In this issue
Plans are well under way now for the Jubilee celebration weekend. A full programme of events will be distributed with the May parish newsletter.
Meanwhile, as part of the Jubilee celebrations, every child in the parish aged 16 and under will receive a small commemorative gift. In order to claim your child’s gift, please could you complete and return the slip on page 3 by 30th April.
The Village Hall Committee is still looking for memorabilia linked to the Coronation or the 50s, such as newspaper cuttings, photos, clothing, etc., for its display. If you can lend such items, please contact a member of the committee or Anne Bridges ( 652471.
As has been reported in previous issues of ACT, a working party has been looking into the feasibility of establishing a children’s play area, possibly in the school field in Allotment Lane. The group has recently reported to the Parish Council the findings of its preliminary research, which has included looking at what equipment and ground preparation is needed, what funding is available and what other villages have done. It would now like to move on to the next stage, which includes applying for grants. For this to succeed, evidence must be shown that there is a local need/desire for such a facility. It would be a great help to the working party if you could return the slip at the bottom of page 3, if you think your household would make use of a children’s playground in the village. You don’t have to be a parent of young children to do this!
Following the meeting in February, a sufficient number of villagers have expressed interest to “get the boule rolling”. Since then the Cricket Club have agreed to the formation of a Boules section of the Cricket Club and allocated the land necessary. This is the weedy area behind the pavilion which now needs to be cleared and developed. The Parish Council have agreed to contribute towards the funding and we have also applied to the CDC Ward Projects Fund.
Volunteers are now needed to help with the clearing and construction. Working parties will be in action over several weekends, starting with Easter – do come and join us – telephone for details.
The next club meeting will be Thursday 18 April, 8pm at Village Hall. Anybody interested in playing boules should come along to show support. It does not necessarily mean you will be given a spade or a committee post!!
If you cannot attend please contact Martin or Christine Cridford on ( 851313 to express your interest. This is the stage at which we will decide if there really is sufficient interest to continue and whether the club is viable.
If all goes to plan the Grand Opening will be Jubilee weekend – watch this space.
A village clean-up day has been set to coincide with Cotswold District Council’s annual Spring Clean Campaign during April. Teams of volunteers are needed to litter pick along the lanes and main roads around the village. Family groups particularly encouraged. Sacks and gloves will be available for collection at the Village Hall from 10 a.m. until 12 noon on Saturday 20th April and rewards will be available for full sacks!
Annual Parish Meeting
This will take place on Monday 13 May starting at 7.30 p.m. Remember, this is your chance to have your say about the village and to raise any matters on the running of the village with Parish Councillors. Any representative of a village organisation wishing to make a brief presentation on the activities of their organisation should contact the Clerk, Helen Tonks on ( 640718, so that the agendas can be drawn up.
Council Tax
Council tax for the year 2002/3 has been set for Ampney Crucis as follows:
Band A: £643.23
Band B: £750.44
Band C: £857.64
Band D: £964.87
Band E: £1179.28
Band F: £1393.69
Band G: £1608.10
Band H: £1929.74
This represents an average rise of 9.6% for the County Council and 10% for Cotswold District Council. The Parish Council precept of £5000 represents a rise of about 5% over last year.
Roads and drainage
You will have noticed that some spot road repairs around the village have been carried out lately, including a stretch of Akeman Street which passes through the north of the parish. The Parish Council welcomes this but is continuing to press County Highways to pay attention to some of the village streets and pavements which it considers to be in urgent need of maintenance, such as Hunts Hill, Allotment Lane and School Lane.
Further drainage work carried out on the A417 crossroads near the Crown has reinstated a collapsed culvert. It is hoped that this will finally cure the flooding problem at that junction.
Easter week
Moved from Wednesday 3rd April to Thursday 4th April
Jubilee weekend
Moved from Wednesday 5th June to Friday 7th June
Moved from Wednesday 12th June to Thursday 13th June
“Sheer Delight” are the words that first spring to mind and if you weren’t there, then you truly missed out on an enchanting evening at the village hall on 9th March. The Village Hall Committee certainly came up “trumps” this time, when they invited the lovely and talented Isla St. Clair to sing and perform for us.
We were whisked away back into the past through a wonderful collection of Scottish Highland ballads, ditties and voice songs; stirring and conjuring up old and fond memories of bygone days as we clapped and sang out the choruses. Isla put us through our paces and then left us breathless with her own singing pace too. A very entertaining evening was experienced by all – Well done V.H.C., a winning performance on our very doorstep – More please!!
Pat Perkins
Congratulations to Ashbrook Aces, from Ampney St Mary, who beat 11 other teams in this year’s village quiz, held in March. As usual, this popular event was well-supported and raised £102 for the Village Hall funds. It featured a special round to commemorate Jubilee Year, another version of which may well be made available to everyone shortly – you have been warned.
The Village Hall Annual General Meeting will be held in the Village Hall on Thursday 11th April at 7.30 p.m. All villagers are invited to attend.
Ampney & District Royal British Legion Women’s Section
Meets monthly Tuesdays Village Hall 7.15 p.m.
23 April ‘Swan Sanctuary’, a talk by Mr P Richardson
28 May Annual conference report
Contact: Secretary, Janet Gibbs ( 851227
Ampneys Gardening Club
Meets monthly Thursdays Village Hall 7.00 –9.00 p.m. unless otherwise stated.
Saturday 20 April, 10.30-12 noon - Spring Coffee Morning at Wych Elm, Ampney Crucis, courtesy of Mr & Mrs Ducker.
16May Old traditions, new techniques: a talk by Miss B C H Jones.
Contact: Joyce Cutts ( 851540
60 Club
Meets Mondays Village Hall 2.00 p.m.
9 April ‘Singalong & The Anecdotes’, Mr Neale
22 April Spring Trip, depart Pleydells 4.00 p.m.
13 May Carousels
27 May ‘Babies and Children of Yesterday’, Mrs Clements
Contact: Paddy or Peggy Thompson ( 851619
Women’s Institute
Meets monthly Thursdays Village Hall 7.30 p.m.
25 April ‘The Siege of Sidney Street’, Mr P Rowe
23 May ‘Tibet – Roof of the World’, Mr B Tapp
Contact: Sonia Payne ( 850267
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PLAYGROUND SUPPORT
Please tick your responses and return to: Kim Hartshorne, Malt Cottage (next door to Village Hall) or your local Parish Councillor
a) I am a parent of ….. (number of children) children under 11 and would use a play facility with them
or
I am a grandparent of young children and would use a play facility with them
or
I would use a play facility with visiting friends and family
b) I would use the play facilities on average: more than once a week / more then once a month / just occasionally
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JUBILEE GIFT
I have …… (number of children) children aged 16 and under and I would like to claim a commemorative gift(s).
Name: Address:
Return slip to: Sally Hebbs, Cotswold Cottage, School Lane, Ampney Crucis or to your local Parish Councillor
The Friends of Ampney Crucis C of E School will hold a fashion show in the lovely surroundings of Le Spa, Cirencester, on Tuesday, 16 April at 7.30 p.m.. Encore is providing the clothes, which will be modelled by mothers from the school. Contact Rosanna Armitage ( 850005 for your ticket (£5) for a fun evening out which will also benefit the school.
Each year, there is a sponsored ride/walk in support of the Glos Historic Churches Trust. Last year, John Ducker and John Franklin took the strain as far as the village is concerned and raised a very commendable £655.
This year’s event is planned for 14 September and it is hoped that more people will come along to raise funds for this worthwhile charity. There will be more details in a later edition of ACT.
Personal ads in this column cost £1 per ad per issue. Local businesses can place an ad (£5) or sponsor an issue (£10). Contact the editors for details.
Adverts will be placed on a first come, first served basis and space is limited to up to 5 ads per issue.
Editors: David Vessey, Fran Huckle and Elisabeth Gerver
Produced by Ampney Crucis Parish Council for the information of residents. No liability can be accepted by the Council or Councillors for any losses, however caused, arising from this publication.