XMAS EVE AND A LOVELY STORY ABOUT A PENKRIDGE LASS WHO IS KNOWN TO US ALL

We all look for good stories and headlines at this time of year.  And this year is no different.  The Staffordshire Newsletter has published a great story about one of the long standing members of our community of Penkridge - Win Laffan.   I will say no more except that you MUST CLICK ON THIS LINK AND GO AND READ THE ARTICLE YOURSELF.

A LOVELY LADY WHO HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS AND WHO IS STILL DOING IT.   AS SHE IS VERY MUCH NOW A SENIOR CITIZEN OF PENKRIDGE, SHE WOULD, HOWEVER, LOVE TO HEAR FROM SOME YOUNGER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO WOULD LIKE TO CARRY ON WITH THE WORK SHE STARTED MANY YEARS AGO.

THERE MUST BE SOME MORE "GOODIES" OUT THERE SURELY!

St. John Ambulance CADETS OF THE YEAR

At the recent County Cadet of the Year Competition two young ladies from Penkridge Quad Division, St John Ambulance, secured both the Staffordshire County Cadet and Deputy positions. Both girls have been members of the Organisation for some years.

Miss Freya Burgess was invested as the Lord Lieutenant's Cadet for 2009/10 and Miss Rebekah Manifold as her Deputy. Presentations took place at the Young Achievers Reception held at the County Buildings Stafford in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire - Mr James Hawley. Freya will now go on to represent Staffordshire at the National Cadet of the Year Competition in Nottingham early next year.

Andrew Hughes, Assistant Cadet Leader said "Everyone at Penkridge Division is immensely proud of the two Cadets and congratulates them both on all their hard work and effort which helped them achieve their positions. We are sure they will prove worthy ambassadors for the County and the Organisation." Freya herself commented "It is both an honor and a privilege to be given the opportunity to represent St john Youth in Staffordshire. Rebekah and I are looking forward to all that our positions entail over the coming year and will endevour to do our best at all times".

Copenhagen LIVE

XMAS HAS ARRIVED

We always known when Xmas has arrived when the "Sally Army" band is heard playing. On this bright and sunny morning, after heavy rain in the night, 8 turned up with their instruments and slowly walked up the road, stopping, as they do, every hundred yards to play several xmas numbers. My wife walked out to save them coming down the drive to hand them our usual donation towards their valuable work and I followed with my camera and took the following pictures.

I must now put out my Criers Bell on the front of the house. Look out for it when you drive up Haling Road (what was once called "The Marsh" and still is!).

Penkridge Town Crier

Burial Ground News

The Parish Council is to apply for Planning Permission to erect a fence and gates around the boundary of the Burial Ground which will be opened in a morning and locked in the evening.  If parishioners have any comments they would like to put forward to the Burial Ground Committee with regard to the application which includes fence type and height, could they please forward these to Lesley at the Haling Dene Centre or via email [lesley@penkridgeparish.org.uk] no later than Friday 8th January 2010. 

Other BLOGS of interest

I was talking tonight on the phone to two friends of mine who have a very good BLOG called Jupiter Birding. (June and Peter - get it! and they are both birdwatchers, like me). The main difference between us is that they live for several months of the year out in Portugal, taking visitors birdwatching in the Algarve area, including over the border into good birding spots in Spain too.

Take a look at their Blog (http://jupiterbirding.blogspot.com) where you will read about and see marvellous illustrations of some of the birds they have seen over the autumn out there on the Algarve.

NEW BIRD FOR THE GARDEN

My wife and I were watching Blackbirds scrapping in the garden on Saturday last, when suddenly, the above bird appeared within a couple of metres of our kitchen window. At first I thought it was a Goldcrest but then we clearly saw the white eyestripe - A FIRECREST. It just shows that you should keep looking. It is the first we have seen in the garden in the 45 years we have been living here. I have seen them elsewhere in Staffordshire but never as close to home as this one was.

Since posting the above, my wife now tells me that she saw one in our front garden on the roses many years ago (I can hardly remember when we had roses in the front garden). I always knew she had better eyesight than me - now I know she has a better memory too.

Bevan