Snippets from Helmdon’s Newsletter – Talkabout

Snippets From Talkabout

(The Village Newsletter)

1987 – 89

___________________________________________________

Talkabout Spring 1987

Helmdon Carnival – Saturday 5 September 1987

This year the Reading room celebrated its Hundredth Anniversary and to make this occasion the theme for the Carnival procession will be Britain – The Last Hundred Years. We welcome all entries in the procession, either on floats or walking and as usual there will be senior and junior float prizes and a prize for the best individual entry, At the sports Field there will be lots to see and do, stalls, activities and entertainment to suit all ages. We also hope to arrange the following events during the week leading up to the carnival… Comic cricket matches on the school field, 50/50 auction and a Barbecue at the Chequers.

Helmdon WEA

We would like to record our appreciation of the contribution to Helmdon WEA over many years, by Dick Collett. His untimely death in January was a shock to us all, depriving us of an excellent Treasurer, a loyal member and a friend.

1^st Helmdon Scout Group

The Scout Group meets on Friday evenings in the Reading Room. Cub scouts 6-7.30 pm. Scouts 7.30-90.30 pm.

We have started 1987 in good form. The Cubs won the District Class Competitio9n (under 9and a half years section) and came a close second in the over 9 and a half years section. The scouts won the intermediate event at the local youth orienteering co9mp-etition at Bucknell Woods on 15 March and collected a further 3 runner-up prizes. The scouts then topped this by winning the District night-hike competition (a rugged 10 mile hike with a series of on route challenges, finishing in the early hours) on Saturday/Sunday 21/22 March.

We are looking forward this year to our Scout Summer Camp in Derbyshire and Cub Summer Camp at Youlbury near Oxford. Other events include a family camp (where parents join their sons under canvas). A trip to Windsor Safari Park and regular sailing sessions in our Troop Mirror dinghy.

AJ (Tony) Holden (Leader)

Saturday 30 August – Comic Cricket Match on the school field.

Thursday 3 September – 50/50 auction

Saturday 3 September – Barbecue at the Chequers in the evening.

Sue Coates (Carnival committee)

Talkabout Autumn 1987

War Memorial

Our thanks are du e to Mrs Sue Lidgley for the planting out of new rose bushes round the war memorial and to Mr John Snow who maintains the War Memorial area so admirably.

Footpaths

Many thanks to Mr Batchelor for cutting down the nettles etc along the footpaths. The Council would like to thank Mr Batchelor for making our walks so enjoyable.

Community Police

We have had regular visits and contact with our Community Policeman. Please get in touch if there are any volunteers to join the Special Constables.

Helmdon Playgroup

Helmdon Playgroup have started a new term with Hazel Bullen as our supervisor and Angela Hooten as her assistant. The children have settled down well and enjoy the friendly routine that has been established. The theme for this half term has been wind and the items that the children have made or painted have related to this theme.

Playgroup and Mothers and Toddlers ran a Lucky Dip at Helmdon Carnival which was very popular with the children and made £26. All our mums help with the settling out and the care of the children on a rotation basis which enables full understanding and care of individual needs of the children.

Jeanne Harris – Secretary

TO THE VILAGERS OF HELMDON Wrighton’s Hill Charity Barbecue

“Many thanks for all your help in organizing the Wrighton’s Hill Charity Barbecue. As you will remember, the weather was lousy but in spite of this, over 125 adults and sundry children came to the barbecue, and we were able to raise £800. This has been equally divided between the Banbury Hospice and Childhood Leukemia Research.

Many thanks again for your help, without which the event would not have been such a success.

Richard & Deanne Laing, David and Kath Lawrence, and David and Carol Harris

Talkabout Spring 1988

Buses from Helmdon

To Northampton twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday. Pickups in Helmdon: Hintons Close, the Post Office, the Square. Fare: 90p single, under 14, two thirds adult rate.

To Banbury, once a week, Thursdays. Pickups: Outside the Post Office, the Square. Fare: 70 single, under 14 two thirds adult rate

To Brackley (arranged by the Helmdon Fellowship of Retired People but open to all) once a week, third Friday in month. Pickups: the Square, the Post Office, Hintons Close. Fare: 75p return.

The Working Men’s Club

The Working Men’s Club meets every Tuesday and Monday evening in the Reading Room at 7.30 during the winter months, starting in October, primarily to play billiards. The secretary is Mr A Wilson, SUL 327

The School

Our school is called Helmdon County School. One of the most important establishments in any rural village is the school. The school is a “hive” of activity for the young people, involving their families and the wider village community.

I use the work “hive” because at he moment we have an observation hive of bees in school, which are being studied by the children. The colony of bees – active, supportive, co-operative, hardworking – is a suitable analogy for the life of the school…….

Health Care

Prescription Service

….. For the past 14 years, Boots have delivered them to the Bell and clients of the Bell have delivered them to folk who couldn’t collect them. With the recent sale of the Bell, Boots are now delivering them to Harold Seckington at the top of Station Road and they can be collected from his shop during shop hours. The other chemist in Brackley delivers to your door…..

The Chiropody Run

There is an organized voluntary service…. taking many of the older members of the village who need to go to Brackley regularly for chiropody and foot care, not all of these having transport…….

Brackley Cottage Hospital

Despite many ups and downs the Brackley Cottage Hospital continues to flourish…… there are 13 beds and over recent months, three of them have been occupied by Helmdon residents……

Katherine House Hospice Trust

A sponsored Slim took place during February iin aid of the Katherine House Hospice Trust.

This involved in shedding weight were Dorothy Cernik and Jane Balckwell, Sue Lidgley, Lee Alfandary, Jenny Chandler, Rosemary Davis, Terry Upstone and Derek Morris and between tem, they lost well over 100 pounds…..

The Slim raised an astonishing £621,20, a magnificent effort the largest amount so far raised for the Trust by a Slim….

Talkabout Autumn 1988

1988 was the year in which Helmdon Talkabout was awarded a certificate (with merit) in the 1988 Village Newsletter Competition. The Editor was Alan Ryalls.

News from the Parish Council

Over the past twenty years or so Helmdon has developed considerably. Eighteen houses were built on the allotments, which is now Shortlands Close, 8 houses at the top of Church Street in Norman Watson’s paddock and the local authority built 22 houses in Station Road and 11 houses and bungalows on the Green This does not include the large numbers of individual sites. Development in Helmdon therefore has not been overnight as might appear. The Parish Council now feel we have had our share of development in the village and we hear other local villages are of the same opinion……

Many thanks for mowing the churchyard to Reg Batchelor, Eddie Branson and Frank Branson, three old stalwarts of the village who work hard to make Helmdon a far nicer place to live in…..

The Parish Council have at last obtained permission for the increase in the size of the church burial ground and the legal transfer of the village pump in Church Street is nearing completion…..

British Telecom will consider turning the phone box round to give more privacy and reduce noise from passing traffic. They will also fit a shelf….

The carnival was held on Saturday 10^th September. The theme for the procession this year was the circus and although float entries were down on previous years those who did enter had obviously put a lot of hard work into their floats…. Adult winners were Young Wives and the School won the junior section. … During the afternoon entertainment was provided by the Towcester Studio Band, the Banbury Cross Twirlers and Ragmus puppets…. The profit made this year was approximately £1,074 and as usual this will be divided between the Reading Room and Sports Club who organize the event. (Sue Coates, for the carnival committee)….

Christmas Pantomime Earlier this year a group of residents met to discuss the possibility of producing a pantomime! The group decided to call themselves the Bridge Players and that Cinderella would be an ideal starting point, and the cast are now having a great time at rehearsals which started in September. The pantomime will be staged in the school hall, with evening performances on December 8^th, 9ith and 20^th. We look forward to those dates….

Adult Education We hope to run two classes again next term, one about music and the other on the history of art. Like all WEA classes these are designed with the beginner rather than the expert in mind. A warm welcome is extended to everyone.

Talkabout Spring 1989

News from the Parish Council

The position of the small piece of land around the pump in Church Street has now been finalised. Whereas the ownership was in some doubt it has now been legally assigned to the village and, no doubt, Len Wills will once more see that it is kept in good shape.

The land at the rear of the Bell was originally sold with planning permission for nine large houses. It has since changed hands and the new developers have come forward with imaginative proposals for a larger number of houses, many of them two bedroomed starter homes. They recently discussed their proposals in detail with the Parish Council who were favorably impressed but pressed hard for the inclusion of four small semi-detached bungalows. The developers are now considering if this can be arranged.

Working Men’s Club

The Working Men’s Club meets every Monday and Tuesday evenings in the Reading Room at 7.30 pm during the winter months starting in October, primarily to play billiards.

Tony Wilson, Secretary SUL. 327

The Bridge Players … Coming Soon … “Our Day Out!”

In the light of the interest shown and response to the pantomime performed in December, the Bridge Players has now formed itself as a society, held it first AGM and elected a committee.

The promising start we have been able to make as a group has been entirely due to the enthusiasm and commitment of so many people in the village, and particularly to the encouraging support of tour audience. Thank you to everyone who has helped in launching the Bridge Players.

The production costs of “Cinderella”., including the lighting and staging hire costs, the hire of the school hall and the making of costumes and props were high, but thanks to generous donations we were able to make a profit of just over £100 which helps towards the costs of the new production………. “Our Day Out”, which was originally written for television by the award winning author Willy Russell.

Village Carnival

It is understood that there is another village carnival this year to be held on the cricket ground as usual, on September 9^th.

It is jointly organized by the Sports Club and the Reading Room Committee in conjunction with the other village organisations which are participating. The theme of the carnival, for floats, etc., is Disneytime.

Reading Room Archives

The following items have been deposited, for safe keeping, with the County Records Office Delapre*, Northampton

Minute Book 6^th Oct 1925 to 13 May 1974

Accounts Books Feb 1919 to March 1971

April 1970 to March 1975

April 1955 to July 1983

Oct 1961 to May 1970

Booking Book Oct 1965 to Dec 1968

Pass Book Oct 1965 to Dec 1968

Pass Book for Brackley District Council

Dec 1966 to April 1971

Lloyds Bank Deposit Book

Aug 1931 to July 1951

These books are all open to inspection by anyone interested during opening hours at Delapre*. The reference number is 1988/393

*Northampton Record Office is now situated at Wootton Hall Park, Northampton, NN4 BBQ

Talkabout Autumn 1989

News from the Parish Council

…… (There was) an application to the County Council to use the cutting between the station and Welsh Lane as a tip for inert waste. The parish Meeting and the Parish Council were both unanimously against. It would bring he nuisance of noise dust, and illicit dumping of the more dangerous waste very near the village, and the traffic of 60 – 80 heavy lorries a day on our quite unsuitable roads. Since then the value of even the cleared cutting to local wildlife has been strongly urged. The District Council also have opposed the application. The matter is still with the County Council ……

The developers proposing to build small houses behind the Bell have included two of the bungalows we asked for, but we do nor knows how the application has fared .…..

Sewage was one of the subjects of an Extraordinary Parish Meeting in July We discovered that the pollution level in our brook is too high even by Anglian Water’s standards, and that alterations to our sewage works are needed to improve things even a little (at the expense of temporarily making things worse). We hope the newly set-up authority for independent monitoring of water purity will help us……

….. We excelled ourselves in some glory in the Tidy Village competition this year, and have won four trees and a year’s possession of a rose bowl. Much of our thanks must go to the men who made the churchyard a smooth-mown marvel, Reg Batchelor and the Branson brothers. Now there are the prize trees in place for everyone’s pleasure, and fifty more trees the tree committee hope for from the Countryside commission. …..

…… An appeal to residents to prevent their trees and shrubs from obstructing footpaths …. Cars parked on paths are a more solid hazard. Our paths are poor enough without that. I know parking is difficult for some but there is a path we should leave room for someone to wheel a pram along it with a small child walking alongside. However difficult our entry, or even if we have no drive, we surely can’t be justified to forcing the most vulnerable members of our community to step into the way of through traffic to get round a car or van…… Can there be any reason good enough for blocking the path on Jenners Hill or opposite the School or Post Office?

…… The fund for the improvement of our playground has done well …. A seat has been placed in Station Road by the generosity of Arthur Balch, after a vote was taken among residents….. The rather small congregation of the church has enlisted the help of other people to raise a fund to repair its fine but decayed stonework. There are calls for labour as well as the money ……

We covered ourselves in some glory in the Tidy Village competition this year, and have won four trees and a years’ possession of a rose bowl. Much of our thanks must go to the men who made the churchyard a smooth-mown marvel, Reg Batchelor and the Branson brothers.

Helmdon Church Restoration Fund

It is over 100 years since the last major restoration of Helmdon Church took place and time has taken its toll.

As you will see from the back cover of this Talkabout the tower needs £21,000 to restore parapets, walls, pinnacles, roof and inside brickwork.

There are general stonework repairs costing £18,000. The vestry roof leaks badly and will cost £4,000 to repair and the buttress in the east nave needs another £2,500 worth of repairs.

There are immediate needs and a further £16,000 will have to be spent over the next five years to complete the foreseeable repairs.

At the emergency meeting in the Church on 22^nd September Mr Edward Parry launched the appeal …

… English heritage have agreed to meet 40% of the costs providing we can raise the other 60%…

Talkabout Spring 1989

News from the Parish Council

The position of the small piece of land around the pump in Church Street has now been finalised. Whereas the ownership was in some doubt it has now been legally assigned to the village and, no doubt, Len Wills will once more see that it is kept in good shape.

The land at the rear of the Bell was originally sold with planning permission for nine large houses. It has since changed hands and the new developers have come forward with imaginative proposals for a larger number of houses, many of them two bedroomed starter homes. They recently discussed their proposals in detail with the Parish Council who were favorably impressed but pressed hard for the inclusion of four small semi-detached bungalows. The developers are now considering if this can be arranged.

Working Men’s Club

The Working Men’s Club meets every Monday and Tuesday evenings in the Reading Room at 7.30 pm during the winter months starting in October, primarily to play billiards.

Tony Wilson, Secretary SUL. 327

The Bridge Players … Coming Soon … “Our Day Out!”

In the light of the interest shown and response to the pantomime performed in December, the Bridge Players has now formed itself as a society, held it first AGM and elected a committee.

The promising start we have been able to make as a group has been entirely due to the enthusiasm and commitment of so many people in the village, and particularly to the encouraging support of tour audience. Thank you to everyone who has helped in launching the Bridge Players.

The production costs of “Cinderella”., including the lighting and staging hire costs, the hire of the school hall and the making of costumes and props were high, but thanks to generous donations we were able to make a profit of just over £100 which helps towards the costs of the new production………. “Our Day Out”, which was originally written for television by the award winning author Willy Russell.

Village Carnival

It is understood that there is another village carnival this year to be held on the cricket ground as usual, on September 9^th.

It is jointly organized by the Sports Club and the Reading Room Committee in conjunction with the other village organisations which are participating. The theme of the carnival, for floats, etc., is Disneytime.

Reading Room Archives

The following items have been deposited, for safe keeping, with the County Records Office Delapre*, Northampton

Minute Book 6^th Oct 1925 to 13 May 1974

Accounts Books Feb 1919 to March 1971

April 1970 to March 1975

April 1955 to July 1983

Oct 1961 to May 1970

Booking Book Oct 1965 to Dec 1968

Pass Book Oct 1965 to Dec 1968

Pass Book for Brackley District Council

Dec 1966 to April 1971

Lloyds Bank Deposit Book

Aug 1931 to July 1951

These books are all open to inspection by anyone interested during opening hours at Delapre*. The reference number is 1988/393

*Northampton Record Office is now situated at Wootton Hall Park, Northampton, NN4 BBQ

Talkabout Autumn 1989

News from the Parish Council

…… (There was) an application to the County Council to use the cutting between the station and Welsh Lane as a tip for inert waste. The parish Meeting and the Parish Council were both unanimously against. It would bring he nuisance of noise dust, and illicit dumping of the more dangerous waste very near the village, and the traffic of 60 – 80 heavy lorries a day on our quite unsuitable roads. Since then the value of even the cleared cutting to local wildlife has been strongly urged. The District Council also have opposed the application. The matter is still with the County Council ……

The developers proposing to build small houses behind the Bell have included two of the bungalows we asked for, but we do nor knows how the application has fared .…..

Sewage was one of the subjects of an Extraordinary Parish Meeting in July We discovered that the pollution level in our brook is too high even by Anglian Water’s standards, and that alterations to our sewage works are needed to improve things even a little (at the expense of temporarily making things worse). We hope the newly set-up authority for independent monitoring of water purity will help us……

….. We excelled ourselves in some glory in the Tidy Village competition this year, and have won four trees and a year’s possession of a rose bowl. Much of our thanks must go to the men who made the churchyard a smooth-mown marvel, Reg Batchelor and the Branson brothers. Now there are the prize trees in place for everyone’s pleasure, and fifty more trees the tree committee hope for from the Countryside commission. …..

…… An appeal to residents to prevent their trees and shrubs from obstructing footpaths …. Cars parked on paths are a more solid hazard. Our paths are poor enough without that. I know parking is difficult for some but there is a path we should leave room for someone to wheel a pram along it with a small child walking alongside. However difficult our entry, or even if we have no drive, we surely can’t be justified to forcing the most vulnerable members of our community to step into the way of through traffic to get round a car or van…… Can there be any reason good enough for blocking the path on Jenners Hill or opposite the School or Post Office?

…… The fund for the improvement of our playground has done well …. A seat has been placed in Station Road by the generosity of Arthur Balch, after a vote was taken among residents….. The rather small congregation of the church has enlisted the help of other people to raise a fund to repair its fine but decayed stonework. There are calls for labour as well as the money ……

We covered ourselves in some glory in the Tidy Village competition this year, and have won four trees and a years’ possession of a rose bowl. Much of our thanks must go to the men who made the churchyard a smooth-mown marvel, Reg Batchelor and the Branson brothers.

Helmdon Church Restoration Fund

It is over 100 years since the last major restoration of Helmdon Church took place and time has taken its toll.

As you will see from the back cover of this Talkabout the tower needs £21,000 to restore parapets, walls, pinnacles, roof and inside brickwork.

There are general stonework repairs costing £18,000. The vestry roof leaks badly and will cost £4,000 to repair and the buttress in the east nave needs another £2,500 worth of repairs.

There are immediate needs and a further £16,000 will have to be spent over the next five years to complete the foreseeable repairs.

At the emergency meeting in the Church on 22^nd September Mr Edward Parry launched the appeal …

… English heritage have agreed to meet 40% of the costs providing we can raise the other 60%….