Notes of a meeting held in the recreation hall on Tuesday 6th October 1998
This inaugural meeting was arranged with a view to offering a focal point for groups or individuals to use as an aid when organising projects or events related to the forthcoming millennium. Attendees were asked to put forward nominations for a chairman of the group and John Wintersgill was nominated, seconded, and elected (press ganged!). The principal aim of this group is to provide an opportunity for interested parties to put forward ideas and suggestions which would commemorate the millennium for the Shirenewton area and to avoid duplication of events or timing of events. The group would also create and maintain a calendar of events and activities and make the information available to residents through notice boards, the parish magazine, home deliveries and the establishment of a web site.
It was generally felt that millennium could be extended beyond New Year's Eve and encompass a whole year commencing with the village fete on 12th June 1999 and closing with the village fete in June 2000.
A number of interested groups were represented and brought suggestions to the meeting;
| Group | Representative | Possible project or event |
| Shirenewton community council (SCC) | Mr Ernie Jones, Mr Reg Such | Building a bus shelter in Shirenewton |
| School governors / PTA (SG) | Mr Tom Rigby |
Involve school children in writing a book on the history of Shirenewton and incorporate a section on walks around the village and a section containing local recipes. Organise a family event for New Year's Eve. Produce something commemorative to present to all school pupils. |
| Parochial church council (PCC) | Mr John Nicholas |
Organ recital Church flood lighting |
| Women's institute (WI)' | Mrs Kent, Mrs Winnie Jones | Tree planting |
| Mothers union (MU) | Mrs Auriol Horton | Recipe book |
| Golf club (GC) | Mr Tom Rigby | Possible open day |
| Village fete committee (VFC) | Mr Peter Hesketh | Themed Fete |
| Millennium logo (ML) | Mr Martin Sullivan | Prepare a logo |
| Shirenewton church (SC) | Ms Glynis Macdonald |
Bell ringing Carol service |
| - | Mr Peter Hesketh | World Wide Web site |
| - | Mr Andy Williamson, Ms Alison Broughton | Time capsule |
Other people in attendance: Mr David Prosser, Mrs Lynne Prosser, Mr Phil Henshall, Mrs Henshall, Mrs Jackie Broughton. (Apologies to anyone not listed - do please contact me.)
Other local groups who may wish to be represented: Sunday school, Brownies, Neighbourhood Watch, Senior Citizens, V P A, Cubs, Scouts, Tennis Club, Cricket Club, Earlswood Hall, Recreation Association.
Other suggestions which may be of interest to groups or individuals: Village twinning, Cricket tournament, Football tournament, Tennis tournament, Possible construction of a second tennis court, Organise Millennium Walks and write descriptions (A map of all footpaths is available from the SCC), Passion play, Fireworks display, Village permanent barbecue area, Millennium Dance, Village Christmas Tree, Best kept village competition, Pig roast, Organise an event around the partial eclipse of the sun which will occur on 11th August 1999.
There was a good response at this meeting and those who took a particular interest agreed to discuss these with their groups and report back to the next meeting.
The next meeting was arranged for Tuesday 1st December 1998 in the recreation hall at 7.30. Anyone wishing to attend will be most welcome.
If you have any comments, or notice any mistakes or omissions, please do not hesitate to contact Peter Hesketh or John Wintersgill.