The newspaper for Nether Heyford & Upper Heyford, Northamptonshire, UK. Delivered free to every house since 1977.
As some of you may know, Guy Ravine has had a nasty accident at home which has resulted in him suffering serious burns and a broken leg. He is now being treated at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.
We wish him a speedy recovery and hope he is home soon.
The Prattler team
The Prattler is run by an active voluntary committee comprising of Sue Boutle, Christine Watts, Vicki Hamblin, Jez Wilson, Nick Essex, Richard Musson and Mary Rice. If you would like to submit articles or have any suggestions for future issues, please contact us.
The newspaper is supported by donations from the Parish Council, the Parish Church, the Baptist Church, Heyford W.I., Heyford Gardening Club, Heyford Singers, the Bowls Club, the Village Hall and Heyford Picturedrome as well as our advertisers.
Thanks are also due to the volunteers who distribute it every month.
Website: www.towcester.foodbank.org.uk
Get Help:
Don’t go hungry – if you are in need of help, please contact Towcester Food Bank 07724 832043 (24 hours). Leave a message and they will phone you back. They can issue vouchers for food as well as a delivery or collection service. Alternatively contact South Northamptonshire Council Money Advice Team on 01327 322275 email: moneyadvice@southnorthants.gov.uk
Give Help:
Alternatively if you wish to help, you may donate food:
Towcester Food Bank:
St. John Ambulance garage, Islington Road, Towcester during the following times: Tuesdays 12:00 to 14:00 & Fridays 10:30 to 12:30
Daventry & Weedon Food Banks:
In the box outside the door of 15 Middle Street, Nether Heyford (they are then delivered twice a week)
Many years ago (approx 1951) a lady arrived in the village with a horse drawn gypsy caravan which she parked in John Smiths field between the river and Crow Lane. She stayed there for many months during which time her horse died and she was enquiring about a replacement.
My grandfather had a very large shire horse for sale and i suggested to the lady that we should bike over to Caldecote near Towcester for her to inspect the horse. A price was agreed and I offered to ride the horse bareback via Tiffield, Dalscote, Birds Hill and Bugbrooke to Heyford, a very painful journey.
Next day I helped to harness the horse to the caravan which had sunk into the wet ground, the horse heaved and broke all the chains attaching it to the caravan, John Smiths tractor was required to move it.
After some further months the lady, horse and caravan left Heyford and never returned. She was writing a book about her journey but I do not know whether it was ever published. Have any of your older readers any knowledge as to who the lady was and whether a book was ever published?
W John Butcher
Published November Edition 2020
John Butchers article in the November Prattler
The lady mentioned was known to us as Roma Far. In 1951, I was a 7-year-old who walked every day from Upper Heyford to Bliss School. We would stop and feed the goat and stroke the dogs. She camped in the field known as the Pykle next to Crow Lane, before the entrance to the lane was filled in by the council, it was a nice open space often used by gypsies.
Many years later having become an avid book collector, I discovered that Roma Far was really Rowena Farre, the best selling authoress of ‘Seal Morning’, a wild life book published in 1957. This was followed by ‘A time from the World’ published in 1962. This is the story of her roaming life, living with gypsies and tinkers, her stay in Upper Heyford was part of this journey.
David Banner
Published December Edition 2020
Welcome packs are available for newcomers to the village.
The information in them helps people feel at home quickly.
If you notice that someone has moved in recently, get a pack for them delivered by calling:
Sue Morris, 21 The Green, Nether Heyford. Telephone: 01327 349387
I am saddened to report yet more tyre mark damage to our lovely netball and basketball court. Please remind family members that the court is not to be used for cycling stunts and skateboarding. There is a big sign CLEARLY stating this at the court. Also if your kids are coming down on their bikes whilst football games etc are on please can they not go on the court whilst you are playing your game.
Thank you.
From Nether Heyford Netball Club
The Prattler is run by an active voluntary committee comprising of Sue Boutle, Christine Watts, Vicki Hamblin, Jez Wilson, Nick Essex, Richard Musson and Mary Rice. If you would like to submit articles or have any suggestions for future issues, please contact us.
The newspaper is supported by donations from the Parish Council, the Parish Church, the Baptist Church, Heyford W.I., Heyford Gardening Club, Heyford Singers, the Bowls Club, the Village Hall and Heyford Picturedrome as well as our advertisers.
Thanks are also due to the volunteers who distribute it every month.
On Saturday 26 September 2020, my mother, Janet Haynes, my daughter, Emily Stroman and I took part in the Virtual Walk of Hope raising valuable funds for Brain Tumour Research.
I was inspired to take part after my Mum and her two sisters were all diagnosed with brain tumours and tragically in May this year my Auntie Lesley (Bushell) passed away.
At the time of writing, we have raised £1,270 surpassing our target. We would like to thank everyone who kindly donated to this very worthwhile cause and if you would like to make a donation please go to: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sally-stroman
Thank you.
Sally Stroman, 11 Winston Close, Nether Heyford
Lifeboat Fund
Mrs Sandra Davis would like to express her heartfelt thanks to all the people who donated towards supporting the RNLI. This is a very worthy cause and was always supported by her late husband Norman.
Sandy has always tried to raise funds for the lifeboats, to keep up the good work Norman started. Incidentally the main source of the RNLI’s income is from donations given by the generosity of the general public. Therefore it is easy to see what a worthy undertaking raising funds for them is.
Sandy has worked very hard promoting this cause and the funds raised were taken down to the Yarmouth and Gorlestone Lifeboat Station. Sandy has just received a letter of appreciation from the Lifeboat Association thanking her for all her hard work and support. She was also informed of the amount of money she recently raised. It came to the magnificent total of £615.94. Once again thank you for all your donations, help and generosity.
Sandy Davis
Published November Edition 2020
The Heyford Calendar now available for £5.
You will be able to pick up a copy at Heyford Meats or The Foresters Arms or by e-mailing heyford_prattler@yahoo.co.uk to arrange a “cash on collection” time.
Photographs from: Mick Parker, Tom Dodd, Marie Hanlon, John Dunkley, Sarah Thompson, Tony Boutle, Vernon Cameron-Ilott, Martin Lee
The Nether Heyford Prattler 