May 2009 - Contents Farewell from Father Martin John Calvin and the Independence of the Church 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 9th May Shell (for children aged 7+) Summer Barbecue, Saturday 11th July Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Baptisms Jack Peter and Alfie James Lovatt Marriages John Rhodri Jones and Sarah Joanne Harding Ian Murray Hall and Laura English Funerals and Burial of Ashes Kathleen Hilda Kemp Dennis Woolley Yeomans The Memorial Book Repton Church Heritage Appeal Buy a Brick! Lunch on the Paddock, Sunday 5th July St Wystan's News Building has Begun Easter Flowers Repton M.U. Churchyard upkeep St Wystan's Flower Festival Preview, Friday 1st May Repton Village Party, Saturday 2nd May St Wystan's Flower Festival, Saturday 2nd - Monday 4th May Repton's Songs of Praise, Sunday 3rd May St Mary's Spring Buffet Lunch, Sunday 10th May Repton School Concerts Society, Wednesday 13th May Dorcas Group Coffee Morning, Saturday 23rd May Repton Evergreens, 50th Anniversary Birthday Party, Thursday 28th May Bring and Share Lunch, Sunday 31st May Sunday Lunch on The Paddock, Sunday 5th July Environment Matters Environmentally Friendly Gardening Charities Christian Aid Week, 10th - 16th May South Derbyshire A&E on the Move, 2 am on Wednesday 20th May Derby Freecycle, 10,000 now signed up! Neighbourhood Watch Bank Details Repton Village and History St Wystans Flower Festival Repton Village Party, Help Wanted! Take a Pew? Parish Walk and Pub Lunch, Thursday 7th May Repton Village History Group Repton Neighbourhood Help Repton Village Society Aero-Cubs Repton W.I. Repton Parish Council Jottings Milton & Foremark Village Matters Milton W.I. Newton Solney Village Matters Newton Solney Parish Council Notes Newton Solney W.I. Gardening Notes

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Farewell from Father Martin

As some of you will know, a couple of weeks ago the Bishop of Nottingham asked me to take up a new post. From 22nd April I am to serve as the parish priest of Long Eaton.

I'm sorry that the short notice given me for my forthcoming posting has prevented me calling on my friends in the churches in Repton to express in person my gratitude for the blessings I have gained through their ministry and their friendship.

It has been a delight to play my small part in advancing the growing affection and co-operation among Christians of different denominations in Repton, and I will long cherish the privilege of being invited to preach at joint services. Those who serve Repton - both village and school - in Christian ministry and leadership will probably not know, this side of heaven, how much I have benefited from their camaraderie and fraternal encouragement.

I hope that all my friends in Repton will remember me in their prayers now and again. May we all meet merrily in heaven, if not before!

Praying that unity may grow as the Lord wills, at the pace the Lord wills,

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John Calvin and the Independence of the Church

This year marks the 500th Anniversary of the birth of John Calvin, who can justifiably claim to be the father of the Reformed Church: the father of a massive world-wide communion of Reformed Churches, with nearly eighty million members, of which the United Reformed Church is a small, but significant, part.

When Calvin began his ministry in Geneva in 1541, Martin Luther was still preaching. Luther was a fiery prophet, producing a pamphlet every fortnight urging the church to reform. Calvin was the great systematiser, who during his twenty-three years as a minister worked on appropriate ecclesiastical and social shapes for the Church in a world that Luther had turned upside down.

Throughout history, Church and State have battled for supremacy. Sometimes the battle was waged on a grand scale, as when the Roman Emperors fought successive Popes for the right to appoint church officials, including popes; sometimes on a lesser scale, as in 1928, when Parliament refused to accept the Church of England's revisions to the Book of Common Prayer.

Calvin was determined that the Church should never be an instrument of the State, but independent of it. He argued with the City Council of Geneva that the Reformed Church should be free from its interference. He understood God to be far above the reach of petty systems of government: the Church, the body of Christ, is under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as revealed through the study and interpretation of Scripture; it is the responsibility of the members of the body of Christ to use their time, wealth and ability for the benefit of the community, to be stewards of creation. Calvin was the first church leader to try to work out a social polity based on Biblical principles. The Pilgrim Fathers, frustrated in England, sailed to America to establish a Church totally separate from the State, and so it has remained. It is a long way from Calvin to President Obama, but it was Calvin who took the first steps along the way.

It is typical of Calvin's humility that he insisted on being buried in an unmarked grave. But we who are his spiritual and intellectual children should remember him in our efforts to create a godly society in which Church and State can work together.

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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 9th May at 10.30 am

Back to the usual second Saturday of the month! Another chance to buy home-made cakes and marmalade, to browse the Webb Ivory cards and stationery, and to play the children's game.

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Shell (age 7+)

Meets on Mondays 11th, 18th and 25th May from 6.30 to 7.30 pm.

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Summer Barbecue, Saturday 11th July

Book the date now!

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Baptisms

Jack Peter and Alfie James, the sons of Emma Lovatt of Mickleover, were baptised at the United Reformed Church on Sunday 22nd March.

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Marriages

John Rhodri Jones and Sarah Joanne Harding were married at St Saviour's Church, Foremark, on Friday 3rd April.

Ian Murray Hall and Laura English were married at St Saviour's Church, Foremark, on Saturday 11th April.

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Funerals and Burial of Ashes

Kathleen Hilda Kemp of The Dales, Fisher Close, Repton, died on Tuesday 31st March aged 86. A funeral service at Bretby Crematorium on 8th April was followed by cremation.

Dennis Woolley Yeomans of 32 Springfield Road, Repton, died on Wednesday 1st April aged 84. A funeral service at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on 9th April was followed by committal at Bretby Crematorium.

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The Memorial Book

Repton has a fine memorial book permanently on display in St Catherine's Chapel in the north aisle of St Wystan's Church.   It was donated in memory of Henry Chilton as a place to commemorate former residents of Repton.   All are eligible and welcome, 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 Church Heritage Appeal

Buy a Brick!

In March, a flier delivered with the Parish Magazine invited you to 'Buy a Brick' in aid of Repton Heritage Appeal. Embroidered fabric bricks with the names of Repton families will be sewn together and hung as a banner on the North wall close to St Catherine's Chapel. For five pounds only, you can buy a brick and see your family name displayed. If you are unable to sew your own family name, then we can arrange for this to be done for you, but if you prefer to embroider and personalise your own, the material will be provided.

Plans to contact you at the end of March were disrupted by holidays and shortage of time, but are now back on track. If you would like more information, or if by the end of May you haven't been approached to buy a brick, do please telephone me, Melodie Bordoli, on 01283 212652.

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Lunch on the Paddock, Sunday 5th July

The Pasadena Roof Orchestra will be here again in July to play at a 'Sunday Lunch' on The Paddock at Repton School. We are hoping that this will bring to a successful conclusion our fundraising for Repton Church Heritage Appeal.

Those who were at the lunch last year will remember just how hugely enjoyable it was. Tickets cost £65 and include Pimms on arrival, entertainment, and Sunday lunch with wine. For more information and tickets, please contact Karen Perks on 01283 702392.

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St Wystan's News

Building has Begun

The outer vestry screens are down, the floor is up, building has begun. The contractor is Linford-Bridgeman, part of the Linford Group, and the same contractor who so painstakingly renovated the crypt in 1998.

As we remember all too well from previous work in the church, the best-laid plans can still be thrown into confusion by archaeologists, but if all goes well, building in the north-west corner of the church - the new kitchen and toilets - will be complete by the end of July.

Not that that will be the end of fund-raising. We still need money, not least for furniture such as tables and chairs, so please continue to support us.

Initially the work will be confined to the floor, excavating, compacting and relaying. Only from the middle of May will the first partitions appear, with the oak screens erected in mid-June. The installation of the kitchen and the 'second fix' will be in late June, with the final touches and decoration scheduled for July.

Meanwhile, excavation of the sump and drainage will take most of May, with the paths resurfaced soon afterwards. After reading about St Mary's freezing Christmas, you will be pleased to know that work on the central heating should be complete by mid-June!

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Easter Flowers

Thank you to all who gave donations towards the Easter Lilies, whether in celebration or remembrance, and to everyone who donated the flowers and foliage that made the displays so eye-catching. Many people were involved with the arranging; thank you to you all for helping to decorate the Church so beautifully for Easter. It was much appreciated.

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Repton M.U.

The April speaker was unavailable so members joined in an Easter Service before listening to a talk by the Rev'd Stanley Morris on changes he had seen in nearly fifty years of ministry. He was thanked by Mrs. Brenda Cowley.

Next Meeting: Wednesday 20th May at 2.15 pm in the Fisher Close Room: Mrs. Bunty Marshall: 'Memories'.

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Churchyard upkeep

Thank you to everyone who mowed and helped to keep the churchyard tidy last year, and to all who helped financially. All of which gave us a very smart churchyard throughout 2008.

We are now well into the mowing season and I am grateful for the generous offers of help that have enabled me to complete the mowing rota, employing Hillcrest Landscapes on only two occasions. If you would like to help to keep the area tidy, whether you are a churchgoer or not, please send your donations to Mrs. J. Roberts, 37 High Street, Repton DE65 6GD, making cheques payable to 'Repton PCC'. Thank you.

Repton Church Heritage Appeal St Wystan's Flower Festival Champagne & Canapés Preview Friday 1st May at 6 pm St Wystan's Church, Repton Tickets: £10          Carol Lloyd 01283 702410

Repton Village Party SATURDAY 2nd MAY, 2 - 5.30 pm The Den and Scout Field, Mitre Drive, Repton * HOG ROAST * * Competitions * * TUG of WAR * * Crafts * * PUNCH and JUDY * * Displays * * STEAM TRAIN * *Treasure Hunt * * FAMILY FOOTBALL * * Bell Ringing * * MAYPOLE DANCING * * Traditional Games * * TEAS & HOME-MADE CAKES * * PRIMARY SCHOOL ORCHESTRA * * Anglo-Saxon 'Monk' and Friends * There will NO charge for entry, but programmes with more details and timings are on sale around the village.

Repton Church Heritage Appeal St Wystan's Flower Festival 'Seasons and Occasions' Saturday 2nd - Monday 4th May, 11 am - 5 pm St Wystan's Church, Repton Entrance £2. Home-made Cakes and Cream Teas

Repton's Songs of Praise Sunday 3rd May, 6.30 pm in St Wystan's Church Part of the Flower Festival Weekend Choose and sing your favourite hymns, accompanied by a band from Repton School Put your hymn choices in the boxes in church, in Redshaw's Butchers and the Post Office, or phone Ruth Attwood, 702804 All are welcome.

St Mary's Church Newton Solney Spring Buffet Lunch Sunday May 10th at 1 pm in Newton Solney Village Hall Bring your own bottle! Tickets: Adults £7, Children £3.50 from Hazel Ward 21, Blacksmith's Lane, Newton Solney, tel. 701244

Repton School Concerts Society Wednesday 13th May Repton School Music Competition Final at 7.30 pm in the Robert Beldam Hall following the Annual General Meeting (subscribers only) at 6.30 pm in the Snooker Room, Repton Music School Subscribers are invited to the AGM to receive a financial update, a review of the present season, and plans for the next season's programme. This will be followed by the Competition Final to decide who will be the 2008/9 Young Musician of the Year. This is open to all, and there is no charge for entry. Do come and support these young musicians. For information contact the Secretary (Sue Parker), 01283 702550 or Repton Music School, 01283 559319

Dorcas Group Coffee Morning Saturday 23rd May, 10.15 - 11.45 am at 3 Stratford Close Cake Stall, Bring & Buy, Raffle, Plant Stall Entrance £1 including Coffee and Biscuits

Repton Evergreens 50th Anniversary Birthday Party Thursday 28th May at 2 pm in Repton Village Hall We do hope that everyone who has had any connection with the Evergreens will join us. Please telephone Colleen on 702975 to let her know.

St Wystan's Church Bring and Share Lunch Repton Village Hall. Sunday 31st May at 12.30 pm £1. Everyone welcome. Bring your own drink. For a Bring & Share, the idea is that everyone who attends brings a dish for 6. However, to make sure we don't end up eating pork pie or chocolate pudding for all three courses . . . ring Jan Gillham, 703340, or Carol Lloyd, 702410, for details and to discuss dishes.

Repton Church Heritage Appeal Sunday Lunch on The Paddock with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra and the Derventio Quartet The Grand Marquee, Repton School Sunday 5th July, 12.30 for 1 pm Pimms on Arrival, Hot & Cold Buffet Tickets £65 per person including table wines Tables of 10 and individual bookings available For enquiries & bookings, ring Helen Hollins, 01283 816203.

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Environment Matters

Environmentally Friendly Gardening

Grow a wide range of fruit, vegetables and ornamental plants in your garden, and especially not just hybrids.

Let your garden plants seed naturally. It's cheaper and easier to let nature sow for you! Alternatively, gather seeds when they are ripe and store them somewhere dry and cool in a paper bag, until you can sow where you want them.

Save money on expensive fertilisers and help your garden to conserve moisture by making your own compost. Recycle plant matter, from both the garden and the kitchen.

Destroying peat bogs damages the environment and leads to a loss of habitat. Peat is a non-renewable resource. So wherever possible, use substitutes.

Gardener's Question Time website - www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/gqt/slug_resistant_plants.shtml - has a list of plants that are resistant to slugs!

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Charities

Christian Aid Week, 10th - 16th May

For many in the Democratic Republic of Congo, life is a struggle. Following ten years of conflict, malnourishment and preventable diseases still claim thousands of lives each week, but Christian Aid and its partners are helping to rebuild some of the most vulnerable communities.

Nadia Kabula's story is not untypical. It would have been easy for the eighteen-year-old to despair after the death of her father. There was no money to pay for her schooling, so she had to drop out and care for her younger siblings while their mother worked. But instead, Humanité Nouvelle 'have given me education for life', she says. She completed their tailoring course and now helps to teach the new intake of girls.

By supporting Christian Aid Week, you are among millions of people who demonstrate practically that poverty is unacceptable. Your actions, commitment and contributions will bring about a better life for people in poor communities all over the world.

During the first week of May you will receive an envelope from Christian Aid. They are asking us to make a donation, and also to
If you are a UK taxpayer, the Gift Aid form allows Christian Aid to claim back the tax. Every £10 you give is then worth £12.82 to Christian Aid. All you need to do is fill in the declaration on the red CA envelope. If everyone does this, it will raise at least an extra £1 million for the world's poorest communities.

The envelope will be collected during the week commencing 10th May. If for some reason yours is missed, the Post Office in Repton and Cranberries in Newton Solney have kindly agreed that you can leave your envelope there. Christian Aid is sponsored by forty churches in the UK and Ireland. Your continued support is greatly appreciated. If you can help to collect or distribute envelopes, please get in touch. We still need collectors for all areas. Even if you can only collect this once we would be grateful if you would contact Jackie Hurrell on 702089 or, for Newton Solney, Jennifer Haynes, 703827.

This year Melodie Kettle has retired from the Christian Aid Collection Committee after more than fifteen years of unstinting service. Thank you so much, Melodie. Your counting skills will be sorely missed!

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South Derbyshire

A&E on the Move, 2 am on Wednesday 20th May

Accident and Emergency in Derby moves from the DRI to Derby City General Hospital at 2 am on Wednesday 20th May. From then on there will be no A&E Department at the DRI. Please make sure your family know, and spread the word as widely as you can.

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Derby Freecycle, 10,000 now signed up!

In April the Derby Freecycle Group signed up its 10,000th member. The idea of Freecycle is simple: if people have things they no longer need, an e-mail message is posted offering them free of charge to the local community. Those who need or want items can ask for them.

The group is run by Revd Mark Smith, Diocesan Chaplain for Deaf people, with the help of a team of volunteer moderators. It helps you declutter, helps those in need who can't afford stuff, and reduces the pressure on landfill sites all at once.

To join, go to http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/derbyfreecycle.

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Neighbourhood Watch

Bank Details

People have received telephone and text messages telling them that their bank details have been posted on the internet and to call back to cancel the entry. If you get such a request, ignore it.

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.

Always look out for your elderly and vulnerable neighbours.

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Repton Village & History

St Wystans Flower Festival

2nd - 4th May, 11 am - 5 pm. Entry £2

Over the Bank Holiday weekend, twenty-seven flower arrangers from around South Derbyshire and Staffordshire together with three Flower Clubs - from Melbourne, Tutbury and Whittington - will produce a colourful and spectacular display in St Wystan's Church.

Most of the more than thirty arrangements have been sponsored, and we are very grateful to everyone who has given their support. The theme of 'Seasons and Occasions' begins at the lychgate, and will fill the whole church. Christmas, Easter and Autumn will be there, as well as The Rainbow and many, many aspects of church life. To tempt you further, there will be home-made cakes and cream teas for sale.

Preview, Friday 1st May, 6 - 8 pm

On the evening before the festival opens, there will be a preview with champagne and canapés. Tickets at £10 are available from Carol Lloyd on 702410, or cjhl@btinternet.com. A chance to see the flowers and chat to friends over a drink and refreshments.

Songs of Praise, Sunday 3rd May at 6.30 pm

The hymns at the 'Songs of Praise' will be those you have chosen, so don't forget to fill in the slips and put them in the boxes at the Post Office, Redshaw's Family Butchers, and St Wystans Church. Then come along and enjoy a good sing.

Access Restrictions

During the festival, the church will only be open for services and for the festival at the times above. There will be no separate access to the church or crypt.

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Repton Village Party, Help Wanted! Saturday 2nd May, 2 to 5-30 pm at the Mitre Field

Thank you very much to everyone who has already offered to help on the day. However, the more who volunteer, the easier it is for all of us. Could you, for example:

Make a cake

Sell programmes and raffle tickets

Look after a display

Help to put up and / or take down tents

Blow up balloons

And we need lots more besides. So if you too could help, please get in touch.

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Take a Pew?

Due to St Wystan's Church development, four small oak pews ranging in size from 1½ to 3 metres in length are available for purchase, as well as two much larger ones. Contact David Bordoli on 01283 212652 if you are interested.

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Parish Walk and Pub Lunch, Thursday 7th May

Further to my note in last month's magazine, I have revised the route after lunch so that it will now be an easier 4 miles, rather than the 5 originally envisaged!

We will leave Repton Church at 9.30 am for the 5 mile walk before lunch, which will be at the Staff of Life in Ticknall. One or two practical matters occur to me:

- It would be sensible to wear walking boots (a lightweight pair would do) or, at the very least, stout walking shoes.
- A lightweight rainproof jacket or anorak could be useful.
- A water-bottle, fruit, or even a little chocolate could improve the journey!

Non-walkers and those wishing to walk in the afternoon only are very welcome.

I do really need to know numbers before the event, so if you are interested, please give me a ring on 01283 704098. If I'm not there, leave a message with your telephone number.

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Repton Village History Group

We had a record attendance at our March meeting when Gareth King's subject was 'Bonnie Prince Charlie and Derbyshire'. Gareth arrived as a Highlander carrying a sword and pistol and gave an exceptionally interesting and graphic talk, charting the journey of the Prince from Scotland to Swarkestone.

AGM and 'The Meaning of Place Names', Tuesday 19th May

Following our AGM, our speaker will be Shelagh Wain, one of our members.

Tour of Repton School art facilities, Tuesday 16th June

For this tour, members should assemble at the Arch at 7 pm for a start at 7.15 prompt. There is no need to book.

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Repton Neighbourhood Help

Recently, members thoroughly enjoyed a concert by Jane and Neil Millensted. We are grateful too to the Rev'd Stanley Morris for conducting a lovely Easter Service after the lunch on 3rd April. Later in the month we celebrated St George's Day, when we reconvened after a two-week Easter break.

Members are now looking forward to a Cream Tea at Willington Marina on Friday 5th June; this will be instead of luncheon on that day.

Could you help?

We still need more cooks. If you would like to know more of what it entails, do telephone us.

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Repton Village Society

The Society answered fully the questions in the Local Development Framework questionnaire, using the Village Design Statement where appropriate.

At our April meeting, Pam Powis very successfully described the family background and formative years of Charles Darwin in Shrewsbury. Two days later, during coach and walking tours in and around this beautiful town, she pointed out many buildings and places associated with him. These two occasions complemented all the media programmes about Charles Darwin, which in the main concentrated on his theory and later life.

There are two events planned for May, the first being on the 14th, when Keith Grainger will be conducting a wine tasting of everyday Bordeaux wines. On the 24th, we have arranged a private visit - for members only - to the Victorian pumping station at Claymills. Two of the huge pumps and many smaller engines will be in steam and running. The visit starts at 4.30 pm. Please advise if you intend coming. There is much to see at this historic site, described by English Heritage as 'the most complete of its kind in the UK'.

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Aero-Cubs

Repton Cubs joined with others from around the district for a guided tour of the Aeropark at East Midlands Airport, including inside some of the aircraft. They tried their hand at the phonetic alphabet using walkie-talkies, experimented with propellers, wings and balloons, made different sorts of paper aeroplanes, learned to recognise airline tailplanes, and were introduced to a microlite by the Beaver Leader who flies it. On a more serious note, there was a talk on airfield safety, and a quiz to go with it.

Meanwhile the Beavers enjoyed craft activities whilst preparing for Mother's Day, and an Easter Egg hunt around the Mitre Field.

Most importantly, Euan Smith and Robert Patton were awarded their Chief Scout's Bronze award - the highest award they can earn as a Beaver - well done!

For further information on Scouting locally, ring Andy Austen on 01283 702448.

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Repton W.I.

We had plenty of time at Members' Night in April to plan the month's activities, including evenings at Egginton W.I., Newton Solney Group Meeting and a visit to Burton Court.

Jenny Jones told us more about the Associated Country Women of the World, which is supported by Women's Institutes. We had a round or two of Beetle and a fascinating series of reminiscences: 'My 21st Birthday'.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 12th May at 7.15 pm in the village hall: Resolution discussion followed by a talk by Christopher Bailey: 'Chickens and Knickers - the story of M&S.'

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Repton Parish Council Jottings

Annual Parish Meeting:

The Annual Parish Meeting, before the Parish Council meeting, lasted 30 minutes. The principal subject on the agenda was the rebuilding of the Village Hall, for which the Parish Council has pledged financial support. Councillor Jerram, a member of the Village Hall Committee reported that, contrary to reports in the press, the village hall is not in danger of falling down and is perfectly serviceable, so does not need rebuilding immediately. However, the Village Hall Committee anticipates that it will take 5 to 10 years to raise enough money to rebuild it, so they want to start the ball rolling.

It is thought that the cost of rebuilding the hall as it is now would be in the region of £300, 000, and to rebuild it with additional services such as additional rooms for smaller meetings, a parish room and a police room would cost in the region of £500, 000.

The village hall committee has now raised £20,000 to start the fund, and will also be approaching grant-awarding bodies to seek matched funding. The Parish Council has been asked for some of the money from the sale of the Repton Depot. The Chairman reported that there is a fund of £33,048.49 held by South Derbyshire District Council - the remainder of the 'usable' funds from the sale of the Repton Depot - that can be spent on capital projects in Repton. The Parish Council has asked SDDC to release the money for the Parish Council to allocate to the Village Hall rebuild. SDDC Finance Committee has since approved the release of the money, but that will only happen when the rebuild starts. The Chairman invited the views of those present as to whether the money should be spent for this purpose, and it was the opinion of the meeting that it should. When the Parish Council has received the agreement of the SDDC Finance Committee in writing, the matter will be put onto the Parish Council agenda.

It was reported that if the remainder of the 'usable' money is spent, then money may not be available for other village projects.

• Civil Parking Enforcement: The main sites in Repton where frequent illegal parking takes place have been identified as the road outside the Spar Stores, the High Street end of Askew Grove, and Springfield Road near Repton Primary School. SDDC Parking Enforcement Officers are being asked to patrol these areas between 8 and 9 am, and also at the Primary School from 3 to 3.40 pm.
• Disabled Parking: A resident asked for disabled parking at the village hall. County Councillor Ford agreed to negotiate with DCC for the provision of disabled parking on Askew Grove, directly in front of the village hall.
• Arboretum: SDDC has confirmed that it supports the Parish Council's wish to use amenity land at Wystan Court as a memorial arboretum. The land is currently classed as 'public open space', and SDDC has asked that public access is retained. Before we go ahead with the arboretum, SDDC will be asked to replace with a fence the hedge that has recently been removed.
• Village cleansing cutbacks: Due to reduced revenue from interest on the Depot Fund, it was agreed that village maintenance should be cut back from the previous summer level of 60 hours per month to the winter level of 40 hours. This will be monitored monthly and reviewed at the autumn finance meeting.

Next Meeting: Monday 11th May at 7.30 pm in Repton Village Hall. Planning applications will be available beforehand. A councillor surgery will be available for residents at 7.15 pm.

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Milton & Foremark Village Matters

Milton W.I.

Our April W.I. meeting was a lovely evening. Sally Hibbert from The Lavender Farm at Hilton told members how an idea hatched six years ago has now become a flourishing family business.

Next Meeting: Resolutions. Wednesday 20th May at 7.30 pm in Milton Village Hall. Members will discuss and vote on the resolution 'SOS for Honey Bees'. The committee are the hostesses for the evening and will serve members with hot pork baps, stuffing and apple sauce. Vegetarian option, goat's cheese and cranberry.

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Newton Solney Village Matters

Newton Solney Parish Council Notes

As part of a national initiative, Newton Solney WI recently undertook a litter pick in the village; a big thank you to all who took part.

Parish Council representatives have been appointed to the bonfire and cricket working parties, and Mr. Fred Hill has joined the Parish Council, making it up to full complement once again.

Speedwatch is in progress in the village, checking the speed of traffic and identifying any vehicles exceeding the limit to the police.

Next meeting: Friday 8th May in the village hall. The Annual Parish Meeting at 7 pm will be followed by a normal Parish Council meeting. Please come along to hear a summary of the business of the last year and give your feedback.

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Newton Solney W.I.

There was a lot to discuss at our April meeting, including final arrangements for our Spring Group meeting, and the limerick to go forward for our competition entry.

Our talk was entitled 'The Gasman Came to Call', and we had all wondered as to the subject. The speaker was Dr. David Anderson, who turned out to be an anaesthetist at the Queen's Hospital. He gave a very interesting and informative talk, and his passion for the subject was evident. We heard about the history of anaesthetics from the very early days to the techniques used in hospitals world-wide today.

At the end of the month, members are attending a 'Meat the Butcher - and Fancy Chocolates' at Linton Village Hall. On Wednesday 6th May, twelve members are visiting Kedleston Hall for a tour and a chance to view some of the costumes used in the film 'The Duchess'. Then, on Wednesday 13th May there is a theatre visit to see 'Kiss me Kate' with the Mellow Dramatics. Two members are attending a 'Planning the Programme' meeting at Derbyshire House, for ideas and activities to incorporate into our future programmes.

Our May meeting will be a 'Resolutions' meeting, but since there is only one resolution to debate, the rest of the meeting will be a games and activity evening. The resolution is 'SOS for Honey Bees', concerning the decline of the bee population, and a call to the government to allocate funds for research into the problem. Members will also be voting for the winner of the Craft Cup.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 12th May: Resolutions and Handicraft Competition. Whist Drive: Tuesday 26th May. Both at 7.30 in the Village Hall.

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Gardening Notes

It's easy, in a fit of enthusiasm, to buy tender plants now and put them out. Recent years have persuaded us that it will be safe, and mostly it has been, but this has been a more old-fashioned winter and we may still get frosts severe enough to kill tender plants, particularly bedding plants, or at least to set them back considerably. Frosts last May killed plum and damson blossom across much of the country. So my advice is to wait until the end of the month.

Plant out hardy annuals sown under cover last autumn, and sow annual seeds, including sweet peas, directly outside.

Don't plant new peonies too deep; the crown should just show. Peonies like rich living with lots of good humus and fertiliser. Oriental poppies are not greedy and will flower every year if they have plenty of sun. Pull their leaves off when they start to fade.

This is the time to prune forsythia and other spring-flowering shrubs. With climbers, tie in their new growth regularly. Clematis particularly dislike unsupported stems waving about where they may be damaged. Give them a high potassium feed such as rose or tomato fertiliser. Mulching round the roots will help to keep them cool and moist. Before planting in the vegetable plot, apply a general fertiliser such as blood, fish and bone or Growmore. Sow French and runner beans directly outside in mid-month, as well as lettuce, beetroot, peas and carrots, cabbages, white cauliflowers, leeks, calabrese and spinach. Marrows, courgettes, squashes and cucumbers are best started under glass. Chillies and peppers started under glass in March are now ready to plant out. Plant two or three of them to a growbag, or one in a 20 - 25 cm pot. Keep them evenly moist and warm at 18 - 20°C.

Unless you want the seed, deadhead hellebore hybrids as they finish flowering. At this stage, most of the other varieties such as H. argutiflorus, H. foetidus and H. lividus can be cut down to ground level, and fresh growth will appear. Mulch and apply a general fertiliser.

The small euphorbias can also be cut down after flowering, but beware of their milky sap, which can be a severe irritant.

Sawflies often attack Solomon's Seal, laying eggs that resemble purplish streaks on the stems. The caterpillars emerge to eat the foliage from late spring through to mid-summer. They weaken but do not kill the plant. A different sawfly attacks gooseberry foliage at any time between May and September. The best control is to squash them by hand. Insecticides are available, but they kill beneficial insects too.

Red lily beetles (which also attack fritillaria) are becoming a widespread problem. Adults emerge from the soil in April and May, laying on the underside of lily and fritillaria leaves reddish-brown eggs which hatch into reddish-brown larvae, looking like bird droppings. When the plant is touched, the beetles drop off and can be surprisingly difficult to see, so before you pick them off and squash them, lay a sheet of paper on the ground. Insecticides such as Provado Ultimate Bug Killer should be used sparingly to avoid damage to beneficial insects.

The Bramley cooking apple is celebrating its bicentenary, and a stained glass window dedicated to the apple has been unveiled in Southwell Minster. The original tree is still growing and fruiting there in a local garden. It grew from a pip planted in about 1809 by a young girl, Mary Ann Brailsford, but by the time the qualities of the apple were recognised, the garden and tree had passed into the possession of a local butcher named Bramley. Another favourite cooking apple, the Newton Wonder, was found in 1870 in Newton, Derbyshire.