Local History
November 2000:

A Suckley Local History Society has been formed, following the interest generated by the Suckley Millennium History Project. Several meetings have already been held, and an oral history group has been formed. Members are also hoping to research the church, school, hall and village charities, houses, farms and farming, and the railway. A newsletter is to be produced. The Society hope to eventually publish a book(let) about Suckley's history.

Richard Harward (01886 884 611) is the group's chairman/coordinator. If you'd like to join, please give Richard your name and £1.50 joining fee.

Please see our what's on page for details of further meetings and talks.

Village directory
October 2000:

Businesses in the Suckley area are invited to place details in the forthcoming Village Directory produced by Suckley Parish Council. This will be distributed to all existing occupants within the Parish, and all newcomers as and when they arrive.

For more details, please telephone Liz Devenish on 01886 884787.

Welcome
September 2000:

Welcome to Suckley Primary School's new teaching staff - to headteacher Sara James, and to Anne Jackson and Joanne Rogers.

Farewell
September 2000:

Suckley said goodbye to Canon Michael Westall on 10 September, when he officiated at his last Evensong in the Benefice. Prayers were led by the Rural Dean, the Rev. Canon Michael Nott. Generous donations from parishoners enabled the parishes to present Michael with Cope and Mitre, for his new appointment as Bishop of Kjombi.

Beating the bounds
September 2000:

A large group of Suckley residents took part in a Millennial walk around the boundaries of the village on 10 September, recreating the traditional practice of 'beating the bounds'. The four and a half hour event included a lunchtime break at Pewcroft farm.

History group
August 2000:

The organisers of the 'Suckley Past and Present' display (exhibited during the village's millennium celebrations in June 2000) hope to set up a group to research the history of the villages of Alfrick, Lulsley and Suckley.

Suckley to South West Tanganyika
July 2000:

All best wishes to Canon Michael Westall, rector of the Church of England benefice of Bransford, Alfrick, Leigh, Lulsley and Suckley since 1993. He leaves the UK later in the year to take up a new appointment as Bishop of South West Tanganyika in the Tanzanian Anglican Church. Michael's wife Punitha will act as his personal assistant in this new role.

Speaking to Robert Hale in the Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter, 21 July 2000, Canon Westall commented 'It is somewhat painful to uproot ourselves from such a beautiful place where we have made so many friends and where we have been very happy, but we believe it is where we have been called to be'.

The Westalls are no strangers to Tanzania - Michael was Principal of St Mark's Theological College in Dar es Salaam from 1984, and on a visit in 1999 they found themselves slipping back into the lifestyle. 'It's a simpler way of life, without many of the Western mod cons.'

Death of Headmaster
June 2000:

Keith David Fuller, Headmaster of Suckley Primary School from 1975-1987, died on 27 June 2000 following an illness lasting about a year.

Brenda Price, who worked for Keith, called him 'a real gentleman - nobody would dream of calling him anything other than "Mr Fuller" ... In a small school he was not only Headmaster and Teacher, but unofficial caretaker, repair man, heating engineer, gardener, plumber, transport officer and first aider ... A superb man to work for, fair, supportive and encouraging ... a kind caring man who gave quiet concern and support in our personal as well as our professional lives ... It is a great privilege to have known Keith Fuller as a colleague, a good friend and latterly as a lovely Grandad.'

Suckley 2000 Celebrations
June 2000:

Suckley celebrated the new millennium with a week of events in the village, including a cookery demonstration and talk, quiz and skittles nights, a bell ringing taster session, an antiques road show, a pre-school party and culminating in two exhibitions and a weekend of music in the village church. The festivities were successful, well-attended and raised over £600 (to be split between the church, school and village hall).

Suckley girl in London Marathon
May 2000:

Diabetes sufferer Trina Wilkinson (née Berry) raised £1,500 for the British Diabetic Association, running the London Marathon in five and a half hours.

... and new on Suckley's web site ...
November 2000: The Suckley website moves to www.suckley.net.

June 2000: A quick update of the whole site, including the addition of a welcome page, in time for Suckley's millennium celebrations.