March 2003 Newsletter
NOTICE
The Annual Parish Meeting will take place on Tuesday 1st April @ 7pm - Members of the public are invited to attend and to submit to the clerk of the Parish Council items for discussion at the meeting. Venue: Methodist Schoolroom, Towngate
Richard Jarman
Ivy Cottage,The Hills, Bradwell
PARISH COUNCIL NOTES
Many questions have been asked about the Town Bottom Playing Field Shelter since its demolition, so I’m devoting this month’s report to three answers, which will hopefully cover all the questions.
Q. Was demolition absolutely necessary - wasn’t there any way of avoiding it?
A. The Council was unanimous on this, with no dissension whatsoever. Our clear and urgent duty was to ensure the safety of children who used the Shelter.
In the last financial year we spent over £1000 replacing tiles, under-drawing the roof with timber and replacing the bench.
All of this was quickly vandalised again, and just as we were contemplating further repairs, the vandalism was elevated to a new dimension when 4 large concrete building blocks were knocked out of one wall and there were clear signs of attempts to remove more of them.
For all of us, it was the final straw – no one could recommend spending more ratepayers money on the shelter, and we could not leave it as it was after the vandalism – we had to make it safe or demolish it.
Q. What do you plan to do with the site now ?
A. We have no plans for development – simply to leave the concrete base as it is rather than commit to expenditure on a new surface.
We’ve heard suggestions that the basketball court could be extended over it, or that seating could be fixed on the base. These are possibilities - but we would need to be convinced that any development would be properly used and not vandalised, before we considered how it might be funded.
Q. How old was the Shelter. ?
A. It was built in 1931, together with the original toilet block, by Mr. Fred Evans & Co. at a joint cost of £189 (multiply this by around 120 for today’s equivalent). There were two other tenders, from Mr. G. Bancroft and Mr. J Elliot – both in excess of £200.
The roundabout and swings etc. were installed in the same year, and these and the two buildings were totally funded by a grant of £308 from the Carnegie Trust.
The search for a playing field began in 1926 when the Parish Clerk received a letter from Mr. Mortimer Petty offering £105 towards one.
Three other sites were also considered before agreement was reached with Mrs. Elsie Eyre in 1928 to purchase Town Bottom field (then known as The Orchard) for £300, with the help of a £200 mortgage from Derbyshire County Council and a gift of £25 from Earle’s Cement.
A public enquiry was held, by the Ministry of Health, before the Playing Field could be opened to the public.
Mr. Petty performed the opening ceremony on November 2nd 1929, but village children still had 2 years to wait before the play equipment and facilities were installed.
Chris Furness
Dear Editor
In early January I wrote to South Yorkshire Transport Executive and Mainline Buses about the need for an 8 am bus to Sheffield. The 51A service now comes through Bradwell and leaves the village at 7.40 am. Can you spread the good news through your paper?
Kind regards
Michelle Porter
Bradwell Badminton Club
Come and join us. We meet on Wednesday mornings 10.00am to 12.00 noon , and Thursday evenings 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm at the Memorial Hall. Cost is aprrox £10 for 6 weeks or £2.50 a session. We’re very friendly and would love to meet you.
Just call in.
BRADWELL’S PEACE VIGIL
Saturday, 15 February 2003
A small group met weekly in church for a vigil during February, limbering up for Lent Lunches. With only 2 days’ notice, we suddenly decided to act in solidarity with the London march. We stood with placards in sunshine by the Peace Gardens, with a few passing cars giving supportive toots. Despite briefly displayed posters, many people were disappointed not to know or with other fixed plans, or in London themselves.
In the event we numbered about 32 people, including 2 small children and 2 babies. Most were members of local churches, merging with humanitarians, plus 3 seasoned campaigners. Eric Chapman (represented by his wife) has been a life-long struggler for peace, and we were partly motivated by his example. Almost certainly, none of us favour appeasement and we see the urgency for firm confrontation with Iraqi leaders.
An estimated number of 10 million protesters world-wide, with many more present in spirit (even if this gives Saddam scope for propaganda) should surely convey respect and goodwill to Muslims, most of whom are peace-loving. The anthropologist Margaret Mead said, "Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world – indeed it is the only thing that ever has".
So might Bradwellians wish to join together in a similar demonstration during the coming weeks or months ?
Juliet Berry
NB Other participants may vary in their views
Women's World Day of Prayer
"Holy Spirit Fill Us".
Service compiled by the Christian women of Lebanon
Speaker:- Mrs Jane Farley
Come and join us on March 7th. in Bradwell Methodist Church
Lent in Bradwell
Starting on Monday, March 10th, there will be a series of discussion groups entitled "Who do you say I am?" These will be held in the Church Room at St Barnabas' Church, running from 7.30pm until 9.00, and continuing through the rest of the Mondays in March. Members of any Church or none will be very welcome to join us.
Fairtrade in Hope Valley ?
Q What’s this about becoming the first ‘Fairtrade Valley’ in England ?
A Already there are several Fairtrade towns (such as Stockport) and our newly formed group is planning to be the first FT Valley.
Q What exactly are you proposing and how will it affect us ?
A To become part of a much bigger movement across the country – and world – that aims to tackle poverty by enabling farmers and other producers to receive a better and fairer deal for their produce. All we have to do is use our powers of choice and spending on our trips round the shops.
Q I’ve seen the Fairtrade Foundation logo on things like coffee and tea – is it connected?
A Yes. There are over 100 brands of coffee, tea, chocolate, bananas, sugar and honey that carry the Fairtrade mark (the patron is George Alagiah) and these are precisely the products we are aiming to promote.
Q Didn’t you say something about local producers as well ?
A Yes. Everyone is aware of the severe problems faced by local producers and retailers. Many of our farmers have to work round the clock to supplement their income and retailers struggle to compete with the big supermarkets. Fair trade aims to get people buying more things locally, especially those coming from local producers.
Q You’ve got me interested ! Where do we start ?
A This one’s on us ! Come along to the free tastings outside the Co-op (see this issue’s ‘Events’) where we’ll be offering free samples and wine tastings. The first 2 weeks of March are designated nationally as Fairtrade Fortnight so you’ll see (hopefully) promotions in the supermarkets – take advantage of their offers. Get yourself informed (pick up free leaflets, get on-line: www.fair-traders.co.uk, join the group) and keep your eyes open for more news.
Q Thanks. I never say ‘no’ to a glass of free wine – see you outside the Co-op on the 14th.
A At the risk of going on a bit, what we are really fighting for is TRADE JUSTICE which, although a gigantic task of changing grossly unfair trading structures, would really start tackling the root causes of poverty……this will hit the news in June with a worldwide campaign.
Alison Bowles
Queries: 620545 or 620485 for more info.
Obituaries
Mr William (Bill ) Eyre, the last corn miller in the Hope Valley and author of ‘Goin down t’th’mill’. Mr Eyre of Bleak House died on the 13th January aged 86 year’s old at the Royal Hospital Chesterfield after a short illness. He was the only son of Marmaduke and Kathleen Eyre of the Laurels Smalldale ,Bradwell. Apart from four years in the army, he spent all his working life in the family business based at Brough Corn Mill. Whilst in the army he married Zena the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Copeland who lived at Hill Style, Bradwell. He leaves a son Geoffrey, daughters Gillian and Jayne, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. Interment took place at Green Drive Cemetary followed by a thanksgiving service at St. Peter’s Church Hope.
Mrs. Poynton of Smalldale Hall Bradwell died on January 9th aged 86 years old. She was the daughter of William and Elsie Eyre of Bradwell. His work for the local cement company required him to move about the country. As a result, Mrs. Poynton lived at times in Kent, Sussex Devon and County Durham. Towards the end of her husband’s career they came to live at Brough and finally Bradwell. Mrs. Poynton was chairman of the local Conservative Association for some years, a member of the Parochial Church Council, and a member of Sickleholme Ladies’ Bridge Club. She was devoted to her family by whom she is greatly missed
Nb Mrs. Poynton and Mr. Eyre were cousins . Mrs. Poynton was born eight days before Mr. Eyre and died four days before him
Fabulous ‘Bradda Knights’
Keep your Lord of the Rings, Bradwell has King Arthur and ‘Carry on Camelot’
This year’s Panto ‘Bradwell Knights’ written in Bradwell by Alison Benefield and directed by Marilyn Harrison was a triumph. Witty, original and different. All the cast deserve praise and had clearly worked hard to master their parts In particular, Linda Wain and Jim Ward, as we have never seen them before, the quick fire farce of Alison and Anni Tosh and the previously hidden talents of Doreen Wood.
The staging was good, the singing a pleasure and the costumes were wonderful. The youngsters sang and danced their hearts out and their joust was one of the highlights of the show.
It was good to see new faces, and old friends returning. The backstage and front of house team were clearly working well.
The Knights were bold to put on a show that was not traditional. It was refreshing, hilarious, and thoroughly good fun. The Memorial hall shook with laughter and if you didn’t go you missed a treat.
WI Outing to Lyceum
On the 22 April 2003, Rebellion Knoll WI are having a coach trip to the Lyceum to see Fiddler on the Roof, Paul Nicholas is in this production, the cost including the coach is £24.00. The coach will leave the memorial hall at 6.15pm. There are a few tickets left anyone interested please contact Margaret Morley.