Dec - Jan 2005
This year Chipperfield Theatre Group are returning to a classic Pantomime tale with Sleeping Beauty. One of the best known fairy tales, Sleeping Beauty has survived generations of story-tellings and has now been brought thoroughly up-to-date in Alan P. Frayn's version written this year.
Under Wendy Marchant's expert guidance, all of your favourite Pantomime characters come to life - then go to sleep - then come to life again! Bad Witch Hazel casts her evil spell at Princess Rose's christening but luckily Good Fairy Lilac and her rainbow of fairy friends are on hand to help, and ultimately devise, a cunning solution to the problem. The outrageous Nurse Nora Nutt (dame), commissioned "by Royal Appointment", is a very unlikely nanny to the Princess and the comedy duo, Fetch and Carrie, are gainfully employed throughout as the King's P.A.N.T.I.E.S.! This show promises fun for all the family and we look forward to seeing you there.
Performances will be from 12-14 January inclusive at 7.45pm, plus a matinee at 2.45pm on Saturday 14 January. Tickets are #5.50-#8.00. The Box Office number is 0870 7702496.
POPPY APPEAL
We have just beaten last year's record takings with nearly #3200. Congratulations and gratitude to everyone who has helped in any way. In addition, we shall be sending the Royal British Legion over #1500 from the funds raised at our Trafalgar 200 Village Celebration on 29 October. Thank you to everyone who made this event possible, with practical help and financial support. In memory of Guy Whalley, one of the organisers, who should have played a key part in the event but who died suddenly the day before, we sent #200 to the British Heart Foundation out of our surplus.
Anne Wyburd, Honorary Appeal Organiser
JUNIOR YOUTH CLUB
The Junior Youth Club is now up and running due to the efforts of Jane and Mark Slade. They are doing a fantastic job and the children are really enjoying it. The club, for 7-11 year olds, runs on a Friday evening from 6.30pm to 8.00pm. There is the choice of computer games, table tennis, snooker, darts, board games, listening to music, watching films or just sitting around with their friends and socialising. There is a tuck shop where they can buy drinks and sweets and occasionally there are competitions with prizes to be won. In the summer months the children are also allowed to play outside - football, tennis, other activities all of which are fully supervised. If your child is interested in joining the club please call 01923 262830 for more information.
Also if anyone would be interested in running a club for the 11-14 year olds from 8pm to 10pm on a Friday evening we would be very pleased to hear from you. Thank you.
Sue Reynolds
TRAFALGAR 200 A Village Celebration
On Saturday 29 October, eight days after the 200th anniversary of the battle, a show of readings and music with slides and sound effects was performed in Chipperfield Village Hall before some 100 people. On the previous afternoon, Guy Whalley, one of the principal organisers, who was also to play the part of Nelson, collapsed and died. The other organisers were persuaded by Guy's widow Sarah to go ahead with the event as he would have wanted. A one-minute's silence was observed in his memory.
The performers were Frank Baker, Diane Parry, Tim Venner, Peter Williams, Gareth Whalley (no relation) and Anne and Giles Wyburd. The Close Shave Quartet (David Clough, Chris Day, Allan Grant and David Barnes) also contributed and Rosemary Venner accompanied them on the piano. Sound effects were provided by Martin Deane and projection by John Stickland. Supper was prepared by a team under Ann Soanes and served by a group of smart young people organised by Diane Parry. Tony Soanes, Patrick Gardiner and Mark Jarrad served the drinks. Beautiful table decorations were made by Sarah Whalley and Valerie Briselden and a superb model of HMS Victory, made by Elizabeth Weedon, was on display. All gave their services free. Sponsorship was generously provided by Proffitt & Holt, King's Langley; Tesco, Hemel Hempstead; and valuable raffle prizes were donated by many local businesses.
A CD of the performance is available to anyone interested for #5. Please telephone requests to 01923 267515.
A poster competition on the Trafalgar theme by pupils at St Paul's School was judged by Sandy Stirling. The winner was Rhiann Holloway and the runner-up was Juliette Lassman.
CHRISTMAS CARDS
Christmas cards which were on sale at the Hollyberry Fair may be ordered from Mary Nobbs (telephone: 01923 269480). Each pack of 10 cards contains two different 1838 views of St Paul's Church. The sepia prints on quality white card contain a seasonal greeting, measure 21cm x 15cm and cost #3.50 per pack. Packs of 10 smaller cards of the same quality have been left blank inside and cost #3.00.
CHRISTMAS FAYRE IN FLAUNDEN
A Christmas Fayre will be held on Saturday 3 December from 2pm - 5pm in Flaunden Village Hall.
We will be having a variety of stalls selling gifts and goodies. A Santa's Grotto for the children. Mince pies and Gluhwein as well as teas, coffees etc. There will also be an activity table for children to make something festive to take home with them. There is no entry fee and all are welcome.
Any money that we make from this event will go to St Mary Magdalene Church.
CHURCH MEMORIALS IN CHIPPERFIELD
A survey of the memorials at St Paul's Church and the Baptist Church has just been published by the Hertfordshire Family History Society. This includes inscriptions of graves in the churchyards and their location as far as is possible together with details of wall tablets/plaques and window dedications. The price is #4 and copies are available from Mary Nobbs (01923 269480)
CHIPPERFIELD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
This year we had some wonderful entries in our photographic sections at all three shows. These classes have proved to be very popular and the subjects for 2006 have been chosen and are listed below. They have a very broad spectrum and we hope that you will find at least one subject that will appeal to you. The photography subjects for 2006 are:
Spring Show March 25
Two photographs: 1 sunrise and 1 sunset.
Transport.
Tree/s in winter.
Summer Show June 24
Water.
A single bloom.
Night scene (traffic, buildings or shops).
Autumn Show September 23
Village Activities.
Ancient Ruin.
Portraiture - a head and shoulders study.
Maximum size print 7" x 5". Photographs may be mounted but not framed.
NOISE, VANDALISM AND ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
From time to time we are all affected by the thoughtless behaviour of other people in the village. Unless these incidents are reported and logged, there is no evidence that they have taken place and the Parish Council cannot press for action to be taken. I urge all residents to register their complaints by reporting all incidents to the Police. Telephone 01442 271000, give details and ask for the Unique Reference Number (URN) which will record your complaint.
If you are troubled by noise during the daytime, contact Dacorum Borough Council's Environmental Health Helpline on 01442 228455. If noise occurs at night, 'phone the Police and ask them to report it to Environmental Health.
If we can establish that Chipperfield is a village where hooligans and vandals are not tolerated, the sooner this behaviour will cease.
Liz Holliday, Chairman, Chipperfield Parish Council
VILLAGE PEOPLE
GRACE BIGNALL would like to thank everyone who supported the Macmillan Coffee Morning on September 30 at which #305 was raised. Thanks also to all the helpers, the people who generously gave donations and prizes, the Baptist Church for the use of the Church hall, and the Catholic Church for the use of their car park. Thank you all.
VALERIE NICHOLSON and family would like to thank everyone for their kindness and sympathy at the time of Nick's death, and for making his Thanksgiving Service a memorable occasion for us all.
Locally born STEPHEN & DANIEL BROOKS are both recovering well after major surgery. In 1992, Stephen was diagnosed with polycystic kidneys and has been on dialysis since April 2004. He asked his brother to consider being a live kidney donor and without hesitation Dan agreed. After months of visits for tests to Lister Hospital, Stevenage and Addenbrooke's, Cambridge, the operation went ahead on 18 October 2005. It was a great success. Dan returned home after four days and Stephen after six days and both are now recuperating in Chipperfield under the watchful eye of parents KEITH & SHIRLEY BROOKS. Newly married couple Stephen and Elizabeth can have a positive outlook to the future, thanks to the gift from his brother Dan.
PAULINE & TOM McAULIFFE write: We would like to express our apologies and gratitude to the residents of Scatterdells Lane for the disruption you have had to endure over the last six months while we renovated our house. We have now moved back in and are enjoying our new house. Thank you all once again. With our best wishes for Christmas and 2006, Pauline and Tom McAuliffe, 89 Scatterdells Lane.
OVERHANGING HEDGES
There are a number of places in the village where bushes and trees overhang pavements and footpaths and make walking past very difficult, particularly on dark, wet and windy days.
Residents are reminded that if they have hedges or shrubs along their boundaries with pavements, roads, or footpaths, they should ensure that growth is cut back to the edge of their boundary.
TRAFALGAR 200
A brave and patriotic display of bunting greeted our arrival at the Village Hall. In a prominent position across the stage, Guy Whalley had strung up Nelson's immortal Trafalgar signal on the previous afternoon. This put the finishing touch to weeks of meticulous preparation by a hardworking team, and tragically it was to be the last act of his life. After much heart-searching it was decided that the show must go on in modified form, and even though he was not there to play the star role of Nelson, Guy was ever present in our thoughts at all stages of this carefully-rehearsed evening.
Tables named after ships of the line were gaily decked out with boatfuls of flowers, feathers and union jacks. A beautiful handmade model of HMS Victory was displayed centre-stage, to set the scene for a very accomplished presentation of Nelson's life by the performers whose readings from contemporary journals, letters and poems were highlighted with audio-visual illustrations on the screen and accompanied by appropriate songs. Accounts of the great sea battles which brought lasting fame to Nelson and his band of brothers were vividly brought to life by professionally synchronised sound effects, culminating in the final engagement at Trafalgar which was very movingly presented.
After this feast for our ears and eyes, we were served with a delicious supper by attractive young people who circulated around the supper tables selling raffle tickets. Finally, a chorus of singers in nautical gear invited us to end this memorable celebration with a patriotic singsong, and all of us in the Village Hall did our best to bring the evening to a rousing close.
Mary Stirling
IN YOUR GARDEN
Gardeners do not get much time off during the winter months because this time of the year is when we prepare for the coming seasons. As long as weather permits we should be clearing up the rubbish, weeding, cutting back plants, dividing perennials and of course making compost. The vegetable garden should be dug and farmyard manure should be added, except for the area reserved for root-crop vegetables. Slippery algae on paths should be treated with something like Jeyes Fluid. If not already done, the greenhouse should be cleaned with a disinfectant and, to save on future heating bills, it should be lined with bubble plastic. Check that the greenhouse heaters (and pond heaters) are in good working order. Pond pumps should be taken inside and drained, outside pipework drained and taps lagged to prevent freezing up. Deciduous trees and shrubs usually fare well in severe winter weather, but evergreens can certainly suffer especially those that are grown in pots or containers. I have seen camellias and viburnums grown in pots killed outright by severe frosts freezing their roots. Wrapping up the pots does help to save these plants. Winter winds can damage some plants and the use of fleece or some other barrier will help.
If the weather is still mild in early December the lawn should be aerated but always keep off the lawn in frosty weather. Now is the time to get the lawn mower serviced so that it is ready for use when the grass starts to grow next spring. Chipperfield Garden Machinery are offering readers of Chipperfield News a discount of 20% off their service bill provided that the labour charge is pre-paid. This offer runs up the end of January but you will need to show them this article when you go to see them.
Christmas is coming but traditionally the keen show gardener will sow his Mammoth or Kelsea onions on Boxing Day! There are quite a lot of useful gifts for gardeners and garden lovers in the garden centre now, including of course the HTA Garden gift tokens.
If weather permits, January is the best month to get fruit trees pruned and sprayed. Summer-flowering shrubs can be pruned, but not spring-flowering ones. Seed potatoes will be on sale in January and they should be purchased as soon as possible so that the tubers can be 'chitted' in a frost-free place so that they are ready for planting out next spring. Varieties like Arran Pilot, Home Guard, International Kidney, Pentland Javelin and Suttons Foremost are suitable for use as new potatoes. Varieties for use as baking potatoes or for mashing include Estima, Desiree, Maris Piper and that old favourite, King Edward. After Christmas there will be a huge selection of seeds in the garden centre and some of the flower seeds will need to be sown early in the new year.
Terry Simmonds
LIMITED WAITING IN CHAPEL CROFT
The limited waiting restrictions (20 minutes in 1 hour) in Chapel Croft have now come into effect. These restrictions include the parking bay opposite Alexandra Road.
NEWS FROM OUR CHURCHES
ST PAUL'S AND HOLY CROSS
"We wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year: Good tidings we bring, to you and your kin....." Pictures of carol singers in deep snow, with lanterns to light their way, will no doubt adorn most of our homes in one way or another this festive season.
Christmas...and...New Year. Any connections? Well, obviously the one follows the other, and a new calendar year will soon be upon us: 2006 ... already!
Will it be a "Happy" New Year? It might just be if it is a New Year: new not in the sense of a change in the calendar, but new in the sense of a change in my character.
That is what Christmas is all about. God with us, making a radical difference to the way I live. This is the mind blowing message of Christmas, that the Creator God came and lived among us, so that He might live in us. Just as God took up residence in human form in the person of Jesus, the Creator can take up residence in your life and mine to transform it, from within, once we are ready to welcome His presence, love and power, to do just that. What a different world we would live in if everybody had the compassion, care and wholesomeness that is seen in Jesus.
Light bulbs are created to give light: but however strongly I might command one to shine, on its own it cannot. Only when vitally connected to the power supply can it fulfil the purpose for which it was manufactured. So it is with us. Only when Jesus Christ is welcome to flood my life day by day can I be new within - different - growing more into His likeness, living a life of compassion, understanding, purity and of servant nature: thus fulfilling the purpose for which I was created. That way, next year could be New.
"Now bring us some figgy pudding....." "We won't go until we've got some...so bring some out here" the song continues, revealing what so often lurks deep in the human heart. I want, for me. If that is the way 2006 begins it certainly won't be new. It will be old like the last one, with all the usual hurts and pains with which we so easily trouble each other. A New Year does not mean no difficulties, but it can mean they are faced and shared with the One who makes people new, and changes the way we handle every circumstance of life.
With my prayers for a good Christmas and happy New Year,
Jim Stevens
The Holiday Club
Entitled Land Ahoy, Holiday Club took place over the October half term at Sarratt primary school, with 45 helpers of all ages coming from both parishes and St. Andrews, Chorleywood. We were able to cope with seventy-five children in a very well organised few days. Jenny had split the children into year groups and they all got to do games, crafts and drama with some joint times for reflection and worship in the main school hall. We were blessed with fine weather for most of the week and Holiday Club finished with a big Sunday celebration which saw many of the parents of the children join with us.
A big thank you needs to go to all the helpers including those behind the scene who helped with setting up, catering, clearing away, designing crafts, games, drama etc. A very special thank you to Christine Buck, head teacher, for the loan of Sarratt school.
BAPTIST CHURCH
Our Church Anniversary Service was a great inspiration and encouragement to us all. It was led by Rev. Joe Kapolyo who is at present Principal of All Nations Christian College. He has a great sense of humour but also a concern for the work of our Church.
In October, Rev. Bill Hewis, who represents The Leprosy Mission, conducted the service, and told about his work. He brought Christmas cards and other items for sale, raising #71 for the mission.
The Chiltern West Gallery Quire will be coming on 4 December at 4.00pm and you are very welcome to join us, there will be tea afterwards. And on December 18 at 3.00pm we will be having our Family Carols with mince pies afterwards. Our Christmas morning service is at 10.00am, and we do invite you to share in the celebration of our Saviour's birth.
A very happy Christmas to you all from us all at the Baptist Church.
OBITUARIES
GUY AINSWORTH WHALLEY
Can there be a friend that one never forgets? Yes, never? Guy Whalley died a week ago last Friday. After putting up decorations for the celebration of Admiral Nelson's victory at Trafalgar, in which he was to play a leading role, he climbed down the ladder and died within the hour.
Guy was a man of many gifts, and he gave of them all. He was a talented musician, Chairman of the Royal Academy of Music and Chairman of the music trust at St Albans Abbey, and a trustee of the Eden Project. He sang in the Chipperfield Choral Society, and latterly in the church choir. His house, and the hospitality of Guy and Sarah, seemed open to all at all times, but especially to his five grandchildren. He played golf and tennis, with an occasional laugh at the shots of one of his partners.
Amongst all this, Guy until he retired lived a professional career as a solicitor of distinction, attending to the affairs of the Bank of England amongst his other clients. Many will recall how he interviewed applicants to join his firm; one can be sure that they knew they had been fairly treated.
After twice suffering heart bypasses, he must have known that his life was precarious. Yet he was a stalwart of Chipperfield Care, the care of others and not himself.
I shall hope to tell his grandchildren, one day, of the poem of Callimachus -
They told me Heraclitus, they told me you were dead,
They brought me bitter news to hear and bitter tears to shed.
I wept as I remembered, how often you and I
Had tired the sun with talking and sent him down the sky.
CS
NICK NICHOLSON
Nick Nicholson was born in 1928 and grew up in Ruislip where he attended the Pinner County School. He was a member of the local church choir and a very keen member of the Boy Scout movement. On leaving school, he joined the Air Force to do his National Service and then went on to Kodak where he remained for 40 years.
Shortly before he retired he underwent heart by-pass surgery which was exceedingly successful and he was an example to many for his physical fitness thereafter. But, sadly, ill health overtook him almost 3 years ago when he suffered another heart attack. He died in St Mary's Hospital, London, on 8 October.
Nick was an avid gardener and a member of the local horticultural society. He was member of the congregation of St Paul's Church and his interests included travel and a variety of music. He was well known for his sense of fun and was a man who many have said to have no enemies. He took great interest in the activities of his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Val and his children Amanda (who lives in Hemel Hempstead), Hilary (New Zealand), Hugh (Torquay), and Alec, Andrew and Harvey (USA).
CHIPPERFIELD WITHIN LIVING MEMORY
Chipperfield Telephone Exchange
On page 57 of Chipperfield Within Living Memory Mary Moore tells us about the Chipperfield Telephone Exchange, which was situated in the Iron Room. This stood at the back of the Red Admiral and next to Inglenook opposite the War Memorial. Now thanks to research carried out be two members of the Kings Langley History Society and kindly brought to my attention by Stephen Morrill, we have further information about the village's early telephone service.
Initially only 9 people subscribed to the telephone due to the high cost. The calls were transferred by Mrs Win Waterhouse, who ran a haberdashery shop in the Red Admiral, which was specifically built for this purpose. This sub-exchange operated between 1913 and 1923, at which date all 34 then subscribers were transferred to Kings Langley Exchange. In September 1920, the first nine subscribers in telephone number order were:-
Waterhouse E., Draper; Aronson Arthur, Mill House; Blundell H.S. Moss, Callipers Hall; Bunyan W.I, The Stores; St Dunstan's Poultry Farm, Whippendell Bottom; Rivington Arthur, Solicitor, Chipperfield Common (Little Callipers); Rose Mrs, Braziers; Brunker Miss, Whippendell House; Waterhouse J, Builder, Decorator, Contractor.
Mary Nobbs
ALZHEIMER'S
Would you like to know more about Alzheimer's and the support that is available to those who suffer from this disease and their families? Norma Dean from the Dacorum Branch of the Alzheimer's Society will be talking to members of the Evening WI in the Village Hall on Wednesday 18 January. If you would like to attend, you are welcome to come to the hall at 8.30pm; entrance #1.50 (includes tea/coffee).
NEW LICENSING LAWS
The new licensing laws came into effect at the end of November and all licensed premises are obliged to display notices giving times of opening.
If you are disturbed by noise, bad behaviour or have any other concerns, you should contact the Environmental Health Helpline on 01442 228455.
BE AWARE OF A NEW HI-JACKING SCHEME
Here's what they do: You return to your car left in a car park, unlock your car and get in, start the engine and shift into Reverse. When you look in the rear view mirror to back out of your parking space you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you either switch off or leave the engine running and jump out of your car to remove the paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view... When you reach the back of the car that is when the hi-jackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off! The door was unlocked, your keys were in the ignition, maybe the engine was running, (ladies would have probably left their handbag, with their purse, mobile phone etc in the car) and they practically mow you down as they speed off in your car. Should this happen to you, just drive away and remove the piece of paper that is stuck to your window later .... and be thankful that you read this warning.