A village event which has overshadowed all others of recent time was the armed robbery which took place at our post office on the afternoon of Friday 26th October. This outrageous crime coming only a few weeks after the knife-point robbery of a local resident in the village centre, has caused a wave of fear mixed with anger in our hitherto peaceful community. The postmistress, Sharon Fitzsimmons, was serving in the shop when two male youths entered and threatened her with knives before escaping with proceeds from the till in a silver Rover 75 car. The shop has remained closed since this terrifying experience with the consequence that the future of our post office and store might be severely endangered. Members of the parish extend their sympathy to this energetic couple who invested in this vital community enterprise only a few years ago, extending its range of facilities and hours of service with commendable determination to succeed in this very challenging endeavour.
On Tuesday 30th October the county council’s Fosse Division Locality Panel held its 6 monthly meeting at Pailton village hall. Representatives of many of the 18 parishes in the division exchanged views on a number of topics chosen to represent local concerns. Uppermost on the agenda was crime and community safety which was addressed by Inspector Gainer and Sergeant Childs of Rugby police. Recent incidents of armed robbery were discussed with heavy emphasis placed on the need for increased vigilance stressed by Mr. Paul Hancox, the chairman of Rugby Neighbourhood Watch, who outlined his determination to re-energise this vital service. The meeting was reminded that their closest point of contact with the local police would be their Community Police Support Officers, Sharon Bailie, Ken Wyre, Chris Fisher and Harpal Panesar, on tel no 01788 541111. Other agenda items discussed included rural post offices, funding opportunities and travelling communities. The next locality panel activity will be a community safety meeting to be held during January.
On Friday 26th October several members of the Pailton church congregation made the short journey to Harborough Magna to share and enjoy their sumptuous harvest supper. This popular annual event is always regarded as one of the most un-missable treats of the autumn, not least because of the sheer pleasure of being entertained by the greatly talented local performers who seem to proliferate in that gifted community.
The approaching Sunday will mark Remembrance Day falling appropriately on the eleventh day of November. All members of our parish are encouraged to attend this most significant service which will follow the usual pattern centred upon the war memorial observing a solemn tradition shared by countless other communities spread across all parts of the Nation.
Joanna Morris-Jones