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Parish News March 2008

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

When you come to the end of a good book, an exciting film or an absorbing documentary programme, do you say to yourself, “I wonder what happened next?” Somehow you want to know more, to see what happened to the characters - which is why, of course, large running series are so popular. I’ve just been sniffing back tears at a particularly sad episode of “Peak Practise” - but I’ll be back infront of the television next week to see what happens to the tiny baby and her widowed father. And I can remember when I was quite young (very young?) sitting with our ears glued to “Dick Barton - Special Agent” a radio series which always left a cliff-hanger at the end of each episode. “Will he - won’t he?” I know there are other people for whom “Coronation Street” and “the Archers” has the same effect - and by the way, you should hear the minor explosion in the Rectory when the phone rings in the middle of “Eastenders” or “Casualty”! The gospel of St Mark, the first gospel to be written, actually has these cliff-hanger endings. Almost all modern versions end at chapter 16 verse 8, when the womenm, having heard the news that Jesus has risen from the dead, ran away:”So they went out and ran from the tomb, distressed and terrified. They said nothing to anyone because they were afraid.” It isn’t likely that Mark would have ended at this point, so the original ending may be lost. Or it could have been that Mark was unable to finish it - perhaps he was arrested or put to death for being a Christian, as many were at the time he was writing. Mark 16 9-20 is regarded as a later addition, probably derived from other gospel endings. Scholars through the ages have argued about this - but of course for us today it doesn’t matter where Mark chose to finish, as we can read other accounts in Matthew, Luke and John, and we can discover “What happened next” through the Acts of the Apostles, as the followers of Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, set out and continued with the work entrusted to them. Then we have various letters or epistles, which tell us about the early Christian communities. But of course, the story continues today - so what is our”gospel” or good news for people living at the start of the twenty-first century ? Have we got any good news for those around us, who live next door, up the road, in our community? What do we say to the neighbour who is overcome with grief at the loss of a loved one? What can we say about the events in our own country, to people who struggle to find where the next penny is coming from, who are homeless, jobless, futureless? What can we say to those places like Africa, the starving, the refugees, the oppressed, the rootless, the forgotten people? Where is the good news? Is there any ray of hope or understanding? The good news is that which is told so vividly by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The good news is the Easter story - that by the death and resurrection of Jesus points that God is with us every step of the way, however difficult things are, even to death - and beyond: that is something more glorious. His only requirement of us, is that we respond to his invitation to “come, follow me”. What is going to be part of your story? Will you walk sadly away like a rich young ruler in one of our bible stories, or will you accept the invitation? Margaret Lord, Thank you for inviting me to come with you, to share your life, To show your love. Give me the strength to say yes and mean it,to mean it and to do it. Take my hand and lead me on, To your praise and glory Amen

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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

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Parish News Treasurer’s Report
In this month’s magazine is the Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31st December 2007. The Parish News carries information from many different groups in the villages and thank you to all groups and individuals who have supported the magazine this year. Download a copy here
Unfortunately donations from organisations that use the magazine to report their activities, advertise their events and generally share their news with us fell considerably. If any groups haven’t contributed to the magazine and feel able to, we would be very grateful to receive a donation
Although private donations increased during the year, so thank you to all those who contributed, our available funds in hand continue to decline and we desperately need your support.
As you can see we have now started accepting commercial advertising in the Parish News - with declining donations this became essential if we were to continue to deliver the magazine to every home in the Benefice. A big thank you to those businesses that have supported us by placing an advert, we will do our best to support you too. Thank you to David Hare of Bainton who has been responsible for this new project and has made such a success of it.
As can be seen from the Receipts and Payments Account costs have again been kept to a minimum. Many thanks to Chadwick Associates for printing our magazine each month.

Please Give Generously to help the Parish News Continue
Enclosed with this issue of the Parish News is a small brown envelope for your donation towards the cost of producing the magazine. (As previously suggested £5 per household would be greatly appreciated but anything other above or below that amount would be gratefully received. If every household that the magazine was delivered to contributed £5 we would receive approx £3,500).
Please give your donation to one of the collectors in your village listed below:
Barnack: Mrs A Longman, The Ridings, Bainton Rd or Mrs J Woolard, Old Mill House, Stamford Rd. Bainton: Mr M Bratley, Manor Farm or Mr J Wreford, Vine Cottage, Ashton. Ufford: Dr P Hudson, Windrush, Walcot Road Or the Treasurer - Mrs H Fancourt, 3 Bainton Gardens, Bainton PE9 3AW.
Please give whatever you can. The Parish News relies on donations. Without your generosity, it cannot continue.

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 regualr 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.

Village Ladies’ Group
On the 22nd of January Village Ladies’ welcomed the New Year with a Scottish evening, we enjoyed haggis and accompaniments,Scottish music and a light-hearted quiz.
Tuesday the 26th of February will be our annual evening meal this will be held at the Bluebell Helpston,we will meet at 7pm for 7-30pm the price will be £10-95 for a two course meal, if you would like to join us please give Frieda Gosling a ring on 01780 -740343.
Tuesday the 25th of March is our A.G.M and Carol Hughes will come and speak about Anna’s Hope,the family’s personal charity,we will present Carol with our contribution as Anna’s Hope has been our charity for the past year.The A.G.M will follow Carol’s talk.The meeting will start at the usual time of 7-45pm at Ufford village hall, you are welcome to join us.
On Tuesday the 22nd of April Dr Gail Glynn will be telling us of her experiences while taking part in a Marathon this will be a most interesting and enlightening talk,you are most welcome to join us at our usual time of 7-45 at Ufford village hall.

The Children’s Society
This year I have banked a magnificent £538.14 as a result of the box opening during January. On behalf of the children helped by the Society may I thank you for your generosity.
The Children’s Society is a leading national charity, driven by the belief that every child deserves a good childhood. The Society provides help and understanding for those forgotten children who are unable to find the support they need anywhere else. They work with children and young people in communities throughout the UK who are struggling to cope with the pressures of everyday life and each year their network of projects helps thousands of children and their families. The Society is also responsible for pioneering research, influential campaigning (for example “Safe and Sound” where all local governments were encouraged to provide safe accommodation for runaways), the UK’s first independent national enquiry into childhood etc.
I do have a few new boxes left so if anyone would like to have one of these in which to put loose change please give me a ring on 740387 or see me in church. Once again, thank you. June Graham

Rural Police Information
Your Neighbourhood Policing Team consists of:
PC 1213 Norm McCallum    norman.mccallum@cambs.pnn.police.uk
PCSO 7182 Helen Buckingham    helen.buckingham@cambs.pnn.police.uk
We can both be contacted on 0845 456 456 4 to discuss community issues.
This is also the same number to use for you to report all susipcious incidents and crimes on.
If you would like further information about your Neighbourhood Policing Team then why not visit www.cambs.police.uk. Here you can also sign up for free to e-cops. This is a great way for myself and Helen to communicate with residents on our patch. We send out regular updates on crimes in your area, crime prevention advice and any assistance we need in solving crimes.
If you wish to discuss matters with us feel free to contact either of us.
We are keen to hear your views on rural policing and any ideas or concerns you may have.
Let’s work together to keep your village a safe place to live in. Thank you Pc1213 Norm McCallum

Coffee Morning
I am holding a coffee morning to raise money for a British Schools Exploring Society expedition to Svalbard, that I am taking part in, in July 2008.
Svalbard is a group of islands inside the Arctic Circle, only 600 miles from the North Pole. The expedition will be collecting climate change data for the Royal Geographical Society. I will be camping for 1 month in temperatures of -5 to +5oC!
The coffee morning is on Wednesday 26th March, 10-12 at Skipport, Main Street, Barnack (beside the church) £2 for coffee/tea/juice and cake. Cakes and marmalade will also be on sale. Please come along.
MARMALADE- There are still lots of jars of home made, coarse cut, Seville orange marmalade available! Jars will cost £1.50 each or 6 jars for £8. Please ring the Wright family to order, 740929.If anyone has any 1lb jars with lids we would be very grateful for them.Hannah Wright

A Wild West Supper
Saturday April 19th.Barnack Village Hall
7.15pm for 7.30 pm Tickets £10 to include a three course meal.Bar. Raffle. Entertainment. (Fancy Dress- optional)
Please contact Elizabeth Young 740347 or Maureen Groom 740339
These suppers are always very popular so please reserve your tickets early. proceeds to Barnack Parish Church

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 AGM in February saw the start of our 2008 programme. Details will be published each month and can also be seen on the village Notice boards in both Bainton and Ashton. Judith Morrice and Mary Perkins stepped down from the Committee after giving great service to the club. We all sent Mary our best wishes during her ongoing treatment.
Dame Mary Tanner then gave us an account of the development of the World Council of Churches from its early formation in the last decade of the 19th century to its work today. Explaining how she was invited in 1974, whilst a lecturer in Theology at Bristol University with two children under five, to travel to Africa and become involved in wide-ranging debates about theological and educational topics. She has seen great changes in the organisation, and steady change from European male domination to the current ‘rainbow of faces’; these changes were obvious in the photos Mary showed us taken over the years.
Two years ago, when she was looking forward to a quiet life in Bainton, Mary was offered the position of the President of the European Council of Churches. The honour of the offer was enough for her to accept the post as she has never considered it ‘work’. We were given an interesting insight into the formation and development of the organisation and into the dilemmas and differences of the churches in the Christian world as we know it today.
Our 5th March meeting will be a talk on Reiki, the natural healing system evolved in Japan. Do come along and join us at 7.45pm in the Bainton Reading Room. You’ll be most welcome ! RY

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. Many thanks. June Graham

The Friends of Barnack Church AGM
The AGM of the “Friends” will take place on Monday, March 31st at 7.30pm. On this occasion we have decided to hold the meeting in the church, care of which is our raison d’etre. Last year the “Friends” came of age, and in our twenty first year we gave £5,500 to the Church Council. This sum met the cost of repair of a number of windows, including a small part of a stained glass window in the Lady Chapel.
A principal source of our income is from the 200 Club. There are a number of spare tickets and the cost for one year is £15.00. Three prizes, £20, £10 and £5 are drawn each month, with a number of larger prizes at intervals during the year. If you would like to consider joining please speak to Elizabeth Young or John Ward. In this way you would be sharing in the task of caring for a church which is renowned far beyond the parish boundary. And if you would like to learn more about the “Friends” please come to the AGM.
200 Club Winners for January.
£20 No. 32 D. Chadwick
£10 No. 197 T. Elwood
£5 No. 17 I. Crowson

Thank you from Trevarthen Family
Following our recent car accident we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone for all their support, encouragement, flowers, cards, home baking and practical help etc etc. We are very lucky to live in such a caring and supportive community! The Trevarthen Family

Barnack Methodist Chapel
It was good to see you at our February Coffee Morning after the Christmas break and it raised £121 for our funds. The March one will take place on Saturday 1 March from 10 am to 11 am and we look forward to seeing you then.
We also have a short prayer meeting on Tuesday mornings starting at 9.30 am and everyone is welcome to come along and share in these prayers.
As in previous years, we will be holding a short Good Friday service, 21 March,at 10.30 am which we hope will be led by Rev B Lewis.
We shall be holding a social afternoon in the chapel, on Thursday, 13 March, from 2.15 - 3.30pm. There will be an opportunity to make greetings cards, to do other crafts or to play board games followed by a cup of tea. Come & join us.

Barnack Bowls Club
The winners of the January draw were:
No 74 Arnold Dennis £25
No 21 Christine Goodwin £15
No 68 Bill Harris £10
And for February
No 93 Reg Thompson £25
No 15 Brian Bagshaw £15
No 44 Pat Barton £10

Ann & Clive Butland
After 35 happy years in Southorpe, we have moved to 3, Saxon Road in Barnack where we have received a very warm welcome. Our grateful thanks for the good wishes received from friends.

Exhibition Of Housing Proposals For Uffington Road
Following the sale of housing land on Uffington Road, by the City Council to David Wilson Homes (South Midlands), an exhibition of the company’s proposals will take place on Wednesday 12 March between 2.00 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. in the Village Hall.

PARISH COUNCIL REPORTS

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 hemical ‘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 longstanding 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, 0845 456 456 4 or at carol.ashton@cambs.pnn.police.uk.

Barnack Parish Council Report
The latest meeting of Barnack Parish Council took place on Monday 11 February when six councillors, PC McCallum, Mr J Daley, Mr M Whelan, the Clerk and three members of the public were present. This meeting followed an open meeting for village residents to bring forward ideas and concerns regarding the Airey House Development Site. These ideas will be taken forward when the parish council meets with David Wilson Homes.
Topics covered at the parish council meeting included a filter light at the end of Water Street, the pruning of trees in Chapel Lane and Wittering Ford, overhanging trees in Walcot Road and the pruning of ivy and thorn bushes in Walcot
Road and the relaying of the water main in Canon Drive. The chairman spoke of the meeting she had had with the highways officer from Peterborough City Council and residents of Main Street to discuss the flooding in heavy rainfall. Planning applications and approvals were discussed and the financial reports presented. Mr Daley, Peterborough City Council Conservation Officer attended the meeting and gave a comprehensive report on the findings of the responses he had received to the Barnack conservation draft document. Mr Martyn Whelan, the Peterborough City Council Liaison officer also attended the meeting. In his report PC McCallum gave a demonstration of Smart Water (please see separate notice) which helps to prevent burglaries. PC McCallum also suggested moving the start of the 30mph zone in Uffington Road to ensure that drivers are travelling at no more than 30mph before reaching the edge of the village. Highways will be contacted regarding this. Please note that next month’s meeting will be held on Monday 10 March at 7.30 pm. All are welcome to attend. The full minutes of the meeting are displayed on the notice boards in both Barnack and Pilsgate.
Names and Addresses of Councillors may be found below.

Report on Ufford Parish Council Meeting February 13th 2008
Your councillors are:
Chairman: Ian Glew 07881 788741
Graham Bowes 01780 740578
Marian Browne 01780 740062
Frieda Gosling 01780 740343
Clerk to the Council: Patricia Stuart-Mogg 01780 783678
Pleas check the UPC website for updates please take part in the local recreation survey. www.uffordparishcouncil.org.uk
1 The 20 trees have now been planted in gaps in the hedges in the field adjacent to Marholm Road and Ufford drift. They are mixed, native species, which should provide a visual and environmental benefit to the village in years to come. Funding for the trees and the clumps of daffodils on the hill came from PCC`s Community Leadership Fund and was allocated by agreement with Ward Councillor David Over and parish council representatives. It is hoped to continue the programme of tree planting in the parish in 2008-9.
2 The bat boxes are now in position in Southey Woods. Funding came from PCC`s Environmental Improvement Scheme and the parish council. The aim of this scheme is to encourage biodiversity. Please see the website for the account of “My day with batman”.
3 Southey Wood remains closed but access for walkers, cyclists and horse riders is still possible from Langley Bush Road and Ufford drift. We are still waiting for official confirmation of the rights of way and another 2 Circular Walks leaflets are delayed by this.
4 Ward councillors confirmed their support in principle for the proposed John Clare Trail for cyclists and horse riders to link the villages but the actual route has not yet been agreed by landowners.
5 A flashing 30mph reminder sign for Ufford was suggested for the 2008-9 allocation of money.
6 Residents are reminded that parish councillors are all standing for re-election this year and that there has been one vacancy on UPC for over a year. If any residents are interested in becoming parish councillors they should watch the notice board for information about putting their names forward.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday March 12th at Ufford Village Hall at 8pm. All welcome.