contents

local news updates

COVID-19 SHOULD YOU WEAR A MASK ?

Covid-19 information and helper list

West Berkshire Council InfO

pets and covid-19

what to do with your car

Things to do

FOOD and Home deliveries

police update and scams

Building restrictions

library

climate change

school news

playing field news

INKPEN History Group

Other inkpen News

useful links






Local news updates

For your latest local and regional news, as provided by the BBC, click here. Hungerford and area news can be found here.

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CoVID-19. sHOULD YOU WEAR A MASK?

People should wear cloth face coverings in public places especially where social distancing measures are “difficult to maintain,” such as shops supermarkets and pharmacies, the CDC and WHO advises. Masks can be “fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost.” Surgical masks and N-95 respirators should not be used by the public, as these were “critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders.”

Wearing face coverings on public transport is to be compulsory in England from 15 June. There will be exemptions for young children. Those who don't comply may be stopped from travelling and passengers can be fined.

If it is appropriate to wear a mask you should still maintain a separation of 6 feet from others. Don’t remove the mask until you’re at home or in a place where you can wash your hands after safely removing the mask. When you do remove the mask, avoid touching the front outer part of it in case it is contaminated with Covid -19.

On removal, wash the mask thoroughly, then wash your hands, and disinfect with bleach or alcohol anything you touched after taking off the mask. Never re-use a mask without washing it first. If you can't wash the mask, discard it safely. More complete guidance from the CDC is given here.

Design plans for DIY face masks  can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgHrnS6n4iA

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COVID-19 information

The latest government guidance is given here.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published a range of additional information covering all aspects of Covid-19 including what to do if you or a member of your family becomes infected. The link is here.

The Helpers List

A very big THANK YOU to all of our helpers for the amazing services they are providing and coordinating. This has made bearable the self-isolation that many are experiencing and has very much brought people in our village together. A really good news story.

If your name is on this 'helpers' list and you can no longer provide help, please let us know by emailing parishcouncil@inkpenvillage.co.uk. Also, if you are happy for your name to be added to the list, please email and your name will be added. Thank you.

For those still self-isolating and in need of help, here  is a list of neighbours kindly waiting to help you. Take your pick and give them a call.

Bell Lane
    Lucy Hutchinson – 07766 065447
    Nikki Pelissier – 07813 334907
Bridle Path and Heads Lane
    Clare Macinnes – 07973 878613
Craven Road
    Anna Bidwell – 07801 027262
    Claire Jones – 07808 773346
    Emma Wordsworth – 07785 292078 – 01488 668600
    Jane Atkey – 07796 716843
The Firs
    Helen Hanna – 07766 915865
Folly Road
    Brian and Nikki Cox – 07423 225426
    Clare Evans – 01488 668534 or 07786 691292
    Karl Prismall – 07879 883148
    Katie Rimmer – 07831 680058
    Pippa and Russ Jeffries – 07887 574112
Heads Lane
    Jane van Ammel - 07740 868536
    Nick Day - 01488 684105 or 07786 075502
    Sarah Marston  - 07976 221847
Post Office Road
    Alex Popplewell – 07834 570962
    Brian Gerhardt – 07787 500217
    Claire Loveridge – 07867 528926
    Ed Loveridge – 07879 472929
    Maxine and Phil Frazer-Reid – 07920 827888
    Phil Day – 07837 537542
    Sonya Donohoe – 07970 197843
Pottery Lane
    Jane Zollo – 07795 320900
The Sawmills
    Sarah Burton – 07949 238458
Trapps Hill
    Taj Woodgate – 07971 191263
Upper Green
    Dave Lester – 07816 177524
    Maridi Baker – 07976 575858
Lawrence Mead, Kintbury
    Jelena Golinska – 07930 424547

For those with just a telephone or those needing a different type of help than that provided by the helpers, you can call Inkpen 75 74 71. This is just a recording service so please  be prepared to give your name, phone number and location, with a  brief message and this will be forwarded to the most appropriate person or organisation. This is for Inkpen residents only.

This list will be updated as further information becomes available. If you are under 70, in robust health and wish to be added to the list of helpers, please email: parishcouncil@inkpenvillage.co.uk. If you volunteer and you start to feel unwell, you MUST stay at home and look after yourself first - this will also protect the most vulnerable that we are trying to help. If you are unable to continue as a helper for whatever reason, please contact parishcouncil@inkpenvillage.co.uk so that you can be removed from the active helpers list. Official advice to helpers is provided here. Thank you. All help, particularly at this time, is very much appreciated.

Prescriptions and GP surgeries
If you are in a recognised medically vulnerable group or you are over 70 and are self-isolating, and you require help with a prescription please email Jo Kempster at jkempster966@btinternet.com or, if you can't email, contact either Jane Zollo (07795 320900) or Sarah Marston (07976 221847).

There is a prescription collection rota system in place for collection from either Boots (Hungerford) or Woolton Hill Surgery. All you need to do is provide your name, address, post code and a brief description of where your house is within Inkpen. Your prescription will be delivered by one of the Inkpen Helpers. (If the prescription is for Woolton Hill surgery you also need to include your date of birth). Scheduled  visits to Boots in Hungerford are on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Prescription collections from Woolton Hill/Kintbury Surgery, via Dr Kate, are on Wednesdays and Fridays. Do let us know if you are personally self isolating and are in the elderly and vulnerable category, or if you know someone who is in these categories that needs our help. We are aiming to keep footfall to a minimum in both Boots and Woolton Hill surgeries.

Boots pharmacy, Hungerford - Hours have been returned to 9 to 1 and 2 till 5:30. Saturday 9 to 1 and 2 till 5. Closed Sundays.

GP surgeries. The Woolton Hill GP Practice is operating on a triage protocol, with Hungerford offering telephone consultations. Kintbury surgery is closed. More information regarding access to GP and broader medical advice is displayed on the respective surgery website.

Covid-19 Symptoms ?
All people with flu-like symptoms - a fever above 37.8C or a persistent cough - should self-isolate (stay at home, away from other people) for seven days and call 111. Don't spread it around !

Mental Health Support for those of 11-18 years
West Berkshire Council has set up a dedicated telephone helpline for young people experiencing issues and concerns relating to the pandemic - 01635 503587.

The helpline, which is linked to its Emotional Health Academy (EHA), will offer the district’s young people self-help support, advice and guidance from trained EHA workers. It came into operation on 6 April, and will be open between 09:00 and 17:00 Monday to Friday, providing an opportunity for children and young people (aged 11 to 18) to express their concerns and talk about issues directly affecting them during the current Coronavirus crisis. EHA workers will use active listening skills to support young people in dealing with difficult feelings around Covid-19 and provide signposting and self-help support for their general wellbeing.

This local helpline is a short-term service and will be available only during the pandemic, to provide ‘in the moment’ support to children and young people. It will provide access to trained EHA workers who can offer advice and self-help tools and provide support to manage ‘low level’ problems. It is not a crisis line and does not replace other services such as the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

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West Berkshire Council have set up a support link reflecting the information given on this page. They have published a letter to communities on changes to help for communities, individuals and businesses.  The Community Support Hub update is here and will now be updated fortnightly. If you are a resident seeking additional support, click here. And if you want WBC updates sent directly to you, click here. The Public Protection Partnership - PPP - briefing is available here. The West Berkshire News Update is here.

Cold weather messages and support available can be found here and home energy advice is here.

West Berkshire Council are asking residents across the district/borough to think of others and not light bonfires during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic lockdown because many people at home are vulnerable and may have respiratory issues, or even be fighting the Covid-19 itself. During this difficult time we are asking that their needs are put first. Bonfires can also get out of control or cause accidents, creating extra pressure on the already busy emergency services. Anyone having a domestic bonfire that causes a nuisance  may be prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. To report an incident of a bonfire please use our on-line reporting form here.

Fly tipping is the illegal dumping of any waste or rubbish on public land or sites which are unauthorised to accept waste. If the rubbish is dumped on private land, the landowner is responsible for removing it. If you find or receive notification of fly tipped material on private land you will need to inform the landowner. Landowners unfortunately will have to pay for the cost of disposal of fly-tipped materials. To report an incident of fly tipping please see links on PPP website here.

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Pets and covid-19

The British Veterinary Association stresses "owners should not worry" about the risk of infection from pets. But, veterinary scientists have recommended cat owners keep their pets indoors to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus among animals.

An animal's fur could carry the virus for a time if a pet were to have come into contact with someone who was sick with Covid-19. Practise good hand hygiene, try and keep cats indoors.

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Keeping your Car ready for use

Keeping your battery healthy, your tyres inflated and giving your car a thorough clean could make all the difference when isolation measures are finally lifted.

The best way to make sure your car makes it through long-term storage or significantly reduced usage, is to keep its battery healthy. Using a battery conditioner, or trickle charger, is the most effective way to do this. It will keep immobilisers and other energy-sapping components of your car from draining your battery completely.

You’ll also need to inflate your tyres to the maximum recommended pressure found on the tyre sidewall, as they will lose pressure over time even if they’re not being used in motion. If left for a long period of time this can lead to flat spots and your tyres losing their round shape, especially on older tyres.

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Things to do

Something for Youngsters
Brain Pop offers resources on maths, English, science and more, and starting on 20 April, videos, quizzes, podcasts and articles will appear on BBC Bitesize Daily via the BBC iPlayer, red button, BBC Four and BBC Sounds. If your children are into Minecraft try Tynker. And, for craft resources, from knitting to jewellery-making, drawing and origami, try  Creativebug. BBC Bitesize also has tons of content for ages 3 to 16+, and for Youtubers there's Freeschool with plenty of fun videos to watch - something that even the older audience might like.

If you are an Amazon customer then there is free childrens content here.

FREE Audio books for All Ages
If you have children at home from school why not try free Audible audiobooks for children . No sign-up required.

The BBC's Sound website and app offers a really extensive range of audio books. Something for everyone from here.

Opera and Theatre
There's a wide range of quality musicals, theatre plays, some opera and even a bit of ballet here, all for free. For older listeners there's something too, not to everyone's taste but available none the less, Nightly Met Opera streams in HD. Our National Theatre is also providing content for free whilst the theatre is closed - click here.

You might also like to have a look at archive.org. This provides audio, music, TV, images, films, even old time radio. I can't vouch for this content but worth a look.

Crafts
And don't forget Stitch and Knit. If you are self-isolating, Jan Honey will email you patterns and instructions on how to make a range of things: small knitted Christmas decorations, beginners crochet, and how to make small hand sewn items. Give her a call on Inkpen 668222 or email jan@honeydesign.co.uk.

Puzzles and Games
If crossword puzzles are your thing, then there are masses on-line - printable and otherwise, they'll even provide the answers. For sudoku try sudoku.com. Windows 10 users will find a range of free games in the Microsoft Store (an icon in the task bar), including mahjong and solitaire. There's even a jigsaw game. Paid for games are also freely available.

Quizzes
Whilst you can't visit the pub, you can still have a go at a Pub Quiz. Get out the crisps and pour the lager, then go to https://readymadepubquiz.com/. There are bound to be other and better pub quiz sites - let me know when you find them.

Cooking
If all that fails try a bit of gardening, or have a go at nettle soup. We all have to eat so ring the changes, look for recipes on-line such as those on the BBC  or those on your favourite supermarket site such as Waitrose. I like the 'spaghetti with greens, capers, anchovies & lemon dressing' - can you make it without spaghetti ?

Exercises
Many of you might be missing Yoga so try here for a few free exercises. If you've tried Pilates before have a look here, but if you are a beginner try the NHS Pilates for Beginners site. The NHS also provides a range of general fitness exercises - why not give it a go, but don't overdo it.

Holidays from your armchair.
Go to google maps, pick a destination an then go to street view. That's all you need for your own virtual holiday, except maybe for an espresso or a glass of wine. You can take a tour of the Louvre, visit the Taj Mahal or even Machu Picchu. To get away from it all, why not join the International Space Station and see what they are seeing now, live.

Night time Activity
At present, the night sky is quite clear. Weather permitting you might like to get out and do a bit of stargazing. A starters guide can be found here.

If you've any suggestions as to other stay-at-home activities, email them to parishcouncil@inkpenvillage.co.uk.

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Food VENUES and HOME DELIVERIES

The Inkpen Monthly Market
A number of people have asked me when the market will re-start given that, as of mid-June, indoor markets were permitted to re-open.   During lockdown I have given the market much thought.

I believe that for the market to re-open safely, the virus needs to further recede.  The Village Hall is a small building and, in my opinion, it would be difficult for visitors to both keep socially distant and at the same time being able to comfortably browse the stalls.

Many of the people who come to the market, be they shoppers or stallholders, are elderly, or at least in the over 70s bracket.  In my opinion, on both sides, there will be some reluctance to come along for quite some time.

I have run the market since 2011 and have been involved with it for longer than that.   I have decided that now is the right time for me to pass on the baton to the younger members of Inkpen should there be any village interest in the market recommencing at some point in the coming months.

If anyone, or a small group, thinks they might be interested and wants any information, please contact me, Josephine, on Inkpen 668 068.

Didcot Bakery - Kintbury
There's a slightly different format at the Kintbury baker's shop now, and for the moment, a slimmed down list of what's available. Still plenty of choice though. You have to pay by contactless card, no cash. Ordering online is probably easiest. Their website is www.farmhousebakerycafe.co.uk. Everything is now wrapped as you would expect with hand sanitizer at the door and only one person allowed in the shop at a time.
The bakery is  open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am till 1pm. In addition to bread, give their Chelsea buns, quiches and pies a try.

Fisher of Newbury

If you are NOT in an at-risk group and want to get some fresh fruit and veg that you can collect yourself, you might like to try Fisher of Newbury. They do fruit and veg boxes which you can select on-line and collect if you get a delivery slot. They have quite a range of items and are based at Hambridge Road in Newbury.

Got a self-isolating neighbour ? See if you can get a veg and fruit box for them at the same time.

Take-away service with a difference

The John O Gaunt Pub is offering a take-away service with a difference. You order and pay over the phone. The food is delivered to the customer - FOC - and the customer receives a call to say "it's on your doorstep". The service is free, the food is not!

The menu link is: https://www.facebook.com/John-OGaunt-Freehouse-Hungerford-152058648286949/?epa=SEARCH_BOX. and the contact number is 01488 683535

Hungerford traditional butcher.

The traditional butcher in Hungerford is taking orders over the phone for delivery to Hungerford and the surrounding villages - that means Inkpen. If you are interested, details of the items for sale and the contact number are to be found here.

Cobbs Farm Shop

At their Hungerford farm shop, you will find fresh fruit and veg, a delicatessen, butchery, fishmonger and florist. They work closely with a large number of local producers to offer customers a whole host of products including luxury dairy ice cream, freshly baked bread, honey, preserves and chutneys, cheese, dairy, flour, eggs, cereals, tea, smoked fish and meats, juices and biscuits. And let's not forget their home-grown award-winning English Sparkling Wine - Alder Ridge.

If you are in a vulnerable group or over 70 and you want to place an order with Cobbs, and have it delivered to your door, please contact Claire Jones for details - 07808 773346.

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Police report

A message from the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner is available here.

Online Fraud. New scams are coming to light all the time and particularly in the build-up to Christmas. Police guidance is given here.

Local Police News.
During the last month we have seen a slight increase in rural offences; in the main outbuilding and shed breaks. Please ensure your outbuilding is secure, all security devices such as CCTV are working and tools are securely marked. Report anything suspicious.

As a new year approaches why not consider signing up to Immobilise and creating an account to register your property on. It’s all free and greatly improves your chances of getting property back if it’s lost or stolen. Items worth adding are garden power-tools such as strimmers, blowers and chainsaws as unfortunately during the winter months we generally see an increase in burglaries from sheds and outbuildings. If an item is lost or stolen, report it to Immobilise via your account.

If a UK police force recovers this item, they will search for it on the Immobilise database and return it to its owner. Register now on www.immobilise.com.

Have you heard about THAMES VALLEY TEXT ALERT? Sign up today www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/ to receive free texts or emails about crime in your local area and relevant safety advice.

You can now follow us on twitter @TVP_westberks. We are also on Facebook TVP West Berkshire. If you would like any further advice, or have any information relating to any of the above please contact me on 07814852137 or email Joanna.king@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk.

SCAMS

Be aware of scams. Download "The Little Book of Big Scams".  For home security, download "Secure your home".

Message sent on behalf of South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAMB)
We are aware of a voice message being shared currently on social media regarding the ambulance response to coronavirus. The alarmist information being shared in the message is not correct. We would urge people to disregard the message and not share it further.  In line with our ongoing plans during this challenging time, we are continuing to follow national guidelines regarding the ambulance response and thank the public for their ongoing support in following the government’s advice.

NHS test and trace system
The Government announced the launch of the NHS test and trace system in England and Scotland on 27 May.  Earlier in the month Trading Standards warned about a phishing scam around use of the trial contact tracing app being piloted in the Isle of Wight.  It has not been rolled out across the rest of the country but that hasn’t stopped the scammers trying to take advantage.  The public should look out for texts with links in them.  The link goes to a bogus website which asks for personal details. Scammers may use the information to gain access to bank accounts and commit other forms of identity fraud.

Also, you might receive a call, text or email offering the COVID-19 vaccine. If you’re asked to provide payment or bank details, please don’t respond – it’s a scam.

The real NHS will not ask you to:    1) provide bank details or payments, 2) give details of any other accounts, such as social media, 3) set up a password or PIN number over the phone, or 4) call a premium rate number, such as those starting 09 or 087

People who shop at Tesco have been warned not to fall for a scam email claiming to give them free shopping and vouchers. In emails addressed to customers of the supermarket, scammers have attempted to take advantage of the coronavirus crisis by offering them the chance to shop for free online or in store and to click on a link to register their details.

Similar scams too purporting to be from Morrison offering free vouchers and other scams such as free Dettol or Gillette samples or competitions. They are all trying to get you to like or share which gives them details on your contacts etc. Never click on any links from uninvited emails. If in doubt on any scams, please contact your Bank or other organisations to check whether they have been sent by them.

Other recent scams are a text from O2 saying that a payment had failed and to avoid fees, visit the website using the link in the text and to then sign on using another screen asking for all the security details that the person used followed by credit card and bank account details. The fake website looked exactly like the O2 official site so some people could easily fall for this scam.

Royal Mail scams via email advising that your parcel has arrived but the Courier was unable to deliver the parcel to you. The email then asks you to pay £3.95 for this to be re-delivered and to click on a link to give your bank and other details.

Also Emails saying that the recent payment for your vehicle tax failed because there is not enough money on your debit card and that your vehicle is no longer taxed. They suggest you use a credit card instead to avoid any other consequences and again this is a way of trying to obtain your Bank details.

There are various ways of reporting scams.

A new initiative called Cyberawaregov has launched SERS – the suspicious email reporting service. They say that if you have received an email which you are not sure about, to forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk There is further information on the website: www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/report-suspicious-emails

Scams can also be notified to Action Fraud on 03001232040 or via their website or to the National Trading Standards Scams Team on 03454 040506.

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Out of hours Building works

The law - and frequently planning permission as well - regulates the hours during which construction can be carried out, typically between 8am and 6pm weekdays, 8am and 3pm on Saturdays, and not at all on Sundays. Outside those hours you have the right to complain to the council, who will come and investigate and may take action against persistent offenders. Contact WBC at ehadvice@westberks.gov.uk (Tel. 01635 519192) or planningenforcement@westberks.gov.uk (Tel. 01635 519111).

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Library - Pass It on

The mobile library will call at Craven Rd at 2.30pm until 2.50pm and at the Inkpen Primary School at 3.05 to 4pm on Tuesday 19th January 2021. Covid-19 arrangements will apply.

The Libraries Service are also offering a new online service to residents so that they can continue to enjoy new books and to share their love of reading without leaving the house. They have set up a new Facebook group called West Berks Reads, which is a useful, alternative way for people to share their thoughts and pick up ideas for what to read next.

Meanwhile, the digital resources and e-library services are continuing 24/7 and understandably being very well used at this time. Why not go to the Libraries page on our website and discover a new book or magazine?

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Climate change

Official reports suggest that our climate decline is rapidly accelerating. Although we are a small community and many feel that we are too insignificant in the grand scheme, there are things that we can do to make a positive impact.

Obviously we can plant more trees and hedging and the IMPFT  is this month planting more than 300 hedging plants along Post Office Road. But individually we can make a difference by leaving some of our gardens to become wild spaces. We can be more careful in our use of pesticides and herbicides and hopefully use insect friendly alternatives. Remember, Your Climate Needs You.

Following on from the work of Bob May and Bernard Harris, to encourage wild flowers on the Lower Green Triangle, we are hoping to transform other areas of public land in Inkpen in the coming years, with an emphasis on natural flora and their insect inhabitants. Why not set aside a small patch in your garden for beautiful, natural, wild flowers. Have a look at  this  to get a bit of encouragement.

These links might also be of some interest. Trees and Insects. Remember, insects are at the bottom of the food chain - if we lose them we lose all that depends on them!

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school news

As usual, the end of the Christmas term appeared out of nowhere. But, despite all the Covid restrictions, we were able to find various ways to celebrate this very special Christmas. This included a (battery) candle-lit, socially distanced Carol service by the children in the KS2 bubble as well as the infants "Notivity". Both performances were filmed and emailed to parents as a Christmas present from the children. I have to say, they both brought a tear to my eye. We are now looking forward to the summer, when we can once again invite an audience into school. Plans are already in place to hold this outdoors, should it still be necessary.

I would like to thank the Inkpen School PSa for helping with Santa's present delivery for the children as they left school, complete with snow machine. Santa himself was unavoidably detained this year. A big thank you also to those who have donated to our book fund. We really appreciate your generosity. All the money raised will be used to add to our supply of reading books for the children.

Since finishing term, things have changed again but, as I write, the plan is still to return to school on January 4th. Fingers crossed.

INKSPOTS EARLY YEARS PRE-SCHOOL

It is with great pleasure that we can announce that Inkspots at Inkpen Primary school will be opening its doors again after the Christmas holidays. Despite facing immediate closure at the end of last term, the pre-school has a new play leader, an enthusiastic new committee in place and a number of enquiries for the new year.

One of the first challenges for the new Inkspots committee has been to raise immediate funds to ensure financial security for the rest of the school year. Our parent fundraising group, “Friends of Inkspots”, have coordinated a host of festive fundraising initiatives in support of this.

Our eco-friendly reindeer food, coordinated by Anna Campbell, was a great success, raising a total of £125.

Kira Schader generously donated her time and expertise by arranging a pony experience day where children had the opportunity to learn about caring for and grooming ponies before having the chance to go for a little ride. Clare Robinson provided some delicious festive treats for the participants and their parents which raised over £150. At time of writing, the Inkspots Christmas Treasure Trail has only been up and running for a few days, but already more than fifty maps have been purchased and the reviews so far have been glowing.

The generosity of the local community in support of Inkspots has been overwhelming, with many Inkpen residents, and beyond, showing their support by donating via our Go Fund Me page (search for “Save Inkspots” on uk.gofundme.com). The generosity at a time of such uncertainty is heart-warming and we thank you most sincerely. There clearly several people who have very fond memories of Inkspots and are committed to helping preserve the pre-school for future generations.

We’d love to hear from anyone who has had a connection with Inkspots. Please find and ‘like’ our Facebook page; Save Inkspots and post any memories you might have of the pre-school. Alternatively, email us at friendsofinkspots@outlook.com. It would be wonderful to see photographs and to celebrate how Inkspots has been a positive force in the local community since it was started in 2006.

Finally, we still have spaces in January for children aged 3+ years who would thrive in our nourishing, small and friendly, forest nursery setting. To register your interest or discuss your funding options then please do not hesitate to get in touch (inkspots@inkpen.w-berks.sch.uk). Thank you for supporting your local pre-school!

Inkspots Early Years Pre-school - Where learning is child's play.

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playing field trust (impft) news

Pavilion News
Due to the Government restrictions in relation to COVID19, additional requested works and Christmas, the pavilion will now be completed at the end of January. We hope you will be happy with the renovation and that when we are free from restrictions it will get lots of use for many years to come. If you have an activity you feel will be suited to the pavilion do please get in touch with Gloria Keene or Claire Jones.

We do not currently have the funds to complete the paths around the pavilion or the parking area behind the pavilion as this requires a further £5,000 to £10,000. We will aim to include this in our fundraising activities this year.

Phase 3:
The Sports Equipment Building requires £30,000 to be built and we are still fundraising for this part of the renovation. If you can donate, please make a cheque payable to: IMPF Fund Raising and give it to Gloria Keene or Claire Jones. Or contact Claire for our bank details – donations can be anonymous and every penny counts now.

With us being in Tier 4 there is sadly little, if any, sports activity allowed but hopefully in the spring and summer, we will be able to once again play team sports and have various activities put in place including junior football.

Woodland Playground:
The woodland playground equipment will be installed in February. If you have any landscaping and planting experience and are happy to volunteer some of you time to help with the landscaping of the woodland playground please do get in touch with Claire Jones : clairejonesimpt@gmail.com IMPFT,  website: www.impft.co.uk

Village hall news

There’s nothing to announce re the Village Hall, however if you are looking for a new hobby to help keep you busy and buoyant through the restrictions which might continue in to the first part of 2021? If so, why not have a whirl at learning the Ukulele? There is an online ‘Complete Beginners Ukulele Course’ starting Tuesday 19th January, with the UTeam www.theuteam.weebly.com? You will benefit from two tutors during the sessions. Russ, who teaches at a local music academy, and Helen who lives and usually teaches from her Inkpen studio. Join other complete beginners over Zoom to learn everything you need to accompany yourself or others playing and singing a handful of jolly ditties. You don’t need any prior knowledge of music. If you don’t have a Ukulele, we can signpost you to some great deals on offer at the moment. We are also planning a Saturday afternoon Guitar and Ukulele Club for children starting January 2021. In these tricky times, group learning is a much more affordable and social way to learn at just approx. £10 for an hour’s tuition. Please visit our website to learn more and make contact if you have interest.

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INKPEN History Group

The Inkpen History Group is back from the dead and needs help.

There is a significant volume of handwritten and other data that requires to be carefully scanned, or photographing so that it can be turned into pdf documents ready for inclusion in the Inkpen history website – history.inkpenvillage.co.uk

We are also keen to receive copies of old photos, documents etc. that you may have and would be happy to share. Old maps, items of Inkpen pottery and any items relating to the old sawmills. Whatever you judge might be of interest, please drop us an email at - historygroup@inkpenvillage.co.uk.

Our aim is to bring together as much historic content as we can to avoid it getting lost for ever. Your help is important. Thank you.

The Covid-19 Scrapbook – 2020

To mark important times in the past, Inkpen resident groups have produced scrapbooks. These give a glimpse of the time in writings, pictures, bills and other impacting media.

This year, 2020, the history group want to do the same, to mark something that we have all been caught up in, namely, the covid-19 pandemic. No matter what your experience of the pandemic, or your age, we would like to hear from you, to share your pictures, your photos, formal and informal messages, and your anecdotes. We would prefer where possible to have handwritten textural content as this is more personal and reflects a personal experience.

Please support us in this. You can contact us in the first instance by email at historygroup@inkpenvillage.co.uk or leave a brief phone message at 01488 757 471. Make history. Join in. Thankyou.

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Other inkpen news

Inkpen Carpet Bowls.
I hope that you have all had a reasonable Christmas and that you have been able to make some form of contact with family. Where would we be if we did not have Zoom, Facetime, Skype or any other media to "meet" up with friends and family. It was particularly nice to join in the present opening with grandchildren, even if we were miles apart.

It has now been over nine months since Inkpen Carpet Bowls met and I have really missed the banter as well as the competition. As Carpet Bowls involves the sharing of bowls during play (all equipment is provided by the Club) it would have proved impractical to play without a certain level of risk.

During the less critical time of the pandemic we did look at the possibility of meeting in smaller groups of six but acknowledged that it is as much the opportunity to exercise our tongues as the competition that bring us together.

Hopefully, within three months, most of us will have been given the opportunity for vaccination and any risk from Covid will be sufficiently low to allow us to meet as a group. We have now developed a format that will allow social distancing as well as minimising unprotected contact with equipment.

If you are not a member but are looking for some excuse to get out of the house on a regular basis, once we are permitted, and would like to know more about the game then contact: Sandy or Anne on: 01488 668336 or email sandy.r.wilson@gmail.com

Finally, let me wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope that 2021 is much kinder to us all. Until then, look after yourselves. Sandy Wilson

Melie's Mission
Amelia Pemberton, daughter of an Inkpen resident, teaches refugees in Beirut. With Covid restrictions she has had to give up teaching but has instead been helping people rebuild the damage caused in the Beirut Port explosion on August 4th. Luckily, she avoided the blast but her apartment was destroyed. Melie and a friend set up a GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-beirut-brick-by-brick-day-by-day. They raised a significant sum which they are using to pay for materials and employ people to rebuild homes and businesses.

So far, her efforts have contributed to reconstructing 44 homes, 31 businesses, 1 church, employing 12 people amongst numerous other things. There is much more work planned.

Since living in Lebanon, Melie has learnt that many women are not given the chance to contribute financially to the family due to the long-held belief that a woman’s place is in the home. Helping these women gives them the ability to provide for their families instead of relying on donations and care packages. To give some respite to these women, who are even more restricted due to COVID-19, Melie started offering weekly sewing classes at which the women also learn business and IT skills. These are hugely popular.

Starting early next year, Melie is launching WingWoman Lebanon; a pilot programme providing paid business internships for women. The ultimate aim is to find the women employment or empower them to start their own businesses. The pilot has been fully funded and now she is working hard to secure funding for future programs in order to reach a larger audience. If you would be interested to find out more about WingWoman please contact Melie at wingwomanlebanon@gmail.com

Why is this “article’ in the bulletin? Melie needs your help in the form of any:
• Old / electric sewing machines or sewing equipment.
• Old computer laptops that you may not be using anymore.
• £ donations.
She already has about 30 machines and is sending a part container load to Beirut in January for her classes. If you think you have anything which might help, please email davidcpemberton@gmail.com, who can collect. In anticipation, thanks very much.

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Useful links

Many thanks to Tim and Ali des Forges, editors of the Inkpen and Combe bulletin, for providing bulletin copy for this website.  You can contact Tim and Ali by phone or email thus - aliedesforges@yahoo.co.uk or ring them on 01488 668496. You can also  download a copy of the Inkpen and Combe bulletin here

To report potholes, go to www.westberks.gov.uk/pothole. For other road or pavement issues including overgrown verges, go to www.westberks.gov.uk.

To join Laine's heating oil delivery club, email Lanie.

To report a water leak, go to www.thameswater.co.uk and for loss of electricity, go to www.ssen.co.uk. Both Thames Water and SSE provide priority services for those needing help to cope should there be a loss of service. This includes the elderly and those with special health needs.  Thames Water priority  service can be accessed on-line, here and for SSEN, the details are provided here.

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