Ilmington

Mr and Mrs P Coupland were the village liaison officers for Ilmington, and it was suggested that Mrs Coupland should put a piece in the parish magazine about the work of the service.

Mrs Sheila Ribbans, chairman of the parish plan steering group, presented the final draft of the action plan, and said that the steering group would refer the plan to the district and county councils on behalf of the parish council.

She was thanked by the chairman for the excellent work done by her committee, and it was agreed that the parish plan should be included as a regular item on the parish council agenda.

Mr Charles Barlow, the rural housing enabler at Warwickshire Rural Community Council, had produced a draft housing needs survey form which had been circulated to all councillors. The chairman had made minor amendments to this, and the survey form was agreed.

A letter had been received from Mr and Mrs Marshall of Bennett Place, complaining again about car parking. The clerk should ask PC Grove again to look into the matter of inconsiderate parking in Bennett Place, with if possible parking only allowed on the south side, and to look into the provision of white lines.

The chairman reported that due to heavy rain recently the playing field car park had been flooded, and a channel had been dug at the time across the car park to take the water into the roadside drain. Cllr Sabin reported that the sports and social club was in the process of making this a permanent arrangement.

MORRIS MEN: The side were invited to take part in the Folk Weekend at Compton Verney. The splendid 18th grey stone house, now restored in its lakeside setting, is set in grounds that were laid out by Capability Brown.

The Ilmington Morris danced in the beautiful Adam Room, alternating with Hereburgh from Harbury and the gaily attired Plum Jerkum side of Warwick.

During the interval between morning and afternoon sessions the children from Ilmington School performed traditional Ilmington dances. They had been taught by members of Ilmington Morris, who also instructed many children of all ages who had never danced Morris before. Later in the day the children gave an enthusiastic display of what they had learned.

VALENTINE BALL: The now traditional Valentine Ball was held in beautifully decorated Ilmington Village Hall. The event was attended by almost a hundred. There was a glass of champagne on arrival and the women were presented with a red rose. After a supper prepared by women members of the Tennis Club, there was dancing to the Doctors of Jazz, directed by Roy Lowe from Birmingham.

The interval entertainment this year was a display of traditional dancing by the Felton School of Irish Dancing, based in Bidford.

The raffle was well supported with prizes donated by The Red Lion Ilmington, The Howard Arms, The Eight Bells, Chipping Campden and Ilmington Tennis Club. This year any surplus profit from the Bell is being split between the Air Ambulance and Shipston Home Nursing.

DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINING: The first dozen volunteers have now been trained in the use of the machine and in basic first aid procedures. About 40 residents agreeing to train as responders They will answer calls when there is the possibility of a villager having a cardiac arrest.

All houses in the village will soon be notified how the defibrillator scheme will work.