November 2013 - Contents Remembrance 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 Christmas Mini-Market, Saturday 9th November Shell, for children and young people aged 7 and over Derby Association of United Reformed Churches: Advent Carol Service, Sunday 1st December Dates for your diary Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Marriages Julian Charles Sample and Zoe Marie Plowman Funerals and Burial of Ashes Raymond Henry Dunt The Memorial Book Repton Benefice Service of Commemoration, Sunday 3rd November Services of Remembrance, Sunday 10th November Harvest St Wystan's News Services and Groups in November Advent Candlelight Service' Sunday 2nd December St Mary's News Harvest at St Mary's Local Diary Event Details Karen’s Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 2nd November Children's Nearly New Sale, Saturday 9th November Christmas Mini-Market, Saturday 9th November Repton Village and School Sale of Work and Fun Day, Saturday 9th November Repton School Concerts Society: Opera Café, Wednesday 13th November Christmas Craft & Gift Fair, Thursday 14th November Repton Quiz Night, Saturday 16th November Live & Local: Jez Lowe and The Bad Pennies, Saturday 16th November The Repton School Play: Major Barbara, 20th - 23rd November Milton Lunch Club, Thursday 21st November Christmas Bazaar, Saturday 23rd November Repton Pre-school Christmas Fayre, Saturday 23rd November Messy Church, Sunday 24th November Concert of Light Classics, Sunday 24th November Concert with Soup & Sweet, Friday 29th November Christmas Charity Market, Saturday 30th November Newton Solney Christmas Market, Sunday 1st December MusSoc: Verdi Requiem, Sunday 1st December The Gatecrashers, Friday 6th December St Mary's Christmas Tree Festival, Friday 6th - Monday 9th December Christmas Music with Ocho, Tuesday 17th December Environment Matters Freecycle You and your Pet Fleas and Mites Neighbourhood Watch Gas Safety Burglary South Derbyshire Stamp & Deliver ~ Now for the second million! Willington Surgery Our New Surgery Seasonal Flu Vaccination Important Changes to your Medical Records! Repton Village and History Repton Rags A Fun Night Out, Saturday 16th November Major Barbara, Wednesday 20th - Saturday 23rd November Soup and Sweet at St Wystan's Church, Friday 29th November Repton Christmas Tree Festival, Friday 6th - Sunday 8th December Great British Buildings, Thursday 28th November Repton Village History Group Does The Square exist? ~ Repton Village History Group New Techniques on Old Bones ~ Viking Repton Another great result! Repton W.I. The Parish Magazine Repton Beavers Repton Cubs Repton Scouts Repton Pre-school Aliens at St Wystan's School and Nursery Repton Road Club Repton Village Society Please DON'T leave your Waste at the Village Hall Repton Parish Council Jottings Milton & Foremark Village Matters Milton Village Hall Milton W.I. Newton Solney Village Matters Newton Solney Christmas Tree Festival, 6th - 9th December Newton Solney C of E Infant School Newton Solney Tuesday Club Newton Solney W.I. Newton Solney Parish Council News Gardening Notes

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Remembrance

1914: My grandad kept the village shop in Hazelwood, on the edge of the Peak District; his sister in-law, my Auntie Nellie, was training to be a teacher at the Ilkeston Pupil Teacher Training Centre. She fell in love, and was planning to marry, which would mean the end of her hopes to teach; at that time, married women could not teach in schools.

Then the First World War was declared. The man Nellie planned to marry, and my grandad, were both called up, given fairly rudimentary training, and sent to fight in the trenches in France. Nellie's fiancé never returned. She never took up teaching.

My Granddad was in France for the duration of the war, and then his regiment was chosen to 'clear up' the battlefields. Just pause for a moment and grasp what that euphemism actually meant. I'll spare you the details; sufficient to say that my Granddad told me that he would never get the smell of the putrefaction out of his nostrils.

Wilfred Owen, who, had he survived the carnage, would have been one of our greatest poets, put the thoughts of those 'cleaning up' better than anyone else could:

What passing bells for these who die as cattle?
Only the monstrous anger of the guns,
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers, nor bells,
Nor any voice of mourning, save the choirs,
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

On Remembrance Sunday you are invited to gather with us at St Wystan's Church, to remember all those who died, or suffered horrendous injuries, or lost loved ones, in the many wars that have scarred the face of the world.

Join with us to remember and give thanks for their sacrifice.

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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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Saturday 9th November: Christmas Mini-Market 10.30 am

Don't miss this chance to buy Christmas cards, birthday cards and wrapping paper at bargain prices, to play tombola, visit the pound stall, try to win a hamper and raffle prizes, and treat yourself to cakes and marmalade - you're feeling hungry already! And chat over coffee and a mince pie!

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Shell, for children and young people aged 7 and over

. . . meets on Mondays at 6.30 pm for an hour of fun and faith. This month's activities include a Fireworks Night, cooking and Christmas art. New members are always welcome - come and join us!

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Derby Association of United Reformed Churches: Advent Carol Service

This year's joint Carol Service will be held at Carlton Road United Reformed Church, Littleover, at 6 pm on Sunday 1st December. The preacher will be the Moderator of the East Midlands Province, Rev'd Peter Meek. You will be very welcome to join us there.

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For your diary

15th December at 11 am and 6.30 pm: Children's Nativity services
22nd December at 11am: Christingle Service; 6.30 pm: Candlelight Carols
25th December at 10.30 am: Christmas morning Family Service

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Marriages

Julian Charles Sample and Zoe Marie Plowman were married in St Mary's Church, Newton Solney, on Saturday 21st September.

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Funerals and Burial of Ashes

Raymond Henry Dunt, formerly of The Thatched Cottage, Repton, died on Saturday 30th March aged 85. A funeral service at St Mary's Priory Church, Monmouth, on 15th April was followed by cremation. Raymond taught biology at Repton from 1969 87, succeeding Harry Grenville as Head of Department. Raymond enjoyed parties, and he and Judy had a wide circle of Repton friends.

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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 use the website contact page to contact the vicar.

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Repton Benefice

Service of Commemoration, Sunday 3rd November at 4 pm

The start of November is the traditional time for remembrance, and our Service of Commemoration - this year at St Wystan's - is open to all. With well-known hymns we will give thanks for the lives of loved ones, and there will be an invitation to light a candle in their memory. We hope you will join with us, but if you cannot be there and would like their names to be read out, please sign up on the lists at the back of the churches, or contact Rev'd June Scott. After the service you will be most welcome to stay for a cup of tea and a chat.

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Services of Remembrance, Sunday 10th November

The Remembrance Day service at Repton is arranged jointly by the Royal British Legion, the United Reformed Church and St Wystan's Church.

The parade, including the Scout and Guide movements, will form up outside the Royal British Legion Club at 10.40 am and process to St Wystan's Church at 10.45.

The service will take place inside the church, not at the War Memorial. Please come straight into the church; the service will start at 10.50, so that the Act of Remembrance can take place at 11.

After the service, wreaths will be laid at the War Memorial by the President of the Repton Royal British Legion, the Chairman of Repton Parish Council, a representative of Derbyshire County Council, and children from Repton Primary School and St Wystan's School. After the ceremony, the parade will process back to the Legion Club.

Newton Solney

The Service of Remembrance at St Mary's Church begins at 10.30 am. A wreath will be laid at the Village Memorial in the church baptistry.

Foremark

The Roll of Honour will be read during the evening service, which starts at 6.30 pm.

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Harvest

A heart-felt 'thank you' to everyone for your kind harvest gifts. All the churches in the benefice chose to support the work of the Padley Centre with the most vulnerable; we were also able to distribute flowers and goods to many in our communities as a token that we are thinking of them, and, further afield, we have supported this year's Bishop's Harvest Appeal to build a clinic, school and church for families who live in extreme poverty in the slums of Chiclayo in the Diocese of Peru.

In Repton, a colourful Harvest Thanksgiving was followed by a welcome return of Repton Primary school who also held their service in church.

Foremark's evening Thanksgiving service saw another full church with worshippers across the Benefice joined by Repton Preparatory School choir, pupils, staff and parents.

For Harvest at St Mary's, see below.

Well done and thank you to everyone who worked so hard to decorate all our churches, to provide delicious Harvest lunches, and to distribute the gifts.

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St Wystan's News

Services and Groups in November

Prayer for Christian Healing is on Wednesday 27th at 7.30 pm. Everyone is welcome whether for prayer and the laying on of hands or just to be part of a special service.

Intercessory Prayer for Healing meets at 3 Richmond Court at 7.30 pm on Monday 4th November.

Bible Study Group: The Word of Life group has been joined by people who studied the Journey in Faith last year to form a Bible Study group, studying Acts. The group is too large to take any new members at the moment, but if there is sufficient interest we could start a second group. If you are interested, please contact Stephen Longden on 703259. The group will meet at 7.30 pm on Thursdays 14th and 28th November at 28 The Pastures.

A short Service of Prayer for Healing in St Catherine's Chapel in the north aisle follows Parish Communion on the 24th. Everyone is welcome.

Advent Candlelight Service' Sunday 2nd December at 6 pm

This is a service of candlelight and soft illuminations, a lovely way to celebrate the start of the Advent season. It will include well-known Advent carols and hymns sung by the congregation, together with Advent motets and anthems sung by the Wystan Singers. Readings for Advent anticipate the coming of Christ and the Christmas story. However, do note the early start, which will allow you to go on afterwards to the MusSoc concert in Pears School.

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St Mary's News

Harvest at St Mary's

The first church in the benefice to celebrate this year's harvest, St Mary's was festively decorated with the gifts from infant school, pre-school and Sunday congregations. These were speedily passed on, some to the housebound in the community but most to recipients in Derby, where volunteers at the Padley Centre prepared the fresh produce for freezing, ready to supplement the coming winter meals, and, at the City Mission, food parcels and toiletries are packed for needy families.

Thank you to the generous donors and all who helped to sort and distribute.

Sincere thanks also to all who all those who helped prepare St Mary's Harvest Lunch, those who donated raffle prizes and desserts, and all who supported it, which made it such a successful occasion.

Congratulations to John Appleby of Repton, who was the winner of the Summer Football Quiz. Well done, John!

Karen's Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 6th November 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!

Children's Nearly New Sale Saturday 9th November, 10 am - 12 noon at Repton Village Hall Including Children's Clothes, Toys, Books Nursery Equipment and Maternity Wear Entrance 50p, children free. Refreshments on sale. For further details please call: 07982 781936. Hosted by Repton Primary School PTA to raise funds for the school

Christmas Mini-Market Saturday 9th November, 10.30 am - noon at the URC Coffee and Mince Pies Christmas and Birthday cards, Calendars and Wrapping Paper Pound Stall, Raffle, Tombola and Children's Games All proceeds to the United Reformed Church

Repton Village and School Sale of Work and Fun Day Saturday 9th November from 2.15 pm in the grounds and halls of Repton School A large number of Stalls including Cakes, Gifts and Crafts, Bottles, Cards, Toys, Jewellery, Books and Tombola Fun items for Children of all Ages Gladiators, Bungee Run, Bouncy Castles, Putting, Face Painting, Hair Spray Paint Balling, Coconut Shy, Lucky Dip, Apple Bobbing and Ducking Stall Refreshments Teas, Cakes, Pancakes, Candy Floss, Cookies, Hot Dogs Toffee Apples, BBQ and Soft Drinks A Large Number of Excellent Prizes to be Won

Repton School Concerts Society Opera Café Wednesday 13th November at 7.45 pm Sit back and enjoy many of the most famous operatic arias and ensembles. Come in the usual way or reserve a table for up to 10 people. Enjoy a glass of wine whilst you are serenaded. Tickets for this concert are £13.50 and £10.50 (concessions). Tickets for the whole season of 10 concerts cost £70. For further information or tickets contact Sue Parker 56 Askew Grove, Repton, DE65 6GR. 01283 702550.

Christmas Craft & Gift Fair Thursday 14th November, 7 - 10 pm at the Newton Park Hotel Please join us for a fabulous evening of Christmas Shopping. We have a wonderful collection of unique stalls for you to browse. Enjoy a drink with friends at the beautiful Newton Park Hotel. Admission £2 ~ in aid of Rainbows Children's Hospice

Repton Quiz Night Repton Village Hall Saturday 16th November, 7.15 for 7.30 start – prompt! We play in teams of four, but if you haven't got a team, get in touch anyway and we can help. Contact Carol Lloyd, 702410, or Jan Gillham, 703340. Join us for a fun evening         ~          £3 per person Finger food included, but bring your own drinks and glasses

Live & Local Jez Lowe and The Bad Pennies Milton Village Hall, Saturday 16th November at 7.30 pm With more than a dozen albums and countless live performances, Jez Lowe has built a reputation as a writer and performer of witty, comic folk songs as well as lyrical ballads. Originally from Easington Colliery, many of his own songs tell of the rise and fall of the colliery towns and villages, and the characters and community spirit that kept the wheels turning. Former BBC Folk Singer of the Year; winner of two Sony Radio Academy Awards These Coal Town Days will be an entertaining night, with stunning musicianship as this four piece band takes you through the best of Jez's coal-songs new and old. Tickets £10 from Dawn 01283 703075

The Repton School Play Major Barbara Wednesday 20th - Saturday 23rd November at 7.30 pm in the 400 Hall Theatre This classic black comedy from George Bernard Shaw, one of the most popular and witty playwrights of early last century, presents a battle of wills between the Salvation Army's young and idealistic Major Barbara and her father, a weapons manufacturer and one of the world's richest men. Tickets (free) from theatres@repton.org.uk or 01283 559343

Milton Lunch Club Thursday 21st November at 12.30 pm in Milton village hall £5 per person includes a raffle ticket to win a food hamper. To book a place, contact Lynn on 01283 704540 or Sue on 01283 701978

Christmas Bazaar Saturday 23rd November, 10 am - noon Milton Village Hall Gift and Cake Stalls - Raffle - Tombola Entry £2 including coffee and mince pie Proceeds in aid of the roof fund for St Saviour's Church, Foremark

Repton Pre-school Christmas Fayre Saturday 23rd November, 1 - 4 pm in Repton Village Hall Come and see Santa Claus in his Grotto Craft Stalls, Face Painting, Homemade Mince Pies and Cakes, Raffle, Wine Tombola, Kids Tombola, Teddy Bear Raffle, Christmas Gift Ideas, Bric a Brac, Chocolates, Books, Jewellery and more . . . Admission 50p, Children Free

Messy Church Fun activities, craft and games,celebration and Sunday tea for children and adults, anyone, any age St Wystan's Church, Sunday 24th November, 4 to 5.30 pm To find out more, contact Ruth Attwood on 702804 or . Everyone is welcome!

Concert of Light Classics Sunday 24th November at 7 pm The VoiceBox, Foreman Street, Derby, DE1 1JQ Neil and Jane Millensted and friends perform music by Telemann, Schubert, Gershwin, Moszkowski and others for strings, flute, guitar, piano and voice. Tickets £8 (including refreshments at the interval), children free, from Neil and Jane Millensted, 703374, or Jo Collinson, 0115 9421985 All proceeds to The Ear Foundation, Majorie Sherman House, Nottingham NG7 2FB

St Wystan's Church Repton Concert with Soup & Sweet A concert by pupils from Foremarke School followed by a soup and a sweet lunch Friday 29th November at 12 noon Produce stall : Cakes : Books Tickets £5 from Carol Lloyd, 702410, and Jan Roberts, 702159 This is always a lovely event, and all are welcome

Repton Churches Together Christmas Charity Market Saturday 30th November, 2 - 4 pm, in Repton Village Hall Gifts, Cards, Cakes, Refreshments Music by Repton Primary, St Wystan's and Foremarke Schools Tradecraft - Tearfund - Kaoma Orphanage project in Zambia Amnesty International - Rainbows - Russia ChildAid This year in aid of The Padley Centre

Newton Solney Christmas Market Sunday 1st December, 12 - 4 pm on Newton Solney Recreation Field Christmas craft gifts ~ Children's Craft Stall ~ Cakes ~ Cards ~ Cheeses Hog Roast ~ Mulled Wine ~ Raffle and much more Santa will be there too, and Burton Concert Band will play from 2 pm.

Repton School Music Society directed by John Bowley Verdi ~ Requiem Sunday 1st December at 7.45 pm in Pears School, Repton School Elizabeth Meister, soprano             Madeleine Shaw, alto David Butt Philip, tenor             James Oldfield, bass Tickets £13, programmes £2, from Repton School Lodge, just inside the Arch, or Morag Hill on 01283 702799

St Mary's Christmas Tree Festival The Gatecrashers Friday 6th December at 7.30 pm in St Mary's Church A light-hearted evening of music Tickets from Hazel, 701244, £10 to include Bubbles and Bites In aid of The Rainbows Hospice and Church Funds

St Mary's Christmas Tree Festival of Carols and Christmas Songs Friday 6th - Monday 9th December, 11 am - 4 pm Stalls and Refreshments £1 entrance, children free In aid of The Rainbows Hospice and Church Funds

An Evening of Christmas Music with Ocho Tuesday 17th December at 8 pm in The Robert Beldam Hall Ocho is an exciting new vocal octet who celebrate the joy of singing. Join us for a wonderful evening of Christmas music from popular Christmas songs and carols to beautiful sacred Christmas music, truly something for everyone. Refreshments will be served during the interval. Tickets £7, concessions £5, to include refreshments, from Derek Gardner, 07767 806677, derek@ochosingers.com, ochosingers.com

Environment Matters

Freecycle

You only have to watch the Antiques Road Show to know that we throw away far too much that other people might find useful or even valuable. Freecycle aims to keep such stuff out of landfill.

Freecycle is one of our better imports. It was established in 2003 in Arizona and has since spread to over 85 countries. In the United Kingdom, there are now getting on for 600 Freecycle groups with nearly 3 million members, matching people who have things they don't want with people who can use them. As I write, members of the Burton group are offering over 60 items ranging from a tropical fish tank to a chest of drawers, from a trampoline enclosure to hair dye. The Derby group has over 1,000 items.

Everything offered must be free, legal and appropriate for all ages. If you want to offer something, you just email your local group. After that it is up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and to set up a collection time. Similarly, if you are looking for something, post a 'wanted' message and a group member may just have what you're looking for. Each local group is moderated by local volunteers.

Freecycle is a grassroots movement, entirely not-for-profit, of people who are giving and getting stuff for free in their own locality. By using what we already have, we reduce consumerism, manufacture fewer goods, and keep good stuff out of landfill; we get rid of junk that we no longer need, and we strengthen community ties.

Membership is free. To sign up, see uk.freecycle.org.

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You and your Pet

Fleas and Mites

As the central heating starts up, the house can provide a perfect breeding ground for parasites, particularly fleas. There are so many flea treatments that it is beyond the scope of this article to name them all. However they generally fall into three categories, 'spot on' applications, tablets and collars. Quite often the 'spot on' applications will treat other parasites as well, including lice, lungworms, mites, roundworms and ticks.

Fleas are one of the most common parasites. Approximately 1% of the flea life cycle is lived out on your pet, with the other 99% in the environment. In most cases, this is the carpet, sofa, pet bedding and - sometimes - your bed! Flea treatments aim to repel and kill the adult fleas that feed off them. In addition, environmental sprays kill the younger flea life stages, the eggs, larvae and pupae that are in the home. Pupae are the trickiest stage to deal with. They are covered in a little cocoon that can be difficult for drugs to penetrate. These younger members of the flea family then grow up to be yet more adult fleas, on the look-out for the nearest unsuspecting pet or owner.

If present, fleas can often be found on the skin around the base of the tail. As they feed they produce poo, which is digested blood. This looks like tiny black specks on your pet's skin that, when mixed with water, turn an orangey red. Most flea treatments are monthly applications that repel or kill adult fleas.

Other parasites may need consideration depending upon what your pet is up to when it is out and about:
• contact with slugs and snails brings a risk of lungworm;
• woodlands and countryside where foxes live can present a risk of sarcoptes mites;
• at certain times of year, heather and long grass are a favourite ground for ticks;
• for some individuals, demodex mites can be a problem.

Flea treatments like Advocate will treat fleas, lungworm, demodex mites, sarcoptes mites and roundworm. For dogs who love to swim, a monthly tablet to treat fleas can be very effective as 'spot on' applications can be washed off.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch.

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Neighbourhood Watch

Gas Safety

SDDC encourages us have gas appliances checked every year. Poorly serviced gas appliances cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.

To stay gas safe:
• Have your gas appliances checked every year;
• Check that your engineer is Gas Safe registered. You can find and check an engineer at GasSafeRegister.co.uk, or call 0800 408 5500;
• Check your engineer's Gas Safe Register ID card. Make sure he is qualified for the work you need doing;
• Check for warning signs such as lazy yellow or orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks on or around the appliance and too much condensation in the room;
• Learn to recognise the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness;
• Check you have an audible carbon monoxide alarm.

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Burglary

The past year has seen a 12% drop in house burglaries across Derbyshire, but dark nights increase the opportunities.
• Create the impression that someone is at home, by using timing switches;
• Draw your curtains to stop people from seeing inside your property;
• Do not leave valuables on display;
• Store small, high value items and banking documents in a secure, discreet place;
• Lock windows and doors even when you are at home;
• If possible have a burglar alarm fitted;
• Mark valuable property with a UV pen;
• Register valuable property using an asset register such as www.immobilise.com.

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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South Derbyshire

Stamp & Deliver ~ Now for the second million!

For 31 years, Stamp & Deliver has been delivering your Christmas mail, and early last December we sold the stamps that took the total raised for nominated charities and our Scout and Guide Groups to over £1million. This year's chosen charities are the Children's Air Ambulance and Cardiac Risk in the Young.

The service, run by Derby & District Scouts, will operate between Mondays 2nd and 16th December. Stamps cost 25p, and although this represents a rise on last year, it is still only half the price of the Royal Mail! By law, we can only deliver greetings cards - definitely no cash enclosures.

Details of where to buy stamps and post your cards will be in next month's Parish Magazine. Meanwhile, look out for the yellow leaflet through your letter box. In general the delivery area will include all of Derby, and 85 of its suburbs and surrounding villages, extending to Breaston in the east, Belper to the north, Hatton and Hilton to the west and Ticknall and Melbourne to the south. Cards can't be delivered or forwarded to other areas.

One very welcome change this year - self-adhesive stamps; no more licking!

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Willington Surgery

Our New Surgery

Our new surgery on Kingfisher Lane opens on Monday 4th November at 8 am. We will close 4 Repton Road, after the afternoon clinic on Friday 1st November. This last clinic is for emergency appointments only; there are no pre-bookable appointments.

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Seasonal Flu Vaccination

Flu injections are still available for those in eligible groups. If you are aged 65 and over, a carer or poultry worker, or you suffer from a chronic condition such as chronic respiratory disease, including asthma, chronic heart disease, chronic renal failure, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, you are strongly recommended to have an annual flu injection. Please ring 703318 for an appointment.

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Important Changes to your Medical Records!

GP practices nationwide will soon be required to supply your medical information, including your NHS number, date of birth, postcode and gender, but not your name, on a continuous basis, to the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).

This programme is called care.data, and the information will be used for purposes other than your direct medical care. Once the data has been extracted, the GP practice can no longer control or protect how that information is used, shared, or who has access to it.

You can opt out. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, GP practices have no choice but to allow the HSCIC to extract this information. However, individual patients and their families can instruct their practice to prohibit the transfer of their data; you have the right to opt-out.

Even if you have already opted out of the NHS Database (The Summary Care Record), you will still need to opt out to prevent care.data uploads; this is quite separate.

For more information about care.data and how to opt out, please read the factsheet available from reception, or downloadable from willingtonsurgery.co.uk

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Repton Village & History

Repton Rags Boys & girls aged 7 to 14 Fun and games, indoors and out, and plenty of time to chat with your friends Every Friday from 6.30 to 8 pm at the Den      £1 a head Come along and have fun!       More info from Julie Groom, 0797 4998852

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A Fun Night Out, Saturday 16th November
7.30 pm prompt, Repton Village Hall

Do come and join in our annual village quiz; it costs just £3 per person. We play in teams of four, but if you haven't got a team, get in touch anyway and we can help. Between the rounds there will be a break for light refreshments and stand-up bingo. It is always an evening of great fun and friendly rivalry, with a wide range of questions. Don't forget to bring your own drink and glasses. Contact Carol Lloyd, 702410, or Jan Gillham, 703340.

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Major Barbara
Wednesday 20th - Saturday 23rd November, 7.30 pm

A classic black comedy from one of the most popular and witty playwrights of early last century, George Bernard Shaw's 'Major Barbara' presents a battle of wills between the Salvation Army's young and idealistic Major Barbara and her father Andrew Undershaft, a weapons manufacturer and one of the world's richest men. Estranged from the family when Barbara was only a baby, Andrew is invited back into the Undershaft family as her marriage approaches; they get much more than they bargained for!

Performed with great joy and energy by a talented young cast, this will be an enjoyable night of comedy drama in Repton School's splendid 400 Hall theatre.

For (free) tickets, ring 01283 559343.

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Soup and Sweet at St Wystan's Church
Friday 29th November at noon

This is your chance to enjoy another concert by pupils of Foremarke Hall School. The music is always excellent, with soloists, instrumental groups and choral singing, and there is a lunch of home-made soup and a sweet to follow. For tickets at £5 contact Carol Lloyd, 702410, or Jan Roberts, 702159.

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Repton Christmas Tree Festival
Friday 6th - Sunday 8th December, St Wystan's Church

Lots of organisations and groups in the village will be decorating trees, but it would be nice if your family could be part of the festival as well. The theme this year is 'Travel and Journeys', which gives plenty of scope for decorations with a difference. We are aiming to raise funds for The Children's Society and St Wystan's Church.

If you would like to take part and would like more information, please contact Audrey Morris on 703453 before the middle of November. It would be lovely if you could join us.

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Great British Buildings ~ Thursday 28th November, 6 - 7.30 pm

Join us for a talk by architect Bryan Avery in Repton School's 400 Hall Theatre - the East Midlands Building of the year. Tickets cost £6 and include a glass of wine or soft drink before the talk starts at 6.30, as well as entry into a prize draw for a backstage tour afterwards. Advanced booking is essential. Contact RIBA East Midlands on 01522 837480. Great British Buildings is a national programme of talks giving you the chance to explore the best of modern British architecture's award-winning buildings with the architect who created them.

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Repton Village History Group

At our October meeting, Dr. Wendy Freer spoke about the history of transport for the Leicester and South Derbyshire coalfield.

Originally, ten pack horses were needed to carry just one ton and highly circuitous routes avoided difficult terrain, with the result that distribution was limited to local areas. Wendy showed remaining traces of the routes - roads like Coal Lane - and some of the surviving bridges. Transport difficulties seriously limited the growth of the industry, but things improved when turnpikes were introduced and coal carts became a practical proposition. The situation improved further with canals. Several branches were proposed for the Ashby canal; it was originally intended to come right through to Ticknall, but didn't make it beyond Moira where a restored stretch will eventually be reconnected to the stretch that is still navigable.

Needless to say, unexpected misfortune, politics, landowners' hesitation, financial difficulties and commercial shenanigans limited the success of some ventures. A prime example is the Charnwood Forest canal which suffered from all of these. Trackways became an important adjunct to the canals to reach areas the canals didn't and to avoid the construction of locks which would have consumed excessive amounts of water, as at Willesley. The much larger Nottingham Coalfield benefited from the Erewash canal and River Soar, and in response to this, the Leicester and Swannington railway was built to serve the Leicestershire and South Derbyshire coalfield. Only the third line to be built anywhere in the world, it involved the construction of the mile long Glenfield Tunnel, probably only the second tunnel ever built. Still open on Heritage Days, this tunnel had an inauspicious official opening when the high funnel of the engine scraped the roof showering the dignitaries with soot and dust.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 19th November when Patsie Jarman will say: 'They Brewed a Good Jug of Ale'. Repton village hall at 7.30 pm - members £2, visitors £3, tea, coffee and biscuits included. For further information, contact Andy Austen on 702448.

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Does The Square exist? ~ Repton Village History Group

Following our appeal for information in September, a number of people have remembered or found old postcards and letters which were addressed - and delivered - to The Square. Sometimes they gave a Main Street house number followed by 'The Square, Main Street, Repton'. In those days, postmen were local and probably only needed the householder's name to know where to deliver.

In the 1935 Derby County Borough Directory, five people gave The Square as the place where they lived or worked, so, even if it wasn't an official address, it was real in people's minds.

If we put a sign for 'The Square' on concrete posts beside the telephone box, and move the High Street sign from beside the post box to the dentist's wall, replacing it with a sign saying 'The Square', The Square could have its own signs. However, please discuss this with your Parish Councillor and not with the History Group!

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New Techniques on Old Bones ~ Viking Repton

In September, Catrine Jarman from Bristol University, spoke to Derbys Archaeological Society about her research into human remains uncovered during the Biddles' excavations at Repton. Working on chemical analysis of teeth and bones, which can indicate both the geographical origin and the diet of the people concerned, she is investigating which were from the Viking Army, and which were local Anglo-Saxons. Catrine's research is still at an early stage with no definite conclusions so far, but it does show the importance of Repton as an important source of evidence about the Viking period. More can be found on Catrine's blog at untanglingthepast.net/p/repton.html.

N.B. Catrine dates 'the dig' to 1974 - 93. Strictly speaking it should be 1974 - 88 and 1993. In 1993 the Biddles came back for a one-off investigation around the east end of the crypt; it was one of those compulsory archaeological investigations that we had to pay for as part of the crypt conservation.

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Another great result!

A big 'thank you' to everyone who helped in any way to make my coffee morning a great success. It raised £1,000 for MacMillan Cancer Relief. And a very special 'thank you' to Mary, Janet, Gwen, Tony, Sheena, Jude, Sadie, Wendy, Jan, Lil, Rachel, Lesley and Ralph - thank you to you all!

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Repton W.I.

At our annual meeting in October, the committee's report on the past year was presented along with the annual accounts. A new committee was elected with Barbara and Hilary leaving and Lynne joining. Jan was re-elected President, and the retiring committee was thanked by Audrey.

Frances reported on the county annual Council meeting held at the Assembly Rooms in Derby when Prue Leith was the main speaker, and Jan reported on the Mercia Group meeting held the previous evening. Members and partners were to visit JCB, and names were taken for the spring Council meeting in Chesterfield next March.

After refreshments, we started on decorations for the W.I. Christmas tree for the Christmas Tree Festival, to be finished next month on Tuesday 12th November, when Val Williams will talk about Burton upon Trent in the 1950s. 7.15 pm in the village hall; visitors are welcome.

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The Parish Magazine

The magazine fund currently has a healthy balance, so this year we didn't send out donation envelopes with the October magazine as we have in the past. However, if you would like to show your appreciation by making a contribution, please send it to the Treasurer at 37 High St, Repton.

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Repton Beavers

During September we learnt about life in America, used a map to find out more about our local area, did some simple acting and found out a wealth of information about magnets. This was all underpinned by lots of games and fun. In the next few weeks we plan to celebrate Bonfire Night, learn about the meaning of Remembrance Sunday and complete a number of circuits in our 'keep-fit' night. We are also encouraging the Beavers themselves to share ideas for new games and ways to have fun. Further into the term, we are planning visits to the Repton Science Priory and Pets at Home.

If you have a child who is interested in becoming a Beaver or, just as importantly, know someone who might be interested in becoming a leader and want more information, contact Andy Read, 07790 909138. Available places fill quickly, so please ring early to avoid disappointment.

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Repton Cubs

Cubs have worked hard on their map reading around Repton and to gain their personal safety badge, even using fire extinguishers for real - a big thanks to Nick Heap for sorting that for us. The Cubs also made great chair chariots - with some knots along the way - and we visited the Buddhist centre at Etwall; meditation brought the single longest moment that the cubs have ever been quiet - we all learned.something new!

We are on the lookout for people prepared to become leaders so if you would like to help or if your child would like to join Cubs or you'd like more information, contact Jez Brooks on 07799 882338.

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Repton Scouts

If you wandered up to the Den on a Wednesday evening in October you might have seen a car crash and several bodies lying around - nothing to be alarmed about though; the Scouts had it all under control. This was the culmination of a few weeks of first aid training. In November we will be investing the new Scouts who recently came up from Cubs; this will be another evening full of surprises. Other activities planned are making lanterns to decorate our tree for the Christmas Tree Festival and route planning for a night hike and sleepover at Melbourne Scout Hut.

If you are an adult interested in helping run Scouts, even if you cannot commit to every week, and want more information, please contact Mike Knowles, 07989 990119.

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Repton Pre-school

We were thrilled in June to hear from Ofsted that our provision is rated as good. The inspector provided positive feedback on the well-being of the children, the range and type of activities on offer, the partnership with parents and the enthusiasm of the staff. The full report is now available on Ofsted's website.

This term we have been creating colourful wall displays linked to Julia Donaldson's book, 'The Monkey Puzzle', and have begun to practise the children's writing skills.

There is currently some space for children aged two and upwards to participate in the sessions. If you think preschool is the right place to support your child's development please contact us, whether this is to start soon or in the near future. Call Karen, Repton Pre-school manager, on 07535 688823 to find out more.

As a charity we are reliant on donations and fundraising initiatives; please support our Christmas Fayre on Saturday 23rd November. See above for details.

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Aliens at St Wystan's School and Nursery

There were strange goings on last month when Mrs. Robinson, our kindergarten teacher, was abducted by aliens! The pupils wrote letters persuading them to send their teacher back and we were relieved to have her back safe and well. And the following day, as part of Book Week, pupils and teachers dressed up as spacemen and aliens. The children also enjoyed writing workshops with the author, Ian Billings. A really fun way to learn!

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Repton Road Club

Repton's very own cycling club has just celebrated its first year of existence and goes into winter with Sunday morning outings still attracting new riders. Riders of all abilities are welcome to join; the group leaves The Cross every Sunday morning at 9 am for rides of approximately two hours' duration. You are welcome to just turn up and take part or, if you would like more information beforehand, contact Neil on 703363.

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Repton Village Society

The October meeting featured an excellent talk by Richard Stone on 'The Buildings of Burton'. In a wide ranging lecture to a larger audience than normal, Richard traced the expansion of the town from medieval times to the present day, and, covering industrial, domestic, religious and municipal buildings, he showed how the different building styles and sizes reflected the changes as the town grew in population, industry and confidence.

Thursday 7th November: 'Treasures of India'

Helen Willis is a local professional photographer. Her talk will cover the wildlife, people and architecture of India. She has also agreed to judge the annual photographic competition entries and comment on them after her talk over cheese, wine and soft drinks.

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Please DON'T leave your Waste at the Village Hall

The waste recycling units at Repton village hall car park will be removed on 1st November. There will still be units at the Burton Road car park in Repton, and also in Willington.

If you have too much to go in your green bin, SDDC website (search for 'south derbyshire green bins') has this advice and warning:
• Large cardboard boxes should be flattened and stacked alongside your green bin on collection day.
• Flatten all card and squash plastic bottles flat
• If your bin is still full, remove the inner caddy and leave it alongside the bin.
• If you need yet more space, use your current green box alongside your green bin.
• Even if you don't need it regularly, keep your green box to for busy times such as Christmas and public holidays.
• Shredded paper should be securely bagged or wrapped in newspaper. If it is left loose, the bins won't be emptied.
• If you put the wrong items in the green bin or caddy, they will be left unemptied.

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Repton Parish Council Jottings

Rev'd A.W. Fletcher: The granddaughter of Rev'd Alfred James Fletcher, vicar of Repton from 1932 to 1944, has kindly sent the Parish Council a testimonial presented to her grandfather on his retirement. The document is beautifully written and contains the names of many local residents at that time. It will be scanned by Repton Village History Group before being archived by St Wystan's Church.

Parish Noticeboard: The Perspex cover on the Parish noticeboard has seriously deteriorated due to the weather. We apologize if the notices are somewhat difficult to read. The Parish Council has now obtained quotes to replace the covering with a more weather resistant material; the work should be carried out in the next few weeks.

The Dales: Derbyshire County Council has advised us that the demolition of The Dales has been delayed by the presence of bats. Once the final review of the new facility has been completed and planning permission is in place, Natural England will give a licence to relocate them. No definite time scale has yet been advised.

Draft Local Plan Part 1: South Derbyshire District Council has now published Part 1of its Draft Local Plan, and is inviting comments from local residents. To accommodate additional growth, the land off Longlands, Repton, has been identified as a preferred housing site for 100 houses. The consultation documents can be found at south-derbys.gov.uk/LDF and in all local libraries. The closing date for your comments is the 22nd November.

Next meeting: Monday 11th November in The Community Room, Fisher Close, Repton, at 7.30 pm. All are welcome.

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Milton & Foremark Village Matters

Milton Village Hall

Milton Lunch Club meets in the village hall on the third Thursday of the month, an opportunity for residents of Milton and surrounding villages to enjoy a meal together in relaxed company. A hot meal will be followed by a pudding and tea or coffee. The cost of £5 includes a raffle ticket for a food hamper. To book a place, please contact Lynn on 704540 or Sue, 701978. If transport is a problem, we will try to help.

Harvest Supper: 41 people enjoyed a hot and cold buffet, with apple pie for dessert. They were asked to bring produce to help decorate the stage - and they did, from chillies to marrows and much, much more - the stage looked superb. Produce was then expertly auctioned off in aid of Foremarke church roof fund, raising £120. The evening also raised £250 for the village hall improvements.

Milton Art Exhibition: A first for Milton and a resounding success thanks to the efforts of Pauline and Brian Allen and the artists involved. Over 140 people from far and wide visited the exhibition raising £640 for the village hall. Thank you to everyone who helped or donated cakes. The main raffle prize, a picture donated by Pauline, was won by a local Milton resident.

To view or hire the hall, please contact Polly on 703436.

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Milton W.I.

At our AGM in October, Sue White was elected president and Roberta Higson continues in her role as secretary. To celebrate our 35th anniversary, members past and present were welcomed and a ploughman's supper was served by the committee. Founder member and first president, Linda Mathews, came all the way from her home in Cornwall to be at our celebration. Memorabilia, old minutes and certificates of show awards were enjoyed and remembered fondly.

Next meeting: Wednesday 20th November at 7.30 in Milton village hall. Our speaker, Dr. Catin Rutland, will talk about life at a new veterinary school.

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Newton Solney Village Matters

Christmas Tree Festival of Carols
St Mary's Church, 6th - 9th December, 11 am - 4 pm

This is very much a community venture, and we are looking for volunteers to kindly spare an hour or two to help man the door or the stalls or to serve refreshments. If you are able to do so, please contact Hazel on 701244 or sign the lists at the back of church.

The children from Newton Solney Infant School will be singing carols at 2.30 pm on Friday 6th December, and at 7.30 pm The Gatecrashers will entertain us with a light-hearted evening of music. Tickets at £10 include Bubbles and Bites, and are available from Hazel or on the door. Do join us.

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Newton Solney C of E Infant School

Community Collective Worship is at 9.15 am on the first Thursday of the month. Dates for the remainder of term are 7th November and 5th December. You are most welcome to join us in the school hall.

Our school Christmas Fair will take place on Saturday 30th November from 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm in the school grounds. Please come along and join us for our festive afternoon which will include games, stalls and a tombola. All are very welcome.

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Newton Solney Tuesday Club

Our trip to Tamworth in September was very successful; the coach was almost full, and people were able to choose whether to drop off in the town centre or at the Ventura Shopping Centre.

In October, John Birkett spoke on his work with REMAP, a group of retired engineers who design and produce, free of charge, items of equipment to help people with a wide range of disabilities in their daily lives. In lieu of a speaker's fee, the Tuesday Club made a donation to REMAP.

Tuesday 5th November at 2.30 pm

A business meeting followed by David Bradbury speaking on the 'Manchester Ship Canal'.

Tuesday 19th November: A trip to Trentham

We leave the Unicorn Inn at 9.30 am and return between 3 and 3.15 pm. £10.

For information on any of our activities, please contact our secretary, Jane, on 01283 564520.

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Newton Solney W.I.

Aided by an eclectic range of props, our October speaker, Ruth Evans, talked about her passion for shoes, explaining that well-known feeling of just having to buy a particular pair!

On 2nd November, the W.I. will again be providing excellent hot dogs at the village bonfire - not to be missed!

On Tuesday 12th November at 7.30 pm in the village hall, the main emphasis of the meeting will be the AGM, to review the year and elect a president and committee members. This will be followed by craft demonstrations and a social evening and refreshments. Flowers will be provided by Pam Haines.

For Mulberry Room lunches in November and December, contact Jean Burns on 702463. The whist drive will be on Tuesday 26th November at 7 pm in the village hall.

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Newton Solney Parish Council News

Bonfire Night: This year's village bonfire will take place on Saturday 2nd November. Please come down and support.

Half Term Holiday Fun: Mobile Climbing Wall, Tuesday 29th October, 2 - 4 pm on the Unicorn car park. This is a free session - just turn up and have a go!

Football on the Recreation Field: The Parish Council is investigating complaints from local residents about anti-social behaviour during a recent football match on the Recreation Field.

Next meeting: Friday 8th November 7.30 pm in the village hall. All are welcome.

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Gardening Notes

We usually experience the first severe frost about the middle of November and the leaves come tumbling down; they are a wonderful resource for the gardener. Making leaf mould is very simple and good results are guaranteed as long as you are patient. You need a container, anything from rubble sacks and bulk delivery bags to old crates. It needs to allow some airflow but contain the leaves in a compact pile; waterproof bags should have some holes made in them. Use only deciduous leaves, the wetter the better, and the process speeds up if they have been damaged by a leaf collector or lawn mower. Now comes the hard bit - just put the container out of the way and forget about it for a year, by which time it will probably be cooked in the middle but not yet at the edges. After two years all sign of leaves will be gone. This may seem a very long process, but once you have started the cycle it is very easy to create lovely, sweet smelling, weed-free organic matter every year. You can use it instead of garden compost as a mulch, a soil improver, on your vegetables, or anywhere in the garden.

It is important to keep paths and driveways free of leaves to prevent slips and accidents, and also to remove leaves from lawns, which will soon go yellow and could even die under a thick layer of leaves. However, they can happily be left under trees and shrubs and in herbaceous borders, where they will slowly create leaf mould; they may also provide some protection to overwintering plants.

November and December are a good time to plant tulips as they don't start growing until December. In recent years I have planted mainly species tulips like Clusiana, Little Beauty, Tarda, Saxatilis and Turkestanica; they bulk up like daffodils and generally improve with time. Many of the species tulips come from Turkey and other hot countries, and although they don't mind cold winters, they do like a good baking in summer so try them in a sunny position at the front of the border. Many of the ornamental tulips give a good display in the first year and then slowly deteriorate. Some will also revert; I have yellow tulips that started off as red doubles, and others that have become red but were once purple. So if you plant the large-flowered hybrids, you will get a wonderful display in the first year and maybe for longer, but just treat them as you would, say, wallflowers.

The wonderful summer and autumn weather this year has given us bumper crops of top fruit, tomatoes and vegetables, and all that despite the coldest spring since I have been in Repton; it is amazing how plants hold themselves back only to give so much later on.

Jobs for November

Make sure that all preparations for winter are complete, with tender plants protected or moved to a frost-free place.
Complete the pruning of soft-fruit bushes, and make a start on fruit trees.
Prune established wisteria; a hedge trimmer is useful.
Tall hybrid tea roses are best cut back now to avoid wind damage, but leave the main pruning till later.
Take root cuttings of perennials with thick fleshy roots such as oriental poppies, verbascum, acanthus and eryngiums.
Take hardwood cuttings; buddleja, cornus, roses, hypericum, cotoneaster, spiraea, weigelia, philadelphus, willow and jasminum officinale should all strike readily outside if you put cuttings in a v-shaped trench filled with sharp sand, or in pots of free-draining compost in the greenhouse. Cuttings will begin to root in April, but leave them till next autumn before transplanting.