0590 Loddon Reach June 20 64pp Interactive) - Flipbook - Page 17
BEECH HILL NEWS
The sanctity of our Church
Peaceful and serene
Always count our blessings
Where countless feet have been.
Then there is the Baptist Church
The oldest in the land
Hidden down a quiet lane
From when services once were banned.
The village hall is now empty
But oh what fun we’ve had
Cakes, tea, dancing, washing up
Memories that make our hearts feel glad.
Our village green is silent
Swings just standing still
Children’s chatter can’t be heard
Only the sweet birds trill.
Not forgetting all the local classes
Usually so much here to do
Yoga, cinema, pilates, dancing, book club, more
Which one or two for you?
Trunkwell House held parties
Where we have danced till dawn
Kicked our shoes off painful feet
Then twirled across the lawn.
To slip into the Elm Tree
And raise a glass or two
Or now just collect my groceries
Remember to return the box that’s blue!
Thrive is there for those in need
With horticultural therapy
Take a wander round on open days
Give time for this charity.
Pop into the garage
Get some great advice
Dream about that unique car
But don’t forget to ask the price!
The weekly bus that collects us all
For a short spin into town
Helps us back on with heavy bags
There never is a frown.
With all the special characters
The friends that we have known
Many may have passed on now
But their memories we own.
So you see my village is not just any village
It’s simple but it’s oh so true
What makes Beech Hill special?
It comes down to me and YOU!”
— Debbie MacMillan —
The new Memorial Hall porch takes shape
The decision to provide a better and more secure,
warm, weatherproof and access-friendly entrance
at the Hall is taking shape.
Looking positively to the future, the Trustees
decided to continue with the funded project
despite the difficult times we are in.
Fortunately, our builder is a father and son team
with no one else involved. They have been able to
carry on uninterrupted by any activity at the hall,
which all ceased from late March.
After interesting times with the depth and amount
of foundations and their imminent collapse, lack
of supplies and other difficulties, we have moved
forward to the stage of all the framework now
being in place.
The next stages are ply boarding, windows/doors
fitting, roof building and tiling and then the shiplap
facing woodwork to match the existing hall. At that
point everything else will be internal work.
An improved access ramp will form part of the
final outdoor works with new steps up to the
entrance.
The Chair and Sofa Company, Parklands, Basingstoke Road, Spencers Wood, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 1AP
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We hope, at some time closely linked to being able
to use the hall again, that the porch will be finis
hed and available for use. We are all looking
forward to that in, perhaps, July.
The new Memorial Hall porch – May 2020
Pond
Before lockdown, you may have noticed changes
to the pond in Beech Hill, with the clearing of
many overgrown trees and shrubs. Working with
the Stratfield Saye Estate, we have completed
stage one of a regeneration programme of the
pond area. We hope to continue with stage two as
soon as resources and lockdown allow, which will
include more improvements and replanting. Our
aim is to make it a wonderful place for villagers to
enjoy once more, surrounded by an abundance of
healthy flora and fauna.
Details can be found at the Beech Hill Village Pond
Group page http://stuart-barry.co.uk/pond/
Lapwings
These birds, a summer visitor to fields across the
UK, found a genial spot to locate themselves in the
field below Wood Lane and Chapel Drive during
April and May. Walking past them, you might think
the birds were raising the alarm because at least
one will take to the skies and set up a continuous
raucous cry – which is where the bird’s other
name, peewit, comes from. Here’s a recording of
what they sounded like…
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MYS49kJRmOM
cuPDIY7d6gX9hLJGwnMtk/view?usp=sharing
Fleur Howles, Sam Eykyn & Graham Bell
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