Winter 2008 EDITORIAL Welcome to the Winter ‘08 edition of Arley News. It’s hard to believe we are at the end of another year. This last edition for 2008 brings the latest on the exciting development of the Arley Community Centre and a number of other items that we hope you find interesting. Our Distribution Co-ordinator would like to thank all our volunteers for their support in distributing Arley News this year. We still require more volunteers for the following roads: * Meadow Croft, Old Arley * Rowland Court, Old Arley * Rectory Road, Old Arley * Rectory Drive, Old Arley * Sycamore Crescent, New Arley * Hawthorn Avenue, New Arley * George Street, New Arley If you can help, please contact Audrey Brown on 01676 541026. Thank you very much indeed for the various donations that Arley News had received from individuals during 2008, these really help Arley News continue to deliver a free Newsletter. Don’t forget that there is a box up at Rowley’s butchers in Old Arley for any paper based items you’d like to put forward. You can also e-mail us at arleynews@hotmail.com. The Arley News Team and I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Warm regards Emily & the Arley News Team ARLEY COMMUNITY CENTRE UPDATE As I write this everything is going according to plan. We are moving through the long stages that lead up to tendering and we are remain confident that builders will be on site this winter - in January if all goes well - and that the opening will take place in the autumn- hopefully October. With this edition of Arley News comes a questionnaire so you can tell us what you want in your community centre. We are sending this out now so we can all get the activities ready to start in the first week. We want to start with a wide range of things going on! We need to get St. Michael's ready to receive the builders. Everything in the two vestries and the kitchen needs to go between 28 December and 10 January. If you or your organisation owns anything in these areas please ensure it is removed. Decide carefully what you want to keep and store it if possible behind the blue curtains. There will be work throughout this period to clear these areas ending with a grand clear-out from 9am on Saturday 10 January. If you can lend a hand on that day please come. ALL HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. Come for as long or as little as you can! On Sunday January 18 there will be at 10.15am a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of St. Michael's before it begins this new stage in its life. All are most welcome. If you have any reason to give thanks for the live of St. Michael's Church during these past 81 years we should be very pleased to include that in our prayers. We are also hoping for a midterm celebration probably on April 8. Further details will be advertised by poster and in the next Arley News. From Christmas to the opening of the new centre Sunday worship and week-night activities will continue for as long as possible without interruption. We regret that the Church can not be used during the week whilst the builders are on site. May I apologise for any unavoidable disturbance to our neighbours and to users of cemetery and churchyard. We shall do our best to keep this to a minimum. There is no pain without gain but it should all be so worthwhile. We are very much looking forward to the opening of the new centre in the autumn of 2009. We hope you are too. If you can help in any way please contact me Peter Allan ( 02476399070) peter@ansleychurch.org HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE USE OF THE NEW COMMUNITY CENTRE Building work for the new community Building at St Michaels in New Arley will soon begin, and so now is the time for the - some might say - most important part; planning its useage! You will find included with your Arley News a questionnaire to help us plan and book a wide range of activities that may be avaiable from the community centre. Please take a few minutes to complete it and return it in the freepost envelope provided. There will be a prize draw of completed entries to be held at an event at St Michaels on April 8th 2009, details of the event will be released soon. Five entrants drawn out of the hat will each will a £10 high street shopping voucher, so please make sure you put your name and address on the back of it! CHRISTMAS TIME RECIPES Little Frosty Christmas Cakes Ingredients * butter , for greasing * 1 quantity Easy apple fruit cake, uncooked * 2 tbsp apricot jam * 500g pack natural marzipan * 500g pack ready-to-roll white icing * 16 fresh cranberries * bunch rosemary , broken into small fronds * 50g caster sugar * 1 egg white * 50g icing sugar * approx 1m gold ribbon Method 1. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Butter eight 150ml ramekins and line the bottoms with circles of non-stick baking paper. Divide the cake mix between the ramekins, transfer to a baking sheet and slide into the oven. Bake for 30 mins until springy and dark golden brown. Leave until cool enough to handle, then run a round-edged knife around the edge of the each cake. Turn out and cool completely on a rack. 2. If the cakes have risen into peaks, make flat by slicing the tops off with a serrated knife. Melt the jam with 1 tbsp water and brush over the top of the cakes. Lightly knead the marzipan and shape eight golf ball-sized balls. (You will have some left over - wrap up well for another time.) Using a rolling pin, gently roll the balls into flat circles, approx 1cm thick and the same diameter as the cakes. Sit the marzipan on the jammy side of the cakes. Do the same with the icing, brushing the marzipan with a little cooled, boiled water to help it stick. 3. Beat the egg white until just frothy and broken up. Spread the caster sugar over a plate. Dip the cranberries and rosemary in the egg white, shake off the excess and roll in the caster sugar to create a frosty effect. Leave to dry for 15 mins. Tip away all but 2 tsp of the egg white and mix with the icing sugar to create a thick paste. Use to fix two cranberries and a sprig of rosemary to the top of each cake. Decorate with gold ribbon. The cakes will keep in an airtight container for up to a week. Recipe from Good Food magazine, December 2005. Christmas Cookies Ingredients * 450g unsalted Butter, softened * 700g soft brown sugar, unrefined * 200g granulated sugar, unrefined * 4 large Eggs * 1 vanilla pod, with the seeds scraped out * 930g plain flour * ½ tsp Salt * 2 tsp Baking powder * 450g plain chocolate chips * ribbon for hanging on Christmas tree Cooks Notes: Feel free to halve the quantities if you just want to make a batch of cookies and don't forget you can make this dough up to 1 month before cooking and freeze in logs wrapped in greaseproof paper. Aga Cooking Bake for 8 minutes in the roasting oven, 4th set of runners with the cold plain shelf on the 2nd set of runners. Method 1. Set the oven to 190°C/gas 5. Cream the butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and scrape in the vanilla seeds. 2. Put the flour, salt and baking powder into a sieve and sift into the butter mix. Fold to thoroughly combine then add the chocolate chips. 3. On a baking sheet, drop 2 tablespoons of the batter 5cm apart. Bake in batches for 8 minutes, until crisp. Cool on a wire rack. 4. While the biscuits are still hot, poke a hole 1/3 of the way down the cookie with a clean round pen top. Let the cookies cool completely and string a pretty ribbon through and tie in a loop so that you can hang them on the Christmas tree. ARLEY PARISH PLAN The Arley Parish Plan has now been delivered to all resident of Arley, if you have not received a copy please contact Ron Brown on 01676 541026. A big thank you to everyone involved in producing and delivering the Arley Parish Plan. A little bit of History By Len Horton How the “Burma Road” got its name! I don’t think there are many people in Arley who haven’t wondered just why “the Burma Road” is so called. I will tell you just what I was told as a young boy during the late forties or early fifties:- Up to and just after the second world war Fir Tree Lane actually stopped at the sewer keepers cottage at the bottom of the hill. The villagers of that time including the schoolchildren would walk that far and then they would have followed a public footpath past the sewerage settling beds and along the base of the Colliery spoil heap or “clod tip” as it was known as. After crossing the Bourne Brook they would go across the railway line using a blue buttressed footbridge. At the field on the other side of the railway lines (Old Arley side), they had to walk up the fields and join Church Lane opposite Herbert Fowler School or carry on down the field to a stone stile that led into the churchyard. As the colliery grew in size many of us will still remember the “tippler monorail” with its series of little buckets that went up the “clod tip” tipping their loads of slag etc. at the top and coming down the other side empty. This process went on day and night while the pit was “turning”. Because of this action the public footpath at the base of the pit bank became overrun with slag and other materials, it was decided to close the footpath for safety reasons and a new road was created to link up with the road to Old Arley from Hill Top. While this road was being built some “wag” in his or her wisdom called it “The Burma Road” after the infamous railroad in Burma that cost so many of our brave prisoners of war their lives. This nickname stuck to the road and it is still called “The Burma” today. If you are walking down the road or lane, as it is officially name Fir Tree Lane, when you pass the house at the bottom of the hill look into the hedgerows at either side of the lane and you will see the iron railings that were of the fence that was erected when it was built. I don’t know in what year the railway footbridge was demolished but I have seen the remains of the buttresses myself. As for the schoolchildren of the time of the new road they still had to walk or cycle to school. “No school buses in those days” CHURCH - REFLECTION Christmas The town was full of life. We could see from our hill, when we weren’t minding the sheep, comings and goings as people of all sorts came to be registered. Bethlehem hadn’t been so busy for in a long while, I can tell you. It didn’t really affect us: nobody would stay out on these hills unless they were paid to, so we had no strangers stopping with us, and we could soon nip down to register between shifts. Not that many people bothered about us, really. Anyway, one night, trying to keep warm round the fire and make sure the sheep were safe, it was all a bit different. Still. Quiet. And then, bang! An angel appears with the whole heavenly host to bring us great news. I say Angel, but I’m no expert. Hadn’t seen one before, and haven’t since. But that’s what it was. Bit scary really, but Angels are nothing to be afraid of. He tells us to hurry down to town and find a stable, with a baby in swaddling clothes, and his young exhausted mum. Not just any baby – the Saviour! We didn’t hang about – not after the heavenly host has reinforced his point with a chorus of “Gloria in excelsis Deo”! So, we found our way, carrying a few presents as was only right for a new born although there wasn’t much besides lambs we could lay out hands on, and there they were! Only it wasn’t normal. Don’t misunderstand me, it was wonderful!! Heavenly, in fact. The baby was quiet in the manger, his mother was kneeling beside him and her husband stood bareheaded watching over them. One or two other lads in the trade had got there first with a sheep or two, but there was plenty of room. We just fell to our knees. Someone very holy was there. We were there for hours, just kneeling but it seemed like moments. And when we got back, not a single sheep was missing. Odd, that. Someone told me that when that baby had grown up, he’d actually said something like that. I’m not surprised. I can’t get the memory of that night out of my head – not that I want to – it sort of changed my life. I just know I’ll see that baby – man, I mean now – somewhere again. I know it. Happy Christmas! CHURCH NEWS ST. WILFRID’S CHURCH & ST. MICHAEL’S CHURCH 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 Night Youth Club (St. Michael's) Thursday St. Michael's Over 60's Group 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. CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS Carols by Candlelight St. Wilfrid's December 14 6.30pm Carol Singing around Arley Meet outside the Fir Tree New Arley December 18 7pm Jesus' Birthday - A lively informal service for all ages - St. Michael's Christmas Eve 4pm Midnight Communion St. Wilfrid's Christmas Eve 11.30pm Communion and Carlos St. Wilfrid's December 28 10.30 pm 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 : Sunday and weekday evening activities at St. Michael's will continue as far as possible during the building of the Community Centre. We regret that the Church will not normally be available for use during the day from Monday to Friday. Please accept our apologies. We will do our best to make alternative arrangements and minimise inconvenience. Starting Sunday 25 January at St. Wilfrid's Church, Old Arley ( and every fourth Sunday of the month) Children's Club - Informal worship for children and their families 10.30am -11am Drinks and biscuits from 10.10am. ALL WELCOME! On every other Sunday at St. Wilfrid's we now provide a special time out in the middle of the service for children who prefer their own activities to listening the Rector's sermon! So when you come as a family there is something for everyone! We look forward to seeing you. Arley Wesley Hall Methodist Church 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 David Hunter on 02476 672148 Upcoming Events Family Nativity Service Sunday, 14th December, at 10.30am Led by Terry Osbourne Join us for Carol Singing around the villages on Thursday 18th December Meet at the Fir Tree Inn at 7.00pm. Christingle Service – Sunday, 21st December at 4.00pm led by David Hunter Covenant Service – Sunday, 4th January at 9.00am at St. Wilfrid’s, led by David Hunter. Everyone is welcome to all of our services. St Joseph’s Catholic Church Spring Hill, New Arley, Sunday Mass 11.00 am Priest: Fr Stephen Day 02476 392365 (Served by St Anne’s, Camp Hill Road, Chapel End, Nuneaton) Christmas Day Mass 11am St Joseph’s is run from St Anne’s Catholic Church, Camp Hill Road, Chapel End, Nuneaton. The parish’s other Christmas Masses are: Christmas Eve Vigil Family Mass 5.00pm Carols 11.30pm, followed by Midnight Mass (at Midnight) Christmas Day Mass of the Dawn 9.00am Confessions on Fridays 6.15-6.45pm, Saturdays 9.00-9.15am Reader’s Letters/E-mails “Hello to all my friends in Arley, I was born in Whitehaven Cumbria, my family moved to Arley in 1937. My parents Herbert (Bert) and Elizabeth (lizzie) Johnstone. Two sisters Monica, Sara, brother Herbert (Bert) myself Betty. We lived at 24 Gun Hill. My father was a coal miner. Arley was a quiet village; people took such pride in their gardens and so proud of their flowers and vegetables. Oh the walks I took with my dad sack and shovel in hand collecting sheep droppings in the fields for his Leek bed. He used to enter his Leeks in the Leek Club show in the village. I mustn’t forget all the ladies cleaning their windows and door steps. Always a smile and good morning as you passed by. I attended Gun Hill school while the war was on. Then went to St Joseph's in Coton Road in Nuneaton. My friends and I would ride the bus into town then still have to walk about a mile to school. They Included George, Kathleen, Edwin and Joan Jackson. Pat Kelly, Terry and Pat Garratley, Robet Tubman, Mary Wiston, Wink Igoe, Doreen Jeffcoate and Margaret Comer from the old village. Sorry if I missed anyone. Summers were so much fun, long walks around the country side, games of marbles rounders in the rec, bike rides. Playing tennis in the Old village you either rode your bike or walked it cost a penny to ride the #739 bus to Old Arley each way. Friends in the village were Jean and Vic Northall Jean and Shirley Martin Peter Thompson Oh those Saturday afternoons at the pictures, 3d is what it cost, I used to run errands for Mrs Flynn on a Saturday morning some times in the village or to Nuneaton and she paid me 3d. My mom would give me 3d and I would stop at Thompsons shop next to the pictures to buy some sweets Oh! what a treat. I have lived in Louisiana U. S A since 1955, but still call England home. Have been lucky to have made several trips back to Arley visiting family and friends also all my family visiting me here. Such happy memories, you can't forget your roots. My father took me to the field for the delivery of the first Arley Workmans Club. (Known today and for many years as the "JAM POT" It was a squatters hut. Mr Edward (Neddy) Flynn was there and his two sons Eddy and Barney helped with the delivery I enjoyed reading your Arley News on line.” Kindest Regards, Betty Johnstone Whitehead “To the Editor I’d like to say a few words about the Remembrance Service held at St Wilfrid’s Church Old Arley on 9th November 2008.It was heartening to see so many people paying their respects to the service men and women who gave their all to protect us from tyranny. The Service was very good, with excellent Hymns and music played by Dr Bland, who has been a stalwart of the church and local community, with his wife for more years than I care to remember. May I take this opportunity to say thank you to Dr Bland and his wife for all their selfless work over the years. Yours faithfully, Ray Glover “ “I was wondering if anyone could help with a family Search .My Great granddad John William Smith died at 33 Hill top Arley in 1923 .At the time this was his daughters Address, she was Mary Millicent Flowers married to Herbert Flowers .I am wondering if anyone knows where abouts in Arley John is Buried and if Ellen his wife who i have no dates or place of death for is also buried there .John and Ellen had 7 children edden Smith lived in 1917 in Rectory Cottage with his wife Ethel having a son Fredrick and a daughter Dulcie. I have a 1922 record for Arley giving other Smiths with Johns Sons names which were George edden, John George ,James Thomas and a William Edden Smith although Williams address was Polesworth.I know William was in Polesworth in 1913 as he enlisted in the Army .At the time he was living at 33 The Lynches working at the Polesworth Collery. He was discharged medically in 1917/18 but wonder if he moved into the village .Can anyone help with finding where John is buried and if Ellen or other Smiths are also buried in Arley?.” Maggie Bright (If you can help Maggie please respond to Arleynews@hotmail.com and we’ll pass the information on. Please Note: The comments expressed in this magazine are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial team or webmaster. Recycle your Christmas cards & Christmas trees. The following centres can be used to drop off old Christmas cards for recycling: NWBC Offices, Atherstone Atherstone Leisure Complex, Long Street, Atherstone Arley Sports Centre, Old Arley Polesworth Sports Centre, Dordon Road, Polesworth Coleshill Sports Centre, Park Road, Coleshill Polesworth Library Baddesley Library Coleshill Library Kingsbury Library Water Orton Library Atherstone Library The following centres can be used to recycle Christmas Trees: Green Bins Newton Regis Garden Centre Whitacre Heath GC Planters GC Melbick GC Hoar Park GC Dobbies GC Newlands Nurseries Allotment News The Association held its first AGM in September. After the welcome address reports were presented by various committee members on activities undertaken during the year, the financial status of the association and progress on the wildlife garden. This was followed by the election of committee members. All existing committee members resigned, as all had originally been co-opted onto the committee. Due to other commitments, not all committee members sought election. The newly elected committee is: Chair - John Whittle Vice Chair - Jo Lucas Treasurer - Karen Garland Secretary (temporary) - Wendy Townsend Committee Member - Eric Fellows Committee Member - Toby Barlow We are currently looking for a permanent replacement to take up the secretary’s role. ‘Do One Thing for Nature’ As part of the BBC’s Breathing Places campaign we are holding a series of events over the next few months designed to give you the opportunity to get involved in the development of the wildlife area. On the first Sunday afternoon of every month (excluding January) activities will be taking place in the wildlife area that you can join in with (or you can just take the opportunity to have a look around). December’s activities will include hedge planting, planting out bulbs, marking out a nature trail footpath, bridge building and making benches February will include hedge laying and making a willow tunnel entrance March is aimed at the younger generation and will include a maths based nature trail, building nest boxes and insect habitats. April will include planting up the pond (an opportunity for us all to get wet and muddy), building a pontoon and creating a wild flower meadow. Towards the end of May we will be holding a grand opening weekend. If you are planning to come along to take part in any of the activities please wear appropriate footwear (sturdy boots or wellies) and bring some gardening gloves. Full details of the events will be displayed on the notice board at the pedestrian entrance to the wildlife area. If the weather is bad events may be subject to cancellation or postponed to an alternative weekend. Please note: All youngsters under the age of 16 attending any of the activities must be accompanied by an adult. North Warwickshire South - Safer Neighbourhoods Team Covering Coleshill North Ward, Coleshill South Ward, Arley and Whitacre and Fillongley Ward. Your team includes: Sgt Ron Drake PC Ellen Beaty PC Andrew Hopkins PC Gary Bemowski PCSO Philip McGuinness PCSO Julie Green PCSO Carl Boulter PCSO Rebecca Owen PCSO Tim Staten Contact the team at: Tel: 02476 483554 Email: nws.snt@warwickshire.police.uk Website: www.safer-neighbourhoods.co.uk/nws Partners & Communities Together (PACT) PACT is all about police, partners and the local community working together to improve their neighbourhood. Do you have an issue that you’d like resolved but you’re not sure who to call or don’t want to bother the police? If so, why not go along to your local PACT meeting? Meetings are open to everyone living in, working in or visiting the neighbourhood. Everyone will be made welcome and will have the opportunity to proritise issues that they would like resolved. Police surgeries are also held prior to each PACT meeting to address and answer individual concerns. Future PACT meetings: Tuesday 27 January 2009 Tuesday 28 April 2009 Tuesday 14 July 2009 Thursday 22 October 2009 Venues will be confirmed one week prior to the date, so please call North Warwickshire Borough Council’s Contact Centre on 01827 715341 or visit the website: www.northwarks.gov.uk/ . North Warwickshire also has a Nuisance Coordinator working proactively to reduce anti-social behaviour. To report anti-social behaviour please call: 01926 415000 Mike O’Brien MP Please make an appointment to see Mike at one of his Surgeries – see below. To make an appointment please phone or write to me at my constituency office: 92 King Street, Bedworth, CV12 8JF Telephone 024 7631 5084 Fax 024 7664 0139 First and Third Friday in each month: Bedworth 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm Constituency Office, 92 King Street First Saturday in each month: Wood End 9.15 am – 10.00 am Village Hall, Main Road Kingsbury 10.15 am – 11.00 am Jubilee Court Polesworth 11.15 am – 12.00 noon Tithe Barn Dordon 12.15 pm – 1.00 pm Village Hall, Browns Lane Atherstone 1.15 pm – 2.15 pm Memorial Hall Third Saturday in each month: Coleshill 9.00 am – 10.00 am Town Hall, High Street Water Orton 10.15 am – 11.00 am Methodist Church Hall, New Road Baddesley 11.15 am – 12.00 noon Social Club, New Street Hartshill 12.15 pm – 12.45 pm Friends Meeting House, Castle Road Arley 1.00 pm – 1.45 pm Stuart Court Complex, Ransome Road QUIZ TIME QUIZ 14 QUESTIONS 1 What were Felix Unger and Oscar Madison? 2 What do the numbers on a roulette wheel add up to? 3 What is a Comfrey? 4 Which famous leader had a dog called Paddy? 5 How many members of the beach boys were called Wilson? 6 If you land at the John Wayne airport which city are you in? 7 Which type of government runs Mexico? 8 The gulf of Carpentaria lies off which country? 9 Which part of the intestine is also a punctuation mark? 10 Which food is associated with Coventry? 11 Bonnie Tyler’s hit "Holding out for a hero" featured in which film? 12 Which football club started out as St Lukes? 13 Who had the nickname clockwork mouse? 14 Who’s black bras fetched £4600 at an auction in 1997? 15 What is a Bushbuck? 16 Why was the Miss World winner stripped of her title in 1974? 17 Which bird is also known as the Butcher bird? 18 What is a Moles habitat called? 19 Who was the first Pfa young player of the year? 20 At sea what is the watch between 8am and midday called? QUIZ 13 ANSWERS 1 Robert Burns 2 Strong sea wind which blows on the South African coast 3 Paris 1765 4 9 5 Joseph 6 Fencing 7 Pink 8 Razor 9 Stone masons hammer 10 James Dean 11 Banana Splits 12 David Blunkett 13 18 14 36 15 Mr Ben 16 The Tornados 17 Decimalisation 18 Nevada 19 Superintendent Mullet 20 8 Quiz answers and Questions are kindly supplied by the Merry Miner. Local School Update News from Gun Hill Infant & Nursery School By Anne Pipe Our children and parents were very generous with Harvest gifts, enabling us to deliver over 20 parcels of food to elderly residents in the community. Our coin collection amounted to £68.76 and this was sent to the Christian Aid Congo appeal. Year One and Two children enjoyed a visit to Coventry Transport Museum to link in with their curriculum work for the term. Year One Children attended a multi skills event at Alderman Smith organised by the School Sports Partnership. The children also enjoyed an autumn walk in Daffern Woods, coming back with lots of digital photographs which were used in the classrooms on the interactive whiteboards to enhance their work. You may have also seen the nursery children walking around the village on their “Letters and Sounds” walk. As daylight seems very late in arriving some mornings and as the nights begin to “draw in” we have really tried to ensure the safety of our children by distributing high visibility vests, donated by 3M, to Year One and Two children. Our Reception children received “cat’s eye pendants” to attach to their coats, bags etc. 1st Fillongley Scout Group4-scouts news update We’ve had another busy year with the group growing from strength to strength. In July the whole group went to Rhydd Covert campsite next to the West Midlands Safari park, Bewdley. Brave beaver parents joined us to listen to lions and elephants throughout the night, in what seemed like the field next door! We enjoyed a trip on the Severn Valley Railway, a visit to Arley Arboretum, Bewdley Museum, camp fire and a trip to the safari park. The cubs and scouts travelled to camp by train, listening to welcome announcements to the group over the BR tannoy system that we could actually understand! The cubs went home tired and happy after 3 nights camping, whilst the scouts stayed for 5 nights, learning how to cook a roast dinner in an oil drum and having spent an evening kayaking on a local lake. During the Autumn term the Beavers have worked on their imagination badges, and global challenge, and the cubs on their community challenge. The cubs had a very interesting talk from the Local History group, learning, not only about the history of the village, but also what the 8 & 9 yr olds used to get up to 50/ 60 yrs ago!......... Not a lot has changed……………The cubs went on an indoor camp to Ullesthorpe at the beginning of October. Here they learnt pioneering & knotting skills, together with teamwork, and navigation skills during a very muddy hike! The beavers enjoyed the Colony’s first sleepover at Rough Close in the new Norton cabin, during October half term with the snow, making spiders, and lanterns and exploring the campsite. They were joined by 8 intrepid scouts who were undertaking their expedition challenge, walking from the scout hut to the campsite and back, self navigating. The Group positively encourages mixing of the sections, which helps transition from beaver to cub and cub to scout for each child. Scouts cooking for cub camp, joint group camps, a joint bonfire party/ games night on November 5th for cubs and beavers are just a few examples. The Group was proud to participate in the Remembrance Day service this year, with a wreath laid by Jordan Hiatt, Daniel Mills and Conor Jones. We know some of the ex-scouts in the Parish, but if you haven’t had time to contact the group yet, then please do. Waiting / intent lists are maintained for all sections, as currently Beavers and Cubs are both full. Enquiries from both boys & girls from the age of 6 onwards have been received via our website: http://www.fillongleyscoutsandguides.btik.com/, or contact Lesley Gill on 01676 542698 for further details.We would love to hear also from any adults that could spare a couple of hours each week to help support the various sections, or help with the administration associated with the group. ARLEY PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS Councillor Melanie Binks (Chairperson) Councillor Mr E Fellows (Vice Chairperson) Councillors: Mr R Brown Mrs P Cotterill Mr R Petty Mr P Reader Mrs V Robinson Mr B Southworth Mrs V Southworth Mr G Brough (Clerk) Councillor Mr C Hayfield (WCC Councillor) LOCAL ACTIVITIES Midweek Activities at: Arley Wesley Hall Methodist Church and Community Centre Monday 5.00pm – 7.00pm Exercise and relaxation based on Tai-Chi Tuesday 10.00am – 12 noon Art Class 5.00pm – 6.00pm Sparkle Club for 4 to 7 year olds 6.00pm – 7.00pm Jaffa Club for 7-11 year olds 7.00pm – 9.00pm Youth Club for 11 years plus Wednesday 1.00pm – 3.00pm Stay and Play Toddler Group ( Surestart) 5.45pm – 6.45pm Beginners Line Dancing 6.45pm – 7.45pm Line Dancing Thursday 9.30am - 11.30am Bumps and Babies (Surestart) Friday 10.00am – 11.30am Crawlers to Walkers (Surestart) 3.00pm – 4.30pm Sequence Dancing 3.00pm, the first Thursday of every month Pop-In for tea, cakes and a chat. Activities at Rowlands Court, Old Arley Mondays - Stroke Club 9.30am - 3 pm or Ray on 01676 540515 or Margaret on 02476 736803. Tuesdays - Tenants Community Panel (meetings to be arranged), Thursday - Meals every 3rd Thursday in the month at Wagon Load of Lime. Fridays - Bingo 6.30pm - 9 pm. Other functions every month, Meals, Outings, Buffets and many other things. Call Pat on 01676 541951 or Vera on 01676 541631 Activities at St. Wilfrids Arley WI Meets on the first Tuesday of each month. 7.30pm at Meadowcroft. All welcome Tel. Pat 02476 395447 Activities at Arley Sports Centre: Women’s netball practice fitness and fun Every Monday 8.15 – 9.15pm at Arley Sports Centre all ages 11 – 60 welcome, and all abilities. Times vary during summer but most Tuesdays 8.15pm. £2.50 per session. Tel. Hayley 01676 549032