News Bites

St Nicholas Church East Wall - Update from Mary Langdown

At the beginning of October, English Heritage gave the long awaited clearance for some invasive investigative work on the wall. Revised costs were to be prepared for 24th November, which the Parochial Council felt was achievable. However towards the end of October we heard from the Diocesan level that there is no longer a consensus between experts at the Diocese, English Heritage and our own on the previously agreed work packages. We were asked to put all work on hold.

This means that our current grant application with English Heritage will lapse as the deadline cannot be met. In the meantime we are preparing for a meeting with all parties to agree a way forward; we await a date for this meeting and some indication as to why the Diocese has problems with the work packages.

Hurst Bowling Club

The green has now been “put to bed” with six tons of top dressing to help provide an even more level playing surface next year. We are pleased to report that, although the manager of The Castle has moved on, she has put us in touch with her parents’ bowling club on the Isle of Wight and we expect a fixture to be arranged next year.

For information about Hurst Bowling Club please contact the secretary Ann Skidmore on 0118 934 xxxx or visit their website.

Would your group like a website?

As reported in the last newsletter, HVS was proud to have been selected to represent Berkshire in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) category of the Village of the Year competition. The Society was presented with a cheque for £100, which we would like to use to improve ICT in the village.

If you are a member of a Hurst-based group or society that would like to have its own website, then perhaps we can help you to get started. Please contact Duncan Kendall to discuss your plans.

Hurst Village Halls

A new Village Halls caretaker, Donna Marner (telephone 0118 934 xxxx), has been in residence since the beginning of September. There is also a new web site.

Events for next year are already being planned: a Barn Dance in February and, by popular demand, a return of last year’s musical comedy review “Two for the 1/9s”.

Scouting Christmas Evening and 2005 Family Camp

This year’s Scouting Christmas evening is taking place in the Scout Hut on Tuesday 7th December. The evening will feature entertainment by all of the girls’ and boys’ Scouting groups from the village and is aimed at their families. A collection will be made in aid of Feed the Children.

There will be a family camp next year at Chalfont Heights, Buckinghamshire from 20th - 22nd May.

As always the scouting groups would be grateful for more help. A new Group Scout Leader is required as well as general help for the Scouts and Cubs. Contact Barbara Loring on 0118 934 xxxx.

Senior Citizens Open Forum (SCOF) for Twyford and District

In October Councillor Bob Wyatt spoke about the approach to provide Care and Accommodation for Older People in the district. The council acknowledges that the majority of people wish to stay in their own homes, so it has adopted policies and developed strategies aimed to help that happen.

The November meeting allowed members to present their ideas for 2005.

SCOF meetings are held in St Thomas More’s church hall, Twyford, at 2pm on the fourth Thursday in each month (except in August and December).

There is a need to listen to people who are isolated in the community and cannot get out to meetings. If you know someone in this situation who has views that they would wish to be considered, please ask them to call (or perhaps call for them) Janet Potter at Twyford & District Age Concern on 0118 934 xxxx, or Suzanne Snell at Age Concern Berkshire on 0118 959 xxxx.

Hurst Bakery and Provisions

A warm welcome to John Shuckburgh who moved into the Hurst bakery in May this year. The bakery is now transformed from the “Bakery and Gifts” to a “Bakery and Provisions” and a selection of new items are available such as olives, olive oil and other delicatessen items. An application for an off licence is in progress to enable the provision of fine wines. You may also be pleased to hear that opening hours have been extended.