December 2005 - Contents God in the ordinary Christmas, 1914 Christmas Services at Repton, Foremark and Newton Solney Parish Churches 15th December: Carols by Candlelight at St Saviour's 18th December: St Wystan's Gift Service 4th and 18th December: Christingle Services, St Mary's and St Wystan's 11th and 18th December: Carol Services, St Mary's and St Wystan's Christmas Eve: St Wystan's Crib service Christmas Eve: Midnight Communion, St Mary's and St Wystan's Christmas Day Services, St Mary's, St Saviours's and St Wystan's New Year's Eve: Watchnight Service and Fireworks at St Wystan's All Services at Foremark, Newton Solney and Repton 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 Altar Flowers at St Saviour's United Reformed Church Services at the United Reformed Church Children's Nativity Services, Sunday 11th December at 11 am and 6.25 pm Carols by Candlelight, Sunday 18th December at 6.25 pm Christmas Day Family Service at 10.25 am Coffee Morning Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Baptisms Jessica Linette Dell Jordan Carl Sanders Funerals and Burial of Ashes John Uncle Alice Kathleen Shrouder Samuel William Holdcroft Geoffrey Noel Faulker St Wystan's News Turkey - Classical and Christian Mothers' Union Christmas Gifts and Easy Parking ChildAid to Russia & the Republics Vicarage Vegetable Gardener St Mary's News St Mary's Time Change St Mary's Prepares for Christmas Newton Solney Church Roof Appeal Bite Size Opera Repton Primary School Christmas Fair, Friday 2nd December Burton Floral Art Society, Friday 2nd December Repton Village Society Coffee Morning, Saturday 3rd December Newton Solney School Christmas Fair, Saturday 3rd December St Mary's Flower Demonstration, Wednesday 7th December Advent Concert at Meynell Langley Hall, Wednesday 7th December Christmas Sausage, Mash & Bingo, Thursday 8th December Christmas Band Concert, Monday 12th & Tuesday 13th December Choros Amici, Saturday 17th December First Reponders Home-Start Recycle your Christmas Tree Repton Village and History Parish Council Six-monthly Review Repton Charities 'Stamp And Deliver' Repton Neighbourhood Help Scheme Repton Evergreens Repton W.I. Repton Village History Group Repton Village Society Milton & Foremark Village Matters Milton W. I. Gardening Notes

God in the ordinary

What could be more ordinary than a birth, an animals' feeding trough, shepherds and an inn? But this was no ordinary birth, not if we believe what the Bible says about it. There were angels, visions, messages given in dreams and astrological signs.

What can we believe about the birth of Jesus? What is true and what is truth? That was the question Pilate asked at the end of Jesus' life, when he was confronted by a king who neither threatened nor ran away. On that occasion Jesus was silent. Previously he had said, "I am ... the truth." It was a claim to divinity. For Jesus, the truth was in God, and he and the Father were one. For us the truth comes as a person, the person of Jesus. Truth is not an abstract formula to be argued about but a person to be encountered.

As we read the story of Jesus' birth, we read of a complex series of encounters: Mary is confronted by an angel; Joseph is given guidance in a dream; the shepherds are addressed by the heavenly host; astrologers perceive unusual movements in the stars. There is a birth, and Mary, the mother, ponders these strange events in her mind and heart, as well she might.

It was fashionable a quarter of a century ago, in the 'modern' era, to dismiss these encounters as supernatural and therefore unbelievable. In these post-modern times belief in the supernatural is quite permissible. In fact we could claim that we are entering a new dark age. Did you know that there are more registered witches and fortune tellers in Britain today than Christian ministers? Belief in the supernatural is not just permissible, it's positively thriving.

The bad news is that we are engaged in a serious encounter today - a spiritual battle between light and darkness.

The Good News is that the one who is the Truth has come among us, as one of us, and has proved victorious over the forces of darkness. As John the evangelist put it: "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it." Or as George Herbert said of prayer: "Heaven in ordinary, ... something understood."

My hope is that you may encounter God in the ordinary this Christmas.

Christmas, 1914

We heard the Germans singing 'Silent Night, Holy Night', and then they put up a notice: 'Merry Christmas'. Then they started singing, and our boys said, 'We'll join in'. The Germans waved their hands, 'Happy Noel, Tommy', and we shouted back. One German took a chance and jumped up on top of the trench and shouted out, 'Happy Christmas, Tommy'. No one fired a shot, which was marvellous, as before then you couldn't put your finger up without it being blown off. Of course, our boys said, 'If he can do it, we can do it'. The Sergeant Major came along and said, 'Get down there, get down there'. We stuck our two fingers up at him. 'It's Christmas!', and with that we all jumped up and the Germans beckoned us forward to the barbed wire and we shook hands.

I spoke to one German and he said, 'Do you know Islington?' He could speak very good English. 'Do you know the Jolly Farmer's pub in Southgate Road?' and I said, 'Yes, my uncle has a shoe-repairing shop next door', and he said, 'That's funny, there's a barber's shop on the other side where I used to work before the war'. He must have shaved my uncle at times, and yet my bullet might have found him and his me. We didn't talk about the war, other than how long it would last, and our families.

Christmas Services at Foremark, Newton Solney and Repton Churches

15th December: Carols by Candlelight at St Saviour's

A candlelit Carol Service will be held at St Saviour's on Thursday 15th December at 7 pm. We are most grateful to Mr. Paul Brewster, the Headmaster at Foremarke Hall, for inviting us to use the extension at Hall Cottage for the seasonal refreshments afterwards. You are all most welcome.

18th December: St Wystan's Gift Service

At the start of St Wystan's Gift Service - 9.45 am on Sunday 18th December - children and others are invited to bring presents, which are placed under the Christmas tree. During the week, they will be distributed by Home-Start to needy families in Swadlincote. If presents are wrapped, it is a great help if they also have labels to say what is inside, so that the gifts may be given appropriately. Envelopes containing money are also very welcome and will be used to help families in need.

4th and 18th December: Christingle Services, St Mary's and St Wystan's

There will be two Christingle Services this year, one at St Mary's, Newton Solney, at 10 am on Sunday 4th December, and the other at St Wystan's, at 4 pm on Sunday 18th December.

The service was first started by children in the Moravian Church and celebrates Christ, the light of the world. The Christingle is an orange decorated with candle, dried fruit and a red ribbon, all of which have symbolic significance. The service is directed at children and includes Christmas carols and the magic of lighted Christingles shining around the church. In this country the service was first promoted by the Children's Society, whose work helps to give a brighter future to children with disabilities, homeless teenagers, and child runaways. At Newton Solney there will be a collection in aid of the Society's work.

At Repton we are most fortunate to have the support of Repton Primary School, and a letter of invitation will be sent to the parents of children, together, if they wish, with a collecting box in the shape of a flame. We ask the family and friends of the children to make a donation in the collecting flame. The children are asked to bring their collecting flame back to the church for the service, during which it is exchanged for a lighted Christingle.

11th and 18th December: Carol Services, St Mary's and St Wystan's

At Newton Solney, St Mary's Carol Service will be held at 4 pm on Sunday 11th December. You are invited to nominate your favourite carols, and there will be a basket at the back of church to register your choice. Please submit any requests by the previous Sunday, 4th December.

St Wystan's Carol Service will be on Sunday 18th December at 6.25 pm.

Christmas Eve: St Wystan's Crib service

This year, our preparation for this service will be be slightly different. Repton Primary School has agreed to allow us to invite the children to take part in Posada.

Posada is a Spanish word meaning 'inn'. Posada celebrations started in Mexico, where two people dressed up as Joseph and Mary. They moved from house to house in their village, telling people about the imminent arrival of Jesus and asking if they would give him a room.

The modern equivalent is to ask families, in this case the families of the children in Repton Primary School, to give the church's nativity figures a space for the night. This will symbolise making room for Jesus in their hearts and homes. Each night during Advent (from 2nd December) the figures will travel round the pupils of each class, who will welcome them into their homes for the night and return them to school on the following morning. The class teachers may use the occasion to enquire what happened to the figures. The figures will be returned to the school at the end of term, at which point each child and family that has received a figure for the night will be invited to the Crib Service at 4 pm on Christmas Eve. All those who come to the Crib Service will have the opportunity to bring up a figure for the crib of a similar kind to the one they have used at school. The crib will then be blessed.

At the Blessing of the Crib service, our collection will go to the Church Army, whose work is to bring the message of the Good News of Jesus especially to young people.

Christmas Eve: Midnight Communion, St Mary's and St Wystan's

At St Wystan's, Midnight Communion begins at 11.15 pm. At Newton Solney, the service will start at 11.25 pm; the Reverend Nick Bailey will preside and preach.

Christmas Day Services, St Mary's, St Saviours's and St Wystan's

Holy Communion will be celebrated at St Wystan's at 8 am and at Foremark at 9.15 am.

At 10 am, Newton Solney will welcome the Reverend Ian Winterbottom to preside and preach at a service of Parish Communion with carols.

At St Wystan's there will be a Christmas Day Family Service at 10.25 am.

New Year's Eve: Watchnight Service and Fireworks at St Wystan's

On New Year's Eve, the Watchnight Service will begin at 11.25 pm. All things being equal we should finish in time to gather at the back of the church to watch the New Year rung in. There will be mince pies, and you are invited to bring a bottle and join the ringers in a New Year toast, after which you can retire to the churchyard to watch the firework display.

All 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

Altar Flowers and Cleaning Rota at St Saviour's

The United Reformed Church

Children's Nativity Services, Sunday 11th December at 11 am and 6.25 pm

Another delightful Christmas present from the children and young people - a new musical by Sheila Wilson, 'Sheik, Rattle and Roll!' This tells the story of the Wise Men from a different angle, and is full of fun and catchy songs. Mince pies and coffee will be served after the evening service. Make sure you are there to see it!

Carols by Candlelight, Sunday 18th December at 6.25 pm

The traditional service of lessons and carols in the candles' glow, with mince pies and coffee to follow; a delightful start to Christmas week.

Christmas Day Family Service at 10.25 am.

A short service to give thanks for all that Christmas means. The children and the adults bring a present to show to the congregation.

Coffee Morning

The next coffee morning will be Saturday 14th January.

Baptisms

Jessica Linette Dell, daughter of Martin and Michelle of 22 the Pastures, Repton, was baptised at St Wystan's Church on Sunday 23rd October.

Jordan Carl Sanders, son of Michelle and Carl of 194 Derby Street, Burton on Trent, was baptised at St Wystan's Church on Sunday 23rd October.

Funerals and Burial of Ashes

The ashes of John Uncle of 1 Silkstone Close, Church Gresley, who died on Tuesday 19th July aged 44, were interred at Newton Solney churchyard on 27th October.

Alice Kathleen Shrouder, formerly of Netherhall Nursing Home, Hartshorne died on Monday 17th October aged 91. A service was held at Bretby Crematorium on 27th October.

Samuel William Holdcroft of Cedar Court Nursing Home, Bretby Park, died on Sunday 25th October aged 93. A service was held at St Mary the Virgin, Newton Solney, on 4th November and later at Bretby Crematorium.

Geoffrey Noel Faulker of 1 Mount Pleasant Road, Repton, died on Saturday 5th November aged 55. A service was held at St Wystan's Church on 16th November and later at Bretby Crematorium.

Kathleen Shrouder

Kathleen Shrouder died in October, having survived her husband, Lewis, by 37 years. She was a very keen artist, having started painting in later life without any formal training. Her water-colours and poetry were widely appreciated.

Her son, Paul, would particularly like to thank all the people who visited her at home and later at Nether Hall: also Pam Smith for the lovely flowering shrub from the harvest festival, which she received shortly before she died; it has now been planted at Nether Hall for all to enjoy: also Linda Butterill and others from Social Services, who cared for Kathleen at home for several years before she moved to Nether Hall; they all did far more than just their duty.

St Wystan's News

Turkey - Classical and Christian

We are now getting interest in this exciting pilgrimage / tour from the national advertising that we undertook at the beginning of November. However, our hope is that we will have a good core of local people. If you would like a full colour brochure and have not yet received one, please contact Peter or Carol on 703317 or leave a note at the Vicarage. If you are thinking seriously about it, we would be pleased to receive bookings by the end of this month.

Mother's Union

At our meeting on 16th November, Branch Secretary, Audrey Morris, spoke about the 'Work of the Family Court'. Having been a magistrate for a number of years, Audrey was able to give us a very interesting and comprehensive account.

We send best wishes to members on the sick list: June Scott, Margaret Shepherd, Edna Hill, Edna Chaffe and Frances Bamford, and to Pam Clifford's daughter Janet. May I take this opportunity of wishing you all a happy and blessed Christmas.

Hopefully June Scott will be well enough to speak at the Christmas meeting on 26th December; tea hostesses: the committee.

Christmas Gifts and Easy Parking

Charity Christmas cards, Fair-trade foods and gifts, and a wide variety of Bibles, Christian books, CDs and videos are available from LINKUP, the Christian bookshop in Burton. LINKUP has moved to Kingsway Church, next door to Webb Ivory on Queen Street (turn left at the roundabout after Tesco's, then right). It is open from 9.45 am - 4.25 pm, Monday to Saturday.

If you know children at the Primary School or in Key Stage 1 at St Wystan's, why not give them a copy of the Lion Storyteller Bible, which they will have heard in their 'Open the Book' assemblies?

ChildAid to Russia & the Republics

Many thanks to all who supported our Annual Coffee Morning, which raised £350 in support of Aid to Russia & The Republics. The name of the charity has now changed to 'ChildAid to Russia & the Republics', emphasising its work with children. We ask for your continued support.

Vicarage Vegetable Gardener

The Vicarage is again without a vegetable gardener. If any of our readers would like to grow their own vegetables on Peter's patch for free, please contact him on 703317.

St Mary's News

St Mary's Time Change

From Sunday 18th December, on the third Sunday of each month, Parish Communion will move to the later time of 11.15 am, to allow the vicar to take the service after first leading the service at Repton.

St Mary's Prepares for Christmas

On Saturday 3rd December, we shall be preparing the Christingle oranges, and the following week, on Saturday 10th December, decorating the Church for the Carol Service. Help would be welcomed on either of those mornings, from 9.25 am onwards, while contributions of evergreens would be gratefully received on the 10th.

The usual monthly cleaning session is scheduled for Monday 5th December, when we shall hope to give the building a little extra sparkle before Christmas.

Newton Solney Church Roof Appeal

Funds for the roof received a wonderful boost in October with the Big Band Concert in Pears School, Repton. Warmest thanks go to David Haines and all the musicians, to Kevin Cartwright, Peter Riley and everyone else who contributed to the success of the evening. Net proceeds reached the impressive total of £4335.

The Concert was the last fund-raising event currently planned. However the Committee recently learned that this year's application to English Heritage for a grant has reached the second 'sift', and we are thus more hopeful that we may receive money from the Lottery Fund in the New Year.

Bite Size Opera

Sincere thanks to all who helped, supported and donated refreshments for the Bite Size Opera Group Concert last month. It was an enjoyable evening and there have been many requests for Tony and his friends to make a return visit, which has indicated the popularity of the group. All your efforts raised just over £500 for Church Funds.

Save a Life: First Responders

For some medical emergencies, response time is critical. Cardiac arrests, for example, result in death unless the patient is defibrillated within 8 minutes. In this respect, Repton, Milton and Newton Solney are a difficult area for emergency medical services; South Derbyshire claims only a 50% performance in medical emergency services reaching a patient within the 8 minute limit. As we have an aging population and traffic congestion grows, the problem is likely to increase.

Could you Save a Life?

First Responders are unpaid volunteers supporting the emergency paramedic and ambulance service. It is a national scheme but operates at a local level. Because they are local, First Responders aim to be on the scene of an emergency almost immediately. When they are available (and that depends on the number of local volunteers) they become an integral part of the EMAS ambulance service. On receiving an emergency medical call, EMAS activates the First Responder in the same way that it calls the ambulance and paramedic, although a First Responder will not knowingly be sent to a case of possible violence, to children under 8 or to extreme cases. It is the task of the First Responder to get to the incident before back-up arrives, to administer immediate medical aid and to hand the patient over to the professionals on arrival.

Volunteers enter our homes and must be beyond reproach. Hence, before being accepted as First Responders they are all checked by the Criminal Records Bureau (through the East Midlands Ambulance Service, EMAS).

Training and certification by St John's Ambulance is free of charge. It includes the use of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, defibrillators and medical gases. Initially, equipment is supplied by EMAS and St John's Ambulance. In due course groups have to raise money to purchase their own equipment: defibrillator, uniforms, GPS units, first aid equipment, etc. On call, First Responders are covered by EMAS insurance.

Now it is hoped to set up groups locally, and several areas have shown interest. The first group to start training is in Overseal, with 7 volunteers. In Melbourne, there will be a public meeting at 7.25 pm on Monday 5th December at the Bill Shone Leisure Centre. In Repton, the scheme has the blessing of the Parish Council and local doctors. What is needed are volunteers.

To learn more or to register interest, you might attend the meeting in Melbourne, or contact Chris Pratt, 01283 557257, chris.m.pratt@btopenworld.com.

Home-Start

Home-Start offers friendly, informal support to parents with at least one child under five. The families we support come from a wide variety of backgrounds and look for support for many different reasons - postnatal illness, loneliness, poverty, disability, problems with relationships, single parenthood, and coping with multiple births or young children.

In the early 1970s, Margaret Harrison, a voluntary worker in Leicester, recognized the extent to which parents need support through difficult times. With help to improve their confidence and emotional wellbeing, they are more able to cope with their difficulties, and in turn to give their children the time, attention and love they need.

Following its launch in 1973, Home-Start now works in over 325 communities throughout the UK. Volunteers, who have experience of parenting, visit families in their own homes to offer support, friendship and practical help. They come from all walks of life and are carefully selected for their friendliness, practical approach and understanding. By sharing their time and friendship, they offer families an opportunity to build their confidence, develop new skills and enjoy family life. The support is free and confidential.

Could you be a Home-Start volunteer?

Home-Start is a voluntary organisation and volunteers are its backbone - we cannot function without them! At present there are 25 in Burton, each giving about two hours a week, although this is negotiated between volunteer and family, and it excludes school holidays if volunteers have children. The rewards are immense. As one volunteer says: 'It is sometimes difficult to see who benefits most - myself or the family.' It is a privilege to be welcomed into another family and to help make such a difference to the quality of their life.

Locally, we are based in Swadlincote, 225586, and Burton, 566684. There is lots more information on our web-site at www.home-start.org.uk. In Burton our next training course starts in January. Join us; you would be most welcome.

Recycle your Christmas Tree

From 26th December to 15th January, South Derbyshire District Council is offering to recycle your Christmas Tree. Our nearest point is at the Twyford Road car park in Willington.

Repton Village & History

Parish Council Six-monthly Review

Public Toilets
The problem of public toilet provision has been at least partially resolved by the agreement reached between the landlord of the Red Lion and the Parish Council. The toilets at the Red Lion, which include disabled facilities, have been made available for public use by non-customers during opening hours. This is now indicated on the new signpost and by a sign on the pub itself. The Parish Council funds the additional costs involved for cleaning etc. The District Council supports the scheme and contributes financially.

New Signpost
Parishioners will have noticed our new finger post at the Cross. This will assist in answering some of the most frequently asked questions from visitors to our village. It also acknowledges our status as a tourist attraction. We are now planning an information board and map detailing features of interest in the village. More about this in six months time!

Cinder Track Lighting
The new lighting columns on the Cinder Track are a welcome additional safety feature, particularly now the dark evenings are upon us.

Mitre Field CCTV
CCTV cameras have been installed at Mitre Field to protect the Den and the play equipment from the repeated vandalism they have suffered. It is regrettable that this has proved to be necessary.

A Worrying Development
The sale of the large field between Chestnut Way and Burton Road to a speculative company, which is now offering to sell small plots to 'investors', is a worrying development. What used to be a productive field yielding an abundant harvest of wheat every year, is already looking sadly neglected. This seems bound to get worse as more and more of the land is sold to many different individuals with no overall management of the area.

Parish Council Surgery
The Parish Council is holding surgery sessions every two months in its office in The Dales, to enable parishioners to bring any problems to us in private. Dates are published in the Parish Magazine.

Repton Charities

If you are 50 or over, and would like to receive a small gift of money at Christmas, please write before 25th November to Mrs. P. Carr, 56 Burton Road, Repton, Derby, DE65 6FN. If you received a gift last year you need not apply again.

'Stamp And Deliver'

The 1st Repton Scouts are once again delivering Christmas mail - 'Stamp & Deliver'. The scheme only operates within the Derby area, including the villages of Repton, Newton Solney and Milton. A map has been circulated; please check before posting, and please remember to use the postcode.

From 26th November you can buy stamps and post greetings cards in the special yellow post-boxes at:

Redshaws Family Butchers; the Spa Shop; Hairs and Graces; the Dales; the Boot Inn; Mulberry Beauty Salon; Forge Ahead; the British Legion; the Swan; the Brickmakers; Jim Ward.

The final deadline for posting will be Friday 16th December before 3 pm.

Many thanks for your support in a scheme which raises funds for the scout group and for local charities.

Repton Neighbourhood Help Scheme

The Luncheon Club continues to meet and enjoy superb lunches, thanks to all our marvellous volunteers. The August outing this year was to Dovedale, Ashbourne and the surrounding villages, with tea at the Isaak Walton Hotel. The Club and 'Drop-In' continue to enjoy activities and entertainment, including Music and Movement by Maureen of 'Extend', and have produced many blankets for charity.

Jim and Joy Ault organise the Transport Scheme, and many people regularly visit nursing homes and hospitals. We wish a speedy recovery to all our members who are unwell at this time.

We are currently busy making Christmas crackers, ready for the Christmas Lunch on 9th December. All helpers and volunteers are invited to the Christmas Tea Party on Friday 16th December, when they will be entertained by Brian and Louisa Norris.

There will be no luncheons or 'Drop-In' on 23rd and 25th December or on 6th January.

Unfortunately, January will find us short of helpers to serve and wash-up, so if you can spare 2 hours on a Friday, once every 4 months, with breaks of 2 weeks at Easter, 6 - 7 weeks in the Summer and 2 - 3 weeks at Christmas, please do telephone us. We wish you all a Happy Christmas.

Repton Evergreens

We have two outings for December. On Thursday 8th, our coach leaves the Cross at 2 pm for our visit to Foremark School. On Thursday 15th, we all meet at 12.45 for 1 pm for the Christmas Dinner at Brook Farm. There is no meeting at the end of December.

Our next meeting will be the AGM (26th January, 2.25 pm in the Village Hall). We wish all our members a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.

Repton W.I.

In November we welcomed back Nancy Hawkesworth who gave us a demonstration of 'Cooking for Christmas'. After showing us how to make dishes ranging from Sausage Plait to Mincemeat Roulade, Nancy allowed us to taste the delicious results. As always, it was the speed and surety with which she worked that amazed us, and we had a very enjoyable evening. 8th December at 7 pm: Group Carol Service at Findern Church.

13th December at 7.15 pm: W.I. Meeting at Repton Village Hall. Christmas Surprise; please bring scissors.

Repton Village History Group

At our October meeting there was an excellent turnout. The event was a display evening devoted to the village school, and we were delighted to have several former pupils and members of staff in the audience. The meeting commenced with a short address by Gill Hiley, who talked about the school logbooks, which date back to the late 1800's, picking out some of the interesting facts and events that she had gleaned from them. Also on display were fifty photographs from our archives which showed classes, sports and other activities over a long period of time. Members of the audience were able to spend the evening looking through the documents and trying to put names to faces, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Altogether, it was another successful and memorable evening.

We have no meeting in December, but on Tuesday 17th January, David Stanier will be giving an illustrated talk about the 'Blue Bus Services', which once provided excellent public transport between Burton and Derby. Many local people will remember both the company and the friendly staff who worked 'on the buses'. Visitors are welcome to join us at the Village Hall at 7.25 pm.

Our new book, 'Notices and Jottings from St Wystan's Parish Magazine, 1889 1937', is now available and can be obtained through Repton Post Office or Eileen Findley, 704506. At £4.95 it is an ideal Christmas stocking filler.

Repton Village Society

On Thursday 3rd November, David Tideswell gave an amusing talk on 'Garden Birds in Winter' to an appreciative audience. He has a wealth of knowledge through observation and study and has a garden set up to support the bird life in the area, from wrens to woodpeckers. Not only did he have a number of very good slides, but also bird feeders and different sized nest boxes for us to buy so that we too can encourage and support the birds in our gardens.

December 3rd Coffee Morning - Hobbies and Craft Displays
The Society is repeating the Christmas Coffee morning in Repton Village Hall. Doors will be open from 10 am to 12.25 pm. As well as the Hobbies and Crafts on display, we have Charles Hanson (as seen in Floggit and Bargain Hunt) who will value 4 articles for £1.00! Tea, coffee and mince pies will be available, together with a raffle. There will be Christmas cards from the County Air Ambulance, and all profits from the event will go to the Air Ambulance as well. We look forward to seeing you.

Milton & Foremark Village Matters

Milton W. I.

Ladies of the Mercia Group of W.I.s joined us on 4th November in Willington Village Hall to experience 'Tastes of the Asian Continent', a social evening hosted by Milton W.I. Member Mrs. Yasmin Wahedna kindly loaned many of her traditional Pakistani costumes, which were modelled by her daughters and fellow members. Bollywood music accompanied the colourful show, and the event was rounded off with a supper of authentic Indian food. This very different evening was a great success, much enjoyed by all who attended.

At the last monthly meeting (we meet on the third Wednesday of the month in Milton Village Hall) Mr. Campbell talked about his work with stained glass.

The December meeting will be our Christmas celebration meal cooked by Nancy Hawksworth. This will be on 14th December a week earlier than usual.

Gardening Notes

There is one great virtue in gardening at this time of the year: the pressure is off; there is no need to do today that which can be done tomorrow. But if the end of autumn marks the end of the gardening year, it also marks the start of the new one. It is time to start perusing the seed and plant catalogues; an early order will avoid disappointment. The Met Office is predicting a colder December and January than for some years - and there does seem to be scientific support for this - so it will probably be worth taking extra precautions to protect any doubtfully hardy plants. Recent mild winters have led us to believe that in many cases we can get away without these precautions. Plants such as dahlias fall victim to the first frosts, but below ground, their tubers will often survive unless the frost penetrates down to them.

Keep off the lawn if it is waterlogged or frozen; if you have to wheel the barrow over it, put boards down first. The warm, wet autumn has been ideal for fungi. Most of those found on lawns are harmless, but those forming fairy rings can kill the grass locally because the dense mats of their mycelia (roots) prevent water percolating through. Spiking the affected area with a fork will help, but you may need to dig out badly affected areas to a depth of 6 to 9 inches, fill them with fresh soil and resow.

Cut autumn-fruiting raspberry canes down to ground level. Unlike summer-fruiting raspberries, they fruit on the current year's growth. Plant bare-root raspberry canes, currant bushes and roses, as well as hardy deciduous climbers, shrubs and trees. If you are unable to plant them immediately, heel them in in a shallow trench. However, delay planting if the ground is saturated or frozen; keep the plants in a frost-free place, covered with wet sacking or equivalent.

Hard frost may loosen newly planted shrubs and plants; they may need firming in. Check tree ties and supports. Prune apple and pear trees and thin overcrowded branches, removing diseased wood. Remove and destroy all round, swollen blackcurrant buds infected with big bud mite causing blackcurrant reversion, a disease which soon leads to fruiting failure.

There is still time to plant Crown Imperials, alliums and late flowering tulips.

In the vegetable plot, continue winter digging when conditions permit. Many weeds continue to grow and set seed throughout the winter, and will need controlling. Dig a runner bean trench 18 inches deep, fill with well-rotted manure or compost and keep on adding kitchen waste and other organic matter.

When the weather is too bad to garden, it could provide the long-awaited opportunity to tidy the shed and clean your tools, sharpening and oiling metal blades. Check greenhouse and shed gutters, and ensure downpipes are clear. Fences, trellis arches and other permanent plant supports may need repair whilst the plants are dormant.

Indoors, check stored fruit and onions. Forced bowls of narcissi and hyacinths will grow more evenly if given a quarter turn each day.

Keep feeding the birds and make sure they always have unfrozen water available. Then relax and enjoy a happy and peaceful Christmas.