March 2002
Parents with children in Year 5 at primary school will have received a rather dull looking and off-putting document issued by Herts County Council called Statutory Consultation on Secondary Admissions 2003-2004 from their child's primary school. The replies made to this document will have a vital effect on the future choice of secondary schools for all Chipperfield children, not only for those currently in Year 5 but for their younger brothers and sisters in years to come. If you have received a copy do not fail to complete at least some of it if you value your children's secondary education.
The county Education Authority is proposing to group Chipperfield in the priority area of south west Hertfordshire. This means that parents will still be able to apply for a place for their child at Kings Langley Secondary School but if they don't get in, their next choices will have to be for schools like Westfield Community School in Watford or Francis Coombe in Garston. They will not be able to select nearer or more favourable schools in Hemel Hempstead.
Our County Councillor Janet Anderson is greatly concerned about the effect the proposed changes will have and urges all parents to respond to consultation document as soon as possible. She says "Even if you do not complete the whole document, you can register your protest about the proposed change of priority areas by stating in question 4 I do not want Chipperfield to be in the south west Hertfordshire priority area. I do wish it to be grouped with Hemel. " The deadline for the return of the document is 15 March and if you require any help completing the form you can contact Councillor Anderson on 01923 262884.
Parents with younger children in Years 1 to 4 who will not have received copies of the document but wish to express their opinion about the proposed changes can write to the County Education Authority
THE QUEEN'S GOLDEN JUBILEE
Following the tradition of previous royal occasions, the Parish Council will be planting an oak tree on Chipperfield Common to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The tree will join others on The Common which were planted to mark the Coronation 1953 and the Silver Jubilee in 1978. The Mayor of Dacorum has been invited to the ceremony which will take place at 12.15pm on Saturday 16 March.
The Parish Council has also decided to present specially designed Jubilee mugs free of charge to all children currently at school or attending pre-school playgroups in Chipperfield. The mugs wilt be given to the children at the Jubilee Party to be held at St. Paul's School on Thursday 30 May. Additional mugs will be on sale to residents.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AT TOWER HILL/DUNNY LANE CROSSROADS
The number, frequency and increasing severity of accidents at the crossroads by Tower Hill Garage is becoming worrying, not least for the residents at the junction who become involved in assisting victims.
Some years ago when money was available there was a public consultation on this issue, but village residents turned down proposals made by the highway authority to alter the approach to the junction. Funds on this scale are unlikely to be available again but the Parish Council has decided to approach the Highways District Engineer to seek his advice for any means by which motorists and pedestrians can be alerted to the potential dangers at this junction
FOOTBALL CLUB CENTENARY
Congratulations to Chipperfield Corinthians who are celebrating their centenary this year.
The club was formed in 1902, initially to play friendly games. Within two years the game had become a more serious pastime and in 1904 Chipperfield Football Club, as it was then called, joined the local West Herts League, which covers the Hemel Hempstaed and Watford area.
Over the last 100 years the club has grown into a very successful club with good facilities. The name was changed to Chipperfield Corinthians in 1987.
To celebrate its 100 -years the club is holding a Centenary Ball on Friday 21 June on Chipperfield Common. The club has contacted as many past and present players as it can find to invite them to celebrate this special anniversary but if you know of anyone who has been missed please contact the club as soon as possible.
The club plan to make their Centenary Ball a memorable event for the village and welcomes ticket applications from all friends and supporters. Tickets cost £35 and your application will be put in a draw to be made at the end of March. After the draw all applicants will be notified of their success (or otherwise) in obtaining a ticket.
For more details and application for tickets contact Ian Chapman, Farthings, Little Windmill Hill, Chipperfield. Telephone 01923 265036.
ONE WOMAN AND HER DOG
Gladys and Jodi are on track again!
Gladys Taaffe, aged 91, and her faithful hound, Jodie, will be once again undertaking a sponsored walk to raise funds for the Chiltern Open Air Museum at Chalfont St. Giles. The walk will take place on Sunday 14 April and will cover about 6 miles ending at the Museum. Gladys and Jodie were unable to walk last year due to Foot and Mouth restrictions, so donations this year will be especially welcome. If you would like to support this intrepid pair and their worthy cause please telephone Gladys on 01923 262923.
CHIPPERFIELD CORINTHIANS JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUB There are vacancies next season at the Corinthians Junior Football Club for Club Secretary and Treasurer. Both positions must be filled to enable the club to keep running and anyone interested should contact me on 01923 712611.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mark Lock
and Dave Marchant for the continuous hard work which they have put into the club over the years.
The club is expanding with many upand-coming footballers joining us and we are now running out of football pitches. I would be most grateful if anyone has a piece of land, or who knows of a piece of land, that we could rent or buy to make into a decent football pitch. If you can help, please contact me.
John Tasker, Chairman
ALDENHAM COUNTRY PARK
The Park was created in 1971 and is owned and managed by Hertfordshire County Council. There are 175 acres of woodland, parkland and water to enjoy with picnic areas, an adventure playground and toddlers' play area.
Since 1984 the Park has specialised in breeding rare livestock and is famous for its Aldenham Longhorn Cattle. Other rare breeds include Tamworth pigs, Whitefaced Woodland and Leicester sheep and Bagot goats, originally brought to this country by the Crusaders
The lake offers good coarse fishing with a permit (phone 020 8953 4978).
BETTY BRUIN
Elizabeth (Betty) Bruin died on January 22, some short time after her 93rd birthday. She first came to Chipperfield from London at the time of the First World War, together with her two cousins, Ina Brown and Bill Judge, both of whom she outlived.
Betty was very musical - she played both the piano and cello, taking up the organ much later in life when she played for the church services held at Chandler's Cross and stood in on occasions for the organist at St Paul's to play at some of the funeral services.
Her own funeral service was held on February 1 at the Chiltern Crematorium, where her family knew how delighted she would have been to welcome two old Chipperfield friends, the Rev. Arthur Ellery, who travelled down from his home near Peterborough to conduct the service, together with Mrs Joyce Ellery, who so kindly offered to play the organ. After the funeral service, the beautiful flowers were taken to St Paul's, where they were used to decorate the church and could be seen and enjoyed by all.
During her life in the village, Betty at various times participated in activities such as cricket teas, the Poppy Day appeal and even Meals on Wheels, which she could still be found delivering well into her 80's.
Betty leaves three daughters, Sheila, Judith and Margaret, and will be greatly missed.
ERIC WRIGHT 1915-2002
Eric passed away peacefully in hospital on January 24 after a short illness. Although a quiet and retiring man, he had many remarkable qualities and skills. He was born in Plaistow and went to Brentwood High School. He had various interests and decided on engineering as a career.
During the war, he joined the Royal Navy where he trained as a radar mechanic on a minesweeper. At the time of his demobilisation he was a lieutenant in charge of the Radar Office in Hazlemere.
On the death of his mother 27 years ago, he came to Bucks Hill and worked for Three Rivers Council. Woodturning and silver work were his main hobbies. He had varied interests in Chipperfield but the church was central to his life. He designed and organised the making of the kneelers in the church which are all unique and will be a lasting memorial to a talented and much loved gentleman. K.P.
CHIPPERFIELD WITHIN LIVING MEMORY
Working Men's Club and Reading Room
If you turn to page 102 in the village book, you will find an article about the Social Club. Patrick Milner, the club's president, provided the information and apart from the fact that his grandfather told him that men used to meet in each other's houses, play cards and enjoy a few beers together, well before the opening of the Social Club in 1922, there was little else to tell about the history of the club.
So when Beccy Beard, of the Hemel Hempstead Gazette, featured an article on 28 November 2001, about the formation of a club in Chipperfield a hundred years ago, several people, including Patrick Milner, were rather taken aback. It appears that very few villagers saw the article, so with Beccy's consent, the story is being retold in the hope that someone in the village may be able to recall a conversation with an elderly relative, who spoke about the original club.
One Saturday in November 1901, a meeting was held in the old school, to discuss the advisability of setting up a workmen's club and institute, for men over the age of seventeen. Between 30 and 40 men attended and the local gentry were represented by Mr. Broughton, Mr. Aronson, Mr. Rivington, Rev. Ellerbeck and Pastor Haswell.
Temporary premises had already been secured for the use of a club in Queen Street and the idea of forming a club was a resounding success. A committee was formed and necessary rules were drawn up. At least three bona fide working men had to be appointed to every committee. It was decided that the name should be Chipperfield Working Men's Club and Reading Room and that the subscription should be 8d. per month. The reading room would be open, initially, for six days per week from 11.OO.a.m. to 10.00.p.m. Games would be played in the second room. Refreshments, including ale, would be sold at popular prices and smoking would be permitted in both rooms.
If anyone has any information about the Queen Street premises, please contact Mary Nobbs on 269480 or talk to Patrick Milner at the Social Club.
THREE VALLEYS WATER LEAKSPOTTERS LINE
Three Valleys Water urge people to report leaks on a freephone hotline: 0800 376 5325 and in doing so help the company to prevent or minimise the amount of water lost through leaks and bursts.
If anyone suspects a leak they can call the Leakspotters hotline or send an email to www.3valleys.co.uk