December - January 2007
Last month, local piano teacher Suzanne Brady organized a special concert by 24 of her pupils. Families and friends packed the Church of Our Lady in Dunny Lane to hear her pupils playing some of their favourite pieces. A total of £3,500 was raised for the St. Francis Hospice. Suzanne hailed the evening as a great success. “It was a joyous occasion, a wonderful opportunity for my pupils to perform, gain confidence and have fun. To raise such a lot of money for the hospice was the icing on the cake. I hope they all feel very proud of their achievement - I am certainly very proud of them”.
REVISION COURSE A GREAT SUCCESS
The first of a series of ‘A’ level biology revision courses was held from 22 - 26 October at Blackwell’s Village Club, using their conference facilities. The course was run by Dr. Alison Wade-Evans, a local (Kings Langley) mathematics and science tutor.
Feedback, from the sixth form students who took part and their parents, indicated that it had been a resounding success, both in terms of the course content and the choice of venue.
Alison would like to warmly thank Paul and Di Hewetson for the use of their facilities and their excellent support during the setting up and running of the course, which contributed to its success.
Further ‘A’ level biology and GCSE mathematics courses are scheduled for the Christmas, Spring half-term and Easter school breaks.
For additional information on any of these courses please contact Dr Wade-Evans on 01923 269423; or email intuitiontutors@hotmail.co.uk
Any enquiries regarding Blackwell’s Village Club please contact Paul or Di Hewetson on 01923 264708.
POPPY APPEAL 2007 - CHIPPERFIELD REMEMBERS THEM
Over 250 British service people have now been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and many, many more seriously injured. Chipperfield residents have yet again demonstrated their support for the Royal British Legion’s work for the victims of these and earlier conflicts. In the village this year we collected a record £3,750, between seven and eight percent more than last year and the best ever. Warmest thanks go to everyone who dug deeper into their pockets this year.
This excellent result was largly due to the very hard work of the house-to-house collectors, some of whom went out four or five times (mostly in the dark) to ensure they got a response from every house. Congratulations to all of them, especially the new recruits, but we still need more, younger people to help. Do get in touch with me on 01923 267515 if you could join in next year.
The enterprise of most of the pubs and shops was also impressive. Two “All-The-Year-Round” tins in one pub yielded over £58.
My particular thanks go to Helen Harmer for her help with the preparations, Patrick Gardiner for every imaginable kind of help and the team who counted the money.
An especially large crowd attended the short ceremony at the War Memorial and the Parish Church was full for the Service of Remembrance which followed. )”Much more moving”. someone said”than the impersonal dignity of St. Paul’s Catherdral!”) At the service, as usual, the shockingly long list of those killed in the two World Wars was read out. Long may Chipperfield continue to show it has not forgotten their sacrifice.
Anne Wyburd, Honary Appeal Organiser
YOUTHS HELP - HELP YOUTHS
Are you a teenager or in your early 20s and wish to help aspects of village life? If so read on. The Parish Council and others in the community wish to promote you, the younger generation, to take a greater and more active part in the running of our village, its institutions and sports clubs. There may be something you would like to do but do not know who to approach (such as a sport) or you may have the ability to assist (you may for instance have a little IT experience that may be helpful) or may be you just would like to try something new (helping in an office, shop or garden centre). Many of these activities would not only bring you experience, they may be more enjoyable than you think, but more importantly, they may be good for your CV and eventual employment.
And what about you past-it teenagers? I mean you older generation. You might (depending on your age) remember what it was like with time on your hands when you were young and now wish you had played this game or participated in that activity. Well, could you introduce someone to your sport or offer a young person say half a day’s activity indoors (or out) helping you for, perhaps but not necessarily, a little pocket money (and I am not advocating a bob-a-job type thing – I mean serious mental or physical work).
Have I got you interested? Well both young and old think about it and give me, Graham, a ring on 01923 269915. And parents, you think hard as to what you can contribute or give your youngster a push. If I do not hear anything immediately - I will be back after Christmas to hassle you all again do not fear.
Graham McMellin
CHIPPERFIELD WITHIN LIVING MEMORY
NEW LAMPS FOR OLD
The fact that St Paul’s Church was closed for most of the first 3 weeks in October this year whilst the lighting system was up-graded, made me look at some earlier periods of maintenance and improvement work.
It is difficult to believe that when the church was dedicated in 1838 by the Bishop of Lincoln, it had been built within one year at a cost of £1,500, which had been raised by public subscription. The amounts donated by villagers ranged from 2s.6d. (25p) to £50. Initially the church was lit by oil lamps, which were suspended from the rafters on chains. These would have entailed a considerable amount of regular maintenance involving the filling of lamps with paraffin oil, trimming the wicks and washing and polishing the glass globes. Each one had to be individually lit and carefully extinguished to prevent smoking of the glass.
About fifty years later, it was time for a change. The church was closed for several months whilst alterations and additions were made. The roof was re-slated; the main entrance was moved from the back to its present position on the north side and a porch was built. The balcony was removed and the triple-decker pulpit was reduced to one tier only. It was at this stage that the lych gate was erected by the Clayton family of Chipperfield House. The biggest alteration to the church was the extension of the chancel by several feet. The floor was raised by the height of the two steps we see today. A new shorter chancel window was installed and the original triple lancet stained glass window, dedicated to the memory of the first vicar, was inserted in the north transept. The restoration work cost about £950 and prior to the consecration service conducted by the Bishop of Colchester in September 1889, £780 had already been paid or pledged.
A desire to improve the church’s lighting system was expressed in the early 1900s and with the arrival of gas in Chipperfield, the future was looking brighter. According to the Rev Bertram Machin’s report, the 1909 accounts were showing a surplus of £39 despite the fact that a lot of money had been spent on fixtures such as some new lamps. The next vicar, the Rev. Charles Barker made an appeal for more money for the lighting fund and was delighted to have raised 13 shillings (65p) by July 1915. He said that just two more chandeliers were needed to complete the job and he was offering the old oil lamps for sale at 4 shillings (20p) each. He felt that all must agree with him that the gas lights were a distinct improvement in both appearance and performance. However, Mary Moore in 2000 recalled that the gas lighting used to be rather poor. From her childhood memories she could still picture the big flame that shot up to light the mantle, when the chain was pulled to turn the gas on.
In December 1920, the then Vicar, Canon Jeffries, recorded that the Church had been closed for a month to enable much needed renovation work to be done following the period of neglect during the First World War. The wall text ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty’ was removed from the chancel arch and the walls were painted a yellowish stone colour. The roof rafters, which had suffered woodworm damage in places, were filled, sprayed and re-painted, as was the ceiling. The church roof was repaired and made waterproof again, (The water damage shows clearly on an old postcard). An outside gas lamp was erected to brighten the lych-gate approach to the church.
In 1938 St Paul’s celebrated its centenary year and for this special event Mrs Brousson of the Manor House generously offered to pay for the church to be redecorated. A team of about a dozen men from Waterhouses erected four tiers of scaffolding and completed the job in record time. The rafters were again treated for woodworm and re-painted dark brown. The walls were brightened with a grey stone coloured paint. Canon Jeffries and his congregation were amazed by the improvement and could not believe how dirty the walls had been!
Electric lighting came quite late to Chipperfield (it always amazes me that St Paul’s School did not have it installed until 1954) and for the church this would have been the next obvious improvement. But when was it actually installed? A small brass plaque in the vicar’s vestry provides a clue. It states that an electric motor was provided by J.A.R.Clark of Highcroft in 1949 for the blowing of the organ. Up to this time the organ had been pumped by hand. So it is reasonable to assume that electric lighting was put in about this time. It was certainly in place when David Williams became a choirboy in the early 1950’s. It would have been a far cry however from the very versatile state-of-the-art lighting system which the church has now had installed.
Note: most of these references are from issues of the Parish Magazine and the Watford Observer of the time.
Mary Nobbs
PLAGUES OF PIGEONS
With the clocks going back my early morning dog walks are once again in day light, for a few weeks any way. I can manage the dark evenings, crumpets and a roaring fire, but I hate getting up in the dark.
Getting up to a fine sunny morning is a real treat and Ted, our young Labrador and I, try and make the most of it. A few mornings ago we had a wonderful view of two roe deer silhouetted on the horizon as they fed on the stubble. As we struck out across the field the sky was full of wood pigeons. As we crested the hill hundreds flew up from the stubble. Ted raced along the bank, making sure none were left undisturbed. I do not think I have ever seen so many! They were doing no harm where they were, but a flock of that size would soon decimate winter greens or next spring’s peas.
Wood pigeons have been breeding in our garden all year. As I work in the vegetable garden the males perform their display flight above me. They climb steeply, clap their wings noisily, then glide down again. Their nest is a thin platform of fine twigs, often silver birch. They only have two pure white eggs, but they seem to be managing three or four clutches a year so its no wonder the numbers are building up. Today, 1 November, we saw another bit of pigeon egg shell on the footpath, a sure sign they are making the most of the mild weather. The parents feed the youngsters with food regurgitated from their crops known as "pigeons milk". They stay in the nest for a little over a month before going off to join the hordes. These young birds are quite distinctive as they lack the white neck patch of the adults.
Ted has astounded us all by catching wood pigeons in the past. The first one had eaten so many holly berries that it was almost too heavy to fly and he was able to leap up and pluck it from the air. I immediately thought of pigeon casserole, but he refused to give it up, swallowing it whole, feet and all. He has had about a dozen now and I have tried swapping them for Bonios and chews but he has not been persuaded, so I suppose I shall have to shoot some for myself. There’s no shortage!
Wendy Bathurst
VILLAGE PEOPLE
Congratulations to Alex Clifford on her selection to the Wales Under 18s Lacrosse Squad. Alex is eligible for the team courtesy of her Welsh grandmother and their first match will be played early next year. Is Alex the first national cap in the village?
Our County and Borough Councillor Richard Roberts, his wife Susan and daughters Lucy and Sophie have moved and are now living at Little Callipers. Councillor Roberts’ phone number remains unchanged (01923 262812).
He may also be contacted by e-mail at richard.roberts@hertscc.gov.uk.
Welcome to Andy and Maria Coote, son James and daughter Jo who moved in to Heath End last month.
A big thank you to Alec Cibula and his wife for delivering Chipperfield News to the Bucks Hill and Chandlers Cross area for so many years. We welcome Irene Beck who has taken over this delivery route and joins the loyal band of distributors.
PIN NUMBER REVERSAL (GOOD TO KNOW)
If you should ever be forced by a robber to withdraw money from an ATM machine, you can notify the police by entering your Pin Number in reverse. For example if your pin number is 1234 then you would put in 4321. The ATM recognizes that your pin number is backwards from the ATM card you placed in the machine. The machine will still give you the money you requested, but unknown to the robber, the police will be immediately dispatched to help you.
This information was recently broadcast on TV and it states that it is seldom used because people don't know it exists.
CHRISTMAS FRUIT & VEG AT STANLEY’S STORE
Back by popular demand! Once again Stanley's Store will have their Christmas fresh fruit and veg boxes - no elbow pushing needed. Beautiful fresh produce sourced locally wherever possible and delivered free of charge to your door on Christmas Eve.
Pop in to Stanley's for an order form - get your order in quickly!
BAPTIST CHURCH
December is busy! That I guess no one would argue with and we yearn for a slower pace, to reflect and remember what it is all about. But actually at the birth of Christ it cannot have been quiet and slow, it would have been noisy with all those animals and shepherds trampling in and out of the dirty smelly stable, all that stuff? on the floor, not the most hygienic place to bring a baby into this world. Mary tired and worried about her new born, Joseph pacing up and down stressing about getting some quiet for his wife and crying child, and then in walk three well dressed and well meaning wise men with their caravan of camels, just to add to the affray.
For me this just proves how much God identifies with us, that he knows what life can be, how out of control and how much it can get on top of us.
Thankfully he is not removed and distant from all that life can throw at us and in Christmas we see him entering into LIFE with all it's baggage, all its stress, all its worries and is with us in all our desires. That is something we can celebrate, not the consumerism or hype but in giving and receiving of love and a knowledge of His presence at this time.
When it is all over and the celebrations and noise are dying down we can slow the pace a little and spend the New Year reflecting on what a difference one life can make and maybe just maybe identify with God as much as he does with us.
During the Advent period there will be lots of times to stop and hopefully you will take up an invitation from Chipperfield Baptist Church to "Return to Church" and join us at an informal all age café style service being held at 4.00pm on Sunday December 16th
Love, Jason The Man in the Manse
ST PAULS AND HOLY CROSS
It is early November….I have just returned from a fortnight in Rwanda, visiting the church there, and meeting all sorts of people who live and work miles away from any tarmac road, with no supply of clean water…few clothes…just about enough to eat…yet wonderfully welcoming and friendly, many of them amazingly skilled and innovative.
Back home, an email reminds me that it is time to write for the December edition of Chipperfield News. I find myself thinking about who will have the more joyful Christmas….those Rwandans whom I have met and worked alongside – with their wonderful smiles, enthusiasm and spiritual fervour, and almost total lack of material things…or you and me, with all the commercial pressures which bear down upon us with the (not so subtle) message that "contentment lies in having….and consuming"
The Prince of Peace, whose coming into the world – in circumstances akin to the way many in a country like Rwanda live – lies at the heart of Christmas, reminds us that our life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions. Happiness and contentment are things which seem remarkably elusive…if we seek them, they somehow slip our grasp. That is because they are consequences of something deeper…of right relationships, with those around me, and critically, with my Maker: and it was with exactly that in mind that He left behind all the splendour and wonder of the "throne of heaven", to come and be alongside us, that we might know and enjoy life shared with Him, with Almighty God as "Our Father", whatever our material circumstances might be!
May a deep joy and contentment be both your and my experience this Christmastime, along with those I had the privilege of meeting in Rwanda, this October.
His peace be with you, Jim Stevens
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Although we were well looked after by visiting priests during Fr. Desmond’s holiday, it was with great pleasure that we welcomed him home. The older members of the congregation had been reminded of the days before we were a "proper" community when slightly confused priests would arrive early Sunday morning to be ferried between Chipperfield, Bovingdon and Kings Langley to say masses for our scattered rural areas.
This memory will make 8 January a happy celebration, as it will be exactly 30 years ago when we were declared a "Pastoral Area". No one knew what the title meant as we were more familiar with the word "Parish", so we have made history here in Chipperfield. It may well catch on around the country as more churches have to combine.
On Friday 2 November, 2 tons of medical supplies were shipped out to Daar-el-Salaam. Most of the supplies were in the form of pain-killers to be used in the only Hospital giving cancer treatment in the whole of Tanzania. So many of Fr. Desmond’s friends have worked and donated to make this happen.
Christmas Services are, as always:
24 December 11:30pm Midnight Mass preceded by carol singing
25 December 9am and 11 am Morning Masses
NEWS FROM THE BAPTIST CHURCH
The past few months have been busy ones in the life of our church and, as winter approaches, there is still a lot happening. If you have not attended a Christingle service before, come and join us at St Paul’s on 9 Dec at 10am to discover its meaning. At 4pm on that day, the Chiltern West Gallery Quire will be singing tunes from the 1800s in our church gallery, and there will be tea afterwards. You are very welcome to join us.
The following week, on the 16th, we are having a "Return to Church" café-style service at 4pm, with refreshments, and we give you a warm invitation to come and find out what it’s about!
On 23 December we have our Family Carols at 3pm with mince pies and refreshments afterwards and we’ll be very pleased to see you then, and at the 10am on Christmas morning, to celebrate the birth of the Christ child our Saviour and Lord.
We wish you all a very happy and blessed Christmas in its truest sense, from the Baptist Church family.
MIMIE EVA SIMMONDS
1910 - 2007
Born in Rawal Pindi in India, Mimie was the youngest daughter of RSM Frederick William Williams R.E. The family lived in the military town of Roorkee and Mimie spent the first ten years of her life there. At an early age she was sent away to a boarding school in Simla in the Himalayan foothills. While there she attended a special tea party at the Vice Regal Lodge and was presented to the Viceroy of India.
Her father retired from the Royal Engineers in 1920 and the family returned to England to live in Sydenham close to the Crystal Palace and Mimie completed her education at a college in south London.
The family moved to Chipperfield in 1925 and set up home at Osmunda in Scatterdells Lane, one of the many wood and asbestos bungalows which filled the lane at the time. Mimie soon joined Chipperfield Baptist Church.
She got a job at the nursery garden run by Herbert Simmonds and in 1934 married the boss’s son Jim Simmonds, a marriage which was to last for 69 years. They raised five children, Terry, Robin, Philip, Monica and Pat and Mimie was a familiar face in the nursery and garden centre until the 1990s. She loved growing plants and until quite recently still sowed seeds and took cuttings in spite of failing eyesight.
Mimie has left behind thousands of pages of handwritten memoirs and notes. She loved people and would do all she could to help her family and friends and even perfect strangers. Mimie passed away at her home in Chipperfield on 4 November and her five children, 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren will remember her with great affection.
Terry Simmonds
ST PAUL’S PARISH REGISTERS
We welcome into God’s family
4 November 2007
Holly and Joshua, twin children of Richard and Hannah Miller
Callum and Stuart, twin sons of Graham and Lesley Warner
HEALTH WALKS IN CHIPPERFIELD
A new weekly walk in Chipperfield will take place every Thursday in the new year.
Health Walks are accompanied by trained leaders and organised and promoted by Dacorum Borough Council, Hertfordshire’s Countryside Management Service and the National Health Service.
The first walk will leave Blackwell’s on The Common at 10.00am on Thursday 3 Janaury. The walks are open to all but those who currently take little exercise or are recovering from injury or illness are particularly welcome.
There will be sufficient leaders for everyone to go at their own pace and the walk will last about 40 minutes with a longer route taking about 1 hour. If you would like more details please phone Paul or Di Hewetson on 01923 264708. Otherwise just turn up on 3 January!
CHRISTMAS PARCELS - BEWARE OF THIS SCAM
If you find a card posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) saying that they have a parcel for you, do not phone the number given on the card. It is a premium rate line and will cost you £15 for the phone call. Contact Royal Mail Fraud on 0207 239 6655 or ICSTIS (the premium rate service regulator) at www.icstis.org.uk
CHIPCHOPS ACTIVITIES
Chipchops was blessed with fine weather for this year's sponsored bike ride on 22 September, which took place along the Grand Union Canal, and we were pleased that all 20 bikers made it safely home, raising over £550 for the Retrak (formerly Tigers) charity.
We had a great swim at Burford house, and the camping, BBQ and Night March at the Belsize Brownie camp all made for a fun weekend. Well done to all Chipchops and helpers - thank you.
Chipchops (Chipperfield Church Outdoor Pursuits Society) is open to all children 8-13 years old in Chipperfield or Sarratt and the next event will be in April 2008.
ORGAN FUND APPEAL
The household and garden sale held at Hunterswood on 3 November raised a grand total of £1,250. Mary and Sandy Stirling are delighted to donate £900
towards the restoration of the church organ in the hope that organist Keith Benison will continue to enrich worship at St. Paul’s for many years.
The remaining cash has been divided between the seven young Stirling grandchildren as a parting present from the happy home that they have shared for 37 years.
Future Fundraising
Two more events are planned to take place early next year to help raise funds for the St. Paul’s Organ Appeal. They are, a spring sale to be organised by Frank and Leslie Baker and an evening concert arranged by Steve and Laura Rose. Dates and details should appear in February’s Chipperfield News.
WINTER IN THE GARDEN
With Christmas approaching it is easy to forget about the garden. However, with the colder days on their way, less hardy plants will need to be protected. Stake trees and taller shrubs to prevent rocking in the wind and put up windbreaks. Get pipes and outdoor taps lagged against freezing and line the glasshouse with bubble plastic to help raise the temperature.
The pond pump will need to be removed and stored and a good pond heater should help the fish. Make sure there is food and water for the birds. There will still be leaves to sweep up, old bedding plants to dig out and prunings to be collected. All these can be added to the compost heap. Keep on top of the weeds - mulching will help keep them under control and protect the roots of plants from damage at the same time.
As long as the weather remains mild planting bulbs, autumn bedding plants, container-grown shrubs, roses, climbers and conifers can continue.
The best time to sow sweet peas is before Christmas and exhibition onions should be sown soon after. Once we get into the new year it will be time to do much of the pruning of fruit trees other than plums which are pruned in the summer. Fruit should be sprayed in January with a winter wash and peach trees will need to be sprayed with Dithane or Copper Fungicide. Seed potatoes should be purchased and sprouted in a light frost-free place. Do keep off the grass during the winter but remember to arrange for the lawn mower to be serviced so that it will be in good order as soon as the grass starts to grow again.
In the garden centre the new range of seeds arrives soon after Christmas and it is a good time to pick up a seed catalogue which should give details of the best sowing times. The darker nights are the best time to make all the plans for the garden and there are plenty of books and magazines which will help. When you visit the garden centre to select a Christmas tree do have a look at the many items which make good gifts for gardeners. There are garden gadgets, hand tools, boots, kneelers, gloves, pots, propagators, seeds, bulbs, thermometers, soil testers, labelling machines and bird houses. HTA Garden Gift Tokens make acceptable gifts or why not take out a gift membership to the Royal Horticultural Society or the National Trust or a gift subscription to one of the many garden magazines.
Terry Simmonds
PARKING AT THE VILLAGE HALL
Please note that the area immediately in front of the Village Hall is for use specifically by village hall users while delivering and unloading, and for Ken Ward, who has a right of way to park his vehicle there as he lives at Martlet Cottage.
Access must be kept free for use by emergency services.
Parents delivering and collecting children from the school are asked particularly to respect this requirement.