On Friday we fetched willow whips from Nomansland for the school project, on Thursday we put insulation in the roof space over the Memorial Hall Lounge (with the help of Mark Hubbard). Last Wednesday we had a monster bonfire and more or less cleared it all. We made the first part of the willow outside classroom at the school. We cut back the hedge between the school grounds and the Memorial Hall and took loads to the bonfire. We replaced two broken lamps in the entrance to the Memorial Hall.
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Bob's very first Bench Working Party report!
The Kimpton BenchWorking Party Purpose - to repair and keep in good condition the public benches in the village, to obtain and install further benches. Members – Chris Baker, Ron Coleman, Jack Edwards, Bob Finch, Jon Marsh, Yorg Otte. Progress Report April 2005 The Working Party (listed above) have now completed their first phase of work, that is repairing and staining the existing Kimpton benches. The repair work done was at minimum cost and only where absolutely necessary. The cleaning and staining was to a higher standard using a guaranteed-for-5-year staining product. Ownership of the Kimpton benches is not always clear, however we are adopting them all as ‘village’ benches’ for the purposes of maintenance. The work done was as follows The (old) Recreation Ground. Repaired, pressure washed and stained the two benches at the top. Removed the concrete posts that supported two old benches to the right of the driveway, disposed of concrete posts (donated them to the Bowls Club). The two benches inside the children’s play area were not dealt with, under instructions of Chris Baker. The Wren Close Play Area.Repaired one bench and stained both benches. Wren Close. Stained one bench The New Recreation Ground.Stained bench to West of Tennis Court. The Churchyard. Repaired, pressure washed and stained bench on North boundary wall. Pressure washed and stained bench on West of walkway near tower. The bench on the South East churchyard path is maintained very well by Mrs Garcia, I have offered our services if required – she countered by offering to join the working party if we need any more help! A new bench, funded by Mrs Franks, will shortly be installed outside the tower; Ken Buckler has suggested we adopt that too. I have spoken to Mrs Franks, who has gratefully accepted our offer. The lovely oak benches (in memory of Dr Probyn) on the South wall of the church are regrettably terminally spoilt (by weather and lack of maintenance). Ken is looking for a sponsor for a replacement bench – which we will then install/adopt. The Green. Yorg has previously repaired, pressure washed and stained the three benches on the Green Dacre Rooms. Jack Edwards has nearly completed the construction of a bench of his own design to replace the broken one in front of the Dacre Rooms. The bench is in memory of Michael Strange and is privately funded. Can anyone think of benches we have missed? The cost of materials so far expended is £126.26 including VAT. This includes some spares for future use, eg vandalism. New Benches We now will be looking to raise money for new benches, and then installing and maintaining them. I am currently investigating sources of funding, including of course Memorial Benches. Would the Parish Council consider funding one or more benches from their funds? The possible site of a new benches needs, I presume, the approval of the KPC. Obvious sites include an existing concrete pad at the top of the Old Recreation Ground - where a bench once stood; a new site in the top south western corner of the Old Rec, just below the footpath entrance; the walled enclosure in the High Street near the Doctor’s Surgery; and perhaps a few benches around the perimeter of the New Rec. Most of these do not take account of the needs of older residents, without cars, who walk around the village. There are currently no benches for people to sit on in the High Street on their way to or from the Corner Stores or the Doctor’s Surgery. There is no bench for people to sit on at the bottom of Coopers Hill. Although probably even more controversial, the prospect of a few benches placed around our village footpath network appeals to some people (eg me). There are some suitable rough hewn Oak benches available, intended for use in woodland etc which will allay some people’s fears. One obvious site is at the point where the Environmentalists placed a log ‘seat’ some time ago. This has lovely views down to the village. A rough hewn oak bench to replace the log is a possibility. Bob Finch 20 04 05 Progress Last Meeting (before Christmas)
We had a bonfire (or three), we cleaned the tables at Peters Green, we filled up all the salt bins, we looked at the ceiling and leak at Church House and cleared the roof of debris. We replaced a dud tube in an outside light at the Mem Hall, and replaced a flickering tube in the Green Room, and replaced a tube and starter in the kitchen. We removed a fallen tree from the Mem Hall car park and took to bonfire. Progress Last Week
We took down the big marquee and took it to the container. We took down the Fair banners at each end of the High Street. We did a temporary mend to the broken dog poo bin at the bottom of Hall Lane, we took the WI tables from the boiler Room to Vivienne's and Patio washed her, yes, patio, again. We fixed a non working outside light at the Memorial Hall and investigated the non-working light in the kitchen - new tubes wanted (at least). We had our coffee in Sue and Neil's house on the Green - thanks very much Sue for the coffee and cake - and discussed, for Carina's benefit, the superb Christmas Fair and possible improvements for next time. First of well done all for the effort this morning - as John P said - it was the hardest work we had done for a long time. But we not only put three marquees up, but also fetched the first batch of tables and chairs. Thanks very much to Sue B for the coffee and treats. I suggested to her that we could make that our regular coffee stop. Not agreed though.
Regarding tomorrow, Thursday. The Christmas lights are going up at the school at 0930, and so far we have only Pete D helping Mark Hubbard. One or two more would be useful if anyone is free. Mark reckons less than an hour. Also Jon M and Neil are putting up lights and generally doing electrics tomorrow on The Green. They could probably do with a bit of help, it will almost certainly involve ladders, so people holding ladders will be helpful at least. So far only Gordon has said he will definitely be there, although others may turn up. 0930 onwards. Progress Last Week
The tear in the big marquee was mended. The waste bin at the west end of the village was screwed back on to the bus stop. The leaves were cleared off the Green. The Fair banners were put up at the bottom of Church Lane. A completely buried grave surround was excavated - and found to be about half the surround only. But it did have an inscription on it - John P is looking to see if we knew about it already. Progress November 15th We removed all the weeds from the side and back of the Dacre Rooms, we cut down the silver birch tree in Ulla Picket's garden and took to 108 ready for decorating at the Christmas fair. We zoomed to Ben Cole's farm and loaded 67 chairs and 10 tables into the trailer and Landrover and then stored them in the container. We made small wooden squares to hold down safety tape as part of the safety precautions on The Green for the X F. We are not sure about this safety project though. We zoomed to the Memorial Hall and replaced three outside lamps. We zoomed to the Purvis's house and collected a massive marquee and took it to the container. Great morning's work. Well done all. Progress Last Week
We removed all the weeds from the side and back of the Dacre Rooms, we cut down the silver birch tree in Ulla Picket's garden and took to 108 ready for decorating at the Christmas fair. We zoomed to Ben Cole's farm and loaded 67 chairs and 10 tables into the trailer and Landrover and then stored them in the container. We made small wooden squares to hold down safety tape as part of the safety precautions on The Green for the X F. We are not sure about this safety project though. We zoomed to the Memorial Hall and replaced three outside lamps. We zoomed to the Purvis's house and collected a massive marquee and took it to the container. Great morning's work. Well done all. Further Out Friday 24th November Coffee at Dacre Rooms and farmers market Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd December help at Christmas Market on The Green. Wednesday 10th January Annual Lunch 1100 at Hall Sunday 14th January Lining up roof only OAP lunch. Sunday 14th January OAP lunch in hall - we can go! Saturday 24th March 2018 set out chairs for Tim and Roly concert at Hall (WI, donation) Saturday 14th April 2018 Brass Concert in Church Sunday 22nd April Maserati Claggy Road Visit 14/11/2017
We had a bonfire, sawed off some poles and fetched Friday team arisings from the churchyard, looked at the bottle fridge in the Hall and decided it could not be mended, measured the insulation needed for above the lounge and removed broken glass and mirror from behind the Scout store. We painted the KPC notice board at the Corner Stores, removed a spike foot hazard from the footpath on the way to Peters Green, repaired three posts at kissing gates near Park Woods and completed the painting of the bench at Peters Green. We had coffee at Vivienne's and washed her patio with Patio Magic and took some WI tables to the boiler room ready for the Xmas fair. Phew! 6/11/2017 The hedge on the southern boundary of the Wrens Close play area was cut and arid the arisings taken to the bonfire. The new legs were fitted to the KPC notice board at the Corner Stores. The ''chicane fence'' at the southern end of the permissive path at Blackmore End was repaired. Keith did some bench work at Peters Green. 31/10/2017 Last Wednesday in the churchyard we lifted up several grave surrounds, finished painting the sofits on Church House and made a hinged hatch in the ceiling of one of the store rooms. (So we can still inspect from time to time and see if there is any water ingress). We took loads of one ton bags of leaves and branches to the bonfire. We varnished the inside of the KPC notice board at the Corner Stores, we fitted a new switch to the Memorial Hall vacuum cleaner. We held the ladder for IC3 to climb to fit replacement lamps in the heights of the church. On Friday we put the lining up, roof and walls, and on Monday took it down again. Progress Last Wednesday
We had a monster bonfire and removed most of the stuff. Needless to say the pile has grown again already! We fabricated and fitted the seats around the loggia on the school playing field. We inspected the broken vacuum cleaner in the Hall and found it to be a broken switch. We hope we did not lose any screws. We fitted the shelving to the supports in the container on the Rec. We moved the hinges on the Mem Hall rubbish bin gate so the shoot bolt slotted into its retaining hole. Progress last Week
We levelled a grave and turfed it, we raised up a listing grave from the north side of the church and started lifting out a completely buried one.We removed the hazel poles from a tree on the west and from the ''Mike Cox ''tree and removed much of the bole of the latter. We tidied up the ivy from around the poo bin at the bottom of Church Lane. Coffee break was dominated by speculation as to the future role of Bonnie, and the future of the Kimpton Church in general. Quite a big issue. Rain started at about 1230 so an early lunch. BobM - do we need to buy you a new chainsaw chain? |
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December 2021
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