Nympsfield NEWS & ADVERTISER - March-April 2020

March-April 2020

nympsfield
THE

 NEWS & ADVERTISER

BUS TIMES
Spring edition Stagecoach service 65 to Upper Cam (St
This bumper edition of the Nympy George’s Church) via Uley, Dursley,
News has all the usual stuff – news,
 Woodfield (Yew Tree), Cam & Dursley
ads, articles and a poem - plus an
 Station and Coaley (*terminates at Cam &
obituary for the late and much
 Dursley Station*).
lamented Tod Cook.
 Mon to Fri: 06:36*, 09:16, 11:46. 13:46,
Thanks to everyone for your
 15:47 & 17:47*
support in helping us keep the
Nympy News going. Without your To Stroud (via Nailsworth*)
contributions it would be a very Mon to Fri: 07:50, 10:35*, 13:00, 15:00,
slim document! 17:05 & 19:00*
The cover is (hopefully) a useful
guide to all those places you hear All times are shown from the bus stop on
named but never know quite where The Cross. Service times may vary and are
they are located. Corrections to:- correct at time of print.
 Stagecoach timetable with service updates:
 The Editors
 tinyurl.com/y66myhuj
Email: nympynews@gmx.com
Deadline for the May-June 2020 Cotswold Green NEW service 65A
edition 20 April. Saturdays only:

 BOOKING CONTACTS To Coaley via Dursley (NOT via Cam &
 Dursley Station): 10:21, 12:36
 KING GEORGE V PLAYING FIELD To Whiteway Colony via Stroud: 11:17,
Tinkley Lane Nympsfield GL10 3UH 12:32
Contact: npfbookings@outlook.com There isn’t a Cotswold Green web site but
 the detailed timetable can be found at:
 VILLAGE HALL
 http://tinyurl.com/s8dqtjj
Church St Nympsfield GL10 3TY
Bookings Marie Knight 860115 or
 Palm Sunday Procession
nympsfieldvillagehall@gmail.com April 5th. Palm Sunday. There will be a
 WORKING MEN’S CLUB procession (including a donkey), starting from
Church St Nympsfield GL10 3UA the Wayside Cross at 9.30am and processing
Bookings: Wayne 07769 317559 or round part of the Village with prayer stops on
Teresa 860796 the way to St Bart's Church for 10am Service.
 All are welcome to join the procession at any
 LAST POST COLLECTION point or meet at the Church for 10am.
 MON-FRI 4PM For other church services see page 6
 SATURDAY 09:00 AM
 2

Classified Ads
 Services IRONING
 Like help with your ironing? Contact Julie
ADAM REYNOLDS AGRICULTURAL Trinder 860078 or 07548 918659
FENCING & FORESTRY CONTRACTOR HANDYMAN/ GARDENER
Agricultural Fencing, Gates/ Posts/ Rails, Contact: Tommy Guerin 07432 650321
Hedge Laying, Firewood, Mobile FIREWOOD
Firewood Processing Locally sourced seasoned firewood
Contact Adam 07789 678025 Contact 861117 or 07860 572905
www.arfencingandforestry.co.uk
 GARDENING
AR JONES LIME AND BUILD Do you need some help in the garden?
Specialising in lime render, plaster, Honest, reliable, local gardeners. Garden
pointing and lime wash. Based in tidying, lawns mowed and edged,
Nympsfield weeding, planting, pruning. Contact Janet
Contact Ash 07969 672876 or David 861067 or email:
BIRDHOUSE MAN janet@springsnow.co.uk
Be the envy of your neighbours with a LANGUAGE TUITION
handmade custom-built birdhouse. All Oxford graduate offers French, Italian,
made from reclaimed, locally sourced Spanish, German. All ages, all levels.
materials and designed to suit you Annabelle 861143 / 07811 464559
Contact: Rich Bloodworth 860635
 THE OPTICAL SHOP
CINDI HERBERT MAKEUP ARTISTRY We are an independent ophthalmic and
Certified and Insured Makeup Artist. Fully dispensing optician in Nailsworth. Our
Mobile and available for every Occasion. main priority is to take care of our
Please feel free to view my Facebook patients’ eyes. We offer honest &
page to see all previous work. independent advice, a fantastic choice of
Contact 07773 595057 spectacle frames and an individual
email: enquiries@makeupbycindi.com personal service. Contact 839145
DOMESTIC HEATING OIL www.theopticalshop.org
We put together a bulk order bimonthly PADDOCKS4PAWS
(see separate item) which saves A safe place to exercise or train your dog.
participants typically £20+ per 500 litres A secure 4-acre field with 1.8 metre (6ft)
(compared to the price charged by the high fence in Nympsfield is available for
supplier for a typical single household you and your dog to hire on an individual
order). The more people that join in the basis. Please visit our website
more we stand to save. Now being co- www.paddocks4paws.com for more info
ordinated by Mike Nicholls Contact Sue 861117 or 07815 568718
(mike@leopardpress.com) aided by Colin
Fairbrother
(colinfairbrother@hotmail.com)
 3

Classified Ads
SPRING SNOW GRAPHIC DESIGN Listed and period property specialists.
Logos, business cards, letterheads, Renovations, Extensions, Roofing, Land-
adverts, leaflets, brochures, posters, scaping, New builds, Carpentry/ Joinery,
vehicle livery, signs and websites. Rendering/ Plastering, Painting/
Whatever you need designing or printing, Decorating, Loft Conversions, Insurance
just ask. work. Contact: Wayne 07816 634755
Contact Janet or David 861067
 FOR HIRE: WHITE PARTY TENTS /
email: Janet@springsnow.co.uk
 MARQUEES
PLASTERING AND GENERAL BUILDING
MAINTENANCE 4 x 8m @£75 and 4 x 12m, we have 2 of
All manner of wet trades & stud these that can be joined together @£100
partitioning. each. Self-erect and dismantle, min. 3 day
Contact: Rich Bloodworth 860635 /07561 hire. 3 x 3m pagoda available f.o.c.
325060 Contact: Janet 861067 /
 janet@springsnow.co.uk
M AND N MOTOR SERVICES LTD
Servicing and repairs to all makes and
models of vehicle. Fully equipped garage For Sale
facilities. MOTs. Free courtesy cars.
Please visit our website for further COMPUTER CHAIR £25 o.n.o.
details: www.mandnmotorservices.co.uk Contact Hazel 860009
Contact: 860153 or email
 STIHL HEDGE TRIMMER
info@mandnmotorservices.co.uk
 Long handled Stihl hedge trimmer only
ROB GAZZARD – COMPLETE BUILDING used twice and in great condition. Cost
SOLUTIONS £679, sell for £450. Contact Tommy
Maintenance and repairs / Extensions 07432 650321
and alterations / hard and soft
landscaping. Free estimates and advice TEN METRE LENGTH OF COATED 10MM
Contact Rob 860112 / COPPER PIPE
gazzards@hotmail.co.uk Suitable for oil tank, heating etc.
www.robgazzard.co.uk Free to good home. Ian 860625

The Rose and Crown Inn 860796
Tuesday to Sunday 12-3pm and 5-11pm
 Wanted
 Sat/ Sun 12-11pm
Good beer and food in traditional 17th STONE Any free stone, rubble, hardcore
century pub. is required to improve the muddy
 footpath into Jimpsies Field. Contact Rob
SEAL CONSTRUCTION Morgan 86068.
Cotswold stone tiling and walling.
Member of Guild of Master Craftsmen.
 4

Classified Ads
 What’s on U3A Bridge Group Tuesday 2 - 4.45 pm
 Friendly, social bridge in Dursley
Nympsfield Working Men’s Club Methodist Church. Beginners and
Mon-Thurs: 4 - 8pm, Fri 4 – 11pm improvers most welcome, along with
Saturday: 12 noon - close those fully conversant with this
Sunday: 11.30am – 6pm enthralling game.
Book your special event at the Club – no Tea and biscuits provided; £2 per session.
hire charge. We now accept CARD Call Richard Gwyer on 01453 860512, or
PAYMENTS. Contact Wayne – 07769 see Cam U3A website for details.
317559 or Teresa – 860796/07773 YOGA IN THE VILLAGE HALL
404086. Autumn Term starts at 7
CLUB BINGO - Every other Thursday pm on Tuesday
starting 7.30pm. September 3 rd.
 March 59th and 19th There are one or two
 nd
 April 2 , 16th and 30th spaces available...friendly relaxing
Great CASH prizes and Raffle. class...free taster session for newbies.
Look out for announcements/updates on Suitable for all - you don’t have to be
our Facebook Page and follow us on bendy!
Instagram - @nympsfieldclub For more information please email
See separate notices. Norma on Noz5252@hotmail.co.uk.

SOUP KITCHEN 100 Club Winners
Second Wednesday in the month, Village Week 13 No. 42 Roger Elmore(£25)
Hall. See separate notice.
 Week 14 No. 23 Anne Gazzard
Everything Nympsfield! Week 15 No. 79 Geoff Whitman
Join us in the “Everything Nympsfield!” Week 16 No. 24 Brian Pittaway
Facebook group for the very latest news Week 17 No. 4 Dave and Janet Acton
 Week 18 No. 13 Alan Morgan
St Joseph’s Pre-School Mon- Fri
St Joseph’s School 8:50am – 3pm Week 19 No. 16 Viv Crossland
St Joseph’s Pre-school accepts children Week 20 No. 68 Douglas Jackson
from the age of two. Open 5 days per Week 21 No. 48 John Turp
week, term time only. Nursery vouchers
 Week 22 No. 81 Amy Guerin
are accepted. Contact Natalie Powers
860311 or email Week 23 No. 96 Jane Mayes
stjosephspresch@gmail.com Week 24 No. 54 Diane Davis
See Facebook: ‘St Joseph’s Pre-school’ Pat and Malcolm 01453 860696

 5

Classified Ads
 .

 THE BOOK CLUB is normally held monthly. We are a
very informal group whose aim is to discuss the book selected and have a social evening too –
usually with a drink and a few nibbles. Everyone is welcome (whether you have read the book
or not). Enquiries to Carole 860610.
 18 Mar: Carole, Haye House, Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
 15 Apr: Verity, Malt House Barn, The House at the Edge of the World by Julia Rochester
 20 May: Tina, Four Wells: t.b.c.

 Accommodation To Let
 CHURCH OF ENGLAND SERVICES
  One bedroom flat in Nympsfield Parish of Uley with Owlpen and
  Fully furnished and equipped Nympsfield (part of the Ewelme Benefice):
  Recently decorated and newly carpeted Parish Holy Communion is at 10am, held
  Flexible rental arrangements at St Bartholomew Nympsfield on the first
  Maximum rent £500 pcm + bills Sunday of the month; all other Sundays at
  For further details contact Julia on
 Uley, St Giles.
 07774438686 or
 juliabrailsford@hotmail.com Special Palm Sunday Procession meet 10
 am at church - see separate notice page 2.
 OIL ORDERS Other services in Dursley, see website
 Oil buying Schedule 2020. Mike will email http://tinyurl.com/ssra4z3
 Vicar Rev Michael Cozens 546459
 members of the group for their
 requirements and then the joint order will
 ST JOSEPH’S RC SERVICES
 be placed on
 Vigil Mass every Saturday 5:30pm
 2 Mar 4 May 3 Aug 2 Nov
 Sunday Masses at St Dominic Dursley
 If you want to join the group, email Mike Parish Priest Fr Philip Beisly 542039
 Nicholls mike@leopardpress.com or Colin dursleynympsfieldrcparish.co.uk
 Fairbrother colinfairbrother@hotmail.com

 Nympsfield Family Fun Day: A confirmed date (in June) will be put on ‘Everything
 Nympsfield’ and in the next newsletter. All are welcome. If you have ideas for games or can
 help in anyway please contact Jo Beeston 07792 680534 or email jo@joandpaul.me.uk

 6

Classified Ads
 WiN Women in Nympsfield
 Monday, 16th March 2020 6.30-9.00pm STROUD
 Please note change in time
 A behind the scenes tour and talk at Waitrose Stroud. Refreshments supplied.
 Rachel will forward additional details soon.
 (Any non-members interested please contact Catherine – details below)
 Monday 20th April 2020 @ 7.30pm VILLAGE HALL
 Tracing the history of your house – Speaker : Rose Hewlett
 If you are not a member and interested, please give us a try, we look forward to
 seeing you. New members are always welcome, there will be a small charge of
 £2.00.
 If you would like further information, please get in touch
 catherine860636@yahoo.co.uk or call 861610
 Catherine Harrison

 SOUP KITCHEN
 The Soup Kitchen raises
 money for charities in memory of
 villagers who have recently died.
 It starts in the autumn and runs
 through to spring, second
 Wednesday of every month.
 11th March, 8th April

 Britain in Bloom: There will
 be a working party as soon as the
 weather clears – see Facebook
 page or phone Sue on 01453
 861010
 7

OLD NEWS FROM NYMPSFIELD

 Elver Ready
It’s that time of year when millions of much else in short supply - are thought to
elvers – baby eels - make their way into be an aphrodisiac. Eventually, the
the rivers of Europe. From ancient times, Frampton Championship starved to death
fried in bacon fat, they were a cheap, from lack of elvers but, after decades off
seasonal, local delicacy and fifty years ago the menu, it re-surfaced at the 2015
they were on sale throughout the Severn Frampton Country Fair and has continued
valley with April the peak month. In ever since – it is scheduled for 13th
Berkeley you could even buy them at the September this year. Seeing the change in
newsagent’s. In celebration of their timing from spring to autumn – out of the
coming, Frampton Green saw the World elver season - raised suspicions with me
Elver Eating Championship each year on and, on examining the small print, I found
Easter Monday. The challenge was to eat a that it wasn’t elvers that were being
pound weight of fried elvers in the offered but “a sustainable, man-made,
shortest time (13 seconds apparently). Spanish alternative” that the organizers
 call “el-vers” but Martin Phillips tells me
 are actually Gulas, on sale in every Spanish
 supermarket.

 The life cycle of eels is extraordinary:
 elvers arrive off the coast and swim
 upstream into rivers and lakes where they
 grow for up to twenty years. But how and
 Elvers or glass eels where they reproduce was a mystery until,
 in the early 1920s, a Danish scientist called
Then, in the nineteen seventies, the Johannes Schmidt found that eel larvae –
number of elvers started to drop, no-one pre-elvers – were drifting east across the
really knew why. That caused the price to Atlantic and growing as they did so. The
rise which brought out even more smallest larvae were found in the
fishermen keen to make a few bob. At one neighbourhood of the Sargasso Sea. From
time much of the catch was being sent out this it was reasoned that this was where
to the Far East where tiny eels – like so
 8

the adult eels must have spawned. But elvers swim into it. A typical nightly catch
uncertainty remains because no-one has these days is a few hundred grams but
ever found an adult eel there. always with a hope of something much
 bigger – hundreds of kilos can be caught
Recent decades have seen a steady decline
 occasionally. With elvers selling for around
in eel numbers; elvers, as juvenile eels, are
 £150 per kilo on the legal market, there is
currently listed as an endangered species –
 a possibility of making a lot of money. The
the International Union for Conservation
 chances of a large catch are best when
of Nature (IUCN) has them on its Red List
 there are big spring tides and, as it
along with the panda and the mountain
 happens, there are two extra-large ones
gorilla. Surprisingly perhaps, commercial
 this spring. That also means big (five star)
fishing is still allowed but limited to the
 Severn bores on 22nd February and 22nd
use of a traditional dip net. Anyone can
 March.
apply for a licence and 300 people were
permitted by the Environment Agency (EA) The fishing is all highly regulated: detailed
to fish in the tidal waters of the Severn and records must be kept and the catch can
Wye last year - £85 each if you fancy it. only be sold to approved buyers who must
This entitles you to fish from a specified use a portion (around 40%) to help re-
location. stock other rivers where weirs and the like
 prevent the elvers from migrating. The
 total UK catch last year was about four
 tons - around twelve million individual fish.
 Much of it is exported to Germany and
 France where the elvers are used to re-
 stock rivers or else sent to eel farms to be
 grown on to full size for human
 consumption. The problem is that the EC
 market for elvers is over-supplied and,
 while there is an insatiable demand for
 them in the Far East, an EU Directive
 forbids export. This has attracted the
 attention of organised crime and led to a
 very active black market in which illegally
 caught fish (which are “off the books” and
 can be secretly shipped anywhere) are
 worth twenty to thirty times more than
 Fisherman with an elver net. the legal catch. Not surprisingly, the EA
Fishing is done on the incoming tide and bailiffs face an uphill battle. With
mostly at night: elvers are said to sink to increasing demand for better protection
the bottom in the daytime. The technique from floods, the same goes for the poor
is totally passive: the net is put in place beleaguered elvers.
close to the bank and (if you are lucky) the Ian Crossland

 9

Tod Cook 1937-2019
Tod Cook was a countryman, through two more children, the twins, Anne and
and through. Although born Anthony Sue. The blended family grew up
Edward Dominic Cook on August 4th together at Four Wells Cottage along
1937 in Beckenham, Kent, he was with Ann’s son John.
nicknamed Tod by villagers and family
when he was just a toddler, and the name
stuck throughout his life. Tod was the
third of four children of Mary Donnelly
and Thomas Edward Cook (known as
Ted). Mary grew up in the Nympsfield
Orphanage which was sponsored by the
Leigh sisters of Woodchester Park
mansion, before being fostered by the
Kershaw family. Tod’s elder sister
Theresia says that when the family
arrived in Nympsfield as evacuees during
the war, she and her brothers (Tod,
Blaize and Paul) lived with the Leigh
sisters at Scar Hill before moving to stay
with the Coates family at Field Farm.
They moved from there as a family unit
to Four Wells Cottage after its
renovation, the first property in the
village to have an indoor toilet.
We know from Tod and his brothers and
sister that they had a tough time when
they were younger, especially after their Tod with Tess, one of his Springer
mum Mary died in the January of 1940 Spaniels
when Tod was two years old. Villagers Tod loved spending time with his
Theresa and Cecilia Freeman remember brothers, going off on scrambling bikes
their own mum Connie being asked by which was another passion in his youth,
Tod’s mum Mary to please take care of and one which may well have given him
her four children until she came home the talent that led to being part of the
from hospital, Mary having not wanted White Helmet’s Motorcycle display team
them to go to the orphanage or convent. during his three-year Army career.
But Mary sadly died in hospital, and so During that time, Tod visited places
the four children moved between the including Bermuda, a country he told his
Freeman and Powell families, for which wife Pat he’d have loved to have moved
they were all so thankful. Those bonds to with his family.
stayed strong even after Ted, their father,
 Beatrice Leigh was Tod’s godmother and
met and married Ann, with whom he had
 he spent a lot of time down with them in
 10

Woodchester Park and at the Mansion to met Pat in 1962 and the two married in
visit or do jobs for them. Tod Pat’s hometown of Bolton on 7th March
remembered the prim and proper sisters 1964. They both played for years in local
fondly despite regularly getting into darts teams, and they loved Rock and roll
trouble, here recalling being reprimanded music, enjoying time at local dances as
for daring to take off his shirt when well as raising their five children to the
gardening during a hot summer’s day. sounds of the 50’s and 60’s. Their
 children have many shared
 memories of family picnics in
 Dingle woods on Sundays, and
 night-time trips down ‘the Covers’
 watching the baby badgers, their
 eldest daughter Janet recollecting
 Tod instructing them all to stay
 upwind of the badgers and to
 remain still and quiet so these
 beautiful animals could be seen
 emerging and at play. Janet also
 remembers Tod taking all his
 children into the garden in their
 little wellies teaching them how to
 Marriage to Pat March 1964 dowse the springs and
 watercourses with rods he’d made
Tod was a bright student, very clever at himself. Other memories include their
maths and on leaving the village school dad making sledges and getting them up
he went to Marling, the school his two and ready for snow days, and memories
grandsons Jacob and Archie now attend, too of the excitement every 5th of
much to his pride. The boys are November standing out in the garden
astounded by how their grandad and his with sparklers, fireworks and a way too
brothers sometimes walked from school big bonfire with Tod and his son Ed
all the way to Nympsfield, centre stage stoking it up.
incomprehensible to this generation!
When not in school, Tod loved the Tod was in his youth a keen boxer who
outdoors, going out hunting, shooting and won many trophies. He also played
fishing with his dad, developing a true football and was a member of the village
countryman’s instinct and love for nature Cricket team, his children remembering
that he passed on to his family. He had helping do the scores, mum taking her
incredible ability to sense creatures way turn helping with the teas. Tod’s son Ed
before they appeared, this instinct played sometimes but knew that if he was
remaining with him throughout his life. asked to make up the numbers for the
 opposition, Tod wouldn’t make any
Tod followed in his father’s footsteps allowances and would think nothing of
with a keen interest in mechanical fast bowling the ball at the terrified teen.
engineering and all things practical,
learning a trade as a fitter and welder. He
 11

‘Springland’ is the home Tod proudly ‘Springland’ was never without a
created for his family, working tirelessly menagerie of animals, usually second-
between his paid job and keeping things hand, many having been ill-treated in the
on track with this house-build. It proved past. There were dogs, ducks, ferrets, a
at times a very stressful project, and he lone bat and a wild baby rabbit all
appreciated the help from friends and needing love and care, and many would
family to get the job done. Nicknamed appear at the back door in Tod’s arms,
‘Daisy May’ by her Dad, Tod’s daughter with an explanation as to why they
Di remembers that when she was about needed a rescue home. His long-suffering
six years old, Tod built up the children’s wife Pat resigned herself to welcoming in
courage to climb a ladder to walk along these additions, knowing that where any
the house rafters before the ceilings went dog was concerned, Tod would turn them
into Springland! Terrifying, but exciting into happy, capable working dogs. Tod
and satisfying to succeed! and Pat’s first dog Jet cost £1 in 1965
 soon after the birth of their daughter
 Janet. She and Jet were inseparable
 friends, Janet recollecting going off down
 the Covers for walks with Jet and Tod.
 Pat, Tod and Ed’s most recent dog,
 dearly loved Bruno died just a few
 months ago aged almost 16, and this is
 the first time Springland has been
 without a dog padding about the place.
 Over the years, Tod loved getting out and
 about in the countryside in his Land
 Rover going through Woodchester Park
 on his and Pat’s way back up from
 shopping in Nailsworth, stopping by the
 Boat House or sharing a bacon buttie and
 a chat with the fishermen. He spent a lot
 of hours down Dingle woods, helping his
 good friend and the then owner Mr
 Tod with boxing trophies Woods with jobs, always with his loyal
Tod turned his hand to fixing most things dogs by his side. Tod loved to be out
around the house, and he enjoyed his hunting, fishing and shooting, and some
garden, growing an array of veggies of his children recollect the excitement of
including runner beans, tomatoes and getting up in the dark for early morning
peas, as well as a spectacular display of fishing trips, Janet here remembering
sunflowers. Tod was also a dab hand at fishing with him on the Gloucester-
mending his children’s bikes, Sharpness Canal, and Di remembering
skateboards, sledges, and repairing and occasions with Tod and Uncle Bill when
servicing his and the children’s cars. he was down visiting from Bolton with
 Pat’s sister Jean and their three children,

 12

all of whom remember long walks out Ed setting up a Badger cam in the garden
with Tod and the dogs. Tod’s daughter to track visiting birds, foxes, badgers,
Sue tells of early morning and late-night pheasants and occasional muntjacs, the
shooting trips, battling freezing word having clearly spread fast between
temperatures sitting up next to Tod in his all creatures great and small that there
Land Rover, holding the lamp as he were many and varied tempting
scoured the fields and hedgerows. Sue delicacies on offer out on the patio, day
recollects one time tumbling out the Land and night. This really helped Tod to stay
Rover when the door latch unhooked connected with the outdoors after his
itself. Tod was far from pleased! stroke almost 13 years ago, a cruel
Tod also enjoyed socialising and meeting challenge affecting his speech and
new people at the many and varied shoots mobility which he tried hard to manage,
he attended year after year, acquainting with inevitable frustration, though never
himself with some of the Royals, proudly losing his ability for a few choice swear
loading cartridges for Prince William on words. He’d also manage a ‘good as
one occasion. gold’ or ‘lovely job’ to let people know
 he appreciated their help and support. He
Over the past 23 years, Tod was Grandad
 appreciated family and friends getting
to his five grandchildren, Vivienne,
 him out and about for a drive and a look
Molly, Katie, Jacob and Archie. All
 over at the tranquillity and views of
remember times spent with their grandad,
 Coaley Peak, or a ride through the Park
the thrill of bumpy rides in the Land
 where he might bump into friends for a
Rover or sitting with him at home in the
 chat. He also loved visiting the local
lounge sharing his box of shortbread or a
 farms to catch up with friends Ian Blair
few cheeky chocolates when no one was
 and John Jones for a cup of tea or
looking. Vivienne remembers how only
 occasionally a visit to his childhood
grandad could get her to take her
 ‘second home’ with Sis and Theresa
medicine when poorly, and for her he
 Freeman.
was like a dad as well as grandad. In
more recent years, Tod’s granddaughters Tod died peacefully at Cheltenham
enjoyed drinking with him at the hospital on Sunday December 1st
Working Men’s Club where he’d been a surrounded with love from family and
regular feature since his teenage years. friends, and beautiful care and kindness
There, he was a skilled snooker player, from the hospital staff. Those two weeks
fiercely competitive, and he loved that he were a gift to all in being able to spend
was allocated his own seat at the Club time sitting with him and sharing
bar so he could sit up with his friends and memories, and he was peaceful and brave
enjoy a Port and Lemonade. He was to the end. Tod became too poorly to
known by all as someone with a strong come back home but he arrived the day
sense of right and wrong, fair to all, keen before his funeral to his beloved
to help others, and unafraid to speak his ‘Springland’ to be with his family, to
mind. leave his house for his final journey
 through the village to the Church.
Becoming mostly housebound over
recent months, Tod delighted in his son
 13

Where’s the telly gone?
At the end of December, a lot of us in are trapped and can travel for a long
Nympyland lost our TV signals, causing distance rather than carrying on into
consternation and even the need to talk to space. It’s also possible for an elevated
each other. It happens occasionally, so duct to be formed where radio waves
here’s a quick explanation of what’s going bounce between two layers in the
on. atmosphere. If you are located inside a
 duct then radio or TV signals may be
TV signals arrive by the wonder of ultra- received from a very much greater
high frequency radio waves (UHF). Most of distance than is normal.
us get our signals from the BBC Mendip
transmitter (if your aerial is pointing a little For these conditions to occur it’s necessary
west of due south) which is about 60 km for the air to be very calm. This was the
away. The top of the Mendip transmitting case just before the new year when much
aerial is nearly 600 m above sea level of the southern part of the UK and the
(Nympsfield is a bit over 200 m up). It near continent were under a large area of
would be just possible to see the top of high pressure for several days and the
the mast from Stone Hill although it barely lower part of the atmosphere (the
sticks up above the high point near troposphere) was very stable with light
Cotswold Edge Golf Club above Wotton. winds and widespread fog (as opposed to
See the picture. the low, gale force cloud that we often
 enjoy up here). Under these conditions it’s
Now, UHF radio waves generally travel in common for air close to the ground to be
straight lines. However, they are affected cold (and damp) while the air higher up is
by atmospheric conditions. If they travel warmer – ideal for ducting to occur.
through layers of air at different
temperatures or levels of water vapour What happened to our TV signals after
their path will be bent. Usually this effect Christmas? Hard to be certain, but the
is small and makes little difference to the most likely reason for their disappearance
received signal (in fact it usually helps as it was that an elevated duct carried them
bends UHF radio waves around the above our heads or that TV or DAB
curvature of the earth making the “radio transmissions from farther away
horizon” about 30% farther away than the overwhelmed the signal from Mendip.
optical horizon). DAB signals were also affected and
 disappeared intermittently. The abnormal
Sometimes we get weather conditions in radio propagation conditions affected a
which the usual fall in temperature with wide area of our corner of Europe, but the
height is reversed, and the atmosphere effect on individual areas would depend
gets warmer as one goes up. This is known very much on the location of their local TV
as a thermal inversion. When this happens transmitter. When your TV signal
the radio waves can be reflected. A “duct” disappears, it’s best first to check the
can be formed between the ground and a weather map to see if we’re enjoying an
thermal inversion in which the radio waves area of high pressure rather than retuning
 14

the telly (and to see if neighbours are also the Mediterranean). The clouds are quite
affected). small in horizontal extent but very
 reflective, and so strong signals can be
That’s TV. Similar conditions affect radio received from a localised area a long way
signals at the frequencies used by FM away. The atoms which have become
radio stations but to a much lesser extent. separated from their outer electrons are
FM radio can, however, be affected by believed to be metallic and probably
another phenomenon called “sporadic E originate from meteor showers. It is
propagation” (but the frequency of DAB possible that the ionised clouds are
broadcasts is a bit higher and they’re created as a result of very strong winds at
unlikely to be affected). This is a slightly heights of 100 km or so.
mysterious effect which still isn’t fully
understood. Clouds of ionised gas are Whatever the cause, the phenomenon
created in the upper atmosphere at an largely occurs during daylight hours in the
altitude of around 100 km. These clouds summer months. The duration of sporadic
can be intense enough to reflect radio E events is short, ranging from minutes to
waves, and because of their height may a few hours. During these periods however
enable reception of stations from up to the FM broadcasting bands may be filled
2,000 km away or more (I’ve heard with radio stations located over 1000 km
broadcast stations on my car radio from away, with signal strengths which
Italy and in other languages which I don’t overwhelm local broadcasts.
recognise, probably from the far end of
 Martin Phillips

 15

New Sisters at the Convent
The uncertainty that surrounded the future
of the Nympsfield Convent after the
departure of the Marist Sisters in November
seems to have been resolved. January saw
the arrival of two Sisters from Leyton,
London. Mother Maria, a former teacher,
and Sister Stella are Marian Missionary
Sisters of the Poor (MMSP), a new order of
nuns founded by Mother Maria Chioma
Emeagi mmsp and Co-founder Rev. Fr.
Augustine Ihedinma. Both Sisters hail
originally from Nigeria. With funding
provided by Waltham Forest Council, the
MMSP Sisters have been supporting
vulnerable and hard-to-reach families in the
borough since 2005. These activities include
giving respite to parents of housebound
children during the day: dressing, feeding
and exercising the children before finally
putting them back to bed. The Sisters also
run a nursery/Day Care centre for children of Sister Maria Chioma Emeagi mmsp and
working families and they work with Sister Stella Davies mmsp
disaffected young people helping them to
understand and resolve conflict, manage Emails to the Editors
their anger and avoid their being induced
into gangs.
 From Julie Trinder

In 2017 Sister Maria won the Waltham Remembrance Day
Forest Leader’s Individual Award for her I know it’s a long way off but it’ll soon come
inspiring work. round. My mum Rosemary Beach & I have
 started knitting Poppies for this year
In taking over the Nympsfield Convent from
 to display all around the village. It always
the Marists, the Marian Sisters plan to
 looks amazing in Dursley, Nailsworth &
continue operating as a retreat and
conference centre; this will include some Stonehouse & beyond 
improvement of the facilities. They would So why not Nympy we thought. 
also like to continue their mission to serve If you would like to help knit/crochet
disadvantaged families in some way but this poppies, the link for the pattern is below.
will be dependent on funding and, perhaps, Thanks
permission from planners to use some of the http://www.countesthorpeparishcouncil.co.
outbuildings on site. uk/news/documents/poppy_knit.pdf

Welcome to Nympsfield, Sisters! A few people have responded already.
 16

From Christopher Dove Neighbourhood Watch
All's well with us except I’m much older and Spams & Scams
find walking difficult. I have one of those red
scooters but need more practice in it and I Nothing very exciting has arrived recently in
don’t want to stop all walking. But it is part my email inbox, other than several from a
of being nearly 93! lady called Anna who describes herself as an
After living for 27 years in a 350 year old engineer seeking love. Tempting!
cottage on the east (less affluent) side of
 I also had several phone calls from a very
Whitby, we have moved to a ground floor
 persistent bloke claiming to be from a green
flat that gives me access to the garden. The
 something or other company, offering to find
groundsman/gardener has been happy to let
 me grants for double glazing. Too good to
me have a couple of beds which make me
 believe (like Anna?) Reported to Ofcom.
happy, but now I tend to fall over when I try
to bend over to fix a plant! Any problems, incidents or reports please to
We've had some wonderful weather here Martin / 860133.
Oop North recently although when we have
winds from the north it is VERY cold. As for
 Fly Tipping
the children, Simon (Sam) eldest son and his There’s been a few egregious instances of fly
wife live in France in the Languedoc; Nick tipping near the village. There is a SDC page
(second son) and his wife are in Frome; Liz is for reporting it:
now in Paimpol, a sailing port in Brittany;
 stroud.gov.uk/report/report-fly-tipping-
and Jane, the last, is still on her boat in
Tottenham. dumped-litter
Anthea says that she has just sent off the
last of her 15 books and, as her unpaid
typist, I am happy.
 PoEtry Corner
 REINCARNATION
Best wishes and love from us both. by Jenny Nisbett
WORD LADDER When I come back I want to be
 A tabby cat upon your knee
 Move from one With nothing else to do all day
 word to the But sleep and eat, and purr and play.
 You’ll tickle me behind my ears
 other by
 And soothe away my feline fears.
 changing one
 letter at a time. So don’t be afraid and do not mind
 Each step must If one day you wake up to find
 A tabby cat upon your knee
 be a proper Please don’t be scared, it’s only ME!!!!!
 word …… AND ……..
 If you gaze into my amber eyes
 You’ll see right through my cat disguise.
 17

Nympsfield Working Men’s Club
 Thanks to everyone who attended Natalie and Ter’s Valentine’s Quiz Night on February
 15th, with a magnificent £88.77 raised for the Australian Bushfire fund from sales of
 Faith Herbert’s Cake Bake and the Quiz Raffle. The overall Quiz was won by The
 Frontiers (Wayne S, Wayne H, Brian, Teresa, Faith and Ollie), with the one-off “must win”
 Jackpot of £50 being scooped up by Amy and the Jurassics (Tommy & Sandor), who
 correctly guessed the number of miles of railway tracks in the UK ….
 The next Quiz, when the “Rollover” Jackpots will start again, will be on Saturday,
 March 14th, 7pm start.

 **ADVANCE NOTICE** - SUNDAY 26TH APRIL, 2PM – ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
 We will be looking to appoint a new SECRETARY at the AGM – anyone interested in
 taking on this role, please contact Teresa (860796) – full handover will be given.

 Look out for announcements/updates on the Club Facebook Page/Everything Nympsfield
 and follow us on Instagram - @nympsfieldclub. We now accept CARD PAYMENTS.
 Book your special event at the Club – no hire charge.

 Petition Saves Cam Roman Villa

In the course of erecting new houses at Millfields, Cam – close to Cam and Dursley
railway station – Bovis Homes discovered the foundations of a Roman Villa. This was
completely unsuspected and was found with its own bathhouse (seen at top left of the
structure). Bovis was minded to build over it but a petition raised by Christie McLean
quickly collected 5,763 signatures so that the builder has now agreed to preserve it.
 18

NYMPSFIELD PARISH COUNCIL NEWS
At the January 2020 meeting the clerk submitted a budget forecast for 2020/2021 where it was
agreed to increase the S137 budget to £1,000 and the Special Projects category to £2,000 - to
be taken from Reserves. The precept figure was agreed at £10,000.
Following an invitation from GAPTC for nominees to attend a Garden Party at Buckingham
Palace in May this year, Cllr S Cowle was proposed and seconded.
It was agreed that GAPTC will undertake the internal audit for 2019/2020.
Cllr A Hardy reported 2 new deep pot-holes in Tinkley Lane, but which are deemed not deep
enough to be considered eligible for repair. Cllr E Sturgess recommended that individuals are
encouraged to report any observed pot-holes to Stroud District Council so as to keep up the
pressure.
Following the decision made at last month’s meeting, it was now decided that the purchase of a
strimmer by the Council could raise health & safety issues, management and training
implications. It was therefore agreed that instead the Council are looking at alternative ways of
supporting Britain in Bloom.
At the February meeting Cllr J Dewey reiterated that the elections will be held on 7th May 2020
for the Police and Crime Commissions for Gloucestershire, all District Councillors and all Parish
and Town Councillors.
Anyone interested in becoming a councillor, please go to Nympsfield’s website
www.nympsfieldparishcouncil.org or, alternatively, direct to Elections, SDC 01453 754382
rebecca.poole@stroud.gov.uk for further information.
Cllr J Dewey further advised that a review of polling district, places and polling stations is
underway with the result expected mid/late February and which will take effect ahead of
upcoming elections.
He finished by mentioning that a review of Councillor allowances is under consideration as well
as discussion on external and internal audit plans.
The Council proposed donating £15 towards Stroud Valleys Project tree planting plan across the
district. This sum represents Nympsfield’s .3% of their proportion for the total number of
districts for Stroud.
Following receipt of a letter from a local resident requesting more social housing in the village,
the Council stated that Bromford Housing have been invited to come along to a Council meeting
and that the resident will be advised when that meeting is to take place so they can attend.
Meetings are held the 2nd Monday in the month at 19.30 in the Village Hall.
Your Parish Councillors: Your District Councillor
Cllr Elizabeth Sturgess (Chair) 861076 Cllr Jim Dewy cclr.jim.dewey@stroud.gov.uk
Cllr Susan Cowle (Vice Chair) 861010 Your County Councillor
 Cllr. Loraine Patrick
Cllr Ann Hardy 860876
 loraine.patrick@ gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Carol Pittaway 860610
 Your Member of Parliament
Cllr Peter Tomiak-Baquero 07768 669747
 Siobhan Baillie
Clerk: clerk@nympsfieldparishcouncil.org
 siobhan.baillie.mp@parliament.uk

 19

USEFUL NUMBERS
Emergencies Police (non-emergency) 101
 Electricity 0800 6783 105 Police: Neighbourhood Policing, Dursley &
 Cam Team (non-emergency) 01453 753500
 24h Floodline 0845 9881188
 Rose and Crown Inn 01453 860612
 Severn Trent 0800 783 4444
 St Joseph’s School 01453 860311
 Police 999
 Stroud District Council 01453 766321
Childline 0800 1111
 Building Control 754871
Crimestoppers 0800 555 111
 Dog Warden 754491
Doctors’ Surgery Nailsw’th 01453 832424
 Pollution, noise, bonfires etc 754478
Doctors’ Surgery Uley 01453 860459
 Neighbourhood Warden -
Glo’ster Royal Hospital 0300 422 2222
 Andy Beamish 07834 419332
NHS Direct 111
 Rubbish collection 754424
Nuisance callers (Information Commissioner
 Village Agent – we no longer have one!
Office if you are registered with telephone
preference service) 0345 070 0707 Vet (Bowbridge) 01453 762350

The Nympsfield News and Advertiser is produced bi-monthly and delivered throughout Nympsfield on
a voluntary basis and is free. The cost of printing is met by Nympsfield Parish Council. Extra copies are
usually available at St Bartholomew’s Church and the Rose and Crown. You can also download a digital
version from www.nympsfieldparishcouncil.org/newsletter.

Views published in the NN&A are not necessarily those of the Editors or of any other contributor.
Contributions are published at the Editors’ discretion. Please note that the NN&A is merely offering a
platform for services and cannot accept any responsibility for the quality of work offered. Information
is usually correct at the time of going to print but it may be liable to change without notice.
Produced in the village by Ian Crossland and Martin Phillips and delivered by Katrina Douglas-Phillips,
Lindy and Brian Egglestone, Janet and Douglas Jackson, Ute McFarling, Julie Trinder, Peter Tomiak or
Teresa and John Walton.
 th
The editors can be contacted via email at NympyNews@gmx.com. Copy must be provided by the 20
of the month preceding publication and may be modified without notice (e.g. for reasons of space).

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