Little Wenlock Noticeboard page 6

Help keep our village clock ticking.

Our 109 year old village clock keeps excellent time, while keeping us all informed of its passing by striking the hour on the largest of the five bells in the church tower - the tenor which weighs in at more than half a ton.

Made by J Smith & Sons of Derby just before 1900, it has been wound by hand twice a week ever since.

I have personally known the clock winders for the last 38 years - Bill Marston, Ted Chamley, Jim Horstcraft, Bob Carter, Paul Watkins, Graham Cooper and currently Alicia Cooper.

To reach the clock floor of the tower, the winders have to scale a 20 ft vertical ladder before opening a trap door at the top.

Health and safety concerns make this unacceptable today, so we have to get the original winding gear automated at a cost of just under £4000.

Having been closely involved with the operation of the clock all these years, I'm making a determined effort to raise the necessary funds in the coming year.

As well as requesting a grant from the Parish Council and organising a series of fundraisers, I'm asking as many residents as possible to play their part in keeping our cherished clock going.

If you would like to make a donation please drop it in at Stonewell Cottage, Church Lane.

Many thanks, in anticipation.

Rosemary Carter December 2008

Fundraising to date (May 2009), has gone very well and we have achieved our target of £4000.

A fund raising event in the form of a "Curry Night" was held on April 18th 2009. This proved to be a very popular social occasion supported by a full house in the Village Hall. Many thanks go to the organisers Rosemary Carter, Juliet Esp and Faith Esp, together with Paul Goodman who served a fabulous selection of curries.

On Saturday 16th May 2009, a Musical Evening was performed by the children of Coalbrookdale School Choir and the Stone House Ensemble, with Hadley and District Orpheus Male Voice Choir.

All who attended the choral concert at St Lawrence Church have said that they thoroughly enjoyed a magical evening of music and song. The event raised over £400 towards the Church Clock automation appeal, and Rosemary has thanked all who contributed to making this another successful event.

Winding mechanism was automated in September 2009

Villagers will recall the Appeal launched by Rosemary Carter earlier this year - to automate the winding of the Church clock and eliminate climbing ladders twice a week in order to wind manualy. The PCC is now able, following the widespread support that Rosemary's Apeal received, to report that English Clockmakers of Derbyshire - who had previously automated the clock at Holy Trinity, Coalbrookdale - have now completed their work here. The mechanism may need fine adjustment over the next few weeks to ensure accurate time-keeping for it is only the winding that has been mechanised...

The PCC express grateful appreciation to Rosemary for her initiative and for seeing it through to a successful conclusion - and to all who contributed so generously.

Well done John!

The Parish Council congratulates our Clerk, John Marcham, on his achievement in September 2009 of Qualified Clerk status. This is a well earned success and we are very fortunate to have the services of such a rare asset.