Echo’s Village Correspondents

Retire After 20 Years

On 17th January The Gloucestershire Echo featured our two reporters for ‘Village Voice’ now called ‘Where I Live’.  Gill Lanfear and Sheila Bartlett have been keeping us informed about the goings-on in the village for almost two decades but have decided that now is the right time to give up the column.
In the article Gill describes how she will miss it “..especially when there is a funny story going round the village”.

In 2006 one of those stories achieved national status when Sheila’s husband Jack drove his brand-new Lexus through the back wall of the garage and utility room.
Gill Describes how the writing of the column was always a team effort, how they would both gather in bits of information from around the villages, hand-write the report and drop it off at the Echo office.  “I’ve never really got on with computers and technology and all that”.  Sheila has kept every column that the two of them have written in “scores of scrapbooks”.

At the time of writing Sheila is unfortunately still in hospital having had over 18 months of bad luck with an unsatisfactory hip replacement which has still not yet been resolved.  We wish her better fortune in 2009.

Anyone who is interested in taking on the Where I Live column for Brockhampton and Sevenhampton should contact the Echo on 01242 271821.

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In 2008 the Parish Council co-ordinated the meeting of a group of villagers to discuss how we might achieve a reduction in this community’s carbon footprint and possibly save some individual household costs.

Bio Digester - not just yet

We started ambitiously with some investigation into bio-digesters and other technologies.   The advice from a visiting consultant since the meeting was that such things will become more feasible and cost-effective in years to come and that it would be wise to see how it develops before tackling the planning and other logistical problems in a village whose lay-out would present some difficulties.   The Parish Council agreed that this is good advice and seems in step with much of the informal feedback we have had from the community.

Forum - March Meeting

We still feel that there ought to be some forum for discussing ways in which we might make our use of fuel, resources and disposal of waste less environmentally damaging in the short to middle term.

We will therefore hold another meeting during the last week of March.   There are three Parish Council members who would like to attend this and we hope that some of those who worked on the 2008 discussions will also join us.  This is really a call to anyone across the community to join us and look at what we might practically do. 

What are other Villages Doing?

Immediate suggestions are that we look at some examples of what other villages are doing and seek a guest speaker on measures and products which might suit our situation. 

Please get in touch with me if you would like to be involved in the meeting, and please give me your availability for an evening at the end of March by February 20th.  I will then confirm a date and venue.
Alison Giles 01242 820132  email removed t prevent spam

The Duchess certPG

GBased on the true story of  The 18th Century Duchess of Devonshire, her boorish husband, his live-in lover and an ambitious young politician. 
Keira Knightly  -   Ralph Fiennes - Charlotte Rampling  -   Dominic Cooper
www.theduchessmovie.co.uk
Wednesday February 4th 2009

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas certPG

7.30pm Rhodes Memorial Hall, Brockhampton
Tickets £3.00 available in advance from Julia Chandler 01242 820629
other info 01242 820338      www.sevenhampton.org/ruralcinema

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Exercise Class

There is now a regular class in the Village Hall on Wednesday mornings from 9.30 to 10.30. (term time only). If anyone is interested in joining please contact Tania Chisholm on 821501

Pilates

Also the Pilates class is still running on Fridays 11.30 to 12.30
Contact Tori Stokes on 07766 075200
www.sevenhampton.org/pilates

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Village Diary

January
Wed 28th. Craven Arms - Sausage & Mash
Fri 30th. Rh. Hall, 7.30pm -  Bingo
February
Sun 1st † Sevenh. 6.30pm -  Evensong
Mon 2nd. Rhodes Hall -  WI
Wed 4th. Rh. Hall. 7.30 -  “The Duchess”
Thu 5th. Reading Room. 10.30 - Coffee
Thu 5th. Craven Arms. 7.30 - Quiz Night
Sun 8th †Ch. Abbotts 11.00 - Holy Commn.
Tue 10th. Rhodes Hall. 3.00 - Century Club
Thu 12th. Reading Room. 10.30 - Coffee
Sun 15th †Sevenh. 11.00am - Holy Commn.
Wed 18th. Rhodes Hall. 7.30 - Garden Club
Thu 19th. Reading Room. 10.30 - Coffee
Fri 20th. Craven Arms. -  Curry Night
Sun 22nd. †Sevenh. 11.00 -  Family Service
Thu 26th Reading Room. 10.30 - Coffee
March
Sun 1st †Sevenhampton.  6.30 - Evensong
Mon 2nd. Rhodes Hall.  - W.I.
Wed 4th. Rhodes Hall. 7.30 Film (see above)
Thu 5th. Reading Room. 10.30 - Coffee
Thu 5th. Craven Arms. 7.30 - Quiz Night
Tue 10th. Rh Hall. 3.00 - Century Club
Thu 12th. Reading Room. 10.30 - Coffee
Wed 18th. R Room. 7.00pm. Parish Meeting
Thu 19th. Reading Room. 10.30 - Coffee
Fri 20th. Rh. Hall. 7.30 - Garden Club
Thu 26th. Reading Room. 10.30 - Coffee
Sat 28th. Rhodes Hall. 2.15 - Jumble Sale
Thu 31st. Reading Room. 10.30 - Coffee
March Church Services will be published in the ColnRiver Magazine

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Century Club

The Century Club meets on the Second  Tuesday of the month in the village hall at 3.0 pm.  Anyone of retirement age is welcome to join,  there is a talk or activity followed by a substantial tea. Sometimes there are a lunchtime or afternoon outings.
Tuesday 10th February
Mr Ken Grubb - The Suez Canal
Tuesday 10th March
AGM (no speaker).

For further information contact
Iris Young 01242 583098

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Craven Arms

Sausage & Mash Night

Wed 28th January
Butcombe Beer £2.00 pt.
Choice of mash with
Butcombe sausages
£6.00 a person - Booking essential.

Quiz Nights 

on Thurs 5th February
& Thurs. 5th March

Curry Night

Friday 20th February
details and bookings 01242 820410

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Thursday Coffee

It’s Thursday morning for coffee sessions in the Reading Room if you fancy a natter over a cup of coffee and a biscuit.  Our Village Agent Nick Bailey is usually present so you can pump him for any useful information at the same time.
The session runs from 10.30 to 11.30am
Lifts can be arranged.
Information -Georgina Oldham 820423

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Sevenhampton & District

Women’s Institute

Meetings

Monday 2nd February

Mrs Lynne Bitterlin
   Hats and Fascinators

Monday 2nd March

Mrs Liz Godsell
    Cheese Making and Tasting
7.30 p.m. in the Village Hall, If  you aren’t a member come along anyway
Further information from Thora Corris 820242

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The Garden Club of Sevenhampton & District

Meetings

Wednesday 18th February

George Alway
  Vegetables Without Tears

Friday 20th March

Donald Everitt
  Rock Gardens: Nature’s Jewels
7.30pm in Rhodes Memorial Hall
Non-members are welcome to attend our meetings for a fee of  £3
Info - Cindy Haines 820914

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Pies Punch and Carols Evening 2008

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who came along and for the wonderful selection of raffle prizes donated.  As a result of an enjoyable evening I was able to send £100 each to Andoversford Primary School and Chelenham Open Door.  I have received most appreciative letters of thanks from both.

More Carol Booklets Needed

In readiness for this years event I would like some more carol booklets.  Would anyone be able to photocopy some for me please?  The booklet comprises of nine double sided sheets and I would like another 20 or 25.  If anyone can help please contact me - Georgina on 820423.

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Good Neigbourhood Scheme

AGM

At the January 13th Annual General Meeting of the scheme it was decided that there was no need to raise the charges for journeys this year. The number of journeys undertaken in 2008 was 130 compared to 159 in 2007.
If you need help with transport etc
ring a coordinator
Sheila Agius 820102
Di Brown 820271
Thora Corris 820242