DOBCROSS DIARY March

DOBCROSS DIARY
Issue No.162 Supporting local clubs, societies and facilities.
March
2015
Produced and distributed free of charge by volunteers.
NOT TO BE MISSED…..
The enjoyable DVC events of last year, such as the Vintage Weekend, Italian Night and producing the calendar, enabled the
DVC to give money to various clubs and societies, from helping with transport costs for the Elderberries, to money to the
Youth Band allowing them to buy the torches for the Christmas Torchlight Procession.
Now the members of the DVC have been deciding which events to put on this coming year! So far the popular children’s
Treasure Hunt will be on again on the 17th May, followed on 13th June by a ‘Discotheque’ at the Band Club, reviving
memories of 60’s, 70’s and 80’s music! The weekend of July 11th and 12th will see a return of the Vintage Weekend, (see
below) and following the great success of last year’s Italian night, the DVC will host a Spanish themed night at the Band
Club in October. Also, plans are afoot to have a children’s container garden competition with planting starting in late spring
with help from the Toll House nursery! So find a pot or a hanging basket and let your children show off their green fingers.
Further details of all these events will be advertised in the Dobcross Diary nearer the time, but meanwhile, make a note in
your diary to come along and support them!
As the DVC are again organising a Vintage Weekend, and hoping to
build on the success of last year’s event, we are inviting local voluntary
groups to be involved in the weekend to raise funds for their organisations.
Anyone interested in contributing an activity to the weekend please contact
Marilyn. [email protected] or tel 07547 860470
Antiques and Collectables Fair
Dobcross Band Club Sunday 22nd March
10am – 4pm
Find a treasure and also support the DVC.
For full details and stall enquiries
Contact Gill 01457 870669
It’s OUT with the OLD and IN with the NEW at the Band Club…….
Few people will mourn the removal of the red plastic concertina room
divider, especially when they see what’s replaced it! Now, you can enjoy a
pleasant drink and chat whilst the Bands are rehearsing, and the Bands are
happier too! The Coffee Shop Team have provided some new comfy seating
in the bar area, so enjoying your ‘quiet’ drink will be even better. The Club is
open every evening during the week from 7pm. No ear plugs required!
A REET GOOD NIGHT up at th’ Club! The new doors will be well and truly
open on Saturday, 7th March when EVERYONE’S invited to check out the new
look. There will be a delicious hot supper, live entertainment from ‘Where’s
New wall and chairs being tested by Marjorie Malone,
Sid?’ and a 25% discount on ALL bar prices. Entrance is FREE for Members,
John Holden and Mike Hanson
with guests incurring a small charge of a £3. Not a Member yet? You can join
on the night! Membership costs £25 and also entitles you to FREE room hire and entry into our monthly draw for a bottle of
our top quality wine.
John’s fundraising walk for the Bands’ Menin Gate Trip
John Holden, Steward at Dobcross Band Club, is walking a ‘Band Club Trek’ on 22nd March, starting from Diggle Band Club,
ending in Dobcross after 10.6 miles! Please sponsor this heroic effort! Contact John at the Club. Good luck John!
This edition of the Dobcross Diary is kindly sponsored by Comfortex
DOBCROSS DIARY NEWS
Friends of Dobcross
School (FODS) have lots
of fun events coming up
in Spring to help us
towards our outdoor
classroom target.
6th March Birthday Tea, School Hall at 3.15pm.
Happy Birthday Holy Trinity Dobcross School! We'll be
celebrating another fabulous year with tea, cakes and
birthday present tombola. Pay £1 to school or bring
along a chocolate prize. Cake donations also welcome
and it's non school uniform for the children.
27th March Chocolate Bingo, Band Club at 6pm.
Win some yummy chocolate prizes at our popular event.
Tickets can be purchased in advance from school or a
member of FODS. Entry is just 50p and £2 for a book of
four games. For more information contact ;
Ali 07931 6455585.
Follow FODS on Twitter @FODS_Dobcross or like us on
Facebook friendsofdobcrossschool to keep up to date
with our fundraising.
Mindfulness Taster Sessions at Dobcross Band Club
Mindfulness is becoming more popular in health settings, schools
and workplaces, as evidence has shown that it can reduce stress
and anxiety, increase focus and productivity, change the way you
think and manage pain. From January 2015 Oldham residents can
now access Mindfulness and a range of other new emotional
wellbeing services through their GP or self- referral.
If you would like to find out more about Mindfulness or any of the
other mental health services available in Oldham, the charity Mind
is running some one hour taster sessions at Dobcross Band Club on
Wednesday 18 March at 9.30 am and Saturday 21 March at 10.30
am. The more people that come and register an interest, the more
support there will be for ongoing funding of services in Oldham.
E-mail [email protected] or phone 0161 330 9223 and speak to
the Training Team to book on a session.
Cycle "The Saddleworth Circuit" Tuesday 10th March and every
second Tuesday in the month.
RSF Off Road Cycling Club now have a guided ride around
Saddleworth. To join, meet at the Lime Kiln Cafe, Brownhill Visitor
Centre, Dobcross for a 10am start. Lunch will be taken at a cafe or
pub en route and expect to be back by 4pm. Bring lights during the
winter months, just in case.
Further details from Rob Newton 07941757685. Web-site rsf.org.uk
Nature Notes
One of the prettiest birds to visit rural gardens during the winter is the goldfinch. As well as looking
attractive with the gold on their wing and tail feathers and red mask, they also have a sweet twittering song and were formerly
popular as caged birds. Sadly, in some Spanish villages you can still see them in cages hanging up outside the houses. Their
natural food is mainly seeds including thistle seeds, and they have become quite common in neglected fields around
Saddleworth. When the natural food runs out, like many finches they have learned to come to
feeders, and this is probably the main reason that they have become much more numerous in
recent years. Although the expensive nyger seed is promoted as attractive to goldfinches, it
doesn’t seem to appeal to the birds in my garden and I find they are quite happy with sunflower
hearts.
In the winter they roam around in flocks and have a buzzing call which they use to keep in touch
with each other. During periods of the harshest weather, they may temporarily move down to
lower altitudes or coastal areas. By March however, the flocks will start to split up as the birds
pair up and start looking for nesting sites in bushes or small trees.
Athena Noctua
Hello this is Corey and Evie again with some more up to date information
about Holy Trinity Dobcross School.
On the 3rd February Class 4 visited Castleshaw as part of their link project with St Patrick’s School in Oldham.
When class 4 arrived at Castleshaw they mixed with the other school and built shelters, did orienteering, had lunch
and went on the adventure playground. All in the snow, but they had great fun.
On Thursday the 12th February, some of the year fives and sixes went to Failsworth School to take part in an
athletics events.
They had already got through the first round and came second. The team came 3 rd and are
through to the final.
It has also been the time of year when KS2 have been doing their class assemblies.
When Class 5 did their assembly about Africa they shared some of their fables with the school and acted 2 of
them out.
Class 4’s assembly was about the human body, however some children were not in school as they were
stuck in the snow! Class 3’s assembly was about Islam, as they had visited the Oldham Islamic Centre.
When class 3 visited the Islamic Centre, they were shown a slideshow.
The children learnt about the customs, they
dressed in Muslim clothing, wore head dresses and discovered lots of things about Islam.
As you know it is coming up to Red Nose Day, but we will tell you more about it in the next Dobcross diary …
We have enjoyed writing to you and hope you enjoyed reading our report.
DOBCROSS DIARY NEWS
Everest Expedition
Hello my name is Teddy. I live on Platt Lane in Dobcross and I am 15 years old. In October 2014 I was very fortunate to be given
the opportunity to join 14 others on an 18 day trek to Everest Base camp, organised by Hulme Grammar CCF. We started on an
8 hour flight from Manchester to Abu Dhabi and then a 4 hour flight to Kathmandu, where we spent a couple of days
sightseeing. Kathmandu is a large town with a very humid climate. The culture is very different to ours but the people are very
nice and friendly. From there we flew to Lukla on a 22 seater aeroplane landing on the smallest and most dangerous runway in
the world. Then it was an 11 day trek to Everest Base camp. Our expedition was under the supervision of three very
experienced Sherpa guides. Each morning we got up at 6:30 am. After breakfast we started the expedition, trekking for seven
hours each day with yaks carrying our equipment to the next camp. At night we would stay in a small basic lodge called a tea
house which have little amenities but are adequate. During the day it was quite warm but at night time temperatures
plummeted to -15 degrees Celsius. There was no heating in the tea houses
but luckily we had all the right equipment. As the expedition moved on and
we got closer to Everest Base camp the air got thinner which made it harder
to breathe and the Sherpa guides advised us to walk slower so that we
could acclimatize to the environment. Each day we stopped for a light lunch
and we would carry small chocolate bars and mints in our pockets. We also
carried Camelbaks filled with water to keep hydrated. On day 11 we finally
made it to Everest Base camp. What an achievement! The scenery was
breath taking and the whole group where overwhelmed by what we had
achieved, staying there a while to absorb the experience. On our return to
Kathmandu we took a flight on a small private plane, and circled the cap of
Everest where again the scenery was breath taking. I will never forget this
From left to right; Teddy, Mansing, Susanne, Major
expedition and I would advise anybody who had this opportunity to take it.
Blackwood and Pashang
Thank you for reading!
Teddy Kenny
The Dobcross S.O.S. Directory is now under way.
We have 20 existing members and lots more interested parties.
Examples of two successful swaps have been - Mike fixed a curtain
pole up for Gill. All he asked Gill to do was provide a raffle prize for
the D.V.C. Gill says, “It’s wonderful. I’ve been waiting two years to
have my curtains up. I have also made a new friend. The hardest thing
is lifting the phone up. Just do it.”
Dorothy wanted someone to watch her house whilst she was away. All
she needed to do in return was bake a cake for the Coffee Shop.
Dorothy says, “It’s so easy and lots of good feelings go with it. First
class idea.”
To make this successful, people must pick up the phone!
We are very keen to hear about your successful swaps so that we can
gauge the success of the venture. You can join at the next Coffee Shop
Meeting or ring Val or Jill. Membership is £1.
Val Hanson:876466
Jill Woods:878711
Email:[email protected]
D
obcross Youth Band raised £440 for the British Legion and £425 for the Defibrillator scheme over Christmas.
Congratulations to all our players and to Melanie Garlick, who has done a wonderful job taking on the band during our
search for a new MD. This is not an easy task when the ‘perfect’ person has to have musical skills whilst at the same time
making it a fun experience. Watch this space for news soon!
Advanced notice – the now traditional Good Friday Lunchtime Concert and Easter Egg Draw when at least 100 eggs will be
raffled. Hope to see you there. 1.00pm in the Club, Good Friday, April 3 rd.
DOBCROSS - What’s on in March
Sunday, 1st 2.30 Band Club opens for 6 Nations Rugby England v Ireland on big
screen, followed by the weekly Quiz at 8.30
7.30 Sunday Night Jazz Alan Williams and friends. Around the world in 80
Choruses. The Swan £6
Monday, 2nd 1.30 Saddleworth Gardening Club. Martin and Janet Blow of 'Yew
Tree House’ will talk us through the trials and tribulations of gardening and
will bring some plants for sale. Uppermill Civic Hall. New members very welcome!
Friday, 6th
3.15 FODS Birthday Tea, Dobcross School Hall
Saturday, 7th 10.00-12.00 Dobcross Coffee Shop at Band Club, followed later at
7.30 by A Reet Good Night! Supper, Entertainment and Discount at the Bar!
Dobcross Band Club. Free to members, £3 for their guests, or join on the night!
5.15 and 8.00 Denshaw Cinema ‘Mr Turner’ (12a) Timothy Spall as artist
J.M.W.Turner. To book 01457870348 or 07812063387
email:[email protected]
Monday, 9th 8.00 FIRST BREAK Theatre Festival - “Safe Mode” by Lindsay Avery .
A play set in a distant time. In conjunction with Oldham Coliseum. The Swan £7
Tuesday, 10th 8.00 FIRST BREAK Theatre Festival - "7 Veils: An Evening with
Mata Hari” In conjunction with Oldham Coliseum. The Swan £7
8.00 Dobcross Ladies Group. Talk by Bob Hill - ‘Folk Art and Welsh
Romance' . Church Room, Holy Trinity Church. All Welcome. Refreshments.
Wednesday, 11th 7.30 Saddleworth Naturalists A slideshow by David Winnard
entitled ‘Wildlife Photography around the UK’ Uppermill Methodist Centre
7.30 Saddleworth Historical Society. Illustrated Presentation by Dr. Steve Guscott
"Merchants, Money, War and Religion - Humphrey Chetham and 17th Century
Lancashire." All welcome. £2 non-members. Refreshments. Museum, Uppermill
Wednesday, 18th 9.30 - 10.30 Mindfulness Taster Session -see inside article
7.30 Friends of Castleshaw “The Roman Empire – what did it ever do for us? The
role of the Slaves and Tribes” Talk by John Walker, University of York. Civic Hall,
Uppermill. All welcome - members free, non-members £3
Thursday, 19th 7.30 Saddleworth Civic Trust. Illustrated Presentation by Julian
Somerville entitled "The Building of the Panama Canal." All welcome.
Refreshments. Museum Gallery, Uppermill
Saturday, 21st 10.30 - 11.30 Mindfulness Taster Session -see inside article
9.30 - 5.00 Friends of Castleshaw . Roman Castleshaw Archaeology Day 2015: a
day's conference. £15 includes refreshments and buffet lunch. Civic Hall, Uppermill
6.00 and 8.15 Denshaw Cinema ‘The Hundred-Foot Journey’ (PG) Helen Mirren and
Om Puri. Booking as above.
Sunday, 22nd 10.00 - 4.00 Antiques and Collectables Fair. Band Club for the DVC
10.00 onwards The John Holden Sponsored Walk leaving from Diggle Band Club,
Wednesday, 25th 8.00 An (adult) evening with Billy Pearce. In aid of the Bands’
Menin Gate Trip The Swan £15
Friday, 27th 6.00pm FODS Chocolate Bingo Dobcross Band Club
Sunday, 29th 12.00 Opening of the Bowling Green and Easter Cup
Holy Trinity Church
Sunday, 1st March
NO SERVICE AT HOLY TRINITY
CHURCH
Joint Service at St. Chad, Uppermill with
Bishop of Manchester celebrating 800th
anniversary of St. Chad’s
Sunday, 8th March 10:30
Morning Praise with Dermot and Hilary
Foster at Holy Trinity Church
Sunday, 15th March 10:30
Mothering Sunday with Revd Canon Jim
Burns at Holy Trinity Church
Sunday, 22nd March 10:30
Eucharist (BCP) with Revd Averil
Cunnington at Holy Trinity Church
Sunday, 29th March 10:30
Palm Sunday with Morning Prayer with Mr
Graham McGuffie at Holy Trinity Church
Sandy Lane Community Church
Sunday 1st - NO SERVICE
Sunday 8th - 10.30am elev8 for ages 11+
and Bible discussion for adults
Sunday 15th - 10.30am Family Service
followed by talk from Joyce Brown on
becoming a Dementia Friend and faith
lunch
Sunday 22nd - No Service
Saturday 28nd - Paddington Film Night
5pm Bring and Share tea, 6pm Film
Sunday 29th - Family Service and
Communion
Weekly Events……….
Monday
Oakfield Bridge Club 1-4pm Freemasons Hall
Uppermill. For details phone Elaine 01457 875122
Tuesday
Oakfield Bridge Club 7-10.30pm as above
Wine Society Group meets at 7.30pm Saddleworth
School. Telephone Janet on 874780
Wednesday
April 3rd Good Friday 1.00 Junior Band Lunchtime concert and Easter Egg
Draw Band Club, and Morris Men in the Square (sometime!)
Saturday, 4th
10.00 - 12.00 Dobcross Coffee Shop. Band Club
Mon-Wed, 6th,7th,8th 8.00 Mikron Theatre Company ‘Raising Agents’ - 100
years of the Women’s Institute. The Swan £11
Wednesday, 15th 7.30 The Jimmy Cricket Laughter Show. In aid of St.Francis
House Children’s Hospice. The Swan £15
Mums and Tots. Sandy Lane Church 9.30-11.15
Oakfield Bridge Club 1-4pm as above
Thursday
Quiz Night at the Swan 9.00
Sunday
Quiz Night at the Band Club 8.30
Anything to add? Email [email protected]
The Dobcross Diary is produced and distributed free to every home in Dobcross by volunteers. We try to include all village events. If you have any information for the next issue,
or would like to sponsor the Diary or advertise in it, please contact Patricia Clegg on 878814 or by emailing [email protected]. To contact the DVC please get in touch with the
Chair, Marilyn McNeil [email protected]