October 2000
With glorious sunshine all weekend the Club’s annual tournament was a resounding success. Once again the adults marvelled at the skill of the younger members although the senior members can still show the children a trick or two!
The weekend concluded with a bar-bque and Club Patron, Sir William Stabb, kindly presented cups to the winners.
Congratulations to: 12 & under winners:
Tommy Twomy and Callum Weir
Runners-up:
Jonathan Lock and Charles Saunders
16 & under winners:
Andrew Lock and Thomas Goldie
Runners-up:
Katie Green and David Jess
Women’s Doubles winners:
Ann Lock and Karen Mclnerney
Runners-up:
Pat Bayliss and Sheila Simpson
Men’s Doubles winners:
Christopher Panayi and Martyn Dicker
Runners-up:
Pan Panayi and Chris Blackmore
CHIPPERFIELD YOUTH CLUB
The end of the summer term was celebrated by Club members attending a Bouncy Castle & Fly Splat Evening.
A very successful Youth Art Workshop was held on the Club premises in August, attended by seventeen youngsters aged between 8 and 13. Some fine talent was on display and it is hoped that it will be possible to repeat the event.
The autumn term began in early September and Lucy Wheeler, the Junior Club leader, has received seventy enquiries from youngsters wishing to enrol. With this number of youngsters wishing to join the Club, the support of parents who assist on a rota basis is essential and much appreciated.
Club members enjoy using Play Stations and if anyone has suitable games which they no longer require, the Club would be grateful to receive them. During the autumn the Youth Club hall will be decorated and it is also hoped to provide new flooring.
Fund raising events will be held during the autumn and spring and we do hope the village will support them.
KEITH’S LAST ROUND
On Wednesday 23 August some thirty residents of Scatterdells Lane waylaid postman Keith Sarsons on one of his last deliveries to wish him a long and happy retirement.
Keith has worked for the Royal Mail for thirty-five years and has delivered the post to the longest cul-de-sac in Hertfordshire for the last sixteen years. Peggy Harpley, who has lived in the lane since 1954, organised a collection from all the residents to show Keith their appreciation and is seen here presenting it to him on their behalf.
and finally Friends and neighbours joined Keith and Carol at a special retirement party held in the Youth Club on Saturday 9 September. Keith would like to thank all those who came to wish him well and all the residents of his postal round, which included the Croft Estate, Scatterdells Park and Scatterdells Lane, for their kind gifts and good wishes. He expects to be just as busy in retirement as he was when working!
THREE PEAKS MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE
The team from HMP The Mount completed the course in just over 20 hours and won a silver medal. We have raised over £1,500 for the Visitors Centre, HACRO and the Children’s Society, thanks to the generosity of our many sponsors. An unknown donor called K.Buckingham has still to let me have his £5!
Everyone who contributed is invited to a fund-raising and celebration party in the Officers Mess at The Mount at 8.OOpm on Monday 23 October, to meet and congratulate the team. Awards and grants will be presented at 9.3Opm. We look forward to seeing you there. Enquiries to Anne Wyburd on 267515
CELEBRATIONS AT THE K.L. BOWLS CLUB
On Bank Holiday Monday 28 August members of the Kings Langley Bowls Club celebrated their 75th anniversary year and the completion of their extended and refurbished club pavilion with a Fun Day.
President, Tom Reid, thanked both Dacorum Borough Council and Kings Langley Parish Council for financial help towards the pavilion and the club members who had helped with interior decorating, electrical and plumbing work.
To start the day of celebrations the Mayor and Mayoress of Dacorum and County Councillor Janet Anderson took part in a “club roll”, when over fifty members simultaneously bowled their woods towards the jack in the centre of the green.
The club has over 130 members, both men and women, and welcomes new members, offering free coaching to beginners and more experienced players. The new season begins in May 2001 but the club hope to open a Short Mat Club this winter. Further details from Club Secretary, John Elderton on 01923 673176
THE PAPER TRAIL
Residents may know of plans to establish a major museum devoted to the history of paper-making in Great Britain on the John Dickinson site.
A small band of local volunteers are busy sorting and cataloguing Dickinson memorabilia and photographs, working their way through boxes which contain items ranging from early 19th century letters - some written by John Dickinson himself - to promotional baseball caps. If you have any material, particularly photographs or memories of working in the paper trade, please contact Jill Penwarden on 01923 263205. Jill would particularly like to hear from anyone willing to record their memories on tape. Interviews will be used as part of planned audio-visual exhibits.
NATURE’S GARDENERS
For the first time since we planted what has become known as the New Orchard six years ago, a small crop of pears has set. I usually try to keep this area mown regularly but this year it all got out of control and did not get cut until a couple of weeks ago. By then, the grass was long and rank. David attacked one side with his scythe whilst I took the other with a strimmer which a friend had lent us. David drew the short straw, coming across a wasps’ nest right underneath one of the pear trees! Fortunately, he saw the wasps coming and going just in the nick of time.
We always regard wasps as friends in the garden as they take so many caterpillars from our brassicas to feed their rapidly expanding swarms, but they do love pears - and so do we! Having watched the pears swell licking our lips for weeks, we were not too keen to share them, but what should we do? Fortunately a difficult decision was made for us as one of the badgers that comes through the garden discovered the wasps and dug the nest out to eat the grubs. Badgers don’t seem to worry about getting stung and this one made a great job of digging out the nest and only a small piece was left. We don’t have many pears though, as wasps from all directions seem to have made a beeline for our orchard and none of the pears are uneaten! I’m not quite so keen on wasps as I was.
We met another of our garden helpers the other evening - a bit of a prickly customer but without a sting in his tail - a nice plump hedgehog.
Hedgehogs eat prodigious numbers of slugs, snails and
caterpillars, millipedes and other pests. We could do with an army of them. At this time of year they are especially busy as they try to build up fat reserves for their long winter hibernation. Soon they will be gathering up fallen leaves to make a large pile in a nice sheltered spot somewhere at the bottom of a hedge. They manage to pack the leaves together quite tightly to make a weatherproof nest but many still die over the winter due to low fat reserves and the cold. As a child I often saw hedgehogs stealing bread and milk that had been put out for the cats but this is not supposed to be very good for them, although they always seemed to love it. If you want to give them a helping hand, cat food is much better for them, although I don’t know how one stops the Chipperfield fox population from getting there first.
Because of their sharp spines, hedgehogs have few predators although badgers seem immune and several times in recent years we have found a spiney overcoat turned inside-out on the lawn. Let’s hope this garden helper won’t be on their menu! Wendy Bathurst
FOR LOVERS OF THE ART..DECO PERIOD
In August we spent a wonderful few days at the Burgh Island Hotel which is situated just off the south Devon coast at Bigbury-on-Sea.
We can really recommend this truly romantic hotel, refurbished throughout in its original 1930s Art-Deco style. A step back ‘into the past with excellent food, accommodation and service.
A break with a difference!
John Swan & Neilma Coates
TRY YOUR HAND AT SOMETHING NEW
If you are unemployed, retired, would like a change of direction, wish to stretch your mind or acquire a new skill, there are now dozens of new ways to study at your own pace at a time convenient to you.
Home study courses, flexible ‘drop-in’ courses and new learning centres offer all kinds of courses at different levels. For further information about what is available locally and advice on adult learning opportunities there is a free helpline, learndirect, on 0800 100 900. The lines are open from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm Mondays to Fridays and from 9.00 am to 12 noon on Saturdays. There is also a learndirect website on www.learndirect.co.uk
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
Despite the driving rain of the previous night and chronic fuel shortages, The Autumn Show was a resounding success and the Village Hall was filled to the brim with colourful flowers and delicious vegetables. This show marks the climax of the showing year with three of our trophies being awarded for consistent performance throughout the year. Leigh Tyler picked up the Junior Challenge Trophy for gaining most points in the junior section of the three shows, while Kathy Ward won the Peter Franz Cup for the most points in the domestic category as well as the C.P. Brousson Cup for floral art.
As far as the Autumn Show itself was concerned, it was Frank Venables who collected most of the silverware with a fine display of vegetables and flowers. Frank took away the Timberlake Cup for the best onions, the G.A.Usher Bowl for best flowers and the Silver Rose Bowl as overall champion for the second year in a row - not to mention the extra prize of a load of Roger Prichard’s finest manure to for him started for next year.
Talking of next year, now is the time to visit your local garden centre and choose your spring flowering bulbs. Daffodils need to be in by the end of this month but tulips can be left until November or December as if they are planted too early they can start into growth and suffer frost damage.
John Hopkins
1st CHIPPERFIELD BROWNIE PACK
Since the beginning of the year we have welcomed five new Brownies: Kirsty Inglis, Elinor Rootes, Andrea Inglis, Sophie Exton and Hannah Martin. Sadly, we said goodbye to Samantha Cotterell, Bryony Compton, Isabel Harvey, Danielle Johnson, Alice Margrave and Sophie Dicker.
Here are just a few things the girls have enjoyed this year:
The Brownies all worked hard to achieve their World Cultures badge. This involved listening to a story from Spain, learning a dance from Holland, making a “Danish Heart” and making and eating Scandinavian open sandwiches. To complete their badge, the girls all brought a foreign costume to wear. It was great fun!
Our Pack joined in a special Millennium Celebration Day at Phasels Wood Scout Camp, Kings Langley. The whole division attended this day (Berkhamsted, Bovingdon, Hemel Hempstead, Tring, Kings Langley, and Abbots Langley) so it was a major event with lots of activities which was very enjoyable.
We enjoyed our annual Teddy Bear’s Picnic and games on The Common. No Brownies or adults were allowed to take part without a teddy bear!
The Brownies attended Village Day and did a wonderful job helping on the Horticultural Society’s plant stall. Some members of the Society commented on how helpful the girls were and that they were very grown up. I was very proud of them.
We also enjoyed an evening of “make your own fruit salad”. I bought a lot of fruit for the children and amazingly, it was all eaten! All the girls are now expert at peeling and chopping fruit, so parents, don’t forget to ask them to help you at home!
We ended the term with a joint barbeque with Langleybury Brownies at Phasels Wood Scout Camp. This included various parachute games, enrolments, a raffle and singing. A fantastic time was had by all. The evening included presentations to the winners of the Super Brownie of the Year competition. In third place was Rebecca Nicholson (who won a notebook and pencil), in second place was Amy Martin (who won a Brownie mug) and the winner was Lizzie Melhuish (who won a trophy engraved with “Super Brownie 2000). Well done girls!
I hope this report has given you an idea of what we do at Brownies and if you would like to put your daughter’s name on our waiting list, it’s never too early. The starting age is seven years old. Please contact me for more details on 01923 268852.
TRACING MY FAMILY
My father was William Archie GEORGE, born on 22 July 1910. His father was Arthur GEORGE and his mother’s maiden name was Elizabeth Rose TIMBERLAKE. She died aged 43 in August 1910 at their home in Chapel Croft. I would love to hear from anyone who has information about the family. Also of Arthur GEORGE, who was a roadman and had some land where he kept pigs and chickens. He later re-married and died about 1936.
I should also like to hear from Ray DARVIL, the son of Hilda, my father’s sister, who I know lives somewhere in the Chipperfield area. Mrs Brenda Cunningham
16 Harvey Crescent, Warsash, Hants., S031 9TA
MY HELICOPTER TRIP
On 11 June my friend rang me and asked me to listen to a message on her answerphone. I heard, “Hello, brother Donald here. Wonderful news - your friend Audrey has won the helicopter trip in the Hospice Raffle. I have the tickets. Please give me a ring when you get in and we will sort it out. I am very pleased indeed”.
I have never won a raffle prize in my life so this news was hard to take in, as it was such a surprise. My husband could go too, as the prize was a pair of tickets.
On Sunday 20 August, a most beautiful summer day, we went on the trip. The view of London was magnificent at all times as the visibility was about twenty miles, scanning several counties. The helicopter hovered so there was plenty of time to view and we were given two videos of the trip, which was a lovely idea.
We would thoroughly recommend the trip, but YOU would have to pay a great deal more than I paid for my raffle tickets! Audrey Capy
CHARITY GOODS FOR LOCAL SALE
I am a Voluntary Traidcraft representative selling fairly traded food, paper and Christian AidlCafod Christmas cards. If you would like a catalogue or any goods for a sale or event you are holding please contact me. Profits during the current period will be going to Watford New Hope Trust which provides help for the homeless.
Janet Cornell, Middle Oak, Chapel Croft (01923 262468)
THE VILLAGE CHEST
In the July/August issue of Chipperfield News there was a paragraph about the Village Chest which benefited from money raised on Village Day. Many people in the village are aware of the existence of the Chest but the piece in Chipperfield News was not particularly illuminating.
The Trustees, whoever they may be, consider that they should remain anonymous which is unfortunate. Whilst not impugning them in any way, a large sum of money has been contributed and the donors should be allowed to know who looks after it.
I cannot find the Village Chest listed as a registered charity, indeed if was, the trustees could not remain anonymous. However, more to the point is the fact that if the Village Chest was registered, any income received from investing its capital would be tax free and that is surely something that would be in the interest of both donors and recipients in need.
Perhaps the Trustees should review their decision to remain anonymous and even consider registration with the Charity Commission. The financial world has changed since the Village Chest was originally established and these days all means of increasing funds for charitable use should be examined. Tony Briselden
THE PARISH ROOM
St. Paul’s Parish Room and the smaller Upper Room are both available for hire for meetings, parties and wedding receptions. Standard charges for the Parish Room are £7 per hour (2l per session, £63 per day) and for the Upper Room £5 per hour (15 per session, £49 per day). There are concessions for regular users and voluntary groups and special rates for business and commercial use.
The hire of the Parish Room includes use of the kitchen and toilets and hire of the Upper Room includes use of the toilets with use of the kitchen by arrangement.
For further information please contact the Bookings Officer, Stephen Morrill on
01923 263182.
AU REVOIR - SUSAN AND ANDREW SMITH
Chipperfield said a sad goodbye last month to the senior half of the Smith family, who fulfilled a long-held ambition to move to the ‘wilds of Dorset’.
I have known Susan and Andrew since they first came to the village in the 1980s. They have always taken an active part in village life and they will be particularly missed by St Paul’s Church and the Chipperfield Theatre Group. Andrew and David regularly took part in the various productions staged by the CTG and Susan was frequently the box office ‘stalwart’. Andrew was also an outstanding churchwarden at St Paul’s, fulfilling his duties conscientiously and with great tact, style and good humour. He and Susan were both key figures in fundraising and planning for the new Church Extension and they will both be sorely missed at the church. Hopefully our loss will eventually become somebody else’s gain!
On a more personal note, their door has always been open to anybody who needed advice or a comforting chat and I know their many friends in the village are going to miss them like mad! However, life moves on and we wish them lots of happiness in their new life and sincerely hope they will be back to visit on a regular basis. Ann Phillips
ANOTHER GOODBYE
Last month Susan Marett decided, after living in the village, with a couple of breaks, for 69 years, that the time had come to be nearer her daughter Jackie in Nottinghamshire.
She has now moved and would like to thank her many friends in Chipperfield for their good wishes. Susan sends her regards and hopes to keep in touch by letter.