January 2009
OVERTON ORACLE
Overton’s Free Newspaper - issued
monthly to over 600 homes in Overton
January 2009
The Editorial Team EDITOR - JILL
BURTON Please remember that the Oracle has no reporters. We rely on individuals or representatives of our village’s many organisations to write contributions and e-mail them to editor@overton-on-dee.co.uk or leave them at the Corner Shop. So if you think there is something that should be in the Oracle or your organisation is not mentioned - do something about it! Write something for the Oracle! EMAIL YOUR STORIES TO
EDITOR@OVERTON-ON-DEE.CO.UK |
| Volume
11. Issue 1 January 2009 The Oracle is 10 years old Ten years ago this month the first edition of the Oracle appeared, although it wasn’t called the Oracle at that point. A request for suggestions for a name appeared in that first issue and from those the name “Oracle” was selected. On the first editorial committee were Ken Farrell, Glynis Farley, Maureen Evans, Jane Rate, Alan Edwards (editor) and me! Other members of the team over the years have been Lesley Pugh, Christine Stead, Jackie Evans, Euan Stevenson, Wally Wilton, Maxine Palmer, Sean Clarke, Cynthia Davies, Jacky Maskall and Jill Burton. There have been four editors, Alan, Maxine, myself and our current editor Jill. Eighteen distributors deliver 570 free copies to most of the houses in the parish. If yours isn’t delivered please let us know and we will try to ensure that you get a copy. Many of our distributors have been delivering the Oracle since its first issue and when they have left the village or just faded away, someone else has always stepped forward. The job of organising the deliveries has fallen to Alan Edwards, Euan Stevenson and our current distribution manager, Cynthia Davies. Our current distributors are Sandy Foster, Joy Davies, Josie Ralphs, Dave Austin, Jean Hughes, Myra Worthington, Davina Pritchard, Anne Butt, Barbara James, Jenny Bellis, Euan Stevenson, Glenys Roberts, Linda Hughes, Catherine Starkey, Linda Done, Janet Edwards, Sheelagh Kokic, oh, and me. Our thanks to all these people who deliver in all weathers. Overton Community Council have always paid the printing costs, now as a grant, for which we are very grateful. The printers since 2006 have been Prontaprint, whose owners Steve and Sandra Whitley also live in the village. So as you can see there is a veritable army of volunteers behind the production and distribution of the Oracle and my thanks to all. Also thanks must go to you, our readers and contributors and advertisers— your contributions and pieces of news, letters etc, make the Oracle what it is today. So please keep your contributions coming. The longest running regular columns are What’s On and For Sale and Letters to the Editor (or Postbag)—very much your columns! The first contribution from our Police Community Beat Manager, Paul Wycherley was in May 2001 eventually becoming aptly known as ‘Country Beat’ with Pat Burns, Darren King and Luke Hughes as its authors. The Kids Column started in September 2004 and thanks to all of our younger contributors who have made this possible. December 2004 saw the start of the Medical Practice News and David Lewis started Ramblings from the Rectory in June 2005. We have
had many battles over the Oracle’s independence and now it truly
is. It’s your newspaper and may it continue and prosper for
many years to come. Ramblings
From the Rectory Dear Friends, As I write this, some two weeks before Christmas, the news is full of items about the credit crunch and terrorist attacks in India and the Shannon Matthews Abduction case. You would be forgiven for feeling very bleak about the state of our world. And yet the Epiphany story of the wise men being led by a star to the manger in Bethlehem is one of hope. The magi were of a different culture, faith and background to Mary, Joseph and Jesus and yet the light of God touched their hearts and they responded by journeying in peace to meet this special baby who would bring hope and life to all people, regardless of who they were. For me,
that is the marvellous message of Epiphany, which we celebrate on
January 6th, that Jesus still brings light and hope to people’s
lives and hearts.
Overton Scouts are 100 Years Old
100 years of scouting in Overton. Scouting began in 1907 when Robert Baden Powell organised an experimental camp for 20 boys on Brownsea Island near Poole, Dorset, in August 1907. The camp was a great success and in January 1908 he published “Scouting for boys”. By 1909 a group had been set up in Overton. Plans
for the celebration year include We are asking all ex scouts of what ever age to send us their memories of scouting and hope to publish a memories book in November. Please send all contributions to David Burton at editor@overton-on-dee.co.uk. If you have anything you could lend from your days in Scouting, badges, items from Jamborees, old scout shirts, certificates etc. please bring them to the Scout Hut between 7 and 9 pm on any Friday evening. We will take your details and give you a receipt and promise to look after any item. We would love to see any photographs that you have and can scan these and return them to you quickly. Please help to put together the big picture of each generation of scouting in Overton since that day in July 1909 when it all began. GALA FILM NIGHT Cancel
all engagements – on Friday 30th January, the Village Hall will
become Overton’s own cinema! The screening is to promote the much-anticipated Overton Film Club – and will be FREE (although the voluntary contribution of a gold coin to cover the evening’s costs will be encouraged!). Delicious drinks and snacks will also be on sale. In the future, Overton Film Club would hope to put on a monthly screening for members and guests in the function room above the White Horse: the idea is to show classic films, British films, foreign films – anything that’s not showing in Wrexham! Also planned are occasional Saturday morning screenings for children. But we
need your support! Kids
Kolumn
ASK ALICE A. Try talking to your Grandma she is probably feeling the same way, she might want somebody to talk to as well and you might make each other feel comforted. If you were to talk to your Mum and Dad about your problem they would also understand and help you cope .We hope we have helped you James. LAUGH
WITH LYDIA How are a jeweller and a jailer alike? The jeweller sells watches & the jailer watches cells. If two's company and three's a crowd, what are four and five? Nine. If you
have it, you want to share it. If you share it, you don't have it.
What is it? A secret. Animal:
Hamster Music Review One of
the boys is Katy Perry’s second album. It’s full of loads
of fun songs and she sounds great on every single track. Katy Perry
grew up listening to gospel music and singing in church; her original
name was Katy Hudson. SCHOOL NEWS Pets at Home in Wrexham has been helping Overton St Mary’s primary school get in touch with its wild side and team members from the store have helped the pupils set up a wildlife garden within the school grounds. The store, on Wrexham Retail Park, has donated a number of wildlife products to the school including bird tables, feeders, bird seed and even festive treats such as a cranberry flavoured suet feeding block for birds and a bird seed wreath. Store manager, Tom Bawden, said: “This is a great way to start teaching children from a young age about wildlife. This winter, we want the people of Wrexham to embrace the area’s wildlife and setting up a simple bird table with feed is the easiest way to do that. From starlings to blue tits and greenfinches to collared doves, the pupils at St Mary’s will be able to see just how many different types of garden birds their own wildlife garden attracts.” Mrs Clarke,
head teacher, added: “The children were really excited about
the visit from Pets at Home and we’re all looking forward to
seeing what birds our very own wildlife garden attracts. Our very
own Eco Council will be eagerly monitoring bird activity in the area.”
Here is another glimpse of Overton’s colourful past this time showing one of the decorated floats that took part in the village Carnival during the early 1900’s. Very appropriately it depicts life in the farming community of those far-off days. The milk-maid on the left of the photo holding out her jug and wearing her yoke for carrying the two milk-churns by her feet is Mrs Nell Bussey who lives at ‘Ivanhoe’ in Willow Street and the man peeping out from behind the lady on the right is Mr Philip Woolley who was a groom at Bryn-y-Pys Hall and was the father of Jim and Ernie Woolley. The identities of the other ladies and the children in the photo are still a mystery. Can any reader help? Let the Oracle know any names. This old tin probably dates from the period when Overton was raising funds for its Village Hall, some time around 1926 and it tells us that the Carnival was combined with a Fair. Over the years I have heard many people speak nostalgically of the Carnival. We still have a Fair in the form of our annual fete and I cannot help wondering if it would be possible or even desirable to have restored Carnival procession as part of the festivities, as in the old days. MESSAGE
IN A BOTTLE
Police
in the village of Overton are supporting a scheme which encourages
the public to complete a form which lists essential information that
would be needed in an emergency which is to be kept either in a wallet
or in a bottle in the fridge. The message
in a wallet is very similar but the information is kept in a small
plastic folder that fits in your wallet like a credit card. If someone
falls, collapses or is involved in an emergency of any kind, the majority
of people will look in the wallet or a purse to seek a name and any
information about that person. Please do NOT fill in your address
on the form. COUNTRY
BEAT
I have recently received information from West Mercia Police that they are currently experiencing a new trend in theft from motor vehicles. It would appear that the offender/s are targeting Childs Car Seats which are left in vehicles overnight, I understand that these are quite expensive items and I would suggest that they are being stolen and then subsequently sold on. Could I ask everyone to forward this e-mail to anyone who may benefit from this advice, also if you know any neighbour / local residents that leave car seats in their vehicles overnight I’m sure they would appreciate the warning. To date we have not had any similar thefts, and with your help we won’t have any in the near future. Clearly I would suggest that no items of value are left in any vehicle and all vehicles are locked when unattended. OVERTON MEDICAL PRACTICE Do you have some time to spare? The Practice Patient Participation Groups were first established in the UK in 1972 and the National Association for Patient Participation (N.A.P.P.) (www.napp.org.uk) was founded as an umbrella organisation in 1978. Overton’s group was formed in 2005. Our plan is to develop a larger, more structured, self managing group in line with N.A.P.P. guidelines. The voluntary group shall be non-party in politics and non-sectarian in religion. We are seeking involvement from patients of all ages, members of associated local organisations and volunteer groups who are also patients of the Practice. The
Group’s aims are to This is an exciting opportunity to become a member of the Group and help to shape the local healthcare provision. If you would like to join, write to the Practice Manager, Overton Medical Practice, marking your envelope PPPG, giving brief details about yourself. The next meeting will take place on Monday 16th February 2009 in the Overton Surgery at 6pm. Overton Play Group News On the first Thursday of each month Clare has agreed to cut children's hair for £5 (£1 of which she is donating to the Play Centre). Book your children in on the form on the Play Centre message board and we will offer tea & coffee for 50p. While one child is being seem the others can play, a relaxed time had by all! From
this term we are opening EVERY Thursday from 3.30 to 5.30pm for Playgroup
Friends. Everyone is welcome to come for a chat and a drink while
their children play with others. At the end of January / beginning
of February we are combining with the Twinning Committee to put on
a Bingo evening at the Play Centre. Come along for a fabulously fun
evening with refreshments. Look out for posters in the village for
the date when confirmed. Proceeds will be split between both organisations.
THANK YOU Thanks to the Overton Community Council and to all those householders who decorated the streets and their houses with Christmas lights and filled the dark cold evenings of December with Christmas cheer. We are pleased to announce that the Corner Shop Summer Raffle raised a total of £274. This has been presented to Matt Hayward to be donated to the Special Care Baby Unit at the Maelor Hospital. Matt and Sarah Hayward had a premature baby in the summer, and asked if we would keep a charity collection tin on the counter at the Corner Shop. We were delighted to do so, as all of our children had been born prematurely, and we recognised the very important work that SCBU carries out. We have added the Summer Raffle money, as we had not decided at that stage which charity we would be raising money for, so when Matt asked, we were only too pleased to help. Thanks, Mick
Thank
you to everyone that gave me Christmas tips, it was really kind of
you. Thanks again. |
