Annual Parish Meeting held at 7:30PM on Tuesday 29th April 2025 at Whittington Community Hall, Church Lane, Whittington, WR5 2RQ (///wonderfully.paper.agent)
Minutes
Present: Steve Brooker (Parish Council Chair), twelve parishioners
In attendance: David Hunter-Miller (Parish Council Clerk), Liz Turier (District Councillor), Linda Robinson (County Councillor), Susan MacLeod (Community Hall Committee), Helena Bennett (Fanny Clifton and Elizabeth Stephens Charities), Richard Boase (Whittington Events Group), Kelly Leeming (Whittington C.E. Primary School), Jayne Rayer (Whittington Church)
1. Chairman’s welcome
Steve Brooker opened the meeting and welcomed attendees.
2. Apologies for absence
Apologies were noted from Katie Lambeth-Mansell (Fanny Clifton and Elizabeth Stephens Charities), David Ball (Brethren Church), Adam Hooper (Community Events Group) and Rob Adams (District Councillor).
3. To approve the minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on Tuesday 23rd April 2024
It was RESOLVED to adopt the minutes as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chair.
4. Matters arising from those minutes (if any)
There were no matters arising.
5. To receive the Annual Report of the Parish Council by the Chairman
My thanks and appreciation for your attendance and for your annual reports. My report is somewhat lengthy. I make no apology. It is dominated by the SWDP. The SWDP will have a major impact on the Parish and parishioners. It is, will be and has been the biggest challenge the Parish Council has ever faced.
Yet another busy year for the Parish Council. The Parish Council was 7 councillors, it is now 9 Councillors. We currently have one vacancy. This is because of the increase from approximately 190 homes to almost 800 due to the Wildmore and Whittington Walk developments. Councillors Richard Boase, Christine Boase and Stuart Austin represent the interests of the Wildmore part of the Parish, Adam Hooper, our vice chairman, and Olivia Khong from Whittington Walk, Katie Lambeth-Mansell and myself, Whittington Village and Helena Bennett representing the interests of Pershore Road. Unfortunately, try in the past as we have, we have not been able to find a councillor to represent that part of the Parish on St Peters, some 90 homes. Whittington Parish Council, in comparison to other parish councils is no longer a small parish council but one of the bigger councils and not far from the size of some Town Councils. You may have heard in the news recently, Government intentions to scrap district and county councils and create unitary authorities. However, it is understood that the Government’s intentions are to retain Parish Councils.
Your parish council oversee parish assets, such as allotments and is a statutory consultee on planning applications. We raise issues with the appropriate authorities that impact on parishioners, such as highways issues, infrastructure and the maintenance of parish utilities – the yellow brick road being one example. The community hall is a parish asset but that is managed and cared for by trustees and members of a management committee. Additionally, your Parish Council engage in activities such as organising or promoting community based projects such as a local charity, summer fayre, Christmas Santa, health and well-being within the community, school and church involvement and recently, thanks to Councillor Christine Boase, a Parish newspaper.
All this requires the management of finances, knowledge of policy and procedures, the ability to negotiate with authorities and the personality to advise councillors as to the possibilities and restrictions to consider.
We are very fortunate to have David as our Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer. David has excelled in this respect. He has provided support and advice to all Councillors, ensured the smooth and effective running of the council and I speak on behalf of all Councillors, thank you, we are very grateful for your commitment and expertise.
Sadly, we have seen a rise in anti-social behaviour, driver behaviour, particularly through the rat run of Walkers Lane and Church Lane in addition to incidents of crime and substance misuse. It appears that, increasingly, residents are reporting such incidents to Parish Councillors instead of the police.
Parishioners are urged to report incidents of this nature directly to the police. The more they do so the more likely we are of having a meaningful police response. It is acknowledged that the police have limited resources and other priorities but increased visibility and effective policing of incidents of anti-social behaviour and the enforcement of traffic regulations would be welcomed. Walkers Lane and Church Lane are subject of an access only order.
One particular area or issue of concern often raised with the Parish Council is matters relating to Highways and Public transport. Whittington Walk is not served by a bus service. With an estate of some 300 homes and the emphasis these days of using alternative means of travel to the car, this is unacceptable. The volume of traffic on the roads around Whittington is pushing motorists to use Walkers Lane and Church Lane as a rat run to avoid congestion but putting pedestrians and cyclists, particularly children making their way to and from school at risk on narrow, unlit roads, devoid of pavements and in many places without grass verges to seek sanctuary. Motorists exiting Whittington Walk are contravening road traffic regulations by driving on the wrong side of the road to access the traffic island. At any time of the day, it is dangerous to exit the village onto the Whittington Island. At rush hour it is almost impossible. Pedestrians are at risk crossing the M5, Junction 7 traffic island as there is not a pedestrian crossing or similar facility on the north bound slip road as there is on the southbound slip road. The Parish Council continues to pursue these concerns. It is unfortunate, despite representation and the support of our County Councillor, Linda Robinson, for whose efforts we are grateful, it seems impossible to get the authorities to understand our concerns and engage with the parish council. A personal letter from me, the Chairman, to Mr. Marc Bayliss, the county council cabinet member for Highways and Transport has been ignored. The worrying aspect about all this is that when the SWDP comes into effect, will concerns of ours be similarly dismissed or ignored?
The SWDP plan designates agricultural land within the Parish of Whittington for development, where new housing and employment land – that is business parks – will be built. We can expect in the region of 1200 more homes and 80 hectares of business parks – or as the SWDP likes to call it, employment opportunities within the parish.
The largest development site of the SWDP has been identified and named ‘The Worcestershire Parkway’ development and is designated to deliver 10,000 houses and 120 plus acres of employment land over the next 40 years. In addition, a town centre, 4 neighbourhood centres and a number of schools.
The SWDP will engulf the existing Wychavon villages of Whittington, Norton, Litteworth, Stoulton, Drakes Broughton and Wadborough. In effect this will be an extension of Worcester and it is anticipated that approximately 27,000 people will live in the new development. By comparison the Parkway development will be larger than the current size of Droitwich (2021 census). In addition, land larger than the current Worcester racecourse has been allocated to be ‘employment land’, attracting employment opportunities for those living locally as well as those able to commute by means of the M5 and Parkway rail service.
The proposed plans are currently being reviewed by Government Planning Inspectors appointed by the Secretary of State. Over the last few years Whittington Parish Council has raised numerous concerns in relation to the plans.
What does the development mean for present and future Whittington residents.
1. No additional provisions have been made for The Royal Worcester hospital, despite warnings from Local Healthcare Chiefs so current provisions are likely to get worse.
2. A large part of the SWDP will be built around Worcestershire Parkway Railway Station and on the land leading up to the M5 motorway. The location of the land next to a motorway and adjacent to the railway station has played a large part in its selection for development. At this time however, there is very little provision planned to deal with the substantial increase in traffic volumes that will be generated by thousands of houses, distribution centres, construction traffic and railway parking expansion. Gridlock on the M5 is already a regular occurrence causing traffic delays on the main roads particularly around Whittington, Swinesherd Way, Worcester Road, Pershore Road, Crookbarrow Way and M5 junction 7. A motorway closure results in a diversion for vehicles including heavy lorries accessing the newly built homes and business parks by way of Swinesherd Way, Worcester Road and Crookbarrow dual carriageways. The consequence of this is Whittington Village, Walkers Lane and Church Lane will continue to be a ‘rat-run’ for traffic attempting to circumvent delays. This increase in traffic volumes means an increase in air and noise pollution as well as a road safety concern for pedestrians, school children, horse riders and cyclists.
3. If indeed the Parkway Development is built as planned over the next 40 years, the parish or at least a substantial part of the Parish, will become a construction site for the foreseeable future with the inevitable increase in noise and pollution levels. We are not aware of what provisions, if any, are being considered to counteract or alleviate these issues. Existing properties will depreciate and existing residents, many of whom will in effect, be living on a construction site for the remainder of their natural lives.
4. The size of the Parkway Development is two and a half times the development known as Warndon Villages, adjacent to Whittington. During the construction of Warndon Villages a ‘Green Space Officer’ was appointed to coordinate green spaces within that development. We understand that currently there are not any plans to appoint such a person for the SWDP.
5. The Parish Council has applied for 14 Tree preservation orders. These are mature substantial trees providing a community amenity, situated, in the main, along a bridleway, a right of way and along the Pershore Road. Initially the TPO application appeared to have been dismissed. Further representation by the Parish Council supported by our district councillors has been a little more encouraging despite the fact, that as yet, no order has been granted.
6. There are currently, primary school children living in Whittington who must travel to schools in Littleworth and Worcester as the local primary school is over subscribed. Similarly, there are senior school children living in the Parish who must travel to Pershore as the local high school is over subscribed. At a recent Public Hearing before the Planning Inspectors, Whittington Parish Council insisted that schools should be built simultaneously to the housing developments. Representatives for the Developers argued that this was not necessary.
7. Developers have indicated that they plan to build a West Midlands Distribution Centre including huge warehouses, on Pershore Road adjacent to existing Whittington residential homes. It is understood that these warehouses and distribution centres will operate 24 hours a day. The impact will be what once was a village of rural characteristics will become suburban and include business parks and warehouses, obliterating views, countryside activities and a way of life for those who once chose the Parish of Whittington to live in because of its rural settings.
8. It is important to say that Whittington Parish Council and the people who live in Whittington, acknowledge and accept that there is both a local and a national need for more homes. We are not opposed to more homes. However, our concern is that the proposed development has not taken into consideration the impact on existing parishioners, the rural environment and lacks any assurances or guarantees in respect of necessary infrastructure. The Parish Council is a statutory consultee in respect of the planning application process. The size of these applications will be enormous, detailed and challenging. The Parish Council has resolved to hire the services of a Planning Consultant to advise and assist with this process.
9. The Cameron government introduced Neighbourhood Plans. Whittington Parish began to design such a plan. Public meetings, a survey and the engagement of a consultant who had steered other neighbourhood plans to a successful conclusion. It is regrettable that this Neighbourhood Plan was abandoned. Had it been approved we may have had a say and influence, not to prevent the development of housing and business parks but on location, community infrastructure and green spaces, etc. We would also be in a position to receive 25% of Community Infrastructure Levy agreed, but instead without a neighbourhood plan will only be entitled to 15%. The plan was abandoned when the motives and interests of those working towards achieving a successful outcome to the plan were questioned by those who appeared to be opposed to the plan.
10. In summary the development priorities appear to be the building of warehouses and houses with little or no infrastructure investment and lacking any consideration or compassion for existing residents and road users.
That’s the doom and gloom:
My thanks to Councillors Richard Boase and Adam Hooper for their management of the Wildmore Allotments. There are 15 allotments and the income from Tenants is reinvested in the management and development of the allotments thus avoiding spending parishioner’s precept contributions for the benefit of 15 allotment tenants. Councillor Richard Boase and Councillor Stuart Austin were also responsible for the lead on creating a community orchard which is now in existence up near the foot bridge over the Swinesherd dual carriageway.
A number of County, District, Town and Parish Councils across the United Kingdom have adopted and continue to develop a project to provide a health and wellbeing service to local communities. Councillor Olivia Khong has taken the initiative in this respect on behalf of Whittington Parish Council.
Acknowledgment must go to Councillor Adam Hooper for his lead on organising a Parish summer fayre that goes from strength to strength, and to Councillors Katie Lambeth-Mansell and Councillor Adam Hooper for their Christmas Santa event raising funds for local charities.
Two local charities that had become dormant are now up and alive thanks to Councillors Helena Bennet, Councillor Katie Lambeth-Mansel and Susan Macleod, providing funding for less fortunate parishioners.
We all remember with fondness our Lengthsman, Sam Joyner. Sam’s brother, Charlie has taken on the role, the work that he has done and continues to do so is very much appreciated.
The Parish Council extend their thanks and appreciation to our County Councillor Linda Robinson and our two District Councillors, Liz Turier and Rob Adams for all their support, advice and driving home with District, County and Planning Authorities our concerns and issues. Your attendance at our meetings and continued commitment in the interests of Whittington Parish is very much appreciated. Thank you. My appreciation and thanks I extend to those parishioners who frequently or regularly support their Parish Council through their attendance at Parish Council meetings.
The Parish Council resolved to set the precept, that is the contribution through Parishioner’s rates, for 2025/26 to raise by 5.39%. This amounts to an extra £3.38p per year for a Band D household. The increase is necessary due to the rise in inflation and so the Parish Council can continue to meet its financial obligations and continue with its efforts to pursue projects that will make Whittington a great place to live. It should be noted that despite the small increase in the precept, Whittington remains below the national and local average.
The future:
Top of the list must be the SWDP and our concerns relating to the impact on the Parish. The Parish Council will continue to seek assurances relating to community infrastructure.
The Council is currently drafting a 1 year, 3 year and 5 year action plan. This plan will include Health and Well-being of parishioners, Tree Preservation orders and road safety matters.
The Council has recently initiated a land acquisition project. With developer interest I urge the Council to pursue this opportunity without delay, otherwise we may miss the boat!
There is currently an ongoing project to propose a community garden within the Wildmore housing estate.
Thank you.
Steve Brooker
Chairman, Whittington Parish Council
6. To receive a report from the District Councillors
This year seems to have flown by. It has seen the Whittington Walk development almost finished with most of the houses occupied and the roads finally resurfaced – or nearly all of them!
There seems to be more active engagement from everyone, the Parish Council, local police and various housing associations to help to integrate all the new residents and make a strong community. There are ongoing improvements suggested for the allotments and play areas at Wildmoor. The tree planting near the Bridge is going to look wonderful and hopefully the Yellow Brick Road will be improved in 2025 as well!
Most of the year seems to have been taken up by the Worcester Parkway New Town development and the effect on Whittington and Pershore Road residents. The SWDPR continues to rumble on – it is unlikely that we will get a definite answer until the end of this year – but in the meantime it is extremely stressful for everyone involved.
I would like to congratulate and thank you for all the hard work and dedication you have put into this. It almost feels we should be awarded an Open University degree it it!
Thank you for all your support this year. I look forward to helping you whenever I can, please do not hesitate to contact me if you need to.
Liz Turier
Wychavon District Councillor
7. To receive a report from the County Councillor
Good evening, everyone and thank you for joining us this evening. My apologies for arriving later this evening but I needed to attend Pirton earlier as they started at seven. Please feel free to ask me any questions arising from my report or anything else I may be able to help you with.
Proposed Local Authority Reorganisation Update
At present, Worcestershire has one county council, responsible for services including roads and social care, sitting above six district councils that run services such as bin collections and housing.
Following the publication of Labour’s devolution white paper, our administration commissioned consultants PwC to provide an independent review of the options.
Scrapping Worcestershire’s existing seven councils and replacing them with a single authority could save more than £20m a year whilst costing £11.9m according to their report. They also suggested that an alternative option of splitting the historic county into two new unitary councils – north and south – could save £4.3m a year but would cost £16.9m. Local politicians are currently divided over the two options, after the government asked council leaders to produce proposals to merge the county’s two-tier system. Opinions are currently divided as to which option to follow. Councils are required to produce a business case for changes by the end of November.
Any new local authorities could be up and running as early as April 2028, following elections in May 2027. This will inevitably be a hot topic for County & Districts moving forward.
Worcestershire Parkway
Worcestershire Parkway has recently celebrated its fifth anniversary with plans to build a single storey car park above the existing facility as demand increases.
The proposed Worcestershire Parkway new Development has gone through its examination in public as part of the revised SWDPR. (still subject to review). I attended the examination in public at the Guild Hall in Worcester and expressed concerns over infrastructure. I strongly believe that any new development should be infrastructure led and hope that this will be achieved sooner rather than later in the plan.
Worcester’s new school and hospital multi-storey latest
PLANS for a new secondary school and a multi-storey car park next to Worcestershire Royal Hospital have been approved by Worcestershire County Council. Whilst not in your catchment I noticed on the site visit its proximity to Crowle which might increase future options.
The new school and car park were approved by the county council’s recent planning and regulatory committee of which I am currently vice-chairman. The secondary school is expected to welcome its first cohort in 2028.
The multi-storey car park would be built to address long-running issues with the availability of parking at the nearby hospital, by offering 850 more spaces for staff, patients and visitors.
Guy Kippen, associate development director at Prime, commented: “Securing planning approval is a major milestone in delivering a sustainable solution for parking and access to Worcestershire Royal Hospital. By working collaboratively with Worcestershire County Council and local stakeholders, we will ensure that parking and access improvements reduce congestion for all users. Now we have achieved outline planning consent, we will progress with the detailed design required for a reserved matters application. As part of this, we will keep the local community informed.”
A new exit road onto the A4440 Nunnery Way has been approved for visitors to reach the car park, as well as giving emergency vehicles a new specialised route to reach Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
On Newtown Road, a new access road dedicated to serving the school will be built to help manage school-related traffic and minimise its impact on the area.
A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council added: “The approval of this hybrid application ensures a strategic and comprehensive approach to traffic management, benefitting the hospital, school, and local community while delivering a biodiversity net gain on the site.”
Secondary, Primary and First School Places for September
Worcestershire County Council received 6,592 applications this year and everyone who made an application for a secondary school place has received an offer of a place. 9 in 10 of Worcestershire’s children will be starting secondary school in their first-choice preference in September.
Parents are also being reminded to apply for school transport for their child/children as early as possible for the September 2025 school term. This applies to secondary and middle school places.
For more information, please visit the apply for school and college travel assistance pages of the county council website: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/schooltransport.
Linda Robinson
Worcestershire County Councillor
8. To receive a report from the Whittington Community Hall Management Committee
This coming September will be 4 years since we celebrated the opening of this new community hall, whist last November was 70th anniversary of the original old village hall being built on this site, marking the history of the community coming together on this spot.
The Community Hall continues to be a success – busy during the week with exercise classes, meetings and events. And at weekends with family get-togethers, parties and community activities. Hirers and visitors are delighted to use the Hall and find our front of house staff welcoming and helpful.
Behind the scenes, a management committee of nine dedicated local volunteers seamlessly run the business of the Hall, which is a registered charity. I have been Chairperson since November 2023, Steve Brooker is Secretary and Anita Hodgson Treasurer. Former Chairmen Richard Holroyd and Malcolm MacLeod are Charity Trustees. As are our Vice Chair Mike Paige and Adam Hooper. Adam and Steve also represent the Parish Council on the Committee. Fiona Whithead represents our Hall users and Jayne Raynor, the local village church.
The Committee bring skills and expertise in various areas and give their time freely for the benefit of the Hall and the local community. There are lots of voluntary activities they do unseen. As well as the scheduled monthly Committee meetings, there are extra business, training and event planning meetings to be attended. We deal with finance, recruitment, contract negotiation, online research, sourcing and buying items, design & printing, website and social media updates. Reports and minute writing. Organising events, and lots of hands-on physical work – planting, sign making, clearing drains! painting walls, fixing taps, lights, heating and the electric fence! Plus, stand in caretaking.
We also have two paid self-employed contractors who work here daily and
weekly on a part time basis.
Our Caretaker John Symonds is appreciated for his care for and quality of cleaning of the Hall. He gives great customer service and welcome to hirers (of which he has many fans!), which can really make a difference between us and other neighbouring halls.
Our Booking Secretary Anita does a brilliant job of managing the bookings that come in via our online Hallmaster system, as well as dealing with email enquiries and meeting potential clients to show them around. Anita also helps John when required, and as mentioned, in addition to that she volunteers as our Treasurer. We are grateful for her dedication and passion for the Hall.
We have other paid contractors that come to help maintain the hall – such as cleaning the outside windows, checking the fire equipment, and the heating/air-conditioning system and the weekly servicing of the sanitary containers. We also have a contractor to maintain the grounds. We have
been really pleased to continue our working relationship with local company SJ Landscapes and that Charlie Joyner carries on helping us with the more physical work outside.
We have revisited our core purpose and strategy. Our purpose being:
To manage the ‘box’:
• to maintain the Hall building, contents and grounds in good order as a
• quality venue for hire and continue a legacy to be proud of.
• to keep the finances in good order.
• to maintain a pipeline of clients and bookings to pay for the up-keep on
• going.
An additional purpose we set ourselves is:
• To maintain the Hall as a venue for Whittington Parish Community
• Events and get-togethers
• to help foster and develop good local community relations and aid
• health and well-being
We gave ourselves 8 priorities to focus on – around maintenance & finance, risk, staffing, safeguarding, data, community, and visitor experience.
One of the key actions has been for our committee and key staff to have Safeguarding training. This was carried out with an excellent trainer last September. I am the Safeguarding lead, assisted by Anita Hodgson.
We put in place Lone Worker and Data Retention policies. As well as creating a Google Drive facility to centrally retain documents.
We set up an online banking account (which was quite a painful procedure!), to facilitate an easier and quicker method for signing off and paying invoices. The Hall finances are in a heathy state. But as costs are increasing, we did put up some of the hire charges this April. But we kept the hire of the Hall by parishioners at a discounted lower rate (rates are on the website).
As the Management Committee we discuss the requirements and maintenance of the hall and to come up with ideas and make decisions for improvements. This year notable ones have been – the laurel hedge planted along the southern fence for safety; the Bluetooth facility for the Audio/visual use; new gravel for the carpark; child sized chairs and tables that are now in regular use; racks for storage; extra kitchen cupboards; a notice board outside the hall to advertise hall events and regular classes; a new look What’s-on page for the website; Black-out blinds for the doors in the main hall; a post box; a trolley to lift chairs; a laptop for our booking secretary; and we took possession of a portrait of the King!
From the maintenance point of view, we have had a leak in the flat roof, which has been repaired (within the guarantee). Part of the air-conditioning/heating unit in the meeting room has been faulty, and a new contract has been negotiated with a local Worcestershire company. Our standout turquoise green roof had become dirty over the three and a half years and after cleaning with specialist equipment was restored to its original colour.
We have held several memorable Community events, bringing lots of people of all ages together. Christmas themed Winter Warmer’s in November and Fish and Chip Quiz nights in May are now established as popular favourites. Following on from last June’s successful D-Day commemoration working with the school, church and villagers, helping to foster a sense of community, we have a VE Day Celebration on 8 May 2025.
Looking to the future, we are still in the process of trying to find the right person to take on a self-employed role as a part time caretaker to help John reduce his hours. Also, we continue to look for ideas for suitable events to bring the local community together. I have some exciting news on the event this front. We have recently joined the National Live and Local organisation network, with a view to engaging some professional artists to come and perform here this coming autumn and winter – we hope for music, comedy and perhaps a play.
Finally, want to thank our local community, the Parish Council, our regular Hall users, hirers, contractors and volunteers because without them this fantastic community facility just wouldn’t work.
Susan MacLeod
Chair, Whittington Community Hall Management Committee
9. To receive a report from Whittington C of E Primary School
Thank you for inviting me to provide an update from Whittington Church of England Primary School.
I was delighted to join the school as Headteacher in September 2024, and it has been a wonderful year of growth, achievement, and development.
We currently have 208 pupils on roll, with strong numbers across all year groups. In December 2024, we were inspected by Ofsted and were proud to achieve a Good rating, recognising our nurturing ethos, high standards, and inclusive approach.
This year, we have been making significant improvements to our facilities. Thanks to the fund raising of our amazing PTA, we have a new trim trail and new playground markings, greatly enhancing the outdoor experience for our pupils. Thanks to support from the WCC Capital Program Grant, we will be installing a new Astro play area.
Our Forest School provision continues to develop, offering valuable opportunities for outdoor learning, teamwork, and environmental stewardship.
We have introduced Music lunch time Fridays, giving children the chance to explore, perform, and enjoy music every week.
A key curriculum focus this year has been inclusivity for all, ensuring that every child feels valued and supported. With an increase in SEND needs, we are investing in additional support and resources to meet a wide range of pupil needs.
Looking ahead, we are keen to strengthen our community ties even further. We would love to hear from any parishioners interested in helping tend an outdoor space at school — particularly around fruit and vegetable growing projects, supporting our environmental education and healthy living focus.
Thank you to Whittington charity for their kind contributions. This has enabled all our pupils to participate the trip to Bell boating and more recently Young Voices. We are passionate about offering enrichment opportunities to all our children.
We are also very excited about several upcoming community events:
• Our pupils will be participating in the VE Day celebrations at the Parish Hall.
• In May, we are hosting a Big Picnic to bring families and the wider community together in support of Christian Aid Week.
• In June, we will be holding a Sports Day at Whittington specifically for our Key Stage 1 pupils, giving our youngest children the chance to celebrate teamwork and physical activity in front of their families. With Key stage 2 pupils having the opportunity to experience Nunnery Wood athletic pitch.
Thank you once again for your continued support. Whittington C.E. Primary is proud to be part of such a strong and caring community, and we look forward to another exciting year ahead.
Kelly Leeming
Headteacher, Whittington C.E. Primary School
10. To receive a report from Whittington Church St Philip & St James
Once again we have had a busy year of services. Notable extras this time included the events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June, when children from Whittington School visiting the church and were particularly interest in the Mrs Pat Wigley’s memories of her wartime childhood. We have been pleased to welcome members of our Team clergy on many occasions, especially during Andy’s sabbatical in the autumn, and thank them for their extra support during this time. Mike Bunclark and Richard Wood were ordained priests and we were pleased to attend the Team service at St Martin’s in June when they co-celebrated the Eucharist for the first time. Former Archdeacon Robert Jones preached at that service and new Archdeacon Mark Badger joined us twice for services during the year including Christmas Day. Bishop John retired from the Diocese at the end of September and several of us attended his very moving final service in Worcester Cathedral.
We held a number of much needed fund raising events. In March David Tibbutt devised and hosted a morning of favourite poetry and prose: Whittington Wit and Wisdom which was very much enjoyed and has since had a sequel. It looks like becoming an annual event. Brenda’s plants raised another record sum, and Philip Bowen’s illustrated talk The Earls of Dudley – their Wealth, their Women and their Houses was enjoyed by all. We supported Community Hall events including the Quiz Evening, Summer Fayre and Winter Warmer where craft items sold well, and Caroline’s jam has been ever popular. We have been especially pleased to develop our links with Crookbarrow View through our monthly services there and have also introduced occasional visits of the Yew Brew to invite residents for coffee and refreshments.
Close involvement with Whittington C of E School continued with classes visiting church once more for workshops and services. The new Team Children’s and Families’ Worker, Debra Hill, has already strengthened links with the school. Year 6 leavers were presented with a Bible and a copy of It’s Your Move, a leaflet with advice to help smooth the transition to secondary school. David Chestney, Michael Lumley and Revd Andy Stand acted as Foundation Governors, with David retiring after many years’ service in December.
The Elizabeth Room continues to allow us to serve refreshments after services and to hold Yew Bridge Coffee Mornings on the first and third Saturdays from March to December. Liz Millard has kindly arranged for us to hold occasional coffee mornings at Crookbarrow View. A big thank you to everyone who has helped with these activities and to Eileen who checks the dishwasher and tidies the church each week.
Susan MacLeod and Janet produce wonderful flower arrangements to decorate the church. We continue to receive great support from our Team Administrator, Rebecca Caskie, and from Hannah Parry who maintains the church website. The church is beautifully maintained by a dedicated team despite the variable weather. The church is always very well presented and the efforts of Jackie our cleaner and Anne Jolley who cleans the brass and silver are much appreciated.
Jayne Rayer
Whittington Church
11. To receive a report from the Brethren Church
Apologies from David Ball (Brethren Church) were noted.
12. To receive a report from the Village Charities
Background of the charities
The Elizabeth Stephens Charity was established in 1668 and Fanny Clifton Charity in 1888. Both charities were funded by legacies left in these ladies’ wills with the funds and interest used to purchase coal and groceries and distributed to needy parishioners annually on St. Thomas’s day. Both charities were merged into one on the 19th February 2024 with a new combined name of ‘Elizabeth Stephens & Fanny Clifton Charity’ (Charity Commision registration no. 243748). Origin of each charity is described below.
Elizabeth Stephens Charity (established 1668)
Elizabeth Stephens of Wood Hall Norton died in 1668 and was buried in Norton. In her will Elizabeth Stephens left £100 (£50 each) to the poor of Norton and Whittington and ordained it should be invested in land and that revenue should be distributed twice a year to the poor of the parish.
Her executor and son Thomas Stephens put Whittingon’s £50 into building three cottages on a third of an acre in Swinesherd. For two centuries the ‘Parish Cottages’ revenue was distributed once a year on St Thomas’ Day in the name of the Elizabeth Charity.
In 1880 due to growing maintenance costs the cottages had to be sold and the interest on the proceeds continued to be used to support the poor of the parish.
Fanny Clifton Charity (established 1888)
The Cliftons were Worcester solicitors and Clerks to the Dean of Worcester. The line ended when John Hill Clifton died and was buried in Whittington in 1870. Miss Fanny Clifton, his sister lived a further 17 years longer and was Whittington village school’s main supporter and benefactress, with all the school children attending her funeral in 1888.
In addition to the support she provided to the school Miss Clifton had the habit of giving away sacks of coal every Christmas to the poor of the parish. In her will Miss Clifton left £1,000 ‘with a view to continuing to the poor inhabitants of the Chapelry of Whittington the annual distribution of coal’. Interest on the investment was used for these purposes distributed on St Thomas Day under the newly formed Fanny Clifton Charity.
St Thomas the Apostle feast was historically celebrated on the 21st December (usually the shortest day and longest night) and was the ‘day of charity’ when poor women went ’Thomasing’ or begging. Wheat was cooked and distributed to the poor in memory of St Thomas who distributed the money he had to the poor. It was believed to be the day St Thomas died. More recent research has found the correct date of death was the 3rd July in Chennai, Syria and as such St Thomas is now celebrated on the 3rd July.
Governance
The trustees are:
● Chair – Katie Lambeth-Mansell
● Secretary – Helena Bennett
● Treasurer – Susan MacLeod
The trustees want to note the commitment and contribution of the previous Chair, the late Les Wiltshire, who maintained these historic charities for 27 years from 1996-2023.
Acknowledgement that St Thomas day is now celebrated annually on the 3rd July and as such the Charity will distribute donations and aid on (or around) this day.
In recognition of the ethos of both charities to give to the needy and the historic support given to the Whittington village school the Charity will work with Whittington Primary School to distribute donations of money, food, or other material goods to support those in need.
Any funds raised will be donated to Whittington Parish residents only.
Finances
Present Accounts as of April 2025. Total for the Whittington Charity FY24/25 – £1,373.71
Opening balance (April 2024): £1,344.64
Income total: £810.31
● Fundraising: £796.62
● Bank interest: £13.69
Outgoings total: £781.24
● Donations: £664.60
● Website: £116.64
Closing Balance (April 2025): £1,373.71
Highlights 2024/25
Fundraising and events
Community relationships and fundraising activities have been renewed. Fundraising events have raised £796.62 this financial year.
Fundraising events included:
● Whittington Community Hall Winter Warmer
● Whittington Community Events Group Summer Fayre
● Whittington Community Events Group Santa Sleigh
The Trustees would like to thank all those who have personally donated and also Whittington Parish Council, Whittington Community Events Group and Whittington Community Hall for their support and generous donations.
Donations
The Charity has made donations this year supporting funding of school experiences/trips for pupils and their families, who otherwise would have been unable to participate. These external opportunities not only enhance their learning but also help to support the children’s wellbeing and social skills, such as confidence building, communication, imagination, understanding and appreciation of the environment and life outside of the school and home.
These trips can expose some children to new places and experiences that they would not necessarily get to enjoy with their families, so they really do offer a window to a world they would not otherwise see and experience.
Whittington C of E Primary School – £264.60 September 2024
The Bell Boating trip along the River Severn was at risk of being cancelled due to several families being unable to fund the trip for their children. The Charity was able to support those children providing an enriching learning and wellbeing experience, supported by Andy Train, a former British Sprint Canoeist.
Whittington C of E Primary School – £400 March 2025
Supporting families in need to attend the Young Voices choir event at Birmingham Resorts. The event brought together children from primary schools across the UK and united them for an unforgettable choir experience, enabling the children to discover their voices, gain confidence and create lasting memories.
Social Media presence
New website is available here: www.elizabethstephensandfannyclifton.co.uk
New Facebook page is available here: www.facebook.com/people/Elizabeth-Stephens-and-Fanny-Clifton-Whittington-Charity/61565525326345
Ambitions for FY25/26
Our 3 top ambitions for next financial year are to:
● Continue to raise awareness of the Charity through better communication & engagement within the community
● Establish regular funding income streams through events and donations from local organisations etc.
● Work with local organisations to establish routes to identify and provide support and assistance to Whittington Parish residents
Getting involved
If you would like to volunteer for the Charity and get involved with fundraising get in touch. Or likewise if you feel the Charity could provide support and assistance to those in need then please do reach out.
Email: info@whittingtoncharity.org.uk
Website: www.whittingtoncharity.org.uk
Telephone: 07751 6128863
Helena Bennett on behalf of Katie Lambeth-Mansell
Fanny Clifton and Elizabeth Stephens Charities
13. To receive a report from the Whittington Events Group
Whittington Community events group continues to go from strength to strength in 2024 and into 2025.
A huge thank you to everybody who has volunteered their time whether it be for our hugely successful Summer fayre or for those who braved the cold and wind for our Santa sleigh. A special thanks to Richard Boase who has continued his role as Santa and who made full use of our new snow machine. A thanks also to Nick and Anita for kindly allowing us to use their fields for the summer fayre.
The feedback from both the summer fayre and Santa sleigh has been hugely positive.
We are delighted that as a result of fundraising activities we were able to donate over £4000 to local charities. We have donated to St Richard’s Hospice, Mind and the local Whittington charity.
We expect another hugely successful year in 2025 and look forward to seeing you all on 12th July for the summer fayre.
Richard Boase on behalf of Adam Hooper
Community Events Group
14. To invite the public to raise any matters of interest
No questions were received.
Steve Brooker closed the meeting with the following comments.
Thank you for your reports.
Following my retirement from the Police Service at the age of 60, I was invited to join Whittington Parish Council, that was 15 years ago. But for a very short period of less than a year, I have served the community as a councillor, vice chairman and Chairman.
The major issue for the Parish Council is, I believe, the SWDP and the impact it will have on the whole of the Parish and parishioners. With the joint efforts of Councillor Helena Bennett, our Clerk David Hunter-Miller and the Joint Parishes Committee, we have made as much representation as we can do with the planners, planning authorities, developers, our district and county councillors and even our Member of Parliament. The plan is now with the Planning Inspectors for their decision. We await the outcome.
Thereafter, the planning applications will be submitted and the process for approval, or not approval, as the case may be, will commence. In other words, I think we have done all we can do to get our thoughts and concerns across.
Whittington Parish Council now has new councillors with new ideas. I think it is the time for me to step aside. I have previously informed the Parish Clerk that I will resign my position as a Councillor with effect from the Annual Parish meeting.
One final word, I would like to express my personal thanks to my colleagues on the Parish Council, District Councillors, Rob Adams and Liz Turier, County Councillor Linda Robinson, and our Parish Clerk, David Hunter-Miller for your support and efforts on our behalf, over the years.
The meeting closed at 8:44PM.