February 2011 - Contents

Assisted Suicide

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
Women's World Day of Prayer Service, Friday 4th March at 7.15 pm
Coffee Morning, Saturday 12th February
Shell (for children aged 7+)

Funerals and Burial of Ashes
John Robin Yates
Janet Susan Chick

Obituaries
John Robin Yates

The Memorial Book

The King James Bible celebrates 400 years

Repton Benefice
Lent

St Wystan's News
St Wystan's Annual Church Meeting & Supper, Tuesday 1st March
Brasses: Help Needed!
Repton M.U.
ChildAid to Russia & The Republics

St Mary's News
Newton Solney Christmas Quiz

The Smith Family and Easy Listening Swing, Saturday 12th February
Repton School Concert, Wednesday 16th February
St Wystan's Church 'Bring & Share' Supper
Live & Local: The Old Dance School, Saturday 26th February
Lasagne Lunch, Saturday 19th March
Ceilidh with Bonnyrigg, Saturday 19th March

Environment Matters
Recycling Plastic in South Derbyshire

You and your Pet
Irritable Bladders in Cats

Neighbourhood Watch

Repton Village and History
Repton Village Society
Repton Beavers
Repton Cubs
Repton Open Gardens, Saturday 25th - Sunday 26th June
Royal British Legion: Poppy Appeal; Unwanted Coins; Whist Drives; Remembrance Day
Repton Village History Group
Repton Pre-school
'Make a Splash for India', W.I. Mercia Group Sponsored Swim
Repton W.I.
Repton Enabling Fund AGM, 9th March
Repton Parish Council Jottings

Milton & Foremark Village Matters
Royal Wedding Celebrations in Milton, Friday 29th April
Milton W.I.

Newton Solney Village Matters
Newton Solney Tuesday Club
Newton Solney W.I.
Newton Solney Parish Council Notes

Gardening Notes

Computer Security
Secunia PSI

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Assisted Suicide

Dear Friends,

Yesterday I conducted the funeral of Janet Chick. Over forty years Janet had knitted 24,000 woollen 'chicks', which, with a Cadbury's Cream Eggs in each, were sold for £1 - later for £2 - in aid of Rainbows Children's Hospice. I estimate that she may have raised £36,000 for the hospice. In December, St Wystan's School supported the same charity at their Christingle Service. Hospices need this money because they are not fully funded by the government. Their work is nevertheless highly valued in the community, as the money raised to support them shows.

Yet their very purpose of providing appropriate palliative, end-of-life care is threatened by arguments for assisted suicide and euthanasia. These arguments are imperceptibly changing our attitudes from a duty of compassion towards the suffering, into the right of self-destruction for the helpless. They are based on a potent, individualistic delusion of isolated, autonomous choice, and a refusal to acknowledge the reality of our mutual interconnectedness and interdependence as human beings in society.

The opposition of our current law to homicide and assisted suicide provides an essential safeguard for carers, for the medical profession, and for the elderly and vulnerable who may fear that their lives have become burdensome and valueless.

I believe that the increasing public support for the legalisation of assisted suicide provides an urgent challenge to the medical and legal professions, and to the Christian community as a whole.

Many people have a fear of inappropriate and burdensome medical over-treatment at the end of life, and this drives the demand for assisted suicide. The provision of skilled palliative care is inadequate, few doctors receive thorough training in palliative techniques, and tragically, many people in the UK still die with inadequate pain and symptom relief.

Vastly more resources are spent by the government and medical charities alike on researching treatments for life-threatening illness, than are devoted to improving the quality and availability of end-of-life care. As a community we need to insist on a reorientation of priorities so that care of the elderly, the chronically disabled and the terminally ill receives the focus it deserves.

The growing focus on personal autonomy and self determination provides a challenge to the Christian community to demonstrate a countercultural and alternative understanding of the sanctity of human life and the nature of human interdependence and interconnectedness. In a society where millions of elderly suffer isolation, abandonment and the silent horror of abuse, can the Christian community provide a resource of compassionate and sacrificial caring? That was a question put in a recent paper by John Wyatt, Professor of Ethics and Perinatology at University College London.

We may be fortunate in our villages that neighbourly care is still very much alive and active. Yet we need, I believe, to take every opportunity to challenge the movement for assisted suicide, which would undermine the philosophy and purpose of hospices such as the Rainbows Children's Hospice.

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 Sue Parker, 702550)

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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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Women's World Day of Prayer Service, Friday 4th March at 7.15 pm at the URC

This year, the Christian women of Chile have prepared a service on the subject of 'Loaves for All'. Everyone is invited to share in the service, and to learn more about the life of the Church in Chile.

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Coffee Morning, Saturday 12th February at 10.30 am

Home-made cakes and marmalade, the Webb Ivory range of greeting cards and stationery, and a chance to meet friends over coffee and biscuits.

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Shell (age 7+)

Meets on Mondays from 6.30 to 7.30. New members are welcome.

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Funerals and Burial of Ashes

John Robin Yates of Repton died on Friday 17th December aged 79. A funeral service at St Wystan's Church on 30th December was followed by cremation at Bretby.

Janet Susan Chick of Newton Solney died on Friday 31st December aged 65. A funeral service at St Mary's Church on 18th January was followed by cremation at Bretby.

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Obituaries

John Robin Yates
2nd April 1931 - 17th December 2010

Born in Aldershot to an army family, Robin was educated at Richmond Grammar School in Yorkshire, before being commissioned into The Loyal (North Lancashire) Regiment alongside his father and his elder brother. He served as an infantry officer with the regiment throughout the UK and in the Middle East, before secondment to the King's African Rifles, first in the late 1950s to East Africa at the end of the Mau Mau uprising, and then in Mauritius.

Having twice had to postpone the wedding to deploy to trouble spots in Trieste and Cyprus, he married Anne in 1953. Two daughters and a son followed as army service permitted! It was a close family, and Robin was immensely proud of them all.

Returning to the UK, Robin transferred to the Royal Army Pay Corps where he qualified in management accountancy. A spell as Paymaster with the Royal Fusiliers in Germany was followed by a number of tours at regional headquarters, before his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, serving at the Ministry of Defence in London.

On retirement from the army in 1979, Robin took a post as a school bursar in North Wales. Following his second retirement in 2000, he and Anne moved to Repton. Here he promptly took on the role of Chairman of the Abbeyfield Home, joined Derby Probus and Burton Rotary, and involved himself in the life of St Wystan's Church.

Robin's wide area of interests included a love of theatre, classical music, ballet and fine art. He couldn't get to grips with his grandson's rock band, and was happier in the era of Vera Lynn than that of Robbie Williams. However, in his day he enjoyed jiving, and even took part in amateur dramatics. He was a lively raconteur with a dry wit, and service life had provided him with a rich fund of stories. However, he had his own eccentricities too: when one son-in-law introduced him to mountain walking in Wales, he was astonished to find that Robin had packed his slippers and newspaper in his rucksack for a stay in a tent on Rhino Fawr.

Following a long period of illness, Robin died suddenly at home. We send our sympathy to Anne and all his family.

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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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The Book that changed the World

The King James Bible celebrates 400 years

In his New Year message, the Archbishop of Canterbury paid tribute to The King James Bible - the Authorised Version - printed 400 years ago this year, and acclaimed as the greatest work ever produced by committee. The King James Bible, Rowan Williams said, permeates "the bloodstream of the people of this country. . . . Its rhythms are exceptionally memorable, and its stories can still move and even shock us."

Printed at the dawn of empire, the KJB was exported to England's emerging colonies, forging, as Winston Churchill put it, "an enduring link, literary and religious, between the English-speaking people of the world."

Yet it is doubtful whether James I of England and VI of Scotland had any grasp of the eventual reach of the Bible he commissioned in 1604, during a debate at Hampton Court on the future shape of the Church of England. Having only ascended the English throne the previous year, what he sought was rather a Bible to placate both wings of a Church then divided between 'high Church' worshippers and zealous, reform-minded Puritans, and to bind his two kingdoms together.

By 1604 several English-language Bibles existed. The Bishops' Bible of 1568 was the official version read aloud in English Churches. More popular - but not with King James! - was the Geneva Bible of 1560, assembled by English Protestants exiled under Mary Tudor; a marginal note approved of disobeying tyrannical kings.

The supervision of the new Bible was entrusted to Bishop Bancroft of London, who was subsequently appointed Archbishop of Canterbury for his troubles. Six 'companies' of six to eight translators were assigned different parts of Scripture. Altogether, including revisers, 54 scholars were involved. They distilled and revised previous English Scripture translations, and although they were issued with copies of the Bishops' Bible, it is thought that a much greater influence was the Tyndale translation of 1525. William Tyndale, who was the first to translate considerable parts of the Bible into English for a public, lay readership, had made the then radical decision to translate from Hebrew and Greek sources rather than the later Latin.

Gathered in Westminster, Oxford or Cambridge the translators had little doubt as to the gravity of their task, declaring in their 'note to the reader': "Translation it is that openeth the window, to let in the light, that breaketh the shell, that we may eat the kernel."

From the outset, the King James Bible was intended for reading aloud. Each translator would read his work aloud to his colleagues, adding in revisions and corrections.

What they achieved has had a lasting, indelible impact on the Church, and on the English language. It echoes through the speeches of Abraham Lincoln and of Martin Luther King, threads through the verse of Milton and T. S. Eliot, the prose of Charlotte Bronte, even that of Norman Mailer. You and I echo it too in phrases such as "all things to all men", "the powers that be", or "suffer fools gladly".

Time has moved on, however. It is unlikely that the translators themselves expected their work to be the last word in Bible scholarship, but archaeological discoveries such as the ziqqurat of Babylon, the Canaanite temple library at Ugarit, and the Dead Sea Scrolls of Qumran have developed our textual knowledge and understanding. In addition, the English language itself has changed, and many words no longer bear their former meaning.

Today you are unlikely to hear the King James Bible read regularly at the principal church services. Locally we use The New Revised Standard Version, which is more accurate and often more comprehensible, but the Authorised Version with its wonderful imagery and sonorities is still used at St Wystan's at Matins on the first Sunday of every month.

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Repton Benefice

Lent

Easter this year is almost as late as it can be, and Lent does not start until 9th March. Lent is a particularly good time to reflect upon our Christian faith as we approach the great feast of Easter, and over the five weeks we plan to use an encouraging and stimulating course, meeting in groups to reflect and study together. We hope you will make time to join us. There will be more details next month.

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St Wystan's News

St Wystan's Annual Church Meeting & Supper
Tuesday 1st March at 7 pm in Repton Village Hall

The meeting normally lasts a little over an hour and is followed by supper. Supper tickets at £5 are available from Wendy Longden, 703259, David Roberts, 702159, and Martin Wimbush, 703180. You don't need to buy a supper ticket if you just want to attend the meeting.

The Vestry Meeting for the election of Churchwardens precedes the APCM. To propose or second a candidate or to vote or stand for the PCC, you need to be on the Church Electoral Roll. Electoral Roll forms as well as nomination papers for the election of members of the PCC will be available from St Wystan's Church. There are three places for election for the full term of three years.

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Help Needed!

Three more volunteers are needed to complete this year's brass cleaning rota. The duties are not arduous; the only commitment is to clean the brasses belonging to St Wystan's just once a year. If you could help, please contact Sue Parker on 702550. She will be very pleased to hear from you.

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Repton M.U.

At the Annual General Meeting in January, members heard a review of the year's speakers and a reminder of the two church visits, to Bretby and Staunton Harold. The treasurer presented the accounts and highlighted the amounts which we had been able to give to support the work of the Mothers' Union overseas, and to provide breaks for families under stress in Derbyshire.

Next Meeting: The February meeting on the 16th will be a lunch at Littleover Lodge at 12.30 for 1. Any further bookings to Margaret Venables.

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ChildAid to Russia & The Republics

Once again, we would like to thank all who have supported our efforts throughout last year, which - we're delighted to report - set yet another new record at £2,250. Please continue to buy our wares, the need is so desperate.

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St Mary's News

Newton Solney Christmas Quiz

Congratulations to all who submitted correct entries, necessitating a draw to decide the prizewinner. In the event the £10 went to Hilary Ford of Newton Close.

Repton Village Society The Smith Family and Easy Listening Swing back by popular demand for the fourth year running Saturday 12th February at 7.30 pm in Repton Village Hall Bring your own food, drink and glasses, and prepare for a great evening! Tickets £7.50 from Alan Webster 01283 701838

Repton School Concerts Society Morgan Szymansky, guitar, and O Duo, percussion Wednesday 16th February at 7.45 pm The Robert Beldam Hall, Repton School The society is delighted to welcome back these performers, whose separate concerts were highlights of previous seasons. Over the past year, O Duo have made their Proms debut and performed a specially commissioned concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. They were described by The Daily Telegraph as 'brimming with style and panache'. Anyone who came to their last concert in 2008 will remember the excitement and energy! Morgan Szymanski is an extraordinary guitarist. In the last year he has been profiled by Gramophone Magazine, and featured on the cover of Classical Guitar Magazine. We are indeed privileged to have the opportunity to experience both of these wonderful performers together in the same evening. For tickets, £13.50 and £10.50 (concessions), or information contact the Secretary (Sue Parker), 01283 702550 or Repton Music School, 01283 559319

St Wystan's Church 'Bring & Share' Supper with an illustrated talk on Vietnam, Cambodia and the Mekong Delta Repton Village Hall. Saturday 19th February at 7 pm £1. Everyone welcome. Bring your own drink. For a Bring & Share, the idea is that everyone who attends brings a dish for 6. No tickets, but it does need coordination to make sure we don't end up eating pork pie or chocolate pudding for all three courses! So . . . Ring Jan Gillham, 703340, for details and to discuss dishes.

Live & Local The Old Dance School Repton Village Hall, Saturday 26th February at 7.30 pm 'fresh but not 'folky' . . . music with a smile on its face' Six fine young musicians bring virtuosity and vitality to the folk scene with music ranging from mellow to uplifting, groovy and lively. They mix fiddles, whistles, guitar, vocals, bass and cajon percussion. A modern spin on traditional English, Irish, Scottish and European folk music. 'superb harmonising and great fun - everyone went home grinning!' Paid Bar and Raffle. Tickets £9 from Repton Post Office, Chris Carpenter, 702370, and Pat Court, 702599.

Newton Solney WI Lasagne Lunch with vegetarian option desserts, tea / coffee, but bring your own bottle! Saturday 19th March, 12 - 2 pm in Newton Solney Village Hall Adults £7 Children £5 Tickets from Jean Burns, 4 Hollies Close, 702463 and Rosemary Bartlett, 8 Cricket's Close, 703000

Ceilidh with Bonnyrigg 'the most popular and entertaining Ceilidh band in the Midlands' Repton Village Hall Saturday 19th March, 7 - 10 pm Live music. Bar. Raffle. Tickets £12.50, under 14s £5, to include jacket potato supper with choice of fillings from Frances Wimbush, 703180

Environment Matters

£5,000 to be won!

All you have to do is put out your normal recycling - things like paper, cans and bottles - on the normal collection day. Derbyshire County Council has a hundred £50 shopping vouchers to give away this year between January and June. It makes economic sense, because an increase of just 1% in recycling saves £72,000 in the cost of disposal. To find out more visit www.Derbyshire.gov.uk/kerbside, or ring 08456 058 058.

That was the easy bit. However, recycling the huge range of different plastics can be confusing. Nevertheless, it is clearly a 'good thing' and worth a little effort on our part: it reduces the volume of waste going into landfill as well as the energy we consume.

How and where to recycle what

The first thing to do is look for the plastic recycling symbol, the triangle of arrows. There are seven of them, but only four - the four shown are immediately relevant. In general, numbers 1 and 2 are found on bottles, 5 and 6 on tubs and trays.

Numbers 1 and 2

Number 1 is used for fizzy drink, squash, water and cooking oil bottles. Number 2 is usually found on milk bottles, bleach, cleaners and most bath and shampoo bottles. Both of these are widely recycled, including at the Swan Inn in Milton, the Newton Park Hotel in Newton Solney, and Burton Road car park in Repton.

Numbers 5 and 6

. . . are hard to recycle. Number 5 covers margarine tubs and microwaveable meal trays, number 6 mostly includes yoghurt pots, polystyrene egg cartons, and plastic cutlery. In our villages, these can only be recycled at Repton village hall car park in Askew Grove, although there are also facilities at Twyford Road playing fields in Willington and Willington Primary School.

And finally

• Up to 40% less fuel is used to transport drinks in plastic bottles compared to glass. • 25 recycled PET bottles can make an adult's fleece jacket • Recycling a single plastic bottle conserves the energy needed to light a 60 watt light bulb for up to 6 hours • The UK currently recycles or recovers approximately 25% of all plastic consumed.

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You and your Pet

Irritable Bladders in Cats

There is nothing more frustrating than an irritated bladder, both for the cat and for the owner. Signs include frequent attempts to pass little or no urine, weeing in unusual places like the bath, blood in the urine, and frequent cleaning of the rear end. Some cats are especially prone to developing bladder inflammation, also known as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD).

There are several reasons why some cats are more prone to bladder problems.

Crystals in the urine: Certain cats can form crystals in their urine. Male cats are especially at risk of becoming 'blocked', as their urethra (the tube from the bladder to the outside world) is narrower; material builds up in the urethra, preventing urine leaving the bladder. If left, this can be a very serious condition affecting kidney function; the delicate bladder can even burst.

Diet: Cats that are overweight tend by nature to be less active and urinate less frequently. Diet can also play a part in other ways. Wet foods can contain up to 60% water, so cats that are fed only on dry food need to drink a lot more to maintain sufficient water intake. Certain diets have higher levels of the minerals involved in forming crystals.

Stress: Stress can often be a reason for a flare up, sometimes due to a new cat on the block or visitors in the house. Stress is thought to damage the lining of the bladder, allowing urine to sit against the sensitive bladder lining.

Reluctance to urinate: Bad weather, too few trays for the number of cats, and dirty litter trays can all discourage urination. It is thought that having a litter tray for each cat in the house can encourage urination.

What you can do to help

There are several tricks you can use to reduce the risk. To encourage water intake you can try to add extra water to food. Some cats prefer rainwater, some bottled water(!), some clean water left in a bath or sink. In the wild, cats have their water source at a site separate from their food. This is due to their hunting instinct; they would never drink water next to their prey. Thus, having water at a site separate from food can help increase water intake. Different cats also prefer different bowls; some like shallow bowls, and others bowls filled to the brim. Ceramic and metal bowls are better than plastic as they give more reflection and the illusion of moving water, which is why cats will often drink from a running tap or a pet fountain.

There are many treatments for FLUTD, but prevention is better than cure. Increasing water intake and the frequency of urination, reducing stress, changes in diet and exercise can significantly reduce and sometimes even eliminate bouts.

If you have any queries please give us a call at the surgery.

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Neighbourhood Watch

Smartwater: Repton Neighbourhood Watch has obtained funding from SDDC Safer Neighbourhoods to purchase Smartwater kits for Repton residents. Smartwater is used to mark your valuables - items such as tvs, computers and cameras. It holds a unique code, registered with the kit owner, that can't easily be removed. Window stickers are also provided. Like an alarm, Smartwater is a deterrent; it does not prevent crime. However, it does make it much easier to identify and recover stolen property. If bought individually, kits cost about £40. However, a number are available from Adrian Gillham on 703340 at £7.50. When they're gone, they're gone!

Theft: Recently two mowers were stolen during the day from an open garage in Repton. This was an opportunist theft, possibly by scrap dealers. Homeowners should ensure that properties are secure. Everyone is asked to be observant.

Cold Calling: A company is offering a free prize draw to win a car in exchange for your name, address and phone details. The company then rings to arrange a sales visit trying to sell expensive carpet cleaners. The sales visit may take some time and the householder may feel pressured into buying. Reputable companies do not do business in this way, and will not visit unless you ask them to. They will also explain your consumer rights. If goods or services cost more than £35 you have the right to cancel the contract within seven days. If you aren't given a written notice explaining your cancellation rights, the contact is unenforceable; the trader is committing a criminal offence and you do not have to pay. If you have a complaint about such an issue you can call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06. If you feel threatened or intimidated call the police.

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

Repton Village Society

Steve Ratcliffe, the Station Commander at Kingsway Fire Station, managed very skilfully to combine serious aspects of the work of the Fire and Rescue Service with those of a more humorous nature, describing on the one hand the terrifying speed with which both large and small fires can take hold, and on the other, being called out to rescue a squirrel up a tree, only to find that it was a brown plastic bag. He also gave much advice about precautions in the home.

Thursday 3rd February: 'WW2 SOE'

One of our members, Hugh Davies, will be describing the Special Operations Executive, set up in the Second World War - in the words of Winston Churchill - 'to set Europe ablaze' by acts of sabotage.

Saturday 12th February: 'The Smith Family and Easy Listening Swing'

With a slight change of name, the Smith Family return by popular demand for the fourth consecutive year. Bring your own food, drink and glasses. All welcome. Tickets £7.50 from Alan Webster on 701838.

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Repton Beavers

Beavers started again after the Christmas break with three new members. The programme over the next few months is a look at the elements - air, earth, water and fire, working towards Furry Fred County Challenge. This includes a visit to Repton School science labs, and culminates in July with an activity day at Drum Hill campsite. Beavers are always looking for more leaders, if you are interested in discussing further, please contact Mike Knowles on 702217.

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Repton Cubs

On Wednesday evenings in January, you may have seen us around the village, reading and drawing maps as part of the Navigator's Badge. In February we will be practising what we have learnt and joining other Cubs in the District on a night hike. Other programme activities over the next month include the Scientist Badge and building bird boxes to complete the DIY badge.

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Repton Open Gardens, Saturday 25th - Sunday 26th June

For several years now, Repton Open Gardens has taken place over the weekend before Wimbledon, but this year we are moving a week later, to minimise clashes with other popular gardening events, particularly BBC Gardeners' World Live.

The Open Gardens weekend is always enjoyable, and gardeners unfailingly comment on the friendliness of the visitors and the pleasure of showing them around.

We are fortunate to have a core of gardens that open regularly. They vary greatly in size and character, and all are appreciated by our visitors who come from far and wide, often returning again and again. However, we are always looking for new blood.

Could you open your garden?

Almost everyone who opens his garden for the first time needs his arm twisting. After all, none of us can compete with Chelsea, and unlike show gardens, ours have to earn their keep throughout the year; many things are not at their best in mid-summer. But visitors know that. They go to the great public gardens to see the dream; they come to us for a pleasant afternoon, and to pick up ideas for real gardens.

If you would like to open your garden or know someone who might like to be involved, please contact Tom Hyde on 703662.

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Royal British Legion

Poppy Appeal

Since the beginning of October, the Poppy Appeal has raised some £7,800. On behalf of all ex-Service personnel and their dependants, we would like to thank everyone who contributed to, or helped to collect this splendid sum.

Much comes from the sale of poppies door-to-door in Repton, Foremark, Milton, Newton Solney and Willington. Other contributions come from the RBL Fruit and Flower Show, weekly whist drives, raffles and other events at the Royal British Legion Club, and from donations for wreaths.

Unwanted Coins

If you have foreign or obsolete British coins that you don't know what to do with, we would be glad to receive them to raise additional funds for the Appeal; please contact Mike Wilks on 702540.

Whist Drives

. . . take place at the RBL Club in the High Street at 7.30 pm on Wednesday evenings. We invite anyone interested to join us. You don't have to be a member.

Remembrance Day

The Remembrance Day Parade and service were very well attended, with excellent support from our local youth organisations. We were honoured by the presence of Dr. Roger Chapman DL, who laid a wreath on behalf of the Queen.

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Repton Village History Group

Tuesday 15th February, 'Newton Solney - Hoskins Derbyshire Elysium'

Our next meeting promises to be very interesting. In an illustrated talk, Philip Heath, the Heritage Officer for South Derbyshire District Council and an excellent speaker, will trace how a farming village became a rural arcadia. 7.30 pm prompt in the village hall. Members and visitors are welcome. Members £2, visitors £3.

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Repton Pre-school

We would like to thank everyone who supported our recent fundraising events, including a successful and enjoyable Bodyshop and Phoenix cards party at the Royal British Legion, and contributions to tickets and programmes at our nativity performance. Together, these events raised nearly £400.

We are also extremely thankful to Molson Coors Brewing Company who gave us a grant as part of their initiative to support local charities. We are planning to use it to provide the children with an interactive globe, helping them to explore the world around us.

Repton Pre-School is a registered charity, and fundraising events are essential for us. Our main fundraising event is the pre-school party, which this year will take place on Saturday 9th July at Foremarke Hall. We hope you can join us for a glorious summer evening, so please put it in your diary now.

For more information about Repton Pre-school, call 01283 221135 between 1 and 3 pm during term-time to speak to Karen, the pre-school manager.

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'Make a Splash for India', W.I. Mercia Group Sponsored Swim

Our sponsored swim at Repton School Pool in October raised a total of £2,000, a magnificent sum that will help the villagers of a rural community in Andhra Pradesh to enjoy clean water and proper sanitation for the first time. Work has already started there on the twelve bore wells that will ultimately benefit 500 people.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the swim or helped in any other way to make the afternoon so successful.

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Repton W.I.

At the January meeting, we were pleased to welcome back our President after she missed last month's meeting with a broken arm. Then members took centre stage, presenting their cherished possessions. Items included a collection of old keys, a piece of Chinese porcelain, old cookery books, a mother's wedding gloves, and a father's memorabilia from his time as mayor of Burton.

We also discussed resolutions proposed for the national AGM, arranged the February lunch at the Mulberry Restaurant and a visit to the Brewhouse Theatre, and organised card-making classes.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 8th February, 7.15 pm in the village hall: Hugh Davies will talk on 'Women in Intelligence, Espionage and Resistance'. Visitors are always welcome.

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Repton Enabling Fund AGM, 9th March, 8 pm in The Den, Mitre Drive

There is a small fund of money, accumulated from various events over the years, which is available as an interest free loan to help launch village activities. All village organisations are entitled to be represented at the fund's AGM. For further information, contact Andy Austen on 702448.

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Repton Parish Council Jottings

• Public Transport Services Consultation: Derbyshire County Council would like to hear from local residents concerning bus services, school transport and b-line and gold cards. The Council is considering which public transport services are the most important to Derbyshire residents before making savings to the budget, and it is important to make your views known. The consultation runs until 31st January and can be completed online at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/publictransportsurvey.



• Table Tennis Club: The Community Sports Trust is keen to establish a weekly table tennis club within the village for the benefit of local young people, and is looking for a volunteer to run the sessions. If you can help, please contact me and I will forward your name to the Village Games co-ordinator.



• Street Games Programme: During May, South Derbyshire District Council will be offering a combination of exciting sporting opportunities - such as football, basketball and cricket - to local young people on Mitre Field. All staff will be CRB checked and trained in first-aid. Further details will be published at a later date.



• Summer Activities: Following on from the success of this year's activities, Repton Parish Council will again be offering a programme of events during the school summer holidays. The climbing wall, sports and play mobiles have been booked, and dates will be announced nearer to the time. The Parish Council will also be sponsoring the climbing wall at the Village Party in May.



• Dog Fouling in Public Areas: The Parish Council has received complaints about the anti-social behaviour of a small number of dog owners allowing their animals to foul in public places, in particular within the arboretum. The Council is currently erecting signs asking owners not to allow their dogs to foul in this area.

Next meeting: Monday 14th February at 7.30 pm in The Community Room, Fisher Close, Repton. Planning applications will be available beforehand.

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Milton & Foremark Village Matters

Royal Wedding Celebrations in Milton

To celebrate the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on Friday 29th April, Milton will be holding a party in good old-fashioned 'street' style, with a fun afternoon for all in the grounds of the Swan Inn. Stella Salt, Party Committee member, 703188

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Milton W.I.

It looks as if it's going to be a busy few months for Milton W.I.

On Tuesday 8th February at 6 pm, Zytek Engineering has invited members to their premises at Main Street, Repton, for a factory tour. On Wednesday 2nd March at 7.30 pm we hold our Annual Dinner at The Wheel in Ticknall, and on Friday 25th March we have booked a visit to Buzzards Valley Vineyard.

Richard Heath, a local historian, was our speaker in January. He gave a varied and interesting talk about everyday life in the 17th century in and around South Derbyshire. Eileen Findlay gave the vote of thanks.

Next Meeting: Wednesday 16th February at 7.30 pm in Milton village hall. A representative from Alcoholics Anonymous (not Annonymouse as it says in our programme!) will be our speaker.

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Newton Solney Village Matters

Newton Solney Tuesday Club

Can I first give credit where it's due, and thank our treasurer for organising our visit to Wyevale Garden Centre last autumn, as well as the lunch that followed. (At the time, I mistakenly gave the credit to Peter Smith.)

At our January meeting, David Wood's talk on the 'Art of Thatching' was most informative and had us all enthralled, especially with his demonstrations.

Judging by the many boxes, carrier bags and parcels loaded on to the coach for the return journey home, our visit to Dagfield Art and Craft Centre was very successful. We shall certainly be making another visit in the future.

Tuesday 1st February

We are looking forward to welcoming the children and staff of Newton Solney Infants School, who will be entertaining us with the songs they performed last year at Burton Town Hall.

Tuesday 15th February

We are visiting a garden centre for morning coffee, followed later by lunch at Her Majesty's Open Prison, Sudbury. The coach leaves Newton Solney at 9.30 am. £7. If you wish to join us on our visits, please contact Jane Bagshaw on 564520.

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Newton Solney W.I.

Welcoming members to the first meeting of the new year, President Hazel Ward thanked Di Tidy for her work in producing the new programme. Resolutions were then explained and discussed before members were asked to vote on which one to take forward for this year's AGM in Liverpool.

Final arrangements were made for a visit to the Brewhouse on 19th January to see 'The Railway Children'. Mulberry Room lunches start again on Wednesday 25th January.

Saturday 18th March will see a repeat of the popular Lasagne Lunch in the Village Hall, one of our fundraising events for 2011; members will provide a selection of desserts to follow the Lasagne main course.

We have entered a team for the County Quiz at Etwall on Thursday 24th March. Members were asked for ideas for an Easter Fascinator, as this will be the competition at the Spring Group Meeting at Findern on 7th April.

Our speaker for the evening was Martin Wilson of the Derbyshire Association for the Blind, founded in 1914. Martin drives the Mobile Resource Centre vehicle, which provides advice and practical support to all visually impaired people in the county. Using specially designed spectacles, members had the opportunity to experience partial loss of sight, and we were shown a number of devices designed to help the visually impaired lead a more independent life. Sue Ellis thanked Martin for an enjoyable and thought-provoking presentation.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 8th February: Former store detective Richard Papworth's talk is entitled 'Excuse me Madam but . . . ' New members are always welcome. Whist Drive: Tuesday 22nd February. Both are at 7.30 pm in the village hall.

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Newton Solney Parish Council Notes

Village Precept: The Parish Council has agreed that the village precept for the next financial year will remain £4,400 as at present.

Dog Fouling: A complaint has yet again been received about dog fouling in the village, particularly in the area of Trent Lane. There are young children in this vicinity, and dog mess is potentially dangerous for them. Please clean up after your dog.

Parish Council Elections will be held this May. Parishioners may wish to think about standing for election.

Next Meeting: Friday 18th February, a week later than usual, at 7.45 pm in the village hall. All are welcome.

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Gardening Notes

At this time of year, the weather dictates what we can do in the garden; after an arctic freeze, activity will be limited. Signs of spring may be slow to appear, but perhaps we can complete the winter digging. Don't be tempted to plant anything outside until the ground is free of frost, and preferably warmed up a little. If you have bare-root trees, shrubs, roses, canes or climbers waiting to go out, cover them with sacking, keeping them moist and frost-free in a shed, or bury the roots shallowly in soil until things improve; don't let frosted soil touch the roots.

Any major pruning of neglected shrubs can be done now, remembering that for shrubs such as philadelphus, which flower in early summer on last year's growth, pruning now will reduce flowering. Winter-flowering shrubs such as mahonia, viburnum bodnantse and winter jasmine can also be pruned now, once flowering is over, as well as the summer-flowering lavatera, buddleja, perovskia, ceratostigma and hydrangea paniculata, which will all flower on new wood.

If they have grown too tall, cut back the canes of summer-fruiting raspberries to one or two buds above the top wire.

Clematis that flower in late summer should be pruned hard, as should clematis viticella and texensis, but don't prune varieties that flower in spring or early summer, such as C. montana, alpina and macropetala, unless they are growing too large.

Cut back deciduous grasses and other border perennials, left for their winter interest, and tidy the border up. Cut off old hellebore foliage to reveal the emerging flowers. Deadhead winter pansies, and remove mouldy leaves.

Check that stored dahlia and canna tubers have not dried out; towards the end of the month, you could pot some up and start them gently into growth. Plant begonias - hollow side up - in pots, just covering the tuber with compost. Lilies can also be planted now in deep pots, and alliums directly outside.

When the clumps are large enough, divide snowdrops after flowering, and plant fresh supplies of snowdrops 'in the green'. Aconites also are best planted in the green, rather than as dry bulbs in summer.

Sow broad beans and peas in a cold frame or greenhouse for planting out later, as well as lettuce and parsley in modules. Sow greenhouse tomatoes in a heated propagator. Sweet peas can also be sown now in a cold frame or, preferably, a frost-free greenhouse. Continue chitting early potatoes.

In some - mainly young - trees, the bark may split after hard frost or drought, generally due to the different expansion rates of wood and bark. The cracks usually callus quickly, but there is no effective treatment other than to encourage good growth.

Keep houseplants in good light, though not direct sunlight, and keep them moist, particularly where you have central heating. Azaleas in flower in pots now need a temperature of only 7 - 10° C; cyclamen persicum - the indoor cyclamen - need it a little warmer. Among the orchids, cypripediums are safe in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse, but cymbidiums need 11 - 14° C, and phalaenopsis 16 - 19° C. The cypripedium and cymbidium orchids, cyclamen and azaleas can go outdoors in mid-summer, when all danger of frost has passed.

Any spring bulbs not already brought into the warm can be brought in now to flower in the near future. After flowering they can be planted out in the garden, although they may not flower next year.

Continue to feed the birds. Because of the cold there will, I fear, have been a high rate of mortality, but I have not noticed it yet.

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Computer Security

Keep your computer up-to-date

There are lots of emails circulating, telling you that one popular program or another needs updating, together with a weblink. Adobe's PDF reader and Skype are favourite targets. These emails are almost always scams - yet another attempt to raid your bank account.

Out-dated programs and plug-ins expose your PC to attacks which are rarely blocked by anti-virus and are therefore popular among criminals. If you do need to update a programme yourself, and there are still plenty that need updating manually - go to the software manufacturer's website.



The average computer contains far more programs and plug-ins than you are aware of. Mine has well over 100 programmes - and I only use it for fairly basic functions. Patches for most software are free, but keeping track of some is impossible, so for some time I have used Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI) to do it for me. Version 2, finally launched in December, has made life even easier; not merely does it detect programs that need patching, but in most cases it patches them automatically. Download it from secunia.com. It is free, it is reassuring, and it works.