Pause for Though from Parish Priest: Canon Margaret Venables
The Rectory, Barnack, Stamford, Lincolnshire. PE9 3ET

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PARISH CHURCHES - WEEKLY SET SERVICES & EVENTS:
All are welcome at any of our Services.

Morning Prayer will be said at 8.30 am at St John’s Barnack on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and on Thursday at 7.00am.

A Service of Prayer for Peace and Justice will be said in St Mary’s Bainton at 9.00am on Tuesdays, followed by coffee.

Prayer Group: Mondays 6-6.00pm Ufford Church

Children’s Church: Children’s Church meets on the 1st, 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month, during the service. Children of all ages are most welcome.

Family Services: A Family Service is held in St John’s Barnack on every 3rd Sunday. This service is specially for families and their children and is not a communion service.

Church Mice: Time for small children to meet with their parents / carers in St John’s Church on Mondays during term time 2.00pm – 3.00pm

So you would like to be married in Church?
Barnack, Bainton and Ufford churches are always willing to welcome anyone who wishes to married in their church. Unfortunately there are some legalities that have to be met – but there are also some ways around them!
If you live in any of the parishes you are entitled to be married in your church. If you do not live in the parish or have been previously married then you will need to have a conversation with the Parish Priest, but neither of these is necessarily a bar to the marriage taking place. Please do not consult anyone else as only the Parish Priest can make a decision.
It is a good idea to have a date in mind before you approach the Priest. Reception venues are often harder to book than the church.
Please do not be put off by the fact that you might not have been to church for a long time. The church is there for everyone, not just the Sunday congregation – and we love happy events!
If you are considering being married in one of our churches please ring Canon Margaret Venables 01780740234

Invitation - It Isn’t What You Think
We would like to start something new at St Andrew’s. Please help us to make this a success by joining us on Sunday April 13th at 9.15am for muffins and fresh coffee and an opportunity for informal worship designed for people of all ages. This will involve music, a bible story and activities for children. We plan to make this a regular event, Please join us
Yoga for the Over 60s
Spaces are still available in the Yoga for the over 60’s class held Tuesdays 2-3.30pm at Ufford Village Hall.
This class is suitable for all abilities. Phone Ann: 01780 749018 for details.

Barnack Church Fete – 22nd June
You will have read in last month’s Parish News that this year the Summer Fete is to be held in Walcot Hall Gardens.
As usual I shall be running the plant stall but would be very grateful if any green-fingered people out there would grow some extra plants or, if splitting perennials, plant up a pot or two which then could be sold at this event.
If you have any queries please contact me on 740387. June Graham

Women Connect
The next meeting will be on Thursday April 17th at the home of Janet Duff, Barnack. New members are always welcome.
The Acres Garden fete
The Acres Garden fete will be held in Barnack on 12 JULY 2008 .

Village Ladies’ Group
On the 26th February The Village Ladies’ Group had a meal at the Bluebell Helpston. A thank you to Frieda Gosling for organising an enjoyable evening.
Our next meeting will be on the 25th of March and it is our A.G.M, to start the evening Carol Hughes will come and talk about Anna’s Hope, we will then present Carol with our contribution as Anna’s Hope was our charity for the year. The A.G.M will then follow, it is usually quite brief. The meeting starts at 7.45pm at Ufford Village Hall and you are welcome to join us.
Tuesday the 22nd of April will be Dr Gail Glynn telling us about her experiences of tackling a Marathon and we look forward to an interesting and enlightening evening, please come and join us at Ufford Village Hall at 7.45pm.
Tuesday the 27th of May will be a return visit of Ian Jones the title of his talk will be “Blunders in History” (Prohibition), we meet at Ufford Village Hall at 7.45pm, again you are welcome to join us.

Barnack WI Meetings
How many people of a “certain age” would admit to saying “I didn’t like History at school”? A good proportion of the ladies of Barnack WI felt this statement could have been made by them. However, after an entertaining evening with “Mr Jones”, most members commented that had he been their history teacher, things would have been very different. Ian Jones taught history at Eastholme School for 38 years and he certainly captured the attention of the 30 plus class of WI ladies on a cold frosty Tuesday evening. Ian explained how history teaching has changed over the years and demonstrated the tools used to bring the subject alive to modern youngsters. Mr Jones received a resounding 10 out of 10 from the WI for his extremely interesting and captivating presentation in February.
Before the talk, June Graham presided over the brief business end of the meeting, opening with the now customary amusing anecdote. Sheila Berrill updated members on the production of a banner which is being designed and made by the WI for the use of Barnack Primary School children to take to services in churches or the Cathedral.
A visit to Harewood House is planned for 20th May and there are still spaces available. Anyone interested in going on this trip (you don’t have to be a WI member), please contact Sue Jarman as soon as possible.
The evening concluded, as usual, with cups of tea and of course the traditional WI spread of delicious savouries and home made cakes.
The March meeting wass held on Tuesday 11th March when Group Captain Atherton gave a fascinating and though-provoking talk on “Mutual Community Support”. Visitors wishing to attend any of the WI meetings will be assured of a very warm welcome.

Barnack WI
We are running a coach trip to Harewood House, leaving Barnack at 8.30am on Tue 20th May. The House has Robert Adam interiors, an outstanding Art collections and Himalayan gardens with waterfalls & a Bhutanese Stupa, a lakeside bird garden & the Parterre Terrace etc. If you would like to join us please contact Mrs S Jarman 01780 740104
The Buttercross Club
Our March meeting was a bit of a brain-teaser. A thorough knowledge of London tube stations was required in order to decipher 50-odd cryptic clues and anagrams and arrive at the answers – some of which were stations in the far-flung reaches of the District and Metropolitan lines, not to mention some new unheard of stations in east London ! However, some London A-Zs had been smuggled in but the Chairman turned a blind eye so the evening was a good team-building exercise and was much enjoyed by all. (The evening had been planned as a talk on Reiki but had to be rescheduled).
At our next meeting on Wednesday, 2nd April there will be a talk about the NSPCC’s work in Peterborough. We hope you’ll come along at 7.45pm to the Reading Room for what promises to be an engaging talk about a very worthwhile cause. JJ

Barnack Pre-School
Barnack Pre-School is enjoying a very busy and successful year.
The recent OFSTED report was very positive with Pre-School achieving an “outstanding” rating for three out of the five assessed categories and “good” for the other two categories. We are one of only two early years settings in Peterborough to be awarded an “outstanding” rating for the category “helping children to achieve well and enjoy what they are doing.”
The success is due to dedicated and experienced staff, supported by parents.
There are currently 26 local children, aged from 2 years 6 months, attending. Pre-School provides an excellent opportunity for children to mix with other children and adults, to learn through play and to gain confidence and independence prior to starting their formal school education.
Pre-School is situated in the grounds of Barnack School but is a charitable organisation, independent from the school.
If you are interested in registering your child or would like more information, please contact the Senior Supervisor, Mrs Fenn by writing to her at Barnack Pre-School School Road Barnack Stamford LINCS PE9 3DZ. Alternatively parents are welcome to call in during school term time, when Pre-school is open between 9 am and 12noon, Monday to Friday.
Barnack Community Association
The AGM of the Barnack Community Assoc. will be held in the Village Hall on Thursday 15th May 2008 at 7.30p.m.
All the associations using the Hall are invited to send an annual report to the Secretary, Fiona West, Lea Cottage, School Lane, Barnack, to be read out at this meeting.
Words of thanks
Michael, Angela, Sue, Pete and Joanna would like to thank everyone who joined us for the lovely funeral service for our mother, Lena Grant.
Thank you also to the Vicar and Rev. Mayhew for their contribution which was very much appreciated.
Sincere thanks for the donation for the church. Michael and Angela.
Barnack Methodist Chapel
Many thanks for your support for our March Coffee Morning which raised £130.24. Our next one will take place on Saturday 5 April at the usual time of 10 am to 11 am. Please come and join us.
On Thursday, 10 April, instead of our social afternoon we will be holding another special service with a difference at 2.15 pm. It will include prayers for healing and as last time it will be led by Rev Heather Walker. Do come and join us if you can.
The Friends of Barnack Church
The Friends of Barnack Church have been helping to conserve the fabric of our wonderful church for 22 years. If you would like to consider becoming a “Friend”
or if you would like to join our 200 Club please speak to John Ward (740016), Ian Graham (740387) or Liz Young (740347).
The winners of the February draw were:
£20.00 Mrs. M. Farka No. 46
£10.00 Mr. M. Harley No. 186
£5.00 Canon C. Mayhew No. 27

Royal British Legion
The Branch’s Annual Winter Supper was attended on January 21st by a record turnout of 85 members and their guests in the village hall. Guest speaker, the Reverend Canon Donald Gray CBE TD, gave an amusing talk on the ‘Westminster Village’ from his days there when he was honorary Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons and also a Queen’s chaplain arising out of his service with the Territorial Army in London and Lancashire.
Later in February, Major Guy Porter of the Intelligence Corps gave an illustrated lecture to 50 members on the operation of RAF and USAAF unmanned Predator Spy Planes supporting our forces in Afghanistan. Controlled from a joint Anglo-American base 7,500 miles away in Las Vegas, this was an amazing insight into the way modern warfare will be developing in the future.
The RAF Section of Stamford School CCF has applied to join the Legion as an affiliate member to mark its close association with the Barnack Branch at Remembrance and other ceremonies in recent years. We have been promised a trumpeter for the next November Memorial Service.

Mrs E M Joyce - 1912-2008
An Appreciation
Few people are remembered with such affection. appreciation and respect as”Mrs Joyce” Peg to her friends, “Nanny “ to her large family. Her influence for good in the community was second to none. Born Ethel Margaret Hoad in Surrey in 1912, she had two brothers. The children went to Bainton School where Peg became a pupil teacher, much loved by the “infants” in her care. In the early thirties, Peg met and married Charlie Joyce from a farming family in Ashton, working at the time as a mechanic in Peterborough. They could not afford to marry until he was earning 12/6 a week. They moved to Cooks Farm Ashton and were the proud possessors of a Baby Austin car. T hey farmed together, sharing the work when possible. keeping cows in a shed attached to the end of their house. They worked long and hard hours whilst bringing up four lovely children. The latter all went to Barnack school to which they walked daily and from which they all progressed to good jobs.
When the children started work Mrs Joyce took on the Bainton Post Office and shop from the Ward family. Many of todays inhabitants remember the regular visits to buy sweets from the tall jars on the shelves, collecting them in small triangular paper bags with the additional adventure of crossing the road! Peg , Charlie and the whole family were pillars of the community, loved by all, taking part in every aspect of village life. When widowed, Peg moved to Stamford, near the football ground and in later years was the owner of a somewhat eccentric buggy in which she enjoyed her freedom exceeding buggy speed limit! Peg was indeed a great lady and a fine example to us all. We are lucky to have known her, she is sadly missed.

Barnack Carpet Bowls Club
The Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 17th April 2008 at 7.pm prompt, and will be followed by a Fish & Chip Supper. Please add your name to the list on the Notice Board if you wish to have supper.

Parish Council Notices

SmartWater
SmartWater is a colourless liquid solution that can be dabbed into the nooks and crannies of your personal possessions such as jewellery, ornaments and electrical items as well as items in your motor vehicles.
Each bottle carries a unique chemical ‘code’ which is registered to your address. It cannot be easily seen by the naked eye and is almost impossible to remove. The liquid glows under ultra violet light – allowing the police to identify the true owner of the property and whether it has been stolen. As the police routinely scan recovered property for SmartWater, criminals know about it and fear its power to forensically link them with the scene of a crime.
By coding your valuables and displaying SmartWater deterrent signs in your windows, you are sending out a powerful and long-standing warning to any thieves operating in your area. Each SmartWater kit has a unique reference number that will be registered to one address.
For further advice and help, please contact Carol Ashton at Cambridgeshire Constabulary on either 01733 424417
or 0845 456 456 4
or at carol.ashton@cambs.pnn.police.uk.

Quiet Lanes in Ashton
Under the Transport Act 2000 local authorities are able to designate roads for which they are responsible as “Quiet Lanes” and on 10 March the roads in Ashton were selected for this category by Peterborough City Council. They are the first ones in the region and will undoubtedly add to the appeal and attractiveness of our area.
Quiet Lanes are designed to enable all users to enjoy country lanes in greater safety and encourage car drivers to respect more vulnerable road users. Ashton is a hamlet with a single track road, linking in with the Torpel Way and thus encourages walkers, cyclists and horse riders to make use of its tranquil setting.
It is hoped that entering our Quiet Lanes will encourage traffic to drive slowly and courteously and help to promote a more tranquil rural environment. Quiet Lanes are about appreciating the beauty and tranquillity of country lanes rather than travelling along them from A to B as quickly as possible.
By helping to protect the character and tranquillity of the countryside from traffic, designated Quiet Lanes play a valuable role in improving the quality of life. They make country lanes feel safer, pleasant and less intimidating to pedestrians, pram pushers, dog walkers, cyclists, horse riders and all who enjoy them. They give equal rights to all road users and reclaim the tranquillity and local character.
Please help to achieve these aims by driving slowly and carefully through the village and enjoying a stress-free journey.

Barnack Parish Council Report
The March meeting of Barnack Parish Council took place on Monday 10 March when five councillors, PC McCallum, Cllr Over, the Clerk and five members of the public were present.
A further letter will be sent to Lincolnshire County Council requesting a filter light at the end of Water Street. Glass can now be recycled in the green bins. A website giving ideas on how to act to help keep our Post Office open can be found at www.postofficeclosures.org.uk .There will be a full election for Barnack Parish Council on 1 May this year. Planning applications were discussed for the demolition of an existing garage, and for a new single storey extension at 34 Uffington Road, Barnack, and for replacement outbuildings at Holly Cottage, Wittering Road, Barnack. PC McCallum requested that residents keep him informed of any door-to-door salesman that call, with details of the time and date they visited, details of the company they are representing and any description of the person, uniform and vehicles. Reports should be made by e-mail to norman.mccallum@cambs.pnn.police.uk or on 0845 456 456 4. Residents should also be aware that there have also been thefts from substations and reports of distraction burglaries. Please report any suspicious incidents immediately. The development of the Airey House site was again discussed. The council have had meetings with the planning officer, the conservation officer and with David Wilson Homes, who are anxious to listen to all parties concerned. It was felt that the Airey House development site should not have features within it, but meld in as part of the whole village. It was suggested that attractively designed cottages could be arranged as closed vistas to draw the eye rather than three storey houses. Please note that next month’s meeting will be held on Monday 14 April and will follow the Village Assembly which will commence at 7.00 pm. All are welcome to attend. The full minutes of the meeting are displayed on the notice boards in both Barnack and Pilsgate.

Bainton & Ashton Parish Council
Your Councillors are: Chris Agnew (chair) Tel. 740007, Andy Totten (740381), Judith Morrice (740865) Zena Coles (740550) and Jane Franks (740004). All were at the meeting except for Andy Totten, who was out of the country. David Over, City Councillor also attended.
First the good news: The promised weight restriction on the B1443 should be in force after Easter, which should cut out some of the heavy lorries thundering through the villages. The bulb planting appears to be a great success - some bulbs have been a bit slow coming through in the first year, but the villages look great. We hope to put some more in during the autumn!  We will soon have a display plaque showing the recommended walks through the villages. Torpel Manor site has been bought by new owners who have offered it to the Langdyke Countryside Trust who, if they can raise the funds, will manage it for the benefit of the community. Plans are afoot, but those who walk through the site will see a considerable difference already!   Also, we can now put our glass bottles into our green bins, and save the pollution our cars cause going to the bottle bank! Finally, Bainton Green Road is now officially a Quiet Lane! One of the first in the East Midlands, as you may have heard on the radio. What this means is that pedestrians, horses, cars all have equal priorities, and traffic should go slower-and quieter!
Now the not-so-good news: We are still hitting brick walls trying to solve the problems of overcrowding on the railway crossings at Lolham, and also the problems of cars overtaking through the bus lay-by in Bainton. Both of these situations are highly dangerous and road users should be aware to take special care. Peterborough City Council have been advised many times and due to their inaction, we are planning a letter to our MP. We will keep you informed about both of these long running sagas.
Next meeting includes the annual meetings and will be on 6th May 2008 at 7.15pm in the Reading Room.

Annual Parish Meeting
This is due to take place before the next Parish Council meeting on 6th May and will start soon after 7.15pm in the Reading Room. If you can never get to any other Parish Council meeting, try to get to this one! First, the Chairman gives a summary of what the Councillors have done during the previous year, then it’s your turn. If you have any ideas that could be done to improve the village, if you want to test the councillors on how they spend your money, if you want to congratulate the Councillors on what they have done (they are volunteers!) or just have a grumble, there is an Open Forum to do just that! No agenda, no holds barred! You don’t have to stop for the other meetings if you don’t want to! This is a once-a-year opportunity, so try to come along!

Want to be a Parish Councillor?
Councillors are elected for four year terms, and all our Councillors come up for re-election this year. All five of our Councillors are standing again, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept them!! If you are interested in putting your name forward, please keep an eye on the notice board. The pay’s not great (it’s a voluntary role!) but the benefits of serving your village offers rewards much greater than hard cash!

Green Bins
Our affection for the three wheelie bins we all have is now village folk lore! At least two poems have been written about them. Now the Green Bins are getting promoted - they will accept glass bottles and jars! Environmentalists have been concerned about the excessive number of journeys Bainton and Ashton residents have been making to bottle banks - is this because they are so informed about re-cycling, or just that they drink a lot? - but we can now put them all into our green bin!  Hope the bins are big enough!

Burning Bonfires
Some residents of Bainton and Ashton have been annoyed at the burning of bonfires at inconvenient times and in inconvenient places. If you are planning on lighting a bonfire, please consider the needs of your neighbours. If in doubt-ask!