FUNDRAISING INFO AND THANKS.
Thank you to all who cycled or just came along to support the amazing Bike Challenge. Chester to London and we did it. Although I feel we could have made some people cycle back home again! It was a wonderful weekend. Thank you to Louise and Andy for their organisation skills. I must mention our Jacob and his Dad Darren who would have cycled the whole journey themselves if they had had the time. Jacob kept cool with an ice pop on his head. Monies raised is still coming in so thank you to one and all. Thank you, for allowing us to borrow the static bikes, to Gareth from the Gym/Hairdresser, Nicola and Lee and Mike for his trainer bike which allowed Megan to cycle her own bike. I’ve already been asked if we could do this again!! Over to you girls.
Special mention to our Marje who walked 5K every day in August and raised the fantastic amount of £1000. Marje probably needs new trainers as well as a well-deserved rest.
25th October we are holding our favourite Fish and Chip quiz. With Tony our quiz master.
We are also in the process of organising a Sing a long Extravaganza on Friday evening of November 15th. Tickets will be available so watch this space. Thank you also for the donations and private contributions people have made. You are all wonderful. If you feel you can contribute in any way towards our fundraising, please let us know. Thank you one and all. This just proves to me what a wonderful Community we live in.
Sheila
Hello, just wanted to (nag!!!! cos I am good at
it😂😂😂) and remind you to please, please, please,
remember the foodbank when you’re shopping to help those who are struggling to
get even the basics of food. It could be you, a loved one, or a neighbour who
is in this position. Just one extra item a week in your shop to donate would
help someone. I know things are difficult with the rising cost of just about
everything, but the need is rising too and any help you can give would be so
appreciated. I would be really grateful (and happy!) if the box could be filled
to top every week. Please help where you can, it will mean a lot. Drop it in
the box outside 62 Barkhill Road. Anything you can give in support and thank
you for all you do give, our community is fab 😊
Tinned meat/fish
Long life milk/juice
Tea/coffee
Tinned veg/potatoes
Instant mash
Desserts/custard/rice pudding
Sugar
Biscuits
Soups/cuppa soups
Toiletries/toilet rolls even!
How the water gets to your tap.
Our late church friend Roy Burling drew various detailed sketches of the water treatment plant in Chester from working there as a plant operator from 1966 till retiring in 1996. I handed the sketches to Severn and Trent who are the current water providers. I was given a guided tour of the works by one of the manager’s, David Ralph.
Water is abstracted from the River Dee on the meadows bank and the rotating screen in the large mound structure removes the initial debris before crossing the river. The raw water is pumped up the hill to the works through twin supply pipes. The original steam pumps have been replaced with modern electric pumps. The raw water is treated with aluminium sulphate on entering the plant which removes 99% of the suspended material. The water then passes through four very large above ground concrete tanks which each drop by 12 inches avoiding pumping. Further treatment removes the remining material and by adding various products to make it into drinking water. This is stored in a large underground concrete tank from where it is pressure delivered to the network. When the high tide backs up the river abstraction has to stop as the salt would contaminate the supply.
A rowing boat was originally used to access the abstraction screens for maintenance but now they just drive round from the works. The original supply was delivered by gravity from the large listed blue tank. The pressure needed to be increased so the tank was jacked up by 10 feet. The wall was then built underneath the tank which you now can see. The tank is no longer used but has to be maintained.
David arranged for me to meet Roy’s former work colleague, David Williams, who worked with Roy prior to his retirement. Roy was one of 5 plant operators looking after all the works moving round the various processes. Now they have 6 plant operators due to the expanded treatment works.
When Roy started at the plant, Chester Water Company supplied the water. A merger with Wrexham Water in 1997 created Dee Valley Water. Now Severn and Trent supply the water. In order to futureproof the supply in case of failure at the Chester plant a new pipeline is currently being laid. The pipe which runs along Sandy Lane is a 500mm bore HDPE welded joint pipe running from the Huntington plant to the Chester plant to supply the drinking water. Roy’s sketches will be on display in the board room. Once displayed a photograph will be sent to his family.
All, so you can make a cup of tea.
PS The HDPE pipe is a very strong special plastic pipe which will not rust and the welded joints will not leak.
Ian Cook
Review on the drainage repair.
This just to recap on the successful completion of the drainage work. The drains blocked this March, and they had to be jetted again when the work started in August. I don’t think the system would have lasted much after Christmas. When they broke through the suspended concrete floor it turned out to be thicker than the drawings. The breakout left a gap of 400mm (16 inches) between the beams. This slot from the corridor manhole to the gent’s door allowed access to the drain below which is some1.5m to 1.2m (5ft to 4ft) below the floor. They started on the Monday and Tuesday pm they phoned us to ask for an urgent meeting for 8am Wednesday to discuss what they had found. The drains were in worse state, and the pipes had to be taken to the gent’s manhole. This had to be carried out. They managed to do this leaving the modesty wall in place.
So, we ended up with new PVC pipe manhole to manhole with concrete bed and surround to a constant fall. Plus, two removeable accessible manhole covers for any future problems. The new floor covering makes the whole route to the Extension look very nice and complete. The cost rose from £12,390 to £13,743. After the grants we still have to cover the Synod £9,991 loan. Fundraising has started with the bikes and Marje’s walking.
Further events are in the pipeline. Many thanks to the congregation with the contributions and fundraising also for their patience with the closure of the buildings. The various groups who hire the rooms were all really pleased to return this month.
This is a very good outcome to a potentially disastrous situation which could have closed the buildings.
Ian Cook