Kings Bromley village news

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Next meeting of the Parish Council

This meeting will be an internet based remote meeting at 7.30pm on 15th April

You are welcome to join in. See agenda for joining instructions. Agenda 15th April 2020 (50.0 Kb)

Gentle Reminder

Just a gentle reminder to everyone to ensure they follow the Governments guidelines on Social distancing.

Unfortunately, there are still people in the village who are not following these guidelines. Please ensure you keep at least 2m apart from other people. Make sure that you children do the same - keeping 2m at least from other children and adults. Bear in mind that some people are volunteers and are visiting vulnerable people in their homes whilst they self isolate. It is imperative that we ALL observe the RULES. Thank you.

Council calls out to businesses

that may be eligible for a grant

Having received its first payment of grant money from the government, Lichfield District Council is asking businesses that may be eligible for an emergency grant to contact them, if they haven’t received a letter or an email from the council yet.

The council has written to the 1,560 businesses that it believes are eligible for either a small business grant of £10,000 or a retail, hospitality and leisure business grant of up to £25,000.

Officers are collecting email addresses for these same businesses, which will help it to speed up the payment process.

The council now has around 700 local business email addresses. Out of this number, almost 500 have responded with the information the council needs to pay the grants.
Local businesses that could be eligible for either of the grants are encouraged to email economicdevelopment@lichfielddc.gov.uk.

To find out more, including the full eligibility criteria for the grants and information about other support that is available to businesses, please visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/supportingbusiness.

Council urges residents to be responsible with their waste

With household recycling centres temporarily closed,

With household recycling centres temporarily closed, Lichfield District Council is warning its residents not to put contaminated waste in their blue bins, overload their black bins, fly-tip, or be tempted to burn waste.
Through its shared waste service with Tamworth Borough Council, Lichfield District Council is once again calling on its residents to follow its guidelines for what can and cannot go in bins.
In the last week, six loads of recycling have been rejected from the recycling plant due to contaminated waste being put in blue bins.
From used tissues and food waste, to clothes and electrical items, lots of waste that cannot be recycled is ending up in blue bins.
The council is also reminding its residents not to overload the service by putting extra side waste out with their black bins. Only waste in black bins, with the lids closed that are not overloaded, can be emptied.
However, as has always been the case, extra blue bin waste, such as cardboard or extra recycling that is in clear, tied bags can be placed next to blue bins when they are due to be collected.

Best Kept Village Competition

Important Information Regarding BKVC 2020

It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce, in light of Covid-19, the Best Kept Village Community Competition 2020 is cancelled.
Keeping the communities of Staffordshire safe and well is our number one priority and we all must be guided by the Government's advice on social distancing and self-isolation.
If you are spending time in your own garden and would like to showcase your work or, if you have children/grandchildren who would like to create a poster, please send them to bkvc@staffsfoundation.org.uk and we will share them on our social media throughout the spring and summer months.
We look forward to BKVC 2021

Covid-19 support from your Community Foundation
The Community Foundation for Staffordshire has launched an appeal in response to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom. The appeal is raising funds from our donors and members across the community that will be available for those communities who have been affected. These funds will be distributed via our Emergency Grants programme across the county. You can find more information on our website.

Some information from Support Staffordshire

More below

We are working with Staffordshire County Council and wanted to contact you to ensure that you had heard about the council’s emergency helpline for anyone who needs it. Some information can be found on their website https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Coronavirus/I-need-help/Emergency-helplines.aspx and there is a number that people, who are in need of food or care, can call. The number is 0300 111 8050. It’s not that well publicised and it might come in handy whilst you carry out your essential work.
We understand that you’re working with the Parish Council so will probably have lots of policies and good practice already in place. If you do need any help or advice on anything though, my colleague Claire Ferris, the Locality Officer for Lichfield, will be happy to help you. Her email address is Claire.ferris@supportstaffordshire.org.uk.

Government guidelines ....

for our Wellbeing in these difficult times:

1. maintain contact with friends and family via telephone and video calls, or social media
2. keep a regular routine and sleeping pattern
3. focus on a hobby or learn something new

Call Allan on 472720 if you would like a call from one of our volunteers on a weekly basis

There has never been a better time to learn something new. Check with your neighbours if they got something they could swap with you: a game, a jigsaw, a book, a DVD or details of a website that they have found. (Don't swap anything physical with anyone who has symptoms).Remember your social distancing. Use the book exchange in the telephone box.
Kings Bromley Parish Council

A Big Thanks To The Co-Op

Coping with the lockdown would have been

Coping with the lockdown would have been much harder in Kings Bromley without the Co-op - which has remained open with a reduced staff, some of whom have been working extended hours.
It has also put essentials like bread and milk aside for volunteers collecting for isolators.

Please respect the queuing system, never mind how small your purchase is. Only get essentials, and stay two metres apart.

There was an incident yesterday of someone queue jumping. It should not be necessary in these circumstances to have to enforce law and order, but it is reassuring that a police car was seen in the car park this morning just checking that everything was OK

Kings Bromley Parish Council

A plea from Lichfield Council

Tissues

Please do not place tissues of any kind in your blue recycling bins. Council operatives will not know if they have been used by an infected person so the whole bin has to to incineration or sent to landfill. Please also remember that kitchen roll should not be flushed away. Best place it in the general rubbish. Thank you.

Western Power Distribution

Supporting the most vulnerable

If you are vulnerable you can register with WPD for 'priority service'.
Click this link https://www.westernpower.co.uk/customers-and-community/priority-services

Coronavirus advice from Gov.uk

Click the link

https://www.gov.uk/

LDC set up a Just Giving fund

More here

LDC just giving fund (58.5 Kb)

Information for businesses

From LDC

Click here Virus - info for business from ldc (380.7 Kb)

Best Kept Village

Cancelled - read more here

The best kept village competition has been cancelled for this year, so we will retain the trophy.

We do not enter the competition to win it, but to foster pride in the village. So please carry on as normal with picking up litter etc. The Parish Council, through the Gardening Guild will continue to maintain the War Memorial, Pinfold and Village Hall frontage.

We expect that people will be spending more time at home gardening, so front gardens should be at their best.

Corona Virus Support System

Flier

Response to the flyer over the last three days has been very encouraging.

We have at present 35 volunteers. 18 people have registered as needing help, or may need help in the future, and we have been matching them up with volunteers.

If you are looking after someone outside of the scheme, please note that Yoxall Health Centre is allowing people to pick up other people's prescriptions.

Coronavirus update

Need assistance

See flier here Coronavirus flier (41.1 Kb)

Restricted bus service

more info

From Saturday the 812 will be hourly from 9.45am both ways. Please contact Steve Browne on 472931 for up to date details.

Coronavirus

Volunteers needed

It has been suggested that volunteers are sought to help out vulnerable and self-isolating residents in the parish. If anyone would like to volunteer please email the Parish Council Chairman Mr. Allan Howard on alan.how8@btinternet.com
If you are aware of anyone who may be classed as vulnerable, someone unable to undertake their own shopping or collection of their medical supplies, again please let Allan know.

HS2 update

HS2 works notification

More on this link https://hs2instaffs.commonplace.is/news/2020/03/19/hs2-works-notification:-traffic-management-on-the-a38-southbound-during-april-2020

Bus service

Revised service

With the closure of schools on Friday the local bus service 812 will revert to a Saturday service timetable only.

Future Parish Council meetings

Coronavirus - Parish Council Meetings

The Parish Council has decided it would be prudent to postpone this year's open parish meeting scheduled for 8th April at 7pm.
Likewise, we have agreed that the general meeting due to follow at 7.30 will be cancelled.
The Council still awaits guidance from Government on the legalities of not holding future parish council meetings beyond April.
Once I know more I shall keep you informed.
Parish Clerk

Village news from Helen Price - 19th March 2020

As sent to The Mercury

Fund Raising Quiz for Autism

Many thanks to everyone who came along to the quiz or gave a separate donation to Alex Howard's charity, The National Autistic Society. Congratulations to the winning team 'Going Viral' who just pipped 'An Embarrassment of Riches' and 'Staffies' to the post.

The amount raised is over £400. Alex is really grateful for everything you have done and will be adding to this sum by running the London marathon later this year. Anyone wishing to donate to this worthy cause can find Alex’s fundraising website at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AlexanderHoward.

Kings Bromley Wednesday Club

The Wednesday Club meets at 2.30 p.m. at the Village Hall on the first Wednesday of every month. We have an interesting variety of speakers plus an average of two outings a year.

Come along and give us a try, new members are always very welcome. For further information, please ring Lin Allen on 472043.

Sign tampering

Someone has turned the no turn sign round

If you see anyone tampering with any of the turn restriction signs please inform the council via the clerk. Thank you

Highway repairs

An update on repairs identified

If you see any highway issues such as potholes please contact SCC through this link https://apps2.staffordshire.gov.uk/web/reportfault/#divSelectionHeader
The following have already been reported
1. Pothole outside 67 Alrewas Road
2. Sunken manhole outside Archers

Annual Open Parish Meeting

This years meeting will be on 8th April at 7pm

An opportunity for you to come along and hear what the Parish Council has been doing for the past 12 months and for you to relay what your organisation has achieved. The meeting will precede the monthly Parish Council meeting and will commence at 7pm for 30 minutes.

Mileposts

Several of the parishes mileposts have been re painted

Kings Bromley Parish Council has taken on the responsibility for the mileposts in the Parish. Kevin Price, seen below, has volunteered to clean and repaint them with the special paints recommended by 'The Milestone Society'. Two have so far been done, the one outside the Co-op and the one outside PD Nurseries. The judges in last year's Best Kept Village competition recommended that the two Parish Council noticeboards needed some sprucing up aswell. If anyone would like to volunteer for that job, please get in touch with Allan Howard.

Village news from Helen Price - 12th March 2020

As sent to The Mercury

Kings Bromley Gardening Guild

At the February meeting, Byron Lewis from Lichfield Garden Centre, Curborough, managed to get through the floods to come to talk to members; his topic was 'Early Spring Showcase' and he brought along many lovely plants to sell and also gave advice on growing them.
The next meeting will be on 16 March, when a short AGM will be held followed by wine and cheese and a light-hearted gardening quiz.

Village news from Helen Price - 5th March 2020

As sent to The Mercury

WI Drop In Café

Please feel welcome to pop in for a chat with friends over a cup of tea and cake at our monthly Drop In Café at the Village Hall . We gather every third Thursday of the month from 1.00 – 4.00 pm, and the cost is just £2.00. For more information please ring Sue on 01543 473518 or Pauline on 01543 472045. All ages are welcome.

Kings Bromley Bowls Club Whist Drive

Weekly whist drives take place each Tuesday at the Village Hall, starting promptly at 2.00 pm. All are very welcome, £2 includes light refreshments.
Teresa Woodward 01543 473058

Have your say on leisure across the district

Lichfield District Council is seeking the views of everyone, young and old, about how and where they keep fit and for their thoughts on local leisure facilities.

This February and March Lichfield District Council is consulting with residents about leisure across the district, to assess how it can encourage more people to take part in regular exercise.
Max Associates, supported by Leisure-Net Solutions, will be conducting the public consultation on the council’s behalf, which will include an online survey, carrying out face-to-face surveys on the street, and holding focus groups.
The short survey asks local people to set out how much exercise they take, and for their thoughts about local leisure centres and facilities, and what would encourage them to get more active.
Councillor Liz Little, Cabinet Member for Recycling & Leisure, said: “We all know how important it is to take part in regular physical exercise. Not only does it help us to keep fit, it boosts mental health and wellbeing, weight management and our overall health.
“It’s important that we get lots of responses to our survey, as we need to know what is stopping many of our residents from taking part in structured exercise.
“This is your chance to tell us your views about leisure across the district, and help shape our priorities.”
To complete the survey online, visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/leisureviews

Village news from Helen Price - 20th Feb 2020

As sent to The Mercury

Wednesday Club

Our speaker in February was Michael Wetson author of “A Life of Two Halves.” Michael’s book is a personal account of his experience of living with bi-polar disorder and other health issues. Michael, a resident of Kings Bromley, was born in Lichfield. He talks in his book about some of the struggles he has faced during his life and the ups and downs of living with bi-polar disorder admitting, “It sounds quite gloomy but there is humour in it!” Ruby Wax and Frank Bruno are among several well-known personalities who have openly discussed their experiences with bi-polar disorder and Michael has met with both of them.
Michael was a founder member of “The Open Door of Hope” a self- help group based in Lichfield. It was established to cater for the needs of mental health service users in Lichfield and surrounding areas. It opened in October 2011 and continues to offer help and support to those with mental health issues, their families and carers.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday March 4th when our speaker Marian Baldwin will be sharing “Memories of School Days.”

New 2 U

The “New 2 U” sale of good quality, second hand clothes, soft furnishings, shoes, handbags and costume jewellery will be in the Village Hall at 2 pm on Saturday 4th April.
Please start looking out items you could donate. We need items that will appeal to women, men and children, perhaps items in your wardrobe hardly worn, or unwanted gifts. It would be appreciated if you could iron anything that needs a spruce and bring to the hall on the morning of the 4th between 9.00 – 11.30 am. We will also accept books and DVDs in good condition.
If you could help in the morning (but more especially in the afternoon from 13.45 till 15.30, Peter Gee would love to hear from you. Also let Peter know if you have items which need collecting, just call 472157.

Australian Fire Relief Fundraising Event

£1000++ was raised on Saturday when hundreds turned out in force on a very wet and windy afternoon to support this worthy cause at the Village Hall. The Kings Bromley Harmony choir opened the event with some old Aussie songs to get everyone in the mood.

Many items were on sale, plus a silent auction, tombola, raffle etc and the WI, as usual, provided some delicious cakes together with tea and coffee.

Congratulations to Tracy Allanson-Smith and her team, the WI and of course our choir. Thanks to all who contributed with donations and their time. All proceeds will be donated to the Australian Fire Relief fund.

Village news from Helen Price - 13th Feb 2020

As sent to The Mercury

Australian Fire Relief Fundraiser, Saturday 15th February
We will be raising money for Australian Fire Relief in Kings Bromley Village Hall on Saturday 15th February between 2.00 and 4.00 pm.
Kings Bromley Harmony Choir will open the event at 2.00. The event includes a Tombola with amazing raffle prizes, Children’s colouring-in competition, Nearly new clothes, Bric-a-brac and Craft Sale. Tea, coffee and cakes provided by the WI.
If anyone wants to help or donate items, please get in touch with Tracy Allanson-Smith (0771 5678905). Every penny will be donated to https/www.wires.org.au to help animals, fauna and fire rescue volunteers in Australia.

Kings Bromley Gardening Guild
The Chairman, Allan Howard, welcomed everyone to the meeting on 20th January and gave the talk on 'Kings Bromley in the Best Kept Village Competition'. He showed slides of the village's history in the competition, starting from its inauguration in 1956 to the present day. Allan went on to look at the judges' comments for 2019 which showed how important community participation is in the outcome. Organisations and businesses, individual adults and their houses and children all play a part.
The audience made comments and gave suggestions, including the need for more volunteers to help with the churchyard team who meet every Wednesday morning around 10-11.30am, to mow the grass and tidy up. Duke of Edinburgh volunteers were also invited to help with the churchyard or tidying up the village and every household was encouraged to put up a Best Kept Village notice in their window. Volunteers were also asked to monitor and 'look after' a particular road or area in the village, particularly with regards to litter. It was agreed that people could do more to stop grass verges and hedges growing over the pavements and to take down signs which are for out-of-date events.
In conclusion, all those who do so much to keep the village beautiful and tidy were thanked.
A suggestion was made to co-ordinate the Best Kept Village, Open Gardens (13-14 June) and the Ironman event (7 June this year), with decorated old push-bikes around the village. The WI will be yarn bombing the village and putting up knitted wreaths.
The next meeting is on 17th February when Byron Lewis from Lichfield Garden Centre will talk about 'Early Spring Showcase', bringing along a range of plants.

Kings Bromley WI

The ladies of the Women’s Institute celebrated a late Christmas meal at the Royal Oak on 6th February. We are very grateful to our village pub for hosting this for us. We have grown in members over the year and forty ladies enjoyed a good meal, and a merry time was had by all. We enjoyed fun and laughter with the waiting staff who worked so hard and kept us all amused. The evening ended with a splendid raffle.

The next meeting on 5th March will be our AGM and will start at 7.30pm at the village hall. This will be an opportunity for our members to hear the reports from last year’s activities and also to vote on the committee for the following year.

Village news from Helen Price - 6th Feb 2020

As sent to The Mercury

Kings Bromley Historians

Richard Stone, a regular guest speaker on local history, came to talk to the Historians group on the subject of Stained Glass at our first meeting of the year. The fourth Century was the earliest that stained glass appeared in England as it was wholly a Christian art form. At that time, the glass was coloured using metal oxide and urine (this today being replaced with oils). The tools used were very simple ones, quills and brushes of various sizes, and have altered little with the passing of time.

The stained glass windows were used to tell a story from the bible or commemorate an event, such as the plague window in Eyam church. They were also commissioned by individuals to celebrate a life or occasion.

Both Winchester and Lincoln Cathedral had their windows smashed during the Civil War but in both cases the local parishioners collected the broken glass that remained and rebuilt them, maybe haphazardly, but with love.

There was a great revival of stained glass in the 19th Century, partly due to the Pre-Raphaelites. Philip Webb the architect and artists such as Rosetti, Burne-Jones and Ford Maddox-Brown, together with artist and entrepreneur William Morris all created beautiful windows.

A popular subject was ‘Labour of the Months” which depicted the twelve seasonal tasks on the land. Many windows in Lichfield Cathedral were created by Charles Kemp 1838-1907, whose ‘signature’ was a wheatsheaf. Wychnor has four beautiful windows of the four seasons. The spires of the Cathedral and the River Trent are shown.

Allan Howard thanked Richard for a very interesting talk which gave us plenty of ideas for a trip planned for later this year. Next month Byron Lewis from Lichfield Garden Centre at Curborough will present a talk on Early Spring Flowers and bring along a variety of plants to see and purchase.

Village news from Helen Price - 30th Jan 2020

As sent to The Mercury

Gardening Guild

On 17th February the Gardening Guild will welcome Byron Lewis from Lichfield Garden Centre at Curborough to give a presentation on ‘Early Spring Showcase’ . This will be an opportunity to see (and buy!) a wide variety of plants, with advice given on how to grow them - a good way to get into a New Year of gardening. Members and visitors welcome, meeting starts at 7.45 pm in the Village Hall.
Please make a note in your diaries that Kings Bromley Open Gardens will be on the weekend of 13th and 14th June. There will be a meeting about this in March , but have a think about whether you would like to open your garden to the public this year. The more, the merrier!

Australian Fire Relief Fundraiser

We will be raising money for Australian Fire Relief in Kings Bromley Village Hall on Saturday 15th February between 2.00 and 4.00 pm. Every penny will be donated to https/www.wires.org.au to help animals, fauna and fire rescue volunteers in Australia.

There will be a tombola, children’s colouring-in competition, tea and cakes, clothes, bric a brac, craft for sale, jumble items, great raffle prizes and an auction at 3.00 pm.
Kings Bromley Village Harmony choir will be performing for us to launch the event so come along and help us to raise much needed money for our planet.
If anyone wants to help or donate items, get in touch with Tracy Allanson-Smith (0771 5678905)

Tiny Tot Tales at Richard Crosse C of E Primary School

We invite you to come and join us as we explore the exciting world of story and rhyme. All Sessions £5.
Toddler Sessions 1.30 – 2.30 pm Feb 5th, March 4th and 18th, April 1st
Baby Sessions 2.00 – 2.30 pm Feb 12th and 26th , March 11th and 25th, April 22nd.
Tel: 01543 472245 or visit richardcrosse.sch.uk/news and events/News for more info.

Going Cashless

A letter from LDC

Read more here going cashless (62.1 Kb)

Village news from Helen Price - 23rd Jan 2020

As sent to The Mercury

Kings Bromley Wednesday Club

Our first meeting of 2020 was a “Bring and Share” Tea in the Village Hall. Tea was preceded by a Beetle Drive which involved thirty minutes of intense dice shaking accompanied by cries of “I’ve got a feeler but no head,” “I only need a leg” and “I haven’t even started yet” – interspersed with much scrabbling to retrieve lost dice!! After all the scores had been totted up, we then sat down to enjoy our well-earned tea!

Our programme for the coming year includes talks on a variety of subjects and topics including Recycling, The Dog’s Trust, A Photographic Miscellany, Memories of Schooldays, and “Smile Please, Say Cheese,” There will also be outings to Wolseley Garden Centre and Staffordshire Wildlife Centre in May, Trentham Gardens in October as well as a Cream Tea in July.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 5th February: Speaker Michael Wetson - “A Life of Two Halves.”

KINGS BROMLEY WI

For our first meeting of 2020 it was a welcome sight to see so many members present. After the evening’s business, our speaker, Victoria Ann Spencer-Kibble, began her presentation, the theme was “Therapy- What can it do for us”.

Victoria began by giving an insight into her life since moving to Kings Bromley. It involved personal tragedy, the death of her first husband whilst diving and she went on to describe all the consequent stress she has had to cope with. For several years, as the mother of a young family, she faced one battle after another while dealing with her grief, including financial and emotional stresses, and a feeling of total devastation. All of which she eventually overcame. The experience gave her focus and a wish to be able to help others who face stressful situations in their lives and who struggle to find a way through. Victoria trained as a therapist and now runs her own business to support individuals through very difficult times by helping them develop the appropriate techniques to win through.

Victoria received personal tuition from Marisa Peer, whose type of therapy is known as “Rapid Transformational Therapy’ and is endorsed by various international bodies. The therapy involves hypnosis, regression, cognitive behavior therapy and neuro-linguistic programming. Victoria in her consultations will ask her clients to go back in their lives, trying to get into the subconscious where all the secrets are, with the aim of helping them to let go of the negatives preventing them from taking control and changing their emotional and mental processes into positives. RTT is she believes, a relatively quick but effective way of ‘flipping’ the mind and gaining belief in oneself and effecting change.

It made us think about how we can help and support others – lots of people suffer from stress, anxiety and depression. Young children and adults are all vulnerable in different ways. Victoria cited various types of stress that can affect behaviour. All involve the mind and understanding its power to heal and change physical, mental and emotional reactions is totally beneficial. Victoria’s presentation was thought provoking and well received.

There will be no WI meeting in February in the village hall as members will be at The Royal Oak on the 6th enjoying their post-Christmas supper.

Village news from Helen Price - 16th January 2020

As sent to The Mercury

Bowling Club Whist Drive

The weekly whist drives resumed in the New Year on Tuesday 7th January. These take place in the Village Hall starting promptly at 2.00 pm. Everyone is very welcome.

WI Drop In Café

Please feel welcome to pop in for a chat with friends over a cup of tea and cake at our monthly Drop In Café at the Village Hall on Thursday 14th January. We gather every third Thursday of the month from 1.00–4.00 pm, and the cost is just £2.00. For more information please ring Sue on 01543 473518 or Pauline on 01543 472045. All ages are welcome.

Kings Bromley Neighbourhood Plan. Call for volunteers.

Neighbourhood planning was introduced by the Localism Act in 2011.

Neighbourhood planning was introduced by the Localism Act in 2011. The idea behind localism is that decision-making be passed to a more local level, from national or local government to local communities. Parish and town councils or neighbourhood forums (in unparished areas) can produce neighbourhood plans for their local areas, putting in place a strategy and policies for the future development of the area. Parish Councils that have Neighbourhood Plans can a) influence the planning and development decisions made by the District both through their Local Plan and in one-off decisions, b) get larger CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) payment from developments and c) demonstrate that they have involved their parishioners in the important issues concerning the future of their community.
Kings Bromley Parish Council has decided to produce such a Neighbourhood Plan. The intention is to complete the process in the 2020/21 financial year. A small working group consisting of councillors Charles Cole, Jack Burkinshaw and Allan Howard has been set up carry this out.
If any parishioner would like to join, or advise, this group please get in touch with Allan Howard on 472720. What would be useful to us is expertise in planning, environmental issues etc. and also in drafting professional documents on software such as Publisher.

Allan Howard, Chairman, Kings Bromley Parish Council.

Village news from Helen Price - 10th Oct 2019

As send to The Mercury

Kings Bromley Historians September Outing

Although we had arranged to meet in the coffee shop at Sharpe’s Pottery Museum, Swadlincote, we were split into two groups on arrival – no time for coffee! Group 1 were taken upstairs to the ‘Magic Attic” which volunteers had opened just for our visit as they are normally closed on Fridays.

The archives there were amazing. The collection of documents, books and newspapers, mostly relating to the pottery industry or the locality filled two rooms. The oldest collection of newspapers dated back to 1725. A lot of the documentation was already computerised and still an ongoing project.

The groups changed places and we were given an introductory talk in the kiln by a pair of very knowledgeable and enthusiastic volunteers. They explained the process of production of the pottery and the labour involved. The average life expectancy was 46 years, children were employed from the age of 8 and worked a 12 hour day. We were then taken to the exhibition room with examples of their products and those of other local potteries. It was really interesting and we would have enjoyed spending more time there but were booked for lunch at the Bull’s Head Repton!

After some impressively huge lunches, we still managed to walk around Repton church and descend into the crypt where some of the Viking burial stones survive. It was a very varied and enjoyable day out.

Our next meeting is on 25th October when Catherine Cartwright will speak of her “Research on World War 1” in the Village Hall at 8.00 pm. All are welcome.