Appointed as first full time manager of the Village Community Shop when it was established in 2004, David Bolton has decided that the time has come to call it a day. After 9 years of running the shop with the always enthusiastic but sometimes dubious assistance of sixty or more different volunteers ranging in ages from 12 to 90 he will, as they say, “be pleased to spend more time with the family”! David’s contribution to the continuing success of the shop has been immense. He has driven over from Towcester every day, whatever the conditions and attended many evening meetings with volunteers. Many of his ideas have been adopted and have greatly contributed to the smooth running of the shop. His services will be much missed but we hope that he will continue to keep an eye on things, disguised as a regular customer!

See here for advertisement for a new Shop Manager.

Mac Macdonald writes on behalf of the shop:

John the Post’s bench….it’s here for us all to use! No more updates needed. I sat on it this evening and it looks brilliant. A fitting and constant reminder of our village friend. We’ll see if  ‘young John’ can persuade Pat to come along and see what’s been achieved in his memory.

Click here for Mac’s latest report on the shop.

See next page for more photos of the bench.

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How the turbines would appear from the Barrow Hill footpath. M = Sulgrave Manor

Following the High Court quashing of the Inspector’s decision to allow the appeal by Broadview Energy against South Northants Council’s refusal of planning permission for the Spring Farm Ridge Windfarm, the Planning Inspectorate has published a programme for a further public inquiry. This will be held at an venue yet to be decided (probably the Council Offices at Towcester) commencing on 8th October. It is expected to last 12 days with a decision issued on or before 23rd December. For this new inquiry, the Helmdon Stuchbury and Greatworth Windfarm Action Group will be one of the main parties, together with South Northants Council and Broadview Energy. The case for the Action Group will be led by barrister Richard Honey with expert witnesses Alison Farmer (landscape architect), Michael Muston (planning consultant) and Robert Davis (acoustic engineer). Various third parties will also present evidence, including representatives of the Parish Councils of Greatworth, Helmdon and Sulgrave, Sulgrave Manor Trust, Helmdon Footpath Warden and affected residents. Written statements by these third parties have to be submitted to the Inspectorate by 23rd May. Anyone else wishing to appear at the inquiry should also submit written statements to the Inspectorate by this date.

Megan and Jack make the inaugural “flight”

Claire Purves was one of a group of young mothers whose vision and hard work brought about the restoration of the village’s pocket park. Sadly, she died in a road accident in 2011. It had been her wish that the park should feature a zip wire as its main attraction. The princely sum of £8000 was raised by the efforts of many in Sulgrave and the surrounding villages. Sunday 24th March was chosen as a suitable spring day for the official opening. Unfortunately, the day turned out to be more like midwinter with deep snow and a biting easterly wind. However, undeterred by the conditions a large crowd gathered to remember much missed Claire and watch her children Megan and Jack make the first “flight”. More pictures of this event on the next page.

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John’s 60th Birthday Party in 2007

Richard (Mac) Macdonald writes:

“I’m delighted to let everyone know that we have taken delivery of the bench in memory of our friend ‘John the Post’.  Clare Pollak is kindly storing it for us until the weather improves & we finally have a date from the council appointed contractors for its installation outside our Shop.
Thanks again for everyone’s generosity; it’ll be a fitting tribute to the man who was such a positive part of our daily lives.”

Many thanks.
Mac

Click here for more information.

The Pocket Park Zip Wire under construction

Julie Russell says:

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

You have baked, bopped, zumba’d and shopped all in memory of the much missed Claire Purves…. and raised a quite extraordinary £8,000. Claire’s family have found great comfort in all your endeavours and support and would like to say a huge thank you by inviting you to the launch of the Sulgrave flying fox.

So please join them for tea and cake at Sulgrave Pocket Park on Sunday 24th March at 2.30 pm.

Claire’s beautiful brave children Megan and Jack will be there to take the inaugural ‘flight’.”

Ring-binders, filing trays, stationery items, books, printers.

Desks, filing cabinets, book cases, storage unites, table and chairs etc.

New, as-new, part-used and at a fraction of the retail prices.

Hywel Lloyd at The Old Forge, Church Street, Sulgrave.

9.30 am to 12 noon, Saturday 23rd March 2013.

How the turbines would appear from Greatworth

The proposed Spring Farm Ridge Windfarm between Helmdon, Greatworth and Sulgrave was refused planning permission by South Northants Council in June 2011. The developers, Broadview Energy Ltd, appealed against the decision and after a public inquiry in May 2012 the planning inspector allowed the appeal. This decision was quashed by the High Court following a legal challenge. The Planning Inspectorate has announced that the refusal of planning permission will be the subject of a new public inquiry to be held later this year. The Helmdon Stuchbury and Greatworth Windfarm Action Group applied to the Inspectorate for Rule 6 status at the inquiry and this has been granted. This means that the Action Group will be one of the main parties at the inquiry together with South Northants Council and Broadview Energy Limited. The Group will be retaining the services of a barrister to lead the case against the windfarm proposal with the aid of expert witnesses. All those who appeared at the previous inquiry will have the same rights to make written representations and/or appear at the inquiry to give evidence to the Inspector and ask questions of other witnesses. These include representatives of three parish councils, Helmdon, Greatworth and Sulgrave.  The date of the inquiry will be posted on this website as soon as it is known.