SULGRAVE MATTERS

Back to School or College Funding – September 2014

• SEC has been helping Sulgrave village children since 1759, it was then called ‘Timcocks and Walkers Gifts’
• Its purpose is to help the children of Sulgrave in their education or acquiring work related skills
• SEC will contribute towards the cost of educational items such as books, equipment, tuition and trips
• Click here to apply online or email [email protected] simply stating what the money is to be used for, the total cost and how much you will contribute towards it – or write to SEC, c/o Dove Cottage, Church Street, Sulgrave OX17 2RP
• Click here to read more about the fund and its history.

How the turbines would appear from the Barrow Hill footpath

It will be recalled that the second public inquiry into the proposed Spring Farm Ridge Windfarm took place in October 2013. The purpose of the inquiry was to consider the appeal by the developers, Broadview Energy Limited, against South Northants Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for the scheme. After hearing all the evidence and carrying out site visits, an Inspector at a planning appeal normally takes a few months to consider the matter, write a report and issue a decision either to allow the appeal and grant planning permission or dismiss the appeal and refuse planning permission.

In this case, it was expected that the Inspector would publish his decision before Christmas 2013. However, during the course of the inquiry, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, announced that he would be making the decision for himself. The Inspector was therefore required to consider the evidence and present a report to the Secretary of State together with a recommendation. It probable that this report was completed by the end of 2013.

Early in 2014, the Secretary of State requested the views of the main parties to the appeal in respect of certain new evidence and revised government planning policy before making his decision. These parties are South Northants Council, Broadview Energy Limited and the Helmdon Stuchbury and Greatworth Windfarm Action Group (HSGWAG). The Secretary of State announced that this would delay the announcement of the decision until July 9th. HSGWAG duly commissioned barrister Richard Honey and his expert witnesses to prepare and submit appropriate representations on its behalf.

July 9th duly came and went with no announcement of any kind. After repeated requests, a government spokesman agreed that the deadline had been missed but could not give a new date for the decision.

On 15th July, the three main parties to the appeal received a letter from the Secretary of State stating that he would not be in a position to make his decision until he had received their views on the legal implications of the Appeal Court judgement in respect of Barnwell Manor v East Northants DC. Essentially, the Court of Appeal overturned an Inspector’s decision to allow an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a windfarm on the basis that the impact of the turbines on local heritage assets had not been properly considered.

Once again, HSGWAG’s barrister Richard Honey, was commissioned to prepare representations on this matter before the deadline of 12th August, which he duly did, and then to submit comments on the representations made by Broadview Energy Limited, which he also did.

The final date for the submission of representations on this matter by the main parties is 22nd August. It is assumed that once these have been considered, the Secretary of State will finally be in a position to make and publish his decision. It is not possible to put a date on this, since the final sentence of the government’s letter requesting comments on the Barnwell case simply said “We aim to issue the decision as soon as reasonably possible after any responses have been considered.”

What is meant by “as soon as reasonably possible” remains to be seen!

In common with others all over the country, many people in Sulgrave extinguished their lights and left only a single candle burning in a window between the hours of 10 and 11 pm on Monday 4th August, to mark the exact moment of the hundredth anniversary of the start of the First World War, often known simply as “The Great War”. A group of villagers also spent the hour in reflection in the darkened Church of St James. During this simple but very moving ceremony, poems were read, reminisces shared and prayers were offered. The picture above features an upstairs window in Dippers Cottage, Little Street, Sulgrave. On the left is my “great-aunt” Lilian Taylor, a member of the Women’s Royal Air Force who was serving in France and died of influenza a few days before the war ended on 11th November 1918. She is commemorated by a War Graves Commission headstone in the village churchyard. On the right is my Uncle Harold, who was killed right at the start of the war in the First Battle of Ypres, has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate and in the chancel of the village church as well as on the war memorial.  See here for more details of Lilian and Harold together with others from the village who lost their lives.

Colin Wootton

Lilian Taylor of Sulgrave, Women’s Royal Air Force, died 6th November 1918, aged 29

Late in the afternoon of 3rd August 1914, the British Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey, stood at the window of his office in Whitehall and was overwhelmed by a sense of foreboding tragedy. As he looked out he saw that the street lights were being lit down below. He turned to a visiting friend and observed ‘the lamps are going out all over Europe and we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime’.

Everyone in the UK is invited to take part in “LIGHTS OUT” by turning off their lights from 10 pm to 11 pm on 4th August, leaving on a single light or candle for a shared moment of reflection.

In particular, villagers are asked to remember those from Sulgrave who died in the conflict. See here for full details of the 18 young men and women who went to war and did not return.

See here for details of the National “Lights Out” event.

Future first US president George Washington as a young officer in the British Army during the French and Indian War 1754 to 1763 (Re-enactment of a skirmish in the Manor orchard)

Saturday July 5th provided glorious summer weather for United States of America Independence Day (nominally July 4th) celebrating the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain in 1776. Highlights included a parade of British and French soldiers in mid-eighteenth century uniforms with frontiersmen and native Americans in war paint. This was followed by the re-enactment of a skirmish between these soldiers in 1754, said to be the young George Washington’s first taste of action, whilst still a British officer. The sound of musket fire was later replaced with the characteristic roar of Harley Davidson motor cycles ridden into the courtyard by members of the HOG (Harley Owners Groups) Lakenheath and Nene Valley Chapters. Cheerleaders from the Danielle Buick Academy of Theatre Arts performed on the front lawn, which was also the venue for a variety of Tudor children’s games. The Forge area featured activities by Boy Scouts of America and Scouts and Guides from the UK. Long queues formed in the courtyard for burgers and hot dogs from the American style barbecue, entertained by live music from “Acoustic Journey”. The usual tours of the house were available and a very fine exhibition of Native American artefacts was to be found in the Brew House.

Photographs of all these events on the following pages.

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Sale of Promises at the Village Fete

Shrimp Christy writes:

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2014 marks the bi-centenary of the signing of the Treaty of Ghent and the centenary of Sulgrave Manor’s purchase to serve as a symbol of continuing friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States.

For a hundred years the Manor has been supported by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America and on the weekend of 7th/8th June, 120 Dames and their husbands visited the Manor to celebrate this event. Despite torrential rain on Saturday morning, the weather relented during the afternoon to give bright sunshine for the reception, the afternoon picnic with villagers, the Tudor performance and the parade of the Grafton hounds.

Perfect English summer weather continued on Sunday for morning service at the Church of St James the Less led by the Bishop of Peterborough followed by lunch at the Manor attended by Earl and Countess Spencer and the American Ambassador.

Photographs of these events can be seen on the following pages.

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Susan Hilton’s wonderful cooking at The Star Inn has won the village pub the coveted Hook Norton Brewery “Food Champion of the Year” award. Susan is seen here relaxing outside with the award, whilst Sam pulls a celebratory pint….

More on the next page, including details of a second award…..

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Ingram Lloyd writes:

Please come and help raise funds for St James the Less and Sulgrave Manor.

Entry for visitors: adults £5, children under 16 and accompanied by an adult £1.

Tea and refreshments are available. Free for exhibitors.

Please let others know about this event as well.

 ALSO – do you have a classic or veteran car, cars, old bicycle, tricycle, scooter, pram etc. that you would be willing to have included in our village event? Having wheels is important! Vehicles will be on part of the Manor grounds. If you can manage this date and are happy to join in I would need your vehicle at about 10am latest and also a write up about the car etc. earlier so that I can compile a programme.

Contact Ingram Lloyd. 01295 760520. [email protected]