First of all congratulations from us all to Noel and Adrienne Blackshaw, fifty seven years ago on June 5th they were married in Sheldon Church, congratulations to you both.
We’re all looking forward to Sheldon Day which is July 23rd, with the fell race on the Thursday (21st). This year we are planning a small produce tent (as well as the poultry tent like we had last year) with victoria sandwich, flower arrangement in a jar, garden on a plate, decorated cupcakes and country jam or chutney all being judged with rosettes up for the winners; entry details are here. Bunting will be going up at 7.00 pm on Tuesday 19th and all help will be greatly appreciated as usual. Andrew and others will be coming round the village collecting bottles, chocolate, plants and white elephant at the same time. We are still looking for helpers on the day so please make yourself known to one of the organisers if you can help out. Last year we had over 300 visitors and are hoping for even more this year. Once again we have the Red Cross booked, and once again we will have the police coming with their car to show the children.
We’ve now joined Peak Hydro Forum and Ian Sterritt is leading the planning for using the old Bobbin Mill again for providing electricity. Ian attended a recent green communities conference which included a presentation on potential renewable energy Hydro sites throughout the Peak District. Our interest of course is in doing something with the Bobbin Mill that provides electricity to the village. The first issue we want to resolve is the distance to a grid connection and how to use the old pumping station water pipe trench to run a cable without the need for costly major groundwork…fingers crossed.
The regular Sunday cream teas have started, very successfully. The May event made a profit of over £60 (which given the horrible weather that day was better than anyone expected), and the next one, on June 26th, will have happened by the time you are reading these jottings, so fingers crossed it is a great success.
Next village coffee morning with the vicar is on Tuesday July 5th in the pub. Sorry we had to cancel last month’s, an inadvertent double booking of the village hall…just one of those things unfortunately, but the July coffee morning should be doubly successful.
Incidentally, it is an early change to the diary but the date of the August Parish meeting has been changed. The date I gave at the last Parish meeting, August 10th, clashes with Ashover show which is a popular place to visit from the village. The following Wednesday August 17th is the regular local history group in the village hall, so it is now Tuesday August 16th.
