Newsletter
January 2003 Free Issue 109
Letter from the Chair
May I on behalf of the Committee wish you a somewhat belated
Happy New Year; we hope that 2003 will be successful for the village and all
its enterprises. There may be some of
you who feel the lack of a club in the village which caters for your particular
interests, be it astronomy, walking, model-making, bird-watching, or
whatever. Why not make it a New Year
resolution to find out, through the pages of this newsletter, whether there are
any other like-minded enthusiasts around who would be interested in setting
something up? You might well be
pleasantly surprised.
The Christmas Bazaar was a particular success this year:
£333.06 was raised for the newsletter and all 300 village tea towels were sold,
many of them destined to be sent as presents to friends and relations far from
here. Eight village groups benefited
from having stalls at the Bazaar – a ‘village’ event in every
sense. Thank you all for your support.
You may have noticed several recent improvements to
one of the most attractive corners of our village, namely The Paddock. Old tree roots have been removed and ground
levelled. Bare earth patches are to be
grassed over in the spring and the Society’s future plans for this area
include planting an oak tree to give good autumn colour and hanging new wooden
gates. Very many thanks to John Sugg and David Mead for their work.
The Village Events list (at the back of the
newsletter) features the next four months of activities. The April Newsletter will include events from
April to August so do let Lesley know of anything scheduled for that period
(date, time and venue please). If you
advise we advertise!
VILLAGE HISTORY EXHIBITION
13
and 14 September 2003 – details in next Newsletter.
Village Clubs and
Organisations
EAST COKER KEEP
FIT
'Roast Beef Lunch' to be held in April at the
East Coker Hall. If interested please contact
Mary Ashley 862263
The Group meets Tuesdays 6.00pm – 7.00pm at the East
Coker Hall. New members welcome. Contact Mary Ashley 862263
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION POPPY
APPEAL 2002
Earlier
last year I asked that during the Golden Jubilee year we make a special effort
to top last year's figure. You did not
disappoint me, and it is with very many thanks to all collectors, and to
everyone who gave so generously, that we have in fact topped that figure by
£70.15 to £2439.42. Well done.
Sue
Hounsell 863287
Lest
We Forget
On
9 November four of us boarded Berry's bus for our trip to London to see the
Festival of Remembrance at The Royal Albert Hall. We found our seats way up in the gods, but on
the front row, so had a really good bird's eye view, and also of the Royal Box. The atmosphere was amazing, just to know that
everyone was there for the same reason filled us with some hope for the times
ahead. The 'Royals' arrived at eight
o'clock and we saw Her Majesty The Queen, Prince
Phillip, Prince Charles, The Princess Royal, The Count and Countess of Wessex
and a host of politicians, including the Prime Minister. The evening progressed a little differently
to other years. Because it was the
Golden Jubilee Year much was made of the 50 years of The Queen's reign, and a
moving tribute was paid to The Queen Mother, during the two minute silence and
the dropping of the poppy petals.
Everyone's thoughts were obviously very personal, some remembering the
men and women who had bravely given their lives, so that we may enjoy the freedom
we have, others remembering personnel still fighting for that freedom. It was good to see so many young people
taking part, their enthusiasm running like a thread of new hope through the
whole proceeding. Sunday morning saw us
at the Cenotaph. Yes, in the rain! Luckily, this stopped in time for the laying
of the wreaths and the march past of the veterans. The Chelsea Pensioners brought a lump to
every throat, and when the whole of The Mall rang with the tune of 'There'll
Always Be an England', we all knew exactly why we were there, and come what may
no-one will ever be able to take away that feeling of pride. Our final stop was Westminster Abbey and The
Field of Remembrance. This again
highlighted the losses already sustained, and conflicts still happening all
over the world.
I
don't know whether I shall ever go again, or if I really want to. Having celebrated the remembrance weekend,
during the Golden Jubilee year I feel I have certainly had my 'perfect moment'!!
Sue
Hounsell
EAST COKER "TIME TO
SHARE" CLUB
"Time
to Share", now in its 28th year, is still flourishing, with a membership
which has grown to 60 during the past few months.
We
meet from 2.30pm – 4.00pm on alternate Mondays in the East Coker Hall to
enjoy a varied programme of talks and activities in a really friendly, happy
atmosphere. There is always time for a
"cuppa" and a chat and, of course, a piece of delicious cake,
home-made for us by our very kind "Cake Rota"
ladies.
This
year's programme will include two whole day outings, talks ranging from
"Social Security" to "Music Hall", Line Dancing, a Quiz
Afternoon, two Bazaars, two parties and much more!
If
you would like to find out more about "Time to Share", please contact
Alison Charles 863137, Jean Bicknell 478733 or Mary Baker 862132
EAST COKER GARDENING
CLUB
By the time the Newsletter reaches you the AGM will
have been held and we will be embarking upon a new series of talks and visits
covering a wide range of interests, which we hope will please all tastes. Programmes ready at the February
meeting. We start with a talk on
'Violets' by Mr Clive Groves from Groves Nurseries, Bridport, and in April are looking forward to our visit to
Kew Gardens.
The Club has had an encouraging rise in membership
over the past year. We hope to welcome
back all our members and to meet many new ones.
Future meetings are:- 13 March Vegetables
for the Small Garden David Rawding
10
April Patio Containers Brimsmore Staff
24
April Visit to Kew Gardens
8
May The
Amateur Greenhouse Robert
Allwood
The club meets on the second Thursday of each month
at East Coker Hall, 7.30pm. All welcome.
Rachel Blow 862849
EAST COKER W.I.
We have just completed a highly successful and interesting
year under the presidency of Eileen Horwood. Besides very informative and amusing speakers
at the monthly meetings we have run three workshops. A three-day workshop introduced us into the
intricacies of the computer. By the end
of the sessions, we could not only write letters but could make greetings cards
and search the internet.
Two separate one-day workshops guided us through
the art of barge painting and painting on silk.
These workshops proved highly satisfying as we were able to make several
of our own Christmas presents.
A visit to Cothay Manor
was arranged to celebrate our birthday and we also visited the theatre as a
group. Outings organised by the W.I.
Group have included ten-pin bowling and organised walks.
Whist Drives
We run monthly Whist Drives during the winter to
help boost funds. These are held in East
Coker Hall and are open to anyone. They
will be held on Thursdays, 23 January, 20 February, 20 March and, 17 April,
starting at 7.30pm. Tel 863223
The New Year programme starts on Thursday, 30
January at 7.30pm at the East Coker Hall where we will entertained by the
famous “No, No, Yes” comedy actor, Trevor Peacock from ‘The
Vicar of Dibley’. Anyone interested in joining the Women's
Institute, please come along to that meeting or phone treasurer, Angela Rees,
on 862828 for details.
Jumble Sale
To be held on Saturday 1 February at the East Coker
Hall. Doors open at 2.00pm. Any jumble will be gratefully received.
Joyce Pryor 862816
EAST COKER PLAYERS – thank you!
Another super pantomime! The children were great! A lot of hard work must have gone into giving
the audience such enjoyable performances of 'Peter Pan'. Well done!
Sue Hounsell
EAST COKER WINE
CIRCLE
A successful
year is always a hard act to follow. For
the Wine Circle's Silver Jubilee Year we promised a really fantastic programme
and we believe we are achieving this aim.
It is hoped that the charity concert by the South West RAFA Band on
Saturday, 15 February will raise a substantial sum of money for the Royal
British Legion. This event is open to
non members and tickets (£7 for adults, £5 for children) are available from the
Treasurer, David Fellowes, 864346. Our other major event is the 25th anniversary
dinner on Saturday, 22 March. A four-day
visit to Shropshire for an English wine trail has been organized for July.
For
the hog roast last year it seems that it was a case of déja
vu, the weather once again knocked the shine off this event and the committee
has decided to put a repeat roast on the back burner for a while! A new venue and new format is being
planned. Watch this space! Finally, I would like to thank everyone who
has supported the Wine Circle over the past year and to take this opportunity
to wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year.
David
Pryor
EAST COKER SCOUT
GROUP
Next Waste Paper Collections for 2003: 8 February, 12 April, 7 June, 9 August, 11 October,
6 December
This is a regular fund raiser for the East Coker
Scout Group and we welcome all contributions large or small.
The collection point is opposite East Coker School
during the morning. It is helpful to us
if newsprint is flat packed and kept separate from magazines & glossies as
the newsprint is more valuable to us.
Any queries regarding waste paper, please phone Max Bugler: 862186.
Scout Jumble Sale Dates for 2003
Spring: Saturday 19 April Autumn: Saturday 18
October. Both will be held at East Coker
Village Hall at 2.00pm. Please start
saving your jumble now.
REMEMBER WE WILL COLLECT. Tel. Max Bugler 862186
Thank you for your continued support. Jackie Glover
WEA – EAST
COKER BRANCH
Next Course:
THE SOUTH COAST
A study of the south coast
from Penwith to Poole, integrating the physical and
human aspects, looking at themes such as geology, landforms, settlements,
industries and conservation. Case
studies of locations will exemplify the splendid diversity of this fascinating
coastline. Tutor: Paul Pickering, B.Sc. Cert. Ed.
Beginning:
Tuesday 4 March, 2.30pm – 4.00pm for six weekly meetings in the
village hall, Halves Lane.
Course Fee:
£20, paid on second meeting.
Students who receive a means tested benefit or Job Seeker's Allowance
and their unwaged dependants can register for this course for £3. The tuition is then FREE – and those on
low income may also be eligible for help.
For further information contact: Sarah Smith, Penhill
Farm, Pendomer, Yeovil, BA22
9PA. Tel. 862466
Young People
EAST COKER SCHOOL
Peter
Sweetlove – Head Teacher
Mr
Sweetlove celebrated 20 years as the School's Head
Teacher on 6 January 2003). There must
be many ex staff, pupils, parents and friends who have memorabilia of the
school from January 1983 and we would love to collate these and present them to
Mr Sweetlove sometime later in the year. If you know of anyone who would like to
contribute their memories of the school, special days, amusing
incidents, what they loved most and perhaps a personal note of what they are
doing now, please send them to Christine Mowbray, Odmoor
House, East Coker, BA22 9HY on an A5 piece of paper, together with any
photographs (which will be returned).
The PTFA will be asking Mr Sweetlove to plant
a tree in the school playing fields to commemorate 20 years of service to the
school as a token of our great appreciation.
Many
thanks. Chris Mowbray, Chair PTFA 862478
Travelling
Trends Fashion Show.
This
will be held at East Coker School, Thursday, 13 February. Doors open 7.30pm, show starts at
8.00pm. We are the first in this area to
host a Fashion Show with Travelling Trends.
So you won't have seen them before.
Why not come along and enjoy a Ladies Night out, a glass of wine and
this season's fashions all in one go?
This is your chance to see, try on and buy High Street fashions, from
retailers such as Principles, Marks and Spencer's 'Per Una',
Next, Gap and many more at greatly reduced prices. Tickets will be on sale at £3.50, to include
a glass of wine or tea or coffee, from 20 January at East Coker Village Post
Office (thank you Nick), or by posting your ticket order to Chris Mowbray, Odmoor House, East Coker, (by the telephone box) with cash
or a cheque made payable to East Coker PTFA and the total amount of tickets
required and address to send them to. We
look forward to a great village community evening.
EAST COKER
PRE-SCHOOL PLAYGROUP
We are a local playgroup operating at The Sports
Pavilion, Long Furlong Lane, East Coker, next to the playing fields. Sessions run Monday to Friday starting at
9.15am and finishing at 12 noon. We
provide a warm, friendly, stimulating and safe environment where children can
blossom and grow, learning and developing happily
through play based activities. We are Ofsted
inspected and children will be funded under the Early Years Grant system when
eligible. For further information on
Playgroup, please contact Kay Strode on 872126
Our next fundraising event is our May Fair on 17
May at The Pavilion, Long Furlong Lane, East Coker
during the afternoon.
IN BETWEENIES
A baby and toddler group for parents and
carers. An afternoon
for fun and play whilst becoming familiar with the playschool setting and
facilities.
We meet on Thursday afternoon from 1.30pm to 3.00pm
at The Pavilion, Long Furlong Lane, East Coker. The
cost per family is £1.00.
Contact; Penny 862753
The Churches
ST MICHAEL'S
Special Services
Mothering Sunday 30 March 10.00am
Children's Service
Passion Sunday 6 April 10.00am
Matins 1662 Prayer Book
Palm Sunday 13 April 10.00am
Procession of Palms
Maundy Thursday 17 April 6.00pm
Last Supper Eucharist followed by 'The Watch'
Good Friday 18 April 10.00am
Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday 19 April 6.00pm
Lighting of the New Fire
Easter Day 20 April 10.00am
Sung Eucharist
Roger Burt 862125
BELLRINGING
The East Coker bell-ringers are always happy to
welcome anybody who would like to try their hand at bell-ringing. It is great fun and 'good exercise'! We will start practices in March on a Friday
night. Please ring Lesley Lindsay 862868
The Mid week Meetings
These meetings are held once a month at the
church. The emphasis is placed on
preaching and teaching the Bible. All
meetings start at 7.00pm and last for one hour, followed by refreshments and
plenty of time to chat.
The dates are:- Tuesday 28 January Rev Alan Hogarth
Wednesday 19 February Rev James de
Costobadie
Tuesday
25 March Rev
Rupert Demery
Please feel free to join us. For further details, please ring 862519 or 862785 Roy Hodder
ALL SAINTS CLOSWORTH
Six or seven years ago the tiny Church of All Saints
Closworth was on the verge of closing because of lack
of support and building problems but things have changed. Just before Christmas the church was
beautifully decorated and lit with brightly coloured night lights for the annual
Carol Service. The church was full and
the congregation sang well known carols with enthusiasm. St. Michaels Church Choir from East Coker
sang a number of lesser known carols.
Members of Closworth congregation read the
lessons and after the Service the congregation was served mulled wine and mince
pies. Nobody seemed to want to go home, perhaps they had heard the call to the service on the
bells rung by the vicar and Roger Barber.
On Christmas Eve Closworth
Church was again completely full with excited and expectant children dressed to
take part in scenes from the Nativity.
There were angels and shepherds and kings as well as a baby lamb. All wanted to be part of the Service. As the Christmas story unfolded in verses
chosen by Penny Barber and read by the older children, the younger ones came up
to join Mary and Joseph and the real live baby Jesus. All behaved perfectly and there were not any
cries from either baby Jesus or the lamb.
Even the most boisterous toddler stood solemnly still with rapt looks of
adoration. Was it the beautiful dresses
that had been produced by caring mothers and grandparents that made the
children so good or was it the Spirit of Christmas and the Christ Child's birth
that was in their hearts? At one time I
could not sing, I had a lump in my throat.
Monica Whipp
Village News
EAST COKER HALL
BOOKINGS 2003
If
you have made a booking for the Hall for 2003 and have not been contacted by
Pauline the new Hall Bookings Secretary) within the last month, please phone
her as soon as possible.
Pauline
Helliar 862087
EAST COKER PARISH
COUNCIL
At the November meeting, the following reply was
received from B/T regarding the branches of trees growing around overhead cabling,
'that overhead cabling is especially robust and designed to withstand extreme
wear and tear'. They do, however, state
'it is the responsibility of the owners of the trees to attend to pruning as
and when necessary'.
Roy Hodder 862519
C L I C
Thank you to everybody who saved their used postage
stamps for CLIC. I was able to take the
largest collection yet to the CLIC shop.
Please continue to save both British and foreign stamps throughout the
year and take them to the shop, or to me, at Holly Cottage nearby.
Micky Hall
'JUNK MAIL'
While some direct mail can be very useful and
relevant, much of it goes straight into the bin without being read. You can considerably reduce the amount of unsolicited
mail you receive by contacting the Mailing Preference Service (MPS), which
offers a service for households.
Registering with MPS will stop most of the junk mail you don't want. Application forms for registration under this
scheme are available from the Mailing Preference Service, Freepost 22, London, W1E 7EZ Tel 020 7 766 4410 Fax 020 7 976 1886 email mps@dma.org.uk
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VILLAGE EVENTS January 2003
– April 2003
Sat 1 Feb WI
Jumble Sale, East Coker Hall.
Doors open 2.00pm
Sat 8 Feb Waste Paper Collection. Opposite the school. 9.00am – 11.00am
Thurs 13 Feb Fashion Show, East Coker School. Doors open 7.30pm
Sat 15 Feb South West RAFA Band. East Coker Hall
Thurs 20 Feb Whist Drive, East Coker Hall. 7.30pm
Thurs 20 Mar Whist
Drive, East Coker Hall. 7.30pm
Sat 22 Mar Wine Circle Silver Anniversary Dinner
Sat 12 April Waste Paper Collection. Opposite the school. 9.00am – 11.00am
Thurs 17 April Whist Drive, East Coker Hall. 7.30pm
Sat 19 April Scout Jumble Sale. East Coker Hall, 2.00pm
Sat 17 May Plant Sale, Bubspool House
Sat 17 May Playgroup Summer Fair, The
Pavilion, Longfurlong Lane
If your event is written into the
Village Diary (kept in the Post Office) we will include it in this section of
the Newsletter.