Current 2008 Parish News

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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.

Barnack Pre-School
School Road, Barnack PE9 3DZ
Open 9am-12pm - 5 mornings a week during term time.
Excellent Ofsted report Dec 2007
Now taking registration for August 2008
Contact the booking secretary for details on 01780 789988

Summer Fete At Walcot Hall
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
Also needed
Needed—Bumper Stalls:
Books—Brian Dailey 740418
Cakes—Judy Francis 740300
Plants—June Graham 740387
Contributions Gratefully Received

Want to help make Cambridgeshire safer?
Cambridgeshire Police Authority (CPA) would like to hear from people across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who want to help make the county safer.
The Authority has launched a recruitment campaign to attract applicants for four of its Independent member posts. They want to hear from people who can represent a broad range of local communities and have the ability to challenge accepted views in a constructive way. Successful candidates will make a positive contribution to the Authority’s core role: ensuring that Cambridgeshire has an effective and efficient police force.
The Authority is made up of local people, eight of whom are ‘Independent’ members – selected from the community – who, together with nine councillor members, aim to ensure the safety of Cambridgeshire’s thousands of residents by maintaining an efficient and effective police service. The Authority is looking for applicants with the relevant skills, experience and knowledge (detailed on its website or available by telephone) to help achieve its aims.
Applicants must be over 18 and live or work within the area covered by Cambridgeshire Police Authority. A commitment of around eight hours per week is required, for which an allowance and expenses are payable upon appointment in October for a period of four years. For more information, and to apply, please visit www.cambs-pa.gov.uk/vacancies.cfm or call 0845 345 4335. Closing date is 3rd June.

VIllage Ladies’ Group
On Tuesday the 22nd of April Dr Gail Glynn gave an interesting talk on her preparations and achievements on completing the London Marathon,it was an enjoyable evening as we went through the ups and downs of marathon training; the slides and pictures gave us an insight into the effort and atmosphere of such an event. Thank you Gail.
Tuesday the 27th of May will be a talk by Ian Jones on “Blunders in History”(Prohibition). Ian always gives us an enlightening and interesting talk with lots to think about.You are welcome to join us at Ufford village hall at our usual time of 7.45pm.
Tuesday the 24th of June will be our garden visit and this year it will be at Hudd’s Mill, Uffington Rd, Stamford, from 6.pm-8.30pm and tea will be £5; arrangements will be dicussed at our meeting on the 27th of May or ring Frieda Gosling on 740343, visitors are most welcome.

Garden Fete
The Acres and Little Northfields Garden Fete to be held in Barnack Saturday 12th July at 2.00pm. At the Fete will be the following, Raffle, Bric-A Brac, Tombola.craft Stalls,Face Painting,Cake Stall, and Much More, Everyone Welcome
Successful Supper
Barnack village hall was filled to capacity with cowboys and cowgirls and yes, a few Indians to enjoy the Wild West supper. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening during which diners puzzled over quiz questions and still managed to raise the roof with songs from Oklahoma. Thank you to everyone who put in so much effort to come to the supper appropriately attired, although at one point the Indians did became very enthusiastic at playing the part prompted by a mischievous water pistol toting cowboy. Our thanks go to all who helped to make this evening such a fantastic success. £ 810 was raised for St John the Baptist church.

The Wiki Café
The Café is relocating outside for the summer! The first will be held on Saturday, 31st May, 10am – 12 noon (weather permitting) at Emberton, Meadowgate – home of Tim and Jane Joy.

CALLING ALL COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Barnack & District Horticultural Show and Family Day will be held on Sunday 31st August 2008 at Barnack School. The Show is a popular annual summer event attracting both the local and wider community.
If you would like your group to join in the fun of the day, raise some money for your funds and help support the show please get in touch. To run a stall or game will cost only £5.00 plus the donation of a raffle prize, all proceeds you make on the day can then go directly to your group. Please get in touch and book your pitch.
Call Judi Campbell on 740420 or Debbie Martin 740048. You can also visit the website for up to date information www.barnack-show.co.uk

The Buttercross Club
Recent changes in the landscape at Burghley Park was the subject of an interesting presentation by the Head Gardener, Richard Allam. Perhaps the most striking of these is the construction of the Garden of Surprises which has been built on a former paddock. Several water features have been constructed, along with a mirror maze, a moss house and Neptune’s grotto. Roman Emperors’ heads and obelisks of the four elements are also featured. The garden was inspired by Lord Burghley’s garden at Theobalds, Herts and mirrors the ‘tricks and conceits’ of gardens in 16th century.
Our next meeting is on Wednesday, 4th June when John Shone will give a demonstration in the art of willow weaving. Hope to see you at 7.45pm in the Reading Room! JJ

The Good News Library Van
The Good News Library Van will be returning to The Lodge, Bainton Road, Barnack on Tuesday June 10th from 10.30 until 12noon. It was good to see so many people, when we met on May 13th. A good time was had by all, and we hope to see as many people again next month who come for a chat, or to borrow books, DVD’s or CD’s.

Barnack Methodist Chapel
Our April Coffee Morning was well attended and raised £153.44 Thank you everyone who came and supported us. The next one will take place on Saturday 7 June at the usual time of 10 am to 11 am. Please come and join us if you can.
On Thursday, 12 June, we will be having another social afternoon to play games, make cards or just sit and have a cup of tea and a chat. Why not come along for the fellowship and friendship.
Friends of Barnack Church 200 Club
The winners in the April draw were
£20 No. 96 Mrs. P. Sindall
£10 No. 25 Mrs. J. Woollard
£5 No.186 Mr. Harley
If you would like to support the work of the “Friends” by purchasing a 200 Club ticket, please speak to John Ward (740016) or Elizabeth Young (740347)

Barnack WI May meeting (Tues 13th)
The May meeting is traditionally the one where the resolutions being put forward by the WI nationally for the current year are explained, discussed and voted upon. This year it was decided to combine this meeting with a meal at the Lady Anne’s Hotel in Stamford, and what an excellent decision this was! Sheila Berrill and June Graham succinctly highlighted the main features of the two resolutions, followed by voting by all the members present. The first resolution, the proposal that the fishing practice of bottom trawling (where the dragging of fishing nets on the ocean bed has already caused the loss of over 10,000 marine species) should be banned, was supported by a very narrow majority. The second resolution concerned the inappropriate imprisonment of the mentally ill and this was supported almost unanimously by the meeting.
The formal part of the meeting over, the 31 members present then tucked in to a superb meal accompanied by wine kindly supplied by one member who had just celebrated her 85th birthday.
The next meeting will be held at 7.30pm in Barnack Village Hall on Tuesday 10th June and will be a talk by Mrs Tessa Jackson on “Hair, Beauty and Reflexology”.

Barnack Baptist Church
On Saturday 3rd May representatives from Barnack were invited to the Baptist Union Assembly, meeting in Blackpool, to be officially welcomed into the Baptist Union of Great Britain as a new Church.
There were 4,000 delegates at the conference and it was a huge privilege to represent Barnack. It seems quite a while since 2002 when Barnack Baptist Church was formed and it was quite daunting to be welcomed into an organisation that has over 2000 member churches, some of which trace their roots back to the early 1600s.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have supported and encouraged us over the past 6 years.

Barnack Bowls Club
The winners of the April draw were:
No 34 Gordon Pateman £25
No 69 Marie Harris £15
No 99 Eric Pridmore £10

Barnack Youth Club
Barnack Youth Club is proving to be a popular Friday evening activity for the young people in the local villages. We have over 30 people enrolled with approximately 20 coming to each session.
The Club is organised and run by Barnack Baptist Church. We meet at the Village Hall every fortnight during term time. Those in school years 7-11 are welcome. Come along at 7-30 for fun, dance mat, table tennis, air hockey, pool, tuck shop, craft activities and a chance to chat with your friends. We usually have some team games and a short God slot.
Next meetings Friday 22 June, Friday 4th July, Friday 18th July.

Little Lambs
Little Lambs meets each Tuesday morning during term time. All children from Birth to school age plus their carers are welcome. Come along at 10-00 for craft activities, games, sing along and lots of fun. Enjoy coffee and cakes and a snack for the children. All welcome.

Bainton Spring Fare
Once again we had the most wonderful turn out to our annual Spring Fayre in aid of Cancer Research UK - raising in excess of £6,000 for the charity.
First and foremost our thanks must go to Michael and Sheila Bratley for allowing us to use their magnificent granary and grounds to host the event. Enormous thanks also to ALL who helped in any way, shape or form - the names are too numerous to mention, but it would not have been possible without you. With thanks - Jane, Helen, Nicola & Kate.

Bainton Arms Social Eve Cancelled
The Bainton Arms has been Cancelled on Friday 13th June. It will be open again on Friday 11th July - round the Buttercross if the weather Is fine and warm. Alternatively in the Granary as usual. Nicola Clough (01780 740043)

Police Notices – from PC McCallum
Theft from Vehicles
Please do not leave ANYTHING on view in your vehicle. Thieves will target cars with any item showing, and will take whatever they find. If you have any information that may help solve theft from vehicle crime, please report it to Cambridgeshire Constabularly.
Door-to-Door Salesmen
There have been calls recently about a Polish male knocking door-to-door trying to sell paintings. He is reported to have a blue Volkswagon van and has been sighted in Barnack, Pilsgate, Bainton and Glinton. Not everyone is genuinely trying to sell their products – some are trying to find an empty property to break in to. Please be vigilant and keep your doors locked. Thank you to all of the callers that reported the male to the Police. We urge others to do the same should you receive such a visit.
Speeding
PC McCallum has been out with his speed detection device and, once again, caught offenders travelling through Helpston in excess of 30mph. All were dealt with by way of a fixed penalty ticket of £60 and 3 points on their licence. Warnings have been issued by PC McCallum via the press, e-cops, NHW and various meetings, that tickets will be issued to those motorists caught speeding, yet locals continue to do it. Please slow down!
PC McCallum can be contacted on 0845 456 456 4, or at norman.mccallum @cambs.pnn.police.uk

Parish Council Notices

Ufford Parish Council Meeting on May 15th 2008
Your councillors are:
Clerk to the Council:
Patricia Stuart-Mogg 01780 783678
Chair: Marian Browne 01780 740062
Ian Glew 07881 788741
Frieda Gosling 01780 740343
Ian Snaith 01780 740394
Marian Browne was elected as Chairman, the first woman to have held this position.
A revised planting scheme was agreed as part of UPC‘s biodiversity scheme. There will be fewer trees than previously proposed, as the parish verges along Marholm Road are designated as County Wildlife Sites and trees would shade out the smaller plants, reducing diversity. An application for funding will be made for hedge planting in the large and small gaps in the existing hedgerows. Community support and participation increase the chances of gaining financial support and these will be discussed at the Annual Village Meeting.
The next UPC meeting will be held as usual on the second Wednesday of the month, June 11th at 8pm at Ufford Village Hall. All welcome to attend.
Keep checking the UPC website for updates and make sure that you have taken part in the local recreation survey. www.uffordparishcouncil.org.uk
Ufford‘s Annual Village Meeting
This will be held on Wednesday, May 28th, at Ufford Village Hall and will start at 7.30pm. Reports are invited from all village organisations and the Chairman will report on the achievements of the Parish Council in the past year. Also under discussion will be plans for the coming year, including the biodiversity scheme and Ufford‘s priorities from the Community Leadership Fund for Barnack Ward.
This is the opportunity for residents to express their opinions and suggest future policies so do try to attend.
Ufford Village Walk and tea in the Village Hall
A Sunday afternoon stroll at Swaddywell is proposed on July 20th. Meet at the car park by the Stamford Stone Company site on Marholm Road at 2.30pm for the guided walk. Tea and cake will be served at the Village Hall from 3.30pm and some people may prefer to miss the walk and come just for a cup of tea and a chat. Donations to Ufford Church and the Langdyke Countryside Trust.

Bainton & Ashton Parish Council
Your councillors are: Chris Agnew (chair) (Tel.740007) Andy Totten (740381) Judith Morrice (740865) Zena Coles (740550) Jane Franks (740004)
May’s meeting included the AGM and also the Annual Parish Meeting. All our councillors were re-elected unopposed, Chris Agnew re-elected as chairman, and David Over elected to serve as City Councillor once more. If ever you have something you need to say about the villages, don’t sit on it - give one of our worthy councillors a ring!
The chairman outlined the achievements over the last year. The Vehicle Activation Signs seem to be keeping most traffic within speed limits, and a weight restriction order is soon to be placed on the B1443. This should make our main road much less noisy and a good deal safer. Notice boards in both villages have been replaced with spanking new ones, and over 3,000 spring bulbs were planted which gave a blooming good display throughout the village verges. We have almost completed the Pathways project which will clarify all the footpaths through local villages, and a Quiet Lane status (Cambridgeshire’s first!) applied to Bainton Green Road. What a year! A member of the public rightly thanked our councillors for all the improvements seen in the villages recently.
So what’s the plans for the future? Two priorities are to make the village bus pull-in and the railway crossings at Lolham a lot safer. So far we’ve been hitting brick walls, but our councillors are a determined lot! We hope to make the wash dyke even more attractive, and also help Langdyke Trust with their plans to renovate Torpel Manor. The VAS signs have been a help to contain speeding traffic and we are looking to arrange two more (Tallington Rd and Ufford Rd). We also hope to have our website up and running.
Next meeting is on June 24th at 7pm preceded by two interesting talks - see this issue of Parish News.

Southorpe Parish Council
A Parish Council Meeting was held on 12 May 2008, all Councillors were in attendance. The results of the recent traffic questionnaire distributed to all residents in the parish in early May were discussed. A total of 32 of the 55 questionnaires delivered had been returned; the Chairman considered this to be a good response and helpful in providing an indication of the opinion of villagers. Generally respondents were concerned about the speed of traffic and supportive of some form of action. Concerns regarding tree felling at Brooke House had been raised with the Principal Natural Environment Officer at Peterborough City Council. Advice had now been provided to the Parish Council on the necessity for permission for felling and pruning of trees within the conservation area and a number of leaflets provided for distribution in the village and display on the notice-board. It was advised that the temporary posts placed on the verge outside Whispering Willows would be removed shortly when a stonewall was built.
The meeting was followed by the AGM. The Chairman reported that the year had seen some changes within the Parish Council with Ann Corder being replaced on retirement from the Committee by Adrian Robinson. Daphne Williams had been appointed as Clerk. All Councillors had been returned uncontested in the May 2008 election; the next election would take place in 2012.
Only one major development had taken place in the village during the year, the building of two houses on the Whispering Willows site; this was nearing completion and the reinstatement of the verges would now be monitored. Otherwise, few planning applications had been submitted for consideration this year.
The road had been of some concern including the state of the surface and the verges and, in particular, the speed of the traffic, all of which the Council would be pursuing in the next year.
Edward Elwood stood down as Chairman after 10 years service and Nick Lodge was elected to serve as the new Chairman.
The Annual Parish Meeting also took place on the same evening. Three members of the public attended. Considerable concern was expressed by residents about traffic speeding through the village and the danger to pedestrians and cyclists on the road. The results of the traffic questionnaire were discussed at some length. A breakdown of the results would be displayed on the notice board. The Chairman explained that a survey of traffic had been undertaken recently by PCC at the request of the Parish Council. The survey had been undertaken close to Rose Cottage and the results showed that the average speed was less than 30 mph in both the busier morning and early evening periods. The location of the survey was not though thought to be indicative of the faster sections of Main Street. He advised that this would be discussed with PCC and that the Police Authority would also be asked to conduct a more extensive survey. PCC would also be asked to consider extending the footpath on Main Street.

A few weeks ago I filled the oil tank at our cottage in Co. Durham. Because the quoted price seemed high compared with when I last filled up I foolishly waited a few days before making the order. You know the result! I paid even more.

We are all conscious of rising prices – fuel, gas, electricity and now food, though that has the silver lining that for once many farmers are receiving a better return for their labours. The “credit crunch” has hurt us all where we feel it, in our pockets. We all have had to prioritise, turn down the thermostat, forgo that meal out, get out the bicycle rather than the car ….

Rising costs affect our churches and the diocese as well. At the Bishops Council last month we looked seriously at the 6% deficit in last year’s accounts and resolved to make some hard decisions about priorities.

For all of us the priority we were determined not to lose is the cost of paying our clergy. And that means the Parish Share, out of which we pay clergy stipends, housing and pension costs (and that has involved a major increase in contributions recently), and fund clergy training and support from the small team of specialists at Bouverie Court. If the share is not paid in full (for which we budget) we have to dip into our dwindling reserves to meet the shortfall.
It is easy for PCCs and congregations to put the payment of the share low on their list of priorities – after the rising costs of keeping the church open, warm and in good repair have been met.

But the church is first and foremost about people and that includes those who minister to us week by week. In my book paying the parish priest through the Parish Share should be the first priority, not the last. It is part of being worship-centred. Giving is an act of worship, mission-shaped, for it enables our outreach to the community to continue, releasing ministry, because it enables people to explore their vocation, and potentially world-transforming through the building up of vibrant Christian communities.

The Bishop’s Council is committed to taking some hard decisions about how we spend our money at “the centre”. But if it is to remain committed to its priority of paying the parish clergy then it needs the whole-hearted commitment of every parish and every worshipper - to make giving a priority for our personal expenditure and paying the Share a priority for the PCC and congregation. I hope that all of us, forced as we are to review our priorities, will take that to heart.

Bishop Ian feeling better
A scan following Bishop Ian’s course of chemotherapy shows that his cancer, while still there, has shrunk quite dramatically. He is feeling much better and will continue to do as much work as he feels able to.

Giant keys ... fish and chips ... it must be Peterfest!
Parishioners from churches throughout the diocese are invited to converge at Peterborough Cathedral on Saturday 28 June for Peterfest - a joyful celebration of the Diocesan and Cathedral Patronal Festival.
The focus of the day will be on St Peter being given “the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven” and activities will tie in with this year’s diocesan theme, Releasing Ministry.
For example, parish groups are being encouraged to join in the fun by making and bringing a giant key, decorated with images and symbols to represent aspects of the ministry in their church. In the afternoon these colourful keys will be carried in a carnival procession from St John’s Church in the city square to the Cathedral, prior to a 3.30pm service.
There will be plenty to amuse and entertain visitors during the day, with games and activities for children, guided tours, music and dramatic presentations around the cathedral depicting scenes from St Peter’s life. On the green outside the West Door will be a Ministry Fair, with stalls showing some of the various ministries open to people in the diocese.
A fish and chip van will be on hand at lunchtime (a reminder of Peter the fisherman and his lakeside breakfast with the risen Jesus). At 1.30pm Bishop John Flack, who has been Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome for the past five years, will be speaking about “The succession to Peter - the papacy and Ecumenism today.”
The traditional invitation-only garden party and festival service will take place on Friday 27 June. For the Cathedral Office, call 01733 343342.

Ethiopian pastoralists feel the effects of climate change
“The droughts are more frequent now. Instead of every seven years, they’re coming every two years,” said Lensa Gudina, co-founder of the Gudina Tumsa Foundation in Ethiopia, on her recent visit to Christian Aid’s regional office in the diocese.
Much of the work of the Foundation, which is funded by Christian Aid and others, is directed towards helping those most severely affected by climate change and the degradation of the natural environment.
It is the pastoralists - those making a living from herding animals - who are most severely affected. “The taking of land for large, government run plantations means that pastoralists are displaced to dryer, less productive land that quickly becomes overgrazed,” said Lensa.
To counter this, the Foundation has set up nurseries to grow drought resistant “multi purpose trees” that can be used for food, animal fodder, medicines, firewood etc. They also promote good land management by setting up area enclosures, in which the land is rested to recover its fertility before grazing is reintroduced.
“I am impressed with the level of involvement I have seen in the UK in attempts to reduce the effects of climate change,” said Lensa. “These need to be increased and continued. Simultaneously, efforts to help the people in other parts of the world who are most affected should be strengthened.''
Lensa’s own story is a remarkable one. Her father, Gudina Tumsa, was murdered by the Marxist military government of Ethiopia in 1979, when she was 17 years old. It was his work to establish a Council of Churches in Ethiopia, including Protestant, Catholic and Coptic denominations, and to speak out against the Marxist, atheist state that set him out as a target.
Lensa fled to Germany before staying as a refugee in the United States. She and her sister returned to Ethiopia after the fall of the Marxist government and in 1992, when they established the Foundation.
To find out more visit www.gtf.org.et or contact Christian Aid’s local office on 01733 345755.

Sun 1, Creaton in Bloom. Village gardens open from 1pm. BBQ, teas, stalls in aid of St Michael and All Angels.

Sun 1, Organ recital by Donald Barford at 3.30pm at St Peter & St Paul Abington, Northampton.

Sat 7, Organ Music for a Summer Evening with Simon Johnson. 7.30pm at St Mary Magdalene, Castle Ashby. Tickets £10 (£7.50) from 01604 696080.

Sat 7 & Sun 8, A Weekend of English Music at St Mary’s, Ketton, nr Stamford. Sat 7.30 pm, piano Margaret Fingerhut, violin Isabelle Flory, conductor Barry Collett. Sun 6pm, The Cantus Choir. Tickets from 01780 721015.

Sat 7 & Sun 8, St Laurence’s Brafield on the Green Flower Festival & Fete 1.30pm - 4.30pm daily.

Wed 11, BRF Quiet Day at St Peter’s Brackley, 10am - 4pm. £25 incl lunch. www.quietplaces.org.uk.

Thurs 12, Werrington Mothers' Union Strawberry Fayre. 2.30pm in Village Centre. Tel: 01733 576541.

Sat 14, Music in Lyddington: Ian Partridge, tenor; Jennifer Partridge, piano. 7.30pm St Andrew’s Lyddington. Tel: 01572 820017 for ticket details.

Sat 14, Fiori Musicale at St Peter’s Empingham at 7pm. Tickets £14. Tel: 01780 460354.

Sat 14, Enderby Band at St Lawrence's Long Buckby, 7.30pm. Tickets £5 on door or from 01327 842466.

Sat 14 & Sun 15 Laxton Flower Festival, 2.30pm - 4.30pm. Sun 7pm, concert with Eleanor Turner, harpist. Tickets £8. Tel: 01780 450362.

Sun 15, Brockhall Concerts: Quartet Camerata at 7.30pm at Brockhall Church. Tickets £12.50. 01788 892000.

Sat 14, Recital at St Mary's Burton Latimer. Tickets £5. Tel. 01536 724966.

Sat 21 & Sun 22, St Peter’s Cogenhoe Flower Festival & Fete, Sat 2pm – 4pm, Sun 2pm – 4pm.

Sun 22, Bulwick Church Fete, 2pm with Thrapston Town Band. Tel: 01780 450300.

Fri 27 - Sun 29, Uppingham Flower Festival at Parish Church. 10am-6pm. Open Gardens Sunday afternoon.

Sat 28 & Sun 29, St John's, Werrington Flower Festival, 2-5pm. Tel: 01733 576541.

Sat 28, Northampton Philharmonic Choir concert at St Michael’s, Northampton, 7.30pm. Tickets: £12 - £18. Tel: 07958 768661.