A huge “thank you” to everyone who came to the Open Garden on 6th July, braving the rain but also enjoying half an hour of sunshine too!
We are very grateful to all who contributed in so many different ways and especially to the Needhams for generously hosting the event and allowing us to enjoy their beautiful garden
It costs around £1,000 a month to keep our village church open and this is our main annual fund raiser – so we are delighted that despite the generally awful weather, we still raised the magnificent sum of just over £1,100
Tucked away in the tranquil hamlet of Shorncote in Gloucestershire, and only a mile’s walk from Somerford Keynes, All Saints church is a hidden gem which invites you to take a step back in time, offering a glimpse into our rich heritage. For a day filled with history and charm, make sure to include Shorncote Church in your plans. Your visit and support will play a vital role in preserving its legacy for the future.
All Saints church is a historic Anglican church in Shorncote, Gloucestershire, under the care of The Churches Conservation Trust. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. All Saints dates from about 1170. Alterations were made to it, including the addition of a bellcote, in the 14th century. The church was restored by William Butterfield in 1883. The church was declared redundant on 1 July 1984, and was vested in The Churches Conservation Trust on 18 March 1987.
The church is in Norman style. It is constructed in stone rubble, with stone slate roofs. The plan consists of a nave with a north aisle and a south porch, and a small chancel. On the east gable of the nave is a double bellcote, over which is a pierced quatrefoil. In the west, south and east walls are two-light windows. The south doorway is Norman, with Early English capitals on the outer columns. On the south side of the chancel is a priest’s door between two straight-headed Perpendicular windows. Inside the church are wagon roofs. The chancel arch is narrow and pointed and contains 15th-century gates. The arch is decorated with Norman style carving. The font is also Norman. In the chancel is a piscina and a credence shelf dating from the 14th century, and in the north wall is a 15th-century Easter Sepulchre. On the chancel walls are medieval wall paintings depicting patterns and foliage. The pulpit dates from the early 18th century and has a tester suspended above it. Also in the church are the Royal coat of arms carved in stone.
Shorncote church is no longer used for regular public worship except for once each year, on the first Sunday after Christmas.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to a successful garden party at the Manor House in June; we are grateful to everyone who came, to all those who made delicious cakes and helped serve the teas and pimms, who donated raffle prizes, helped with setting up and clearing up afterwards and of course, huge thanks to Sussanne and Andrew Lock for allowing us to enjoy their beautiful garden
The event raised the sum of £1,300 for the church. A fantastic amount.
Villagers enjoyed a fabulous weekend, celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. All ages got involved with a variety of activities, including the Ring for the King, the street party in the sun and the volunteering event at the village lake. Thank you to all who helped with the organisation and set-up – and also to everyone who took part!
We are delighted to announce that the Somerford Keynes Coronation Big Lunch was a tremendous success! The fantastic support from our community helped us raise an impressive £260 for the remarkable charity, Winston’s Wish (https://www.winstonswish.org/). This fantastic organisation provides an invaluable service offering therapeutic support for children and young people who have lost a parent or sibling. They assist these children and their families in navigating their grief and building hope for the future.
Monday’s voluntary work was also a success! Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated volunteers, the Village Lake is now ready for the summer. We’re looking forward to seeing families and friends enjoy the beautifully lakeside.
We would like to extend our thanks to everyone who played a part in making this event successful. A special mention to our organisers: Bex Warde, David Crofts, Lynton Mogridge, Mike McKeown, Nick Cartwright, and Shirin Pawlowska. Your efforts were key in making this event a memorable one.
Our gratitude also goes to our generous donors: The Parish Council, Village Hall, Friends of Somerford Keynes Church, Nicholas Handover, Sussanne Lock, Andrew Kay, Helen Sweet, Mike McKeown, Roger Sleeman, Jane Hayman, Mark and Poppy Broadbent, Helena Metcalfe, Julie Allan, and six anonymous donors. Your contributions made a significant difference, and we can’t thank you enough.
A big shout-out to Jon Cantouris, Duncan Stradling, Lauraine, Richard, Richard Elsey, Chris Leek, Jane & Angus Hayman, Angela Stradling, Henrietta Cantouris, Maggie Elsey, Karen and Keith Holdsworth, Val Ockwell, Kat, and Mark. Your help with the Pimms and BBQ was appreciated by everyone.
Lastly, we want to thank the Heavy Gang – Des Sheen, Chris Isherwood, Andy Clark, Mark Broadbent, Poppy Broadbent, Richard Goldman, Alexander Warde, Keith Holdsworth, Jon Cantouris, Jane Hayman, and Angus Hayman. Thanks to your tireless efforts, the tables, chairs, and decorations were impeccably set up, adding a lot to the festive spirit of the event.
A vacancy has arisen for the Parish Clerk role within Somerford Keynes Parish Council. The Parish Council aims to play an important role in preserving the traditional nature of the village whilst ensuring it is a vibrant community for residents.
The Clerk plays a critical role in enabling the success of the Parish Council. With significant new funding in place and a predominately new group of Councillors, this is a great time to get involved to help shape and drive new initiatives.
Role Overview
Key responsibilities include;
Attending monthly Parish Council meetings (typically Monday evenings); assisting with agenda preparation, producing minutes and monitoring action follow-ups.
Providing financial reports; monitoring accounts and expenditure and preparing records for audit purposes.
Liaising with councillors, parishioners and third parties as required. Third parties could include other Local Authorities and public and charitable bodies as well as landowners and contractors.
Training can be provided on specific Parish Council procedures and regulations.
Required Skills and Attributes
This role will suit someone who is organised, enjoys working with others and is happy to deal with a range of people across different organisations. A working knowledge of Microsoft (Word, Excel and Outlook/email) is required. A laptop will be provided.
Pay and Hours
The role is for five hours a week at a rate of £12.73 per hour.
Application Process
To express your interest please send an email to [email protected] by June 30th. We are looking to make an appointment in July as the incumbent Clerk leaves on August 18th.
Thank you to everyone who came along and helped with the Litter Pick on Saturday. It was so very much appreciated and it was lovely to see you all. I would also like to thank all of the very kind residents who also collect litter throughout the year – it is always so shocking to see just how much there is! Thank you all. Here are a few photos but they really don’t capture everyone who helped. If you took any photos please email them to [email protected] who will add them.
The Parish Council sent a letter of condolence on behalf of themselves, and the village, when the Queen passed away. John Whitwell the Chairman was surprised and pleased to receive this letter in response from The King, and the Councillors wanted to share this with you all.
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