The unseasonal weather and the heaviest fall of snow for years brought out the best in everyone in the village. A great community spirit prevailed with folk helping each other and looking after their neighbours. The Gregory’s seemed to be everywhere clearing the drifts, some of them over 6 feet high, and they still had their work to do on the farm. The council gritters and snow ploughs were conspicuous by their absence and thus the milk lorry could not get through, so 3 days worth of milk at the farm was poured away.
Several villagers have asked us to thank all those who helped out, clearing snow, shopping for those who were unable to get to Bakewell, clearing paths to houses, to the Church and Village Hall, and for just being there as one can feel quite ‘hemmed in’ with such deep snow. Rosemary and Sam were particularly grateful for all who helped them – the wartime spirit is still alive and well in Sheldon! Several events were cancelled due to the conditions – the Palm Sunday Church Service, the annual History Group Exhibition and Easter Cream Teas.
Just one story of the many which will be told about the Easter weather of 2013 – Julia, checking on her sheep on Kirkdale, heard a tinkling in her ears but could not understand where it was coming from. Then suddenly it dawned on her, it was icicles in her hair being blown against each other in the wind! Mercifully, all their sheep are alive and well and now – it’s lambing time! During the cold winds of Easter the first lambs were born at Top Farm – new life to herald what we all hope will be a long, warm and beautiful late Spring and Summer. Amazingly, the tough but so delicate looking snowdrops were still flowering under the mountains of snow and they still are up here as we write this on the 9th April.
Our good wishes go to Wendy S who is recovering well from her recent major operation – hope you will soon be feeling on top form Wendy – from all of us.
There is a History Group visit to the Magpie Mine on Weds May 15th. We will be meeting at the Mine at 7.00pm for a conducted tour with Keith Gregory, a member of the Peak District Mines Historical Society. This is a great opportunity for those new to our village or Ashford, or for those who have not had the chance of a real tour of the site to learn more about it. For those who have a pretty good understanding of the Mine it will perhaps refresh and add to their knowledge. Come and join us for a pleasant and instructive evening.
For anyone who would like to know more about Sheldon go to our website at www.sheldonvillage.org.uk (editors note: Congratulations, you are already here!) The Nature Watch section on the website is written by our resident ecologist and you will find some wonderful pictures of our local wildlife.
Dates for the Diary
Sun May 5th and Sun May 26th
Cream Teas in the Village Hall