Celebration Weekend: Sunday Teddy Parachutes (8-7-11)
Meanwhile, jumping from the top of St Giles Church tower were teddy bears!
Bronwen was clearly very concerned (see below), but thankfully the bears had their parachutes and, anyway, Doctor MacDonald was on hand in case of fur injuries.
Photos by Mel Stanley
Celebration Weekend: Sunday Craft Fair (7-7-11)
After a lovely concert on a delightful Friday evening, and all the excitement and frenetic energy expended in the Saturday sunshine, not to mention evening starlight, surely folk would be suffering from Celebrationitis by Sunday? These were the thoughts running through my head as I arrived at the Old School at 7a.m. to find Alan Wilson already sorting furniture for the day.
In no time at all - and only halfway set up - the first Crafters arrived on schedule. Somehow, by 10.30a.m. everything and everyone was in place to welcome the arrival of the Mayor and Mayoress for their second visit in as many days. After an interview with Radio Eye 103fm to be broadcast next Sunday morning, 10 July, Gordon cut the pink ribbon and declared the Fair Open and available for spending! He and Georgia toured the stalls, found time for a chat with Joan Charlett -to whose Breast Cancer Charity the Fair was dedicated, and indulged in a little retail therapy.
Peggy Oakley, our oldest stallholder, was also interviewed on Radio Eye 103fm, as was Chris Keast, whose Scout Troop performed sterling service all day; from erecting gazebos to collecting money and encouraging folk to choose Basil the Bear's other name - which is 'Barrie', as chosen by Myra Kendal; who was duly adopted by Basil Barrie as his new owner.
The beautiful weather, the high quality crafts and attractive stalls, together with the tasty Ploughman's lunches and Joan's homemade scones and cakes, encouraged a good and steady flow of folk to help Joan raise about £1,200 for her charity - taking her overall total over the last 3 years to £19,500 - just £500 short of her target.
A big 'thank you' from us, to you all for supporting us so encouragingly; and especially to Alan Wilson, who worked tirelessly the entire weekend for the good of the village.
Barbara Pugh
Photos by Mel Stanley and Barbara Pugh
Cockerel on the loose! (5-7-11)
A fox raided some chickens in the village a week ago. It was thought that he had feasted on all five but it now appears that a cockerel may well have escaped his clutches.
A couple of days ago a cockerel was sighted wandering free in the village and since then one has been heard crowing. If see or hear a cockeral please get in touch with either Pam Barlow (989-2361) or me (989-3178)—especially if he is white with the odd black feather on his body and with long black tail feathers.
Tony Jarrow
Super fast broadband for Cropwell Bishop? (4-7-11)
Do you wish your internet connection was fast enough to download web pages in a flash? Wouldn't you like the option of watching films and TV programmes (full screen) via the internet? Does it annoy you that almost every other community has a faster broadband speed—even villages deep in the Vale of Belvoir?
If you live in Cropwell Bishop you have just had to put up with having a slow broadband connection which can just about cope with ordinary downloads and emails—on a good day, and as long as you don't live on the eastern side of the village where speeds are even slower because it is further from our local BT exchange at Cotgrave.
But now we have the chance to change all this—but you will have to act fast.
Local authorities across the UK have been invited to bid for a slice of the £530m funding from Government to roll-out a broadband service to areas which have limited broadband service.
Notts County Council is putting together a bid but it needs your help. It has already identified Rushcliffe as an area with poor internet connections and has made it easy for you to register your support. All you have to do is answer a few questions at a purpose built website at:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/7JPQPPZ
Just click on this link to go to the questionnaire. It only takes a few minutes. One question that might have you flustered is the one asking for your current internet speeds. Some of you will have done tests to find out but if you haven't, just use the following values:
Download speed: 1.6 Mbps
Upload speed: 0.3 Mbps
These were my own speeds last week. Actual connection speeds vary by the hour and day but these are a fair (maybe optimistic for some of you) indication of speeds in the village. Many people elsewhere enjoy speeds over 20 times faster!
The closing date for this survey is 8th July so don't delay.
Tony Jarrow
Celebration Weekend: Saturday School (3-7-11)
The School organised a great Fair ...
Photos by Mel Stanley & Tony Jarrow
Celebration Weekend: Saturday St Giles (3-7-11)
Inside St Giles Church, the Heritage Group had a lovely display of old photos of school days in the village
Photos by Tony Jarrow
Celebration Weekend: Saturday Methodist (3-7-11)
Meanwhile, at the Methodist Church ..
Photos by Mel Stanley
Celebration Weekend: Saturday CKOB Youth (3-7-11)
A great day at The Old School
Photos by Mel Stanley
Celebration Weekend: Friday Concert (3-7-11)
A Midsummer Evening at St Giles
Photos by Mel Stanley