Village Voice by Rosie Warrillow, 6th December

Oh dear, here we go again!! There seems to be a problem with people exercising their dogs off the lead in our churchyard again. The churchyard is NOT a dog exercise area although dogs are welcome to cross the area on leads to get to the public footpaths behind the church. The favourite place at the moment is the new churchyard extension area, which is private ground! One parishioner has phoned me to say that he was threatened by people who he asked to get their dogs under control……. come on, this behaviour is really not acceptable, and to behave in an aggressive way is surely not acceptable either, so please keep dogs on leads in our churchyard, respect those who are at rest there and the families that visit them. Finding dog mess on graves is very distressing to the bereaved relatives. 

St Andrews has a number of services this month leading up to Christmas. This Sunday there is a Family Communion service with Rev Matt Rowland, starting at 11am, all are welcome to come and join in. The following week, on December 15th there’s a Lay Led Family Carol Service with lots of favourite carols to sing, there will also be mince pies and coffee served afterwards in the Refectory. On Sunday December 22^nd there will be a Family Carol service with Rev Matthew again. There will also be a Christmas communion with Rev Matt on Christmas Morning at 11am.     

Its AG does Christmas tomorrow, and the festivities start at 6pm outside the village hall and the procession will then progress down Fore Street singing carols. Everyone is welcome to come and join in with the singing, and of course the main event of the Christmas lights switch-on will take place outside the Fishermans Rest, come and watch and listen to the Village Choir and other festive entertainments, and of course mince pies and mulled wine will be waiting to be consumed too! 

The village shop is now selling hot food, just the right thing for the wintery weather and the shop also has plenty of fresh fruit and veg too, just right for those wholesome warming, stews!                            

The funeral of tragic AG shop keeper Peta Harper will take place in St Andrews on Saturday December 14th at 2.30pm.                                                                                                                                     Also the death was announced last week of local lady Doreen Tarr. Doreen was a long-time resident of our community, serving in many different ways as a school meals assistant, a stalwart of our WI and of St Andrews church. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her and I’m sure we will be thinking and praying for her family at this sad time.