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Suckley Church News
January 2012:
It has been great to see Suckley Church buzzing with life over the Christmas season. The celebrations began with the Christmas Fair. (A big thank you to the many who brought that event together, and helped raise funds for the Church, the PreSchool, the School and the Village Hall. The Raffle alone raised £720!) Father Christmas had lots of little visitors, while others bought home made goodies (cakes, cards, and calendars etc), tried their luck at the tombolas, or enjoyed a cup of tea and a cake listening to the carols.
As well as the Christingle and Nine Lessons and Carols, this year many Suckley folk were involved in the Barnyard Nativity at Colles Place, Lulsley. Two calves, Percy the cat, and a friendly welsh collie welcomed Sooty, the miniature pony from Alfrick Pound, who brought in a weary Mary and Joseph. There were lots of Suckley shepherds with their 'sheep' (children), and the wise men followed the star on their 'camels' (bicycles)! It was so good, it must happen again next year ... don't miss it!
The plans to reorder the inside of Suckley Church to make it more useful to the wider community are moving forwards, slowly but surely. The PCC has been looking at the work of many architects, and expects to have another public meeting soon. It is important to make the right choice that will be best for Suckley's future.
Anne Lewis (church warden)
Parish Council website
October 2011:
Suckley Parish Council has begun to maintain an area on Worcester County Council's 'My Parish' pages, and this provides a valuable extra resource of information about the parish and it's local council. Newly elected parish councillor Peter Whatley has been asked to act as webmaster for this new mini-site.
Visit the Suckley Parish Council minisite.
Suckley Newsletter
October 2011:
Suckley's free community newsletter is now a year old, and six issues have been delivered to all residents. It seems that Hilary Pitt and Tilda Swabey have been working very hard, because the format has expanded somewhat - from 8 to 28 pages, and the newsletter also now contains local advertising. If you live in Suckley you should receive a copy of each issue through your letterbox. If not, or if you've missed it, you can download a copy (and browse all previous issues) via the link below.
Read the Suckley Newsletter here.
Suckley Church Proposed Reordering
June 2011:
If Suckley Church is to remain viable at the heart of the lovely village, then it has to adapt to the needs of today's community. An open meeting about a proposed reordering scheme for the church was held on 8 June 2011. Please read the information below and make comments.
Read more about the proposed reordering.
Fitness, Flexibility and Fun
February 2011:
Mature ladies and gentlement wanted for a new local keep fit class at Suckley Village Hall, every Tuesday, 11am-12noon. Information from Margaret (884301) or Julian (07770 822033).
Replacement of Postboxes
December 2010:
The missing postboxes (stolen some time ago from Damson Way and Blackhouse Lane) have now been replaced. (Suckley Parish Council reported at its meeting on 13 September 2010 that Royal Mail had promised to reinstate the boxes within eight weeks.)
Allotments for Rent
November 2010:
Jill and John Hammonds are providing allotments to rent in Suckley from 2011. The allotments are on the roadside with good access and room to park, and they come ready rotivated for planting in early spring. Free well-rotted manure is available on site, and there's no charge for water. An example price would be £2 per week for 60ft x 20ft. Could make an unusual Chistmas present! Details from 884221 or visit Pewcroft, Suckley Road, Knightwick, WR6 5QQ.
New Suckley Newsletter
October 2010:
The first free Suckley newsletter since 2003 was delivered this month to all residents. The idea comes from the Suckley Community Plan earlier this year, and it aims to support the local community by publicising local parish activities and community run projects.
The newsletter features local activities, events and issues, useful information and points of contact, as well as offering opportunities for local businesses to advertise. The first issue outlines the activities started by the community plan and gives Suckley residents an additional way to find out what's going on locally and to get involved in community run projects and activities.
The second issue will be sent out in December 2010. If you have a community project or event you would like publicising, or if you are a local business wanting to advertise, please contact Matilda Swabey (884842) or Hilary Pitt (884355).
Read the October 2010 Suckley Newsletter here.
Suckley and Alfrick Pre-School
September 2010:
A new Suckley and Alfrick Pre-School, set in the 'Hop Kilns' in Suckley, is to open on on 7 September 2010. The school welcomes children from two years (9am-3.45pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, term-time only), is set in a ground floor wing of the impressive Hop Kilns private home, and has been designed to provide a home-from-home environment.
For more information on this new venture, please call Linda Negrin-Torres on 07905 716182 or visit www.thepreschool.org.uk
Matthew Meckin
January 2010:
Suckley School welcomes a new head teacher - Matthew Meckin, who takes over from Sarah James, who has retired. The school has about fifty or so pupils, and the outgoing head (and her predecessor Jill Shepherd) both raised the standard of the school and its facilities during their time in office.
Christmas Fair
November 2009:
Suckley Christmas Fair, held in the village hall on 28 November 2009, was very successful, raising more than a thousand pounds from the raffle alone, funds which were distributed equally amongst the four organisations which combined their efforts to run the events - Suckley Church, Suckley School, Suckley Mothers and Toddlers and The Hill Trust.
Harold Cooper
July 2009:
The recent death of Harold Cooper leaves a gap which the village will find hard to fill. Harold spent a lot of time keeping the village playing fields looking smart, and more than 400 pounds has already been raised by the supporters of the playing fields to install a memorial bench for Harold. Martin Brookes has agreed to mow the field for the rest of the year.
Richard and Rosemary Harward will be leaving Suckley in July, and so Suckley Parish Council needs to find a replacement Footpaths Warden ... another hard act to follow, since Richard has worked very hard over the years and achieved much success in improving the quality of the parish paths.
After nine years of operation, Suckley Local History Society is disbanding, the committee having decided that it was time to hand over to younger people with new ideas. Unfortunately, volunteers were thin on the ground, and none of the 48 members thought that they could take on the job. Sue Anderson and the other committee members hope that their supporters will continue to use Suckley Village Hall and join other events organised there.
Change too at The Hill Trust / Suckley Village Hall Committee, where chairman Tom Talbot is reporting the resignation and or retirement of four of its long term hard-working committee members - Arthur Bancroft, Marnie Caine, Margaret Davies and John Hammonds.
So ... if you've recently moved to Suckley or nearby, or if you're an existing resident needing a new dimension to your life, there's never been a better time to get involved with the local community.
Sphere Taxi Service
May 2009:
The future of the taxi bus service is now looking uncertain, because the taxi committee has been unable to raise further funding for the scheme. All very sad, because usage has been increasing, and the scheme has now been operating for several years.
Suckley's BT Payphone
February 2009:
BT is proposing to 'realign' - their jargon for 'remove' - payphones in the local area, presumably due to lower levels of usage caused by the increased use of mobile phones. Whilst some call boxes in the area have made the news for being underused - one at nearby Storridge was apparently not used at all for a whole year - the payphone next to Suckley Village Hall and the car park is a local amenity, in one of the most densely populated areas of the village. In June 2008, the Parish Council lodged an objection to its removal.
Suckley Parish Council has now agreed to 'adopt' this telephone kiosk, subject to enquiries about future liabilities.
Footpath news
February 2009:
Suckley's footpath officer, Richard Harward, reported to the Parish Council that the two bridges damaged in the 2007 floods - at Nightingales' Bower and near Grove Hill - have now been repaired and remounted. Regular users have been helping to trim back the growth from around the paths.
Carol Singing
December 2008:
Five visitors from London and two local singers sang carols in the village on the evening of Saturday 20 December 2008, raising 130 pounds to help school children in Tanzania. A big thank you to everyone who took part, and especially to Jim and Michelle at The Cross Keys and to Rod and Belinda at The Nelson for their hospitality.
Julian Lloyd Webber
October 2008:
On 4 October 2008, Suckley had a famous visitor from the classical music world ... the cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, who gave a concert with pianist Pam Chowhan in Suckley Church, in aid of church funds and the tower appeal.
Suckley Church was full for the recital, despite the bad weather, and there was a reception after the concert at Holloways.
The music played was very interesting - some well-known works and also some lesser known pieces.
As a result of Julian's generosity, the tower appeal has now raised all the remaining money needed.
Winding the Church Clock
May 2008:
John Hammonds, writing in The Sphere, reports that a team of people - Peter Monineux, Chris Humphrey, Edward Holloway and Fran Doidge - have agreed to help him wind the church clock. Their plan is to do a calendar month each in rotation, and since the mechanisms need winding every 2-3 days, this is quite a commitment. 'We are in awe of Ivor Bramich', writes John, 'who did it for many, many years.' Previous long-term winders of the parish church clock include the late Jim Ranford.
Andy Merrick cycled to John O'Groats
March 2008:
Andy Merrick, one of Suckley's postmen, cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise money for Worcestershire's Air Ambulance and for Sport Relief.
The 1,000 mile ride by Andy and two friends - Julian and Mike - began at the start of the Easter weekend on Friday 21 March 2008 at Land's End. On day 3 they called in at The Royal Oak at Leigh Sinton. They completed the ride and raised 6,354.50 pounds. You can read (and see) further details here.
Church tower repair work
December 2007:
The Suckley Church tower appeal launched in 2006 has raised its 65,000 pounds. Costs unfortunately went up, and the total cost of the project increased to 70,000 pounds. So another 5,000 pounds is being raised in various ways. If you can help with fund raising, please use the link above for contact details.
The work has now been mostly completed. It was undertaken by two Worcester-based firms, architects S T Walker and Duckham, and A E Probert Building Contractors. The church clock face was repainted and gilded by Suckley resident Ivor Bramich.
Footpath bridge damage
November 2007:
Most of the extensive damage caused by the unusually high July 2007 floods has now been repaired. Suckley Parish Council received a report at its 13 November 2007 meeting from Richard Harward, however, stating that footpath bridges are still down at Nightingales' Bower, Grove Hill and below Cedar Lawn. He has repaired and resigned various footpaths and has mended or replaced various footpath 'furniture' including pedestrian gates, stiles and finger posts. Richard Harward has also attended a one-day course on the identification, mapping and management of ancient trees. If you have or know of ancient trees in the parish, please get in touch with Richard.
Worst floods ever?
July 2007:
20 July 2007 saw what might turn out to be Suckley's worst floods ever, and it's still raining (and looks set to continue into the night, with the flood waters still rising)!
Pictured above, Roger Blackburn (in orange) from Suckley Post Office, after an attempt to rescue residents from a cottage near Batchelors' Bridge, on the edge of a Longley Green cut off to all but high wheel-arch traffic.
If you have any photos of Suckley or the floods which you want to share, our new forum, just launched, allows uploading of photos.
Suckley Post Office
June 2007:
Suckley Parish Council has written to Malvern Hills District Council stating its concern about the possible closure of Suckley Post Office and rural post offices generally. A reply has been received stating that MHDC will await government announcements (now postponed from June until September) and then determine what action should be taken. County Councillor Clive Smith and the new District Councillors are also voicing concerns at a higher level and will be backing campaigns to stop the closures.
New Parish Councillors
June 2007:
Following Suckley Parish Council elections in May, Michael Jackson has been elected as a new Parish Councillor and David Hughes and Anthony Warburton have been elected as new District Councillors.
'Aspects of Suckley'
March 2007:
Suckley Local History Society launched its new book, Aspects of Suckley, available at £7.50 (£6.50 to members), at the season's first open meeting on Thursday 19 October 2006. Due to unexpectedly high interest, the book sold out, but more copies have been printed and these are now available from Suckley and Alfrick Post Offices, or direct from the Society's Chairman, Richard Harward (884611).
Since the Society was formed over five years ago, many members have attended courses at the Record Office in Worcester or in the village hall to research various aspects of Suckley's past. A few members also formed an oral group to try to obtain tape recordings from local residents who remember the area in years gone by. The result of this work is a book of fourteen chapters - over 112 pages - with many illustrations. The subject of the chapters varies from 'Suckley School' to 'Tippling in Suckley' and also includes transcripts of several of the tape recordings.
Sphere Bus
March 2007:
The taxi bus service is being used, but not nearly enough to warrant further funding to keep it going after March 2007. Suckley Parish Council is hoping that a way will be found to keep the service running, but in the meantime, please use it as much as possible, so that the service can continue to run. Further details.
Thank You from the Carol Singers
January 2007:
A big thank you to everyone who contributed to making the carol singing in Suckley (on Saturday 16 December 2006) a welcome success. Thanks to the generosity of Rev Andrew Bullock and his son, to visiting singers from London, to Suckley parishioners and to customers at The Nelson and The Cross Keys, we raised 120 pounds for the Suckley Church Tower Appeal. A special thank you to Jim and Michelle and to Rod and Belinda for welcoming refreshments!
Councillor vacancy
October 2006:
Marnie Caine resigned from Suckley Parish Council at the meeting on 9 May 2006, and the Chairman and Councillors agreed that her resignation was a great loss to the council and that she would be greatly missed.
Three applications were received for the vacancy, and after a paper vote, Mrs Rosemary Harward was selected by an absolute majority. More elections take place in April 2007, and the council hopes that the unsuccessful applicants will be reapply then.
Richard Lewis
July 2006:
Richard Lewis from Suckley cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats in May 2006 to raise funds for the new St Richard's Hospice, which is currently being built and is due to open for patients in Autumn 2006. The building will include all the current free services, plus fifteen specialist hospice beds, desperately needed, but not currently available in this area. 2.8 million pounds is needed, annually, to provide specialist care and support for patients and their families.
Richard has been cycling to work at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and back for a couple of years, and his regular weekly commute of about 125 miles by bicycle helped to ensure he was in shape for the ride.
He has been a governor of St Richard's for the same length of time, and Vice Chairman for the past seven years. During this time he has seen the hospice grow from very humble beginnings to the current exciting stage of opening a new 5.25 million pound bedded unit in the autumn. Although there has been huge growth in the work of the hospice, the philosophy behind the care has remained the same. This is a total dedicated commitment to the patients and their families.
The trip was dedicated to Desi Green MBE, the much-loved district nurse working in Knightwick and Great Witley, a family friend and former hospice patient, who died in September 2005. She touched the hearts of so many people she came into contact with. Desi's husband John was road manager for the cycle trip.
Richard would like to thank everyone who has helped him exceed his target of 10,000 pounds. Money is still flowing in - over 14,000 pounds collected already, and if you can add more to his sponsorship of the Hospice, his address is Crews Court, Suckley, Worcestershire, WR6 5DW.
Church Tower appeal
April 2006:
An appeal to raise 65,000 pounds for a full restoration of Suckley Church tower was launched at the Easter Day service on 16 April 2006. Read full details here.
Post Office website
February 2006:
Barbara and Roger Blackburn have launched a new website for their business, Suckley Post Office and Stores. The new site is at www.suckleypo.co.uk
The site is part of a campaign to increase awareness of the services provided by the Blackburns' business, and includes a community noticeboard with classified ads and a complete list of films available for hire on DVD.
Check out the news section for alarming details of the gradual withdrawal of government support for rural post offices, the latest blow being that over-the-counter payment of benefits might cease.
Please support Suckley's Post Office and Stores by using as many of the services available as you can. Most household bills can be paid at the Post Office by cash, cheque or debit card. Commission is free on all foreign currency and buying back is free of charge. Travel insurance, personal loans and car insurance are available at excellent rates. Personal banking is available for customers of Alliance and Leicester, Lloyds TSB, Co-op, Barclays and Cahoot, including cashing of cheques and making deposits.
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