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MinchLIFE Newsletter – 1 December 2020

Hello all,

As we enter December we should have a little more normality in Minchinhampton with the shops, cafes and pubs opening again under Tier 2 restrictions.   Please continue to support them as much as you can.

On Saturday, 5 December MinchLife will be putting the Christmas trees above the shops.  These have been donated by Pip and Dave Robb – who are selling trees at the Scout Hut.  Please support them as they are so generous to the town – giving a discount to all school families as well.   We are changing to solar lights as the battery ones didn’t work very well and the Parish Council have very kindly paid for these and the cherrypicker we will use to put the trees in place.  The tree under the Market House is also supplied by the Robbs and children from the school will be decorating it on Saturday.

(1)  Local Community News

Update from Minchinhampton Coronavirus Response Group
As lockdown ends, the MCRG will be “downsizing”.  From Wednesday this week, the group will be checking the phone once a day (so do leave a message) and emails, for prescriptions only and they will be delivering on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.    This will be continued until the area is in Tier 1 or something else changes.

Holy Trinity, Minchinhampton
Journey Towards Christmas.  Please visit Holy Trinity Minchinhampton anytime between Monday, 7 December and Sunday 20 December, (open from 9.30am-5pm).  Visit the stations and experience the wonder of the Christmas story.  All welcome!

Minchinhampton Christmas Trees
A selection of fresh, top quality Christmas trees on sale at the Scout Hut, Dr Browns Road 9.00 am–5 pm daily, 27 November to 19 December.  COVID rules on site, please wear face masks.  Order by Monday 14 December, by phone (07708 778301) or online here.

Minchinhampton Surgery newsletter
Here is the Autumn newsletter.

Minchinhampton Community Library
Minchinhampton Community Library closed for the duration of the second lockdown and no fines will be charged for overdue books during this period.  It is now planned to reopen the library on Friday, 4 December.  The hours will be Mondays 2.00–4.30 pm, Tuesdays and Fridays 10–12 noon and 2.00–4.30 pm.  In the meantime, no fines will be charged for overdue books, but you can return them by putting them through the letterbox.  To check the situation please refer to the library website go and look at the notice on the library door or, after 2nd December, ring 01453 885497.   Assuming all goes to plan, the library will be closing for Christmas at 4.30 pm on Tuesday, 22 December and opening again on Monday, 4 January at 2 pm.

Horsfall House News:
We have just received good news from Horsfall House.  Please click here for further information.

Horsfall House are holding a Virtual Christmas raffle – go to the website and click on ‘Christmas Raffle’ at the top of the homepage.  Select how many tickets you would like, process the online payment and be sure to input your email address, home address and phone number.  Your ticket numbers will be emailed to you, ready for the draw on 18 December.  Ideally please purchase your tickets online but you can always send a cheque payable to MCE and Horsfall House will post your tickets to you.  Enormous thanks go to the local businesses who have provided such generous prizes for our raffle

Longfield Community Hospice News:
Longfield are excited to announce the following:

The Big Give Christmas Challenge:  On 1 December, Longfield are launching The Big Give Christmas Challenge.  For every £1 you give, they will receive £2.  For one week only, when you donate to Longfield via The Big Give, your donation will be doubled!  For further details click here.   Every pound you give will help them futureproof their vital Day Care services.

Longfield Reindeer Romp,Sunday, 6 December.  Take part and enjoy their festive walk to raise funds and help them support their patients and their families.  Sign up to take on a 5 or 10-mile run or walk with a Reindeer theme, choosing your own route.  For more details on how to join in click here.  Tickets can be purchased for £15.00 per adult, and £10.00 per child. If you’d like to take part in the Reindeer Romp, either solo or with friends and family, please purchase your tickets by Wednesday, 2 December to have your event pack arrive on time.

Light Up A Life, Sunday, 13 December.  Join in Longfield’s Light up a Life appeal.  Dedicate a star to someone special and their name will light up their magical ‘sky of stars’ throughout the festive season.   As a thank you for taking part in this year’s Light Up a Life, Longfield will send you a star Christmas decoration for you to keep and cherish, plus a Lantern bag and candle for you to join in our virtual/online remembrance celebration on Sunday 13 December to remember the lives of our loved ones. The celebration will include a selection of music, poetry and song, hosted by BBC Radio Gloucester’s presenter Nicky Price.   For more information click here

Christmas Tree Recycling:  Register now until Monday 4 January 2021 for collection of Christmas trees through Longfield Hospice.  Collecting 10 and 12 January 2021.  For more information click here.
If you’d like to help out by volunteering your time during 10–12 January to collect trees or drive a van, Longfield would love to hear from you.  Please get in touch by emailing fundraising@longfield.org.uk

Minchinhampton Primary Academy
are holding a raffle.  Visit here to get your tickets.  There are some excellent prizes to be won.  Be quick as closing date very soon.

Minchinhampton School PTA 
Each year, the PTA gives hundreds of pounds’ worth of books to the school, but understandably fundraising has been a bit challenging this year. Instead an online wish-list has been set up at The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop for people to gift a book to the school (and support a lovely local business at the same time).   You can find the wish-list here.

(2)  Local Food and Drink

Christmas Lunch
Christmas lunch is an event lots of people look forward to and we’d hope that everyone has someone to share it with. However, we know that this is not always possible, this year more than ever.  The amazing people at the Long Table are making 3,500 Christmas meals, with goody bag including hat etc. for those who need across the area. They have kindly given a number of these Christmas meals for some of the people in Minchinhampton who might not be in a position to cook their own Christmas meal this year. If you know of someone that could benefit from this, please contact 07307 155119 or keiththefreezer@gmail.com

Keith the Freezer is open Wednesdays from 9:30 until 10:30 at the Hub in Tobacconist Road.  Deliveries for those who need Friday to be ordered by Thursday 1 pm – contact 07307 155119 or email keiththefreezer@gmail.com.  Open to all – take what you need and pay what can.

M & B Stores, Market Square
On the website you can see the current offers and a range of products that is sold at the shop, as well as the services offered such as newspaper deliveries.  New products will be added regularly so please keep an eye out for any updates.  Click & Collect is now available through Jisp.   You can find M&B Stores in the Jisp app.  App Store Link:
Play Store Link
Opening hours for Christmas will be as follows:
Christmas Eve 7.30am-6pm, Christmas Day CLOSED, Boxing Day 8am-1pm, 27 December 8am-2.30pm, 28 December 7.30am-5pm, 29 December 7.30am-5pm, 30 December 7.30am-6pm, 31 December 7.30am-6pm, New Years Day 8am-2pm.

(3)  And Nearby:

Dunkirk Mill & its Neighbours, a new book published by the Stroudwater Textile Trust and covering the history not just of the mill but other nearby mills and the people living locally, including in Minchinhampton. ‘A good read’, Stroud Local History Society. £10 +£3 postage & packing. Contact local bookshops (click & collect at Stroud Bookshop 01453 756646) or imack@btopenworld.com.

News from Cotswold Playhouse
A short series of online films is being prepared by the Players for  broadcasting immediately before and then after Christmas.  To start this series will be a reading of The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens over 5 nights.  For further details of the Christmas films in due time please see the website or email geoffdb@me.com

An opening date for the Playhouse is still uncertain but four plays for 2021 are in various stages of preparation:  Nell Gwynn (the production delayed from this year), Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn, Private Lives by Noël Coward and Peace in Our Time by Noël Coward.


(4)  Events Diary

These are the events that we know about – however in view of the current situation it is best to check with the organiser beforehand.

Wednesdays:  
8.30–11.30am Minchinhampton Market (Market House)
9.30–10.30am Keith the Freezer (Hub)

Friday, 4 December, 10.00-12.00 and 2.00-4.00 Minchinhampton Community Library reopens.
Saturday, 5 December, 9.30–12.30  Makers’ Craft Market, Market House,  Minchinhampton
Saturday, 5 December, 11.00–11.45, and 12.15–1.00 Coffee Time Concert (Baroque Chamber Music), Holy Trinity Church, Minchinhampton.  There are a couple of tickets still available.  See website for booking details.
Sunday, 6 December.  Longfield Reindeer Romp.  5-10 mile socially distanced walk.  (See above for details)
Monday, 7 December, 7.00 pm, Planning Meeting (Zoom), Minchinhampton Parish Council
Saturday, 12 December, 9.00-12.30, Minchinhampton Craft Market, Market House, Minchinhampton
Saturday, 12 December, 4.00 pm, Father Christmas in Box.  Details on website.
Sunday, 13 December, Longfield Light up a Life, virtual remembrance celebration
Monday, 14 December, 7.00 pm, Full Council Meeting (Zoom), Minchinhampton Parish Council
Monday, 21 December, 4.30 and 6.30 pm, The Messiah (highlights), Holy Trinity Church, Minchinhampton.  More details here.
Christmas Church Services – please see Holy Trinity and the Baptist Church websites for details


Do get in touch if you would like us to add anything to our newsletters or if you see any omissions or alterations.  Please remember to use our new email address, info@minchlife.com as the old one no longer exists.

On behalf of MinchLife we wish you all the best Christmas possible and good wishes for 2021.

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