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December 2020                       December 2020

 All of these activities are subject to cancellation at very short notice and subject   We wish  Richard and Karen a happy retirement but look forward to their future
 to government regulations at the time of the event. My instinct suggests that at   attendance at our church services and events.
 this moment in time they are less likely to happen than more likely, but if we’re
 allowed to put them on be assured, we will be there to do so.   David Gray, Secretary to the PCC

 A slight variation on a traditional Carol
       *  a  limited  number  of  these  Church  clocks,  designed  and  manufactured  by  Mr
 “We will have a merry Christmas
       Tony Bates and the late Geoffrey Booth, are still available. Contact David Gray  at
   We will have a merry Christmas   examiner1@gmail.com for details.
   We will have a merry Christmas
   And a happy new year”
       AFFPUDDLE CHURCHWARDEN RETIRING!
 Thank you again for all the support you have given to us as trustees of the village
 hall again this year, we will, hopefully be able to share the hall together for more
 joyous  gatherings  next  year  and  truly  look  forward  to  be  able  to  meet  up  and   Colonel  Stephen  Sanderson  has  retired  as
 enjoy one another’s company again.   churchwarden  at  St  Laurence’s  after  10
       years.  Steve  has  worked  hard  and  been
 Merry Christmas and a Happy new year to you all.   involved  in  many  changes  over  those  10
       years. The PCC made a small presentation to
 Stuart Chorley, Chairman of Briantspuddle Village Hall Trustees
       him  following  the  Annual  Parochial  Church
 Email schorley30@gmail.com, Mobile 07818078191   Meeting  on  18  October.  A  cheque  from  a
       grateful  parish  was  presented  to  him  in  the
       Peace Garden on 11 November.
 THE HISTORY OF BRIANTSPUDDLE VILLAGE   Enjoy your retirement Steve!
 HALL    Steve is replaced by Michael Menzies who will work with Elizabeth Whatley, who
       has been churchwarden for 6 years.
 There are only a handful of thatched village halls in the country and one of them
 is  our  hall  here  in  Briantspuddle.  Internally,  although  it  now  has  many  modern
 facilities, a glance up at the roof and the structure of the main hall will tell you of
 its former use as a barn, where the grain from the surrounding fields was stored.
 th
 In the 17  century the tithe barn belonging to Bryantspuddle Farm occupied this
 site and was then rebuilt in 1803 after much of the original building was destroyed
 by fire. The walls are cob and the roof
    thatched,  the  cart  entrance  on  the
 west side is hidden by a later extension
 (Bladen  Social  Club)  but  the  east  cart
 exit still exists. The farmyard and pigsties
 were  situated  where  the  car  park  is
 today.
 In the 1920’s the barn was converted to
 a village hall by Ernest Debenham and
 an extension  was added to provide a
 kitchen  and  outbuildings  built  of


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