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The weekend events took place as planned to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. The children of Ampney Crucis School shared a day with the older people of the village, exchanging experiences of being a child in the fifties and today, followed by afternoon tea in the school. The Saturday bell peal was undertaken with great enthusiasm, but a ‘wobble’ at one point prevented the bell ringers from achieving their aim this time. Response to the memorabilia event was wonderful, the village hall becoming fuller and fuller as visitors produced additional display items to enhance the wonderful keepsakes displayed. In the evening, the Barn Dance attracted around 200 villagers of all ages on a warm evening to enjoy dancing, a wonderful English lamb roast and music from an excellent local band.

The pétanque club was officially launched on the Bank Holiday Monday, welcoming villagers of all ages to ‘have a go’. The mostly dry weather plus wine, soft drinks and delicious cheese all contributed to a successful afternoon and got the club off to a flying start.

The televised service in church was well attended on Tuesday and it was a pleasure to sit with friends and feel part of the service in St Paul’s Cathedral. The opportunity to view the Ampney Park gardens and enjoy Jubilee Cake during the afternoon added to the enjoyment of the day and completed the weekend’s celebrations.

The funds raised will be used to supplement money allocated by the Parish Council to purchase commemorative mugs for the children of the Parish. There are enough mugs, all personalised with the Ampney Crucis name, for people to purchase as gifts or for a keepsake at a small cost. It is also intended to plant ‘golden bulbs’ in the village to provide a lasting reminder of the event. Any remaining funds will be divided equally between the school, the church and the village hall.

Fran Huckle

Fran and her family are moving to Quenington and so Fran has reluctantly resigned as parish councillor. Fran has had a considerable impact on the village in the time she has lived here. She has always been an enthusiastic supporter of many village activities and was the driving force behind the Village Appraisal. This was held in 1999 and was the catalyst for a number of new activities in the village, the most recent being the formation of a boules club.

Another feature of village life resulting from the appraisal was better communication and this resulted in ACT. Fran was one of the original editors and played a major part in getting it off the ground.

We wish Fran and her family every happiness in their new home. The village will miss her.

Ampney Crucis Association

A rearranged meeting was held on 11 July to elect members of the committee for the next three years. In the event, there were no new nominations and all the existing committee were happy to continue though this decision will require ratification at next year’s AGM The full committee is therefore John Ducker (Chairman), Paul Styles (Treasurer), Neil Holt, Don Underwood, Nick Tanner, Paddy Thompson, Harold Stevens and Peter Bullock. The secretary is Philip White.

5 Valleys Walk – 15th Anniversary 22 September

This walk has become a well established fund raising event for the Meningitis Trust. Last year, over 1,600 walkers took part raising just under £45,000. The walk takes in the valleys of Nailsworth, Golden, Toadsmoor, Slad and Painswick and although 21 miles in all, it is divided into sections of not more than 2½ miles; one is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. As this is the fifteenth annual walk, special events are also being planned.

The walk is open from 8.30 a.m. and there is a free bus service round the route from 11 until 5.30. Refreshments and free drinking water are available at checkpoints. There is a registration fee of £3 per person (under 5s free) or £8 per family. There is no charge for school parties.

Sponsorship forms and more details for walkers or checkpoint helpers from Kate Walker (É01453 769023)

Bulk refuse

Many of you will be aware of special arrangements for the disposal of old fridges and freezers. New rules are about to be introduced governing the disposal of all electrical goods so it is perhaps timely to remind everybody of the bulk refuse service available via CDC.

The bulk waste collection service visits the village once a week and will take away any bulky items that you need to dispose of. There is no charge for this service but Mike Weir asks that if you have a number of items to dispose of over a number of weeks, it helps if you accumulate them and request one collection. Collections have to be booked in advance and the number to ring is 623612.

Parish Council vacancy

The resignation of Fran Huckle leaves a vacancy on the Parish Council. The work of the council has grown increasingly varied over the years and members of the public who (occasionally!) attend the bi-monthly meetings are often surprised by the range of work that councillors are involved in. If you would like to here more about the work of the council, the chairman, Peter Kelly (É 850348), would be pleased to answer your questions.

Relax!

Some of you may be familiar with the Chinese practice called Tai Chi Chuan. It is an ancient Taoist meditation technique involving slow exercise of the body based on dance like movements of self defence. It is suitable for any age.

You now have the opportunity to learn more about it as Monday evening classes will be running in the Village Hall from 23 September to 2 December. The fee for the ten week term is £84. Enrolment and introductory nights are 2 and 16 September between 7 and 9 p.m.

Robert Pleydell Charity

School gift

Recently, there was a rather different start to the day for the pupils of Ampney Crucis Primary School. Each morning, the school pupils gather for morning assembly and a candle is lit. To record the Golden Jubilee, the Robert Pleydell Charity arranged for a new floor standing candlestick to be made by the Buscot Forge and this was given to the school at a recent ceremony.

The ceremony was attended by all the trustees. The presentation of the candlestick itself was made by Richard Pile who has recently retired as a trustee after over 30 years service to the Charity.

Our illustration is a drawing of the new candlestick by one of the schoolchildren, Michael Sleight.

Looking for funds?

Any tertiary education students or apprentices under 25 years of age living in the parish of Ampney Crucis (or whose parents are resident in the parish) and who are in need of financial assistance towards their courses of study are invited to apply to the secretary of the trust : John Franklin, Waterton Farm House, Ampney Crucis for an application form so that their request may be considered by the trustees.

Awards would be made in the fourth quarter of 2002.

Gloucestershire historic churches trust

Annual sponsored bicycle ride

14 September . New blood needed!

The Village is represented every year and over the years, we have raised thousands of pounds both for the Trust and this parish. Let’s have a real push to break some records this year. We need volunteers to get on their push bikes and we also need generous sponsors.

Contact Nick Tanner É850256 to pledge your support in some form

Rural Cinema

During the school holidays, there will be a special early evening matinee for children. There will be a showing of Monsters Inc on Wednesday 7 August at 6 p.m. Tickets at the door will cost £2.50 for adults and £1.50 for children. Children aged 11 and under should be accompanied by an adult.

A Christmas Carol

Yes, it’s that time already! Following the success of the Wessex Actors Company’s presentation of Dickens at Christmas last year, we are pleased to announce their return this year with an acclaimed production of A Christmas Carol on Thursday 5 December. Tickets will be on sale in the autumn and, because the stage set is larger, seats will be limited - so you are advised to make a note of the date in your diary now and book early!

Ampney United Football Club

Season 2001/2002 (Cheltenham Football League – Division 3)

Ampney United completed their season in late-April with a playing record of:

Played 26 Won 10 Drawn 4 Lost 12

This meant the club finished in sixth place out of 14 teams.

After a poor early season, Ampney finally found their form and went undefeated in the League between November and February, reaching second place at one stage. However, wet weather caused many match postponements and with a crammed end of season fixture list Ampney could not maintain their earlier winning streak.

Thanks go to:

· Phil Gearing and Joan Curtis for their help with running the club

· Mr and Mrs Tim Shackel for the loan of their field for use as a football pitch

· Ampney Crucis cricket club for the use of their pavilion.

Training for the new season starts in late July, with the first home fixtures commencing in October (after the Cricket Club have completed their games). All support is welcomed to cheer Ampney United who play in blue and white hooped shirts.

For further information please contact Doug Coombs É850096.

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Social and Group news

Pétanque

The Pétanque Club is now up and running. The Jubilee weekend saw a very successful launch with 20 households signing up for membership. See the Ampney Crucis web site for more information and photographs of the Jubilee Have A Go day.

Club night is every Wednesday evening from 7.30 p.m. at the Cricket Club so just come along - with or without boules.

For this year, up to April 2003, membership is only £5 per household. To join – turn up on club night or contact Martin or Christine Cridford É851313 or, alternatively Liz Anderson (Treasurer) É850141

Members may use the pitch whenever they wish. However, the pitch is on cricket club land and, for insurance purposes, use of the pitch is restricted to members and their accompanied guests.

Ampney and District Royal British Legion Women’s Section

Meets monthly Tuesdays Village Hall 7:15pm

27 August Tea party, 4:00pm to 6:00pm

24 September ‘Town Crier’, a talk by Mr M Jones

Contact Janet GibbsÉ 851227

Ampneys Gardening Club

Meets monthly Thursdays Village Hall 7:00pm to 9:00pm unless otherwise stated

15 August A talk by Peter Dodds of the Longborough Farm Shop Nurseries. He will have a wide selection of good quality plants for sale. Non members welcome – entry fee 50p

19 September ‘Clematis through the Seasons’, a talk by Mrs Margaret Morris

Contact Joyce Cutts É 851540

60s Club

Meets Mondays Village Hall 2:00pm

12 August Mystery trip; leaves Pleydells 11:00am

2 September Mervyn Penney, entertainment

16 September Tubjoys Antiques

30 September Harvest meeting

Contact Paddy or Peggy ThompsonÉ 851619

Women’s Institute

Meets monthly Thursdays Village Hall 7:30pm

26 September ‘The Story of Sudeley Castle’, a talk by Mrs Angela Panrucker

Contact Sonja PayneÉ 850267.

Classified advertisements

Personal ads in this column cost £1 per ad per issue. Local businesses can place an ad (£5) or sponsor an issue (£10). Please contact the editors for details. Adverts will be placed on a first come, first serve basis; space is limited to up to five ads per issue.

Copy deadline for next issue (October):

Tuesday 16 September 2002

Send to: Elisabeth Gerver, Cider Orchard, Ampney Crucis, Gloucestershire GL7 5RY. É850508

Editors: David Vessey 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.

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