Sheldon Jottings for May 2019

Winter is behind us and Spring is in full swing! The lambs are entertaining us in the fields and the birds are busy and making full use of our dog’s hairs to line their nests, taking them from holders on the trees. Two people have seen a long-tailed tit up here. If only they would stay as they are such gorgeous little birds and reasonably common across the valley. (Please let us know if you see one). We never realised there were so many different shades of green until we saw the tremendous variety in the hedgerows and along the roadsides. The blossoms are wonderful as always – our damson tree has burst into a beautiful show for the first time in the ten years since it was planted. Here’s to a bumper crop of fruit and, of course, the best tasting jam of them all!

Our village always looks lovely in the Spring sunshine. The green of the fields with sheep and cows grazing, sets off the light grey of the walls surrounding them and of the houses of the village. Flowers appear in the window boxes and in the gardens making it a delight to walk through this attractive place in which we are so lucky to live. Incidentally – don’t the six Belted Galloway cattle look impressively beautiful in the sunshine as you drive out of the village.

Now it is Cream Tea time! We have already enjoyed the first and so delicious it was after the long winter wait. The next is on Sunday 5th May from 1pm to 5pm in the village hall. This is a special occasion because for the first time the village will also be having a yard sale. Villagers will be selling, bric-a-brac and other items at the front gates of their homes up and down the street. So here is an opportunity to wander around, to buy a few desirable items and then enjoy a superb cream tea – what better way to spend an afternoon in such a wonderful setting?

Then on 26th May, Whit Sunday, the third Cream Tea afternoon will take place – the last one before Sheldon Day to sit in the sunshine beneath the Cherry Tree and indulge oneself…..

Early in April the Book Club met and discussed ‘The Great Alone’ in depth as it was such an incredible read – amid nibbles, a drink and lots of chat at Wendy N’s – a super evening much enjoyed by all. If you have not been to one of these evenings and read the books, you really should try it. The next meeting will be on Tuesday 7th May at ‘The Old Farmhouse’ when the book to be discussed will be ‘The Hen who Dreamed She Could Fly’, an international best seller with 2 million copies sold worldwide and written by Sun-Mi Hwang.

We all knew that William J is an excellent pianist but what we did not realise was that he is also a talented guitarist. He recently passed his Standard 8 Classical Guitar exam with flying colours. Well done William! We also wish you well with your ‘A’ level exams which you will be taking soon.

You may be aware that a new exhibition has opened at the Buxton Museum called ‘Hoards: a hidden history of ancient Britain’ which will run until 16th June. These hoard collections are usually based on coins and in this exhibition have been loaned by the British Museum and Salisbury Museum. But you may not know that Sheldon has its own (just under 100) coin hoard found in 1867 when the new church in Sheldon was being built. Some of these coins date from 1142 and this hoard is one of only two of around this very early date found in Derbyshire so is incredibly rare. This was a period where a lack of silver and a challenging political climate meant only small amounts of coin were in circulation and all handmade. Sadly, ‘our’ hoard is locked away in the Chatsworth archives as they took possession at the time of the find.

Congratulations to Jude Webster who won the Church Draw this month with number 18.

DIARY DATES

Sunday 5th May 1pm to 5pm – Cream Teas in the Village Hall
ALSO – YARD SALE – STALLS THROUGHOUT THE VILLAGE 1pm to 5pm

Tuesday 7th May 7.30pm – Book Club at ‘The Old Farmhouse’

Sunday 26th May 1pm to 5pm – Cream Teas in the Village Hall