Briefly

Prize Draw - The first Williams Hall Supporters Club draw will be on Monday 10 December at 7.30 in the Williams Hall. It’s not too late to take part – contact Tony McKenzie (490932) or Alex Morrice (490917) who will supply you with a Direct debit form.

School Ball – over £8,000 was raised – money to be used for new play area once old classroom is demolished.

Plant Sale – don’t forget the 2008 sale when planning, sowing and taking cuttings for next year. Questions & new ideas to Tom Stobie, 01823 490609

Drummer’s Return – Pete Lawrence returned recently to play two Somerset venues with his band, Dreamcapture. After 22 years in the RAF Pete now lives on a narrow boat in Hertfordshire. A recent recording contract will mean  an album release in the new year.

Christmas Cards – Cards depicting local scenes still available from Village Shop, Post Office, Coates’, Rose & Crown and Parrett Café, Langport

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News from the school

It seems quite amazing that already it is mid November and I have been Headteacher of both schools in our Federation for quite some time now. People keep kindly asking me how it is going and it is not easy to answer.  From where I stand it seems as if both schools are doing very well as I zoom up and down between the two – I am sure there must be a rut forming in the road.  I feel as if I am always late and possibly never in the right place at the right time but all carry on very well without me!  

The children of both schools have joined together for some sports at the Blackbrook Centre and also a group of Year 6s went to a day at Kilve for extension work.  We are already finding some good benefits in sharing resources and expertise and the new shared governing body and it’s sub committees have held their first meetings very successfully.  We were very pleased to welcome Tricia Staple, our new vicar, onto the governing body too and delighted she wished to be involved.  Tricia leads both schools in worship every Wednesday and we are pleased she feels she can fit us in to her no doubt very busy workload.

The new staff in both schools have settled well and the children in their charge have formed strong bonds to them already.  Both Mr Russell at Burrowbridge, ably assisted by Ms Harding, and Mr Edwards at Stoke St Gregory have already brought much to their respective schools and we cannot imagine not having them  .

The building works at Stoke have taken up quite a lot of time but the new classroom will be well worth having and Class 3 should be in just after Christmas.  The builders will then knock down the old Elliot classroom (hurrah!!) and also finish the upstairs to the new building, aiming for completion mid February.  We have been so lucky with the weather and the roof went on before the rain started- just.  The big challenge is now affording fixtures and fittings inside the classroom and we may have to leave equipping upstairs until later in the year, but it is all very exciting.  We hope not too many of you have been inconvenienced by the builders who have been a really good team.

As usual all classes have been very busy with trips out, visitors in and lots of learning taking place.  Class 3 had a very successful 3 days residential away at the Kilve Centre. Also there have been sports days at the Blackbrook Centre for multi skills and net and wall games, teams taking part successfully in monthly football and tag rugby leagues in Taunton and always our sports coach Simon visiting us each Thursday and working with all classes. In addition we have our dance and drama teacher visiting weekly as well as well as all the Year 4s and 5s continuing with their brass lessons.    We should be a very healthy school by now and our pupils all do very well in all sports and music and impress with their ‘I can do it’ approach. !

Now of course we begin to look towards Christmas and already the sound of carols and Christmas songs being practised floats into my office, especially when Mrs Meikle is with us. The school carol service takes place on Wednesday 12^th December at 2.30pm and then 6.30pm in the church and all are very welcome.  On Tuesday the 18^th December both schools of the federation are going together to the Brewhouse Theatre to see ‘A Christmas Carol’ which should be good and lots of parents and family are coming too.  Last but not least Christmas lunch on December 21^st, the last day of term, will be very special as we will be sadly saying goodbye to the Robinson family who will return to New South Wales shortly afterwards.  They will be really missed.

The last bit of good news- thank you so much to all who helped raise over £8000, the wonderful sum raised at the Anniversary Ball in September!  We are so pleased that all the hard work has paid off and so many of our local children will benefit.  At school we can now begin to plan for that new playground/sports area where the old classroom now stands. 

It only remains to wish you a very happy Christmas from all at school and we look forward to whatever the New Year will bring.  We do know that it will be busy and rarely boring!

Barbara Berks

Headteacher

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Malawi Bound

Charlie Limm is looking forward to her gap year experience in Malawi . After an induction course in January, she will teach various subjects in a local school for a full term. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in Africa , but, says Charlie, “We don’t see this trip as an act of charity, but as a partnership of equality, in which we hope to gain as much as we are willing to give

“We are staying near the capital Lilongwe and though many of the people speak English, we will also be expected to learn some of the native language, Chichewa, whilst learning about the unique culture.”

To raise the money for the trip Charlie has been involved in various fundraising events, and has also worked full time since September. She admits to it being “all a bit scary”, but has taken advice from Beth Rowley, who has also spent time in the country. Charlie’s mother Stella was also in Malawi – when she was 17.

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Take Art Live

Following the sell-out success of Shoo Shoo Baby last year, Stoke has been able to secure another professional show for the Williams Hall - Thursday 4^th March 2008 . Madame Lucinda’s Wonder Show  from Rogue Theatre mixes circus spectacle and passion with the real, the mundane and gritty stories of the people behind the make-up, using circus, mime, music and illusion.

Tickets (£8 adults and £6 children/students) available from Stoke Stores and Jo Davison  Tel: 07770 302370.

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A Greener Stoke?

A new group is emerging of people who are keen to make Stoke more environmentally friendly. The members would like to address issues such as tree planting, recycling, microgeneration, transport, allotments, energy efficiency, etc. There are no politics involved and the aim is to keep the practical initiatives and projects as local as possible.

Anyone with an interest in taking these ideas forward should contact Trevor Williams on 01823 490829. There will also be an ‘event’ at the Williams Hall on Saturday 19^th January. Times and more details available ASAP, but it will include a presentation by Taunton Deane’s Energy Efficiency department.

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Remembrance Day

The United Remembrance Day service was held in the Baptist Church, and was very well attended.  The church secretary Liz Hembrow conducted the service, with Dr. Robert Dunning preaching the sermon.  There was input from several children from the village: some read prayers which they had written themselves, others hung crosses in memory of the fallen.  Sue Hembrow presented a piece about Athelney station and its connection with 2nd world war, when villagers travelled to and from active service, having stood in the waiting room, which is now the pavilion in the playing field, which in itself is our war memorial.

2007 POPPY APPEAL

Last year was a “record year” - this has been yet another!  Quite remarkable and, I hope, a reflection of the appreciation by the public of what the young men and women of our forces are experiencing in the Gulf. The local pubs all had boxes, as did the Shop, Post Office and Stoke and Burrowbridge Schools.  I visited both Schools to talk to the children about Remembrance and again the children took part in the Joint Service in the Chapel.  We are grateful to Sue Hembrow for her efforts in organising that and for speaking so well at the service.

As you will read later – this is very much a team effort but I must mention one individual. Veronica Andrews put on the “Poppy” Charity Lunch, aided by Anne Jackson and Aemilia Holt.  This raised £210 (a record for a Charity Lunch) AND in Veronica’s collecting box was a total of £103 for her House to House collection.  A great contribution to the overall success.

The stars of the show are the volunteers who brave the elements to do the House to House collection on behalf of the British Legion:  Patrick Gage, Judy Bright, Ross & Karen Young, Veronica Andrews, David Lewis, Jane White, Trish Everitt, Sally Morrice, Lys & Christopher Kellett, Janet Crane, Will & Di Tilley, Valerie & Graham Board, Mike Orwin, Jack Stadden, Julie Pocock, and Pat Mennim.  I would like to say a public and well deserved "thank you" to them all.  The total collected was £1,928 – magnificent!

Alex Morrice

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Crafty OAPs

Affiliated to 'Over 55's Chestnut Tree Organisation in Taunton , Sedgemoor OAP Club enters the Craft Competition each October -resulting this year in 14 first prizes.  Cups were awarded to Ffrangcon Evans, Dorothy Lawson and Paddy Scott.  The Club won the silver cup for most points (75) in the competition,  Rowbarton 2nd with 64 points.

The club meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 2.30 in Williams Hall. Chairman is Brian David (698396), Secretary is Hazel Hutchings (490625), Treasurer and Programme Secretary is Paddy Scott  (698203)  john.scott69@btinternet.com

The club offers a monthly meeting with good speaker or entertainment, four low cost coach outings per year,  anniversary lunch, caring friendship and more.

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Stamps, Stamps, Stamps!

Postage Stamps are needed urgently to raise funds for:

• St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice
• Somerset/Dorset Air Ambulance

  Save your used postage stamps (cut or tear them off envelopes/ parcels leaving a border of aprox. 1 cm/ ½ in of paper around the stamps). Collection boxes at the Shop, Post Office and Willows & Wetlands Centre, or give to Terri Owen

or Paddy Scott.   Start saving now!

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SGYT Win Again

The Youth Theatre group won the Minehead competition, and will represent Somerset in the 5 counties Youth Drama Festival. The production, based on the life of Sylvia Plath was reviewed by Hilary May: “ The group worked seamlessly and faultlessly . . . There was so much to watch and so much to take in – it was mesmerising. . . I could have watched it all over again!” HERE for full review

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Apology

Relax, Stretch and Tone classes are held each Thursday (not Monday as reported previously) evening at 8pm in the Parish Room. “After gentle exercises and a relaxation session,” says Veronica Andrews, “we have refreshments and a good gossip.” Further details available from Veronica on 01823 490663 or by email at Veronicagunner@aol.com.

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Charity Lunches

After another successful year, Charity Lunches organiser, Anne Jackson is appealing for hosts for 2008. Lunches will be on the last Monday of each month except May & August when it will be the previous Monday, and no lunch in December. Says Anne: “Think about it – it’s all good fun and people enjoy it so they tell me! Please give me a ring (490638)

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Farming Corner

It is late autumn and preparations are taking place for the cattle coming in. Sheds are being repaired and cleaned out - the hay and silage is in and waiting for the time it is needed through the winter months. We keep the cattle out as long as possible since they do well in the dry, frosty weather, even if supplementary feeding is required. You may notice the buckets in the fields. These are mineral licks to allow for the degradation in the grass quality. In this moor ground area, how long they stay out is determined by the condition of the ground in terms of the degree of ‘wetness’ and the quality of the grass. We are always mindful of when the flooding will happen!

We are pleased that this week the export ban, which was put in place as a result of the Foot and Mouth outbreak, is being lifted. This should allow the trading of cattle to begin to normalise and trade should become more stable, that is until the next crisis! It takes a long time for the affects of such an outbreak to diminish.

We will also be seeing the closure of the Old Market in Taunton and the opening of the new Market Centre at Huntworth. Farmers are not keen on change, so we will see how it goes.

Heather Venn, 14^th November 2007

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“Nominated Neighbours”

The local police are currently promoting a scheme where people identify a ‘nominated neighbour’ in their locality.  Should unexpected visitors arrive and the householder is in any way concerned, the caller is directed to the nominated neighbour who will be present when the caller makes his/her pitch.  Most of these callers try to sell something, but recently there have been a number of bogus callers in the District purporting to be either water board officials or even the police!

PCSO, Lynsey Gamblin writes: “Do not let anyone into your home who is not specifically invited to be there  by you. If they have legitimate business they will either have made an appointment or come back.  There are no situations that are so urgent that they cannot wait.  If you are suspicious, please phone us. Without your continuing help, we are not half as effective as we are with it.”

For details of the scheme, call the beat manager for information and free crime prevention advice on voicemail 01823 363287 and 70106 at the prompt.

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Community Partnerships

At the beginning of November the first meeting of the Community Partnership was held in Creech St Michael (but will be held, over the months, in all the villages involved). The meetings are to be held 4 times a year and are open to all people in the villages. The purpose of this group is to allow a forum to air concerns pertaining to the community in which we live, in order for the Strategic Director to then be able to come back to the next meeting with answers, possibly bringing the responsible personnel to the meetings.

Issues covered at the first meeting included:

• low level anti-social behaviour
• speeding
• decisions around what is available to the community, in this case the Ice Rink
• degradation of the verges being caused by the very large farm vehicles now being used

Heather Venn writes: “It has, though, come to mind, that the voice of the community can be heard through the Parish Council, when any resident can come to the meetings to raise issues. This forum is rarely used, other than for planning issues, and I feel, although I would like residents to be encouraged to join in with the Community Partnership, it would be even more effective to use the regular monthly meetings in the village, these being on the 2^nd Monday of the month at 7.30pm .”

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Williams Hall

The next “theme supper” will be an American Evening on Friday 1^st February. This will be the seventh in the series which started down at The Level Space. Live professional entertainment in the shape of “Elvis” (so doubtless some dancing as well) will follow a traditional American meal.   Dressing–up optional! Tickets will be £17.50 available from the Morrice’s on 490917, the Youngs 490152, the Village Shop and the Post Office.

Safari Supper – “Is there anyone out there who would be prepared to mastermind another of these highly popular evenings?” asks Alex Morrice, “We have a folder with all the organisational details and names of  willing hosts and volunteers to help.  What we need is someone to steer the ship.”  Please contact Alex (490917) or Ross Young (490152).

Other events include a talk by Dr Willy Aspinall (father of Solo Hector) and the return of Kim Hicks on the life of Amelia Edwards, a formidable Victorian lady who was an explorer and Egyptologist

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Notice Board

The new village notice board is now in place on the grassed area between Church Close and the Williams Hall entrance.The board will be kept up to date by the Parish Council Clerk, so all potential notices (community information and Stoke events) to Tony McKenzie, 19 Church Close, 490932.