201401
DESCRIPTION
Village magazine for Cople, Bedfordshire, UKTRANSCRIPT
Cople News
January 2014
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WILLINGTON POST OFFICE & STORES
Telephone: 01234 838240
Newspaper & magazine delivery to Cardington, Cople, Willington and Moggerhanger
Fresh bread and cakes from local bakery and decorated cakes for special occasions.
Fruit & vegetable baskets made up for special
occasions.
Home delivery on purchases over
£10.00
Gas and Electric key charging
Post Office counter for: Banking & Foreign currency
Car tax phone & broadband services Savings, Insurance, Mail
Shop Opening Hours
Monday – Friday 6.30am to 6.00pm Saturday 7.00am to 6.00pm Sunday 8.00am to 12 noon
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Cover picture: A Robin from Steve Halton. See his Wild about Cople article on page 8.
Editor’s Notes Happy New Year Things to look forward to in the New Year include the Safari Supper in February and the Pantomime in March. My informants tell me that the rehearsals are going well and that we are in for a treat The magazine’s financial year ended on 31 December and it is time to look at how we did. Income exceeded expenditure by £50 which is most satisfactory. Apart from £30 for postage, all our spending was on printing. Our advertising income for 2014 looks healthy and I should be able to print the cover in colour more often. The magazine relies on volunteers contributing articles and others giving their time to distribute the finished product. Thanks to all concerned. This month, apart from our regular articles, Charlie Porter has written an entertaining piece about the trauma of being male at Christmas and I have reproduced an article about the how the village got its playing field. I was given this when I took over the magazine 2 years ago but the copy was too feint to scan and I had to work up the energy to retype it using my “hunt and peck” two typing fingers. It is a fairly long article but worth the effort if you are interested in village history. Ged Peeke
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Letter from the Churchwardens 2014 will be an important year for All Saints and the benefice as a whole as we hope and pray for the installation of a new vicar towards the middle of the year.
All of the churches in the benefice, Cople, Moggerhanger and Willington have submitted information regarding our considered strengths and weaknesses. We have given details of our respective communities and together we have put forward what we would wish for in a new incumbent.
The process for selecting a new vicar is necessarily thorough and detailed with every member of the three PCC’s invited to submit their views and carefully considered opinions. It is interesting to note ,although not really unexpected ,that we all have pretty much the same thoughts on the matter and are working very closely together.
The list of vicars of Cople go back to the 13th century and they have all in turn made valuable contributions to the church and local community. One vicar emigrated to America and founded a community named Cople. We have ,within the past year, had contact with members of that community who have been researching details of their ancestors in Bedfordshire and beyond.
Two of the vicars of Cople in the 19th century were responsible for major restoration of the building resulting in the fine surroundings we are privileged to witness and worship in today.
Lynda presided over some major improvements to all of the churches in the benefice for which we are grateful.
In last Januarys letter from the vicarage Lynda referred to our efforts to create a viable band of bell ringers so as to be able to ring when required at services, weddings and other special occasions. We are pleased to report that we have now achieved that goal having taught three new ringers to an acceptable level of competence. We also have another person currently under instruction.
After the busy Christmas at All Saints we now look forward to a fresh and challenging new year.
We would like to wish you all a very happy and peaceful new year. June Shanahan and Mike Vacher
From the Registers. Funerals
Janet Fitch 3rd December Olive Wilsher 5th December
Memorial Service.
Michael "Dave" Hillyard 18th December
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Mothers Union
Members and guests enjoyed a festive afternoon of carols and seasonal readings at our meeting on the 2 December in Glebe House.
We were able to thank our sewing and knitting friends in person for their contributions to our projects.
Everyone then socialised over tea and mince pies. Judith was thanked for her hospitality and presented with a gift of appreciation.
Our first meeting of the new year will take place on the second Monday in January, the 13th, at 22 Willington Road. We shall be discussing forthcoming events for 2014.
Members wish everyone a happy and healthy new year.
Liz Buck
Prayer
Grant 0 Lord, that as the years change, we may find rest in your eternal changelessness. May we meet this new year bravely, sure in the faith that, while people may come and go, and life changes around us, you are always the same, guiding us with your wisdom, and protecting us with your love, through our Saviour Jesus Christ Amen
(Anthology of Public Prayers )
Quiz Night at the Church
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us in November when we held the quiz night in the church. We had a very enjoyable evening and raised £335 towards the upkeep of the church.
Our thanks must also go to the ladies who cooked and helped serve the supper and last but not least our excellent quizmaster Rob. Without the help of Rob and Dawn we would not have been able to hold such an excellent evening.
We hope to hold another quiz night on 12th April and a race night in October. All are very welcome
June Shanahan and Mike Vacher
Flower and Cleaning Rotas.
As the year begins we would once again like to thank everyone who cleans the church. This is done on a voluntary basis and without the helpers we would not be able to keep the church in such good condition.
Similarly the flowers in the church are arranged by volunteers.
We are always looking for new helpers so if you enjoy arranging flowers or could spare approximately two to three hours a year to help clean the church we would be most pleased to hear from you.
A Happy and Peaceful New Year to you all.
June Shanahan and Mike Vacher.
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Wild About Cople It is mid winter and the festive lights of Christmas keep us warm and cheerful throughout the dark, cold and gloomy winter months. But, while we revel in celebrations, log fires and winter walks dressed in warm clothes, woolly hats and gloves how does the wildlife fare out there in the dark and the cold? Actually, of course, the wildlife is well adapted and survives remarkably well – especially if the winter is mild (as ours has been, so far). The short days and lack of insects mean that many of our familiar summer birds; the swifts, swallows and warblers are all now spending their winter in the bright glare of central and southern Africa. Meanwhile our resident birds, the robins, blackbirds, wrens and skylarks are joined by immigrants from Europe and Scandinavia and these birds are roaming our hedgerows, gardens, woods and fields seeking berries and hidden insects amongst the leaf litter and in the trees and bushes. But it is a hard life and most birds have to feed pretty constantly from dawn to dusk in order to keep their high metabolism ticking over. Searching for hidden insects is time consuming and a bird such a blue tit may only find a hidden morsel or pupae once every minute or so – there is a fine line between finding enough food and surviving or not finding enough and losing the battle. The biggest issue for many birds is surviving the long winter nights when the temperature plummets and the effects of wind chill rises; then it really can be a matter of life or death. A small bird needs to find somewhere really warm and out of the wind to survive the night – due to their high metabolism everything drops to an absolute minimum; heartbeat, breathing, movement, so they can eke out their energy supplies during the long nights – it may take a bird all day to find enough food to see them through the long, cold, night. Some birds tuck their head under their wing to keep warm, fluff up their feathers and keep their legs hidden; heat loss is highest from bare areas or where blood vessels run close to the skin’s surface. Others roost together to keep each other warm whilst some species tuck themselves deep into conifer hedges, roof spaces and even make use of nest boxes. Indeed, some birds such as wrens and long-tailed tits regularly use nest boxes for roosting in – the record is 61 wrens found roosting in one box! You can imagine the heat generated by all those warm, feathery bodies squeezed in together! In fact, the ball of individual birds tends to circulate during the night so everyone gets a chance of being the warmest in the middle and the coolest near the hole! Long-tailed tits often roost in lines of 15 or so individuals tightly huddled together and, again, they swap around during the night (depending on their position in the pecking order) with the innermost positions being the most highly favoured. Most of our mammals remain active during the winter and many are nocturnal so are active all or most of the night. During daylight hours they will be asleep or resting in burrows, earths, setts or dreys (although squirrels are diurnal). And, while we’re on the subject of squirrels, a ‘white squirrel’ has been seen on a few occasions in Water End – this is actually our familiar grey squirrel but with a genetic mutation which means that they only produce white fur. They occur quite commonly across the UK and are certainly worth keeping an eye out for in the area Now is the time to start thinking about putting up nest boxes in your garden as, after Christmas, birds will begin looking for nesting sites for the next breeding season. And please don’t forget to keep your bird tables and feeders well stocked
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(and scatter seed on the ground) for our hard-pressed birds during the winter months. Fat, suet, peanuts, nyjer seed and sunflower hearts all provide much-needed energy, protein and fat supplies during the colder months. Can I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful New Year and thank you for reading my articles over the past year. Lastly, just think of all those bulbs and flowers, poised, under the frozen soil and waiting for spring! Steve Halton [email protected]
Poppy Appeal 2013
Cople raised £327.50 and the total for the district was £16,383.40. Thank you to all who gave their support.
Pat Briscoe.
Cople Sports and Social Club
I would like to start off by thanking our committee, members and those that have supported the sports and social club throughout 2013. Overall we had a successful year which included various fun events throughout the year. In 2014 you will be able to view our website which will provide information on what’s on at CS&SC.
January Football at CS&SC Sat 11th January 3.00pm Tottenham V Crystal Palace Premier Sat 11th January 5.30pm Man United V Swansea Premier Sun 12th January 2.20pm Newcastle V Man City Premier Sun 19th January 1.30pm Swansea V Tottenham Premier Sun 19th January 4.00pm Chelsea V Man United Premier
There is a regular email sent out to all members in regard of what sports events will be shown and up and coming events. If you wish to become a member please enquire on details below or visit us at CS&SC.
Jeanette Skipsey Telephone: 01234 831473 Mobile: 07749 272249 Email: [email protected]
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Friendly advice available Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat, 10 am – 6 pm,
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Christmas Worries Behind Me Now that Christmas is behind us the pressure of shopping for the big day is over for another year. What makes this pressure even greater is when I decide to buy surprise gifts. I love this element of surprise and the fun and delight that it can give to both the giver and receiver. However, the stakes are very high and surprising someone is fraught with danger, so the pressures of getting my Christmas shopping wrong were right up there with lambing and harvest time. Ralph, my dad, could never seem to handle this pressure either, so like a kid leaving it’s homework till Sunday night, he used to leave his Christmas shopping till Christmas Eve. Luckily mum always made it easy for him as she always wanted the same things. The first was the biggest navy blue handbag that could be found, the second was a pair of black leather gloves but the third she always, very riskily, left to dad to surprise her. He usually got the first two right, occasionally getting confused between navy blue and black! The third he regularly got wrong. Completely bereft of ideas he always ended up at Goldings, the local ironmongers, which was run by a mate of his called Ernie Lane, who would be asked what the hot gift was this year. Curiously they all seemed to end up with the phrase ‘amatic. So over the years mum wonderfully feigned delight as she unwrapped Chop-amatics, Mince-amatics, Sew-amatics --------- . All were soon consigned to the back of a very big cupboard only to re-appear on the bric-a-brac stall at the church bazaar a few years later. Our family’s biggest Christmas surprise was when we had lions to dinner. To explain, a few months previously my beloved sister Bar had returned to the family fold looking for a new start in life after one of her many failed romances. Dad suggested that she went for a job at the newly opened Woburn Safari park. This was a canny suggestion on his behalf as it not only got Bar a good job but also gave him an opening to try and sell some fairly dodgy hay for the elephants! Once Bar had found her feet and Richard Chipperfield learnt of her livestock farming background she was asked if she would like to try and rear some orphan lion cubs. So, a few days before Christmas, Bar turned up with these two dear little creatures. Their night time nursery was our kitchen because it had a floor that could be easily scrubbed. Mum was never too sure about her new house guests as it meant a rude interruption to the quiet early morning cup of tea that she relished because as she entered the kitchen the cubs would pounce off the tea trolley, where they had taken up residence, and grab her dressing gown, refusing to let go as she towed them round the kitchen. Carolyn has now come to realise that I am following the family trait of being useless at surprises. The simple answer to this she has now realised, is to buy her own presents. My problem is that they are bought throughout the course of the 364 shopping days before Christmas. I am then expected to hide them away and months later remember where they are. I have absolutely no recollection of what I have hidden, let alone where. The look that I get when her Santa stocking is empty tells me that I have definitely not found all of the gifts. When quizzed about the whereabouts of the handbag, scarf and necklace I have to admit that I haven’t got a clue. Luckily
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Carolyn knows my faults and realises that throughout the course of the next year as I delve into the murky depths of rarely visited parts of my wardrobe that the scarf will appear from the sock drawer, the handbag from under a pile of shoes and the necklace tucked away amongst my pants, my logic having been that only the most foolhardy of burglars would look in there. In my younger days I was a lot more adventurous with my gift buying and would regularly buy my beloved certain little items and wrap the in dainty little parcels done up with a red bow. As these packages were opened our boys would roll their eyes obviously thinking something along the lines of ‘Oh God, he’s done it again’. Sadly, Carolyn’s glee never seemed to last all that long. I was soon told that these gifts were very inappropriate and anyway that they were definitely the wrong size! So a very happy New Year to you all and I hope you all had better luck than I with your little surprise packages. Charlie Porter
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Blunham Giant Book Sale Saturday 8th February 2014
At Blunham Parish Church 10.00 – 3.00
Come and browse and buy our huge selection of second-hand books, & a few new books. Enjoy refreshments teas/coffee cakes & biscuits, home made soup. All profits to Blunham Church Fabric Fun
Ros Collins
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COMPOST AND MORE
HOME AND GARDEN PRODUCTS
www.compostandmore.co.uk
Free next day delivery in Bedfordshire on orders over £40.00.
Dumpy bag of soft wood logs £60.00. Dumpy bag of hard wood logs £75.00.
Kindling from £1.50 per bag. Soft wood logs 5 nets for £10.00. Hard wood logs 3 nets for £11.00.
www.compostandmore.co.uk
01234838755
07707198022
FOR THE GARDEN 6- 50L bags of organic compost £10.00
3- 70L bags of bark chippings £10.00
70L play bark £5.99 a bag
Mini digger and skip loader hire also available.
Heidi Robinson
9 Bedford Road Cople
MK44 3TP
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Tracy Herrick 76 Willington Rd. Cople 01234 831079
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Cople Village Trust 200 Club
Prize winners for December2013
The results were not available at the time of going to press and will be published next month.
Mobile Library for January
Wednesday 15th and 29th
10:00 to 10:20am All Saints Road 10:25 to 10:45am Water End 10:50 to 11:10am Outside Five Bells
Cople Book Group
I thought it might be fun to try and form a book group in the village. It would not be too serious and people would choose books that would appeal to a wide readership. I thought it could be once a month and perhaps we could meet in the pub so that we could have a drink while to chatted about the book.
Anyone who is interested just email me at [email protected] and I'll take it from there if there is any support.
Thanks Pippa Hawker
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Eamonn , Julie and Katie would like to welcome you to the Five Bells in Cople , a traditional country village pub .
It is our intention to provide a warm welcome in comfortable surroundings for visitors and locals alike to enjoy a drink or a
hearty meal .
Wherever possible , we have sourced our ingredients from local suppliers and our menu is designed to be as homemade as
possible .
We also provide a wide selection of fine ales , wines and spirits and great care is taken to ensure they are kept to the highest
standard
Themed Menu every Wednesday Live Music most Saturday nights (see website for details)
Sunday Roasts £8:50 (Very popular, booking recommended) Party bookings available
Tel : 01234 831330 www.fivebellscople.com
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Sunday Church Services in January
5th 11:15am Family Service
12th 09:00am 09:45am 6:00pm
Holy Communion BCP Sunday School Songs of Praise
19th 09:45am 11:15am
Sunday School All age Communion.
26th 09:45am 11:15am
Sunday School Sung Communion
Cople All Saints
Willington Saint Lawrence
5th 10:00am Holy Communion BCP
12th 11:15am Parish Praise
19th 10:00am Sung Communion
26th 10:00am All age Communion
Moggerhanger St John the Evangelist
5th 09:00am Sung Communion
12th 10:00am Family Service
19th 6:00pm Songs of Praise
26th 09:00am All Age Communion
Cople Carpet Bowls Club
Have you ever thought of playing bowls. If so why not come along and join in a game of carpet bowls which is played indoors on a 30 ft carpet in Cople Village Hall on Wednesday evenings 7:30 to 10:00 pm Any enquir-ies contact Pauline on 01234 838102.
Pauline Baynes.
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January Diary
Monday 6th
11:00am Tiny tots sing along Cople Church
Tuesday 7th
09:00am Morning Prayers Moggerhanger
10:00am to 12:00 Coffee morning Village Hall
Wednesday 8th
7:30pm to 10:00pm Carpet Bowls Village Hall
Thursday 9th (Orange Bin)
09:00am Morning Prayers Willington
10:00am to 11:30 Baby and Toddler Group Village Hall
Friday 10th
10:00am Yoga Class Village Hall
Monday 13th
11:00am Tiny tots sing along Cople Church
2:30pm Mothers Union 22 willington Road
6:15pm Junior choir practice Cople Church
7:00pm Benefice Choir Cople Church
8:00pm Panto rehearsal Cople Church
Tuesday 14th
09:00am Morning Prayers Moggerhanger
10:00am to 12:00 Coffee morning Village Hall
7:30pm Bell Ringing Cople Church
7:30pm Tuesday Club. “My life in the Music Industry” Graham Ebbs
Village Hall
Wednesday 15th
7:30pm to 10:00 Carpet Bowls Village Hall
Thursday 16th (Orange Bin)
10:00am to 11:30 Baby and Toddler Group Village Hall
Friday 17th
10:00am Yoga Class Village Hall
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Monday 20th
11:00am Tiny tots sing along Cople Church
12:30pm Luncheon Club Cople Church
6:15pm Junior choir practice Cople Church
7:00pm Adult Choir Cople Church
7:30pm Parish Council Meeting Village Hall
8:00pm Panto rehearsal Cople Church
Tuesday 21st
09:00am Morning Prayers Moggerhanger
7:30pm Bell Ringing Cople Church
Wednesday 22nd
7:30pm to 10:00 Carpet Bowls Village Hall
Thursday 23rd (Green Bin)
09:00am Morning Prayers Willington
10:00am to 11:30 Baby and Toddler Group Village Hall
Friday 24th
10:00am Yoga Class Village Hall
Monday 27th
11:00am Tiny tots sing along Cople Church
6:15pm Junior choir practice Cople Church
8:00pm Panto rehearsal Cople Church
Tuesday 28th
09:00am Morning Prayers Moggerhanger
10:00am to 12:00 Coffee morning Village Hall
Wednesday 29th
7:30pm to 10:00 Carpet Bowls Village Hall
Thursday 30th (Orange Bin)
9:00am Morning Prayers Willington
10:00am to 11:30 Baby and Toddler Group Village Hall
7:30pm PCC Meeting Glebe House
Friday 31st
10:00am Yoga Class Village Hall
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Gardening in January January is for many a quiet time in the garden but if you don’t mind wrapping up, there’s always something that can be done and what’s more, it’s the perfect opportunity to try out the new scarf or wellies! If, like many, you store planted pots and containers in a glass house at this time of the year, be sure to keep an eye on them. Although requiring a very brief water in warmer weather, it is best not to introduce any water into a pot when frost is likely. As many plants are dormant at this stage they are not actually very thirsty. While many plants will look like they have succumbed to the elements, it is always worth hanging on to them as come March and they often, quite appropriately, spring back into life! One plant that can look deathly at this time of the year are Fuchsias (pictured). However morose the top growth may look, the roots of many varieties remain perfectly viable so wait until March before pruning back to around an inch (3cm) and all being well, verdant new growth will soon appear. My normal advice at this time of the year, is, if you are in doubt about a much loved plant’s hardiness, then cover it up. Making simple tent structures from bamboo and fleece or bubble wrap can often do the trick but always err on the side of caution. If you have mulched plants, it’s worth checking regularly to see if it is where you put it as animals often dismantle it or a stiff breeze can broadcast it around the garden! Finally, people often ask where are my favourite places to buy plants? Well in addition to the excellent selection of nurseries and garden centres in this area including, Frosts, Cottage Farm Cardington, Langford, Roxton, Seddington and Waresley, a number of my regular clients very often sing the praises of Colin and his stall on Biggleswade Market on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Another of my local favourites is H.F.R. Banks and Son on Kimbolton Road in Bolnhurst. All of those mentioned always feature an excellent selection of top quality plants and all provide a client centric service. Answers to the Christmas Quiz will be published in February’s Magazine and this month’s just for fun question is: As used in plant names such as Picea glauca, what is indicated by the term glauca? As usual, please contact me with any gardening queries you may have. Lawn Doctor
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All plumbing and heating works carried out to
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Text/phone: 07849 158 850
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Friends of Cople Church Reg. No. 1096386
A Happy New Year to you all.
We kick off our events for 2014 with the Safari Supper on Saturday, February 15th and we are hoping to get support from all our ‘regulars’, plus folk who haven’t been before. As always, the number of tickets available is always dependent on the number of hosts, so if you are willing to open your house please let us know as soon as possible. We will be extremely pleased to hear from you and you will be fully reimbursed after the event. If you are new to the village this is great fun and a splendid way to get to know people. If you would like more information please email me on the address below or telephone (01234) 838714 or
838683. Tickets are priced at £13.50.
The Pantomime, planned for March, is gathering momentum. Please see Julia if you want to know more, but further details will appear in the February edition of this magazine.
Vaughan Southgate www.org.uk/friends [email protected]
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Friends of cople church
Safari Supper Saturday February 15th
7 – 7.15 p.m.
Hosts are required. If you are able to offer a starter or a main
course please contact us
Tel. nos: (01234) 838714, 838683
Tickets £13 50
All proceeds towards the upkeep of All Saints’ Church, Cople
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Willingtots Pre-school Peace Memorial Hall
Church Road Willington
Telephone 07972 148085
E-mail [email protected] Website www.willingtots.co.uk
Fundraising www.buy.at/willingtots
Sessional care for children aged 2 to school age during term time
FREE PLACES for eligible 3 and 4 yr olds
09.15-12.15 Monday to Friday (£9.00)
Lunch Club daily 12.15-13.15 (£3.00)
Registered Charity No. 1035672 Member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance and registered with OFSTED
“We are totally committed to safeguarding children”
37, Ridge Road Kempston, Beds MK43 9BS
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Cople Baby & Toddler Group
Has opened its doors again
Every Thursday (Inclusive of school holidays)
10.00am-11.30am At the Cople Village Hall (off Grange Lane)
First session free, £2 per family thereafter Adults with one child under 7 months £1
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Sally’s Tax Corner I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and that 2014 is a fabulous year for you and your families. I can’t believe
it’s the start of another year, a new beginning and lets hope 2014 brings you all lots of happiness and good times.
I hope those of you that have to do a tax return have got it done and are feeling smug and didn’t file it on Christmas day!
So here we are in January - January can be extremely depressing, it’s dark and cold and all the fun of Christmas is over, but I thought I would try to cheer everyone up and talk about items that are exempt from tax!
The first and most common one is the inter-spouse exemption – this is where married couples can pass income and assets between themselves with no tax consequences. My politically correct example is;
Spouse 1 has a bank account with lots of savings in it that they were receiving interest on and they are a higher rate tax payer 40% (So earning above £41,450), they would have to pay 40% tax on the interest, as it would get taxed at their higher rate. If spouse 1 gifted all this money to spouse 2, and 2 was a basic rate tax payer (20%), then there would only be 20% tax to pay on this interest income (Can you see what I have done there?) – it’s a no brainer to pass assets and income to the lower rate tax payer of a married couple.
Also there are some assets that you can sell and make a profit on without attracting any capital gains tax – Cars, personal possessions worth up to £6,000 each, such as jewellery, paintings and antiques. Also winnings from betting, lotteries and personal injury compensation are free from tax.
Tax fact Keeping with my tax free items, every person over 16 gets a tax free personal allowance which is listed below – this is basically what you can earn before you have to pay any tax in this tax year; Income tax personal allowance – £9,440 Income tax personal allowance for over 65s - £10,500
Also every year, every individual has a tax free amount for capital gains tax which is called the annual exemption currently - £10,900 (If you make a profit from selling an asset capital gains tax kicks in after the first £10,900 which is tax free – capital gains tax rates are currently 18% or 28% for higher rate tax payers)
Next month I am going to be talking about Inheritance tax, so please do email any questions that you may have or items you would like me to cover. Sally Cobban FCCA SJ Tax Limited
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Cople Playing Field Its Beginning and Purchase
This is a personal account of how the village got a playing field. Arthur Kempster was 80 when he wrote this in 1958. He must have gone to school in 1880s and his style is not always easy to follow. However, his enthusiasm for the project and the village intrigues make good reading. He does not tell us why there was a faction who did not want the playing field. They must have had a reason to object. Perhaps someone in the village knows.
It was during the last war that a fund was started to provide a playing field for the village. Mrs Saunders, with a band of helpers, ran socials etc at the Legion Hall. Airmen from Cardington Camp used the village very much during this time and by the end of the war a nice sum collected and was put under the Chairman of the Parish Council and Clerk to the Parish Council, namely Mr Ken Keech and Mr A Fitch.
When the war finished interest flagged, a meeting was called with Rev. Spense as Chairman. At this meeting politics came into it, a section of the village tried to boycott it but at that meeting a resolution was passed that the Parish Council should he the body to get a playing field for the village. A thing which at that time they had no intention of doing. This meeting was held on November 6th 1946, it was a very rowdy meeting. Mr AA Jones moved a resolution as follows – That this meeting agrees that the question of a playing field be left in the hands of the Parish Council as the body to deal with this question and that the Parish Council are asked to call a meeting to let the Parish Council know what progress has been made in three months. Little did they realise the baby they now had to carry.
From this time until 1954 not much was done, The County Planning Officer, Mr Herne, had been busy getting villages to go into the question of getting a field for each village. Cople had agreed to the field in Grange Lane, this war put forward and it was accepted this should be agreed upon. Now at this time to get agricultural land for a playing field you were tied hand and foot.
In 1949 an election for the Parish Council, the first held in the village since Parish Councils came into being. The new council was Mr K Keech, Mr E Burr, Mr F Pruden, Mr Kempster, Mr Tatman, Mrs Hillyard, Mr Newton. Little progress was done during the next three years at the end of this turn the Parish Council went back comprising Mr E Burr, Mr Johnson, Mr Newton, Mr Pruden, Mr Tatman, Mr Bird, Mr Kempster.
In 1953 the, owner of the field died, Mr Parrott of Leighton Buzzard, without making a will. On April 7th 1954 a letter came from the Rev. E Connell, executor for the estate through his agent, Mr H Ball of Bedford, the planning of the field for a building site had been put in to Bedford District Council. It was not passed until the Parish had been contacted if they wanted the field for a playing field. Now the Parish Council had to come to business.
It was now or never. I had been made chairman of the council, a very
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great responsibility, to the council an impossibility. I was much concerned. I told the council we had a job to do. I would be the one to go down in history as not doing my duty and I was not having it said in years to come when the village grew that if this council had done its duty that would have would have been a playing field for the village. I could not have that on my tombstone.
In due course the council agreed to my proposition that something had to be done. A free hand was given me to see what could be done, we had 450 in hand. I approached Mr J Saunders and put my case before him. Mrs Saunders had built up this fund with her helpers, did he think we as a council should go on with this project. To my delight he said that the village should get the field, he would stand by the council in its efforts to get the field. I reported to the Parish Council and it was agreed to form a sub-committee to deal with the matter. The sub-committee was Mr Saunders, Mr Johnson, Mr Osborn of Cople Cottage, who had recently come into the village. Besides being Chairman of the Parish Council I became Secretary of the Playing Field Committee.
We were very much against it when I went and saw Mr Herne and told him we had decided to have the field for a playing field. He declined to let us have the whole field for a playing field. After a long discussion it was agreed that the frontage of 150 feet should be for building with a 20ft entrance to the field at the back, which gave us 5.8 acres.
Before we knew where we were the field offered to us in the beginning for £1256 was sold for £3000 with conditions of the village having the field at the back.
At this point the author allowed his passion for the project to get the better of him and he cast doubt on the Rev Connell’s integrity when in all probability he was trying to do his duty as an executor to get the best deal possible. I have removed his hard words. Editor.
Now the new owners offered us the field for £500. The council to fence the field in at the back of their building plots. The frontage was for sale at 4.10.0 per foot. Now we had to fight, we had the Bedfordshire Playing Fields Association behind us. Mr RW Townsend MBE of the Bedford Rural Council and the County Council. We were to give a price for the field, we offered 450 being also told the fencing was not our liability. Being a public body it was usual to get a public valuer to value the property. This would be quite easy if we had a loan on the field. This we did not want. In due course we were informed to offer £500 for the field clear of fencing. We were nearly twelve months we got the field. This was done and the field became the property of the village soon after and so a project was achieved which seemed impossible and I felt proud a Chairman to sign the deeds of purchase of the field for the village.
At the next Parish Council election I was not returned but I remained Secretary of the Playing Field Committee.
Now the layout of the field began, the village became a team and good progress followed. The legal status of the field was transformed from the Parish Council and invested in the Charity Commissioners and is under the constitution managed by a committee comprising all organisations in the
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village.
We have been fortunate in the village to have with us Mr RW Osborn DFC who has been of immense value to the village in leadership in negotiations and interest for the good of the village. To Mr J Saunders and Mrs Saunders for all they have done and to all those who are not here recorded, are recorded in the minutes of this volume, and so to the official opening of the Playing Field.
On August 4th 1958, the opening ceremony of Cople Playing Field was performed by Mrs Saunders of Home Farm, Cople in the presence of the Mayor of Bedford, Alderman AA Jones, first Chairman of the Playing Field Committee.
After cutting the ribbon and declaring the field open, Mrs Saunders was presented with a suitably inscribed pair of scissors by Mr Roger Osborn DFC, present chairman of the management committee. Mrs Dunne presented her with a bouquet. Mrs Saunders in her speech paid tribute to all who had worked for the Playing Field. She also presented a cup to be awarded annually by the Committee to the best sportswoman or sportsman of the year.
Having been one of the wettest years since 1908 we were very fortunate in having a fine though blustering day. Sports and everything went off well. One could have said Mrs Dunne of Rye Crescent was the best sportswoman of the year in knocking off eight coconuts in eight balls. The day finished with a dance in the Legion Hall.
At this time the field has a children’s corner with two sets of swings and
Mrs Saunders of Home Farm cutting the tape watched by Rodger Osbourne of Cople Cottage and Cople resident Alderman AA Jones
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children’s slide. Cricket pitch laid for cricket, pavilion on order, seats in field, goal posts and water being laid on in the near future. On the whole the field is being used as it should.
If in years to come there is the same team spirit as has been evident in 1957/8, this field can become a fine village centre for the village and now in closing I would like to record my thanks to all those who in work and money have provided the field to the village for future posterity.
My hope is that this volume of how Cople got its playing field will give pleasure to those interested in history and they will read it and give thanks to all who in doing so did not in any way take from the church its help. This in fact increased the contribution to the upkeep of the church and now I close, thanking God that I at 80 year are able to still play my part in the village.
Your’s, Arthur John Kempster, Hon Sec CPF October 5th 1958
News from Cople Lower School
Happy New Year to everyone! Our Christmas production of ‘Santa’s On Strike!’ was a great success and a testament to hard work and lots of talent. In the classrooms, learning has been coming alive: a toy workshop in the Catkins; a Crimean War hospital in the Acorns; and a visitor into the Oaks telling tales of Africa. As I write, we are coming to the end of a very busy term and have some very tired children and staff. Hopefully however, by the time this is being read we will all be feeling refreshed and raring to go! We have new play equipment being installed at the moment, which will be ready for use in the new term and is the first step in the changing landscape at the rear of the school. The Spring Term should see considerably more changes as we make way for our new hall. January 15th is the deadline for Lower School applications, so if you have a child turning four by the end of August, please make sure your application is submitted to Bedford Borough admissions department. Helen Johnson, Headteacher
Panto update
Rehearsals for our panto in March are going well. Many thanks to all those who are involved and working hard to make it a success. Look out for our posters and ticket sales early in the New Year!
Julia Moore On behalf of Friends of Cople Church
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Village Hall Bookings: David Reardon 01234 838987
Over 60's Club Secretary : Hazel Shreeves Tel : 838817
Mothers Union Contact: Jill Ebbs Tel : 838659
Cople Lower School Headteacher : Helen Johnson Tel : 838827
Cople Village Trust Chair : Sandra Thacker Tel : 831344
Royal British Legion Chair: Max McMurdo Tel: 01767 680624 Welfare: David Hansen Tel : 01767 226020
Police PC Paul Jones Riseley Police Station Tel : 01234 - 842864
Carpet Bowls Secretary : Pauline Baynes Tel : 838102
Willingtots Pre-School Group Tel: 07972– 148085
Before & After School Club At Cople Lower School Tel: 07592 - 012249
Brownies (Willington) Amanda Briscoe, Tel: 07504 299994
Beavers, Cubs & Scouts Contact Emma Whiterod Tel: 07908 167356
Friends of Cople Church Chair: Vaughan Southgate Tel: 838714
Cople Sports & Social Club Chair: David Hughes Tel : 838669
Tuesday Club Joy Duthie Tel : 838407
Cricket Cople Argus Cricket Club Chris Gregory 01234 838396
Biggleswade Chronicle Village Correspondent: Jill Ebbs Tel: 838659
Cople Web Site Ian Whiting Tel : 838347 Email: [email protected] Web Site :www.cople.org.uk
Cople Baby and Toddler Contact Kylie Dougall Tel: 01234 740745 07999 257165
Just Ask Wendy Worgan 0800 039 1234
Cople Parish Council Clerk to the Council: Jeanne Pope 42 Wingfield Road, Bromham, Beds. MK43 8JY Tel: 01234 823 297 [email protected]
Yoga Classes Freda 01767 627611
Pilates Classes Julie Crawford www.forwardfitness.co.uk Mobile 0794 6067266
Village Contacts
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All Saints Church
Churchwardens
June Shanahan Mike Vacher 34 Grange Lane 91 Willington Road Cople Cople Tel: 01234 831705 Tel: 01234 831207 [email protected]
Cople News
Editor : Ged Peeke 39 Willington Road, Cople, Beds, MK44 3TH
Tel 01234 838379 Email: [email protected]
Deadline for copy and advertising 15th of every month
Advertising Rates Annual Charges
Full Page £96 Half Page £48
Delivered free to every home in Cople every month Circulation 360 copies
Cople Village Hall and Playing
Field
Available for Hire for
Private Functions, Children’s Parties,
Weddings, Conferences
and other bookings by arrangement
Hire Charge from £ 9 per hour
Please Contact
Bookings Officer: David Reardon
Telephone : 01234 838987
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