Sheldon Jottings for August 2011

By the time you’re reading this Sheldon Day will have come and gone, as will the annual Sheldon Fell Race. The village excelled itself this year looking even more beautiful than ever; we even managed to buy a new boiler in time for the village hall cream teas. Expect full details in September Jottings.

Wendy and Joe have two new Gloucester Oldspot pigs, and they are thriving; Lindsey on the other hand, has just sent theirs to the abbatoir …lots of orders for the meat I hear, and everyone says, delicious! But this year we have something even more exciting: beehives. Two sets of them. Georgina is following in her Dad Tony’s footsteps, he was the first to have them in the village many years ago, and Georgina now has a grand hive with very happy bees. I hear they have already had some delicious honeycomb. Nothing nicer than fresh, natural, local honey. And that’s also what we will be getting from Lindsey as well, her beehive, proudly settled in the front garden, is also very busy with happy bees. Bees, as well as all the other local wildlife makes this village even more special. But let’s not talk about all the baby rabbits, at least in our garden.

Andrew Lester has finished college in Buxton for the summer, and I hear he did very well in his first year exams. He’s having a  productive summer busily spray painting cars, and doing them very well I hear. Like his Dad.

The June Cream teas in the Village Hall went well. It was a slow day for walkers, but in the end a good profit of £82 was made and that’s what matters, although even more important is the satisfaction of those who came to enjoy their scones, jam, cream and cups of tea. Everyone was very satisfied indeed, so thanks to the team.

Emma and family have now sold their house and sadly it won’t be long before they leave us for their new farm. Maurice and Judy are in process of selling their property as well, so it is all change with a big slice of history disappearing when they go.

With the support of our local Police Safer Neighbour Team, we now have a security marking kit for our Church. Everything of value in the Church, and on the church, has now been marked. So thieves, don’t bother! Any concerns about what you think is suspicious activity can be reported via 0345 123 3333 and emergencies via 999

Finally, I have been re-elected as one of our Parish members on the National Park which makes me very proud. I was then re-elected Authority Chair of Planning, always an onerous but satisfying job, with lots of changes for good  in prospect. I’m pleased that the villages for which I will be responsible this time are all around here.

No vicar’s coffee morning in August. Our next Parish Meeting is on Tuesday August 16th at 19h30.