KIT March 2023

Dear reader,

Welcome to our March edition.  Some of the items that might catch your attention:

• Proposed plans for celebrating the King's Coronation.
• An exciting new event, The Fladbury Village Show, coming in September – you may want to plan now and sow some veg seed.
• As well as a Parish Council Monthly Update which I hope will become a regular feature, there is an opportunity for you to have a say on village issues and become a parish councillor.
• Fladbury Walkabout are looking for fresh faces and fresh ideas.
• Turning to the River Avon, Lou gives us an update on her Water Quality Monitoring and Andy has news of the return of the Fladbury Regatta in September.
• There's an update from Lisa on the coach trip to Bath.

Please do get in touch if you'd like something added to KIT.

John Powell
KIT editor

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Please send contributions for the April edition by the end of Wednesday 29th March to fladburykit@gmail.com.

Previous editions and to subscribe: https://us20.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=26de73450a75eaead67edbcbb&id=4bdde08e02

Fladbury Celebrates the King's Coronation

on
Bank Holiday Monday 8th May

Below is a proposed outline of what Friends of Fladbury are currently planning to help our village celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III. As cricket is being played on the Saturday & Sunday, we've chosen the Bank Holiday Monday to give villagers the opportunity to celebrate together on the playing field. We encourage villagers to organise street parties on the Saturday & Sunday.

The Big Help Out

10am - 11am

We hope to organise a community event, such as a litter pick, as well as giving children an opportunity to make crowns for the afternoon's parade.

Fladbury's Party on the Pitch

12noon - 4pm

Coronation Cake Competition

Children's Parade of Crowns

Children's Activities

Pig Roast & Bar

Teas & Coffees in The Pavilion

Live music from Vinyl Chapter

Bring Your Own Picnic, Gazebos, Chairs

If you'd like to help and can spare some time, or have ideas & suggestions for activities, please contact Friends of Fladbury at friendsoffladbury@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.

Organised by Friends of Fladbury

Teresa Webb writes:

We are pleased to announce a fabulous new event

🍅🌸🥬🏆🧅🌻🥕

The Fladbury Village Show

🍰🥔🥧🌼🍆🍞🍐

on
Saturday 16th September 2023
in the Village Hall

This is the first call for all Fladbury growers, bakers and wine makers!

Entries welcome in all classes: Flowers, Vegetables, Fruit, Cake Baking, Bread Making, Jam and Preserves, Home Brewing.

There will be plenty of classes for children to enter – look out for a full list in the April edition of Fladbury KIT.

Please do come and support us by entering your produce and coming to look at the amazing displays on the day. More information coming soon so look for us on the village hall notice board or in next month's KIT.

We need people to get involved, so if you would like to help and can spare some time, please contact Teresa on 07988 773134 or Jane on 07891 800289.

Fladbury Church

Spring Clean – Saturday 1st April

Jean Ounsted writes:

To be ready for Easter, and then the Coronation a month later, help is needed to spring clean Fladbury church on Saturday morning 1st April from 11am.

Before that we need some people who are prepared to climb ladders to reach cobwebs and dust, say from 9.30am.

To find out more or to offer help, please contact Jean Ounsted on 860363.

Fladbury Walkabout 2023

Wanted... Fresh Faces and Fresh Ideas

Steve Curtis writes:

We were pleased last year just to bring our community together for Fladbury Walkabout, albeit limited by organisers moving on and businesses lost through Covid (many have asked, for example, what happened to the coach & horses and climbing wall).

This year we remain ever grateful to all those who come forward to make everything happen each year, but we are in urgent need of more people to come forward with their organisational skills and fresh ideas, to create a refreshed Walkabout for 2023.

With a comprehensive handover promised from all previous organisers, we are very keen to find people to coordinate:

• The Flower Festival in the Church (agreeing theme, coordinating arrangers, buying flowers);
• Catering in the Village Hall (coordinating team, liaising with suppliers, managing service);
• Car Parking & associated Ticket Sales (recruiting team, managing service, acting as 'first face' of Fladbury Walkabout);
• Classic Cars (contacting owners, advising re. arrival & display area).

If you can lend your support to any of these vital areas, have ideas and contacts for entertainments, or would just like to know more, please email walkabout@fladburyvillage.co.uk, or call one of the Co-chairs: Ian Southcott on 01386 861061, Steve Curtis on 07887 953909.

Thank you!

Fladbury Bellboat Regatta

Save the date! – Saturday 9th September

Andy Train writes:

It's been nearly 4 years since the last regatta at the Paddle Club so for those of you new to this, the bellboats are very stable twin-hulled canoes for teams of 8. All ages and abilities are welcome. The event is about bringing the village together for some 'friendly' competition! More details to follow throughout the summer.

In the meantime, any questions please contact Andy (Paddle Club Chair) on 07722125350 or atrain1@btinternet.com.

Fladbury Coffee Club

Tuesday 14th & 28th March

Helen Jones writes:

Coffee Club will be open on Tuesday 14th and 28th March for light lunches from 10.30am-2pm. Come and join us.

We are also every open Friday 8.45am-12.30pm and Saturday 10am-1pm.

We really appreciate your support of this community initiative to get Fladbury people together.

Helen Jones, tel: 07891 443428

River Avon

Water Quality – Update, Feb 2023

Louise Bugg writes:

I just wanted to give Fladbury residents an update on the River Avon Water Quality issue in Fladbury.

Click here to see the water quality monitoring results: Water Quality Monitoring Results - LBugg - Feb 2023.

Earlier this month, Ian Southcott (Chair of Fladbury Parish Council), Roger Davies (Chair of Charlton Parish Council) and I were invited by Elizabeth Eyre (Worcestershire County Councillor) to the Wychavon Rural Panel to discuss the sampling results which have been gathered from the River Avon in Fladbury over the past 18 months. Representatives from the Environment Agency (EA) and Severn Trent Water were at the meeting and acknowledged that our sampling results reflect poor water quality in the area. Following a discussion, it was agreed that a small group from the 3 villages (Fladbury, Charlton, and Cropthorne) start a working group liaising with EA, STW, and other local organisations such as Worcestershire Wildlife with the aim to try to establish a plan to improve the water quality.

We will shortly be arranging a meeting to discuss next steps.

If you would like to get involved please just get in touch with me. Lou Bugg 07968 252847.

Please visit https://www.fladburyvillage.co.uk/river-avon-water-quality-in-fladbury for background information.

Trip to Bath

Tuesday 18th April

Lisa Cole writes:

Thank you to everyone who has paid their £5 deposit. You still have time to secure your seat by paying a £5 deposit by 5th March. The total cost is £25 for a day trip to Bath where you will have free time to explore everything Bath has to offer. You will be dropped off close to the Abbey, Roman baths, tea rooms, and shops.

The coach will leave from the Social Club in Fladbury at 9.30am and return around 6pm.

Please drop me a message on 07712 671131 and I can arrange collection of your deposit.

Many thanks,
Lisa

Fladbury Parish Council

Parish Council Elections – 4th May

Parish Council Elections: An opportunity for any village resident to put themselves forward with elections to take place 4th May 2023. Several parish councillors will be standing down in May and this is an opportunity for you to have a say on village issues such as, new housing, footpaths, the Nait, the recreation ground and traffic.

The final date and time for the receipt of nominations is by 4pm on Tuesday 4th April 2023. The forms must be delivered by hand to the Civic Centre, Pershore (they cannot be submitted by post, email or other electronic means). The 4th April deadline is an absolute deadline with no exceptions, it is therefore in everyone's interest to submit papers at least a couple of days before the deadline so that candidates will have the opportunity to resolve any problems that may arise. If there are fewer nominations than seats on the Parish Council (provided more than 4 nominations are received) then it will be classed as an uncontested election and those that are nominated will automatically be elected.

If there are fewer than 4 nominations then the quorum will not be met and will likely result in the necessity of running an additional, separate election after 4th May at a cost to the Parish Council and can result in a period during which the Parish Council will be unable to exist. If there are more nominations than seats, then the election will be contested and will go to election on 4th May.

Any empty seats can then be filled by co-option at a later date.

Please contact the Clerk (see below) for further information.
Lynne Yapp - Clerk

Parish Council Monthly Update

Cllr Geoff Mills, vice-chair, chaired a meeting of Fladbury Parish Council on Monday 20th February. The meeting is open to all Fladbury residents.

The Parish Council approved expenditure for the month of January 2023 and heard from Jane Bugg about Friends of Fladbury plans for the King's Coronation in May. The Council agreed to make a donation to support the celebrations.

The Council also discussed the work of the Lengthsman, including minor repairs to be completed around the village, and approved the replacement of a tree on The Green.

It discussed the following planning applications:

• 22/02043 – Pugh Haulage Contractors, Broadway Lane–
• 22/02567 – Michaelmas Cottage, Farm Street
• 22/02733 – Land at Broadway Lane
• 23/00074 – Red House, Coach Drive

The Council heard updates about Land at The Nait, The Glass House (EVG), the Crematorium and broadband.

Full details of the Parish Council meeting, including agenda and minutes, are available to view: https://www.fladburyvillage.co.uk/agendas-and-minutes.

Parish Council information is available to view: https://www.fladburyvillage.co.uk/parish-council

Chairman: Ian Southcott
Vice-chairman: Geoff Mills
Cllrs: David Day, Andrew Hughes, Sandy Insall, Neil Manser, Mike Neilan, Pat Palmer
Clerk: Lynne Yapp, clerk@fladburyparishcouncil.co.uk, 01386 552233

Meetings: Third Monday monthly held at Pavilion

Annual Parish Meeting: date to be confirmed and will be advertised within the community.

Church Services & News

News

Five Villages Prom – Friday 10th March, 7.30pm, Fladbury church

The prom is expected to be a fabulous evening of music by Handel, Parry, Gershwin, Elgar and others performed by the talented musicians of Charlton, Cropthorne, Fladbury, Hill & Moor, Wyre Piddle, and beyond. Invite your family, friends and neighbours to join in with what promises to be a fun evening and enjoy participating with a rousing Land of Hope & Glory and Rule Britannia.

We hope you can come to this entertaining event which is raising monies for the Five Alive Parish and the charity, Evesham Vale welcomes Refugees. Drinks will be available at the interval and after the performance. There will be a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses and residents.

You can buy tickets online on the Eventbrite website at https://fivevillagesprom.eventbrite.com. Or you can buy tickets, in person, at Fladbury Pie Shop. Or from Mark or Linda Blackwell directly by emailing markblackwell96@gmail.com. If you are still holding a ticket bought in person, rather than online, for the original Prom date in October 2022, it is still valid and you do NOT need to buy another.

Mothering Sunday – 19th March – Morning Worship at 9.30am at Charlton and 11am at Fladbury.

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will follow the morning service on Sunday 26 March, at noon. Coffee will be served.

Lent Lunches – please see below for details.

If you would like to receive the weekly church e-news and occasional other e-communication about the Five Alive Parish, please sign up using this link: http://eepurl.com/h3dEmv.

Sarah
Parish Priest

Palm Sunday - 2nd April

Do you enjoy reading with a hint of drama? If so, you are invited to take part in the service at Fladbury church on 2nd April at 11am. Don't worry; there will be plenty of time to practice well before the service.
Contact Sue Hiscocks for more information: sueandrobert@hotmail.co.uk, 07568 169133.

Lent Lunches

Sharing a simple lunch of soup and a roll and enjoying each other's company. Profits will go to various charities and there will be opportunities for donations.

For more information and to book a place, please phone telephone numbers in brackets.

Thursday 9th March in FLADBURY Village Hall from 12.30pm to 2pm (Pam 01386 860895 or Jane 01386 860531)
Donations for Alzheimer's Research UK and the Zambia Society Trust.
Alzheimer's is a disease that affects so many families. We have formed a fund-raising group locally to raise as much money as we can to help the charity find treatments and even a cure.
The Zambia Society Trust is a UK-based charity devoted to the relief of poverty, disability and sickness, the promotion of good health and the advancement of education in Zambia, with a particular focus on children and young people – https://zambiasocietytrust.org.uk.

Thursday 16th March in LOWER MOOR from 12noon to 2pm at Pandora, May Tree Road (Carol Martin 01386 860982)
Donations for ACORNS, your local children's hospice. They provide care for babies, children and young people who have life limiting or life-threatening conditions. They offer a network of specialist palliative nursing care and support for local families – https://www.acorns.org.uk.

Saturday 18th March in CHARLTON Old Schoolroom from 12noon to 2pm (Mary Gisborne 01386 861472)
Donations for Worcester Women's Refuge, administered by West Mercia Women's Aid, providing help and a safe confidential place to stay in times of need – https://www.westmerciawomensaid.org/services/refuge.

Thursday 23rd March in WYRE PIDDLE from 12.30pm to 2pm at Celandine, Church Street (Carol Rosier 01386 554410)
Donations for Friends of the Holy Land which supports Christians in the Holy Land and one focus is on School of Joy, a school for Christian disabled children – https://www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk.

Thursday 30th March in CROPTHORNE from 12.30pm to 2pm at The Granary (Hilary & Peter Harris 01386 860509)
Donations for Pershore Foodbank, helping local people in crisis – https://pershore.foodbank.org.uk.

Overall organiser Jane Bugg, tel: 860531, email: pjbugg@btinternet.com

Services

Sunday 5th March

Sunday 12th March

Sunday 19th March - Mothering Sunday

Sunday 26th March

Sunday 2nd April - Palm Sunday

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Parish Priest: The Revd Sarah Dangerfield, tel: 861669
Five Alive Parish Wardens: Meredith Debenham, tel: 446276; Celia Willis, tel: 861348
Bishampton & Throckmorton Church Warden: Peter Chatterton, tel: 462349

Classifieds 📰

Please contact John at fladburykit@gmail.com if you'd like an entry in this section.

Personal & Other Notices

PTA Bingo
A staggering ✨£700.17✨ was raised at the Bingo evening on Friday 3rd February, which is phenomenal. A huge thank you to everyone who was involved in raising such a large sum.

Marmalade
A big thank you to all who supported our marmalade sales. We made ✨£160✨ profit to send to Alzheimer's Research UK.
Pam & John Foley

Friends of Fladbury - Festive Five update
At the beginning of January, 150 runners took part in the annual Fladbury Festive Five running 🏃‍♂️ race. We are pleased to confirm we raised over £900 of which ✨£450✨ has been donated to the Worcestershire Breast Unit Haven.
The remaining funds will be used to support village events organised by the Friends. In addition, Friends of Fladbury welcome requests from Fladbury village groups to fund activities and projects. If you would like to apply for funding please contact the Friends friendsoffladbury@gmail.com.

Wychavon Parish Games
The Games are an inter-parish competition and take place between June and late October/early November.
One-Day Events:
24th Jun - Bell Boating; 2nd Jul - Rounders; 9th Jul - Men's 5-a-side Football; 17th Jul - Cross Country; 23rd Jul - Pétanque; 6th Aug - Bowls; 16th Sep - Angling; 8th Oct - Junior (u18) and Senior Table Tennis.
Knock-Out Events:
These are weekday evening events taking place in local pubs/clubs, with first round matches late August/early September. Finals usually conclude late October/early November. The events are: Crib; Women's Darts; Men's Darts; Dominoes; Pool; Skittles.
If you'd like to captain a team or take part, please contact Andy Train, atrain1@btinternet.com, 07722125350.

Regular Events & Groups

Book Club (Wyre Piddle WI)
Wyre Piddle WI have a Book Club Meeting at Fladbury Social Club on Thursday 9th March at 10 am.
Wendy Berry, email: wendy.berry@btinternet.com

Coffee & Cake, Fladbury Social Club
Come along and join us enjoying good company and conversation on Friday and Saturday mornings.
We will also be open on Tuesday 14th March and Tuesday 28th March from 10.30am to 2pm for light lunches. Come along and join us.
Helen Jones, tel: 07891 443428

Fladbury & Cropthorne Bell-ringers
Open practice is Thursday evenings: 7-8.30pm at St. Michael's Cropthorne on the first Thursday of the month; 7-9pm at St John's Fladbury on all other Thursdays.
John Powell, Tower Correspondent, email: john.powell@live.co.uk, tel: 07776 063252

Fladbury Community Orchard & Nature Reserve
Our next Work Party is at 10am, Saturday 11th March. All are welcome to come and help. If you would like further information, please contact me, Jane. Fladbury Apple Juice is still available for £3 a bottle.
Jane Bugg, email: pjbugg@btinternet.com, tel: 01386 860531

Fladbury Parish Council
Fladbury Parish Council meets on Monday evening 20th March at 7pm in the Pavilion. Villagers are welcome to attend and are invited to speak, if they wish, near the beginning of the meeting.

Friends of Fladbury
An informal group of people who organise events to bring the community together and raise funds. Next meeting at The Chequers Inn, 7.30pm, 29th March. If you'd like to join us or find out more, come along or get in touch at friendsoffladbury@gmail.com.

Games Café
Meets every Wednesday, 10.30am-12.30pm, Fladbury Village Hall. The village hall shelves have too many jigsaw puzzles. If anyone wants to collect one for the holidays that would be good. Come during Games Café. There's a wide selection of scenes to choose from.
Sally Hutchinson, tel: 01386 861206

Knit & Natter
We meet next on Thursday 9th March, 10am at Fladbury Social Club. Bring your knitted Trauma Teddies along ready for collection too. You're always welcome to join us for coffee and natter if you're not a knitter.
Karen Walton, email: waltonkaren4@gmail.com, tel: 07811 480152

TULIP
After ham or cheese and egg and chips, 28 of us enjoyed pancakes on Shrove Tuesday at The Chequers Inn. The next Tuesday Lunch in the Pub is Tuesday 21st March. If you want to join in or for more information, please contact me, Jane.
Jane Bugg, email: pjbugg@btinternet.com, tel: 01386 860531

Cropthorne Village People

Our February get together was a very interesting presentation from "Gems" of Winchcombe. It included a short history of the owner's career path from geology, the oil industry, to "Gemology" in Winchcombe, a thriving local business.

Tuesday 14th March, Air Ambulance
7pm, Cropthorne & Charlton Village Hall. £5, to include a donation. Please bring your own refreshments. We look forward to lots of attendees and possibly some male visitors.

Tuesday 11th April, Smart Exchange, from Pershore
7pm, Cropthorne & Charlton Village Hall. Fashion and small items for sale. £7 for wine on arrival and during the interval.

Craft Club
Craft Club including board games and cards. 2-4pm, Cropthorne & Charlton Village Hall. £1 – coffee & tea included. Everyone is welcome. The club runs every Monday until 3rd April and restarts 4th Sept. Every month there is an interactive demonstration: next demonstration Sugar Craft Flowers. There is also a Table Tennis table if anyone is interested.

Coffee and Chat
Every Tuesday 10am-12noon, Cropthorne & Charlton Village Hall. Everyone welcome. Library and games room open for you to borrow books, games and jigsaws.

If you would like to know more about Village People or any of the above events please contact Kathy Rayers, email: krayers@btinternet.com, tel: 07811 190555

Charlton

Charlton Chattery
Friday 24th March in Charlton Old Schoolroom, 2.30pm.
Mary Gisborne, email: marygisborne@icloud.com

Crafters & Creators
Next meet on Friday 17th March in Charlton Old Schoolroom, 2.30pm to 4.30pm. Bring your own project and meet other crafters. For more information contact Elaine or Loraine.
Elaine Mabat, tel: 07729 256076

Morning Get Together
11am, Monday 13th March. Coffee in church.
Mary Gisborne, email: marygisborne@icloud.com

Lent Lunch
Saturday 18th March, 12noon, Charlton Old Schoolroom, in aid of West Mercia Women's Aid and Worcester Women's Refuge.
Mary Gisborne, email: marygisborne@icloud.com

Mobile Library

Wednesday 8th March (2nd Wednesday)
11:30-11:45, Broadway Lane, Fladbury
11:50-12:05, Chantry, Fladbury
12:10-12:25, Post Office, Lower Moor

Tuesday 28th March (4th Tuesday)
13:15-13:30, Lay-by, Cropthorne
13:35-13:50, The Green, Cropthorne
13:55-14:10, Ryden Lane, Charlton

Local Businesses

Coffee & Cakes

All proceeds taken will be donated to Alzheimer's Research UK

Holland House Quiet Mondays

Come and spend a day in quietness, peace and reflection.

27th March 10am-4pm - Introduction and Celebrant The Ven. Frank Bentley

The cost of the day is £20 including a light lunch, coffee and afternoon tea.

Book at https://www.hollandhouse.org or call 01386 860330.

March 2023 🗓

8th, Wednesday

• Mobile library, Fladbury & Lower Moor

9th, Thursday

• Book Club, 10am, Fladbury Social Club
• Knit & Natter, 10am, Fladbury Social Club
• Lent Lunch, Fladbury

10th, Friday

• The Five Villages Prom, 7.30pm, Fladbury church

11th, Saturday

• Work Party, 10am, Fladbury Community Orchard & Nature Reserve

13th Monday

• Morning Get Together, 11am, Charlton Church

14th, Tuesday

• Fladbury Coffee Club, 10.30am, Fladbury Social Club
• Village People, 7pm, Cropthorne & Charlton Village Hall

16th, Thursday

• Lent Lunch, Lower Moor

17th, Friday

• Crafters & Creators, 2.30pm, Charlton Old Schoolroom

18th, Saturday

• Lent Lunch, Charlton

20th, Monday

• Monthly meeting of Fladbury Parish Council, 7pm, The Pavilion

21st, Tuesday

• TULIP, 12noon, The Chequers Inn

23rd, Thursday

• Lent Lunch, Wyre Piddle

24th, Friday

• Charlton Chattery, 2.30pm, Charlton Old Schoolroom

28th, Tuesday

• Fladbury Coffee Club, 10.30am, Fladbury Social Club
• Mobile library, Cropthorne & Charlton

29th, Wednesday

• Friends of Fladbury, 7.30pm, The Chequers Inn

30th, Thursday

• Lent Lunch, Cropthorne

And Beyond 📡

KIT and Kittys

Your editor writes:

If you've read this far, I'm very grateful to you. Mailchimp (the package I use to send KIT and Kittys) are changing the terms of their free offering which (until I find an alternative) will severely limit the number of "sends" I can do per month. The limit is dropping from 10,000 sends a month to 1,000. As there are currently around 400 subscribers, each time I issue a KIT or Kitty, that is 400 sends. This will limit me to one KIT, and no more than one Kitty, per month. Therefore, for the time being, please assume that a Kitty will only be issued in exceptional circumstances. Once I have further news I will let you know.

John