Norton-in-Hales
Monthly Messenger March 2015
Website: www.nortoninhales.org
Dates for your diary
Sunday 1st March
Family Service, 11:15am at St Chads
Thursday 5th March
Norton In Bloom Meeting, 7:15pm Hinds Head
Sunday 8th March
Morning Prayer, 11:15am at St Chads
Tuesday 10th March
Parish Council Meeting, 7:30pm Jubilee Hall
Sunday 15th March
Mothering Sunday: A New, Special Service 11:15am
Sunday 22nd March
Holy Communion, 11:15am at St Chads
Sunday 29th March
Special Communion service at Aston Village Hall
at 10:30am followed by a bring-and-share lunch
Good Friday service is on 3 April at 2:30pm at St Chad’s, Norton-in-Hales
Easter Sunday is 5 April when we will join together at 11:15am at St Chad’s, Norton-in-Hales for a
Family Communion service to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
Sunday 19 July 2015
Bishop Mark will lead a service of confirmation at St Leonard’s Woore
in a joint benefice service at 10:30 am.
If you are interested in being confirmed, or know someone who is,
or if you would like to re-affirm your confirmation vows,
please contact Rev Don at 01630 647 911 or email dga952@hotmail.com
Monthly Messenger Subscription
If you would like to continue to receive the Monthly Messenger please pay your £3 to your local
distributor by the end of March. If you would like to start receiving a copy of the Monthly Messenger
and you don’t know who your local distributor is please contact Hannah Hague on 07545 095 738
or email hannahmariahague@yahoo.co.uk. If you receive your Messenger by post, please let me
know if you still want to receive it by post as I will add you to the postal list.
A View from the Vicarage
Here it is March. We have our sights set on spring and hope that winter is well and
truly behind us. It is a time of reflection and as it is also the season of Lent, we are
called to do some self-examination about our relationship with God, and the many
ways we’ve failed to be obedient to His ways. That failure is what necessitated Jesus
dying on the Cross, that we might be reconciled from our position of sin into one of
being a true child of God fit for His eternal Kingdom.
Our goal at St Chad’s is to bring people into a full relationship with our heavenly Father and to
know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. I have the privilege and responsibility of leading a worship
assembly each week in our local primary school. It is such a joy to know that our children are
hearing some of our key Bible stories and learning important Christian values on which to live their
lives. This half term is focusing on courage.
Courage means setting aside one’s fears, trusting in God, and going forth to do the task at hand.
Can you be like young David? Wearing no body armour and equipped with only a slingshot as a
weapon, David went to battle the giant Goliath to save his nation. What courage! What faith!
David had no fear because he trusted God to win the victory for him. David understood that God
wants only the best for His people, so if we follow His lead, then we will reach the goal He’s set for
us.
So if the church’s goal is to bring people into the family of God, are we doing all that is needed?
The Sunday average attendance suggests we are stagnating. St Chad’s is not growing. We have
a variety of worship styles which we thought would appeal to people across a wide spectrum. Our
primary focus is for families. We have two family style services scheduled each month, but families
don’t seem to be attracted to them.
The PCC and congregation of St Chad’s have decided to try something new—and that takes a lot
of courage! The third Sunday of March is better known as Mothering Sunday. It is the day we
celebrate mums and we’ve decided to try a new format for worship that day. It is exciting and
scary. Will it work? Will families join our celebration? We pray that they will.
We will have singing of course, but then we will break for tea and coffee with a little treat for the
adults and a craft activity for the children (something special to make for mums!). I will tell a Bible
story; we all love stories don’t we? We have a special gift for all mums as well. This will be very
relaxed and informal, so we hope if you aren’t a regular attender, or even if you’ve never attended,
that you might come along on Sunday the 15th at 11:15am to join in our celebration of mums.
We’ve had the courage to create something new, and we are hoping you will have the courage to
come and try it.
Rev. Don Alcock
Telephone: 01630 647 911
Email: dga952@hotmail.com
Norton in Bloom Newsletter
March 2015
Norton in Hales Village Show
Details and Schedule included in this
March Messenger
Saturday 5th September 2015
Duck Race Saturday 11th April
We are very happy to announce that we will be holding a Duck Race on 11th April in
the afternoon at Forge Farm.
Along with the Duck Races we will be holding a Tombola. Donations for the Tombola
would be much appreciated. Please hand in at Bluebell Cottage or to any member of
the group by 31st March. Further details will be in the next edition of the Messenger.
Dawn Chorus Walk Saturday 18th April
Please come and join us on a short guided early morning walk.
Nothing to strenuous, guaranteed.
We have a great guide who will help us to identify the birds as they wake.
The walk will finish with sausage and bacon rolls and hot drinks.
If you wish to take part then please ring Alma or speak to any of the group members.
The walk will start from the Bus Shelter at 5.30am and finish at Forge Farm via
Parton’s Pool. Further details will be in the next edition of the Messenger
Do you have?
Tips for March
1) Snowdrops which you can donate to the group.
We would like to plant them around the village
when they are ‘in the green’.(finished flowering)
2) Sandstone which we can use to build up the
road sign beds etc. around the village.
Please contact Alma asap.
Sow now
Plant shallots, onion sets and
early potatoes.
Bedding plant seeds
Plant summer flowering bulbs
Jobs
Protect new spring shoots from
slugs
Lift and divide overgrown
clumps of perennials
Weeds come back in to
growth, deal with them now
before they get out of hand.
Mow the lawn on dry days (if
needed)
Open the greenhouse doors
and vents on warm days
Plants
Top up any containers with
new compost.
Help!! Do you have old agricultural
equipment?
We are looking to create an agricultural theme to
reflect our local environment. If you do have any
which you think we could use please contact
Alma
RHS Champion of Champions
Just for your information, in case you wish to
follow suite, the Bloom groups colour scheme for
the village this year is going to be
Yellow / blue-purple.
Next Meeting:
Thurs 5th March 7.30 pm at the Hinds Head. All welcome
Sunday 1st March
Door Stewards: Millie & Charlie Belfield
Collection: Jessica Marshall
Lesson: Simon Belfield, Mark 8:31-end
Coffee: Janice Tavernor
Sunday 8th March
Readings: Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25,
John 2:13-22
Cleaning Rota – Mrs E Rowley
Flowers & Brasses
No flowers in Lent
Mrs J Tavenor
Visitors Welcome
Sunday 22nd March
Jeremiah 31:31-34, John 12:20-33
Messages..
Norton in Hales Defibrillator:
The West Midlands Ambulance Service declared the Norton in Hales Defibrillator operational on
17th February. It is encouraging to know that an effective live saving facility is available in the local
area, and which augments the work of ambulance crews.
The project to bring a defibrillator to Norton in Hales began just two months ago, a very short time
from flash-to-bang. One of the many factors that has guaranteed success was the willingness of
local volunteers to become defibrillator operators: they deserve our sincere thanks, as do those
who provided donations to help part-fund the project, a most worthy cause.
David Rigby/Stephen Bailey: Project Co-ordinators
New Norton in Hales Parish news emailing system:
A new group email system has been set up as a joint venture between the Norton Website
Committee and Community Forum (ex – Parish Plan Action Group).
The purpose of the facility is to alert members of the community of events happening within the
parish. This will include any Parish Council notices appearing on the website and any other events
that people wish to publicise. It may be particularly useful for events happening at short notice.
The email address is nortoninhalescommunity@gmail.com Anyone can sign up to receive the
service and you can be assured that if you elect to receive emails, your own email address will not
appear in any communications sent out. To sign up, just send a message saying ‘Sign me up’ to the
gmail address above.
If you wish to send a message to members of this Norton parish group in future, please send the
text to the same address and it will be forwarded on to everyone who is signed up to the service.
Only selected website/forum members will be able to post/re-post to everyone.
NORTON-IN-HALES PARISH COUNCIL
Clerk: Mrs Melanie Joyce
E-mail: nortoninhalespc@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: 01948 890194
Norton-in-Hales website: www.nortoninhales.org
The Parish Council held Extraordinary Meetings on Wednesday 28th January 2015 and Tuesday
10th February 2015 and the following are extracts from the Minutes.
28th January. In the Public Forum. Representations were received from the public regarding Britain in
Bloom. Norton has been invited to participate in the Champion of Champions competition and would,
therefore, like to apply for additional funding this year in order to participate – funding for plants etc. Mr
Rigby reported that training was undertaken by 21 volunteers at the weekend for the defibrillator. West
Midlands ambulance going to link up the system shortly and they are hopefully on course to be active
by 31st January 2015. PPAG funding request noted.
Planning Applications. Planning Applications were considered in respect of Betton Hall Farm, Betton
(Change of use of agricultural barns for light storage) and Tudor Cottage, Main Road, Norton (Erection
of single storey and first floor extensions). In both cases, following discussion of the plans no concerns
were raised and Cllrs voted to support the application. Cllr Cliff abstained from the latter application.
Cllr Eardley then left the meeting whilst discussion took place with regard to the appeal against the
decision to reject the application in respect of Land off Bearstone Road, Norton. Cllr Ancliffe reminded
the Council members that the Council objected to this application in May. No material changes appear
to have been made. Cllr Ancliffe proposed re-submitting the original objection. Cllr Ancliffe read the
objection to remind the Council of the grounds for objection. It was agreed that the Clerk should
resubmit the objection and include the detrimental cumulative effect of additional housing on the
village, particularly in light of the SAMDev’s current status in the examination process, and no
economic value to the village by having these additional houses.
Place Plan. The Clerk circulated a copy of the updated place plan for information. All agreed with the
changes listed. An addition of a hearing loop for the village hall was approved.
10th February. Planning Applications. Planning Applications were considered in respect of: (1) Land
adjoining No.50 Chapel Lane, Norton in Hales: To fell 1 acer tree within the conservation area.
Councillors agreed to support the application with the proviso that the felled tree be replaced with a
similar tree in a position to be agreed upon with the relevant Officer/Planning Department. (2) Betton
Moss Farm, Betton Wood: Construction of agricultural building for the cubicle housing of dairy cows:
Councillors raised no objections and agreed to support the application.
Grounds Maintenance contract. Councillors considered the 4 tenders submitted for 2015/16, taking
into consideration Norton’s participation in the Champion of Champion’s competition this year. After
discussion the quotation from Mrs A Holland was accepted.
BT Phone Box. Councillors discussed the adoption of the phone box. As it is on private land it will be
up to the landowner to proceed with the adoption process. Only 3 free calls have been made in 12
months. Councillors considered the repainting of the kiosk and agreed that the Parish Council would
pay for the paint and the repainting. Councillors to approach the landowner and a local painter for a
quote. The Councillors agreed to maintain the kiosk going forward and to discuss listing the kiosk with
the landowner to preserve it for the village.
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the Jubilee Hall on Tuesday 10 th March
2015 at 7.30pm. Members of the public are encouraged to attend.
Richard Ancliffe
Vice Chairman, Norton in Hales Parish Council
Village History – WWI
A rare find: a picture from a newspaper article from 1915. I believe only George Bloore in this picture
died during WWI, the rest survived.
Private George Bloore was killed in action during the France–Flanders campaign on 23rd November
1917 aged 25
Joseph Bloore, George’s younger brother, was 20 when he enlisted on the 17th May 1915 and was
employed in the army as a gunner. On the 6th October 1818 Joseph was admitted to hospital for 39
days to treat a shrapnel wound in his left arm. Joseph was released from the army on the 2nd February
1919, and his documents record that he would be travelling back home to Norton-in-Hales, in
possession was his great coat and Army Book 64 (service & pay book).
(Arthur) Thomas Silvester was born in 1891 at Norton-in-Hales, and on the 1911 census he was
working as a butcher for Jesse Rathbone at Number 20, Norton-in-Hales. Edgar William Silvester was
born in 1892, and her survived the war and married Edith Annie Peake on the 23rd January 1927 at St
Chad’s Church.
I believe R. Holding is Robert Holding, who was born 1888 at Norton Forge. In 1911 he was a groom
living at Oakley Lodge.
Guided History Walk and Talk about Norton-in-Hales
Guided Walk of Norton-in-Hales (1hr) £5 per person – by Hannah Hague (proceeds to church and charity support)
Saturday 6th June – 2pm starting at the Bradling Stone, finishing at the Jubilee Hall
Friday 19th June – 2pm starting at the Bradling Stone, finishing at the Jubilee Hall
History Talk on St Chad’s Church (1hr) £5 per person – by Hannah Hague
Friday 5th June – 2pm starting in the church grounds
Saturday 20th June – 2pm starting in the church grounds
To register your interest, or book a place please contact Hannah Hague on 07545095738,
hannahmariahague@yahoo.co.uk
20th January to 19th February 2015
In meteorological terms, February is the last of the three winter months, and
the start of March marks the start of spring; by the time I write the next notes,
the days and nights will be of almost equal length (hence “equinox”) but for
now, it still feels pretty wintery – and there is plenty of time for more bad
weather, including snow, of course. The long and cold spring of 2013 is
testament to that.
The weather has been largely unremarkable with no real extremes. I heard the first tentative
drumming of the Great Spotted Woodpecker in the oak trees over towards the Brand Hall on 16
February, which is a little later than usual. This is a mating call rather than a hole drilling exercise. I
have also heard briefly one morning a Song Thrush singing its bold and repetitive song, somewhere
in the village, again rather half heartedly. It is almost as though spring is on hold and nature is
waiting for a sustained period of mild, still weather before finally taking off.
More primroses round the village are coming into flower (some have been out for a couple of
months already).
I have regularly seen significant flocks of Fieldfares and Redwing, often mixed in with Starlings, in
the grass fields around the house.
In other news:• Dick W reports seeing a solitary Redpoll in his garden on 24 January, as well as up to 50
Starlings (I never see Starlings in my garden)
• Carol S has been regularly visited on her garden feeder (right by the window) by a Goldcrest, a
tiny bird with apparently large eyes (probably similar in size to other passerines but they appear
larger because the bird is so small) and a bright orange flash down the centre of the forehead
• In late January, there was another sighting of a Red Kite in the area, this time Jane E reports a
sighting from near Mucklestone; given how Buzzards have appeared and become almost
commonplace in the last 20 years, I wonder whether we will see Kites in the same way in 2030?
Here’s hoping, because they are stunning birds.
Hopefully next month we’ll be talking about frog spawn and Chiffchaffs, and other signs of spring –
but make sure you keep the reports coming in, I really appreciate them.
Richard Jones
duboisjones@btinternet.com