Gaydon Parish Magazine November 2015

index of magazines

This Month's Diary

     Parish Council Meeting      Tues 3rd 8pm             Village Hall
     Remembrance Service         Sun 8th 10.45am          Parish Church
     French Evening              Sat 14th 7pm             Village Hall
     Friendship Club             Tues 17th 2.30pm         2 Anson Close
     Christmas Fair              Sat 28th 2pm             Village Hall
     Library                     Mondays 19th & 30th      Telephone Box
     Pilates                     Tuesdays 6.30pm          Village Hall

GAYDON CALENDAR

CHRISTMAS LUNCH SUN 6th DEC VILLAGE HALL

Parish Council News

Gaydon Inn Field Development

At the last Parish Council meeting Andy Wilkins from Spitfire Properties updated the meeting on the amended plans for the Gaydon Inn field. They have reduced the number of dwellings to 15 and have included a bungalow and a thatched cottage. Andy reported that the County Council has said that they own the Banbury Road ditch which is very good news for residents. We understand that Spitfire Properties will be making use of this ditch for drainage on this site but still await the amended plans. Andy Wilkins also discussed the potential purchase of the Church Lane field by Spitfire Properties to then be sold to the Parish Council for £1 with a covenant that it can only be used for play/recreational use. See separate report on page 2.

Andy confirmed that there would be no street lamps on this development and the affordable housing would be offered to people who live in Gaydon or have a connection to Gaydon. This will be dealt with by an outside agency yet to be appointed.

Fire Station in Lighthorne Heath on the Aston Martin site.

Louise from Atkin Planners explained that there is a strong requirement for a fire service for traffic accidents on the M40 in this area. They must meet 10 to 15 minutes response times which Wellesbourne and Fenny Compton fire stations are unable to meet. The station will be operational between 7am and 7pm. The planning application will be submitted shortly with building works starting in the new year.

Kineton Road Traffic

Concern has been expressed about the speed of vehicles on the Kineton Road. A request has been made for a total 20mph policy. The Parish Council will be investigating this further but if you have any thoughts on this could you please email or call the clerk.

The brightness of the lights on the new dual carriageway has been brought to the attention of the County Council. Shields will be fitted shortly.

A Crab Apple Tree will be planted in the cemetery to replace the dying WI tree. Thank you to the residents who have helped with this project.

Cllr Adrian Claxton has met County Highways and Severn Trent about flooding in Church Road, slurry works and necessary highways repairs. Most of the issues will be addressed in the near future. St. Giles Road footway resurfacing will take place next year.

Cllr Tom Hughes attended the Community Forum Meeting and brought to the attention of the Police the blocking of footways by vehicles. The Police have said that they will act if they see this in Gaydon.

Parish Plans

The Parish Plan action list has been reviewed and an updated list will be placed on the website. Councillors would like to produce a Neighbourhood Plan to protect and shape our village for residents. If you would like to help in creating this plan please email or call the clerk.

We have been asked to compile a 'wish list' for the housing developers at GLH in the event that this application is approved. This was discussed at our last meeting and the list includes: money for the Church building and community shop; sports facilities; traffic calming; flood prevention improvements behind Kineton Road; thatched roof on the Village Hall; the purchase of the land between the new dual carriageway and Warwick Road to protect this village. The Chairman and Cllr Claxton have already strongly stressed the need for a secondary school at GLH and a bypass from GLH to Kineton to stop all of the traffic using the B4100. We have also re-iterated the need for a safer route from Gaydon to Kineton for pedestrians and cyclists.

Water Supply: we hope that the road sweepers have finally stopped using our water which we understand was damaging residents' supply. They should now be using the supply at the reservoir and not ours.

The damage caused to telephone box green has been reported to the County Council and we hope that it will be repaired shortly.

Balfour Beatty (M40 junction contractors) have asked if there is any community work they can do for the parish. The Parish Council has agreed that any improvements to the Banbury Road lay-by would be welcome. County Cllr Williams has confirmed that County Highways are happy for us to make improvements to the lay-by subject to their approval. We have also asked if Balfour Beatty will remove the tree stump from the village green. We are waiting to hear if they are able to help us.

Next meeting on Tuesday, 3rd November, at 8pm in the Village Hall.

Playground Report from Councillor Debi Morisot

Hi all! Since I was elected onto Gaydon Parish Council and took responsibility for the playground, opportunities for improving our facilities have changed rapidly. As a council, we would like to see an improved facility for all residents of all age groups, as is recognized in the current Parish Plan.

A brief background:

It is often acknowledged that the current playground is considered poorly-sited and signposted. The play equipment is primarily for younger children.

Owing to the reduction in size of the Kineton Road Development, a play area is no longer viable amongst these new homes. However, we have secured funding of approximately £20,000 from the developer to enhance the provision of play in our village.

We have also received a proposal from Spitfire Developments. Originally, we suggested the donation of a couple of building plots behind the Gaydon Inn in order to develop a play area. They are not keen on this idea. Instead, they have proposed buying half of the field behind the church FOR the parish at a cost of £1. This is the land to the right of the footpath as you head towards the cemetery. This land would be owned by Gaydon Parish for the purposes of play and leisure, with a covenant on it to prevent any houses being built in the years to come.

The way ahead:

On the council, we are agreed that we want to make progress and develop a play area as recognized in the widely-consulted Parish Plan of 2012. However, no plans or preferred options have been put forward as we are keen to consult fully with residents if and when the land comes into the ownership of the parish.

Please note that this option is subject to planning permission being granted and full agreement between Spitfire Developments and the landowner.

To this end, a simple survey will be conducted at the soonest opportunity. This will be to ascertain the views of all residents and to guide your elected councillors in their decision-making.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this and we all look forward to the consultation beginning. If anyone has any questions or suggestions, the best way to contact me is by email at dmorisot1@gmail.com

Or you can speak to our Parish Clerk, Corinne, on 01926 641220.

Church Services in November

Sunday 1st
     9.00    Holy Communion BCP    Burton Dassett
    10.30    Morning Prayer        Fenny Compton
    10.30    Holy Communion        Gaydon
     6.00pm  Evensong              Farnborough
Remembrance Sunday 8th
     9.45    Joint Methodist Service Fenny Compton
    10.30    Remembrance Service   Farnborough
    10.45    Act of Remembrance at War Memorial
               & Remembrance Service at Gaydon
    10.50    War Memorial          Northend
Sunday 15th
      9.00   Holy Communion        Farnborough
      9.00   Holy Communion BCP    Gaydon
     10.30   Morning Worship       Fenny Compton
     10.30   Holy Communion        Northend
      6.00pm Songs of Praise       Knightcote
Sunday 22nd
      9.00   Holy Communion BCP    Fenny Compton
     10.30   Holy Communion        Farnborough
     10.30   Advent Prayer & Praise at Gaydon
     10.30   Holy Communion by Ext Northend
Sunday 29th
     10.30   Group Communion       Fenny Compton

All Souls' Day

There will be a service at Northend Chapel for the Feast of All Souls at 7.30pm on Monday 2nd Novembe: a quiet service of remembrance for those we have loved.

Nature Notes

October

The autumn colours are exceptional this year around the village. I would think that perhaps the temperatures and conditions have been ideal in the last few weeks to spur a wealth of colour.

The yellows of Willows, Horse Chestnuts, Field Maples, Ash and Hornbeam contrast with the the deep reds of Spindle trees and Sycamores; and with the brownish tints of Oaks and Hawthorns, to mention only a few.

There are still a few dragonflies, Red Admirals and Small White butterflies on the wing and a veritable cornucopia of fallen fruit, too. The brambles are heavy with blackberries and the ground littered with crab apples. I spent a great afternoon collecting blackberries on the edge of the village. Above, I could hear the calls of Buzzards high in the thermals whilst deep in the hedges were the "peeking" stentorian notes of pheasants.

I even had a close glimpse of an elusive Green Woodpecker whose "Yaffling" calls you often hear. The other species are the pied, the red rumped and the Great Spotted Woodpecker, which is a regular visitor to our birdtables, often perching on roofs and notable for it's flicking, hesitant flight pattern and loud screech.

The green woodpecker is almost tropical with its red and mauve crest and bright green plumage. It likes eating from ants' nests with an adapted tongue.

Large flocks of Goldfinches have again appeared from Northern Europe, athletic birds often seen balancing on thistle heads to harvest the "Thistledown" seeds. The Set Aside field just beyond the church has the potential to be a great habitat as it has many tall species of Grasses, Tall Charlock, Groundsel and Teazlels. I have seen several herds of Roe deer sitting concealed there.

A large number of pheasants and even a few Partridges have also taken up residence and are often flushed by a curious dog using the public footpath.

It was great to see boxes of surplus cooking apples being offered free outside some doors. You cannot beat the old varieties of Cookers mixed with the wild blackberry harvest - delicious recipes abound! Bernard Price

Volunteer Recruitment Evening

Want to volunteer at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust?

Join us on 4th November from 5pm-7pm for our volunteering recruitment evening at the New Place project office, Chapel Street, Stratford-upon-Avon.

If you'd like to come along please get in touch or simply drop in during the evening. Refreshments will be provided.

To find out more contact: Kate Christmas our Community Engagement and Volunteering Manager.

Telephone: 01789 338474 Email: kate.christmas@shakespeare.org.uk

Mobile Library

The Library will visit Gaydon on Mondays 9th and 30th November from 1.30pm-2pm at the Telephone Box.

Friendship Club

The next meeting will be on Tuesday 17 November at 2.30pm at the home of Mrs Josie LIddington at 2 Anson Close in Wellesbourne.

No Coffee Morning

N.B. There will be no coffee morning in November, December or January. We start again on 13 February.

Flag

The Flag on the Village Green was raised to commemorate Trafalgar Day on 21 October.

Christmas Lunch

Invitations will be sent out in the next few days. If you have recently retired, or are a pensioner new to the village, and would like to come along to the Christmas Lunch, please let me know. It will be held in the Village Hall on Sunday, 6 December at 12.45pm. Julie Rickman, Old Bakehouse, telephone 640349

Post Box Collections

Starting on Monday 9 November, the time at which post is collected from the village post box will be 3.45pm instead of 4 o'clock.

'ALLO! 'ALLO!

French Evening with Supper and Musical Entertainment in Gaydon Village Hall
Saturday 14 November at 7pm
Raffle and Licenced Bar
 Tickets £15 to include a glass of wine
Telephone 642248 to book your table!

Shipston Home Nursing Events

The Armscote Tulip has arrived! Bulbs can be bought from Whichford Pottery, Talton Mill, Bumble and Wild Shipston-on-Stour or directly from Armscote Manor:http://www.armscotemanor.co.uk/tulip or if you are local you are welcome to ring and drop in to collect. All donations go to Shipston Home Nursing are in memory of Leighton Evans.

Crazy Price Sale of fabulous clothes and accessories! Darlingscott Farm, Darlingscott, Shipston-on-Stour on Thursday 5th November 6pm-9.30pm; Friday 6th November 9am-4pm.

Contact Rebecca on 01608 674929 for information about both events.

Neighbourhood Watch

Malicious Damage

A number of cars were "keyed" along Kineton Road on 4 October, the date of the Vulcan flyover event, causing many thousands of pounds- worth of damage. The Police are asking for any witnesses.

Please quote Incident Number 20151005-0094.

Abandoned Vehicle

The vehicle that was parked in front of the Church in Church Road for a number of months was checked by PC Morgan prior to its removal.

PC Morgan forwarded the details to Car Clear which is run by the Council who can remove an abandoned vehicle if it is:-

untaxed; significantly damaged, run-down or un-roadworthy; vandalised, e.g. broken windows, flat tyres, lacking number plates, etc.; burnt out; badly parked or left in a isolated, unusual, or dangerous position; stationary for a significant amount of time.

Our local police officer is PC Catherine Morgan and she has visited the Village on a number of occasions. She is part of the Wellesbourne Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Contact details: Telephone: 101 Twitter: @WellesbournCops

email: wellesbourne.snt@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk

St Giles' Church Christmas Fund-raising Saturday 28 November

Father Christmas will be coming to our Gift Day again this year and we hope that you will bring your children along to see him in his Grotto at the Village Hall. We would be very grateful to receive contributions of home-made produce, second-hand books and bric-a-brac which can be brought to the Hall in the morning from 10 till noon. Donations can also be left at the Old Bakehouse, telephone 640349, next to the Village Hall, during the week before the Fair.

Your Village Church

St Giles' Church is open every day for you to use for prayer or quiet contemplation. The regular congregation is small and help from the village is needed to pay the bills to keep it open. All the money raised at the Christmas Fair will go towards the upkeep of the Church, so that we can continue to serve the village community by providing services like Christenings, Weddings and Funerals.

Gift Tree: Please help us even more by putting a gift of money in one of the golden bags on our Christmas Gift Tree. We look forward to seeing you on the 28th!

Messy Church

There will be Messy Church and Café Church at Temple Herdewyke Community Centre on Sunday 1st November at 3.30pm. There will be Messy Church at Fenny Compton Village Hall on Sunday 8 November from 3.30pm till 5.30pm.

The Vicar's Letter

What is the Meaning of Life?

'Does anybody know what we are living for?' asked Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen, in the lyrics of the song The Show must go on.

I read an article the other day about business journalist Jonathan Gabay who, when he was facing great stress and employment issues, hit rock bottom and began to ask questions about the meaning of life. He wrote to people in all walks of life: world leaders, the homeless, Oscar-winning actors, philosophers, comedians, taxi-drivers, teachers, explorers and prisoners on death row.

He asked each one, 'What is the meaning of life?' and Gabay compiled a book of their responses, together with others who had attempted, over time, to answer this question.

They include the following: 'Life is one crisis after another.' Richard Nixon;

'Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.' John Lennon;

'Life is what you make it - and I can make it UNBEARABLE!' Dennis the Menace;

'The man who regards his life and that of his fellow creatures as meaningless is not merely unhappy but hardly fit for life.' Albert Einstein.

Many of those he wrote to, including scientists and the Lord Chancellor at the time, replied that the meaning and purpose of life was to be found in Jesus Christ. Apparently the Chief Cashier of the Bank of England, Graham Kentfield said, 'I am clear that the meaning of life can only be properly understood in the context of our relationship with God.'

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah says that what matters in life is not your brains (wisdom), nor your body (strength), nor your bank account (riches). None of these provides the purpose of your life. The purpose of your life is to understand and know God. If you know God and his kindness, justice and righteousness, then you will imitate him and bring him delight. (Jeremiah chapters 9 to 11)

In the four Gospels we read of Jesus' invitation to each and every one of us to invite him into our lives, in order that we may enjoy life in all its fullness.

If you are finding yourself asking this same question: What is the meaning of life? may I suggest that you to spend ten minutes today inviting God to help you discover the answer.

Yours in Christ, Mike, priest@dassettmagna.org.uk

Gaydon Church Christmas Fair

Saturday 28 November

2pm in the village Hall

Father Christmas

Stalls

Gift Tree

Raffles