Notton Parish Newsletter September 2008 Editorial Welcome to the September 2008 edition of the Notton newsletter. Highlights include a report of another successful Gala and information on the forthcoming Bonfire & Fireworks night. Read on and enjoy! If you would like to contribute an article to a future newsletter then please let me know. The deadline for contributions to the December edition is Fri 28th Nov. Get scribbling! Chris Pilkington (01226 700260) Notton Parish Council During the holiday period we learnt that the Post Office, and therefore also the Village Shop, are to remain open. This is great news because the Shop and Post Office are so important to village life – and the Council has written to Post Office Limited to tell them so. The shop now has a new manager, Janet Dransfield, and we wish her every success. Meanwhile the short length of footway at the top of Grimpit Hill has at last been completed by the District Council. The Parish Council has been asking for this for a long time, and we now have a footway connecting the village without having to cross the road. After some pressure from the Council, METRO have agreed to replace the bus shelter on the Green. In fact, if their promise is adhered to, the new shelter should be in place by the time you read this! The Council has also written to the tenant of the “cabbage” field on the south side of the village asking for more to be done to stop the flooding from the field to adjacent properties. The new allotment plots have all been enthusiastically cultivated by their new tenants, and some of the resulting produce was exhibited at the Flower and Produce Show at the end of August. The contractors will begin work this month on the new play area near Hudson Avenue. The Parish Council is still concerned about obstructions (cars, overhanging foliage, etc) on the pavement which could be a danger for pedestrians, particularly the blind and partially sighted, as well as users of disability buggies and prams. Sight lines are also obscured for motorists emerging from drives. We’re also aware of concerns across the parish about dog fouling. If you own a dog then please carry a plastic bag and clear up afterwards. Our Parish Clerk is now back with us, having been on maternity leave for the last ten weeks. She has a new baby boy and we wish the family well. Peter Taylor – Chairman (01226 722155) Notton Bonfire & Fireworks (Sat 1st Nov) Following last year’s very successful occasion we intend to organise another Bonfire and Firework Display on the Cricket Field on Saturday 1st November. Tickets will be on sale in the Village Shop from early October. Proceeds will be divided between the Village Hall and local charities. There will be a licensed bar, and soft drinks, Pie and Peas and Hot Dogs will also be available from the Village Hall. There will be a fun fair with children’s rides on the field. The fire will be lit at 7.00pm and the firework display will start at 8.00pm. Thanks to the huge success last year we have been able to go direct to manufacturers to purchase the biggest, brightest and loudest fireworks available. The night will be the best in the area - again! Admission – Adults £3.50, Children £2.50. We need help with catering, car parking, stewarding, admission and marshalling, and bonfire building. Please contact me (724513) or come to the field on the Saturday morning, if you can help. The field will be opened in the middle of October for residents’ garden rubbish and other combustibles to be left behind the Cricket pavilion (definitely no mattresses or upholstered furniture please!). Alan Shand (01226 724513) Gala Report What are the three most important aspects to create a successful gala? The first is to have a lovely day – and weren’t we lucky again sliding into a lovely sunny period that lasted from Sunday to Tuesday! The second must be to have a good committee to carry out the many duties required during the year. In this we are fortunate and I give my thanks and appreciation to all of them. Thirdly, to have sufficient support on the day – and here again we are fortunate in that so many residents of the village and surrounding areas turned out to weld together to create an excellent event. The combined efforts of everyone resulted in a profit of £5,144 – an excellent result! Donations of £750 each were made to the Wakefield and Barnsley Hospices and they have written to me expressing their appreciation of our support and £3,500 was given to Notton Village Hall Management Committee. Planning for the 2009 Gala will soon be underway and if anyone would like to be more closely involved during the year, please give me a ring. Michael Tate, Gala Chair (01226 709399) Notton Village Hall Management Committee The village hall has been redecorated throughout thus making it very warm and welcoming. It is now getting used more often with all the recent improvements. the playing fields are becoming very water-logged in the bad summer, mainly because the surrounding ditch is blocked with rubbish. This is to be cleared out over the next few weeks to try and drain the field. There are a few plans being discussed over the coming months to improve the children's play area and the cricket pavilion but this is dependent on various things such as grants. The Gala once again has been very successful and raised money for the Barnsley and Wakefield Hospices and also funds towards the upkeep of the village hall. The next fund raising event is the Bonfire and Firework display on the 1st of November and with your support this will be the best in the area again. The Christmas Ball will be held on Saturday 6th December and early booking for this event is advised to avoid disappointment - it's a very well supported event. As the new chairman of the Notton Village Hall Management Committee I would like to stress that the village hall is your hall and as a villager you are welcome to use it and help support it in any way possible. As a committee we would welcome any new members to help us maintain the very high standards that have been handed down over the years. New blood, new ideas can only benefit and help those presently involved to keep and maintain a way of life which we feel is vital to the village. I am always available to answer any queries or ideas you may have regarding the Hall and its facilities. Alan Shand, Chairman (01226 724513) Notton Cricket Club This season has been a record one for Notton Cricket Club! Unfortunately the only record which has been broken is the amount of matches called off due to the poor weather. On a more serious note 2008 has actually been a very important year in the history of the club, for the first time in a decade Notton has returned to a two team club. This has been made possible due to the commitment shown by a number of willing and dedicated juniors (and some supportive dads) from the village wanting to be the next Andrew Flintoff. The actual season finished with the first team finishing in 5th position in division two and the second team finishing in 8th position in division three. All in all the first season back in competition for the newly formed second team was a success with the team winning one match and pushing many more senior teams hard in the matches that were actually played. Season 2009 promises to be an exciting time for Notton Cricket Club as our current league (Leeds West Riding League) looks to merge with the Central Yorkshire League, which will be a new challenge for first and second teams. Once again our thanks go out to the Village Hall committee for their support during the season and hopefully their continued support in 2009. Indoor nets should commence early February at Royston Comprehensive School. Any new players, whether they are juniors or seniors wanting to give it a go, are more than welcome. Anyone interested should contact me. Rhys Whitehead, Secretary (07875 969262) Flower Show 2008 Once again Ray Welch won the Silver Rose Bowl as overall winner, and the Gardening Club Cup for fruit and vegetables. Alan Gale took the Dorothy Atkinson Cup fro the “Flowers” class, with strong competition from Alan Shand. Other winners were Anne Taylor (Pot Plants), June Clark (Homemade Produce), and Jan Welch (Hobbies). It was good to see a strong children’s entry – won by Lucy Wolff-Smethurst. Many thanks go to Val Hurley for the delicious food, and to all those who entered and contributed to a good show. Anne Taylor, on behalf of the Flower Show Committee Notton Tennis Club The Club Tournament was held on Sun 7th September and once again we were blessed with good weather for tennis. As is often the case there were no champions from the village with all the cups going to associate members living outside the parish of Notton. The Tennis Club A.G.M. will be held on the last Wednesday of November as is now the custom. This year the meeting will be on the 26th November at 7.00 pm in the clubhouse. Anyone interested in the affairs of the Club will be most welcome. Social tennis on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday morning continues to be well supported. All members are welcome to give it a try. Social tennis on Saturday afternoons was restarted earlier this year but needs more members to support it to ensure that the interest continues. John Pratt, Chairman Notton Players We need your body! “Oh no you don’t” – I hear you say. “Oh yes we do” we say. Notton Players is getting old, literally. We are sadly at a crossroads in terms of being a little short of talented and willing who would love dearly to expose themselves on our famed stage. So there you are, it is all about you after all. Right now our next pantomime (staged in February) is in jeopardy as we will not be able to go ahead without an infusion of a few more people. We can promise you that you will enjoy being part of a very good looking, funny and super bunch of loonies, who like you are desperate to have a laugh. We not only need a few ‘actors’ but also those handy with a screwdriver and saw to help put shows together. Young or old, this group has a need for you. So go on, give us a call. Talk to the likes of Derek and Joyce Taylor, Pippa Aldred, Jennie Symon, Jo Booth and if you are really brave, David Sturdy. David Sturdy (07702 286774) Whist Drive I would like to begin Whist Drives in the Village Hall again, after a break of seventeen years! Do come and join us for a friendly game of cards – meet new people and old friends on Wednesdays through the Autumn and Winter months. Dates for your diary: 8th October 12th November 10th December 7th January 4th February 4th March All sessions at 7.15 pm for a prompt start at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. “Wednesday Night is Whist Night” Jean Duncan (01226 722229) Flower Arranging The ladies of the flower arranging group have had an interesting and successful year – with many of us exceeding our expectations. The new ‘term’ starts on 28th September as a self-help group and then we will have a tutor with us from 9th October for seven weeks. If you are experienced or would like to learn flower arranging, please give me a ring and I can give you more details! Hesse Tate (01226 709399) Activities in Notton Village Hall Dog Training every Monday 6.45 – 9.00pm Contact Mrs Kolkowski 01924 252107 Kindermusik term-time Tuesday 10.00 – 11.00 Contact Jo Booth 01226 724414 Self-help Embroidery term-time Wednesday 1.30 – 3.30 Contact June Clark 01226 722346 Weight Watchers every Wednesday 6.00 – 8.00 Contact Sue Watkins 01924 259142 Whist Drives 1st Wednesday of the month 7.30pm Contact Jean Duncan 01226 722229 Self-help Flower Arranging term-time Thursday 1.30 – 3.30 Contact Hesse Tate 01226 709399 Children’s Ballet Class every Thursday 4.30 – 6.00pm Contact Claire Barlow 07976 911296 Yoga every Thursday 7.00 – 8.00pm Contact Julie Winham 01226 728227 Parish Council Meeting 1st Thursday of the month 7.30pm Contact Caroline Smith (Parish Clerk) 01226 382360 Wine Club Last Thursday of the month 7.30pm Contact Bob Stevenson 01226 722385 Self-Help Art Class every Friday 10.00am – 12.00noon Contact David Cliff 01226 726844 Parish Council Contact Details Caroline Smith (Clerk) Cllr Peter Taylor (Chair) 48a, Wakefield Road 1 High Ash Close Staincross Notton Barnsley Wakefield S75 6JY WF4 2PF Tel: 01226 382360 Tel:01226 722155 E-mail: cjs48a@tiscali.co.uk Cllr Chris Pilkington (Lib Dems) - Vice Chair Cllr Maureen Eames 41 The Oval 9 Midland Cottages Notton Navvy Lane Wakefield Old Royston WF4 2NX Barnsley Tel: 01226 700260 S71 4EE E-mail: chris_pilkington@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 01226 722963 Cllr Stephen Selby Cllr Eleanor Turner 3 Hudson Avenue 84 George Lane Notton Notton Wakefield Wakefield WF4 2NY Tel: 01226 728551 E-mail: stephenselby@hotmail.com District Councillors Contact Details Cllr Maureen Cummings (Lab) Cllr Graham Isherwood (Lab) Tel: 01924 363165 Tel: 01977 602172 E-mail: mcummings@wakefield.gov.uk E-mail: gisherwood@wakefield.gov.uk Cllr Susan Lodge (Con) Tel: 01924 250809 E-mail: susanlodge@wakefield.gov.uk 1