Cousland Courier 17 in Colour - April 2016

8/18/2019 Cousland Courier 17 in Colour - April 2016

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Contributions by 31/05/2016 for next newsletter to:- [email protected]

Or 19 Hillside Cottages /1 Hadfast Road or put in red post box in Village Hall

Proposed by Seconded by

Chair Caroline Pearson Andy Raeburn Claire Thomson

Secretary Norrie Brown Sheena Irving Geoff Collier

Treasurer no volunteers Claire Thomson will continue as interim

Treasurer till the first new committee meeting.

Ordinary Andrew McGovern Robin Donald Andy Raeburn

members Stewart Buchan Norrie Brown Caroline Pearson

Darren Sweeney Alison Vikis Norrie Brown

Alison Vikis Norrie Brown Caroline Pearson

Brian Ellis Claire Thomson Douglas Bolton

Tom Morrow Andy Raeburn Darren Sweeney

Fiona Dunn Brian Ellis Caroline Pearson

CVHA AGM

The AGM was held on Thursday 25th

February 2016, 7.30 pm in the Village

Hall. 28 people attended (13 fewer than

last year’s AGM) including invited

speakers and representatives from

Midlothian Council and those speaking

about improved broadband reception.

Derek Welsh gave a short talk onTynewater Community Plan

Derek provided hard copies of the

Tynewater Neighbourhood Plan (Sept

2015). Midlothian Community

Partnership brings together all of

Community Councils across Midlothian

with other interested parties. Derek

discussed the range of activities and

events that supported the consultation

process that facilitated the development

of the neighbourhood plan. The planreflects the issues and aspiration of all of

the communities and identifies a range

of priorities for the coming 5 years.

Derek highlighted 2 successful and

practical actions affecting Cousland:

1) Community Broadband. Alison

Vikis put forward a very strong

application to Midlothian Council

to develop this.

2) Community Transport delivered

an extension of the Ring and Go

scheme to Pathhead as well as

Dalkeith.

Derek commended the plan to the

AGM.

Alison Vikis (AV) and Len Chapman

discussed Community Broadband

and answered questions.

AV gave an outline of broadband

problems in the village and charted

the history of the group involved in

taking this project forward with the

assistance of Community Broadband.

The next venture is to improve the

signal within Cousland and to expand

the service beyond the village to the

outlying area. A recent grant was

Cousland Courier

Issue No 17 April 2016

The Big Spring Clean 2

Broadband UpdatePétanque

3

Lime Hutches UpgradeLocal History ProjectCousland Smiddy Trust

4

Mozart’s Requiem Jazz in the Village Youth Club

5

Country Dancing Airybank Development Trades and Services

6

Dates for Your Diary 7

Inside this issue

Kathleen, Lesley, Jean Karen & Fiona thank all our regular contributors and the new

guest authors whose articles are featured in this issue.

awarded to take this forward. Advice

is available to leave BT line service

(AV). Anyone asking for Stobonet

equipment please contact Alison or

Len.

[See also separate article on p3]

Reports were received from 4 hall

user groups.

Cousland Smiddy Trust

Short Mat Bowls

Majority Group

Community Café

Secretary’s Report

Norrie shared 17 items of interest that

had taken place over the last year. The

most notable item was hall bookings

increased by nearly 80% compared to

the previous year.

The new and continuing Office Bearers

for the CVHA are shown below:





A lovely spring morning on 19th March saw more than35 villagers & friends tackle the verges & hedges,

removing over 140 bags of litter of all shapes & sizes,

and smartening up the countryside and village for

visitors and locals to enjoy. Please help to keep it that

way!

Well that’s the Cousland Clean Up over for another

year. It’s great fun – you get fresh air, exercise, good

company and good soup, and a sense of

accomplishment. You also get a fascinating insight

into the lives of the kind of people who think it is okay

just to dump at the side of the road what the rest of us

would put in the bin. So for the benefit of future

historians, here’s what we have learned from the

basket of not-so-goodies from 2016.

The Marketing Department of Stella Artois have

done an astonishing job of promoting Cidre,

considering the price.

One can afford said Cidre, by balancing it out with

very cheap Spanish cerveza.

Smoking is definitely on its way out, but there is

some flirtation with legal highs. George Osborne

must be scunnered.

Marmite crisps are much more popular than you would

imagine.

There is a cocktail cognoscenti in the area. Well, I say

cocktail, really it’s just cans of pre-mixed tequila sunrise

or bourbon and coke.

Going to Dalkeith can give you a headache – judging by

the numerous packets of Nurofen Plus packets found on

the left hand side of the road down. Coming back doesn’t

seem to have the same effect.

If your Mum and Dad come back when the party is in fullswing you may have to get rid of all the cans you haven’t

opened, not just the ones you have.

NHS-style blue rubber gloves are very useful but you

should only use them once before throwing them away

(obviously – it would be disgustingly unhygienic

otherwise, wouldn’t it?)

And finally,

there exists a version of tidiness that leads you to wrap all

your rubbish nicely in a neatly tied bag – and then leave it

at the side of the road. So thoughtful…

Roll on the 2017 Clean Up – but wouldn’t it be good if

people just took their stuff home and we didn’t have to do it.

We found two skulls on Clean Up

day.

The first was plastic, human and

probably from a Halloween costume.

The second was found on Kiln Brae.

What kind of animal was it?

Answer on p7

The Big Spring Clean!

Cousland Courier

Dumping Villagers please note the VillageHall Recycling Area is NOT apickup point for rubbish – his wasonly for Clean Up day

Please put your rubbish in yourbins for collection by the Councilfrom your door.





There are now 13 homes receiving fastbroadband provided by Stobonet and

Dawyck Community Network (SDCN).

This is the provider that the Cousland

Community Broadband group decided

served our needs best. 4 further

homes are in the process of being

connected. We are happy to take

more requests for connections. Our

main aim as a community group has

always been to provide fast broadband

speeds to the village and also to the

wider area in conjunction with

Community Broadband Scotland and to

keep costs as low as possible.

The initial equipment cost for each

household is £125 which covers

equipment and connection.

The monthly cost is £25 per month with

100GB limit and fair use policy. This

monthly charge may be reduced as

numbers connected increase. There

is no minimum subscription period.

Villagers are also being offered

broadband from the commercial

organisation Lothian Broadband and if

people prefer to use this connection

this does not affect us.

As a community venture we are

actively exploring options with SDCN

Cousland Pétanque Club

vs

Tweed Valley Pétanque Club

2016We have two dates for the 2016

Cousland Pétanque Club vs Tweed

Valley Pétanque Club and these are:

Sunday, 15th May

at Cousland Pétanque Piste

Sunday, 24th July

at Kailzie Gardens

If you would like to take part please

email Norrie Brown @

[email protected]

Tournaments 2016

Plans for the 2016 Cousland

Pétanque Tournaments are now well

advanced. This year we have two

leagues – one league for Pairs and

one league for Singles. So far we

have 20 pairs signed up to the league(@ £5 per team) and 14 Singles (@

£2.50 per individual). The two

leagues were set up as we had many

requests for a Cousland Pétanque

Tournament Pairs and Singles league

as opposed to a pairs only

competition.

The start date for this year’s league

will be Saturday 30th April. For those

of you who would like to take part

but have not yet signed up, pleaseemail Norrie Brown @

[email protected]

Cousland Pétanque Piste

This is the year that we start the

upgrading of the Cousland Pétanque

Piste.

We are looking for volunteers to help

and David Lee has made a great start

with sourcing railway sleepers.

Ideally it would be great to have the

piste work done before the league

starts and certainly before the Tweed

Valley match.

If you would like to help out please

email Norrie Brown @

[email protected]

Pétanque - Tournaments, Matches and a Piste Upgrade

Broadband Update

Cousland Courier

to provide the Fordel area and the

postcodes that BT and/or other

providers will be unable to service

with fast broadband speeds for some

time. To this end, we recently

received a grant. Some folk in

Carberry are also anxious to receive

fast broadband and a link is in

process of being set up from the

village.

Anyone wanting to connect to the

Cousland Community Broadband

service provided by SDCN should

speak to one of the steering group

members below or email

[email protected]

Len Chapman, Alison Vikis , Kathleen

and Robin Donald, Jennifer McKay





Cousland Courier

Cousland Lime Hutches upgrade

In 2001, Cousland Local History Project was awardedLottery Funding to move lime hutches, which were being

used as an advertising display at the entrance to the old

limeworks, into the village to create a focal point of interest,

and provide a place to erect an information panel about the

village.

The area now is in need of a good tidy up and CLHP have

already raised the funds to have the graphic informationpanel replaced thanks to donations from CVHA and a

couple of private individuals. The manufacturers are alsosupporting the work.

The lime hutches themselves were originally removed and

restored by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society at

Bo’ness, before being brought back and installed in the

village. The past 15 years in the elements have taken their

toll a little and the hutches themselves require a bit of TLC

to bring them back.

SRPS have offered an on-site startup workshop if the

villagers are prepared to do the small amount of scraping,

sanding and re-painting required during the summer. The

hutches are important artefacts of our industrial past and

belong to the village.

We hope that a number of villagers would be willing to join

the ‘tart-up’ team and take this part of the upgrade of the

display area on. We still have to fundraise for the correct

paint and signwriting and will be looking for approx. £500

to achieve this – if anyone has any ideas?!

Please contact [email protected] or 0131

663 2730. We can’t do it without help.

The Smiddy Trust members &

volunteers continue to improve the

environs of the smiddy and Heritage

Hub with the latest works to improve thedrainage around the smiddy and finish

the landscaping to the front just about

the get underway. We are very grateful

Cousland Smiddy Trustfor a fantastic donations of materials

from Akela Developments and

Marshalls Paving which have helped

our funds stretch much further!Smiddy & Heritage Hub Open Days

throughout the summer can be found

on the village website, Visit Midlothian

& www.couslandsmiddy.co.uk.

The next CST meetings will be on:

Tuesdays 12th April 7.30pm,

10th May 7.30pm

7th June (7.00pm start AGM)

in the Smiddy Cottage

Cousland Local History ProjectThe local history project members & volunteers

continue to collate & record the collections that are

now all moved into the smiddy cottage. We took part

in the East Lothian Heritage Gathering on Saturday

27th February where we had a display and gave a talk

about the Heritage Hub project. And we paid a visit

to the new Biggar and Upper Clydesdale Museum.

If you are interested in the long history of the village

and would like to come along please do – our next get

together will be in the smiddy cottage on Saturday 9th April from

10 – 12pm. The following get together will be on 14th May.





Cousland Courier

A Performance of Mozart’s Requiem in Dalkeith!

This should be a wonderful night

7.30pm on SATURDAY 23RD APRIL

ST NICHOLAS BUCCLEUCH

CHURCH

Mozart is recognised as one of the

best classical composers of all times.

His Requiem Mass in D Minor,

composed in 1791 was left unfinished

as he died after composing eight bars

of the Requiem’s Lacrimosa, the last

words set to music marking ‘that day of

tears and mourning’.

The community choir, The Dalkeith

Singers will perform the whole

Requiem - completed after his death

by his pupil Franz Sussmayr. Tom

Service wrote in the Guardian

newspaper, “ the music of the

Requiem is uniquely heart breaking –

the fire and brimstone of the Dies Irae,

The Rex Tremendae movement, the“King of Majesty” and the moving

quartet for four soloists The Recordare

– a fleeting glimpse of serenity and

Mozart’s only vision of a world not

wracked by pain or lament, is

devastating in its beauty.”

The Dalkeith Singers are led by Cole

Bendall, our young innovative

conductor. He has invited soloists,

Jillian Bain Christie (Trinity College of

Music graduate), Emily Harrison

(former choral scholar at Aberdeen

University), Joshua Baxter (Glyndebourne

Chorus and Royal Academy of Music

student), Andrew McNeill (also former

choral scholar at Aberdeen University)

and Morley Whitehead who has the

reputation of being one of the finest

organists in Edinburgh to bring their

finesse to bear on what should be a great

performance. Enjoy it all – whether it’s

your hundredth Requiem or your first.

Tickets £8 adults or £5 children areavailable in The County Hotel, Dalkeith,

opposite St Nicholas Buccleuch, or can be

purchased from choir members.

As always, The Dalkeith Singers support a

charity and during the concert, a

collection will be made for The Marie

Curie Foundation.

On the night, why not pop in to The

County Hotel opposite for a light

refreshment before or after the

performance?

Jazz in the Village

As always Youth Club is going well and

looking forward to the lighter nights

when the kids can get outside to play.

This month we have done some EasterCrafts, made bracelets for the

Penguins at Edinburgh Zoo and had a

movie night to end the term.

After the Easter Break we will be

having a trampolining night and

swimming down at the Campus.

As always lots going on at Youth

Club.

The hall was hot and the music was

cool. The expectant crowd hushed as

the lights dimmed and Ian Millar

stepped into a pool of violet light with

his soprano saxophone. Accompanied

by Dominic Spencer on piano the duo

treated the audience to two sets of

smooth jazz, a mixture of standards and

their own compositions. Switching

between soprano and tenor saxophone

the soundscape never tired while

the mood was unashamedly

relaxed. A clever lighting system

enhanced the performance, adding

to the atmosphere and showing off

the hall to great effect. This was in

many ways a unique performance

not only in its introduction of many

new pieces but also in the

splendidly relaxed jazz styling;

music that had its own special flavour

and was not a copy of anything else. In

addition to the musical treat, funds were

raised for pétanque and the hall; thanks

to all who attended and special thanks

to Norrie for organising and Robin for

manning the bar.

Watch out for a return visit of Millar and

Spencer!

Youth Club

Many thanks

Tracy, Judith, Eileen and Marianne

Email: [email protected]

Mobile/Text: 07851 297142





Cousland Courier

Cousland Village Post Office, Hadfast Road

Postmistress: Andrea Carnie

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 9.00am-12.00pm

Watch out forFISH VANS in the village

on WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY MORNINGS

LIBRARY VAN on FRIDAY MORNINGS

Clubs and Societies Meeting Days

Majority Group 1st Mon in Month 2.00pm

Circuit Training Monday 7.30pm

Carpet Bowling Tuesday 7.00pm

SWRI (Rural)3rd Tues in

Month7.00pm

Parent & Tots Wednesday 9.15am

Youth Club Wednesday 6.30pm

Girl Guides Friday 6.30pm

History Group3rd Sat every

2nd month10.00am

Village Trades and Services B & B (Twin/Double Room) Kathleen & Robin Donald 0131 663 1821

Beauty Treatments Claire Wilson 07849 717291

Blacksmith/Forged Metalwork Sean Cockburn 0758 6540434

Builder & Plasterer Clark Millar 07812 780 017

Child Minder Carol McArthur 07814 703935.

Computer Services & small DIY jobs Tom Morrow 07884 125126

Fencing, Railings & Metalworker Steve Gilhooley 07702 188 692

Hairdresser Christine Bolton 07909 059905

Painter/Decorator Stewart Naysmith 0131 454 9707

Personal Trainer Phil Calvert 07525 046 436

Personal Trainer Gemma Chapman 07783 941723

Post Office Andrea Carnie 0131 663 9245

Physiotherapist Dougal Coward 07921 618 568

Plumber /Heating & Boiler Servicing Gordon Dunn 07850 246 810

Vet Beattie & John Buxton 0131 654 2266

Proposed Airybank Development

Many thanks to the 91 people who expressed

their views regarding the proposed Airybank

development. You can view the submissions on

the Midlothian Council Planning Department

website. The decision will be made on 25th

April and we will keep you informed as to the

outcome as soon as possible after that.

Thanks again.

Country DancingGreat Fun

Great Exercise for Mind and Body

Classes will be starting again in September, every week in Pathhead.

We would love new members, any age, beginners or experienced

doesn't matter come along, all will have fun.

Interested? Call Ray Clark for more information

Tel no. 01875 820 091

Or Jean Adam 0131 663 6290

Plant Stall June 4th. Outside Village Hall. 10:30am - 12:30pm

Gardeners! Here is your chance to donate your spareseedlings and plants and stock up on others grown locally and

likely to do well in your garden.

To support Cousland Smiddy & Heritage Hub





Cousland Courier

Dates for your diary

April

2 Community Café 10.30am Village Hall

9 Cousland Local History Project 10-12am Smiddy Cottage

12 Cousland Smiddy Trust 7.30pm Smiddy Cottage

19 SWRI - 98th Birthday Party 7.15pm Village Hall

23 Dalkeith Singers – Mozart’s Requiem 7.30pm St Nicholas BuccleughChurch, Dalkeith

30 Petanque Season Starts & Indoor Bowling Season Ends

May

2 CVHA Committee Meeting 7.00pm Village Hall


10 Cousland Smiddy Trust 7.30pm Smiddy Cottage

14 Cousland Local History Project 10.00am Smiddy Cottage

14 CRAPS/Majority Club Away Day

15 Cousland Petanque v Tweed Valley Cousland Piste

17 SWRI - AGM 7.15pm Village Hall

June


4 Plant Stall 10:30am Outside Village Hall


7 Cousland Smiddy Trust AGM 7.00pm Smiddy Cottage

14 Tynewater Community Council 7.30pm Cousland Village Hall

18 Village Summer Party

July


24 Cousland Petanque v Tweed Valley Kailzie Gardens

August


27 Village Day

Your CVHA

committee

Caroline Pearson (Chair)

Norrie Brown (Secretary)

Tom Morrow (Treasurer)

Stuart Buchan

Fiona Dunn

Brian Ellis

Andrew McGovern

Darren Sweeney

Claire Thomson

Alison Vikis

The Village Committee

meet 1st Monday of each

month in the Village Hall.

Members of the community

are always welcome to

attend.

EGGS FOR SALE

At the Kiln on

Quarrybank Road

ODD JOBS

IF YOU REQUIRE A PERSON

TO DO ANY ODD JOBS

PLEASE CONTACT

JACK ON:

07814703935

P r o f e s s o r G o o g l e s a i d t h e s k u l l w a s a r a b b i t

Cousland Courier 17 in Colour - April 2016

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Transcript of Cousland Courier 17 in Colour - April 2016