Parish Council Meeting Thurs 4th 8pm Village Hall
Gaydon Carols Mon 22nd 7pm Village Hall
Crib Service Weds 24th 6pm St Giles' Church
Christmas Day Service Thurs 25th 9am St Giles' Church
Library Mondays 8th & 19th Telephone Box
Pilates Tuesdays 6.30pm Village Hall
GAYDON CALENDAR
BURNS' NIGHT SAT 24th JAN VILLAGE HALL
VILLAGE BARBECUE SAT 7th JUNE VENUE TBA
BIG LUNCH SUN 19th JULY VILLAGE HALL
It is with regret that we report that Councillor Mrs Mary Fox has resigned from the Parish Council. As most of you know, Mary has been a councillor for many years and given a great deal of her time and support to this community. We thank her for the enormous contribution she has made to our parish. We are pleased to say that John Brine has agreed to replace her on the Council.
Village Green: Next year the Parish Council will discuss the type of tree to be planted on the Green. Ellis Machinery has kindly donated £200 towards this. We are very grateful for their support.
We would like to remind residents that the Village Green is registered and it is the duty of the Parish Council to protect it. Recently a photograph was taken of a blue van parked with 2 wheels on the Green on the Kineton Road opposite the 3 cottages. We request that you help us protect the Green by asking your visitors not to park on it. Thank you.
Footpaths: Councillor Price has cut back the vegetation on the footpaths. Any resident wishing to assist is very welcome.
Temporary Traffic Lights: Please email Graeme Fitton, County Councillor for Highways, on graemefitton@Warwickshire.gov.uk if you have any issues with the lights. Please copy the Clerk and we will discuss it at the next meeting.
Gaydon Lighthorne Heath Development: Councillors have been given a draft Supplementary Planning Document for this site. A copy is available on the website under "New Settlement Gaydon/Lighthorne Heath" and then under the heading "Stratford District Council Documents". Councillors will be providing feedback at the 4th December PC meeting so do come along.
Repairs on the Clock: We may be eligible for a War Memorial Grant.
Next meeting: Thursday, 4th December at 8pm in the Village Hall.
Sunday 7th
9.00 Holy Communion BCP Burton Dassett
10.30 Morning Prayer Fenny Compton
10.30 Holy Communion Gaydon
6.00pm Evensong Farnborough
Sunday 14th
9.00 Holy Communion BCP Farnborough
9.00 Holy Communion Gaydon
10.30 Holy Communion Fenny Compton
10.30 Communion by ext. Northend
6.00pm Evening Prayer Burton Dassett
Sunday 21st
9.00 Holy Communion Farnborough
10.30 Morning Worship Fenny Compton
9.00 Holy Communion BCP Gaydon
3.30pm Carols by Candle Light at B Dassett
Christmas Eve 24th
6.00pm Crib Service Gaydon
11.30pm Midnight Mass Burton Dassett
Christmas Day 25th
9.00 Communion & Carols Farnborough
10.30 Communion & Carols Fenny Compton
9.00 Communion & Carols Gaydon
10.30 Carol Service Northend
Sunday 28th 10.30 Group Communion at Northend
Nature Notes
Nouns of collectivity
November continues to be a mild frost-free month. Many of the trees still have their autumn colours: the golden Hornbeams and red Spindle trees blaze in the hedgerows. In other counties the strong winds have stripped the foliage but so far we have been spared!
This is the time to see large numbers of birds gathering in the skies around the village. Food and protection are the main reasons. A walk along the hedges often flushes a large crowd of chattering Redwings or Fieldfares newly arrived from Northern Europe to feed on the berry crop. Sea gulls gather on the newly ploughed fields in search of leatherjackets. In my garden I have already seen the families of Long-tailed tits which are in constant communication with each other by loud cheeping, as they scour the stems for dormant insects.
Traditionally, there were words that referred specifically to a species known as "nouns of collectivity". Hence, we have a "Charm of Goldfinches" - you may know some others. Magpies get special verses as well: "One for sadness, two for joy etc.". Starlings, once the curse of industrial towns like Birmingham, are now filmed as "Murmurations" as they form in thousands with incredible synchrony, turning at sharp speed. So look out for a 'band' of Jays, a 'screech' of Gulls or a 'covey' of most game birds.
The 'Skein' of geese over the village as they head towards Chadshunt at dusk is a frequent sighting. It's still possible to spot a Grey Partridge or a Hare in local fields, although, like the odd Bullfinch, they are much in decline due to intensive farming methods. The excuse that there is a demand to grow cheap food by the NFU is rather outdated now. We can import everything we need, in fact better quality produce; and a more attractive environment is quite achievable, hence the rise in farmers' markets and organic produce. It's not so long ago that Free range eggs were dismissed as uneconomical.
Once again, I would urge villagers to rescue any hibernating butterflies they find fluttering on windows when the heating is turned up - tumbler and piece of card - and to check piles of leaves for Hedgehogs. You can still find circles of wild mushrooms like the purple-stemmed Morrels and large Parasols in sheltered woodland patches: remarkable this late in the year.
If you fill up the birdfeeders now, the local species will familiarise themselves and come again; I have frequent visits from a Greater Spotted Woodpecker and Goldfinches. Bernard Price
The Diston family would like to thank everyone for the kindness, cards and most of all for attending Margaret's funeral on Friday 14 November. Special thanks to Mike Cadwallader and R. Locke & Son. The collection at the Church for Victoria Ward was £108. With grateful thanks, Georgina and Alf Diston.
The Library will visit Gaydon on Mondays 8th and 29th December from 1.30pm-2pm at the Telephone Box.
The Over Sixties' Christmas Lunch will be held in the Village Hall on Sunday 7 December at 12.45 for 1pm. Ring me on 640349 or call at the Old Bakehouse if you need to get in touch. Julie Rickman
It is with regret that the committee has had to make the hard decision to close the village shop on Sunday mornings. This will take effect from Sunday, 7th December. At present our average Sunday takings do not cover the costs of opening the shop.
We regret that because of the closure we will no longer be able to offer any newspaper service for ordered papers but luckily papers can be purchased from the garage. Should takings increase significantly over the next few months we can review the situation.
We still need a new Treasurer to join the committee in January, so please help as we cannot operate without one.
Christmas opening times will be displayed at the shop during December. The shop is selling Christmas cards for the Shakespeare Hospice again this year. All proceeds go to the charity. You will be able to order Christmas hampers as usual too.
On behalf of the committee I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our volunteers and customers for their support throughout the year and to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a healthy New Year. Sue Roberts
Hospice at Home in Shipston Wellesbourne and Kineton
I would like to thank you all for your support, generosity and help over the last year, raising funds for the Charity. Without you, this wonderful local Charity would not function and be the success it is. The Trustees and I are extremely grateful for your continual support; thank you so much. May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful, Healthy New Year, with very best wishes from Rebecca Mawle.
Monday 22 December in Gaydon Village Hall at 7pm with Mince Pies and Mulled Wine.
Messy Church will take place at Fenny Compton Village Hall on Sunday 14 December at 3.30pm. Contact Lesley on 01295 771171 for details.
Saturday 13 December 9.30am -12.30pm at The House of Bread @ The Mill, Shipston on Stour CV36 5AF. The cost is £8 including refreshments; contact Kate Distin at fossedeanery@distin.co.uk or 01295 770118.
Initial Meeting at Kineton High School on Wednesday 10 December at 7.30pm.
During Holy Week we are putting on a fantastic new Passion Play and you can get involved as: Actor, Set Designer, Technical Crew, Musician, Singer, etc.
Come along and find out more: Contact Dawn 640385 or Barry 640248 or email dawnjsaunders@aol.com or barry@edgehillchurches.org
Highspeed broadband is now available in Gaydon at speeds of up to 80M bits p s. You should contact your ISP if you wish to be connected. JR
The Flag was raised on 15 November for the Birthday of HRH The Prince of Wales; and on the 20th for the 67th Wedding Anniversary of HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.