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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 6.00pm Ufford Church
Children’s Church: Children’s Church meets on the 1st, 2nd and 4th Sun of every month, during the service. Children of all ages are 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.
Barnack W.I. October Meeting
In October we learned that the banner which was given to Barnack school by the W.I., having been made on our behalf by Margaret Broadbelt with carrying pole and stand by Brian Dailey, is to be dedicated in November by Bishop Frank. We received thanks from the Horticultural Show committee for our catering contribution to a successful event. Our speaker for the evening was our friend and fellow member Marie Harris. Marie told us of her experiences as an evacuee during the Second World War. She lived in several places in this area, but latterly in Stamford. Having left London at the start of the war to avoid the blitz, she returned home just in time to encounter the devastating V1 and V2 bombs! Her talk was most interesting, at times most amusing, at others very moving. Marie encouraged us to ask questions, and some other members shared their own reminiscences. These may well be added in a more formal way to our “D” day project of wartime memories. Marie was thanked by Mary Boyall. Our next meeting is on Tuesday November 10th, at 7.30 pm. Elizabeth Young.
Friends of Barnack Church.
Recent winners in the 200 Club were as follows:
August
£20 No. 169 Mrs. J. Graham
£10 No. 24 Mr. P. Smith
£5 No. 142 Miss A. Addison
September
£20 No. 186 Mr. M. Harley
£10 No. 43 Mrs. M. Brown
£5 No. 79 Mr. B. Davies
October:
£20 No. 90 Mr. & Mrs. Simmonds
£10 No. 9 Mrs M. Creswell
£5 No. 79 Mr. B. Davies
Barnack W.I. November Meeting.
There were special celebrations this month. First we had a group photograph, taken by Michael Jarman, of all our members. Then we welcomed our very special guest of honour, our founder member, Grace Elwood, who celebrates her ninetieth birthday this month. Grace was presented with cards and a birthday cake, which had been baked by Sandra Jones. During the business section we learned that our quiz team had won the recent autumn quiz, and that the school banner is to be dedicated by Bishop Frank at Barnack school on Thursday, November 26th, at 10.15am. All members are welcome to attend. Our speaker for the evening was Mr. Keith Simpson who told us about the Stamford Canal. This was constructed in the late sixteenth century and was possibly the oldest in the country. It was built to transport goods, mainly cloth, manufactured in Stamford, to the navigable part of the River Welland beyond Market Deeping. It fell into disuse after the coming of rail transport. After comments and questions Mr. Simpson was thanked by Maureen Groom. Our next meeting is our annual meeting and is on Tuesday, December 14th.
Baptist Church Youth Club
Youth Club will take place from 7-30 pm to 9-00 pm on Friday 27th November and Friday 11 December at Barnack Village Hall. Youth Club is open to all young people aged 11-16 in school years 7-11. Come along for fun, chat, tuck shop, craft, Wii, dance mat, table tennis, pool, air hockey and team games. You can join on the night. Subs 50p.
If you would like further information please contact Graham Dunn 749198 – Barnack Baptist Church. The first Youth Club in the New Year will be Friday 8 January.
‘I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue!’
By popular request – another antidote to pub quizzes! Come and enjoy a fun evening and blow away the January blues, at The White Hart, Ufford – Wednesday 20 January – 7pm for 7.30pm.
This year’s quiz is being run by Friends of Rutland Sailability and is based very loosely on the radio quiz show ‘I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue!’ Some knowledge of the format of the quiz might help – but do be prepared for anything! The evening - including refreshments - is sponsored by Ben Larter at The White Hart, and the proceeds will go to support Rutland Sailability – your local charity providing sailing for people with disabilities, on Rutland Water.
Teams of six are invited to join us and tickets cost £5 for each person. Numbers are restricted, so do book your tickets now – call Mike Baumber on (01780) 740289
We look forward to seeing you and your team on 20 January! Mike Baumber.
The Buttercross Club
Our November meeting saw us all in admiration at the skills shown by Janice Galbraith from Sugar Sensations. Her work was a delight in floral sugar creativity; she made the construction of a rose for cake decoration appear so simple but it was not as easy as those of us who attempted to replicate her work later found out. We were very grateful to Janice as she had taken time out from her busy schedule in preparation for her stand at the Wedding Show at Burghley House. She created such an interesting and challenging evening.
At our next meeting on Wednesday, 2nd December at 7.30pm we will hear about the work of the Evergreen Trust who do so much good work in Stamford.
Our Christmas Party, which usually takes place at the December meeting, has been moved to join in with the Bainton Pub night on Friday 11 December at the Granary Barn at Manor Farm. All members and family are welcome. RY
Village Ladies Group
On Tuesday the 27th of October Elaine Ward gave a delightful and interesting talk on her wonderful family holiday in Shanghai.
Tuesday the 24th of November will be our Advent evening, we start at 7pm for 7.15pm at Ufford Village Hall, on arrival there will be a free glass of mulled wine or juice and a finger buffet, if you have any particular Xmas fare that you would like to bring please feel welcome to do so, it need only be a small taster. Wine will be on sale for £1.50 a glass or £6 a bottle. There will be a brief interval with mince pies and coffee.
The pantomime team will be unable to perform this year but we have Peter as an after dinner speaker, there will be a collection of poems and readings and Mike Baumber and Peter will perform a Flanders and Swann number, Ray Jarvis, on the organ will accompany our carol singing, an evening not to be missed, please bring friends along and guests are very welcome, men included. There will be no entry fee, raffle tickets will be a £1 a strip and we will have a donation box all proceeds will go to our charity East Anglian Air Ambulance.
On Tuesday the 28th of January a representative of Shaws Coaches will come and give a talk on their company, the evening starts at 7.45pm
This will be at Ufford Village Hall, and with 2010 on our doorstep this should be an interesting evening. Guests are welcome.
We do not have a meeting in December as the date is too near Christmas.
We wish you all A Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for 2010.
Barnack Disco postponed
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Barnack Disco will now be held on Saturday, January 30th in the village hall.
Tickets will be on sale in the Post Office from Saturday,2nd January. Do mark this date in your next year diaries and come along to enjoy an evening of 1960s and 70s music and dancing. Fancy dress is welcomed but not essential. See you there!!!
Barnack Methodist Chapel
We would like to wish all those who have come along and supported our Coffee Mornings during 2009, a Happy Christmas and peaceful 2010. We are very grateful for all the support we receive.
Our final Coffee Morning of the year will be held on Saturday, 5 December at the usual time of 10.00 to 11.00 am and we look forward to seeing you. We shall also have some very attractive hand-made wooden items for sale which will make ideal Christmas gifts.
Our Carol Service will be on Sunday, 20 December at 2.45 pm, followed by mince pies, and you are assured of a warm room and a warm welcome
Wildlife News
Following the “Bugs` Life” meeting on September 28th and Zena’s article in Parish News, there has been a great surge of support for the proposal to create wildlife corridors within and between the villages in Barnack Ward. Frieda has already hosted 3 weekday “hedge meetings” and we have gone out and dated hedges. More such meetings will be arranged at weekends.
We know that many residents are making significant contributions in their gardens which are already attracting butterflies and bees as well as varied species of garden birds and hope that this will continue, but a number of people have said that they would also like to be involved in other ways.
Suggestions for 2010-12
• A meeting once a year, with a wildlife or conservation theme.
• Liaison with the Wildlife Trust so that there can be occasional meetings or workshops a , the topics to be chosen by all of us.
• Hedge surveys are seen as a top priority because hedges are such significant wildlife corridors, especially when combined with a County Wildlife Site verge and when they link nature reserves and woods. Some at present are laden with berries and will act as winter larders for numerous birds and small mammals, others have recently suffered their annual mutilation from the farmers and are no more than skeletons.
We can all be involved in identifying the native woody species and estimating the age of hedges. Those averaging 5 or more in a 30 metre section are described as species-rich and were in existence long before the fields were enclosed. Parish boundary hedges may date back to the Anglo-Saxon settlement of our countryside. Concentrating on the species-rich hedges, we could survey a whole parish. This would allow us to compare our findings with those of the Wildlife Trust in 2000-2001 and also to compare with earlier records held in Peterborough Museum.
Gapping up hedges is probably best left to farmers and parish councils because they can apply for funding for hedge planting, but we can all co-operate by identifying poorly managed hedges. Many farmers get payments from the Entry Level Stewardship scheme and we would like to be able to persuade them to aim for the Higher Level Stewardship which might include the conservation strip, the management of the hedge and the verge.
By working together as a group, pooling our expertise and co-ordinating the results of our surveys, we can collect evidence of both good and bad practice which will lead to improvements in hedge management and biodiversity in our Ward.
• Verge surveys, starting next May.
• Pond and wetland surveys. We have a number of natural ponds and drainage ditches in the Ward but little knowledge of their flora and fauna and ways of improving their management. Do we have an expert who could lead a survey group and make recommendations?
• Lists of sources of items such as bumblebee hotels and bird nesting boxes. Zena has a good DVD about bumblebees. Please let her know if you would like to borrow it.
• A guaranteed monthly or bi-monthly page in our parish newsletters, with a selection of contributors. We could include top tips for the garden, reports of birds seen in the garden, updates on surveys, notes about wildlife events attended or due the following month. This information could also be emailed to residents if they wished.
To achieve all our aims we need your support. Please contact your parish councillors with further suggestions or offers of help.
Ashton & Bainton: Z Coles 740550 Barnack: J Woollard 740276 Helpston: S Smith 01733 252903 Southorpe: N Lodge 07836 514675 Ufford: F Gosling 740343
Christmas Charity Concert
Christmas Starts here – get into the festive mood and join us in Barnack Village Hall at 8-00 pm on Wednesday 23rd December for the annual Charity Christmas Concert. This is a great night out, where you can enjoy a range of entertainment from the ‘Bainton Stand up Comedian’, to a Christmas Choir, to a tap dance routine. Comments from last year “You would not see better in the West End” – The Times, “Some of the acts are so bad that they are brilliant!” - The Guardian.. “The range of talent is breathtaking” – The Daily Telegraph. Or perhaps we were dreaming! Wine and Mince Pies are served at the interval. All proceeds go to charity. Tickets available from the Post Office £5.
Battle of Britain Wings Appeal
The amounts collected for the Appeal were Ashton £65.12, Bainton £154.27. Thank you to all who gave so generously. S Dalton & P Broster.
Junior Youth Club
Junior Youth Club will be on Friday 4th December from 7-00 pm to 8-30 pm at Barnack Village Hall. Junior Youth Club is open to young people aged 9-11 who are in school years 5 and 6. This is a taster session for when the children are old enough to attend regular Youth Club.
There will be a tuck shop and all the Youth Club games will be available. Just turn up (with a responsible adult who can sign you in) Subs 50p. For further information please contact Graham Dunn – Barnack Baptist Church 749198.
Little Lambs – Baby and Toddler Group
Little Lambs is open to all carers and children aged 0-5 years. We like babies – you don’t have to be a toddler to come! We meet each Tuesday at 10-00 am during term time in Barnack Village Hall, there are lots of toys and activities. There is a snack time including coffee and cakes for carers.
We will be holding the last session of term on Tuesday 15 December and starting again in the New Year on 5th January. Look out for the Little Lambs starring roles in the Community Nativity on Sun 20th December!
TNT
Our new group has now been established for a few weeks. We meet each Thursday from 10-30 to 12-00noon in the Village Hall for a chat, games and activities. There’s a lot to do if you are feeling active: table tennis, pool table, Wii (computer) games, crafts and board games or just sit and enjoy a friendly chat and cakes with coffee or tea. We’ll also have occasional local walks and some short talks and demonstrations, all depending on what the people who come along feel they would enjoy.
So as the winter months approach why not come and try out the new thing in Barnack. Open to men and women of any age, a warm welcome for everyone. £1 a week. TNT! is run by Barnack Baptist Church. Contact Julie Stanton 749123 .TNT is open to anyone who is young at heart.
Barnack Pre-School
The children have continued to enjoy the Autumn term at Pre-School. They were very excited to join the ‘big school’ children for the recent Harvest Assembly, singing a song they had spent several weeks practising.
They have also enjoyed a trip to Hills and Holes, exploring the area and looking out for different plants and creatures.
The Pre-School continues to follow the Forest Schools skills programme which aims to help children learn social, physical and educational skills using the garden as an outdoor classroom, and encouraging an appreciation and understanding of the environment.
Activities include everything from shelter construction and bridge building to artwork with natural materials – and of course, using sticks to stir imaginative mud pies!
It provides an excellent opportunity to bring learning to life, allowing children to explore and learn in a constructive way. The process increases self-confidence, self-esteem, improves the children’s ability to work co-operatively and counters a lack of motivation and negative attitude towards learning, while offering the opportunities to take risks, make choices and initiate learning for themselves, with the freedom to move around and make noise.
Continuing efforts to raise funds for a new Pre-School building, we hope to raise £1,000 in our annual Christmas Raffle. With a £100 John Lewis voucher as the top prize, as well as many other generously donated prizes from local businesses, we may be knocking on your door selling tickets during the next few weeks!
Barnack Pre-School: Tel: 01780 740265
Additional bus shelters for Barnack
I can’t help noticing with the winter weather now hitting us that we have a real need for two bus shelters by the cemetery along Bainton Road/Station Road in the village. I often notice many elderly villagers and young families huddled together in all weathers waiting for the hourly Delaine bus. Could those concerned with such matters take note?
A concerned villager
Christmas Coffee Morning
Saturday, Dec 19th 10:00 - 12 Noon
Come and join us for a festive coffee morning.
Enjoy mince pies, mulled wine, tea or coffee. There will be Christmas sales tables: gifts,
home-made cakes & preserves. Carols will be played for your entertainment
Organised by St John The Baptist Church, Barnack. Please come along and enjoy a festive morning. All welcome
BERNAK AND PILLESGATE An article by Brian Palmer
‘Bernak’ and ‘Pillesgate’ are the spellings used throughout a series of thirteenth and fourteenth century documents now available in a recently published volume*. The documents are charters and rentals detailing land grants and rents payable by villagers to Peterborough Abbey. For the year 1340 there is sufficient information for a limited picture to be formed of the villagers and their lives.
Many of the names listed tell us something of their occupations. So we find William the shepherd, Ralph Smith, Robert masoun, William carter, Peter skynnere (curer of skins), John coupere (barrel maker), Nicholas wodereve, Reginald Pynder (keeper of the pound) and Hugh baker.
Other names indicate the place of origin of the bearer. Among these are Henry of Helpst’, Eve of Wadenho, Robert of Eston, Emma of Talyngton, Matilda of Haddon, Thomas of Burgh, Roger of Burle, John of Northburg’ and Andrew of Glaston. A few names indicate a more distant origin: Thomas of Glinenden (Glendon), Bitte of Horbyngg (Horbling?), John of Bradden (Northants?), Alice of Quenton, John of Hynton, Roger of Carleton and Thomas of Brigham (Yorkshire). These locative names show that migration was not uncommon.
A few villagers had names showing where their dwellings stood – Richard at cross and John attehalle.
Some names refer to the bearer’s characteristic – Geoffrey Belle (good or fair), Robert Brightrede, Robert Richman, and Hugh White.
Other villagers’ names sound distinctly strange to the modern ear - Geoffrey Praci, Sewall Cak’, Richard Kydenot, Athelin Motte, Walter Edousa, Hugh Peckechese and John Cobbeto.
All these villagers and many others farmed land belonging to Peterborough Abbey, their rents being paid to the sacrist. Some of the villagers were freemen (sokemen) while others were serfs (villeins). Many held a virgate (24 acres) or half a virgate with their land scattered around the open fields. John Cobbeto’s 12 acre holding for example was divided into 13 strips, Henry Eston’s 24 acres into 33. A virgater typically paid 10 shillings (50p) rent a year but in addition had to perform a number of services on the land of the lord abbot, the demesne land. These services, required of all villagers, included ploughing using their own ploughs and beasts, harrowing, hoeing, reaping, making and carrying hay using their own carts and horses, carrying manure and mowing the demesne meadow. A further carrying service is described as follows;
This is that the serfs were due, from ancient servitude, to take the corn annually for one day from Pillesgate to Burgh or to carry turfs from the fen to the manor of Pillesgate with their carts and horses…
The abbey owned large stretches of the fens and the turfs (peat) were needed for winter fuel. Also classified as a service was the requirement to take one of the best sheep to the sacrist on St.Peter’s Day. Most curious was the service called merchet described as follows;
This is that the sokemen and serfs are due to pay for their daughters who are corrupted or deflowered, 5s. 4d.
As well as differences in land tenure, there were differences in wealth. John of Drayton of Barnack was one of the better off. He was clearly a man of status, being a witness to many of the charters. In 1339 he gifted pasture and a mill to John of Kyngebury. The charter says, ‘the mill is called le Lyngemylne’.
A charter of 1340 runs as follows;
To all the faithful in Christ to whom the present letters may come, John of Drayton of Bernak and Alice his wife, greeting in the Lord. May you know that we have granted to our lords the abbot and convent of Burgh St. Peter and to their successors, for the office of the sacrist, one annual rent of ten pounds to be gathered each year from all our lands and tenements in the vill of Bernak.
Also in 1340, John granted to the abbey … two mills with their suits, namely, one windmill and one water mill situated in the vill of Pillesgate.
The documents also carry references to roads and fields, unfortunately in most cases impossible to locate. However, some can be tied down. The road between Bernak and Badyngton (Bainton) is referred to as the royal way. The path that now runs alongside Walcot Park and the Hills and Holes up to Summerhouse Corner was known as Littledykegate. There were crosses, known as Walcotecross and Lambertcross, at each end of this path. Ermine Street was known as Langdike. The Hills and Holes, in those days a quarry, was called le Howes. Each open field had a name, such as Nab Field between Barnack and Pilsgate. Since the fields were so large, other names identified their various parts, even down to individual furlongs. Among scores of names are Ardelefurlong, le Middelfurlong, Sciterowethorn, Mikelcrowebek’ Schirfurlong and Caldepol.
This is a glimpse into the lives of the people of Barnack and Pilsgate in the year 1340, the thirteenth year of Edward III’s reign. In 1337 the king had led England into the Hundred Years’ War against the French and in 1340 had defeated them in the naval battle at Sluys. Later, in 1346, came victory at Crecy. To finance these campaigns the king borrowed money from Italian bankers, placed a duty on wool exports and taxed the population. For example, the tax levy of 1339 required the population to pay one fifteenth the value of their movable goods to the crown. Taxation, the burden of services and the vagaries of the weather must have made life precarious for many, particularly those with less than a half virgate. There had been famines in the early part of the 1330s when, after wet summers, harvests had failed and murrain had depleted livestock numbers. Then matters took a dramatic turn for the worse when, in 1349, the Black Death arrived in this area killing perhaps one third of the people.
* The Pilsgate Manor of the sacrist of Peterborough Abbey. Edited by M.E.Briston & T.M.Halliday. Northamptonshire Record Society 2009. Available from the Minster Precincts, Peterborough.
New Bishop of Peterborough
The next Bishop of Peterborough is to be the Ven. Donald Allister, currently Archdeacon of Chester. He succeeds the Rt Revd Ian Cundy, who died in May. He expects to take up his new post in the early spring of 2010.
Donald has wide experience of the Church of England. He was a choirboy and server in central and anglo-catholic parishes before ordination, and has served in evangelical parishes in both the north-west and the south-east. He is the Bishop of Chester’s adviser on healthcare chaplaincy, chair of Chester’s Houses and Glebe Committee, vice/acting chair of the Board of Education and DAC, and a member of General Synod and of the Council for Christian Unity.
Supporting the ordination of women (having once opposed the practice), he believes strongly in maintaining the unity of the Church of England.
Donald is married to Janice, a GP, and they have three grown up children. A full biography of him detailing his experience and his views is now available on the diocesan web site: www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk/people/donaldalister.htm
Are we all having a happy Christmas?
We all have a vision of what Christmas should be like. But too often, by trying to imitate this unrealistic ideal, we can end up disappointed. In turn, this can spark tension within the family, or personal frustration and despair.
Instead, decide what you want from Christmas and set yourself achievable goals. Try to stay within your comfort zone – financially, emotionally and socially.
For example, if your family can’t normally communicate without arguing, don’t expect Christmas to be an exception. Instead, arrange to see different family groups at separate times over the holiday, and perhaps make visits shorter to prevent quarrels from brewing.
If you feel you are losing control, or feel under pressure from other people’s expectations, you are experiencing early warning signs. Talking to a counsellor can help you re-establish what is important to you at this time of year, so that you can have a happy Christmas too. To find out more, visit www.philipboddey.com
More paws for thought! A light-hearted view from a local dog (walker)
I don’t have much time for reading. In fact, I rarely read at all. But the other day I found an old copy of Parish News and the article by the Vicar’s dogs interested me.
The folk I live with often take me to the Hills and Holes – though usually it is She who has the honour of accompanying me. He us usually ‘too busy’ to spend an hour or two in the most exciting landscape this side of the Amazon Jungle!
One of the things that really excites me about a visit to The Hills and Holes is the opportunity to meet others who are enjoying themselves there.
Everyone is keen to come up and introduce themselves and share the time of day in a most acceptable way. I have noticed that They, also, soon get into conversation with others, so long as We are there to make the introductions!
Funny, that. I often see Them walking around the town or the village, without so much as a ‘How do you do?’ as they pass in the street, yet when We are with them, there seems to be an excuse to natter and put the world to rights!
A pal of mine had been on holiday in France with The Family. What had impressed him most was the polite way everyone spoke to each other as they passed in the street. I understand it was a sort of greeting – ‘Bon Jour,’ or ‘Monsieur,’ or ‘Madam, or even
‘B’jour.’
My pal was so impressed by this friendliness between apparent strangers that he commented about it to his French host. “It’s not like this in England. People just ignore each other unless they have been previously introduced – and then you cannot rely on them recognising you.”
“Don’t kid yourself,” said his French host, “they don’t mean it. It’s just habit!”
Oh well, another great myth destroyed. But on second thoughts They could do well to talk to each other more often. We do when We meet in the Hills and Holes and that makes the day very enjoyable
Maybe I’ll write to you again, next month.
Time for bed before They catch me with the ‘mouse!’ Monty.
Parish Council Notices
Ufford Parish Council Meetings
Meeting on Oct 13th
1. Changes in bus services. The subsidised bus services through Ufford, which have not been well used, are to be replaced by a Call and Connect Service. Users have to become “members” for which there is no fee. Pre-booking is required, up to 7 days in advance. Concessionary bus passes are accepted. The minibus will operate Mondays to Saturdays, 7am-7pm.
There have been many criticisms of these proposals, particularly about the lack of consultation, the absence of an evening service and a Sunday service, Originally only one minibus was proposed to serve all the villages round Peterborough, but the number has been increased to three.
2. Residents` ideas about ways of increasing travel choices are requested, for example:
car sharing, taxi sharing, cycle parking, village pool bikes, electric bikes, clubbing together to achieve discounts from internet shopping. Please talk to one of your councillors or email ideas to Travelchoice@peterborough.gov.uk
3. Applications for UPC funding are invited from village organisations which benefit Ufford residents. Applications must be for specific items which have been costed.
4. The Langley Bush Stone was unveiled on Sept 28th by Phil Collins, Chairman of Peterborough Magistrates. Most of you will know that the mound in the adjacent field was the site of the old Langdyke Court and gibbet. For hundreds of years the court met twice a year in the presence of the Abbot of Peterborough, before moving to the Exeter Arms in Helpston. The mound, with its old hawthorn bush, was one of Clare`s favourite places. The present bush was planted by the John Clare Society in 1996.
Meeting Nov 10th
1 Since Ufford drift was designated as a bridleway it appears to have been used by an increasing number of vehicles. UPC has been concerned in particular by the fly tipping and abandoned burnt out vehicles. It is considering the erection of a gate set back from the Marholm Road end. So long as it is wide enough to allow tractors and large farm machines to pass through, the farmers and Forestry Commission have no objections and agree that it would also serve to deter the deer poachers. There would be spaces at each side for walkers, cyclists & horse riders. UPC is currently investigating costs before a decision is made.
2 UPC has finally been assured that the car park gate into Southey Wood will be opened for visitors on Saturday, November 14th. For a 3 month trial period it will be open between 10am and 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The Forestry Commission has asked for Ufford residents to monitor its use so please let one of the parish councillors know if you have any information.
3 We hope you have noticed that our village seats are looking very smart, thanks to Mr Fixit. It may not be common knowledge that one man is responsible for emptying bins, picking up litter thrown by motorists on to verges, tidying up lay-bys and village streets and his area stretches from the Welland to the Nene and even includes one side of the A1. Did you know that his van was recently stolen from outside Ufford church?
The next meeting will be on Tues Dec 7th at Ufford Village Hall at 7.30pm.
Bainton & Ashton Parish Council
Your councillors are: Chris Agnew (Chair) Tel. 740007, Andrew Totten (740381), Judith Morrice (740865), Zena Coles (Ashton) 740550, Jane Franks (740004)
A full set of the most recent minutes are posted on both village notice boards, and also on the Bainton Reading Room website, Just type in baintonreadingroom into your search engine.All councillors were present at the Parish Council meeting on 9th Nov,
The Chairman commenced by stating that there would in future be a 10 minute slot at the beginning of the meeting to allow any member of the public to offer any questions, concerns or comments concerning any of the items on the agenda. Thereafter, contributions from the floor should only be by invitation from the Chairman.
A few members of the public then voiced their concerns at the plans to possibly relocate the bus stop. It was explained that the present bus stop lay by was being used by rush hour traffic to ‘undertake’ traffic waiting to turn right into Ufford Road. This was often at speed, sometimes mounting the pavement and the danger to school-children waiting for school buses was regular and very real. One vehicle had actually got so close that a child’s satchel was taken off her back! This situation has been going on for some months - a petition from concerned bus users was actually sent to Peterborough City Council in December 2007! Some residents explained that to relocate the site would mean a longer walk to the bus stop for some and asked if other options had been fully explored. The traffic manager will come to inspect the site before the end of November and all avenues will be looked at again, and all opinions noted.
The allotment issue has been resolved to most people’s satisfaction. The site generously offered by Mr. Bratley has been sprayed, top soil delivered and spread, drains put in and a water supply ready. A few items still remain to be done, such as rabbit-proof fencing, but there seems to be no reason to prevent allotment holders having a successful 2010 harvest. Thanks were given to all those who had given their time and labour free of charge, but most especially to the very generous donor who has covered the cost of this initiative.
We have been awarded an environment grant to make some improvements to the villages. A willow tunnel, suggested by the Franks girls, will be planted at the rear of the children’s playground, plus an attractive display of wildlife-friendly plants in the planting boxes. Plants have been obtained for the Reading Room garden and possibly bluebells and cowslips for enhancing the wash dyke and other areas.
We have interviewed and appointed a new contractor for mowing the village verges. Paul Buckley, who has done this so thoroughly for many years, has had to retire - many thanks for all your help, Paul!
Next meeting 5th January 2010
Report from Barnack Parish Council
At their November meeting it was reported that David Wilson Homes are still hoping to start work on the Airey House site as soon as possible but have been unable to do so as they have not been able to meet PCC’s planning conditions concerning the common lizard, which was identified in the ecological survey. It is hoped that an agreement will be reached in the very near future. Crosskeys Housing reported back on the improvements they had made in Orchard Road and Little Northfields. The parish council expressed concerns were that the kerbs and grass verges were being destroyed and there should be adequate access for emergency vehicles when all resident’s vehicles were parked. The situation is to be discussed with the highways officer. The B1143 weight reduction will become permanent later this year. The Sports Pavilion Committee reported that the funds raised at the beginning of November were now just over £10000 with more fund raising events planned. The tender documents have been delivered to contractors. The Community Leadership Group reported that following the Bugs Life Talk volunteers had come forward and helped with three hedgerow surveys, others were interested in encouraging birds and insects in their gardens. It is proposed to take this work forward by an annual open meeting, liaison with the Wildlife Trust to arrange workshops, the continuation of hedgerow surveys to identify species and estimate the age of hedges, verge surveys starting next May, gapping up hedges and monthly articles in The Parish News from a variety of contributors to keep the enthusiasm and interest of residents. David Over reported that after initial doubts he now felt that the Neighbourhood Councils were a good introduction by PCC . Parish councillors throughout the Barnack ward were unclear as to why another layer of government had been introduced. They felt that although Neighbourhood Councils may work within the City they were inappropriate in the rural areas where parish councils already had a good and tried strategy for looking after the villages and the interests of their residents, who had every opportunity to put forward their grievances or ideas and were fully consulted on all major issues by the elected, non political, parish councillors. It was felt that the present system of parish councils working directly with their Ward Councillor and with City Council officers worked well. PC McCallum reported on the progress made in the investigations of crimes in the local area, the training of volunteers for the speed watch board, the need for more volunteers to come forward and the actions taken by the police on the speeding motorists identified by the volunteers.
A letter will be sent to PCC asking them not to replace the Pilsgate bus shelter in the former position. Faulty lights will again be reported in Jack Hawes Lane, School Road and The Acres. Residents are asked to report any faulty street lights to the clerk. The highways officer will be asked to clear rainwater gulleys throughout the village as they are blocked with leaves and to dig out the rainwater drain running from Jack Hawes Lane into the field. Residents in Bishop’s Walk and Canon Drive are reminded that they should not sweep leaves into the road as they just block the drains which then causes the rainwater in Main Street to flood into resident’s homes. The water flowing down the road from the western end of Pilsgate is thought to be a possible natural spring in the verge. The parish council will pursue this matter and report back to the December meeting. The next meeting will be on Monday 9 December at 7.30 p.m. in the Village Hall
Royal British Legion
One of the largest congregations for some time gathered at Barnack War Memorial
and St.Johns Church on Remembrance Sunday to pay their respects to those who lost their lives from World War 1 through to Afghanistan. A contingent of cadets from the three services representing Stamford Endowed Schools were present on both occasions . At the War Memorial the names of the 55 men from the Parish who gave their lives were read out .The Last Post and Reveille was sounded very poignantly by Lizzie Painter and Harriet Reilly which contributed greatly to a very moving ceremony. The Service , which was ecumenical , was conducted by Canon Margaret Venables who gave very moving sermon stressing the tragedy of war coupled with the hardships suffered by our troops in Afghanistan. Lessons were read by Mike Canon RAF Rtd. and Malcolm Morrice.The Standard Bearer was Ted Murray escorted by Patrick Knights and Philip Richards.
On Wednesday 11th. November over 60 people gathered at the Village War Memorial, including a smart representation from Barnack CP school with their school banner ,
to observe the 2 minutes silence.The collection from the church service has been kindly donated to the Poppy Appeal ..
For your diary , please note the following November 23rd “Operation Chariot” the St.Nazaire raid 7.30pm at Barnack and on Monday December 7th. Branch AGM at Ufford. Finally , we are again grateful for the extremely generous support given to the British Legion Poppy Appeal. Further details of this next month -- Malcolm Morrice.