Focal Point - February 2008

 

FOCAL POINT                 Issue No. 327   

    

February 2008

Ed’s Comments   

 

We all get to where we are via various routes and it is only when we reflect can we appreciate the myriad of events that has made up our own lives. I arrive at these thoughts as the result of the recent eulogies heard, as we celebrated the lives of the villagers who have left us.

Listening to David Milner speak so eloquently about Kate Shelmerdine  and Malcolm, especially their early lives together, makes one reflect on our  own journey. What joys can be conjured up. Thankfully, the happier moments shine brighter and linger longer than the sadder ones.

I feel sure that these are the ones that Malcolm now clings to at such a sad time.

As it’s Valentines day this month I thought that I might include a few quotes:-

                 Love may not make the world go round, but I must admit that it makes the ride worthwhile.

                 One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory.

                 To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.

                 Loving is not just looking at each other, it's looking in the same direction. 

                 I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about  romance,  the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon!

   

To lift our spirits we can perhaps dwell on the fact that we are now only about 7 weeks away from the first day of spring and with the clocks going forward next month light nights will soon be back with us.

 Cliff Newbold

Closing date for the March issue is 21st February.

 

 COMMUNITY CENTRE

Alan Taylor 

It was with great regret that I have to report the loss of another of the Community Centre’s long standing and hard working Trustees with the death of Alan Taylor. Alan was involved from the early days in the creation of the Centre and co-ordinated the Covenant scheme for fund raising. He was also very involved in the planting and upkeep of the natural area at the side of the Jubilee Walk. On all matters he helped with suggestions and advice and when things needed to be done he was available. Like David Jackson he will be greatly missed. 

QUIZ NIGHT

 As I reported last month, David Barthorpe has kindly agreed to be the Quizmaster for the Quiz Night on February 9th. The details are given elsewhere in Focal Point. The remaining Trustees have agreed that the Quiz Night should be in memory of both David and Alan and that the proceeds will be divided between the Community Centre, Epilepsy Research UK and Beaumond House Newark Hospice. There will be a raffle to boost the funds and any prizes will be gratefully received.  Please give us your support. Teams can be made up on the night but we hope to start prompt at 7.30pm.

 LUNCH CLUB

 The next lunch will be at 12.30pm on Monday, 11th February, please note – Not the first Monday in the month. The menu will be:

 Steak & Mushroom PieorMushroom & Spinach RisottowithNew Potatoes, Carrots & Cauliflower-x-Jam Roly Poly & Custard Tickets will be available from the Post Officethanks, as always, to Jo & Martin. Frances Kelly, Chairman

TUESDAY CLUB

 

Both meetings in February will be in the Village Hall as usual.

 

Tuesday, February 12th.  Morning Coffee. 10.30am. 50p.

 

Tuesday, February 26th. 2.30pm. Games afternoon.

 Jean Foden 

 Whist Drive

 A warm welcome awaits one and all for a light hearted game of Whist in the Village Hall, commencing at 7 pm on Thursday 28th February.  

Dennis Taylor   

 

Garden Club

Our new year began as usual with a social evening.  Some forty members enjoyed a party atmosphere sustained by ample amounts of food and drink, though slightly distracted by quizzes and a raffle!

The next meeting will be on February 20th when the topic will be :-

 

Climbing Plants & Wall Shrubs  -  with Hazel Kaye

  Ian Wilson  

WI Report 

 

 The President Mrs Sylvia Lloyd welcomed members back after the Christmas break and wished everyone

 a  Happy New Year.

Business was discussed and names were taken for the Amateur Operatic Society’s next production.

Members said how much they had enjoyed the Festival of Christmas, which was held in the Village Church in December and replaced the usual party in the Village Hall.

Mrs Lloyd thanked everyone who had donated to the collection, which was taken at this service of readings and carols in aid of the Loughborough Rainbows Children’s Hospice. £109-30p was raised and sent off to them. The Institute has received a letter of thanks.

There were two speakers at this meeting, both for Kidney Research U.K. The first was Mrs Gill Southgate of Coddington W.I. whose daughter was diagnosed with kidney disease at the age of seven after several visits to doctors. Apart from her medication, she had to go on a diet that omitted most of the goodies that children love. 

At the age of fourteen, she had to go on dialysis, but not by machine, it was done at home and she had to learn to do it for herself. This involved having a delivery of many plastic bags of liquid, which were delivered to the house and had to be stored. Despite this, she went on to attend university where she shared a room; her fellow students were very understanding and she managed her dialysis. She went on to get her degree.

 She was determined right from the beginning that she wanted to live as normal a life as possible and she is now married. The only consideration when looking at houses was “Did it have a shed big enough for storing the plastic bags?”

A most courageous young girl who is also a talented musician and has used her talent to raise money for the charity by producing a C.D. This was for sale along with other items.

 

The second speaker was Mrs Eileen Bagguley who is the Area Fundraiser for the charity, and had journeyed from Derby.

She told us that the aim and purpose of Kidney Research U.K. is to provide funding to doctors, nurses and researchers into kidney disease across the U.K. this is done with grants. The charity relies entirely on the public for funds and has many fundraising events throughout the year with many fundraisers all over the country. There is no amount too small in the search for saving lives.

It is estimated that three million people will have their lives threatened by kidney disease over the next decade.

A competition for a brooch was won by Mrs Margaret Wiseman,  with Mesdames Pat Nelson and Barbara Finn second and third.

 

Our next meeting is on February l4th at 7.30 p.m. in the Village Hall. The speaker is not as in the programme.

The competition is for a hair slide.

The hostesses are Mesdames B.Nelson, M.Bark and J.Bryan.

 Mrs D Marshall         

Winthorpe Cricket Club

               
It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I am writing this report following the death earlier this month of Paul Evans, the Chairman of Winthorpe Cricket Club.  Our condolences and thoughts are with Toni and Paul’s family at this most difficult of times.  Paul has been with the club well over 20 years since moving to Winthorpe and fulfilled many roles in that time including his latest as Chairman.  He also continued to play until the end of the 2006 season bowling consistently in his own inimitable style.  It is very difficult to put into words the contribution that Paul has made in his time with the Club.  I think it is suffice to say that without him it is doubtful that Winthorpe Cricket Club would be in existence today.  It isn’t widely known that at one time he kept the club going both financially and administratively which is a mark of the modesty of the man.  On a personal level he will be greatly missed and Winthorpe Cricket Club will be a lesser organisation without him. Work continues in the background preparing for the forthcoming season.  Our search for funds both to provide plant and equipment for the ongoing maintenance of the ground and also the provision of the new roof. 

The next stage of our plans is to get the areas immediately surrounding the pavilion tidied up and sorted, so you may see some further signs of activity at the ground over the next few weeks and months, weather permitting that is.  Additionally we need to beg, borrow or steal plant and equipment so we can prepare and maintain the pitch, the outfield and perimeter, for the forthcoming season.  So if you or you know of anyone who may have second hand equipment for sale that would be suitable please get in touch. With regard to the funding situation the Club would like to thank Councillor Vincent Dobson who has presented us with a cheque for £1,000.  This was a most welcome surprise and has immediately been allocated to the roofing fund giving it a much needed boost.  If you are aware of any sources of funding or would like to play the part of benevolent benefactor please give me or any other member of the club a call, you will be assured of a warm welcome. With regard to the new roof and costs that were reported in last months Focal Point, I would just like to clarify the situation.  We have been quoted a budget figure of £8,000 to provide a new roof lock stock and barrel from a company in Leicestershire. 

 Given the current forecast on cost to complete the project the Club should have some funds left in the coffers to put towards to roofing fund.  However depending upon how much will be spent on equipment will determine the shortfall for the roof.  We believe that we will need to spend up to £1,500 on grounds man’s equipment which would leave us with a current shortfall in the region of £6,000 if not then the shortfall is more likely to be in the region of £4,500.  In any event there will be a roof going onto the pavilion at some stage. 

I’d also like to remind you about the Bonus Ball draw which runs throughout the year providing the club with much needed funds.  Without it we would find it impossible to survive, so if you find yourself in the Lord Nelson why not try your luck.  Just ask the bar staff for details of how to enter and it only costs a £1. The Club will be having an open day prior to the season starting once the pavilion is fully operational giving the opportunity for those interested to come down to Holme Lane and check out the new facilities. 

I should be able to provide Focal Point with a definite date in the March issue.  As ever we will keep you informed of events via Focal Point and also this year through the village website.  Once again thank you all for your continued support. Contact DetailsAndy Fereday – 678622 - Ashley Locke – 703988 - Peter Bateson - 704787Simon Potter – 612968 Andy Fereday 

Andy

  

The Real Santa Claus surprises Tiger Tots!

 

Over 45 children together with their parents, grandparents, nannies and carers enjoyed a festive Christmas party at the Community Centre on Friday 14th December.

Many of the children took part in this years Christmas crafts –         Reindeer masks - a messy combination of brown paint, glue, glitter and licky sticky paper and the not so messy alternative of decorating packets of reindeer food - a special mix of cereal and glitter to be sprinkled outside their doors on Christmas Eve! - and you thought reindeer just ate carrots!!

The usual favourite toys were out - bouncy castle, slide, seesaw, cars, tractor - all fantastic at ‘wearing out’ children and adults alike! 

The clearing of the craft tables was enough to alert the children that it was time for lunch - no chance to prepare a festive table as 45 hungry mouths took their place - keen to be fed.  Colourful table clothes, Christmas crackers, snowman napkins and most importantly paper plates filled with healthy food and not so healthy treats covered the long table.

The highlight of the party was a surprise visit from Santa - yes the real one - white hair and beard, rosy cheeks, glasses, big black boots and belt and a really warm looking red furry suit - no doubt essential for the North Pole - and Winthorpe!  The children were taken aback as he arrived ringing his bell and singing a hearty Ho Ho Ho!  They soon sat around in awe waiting for their name to be called to collect their present from Santa - some brave enough to have a chat and a photo. A truly memorable experience for everyone!

Santa helped draw the raffle tickets before he had to go - he is a busy man after all! 

A serious discussion between those old enough to discuss, concluded that this had really been the real Santa Claus and that they would write and thank him for their presents and suggest next year that he stayed and had a bounce on the bouncy castle with them!

Thank you to all who contributed - the committee and their parents, all those who donated goodies for the raffle and food for the lunch - oh and most importantly Keith Britten who was able to get in touch with the "real" Santa to ask him to come and visit us !!!

Tiger Tots

Tiger Tots, a parent and toddler group, meets on Fridays at 9.30am at the Community Centre in Winthorpe.  We are a charity and only charge £1 per child.  The group is run by a volunteer committee made up of a handful of mums from Winthorpe, Holme and Newark who spend time putting toys out and away, preparing drinks, making cakes for children's birthdays, crafts and all the work that goes into making things run smoothly.  Children come from all around -Winthorpe, surrounding villages and Newark.  It is a great place to meet other adults and for your children to enjoy playing and taking part in activities together prior to going to school.  

Julia Loach  

 

WINTHORPE VILLAGE HOLIDAY GROUP

There are just a few places left for the four day trip to the Edinburgh Tattoo and nearby attractions. We will be leaving on Thursday, 7th August and returning on Sunday, 10th August.

 As well as the Tattoo, there will be the opportunity to tour Edinburgh and to visit the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Falkirk wheel.If you are interested please contact me as soon as possible and I will give you all the details. 

Peter Foden, 704241.

 

WINTHORPE VILLAGE QUIZ    

7 for 7.30pm, Saturday, 9th February, 2008 At the Community Centre Quiz and raffle in aid of charityTeams of 6  Tickets £6 (includes supper) available from the Post Office 

Please bring your own drinks

 

 

From the Parish Records - 1917

 

On May 1st, 1917, a special Parish Meeting was called to discuss a letter received, from Newark. Rural District Council suggesting that a "Rats and Sparrows Club" should be formed. At this period in the war it was felt the situation relative to food was such that measures should be taken against the depredations these pests carried out on the crops of grain.

 The letter also suggested the following rewards should apply: -

 1/-per dozen. Rat’s tails.                            

   3d per dozen for heads of fully-fledged house sparrows.  

2d per dozen for unfledged.  

1d per dozen for house sparrows eggs. 

As far as expenditure to meet these rewards was concerned this was to be obtained from persons interested (presumably this was the farming fraternity), voluntary sources, and parish funds.

It is evident from the minutes of the meeting that it was one thing to be patriotic and quite another to administer satisfactorily, the arrangements which would be needed.

  The minutes go on to say "A long and desultory conversation was carried on as to whether the rewards be paid out of the funds of Parish Property - the amounts to be paid - as to who should do the work and on what terms of remuneration, but no one proposed any definite resolutions."  

This was followed by the Chairman saying that as there were only four ratepayers attending and none interested in corn growing and that an hour had already been wasted, he was sick of the whole thing.

 At this point it was proposed the meeting be adjourned for a week, and the Chairman then proposed an amendment that it be adjourned for 10 years.

 Neither proposal was seconded. The minutes end by the statement that the chairman left the Chair intimating that it was the last time he would be present in that capacity.    T

his is an item I have taken from the village website. It has appeared once before in this newsletter it was submitted by Kitty Euston in 1982 I believe.

 I just love the descriptive ‘minute’ taking.

 Ed.

Rose Lawrence

 I would like to say how much I appreciated the support of friends from Winthorpe who came to the funeral service for Rose on Friday 23rd November 2007.

I have been quite overwhelmed by the number of people who either came to the service or have written to me, many of whom have spoken of Rose’s special gift as a nurse, her warmth as a friend and her faith in God.  It has helped give me and my children greater strength to know the affection in which Rose was held by so many. 

Rose faced her illness with amazing bravery and courage, refusing to let the disease get the better of her, always speaking of the positive.  Her faith never wavered throughout the most difficult of days.  Rose has been a true inspiration to all of us. 

A total of £1093.23 in the form of donations has been forwarded to our chosen charity; Beaumond House.   

 Care is provided there for those who, like Rose, have a life limiting or long-term illness.  I would like to thank everyone who made such a valuable contribution to help maintain this much-needed service in Newark. 

Michael  


 

Church Notices 

 

2008 has begun unfortunately with the loss of some of our friends.

Alan Taylor lived in the village for over 20 years and had been involved in various activities. He supported the church and in past years sang with Fleet Singers of Collingham. He also was a member of a quartet, which sang in Winthorpe Church in previous years.

He will be a loss to the village.

We are also very sad to say farewell to Kate Shelmerdine. She was a lovely person and loved by those who knew her. She had been very poorly for some time but was uncomplaining, kept her serenity and smile and was always more concerned about your welfare than her own.

Kate was very interested in the ‘Children’s Society’ and collected the boxes each year, counted the money and returned them for another year. This has not been an onerous task so we are hoping that someone will volunteer to continue Kate’s good work. The collection from the Christingle Service is always given to this Society.

We shall miss Kate very much as she contributed much to the life of the church and our sympathies are with Malcolm as they were a great support to one another.

Work on the church tower is expected to begin shortly. We are applying for a faculty to remove a monument from the vestry, to be then mounted on the south wall inside the church. This monument was originally in the previous church and is in memory of Robert Taylor who was Physician in Ordinary to George111.

 There is still maintenance work to be undertaken on the exterior of the church which has become eroded by the weather. This will be our next project and will be costly but necessary.

  Church Bells:-

They will ring for practices on Thursday evenings from 7.30pm until 9pm and possibly for the following:-

February 12th Holy Communion Service 10.15am

February 19th Family Service 10.l5am

February 24th Evensong 5pm

  From the Registers:-

R.I.P.

18th December - Joyce Audrey White.

8th January - Alan William Taylor.

18th January - Kate Shelmerdine

  Brass Cleaning:-

June Taylor & Jean Everson.

We send our good wishes to everyone in the village and especially to those who are unwell at this present time. If they would like a visit from the Revd David Milner, they can contact him on 892682 or telephone Ann on 702104

 Alan & Ann

Up-to-date notices of our church services and those of the other church services in the Benefice are displayed in the Post Office. 

 A daughters love…….. 

My mother is so many things,

She’s patient, good and kind,

My mother’s love is so complete

And yet it doesn’t bind,

In her I know I have a friend,

On her I can rely,

My deepest thoughts I can confer,

I never need be shy.

I knew these things because this

Love has grown throughout the years.

A love inspired by sharing, the

Many happy tears.

By Linda Frew when she was aged 12

Rector  

Dear all, 

  Although we are just entering February in church terms we are now in Lent, a period look forward to Easter!!!   I’m often asked what the festivals leading up to Easter are all about.  Here follows a taster of what is in store over the coming weeks:-

Candlemas

On February 2nd the Christian Church celebrates Candlemas – a commemoration of the day when the Virgin Mary went to the temple to be ritually purified on the fortieth day following the birth of her son Jesus, and also to present him in the temple.  At this point Simeon, a devout man worshipping in the temple, recognised that through this child would come salvation, and a ‘light to lighten the gentiles’

The name Candlemas comes from the fact that it was once the practice in Christian churches for the priest to bless on this day all the candles which were to be used in church throughout the coming year.

There is a special Candlemas service at St John the Baptist Church at 6.00pm on 2 February.

Lent

On February 6th this year (the date varies according to the moveable date of Easter) the Church begins the period known as Lent – a word which means spring - and may come from the lengthening of daylight hours.  For Christians, this is a time of preparation for the great festival of Easter, when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

As Jesus prepared himself for ministry by forty days of fasting in the desert, so the Church sets aside forty weekdays.

During this time, we are encouraged to practise self-discipline, either by giving up something we particularly like, or undertaking some special church-related activity.

The day before Lent starts is called Shrove Tuesday, referring to the fact that Christians would be sure to have confessed their sins and been shriven, or forgiven, before embarking on the holy time of Lent. Since Lent traditionally involved fasting, people would use up just beforehand their especially rich foods such as fats and eggs – hence the association of Shrove Tuesday with pancake-making. 

In some countries Shrove Tuesday is a time of carnival, such as Mardi Gras (literally ‘Fat Tuesday’) in France.

The following day, Ash Wednesday, is the first day of Lent.  It is called Ash Wednesday because of the ancient practice of covering one’s head in ash to signify shame and penitence.  Nowadays the palm crosses traditionally given out on the previous year’s Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter) are collected in and burnt and the resulting ash is smeared in the shape of a cross on the forehead of those attending an Ash Wednesday service.

There is a special service for Ash Wednesday at St John the Baptist Church at 7.30pm on 6 February.

During Lent the regular service pattern remains unaltered.  We have had a number of big events at All Saints, among them a service remembering Alan Taylor, his work and contribution to life at Winthorpe and beyond. Kate Shelmerdine died in January. 

Following a private Cremation at Wilford Hill, a service of Thanksgiving took place at church. In life Kate avoided the lime light, and might have been rather surprised at so many wanting to remember and celebrate her  achievement in life.  I’m certain the thoughts and prayers of many will be with her husband Malcolm as he begins a new stage in his journey.

In Christian Love,

David          

  Barbara Callicott thought that you might like this :–

Be Your Age! 

When you are eighty

Are skinny or weighty

You come to the age or the stage when you’re told,

“You must not give in dear

It’s really a sin, dear,

So hold up your chin dear, you’re not really old!”

BUT

Why should I be sprightly

And skip about lightly

And why should I hustle and bustle and race?

I don’t mind a ramble

But don’t want to scramble

And much rather amble at sensible pace. 

It’s not suicidal

For me to be idle

Why should I be sitting and knitting instead?

Why shouldn’t I let up?

Why should they be het up

If I will not get up one day from my bed?

I have great aversion

To needless exertion

It’s nice once or twice to arrive at the stage

When folks that are good, doT

he things that I should do,

And easily could do, but won’t at my age. 

The years I’ve spent baking,

In cooking, dressmaking,

In mending, unending in bundles and stacks.

I want time to ponder

My thoughts want to wander

Much time I would squander, why can’t I relax?T

hey say, “Don’t be fragile

But active and agile,

Your fire of endeavour must never grow cold!

But oh, how I treasure

My long-looked-for leisure,

It gives me great pleasure,I

 like being old!                      

HYLDA RICHARDS  
                       

 SERVICES IN FEBRUARY                        

            SUNDAY 3rd             

            9am                  Holy Communion, Holme.

                                                NO SERVICE IN WINTHORPE                                                          

            SUNDAY 10th Lent 1

            10.15am                       Holy Communion, Winthorpe.

            5pm                             Evensong, Holme

             SUNDAY 17th Lent 2

            9am                              Holy Communion, Langford.

            10.15am                       Family Service, Winthorpe.

             THURSDAY 21st

            10am                            Holy Communion, Winthorpe. BCP

             SUNDAY 24th Lent 3

            5pm                             Evensong, Winthorpe.

             ALL ARE MOST WELCOME   

CHURCH CLEANING VOLUNTEERS 

1st Mrs Lloyd, Mrs Nelson       15th Miss Applewhite

 

           

   FEBRUARY CALENDAR 

 

Monday 4th            Silver Bin.

Thursday 7th           Library Van.

Saturday 9th            Village Quiz, 7pm  Comm. Centre.

Monday 11th          Luncheon Club, 12.30pm  Centre.

                              Green Bin

Tuesday 12th          Tuesday Club Coffee Morn. 10.30am V.H.

Thursday 14th         WI meeting, 7.30pm Village Hall.

Monday 18th          Silver Bin.

Wednesday 20th     Garden Club, 7.30pm  Comm. Centre.

Thursday 21st         Library Van.

Monday 25th          Green Bin.

Tuesday 26th          Tues. Club, Games Afternoon, 2.30pm V.H.

Thursday 28th         Whist Drive, 7pm Village Hall.

 Village organisations and local bodies – if at anytime you would like to get in touch with a village contact, why not try the village website.