The Welney Website Contents and Headlines, 2000-2005

The Welney Website

News headlines and links to reports, 2000 to 2005

page created July 2008, last updated Friday, 26 February 2010

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Please note this page is subject to retrospective updating

2005

The year a Welney company won a second medal at the Chelsea Flower Show

12th December 2005. Welney Parish Council renewed agreement with webmaster to have their own sub-site included within this community site for further 6 months & donated £25 to webmaster's costs

8th Dec 2005. Mark Brown co-opted onto Parish Council

20th & 22nd Oct 2005. Council launch Parish Action Plan in Parish Hall. 30 parishioners attend on Thurs, 20 on Sat.

8th August 2005. Harold Carter's funeral & burial at St. Mary's

27th July 2005. Harold Carter died aged 82. A kind & well-loved gentle man, and a lifelong Methodist.

11th July 2005.Ernie James funeral at St. Mary's.

5th July 2005. Ernie James, said to be the last of the 'Fen Tigers' died aged 99. Brief obituary. Feature

29th June 2005. Welney Parish Council renewed agreement with webmaster to have their own sub-site included within this community site for a further 6 months & donated £20 to webmaster's costs.

27th May 2005. Local firm Giles Landscapes won Silver Medal for second year at Chelsea Flower Show. The garden was designed by Stephen Hall and featured a cedar cabin built by local carpenter Steve Kerr. For a glimpse behind the scenes see The making of a garden

18th May 2005. BT upgrade Welney exchange to provide broadband for 610xxx numbers

Apr 2005. Parish Council sack Peter Cox without warning as Parish Hall licencee just so that they can install the Parish Clerk in that position and have absolute control.

18th Mar 2005. Cambs Times report that Parish Council is trying to sell the Parish Hall to Elgoods. (One of many problems is that it's not theirs to sell!) Chairman Goodger says article not authorised.

16th Mar 2005. BT upgrade Christchurch exchange to provide broadband for 638xxx numbers

16th Mar 2005. Parish Council special meeting re Elgoods & the Hall.

16th February 2005. Welney Parish Council joined the site for a 3 month trial with their own sub-site designed & maintained free by the Webmaster.

1st Feb 2005. Initial meeting of Parish Action Plan group

25th Jan 2005. Parish Council met Elgoods to hear the Brewery's proposals for the Lamb & Flag, the Three Tuns site, and purchase of the Parish Hall.

21st Jan 2005. Public Meeting attended by 20 parishioners, Guest speaker Mrs Gillian Shephard, MP

11th Jan 2005. Eddie Allen co-opted to Parish Council

2004

The year of the Gala, a new start for the Website and the death of Denis Booth

14th Dec 2004. Last meeting of Parish Hall Management Committee?

29th Nov 2004. Over 200 mourners at Denis Booth's funeral at St. Mary's. It was followed by a reception at the Lamb & Flag and a private cremation at Kings Lynn.

17th Nov 2004. Denis Booth died.

17th Nov 2004. An articulated tipper lorry owned by Knowles Transport slid into the ditch outside Sideacre in Tipps End & overturned shedding its load of sugar beet pulp granules.

Nov 17th. Welney Website re-activated, financed by new Webmaster

Nov 15th. Treasurer of WMAP declined to give financial assistance to re-start this site owing to "insufficient funds" which lead some to wonder what had happened to the money.

Nov 14th. Welney Website. Mark Farrow handed over to Peter Cox as Webmaster.

Nov 12th. Welney Website has been unavailable for a couple of weeks.

Nov 9th, 2004. Parish Council eventually accept Gala 2004 profit and agree, reluctantly, to use it only as intended, for new children's play equipment at the Playing Field.

3rd Nov 2004. The WI 78th Anniversary dinner at Lamb & Flag

12th Oct 2004. During public participation at a meeting of the Welney Parish Council, Peter Cox advised Council of rumours that Elgood's wished to change their plans to develop their land on the Bedford Bank (the Three Tuns pub site) and would now like to acquire the site of the Parish Hall. Council were not aware, and agreed to contact the Brewers.

12th Oct 2004. Jenny Farrow & Charlotte Cox resign from Parish Council

11th Oct 2004. Peter Cox resigns as member, Secretary & Treasurer of Parish Hall Management Committee in protest at lack of assistance from Parish Clerk, but remains Licencee of the hall in order to keep the hall open.

28th August 2004. Welney Gala 2004. Proposed by the Parish Hall Management Committee and with assistance from various individuals and virtually every organisation in the Parish (except the Parish Council) this was the biggest and best summer event in Welney for more than 30 years. Nearly £4,000 was raised for new play equipment for children at the playing field.

25th May 2004. Local firm Giles Landscapes won Silver Medal at Chelsea Flower Show. The garden was designed by Stephen Hall and featured a lych gate built by local carpenter Steve Kerr.

2003

9th Sept 2003. Parish Council make presentation to Denis Booth

July 2003. Flagship Housing submit revised plans for 6 houses on the (old) camping & caravan site. The original proposal to build on the pub car park provoked considerable opposiition

13th May 2003. Parish Council. Denis Booth retired after 40(?) years. Pat Rix & Alison Burrows stood down. Tim Bennett & Jenny Farrow co-opted. Ken Goodger elected Chairman.

29th Apr 2003. Inaugural meeting of Welney Parish Hall Management Committee

23rd Apr 2003. Parish Council form a council sub-committee to run the Hall.

18th Feb 2003. Wendy Redman takes over Parish Hall bookings at Village Shop.

17th Feb 2003. 40 people attended Parish Hall Committee EGM to hear the "Gang of Ten's" "no confidence" motion. Tim Bennett spoke for the Ten, Margaret Levesley replied for the Committee. Majority of committee resign, including acting chair MME bookings secretary SK, and long-serving AM who left in tears. Minutes of meeting

29th Jan 2003. Parish Hall treasurer reports findings to Parish Council, outlining the potential financial liabilities of the Hall Committee regarding the un-licenced Welney Lottery in 2002 and the architects fees. Full report.

22nd Jan 2003. Parish Hall Committee Meeting. Treasurer Peter Cox reports findings into accounts shortcomings, action taken, and recommendations for the future. Full report. Later, Chairman Richard Green dramatically resigns throwing papers in the air and storming out, following a question from a member of the public, Ian Warrington. Carol Green follows.

12th Jan 2003. Ten Parishioners (the "Gang of Ten") call for the Parish Hall Committee to resign, alleging financial irregularities and attempting to build a new Hall contrary to the constitution.

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2002

The year of the Queen's Golden Jubilee, a Palindrome party, and Parish Hall and Parish Council turmoil. What a year!

11th Dec 2002. Special WPC mtg

2nd Dec 2002. Bishops Land pay-out in Hall. Xmas fair at School

Nov/Dec 2002. New roof fitted to Pavilion. Cost approx £8,000. Funded by grant of £4,300 from KL&WN BC and donation from Marshall's Charity

14th Nov 2002. Richard Green said the Parish Hall could not be made compliant with the new Disability Discrimination Act and would have to be demolished. Wrote to EA to ask to buy Hall & site.

5th Nov 2002. Richard Green, acting in the name of the Parish Hall Committee, appointed architect Jerry Harrall to draw up plans for new Hall & submit a full planning application.

30th Oct 2002 Public Meeting at Parish Hall to discuss the Parish Hall Committee's plans for a new Hall. Despite much public opposition and reservations of some members, the committee were persuaded by new Chairman Richard Green at a hastily convened 'huddle' in the kitchen after the meeting into agreeing to go ahead. The decision was later proved to be unconstitutional.

29th Oct 2002. Richard Green & Peter Cox co-opted to Parish Hall Committee and immediately appointed Chairman & Treasurer respectively.

27th Oct 2002. The worst storm since 1987. Lost electricity at about 1100, not restored until pm 29th.

22nd Oct 2002. SS resigns as Chair and member of Parish Hall Committee.

19th Oct 2002. Bring & Buy sale at Parish Hall in aid of Macmillan Care & Treatment Centre, QE Hosp KL organised by Charlotte Cox.

16th Oct 2002. The Parish Hall Committee Treasurer resigned in disgrace at a specially convened and very dramatic Committee meeting after admitting misappropriating Parish Hall funds. (later re-funded)

7th Oct 2002. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Parish Hall Committee (SS and MME) were so concerned about the absence for some weeks of the Treasurer that they visited the Committee’s bankers. They discovered the funds totalled just over £4,000 instead of £11-12,000 as expected.

25th Aug 2002. Welney "Water-less" Gala. Second consecutive year when pollution and dead fish prevent raft races

Aug 2002. Up to 200,000 fish dead in Old Bedford River in a 3-5 km stretch from upstream of Welney towards Salters Lode. Cause unknown; possibly pollution by effluent discharge into an already low-oxygenated river or just a complete loss of oxygen. Delph unaffected.

3rd June 2002. Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations. BBQ on school field & evening disco in L&F garden. Chief organiser Elizabeth Deckker, with many helpers. Report

19th May 2002. Leicestershire County Cricket Club play our local team on Playing Field. Report & Photos

May 2002. Parish Council rocked by three Motions of Censure. Against Cllr Green proposed by Cllr Rix; against Cllrs Rix & Warrington proposed by Cllr Green. These followed an approach by Cllr Green to some parishioners without Council Authority regarding sale of land for new village hall. Cllr Warrington became involved simply because he deputised for Cllr Rix and read her statement to Council. All motions later withdrawn.

Apr 2002. Roy Green, Welney's milkman for the last 20 years, retired. Presented with a framed collage of Welney photos at Lamb & Flag

9th Mar 2002. A Great Storm !!!

20th Feb 2002 (20-02-2002) A Palindrome party at the Old Chapel, Welney

Jan 2002. New head teacher Mike Coates

Jan 2002. Borough Council considered Elgoods planning applications. (1) 2 dwellings north of Three Tuns. Accepted by Parish Council but refused by Borough Council. (2) 3 dwellings on car park between Lamb & Flag & Parish Hall, rejected by Parish Council but approved by Borough Council

2001

The year the Wash Road was flooded for three months

21st Dec 2001. William Marshall head teacher Jasmin Golson's last day after 15 years. She announced her resignation earlier in the year.

8th Dec 2001. Christmas Bazaar at Parish Hall

Nov 2001. Parish Council considered planning two applications from Elgoods. (1) 2 dwellings north of Three Tuns, recommended for approval. (2) 3 dwellings on car park between Lamb & Flag & Parish Hall, recommended for refusal

13th Sept 2001. Fifty people enjoyed Harvest Supper at Parish Hall. Entertainment by the Acorn Singers

11th Sept 2001. Ken Goodger co-opted onto Parish Council following the resignation of Martin Kyne-Lilley

26th Aug 2001. Welney Water Gala. Went ahead despite not being able to use the river for raft races, raising £807 for the Parish Hall.

25th Aug 2001. Yet another accident at Suspension Bridge. 40ft artic heading towards Welney ploughed right through barriers

August 2001. Fishing match & BBQ at Pisces organised by owners Richard & Carol Shelton raised over £1300 for MacMillan nurses.

16th June 2001. Helen Barry died. She was editor of the Welney News, & lived at Welney Hotel. Obituary

6th Apr 2001. Frank Giles died aged 81. Obituary

22nd Feb 2001. John Waring, OBE, licencee of The Three Tuns pub on Bedford Bank, died aged 86. Obituary

2nd Jan 2001. Peggy Medcalf of Tipps End died

2000

The year of Millennium celebrations, creation of the "Welney Map", abuse & death of a child and two months flooding on the Wash Road.

24th Dec 2000. Connie Pennick died aged 88

16th/17th Dec 2000. The completed 'Welney Map', a 13ft x 8ft portrait of Welney in 2000 is displayed in Parish Hall

9th Dec 2000. Christmas Bazaar, Parish Hall

14th Nov 2000. David Sowell died. He lived on Bedford Bank near the Three Tuns.

Nov 2000. Steve Kerr co-opted onto Parish Council

15th Oct 2000. Doris James (wife of Ernie James) died aged 91

27th August 2000. Welney Water Gala. Raised £1303 for Parish Hall funds.

August 2000. Fishing match & BBQ at Pisces organised by owners Richard & Carol Shelton raised over £1000 for MacMillan nurses.

23rd June 2000 Welney Playing Field Summer Fete with a display by the Downham Market Majorettes. Poorly attended due to bad weather, but still raised £300

16th May 2000. Parish Council AGM. Cllr Richard Green elected Chairman replacing Mrs Pat Rix who had completed the maximum term of two years. Pauline Pullum vice chair

6th May 2000. Lauren Wright died aged six. A tragic case of maltreatment & neglect. Step-mother & father later jailed for manslaughter. Report.

29th April 2000 (Easter Sat) The big "Village Clean-up" was not as sucessful as hoped due perhaps to awful weather.

April 2000. Official opening of new sluice at Welmore Lake (actually completed Sept 1999).

4th Feb 2000. Well over 100 people attended Madge Singleterry's funeral. Obituary.

29th/30th Jan 2000. 30 people attend the 'Felt Making Weekend' at Parish Hall preparing the background for The Welney Map under the guidance of the chief organiser Philippa Mitchell.

11th Jan 2000. Meeting at Parish Hall to discuss possible Wind Turbines at Darcey Lode.

Jan 1st. Welney Website is one week old, having been created on 24th Dec 1999 by the Welney Millennium Arts Project. Webmaster Ian Warrington

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