Arley News Online

Welcome to the Winter ‘06 edition of Arley News.

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is nearly here, how quickly time passes!

The editorial team have had a really good response to the editions of Arley News over the past year and we would like to express our gratitude to those of you who have provided feedback and also those who have contributed to Arley News during 2006.

Our thanks is also extended to all of those people who support the delivery of the newsletter throughout Old and New Arley – your time and support is much appreciated.

This edition provides some important updates about current day Arley as well as some interesting memories from past Arley – we hope you enjoy reading it.

As ever, we are eager to receive any content items you might have: Please send 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.

Festive greetings, Warm regards,

Emily & the editorial team

ACA are organising a Christmas event for the residents of the Arley villages on Saturday 16th December 2006 between 12-4pm at St Michael’s Church.

There will be lots of fun for all the family including a variety of stalls, a tombola, raffle, games for the younger children and a visit from Santa.

Please come along and join in the fun!

The main objective of the Arley Parish Council (APC) is to work on behalf of the parishioners by

          ·         responding to parishioners questions, suggestions and complaints

          ·         liaising with the Borough and County Councils

          ·         working with local services, charities and businesses

          ·         maintaining the APC playgrounds and cemetery

          ·         and much, much more……………..

The aim being to improve our local environment to ensure that our villages are pleasant and safe places to live.  Villages where we are proud to bring up our children or grow old in peace and comfort.

In the last few weeks there has been a litany of nuisance and crimes including

          ·         the continuous riding of motorbikes in and around the area

          ·         on going vandalism in the playground

          ·         destroying the recently erected playground fence

          ·         excessive and unnecessary use of fireworks

          ·         vandalism to parishioners property

          ·         continuous dog fouling on playgrounds and football pitches

          The list is endless………………

The APC aims and objectives are becoming increasingly difficult to achieve and fraught with problems and issues.  The APC are saddened by recent events in the villages and the effect that these are having on our local area and environment.  However, we are not alone.  Many parishioners are now clearly despondent.

Funds are limited.  Emotions are running high……………

Don’t be disillusioned.  Please help to make our villages places to be proud of!

Do you have any comments? Contact your Parish Councillor or email: arleynews@hotmail.com.

I would like to remind residents that every household will be receiving the Parish Plan Questionnaire in early 2007. Please take the opportunity to complete the survey and return it via the freepost envelope. The information and views we receive from your replies to the survey will go towards formulating the Parish Plan actions.

Can I take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers who have assisted in drafting the survey questionnaire.

Paul Reader, on behalf of Arley Parish Plan Committee.

Dear Residents of Arley Villages,

Does it annoy you that your post is incorrectly addressed as “Coventry, West Midlands”?

Would you like the Royal Mail database to change this to read “Old / New Arley, North Warwickshire”?

Are you also aware that this could affect the cost of your home and car insurance?

If you would like to help get this changed please sign the petitions that will be in the local shops in the next few weeks.  All it takes is a minute to add your name and address.

Thank you

“Villagers have been landed with a mega problem and they need help to sort it out”, says Cllr Adrian Edgington supported by fellow councillors Sid Tooth and Peggy Hall. Cllr Edgington explained, “The problem is a series of private roads that back onto 200 former Miners’ houses in the North Warwickshire village of New Arley. The roads have fallen into a state of decay with potholes, one of which allowed the Councillor, who represents the area, to sink up to his thigh in it. “This is serious. Anyone could be severally injured falling into a hole that size, especially a very young or elderly person, said Cllr Edgington.

Local resident Ron Brown lives in James Street and backs on to the roads he says “The roads have declined since the eighties when the Coal Board upon privatisation sold them all off to property companies. The companies did no repairs. Now they are in a poor state. The tenants and homeowners who live next to them have tried to get repairs done but the last property company transferred ownership to an off the shelf company which they then allowed to go bust. The roads are now owned by the Queen but they are a liability to her because they need repairs.  I don’t suppose she wants them.  Our best option is for the Council to take them over. The cost of bringing them up to a reasonable condition could I am told be more than £100,000. Local people cannot afford it.”

At the back of Ron Brown’s home there is a dip in the road.  “When the rain comes it floods.  There is meant to be a drain but over the years it has silted up and the owners have never cleared it.” (See picture) Mrs Miller, a neighbour in James Street says, “Some people are getting older. We cannot maintain these roads and they are getting worse. We cannot allow this state of affairs to continue.

Ten years ago local MP Mike O’Brien tried to get the London based property company who owned the roads and about 80 tenancies to do up the roads. They refused. “The only way to get them to act was to sue them and the tenants could not afford it”, said the MP.  “I want to explore the possibility of getting the Council and various Coalfield and other organisations to put together a one off grant to do up the roads and get the Council to take them over for the long term maintenance.”

Ron Brown (left) with Mike O’Brien (MP)

The site is still far from perfect, it being covered with lots of small pieces of debris the contractors could not extract. This will need to be cleared by hand; volunteers needed! If you want to help we will be holding clearance day(s) in the near future; look out for notices in local shops and on the fencing at the entrance to the site. By the time you read this, the Mayor Cllr Adrian Edgington, invited guests and prospective plot holders will have attended an open day, at which the mayor will plant a commemorative tree. It will also be an opportunity for all to view the work done so far and hear about the future plans for the site.

We would like to give thanks to Cllr Colin Hayfield for his help in the clearance project, Alethea Wilson for her work in liaising with various contractors that have got us this far and Fran Poole and team for their continuing support.

Following on from the article in the Autumn edition of the Arley news we received a high level of interest from people wanting to take up a plot on the site. We may not be able to satisfy the demand and therefore all names have been added to the waiting list on a first come first served basis. If you want to be added to the list please contact: Alex Graham Tel: 01676 541 218 or ghaa@hotmail.co.uk

The Committee is pleased to report that the site has now been cleared of most of the thick covering of bramble, weeds and other debris accumulated over a number of years. Some tree works have been carried out and more will be done in the New Year. This has given us a larger space to cultivate without disturbing the ecological balance. A new fence along the Gun Hill boundary will be erected in the New Year, together with a native hedge along the George Street boundary. Initial plotting has been undertaken to give us a mixture of full, half and quarter sized plots.

Since the site was cleared several days of heavy rain resulted in the ground becoming waterlogged. We were unable to do any further preparation, as we could not risk getting another tractor stuck. However, just as we were beginning to think we would not be able to carry on until spring, November brought us sun by day and frost by night. It was enough to dry the land out to enable Joe to bring his old Massey Ferguson tractor and plough on site, which gave the land the makeover it desperately needed.

The miners’ statue was dedicated and placed in St. Wilfred’s Church on Sunday, 15th October, 2006. This statue is in bronze and was made by a local lady of the village. It was Mr Owen A Stain’s idea to have some sort of remembrance of Arley being a mining village for the younger generations and the future generations; as well as remembering the men of the village and surrounding areas who gave so much blood and sweat to the industry.

The cost of the statue was met by donations from local organisations and private people of the village.

Mr Stains would like to thank these people for their help in making his idea a reality and also to thank Mr Peter Bates who looked after the purse strings on his behalf and arranged the commissioning.

Anyone interested to see the statue can get in touch via Arley News (arleynews@hotmail.com) and arrangements can be made.

The tiny hand of a tiny baby reaches out, and grips the little finger of his mother. He grabs hold of that which is most dear to him. A little later he opens his arms and welcomes the children to bless them, lays his hands on the sick to cure them and takes a little girl by the hand to raise her from the dead. He reaches out to that which is most dear to him. Next, he throws wide his arms to accept a cross and stretches out his hands to receive the nails. He opens his arms to save us, who are most dear to him. And finally, risen from the dead, he opens his hands once more to show the glorious scars by which we may be healed of sin and death. He casts wide his love to all who would accept it, and as surely as he held the finger of his Blessed Mother, so as surely he extends his hands to us today. He reaches out to all who are most dear to him.

A happy and a blessed to Christmas to you all!

Fr Stephen Day

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)

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

Please note the Change of Minister : Deacon Sue Fry

Tel. 02476 312367

(For Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, visits etc.)

Family Service: 2nd Sunday of the Month 10.30 am

Other Sundays:

Sunday School: 2.30pm

Sunday Club: 10.30am

Evening Worship: 6.00pm

Most Wednesday evenings Prayer Meeting 7.30pm

Contact Sue for Christmas Services

Following our regular pattern, there will be services at St. Wilfred’s at 9am and St. Michael's at 10.15 am on Sunday December 3,10 and 17

This shows our extras services and arrangements over the Christmas period.

Sunday December 3    6.30 pm Advent Carols at Arley Methodist Church

Sunday December 10  6.30 pm Christmas Carols at St. Wilfrid's

Thursday December 21  7.30 pm Carol Singing starting outside the Fir Tree in New Arley

Sunday December 24 Christmas Eve

                                9am Holy Communion at St. Wilfrid's

                                4pm Jesus Birthday at St. Michael's - A lively and fun-packed introduction to Christmas for all the family

                              11.30 pm  Midnight Communion, St. Wilfrid's

Christmas Day 10.15 am Christmas Communion and Carols, St Michael's

Sunday 31 December 10.30 am Holy Communion at St. Laurence's Ansley ( no services in Arley)

24th December: Fourth Sunday of Advent

11.00am Mass

25th December: Christmas Day

11.00am Mass

Mass every Sunday at 11.00am

St Joseph’s is run from the parish of St Anne, Chapel End, Nuneaton, tel 02476 392365

Eric and Gaynor are keen to become involved in the community with their children attending the local schools. They are interested in working together with the community to help raise funds and support local organisations – pop in and see them if to discuss how they can help your group! In the restaurant too, Eric hopes to source many of the food products locally, making the Wagon a real ‘local’ pub. The restaurant, which opened in November, serves lunch time and evening menus (excluding Sunday evening). So, lets welcome Gaynor, Eric and family to the village and check out the new and improved Wagon Load of Lime!

Eric Cousins and Gaynor Ingram welcome you to the ‘new look’ Wagon Load of Lime in Old Arley. Eric and Gaynor moved into the Wagon with their two children, aged 7 and 10 years on 2nd September. Between them they have clocked up 37 years experience in the pub trade, moving here from Kings Heath.

Eric says that it was a conscious decision of theirs to move to a country location as they felt that this was better for their family and were excited when they heard of the opportunity to manage the Wagon Load of Lime. They both see the potential in the pub and have overseen the last stages of the refurbishment, when the restaurant opened in November, offering traditional pub food.

Residents may have noticed the refurbishment of the pub which now has new floors, windows, lighting, central heating and fresh decoration, inside and out. The new signage outside displays the welcoming features of the pub - which welcomes families - with an outside play area planned for next summer.

A cottage stood in the grounds where the bungalows are now. It was detached with a large garden. The people who lived there were called Thompson; they were caretakers of the mission school. One of the teachers at the school was called Mrs Atkins, she would wait every morning at the gate to see the children into the school, she taught us to read and write and do our sums.

On Sunday mornings Mr Harris and his sons played hymns in the street. They had a small brass band. Mr Harris senior played the big drum, it was always a pleasure to stand and listen to them. Other enjoyment came from Mr Harwood; he was a good sport who entertained us playing the accordion.

When the fair came to Hilltop my sister and I loved walking round the stalls or watching our father try and win a coconut.  There were swing boats and side shows and a horse carousel. We could only stand and watch our enjoyment came from the excitement of it all.

At Christmas time, myself, sister and brothers sat around the table making streamers out of coloured paper for the living room. We never had a tree. On Christmas morning Mother and Father would give us all an apple and an orange. These were our presents we looked forward to them -  a rare treat.

Not the title of a novel, and maybe not the “invasion” that one might think of!  On March 23rd, 1944 the Americans with tanks rumbled along the streets of Arley. These had been offloaded from a train at Arley and Fillongley station after being shipped from the USA to Southampton.

They were part of the invasion force that people came to know as “D Day” and were heading for the American armies transit camp at Arbury Hall.

I have been told this by my siblings as I was too young to remember and they told me that they watched the tanks roll by from the grounds of Gunhill School.

What excitement it must have have instilled in the youngsters then as tank after tank went past towards Ansley. On arriving at Nuthurst Lane they proceeded toward Astley Crossroads. The lane was at that time a little narrow with bends in it but that did not deter the might of the American army they simply drove the tanks in a straight line and parked them up.

This I am told is why Nuthurst Lane became to be straight and even today you can see where the line of the road once was as it goes around to the grass drying plants and then crosses today’s road and winds round to the gates of Astley Church.

QUIZ TIME

QUIZ 6 QUESTIONS

          1 The first pair of what brand of boots were made from tyres?

          2 Which country has a town called A?

          3 Who recorded the album The Lexicon of Love?

          4 Which law enforcers made there first appearance in London in 1960?

          5 What is 44 in roman numerals?

          6 In which country was the first motorway?

          7 Donald Fisher was the local headmaster in which soap?

          8 Which song has the lyrics “its got groove its got feeling"?

          9 Who played Selwyn Froggitt?

          10 Scar was the villain in which Disney film?

          11 What are the only two countries that start with the letter A but don’t end with an A?

          12 Which quiz show encouraged contestants to go from gold to gold in 60 seconds?

          13 In which London suburb did Citizen Smith live?

          14 What is the highest headland on the south coast?

          15 Who was the Greek God of dreams?

          16 What year did Emmerdale start on ITV?

          17 Which little Eva song did Kylie cover in 1988?

          18 Who was known as the Iron Duke ?

          19 What was Robert Mccall better known as?

          20 What does Bisto stand for ?

1 19452 lowest part of the hull3 Elvis4 19815 yellow6 19017 Martin Luther King8 made of same chemical carbon9 colour of money Paul Newman10 Benjamin Franklin11 Volkswagen beetle12 1613 tin opener14 915 France16 main face of a building17 rugby world cup18 10019 West India docks20 the nurse at his bedside didn’t understand German

Quiz answers and Questions are

Kindly supplied by the Merry Miner

Check your answers to Quiz 6 in: Arley News, Spring 2007

You may remember reading about the Arley’s Angels Netball Club in a previous edition of Arley News and we’re now proud to give you an up-date on the amazing progress we have made from humble beginnings. The club has continued to grow in size and goes from strength to strength…

a.. At the beginning of the season we won a local tournament!

b.. We now have a team playing regularly and doing very well in the Coventry league.

c.. We have also been busy trying to get an additional team established in a smaller local league playing lots of friendly matches and trying to improve our game.

d.. We also took the chance to polish our halos recently at a ‘netball weekend’ in Bournemouth where we learned the old adage ‘It’s not the winning but the taking part that is important’ really does ring true!

e.. Oh yes we occasionally go for a few beers too!

We train every Tuesday evening at Arley Sports Centre at 8.15pm and we are always looking for new members. It does not matter if you haven’t played netball since your P.E. lessons at primary school or if you are Warwickshire’s number one shooter! We welcome ladies of all fitness levels and all abilities from age 11+. So if you would like to come and join us just turn up. Alternatively call Karen on 01676 549035 for more details. Each session costs £2.50.

We are also looking for some funding to enable us to buy new kit, pay umpires, rent out netball courts etc. We would love to represent the village by looking as smart as our rivals. If you are a local business what better way to advertise than on the wings of angels?  If you would like to sponsor us or know someone who could help us the please get in touch.

Merry Christmas and thanks to all who have supported the Angels so far.

“I was a miner in the Yorkshire pits for 33yrs & have since retired. In my retirement as a hobby for the past few years I have been an avid collector of colliery checks or tallies, local ones to start with, then checks from other areas. I am desperately seeking to obtain a check from Arley colliery, or indeed any I don’t know of! I would be most grateful if any fellow ex-pitmen out there who could please help me obtain this or others to add to my collection. Thank you.”

W. Bennett. billbennett01@btinternet.com

“I am currently tracing my family tree and wondered in any of your readers would have any information about an address on the 1891 census. According to the census my Grandfather Joseph Par(r)ish was resident with his father James, mother Mary Anne and sisters Hannah and Eliza at a place called Bourne  Cottage.

The cottage is listed on the census as follows

Bonds Hospital Farm            John Gosling & family

Nuneaton Road                    James Pollit & family

Bourne Cottage                    James Parrish & famly

Church Farm                        Charles Barret & famly

Village                                Elizabeth Harbone

Village                                Samuel Harbone & family

Wagon Load of Lime            Abraham Elson, family & servants

Village                                James Beasley & family

I have found Nuneaton Road, the Village and the public house which moved to another location at a later date but I cannot find anything about Bourne Cottage. James was a colliery overman in 1889 but on the census it shows he was a Life Insurance District Agent.”

If anyone can tell me anything about the cottage please contact arleynews@hotmail.com.Thank you Diane Foster

This autumn term has been a very busy one for us so far and undoubtedly will become more hectic in the run up to the Christmas holidays!

Early in the term, we were inspected by Ofsted.  As a result, the school was placed into the category of Special Measures.  This was a very disappointing outcome for us but with the support of the Governing Body and the Local Authority, I am confident that the school is well placed to address the issues that have been identified and will quickly improve in those areas.

On Friday 29th September, we held a Macmillan ‘Coffee Morning’ in school. Parents and children responded brilliantly to our request for cakes and the sale of these raised £125.

On the following Monday, 2nd October, Reverend Allen led a Harvest Festival Service in school.  Again, the generosity of parents was overwhelming – we had enough tins, packets and fresh produce to be able to deliver a harvest parcel to over 40 households in the village.

On Tuesday, 10th October, our Year 5 pupils had a very successful visit to Coventry Cathedral to support the history work they are undertaking on World War 2.

Our children are currently taking part in many sports’ initiatives.  Every Thursday afternoon, Years 5 and 6 have the benefit of the expertise of coaches from Nuneaton Borough Football Club.  On a Friday, all Year 5 and Year 6 are taking part in dance workshops.  In addition, there is Netball Club and Multi Skills Club.  We are currently setting up a peer football coaching scheme so that some of our Year 6 pupils can transfer their skills on to the younger pupils.  This is an exciting new initiative!

LNWeyman

Head Teacher

By the time you read this, it will be "all systems go" for a hectic, but very exciting and enjoyable time at our school in preparation for Christmas. The school will be beautifully decorated with the children's work, the final rehearsals for our production of " The Bossy Christmas Fairy" will be underway and we will all be looking forward to our Christmas parties, traditional Christmas dinner and, hopefully (if he's not too busy) a visit from Father Christmas himself! If you would like to get in the mood for Christmas, why not join us for our special Christmas assembly on Thursday 21st December at 9.30am. You don't need to have children in school to be able to come........everyone is welcome!  Finally, may we take this opportunity to wish everyone in the local village a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year.

WE ARE RUNNING A “DROP IN” SUPPORT SERVICE

FOR ADVICE, HELP AND SUPPORT JUST CALL INTO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CENTRES:-

MONDAY 9.30AM – 12.30 PM

ATHERSTONE NHS CLINIC, LONG STREET, ATHERSTONE (NEXT TO LIBRARY)

TUESDAY 9.30AM – 12.30 PM

SPRINGHILL MEDICAL CENTRE, SPRINGHILL,  ARLEY

WEDNESDAY 9.30AM – 12.30 PM

KINGSBURY NHS CLINIC, COVENTRY ROAD, KINGSBURY

THURSDAY 9.30AM – 12.30 PM

COLESHILL NHS CLINIC, PARKFIELD ROAD, COLESHILL

FRIDAY 9.30AM – 12.30PM

POLESWORTH HEALTH CENTRE, POLESWORTH

OR LEAVE A MESSAGE ON 01675 465053

Tuesdays: Sparkle Club for 4 -7 Year Olds 5.30pm – 6.30pm

Youth Club for 12 plus 7.00pm – 9.00pm

Wednesdays: Parent and Toddlers 1.00pm – 2.30pm

Line Dancing 6.45pm – 7.45pm

Thursdays: Jaffa Club for 7 – 12 Year Olds 5.30pm – 6.30pm

Fridays: Sequence Dancing – 2.45pm – 4.45pm

Pop – In for Tea, Coffee and Cakes or just a chat, 3.00pm On the First Thursday of the each Month.

Mondays and Wednesdays 1.00am – 1.00pm Challenge. (Challenging Alcohol Abuse)

Tuesdays and Fridays 12.30 – 2.30pm Minimikes (preschool)

Tuesdays 6.00pm North Warwickshire Rural Youth Project

Thursdays 11.00am St. Michael’s Over 60’s Club

Thursdays 1.00pm – 2.30pm New Way Credit Union

Fridays 7.00pm – Megamikes

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

Please Note: Articles for inclusion in the Spring edition of Arley News (for distribution early March) to be received no later than 5th February, 2007

Please Note: The comments expressed in this magazine are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial team.