As I’m writing this month’s jottings (mid September) I’m looking out at the swallows swooping round, flying low, enjoying the weather and the insects. There were 29 of them perched on our aerial the other day, with another ten or so swooping round, waiting for their turn! This village is very much a swallow village; it should be our village emblem!
Congratulations to Ken Brocklehurst! We nominated him for a Derbyshire County Council Excellence in the Community award, and he’s been successful. No-one deserves it more than Ken. Part of the nomination statement said “Over the years, he has been a stalwart of the village community but especially helpful to the Parish Meeting. He allows the Parish meeting to use his outbuildings to store material, chairs, and anything necessary. His view is that he is helping in his own way to improve the life of his beloved Sheldon for everyone. In the past, also for Sheldon Day, he has offered the use of his outbuildings for various shows, poultry, pets and the like. Ken is always there to offer his help with donations towards all our events, especially the cream teas and regular flower donations for the church.” He’ll receive his award on Monday, October 15th at the Dome in Buxton. Well done Ken!
On the village website there is now a special Nature Watch page about the wildlife in and around Sheldon, with some lovely photos, written by village resident Mark Witherall. Mark is an ecologist and has a deep interest in all things natural. He’s worked hard on producing this page and it’s getting loads of hits.
Georgina says she appears to have found herself representing Sheldon on the Monyash, Flagg and Sheldon broadband project committee, whilst John is out of action undergoing police training (I hear he’s finding it pretty demanding but is doing well). Georgina will be great doing this job for our village! The new date of the community meeting about the project is Thursday 4th October, 7.30pm in Monyash Village Hall. We really need to encourage as many people as we possibly can to go to the meeting. This is our chance to ask about how improved broadband could be put in place and how the service would operate. We’ll need to make decisions on how we move the project forward too.
Ann reminds us that the Church is looking for someone to take over cleaning the church. At the moment it is being done very efficiently by those whose turn it is to do the flowers. This seems to be a good solution rather than the burden falling on one only. It certainly spreads the load. So if there are others who would like to take their turn doing the flowers with cleaning of the church as well, as part of a wider and extended rota, please let Ann or Julia or Michelle know.
Parish Meeting: October 10th
Vicar’s coffee morning: 10am October 2nd