Coleshill Village News

Welcome to news pages of the Coleshill Website - keeping you up to date with all that is going on, in and around Coleshill. If you have any events or information that you would like included on these pages,
please click here to contact us.

Latest News:
Diary Dates
Tuesday 16th February 2010 Coleshill Historical Society meeting

Wednesday 24th February
ZUMBA is a hip swivelling, Latin inspired workout suitable for all ages and fitness levels. You don't have to be a dancer to enjoy ZUMBA. Come and have fun while you workout to the sounds of salsa, merengue, belly dancing, and African Beats.
So ditch the workout, join the party!
From Wednesday 24th February, right after half term week, I'll be offering a morning class at 9:30am ideal for all ladies who like to start their day with a smile, especially mums dropping off their children at school. As I'll be busy setting up my music equipment from around 9 am, the Hall will be open then, and mums are warmly invited to come in for a cup of tea, a catch up with their friends or a chance to make a new one.

Classes are £5 for a walk in, and there is the option of saving money by buying a 10 class punch card for £45. The pass has no expiry date, making it both convenient and cost effective for those who like to exercise regularly: it can be used at any of the 3 morning classes I offer: Tylers Green Village Hall on Mondays, Coleshill Village Hall on Wednesdays, and Hazlemere Community Hall on Fridays.

For more information please call
Stefania on 07971 669 631
zumba.with.stef@googlemail.com

Friday 26th February 2010 Spring Newsletter Deadline

Saturday 6th March 2010
Our next event on behalf of the Rosanna Hospital in Kurdistan will be something entirely different! We are presenting a Magic and Mystery Show with Ian Keable on Saturday 6th MARCH.
He is said to be "a charismatic magician with an enviable knack of keeping you on the edge of your seat". There will be two performances - at 2.30pm for children and those wanting an afternoon show - tickets - adults £7, children £5. There will also be an evening performance with dinner - 7.00pm for 7.30pm - tickets to include a glass of wine. Tickets £15 available from Patsy Wright-Warren - 433356 - or other members of the Committee.

Coleshill Parish Council Meeting
The next meeting will be on Wednesday 17th March 2010.
click here for the minutes from the last meeting
click here for the meeting agenda
click here for the meeting notice

Zumba Dance Classes at the Village Hall
ZUMBA  7pm to 8pm.
Zumba is a hip-swivelling Latin inspired dance workout, suitable for all ages and level of fitness. You don’t have to be a dancer to Zumba anyone can do it!
Come and have fun and workout to sounds of salsa, merengue, belly dancing and African beats! So why not ditch the workout and join the party!
A ten week block booking starts on Tuesday 26th January. Cost is £5 per person payable in advance (or £3 with one of our promotional vouchers)
To book your place call Alice Ramcharran on 07500 772146 or e-mail alice@pyramidfitness.co.uk

Common Conservation Work Party Dates
SPRING 2010

February
Saturday 6th 10 am
Thursday 18th 10 am
Saturday 27th 10 am
March
Tuesday 9th 10 am
Click here for details of the Common Work Parties

Harvest Festival Supper
We would like to thank all the volunteers who sold tickets, donated desserts, hosted tables, decorated tables and generally helped at the above. We could not have done it without you. A special thanks to Graham Swerling who donated all the dairy products. Finally, thanks to everyone who kindly donated raffle prizes. We are unable to name everyone but you know who you are and you did a sterling job.

We are absolutely delighted to report the Harvest Festival Supper raised in excess of £600 profit.

Four donations of £50 each will be given to groups in Coleshill; with monies going towards helping with the cost of the teas after the Carol Service, work needed on the village pond, flowers for the church and Coleshill Village School.

The main donation of £400 will be given to Eating Disorders Support in Chesham. Eating Disorders Support provides help for anyone experiencing this very common problem, which due to constraints on the National Health Service proves very difficult to get professional help until the sufferer is in dire need. Eating Disorders Support is one of a few charities which aims to support both sufferers and their families. A Helpline is provided on 01494 793 223.

Meetings are held on the first and third Thursday of every month from 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start – 9pm in a hall opposite Tesco in Amersham. Monies are needed for books, hall fees, maintaining Helpline, on going training sessions four times a year for volunteers and volunteers expenses.

Further information can be found at www.eatingdisorderssupport.co.uk

Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning
We would like to thank everyone who made our coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support so successful. The final total raised was £1,155.40 - well above our wildest expectations, and will be even more once Gift Aid is included. 'Thank you' to all our servers, cake bakers, stallholders and donors for helping us achieve such a splendid result - we were very touched by your generosity.

Say No to Parking Plans - You did and they are gone!



Amersham Old Town On-Street Parking Proposals

Following the street protests and many comments laid before the CDC and BCC at the exhibition in a joint statement the parking plans are now not going to proceed.

Click here to view the Council joint statement.

Thanks to Jan and David Atkinson and the many supporters of the No to Parking Plans Campaign for bringing these contentious and unpopular proposals to public attention and for forcing the Council to listen when we say NO.

Village Security

Message From Gavin McVeigh
in light of the recent burglaries in the village that residents be vigilant and if any suspicious vehicles/people or activity that they contact the police. Even if they think it may not be worth reporting. Also to lock windows doors and set alarms, if fitted and to pay attention to elderly neighbours.

In regards to vehicles not to leave valuable/electrical items in the car at all, but to take the items into the house. Lastly, not to leave car keys exposed in the hall of other parts of the house that can be accessed from a door or window.

Village Show
Thank you for your support - it was a marvellous village show - pictures and cup winners will be posted soon.

Coleshill Hostory Book Launch and Local History Exhibition - Saturday 7th November 2009
Click here to download a book order form

Tennis Club Fundraiser
Click here to see pictures form a night to remember

Red Lion Quiz team wins the CUP!
Congratulations to Coleshill Red Lion A Quiz team for their recent victory in the Knock-Out Quiz. They won a decisive victory against The Land of Liberty after a successful season. Not pictured, but who also helped the team to victory in the cup is Keith Glasspoole.
The A team deserved to win having been knocked out of the finals on two previous occaisons.

The win is a first for the Red Lion. The team are pictured here with the two trophies they won in the 2007/8 season.

Red Lion Golf Challenge Boxing day 2008

Click here to see pictures from the latest Red Lion Gold Challenge

The The Women's Institute

What is WI? – The Mystery Explained

The Women’s Institute is a meeting place for women, the biggest organisation for women in the world. It was formed before women’s suffrage when there was little education for country women. It has changed over the years to become a modern voice for women while upholding its core values and creating an atmosphere of friendship and fun for women.

Each Institute caters for its own members needs and interests and no two institutes are exactly the same. We choose what subjects we would like to learn about; which speakers we would like to inform or entertain us; whether and where we would like outings, rambles, theatre trips, concerts etc and how we run our own proceedings. It is NOT obligatory to make jam or pose for nude calendars!

Coleshill WI

We are a group of forty five members meeting in Coleshill Village Hall once a month when we have a speaker and a sumptuous tea. (Second Thursday of each month at 2pm (Nov – Feb) or 2.30pm (Mar – Oct) except August)

We also have frequent outings to the theatre and places of interest.

We are always delighted to welcome visitors for the modest sum of £1.50 if you would like to come and see what we are all about.

Occasionally we have a WI walk ending with a pub lunch and as well as the walking group we have Poetry, Patchwork and Book groups and an occasional craft group, who meet in each others houses.

Some members bake delicious goodies for the Amersham WI market on Fridays in the Free Church hall and help with coffee.

Annual Subscription: £25.00

In 2009 we will celebrate our sixtieth year and are planning several celebrations, including a big party, so it would be a great time to come along and see what we are up to. Over the sixty years, the records we have kept have created a marvellous archive of life in our village and we look forward to the continuation of this terrific village organisation.

NAG - Neighbourhood Action Group
The neighbourhood annual meetings will be taking place at the venues below.
These are meetings for local residents to attend and give their views or issues to the Neighbourhood Action Group. It is also an opportunity for residents to attend and meet with the NAG members and their local police officers.

Village Fete 2008



The Village Fete was a splendid event - the best ever - many thanks to Marion Davies and Kim Richardson and all of the many helpers. The fete raised over £3,000 which was donated to The Heberden Trust (Amersham Hospital Artritis Unit), Robs ARTTT (A Rare Teenage Tumour Trust), The Speen Horse Trust, Macmillan Nursing Care and Coleshill C of E Infant School.

Click here to see images of the 2008 Fete
Click here to see the full accounts from the Fete

Coleshill Mobile Library
Did you know that the mobile library visits Coleshill every other Friday? It stops beside the pond – very picturesque – and is there from 2.20 to 2.35pm. It’s only a short window of time but is WELL worth a visit.

It’s stocked with a wide range of books, including large print, and has a special children’s section with little seats – two year old Molly O’Boyle is a regular visitor. There are videos, DVDs, talking books – and the librarian can even sell you stamps!

Although most of us can get to the main library in Amersham, this one is so special. Unlike the main library you’re not overwhelmed with choice, but the selection of books changes from visit to visit. Somehow there’s always one you never thought you wanted yet there it is in front of you and is just the thing! Books etc taken out from the mobile library can be returned to the main library and vice versa and/or renewed online – all very convenient.

Currently it’s woefully under-used by villagers – so if we don’t use it we shall lose it! Come and have a look – you will not be disappointed.

Next visits are on Fridays 20th March 2009. 3rd & 17th April 2009, 1st, 15th & 29th May 2009, 12th & 26th June 2009. The dates will be on the village notice board to remind you.
Please support this new initiative for the village.
Click here to see the full timetable for the mobile library Coleshill is on Route 25.

Planning News - Latest info
Click here to see the latest planning news

Coleshill Common Working Party
New dates have been set for the work parties starting in Spring 2009.
Click here for details

Neighbourhood Policing
I am PC 1701 Gavin McVeigh, I am the neighbourhood officer for the parish council areas of Coleshill, Seer Green and Penn. One of my responsibilities is to engage with the local communities I police.
Thank you! Gavin McVeigh
Email Gavin.McVeigh@Thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
Fax. 01753884253 Tel. 07800703188 or 08458505505









Village Hall - availability
Monday and Tuesday mornings are available for hire this summer. It is not often that vacancies arise.

Village Newsletter - Easter 2009
Click here to download a copy of the latest Village Newsletter (Warning large file broad band users only)

Morris Men at the Red Lion

See the Red Lion page for more pictures

Parish Council elections
Following the election on Thursday 3rd May 2007 the following councillors have been elected to the Parish Council
Frank AUTON
Peter CLACKETT
David HALL
Colin LAMBERT
Kim RICHARDSON
David SMITH
Richard (Dick) WARE

Village Pond - Consultation
The Parish Council recently commissioned an independent expert study of the pond as a guide to planning what to do over the next five to ten years to maintain the health and life of the pond.
The report is attached and all are requested to read it and send any comments to the clerk of the Parish Council. the report will be debated at the May Parish Council meeting
Attached - Village Pond Consultation document

A memento of an Evening With Charles Pusey, Louie Edwards, Ruby May and Syd Ware - Coleshill Branch of NSPCC
The attached document was prepared following an evening of oral history with the above residents of Coleshill - some sadly no longer with us.

Does anyone know who wrote this up and when the evening was?

The evening was a series of questions and answers with people who had all lived in Coleshill for many years. This report illustrated with many historical pictures of the area makes fascinating reading for anyone interested in the local history of Coleshill.
Click here to view 'An Evening With' Caution this is a large file and best suited for broadband users

Coleshill Girl Guides
Thank you to Sylvia Dollemore for the following information on this photo loaned to us by Bill Dean:-

The photograph supplied by Bill Dean in the Easter Newsletter was taken in January 1940, and shows 'old' members of 1st Coleshill Girl Guides celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Company. The venue is the hut attached to the windmill, used as Guide H.Q. I am not sure, but the nearest girl on the right may be Carter (her daughter was Janet) and the nearest left one of three sisters whose surname escapes me, but one was Louie, who was Kate Barber's mother. The person standing on the left at the end of the table is Ruth Howard, the Captain. She lived at Windmill House with her parents and two brothers. She started the Company in 1930, her father having 'sold' her the windmill for sixpence. The Company was very active for some years, but in the late 1940' s the number of girls of Guide age in the village dwindled. Ruth was invited by Mrs. Nancy Strode, the District Commissioner, to take over 2nd Chesham Bois Guides, which she did in 1948/9, taking the few remaining Coleshill Guides with her each week. I was a member of 2nd CB at the time, sometimes camped at the windmill, and as I grew up Ruth became a good friend. She died in 1968 aged 64, and I took over 2nd CB. I have the original logbooks of Coleshill Guides, with many photographs, and would be happy to show these to anyone interested.

 


New Playground Equipment Installed
The new playground equipment - much discussed - is now installed and ready for use. Special mention must go to Councillor Jan Atkinson for championing the new play equipment.

Rushymead bomb scare pictures
Bill Dean, who grew up in Coleshill 80 years ago, has kindly loaned some photographs showing a worrying time in Coleshill during the last world war. (Bill went into the army in March 1941 and returned home in September 1945, so missed all this drama at home).

The staff of Price-Forbes, Lloyd's Underwriters, moved to Rushymead (the home of Mr Forbes) at the outbreak of war in 1939. Most of the large rooms downstairs were offices, the upstairs were bedrooms for the young female staff and two huts were put up in the chicken run for more offices. The buildings where the lawn mowers and other machines were kept became a cook house and kitchen, and the large lawn in front of the house was dug up to grow vegetables for the kitchens.

On the cricket field, an Army Searchlight Unit arrived. In October, 1940, a German plane was caught in the beam. It is thought to be on its way to Slough but, instead, dropped several incendiary bombs around Rushymead. Then, a month later, the same thing happened but this time a large bomb was dropped in the grounds of Rushymead. With good fortune it did not explode! You will see what a difficult task it was to get the bomb up and remove the explosives to make it safe, by some very brave men of the Bomb Disposal Unit.

The Bomb Disposal Unit worked for several weeks to reach the six foot bomb, weighing 1400kgms, at the bottom of the 36 foot deep shaft. On the crane was Spr. Hunt, and round the shaft, Sgt Kenna MBE, Dvr. Webber, Spr Wood and Spr. Whitehead.


Many thanks to Lindsey Haubner and Bill Dean for this insight to wartime Coleshill.