We were most fortunate to have one of the rare fine afternoons for our June Meeting, more so in the fact that the young people from St. James' School, walked down to the Hall and entertained us for a short while, before having to return by 3 p.m. with Songs from the Show, 'Oliver' which they were performing in the next few days at the School.  Shall we say, it was perhaps a pre-run to get a11 geared up for the real thing with an audience.  We were delighted to hear them (20 in all) under the Leadership of their Music Teacher Mrs. Clifford, a very talented lady, who puts everything together to enthuse them in whatever song they are singing, and it certainly works.  'Dodger' was brilliant, a real leading light, he would 'Do anything, yes anything' and he meant it in song and action!  No stage fright there.  Nancy and the flower girl were likewise, super.  We also had a young lady who played the flute, and gave us a lovely solo. The 'Chorus' sang their parts extremely well, and all appeared very confident in the 'Foot lights'. 

After all this singing, they partook of a soft drink and cakes, and helped choose a particular favourite Tea plate from our table of interest, which belonged to Betty Batty, who told us it had come from Greece, and the pattern thereon had a Biblical reference. Madge thanked Ms. Clifford and the youngsters.

After their return to school, Chair then read about country life, and gardens, how after the great plague in 1349, peasants who had survived (1/3 of the English Population perished) got land of those who had died, and gradually homesteads arose and with them came small plots of land.  It seem unimaginable that these gardens did not always exist.  Those who live in big cities must be enchanted when on their travels they come across a lovely old country cottage, where tranquillity reigns and the strains and tresses of life can be lost for a short while.

Are we not fortunate to live in the countryside I ask myself even though it is rather more hurried than it was a few decades ago.

A fruit salad, cakes and tea was served and the raffle drawn at the end of a most enjoyable afternoon,

We look forward to meeting again in September when we have Julie Milton coming from Milford Day Centre.

Freda Sheppard

We wish to apologise for the continuing fault with the village clock. We are finding it difficult to engage a clock repairer for this type of clock and may have to buy a replacement.

We received no response to our advert for a firm or person to undertake small jobs in the village. Examples of the sort of job are: replacing wooden posts on the Greens, cleaning up the picnic area by the bridge, tidying up the cemetery, minor maintenance at the recreation grounds. This would be very suitable for a retired person or someone on part time. Anyone interested please contact either Mr Newman the Parish Clerk (01252 811 624) or myself (01252 702 285).

At last the pavement improvement in Thursley Rd has been completed. We are asking why SCC Highways did not carry on the repair right up to the Post Office.

We are still planning further improvements to the children's play areas at the recreation grounds but at Thursley Rd Rec we have to take account of the construction of the new pavilion which starts at the end of July. We have already had to move the fence on one side to allow for work to start. The two seats have arrived and we are holding them ready for installation as soon as possible. We are most grateful for the gift of funds for the seats from Elstead Tenants Association and Elstead Traders Association.

Denis Holmes , Chairman

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