Author: Jez Wilson

Village Hall – News – July & August 2020

Saturday 20th June – should have been our Village Hall Fete – with the same strong winds and heavy rain as last year – seems to be becoming a tradition. However, thanks to C-you-know-what, it had to be cancelled.

That’s not the only sad news for the Village Hall, as our Vice-Chair, Eve Matthews, has had to stand down. We want to record our thanks to Eve, not only for her enthusiastic and valuable contributions to our management committee meetings, but also for her willingness to help with our fundraising events. With our Events Secretary Pat Paterson, Eve worked hard at the beginning of the year, not only to help organise the village hall fete but the April garage sale too, also cancelled.

Throughout the village hall’s 60-year history, volunteers have been joining and leaving the management committee – each member bringing in fresh ideas and energy – to help ensure the hall’s continual maintenance and development into the splendid community facility that we still enjoy. As we are keen to continue this tradition by finding a successor for Eve, we have issued an invitation to Nether Heyford people to join us – please see our advertisement in this issue.

This should have been a special year for the village hall – with lots of planned events to celebrate its 60th anniversary – now on hold. However, next year we will celebrate ‘60+1’ so come and join us and help us make 2021 special instead.

Alwyne Wilson – 01327 340803

Chairman, Village Hall Management Committee

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Heyford Gardening Club – July & August 2020

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Please note that Garden Club activities have had to be suspended until further notice.

Weather
I may have mentioned the weather in previous articles, but it has been extreme this year. At time of writing after weeks with no rain we have had some heavy downpours, but the soil still looks parched. There is more rain in the forecast, so we hope this may help refresh our gardens as I for one am tired of lugging watering cans around and summer has hardly started.

The dry spring has had its benefits though, I have had very little damage from slugs this year, and might even see flowers on my one delphinium! The floral display seems to have been exceptional too, the spring flowers were excellent and long lasting and the summer flowers look to be as good, roses and clematis and various shrubs being laden with flowers. This might be a result of last years dry summer. If we get a bit of rain now we might even have a good crop of soft fruit.

Fruity Disasters
A number of people have told me that they have had a disappointing crop of strawberries this year which is almost certainly due to the frosts which happened just as the plants were flowering. I managed to cover my small bed with some glass, a bit laborious but we have had some strawberries as a result.

We would have had more had we not decided to reorganise some of the strawberry beds in March. Because of the dry spring those plants have mostly shrivelled up now and will have to be discarded. I also planted some raspberries this spring and they too struggled manfully but have now succumbed to the drought. I shall always plant fruit in the autumn in future.

Orange
Looking round our garden I noticed how many orange flowers we have. There are people who won’t have orange in their gardens. Because it is the complementary of green, the colour of most foliage, orange flowers will always assert themselves, but I couldn’t be without poppies and marigolds in our garden (but I do have reservations about orange roses; they don’t look right to me).

This year has proved challenging in other ways too; it has proved difficult getting supplies as garden centres were closed for a while, and recently many have run out of compost. I had to curtail plans to plant up more pots containers, but in view of the watering burden that may have been a sensible move in the end.

Lilies
I have discovered that lilies are one of the easiest plants to grow in pots; they seem able to put up with all sorts of weather, and if you can avoid the lily beetle, don’t suffer from many other pests or diseases. I have 3 pots of regal lilies in the garden at the present time with nearly one hundred buds between them. All they require is regular watering and a fortnightly splash of seaweed fertiliser.

Things to do in July
1. Clear blanket weed from ponds and top up if necessary
2. Look out for clematis wilt
3. Deadhead bedding plants and perennials to keep the display going

Mark Newstead

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www.heyfordgardenclub.com

For more information visit the Heyford Gardening Club & Allotments page

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Nether Heyford Neighbourhood Watch – July & August 2020

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The 2020 revival is a fresh start for the village “Neighbourhood Watch Scheme” and expands the area to include the complete parish area and Upper Heyford.

Also linking together with the Facebook group, Northamptonshire Neighbourhood Watch, The Parish Council, The PCSO and The Prattler.

The scheme is open to village residents only and all applications should be made
online: www.ourwatch.org.uk/scheme/25380/nether-heyford-and-upper-heyford

For more information, please visit the Neighbourhood Watch page on this website.

Flower Society – July & August 2020

Bugbrooke and District Flower Society

Due to the uncertainty of when social distancing will be eased, we have decided to cancel all meetings for the rest of the year.

We look forward to meeting up again with our members and visitors when circumstances permit. In the meantime keep well, keep smiling and enjoy the summer.

For more information please follow us on Facebook.

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The Bugbrooke and District Flower Society meet every fourth Monday in the month in the Village Hall. Our meetings start at 7.45pm and usually take the form of a Demonstration when a qualified demonstrator will create several floral designs which are raffled at the end of the evening and lucky members take home the beautiful flowers.

Flower Society affiliated to the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS) promoting Floral Art. www.nafas.org.uk

The Olde Sun – Take Away Menu – Friday & Saturday Evenings

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Take Away Menu – Friday & Saturday

Available 5pm to 8pm

Bhaji Scoth Egg & Curried Mayo £5.00

Halloumi Fries £4.50

Haddock Fish & Chips £6.50

Whitby Scampi & Chips £6.50

Home Made Steak Pie & Chips £6.95

Lasagna al forno & Garlic Bread £6.50

Beef Brisket Burger & Chips £6.50
[Beef Brisket, Cheese, Fried Onions, Tomato, Gherkins & Gem Lettuce]

Fried Chicken Strips 5 Pieces Box Meal £6.90
[Secret 11 Spice Recipe Served with Seasoned Fries, 1 Side & Choice of Sauce]

Sides £1 Each
[Mushy Peas, Home Made Curry Sauce, Red Coleslaw, Baked Beans]

Dips 50p Each
[Garlic Mayo, Garlic Butter, Sweet Chilli, Smokey BBQ, Tartar]

Pizzas £5.50 Each
[Choose from Tomato or BBQ Base]

  • Classic Margherita
  • Pepperoni
  • BBQ Chicken [Peppers & Onions]
  • Hawaiian [Ham & Pineapple Chunks]
  • Veggie Delight [Courgette Spaghetti, Mushrooms & Pesto] *Gluten free Pizza base on request*

How it works:

Telephone us with your order 01327 340164, time slot will be given for collection, deliveries by arrangement if you cannot get out. Payments can be taken over the phone or upon collection. Orders will not be accepted after 8pm.

*We still need to be absolutely following the government’s requirements of social distancing and keeping ourselves and people around us safe, so please be mindful of this*

The Olde Sun 
Pub | Real ale | Garden | Parking | Real Fire | Good Food
Address: 10 Middle Street, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire NN7 3LL
Telephone: 01327 340164 Mobile: 07494 180051
Website: www.theoldesunpub.co.uk
Email: theoldesunheyford@gmail.com
Facebook (Pub): www.facebook.com/theoldesun

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The Olde Sun – Take Away Menu – Sunday Lunch

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Take Away Menu – Sunday Lunch

Order before 11am

We have prepared a delicious Sunday lunch menu to enjoy in the comfort of your own home.

Roast:

Beef £10
Chicken £10
Nut Roast £10 (v)

All roast will be served with, selection of green cabbages, carrots, peas, cola cabbage, cauliflower & broccoli bake, crispy roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding & red wine gravy

Side: 

Homemade soup with part baked bread £3

As a thank you to all our customers we will include a little present for you in your takeaway

The Olde Sun – Dine at Home

All meals are freshly prepared & cooked but served cold – and will need warming up in your oven, an instruction sheet will be included in the takeaway bag from our head chef.

How it works:

Telephone us with your order 01327 340164, time slot will be given for collection, deliveries by arrangement if you cannot get out. Payments can be taken over the phone or upon collection. Orders will not be accepted after 11am.

*We still need to be absolutely following the government’s requirements of social distancing and keeping ourselves and people around us safe, so please be mindful of this*

The Olde Sun 
Pub | Real ale | Garden | Parking | Real Fire | Good Food
Address: 10 Middle Street, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire NN7 3LL
Telephone: 01327 340164 Mobile: 07494 180051
Website: www.theoldesunpub.co.uk
Email: theoldesunheyford@gmail.com
Facebook (Pub): www.facebook.com/theoldesun

FoodHygieneRating5

Revitalising the Allotments – July & August 2020

Revitalising the allotments

Sharing

I was pleased to report, in last month’s edition of the Prattler, that allotment holders had been generously sharing their surplus plants with other allotment holders. That has continued throughout June with more and more excess being offered. What a generous group of people we have in our growing community. I am sure that when excess produce is forthcoming later in the season, there will be fruit and veg to hand out too. I won’t even attempt to guess how many oversized courgette’s are likely to appear! An old wheelbarrow now sits proudly in the picnic area and hopefully by the time this article goes to print, there will be a sign attached directing you to place all surplus items there.

It has been encouraging to see more and more villagers making use of the picnic area. It is a tranquil place to sit and while away some time.

We are also encouraging people to visit our community flower patch (clearly signposted) and, if they so wish, help themselves to some cut flowers. Cutting carefully should enable everyone to have a bunch – so bring a pair of scissors or secateurs. Sweet peas benefit especially from regular cutting and will continue to flower all season if that happens. Later in the year we are hopeful that we may have sufficient soft fruit to offer to you as well. Just keep an eye on the notice boards at the entrances to the allotments and on the large shed in the middle of the site.

A spare watering can be found by the sweet pea wigwam, so if you are cutting flowers you might also give the plants in that area a drink. Every little helps.

Links to the past

We were very pleased to accept a donation of old tools from two allotment holders who found them at the back of their parents’ garden shed. They’d once rented an allotment in the village and it was wonderful to think that the tools were “coming home” and again being put to use. If you are a new allotmenteer or just want to make use of some unusual hoes and hand cultivators, let us know. They are stored in the community shed and available to borrow.

If you too have any unwanted garden tools let us know; someone can probably
make good use of them.

Wildlife

One of the joys of working on the allotments is the amount of wildlife you see. Even if we do seem to spend a lot of time and effort protecting crops from greedy pigeons and butterflies anxious to lay their eggs on our tasty greens, the benefits from creating a rich and diverse eco-system far outweigh any small loss of produce. It has been wonderful to see more and more people visiting the allotment wildlife area, created and curated by Dave and Pauline Musson and Mark and Mary Newstead.

An indication of the richness of our eco-system has been the presence of more frogs, toads and hedgehogs on the allotment. They are beneficial visitors to allotments and gardens, hoovering up large quantities of slugs and snails. A note of caution however: try to avoid using larger gauge netting to protect crops as it can snag and trap hedgehogs. One conscientious allotment holder recently spent an hour disentangling one of our prickly friends from a piece of netting before taking him off to the vet! I am pleased to report that the hedgehog made a full recovery and when set free, limped off across the allotment site to find more slimy treats for dinner.

Equipment
A range of equipment is available for allotment holders to borrow when working on the allotment site; this includes mowers, rotavators, wheelbarrows, brooms and watering cans. Many people will own some or all of the above, but for those who wish to get access to such equipment, please contact Bill Corner (sue.corner@sky.com 01327 342124), Lynda Eales (01327 341707) or Mike Langrish langrish_heyford@hotmail.com 01327341390). We can ensure that you get the equipment you require at a mutually convenient time.

Allotment Holders
If you are considering growing your own fruit and veg, act quickly by contacting Sue Corner on 01327 342124 or Lynda Eales on 01327 341707.

Mike Langrish 

I believe in the life enhancing virtues of
pure earth, clean air and blue sky.
Octavia Hill – founder of the National Trust

Nether Heyford W.I. – July & August 2020

WI-Logo

As I was wondering what to put in yet another “Lockdown” edition of the Prattler I realised that it was almost time for our wonderful Village Fete. It was to be a special one this year, it being the 60th Anniversary of the building of the Village Hall, and I know it would have been a day to remember. However, thanks to the coronavirus it was not to be. Also, true to form, the rain was imminent after days of really hot sunshine.

During our WI Committee meetings at the beginning of the year we were busy planning for our 90th Anniversary celebrations in December and remembering past events and achievements. Heyford Fete days were often mentioned. As always, events like these are hard work to organise and set up but they are remembered as events of great fun and laughter (in spite of the wind and rain on many occasions!). Earlier in the Fete’s history one of the main users of the Hall would make and sell the refreshments on the day instead of having a stall. There are always smiles when remembering the days beforehand spent making cakes and Fete mornings buttering bread for sandwiches which upheld the reputation of the WI as providers of wholesome, homemade fare!

Then there were the themes for the day. On the Village Hall’s 25th Anniversary the WI ladies went round the village on an “Alice in Wonderland” themed float. I am reliably informed that Alison Haynes was Alice, Maureen Wright the Mad Hatter, Pat Essery the Queen of Hearts and Mary Hyde the White Rabbit. I believe there are photo’s as proof!! One year they masqueraded as St. Trinian’s, another, they managed to acquire a milk float upon which was placed a bed containing Alison and Maureen and, on another occasion, featured the Land Army (where Alison and Maureen were the front and back of a cow, with Maureen spraying onlookers with a water pistol!) Does any of this sound like the staid picture people like to paint of the WI?

It is sad that we have had to miss this year’s fun but I am sure it will be even better next year when all is back to some kind of normal. I hope that when the September edition of the Prattler comes along our groups may be able to meet up again and there will be “live” events to write about but, until then, we wish you all a good and healthy summer.

Mary Rice – Heyford Lodge – 01327 340101

 

Nether Heyford Tennis Club – July & August 2020

Our Court Refurbishment Project is into its final stages and we will soon be offering tennis on three very smart and upgraded courts. We will be having a Grand Opening / Open Day – date tba when we are able to celebrate this huge achievement,

Although, during these difficult times, how we are able to play tennis is restricted we look forward to the return of all our “Social Sessions”

– ladies, men’s, league level, mixed abilities
Coaching – adults, junior, Summer Camps
Free – Friday tennis during school holidays

We would love to welcome new members of any age and any ability – please contact us and come and see what our Tennis Club has to offer.

For further information – please find us on Facebook or contact Jo on 01327 349094 Email: jodickson@btinternet.com

Website: clubspark.lta.org.uk/NetherHeyfordTennisClub

Full facilities and location details can be found on our Nether Heyford Tennis Club page.

‘ALLO, ‘ALLO – It’s Heyford Amblers

‘ALLO, ‘ALLO – It’s Heyford Amblers

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You might wonder what a bar full of Yvettes & Renes has to do with a village walking group. Well, I’ll tell you.

In 2002 we were both made redundant when Express Lifts & British Timken closed their doors and we were a year or three short of getting a State Pension so were keen to find hobbies that didn’t cost anything. We put an advert in The Prattler to see if anyone would be interested in forming a walking group and the rest, as they say, is history.

The first few years we walked every Tuesday morning from the village and once a month from further afield. Our Autumn break took us to places like Yorkshire and Derbyshire and an 8 mile walk was the norm, with a pint or two half way. Move forward a few years and we came closer to home, to The Cotswolds and The Malverns, for a 6 mile daily walk. Further still brought us to Rutland Water and The Thames with 5 miles a day, leaving plenty of free time to explore at our own pace. Our Autumn breaks usually included a Theme Night, which is why we look so ridiculous in these photos.

Over the 18 years we have made some good friends, lost a few and gained a few. However, aches and pains, decline of hearing, memory and concentration are taking their toll. Our Tuesday walks no longer happen and we take it in turn to organise a 4 miler once a month with, the most important bit, a meal at the end of it, and we still have a Christmas lunch at The Olde Sun.

Our advice to anyone healthy enough would be to take up walking, maybe start a new village group. We highly recommend it for fitness, fun and friendship.

Shirley & Mick Collins