May 2003 - Contents Christian Aid Week - Work in Iraq Repton, Foremark and Newton Solney Parish Churches An unusual wedding Ascension Day - Thursday 29th May Services Readers and Intercessors at St. Wystan's Altar Flowers at St. Wystan's Brasses at St. Wystan's United Reformed Church Services at the United Reformed Church Coffee Morning, Saturday 10th May 10.30am Junior Church Anniversary, Sunday 18th May, and 6.30pm Shell Schoolroom Roof Fund Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Baptisms Joshua Daniel Rippon Jack Hinks Henry Michael Wright Alexander Luc Ricoux Marriages Ruth Kerry and Jak Thompson Funerals and Burial of Ashes Elsie Wild John Brooks Canon Frederick John Henry Lisemore Freddie Lismore, Vicar of Repton St Wystan's Open Gardens day Sunday 18th May Open Gardens Scarecrow Competition Open Gardens Scarecrow Competition: Entry Form Open Gardens, Home Produce Stall St Wystan's Church Fκte Recycling for St Wystan's Development Fund Mothers' Union Dorcas Group 'Beads & Beauty' for the Repton Handbell Ringers www.reptonchurch.org.uk St Mary's Church, Newton Solney St. Mary's Church Buffet Lunch, Sunday May 4th St. Mary's Church Flower Festival (31st May - 5th June) Tree Competition St. Mary's Church Barbecue - 21st June at 6.00pm Thankyou St Wystan's Charities Gordon & Dorothy MacDonald, Diamond Wedding Anniversary Celebration Musical Events Concert by The Derwent Singers Charities Christian Aid Week: 11th - 17th May Repton & District District Care Group Support for the Padley Centre Derbyshire Association for the Blind Repton Village and History Repton WI Repton Village Society Repton Village Hall Annual General Meeting Repton Scouts JoGs A.G.M. St Wystan's School Open Morning Friends of St Wystan's School Plant Sale 'Remembering Repton & Milton' Newton Solney Village Matters Garden talk & coffee evening Newton Solney School: Cadbury World Gardening Notes

Christian Aid Week - Work in Iraq

As a principal aid agency representing the Churches, Christian Aid carries out much long term aid and development work in countries all over the world all the time. However, like all aid agencies, they depend on your generosity.

Working in conjunction with Iraqi churches they now plan to put all the extra effort they can into the immense business of rebuilding the shattered country. They are already responding to urgent requests for emergency funds to provide water, sanitation, essential household items, basic school equipment and plastic sheeting to serve as shelter for those forced from their homes.

Christian Aid has been working in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq since 1992, supporting a range of local organisations as they strive to bring real and lasting change in a situation of great need. This has given them experience of working in the area, experience which will be of great value as they extend their work into other parts of the country in the post-war situation.

For years Iraqis have lived in fear for themselves and their families. Many experienced Saddam's ferocious attacks on whole communities in the Kurdish north and around Basra in the south. Even before the start of the latest war the humanitarian situation was grave. Over half the population was dependent on food aid under the UN's Oil for Food programme. Now that the infrastructure has taken such a beating, both from allied action and the disastrous anarchy which followed the regime's collapse, the need for assistance will be even greater. Getting the nation back on its feet will take all the energy and help that we can give.

The income which comes from Christian Aid Week collections is the basis of their funding, though they also launch special appeals, as they have for work in Iraq, when there is a particularly major crisis. During this month you should receive a Christian Aid envelope through your door and later one of the collectors will come round to ask for your contribution. Door-to-door collecting isn't always a popular job, and I am immensely grateful to the people who undertake it. I hope you will be welcoming, and generous, when they come round.

Services at Foremark, Newton Solney
and St. Wystan's Churches

An unusual wedding

On Sunday May 4th the Parish Communion service at St Wystan's will include a wedding. I don't think that this has happened here before.

Sheila Henry, who has been much involved in the life of the church here for many years, is to marry Michael Bates, who sings with the Wystan Singers and has often stood in as reserve organist. Sheila's first husband Michael, died tragically during a trekking holiday in Nepal early in 1994. He was Churchwarden at St Wystan's from 1983-1987. Anyone who would like to come is welcome, and Michael and Sheila are providing drinks at the back of the church after the service - a change from the usual coffee!

Ascension Day - Thursday 29th May

After his resurrection at Easter, Jesus appeared to his disciples intermittently over a period which St Luke says was 40 days. His final appearance was on the occasion which is known as the Ascension. This year Ascension Day falls on Thursday 29th May. As usual the day begins with a hymn sung from the top of the church tower by pupils from Repton School at 7.30 am.

A short Holy Communion service follows in St Wystan's at 7.45 am.

In the evening, at 8.30 there will be a Communion Service, with hymns, in Repton School Chapel. This is for the parish and also a voluntary service for youngsters at the School.

St. Wystan's

Foremark

Newton Solney

Readers and Intercessors at St. Wystan's

4th May		Epistle: Colossians 3, 12 - 17: Jane Barrass  
		Offertory: Robin & Rosemary Russian		
11th May		1st lesson: Acts 4, 5 - 12: Jan Roberts  
		2nd lesson: John 10, 11 - 18: Audrey Morris			
25th May		Epistle:  1 John 5, 1 - 6: Adrian Argyle
		Offertory: Helen Jowett & Heather Rothera
29th May		Epistle: Acts 1, 1 - 11: Judith Fox
		Offertory: Martin & Francis Wimbush

Altar Flowers

4th May		Mrs M Boddice
11th May		Mrs L Owen
18th May		Mrs F Hill
25th May		St Wystan's School.

Brasses

1st & 8th December		Mrs N. Driver
4th & 11th May		Miss H Finch
18th & 25th May		Mrs S Henry.

The United Reformed Church

Coffee Morning, Saturday 10th May 10.30am

Our Easter Coffee Morning was our most successful yet! Don't miss the next opportunity to have a cup of coffee with friends, to buy those home-made cakes and marmalade, to play the children's game and to buy cards and stationery from the Webb Ivory stall.

Junior Church Anniversary, Sunday 18th May, and 6.30pm

This year the theme of the Junior Church anniversary is 'The Jesus Team', exploring what it is like to follow Jesus in drama, verse and song. All of our children and young people will be taking part in what will prove to be an entertaining and challenging exploration of what it means to be a Christian, with a challenge for us all. Everyone is very welcome, and your support is much appreciated by the children.

Shell (age 7+)

Shell meets on Mondays, beginning 12th May, from 6.30 to 7.30pm. There will be no meeting on the bank holiday Mondays this month.

Schoolroom Roof Fund

We wish to thank the anonymous donor who donated the magnificent sum of £500 to our schoolroom roof fund. We have not succeeded in our attempts to secure a sizeable grant, though we have money promised from the Parish Council and the Derbyshire Churches and Chapels Trust, so we still have to raise a lot of money ourselves. Many thanks to the people who have also given sizeable donations over the past weeks: all amounts, great or small, are greatly appreciated.

A Gift Day will be held on Saturday 14th June. More details next month.

Baptisms

Joshua Daniel Rippon, son of Daniel Rippon and Nicola Lapczuk of 42 Dewchurch Drive, Littleover was baptised at St Wystan's Repton on Saturday 5th April.

Jack Hinks, son of Michelle and Paul Hinks, and his cousin Thomas George Hinks, son of Trina and Chris Hinks, were baptised at the United Reformed Church on Saturday 12th April. Both families live in Woodville.

Henry Michael Wright, son of Christina Bright of 17 Best Avenue, Burton-on-Trent and Michael Wright, was baptised at St Mary's, Newton Solney on Sunday 13th April.

Alexander Luc, son of Etienne & Katharine Ricoux of 7 Milton Court, Chesterton Close, London SW18, was baptised at St Wystan's, Repton on Saturday 19th April.

Marriages

Ruth Kerry and Jak Thompson, of Uttoxeter, were married at the United Reformed Church on Saturday 19th April.

Funerals and Burial of Ashes

Elsie Wild of 21 The Crescent, Repton, died in The Queen's Hospital, Burton-on-Trent on Wednesday 26th March. Her funeral was held at St Wystan's on Tuesday 1st April and was followed by burial in Repton Cemetery.

John Brooks, of Fisher Close, Repton died on 9th April aged 67. His funeral was held at Markeaton Crematorium on Wednesday 16th April.

The ashes of Canon Frederick John Henry Lisemore, who was Vicar of Repton and Foremark from 1970 to 1977, were buried in Repton churchyard on Monday 14th April.

Freddie Lismore, Vicar of Repton

Freddie Lisemore was Vicar of Repton from 1970 to 1977. After retiring he and Daphne went to live at Barton-under-Needwood. He died at the age of 91 in Hoar Cross Nursing home on 7th March. His funeral was held at Barton church on Friday 14th March.

Freddie was born in Oxford and spent his childhood there. At school he excelled at athletics and cricket and showed an early talent for acting. He went to Oxford University where he read theology and was ordained in 1937. He started as curate in a parish in Ipswich but when war broke out in 1939 he was one of the first to volunteer as a Chaplain. He was sent to France almost immediately. There he had a harrowing time as the British retreated in the face of German assault. It included having to bury 99 soldiers in an orchard almost single handed. He managed to hitch a lift to Dunkirk where he spent three days on the beaches waiting to be picked up, and for his work there he was mentioned in dispatches. Freddie and Daphne were married in 1940 after which he was posted to the Far East where he eventually became Senior Chaplain to the British forces in Burma.

When the war ended he worked as a curate in Rugby, before becoming Vicar of St Nicholas Radford, near Coventry in 1948. After nine productive years, he moved in 1957 to become Vicar of Ashbourne where for 13 years he and Daphne became much involved in local affairs. Among many other things he was a governor of three local schools and Chairman of Governors at two of them. He was also Chaplain to the local hospital and President of the Rotary Club. He was also the first Vicar to receive the accolade of turning up the football in the annual Shrove Tuesday event.

In 1970 he became Vicar of Repton, with Milton, Foremark and Ingleby, where he continued his enthusiastic, happy ministry. He stayed here until he retired to Barton-under-Needwood in 1977. There he did everything but live in retirement. He was constantly in demand and took services in some 48 different churches during his 'retirement'. He kept up a lifelong interest in sport and was also a talented musician, adept at both the piano and the organ.

Robin Russian writes of him: "He was a wonderful parish priest whose ability to relate to everyone (particularly children and young people) was legendary. He was very caring and gave pastoral care whenever required. He was kindness itself, was never in the least pompous, and gave wise counsel to many."

St Wystan's

Open Gardens day Sunday 18th May

The Open Gardens Day is being run in conjunction with the Scarecrow Competition. Twelve gardens will be open to visitors from 2 to 6 pm. Programmes will be available in village shops and, as usual, at the Church lych-gate on the day from 1.30pm. Admission is by programme: adults £2, children free; proceeds to St Wystan's Church Funds.

Afternoon teas, including cream teas, will be available in the Village Hall from 2.30 to 5.30. Home produce and plants will be on sale. We will be most grateful to all the people who so kindly provide cakes, scones etc and to those who help to serve the teas. Please contact Mrs Jan Gillham (703340).

Open Gardens Scarecrow Competition

Categories
There are three categories for entrants:
1. Adults (individuals aged 16 and over): Prize £20
2. Businesses and Organisations: Prize £20
3. Children (under 16): 1st prize £15, 2nd prize £10, 3rd prize £5

Rules
a. Any competitor(s) may enter as many SCARECROWS as desired but an entry fee is payable for each one. Only one SCARECROW can be entered on each form.
b. A minimum entry fee of £1 per SCARECROW should accompany the entry form. All proceeds will go to St. Wystan's Church.
c. All competition SCARECROWS must be clearly visible from a public highway and must be in position from 12 noon until 5.00 p.m. Saturday 17th May and 12 noon until 6.00 p.m. on Sunday 18th May. Judging will be by independent visiting judges on Saturday between 12 noon and 4.00 p.m. and prizes will be presented at 5.00 p.m. in St. Wystan's Churchyard.
d. The closing date for entries is Thursday, 15th May 2003. This is to allow time for the location of the competing SCARECROWS to be published in the Open Gardens' Programme so visitors will be able to find and view them.
e. Competitors will be given a number to place by their SCARECROW.

A few pieces of advice
Although we have called this a SCARECROW competition, we are encouraging competitors to be inventive with their design for a 'GARDEN CHARACTER'. If you decide to fill your scarecrow with a material such as paper which can become sodden when wet, we recommend that the stuffing is encased in plastic bin liners, or some similar waterproof lining. Do take your SCARECROW in to the warmth at night to protect it from the attention of vandals. Artistic licence and amusing captions are definitely encouraged!

Open Gardens Scarecrow Competition: Entry Form

I wish to enter a SCARECROW in the following category (please tick as appropriate) and enclose my entry fee of £1.00:

a) Adult (name):………………………………………………………………...

b) Business/Organisation (title) …………………………………………………

c) Child (name):…………………………………………… ……..…

d) My SCARECROW will be found at the following address:






Please print this slip and put it with an entry fee in a sealed envelope in the box in The Corner Shop, The Post Office, Redshaws the Butchers, or deliver it to 32 Milton Road. Further information may be obtained by contacting Morag Hill on 01283 702799.

Open Gardens, Home Produce Stall

Turning out your freezer? If you have any fruit to spare which can be 'converted' into preserves, please contact Glenda Brewin in church, or telephone 702040. Donations of preserves, pies, flans, quiches, bread and fresh garden produce will be most welcome on the day.

St Wystan's Church Fκte

Recycling for St Wystan's Development Fund

There are plans to make changes at the back of the church. The first stage would involve installing lavatories and a kitchen. The first drawings were exhibited at the Annual Meeting in the Village Hall in February.

A steady trickle of money towards this project comes from the recycling of aluminium cans, tinfoil and steel cans which is undertaken by Norman and Brenda Brewin. In the first three months of the year they made £55. Please keep them coming. It not only provides money but is good for the environment too. It reduces the immense amount of energy needed to smelt aluminium from bauxite, the natural aluminium ore and cuts the quantity of junk we send to landfill.

Mothers' Union

The Vicar, the Revd Julian Barker, came to speak at the meeting on March 19th. Basing his talk on St Mark's account of Christ's temptations in the wilderness, he explained how Jesus felt the necessity to be alone with God and through prayer and fasting to contemplate and discover just what was God's will for him and how he was to carry it out. Julian suggested that during the days of Lent we might follow Christ's example to listen to God's voice and to learn through prayer the way he should wish us to live our own lives.

Suggestions were made for a branch outing later in the year. One of our own branch members, Mrs Brenda Cowley, was the speaker at the April meeting. Her subject: 'MU in the Far East and Down under' told about a wonderful holiday she and her husband had several years ago w hen they visited Thailand and Australia. She spoke of the two extremes in Thailand - great wealth and terrible poverty. A letter was read from our overseas correspondent in Gosford. We send very best wishes to our Branch Leader, June Scott, who was unable to be with us because of illness.

Three members had attended the Deanery Overseas service at Newhall on March 27th. A raffle was held for branch funds.

Mr Sylvia Fox will be the speaker at the meeting on May 21st. Her subject: 'Read Mark and learn'. Tea hostesses: Mrs K Dent, Mrs R Hudson.

Dorcas Group

We are holding our usual coffee morning and sale of plants at 3 Stratford Close on Saturday 17th May from 10.30am until 12 noon. Coffee and biscuits 70p. Raffle. Bring and buy cakes. Everyone welcome.

'Beads & Beauty' for the Repton Handbell Ringers

The Repton Handbell Ringers are to run a 'Beads & Beauty' stall at St Wystan's Church Fete in the Vicarage garden on Saturday June 14th. They would welcome any donations of Jewellery or toiletries. Ring Jeanette Griffiths on 702439 or drop them in to 41 Main St, Repton.

www.reptonchurch.org.uk

Who brought Christianity to Repton? When? How many saints have lived and worked in Repton? Why is there a door over the chancel arch? Why are two nave pillars split down the middle? Why do the arms of George III hang over the church entrance? Why is there a memorial plaque so high on the tower that you can't read it?

The answers to these and many other questions can be found on the new church website. You can read about the history of Christianity in Repton as well as the history of the buildings, the bells, the glass and the monuments.

History, however, is only one aspect of the website. Even more important is to show who we are, what we believe and what we do. When you log on, a notice-board will remind you of forthcoming events. Further in, you will find information on the bellringers, handbell ringers, young people, musicians, mothers' union, sewing group, prayer and lent groups, neighbourhood help, social events, the P.C.C. and churchwardens, the vicar and his predecessors back (with some gaps) to the first bishops of the Mercians.

There is practical information too, the times of services, rotas (for flowers, coffee, brasses and sidesmen), how to floodlight the church, information on church redevelopment, how to contact us (and for people further away, how to find us), a Bible search engine, information on recycling and publications.

Magazines are archived here (starting with December 2002) and for those of you who organise events, the most up-to-date copy of 'Forthcoming Village Events' is to be found here too.

To access the site you will need to use the address above; we will publish to search engines shortly. If you fear you will get lost in the site, be reassured, from every point, you can access the site index.

Finally, a plea for help. Although much has been done, the site is by no means complete; if you can suggest additions or corrections, do please e-mail

St Mary's Church

St. Mary's Church Buffet Lunch, Sunday May 4th

Have you got your ticket yet? If not contact Hazel Ward on 701244 as soon as possible!

St. Mary's Church Flower Festival (31st May - 5th June)

Can you help with any of the following?

Church Cleaning: Friday May 23rd from 9.00am and Saturday May 24th from 9.30am.
Greenery: If you have any suitable greenery for us to use in the displays, we would be grateful if it could be placed in the buckets of water at the back of church on Tuesday or Wednesday 27th / 28th May.
Refreshments: We would appreciate any cakes, scones etc. so that we can provide light refreshments for our visitors.
Duty Rota: We need volunteers to be stewards during the Festival and to serve refreshments. If you can spare an hour on any of the days, please sign the lists at the back of Church or contact Hazel Ward on 701244

Thank you for all your support and most important COME AND ENJOY THE FESTIVAL itself. You will be made most welcome.

Tree Competition

A quiz on Trees will provide fun for all the family. Copies are on sale in Newton Solney Post Office, The Unicorn Inn, The Brickmakers' Arms and Hairs and Graces (Repton). Proceeds towards Church Funds.

St. Mary's Church Barbecue - 21st June at 6.00pm

This is being arranged in the grounds of Newton House by kind permission of Mr Joe Bailey. Keep the date free for a super evening and look out for details in the June Magazine.

Thankyou

St Wystan's Charities

Many thanks to all who supported the Coffee Morning which raised £148.20 for St Wystan's Charities.

Diamond Wedding Anniversary Celebration

My wife and I celebrated our Diamond Wedding Anniversary on Saturday 15th March with members of our family and friends whom we have known for many years, in the Royal British Legion Club, Repton. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking the Club Committee for offering this venue.

Dorothy and I were more than concerned to find ourselves 'centre stage' on this occasion. Since we are in our eighties and creaking a bit, our daughter advised us to stay the course, at least to our anniversary date.

We were married at St Wystan's Church on 13th March 1942, The friendliness and support from so many of our family, some of whom had travelled from Scotland and the South of England, and friends will be remembered by us for the rest of our lives.

Musical Events

Concert by The Derwent Singers
Victoria Requiem

Christian Aid Week: 11th - 17th May

Last year the total collected from the Parishes of Repton and Foremarke (including Ingleby and Milton) was £1558.88. Many thanks again to all who supported the collection. This year we welcome collectors from the Parish of Newton Solney.

During the first week of May you will receive an envelope issued by Christian Aid. The envelopes have been redesigned to make tax reclaiming easier. Christian Aid will again be able to claim back the tax on all gifts from taxpayers. Last year nationally reclaimed tax was worth an additional £800,000. All that is needed is a name, an address and the amount. The envelope will be collected during the week commencing 11th May. If for some reason it is not collected the Corner Shop have kindly agreed to have a container into which you can place your envelope.

Christian Aid is a Christian agency that is not exclusive. It is officially sponsored by forty churches in the UK and Ireland. Your continued support is greatly appreciated, and if you can help collect or distribute envelopes please get in touch.

We still need collectors for the Ingleby area. Even if you are willing to collect once we would be grateful if you would contact Jackie Hurrell [co-ordinator], (702089) or Melodie Kettle (559217). For Newton Solney the contact is Jennifer Haynes (703827). The collection in this area is organized by members of the Church of England, the Roman Catholic Church and the United Reformed Church.

Repton & District District Care Group

Back bv popular demand, Repton & District Care Group present the 'Barrow Singers' performing a light and varied programme at Findern Village Hall on 9th May at 7.30 pm. Doors open at 7 pm. The concert is to raise money towards the purchase of a 24 hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor. Admission is £3.50 by ticket from committee members or on the door. There will be a licensed bar and a raffle.

Mrs. Best (701845), Mrs Hodgkinson (703899), Mr Weston (704049), Mr Chisnell (701307), Mrs Ross (702192), Mrs Thacker (702741)

Support for the Padley Centre

During Lent people at St Wystan's have been bringing an impressive number of tins of food for the Padley Centre in Derby. More have been collected at Repton Post Office. Many thanks to all who have given so generously.

The original rτle of the Padley was as a day centre for people who were homeless or experienced a variety of problems with alcohol, drugs and mental health. Their work has gradually grown, and for several years they have had 10 single bedrooms. The latest Newsletter says "These are usually snapped up as soon as they are vacant. This is more than just a place to sleep. We help people find accommodation and work with them to deal with their health, alcohol/drug dependency or other problems. On average, a resident stays at the Hostel for up to three or four months. The length of stay depends on how long it takes us to help the resident to find suitable move-on accommodation and the level of support needed by the individual to ensure that they can cope in the new setting."

Moving on
Paul moved into the Padley Hostel in December 2001. He was a heroin addict, who had split up with his partner and child. During his stay at the Hostel Paul reduced his drug intake and we managed to get him a place in rehabilitation. After two weeks in rehab., Paul went to stay with his mum, wanting to avoid the circles he had previously mixed in, to avoid temptation. A year later, Paul is working full time, lives in a council property and has furnished it well, has regular access to his child and maintains good relationships with those close to him. During the past year Paul has also addressed other issues, such as taking steps to improve his health. Paul still visits staff at the Padley Hostel to let us know how he's doing.

Other news
Padley Day Centre is open every day of the year including Christmas Day. It receives an average of 120 visits a day. It is a warm, safe, dry place where people can feel comfortable and relax. A range of practical facilities are on offer, including use of a washing machine and dryer, showers and toilets, food, hot drinks and blankets. Regular surgeries are held by a nurse, psychiatric nurse, chiropodist and hairdresser. In 2002 the Centre served 14,070 meals.

DAB needs you!

Repton Village & History

Repton WI

The next meeting is the Resolutions Evening with hot Supper on Tuesday, May 13 at 7.15 in the Village Hall.

Repton Village Society

Over 60 members attended the AGM on the 10th April.

The Officers for 2003/4 are Chairman - Peter Rainey, Vice Chairman - David Guest, Secretary - Alan Kimber and Treasurer - Dennis Dalton. The committee members are Erica Bannister, John Cawdron, Janet Melen, Roger Paulson, John Shortt, Pat Smyth and Alan Webster. Thanks were expressed to Shelagh Evans and Glen Ackerley who both stood down after many years of service to the Society.

There had been a full and enjoyable programme of events in the last year with an increasing attendance. The highlight of the year was the Remembering Repton and Milton Exhibition that attracted an amazingly good turn out in both the Village Hall and the Church on Saturday and Sunday with many old stories being remembered and passed on. We also had a rare opportunity to see Ken Ash's Chronology in the Church, the first time it has been on show since 1984.

The AGM was followed by an illustrated talk, given by Rod Pearson on 'Its Clear and Bright at Post Sunlight'. On the following Saturday a full bus-load visited Port Sunlight - the weather was clear and bright, and we did not need our anoraks nor our woolly jumpers to keep warm! The visit was very interesting with many of the unusual aspects pointed out to us by our knowledgeable guide. The high standard of the housing and the village's layout organised by Lord Leverhulme was surprising. A very enjoyable trip and we must thank Alan Webster and David Guest for organising the talk and visit.

We will be running the Hanging Baskets competition again this year. There will however be two categories for prizes. The first will be for the best Hanging Basket or Container and the second category will be for the best Front Garden. More information will be in the next magazine, so get the green fingers going and lets see if we can improve the standard again this year and continue to make the village more pleasant for us and the many visitors that come to Repton.

Repton Village Hall Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Repton Village Hall Management Committee will be held on Monday 19th May at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall. (Where else!) All villagers are welcome at this meeting.

Repton Scouts

The Repton Scout Group are holding their Field Day on 17th May on the Mitre Field starting at 2.00pm. There will be stalls and games as well as the football competition between all the Scout Groups in the District.

All are welcome - we will be very grateful for your support.

JoGs A.G.M.

Monday 19th May at 7.30 pm at the Den, Mitre Drive.

St Wystan's School Open Morning

On Tuesday 20th May St Wystan's school are holding an open morning for prospective parents, grandparents, children and friends to meet the Headmaster and staff. For further details please telephone Miss Helen Islop, School Secretary, on 01283 703258.

Friends of St Wystan's School Plant Sale

Sunday 11th May, 10.00 am - 1.00 pm in Repton Village Hall.

'Remembering Repton & Milton'

This letter was sent to the Repton Village History Group by Mr Ken Vaughan, who now lives in Barton-under-Needwood and is the fourth generation of his family to have lived in Repton:

"On the 15th and 16th February 2003 I had the pleasure to attend the wonderful exhibition at Repton Village Hall and St Wystan’s Church. It was immediately clear that many hours of research and hard work had gone into the planning and presentation of the exhibition. As a fourth generation Reptonian, who has not lived in the village for over thirty years, the exhibition brought back many happy memories of village life and of the many people who made Repton such a special place to live. Such was the amount of material on display, I was able to find reference to my great-grandparents, grandparents and parents.

I was fascinated by the photographic displays and the many well-researched articles. It was very much a living history of the last hundred-plus years.

Like many other visitors, the exhibition gave me the opportunity to meet friends and acquaintances I had not seen for many years. This gave much pleasure in recounting old stories, discussing specific events and recalling well-known village characters. There was a continuous buzz of happiness and appreciation throughout the village hall. It was clear to all that the event had been a big success.

To achieve that success I realise a tremendous amount of time and effort must have been put in by everyone involved with the Repton Village History Group, and the many other volunteers carrying out the unsung tasks that make such events possible. As someone who was just able to turn up and enjoy the fruits of that hard work, I would like to thank everyone involved for making it such a memorable weekend."

Newton Solney Village Matters

Garden talk & coffee evening

The Newton Solney Horticultural Section is holding a Coffee Evening on Wednesday 14th May at 7.15pm in the Village Hall when Mr Monahan will give a talk on 'The gardens of the National Trust'. Entrance is £1.50 which includes refreshments. There will be various stalls and a raffle. Mr Monahan will be making a donation to the National Trust for his talk. Please come along and support this annual event.

Cadbury World

Newton Solney School are arranging a family day out to Cadbury World on Sunday 11th May. Adult £11.50, Children £9.50 - including admission and coach; under 4s free. Interested? call Angela Lomas, 07751 066 850.

Gardening Notes

Gardening in May will absorb all the time you can give to it. Vegetables need sowing, weeds hoeing, the border tying up, the lawn mowing and feeding; the greenhouse is bulging with bedding plants waiting to go out when the frosts cease, tomatoes need attention and all this time black spot and mildew are appearing in the roses, American mildew on the gooseberries and aphids everywhere. And do keep an eye out for the red lily beetle which is spreading north and devastating lilies; catch them by shaking the lily into a cloth or picking off individually.

The greenhouse will need shading to prevent scorching of the tomatoes or other occupants. Lay straw underneath strawberry plants. Clear beds of spring bedding plants but do not put the summer bedding plants out till the end of the month.

Hanging baskets and containers can be prepared but again kept under cover. Cuttings can be taken of non flowering hydrangea shoots and green tips of hebes and potentillas. May is the month for planting new water lilies and other aquatic plants.

Sow runner beans and French beans, peas, lettuce, beetroot, calabrese, cauliflower, parsnips, leeks outside and marrows, courgettes, squashes and sweet corn under glass. Plant out brassicas - Brussels sprouts, cabbages and cauliflowers - sown last month. And then relax and enjoy the early summer flowers in the border. Oriental poppies come in many colours from orange to red, pink and white. Originating from the hot plains of Turkey, they like a sunny, warm spot and will be in full flower in May. Cedric Morris is a good pink, Perry's white is also good and Goliath is a very good dark red with maroon patches at the base of the petals and stands some four feet tall. Beauty of Livermere is probably synonomous. The leaves can be cut back as soon as they begin to fade. Propagation is by root cuttings in the autumn.

Sweet rocket (Hesperis matronalis) is a good old fashioned cottage perennial providing a good display in May, three foot or so tall and usually lilac or white. Aquilegias will also be in flower with their varied shaped flowers and colours. Iris sibirica should also be in flower. It forms clumps with grass-like leaves and beardless flowers in shades of purple. Many cultivars are available. Late tulips will still be in flower and alliums can make a useful contribution with their purple globular flowers. There is a white variety too. A sphaerocephalum, A afflatuense and A hollandicum 'purple sensation' are all 2 to 2½ feet tall and relatively cheap.

Meconopsis will also be in flower but they need more specialist conditions, needing to be grown in a cool, moist spot with plenty of peat, leaf mould, or garden compost and do best in partial shade. M betonicifolia is the easiest. A wonderful sky blue, it is monocarpic, that is it dies after flowering. However it usually sets plenty of seed which is best sown fresh or kept in the bottom of the refrigerator. M shedoni and M grandis are perennial and have larger blue flowers. M napaulensis is also fairly easy to grow and has pink flowers, but is monocarpic as is M regia with yellow flowers. M cambrica (Welsh poppy) is native to this country. It has yellow to orange flowers and is a deciduous perennial.

We have not seen many siskins this year but the blackcap has been about until very recently. Blue tits are the birds most likely to use the nest boxes. They lay one clutch in the season of up to twelve eggs. If this coincides with the emergence of caterpillars and aphids in our trees and shrubs they will do well but it doesn't always. We had a tawny owl too one evening in the tree over the pond. I suppose it would not be averse to a frog. Most of the birds are appearing in their full breeding plumage. Most birds moult into this but some buntings and finches do it by wearing away the dull tips of their feathers so that, by the breeding season, the full colours are revealed.