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

Issue No. 125 MAY 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 2^nd May Mobile Police Station Chipping 11.30am

Fri 9^th “ Friends of St Mary’s Coffee Morning St Mary’s Room 10.30am

Sat 10^th “ Music at St Mary’s St Mary’s Church 7.30pm

Sat 10^th “ Playgroup and Toddlers Birthday Quiz Village Hall

Tues 13^th “ W.I – History of Hats Village Hall 7.30pm

Sat 17^th “ Historical Society Study Day Gloucester Cathedral

Thurs 22^nd “ Mobile Police Station Chipping 11.30am

JUNE ISSUE DEADLINE: FRIDAY MAY 23^rd

Sat 31^st May Emmaus Choir Congregational Church 7.30pm

Sat 7^th June St. Mary’s Church Summer Fête

Many, many thanks to Kingswood Village Association for their generous donation.

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust - news from LOWER WOODS

Spring is probably the best time of the year to get outdoors and explore your two local woodland nature reserves.

For long walks amongst the bluebells, violets, wood anemones and early purple orchids, amidst a cacophony of songbirds (warblers, thrushes and hopefully nightingales too from the end of April), Lower Woods Nature Reserve, on Inglestone Common, is unmissable. For a drier, if slightly steeper walk through banks of bluebells and wild garlic, alongside the babbling Kilcott Brook, then try Midger Wood Nature Reserve in the Kilcott valley, east of Hillesley.

Free leaflets providing maps, directions, and waymarked walks for both these beautiful woodlands can be obtained from Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust by calling 01452 383333 or logging onto www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk.

Alternatively, if you are a bird lover or early-bird, do something really special to mark the May Day bank holiday and come along to our Dawn Chorus Walk and breakfast at 4.30am on Sunday 4^th May, at Lower Woods Nature Reserve.

Contact the Wildlife Trust for booking and more details.

We also have a few hazel bean sticks left from our winter coppicing - £3.50 for 10, but hurry to avoid disappointment!

For more information, please contact Tom Burditt Lower Woods Reserves Manager on 07787 511932 or email tom.burditt@gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk.

Additional Notes - Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is a countywide charity that manages 73 nature reserves covering over 2,500 acres, in addition to identifying key sites of nature importance. Our aim is to secure a natural environment that the people of Gloucestershire and visitors to the area can enjoy for generations to come. We have a local membership of over 20,000 people and work with 300 regular volunteers who give their time to support the Trust’s work. Further information can be found on our website: www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk

The Wildlife Trusts (TWT) - There are 47 local Wildlife Trusts across the whole of the UK, the Isle of Man and Alderney. We are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone. With 670,000 members, we are the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving the full range of the UK’s habitats and species, whether they be in the countryside, in cities or at sea. 108,000 of our members belong to our junior branch, Wildlife Watch. We manage 2,200 nature reserves covering more than 80,000 hectares; we stand up for wildlife; we inspire people about the natural world and we foster sustainable living. All 47 Wildlife Trusts are members of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), which also operates a separate grants unit administering major funds on behalf of the Big Lottery Fund and the Landfill Communities Fund. For more information on the grants unit visit www.wildllifetrusts.org.

KINGSWOOD TODDLER AND PLAYGROUP “40TH BIRTHDAY!”

This May sees Kingswood Village Playgroup and Toddlers celebrating its 40th Birthday!  We are planning birthday celebrations on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th May. Things kick off on Friday with a disco for all playgroup and primary school children in the village. On Saturday afternoon there will be a birthday tea party and entertainer at the village hall.  We'd love to see as many past members of playgroup and their families there as possible. On the day we'd love to take a group picture of the past and present members to mark the occasion. Cream teas will be available for the grown ups, there will be a celebration birthday cake and activities to keep the children entertained. If anyone has old photos of playgroup, please get in touch, as we'd like to display these on our birthday weekend.  Also, if you'd like to come along, or know someone who would then just give us a call or drop us an email for further details. The weekend’s celebrations will be rounded off on Saturday evening with a quiz night to celebrate playgroup's 40-year history! Tickets on sale at the Spar shop at £10 for a team of four. Come and help us celebrate!

For more information on the above events or if you can provide us with any interesting information about playgroup's history please contact one of the following: - Sam Beckett 07890 312060 or sambeckaem@aol.com; Sarah Deadman 07805 217125 or sarahselect@aol.com ; Helen Clements 07970 28795 or sales@ftc2000.co.uk

KINGSWOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Kingswood Neighbourhood Watch welcomes the resumption of station visits in May following the appointment of P.C.S.O Paul Bowman to cover our area. Paul is no stranger to Kingswood having worked in the district as a P.C.S.O for some time, so feel free to keep him updated on any village matters which may be giving you cause for concern. Alternatively leave a written message at the P.I.P (Police Information Point) in the shop, which he will check on every visit.

Norman Ward, Chairman Kingswood Neighbourhood Watch.

Holiday Time is rapidly approaching – Don’t forget to tell a friend or neighbour if you are going away for any length of time so that they can keep an eye on your property. Why give the petty thief or pro an open invitation to raid your home whilst unattended by seeing mail and other deliveries sitting on your doorstep untouched.

KINGSWOOD ABBEY WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

Our April meeting proved to be great fun as well as informative. One of our members, Frances Jones, plus husband Chris, who are members of the Sealed Knot, dressed the part as they talked to us of their involvement with the group. Time is spent around the country living the 17^th Century life and enacting battles. The evening went far too quickly.

Next meeting is May 13^th – History of Hats with Glynis Tyrell.

Friends of St Mary’s Coffee Morning – John Jennings-Chick tel; 520359

FoSM is holding another open Coffee Morning on Friday 9^th May at 10.30am. Those of you who joined us at the first morning last December will have seen St Mary’s Room in its “before” state; now you have the opportunity to see the “after” version and we hope you will be impressed. So, please join us and, if anyone needs a lift over to the church, do let me know. FoSM is also aware that not everyone is, of course, able to come to events during the day. So, for your diaries, we will be holding a wine evening on Saturday 28^th June at 7.30pm. Besides giving you a further opportunity to experience St Mary’s Room as a new facility for the village, it also lets us meet and welcome a potentially slightly different group of 

people. (This is of course not solely for those who work during the day. If you can get to both daytime and evening events, we shall be delighted to welcome you twice!). We’ll tell you more about the wine evening in next month’s Grapevine.

St Mary’s Church Fête – June 7th

We should be grateful for any unwanted books, in good, clean condition, to sell on the bookstall (no Readers’ Digest Condensed Books please). Please ring 845204 to arrange delivery or we can collect within reasonable distance of Kingswood.

Get your Groove Back. 

Bodies in motion tend to stay in motion. That’s the Law of Inertia. So pick a physical activity -  Nia.

Fusion Fitness using the Nia Technique is a new FUN way to get fit. Gentle on the joints Nia is suitable for anyone at any age

or fitness ability. A wonderful mix of simple martial arts moves, jazz and modern dance steps and Yoga. Join the group of

local people who are having fun keeping fit with Nia. Nia has to be experienced to feel the pleasure of the movements, so

grab a bottle of water; wear loose clothes and a smile. You will love the way Nia makes you feel. £5.00 per class/hour.

KINGSWOOD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The next event in our 350^th anniversary celebrations will be a performance by THE EMMAUS CHOIR on 31^st May at 7.30pm in the chapel, to which everyone is warmly invited.

Please come along a share in a TOWN HALL TEA Sunday 11^th May from 2.30-5.00pm in the Town Hall, Wotton. Lovely home made cakes accompanied by tea or coffee; we would love to see you there. Town Hall Teas are a great way to meet people and they are held every Sunday.

Our regular Sunday services are held at 10.30am – Kings Kids (Sunday School) and Crèche are held during the morning service and at 6.00pm – Evening Service. A number of invited speakers as well as members of our own congregation lead our services. The last Sunday in each month is a Family Service, which is especially suitable for all ages.

Weekday activities are as usual – Monday at 6.30pm is Zion Club for primary school age children and Z+ at 7.30pm for years 7-8. Both held in the Lower School Room. Tuesdays at 7.30pm – Prayer Time followed by Bible Study. On alternate Tuesdays at 2.15pm is Bright Hour. On the third Wednesday of each month the newly formed Men’s Fellowship meet at 7.30pm in the School Room. Thursdays see Kings Kidz (Mother/Baby/Toddler Group) meet at 1015am in the School Room; lots of activities are on offer for the children. At 7.30pm the choir meet for practice in the chapel, new members always welcome. We hold prayer meetings on Friday at 9.00pm and on Saturday at 8.00am

Dates for your diary for forthcoming events - 26/27 July will be our main celebration weekend when Noel Richards a well-known Christian singer/songwriter will be with us for a concert and on the 27th Picnic with the Puppets.  Flower Festival on 23^rd, 24^th, 25^th August.  More information later. Contact Jennie on 01453 842803 or email linandnorv@yahoo.co.uk

ST MARY'S PARISH CHURCH

We have had a real boost recently as the first part of the 'renovation' cum re-ordering work has been finished. The new room is looking good and I think I'd be right to say that we're thrilled with what has been achieved so far. Thanks to all concerned for the support we have received financially, practically and on the ideas side. There are many suggestions for use of the room and I think it's important to stress that our intentions are to add to the existing activities in the area, and not take them away from any other venue. We now continue to work towards the completion of the project with the design and making of the glasswork.

Church life continues and we have said a loving farewell to Maureen Kirkham. Her death came shortly after her visit to church on Mothering Sunday. She was determined to be there and maybe, even, realised her life was drawing to a close. She will be missed. Our other recent death was that of Peggy Digby, who lived at Kingswood Lodge and worshipped with us whenever she could. Her immediate family are in North Nibley and we remember them and Peggy at this time.

The Local Ministry Team has been commissioned. What does that mean? Well, they don’t have halos or anything similar but they did attend a moving service at the Cathedral where they were welcomed and officially given the title of Team, by Bishop John. . They are a great help to me and do many of the things I'm unable to do. If you're not sure who they are.... David and Gill Hatton, Peter Nicholas and Bob Copeland. They, alongside anyone else from the congregation, can and will help you with any relevant problems. Forgive me that this is a little brief but I've been on holiday and quite simply forgot about the deadline....I hope you, too, may find other things to occupy your minds whether at home or away.  Viv Kerner.

W. S. Franks for your Vehicle Repairs, Servicing and M.O.T. (New M.O.T Testing Station). Cars, vans and light trucks classes 4 & 7. Free courtesy car and local collection. Full air-con and climate control service and repair. Latest technology vehicle diagnostic centre. The Garage, Weavers Close, Kingswood. Tel/Fax 01453 521669.

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