The Bull Pub, update

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Since over 130 local supporters of the The Bull publicly demonstrated their support for its retention as a public house in November 2009, the community has waited patiently, through two public meetings with developers, a change of ownership and a make-or-break planning committee meeting in February 2018 for work to start to allow for the eventual re-opening of our village pub.

Now under the ownership of the Matthews family, owners of the brickworks in the village, the first phase of the development, the construction of the superb new eco-build nursery was eventually completed last year allowing the popular Village Nursery to relocate from its temporary premises in the old pub.

Unfortunately Covid put a necessary brake on the plans for development of the pub itself, including extensive renovations and a rear extension to provide a restaurant, but we are pleased to be informed that the owners are currently drawing up the necessary budget and considering a few minor design changes and are hoping to start the work, pandemic permitting, later this year. We can only hope that 2022 not only brings full relief from Covid but the reopening of this valuable and well-loved community asset.

Save the Bull Group

St John’s Church News

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We have started to return to our normal Sunday morning services at 10 am in St John’s Church. The services are shorter than usual and slightly different in order to be Covid compliant – there is no singing, for example. It is lovely to see each other again! 

You are most welcome to join us – numbers and social distancing permitting. If you would like to do so get in touch with Tim Yates tim.yates3@btinternet.com.

St.John’s Bellingdon – 6th June 2021

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Dear all

Here are the details for the service for Sunday 6th June – for St John’s Bellingdon.

Our Psalm is Psalm 130. The readings are 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 and Mark 3:20-end and they are read by Chris Emery with the intercessions led by Linda.

It is on the Parish YouTube channel and this link should take you there

https://youtu.be/2_EkMl3ZYzo

As usual the service is available after 09.45 on Sunday.

The format is the same as the last few weeks to fit in with the service in the church building. The contents of the recorded service and the one in the church are basically the same and a copy (in fact two copies) of the order of service are attached.

For those coming to the live service there’ll be copies of the order of service available.

For those watching the recording printing a copy would be useful – the ‘booklet’ version should be printed double sided and when folded will be the order of service. If that’s a problem the other version will print so that you have the content. Having your bible to hand might also be good.

With prayers and best wishes to you all. Take care

Tim and Fionnagh

Morning-Worship-060621-Booklet-onlineDownload
Morning-Worship-060621-simple-onlineDownload

Horticultural Society

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The Early Summer Show on 3 July in Trinity Baptist Church upstairs in the Baines Hall (to some extent dependent on Step 4 of the Covid roadmap going ahead as planned), open to the public at 2.30pm.

The Annual Show in Bellingdon Village Hall on 4 September (open to the public at 2pm).

Just some of the amazing produce on show

Graham Owen 1929-2021

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Graham Owen, who has died aged 92, was a resident of Bellingdon for 43 years and will be particularly remembered for his 55-year presidency of Chesham 1879 Tennis Club, reputed to be the oldest in the country. 

Image: Graham with some of his many protégés 

Playing well into his 80s, Graham’s greatest achievement was coaching generations of youngsters at the club, almost up to the end of his own tennis career. Countless players benefitted from his expertise, including his son Jeremy who played at county level. Members still compete for the President’s Cup, donated by Graham, in a tournament held in May each year. He was also a member of the Chesham, Amersham and District Sports Council.

Born at Ton Pentre in the Welsh valleys, Graham was employed for more than forty years by BT and its predecessors British Telecom and the General Post Office, retiring from senior management in 1989. He and his wife Frances (Fay) moved from Chesham to the village with Jeremy and his sister Sarah in 1978.

Graham will be fondly remembered by many for his endearing sense of humour which never failed to bring a smile to his friends and neighbours. The Owen family loved Bellingdon and took huge pleasure from their village surroundings, their garden and, over the years, a succession of Dachshund dogs.

A memorial service was held in the couple’s garden on April 25th, led by humanist celebrant Paul Woodstock. Tributes were read by family and friends from the worlds of tennis and amateur football, where Graham was a referee. He will be hugely missed.

With thanks to Fay Owen and Ken Ives