Newslet2

CHURCH FLAG. On Saturday, 1 ^st November , the Cross of St. George flag will fly from the church tower for All Saints Day , and Sunday, November 9 ^th the Union Flag will fly for Remembrance Sunday .

FLAG FLOWN FOR FORMER FLAG CAPTAIN. Several villagers have asked me why the Cross of St. George flag was being flown at half mast between the 9^th and 11^th of October. The flag was raised as a tribute to Mike Cudmore who for many years was my predecessor. It was done with the full knowledge of Rev. Peter Thomas and is not setting a precedent for the future.

Peter Callaghan - Flag Captain.

LOCAL HISTORY - Reminder. The Annual General Meeting of the Norton sub Hamdon History Society will be held on Monday, 3 ^rd November at 7.30pm in the Village Hall . Free refreshments will be available after the meeting. All welcome, members and non-members. Please support your Society.

NORTON NEWSLETTER A.G.M. All are welcome to the A.G.M. on Tuesday, 11 ^th November at 7.30pm in the Reading Room.

NORTON MOVIE NITES AT THE LORD NELSON. Catch the last film before the Christmas break on Tuesday, 11 ^th November . ‘Ruby Blue’ , Cert 15, starring Bob Hoskins, tells a thoughtful and gently humorous tale and it’s made in England. Tickets at £5. are on sale at the Village Stores. Doors open at 7.30pm and the film starts at 8.00pm . Please book your special film night fish and chip supper for £5.50 by Sunday, 9 ^th November . (881473).

‘CRAFT AND PAMPER’ EVENING. Christmas shopping evening to be held in Norton Village Hall on Wednesday, 12 ^th November from 7.00 - 9.00pm. Cards, jewellery, hand made gifts and much more. An ideal opportunity to do your Christmas shopping in a relaxed atmosphere. Raffle and refreshments will be available. All proceeds to Cancer Research UK. Contact Jenny Bridge on jay_c_81@hotmail.co.uk if you are interested in having a stall. Many thanks. Jenny Bridge.

HAM HILL. Our last event of the year detailed below is one not to be missed! We have already started planning our busy and diverse events programme for 2009 and if you have any suggestions for events you would like to see take place at Ham Hill, please e-mail: hamhill@southsomerset.gov.uk

Fabulous Fungi finds in the West Country. Thursday, 13 ^th November - 7.30pm - 9.00pm. Join local natural history enthusiast Chris Connell for a fascinating media show on the world of Fungi. Chris has a great range of slides showing a wealth of different species across the West Country. Afterwards join us for refreshments and a look around the Ham Hill Centre. Cost £4.00 adults, £2.00 concessions. Please phone 01935 462282 to book a place.

Next year’s Fayre will take place on the 5 ^th September 2009.

COFFEE MORNING IN AID OF ST. MARGARET’S HOSPICE - Saturday, 15 ^th November - 10.00am - 12.30pm. Many items for sale, also bric-a-brac, Christmas goods, raffle, cakes, etc. Everyone welcome at 10, Highwoods Close.

NORTON LADIES’ GROUP. On 23^rd September the Group went to Brimsmore Garden Centre and had a delicious supper, after which they were given a very informative talk on plants and shrubs suitable for autumn colours in the garden. Members were then allowed to browse the garden centre and buy if they wished. A very enjoyable evening. The next meeting is on Tuesday, November 18 ^th in the Reading Room at 7.30pm. Our speaker this month is Mr. Davies on the ‘History of Dorset Blue Vinney Cheese’ We look forward to seeing you all.

NOVEMBER HEALTH WALK. The next health walk is to be held on Saturday, 22 ^nd November. Everyone wishing to have some gentle exercise in the fresh air, catch up with the village gossip and enjoy a good pub lunch will be very welcome. Please meet up at the telephone kiosk at 9.30am . Further details will be available a week beforehand from Malcolm and Jennie Reid (881241).

STOKE SUB HAMDON GARDENING CLUB. The next meeting will be a Social Evening on Wednesday , 26 ^th November . Phone secretary, Sylvia Davey 824442 for further details.

LOW C NORTON. The next meeting of the group will be at 5, New Road at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 26 ^th November . This month’s tip - cut down your junk mail - return letters to the sender and ask to be removed from their mailing lists, or sign up to the Mailing Preference Service (www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr) to stop certain companies using your details.

TRIANGLE TRUST CHRISTMAS BAZAAR - Memorial Hall, Stoke sub Hamdon, Saturday, 29 ^th November - 2.00 - 4.00pm. Lots of stalls, grand raffle - prizes include ‘Tea for Two’ at the House of Lords with Lord Ashdown, 2 x £50 cash, hamper and much more. Father Christmas and refreshments. (Proceeds will go towards the provision of Medical Equipment for Hamdon Medical Centre). For information contact 01935 881718.

SCHOOL NEWS. The new school year has begun very well with all the new children settling in beautifully. A Harvest Festival Service took place in the Church on Thursday, 23^rd October. There will be the annual Parents/Governors’ meeting at 3.00pm on Wednesday, 26 ^th November . We would love to see as many parents as possible. The children are all busy with wonderful ‘after school’ clubs and sporting events. The Cross Country season has started again and the first meeting was very well attended by the children of Norton.

NORTON CHURCH COFFEE MORNING - Wednesday, 26 ^th November at 10.45am. Come to The Manor House on Great Street , home of Shelagh and Myles Wickstead for the Christmas Coffee Morning . Please try and bring a festive contribution for the Bring and Buy Stall and/or Raffle. Greetings cards also on sale. Proceeds from this coffee morning go towards the Church Fabric Fund which keeps Norton Church looking beautiful and provides flowers at Christmas and Easter. Open to all. Please come and support.

TRINITY SINGERS CONCERT. The Trinity Singers will be coming to entertain us in Norton Village Hall on Friday, November 28 ^th. Their reputation for delighting audiences with a wide range of musical treats is well documented in the local area. Jean Rudd, their current leader has recently been the musical director of the production of The Merry Widow in Yeovil. Come and join us from 7.00pm for a glass of wine and canapés, included in the price of your ticket, followed by the concert at 8.00pm. There will be a licensed bar available before the concert and during the interval, and also a raffle. Tickets will be available from Norton Spar Shop, the Village Salon or by calling 01935 881932 from October 28^th.

CHRISTINGLE SERVICE. St. Mary’s, Norton , will be holding their annual Christingle Service on Sunday, 7 ^th December at 3.00pm . Many of you are familiar with this service and how delightful it is seeing the children processing around the Church with their Christingles. It is a lovely start to the preparation of Christmas and throughout the country churches and organisations are holding Christingle services in aid of The Children’s Society helping them support children who are not as fortunate as our own. So please support us this year by having a collecting envelope and come to the Service and join in the enjoyment of children both young and not so young! For a collecting envelope please contact Phyl Lawrence on 881283.

FRIENDS OF NORTON SCHOOL invite you to our Christmas Bazaar at the school on Saturday, December 6 ^th at 2.00pm . Father Christmas will be in his grotto and there will be cakes, tombola, crafts, plants, toys, books and a grand draw. Loads of games and fun and refreshments. (In aid of School Funds) For information contact 01935 881718.

FLOWER SHOW MARQUEE. Our village flower show is set in tradition going back just over 100 years and holding it in a marquee is part of that tradition. However, over the past few years the cost of hiring it has caused some major fund raising problems, but it may surprise you to know that a far greater problem is that of vandalism. After a couple of years of minor incidents it has, in the last two years, become necessary to ‘mount a guard’ through several evenings and into the early hours to deter a small but determined minority from causing damage to the marquee itself and the set up inside. Damage to the marquee incurs not only higher insurance premiums, which in the current economic climate the flower show can do without, but a great deal of organisation of voluntary manpower to combat this trouble. Thus it has become necessary to consider such details with regard to continuing the flower show in its present format.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. Regarding the chippings on my front garden by the Village Notice Board, will the children, or those responsible, please refrain from displacing the chippings. It is very dangerous for persons walking on the pavement, especially the elderly, including those on scooters. Mauvyn Greenham.

CHERRIDA MINCHINTON - 9 ^th May 1925 - 8 ^th August 2008. Cherrida was born at 1 Higher Street (the home of her Grandmother): she was the only child of Emily (nee Sweet) and Samuel Hamlin. Cherrida had a unique past with a family history recorded from the earliest times in the Church records - the Hamlins of the 1500s, the Osbornes and Lawrences of the 1600s and the Sweets from 1874. She married into the Minchinton family, also in Norton since the 1600s and she was a great village character with a wealth of local knowledge.

Cherrida grew up in Norton surrounded by a large family of uncles, aunts and cousins on both sides of the family. In November 1936 the family moved to ‘Old Nursery’. The house had been built for the Post Office. The outbuildings at the back became her father’s workshop; he was the village undertaker for many years and Cherrida would watch him making coffins. He also made fine furniture mainly in the style of Charles II, beautifully carved, many pieces for churches such as the statue of the Madonna and Child at Melplash Church, as well as the altar rails, in memory of her maternal grandparents, at Norton, and the Credence Table in memory of her uncle.

Cherrida, as a child, was often given a hammer to bash the oak to make it look old (or ‘distressed’ would be the modern equivalent) including the stocks outside Martock Church. Cherrida’s schooling was at Norton followed by Castle school. She often spoke fondly of the Headmaster, Mr. Biggs, the drill and parade of the King’s visit to Stoke and of the children’s great excitement at the prospect of war, not understanding the consequences of enemy action. She described the coming of the evacuees and of their collection from the schoolroom, in particular of her friendship with Gladys Smith, a girl from London with whom she remained in contact to the last.

During the war years the family continued to run the village Post Office and grocery shop. She was sent with telegrams to deliver, containing quite often distressing news of loved ones overseas. Old Nursery frequently hosted meetings of the Home Guard of which her father was a member with soldiers remaining on watch all night. Her father was issued with a rifle as a veteran gunner in the First World War, to use against the enemy, together with a list of instructions to be followed in case of invasion. Her days were spent writing letters and sending local news to her cousins posted to North Africa and Europe.

A great part of the war years were also spent working to maintain the status quo, providing village entertainment, keeping the Flower Show going, until the time when, as a WI member, she helped to re-establish the shows following the war. Another project was the Village Hall fund, raising money for the original hall which spanned many years and provided a focus for war time entertainment.

Cherrida became engaged to be married on her 21^st birthday to Evan Minchinton whom she had known all her life but had started going out with following choir practices. He lived at Ash Cottage, now the Village Salon, and they were married on the 10^th July 1948. Cherrida joined the village WI when she was 16 and was a hard-working committee member, secretary and sometime president of that organisation until its closure; she continued as a member of the South Petherton WI until her death. She was for many years on the Hall committee providing Whist Drive teas at the Reading Room, playing a major part in establishing and organising the Norton Feast suppers, free to all those over the age of 60. She was an active member of the Norton School Managers’ committee and a member of the Over 60s Club. During the 1980s she had a weekly slot with Radio Bristol, broadcasting local news.

Sadly, Evan died suddenly in 1985 but she continued with her committee work and delighted in family life and the achievements of those close to her. Caroline and Jane would like to thank everyone for their kind messages of sympathy, for attending the funeral and for donations in aid of St. Margaret’s Hospice. Cherrida is sadly missed by her family and all who knew her.

FRIENDS OF NORTON WINE CLUB OCTOBER DRAW. This took place in The Lord Nelson on the 10^th October. The winners are: 1^st prize of 4 bottles - Diana and David Robins. 2^nd prize of 3 bottles - Jennie Curzon. 3^rd prize of 2 bottles - Brian Frosdick. 4^th prize of 1 bottle - Jeremy Reid. 5^th prize of 1 bottle - Tony Brook. 6^th prize of 1 bottle - Rowena Alsey. There are still shares available at £1. each. Please contact Roger Webb on 881096 for your opportunity to win some fine wine.

MISSION TO SEAFARERS’ TEA PARTY. September 18^th. Very many thanks to all those who attended and most special thanks to helpers before, after and during the tea party! Between us and Douglas Cady from the Mission, we raised £300 which, together with the lovely weather we enjoyed, and the pleasure of your company, made it a thoroughly happy event. Grace and Kenneth Dives.

NORTON VILLAGE FEAST held on the 27 ^th September. Again, this important long standing traditional event has taken place. The Norton Village Hall was filled with diners who also enjoyed a comprehensive programme of entertainment by very talented local performers - Mike Orchard, Grace and Kenneth Dives, Cilla and Bill Caswell, Milly Vincent, Sue Webb and Phil Shepherd. An evening such as this required a great deal of planning and hard work by a team of helpers led by Roger and Sue Webb, Ruth and Denis Cannon, Liz Fish and Christabel Cumberlege and assisted by Janet Hutton, Gillian Hill, Paulette Anderson, Di Waters and Meryl Townsend. Very many thanks are extended to them all, plus a young team of seven excellent waitresses and waiters and to all those who provided traditional apple pies. This year the proceeds from this event were jointly in aid of the Friends of Norton Church and the Norton Parochial Church Council.

GIRLS ALLOWED. For future art and craft projects we are in need of wools and fabric scraps. All contributions gratefully received! Jeanette Rumbelow - 881712.

POPPY DAY. The response to our appeal for helpers to collect door to door has been very good and I am grateful to you all. The more help we have the more successful will be the result! So, if there is anyone else who would like to join us, please phone Jack on 881228.

JUMBLE SALE. On behalf of Norton Athletic Football Club I would like to thank everyone who donated items, helped or attended our sale on October 11^th. We made a much needed £266.05 for Club funds. J.H. for Norton Athletic Football Club.

DIAMOND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. My sincere apologies to Georgie and Eric for the error regarding their anniversary. Silver it was not - a difference of 35 years, so cheers to the next sixty! From your foolish sister, Mauvyn.

NORTON ATHLETIC FOOTBALL CLUB are back home! Playing on Norton Rec and using the new Village Hall changing rooms must be a good luck omen as we’ve played three games at home and two away and haven’t lost yet! (Touch wood). We’ve been pleased to see so many of you coming to support us. You are always welcome. The fixtures are listed in the Western Gazette or you can always contact Trevor or Jennie Harris for details - 881718.

ITEMS FOR THE NEWSLETTER should be in the box on the Spar P.O. counter, or sent by e-mail to: nortonnews@hotmail.com by 4.00pm on the 19 ^th of each month or 1.00pm if the 19 ^th falls on a Sunday.