Fairford news: Firefighters battle house fire

Last Saturday night, the fire service was called to a fire at Caldecott House, Milton Street.

Four fire crews – one from Fairford, two from Cirencester and one from Northleach – attended the incident.

An aerial ladder from Cheltenham was also deployed.

The emergency services worked tirelessly throughout the night to put out the flames.

It is thought that the blaze, which spread rapidly, started in the attic.

Thankfully all the residents and neighbours were evacuated and are safe and as well as can be expected.

Once again, there has been so much praise for Fairford’s finest firefighters and the other members of the fire service who have worked so hard to get the fire under control.

There is lots of new information about blood testing changes at Hilary Cottage Surgery and Cirencester Hospital and how to make appointments as well as what to do when attending the surgery, pre-booking, what to wear, collecting medication, flu clinics and staff changes at fairfordsurgery.co.uk.

Flu vaccination appointments for the normal cohorts of patients over 65 years of age and at risk groups are now open to book online at Hilary Cottage Surgery, Fairford: bit.ly/2FBIn8b.

The appointments will be on Saturdays only with the first clinic being on October 3 with more Saturday dates added when clinics fill up.

During these Saturday clinics, there will be a one-way system operating in the surgery and patients with mobility issues will have an appropriate appointment booked.

Once the vaccine is received by the surgery towards the end of September, it will be possible to offer eligible patients an ad hoc flu jab if they are already coming into the surgery for a nurse or GP appointment.

Texts have gone out to all who have consented to receive them.

Children flu’s 2-3 year olds and under 18 at risk are being done in special midweek Clinics on a Friday, as it’s a different vaccine and requires staff to wear full PPE and requires more time between patients.

Letters have gone out to all parents to book appointments accordingly.

During lockdown, Fairford History Society has kept in contact with its members by the issuing of regular online newsletters full of interesting local and not-so-local Fairford history.

They included a ‘From the Newspapers’ section of newspaper cuttings from the past – there were quite a lot of interesting crimes during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Fairford History Society also has had local and family history enquiries from home and abroad during this time.

Fore more information, email enquiry@fairfordhistory.org.uk or call 01285 711768.

A Macmillan Outdoor Cake & Bake Sale and Raffle will take place on Saturday from 10am till 12 noon.

The event will take place at Dynevor House, West End Gardens, Fairford, GL7 4JB.

Guidelines on social distancing, groups of six, masks, sanitiser and track and trace will all be followed.

Lots of cakes available on the day.

An amazing raffle with prizes such as £5 voucher (Purely Divine); £20 voucher (Beefeater Cirencester); 2 course lunch (Crown of Crucis); Magnum of Rosé wine (Poulton Hill Estate); voucher from Lynwood Café and more.

Raffle tickets on sale now at £1. All information can be found on the Macmillan website or from Elaine.cheshire@hotmail.co.uk.

Delivery service available if you want to pre-order. If you cannot attend, but would like to give a donation to Macmillan, visit https://thyg.uk/BUU004403781.

Macmillan will receive 100 per cent of every £1 donated in this way.

Fairford Bowls Club has reluctantly decided not to hold the annual MacMillan Coffee Morning scheduled for September 25 due to the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing issues.

Some donations have already been collected and these will be sent to MacMillan together with any other donations after September 25.

The Community Friends’ Covid-19 Support Fund established to provide financial support to local organisations, charities, volunteer groups, families and individuals who have been impacted by Covid-19 remains open for applications.

To date, from 34 applications, grants of approximately £37,000 have been made providing financial support to 23 different charities, organisations, families and individuals within our area of benefit.

Please refer to our website – www.friendsoffairford.org.uk – for details of how to apply and the criteria we use to assess applications.

The Community Friends’ Charity Shop in Lechlade has now re-opened.

Due to Covid-19, there are different opening hours and donations will be accepted by appointment only.

Opening hours: Wednesdays to Fridays from 10am - 3.45pm and Saturdays from 9am - 1.30pm.

The shop will be open on Mondays for taking in donations strictly by appointment only.

To make an appointment, please phone the manager during opening hours on 01367 252189.

The major event of Lechlade Art Society’s calendar is their annual exhibition.

Obviously, this will not be happening this year in the same format, so the committee is holding a virtual art exhibition throughout the whole month of September.

It is a way of reaching the community and celebrating the fine work that is produced.

It is also an opportunity to buy and sell work.

Get a catalogue to browse the works from your computer and find out how you can contact the artists if you are interested in making a purchase.

Visit: www.lechladeartsociety.co.uk and enjoy this year’s exhibition.

The Cotswold Writers’ Circle has been in existence now for nearly 30 years.

The members are enthusiasts of all ages, who share a love of the written word and enjoy the challenges and pleasures of creative writing.

Some members of the group are published authors, whilst some have never seen their work in print, but just enjoy the process of writing and sharing their work with a group of like-minded people.

They currently meet virtually via email to write short stories, but hope to soon meet in person once a week in Down Ampney Village Hall subject to Covid-19 regulations.

If you would like to join this group of writers, please contact Derek Skinner on 01793 750598.

Contact Chris with your Fairford community news on email: chrisrobertsmbe@gmail.com