July 2021 - Thornbury Weather Station Daily Stats
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July 2021
The Lake Isle of Innisfree
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.
W B Yeats
4ward
Community magazine for
Oldbury, Shepperdine, Kington and Rockhampton
4ward is an independent community magazine and material is published at
the discretion of the editor. Produced & distributed by volunteers. Articles for
next month's edition should reach the editor no later than 20th of this month.
4wardmag@gmail.com
EDITOR Chris Tymko,
Fisherman’s Cottage, Cowhill, BS35 1QJ.
Tel: 01454 412152
Cover Illustrations Lorna Page. Follow on Etsy, Instagram &
Facebook. Email: four.pages@yahoo.co.uk
Printed and Distributed Oldbury Deckers Tel: 07831 849742
Email: naitefarm@gmail.com
4ward Magazine Advertising Charges
Back Cover Whole page - £20 Half page - £10 Quarter page - £5
Inside Pages Whole page - £16 Half page - £8 Quarter page - £4
10% discount on all charges when paying for full year in advance.
Cheques should be made payable to “4Ward Magazine”.
Advertising & Treasurer Rob King 07494209222
Email: robwjking@gmail.com
4ward Website www.oos4ward.plus.com
Oldbury Community Website www.oldburyonsevern.org.uk
Oldbury Memorial Hall Chris Jennings 07740 934182
cjlj@hotmail.com
Booking Clerk Peter Orford 01454 415346
peter.orford@talktalk.net
Church Contacts
Thornbury & Oldbury www.arildachurcholdbury.co.uk
Parish office 01454 281900 Wed, Thurs, Fri mornings
Methodist www.thornburymethodist.org.uk
Revd Simon Edwards 01454 418176 simon.edwards@methodist.org.uk
Rockhampton
Parish office 01454 260096 www.croftt.org.uk
Christ The King Thornbury 01454 412223 www.ctk-thornbury.org.uk
Morton Baptist Church 01454 413200 Willie Grey
01453 810491 Hilary Grigg
Editorial
After the optimism of last month, I’m definitely feeling a bit jaded with it
all, the endless speculation of what might or might not be happening on
July 19th, so we have no diary dates in 4ward this month as I don’t want
to tempt fate. I know many people and organisations feel like I do, and are
holding off from making too many plans, but Oldbury Elders Luncheon Club
are determinedly optimistic about starting up again in the Anchor Inn at
the end of the month - so good luck to them!
One event that was able to take place in June was Oldbury Open Gardens.
I was away on holiday that weekend but many people have told me how
lovely the gardens were and how much they enjoyed simply getting out
and seeing other people again. Well done to all the gardeners involved,
and especially to Angela Conibere for organising it as part of the Open
National Gardens Scheme and raising over £2600 for charity.
I was enjoying a week’s caravan holiday in Northumbria, rebooked from
the previous year. My friend and I began to wonder if it would ever happen
but we were so glad we stuck with it as we had a lovely time and really
enjoyed visiting another part of the country after so long at home. The
highlight of our stay was a boat trip out to the Farne Islands to see the
famous sea bird colonies during their nesting season, including the puffins.
There were so many amazing birds flying around, it was like being in the
midst of a David Attenborough film. We had to book the boat ride well in
advance, but by pure chance we had the most glorious weather that day
which was the icing on the cake. I know many of us find great pleasure
watching birds in the garden, this last year or so more than ever. Linda
Jennings and I have both written Nature Notes this month about bird antics
closer to home - or actually in the home in her case!
We are delighted to be able to print the first part Eddie Clapham’s war
stories. Eddie sent us his article some months ago and kindly told us he
had been greatly entertained by reading all the various stories and
memories we have printed in 4ward over the years, and during Lockdown
he thought he would have a go at writing his own - and my goodness, what
a wild child he was.
Our very best wishes to the chairman of the Parish Council, Keith Sullivan,
who has been poorly in hospital recently but is now recovering slowly. Also,
our deepest sympathy to Peter Everton and family on the loss of Kay, so
soon after they had downsized to Thornbury from Yew Tree Farm. Thank
you Peter for sharing your memories of Kay during happier times.
Chris
Memorial Hall Update
As for many people, June has been a month of great disappointment and
this will roll over to July. Our plans for a welcome back party, grumpy man's
breakfast, hot gossip afternoon on the 16th, and the first cinema club night
have all had to be postponed or cancelled. I am sure that these activities
will resume, but we are waiting for the official confirmation so that we do
not have another 'false start'. Please watch for notices in the Shop, on
notice boards and on the community website for updates. The Hot Gossip
afternoon tea has now been postponed until Friday the 30th of July; tickets
will be available from the Shop from mid-July onwards.
We did try to hold the AGM via Zoom, but failed to get the mandatory
numbers to make a quorum, which is a great shame. We will endeavour to
hold the AGM in the Hall when the rules are relaxed sufficiently for us to
gather in person. I do hope that you will take the time to attend as, after
all, the Hall is for the benefit of us all.
Karen Porter is stepping down as booking clerk and I would like to thank
her for all the help and advice she has given me over the last 16 months,
which has been invaluable, so thank you very much indeed Karen. Peter
and Belinda Orford have volunteered to take over the role, so thank you
very much to them for their offer.
Gerald Porter is also stepping down from the role of Caretaker, so we, the
Executive Management Committee, are now in the market to find a willing
person to take on this paid role. Anyone interested please contact me. I
would like to take this opportunity to thank Gerald for all the time and
effort he has put into looking after the Hall for the last ten years, so many
thanks indeed, Gerald.
We have received £13.33 from Amazon Smile, so thank you to all of you
who have nominated the Hall as your chosen charity.
Chris Jennings
Further update:
Cinema Club reopening postponed until further notice.
Grumpy Men’s Breakfast postponed until September.
Hot Gossip afternoon tea - next possible date Friday 30 July.
OLDBURY VILLAGE CINEMA CLUB
(OVCC)
On the 24th March last, I issued a notice
to announce that our first film show for
over a year would be held on Friday 9th
July. This was based on the Government’s
plan at that time to reduce all Covid
restrictions in June. As this decision has
now been postponed until, at least, the
19th July, we have unfortunately had to
cancel that date. Rather than give you another speculative date, we would
prefer to wait until we are sure we can open safely; we will then advise you
in good time of the new date.
We do have some better news, in that the installation of our new screen
and projector is almost complete. This, coupled with the new acoustic
panels and “mood” lighting, should enhance the film-night experience
when we do re-start.
The Club is a section of the Memorial Hall, and members’ fees, together
with local grants, have provided the equipment and enabled improvements
to be made to the Hall facilities, which is a continuing aim. Membership is
open to all except those under the age of 16, which our licence precludes.
For those in the village (including recent arrivals) who have not yet chosen
to join us, I can only say that you are possibly missing out here. The
evenings not only provide an entertainment, but also the chance to meet
and chat with those who you don’t normally interface with.
This will be our 9th year of existence and the OVCC has proven to be a
great evening’s entertainment. If you are considering becoming a member,
but would like to try out an evening first, please contact the membership
secretary below.
Ian Bell – OVCC Chairman.
16th June 2021
If you would like to join, or require further information, please ring:
Carole Dyke on 01454 419265.
Oldbury on Severn - Memorial Hall 100 Club
May Draw Winners
st
1 prize. £20 Ann Martin
2nd prize. £15 Janet Astle
3rd prize. £10 Robert Cadman
4th prize. £10 Gemma French
New members of the 100 Club are always welcome!
Forms are available in the Shop, or contact Doug Mills or Angela Conibere
at Christmas Cottage or aeconibere@hotmail.com or 01454 413828
Oldbury on Severn Neighbourhood Plan Consultation – Reminder!
Don’t forget that the public consultation on the Neighbourhood Plan ends
soon. Any comments must reach South Gloucestershire Council no later
than 5pm on 23 July 2021. The Neighbourhood Plan submission documents
can be viewed and commented on via SGC’s consultation homepage at:
https://consultations.southglos.gov.uk/consult.ti/ondp2021/consultationHome
or you can view a (covid-safe) paper copy at Thornbury Library on request.
Barry Turner
Shop Spot
Hi everyone, let’s hope the 19th July brings us closer to normality and we
would once again like to thank all our volunteers who have worked
throughout the pandemic, it’s been a tremendous achievement.
Our new benches and umbrellas have been very welcome in the hot
weather. We have had difficulty keeping up with the ice cream sales but
Marshfields have been very good in making special deliveries.
Again, we are always looking for new volunteers who can spare an hour a
week, a month or even a year! It’s only our volunteers who keep the Shop
open for business. So, if you are interested, just give me a ring on
01454418619. It really is a great way to meet people in the parish and
importantly to give something back to local good causes and local charities.
The Shop unfortunately lost one of its very special volunteers last month
with Kay Everton passing away. Kay was a lovely and kind lady who loved
working in the Shop. Kay will be sadly missed by our volunteers and our
customers.
Chris Awde
How I Met Kay In 1960 I was working as an apprentice at Metrovick in Manchester. I was staying in digs with 4 other lads who also worked there. Our life outside of work revolved around playing rugby, cricket, drinking beer and doing up old bangers, plus occasionally eyeing up the local girls. We all had cars and the house had a cellar, an inspection pit, photo development lab and was a very suitable place to strip things apart and rebuild them. After having been there about three years I had had a number of old cars and felt I was drifting a bit; I needed to upgrade myself and present a smarter image. So, I went into town and bought a very impressive bright red Triumph TR3. In the house was a Canadian – Bob McKee – who one Friday, when we had nothing on, suggested we go to a Halloween Hop in Ancoats Hospital which we had seen advertised. It was mainly physios there who had decorated up the hall, there was a bar, a band and all very lively. We danced with a few of the girls and I then focused on one special one who, at the end of the night, I asked if I could give her a lift home. Bob had missed out, so he was leaving without anyone - just as well as we only had a two-seater car. Of course, my girl was Kath (now known as Kay). On these types of occasions there will be a number who have met boys who have asked them if they could see them home. As they gather in the cloakroom to collect their coats there is speculation as to what type of car their new friend will have. So out in the car park I created a very good impression with my bright red sports car, her friends being very envious.
Kath had a nice red umbrella which we put behind the seats and then Bob
had to squeeze in the small space also. Where to? “Salford please”. Well in
those days Salford had a very bad image – enhanced by Coronation Street
- so we were not sure what to expect. We arrived at her digs and then
found on retrieving the umbrella that Bob had broken it completely.
We left, leaving poor Kath on the doorstep. I told Bob he had to pay for a
new umbrella; he grumbled a lot and we finally agreed we would share the
cost. So, next day back to the smart shops in Manchester and we found
almost the identical article. Up to Salford again to find that Kay was out,
so we left it with her landlady. Luckily, I had left a contact address for when
she returned.
The result, of course, is that today we
are still together after 60 years, all
thanks to Bob, a red umbrella and
particularly to a red TR3.
~~~~~
Now she is suddenly gone and I am
without her. She is in the churchyard of
St Arilda’s, where I will go and sit to
talk to her, and one day will join her.
I, together with Jo, Fiona and Sorrel,
have wonderful memories of Oldbury
and Yew Tree Farm to treasure.
Peter Everton / June 2021.
Note – This story was originally written
in 2019, but has been updated with
recent events.
Rainfall
2021 2020 2019
May
149mm 7.5mm 25mm
5.87” 0.3” 0.98”
Blueberry Traybake / Pie
This recipe can be enjoyed as a traybake, or as a pie. It’s packed full of
‘healing’ ingredients and is also made with ‘clean’ ingredients, being free
from gluten, dairy, refined sugar, eggs and harmful oils, which by some
are considered ‘problematic’ ingredients. However, if you prefer, or if it’s
all you have in your store cupboard, the base works perfectly well made
with traditional ingredients - such as wheat flour and cane sugar.
Wild blueberries are generally purchased frozen and are loaded with 33%
more brain-healthy anthocyanins than ordinary blueberries. Their smaller
size means twice the berries – and twice the antioxidants – in every bite.
Ingredients:
For the filling:
• 150g wild blueberries, or regular blueberries if you cannot get wild ones.
• 50ml raw honey or maple syrup • 1 tsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp arrowroot starch; or 1 dessert spoon cornflour mixed with a little
cold water
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
For the base and topping:
• 200g buckwheat flour • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 120g flaked oats • 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 120g coconut sugar • 100g melted coconut oil
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line an 8x8 inch baking tray with parchment
paper. Set aside.
2. To make the filling, place the blueberries, raw honey or maple syrup,
lemon juice, arrowroot, and vanilla extract into a small saucepan. If
using the cornflour/water mix instead of arrowroot, stir it in at the end
of step 3 instead to thicken.
3. Stir until evenly mixed. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook,
stirring often, until thick and bubbly, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Remove and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
5. To make the base and topping, combine the buckwheat flour, oats,
coconut sugar, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Pour in the
melted coconut oil and maple syrup, and stir until the dough clumps
together. Place half of the mixture into the prepared baking tray and
set aside the rest. Press the mixture in the tray evenly to the base of
the pan, using your fingers or a flat-bottomed glass.
6. Pour the blueberry filling on top of the base and spread out evenly.
7. Sprinkle the rest of the crumb mixture over the filling.
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the filling is bubbly and the top golden.
Remove from oven and cool completely before slicing into squares if
using as a traybake.
KP
Oldbury Open Gardens
The third weekend in June was the culmination of many hard days working
by four garden’s owners who nervously agreed (with a little arm twisting)
last September, to open their gardens to raise funds for the National
Garden Scheme. This is an organisation which is a major fund raiser for
caring charities, the main ones being Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie
Curie and Hospice UK. The gardeners were Ann Martin and Alan Taylor at
Chapel Cottage, Jenny and Keith Miller at Cherry Tree Cottage, Jan and
Rob Willcox at Vindolanda and myself and Doug Mills at Christmas Cottage.
It’s quite daunting knowing that your garden is to be on show but visitors
love seeing new ideas and unusual plants. After some lovely sunny days,
we had a rather overcast two days, but fortunately no rain. Tea and cake
were available, always popular on these occasions.
Our hard work proved very successful and we raised the sum of £2617.
Thanks to our garden openers and to all our visitors.
Angela Conibere
Open Gardens
What a treat it was to enjoy the Open Gardens in Oldbury on June 19th
and 20th, especially after the challenging year of 2020. Oldbury is in the
Somerset, Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire National Garden Scheme
“county”, with the wide diversity of Bristol and Bath cities, the cathedral city
of Wells, the hill country of national parks like Exmoor or the Quantocks,
the Somerset Levels and many different country estates and small gardens
normally not open to the public. These are all open for charity.
It was not just the tranquil and beautiful gardens and tempting teas that
made this weekend special but the enjoyment of meeting people, without
masks outdoors, who we may not have been able to socialise with for many
months due to the necessary Covid 19 restrictions.
Thanks to all the gardeners, teamakers and organisers! Much hard work
must have gone into this and it was greatly appreciated. We know some
people missed it due to illness or self-isolation and we wish them a speedy
recovery and return to whatever form of normality it is that lies ahead.
Meg AdnamsPackard 8 Limousine - “Sheer driving pleasure” This is a Packard 8 Limousine which was manufactured around 1936. It is finished in a deep burgundy red. When it was fully restored in the 1990’s it had been used as a wedding car and ceremonial car, as it has seven seats (two of which fold away) and has a partition window from the driver. It has an 8-cylinder engine which does run, and starts on the key easily. It can be driven, and has hydraulic brakes and clutch. It has a 3-speed manual synchromesh gearbox and original wire wheels. It is right hand drive and so has been out and about around the lanes in Kington. It gains a lot of interest when parked on the road near Kington garage. .
Church Services for July 2021
St Mary’s St. Arilda St. Mary St. Oswald
Thornbury Oldbury Shepperdine Rockhampton
4th July Sunday 4th July No services at Please check
10.30 Communion 6.00pm locally for
present due to
11th July services in the
10.30 All Age Service
Communion coronavirus
Benefice
St Mary’s School field
18th July Open as a place
10.30 Communion Sunday 18th July or contact
of pilgrimage
25th July 6.00pm
10.30 Communion and prayer.
St Arilda’s Day
6pm Choral evensong
1st August
Patronal Service
Rev Sue by email
10.30 All Age Service
For details revsue@croftt.org.uk
Booking required or
Jenny Ovens on Booking required phone
Andrew Gazard 01454 260316 phone
414727 or 01454 600674
jennyovensbb@ naitefarm@gmail.com
tiscali.co.uk 07831 849742
Catholic Morton Baptist Thornbury Quakers
Christ
Christ the King,
the King, Services restarted
Thornbury. Due to Community
Chantry the virus
Thornbury.
pandemic our
& Morning Service Centre on Castle
Holy Cross, normal Sunday
Sunday Mass Every Sunday Street
Meetings have been
Wotton Under Edge.
9.30am at suspended. Weekly
please consult the website
10.30am
for up-to-date details
10.30am Sunday
meetings now on
Holy Cross, Wotton 10.30am
Zoom. Further
Booking required.
See details contact
Under
DetailsEdge
at
https://mortonbaptist.org
https://www.ctk- Sheila Waters on
Saturday For details 07738495776
thornbury.org.uk
(vigil Mass) 16.30pm
All church services subject to current coronavirus rules. Check before going!Christian Comment
After the excitement of Easter and Ascension, the church’s cycle moves
into “Ordinary Time” and I couldn’t help reflecting on that odd choice of a
description for one of those periods of the Christian calendar not associated
with the extraordinary. The extraordinary love of God in coming to earth
in human form as we celebrate Christmas, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross
and subsequent resurrection from the dead at Easter and His amazing
Ascension to heaven forty days later. But it is also extraordinary that God
is with us every day and in everything.
What is “ordinary” anyway? The pandemic, for example, has thrown us into
unexpected ways of doing things. We had one of the wettest months of
May we have had for many years and I hear forecasters saying that in the
next few years we are likely to see the highest average temperatures since
records began; it all reminds me that the “ordinary” is transient. This
means that we need to find ways to adapt and do things better, whether
that is looking after the world around us, in our relationships with one
another, or in our relationships with God.
So, it is a good time to reflect on what have we discovered that is precious
and which we can build upon; what have we discovered that is superfluous
or even harmful that we can put aside; and what can we do to change
things for the better in our lives, in our community, in our world?
In all of this, the most extraordinary thing is that we can trust in God being
with us every step of the way, in the ordinary everyday things in life.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
– his mercies never come to an end”
Lamentations 3:22
May God bless you in the days, months and years ahead.
Revd Tom Keates
Vision & Hope Benefice Weekend – Important Update
It has been decided that it will be better to postpone this very important
weekend from July until sometime in early October. Revd Joy will be
returning to work, but on a very limited number of hours and we are also
not confident that the Covid Regulations will allow us to do all the activities
planned. If you have booked and cannot make the new October date we
will, of course, refund your payment. However, the Sunday morning All
Age service will still take place on Sunday 11 July with Archdeacon Hilary,
on St Mary’s School field, and we very much look forward to that time
together.Nature Notes
I was just getting up one morning when I heard a tremendous bang against
the bedroom window. I looked out and there, spread eagled on the ground
was a little black and white fledging being eyeballed by my elderly cat. I
rushed downstairs to rescue it, not expecting it to have survived, but when
I picked it up it opened its beak and croaked loudly for its parents. It was
a Great Spotted Woodpecker fledging, so I took it into the orchard and put
it up the nearest apple tree where it promptly fell out. I picked it up again
and found an older tree and placed it higher up against the trunk. Little
Widdy Woodpecker liked this tree better and actually managed to climb a
little further up on its own, so I left it to recover in peace. A couple of hours
later I went back to check on it. It wasn’t where I’d left it but as I walked
around the orchard it suddenly belly flopped down in front of me from a
different tree. This time little Widdy knew exactly what to - it hopped over
to another tree and then using it’s beak like a proper woodpecker it climbed
straight up the trunk and disappeared, hidden among the branches.
Leaving the nest is a very
hazardous time for young
birds, but a nest full of
babies is an easy target for
predators so hopping out of
the nest and dispersing, as
soon as they have feathers,
but before they can actually
fly, increases the overall
chance of survival. The
parents stay in contact and
carry on feeding their
scattered young for several
days, so the advice from the
RSPB is that if you come
across one, only move
fledglings away from
immediate danger, such as a
busy road or cats, and leave them in a safe place as close as possible to
where you found them. I’m also going to keep my bedroom curtains closed
during the summer months because this is not the first time a young bird
has flown into the window glass - last year sadly a young Blackbird didn’t
survive the impact. Luckily for Widdy, Woodpeckers have impact-absorbing
adaptations in their skull and neck that other birds do not, which is
probably why he survived when the Blackbird didn’t.
Chris Tymko
[Photo of Great Spotted Woodpecker via: www.goodfreephotos.com]Nature Notes - More Bird Antics
I don’t know about you, but I have become obsessed with our garden birds
during lockdown and have not been disappointed with the daily pleasure
that these little aviators have brought. I didn’t even mind the delightful
flock of Redwings systematically stripping our holly trees of berries just
before Christmas! (Fortunately, Chris had already bagged a few of the
berry-laden branches for festive decorations.) The Goldfinches and Long-
tailed Tits were in abundance but we have fewer now, mainly due to the
nice chaps from the electricity board who decimated the large hedge
opposite to protect their power cables.
Whilst chatting to Christabelle recently about her Woodpecker incident, it
reminded me of an intrusion last month from a Sparrowhawk. We were
sitting in our garden room having tea, when one swooped in through the
open window crashing into the glass door. Scared me I can tell you – it
was probably just as shocked as we were! I picked it up whilst Chris opened
the door to release it back outside. Not my brightest decision I am told by
my colleagues in the village shop, who pointed out that this bird can cause
significant damage to its prey in flight and I was lucky not to have lacerated
hands!
Today, sadly, our resident Woodpigeon has been attacked, whilst sitting on
her nest, by rampaging Magpies. All eggs gone and mum has not returned.
Nature, whilst beautiful, can be cruel!
Happy birdwatching one and all.
LindaEddie Clapham’s War Story - Part 1 I was born in Coventry in March 1936. By the time war broke out, my father was working as a design draftsman in the Engine Department of the Bristol Aeroplane Company and our family lived in Combe Dingle on the NW outskirts of Bristol. The Bristol Blitz took place during late 1940 / early 1941, by which time we were a family of four and my father felt it was necessary to move us away to somewhere safer. We got lodgings in Tortworth rectory for three of us, while father stayed in Combe Dingle to look after the house and be closer to work. This wasn’t altogether satisfactory, because the Rector was a bit bossy and treated my mother like a free housekeeper and was always grumbling about the noise. But the last straw was the fact that the Rector liked to have all the cream, which left mother having to give us boys only skimmed milk, so we weren’t there for long. I only remember the rectory as the place where I had my 5th birthday, and received my first bicycle as a present, a brand new Raleigh with 18in wheels. For the summer of 1941, father moved us to his family’s farm in Bentham, Yorkshire, which became my favourite place until it was sold many years later. Now of course I was of school age, and it was decided that rather than go to the local village school, I should be taught by my two great aunts, both retired school teachers and living nearby. This meant a 1/2 mile walk each way up through a wood alongside a stream; another lovely memory for me. Pleasant though the Yorkshire farm was, mother and father didn't like the family being separated, so we came back to the Bristol area. But this time out in the country between Thornbury and Oldbury, to Redcliffe Farm, owned by the Ozeland family, where we could all be under the same roof. I don’t know how this contact was made. We rented the little one-up one- down extension sticking out of the main house on the Oldbury side. This was where I went to my first proper school, Miss Treyhurn’s in Thornbury High Street, the same as Hazel Staley, as I learnt from the January issue of 4ward. At this school we were allowed a little snooze after the lunch break and I discovered that if I pretended to be asleep I would not be woken up. By this means I was able to stay in my own little world until home time. During this period at Redcliffe, Father’s drawing office was moved to a restaurant in Bristol Zoo to get away from Patchway which was an obvious target. He was leaving here, in the 1934 Austin 7 we had at the time, on a winter’s evening after a heavy fall of snow, and found himself in a jam up
behind a long stream of stationary cars stuck behind the one at the front of the stream which was sideways to the road. The cars behind couldn’t pass because they couldn’t get over the deep ruts in the snow. After waiting a while, he and his passenger realised that, because there was no traffic coming in the other direction, they could push and lift the car over the rutted snow onto the other side of the road, get past the jam, put the car back where it should be and continue the journey. This they did, and all was well. They were delighted at this demonstration of a small light car’s versatility. Come the spring of 1942, father felt the pull of the wild and bought a small caravan for us to live in during the summer months. This was a 3-birth Eccles of the late 1920’s, complete with awning, folding table and chairs, and sundry crockery and cutlery. Father was absolutely delighted with this caravan when he got it, although mother was less sure. It was taken to Pitt’s farm at Bishopsgate, about 1/4 mile due west of Cromhall Church, and pitched in the farm orchard very close to an army unit manning a searchlight. I went to Cromhall Church School, walking across the field, down the hill, across a stream and up the other side to the school. I can’t say I enjoyed this school but I did enjoy the life we had, it was like a camping holiday all summer long. We have quite a lot of photos in the family album of our set up at Bishopsgate. There is masses of kit of doubtful value spread over a large area, but what shines through above all else is father’s obvious delight with everything, including his Austin 7; he definitely has that "Monarch of all I Survey" look, with not a worry in the world. This poor old car had a pretty rough time. It was fitted with a towing attachment for use with a light trailer but the caravan proved to be too much for it. Father was trying to move the caravan to a different position in the orchard, which was on a bit of a slope. With the Austin struggling valiantly but not making much progress, there was a loud bang and the car shot forwards. Unfortunately the caravan stayed put, with the rear part of the Austin’s body firmly attached to its tow bar. While we were here, the Combe Dingle house was sold and our furniture was stored for the duration in the loft of an old building at Abbotside Farm a short distance from the Cromhall camp site. In the early days we would go up there regularly to check things out, but as the war dragged on and we moved away from the area, visits became much rarer. When eventually everything was collected, it was clear that the woodworm had been having a good time.
As summer turned to winter and the cold weather came, we returned to Redcliffe. Our comings and goings at this time involved many journeys between Redcliffe and Cromhall and this would sometimes require mother to drive the Austin 7. In spite of her having a licence to drive anything, including heavy lorries and track laying vehicles, she had little enthusiasm for driving, and father, who was very keen on cars and driving, didn't give her the opportunity to drive enough to become confident. The route between Redcliffe and Cromhall had some narrow twisty lanes with steep hills and deep ditches and it was in one of the latter, at The Hacket, that we came to grief. I can imagine the situation with the car on its side full of jumbled kit and yelling kids, and mother in a bit of a stew, but how it was resolved I do not remember. This time round at Redcliffe I went to a different school in Thornbury, I can’t remember which one. On my walking route home from school there were two old abandoned car chassis on the grass at the junction between Butt Lane and the Old Gloucester Road. These were an irresistible attraction to me and much time was spent trying to liberate various treasures and getting plastered with oil and grease in the process. The Watts family were renting another part of Redcliffe at this time and our two families became friends in adversity. Tony Watts was about my age and we played together a lot. He was the cause of my first significant injury when I would have been six or just turned seven. I had an old all metal table knife which I was sharpening by rubbing it on the large stone surrounding the top of the well and Tony was sitting on the stone with me. For some reason he snatched the knife out of my hands and in so doing cut two fingers on my right hand to the bone severing the tendons and causing scars still very visible. The first on the scene was Tony's mother, who went running to mine shouting, "your Edward has had an accident and his new coat is covered in blood", or so I am led to believe. The Watts subsequently took over the Post Office and general store in Oldbury, and we visited them there several times after the war. Old man Watts was an invalid, and had a motorised chair with a Villiers 2-stroke engine which greatly intrigued me. Much later Tony and I were work colleagues at Rolls Royce. Another person I saw quite a bit of at this time was Leonard Welland, who was related to the Ozelands and was also living at Redcliffe. Some time later father swopped his Austin 7 for a lathe with Leonard, and I can remember going on the delivery trip to Oldbury where Leonard then lived, running the village’s other shop. The car went really well and I remember thinking that Leonard had got the best deal.
One night when I was in bed there was a huge bang which was said to
have been caused by a German land mine dropped out in the country by
mistake. This confused me greatly, because no one seemed to know the
difference between a bomb and a land mine. I have since been told that
this was a parachute mine. Much later I learned that it had landed close to
a cottage on Stoney Lane leading off the Naite, damaging the cottage and
sadly resulting in the loss of a life.
A parachute mine is a naval mine dropped from an aircraft by parachute.
They were often used in WW2 by the Luftwaffe in the early stages of the
blitz and were frequently dropped on land targets in their raids on British
cities in 1940 and 1941. If they came down on land a clockwork mechanism
would detonate the mine 25 seconds after impact. If they landed in water
then the mine was detonated by a magnetic mechanism when it came into
contact with shipping.
The cottage was called Desert Cottage and was the home of the Hall family.
Les Hall, who was only three years old at that time told us in 4ward last
year how his grandfather Joseph Screen was outside in the fowl pen when
the bomb fell and was killed instantly in the blast. The rest of the family
were indoors but Les thinks they must all have been injured because he
and his mother Elsie were taken to the BRI and his dad, Bob, was taken to
Bristol General Hospital.
Last Autumn, Les’s cousin Catherine showed me where Desert Cottage had
once stood along Stoney Lane. Cath was one of the five daughters of Lew
and Mary Hall, and grew up just across the road at Corner House Farm. We
walked past the site of her dad’s old cowshed and dairy to the field now
owned by Ken Hedges. Rather sadly there is nothing there at all now, but
Cath said when she was a child the foundation walls were still standing and
‘the bombed house’ was the favourite meeting place of all the local
children. When she was newly married, her husband Phil used some of the
stone to build a fireplace in their new house in Westmarsh.
Chris Tymko
Oldbury Elders Luncheon Club
The Luncheon Club warmly welcomes back old
friends to the Anchor Inn on Tuesday 27 July.
Thanks to Mark Sorrell and the team at the Anchor.
Any enquiries to Sue Keedwell Tel 417103Oldbury Cricket Club
“To me, it doesn’t matter how good you are. Sport is all about playing and
competing. Whatever you do in cricket and in sport, enjoy it, be positive
and try to win...” - Ian Botham.
It was a mixed month once again with two games being cancelled. An
unusual game ensued with Failand and Portbury, as the game was tied,
each side scoring 147 runs. Oldbury needed to get 2 off the last ball to win
but our batsmen, who will remain nameless, ran out of puff and could only
manage a single. In the Pratt Cup mini-series Oldbury lost to Hillesley and
Kingswood, but had a resounding win against North Nibley. Oldbury scored
208 off 20 overs, with five batsmen getting over 25 runs (the maximum
allowed for any one batsman in this competition). In reply North Nibley
could only manage to get 111 runs.
Oldbury had an easy win at home on 27th June against Hillesley. The game
was reduced to 30 overs and the highlight of the Oldbury innings was an
excellent century by Chris Terrett. It was Chris's first century for Oldbury
and I'm sure that he will be able to give you a ball-by-ball account for some
months to come.
In July we welcome the touring side New Ash Green. We have held an
annual fixture with them for many, many years, and going back to the days
when we played on the old ground. Always good entertaining games with
New Ash Green, so do come along and watch.
Sadly, the nights are now starting to draw in and July sees the end of the
Wednesday fixtures.
Our congratulations go to our skipper, Hedley Garrett, who on Saturday
12th June bowled a maiden over and married Chloe. An opening
partnership to be cherished, good luck to both of you.
Fixtures for July and early August are as follows:
Sunday Wednesday
4th July [A] Uley 7th July [H] Thornbury
11th July [H] Thornbury 14th July [A] Patchway
18th July [A] Hillesley
25th July [H] New Ash Green
1st Aug [H] Chipping Sodbury
8th Aug [H] Uley
Gerald Porter
President OOSVCCColouring (for young or old!) kindly created for us by Lorna Page
Over 60's Tea Room in Thornbury High Street
The Over 60’s Tea Room in Thornbury High Street is run by volunteers as an
informal café for older people to meet up and chat over a cuppa. We are now
able to open four days a week: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
from 10am to 2pm. We serve a variety of hot beverages at 50p a cup, as well
as squash and other drinks. We sell biscuits, and sometimes cake, but you
are welcome to bring along your own food. You can find us at the side entrance
of the Town Hall. Everyone over 60 is very welcome to drop in for a chat in
our friendly tea room which now looks better than ever. It has been
completely refurbished thanks to the support of local organisations who also
helped us to pay for the necessary hand sanitisers and hygiene measures.
THORNBURY ART CLUB’S SUMMER EXHIBITION 2021
Saturday 24 July – Sunday 1 August
Monday – Saturday 10am – 6pm, and Sundays 2pm - 4pm
at the Methodist Church Hall, Thornbury
Good disabled access and FREE entry!
Thornbury Art Club is emerging from what we hope was a very productive
‘Lockdown’. Our 2021 Summer Exhibition opens at the end of the month.
Put the dates in your diary now! * Saturday July 24th – Sunday August 1st *.
We look forward to welcoming back visitors to this annual event which is the
highlight of the year... a chance to show our skills and what we have been
doing over the past twelve months. We are always striving to improve, trying
new techniques, and exploring different ideas to bring life and depth to our
paintings.
So, do come and see what has inspired us this year. It will be a very diverse
and interesting show because there are so many participating artists. We are
delighted that members of Thornbury & District Stroke Support Group are
exhibiting with us. There are so many contrasting styles, thought processes,
choices of materials, etc. There will be something to appeal to everyone, and
a great selection in cards. Most paintings are for sale, so this will be a chance
to acquire a piece of art that is quite unique.
Our Summer Exhibition takes place at the Methodist Church Hall,
Castle Court, Thornbury, just a few steps from the High Street.
Opening times are: Monday – Saturday, 10am – 6pm, and Sundays, 2-4pm.
Entry is FREE, with good disabled access. We look forward to seeing you!Tide Table: Inward Rocks, River Severn.
July 2021
Day High High High Moon Sunrise Sunset
Low Low
12:59 AM 8:10 AM 8:30 PM
Thu BST / 10.23 BST / 1.43
1:29 PM BST
BST / 1.87
Last 4:57 AM 9:31 PM
1 / 9.56 m Quarter BST BST
m m m
1:57 AM 8:57 AM 9:18 PM
2:30 PM BST 4:57 AM 9:31 PM
Fri 2 BST / 9.46 BST / 1.92
/ 8.88 m
BST / 2.29
BST BST
m m m
3:00 AM 9:47 AM 10:10 PM
3:33 PM BST 4:58 AM 9:30 PM
Sat 3 BST / 8.84 BST / 2.35
/ 8.41 m
BST / 2.61
BST BST
m m m
4:03 AM 10:42 AM 11:08 PM
Sun BST / 8.44 BST / 2.65
4:36 PM BST
BST / 2.78
4:59 AM 9:30 PM
4 / 8.19 m BST BST
m m m
5:06 AM 11:41 AM
Mon BST / 8.32 BST / 2.78
5:35 PM BST 5:00 AM 9:29 PM
5 / 8.25 m BST BST
m m
2:55 AM 8:18 AM 3:18 PM 8:35 PM
5:03 AM 9:27 PM
Fri 9 BST / 2.29 BST / 9.71 BST / 2.29 BST / 10.01
BST BST
m m m m
3:41 AM 8:55 AM 4:02 PM 9:11 PM
Sat BST / 2.01 BST / 10.16 BST / 2.03 BST / 10.45
New 5:04 AM 9:26 PM
10 Moon BST BST
m m m m
4:24 AM 9:30 AM 4:44 PM 9:46 PM
Sun BST / 1.73 BST / 10.52 BST / 1.77 BST / 10.78
5:05 AM 9:25 PM
11 BST BST
m m m m
5:05 AM 10:05 AM 5:24 PM 10:22 PM
Mon BST / 1.49 BST / 10.75 BST / 1.56 BST / 10.97
5:06 AM 9:24 PM
12 BST BST
m m m m
12:23 AM 7:45 AM 12:48 PM 8:05 PM
Fri BST / 10.54 BST / 1.31 BST / 10.14 BST / 1.52
5:11 AM 9:20 PM
16 BST BST
m m m m
1:13 AM 8:30 AM 8:51 PM
Sat BST / 10.15 BST / 1.48
1:41 PM BST
BST / 1.70
First 5:12 AM 9:19 PM
17 / 9.74 m Quarter BST BST
m m m
2:09 AM 9:19 AM 9:44 PM
Sun BST / 9.75 BST / 1.70
2:40 PM BST
BST / 1.89
5:14 AM 9:18 PM
18 / 9.38 m BST BST
m m m
3:11 AM 10:16 AM 10:46 PM
Mon BST / 9.42 BST / 1.90
3:45 PM BST
BST / 2.01
5:15 AM 9:17 PM
19 / 9.18 m BST BST
m m m
2:16 AM 7:28 AM 2:48 PM 7:53 PM
Fri BST / 1.44 BST / 10.53 BST / 1.41 BST / 10.96
5:20 AM 9:12 PM
23 BST BST
m m m m
3:18 AM 8:20 AM 3:45 PM 8:42 PM
Sat BST / 1.00 BST / 11.16 BST / 1.03 BST / 11.57 Full Moon
5:22 AM 9:10 PM
24 BST BST
m m m m
4:11 AM 9:07 AM 4:35 PM 9:29 PM
Sun BST / 0.61 BST / 11.62 BST / 0.74 BST / 11.97
5:23 AM 9:09 PM
25 BST BST
m m m m
4:59 AM 9:53 AM 5:20 PM 10:14 PM
Mon BST / 0.37 BST / 11.83 BST / 0.60 BST / 12.07
5:25 AM 9:08 PM
26 BST BST
m m m m
12:30 AM 7:38 AM 12:55 PM 7:54 PM
Fri BST / 10.67 BST / 1.31 BST / 10.03 BST / 1.66
5:30 AM 9:01 PM
30 BST BST
m m m m
1:20 AM 8:15 AM 8:32 PM
Sat BST / 9.88 BST / 1.81
1:47 PM BST
BST / 2.11
Last 5:32 AM 9:00 PM
31 / 9.28 m Quarter BST BST
m m mThornbury Radio - Launched on 105.1 and 107.5 FM! Thornbury Radio has launched its service on 105.1 and 107.5 FM across Thornbury and the surrounding areas. Thornbury Radio – Your Choice, Your Voice! expanded its radio service from online only to FM on 7th June 2021. A socially distanced launch event was held at the studio on Sunday 6th June with the Deputy Mayor of Thornbury, Chris Davies, officially opening the studio. The event was attended by local Councillors Matthew Riddle, Shirley Holloway and Claire Young, along with volunteers, sponsors and presenters. This is the culmination of over 16 years of work by the countless volunteers who have been involved over those years. The FM service is designed to cover Thornbury and surrounding villages – including Alveston, Olveston, Tytherington, Oldbury-on-Severn, Leyhill, Wickwar, Bagstone and Iron Acton. Listeners will hear many programmes coming live from the studio right in the heart of Thornbury. Other shows will be more specialist music and talk shows. There will be something for everyone, including national and local news, weather, and the What’s On guide. Chris Criddle, the station manager, said: “We are delighted to be on air across Thornbury and the surrounding area. The station will play a great mix of music, highlight information about our local area, and be the place for everyone to talk about Thornbury and the surrounding area. Please do listen in, let us know what you think and join us in making Thornbury Radio the choice and voice for local listeners, events and organisations. Finally, thank you to everyone who has helped make the station launch on FM possible.” Thornbury Radio’s mission is to give a voice to Thornbury and the surrounding area. Over the years, more than 300 local volunteers of all ages have delivered local radio programming on the station. There is still lots of work to do to ensure the success of the station, from training volunteer presenters, through to station admin and ongoing maintenance of the technical kit. If you are interested, then please do visit www.thornbury.radio and complete the volunteer form. The station will continue to develop over the next five years, with the support of the local community.
Thornbury Library News Wild World Heroes, Summer Reading Challenge 2021! Join the Wild World Heroes for the Summer Reading Challenge at a South Gloucestershire library from Saturday 10 July to Saturday 11 September, and discover how you can make a difference to the environment too. To get involved, children read 6 books over the summer holiday and collect stickers to complete their special Wild World Heroes poster to get a medal and certificate. It’s FUN and FREE to take part. Please encourage your children to visit the library and sign up, and see the difference the Summer Reading Challenge makes to their reading. “My child’s reading abilities have grown leaps and bounds!” “My children love doing the reading challenge each year. Getting the medal and certificate is a real incentive to keep reading.” (Parent feedback) NEW this year, our Mini Challenge, specially designed for pre-school children. Pick up your FREE craft bag of awesome animal activities to make at home when you join Wild World Heroes. See: www.southglos.gov.uk/librarychanges
Tr e e Surgery
Professional care to all your
Trees & Hedges
David Jones
0 1 4 5 3 511647
hedgestreesurgery@hotmail.co.uk.
22 Leaze Close,
Berkeley, Glos.
GL13 9DAChurch Road, Oldbury on Severn, S. Glos BS35 1QA
Tel: 01454 501090
Covid-19 Notice
Opening Hours Run by volunteers
Opening hours
MonExtended to:-- 5pm
to Fri 8am
for the benefit of
Saturday
Monday, 9amWednesday
Tuesday, - 2pm the community
Sunday
9 am to 9am - 1pm
1 pm As well as a great range
Thursday of basics at competitive
9 am to 1:30pm prices, we stock many
Friday local products. These
9 am to 3 pm include: fresh veg, meats,
ice cream, honey, jams,
Saturday eggs and cakes.
9 am to 2:00pm
Sunday We also sell newspapers,
9 am to 1 pm Hobbs House bread, plus
Café Inside Closed award winning wines &
Until further notice beers.
New Volunteers
Takeaway
Always Welcome Come and see.
teas and coffees You may be
Call Marie Stephens on:
For updates check
01454 411134
https://www.facebook.com/
surprised!
to find out more
OldburyCommunityShopSupplied and Erected
Neil Vizard
01454 419108
JC 4x4 Ltd
SPECIALIST IN LANDROVER
SERVICE • REPAIR WORK • DIAGNOSTICS • MOTs
OTHER VEHICLES WELCOME
Call James 01454 261067 / 07966 086447
Pavilion For Hire
Contact Denise Young
01454 419062
Hire charge is £15 per 3 hour session including use of tables and
chairs( Tables and Chairs can be used elsewhere for a hire charge of
£3 per table And 50p per chair)
Sorry no dogs allowed in playing field area Westmarsh Lane
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