This is the impact which the proposed turbines would have on the view of the village from the Old Windmill. The government inspector concluded that they would become a key feature in views of Sulgrave, at odds with the scale of the settlement and the prominence of the church tower. Nevertheless her decision was that the “wider environmental benefits of the proposal” outweighed this and the many other disadvantages of the scheme and that Broadview’s appeal against the refusal of planning permission should be allowed. A legal challenge to this decision has now been lodged by South Northants District Council and the Helmdon Stuchbury and Greatworth Windfarm Action Group is seeking funds to make its own challenge.

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Even more people than usual crowded into the Church Hall for the annual village Harvest Supper, on the eve of the Harvest Festival Service in St James’ Church. With patience and goodwill, everyone found a seat and Shrimp was able to declare the proceedings open.

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After 38 weeks of 2012 the shop’s trading performance is up 2.1% on the same period in 2011 and for the first 2 weeks of September, up 14% & 8%  respectively. However, several young helpers have now taken up their places at university which has left us with gaps in our volunteer roster. Could any one that can spare an hour or two each week, especially at the week ends, let David know in the Shop please? This is a real case of ‘YOUR VILLAGE SHOP NEEDS YOU!’

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The annual Sulgrave Produce Show was held in the Church Hall on September 1st. Despite poor weather for most of the growing season there were some very good vegetable entries and an impressive array of flowers, fruits, preserves, cakes and wines. Photos of all winning entries on the following pages.

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Saturday 13th October from 2.00 pm.

Remember the wonderful opening day?

If you treasure this view of your village from the Barrow Hill footpath, then enjoy it while you can, because it is going to look like this in the not too distant future:

The report on the recent public inquiry into the refusal by South Northants Council of planning permission for the Helmdon/Greatworth Spring Farm Ridge Windfarm was published on Thursday 12th July. The government inspector, Elizabeth Fieldhouse, has decided to allow the appeal by Broadview Energy Limited and grant permission for the erection of the five 125 metre high wind turbines and ancillary development. Other than the unlikely event of a sustainable legal challenge to the decision, this means that the turbines will now be erected and operational by the end of next year.

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Village Shop Management Committee Members greet Andrea Leadsom MP (right)

On an extremely wet Friday afternoon, local constituency MP Andrea Leadsom made time in her busy parliamentary schedule to visit the village and present prizes to the winners of the Village Community Shop logo competition. The visit was the culmination of Sulgrave’s participation in the national “Community Shops Fortnight” during which there were daily discounts on many popular items in store.

See next page for details and more photographs

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Following a review by Northamptonshire County Council, the Mobile Library van will in future visit the village on the first Friday of each month, parking outside the former Sulgrave Stores from 16.50 to 17.20.

See here for further details.

Sunday visitors to Sulgrave Manor were entertained by a range of events celebrating the United States of America’s declaration of independence on July 4th 1776. Representatives of detachments of the British and French armies in North America at that time camped in the Manor grounds and gave regular demonstrations of drill and musketry. Irregular colonial and native American forces were also represented together with various camp followers. The cheerful sounds of fiddles, banjo and guitar accompanying the Appalachian dancers helped to dispel the gloom of a rather cold and sunless day. Indoor events included “Auntie Sammy” helping the children with pastry making and brass rubbings and an exhibition of native American clothing and crafts.

More photographs on the next page.

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Lily Branson surrounded by the “children” to whom she was once “nanny”, on the occasion of her 100th birthday party.

The funeral of former Sulgrave resident Lily Branson  took place at Marlborough Road Methodist Church, Banbury, on 26th June 2012. Lily was born on 25th January 1908 to the Clifton family in Portsmouth where her father was on the staff of the harbour master after retiring from the Royal Navy as a Petty Officer (he had served on sailing ships at the start of his career). She died in Banbury on 9th June 2012. After many years as a “nanny” with families both in Sulgrave and elsewhere, in 1951 she married Tom Branson from the village and settled in Helmdon Road. She and Tom moved to Banbury in 1966, where he died in 1979. During her 33 years as a widow she was an active churchgoer and made many friends in Banbury. The funeral service closed with a wonderfully rousing singing of “The Lord’s my shepherd…” to Crimond, just as she would have wished.

See here for more photographs from her 100th birthday party.