May 2003
In view of the importance of the new plans of the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority, the Parish Council have arranged for a public meeting to be held in St Paul’s Parish Room on Thursday, 29 May 2003. Toni Horn, Chief Executive of the Dacorum Primary Care Trust, will outline the proposals, including details of the two options, for providing new specialist care facilities at either Hemel Hempstead or Watford. There will be ample time for you to ask questions about the range of medical facilities available to us now and in the future and to express your views. Do come along if you can.
HOUSING SURVEY
Following a survey in 1996, the Parish Council were able to demonstrate that there was a need for affordable housing in the village, so that, for example, young Chipperfield families were not prevented by the high cost of housing here from staying in the village. As a result six Housing Association properties were built in Croft Meadow. A further opportunity for such housing has arisen, but as the previous survey data is now 7 years out of date, we are required by planning law to prove that such demand still exists. Either with this Chipperfield News or by separate delivery, each household will be receiving a questionnaire with a reply paid envelope. For most households the list of questions is short although where people are identified as having housing needs, some more specific details are requested. In each case replies will be treated in complete confidence. We do need a high response rate to make the survey valid, so please do all you can to complete and return the form. Your co-operation is much appreciated.
VILLAGE OF THE YEAR COMPETITION 2003
Following our successes in 2001 and 2002, the Parish Council have decided to enter the competition again and we are expecting the judges to visit the village in June. Our gardens and properties usually look at their best during this month and Arthur Hirst, our Village Warden, and Paul Hewetson, our Common Ranger will be doing everything they can to keep public areas litter free. However, if you are aware of any particular eyesores or dumped rubbish please contact John Pringle, our Parish Clerk, on 01442 822704 so that he can arrange for its removal. David Nobbs
Chairman, Chipperfield Parish Council
DACORUM COMMUNITY TRUST The Chipperfield Community Fund is alive and well again. As you may have read in the Parish Council’s Annual Report, published last month, the money from the old Parish Chest is now in the care of the Dacorum Community Trust. It has taken some time to transfer the funds because of the difficult process of bringing an anonymous trust into the public domain. The Parish Council and the Dacorum Community Trust have worked with the Charity Commission to make sure that everything has been done properly. The Dacorum Community Trust will look after it as a restricted, named fund only to be used to benefit any person or organisation in need within the Parish of Chipperfield. The fund is small, currently nearly £4000, but hopefully this will be added to in the future. A summary of its accounts will be published annually in Chipperfield News.
The Dacorum Community Trust has been raising and distributing money locally since 1976. It is a registered charity (No. 272759) and a founder-member of the now nation-wide Community Foundation Network. Its trustees all live or work within the area and have a wide range of expertise. It is supported both by local people and by locally based companies such as Kodak. We are now actively seeking more sources of funds, both to distribute immediately and to help build up an endowment fund. This will ensure that local organisations and individuals will know that there is always somewhere they can turn to at times of crisis or in case of need.
If you would like to contribute to the ongoing work of the Trust or make an application for a grant, either for yourself or someone else in need, please contact Margaret Kingston at the Trust’s office at 48 High Street, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3AF (01442 231396) E-mail mk@dctrust.org.uk
HOUSE SWAP IN AUSTRALIA FOR 12 MONTHS
Pat Leatham, his wife Therese and children Brooke and Thomas would like to hear from a family or couple who live in or around Chipperfield who would be interested in swapping their home with theirs in Australia for 12 months. Pat left Chipperfield to holiday in Australia 24 years ago and ended up staying there. He subsequently married Therese (both Pat and Therese visited England for 1 year in 1986/87) and they have two children, 12 and 10 years of age. Pat and Therese have often talked about Chipperfield to the children and it is now their desire to come back to live for 12 months so that the children can experience English life and see where Pat grew up. The Leathams would love a three bedroom home preferably in the village or surrounding area. Both Pat and Therese hope to work whlist here and both are confident that they will be able to find employment. The children will need to attend the local school.
The Leathams home in Australia is located in Capalaba, just east of Brisbane in Queensland and has the best all year round climate in Australia. It is 8 minutes to the water (Bay Islands of Moreton Bay) and only one hour from the magnificent Gold and Sunshine Coasts. They have a low set four bedroom home on half an acre with an inground pool. It is in close proximity to a range of excellent schools, shopping centres, sporting clubs and public transport. This is an ideal opportunity for a family or couple who are interested in taking on an exciting venture for 12 months and gaining lifelong memories. For those who may be seriously interested, please email the Leathams at tleatham@eis.net.au or write to 54 Lawn Terrace, Capalaba, Queensland, 4157, Australia, or telephone (07) 3390 3334 and they will forward you information showing pictures of their home and information about surrounding areas.
DEVELOPMENTS AT ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL
These are exciting times for us all at St. Paul’s Primary School. The Department for Educations and Skills recently gave their approval for us to proceed with plans to build a new classroom in the school grounds. Work starts shortly and is due to reach its conclusion in August this year. We are absolutely delighted, having endured an anxious wait.
Not only will this give us a much needed additional classroom and storage space, but we intend to create a computer room where a whole class will be able to learn essential Information and Technology skills together. Class teachers will lead these sessions with the help of their own workstation and a state of the art interactive white board. The days of chalk and blackboards are well and truly behind us!
These projects have been planned for some time now. We have been finding it hard to deliver the Information Technology curriculum with the limited number of computers that we currently have in a limited space. Our OFSTED inspection back in November 2000 highlighted these issues, whilst acknowledging that it would be very difficult for us to remedy them, largely due to the financial implications of new building. Thanks to the determination and enthusiasm of staff, governors and parents, we now look forward to making our plans a reality.
True, the financial implications are considerable and we will need a great deal of help through fundraising events and donations. I am confident that we will get this, knowing how tremendously supportive local families and businesses have been in recent years towards a variety of community projects.
There is a great deal happening in school other than the new building. The children are busy participating in a number of sports events and activities, enjoying the spring weather. Our Healthy schools Project continues, currently focussing on healthy eating and physical fitness. We are preparing enthusiastically for a summer programme of day trips, school journeys and events including, for the second successive year, our popular Arts Week.
We are always pleased to hear from anyone with an interest in or a connection with our school and we welcome visitors. We have a great deal to be proud of and we enjoy sharing the children’s achievements. Lyndon Evans Headteacher
Chipperfield NEWS
New Advertising Manager
I am pleased to announce that Jeff Beck of Bucks Hill has agreed to become our advertising manager, following Bill Yates' forthcoming retirement. Bill has served Chipperfield News loyally for the past twelve years, for which we are indeed most grateful. Bill and Jeff have arranged a hand-over period and will be in touch with all advertisers in the near future.
Accountant / Auditor
Don Newman has prepared and audited the Chipperfield News accounts since it was launched 12 years ago, but he and his wife Valarie have recently moved away from the area. We wish them every happiness in their new home in Bookham and thank Don for his diligent work. We are now seeking a replacement for Don and if anyone would like to volunteer or suggest a name, please telephone me on 01923 262549.
Richard Edwards
PETER ORCHARD 1934-2003
Peter was born on 2 February 1934 at St. Dunstan’s Farm, Chipperfield where he grew up, taking an active part in church and youth club activities. He played football for Chipperfield and although he may not have been a David Beckham, he enjoyed every minute. Most of his working life was spent at Scammells at Watford, after which he became self-employed as a gardener. He won many 1st prizes for his roses and numerous other awards for flowers and vegetables. He grew fruit and vegetables on the allotments he held both at Chipperfield and St. Albans and shared the produce with family, friends and neighbours.
Over the years Peter held many positions at Chipperfield Baptist Church including serving on the diaconate, treasurer, secretary and organist, as well as earlier roles as a Sunday School teacher and youth worker.
He married Ruth Harpley, his first wife, in 1957 and they had two children, Andrew and Marion. Ruth died in 1991. He later met Tanis at a Macmillan Nurse organisation get-together and they married three years later, settling in Abbots Langley. Subsequently they moved to Marshalswick and became happy members of the Marshalswick Baptist Church. Peter died on 25 February 2003. Tanis and the family would like to thank everyone for their support, prayers and cards sent following their sad loss.
Chipperfield Within Living memory
CALLIPERS HALL
Several years ago, the Chairman of the King’s Langley History Society passed on a letter to me from a lady in Cornwall, who was trying to find out more about Callipers Hall, Chipperfield, where a Rev. Charles Johns had been a teacher between 1856 and 1863. I made several enquiries, but no one had heard that Callipers Hall had at one stage been a school. so the letter stayed in my pending file.
Quite by chance, my son Andrew solved the mystery when he was looking at some old Church magazines at County Hall. He found that in 1937 a Mr E. F. Johns wrote to Canon Jeffries, vicar of St Paul’s, concerning his own baptism at the church, which had been administered by his distinguished father, the Rev. C.A. Johns, a resident at Callipers Hall on 27th May 1861. In response to certain enquiries made by the vicar, Mr Johns explained that his father only took duty occasionally at Chipperfield and that he had started a preparatory school at Callipers Hall, which he had transferred to Winton House, Winchester in 1863. He went on to reveal that his father had written several books on natural history, including ‘Flowers of the Field’ and ‘British Birds in their Haunts’ and that he had been a friend of Charles Kingsley.
Earlier this year, I was looking through some old papers and came across information, which suddenly became relevant to the period 1856-63, when the Rev Charles Johns was at Callipers Hall. St Paul’s Church was built in 1837-8 and the first incumbent was Rev. Henry Dennis, formerly curate of King’s Langley, who died in November 1863. Apparently Mr Dennis had resigned prior to that date due to ill health, so it is probable that Charles Johns was called upon to officiate at St Paul’s from time to time at this period. Callipers Hall lies within the ecclesiastical parish of Chipperfield, but outside the civil parish, so it was not included in our publication, ‘Chipperfield Within Living Memory’. By now my appetite has been whetted and there is more to be recalled about the house for a future occasion. What do you know about life at Callipers Hall at the time of the Broughtons, Moss-Blundells and Westons? What events were held there and what changes were made to the house? We are gradually piecing together its history and any contributions would be greatly appreciated Mary Nobbs (01923-269480)
TEA IN THE WENDY HOUSE
Our little wild daffodils have really done us proud this spring. Even the ones that were moved have flowered really well and lots of seedlings have appeared, the promise of even more to come in future years. Our Wendy House arrived at the beginning of March and we have been busy planting and painting ever since. We have planted a shrubbery down one side of the pond to provide cover and discreet access to the water for wildlife, and hopefully a colourful and interesting display for us as we sit in the Wendy House. We planted a lot of marginal plants around the pond last summer and now we have our fingers crossed hoping that they have survived the winter. One or two look as though they may have rotted away, which seems strange for moisture loving plants. With the wonderful sunny weather that March has brought we have had some very enjoyable afternoon teas their, even if we have had to share the Wendy House with paint pots and brushes. A pair of Mallard have been spending the night on the pond in recent weeks, but they always fly off when I go out to feed the sheep first thing in the morning. The male has a wonderfully iridescent green head, while the female is a much darker brown than usual. We have been hoping they would stay and nest somewhere in the garden but there are no signs of that yet. They have been flying a bit further down the lane and spending the day on a neighbour’s pond. After one of their visits last week he found a pale bluish egg near his pond so I don’t think we are going to be honoured. Perhaps when the shrubbery has grown and thickened up a bit we will be lucky. Frogs and toads are supposed to return to the ponds where they were born to spawn, but some have obviously come across the wildlife pond on their way home and liked the look of it. About twenty lots of frogs spawn appeared and seemingly miles of strings of toad spawn. The toad spawn looks like long strings of black beads and was laid unusually early. Normally it’s well behind the frog spawn and sometimes gets eaten by hungry tadpoles but these were laid on about the same day. The development of both spawns is controlled by water temperature and with all the sunshine they are growing apace. Their first meal will be the jelly they were born in. After that its algae or just about anything else that they can find. Wendy Bathurst
POLICING IN CHIPPERFIELD
Extracts from Newsletter 2 (March) prepared by PC Buttleman
Nuisance Children From the incident logs, there has been an increase in youths causing nuisance, who are congregating in the bus stops in Bovingdon High Street and the garages in Hyde Meadows. Initially we tried the softly softly approach, asking them to be mindful of nearby residents and to act sensibly. However, a minority have become a thorough nuisance. As a result, I shall be targeting this area over the next few months and dealing robustly with those who are causing nuisance. Before I do this, please help me by bringing this to the attention of your children and keeping them away from this area.
Regular offenders can be dealt with quite severely if they persist in their behaviour. Initially the offenders details will be obtained and entered on the nuisance register. If an individual persists with their anti-social behaviour, a letter or a visit to parents is made. If this has no effect then the parents will be invited to see both the police and the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit at Dacorum Borough Council. Further failure to curb the behaviour could result in Acceptable Behaviour Contracts being issued, Court Injunctions or Anti-Social Behaviour Orders taken out against individuals and/or the parents.
Vehicle Crime 50% of the victims of vehicle crime ignore the basic advice "Do not leave articles in full view in you car". It takes less than 45 seconds to break into a car, remove items on display and get away. The next time you stop to collect your children from school, to pick up a newspaper, get out to post a letter or cross the forcourt to pay for your petrol - Lock Your Car!
Seasonal Crime This is the time for a significant increase in thefts of garden implements and lawnmowers from sheds and garages. Be vigilant; get your lawnmower postcoded and make sure your shed is securely padlocked. If you need advice please phone me on 01442 271012; 07736 225273 (mobile) or 01442 834806.
YOUR GARDEN IN MAY
This is the peak month in the gardening calendar as, with luck, the frosts should cease and major planting can go ahead. Hoeing and hand-weeding should be done regularly now, hedges should be trimmed, climbing plants tied and trained and herbaceous perennials given support with canes or metal stakes. Rose trees need to be sprayed every two or three weeks against black spot and mildew. All plants will need fertilizer (and watering in dry weather) to keep them healthy and in damp weather watch out for slugs. Lawns need to be cut regularly but not too short and ponds need to be cleared of algae.
Bedding plants such as geraniums, busy lizzies (Impatiens), petunias, fuchias, begonias, dahlias, asters, salvias and marigolds can be planted from mid-May onwards in borders, pots and containers. lobelia, alyssum and ageratum are fine for edging and don’t forget the grey-leaved cineraria maritima for contrast. For hanging baskets there are the Surfinia petunias, trailing geraniums and fuchias, and a host of trailing plants such as bidens and the variegated nepeta. When planting baskets mix a little Swell Gel water retaining granules with the compost. Always change the compost in tubs or troughs or at least the top six inches, or you will be troubled with all kinds of pests and diseases. Dahlia tubers and cannas can be planted out and there are a host of seeds which can be sown in the garden to flower in situ. Wallflowers and Sweet Williams should be sown soon to produce plants for setting out in the autumn.
In the vegetable garden the early potatoes will need earthing-up. Sow lettuce and radish and plant out the runner beans and outdoor tomatoes later in the month. In the greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers need trimming and tying and they should be regularly watered.
Now is the time to make plans for your entries in the flower shows to be held in the summer. I am told that there were more entries in the spring shows held in Bovingdon and Sarratt than at the Chipperfield show, so a big effort will be necessary to reverse this situation in future!
If you can find the time, why not visit some of the garden shows or open gardens this month? (see list on page 5)
Terry Simmonds