Newsletter

FREE ISSUE 105 JANUARY 2002

EAST COKER SOCIETY

THANK YOU

We would like to say a big thank you to all our distributors who deliver our Newsletter, come rain or shine. We couldn't do it without you. A Happy New Year to you all.

Don't Forget! Tuesday 9 April 2002 at 7.30pm in the Dampier Room

This is the date of the next meeting to discuss final arrangements for celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Please come along with firm times, dates and ideas. Everyone is welcome.

Coffee Morning - to raise money for the Children's Jubilee Tea

This will be held at The Poplars, Coker Marsh on Saturday 13 April 2002, 10.00am - 12 noon. Cakes, bring and buy etc. All welcome.

Photograph your family

Do remember to photograph your family outside your property. We look forward to admiring a large display of them on Monday 3 June at the Village Hall as part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

Draw a scene of East Coker

Children and adults are encouraged to draw or paint a scene of East Coker for the Exhibition on 3 June. Go on...Go on...Go on...have a go...we all know how artistic you are!

Memorabilia/Photographs

If you have memorabilia or photographs of East Coker from the l ast 50 years, or even before that and you are happy for them to be included in the Village Hall Exhibition on 3 June, please phone Pauline Helliar.

VILLAGE DIRECTORY

The last three pages of this Newsletter have not been printed sideways by mistake. They may be detached and folded in half to produce a booklet that lists all clubs, societies and organisations in the village.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The AGM of the East Coker Society will be held as usual in June 2002. We would like to invite villagers to come forward to fill the posts on the Executive Committee of the Society; at the moment we have only five members and there should be eight. Our main fund-raising aim is to publish the Newsletter, but we are also concerned with anything affecting East Coker. Also, from June we will be looking for a new Secretary, if you feel able to take on this post, please phone Pauline Helliar.

VILLAGE EVENTS DIARY

A diary for 2002 is kept behind the counter at the Post Office Stores. We appeal to all event organisers to write their events into this diary as soon as they are planned so that events do not clash, or that similar events do not clash because they are too close together.

We hope to compile a list of annual events in our next Newsletter . If club organisation secretaries have not already done so, would they please send details to Pauline at 26 Mill Close as soon as possible.

RSPB COFFEE MORNING

The RSPB coffee morning was a most successful event, thanks to the support of the village. We were able to hand over £219.04. A big thank you to all who came and to those who helped. If you would like to find out more about the RSPB and the meetings that are held in Crewkerne or the field trips, do give me a ring. Monica

BRIC-A-BRAC FOR YEOVIL HOSPICE

Please collect your bric-a-brac to be sold in aid of the Yeovil Hospice Appeal. We can collect. Penny

EAST COKER SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB

The club held its AGM on Thursday 8 January 2002. Main Officers elected were: Chairman Andy Adams; Vice-chairman George Dudden; Secretary Chris Cooper; Treasurer Alan Jones. We meet in East Coker Village Hall on Tuesday evenings at 7.15pm and Friday afternoons from 2.00pm-4.00pm. New members are always welcome. Any queries, please contact Andy Adams, George Dudden or Chris Cooper.

EAST COKER SCOUT GROUP

Waste Paper Collection Dates for 2002

9 February, 13 April, 8 June, 10 August, 12 October, 7 December

This is a regular fundraiser for the East Coker Scout Group and we welcome all contributions. The collection point is opposite East Coker School during the morning.

Scout Jumble Sale Dates for 2002

Spring: Saturday 20 April
Autumn: Saturday 19 October

Both will be held at East Coker Village Hall at 2.30pm. Please start saving your jumble now. Remember we will collect. Max Bugler

EAST COKER PARISH COUNCIL

The Parish Council would again remind all householders to keep the roadsides, pavements etc. outside of their properties as tidy as possible in an effort to improve the state of the village. Please do not put rubbish out days before it is due for collection as this can create a lot of unnecessary mess if the bags get ripped open and will encourage vermin.

Please note the Byelaws concerning the Recreation Field in Long Furlong Lane: the Byelaws state "A Person shall not in the ground, drive, pitch or chip a hard golf ball". Such actions could cause a serious accident to others using the field, especially little children.

EAST COKER W.I.

The club meets at the East Coker Hall on the last Thursday of the month. We are a lively group and are always glad to welcome new members. For 2002 we have a good variety of excellent speakers. We run Autumn and Winter Whist Drives, have theatre trips, as well as meals out and Summer walks. We participate in a range of events with other W.I's in the Yeovil Group, and at County level. Come first as a visitor and you will be made most welcome. Jean; Eileen

EAST COKER FLOWER SHOW

Earlier this year the committee handed a cheque for £1000 to the Yeovil Hospice Appeal. This was indeed a marvellous effort by all concerned. Many thanks once again to all who helped to make this donation possible.
Now on to 2002's show, there are new subjects in the photographic classes:
Class 71 Golden Jubilee Celebrations, Class 72 Picnic or Barbecue, Class 73 Child Study, Class 74 British Coastline, Class 75 Gateway or Stile, Class 76 Smoke
No excuses, let's make the Queen's Golden Jubilee year our best ever. Keep a lookout for schedules at the end of April, available from the Post Office and Stores. Sue Hounsell

EAST COKER GARDENING CLUB

The December meeting saw 30 members and friends enjoying a very social evening, which brought to end another very successful year. 2002 started with our AGM, which was held on the 10 January at the Royal Oak, Hardington Mandeville. The new programme has yet to be finalised, but will include a Quiz Night, various talks and trips including the Abbotsbury Swannery/Tropical Gardens, Bennetts Waterlily Farm and the Eden Project. The club meets every second Thursday at the East Coker Hall at 7.30pm. All welcome. Sue Hounsell

POPPY APPEAL 2001

Once again the collection for East Coker topped the previous year with the figure of £2168.77. Many thanks to all collectors, especially those who "walked the extra mile", to both my new collectors who had fantastic first collections and especially all the people who gave so generously. Unfortunately we had an even greater need to give and never forget. Let us hope that 2002 will be a more peaceful year for all our service men and women, wherever they are.

REMEMBRANCE SERVICE AT ST. MICHAEL'S

This year's service seemed even more poignant and the full church only served to remind us how precious our freedom is. Yet again the children were included to remind us that they are our future, and our thanks go to all who read at the War Memorial, especially Robyn Clifton and Victoria Holliday.

EAST COKER ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

When you are thinking of your charitable donations this year please spare a thought for the Royal British Legion, where a yearly subscription of just £8 can really make a difference to so many. At the Annual Conference at Yeovil this year, we heard the figures for Somerset: 1059 goodwill parcels, 1661 home visits, 27 people helped into care homes, 11 pensions gained for members and 47 other benefits gained. The amount per capita in Somerset for the Poppy Appeal is 56.78p compared to the national average of 35.70p. BIG DEAL!!! This year, let's really make a difference. Thank you. Sue Hounsell

THANK YOU

East Coker Players would like to thank everyone who helped pack away after the pantomime. It goes without saying "that many hands make light work".

THANK YOU

I would like to say thank you to everyone for attending my Christmas Bingo at East Coker Hall on 24 November 2001. £378 was raised towards my trip to the 20th World Scout Jamboree in Thailand 2002/03. Darren Shutler

EASTER BINGO

9 March 2002 at West Coker Recreation Club. Doors open at 7.00pm. Eyes down 7.30pm. Prizes to include: bottles of wine, chocolate eggs, plants, children's prizes, etc.

BARN DANCE

23 March 2002 at East Coker Hall with the "Yetties". Tickets will be available from the middle of January from Nora White 477897, Darren Shutler 477365 (evenings only). £6 to include a Ploughman's Supper. Bar available.

ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH

The Bookstall Committee would like to thank everybody who joined us for the John Betjeman evening on 7 December. With your support, we raised £432 for the church and The Yeovil Hospice Appeal. Thank you very much. Hilary Darling

Services at St. Michael's

13 February - Ash Wednesday Holy Communion 7.30am and 6.00pm. During Lent, every Wednesday, Early Morning Eucharist 7.30am.
10 March - Mothering Sunday Family Communion 10.00am Evensong 6.00pm.
24 March - Palm Sunday 10.00am Family Eucharist (Palm Sunday procession from The Vicarage 9.50am.)
28 March - Holy Thursday 6.00pm Holy Eucharist and "The Watch"
29 March - Good Friday 10.00am Litany and Prayers
30 March - Holy Saturday 6.00pm Festival of Light
31March - Easter Day 8.00am Holy Communion; 10.00am Family Communion; 6.00pm Evensong

Services at All Saint's, Sutton Bingham

17 March - Passion Sunday 9.00am Holy Communion
29 March - Good Friday 11.00am Litany and Prayers
31 March - Easter Day 11.30am Holy Communion

PLANT SALE - BUBSPOOL HOUSE - SATURDAY 18 MAY 2002

From 10.30am. Coffee and plants. Any cuttings, unwanted plants or specially sown plants gratefully received.

THE QUEEN'S GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

Just so that you can put the dates in your diary, East Coker is celebrating over the weekend 31 May to 3 June.

Friday 31 May, Variety Show at East Coker Hall, details to follow. Sunday 2 June, Ecumenical Service 6.00pm St Michael's Church. Monday 3 June, This is the big day in East Coker's celebrations: An all day Exhibition at East Coker Hall, with coffee, light lunches and teas being served. Wine Tasting in the Dampier Room. Children's Races and Jubilee Tea at the Recreation Field. Morris and Clog Dancers. Maypole Dancers. In the evening a dance in a marquee with food and bar at the Recreation Field. If anybody would like to contribute any other suggestions to make the day special, please come along to the meeting on 9 April 2002, 7.30pm in the Dampier Room.