Category: News & Events

Improved car parking tariffs take effect on 12 January

Release date: 8 January 2015

Following approval at the Cotswold District Council Cabinet meeting in December 2014, the following improved tariffs will take effect from Monday 12 January:

– removal of overnight parking charges (between 6pm and 8am) at the Brewery Car Park, Cirencester;

– introduction of a new off peak ‘plus’ ticket – allowing parking for both off peak periods and all day on weekends in any car park – at a proposed charge of £50 per year;

– introduction of a £2 all day tariff at the car parks in Old Market Way, Moreton-in-Marsh and West Street, Tetbury;

– at car parks where Sunday charges apply, the 8 am to 6 pm charging period will reduce to a 10am to 4pm period, to better reflect retail activity.

Commenting on the changes, the Cabinet Member for parking issues Cllr Chris Hancock said:

“We are always looking to improve our car parking services, and feedback from residents has shown that they are concerned about the availability of on-street parking overnight in the centre of Cirencester. We felt that removing parking charges at the Brewery Car Park from 6 pm until 8 am would help resolve the situation. We also think that the £50 per year off peak ‘plus’ ticket will be welcomed by residents faced with no resident parking zones or in streets with high parking demand – as well as bringing benefits to regular shoppers and those who only work on weekends.

Council Leader Cllr Lynden Stowe will be giving his full support to the proposals next week:

“We are mindful of the need to keep down costs for car park users and have already pledged to freeze all car parking charges until at least 2016, as well as introducing several price reductions and offers over the last few years, including weekly off-peak season tickets and the popular £2 all day parking fee at the Beeches car park in Cirencester. I believe that these latest proposals will bring even more benefits for residents, businesses, working people and shoppers across the district. We are also hoping that the new measures will enhance the visitor experience and increase the time spent in our market towns.”

Garden Organic, in conjunction with the Gloucestershire Joint Waste Team (GJWT) are looking to find volunteers who would like to become Master Composters, and are offering a free 2 day Master Composter initial training course this Spring. The course covers everything a volunteer needs in order to be confident enough to promote home and community composting within their community as a method of diverting waste. Following the training, there will be on-going support from both Garden Organic and the GJWT officers.

The sale of compost bins is one of the main ways the GWT can judge the take-up rate of home composting in Gloucestershire, and Master Composters are vital in helping us spread the word about the very reasonable compost bins that are for sale via the Recycle for Gloucestershire website: 

http://www.recycleforgloucestershire.com/article/113096/Home-composting 

Master Composters are also expert trouble-shooters, and have helped many residents who have come across issues when beginning to compost at home.

The promotion of composting, compost bins, and other systems can be done in a variety of ways – from writing articles for local journals, having a stall at local fetes or even just talking to neighbours. Two of the existing Master Composters even have demonstration bins available for people to look at. There is also a variety of resources that people can borrow to enhance any Master Composter stalls that they may organise, such as leaflets, tablecloths, cut-away compost bins etc. From time to time there is also the opportunity to support the Gloucestershire Joint Waste Team officers at roadshows and events throughout the county, though the most successful Master Composters are usually people who proactively look for ways to promote composting themselves.

Further information can be obtained from Katherine.cole@gloucestershire.gov.uk 01452 426525.

Service Calendar for January 2015

Note major changes to service times

The Little Angels mothers and toddlers group meets again on Fridays at 9.45 am at Nailsworth. Refreshments served afterwards in the Parish Rooms.

The next PCC meeting will be on Tuesday 3 February at 8.00 pm in the Village Hall.

     Diocesan News                 www.gloucester.anglican.org/news/publications

                                          www.gloucester.anglican.org/news/blog

     Nailsworth Benefice        www.stgeorgesnailsworth.org.uk

     Kingscote Community      www.kingscoteonline.co.uk

The Vicar’s Letter

Dear Friends,

As I was sitting pondering what to write for my January letter, I read one of the readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent. It seemed to contain the perfect New Year’s Resolution !

St Paul, writing to a group of Christians in a place called Thessalonica gave them this piece of advice – as always, short, sharp and to the point ….

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances.”

Okay, it is easier said than done !

But when we learn to begin to, look for the joy in life instead of complaining all the time; when we learn to say thank you all the time; when we live in a constant state of walking and talking with God, then our whole attitude changes.

It will make us more understanding and less judgemental of others. It will make us more generous people in all facets of our lives. It will actually make us more attractive people – maybe not physically, but certainly in our personality !

The truth is, if the world was more joyful and thankful and walked closer to the ideals of God, it would be a better place. ‘Rule book’ religion is inadequate, as is manifest in the world today, but Christ showed us the missing ingredient.

So why not begin with us !

Whatever life may throw at you during the next twelve months, I pray that you find more reasons to be joyful and thankful than anything else.

With every good wish and blessing for 2015,

Mike Smith

Flower Rota

Lorna Reynolds

Cleaning Team

The next church cleaning session is at 2.30 pm on Monday 12 January. We are always delighted to welcome anyone who would like to join the team.

Teresa Day

Village Hall Programme

Coffee Morning and Bring and Buy on Saturday 6 December:

RDA report

Many thanks for the contributions at the RDA table where we raised £169-65 which we were delighted with. To keep afloat we need to raise £3,000 each year so everything helps. Happy Christmas and all the best for 2015.

Angela Wooldridge

Marie Curie charity produce table

Proceeds at the coffee morning were £131-00 making a grand total of £331-00 for the whole year. Many thanks to all who supported the Grumbolds Ash ladies for the 2014 nominated charity.

Jane Bateman

Film night – Tuesday 13 January Quartet starring Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, 7.30 for 8.00 pm. Admission free, pay bar.

Coffee Morning – Wednesday 21 January, 10.30 to 11.30 am. £1.50 for coffee and cake.

Curry Night – Friday 30 January, choice of curries, including vegetarian and non- curry option, ice cream and coffee. Tickets in advance only, adults £8, children under 10 £4, family ticket £20.

If you do plan to come contact me on   patonbagpath@btinternet.com

(we must know the actual numbers beforehand to make these events viable).

Carol Paton

Grumbolds Ash Group

On Tuesday 20 January we meet at 12 noon at 3 The Walled Garden for our 2015 Events Planning meeting. Please let me know that you are coming and bring your ideas.

Jutta Tubbs

Book Club at 8.00 pm

Wednesday 22 January, ‘Pure’ by Andrew Miller, at Sheila’s

Wednesday 19 February, ‘Arcanum’ by Janet Gleeson, at Angela’s

Wednesday 19 March, ‘The Fishing Fleet’ by Anne de Courney venue to be arranged

New members always very welcome.

Angela Wooldridge

Bridge Club

Patti Shand will be recommencing the Thursday class on 15 January, 7.00 to 9.00 pm. New members are very welcome and if there is sufficient interest there will also be a beginners class.

Pauline McTear

Free-range eggs for sale

Mrs Pat Cooksley of 2 The Windmill normally has some free-range eggs for sale at £1 for six. Best call afternoons.

HELP !

Due to my date of birth, it seems that I have misplaced, mislaid or mislent the two editions of the booklet The Village of Kingscote by David Brightley, together with a pamphlet by the late Mrs Jackson.

Lutz Wagner Tel. 860 129

Kingscote Parish Council

The next meeting will be on Tuesday 27 January at 8.00 pm in the Hunters Hall.

Planning applications

Calcot House Kingscote, Erection of garage and part change of equestrian land to domestic cartilage.

Planning Approvals

Church Cottage 22 Kingscote, 1 Sycamore tree – prune as previously, 3 Sycamore in adjacent wooded area overhanging garden – fell. No objection from GCC.

The Parish Council wishes all Parishioners a Happy New Year

Anna Davison, Tel. 860 244

Sandy Childress

Early in December we received a very generous donation of £500 from Sandy, who formerly lived at Church Cottage, towards the restoration of the bells. In a nice link, she sent a recent news report and photograph of a new British made bell being hoisted up to the tower of the Harvard Memorial church where she and Brooks were married. In her accompanying letter she reported that so far she had escaped the huge blizzards in the northeast USA.

Church Gutter Cleaning

We apologise for the confusion and time wasting which arose on 13 December on this subject. Concerns had been raised about the H & S aspects of our usual DIY approach which were not adequately communicated. The expectation is that we will do it as a community team next year as usual.

Church Collections

This month we are turning the clock back on the procedure for collecting monies donated by members of the congregation at services. Instead of the sides-person moving through the congregation during a hymn and holding the money bag in front of them individually, we are reverting to the previous Kingscote tradition of leaving the brass collection plate at the door so that people can place their donations in it as they arrive. At the appropriate point in the service the plate will then be carried forward and presented to the officiating clergy at the altar. We feel that this is a more gracious procedure for all concerned.

The PCC

Weekly Recycling – Green food boxes and wheelie bins

All current collection points – from 7.30 am, Monday 5 January, Saturday 10 January and Fridays 16, 23 and 30 January.

Fortnightly Recycling – Black boxes, White Bags and Blue bags

All current collection points – from 7.30 am, Saturday 10 January and Friday 23 January.

Fortnightly Waste – Grey wheelie bins to landfill

All current collection points – from 7.30 am, Saturday 10 January and Friday 23 January.

Bus Timetable Enquiries -Ring traveline on 0871 200 2233.

Mobile Police Van

The Mobile Police Station will visit Kingscote on Saturday 17 January from 6.00 to 6.45 pm.

Mobile Library

The next visit will be on Friday 23 January when the van will park as usual in front of The Walled Garden from 9.30to 11.30 am.

Magazine

Any materialwhich may be of interest for the next issue of the Forerunner should be sent by 20 January to H. Tubbs, 3 The Walled Garden, Tel. 860 194.

The Editor

The PCC wishes all parishioners a

Happy and Successful New Year

Having trouble with your New Year’s Resolutions ?

Some well tried suggestions

1.          I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other Gods before me.

2.          You shall not make (or buy) for yourself idols.

You shall not worship them.

3.          You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God.

4.          Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

5. Honour your father and your mother.

6.          You shall not murder.

7.          You shall not commit adultery.

8.          You shall not steal.

9.          You shall not bear false witness.

10.          You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbour

(even if he is called Jones).

From Exodus 20

For Protection

Venerable Bede c.673 ~ 735

The greatest scholar of the early English Church, he spent his whole life as a

monk in Jarrow on the Northumberland coast. His History of the English Church

combines meticulous historical research with gentle spiritual interpretation.

O God, who are the only hope of the world, the only refuge for unhappy men, abiding in the perfect harmony of heaven, give me courage and strength amidst the conflicts here on earth. Protect me from the utter ruin that would befall me if my weak faith gave way under the many blows which assail me. Remember that I am mere dust and wind and shadow, whose life is as fleeting as that of a wild flower in the grass. But may your eternal mercy, which has shone since time began, rescue me from the jaws of evil.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch the woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound’s the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

                                                                                   Robert Frost, USA, 1874 ~ 1963

Parish Directory

Vicar:                    Reverend Mike Smith, Nailsworth, Tel. 01453 836 536

Curate:                  Reverend Sue Sobczak, Horsley, Tel. 01453 833 526

Reader                  Sue White, Nailsworth, Tel: 01453 835 693

Churchwardens:   Harry Tubbs, 3 The Walled Garden, Kingscote, GL8 8YP Tel: 860 194

                            Godfrey Ainsworth, Kingscote House, Kingscote, GL8 8XY Tel: 861 683

Hon.Sec.PCC:        Georgina Harford, Ashcroft House, Kingscote, GL8 8YF Tel: 01453 860 227

Hon.Treas.PCC:    Jane Nichols, Asheldown, 3 Ashel Barn Cottages, Kingscote, GL8 8YB Tel. 01453 860 534

Members of PCC:   The Churchwardens, The Hon. Secretary, The Hon. Treasurer, Elin Tattersall, Zoe Nichols, Chris Alford.

Flower and Clean Team: Teresa Day, Vivienne Ainsworth, Angela Wooldridge, Pauline McTear.

Nailsworth MU:     Trissa Jones,   Tel: 832 551

Editor of Forerunner: Harry Tubbs, 3 The Walled Garden, Kingscote, GL8 8YP Tel: 860 194

Gift Aid and Envelopes:   Jane Nichols, 3 Ashel Barn Cottages, Kingscote Tel. 860 534.

Church Flowers Rota: Lorna Reynolds, Tel. 860 231

Organist:               Rosemary Sims, 15 Badger’s Way, Forest Green, Nailsworth, GL6 0HE Tel: 832 446

Sidespersons:         Harry Tubbs, Rod Tibbert, Elin Tattersall,

Godfrey Ainsworth, Jane Nichols.

Electoral Roll:        Elin Tattersall, 3 Boxwood Close, Tel.01453 860 182

Mowing Team:      Harry Tubbs, Sebastian Cooper, Rick Bond, Roger Lucy, Godfrey Ainsworth, Ken Davies,

                            Brian McTear.

Village Hall:       Bookings: Pauline McTear, Kingscote, Tel. 861 311

                            Secretary: Carol Paton, Bagpath, Tel. 860 649

Parish Council Chairman: Graham Nichols, Asheldown, 3 Ashel Barn Cottages, Kingscote Tel: 01453 860 534

Parish Council Clerk: Anna Davison, Bagpath Court, GL8 8YG, Tel. 860 244

Village Agent:        Aileen Bendall, Tel. 07810 630 156 or 01452 426 868

Printer of Forerunner: Godfrey Ainsworth, Kingscote House, Tel. 861 683                                                  

The Forerunner is published by the P.C.C. who are usually most willing to

accept copy from village groups and individuals. However, please note that the opinions and views expressed by the contributors within the Forerunner are not necessarily those of the Church, P.C.C. or Editor.
 

You may be interested to know that a wild boar has been spotted near Tipputs Inn this evening.

Webmaster

Geoff has asked that the following message be circulated:

“Please let people know via the website that their interest and concern are very much appreciated, as are the numerous cards that have been left at Folly Cottage.

“Chris asked me to arrange a very simple cremation and – later – a celebration of her life. There are many people who want to remember her and we will have an open house in the village for the celebration (probably in late Spring or early Summer) but in keeping with her wishes, only close family and those friends who were with her in the last few weeks of her life are being invited to the cremation service.

“The cremation service will be held at 12.00 midday Monday 15 December should anyone wish to pause and remember her then. If anyone wishes to make a donation in memory of Chris, please give to the Penny Brohn Cancer Care Centre who gave us so much support over the past 18 months of Chris’s life.”
http://www.pennybrohncancercare.org/in-memory

Geoff

This to let you know that Chris died peacefully at 6.47pm last night, surrounded by her family, a few of her many friends, and with me by her side. She had been unconscious since Tuesday lunchtime and slipped away without distress or pain as if carried on a sea of love. Afterwards, we sat with her until dawn to accompany her passing. This morning we found these words in her journal, written about 10 days ago.

machete
hacking at
the
mooring
lines
tying me
to my
life, the
shore,
the
jetty of
my life
as the
tide comes
in and
oh so
gradually
bits disappear
under the
starlight
and others
float off
to sea. Gone in
the morning.

Love, light and blessings to Chris and to us all.

Geoff

 Service Calendar for December 2014

The Little Angels mothers and toddlers group meets on Fridays 5, 12 and 19 at 9.45 am at Nailsworth. Refreshments served afterwards in the Parish Rooms.

Anyone who would like to help with setting up the candles for the Christmas Carol Service on Friday morning 19 December and/or helping with clearing away on Saturday 20 December please call Harry Tubbs on Tel. 860 194. 

     Diocesan News                 www.gloucester.anglican.org/news/publications

                                          www.gloucester.anglican.org/news/blog

     Nailsworth Benefice        www.stgeorgesnailsworth.org.uk

     Kingscote Community      www.kingscoteonline.co.uk

The Vicar’s Letter

Dear Friends,

According to a certain popular soft drink company ‘Holidays are Coming’ ! This particular ad seems to play earlier and earlier each year ….

This year, for some reason, it reminded me of an old Christmas nursery rhyme you may recall :

“Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat

              Please do put a penny in the old man’s hat

              If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do

              If you haven’t got a ha’penny, then God bless you !”

Of course, many people won’t have a clue what a ha’penny is ! However, the sentiment is right because it is a season when we should really be thinking of others and not ourselves.

Christmas is a time when we celebrate the one who was God humbling himself to become a human like us, then to go to the cross to demonstrate the power of the real love that God has for us. We celebrate at Christmas the phenomenal generosity of God’s love.

And so we give gifts as a reminder of that generosity. But our giving sometimes needs a wider perspective. Otherwise we run the risk of becoming selfish, even in our giving.

In our churches this Christmas, our offerings will go to other people – charities helping the disadvantaged in our world – as an expression of our thanks for what we have received and an extension of God’s love for us.

May I encourage everyone to include someone less fortunate than us, or some cause helping those struggling with life, in their Christmas giving this year.

I wish you all a joyous Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year.

Mike Smith

The next PCC meeting will be on Tuesday 2 December at 8.00 pm in the Village Hall.

Cleaning Team

The next church cleaning session is at 2.30 pm on Monday 8 December. We are always delighted to welcome anyone who would like to join the team.

Teresa Day

Flower Rota

Flower Rota

There are no weddings planned in December.

Lorna Reynolds

Satellite Broadband

The deadline for registering an interest in this service trial has long passed, but if anyone wishes to approach the promoters they should contact Matthew Appleton (Technical Director – Voneus) at: matthew.appleton@voneus.com (Voneus is the new name for DICE)

The Editor

Village Hall Programme

Bring and Buy with Christmas Coffee Morning – Saturday 6 December, 10.30 to 11.30, coffee and mince pies £1.50. There will also be a produce sale by Jane Bateman and Riding for the Disabled, and anyone else who would like to sell for a charitable cause. Carol Paton Tel. 860 649.

Children’s Christmas Party – Sunday 21 December, 4.00 to 6.00 pm. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets £5 per child booked in advance with Zoe Nichols Tel. 860 254.

Grumbolds Ash Group

On Tuesday 16 December, 15 of us are booked in for our Christmas Lunch at the Trouble House near Tetbury GL8 8SG at 12.30 for 1.00 pm. As usual we each bring a small gift for the Christmas ‘Lucky Dip’. Parking is limited at the Trouble House so car sharing is advised where convenient.

Jutta Tubbs

Book Club at 8.00 pm

Wednesday 10 December, ‘Enchanted’ by Elizabeth von Armin at Viv’s.

Tuesday 20 January, War Brides by Helen Bryan, and Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, at Sheila’s.

New members always very welcome.

Angela Wooldridge

Kingscote Parish Council

The next meeting will be on Tuesday 27 January at 8.00 pm in the Hunters Hall.

Biodigester at The Old Dairy, Chavenage

As many will already be aware, the Stroud District Council did not approve the Planning Application for this project by a large majority. However, it is still possible that the sponsor will make an appeal against the decision.

Planning approval – 1 The Walled Garden, Kingscote, fell 1 Spruce tree CDC.

Planning Application – Church Cottage 22 Kingscote, 1 Sycamore tree – prune as previously, 3 Sycamores in adjacent wooded area overhanging garden – fell. Awaiting decision.

The Parish Council wishes everyone a very Happy Christmas

Anna Davison, Tel. 860 244

People For You

The Gloucestershire Rural Community Council runs a group of social volunteers, who make themselves available to visit and spend time with older people in the community who cannot get out as much as they would like, and would perhaps enjoy some company in the comfort and privacy of their own homes. The volunteer chosen would visitregularly so that you can get to know each other.

The volunteers in the team are checked and approved by the relevant civil authorities, and the needs and preferences of each applicant are considered carefully in proposing a representative. As far as possible they will be a local resident.

Social research has shown that being lonely and isolated is bad for one’s health, so if this service is of interest to you, please do get in touch with the People For You coordinator Sue Black on Tel. 07810 630 167.

Likewise, if you feel that you could be of service to the group as a volunteer, please contact Sue on e-mail: suebpeopleforyou@gmail.com giving some of your details.

The Editor

Church Gutter Cleaning

On Saturday 13 December we plan to have a gutter cleaning session starting at 9.30 am. Those of you who live close to the church and have good ladders should bring them. Gloves and narrow trowels are advised. All offers of help will be greatly appreciated, if not for climbing then for holding ladders steady for others.

If it is raining or the roofs are icy we shall postpone to another date.

The PCC

Church Smoke Alarms

Following discussions with our insurer, who informed us that the greatest threat to church buildings today is fire, we have decided to try with two domestic smoke alarms inside the building. The most likely sources of accidental fire are judged to be the oil fired heating boiler and the electrical systems. It should be noted that the oil fired boiler only runs unattended on Sunday mornings before services.

We judge that the noise from such alarms will be audible to passers by and possibly to those living close to building. If false alarms are occurring then the units will be removed. If you do hear alarms please call Harry Tubbs on 860 194 or Godfrey Ainsworth on 861 683. If smoke or flames are observed issuing from the building, call the fire service on 999 without hesitation.

The PCC

Free-range eggs for sale

Mrs Pat Cooksley of 2 The Windmill normally has some free-range eggs for sale at £1 for six. Best call afternoons.

Weekly Recycling – Green food boxes and wheelie bins

All current collection points – from 7.30 am, Fridays 5,12,19 and 29 December.

Fortnightly Recycling – Black boxes, White bags and Blue bags

All current collection points – from 7.30 am, Fridays12 and 29 December.

Fortnightly Waste – Grey wheelie bins to landfill

All current collection points – from 7.30 am, Friday 12 and 29 December.

Bus Timetable Enquiries -Ring traveline on 0871 200 2233. 

Mobile Police Van

The Mobile Police Station will not visit Kingscote in December.

Mobile Library

There will not be a further visit until January.

Magazine

Any material which may be of interest for the next issue of the Forerunner should be sent by 18 December to

H. Tubbs, 3 The Walled Garden, Tel. 860 194. 

The Editor

Lieutenant-Colonel Bromley Gardner

The Bromley Gardner family lived at Kingscote Park for many years and were prominent members of our community. There was an excellent obituary on Dick Bromley Gardner who died aged 93 on 22 August (three weeks after his wife Jean) in the Times on 13 November. Some extracts from the obituary are copied below: 

He was awarded the MC in the Western Desert fighting against Rommel’s tank army in lightly armed Bren-gun carriers, and later advanced into Italy where he was mentioned in despatches. After the war he joined the staff team at Sandhurst as a dashing, monocled young officer, where one of his roles was training the cross-country running team – he ran with them with his monocle in place. He met his wife at one of the Sandhurst Balls. He later commanded the King’s Guard at Balmoral.

He left the army in 1978 and pursued his love of horses, setting up the Kingscote Park Stud in partnership with his wife.

He was active in our community as a member of the Parish Council and from time to time he and some of his family attended Kingscote Church. He is remembered reading the lesson on occasion, but not with monocle !

The Editor

More than Words

Extracts from an item in the October Diocesan Messenger

When we see the needs of people around us, as Christians our first reaction is to pray that God will intervene in the suffering of the world and make it a better place for all of us.

But God has reminded us that we cannot simply rely on words; He has given us responsibility too. He expects us to do all that we can, and that means actions as well as just words.

If you are deeply affected by what you see about you, whether it is the hunger of families in Britain forced to rely on handouts, or the plight of ethnic minorities left homeless by war overseas, you can do something about it. Rather than sit back and bemoan the way of the world, we can take a stand and help those less fortunate. Are you ready to answer that call ?

You can find ways of helping to make a difference on our website:

www.gloucester.anglican.org/church-outreach/social-action/

The Perfect Christmas

A reflection by The Bishop of Tewkesbury, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow

Copied from the Diocesan Messenger for December

Most of us, when we picture the perfect Christmas, think of the young child waking early and rushing to see what has appeared under the tree. Every present is touched, shaken and inspected with a sense of awe and wonder.

It is a wonderful tradition. Gifts are a way of creating or deepening relationships. They draw us into a community and give us a shared sense of belonging. They require thought, care and preparation. But they also create a sense of obligation: how will you return the gift ? Or how will you pass it on ?

This Christmas we will hear again from the shepherds and angels. And we will ponder the supreme gift of God’s own Son. A gift offered to us with the intention that it (he) draws us into relationship and into community.

But such a gift also creates an obligation. How will we respond ? How will we pass it on ? Giving to God our devotion and our love is our supreme gift. But love for God cannot be divorced from love of neighbour.

I hope this Christmas, we will also give to our neighbour in Syria, Iraq or Sierra Leone, or to the homeless and isolated in our own town or village, or to the person using the food-bank or the credit union. Such gifts may create new relationships, which will bring us much blessing and joy.

The PCC wish all Parishioners a Joyful and Peaceful Christmas wherever they may be.

Parish Directory

Vicar:                    Reverend Mike Smith, Nailsworth, Tel. 01453 836 536 

Curate:                  Reverend Sue Sobczak, Horsley, Tel. 01453 833 526

Reader                  Sue White, Nailsworth, Tel: 01453 835 693

Churchwardens:   Harry Tubbs, 3 The Walled Garden, Kingscote, GL8 8YP. Tel: 860 194

                            Godfrey Ainsworth, Kingscote House, Kingscote, GL8 8XY Tel: 861 683

Hon.Sec.PCC:        Georgina Harford, Ashcroft House, Kingscote, GL8 8YF Tel: 01453 860 227

Hon.Treas.PCC:    Jane Nichols, Asheldown, 3 Ashel Barn Cottages, Kingscote, GL8 8YB Tel. 01453 860 534

Members of PCC:   The Churchwardens, The Hon. Secretary, The Hon. Treas-urer, Elin Tattersall, Zoe Nichols, Chris Alford.

Flower and Clean Team: Teresa Day, Vivienne Ainsworth, Angela Wooldridge, Pauline McTear.

Nailsworth MU:     Trissa Jones,   Tel: 832 551

Editor of Forerunner: Harry Tubbs, 3 The Walled Garden, Kingscote, GL8 8YP Tel: 860 194

Gift Aid and Envelopes:   Jane Nichols, 3 Ashel Barn Cottages, Kingscote Tel. 860 534.

Church Flowers Rota: Lorna Reynolds, Tel. 860 231

Organist:               Rosemary Sims, 15 Badger’s Way, Forest Green, Nailsworth, GL6 0HE Tel: 832 446

Sidespersons:         Harry Tubbs, Rod Tibbert, Elin Tattersall, Godfrey Ainsworth, Jane Nichols.

Electoral Roll:        Elin Tattersall, 3 Boxwood Close, Tel.01453 860 182

Mowing Team:       Harry Tubbs, Sebastian Cooper, Rick Bond, Roger Lucy, Godfrey Ainsworth, Ken Davies, Brian McTear.

Village Hall:       Bookings: Pauline McTear, Kingscote, Tel. 861 311

                            Secretary: Carol Paton, Bagpath, Tel. 860 649

Parish Council Chairman: Graham Nichols, Asheldown, 3 Ashel Barn Cottages, Kingscote Tel: 01453 860 534

Parish Council Clerk: Anna Davison, Bagpath Court, GL8 8YG, Tel. 860 244

Village Agent:        Aileen Bendall, Tel. 07810 630 156 or 01452 426 868

Printer of Forerunner: Godfrey Ainsworth, Kingscote House, Tel. 861 683                                                 

The Forerunner is published by the P.C.C. who are usually most willing to accept copy

from village groups and individuals. However, please note that the opinions and views expressed by the contributors within the Forerunner are not necessarily those of the Church, P.C.C. or the Editor.