Births and Engagements

April 2008 - Contents No-one's enemy, and God's friend 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 Altar Flowers at St Saviour's United Reformed Church Services at the United Reformed Church Coffee Morning, Saturday 12th April Shell (for children aged 7+) Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Baptisms Alexandrina Emilia Davis Funerals and Burial of Ashes Margaret Muriel Gaskin Rosalinde Grace Bates The Memorial Book Repton Benefice Induction of the Rev'd Peter Paine, Sunday 13th April St Wystan's News Repton Church Heritage Appeal Services at St Wystan's Repton M.U. St Saviour's News Foremark Church Annual Parochial Church Meeting St Mary's News Newton Solney Church Organ Newton Solney Church Finances Repton School Concerts, Tuesday 22nd April Afternoon Tea, Thursday 24th April The Eden Project, Monday 28th April Thankyou Judy and Andy Hall Neighbourhood & Horse Watch Repton Village and History Open Gardens, Sunday 20th April Repton Neighbourhood Help Congratulations - Hawkins 'Active Kids' and 'Computers for Schools' Repton Evergreens Repton Village Show, Saturday 6th September Repton Village History Group Repton Parish Council Jottings Repton W.I. Repton Village Society Newton Solney Village Matters Newton Solney C of E (Aided) Infant School Newton Solney Parish Council Notes Newton Solney Women's Institute Gardening Notes Sam Beeton: Letter from Madagascar Fighting Phantom Visions, Charles Bonnet Syndrome

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No-one's enemy, and God's friend

Eusebius lived in the third century, and is known as the father of church history, because he recorded in great detail the story of the Christian church in his lifetime. He also produced an accurate text of the New Testament, and made it more readable by dividing the text into paragraphs rather than verses. He lived through times of intense persecution, but also saw the new peaceful times under the emperor Constantine, when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.

His great disappointment was that once the church could exist in freedom, it began to divide into schisms, each group declaring its superiority over all the others, and he warned the Christians in a pastoral letter: 'on account of abundant freedom, we fall into laxity and sloth; we envy and revile each other, we use words like spears, and are ready to take up arms against each other.'

So he asked the churches to use this prayer when they gathered for worship:

May I be no-one's enemy, and God's friend.
May I never quarrel with those nearest me;
but if I do, may I be reconciled quickly.
May I never plot evil against others,
and if anyone plots evil against me
may I escape unharmed, without any thought of hurting anyone else.

May I love and seek and achieve only what is good.
May I seek happiness for all, and envy no-one.
May I never take pleasure in the misfortune of others.

May I gain no victory that harms me or my adversary.
May I help to reconcile those who are angry with each other.
May I, as far as I am able, give help to those in need,
and never fail a friend in trouble.

May I respect myself, and keep control of myself.
My I be gentle with others, and never angry.
May I never gloat over what others have done wrong,
But always follow in the footsteps of the good. Amen.

It is a prayer well worth remembering, and I commend it to you.

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Services at Foremark, Newton Solney
and Repton Churches

St Wystan's, Repton

St Saviour's, Foremark

St Mary's, Newton Solney

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Readers, Intercessors and Offertory at St Wystan's

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Altar Flowers (contact Frances Wimbush, 703180)

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Brasses (contact Pauline Beckett, 500132)

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Altar Flowers & Cleaning at St Saviour's (contact Ann Redfern, 01332 862350)

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The United Reformed Church

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Coffee Morning, Saturday 12th April, 10.30 to 11.30 am

Home-made cakes and scones, marmalade, coffee and biscuits: can you resist these tasty treats? There is the Webb Ivory stall, and the children's game, and a chance to chat to friends and relax. Everyone is welcome.

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Shell Group (age 7 - 11)

Owing to the unusual pattern of school holidays, the Shell group will meet only once in April, on Monday 28th from 6.30 to 7.30. New members are welcome.

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Baptisms

Alexandrina Emilia, daughter of Emma and Robin Davis of 14 Victoria Drive, Woodville, was baptised at St Saviour's Church, Foremark, on Sunday 9th March.

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Funerals and Burial of Ashes

Margaret Muriel Gaskin, formerly of Mount Pleasant Road, died on Monday 11th February, aged 90, at Netherhall Nursing Home.

Rosalinde Grace Bates of 39 Askew Grove, Repton, died on Friday 29th February aged 54. A service at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on Friday 14th March was followed by committal at Bretby Crematorium.

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The Memorial Book

The Memorial Book was donated in memory of Henry Chilton as a place where the names of those who died on or after 1st April 2000 can be recorded in the church.   All former Repton residents are eligible, as well as those buried or interred in St Wystan's churchyard or Monsom Lane cemetery.   There is no charge but a donation towards church funds is greatly appreciated.   All we need is the full name and the dates of birth and death.

Please contact Rev'd Peter Paine, 703317.

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Repton Benefice

Induction of the Rev'd Peter Paine to the living of Foremark with Repton and Newton Solney

Sunday 13th April marks a significant step in the spiritual life of our benefice. The Archdeacon of Derby, The Venerable Christopher Cunliffe, will preach at the Parish Communion at St Wystan's Church. Then, in a short ceremony after the service, he will induct Peter Paine to the living of Foremark with Repton and Newton Solney.

This may surprise those who already know Peter as 'the vicar', following his licensing in October 2004, and you may wonder what difference it makes.

In 2004, Peter was licensed as 'priest-in-charge'; now he will be the incumbent. It is not just a technical matter. When the living was suspended during the interregnum, there was debate at Diocesan level about whether the vicarage was a suitable house for a prospective incumbent, or whether it should be sold. Financial considerations and clergy deployment under the recent MMA reorganisation also played a part. An incumbent has greater security of tenure, and realistically cannot be evicted or transferred.

Legally, the suspension could only last three years. Now the Diocesan Pastoral Committee has recommended that it should not be renewed, and that Peter should be made a full incumbent. It is something that the PCC has pressed for from the beginning. To do this the Bishop has to institute him, and the Archdeacon has to induct him, and it has to happen in that order.

Institution is the admission of a new incumbent into the spiritual care of the parish, and induction is the final stage in his appointment. The effect is to place Peter in the legal possession of the temporalities of the benefice and in control of the parish.

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St Wystan's News

Repton Church Heritage Appeal

Patron, The Rt Rev'd Humphrey Southern, Bishop of Repton

Christianity came to Repton in AD 653, and the oldest parts of St Wystan's Church date from just over 50 years later. As a living church it has changed and adapted considerably over the years to provide a centre for worship and for the community as a whole.

Today we need new facilities to make the church more welcoming, not only for worship, for remembrance, for christenings, weddings and funerals, but for community activities, concerts and festivals. We want to provide better access to the church, toilets, a kitchen, and an open space for socialising and social events.

Appeal Launch, Tuesday 15 April at 12 noon

The appeal will be launched by Nicholas Henshall, Canon Precentor at Derby Cathedral, and everyone will have a chance to see and discuss the plans over a drink and canapés. We would be really pleased if you could come and join us.

For your Diary

Supporting the Appeal, look out for two very special events this summer.

A Magical Evening

. . . with a light buffet at Branston Golf & Country Club at 7.30 pm on Saturday 17th May. Tickets will cost £20.

Sunday Lunch

. . . on The Paddock at Repton School - Sunday 29th June, 12.30 for 1 pm. Admission is by ticket (£65 per person). Hot and cold buffet, Pimms on arrival and table wines included. Entertainment by the Pasadena Roof Orchestra. Tables for 10 available.

For more information and tickets for both events, contact Karen Perks, 702392, Carol Lloyd, 702410, or Roger Kerry, 703336.

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Services at St Wystan's

Following comments and discussion in recent months and at the Annual Meeting, the PCC agreed in March to make minor modifications to our pattern of services. These will come into effect from the beginning of May.

Family Service will replace Morning Worship on the first Sunday of the month. It is not just a change of name: as a service at which children are particularly welcome, it will also be shorter - no longer than 45 minutes.

Matins will be brought forward to its traditional time of 11 am. It will remain a 'Prayer Book' service, although there was some suggestion that a service in contemporary language might be more appealing.

Parish Communion will be the main service on all the other Sundays. The Sunday Club leaders will aim to provide for children on all those Sundays, although extra help might be needed. If anyone could assist, please contact Jane Griffiths on 559390. More help would also be appreciated for the crèche; please ring Wendy Mair on 537813. We will also try to give a slot to the children in these services.

Baptisms will be held on the first Sunday only.

Mothering Sunday and Harvest Festival Services will be services of the Word and not Communion, whether they fall on the first Sunday or not.

It will be noted that at my induction, I swore to 'use only the forms of service which are authorised and allowed by Canon'. There is great variety and flexibility within our Common Worship services, so I have no hesitation in commending a pattern which is essentially liturgical in content. You may be familiar with John Betjeman's poem, 'Septuagesima':

There may be those who much resent
Priest, Liturgy and Sacrament,
Whose worship is what they call "free",
Well, let them be so, but for me
There's refuge in the C of E.

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Repton M.U.

The meeting in March took the form of a Holy Week Service led by the Rev'd Stanley Morris. He talked of Jerusalem, an occupied city, described the tensions between the Roman authorities and the Jewish priests, and tried to answer the question: "Who really was responsible for the Crucifixion?"

Next Meeting: Wednesday 16th April at 2.15 pm in the Fisher Close Community Room: Jeanette Griffiths: 'The Long Road to my Degree'.

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St Saviour's News

Foremark Church Annual Parochial Church Meeting

By kind invitation of the Headmaster, the Annual Parochial Church Meeting of St Saviour's Church, Foremark, is to be held at Hall Cottage, Foremarke Hall on Wednesday 23rd April at 3 pm. The meeting will be in the new extension on the right of Hall Cottage, which is at the end of the cul-de-sac when you turn immediately left by the main classroom block.

All parishioners are welcome to attend the Vestry Meeting for the election of churchwardens. Then, those on the electoral roll are welcome to attend the APCM, where there will be elections for the Deanery Synod representative and the PCC.

For an application form to join the electoral roll, please contact Heather Lowe at Foremarke Hall, Repton Preparatory School, Foremarke Hall, Milton, Derbyshire, DE65 6EJ. The new electoral roll will be revised up to the 9th April and displayed thereafter.

A meeting of Foremark PCC will immediately follow the APCM.

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St Mary's News

Newton Solney Church Organ

The task of refurbishing St Mary's pipe organ began at last early in March, since when, for safety reasons, the church has been kept locked except during services. The work should be completed by early summer, but meanwhile hymns are being accompanied, not only by the church piano, but alternatively by an electric organ, courtesy of the organ builders. Thanks are due, both for the loan of this instrument and also to those who have, since Christmas, generously added further donations to the Organ Fund.

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Newton Solney Church Finances

Much of what was written last month about the financial position at St Wystan's is also applicable at St Mary's, albeit on a smaller scale commensurate with the size of the church. Actual figures cannot be confirmed until after the Annual Meeting on 21st April, though copies of the accounts can be made available during the week before the meeting. The regular congregation will struggle to cover the likely deficit without the help and support of the community. Such support was abundantly evident when the Roof Appeal was launched and again at the recent Christmas Tree Festival. It would be heart-warming to feel that this goodwill was not limited to special appeals or events.

If you are able and willing to make a financial contribution (or to increase your present giving) to keep St Mary's alive for future generations, please contact Jennifer Haynes, 703827, or Don Sherwin, 703392, to discuss the ways and means.

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Repton School Concerts Society O DUO Tuesday 22nd April at 7.45 pm in the Robert Beldam Hall, Repton Music School O Duo's repertoire spans more than 300 years. They will perform on a large variety of percussion instruments including marimbas and vibraphone. Their exciting programme will include works by Bach, Chopin and Dizzie Gillespie. Come and hear these hugely popular musicians in an unusual and amazing performance. Tickets at £12 and 9 (concessions) are available from The Secretary (Sue Parker), 01283 702550 or Repton Music School, 01283 559319

Afternoon Tea The Grange, 16 Main Street. Thursday 24th April from 2.30 pm Karen and John Perks invite you to 'Afternoon Tea'. Admission £1 including tea and cake. Bring a book you have enjoyed reading to exchange, 50p a swap.      Raffle. All proceeds to St Wystan's Church

Newton Solney Horticultural Society The Eden Project A talk and slide show by Glenda Ritchie Newton Solney Village Hall, Monday 28th April at 7.30 pm. Entrance £2 including refreshments. Plants for sale.

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Thankyou

Judy, Andy and family would like to thank everyone for their kindness at Sam's Memorial Night at Repton British Legion. All the money raised has gone towards Sam's memorial stone in the cemetery on Monsom Lane. We would also like to thank everyone for their kind donations at Sam's funeral for Cancer Research UK, which raised £601. Thanks again to everyone.

Sam will always be loved and never forgotten.

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Neighbourhood Watch

Look after your Neighbours

Always think of your vulnerable or elderly neighbours; make sure they are aware of the problems below, and advise them not to let strangers into the house.

So-called Water Board Officials

Men claiming to be from the water board have been trying to enter properties by telling residents that their water may be contaminated and should be checked. Report any such incident to the police immediately on 999.

Remember:
Secure your door chain.
Make absolutely sure a caller is genuine before you let him in.
Staff from utility companies carry an identification card. Always ask to see it. If in any doubt, contact their company for verification.
Don't give them any personal or bank details.
If they have a vehicle, take down the registration number, make and model.

Pedlars

The number of self-styled pedlars has increased considerably, particularly foreign nationals selling pictures, and others selling cleaning materials. Most are not genuine pedlars, but belong to gangs that target particular areas. Everyone who sells at the door must have a valid Pedlar's Certificate; those who haven't can be arrested and their goods can be seized. If you are confident enough, please check their certificate and report suspicious callers to the police on 0845 123 3333. If you don't want to check their certificate, just say "no, thank you" and shut the door.

Don't buy from uninvited callers.

Don't agree to work being done or sign a contract without speaking to someone else. If you have work that needs doing, ask friends or relatives whom they would recommend. Get at least 3 quotes from different companies. Quad Bikes

The theft of quad bikes has increased in South Derbyshire. The advice is to lock them up, strap them down and fit additional security devices.

Suspicious Activity

Please be vigilant and report any suspicious activity around villages and isolated farms. Take down registration numbers, make and model of suspicious vehicles, and contact Derbyshire Police straight away on 0845 164 1644.

Home Security

If you need advice, contact the crime reduction officer on 0845 123 3333.

Police non-emergency, 0845 123 3333. Anti-Social Behaviour, 01283 59 57 95.

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Horsewatch

Horse crime is rising, and horses, ponies, trailers and saddlery are being stolen in increasing numbers. If the police are to deal with the problem, they need the help of people who own horses and ponies, or who have a close interest. Horsewatch is a voluntary organisation of local groups, similar to Neighbourhood Watch, which aims to reduce equine-related crime. If you would like to join a Horsewatch group, contact your local police station. If the nearest existing group is too far away, how about getting together with friends, local riding clubs and livery yards to form one yourself? The Horsewatch regional representative will help you.

Meanwhile, think like a thief!

Look around your horses, stables and fields from a thief's point of view. Ask yourself:

1. Can my horse be identified easily by someone who doesn't know it?
2. Can my horse be stolen without anyone else noticing? How soon would I notice?
3. How easy would it be to get my horse out of his field?
4. How easy is it to break into my stable? Would anyone notice?
5. If my tack were stolen, would someone else be able to recognise it?
6. Could my horsebox or trailer be driven off without anyone noticing? How soon would I notice the loss?
7. How easy would it be to load my horse into my transport and drive him away?

The more people there are in Horsewatch, the more effective it will be.

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Repton Village & History

Open Gardens, Sunday 20th April

In April, two outstanding Repton gardens are opening in support of the National Gardens Scheme (the Yellow Book).

Jan and David Roberts, 37 High Street, Repton, 2 - 5.30 pm

Admission £2.50. There will be plants for sale and teas in aid of St Wystan's Church. The garden will open again on Sunday 8th June.

Pauline and Robert Little, 10 Chestnut Way, 1 - 5 pm

Admission £2.50. There will be a plant stall and home-made teas and cakes. The garden will also be open on the Spring Bank holiday weekend, at the end of May.

Over the last 10 years the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) has donated more than £22 million to charity.

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Repton Neighbourhood Help

After a winter session of 10 weeks, we are getting ready for a long summer spell of 15 weeks when, amongst other events such as an African afternoon and a poetry fest, we shall be enjoying a cream tea in June at Brook Farm and organising an outing in August.

In March we greatly enjoyed a concert by the older children from St Wystan's School, and an Easter service led by the Rev'd Stanley Morris. A special guest at the latter was Mrs. Jean Outhwaite. She has now retired from the committee and list of volunteers, having served from our inception 13 years ago. We said thank you in the time-honoured way with cards, flowers and gifts. Jean will be greatly missed, but we hope to see her 'popping in' from time to time, whenever she is in the Repton area on a Friday.

Thank you, Jean, for all you have done for us.

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Congratulations

With great pleasure, Freddy and Jane Hawkins of Beechbrook House, Milton Road, Repton, announce the marriage on 19th April 2008 of their daughter Elizabeth to Carl Hudson of Nottingham.

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'Active Kids' and 'Computers for Schools'

Repton Primary and Newton Solney Infants Schools are both collecting vouchers from Sainsbury's and Tesco. Until 4th June Sainsbury's are offering vouchers which can be exchanged for sports, activity and cooking equipment. Similarly, Tesco is issuing 'Computers for Schools' vouchers.

So please send them via a pupil, drop them off at school or post them, either to Repton Primary School, Springfield Road, Repton DE65 6GN, or to Newton Solney Infant School, Trent Lane, Newton Solney, Burton on Trent, DE15 0SF.

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Repton Evergreens

If your spirits need lifting and you could do with a smile,
Come and join us each month, if just for a while,
Just two hours a month in our village hall
Everyone welcome, so come one and all.
We have outings and bingo, raffles galore,
Afternoon tea, cheese scones and much more.

Cannock Chase and the National Memorial Arboretum, Thursday 29th May

The bus for our outing leaves Repton Village Hall car park at 10 am and returns here for a meal together at 2.15 pm. Non-members £8 each, all inclusive. If you would like to join us, phone Colleen Yeomans on 702975 to book your place.

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Repton Village Show, Saturday 6th September, Repton Village Hall

The 18th Village Show will take place on the first Saturday in September. There will be classes for vegetables, fruit, flowers, flower arrangements, photographs, preserves, cakes, and handicrafts. We also have children's classes, which are particularly important, an opportunity to create something during the holidays or perhaps to grow cress in an eggshell.

The show gives a chance for everyone to participate, and then to visit in the afternoon to see the display, where we finish with an auction and a raffle. The schedule will be in the May magazine, and entry forms in August.

Don't forget, it is an amateur show, so anyone can enter. It only costs 10p an item. The more entries, the more fun, and the more spectacular the display - so put the date in your diary. We are certain you will find something you can enter.

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Repton Village History Group

Our February meeting featured the well known local historian, Richard Stone, talking about the operation of the law in the middle ages. 'Getting away with it' described how people could legally avoid serving their sentences by using loopholes in the law.

'Going in the manner of Rogysche Egyptians', Tuesday 15th April In April, David Smith's illustrated talk will describe the history and culture of gypsies. 7.30 pm in the Village Hall. Visitors are welcome.

'Goodbye Mr Chips' and agm, Tuesday 20th May

In May, our Annual General Meeting will be followed by an illustrated talk from Alan Thompson on the 1938 filming of 'Goodbye Mr Chips' at Repton School.

We would be interested to hear from anyone wishing to be put forward for election to the committee. This is an interesting but not arduous position. Please ring Alan Kimber on 01283 704042 if you feel you would like to participate in preserving local history.

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Repton Parish Council Jottings

A monthly newsletter covering issues from the most recent Parish Council meeting in March.

• Derbyshire County Council has responded to the parish council letter, which objected to the proposed flashing speed sign in Main Street as inappropriate in the conservation area, and has withdrawn the offer of the speed sign. They noted the parish council's wish to see a build-out or pinch point installed instead, but remain of the opinion that a feature of this type is not suitable in this location. It was resolved to write to DCC to express disappointment at their decision to withdraw the offer of the flashing speed sign, and to ask them to consider installing it outside the conservation area, away from residential properties, along the straight stretch near to Zytek. We also request them to address the speeding problems in The Square.
• The parish council has been contacted by a resident concerned about the corner of Askew Grove, where parked cars cause obstruction, so we asked the County Councillor if there has been any progress regarding the revised plans for parking in Repton. He told the meeting that Peter Leigh is still working on them. DCC attends to them area by area, and when this area is visited, plans will be forthcoming.
• DCC has responded to a request to repair the stone kerbing around The Cross which is continually being broken by vehicles. It was resolved to write to the county council again to stress that it would be more economical to use larger (more expensive) kerbs that can be buried deeper into the ground.
• South Derbyshire District Council reported that the recycling centre bins on Burton Road are emptied as follows: plastic and cans, Wednesday every fortnight; cardboard / mixed paper, every Monday. Please place material inside the bins. Do not leave it alongside.
• One large litter bin will be placed near the entrance to the Burton Road recycling centre, and a second bin will be sited at the junction of The Pastures and High Street. Two bins are on order for the 'sausage' at the Lychgate. It is hoped to use the old bins at new sites.
• Four bench seats are on order, to be placed: on Willington Road; at the entrance to Broomhills Lane; in Milton Road opposite Springfield Road; on Burton Road at the junction with Tanners Lane.
• Subject to permission from SDDC, the developer of the new houses on Askew Grove is to place bollards at the end of the Cinder Track. He will also seed and tidy up the disturbed areas there.
• An application for a £700 grant has been made to the Safer Neighbourhoods Group for funding to help towards the cost of the summer play activities, which the parish councils hire from the district council during the school summer holidays. They would want matched funding of £175 from the parish council. More details and dates will appear in a later magazine.

The next meeting of the parish council is to be held on 14th April at 7.30 pm in Repton Village Hall. The agenda will be posted on the website and on village notice boards a week before the meeting.

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Repton W.I.

Repton's 90th birthday year continues to be busy. At the Spring Council Meeting our representative was presented with a Certificate of Congratulations from the Derbyshire Federation. We passed our target of £90 to be given to the Associated Countrywomen of the World. Thanks to members' gifts and a social afternoon hosted by Jenny Jones, we were able to hand over a cheque for £105.

At the March meeting we had an excellent talk by member Morag Hill, entitled 'A River Journey'. Morag showed her own photos of the river Trent from its source on Biddulph Moor to the point where it flows into the Humber Estuary. After the talk we all collected our Derbyshire rosebushes. These have been specially bred for the Derbyshire Federation which, like Repton W.I., was founded in 1918. We hope to see lots of pale pink roses blooming in future to remind us of our special year.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 8th April at 7.15 pm in the Village Hall: Anne Bailey, 'Pixie Hoods and Siren Suits - Wartime Memories.'

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Repton Village Society

In our February talk, David Mountford covered the history, flora and fauna of the Falkland Islands. He has visited them twice and was able to present an excellent account of a part of the world that is in many ways a closed book. His talk was followed by the AGM, and the evening concluded with cheese and wine, during which David answered many questions.

"Florence Nightingale - Beyond the Legend", Thursday 3rd April

Pat Smedley, a Nightingale nurse, will be travelling up from Surrey to give this acclaimed talk.

Jazz Concert, Saturday 12th April.

All the tickets have now been sold. To join a waiting list for returns, call 701838.

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Newton Solney Village Matters

Newton Solney C of E (Aided) Infant School

Our Lent project raised £15 for families in the developing world, enough for play equipment or two trees. The children were delighted, as the contributions were mainly from their own pocket money.

In March we welcomed SCAT (Schools Christian Assembly Team) into our Collective Worship. They retold the story of the Good Samaritan in their own lively and exciting style. Later in the month INSPIRE led Easter workshops for all the children, and also Collective Worship.

We were pleased that Collective Worship on 5th March, led by Rev'd Peter Paine, was attended by 15 visitors. You are very welcome to come along to the school hall on 2nd April at 9.15 am, and next term on 7th May, 4th June and 2nd July.

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Newton Solney Parish Council Notes

As previously advised, with effect from May, Newton Solney is to be included in the 'brown bin' scheme. Leaflets and calendars detailing the scheme will be delivered to all households during April. On Tuesday 15th April from 3 6 pm there will be an exhibition in the village hall to answer any queries.

The old pumping station near the river at the end of Trent Lane is to be demolished shortly. It is part of a village project to make safe and improve the surrounding area. A grant towards the cost has been obtained from the South Derbyshire Safer Neighbourhoods Fund.

A meeting on road safety and surface issues is to be held at the end of the month. Parish councillors will meet with DCC and SDDC representatives to seek urgent and appropriate solutions, reflecting the huge concern in the light of recent tragic events.

There appears to be a rise of anti-social behaviour in the village: damage to a seat, a burnt out stolen vehicle, a further find of syringes. There is no obvious connection but it is worrying nevertheless. Please be on the lookout and contact the police if you are concerned. There have been similar problems in other villages. Up to now Newton has not had a problem; don't let this gain momentum.

The next meeting is on Friday 11th April at 7.45 pm in the village hall.

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Newton Solney Women's Institute

Welcoming members to our March meeting, Jo Parfitt reminded them of the jumble sale later in the week.

Jean Burns gave a short summary of the Spring Council Meeting held in Chesterfield: members were welcomed by the Lady Mayor of Chesterfield and the main speakers were Lord Norton of Louth, speaking about the House of Lords, and Sheila Dibnah, third wife of Fred, speaking about their life together.

As part of a Derbyshire Federation W.I. initiative there is to be a 'Litter Pick' around the village between 31st March and 13th April. Members can choose when and where they will tidy up.

Those interested in walking have formed a group to formulate a local walk, '1 Step Further', and design a leaflet. When this is available, members will be encouraged to take part.

Margaret Acford asked for suggestions for further outings; one idea is to visit Yoxall Arbor during May to see the bluebell display; another is a summer trip with a W.I. tea afterwards.

Names were taken for a performance of 'The Mikado' by the Mellow Dramatics on Wednesday 14th May at the Brewhouse. Our speaker for the evening was Dr. Christian Murray-Leslie, speaking on Traumatic Brain Injury and the important work of 'Headway', a Derby based initiative which aims to improve the quality of life for people from South Derbyshire and East Staffordshire with brain injuries, and their carers and families. The charity was established by the D.R.I. in 1994, and offers outreach support, outings and holidays for patients and families.

The jumble sale in March proved to be most successful.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 8th April at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall: Monica Pickering will speak on 'Living in Windsor Castle'.

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Gardening Notes

Preparations for the summer season continue apace.

In the vegetable garden you can make a start by sowing summer cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and winter cabbage, beetroot and carrots. If carrot fly has been a problem in the past, cover the carrots with fleece. Continue successional sowings of lettuce, peas and broad beans.

Sow chillies and peppers under glass for growing outdoors, and sweet corn in modules to plant out in June. Runner and French beans can be started under glass later in the month, as also marrows, courgettes, squashes and cucumbers. On sunny days, ventilate the greenhouse and frame.

Tomatoes sown in February can be planted out in a heated greenhouse, but if you are buying plants, it may be better to wait until May.

Continue to sow annuals such as cosmos, asters and marigolds in a cold greenhouse or frame.

Plant out dahlia tubers, but not freshly rooted cuttings, as these are very susceptible to frost. Take cuttings of tender perennials such as osteospermum, verbena and salvias, whether from overwintered or freshly bought plants. Plant up hanging baskets in a frost-free place, and - from the end of April - gradually introduce them to the outside.

In the border, erect supports for tall herbaceous perennials; the plants will hide them as they grow through.

In pruning shrubs, the aim is to control their size and shape, keep them vigorous, and encourage new growth, flowers and fruit. Take out damaged, diseased and dead wood, and any weak shoots. Many shrubs will not need pruning - at least, not every year.

Remove weaker shoots from shrubs that flower on the previous season's wood - such as forsythia, weigelia, deutzia and philadelphus - when they have flowered. Larger forsythia may repay more vigorous pruning. Ceanothus can be pruned lightly after flowering, but avoid cutting into old wood. Remove some of the older branches from mophead hydrangeas, and cut flowered branches back to the nearest fat, green bud. Hydrangea paniculata and H. arborescens 'Annabelle' flower on last season's growth and can be pruned fairly hard now.

The smaller spring flowering bulbs should not need tidying up after flowering; their leaves, including those of the smaller daffodils, will die down quickly. Leave the leaves of other daffodils for 6 to 8 weeks after flowering before cutting them back. If you need to move daffodils or split the clumps to rejuvenate them, do it immediately after flowering. Use plenty of compost, and water them well in. Species tulips are best left undisturbed, and they may spread. However, most bedding tulips only last two years; it is questionable whether it is worth the bother of digging them up, storing and replanting each year.

The lawn will need mowing regularly, and in showery weather, apply lawn feed. Lawn weedkillers work best in spring when weed growth is vigorous.

Brown patches in conifer hedges, especially leylandii, can be due to drought or wind, but a common cause is the cupressus aphid. Although they are fairly large, they are not easy to see in a thick hedge, nor is it easy to apply an insecticide effectively. Damaged hedges can recover but it is likely to be a slow process.

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Sam Beeton

St Wystan's Church supports Sam Beeton, who teaches at St Paul's Theological College in Antananarivo, the key training centre for the church of Madagascar.

In August we were pleased to welcome Sam and his wife, Violette, during their furlough in England. In a recent newsletter, he reflected on his stay.

'When we went to visit churches, we travelled on trains full of young people, only for us to arrive in churches with no young people at all. Perhaps our obsession with busyness means that we no longer have time to listen to God. Perhaps, as St Paul says, we prepare ourselves for the race, but we shut our eyes to God and run a different race from the one he intended.

'When we go shopping in Madagascar, our choice is mainly limited to things locally made and perhaps two or three varieties. In the UK, there are dozens of varieties, sometimes air-freighted in from the other side of the world. The same is true of ideas. There is a profusion of ideas, which leads to confusion.

'Thus we hear, "there are many different ideas about the greenhouse effect, so, for the moment, I'll just carry on as I'm used to" or, "there are many different religions so it is pointless choosing to worship Jesus alone." There are many benefits of the choice we have in the UK, but if that stops us from choosing right and being strong in our convictions, then on the Last Day, the Lord may reject us as neither hot, nor cold.'

The other major differences that Sam and Violette noticed during their stay included clean water on tap, electricity that doesn't cut off regularly, the ubiquity of broadband, the frequent holidays people take, universal access to health care, the absence of dust, and the absence of stars!

At last, a local doctor!

With one doctor per 11,500 people, Madagascar has almost 12 times fewer doctors than the UK. Last summer, St Paul's Theological College took the unusual step of opening a medical clinic to provide much-needed health care for the local community. With funding from Canterbury Diocese, the college employed a newly qualified doctor, Dr. Thierry, from the north of Madagascar.

Sam Beeton says: "Having recently finished his training, Dr Thierry comes to us fresh and enthusiastic. He wants to experience life treating rural people in the countryside, so we are grateful to have him." In the past, local people had to walk up to two hours to get to a doctor, who often had no medicine. Now, in an emergency, a doctor is available at any time.

Each month more people come for his help. One man was walking home in the evening with £20 he had earned from selling peas at market, when he was set upon by robbers and left for dead. Luckily, Dr Thierry got to him quickly and saved his life, sewing up his wounds, which had been bleeding heavily. He was able to put him on a drip and send him to hospital, where he had an operation to repair broken bones in his skull.

A local boy was very ill with coughing fits. Dr Thierry diagnosed a hole in the heart and gave him medicine that at least enables him to attend school. But he will need surgery soon or he will die. Dr Thierry hopes to get him seen by Médecins sans Frontières, which has a cardiologist.

Dr Thierry is also involved in preventative work. Madagascar has an infant mortality rate of 57 per thousand, eight times as high as that in the UK. He has started a programme to help mothers keep their children healthy and safe from tropical diseases. He will also be offering family planning classes and teaching adults how to avoid malaria.

To support the work of Sam, or the USPG, visit www.uspg.org.uk, email enquiries@uspg.org.uk, or ring 020 7803 3422

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Fighting Phantom Visions, Charles Bonnet Syndrome

Many partially-sighted and blind people in all parts of the UK are living a nightmare because of the phantom visions that plague their lives, visions such as men and women in old-fashioned dress, marching soldiers, buildings, animals, firework patterns, giant caterpillars and mosaic designs. One sufferer regularly 'sees' small people damaging her flat, and large people repairing it. Another reports people on motor-cycles riding through her home.

They know these things are not real, but many are too afraid to speak about their experiences, even to family or friends; they fear their stories will be interpreted as signs of mental illness. In fact, they may have Charles Bonnet Syndrome, a condition which, though incurable, can be made tolerable through education and mutual support.

What is Charles Bonnet Syndrome?

When people are losing their sight, they often start to see phantom visions as their brain plays tricks on them. Sometimes, new fantasy pictures, or old images stored in the brain are released and experienced as though they were actually seen.

Surprisingly, there is still little practical help for sufferers, even though the condition was first documented back in 1760. But now, together with local Rotary clubs, Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind is working to raise awareness of the problem and develop a network of self-support groups to share experiences and to educate the public about the condition. Sharing experiences at support group meetings can be very beneficial.

For more information, contact Sue Coggin at Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind, t: 0114 251 9643 or e: info@srsb.org.uk. She would be happy to identify a local contact for you.