January 2004 - Contents A happy New Year to you all News of Julian Repton, Foremark and Newton Solney Parish Churches Services at St. Wystan's, Repton Services at St Saviour's, Foremark Services at St Mary's, Newton Solney 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 Covenant Service, St Wystan's Church, January 11th, 10.30am Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service: 25th January, 6.30 pm Coffee Morning, Saturday 13th January, 10.30 - 11.30 Shell Funerals and Burial of Ashes Eveline Betty Neville Elizabeth Murray Hunt William John 'Jack' Pettitt John Clifford Alexander Walter John Silcox Evelyn May Silcox St Wystan's News When are we getting a new Vicar? Update from Repton PCC Development at St Wystan's MU Meeting Point St Saviour's News Thankyou St Mary's News Sunday Services Newton Solney Church Roof Appeal Thankyou The Pettitt Family Victorian Evening Public Service Information Money Spider Credit Union Ltd Official Launch, Saturday 17th January Schools Repton Preparatory School Open Morning, Saturday 17th January Repton Village and History Repton WI Malvern Show, Saturday 8th May 2004 Royal British Legion (Repton & District Branch) Forthcoming Live and Local event Scouts: The Boys Are Back In Town ! Repton Council Jottings Repton Village Society Gardening Notes

A happy New Year to you all

My favourite musical has always been "Salad Days". I am especially fond of the song, "We said we wouldn't look back,". However I do enjoy the occasional bout of nostalgia such as recalling my carefree days at University. As I write this letter, I am watching and enjoying the television which is showing great sporting moments of the last fifty years. People often talk about the good old days when churches were full but if you study attendance figures for the last century, you soon realise that this is something of a myth. There are many dangers in living in the past, not least that it can be an escape from the real world.

Both John the Baptist and Jesus told the Jews off for living in the past. "We are children of Abraham," said the Jews with pride, as though that was enough in itself. The main thrust of Jesus' teaching was that the Kingdom of God is something which is very much here in the present.

Nor should we live in the future, counting the days till something happens. Unfortunately New Year does encourage us to concentrate on the future.

Perhaps as we face another year, we are anxious about changes that may be happening; perhaps we just dislike growing older. We need to remember that Jesus told us not to worry about the future. After all, we never know what lies just around the corner. Three years ago I thought I had retired!

The best thing to do is neither to look back nor to look forward but just to value each moment as it comes. I try to start every day with Morning Prayer, a selection of Bible Readings, Psalms, Canticles (ancient hymns) and prayers. The last prayer I always say includes the phrase, "We thank you that you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day." I find that these words set me in the right mood for the rest of the day Perhaps in January we could say "We thank you that you have safely brought us to the beginning of this year," and leave the rest to our Lord.

After 21 years, what a day!

Sunday 19th October remains imprinted in my mind as one of my life's most memorable red letter days. To have so many people, not just from Repton, Foremark and Newton Solney, but family and friends too, at that splendid Parish Communion at St Wystan's was a wonderful experience. Having the Wystan Singers and the Orchestra both in full voice was an additional delight.

Then there was that magnificent lunch. So much effort and organisation had gone into producing a meal for I don't know how many people - someone said 250 - that I owe a huge thank you to all the people, the Churchwardens and many more, who made the arrangements, cooked the food and made it such a special occasion by being there.

Writing for the January Magazine about something that happened on 19th October seems absurd, but it was already too late to put anything in the November one and since then I seem to have been spinning like a top. Having finally packed up, left the Vicarage and seen all my belongings deposited in Cambridge I went off to Germany with Helen and her father. I then came back to a house stacked to the ceiling with boxes and started the long process of unpacking and sorting.

On 12th December Helen and I were married in Chelsea Registry Office and now we're planning our service of Prayer and Dedication which is to be here in London at St Mary's, Bourne Street on February 10th. It is a great embarrassment that we have been able to invite so few people from Repton, Newton Solney and Foremark, but each of us has families and large numbers of friends and the church is much smaller than Repton.

This little article is by way of a thank you to all the people who made those last events in Repton so memorable and enjoyable. Now a whole new life is beginning and far from looking back with nostalgia everything seems focused on our future plans.

Services at Foremark, Newton Solney
and Repton Churches

St. Wystan's, Repton

St Saviour's, Foremark

St Mary's, Newton Solney

Readers and Intercessors at St. Wystan's

Altar Flowers

Brasses

The United Reformed Church

Covenant Service, St Wystan's Church, 11th January at 10.30am

This year is a very special Covenant Service: the three denominations represented in the Christians Together in Repton group - Anglicans, Catholics and the United Reformed congregation - are going to sign a covenant, promising to work together whenever they can, and to take more decisions together. We will also be making our annual recommitment, in the words of John Wesley's Covenant Service.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service: 25th January at 6.30 pm
Repton United Reformed Church

This year the Christian Unity Service has been put together by Christians in Wales, and it will be led by Revd Brian Norris, who has lived in Wales for many years. A chance to remember that we are part of a world-wide Christian family, and to pray for all those less fortunate than ourselves.

Coffee Morning, Saturday 13th January, 10.30 - 11.30

A New Year and the coffee mornings are back! Enjoy a cup of coffee and biscuits, treat yourself to home-made cakes and marmalade, play the children's game and look at the range of Webb Ivory cards and wrapping paper. Everyone is welcome.

Shell

Shell (age 7+) meets on Mondays from 6.30 to 7.30. New members are welcome. The new session begins on Monday 15th January.

Funerals and Burial of Ashes

Eveline Betty Neville of 7 The Crescent, Repton, died on 17th November aged 89 years. She was the widow of the late Jim Neville. Her funeral was held at St Wystan's on Thursday 27th November followed by burial in Repton Cemetery.

Elizabeth Murray Hunt of 7 Forge Close, Repton and formerly of Cokhay Farm, died on Wednesday 19th November, aged 84 years. She was the mother of John and David Hunt. Her funeral was held at St Wystan's on Friday 7th December followed by cremation at Bretby.

William John 'Jack' Pettitt, of Stretton, died on Friday 21st November aged 82 years. His funeral was held at Bretby Crematorium on Wednesday 3rd December.

John Clifford of 53 Askew Grove died on Saturday 22nd November aged 75 years. His funeral was held at Bretby Crematorium on Thursday 27th November.

The ashes of Alexander Walter John Silcox who died on 24th September, and of his wife, Evelyn May Silcox, who died on 24th October, of 28 Askew Grove, Repton, were buried in Repton Churchyard on Tuesday 9th December.

St Wystan's News

When are we getting a new Vicar?

It is not unusual for Church of England parishes to have a long interregnum (the interval between a priest moving on or retiring and his successor being appointed). The Bishop of Derby met with the Parochial Church Councils of Repton, Newton Solney and Foremark on 18th September to discuss the appointment procedure and the kind of priest we are looking for. We were complimented on our parish profile (or job description), but warned that it is often taking a long time to fill vacancies. Since then Karen Perks, the main contact for the parish representatives, has regularly been in touch with the Bishop's Office. At the time of writing we understand that the Bishop has approached a priest from outside the Diocese, who he believes would be right for us. The next step would be for a meeting to be set up with the parish representatives. If either side does not wish to proceed further then we start looking again for someone else. You can see why it can be a long process! We ask for prayers that the right person will be called to work in our parishes.

The PCC is very grateful for the way everyone is helping with all the extra jobs that we are continuing to discover since Julian left! The churchwardens will be very pleased to hear from anyone who is able to help with any of the regular tasks that have to be done to keep the parish work going.

In the meantime, on 19th November PCC officers met with the Archdeacon of Derby, the Secretary of the Parsonages Board and the Diocesan Surveyor to consider what work needs to be done on the Vicarage. We await the surveyor's report knowing that the Diocese wishes to replace the present house. Given the obvious difficulties of providing another suitable house anywhere near the church the PCC wishes to retain it, has made its view clear to diocesan officials, and is preparing a submission to the meeting of the Parsonages Committee in January.

Update from Repton PCC

At its last meeting, 12th November, the Parochial Church Council:

• set in hand minor building repairs
• approved proposals for donations to good causes
• agreed arrangements for Christmas services
• agreed to work with the Parish Council to urge the County Council as highways authority to take measures to control parking around the churchyard gates
• planned to adopt the Open the Book project which presents bible stories in school assemblies
• with regret decided that it would not be possible to run the Good Friday Workshop in 2004.

Other items dealt with, the Vicarage and the project to install toilets and a kitchen in church, are reported elsewhere.

Anyone with questions or wanting more information is very welcome to talk things over with a PCC member. The next PCC meeting is on 22nd January.

Development at St Wystan's

Representatives of the Derby Diocesan Advisory Committee visited St Wystan's in October 2003 to view and discuss, with members of the Development Committee and the Church Wardens, the development proposals being considered for the church in Repton. The proposals are those shown on the drawings that have been on display at the rear of the church over the recent past months.

Following the visit and a preliminary submission to the Derby Diocesan Advisory Committee for a faculty, an encouraging formal response has been received. Some minor alterations and adjustments were suggested, have been considered by the committee and, with some of their own subsequent ideas, are being worked into the scheme. When the revised drawings are complete they will be presented to the PCC and it is hoped that this can be achieved for the January 2004 PCC meeting.

It is proposed then to display these drawings in the church, together with a 'statement of need' that is required by the Derby Diocesan Advisory Committee to explain our need for the proposed development. This will give a further opportunity to the congregation and parishioners to view the revised proposed scheme and make comments.

A further article will be submitted for inclusion in the next magazine to keep the parish aware of progress and when and where the revised drawings can be inspected.

MU Meeting Point

Mothers' Union? -- it's old fashioned! Why not forget the name and think of it as MU, that is something for ME and for YOU.

In 2004 Repton MU is opening its meetings to everyone who is free on a 3rd Wednesday in the afternoon. Want to know more about being a J.P.? Come in January. No time for regular Bible Study but you could manage the odd meeting? Come in May or November. Is England the only country with Church Bells? Come in July. Is the Internet really sinister? Come in September.

For more information ring 703453 or just come along to the Fisher Close Community Room at 2 pm.

St Saviour's News

Thankyou

Very many thanks to all the people who have contributed in all sorts of ways - cleaning, decorating and financing - over the last year to keep the church looking so nice. Thank you all.

St Mary's News

Sunday Services

From next month, February 2004, the pattern of services at St Mary's will be altered, firstly to ease the pressure on those few clergy - all retired - who kindly visit Newton Solney to celebrate Holy Communion, and eventually to simplify life for whoever is licensed as our new vicar. In future the All-age Family Service will be brought forward to the first Sunday of each month (perhaps also an easier day for families to remember); on the second Sunday there will normally be an 8am Communion followed later by Evensong; on the third Sunday Parish Communion at 10am, and on the fourth Sunday Evensong only; but when there is a fifth Sunday (as on 29th February) we shall continue to visit Sudbury Prison for their 9.45am service and hold Evensong here.

The February services will of course be set out in tabulated form in the next issue of the Magazine. This is simply to give advanced warning of the first substantial change in several years. Please contact Jennifer Haynes (703827) if you need further clarification.

Newton Solney Church Roof Appeal

Warm thanks from the Appeal Committee for the donations which have continued to arrive during the weeks since the 'Launch' and especially to those donors who have preferred to remain anonymous and whose donations cannot therefore be acknowledged personally. At the time of writing the sum donated has just passed £25,000.

Thankyou

The Pettitt Family

William John 'Jack' Pettitt, of Stretton, father of Allen Pettitt of Pinfold Close, died on Friday 21st November. Linda, Allen and all the family wish to thank everyone for their kind support, which is much appreciated. Special thanks to our friends at the United Reformed Church, Mr and Mrs J Ault and especially the Revd Brian Norris for his care and support through a very difficult time.

Victorian Evening

The Victorian Evening held on 29th November was a great success and up to the 3rd of December the Repton Care Group has benefited by £583.91. We would like to thank everyone for their hard work and support.

The Care Group AGM will be on 20th January at 6.15 pm, at the Willington Surgery. Anyone wishing to attend is most welcome; please come and join us.

Money Spider Credit Union Ltd

Official Launch, Saturday 17th January
10am to 1.00pm, Swadlincote Town Hall

On 20th June 2003 Money Spider Credit Union Ltd was granted official registration by the Financial Services Authority and those designated as members of the Board, committees and voluntary members of staff were given approved person status. Other formalities completed, MSCUL opened its first collection point on 10th October 2003 in the Methodist Chapel Church Room at West Street Swadlincote.

Just six weeks after opening for business on 10th October, MSCUL has reached its first target of 50 members. The above collection point is open for business between 10am and midday each Friday and coffee or tea and biscuits are on sale by chapel members.

A Credit Union is a membership-owned savings and loan co-operative which has members, not customers. Its members appoint the Board of Directors at an AGM on a one-member, one-vote basis. Its purpose is to encourage thrift and provide low cost loans. MISCUL is open to all who live and/or work in South Derbyshire; is regulated by the FSA who require quarterly and annual returns; and has insurance which protects members' savings against theft or fraud. MSCUL is aiming for 250 members and three collection points - the second in January, in Newhall - by April 2004.

Are you interested in being one of those 250? If so, why not attend the launch on 17th January or telephone Richard House (Chairman) on 01283 219761 for information. Three proofs of identity are required and a joining fee of £2 is payable. Payments can be made by standing order or, if you work for SDDC, by payroll deduction.

Repton Village & History

Repton WI

A glass of mulled wine warmed 40 members and friends as they arrived for the Christmas meeting. Business swiftly dealt with, Mary Smith gave a demonstration of painting on acetate. Members collected their materials and card-making began. Delicious refreshments were served by the Committee and Hostesses before everyone went home, clutching their Christmas gift and their creations.

Next meeting: Tuesday, 13th January at 7.15 pm in the Village Hall. Speaker: Mr.Bertel Hutchinson. He will be giving a serious talk with some humour on Epitaphs.

Our 2004 programme includes a Flower Demonstration, Italian Cookery Evening, Home-made Chocolates, the Fuchsia Garden and DIY Salt Dough Modelling. With all that on offer, January would be a good time to join!

Malvern Show 2004

Repton Show Committee are organising an outing to the Malvern Show on Saturday 8th May. The coach will depart from Repton at 8.00 am and leave the show at 5.00 pm.

This is one of the first national gardening shows of the season. The centre piece is the RHS Floral Maruee housing thousands of gorgeous flowers and plants, many of them for sale. There are hundreds of assorted horticultural stands, craft and food halls, all set at the foot of the Malvern Hills.

The cost will be £15.50, which includes entry to the show. As this was a very popular outing last year, early booking is advisable. Contact either Marjorie Boddice on 701192 or Hilary Hazelwood on 702423.

Royal British Legion (Repton & District Branch)

On behalf of all ex-service personnel and their dependants, we wish to thank all those who contributed and / or helped collect the £7656.23 raised so far for this year's Poppy Appeal. Thanks are also due to Mick Groom who has made and fitted a means of securing the poppy wreaths to the War Memorial site so that they are not buffeted by wind and rain.

Forthcoming Live and Local event

The much acclaimed Old Rope String Band will be performing on 6 March 2004, 8.00 pm at Repton Village Hall.

Copy of press release from a previous show -
"For some people you only have to say the words Old Rope String Band for them to break the land speed record trying to get to the show! The reason is that this Geordie threesome are one of those legendary comedy acts that you can see over and over again, bring along anyone aged 9 - 109 and be guaranteed a hilarious night out."

Tickets will cost £5 each and be available early in the new year from Pat Court 702599 or Sarah Farrell 701832.

Live and Local is a non-profit making professional arts development company that works with voluntary organisations, creating new arts opportunities for communities across Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Solihull and Derbyshire.

The Boys Are Back In Town !

Scouts will be restarting in Repton in January thanks to Michael Cresswell who is going to be the new Scout Leader. As a bonus, Malcolm (Mike's Dad) is going to be the Group Scout leader for the whole of the 1st Repton Scout Group. Malcolm and Mike used to run Cubs at Etwall and have extensive Scouting experience.

Scouts are for youngsters aged 10½ to 14. The weekly meeting will be on Thursday evenings from about 7.00 to 9.00 in The Den (Mitre Field). There will also be additional activities, camps and so on.

If anyone is interested in joining, then contact Mike on 0775 2957 225 or Andy Austen on 01283 702448.

Repton Council Jottings

An unofficial run-down of some topics discussed by Parish Councillors at their most recent monthly meeting. Formal minutes are displayed in the Post Office.

» In response to justifiable criticism about rubbish around the recycling facility in the car park on Burton Road, the District Council has advised that they consider the two existing litter bins to be adequate. Everyone knows what litter bins are for, so extra signs would serve little useful purpose. It's worth noting that each year £5000 is spent on street cleaning in the village, and much of this could be put to far better use if people disposed of their rubbish more thoughtfully.

» For many years it's been a source of concern that the road between Repton and Ticknall is not gritted in winter. Well, there's good news from the County Council: from now on it will be included in their schedule for gritting when frosty conditions are forecast. Mind how you go though, just in case it doesn't happen as quickly as it should.

» The subject of policing in Repton, or more correctly the lack of it, has arisen yet again this month, following malicious damage to parked cars and a reported resurgence of what is officially termed 'antisocial behaviour' at the bus shelter by the Cross. The police are being invited to a meeting to discuss the problems, but you are again urged to play your part by reporting promptly any unacceptable conduct. Don't hesitate to call 999 if it's an emergency; otherwise phone the Police Call Centre on 01283 550101 or 01332 290100, and no it's not in India!

» One of five planning applications that were considered by councillors drew adverse comment: a proposal to convert a small outbuilding in the front garden of 106 Main Street into a self-contained annex. Concerns about over-development of the area and a lack of off-street parking necessitate a covenant that it shall only be inhabited by a dependant relative of occupants of the main residence. This is to preclude possible future use as a completely separate dwelling house.

The next Parish Council meeting will be held on 12 January 2004 at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall.

Repton Village Society

We had one of our best attended meeting on 27th November, with over 100 attending, when we had an interesting talk on the 'Fauld Explosion' on the 59th anniversary of this tragic event. After the talk a lot of personal memories were shared by the people involved or touched by the explosion and its aftermath.

There was also a very well supported Coffee Morning on Sat 6th December with a lot of new photographs of Repton and Milton on display, building on from the very successful 'Remembering Repton & Milton' event earlier in the year. The Repton History Group is building up quite a library of photographs and documents of Repton and Milton for us to access in the future. The tombola and coffee with mince pies added to the occasion.

The next meeting is the inaugural 'David Wilkinson Memorial Lecture' by Jeremy Bournon on 'Casper David Friedrich and the Romantic Landscape' on Thursday 15th January in the 400 Hall, Repton School. It will start at 7 30 pm. Admission is free, with a retiring collection for charity. The lecture will be followed by wine and coffee leading to an informal 'Question and Answer' session at which Jeremy will respond to any art topic you care to raise with him. The meeting has been arranged by the Art Department in the memory of David, who had been pupil, master and governor of the school. Sadly he died earlier this year.

The Coach for the trip to Bletchley Park on Saturday the 3rd April is full but Alan Webster is still taking names to see if there is enough support for a further minibus or coach. If you are interested then give him a ring on 701838.

Gardening Notes

After 2002's abnormally wet year we have had the driest and sunniest year since at least the 1960s, with less than half the average rainfall. The year started with the water table high but has ended with it very low and it will take a lot of rain to replenish it. It may be wise to delay the application of mulches until the ground is a lot wetter as a thick mulch will absorb all the rain and leaves the ground underneath dry. Locally, the drought does not seem to have had too serious effects, apart from brown lawns. Only shallow rooted shrubs and trees seemed in trouble. However, we may see others start into leaf next spring and then fail and, if we have another dry year and a hose pipe ban, losses may be more obvious.

We had spectacular autumn colours and the absence of rain damage to flowers was a benefit. Slugs and snails did not like the arid conditions but it caused more powdery mildew. Some plants did well, like cosmos, coming as it does from the southern states of USA and central America.

Seed orders should be completed now and mowers sent to be serviced. The vegetable plot will need digging and fruit tree pruning completed. Plant new rhubarb crowns. Sow onions in trays in the greenhouse and, if the greenhouse is heated and you want early tomatoes, these should be sown now.

Indoor plants given as Christmas presents may need special care. Azaleas will drop their leaves if kept in a hot room for long and must never be allowed to get dry. If possible, water with rain water and repot occasionally using ericaceous compost and only a slightly bigger pot. Cyclamen should be watered from below and any dead flowers or yellowing leaves removed. White jasmine will need a major prune after flowering, kept indoors and fed frequently.

Poinsettias can be kept for another year. Watering should be restricted later in the winter and the stems cut back by half when the leaves drop. They should be kept, after this, in a shady place with temperatures of 10° to 15°C. They can be repotted in early summer, put in a brighter but still shady place and kept at 18°C. The coloured bracts appear when the nights lengthen and, as the plants need at least 12 hours darkness at this stage, it may be easier to keep them in a dark cupboard overnight. In general, when repotting most house plants, the soil should contain about one sixth grit to maintain good drainage.

Bergenias need splitting up every two or three years or else they fail to flower and will just keep spreading. This can still be done now.

Bare root roses can be planted now but rose replant disease may be a problem. The new rose in the same hole as an old rose may fail to flourish. The cause is not known and it is usually recommended that the soil should be dug out to depth of 18 inches and replaced with fresh soil or that the whole rose bed be grassed over for five years. However an article by John Mattock, the well known rose grower, in the Journal of the Rose Society, describes how on the continent, when the rose bed is cleared of roses, the ground is sown with tagetes. When this is in flower the plants are chopped up and dug in as a green manure. This appears to solve the problem and roses can be replanted in the autumn.

It is going to be very important to feed the birds this winter. Late spring frosts, prolonged drought and midsummer heat have resulted in a shortage of hedgerow berries and wild seed. Finches and thrushes will be at risk in cold spells.