May 1999
Those who attended the Annual Parish Meeting on 12 April will have heard that a wealth of material has been forthcoming for the millennium project Chipperfleld Within Living Memory. However, I am still anxious to have some stories and pictures of three local inns, all of which closed in 1914. They were The Swan. The Anchor and The Travellers’ Friend. If anyone has any photographs or illustrations of these buildings when they were still inns, I should be very grateful if I could borrow them to make copies. Similarly, if you have any stories about people or events connected with these former inns, please let me know. Perhaps your parents may have mentioned stories such as the one we have picked up about the Travellers’ Friend, which used to overlook the east side of The Common. Local children used to go there on Good Friday with their hard-earned pocket money to buy oranges and buns from ‘Bunny’ who came from Chesham. Mary Nobbs (01923 269480)
NEW PARISH COUNCIL
May 10 will see the formation of a new Parish Council. At the Annual Parish Meeting on April 12, David Nobbs as Chairman of the out-going Council, thanked the three Councillors who were standing down after four years in office for their service to the community. They are Councillors Polly Garratt, Ian Murphy and Sue Pinney.
There were only seven nominations received for the eight seats on the Parish Council, so there will be no Parish election in the local polling on May 6. The members of the new Parish Council will be Liz Holliday, Mike Joseph, Dick Neil, John Nichols, David Nobbs, Roelof Stammeijer, Neville Thomas and one member to be co-opted.
Polling will take place on May 6 to elect three District Councillors to represent the new ward of Bovingdon. Flaunden and Chipperfield on Dacorum Borough Council.
RETIREMENT OF “AUNTIE PAM” (Mrs Dawe)
Dinner Lady (31 years); Lollipop Lady (10 years)
And what a retirement it was! The celebrations started on 19 March with an assembly at the school and continued until Friday 26 March at the final Road Crossing Patrol at 330pm.
The Assembly consisted of prayers, songs and sketches performed by the pupils which demonstrated their love and affection for Pam. At the end of each sketch the children involved presented her with examples of their own work, together with work done by each member of that class - some academic, some craft, plus innumerable bunches of flowers. There were so many flowers that we ran out of vases and containers and had to improvise! In all, some two hundred children were involved.
Other gifts included a beautiful wooden garden seat, M&S vouchers, a delicious iced cake complete with a floral bouquet and plaque indicating the number of years service. Along with more flowers a video of the children at play was presented, which you can be sure will be well used. Also attending the Assembly was Christine, representing the Road Traffic Unit and she presented Pam with a framed certificate in appreciation of her ten years service as a Lollipop Lady.
On Friday evening at a buffet in her honour, Pam was delighted to meet old friends, including the teachers and staff, the school governors, and Chis Ward (former Headmistress), Chris Coronda (former Deputy Head) and Sandra Hateley (former Nursery Nurse). Pam, although she had hoped to leave both jobs “quietly and without fuss” thoroughly enjoyed what was a wonderful day and would like to thank Lyndon and all his staff for their work orchestrating such a memorable and emotional day. The children excelled themselves in the work they presented to Pam and we felt that it was worthy of being shown publicly, to be seen by a wider audience.
On Friday there were more presents from both the kitchen staff and the dinner ladies and Heather arrived from the Road Traffic Unit with a bouquet of flowers. The final Lollipop duty at 3.3Opm proved to be an equally emotional occasion. Flowers and gifts arrived by the armful and the children and some of the parents demonstrated their affection and respect for Pam.
One of the most poignant moments for me, and there were a number during the week, was of Pam standing in the middle of the road, her uniform in disarray, her lollipop sign covered in balloons, a bunch of flowers in the other hand, with tears streaming down her face, trying to direct the traffic. I couldn’t help thinking that the little “evacuee” I married 43 years ago was now a respected villager! Thank you Chipperfield -
God bless you all. P. J. Dawe (Uncle) Proud Husband
P.S. Pam apologises if she has forgotten to thank any one individual, but the presents and flowers came so fast that it was impossible for her to remember all who gave. However, the one person we both wish to thank from the heart is June Timberlake, who year after year, as regular as clockwork, has provided a hot “cuppa” on those oh so cold mornings. Bless you June.
MORE SERVICES FROM THE POST OFFICE
Chipperfield Post Office now offers a wide range of services and facilities. You can pay your telephone, gas, electricity and water bills
• buy saving stamps for all public utilities, your TV and motor vehicle licence
• use the “next day” service for the renewal of your car tax
• if you are a customer of the Co-op, Lloyds and TSB banks you can use the banking service
• send items Special Delivery to be received by 12 noon the next day (except at weekends).
• local shops and pubs can get supplies of change
(prior notice e appreciated if you require a large amount).
• get all your travel services:
purchase travellers cheques and foreign currencies
(and change any left over currency and cheques when you return)
travel insurance
Form El 11 (for emergency treatment in EU countries)
and • you can send flowers by post too!
MAKING RECYCLING EASIER
The first boxes for waste recycling have now been delivered to Chipperfield households in the Dacorum area. The initial reaction to the leaflets announcing the scheme was very positive - nearly half of households immediately requesting the two free boxes offered for doorstep collection. ‘We are very pleased with the response from people in Chipperfield who take a pride in these matters’, said Rosemary Stevens, Dacorum Waste Reduction Officer. Experience elsewhere has shown that many more people request boxes once the first ones have arrived, which is indeed what is happening here.
The scheme, which some people have wanted for a long time, is still limited to food and drink cans, plastic bottles and paper. Collections will only be made every two weeks, but it is a start. Glass bottles will still have to be taken to bottle banks, while cardboard will only be accepted at a later date. Used dry batteries can be taken to the Civic Amenities site near to the Kodak building in Eastman Way, Hemel Hempstead.
Dacorum Council have a very long way to go in matching the achievements of many other local authorities and the national target of recycling 25% of domestic waste, but Chipperfield can make an important contribution. Readers who have not yet requested the boxes or who have queries or suggestions can phone Ms Stevens on 01442
228666. Giles Wyburd
POT HOLE WATCH
Seen any good pot holes lately? If you have, do let the Highways Department at Hertfordshire County Council know. giving the exact location and some idea of the size, so they can arrange repairs. The number to phone is 01582
CLAIMING BENEFITS YOU ARE ENTITLED TO
Many local people are not claiming benefits they are entitled to. Dacorum Borough Council are concerned that there are residents who are in need and may not be aware that they can claim Attendance Allowance (over 65), Income Support, Disability Living Allowance (under 65), Family Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit. If you think you, a relative or a neighbour may be entitled to claim, contact Jenny Shieldhouse, Dacorum’s Benefits Promotions Officer on 01442 228395 for advice. If you need further help, a Benefit Adviser can help you fill in a claim form, either at the nearest Council Office or, if you have difficulty getting there, will visit you at home. Benefits are not charity, nor are they a lottery - if you are eligible you have a right to claim (or appeal if you think your claim has been unfairly refused). To find out more phone free on 0800 0528091 and leave your name and address so that you can be contacted. It’s your money. Why not claim it?
SPONSORED WALK
The indefatigable Gladys Taaffe, accompanied by her dog Jodie, successfully completed their sponsored walk in ideal weather on Sunday 11 April. They passed through 9 gates and climbed over 20 stiles on the 8 miles between Chipperfield and the Chiltern Open Air Museum. Gladys would like to thank all those who sponsored her. The total raised towards funds for the museum was a magnificent £850.
HANDBAG THEFT AT THE POST OFFICE STORES
Late on a Saturday afternoon in April, Dorothy Biggerstaff had her handbag stolen by a young man. She is most anxious to retrieve the personal items her bag contained. If you see an abandoned bag anywhere in the village please contact Dorothy. Or perhaps the young man concerned could summon up the ‘bottle’ to return it?
LOOK TO THE HEAVENS
I hope that we were not the only ones looking to the heavens on Good Friday. We were soaking up the sun on our terrace at around midday when I spotted a huge bird gliding high in the sky roughly over the butcher’s shop. In a second or two a crow arrived to mob it and this showed us just how big it was. I nipped in for the binoculars and we were then treated to a magnificent display of seemingly effortless flying. As the bird flew nearer we could clearly see its forked tail. It could only be a Red Kite! It seemed completely unperturbed by the attentions of the crow and continued with its majestic soaring flight., its tail constantly twisting against the blue sky. With a wingspan of 55-60 inches (140-152 cms.) the crow was quite dwarfed by it. By the time it flew overhead it had gained a lot of height but with the bins we could see the white wing patches and the long finger-like black wing tips. The crow was not giving up though and we watched them get higher and higher, until we could barely see them without the bins, but the crow was still there. At last it looked as if it would break off its attack and soared way above the kite only to change tactics and come stooping down on the kite, like a falcon. Still the kite took no notice but continued to soar. Soon they became tiny pinpricks in the sky. even with the binoculars, and we lost them in a puff of cloud. Five minutes of heaven watching one of the most graceful flyers in the bird world was worth a stiff neck!
This red kite was undoubtedly one from the re-introduction project along the “M4 Corridor”. It was not the first time we had seen a kite fly over. The previous time, in 1995, we could not believe our eyes, as red kites were confined to about 20 pairs in mid Wales, and I rang the R.S.P.B. at Sandy. They were delighted to hear about our sighting and told me about the re-introduction project in which over a period of five years about 90 young red kites, mainly from healthy populations in Spain and Sweden, were released on the Chiltern escarpment. They sent us a leaflet about it and our siting was plotted on a special map. The project has been a great success and more releases are planned for the Midlands. Hopefully we will all get a chance to see more red kites gracing the skies around Chipperfield.
I rather take it for granted being able to dash about and run up and down the garden, so on 16 May I shall be taking part in the Kings Langley Fun Run and will be sponsored to raise money for John Preswich’s mobility fund. I know John enjoys watching wildlife from his windows, but how much better it would be if he could get outside and enjoy the countryside under his own steam.
A NEW START FOR WORLD PEACE - What can WE do?
As I write just before Easter our televisions are bringing us awful pictures of refugees from Kosovo and news of bombings and atrocities in the Balkans. Coming at Eastertide it seems as though the words of Jesus nearly two thousand years ago are needed more than ever; when dying on the Cross He said:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’. He was, of course, referring to His own crucifixion but He might well say.the same thing about the killings going
on in the world today.
“What’, we ask, “will it take to stop the violence and killing? Will people never learn?” It seems the answer is “No’. Furthermore, although we may like to kid ourselves that this sort of thing only goes on in Kosovo, Africa, Ireland and so on it is always much closer to home than we realise. People are killed daily in Britain for no reason other than hate, anger and greed. People upset one another daily for no reason other than that we haven’t got the time and patience really to listen to one another’s point of view and talk the matter through to agreement without losing our tempers. We don’t stop to care enough until it is too late. Peace, if it is to work - anywhere - has to start with you and me.
Just before He left His disciples Jesus said: “My peace I leave you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Let not your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”. This was not some sugary sentimental goodbye on Jesus’ part but a promise that if we can accept that one man - Jesus - died to bring forgiveness of all our wrongs, then by following Him and His example we can know forgiveness for the things we’ve got wrong in the past and a chance to start again. He offers us the opportunity for a New Start with God’s help, in which He can then work through us towards peace in our world. Jesus didn’t promise that God would wave some magic wand and make it all right, but He did promise that if we follow His example of love for God and love for all other people we would get there in the end.
So, how do we DO that? As I said earlier, it has to start at home. St Paul gave us characteristics to work towards in our lives as a starting point. Allow, he said, the Holy Spirit to produce in your lives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 6). If you’re a bit short on any of these pray that God will give you more of that quality and concentrate on developing it. Next, work on situations where you find you really can’t get on with someone or you start to feel bad towards a national or international figure. Jesus said: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?” (St Matthew 6). It’s a challenging command but it makes sense. God does not want difficult or evil people to suffer or die any more than He wants us to suffer or die if we do bad things. All people are loved by Him no matter how badly they live their lives. What He would much rather see is that they turn away from their badness, accept His love and forgiveness for them and start living a good life. We can, therefore, co-operate with God much more powerfully by praying for those who upset us or those who perpetrate suffering and violence by praying that God’s love will fill their hearts and turn their lives around. Of course we can give money to help others and we can work at peace in our own homes and lives, but at the end of the day world peace will only come with God’s help in changing people’s hearts. Let’s pray fervently for
that! Angela Butler
NEWS FROM TRANSKEI
Progress achieved by the African Medical Mission
Seven years have passed since we last visited Chris and Jenny McConnachie in Umtata and there have been many changes. A new Academic Teaching Hospital is being built alongside the General Hospital and Chris and Jenny can watch the progress from their sitting room windows. When we left the levelling stage of the site was almost complete. Bedford Hospital now has a new operating theatre, an X-ray department and the foundations for an out-patients department are laid and will be finished soon - all funded by private subscriptions.
The Itipini Informal Settlement, known locally as “The Dump”, is running smoothly under Jenny’s guidance and the Primary Health Care Clinic is open from 9am to 2pm, Monday to Friday for a variety of treatments, including family planning, baby clinic, dressings and the administration of TB drugs.
The pre-school children are looked after and taught by very able Transkeian ladies and receive a daily meal. Twelve or so abandoned babies under 2 years old are being moved and re-housed in new, larger premises in Ikwezi, about three miles from Umtata.
The long term TB patients at the Occupational Unit in the hospital continue to make a wide range of garments, cushions, woollen shoulder bags, leather sandles, wallets, purses, candles and wire fencing, not forgetting the traditional beadwork. There is a programme to help patients being dried out from alcohol.
Vision Care, for whom so many of you have supplied spectacles in the past, is being efficiently run by Fiona Webber, the third daughter of Jenny and Chris. Volunteers continue to help with every branch of medicine, nursing and physiotherapy. They are all invited to an Open House and supper on Sunday evenings with Jenny and Chris when they can compare experiences and use the ‘phone and fax facilities in the African Medical Mission office. And so the good work goes on.
If anyone has any outgrown baby or toddler clothes in good condition, they would be most welcome at the Itipini Settlement. Please leave them at Brambles, Chipperfield Common or contact me on 01923 262416.
Kate Farrow