Category: Letters

Letters: Happy Days – October 2019

Happy Days

The semi-detached dormer houses in Church Lane were built by Adkins and Shaw in the late 1960’s. After our wedding in 1967, Tony and I moved into No. 4 which was bought for the princely sum of £3,295. At that time most of the occupants of these houses were like us, newlyweds or not long married with young children. The land on which the houses were built had been owned by a Mr Potter whose widow lived at No. 3. The builders had not been able to develop the rest of the field because it was too low to support a sewer which is why the houses have long gardens.

At that time, the late Dennis Clarke who lived at the old bakery in Furnace Lane had a van from which he used to come round the village selling vegetables, fruit and fresh fish. He would park up in Church Lane and firstly visit Mrs Potter who was elderly and not able to walk too well. She in turn would have a cup of tea ready for him and so they would sit and chat and chat. In the meantime, all the potential customers were either waiting patiently or not so patiently for Dennis to appear. We became used to this routine and did not wait at the van unless we too wanted a chat but would keep checking to see if Dennis had appeared. But despite the wait, it was worth it just alone for the hand sized pieces of Plaice he sold, which were delicious steamed and loved by our children. Happy days indeed.

Maureen Wright

 

Dennis Bell

“I’ve still got the bell that Dennis used to ring when he parked up to start selling”

Trev Clarke

2020 Village Award Scheme – October 2019

2020 Village Award Scheme
northampton-ACRE-logo
Northamptonshire Action for Communities in Rural England

My husband and I came to Nether Heyford for 18 months in 1987 and have been here ever since, having realised what a great community this was. It still is – with a wide variety of activities going on around the village, many based in the village hall, in the school, on the sports field, in the churches, in the youth club and on the village green. In addition, I have recently been inspired by the fact that next year marks the 60th anniversary of the building of the village hall, built entirely by volunteers – and throughout the ensuing 60 years, volunteers have continued to manage and maintain it.

With these two facts, we could stand a good chance of being recognised as a very special village community.

As a villager myself and appreciative of all that Nether Heyford has to offer, I would be pleased to co-ordinate an application, with the help of others. To this end, I propose to contact and, I hope, meet representatives of the various activities. If I contact you, please be gentle with me.

The application deadline will be next April, with judging from late May to early June. That seems a long time ahead but, with Christmas and New Year in between, we need to make an early start.

Alwyne Wilson

Letters: Eileen Drake – September 2019

Eileen Drake

Sadly after battling a long illness Eileen passed away in her sleep on 7th July 2019.

Having lived in the village since 1976 she made many friends, many of whom gave help and support throughout her long illness.

She will be sadly missed by myself, son Ian, daughter Joanne, daughters in law Sarah and Rachel and her lovely grand-daughters Violet and Emerald.

Many thanks to those who made donations to Friends of Dantre Hospital and the Lewis Foundation.

Graham

Letters: The Village Fete (Heyford Moped Club) – September 2019

The Village Fete

What a narrow escape we had! Everyone I spoke to was convinced that the heavens would open, and it would be another wash-out. The bouncy castle had already pulled out by mid-morning, though that may have been down to the wind. I met Alwyne, the fete organiser. She told me it was her first as chief, and the paper on her clipboard being so rain sodden it couldn’t be written on. She was breezily cheerful despite impending doom. Well done her for keeping her nerve.

For those who made it, is was the usual mix of fun. The bar was run with quiet efficiency as always by Faye from the Foresters Arms, and the burger bar next door took the concept of slow food very much to heart. Great burgers – worth the wait.

Off to the side nearest the swings, a less than menacing collection of mopeds lined up (owners ditto). We ended up with no less 4 Honda Expresses, in blue, yellow and orange (the only colour missing was the startling acid green variety). These little bikes date from 1978-1979 and were designed to look as much like bicycles and as little like motorbikes as possible, in order to attract the then largely-untapped women’s market. Also present and correct was a very similar Yamaha QT, and the granddaddy of them all – a 1974 Honda C90, apparently found hidden and abandoned in a pile of nettles, and coaxed lovingly back to life. And so Heyford Moped Club was born. We should by now have had our first ride out, to mix it with the big boys at Jack’s Hill Café. What will they make of us?

HeyfordMopedClub2019

James Reed
The Old Chapel, 2a Church St

Letters: Village Hall – 60 Years in 2020 – Request for memories

Nether Heyford Village Hall celebrates its 60th Anniversary next year

“It is the 60th anniversary of our village hall in 2020 and we would like to commemorate it by publishing memories of its existence in our village, particularly if you have resided here for 60 years plus. ”    
The Prattler is helping the Village Hall compile personal accounts, list volunteers who have worked on the hall, gather some photographs, memories and stories; ahead of celebrating their 60th anniversary next year.
  • Do you have a story to tell about its history ?
  • Were you a volunteer who helped out with any of the work ? Perhaps you had a relative who did ?
  • What are your memories of events at the village hall ?
  • Do you have any old photographs of the village hall or events there ?

The Prattler would love to hear from you via email heyford_prattler@yahoo.co.uk or comment on this article below.

If you know any residents who would like to participate but are not online, please send us their contact details via email and once we have a list of participants we may visit for personal interviews during the Autumn.

The story so far…. 

Nether Heyford Village Hall was built with the help of volunteer labour and completed in May 1960 as a prefabricated cedar-wood building.

1991 – Brick extensions were added to provide new toilets and kitchen at one end, a storage room and committee room with toilet and kitchenette at the other and an access ramp to the front door.

2003 – New UPVC double glazed windows, new insulation and cladding to the front and rear of the wooden section was fitted together with new front and kitchen doors. Again all the work was done by villagers giving their time and expertise voluntarily.

2006 – A new insulated roof was added.

2008 – Nether Heyford Pre-School transformed the area at the rear of the hall with an outdoor play surface to make a secure outdoor area for the young children.

Since then the remaining doors and windows have been replaced, new gas boilers fitted and decoration carried out annually whilst maintenance continues by our volunteer team. Other improvement projects have included:

  • Sound System & Induction Loop (hearing) system (2002)

  • Replacement Fire Doors (2008)

  • New energy efficient boilers for heat and hot water.

  • Replacement of rest of external doors & windows (2009)

  • Finger guards on doors (2010)

  • In the summer of 2011 the kitchen was completely refurbished

  • Ceiling fans were installed in April 2013

  • In 2014 the ladies toilets were completely refurbished

  • Also in 2014 new chairs were purchased for the main hall and lockable storage cupboards for all the regular users

  • 2 thermostats were installed in the main hall in 2014

  • Lighting in main areas of the hall upgraded to LED during 2016-17

Over the years, it has been used for all manner of events, from pre-school to pantomimes and dances to dinner parties. It is conservatively decorated and can offer seating for up to 120 people. 

Village Hall Committee 2019

(Last update 12/9/2019)

Nether Heyford Pre-School – July 2019

NetherHeyfordPreSchool2019

NetherHeyfordPreSchoolJuly2019

~/~

Nether Heyford Pre-School
Address: Church Rooms, Church Lane, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, NN7 3LQ
Telephone: 07984 055828
Website: www.netherheyfordpreschool.co.uk
Email: info@netherheyfordpreschool.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/netherheyfordpreschool
Facebook: www.facebook.com/netherheyfordafterschoolclub
Twitter: @NHeyfordPreSch

Ofsted Registration EY450747 – Charity No. 1029571

Letters: Climate Change – July 2019

I would like to comment on Climate Change and how people think they are being
environmentally friendly.

Groups around the Country with lots of ‘County Ladies’ and ‘Gerry and Margo Ledbetter’s’ types who love to boost their Societies have bought trees and planted them to be environmentally friendly, in reality all they have done is make the plant nursery owner a bit more better off and polluted the environment in the process by moving a tree that is already growing and moving it to another location; don’t plants trees… grow them!

Everyone who is concerned about the environment should each go outside in the Autumn, pick up seeds and grow them in pots before planting them out when they are big enough. The advantage is more trees are grown and at the cost of a pot and compost (or digging up a bit of soil). My count so far is 4 Oak trees (one already planted out), 2 Sweet Chestnuts and a Walnut tree. This would be a good exercise for the children at the School to do.

In reality, if the human race wants to make a difference to the environment an area the size of North America needs to be planted.

Name Withheld

Bugbrooke Guides – June 2019

Bugbrooke Guides – Join us!

Bugbrooke Guides have spaces available for girls to join us from the surrounding villages! Guides is suitable for girls aged 10-14 with a range of activities carried out throughout the year. We also a waiting list for girls who have not yet turned 10.

We meet each Thursday 7pm – 8:30pm at the Sunday School Rooms in Bugbrooke.

Activities include working towards badges, cooking, crafts, trips and camping, plus much more! Recently we have enjoyed Mothering Sunday crafts, cooking outside, working on badges and we are busy preparing for our summer camp.

If you’d like more information or to join us, please email:

bugbrookeguides@gmail.com

 

Letters: Julie Clewett – June 2019

Julie Clewett

Tony, Ian, Chris and Becky and families wish to thank all Julie’s friends from the
village for the wonderful show of love and respect at Julie’s funeral on 17th May and
for all the cards and messages of condolence and support. It has been a wonderful
display of love and affection for Julie and we are all so grateful.
Thank you

JulieClewett