Halam Parish Website - Home Page

August 2005

From the Editor:

Thank you to Simon & Sarah Fowler who have kindly sponsored this month’s news. If you would like to sponsor (£10 per edition), advertise, make a donation, or have items of news included (deadline 24th – later submissions may be carried over) contact: Karin Davis Tel: 815854 or email karinlindley@hotmail.com

St Michael the Archangel: August Services

For information contact Church wardens: Bev Perks (812181) David Herbert (812335)
Preist-in-charge: Rt. Rev. David Leening (812593)

Annual Cycle Ride: 11 To 16 Open Meeting

On Thursday 1 September there will be a meeting in the Village Hall from 6.30pm to 8.30pm for anyone between the ages of 11 and 16, and information about the Nottinghamshire Historic Churches Trust Annual Cycle Ride will be available. This meeting will take the form of a social evening where there will be refreshments, a quiz and games.

For more information phone Briony on 812569 any evening.

Halam’s ‘Thousand Year Bell’

 

Photograph courtesy of Mrs B Godper (taken pre 1965)

There are two bells in the church tower; the largest was originally inscribed: “God save his church. W. Redman, 1722”. This bell was cracked prior to 1965 when Taylor’s of Loughborough rehung the bells and recast the 1722 bell. The inscription now reads, “Recast in 1965 in memory of Sir Stephen and Lady Gibson of Manor Farm, also in memory of George Gibson 1868-1961.” The bell on the right in the photograph is Norman and is rather picturesquely called ‘the bell of a thousand years’. In 1903 The Rev Canon Raven in ‘Nottingham Notes & Queries’ described it as “rather conical with flat edge, surmounted with six cannons forming a sort of crown, and is a regular petasus.” Two narrow bands with ridges encircle it. It is said to be the Sanctus bell which has rung since Plantagenet times. The clock mechanism was attached to it prior to 1965, but now strikes on the 1722 bell. The bells originally hung on wooden beams replaced by steel girders in 1965.

The following article, (provided by Tony Denyer), found in ‘The Daily Mail’ last year, posed this question and reply:

“Is the 1000 year old Norman Bell in the church of St Michael, Halam, near Southwell, the oldest in Britain?

The oldest tower bell in Britain is one of 50kg at St Botolph, Hardham, West Sussex, still in use and dates from around 1100. The church of St Michael in Halam was completed in the 12 th century so it is doubtful that its bell is older than that at St Botolph. Britain’s oldest inscribed bell is the Gargate Bell at Caversfield Church, Oxfordshire, named in honour of Hugh and Sibilla Gargate and dating from 1219. A fragile hand bell known as the Iron Bell of St Patrick is dated AD450 and held in Dublin. But the oldest bell in the world is the tintinnabulum in the Babylonian palace of Nimrud, which dates from around 1100BC. The oldest known tower bell is one in Pisa, Italy, dated 1106.”

Halam & District Women’s Institute

On Thursday 4 August Halam W.I. are joining Southwell at their W.I. Hall at 6.00pm for a Walk around Southwell followed by Supper. Tickets: £5, are available from Glenys Herbert (812335). New members most welcome.

A Coffee Morning will be held on Saturday 10 September at Ashdene, the home of Glenys Herbert, to raise funds for the Over 60’s Christmas Party. Everyone welcome!

Parish Council Meeting: 14 July 2005

Present : S. Bust, A. Fraser, D. Parrish N. Armstrong (late arrival), G. Herbert, A. Paris

Apologies: Ian Sharman

Notice Board and Litter Bins:

After site inspection, agreed to mount notice board on verge at church; bus company to be approached re litter bin on bus post at school.

Matters Arising:

Hedge on Halam Hill has been cut; clerk to investigate visibility further & if appropriate contact C.C.

Footpaths:

1. C.C. proposal to extend the footpath along St. Helen’s Lane to the end of lane - No objection, but write requesting clear signage for the path.

2. Footpath No. 1 – formal notification received regarding diversion.

Open Meeting :

Matters raised:
1) Independence needed in preparing village hall feasibility study

2) Length of time taken to get this on P.C. agenda

3) St. Helen’s Lane footpath and way marking.

Footpath Group:

Many thanks to the footpath group for their hard work surveying footpaths and providing excellent information for the Parish Partnership Scheme; agreed to sign Halam up for PP scheme.

Planning :

1. Retention of buildings in paddock & play equipment: Littledale, Mansfield Road – no objection, but comment added - D.C. should clarify what actions need planning permission.

2. Conservatory, Maythorne House, Manor Fields – passed. 3. Planning Decision – Double garage, Ashcroft, Gray Lane: permission refused by D.C.

Finance:

Internal Audit: report discussed. No indication of any major problems or shortcomings, but clerk and auditor to discuss areas of improvements & report back to the P.C. Annual Return was signed with minor qualifications. Resolved to pay: village hall cleaners; auditor’s fees (2003/04); petty cash (NALC posters). New bank mandates signed to have access to P.C. financial information & allow clerk to monitor bank accounts.

Correspondence:

1. Speed limit/slow markings on Radley Road at Manor Stables – Motion to drop request to NCC for these; 3 for, 3 against - Chairman used casting vote to ask the C.C. to go ahead with these.

2. 30mph limit to be extended further up Halam Hill.

3. Phone Box – conversion to “cashless payment only”. PC to write expressing concerns & ask that present coin box be retained.

4. Letter received re slow progress and state of building on Back Lane, including vermin. PC to write to D.C. expressing concerns of residents.

5. RCC AGM 17 October, 7pm in Council Chamber, Gedling Borough Council Offices.

6. Best Kept Village – Halam one of 5 finalists in second round; Judging: 16 July to 5 August

Parish Funded Police Community Support Officer (PCSO):

Elston Parish are interested in sharing a PCSO - costings requested. D.C., Chief Superintendent Johnson to be invited to Sept/Oct meeting to discuss this. Halam Beat Officer also to be invited re general Halam policing.

Trafalgar Weekend (21– 23 October 2005):

Further information to be obtained for next meeting.

New Village Hall:

Feasibility Study Draft discussed. A village hall, open space and 4/ 5 houses on the site are proposed. Any scheme would be approached through the D.C.’s Local Development Framework review with local consultation and parish input. Timescale could be through to 2008. Outline planning will cost approx. £3,500 to £4,000. Further information requested from architect & planning consultant – more detailed costing figures; outline plan drawings; access details: highways consultants – to discuss at next P.C. meeting.

Date of Next PC Meeting : Thursday 11 August at 7.30pm.

Charity Cycle Ride

Liz Bagley and her son George (aged 10) took part in the Nottinghamshire Great Bike Ride on 26 June. They cycled from Holme Pierrepont to Newark and back again, a distance of 50 miles, in aid of Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance and raised £288.80. Well done both!

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