Weekly column by Chris Roberts MBE. 

1. Learn more about your local history. 

With the start of a new year, how about starting a new hobby or learn more about your local history.

The National Trust’s Buscot and Coleshill Estate (Coleshill) is now fully open to visitors and is within easy reach of Fairford, Lechlade and Highworth. The Heritage and Rural Skills Centre showcases a number of expert craftspeople who are available to teach others about the skills that created and restored great houses and estates like Coleshill. This is where you can start off the New Year with a new hobby or learn more about by-gone heritage conservation skills via a beginner’s or hobbyist’s course on blacksmithing, lime plastering or carving (wood or stone).

Last month, Tom Ball, who is one of the Estate’s expert craftspeople and a Lead Woodcarving Lecturer, won the Heritage Crafts Woodworker of the Year Award 2023. He is available at Coleshill to show visitors his skills and explain the history of his craft.

The manor of Coleshill – a magnificent Palladian house – was built ca. 1660 during the Stuart period. Sadly, it no longer exists, as it was destroyed by fire in 1952 and demolished in 1958. However, the National Trust team at Coleshill has saved many artefacts from the house and are showcasing these in a new exhibition, open to the public, at the heart of the Skills Centre, to display the incredible craftsmanship undertaken in creating such an iconic building.

There are so many exciting and educational opportunities at Coleshill for all ages including learning about the Estate’s wartime history and even ‘going underground’ into the WWII Operational Base bunker.

The newly renovated café in the Old Carpenters’ Yard – aptly named for the trade that was historically carried on here – has recently been taken over by Blakes Kitchen well-known for baking their own bread every day and offer a delicious selection of cakes, savouries, sandwiches and hot food to order.

The Buscot and Coleshill Estate, near Swindon SN6 7PT, is somewhere new to go for coffee, breakfast or lunch or to sign up for a new hobby or skill or for an enjoyable family day out.

2. Exciting project to help young people 

An exciting new project to support young people in Fairford and Lechlade launches this Spring. Fairford & Lechlade Town Councils are working together, with The Door, to bring a Community Youth Worker to the area. The three-year project, due to start in the Spring, has been jointly funded by both Town Councils and has also been lucky enough to receive a grant of nearly £90k from The National Lottery and a seed grant of £3,000 from Gloucestershire County Council Build Back Better Fund. 

The project is designed to improve the mental, physical and social health of young people in Fairford & Lechlade and those attending Farmor’s School. The Door has a holistic approach to Community Youthwork and will spend time in the communities meeting with local stakeholders to understand their perceptions and to learn about the needs of the local young people. 

Gloucestershire County Councillor Dom Morris said: “I was delighted to contribute seed funding early on to help make this project happen. Providing engaging youth provision for our young people is incredibly important and I pay tribute to the Fairford Town Council team for their determination to secure such a fabulous funding pipeline.”

3. Youth club 

z There will be a youth club run in Fairford on a Monday night that has been running for the last two years and a new youth club in Lechlade on a Friday night starting in Spring.

The Door will also be working with Farmor’s School to support their pupils and in the community to support young people who are not in school. Support for families will also be available. 

As the project progresses, The Door will offer mentoring to local young people. There will be opportunities for members of the community to volunteer and work with The Door to help our young people as mentors and in other roles

The Door will be recruiting a new Cotswold Community Youth Worker to lead this project and is hoping it might be someone from the local area. More information can be found by emailing info@ thedoor.org.uk or visiting: www. thedoor.org.uk/jobs

4. New sports massage business 

Tiny Russell started a new Sports Massage/Deep Tissue Therapy business in Fairford after leaving the RAF earlier this year. He was with the RAF for 36 years but has six years’ experience in the Sports Massage world and is now looking to helping people with their recovery or rehabilitation from injuries, pre- or post-event preparation or recovery, general maintenance and mobility, physical conditioning, mental and physical health and wellbeing, relaxation and stress relief.

You don’t have to commit to a lengthy and expensive course of treatment up front and, as he works from home, clients are not financing his business costs. He charges just £40 per hour and says he is very competitively priced – and probably the lowest in the area.

He is very flexible on times and is available during the week from 9am with the last treatment starting at 8pm and available sometimes at weekends with prior appointment. Tiny can also visit clients in their homes, but with a slight extra cost to cover travelling and time.

To find out more, contact Tiny on 07714 469759, tinyrussellsportsmassage@gmail. com.

5. Booking open for Fairford 10k

Booking is now open to be part of the Fairford Festival 10k race that takes place on Sunday June 9.

The race is part of the Glos AAA Road Race series and early booking is advised as places are likely to sell out. Cost: £19 for non-affiliated runners or £17 for UKA-affiliated runners. Please book at https://www.entrycentral. com/Fairford10K.

6. The 100 Club

The 100 Club is a fundraising lottery organised by the Committee of The Friends of Fairford and Lechlade Communities.

Each subscriber pays an annual fee of £12 and is allotted a draw number. Members of the scheme can purchase more than one number to better their chances of winning. A draw is usually made on the last Saturday of the draw month.

The draw is made on alternate months – January, March, May, July, September and November. The prizes for the first five months were £60 first prize and £30 second price. The November draw had a first prize of £100 and a second prize of £50. If you wish to join the scheme, please complete the application form on https:// friendsoffairford.org.uk/100-club/ and send it to Jeffrey Dawson,Glen Lea, High Street, Meysey Hampton GL7 5JW together with your cheque for £12. Membership is limited to people over the age of 16 years.

7. Good progress for project Inspire 

There has been good progress over recent months for Project Inspire with support for the proposals from the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC). In addition, planning permission has been obtained from Cotswold District Council for the external works in the churchyard.

This includes a location for the air source heat pumps, a new churchyard maintenance shed and associated paths. A petition was submitted to the Chancellor of the Diocese of Gloucester to permit the proposed restoration and reordering works inside the church. A public consultation was held in September and October as required by the Ecclesiastical rules.

Thank you to all who responded to the consultation with letters to the Registrar. The final decision is now with the Chancellor with the outcome expected in the New Year.

8. Coaching at tennis club

Coaching at Lechlade Tennis Club has continued this term and, for more details or any questions, please contact Andy Sutherland on 07976 440216, andrew_sutherland93@hotmail. com.