South Cerney
Mike Stuart
mikeannestuart@tiscali.co.uk
01285 860439

  • SINGING for Fun, the South Cerney-based group, has started its autumn sessions. Members are preparing for their next major concert which will be in All Hallows Church on Friday, November 11, when the group is taking part in the ‘Live On’ variety show in aid of the Royal British Legion Poppy appeal. Alongside Singing For Fun will be a host of local performers and musicians including A Splash of Red, an excellent singing group from Fairford, and students from MJ-UK music and arts. Cerney’s own Phil James will be master of ceremonies and there will be a donations bar and raffle. Tickets cost £7.50, free for those under 16, and are available from the Post Office or from Alan Fisher 860434.
  • THIS year’s Poppy appeal is being launched in Cerney on Saturday, October 29, with a coffee morning in the United Church from 10am-12.30pm. Please support this excellent fund by coming along for coffee, tea, cakes and toasted tea cakes. There is no charge, donations only to the Poppy appeal.
  • CAROLE Wilkinson, the South Cerney RBL Poppy appeal organiser, needs help with door-to-door collections around the parish. If you can spare a few hours please contact Carole on 860789.
  • THE South Cerney men’s supper club held its monthly meeting at the Old George last week when the speaker was Mike Easley who recounted tales of his career as a navigator in the RAF as well as explaining the basic theory of navigation techniques.
  • REHEARSALS for the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs are progressing well with numerous local children taking part. The South Cerney Players have their own Facebook page which gives a regularly updated progress report.
  • THE South Cerney Thursday group will meet in the village hall on October 13 when Katharine Isles will be the speaker telling the ladies about Dream Team television which is based here in the village. Any ladies wishing to know more about this group should phone either Lesley Homerston 869054 or Jill Annan 860152.

Siddington
Alison Wagstaff
01285 655838
awsiddington@yahoo.co.uk 

  • A SONGS of Praise service takes place at St. Peter’s Church on Sunday, starting at 10am.
  • DON’T forget that there’s still time to buy a ticket for the Harvest Supper taking place at the Village Hall on October 15. Contact Ann on 651915 or Jill on 654633 for further details. 
  • SIDDINGTON Evergreen Club next meet on Tuesday at 2.30pm in the Elizabeth Way Community Room. The speaker this month is Di Alexander, who will be talking about ‘The Mitford Sisters’.
  • THE Parish Council meets on Tuesday at 7.30pm in the Village Hall Committee Room. Residents are welcome to attend.
  • PLEASE note that 5pm today is the deadline for applications for the two vacant positions on the Parish Council. Further details are available in the October edition of the Village News.

Down Ampney
Melanie Fouracre
dastandard44@gmail.com

  • OCTOBER 6 is Down Ampney primary school’s open morning, from 9.30-10.30am. For further information please call Sharon Woodruffe – school administrator – on 01793 750294, email: dmin@downampney.gloucs.sch.uk, website: downampneyprimaryschool.co.uk.
  • PARISH Communion is at 10am at Harnhill on Sunday, October 9. 
  • THE village is now lucky enough to have a bus service. The first bus leaves at 9.28am and takes a circular route to Cirencester, calling at Tesco and the hospital. The last bus arrives in Down Ampney at 4.28pm. These times may change but current timetables are available from the village shop. Villagers are encouraged to use the service, or it will be lost.
  • CHRISTMAS is coming and the village shop now has everything in stock to make Christmas cakes and puddings.
  • THE Parish Council reports that the state of the paths and road markings throughout the village have been brought to the attention of Cllr Parsons at Gloucestershire County Council who has undertaken to investigate why there are delays in action being taken. He will also push for more timely responses to the parish council’s requests.
  • THE Local Plan responses have been submitted to Cotswold District Council (CDC) and it is hoped that following the visit of CDC’s strategic planning director, the village’s concerns about the Co-op’s demands will not go unnoticed. CDC’s submission of the Local Plan to the Secretary of State is expected to be sent in late autumn this year. The parish council will keep villager’s informed of any news.
  • FURTHER speed checks will be undertaken in October, following the success of the exercise carried out in September at a number of locations within the 30mph limit in the village. The majority of motorists were found to be travelling between 24 and 30mph, while a very few were logged exceeding the speed limit, some travelling up to 42mph. Anyone wishing to join the current team of trained volunteers who carry out this work should contact the parish council chairman, Peter Sillett. Contact details can be found on the parish council website at downampneyvillage.co.uk
  • OCTOBER 13 is the next book club meeting. The book is ‘A Whole Life’ by Robert Seethaler. The November book is ‘Submission’ by Michael Houellebecq. New members always welcome, see the October Down Ampney News for contact details.
  • FRIDAY, October 14, is Ladies Night from 7-9pm at Down Ampney Village Hall. Down Ampney School PTA are running a shopping and pampering event. The £3 ticket includes a glass of prosecco or orange juice upon arrival and the opportunity to relax, be pampered and browse over 15 stalls, some of which will offer treatments.