Arley News Online

Welcome to the Summer '07 edition of Arley News.

Thank you to those of you who have got in touch to provide articles, these have been gratefully received.

Thanks must also go to the Police and North Warwickshire's neighbourhood watch scheme for the kind supply of number plate screws. These car number plate screws can be used to protect your vehicle from number plate theft. If you would like a free pack, please contact either Ron Brown on 01676 541026 or Mike Williams on 01676 540988. First come, first served!

This is a large edition of Arley News  - you´ll find a range of articles from updates locally on allotment association, the Arley Parish Plan to historic items about this local area.

Thank you to Wendy Williams for her work on the new Arley News logo featured on the front of this newsletter.

Arley News always welcomes any submissions regarding items of local interest. If you are doing something for the community or involved in something locally which you think the community would be interested about, please submit an article via the usual routes (see below.)

Please send any items to either arleynews@hotmail.com or leave details in one of the boxes situated at the Post Office in New Arley or at Rowley´s Butchers in Old Arley.

Have a great summer,

Warm regards

Emily & the editorial team

On behalf of the Arley Parish Plan Committee I would like to express my thanks to all the volunteers who contributed to the drafting and distribution of the 2007 questionnaire.

In addition I would like to thank all the people of Arley who took the time to complete the survey and additional questionnaires.

The response was very good with 241 questionnaires being returned. We now look forward to having the analysis completed and the results published.

Included in these were: -

157 forms relating to the Potential Relocation of the Medical Centre.

39 Youth Survey questionnaires.

200 Prize Draw Entry forms

The prize entry draw was conducted by Rev Peter Allen on the 7th June.

The Winners Are: -

1st Prize £50 Argos voucher - D M Ashmore of Old Arley

2nd Prize £30 Argos voucher - B Hardman of Old Arley

2nd Prize £20 Argos voucher - Karen Heyes of New Arley

Mike Williams for the Parish Plan Steering Committee

What a pleasure it is to be able to comment on the positive, helpful behaviour that the youth of Arley demonstrated during the cold snap in February this year. The snow and ice at this time left motorists stranded on Gun Hill, all of whom were extremely grateful to the young people who came out and got them moving. Several people have approached me since then to ask me to pass on their thanks : and I have great pleasure in doing so.

Thanks should also be forwarded to the young man who acted so quickly to put out the fire and rescue the boy who had an accident with BBQ equipment on the recreation ground recently. Your prompt action almost certainly saved the life of the young lad and almost certainly limited his injuries, (though still serious) to a non life threatening level, from which we all hope he will make a speedy and full recovery.

I also would like to mention the fantastic work the LEY group have done so far for the young of the local villages. The positive and financial support given has and will continue, to enable the new and existing Youth clubs to thrive and grow. The other projects planned through this scheme will benefit all groups within the parish and provide resources available to many other groups within our community. Thanks go to the Rev. Peter Allen, his management team, Vicky Odams and all the youth workers and volunteers  - keep up the good work and may all your plans come to fruition in time.

It is so pleasing to be able to comment on the positive aspects of village life in Arley:long may it continue.

Ron Brown - Chairman, Arley News.

2003 (I won´t even begin to comment on the struggles before I arrived!). St. Michael´s used by community groups. Access, kitchen, toilets and storage inadequate.

2004 Representative of the National Lottery visits New Arley and, seeing the church well used, urges me to apply for a lottery grant to build a community hall to the rear of the church. Idea discussed. Both the church council and the Arley Community Association prefer developing church and hall on separate sites.

2005 Tuesday Night Youth Club established at St. Michael´s

2006 March. Vestry at St. Michael´s converted to form youth worker's office. Church building strained to the uttermost, much patience required by all users - not least our church members. We have to do something. If we do not go to the Big Lottery Community Buildings Programme now we may have to wait many years to get the same chance again. Church and Community Association discuss plans for a new community centre to rear of church. Community Association suggest inclusion of coffee lounge and project title. Plans drawn up and  presented at Arley Fun Day and Parish Council. Strong support for a lottery application which is submitted in September for £377,000.

2007 February. News that Stage 1 Lottery application successful against fierce competition.   Development grant of £23,091 awarded May. Architect meets with current user groups to review plans. November. Stage 2 Application needs to be sent to Lottery

2008 May. We hear if we have been successful.    If we have been then...November (approx.). Building work commences

2009 July (approx.). Opening of new building!! The new centre will include a large activity area, coffee lounge, storage, new kitchen and toilets. By legally binding contract (not that we would want it otherwise) the community centre will be for the whole community. A community centre for all the community, a church with worship at the centre of its life. It is a dream worth working for.

Thanks for all your support, your thoughts and ideas. Keep them coming!

Peter Allan (Rector)

St Michael's is celebrating its 80th birthday this year and to mark this anniversary there will be a service of celebration on Sunday 30th September at 6pm.The service will be looking back and looking forwards.

Looking back and giving thanks for all the people who have made a contribution to the life of St Michael's.  If readers have any photos or memories of the church, special services, weddings, christenings, groups, events and activities through out the 80 years, we would like to be able to make a display of them.

Looking forward to the future and the development of the new building to provide much needed modern facilities for both the community and the church. Up to date news of the project will be on display in the church.

If you have any contributions of photos and or memories please leave them with, Arley News box at Gun Hill Post, Rowleys the butchers, Sue Harte 37 George Street or Ken Steane 1 Lichfield Close.

Join us every Sunday...

9 a.m.    St. Wilfrid's   Holy Communion

10.15 a.m. St. Michael's 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays Holy Communion

2nd and 4th Sundays All-Age Worship

.... and through the week

Monday Fellowship Group

Tuesday and Friday Minimikes (Parents and Toddlers) ( St. Michael's)

Tuesday Night Youth Club (St. Michael's)

Thursday St. Michael's Over 60's Group and New Way Credit Union (both at St. Michael's)

Thursday Fellowship Group

If you would like prayers to be said for you, please pass a note to any church member or drop in a request to the letter box at both churches. We should be delighted to include your name in our prayers on Sunday.

For further details, to book a baptism or wedding or if you would like me to visit please telephone the Rector Peter Allan 02476-399070

Family Service             2nd Sunday of each month at 10.30am

Other Sundays             Sunday Club                  10.30am

                                       Evening Worship            6.00pm

Most Wednesday evenings Prayer Meeting at 7.30pm

To book a baptism, wedding or funeral, or if you would like a pastoral visit, contact Minister Sue Fry on 02476 312367

To hire the Community Room please contact Joyce Lea on 02476 392376

Watch out for FILM nights. Enjoy our new “cinema” facilities

30th June                       Strawberry Tea 2.30pm

7th, 8th, 9th August      Holiday Bible Club 10am to 12 noon

1st September                Barn Dance at Hoar Park 7.30pm

28th & 30th September     Celebration Weekend 3.30pm Friday             6pm Sunday

By the time you read this I will have stood where Moses stood, overlooking the Promised Land!  By the time Arley News is delivered I will have walked in the footsteps of Jesus once more, tracing his life, ministry, death and resurrection through Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee and Jerusalem.  What a privilege.

I have been there before, several times, but the troubles between the different religious and racial groups have kept pilgrims and tourists away. Now, as life grows more peaceful, on the whole, visitors are returning, a much needed resource for peoples whose livelihoods have been destroyed, through the lack of tourists and through the wall of separation.

Of all those who have suffered through the troubles, it is the Palestinian Christians who have suffered the most, and many have been forced out of their homeland.  As a result the remaining Christians are even more of a minority and struggle to maintain their Christian witness.  How sad that in a land where Jesus walked, taught, lived, died and was raised from death, those who trust in Him and try to live in His way are a persecuted minority. They need our prayers.

To walk in the footsteps of Jesus is the calling of every Christian.  Not all are able to visit that amazing land, but each one of us can go where He went, as we follow the events of His life through the Gospels and more than this, as we endeavour, with His help, to live in His way, following His teaching.  Each of the churches in the villages strives to do this.  Why not join us and walk with Jesus day by day:

Sue Fry (Deacon)

We are delighted to announce that on April 1st 2007 the allotment site on Gun Hill reopened after many years of neglect.  Keys to the site were handed over to the new tenants and digging commenced!  Over the Easter period the site was a hive of activity as plots were transformed from waste ground into places fit to grow vegetables and flowers.  At the time of writing only two half plots remain unlet.  This is a fantastic achievement.

We have had a busy few months to get to this landmark stage.  In November 2006 we held a very well attended open day, at which the Mayor of North Warwickshire Borough Council, Councillor Adrian Edginton, and the Lady Mayoress, planted an apple tree to mark the regeneration of the site.  The mayor also presented prizes to the winners of our logo competition. Entrants were asked to design a logo, which would encapsulate the nature of allotments, for the association to use on posters, letterheads, signs and association documents. Many excellent entries were received from both Gun Hill Primary and Herbert Fowler schools.  The winners of the competition were:

Overall Winner: Alexandra Jones Age 9 for her picture of a jolly robin sitting on a garden fork.

Highly commended: Natalie Fisher Age 8 for her slogan which has been incorporated into the logo.

Best Design - Under 7 category: Harrison Gavon Age 5

Best Design - Over 7category: Rosie Hancock Age 7

The winning logo is now displayed on the entrance gates to the site.

In early March a big cleanup of the site was undertaken by the North Warwickshire Borough Council Community Development team.  Prospective tenants also joined in the clean up the following weekend and in all two skips full of rubbish were collected.  Hardcore was delivered to provide the basis for a central roadway on the site and top soil arrived to help level off parts of the site.  The next major task is to top dress the roadway. Thanks to all those who provided help to get us this far and for their continued assistance.

In December 2006 Gun Hill Allotments Association submitted a bid to Breathing Places for Nature (as featured on the BBC´s Springwatch program) which is funded by the Big Lottery Fund. The bid was for a grant to transform approximately one acre of land at the bottom of the allotment site on Gun Hill into a community wildlife garden, complete with pond, wildflower meadow, seating and walks.  We are delighted to announce that our bid has been successful and we have been awarded £10000 towards the project. So now it´s down to you.  We have the money and the vision.  We want you to get involved and help make that vision become a reality. If you are interested please contact us via email - ghaa@hotmail.co.uk or phone 01676 541364 and we´ll be in touch.  You can also find details on the Breathing Places website: www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces, click on Get Involved and find us on the map.

August 13th - 19th is National Allotment Week.  We intend to run some events to mark the week.  Look out for details nearer the time either on the site notice board or in the local shops.  By then we should be seeing the first fruits (or vegetables) of our labours as we begin to harvest the produce from the plots.

In the meantime, if you are passing or want more information drop in to the site and speak to one of the committee members.  Alternatively you can contact us at ghaa@hotmail.co.uk or by telephoning 01676 540453 (day) or 01676 541364 (evening)

We were bought up to acknowledge the importance of the colliery for employment and housing and to respect the leading lights of the village, such as Mr. Knox the Managing Director, Mr. Turner the Secretary of Arley Colliery Co., the Parson Canon King and of course the Doctor, Dr. Cowan. I don't think anyone of the village failed to acknowledge him when he passed in his car from the youngest to the oldest. I hasten to add we all respected one another : a closely knit community and everyone knew each other and help was just around the comer no matter who.

The Colliery produced its own electricity for ins own use and later installed in the houses. The only snag was that it was a 25 cycles supply not 50 cycles as it is today : so the lights were always flickering. Also this caused problems later on when washing machines etc. became available, if one could afford one. On ordering you had to state that you came from Arley and it was a 25 cycle supply because the motor had W be changed to suit the supply, mostly 50 cycles and been selected countrywide. I believe I'm right in saying that a Shilling a week was charged for the electricity to the houses, this being stopped out of the men´s' wages, plus so much a unit with the meter being read every 3 months.

The electricity supply was eventually changed over to the grid in the late 40´s early 50´s. This meant every motor transformer overload coils etc. being changed, household appliances as well,  a major operation as you can well imagine. In the pit this was done a district at a time preparing a week or so before then all systems go for the change over at the weekend. I don't think a cobble of coal was lost during this operation which was major feat as at this time coal was such a valuable commodity. All this was after the pits were nationalised in 1947.

Part 3 in Arley News - winter edition

           1 What is a Dhole?

           2 Which wacky racer drove the converter car?

           3 A Bombardon is a member of which group of musical instruments?

           4 Which part of your body do you lose eighty percent of your body heat?

           5 What is the most common name in the world?

           6 Who´s real name is Helen Foiasade Adu?

           7 Who presented the show Every Second Counts?

           8 Which country sells a chocolate bar with the name Plopp?

           9 Which sea creature eats itself if it becomes unduly stressed?

           10 In which city is the Verrazano narrows suspension bridge found?

           11 Snakes hear through which part of their body?

           12 What is the white part of your finger nail called?

           13 Which type of scent do all domestic cats hate?

           14 I f you put a small drop of alcohol on a scorpion what will it do?

           15 Which song contains the lyrics "But I ain´t losing sleep and I ain´t counting sheep"?

           16 What was the first advert shown on TV?

           17 Who lives at 62 West Wallaby Street?

           18 Which astronaut mother´s maiden name was Moon?

           19 Name the only one eyed man ever to play in the FA cup final?

           20 Which flower is the national emblem of Japan?

QUIZ 7 ANSWERS

1 Karl 2 New England 3 Tina Turner 4 Beetle 5 Bath 6 Daily Slate 7 William Holden 8 All Creatures Great and Small 9 Abba 10 A sentence which contains all the letters of the alphabet 11 Emily 12 Shoulder Pork and Ham 13 Lichfield 14 How do I live with out you Leanne Rimes 15 John Surtees 16 Minnesota 17 St Vitus1 8 Solar Eclipse 19 Polar bears live in the North Pole Penguins live in the South Pole 20 Metal Mickey

Quiz answers and Questions are

Kindly supplied by the

Merry Miner

Check your answers to Quiz 7 in Arley News, Winter, 2007

Since we returned to school after the Easter holidays, all our children have benefited from visiting the Life Education Caravan which was on site for three days.   The themes discussed supported the PSHE curriculum.

We were very proud of our Year 6 pupils who took their SATs during the week beginning 14th May.  They approached all their tests conscientiously and maturely and I am sure that they have all tried their best.  We await the results with everything crossed!  Years 3, 4 and 5 are currently approaching their Optional SATs in the same frame of mind.

A small group of Year 5 and Year 6 children have just begun a Cycling Awareness Course run by the Local Authority.  This is one of several activities that has enabled us to be the proud recipient of the National Healthy Schools Standard.

The final half-term of the academic year will be a very busy one for the school.  We are expecting a second visit from HMI in June and have been working extremely hard to prepare for this.

Year 6 children will be taking part in two events, '2007 and Beyond' at Coombe Park and 'Live and Dangerous' at Gaydon.  Year 5 will be taking part in 'Crucial Crew'.

A group of eight children have been chosen to take part in a very exciting 'Morning with Michael Morpurgo' at the Warwick Arts Centre on 8th June.  One lucky golden ticket holder will have the opportunity to have their photograph taken with this very famous author.

Another group of children will be taking part in the Inter Cultural Arts Festival on 20th June at Park Lane Primary.

We are all looking forward to the ABC Challenge on 6th July when all the children take part in sports activities and are sponsored to raise money for the school.

The main event for us is the Road Safety Quiz Final on 21st June.  We have beaten over 30 other schools to win this final for two consecutive years. Let´s hope we can make it three in a row!

Members of the Arley community are urged to come on board at Herbert Fowler Junior School as school governors.

By getting involved as a governor of your local school, you can help to make sure the children in your community receive the highest standard of education possible and achieve their full potential.

The governors are looking for enthusiastic and committed persons who would like to give their time by playing a part in this school´s development. They are particularly interested in hearing from people who live or work in the area and have a good understanding of the community served by the school.  The governors would also welcome those who may bring specific skills to the governing body, for instance experience which may have been developed through business or community work.

Chair of Governors, Peter Bowen, says: “Getting involved with the work of the local school is both interesting and rewarding.  Previous experience is not necessary just a willingness to be involved and help the community”.

Please contact the school on 01676 540348 if you would like to put your name forward or need further information.  Governors will be asked to attend a couple of meetings each term and full training on the responsibilities of the role will be provided by the local authority.

We had a very busy time in the run up to our Easter break. A lot of mums and grandmas joined the children for a special Mother's Day assembly where we had the chance to say a BIG THANKYOU for all the care and love they give to the children. As well as cards and little presents the children all gave their mums a small posy of daffodils. Once again, our Easter assembly was very well attended. The children shared some super Easter songs with our visitors and we discussed the Easter story. Eighteen children were presented with 100% attendance certificates. An Easter egg hunt followed our assembly, which, as you can imagine, was much enjoyed by the children!  Parents evening was very well attended. The staff really appreciate parent's showing their support to their children's learning. From questionnaires we circulated at this time, it was very rewarding to see that the vast majority of parents are very satisfied with their children's progress and the part everyone at school plays in creating a safe, caring environment for their child to be in. Lots of things are happening over the next few weeks........a toy library being run by SureStart, a paper bank being put on our school site to enable us to move on in our recycling campaign and more importantly, a PIRATE DAY in our Nursery where everyone is planning to have lots of fun(and ice cream!) Thank you all for your continued support of our school.Family and Friends Drugs Help Line

Family and Friends operates a confidential drugs help line. This is a free contact number and all calls are confidential, the number is 0808 800 2000. The Help line operates weekdays between 10am -4pm and 7pm - 10pm.  Family and Friends operates an information and support help line for relatives and friends of drug users. The calls will be dealt with by fully trained volunteers who can offer callers support and information on all aspects of substance misuse.

For more information visit their website at www.familyfriends-drugs.org.uk or you can contact them via email on info@familyfriends-drugs.org.uk

“I must thank you for mailing the Arley News which I enjoy reading. I was born and brought up in George St. and what a wonderful village Arley was in my younger days. I left Herbert Fowler School in 1952 and went to work in the wages office at Arley Colliery. What a lovely mining community this was where everyone new each other and where you could leave an empty house without locking the doors. We had 2 Police houses occupied by PC's Phillips and Amber, a picture House, Suttons shop and Smiths Farm where we used to buy all our fruit as well as milk. As teenagers we would congregate on The Ring (I think it is now called The Green) in Ransom Rd. It was higher than it is now so we had to climb a wall to get onto it. We were never any trouble to anyone. We made our own entertainment and were never bored. What wonderful memories I have of Gun Hill and the people who lived there. I am sure many of them are still there now. I left Gun Hill in 1957 when I married. I met my husband at one of the Saturday night dances held at The Arley Miners Welfare Hall. He was from Stockingford.

My Uncle, Barney Flynn, built the Jam Pot so it is sad to see these 2 buildings disappear. Barneys wife Flora now lives in Australia and I send the Arley News to her. Sadly Uncle Barney passed away 5 years ago.

It is nice to know that you are trying to keep the village alive with various activities. I wish you well and hope you get plenty of support from the residents.”

Best wishes from Joyce Foster (nee Jackson)

Scouting started in 1907, with an experimental camp on Brownsea Island in the UK for 20 boys from a wide variety of social backgrounds. Today, Scouting is a million times bigger than when it first started. It involves girls and boys, men and women from every race, religion and culture, and nearly every country in the world.

In 2007, Scouting celebrates its worldwide Centenary. The single theme for all events and activities for the Centenary of Scouting and the 21st World Scout Jamboree is: 2007: One World One Promise. Every Scout in the world should also be working towards making a contribution towards peace to mark the 100th anniversary of Scouting.

The subject of peace - specifically peace education - has always been a fundamental part of Scouting. Scouting recognises the need for renewed action to combat the problems which we all face; chief amongst these is the need for a more peaceful world achieved through a culture of peace, and not simply the absence of war.

By focusing on the development of the individual within the programmes of the local groups, Scouting already plays a tremendous, although indirect, role in the promotion of peace at all levels. Development of community links and awareness of others around us within the Parishes of Fillongley and Corley and that of Arley, is vital to our own local scouting, echoing the national commitment of scouting.

This is an exciting year for scouting both nationally and locally with many additional events planned. In the next couple of months, the newly invested Fillongley Scout Troop have been night hiking, rifle shooting and bell ringing. The Cub section have played bean bag hockey, learnt about caring in the community and went camping in April. Over 70 of the group are attending a centenary camp at Rough Close in June, with lots of supporters!

Beavers (age 6-8), is full with a 12 month waiting/intent list, and Cubs ( 8-10.5yrs) only have a couple of spaces. Both Beavers and Cubs meet on a Wednesday night.

Scouts (10.5-14.5yrs) meet on a Thursday night and have spaces.

For information or offers of help in any way, please call Lesley Gill on 01676 542698

Nuisance Youths/Anti Social Behaviour

Table of Results from Incidents Fortnightly Document 2006/07

 

Area Forum	Nov '06	Dec 06	Jan 07	Feb 07	Mar 07
East (Hartshill, Arley, Ansley Common Atherstone + Mancetter)	83	82	46	33	38

The above table shows the pattern of incidents reported to the police within the Eastern area of Warwickshire, (which covers Arley). It is evident that these have heavily reduced since the high numbers of October, November and December 2006.

PC Bemowski reports that he has liased with the new owners of the Post Office, Gun Hill, Arley, over previous issues with nuisance youths and alcohol sales. He has also discussed issues relating to security and improving CCTV and reports an excellent response from the new owners.

Regarding nuisance youth problems within the New Arley area there has been a marked reduction in complaints of late, with no incidents reported in the past two weeks.

Police in North Warwickshire District will be working closely with a number of Street Wardens who have been employed by North Warwickshire Borough Council. The Street Wardens will be based in Coleshill, Arley and Polesworth and will liase with and work closely alongside local SNT Officers on a range of issues including litter, flytipping and graffiti as well as monitoring cleaning contracts in Communal rooms and areas within sheltered accommodation.

Sergeant Ron Drake said "The presence of the new street wardens will be a huge boost to the local community. We will be working with them closely and asking them to let us know of any relevant neighbourhood issues that are reported to them or they come across during their work.

Monday  5.00pm - 7.00pm Exercise and relaxation based on Tai-Chi

Tuesday 10.00am - 12 noon Art Class

                  5.30pm - 6.30pm Sparkle Club for 4 to 7 year olds

                  7.00pm - 9.00pm Youth Club for 12 years plus

Wednesday 1.00pm - 2.30pm   Parent and Toddlers

                   5.45pm - 6.45pm  Beginners Line Dancing

                   6.45pm - 7.45pm Line Dancing

Thursday  5.30pm - 6.30pm Jaffa Club for 7 to 12 year olds

Friday    3.00pm - 4.30pm Sequence Dancing

3.00pm, the first Thursday of every month Pop-In for tea, cakes and a chat.

Stroke Club, meets every Monday 10 : 3pm, All Welcome Tel. Gladys Jones 02476 386670

Arley WI Meets on the first Tuesday of each month. 7.30pm at St. Wilfred´s Church Vestry, Old Arley, All welcome Tel. Pat 02476 395447

Womens netball practice fitness and fun Every Monday 8.15 : 9.15pm at Arley Sports Centre all ages 11 - 60 welcome, and all abilities. £2.50 per session. Tel.Karen 01676 549035

Do you want to announce any birth, deaths, special birthdays or marriages?  If so get in touch with Arley News and we can include them in this publication for you.   E-mail: arleynews@hotmail.com or ring Emily Young on 07973 371710

A box is also available on the counter at the Post Office, New Arley or Rowleys Butchers, Old Arley for any articles or comments.

Articles for inclusion in the Autumn edition of Arley News (for distribution early Autumn)

to be received no later than 5th September, 2007