Dec - Jan 2004
What a wonderful week-end. The 1st Chipperfield Brownies enjoyed a fun packed Pack Holiday at Lees Wood, Chandlers Cross from 29-31 October. The theme of the week-end was Winnie the Pooh and the girls had great fun joining in with helping to cook the meals, washing up and cleaning the Pack Holiday home. The activities included various crafts, firework night with the Cubs who were also staying at another site at Lees Wood, a Winnie the Pooh DVD, campfire singing and a disco. The girls worked hard to gain lots of badges - craft, toymaker, home skills and Brownie holiday. Well done everyone.
This holiday is the first the Pack has had for 6 years and Brown Owl had to be tested during the week-end. I am very pleased to say that I passed the Pack Holiday Licence and therefore I am able to take the girls away again next year. I would like to say thank you to all my helpers for the week-end and also thank you to the Brownies; everyone was so enthusiastic and well behaved. It will be a pleasure to run a Pack Holiday again next year. Sian Hopkins, Brown Owl
UNUSUAL PEOPLE WANTED!
It's unusual to invite a stranger from another country to your home for a day or a weekend, or to share your Christmas festivities with, say, a Chinese person who may not know what Christmas is. It's not usual to answer lots of questions about British customs, while showing a guest around your locality, nor to be given insights into other parts of the world while teaching, say, an Indian person to make mince pies. It's pretty rare to contribute to international goodwill and understanding just by opening up your home to an adult international student on a short break from studies at a UK college. If you are unusual enough to be interested in this idea, HOST would love to hear from you. HOST is a national organisation, backed by the British Council and many universities, which matches students with volunteer hosts for very short visits. Please see www.hostuk.org <http://www.hostuk.org> , or call our volunteer regional organiser Trina Golland on 01707 642091 or richard.golland@virgin.net (Not available between 20th November and 13th December. Please phone Head Office 020 7245 3039)
PINOCCHIO COMES TO CHIPPERFIELD
In January 2005, Chipperfield Theatre Group will be performing a production of the much loved story of Pinocchio written by John Morley. This musical play will delight children and adults alike.
Watch out for the rescue of Gepetto from the Whale, the famous nose growing episode and the four baddies, all out to lure Pinocchio into temptation. With a wonderful underwater scene, a Panto horse, two donkeys and a Circus scene, what more could you ask for? This is family entertainment at its best!
It would be advisable to book early as tickets always sell quickly.
Box Office opens on
Monday 6th December 2004
Phone: 0870 7702496
Ticket prices: £ 5.50 - £8.00
Thursday 13th - Saturday 15th January 2005
All performances 7.45pm,
plus 2.45 pm matinee performance on Saturday
CHRISTMAS SHOP
Printstop are delighted to invite you to their newly opened Christmas Shop with lots of decorations, cards and gift items to choose from to get you in the mood for Christmas. Please come and have a browse. Helen/Jill, The Studio, Croft House, Langley Road, Chipperfield. Tel: 01923 290041.
RNLI COLLECTION
I am responsible for emptying the RNLI collecting boxes at the Royal Oak. The total when I emptied them on 21 October was £38.97.
Peter Bone has been an enthusiastic supporter of the lifeboats over very many years. I would like to thank him and his regulars at the pub for their generous donations. It is much appreciated.
Mike Leon
ROBERT SKEET
Congratulations to Robert Skeet of Longfield, Langley Road, who was 100 years of age on 29 November.
VILLAGE DAY BALLOON RACE
Following Village Day in July, the winning balloon was picked up by DHr E. Esser who lives in Dinteloord, near Rotterdam, Holland. He or she received a Chipperfield Village map.
On our side the winner was Nick Lassman, who donated his prize money back to Blackwells.
KINGS LANGLEY BRIDGE CLUB
If you're free on Thursday evenings, why not enjoy a social game of bridge at Christ Church Hall, The Nap, Kings Langley, from 7.30-10.30pm. For more details please contact Ray and Jill Phillips on 01923 261183.
CHIPPERFIELD
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
On Saturday 18 September, Chipperfield Horticultural Society held its last show of the year. It was very well supported, lots of exhibitors with their usual wonderful quality of flowers, fruit and vegetables adding to the terrific display of fifteen alcoves of floral art work. Sixteen exhibits of beautifully created handicraft rounded off an outstandingly successful show.
Frank Venables was the winner of the Silver Rose Bowl, the G.A.Usher Challenge Bowl and the Timberlake Cup with a selection of his prize winning vegetables.
SHOW RESULTS
The Silver Rose Bowl - Frank Venables
(Most Points Vegetables, Fruit & Flowers)
The W. Bates Cup - Mike Leon
(Runner Up in Vegetables, Fruit & Flowers)
The Henry Butcher Cup - Doug Leslie
(Most Points Chrysanthemums)
The G.A.Usher Challenge Bowl - Frank Venables (Most Points all Flowers)
The Timberlake Cup - Frank Venables
(Best Onions in Show)
The Peter Franz Cup - Sheila Jones
(Most Points in Domestic, Spring, Summer & Autumn Shows)
The Junior Challenge Trophy - Leigh Tyler, Meg Ward (Most Points - Spring, Summer & Autumn Shows)
The Mrs C.P. Brousson Challenge Trophy - Bethan Rees
(Most Points Floral Art in Spring, Summer & Autumn Shows)
The National Chrysanthemum Society's Medal - Doug Leslie
(Best Exhibit)
The National Dahlia Society's Medal -Marie Langston (Best Exhibit)
CHIPPERFIELD COMMUNITY FUND
When the administration of the funds in the former Village Chest was transferred to the Dacorum Community Trust with the new title of The Chipperfield Community Fund, it was agreed that the financial position of the Fund would be reported upon annually. Copies of the Dacorum Trust's accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 2004 were circulated at its Annual Meeting on 20 October, where many of the groups that have benefited from its grants totalling over £27,000 were present. A number of these have been made to meet needs within Chipperfield.
In addition to grants to a number of individuals, help was provided for the installation of a hearing loop in the Village Hall and for the continuation of the Baptist Church's tradition of providing Christmas hampers to the elderly. As these grants have been made from the main funds and not from the restricted funds that were transferred from the Village Chest, these therefore remain at £3,873.
This is perhaps a good time to remind residents that the Chipperfield Community Fund monies are being held 'to be used in cases of need within the Parish (Civil and Parochial)'. If you yourself are in need at this time or would like further information, please contact Margaret Kingston at the Trust's office at 48 High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AF Tel 01442 231396. In cases of urgent need, the Trust can, in appropriate circumstances, make a very rapid response. The Trust would, of course welcome further donations to the Fund that local people or organisations would like to make.
DJN
HEALTH WALKS IN DACORUM
Why not join a local group on a programme of short walks, led by trained leaders. Routes vary between 1.5 and 3 miles, generally taking 40 mins to 1 hour. Refreshments follow all walks.
Kings Langley - Tuesday 14 December at 10am.
Meet at The Pavilion on The Common, Kings Langley.
Kings Langley - Wednesday 8 December and Wednesday 22 December at 10am. Meet at The Nap Car Park.
Sunday walks - Country walks (possibly muddy) of about 1 hour suitable for all the family.
Wigginton - To Tring Park. Sunday 5 December at 2pm.
Meet at Recreation Ground Car Park.
Ashley Green - To Hockeridge/Pancake Woods. Sunday 12 December at 2pm.
Meet at the Golden Eagle pub.
Berkhamsted - Canal and countryside. Sunday 19 December at 2pm.
Meet Canal Fields Car Park opposite Waitrose.
Details of walks tel: 01442 228789 or 01727 848168
ST PAUL'S AND HOLY CROSS
Children's Groups. Sunday Special: 10am every Sunday (except for monthly Family Worship). Alison Bush (01442 834425) Toddler Praise: Due to lack of support, this has been discontinued. Our gratitude to Sally Thompson for her efforts in organising it recently. Chipchops: On 31 October, we hosted a "bring and share" tea in the Parish Room, followed by an exciting talk from Andy Williams about the Tigers Club Project in Uganda. 70 people came and found out about the amazing work that Andy and his team are achieving in Kampala. We also heard about their further projects. We presented Tigers Club with a cheque for £300 from our sponsored bike ride in September. Further information from Simon Wood (260249) Our Service of Nine Lessons & Carols will be on Sunday 19 December at 6.30 p.m. - in the traditional form - with strings and brass to accompany the singing and followed by mince pies. The monthly Book of Common Prayer Communion service at 11 a.m. on the first Wednesday will not be held in January, February or March, owing to the small attendance at this service and the difficulty in finding a celebrant.
BAPTIST CHURCH
There is a lot happening in the Baptist Church in December, as we open our Christmas Tree Festival (for full details, see p1) and welcome a return visit from the Chiltern West Gallery Quire (details in the Diary). We look forward to seeing you all there and at the annual Christingle Service on 9 January, for which St Paul's will be joining us.
Our Ladies' Fellowship now meets fortnightly, on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. Do join us for an enjoyable afternoon, a cup of tea and a chat.
May we at the Baptist Church wish all our readers a very happy and blessed Christmas in its truest sense with Jesus at the centre.
CHURCH OF OUR LADY
Brother Leo Edgar OP will give two Advent talks, both at 8pm, in church on 30 November and 14 December. They are entitled 'Christ's entry into a violent world' and 'Christ brings peace to the world'. Anyone is welcome to attend.
CHRISTMAS
The meaning of Christmas may be summarised in two words: Incarnation and Salvation. God took human form in the person of His unique Son, Jesus. The Word became flesh. He could be seen, heard and touched. He was full of grace and truth, showing in His person, actions and words what God is like. Incarnation.
His mission was to save His people from their sins - the obstacles that prevent us from knowing and serving God. The crucifixion is embedded in the Christmas story. In His death and resurrection are our forgiveness, new life and hope. Salvation.
CLAIRE EVANS
We were very saddened to learn of the sudden death of Claire on 18 October. She and her husband Julian moved to Bovingdon earlier this year and she willingly took on the job of preparing the Unity pages on behalf of the churches in Chipperfield. This she did conscientiously and cheerfully. We enjoyed and are grateful for our brief association with her. We offer our prayerful support to Julian and the family as they seek to come to terms with their loss.
GRAVES IN THE CHURCHYARD
The diocese has strict regulations concerning the type of grave that can be placed in churchyards. The regulations are there to ensure some consistency and tidiness in appearance, to make maintenance as easy as possible and to observe health and safety requirements. These regulations have been in force for a number of years and have been updated this year. A copy is on the notice board in the church porch. Some important points in the regulations are: no curbing of stone, wood or any other material; no chippings, gravel or pebbles; no plastic items of any sort; no inscriptions that have not been approved; no trees, hedges or bushes.
A number of graves recently put in the churchyard do not conform to the required standards. We have to ask those responsible for maintaining these graves to modify them so that they are in line with the regulations. We shall be contacting the people concerned in the next few weeks but there is no need to wait for this before making the necessary changes.
Churchwardens
THE REVD JIM STEVENS
We are delighted to announce that the Revd Jim Stevens has accepted the position of Vicar of the Benefice of Sarratt & Chipperfield. Jim is currently Vicar of St Philip's, Dorridge in the Diocese of Birmingham, where he has been for the past 15 years. He and his wife Judy, a teacher, have three grown-up children, one of them married to a curate - and also a dog.
Jim, who is 57, became a Christian while studying Theoretical Physics at Oxford. He first worked for Courtaulds as a research scientist and then trained for the priesthood at Trinity College, Bristol. He served his curacy in Hereford before becoming Team Vicar at Lowestoft and then moving to Dorridge in 1989. He recently visited Rwanda, and was so deeply affected by what he saw there that he raised £12,500 to replace a burnt-down medical centre.
He will probably be installed as our Vicar in mid-March and we look forward to welcoming him and Judy and to working with him.
Churchwardens
JEAN KIRKPATRICK
21.06.1930 - 12.10.2004
Jean Bunyan was born at Gowan Lodge, Tower Hill where she lived until she married John Kirpatrick in 1954 and moved to Overdale, Dunny Lane. The Bunyans have long connections with Chipperfield and the family is mentioned in any book or article written about the village. Indeed Jean once likened herself to a stick of rock with Chipperfield running through it!
After leaving school, she worked as a telex operator at Bovingdon Airfield and also did some training at the renowned Bletchley Park. Jean's interests were very varied and she was an avid reader, keen gardener, expert on local history and wonderful cook. The church and the Women's Institute were the two prime pillars of Jean's life and she was President of the W.I. for three consecutive years.
As a child Jean had always had breathing difficulties and as a young woman was diagnosed with TB and had subsequent serious lung surgery. This was to prove to be a big problem in later life as her asthma became more serious and lung capacity failed. But Jean was a fighter, she never complained and coped with fortitude and courage. After a difficult year, she died at her home which she loved on Tuesday, 12th October.
Jean Kirkpatrick was a very special lady, she saw people for who they were and not what they were, titles and status meant little to her. Jean lived the life she wanted to live and loved the life she lived. God bless you and keep you Jean, may you rest in peace reunited with your beloved John.
Diane Parry & Jackie Tydeman
BEVERLEY HUDSON
In St Paul's Church on 27 October, a Service of Thanksgiving led by the Rev Paul Manuel was held in memory of Beverley Hudson. The church was full of family, friends and neighbours who had come together to celebrate her life. Beverley had been courageously battling against illness for 7 years and passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on Saturday 16 October.
Beverley and her husband, Dave, moved into Croft Lane in 1982. It was here that their children, Richard, Gareth and Fiona, have grown up. When the children started at St Paul's School, Beverley volunteered to serve on the school PTA, helping fund-raise and was often seen face-painting at summer fairs. The family were members of Chipperfield Tennis Club, taking part in games and tournaments. Beverley continued to support the club as a spectator when ill health prevented her from playing.
Beverley was a willing helper, on many occasions using her time and talents within the community, fulfilling the needs of people calling on her expertise, the Chipperfield Theatre Group (CTG), St Paul's Church and many other groups.
Beverley's cake making in particular became famous. Her cake creations, assisted by Dave, became sculptured masterpieces, perfect for the occasion and admired by all.
Beverley's first project for the CTG was to design and create the set for their first pantomime, Aladdin, in 1991. It was such a success that she was called on for virtually every occasion after that, and would still be seen during the actual production assisting performers back stage with hair and make-up!
St Paul's Church was an important part of Beverley's life, helping with children's groups - Whizz Kids, Holiday Club, Pathfinders and family services. In more recent years, she joined the weekly flower rota and produced beautiful arrangements at the flower festivals.
Beverley was a very private person who humbly gave so much to so many and enriched the lives of those who knew her. She was much loved by her friends and will be sorely missed.
Kath Weir
UNITY EDITOR
As a result of Claire Evans's untimely death the Churchwardens are once more looking for a new Editor for Unity. The work is not onerous. It involves liaising with the Editors of Chipperfield News, contacting a small number of key people well in advance of the deadline, collating and editing the information and checking for consistency and accuracy. About half a day needs to be set aside ten times a year (there are two double issues: in December/January and July/August), though the time will probably be spread over a few days. There is a simple template available for the Diary and no great IT skill is necessary. I shall be more than willing to talk this through with anyone interested.
Anne Wyburd, former Editor (267515)
POPPY APPEAL 2004
For the first time we have exceeded £3000 - £3105 to be precise, with some Gift Aid still to be reclaimed by the Legion! This is a wonderful result - an increase of over 10 percent. We were lucky in having dry and mostly mild weather in early November and the Iraq conflict may have heightened awareness in many people to the needs of the wounded and the support the Legion gives to them, their families and the families of those who have died.
Warmest thanks to everyone involved for selfless, cheerful efforts. Some house-to-house rounds are more rewarding than others (I send a grumbling husband down Langley Road, on one of the most dangerous and least lucrative) but three collectors exceeded £100. 'Surely it's your wallet you're looking for?', murmured to someone groping in his pocket, seems to work wonders; that collector's tin didn't rattle at all. The church collection was up by a third, to almost £300, and of the static points, warmest thanks again to Andrew Miles and his staff at Wyevale with £161 and to Brits News and St Paul's School for more than £100 each. Anne Wyburd, Honorary Organiser
BLACK, AUTUMN'S NEW COLOUR
I love autumn, with all its lovely fiery colours. Beech trees, low sun and blue sky, what could be better? Low sun and blue sky have been in short supply but Scatterdells Woods have still looked wonderful. We went to Dorset for a couple of days, but I don't think we saw anything better than the view from the edge of Scatterdells Woods looking across the valley towards Chipperfield. The contrast between the dark trunks and the golden leaves, with a carpet of brown leaves on the ground took my breath away.
Another bonus of autumn is the arrival of a few pheasants that have escaped the guns of the local shoots.This year's visitors are a little out of the ordinary; a hen and a cock, both jet black.The cock is short of a few tail feathers so I guess he only just made it.The colours in birds feathers are produced by pigments such as porphyrins, carotenoids, and melanins. The melanins are responsible for the black and dark brown feathers, so when creatures come along with mainly black colours instead of their usual colours they are known as melanistic. Pheasants always have lovely glossy feathers and these, particularly the cock, gleam and almost look iridescent in a bit of sunshine. These dark birds are not really rare, with thousands of pheasants reared every year a few occur every season. My favourite pheasants are those with a white collar which originate from China.The ones without the white collar are bred from stock that arrived with the Normans and came originally from the Caucasus. I rather like them with watercress and roast potatoes as well! One of our neighbours has dared me to bag these black beauties, but they do add something to the garden, so they are safe from me at least. The next one that turns up may not be so lucky though !
Interestingly, melamistics also turn up in rabbits when the warrens get big and there was a black rabbit in Scatterdells Wood a couple of years ago. It had a favourite feeding area in one of the adjacent fields and we often used to see it.
Christmas is coming, don't forget the birds. Birdfeeders make smashing Christmas presents, a great way to bring the birds a bit closer to those who don't find it so easy to get out and about any more. I, of course, am looking forward to some crisp cold days. A white Christmas would be just the job! Wendy Bathurst
WINTER IN YOUR GARDEN
We are told that we are to expect a hard winter this time. Certainly trees and shrubs are laden with a mass of berries and seeds at the moment. If the big freeze does come, make sure that the outside taps are lagged and items containing water are emptied. Severe weather does damage evergreen plants particularly those grown in tubs and these should be moved inside (the garage would do for a while) or plants can be protected using fleece or bubble plastic. The greenhouse should be insulated using bubble plastic too. To prevent damage to ponds, it's a good idea to float a rubber ball in them, but if fish are present a small area of ice should be melted daily using warm water. Make sure that the birds are kept fed, particularly in frosty weather.
Winter is a good time for treating sheds and fences when the weather allows. Digging the vegetable garden and flower beds should continue adding manure if possible. Clear away and compost remaining leaves and weeds and remove moss and lichen using Jeyes Fluid or household bleach. January is the best month for pruning fruit trees (except plums) and spraying with a winter spray. Woody shrubs and grape vines should be pruned now and roses can be given a light pruning too. Hardwood cuttings can be taken at this time of the year. Spray peach trees against Peach Leaf Curl before mid-February at the latest. Keep off lawns at this time of the year, particularly when they are frozen, but if this cannot be avoided always use a plank. If the lawn mover has not yet been serviced, arrange for this to be done well before the spring rush. Bulbs growing in bowls should be brought into a light and warm place if they are still in the dark. Now is a good time to dig up and move herbaceous plants and to cut back those that have died down for the winter. Bare root hedging plants and soft fruit such as raspberries can be planted now. In the greenhouse, as soon as Christmas has passed, seed sowing can commence with the Mammoth and Kelsea onions, plus cauliflowers, cabbage, spinach and turnips. In January, geraniums and begonias are sown as well as antirrhinums, cyclamen, coleus, sweet peas and some of the alpines.
Most of us will visit the garden centre before Christmas to choose our Christmas tree, but at the same time we can find a host of ideas for Christmas gifts for our gardening friends. A HTA garden token is a good idea too. In the new year, we will need to start to buy our seeds, onion sets and shallots. Seed potatoes should be purchased early so that they can be 'chitted' in a light and frost-free place. And look at the winter-flowering plants such as the skimmia, viburnums, callicarpa, mahonia, winter jasmine, plus the snowdrops and cyclamen, winter aconites and heathers. What a feast!
Have a great gardening year in 2005. Terry Simmonds
CLAIRE EVANS
The editors (Anne Breen and Liz Holliday) were devastated to hear the sad news about Claire's sudden death. We had only known her for all too short a time but we will remember Claire as someone who was always enthusiastic, cheerful and willing to help. On behalf of Chipperfield News a donation will be made to a charity in her memory.
LOCAL ROADWORKS AFFECTING BUS ROUTE R9
Roadworks in Abbots Langley affecting Bus R9 (Chipperfield to North Watford Asda).
Road safety work is expected to start on 22 November and last for approximately 10 weeks along Popes Road and Trowley Rise in Abbots Langley. During the works buses will be diverted as follows:
Towards Asda - from Abbots Road, turning left into High Street, then Tibbs Hill Road to rejoin normal route.
From Asda - from College Road, turning right to Tibbs Hill Road, then via High Street, turning right into Abbots Road.
Buses will therefore not serve the Vine House surgery, Popes Road or Trowley Rise. Customers are advised to join the bus on Hazelwood Lane, at the Compasses, or at the Furtherfield terminus of bus R8.
The normal route will resume as soon as works are completed.
Details of times, prices and service updates are available at www.redrosetravel.com