March 2004
The support for the proposed track running alongside Langley Road has been amazing! In the three months The Jasmine Safety Track Trust has been in consultation with Herts. County Council Highways Department and Chipperfield Parish Council they have raised £6,000 out of the total of £10,000 needed for this project. This includes a grant from the Parish Council and donations from The British Horse Society, individual riders and residents and proceeds from local fund-raising events. Our thanks to Whitedell Farm for raising £220 with their horse show. They are waiting to hear from Herts. Highways whether they will offer us a grant and the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has sent information about other possible sources of funding.
The race night held on 24 January raised £2,000, which was fantastic! The Trust’s thanks go to the race night sponsors: Tower Hill Garage, The Boot Public House, Chipperfield Garden Scene, Generators Now, The Park Veterinary Surgery, NC Engineering, Georgia’s Pet Care, K&M Decorators and Inagas. Thanks also to those who donated raffle prizes: The Chiltern Rider, Toni & Guy Hairdressers, The Forage Box, Kimblewick Feeds and The Saracens Head, Amersham. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the evening and the fish and chips from Kings Langley Fish Bar were praised by all.
Due to the support they are receiving, the Trust is hopeful that this project will begin in late spring. The new track will be of great benefit to all horse-riders as well as pedestrians with pushchairs and walkers with dogs who find the existing footway too narrow to negotiate safely. If anyone would like to make a donation please place it in the Jasmine Trust Donation Box in Londis. If you have any queries please contact either Liz Holliday on 01923 267483 or Tina Robinson, Jasmine Safety Track Trust on 01923 267519.
POST SCRIPT: Local artist Joan Sellwood has once again very generously offered to paint a watercolour of a horse or pet for the bargain price of £100, which she will then donate to the Trust. As previous offers have always been quickly snapped up, interested parties need to act quickly. Please phone Joan on 01923 265236.
CHIPPERFIELD PLAYGROUP
Chipperfield Playgroup is held in the Youth Club in Chipperfield and has been running for more than 30 years. We have close links with the neighbouring St. Paul’s School, especially the Nursery. At present we are open on three mornings each week from 9.00am to 12 noon and are Ofsted registered to take children from 21/2 years old. Mums and children are welcome to visit us at any time with a view to joining us in future years.
We would like to thank everyone in the village for past support and look forward to seeing many new faces in the future.
For more information you can contact us on 01923 262830 in the mornings or phone me in the evenings on 01442 834040. Sue Reynolds
OUR NEW POLICEMAN
Following the transfer of Michelle Buttleman to Hemel Hempstead, P.C. Bob Heley was appointed as our local community policeman in January and will be working in Chipperfield, Bovingdon and Flaunden. Previously Bob worked for the Rural Car service covering all the villages in this part of Hertfordshire. He is looking forward to working in the village and meeting as many residents as he can.
Currently there is an outbreak of car theft locally, where thieves break into houses, steal car keys and use them to steal cars parked in driveways and garages. Bob advises us all to take great care of car keys and not to leave them within sight in the house. If you see a crime being committed at any time dial 999.
If you wish to speak to Bob Heley you can phone him at Hemel Hempstead Police Station on 01442 271012 or on his mobile number: 07736 225282
Bob will be working with Kim Ashworth, our Police Community Support Officer and she can be contacted on 01442 271130 or mobile number 07876 390856.
A MAKE-OVER FOR CHIPPERFIELD SCHOOL OF DANCING
Last year was a great success for the pupils of the Chipperfield dancing school. £1,000 was raised for cancer research from the profits of the school’s production of Cinderella which was held at Watford Boy’s Grammar School. The examination results were also very good, with everybody passing with high grades.
This year the school is having a make-over. As the Village Club is being completely refurbished, there is going to be a new dance studio fully equipped with a new floor, mirrors and barres. There will also be a new timetable and a new teacher to help with the running and organisation of the dancing school. Ann Hertler-Smith will be teaching with Clare Gurney in the new Clare’s Studio and will be in charge of the modern/jazz classes, which are available to all ages. Ann will also be taking aerobic and trim & toner classes. The new timetable is as follows:
TUESDAYS 2.00pm-2.45pm Baby Ballet 4.00pm-4.30pm Preparatory Tap
4.30pm-5.15pm Preparatory Ballet 5.15pm-6.00pm pre Grade 1 Ballet
FRIDAYS 4.00pm-4.45pm Grade 2 Ballet 4.45-m-5.30pm Silver Tap
5.30pm-6.15pm Grade 2 Ballet
SATURDAYS 9.00am-9.45am Grade 1 Ballet 9.45am-10.30am Grade 3 Ballet
10.30am-11.30am Grade 5 Ballet 11.30am-12.15pm Advanced Tap
12.15pm-1.00pm Elementary Ballet
For more information contact Ann Hertler-Smith 01923 267604; Jean Banks 01923 400370 or Clare Gurney 0208 428 9906.
CHIPPERFIELD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY SPRING SHOW
Saturday 3rd April 2004
After the wonderful shows we had last year, this year’s Spring Show is around the corner.
There are many classes for daffodils; trumpet, large and small cupped, double and miniatures. Pictures showing the difference are to be found in this year’s Handbook and Show Schedule on page 9. There are classes for bowls of hyacinths and tulips, numerous pot plants, both foliage and flowering and vases of spring flowers. Plus
seven classes for vegetables, two for floral art and six for the domestic section.
All those of you who have been busy during the winter months can find classes to show your paintings and drawings, framed or unframed; an article in handknitting and indeed any other article of handicraft..
The junior section, 16 years and under has four classes, age to be stated on the entry form. School work can also be entered.
There is something for all the family, so come along to enter and take part in our Village Show which is a lot of fun. If in doubt about an entry or not too sure what to do, our Show Secretary, Roger Pigg, telephone number 01442 834287, will be delighted to help and give advice.
Staging, which means arranging your exhibit on the tables, takes place between 10.00a.m. and 12 noon on the morning, and this is followed by the judging. Doors open at 2.30p.m and the prize giving is at 3.30p.m. Teas are served in the afternoon and there is an auction of produce and a raffle.
At our Summer Show on Sunday 4 July, there are two classes for photography: 1. A View of St. Paul’s Church. 2. An animal(s). Maximum size print 7" x 5". You have plenty of time to take that perfect picture!
At 8.00pm on Friday 30 April we shall be holding another of our popular talks in the Parish Room. Bruce Taggart, Head of Countryside and Arboriculture at Capel Manor College will be giving a talk on HERTFORDSHIRE GARDEN WILDLIFE (including birds). Coffee and biscuits will be available from 7.30pm. and the talk begins at 8.00pm. Tickets, price £ 2.00, can be obtained from Committee members, Brits News or from me. Ann Soanes 01923 262756
WORK IN THE WOODS
Last month (February) saw the contractors in the woods, working in compartments 5 and 6, behind the cricket pavilion. A number of old and diseased trees close to the main footpaths and pavilion have been removed, younger trees have been thinned to favour native broadleaved species and quantities of holly, sycamore and brambles have been removed. The increased light levels to the woodland floor will encourage the growth of smaller plants and provide areas for the natural regeneration of tree species.
The brash resulting from the tree works has been chipped and added to the surface of footpaths and a number of felled trees left on the woodland floor to provide habitats for fungi, insects and small animals.
Sadly, it seems that the magnificent ‘veteran’ sweet chestnut in the centre of the woods is dying following the drought last year. It has been fenced off to protect it from damage and increase its slim chance of survival.
GUARDS ! GUARDS !
“The only thing you good people are good at is overthrowing bad people... one day it’s ringing the bells and celebrating the overthrow of the tyrant. Next it’s everyone sitting around complaining the no-one’s taking out the trash. Because the bad people know how to plan ... good people just don’t seem to have the knack”,
A spokesman in Iraq? No: the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork actually. There’s always some sort of dragon to be overthrown, isn’t there; trouble is, what sort of dragon do you replace it with? Serious stuff - yes, but not the way Terry Pratchett and his colleague Stephen Briggs tell it.
Dwarfs, dragons and a highly educated orang-utan join forces with the City Guards to outwit the latest maniacal tyrant. Join them and the Abbots Langley Players in the Henderson Hall, Abbots Langley between Wednesday 17 March and Saturday 20 March at 7.45pm. Tickets cost £6 (concessions £5) Box Office: 01923 449665)
MEMORIES OF WILLIAM
“Thank goodness for that” I thought as, after a two-hour wait, I finally boarded the train at Euston Station for the journey home. It had been an exhausting day at work and I hardly had time to notice the change in the weather which, without warning, had changed from one of those grey and gloomy January mornings to heavy snow before mid-day. In those days, just half a dozen flakes of this white precipitant seemed to throw the whole country into a state of disarray - especially the railways. On reflection it seems that little has changed in the last twenty years.
I wondered when I would eventually get home as the train limped along, pausing at every opportunity for what seemed a lifetime, to delay passengers reaching their final destinations. The normal twenty-five minute journey took over one and a half hours in a draughty, unheated carriage and by the time I reached Kings Langley station, as I remember, it was well past ten o’clock at night.
Most commuters had anticipated the adverse weather conditions by leaving work early and just a handful of us emerged from the train to face the final trek through the snow to the warmth and comfort of home. It was well past the hour when buses ran and to my surprise I was first to reach the telephone box to let my wife know where I was and beg her taxi service. The phone was out of order (no mobiles in those days) and as I contemplated the long three-mile walk home through the snow, I was approached by a short, well-dressed gentleman who I recognised as one of my fellow passengers on the train. “Can we offer you a lift?” he said, “My wife is picking me up and we are going back to Chipperfield, if that is any help to you”. Anyone who has been in similar circumstances will know that such an offer of help as a time of despair is so welcome that it remains in one’s memory for ever.
I did not know him - he did not know me, but that was my first encounter with Sir William Stabb which I shall never forget. Vic Archer
YOUR GARDEN IN MARCH
with Terry Simmonds
Spring is just about here and the clocks will be changing soon to give us much more time to get gardening. The grass is already growing and will need regular cutting but at this stage it should not be cut too short. There is a lot of moss about again this year and this is best dealt with by applying either lawn sand or a proprietory moss killer. Once the moss turns black the dead stuff can be raked or scarified out.
In the vegetable garden shallots and Jerusalem artichokes can be planted but it’s a bit too early to put in seed potatoes this month. Broad beans, parsnips and early peas should now be sown and so too can Brussels sprouts, kale, leeks, radish, carrots and onions.
In the greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet corn, marrows and courgettes should be sown so that the plants will be ready to put out when spring frosts are less likely. Flowers such as antirrhinums, marguerites, nicotiana, stocks and phlox can be sown under glass and so too can perennials such as lupins and delphiniums.
March is a good time to re-pot orchids and certain house plants. Late-flowering clematis such as Hagley Hybrid and Jackmanii Superba should be pruned back hard and the earlier flowering varieties lightly pruned. It’s time to prune roses and shrubs like ceanothus Gloire de Versailles, caryopteris, cornus, the large-flowered buddleias and wistaria. Pyracantha should be trimmed too. Hedge trimming is best left until the birds have finished nesting. Cut out the old raspberry canes and tie in the new ones if not already done and cut down the autumn-fruiting varieties too.
Many herbaceous perennials can be dug up and split at this time and penstemmons can be lightly pruned. March is a good time to purchase young herbaceous plants for the border and it’s a good time to sort out the rock garden as well.
Snowdrops can be lifted and divided and gladiolus and lily bulbs can be planted. Bare-root hedging such as beech and privet must be planted before the end of the month and so too should new raspberry canes.
It’s a good time to visit the garden centre and choose new shrubs and climbing plants and get them planted so they will be well established before the summer. Trees and conifers can be planted now to provide height in the garden.
March is the month when the daffodils come through and the early cherry blossom shows. The flowering quince (chaenomeles), forsythia, camellias, magnolias and kerria should all flower this month and the garrya should look a picture with its long silvery tassels.
JOHN NICHOLS 1925 - 2004
John Derek Francklyn Nichols was born in 1925 and educated in Watford and at Haileybury College. After a short spell at Caius College, Cambridge he joined the Royal Engineers and served in India and Japan. On his return he met Mimi and they married in 1950. The family moved to Chipperfield in 1952.
John qualified as a Chartered Accountant and worked for a variety of companies including an insurance broker, an oil storage firm, a safe manufacturer and a publisher - which explains why Mole House is full of books. His accountancy skills proved invaluable to many local organisations as he prepared their accounts and performed audits. When he retired the family thought that he might take things a little easier. Not so - he took on even more voluntary work.
John’s love of Chipperfield and commitment to local affairs saw him elected as a Parish Councillor in 1967 and he served as Chairman for a number of years. In 1977 John was elected to Dacorum Borough Council and he remained a member until 1999. He spent a most enjoyable and fulfiling year as Mayor in 1987-88. John was very proud and honoured when he became an Honorary Alderman in 1999.
His sons, Peter and Alan, and daughter Yvonne, have fond memories of family holidays and excursions. As a grandparent, John doted on his grand-children, Hannah and Paul.
Chipperfield and the wider local community benefited greatly from John’s talent and interest in local affairs. He will be greatly missed.
MARION HOLLAND 1909 - 2004
Marion Arden Holland, who died on 21 January 2004, had lived in Chipperfield for most of her life. She was born at Chapelfields Farm, Olton, Warwickshire on 27 June 1909 to Edith and James Powell. She was educated at a convent school in Olton and later at a girl’s school in Brighton. When the family moved to Birmingham she attended the Birmingham School of Art.
In 1932 Marion married her teenage sweetheart, Sydney Holland and after travelling around the country in connection with his work for Avery’s Scales, they arrived in Chipperfield in 1940. Initially they had rooms at Doggets in Belsize and then rented Red Admiral on The Common. In 1943 they acquired and moved in to the house next door, The Haven.
Like most women of her generation, Marion stayed at home, looking after the house and taking care of her three young daughters. She found time to take part in village life and sang with Chipperfield Choral Society for many years. She was President of the Ladies Cricket Association and acted in many of the outstanding Womens’ Institute Drama Group productions produced by Elizabeth Weedon. During these years she made many long-lasting friendships.
Sadly, her husband Sydney died in January 1989 and in 1996 Marion had to suffer the tragic loss of her youngest daughter, Ruth, who was killed in the Watford train crash. The rest of the family, Sara, Mary, Harry, Derek and Clive strove to support her but her last years were marred by sadness and distressing short-term memory loss.
Marion Holland will be remembered and greatly missed by her family and friends for her welcoming smile, sense of fun and sparkling blue eyes. To the end she enjoyed the view across The Common and retained her love of nature - trees, birds, cats and flowers, especially her beloved roses.
VILLAGE PEOPLE
Belated congratulations to milkman ALAN HARBER and his wife CHRISTINE on the arrival of their third grandchild, CALLUM ROY, born on 17 December 2003.
Welcome to new village residents CHRIS PIGDEN and IRIS XANTHOUDAKIS now happily settled in at Brambles, The Common.
Congratulations and all good wishes to TONY and MARY LOVEBAND who have recently celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary.
Congratulations to KATHY and DEREK WARD on the safe arrival of their daughter, LUCY PRIMROSE, born on 10 January, a sister for MEG.
Congratulations to Mr and Mrs B. PARRY of Tower Hill, who are pleased to announce the birth of their grandson JOSEPH XAVIER on Christmas day; a son for LUKE and ROXANA LAYAL of Nunfield.
Following the death of JIM HANDS, Ethel, Margaret and Peter would like to thank all friends and neighbours for the many cards and messages at this sad time. They also thank the many people who came to the church service. Donations to St Francis' Hospice so far are £310, and much appreciated.
PAUL JOMAIN and NIGEL PLASKITT have moved into Oakwood [formerly Palmyra] in Kings Lane. Welcome to the village.
SARA and MARY HOLLAND would like to thank everyone for their kind messages, cards and letters following their mother’s death. This support has been an invaluable help to us. Thank you.
Well done to JOHN CHERRY of Flint Cottages, The Common, who is a member of the Watford Joggers and completed the recent Watford Half Marathon (13.1 miles) in 1 hour 38 minutes.
STEPHANIE and JARLATH PATTINSON of Scatterdells Lane, are thrilled and delighted to announce the arrival of their granddaughter and first grandchild, LAUREN MORENIKE DARE born on 22 January 2004 to HALEY (née Pattinson) and THEO DARE. Her birth has brought great joy to all the family.
GINGER
Ginger the cat who lives in Croft Lane and whose day job is keeping an eye on customers visiting The Garden Centre, suffers from a serious allergy to chicken. Should you be tempted to feed him, please do not give him anything with chicken in it as it makes him very ill.
NOT QUITE A DADDY LONG LEGS
I have been hoping to attract some different birds to the bird table this year, but I'm not sure that our latest visitor is all that welcome.
As I enjoy my elevenses, I am constantly glancing out of the windows to the bird table, watching the great tits and the nut hatches come and go, and the antics of our female blackbird. She has decided that no other blackbird will feed at the table or on the ground around it. Both male and female visitors are vigorously chased away. This is her territory and she is holding it.
One day last week, at the end of January, things seemed rather quiet as I sipped my tea. No sign of Mrs. blackbird, no nut hatches, seemingly no birds at all. A few moments later our new visitor arrived. A sparrow hawk landed on the roof of the bird table. No wonder everything else was lying low! At first it had its back towards us, a slatey blue grey with long barred tail, sharply hooked beak and bright yellow eyes when it gave us a profile. Then, to our delight, it turned around and looked straight in the windows at us. The most striking features were its bright yellow eyes and the length of its bright yellow legs, with long toes and black talons.
Although I have often seen them fly around the garden and woods I have never had the opportunity to study one at such close quarters and I had not realised their legs were quite so long . This one was a male, the female is more brownie backed and bigger. He seemed as interested in us as we were in him. His chest was barred and his cheeks were pale cream but his legs and talons, used to catch birds in-flight, were amazing. After a few minutes he flew away down the ride at high-speed. Needless to say little birds stayed in hiding. It was lovely to see him so clearly, but am I fattening great tits for him at my table? I'm getting rather attached to Mrs. blackbird and I don't want to see her plucked from a fence post in the garden. But that's nature for you and I guess I should not be sentimental. Everyone has to make a living! Wendy Bathurst
JOHN PRESTWICH ONLINE AND ON AIR
Last October was the 75th anniversary of the invention of the iron lung. John Prestwich, a Chipperfield resident for 32 years, was approached by the producers of BBC World Service and BBC News Online and subsequently interviewed by both. Happily for them (but not for John), at the time of the interviews he was in St. Thomas’s Hospital, London and in an iron lung as he had a chest infection. The BBC World Service interview has been broadcast, but the BBC News Online interview, with photos, can still be seen (for those ‘online’ - and interested!) on http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3182096.stm
The response he received from both ‘broadcasts’ was quite amazing. He received many emails and letters, not only from friends and contacts from the past, but also from complete strangers from all over the world.
This year is the 50th anniversary of the introduction (in the USA) of the polio vaccine. Those of you who know John will know that the vaccine wasn’t introduced in the UK until the year after he contracted polio in 1955. John has again been interviewed – this time for BBC Radio 4’s Archive Hour programme. His contribution is due to be included in the programme being broadcast at 8pm on Saturday 6 March. John, being John, has quite often been heard to remark that he’s always good for ‘half a column’ on a slow news day! Maggie Prestwich
“The Narrows” horse track created by the Jasmine Safety Track Trust has been officially dedicated as a bridleway. This is a considerable achievement as very few new bridleways are being adopted. The Trust has always been concerned what would happen to this track as it is privately owned and could disappear if the County Council ever decide to widen the dangerous narrow road. As it is now an official bridleway, the County Council are obliged to provide a similar track alongside a widened road.
PARISH COUNCIL NEWS
Following the death of John Nichols, a vacancy exists on the Parish Council. If ten or more residents ask Dacorum Borough Council an election will have to be held. Should an election not be called, the Parish Council may co-opt a member to serve. (See the Parish Council notice boards for details). If you would like become a member of the Parish Council or would like to nominate a candidate, either for election or co-option, please contact me as soon as possible. Liz Holliday (01923 267483)
Chairman, Chipperfield Parish Council