December - January 2006
FUN COOKERY FOR KIDS!
October half term saw the introduction of cookery classes in the Village Hall
aimed at children between 7 and 14. Run by Kate Pratt, a Food Technologist with
20 years experience, the classes were greeted with enthusiasm by budding Jamie
Olivers all over the area. During the first two-hour session, the children made
Salmon and Smoked Haddock Fish Cakes with a Leek and Butternut Squash Soup.
During the break there was a quiz to test their sense of taste and smell by
guessing what the 10 herbs were. Dan: "OH YUK, why did you make me try this?
It's disgusting!" (Tarragon). "This is lavender isn't it?" (Rosemary).
At the second session, the children made Chicken Nuggets and Stuffed Baked
Potatoes, again using ingredients from scratch. They also had to think about
what foods do by fitting various foods into the right category of Fats,
Carbohydrates or Proteins. "Butter - that's a carbohydrate, isn't it?" (Fat).
The feed-back has been tremendous with comments such as "Ben was very excited
that he had done all the preparation as well as the cooking. The groups were a
nice number." "Maddie loved it and can't wait to come again!"
The groups were limited to 6 children per session, so everyone was able to have
a go no matter how much experience they had. Even the fussy eaters came out of
their shells and tried what they had cooked.
Further sessions are planned during the Christmas holidays at Chipperfield
Village Hall on December 18, 19, 20, 27 and 29. We will be attempting to cook a
full roast dinner and make a Ginger Bread House (not at the same session!).
Please contact Kate on 01442 394644 to book a place. Other venues and dates also
available.
OVER 60's LUNCH CLUB
Twenty five residents attended the first meeting of the Lunch Club held on
Thursday 9 November at Blackwell's.
The two-course lunches are open to any resident over the age of 60 and the cost
is only £3.50.
During December lunches will be held at 12.30pm in the Member's Lounge on
Thursday 7, 14 and 21; and in January they will be on Thursday 4, 11, 19 and 25.
Please telephone Blackwell's on 01923 264708 by 4pm on the Tuesday before the
lunch to reserve your place.
If you need a lift, please contact Chipperfield Care on 01923 264700.
WAS IT BIPIN ON TV?
On Wednesday 18 October many thousands of people went to Downing Street in
London to support a petition against the proposed closure of Sub-Post Offices
and the Post Office card accounts.
On that same day, a BBC TV crew were filming in Chipperfield interviewing Bipin,
our sub-postmaster. The interview was shown on BBC News at 10pm that day - and,
yes it was our very own post office and sub-postmaster on national television.
For those who missed the programme, we understand that Chipperfield Post Office
is in no danger of being closed down, and as far as Bipin is concerned, he says
that he wants to collect his own pension in this very post office one day.
POPPY APPEAL 2006
It is hard to believe, but our magnificent total is ten percent up on year at an
incredible £3,603. It may be that many people are realising the increasing need
for the Legion, as the casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan escalate. At the
party for Poppy Appeal collectors, the bright smile of a ten-year-old girl
brought in an extra £31 from those present. I have marked her down as a future
collector. This year several faithful helpers had to give up, but the gaps were
soon filled, including one by a 30-something girl with twin toddlers (who
probably enhanced her takings)! We certainly need to recruit younger helpers, as
the indomitable 80-pluses approach the age of 90. (Just give me a ring on 01923
267515.)
Thanks indeed to everyone who trudged round the houses - mercifully in slightly
better weather than usual - and to all the churches and shop- and innkeepers. If
as a helper you are asked (as I sometimes am) "Do you ever give up?", please
answer "No!". Those who risk their lives and health in the course of duty don't,
and nor do those who care for them. Anne Wyburd
ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION
The recent house to house collection raised the excellent sum of £697.69. The
RNLI is supported entirely by voluntary contributions, so thank you all very
much.
M.G. Newman, Hon. Sec.
WINTER GARDENING
Autumn colour this year has been quite spectacular with the Mountain Ash and
Acers. However, many trees have not yet shed their leaves so we will be raking
up leaves for some time yet. This is the time to get the garden tidied up and to
build the compost heap. It is a good idea to leave just a few untidy places for
the benefit of wild life but these should be well away from the flower beds. We
can have frosts for the next 6 months so we must make sure that plants which are
not hardy are given protection as necessary. Outside pipes and taps should be
lagged to prevent freezing and the glasshouse can be lined with bubble plastic
to help prevent heat loss. When the soil is not frozen, planting of trees,
shrubs, climbers and roses can continue throughout the winter months. Herbaceous
perennials will need to be cut down and divided and tall shrubs will need to be
staked to prevent rocking in strong winds.
There is still time to plant a few more bulbs and autumn bedding plants,
provided the ground is still open. Digging should still be done and weeds often
still grow in the winter and will need to be dealt with. Now is the time to
prune vines and wisteria and to cut back some of the larger shrubs. In the new
year we traditionally prune and spray fruit trees. Tar oil winter wash is no
longer available but there are other tree sprays. Peach trees need to be sprayed
before mid-February with Copper Fungicide or Dithane.
January is the month when sowing starts in the greenhouse. Sweet peas and some
of the summer bedding is sown soon and the exhibition onions should be sown as
soon as possible after Boxing Day. Seed potatoes will then become available and
the tubers should be chitted or sprouted in a light frost-free place. Keep off
the lawn in frosty weather and use planks if taking a barrow over the grass.
Don't forget to get the lawnmower serviced; it might be needed early in the
spring.
We shall soon be visiting the garden centre to choose our Christmas tree.
Non-drop Nordmann trees survive better in central heating, especially if the
bottom of the trunk is placed in a little water. Whilst visiting the garden
centre, have a look at the plants which look good at this time of the year.
There are a lot of things which make acceptable gifts for gardeners, including
the famous HTA garden gift tokens. Or why not give a gift membership to the
Royal Horticultural Society or National Trust, or a gift subscription to a
gardening magazine? As it gets colder it is time to make plans for the new year
and to browse through the garden books and seed catalogues. But don't forget the
birds need feeding, the fish in the pond will need attention, and the prize bay
tree might need to go inside if it really freezes hard.
Terry Simmonds
SANTA LIVE! @ STANLEY'S SATURDAY 9th DECEMBER
It's Official - Not only does Santa shop at Stanley's but he has confirmed a
date for meeting all the good little boys and girls of the village on Saturday
9th December from 12 noon till 8pm!!!!!
We will be opening late with Santa's Special Appearance with Carols and Mince
Pies and Mulled Wine for all the Good 'Big' Boys and Girls!!! So join us for a
bit of Christmas Festive Cheer !!!
This year Stanley's Store is awash with Christmas Gifts and Food Items. And
back by popular demand - we will be taking orders for Fresh Fruit and Veg Boxes,
delivered on the weekend before Christmas (i.e. 23rd and 24th). Pop in or
telephone for an Order Form.
Wishing everyone a Very, Very Merry Christmas! Neill & Sarah
Stanley's Store, 2 Chapel Croft, Chipperfield. Tel: 01923 262822
ANY PHOTOS OF
THE BOOT PUB?
Roger Clarke, landlord of The Boot in Tower Hill, writes:
We are redecorating the pub and would like to get some photos of the pub to hang
on the walls.
Has anyone got any photos of The Boot, old or new, that I can copy to hang on
the walls. Many thanks.
The Boot, Tower Hill, Chipperfield WD4 9LN. Tel: 01442 833155.
Fax 01442 833904.
www.the-boot.co.uk
FRIDAY NIGHT IS MUSIC
NIGHT AT BLACKWELL'S
From January, there will be a special evening of live music every Friday at 8pm
at Blackwell's Club. Call Paul or Di on 264700 for details.
NEED SOME HELP WITH A PROJECT ?
The Parish Council have limited funds available as grant aid to help village
organisations with specific projects (e.g. setting up a mailing list database,
the purchase of special awards or trophies, obtaining a particular item of
equipment etc). For more details and an application form, phone Jo Deacon,
Parish Clerk, on 01923 263310 before 31 January 2007.
VILLAGE PEOPLE
Congratulations to Emma Simmonds on the birth of her beautiful daughter Jasmine
Katie. Jasmine shares a birthday, 28th June, with her granddad Terry Simmonds,
and was born at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital, where her granny, Jacky, works
as a midwife/lactation consultant.
Steve and Susie Luff are proud to announce that their son, Spike Harry, was born
on October 19th, a wonderful playmate for sister Phoebe and a second grandson
for delighted grandparents Frank and Lesley Baker.
A son, Cameron, was born to Theo and Hayley Dare (nŽe Pattinson) on 19th
October. Their second child is a brother for Lauren and cousin for Lily. Jarlath
and Stephanie Pattinson are delighted with the arrival of their third
grandchild. Such joy!
Congratulations to Juliette Lassman of The Street on winning the 2006 Level 5
Hertfordshire County Gymnastics competition in the 10-11 age group and for
taking Gold again at the Hertfordshire Level 5 Team event with her Berkhamsted
Gymnastics Club team mates.
Joyce Petherick and family wish to say a heartfelt "thank you" for the support,
messages of sympathy and donations for the St Francis hospice that we've
received. The number of people attending Ron's funeral was overwhelming and we
are comforted knowing so many people held him in high regard.
MacMILLAN COFFEE MORNING
I would like to thank everyone who came and supported the MacMillan Coffee
Morning at the Baptist Church Hall on 29 September. We raised £353 and we were
very pleased as it is for a very good cause. I would also like to say thank you
to everyone who donated prizes for the raffle and to everyone who helped me on
the day. I could not do it without their help.
Grace Bignell, Croft End Road
ST PAUL'S AND HOLY CROSS
Jim Stevens ponders.....
....a few weeks ago Judy and I learnt, to our great joy, that we are to be
grandparents for the first time, in the Spring. We were thrilled at the news,
and have already seen a scan of this little one. What an amazing thing this
process of conception and development of a new life is!
Once the first flush of excitement at this news had passed, I began to think
afresh of what sort of world our grandchild would inherit. What would his or her
world be like on reaching my age? I sense every generation asks this at these
sorts of times in life, but, as far as I can tell, how we handle this lovely
planet's resources now is a question of the utmost importance, even more than
some of the issues our forebears had to face and go through. How do we respond
to the whole issue of global warming and climate change?
I think there are two erroneous responses. The first is simply to ignore it, and
carry on regardless, thinking there is nothing I can do which will make any
impact. I recall someone saying "evil prospers when good people do nothing". The
second is to become crippled with fear over the issue. I have to acknowledge I
have sensed both reactions, over these last few weeks.
So how do we handle this sensibly? May I make a few suggestions? Each of us does
something personally which lessens his or her consumption of the world's
resources (e.g. use the car less and walk more, even buy a car with much smaller
engine capacity, reduce our heating bills - put on an extra pullover
instead....)
When we are personally involved, conversations with those in positions of
greater power and influence have greater impact; and we should be involved
there, to encourage those in authority and who make policy.....locally....
internationally....
PRAY! This is still God's world - not just ours - He loves it, and us, despite
the mess we so often make of it! He is able to change people's attitudes and
actions, however intransigent they may be! I am reminded of William Wilberforce,
who was sufficiently personally moved to work for the abolition of slavery. He
faced real opposition, he prayed consistently - he was a devout Christian man -
and in time saw things changed.
A happy Christmas and New Year to you...and to our grandchildren for many years
to come.
Jim Stevens
BAPTIST CHURCH
Our Church Anniversary Service was conducted by Rev Jim Stevens and was a very
joyous occasion. St Paul's joined us and it was good to see the church so full
and to share in fellowship together. Next year we'll be 170!
We invite you to visit our Christmas Tree Festival and The Chiltern West Gallery
Quire will be paying their annual visit to us. You are very welcome to join us -
there will be tea afterwards. Also, share with us in our Family Carol Service,
and on Christmas morning to welcome the Christ Child. (See publicity on page 5
of this issue and around the village).
A very happy and blessed Christmas to you all from the Baptist Church.
DOROTHY GILBERT (Formerly Burgess)
A short piece taken from the address.
Dorothy and Eric Burgess moved to Chipperfield in 1948 and the village was home
to her for nearly 30 years. During this time she worked actively for the Labour
Party, in her spare time raising funds by running dances in the Village Hall and
canvassing during elections. One of her daytime jobs was running the local shoe
shop, which was at the top of Croft Lane and was a local meeting place for a
chat and a cuppa as well as supplying the latest fashion in shoes. This was not
her most famous job which came some years before when she worked as a waitress
for the actor James Mason when he owned Ollieberrie Farm.
She left Chipperfield in the seventies, living in several different areas before
moving back to Chipperfield 7 years ago to St Paul's Court in the centre of the
village. As she became more housebound she loved sitting in her front window
watching the children go to school and the comings and goings from the Two
Brewers.
Kaye, June and Ian would like to thank everyone who helped to make Dorothy's
last few years in Chipperfield so comfortable and happy. Particularly, Nadine
Williams who was one of Dorothy's carers, but had done her shopping every week
for seven years and numerous other things, mainly making her laugh on a daily
basis! Also, her friends from the Lunch Club - Mary West, Liz Holliday and Rita
Forsythe - who were weekly visitors on a Thursday. Thanks also to all who sent
cards and letters and gave support during this sad time.
JACK RONALD PETHERICK
10 September 1919 - 31 October 2006
Ron, as he was known to most people, was born in Berkhamsted and lived there
until March 1938 when he joined the Royal Corps of Signals. As those who read
the article "My War" published about a year ago in the Chipperfield News will
know, he became a Sergeant and had 8 years service with the army, and was a
Dunkirk and El Alamein veteran.
His long and happy connection with Chipperfield began when he worked as a
conductor on the buses, based at the depot at Two Waters, Apsley. It was there,
in early 1950, that he met Joyce Parfitt, a Chipperfield girl, who worked in the
office. They married in December 1950 and had two children, David in October
1951 and Carol in March 1955.
When they first married, Ron and Joyce lived at Courtaulds with Joyce's parents,
then moved, in early 1952, to Nunfield. In 1958 they became one of the first
residents on the new "Croft Estate" when they moved to Croft Lane, where they
have lived since.
Ron continued working on the buses until 1958 and then moved to the Abbot
printing works at Kings Langley where he worked, first, as a packer and then as
a storeman. During this time, Ron got to know many village people through his
'seasonal jobs'; he helped John Singleton, the fishmonger, with his rounds at
Easter, and at Christmas helped with the plucking, dressing and packing of
turkeys from Espley's in Megg Lane. In 1969 Ron moved to John Dickinson's paper
factory in Apsley, working as a print buyer until his retirement in 1984.
Ron got immense pleasure from working in his garden and, during his working
years, spent as much time there as possible in the evenings and at weekends.
This provided the perfect opportunity for him to talk to the children on the
estate and the many passers-by who stopped to admire the garden, which was
always maintained to a very high standard and provided a splash of colour
whatever the time of year. However, it was during his retirement that Ron
really developed his extensive network of village friends; he thoroughly enjoyed
talking with people that he met around the village and was always willing to
take a break from his gardening to chat with people as they walked past.
It wasn't Ron's way to get involved in the village clubs, committees and
organisations, but he made a valuable contribution to Chipperfield in his own
unique way; his cheery greeting and chats over the garden hedge will be missed
by very many people. Joyce,
David and Carol
CHIPPERFIELD NEWS
Chipperfield News is a thriving, free, village publication, available to all
local residents and the wider community, as a monthly magazine of news and
events. It is thanks to our advertisers that we are able to provide such a
quality publication.
The newspaper is produced by volunteers whose expertise involves:
* knowledge of managing a small business;
* the promotion of local businesses through advertising;
* design and editing by people who know the village and local events;
* the ability to organise an efficient distribution team;
* financial and I.T. expertise to control and monitor production.
To ensure the future of Chipperfield News, I should be interested to hear from
young people in their 30s and 40s, who may like to become involved with some
aspect of production and eventually succeed some of the present team in their
respective tasks.
Managing the future of a voluntary publication is all-important and needs
sensible planning for all concerned. If you would like to know more please
contact the Chairman on 01923 262549.
THE WINDMILL PUB
GIFTS TO CHARITY
The sum of £200 was raised by customers and staff at the Windmill Pub by buying
"Beefy" a pint or wristbands. The money was given to support Ian Botham's walk
for the Teenage Cancer Trust and Leukaemia Research. The landlady, Dawn, was
able to see Ian finish his walk in London and congratulate him.
Pop into the Windmill Pub for a Baileys and Hot Chocolate, £3 a large cup. All
proceeds from sales will go to the Hospice of St Francis, Berkhamsted.
WOODLAND ACCESS
Work to provide easier access to the woodland on The Common for the disabled
will be starting soon and continue through the winter months.
Residents will see Philip Misselbrook at work in the woods on the paths leading
to the Apostles Pond.
Philip is a local farmer who, with his wife Mandy, keeps a herd of beef cattle
at Berrybush Farm. For the past 4 years he also undertaken contract work for
Dacorum Borough Council, maintaining and improving footpaths throughout the
borough.
Chipperfield has benefited from Philip's expertise in the past and a recent
example of his work can be seen along the new footpath up Whippendell Hill where
he installed the fencing and kissing gate.
Philip will also undertake private fencing work and may be contacted at the farm
on 01923 261560 or on his mobile phone, 07889 489412.
MILK DELIVERIES plus ...
You may have noticed a Braziers Dairies milk float trundling round the village.
You may think that Alan Harber, the milkman, only delivers milk. In fact, as
well as all the usual dairy products, Alan will deliver bread, farm eggs,
potatoes, cooking foil, cling wrap and bin liners, fruit juice and fizzy drinks.
He can also supply bird seed, nuts and fat balls. There are special items
available to order at Christmas and Easter and he runs a saving stamp scheme.
Why struggle with a load from the shops when you can have regular deliveries to
your door - whatever the weather ?
Deliveries are made to the Tower Hill side of the village on Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Saturdays; and to The Common and Bucks Hill side on Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays.
Alan has been delivering in Chipperfield for 12 years and would be pleased to
add new customers to the 200 or so households he already visits. Phone Braziers
Dairies on 01494 784232 if you would like him to call this winter.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
With the opening of the new footpath on the Kings Langley side of Whippendell
Hill Ted, our young labrador, and I have a new circular early morning walk. Many
thanks to all those involved in this excellent project. We set out along "our"
footpath to the Land Rover garage, often seeing a fox cross the path. Then it's
a left turn and under the now silent rookery, down the hill, over the road and
on to the new path. Left at the top takes us on through the pony paddocks and to
Ted's favourite place - Scatterdells Woods.
If we go right and slightly up hill we walk just below my "Grammer field" and I
am hoping we will get a glimpse of the Roe Deer that often feed there. We have
seen some slots, or tracks, along the path and at the edge of the field, but Roe
are rather elusive, probably the hardest deer of all to see. They are much
bigger than Muntjac, but not as big as Fallow. In the summer they have bright
orange-brown coats, but just now they will be sporting a thicker dull
greyish-brown coat, but they always have a large round white rump patch. Often
this is the only bit one sees! They have a wonderfully graceful bounding run,
almost as if on springs, another sign that it's a Roe Deer. The bucks have short
pronged antlers, building up to four prongs after they are four years old. These
are shed in late autumn, and how I would love to find one, but that is even
harder than spotting the Roe itself! In the last few years there has been a
great population increase for Roe. The does usually have twins, but if there is
plenty of food about, triplets become common. If we are lucky enough to see them
it will most likely be a doe and her fawns. She will not drive them off her
patch until next spring, just before her next offspring are born. The bucks live
very solitary lives, except in late July and August when they seek out the does
to mate.
So far, apart from the tracks, we have only seen Muntjac. As the mornings draw
in I hope our chances will improve. Even if it is only the sight of a white
rump bounding gracefully away it will brighten a winter morning!
Wendy Bathurst
CHIPPERFIELD THEATRE GROUP PANTOMIME
Chipperfield Village Hall
January 25-27
Chipperfield Theatre Group's 2007 Pantomime will be The Pompeii Panto by Jim
Sperink. This is the last Panto written by Jim Sperink who sadly died earlier
this year. This hilarious Pantomime is kindly sponsored by Wilsons of Bovingdon
and will be directed by Lisa Callcut.
The Pompeii Panto is a modern script that follows a traditional Pantomime format
without a castle or a fairy in sight. For those of you who might find this a
little confusing, I'll explain. The baddie is Bilius, an over-ambitious senator,
the King is Nero, an ineffective ruler, the witch, Amnesia, is an unloved
soothsayer and the Pantomime horse is, in fact, a lion!!
Now that is clear you are ready for the plot. Bilius wants to poison Nero to
advance his own career and Vanilla (the Dame) wants to marry into money so
targets Nero with a love potion. Finally Amnesia produces a memory elixir to get
Bilius to forget about her rent arrears. What could be simpler than delivering
the three different potions to the correct targets at the right time? Well
nothing, unless you are in Panto-world where nothing goes right and just about
everyone almost gets thrown to the lions! Of course, like all good pantomimes,
there is a happy ending and we have great fun getting there.
Book early to get the best available seats. Performances start at 7.45pm each
evening, with a matinee performance on Saturday 27th January starting at 2.45pm
The Box Office opens to the public on Monday 4th December. Tickets are from
£5.50 - £8.00. Box Office: 0870 7702496