November 2007
OVERTON ORACLE
Overton’s Free Newspaper - issued
monthly to over 600 homes in Overton
November 2007
The Editorial Team David Burton - Euan Stevenson - Sean Clarke - Jackie Maskall - Cynthia Davies - Maxine Palmer Our reporters cannot be everywhere. EMAIL YOUR STORIES TO
EDITOR@OVERTON-ON-DEE.CO.UK |
| COMMUNITY PRAISED AT LONDON AWARDS On 16th October Joanne Kember and Sue Glover attended the finals of the Calor Village of the Year Cymru competition at Skinners Hall, London. It was important to them that they gave credit and thanks to the hard work over a period of 2 years to all the people involved in any way, shape or form. Overton, winners of the Nth Wales Village of the year, came runners-up in the final for the whole of Wales, pipped at the post by Lawrenny in South Wales. Many congratulations to them. Managing Director of Calor, Alex Davis, said “Overton-on-Dee villagers should be extremely proud. As a regional winner, the village has achieved so much, and we know that the community’s drive and enthusiasm will spur them on to continue to make every effort to further improve life for everyone in the village.”
OH!
WHAT A PARTY! Sunday October 7th and the day dawned looking very cloudy and grumpy. But as 4pm approached it was warm and dry as we made our way to St Mary’s School. The celebrations started with Brian Challis Co-ordinator for Calor Village of the Year presenting the awards Overton had won. Accepting these awards on Overton’s behalf were Adrian Lloyd, a self employed carpenter, representing Businesses, next, resplendent in his Scout Uniform, David Burton for the People’s Award, Katherine Crockford, the driving force behind our success, accepted the North Wales Village of the Year Award and Phil Humphreys Chairman of the Overton Community Council received the cheque for £1,500. Refreshments were then served, tea, coffee and hundreds of scones and home made cakes small, large, square, round; I think you get the picture and many thanks to all you bakers. Slightly later, hot dogs and filled jacket potatoes, again many thanks for the fillings that were donated. Ice cream sold by India Simon and Robyn King both aged 10; cold drinks were being sold by Chloe Chilver, Lynne Potter, Dafydd Kember all 15 and Anwen Davis 16, all volunteers. However, not to lose an opportunity all the profits were going towards funding 20 pupils from Maelor School who are going on a community and wildlife project to Zambia and Botswana. At times like these I wish I was still at school! The White Horse also supplied a bar. There were face painters, beat the goalie, a coconut shy, Emma Daniels and Eliza Meredith from Afterglow Circus Arts with many exciting activities such as stilts, a uni-cycle, spinning plates and many other interesting items to experiment with. Scouts and Guides were represented and our very own Reverend Dave. Musically, something for everyone from a string quartet to Pianist Tom McCusker 17, and The Overtones Barry and Roger Glover and Jonny Bell. The party was paid for by Calor who gave us an extra £500 for a village party as they were so impressed with how the villagers interact. This event proved it was a justified extra as there were babes in arms up to Grandparents all happily chatting and enjoying the fun. There are so many people to thank for making this party the success it was and I am terrified of missing someone out so may I just pick out Pat Clarke for the use of the school, Joanne Kember, Kay Lawrenson, Katherine Crockford and Katrina Chalk for the tremendous organisation which made this event so memorable and all the people helping with the refreshments and clearing up. OH!
WHAT A PARTY! On the 7th October the village celebrated it’s Calor Gas title with a party held in St Mary’s and the turnout was impressive. There was juggling, a coconut shy, beat the goalie and scouting displays, not to mention a huge variety of cakes and tasty hot food. The kids got the opportunity to play with their friends at the weekend and parents were able to leisurely catch up with one another as opposed to the ‘drop/ run/remember what you forgot’ routine we all have to suffer during the week. It was a weekend of mixed results, with the English Rugby team celebrating a victory and Lewis Hamilton managing a reasonable impression of Nigel Mansell. I won’t even mention the football …. There were raised eyebrows at the mention of a party in October but fortune favours the brave and the organisers were blessed with unseasonably warm weather. We recently received a poem from reader Hazel Mathews who hinted that she wanted us to report on the dark underbelly of Overton’s society and bring about more of a balanced content to the Oracle. Whilst I’m sure she would delight in the report that a number of W.I. members were ejected for starting a food fight and then shocked the crowds with their Calendar Girls impersonations, it didn’t happen so I will have to stick with the facts. My pen was poised, but she will be disappointed to learn that the event was probably more successful than hoped. Even the circus entertainers escaped ridicule and they invited it! Whilst I’m sure that Hazel’s comments were tongue in cheek, our more long standing readers will remember the ‘Stargazer’ column, which ran regularly a few years ago and occasionally carried a less wholesome view on village life. If you would like it to return please let us know, and if I’m lucky, I’ll be reporting on the crop circles and devil worshiping that’s been going on……….. Ramblings
From the Rectory Dear
friends, What does Remembrance Day mean for us? Do we give it any thought, do we observe the silence and then think no more about it. I was reading an old article the other week from the Manchester Guardian, which was describing the very first two-minute silence, held in London in November 1919. The pain and memories of the trenches were only a year ago when this article was written and you get a real sense of the trauma of people as they remembered: “‘The
first stroke of 11 produced a magical effect. The tram cars glided
into stillness, motors ceased to cough and fume and stopped dead,
and the mighty limbed dray horses hunched back upon their loads and
stopped, as seeming to do it of their own volition. Someone took off
his hat and with a nervous hesitancy the rest of the men bowed their
heads also. Here and there an old soldier could be detected slipping
unconsciously into the posture of attention. An elderly woman, not
far away, wiped her eyes and the man beside her looked white and stern.
Everyone stood very still…the hush deepened. It had spread over
the whole city and became so pronounced as to impress one with a sense
of audibility. It was a silence, which was almost a pain, and the
spirit of memory brooded over it all.” For
those people, the memories and scars of the First World War were still
vivid and raw. For us today it is vital we continue to remember as
a tribute to those who sacrificed all and as a rededication on our
part to work for peace anew in our world. This Remembrance Sunday
it is my prayer that we all will replace fear, suspicion and hatred
in our own hearts with trust, understanding and compassion, the things
that lead to peace in our world. COUNTRY
BEAT Halloween and Bonfire Night is one of the busiest times of the year for the Police with increased reports of Anti Social Behaviour and Noise from unauthorised firework displays. Fireworks
- It is hoped that all schools will receive presentations from their
respective "School Liaison Officers" outlining the dangers
of fireworks. Police Presence - Your Local Neighbourhood policing team will be making every effort to provide an extra presence over this busy time, please call us if you are being effected. Smoking Age Increases - From the 1st October 2007 the sale of Tobacco and all Tobacco paraphernalia became illegal to be sold to anyone under the age of 18, more information on this change can be found at www.tobacco18.co.uk . Funky Registration Plates - From the 1st October 2007 the rules around Registration Plates on vehicles have been tightened If you have a registration plate on your vehicle that has italic writing, Bold Letters or In Cor rectly Space ed letters your vehicle WILL fail its MOT . You may also receive a fine in the process. More information can be found on the VOSA website or pop into the police station for a chat. St Mary's Church
- And finally we have recently received a number of complaints regarding
youths congregating in the Church Grounds. Can parents discourage
their children from doing this as if we receive reports of damage
or littering, prosecutions will be considered. KID’S
PAGE ! Hey
Everyone!!! Agony
Aunt Recipe
for Choc-Marshmallow bites 1. Line
the base and side of an 18 by 28cm rectangular tin with foil or baking
paper. Bonfire
night is soon to come, and everyone is getting excited but you must
remember to stay safe, have a few helpful rules to help you enjoy
Bonfire Night safely: HOT
TENNIS For three very hot days over the August Bank Holiday 2007 The National Veteran Tennis Championships were held in Swansea on clay courts. John Eve and his partner Gordon Scott went to represent The North Wales County Veterans Tennis Team. After a lot of hard work and some fun I am delighted to report that they won the doubles final, without losing a single set. Having spoken to John I do not know which pleased him more, winning the tournament or beating the number one seeds from South Wales in the semi-finals, after being 4-1 and 4-2 down. John and Gordon were not seeded, so after that triumph they then beat the number two seeds in the final. John and Gordon also played in the singles tournament; John lost in the first round to the eventual winner, whilst Gordon managed to get to the final but couldn’t quite make the grade. However we wish them all the best when they defend their title next year. The County Veterans team consists of four members and their Captain Steve Hinton is also a member of the Overton Tennis Club and they play other Counties i.e. The Isle of Man between April and September. CHRISTMAS FLOWER ARRANGING AT ERBISTOCK VILLAGE HALL Yale College of Wrexham will be running a 5-week course of Christmas Flower Arranging Classes on Monday afternoons, commencing 5th Nov in Erbistock Village Hall. Classes will be 1.15 p.m. to 3.15 p.m. This is a leisure course for beginners to learn basic flower arranging skills and for improvers to build on what they have already learned. You will be required to bring flowers etc., each week. Fees
for the 5-week course are:- For further
information and a list of materials to bring on the first day, please
contact Debbie McCarthy, Community Development Officer at Penley Adult
Centre, Maelor School, Penley CONGRATULATIONS Congratulations and well done to Alice Foster, who entered the W.I produce show and took on the adults at their own game. Alice had grown runner beans in pots which she thought she would enter into the village produce show. Well, she did herself proud by coming 2nd being beaten only by Den Owen. Look out all you gardeners, Alice is hoping she can go one better next year. Well done Alice, here’s hoping you can achieve your goal. Cynthia
THE
MAELOR TAPESTRY Jim
Phillips It is sad to report the death of Jim Phillips, of Lightwood Green, who died suddenly on 5th Oct. Jim, who was aged 52, was well known in local sporting circles. In his early years he was a keen footballer and played for several local teams. Later in life he took up tennis and became a keen player not only in the Overton Tennis club but also at Wrexham Tennis Centre. He will be sadly missed by his sister Hazel and the rest of his family, and by all who knew him. Acupuncture
Awareness As an acupuncture practitioner partially working from the Overton-on-Dee Medical Practice I have been inspired by the encouraging enthusiasm I have received to date from those patients I have treated. Acupuncture falls under the umbrella of Traditional Chinese medicine and due to scientific developments is currently recognised by the World Health Organisation as being a safe treatment when carried out by professionally trained practitioners. To date there has been enough evidence published to consider acupuncture effective in many health conditions although due to the delicate dynamics of Traditional Chinese Medicine this has been a difficult area to develop, although encouraging for many health conditions. Traditional Chinese medicine prides itself on treating the whole person thereby offering an individualized treatment strategy for each patient using the well-routed concepts of Traditional Chinese diagnostics. Working amongst the community and guided by local enthusiasm I have provided the Overton Medical Practice with an Acupuncture Awareness leaflet for the benefit of patients indicating some of the health conditions that could benefit. This patient information offers guidelines regarding needle sensation, therapeutic effects and typical health conditions as seen in practice. The Medical Centre currently provides ongoing health clinics for Asthma, Hypertension, Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease all prevent health problem within our community. Many of the typical signs and symptoms as seen in these health conditions can be supported by acupuncture. Examples include: blood circulatory problems, headaches, vertigo, anxiety and depression. wheezing, copious sweating, allergies, weak immunity, lack of self esteem, breathlessness, pain and insomnia. These conditions offer a small insight as to the scope of health conditions seen in practice although are relevant to the group of patients attending the health clinics at Overton and provide an additional health service that could be considered as both supportive and convenient. If you would like to make an appointment or enquire about acupuncture please contact the Medical Practice or call in and collect an information leaflet. Tel: 01978 710666 or 01691 624734 The Flu Clinics started on Monday 8th October. Every year there is something in the press or on television about the effectiveness of these injections. Overton Medical Practice is very much in favour for those who are 65 years of age (before the end of March 2008) and anyone in the ‘at risk’ category taking advantage and coming along to have one. There is also the ‘one off’ pneumonia injection for the over 65’s. Ask at the Practice Reception. Neighbourhood Watch
PCSO 2876 Emily Williams View from the Village Vets. Stop, Think – Fireworks Frighten Animals. With the season of bonfires and firework parties upon us, the RSPCA has issued a very useful leaflet highlighting the dangers to all animals – not just dogs and cats – of fireworks and some sensible precautions that can be taken to make sure that they are not injured or upset. Generally the hearing of all animals is much more acute and sensitive than ours and so firework noise will naturally sound much louder. It is therefore useful to keep cats and dogs indoors with the doors and windows closed and background radio or TV sound to distract them. For small pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs it might be sensible to move them into a shed or outbuilding. The leaflet
also highlights the risk of bonfires not just to animals caged or
housed nearby, but also to any wild animals particularly hedgehogs
which might have burrowed into them. For dogs particularly frightened
by the noise of fireworks, there is a calming plug-in diffuser available
and as a last resort your vet might prescribe a mild sedative –
this should only be dispensed after checking that your pet is otherwise
healthy and has no illness which might affect the way in which the
sedatives work. LISTED
BUILDINGS IN OVERTON At a time when much of our rural landscape is undergoing constant change, and not always for the best, it is nice to feel that Overton, at least, continues to resist modern trends and manages to retain much of its old charm. One reason for this is undoubtedly the substantial number of listed buildings to be found in the village and its immediate surroundings, a surprising total, in fact, of seventy-six. A listed building is one that is of special architectural or historic interest which has been included on a list approved by the Secretary of State and is subject to special controls. As well as buildings, other objects or structures can be included in the list. Of the seventy-six, three of the buildings are graded II* (one being St Mary’s Church) and the remaining seventy three are all grade II. In High Street alone there are no less than sixteen listings. As well as imposing properties like Llan-y-Cefn, Knolton Hall, St Mary's House and Pendas House there are less obvious ones such as the Jubilee Pump, two milestones along Salop Road near Knolton, the War Memorial, Overton Bridge, Barton Bridge and Poulton Bridge and even the gate piers and gates to the former Bryn-y-Pys Hall. Most surprising, perhaps, is the red telephone kiosk in High Street by the Corner Shop and one, I believe, that we all need to keep an alert eye on. I have read some where that BT is in the process of replacing all similar phone kiosks with modern glass and plastic ones. The penalty for demolishing, altering or extending a listed building without official permission can be a fine of unlimited amount or up to 12 months imprisonment - so if you see a gang of BT workmen attacking our precious phone kiosk rush over to them and shout “Stop ! Desist ! You are committing a serious offence and could well end up in that little prison cell in Ruabon near the railway station and which incidentally, is also a listed building.”
The Maelor Youth Club The
youth club is going from strength to strength except in one vital
area and that is helpers. If we are to continue, we need people to
help, otherwise we may lose this essential part of village life. If
you can help even if it’s only occasionally, contact Rhos Choir to give Overton Christmas Concert Male
voice choirs have never been more popular, as reflected by the fact
that the Fron choir sold half a million copies of their best-selling
CD issued last year. The equally famous Rhos choir, who regularly
perform at top venues not only in the UK, but in the U.S., Canada,
Germany and all over the world, are coming to give a Christmas concert
in Overton St. Mary’s Church. PRE-CHRISTMAS
CHILD MINDING AT OVERTON PLAY CENTRE We are
excited to announce that we can help parents with their Christmas
preparations this year!! If you are planning to go shopping or need
time without the children on either Sat 24th Nov or 15th Dec WE CAN
HELP! If your child is between 2 ½ and 8 we will look after
them for part or the whole day. We will provide them with fun and
interesting activities which will include Christmas crafts. FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS Congratulations
to Mark Whittall and Suzannah Hill and also to Hannah Pritchard and
Peter Lodge on their engagement announcements. Belated birthday wishes to Melissa Haynes, Noreen Haynes, Clare Edwards, Stephen Sorfleet, Mary Perrin, Mark Whittall, Rebecca Overthrow and a Very Happy 18th Birthday to Lucy England. Sincere
condolences to Jim Eastop and family on the loss of Jim’s wife,
Viv, who has passed away after a long illness. It is
also with sadness that we note that a former resident of the village,
Mr Bill Storey has passed away. |
