Fairford news with Chris Roberts

AT the annual meeting of Fairford Town Council held on Tuesday, May 4, Cllr James Nicholls was unanimously re-elected for a second term as mayor of Fairford.

A NEW Gloucestershire County Councillor for Fairford and Lechlade was elected on May 6.

He is Dom Morris, who lives on the family farm at Quenington.

He replaces Ray Theodoulou who has been a GCC Councillor since he was first elected in 2001.

Ray served as a cabinet member for finance, property and investments for ten years and then, for eight years, oversaw the construction of the energy from waste project – the largest and most controversial project ever undertaken in Gloucestershire.

In addition, for ten years, Ray was also chairman of the Gloucestershire Local Government Pension Scheme with assets totalling £2.3 billion by the time he stepped down.

For the last two years, Ray has been chairman of Gloucestershire County Council and has congratulated his successor, Dom, on his election success and offers him his best wishes for his term in office.

HOW good are you at guessing?

Can you tell the true meaning of a word from a set of plausible fakes?

The Churches Together in Fairford group are organising a Call My Bluff evening on Tuesday, May 18, starting at 7.30pm.

The chair of Bluffers’ panel is Carol Doherty.

To receive Zoom joining details, please contact Maureen Partington on mandgpartington@gmail.com.

For security and privacy reasons, no one who is not registered will be permitted to enter the room.

CELIA Kennedy, Fairford’s clinical nurse manager, has decided to retire after more than 20 years.

Celia established and developed the home nursing team in 2020.

She has brought skills, compassion and commitment to the home hospice service within our local community over the last 20 years. She established a well-respected, much needed, invaluable service for those who wish to spend their last days at home with their family and carers.

Graham Blackburn is the new clinical nurse manager, who took over the role from Celia Kennedy on May 1.

Graham is an experienced registered nurse having worked at University Hospital Southampton and The Oxford University Hospitals.

Graham is also a staff nurse at the National Star College, Ullenwood – role that he will retain.

CONGRATULATION to This Country brother and sister duo for being nominated for four Bafta Awards.

Daisy May Cooper, who lives in Fairford, and her brother Charlie have been named in the list of nominations at this year’s Baftas.

Their hit mockumentary, This Country, has been nominated for Best Scripted Comedy with Charlie and Daisy also being nominated for Best Writer of a Comedy and Best Female and Best Male Performance In A Comedy Programme.

The Virgin Media Baftas take place on Sunday, June 6.

AFTER successfully re-opening the Palmer Hall on April 12, the management committee is now ready for the next phase after lockdown.

From Monday May 17, all indoor fitness classes can resume.

The rule of six does not apply provided participants can safely social distance and abide by the Covid safety rules.

Social groups can return to a maximum of six or more socially distanced people e.g. two tables of six spaced a minimum of two metres apart.

As before, please use the hand sanitiser and enter the building from the front door and then leave from the side fire exit door.

It would be very helpful if all regular users could confirm whether or not they intend to return and, if possible, when.

All regular bookings have been saved in the diary where possible, but the committee is receiving requests from new potential users.

The next phased opening is June 21 when, hopefully all will be able to return.

Thank you for your support.

If you have any questions, please contact Sue Crowley, chair of the management committee on 01285 712189, steveandsue-sjc@live.co.uk.

THROUGHOUT the month of May, St Mary’s Church will be hosting young families from Fairford as they plant flowers in a community garden area in St Mary’s north churchyard, near the north gate.

The plan is for the children and their families to do the planting, giving a flower garden that will be a place for the community to come and enjoy throughout the summer.

The first sessions will begin on Saturday mornings in mid-May.

THE Friends of Fairford & Lechlade Communities are pleased to announce that Shelley Welsh has been appointed vice chair and will be taking over as chair in September when Graham Hewitt, the current chair, retires.

Shelley, who lives in Fairford, has been a trustee for over two years and has a keen interest in supporting the local community.

She owns and runs the Fairford Therapy Centre, which was opened in 2007 and is an osteopath, massage and pilates instructor.

MESSY Church is still meeting at home and, each week, we write to our families with ideas and suggestions for having their own Messy Church.

We are hoping to restart Messy Church in the church in the autumn and would welcome anyone who would like to join the team.

We will need help with setting up, with running activities, with clearing up and general support.

If you think you could help, want to know more or wish to join the mailing list, please contact Sarah Bottomley on 01285 712074 or email stmryslmt@gmail.com.

FAIRFORD Town Council will be holding the annual town litter pick on Saturday, May 22.

If you are interested in participating, please contact the town clerk in order to ensure enough litter pickers and kit are available.

Contact the town council office on 01285 713326/712344 or e-mail: clerks@fairfordtowncouncil.gov.uk.

FROM Monday to Friday, St Mary’s Church will be open for private prayer from 11am-1pm.

At weekends, the church will be open from 12 noon-1pm.

If you feel you’d like to help out to enable the church to be open for longer through the lockdown and post-lockdown period, please contact Revd Caroline Symcox on 01285 712467.