Category Archives: Birthdays

Sheldon Jottings for March 2013

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More sad news here when we heard David Melland had passed away. David was born in the village and had lived here all his life. He worked as a joiner and a builder and also on his smallholding, but will best be remembered for constructing the ‘Cock and Pullet’ which he opened with his wife Kath in 1996. Our sympathies go out to Kath and all David’s family. His funeral was on 14th February in a packed Sheldon Church and many, many more people who were standing outside had a corresponding service conducted by Aron, our Curate.

During all the icy and snowy weather we experienced in January and February our milk arrived on the doorstep as usual. Thank you Pauline for such a reliable service. Public transport can stop running, schools can close,  but Pauline battles through with her deliveries and these begin in the dark in the early hours of the morning!  Sheldon, sitting on the edge of a plateau at over 320 metres (1000 feet), gets real weather and amounts of snow unimaginable in places even just slightly lower in altitude. But we are not afforded the necessity of a council plough/ gritting lorry when it’s really needed. However, Sheldon people are made of stern stuff and we have some very courageous ‘essential workers’ – including a doctor, policeman, nurse and a DCC worker, who all bravely manage to get to work to help other people and provide vital services. Our unsung heroes /heroines – you all deserve medals.

Brian Greasley is researching the story of the school here in Sheldon. He has spent many happy hours at the Record Office in Matlock and has revealed a fascinating story of this little school. However, he is now asking for our help. If anyone has any photographs or memorabilia, or has been passed memories from that time,  he would be delighted to know. There are particular mysteries; the photograph taken of the children in 1896; medals which were given to each child to commemorate the Jubilee in June 1897; any photograph taken of the school between 1878 and 1970, even if the building is in the background. He would be most grateful for any help you can give. Please contact Brian on 01629 813055.

Exciting news about getting super-fast broadband to our village. The Monyash, Flagg and Sheldon broadband project has been approached by a super-fast wireless internet service provider. They have said that if we can get 40 households between the 3 villages to sign up to their super-fast broadband package, they will install all the necessary infrastructure and jump through all the potential planning issues on our behalf. There will be 3 tiers of service offered, with the fastest being 35 Mbps….approx 70 times faster than what most of us currently have! Watch this space for more information.

Andrew has been happily helping to renovate Colin ‘s 1947 Fordson tractor. Perhaps it will be in the next Sheldon Tractor Run?  Pat has recently celebrated a big birthday with a 0 on the end – don’t worry Pat as there are several who will be doing likewise this year! Perhaps they should have one big ‘knees – up’ to which all are invited? The other February birthday was baby Harriet who was one year old. Angie and Andy have a new addition to their family – Reggie, a new fox terrier puppy and adorable.

Dates for the Diary

Tuesday 5th March
Vicar’s Coffee Morning at the ‘Cock and Pullet’

Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th in the Village Hall
Sheldon History Display

Sheldon Jottings for July 2012

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Congratulations, and best wishes from us all to Noel and Adrienne for their 58th wedding anniversary on June 5th.

Sheldon Day, July 21st at 2.0

0pm, with the Fell Race on Thursday 19th at 7.30pm. With the growing success of the produce, poultry and pets show there is now a Sheldon Day Best in Show Cup to be awarded to the best-of-the-best in the produce tent. Victoria sponges, decorated cup cakes, miniature gardens-on-a-plate, home made jams and chutneys bring them all. The bunting is going up on Tuesday 17th July, so all help gratefully received from around 7.00 pm onwards. That evening Andrew will also be coming around collecting for the Chocolate Tombola, Bottle Stall, Books, Plants and any Raffle Prizes or bric-a-brac; please have anything spare ready! Also, please bring cakes and jams to the stall outside Top Farm on the Saturday.

Gemma and Alex’s wedding was held in our Church at the beginning of June. The rain held off just long enough for the bride and groom to go to the playing field for the post-nuptial photos…and a lovely couple they looked. It was great to see them both so happy, sitting on the swings in the playground as the photos were taken. Then off to the reception in a vintage car. A very happy event, and two very happy people. Congratulations and all the best for your life together.

A truly terrible day, weather-wise, for the Diamond Jubilee Cream Teas on the Bank Holiday Sunday. There might not have been many customers, but that didn’t matter. The bunting flapped happily and soggily in the breeze; the tables were decorated to perfection. The goodies table was full of locally made, grown, and laid produce. Sponge cakes, a diamond jubilee cake, lots of other eatables, eggs, biscuits etc and, ahhh, Rocky Road. Lindsey made the rocky road, my favourite, so we bought some to take to our friends in Austria on my first excursion away for about 12 months. As a special treat, Sarah, Colin and young Joshua made a sudden decision to fly over from Sydney to Vienna to holiday with us. For the last few days, as an extra treat, our son Andrew also joined us.

On Diamond Jubilee Tuesday afternoon, a village picnic on the playing field. It was a delight to see the great community spirit. About 35 came for the picnic; then it was time for rounders. It was great to see everyone having such family fun (fortunately I arrived after the teams had been picked). Pauline’s team always won (because of her demon bowling or is it pitching) and Colin Jones took the batting prize for furthest wallop. We have jubilee coins for all under 18s in the village, so if you haven’t claimed yours please contact Lindsey or Andrew. And there are Sheldon Day badges as well.

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Congratulations, and best wishes from us all to Noel and Adrienne for their 58th wedding anniversary on June 5th.
Sheldon Day, July 21st at 2.00pm, with the Fell Race on Thursday 19th at 7.30pm. With the growing success of the produce, poultry and pets show there is now a Sheldon Day Best in Show Cup to be awarded to the best-of-the-best in the produce tent. Victoria sponges, decorated cup cakes, miniature gardens-on-a-plate, home made jams and chutneys bring them all. The bunting is going up on Tuesday 17th July, so all help gratefully received from around 7.00 pm onwards. That evening Andrew will also be coming around collecting for the Chocolate Tombola, Bottle Stall, Books, Plants and any Raffle Prizes or bric-a-brac; please have anything spare ready! Also, please bring cakes and jams to the stall outside Top Farm on the Saturday.
Gemma and Alex’s wedding was held in our Church at the beginning of June. The rain held off just long enough for the bride and groom to go to the playing field for the post-nuptial photos…and a lovely couple they looked. It was great to see them both so happy, sitting on the swings in the playground as the photos were taken. Then off to the reception in a vintage car. A very happy event, and two very happy people. Congratulations and all the best for your life together.
A truly terrible day, weather-wise, for the Diamond Jubilee Cream Teas on the Bank Holiday Sunday. There might not have been many customers, but that didn’t matter. The bunting flapped happily and soggily in the breeze; the tables were decorated to perfection. The goodies table was full of locally made, grown, and laid produce. Sponge cakes, a diamond jubilee cake, lots of other eatables, eggs, biscuits etc and, ahhh, Rocky Road. Lindsey made the rocky road, my favourite, so we bought some to take to our friends in Austria on my first excursion away for about 12 months. As a special treat, Sarah, Colin and young Joshua made a sudden decision to fly over from Sydney to Vienna to holiday with us. For the last few days, as an extra treat, our son Andrew also joined us.
On Diamond Jubilee Tuesday afternoon, a village picnic on the playing field. It was a delight to see the great community spirit. About 35 came for the picnic; then it was time for rounders. It was great to see everyone having such family fun (fortunately I arrived after the teams had been picked). Pauline’s team always won (because of her demon bowling or is it pitching) and Colin Jones took the batting prize for furthest wallop. We have jubilee coins for all under 18s in the village, so if you haven’t claimed yours please contact Lindsey or Andrew. And there are Sheldon Day badges as well.
Vicar’s coffee morning is Tuesday July 3rd.
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Sheldon Jottings for May 2012

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The Easter cream tea was a bit damp weather-wise (well horrible really) but that didn’t deter the team ready to dispense tea and scones to all comers. They had for the first time a goodies table on which were Sheldon-made cakes, Rocky Road (how did they know this is one of my favourite things), duck and chicken eggs, and other local produce for sale which made over £40; the teas made something similar. The best part was the great spirit that pervaded the group in the Hall that afternoon, and the fun they had…incidentally the Hall looked perfect with the tables beautifully decorated.

Best wishes to Peter and Sarah as they prepare for the baptism of their daughter Harriet. Oliver is to be one of the Godparents, and very pleased about it he is too. Oliver’s Mum, Julia, had a big and important birthday, but I’m not telling which! The family celebrated in style at Hassop Hall, so all best birthday wishes to you, Julia.

What an amazing farming village we are. During a recent family visit, we took our very young city granddaughters to see some genuine farm animals: first to Lindsey’s to see the nineteen piglets, and feed Rebecca, the huge sow; and then to Top Farm with new-born lambs and calves, cows, ducks, cockerels, three turkeys (with Bernard the stag looking very proud) – the ferret didn’t oblige by coming out to see us, and we forgot the pheasant. We finished at Wendy’s, to pat the horses….who needs Chatsworth, it’s all here. We then had fresh eggs (the village the village is awash with fresh eggs for sale) and sausages from Lindsey and Colin’s last two pigs…100% best cuts of pork, truly delicious….she still has some, so get yours while you can.

This precious farming life and history of our village will be celebrated at the May History group meeting (on the 16th) with a visit from the Farming Life Centre. All the Sheldon farming families (past and present) will be invited to record information about the history of farming in Sheldon; our farming families are to be treasured.

April was the AGM of Sheldon Parish Meeting and we warmly welcomed our new residents, Angie and Andy of Lower Farm. It was great to see them, especially as Andy drove back from Bradford specially to come to the meeting. It was our annual elections, and I again felt highly honoured being re-elected as Chairman for another year.

We are an extremely safe village, but it is always good to see the mobile police van which was with us on April 16th, this time selling special security alarms for farming outbuildings, to add to our safety.

Finally, thanks to Oliver who has volunteered (!) to take over from me on village hall mowing duty… thanks Ollie… I’m very grateful.

The Vicar’s coffee morning: May 2nd in the Pub.

Sheldon Jottings for September 2011

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Lots of good news this month (sorry for the late posting of this…)

Wonderful news for Rosemary and Sam Swindell’s daughter Heather and son-in-law Brian on August 6th.. Heather had a baby boy, 8lbs.4 ozs. Arthur William. Congratulations to the whole family, and welcome to the world, Arthur William. I know it won’t be the last time you figure in the Jottings.

Welcome back to Ken, who has been in hospital for a serious operation, but is now back home and getting better rapidly. No tractors though Ken! On August 25th he celebrated his 80th birthday, so as well as best wishes for his continued  good health, very many happy returns on a wonderful day. Adrienne Blackshaw celebrated her 80th the next day, August 26th. Warmest and best congratulations also to you, Adrienne.

Another milestone birthday, this time for Andrew Lester who is 18 on September 7th. Very many happy returns to you Andrew and all the best for the future.

Congratulations to Ralph and Pat Lord, who celebrated their Ruby  wedding anniversary on August 14th. Here’s to another 40 years yet to come.

Thanks to Phil Gregory  and Sheldon Garage who stepped in and sponsored the whole of the Fell Race this year…we are most grateful for this generosity and it made £525.

Sheldon Day  this year was one of the best ever. A magnificent grand total raised too: £4225.47, which after expenses, means we have £3117.86 as a result. My thanks to the Sheldon Day team, and to everyone in the village for making it such a record fun filled day. I always think the church flowers weld the whole day together and make it unique. Gill and David Harper  asked me to pass on their congratulations to everyone involved on what they  thought was the most beautiful flower display in the church on Sheldon Day ever – the theme of life and its stages was so well done.

It’s been a busy Cream teas time for the team in the village. The Sheldon Day Cream teas, always a record breaker, surpassed itself this year with a grand total £516. That means there must have been about 200 people served in the three hours between 2-5pm. The queue was long, out the door and down the path for much of the afternoon, so much so that they actually, for the first time, sold out of scones while there were still people wanting afternoon tea. The washer uppers, the servers, those who collected from the tables, everyone did a magnificent job, and I hear were all shattered by the end of the day. The new boiler, I was glad to hear, despite some initial concerns, proved perfect for the job. The following Sunday there was another cream tea event, and although slower (I don’t think they could have coped with another like Sheldon Day) made  over £100. The next Cream teas is Sunday August 28th from 2-5pm in the village hall.

September coffee morning:  September 6th in the hall

Sheldon Jottings for June 2011

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Our Royal Wedding day in the village Hall was a great success. Oli Hall (two and a half) and Miriam Swift (eighteen months old) were the perfect Prince and Princess. The hall looked fabulous all decked out with Union Jack bunting, flags, streamers and balloons, and the cake, (thanks Peak Pantry) delicious.  The organisation, masterminded by Georgina, extended over many weeks. The wedding was projected from John Tanner’s laptop to the big screen in the Hall, and quite a lot from the village with their friends watched. It all worked very well, despite the occasional pigeon on the aerial… the afternoon party in the Hall was a great success, a wonderful community event. So much food, from so many, everyone taking part.  Well done Georgina, John, Marlene, Pat and everyone who helped.  There are still a few of the Royal Wedding mugs for sale, cheap at £4 each.

Congratulations and many happy returns to Oliver Lester who was 21 on May 2nd. From all accounts he, and the family, had a great time. The 21st party was at Hassop Hall, a favourite with the family, it was where Oliver’s Dad proposed to his Mum and where they had their wedding reception all those years ago. A special place for them. A week or so before Oliver’s 21st, Phil’s wife Jo had a birthday celebration there as well. Congratulations to her as well.

Remember, Sheldon Day is July 23rd, and Thursday July 21th the Fell Race. The Sheldon Day team will be coming round for donations for white elephant, chocolate, bottles, books and plants on July 19th at 19h00, so start putting things aside for that now. All donations etc. still gratefully received.

One of our treasured younger families, Emma, Reuben and their children are on the move. That is the sad bit because we’ll miss them. The glad bit: they’ve bought a farm not too far away so will be moving there when their house is sold. Congratulations and all success for an exciting new life.

The cream tea rota organised by the newly formed Village Hall Cream Teas Team got under way with the first of its cream teas on May 22nd. There was a separate cream teas in the village hall on Easter Sunday afternoon as part of the preparations for our Royal Wedding celebration day, and that made £130.  So a big thank you to everyone who has volunteered to take part in running the cream teas this year, over 20 residents are involved. The next Cream tea is in the village Hall on Sunday afternoon June 26th.

Fascinating coffee morning in May at the Pub when Rev Canon Tony explained what it meant to be now a Canon of the Cathedral. More sermons certainly, red on his cassock, but, as he said with a smile, no more money…congratulations.

Coffee morning: Tuesday June 7th in the Village Hall

Parish meeting: Wednesday June 8th at 19h30 in the Village Hall