A Happy
Holywell
News Year!
Welcome to our
monthly newsletter
Volume 2 Issue 8
January 2015
“Should auld acquaintance be forgot . . .
 News
 Events
. . , and never brought to mind”
 Competition news
Website
www.holywellinn.co.uk
Facebook
Save the Holywell Inn Group
e-mail
[email protected]
Telephone
07741 172494
So in 2014 we saw the closure of another 936
pubs in the UK. And we think that’s simply
outrageous!
Therefore 936 venues were no longer able to
host traditional New Years Eve celebrations
for local communities. No gathering of friends
& families having a drink, sharing a laugh,
maybe shedding a tear for loved ones lost.
You Requested and we
will provide . . .
& Recording Studio
Drop in centre
We ask is the country better off with the
plethora of new Betting shops, Tesco express
type outlets (206 pubs converted this way
since 2010 - another 45 pending right now)
and as Mr Gale would like, even more bedsits?
Inside this issue:
IT Classes
We most certainly think not!
The Holywell
Year
2
And what’s more, we’ll continue to keep
working just as hard as always to prevent the
loss of the Holywell Inn. As we have done so
right throughout 2014.
Enough about
US!
3
Coming up
4
So welcome to our annual review of the past
year’s news. Inside you’ll see our familiar calendar with all the events and activities we arranged over the last 12 months - meet the
dedicated team with the best interests of the
village at heart, and be introduced to all the
new people and organisations that are now
working with us.
As we’ve said on many occasions - this is not
about bringing back to life the old, run down,
poorly supported business that the Holywell
Inn had become - this is a unique groundbreaking venture that offers community shares
in a sustainable business model, that will use
surplus profit to fund activities, facilities and
events that are requested by local residents.
We asked - you answered - we listened!
We’ll continue to listen - so please come along
to our events or our fortnightly meetings and
join in. And in the meantime Happy New Year!
Music Festival
Page 2
The Holywell News
A (second) year in the life of the ‘Holywellers’
JANUARY

We start the year by hand delivering 3000 newsletters to local households

Host the first ever ‘Table-Top’ sale - see back page for details of this year’s

Hold our second Community presentation pledge day

Appeared ‘live’ for the third time on Phoenix Radio

Attended the AGM for the Community foundation for Calderdale
FEBRUARY

Incorporated Mark Stead as a director of the society

Achieve our highest ever attendance at a committee meeting

Receive support from Orange Mountain Bikes - and life changes forever!

Invited to take part in THE BIG LUNCH - time prevented it but not this year!

Gain further support from other Communities attempting similar ventures
MARCH

Awarded the fantastic sum of £19750 from the Social Investment Business

These funds are set aside to provide a Feasibility Study for the business

Prime Minister David Cameron becomes interested in our campaign

We’re invited to speak on behalf of CAMRA at an event in Wakefield

Raffle tickets go on sale for the ‘Green’ Orange Mountain Bike
APRIL





Host the first ever Holywell Green Easter Egg Hunt
Mr Gale submits his third attempt to convert the building into flats
We begin to vigorously oppose this contemptuous Planning application
Our Chair John Walsh accepts an invitation to speak at an event in Westminster!
The incredible mountain bike & trailer go ‘on tour’ selling raffle tickets
MAY





Calderdale MP Craig Whittaker visits us to discuss the Planning application
We host the second Holywell Green Bake-Off - this village loves baking!
The Mountain Bike visits several local events - tickets sales are incredible!
Following 63 independent objections Mr Gale withdraws Planning Application
We make it clear we’ll oppose - with similar vigour - any more he submits!
JUNE





The bike appears at Calderdale Neighbours day in People’s Park
Despite pouring rain we achieve tremendous raffle ticket sales
The whole area begins preparations for the ‘Tour de France’ Grand Depart
We feature in a major article in the Yorkshire Post newspaper
New fund-raising plans put in place
JULY





Mr Allan Perry is the lucky winner of the stunning Mountain Bike
We receive a letter from Mr Gale detailing his terms for selling the Holywell
As a ’goodwill’ gesture Mr Gale will accept £160,000 for the empty building
We seek written clarification of his claims that he paid more than £120,000
No response to that request has ever been received
Volume 1 issue 8
Page 3
AUGUST

We attend the Cropredy Music Festival and meet old friend Al Stewart

Local residents Steve & Carol Lloyd donate a number of gifts for prizes

We’re invited to major discussions with the Social Investment Business group

We ask Mr Gale if we can have access to formally value the Holywell

Despite our offer to pay Mr Gale for his time to allow this he simply refuses
SEPTEMBER

It’s the second Holywell Green Garden Produce Show

Closely followed by the second Antiques Valuation day!

We announce plans for a major music festival and a golf tournament

Our great Californian friends Marc Macisso & Kenny Herrera will attend

As will Irish Singer Songwriter Liam Merrimann!
OCTOBER

We appoint local architects Hawdon-Russell to work on designs for the pub

Mark & John travel to meetings in London with SIB and DCLG

We also attend seminars in Leeds and Manchester

Appoint the UK’s leading planning expert, Barrister Scott Stemp to work with us

The Chesham Arms has a planning app. dismissed because it is ACV listed
NOVEMBER

We become involved with CADO and the irrepressible Jess Steele

John & Mark spend two days at the Locality Convention in Cardiff

Brewers Greene King visit us to discuss how they may help

John attends a lunch in Manchester with Dr Freddie Gick & Kris Hopkins MP

Kris (Communities Minister) suggests a visit to us with Craig Whittaker MP
DECEMBER

We host the first ever Holywell Green ‘Christmas Workshop’

We thank Iris Whitehead and Anne Hunter for their help with this event

The same night we hold a quiz night at Elland Golf Club

Our movie-making skills come out as we make the CADO video!

We begin selling the CADO Calendars and beautiful Christmas Wreathes
BUT ONCE AGAIN ENOUGH ABOUT US . . .
Because there’s so much more to be done yet! Remember
we’re just a ‘steering committee’ - we helped to get the
ball rolling, but this is for everybody.
We’ve recently appointed Charles Brooks an expert in
Business Planning services from Comprehensive Business
Management Ltd based in Northampton.
And of course this is not limited to Holywell Green. We
already have people from many neighbouring towns and
villages showing interest.
Charles is compiling the detailed Business analysis to meet
the requirements of the organisations that are showing
interest in funding the venture.
This is all about inclusion.
And of course we also have Scott Stemp! And now another planning expert - solicitor Dale Ingram in London
has offered her services. As you can see - we really mean
business!
Our plans for the New Year are many and varied - but
raising funds obviously remains our number one priority.
The Holywell Green Community Dream
Coming up!
WHO WE ARE
Following last January’s highly successful Table-Top
sale we’ve decided to do it all over again this year!
Committee members:
The event will (as usual) take place in the Holywell
Green Church Hall on Saturday January 24th.
John Walsh (Chair)
Chris Judd (Vice-Chair)
Heather Stead (Secretary)
Beverley Smith-Walsh (Treas.)
Mark Stead (Director)
Tables will be the same price as last year - £5 each
and the donation of a raffle/tombola prize for our
campaign funds.
Peter Lassey
Martyn Foulds
Eileen McAlonan
Graham Gent
Louella Ramsden
Mick Ramsden
Corrine Ramsden
Ian Whiteley
Linda Whiteley
Linda Kingsnorth
David Humphreys
Chris Pearson
Solicitor:
Julian Bond Glaisyers Manchester
Accountants:
Gordon Leigh
Barlow-Andrews Bolton
Barrister:
Scott Stemp
12 College Place Chambers
Southampton
Website:
www.holywellinn.co.uk
Facebook:
Save The Holywell Inn Group
e-mail:
[email protected]
Telephone:
07741 172494
The church will be open from 1.30 for those with
tables and the general public will be allowed in from
2.30.
To arrange a table please telephone Heather on
07782 199908 or contact via the website.
Please note that tables are limited and we could
have sold them twice over last year!
We will once again be providing our wonderful tea
& coffee stand and hope to see a repeat of the huge
crowds that attended last January.
This is a real chance to sell those surplus items and
pick up a bargain whilst your at it!
All the members of the committee will be attending
so its also a great opportunity to discuss the campaign in detail with us.
So tell your friends and put the date in your diary!
And we would just like to thank Father Rodney
from St Andrews & St Mary Magdalene’s churches,
for once again lending us the trestle tables we need
for all the events we host! Much appreciated sir!
And watch this space for details of all our usual
upcoming shows during 2015 . . .
And finally some sad news . . .
It is with great regret we have to announce
the passing of one of our most enthusiastic
supporters.
Sadly on December 3rd we lost Beverley’s dad
Mr Peter Smith. Peter died after a short illness
in the Intensive Care Unit at Huddersfield
Infirmary.
He was 80 years old.
Peter was a well known local businessman and
always showed great interest in our efforts.
He was always on hand with advice and guidance where necessary.
We send our sincere condolences to all his
family and thank him for his keen interest in
this campaign.
He won’t be forgotten . . .