in Charfield erupted in flames at the top of the hill, the second day was awash with floods at the bottom. I look forward to see what happens next …

PC Lee Bainbridge

[Advert for Memorial Hall Easter Fair]

29

Secrets of Being Happy

Believe your life has purpose
Set goals
Make sure your goals are aligned with each other
Spend time thinking about happy times
Be content to lose sometimes
Don't compare yourself to others
Cultivate friendships
Turn off the TV – watch only programmes that are of interest to you
Value yourself as you are
Remember your roots
Think one positive thought before going to sleep
Friendship is worth more than money
Have realistic expectations
Be open to new ideas
Let people know how important they are to you
Believe things will turn out well
Believe in yourself
Understand you're not always right
Share your problems
Don't worry about growing old
Establish routines to get things done
Don't be over protective
Remember what you have achieved
Keep your faith
Do what you say you are going to do
Don't be aggressive with your friends and family
Support a local sports team
Don't confuse stuff with success
Every relationship is different
Forget the ‘what if’ or ‘if only’
Volunteer
Update your goals to keep them realistic
Exercise
Don't be too quick to blame others
Have common interests with loved ones
Laugh
Don't let your entire life hinge on once aspect of it
Share your feelings, hopes and dreams
Keep busy
Remember satisfaction is relative
Learn to use a computer
Keep your family close
Eat fruit every day
Don't dwell on stuff that bothers you
Enjoy what you have
Set specific goals
Help others
Don't blame yourself
Be a peacemaker
Cherish animals
Love your work
Never trade morals for goals
Don't ignore things that bother you
Get a good night's sleep
Buy things that you really want
Achieve something every day
Be flexible
Remember that things will change
Believe in yourself
Join a group
Be positive
Don't put things off
Keep a pen and paper handy
Be polite
Do things you are good at
Get to know your neighbour
Base your expectations on reality, not on TV
Remember you always have a choice
Be agreeable
Don't ignore one aspect of your life
Listen to music
Let your goals guide you
Think positively about your work
Have fun
Believe the world is ultimately fair
Reminisce
Be conscientious
Don't dwell on what you can't change
Enjoy the ordinary
Focus on the world's hope
Get a hobby
Don't envy what others have got
Give yourself time to adapt to change
Focus on what really matters to you
Realise that complete satisfaction does not exist
Surround yourself with pleasant aromas
Don't let others set your goals
Be an individual, not a stereotype
Know what makes you happy and sad
Keep reading
Understand you are needed
Be happy with what you've got
Have a purpose
Realise the best part of your life is still to come
Money does not buy happiness
You decide on your future
Smile

Based on The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People.
A collection of what scientists have learned about being happy.

30

Village Organisations

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

Baby and Toddler Group
Yvonne Kershaw 01454 26xxxx

Bingo Club
Sue Scoble 01454 26xxxx

British Legion
David Millman (Hon Sec) 01454 26xxxx

Charfield Pre-School
Joanne Loveridge (Chair) 07849 48xxxx
Becki Bishop (Vice Chair) 01454 26xxxx
Lisa Hancock (Admissions) 01454 26xxxx

Charfield Primary School
Stefan Frontczak 01454 26xxxx

Childminders
Teresa Wildman 01454 26xxxx

Church – Congregational
Rev Philip Hopes 01453 84xxxx

Church – St. John's
Rev Robert Pestell 01454 26xxxx
Email xxxx @ surefish.co.uk

Council – Charfield Parish
Sue Bailey (Clerk) 01453 51xxxx
Email clerk @ charfieldparishcouncil.co.uk

Council – South Gloucestershire
Sandra O'Neill 01454 26xxxx
Email xxxx @ southglos.gov.uk

Cricket Club
Diane Bradley 01453 84xxxx

Crimestoppers 0800 555 111

Football Club – Juniors
Jeremy Lewis 01454 26xxxx

Football Club – Seniors
Jeremy Lewis 01454 26xxxx

Friends of Charfield Primary School
Rosemary Matthews 01454 26xxxx

Foundation Room
Bryan Grantham 01454 26xxxx

Friendship Club
Mrs. M Ealey 01454 29xxxx

Keep Fit Club
Christine Parfitt 01454 26xxxx

Luncheon Club for the Elderly
Jane Higgins 01454 26xxxx

Memorial Hall
Bookings 0870 774 xxxx
Email xxxx @ virgin.net
Tim Hill (Chair) 01454 26xxxx

Neighbourhood Watch
To be confirmed

Newsletter – See inside front cover

Out of School Club
Pat Loveridge 01454 26xxxx or 07816 23xxxx

PTA – Katharine Lady Berkeley School
Suzanne Flye 01454 31xxxx

Police (if not a 999 call)
Call Handling Centre 0845 456xxxx
And ask for Thornbury beat managers or front office 1269 PC Lee Bainbridge
Thornbury Police station 10:00–14:00 0117 945 xxxx Weekdays only
PC Bainbridge voicemail 0117 945 xxxx (Strictly non urgent and not reporting crime)

Round Table – Wotton and District
John Francksen (Hon Sec) 01453 84xxxx

GUIDING:

Rainbows
Kathryn Schofield 01453 52xxxx
Brownies – 2nd Charfield
Natalie Perrett 01453 84xxxx
Guides (Kingswood)
Susan Scothern 01453 84xxxx

Tae Kwon Do
Andy Reynolds 07909 92xxxx

Tennis Club
Nicola Coleman (after 7.00pm) 01453 84xxxx

Transport Scheme – Elderly and Housebound
Marion Smith 01454 26xxxx

1st WOODEND SCOUT GROUP

Beaver Scouts (Age 6–8)
Foxes Tuesday 6.00–7.00pm
Stuart Pentland 01454 26xxxx
email: xxxx @ xxxx.com
Cub Scouts (Age 8–10)
Tigers Wednesday 6.30–8.00pm
Sandra Carnegie 01454 26xxxx
Scouts (Age 10½–14)
Monday 6.30–8.30pm
Mike Rickwood 01454 29xxxx
District Explorers (Age 14–18)
Sharman Unit Thursday 7.00–9.00pm
Alan Bartlett 01453 84xxxx
GSL Peter Carnegie 01454 26xxxx


Transcriber Notes

This issue was produced on 30 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: 2017-02-07.