January 2012 - Contents Let there be light 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 Shell (for children aged 7+) Coffee Morning: Saturday 14th January Evening Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Sunday 22nd January Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Funerals and Burial of Ashes Hilda May Taylor Obituaries Pamela Carr Hilda May Taylor The Memorial Book Repton Benefice New Rural Dean Handing on the Torch St Wystan's News Services in January Remembrance Repton M.U. A bit of a do St Saviour's News St Saviour's Church Roof First Wednesday Lunch, Wednesday 4th January Repton School Concert, Sunday 8th January Repton School Concert, Wednesday 25th January Environment Matters Energy-saving bulbs take over You and your Pet Animal Acupuncture Neighbourhood Watch Local Temporary Road Closures Sports Action Grants Recycle your Christmas Tree Badger Baiting Ospreys at Willington Repton Village and History Repton Beavers Repton Cubs Hoagy, Hornpipes, Handel and Hoedown ~ Live and Local, Saturday 3rd March A Happy Jubilee Year! The Ear Foundation Repton W.I. Repton Village History Group Repton Village Society Village Games Repton Parish Council Jottings Milton & Foremark Village Matters Milton W.I. Newton Solney Village Matters Newton Solney Tuesday Club Newton Solney W.I. Newton Solney Parish Council News Gardening Notes

---

Let there be light

Dear Friends,

To meet the publishing deadline, I am writing this on 13th December, the day when we remember Lucy, a martyr at Syracuse in Sicily, put to death for refusing to worship the Roman gods. In Latin, her name means 'light', and the season of Christmas, which lasts until Candlemas on 2nd February, is about the light of Christ coming into the world.

As I thought about this, I recalled how so much of the imagery of this season is about light coming into the darkness. In the Northern hemisphere, it is the time when we have just had the shortest day and are looking forward to lighter nights and mornings.

Light is something that most of us take so much for granted that we hardly give it a second thought. Nowadays our houses are lit by electricity, but not long ago people relied on gas, oil, and candle power for artificial light. Nights were dark and long.

The need for light is fundamental; there can be no life without it. So it will come as no surprise to learn that images of light and darkness occur throughout the Bible. Following the creation of the heavens and the earth, the first action of God in creation, as recorded in Genesis, was the creation of light:


In St Wystan's Church there is a large candle on a wooden candle stand. This is the Paschal Candle, named after the Pasch, the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. It represents Christ, the light of the world. It is first lit at dawn on Easter morning as a celebration of the resurrection of Christ from the dead, and thereafter, it is lit for Baptisms and other special services. During the Baptism service a candle lit from the Paschal Candle is given to the parents with the words:
Also, in the crypt there is a votive candle stand with tea lights, and a larger candle from which they can be lit. You can come at any time to light a candle for someone and to offer a prayer. Lighting a candle indicates our intention to pray for another person, and the candle symbolizes that prayer.

As we start this New Year let us make it a time when we seek to bring light into the world, by our prayers, by our words and by our actions.

Wishing you the Light of Christ

---

Services at Foremark, Newton Solney
and Repton Churches

St Wystan's, Repton

St Saviour's, Foremark

St Mary's, Newton Solney

---

Readers, Intercessors and Offertory at St Wystan's

---

Altar Flowers (contact Frances Wimbush, 703180)

---

Brasses (contact Sue Parker, 702550)

---

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

---

The United Reformed Church

---

Shell (age 7+)

. . . recommences on Monday 9th January at 6.30 pm. Shell meets every Monday at the URC from 6.30 - 7.30 pm for a varied programme of activities including craft and games, ending with a Christian message. If you are aged 7 or over, you are welcome to join us.

---

Coffee Morning: Saturday 14th January, 10.30 till 11.30 am

Have you missed those delicious home-made cakes and marmalade over the holiday season? If so, rush to the front of the queue to stock your shelves! Games for the children, and coffee and biscuits for you to relax over! Come and join us!

---

Evening Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Sunday 22nd January, 6.30 pm

This year's Week of Prayer has a special relevance, as the beginning of talks between the Church of England and the United Reformed Church will be marked on 7th February with a joint service in Westminster Abbey.

---

Funerals and Burial of Ashes

Hilda May Taylor of Broomhills, Repton, died on Wednesday 30th November aged 89. A funeral service at Bretby Crematorium on 9th December was followed by cremation.

---

Obituaries

Pamela Carr
21st February 1927 - 6th November 2011

Pamela was born into a comfortable middle-class family. Her mother was the daughter of a Dutch newspaper owner, and her father, Arthur Cecil Temperley, a distinguished soldier who saw action in South Africa, on the North-West Frontier and at Gallipoli. Before he retired in 1935 in the rank of Major-General, his last postings were as Deputy Director of Military Operations and Intelligence, and finally head of the War Office Section of the British delegation to the Geneva disarmament conference of 1932-1935.

By 1935, Pamela's parents had three resident and two part-time servants, including a chauffeur and a cook, and wore full evening dress for dinner every evening. Nannies were major figures in the children's lives, but they spent an hour with their mother each day when she would play the piano to them to dance to, sing songs, arrange musical games or read to them. Although she was by her own admission pretty hopeless at sport, Pamela loved riding out with her father, and was especially fond of his old horse, Winnie, who had accompanied him at Gallipoli.

As war was breaking out, Pamela was moving to her senior school, a private girls' school in Beaconsfield. Her father died the following year, and in 1941 she herself was seriously ill with typhoid, spending 10 weeks in bed and missing a whole term of school.

Despite these setbacks, she did well in School Certificate, and in 1944 went on to the Froebel Educational Institute in Roehampton to train as a teacher. On qualifying she taught initially in East Grinstead and then at a boys' prep school in London where she spent 5 years. During her time there, she joined the Bach Choir as an alto, and sang in several great choral works at the Albert Hall.

After working briefly in North Africa, then as a private tutor followed by a spell at her old school, she met Douglas, a major in the army and enthusiastic sportsman - clearly a perfect match! Following their marriage in 1958, they lived initially in London, but moved to Repton when Douglas joined his brother, Donald, as assistant secretary, later secretary, at Derbyshire County Cricket Club. (Douglas had been educated at Repton, where his father was Bursar, and his two brothers also lived locally.) In 1960 they moved with their young son, soon to be joined by two daughters, to High Meadows in Burton Road.

They were both very active in the village. Pamela was a member of Repton Parish Council for a number of years as well as a governor at St Wystan's School. Beyond the village she was a magistrate and worked as a Samaritan.

As regular members of St Wystan's congregation, they also joined fully in the life of the church. At a time of change, Pamela was a firm traditionalist and loved the time-honoured biblical language. St Wystan's Church has its own memorial to Pamela and Douglas; as you enter the porch, you pass beneath the figure of St Wystan, the gift of the Rev'd S. B. Stallard-Penoyre in 1911. The sword, however, was given by Pamela in 2003 in memory of Douglas to replace the original that had disappeared.

Pamela's association with St Wystan's School had begun in 1963 when her son joined the nursery. In 1972 she was appointed a part time teacher, and went on to become headmistress in 1979, retiring in 1985. She was a wonderful teacher at a time when it was still possible for heads to spend a good part of their time in class. She was in her element there, and retained her affection for the school throughout her life.

Douglas' death in 1991, following many years of illness, was a severe blow, but Pamela rebuilt her life, taking on a whole series of new projects which reflected her life-long love of history, especially military history, and war poetry. She became a steward at Calke Abbey, did voluntary work at The Staffordshire Regimental Museum in Whittington, joined the Dorcas Group and Repton Village History Society, participated in a group making detailed records of local churches, and worked on the family archives as well as those at Catton Hall. In disgust at not being able to find any history books for children that were not 'downright silly', she also carried out a surprising correspondence with Ian Hislop, correspondence which he later quoted, and found in him a firm ally.

Douglas had not lived to see his six grandchildren, but to Pamela they were a source of great comfort and pride, and she took a lively interest in all their activities, especially their schooling.

Pamela was a tough, intelligent and thoughtful woman, with a dry, irreverent sense of humour and an enjoyment of the ridiculous, a traditionalist who could be surprisingly broad-minded, a formidable personality who could yet show an almost child-like vulnerability. She will be greatly missed, and we extend our sympathy to all her family.

---

Hilda May Taylor

Hilda May Taylor, who died on 30th November aged 89, came from Derby and was married there in 1944 to Ernie, who had been allowed 48 hours leave before returning to his submarine. After demobilization and some small jobs Ernie became a successful builder, eventually joining with Ted Platt to start the firm of Platt and Taylor, but the success of the firm owed much to Hilda's calm, businesslike approach. When Hilda and Ernie moved to Repton, it was to live in one of the bungalows Ernie had built.

Hilda was a popular figure in Repton, making many friends through the Legion Club and her daily walks with a succession of labradors. On three occasions she was seriously ill with cancer, but her cheerfulness and patience enabled her to pull through. We extend our sympathy to Ernie and her daughter, Pat.

---

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 use the website contact page to contact the churchwardens.

---

Repton Benefice

New Rural Dean

Rev'd David Perrett, Vicar of Gresley, is our new Rural Dean, in succession to Rev'd Lesley de Pomerai. David is 63 and married, with three children, and six grandchildren. Outside church and family, his passions are fly-fishing, squash, and climbing in the Lake District. On his appointment as Rural Dean, he describes himself as "excited to see what God is going to do in the Deanery and the Diocese."

Repton Deanery has 10 clergy and 21 parishes, from Findern in the north to Lullington in the south. The Dean's principal roles include caring for the clergy of the Deanery, providing a means of communication between parishes and the Bishop, carrying out parish visitations on behalf of the Archdeacon, and the care of parishes in interregnum. David exercises his new office in addition to his existing responsibility for his own parish.

---

Handing on the Torch

Christianity is the largest movement our world has ever seen. It continues to grow at an immense pace - especially in Asia (including China), Africa and Latin America. At the same time, Christianity in the West struggles to grow.

In this year's Lent course, we consider some of the reasons for this and what it might mean for individual Christians, for churches and for Western culture in a world where alternative beliefs are increasingly on offer. There are five sessions, each based on a book and CD. The latter is introduced by the former Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, and contains 14-minute radio-style starters for group discussion, with questions to Archbishop Sentamu, Rachel Lampard and Clifford Longley, and a final reflection by Bishop Graham Cray. Each of the five sessions ends with questions designed to stimulate lively discussion.

The course starts in the week beginning 27th February, lasts five weeks, and finishes before Holy Week. We are expecting five house groups for you to choose from, four in Repton and one in Newton Solney. Some of these will run during the day and some in the evening. Application forms will appear in the churches early in the New Year, or contact George Johnson on 703079.

---

St Wystan's News

Services in January

New Year's Day: There is only one service, Parish Communion at 9.45

Following all the Christmas services and festivities, this service, when we will celebrate the Naming and Circumcision of Jesus, will be the only service at St Wystan's Church. The usual 'first Sunday' pattern of services will resume in February.

Sunday 8th January, 10.30 am: Covenant Service with Holy Communion

At this annual service, there is the opportunity to meet together, as generations have met before us, to renew the Covenant which God first made with the people of Israel and then renewed in Jesus Christ, calling us to be a holy nation, united in love and obedience to him, as his servants and witnesses.

Sunday 22nd January, 6.30 pm at the URC: Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

The theme for this year's Week of Prayer (18th - 25th January) comes from the churches in Poland, who have reflected upon how, as a nation, they have been changed and transformed by the many upheavals of their history, and sustained by their faith. Change is at the heart of the ecumenical movement. When we pray for the unity of the church we are praying that the churches that we know and which are so familiar to us will change as they conform more closely to Christ. We hope that many will want to be present at this united service to remember that we are one church, worshipping one God, and following Jesus Christ.

Sunday 15th January, 6.30 pm: The Feast of Epiphany

At Epiphany we remember how God revealed himself to the world and to the three wise men through the divine birth of His son, Jesus Christ. This year we will be keeping the Feast at a special evening service with anthems sung by the Wystan Singers. Here we will remember the Father's endorsement of Jesus' vocation at his baptism, when the voice from heaven said: "You are my Son, the beloved, in you I am well pleased", as well as Jesus' revealing of himself as the Messiah in his first miracle - according to John's gospel - of turning water into wine at the marriage feast at Cana.

Wednesday 18th January, 7.30 pm: Service of 'Prayer for Christian Healing'

Everyone is welcome.

Sunday 29th January, 10 am at Newton Solney: Benefice Communion for Candlemas

Epiphany draws to a close with the Feast of Candlemas, celebrating the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, when at 40 days old Jesus was greeted by the elderly Simeon as 'a light to lighten the Gentiles'. Traditionally this Feast is kept on 2nd February, but this year it will again be kept on the last Sunday in January with a Benefice Communion at 10 am at St Mary's Church, Newton Solney.

Groups

The next meeting of the Intercessory Prayer for Healing Group is at 3 Richmond Court on Monday 9th January, at 7.30 pm.

'Living the Word' will meet at 3 Richmond Court on Thursday 26th January at 7.30 pm. If you would like to come along to share how we have put The Word of Life into practice during the month, or would like to know more, please telephone Stephen Longden on 703259.

---

Services of Remembrance

A large congregation, with good support from the local Scout and Guide movements, packed St Wystan's Church for this year's Service of Remembrance.

Following the service, wreaths were laid at the War Memorial by Roger Chapman, Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire, on behalf of the Queen, by the President of the Repton Royal British Legion, the Chairman of Repton Parish Council, Peter Smith on behalf of SDDC, Olivia Faulkner and Kleo Shorthouse, and Abigail Soutar and Alfie Carter on behalf of Repton Primary and St Wystan's Schools respectively.

The collection taken at the service contributed £281.58 towards this year's Poppy Appeal, which now stands at £7668.74.

---

Repton M.U.

Our last contribution to the life of the church was to provide and decorate a tree for the Christmas Tree Festival. Its theme was 'Happy Families', since the purpose of the Mothers' Union is to promote marriage and Christian family life. In addition to providing the cards to hang on the tree, members gave cakes and acted as stewards during the festival.

Sadly the December meeting with carols and seasonal refreshments was the last for the foreseeable future.

---

A bit of a do

November and December have made good use of our new facilities in St Wystan's.

A concert by Foremarke School, with an audience of over 60, was followed by a Soup and Sweet lunch. The music was lovely, with soloists and groups performing to a very high standard. Thank you to Susan Bloor and all the performers, the cooks and servers, and to everyone who came.

The following week we had a Christmas Flower demonstration. Between coffee and lunch, Judie Cripps gave an excellent demonstration. It was all most enjoyable. Thank you to Judie, and to the cooks and helpers.

Then came the Christmas Tree Festival, which was a great success. The decorated trees looked better than ever, and forty filled the church nicely. There were a great many compliments from the visitors, who came from far and wide. Without the support of a very large number of people, and particularly all those who decorated the trees, we could not have put on such a magnificent display; thank you everyone.

---

St Saviour's News

St Saviour's Church Roof

On behalf of St Saviour's PCC, thank you to everyone who contributed to the coffee morning in Milton Village Hall last November, to the organisers, those who produced items for sale and raffle, as well as all those who came to enjoy it. The result was an incredible £1,000 raised from the morning itself and from donations beforehand.

2012, the 350th anniversary of the building of St Saviour's, will be a big year in the life of our church. Having suffered four lead thefts since the turn of this century, we are planning now to go ahead with a new fibre-glass roof that will be of absolutely no value to metal thieves, and will ensure a dry building for many decades to come. A new roof would be a fitting tribute and present to our wonderful, historic church. We are hoping that work will begin at Easter.

However, we need to raise a considerable amount of money to pay for it. Further money-raising initiatives are planned for the coming year, but many thanks to all who have got us off to a great start.

First Wednesday Lunches Wednesday 4th January from 12.30 to 1.30 pm in St Wystan's Church £4.   Homemade soup, bread and cheese followed by coffee.   And a chat! Everyone welcome. Do come!

Repton School Concerts Society Alexander Mason ~ Organ Sunday 8th January at 7.15 pm in Repton School Chapel Alexander Mason was organ scholar at Worcester College, and subsequently studied at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. He has given recitals all over the UK, Ireland, Norway and Lebanon, and has broadcast on BBC Radio3 with the choirs of Guildford Cathedral and St Bride's, Fleet Street. He has also recorded for 'The Vicar of Dibley' and Channel 4's 'Howard Goodall's Organ Works'. He is currently the organist and Master of the Choristers of St David's Cathedral. Tickets for this concert are £5. For further information or tickets contact Sue Parker 56 Askew Grove, Repton, DE65 6GR. 01283 702550.

Repton School Concerts Society Alexandra Dariescu ~ Piano Wednesday 25th January at 7.45 pm in The Robert Beldam Hall Born in Romania, Alexandra Dariescu graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music with distinction in 2008. Since then she has appeared as soloist with The Royal Philharmonic and other renowned orchestras, and has given recitals at the Wigmore Hall, Barbican, and the City of London, Bath and Ribble Valley Festivals. Her programme includes works by Schumann, Scarlatti, Debussy and Chopin. Tickets for this concert are £13.50 and £10.50 (concessions). For further information or tickets contact Sue Parker 56 Askew Grove, Repton, DE65 6GR. 01283 702550.

Environment Matters

Energy-saving light bulbs take over

Energy-saving bulbs are currently replacing the traditional ones, as the government, retailers and energy companies work together, and manufacturers adapt their factories to meet global demand. In the United Kingdom, filament bulbs from 60w upwards have now disappeared; lower output bulbs are due to go in September 2012, and from 2016, halogen spotlights will also have to meet new efficiency standards.

When they first appeared in the 1980s, energy-saving bulbs were large, heavy, slow to warm up and expensive. However, modern bulbs are compact, available in a wide range of shapes, and relatively cheap; most are almost instant, and they come in a range of colour temperatures, so the main difference you'll notice is a drop in your electricity bills: fitting just one energy-saving light bulb can save, on average, £3 a year; by swapping all the bulbs in the home, most people will save around £55 per year. Together we can make a real difference to our national energy consumption.

Most energy-saving bulbs are of the compact fluorescent type - CFL bulbs. It is true that they take more energy to manufacture than traditional bulbs, but the energy they save over their lifetime far outweighs this. And this applies even more to LED lighting where bulbs can last for 50,000 hours, 50 times as long as incandescent bulbs.

Although CFL bulbs contain tiny traces of mercury, in the long term their use will reduce mercury pollution, because burning fossil fuels is the biggest source of mercury in the air. As CFL bulbs are much more efficient, they result in far less mercury overall. However, because of the mercury they do contain, you should dispose of them carefully at an approved recycling point. LEDs do not contain mercury.

---

You and your Pet

Animal Acupuncture

Did you know that animals can benefit from acupuncture too?

Acupuncture is often extremely useful in alleviating pain and discomfort where other conventional therapies have failed or are contra-indicated, and particularly in osteoarthritis, as it triggers and enhances potent analgesic pathways via the stimulation of skin and muscle fibres. This causes the release of neurotransmitters, serotonin and noradrenaline, from the brain.

Veterinary acupuncture is over 2,000 years old. It has been developed from clinical observations by vets in ancient China who noticed that digital pressure over certain points in an animal's body relieved pain in a particular area and reduced generalised signs of ill health. When vet schools first opened in Europe, acupuncture was widely practised in both small and large animal medicine until the early part of the 19th century, and in the past 30 years there has been a marked resurgence of interest.

There are vets who are trained in acupuncture - including me. In general, 80% of patients respond, and sessions are held weekly for a month to assess the response. After that point, if there has been good success, top up sessions can be done every month or so. One of my current patients, Tilly, an English Bull Terrier, has been having regular sessions for the past 2 years to help her with ankle osteoarthritis.

If you have any questions or queries please don't hesitate to give us a call on 01283 813343.

---

Neighbourhood Watch

Freezing Weather 1: Defrost your windscreen thoroughly! Last December, an officer on patrol at 5am saw a car drive off onto a main road. All the windows were covered in ice, with only small areas clear. The driver pleaded guilty at court and was fined £227; with court costs of £35 and a victim surcharge £15.

Freezing Weather 2: Unless your journey is absolutely essential, stay indoors. If you must travel, make sure you are well prepared. Take a shovel with you and pack warm clothes, food and drink. Make sure you take a mobile phone.

Freezing Weather 3: Please do not walk or allow your children to play on frozen water. No matter how thick it looks, ice is never safe and the water underneath is very cold.

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.

---

Local

Temporary Road Closures

Ingleby Lane will close from 3rd to 6th January from its junction with Ingleby Road to its junction with the unnamed road to Foremark. Hartshorne Road will close from 16th to 20th January from its junction with Gravel Pit Hill to its junction with Watery Lane. In both cases, the reason is carriageway patching.

---

Sports Action Grants

Derbyshire County Council has launched a £180,000 Sports Action Grant fund. Sports clubs and local community groups can apply for grants of up to £1,000 to help provide activities that: encourage more people to take part in sport and physical activities; promote healthy and active lifestyles; encourage volunteering. Find how to apply at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/sportsactiongrant.

---

Recycle your Christmas Tree

Although SDDC has not yet published information for this Christmas, in the past it has been possible to recycle Christmas trees in early January at the recreation ground car park on Twyford Road in Willington, the road that goes out towards the power station. Other sites include Rosliston Forestry Centre, Ticknall Village Hall, and the football ground in Sandypits Lane, Etwall.

---

Badger Baiting

In recent months, there have been several incidents of badger baiting. In some areas, local residents have reported people knocking on doors to ask where badger setts are.

The police encourage you to report any suspicious activity in the countryside, especially in areas where there are badger setts. If you have any information about people involved in badger baiting, digging or lamping, please call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Don't approach suspects directly, but try to focus on what you have seen, where it is happening, and a description of the people involved.

Any offence under the Protection of Badgers Act can carry a penalty of up to six months imprisonment and a substantial fine. Landowners who knowingly permit badger digging to take place on their land can also be prosecuted.

---

Ospreys at Willington

Since 2005 when, with the help of money from Repton Parish Council, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust took over the former gravel pits at Willington, the site has attracted many exciting birds; outstanding rarities have included the osprey, merlin, hen harrier, bittern, spoonbill, spotted crake, glossy ibis, pectoral sandpiper and great northern diver. And now the trust is working with Toyota on a project to encourage ospreys to breed locally.

Ospreys are migratory fish-eating birds that spend the winter in Africa and return to Britain to breed in the spring. In England, they were persecuted to extinction during the 19th century, a little later in Scotland. However, a pair returned to Scotland in 1954, and since then the birds have been the subject of intense conservation interest.

To encourage their return to England, artificial nesting platforms were erected at Rutland Water and other sites in the hope of persuading migrating birds to stay and breed, but this proved unsuccessful, so between 1996 and 2001, 64 juvenile birds were taken from Scotland to Rutland in the hope that they would view Rutland as their natal site and return in future breeding seasons. The first birds returned in 1999, and in 2001 a translocated male and an unringed female bred for the first time. Breeding has taken place each year since. In 2007, a further milestone was reached when the first Rutland-bred chick returned and bred. Since that time the Rutland birds have done so well that males are now flying large distances to find suitable breeding sites.

Young ospreys prefer to take over an existing nest rather than build their own from scratch, so DWT, Toyota and a number of other partners have erected artificial nest platforms on Toyota's land at Burnaston and at the trust's nature reserves at Drakelow and Willington.

Ospreys are already regular visitors, as the Trent Valley is a major flyway and stopping off point on their migration to and from Scotland. The prospect of seeing them breed on our own doorstep is hugely exciting.

---

Repton Village & History

Repton Beavers

The Beavers made gingerbread decorations for the Christmas Tree Festival, and only a few were eaten! We all now know how jet engines work thanks to an exciting evening organised by Richard Williams. Michael and Sam have earned their experimenters' badges, Ethan Williams was invested, and Rory completed his Bronze Award before going up to Cubs.

Beavers start again on Monday 9th January. Please contact Liz Massey-Beeston on 703314 if you want to know more.

---

Repton Cubs

16 Cubs had a sleepover at the Den at the end of November. This included a night hike around the village searching out glow sticks, a visit to the chip shop, making hama bead decorations for the Christmas Tree Festival, and distributing Stamp and Deliver notes. All went home exhausted! We've also had a visit to the URC, hosted by Gerald, where Cubs were told about the history of the church and were very interested in the school-room.

Cubs start again on Wednesday 11th January. Contact Jez Brooks on 07799 882338 to find out more.

---

Hoagy, Hornpipes, Handel and Hoedown ~ Live and Local
Repton Village Hall, Saturday 3rd March at 7.30 pm

Hilary James and Simon Mayor have a warm stage presence and lovely rapport with the audience, which perfectly suits a village hall audience of different ages and tastes. Laid back humour, Hilary's stunning voice and showstoppingly huge Mandobass, plus Simon's effortless talent on just about every stringed instrument going, make for a fantastically varied evening. There's every musical style from blues to folk, swing to classical. Beethoven gets the mandolin treatment and rubs shoulders with Gershwin, a foot-stomping Texas fiddle tune and comic songs for everyone.

Following the great success of our previous 'Live and Local' shows by The Old Rope String Band, Last Night's Fun, Mervyn Stutter, and The Old Dance School, we confidently expect a wonderful evening's entertainment, and a sell-out. Tickets £9 from Repton Post Office, Chris Carpenter, 702370, and Pat Court, 702599. In support of Repton Village Hall.

---

A Happy Jubilee Year!

Repton will celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in style. Plans are well under way and the weekend of 2nd - 5th June will be packed with a variety of events and activities for everyone in the village to enjoy.

In the lead-up to June, we will be running events to encourage people to start thinking about what they would like to do locally, and also to raise funds to help with the cost. The first of these will be a Pre-Jubilee Tea on 17th March with stalls, displays and activities, and, of course, tea. For more information, or to offer help, ring John Perks on 702392.

---

The Ear Foundation

Thank you to everyone who supported our concert last month with good wishes, kind enquiries, donations, buying tickets, and coming along. Special thanks too to Sarah Lloyd for taking part. The Ear Foundation is most grateful for the £474 that the concert raised.

---

Repton W.I.

At our December meeting, we enjoyed wine and festive eats, and exchanged Christmas gifts. Members were delighted to be told that the W.I. tree for the church Christmas Tree Festival, decorated with teddy bears in a variety of card, fabric and colours, had featured in the Burton Mail. The W.I. had also been involved in stewarding, making cakes, serving refreshments and manning the stall, which delighted our President, one of the main organisers of the event.

Sylvia Martin then spoke about Beatrix Potter and her involvement with the National Trust. Everyone knows about Potter's writing and the lovable characters in her children's stories, but did you know she kept Herdwick sheep and won prizes at agricultural shows? She married late in life, and the farms, cottages and other property that she and her husband owned in the Lake District were given to the National Trust on their deaths.

Now we are looking forward to a visit to the Brewhouse in January to see 'A Christmas Carol'. At our January meeting, Gerald Gibbs will talk about his trip to Russia. We meet on the second Tuesday of the month in the village hall at 7.15 pm. If you can't cook, sew, knit or make things, but enjoy a gossip and a laugh, then why not give the W.I. a go? We are a friendly bunch and always welcome visitors, so we hope to see you on Tuesday 10th January.

---

Repton Village History Group

Our Christmas Social in December was a very successful meeting, when Richard Farman brought a display of old post cards and gave a short talk on early aviation in the Burton area. It surprised many members who were unaware of the flying races and displays in the area prior to 1914. Festive food was served afterwards.

Projects

We are undertaking a number of projects to develop our knowledge of Repton's past and to provide material for the people of Repton in the future. Much of the research will be 'hands on', and we would like to recruit folk to help.

Examples of what we have in mind include unearthing information about the vanishing farms and farmhouses that were once such an important part of the village, locating and restoring the village boundary markers, trying to locate the ancient Tithe Barn with the aid of Asterbury's Diary, or using modern precision mapping and GPS to relate the 1766 Wyatt's map of Repton to the current buildings. Or perhaps we could start to lay down an archive for the future by recording a diary of events now, or we could extend the information in Ken Ash's time line, which stopped in 1985.

If you are interested in taking part, or have any other suggestion, please contact Andy Austen on 702448.

Can you help?

We are transcribing audio cassettes and would like to borrow a cassette player, ideally a device with a socket for remote control via a foot pedal or external switch. If you can help, please contact Margaret Austen on 702448.

Tuesday 17th January

At our first meeting of 2012, Stuart Gillis, Head of Transformation for Derby City Museums, will speak on 'Transforming Derby City Museums - Living up to a world-class legacy.' 7.30 pm in Repton village hall. You are all welcome. Members £2, visitors £3, including tea and biscuits. p.s.

We have 35 volumes of the 9th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, often called 'the Scholar's Edition', dated 1880. It comes complete with the supplementary volumes in addition to the alphabetical ones. We have no use for them and would like to offer them to anyone who wants them. They have all their covers, though a few need re-attaching. To arrange a viewing, contact Andy Austen on 702448.

---

Repton Village Society

The 2011 programme was rounded off by a members' evening. The Tony Hancock 'Blood Donor' episode and a Buster Keaton film, 'The Goat', plus quiz, good food and drink were the main features enjoyed by some 49 members in the well decorated hall.

Members are reminded that the annual subscriptions are now due. They remain unchanged at £3 for a single member and £6 for a household.

Thursday 5th January

Rod Pearson will speak on 'World Heritage in Action - from Derbyshire to the Pyramids.'

---

Village Games

If you would like to get fit and active in the New Year, we have lots of activities that are social, fun, will help get you fit and won't burn a hole in your pocket.

If you want to start slowly, try Tai Chi. Research shows that Tai Chi can help with many health-related conditions, and while these sessions are mainly aimed at the over 40s, they are open to anyone. There are sessions in Repton (Tuesdays, 1 - 2 pm at the Den) and Barrow upon Trent (Mondays, 2 - 3 pm at the village hall). Both cost £3.

Table tennis on Tuesday evenings in The Den, Mitre Drive, is open to all ages from 8 up. At just £1.50 per person, it's fun for the family, and a great social way to get active, whether you are a beginner or improver.

Repton Runners are now well established. They meet on Wednesday evenings at 7 pm, catering for everyone from beginners to the more experienced who enjoy a bit of a challenge.

For the young people, Willington Action Group meets on Wednesday evenings from 6.30 - 8 pm, providing sports and activities for 8 - 14 year olds. Cake making, pottery and hockey have all been on the agenda recently. Sessions cost £1 per person.

For the fastest-growing, dance-based fitness craze, you'll have to travel a bit further: Barrow upon Trent village hall hosts Zumba on Fridays from 7 - 8 pm. People of all ages love its infectious music and easy-to-follow dance moves. Perfect for the family! £3 per person

Back to Netball provides a gentle introduction to the sport for players over 16, with the emphasis on learning new skills and having fun. It is coach-led and covers basic skill development and court play. Sessions start on Thursday 19th January, 7 - 8 pm at Sinfin Community School. £3 per session. You can play every week or every now and then.

Village Games is always looking for more sports and activities, so if you have an idea or would like to get involved, do get in touch. We are here to help make your ideas a success.

For more information contact Toni on 07909 442996

---

Repton Parish Council Jottings

• 2012 / 2013 Parish Precept: The Parish Council is pleased that we have been able to maintain the precept at £14,400 for the third consecutive year. The precept is Repton Parish Council's share of the council tax, and currently amounts to £13.56 per annum for a band D home. Careful budget monitoring has been exercised, whilst maintaining current levels of provision, for example the summer holiday activities for local young people. However, increasing financial demands mean that it may not be possible to avoid an increase in future years.


• Gritting Routes: Derbyshire County Council has published its plans to keep the county's roads open this winter. Roads have been split into primary, secondary and tertiary routes, each receiving different levels of service, with additional routes being added this year. All major roads will be treated day and night, and will be pre-treated before bad weather hits. Full details can be found at www.derbyshire.gov.uk.


• Derbyshire Fire Service Consultation: After a reduction in funding, Derbyshire Fire Service is now consulting local communities about its Service Plan for 2012 - 2015. They wish to hear your opinion on whether the priorities set are in line with local expectations. If you would like to take part and make your views known, please follow the link on their website, www.derbysfire.gov.uk.

Next meeting: Monday 9th January at 7.30 pm in The Community Room, Fisher Close, Repton.

---

Milton & Foremark Village Matters

Milton W.I.

In December, several Milton members attended the Mercia W.I. Group carol service at Bretby Church. The service celebrated the anniversary of the King James Bible, and was followed by a welcome cup of coffee and mince pies.

At our Christmas meeting, the committee served members with a hot meal. Then we exchanged bran tub prizes and Christmas cards before we all joined together for a festive sing-song.

Next Meeting: Wednesday 18th January at 7.30 pm in Milton village hall. Karen Eaton will talk about her experiences and charity work in India.

---

Newton Solney Village Matters

Newton Solney Tuesday Club

Tuesday 3rd January, 2.30 pm

The business meeting will be followed by a social afternoon including Card Bingo.

Tuesday 17th January: Visit to Dobbies at Chesterfield

We will leave the Unicorn in Newton at 9.30 and return between 3.30 and 4 pm; as this is our first visit, we have allowed a little extra time. There will be the other usual pick up points at Dalebrook, Repton and Willington; please indicate which, when you book. If you would like to join us, please contact Jane Bagshaw on 01283 564520.

---

Newton Solney W.I.

Newton Solney W.I. celebrated its 80th Birthday in style at the Newton Park Hotel, and member Dorothy Rosser was presented with a basket of flowers to mark 70 years of W.I. membership.

In early December, a group of us visited Shugborough Hall for a most enjoyable candle-lit Victorian evening. Then, a group of our members joined in the Group carol service hosted by Bretby W.I. at Bretby Church, where our President, Hazel Ward, gave one of the readings.

Our December meeting saw us entertained by a group of fellow members with a selection of seasonal readings, songs, sketches, and an alternative pantomime. We finished with carol singing and a bring and share supper. It was a most enjoyable evening.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 10th January: A talk on 'Women in Intelligence'. Whist Drive: Tuesday 31 January. Both are at 7.30 pm in the village hall. As always, new members are most welcome.

---

Newton Solney Parish Council News

Diamond Jubilee Meeting: The Parish Council has organised a meeting on Friday 13th January at 6.45 pm to help co-ordinate various village bodies who are interested in contributing to the forthcoming Jubilee. We would also like to invite to the meeting any individual who is interested in getting involved.

Village Plan: The Parish Council is revising the Newton Solney Village Plan, which was last updated in 2008. A copy can be found on the village website. The plan is to determine parishioners' views on the future of the village. If you have any comments you would like to put forward, please contact Ron Parker, the Clerk, on 701141.

Bonfire Night: A big thank you to everyone involved in making the evening a success, especially to Jeremy Winter and his committee, Roger Kerry for his mulled wine, and the W.I. for providing refreshments. After costs, £147.69 was raised.

Next Meeting: Friday 13th January at 7.30 pm in the village hall. All are welcome.

---

Gardening Notes

A happy and fruitful New Year's gardening is my wish for all of you in 2012. And may we have some normal weather for a change, though nowadays the abnormal seems to be the norm! But before we can get very far, we must first plan the vegetable plot for the year and order the vegetable and flower seeds, onion sets, potatoes, summer bulbs and plants that will be needed.

Sow lettuce and summer brassicas on a warm windowsill for later transfer to the greenhouse, and if the weather gives you any encouragement, sow short rows of carrots, spinach and spring onions outside under cloches.

Broad beans and early peas can be started in pots or in boxes in the greenhouse, ready to go out in late March to crop in June. You might also try early potatoes in pots: half fill a 15 litre pot with compost and push a seed potato in; fill the pot with more compost as the plant grows, and you should have early potatoes in May.

Begin to force rhubarb, and use a net to protect cabbages and sprouts from the pigeons.

To encourage new shoots, pinch out the tips of autumn sown sweet pea plants when they are about 5cm tall. Cut off old hellebore foliage to reveal the emerging flowers and to clear away diseased leaves.

Prune wisteria, reducing last year's new shoots to two or three buds. Grapes too need pruning before the sap starts to rise. Check grease bands on fruit trees, and replace where necessary. There is still time to give them a plant oil based winter wash to clear them of hibernating aphids and other pests. Apple and pear trees will benefit from feeding with Growmore - about two ounces per square yard.

Spray peaches and nectarines with a copper based fungicide or dithane to prevent peach leaf curl, which, once established, will gradually weaken the tree. The disease is caused by a fungus, carried by the wind or rain, which lodges in cracks in the bark and on bud scales. To protect them, shelter fan-trained trees with a sheet of polythene from mid-winter to late spring. During this period, spray several times with copper fungicide, but stop before flower buds start to open. Brush the snow off evergreens to reduce the load on branches, and also from greenhouses and overhead nets on fruit cages.

I have only once had a molehill on my lawn, probably because it is so stony. But this is the season when moles breed, and they are more active. If molehills do appear on the lawn, remove the soil, flatten the site, and, if necessary, reseed in spring.

It is proving expensive again to keep the bird feeders full. We have flocks of tits - blue, great, coal and occasionally long-tailed - as well as many goldfinches, frequent greenfinches and nuthatch, dunnocks, chaffinch and occasional great spotted woodpeckers. The robin, normally a ground feeder, has also learnt to use the feeders. Fatballs are very popular and good for the birds at this time of year.