Latest News

Bowled over by donation. 

February 2024

Plans are already being made for the coming summer – especially at Dunstall Cricket Club. The Key Trust has awarded the club a grant of up to £7000 to replace the boundary fence at the Deer Park, in Dunstall. This has been in poor condition for some time but the covid pandemic intervened and it became difficult to get any work done. A recent arrangement with Barton Cricket Club means that there are more teams than ever who need somewhere to play – especially junior teams. The committee wanted to replace the fence but not affect the visuals and charm of the Deer Park, therefore designs will replicate the current approach.

DCC fields a number of sides catering for all ages and abilities, incorporating teams in the Derbyshire County Cricket League and a Sunday XI participating in the Lichfield & District League. The junior section runs teams between U10 and U19 age groups and includes support for Kwik Cricket and the All Stars programmes. During the summer, the club also runs a series of lunches and other social events - there is something for everyone and a warm welcome awaits anyone interested in joining. The Trustees wish the club well for the coming season.  

Lazy, hazy, crazy days… 

Dcember 2023

You’re probably already looking back wistfully at the lovely summer weekend that was the Barton Festival – or as it’s become known – the Teddy Festival. All that lovely sunshine, all those excited teddies and a general buzz of contentment around the centre of the village. The trustees of the Barton and Dunstall Key Trust were happy to contribute in the form of a grant to fund the purchase of a popcorn making machine – apparently a healthier alternative to candy floss! The grant also covered the costs of producing the photographs for the teddy passports. In case you’re not aware, every teddy, or other furry friend, has to have a passport with a photo to get access to all the teddy rides. They also have a ‘tedical’ when an x-ray is taken and their health is checked. All in the name of health and safety as we don’t want any accidents happening. Well done to all those involved in any way in organising the weekend’s activities. It was a great success.

What I did this summer….

October 2023

Georgina Campbell was awarded a grant towards an intensive two week Ancient Greek summer school in Dorset. She says: “I arrived at the JACT Greek Summer School this year as an intermediate student with prior knowledge of the basics of Ancient Greek. It is a very complex language so we learnt and revised advanced forms as well as basic syntax, cases and verbs. New vocabulary every day increased our understanding of the texts we were reading. After two weeks we were able to translate parts from Lysias, Sophocles and Sappho. There were engaging and fun lessons as well as seminars, lectures and a chance to be in a play. Aristophanes’ “The Clouds” was performed in translation and Sophocles’ “Ajax” was performed in the original Greek in the school’s outdoor Greek amphitheatre. I made lots of friends in my class, and through the different activities. It was a perfect preparation for my time at university and I am very glad that the Key Trust supported me so I could attend.”  

Jean-Marc Revill was awarded a grant to attend the World Scout Jamboree in Korea. Here’s what he has to say: “We gathered at Manchester Airport as a full unit excited for the trip we had all spent the past 3 years preparing for. Once in Korea we discovered how hot it was going to be! We began by exploring the city of Seoul, choosing to eat in the most authentic restaurants we could find outside of the touristy areas. After 3 days of familiarizing ourselves with the city and culture, we headed to the campsite in Saemangeum along with 40,000 other scouts. The campsite was massive and flooded with scouts from all over the world; meeting everyone was fantastic. On site, trading items such as neckers, woggles and any items uniquely from certain parts of the world became popular - uniting international scouts. Unfortunately, problems such as heat and an imminent typhoon meant we were evacuated off site on day 4, and stayed in Seoul where we enjoyed further exploring the city. Overall it was a fantastic experience; just not the one we'd expected.”  

George O’Brien was awarded a grant to cover his costs getting to Mount Kilimanjaro. He used this as an opportunity to raise funds for Meningitis Research Foundation. Here’s what he says: “My six-day hike up Kilimanjaro via the Machame route started with a trek through lush rainforest, surrounded by a symphony of exotic birds and dense vegetation. Days two and three presented the ascent to the Shira Plateau, where we gradually transitioned from the rainforest to the moorland zone. We gradually gained altitude allowing our bodies to adjust to the decrease in oxygen which had a few negative effects. On Day Four, the journey proceeded to Barranco Camp, with the views of the peak becoming clearer and more daunting due to the true size of the mountain coming into full view. This day ended on us ready for summit on the early morning of day five. Summit day started at midnight leaving Karanga camp and had us trek through the night under the beautiful starry night to the top for just after sunrise. A few of us summitted at around 9am, took some pictures and headed back down to summit camp whilst supporting the rest of our team. Finally, on Day 6, we descended for around three hours to the bottom of Killy where we had a few beers and celebrated our amazing adventure. This was such a life-changing experience, where the convergence of nature's beauty, physical endurance, and personal determination combined to create cherished memories that will last me a lifetime.”  

New Trustee

September 2023

The Key Trust have appointed Ed Sharkey as a new Trustee. Ed was born and brought up in Barton and attended Infant and Junior schools and, apart from spending 6 years working on Tyneside, has lived in Barton all his life.  A retired Landscape Architect Ed has been a Parish Councillor for over 20 years and is currently PC Chairman.  He has been actively involved in the life of the community for many years.  Ed represents the Parish Council on several external organisations e.g. the Local Quarry Liaison Committees and he set up the multi-agency Barton Flood Risk Group to work to deal with all types of flood issues in and around the village.

Pennies well spent

July 2023

Talking about toilets is never interesting or exciting – until you can’t find one! We’ve all had that problem and if you’re less than fully able then the struggle is a regular issue.

Holland Sports Club has continued its upgrade of facilities by installing a fully accessible toilet for use by all visitors. Access is easy as the entry is flat and there is plenty of space for wheelchair users or those who need assistance. The Key Trust was happy to support the project with a grant of £6000 as inclusivity should always be encouraged.

New Trustee - Sam Cowgill

June 2023

A new Trustee, Sam Cowgill, has been appointed to the Key Trust. Sam has lived in Barton for over 18 years with her husband and two sons.  She grew up in Whittington and after living and working in London and Sydney, returned to the Midlands to start a family.  Her career background is in Human Resource management working primarily in corporate law firms and more recently within her husband’s Rewards and Loyalty business. She have been heavily involved in village life since moving to Barton and has been an active member of the PTA at the Infant school and as a Governor and volunteer at the Junior school. She is a proud supporter of Barton Rovers Football Club, Dunstall Cricket Club and Barton Rugby Club where she has enjoyed watching her sons play. She currently assists at Thomas Russell Junior school three mornings a week. In her free time she enjoys walking her dog around the village and the beautiful local countryside, keeping fit at Branston Health Club, socialising with friends, reading and gardening.

A very British celebration.

June 2023

What a wonderful celebratory weekend that was a few weeks ago. The pageant and glamour of the Coronation surpassed anything we could have imagined. It’s one thing that we Brits can do very well indeed. The celebration in Barton took place on Main Street on Sunday afternoon and was supported by monies from Barton Parish Council and the Barton and Dunstall Key Trust. You will have enjoyed the traction engines, Morris dancing, maypole dancing, face painting, bouncy castles and vintage vehicles. Barton’s shop windows were beautifully decorated. All the hospitality venues offered eating and drinking opportunities too. A tree of wishes was created by the schools in Barton and the children were given commemorative badges. And, most importantly, the sun shone! The trustees would like to congratulate the four ladies who organised this celebration: Susanne van Daesdonk, Lynn Bennett, Alison Jones and Lorraine Brant. It’s important to acknowledge the work of these volunteers as that is what the Big Help Out on Sunday was about. Do you try to ‘help out’ in the village? There’s always something to do.

William Key Sermon 2023

May 2023

William Key passed away in 1615 and left two fields, the income from which was to be used to help the poor of the area, to help maintain the Parish Church and to pay the Vicar ten shillings to preach a sermon on Good Friday. This Good Friday saw Rev Andy preach the 408th William Key sermon. He also got his 50p from one of the Key Trust trustees.

Barton PC welcomes bill for gates

May 2023

We’ve all watched with delight as local toddlers enjoy themselves in the Jubilee Play Area on Collinson Road Park. This was first installed in 2004 with several upgrades since. In 2010 the present arrangement of swings and climbing frames was built, and officially re-opened during a visit by HRH the Duke of Kent. Recent inspections have shown that, although the equipment is still suitable for use by the youngsters with a little maintenance, the safety surfacing is starting to break down and needs replacing. Two important items that are also being replaced are the gates, which will now be slower to close. The Trustees were very happy to award a grant of £6000 to help with the cost of refurbishment and look forward to seeing cheerful little faces in the newly refurbished play area.

HAVE A HEART…

April 2023

We are all becoming familiar with seeing defibrillator machines around. Have you noticed the one outside the Co-op? If you live on The Green, that machine is a long way off. That’s why the Trustees of the Key Trust were pleased to make a grant to Katy and Steve Boulter at The Royal Oak, helping them to purchase and install a defibrillator next to the front door of the pub. Nowadays, a defibrillator is easy to use and will even talk to you, so anyone can use it properly. The charity who are supplying the unit will be able to offer some training for those less confident. Keep your eyes on the noticeboard at the Royal Oak for details.

New Trustee - Ray Holder

April 2023

A new Trustee, Ray Holder, has been appointed to the Key Trust. Born and educated in London, Ray moved with his parents to Burton in the mid 60’s. Worked for Barclays Bank till 1968 when he started in the new Computing Department at Ind Coope where he stayed until 1992. Moved into Recruitment and finished as an Account Manager with his main account being Toyota.  Whilst at school he spent a year with the Royal  Opera Company as a boy soprano and continued singing as a tenor with several local music companies when moving to Burton. Played cricket for Dunstall and then Ind Coope until 1992 when back issues caused him to finish and took up golf which he still plays 2/3 times a week at Branston and has been honoured to be both Captain and President there.  He is now Church Warden at St James in Barton and is looking forward to serving on the Key Trust. 

Adrian Wedgwood: 25 years as Trustee with Barton's Community Charity

March 2023

Adrian became a Trustee of the Eleemosynary Charity in 1998 and has been a Trustee of our community Charity ever since. Prior to its creation on 19th December 1902 there were several 'parochial' charities in Barton under Needwood. These included the William Key Charity (created c1651), Alice Kinstone, Mary Holland & Pinners Patch charities. Eleemosynary Charity Trustees met before each Christmas in Dr Bill Taylor's home to decide how they should distribute the few hundred pounds of interest available.

All that changed when we were offered a couple of thousand pounds for the tiny Pinners Patch on the other side of the A38. Sensing a potential development opportunity the Trustees were persuaded to decline the offer & obtain professional advice. The result was a settlement worth many tens of thousands and the Pinners Patch is now covered by the Argos warehouse! Sensing the need for a more modern & professional operation, whilst honouring the terms of the original legacies and, with the prospect of other property developments, the opportunity was taken to create the Barton under Needwood & Dunstall Key Trust on 21 September 2007. Other small charities, including the Charity of Charles Arkwright for the benefit of the poor of Dunstall, were incorporated. The Henry Warford Charity was excluded because this included Tatenhill.

Adrian said, ‘Whilst I was a member of Barton Parish Council (chairman 2009 - 2011) we were approached by Aggregate Industries with an offer to establish a fund to 'compensate the village for disruption during excavations & benefit our community'. As the Council was concerned about mixing Public & Private funding my proposal to explore this with the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust was accepted, and, with the help of Trustees Jim Black & John Moffat we negotiated an Agreement that now generates a generous sum of money each year for the Key Trust to invest. Since then our Breach Close plot was sold for mineral extraction.

During my 25 years working with our dedicated Trustees & five Clerks and seven years as chairman, I've been delighted to make many presentations, supporting the ambitions of young people and it has been a matter of great pride to see the Trust develop into the very substantial Charity able to assist organisations and individuals in our communities of Barton & Dunstall. I'm particularly pleased to have initiated the John Taylor High School Leadership Award, seen the excitement created at those presentations in front of a packed School Hall, and that the Trust reached out into our village to assist those whose homes were flooded when the brooks overflowed.’

Would William Key be surprised that his original bequest to 'pay 10 shillings to the Vicar for delivering a sermon on Good Friday' has become a significant charity able to help local organisations, young people with extra-curricular activities and parishioners in need through illness, disability, bereavement, or accident.

Jacqui Jones, Chairman of the Key Trust, said ‘The Key Trust is immensely grateful to Adrian for his input over the years, initially as Chairman and more recently as a Trustee. When he retired as Chairman his many initiatives and hard work left the Trust in a position to significantly benefit our community in many different ways, and hopefully we have continued his good work with his valued input as a Trustee’.

The Trust says thank you to Fos Rogers, also retiring. Fos joined us ‘for a year’ as the PCC representative and, due to Covid and other things, stayed a few more. We are grateful for his input and wisdom over his time with the Trust.

Heavenly music

February 2023

The beautiful Grade II* listed St Mary’s church in Dunstall was designed by Henry Clutton for Charles Arkwright, a grandson of the inventor of the spinning frame, Richard Arkwright. It was completed in 1853 after Charles’s death with money left by him for that purpose. The organ that was installed in 1853 is still in use in the church for regular services, weddings and christenings. Since it was almost probably built to Arkwright’s specification it is of historical importance.

Although the organ has been regularly tuned it has never been overhauled. The company that installed the organ, Bishop and Son, is still in existence and came and gave the organ a through inspection. Unfortunately the examination showed serious signs of wear and evidence of woodworm meaning that some serious work needed to be done. The Trustees of the Barton and Dunstall Key Trust were delighted to support the renovation of the organ with a grant of £10,000. The good news is that the work started in January 2023 but the church will be without its organ for six weeks, relying on a digital device instead. The congregation will be very much looking forward to hearing the beautiful voice of the organ again once the work is completed.  

Roped In

December/January 2023

The Holland Tug of War Club based at the sports club in Barton has always been successful in national and international championships. But did you know that they hold a Guinness World Record? Thirty members of the Holland Tug of War Club, based in Barton under Needwood, Staffordshire, England, lifted a 425 kg. (937 lb.) weight - suspended under a tug-of-war training rig - a total of 80 times in one hour on June 6, 2000. Each pull was over a distance of 6.86m. The latest name in their roll of honour is Amelia Kerry, who is competing as part of the England under-19s ladies team.

 Amelia writes ‘Tug Of War is a team building sport consisting of eight people on each team. It requires core strength, a good all-round fitness, but most importantly mental stamina, resilience, and determination. It is just as much of a mental game as it is physical. After many additional hours training and attending the subsequent selection days, I was fortunate enough to be selected to compete for the England U19s women’s team, in both the British and Irish Championships and the World Championships which was held in Holten, Netherlands. The World Championships is now an annual competition comprised of a multitude of countries from across the world. It is here all countries go head-to-head to be crowned the World Champions in different weight categories. During the competition, we persevered throughout the rounds competing against the countries Scotland, South Africa, Belgium, and the Netherlands to name but a few. My team and I were able to secure the bronze world medal, beating the Netherlands in the bronze medal pull off. This was an extraordinary experience and is one I will never forget. I would like to say a huge thank you to all those who supported me along the way. Especially the Holland sports club for continually facilitating my extensive training, as well as the Barton-under-Needwood and Dunstall Key Trust for financially supporting me to be able to have this incredible opportunity.’

The Barton and Dunstall Key Trust were delighted to support Amelia with a grant of £750 to cover travelling expenses and wish her and the rest of the England team well in future competitions.

If you’d like to know more about tug of war in Barton then contact hollandtowc@gmail.com or phone 07500352329.