August 2003 - Contents A question of style Repton, Foremark and Newton Solney Parish Churches 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 Meet the Minister! Rock Solid, a fun day for children aged 5 and over, Saturday 30th August Church Picnic, Sunday 31st August Shell Gift Day, Saturday 13th September Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Baptisms Adam Oliver and Alice Emma Allsebrook Owen Jack Broadhurst Marriages Rowan Bailey Ewart-White and Rhiannon Mary Haines Simon Russian and Natasha Miles Funerals and Burial of Ashes Rita Etchells Audrey Alice Robinson St Wystan's Church, Repton Sponsored Bicycle Ride or Walk Mothers' Union Recycling for St Wystan's Development Fund St Mary's Church, Newton Solney Repton Deanery Synod Musical Events Repton School Music Society 2003 - 2004 Charities Autistic Society - a thank you Walking for peace at the National Arboretum Repton Village and History Repton Rainbows Repton Village Show Repton WI Repton Village Society: Visit to a World Heritage Site Don Sayers Repton Council Jottings Repton Parish Council: refuse disposal Broadband news Newton Solney Village Matters Out of School Club Gardening Notes

A question of style

I don't normally read the section of The Sunday Times that's called 'Style'. But this issue's cover shocked me. It shows a jewel-encrusted high-heeled shoe, of a make previously unknown to me called Choo, and the headline was: "How many pairs do I own? No idea. You'll have to ask my accountant." The sub-heading was: "inside the fabulous world of Jimmy Choo".

The article inside tells us about the life "of charity lunches, yachts in St Tropez and multiple homes" of the Jimmy Choo women. These women, called Tamara, Adela, Melissa and Chloë, all wear Choo shoes, and one of them explains "they are the ultimate single professional girl's status symbol. Boys buy a fast car, women buy Jimmy Choos." And, we are told, when you buy Choo shoes you buy the fantasy lifestyle - the helicopters, the holidays, the marriage, the cars your husband owns. The cheapest pair is £250; the most expensive £750. Mary Choo customers spend £15,000 a season on Jimmy Choo's shoes.

When I read this (our magazines and newspapers are full of this kind of thing - and remember that The Times is counted top of the pile) I need to pinch myself to remind myself that I am real. And to ask myself how, as a Christian, do I reconcile all this, while living in a world in which 50% of the working population earn less than £1 a day. Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, recently talked about the challenge of how to maintain a vibrant and active spiritual life in a part of the world which is devoted to the pursuit of things - things such as, say, Choo shoes. "We have stopped being surprised," he said. "We look at one another with boredom and anxiety rather than the expectant joy of Christ. And we look, of course, at the world around us with its boredom, greed, indifference, exploitation or whatever, and we don't look at it first and foremost as the earth God wanted."

The Archbishop makes the essential point. We are surrounded by alternative health centres, yoga classes, meditation sessions, but what grips the nation most is the shopping fever. We go into our shopping malls, where there are no clocks, and no contact with the world outside, and shop until we drop. There are no Choo shoes there - yet - but the unattainable of a few years ago - the Monsoon, Accessorize, Aveda, Miss Sixty, Kenzo and DKNY - are all in the parade.

And on one level it's great that we can dress ourselves and our children so fashionably; but we mustn't think that we are shopping for what we need. Shopping does not bring peace, nor lasting fulfilment: this week's essential is next week's has-been. We may want a new television or a new pair of shoes - but do we really need them? The media scream at us that having these things will fill up the longing inside. But of course they don't. Scattered around the shopping malls and the glitter are people whose lives have a spiritual dimension, who dedicate their lives to helping others. And those who choose this selfless way of life are immune to the screams of the advertisers. Of course they face the difficulties and challenges that we all face, but they have discovered that life is a gift of God, and a gift to be shared. People who transcend our consumer culture and find true satisfaction in a life of love and reverence.

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

St. Wystan's

Foremark

Newton Solney

Readers and Intercessors at St. Wystan's

3rd August	1st lesson: 2 Samuel 11.26 -- 12.13: Ken Vincent
		2nd lesson: John 6.24-35: Margaret Shepherd		
10th August	Epistle: Ephesians 4.25-5.2 Robin Yates
		Offertory: John & Karen Perks
24th August	Epistle: Ephesians 6.10-20 Audrey Morris
		Offertory: David & Melodie Bordoli
31st August	Epistle: James 1.17-27 Carol Lloyd
		Offertory: George & Denise Johnson

Altar Flowers

3rd August 		Frances Wimbush
10th August 		Carol Lloyd
17th August 		Beth Rogers
24th August 		Jenny Jones
31st August 		Jo Mountney

Brasses

3rd August 		Audrey Morris
10th & 17th August		Karen Perks
24th & 31st August		Eileen Saunders

The United Reformed Church

Meet the Minister!

The first service taken by Revd Brian Norris, as opposed to Mr Brian Norris, will be at 11am on August 3rd. This is an opportunity to officially welcome him to Repton URC and to share in Holy Communion together.

a fun day for children aged 5 and over Rock Solid Saturday 30th August: 10.30am to 3.00pm at the United Reformed Church, Pinfold Lane, Repton £1.00 per person. Bring a packed lunch Puppets - Painting - Playing games For further details or an application form, please contact Christine Gibbs, 5 Monsom Lane, tel 701581 Jane Astle, 53 Springfield Road, tel 702611

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Church Picnic, Sunday 31st August

Come dressed for a picnic to our morning service at 11, bring sandwiches and drinks (drinks are provided for the children), join our 20 minute service and then set off, in cars, for Foremark Reservoir. A splendid time is guaranteed for all!

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Shell

Shell (age 7+) is on holiday during August and will meet again on Monday 8th September at 6.30pm. All aged between 7 and 11 are welcome.

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Gift Day, Saturday 13th September

This is the day of the Rural Churches Cycle Ride and our next Coffee Morning, and will be an opportunity for you to make a donation to the schoolroom roof fund.

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Baptisms

Adam Oliver and Alice Emma, son and daughter of Kirsty & John Allsebrook of 4 Hill View, Repton, were baptised at St Wystan's on Sunday 20th July.

Owen Jack, son of Nicola Broadhurst of 10 Brook End, Repton, was baptised at St Wystan's, Repton on Sunday 20th July.

Marriages

Rowan Bailey Ewart-White of Shere, Surrey and Rhiannon Mary Haines of Hilltop Farm, Repton were married at St Mary's, Newton Solney on Saturday 19th July.

Simon Russian and Natasha Miles were married at St Mary's Church, Walberton, Sussex on Saturday 19th July

Funerals and Burial of Ashes

Rita Etchells of 19 Newton Park, Newton Solney, died in Queen's Hospital, Burton at the age of 81. Her funeral was held at Bretby Crematorium on Tuesday 1st July.

Audrey Alice Robinson of 12 Springfield Road, Repton, died on 1st July 1st at the age of 94. She was born in Burton Road, lived for most of her life in Derby and returned to Repton to live with her daughter at the age of 90. Her funeral at St Wystan's on Thursday 10th July was followed by cremation at Bretby.

St Wystan's

Sponsored Bicycle Ride or Walk

This year the annual sponsored 'Bike & Hike' in aid of the Derbyshire Churches and Chapels Preservation Trust is to be held on Saturday 13th September. All the churches in Repton, Foremark and Newton Solney will be open to receive visitors from 10am: the United Reformed Church until 2pm and the others until 6pm. Anyone willing and able to act as a steward, to walk or cycle between churches and chapels open in this area, or to sponsor one or more of these various participants, is invited to contact one of the following: Linda Pettitt (Repton URC, 701223), Richard Finch (Repton St Wystan's, 701245), Betty Thorley (Foremark, St Saviour's, 703294) Jennifer Haynes (Newton Solney, St Mary's, 703827).

Mothers' Union

Diocesan Secretary Christine Harvey spoke at the meeting on July 16th. Her subject, 'Changes which Challenge', dealt with the 5th MU Object in which we promise to help those whose family life has met with adversity. In particular she spoke of families affected by unemployment, redundancy or early retirement and the disastrous effect these can have on family relationships. Congratulations to one of our own members, Audrey Morris, who has become the new Deanery Presiding Member. We hope she will find fulfilment in her new role.

Reporting on the Diocesan Council meeting and the Repton Deanery Committee meeting, Margaret Venables said it was very noteworthy that MU members world wide have now topped the 3 million mark. Funds are urgently required for the Overseas Fund. Derby Diocese has contributed £10,383 in the current year. The large consignment of baby clothes donated to AIDS orphans in South Africa cost £340 to despatch. The end of the year sees the end of a triennial. Trish Haywood is prepared to stand for another term as world-wide President, but our Diocesan President has come to the end of her term of office and is succeeded by Audrey Hopkins.

The theme for 2004 is 'The International Year of the Famly'. There is to be a special service in Derby Cathedral on March 25th. The tribute for next year is to be £9.50. The Christmas gifts for the prison at Foston this year are to be shower gel or cream and face flannels.

The cost of Home and Family is to remain at £5 and is due at the September meeting when Mrs Rachel Mookerjee will speak on 'Women in India'. Tea Hostesses: K Kent and M Venables. As usual there will be no meeting in August so I hope you will all have an enjoyable break whether at home or on holiday.

Recycling for St Wystan's Development Fund

There are plans to make changes at the back of St Wystan's Church, which include putting in a small kitchen and lavatories in the area where the organ used to be before the new one was installed in 1998.

A trickle of money towards the cost of this project comes from the recycling of aluminium cans, foil etc collected in sacks in the church porch. The proceeds for three months to the end of June were almost £73. Please keep them coming. It doesn't only provide some money but is good for the environment too. It cuts the quantity of junk we send to landfill and saves on the huge energy cost of smelting aluminium.

St Mary's Church

Repton Deanery Synod

The Deanery Synod is to meet in St Mary's Newton Solney on Wednesday 3rd September at 7.30 pm. This will be the last meeting of the Synod before the Vicar's retirement and it would be good to have support from his congregations. Also, we should be grateful for help with serving refreshments half way through the meeting.

Musical Events

Charities

Autistic Society - a thank you

Following a most successful garage sale and coffee morning at 2 Monsom Lane on 21st June a cheque for £405 was sent to the National Autistic Society.

Many thanks to everyone who contributed items for sale, to those who attended and spent, and for all donations. Special thanks to Sue & Denis Banks, their son David and father Reg without whose hard work this impressive fund-raising would not have been possible.

Walking for peace at the National Arboretum

Bitter feuds and conflicts damage people's lives and bring misery to people all over our world. Even here in Great Britain, with a modern and sophisticated army and police force to help limit the effects, we have had our own experience of the conflict in Northern Ireland for over thirty years.

Christian Aid partners around the world are working in conflict or post-conflict situations to try to achieve peace and reconciliation. To help raise funds to support these people who are attempting such difficult and risky tasks a Sponsored Walk for Peace has been organised at The National Arboretum at Alrewas on Saturday 20th September. You can choose any distance from two to ten miles. Registration begins at 10 am and the walk starts at 10.15 am. An entry fee of £3 per person will be charged to cover the costs of the Arboretum which is also a charitable organisation. At 1.15 pm there will be an ecumenical Service for Peace.

Sponsorship forms are available from the Christian Aid office in Lichfield; 01543 417854 or from the National Arboretum; 01283 792333

Repton Village & History

Repton Rainbows

Thank you to everyone who helped in any way at the recent Rainbow Summer Fayre. The magnificent total of £114 raised will help Rainbows throughout the year. It was lovely to see friends, neighbours and grandparents come along and join in the fun.

Special thanks to Mary Smith at the Gift Shop and Redshaw's for supplying extra raffle prizes and to Revd Stanley Morris for opening the event at short notice.

Repton Rainbows

In Repton we are fortunate to have three Girl Guide Sections: Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. If your daughter would like to join First Repton Rainbows, which is the section for 5-7 year-olds, please telephone Tigger (Carol) Rainbow Leader on 703991. The emphasis is on fun and friendship, with traditional guiding games, songs and activities. As demand is high and places are limited, it is advisable to join the list between the 4th and 5th birthdays if possible. For the other sections, please telephone Sheila Holmes, Guides (702616) or Sally Lovatt, Brownies (701960). They will be happy to help.

If you enjoyed Guiding in your youth and would like to know more about helping out on a regular basis or if you hold a current warrant and would like to come back to Guiding, please contact Carol on 703991 or Madeleine Emuss (District Commissioner) on 559264 for further details.

Repton WI

85th Anniversary celebrations continued at the July meeting. President, Molly Thompson, thanked the three members who had made, iced and decorated a splendid birthday cake and this was cut by Ros Hudson, the Institute's most senior member.

Since the cookery demonstrator was unable to come, the talk was given by member, Audrey Morris, who displayed antique needlework tools and explained the stories behind them. Delicious refreshments and wine added to the party atmosphere which will continue into August.

There will be a garden meeting at 25 Chestnut Way on Tuesday August 12th, from 2.30 onwards when cakes and tea will be served. Bring along a cake and a garden chair!

Repton Village Society: Visit to a World Heritage Site

On the 15th July over 30 members of the Repton Village Society visited our local World Heritage Site - Strutt's North Mill at Belper. We had an interesting talk even though part of it was presented in the car park due to a fire alarm (luckily false)! Our guides gave us an informative insight into not only the cotton process but also the social history of the mills and its workers. It was also fascinating to see how the mill was the precursor of modern skyscrapers. The visit was followed by an excellent buffet and much talk about local history and people we knew.

Don Sayers

A Repton reader regrets the loss of his skills.

I was sorry to read of Don Sayers' retirement. His 'quality' service was always appreciated. A shrewd churchman once noted that an accurate appraisal of a person's true Christianity can readily be assessed by observing that person's attitude to work and to the people around them ... day in, day out. Well, Don would figure highly in this searching test. His careful workmanship and genial patience will be missed; hopefully, however, I trust that he'll be able to devote more time to his other interests which are steam locomotives and painting. On one rare occasion he allowed these interests to merge and the result was a picture of one of those iron giants. From the past which almost hisses and snorts steam, a truly evocative scene which makes the viewer aware of an unusually rare artistic talent.

Repton Council Jottings

This month the focus is on just two oft-recurring topics from the Parish Council meeting held on 14 July 2003.

~ As reliable as the cuckoo, now departed, at this time of year the cry of "There's nothing to do!" can be heard from young people far and wide. The Parish Council certainly has a part to play in providing facilities and supporting initiatives designed to keep youngsters occupied and out of mischief, and it is always looking to see what else can be done. Of course this village is by no means unique and certainly there is no single answer to the lament; also any possibilities that do present themselves are invariably neither cheap nor easy to implement.

As far as permanent facilities are concerned, younger children are reasonably well catered for by play equipment on the Mitre Field, though it is recognised that a similar area on the eastern side of High Street would be welcomed. Older children and teenagers however do not fare so well, only having open spaces such as Broomhills Playing field where they can burn up surplus energy. Land adjoining the Primary School has been used unofficially for many years, but that is now under threat of being fenced-off and locked. The possibility of lending some financial support to the construction of a skateboard ramp was considered a while ago, but the project foundered on the rocks of high cost, location, and insurance requirements for supervision and maintenance. Youth clubs and similar organisations are falling in popularity and have great difficulty in recruiting people willing to act as leaders.

Parish Councillors are currently reviewing some alternative ideas as part of a long-term objective to increase recreational opportunities. They remain open to constructive suggestions for more ways to engage the youth of the village.

~ People who use footpaths within the village may have noticed that on some of them vegetation such as nettles and brambles is cut back from time to time, while on others little or no maintenance takes place. There is a reason for the difference: by and large the ones that are well maintained are the full responsibility of the Parish Council, whereas for the others, generally across private land, some responsibility lies with the landowner. Next year a regular maintenance programme will be drawn up and landowners reminded of their obligations, but as a quick-fix solution this year all footpaths withiin Repton are being cleared without delay.

Footpaths across fields outside the village are another matter, and one of the main concerns is to ensure that growing crops do not cause an obstruction. Most farmers very helpfully mark out the line of a path when the field is tilled, and then spray weedkiller along the line shortly after the crop emerges. Problems do arise sometimes, particularly with oil seed rape, which grows tall and straggly and often falls across the path, completely blocking it. It is fair to say that for a variety of reasons rapeseed is unpopular with the general public, not just walkers, but of course it is an important crop to farmers, for whom life has been extremely difficult in recent years. Discussions are underway with the Footpaths Officer from the District Council to clarify the future role of the Parish Council in keeping country footpaths open in all situations, consistent with creating as few problems as possible for the farming community. The Parish Council does not convene in August so its next meeting will be on 8 September at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

Repton Parish Council

The Parish Council has arranged for the South Derbyshire District Council Civic Amenity refuse collection service to collect rubbish on Saturday 6th September 2003 between the hours of 7.30 am and 11.30 am.

The following list of items are those that cannot be accepted:
Metal items, builders rubbish, bathroom fixtures, fridges, freezers, cookers, washing machines, dryers, wardrobes, beds, 3 piece suites, car parts, kitchen units (unless dismantled), asbestos, gas heaters and bottles, paint, any inflammable substances, televisions & fluorescent tubes.

The above items can be removed on the South Derbyshire District Council bulky service at a quoted cost.

For further information please contact South Derbyshire District Council Customer Services on 01283 595758

Broadband news

For those impatient for their fast broadband connection the good news is that 291 expressions of interest have now been registered and BT have set a RFS (Ready for Service) date of 29th October 2003. Whether this date represents a promise or an aspiration is yet to be seen, but relief seems to be in sight.

I am indebted for this information to a knowledgeable Milton reader, Gavin Murray, who has set up an informative website, www.broadband4repton.org.uk that offers help and support for local people who wish to register and install broadband. It includes valuable advice on choice of service provider. Gavin is an IT professional but is not out to make money from his campaigning: like many of us he is just weary of the 'world.wide.wait'. Take a look at his website.

Newton Solney Village Matters

Out of School Club

The Newton Solney Out of School Club is open to all children aged 4 to 12 years, between 3.10 and 6.00pm each weekday, during school term.

Based at the School Hall, Trent Lane, Newton Solney, we organise a wide range of activities, both indoor and outdoors. In addition to games and sports, we encourage children to take part in a wide variety of craft activities, gentle team games, theatre, dancing, plays and shows. Earlier this year we even helped raise money for Red Nose day by making and selling cakes and sweets. Charges are just £5.25 for each full session, between 3.10 and 6.00pm, or £2.00 for 3.10 until 4.00pm.

If you would like further details of the Out of School Club, please contact Stacey Plowman, Club Co-ordinator on 07792 064142

Gardening Notes

This is generally a quiet time in the garden with little urgent to do except tidying up and harvesting. So there is time to revise planting plans in the border and to consider how to improve the late colour show there.

Dahlias should be flowering well and should be fed fortnightly and dead headed frequently. Cannas are not hardy but, planted in pots in the greenhouse early in the year, they can be used to fill gaps in the border. They give an exotic touch with their bright colours and sometimes brightly variegated leaves. They stand three feet tall or more. Agapanthus should be in full bloom in August. They are all clump forming and vary in size. There is a white variety but the rest range from dark blue to mid blue in colour. Coming from South Africa, they are not all hardy. Kniphofias also come from South Africa but are mostly hardy and many flower from mid to late summer. Varying in size and shape, their colour varies from the well known red hot poker through a range of orange, red and yellow and ivory. Aster x frikartii has loose corymbs of light to dark mauve daisy-like flowers and is long lasting in flower. Japanese anemones are useful but may prove invasive. Petrovskia atriplicifolia - Russian sage - has spikes of violet-blue flowers. Coming from Afghanistan, it likes it hot and dry. There is an increasing number of tall autumn flowering sedums available - new strains coming from Germany. Sedum spectabile has clusters of pink flowers forming a large flower head. There is a white variety of this but the best known are probably Autumn Joy and Ruby Glow which soon form large clumps. Autumn flowering bulbs may also be useful.

Colchicums need planting three times their own depth on a bed of sharp sand. Shrubs are more often useful for their autumn colour than their flowers in late summer but many Hebes flower then and can grow into smallish shrubs. According to Greek mythology Hebe was the goddess of youth and cup bearer to the gods. She was the daughter of Jupiter and Juno who conceived her after eating lettuces. Following up the nomenclature of plants leads to a lot of interesting discoveries.

Keep dead heading plants in the border and in containers and feeding the latter. Rock garden bulbs - dwarf narcissi, reticulata irises and early crocuses - need planting out now and bulbs forced for Christmas flowering should be planted in containers. Water weeds in ponds grow very rapidly at this time of year and may need thinning. Try and shake out any pond creatures. Pinch out the growing tip of wallflowers sown earlier this year. Give beech, holly, yew and box their annual trim. Cut out raspberry canes that have fruited and tie in the new canes. Autumn raspberries do not seem to attract the birds but they may need netting if they do. Gooseberries and red currants will also need a summer prune, shortening the main growths on established bushes. Black currants should have a third of the old wood cut out. Divide and replant clumps of hellebores that have become overgrown and clumps of Crown Imperials can be divided now. Replant at least four inches deep and on their side so that water does not collect in the crown.

Cuttings can still be taken of pinks and now is the time to take cuttings of semi-tender perennials and shrubs.

Pinch out the tops of tomato plants to stop them growing and encourage fruit already set to ripen. Sow winter lettuce for greenhouse or frame and rocket if you like a sharp taste in salad. Winter spinach such as 'sigma leaf' can be sown now and harvested from November. Winter radish should also be sown now.

Pot on house plants and if any of their leaves are pale and mottled check them closely for spider mite which are invisible to the naked eye. Look at the backs of the leaves with a magnifying glass and you will see colonies of minute, pale brown spider-like insects spending their time sucking the sap. You may also notice the silk webbing the mites spin. They enjoy a hot, dry atmosphere, so spraying the foliage will help and increase the ventilation or, if possible, stand plants outside for a bit. Insecticides are available too. If vine weevils are about, and they often are, drench the compost used for container plants you intend to overwinter with Bio-provado.