People say fate works in mysterious ways, and for the residents of Chelmer Grove in Keynsham, this could not be truer. Up until early 2003, the Grove was a quiet cul-de-sac, nestling peacefully in the foothills of the Chandag Region. It was only when a keen-eyed householder spotted a mis-spelt version of the street name on a map made by Standbrook Guides, that the Chelmer-ites decided to live a little. After all, they now lived in Chelmer
Groove.
And so, during the latter half of 2003, changes began to take place in the former sleepy sidestreet. Where posh company cars used to reside you'll now find VW campers and Mk 3 Escorts. Birdsong has been replaced by the sound of deep bass tones and the sweet-smelling gardens now smell slighlty more suspicious than they used to. But the biggest change of all lies in the people, most of whom have traded the boardroom for board games, Neighbours twice-a-day and countless Pringles.
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One wild-eyed lady told us: "Down-shifting they call it. Marvellous! It started out as a joke but we giggled so much that we insisted on staying put! Bravo!" Another late-rising Groover blurted: "Man, it's like the Seventies everyday round here! Well, to be truthful, some of us are in our sixties, but damn it, there's a new dawn happening here. Thank-you Standbrook typesetter - you helped us find our Mojo's. They were in the teepee! Bang on!"
In between trips to the 24-hour Esso garage and chopping wood for the all-night 'Community Fire', some of the residents have expressed their growing feelings of concern for the people of nearby Hurn Lane. "They look a bit straight, man!" confessed a brightly-clothed lady known as 'Moonbeam'. "They ain't digging our tunes. Those Hurns still got the hump 'cos the authorities refused their plan to rename it
Horn Lane. Apparently it has to be mis-spelt for 5 years to qualify, so they're just bitter."
And so my long day at Chelmer Groove was over, mainly because a cop car was spotted in Clyde Avenue, and I wasn't too sure whether that 'cigarette' I'd been handed was above suspicion. So visit this enchanting place while you can. You can view the offending map entry by clicking either
here (look for grid reference C4) or on the map image above.
Albert Mills
Could 'Dis Be Cane Shum 
