June 2009 - Contents Listening to both sides 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 13th June, 10.30 - 11.30 am Shell (for children aged 7+) Summer Barbecue, Saturday 11th July Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Marriages Laura Margaret Finch and Robert Henryk Pierzycki Thomas Michael Whiting and Celine Chrystelle Roche Funerals and Burial of Ashes Florence Mary Peach Jack Turner Marie Agnes Owen Obituaries Jack Turner The Memorial Book St Wystan's News Morning Prayer at St Wystan's Church St Wystan's Flower Festival St Wystan's Church Development Repton M.U. St Wystan's Coffee Mornings and Afternoon Teas St Mary's News St Mary's Quiz Navarra Quartet, Wednesday 17th June Light Lunch, Tuesday 23rd June Newton Solney Infant School Summer Fair, Saturday 27th June Sunday Lunch on The Paddock, Sunday 5th July Repton Primary School Summer Fair, Friday 10th July Garden Party, Saturday 11th July Thankyou Joyce Turner and family Lewin Owen South Derbyshire Too Doo, for young people Neighbourhood Watch Repton Village and History Use your Vote Repton Open Gardens, Saturday 20th - Sunday 21st June ngs Gardens, Sunday 7th June A Wildlife Area for Repton Primary School Cubs can navigate The Repton Village Party Thank you, Repton! Repton Village Society Repton Village History Group Repton W.I. Repton Parish Council Jottings Milton & Foremark Village Matters Milton Open Gardens and Farm, Sunday 14th June Milton W.I. Newton Solney Village Matters Newton Solney C of E (Aided) Infant School Newton Solney W.I. Newton Solney Parish Council Notes Gardening Notes A Gap Year in South Africa

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Listening to both sides

The kitchen and toilets are at last being installed in St Wystan's Church. But I will leave others to comment on that and focus my attention on a more general issue, one which impinges upon every country church and by implication on ours as well.

Earlier in the year I was given Sir Roy Strong's book: 'A Little History of the English Country Church'. It is a very good read and ranges much more widely than the bricks and mortar, although that is his chief concern. The final sentence of the penultimate chapter reads: "Shorn of its role in local government, blighted by demographic change and increasingly frozen in time after the arrival of the preservation movement, the English country church was heading towards redundancy".

His plea is that country churches could become once again, as they were in the medieval church, places of community activity.

One of the main problems as he sees it is that "the Anglican Church followed the Puritan path" of relegating any activities not related to church services to the village hall. "This concept of the church as sacred space has contributed to today's problems by divorcing religion from ordinary life: many battles over what is to happen to country churches stems from this fixed attitude that they should never be an arena for other activities." Those who attended Repton Annual Parochial Church Meeting may recall that I made a case for listening to both sides: those who want the church building to be kept as sacred space, and those who want much more change and frequent use. My conclusion was that church buildings, being repositories of community history and 'story', should be treated gently. Revolution is bad for them but evolution is essential. In practical terms this means that 'developments' should provide the least change to make them adequate to the needs of the time.

But therein lies the debate, for what is the least change necessary? I am not convinced that "handing the building over to the community", as Strong advocates, would ensure its survival. It is ironic that the Christian church should be seeking to secularise its buildings at the same time that members of other faiths are building their sacred mosques and temples in this country; although the Sikh example of Gurdwara plus soup kitchen is a good example of church buildings being adapted for community outreach. Churches should, I believe, maintain that sense of being places "where prayer has been valid".

The renewal of the Church will not come through church developments but by a new vision of the relevance of the dying and rising of Jesus of Nazareth and the love of the God he proclaimed. But neither will it come without building development: a new baby requires a new cot.

I would welcome more open debate about the use of the church building and would value any reader's views.

With prayers and best wishes,

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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 13th June, 10.30 - 11.30 am

This is the last coffee morning before the summer break; stock up with home-made marmalade and cake! The next will be on Saturday 12th September, the rural churches' Ride and Stride day.

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Shell Group (age 7+)

Our young people's group meets on Mondays from 6.30 to 7.30 pm.

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Summer Barbecue, Saturday 11th July

Book the date now!

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Marriages

Laura Margaret Finch and Robert Henryk Pierzycki were married at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Mickleover, on Saturday 25th April.

Thomas Michael Whiting and Celine Chrystelle Roche were married at St Wystan's Church on Friday 1st May.

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Funerals and Burial of Ashes

Florence Mary Peach of 14 Brook End, Repton, died on Saturday 18th April aged 90. A funeral service at Bretby Crematorium on 11th May was followed by cremation.

Jack Turner of 3 Mount Pleasant, Repton, died on Sunday 19th April aged 93. A funeral service at St Wystan's Church on 1st May was followed by cremation at Bretby Crematorium.

Marie Agnes Owen of 25 Chestnut Way, Repton, died on Tuesday 12th May aged 85. A Service of Commendation and Committal was held at Bretby Crematorium followed by a Service of Thanksgiving at St Wystan's Church on 21st May.

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Obituaries

Jack Turner
30th January 1916 - 19th April 2009

The fifth child of Lily and Harry Turner, Jack was born near Satterthwaite in the Lake District, where his father was employed as a gamekeeper. In 1926 the family came south to the Robin Wood estate near Ticknall. Leaving the village school at 14, Jack worked at the nearby market gardens and farms, and later for Hilton Gravel, although he was also frequently called on to help his father with his keeping duties and sometimes to chase off poachers.

When Jack was 20, scarlet fever resulted in a spell of quarantine, giving him time to consider his future. He joined the RAF and trained as an aircraft fitter, which led, during the Battle of Britain, to working long hours to keep the aeroplanes in the air, often sleeping underneath them to be on hand. In 1942 he was posted to Ghana as an instructor in an aircraft assembly factory. It was a pleasant change from war torn Britain; he loved his time there and often spoke of his adventures.

Whilst he was in Ghana, his sister suggested to her neighbour that her daughter Joyce might like to write to him. The relationship blossomed into romance and to Jack and Joyce's marriage at Barrow-on-Trent in August 1943. In 1949 they moved to Repton, and settled into village life. Initially Jack worked at Burnaston Airport, and then, until his retirement, at Rolls Royce.

Jack never lost his boyish adventuring spirit, and was always great fun with children. It was just as well: with five children - and later, 13 grandchildren - the house was constantly filled with the sound of young people.

In retirement, Jack was always on hand to help others. He and Joyce did meals on wheels, and served on the Village Hall Committee until they were in their 80s. Both were volunteer stewards at Calke Abbey, and Jack was recently awarded his ten-year service badge.

Jack was blessed with good health. He enjoyed life to the full, and in so doing became a much respected and well-loved man.

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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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St Wystan's News

Morning Prayer at St Wystan's Church

Until the end of July when the present works in church are due to be completed, Morning Prayer will be said at 8 am in the Vicarage on Monday to Thursday. On Fridays it will move to Newton Solney church.

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St Wystan's Flower Festival

Over the May Bank Holiday, St Wystan's Church looked fabulous. No matter that visitors approaching the church had to contend with barriers and builders' tape, once inside, the beauty of the flowers and the building took over.

'Seasons and Occasions' was the theme, and the arrangers, locals joining together with others from across the Midlands, showed immense creativity and artistry in interpreting the Church festivals: Easter, Christmas, the Nativity, Harvest, Communion, the Last Supper, Marriage and Funeral were all there, together with many more, 32 major arrangements, and many smaller. The effect was breathtaking. In the large south window, the Rainbow Spectrum was spectacular, as were the seven separate colours of the rainbow in the smaller windows.

The weekend began with Champagne and Canapés accompanied by the Derventio Quartet, a very pleasant evening with the opportunity to chat, to listen to the music and look at the flowers. Songs of Praise on the Sunday was particularly well attended and gave us a very enjoyable chance to sing our favourite hymns.

Thank you to all who supported us, the very generous sponsors, the arrangers, the stewards, the cake makers, all those who helped with camouflaging the building work, and last, but not least, to all you who came to visit.

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St Wystan's Church Development

The fundraising for Phase 1a, the kitchen and toilets, has now been completed, and work is well underway.

We still have to raise the money for the rest of Phase 1, the storage area, glazed inner porch doors, and furnishing and equipping the new area. Money from future events will be used for this purpose. Future events will be advertised as supporting 'Repton Church Heritage Appeal, completion of phase 1', and the money used for this purpose. If there is any surplus after the £240,000 target has been reached, it will be put towards new lighting and heating.

Thank you to all who supported the St George's Day Spectacular and the Flower Festival. Both events were very successful and much enjoyed. The next event is 'Sunday Lunch on The Paddock' on 5th July, and we hope to see many of you there.

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Repton M.U.

No-one knew quite what to expect at the May Meeting when Bunty Marshall opened the first of her two boxes, but what treasures they contained! Each item had its own story: from Blue Bus tickets to hatpins, wartime photos, and beautiful clothes and gloves. Together, Bunty and her helper, Eileen Findlay, gave us an afternoon of wonderful memories.

June Dates

Monday 8th: Deanery Festival, 7.30 pm at Church Gresley.
Thursday 11th: Lunch at Buxton. The bus leaves Repton Church at 9.45 am.
Thursday 18th: Visit to Marston on Dove Church. Lifts from Repton at 2 pm. Meet the Vicar of Hilton at Marston at 2.30. Tea at the Lavender Farm.

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St Wystan's Coffee Mornings and Afternoon Teas

So far this year we have held four successful occasions, and we are grateful to Jan and David Roberts, Karen and John Perks, Carol and Chris Lloyd, and Sue and Tom Hyde for hosting them. Meeting socially in pleasant surroundings to indulge in cakes and cookies has been a pleasure. There have been book, bottle, card and fabric stalls, raffles and a quiz morning, raising over £400 for church funds. We would like to thank all those who have supported the events and made them very enjoyable, and also helped raise so much money.

On 23rd June, Angela and Bill Mayger are hosting a 'Light Lunch' at 26 Monsom Lane between noon and 2 pm. There will be a raffle and a 'bring & buy' stall.

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St Mary's News

St Mary's Quiz

This year's quiz, first available at St Mary's Spring Lunch, is concerned with Footwear. Copies can be obtained from Hazel Ward, 701244, or from 'Hairs and Graces', now relocated at Willington. Cost £l, for a £20 prize. Answers need to be in by 1st September, and the draw will take place at St Mary's Harvest Lunch.

Repton School Concerts Society Navarra Quartet Wednesday 17th June at 7.45 pm in the Robert Beldam Hall The resident string quartet of Repton School and winners of several prizes in international chamber music competitions is always exciting,and this concert will be no exception. Come along for a great evening of chamber music with this wonderful group of young musicians! For tickets, £13 (£10 - concessions), or information contact the Secretary (Sue Parker), 01283 702550 or Repton Music School, 01283 559319

Light Lunch Tuesday 23rd June, noon to 2 pm Angela & Bill Mayger invite you to a 'light lunch' of quiche and salad at 26 Monsom Lane, Repton Raffle and Bring & Buy Stall Admission £5 including lunch and a glass of wine Strawberries and cream at £2       All proceeds to St Wystan's Church.

Newton Solney C of E (Aided) Infant School Summer Fair Saturday 27th June, 2 - 4 pm in the school grounds The children will be performing and there will be lots of stalls, games and refreshments. Everyone welcome!

Repton Church Heritage Appeal (completion of phase 1) 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.

Repton Primary School Summer Fair Friday 10th July at 6 pm in the school grounds BBQ, Games, Bar, Skittles, Football Competition, Raffle Everyone welcome!

A Garden Party Saturday 11th July, 2.30 – 5 pm in the Vicarage Garden Tea and cakes. Homemade, Plant and Book Stalls Lots of games for children and adults

Thankyou

The family of the late Jack Turner would like to thank you all for your cards and flowers, messages of support, prayers and so many acts of kindness, which were such a comfort to them during their recent bereavement.

We would especially like to thank those who expressed their affection for Jack by their presence at his funeral, including the Repton British Legion standard bearer and members of St Wystan's Church, who helped to make the funeral such a memorable occasion. Thanks also to Roger and Stella Salt for the splendid refreshments they provided at the Swan Inn, Milton. Thank you again to everyone.

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I wish to convey my warmest thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to the thanksgiving service for my wife, Marie, and especially to the choir, organist and vicar, and to my family. I will forever remember how Marilyn, Clive, Helen and Jake described such wonderful memories of dear Marie. Thank you so much too to all who sent letters and cards of sympathy.

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South Derbyshire

Too Doo, for young people

Too Doo, www.derbyshire.gov.uk/toodoo, is a website packed full of positive activities, events, things to do, places to go and people to talk to. Sports, recording studios, dance, combat games, internet cafés, theatre, country parks, fitness, riding - they're all here, just about everything you can think of. Search by activity or by date range - the summer holidays, perhaps! The site is aimed at 11-19 year olds, so now there can be no excuse for boredom, that chronic teenage malaise.

The site is useful for organisers too. If you have an event or group that youngsters will enjoy, it is an easy matter to add it to the site with dates and details. The website is promoted in schools and colleges, along with radio advertising and regular press coverage.

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Neighbourhood Watch

Theft

At least three cars have been stolen recently, and a number of garden sheds broken into, some during the day. We are advised that 'acquisitive' crime increases during a recession. Take proper precautions and secure your property.

Telephone directories

. . . will be delivered in the 2 - 3 weeks starting the 18th June. Delivery agents are told not to leave them where they can be seen from the street, but this may not always be possible, and can suggest that the property is empty. As ever, please be vigilant and look out also for your neighbours.

Number Change

Note that the the Anti-Social Behaviour hotline is now as shown below.

Safer Neighbourhoods

Our local 'Safer Neighbourhood' team comprises PC Chris Fearn and two PC Support Officers, Holly McConachie and Amanda Beer. As well as our own villages, they are responsible for Bretby, Willington, Findern and Stenson Fields.

Locally, the problem that local residents have identified as the current priority is speeding within the villages. The team carries out regular high visibility patrols and speed enforcement. They also try to educate people about the dangers of speeding, as well as the penalties for dangerous driving.

In other areas, anti-social behaviour is more of a problem. The team has also recently set up 'Canal Watch' for users of the canal system.

Have YOUR Say!

The next Neighbourhood Forum meeting is at 6.30 pm on Monday 15th June at Newton Solney village hall. The team invites your input "to make our work in the community more effective". So take your chance. You can also contact them by email at south.neighbourhoods@derbyshire.pnn.police.uk or through the usual police non-emergency number, 0345 123 33 33.

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

Use your Vote

Does anyone not feel outrage? Outrage at MPs who make more on personal expenses than many people earn. Outrage at their dishonesty and arrogance. Outrage at their contempt for us, the voters.

But don't punish the wrong people!

The current scandal involves members of all parties in parliament, but it does not involve all members, and it does not taint democracy itself. On the contrary, it is democracy that gives us the chance to make our views known.

This month we go to the polls to elect local councillors and MEPs, who are generally decent men and women. It is not a chance to deliver our verdict on MPs, and in any case, our MP, Mark Todd had already stated his intention to stand down at the next election. (That is no reflection on Mark's integrity.)

The vote was hard won. The very worst thing we could do now is turn away in disgust and leave the field open to fringe and extremist candidates. So turn out on 4th June, and vote wisely.

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Repton Open Gardens, Saturday 20th - Sunday 21st June

During the Open Gardens weekend, fifteen gardens (including four 'Yellow Book' and four new) will be open from 2 - 6 pm, all but one on both days. Programmes, which also act as entry tickets, will be on sale in the village beforehand, at the church lychgate, and in the gardens on the day; adults £3 each, children free.

St Wystan's Church: The event will open with bell ringing and the organ will play for some of the time.

Children's Nursery Rhyme Treasure Trail: For children and 'the young at heart', this year's Open Gardens includes a Nursery Rhyme Treasure Trail. Except for those at Repton School, each garden will contain a character or item associated with a nursery rhyme or children's song. Entry forms will be available with programmes. Children who complete the answers can collect their prize from the Village Hall.

Refreshments: On both afternoons, teas will be served in the village hall from 2.30 to 5.30 pm, accompanied by piano music. The U.R.C. will serve cream teas in the schoolroom from 2.30 to 5 pm on Saturday only.

Stalls: In gardens and at the village hall, there will be a number of stalls, among them a tombola, a plant stall, a bookstall and home produce stalls. Donations for these will be gratefully received, preferably beforehand. (Plants and tombola, Jan Roberts, 702159; books, David Roberts, 702159; home produce such as jams, biscuits, and sweets, Wendy Longden, 703259.)

Prize Draw: Tickets for the prize draw will be on sale in the village beforehand and over the weekend; the draw will take place on Saturday 27th June.

The Open Gardens weekend is a major fund-raising event for St Wystan's Church. We hope you will all join in to make it a real success.

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ngs Gardens, Sunday 7th June

Wendy and Stephen Longden, Woodend Cottage, 134 Main Street, 1.30 - 5 pm

Do come and walk our newly developed grass labyrinth on the first field and sit in the new seating area among the stock plants. Admission £2.50, children free. Home-made cakes and teas in aid of St Saviour's Church, and plants for sale in aid of NGS and in the nursery.

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

Over an acre of gardens with a bridge over Repton Brook which meanders through. Admission £2.50, children free. Teas will be available in aid of Repton Church. The opening in April raised over £500 for the NGS charities and £141 for church. Thank you to all who supported us in April; we look forward to seeing you again on the 7th.

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A Wildlife Area for Repton Primary School

Do you like taking cuttings or planting seeds but find you end up with too many plants for your garden? Or maybe you are revamping your garden this summer. If so, do you have any plants you can donate to Repton Primary School? We are developing a wildlife area within the school grounds. Shade is provided by three mature trees, so we are looking for shade-loving perennials and shrubs, as well as plants that will encourage butterflies and bees into the garden.

The majority of the work and funds is coming from sixth form pupils at John Port School, to whom we are very grateful. Wendy Longden of Wendy's Garden Perennials is helping with the design, and the heavy ground work will be completed by Sam Phillips, so we really are keeping it local.

We hope that the work will be carried out during the last week of June and the first week of July, so if you do have any plants to donate, we would be grateful if they could be dropped off at school before then. If no-one is around, please leave them by the school front door. The gates are open from 7 am to 7 pm, Monday to Friday, and from 7 am to 9 am on Saturdays. Alternatively, please ring school, 703732, and leave a message for Diane Mapplebeck who will arrange to collect plants from you.

Once the garden is completed, you will be able to come and see your plants in their new home. We look forward to seeing you and your plants in the very near future.

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Cubs can navigate

Braving the weather, the cubs were dropped off at secret locations a couple of miles from Repton, and had to find their way back. Clutching a map - and equipped with a couple of leaders, just in case! - each Six went to a different place. Thankfully all returned safely.

More recently, cubs have been practising putting up tents and packing rucksacks in preparation for the big Spring Bank Activity Camp at the Drumhill camp site in Little Eaton over the bank holiday weekend.

Some of the cubs and beavers helped run games at the village party, and some of them were particularly busy because they were in the school orchestra and doing the maypole dancing as well.

Meanwhile the beavers have been finishing off some badgework and have completed their creative challenge. This means they are well on their way to the Chief Scout's Bronze Award. They have also played a big game of rounders and have been making flags and costumes for the District Beaver Fun Day, which takes place in June.

On a national level, the Scout Association has just announced the appointment of the ex-Scout and adventurer, Bear Grylls, as the new Chief Scout. He will be supported by a new appointment, that of Chief Commissioner, in Wayne Bulpit.

For more information on scouting locally, contact Andy Austen on 01283 702448.

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The Repton Village Party

How lucky we were, Saturday 2nd May was the only dry day of the Bank Holiday weekend! The many children's posters ensured a splendid turnout, and great fun was had by all.

Children from the primary school orchestra, supported by parents and friends, got the occasion off to a fine start, and later in the afternoon, more children from the school entertained us by their skill in weaving intricate patterns round the maypole.

A large number of the stalls invited visitors to try their hands at various skills, ask the 'Anglo-Saxon' visitors about the armour and treasures that they had on display, guess the weight of the cake, hunt for the treasure or simply buy raffle tickets.

The Punch & Judy proved a timeless magnet for the audiences of all ages; the crocodile, policeman, battered baby, a string of sausages - they were all there and provoked just the same responses as they have always done. The steam train patrolled the track with great regularity, evoking great interest in both young and old, and people enjoyed trying their hand at bell ringing.

A large number of vocal supporters watched the inter-pub tug of war. It was won by The Bulls Head team, and this spurred on others to have a go. The hog roast, run by Neil Redshaw, along with the home made tea and cakes supplied by the W.I., were as popular as ever and ensured that no one went home hungry.

A truly village event enjoyed by all who attended!

Very great thanks must go to Frances Wimbush, her organising committee and the many helpers on the day for all their effort putting on such a successful party. We look forward to the next one in two years time!

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Thank you, Repton!

What do parties mean to you? Fun? Balloons? Meeting people? Celebrations? Food? Games? I hope that everyone who came to the Village Party found at least one of those ingredients. There was, however, a special ingredient which we just couldn't organise - the weather! And with every day that has gone by since 2nd May, I have been ever more grateful for the sun that shone down on us.

Parties don't just happen either! We need people to prepare for them: practising maypole dancing and playing instruments; marking out a football pitch; baking cakes; designing posters; putting up tents - and taking them down; setting up displays; blowing up balloons . . . The list is endless, but getting ready for the party is half the fun, and we really appreciated all the volunteers who gave so generously of their time.

The other half of a party is being there and enjoying yourselves. You can't have a party on your own, which is why we were so pleased to see so many of you there.

Questionnaires and Draw

The purpose of our questionnaire was to find out what people enjoyed at the Party and what they feel about the village generally. Thank you for taking the time to fill them in; we really value your comments. If you didn't complete a questionnaire at the time but have any comments to make, please contact me on 703180. A good number were handed in at the end of the afternoon, and the draw was made by Alan Webster, Chairman of the Village Society. The winner was Mrs. Cowan of Fisher Close. A complete list of prize winners is available on request.

Found

Three sweaters were handed in at the end of the Village Party. Please contact me on 703180 if you think they may belong to you.

Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who helped in any way, and thank you, Repton, for coming to support your Village Party!

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Repton Village Society

Keith Grainger added to our knowledge and educated our palates when he conducted a wine tasting at our May meeting. This year he concentrated on the Bordeaux region and dealt with differences in the geography, soil and microclimate of the area. His considerable depth of knowledge and experience was in evidence once again.

Thursday 11th June

Please note that our June meeting is a week later than usual because the village hall will be in use as a polling station on the 4th. Christopher Bailey will outline the history of Marks and Spencer. His fee will go to the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Home, a charity that the Society was very happy to support via our coffee morning last December.

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Repton Village History Group

At our April meeting we displayed some of our archives, including census returns, school logbooks and much more. There were also details of all the people who appear on the war memorials in Repton, Milton, Foremark and Ingleby. We were very pleased at the number of members and visitors who brought along items from their own archives, and also the WI display of their photos and some superb photos taken around the church. Photos recording the Morgan Centenary run from Repton to Malvern were hot off the press.

Tour of Repton School art facilities, Tuesday 16th June

Our host for the evening will be Jeremy Bournon (Repton School Director of Art). Assemble at the School Arch at 7 for 7.15 pm.

Visit to The Hayes, Repton, Tuesday 30th June

This visit is limited to 25 people, and strictly for members only. The list is almost full.

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Repton W.I.

The May meeting began a discussion of the 2009 Resolution 'SOS for Honey Bees'. Some of our members had specialist knowledge which helped us to grasp the consequences of a decline in the bee population, and we voted for the Resolution which calls on the Government to fund more research before it is too late.

Our speaker, Christopher Bailey, believes that governments do listen to W.I.s, and told us that Marks and Spencer uses a panel of W.I. members for consumer research. His very entertaining talk covered the company's history and his own career there. Appropriately he was thanked by Wendy Bateman, who also worked for M&S.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 9th June at 7.15 pm in the village hall: 'A Fun Evening with Pat Hall.'

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Repton Parish Council Jottings

• Arboretum: Steady progress is being made in creating an arboretum behind Wystan Court. At a recent site meeting with SDDC, to whom the land belongs, it was agreed that the frontage to Pinfold Lane needs to be landscaped and fenced. In the autumn, when preparatory work has been completed, villagers will be able to plant a tree dedicated to the memory of a loved one.
• Public Seating: Earlier in the year, a number of bench seats were installed alongside the main approach roads to the village. They have been well received and are being put to good use. It is generally agreed that such amenities also improve the appearance of the locality. There have been requests for more to be obtained, so further suitable sites are needed. If you have any ideas about public places where benches would be most appreciated, please contact a parish councillor
• Commercial Traffic: There is a weight limit of 7.5 tons on traffic travelling through Repton. County Council Trading Standards officers are responsible for enforcement. Amid growing concern about the large number of HGVs using village roads as a short cut to and from the A50 / A38 island, DCC is being asked to set up checkpoints and prosecute offenders.
• Village Party: The parish council would like to congratulate Frances Wimbush, together with the many organisers, participants, and hard working helpers, on the hugely successful and very well attended May village party at the Mitre Field. On a lovely sunny day it was a wonderful opportunity for local people to come together and enjoy themselves. The occasion certainly appealed to both young and old alike: it was noticed that as many adults as children were enthralled by the Punch and Judy show! Well done to everyone involved - the traditional village fete is alive and well in Repton.

Next Meeting: Monday 8th June at 7.30 pm in Repton Village Hall. Planning applications will be available beforehand. Residents may consult a councillor about any matter from 7.15 pm

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Milton & Foremark Village Matters

Milton Open Gardens and Farm, Sunday 14th June, 2 - 6pm

This is the third year of Milton Open Gardens and Farm, and we would love you to come and enjoy the afternoon with us. Have a cup of tea and a cake with the W.I. in the Village Hall, maybe buy a tombola ticket, or watch the cows being milked. Entrance is £3 per adult, children under 16 are free, as is car parking. Proceeds go towards village hall improvements. We look forward to seeing you.

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Milton W.I.

At our meeting in May, members discussed and voted on the resolution 'SOS for Honey Bees'. As we had not booked a speaker, it was a good opportunity for a less formal business meeting, and we had plenty of time to plan our forthcoming fundraising teas, Milton Open Gardens catering, and our August outing to Notty Hornblower's museum. The committee served hot pork baps with stuffing and apple sauce, and members provided delicious cakes and trifle.

Next Meeting: Wednesday 17th June at 7.30 pm in Milton Village Hall. Repton Handbell Ringers will come along to demonstrate their skills and give our members the chance to try their hand.

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Newton Solney Village Matters

Newton Solney C of E (Aided) Infant School

Everyone is welcome to join us for the following events during the summer term.

Community Collective Worship in the school hall on Thursday 4th June and Tuesday 30th June at 9.15 am.

Summer Fair on Saturday 27th June from 2 to 4 pm. Lots of games, stalls and refreshments!

Sports Morning on the school field on Tuesday July 14th from 9.30 am, weather permitting.

We hope you are able to come along on some or all of these, and that the weather is kind to us.

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Newton Solney W.I.

We had two outings during May: at Linton, a demonstration by a butcher and a chocolatier was followed by an excellent lunch, and a group visited Kedleston Hall to see, in particular, the costumes from the film 'The Duchess', partly filmed there.

A team supported Findern W.I. quiz night, which was very enjoyable and had an excellent buffet. Two members attended a meeting at headquarters which asked what members want from meetings, and gave useful information about speakers, outings and activities, as well as how to make the most of members' talents.

Our May meeting was the Resolutions Meeting. There was only one this year, that W.I. urges the government to increase funding for research into the health of honey bees in order to halt their rapid decline. We rely on bees to pollinate a third of our diet and cannot afford to lose them at the present rate. 37% were lost in 2007 and 10% more in 2008. The resolution was debated and approved. After the debate, wine and nibbles, Joan Buchanan was question master for a 'B's Quiz - all answers beginning with the letter B. Judging then took place for the Handicraft Cup. The response had been excellent, making the choice difficult, but the winner was Mrs. Pat Carter, who had knitted a really stunning Arran jacket.

Forthcoming events include, on Monday 22nd June, the dedication and unveiling of a W.I. commemorative seat at the National Memorial Arboretum by the Duchess of Devonshire, and our W.I. Garden Party from 2 pm on 22nd July at the home of our president, Joan Buchanan, 36 Main Street, Newton Solney.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 9th June: A presentation by Ann Devitt on 'Tea Bag Folding', talk and practical. Whist Drive: Tuesday 30th June. Both at 7.30 in the Village Hall.

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Newton Solney Parish Council Notes

The Annual Meeting of the village was held on 8th May. The Chairman's report is too long to publish here but can be read on the council website at www.newton-solney.org.uk.

There have been traffic difficulties at the top of Trent Lane at the end of the school day. Please ensure that access is maintained at all times.

Discussions continue with the village hall committee about a proposed new street light between the village hall and the Unicorn car park.

The police intend to introduce local surgeries and will be releasing details soon.

Next Council meeting: Friday 12th June, 7.45 pm in Newton Solney village hall.

'Safer Neighbourhoods' meeting: Monday 15th June, 6.30 pm in Newton Solney village hall. All are most welcome to attend either or both.

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Gardening Notes

By now it should be safe to plant out all bedding and tender plants, though I have known frost in early June, so keep some fleece handy for protection. Harden plants off before setting them out, and apply a general fertiliser such as Growmore or pelleted chicken manure to the plot.

Water is essential to all plants, especially those newly planted until their roots are established, so water in thoroughly. Giving each plant a good soaking once a week is preferable to overhead spraying, which tends to encourage surface rooting. Watering in the early morning or evening is best, and not in the heat of the day.

Tender vegetables such as courgettes, marrows, squashes, pumpkins and outdoor tomatoes, which have been started under glass, should be hardened off now before planting outside.

Seedling brassicas can be planted at 24" intervals and the space between used for quick maturing crops such as lettuce or radish. Plant sweet corn out when the plants are 3" tall. It can also be sown directly outside now, as can runner and French beans, carrots, peas, calabrese, beetroot, leaf beet and autumn cabbage.

Spring sowings of lettuce, radish and spinach are particularly liable to run to seed. The problem is much reduced after the summer solstice, 21st June, when the light begins to lessen, and can be largely avoided by sowing little and often, at 2 to 3 week intervals. Onions, carrots, turnips and beetroot are more likely to bolt after a cold spell early in the season, and some crops are sensitive to dry soil and liable to bolt then. Delay sowing cold-sensitive plants, or sow them under cover in modules.

Take cuttings from the young shoots of deciduous shrubs. Old-fashioned roses will root quite easily as the flowers fade. Take a shoot about 6" long, preferably with a little heel of older wood; trim off the faded rose, trim the heel and remove one or two pairs of leaves at the heel end; insert in a small pot of two parts compost and one of gritty sand; firm in and water. Keep the cutting moist, but not too wet.

Newly planted clematis must also be kept moist and well fed. There are many new varieties of larger-flowered clematis, quite a few emanating from nurseries in Poland. I seem to have a fatal attraction for clematis - fatal for the clematis, that is. I have lost so many over the years, mainly the larger-flowered varieties. Some have a short life, some never establish, and many suffer from clematis wilt. When you plant clematis, plant the base of the stem 2 - 3" deep to give them a chance to form new roots if wilt occurs.

Support plants in the herbaceous border, and thin out some of the shoots from the bigger clumps of phlox, delphinium and Michaelmas daisies.

Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as kolkwitzia, deutzia, weigelia and philadelphus when they have finished flowering. Meadow areas, where bulbs have been planted or spring flowers sown, can be mown once most seed has fallen. Mow regularly once they have greened up again, and remove the cuttings to avoid improving the soil fertility. Summer meadows are not cut until September.

Watch out for cabbage white caterpillars on the brassicas, and for aphids on roses, berberis, lilies, violas and lupins. Lupins are infested with a larger aphid, which is often resistant to treatment.

Potato blight can also affect tomatoes in cool, damp weather. Spraying with a copper-based fungicide such as Bordeaux mixture, or with one containing mancozeb, may help to prevent it.

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A Gap Year in South Africa
extracts from Dominic's newsletter

The opening of the school year was rather strange with the allocation of classes rather like an auction. There were many disagreements, particularly when it came to who was going to teach the younger classes. Some classes were simply left without a teacher! I am now in charge of all the Computer Applications Technology classes in the school, and also a Life Orientation class in grade 9, but only because they would have otherwise been left unattended.

There have been interesting moments in the classroom this quarter such as having to wrench apart fighting students and chasing out confused chickens. I have also let slip to my classes in the older grades that I have a basic grasp of Sepedi, which has led to some of my students refusing to talk to me in anything but Sepedi!

The sight of one of the teachers chasing kids around the school yard with a large stick to 'restore order' was comical. It may sound horrific, but it becomes hilarious when you know that he had no hope of catching them. Something else that was humorous to someone from the beautiful but often damp isles of the United Kingdom was the school being closed early in the morning due to 'heavy rain'. Granted, it was making a lot of noise on the tin roofs of the school, but it seemed a flimsy excuse for closing the school for the whole day!

The creation of the school timetable was a long and tedious process, as with typical bureaucracy the school had been given new software but no one had explained how to use it. Thus it was left for me to figure out a timetable, along with the timetables for many other schools in the vicinity that had no idea either. Even now, almost five months into the school year, I still receive phone calls about timetables!

I am now involved with many activities both in and out of school that take up virtually all of my free time. I run the football at school now, or soccer as they like to call it, and I usually try to organise matches for all the sports against other schools at least once every two weeks. This can take a lot of effort and many frantic phone calls, as organisation is not a strong point of the schools in this area! When my under-18s entered a local competition, neither we nor our opponents had any idea who we would be playing, or where, until about two hours before matches were due to start. The team did very well however, reaching the circuit final. Unfortunately one of my players was using a fake I.D. and was conveniently unable to produce his original I.D., so even if we had won we would have been disqualified. However, we lost fairly and squarely on the pitch. The players all have to produce I.D. here because so many are over 18.

After school I run a session for the teachers, and also one for the students, should they want any extra help or to finish work. However, not all of them come in with the intention to work particularly hard or sometimes to work at all, but at least they are using the computers! I have two further projects at school in mind. The first is to organise a fun five-a-side football competition to raise money for the school and to get some of the students who wouldn't normally do sport to come and have a go. The other is to paint the school with murals across the outside walls of the classroom blocks to give the school a brighter atmosphere. At the moment I am trying to get sponsorship. I am also heavily involved with a local youth group set up to reveal the local youth's talent in sport, art and culture. I go and play my guitar for the musicians, which meant having to adapt quickly to diverse music styles from hip-hop to gospel, and I do a lot of work towards organising monthly events at different high schools in Botlokwa.

During the first week of the Easter holidays we went to a local game lodge where a farmer kept lions as his pets, as you do. He had a rare white lion, and a four month old lion cub just running around the house and garden which seemed to have a particular taste for my leg! It never broke my skin but it is like being pinched very hard. At the weekend we went to the Marakele National Park among the Waterberg Mountains. The view from the top of this was spectacular with mountains giving way to a hazy African plain stretching away to the horizon. We saw many wild animals such as giraffe, zebra and wildebeest but the only one of the big five that we were lucky to catch was a rhino. Having now seen it in the wild, it is not an animal that I would like to tangle with!