South Cerney
Mike Stuart
mikestuart.scerney@btinternet.com
01285 860439

  • SINCE last week’s edition of the Standard, questions have been raised on social media regarding the accuracy of the report on the South Cerney Players pantomime in which it was said that a cast of 39 took part. It appears that this is probably short of the actual figure. For the sake of having correct records in the village scrap book, can anyone supply the actual total?
  • THE parish council is seeking evidence from people who have used certain footpaths in the village to assist in the application to have these acknowledged as public rights of way so that they are protected for us all to continue using. Wildmoorway Lane and Ham Lane have been used for decades despite not being on the county’s definitive register of public footpaths. The forms are not over-large nor complicated to complete so please contact the clerk to the parish council, Robert Cowley, who will be pleased to supply copies.
  • SETTING up the various management systems for Fenton’s, the new sports and youth centre, nearing completion of building works is progressing well. Having interviewed several excellent candidates, a facilities manager has been selected by the parish council. The role will initially concentrate on getting the new centre up and running, including a new online booking system. When that is working properly the manager will also take over the bookings and collection of rents for the Village Hall. However, the Village Hall management committee will still retain full responsibility for the successful running of the building. Until the new system is in place, all bookings of the hall will be by contacting me. Part of the new Fenton’s will be a coffee shop/café; interviews are being held to select a professional tenant to run this facility.
  • THIS weekend sees Coffeepot on Saturday morning in the United Church, Village Hall club on Friday evening and the Christmas Tree festival in All Hallows' Church on Saturday and Sunday. Open to everyone. 

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

  • THERE will be no service at St Peter’s on December 11 but everyone is welcome to attend the carol service taking place at All Saints, Preston at 6pm.
  • THE children of Siddington School are busy entertaining residents this week. At 9.30am on Tuesday, December 13 the school is holding a ‘Pensioners’ Party’, where the children will perform their nativity play and then serve refreshments to guests. If you would like to attend please contact Mrs Parris on 01285 652866. On the same day the children are also singing carols at Siddington Evergreen Club, which meets at 2.30pm in the Elizabeth Way community room. 
  • SIDDINGTON parish council meets at 7.30pm on December 13. Please note that for this month only the council is meeting in the Elizabeth Way community room. 
  • SIDDINGTON with Preston WI meets on Thursday, December 15 at 7.30pm in the Elizabeth Way community room. The speaker this month is Matthew Sproston, who will be talking about George Formby. There will also be Christmas songs.

Down Ampney
Melanie Fouracre
dastandard44@gmail.com

  • TRY your hand at making willow hearts, stars and wands for Christmas with Norah Kennedy at the Gardening Club’s Christmas social today at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. Mulled wine and refreshments. Please bring a plate of food to share with everyone.
  • CAROL singing will take place at Down Ampney Sports (Football) Club on Friday, December 9, at 6pm. All welcome.
  • AN all-age service for the third Sunday of Advent will be held at 10am at All Saints’ Church on Sunday, December 11; parish Communion is at 10am at Harnhill.
  • THANK you to all of those who contributed to the Christmas bazaar. A profit of £2,250 was made which will be split between the school PTA and the church PCC.
  • THANKS also to those who supported the soup kitchen event held at the Village Hall. A total of £320 was raised for Fly2Help.
  • POOR weather limited the distances covered and the number of churches visited during this year’s Ride and Stride event. Nevertheless, £941 was raised for the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust.
  • BRITISH Telecom is about to remove the telephone box from the middle of the village. Any villagers who would like to adopt the traditional red ‘heritage’ telephone box, minus the phone, for £1 as a community asset, should take a look at the following webpage cotswold.gov.uk/news/november-2016/bt-public-payphone-removals-consultation. The consultation period closes on December 16. The parish council is unable to take up the offer on behalf of the village, due to the ongoing responsibility for maintenance of the telephone box, but would support good ideas for its future use.
  • DUE to a reduced yield of juice from this year’s apple pressing, there will be no pre-Christmas apple juice tasting. However, a limited number of bottles are currently on sale in the village shop.