Kempsford & Whelford
Allan Morriss
morrissmajors@btinternet.com

  • THERE was a very good turn-out for the Kempsford church fete held on Saturday last with attendees enjoying some excellent music, dancing from the Appalachian Clog Dancers and some interesting stalls and activities in beautiful surroundings courtesy of Mrs Ipek Williamson. Despite the doubtful weather, which rather spoilt the latter part of the afternoon, the event made a profit of some £1,500 for church funds, for which the organisers, stall holders and attendees should be very proud. Well done to all who made this possible.
  • WHELFORD social club have live music on Saturday, September 24 from 8pm. The club is open on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8pm-noon12am and on Sundays from noon12-6pm and from 8-11pm with regular bingo on Wednesdays and Sundays.
  • COMMUNITY First Responders, (volunteers who attend emergency calls ahead of an ambulance), who cover the local area from Lechlade to Kempsford, via Fairford are always required. If you are interested contact Stephen Andrews at andrews@btinternet.com or call 07795 915902. The next course is September 24 and 25.
  • RESIDENTS are reminded that the dates for waste collection in our area have been changed. Instead of Mondays, the collection will now be on Fridays, commencing tomorrow (September 23) for food waste and green bin again. The next collection for ALL bins will be on Friday, September 30.
  • THE Harvest Festival service at St Mary's on Sunday, September 25 led by Rev Curwen Rawlinson will now start at 11am and will be followed by a bring 'n' share lunch at the village hall from 12pm. If you are attending this event it would be helpful if you would phone Rosemary on 01285 810663 in advance.
  • THE church is also taking part in Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child and would welcome hand-knitted hats and scarves for the shoeboxes which will be filled at a coffee and cake morning on Saturday, November 5 between 10am and noon12pm.

Fairford
Chris Roberts
0744 350 0744
chris@cotswoldwireless.co.uk

 

  • IN ORDER to raise money for the charity that is trying to save dogs being used in the meat trade in China, Liz Coe of Face Beauty Company, Fairford, is opening her clinic one Saturday every month and will donate all the proceeds from the day to the charity. The next fundraising day will be this Saturday. To book your discounted treatment, email Liz on info@facebeautycompany.co.uk 
  • FAIRFORD’S firefighters will be washing cars for the firefighters’ charity on Saturday, September 24, from 9am-1pm in Fairford market place. 
  • AT THE September meeting of the Fairford WI, Merleen Watson from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People gave a fascinating talk on the work of these amazing dogs. In the business of the meeting, two new members were welcomed. The next meeting is on Wednesday, October 5. For more information, please contact Jean Moulden on 01285 713308.
  • A NEW councillor has been elected unopposed to Fairford town council. He is Andrew Doherty, who has lived in the area for 14 years. 
  • COMMUNITY First Responders (CFR) are volunteers who support their local community by attending emergency calls ahead of an ambulance. Before appointment and issue of equipment, volunteers will be expected to have completed an enhanced disclosure and barring service check and will receive training, including a day on shift with a crew. The next course is being arranged for Saturday and Sunday, September 24-25, and Saturday and Sunday, October 1-2. Find out more from Stephen Andrews on 07795 915902 or email andrews@btinternet.com
  • THE Fairford, Faringdon, Filkins & Burford ploughing championship and country show is on Saturday, September 24, at Donkeywell Farm, Quenington, GL7 5DH. Heavy horses and vintage steam. Details 07393 437365 or ploughingmatch.co.uk 
  • THE official opening of Fairford junior rugby club pitches at Leafield Road is on Sunday, September 25, by England and Gloucester star Billy Twelvetrees. Contact David Gee on 07876 682048, Scott Cohoon on 07976 946731 or visit the Facebook page facebook.com/frfcjuniors
  • SALSA classes will be starting on Monday, September 26, and every Monday night from 8.15-9.15pm in the Palmer Hall. A six-week course costs £36 each. More details from Clare on 07766 265223.
  • AS REAL or perceived speeding in certain areas of Fairford continues to be a concern, a community speedwatch public meeting is being held on Wednesday, September 28, at 7pm in Fairford community centre to encourage more people to be trained in speed monitoring. Fairford town council already has its own speed detection device but requires volunteers willing to be trained by the police on how to use it. Training takes place on a Saturday at Cirencester police station and is not complicated. To find out more, call the town council on 01285 712344 or Chris Roberts on 01285 712150.
  • THE annual Macmillan coffee morning will be held at Fairford Bowls Club on Friday, September 30, from 10am-12pm.
  • MORE volunteers are needed to help at the Edna Dawes Lunch Club on Mondays and/or Wednesdays. To volunteer, please contact Kate Barnes on 01285 851084 or Shirley Rice on 01367 253096.

Lechlade
M Hing
mzh@stickonsigns.co.uk

  • PARALYMPIC rower, Naomi Riches set off from Lechlade at 4pm on Saturday, September 17, to row the whole length of the Thames to Gravesend Pier in less than 50 hours. Naomi has nystagmus which is a condition that develops in infancy and is related to poor vision caused by a variety of eye conditions. She is hoping to raise £165,000 (£1 for each mile of the Thames) for In-vision, a charity supporting research into infantile nystagmus which affects 1 in 1,000 children. She will have finished the row on Monday but you can find out more and how to sponsor her at thegreat thamesrow.org
  • THE destruction of the Lechlade Memorial Hall led to the cancellation of many events being organised in the building. One of those events was to be a black tie dinner dance to celebrate the Queen’s 90th Birthday. Needless to say that event did not take place, much to the disappointment of those wishing to attend and also from the organisers who had put so much time and effort in putting the evening together. The previous dinner dance committee have now arranged a black tie dinner dance on Friday, October 7. Wrag Barn golf club at Highworth has kindly allowed the event to be held there and we now have an opportunity to enjoy, as a community, an evening of fine dining and live music. For the ticket price of £45 per person return transport will be included from Lechlade. There will be a glass of bubbly on arrival and there is a pay bar. Any profits from the event will be donated to the new Memorial Hall Restoration Fund. The sooner the funds can be raised, the sooner this community gets back to enjoying the facilities the hall offered. There are 140 places available but many have already been taken up. You can obtain more information on this event by contacting Tim on 01367252474 or email yeoman_tim@yahoo.co.uk or Jane on 01367253655.