Editor’s Notes

I am sure you will join me in offering a huge vote of thanks to all of those among us who conceived, planned, organised and implemented the Jubilee celebrations. From the bunting on the patio and the front fence to the effigy of Her Majesty, the libation to the Jubilee Tree, the decoration and table settings, the scrumptious Jubilee dinner and the feeding of the 5,000 at the Jubilee lunch, it was all perfect! What next? Finals day at Wimbledon perhaps.

Notes from the Board

Doors

Action at last! Owners will have received the notice about the proposal to get the three most urgent security doors automated. Owners now have 30 days from receipt of the notice was to express their views in writing and, if they so wish, to suggest a firm that may be able to undertake the work. If you want to do this, please speak to Katie, who will tell you how to contact our Service Manager, Jane Welch. There are then 2 further steps to be taken before work can start: getting estimates and assigning the contract. This is not a quick process!

Outside Painting

We await discussion with the new surveyor, Mark Bradbury, about how to best tackle the extensive and expensive task of the external painting. This will require another Section 20 notification!

Social Committee

The Board is examining the organisation of the Social Committee, its range of activities and how these might be funded. There is currently no provision within the Service Charge to fund social activities as we have received advice that such provision would threaten existing and potential claims for State Benefits by owners here and in other Courts.

Suggestions have been made for organising different in-house social events, outside visits, fund raising activities and activities which include owners and family members. This would require a lot more input from owners if it is be successful. Our Court Manager is willing to oversee the newly created Social Fund and staff will assist where necessary with organisation and fund-raising.

Owners’ views about how this could be carried forward and offers of help will be gratefully received. Please speak to Katie, members of the Board or the Editor.

Notes from the Office

New Staff

Welcome to Fion our new HKA, who is on a 3 month’s trial working Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Saturday “Show-Around”

From 16^th July Katie will be coming in once a month, as necessary, on a Saturday to take owners – particularly new ones – on a tour of Carrs Court to ensure they know about the less obvious features of the court. Do you know, for example, what’s in the workshop? Where is the manager’s office? Where is the amazing analogue addressable fire alarm system? Where is your electricity meter?

Let Katie know by ticking the form on the entrance hall notice board then come along on 16^th July at 11 o’clock, meeting outside the office. If there are too many people for one tour Katie will arrange a second one.

Saturday 23^rd July ‘Garage Sale’ 10.30 -4.00pm. 

The workshop has been cleared and now other storage areas are getting the same treatment. There are many apparently unwanted items in store which could be sold to anyone who would like to buy them to raise money for our new Social Fund. So, if you have any items (in storage or in your apartment) which you think would be suitable, let Katie know and PLEASE tell your family and friends about the sale.

Court News

Welcome

Welcome to new arrivals Ian and Valerie Rogerson who have moved into Apartment 2. 

Happy Birthday!

Many happy returns on 8^th July to Jean Davy (apt 10), on the 12th to Marie Bramley (apt 18) and to David Worland (apt 22) on the 14^th.

Best Wishes

Best wishes to all the owners who are currently being cared for elsewhere: Gwyneth Benson, Audrey Perry, Audrey Starling, Gina Poulton, Felicité Winch and Robin Woodward.

David Asher, a long serving director of Carrs Court Ltd, has written wishing Gwyneth Benson a quick return to the Court and expressing all our hopes for an improvement in her health. Gwyneth is temporarily resident at Cranford Grange (formerly Sunrise) Care Home at Mobberley, Knutsford, for assessment. She was a Director of Carrs Court Ltd. for several years and Chairman during a rather turbulent period in the Court’s history. Her understanding of the situation at the time and her leadership of the Board were exemplary.

Many will remember the series of ‘Gwyneth Benson Interviews’ when she selected an owner, researched their background and carried out a professional interview after dinner on a Thursday evening. Very interesting and enjoyable, even for the ‘victim’!

Librarian

Pat Kahn has been the Court Librarian since 2019 but is now clearing her decks in anticipation of her move to the Elysian beaches of Lytham. We offer her a huge vote of thanks for her work on our behalf and announce the need to find another Court Librarian. The post does not carry a stipend but it does earn the gratitude of those of us who use the library. Anyone interested in the job should have a word with Pat at Apartment 7 (07912 160 884) to discover what is involved.

Defibrillator

All those who attended the talk about defibrillators by Janet Graham from the NW Ambulance Service enjoyed the rare treat of receiving important information in an enjoyable and memorable way. It turns out that no-one needs to be trained in using a defibrillator beyond the point of opening the box. Thereafter, the machine tells you what to do step by step. However, it does need to be checked regularly by an appointed Guardian to ensure it is still in its location and not indicating a fault. Cliff Brown (Apt 35) has volunteered for the role of Guardian with Michael Dukes (Apt 32) acting as a Deputy. More volunteer deputies are required to act whenever Cliff and Michael are away from the Court. The task is neither onerous nor gender specific. If you can help, please contact Cliff at Apt 35 or by phone on 07947389874.

Social Committee

The following events have been arranged for the month of JULY.  All events will take place in the lounge.

6th July: The History of Photography by Richard Weston

Wed. 6^th at 2.30pm. Richard Weston is a commercial photographer who lives in Wilmslow and is founder of the Lindow Photographic Group. He will talk about the history of photography.

21st July: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

Thurs. 21^st at 7.30pm.  There will be a showing of the musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat” starring Jason Donovan.  The show lasts about an hour and a quarter.

27th July: Life as an Air Stewardess with BOAC by Deryn Merry

Wed. 27^th at 2.30pm. Deryn Merry makes a welcome return visit to tell us more about her “Life as an Air Stewardess with BOAC”.

Keep an eye on the notice boards for any changes in the programme.

Film Club

As usual, Cliff Brown has created an exciting and varied programme for the month. All films will be shown in the lounge starting at 2:30. For those attending, there will be a charge of £1 per person posted to your apartment’s account (includes refreshments).

2nd July: Ocean’s Eleven

(George Clooney,  Brad Pitt,  Julia Roberts) Danny Ocean and his ten accomplices plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously. Duration 1hr 56m.

9th July: Shackleton’s Captain

(Craig Parker, Charles Pierard) Docudrama. Captain Frank Worsley signs on as Captain of the Endurance to navigate Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew to Antarctica. When the expedition ship is crushed, Worsley’s seamanship and navigational skills save them all. Duration 1hr 25m

16th July: Apollo 13

(Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton) NASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy. Duration 2hr 19m

23th July: The Unforgiven

(Burt Lancaster, Audrey Hepburn, Audie Murphy) The neighbours of a frontier family turn on them when it is suspected that their adopted daughter was stolen from the local Kiowa tribe. Duration 2hr 01m

30th July: The Hippopotamus

(Roger Allam, Tim Charles, Russell Tovey) When a drunk & down-on-his-luck poet is sent to a country house to investigate unexplained miracles, he can only imagine what fate awaits him. Duration 1hr 25m

Community News

3rd July: 108^th Wilmslow Show

Sunday, 3^rd  JULY, 108^th WILMSLOW SHOW is at the Carnival Field, Altrincham Road from 11am-4pm. There is a park and ride service available from the Broadway Meadow Car park.  Attractions include a Fun Fair, Stunt show, live music on the band stand, dog show, new cookery demonstration marquee, baking and jam making competitions (Entry forms can be found at www.wilmslowshow.co.uk)  and ‘Art Under Canvas’, dedicated to local artists from the area Advance tickets can be purchased from www.wilmslowshow.co.uk

10th July: Organ Recital by David Oldfield

Sunday 10^TH JULY, St Bartholomew’s Church. The series of organ recitals continues with a performance by David Oldfield between 3pm and 3.30pm.  There will be a retiring collection in aid of church funds.

16th July: Wilmslow Artisan Market

Saturday, 16^th July, WILMSLOW ARTISAN MARKET will set up as usual on the slip road between the Rex and Hoopers and be open for business between 10am and 4pm.  It is always worth a visit and who knows but you may spot a really good present for someone or find a really delicious treat for your lunch or supper.

16th July: Cinema on The Carrs

Saturday, 16th July, CINEMA ON THE CARRS. This year’s event will start at noon, with children’s entertainment and a food and drink court. Encanto – a 2021 computer-animated Disney musical will be shown on the big screen at 2pm. The food and drink court will remain open in the evening and Bohemian Rhapsody – a 2018 biographical musical about the life of Freddie Mercury – will be shown at 7.30pm.

22nd & 23rd July: Styal Beer Festival

22^nd & 23rd July, STYAL BEER FESTIVAL at Styal Football Club Altrincham Road Styal SK9 4JE.  Now in its 11th year, the festival will feature a selection of 50 local beers. There will be plenty of food options and lots of music with local singers.   

Further information  and tickets are available online at  www.styalbeerfestival.co.uk.or on the gate.
Friday 22nd July 14.00-22.30 – Tickets price online £6 on the day £8
Saturday 23rd July 13.00-22.30 – Tickets price online £10 or £15 on the day’

Give Credit where Credit is Due

Having dutifully and joyfully completed the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Wilmslow town ought to be, but almost certainly won’t be, preparing for two further anniversary celebrations embracing this and next year. These anniversaries relate to Wilmslow’s important place in medical history, but, as Michael Caine would say,” not many people know that!”

Tamoxifen was described by an eminent professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School as the most important drug in the history of medical oncology. It was invented 60 years ago this year and in October it will be 49 years since it was first marketed in the UK hence, the 50^th Anniversary will fall in October next year.

Tamoxifen’s association with Wilmslow is through the man who was its co-inventor and lead scientist throughout its preclinical studies. He was Arthur Leonard Walpole, who lived on Broadway, Wilmslow, virtually all his working life. The town should celebrate this man and his work but has, to date, mainly through non-awareness, paid no heed whatsoever. A move is afoot to try to rectify this. At present it is a very small move, and it has started here in Carrs Court!  More details of the fascinating back story will be provided shortly at a Wednesday afternoon lounge presentation and your support in subsequent protest demonstrations will be appreciated! Watch this space!!

Puzzles

Wordplay

This week’s word popped into my head out of the blue and it is CANTICLE. Normal rules: English words of 4 or more letters, no proper nouns, no rude words. The targets are as follows: Average 24, Good 36, Excellent 51. The Compiler’s list is at the bottom of the page. (Note: I am not sure our compiler always lists all the possible words. Let the Editor know if you catch him out!)

Brainteaser

(Thanks to The Times.) Please tell the editor if you think this space could be better used! I ask this because I had a difficult time with MEDIUM even though I knew the answer! Once again, use mental arithmetic for EASY, pencil and paper for MEDIUM and calculator for HARD. The answers are at the bottom of the page.

A Traveller’s Curio

Our correspondent, an intrepid traveller, was surprised by this bit of fun printed on the paper table napkins placed in the bar of an hotel in a rather smart seaside resort. 

It is designed to be self-explanatory for the post-prandial over-indulgent guest but you should read the tick boxes left to right and row by row for best effect.

A Traveller’s Tale

Speaking of thongs, I was taken aback some years ago when arriving at the golf course in ALICE SPRINGS (name dropper) to find a notice on the approach to the first tee which stated in bold capitals “NO THONGS”. It was only later, in the bar, that I discovered this is what Aussies call their sandals!

Puzzle Answers

Answers for CANTICLE

Cacti, cancel, calcine, calcite, cant, cantle, celiac, cent, cine, cite, clan, clean, cleat, client. Accent, acetic, alien, ante, anti, antic. Nail. neat, nice. Talc, tale, tail, teal, tice, tile, tine.  Intel, ilia, iliac, inlet.  Cacti, calcine, calcite, cant, cantle, celiac, cent, cine, cite, clan, clean, cleat, client.  Eclat, enact, elan, entail.  Average 24, Good 36, Excellent 51. 

Answer for Brainteaser

EASY 105; MEDIUM 166; HARD 2676.