October 2004
A Tribute
John Pringle, Clerk to Chipperfield Parish Council for the past twelve years, died of cancer on 5 September. About 100 people attended his funeral which was held at the Chiltern Crematorium in Amersham on 13 September. Members of his family were joined by friends, neighbours, former colleagues, and representatives from the Parish, Borough and County councils. The presence of so many local councillors and officers gave some indication of the regard in which John was held by all those with whom he came into contact as our Clerk.
Although John did not live in the village, he worked tirelessly and most conscientiously on behalf of all the residents of Chipperfield. I regret that he was not better known by residents as we have all benefited from his dedication to the Parish. He was a pleasure to work with and will be greatly missed.
Liz Holliday Chairman, on behalf of Chipperfield Parish Council
CHIPPERFIELD PARISH COUNCIL
Until a new Clerk to the Council is appointed, all Parish business will be dealt with by the elected members of the Council. If you have any enquiries or wish to contact the Parish Council, do not telephone the previously published 01442 number. Please contact a member of the Council (addresses and telephone numbers below).
If anyone in the village is interested in applying for the post of Clerk to the Council (16 hours per week) and would like to find out more about the job, I should be pleased to hear from them.
Until a new Clerk is appointed, it would be most helpful if a volunteer could take minutes (longhand or shorthand) at monthly Parish Council meetings and prepare them for subsequent circulation. The task will take 3-4 hours each month and payment will be made. Offers of help to me please.
Liz Holliday, Chairman
CHIPPERFIELD CARE
Please note that from 1 October 2004, our phone line, 01923 264700, will be manned between 9.30am and 2.30pm Monday to Friday.
This will allow volunteers with school age children to join our Duty Officer rota. The service that our Volunteer driver/helpers offer will not be affected. We will continue to make every effort to meet any reasonable request, subject to finding a volunteer willing to undertake it.
This change will be reviewed after 6 months.
CHIPPERFIELD TENNIS CLUB
Our annual Double Tennis Competition was played in gloriously hot conditions. The sun shone brightly all week-end and the players melted. However, it was lovely to finish the event with a Bar-B-Q and a good time was had by all. Congratulations to the following members:
Juniors: Winners: Jack Thompson and Jack Twomey; Runners-up: Tristan Dicker and Jack Minshell.
Teenagers: Winners: Ben Hug and Jack Foskett; Runners-up: George Slager and Matthew Barton.
Ladies: Winners: Joanne Kingston and Helen Kingston; Runners-up: Karen McInerney and Ann Lock.
Mens: Winners: Martyn Dicker and Chris Panayi; Runners-up: Paul Boyle and Andrew Jackson.
JACKET FOUND
A ladies' brown suede jacket, size 14, was found in Scatterdells Lane on 31 August. It may be claimed from Hemel Hempstead Police Station (01442 271012)
THEFT FROM CARS
Theft of equipment, money and handbags from parked cars continues to be a problem in the village. (Eight reported cases in the last two months).
Remember to take your belongings with you and lock your car when you park it, however long you leave it.
Chipperfield Within Living Memory.
SCHOOL DINNERS AT BLACKWELLS.
For parents of today's pupils at St Paul's School, it may just be a question of either school dinners or packed lunches, to be consumed on the premises, but back in the Second World War it was a different matter.
War was declared on 3rd September 1939 and within a week Chipperfield had received 120 evacuees, who were housed with families around the village. Food rationing was implemented on 8th January 1940 to ensure that everyone received adequate nutrition and to control the distribution of food supplies, which inevitably declined. Bacon or ham was limited to 110g (4oz) and butter and sugar to 330g (12oz) per person, per week.
Concern increased throughout the war over the nutrition of school children and the Board of Education and the Ministry of Food established guidelines for the provision of meals for those children whose parents wanted them. The authorities were worried that the wartime diet did not provide enough protein for growing children, as mothers, encouraged to do war work, possibly neglected the midday meal.
As a result of this concern, the Ministry of Food encouraged the establishment of British Restaurants (supposedly named by Churchill) to provide cheap, nutritional food (including wheatmeal bread) for evacuees, school children, war workers and refugees from bombed out cities. By late 1941, one of these had been established at Chipperfield. This was in the Women's Club, which was at the car park end of Blackwells, and this is where school dinners began and continued until 1975, when the new school was opened on its current site. The organisation depended heavily on the services of the W.V.S. and I understand that the Land Army helped as well.
In a recently discovered bound copy of the 1943 Church Magazines, there is an article written by the Vicar, Canon Jefferies, congratulating and thanking Miss Liddell, for her skilled cooking and for the assistance of her staff and loyal band of voluntary lady workers , who were celebrating the school canteen's second anniversary on December 10th. Under the guidance of Miss Liddell, (who was subsequently to write the first local history 'Notes on Old Chipperfield'), 50,000 piping hot meals had been provided promptly for children, teachers, land workers and others. It was a fine example of war work and the service had even paid its way.
The introduction of rationing also aroused much interest in resourceful methods of cooking and demonstrations were held throughout Dacorum. Housewives in Chipperfield held a competition to produce an "Invasion Loaf" baked without yeast or milk. We have no record of how palatable the winning entry was!
Mary Nobbs.
THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB
If you are over 60 and would like to enjoy a hot lunch in good company once a week, why not come along to the Parish Room on Thursdays from 12 noon to 1.00pm? The meal costs £1.60 and is followed by tea or coffee.
Please phone Mary West on 01923 260688 if you would like to give it a try. Transport can be arranged to collect and take you home if necessary.
PARISH MAP
The prints of the village map are selling like the proverbial hot cakes and only six dozen copies remain.
Buy now for Christmas, price £10, either from The Post Office Stores or The Larder. All maps supplied in a protective tube.
If you would like copies supplied by post please send a cheque (payable to Chipperfield Parish Council) for £10.50 to Gorse Cottage, The Common, Chipperfield, WD4 9BL
TEENAGERS TO PENSIONERS
Eddie Studley and his wife were over from Australia, so it seemed a good idea to get the "Boys" together, so seven or us with our wives met at the Cart and Horses and what a good time we had - even the weather was nice and sunny.
We all agreed that we were better off than our Dads and, yes, by the time they were our age, they were no longer with us with the exception of one, so we all felt rather lucky with life (so much for the pills).
Yes, we were the village teenagers of the early 1950s and now the pensioners of the 2000s and thinking back we were not that bad; the vicar lost a few pears and we did leave some raspberries and apples for Mrs Brusson at The Manor House. We were not greedy. Our Mums would lose a few teaspoons as we would bend then to all kinds of shapes in an effort to get birds eggs from the holes in the chestnut trees; it was the fashion those days to have a good collection of birds eggs, no longer allowed these days, I hasten to add.
The meeting point in the 1950s was The Two Brewers corner. There would be as many as twenty of us, all with a bike, while the older ones had motorbikes - AJS, Aerial, BSA and Matchless were the order of the day; no Japanese bikes about then.
The summer months were spent playing football or cricket on The Common among ourselves until the light ran out, then to the Men's Club for a refreshing drink and maybe, if we were not too knackered, a game of cards, darts or snooker - sport was so much of our entertainment. Saturday was our night out - usually to a dance. The choice was good, Adeyfield Hall, Burton, Guild House, Ovaltine and Watford Town Hall. We would cycle to the Ovaltine, but to any of the others, it would be bus out and Albert's Taxi home; that was until we could drive, then things were a little better. Some of us met our wives at those venues.
Sundays were a little different; most of use went to evensong at Church or Chapel and then we would crowd into the back room of The Windmill with our Vimto ginger beer or shandy and watch Tommy Trinder in 'Sunday Night at the London Palladium'. The landlord, Mr Sprake, would come and ask if we required any more drinks "No thanks" was the reply (we couldn't afford it); we would make the one drink last the evening.
As those teenage years were ebbing out, we began to watch for the postman dropping those call-up papers through the letterbox. It was National Service for us. At 18, we were called to join the services for two years. Some were deferred to complete their apprenticeships, but we all had to go. Did it do us any harm? Only financial and we had little money anyway. Did we learn anything? Yes, discipline and to obey orders without question, and, yes, we all thought it would work wonders with the teenagers of today.
However, some good came out of our reminiscing. After sixty years Charlie Parfit had to admit to Eddy Studley that he was out LBW in the daily school dinner-time cricket match and he was sorry he hit him with the cricket bat, but he knew it would be a couple of weeks before he would get another knock, so "I was reluctant to hand the bat over". Eddy replied, "Don't worry Charlie, I got two days off school for that".
Then the final question was asked- would we like to be a teenager today? The answer was unanimous NO. We made our own fun and had great times, harmed no one and enjoyed ourselves with little money. What more could you ask for.
Village Pensioner
BOWLS IN THE VILLAGE HALL
The coming season opens on Friday 1 October when the Evening Short Mat Bowls Club hold their first meeting at 7pm. Two mats are used and games are arranged on Tuesday and Friday evenings. Matches against other local indoor clubs take place throughout the season and various social evenings, culminating in the Annual Dinner in May, are organised. The club welcomes enquires from prospective players. Please ring the Secretary, Richard Hughes, on 01923 262374 for details.
In addition, the Dacorum Over 55's Short Mat Bowls group meet every Thursday in the Village Hall at 1.30pm for 2 hours of relaxed bowling for only £1.50. If you are interested in afternoon bowls, please ring Graham Breen on 01923 267947, or just turn up on a Thursday afternoon for a warm welcome.
WARM FRONT
Free government grants to improve the warmth and insulation of homes are available to all those who receive Income Support, Housing or Council Tax Benefit and have a child under 16 or are at least 26 weeks pregnant, recipients of other benefits and allowances and those over 60 receiving Pension Credit, Housing or Council Tax Benefit. Phone free 0800 952 1555, Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm for details.
ST PAUL'S AND HOLY CROSS
Christianity Explored - this is a course that does just that. It looks at the contents and claims of Christianity based on St Mark's Gospel. It is intended for learners, beginners or anyone who would like a refresher course. It will go at the pace best suited to those who come. The whole course lasts for 10 weeks and we plan to study the first 5 sessions on Tuesday evenings in November and then the second 5 after Christmas. It will start on Tuesday 2 November at 8.00pm in St Paul's Parish Room. If you are interested in having more information, please ring Phil Waine on 01923 268904 or John King on 01923 264552 by mid October.
Choral Evensong: Sunday 3 October as part of our Harvest Thanksgiving at 6.30pm in St Paul's Church. Soloist: Hyacinth Nichols. Do feel welcome to come and enjoy this gem from the Prayer Book.
Taize Service: Sunday 5 November at 6.30pm in St Paul's Church by candle-light. An opportunity to reflect and to remember loved ones who have died.
Children's Groups.
Sunday Special: 10am every Sunday (except for monthly Family Worship). Alison Bush (01442 834425)
Toddler Praise: 10am in the narthex, first Thursday each month. Sally Thompson (262382)
Chipchops: Camping weekend - 30 and 31 October - Chilly Weekend! Details of all activities (listed in the April issue of Chipperfield News) from Simon and Lucy Wood (260249).
BAPTIST CHURCH
We are looking forward to our Church Anniversary service on October 17th and we would be pleased to see any of you there at 10.30am to join in the celebrations. The church was established in 1820 which makes us 184 years old!
The Thursday Group is a time of sharing, prayer & singing. These have been very fruitful meetings and there is always a cup of tea afterwards. Do come and share with us, you will be most welcome.
CHURCH OF OUR LADY
For further information on services and events please contact the office on 01923 269564.
FOOTBALL IS SERIOUS BUSINESS IN UGANDA
Ten percent of the money we receive at St Paul's is given to other Christian work and charities. One of the overseas activities we support is the Tigers Club Project in Uganda. Its work is to help boys who live on the streets and give them a way of getting back into the community and live a better life.
Boys finish up on the streets, living off the town rubbish dump, for a variety of reasons. These could be family breakdown, violence, abuse, poverty, loss of parents through HIV/Aids. Tigers offers a Clubhouse where boys can rest and sleep and be fed. Medical attention can be given and they can be taught basic literacy and numeracy or catch up on lessons they have missed.
75% of the boys are resettled with their families after what is often a long and difficult process. Others are placed with foster parents and become part of that family. Others are trained for living on their own. A halfway home was recently opened which provides a safe environment where the boys can be prepared for their return to the community. This home was named by the boys 'Tudabujja', which means 'We are being made new'.
Football can play an important role in giving these boys new hope, new relationships and a new life. Perhaps for the first time they learn skills and achieve success not available to them before. They learn to trust and work with others, be disciplined and be part of a team with its own colours. They play teams made up of boys from entirely different backgrounds from their own and do win. No doubt being coached by a former captain of the Ugandan national team helps.
The Director of Tigers Club Project is Andrew Williams, son of Malcolm & Brenda who were with us here in Chipperfield until the beginning of this year. If you would like more information, contact Simon and Lucy wood on 01923 260249 or ring 020 8748 0005. Better still, come and hear Andy talk about this work in St Paul's Church Parish Room on Sunday 31 October at 6.30pm.
John King, Church Warden
This poem was composed by Mr. Ron Judd of Ruislip, a visitor, in appreciation of this year's Flower Festival at St. Paul's Church, held 10-12 July
Flocking to a lovely place, being welcomed there with fond embrace.
Lots of folk, from far and wide, come to marvel at what's inside.
On walls, in nooks and corners too, colourful displays enhance the view.
With "Traditional Britain" as their theme, arrangers create a joyful dream.
Every aspect is depicted there, special "celebrations" crafted with flair.
Roses and Alliums of such deep hues, arranged with care amongst the pews.
Four patron saints and faiths diverse, children's works in paint and verse.
Every sporting special day, expertly shown with bold display.
So, "simply stunning", "a joy to behold", in the visitors' book the truth is told.
To all contributors to this joyous event, thanks for your efforts, 'twas time well spent.
It's so important to recollect, these traditions so "British" in every respect.
Vaunt now the music played at leisure, a quintet and organists completed our pleasure.
As we wend our way and homeward go, may we our thanks and gratitude show.
Let's enhance the funds as we pass, donate a little "quintessentially brass"!
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
the late Mrs. Arabella Rivington
I am writing in the hope that I can make contact with old friends of my late friend, Mrs Arabella Rivington, who used to live at Whiteway Field, Chipperfield, with her husband, Charles and daughter, Margaret.
I would like to hear from anyone who knew her in the 1960s when she was a member of the Arts Circle in Chipperfield. She was a member and there must be people still alive who knew her and were friends with her. I am in my 80s and lost touch with the family when she died in London in February 1972. I attended her funeral with my husband. I would be so pleased to make contact with her art circle, or other friends. Helen Beaumont.
From the Editor: Since the receipt of this letter in August, I have been able to find the address of Margaret Rivington (also known as Sheila) and that of Mrs. Rivington's cousin, Tom Morkill. Mrs. Beaumont was delighted to receive this information and would still like to contact any of the late Mrs. Rivington's friends. Please contact me if you can help on 01923 267483 for her address.
THE PLAY AREA AT THE MOUNT PRISON
What must it be like for a child to visit a father in prison?
A tiring journey, waiting around to be checked in, being searched by a woman in uniform, then into a high, bleak room and Dad sitting on a hard chair. Mum buys you a drink and some crisps, you tell Dad what you've been doing at school but he may not be listening properly. The outside world seems a long way away.
Then what do you do? Sit and fidget while Mum and Dad try to sort out family problems - not enough money for your new shoes; someone trying to make you move house; people coming round to ask about Dad's friends.
But there is a nice bright place in the corner of the room, with cheerful ladies who do not ask awkward questions but give you toys to play with, or crayons to draw your Dad a picture; read you a story or play games with you. You can go back to Mum and Dad when you want to but quite soon Mum fetches you to say goodbye to Dad and then you're off home again with Mum looking worried and sad.
Would you like to help us create a happy and relaxed environment for these children? Why not come and look round, without commitment and maybe get a friend to come with you.
We run seven sessions each week, weekday afternoons and weekend mornings and afternoons. Each session lasts two hours. We ask volunteers to make a regular commitment, say once a week, once a fortnight, once a month, so that we can plan our rota. We can pay you travel expenses from up to ten miles away. Volunteers are given training on basic security within the prison and a member of staff or an experienced volunteer is in charge of each session. No one ever works on their own.
Please give us a call at the prison for further details on 01442 834363 ext. 392 (leave a message and we will get back to you). We look forward to your call.
Karen and Hilary
VILLAGE PEOPLE
A chapter of Bucks Hill history ended in August, when Mavis Howe moved away to live near her daughter in Somerset. Ainsworth Cattery - whose distinctive cat cut-outs along the barn roof have long been a local landmark - has closed. Mrs Howe's family have lived here for 85 years, and she is maintaining her ties with the village as she will continue to own a part of her land. So, in wishing her well in her new home, we can say au revoir instead of goodbye.
Congratulations to Steven and Susie Luff who are pleased to announce the arrival of their first child, Phoebe, on August 16th. She is a delight to them and to her proud grandparents, Frank and Lesley Baker.
John and Margaret Bridges have moved to Dunmow to be nearer to some of their family. After over thirty years of being actively involved in many things locally they will both be much missed. Our best wishes to them for health and happiness in their new home.
Among many students who have recently graduated are Jason Cox and Andrew Coates. Congratulations to them and to all the others who haven't told us of their various achievements.
Good luck to Tracey Pritchard who has gained a place at de Montford University, to read English Literature.
If you have an item you would like to be included in Village People please contact Valerie Briselden via the Chipperfield News box at the Post Office Stores or The Two Brewers, or drop a note through Valerie's door at The Firs, The Common. Please include a telephone number in case we need to check any details.
DEER WALKS
There are two early morning Deer Walks on the Ashridge Estate this month, on Sunday 17 October and Sunday 24 October from 6.45am to 9.30am. The 4-mile walks are circular and of moderate difficulty. Warm clothes and suitable footwear should be worn. Optional pub breakfast after the walk (about £7). Meet in small car park outside The Greyhound Inn, Stocks Road, Aldbury. Numbers restricted to 25 individuals so book early. Call 01727 848168
LOCAL AUTHOR
Jennifer Worth, who lives in Boxmoor, was a District Midwife in the London docklands in 1950s She has recently written a memoir of her working life which gives a unique insight into the social history of the area round Poplar when it was still ravaged by wartime bombing. "Call The Midwife" is available from Hammicks, Hemel Hempstead and The Mustard Seed, Old High Street, Hemel Hempstead.
ALLOTMENTS
Chipperfield Allotments welcomed eight new tenants last month and they are all working to prepare their plots for next year's growing season. All the recently cleared plots are now taken and we have only two, recently vacated, plots still available. If you would like to rent either a full or half plot please phone as soon as possible before they are snapped up. 01923 267483
LAZY REEDERS
Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is that the frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.
What lazy readers we are!
GREAT BRITISH WEATHER
What a difference a year makes: last August I was eagerly watching the sky for any sign of rain, whilst this year I am writing these notes while torrential rain falls on already wet ground. Last year we recorded a miserly 11.9mm of rain during the whole of August. This year we are up to 58mm on August 20th. Although this seems to be a high reading we here in Chipperfield have missed out on the really big storms that have caused flooding in London and many other places.
At least this year I have enough grass for the lambs and our beech trees have now had a good drink. Beech trees are very surface rooting and after a dry May and June a lot of their leaves seem to be drying out and with heavy crops of beech mast on them they were beginning to look rather brown. June was a strange month, a few very hot days and a few dull days with a sprinkle of rain: "wet days with no rain" as my father used to say.
I am no lover of hot weather and on some days the heat in our south facing vegetable garden was too much for me and some of the plants. How I longed for a good game of snowballs! The evaporation from our wildlife pool was alarming, and after wading in (a good way to cool down) and tidying up the water lilies, we had to give it 5 hours of hosepipe treatment. It did the trick, it hasn't stopped raining since.
Our weather seems to be going all topsy turvy: last summer virtually no thunder storms and this year nothing but. In spite of the fact that we can put a man on the moon we are still no good at forecasting the weather, let alone controlling it. It seems to me that global warming is already having devastating effects, the people of Boscastle in Cornwall would say so, and this is only the beginning. Perhaps we must all change our ways. Could we walk the children to school, or cycle to the shop? Do we really need all those outside lights on at night, a burglar may fall over a flowerpot in the dark or rattle the dustbin, and with less light pollution we would see more stars in the night sky. Can we really afford to waste all that energy? Nature is a powerful force and we may have to face the consequences of our wasteful actions. Wendy Bathurst
YOUR GARDEN IN OCTOBER
Now that autumn is here it's time to prepare the garden for the coming winter and next spring as well. As they die down perennials need to be cut back, except for the sedums, asters and rudbeckias, which should still be in full flower. Plants with interesting seed heads are best left untouched and pentstemmons should be dead-headed only. Tender perennials should be lifted before the frosts begin and dahlia tubers should be dug up and stored in a frost-free place. Once cleared, the borders can be mulched with manure or organic compost. The plant material removed will make good compost for future years. Put all garden 'clippings' on to the compost heap and add a little Garotta to speed up the rotting process.
In the vegetable garden, potatoes and root crops should be lifted and put into store. Start digging as soon as possible adding farmyard manure as you go. Manure can be obtained in bags from the garden centre or delivered loose from some of our local farmers. Now is the time to harvest fruit. Shrubs, such as Buddleia, should be pruned and lavender gently trimmed. Keep up the regular spraying of roses until leaf fall and give hedges their final cut.
Bulbs are ready for planting now and there are plenty to choose from. Daffodils can be planted in the garden, in bowls for the house or they can be 'naturalised' in grassed areas. Tulips and hyacinths look good planted in the flower borders and miniature bulbs are ideals for adding early spring colour to the rock garden. Make sure you use prepared hyacinths for early flowering in bowls. Spring flowering bedding plants such as wallflowers, Canterbury Bells, Myosotis and Sweet Williams are ready for planting now and so too are the winter-flowering pansies. polyanthus and primroses. Winter hanging baskets can be prepared using trailing ivies, Lamium, Nepeta and Lysimachia to set off the lowering plants. A mixture of plants and bulbs can be used for tubs and containers.
Early October is now considered to be the best time to tackle persistent weeds such as bindweed, ground elder and Japanese knotweed, by spraying Glysophate, Tumbleweed or Roundup on to the leaves just before the plants die down for the winter.Lawns will need to be aerated and scarified and a good autumn lawn fertilizer should be applied to set them up for the winter. After a final mow, it would be wise to arrange for the lawn mower to be serviced so that it will be ready for use as soon as the grass starts to grow in spring. Finally, enjoy all the berries and autumn colour on the trees and shrubs which makes October such a special month in the garden.
Terry Simmonds
OUR LOCAL THEATRE
Following an extensive refurbishment which has taken two years and cost £8.7 million, the doors of The Palace Theatre at Watford is due to open again this month.
The theatre is now fully accessible to all patrons with improved access to all levels via the lift. Spaces for wheelchairs in the stalls and the circle have been increased and a infra red sound amplification system operates in certain areas of the auditorium. Guide dogs and hearing dogs are welcome to stay with their owners.
The opening production will be The Country Wife by William Wycherley, with Premier Nights at 7.45pm on Friday 8, Saturday 9, Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 October; then daily until the end of the month. Ticket prices range from £10-£18 on Monday-Friday evenings, all Premier Nights and matinees and from £12-£20 for Saturday evenings. Box Office: 01923 225671.
On Saturday 16 October there will be theatre tours at 10am, 11am and 12 noon, Cost £5 per person (under 12s free). Tickets now available from the Box Office.
This year's pantomime will be Mother Goose, with a Preview at 7.00pm on Friday 3 December and then performances daily until Sunday 9 January. Tickets £12-£18.