How
good it is to be able to record so many beneficial changes to the village over
the past three months, a testament to the vigour of our community!
First,
a warm welcome to Steve, Lisha, Daniel and Ben at East Coker Post Office and
Stores. We wish them well and thank them for the careful thought and effort
they are putting into running the shop in order to meet the needs of the
village. (See page 5). If you are not a
regular customer, do call in to meet them; they are always happy to see a new
face and chat over any suggestions you may have.
Some
of you may have seen Richard Thorne, our ‘lengthsman’, working enthusiastically
around the village. The Parish Council,
especially Barry Hartley, have worked long and hard to establish this post,
shared between several local villages.
Already Richard has improved neglected areas of the village with his
gardening and maintenance skills.
The
Society is also very pleased to welcome Ian and Sue to The Helyar Arms. Do read Ian`s article on page 6 for all the
news.
At
East Coker Saw Mills, John and Vanessa have introduced a car repair, servicing
and valeting service to the village.
Currently
the Society is busy preparing for a ‘Village History Exhibition’ on 13
September so do put these dates in your diary. This
arises from the very successful ‘Our Village’ exhibition held in the Village
Hall as part of our celebrations for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. So many people
commented, then, that they had not allowed themselves enough time to view
everything on display that I should give you prior warning that there will be
lots to see this time as well! We are
delighted that Abigail Shepherd, the compiler of 'East Coker: A Village Album',
an invaluable publication for anyone interested in village life in former years
(available at the Post Office), will again be helping us with the new
exhibition.
Finally,
a thank you to Jean Kelly, there are even more daffodils flowering in the
Paddock this Spring - what a delightful picture they have made, one to rival
Wordsworth’s ‘host of golden daffodils’.
VILLAGE HISTORY FAIR / EXHIBITION Saturday 13 September 2003 – details in next Newsletter
EAST COKER TEA TOWELS
Due to popular demand we have printed another 100
tea towels. Price is £3 each. To purchase, please contact Pauline 863700
Village Clubs and Organisations
EAST COKER
ACTION MEDICAL RESEARCH
Burn's Night
The East Coker Committee would like to thank
everyone who came to our Burn's Night, it was a very entertaining evening and
we raised £750 for our charity.
Butterfly
Ball
We will be holding a "Butterfly Ball" on
Saturday 28 June from 7.00pm to 2.00am.
This evening is being held at St Antony's Leweston School, near
Sherborne.
The evening begins with a complimentary drink in
the Music Room and then a chance to wander around the lovely floodlit
grounds. At 8.00pm a Fork Buffet will be
served in the marquee, which will then be followed with music by "Within The Blood" an eight piece band from Reading and a
supporting Disco.
There will be two bars, one
selling bottles of wine only. Dress will
be formal. Tickets for this event are
limited, and will be £30 each.
This is always a very enjoyable evening and we hope
to raise £2000 from this event. Tickets
are available from Leigh Mead 863466
Michaelmas Fair
Once again we will be holding our very popular and
successful Michaelmas Fair on Tuesday 23 September at East Coker Hall.
We have a few favourites returning but the majority
of the stalls will be new! So put this
date in your Diary, this is one event you will not want to miss!
EAST COKER
FLOWER SHOW
It's
still not too late to apply for the job of Show Secretary. If anyone is interested, please contact Sue
Hounsell 863287.
There
are six new photography classes in this year's show:
Chimneys Pub Signs A Wet Day By the
River Party Time Pet Portrait
Also
a new Craft Class. This really opens up
all kinds of ideas, so get busy and let's have another record year. Keep an eye out at the Post Office for the
schedules later this month.
Sue
Hounsell 863287
EAST COKER GARDENING CLUB
We've had a wonderful Spring. It has no doubt enticed us out into our
gardens, planning new schemes and trying out new flowers and vegetables. Our Club is continuing its series of talks
and visits for members to enjoy and to help them in their gardening activities.
Could I draw everyone's attention to our OPEN
EVENING on 12 June, when Katherine Crouch, BBC Gardener of the Year 1999, from
Ilminster, is coming to give a talk with slides about her garden. All proceeds from this evening will be given
to the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance.
Wine, tea and coffee will be
provided and we hope there will be
plenty of plants for sale. Do come along
even if you are not a member. Tickets
will be available shortly and posters will appear around the village
Club
Information: We meet on the second Thursday of each month
at East Coker Hall, 7.30pm. All welcome.
Future
Meetings and Events: 24 April Visit to Kew Gardens. 8 May The Amateur
Greenhouse.
12 June Open Evening. 10
July An afternoon visit to The Scented
Garden at Little Bredy.
Rachel Blow
862849
EAST COKER PLAYERS
The
players are presenting an evening called 'A May Soiree' on Friday 2 May at East
Coker Hall, 7.30pm. It will consist of a
musical first half with the play 'Happily Ever After' following the interval
when a 'Bring your own Supper' will be shared.
Please bring you own drink too.
Tickets are £2.50 for adults and £2 for children.
Chris
Hollis 863002
EAST COKER SCOUT GROUP
Spring Jumble Sale This will be held at East Coker Hall,
Saturday 19th April at 2.00pm. All
donations of jumble gratefully received.
Remember we will collect!
Scout Waste Paper
Firstly, we would like to thank you for your support over the many years
we have been collecting in East Coker.
Without the money raised by this activity, the group would be forced to
charge more for membership fees. The
money comes from outside the village too for a product that is no longer
needed. Some of you stack and tie your
papers in bundles and this is taken to Dorchester to be shredded for horse
bedding-and more money is obtained from this.
The remaining paper (around 30 tons) is sent to Martock for
re-cycling. When doorstep re-cycling
begins and you receive boxes from the council, please continue to recycle your
newspapers with the Scout Group. This is a very important
part of our fundraising and your support is much appreciated.
Next Collection Date 7 June.
Thank
You Chris
Bugler and Jackie Glover
Young People
EAST
COKER PRE-SCHOOL PLAYGROUP
Transport, Seasons, Colours, Music and Dance are just
some of the topics explored by children through play, investigation, talking
and most of all FUN at East Coker Playgroup.
Our Playgroup is open Monday to Friday during term
time from 9.15am to 12 noon, for children aged 2½ up to 5 years. A session costs £3.95 and at present we are
able to offer lunch cover for children who'd like to bring a packed lunch and
stay until 1.15pm, for £1.00 per child.
We are registered with Ofsted and the Early Years
Development and Childcare Partnership.
When eligible, there is funding available through the Early Years Grant.
This Easter Holiday, we are pleased to offer
holiday sessions from 14 April to 25 April.
Sessions start at 9.15am until 12 noon for £3.95; for an extra £1.00 a
child can bring a packed lunch and stay until 1.15pm. To secure a place on the waiting list and for information on
holiday sessions, please contact Kay Strode on 01935 872126 after 6pm.
Fundraising Events.
Our next fundraising event is the Summer Fair on 17
May at the Pavilion, Long Furlong Lane, fun starts at 2.30pm. There will be Pony Rides, Plant Stall, Cake
Stall, a Raffle with wonderful prizes and many other stalls. The East Coker School Dancers will be doing a
display of Country Dancing and there will be a Bar-B-Q and refreshments. See
you there.
Looking a long way ahead, the Playgroup will be
running a Craft Fair at East Coker Hall on the 9 November, 10am to 4pm. Stalls are now available. All craft types welcome. The Playgroup committee do refreshments and a
cake stall, a photographer will be there and a Raffle.
Contact E. Dudden for details on 862357
IN BETWEENIES
We are a baby and toddler group that meets on
Thursdays during term time, from 1.30pm to 3pm at the Pavilion, Long Furlong
Lane, East Coker. There is charge of
£1.00 per family which includes refreshments. There are toys for babies
upwards, including sand play, painting, drawing, wet play, and on fine days
space outside for the children to run, play ball and 'drive' trikes and cars
and hopefully tire themselves out.
EAST COKER SHORT MAT
BOWLS
East Coker Bowls Club held their AGM at East Coker
village hall in January 2003, with Andy Adams elected as Chairman, George
Dudden, Team Captain and Chris Cooper, Secretary. The club had a very successful year in the
Yeovil and District League and now looks forward to the coming season.
The club meets every Tuesday evening,
7.30pm-10.00pm and Friday afternoon 2.00pm-4.00pm, in East Coker Hall. This is a sport for all ages. We would love to have some younger members,
from 11 years upwards, to come along and anyone else who would like to
join. We play friendly evenings, enter
competitions and play league matches at home and away with other local clubs. Some of our members have been on various
Bowling weekends in Paignton. We are a
friendly social club with members of all ages and if you would like to join us
you will be very welcome. If you are
interested please give me a ring and I will introduce you to our members or if
we have sufficient response we can arrange an open evening.
George Dudden 864222
The Churches
ST MICHAEL'S
CHURCH FETE
If you can help by donating to any of the following
stalls, please do! Simply call the
person in charge – it all helps to make the day a success. Thank you.
Bottle Tombola – David Jenkins 424510 Cakes – Gloria Mead 862384
Bric-a-brac – Doreen Bates 862706
Toys and Games – Hazel Clarke863381 Plants – Olive Sharman 862693
THE MID WEEK
MEETINGS
These meetings are held once a month at St.
Michael's Church. The emphasis is placed
on preaching and teaching the Bible. AIl
meetings start at 7.00pm and last for one hour followed by refreshments and
plenty of time to chat. The dates of the
next meetings are:
Tuesday 29 April Rev'd Brian Ruff Thursday 29 May Rev'd Charles Dobbie
Tuesday l7 June (Details to follow) Tuesday 22 July (Details to
follow) Thursday 28 August Barbecue
Please feel free to join us for further details
please ring: 862519 or 862785
Roy Hodder
EAST COKER CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
A warm welcome awaits you at our chapel, situated
at the end of Burton Lane. There is ample parking space at the rear.
In general the services follow this pattern: Each Sunday (except 2nd. Sunday in the month)
10.00am Sunday Club for children aged
4-10 years
11.30am The Lord's Supper 6.30pm Prayer and Bible Study 2nd Sunday Family Services l0-30am Other services as announced.
Phone- Sunday Club - 422594 or 862428 General Information - 863735 or 422594
Village News
The East Coker Society has been contacted by a
villager, asking us to encourage Newsletter readers to clear up litter dropped
on roads and pavements in their locality.
The Society is aware that many individuals already
do a grand job disposing of continuous supplies of unwanted litter strewn about
our lovely village, but the Society would indeed encourage others to do the
same.
EAST COKER
POST OFFICE & STORES
We would very much like to thank everyone for the
level of support shown since our arrival in the village, all the family has
been made very welcome.
We hope that we will be able to improve the service
that is offered by the shop and the Post Office, and are happy to accept
feedback and discuss any issues or needs you may have.
As most people are aware we are now open on Sunday
mornings for all of your needs, having recently been granted a licence to
include the sale of alcohol. For your
convenience we will now be extending the hours
further, in that we will now open
at 7.30am from Monday - Saturday. There
will be no lunchtime closing and Monday - Friday we will open untiI 6.00pm.
On the subject of stock we are now able to supply
milk direct from Balham Hill Farm at Chiselborough, take orders of fresh meat
from the Butcher of West Coker (not a serial killer, I must add) and continue
to add to our current ranges of locally produced products. We will also be gradually introducing certain
products from the various Sainsbury's ranges that are available, as we have
recently signed a contract to allow us to retail a majority of their own brand
products.
So once again thank you to those of you who have
made us so welcome - and to the villagers that we have not yet met, we would
love to see you!
Steve and Lisha
New shop
opening hours are:
Monday- Friday 7.30am-6.00pm Saturday
7.30am-1.00pm Sunday 8.00am-12.30pm
Normal Post
Office opening hours are:
Monday 9.00am-5.30pm Tuesday 9.00am-1.00pm
Wednesday-Friday 9.00am-5.30pm Saturday 9.00am-12noon
EAST COKER HALL COMMITTEE
The Hall is the focal of a thriving, active
village. The Committee incorporates
elected officers and representatives from clubs and societies within the
community. The Committee are fortunate
to have the support of dedicated members who carry out numerous tasks of
maintenance, general repairs, decorating,
cleaning, etc. However we do need a new volunteer force
'waiting in the wings'. If you have a
particular skill or hobby and would be prepared to give a little of your time,
please contact any member of the Committee, the representative of any group or
organisation or tel 427846
HELYAR ARMS EAST
COKER
When
we moved to East Coker last September, it was with the idea of taking life a
little easier. I had worked in the restaurant
industry in London for 25 years and I was looking forward to a few early
nights, long days working in the garden and more time spent with my two young
children. Then the lease of the Helyar
Arms became available and I couldn’t resist the challenge. The Helyar Arms was a lovely property but
everyone seemed to agree that it needed a lift.
I
took over the lease of the pub on 31 March and although I have a long
experience of restaurant openings and transfers, it didn’t prepare me for the
difficulty of taking over a business at 10.00am in the morning and opening your
doors to customers an hour or so later.
In the past, I’ve always had a couple of weeks in between to sort out
any glitches.
However,
within a few days, we had found our feet and now we are looking ahead, with
plans for improvements that we hope our neighbours will appreciate. We are going to introduce a new menu and wine
list at the beginning of May, and during the summer, we will be sprucing up the
garden; carrying out some redecoration; introducing a few family-friendly
features and, of course, bringing the skittle alley back into full service.
Although
some alterations have already been made, the other changes will take a few
months to complete and we hope you will bear with us in the meantime. Finally, if you have any ideas, we would love
to hear them.
Ian
McKerracher 862332.
EAST COKER PARISH COUNCIL
Local
Elections These take place on 1 May for both District
and Parish Councils. More information
regarding the elections will be advertised nearer the date.
Lengthsman Scheme This is now in progress in our
parish and we hope parishioners are pleased with the work carried out so
far. It would be much appreciated if
residents would also help by cutting back shrubs, trees and other vegetation
which overhang the roads and pavements in the village.
Parish Plan The scheme is in progress and information
regarding this will be advertised as soon as possible.
Play Equipment The Parish Council has arranged
to have the slide and other play equipment removed from the play area, Long
Furlong Recreation Field, as it failed Health & Safety checks. It is hoped to replace it at an early date.
If the Dog
Litter Bin is full in the Recreation Field, will people who exercise their
dogs there, please take the excrement home and NOT leave it under the bin or put it in other bins situated
in the field.
The position of Clerk will become vacant at the end
of June 2003. If anyone is interested in
filling this position will they please apply to the present Clerk in writing at
the following address:
Catherine Denney, Clerk, East Coker Parish Council,
29 Broadacres, East Coker BA22 9LW
A Note from
the Clerk As stated above, I have decided to retire as
Clerk from the end of June 2003 and I would like to take this opportunity to
sincerely thank all past and present Councillors for the immense help and
support they gave me during the past 14 years.
This also applies to Officers and Councillors from both District and
County Councils.
Catherine Denney
HELP PLEASE!
We
will need some help to talk with our new Danish Grandson. Can anyone help with some basic Danish
lessons, please call Mike or Wendy on 862472.
Many thanks Mike and Wendy Weston, Dairy Cottage, Slades Meadow, East
Coker.
EAST
COKER PAVILION
LONG FURLONG LANE
Many of you will be aware of the existence of the
Pavilion Building and play area along Long Furlong Lane but maybe not of its
importance to the community as a whole.
At the present time, it is utilised mainly by East
Coker Pre-school Playgroup who have been in existence for around thirty years
and who currently cater for approximately forty children between the ages of
two and a half to five years. This
Playgroup plays a very important part in the formative years of the children
and provides a safe and happy environment within which they can learn and
develop. However, they have long
outgrown the building and would benefit greatly from improved facilities.
The building also houses Parish Council meetings
and provides a changing area for football and cricket teams.
As you can imagine, this is a lot to ask of a small
building that was not built with all of this in mind and which has now started
showing serious signs of ageing.
However, with the help of the Parish Council, an
opportunity has arisen to acquire more land for sporting facilities and to
erect a new purpose-built Pavilion. This
will enable the Playgroup to operate in its own purpose-built area and also for
the football and cricket teams to have their own changing areas and
facilities. There will also be the
possibility of an area specifically for youth clubs, etc, which is long
over-due within the Village and maybe even some tennis courts in the future.
The land has already been acquired by the Parish
Council; this will now mean that there will be separate football and cricket
pitches, enabling the Cricket Club to have their own dedicated square which is
not possible at the present time.
However, the next stage is funding the building of a new Pavilion. Obviously, Lottery funding is being looked
into at the present time by a Committee which has been formed to oversee this
project but this will not cover all the necessary expenditure; an additional
£50,000 at least needs to be found.
This is where you come in. If anyone out there would like to take part
in helping us to raise funds or indeed, make a contribution to the fund,
however small, please contact one of the people mentioned below and they will
be happy to give you more information. In fact, our first fundraising event - a
Supper Evening – raised £1070. Any
ideas/donations would be most welcome.
Robert Mead
862972 Bridget Sugg 863435
Paula Downes 862264
We have been given the opportunity to really make a
difference. Paula Downes Secretary - East Coker Pavilion Fund
PUBLIC ENQUIRY
There is to be a Public Enquiry at the Village Hall
commencing at 10am on Thursday 22 May.
It may also run over into Friday 23 May.
It concerns the possible upgrading of a footpath to bridle path status,
from Lodge Hill to Back Lane.
Official details will be advertised in the local
press, the Post Office and the Parish Council.
PLANT SALE
BUBSPOOL HOUSE
Saturday
17 May, 10.30am – 12noon. A wide variety
of plants, cuttings and cakes for sale.
Any plants or cuttings gratefully received.
NOTES FROM THE
OBSERVATORY
The
year began with some very mild weather on New Year's Day. At dawn on 1 Jan the temperature was 11C
(52F), but a long cold spell soon followed and frost was recorded on nine
consecutive mornings from 4-12 Jan, with bright days and cold nights. The
overnight minimum on 11/12 Jan was -6.6C (20.1F) with a hard frost. Milder, cloudy weather continued to the end
of January with a pleasant 12.7C (54.9F) temperature on Sunday 26. A bright frosty day ended the month Rainfall in
January was 3.03ins (77mm), the heaviest rainfall being recorded on 1 Jan at
1.10ins (25.7mm) and 1.05ins (26.7mm) on the 19 Jan.
February
was a drier month with a rainfall of 1.8 ins
(47.5mm). An intense high settled over
the country giving us a frosty period from Feb 14-19. My barometer showed a pressure of 1038 millibars on Feb17 but some very gloomy days during the
month made the winter seem never ending.
Candlemas, 2 Feb, was a day of bright periods
and showers so I wonder what to make of the old weather saying.
If Candlemas Day be fair and bright,
Winter will have another flight.
If Candlemas Day be cloud and rain,
Then winter will
not come again."
March
began with some quiet, bright weather but a few dull and gloomy days ended the
first week. Gales on 8/9 March gave way to a mild one the next day, which had
an afternoon temperature of 12C (54F).
As I write, on the Mar 18 a high of 1040mb has given us a very welcome
dry, sunny spell in the middle of the month, frosty at night but warm enough to
sit out during the day. I wonder if the
month will go out like a lion.
In
the garden an over wintering Blackcap appeared in January. The usual Greenfinches on the bird feeder
were joined by a couple of Siskins in February. Frogs appeared in my pool on 9 Feb and a few
days later glistening, speckled pincushions of frog spawn graced the pool. A Brimstone butterfly and a Small
Tortoiseshell flew in the warm sunshine on 17 March. Already molehills are appearing on the grassy
bank by Longfurlong Lane. The hedges are greening and the lawns need
the first cut of the season.
In
the night sky Venus was a prominent bright object in the mornings of January,
just before dawn. In mid March, Jupiter
is high in the sky at the end of the evening looking to the South. The four largest moons of Jupiter can be seen
through a pair of binoculars on a clear dark night. The great winter constellation of Orion is
still to be seen in the South-western sky but is inexorably moving away to the
West, soon to be replaced by the less spectacular Summer
night sky.
F.W.Cloke
862496
ANTIQUES FAIRS
– Under new management
I believe there have been regular Antiques Fairs
held at East Coker Hall for the last 25 years.
We had feared they would cease when the organiser retired in
December. I am therefore pleased to
report that Clive Welch (of Sherborne & Chard Antiques Fairs) has taken
over the organisation of Fairs at East Coker Hall.
The first will be Sunday 13 April from
9.00am-4.00pm. Others are planned for
the 29 June, 31 August, 26 October.
If they are well supported, Clive's plan is to hold
them throughout 2004 on the last Sunday of alternate months.
%-------------------------%-------------------------%--------------------------%------------------------%-------------------------%
VILLAGE EVENTS
April 2003 – July 2003
Thurs 17 April Whist Drive, East Coker Hall 7.30pm
Sat 19 April Scout Jumble Sale, East Coker Hall 2.00pm
Fri 2 May A May Soiree, East Coker Hall 7.30pm
Tues 13 May East Coker Society AGM, Dampier Room (East Coker Hall) 7.30pm
Sat 17 May Plant Sale, Bubspool House 10.30am
Sat 17 May Playgroup Summer Fair, The Pavilion, Longfurlong Lane 2.30pm
Tues 20 May East Coker Hall AGM, Dampier Room (East Coker Hall) 7.30pm
Thurs 22 May Public Enquiry (See page 7) East Coker Hall 10am
THIS MAY ALSO RUN INTO FRIDAY
Sat 31 May Pimms, Pate & Poetry (In aid of Hospice) North Coker House
Sat 28 June Sutton Bingham Church and Manor Open Afternoon, 2pm – 5pm
Sun 29 June Antiques Fair, East Coker Hall, 9am – 4pm
Sat 5 July St Michael's Church Fete, North Coker House, 2.00pm
Sat 12 July Special Songs of Praise, Closworth Church, 7pm
If your event is written into the Village diary (kept in the Post Office) we will include it in this section of the Newsletter.