K i n g s w o o d    G r a p e v i n e

Issue No. 130                                                                                                                              NOVEMBER  2008     

Editors: Diane White (843783) & Gill Hemming (842734)

 

D a t e s   F o r   Y o u r   D i a r y

Fri          7th       Nov                   R.N.L.I Coffee Morning                            35 Walkmill Lane                    10.00am–12 noon

Sun        9th          “                    Mobile Police Station                             Chipping                                 11.00am-12.30pm

Thurs    13th          “                    Historical Society A.G.M                                    Village Hall                                            7.30pm

Sat       15th          “                    Jubilee Club Christmas Bazaar                Village Hall                                1.30pm-4.00pm

Fri        21st          “                    Christmas Shopping Evening                   Village Hall                                6.30pm-9.00pm

DECEMBER/JANUARY  ISSUE  DEADLINE:                    FRIDAY  NOVEMBER 21st

Sat       22nd       Nov                   Mobile Police Station                             Chipping                                    3.00pm-4.30pm

Sat       22nd          “                    Auction of Pledges                                 St Mary’s                                              7.00pm

Sat       29th          “                    Christmas Crafts                                    Village Hall                                2.00pm-5.00pm

Sat       24th       Jan                   Burns’ Supper                                        Village Hall                               

Please note – there will NOT be an issue of Grapevine in January, so please let us have any item for that month by the deadline, and it will be included in the December/January issue.
Wotton-under-Edge and District R.N.L.I

There will be a Coffee Morning on November 7th between 10am and 12 noon at 35 Walkmill Lane, Kingswood. Please come and support this very worthwhile cause and buy your Christmas Cards, Calendars, Diaries and small souvenir gifts.

Macmillan Coffee Morning 

A big thank you to everyone who supported the Macmillan Coffee Morning at Ridgeway, Wickwar Road on September 19th - the sum raised was £240.

Plans are afoot for a Class of  '84 KLB Reunion! 

If you or someone you know is aged 40/41 and left KLB in 1984 at 16 (or 1986 if you stayed on to 6th form) then we are looking for you!  Our Reunion is booked for Saturday 13th June 2009 and further information can be obtained by contacting Karen Harvey (nee Merrefield) on 07791749675 or email karenharvey49327@aol.com or Tracey Burton (nee Werreitt) on 07969202998 email Richard@burton4.wanadoo.co.uk

KINGSWOOD HISTORICAL SOCIETY  Contact Sheila Alexander, The Old Plume 843398 or alexplume@freeuk.com   

 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING will be on Thursday 13th November followed by a historical musical evening titled "BEAUTY OR BEAST?" led by Debbie Nicholas.  Both meetings will commence at 7.30pm and admission will be by ticket only.  These are obtainable from Sheila Alexander, free to members & £3 to non-members.  Members' Subscriptions are due at the AGM - £5 per Family, £2.50 Individual & £1.50 for Concessions and the Society welcomes new members, youngsters and silver-surfers too.  We have a varied programme of talks three times a year and, when weather conditions permit, arrange car outings to local places of historical interest.
KINGSWOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH                    

Constabulary warning – As the Christmas shopping period approaches car owners are warned not to leave goods visible on the seats at any time to avoid damage to the vehicle and loss of purchases.

The Police Information Point is available in the Post Office should you wish to report any problem to be followed up.

Burns’ Supper

Date for your Diary - Burns' Supper Saturday 24th January 2009. Tickets £16.00 will be available from 14th December. Contact Pat & Judith Harty 844016. Full payment will reserve your ticket(s).

VILLAGE APPRAISAL.

Thanks to all the efforts by everyone in the village, especially the distributors and collectors, there has been an excellent response to the questionnaire. We will be sending these to Gloucester for computer scanning on November 8th. If, for any reason, your answers have not been collected, please let Rod Alexander at "The Old Plume" (thro’ the Abbey Gateway) have them. If you need them collecting and cannot get to him please give him a ring (843398) and he will call.

ST.MARY’S PROMISES AUCTION:

7pm Saturday 22 November in St Mary’s room. A great chance to bid for bargains or perhaps even kindly provide them. Thanks to many peoples generosity we have 35 prizes a month before the event: meals, jewellery, decorating, gardening and plants, taxi services, food, drink, rugby, ironing, English/ pottery tuition, therapy, health services, newspaper delivery, a weeks holiday home for four, brewery tour, a Porsche (well 1/24 scale, radio controlled), an hour’s flying, Christmas present wrapping service, a "diminishing number of sermons of your choice" from Viv the vic and, naturally, a Christmas tree, with more to come.

There will be a wine bar all evening. Tickets, which include canapés and a glass of wine, cost just £2.50, can be bought from Claire Adams, Liz Skelton, Fran McCubbin, Rod Alexander, David Roe, Veronica Matthews, Sue Selman, John Jennings-Chick and Simon Wood. Do come to a great evening and help the renovation of St. Mary’s church.

KINGSWOOD JUBILEE CLUB

Bazaar – Kingswood Jubilee Club will be holding their Christmas Bazaar on Saturday November 15th from 1.30pm-4pm in the village Hall. The many stalls include pickles, cakes, books, puzzles, Christmas decorations, bottles plus raffles and teas. The club has recently won a “Highly Commended” certificate through Village Agents and Gloucestershire Rural Community Council. A well deserved award for the member’s contributions, past and present. New Members Welcome.

KINGSWOOD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

On Sunday, 11 November we will join together with St Mary’s for Remembrance Sunday.  Please meet at the war memorial at 10.45am then walk round to the chapel for the service, which will be led by Rev Norman Page. Our Sunday Services are at 10.30am and 6.00pm.  Crèche & Kings Klub meet during the morning service. The last Sunday of the month the morning service is a Family Service. We would like to highlight this month the things on offer to children. On Monday at 6.30pm - Zion Club for primary school age children an hour of fun and games.  On Thursday at 10.15am - Kings Kidz (Mother/Baby/Toddler Group). Friday at 7.30pm - Z+ for years 7 & 8 (youth club based activities).  All these groups are held in the Lower Schoolroom.  We have a Safe from Harm Policy in place and all the leaders are CRB checked. Other regular meetings are on Tuesday at 7.30pm - Bible Study/Prayer Time, 2.15pm on alternate weeks Bright Hour.  On the third Wednesday of every month - Men's Fellowship meets at 7.30pm. Choir practice re-starts on the 6 November at 7.30pm new members always welcome. If you would like to know more please contact Jennie on 842803 or email linandnorv@yahoo.co.uk or visit our website kingswoodcongregational.org.uk
Parish Council

Parish Data Base. The Parish Clerk would like to set up a data base of contact details for all village organisations and all individuals who would like to be kept in contact and updated on Parish Council matters. This could include things like road closures or information, which has come via the Parish Council but would be more relevant to a particular organisation.  Please email your details to the Parish Clerk at kingswood.parish@btconnect.com or phone on 01453 844659

Bledisloe Cup - The Parish Council were delighted to receive an award on behalf of the village in the best new entrant category. The award consisted of a cup a certificate and a cheque for £250. The cup and certificate are currently on display in the Natural Health and Well Being Centre. We are hoping that the cup could also be displayed in other locations around the Village.  The detailed results are on the notice board in the Spar and the Well Being Centre. We hope to put the money to good use improving areas of concern raised in the results. Any other ideas gratefully accepted by the Clerk.

Allotments – So far there has been little or no response to requests for offers of land that could be utilised for the provision of Allotments and for which there is an unprecedented demand. If anyone has a piece of land they wish to put forward would they please contact the Parish Clerk, before the Parish Council investigates Compulsory Leasing.

ST MARY'S PARISH CHURCH   Viv Kerner – 01454 261751

St Mary's Room is buzzing at times... with people being energetic and music playing, food is consumed and copious amounts of tea and coffee disappear. Yes, the 'room' is so up and running, that the choir has had to pre book their practice slot to make sure we don’t lose out. Lunches have happened on two Thursdays now and we've had to choose between 2 or 3 home made soups, quiches and salads, and we even had pud last time. Well done to all concerned and it's a good opportunity to meet new people or catch up with old friends. The afternoon tea is to be repeated in the not too distant future... maybe we could even make it a Tea Dance! The next huge effort, as far as re decorating is concerned, will be focussed on the main part of the church, which could do with a coat or three of paint as well as some other works. The Confirmation service was a thrilling time for all those being both Baptised and Confirmed. Bishop Michael welcomed 18 people aged from 10 at the lower end to bus pass users at the other end. It was a truly joyful occasion and the youngsters group will continue to meet for learning and fun. Other people are welcome to join that group...contact Viv.

Christmas is not that far away and I've even heard the C word...Carols being mentioned so I guess we will be starting to practise them soon. Last year Carols at the Chipping was a fun time and I hope it will be the same this year...22nd December. I look forward to seeing you soon, Viv K
Rose Hill School P&FA Christmas Fayre

Friday 28 November, 2pm-5pm - Christmas Shopping all Wrapped Up! All welcome, free entry - Lots of stalls, mulled wine and mince pies, carols, festive performances by the children, raffle, Santa's Grotto and lots more.

Rose Hill Westonbirt Alderley Site, Alderley, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire GL12 7QT, Tel: 01453 843196
KINGSWOOD VILLAGE ASSOCIATION

Kingswood Village Association thanks everyone who came, and Judith Harty for her advice, for a splendid Gadabout on Oct 18th. Future Gadabouts will be in the Spring, rather than Autumn. The profit, £380, like that from all KVA’s fund raising events, will be donated to other village organisations and functions. The next events will be the senior citizens lunch (for any who live or lived in the village) and children’s tea party on New Year’s Eve. Both will be free of charge.
KINGSWOOD TODDLERS AND PLAYGROUP

Kingswood Playgroup and Toddlers will be holding their popular CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EVENING at the Village Hall on Friday 21st November, from 6.30pm until 9.30pm. It's a great opportunity to avoid the crowds and purchase presents from a wide range of local stallholders. Entry is £2.50, which includes a drink and a mince pie, with tickets being available from Kingswood Spar shop and playgroup committee members.

On Saturday 29th November, children of all ages are invited to enjoy an afternoon of CHRISTMAS CRAFTS at the Village Hall from 2pm-5pm.  There will be the opportunity to create unique gifts for family and friends including Christmas cards, decorations and personalised pottery courtesy of Rose Chalmers. Entry is free - there will be a very reasonable cost for each craft activity - and refreshments will be served throughout the afternoon.

Kingswood Post Office 

Photocopier now in store – easy to use and produces high quality images.

Black and white copies   A4 - 10p,  A3 - 15p         Colour copies    A4 - 50p,  A3 - 75p

Community First Responders – Stroud District

Anyone who is interested in this growing and potentially life-saving project would they please contact or send their details, in the first instance, to District Councillor Paul Hemming on 842734 or email to cllr.paul.hemming@stroud.gov.uk

The Village Diary can be viewed on the Grapevine website. For an entry please email Grapevine or telephone Gill on 842734.