BRIDGE LUNCH

in aid of Longparish School & Community Project

Thursday 25th March

12 midday

at Longmead House

by kind permission of

Mr. & Mrs. J. Ellicock

 

Tables £60.00

to include Glass of Wine on arrival

Please bring your own cards

Raffle

 

To reserve your table please contact:

Mrs. Sarah Nicholson Nordale, Longparish SP11 6PF Tel 01264 720406

Mrs. Helen Mehaffey The Limes, Hurstbourne Priors RG28 7SB Tel 01256 893119

Please make cheques payable to

Longparish Community Project.

 

In memoriam  Michael Edmund Blackburne Daniell  1925-2004

Born in February 1925, Michael had an idyllic childhood in a large close family in Northumberland, in spite of the complications from TB contracted when he was an infant, which left him with only one working lung.   He went to school first in Corbridge, Northumberland and then to St Edwards, Oxford, where his schooling was interrupted by recurring illness and the onset of the war.

 At the beginning of the war he acted as despatch rider for his father who commanded the Home Guard and he also worked down the family coal mine.   He joined the RAF before the end of the war and after the war he went to Cirencester Agricultural College where we suppose he did some work, as he managed to pass his exams, but most of his time seems to have been spent with friends at balls, parties and amid much laughter.   He took up farming and then emigrated to Canada where he pursued his other interest in the motor trade.   He met his wife, Veronica, and returned to England to settle down to work in the motor trade.

 He was a devoted father and husband.   He was happily married for forty years and blessed with two daughters, Caroline and Victoria who were a constant source of happiness and pride.   Very conservative, he retained the old fashioned principles he was brought up with.   He disregarded his illnesses and disability.   He was always cheerful and optimistic and lived with courage and determination.   He was kind and shrewd and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

 We offer our sympathy to Veronica, Caroline and Victoria in their loss.

 

Captain Christopher Chamberlen RN LVO 3.9.1933 - 29.12.2003

Christopher died suddenly and unexpectedly in Phoenix, Arizona after a happy family Christmas.   He and Eila came from Upham near Bishops Waltham to live in Home Farm Cottage 8 years ago.   He started his career in the Royal Navy as a cadet at Dartmouth Royal Naval College in 1947 and later specialised as a navigating officer.   He travelled the world and made friends everywhere he went.   Alix Brembridge remembers encountering him on his frigate 34 years ago in Singapore “ It was the Derby and Christopher Chamberlen and I were neck and neck and closing on the finishing line – just short of the jack staff flying the White Ensign.  Christopher was resplendent in Royal Navy mess dress.  I, at the cutting edge of fashion, had my long dress tucked in my knickers and our mounts were fluorescent space-hoppers.”   Christopher had a great sense of mischief and adventure which enlivened his ships and the lives of all he met, especially his own family.   A highpoint of his naval career were the two years he spent navigating the Royal Yacht, Britannia, around the world from 1970-2.   Later he had his own command and was promoted to Captain.   In the early 1980s he and his family had an enjoyable period in Virginia as a NATO officer and his last naval appointment was as Queen's Harbourmaster in Portsmouth.   He left the Navy in 1986 and took up a business career.

 Christopher was a keen sportsman, a very good cricketer and a good rugger player, as well as a fine horseman.   He was also a talented painter in water colours and until recently a member of the Armed Forces Art Society.   He was devoted to his family: Eila, his three beautiful daughters, Venetia, Annabel and Jessica, and the three grandchildren.   He was great fun, very good company, always supportive and optimistic. His many friends will miss him sadly.   About 400 came to his thanksgiving service on 14 th January, overflowing the church and the parking. An old friend in a warm tribute spoke of him “scattering the stardust of friendship”.  

 Longparish MBE   .

  Graham Darrah was awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours for services to conservation in Hampshire.   He joined the Hampshire Trust for Nature Conservation (now Hampshire Wildlife Trust) soon after moving to Longparish in 1959, and since 1963 has served on its Council.   He was Chairman from 1981 to 2001 during a period of rapid growth in volunteers, paid staff and reserves.   On retirement he was asked to be President.   He has served on the South East Regional group and the Council of the Royal Society for Nature Conservation and its Finance Committee.   He is also Chairman of the Trustees of Bentley Wood which has just won a national award for butterfly conservation.

 

The School and Community Project Progress Report

There is a very good chance that by the time of the next publication of Hill and Valley our plans will have been approved by the TVBC Planning Officers as they have been by the funding body, the Department of Education and Skills.   We will then be preparing the documentation for going to tender.

 In discussions with the Planning Officers they have agreed, as we had hoped, to take into consideration the parking in the vicinity of the school land and to re-consider their previous advice that the existing right turn onto the school site would not be permitted if the site were developed.    The outcome is that they have allowed us to amend the plans with four fewer parking places and to maintain the right turn.   This means that the encroachment on the playing field is substantially reduced.   This is what we all hoped would happen.

The planners however require agreement that the hedge in front of John Woodcock's house will be reduced in height to improve the safety of the existing right turn.   In addition they have stated that some trees must be planted in the Church meadow, which belongs to Middleton Estate.   I am very grateful to John Woodcock and Richard Wills for their agreement to these two requirements.

If anyone would like to view these amended plans there is a permanent display in the reception at the school.   If you have any queries that cannot be answered at the school you are very welcome to contact me directly (720386).   The Parish Council also has a copy of the plans.             

John Ellicock

 

Fund raising progress report

On 19 th December our fundraising programme began with a wonderful concert of Christmas music performed by ‘Mescolanza' in St. Nicholas Church.     The choir very generously donated their services and the event raised £1000 with the addition of gift-aided donations.   We are very grateful to Chris Helbrough for her help in making the evening possible.

 The filmed race night held in Longparish Village Hall on the 16 th January, raised £512. This was a fun evening organised by Jim Neal with many helpers and we were particularly grateful for the excellent food.

 The next events, advertised in this issue,   are a quiz evening organised by F.OL.S. on 28 th February in Longparish Village Hall and on 25 th March a bridge lunch at the home of John and Wendy Ellicock.

 The School May Fayre will be on Saturday, May 15 th .   A diary of forthcoming events will be listed in Hill and Valley throughout the year.   Please try to come along to as many as you can.

 We are grateful for much support and generosity from villagers in both Longparish and Hurstbourne Priors.   We have lots of events planned but if any individual or group would be willing to organise an event for our fundraising programme do please contact me.

Helen Mehaffey tel. 01256 893119