“Nothing, perhaps, has done so much indirectly for the improvement of farming and the increase of food production as has efficient land drainage.” C S Orwin History of English Farming 1949 Water logged land creates numerous problems. Wet ground is heavy ground, difficult and sometimes dangerous for animals to walk…
The final chapter and the original version of Bob Holdemans war time memories can be downloaded here. Drat those pesky vacuees And the full edited version can be found here in docx format. Vacuees Edited version
Western Gazette, Friday, 14th November 1919 CHILDE OKEFORD: DEDICATION OF WAYSIDE CROSS AND MEMORIAL WINDOW A handsome wayside cross has been erected at the junction of the cross-roads in the centre of this picturesque little old-world village as a war memorial. The cross, the cost of which has been defrayed…
After 5 years of service a number of volunteers are standing down at the end of October, which leaves just 6 volunteers to cover all our sites. As 3 are needed to carry out a Watch and we have to allow for volunteers sometimes not being available, without further help…
12:SHOOTING During the High Street period, I made friends with John Highman and Peter Wareham, finding that we were all interested in shooting. Peter had a couple of old American Daisy air-rifles and John two old air rifles. I did not have an air rifle, so would go out with…
Congratulations to Katie Henderson and all involved in the Macmillan Cancer Care coffee morning. A magnificient £300.89p was raised.
CHILD OKEFORD PARISH COUNCIL AND QUEEN ELIZABETH II PLAYING FIELD TRUST The Parish Council held our meeting on the 9th September with 5 members of members of the public in attendance. The council welcomed Leo Tandoh as a new Parish Councillor. Celia Ebdon from the Speed Watch group spoke with…
CHILD OKEFORD PARISH COUNCIL NOTICE OF VACANCY IN OFFICE OF COUNCILLOR PARISH OF CHILD OKEFORD NOTICE IS GIVEN that due to the resignation of Cllr J Chetwode, a vacancy has arisen in the Office of Councillor for the Parish Council. If by 2 October 2019 (14 days* after the date…
The Following has been received from the Whitecliff and Eagle House surgeries. As with previous years, to help stay healthy this autumn/winter and prevent the spread of flu to others, it’s time for the annual flu jab. Flu is contagious, and can be passed on through coughing, sneezing or by…
The Blandford Group Practice Patient Group (PPG) Inaugural General Meeting (IGM) Wednesday 9th October at 7.00pm Blandford St Mary Primary School We need you! Can you help! Come and join the new Patient Group (PPG) for the newly merged Eagle House and Whitecliff GP Practices (soon to be the Blandford…
11:POLICE & POACHING I never knew anyone ever being lodged in the cell in PC Clarke’s house although he did make arrests. He patrolled on his Raleigh two crossbars police bicycle. Batteries for cycle lamps were very scarce but carbide lamps were still used. However, the problem with carbide lamps…
After many years at the Saxon Helen and Peter have decided to hand on the Saxon Inn to a younger generation. They have leased the pub to Craig and Emma who have taken over the licence. A warm welcome to them and to Peter and Helen, who will remain living…
CERNE ABBAS FOR SALE 1919 At 1.30pm on 24th September 1919, most of the village of Cerne Abbas was put up for sale at auction in Dorchester Town Hall by the Pitt-Rivers family who had owned it since 1705. With the assistance of a grant from the National Lottery…
I suspect that many people, like myself, never believed that Durweston bridge would be open on the 22nd July when it was supposed to. We were right because it has opened a day early . Congratulations must go to Dorset Highways and the various contracters who have worked so hard…
9: THRESHING Our family moved from Gold Hill to the High Street in a small terrace called ‘Sherburn Cottages’ right next to Walt Hutching carpenters shop and woodyard and opposite Bradley’s Farm. That year saw the beginning of apprenticeship to agriculture work. Haymaking, stocking corn sheaves and helping to build…
As many potential visitors to the website in recent months will have discovered we had a problem with our new security certificate which meant that you had a scary warning each time you visited the website, saying it was hacked. Of course it wasn’t it was just one of those…
Even though the website had been inaccessible for some months Tony Ward’s clip of Hey Day 1990 has had an amazing number of hits on YouTube ; well in excess of five hundred people have seen it. Tony has been rummaging around in his video box again and has found…
We have just had a fantastic Hey Day and it prompted villager Tony Ward to look out this short video that he took on Hey Day in 1990. It’s a wonderful video and we are very grateful to him for digitising it and allowing it to be shared. The weather…
7: THE BELLS During 1940, A Government Decree forbade the ringing of church bells, school bells and such other bells (except for hand held bells) reserving their use to be rung only for a German paratroop drop or invasion landing. The school’s own intact bell hung from the main classroom…
NOTICE OF CONCLUSION OF AUDIT (LOCAL AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT 2014 ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT REGULATIONS 2015) FOR CHILD OKEFORD PARISH COUNCIL NOTICE is hereby given that the audit for the year ended 31 March 2019 was completed on 7th. June 2019 The accounts will be made available on reasonable notice…
In the late 16th century a group of Bishops under the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury revised the Great Bible of 1839. In 1568 they published a version of the bible that became known as the Bishops Bible. In 1891 a first edition was bought by one John Batten…
Due to the increasing need for support in our local community, Citizens Advice are seeking new Volunteers within North Dorset to help out in our offices in Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Sturminster and Blandford for one whole day or two half days per week If you can help please contact Sadie Sayers…
CHILD OKEFORD PARISH COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Vacancy for Parish Councillor Child Okeford Parish Council has one vacancy following the recent elections. We will fill this vacancy by CO-OPTION at the meeting of the Town Council on 22 July 2019. Please contact the Parish Clerk in writing or email with some…
As we eagerly look forward to another Hey Day, and thank the committee for resurrecting this event so successfully, we wondered what the village may have been doing 100 years ago. In the summer of 1919, the country enjoyed the “Peace Celebrations”; celebrating the end of “The Great War” and…
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT, 1984,TEMPORARY TRAFFIC REGULATION NOTICE, HAYWARDS LANE, CHILD OKEFORD. If you would like further information: about the work being undertaken please ‘phone Dorset Highways Operations on 01305 221000; concerning this order please call Dorset Highways’ traffic team on 01305 221020;
Here is the full text of the PC objections to the proposed Allen Close Development. A copy complete with photographs may be found here 2_2019_0318_OUT-CHILD_OKEFORD_PARISH_COUNCIL-563270 CHILD OKEFORD PARISH COUNCIL Objection to Planning Application to Develop land by the erection of up to 32 No. dwellings, form vehicular and pedestrian access.…
Watched by a large audience, enjoying refreshments provided at the church and by James and Desi at the Baker Arms the Child Okeford Mummers presented their St Georges day play on Saturday 20th April. It was a glorious spring day and great fun was had by all. Congratulations to all…
SCRUMPY ! Being rather off the beaten track, I did not have much contact with others after school, so it was to my delight that I received an invitation to a little Christmas party at Miss Rose’s house. This was the first of a number of invitations to tea etc.…
Many villagers may wish to comment on the planning application for housing at Allen Close. This can be made at https://planning.north-dorset.gov.uk/online-applications/
At one time the village had it’s very own teapot. Unfortunately we don’t know anything about it- how old it is or who made it. Can you help ? If you can please email David Pope at [email protected]
‘Drat Those Pesky ‘Vacuees’: Part 2 2: SETTLING IN The following morning, meeting up in the road, trudging off to school, the girls under the wings of Frances Barr and myself with John Eveleigh. Past the farm of last night; Wesley Chapel on left; Village Hall on left; then up…
At some time in the early summer of 1641, probably after divine service on a Sunday all the men of Child Okeford over eighteen gathered to take an oath. Each man had to swear “in the presence of Almighty God,I promise,vow and protest to maintain and defend as farr as…
Dorset Council The first election to Dorset Council will be held on 2 May 2019. 82 councillors will be elected to represent 52 wards. The Notice of Election will be published on the Dorset for You website on Friday 15 March 2019. To stand as a candidate for Dorset Council…
“Drat Those Pesky ‘Vacuees” As promised last month, we commence reproducing extracts from “Drat Those Pesky ‘Vacuees” by Robert (Bob) Holdeman. 1: EVACUATION & ARRIVAL Early morning Tuesday 25th November 1940, looking at the smoke still rising from bombed buildings, wrecked houses and piles of rubble and glass in the…
