Ashley Newsletter
May 2009
Rod’s the pride of Ashley!
Congratulations to Rod Martin who recently won the award for an outstanding example of bravery in the ‘Pride of Harborough 2009’ event. Rod was nominated not only for the way he has battled to recuperate from his accident, but also for his positive outlook and magnificent fundraising efforts for the Air Ambulance service.
Country Sayings - back next month.
Best wishes to Albert Stanton who is in St. Luke’s hospital, recovering from a fall on Easter Saturday. We hope you are better very soon, Albert.
Need a babysitter?
James Harvey (not pictured) is looking for some babysitting jobs. He’s available Saturday evenings and Fridays too during school holidays. Call 565732. Ashley newsletter is supported by
Village Arrivals
Welcome to Kristine and Michael West – and their dog Mollie. We wish them a long and happy stay in Ashley.
ASHLEY vs MEDBOURNE TUG-O-WAR
Congratulations to the brave children, women and men of Ashley who fought hard on Easter Monday’s Tug-O-War against Medbourne. Amid a large turnout of supporters, the village managed to claim victories for the Men and Women, but avoided a clean sweep by permitting the opposition to have the Children’s prize for this year only. Well done to all those who took part – thank you to all those who turned up to support – and thanks also to Donna and Cliff at The George for ensuring everyone was suitably refreshed before and after the event.
Craft club contribution…
Well done to Wendy Bowkett who has raised £132.00 for Leukaemia Research. Villagers may already know that Wendy donates at least 20% of profits from her activities, shop sales etc to this charity - so if you want a hand-made greetings card with a charity twist, talk to Wendy - or go along and make one yourself in her craft room.
VILLAGE HALL CINEMA CLUB
If anyone has a specific request for a film to be screened in Ashley please contact Margaret Richold (565968) or any Committee Member. ANY film can be considered provided a DVD version of it is available.
LAUNDE ABBEY SPRING FAIR
Monday 25th May Launde Abbey is in urgent need of extremely expensive repairs and alterations to bring it into line with 21st century requirements.
Launde is a very special place in the Leicestershire countryside, deeply loved by many people, and it is now the Retreat Centre for both the Leicester and Peterborough Dioceses. I am on the Committee for a Spring Fair to be held at Launde on Bank Holiday Monday 25th May to raise funds for the Abbey, and I will be running the Tombola Stall on the day. Unlike most modern charitable fairs, there is no commercial involvement in this one at all: no-one will make anything out of it except Launde itself. The Spring Fair will coincide with a Flower Festival and Car Boot sale, both running over the whole weekend, and a cricket match, which, like the Fair will happen only on the Monday. On the Monday there will also be games for children. I do hope that you will be able to give us items to be sold on some of the stalls (listed below). Items do not have to be new and can be of any value, but they do need to be in really good condition. If you have anything you would like to clear out of garages or attics, or you would like to offer any produce, then please get in touch either with me or with Nicky Ramsden (565602). (If you would prefer to keep these items for our village day on June 14 then Nicky is happy to house any items separately.) I also very much hope that you will be able to come on the day. I am sure that there will be some real bargains to be found, and you will certainly have an enjoyable day out, with plenty to appeal to every age. Stalls: Clothes – Plants – Horse rugs and tack – Cakes – Sweets, Preserves and Produce – Gifts – Antiques - Tombola – Children’s Clothes – Toys – Books – Raffle. PUT THE DATE IN YOUR DIARY – it’s a great day out for half term! Many thanks. Alison Wiley – 565537
Ashley Darts Team news
The George came 2nd in the Welland Valley Darts League, being thrashed, sorry beaten, I mean losing, to Sutton Bassett. The George also has a team in the Tuesday Harborough League and is doing well in Division B. David Chadwick won the Welland Valley Highest Start, and also the Ashley Cup, a singles competition open to all who play in the pub, played at the end of the Welland Valley league season. Thanks to Andy Harrold who managed to eat get a team together and keep the Ashley in the Welland Valley League against all the odds after the woeful flouncing off of the former players to Sutton Bassett. Also thanks to the Bentley boys for their support and for playing for the George this year. Mathew Nottingham
RIP: Ashley Village Website?
We’re sad to report the impending shut-down of the Ashley village website. A centre for all things Ashley, it gives visitors to the site access to all manner of village information, history and activities from ballroom dancing or bellringing to WI or Yoga!
RIP….www.harborough.gov.uk/pp/gold/viewGold.asp?IDType=Page&ID=15750 ?
The reasons for this decision are unknown at the time of writing, but we will report more in due course. If you feel that the village should keep its website, DON’T BE SHY get in touch with the editor! And remember - active web-users can still access Ashley information and downloads on the Ashley Village Facebook group.
Hold The Date!
Family Fun Day at the Hallaton Recreational Ground Saturday 12th September (In aid of St Michael and All Angels church, Hallaton) Family Games, inter-village Tug of War for adults and children, refreshments, stalls etc A great day for everyone in the area. Come and support your Tug of War teams! Further information will be published over the summer. Enquiries: Georgina Anthony 555399
Open Gardens - Tombola
WE NEED YOUR BOTTLE!
As part of the Ashley Summer Event on June 7th, we are having a Tombola Stall and we would be grateful for any good quality prizes such as bottles, new unwanted gifts etc. Bottles and other foodstuffs are welcome - but please make sure they are within the sell-by date – we don’t want our prize winners complaining of tummy ache! Please contact Ian Carlton (565) or Margaret Richold (968) for collection.
GARDENERS QUESTION TIME
Sixty people packed into the village hall to enjoy Ashley’s second Gardeners Question
Time event. Between them the three speakers – Caroline Tait (Nursery Manager, Coton Manor), Peter Stevens (Garden Designer) and Colin Wicks (RSPB Northampton) provided an interesting and fun evening and there were four lucky winners of great raffle prizes which included a superb herb planter, season tickets for Coton Manor, gardening tools and a CD and Bird Spotting Book. The cause of the brown spots on Brian Dancer’s fruit still remains a mystery however!
The beer weren’t bad either
The Royal British Legion
Ashley, Weston-by-Welland & Sutton Bassett Branch Anyone can become a member of The Royal British Legion and therefore support the cause. The subscription is presently £11 per year (October to September). If you feel that you could help with the Poppy Appeal or would like to become a member, please contact one of the following people: Mr K Tansur Mr M Hilliam Mr A Stanton Mrs M Prince Sutton Bassett Weston by Welland Ashley Ashley 01858 466764 01858 565765 01858 565231 01858 565896
Northamptonshire Historic Churches Trust ‘Ride & Stride Day’
A date for your diary… this year’s Ride and Stride is 12th September so there’s plenty of notice and plenty of time to get your bikes in working order! More details later in the year. Rita Berry.
Fundraising
On 16th May a group of us are walking 13 miles through the night in London to raise money for Breast Cancer Charities. We are looking to raise as much money as possible so would be grateful for sponsorship. Please contact Ann Morgan (565 517), Jane Squires (565 244), Linda Hanraads (565 792) or Kerry Spooner (565 825) if you would like to sponsor us. Alternatively, there is a sponsorship form in Ashley Herb Farm Shop or you can do it on-line by visiting www.justgiving.com/kerryspooner ." Thanks for your support! Kerry Spooner Your mobile library stops at Ashley Village Hall 2.00 -2.20pm May 7th 28th 2009 Books for all ages. Audio Books, books in Large Print, CDs Free & Easy to join! The mobile library stops at Ashley every third Thursday. Enquiries tel: 01536 203304
A recipe from Sue and Gill …
Pork Ragu Ingredients: 450g (1lb) Lean Minced Pork 3 rashers Dry Cured Bacon, chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 Onion finely chopped 1 Carrot finely chopped MAKE 1 Courgette, sliced 1 400g Can Chopped Tomatoes 2 tbsp Sun dried tomato puree 8 Sun dried tomatoes, chopped Parmesan Cheese Fresh Basil for garnish
Place the minced pork, bacon, garlic and onion in a non-stick pan over a low heat and cook until some juices run out. Increase the heat and cook the meat for 4 - 6 minutes or until browned. Add the carrot and courgette, cook for 1 -2 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes tomato puree, sun dried tomatoes and bring to boil and simmer for 25 minutes.
EAT
Serve with fresh spaghetti, parmesan shavings and fresh basil.
Got something for the newsletter? Don’t hang on to it! Please get it to me as soon as possible. Deadline for content 18 May Send to rob.mcneill@yahoo.co.uk or post at 17 Main Street.
Ashley Village Hall Archive
After giving two talks in the village over recent months, the Archive Team has been asked to provide some written information about the archive and to produce short articles on various topics. It is suggested that this can be done as an occasional contribution to our newsletter and web site. The main reason for establishing the archive is to obtain record and store information about Ashley and its inhabitants from earlier times such as the Domesday records to the present day. Users of the archive would be able to search for information from both paper records and also electronic data bases. The archive team was set up in 2005 and included David Burrell (early history), Isabel Castens (The Manse), Ros Gallant (The Pulteneys and The Old Rectory), Ros Swaney (The Pulteneys and The Manor) and Margaret Richold (major influential families such as the Palmers and Pulteneys, notable buildings and local families). The archive is still being developed but at present we have over 200 records in the photo archive and over 250 entries in the main archive which includes documents, articles, newspaper cuttings, recorded memories, slides and photos and recorded interviews. It is hoped that, eventually, the archive will be open for general use and inspection under controlled conditions. Anyone interested in joining the archive team perhaps conducting research (internet or noninternet based) or contributing information to the team should contact Margaret Richold on 01858 565968.
The Ashley 1947 snow picture
This picture stimulated a lot of local interest. Thanks to Veronica Carlton for finding this picture in a Leicestershire church and to Judy Wilson, Aileen Williams, Charles Squires, Margaret Prince and John Clarke for their help in identifying most of the men in the photograph. The archive team has been asked to contribute to this story and discussions will be held with interested parties including Trevor Fincham over the next few weeks. In due course a short piece will be prepared for the newsletter and web site on conditions in Ashley during and just after the war years, using information from the village archive, which will include that terrible winter of 1947; just what the tired, worn out and dispirited British public needed (!!) after 6 years of war and deprivation.
GARDENER’S CORNER
with Alistair Peak Just as we love to feel the sun our faces, so do our plants, especially the delicates making them stronger, urging us into our gardens to enjoy the final flings of spring before being engulfed by summer. The last bulb of the spring to give us an abundance of colour must be the tulip. Whether you go for the dwarf naturalize varieties or the tall bolder tulips, there are many to choose from. Some plants are strong and tough to withstand wind and rain, unfortunately not the tulip, you need to think carefully where you plant your tulips especially the tall varieties as the wind and heavy rain crush them easily. If you look closely at the flower you can see how beautiful the colours are especially the stamen. If I were to choose one spring tulip it would be ‘Queen of Night’ it produces a lovely velvety dark maroon flower on a 60cm/2ft stem flowering in late spring. Together with tulips, Clematis Montana are a fine sight to behold at this time of year, they become unruly if not kept in check. Plants that fail to produce flowers at the right time of the year may be failing if they have been pruned at the wrong time of year, easy to do when you’re having a tidy up either in the autumn of early spring. Clematis Montana is often a plant that this happens to. It is best pruned after it has finished flowering. If it has gone wild it can be pruned back to 45cm/18” of the ground, give it a good feed and it will produce new growth and flowers next year, it will take a few years to become ‘wild’ again but if you keep them in check they are a great asset to the garden. If you like cooking with fresh herbs, besides purchasing from the local supermarket (OR ASHLEY HERB FARM! Ed), you can grow your own even if you only have a window box or small court yard. Nothing beats the smell and taste of fresh herbs, remember to grow the varieties you like best set yourself the challenge of trying something different. Herbs as rule like warm sunny situations, by regular picking and feeding you should get a steady supply throughout the season.
Many thanks to the many visitors who came to Stoke Albany House for the Open Gardens at the end of March, it was lovely to see lots of regulars and some new faces. Marie Curie Cancer Care is very grateful for your donation, so from my heart a great big Thank You.
Ashley Open Gardens,
Family Attractions + Teas.
Sunday 7 June... 1pm – 5.30pm Cost £3 per adult. Under 16’s free
13 Open Gardens Treasure Hunt Teas & Refreshments Themed Church Ashley Court Stalls Tombola Cakes and produce Plants Biscuit decoration Splat the Rat! Ice Creams Guess the weight of the cake Raffle Bric a Brac stall Westhorpe Childrens Events & Stalls Beat the Goalie Target Shooting Hook a Duck Key to open a Prize Sticks in the sand Guess the number of sweets in the jar Teddy Tombola
Latest news…
The organisers have had a fantastic response to the call for Open Gardens in the village and we have 12 gardens confirmed so far
Children’s Play Area
Plans are also well underway to create a children’s play and games area within Westhorpe with many stalls including Teddy Tombola, Hook a Duck, Target Shooting with sucker darts, ice cream sales, Beat the goalie and many more.
Helpers still required
Due to the number of stalls and activities helpers are still required so if you are interested in sparing even and hour or two on the day please contact Adrian Forsell (565410) or Claire Bowles (565800)
Tombola donations
In order to make the Tombola /Cake/ Produce/ Bottle stall and plant stalls successful all villagers will be contacted over the next few weeks to see if they wish to make donations for any of these stalls.
It’s been pointed out to me that there are a few house frontages that could do with a bit of a tidy up, de-weed and clearing etc. Please do your bit to make Ashley look as lovely as possible, even if you’re not ‘showing’ your garden on the Big Day! Thanks. Editor
All donations for the event will be divided equally between Ashley Village Hall and the church.
Newsletter contributions welcome
If you do have anything to submit – please help by getting it to me as soon as you can in the month, rather than on deadline day (or past it!). Rob McNeill - 17 Main Street - 565997 rob.mcneill@yahoo.co.uk Content deadline
18 May 15 June 20 July 17 August 14 September 19 October 16 November 14 December
Cover date
June July August September October November December January
Find Programs Here’s a quick way to find the folder that a program has been installed in. Locate a shortcut for the program, whether on the Desktop or in the Start menu, right-click on it and leftclick on Properties in the menu that appears. The location of the program is shown in the ‘Target’ text box, or you can click on ‘Find Target’ underneath to open a Windows Explorer window showing that folder.
IT Tips for May
Take a Shortcut Learn some shortcuts to save you time…. As well as the usual Ctrl and S to save and Ctrl and O to open files try out some of the following: Cut and paste a selected area: Highlight the area you want to cut and then press Ctrl, X, move to where you want the text and then press Ctrl and V. Copy and paste a selected area: Highlight the area you want to cut and then press Ctrl, C, move to where you want the text and then press Ctrl and V. Rotate an image: Ctrl and R. Continue pressing Ctrl and R to rotate a further 90° Zoom in and out: (photos, internet etc.) Ctrl and – or Ctrl and + Toggle between open images: Ctrl and Tab
Ashley with Weston-byWelland W.I.
May, 7.30pm - Resolutions
Our well attended April meeting on Picture Framing presented us with somewhat of a challenge. Little did we realise that we would be required to put our new found picture framing knowledge to practical use quite so soon. Julie Chapman and her husband had brought along a range of equipment and after a demonstration and a little educating, the members were put into two groups and each group was required to frame a picture. We won’t be establishing our own businesses just yet, but the session was totally practical, our framing efforts were commendable and the whole evening was great fun. Malvina Keach will be attending our Resolutions evening on May 6th, where we hope to see as many of our members as possible. One date for the diary to pencil in, the next walk will be on May 30th with the destination to be announced at the May meeting.
Coffee Morning
This months Coffee morning is on Monday 18th May in the Village Hall, Margaret Prince and Brenda Bishop are on hostesses. Look forward to seeing you all there. We are still looking for volunteer helpers, please contact Brenda on 565476 if you are willing to give a couple of hours three times a year. Brenda Bishop
Ashley Parish Council Committee
The next Parish Council Meeting will be on May 11th at 7.30pm. This will be followed by The Annual Village Meeting commencing between 8.00 and 8.30pm. All villagers interested in the welfare of our village are urged to attend. Subjects likely to be discussed include: FUNDING Kettering Borough Council are commencing a review of the funding of Parish Councils. At present we receive a direct annual grant from KBC, but this could be changed to funding by precept, a separate charge on your rates bill. Your views are welcome. LAND ALLOCATION Kettering Borough Council are consulting on the North Northamptonshire Local Development Framework Site Specific Proposals Local Development Document Issues Paper. Or in plain English, the allocation of land for housing, employment, retail, etc. This could affect our village boundary and future development of Ashley. Your views are welcome. HAVE YOUR SAY If you have any other matters which you wish to be discussed at either meeting, please advise Bill Swaney (Chairman) or Louise Jessop (Clerk) as soon as possible so they may be added to the agenda published a week before the meeting.
Reminder on past points:
VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT The document describes the village and its buildings through the villagers' eyes and also sets out the village's views on matters potentially affecting it such as planning, traffic, street lighting, street furniture and character of the village. A copy of can be provided by the Council's Clerk (Louise Jessop 565993) or visit the Kettering Borough Council website or Ashley website for a link http://www.kettering.gov.uk/site/scripts/download_info.php?fileID=1455 DIRECTORY OF LOCAL ‘COMPETENCIES’ If anyone has a business, hobby or talent that they think could usefully be advertised to villagers please let either Chairman Bill Swaney or Clerk Louise Jessop know. If we have sufficient takers, we will draw up a list for inclusion in the Newsletter, the village welcome letter, website or similar. PUMPS AND WELLS The Council noted that water runs right through the village and that there are a number of wells and pumps in the village, although we do not know where they all are. If you have a well or pump on your property, would you please contact Bill or Louise and let us know. SMARTWATER No takers for this yet! Get in touch with Louise Jessop to try out this free of charge security measure for possessions. VIGILANT DOG OWNERSHIP A request was received for dog owners to please be solicitous in determining whether to let their dogs off the lead on public footpaths in the village.
ANNUAL VILLAGE MEETING
The Annual Village Meeting will take place on Monday 11th May 2009 at 8pm at the Village Hall. We will report in next month's newsletter on proposed topics for discussion. All are welcome – and any issues to be raised should be directed to Louise Jessop or Bill Swaney in advance please.
Village Hall News
Gardeners Question Time A belated thank you to Ian and Veronica Carlton for organising another successful (some have said it was even better than last time) event. It was a success both socially and financially with over £250 profit being made. Well done Ian. Events During the Easter holidays Oundle Cinema were here to show Ratatouille (U). Early indications are that this film will be well supported but will not be as popular as Mamma Mia. Our next event will be a Children’s play on Friday June 5 at 6-30pm. Presented by Tutti Frutti “If only the lonely were home” – see opposite for full details ! 150 CLUB At time of writing this item, collection of subscriptions will hardly have started but thanks in advance to all those who will have subscribed. Anyone wishing to join the 150 Club or to get an extra card for that new baby etc should contact Margaret Richold (565968). Thank you all for your continuing support of the Village Hall in this way.
Got something for the newsletter? Don’t hang on to it! Please get it to me as soon as possible. Deadline for content 18 May Send to rob.mcneill@yahoo.co.uk or post at 17 Main Street.
Ashley Village Hall
Friday June 5 at 6.30pm.
Presented by Tutti Frutti productions “If only the lonely were home” is a magical play for children aged 4-7 about a child who needs to be persuaded to join in.
Lonely hasn’t been seen for a long time. His house stands quiet and he won’t come out. Everyone brings to his doorstep the things they love; a photo of the wind, a song you sing in cars, a feeling of ferris wheels, some lightning in a jar. Lonely is ignoring them all. But one girl stands at his door and won’t go away…
This haunting play is being shown in our region only at The Curve Leicester and YES here in Ashley by the very same group!! Doors will open at 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start. Tickets cost £5 for adults, £3.00 for under 16s FAMILY ticket (2adults and 2 children) for just £10
Tickets from Adrian Forsell (565410), Louise Jessop (565993), Andrea Knox (565255), Julie Nottingham (565393) or Margaret Richold (565968).
Crafty Corner
Paper Weaving All you need is: strips of paper, glue or double sided tape, scissors and a base sheet of paper What to do:
Place a strip of tape or glue along the top of the base sheet. Stick one end of a paper strip to the glue, starting at one edge so that the strip lies on top of the paper. Continue sticking strips along the top until you reach the opposite edge. Ensure that each strip does not overlap – this is your warp and weaving is difficult if the strips overlap. Once the warp is complete, choose a strip of paper to weave over and under each of the vertical strips. Move it up the warp as near to the glued ends as possible. Take another strip and weave under and over - the opposite of the previous strip (the weft). Continue until base sheet or warp strips are covered. Finish by glueing strips along each edge of the woven papers as a border, trim away any excess paper.
TOP TIPS for creating different effects:
add texture with handmade, metallic, sugar or painted paper and cellophane vary edging of strips by tearing the paper use a vary of widths for the strips including shredded or quilling paper leave gaps between the strips so that the base colour can be seen underneath try cutting up cards or gift wrapping paper for a variety of colour
How did you do? Did you experiment with different materials? Take a photo and send it to the editor! Wendy Bowkett at Not Just - The Paddocks.
Church news
EASTER FLOWERS in CHURCH
Many thanks to Sarah Wright for organising lots of helpers to decorate the church for Easter. With all the donations of greenery and cut flowers, the church looks beautiful and as the arrangements are quite different, it is worth calling in to look around – no charge!!
The Bells!
Bell ringing is every Wednesday from 7.30 to 9.00 pm. We rotate the ringing days around the benefice. The first Wednesday in the month is Stoke Albany, the second is Weston, the third is Ashley and the 4th is Wilbarston. This means that Ashley villagers can take a stroll up to the church and have a go on 20 May, 17 June, 15 July, 19 August….etc… It’s a good opportunity to meet other villagers, get excellent and rewarding instructions and I’m also told it is a good upper-body workout for those who are looking to trim and tone. If there is a 5th Wednesday in the month we add in a new church. It’s a good mental break from a hard day, give it a try!
Steve Castens (not pictured)
CONGRATULATIONS TO Geoffrey and Annette Whittaker, who celebrated their GOLDEN WEDDING in early April. Best wishes to Albert Stanton who is in St. Luke’s hospital, recovering from a fall on Easter Saturday. We hope you are better very soon, Albert. From the records - The funeral of Mrs. Loake of Medbourne, previously of “Yeomans”, Ashley, was held on 9th March and the burial of cremated remains was held on 22nd April 2009. Sincere sympathy is extended to her family. THANKS FROM THE PCC to Sarah Wright who served on the PCC as soon as she arrived in Ashley nine years ago. Sarah is no longer a PCC member but is continuing to help with flowers and is a Eucharistic assistant.
PCC secretary’s report for APCM
on Wednesday 15th April 2009
PCC meetings
We have had four meetings since the last APCM – 19th May 2008, 7th July 2008, 8th October 2008 and 2nd February 2009. The year since March 2008 until today has seen many events: Once again, VERY MANY THANKS TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR HELP AND ENTHUSIASM FOR THE FUNDRAISING FOR RAISE THE ROOF. Special mention has to go to Ros Swaney, our churchwarden, who has just ‘got on’ with endless form filling, meetings and simply ensured the work and fundraising was carried out. But we are a team and everyone knows the part they have played. Thank you.
The fundraisers for the year were:
19th April – plant and second hand sale in Church and churchyard 10th May – Ashley’s got talent evening in the village hall. 14th June – BBQ and sing along evening at Garden House 13th November – Christmas bazaar in the Church 5th December – Christmas drinks in Kerry’s barn
The village was thanked for the fundraising for Raise the roof with ‘thank you tea’ in the church on 11th January 2009.
General events in church life to be noted:
11th May – picnic at the Manor after the benefice Pentecost service 11th June – confirmation service in St Mary’s Ashley 14th September – Bell festival in Ashley to celebrate the new spider installed for safely securing the bell ropes 12th October – Harvest festival with family service followed by family lunch at the village hall. 18th December – Nine lessons and carols service with Market Harborough choir
24th December – the popular 4pm children’s nativity service. Daphne Plunkett’s bequeath to St Mary’s Ashley has allowed us to have built a very handsome and useful cupboard to assist with coffees after church services. This has been hand crafted using redundant pews and is a welcome addition to the church. Do come and admire it.
Helpers and rotas
Many people help towards the smooth running of the church. A big thank you to Ray Prince who has been tireless in his church improvements this last year Also to Ann Dancer, who continues to support very actively the church running smoothly Geoffrey Whittaker and Albert Stanton likewise Tricia Brooks will be missed and the PCC will ensure a note is sent to her in her new abode. Rita Berry kindly steps in to be church keyholder
Many thanks to ALL of you who help with:
Flowers in the church Opening the church Cleaning the church Churchyard tidying, planting and ongoing maintenance Sidesmen, readers, sacristan, coffee makers, bell ringers.
Thank you
to the village hall committee for their support of church activities to the parish council for their financial help to the pub for their support to Rob the newsletter editor and to Norma Simpkin and Margaret Richold for distributing the newsletter around the village. To David Chadwick for helping quickly with dramas
Donations
Thanks to the generosity of our congregations at special services throughout this past APCM year, £1000.00 was donated to charities outside the parish.See details in the accounts. Nicky Ramdsen April 2009
The Vicarage Wilbarston
Dear All May is a good month – 2 bank holidays! The first is the pre-Christian May Day, with its traditions of Maypole and Morris dancing and the crowning of a Queen of the May – Christianity did try to take it over by making it one of the many days that celebrate the Virgin Mary, but to be honest it has remained largely pagan! In the last century it also became Labour Day. The other Bank Holiday was originally Christian in origin, Whitsun (White Sunday), the 7th Sunday (50th day) after Easter, also known as Pentecost was and is a major celebration in the Christian calendar, and so folk got the Monday off to recover from their celebrations! Sadly the holiday has now got detached from Whitsun, which moves date each year with Easter, and the Bank Holiday now just falls on the last Monday in the month. A shame really as it means that Whitsun/Pentecost no longer gets the attention it once did, but it remains a vital date that should be marked as it is the festival when Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost is regarded as the birthday of the Christian church, and the start of the church's mission to the world (see Acts 2). This year Whitsun/Pentecost is on Sunday 31st May and we are having a joint ‘birthday party’ with our friends in the Gretton benefice. Do come and join us! Revd Sally Hughes
On Sunday 31st May Our 5 Churches are having a joint celebration of Pentecost/Whitsun With our friends in the Gretton benefice
There will be a Special Service at 10.30am at St Mary Magdalene, Cottingham. With Rona Orme, the Diocesan Children’s Missioner and our very own Praise Band And afterwards there will be a Picnic in the lovely garden of Vine House, 37 Main Street, Middleton, to which all are welcome.
St Mary the Virgin - Church Services
May 2009
3
rd
No service in Ashley. Benefice Services – 9am Communion at Weston 10.30am Family Service at Wilbarston 7pm Compline at Stoke Albany 10.30am Family Communion with Rev. Sally Hughes Sidesmen – Isabel Castens, Louise Jessop Readers – Louise Jessop 6pm Evensong with Rev. Sally Hughes Sidesmen – A.Stewart, A. Dancer Readers – A. Stewart, S. Stanton 7.30pm Ascension Day Communion at Stoke Albany 9am Communion with Rev. Sally Hughes Sidesmen – T. Brook Readers – G. Whittaker PENTECOST 10.30am JOINT BENEFICE FAMILY COMMUNION AT COTTINGHAM followed by lunch/picnic – contact Sally for details
ORGANISTS for the service on the 10th, Alison Wiley; on 17th Brian Dancer and on 24th Mary Meikle FLOWERS – 3rd & 10th – Mrs. R. Sadler; 17th & 24th – Mrs. A. Morgan CHURCH CLEANING – Rita Berry, Barbara Lucas, Brenda Bishop, Sarah Wright COFFEE will be served after the service on the 10th – Nicky Ramsden
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17
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21 24
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31
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Benefice Events, Spring & Summer 2009
Stoke Albany with Wilbarston and Ashley with Weston-by-Welland and Sutton Bassett
Date 16th May 2pm 6th June 7th June 1pm 4/5th July 19th Sept Church Weston & Sutton Stoke Albany Ashley Wilbarston Wilbarston Event Garden Fete at Weston Family Barn Dance Open gardens etc. Flower festival and cream teas in church String Quartet Concert Contact Sheila Southwell 01858 565879 Katherine Malin 01858 535291 Claire Bowles 01858 565758 Sarah Peak 01536 772381 Sarah Peak 01536 772381
Diary Dates
April 2009
See inside for more details
Bell Ringing, Every Wednesday 7.30 – 9.00 (Ashley 3rd Weds) Mobile Library (2.00pm Village Hall), 5 & 28 May Ashley & Weston By Welland WI, 6 May Newsletter copy deadline, 18 May ** Coffee Morning, 18 May Parish Council Committee meeting, 11 May Annual Village Meeting, 11 May Kerry & crew breast cancer fundraising, 16 May Launde Abbey Spring Fair, 25 May 5-Churches Pentecost & Whitsun event, 31 May Children’s play (Village Hall), 5 June Ashley Open Gardens, 7 June Flower Festival, Wilbarston, 4 & 5 July String Quartet Concert, Wilbarston, 19 September Historic Churches Ride & Stride, 12 September Family Fun Day, Hallaton, 12 September
** Got something for the newsletter? Don’t hang on to it! Please get it to me as soon as possible. Send to rob.mcneill@yahoo.co.uk or post at 17 Main Street