General News, Views, and Information for Stinchcombe residents
Dursley RFC has agreed to host Dursley Rocks again in 2025. It’s a great local family community event which will be held on 20 & 21 June. Discounted tickets of 50% for Village residents will be available in the New Year and early bird tickets for non-residents will be on sale in early September. So put the dates in your diary and look out for further announcements.
Do you find yourself yelling at the TV during The Chase and The Weakest Link because you know the answers the contestants don’t? Then why not get a team together to join Dursley & District Quiz League?
The League has run continuously for over 60 years, making it one of the oldest in the country – possibly even the oldest!
The League’s 2024/2025 season is due to start in October and teams of four will take part in matches at Dursley Community Centre throughout the season, culminating in a Finals night in March next year. It’s not taken too seriously though, it’s more about enjoying a social night out, while at the same time learning a few things along the way. Last year, a team from Stinchcombe finished second – which is as good as it gets as the same brainy group have been unbeatable for the last few years. Maybe you could knock them off their pedestal?
The League is always happy to welcome new members and anyone interested in joining can get more information from the Chairman, Andy Barton on 07951 468802 or andrewbarton@dursleyglos.plus.com – or come along to the AGM at the Community Centre on Thursday 26th September at 7.30. the business part of the evening doesn’t take very long and is followed by a “singles” quiz for individuals.
PS – There are currently 11 teams in the League but only eight regular members are women, so come on ladies, maybe it’s time to even up the numbers a bit!
This year, despite striving for others to come, it was the only Four of us who set off on a cold but sunny Saturday morning. I was well layered up with a total a total of four, but happily had striped down to a single layer by lunchtime as the sun warmed me up and we had a perfect Autumn day.
The journey was mostly on back roads, and some were VERY back roads! When the potholes have grass growing in them, you know it’s a back road.
The great fun of the “ride and and stride” is visiting all the open churches and stopping and talking to all the people. We met people just out walking from church to church…well, it IS Ride and STRIDE!
The first Church was of course one that every one in Stinchcombe should know and in the morning light looked glorious!
Then it was off downtown to collect St Georges and a few others then out across the A38 to Slimbridge.
Having that one we took off down the flat CycleHighway that runs along the backroads to Halmore and Purton and through Berkeley. By the time we left St Mary the Virgin in Berkeley we were already half an hour behind schedule. I just couldn’t stop the others from talking! Mind you in Berkeley we met a lady cycling from John O’Groats to Lands End and taking in the churches…now THATS a lot of churches.!
Pressing on to Ham and Hill we turned right to be down by the river and to visit another St Mary the Virgin. Except this one was a tin shed in the field..
Whisper it, but I prefer THIS St Mary the Virgin… a much more honest type of church and WELL worth a visit
Then onto Thornbury and yet another St Mary’s. However for some reason, this St Mary’s doesn’t seem to be a Virgin! She was however having a lot of work done to her. I also notice that her Ride and Stride was a walking tour with lots of stops.
Our last stop before Lunch was climbing out the back way from Thornbury on the Avon Cycleway at St Pauls.
No that isn’t St Paul but just someone very happy to see us. They had had a very quiet morning and took one look at the four cyclists and dived into the church to prepare tea and biscuits! It was all that we could do to explain that we were having lunch just over the Hill at Tytherington! It was a beautiful church inside and immaculately kept.
So that ended the morning 50.07km and 390m of climbing at an average of 19.8km/h. Lunchtime at the Swan where Russ and Jill joined us and our partners.
After a sandwich and a glass of energy, three of us set off for the second half of our pilgrimage. Our first stop was another new church to me at Rangeworthy and the Holy Trinity.
Following that, we cut across to Horton and the steep ascent to St James the Elder which was adjacent to Horton Court, part of the National Trust and just by chance having an Open Day.
Horton Court has been used for many BBC films including “Poldark” and “Wolf Hall”. Having just climbed to the church we were treated to a royal feast by the church of Tea and Scones for Free for Ride and Striders! So we just HAD to stop….
Next was a further climb up to Hawkesbury and the lovely church of St Mary the Virgin. This St Mary, stuck in the middle of no-where was in absolutely beautiful condition with a brand new peel of bells and ringing chamber. We were invited in and up to try our hand bell ringing.
Then with time steadily marching, on we set a pace towards home but first called in at The Holy Trinity at Wickwar, St John’s at Charfield then, after a discussion and a vote, which I lost, the climb up to North Nibley to St Martin’s.
Finally down Frog Lane from North Nibley and back to Stinchcombe to St Cyrs.
Only 38km 503m in the afternoon. Phew! Probably the most enjoyable and varied of all our Ride and Strides so far, and a perfect day to do it. Just a pity that no-one else could enjoy it with us. Maybe next year, the second Saturday in September…
Lastly, and certainly not leastly, what it all been for. Our Sponsors (YOU) have raised a massive £1,220 SO FAR for the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust
It’s still not tooo late to give just follow this link
Thank You to all those who donated, Andy, Roger, Paul and Richard
Dursley United Charity invites applications for grants from those living in Dursley, Uley, Stinchcombe or Cam attending education courses.
Grants are awarded on a discretionary basis in October, and are for smaller items rather than course fees.
(Sums approved are normally for non-fee items between £200 and £300).
Application forms are available from the clerk:
Elizabeth Oakley
Clerk, D.U.C.
Closing date for receipt of applications by the clerk: 29th September 2024.
On Saturday 14th September 2024 the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust “Ride and Stride” event will take to the roads, footpaths and bridleways. The Stinchcombe Stalwarts will once again mount up and visit as many churches as possible – will you help and support us (or even join us too?)
The team currently includes five of us (Andy, Richard, Paul, Roger and Phil) will once again be cycling on behalf of St Cyr’s. The route this year is still in the planning stage and may involve two phases (starting with the easier route before a bite of lunch) with a more challenging route for those whose legs can manage it….. 🚴♂️
They will be visiting as many churches as they can along the way, – so please encourage them with your generous sponsorship!
You can pledge your sponsorship at the “Justgiving” website : justgiving page for st-cyr-stinchcombe, use the QR Code below or complete the form in the church porch.
Thank you for your support and generosity. This Charity provides valuable funds and expertise to maintain all our amazing Churches in the county, and 50% of all funds raised will be directly returned to St Cyr.
The next few dates for your diaries:
September 7th will be the start of the rugby season. On 7th September our men’s first team start the season with a really tough game against last years runners up Dings Crusaders from Frenchay. All Saturday matches start at 3pm until the clocks change. Our second team start their season at home the following week against Southmead, Bristol. For a full fixture list please go to our website https://www.dursleyrfc.co.uk/section/seniors
The Mini and Youth start back the following day, 8th September when we welcome back over 300 children. Dursley has one of the largest mini and youth set ups in the county of which we are extremely proud.
Our ladies team kick of their season on Sunday 15th September against Avonmouth Ladies.
We have also now agreed dates for the very popular schools cross country events. These will be organised by the running club and take place on saturday mornings:
Other notable events are:
the cricket section
still have a full fixture list until the end of August catering for children, ladies and the mens team.
the mindful mile
organised by the Running Club. This is open to all and takes place every Saturday morning.
the minnows rugby
that takes place in the village hall every saturday morning for children of pre-school age.
and at the other end of the age range we have walking rugby every Tuesday evening and touch rugby every Monday evening.
So we really do cater for all ages from 3 to 83 years old. If you’d like to join in any of these sessions then please contact us, details are on our website at www.dursleyrfc.co.uk
Kind Regards
Phil
It was November 2022 that the Village Hall Committee held 2 public consultations at the Hall to present some draft plans for a proposed improvement project for the Hall. Following some changes that were made as a result of feedback Full Planning Permission was granted in February 2023. Phase 1 was completed in February of this year with the fitting of acoustic panels in the main hall. This was as a result of feedback from our public meetings which changed the low priority to the highest and anyone visiting the Hall will certainly have noticed the benefit.
Since then very little has been said about it. The Committee and a few volunteers have been busy with fundraising projects and we have applied for a large number of Grants, of which many have been turned down. However we have had some success and we have also been keeping our spend to a minimum to build up funds towards this ambitious project. We now have around 50% of the funds needed with 2 grants pledged on the condition that we raise the balance. This will take us to around 75% of our target but only if we can raise the remaining 25%.
As a reminder, briefly, we are planning on doubling the size of the kitchen and altering the current serving hatch to allow for more people in the Kitchen and much faster serving of large parties. The hallway next to the Kitchen will be much larger and will become a new reception area making the front entrance the main entrance. Stairs will lead off from Hall/reception to a new 1st floor room which will be smaller than the main hall but larger than the Committee room. This should be a cosier room and attractive to small groups, suitable for family parties and some of the existing Dance groups and exercise classes. The current store room will be about 40% larger allowing for more tables to be stored on the ground floor rather than having to constantly lift them up and down from the side of the Stage.
The Hall was built 70 years ago in June and has had no major upgrades in that time. The Trustees believe this project will enhance the hall and allow it to cater for our current needs and well into the future as it is one of the busiest Halls in the area. Proposed elevations are shown below. (CLICK on the image to see the larger picture!)
