March 2019
You meet some interesting people on holiday. In Antigua recently I got chatting to someone with a past he’d prefer to forget. At first he didn’t let on about it, just that he’d been a musician and composer. Now in his 70s he said that these days he spent most of his time writing for a motoring magazine. All I could gather wast that his name was Simon.
January 2019
Back to work, back to school, back to Brexit, whatever has been depressing residents at the end of this festive season, the annual Twelfth Night soirée proved the perfect antidote. A record number gathered at the Marchmont Arms to blow away the January blues. Hot topics included houses for sale, holidays and the latest planning application for the Marchmont fields housing development.
December 2018
Two people have been arrested following a spate of thefts in the village. Cars in Riverbank and the Granary were among those targeted. Cash, CDs, fishing tackle and other valuables have been taken. John Baldwin, who lives in the middle of the village, was able to record one incident on his CCTV camera. He saw two young men walking down the road in the middle of the night trying car door handles. Residents are urged to be vigilant, and to make sure their cars are locked and no valuables left inside.
November 2018
The village fireworks party went with a bang as dozens of residents enjoyed hot soup, hot dogs and delicious pork rolls with apple sauce. The event was the perfect occasion to welcome some new faces, including Bob and Liz Chendlik, who have recently moved in to No 62, and Steve and Heather Pears, who have moved to Greenbanks (154), pictured here.
October 2018
Everyone over the age of 50 can remember the Summer of 76. To that we can now add the Summer of 2018. Not quite the same ring but hot it was! It would be nice to think we’ll get more of the same but I doubt it. Our summers are notoriously unreliable and while I’d like to be proved wrong, I predict we’ll be back to the usual mixture of sunshine and showers for the next 40 years!
October 2018
The BT Infinity box is only just down the road but some residents are reporting that their so-called high speed broadband is running at only a snail’s pace. Speeds of only 1 or 2 megabits per second are being reported in parts of the village. Residents plan to raise the subject at the next agm in March.
July 2018
Phew! What a scorcher. Words we never thought would apply to the washout that’s a typical British summer. But this year it’s been nonstop sunshine and villagers made the most of the glorious weather to enjoy the annual barbecue. Once again they were treated to a musical interlude beautifully sung by Tim & Julia Blinko, Jane McClelland and special guest Simon Lillystone.
May 2018 The Spring Brunch proved another hit with residents. Nearly 20 came to the Marchmont Arms earlier this month for a morning natter over coffee and croissants.
April 2018
Good to see one of our residents reaching out to bring peace and calm to some ruffled radio airwaves! Reading the pages of The Spectator magazine this month I chanced across a review of the week’s radio programmes. The reviewer noted that after listening to a programme about Enoch Powell’s infamous ‘rivers of blood’ speech, it was a relief to tune into Radio 3 and hear the soothing voice of Penny Gore with an appreciation of the Czech composer Janáček.
March 2018
Three cheers for Piccotts End resident Holly Cross! Holly ran this year’s London Marathon to raise money for Anthony Nolan, the charity which helped save the life of her son Rupert (pictured here with his mum after the big race).
Despite the heat Holly, who lives at Piccotts End Farm, completed the 26 miles in the very respectable time of 5 hours 46 minutes.