The annual Soapbox Derby was another brilliant day of thrilling racing, showcasing the village at its best and raising money for the Children’s Christmas Wish List charity.

Unfortunately, we had one accident but the safety car and first aider were quickly on the scene and decided that the driver should go to hospital to get checked out. He has a broken foot but is in good spirits and determined to come back faster next year.

Our junior race was very competitive and included our only female entrant and our youngest ever driver who was only 6!

Junior Soapbox Derby Results

1. Max Merry in M Power (35.0 seconds)
2. Freddie Morgan-Smart in Ready Freddie Go (40.3 seconds)
3. Callum Lugger-Freke in DeLorean Back for the Win (43.8 seconds)
4. Tyler Green in Rockie Patroller (45.8 seconds)
5. Alicia Green in DeVi (52.0 seconds)

The senior racing was also very speedy with sub 40 second times being clocked! The head to head races saw some very tight finishes.

Senior Soapbox Derby Results

1. Paul Merry in M Power (39.4 seconds)
2. Brian Stanford in Norfolk and Chance
3. Richard Burton in Acceleramus (42.6 seconds)
4. Carl Marshall in Topstreet Torpedo

Crackit Productions will be using cameras and drones to film in Avon Dassett Play Park at the following days and times:

• Tuesday 13^th June – Camera only – taking close shots of surrounds/ park objects

10:45am – 13:00pm

• Wednesday 14^th June – Camera only – following our contributor around the park

15:00pm – 19:30pm

• Thursday 15^th June – Drone – using a small patch of land to take aerial shots of the park

13:00pm – 16:00pm

The park will remain open to the public during this time.

There was a great turnout for the Annual Parish Assembly. 30 villagers assembled to hear updates on the parish plan and contribute their ideas.

The parish council asked Sarah Richardson, the co-ordinator of the parish plan update in 2021-2 to supervise the meeting. The formal proceedings were held and then Sarah organised an interactive session where residents could speak to parish councillors on their specific responsibilities and also add their thoughts and ideas in writing. Sarah will gather these altogether into a formal report which will be discussed at the 3 July meeting of the parish council.

Many thanks to Liz, and the parish council, for paying for, and organising the drinks and refreshments. The meeting was obviosuly a great way of engaging the village and the parish council will consider this in their forward planning.

Thanks to everyone who attended. This is the parish plan update:

• Avon-Dassett-Parish-Plan Update May 2023

And the minutes of the meeting are here:

• 20230530 ADPC Annual Parish Assembly Minutes

The road through Avon Dassett will be closed from 0900-1800 on Saturday 24 June for the annual Soapbox Derby. Residents are kindly requested to remove their vehicles from the roadside during that time. Free parking is available at the field adjacent to the play park. For details of the road closure and diversion, please see:

• RCO 44 – Signed order

HS2 Works

The B4551 Gaydon Road will be closed for HS2 works on 13-14 June and 26-27 June and the B4552 from 20-21 June and 3-4 July. For more details please see:

• Notice of road closure_B4451_ June 2023
• B4452 road closure_June 2023

• Want to help improve the village?
• Enjoy living, working and spending leisure time in Avon Dassett?
• Concerned about new housing, parking, crime, facilities or the environment?

Come to the Annual Parish Assembly

30 May at the Reading Room 7.00-8.00 pm

• Receive an update on last year’s parish plan
• Hear from the parish council and village groups
• Enjoy a cuppa with your friends and neighbours
• Find out how you can help and share your ideas

For those who cannot attend, a newsletter with all the updates will be delivered to every house in the village

Avon Dassett celebrated the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla in style.

On Sunday 7 May, there was a picnic lunch for all the village and a bouncy castle, followed by an evening celebration, watching the Coronation Concert:

On Monday 8th May, Sally and her band hosted a music quiz at The Yew Tree. All songs had a Coronation connection!

Thanks to all the organisers for a brilliant weekend.

Anna Prosser has been recognised with a Coronation Champions Award for the volunteering work she does with the charity, Dogs for Good. In recognition of her work she was invited to the Coronation Concert. For more information on the work that Anna does, see: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/4161/the-big-help-out-in-warwickshire-meet-anna-prosser-one-of-the-uk-s-coronation-champions-and-volunteer-at-dogs-for-good-in-coventry-and-warwickshire

The results of the elections on May 4th are as follows:

District Council

Bishops Itchington, Fenny Compton and Napton – Turnout 38.44%
Keith Bushnell – Local Conservatives – 672
Seth Colton – Green – 188
Natalie Gist – Liberal Democrats – 955 Elected
Christopher Kettle+ – Local Conservatives – 855
Judith Leask – Labour – 200
Matthew North – Green – 150
Nigel Rock – Liberal Democrats – 998 Elected

Parish Council

• Philip Baxter 39
• Mike Blakeman 96 Elected
• Trevor Gill 81 Elected
• Liz Hirst 89 Elected
• Caroline Hutt 34
• Alex Jackson 88 Elected
• Doug Mclaren 29
• Darrell Muffitt 84 Elected

The Dogs for Good Warwickshire & Coventry Supporters Group are holding a Fun Dog Show on 21st May 2023 at The National Herb Centre, Warmington OX17 1DF (on the Gaydon – Banbury Road). All are welcome. Please reserve the date, come along and have some fun whilst supporting a very worthy charity.

Also please follow us on Facebook, where more details will appear soon, https://www.facebook.com/Dogs-For-Good-Warwickshire-Coventry-Fundraising-105078074665508

Dogs for Good’s assistance dogs have transformed the lives of thousands of adults and children with a range of physical disabilities and children with autism, providing practical support, increasing their confidence and enabling greater independence. We also train activity and therapy dogs to work with specialist handlers in communities and schools and our Family Dog team also give specialist advice and support to help people get the most out of their relationship with their pet dog.

The cost of training a puppy from socialisation up to matching with an adult or child is around £14,170.

All proceeds to Dogs for Good.

The returning officer for Stratford as put out a call for presiding officers for the elections:

“We have an urgent need for more Presiding Officers for the forthcoming elections on 4 May. If you, or someone you know, has undertaken this role before and are willing to do this again, please email Olivia Quinn asap at olivia.quinn@stratford-dc.gov.uk or call her on 01789 260203

If you, or someone you know, are an experienced Poll Clerk and wish to “step up” to be a Presiding Officer, then again please let Olivia know.

The rates of pay are

£250 Presiding Officer Fee

£30 Training Fee

Mileage @ 40p per mile”