Memorial
Postman’s friend
90 years ago
This Year
Issue 157
April 2008
Editorial
Inside this issue:
Notes from a Small Village: Our fame spreads yet again with Chris the Post appearing with his tame pheasant in the Newbury News and Mike Hatcher appeari ng on Countryfile advising on chickens and their eggs. Are there any other hidden ‘fames’ we don’t know about?
The Village Fete, Church News and Services
1
A bit of history
2
Old Photos Parish Council Minutes
3
From THE FETE CO MMITTEE (Sund ay 4 May)
4
YOUR VILLAGE NEEDS YOU!
BRIGHTWALTON CHURCH EVENTS: Thursday, 20 March Maundy Thursday Meal and service: Village hall 6.30pm All welcome and children activities Sunday 23 March EASTER DAY 10am Family Communion Sunday 30 March 10am Parishes Communion Sunday 6 April 8am Holy Communion Thursday 24 April 6.30pm start for all four parishes' Annual Parochial Church Meetings on a rota basis. Brightwalton's will be at 8.00pm Sunday 27 April 10am All Age Communion Sunday 4 May 8am Holy Communion
Comings and Goings Claire and John Draper at No. 44 had baby Edward in January. Julie and John Pennicook have moved into Christmas Cottage with girls, Kate, Emily and Grace.
Small village BIG FETE. We need everyone in the village to contribute in some way. Here is a list of ways you can do t his: 1. Give or send your name and contact number to Marion Walker (telephone 638471, e-mail walkermile@btinternet.com) 2. Set up a stall yourself to sell something or just to entertain 3. Collect and deliver bottles (full), plants, cakes 4. Invite all your friends and relatives to come on the day 5. Join in somehow. JUST ONE DAY IN THE YEAR WHEN THE VILLAGE TAKES PRIORITY.
Annual Parochial Church Meetings and Annual Vestry Meetings/Parishioners Meetings In 2007, in order to make better use of John Townend's time the PCCs agreed to hold these meetings on the same evening and at the same venue. It was agreed this worked well. The format will be repeated this year and the meetings will take place on Thursday 24th April starting at 6.30pm at Brightwalton Village Hall. For each parish there is first the Annual Vestry Meeting or Parishioners Meeting open to everyone who is on either the Church Electoral Roll or the Civil Electoral Roll. The purpose of this meeting, which normally lasts only 5 minutes, is to elect the Churchwardens for the following year. Following this the Annual Parochial Church Meeting takes place. This meeting is open to every person on the Church Electoral Roll. The main purpose is to receive the Church Electoral Roll and the annual accounts and also to elect the members of the PCC for the forthcoming year. This meeting normally lasts for 15 minutes. The meetings for Fawley will start at 6.30pm, for Leckhampstead at 7.00pm, for Chaddleworth at 8.00pm and for Brightwalton at 8.30pm. Everyone will be made most welcome. Refreshments will be available throughout the evening.
THE MOBILE LIBRARY - USE IT OR LOSE IT! On 8, 29 April; 20 May; 10 June; 1 July It is there to be used so make a note of the dates and times:
Brightwalton Green 11.35 to 11.50 Brightwalton Memorial 11.55 to 12.20
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Bill Gray, my uncle : Michael Winter
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Brightwalton Born and Bred On August 16th, 1919 William Elijah Enos Gray married Hilda May Hazell of 36 Brightwalton at All Saints Church. Bill was born in September, 1920, and his sister Betty in 1926. He was christened Henry William after his grandfather. His father, William Gray, came from Motcomb in Dorset and had served as a blacksmith in the Dorset Yeomanry in the First World War. He became groom--gardener at the Lawn for Or D.F.Curran until 1924. He started his own business as a blacksmith and leased the cottage and premises known as the Blacksmiths Shop from the Woolley Estate. Bill went to Brightwalton School and left in 1934 when he worked with his father in the Blacksmiths shop. He joined the RAF in 1938 as an apprentice, finding his knowledge of threads and metals gave him a head start amongst the trainee fitters. He'd followed his father's advice in applying to the Air Force instead of joining the terrrers' (Berkshire Yeomanry). Bill always thought himself lucky to have survived the war. His squadron was shipped overseas, he stayed behind for a training course, the ship they were on sank, drowning all on board. He spent some time at Cranfield amongst various postings and was in Southern Rhodesia from 1944-46, when he left the RAF. His father had died in 1945, and Bill came back to live with his mother. Hilda Gray rented No 41 (recently Bluebell Cottage) from "Gran" Besant whose husband Archie had bought several cottages from the Woolley Estate. Gran Besant and her son Paul, lived next door (recently Appletree Cottage). On her death Paul sold the cottage to John Kempton, a trainer with stables in Compton. He trained Foinavon which won the Grand National in 1967 at
enormous odds of 100 to 1. The story goes that John Kempton was down in Devon with another horse and wasn't even at Aintree. The Grays rented one of two garages on the roadside, tucked in beside The Elms with a strip of land running inwards, along the present school boundary. Michael remembers they kept a pig in a sty and free range chickens. At first Bill worked as milk-roundsman with Vic Hughes of Malthouse, delivering to Chaddleworth, Brightwalton, Leckhampstead, Hill Green, Peasemore, Lilley and Farnborough, whistling all the way. "Course it was proper stuff then, with a head of cream" said Geoff Wells. Then he spent 27 years at RAF Welford and latterly at the American Air Base, Greenham, retiring in 1984. Hilda Gray had died in 1 978, so Bill moved first to Chieveley and later with Michael to Hermitage. Bill's parents are buried under the huge sequoia tree in the churchyard, nearby is a wooden cross marking Isaac Hazel's grave. He was Hilda's father, and Geoff remembers the Hazels living in one of the Keepers' Cottages (No. 36). Horses were always a passion for Bill, he knew them all round Brightwalton and down into Letcombe, where Ernie Piggott, Lester's grandfather, trained. His best friend was Cyril Wells, and with Phil Sayers and Paul Besant they'd frequent the Marquis of Granby, at the Holt. The pub was owned by Jerry Wilson, a National Hunt jockey who'd won the Grand National on Golden Miller in 1934. Bill was in his element and would drive Mrs Wilson to the races at Cheltenham, her sister Mercy, was married to the trainer, Fred Rimel! Another passion was cricket, and Bill was Captain of the village team, playing with Cyril and Geoff Wells, Colin and Gordon Hedges. There would be two or three 'beer'
matches a year; Philip Wroughton would provide one team and Jerry Wilson would have other teams of jockeys and provide the beer. They played billiards in the first team of the Leckhampstead Billiard League, with matches all around the villages from Aldbourne to Shaw. The billiards table stood in the Men's Club, a shed tacked onto the Village Hall, itself a Nissan hut. He played at whist drives too. Bill served on the Village Hall Committee which raised funds for the present Hall.
I have put together this account of Bill because of our connection through The Lawn which we bought from Dr. Abraham. I asked about collecting newspapers to raise funds for the new Village Hall "Huh. If you want something doing in Brightwalton, you must do it yourself". Stumped by endless questions on the village, he suggested we visit Paul Besant in Abingdon ('He knew it all", according to Geoff & Bill) We were disappointed Paul was out, he'd 'forgotten' we were coming. Bill and I would talk about his childhood when the family lived next door at No 53. He remembered Mrs Abraham sending word to school for him to come for lunch at her house whilst his sister Betty was born. Later Betty married Norman Winter and lived in Chieveley. Bill was active till the very end of his life, busy with repairs to the car, working in the garden (Geoff: "Their garden at Hermitage wanted some beating") and his betting slip was in his pocket. Every day he'd buy the paper, sit down to study the form and go into Newbury to place his bets. Once he was stopped for speeding in Hermitage "How many years have you been driving?" asked the policeman. "70 or more" and "How many points on your licence?" "None". "Well we won't spoil that". Bill kept this quiet for several days! O. Hall-Craggs
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The Gray Family
The Lawn
Bill’s father between Appletree and Elm Cottages
Another Thought on Light Pollution—From Brian Buchanan It’s not just street lights that cause light pollution in Brightwalton – it’s also domestic security and ornamental lights. Obviously there are practical reasons why we all use outside lights but please think about
Do you need the lights on all evening (or all night) when everyone is home and you are not expecting visitors?
Could you replace the bulb with a lower wattage (or an energy saving bulb)?
Are the angles of any PIR controlled lights (which only come on when someone approaches) set so that they only light up when someone appr oaches your house (and not when people or cars pass by on the road)?
Now the days are becoming longer do you need these lights on at all ? A Visit to the Dentist…
On a recent visit to a dentist in Wantage, I entered into conversation in the waiting room with a couple in the chairs opposite. It appears they had run an old-fashioned baker shop in the town for years and were now retired. On learning I lived in Brightwalton the gentleman said “I’ll tell you a story about the villages of Chaddleworth and Brightwalton which you may find hard to believe. My brother used to live in Chaddleworth. He and his wife were driving towards Brightwalton over the top winding road one evening when the light was fading. He heard a dull thud and felt he must have hit a deer or gone over something in the road. He stopped the car and did a quick look around – nothing. Before he set off again he looked into his rear-view mirror and there were three Roundheads looking in the back window of his car. He fled.” Apparently during the civil war the villages were divided in their loyalties. I don’t know about you, but even before I heard this story, I have always found it a bit daunting walking alone along that road.
From THE FETE COMMITTEE . BRIGHTWALTON FETE SUNDAY MAY 4 th We need everyone in the village to contribute in some way. Here is a list of ways you can do this: This year we have the very popular football tournament, the Morris Dancers, Blewbury Brass Band the Maypole dancing from Brightwalton School, And for everyone to join in.....The Races. Egg and Spoon, Three Legged, Sack racing, Fathers running backwards. And lots more ……. Please have some ideas and help make this another great day for the village. JUST ONE DAY IN THE YEAR WHEN THE VILLAGE TAKES PRIORITY.
Give or send your name and contact number to Marion Walker (telephone 638471, e-mail walkermile@btinternet.com) Set up a stall yourself to sell something or just to entertain Collect and deliver bottles (full), plants, cakes Invite all your friends and relatives to come on the day
BRIGHTWALTON PARISH COUNCIL Bill Gray, m y uncle : Michael Wint er
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Council Meeting Wednesday 19th March 2008 A full set of minutes is available electronically from Polly Swann by sending a request via email to swannpj@yahoo.co.uk. A copy will also be posted on the village hall noticeboard. 1.Minutes of the Last Meeting The minutes of the meeting held on 21 st January 2008 were agreed. 2.i. Speeding at the Holt A decision on whether to have a mobile speed camera is still imminent. 2.ii Speeding in Brightwalton The new 30 mph limits throughout the village and The Green are to be implemented 28 th March. Signs will be put up shortly. Polly Swann (PS) has spoken to WBC regarding extending the 30 mph area and this will be put to the next WBC Committee. 2.iv
Verges
The contractors have been contacted to rectifying any damage caused by them. PS to chase.
2.v Ash Close Brian Buchanan (BB) has canvassed residents regarding possible off-street parking for the Sovereign Housing houses. This has been met favourably. PS to chase Sovereign Housing. BB has also spoken to residents regarding the street lighting. It was suggested that the lights be removed, however, in the interim perhaps they could be switched off from 11pm to dusk the following day or switched off altogether. PS to contact Highways. BB also mentioned that 29th March is National Turn Your Lights Off for 1 hour day. This is from 8pm – 9pm. For more information on this please refer to Earthhour.org. 3. Comments/Questions from Parishioners Mr Stockdale enquired as to why there were no white lines painted at the entrance to Brightwalton Stud. Mr Chandler suggested that this is because the lane has been resurfaced and the white lines are only checked periodically for signs of wear for repainting. 4. Planning WBC has granted planning permission for: Hardstanding at Brightwalton Stud (07/02511/FUL) Extension at Bluebell Cottage (08/00063/HOUSE) All details relating to planning applications can be found at westberks.gov.uk. Eastley Stud (07/02771/FULD)- A date for the Committee hearing is still awaited. The Stud has been proved to be a viable business. Mr Stockdale & Su Sayers (SS) commented on the extent of hardstanding at the haybarn at Brightwalton Stud and questioned whether planning permission was required. By-Way at The Holt – WBC has agreed to lay hardcore along the by-way. There is no date, as yet, for this to be implemented. 5.
Finance There is £3,001.49 in the Current account There is £4,489.34 in the Business account (of which £458.62 is for the BLC project) 6. Affordable Housing Building is progressing apace. It was noted that the site suffered a break-in on Friday 14th March. The back fence was broken and approximately £5,000 of materials were stolen. It was agreed that the new road name should be Dunmore Meadow. 7. Playground New benches will be ordered shortly. 8. Any Other Business School Robyn Ananin (RA) said Leadbitter Construction had made a presentation on building site safety at the school and there was a later site visit by pupils. These had proved to be very successful. RA also noted that the school was oversubscribed and admissions were being looked at closely. RA mentioned that there were concerns over traffic outside school, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up. It was noted that there had been a request for a “school” sign to be erected outside school to warn traffic. Recycling Andrew Boon (AB) brought up the subject of recycling in the village. George Chandler said that kerbside collections for some plastic, paper, glass & tin were scheduled for later this year. AB said that a neighbouring parish had had information relating to a ‘5 bin’ scheme. PS to chase information. Downland Forum George Chandler mentioned the Downland Forum due to be held on 2rd April in Coronation Hall in Kintbury. This is to discuss a number of important village matters including: - flood planning, transport strategy etc. 10.
Date of Next Meeting The next meeting will be held at 7 pm on Monday 12th May in the Village Hall. This will be the Annual General Meeting as well as the normal Parish Council meeting and it is intended to have an informal village drinks. All parishioners are welcome.
Please e-mail contributions to me at bricnews@gmail.com or, if handwritten, let me have them in good time. Brickleton News is edited and produced by Mike Ananin and delivered to your door by a neighbour.