There is still time to volunteer to form a committee and put on a pantomime in Jan./ Feb. 2006.
If you have any ideas, or would like to have a chat to discuss the possibility further, please contact

Pru Ford-Crush. 01502 722255;
email: pru@ford-crush.fsnet.co.uk
Closing date 30^th March 2005

To round off the Easter weekend, we will be serving afternoon teas in the church porch between 2.30 and 4.30 p.m.
Come with a friend, or meet a friend there, have a cup of tea and enjoy the Easter flowers, which will still be on display in the church.
We especially extend a warm welcome to visitors to the village, do come and join us.
Any profits will go to the 'Loo' Fund.

Elizabeth Leighton

Our January speaker, Giles Ford-Crush, is an expert in 3D graphics. Working for an advertising agency, he produces high quality images for the car industry. His is the virtual world of producing photo-realistic stills and movies of cars that have yet to be driven off the factory floor. Without such simulations, car manufacturers would have to produce costly prototypes to photograph for promotional material, advertising and websites. With the realism of photography, these computer animations can show how the suspension of a 4x4 vehicle behaves over rough terrain, the interior of an engine working at full throttle, or the final version rolling through genuine scenery. Using 3ds Max software, Giles showed us some tricks of the trade, the main elements of setting up 3D simulations, and the rudiments of animation. Many of us felt we would never again complain about the slowness of our computers, when we learnt that a short sequence might take 9 days to process! We were intrigued by the particle systems for creating anything from smoke to a school of fish, and a new add-on water simulator enabling floating or submerged objects to float realistically. Giles' work is not confined to the car trade and we were fascinated to be shown excerpts from the simulation of Beagle 2 landing on Mars; the animation being very much more successful than the reality.
Our next meeting will be held in the Village Hall on Friday, 11^th March 2005

Kay Ungless

Planning - Council had no objection to the plans for a new dwelling at Poplar Cottage, The Green but was not in favour of a perfectly adequate building being demolished in a Conservation Area. The Council also opposed the application for the demolition of the existing builders' store and replacement with a building incorporating a shop and games room at Poplar Cottage, as they considered the design and materials were not in keeping with the surrounding buildings.
Council also opposed the erection of a pair of semi-detached houses at the Studio, Stocks Lane on the grounds that this would result in over-massing of the site and would be totally out of character with the surrounding area.
Traffic Calming: see elsewhere.
Recycling - Councillors had been as surprised as residents at the arrival of the brown compost bins into the village. They had not been consulted about this new measure and had been informed late last year that such recycling measures were not being considered. Councillors considered that these bins were not necessary for a rural village and could be a hazard if left out on the narrow lanes and street. The Clerk had contacted the Waste Management Department and been informed that, if residents did not want these bins, they should telephone 01394 444000 and the bins would be removed.
It was agreed to write to the Department to ensure that no further recycling bins were delivered to the village.

Viv Hunt, Clerk to Council

The Sanderlings (a new village drama group) presents "A Fistful Of Mondays", a romantic comedy by Joe Graham, on Friday 29^th and Saturday 30^th of April in the Village Hall at 7.30 p.m.
Tickets will be selling shortly from the Tuck Shop or may be obtained from Jean Waller, Westwick, Lodge Rd., Tel: 722120
There will be a special pre-show dinner at 6 p.m. at the Anchor.

Val Anderson, Julia Sowerbutts