July - Aug 1997
Two new leaders have been appointed for 1st Chipperfield Brownies, saving it from possible closure.
Brown Owl Sian and Tawny Owl Shelley take over in September, replacing Heather and Gail who leave on July 8.
JOIN US AT THE LUNCH CLUB
Are you over 60 and would you like excellent food and very good fellowship? Then why not join us on Thursday each week at 12.1 5pm at the Youth Club. The charge is very, very reasonable as it is subsidised by Dacorum Council.
The menu is fine - meat or fish with three vegetables and a first-class sweet. Of course there is no choice (though a vegetarian meal will be provided on request) but so far, after some years, I am a very satisfied customer.
If you are not able to get there on your own two feet, arrangements can be made to collect you. So can we expect to see you? If you are interested please telephone Mary West on 01923 260688 for more details.
A satisfied customer
NEW HEADTEACHER APPOINTED
Parents, staff and children were delighted to hear of the appointment of the new headteacher of St. Paul’s School, Chipperfield.
Mr Lyndon Evans, the current deputy-head of the school was appointed by governors following interviews just before half term The appointment takes effect from the beginning of September.
Mr Evans is a very popular choice. He has been deputy for five years and his knowledge of the school will enable a smooth changeover of its management. Mr Evans has particular strengths in music, science, technology, R.E., sport and creative aspects of the curriculum. We wish him every success for the next step in his career.
FAREWELL TO CHRIS WARD
New headteacher Mr Lyndon Evans pays tribute to Chris Ward
At the end of this summer term we at St. Paul’s School will sadly be saying farewell to Chris Ward, Headteacher, as she approaches early retirement. She will have been headteacher here for 14 years. I have enjoyed working with Chris for just over five of those years.
It is easy to forget that in 1983 there were four classes and 78 children in total in the school. It was through sheer hard work and determination that numbers started to rise so that today there are 222 children in the school and many more wanting places. Bringing the school to where it is today has required tremendous energy and commitment from a Head who is unquestionably dedicated to providing the best for children. When it became evident that the original building was not sufficiently large to accommodate all those who wanted to attend the school, Chris worked tirelessly to see through a new building programme from the planning stages to the final coat of gloss! We often wonder how we survived without those new buildings. As I write, the new extension to the nursery is imminent. Recently I have wondered about the vast
BEST KEPT VILLAGE COMPETITION
Many thanks to all those who have been contributing to the general tidy-up of the village in response to our entry of this competition.
Please keep up the good work, as the judging may not yet have taken place as you read this (our turn could be any time up to July 5).
The results are being announced on July 10. when all participants will be told where they did well and also where the judges felt there was room for improvement.
JOHN PHILLIPS
John came to live in Chipperfield after his marriage in 1969 when he and Ann were offered a ‘Waterhouse cottage’ in Kings Lane. He lived in the village for the rest o his life with one short break when he built his own home in Grove Hill, Hemel Hempstead. He and Ann and the family returned to live in Corner Cottage in 1976 and in 1987 he built another house for the family in Scatterdells Lane.
During his time in Chipperfield he served as a Parish Councillor and was active for many years on the committee of the village football club, eventually helping them to secure the lease on their ground from Forte. In latter years he had become particularly involved in St Paul’s Church and at the time of his death was advising them on practical matters regarding their hoped-for extension.
Phillips Construction, under his direction, built many well known buildings in and around the village - the classroom extension to St. Paul’s School, St. Paul’s Court, The new Clock Tower in Chesham High Street and the Barbirolli Hall at St. Clement Danes School, to name but a few. His joinery company, J.L. Phillips Joinery is well known throughout the ‘trade’ for the high quality work it produces, including the recently completed new library for Merchant Taylors School.
John will be greatly missed by his family and friends. His death seems particularly untimely, as he had recently begun to feel better after his problems of the past year.
SAYING GOODBYE TO CHRISTINA BILLINGTON
It is with great sadness that St Paul’s church will be saying farewell to Christina Billington at the end of the children’s Holiday Club in August.
Christina has been given “an offer she could not refuse” to go and work with the churches in the Berkhamsted town team from whence she came and since this will be closer to home for her we cannot but wish her every blessing.
In the four years that Christina has been with St. Paul’s she has contributed enormously to the growth of the church youth and children’s work as well as to the music group which she has led over those years.
She will be greatly missed for her persistence, creativity and sheer hard work and we offer to her our grateful thanks as well as our good wishes for the future. If you would like to contribute to a leaving gift for her, Angela Panayi (tel. 01923 263943) is co-ordinating her collection. Everyone is invited to a farewell party and presentation to Christina in the Village Hall after the lOam Holiday Club Family Service on Sunday, August 3.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT
Following the generally favourable response in the village to the idea of a small affordable housing project to provide accommodation for rent to people with village connections, the Parish Council has progressed the proposal. Discussions have been held, with the help of the Community Development Agency’s Rural Housing Adviser, with Dacorum Borough Council and with a local housing association. Preliminary plans have now been drawn up and we should like to share these with the village and obtain people’s views before progressing any further.
A public meeting has therefore been arranged in the Village Hall at 7.45 for 8pm on Wednesday, July 9. Simon Mitchell of Hightown Praetorian Housing Association will describe different possible schemes and Cohn Farrar, Assistant Director of Housing at Dacorum Borough Council, will outline the views of the Borough about the proposal. There will then be an opportunity for questions, both publicly in the main session or informally over refreshments afterwards. Do please try and come. David Nobbs Parish Council Chairman