Category Archives: Cream Tea

Sheldon Jottings for May 2013

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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

Sheldon Jottings for April 2013

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Kath Melland and family wish to sincerely thank everyone, relatives, friends and neighbours for their comfort and support throughout this very sad time of David’s passing. Thank you for cards, flowers and donations and to everyone who braved the weather on David’s funeral day. Thank you to Rev. Tony and Aron for conducting the funeral making sure the people outside the church could hear the service.

We need to complete our eulogy to Pauline, whose milk delivery many of us rely on. Public transport can stop running when it snows and schools can close, but Pauline battles through with her deliveries and these begin at some dark hour of the  morning long before most people surface.  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. We are not afforded the necessity of a council plough/ gritting lorry when it is really needed – so thank you again Pauline.

We have been asked about the appearance of the small twee stumps around a green at the top of the village. Can anyone enlighten us all? We are a rugged, working village and immensely proud of it.

Some good news – Sheila has justly been awarded a Derbyshire Dales District Council Chairman’s Community Award for her services to Sheldon. The ceremony was on 21st March at the Town Hall, Matlock; hearty congratulations Sheila!

Take note – Weds April 17th at 7.30pm in the village hall, the History Group welcomes Danny  Wells to give a talk about Joseph Paxton. Paxton, known as ‘the busiest man in England’ was an architect, garden and park designer and much more. He was responsible for several features and buildings at Chatsworth and in the surrounding area and is buried at Edensor.  All are welcome.

Our famous cream teas in the village hall begin again after the difficult and dreary winter – March 31st – cancelled due to bad weather,  May 5th,  May  26th and August 25th. Please come and visit us and really indulge yourselves!

Don’t forget to comment (by April 2nd) if you feel strongly, on the plans for the night time switch-off of most of our street lighting. Everyone will have received notification of this via e-mail or paper copy.

Dates for the Diary

Vicar’s coffee morning: Tues 16th April at 10.00am in the Cock and Pullet, afterwards APCM in the church.

Parish Meeting (AGM): Weds 10th April at 7.30pm in the village hall

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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Jottings for June 2012

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June 2nd, the start of the Diamond Jubilee weekend is a very special one for Alex and Gemma, who are getting married in our church that day. Gemma says they would welcome anyone from the village at the ceremony. They live in Sheffield, and saw a picture of our church when visiting Buxton. They came to the church, fell in love with it and the village, and determined to get married here. So all the best to Gemma and Alex for a very happy life together.

Cream teas on May Bank Holiday Sunday were a huge £240 success. The walkers were out in abundance; well done to the team! The next cream teas are on the Diamond Jubilee Sunday, June 3rd,  from 2pm in the Village Hall. Come and celebrate with a Sheldon cream tea!

Sheldon is also celebrating with a family/village picnic on Tuesday June 5th, from 12 noon onwards, on the playing fields. It’s a bring-your-own-picnic event, with a rounders competition as well, for those who fancy their chances! Thanks to Andrew, Lindsey and the team for organising it. Everyone welcome, from far and near.

Dianne and husband Kevin, and children James & Ady, have now returned to New Zealand after a most enjoyable time with Adrienne, Elaine and the Blackshaw family. While they were here it was Judith’s birthday and there was a great gathering of the clan. Dianne says she loves visiting Sheldon (who wouldn’t?) but NZ is still best.

Our twice-monthly Communion Services in the church continue to flourish. It shows the importance of a local church, and you can’t get much more local than our small, beautiful, peaceful church, welcoming to all and important to the whole community especially when we remember those who are sick in the parish by name each service. Recently we’ve been praying especially for Ann Lomas, very ill in hospital for some time, David Melland who hasn’t been well, and me too. A great comfort. Illness of anyone touches us all in a small community.

I was watching the sparrows the other day…they’ve taken to our bathroom…we can’t open the window or they are in, thinking they are home. Sparrows might be in decline elsewhere, but not in Sheldon! Neither are the swallows, now busy with their nests and new families. They like our open windows too!

The village History Group is having a lively time. The May meeting looked into the history of our farming families with the Farming Life Centre. The June meeting, on Monday June 11th, is a guided tour of Temple Mine and the Mining Museum at Matlock Bath; booking is essential.

The June Parish Meeting is now on Monday June 25th at 7pm in the Village Hall. This is because the Peak District National Park Authority’s Chief Executive, Jim Dixon, and Chair of the Authority, Tony Favell, will be visiting the village that afternoon, and then coming to the start of the Parish Meeting. A separate programme for the day will be sent round to everyone later.

Please note that only registered voters within the parish (i.e. on the electoral roll) are able to attend the Parish Meeting, and public attendance is discretionary and by prior arrangement with the Parish Chair.

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.