Well, Christmas is almost upon us and this is when our small interlocking and caring community really comes into its own and makes Sheldon that much more special. We see it in so any ways, at our church services for a start, something I pondered recently watching the sun stream through our beautiful stained glass windows. Canon Tony talked about the nature of our local community, and our neighbour Ashford-in-the-Water, at our Remembrance Day service when Marlene so reverently laid the wreath on behalf of the 14 or so present. We will see it when as a community we have our Nativity procession and our Christmas Light Up. The Nativity procession is on Sunday 18th December, beginning at church at 4pm and ending in Harold’s barn, with stops on the way. Come and be part of the Sheldon community in this real preparation for Christmas.
Sheldon Christmas Light Up is on Saturday 3rd December, 4.30 pm onwards. The enginemen will be setting up throughout the day so Pauline and Elaine ask if we can have all cars off the road from Saturday morning by 9am. All volunteers welcome as are donations of mince pies and raffle prizes; please speak to Elaine or Pauline. We would also like everyone to light their houses up for the event if possible. There will be a big Christmas Tree outside the Village Hall as well, another sign of the togetherness of our community.
This month we saw irreplaceable links cut with our historic community past. John and Dorothy Frost sold their farm, for a new life in Monyash. Their family had been in Manor Farm for well over 150 years. Farewell also to Maurice and Judy Turner who, after 46 years in Sheldon, have moved into Bakewell to rent while they decide on their future plans. We wish both families the very best for the future. Our community present continues as we welcome Andy and Angela to Lower Farm and Mark and Angela to Manor Farm.
One of the major results of John and Dorothy’s move was their farmyard sale… hundreds and hundreds of people came from all over the country (and Ireland) and our community (mainly Oliver and Andrew) helped them load and pulled them out when they got bogged. Togetherness! John and Dorothy gave the history group some vintage goods which will continue to provide a link between now and the past and Manor Farm’s origin. Not forgetting the old horse-drawn plough which Oliver and Andrew bought, to do up and put, they tell me, in their Mum’s front garden! Apparently it had been in its place on the farm since 1947, so a bit of our heritage stays in Sheldon.
The new non-emergency number for the Police is 101
The new non-emergency number for NHS Direct is 111
Dates for diary:
Parish meeting on Wednesday Dec 14 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall
Vicar’s coffee morning on Tuesday Dec 6th in the pub at 10am
A very Happy Christmas to you all.