1

The Painswick Beacon

Elsewhere in this issue Spotlight on Ron, variable speed monitor, Georgie wins top award, circle Stop Press, the procession ofwitness, flowers in the Cathedral, disconsolate hound, pleasure and dancing, crazy drums, full Quiz results, mock trial award, newadvertisers, Gill moving on, Malcolm skylarking, the awesome Miss Lucy, first newsboy, and by coach to Aquae Sulis.

Vol. 28 No.1 April 2005

Library reviewIn response to the front page article we published last monththe following comments have come our way, some of whichmay be food for thought:♦ a book-lending and reference library must be as available,as now, indefinitely in Painswick♦ diversification of services provided within the premisesshould be encouraged♦ video and DVD loan stock should be increased, with betteraccess to County-wide catalogues♦ organisations with retained information about our heritageshould be encouraged to deposit and manage their material/data here♦ at worst a drink vending machine would be useful, but asmall kiosk/coffee shop even better - maybe for raising fundsfor voluntary purposes♦ the information service for tourists is ideally, and very im-portantly, located here♦ information for the local public could usefully be concen-trated here, including material from the Parish Council♦ if capital investment is a stumbling block, surely the sale ofthe upper room to become a flat would be an option

Fiery new beginningsThe Fiery Beacon Gallery is to reopen under new ownership on 16th April. Janet Groves and Alison Grey moved into the village from Gloucester last yearand, for Janet in particular, reopening the Gallery will be fulfilling her life'samobition to be involved in promoting the arts. With a sister who makes jewel-lery who is in turn married to a painter, one can see that Janet's dream of creatinga place for exhibition of "Contemporary art and crafts in the Cotswolds" reso-nates strongly. Alison told the Beacon that while she may not have quite thesame long-time interest she has become closely involved with pottery, and thislooks like gaining expression in this venue too. So, following on from the excellent traditions established by Pam Bentley thegallery will feature a regularly changing display of contemporary art and crafts.Including work by both well established and new artisans, there will be a selec-tion of jewellery, photography, textiles, ceramics and glass - together with a widechoice of handmade cards to suit all occasions. The first exhibition, entitled “New Beginnings”, will focus on the work of

exciting new PhotoArtist (and niece) Amy Sissonsincluding a collection of her beautiful abstract “Liquid Colour” PhotoArt which explores colour, shapeand natural forms. Janet (on the right) and Alison, picturedhere talking about their mid-April start,are delighted that the gallery is now readyto open. They will be open Fridays, Saturdaysand Sundays from 10.00am (12.00 on Sun-days) for most of the year, so do call inand explore what will be a regularlychanging display. All are invited to relaxin the welcoming and friendly atmos-phere, and enjoy the fascinating selectionof individually crafted work with some-thing to suit every price range.

♦ making at least the 'upper' part of the car park free for up to(say) one hour for parking would be helpful♦ encouraging users of the new Stroud North mini-bus serv-ice to access the library is likely to increase use over the longerterm♦ the information point also being a 'box office' for villageevents would be a bonus♦ maintaining the access to the Internet for those not owninga computer is invaluable and needs to be extended♦ the care centre will have a considerable cadre of residentsvery likely to require library books on a very regular basis♦ the library floor area itself would be conducive to such ascommittee meetings♦ a 'lounge' area with easy chairs within the overall floor planwould be desirable♦ children must be catered for through a scheme co-ordinatedwith the Croft School♦ older young people/students should be encouraged to usefacilities and/or work together♦ there should be encouragement of the donation of books,including by clubs and societies upon their own subjects (e.g..bridge, horticulture, drama)

The VILLAGE QUIZ Winning team - PCMS

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NEXT ISSUEThe Personal ColumnPublication Date

SATURDAY 7th MAY

Items for publication to Editorial Teamusing E-mail or the Beacon Post Box by

SATURDAY 23rd APRILMini Ads to the Treasurer, Philip Oakley,Stoneleigh, Gloucester Street, GL6 6QN

SUNDAY 24th APRILBusiness adverts to Dermot Cassidy at1 Painswick Heights, Yokehouse Lane,Painswick GL6 7QS by

THURSDAY 21st APRILDiary items (only) to Edwina Buttrey,

using the Beacon BoxTHURSDAY 28th APRIL

Letters and articles for publicationare particulary welcome by Email to

painswickbeacon@supanet.comor, alternatively, on computer disk.

Items to be published, and other mail forthe Beacon Committee, can also beplaced in the Beacon Post Box in

New Street - next to the telephone kiosk.Please be sure to provide your name,address and a contact phone number.The Beacon's telephone number is

814500, and can accept short recordedmessages: our fax is 01452.814500

Our web site iswww.painswickbeacon.org.ukincluding Beaconline carrying the

Painswick Beacon web editionAddress for general correspondence,

not items for publication,Stoneleigh, Gloucester Street GL6 6QN

Beacon CommitteeEditorial team this month

Leslie Brotherton*, Dermot Cassidy,Carol Maxwell, Philip Oakley

and Terry Parker*co-ordination and compiling

Personal Column: Rachel Taylor 813402Diary: Edwina Buttrey 812565Feature Writers: Carol Maxwell 813387 Leslie Brotherton 813101 Jack Burgess 812167Sport: Terry Parker 812191Directory: Leslie Brotherton 813101Business Advertising: Dermot Cassidy 813737Distribution: Gus Gaugain 812599Treasurer: Philip Oakley 813936

DAVID ARCHARD

In association withPhilip Ford & Son Ltd

Private Chapels of Rest24 Hour Personal Service

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FUNERAL DIRECTORSAN INDEPENDENT FAMILY BUSINESS

BabiesCongratulations to KATHRYN and JONKING on the birth of their daughter LexieKathryn on 18th February, a much-wantedsister for Lois; and to CLARE and LACHLAN BOWERon the birth of their daughter IsabellaRachel Cass, a first grandchild for Kateand Tony Bower and thirteenth grandchildfor Jim and Jane Hoyland; and to MIKE POWIS and RACHAELMAYO on the birth of their daughterIsabelle Joanne on 13th March.

WeddingsCongratulations to SANDY DUPONT andRev CHRIS GARRETT who are marryingnext Saturday 9th April at TewkesburyAbbey; also to CLAIRE CAMPBELL of Tibbiwelland JOHNNY BURKITT of Swansea whowere married on 14th February in Kenya -among the Masai.

BirthdayBest wishes to BARBARA LEWIS whocelebrated her 90th birthday on 29thMarch.

WelcomeWe would like to welcome CAROLINEFRENCH who has come to live at 2 EdgeRoad from Nailsworth; also to Dr ROYDON and Mrs PATRICIAHALE who have moved into Lyndhurst inBlakewell Mead from Upton St.Leonards and Mr and Mrs LINDEQUE who havebought The Wool Barn in Sheepscombe.

CondolencesOur sincere sympathies to the family andfriends of RICHARD WELLS and ALFREDEDWARDS who have died recently.

Get well soonBest wishes for a speedy recovery toJOYCE GIBBINS, KEN OLIVER, GILLIANPADBURY, GEORGE JORDAN and JUNEPRIVETT

Change of houseMrs GILL MOHIN has moved fromGreenfields in Kingsmill Lane to No.12Gyde House.

Personal messagesJoyce Gibbins would like to acknowledgeall the kindness and good wishes she hasreceived from her friends and relativessince her recent fall. Thank you so much.Joan Wells, Helen and Michael would liketo thank all our friends and the people ofPainswick for the over whelming supportthey have received with the sad loss ofRichard who died so suddenly. His loveand laughter will be sadly missed. Thankyou also for your prayers which havegiven us strength.Bernie and Dorrie Child would like to sin-cerely thank the many dear friends whohave sent cards during Bernie's illness andstays in hospital. They do hope they willforgive them if they cannot reply individu-ally but they are, nevertheless,overwhelmed by their kindness.The family of the late Fred Edwards for-merly of Gloucester Road, Painswick,would like to thank everyone who at-tended his funeral on 4th March this year. We would like to extend special thanksto the Royal British Legion,Dr.K.Barraclough and Mr ChristopherSwaine the Church Organist.

Special pleasYoung and good looking, aristocratic, funloving black labrador, with full Kennel Clubpedegree, seeks elegant black lab ladydog for good times, with a view to pup-pies! Call Fido on 813857 (or Stephanie orRod)

The Tarbuck family lastsaw their black andwhite male cat Lukie on3rd March, wearing ablue and silver collarwith his name and telephone number, be-tween Edge and Pitchcombe. A call to814773 will be more than appreciated.

FarewellWe are sorry to say goodbye to ANGELAand GEOFFREY DIVITO who have movedfrom Lyndhurst in Blakewell Mead toMoorend Park in Cheltenham, and Mr and Mrs CHICK who havemoved from Gyde House, and JOHN PARKER who has left Sheeps-combe and moved to Bromyard.

2

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS - by Leslie Brotherton

Reports upon meetings of the Parish Councilcannot help but be selective, if only because ofspace constraints. We try to draw attention tothose of wider interest, but remind readers thatthe full minutes of Council meetings are avail-able at the Council office on Wednesday andFriday mornings, as well as Painswick Library.

Are you having problems completingyour Self Assessment tax returns?

If you are self employed, a partner orown a limited company are youstruggling with your accounts?Would you like an 'easy to use'

accounts system?If your answer to any of these is yes,

contact me now.Roland Boggon

Chartered AccountantTel: 01452 812075

'Moorea', Pitchcombe, Stroud, GlosEmail: rboggon@yahoo.co.uk

PLANNING COMMITTEEPlanning proceduresPrompted by Terry Parker, the committeetook note that where applications relatedsolely to internal alterations it was point-less to circulate comments from onecouncillor to another since none couldview what was intended. It was agreedthat in such circumstances, and shouldthe Chairman not have already noted thesituation, the first listed councillor adviseall that a site meeting was required andthe Chairman so arrange.Chancellors/Painswick Tea RoomsThe application to change part of theground floor at the rear of these premisesto offices was discussed, there being someanxiety that this might be prejudicial tothe continuance of the tea rooms in thelonger term. It was agreed to support theapplication subject to the offices beingself-contained and on the ground flooronly.

PARISH COUNCILBulls Cross - bus shelterInvestigations regarding possible reloca-tion of the replacement shelter (see reportpage 2 last month) into a nearby lay-byhad led councillors to revise their viewsas it was likely to be impractical for bussesor coaches to make turns to continue ontheir scheduled routes. An estimate ofcost of a replacement shelter and a newbase were received and it was agreed thata grant from the District Council be soughtin the 2005-06 financial year.War Memorial - maintenanceA professional report had been receivedupon the condition of the memorial in Pain-swick, opposite the Town Hall. The advicewas not to apply cleaning processes tothe stonework since such would poten-tially damage its resistance to the naturalageing process. In this context the plinthitself was reported to be Cotswoldragstone while the cross is of Cotswoldstone. It was, however, suggested that the ero-sion of names engraved into the stone wasfairly advanced and that these be recordedin the not too distant future and separately

etched on such as a brass plate. It was agreed that attention to the pavedsurround to the memorial should be givenand a quotation be sought together withgrant aid for this work. Ward councillors reported that memori-als in the three other parts of the parishwere in good repair.St.Mary's development - wallThe continuing 'saga' of this mixed-stonewalling adjoining Stroud Road was thesubject of report by the Chairman who hadunsuccessfully tried to make contact withthe regional offices of Taylor Woodrow,present developers. The Council was re-minded that the construction of the wallcomplied with the planning consent, butthe developers had noted local concernsabout the quality of the wall and its mix ofstyles and invited the Parish Council toobtain professional opinions and quota-tions for reconstruction where such wasadvised. Numerous attempts to obtain a responsefrom Taylor Woodrow to subsequent en-quiries had been frustrated and there wasevery indication that they were unlikelyto respond. In the circumstances it was reluctantlyagreed to discontinue efforts in the mat-ter.Police liaisonPC Jerry Seymour was invited to discusscurrent concerns with the Council. He re-ported several burglaries in Slad, Cranhamand Painswick with some commonality ofentering houses otherwise in darkness.Councillor Mrs. Berry urged the police tomake more use of Emailing of Neighbour-hood Watch co-ordinators and othersimmediately when such criminal activityis prevalent. The Council received a follow-up lettersought (see report page 2 last month)from Inspector Holmes in which he de-tailed the complete staffing at his disposaland the range of duties performed by his'neighbourhood area' of Stroud. He as-serted that Painswick "has exactly thesame coverage as areas such asMinchinhampton, Bussage andRodborough, which all have a CommunityOfficer supplemented by Police Commu-nity Support Officers". Although PCSeymour was anxious to elaborate uponthe letter at his Inspector's request theCouncil (seemingly) reluctantly acceptedthe information and the apparent absenceof officers on-the-street.St.Marys - Section 106 agreementThe fact that no payment (about £25,000)of the Section 106 planning conditionupon the developers of the St.Mary's sitehad as yet been made was reported withdeepening concern. The District Council,who imposed the condition, and are re-sponsible for collection of the sum dueon behalf of the Parish Council, were re-ported as also being concerned and arepressing the matter with Taylor Woodrow.It was agreed that if it was not forthcom-ing by the April meeting the matter would

be referred to the National Association ofLocal Councils.Library - reviewIt was reported that the deputy CountyLibrarian had agreed to a meeting withCounty Councillor Joan Nash and the Par-ish Council Chairman Terry Parker on 31stMarch to discuss the County Council'sreview of the service (see report on page1 of the last and this issue). Mr.Parker in-dicated his having urged that any suchliaison meeting await the point in time,May, previously identified by the service.(See further reference in the next item.) Further, he pointed out that discussionsshould include representatives of the PCCsince they had a direct interest in the fu-ture of the library in Painswick as thereare adjoining walls and joint services toproperties.Annual Parish MeetingThe Council discussed the format of theAnnual Parish Meeting, scheduled forWednesday 25th May at 7.30pm. In previ-ous years this had included verbalpresentations of reports from the chair-men of each of the committees, followedby similar presentations by the District andCounty Councillors. One of the expectations of Quality Par-ish Councils is that a written annual reportbe made and be available to every house-hold in its area. To this end it was broadlyagreed that the good offices of the Bea-con be sought (at the Council's expense)to include a full page of written reportsfrom the Council's chairmen in its May is-sue, this satisfying the need to informresidents in Painswick village, and that aprint run-on be made available for the otherthree villages in the civil parish. Suchwould shorten the proceedings, althoughquestions upon that report would be wel-comed. It was agreed that at the APM opportu-nity be taken to seek public views uponthe review of the library service as it mayaffect Painswick, with the relevant offic-ers of GCC invited to attend.Town Hall - refurbishmentThe meeting took note of the budget allo-cation having been made to refurbishparts of the Town Hall; the roof over theoffice and toilets was already programmed,together with attention being given to thekitchen and heaters in the halls. It was agreed that the Cemetery and Par-ish Maintenance Committee beresponsible for this review, with the addi-tion of Ann Burges Watson. It was agreedthat the committee should consult withothers in matters affecting the users/pub-lic and, after the meeting, Chairman MartinSlinger made known to the Beacon that itlooks forward to the views of users uponsuch matters as kitchen services, decora-tion, etc..Calor Village of the Year competitionThe Council agreed to enter Painswickvillage, as did the village hall committeesof Edge and Sheepscombe.

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MINI-ADSPLANNING MATTERSA summary of information received from the

Parish Council.Painswick locations unless indicated.

PrintedinGloucesterby

MINI-ADS - non-commercial, maximum of 30words - are 10p per word with a minimumpayment of £1. Maximum of 14 accepted permonth. Beacon subscribers have 25% discount.Please send money with mini-ad to Philip Oakley,Stoneleigh, Gloucester Street, GL6 6QN. Ifpaying by cheque, please make it payable toThe Painswick Beacon. Receipts are notforwarded unless requested.

Directory 2005corrections/updates

STATUTORY AUTHORITIESand REPRESENTATIVES

District Councillors- Painswick WardJohn Stephenson-OliverThe Three Owls, Blakewell Mead,GL6 6UR 812232JSO@nichemanagement.freeserve.co.uk

NEW APPLICATIONSWELL COTTAGE, SLAD Renewal ofpermission 02/199 for outline permis-sion for a new garage with newvehicular accessTHE COACH HOUSE, PARADISE,PAINSWICK Remove walls betweenlower corridor and 2 small rooms, in-stall new dividing wall into upstairsextension and replace gutters, soffits &fasciasEDGE HILL FARM HOUSE, EDGEResubmission following refusal 04/1940/LBC for alterations to windowsMAPLE COTTAGE, SHEEPSCOMBEDemolition of existing summerhouseand construction of a smaller one, far-ther from the houseQUERCUS BLUFF, THE PARK, PAIN-SWICK Erection of hay store, tractorstore (including stable) and log storeLAMP HOUSE, VICTORIA STREET,PAINSWICK Insertion of imitation sashwindows, 2 velux roof lights and erec-tion of replacement fencingTHE COACH HOUSE, SHEEPS-COMBE Alteration to staircase &erection of partition on second floor toform bathroom

REVISED PLANSHAMMONDS BARN, WICK STREET,STROUD Replacement of existing ga-rage/outbuilding

CONSENTROSE COTTAGE, VICARAGESTREET, PAINSWICK Demolition ofexisting side extension. Erection of sin-gle storey extensions & refurbishmentworks

4 PULLENS ROAD, PAINSWICK Sin-gle storey extension to form kitchen/living area. (Existing conservatory tobe demolished)FAIRWAY, BEACON CLOSE, PAINS-WICK Erection of a replacementdwellingEDGE LANE HOUSE, EDGE LANE,EDGE 2 storey extension, new rearpitched roof & new garage/stable blockHAMMONDS BARN, WICK STREET,STROUD Replacement of existing ga-rage/outbuildingRAMBLER COTTAGE, CHURCHHILL, SHEEPSCOMBE Replace down-pipes and guttering on house & garage.Replace rotten window on first floor.Remove unsafe chimney stack & re-build in Cotswold stoneDENBURY, THE HIGHLANDS, PAIN-SWICK Erection of conservatory to rearof propertyPACKHURST FARM, EDGE Erectionof a conservatoryWOODLAND COTTAGE, JACKSGREEN SHEEPSCOMBE Renewal ofpermission 01/126 for the erection ofreplacement extension & alterations tooutbuilding

PLAN WITHDRAWNCLOVERS, KINGS MEAD, PAINS-WICK Erection of extensions,installation of dormer windows to roofand new link between dwelling andswimming pool & plant room

Desperately wanted 3/4 bedroom housein Painswick for long term rental. We mustleave our present house by 31st May! CallMarie on 810995

Wanted Room to Rent- Non-smoking 20year old Canadian Female working at TheFalcon Inn desparately in need of accom-modation. Will pay weekly or monthly andwill help with the housework. Please con-tact Tia on 07913.281437

Rock Cornwall - Well equipped comfort-able holiday bungalow. Sleeps five. Someweeks available. 812832

Clothes Sale - Starting on 5th April at 10.00am. New and almost new. Give your ward-robe a boost at The Patchwork Mouse.Enquiries please ring 813122

Ironing - Do You Need Help with the iron-ing? If you live within 5 miles of Painswickplease telephone Gilly Padbury on 814470

Horse Manure - Well rotted stable manurefor sale. £35 per Full Load. £20 per HalfLoad. Delivery Free. Contact 813744 orMobile 07812.486725

Printing andpreparation of eachcopy of the Beacon

costs about

50p

3

?THE Village Quiz

The 12th March came, as did twenty-seven full teams of competitors for this annual event, allseated with pencils poised at 7.15pm for 11 rounds of questions, plus a tie-breaker. The Beacon was impressed with the friendly combination of earnest competition with the realisa-tion that this was to be an evening to be enjoyed by all, and not merely an examination of retentivememory or profound expertise in any one sub-ject. The observations received on the night, andsince the event, indicate that it was appreciatedby just about everyone - and that is gratifying.All were also appreciative of the efforts of MarionSadler and her friends for preparing the intervalrefreshments, and she has been able to make asignificant donation to a local charity as a conse-quence. Those keen to take part next year may care topencil in 11th March in their forward diaries, adate soon to be confirmed. We were sorry to haveto decline one entry because of the limitations ofspace, so please note our limit must remain at 27teams. We accepted that the answer we had to oneparticular question about military ranks might bewrong, so it was deleted from the scoring thereand then; the correct information is shown be-low. Also, we realised after the evening was overthat we had not announced which mascot mostimpressed us - and there had been many tochoose from, with ingenuity the order of the day.We have a photograph of the multi-coloured onefor the Cross Bulls, after it had been put out tograze; a superb effort! The full results are shown here, together withthe three teams with the highestscores receiving their Trophy andbottles of wine from Philip Oakleyon our behalf.. Indeed, for the firsttime (we think) the tie-breaker wasnecessary to separate the top two- an added excitement. Congratulations, and thanks, toall who took part and entered intothe spirit of the occasion.

Peter BarnfieldPainter and Decorator

20 Years experienceInternal & External work undertaken

Texturing Speciality in paper hanging

Free estimates given01452.411182 or 07881 408380

General

blunderIn the quiz we gave thewrong answer to a ques-tion about the top threeranks with 'General' statusin the army and, as a con-sequence, withdrew thequestion from the scoring.

The correct sequence is, of courseGeneral

Lieutenant-GeneralMajor-General

BrigadierColonel

Lieutenant-ColonelMajor

CaptainLieutenant

Second-Lieutenant It serves us right for relying upon a seem-ingly authoritative book!

Third place Local History Society

A p

rett

y C

ross

Bu

ll

Runners up - PADFAS

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Sat 14 Blues Night: Sherman Robertson Painswick Centre 8.00 for 9.00pmSun 15 Christian Aid Week beginsTue 17 Local History Society Annual OutingWed 18 Senior Circle May Coffee MorningFri 20 Senior Circle: Flowers in May - Katherine Kear Town Hall 2.30pmSat 21 May Ball: a ‘first’ for Croft School tba

Blues Night: Ottis Grand Painswick Centre 8.00 for 9.00pmTue 24 Yew Trees WI – Life as a Photographic Artist Town Hall 7.30pmWed 25 Annual Parish Meeting Town Hall 7.30pm

Women’s Fellowship: Community First Responder Christ Church Hall 7.30pmScheme - Kevin DickensProbus: Amnesty International - Mr Alan Frost Ostlers Room, Falcon 10.00am

Sat 28 Theatre Club Outing to Watermill Theatre, Newbury The Falcon 10.30am

JUNEThu 2 Cotswold Care Support Group Ashwell House 2.30pmFri 3 Senior Circle: Air Ambulance - Ian Nicholls Town Hall 2.30pmTue 7 Bird Club to Keynes Country Park Spratsgate Lane 10.00amWed 8 Women’s Fellowship: village Shop - Marion Beasley Christ Church Hall 7.30pm

Probus: Offshore Oil Production - Mr John Dutton Ostlers Room, Falcon 10.00amSat 11 Sue Ryder Care 25th Anniversary Celebration Coffee Town Hall 9.45am to 12noon

MorningFri 17 Senior Circle: Tales from a local publican - Town Hall 2.30pm

Johnny JohnsonSat 18 Blues Night: Ainsley Lister Painswick Centre 8.00 for 9.00pmTue 21 Local History Society AGM Croft School 7.30pmWed 22 Probus: Saudi Arabia - Mr Norman Ellis Ostlers Room, Falcon 10.00am

Women’s Fellowship: Carvery Lunch Golf Club 12.30pmTue 28 Yew Trees WI – talk by Waitrose Town Hall 7.30pmWed 29 Theatre Club Outing to Malvern The Falcon 1.00pmThu 30 Probus: Tewkesbury Abbey and river Trip

JULYFri 1 Senior Circle Outing to Snowshill Lavender FarmSat 2 Blues Night: Lightning Willie and the Poor Boys Painswick Centre 8.00pm for 9.00pmTue 5 Foundation Hygiene Course - details 813232 Town Hall tba

PCMS AGM Church Rooms 7.15pmWed 6 Probus: Edith Cavell - Mrs Dinah Shoebrook Ostlers Room, Falcon 10.00am

Women’s Fellowship Christ Church Hall 7.30pmThu 7 Cotswold Care Support Group Ashwell House 2.30pmSat 9 Victorian Costume Ball for info. tel. 01453.833150 Painswick Centre 8.00 to 11.30pmFri 15 Senior Circle: Europe - Elizabeth Finsberg Town Hall 2.30pmSat 16 Dog Show Recreation Field tba

Blues Night: Bad Town Blues (and pig roast) Painswick Centre 8.00 for 9.00pmWed 20 Probus: Ladies Lunch at Stroud

Women’s Fellowship: BBQ at The Latchetts Kingsmead 7.00pmThu 28 Flower Festival (until 31st) Gloucester CathedralFri 29 Senior Circle Outing to Gloucester Cathedral Flower

Festival

AUGUSTTue 23 Yew Trees WI – Work of County Air Ambulance Town Hall 7.30pm

SEPTEMBERWed 7 Probus: Atlantic Liners - Mr Fred Jones Ostlers Room, Falcon 10.00amFri 9 Senior Circle: “Them bones” - Libby Graesser Town Hall 2.30pmSat 10 Hort.Soc: Annual Show Painswick Centre 3.00 to 5.00pmWed 21 Probus: Eleanor - England’s First Queen? - Jim Davies Ostlers Room, Falcon 10.00amFri 23 Senior Circle: The Bag Man - Hayden Gardener Town Hall 2.30pmTue 27 Yew Trees WI - Aromatherapy Town Hall 7.30pm

OCTOBERTue 4 Bird Club: Encounters in the Arctic Town Hall 7.30pmWed 5 Probus: Talk(s) by Member(s) Ostlers Room, Falcon 10.00amFri 7 Senior Circle: Outing to Symonds Yat

4

Odd Couple gets odderOh! The power of the Beacon! I mentioned last month that we had the odd problem in getting kosherNew York accents out of a couple of our limey cast for our next production, The Odd Couple by NeilSimon (28th – 30th April at the Painswick Centre). And I put out a plea for a local Uncle Sam to help out.Well guys, whaddyer know? We got one in the shape of Tom Parsons, a genu-wine Noo Yorker, livingright here in liddle ole downtown Painswick. So that dealt with that odd little problem. So why was Kevin Parker, our director, looking like a man still with the odd problem when I met him a couple of weeks ago? ‘We-ell,’ he confided, ‘You know that, alongside this monstrous regiment of Manhattan babes, The Odd Couple contains an oddcouple of Spanish hombres?’ ‘Yes,’ I replied slightly huffily, ‘the two brothers, Manolo and Jesus Costazuela, neither of whom - apparently - I was suitable to play.’ ‘Yes… well… It seems Jesus has had to withdraw and so…’ ‘So?’ I said, displaying a certain aloof disdainful disinterest. I’m quite good at aloof disdainful disinterest. ‘So, I was wondering whether you’d like to give Jesus a go…? After all, you’ve built something of a reputation doing dodgyMediterranean types with dodgy accents, ’he continued, trying also to display aloofdisdainful disinterest. ‘Everyone remembersyour Franco in Dead Man’s Hand… and your‘walk-on’ part as the Attendant to the Span-ish Ambassador in A Man For AllSeasons…’ Kevin can’t do aloof disdainful disinter-est. I decided to let him stew in his own juice.I certainly wasn’t going to get down on myknees and beg for the part. Certainly not! Ilet him stew for a good seven seconds. ‘OK… I’ll do it.’ So now all I need is a bit of Spanish tuition.Is there, I wonder, some sultry eyed señoritaor señora or - this on the insistence of The

MOO, who’s editing this piece – even a señor who could help me with the Español? Giveme a call on 812167 if you’d like to help. Finally, for this month, here’s a picture of some YiPPies – young Painswick Players –who joined us for a couple of nights of dramatic fun during rehearsals for The OddCouple last month. This was a bit of a ‘taster’ since the YiPPies don’t really officiallystart until September. But Leslie Wolowiec (YiPPie-in-chief) tells me that, so successfulwere they, that she is planning more YiPPie events during the school holidays. Give hera call on 813295 if you’d like to find out more.

Jack Burgess

Painswick Drama and the Awesome Miss LucyAs six members of Painswick Players arranged themselves in front of the Local History Society audience at its March meeting therewas a slight feeling that a performance was in the offing. However, after the opening flourish, we were treated to an excellentchronological account of the past eighty years of drama in Painswick in its various manifestations. Painswick Players is a rare group (possibly unique) inasmuch as it is one of a very small number of drama societies to have survivedfor as long as eighty years. This can be attributed largely to the solid foundations laid down and consolidated by Miss Lucy Hyettwho, with her sisters, was responsible for starting it all in 1923. From that time forth she was involved inevery performance until her death in 1962. She set high standards and was truly the inspiration for thecontinuing success and survival of the group, even if at times she was a formidable lady. Her scrapbooksand the minutes kept for many years from 1937 by Rose Tranter reveal that all the profits from the twice-

yearly productions went to charity. These and other items from thePlayers’ archive were on display, some for the first time in manyyears as they are now kept in the County Record Office, so we wereindeed privileged. By the 1930s the Players were well organised and profitable andwere able to install more facilities in the Institute for their perform-ances. Early on during the war, the productions took place at the

Gyde Orphanage and after the war the group became highly successful with Miss Hyett very firmly incontrol. She was the Painswick Players, enormously respected and fondly remembered. After her deaththere was a period of uncertainty, inevitable after all those years of tight control. The 1970s saw awelcome revival with new blood and this was again followed later by a waning of interest. Changing its name variously from Painswick Players to the Country Players to PADS and finally backto Painswick Players, the society has enjoyed both lean, difficult years and dynamic, successful periods.Throughout, however, there have always been enough stalwarts to keep the flame alive and Painswickhas certainly been the richer for that. The facts of the story were interspersed with anecdotes both sadand funny, many recounted by members of the audience. Currently, Painswick Players ishappily buoyant and successful, and long may it remain so. The members are certainly veryaware of the value of their history and its very important role in the social history of Pains-wick. Carol Maxwell

PainswickLocal HistorySociety

The full cast of the original 1923 PP production of AsYou Like It on the bowling green at Painswick House.

This is of a particularly formidable LucyHyett in her 1926 role of CountessCathleen from the play of the same name.

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The Painswick Beacon detailed as far as space permits THE VILLAGE DIARY

APRILSat 2 Music Society Concert: Orchestra of the Swan St Mary’s Church 3.00pm

With Emma Johnson, clarinetBlues Night: The Thompson Brothers Painswick Centre 8.00pm for 9.00pm

Sun 3 Jolly Stompers Line Dancing: Improvers (Sundays) Painswick Centre 7.30 to 8.30pmTue 5 Dog Training Club (Tuesdays) Christ Church Hall 9.30 to 12.00noon

PCMS: ‘Religious Education in Schools’ Church Rooms 7.45pmBird Club: Finland in Summertime Town Hall 7.30pm

Wed 6 Women’s Fellowship: Opening Service Friends Meeting House 7.30pmThu 7 Jolly Stompers Line Dancing: Beginners Town Hall 12.00 to 1.00pm

Experienced beginners 12.30 to 1.30pmTea Dances - now Thursdays see page 13 Painswick Centre 2.00 to 4.30pmCotswold Care Support Group Ashwell House 2.30pmMusic Appreciation Group: Ralph Vaughan- Williams Painswick Centre 7.30pm

Fri 8 Country Market with coffee available Fridays Town Hall 10.00amSenior Circle: Meeting Cancelled see page 5

Sat 9 Service of Thanksgiving for Fred Semark St.Mary’s Church 10.30amWed 13 Probus: AGM Ostlers Room, Falcon 10.00am

Hort.Soc: ‘April Showers’ flower arranging Town Hall 7.30pmSat 16 Music Society Concert: Alexis White, piano St Mary’s Church 3.00pm

Blues Night: Danny Bryant’s Redeyband Painswick Centre 8.00 for 9.00pmSun 17 Bird Club Field Trip: Warth Farm in Arlingham Red Lion Inn 6.00pmTue 19 Local History Society Research Evening Croft School 7.30pm

Jazz Evening: Local musicians, no entry fee Ostlers Room, Falcon 8.30pmWed 20 Coach to Bath: full details on page 9 Stamages Car Park 10.00am

Women’s Fellowship: Living with visual impairment Christ Church Hall 7.30pmParish Council Meeting Town Hall 7.30pmHistory Society: three member’s research reports Croft School 7.30pm

Thu 21 Music Appreciation Group: Members Night Painswick Centre 7.30pmFri 22 Senior Circle: ‘Falklands War’ - Roy Balgobin Town Hall 2.30pmSat 23 Copy dateline for May to Editorial Team

Cotswold Care Spring Coffee Morning - Cakes; Town Hall 10.00am to 12noonCuttings; ClothesMusic Society Concert: Tasmin Little, violin, and St Mary’s Church 3.00pmWayne Marshall piano

Mon 25 The Painswick Colourists: Exhibition by local artists Town Hall Daily- until 2nd May

Tue 26 Yew Trees WI – Role of Magistrates Town Hall 7.30pmWed 27 Theatre Club Outing to Malvern The Falcon 6.00pm

Probus: Building the Kariba Dam - Mr David Lemon Ostlers Room, Falcon 10.00amThu 28 Diary deadline for May to Edwina Buttrey

Painswick Players: The Odd Couple - (until 30th) Painswick Centre 7.30pmSat 30 Cranham Auction Cranham Village Hall 12.00noon

MAYMon 2 Hawkwood College: Open Day Hawkwood College 10.00am – 5.00pmWed 4 Bird Club Field Trip: Bakers Mill Oakridge 9.45am

Painswick & District Conservation Soc. AGM: Speaker Church Rooms 7.30pmBen Sang - Severn Wye Energy Conservation AgencyWomen’s Fellowship: The Pyrenees in June - Christ Church Hall 7.30pmSue Smith/Sue Dodd

Thu 5 Local elections – County CouncilCotswold Care Support Group Ashwell House 2.30pm

Fri 6 Senior Circle: The joys of being a Funeral Director - Town Hall 2.30pmChris Weaver

Sat 7 May issue of The Painswick Beacon publishedWomen’s Fellowship coffee Morning Town Hall 10.00am to 12noonBlues Night: Sherman Robertson Painswick Centre 8.00pm for 9.00pm

Wed 11 Probus: Extreme Machines - Mr Dennis Joynson Ostlers Room, Falcon 10.00amHort.Soc: The Fun of Gardening + AGM Town Hall 7.30/8.15pm

5

Speed oh!The Painswick Parish Council recently ac-quired a Variable Speed Monitor which weshare with Bisley. This can be movedaround the Parishand fixed to a lamp-post or similar andset at say 34 mphand anything goingover that speed willactivate the monitorand show the speedbeing attained andsay SLOW DOWN. (The Beacon found thissame device, shown here, in use atEastcombe just a week ago.) This is a veryeffective tool and we plan to use it regu-larly every other month.However, where there are dan-ger spots, which we need tomonitor, it requires manning. i.e.someone needs to be sitting in acar or standing nearby to recordthe traffic flow and the numberof times the monitor is activated,and to record the speeds. Thisdata is very useful as evidenceto the County Council and toget something done to curbspeed. The Traffic Committeeneed volunteers to carry out

this work. It wouldprobably require acouple of hours inthe rush hour andthen an hour say in

an off peak time.Obviously it is atask that can beshared. Pleasewrite to the Par-ish Clerk. At a recentconference ontraffic cameras,

it was emphasisedthat speeding kills;an accident canalso cause great

e m o t i o n a lproblems to those involved and greatexpense for the Health and other So-cial Services. A pedestrian hit by a cartravelling at 20mph has a 90% chanceof survival; hit by car travelling at40mph there is a 90% chance of beingkilled. Hit by a car travelling at 35 mphhe has half as much chance of sur-

vival as being hit by a car travellingat 30 mph. In a preliminary surveyof the speeds of cars going northup the A46, out of 1060 cars cov-ered, over 9% were exceeding 40

miles an hour within the 30 mph limit. Driv-ers going at this speed into Painswickshow a criminal disregard for the safety ofthe inhabitants. We are sure that most ofthe offenders are not themselvesPainswickians. The Traffic Committee would be glad tohear from Parishioners of any problemsrelating to speed in their area or any othertraffic-related problems. We will then seewhat can be done.

Ann Burges WatsonChairman Traffic Committee

PAINSWICKVILLAGE

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Seniors get their skates onThis month we break from our usual policy of relying on The Beacon Diary toadvertise our events in the hope more people will attend, but on 4th March

our evening outing to the Everyman Theatre was too good not to share.The coach left the Stamages Lane car park at 4.30pm (a time we are usu-ally returning!!) and we arrived at the Theatre at 5.00pm where we weremet by Nick; the House Manager for that evening. We were taken on aback stage tour of the theatre which was fascinating especially as theshow we were going to see was Cinderella on Ice. The ice rink was made tofit the stage and filled with a mass of pipes, on top of which 4 tons of ice was brought in fromBrixham fish market and spread over the pipes. Two men where then responsible all through thenight to spread the ice and make it level, to the depth

of 4 inches. All the small pipes where connected totwo large pipes which snaked their way out of the

theatre to two huge refrigeration units either side ofthe stage door.

The space back stage was very small where everyonehad to wait to come on stage, and in many cases make very

quick changes. The costumes looked limp and lifeless just hanging around, and a headfor heights was needed for managing the scenery and flying equipment. The skaters wehad seen practising and playing computer games all came from Russia. All was very calm,and quiet, and not a prima donna in sight. Supper passed very quickly, and before weknew, it was time to take our seats. The curtain raised and a lone figure stood (on skates!) on the ice. He was the story tellerand as he skated off stage left the wholestage - or rink - was ablaze with lights andmusic, and the fastest skating you couldever imagine, in such a small space. The costumes now where full of life andsparkle, and once again we were under themagic of theatre. A truly amazing evening. If you would like to join us on any of ouroutings you would be very welcome, allwe ask is that you attend at least threemeetings a year, as we sponsor our out-ings, all of which are in The Beacon Diary.Looking forward to meeting you.

Anne Smith

THEPainswickSeniorCircle

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SENIORCIRCLE

Stop PressAt our meeting on

Friday 18th March it wasdecided to cancel our

next meeting on 8th April,as we are double bookedwith another occasion!!

Looking forward toseeing you all on

22nd April.Anne Smith

Traffic entering Painswick on A46, travelling North, speedchecked at 140 yards inside 30 mph limit over four hours.

20

PainswickHorticultural

Society

Gar

Estate Agents

A network of over 50 offices,16 in London 9 International

The Old Chapel, Bisley Street, Painswick. 01452 812354The ultimate property se@rch: www.hamptons.co.uk

New Street PAINSWICK

The shortage of stock has been especiallypronounced in Painswick and the Cots-wolds where a lack of saleable propertyhas been the case for the past six months.However we have found that realistic pric-ing remains the key to attracting buyerinterest and any overpriced property justdoes not attract the majority of buyersunless it has something very special tooffer. The Chancellor has increased the thresh-old for stamp duty from £60,000 to £120,000to enable first time buyers to enter the mar-ket, unfortunately there are very fewproperties under this threshold in the Pain-swick area and properties under £250,000(the next level for stamp duty) remain dif-ficult to sell.

PROPERTY REPORT for April by Hamptons International However, the good news is that in thelast month there has been a significant in-crease in buyer activity and also vendorsare being tempted to put their propertieson the market. A good number of our newinstructions in March have already agreedsales within a week of coming to the mar-ket with competition coming from anumber of proceedable buyers. We have already agreed sales on Tan-gier – a period cottage in Vicarage Street;Smilers Cottage in Brimpsfield, a terracedcottage in Upton and Mayfaire – a de-lightful property in Slad. Other newinstructions include Bell Cottage – acharming period cottage in Friday Street;Cherry Tree Cottage with magnificentviews in Longridge; Hillview Cottage in

Butt Green and for restoration Rose Cot-tage in Cranham, together with a verygood family house and a barn conver-sion in Upton St Leonards. Recent completions include Greenfieldin Kingsmill Lane, Kempside in OrchardMead, Norbreck House in CotswoldMead, Benwell in Hale Lane, 6 HyettClose; Shiel House at Brookthorpe andBeacon Heights on the Cheltenham Road. Most of you will have noticed that Rich-mond Painswick is progressing well withhopefully the first ones available to moveinto in the summer. If you would like someinformation on this unique developmentplease do drop into the Hamptons officein Bisley where we will be happy to helpyou.

Diane Mearns

Horticultural panicA surprise greeted members at our March meeting. Weall know that not all surprises are for the better, but onthis occasion it turned out that way.Let me explain:- Our scheduled speaker, Mr Hardy wasunable to attend. At short notice a Mr Jellyman stepped in to head a panel that included,Philip Berry, Cedric Nielsen and Brenda Dunn. Mr Jellyman, who is a member of theNational Rose Society, has bred two roses that are still in production. He is also wellknown as a judge specialising in vegetables as well as roses. The meeting developed into a question and answer session concerning vegetablesand fruit. These included the life of seeds taken by members, crop rotation, greenhousemanagement, growing tomatoes and cucumbers, and pests and diseases. As well asgetting the definitive answers, members intervened with their own remedies and meth-ods, the blend of which made for a very enjoyable evening. Next meeting 13th April, when Anne Smith from St. Mary's Flower Guild will be demon-strating Flower Arrangement. Would members please be prepared to enter a raffle tooffset costs.

Stan Miles

Food HygieneCourseA one-day foundation course in Food Hy-giene will be held on Tuesday 5th July atthe Town Hall and places are available tomembers of the public. Painswick Coun-try Markets has arranged for a specialistin the subject to provide training for itsproducers of food and preserves. Thecourse leads to a certificate in food hy-giene from a recognised professionalinstitution. The course may be of par-ticular interest to food producers andhandlers involved in charity, school and/

or club events.The cost, including provi-sion of a certificate, is expected to beabout £22. For further details and to re-serve a place, telephone 813232.

Painswick CountryMarketWarblers

Common British Warblers was the topic for our meetingon 17th March. Our speaker was one of our members -Jane Rowe. She covered 15 species of this challenginggroup. As they tend to hide away or lurk , photographsare hard to come by. However good use was made ofoverhead projector slides together with sound recordings of their differing songs orwarbles. The AGM followed the talk with 18 members present. The acting chairman thankedDulcie and Joy for drawing up the programme, and for the support of the membersattending the events. He repeated his request from members for suggestions for futureevents and for new committee members. The meeting was completed in 11 minutes -maintaining the tradition of minimal length! The next meeting on 5th April will be a return visit of Helen Williams to talk on Finlandin Summertime - Birds and Bears. Helen is a first rate photographer and will bring sam-ples of her work to sell. The following meeting will be the first field trip of the newseason, to Warth Farm in Arlingham on 17th April.

Malcolm Cooper

PainswickBird Club

We appreciate receiving informa-tion for the Personal Column, onour back page, and any you can passon to Rachel Taylor is always wel-comed.

Space limitations permit only theminimum amount of text, and yourassistance in this regard is helpful.

6

C s f b l t

Easterthe procession of witnessPainswick’s Good Friday Procession of Christian Wit-ness has been a feature of village life for very manyyears. The annual procession was begun to enablemembers of the local churches to unite in a publicdisplay of solidarity designed to remind the widercommunity that this was a day of particular signifi-cance for Christians. The procession’s route hasusually been along the streets in the centre of thevillage, beginning at St. Mary’s and ending at theWar Memorial with a short service. However, in 1985 the church members took turnsto carry a cross of natural wood to Painswick Bea-con where it was erected on the lower slopes. This year’s procession had an especial poignancy as it was the first occasionmany could remember when the leading cross had not been carried by John ThynneRussell. An appreciation of John’s life appeared in our March issue.

19

Police ReportPainswick - There have been a number of burgla-ries both in and around the village throughout thisperiod. In most cases unoccupied premises havebeen entered overnight via either a window or pa-tio doors. Included within those breaks are someshed/garage breaks where padlocks have been cutoff, and tools have been taken.Visitors to Painswick Beacon have been targetedwith some property being stolen from secure unoc-cupied cars left in the carpark. Unusually in onecase 2 handbags were stolen from the boot of a carwhich may suggest that an offender had watchedthe victims hiding their bags. It is fairly unlikelythat someone would risk breaking into a car in broaddaylight on the off chance that there might be some-thing in the boot.. A lesson to us all there I think.Edge - No reported crimes.Cranham - Unoccupied house burgled,entry via window.Sheepscombe - Damage to a vehicle re-ported, which may have been an attemptto steal fuel.Slad - No reported crimes.Police and support staff are continuing to providea high level of regular patrols of all of our areas anda vehicle crime awareness campaign is beingplanned for the Easter period at Painswick Beacon.Please do call me if you wish to raise any issues orpass on any information on 07799 624643 or leave amessage with control room staff on 0845 090 1234 ifI am not available. If you wish to pass on any infor-mation anonymously please ring Crimestoppers on0800 555111. In an emergency ring 999.Thank you, PC Seymour 1270

Bussage Police Station

BEACON SUBSCRIBERS latest figures @ 20 March 2005-06 2004-05

New, or renewed after lapsing 75 103Renewed from last year 321 518Total - including postal 396 621Painswick village - dwellings 1057Subscribing households 281Percentage subscribing 27%

Yew TreesWomen'sInstitute

Canine PartnersChristine Fellows, President of Yew Trees WI, began the evening by report-ing on her very enjoyable visit to Cheltenham Town Hall for the GloucestershireFederation of WIs Annual Council Meeting, attended by Her Royal High-ness The Princess Royal. On her arrival The Princess listened to a talk entitled‘UK Food Culture - what does it all mean?’ given by Robert Rees, formerlychef at the Country Elephant here in Painswick. The Princess then thankedRobert Rees for his talk and in her reply urged WI members to press forhealthier eating education, to keep learning and to keep promoting educa-

tion. She also expressed her delight thatEnglish Heritage is taking serious issuewith the matter of street clutter. Having given an enthusiastic accountof her day in Cheltenham, Christine Fel-lows then introduced Sarah Harper-Littlewho gave a fascinating talk on the workof the charity Canine Partners. This

charity trains dogs, mostly Labradors, Retrievers and Poodles to care fortheir human owners in such away that many are able to lead independentlives. Sarah’s audience was amazed to learn that each dog learns 100 com-mands which allows them to open train and lift doors,take items off supermarket shelves and operate washingmachines. One, on command, even strips its owners bed!Many of the audience went home wishing they couldtrain their human partners to be as obedient and helpful!The talk ended with a moving video that included aninterview with a man who explained how after an horren-dous accident, his dog had given him the will to live, andhad thereafter completely changed his life. At our next meeting at 7.30 pm in the Town Hall on 26thApril Sue Bradley-Jones will talk on The role of the mag-istrate. New members most welcome.

Celia Lougher

Telephone Directory - StroudPrompted by a hand-written note we received, without a full name or addressof the author, we investigated the information about cost of telephone direc-tories (letter from Carole Ross last month, page 14) for adjacent areas; itbeing said that these cost £10.00. Living and working, as we do, so close to the edge of a 'directory area', itcan be important that we have access to the directory of the adjoining area -in this case Gloucestershire South. We used 0800.833400 freephone for our enquiry - see page 22 of the currentdirectory - and were advised that while there used to be a charge of £10.00this was scrapped earlier this year. There is now only a postage and packingcharge of £3.95 for anyone ordering a directory.

7

On 28th July Gloucester Cathedral will be transformed as 150 parishes takepart in a Festival of Flowers representing “Glorious Gloucestershire”. The main building of the Cathedral will have arrangements of flowersrepresenting the many aspects of Gloucestershire that make it Glorious.The Cloisters will be home to every kind of interest in flowers and gar-dening. The event is open from 28th July to the 31st July, inclusive, and St.Mary’sFlower Guild, and Our Lady and St. Thérèse Catholic Church, will betaking part, so Painswick will be well represented.

Anne Smith writes: St. Mary’s Flower Guild will be responsible for decorating the QuireNave, which is quite a large area, requiring many many flowers, and we arerepresenting “The Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen”. We are looking for “Sponsors” to help us; for instance we will need a lorry to

transport all the equipment that will be needed to put on such adisplay, and a couple of strong men to help us move all this intothe Cathedral. This has to be done in the morning of 26th July andremoved again on Monday 1st August. So if there is someone ableto offer this it would be much appreciated, and your name wouldbe on a list of sponsors on our display. We also need someonewho is able to do calligraphy to write our list of Sponsors. But withall these things we also need “Money” To this end we are having two fund raising events. The first is on26th April in the Town Hall at 2.30pm when we have been luckyto have Jenny Bennet come to delight us with her very innovativeflower arranging. Tickets £8 and will include afternoon tea. The second event will be on Saturday 18th June at 7.30pm atCastle Godwyn bykind permission ofMr and Mrs Milne,when we will shallhave the pleasure ofKatherine Kear todemonstrate her ex-

ceptional skill as a flower arranger. (Katherine will be responsible for the High Altardisplay in the Cathedral) This will be followed by a buffet supper. We hope very muchthat husbands/partners will enjoy this evening. Tickets £15 including a glass of wine,and supper. Tickets for both occasions will be available from Dawn at the PatchworkMouse, and members of the Flower Guild.

Charlotte Gamman adds:The Catholic Church of Our Lady and St Thérèse are supporting the Gloucester Cathe-dral Flower Festival in July. We would be very grateful for any sponsorship howeversmall. We have been lucky enough to have been allocated the Chapel for Private Prayerand our theme is “Gardens”. We are also looking to borrow small pots of shrubs, topiary and herbs; offers ofgreenery will be gratefully accepted. Please do your best for us! Our contacts are: Charlotte Gamman 814621 - Anne Leoni 812521 - Anne Hamill 812445

Flowers in all their glory

Painswick ParishCouncil

The Parish Council seeksmore volunteer Footpath

Inspectorsto carry out twice-yearly

Footpath InspectionsThis is an important role

and is needed to maintainour

Parish FootpathsFor more information or tovolunteer please contact theParish Clerk - RoyBalgobin

on 01452.812722

18

THE PAINSWICK PHARMACYNEW STREET. Tel. PAINSWICK (01452) 812263OPENING TIMES

MONDAY TO FRIDAY9.00 - 1.00 AND 2.00 - 6.00

SATURDAY9.00 - 1.00

GeorgieNational Award WinnerPainswick photographer, Georgie Brocklehurst, has won the DavidMathias National Portrait Award for her stunning Black & Whiteportrait photography. She also won the Wella Spotlight Total Im-age Award and awards for Avant Garde Portraiture and ClassicPortraiture. Competing against 4,000 other photographers from around theworld, Georgie wascommended by thejudges for her por-traits were 'the mostexciting, fresh and in-novative set ofphotographs that hastrue feelings of thesubjects'. The NationalAwards ceremony ofthe British Institute ofProfessional Photog-raphy was held inCoventry and hostedby the film star HonorBlackman. An annualinternational event,the ceremony recog-nises thosephotographers exhib-iting creativity andvisual energy.Georgie is a traditionalBlack & White photographer. She left Stroud High School to gainan Arts Degree before working in advertising in London and over-seas. She has had an abiding interest in photography since shewas a child. She has however only turned professional in recentyears. She is the holder of many prestigious photographic prizesincluding the highly acclaimed UK Portrait Award of Excellence2004. Georgie takes a wide range of commissions, including chil-dren, families, actors, writers, artists and musicians. Over half herclients return for children's portraits for their family record. Shehas an abiding flair for taking natural photographs that capturethe essence of her subjects. You can see some of her winning portraits exhibited atHobbshouse Bakery in Nailsworth this month of March - April.For further details, please contact Georgie on 812741 or visit thewebsite which will go live in April atwww.georgiebrocklehurst.co.uk.

Year of CMThe Annual Meeting of Painswick Country Market was heldon Tuesday 22nd February in the Town Hall. Anne Leoni,Chairman, welcomed the guests, who included Eve Holbrowof Stroud Country Market, and Gloucestershire’s MarketAdviser, Trevor Morgan. Painswick Market’s Treasurer, Margaret Richards reviewedthe Market’s accounts for the year. She said it had been anencouraging year, with improved income levels, reversingthe worrying downward trend of recent years. Doreen Boonreported that the change of name from WI Market to Coun-

try Market, lessthan a year ago,had gonesmoothly. Thesale of coffeeand cake was

still proving to be a valued and popular service, in additionto the traditional range of locally produced goods for sale.Colourful craft stalls and the large choice of plants and bulbshad also contributed to the better results. Heather Miller,Director of Country Markets Ltd. and Market Adviser, con-gratulated Painswick’s producers and helpers on a busyand more successful year. She stressed the importance ofattracting new producers, who could bring fresh ideas onhow to improve service to the customers. The Market’s current Committee was re-elected to servefor a further year. After the formal business was finished,over thirty shareholders and invited guests sat down toenjoy a delicious home-cooked lunch. Naomi Dunn pro-posed a vote of thanks to everyone who had contributed tothe Annual Meeting and Lunch, and in particular to FionaFletcher and Edie Stockbridge. This was warmly endorsedby all present.

Patricia Davey and Jane Rowe

Painswick CountryMarket

Guideprice- £335.16!The Guides collected thisamount at a fete held at the Painswick Centre in aid of aschool in the Tsunami region. The girls were so excited bythe fete. They collected books and bric-a-brac from the areaand made some very interesting rock cakes to sell on theday! They were fully aware of the importance of the day andworked really hard but at the same time had such fun. We then followed this with ‘World Thinking Day’ and in-vited some belly dancers to show the girls some dances.The girls then joined in and I have to say almost outshonethe dancers!! Great fun had by all. We have had a short term but much is planned for theSpring term - so watch this space. We now have our limit of Guides but if you wish to joinand are not already on the waiting list, please contact meand I will arrange for you to be added to the list.

Julia Mundell 814748

PainswickGuides

The Beacon caughtGeorgie at herhome in VicarageStreet, proudlyholding the trophyawarded to her.

8

Spotlight on . .

Ron Lamort

Where shall we start?I was born in a one up onedown, plus mini-attic, cot-tage in George Court in 1928; I had an oldersister and two younger. Mother came fromGorsley in the Forest of Dean to work inthe Star Inn, run then by the Bloxhams.She met my father George, who was lodg-ing then in the lower part of VicarageStreet, when he called there one day afterplaying rugby. I started school in Painswick when I wasfour, staying on into the seniors until Iwas 14. I can clearly remember that weused to practice writing using fine dampsand in shallow trays, with a wooden sty-lus. As a bit of a chatter-box I was sat nearthe front of class; we had five rows of fivedesks. Mr Holister-Short was our teacherand he cutely recognised my habit of look-ing behind me when he asked me to "Stoptalking, boy"; he sat me at the back of theclass where the habit was pointless! Thefirst head teacher was a Mr.Slack, but Ialso remember he was followed byMr.Harper. I enjoyed singing, especially before myvoice broke, and recall that there was choirpractice on Friday afternoons; a mixtureof songs such as 'I Wheeled a Wheelbar-row, through streets broad and narrow ...",and hymns. Always keen to 'get involved'I joined other local lads wanting to jointhe Painswick Silver Band and we wentalong to a rehearsal and were sat in a cor-ner listening to them practice - never to beasked to join in or even touch an instru-ment! Goodness knows what happenedto their instruments, they had all been paidfor by public subscription. Another inter-est was always in woodwork and for manyyears I attended the classes Wally Brooksran in the Town Hall. One of those outstanding memories wasthat Christmas did not start until that veryday. I clearly remember going to bed onChristmas Eve with the cottage just as itwas all year, but awaking to a decorated

cottage and all the fun that day brought.We didn't start thinking about Christmasin September like we have to do now!

And after school days?While I was still at school Fred Burdocksaid to me one day that he would put meto any apprenticeship I wanted when I left.Meanwhile George Fryer, who ran a gen-eral store, where Central Stores used tobe in New Street, offered me work. I wasfortunate in the offer of jobs and decidedto join Bill West the coal merchant whoseyard was where Whitehorse Lane is now,as he thought I was well suited to heavywork; the big attraction for me was that hetaught me how to drive and strip downthe engine of the lorry for maintenance - Iworked for him until I was eighteen. All my life I have been involved withdifferent kinds of jobs,trying to help peopleout. I have memories ofhelping my father har-vesting crops and hayrick building. This pic-ture of me on a yew treein the churchyard about1954 was after we usedto cut them with shearsand were paid 6d pertree!

National Service?Yes, I joined the RoyalArmy Service Corps,with most of my twoyears of service beingin the Cologne andDusseldorf areas. Somehow I was drawninto ambulance driving, with many verymixed (some hilarious) experiences. Per-haps my most vivid experiences were as adog handler, with night patrols with myEnglish born alsatian. Our dogs weretrained to attack the right arm of an assail-ant, while those who had German trainingseemed to go straight for the throat. Canyou imagine the fun and games of a rathersmart Lieutenant who admired my effortsand suggested we test out a pair of thesedogs on him running away? The army was rigid about its training ofmechanics and insisted that full theorywas necessary before one could maintainvehicles. I was never very keen on theoryanyway and asked if I could strip an en-gine down without it. An exasperated NCOlet me do it, and admitted he was dumb-

founded when I put it together again.Learning with Bill West had been veryworthwhile.

But what about your main career?I suppose this started after National Serv-ice when I had the job of assistant to FrankPrice the gardener for five years atSt.Mary's Home. There were about 30 resi-dents there and we not only maintainedthe grounds but grew all the fruit and veg-etables they needed. We cut grass with ascythe, a skill which I was to use in manyplaces in my spare time and in the future.We helped out on many general tasks atthe Home, this in the days when their laun-dry was in a separate block down belowthe house in the garden. I heard that Gyde House needed some-one to cut the grass there and, on twoevenings after work at St.Mary's, I cut itall with my scythe. The Matron waspleased with my efforts and enquiredwhether, as they needed a gardener/handyman, I would care to work for them.This was 1954 and we agreed that I wouldwork for a fortnight's trial, either side de-ciding then whether I suited the situation.I worked for the Gyde in differing waysfor the next 30 years. I didn't stay as handyman because, af-ter recovering from severe injuries after afall from a tree I was cutting in 1966, Iattended day-release training in child care

in Cheltenham and, indue course, was incharge of about 12 chil-dren in Ingram, one ofthe four 'houses' ofboys there; the otherswere Seaton, Cary andSommerville. Eachhouse was self con-tained and self-cateringtoo. These were enjoy-able years, the more sofrom working togetherwith my wife Joyce whoI met while on leavefrom my National Serv-ice when having teawith my sister, herschoolfriend; I then

walked her home to the Highlands; wewere married by Rev.Heal in 1955. Ourdaughters Julie and Wendy live in theStroud area and we have four grandchil-dren and one great-grandchild. Mind you, I was still involved with manylocal activities - the Operatic Society runby Meredith Cooper and Gilbert andSullivan, the church choir, and being asidesman.

And your thoughts about today'sPainswick?It is not the place we knew, days whendoors were unlocked or the key was al-ways under the mat. It is a pity so manyshops have closed, but times move on.

MICHAEL NYEFine Woodworking

Beautiful furniture, kitchens, cup-boards, doors, windows, gates

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YOUR IDEAS BECOME REALITY

Another of our series of interviews with peoplewho were born in Painswick, or came here

when they were very young.

17

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RugbyPainswick march onThe month of March has brought success for Painswick in both theGloucestershire Premier League and the Combination Cup. On Saturday19th March Painswick played Cirencester in the semi-final of the StroudSenior Combination Cup at Broadham and won through to the final witha 23 points to 15 victory. The match was one of two halves with Cirencesterhaving the better of the first 40 minutes and leading by 15 points to 3 atthe break. In the second period Painswick got their game together withthe forwards taking control of the play. The forward domination led tothe home side scoring 3 tries from wing-threequarter Dave Evans, scrumhalf Ewan Craig and stand-off Mark Bragg. Flanker Matt Coombs whoalong with number 8 Chris Hall had an excellent game, was successfulwith a conversion and a penalty goal. On the same day Painswick Unitedmatched the senior side’s success when they beat Smiths IndustriesSecond Fifteen by 34 points to 5 in the first round of the CheltenhamCombination Junior Cup. Painswick First Fifteen played Aretians in a crucial GloucestershirePremier League match at Broadham on 12th March. The Cherry andWhites came to the game in good heart after their outstanding victoryover Chosen Hill in the previous league match but they knew that vic-tory would be difficult to achieve against Aretians especially as bothsides were evenly placed in the Premier Division with the same numberof points. Painswick went ahead through a Matt Coombs penalty onlyto see the visitors level the score also with a penalty. A second Coombspenalty gave Painswick the lead but it was Aretians who were to firstcross the try line following good work at the line-out. The try was con-verted to give the Bristol club a 10 points to 6 lead. The game evenlypoised with both teams’ defence holding firm when wing-threequarterAussie Smith made a break from behind his own line before giving theball to Andy Golledge who crossed the line for the try. Matt Coombsconverted. Later Golledge was to get over for another try after consider-able Painswick pressure to make the score 18 points to 10 in the homeside’s favour. There was no further scoring. Painswick’ victory had beenachieved through a fine forward performance and some excellent tacticalkicking by stand-off Martin Hayward. The victory was somewhat blightedby the news that Aussie Smith had sustained a broken jaw. Earlier in themonth Painswick were the visitors at nearby rivals Brockworth. Thematches are keenly fought and, in appalling conditions, keeping pos-session of the ball was always going to be difficult. Brockworth scoredfirst with an unconverted try but Painswick began to play to their poten-tial and flanker Chris Hall crossed the home side’s line to level the score.Blindside flanker Tom Griffiths then scored his first try for the club. Athird unconverted try came through Aussie Smith with number 8 RobAndrew adding a fourth that was converted by Matt Coombs. The finalscore was Brockworth First Fifteen 5 Painswick First Fifteen 22. Mean-while at Broadham the United played the Brockworth Second Fifteenand ran out winners by 39 points to 3. Centre Olly Clewes scored a hattrick of tries while father and son Chris and Will Partridge played particu-larly well with each scoring a try. The other Painswick scorers were AshSmith and Ewan Craig with Craig Mayo adding 2 conversions. Alto-gether a very good month for the Cherry and Whites.Fixtures [(L) indicates league match]Sat 2 Apr. (L) Painswick 1st XV v Avonmouth 1st XV. Stow 2nd XV vPainswick United.Sat 9 Apr. (L) Tewkesbury 1st XV v Painswick 1st XV.Sat 16 Apr. Painswick 1st XV v Dursley 1st XV. Gloucester All Blues 2ndXV v Painswick Utd.

Sun 17 Apr. Stroud JuniorCombination Cup Final atStroud RFC ground. Pain-swick United v Dursley2nd XV.Sat 23 Apr. Painswick Utdv Cheltenham Civil Serv-ice 2nd XV.Sun 24 Apr. Stroud SeniorCombination Cup Final atStroud RFC ground. Pain-swick 1st XV v StroudNomads or Fairford.

Gloucester AirportWhile relaxing in the garden on one of the first warmdays this year the mind wandered to the small air-craft overhead, and later to the computer and findingone's way into the County Council web site. Withinpart of a 50-page Economic Strategy report for 2003-2014 we found this section of fairly interesting text:

"The most suitable development strategy forthe airport (Section 4)"Regular passenger services5. By general consent the Cheltenham and Glouces-ter area, while well served by the strategic roadnetwork, is relatively poorly linked with a number ofparts of the country including London. We feel thatthere would be a significant demand for the develop-ment of regular (scheduled) air services to a Londonairport. This issue is discussed in more detail in Sec-tion 6 below.6. The establishment of similar services to key pointssuch as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin would in-volve greater financial risk, due to the competitivestrength of services to these destinations from Bris-tol and Birmingham airports. This risk would applyparticularly during the initial two years of establish-ing the service. However, local businesses could bewell served in these cases if a regular charter opera-tion could be established, initially for the use of agroup of co-operating businesses only. If operationson this basis proved successful over a period of ayear or more then there would be a more robust busi-ness base on which to launch services available tothe wider public.7. Both a scheduled London service and charter serv-ices of the kind described above would be possiblewithin the existing runway length and operating hourrestrictions. However, both would benefit from greateroperational flexibility, and a wider range of potentialaircraft which could be used, if the aspirations con-tained in the airport's February 2004 Runway Safetyand Improvement Options paper for a limited exten-sion to declared runway lengths could be achieved.Similarly, both categories of service would be moreattractive if there was a modest extension to currentopening hours so as to allow a full working day at thedestination.8. The establishment of such regular services wouldrepresent an important benefit to local businesses.They could also result in a modest degree of inwardinvestment/re-location of businesses, particularly ifthey facilitated links with Europe through a Londonairport.Regular freight services9. The establishment of regular freight services ap-pears difficult, both due to the existing operatinghours and to the runway length restrictions. Expressparcels operations would only be practical if openinghours were extended to 2300 - 2400. While this wouldprovide a marginal business benefit to the airport itwould be unlikely to result in any net benefit to localbusinesses, since it would be unlikely to result in anyimprovement in the level of service already receivedfrom parcels integrator companies.10. The airport has importance for the transport ofhorses, particularly in connection with the NationalHunt Festival. We have heard of at least one operatorwhich has in the past used Gloucestershire for thetransport of horses but which has abandoned its usebecause of the operating restrictions imposed by theavailable runway length. This provides a further rea-son to explore the possibilities for a reduction in theserestrictions, so as to make better use of the existingrunway length."

9

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H and AAnnual CoffeeMorningA very successful and happyevent. Many many thanks to all whohelped and contributed in any wayand for those who gave so gener-ously. Our total to date is £740.69 withpromises and donations to follow.

Helen Baker and Anne Leoni

ArchitecsLast month we gave you the inset area(marked) outside St.Mary's Cottage fac-ing into Victoria Square.

And, for this month, whereare these?

Coach to BATHSeats are still available on the coach to Bath onWednesday 20th April. It leaves Painswick at10.00am and the return journey is 5.00pm from Bath.Fare £7.Bookings by cashor cheque payableto “Painswick L & BOutings” may bemade with Joan Truman, Little Place, HollyhockLane, Painswick GL6 6XH. Enquiries to JoanTruman 813965 or Pauline Berry 813227.

Low cost land + affordablehousingStroud and District

Community Land TrustThe Beacon receives all sorts of snippets of information, and this one caughtour eye. Many column inches (or is it centimetres these days?) have beenwritten, and much more said, about the importance of creating affordablehousing stock throughout the country so that those otherwise unable to geton to the 'housing ladder' where their families and friends live can still stayclose by. Painswick is surely no exception to this aspiration, and indeed theParish Council is on record as having the goal of bringing this about. Refer-ence to their own Parish Plan (pages 48-49) bears out their resolve in thematter. To quote the key extract "The Parish Council has adopted a policywhich calls for the containment of further residential development in the pe-riod of the District Council's Local Plan. The only exception to this policy is toseek the building of a limited number of dwellings intended for first time homebuyers/tenants". While the obtaining of capital investment and the hurdles of planning per-mission are integral to the achievement of this goal, the bottom line is obtaininga suitable parcel of land at a price closer to that of agricultural value thanhousing development value and, for that to come about, a landowner herea-bouts needs to be motivated to make suitable noises. So, we were interested in the convening of a meeting in Stroud next Tues-day, 5th April, to found what is to be called the Stroud and District CommunityLand Trust (SDCLT). The goals are stated as being to offer "a credible, not forprivate profit, community land trust that will secure low cost land for afford-able housing and community benefit- in perpetuity.’ Maybe we will hear more about its achievements as time passes, but sufficeto note at this stage that invitees are expected "to participate in a lively,practical discussion of how can we develop permanently affordable homesand workspace-and capture the value of our land for community reinvestmentthrough the Stroud and District Community Land Trust.This Foundation Meeting will consider:♦ What is affecting housing locally? What are the needs?♦ What is the Stroud and District Community Land Trust?♦ What benefits do we want from SDCLT? How will it work?♦ How does Mutual Home Ownership help people in the market ‘gap’ be-tween social housing and first time freehold homes?♦ What are the next steps for SDCLT?"

LWB

Once again we must ask you to help us to help you bynoting the datelines and the contacts

for copy to get to us, as set out on the back page.With this issue no less than eight items

reached us after the closing dateand, as a consequence, created significant extra work

to completely rebuild the Beacon page by page.The DATELINES ARE IMPORTANT if there is to

any assurance of inclusionof what is, to you and to us, news of significance

to the whole of our village community.

16

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HockeyPainswick Ladies recently playedBlockley at Broadham who before thegame were in top table position. Painswickwere the first to score through Karen Davisfollowing a cross from Maggie Morse.Blockley than equalised only for KarenDavis to score her second goal and re-store Painswick’s lead. This was to be thehome side’s final goal and Blockley ranout winners by 5 goals to 2. Also at Broadham a few weeks ago Pain-swick played host to high-flying BourtonVale. Bourton had a bright start but SarahVocking, Nikki Totterdale and SharonGillson closed ranks to deflect shots ongoal. Nonetheless, Bourton took the leadand made it two before half-time. Pains-wick responded after the break through aTotterdale strike. Although a loss for Pain-swick, the close result reflected the hardefforts of all the Painswick players.Player of the match. Lisa Bircher.

TennisNew pavilionAs the new pavilion at Broadham Fields is nearing completion the tennis club would liketo acknowledge, with thanks, contributions received from the following.1. Stroud District Council.2. Painswick Parish Council.3. Gloucestershire Playing Fields Association.4. The Notgrove Trust.

The tennis club hopes to have a grand opening when the pavilion is finally ready foruse.

JuniorsParents, children, coaches and members of the junior committee gathered for the pres-entation of medals and prizes awarded to the three junior teams who won their respectivesummer league divisions. Our picture shows Club President, John Courts, with some ofthe players.

League team practice eveningsLadies’ and Men’s practice nights havebegun at Broadham. The ladies’ eveningis Wednesday starting at 6.00pm and themen’s evening, Friday starting at 7.00pm.

Broadham Summer BallThe inaugural Broadham Summer Ball will be held at Broadham Fields on Friday 24thJune. This promises to be a spectacular night, with cocktails and canapés served at7.30pm, a three course dinner, and dancing courtesy of Top Cats. Carriages will be at1.00am. Dress will be black tie. Tickets are £40 each through to the end of April, and £45 thereafter, from Chris Hall:814504. Tables of 10 are also available.

CricketThe new season is only a few weeks awayand the club extends a warm welcome toanyone with an interest in the gamewhether player or supporter. Net practiceshave already begun at Broadham on Tues-day evenings at 6.30pm. League matchesare played on Saturday afternoons start-ing at 2.00pm. The club has two elevens. The gamesare of 45 overs per innings duration. Thereare also mid-week and evening matcheswith some Sunday fixtures. It is proposed run both under-13 and un-der-15 teams and Club Chairman, JohnHogg, will be pleased to provide more in-formation about junior cricket. John canbe contacted on 812505. For further details about the club, pleaseget in touch with the Club Secretary,Andrew Wise whose telephone number is01453.755202.

10

Playgroup newsIf you didn’t exactly squeal with glee and rush outside when the snow fell in February, I know a group of small children who did. Beaty,our Playgroup leader, helped the children make a delightful snowman which didn’t fly off to the North Pole the next day but remainedfor an amazing eleven days, guarding the entrance to The Croft School. If it was very cold outside it was warm and cosy inside Playgroup: the topic for this term has been ‘Opposites.’ Already I can hearmy small daughter Millie bringing opposites into the conversation- ‘your pud-ding is bigger than my pudding...’ On a cold Thursday morning this month the children walked down to Pains-wick Library. Though the excited babble broke the normal Library hush, theLibrarian kindly pointed out that the Library is for everyone, even the small andover-excited residents. Another excitement was our visit to see the Postman Patproduction at the Everyman in Cheltenham. All the children loved seeing the livePostman Pat and his black and white cat caused even more vociferous enjoy-ment. With all the fun and frolics available at Playgroup its not surprising that thelist is now full with no places available for the near future. On a sad note however, one of the mainstays of Playgroup for the last seven-teen years, Christine Thompson will be leaving to spend more time at her otherjob in Stroud. We’ll all miss her, wish her well and if she comes back on a visit ona snowy day, we’ll even let her help with the snowman again.

Gillian Hancock

Mock trial The Stroud Mock Trial competition was held recently between sixteen local schools. A team of ten pupils had toenact a court case, using witness statements and samplequestions to help them. Every role was taken on by thepupils, including magistrates, prosecuting lawyers, clerkto the court and witnesses. Despite the fact that TheCroft has never entered the competition before, the teamemerged victorious, narrowly beating Stroud Valley, lastyear’s winners. The Malcolm Reynolds JP Shield was pre-sented in school by Tony Howarth, one of the magistratesinvolved in the event. The team of ten were all judged ontheir performance and it was a fantastic achievement. Mock trials are held in many towns for senior schoolpupils, but Stroud is the only place that holds the eventfor primary pupils. Our pupils’ composure and quick think-ing certainly proved what eleven year olds can do and Ibelieve we may have a few budding lawyers in the school!

Janet HoyleOn the 1st of March ten pupils from The Croft School went to the Stroud Magistrates Court to re-enact a trial. Before the trial we hada tour round the police cells and magistrates came and spoke to class five in school. We competed against Minchinhampton School.We were judged on the way we spoke to the magistrates, how we handled questions and answers from the other school and how weasked questions. We were faced with some hard questions but we managed to fight back well enough to win!! We beat fifteen other schools in the area and we were very proud. by Kyle Douglass and Rosemary Davies

‘Drumcrazy’On Thursday 17th March the school waspulsing to the beat of up to forty Africandrums and percussion instruments. Everychild in the school took part in workshopsorganised by the ‘Drumcrazy’ group,funded by the PTA. The day ended in a

whole school performancewith everyone, children,staff and parents, involved.A noisy, exciting day, muchenjoyed by all!

Personalised decorations inthe form of leaves, butterfliesand insects from most of theJuniors adorn a tree.

15

Local History TeaserThe photograph this month should set you thinking about lovely summer days not so far off now – or is that just wishful thinking?Be that as it may, the gardening season is certainly upon us and our picture shows a group of willing helpers assisting the Vicar to tidyup the churchyard in 1948 or 1949. The Vicar, in shirt sleeves and braces, is sitting on the tombstone. Who was he and where was the vicarage at that time? Who is theman on the extreme left, who was the lady standing in the middle ofthe photograph, where did she live and who is the little girl in theforeground?

Answer in next month’sBeacon. The answer to lastmonth’s teaser: the occasionwas the laying of the memo-rial stone of the restorationof the Congregational

Chapel (Christchurch) by the Mayor of Gloucester on 18th July1892. There were several eminent people present, many of whomdelivered addresses upon subjects such as ‘Our Principles’, ‘OurHistory’ and ‘Our Work’. The Chapel was built in 1803 on the siteof a former Chapel erected in 1705. The adjoining schoolroom wasbuilt in 1844. The Chapel had fallen into a state of disrepair and,after great consideration, it was decided to improve the appearance of the façade and to carry out important internal and externalalterations. The estimated cost – about £950. This month’s Local History Society meeting will be held on Tuesday, 20th April at the Croft School. The annual research evening, itwill feature three members, each presenting the findings of their recent research projects on different topics. The meeting starts at7.30pm and everyone is welcome.

Carol Maxwell

Lots - at CranhamAs many readers may know, two auctions are organised a year at CranhamVillage Hall, to raise funds in rotation for the Church, the School, the VillageHall, and Cricket Club. Although the Auction is run by Village Volunteers, and this is perhaps itstwentieth year, it is run as a commercial auction, with a small charge ascommission taken from the seller. We normally have 300 to 350 Lots, cover-ing a range of items from Furniture, China, Glass andSilverware, Paintings Pictures, through to Books,Children’s games, garden equipment etc. (Partof the fun is not knowing what we will get!). The Spring Auction this year will be on Sat-urday 30th April, and is being held to aid theVillage Hall Funds. Viewing of Lots will start at 10.30am, andthe Auction at 12.00 noon. Hot and Cold Refreshments will be avail-able throughout. If any readers have items they would wish to sell at theAuction, entry forms are available from Mrs Jean Garret on 812077. For anyfurther information please con-tact me on 812816 or by e-mailGary.J.Mason@btinternet.com

Gary Mason ChairmanCranham Village Hall

The Family HavenCalling all New Year Resolutioners! Have you started a spring clean in your home?Have you vowed to give up the dreaded weed or toshed those few extra pounds in 2005? The Family Haven is appealing for unwanted giftsor items suitable for an auction. The charity whichsupports local families in Gloucestershire will beholding an auction during the summer to raise vitalfunds. Any gifts would be gratefully accepted. The charity is also looking for people who havestarted a diet or given up smoking for the new year.By getting sponsorship from family and friends youwill be able to raise funds for local families at thesame time as achieving your goals. Sponsorshipforms are available as well as the opportunity toview the facilities on offer at The Family Haven. For every £5 of sponsorship the centre can pro-vide a child with a hot nourishing meal for a week.Anyone who raises more than £50 will be enteredinto a draw to win a voucher for a meal for 2 at HattonCourt Hotel, Upton St. Leonards. To join in the fun or for further information pleasecall me on 01452.528692.

Claire McGrath - Fundraising & Public Rela-tions Manager

PainswickLocal HistorySociety

Paul A Morris

Telephone (01453) 752004Mobile 07818 087375

paulmorris72@Hotmail.com

City & Guilds

General Builder * Plastering * PatiosDry Stone Walling

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Readers are reminded that adirect line to Painswick's PC is

07799 624643if he is off duty it connects direct to

the police Control Room

Readers are reminded that theDog Warden telephone number is

01453 754497

11

Sustainable energyand affordable warmthThe Annual General Meeting of the Painswick and District Con-servation Society will be held on Wednesday 4th May in St.Mary’s Church Rooms. The doors will open at 7.00pm for 7.30pmand all members are asked to renew their subscriptions whenthey arrive. As customary we have invited a guest speaker to follow our

refreshments interval. He is Mr. Ben Sang from theSevern Wye Energy Agency(SWEA), a registered charitywhich promotes the use ofsustainable energy and afford-

able warmth in the South West. In a globally warming world hissubject is extremely topical so he will discuss the renewableenergy technologies that are currently available, as well as talk-ing about community ‘renewable energy’ projects. While it appears that the next general election may (or maynot) take place on the 5th May, or thereabouts, we suggest thisis an excellent way to forget about political forecasts and partyspeculation for an hour or so. The meeting is open to existingmembers but guests and newcomers are very welcome to join atthe door as new members.

Douglas Robinson

SkylarksIn the February edition there was a short and simple questionwhich was searching in its simplicity yet complex in its answer-ing. Dr. Dick Jarrett asked why skylarks were no longer heardover Dry Knapps Field. Unfortunately there was no reply in theMarch edition. The population of skylarks has reduced across Western Eu-rope. The RSPB and BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) called aconference at the University of Southampton in March 1999 andinvited experts from Finland, New Zealand (skylarks were intro-duced there in the second half of the 19th century), Ireland,Switzerland, Great Britain and Germany to present their skylarkresearch papers. Different habitats were covered, high and lowland, pasture, arable and coastal. All this material is now avail-able in an excellent publication entitled 'The Ecology and

Conservation of Skylarks', editedby PF Donald and JA Vickery,price £17.00 ISBN 1-901930-23-8.If I offer a summary of the 220-page publication I guess theBeacon editorial board would re-ject it on length. Perhaps I can whetthe interest of local ornitholo-

gists? The population size of species is subject to complexinfluences e.g. availability of food throughout the year or in thebreeding season only. Also numbers are influenced by changesin the clutch sizes and the number of clutches per breeding pair;mortality rates in young and adults; availability of surplus indi-viduals to replace the ones lost to death and needed to maintainbreeding numbers. Advent of diseases can be important. We canall notice the presence of deformities in the feet of somechaffinches in Painswick due to a virus. Add to this the changesin farming methods, some helpful, like set-aside, and others lessso; changes in crops grown, times of harvesting, the leaving ofstubble. New Zealand is not influenced by EU farming trends soit is interesting to read about its skylark numbers. You might enjoy reading the publication to help Dr. Jarrett an-swer his simple, yet complex, question. Meanwhile CranhamCommon is an ideal place still to hear the skylark.

Malcolm Watts

The eighteen fruitsconcealed lastmonth were:

This month we haveconcealed twelve westernEuropean countries, twoof them twice.

Wordsearch

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B E N I L A M R E GD E N I S N O K E ME S L I P P E R Y ON A L G A R M A R DY L A T I A L M S GY A N D N U S N W NS G U Y N K M E I IP U S S I A C D T KA T H R T N L T Z DU R K O A R U E E ES O R R L R I Y R TT P F T N L L A L IR O A K S A A A A NI N E I T U N N N UA Y H O L L A N D D

Jackpot!On 26th February a coffee morning was held by the 'Bingo La-dies' in aid of improvements being made at the Painswick Centre,which will benefit all the users. £250.20 was raised and we would like to thank everyone whosupported us.

Rose Smith

14

More musical jewels…I have just returned from the sparkling concert given by the SkampaString Quartet in St Mary’s Church. This was the first of the fourconcerts arranged by the Painswick Music Society. The next one is today (Saturday) when Emma Johnson (violin) andthe Orchestra of the Swan are performing. Details were set out in theMarch issue of the Beacon. Currently, we have limited numbers oftickets available for all the remaining concerts. Ifthere are any spare tickets left on the day of theconcert, they will be available on the door – butplease book soon if you want to be sure of attend-ing. Alexis White (see photo), an outstanding youngpianist, will give our third concert on Saturday 16thApril. Alexis is becoming a much sought after player, and is supportedby the Countess of Munster Musical Trust. She will be playingHaydn’s Sonata in A-flat, Trois Preludes pour piano by Dutilleux,Schubert’s Impromptu from D946, Rakhmaninov’s Etudes-tableux Op 1& 9, and Brahms Klavierstucke Op 118. I am looking forward to a mostenjoyable afternoon. Our final concert is a week later on Saturday 23rd April. Tasmin Little(violin) plays with Wayne Marshall (piano). Both are great perform-ers. Tasmin played some beautiful music when she was last here in1999 – and you may remember that she also had to cope with a brokenstring! Their programme starts with a truly virtuoso piece by Kreisler,and followed with Bach’s Sonata in B minor, Grieg’s Sonata in G and

Prokofiev’s Sonata inD. Then we have a firstfor the Society - WayneMarshall’s improvisa-tions on piano. Theconcert closes withCole Porter’s Begin theBeguine andGershwin’s Medley.Many regard these twocomposers as the great‘classical’ composersof the 20th century.What a brilliant way toend our diamond anni-versary season.As you probably know,each concert takesplace at 3.00pm in StMary’s Church. Themusicians perform on araised stage and thereis a short interval ofabout 20 minutes to al-low everyone to

stretch their legs. After the concert, you are invited to the Churchrooms for a tea and there is usually an opportunity to meet the artists.Tickets can be obtained from Hywel James, Canton House, New Street,Painswick GL6 6XH (812419) or at the Shetland Shop. Tickets for theAlexis White concert cost £10.00, and for the Tasmin Little/WayneMarshall concert cost £15.00.

Peter Rowe

PainswickMusicSociety

Diamond startFor the first performance in their Diamond Jubilee Sea-son, on 19th March, the Society were fortunate enoughto hear the much sought-after Skampa String Quartet, ayoung group from Prague. They gave a sparkling per-formance. Their first piece was Mozart’s String Quartetin G, K.156, which was written in Milan, when the com-

poser was only 16. Their performance was well-balanced and deli-cate, with a pleasing dialogue between the violinsand the viola. Next they played Josef Suk’s Medi-tation on an old Bohemian Chorale, linked to theoutbreak of the First World War. Haunting andsad, it was performed with great precision.

There followed a String Quartet (No2 in F) by Prokofiev,in a more modern idiom, with a strong cello input. The programme concluded with a String Quartet bySmetana, written after he had become deaf and washeading towards a total mental breakdown. The firstmovement was agitated and gloomy; in the second, onesensed that he was trying to write more brightly, withfolkloric tunes in a dance- like tempo. The third was allegro but also agitato, while the fourthwas presto but not much tranquillity. The lively encorewas their own arrangement of Moldavian folk-tunes.

Richard Burges Watson

Violin ConcertosOn 24th February, Stewart Price gave us a well-orches-trated presentation of the development of the violinconcerto, of which the father was Corelli (1653-1713)but which was popularised by Vivaldi (1678-1741).Stewart played for us the opening movement of theFour Seasons, La Primavera, drawing our attention tothe twittering of birdsand the murmuring ofstreams in the back-ground. He went on toplay Bach’s familiarDouble Violin Concertoand then Mozart’s Turkish Concerto, where Stewart sawparallels with opera. Beethoven only wrote one violin concerto but typi-cally he transformed this style into a monumental work,taking his audience into the great romantic era. Stewartdrew our attention particularly to the cadenza, an op-portunity for the soloist to shine on his own. Next camea piece by Paganini, the epitome of the virtuoso violinconcerto. Stewart followed with extracts from two well-known concertos, by Brahms and Tchaikowsky, andthe even more familiar one by Max Bruch, his main claimto fame. Stewart concluded with the violin concerto byElgar, which he described as one of the greatest.

Richard Burges Watson

MusicappreciationGroup

PainswickColouristsLocal artists Adèle Lambert, MarylaRidgwell, Joan Wells and DerekLambert will be exhibiting in theTown Hall from 25th April to 2ndMay.

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More about appointmentsJohn Mantell writesI appear to always be writing with viewscomplementary to those of PeggyBradshaw (March issue p.15) and in thiscase the issues are most important. Three weeks ago my friend and I suf-fered illness; one heart attack and myselfa fractured arm. During the ensuingweeks, and still continuing, the doctors,nurses both surgery and district, and re-ceptionists at the surgery have shown careand attention of the most exemplary stand-ard. Failure to advise the surgery of inabilityto keep an appointment involves costs tothe surgery and deprives other patientsof the possibility of seeing a doctor. I trust that your publication of these let-ters will prompt people to act in aresponsible fashion. The surgery is thevillage's most important asset and shouldnot be abused.

Gill says farewellGill Powis writesBy the time you read this I will have left

the Pharmacy after 22years of service. Mike and I came to thepharmacy in the earlyeighties and, after divorc-ing in '99, I stayed on. Butnow it's time to say good-bye to all my 'friends' thathave entered the shop inall those years. I am going to work withmy partner Tony who

runs his own coach business nearMalmesbury in Wiltshire. Later, once Ihave sold my house, Emma and I will bemoving to Wiltshire. I have to say a big thank you to my 'girls'in the shop for all their hard work and sup-port over the years. It's been a pleasure towork with you, and to Mike and Rachaelcongratulations on the birth of their babyin March.The Beacon enquired as to whether Gill'smoving on affected the future of the Phar-macy in any way, and we are pleased topass on the news that it does not. Ed.

Serious pocket moneyMr and Mrs Barclay write from Croft Edgein Hollyhock LaneReferring to the item under this headingin the March issue (page 10). We wouldbe interested and very willing to pay forour paper to be collected and deliveredon Saturday mornings, if it was on a regu-lar basis.

Nearly BroadbandLeslie Brotherton notesI have tried out the much publicisedOnSpeed system, which advertises as alow cost alternative to Broadband; in fact£25pa. I gather that the 'trick' is that it com-presses files being sent and received. For what it is worth, receiving a 219Kbphotograph attached to an Email took 1minute 17 seconds, so readers can maketheir own judgement.

Fun with readingsChristl Mathias has written to sayI would like to add a few words to the verynice note in last month' s Beacon on thepoetry readings by the Painswick Playerson the theme of " It's a small world." It was an afternoon filled with humourand wisdom - readings carefully selectedby Pauline Foreman and expertly read byDiana Barclay, Pat Daly, Avril Dorey, MilesCurtis Hayward and Georgina Sutton aswell as Pauline herself. The readings ended

Car parkingJohn Davis writesAs someone new toPainswick, and still anovice at the localgame of ‘find a park-ing space’, I haveread with interest dis-cussions and lettersin the Painswick Bea-con about theparking issues of overcrowded roads inthe centre of Painswick, traffic disruptionsdue to parking on Stroud Road outsidethe Stamages Lane car park, and the factthat the car park itself seems little used.And it seems to me that there is a simplesolution to all these problems: make theStamages Lane car park free to Painswickresidents. This would result in less carsparked in the village centre, no need forcars to park on Stroud Road, a fuller carpark, and a resulting improvement in theattractiveness and atmosphere of the vil-lage roads. As it is, I am sure I am not the only per-son for whom the cost of a season ticketfor the car park is prohibitive.

and an offer made to deliverby young entrepreneur Benjamin GarbettMy name is Benjamin Garbett and I amthirteen years old. I would be prepared to

collect and deliver papers andmagazines as detailed in theMarch Beacon. I live at Do-ver Mews, Vicarage Street,

and my telephone number is812176.

This is not Benjamin's photograph!We note that taking tokens or full cost incash one week, and collecting papers forthe following week, could net about £1for (say) a set of three deliveries. It neednot be at crack of dawn, but reliabilitywould be essential. Any other young peo-ple interested elsewhere in the village?Ed.

with Pauline skilfully weaving one hun-dred and twenty song titles together toillustrate her part of her journey about theworld. What a great deal of effort musthave gone into that! I was also very much impressed by theattractive set, enhanced by lighting andmusic which Chrissie Stephenson-Oliverand her team gave up their Saturday tocreate, not to mention the delicious creamtea. It was a day to remember - it turned acold miserable winters afternoon into asunny happy trip around the world led byPauline and her readers. 1 do so hope itwill be repeated next year.

stonemasonsstonecarvers

sculptorsconservation

craftsmen

advisors

centrelinearchitectural sculpture

www.centrelinestone.co.uk

Fairfax House, Vicarage Street, PainswickOffice: 01452 813892 Workshop: 01285 821074

ElectionNotice of Election has been posted atthe Town Hall for one Councillor to rep-resent UPTON ST LEONARDS,BISLEY & PAINSWICK on Glouces-tershire County Council. Forms of nomina-tion may be obtainedat Ebley Mill, Stroud,from the Deputy Re-turning Officer, towhom they must bedelivered no laterthan noon on Thursday, 7th April 2005. If any election is contested the pollwill take place on Thursday, 5th May2005. Amendments or cancellations of ex-isting (long-term) postal votes mustreach the Electoral Registration Officerat Ebley Mill, Westward Road, Stroud,Glos, GL5 4UB by 5.00pm on Tuesday,19th April. All applications to vote bypost or proxy at this election must reachthe Electoral Registration Officer at thataddress by 5.00 pm on Tuesday, 26thApril.

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Pied Piper just six miles awayThe Beacon is pleased to have been asked to remind readers that the new Children’sCentre, serving the whole county, has recently been opened at The Gloucestershire

Royal Hospital. This long awaited state of the art facilityhas replaced the old Victorian wards and alsomeans that fewer children now have to travelout of the county for specialist treatment. However the work of the Pied Piper char-ity has not finished and they urgently needa further £500,000 to secure additionalmedical and child-friendly equipmentwhich the hospital desperately needs butjust cannot afford. They hope you will feel able to sup-port their efforts and we are pleased toinclude copy of just one option. If fur-ther information is required please getin touch with The Pied Piper AppealOffice on 08454.226119 or onmail@piedpiperappeal.co.uk

Christian AidWeek May 15th – 21stChristian Aid’s 60th anniversary year be-gan with the most appalling reminder ofmankind’s vulnerability. The response tothe tsunami disaster was immediate andoverwhelming. Christian Aid has beenprofuse and humble in its thanks for thisgenerosity; they were already workingthrough partner organisations in SriLanka, South India and Indonesia andhave been able to redouble their effortsand ensure a long term programme of bothphysical and emotional help. But this natural disaster has also broughtglaringly to light the man-made disasterof inequality of wealth and opportunityfaced by many of the world’s poorest na-tions. In 2005 Britain will host the G8summit and also hold presidency of theEuropean Union. In September the UnitedNations will be examining its progress to-wards reducing world poverty. Tomaximise these opportunities for influenc-ing policy, Christian Aid has joined withother organisations to launch the MakePoverty History campaign We make no apology for asking you yetagain to support our efforts in ChristianAid week. We are asked to send moneyraised to the general fund to support theongoing work in other parts of the world,especially Africa. There will once againbe a house-to-house collection in all ofour villages and the shop will be open inGloucester Street, Painswick thanks to thegenerosity of the Christ Church congre-gation (more details next month). Anyoffers of help or donations of plants,books, cakes, antiques or unwanted giftswill be very gratefully received on behalfof the world’s most vulnerable people.

Liz Daviesand the Painswick Valleys committee

Dancing for PleasureOur regular Tea Dances are set to continue at the Painswick Centre but with a change ofdays. With effect from the 7th April the dances will now be every Thursday instead ofWednesday and will commence at 2.30pm. We hope that perhaps a change of day will enable more local dancers tocome and enjoy an afternoon of social dancing, meet likewise thinking peo-ple and also have tea and biscuits too. We will of course be closed during July and August when the Gloucester-shire Guild of Craftsmen have their annual exhibition, but will finish withour Victorian Costume Ball on Saturday 9th July. This event has grown inpopularity since we first started and hopefully this year we will be able to donateeven more from the evening towards the restoration of the Centre which is, as youprobably know, undergoing an extensive programme of renovation at this time. So whynot reserve your tickets early for what should be another great evening of dancing. Ifyou would like any further information or to reserve tickets for the Costume Ball pleasedon’t hesitate to call us on the number below.

Geoff & Joy 01453.833150

Line dancing - for pleasure tooThe Thursday Line Dance Class, which has been established in the Town Hall for fouryears, has expanded the time of the class to cater for new beginners. The class now starts at 12.00 noon and runs until 1.00 pm. for new beginners, and theexperienced beginners come in at 12.30 p.m. to dance until 1.30. So, if you’ve been wanting to try Line Dancing and felt it would be difficult joining anestablished class, now is your chance tocome and start at the beginning. For more information, ring Julie on01453.752480. A reference from a keen Line Dancer:“Do come - it’s a great way to get someexercise and we have such fun!”

Liz FisherFlexible busWe had hoped, many weeks ago, to be publishing in these pages information about theStroud North Area mini-bus scheme to connect residents throughout the area in whichPainswick is the major settlement with any other part on a door-to-door basis. Thisscheme has been 'fought for' by our Parish Council in close collaboration with that inBisley. Sadly, although some £130,000 was obtained by way of grant (some months ago now)to fund the early years of this potentially valuable project, and a suitably adaptedvehicle has been ordered and delivered, the County Council has failed to consult aswidely as it should prior to introduction of the service. The present position is anoverdue realisation that a completely new consultation process must be gone throughso that others rendering services which may be affected, such as taxi firms, can contrib-ute ideas and factors which - in turn - may influence the scope and frequency of operation. The Beacon's latest information is that it could be at least another two months beforethe service comes into operation. Watch this space! We are.

Cotswold CareThe friends of Cotswold Care are holdingtheir next coffee morning in the Town Hallon Saturday 23rd April between 10.00amand midday. Cakes, plants and new and nearly newclothes will be among things to be offeredfor sale.

Paula Woodcock