Penny Post Valley – January 2022

Welcome to our January 2022 newsletter with Valley news, features, jobs, appeals, campaigns, events, businesses, activities, property and more.
Click underlined text below for more information.

Lambourn Valley weekly news
The latest news from the Valley, updated every week, including parish council reports and contacts, local campaigns, initiatives and fundraisers, events and environmental, health, transport and planning issues...read more

Pat Murphy's racing column

Pat reflects on the racing action over the festive period and looks forward to Cheltenham, as well as congratulating Bryony Frost on a triumph at Sandown following her high-profile legal victory...read more

East Garston's repair café to return
Saturday 26 March 2022 is the date and East Garston's Village Hall is the venue – we have information on what services will be available and what expert fixers are still needed if you can help...read more

More news
• Covid boosters are now available at Lambourn Surgery (book on the NHS website).
• Lambourn Junction thanks everyone for Christmas and Boxing Day hunt donations.
• Great Shefford Under 5s toddler group re-starts Mon 10 Jan. Booking required.
• Plan B Covid guidance from West Berkshire Council.
• Lambourn.org's list of current planning applications in the parish.
• George Denness has been helping at St Mary's Church, Great Shefford for his DoE award.
• Arts for Hungerford's forthcoming events.

Sad news

Two long-time East Garston residents died over Christmas: Frank White died on Christmas Day and Maurice Duce on Boxing Day.

Frank's funeral is at 2.30pm on Wednesday 12 January at All Saints' Church, East Garston. Maurice's funeral is at 12pm on Friday 21 January at West Berkshire Crematorium, Thatcham RG19 4LD. The hearse will be leaving from East Garston Village Hall about 10.30am if anyone who can't make the funeral would like to pay their respects then.

Warming Soup Recipe for January

Thanks to Ruth Jordan at Priscilla's Kitchen in East Garston for her Ssow-roasted butternut and sweet potato soup recipe to keep us warm and cosy this month...read more.

Good causes

• The Lambourn Junction supports 50 families and individuals on low income in the valley and is looking for donations of tinned hot dog, meatballs, Fray Bentos meat pies, corned beef.
• Lambourn Volunteer Group provides free transport to medical appointments and more drivers are needed in East Garston, Great Shefford and Shefford Woodlands.
• Lambourn Environmental Group welcomes tree planting volunteers.

Local businesses
• Market Hair in Lambourn is open for late appointments every other Thursday
• Pure Makeup & Beauty January offer: book a facial in and get a free 15 min back massage.
• Sheepdrove Yoga offers mindful meditation classes and group yoga on zoom.
• Lambourn Dental's latest news, offers and opening times.
• Priscilla's Kitchen – re-opens on 13 Jan for cakes, coffee and lunch in East Garston.

• Country Perfection Beauty Salon in East Garston now offers eyelash extensions.

January Events

• See the Lambourn Valley weekly news section for events and local groups including:

• Wed 19 Jan Friends of Lambourn Library zoom talk: Action for the River Kennet
• Tue 25 Jan Burns Night, The Queens Arms East Garston
• Tues 1 Feb Film Night: Nomadland, East Garston Village Hall
• Mon 14 Feb Valentine's Night, The Queens Arms, East Garston

• A wide range of classes for the over 55s is available at the Corn Exchange in Newbury.

Features
• 4LEGS interview with Eastbury residents Karla and Patrick Hickman-Robertson.
• January's Wine of the Month is a very special offer on a magnum of red.
• January's Book of the Month is a compelling page-turner.
• Guide to the January night sky from the Newbury Astronomical Association.
• Wildlife-friendly gardening tips for autumn and winter.
• Ten tips for surviving Dry January.
• Brian hasn't made new year resolutions but is trying some small changes of direction.

Prize quiz

• Still time to enter our festive prize quiz to WIN a meal for two, a bottle of house wine, a double room for the night and breakfast the next day) from The Ibex in Chaddleworth – deadline is Sunday 23 January.

Property
• For sale: four-bed house, Hungerford. £435,000. Brearley & Rich.
• For sale: six-bed house, Clench Common. £1,750,000. Brearley & Rich.
• For rent: two-bed flat, Eddington. £720pcm. Nina Clark Lettings.
• For rent: two-bed house, Ramsbury. £900pcm. Nina Clark Lettings.
• For rent: one-bed flat, Newbury. £975pcm. Nina Clark Lettings.
• For rent: ad hoc workspace, Hungerford. £20/day Hungerford Printing Company
• For sale: Eden Retirement Livings Pearl House in Newbury offers spacious apartments and penthouses with 24/7 concierge, restaurant, club lounge and parking.

Jobs
The Penny Post Jobs Section includes:dispensary receptionist, record label admin assistant, part-time admin & finance officer, part-time dog walker & pet sitter, returns administrator, foreman/site manager, full-time marquee rigger, workshop-based mechanics, bar and wait staff, chefs, kitchen porters, housekeepers, drivers, lifeguards, warehouse operatives, forklift operators, unit managers, cleaners, LGV drivers, personal care assistants, heavy-recovery operator, service manager, carers, recreation assistants, facilities manager, nurses and laundry assistants.

See also our section for volunteer positions.

If you would like to submit news, stories or articles for our next issue, please email
penny@pennypost.org.uk by the end of this month.

Thought for the month: "If I look confused it's because I'm thinking." (Sam Goldwyn)

Penny & Brian

penny@pennypost.org.uk