Brailes Mechanical & Craft Society – April 2026

24 March, 202623 March, 2026 by admin

23 March, 2026

Witches and Ghosts with Izzy King

Our planned speaker for the March meeting cancelled at short notice.

Thanks go to Katie Haycock and Izzy King for making the revised arrangements. Izzy had only 48 hours to prepare, and the outcome was one of our largest ever attendances. There were over 90 members and guests in the hall, with equal numbers of both. Izzy is currently studying for a history degree with the Open University, and she gave a lively presentation. Thanks also go to Ben Goren for promptly putting the change of speaker onto the village website.

Witchcraft

Warwickshire has a long record of witchcraft. Witches are said to inflict harm and misfortune on other people. Throughout history, many cultures have used witchcraft to explain evil. In England, witch trials were held in the Middle Ages. In the second half of the 1500’s and early 1600’s wide scale witch hunts took place. The English Witchcraft Act of 1542 made witchcraft a capital offence, then the Act was repealed a few years later. The 1735 Witchcraft Act concluded prosecutions of witchcraft in England. However, by then 100’s of alleged witches had been put to death. The persecution of witches didn’t finish. After that communities took their own action. One such example was at Long Compton in 1875 when Ann Tennant was murdered. James Hayward met her one evening and used an agricultural fork to kill her. The Stratford Herald wrote ‘for some time past he had been under the impression that he was influenced by witchcraft and that Mrs Tennant and several other women in Long Compton were witches, and he was determined to rid the village of them’.

Ghosts

In folklore, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a dead person that is able to appear to the living. Dr Finlay was the Brailes doctor in Victorian times. We saw one of his photographs on the big screen, showing a full-sized hooded figure standing in front of the camera. In the background was furniture, possibly in one of the rooms at his house. The existence of ghosts is impossible to falsify. There are numerous sitings of ghosts, generally where an unpleasant event has taken place. Incidents continue to be reported.

A famous episode of ghosts was after the armies departed from the site of the 1642 Battle of Edgehill. Locals reported multiple apparitions. Shepherds heard drums and groans. The king ordered an official investigation and his officers reported they had also witnessed the apparitions.

Katie Haycock thanked Izzy for her presentation and then asked the audience to tell us about their experiences. Several members had seen ghosts in Brailes. Stuart Cummings announced that after a successful evening the Society would donate £100 to the Village Hall.
Our next meeting is on Monday 13^th April, when Caroline Cahit’s talk is entitled ‘The Art of Spring Cleaning with a Tidy Mind’. We meet at 7 30 pm in the Village Hall. Guests are welcome. Please note that because of Easter, the meeting date is on the 13^th.

New members and guests are welcome.

Eric Darvell
Secretary

Community Speed Watch: About The School Safety Zone

7 September, 202622 March, 2026 by admin

22 March, 2026

The Flashing School Zone Warning Lights have been ordered and are expected to be installed in the next few months. The slight delay is due to Council Highways renegotiations with their installation team contracts.

The sets of Flashing School Zone signs are highly visible to vehicle drivers warning them that children and parents are around, many of whom will need to cross the road. This is particularly important during school drop-off and collection times. The signs will be sited at a point each side of the school gates on the main road and in Sutton Lane, creating a new ‘School Safety Zone’.
However, this is only part of what is needed to make it safer for children to cross the road.

The next phase of improving road safety is to repaint all the faded road markings, especially the zig zag lines either side of the school entrance and to install a pedestrian ‘Zebra’ crossing. This is a critical safety measure outside schools as they are designed to protect children.

It is a legal requirement that drivers must stop and give way to pedestrians on a Zebra crossing in the UK. According to the Highway Code (Rule H2), drivers should also stop for pedestrians waiting to cross. Drivers must remain stopped until all pedestrians have fully cleared the crossing. This will ‘encourage’ children to cross the road in a safer location instead of dodging between cars anywhere along the stretch between Sutton Lane and the School as they do now. In the meantime, we are looking at the possibility of employing a School ‘Lollipop person’, so if you are interested do please get in touch.

Another positive step we’ve taken was to attend the school on 4^th March and deliver Road Safety awareness to all children from Reception Class to Year 6. The level of ‘training’ was kept appropriate for the children’s ages, and it was great that they were all fully engaged. Using video and other props the children were shown how they can improve their own safety near the roads. It also falls upon parents who have to park on the main road to ensure children exit on the kerb side of the vehicle. Our thanks go to Louise Newham from Warwickshire Road Safety Education team for her fantastic support.

So, with more to do to make our roads a safer place to cross, we will continue to raise money to support the cost of the next phase of our road safety plan, and again we would like to thank everyone who has donated to our funding raising campaign so far, including our business sponsors who so far include:

THE GEORGE
COTSWOLD MARQUEES
ESSENCE HAIRDRESSERS
COLE’S DRIVING SCHOOL

We hope more of the businesses in our village will also be able to get involved.

If you can help us improve road safety in any way at all, please do get in touch with the Community Speed Watch team by email to: br****************@*****ok.com

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/brailes-school-safety-zone

The Brailes School Safety Zone Crowdfunding page is up and running, so please help if you can. Even the cost of a cup of coffee will help us make a big and long overdue difference.

We have been told that the cost of a zebra crossing alone can be as much as £40k and may take many months to approve, so we are also looking at other ways to make crossing the road safer in the meantime. There are some grants available that we have applied for, as we did with the Flashing School Zone signs, but these will not cover the total cost, therefore our fundraising activities must continue.

-> OUR CROWD-FUNDING APPEAL

(https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/brailes-school-safety-zone)

Thank You!

Community Speed Watch: April 2026 Report

22 March, 2026 by admin

22 March, 2026

Playing a crucial role to help keep our village safer for all road users

The Community Speed Watch (CSW) team continues to operate throughout Brailes each week for the simple reason that a very high number of motorists persist in failing to acknowledge the speed limit in a built-up area risking not only their lives, but the lives of others too.

Police Speed Detector vans are now operating in the village far more frequently as a result.

According to the Department for Transport, speed limits on our roads are set based on thesurrounding hazards. In built-up areas especially, this is based on the human body’s tolerance to external forces. DfT studies show that reductions in average speed result in substantial casualty reduction in the event of an accident. Vulnerable road users are at a particular risk from higher traffic speeds. The risk of a pedestrian being killed if hit by a car increases from 10% at 30mph to 70% at 50 mph.

The two static speed cameras in Lower and Upper Brailes record vehicle speed, time and date, twenty-four hours a day. Almost half the vehicles entering the village from both Holloway Hill and Shipston directions exceed 30mph. This data is downloaded monthly and used to determine not just when and where community speed monitoring events take place, but also by the Police, whose Speed Detector vehicles have been attending the village more frequently of late, the most recent being on Tuesday 17^th March.

On a recent CSW speed monitoring event it was frightening to have to record vehicles heading towards us at very high speed from Holloway Hill direction; the worst of which was recorded at 54mph. This same vehicle has now been reported for excessive speeding 3 times in the last year which will prompt an immediate visit by a police officer. At Chapel Lane location, other vehicles have been reported for exceeding 50 mph having just past the school..!!

The CSW team will continue doing what they can to help drivers be more aware of their speed and make it safer for everyone to cross the road. The School Safety Zone will undoubtedly help. If you would like to join the CSW team or have any views on the speeding situation, please let us know via the Brailes village website or by email to: br****************@*****ok.com

If you can help us improve road safety in any way at all, please do get in touch with the Community Speed Watch team by email to: br****************@*****ok.com

-> OUR CROWD-FUNDING APPEAL

(https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/brailes-school-safety-zone)

Thank You

Brailes Three Hills Walk 4th May 2026!

17 March, 202617 March, 2026 by admin

17 March, 2026

Brailes 3 Hills Walk usually takes place on the first May Day bank holiday Monday every year. For 2026 The walk is planned to take place on Monday 4th May 2026. This event raises money for Brailes Pavilion and Brailes School. More information can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/p/Brailes-3-Hills-Walk-100068362545376/

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Three Hills?
For 2025: Hill 1 is Castle Hill, Hill 2 is Brailes Hill (the main hill west of Brailes with the clump of trees on top), Hill 3 is Mine Hill (south east of Brailes with the radio aerial mast on top).

When is the walk held?
The event is usually planned for the May-Day Bank Holiday Monday. If weather conditions force the event to be cancelled, then we try to rearrange a new date in Late September.

Do I have to pre-register for the Event?
No – you cannot pre-register/pay in advance. Just turn up on the day and pay (Cash or Card) and then go and enjoy the walk.

Do I have to complete the whole walk?
No – it is possible to miss the third hill once you get to Sutton Lane. You can then walk back into Brailes and finish at the Village Hall. Marshals at Sutton Lane can guide you if needed.

How long is the Walk?
For 2025: The walk is normally 6.2 miles (9.95km) long. The walk includes 750ft (230m) of uphill climb. On average this walk takes 2 hours to complete. We do seek to try and vary the route occasionally.

Can I wear trainers or flip flops?
The organisers recommend that stout footwear is worn as underfoot conditions are rough in places. Walkers can wear whatever footwear they choose but do so at their own risk.

Can I bring my dog?
Yes. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead and under close control at all times. Poo bags and bins are available. Dog water points are also provided.

What happens if I have an accident?
The event is supported by a team of First Aiders and a First Responder. Access to all parts of the walk is achievable with a 4×4 vehicle.

Can I download the walk “Map”?
No – due to the constraints imposed by the Landowners who grant us access for the event we do not publicise the map. The route will be fully signposted, with additional signage for any unique issues (livestock in fields, etc). There will a copy of the route visible at the start.

Are there any time constraints to the walk?
We allow walkers to start between 09:00 – 11:00hrs. You can take your time completing the walk so that you can enjoy the views. However, we are limited in the marshal resources to keep the route safe, so we do implement a cut-off at Sutton Lane (end of hill 2) at 13:00hrs. Any walker that has not started the approach to hill 3 by this time will be asked to return directly to the finish at the Village Hall.

Are there Toilets on the route?
Yes – For 2025 there are multiple toilets at the Village Hall/Cricket Pavilion at the start/finish, and then Portaloo’s along the route at Sutton Lane and on top of Hill 3.

Are refreshments available?
Yes – we provide tea/coffee/cold drinks in the village hall along with cakes/crisps/sweets etc from 08:30.
We then have a BBQ and Bar on site from 10:30 until 13:30. The bar will also be selling vegetable samosas.
Bottles of water are available at the start and “top ups” available on Hill 2 and Hill 3.

Where should I park?
Free parking is available for everyone, on the playing field at the Village Hall (walk start point). Please do not park on the roads in the village. This can obstruct both walkers and traffic and cause safety issues for event participants and village residents.
Signs are provided on all main roads on the approach to Brailes to guide drivers to our car park.

Accessibility
The route is generally accessible to those on foot. Note that there are many kissing gates and steps on the route. However, walkers wishing to avoid stiles on the portion of the walk after Mine Hill (between Brailes Church and the Village Hall) should ask one of the Marshals for directions. The walk cannot be undertaken by disability scooters, as it is too rough and has multiple kissing gates that prevent access.

In Memoriam: Arnon Goren (1938 ~ 2026)

7 March, 20267 March, 2026 by admin

7 March, 2026

This is to let folk know that Arnon, whom some in Brailes will remember well, sadly passed away in his sleep, aged 87, on the morning of Sunday 8th of February.

Myself, husband Arnon, and four sons arrived in Brailes in 1977 to live near my parents living in Winderton after living abroad for some years. Arnon was well known for his enthusiasm for bee keeping and vintage cars, having bought a 1933 Rolls Royce in 1970 at a very affordable price (see below – the engine needed a complete renovation) and driven it with family to Israel in 1973, then back again with family to the UK again in 1977. His enthusiasms changed and the Rolls was sold. I am proud to say he was recognised in his home country, Israel, very recently for getting permission for a piece of land on the coast on which he was able to plant a forest of small trees, now growing nicely and named after him.

MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS – Maggie Goren.

Parish Council Housing Needs Survey 2026 – YOUR PARTICIPATION REQUESTED

16 March, 20265 March, 2026 by admin

5 March, 2026

IMPORTANT NOTICE

The Parish Council is carrying out a Housing Needs Survey. The last survey was conducted in 2021. The survey will greatly influence which buildings and development the district or county council advance for Brailes parish in the future. If you are hoping to stay in the village this surveys results may shape what kind of housing will be available to you. The deadline for returned surveys is April 30th.

FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW, AND THEN USE THE DOWNLOAD OR PRINT BUTTONS AT THE TOP RIGHT TO SAVE IT (TO SEND BY EMAIL TO THE BRAILES PARISH CLERK – br****************@*****ok.com) OR TO PRINT THE FORM.

Brailes_Housing_Needs_Survey_February_2026 Final DIGITAL Download

A single unitary council for all of Warwickshire. Proposed by:

(1) Warwickshire County Council, and (2) Rugby Borough

Includes: North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Rugby, Stratford-on-Avon, and Warwick

You can read the proposal by clicking here: Warwickshire single unitary proposal

Two unitary councils in Warwickshire. Proposed by:

(1) North Warwickshire Borough Council, (2) Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, (3) Stratford-on-Avon District Council, (4) Warwick District

North unitary authority: North Warwickshire, Nuneaton & Bedworth, and Rugby

South unitary authority: Stratford-on-Avon, and Warwick

You can read the proposal by clicking here: Warwickshire 2 unitary proposal

Ultimately this change affects everyone in the parish.

Please do take a few minutes to fill out the form to let the Government and local councils know what your housing needs in Brailes are.

A View From The Pew – March 2026

7 March, 20262 March, 2026 by admin

2 March, 2026

The Bible Alive (ILMODB)

I have great respect and admiration for those people who have read the bible from cover to cover. It is something I have attempted several times in my younger days but getting beyond Numbers and Chronicles was impossible for me. Now in fairness, given the amount of times I have listened to and proclaimed the Word of God at Mass, and then the prayers that have been recited from the breviary, there is a fair chance that I have achieved this feat without knowing. That said, there is something quite satisfying knowing that the Bible has been read from cover to cover.

Four years ago I discovered a wonderful app called “Hallow” It is a subscription app that provides wonderful prayers and talks about the catholic faith. It also has a comprehensive music selection which I listen to on a regular basis. Included in the app is “The Bible in a Year” by Father Mike Schmizt. He is an American Catholic priest who uses the “Great Adventure Bible Timeline” created by Jeff Calvins, an eminent catholic theologian. This breaks down the Bible into different timelines, so that 12 bible periods are assigned a unique colour to help you remember the narrative. In a Bible timeline chart the 14 Narrative books tell the story of salvation history and the other 59 books are placed in their historical context. It provides a wonderful and dynamic way of reading and understanding the bible, and Fr Mike reads passages from the Bible each day and gives an informative and brief commentary on the passages that have been read.

It means in the space of a year the entire bible is read and listened to. He uses the RSV catholic edition and it is an excellent way of reading and listening to the bible cover to cover. In my first year I used a different bible translation that often varies in its text but is manageable and interesting in seeing how different the translation can be.

This is my third year of doing this exercise, but this year I am using Fr Mike’s own app, which is free. It is called “Ascension” and as well as giving us the “Bible in a Year” gives other interesting talks and catechesis that are well worth listening to.

On the subject of Apps the Jesuits provide another free app called “Pray as you go” and it uses their specific spirituality in praying the scriptures. It is a useful tool and well worth starting your day with, if you are struggling to get into any form of prayer life.

By the time this article is in print the season of Lent will have begun. Given that Ash Wednesday (18^th February) is not a holy day of obligation for Catholics (when you are expected to attend Mass), nevertheless, there will have been a large attendance at Mass, when ashes are placed on the forehead with the call to “Repent and return to the Gospel” It is a sure sign of a person’s willingness to begin Lent with the firm intention of growing in the faith and being more disciplined in living the faith and applying the faith in one’s daily life. At the end of the Lenten journey (5 weeks) we enter into what is known as the “Sacred Triduum” (three days) when on Maundy Thursday (April 2^nd) we celebrate Mass of the Lord’s Supper. On Good Friday (April 3^rd) we commemorate the Passion and death of Our Lord and then on Holy Saturday (April 4^th) celebrate the Lord risen from the dead and the first Mass of Easter. The times of each service are below, together with the times of Masses celebrated on Easter Sunday. I hope that you will receive many graces and blessings in the month ahead.

Maundy Thursday- Our Lady & St Michael’s Church Shipston 7.30pm
Good Friday: St Francis of Assisi Church Kineton and Our Lady and St Michaels, Shipston 3.00pm
Holy Saturday: Our Lady & St Michael’s Church, Shipston 8.00pm
Easter Sunday (5^th April) Our Lady & St Michael’s 9.00am St Francis of Assisi 11.00am

God Bless, Fr David Tams

The Ladies in Pink Race Night!

7 March, 20261 March, 2026 by admin

1 March, 2026

Back by popular demand is The Ladies in Pink Race Night with yummy Fish & Chip supper on Saturday 28^th March so look out for tickets from Susan Gilkes email: fi**********@********et.com. Proceeds go to Cancer Research.

BYO drinks and glasses
Doors open 6pm for a 6.30pm supper
For tickets or to sponsor a race £25.00

Brailes Village Hall, Pavilion and Play Area Report March 2026

7 March, 20261 March, 2026 by admin

1 March, 2026

Sorry for the belated Happy New Year. Hope you all are well and looking forward to Spring. Fed up with just rain now, please stop!   Hopefully you all managed to get along to the Hall and see “Camelot the Panto”, looking forward to the pictures. Remy who has overseen all things Panto is sadly leaving the Village so we wish him well back in France and thank you for a great show.

Hopefully by the time you read this the Hall will be looking all posh with our new curtains in the Main Hall. And fingers crossed you all approve of the colour. A hard decision to make so well done to our Chair Susan Gilkes for the difficult decision (with input from some indecisive committee members 😊). We are also applying for grants to improve the kitchen. So with the help of Selina Hosell, who is kindly working her magic with the grant application, we have our fingers crossed.

The 2026 diary is starting to fill up but if you would like to book, please do get in touch with Lisa. We still have spaces for regular weekly or monthly classes in both the Hall and Pavilion especially on a Monday. So if you are thinking of starting a class or group please do give us call or drop us an email, we would be happy to discuss your requirements.

Lots of our regular classes that already run at the hall are always happy to welcome new members so if Yoga, Zumba, Pilates, Pickleball, Fitsteps or Thai chi are your new year thing please do get in touch and Lisa will put you in contact with the group leaders.   Also, there is a monthly Art Class in the Pavilion for those with an artistic flair.

There are also plenty of events to attend: Brailes Picturehouse is showing The Penguin Lessons on the 14^thMarch, Ladies in Pink Race Night (details below) on 28^th March , Brailes Brownies Coffee morning on Saturday 18^th April and lost more that I am sure will be detailed in the rest of the Feldon.

Back by popular demand is The Ladies in Pink Race Night with yummy Fish & Chip supper on Saturday 28^thMarch so look out for tickets from Susan Gilkes email: fi**********@********et.com. Proceeds go to Cancer Research

Please we aware that the car park will NOT be available to general parking including for school drop off and pick up on Friday 20^th March to Sunday 22^nd March. Sorry for any inconvenience.

One of the biggest Village fund raisers is Brailes Show so if you haven’t already go involved in this amazing event please get in touch with Katie Haycock email: ka***************@*****il.com. Katie is also our fund raiser for the Play Area improvements and the next goal (excuse the pun) are permanent goal posts and nets so please do get in touch if you are able to help. Thank you.

Please do get in touch if you would like to book an event at the Hall or Pavilion for 2026.  Please do not hesitate to give Lisa a call if you would like any further details or have an enquiry. https://braileshallandpavilion.co.uk

If you have any questions or queries please get in touch with Susan Gilkes, Chair, su*@***********************co.uk
Ness & Jon Boyce (Treasurers) email ne**@***********************co.uk
or Lisa Bryan (Secretary) email: li**@***********************co.uk 07800 771368 (also for booking enquiries)
Brailes Village Hall Committee. Registered Charity No. 522897.
Website : https://braileshallandpavilion.co.uk

Notes From St. Georges – March 2026

7 March, 20261 March, 2026 by admin

1 March, 2026

The last Sunday in February was the first Sunday of Lent, which continues throughoutMarch.

Lent is a special time in the Church’s year: six weeks of preparing for the celebration of Easter. It is a time which was traditionally for fasting, but nowadays we might not do it as rigorously as previous generations of Christians did. For many people the observance of Lent involves giving something up, usually a luxury we can do without, chocolate and sweets are the favourite. But should we consider giving up something we will miss even more? And donating the money saved to a Lent Charity?

The period of the Lenten fast is forty days. It echoes the time when, the Bible tells us, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. He fasted and prayed for forty days to prepare Himself for His public ministry.

Half way through Lent we have an opportunity to relax the fast on Refreshment Sunday. Traditionally in England apprentice boys, and girls ‘in service’, got the day off to visit their mothers, hence the more popular name of “Mothering Sunday”. This is an opportunity to relax the fast, rather than an invitation to go mad and eat ourselves silly. We will be having a special Family Service at St George’s on that day and we hope you will be able to join us in our celebration.

Shipston Deanery is organising a series of talks for Lent on the theme of Music, Words and Worship. For details scroll down the page below my signature.

We end the month on Palm Sunday, as we remember Jesus’ joyful procession into Jerusalem on a donkey. We imagine again the crowds of people shouting ‘Hosanna!’ and spreading their cloaks and branches from the trees in front of him. We will be recreating that event at a Family Service at St George’s, waving our palm crosses.

God Bless,
George
Revd George Heighton
Email re********@*****ok.com
Telephone 01295 680 201

Witches and Ghosts with Izzy King

The Flashing School Zone Warning Lights have been ordered and are expected to be installed in the next few months. The slight delay is due to Council Highways renegotiations with their installation team contracts.

-> OUR CROWD-FUNDING APPEAL

Playing a crucial role to help keep our village safer for all road users

-> OUR CROWD-FUNDING APPEAL

Frequently Asked Questions

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Ultimately this change affects everyone in the parish. Please do take a few minutes to fill out the form to let the Government and local councils know what your housing needs in Brailes are.

The Bible Alive (ILMODB)

Ultimately this change affects everyone in the parish.

Please do take a few minutes to fill out the form to let the Government and local councils know what your housing needs in Brailes are.