Issue 57, Winter 2017.
The latest issue of the Chalgrave News (Issue 57, Winter 2017) is now available to view here or browse past issues.
It’s been a busy year for the Chalgrave news team…and we’ve loved it!
Turns out we are a very active community and there have been lots of village events to cover. Some felt really significant as they were firsts or lasts and the end of an era.In March, ‘Save the Queens Head’ really took off when the BBC came to interview some of the regulars before the launch of the Crowdfunder campaign. We made our own promotional film and took to social media to promote the Queens Head as a going concern to try and prevent it being turned into development land. So much energy went into the campaign. The pub garden was cleared for a fabulous BBQ and live music event with Tom Dibb and Stolen Horse. An old pub piano made for a great bonfire that was still hot enough the next day to cook burgers for breakfast! The Beer and Bikes day was blessed by glorious sunshine and dozens of gleaming motor bikes made quite a show in
the pub car park. In June there was an all day music festival in memory of resident Joe Inzani with over £6000 being raised for the Air Ambulance. Again, wonderful weather meant the music and dancing
went on until late.July was a very busy month with the Memorial Hall making its best ever income from the Chalgrave Games and the Plough held a Classic car show in memory of resident Tony Smith with funds being raised for Keech Hospice Care. The first ever Open Gardens Day was great fun despite the rain and raised enough to print a whole edition of the Chalgrave News. The News team are looking forward to making this a
new annual event for the village with this year’s event likely to take place in June.In September Chalgrave Church hosted its Raise the Roof Day in celebration of the new roof finally being securely in place. In October, the village hall committee celebrated the 18th birthday of the new Chalgrave Memorial Hall with a well deserved wash and brush up and
November saw the last fireworks display at the Queens Head with Colin as Landlord. In December, and after too long an absence, the village concert made a welcome return. It’s fair to say it was a great success and certainly great fun. Over £1000 was raised that will go towards keeping hire costs down for residents. The following evening, Ray and Sue led the carol singing as we welcomed back the Christmas tree light up at St Mary’s Close. It was quite a sight.As the year drew to an end, the village prepared to say a fond farewell to long serving Queens Head landlord, Colin Edwynne who moves to Toddington for a well earned retirement. The end of something is always the beginning of something else and we move into 2018 with
real hope. New pub owner Martyn Murphy, who also owns the Old Palace Lodge in Dunstable and the Cross Keys at Totternhoe has stated his intention to refurbish our local and run it as a going concern.
It looks like the Queens Head has been saved after all. Well done Chalgrave!
If you have any articles or stories to contribute to the next edition, please send them to thechalgravenews@gmail.com. To advertise in the Chalgrave News, please call 07927 144090 or email thechalgravenews@gmail.com. Deadline for the next edition is 30 March 2018.
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