Mickleton

The new bus timetable is promised and should be installed inside the bus shelter.

Cllr Trainor will represent the parish council at the Remembrance service to lay the poppy wreath.

More co-ordinators are wanted for next year to prepare the village for the next Bledisloe Cup competition. Cllr J Medlyn will be standing down. It was agreed to write to all Mickleton meeting groups to enlist helpers. A parishioner suggested that a person from each lane, street, road or avenue should perhaps make up the team.

Cllr Sue Jepson gave the district councillor's report, saying that the Local Plan could be inspected at the Moreton office until December 1.

It was agreed by councillors present to buy a second string of tree lights and replace the coloured light bulbs. Cllr J Medlyn came across a competition for a grant for this issue and Mickleton will make an entry into it.

The Plantation: A corner of the newly-restored wall has been damaged but how is not clear. Henry Roberts of highways will be asked if it is possible to have a sloping bollard for protection when the wall and kerbing are repaired. Cllr M Stowe said the Plantation was looking a mess and the district council should be asked for money to improve it. Suggestions made were to remove the circular seat and old tree stump and the young red chestnut tree. Suggestions from groups or parishioners are sought to offer their suggestions to make the centre of the village eye-catching.

Two letters were received from residents where homes back onto the junior playing fields stating that they were unhappy to hear about plans to replace play items for the younger members of the village to use.

The next council meeting is on Wednesday, November 30 at 7pm.

GARDENING CLUB: On a cold, frosty November evening the King George's Hall in Mickleton was packed for the AGM. The hall was decorated with silver foliage, ribbons and balloons in celebration of the club's 25th anniversary. The festive atmosphere was completed by a decorated anniversary cake and a commemorative wall-hanging. Thanks went to Marguerite Bell for the cake and Joy Gill for the wall hanging which consisted of gardening pictures sewn by members of the club. These had been assembled by Joy to make the wall hanging a unique emblem for the Mickleton club. The cake was cut by Alan and Beat Kitchen, both of whom have contributed much to the club over the years.

A 25-year history of the club was represented on a display consisting of past reports, newspaper cuttings and photographs which showed how successful and varied activities had been through the years. It also showed that the same concerns about the weather - droughts and floods, had occurred through the years.

The AGM was kept short so that the celebrations could begin. The tables were covered with a feast of savoury and sweet foods and thanks were given to the committee for supplying these. Portions of the celebration cake and glasses of champagne were passed round and a toast to the club was given by Lt Col Gerald Furtado. Thanks were given to the chairman, Bridget Maslin, for her enthusiasm, hard work and leadership over the past three years. Bridget in turn thanked the committee and club members for their support and commitment which had made so many successful events possible.