Bosley Village

All are back to school, university, apprentiships and college after one of the best summers most of us can remember. I hope those taking exams got the results they had hoped for and needed. Sarah Nixon has passed some of her accountancy exams and her brother, John, has completed a year with JCB and goes back to uni for his final year. John Ratcliffe has excellent A level results and goes to Sheffield to read electrical engineering and his sister, Nicky goes to Bangor to read environmental science.

By the time the magazine comes out a busy week will be over, the Harvest Festival, both for the school and church, the harvest auction and the Harvest Supper; a week of celebrations for the school’s 160th anniversary culminating in a Gift Day at church with a bouncy castle, games, bunting and not forgetting the cakes and teas. A report on all these events will appear next month.

Youth Club

The youth club is back in action and October will bring the first talent show on the 1st, the Big Bake Off on the 8th, the 22nd ‘Making the Best Guy Fawkes’ and the 29th Pumpkin Party fund raiser. There is no youth club on the 15th.

Bobkins and school are having a coffee afternoon for Macmillan on Monday 1st October 2pm-2.30. Come and have an informal chat and get to know each other better in the community.

St. Mary’s Church Services at 9.30am; - unless stated otherwise

Preacher Sidesman Reading Flowers

Oct. 3rd 10.00 Praise and Play for youngsters with Kim Q-W

Oct. 7th John Harries Neil Wain Jane/Samuel Mrs. Done

Oct. 14th 11.00 Julia Tomes Chapel Harvest

Oct. 21st Own Arrange Dorothy Gilman Jane Gilman Mrs. L.Whittaker

Oct. 28th Ivan Whinton Tom Collis Joy Collis

Nov. 4th John Harries James Massey Rosemary Massey Mrs. M. Billing

Chapel Services at 11.00

Preacher

Oct. 7th Revd. Tony Tagg – Holy Communion

Oct. 14th Julia Tomes – Harvest Festival with St. Mary’s Church

6.30 Brian Donlon - Harvest Festival

Oct. 21st Own Arrange

Oct. 28th Revd. Keith Jarvis

Chapel Notices

It is with sadness that we must report the passing of Evelyn Twigg, wife of Harrry. Evelyn was a regular worshipper at the chapel for most of her life. She was a much loved lady, with a keen interest in, and knowledge of, all things local. She will be missed. Our condolences to her family.

Chapel Harvest Festival celebrations are on 14th October. 1.00 am Julia Tomes will lead a H.F. United Service. Special guests Trinity Choir, will be singing for us at the 6.30 evening service, Brian Donlon will be our preacher. After the service there will be a Ploughman’s supper to which everyone is welcome. Monday 15th at 7.30pm there will be a sale of harvest produce in the chapel schoolroom. Proceeds to Famine Relief.

The WAY group where all manner of religious topics are discussed will be held on 23rd October at 7.30pm in the chapel schoolroom with Kim leading it. She was suffering from a bad cold so was unable to lead the last meeting.

W.I. Report

The August meeting was well attended with much to plan for the coming months. Invitations have been received for Bosley members to attend Adlington, Macclesfield Forest and Wildboarclough, and Mow Cop W.I.’s in September and Timbersbrook in October.

The beginning of September is the Cloud Group meeting at New Life Church, Congleton when the speaker will be Lesley Smith of Tutbury Castle, plus the raffle, a bring and buy stall and the competition which this time is for “A home-made garter”. Liz Tomlinson’s garter was chosen by our members to represent Bosley in the competition.

Our speakers for the evening were Sylvia Boden and Jill Bent their subject being “I won a competition”. Sylvia recalled how her, and Jill’s, regular visits to France gave her an interest in French cookery. She entered a competition organised by French chef, Raymond Blanc and won the first prize of a cookery course worth several hundred pounds and supervised by the chef himself! Plus a “Maille” apron which she proudly wore for her talk. Sylvia had brought along lots of recipes and the ingredients to make them which they generously raffled and were won by our lucky members. Jill had written an hilarious poem entitled “Learning French” which she read in her immaculate Pam Ayres style, Relating from when she started to learn the language from books, she found that on arrival in France and trying out her new skill, she could hardly understand a word due to the fast speaking, conversational French spoken by the people there. Jill has entertained us at a previous meeting by reading Pam Ayres poems and writing her own.

The vote of thanks was given by Bar Harrison and our monthly competition won by Shirley Moss with Dorothy Gilman second.

Thanks, also, to Kath Bullock and Moreen Whittaker for providing and serving their lovely cakes and tea.

The subject of our September meeting will be “Women’s fashion during WW2” when we look forward to welcoming our guests from North Rode and Wincle WI’s.

For further information about Bosley WI please telephone 01260-222933.

School Report

We held our breath over the summer to see if the building work at school would be finished in time for our return at the start of September and … by the end of final Saturday of the holiday, it was!

Everyone is admiring the wonderfully rebuilt gable wall, which just awaits its custom-made window to be complete. It’s easy to imagine what the school building might have looked like when it was new 160 years ago!

The children are also enjoying a hugely bigger playground area now that the drive tarmac has been relaid and extended. In the next few weeks there will be markings for playground games and P.E. sports, and a whole new assault-course and den-building remodelling of another part of the grounds.

Our Christian value for this half term is generosity, our September Prayer Space is called Jenga Prayers (praying together, we are stronger as a community…) and we are enjoying visits from the Open the Book team to tell some Old Testament stories through drama – never short of volunteers from the audience!

This being our 160th year, the theme of Victorian School will continue throughout the term as we dig into the archives – log books, photos, registers, etc – and learn and re-enact as much as we can about how Victorian school life must have been at the Bosley National School.

Meanwhile, we began our term with a super Welcome Service on the first day of term, when many parents and friends joined us as the six new Reception children were given Bible story books by Vicar John and we celebrated being back together again at the start of a new school year with many exciting things planned for our school community!

We have some amazing summer weather but think we are all glad to have some rain on our gardens and in the fields for the farmers. How fortunate we are in this country with our climate when we read of the fires, earthquakes, droughts and volcanic eruptions. Good luck to all who are starting new enterprises this month.

The Gilman family have been hitting the headlines with Martha graduating with a 2.1 in Biomedical Sciences from Sheffield University, George has graduated also with a 2.1 in Policing and Criminal Investigation from Stafford. He hopes to join the Royal Marines and goes on a tough week’s course in Devon as a potential Royal Marine. James and his dogs participated again in the Hebredian Circuit where seventy dogs took part and he came away winning as Laird of the Isles with Bonny who had a first and two seconds, while Bob had a second, fourth and fifth. So Jane is now Queen of the Isles! At the 70th Anniversary of the Macclesfield and District Sheep Dog Trials James won the local Open with Bob and had numerous other prizes as a breeder and trainer, and Jane won the Beginners with Izzy.

Nicola Ratcliffe has passed her Coastal Yachtmaster exam, both theory and practical. She has sailed over four thousand miles and is once again taking youngsters out on the training yacht for three weeks of sailing.

The Harvest Supper will be held at Gawsworth Scout Hut as usual on Friday 28th September. Tickets will shortly be available. This is always a very happy event and there will be music too.

Funds are slowly coming in for the alterations to the church. Those who attended the Safari Supper were able to appreciate what a good venue this will become when the changes are made. On 22nd September 2-5 pm there will be tea and cakes and music for our Gift Day when there is an opportunity for those who have intended donating but have not yet done so can come and bring their donations, and it is a thank you to everyone for supporting the church over the years.

Youth Club

In spite of the fact that the weekly meeting of the youth club does not happen during the holidays, Sylvia has been putting on activities from 8.30 – 4.30 each week on the Green which are proving very popular. Activities include rock painting, decorating cakes, limbo, races, making fruit kebabs, cooking sausages for hotdogs, toasted mallows, volley ball, beat the goalie, scooter/bike fun plus lots competitions and challenges including a treasure hunt. Many thanks to Sylvia and her helpers in keeping the youngsters happily employed during the holidays. How lucky they all are.

Open Gardens 2019. It is planned to have an Open Gardens weekend next June 29/30th. We already have some people who are prepared to show their garden so let’s hope the weather will be kind and however large or small your garden do volunteer so we will have a wide variety, or if you would like to help in any way, please get in touch with Jane Nixon 226542 or Dorothy Gilman 223293.

It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of two of our Christian friends, loyal members of Bosley Chapel, Stephen Sebire died on 4th August and Margaret Needham died on 11th August. Stephen was a stalwart of Bosley chapel for many years. He was always upbeat, never down, and enjoyed a laugh with friends. Underlying all he did was his deep Christian faith. He loved to worship in chapel and sing his favourite hymns with gusto. He was a colourful character that we will all miss. His funeral service will be held at 1.30 in Bosley chapel on Monday 3rd September, after which he will be cremated at Macclesfield crematorium. There will be a Memorial Service for him the next day, Tuesday, 4th September at Astbury Church.

Margaret was a member of Bosley chapel for all of her married life. She was married to the late local preacher, Peter. She had served Christ in many ways throughout, in many capacities of church life. She was always kind, willing and supportive, and we loved her. Our condolences to the families of both Stephen and Margaret.

The next meeting of the WAY group will be led by Revd. Kim Quak-Winslow on Tuesday, 11th September in chapel at 7.30pm. These meetings are open to all who like to meet for frank discussion on all sorts of religious topics.

The Chapel Anniversary Service is on Sunday 9th September at 11.00am this is a United Service with St. Mary’s church. Revd. Tony Windsor will be leading the service. Everyone is welcome afterwards to join for a buffet lunch.

Exams are now over and the summer days stretch ahead and we have been enjoying several weeks of sunshine, though some gardens could do with rain. I’m sure we will soon have plenty, hopefully not during our Rose Queen Fete and Fell Run which will be reported next month.

Open Gardens 2019. It is planned to have an Open Gardens weekend next June/July so get planning ahead and if you are able to open your garden, however large or small, or if you would like to help in any way, please get in touch with Jane Nixon 226542 or Dorothy Gilman 223293.

The third anniversary of the Mill Disaster is on 17th July and the Methodist Chapel will be open from 9-12 for quiet reflection. The names of those who lost their lives will be engraved on the memorial bench in the chapel graveyard. Cups of tea will be available. On Sunday, 15th the service at St. Mary’s at 9.30 will be on the theme of ‘Supporting One Another’. There will be refreshment afterwards and time to talk. (see flyer)

Congratulations to our curate, Kim Quak-Winslow, who was priested at Chester Cathedral on 2nd June with sixteen other curates from around the diocese. The cathedral was packed with supporters from all the various parishes and the service was taken by the Bishop of Chester with our Bishop of Stockport and the Bishop of Birkenhead. The Archdeacon, Ian Bishop and all the vicars of the ordinands were there, an impressive array and a wonderful service. On Sunday 3rd June Kim took the service at Sutton St. James for all four parishes of the benefice.

Martha Gilman has completed her degree in Biomedical Science at Sheffield University and has been made the Lady Chairman of Congleton Young Farmers and also she is one of the Cheshire Young Farmers Dairy Maids for the Queen. She will have a busy year ahead.

Congratulations to Jessica Wain and Cristopher le Quesne Mourant who were married at St. Mary’s Church on 19th May. The church was beautifully decorated in green and white foliage and flowers. Jessica is the daughter of Neil one of the churchwardens. (see photo)

The next meeting of the WAY group is on ‘Superstition or Faith?’ and is led by Revd. Tony Tagg at 7.30 on the 17th July in the Methodist Chapel. All welcome.

Broads Adventure

Nicola, Jenny Ratcliffe’s daughter, was one of the skippers over the Easter break with the West Runton Holiday Organisation which take youngsters on a Broads Adventure. Nicola looked after four boys between the ages of 11-14 on her boat.

Our week on the Broads was spent mostly in the mist, but with great winds, learning together about sailing but also life skills, communication skills and God. We had six Broads cruisers and a Half decker with 34 kids and 11 Skippers. The cold and mist did not put us off, we started the week with a miracle of fitting the Martham boats under Potter bridge with only 5’5foot of air space. The sailing all week was great thanks to good winds not too strong but enough to get the boats moving, we had good sails on Barton, Horsey, Malthouse and fun in the dinghies on Womack. We managed some fancy in line sailing, as well as fun tacking up rivers and mooring sf in the reeds. A walk to the beach on the Friday where we saw the length of the beach covered in seals basking in the sun. At the beach we had quiet time and prayer and thanks for the week, as well as making some excellent sand castles. Chores as always had to be done, making dinner and cleaning the boats the inspection was a close-run thing with High Seas just taking the prize. The testimonies that we received on the final squash together of how the week has brought them closer to God and stays with them for the next year, ‘a real spiritual highlight’ in their year. The good winds had meant the days were spent sailing and enjoying he beauty of the Norfolk Broads. We also had a Half decker dinghy that we all took turns sailing over the course of the week, the fun we had zipping around the broads and the opportunity for teaching sailing was great for the crew. The week spent sailing and living together brought a brilliant sense of fellowship between all the people on the cruise, skippers and crew alike.

Youth Club Programme

Monday, July 2nd Bosley’s Got Talent – Talent Show

Monday, July 9th Treasure Hunt and Picnic - Lakeside

Monday, July 16th Meerbrook Trip with BBQ

May and June are busy months, and by the time the June magazine is out we will already have enjoyed the Male Voice Choir concert in church. The church was full for this very enjoyable concert with the new young musical director and a very talented young soloist and the programme contained a wide variety of songs. The Royal Wedding Fun Day – Harry’s Hoe Down on The Green and Ising POP concert with all the school children participating are also events in May. Reports on these last two will be in the July magazine. There will be a Safari Supper on Saturday 30th June. This is always a very enjoyable event. Tickets from church members. The main event in June is our Rose Queen Fete and Fell Run of 16th June with the Rose Queen Service in church on the 17th. See the Flyer and all the details below.

Millie Booth, one of this year’s Rose Queens, goes on to Eaton Bank in September, she belongs to a gymnastic club where she goes each week, and also looks after her two gerbils and takes their dog, Elvis for walks with her eight year old sister.

Hollie Brunt is the other Rose Queen and she has another year at St. Mary’s School. She has two older brothers one who is at Eaton Bank and the other at Rease Heath. They have a cocker spaniel and a horse, Bella, and Hollie plays netball on Thursdays and is in the under eleven team as a defender.

Rhys Williams, one of the Rose Kings, has an annoying little brother!, one dog, three guinea pigs, plays rugby union with the Macclesfield club and also plays the cello.

Jack Worrall, the other Rose King, lives on the family farm. He has another year at St. Mary’s school. He thinks he might be a farmer when he grows up and at present likes helping with the sheep and cows and particularly driving the various machines including the tractor, digger and dumper truck.

The Royal Retinue

Retiring Rose Queen – Scarlett Squire. Lady in Waiting – Laura Hall

Attendants – Bethany, Grace Lillie, Grace Conibere, Kimberley, Alanna and Elsie

Retiring Rose King – Oliver Revill

Rose Queens –Millie Booth and Hollie Brunt

Ladies in Waiting – Emily Moffitt, Niamh Lake and Alayah Bennifer and Farah Squire

Rose Kings – Rhys Williams and Jack Worrall

Men at Arms – Alex Hardie and Bailey and Seth

Attendants – Evie Booth, Violet Booth, Olivia Egan and Sophia Egan

Stacey Quinn, jasmine Mollart, Edie Kidd and Harriet Woodward.

Crown Bearers – Evan Lovatt and Lennie Woodward.

Church Banner – Archie Kidd

Rose Queen Banner – Andrew Davies and Joseph Finnegan.

Trumpeters – Milo and Tayler

Swordsmen – Eddie and Fraser

Band Leaders – Stanley and Mathew, Drummers – Macauley, Jenson and Oscar S.

Flag Bearers – Oscar P. and Ted

Flower Girls – Grace Carter, Faye and Elizabeth

Country Dancers – Allayah Bennifer, Milllie Booth, Niamh Lake, Emily Moffitt, Hollie Brunt, Farrah Squire, Evie Booth, Bethany Davies, Jessica Rawlinson, Elizabeth Finnegan and Olivia Egan

Dickie Bows – Evan Lennie, Archie, Andrew, Joseph, Milo Tayler, Edie, Fraser, Stanley, Mathew,

Macaulay, Jenson. Oscar S., Oscar P., and Ted

As usual we will always be looking for helpers both on the day of the fete and beforehand. For those who have moved into the village more recently this is a good opportunity to get to know other people and find what a friendly community we all are. The following help is needed: labelling and sorting in school and setting up stalls, marques, etc - from 3pm and again from 6pm on Friday 16 June, laying out items on stalls from 10.30am on the day, manning stalls from 1pm, breaking down stalls etc. from 5/5.30pm after fete.

The Rogation Service was held up at Wincle this year, one of the wonderful sunny days we have been enjoying and we were able to have part of the service outside. Afterwards a group of us set off for a walk, not round the parish boundaries but up over the hills then down to the river, where we picnicked, and then up to Blaze Farm for a welcome ice cream. See the photo.

The plans for making the church more available to all for lots of different activities is now going ahead and a letter, “Space to Grow”, has gone out to everyone as we look for support as this is very much something that will add an important facility to our wonderful village.

It may not be widely known in the village, but there is a defibrillator outside Bobkins. We hope it is never needed.

Broads Adventure

Nicola Ratcliffe was one of the skippers over the Easter break with the West Runton Holiday Organisation which take youngsters on a Broads Adventure. Nicola looked after four boys between the ages of 11-14 on her boat.

Our week on the Broads was spent mostly in the mist, but with great winds, learning together about sailing but also life skills, communication skills and God. We had six Broads cruisers and a Half decker with 34 kids and 11 Skippers. The cold and mist did not put us off, we started the week with a miracle of fitting the Martham boats under Potter bridge with only 5’5foot of air space. The sailing all week was great thanks to good winds not too strong but enough to get the boats moving, we had good sails on Barton, Horsey, Malthouse and fun in the dinghies on Womack. We managed some fancy in line sailing, as well as fun tacking up rivers and mooring in the reeds. A walk to the beach on the Friday where we saw the length of the beach covered in seals basking in the sun. At the beach we had quiet time and prayer and thanks for the week, as well as making some excellent sand castles. Chores as always had to be done, making dinner and cleaning the boats the inspection was a close-run thing with High Seas just taking the prize. The testimonies that we received on the final squash together of how the week has brought them closer to God and stays with them for the next year, ‘a real spiritual highlight’ in their year. The good winds had meant the days were spent sailing and enjoying he beauty of the Norfolk Broads. We also had a Half decker dinghy that we all took turns sailing over the course of the week, the fun we had zipping around the broads and the opportunity for teaching sailing was great for the crew. The week spent sailing and living together brought a brilliant sense of fellowship between all the people on the cruise, skippers and crew alike.

Youth Club Programme

Monday, June 4th Crazy Races, Lakeside

Monday, June 11th Scavenger Hunt

Monday, June 18th Football Tournament

Monday, June 25th Bosleyfest

Monday July 2nd Bosley’s Got Talent – Talent Show

St. Mary’s Church Services at 9.30am; - unless stated otherwise

Preacher Sidesman Reading Flowers

June 3rd 10.30 Kim Q-W Service at Sutton St. James

June 10th 9.30 John Harries Alison Tottle Jane NIxon Sylvia Jenkinson

June 17th 10.00 Kim Q-W Jane Gilman Rose King and Queen Marion Ward

June 24th 9.30 Ivan Whinton Neil Wain Samuel Wain June Hague

July 1st 9.30 John Harries Joan Dowse Bill Dowse

Chapel Services at 11.00

Preacher Flowers

June 3rd Revd. Tony Tagg – Holy Communion Mrs. Ruth Needham

June 10th Sylvia Harrison Mr. P. Shuker

June 17th 10.00 Rose Queen Service at St. Mary’s Church

June 24th Alec Needham Mrs. D. Walton

July 1st Revd. Tony Tagg – Holy Communion

This is something the village has had as a priority for many years. A place for community activities and worship that meets the needs of the 21st Century. The heating, lighting and sound equipment will all be renewed to enable talks, gigs, dances and other activities to take place in congenial surroundings with the addition of kitchen and toilets.

We now need to raise funds to match those of our sponsors from whom we plan to get grants, so this letter is going out to everyone in the village as we ask for support for this exciting project. Our village is expanding and it is important that we encourage new people who move in to participate in the community feeling in Bosley that was so strongly demonstrated after the Mill Disaster and that we have a building that we can all use.

There will be special fund raising events, for example a Light Festival in the autumn, and there will be collection boxes for donations at village events. Donations can be sent direct to the bank – Bank of Scotland, Account No. 12064903, Sort Code 16-17-12, or by cheque to St. Mary’s Church, Bosley, SK11 0NX. Envelopes are included with this letter so that if filled in Gift Aid gives us an extra 20% on whatever has been donated.