Peace Tree Vandilised

The village Peace Tree which was erected on Christmas Eve, has been vandalised twice, Villagers walking past the green on their way for the morning papers-or out for a morning stroll where the memorial is on Monday and Sunday, , where greeted with half a tree.
On closer inspection of the tree it appeared to not have been snapped, but sawn off-in half. The first attempt of vandalism on Saturday evening, resulted in the tree being sawn off 3 or 4 feet from ground level, along with the securing ropes being slashed. Baubles with names on, were scattered near by. The top half of the tree was found in the park entrance. Organisers from the village carnival rallied round and fixed the tree back up with the baubles re-attached.
The following night, Sunday, the tree had been vandalised again, this time with the baubles being stamped on/smashed and again, the top half of the tree dumped in the park entrance, but this time placed in the wood on the right as you pass the small iron gate entering the parkland.
Carnival organisers when clearing up for the second time,, managed to save a number of baubles, for one, which hadn’t been smashed, revealed the name of Brassendale on it.. This bauble which had a relatives name on it (also engraved on the stone monument) was later presented to Mrs Burns, by one of the village carnival organisers as a keep sake!
Below you can see two pictures, one showing the Peace Tree with the baubles on, taken on around Boxing Day, along with the second image showing the vandalised Peace Tree on a day later.

The act/s of vandalism have been reported to the Police.

Protest At Memorial-Village Green

While doing the honours for my uncle Billy (ferrying him to and from Webbs farm) today at 3pm, I spotted-what looked like a small gathering of people who where in the location of the village green where the memorial is at five minutes to three. Guessing it was members from the Hale Branch of the British Legion,, I carried on towards the farm wondering what was going on-it then dawned on me,,,, this is the aftermath of Monday nights heated Parish Council Meeting (15th December)?
On our way back at ten past three-past Billy Allens whitewashed wall, towards the memorial, the gathering had positioned themselves in the green, next to the gun, it looked like they were having a photo shoot or something for one of the local papers, in protest at the proposed peace tree!?
Once home,, an hour passed, along with several emails to the village website and a number of phone calls from concerned villagers, about what had been left behind at the green.
So, I decided to get me’ camera out (as normal) and take a wander up there. I was surprised to see, several smallish placard’s’/billboards secured to the railings of the monument. Where these left by the Hale Branch of the British Legion?
Here are a few pics of what greeted visitors to our village this evening (Friday 19th December)..

As of yet,, no tree lights have appeared this year on the Fair/Spruce tree at the old Park Lodge next to the park entrance as normal. The only outside lights or outside christmas festive decorations visible around the village as of uploading this blog item, appear to be households and local shops who have taken it upon themselves to brighten up their little part of their village this christmas..

Green-Space Vandalism

Recently, while walking around the village, delivering the Parish News Letters, I came across two locations that have suffered some form of vandalism.
The first area is in the park, at the top-end of the driveway on the left. Due to there being a gap in the old bund, it seems to be allowing unwanted vehicles onto the grassed area, for whom the driver of such vehicle/s are wheel spinning and skidding around on the grass.
Lets not forget though,, that hopefully, this thing should be a thing of the past, once the refurbishment of the park is complete

The other location is the green-space area on the “S” bend opposite Ramsbrook Lane. Although this large grassed area has had some form of re-landscaping done on it including rocks/boulders of some sort, to prevent previous acts of vandlalism re-occuring, it is still happening!?
A large 4 wheeled drive vehicle appears to have been all over it recently. Not content with being on the grass, the driver appears to have been over the actual flower bed area with the rocks/boulders too!?
Not only has the grass area suffered and the raised flower bed, but it looks like Mr Hiltons porch on his cottage has suffered at the hands of vandals too? Whether this is linked to the same episode is unkown..

May be some form of estate iron fencing around the perimeter of this grassed area opposite Ramsbrook-would prevent such acts of vandalism taking place?
Several long serving-villagers I have talked to since these acts of vandalism have taken place on this green-space area by Ramsbrook,, do remember some sort of estate iron fence on this green in the 1950’s/60’s etc,, so may be it could be worth while re-instating such fencing again adding a bit of class and heritage back to the village!?

Crib At The Post Office

Around 60 locals gathered around Hale Post Office on Sunday evening 14th December, for the blessing of the crib at 4.30pm. Prior to the service everyone gathered at St Mary’s Church around 4.15pm, at 4.30pm they formed outside into a procession and set off, heading for the Post Office where are short service was awaiting to bless the crib

Once everyone was assembled at the Post Office,, the service began, conducted by The Rev Janice Collier and Father Ed Caine,, the service included prayers and a Christmas hymn.

Once the service had finished, everyone then walked to the Wellington pub for hot chocolate and mince pies. Just as everyone had arrived at the “Welly”,, the sound of bells and hooves could be heard in the far distance. All of a sudden,, out of nowhere,, Father Christmas arrived in the comfort of Mal Sutton’s horse-drawn carriage. Soon as the carriage had stopped, Father Christmas was beseiged by children placing their orders, for presents!

Once everyone was settled in the car park area,, the Wellington pub laid on mince pies and hot chocolate for those venturing out – and braving the cold of the evening.

Below are several images of the evenings crib service at the Post Office and the Wellington Pub..

Before the days events on the 14th December, several local villagers spent the week before, building the crib at the Post Office. Above-the last 4 images,, you can see pictures of Jimmy Ross and Tony Collins constructing the crib.

Don’t forget,, the next time you see Jimmy and Tony around Hale Village,, kindly thank them, for all their efforts for this years crib.

And not forgetting-also,, please thank John in the Post Office and the Management at the Wellington Pub for allowing the use of their property for this event to take place in the village!?

To Tree, or not to Tree

After the carrying’s on at the last Parish Meeting and War Memorial Committee Meeting, of whether there should be a Peace Tree/Christmas Tree on our village green where the memorial is, I decided this week to have  a Google  around the old interweb and see what it turned up about Christmas Tree’s on Memorials-Village Greens etc..  I wasn’t surprised to see, that in some areas of this land and faraway places, it is common practice more or less to erect a tree on a village memorial green and in some places-right next to the memorial itself to honour the war dead by attaching some form of remembrance tie, ball, letter at Christmas time etc!?

Below are a number of links that show images of such trees, placed on village greens and memorial greens and next to memorials themselves.  Not only that, but in the cases were text for an article has been included, it states that local dignitaries come and turn on the lights for the local community.

This first one is interesting..

http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2005-12/2005-12-28-voa60.cfm

 

This memorial is actually in a Church Yard and has a Christmas tree..

http://www.ludhamarchive.org.uk/tour.htm

 

Below are some general items of the same ilk..

http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/seaford/Stand-by-for-festive-fun.4752786.jp

http://www.citynews.com.au/index.php/content/article/tis_the_season_to_be_singing/

http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=2004114_23887270&DISPLAY=FULL

Here on the below link, you can see the round war memorial top part to the left of the tree..

http://www.raheny.com/rba/media/Christmas/Christmas%20Tree.jpg

http://www.atoc-comms.org/admin/userimages/AT00252-Christmas-tree-by-L.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/136/334425292_4eb1c76dc0.jpg?v=0

http://www.wscountytimes.co.uk/509/GALLERY-Hailsham-festive-lights.4748533.jp

 

It would appear to me, that other local communities embrace and understand the numerous meanings of erecting a tree on a village green where a war memorial is –  not only/or just for the locals, but to also remember in various ways and a respectfull manor at christmas, those from their Towns or Parish-who have fallen in war. 

Something to think about, if your against, or for a tree next to the village memorial - on our village green!?