This week’s report is starting with a whinge. Someone is leaving rubbish in our churchyard, yes they really are! Cardboard boxes, old plant pots even bags of dog poo have been found on the ground, and in the bin that the flower arrangers use. Please will whoever is doing this please stop!!! The Church has no collection for rubbish and it’s down to members of the church to remove these items and tidy up. Please don’t leave rubbish in the churchyard.
Caroline Barker is organising a Children’s Craft Activity Day on Saturday December 2nd starting at 4pm  until 5.45pm, in the village hall, giving the children time to get ready and join in the main event of that day, the Big Christmas Lights switch on! Caroline will get the children to make things like Christmas decorations and lanterns.  Booking forms are available from Caroline and the school has some too. The parade down Fore St will start from the village hall at 6pm and carols will be sung, eventually ending up at the pub at approx 6.30pm where the Christmas Tree lights will be turned on, and AG will start to celebrate the Festive season with some mulled wine and mince pies, plus some really good entertainment. All in all a very exciting day in our village, so come on down and enjoy!
The Shop Committee are now advertising for a new proprietor for the shop due to last weeks unexpected news that Charlene can no longer take over after Dinah retires next March. There are several steps to go through which is why the position is being advertised now. If you think you could fit the bill, why not call into the shop for more details.
A.G,s birding fraternity were very excited this week by a very unusual addition to the wildlife down the river. John Ashton had just finished setting up his camera when a spoonbill landed in front of him! It is really unusual to see them in this country and Rod Bone thinks that this is the first time since the 1980’s that one has been seen here. Spoonbills are a group of large, long legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae which also includes the Ibis. The genus name Platalea derives from the Latin and means broad, referring to the distinctive shape of the bill. There are six species recognised which range all over much of the world .John has put his photos on the village website and Facebook page. As far as I can tell, ours seems to be a stray from the African family of these lovely birds.
St Andrews will have a Family Communion service this week starting at 11am