12 minute read
Leigh
REPS: Philippa Toulson philippa.toulson@gmail.com Eddie Upton upton.eddie@gmail.com DISTRIBUTOR: Judy Tuke
Wild orchids near Back Drove Photo: Joan Carter
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Firstly, a very warm welcome to the village to the families who have recently moved into South Street.
It is so good to see the start of village events at last and it will be a pleasure to start to put names to faces of all the new people who have moved into the village recently. This month, there will once again be a church coffee morning, on Tuesday 1 June. Next month will be the long-awaited first Pop Inn for well over a year.
Please have a look at Sally’s article about Plastic-free July and don’t forget to sign up for your kitbag.
I’m sure many of you have been observing ‘No Mow May’ to provide some nectar for all the pollinating insects. Some people are thinking of carrying on into June so if you have a bit of wild garden, no matter how large or small, please do send us your photos for next month’s summer special magazine.
And don’t forget Leigh’s almost unique Candle Auction, which will be held on Wednesday 23 June in the Village Hall. Only a handful of these traditional events survive, and we should all be aware of this special part of the village’s cultural heritage.
Philippa Toulson and Eddie Upton
Thank you to everyone …
… who has sent cards, flowers, gifts, emails, phone calls and the many kindnesses driving me to hospital and doctors’ appointments due to my unexpected recent health scare.
The operation was a complete success and, with the bonus of our daughter Vicky coming over from Colorado for six weeks (thank you Federal Government)
to take care of us, I’m making a very good recovery. I’ve had strict instructions about what I can’t do and am being really good and sensible so don’t foresee any problems.
We have always known that this is a super, caring community but when the chips are down, you are the best! Hopefully, I will be seeing you in person in a month or so and can thank you properly. Phil and I do miss everyone very much.
Sandy Burton
St Andrew’s Church, Leigh
We continue to take tentative steps towards what used to be normality, though in these strange times just meeting people seems almost like a voyage into the unknown.
Provisionally, we are planning for three services in Leigh in June, each starting at 10.00am on 13th, 20th and 27th. The first two will be Holy Communion and the third will be a lay-led service. If the weather is with us, these will be held in the churchyard, but be prepared to go into the church if it rains. Please check on the church notice board for any last minute alterations. We hope that we will be able to have a full schedule of four services each month starting in July.
We also hope to be able to go back to our monthly coffee mornings. The first of these will be on Tuesday 1 June, starting at 10.30am in the churchyard – ideally, please bring your own picnic chair and mug. Then we hope that from July onwards we will be able to hold these lovely social events inside the church.
Alaistair Cumming & Eddie Upton
Churchwardens
Candle Auction
23 June, Leigh Village Hall, 7.30m for 8.00pm
It seems likely, all being well, that this year’s candle auction, the 289th, we think, will be run in the normal way, with food and Julian’s Bar (roll up, roll up!).
The two auctions, for Alton and Bere Mill meads will take place in Leigh Village Hall on Wednesday, 23 June. The amount of money raised from the auctions is always entirely unpredictable. It depends on candle burn times (it’s a bit like e-bay for people without a computer, which was pretty much the case in the 1730s). These, in turn, depend on candle length, breezes from
inadvertently opened doors or windows, and whether we remember to bring decent matches with us. It is, therefore, not only unpredictable, but exciting. I look forward to seeing you there.
Gordon Morris
Chairman, Leigh Parish Lands Trust
Sign up for Plastic-free July
Leigh Climate Group is going ahead with Plastic-free July and the moment has come for you to commit to playing your part. We hope as many households as possible will sign up, so there will be plenty of people of all ages to share the experience. And we need time to prepare kitbags for everyone.
We all understand that it’s incredibly hard to cut single-use plastic out of our lives entirely, but it is possible for each of us to make a significant difference to our personal consumption by adapting our practices and shopping habits a little. Every one of us needs to take individual responsibility for protecting our planet.
The bags will be reusable cotton shoppers and each will contain some plastic-free goodies as well as tips and suggestions. We will be making them for you during June, so they are available for the start of the project in July. There will be lots of ways to sign up. Order your bag as soon as you can, find us on Facebook at Leigh Climate Group; or email LeighClimateGroup@gmail.com; or you can text 0781 6872 442; and we will be reminding you on the Leigh Chatter WhatsApp.
Of course, you don’t have to live in Leigh to take part. You are welcome to join in, wherever you live, and we will do our best to make plenty of bags.
Sally Salvesen
The tree line
It has been two months since the grand planting of trees in and around the village. Those who have visited the village green will have seen more than 50 young saplings destined to develop into a pleasing cordon of mixed shade. And parallel to the road, five cherry trees, which will look fantastic in the spring. The play park has also planted a selection to give shade as a picnic umbrella in due course.
A big thank you must go to Bob Cutler and Annabel Ward who masterminded the village green, to Cathy Purcell and her ‘park wardens’, and to Ian and Pam Collins who have planted a shady copse to be in the Marsh field. April was an unusual month with record frost and little rain so let us hope they all survive.
The village lottery has donated £863 from a promised £1000. We will carry the balance forward to the autumn when we will donate to the new hedgerow and extension of the church graveyard.
Those interested in planting a tree or trees in the autumn, please contact me NOW to put our order in to the Woodland Trust.
Julian Turnbull
01935 873846 or julianturnbull@ btinternet.com
Leigh parish council update
Your parish council is in the process of change. Graham Bugler has been an active member of the playpark committee since 1996, helping to update the play area then in South Street when his children were still young. In May 1999 he was elected on to the parish council, and from 2002 was Vice Chair alongside John Gray and Emlyn Price during their times as Chairman. In 2006 Graham was elected Chairman; much was happening, including the drive to find a site for the new Village Hall.
He stood down as Chairman in 2010, but continued to serve on the council. Key involvements during his 22 years as a councillor include the generation of the 2004 and 2010 village plans; securing planning approval for the new hall; instigation of the village’s defibrillator (located on the external front wall of the Village Hall); the relocation and now renovation of the play park; and most recently the establishment of the Village Green.
Graham gave notice six months ago of his intention to now stand down, due to other commitments. I am sure you will all join with me in expressing our appreciation of his selfless dedication to our parish – often it was he alone who was prepared to turn out to re-paint play park equipment. And despite all that he has given, he has volunteered to continue to ensure that our defibrillator is always ready in emergency. Thank you, Graham; your sage words and practical hand will be very much missed by your fellow councillors.
Jonathan Dixon has now been coopted as a replacement councillor, but we are in search of another, as David Vincent has also now stepped down from the council, on account of his many other commitments. Similarly to Graham, David has served as a councillor since 2006 (we and he think!), and was also very closely involved with many of the valuable developments outlined above. Leigh is essentially an agricultural parish and, as such, David’s farming view has been important on just about every item that’s ever on the agenda. Furthermore, on innumerable occasions he has quietly set-to using his own machinery to facilitate the council’s intent, be it informal maintenance of our byways or the progression of a council initiative. Thank you, David; you too will be missed by us all.
As indicated above, this leaves us short of a councillor. So: is there another person in the parish who is prepared to give some their time and fill the current vacancy for our seventh councillor? This is an opportunity to make a real difference in ensuring that our community continues as a parish in which it can be proud. 25
You would be joining a cohesive and productive team. If you value what we have, please give it some careful thought and, if you are interested, please contact our parish Clerk Beverley Harrison (leigh@dorset-aptc.gov.uk)
Alan Bennett
arcbennett@hotmail.co.uk
To whom it may concern
Over the past few months, approaching Lower Totnell farm by way of the footpath coming down through the fields from Higher Totnell, I have now twice come across the following in exactly the same place:
Normally, I would say thank you to you for ensuring that your dog does not leave its mess in an inappropriate place. But I fundamentally fail to understand what you think you are achieving by bagging it up in plastic, only to hang it in the hedgerow. Perhaps you think there is a team whose job it is to regularly walk every path and collect rubbish, aka the weekly household bin collection? If not, then what?
Why should I (or anyone else other than you), for the good of our environment, have to take your dog’s mess home? Please dispose of your dog’s mess in an appropriate bin. Thank you.
Alan Bennett
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MAY WINNERS.
Winners for the May draw:
1st Ball No 104 Mr and Mrs Purcell £40 2nd Ball No 19 Mr J. Dixon £20 3rd Ball No 62 Mr K. Bonney £10 4th Ball No 202 Mrs Bradford £5
If you would like to take part, please contact: Julian Turnbull on 01935 873846 or Alastair Cumming on 01935 872401 It is only £1 per month
The 84th LEIGH FLOWER and CRAFT SHOW
Saturday 4th September Opening at 2.30pm Prize Giving at 4.00pm
Admission £1.50/£1 for exhibitors – Children free
Classes for
Floral Art Flowers and plants Children’s fun section Handicraft Art Photography Cookery Scarecrow PLUS – Tombola and Raffle!
Something for everyone to try - don’t be shy. Cash prizes, and you may win a cup or trophy!
Pick up a schedule at the Shop or print from the Village Website www.leighvillage.org.uk/main-events/leigh-flower-show
David Stanton IAC ICPT ISOCS ISSUP
Senior Psychotherapist/Counsellor. Mental Health Consultant. Trainer. Counselling for individuals, couples, children, adolescents, families and groups. Face to face and online. 40+ years’ experience. Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, Self Esteem, Relationship problems, Family Dynamics, Bereavement, Eating Disorders, Substance/Alcohol Abuse, Addictions. Isolation, Loneliness, PTSD, Bi-Polar, OCD, Fear, Sexual/Physical Abuse, Self-Harming, Death Anxiety, Sex Issues. Lack of Meaning & Purpose, Anger, Phobias, Gender, Sexuality, Social Justice. Conflict Resolution. Crisis Management. Available for Mental Health and Emotional Wellness Workshops, Retreats, Seminars, Training and Talks. CONFIDENTIALITY ASSURED.
www.tatvacenter.com www.edas-addictionservices.com or telephone – David 07584 711488
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