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The Parish Magazine Repton, Foremark, Milton, Ingleby, Newton Solney
June 2014

Spirituality Repton, Foremark and Newton Solney Parish Churches Services at St Wystan's, Repton Services at St Saviour's, Foremark Services at St Mary's, Newton Solney Readers and Intercessors at St Wystan's Altar Flowers at St Wystan's Brasses at St Wystan's Altar Flowers at St Saviour's United Reformed Church Services at the United Reformed Church Coffee Morning, Saturday 14th June, 10.30 am SHELL for young people aged 7 and over The BIG Lunch, Sunday 1st June Cream teas, Saturday 21st June, 3 - 5 pm Summer barbecue, Saturday 12th July Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Baptisms Harry John Smethurst Marriages Jasmine Shepherd and Gerrard Collins Deborah Griffiths and Michael Doughty Funerals and Burial of Ashes Michael Shepherd Dudley Redvers Williams Dorothy May Massey Obituaries Dorothy May Massey Dudley Redvers Williams The Memorial Book Derby Diocese and the wider Church Sacrifice Remembered Repton Benefice Crosses of Poppies Easter 2014 St Wystan's News Services Groups Children and Communion, Parish Forum, Sunday 15th June Christian Aid, a special service St Saviour's News St Saviour's Roof Local Diary Event Details Messy Church on St Wystan's Day, Sunday 1st June Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 4th June Milton Open Gardens, Sunday 8th June Ocho ~ Eight Singers, One Voice, Saturday 14th June An Evening of Wine and Music, Friday 20th June Repton School Concert: Bella Tromba, Wednesday 18th June Milton Summer Fayre & Traditional Fête, Sunday 29th June The 2014 Repton Sunday Lunch, Sunday 29th June Newton Solney School Summer Fayre, Saturday 5th July Music for a Summer Night, Saturday 5th July Newton Solney Horticultural Show, 6th September Environment Matters Summer is a'coming in! Neighbourhood Watch Repton Village and History Repton Rags Repton School Speech Day and Leavers' Ball, Saturday 28th June Christmas Card Photo Competition ngs Open Garden, Sunday 8th June Repton Open Gardens, 20th - 22nd June The Village Hall is on its way! Repton Village Society Repton Village History Group How did the Vikings all fit in? A busy month for Scouts! Repton W.I. Repton Road Club Chancel Repair Liability Repton Parish Council Jottings Milton & Foremark Village Matters Milton Village Hall Milton W.I. Newton Solney Village Matters Newton Solney W.I. Newton Solney C of E Infant School Newton Solney Tuesday Club Gardening Notes

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Spirituality

"I love spirituality. It's religion I can't cope with." That's an idea which is frequently heard nowadays. I had a surprising idea about this when a friend rang to say "You must come over and have lunch". "We'd love to," said I. "Good. I'll go out and kill a chicken." Many people today might be put off by that response. Chicken is something that comes from the supermarket, washed, clean and tidily wrapped in shiny plastic. We are becoming a consumer society which likes as few reminders as possible of the blood, mud and mess which lie behind the things we eat.

Something similar is becoming true of our attitude to 'spirituality'. We want it wrapped in shiny plastic, detached as far as possible from the religious communities which gave it birth. The churches and religious communities, in which people have for centuries searched for awareness of the divine, are inevitably messy and sometimes unpleasant institutions. Their problem is simple. They are composed of people, and people are seldom pure and innocent.

Staying in the Augustinian convent in San Gimignano earlier this year, I lay in bed thinking about all the friars who had lived and slept there over the centuries. Monastic rules are full of provisions to prevent the bitter quarrels and abuses which are all too likely to pollute the life of any close community. And yet it was just such places which provided the soil in which the glories and insights and profound understandings of the spiritual life were able to develop.

The Christian tradition, like all the great religions of the world, has more than enough scandals in its history. People often say that religion has given rise to many wars. There's truth in that, though all too often religious banners have been taken over for use in conflicts which at root are simply tribal. This was clearly the case in the Northern Ireland troubles. In any event, the 20th century showed us that atheist dictators like Stalin, Mao Tse Tung and Hitler, not to mention others like Pol Pot in Cambodia and Bokassa in the Central African Republic, can leave the churches standing when it comes to cruelty and mass murder.

But back to spirituality. It has emerged in many forms which often seem to converge. Its roots are always in religious communities which have given rise to the search for relationship between the self and the divine. If you cut it off from those roots and simply want a product, plastic wrapped and ready to consume, you will soon find that it begins to shrivel and lose its quality. Churches have their problems. That's something on which all Christians will be happy to agree, but it is through such communities, through sharing in prayer and worship and discussion with other searchers, that we can begin to grow spiritually and discover the richness of the presence of a transcendent God.

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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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Coffee Morning, Saturday 14th June, 10.30 am

Summer is upon us, and we are once again selling strawberry plants to go with all the cream! Have coffee with us, chat with friends, have a go on the tombola, and treat yourselves to home-made marmalade and cakes.

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SHELL for young people aged 7 and over

. . . meets on Mondays during term-time from 6.30 to 7.30 pm to share in craft activities, games and fun, ending with a Christian message. New members are welcome.

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The BIG Lunch, Sunday 1st June

Yes, it's back! After the morning service we will be serving a delicious lunch - but make sure you let us know if you will be there!

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Cream teas, Saturday 21st June, 3 - 5 pm

As part of the Open Gardens weekend we will be selling traditional Cream Teas in the Schoolroom – a treat not to be missed!

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A reminder

The summer barbecue is on Saturday 12th July. Don't miss it!

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Baptisms

Harry John Smethurst, son of Andrew Smethurst and Anna-Marie Clements of Shaef Close, Hilton, was baptised on Sunday 27th April at St Wystan's Church.

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Marriages

Jasmine Shepherd and Gerrard Collins of 11 Grindley Way, Woodville, Swadlincote, were married at St Wystan's Church on Thursday 24th April.

Deborah Griffiths and Michael Doughty of 15 Westcroft Avenue, Littleover, were married at St Wystan's Church on Saturday 3rd May.

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Funerals and Burial of Ashes

Michael Shepherd, formerly of Monsom Lane, Repton, died on Monday 28th April aged 72. A service at St Wystan's Church on 24th May was followed by cremation at Bretby.

Dudley Redvers Williams of 6 St Mary's Close, Newton Solney, died on Saturday 19th April aged 74. A funeral service at St Mary's Church on 6th May was followed by cremation at Bretby.

Dorothy May Massey of Newton Lane, Newton Solney, died on Tuesday 22nd April aged 78. A funeral service at St Mary's Church on 7th May was followed by cremation at Bretby.

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Obituaries

Dorothy May Massey
20th May 1935 - 22nd April 2014

Born in Nantmell, the sixth of eight children, Dorothy spent a happy childhood in Wales, but as a teenager an accident was to change her life. She fell off a bike and sustained an injury which was stitched up by her doctor, but after 12 months she developed tuberculosis in that joint and was in hospital for 15 months. There she met two girls who had connections with Burton upon Trent, and through her friendship with them found a job in Burton, with the Howarth family in Bretby Lane.

One day, having attended a service at Bretby Church, Dorothy was returning to Bretby Lane, and as she climbed over a stile, she met Ray Massey. They married in1958 and moved to Newton Lane, where they raised their three children.

Like Ray, Dorothy was a keen rabbit breeder, an interest that developed as she supported him when he became secretary to the British Belgian Hare club, attending shows and exhibitions all over the country. This was not so easy without a car; even into the 1980s, Dorothy and her children cycled everywhere, sometimes carrying her prize rabbits on the back of her bike. However, with her Himalayan rabbits she had considerable success. Even when she was in hospital this year, her grandson took one of her rabbits to a show in the northeast of England.

For many years Dorothy delivered Newton Solney Parish Magazine, and she was a committee member of the Newton Solney Horticultural Society. Her children remember well their front room being taken over by Ray's prize-winning vegetables, just before the village shows.

Loyal, staunch and always willing to help, Dorothy had an indomitable spirit. She was very much a family person and will be much missed by them, as also by her many friends and acquaintances.

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Dudley Redvers Williams
6th March 1940 - 19th April 2014

When Dudley passed his 11+ to attend Cheltenham Grammar School, it rapidly became apparent that he was a natural at sport, particularly athletics and rugby. He played in the school teams, represented Gloucester Schools at rugby, and in later years followed in his father's footsteps by playing for Cheltenham.

On leaving school he trained as a PE Teacher at St Paul's College in Cheltenham, which had a particularly strong reputation for sport. Apart from acquiring the skill of drinking a glass of cider whilst performing a handstand, he represented the college at athletics, basketball and of course rugby, described by the local paper as a 'speedy wing forward'.

Dudley's first teaching post was back at Cheltenham Grammar so he was still able to join in college activities, and it was at a Saturday hop that he met Linda, a St Mary's student. In 1964 he started a PE Diploma Course at Carnegie College in Leeds and the following year, whilst Dudley was still a student, they married.

A year of teaching in Bradford followed, during which - in a snowstorm on April Fool's Day - his school burnt down. That year also saw the end of his school teaching, and the following September, appointed to a lectureship in Physical Education at Derby College of Art and Technology - which was eventually to become Derby University - the couple moved from Yorkshire to Tutbury. Dudley worked full time at Derby for the next 27 years. During this time his two daughters, Samantha and Melanie, were born and the family eventually moved to Newton Solney where Dudley and Linda have lived for the past 35 years.

Whilst working at Derby Dudley gained a B Phil from Birmingham and an MSc from Leicester. It was also at Derby that his involvement with volleyball began. He rose to become one of England's first international volleyball referees, served as the President of the Referee Commission, and subsequently was one of its members for many years. He Chaired Volleyball England's Dispute Resolution Panel for a very long period and was also a member of the Sports Dispute Resolution Panel, whose membership includes the British Olympic Association and the Central Council of Physical Recreation. This was a task he thoroughly enjoyed since it involved going up to London to the Inns of Court and hearing appeals from prominent sporting figures. Many tributes have been paid by friends and colleagues, including players and coaches, commending his integrity, approachability and impartiality, which shone through in everything he did.

Dudley believed in service to the community, and in retirement took on several voluntary roles; for 10 years he chaired South Derbyshire District Council's Standards' Committee, whose role was to monitor and uphold the integrity of those in public life.

Locally he also helped in the village, and as a practical man who loved diy, it was natural that he should be called on to organise the village bonfire every November, a task he did last autumn despite being terminally ill.

Despite his achievements, Dudley was a very private person who preferred to listen rather than to talk. But he was also good company, had a dry sense of humour and could be very funny. The world is much poorer for his passing.

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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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Derby Diocese

Sacrifice Remembered

As part of the First World War commemorations, the Bishop of Derby, Bishop Alastair, invites you to contribute to a book of reflections for the diocese entitled 'Sacrifice Remembered'. He writes: "The First World War cost the future of so many and continues to be a terrible reminder of the worst that humanity can do to itself. In 'Sacrifice Remembered' we hope that many of you will share your own reflections on the great themes of the First World War. Hopefully, this book will become a lasting memory and legacy of this moment of commemoration."

There are four themes, conflict, peace, resolution and hope. You may like to comment on each of the themes or perhaps just choose one or two. You can write as much or as little as you like.

There are headed sheets to write on in St Wystan's Church, but if you have any personal stories or photos of family members please send them separately (so we can return originals) to Pippa Rowen, The Bishop's Office, 6 King St, Duffield, DE56 4EU. Any profit from the book will go to The Bishop's Harvest Appeal.

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Repton Benefice

Crosses of Poppies

Just inside the lychgate at St Wystan's and the front gate at St Mary's are two crosses carved into the turf. In each are planted poppies which we hope will flower in time for the commemoration of the Declaration of War on 4th August, 100 years ago. Each cross is a memorial to those who gave so much that we might remain free and at peace.

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Easter 2014

My second Easter among you and a special one indeed. I really must sing the praises of those who decorated each of our three churches. They always look so wonderful with the white flowers giving glory to God for the Resurrection. Thank you to all who cleaned and then decorated the churches. Thank you too to those who helped in so many different ways to put on the 23 services that took place in 8 days.

We kept the service order the same as in 2013, beginning with the traditional Palm Sunday procession led by Gerald's donkeys. With themed sermons we journeyed on through Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week with Holy Communion in the morning and Compline in the evening. The services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday were again well attended, and I understand that those who came really appreciated sharing Christ's journey to the Cross in the Maundy Service and Vigil, the Stations of the Cross, the Last Hour at the Cross and the Good Friday Devotions. I do hope even more of you are encouraged to come along next year to enter into the spirit of what Easter is truly about.

Easter Day began at 6 am with the Daybreak Service when we lit the Paschal Candle from a bonfire celebrating Jesus' risen life. Each church across the benefice had its own service of communion. In the peace-filled setting of St Saviour's it was delightful to celebrate the Risen Christ with our regulars and a couple of families as well. Then a dash back to Repton for the 9.45 service, which, while not as full as in past years, was perhaps all the more special. My only disappointment was that once again I could not be in two places at once, but I know that those at St Mary's enjoyed an equally wonderful celebration of the Easter Story.

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St Wystan's News

Services

8 am Communion

There is an 8 am Communion every Sunday; on the 4th Sunday the service is from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.

Prayer for Christian Healing

The next service is on the last Wednesday of July.

St Wystan's Day, Sunday 1st June: Changes to Services

We are marking St Wystan's Day, our patronal festival, with a Celebration Service at 9.45 am. This will be a communion service but with an emphasis on our being one Christian family.

There will be no services at 8 or 11 am, so that we can all unite as one to give thanks for our saint and our church. The service is open to everyone and we hope that you will come and join in with this thanksgiving for your parish church. Later in the day, the postponed 'May' Messy Church is at 4 pm, and Taizé Worship is as normal at 6.30 pm.

Sunday 15th June: Parish Forum

Our 9.45 service will be a shorter form of the communion service, followed by a Parish Forum to discuss Children and Communion. For details, see below. We hope to finish no later than 11.45 am.

Sunday 29th June, 10 am: Benefice Communion

The only service on this day is a Benefice Communion at St Mary's.

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Groups

Intercessory Prayer for Healing meets at 3 Richmond Court at 7.30 pm on Monday 9th June.

The Bible Study Group studying the Acts of the Apostles meets at 7.30 pm on Thursdays 12th and 26th June at 28 The Pastures.

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Children and Communion
Parish Forum, Sunday 15th June

In the Church of England, we are used to the idea that baptism is followed by confirmation before we are allowed to take communion, to share fully in the bread and wine of a Eucharistic service. However, for a long time now many churches have allowed children to take communion before confirmation, drawing on a model adopted within the Roman Catholic Church.

Churches wishing to allow this must first seek permission from the Diocesan Bishop, and part of the process is that we consult fully with the members of our church and the parish. On Sunday 15th June our 9.45 service will be a shorter form of the communion service, so that afterwards we can grab a cup of coffee and gather together for a brief presentation, divide into small groups for discussion and then gather into plenary to report back. We hope to finish no later than 11.45 am but it may well be earlier. Anyone who has an interest in this is welcome to come and share their views.

As there will not be time for an in-depth presentation, we will assume that you have read the relevant papers; follow the link on the home page.

There are four documents: the regulations, a check list for parishes - which includes a booklist for further information - a list of resources, and the paper you really MUST read, 'Admission of Children to Holy Communion'. For those who are not internet savvy, copies of this last are available at the back of church.

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Christian Aid, a special service - and more

Christian Aid helps people around the world who are vulnerable and not in a position to help themselves without some assistance. At our 9.45 service at the start of Christian Aid Week in May, we welcomed guest speaker Claire Bampton, who described their work. She spoke about a family in great need in Sudan and the hard decisions they had to make, as well as sharing with us how we might better lead the life Christ calls us to. We were glad to be joined by members of Willington and Findern churches.

A small display about Christian Aid was on show and three Christian Aid prayer stations had been placed around the church. These remained throughout Christian Aid Week as a reminder to visitors of the work of the charity, and also as a prayer experience during their visit.

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St Saviour's News

St Saviour's Roof

It is a very long story which I can only explain as an act of God, placing his hand on several different things and making them all come together. However, the result is that St Saviour's roof is now being covered in stainless steel. We rejoice at this news, as we believed we faced at least a couple of years of hard graft and fund-raising while water, despite our best efforts, still found its way into the building.

The building isn't accessible while the roofers are at work. We apologise if you have gone out there and been disappointed, but the contract was signed on a Thursday and the firm moved onto site the following Tuesday, catching us rather unawares. However, services continue as usual and AJ Restoration, who worked on St Wystan's spire, hope to complete the work before the end of June.

Hopefully this will bring to an end a saga that began in 2007, continued through five thefts of the lead, and which has seen only temporary roofing on the building since December 2009. May I thank everyone involved over this period, especially those who have given generously to our appeal, and Mark Parsons of Anthony Short and Partners for his professional advice and assistance in seeing this project through to completion.

Messy Church on St Wystan's Day Fun activities,craft and games,celebration and Sunday tea for children and adults, anyone, any age St Wystan's Church, Sunday 1st June, 4 to 5.30 pm To find out more, contact Ruth Attwood on 702804 or . Everyone is welcome! Because of the Open Gardens weekend, the following Messy Church will be rescheduled. The date will be in the next Parish Magazine or you can contact Ruth Attwood as above.

Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 4th June from 12.30 to 1.30 pm in St Wystan's Church £4.   Frances' homemade soup, bread and cheese followed by coffee.   And a chat! Everyone welcome. Do come!

Milton Open Gardens Sunday 8th June, 1 to 6 pm Enjoy a diverse selection of gardens including some new ones. Easily accessible from Main Street or the Waterworks. Plants for sale. Tea and home-made cakes served in the Village Hall. Entry £3 per person, children under 16 free.     Free parking. Tickets for the Open Gardens are available from the car park attendants. Sorry, no dogs will be allowed in the gardens

Ocho ~ Eight Singers, One Voice Saturday 14th June at 7.45 pm in St Wystan's Church A toe-tapping, tear-jerking, laughter-making a cappella vocal concert Tickets £10 / £7 concessions / £3 child, including refreshments from ochosingers.com and on the door In aid of the NSPCC

Repton Open Gardens An Evening of Wine and Music Friday 20th June at 6.30 pm in St Wystan's Church Sparkling wine on arrival followed a short concert by pupils of Foremarke Hall under the direction of Susan Bloor; afterwards, canapés will be served and wine will be available to purchase. Tickets at £10 include free entry to the gardens - children free from Sue Parker, 702550, or Jan Roberts, 702159.

Repton School Concerts Society Bella Tromba Wednesday 18th June at 7.45 pm in The Robert Beldam Hall We are pleased to welcome Bella Tromba, an established brass chamber group performing extensively in the UK and abroad. They have given recitals and conservatoire master classes all over Europe, and performed recently as guest artists at the International Women's Brass Conference in Toronto. Their work in developing and initiating outreach projects in special needs schools, day care centres, pupil referral units and hospitals has been formally recognised by HRH The Prince of Wales. 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.

Milton Summer Fayre & Traditional Fête Sunday 29th June, 11 am to 4 pm on paddocks adjoining Mill Farm and The Swan Parking and admission FREE! Traditional fête games and attractions Plants, crafts, bouncy slide, classic vehicles, BBQ, and much more Tutbury Junior Concert Band will be playing around 12 noon Fun for all the family More information from Carl, 07527 700 308

Repton Village Hall Appeal The 2014 Repton Sunday Lunch with Cantabile - the London Quartet, one of the finest vocal groups in Europe, and the Derventio Quartet An unforgettable afternoon of delicious dining and fantastic entertainment in The Grand Marquee on the Paddock, Repton School Sunday 29th June, 1.30 for 2 pm Drinks Reception and three Course Luncheon prepared by the Winery Tickets £50. Tables of 10 and individual bookings available Enquiries & bookings: contact Carol Lloyd, 01283 702410, Frances Wimbush, 703180, or Adrian Argyle, 701277

Friends of Newton Solney School Newton Solney School Summer Fayre Saturday 5th July, 12.30 - 3.30 pm All are welcome for an afternoon of fun in the school grounds with games, stalls, cakes, BBQ, bouncy castles and much more

Derby Bach Choir conducted by Richard Roddis Music for a Summer Night Brahms ~ Liebeslieder Waltzes     Coleridge-Taylor ~ Hiawatha's Wedding Feast Miniatures for violin and piano and part songs including Sir Edward Elgar's Salut d'amour Violinists: Naomi Wilmshurst and Hannah Monteiro Pianists: Peter Gould and Tim Corfield Saturday 5th July at 7.30 pm in St Wystan's Church Tickets £15 to include a glass of wine and refreshments from Foulds of Derby, 01332 988973, derbybachchoir.com, and on the door

Newton Solney Horticultural Show 6th September 2014 Themes for Photographs Adults: 'Sunset', 'Poppies', 'Trains, Boats and Planes' Juniors: (7 - 10 years): 'Fun' : (11- 16 years): 'Chilling Out' Handicraft Sections Needlework and Embroidery ~ Knitting and Crochet A Handmade Greetings card - any medium Beadwork and textile crafts ~ Woodwork and, metalwork For information, contact Chris Freestone, 701147

Environment Matters

Summer is a'coming in!

. . . and if it tempts you out into the countryside, remember the Country Code: Respect, Protect, Enjoy.

Respect other people:
Consider the local community and other people enjoying the outdoors.
Leave gates and property as you find them.
Follow paths unless wider access is available.

Protect the natural environment:
Leave no trace of your visit and take your litter home.
Keep dogs under effective control.

Enjoy the outdoors:
Plan ahead and be prepared.
Follow advice and local signs.

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Neighbourhood Watch

Safer Neighbourhood Meeting, Monday 2nd June, 6.15 pm in Repton Village Hall. Tea and coffee are available from 5.45 pm. All are welcome.

Remember:

• Secure your door chain.
• Make absolutely sure a caller is genuine before you let him in.
• Staff from utility companies carry an identification card. Always ask to see it. If in any doubt, contact their company for verification.
• Don't give them any personal or bank details.
• If they have a vehicle, take down the registration number, make and model.

Always look out for your elderly and vulnerable neighbours.

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Repton Village & History

Repton Rags Boys & girls aged 7 to 14 Fun and games, indoors and out, and plenty of time to chat with your friends Fridays 6th and 20th June 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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Repton School Speech Day and Leavers' Ball

The School will be holding its annual Speech Day on Saturday 28th June and, as in recent years, the day will conclude with a ball for our Upper Sixth pupils and their parents in a marquee on the Paddock, ending at 1 am.

This is a special occasion for the school community and especially the leavers. We very much hope that it will not create any inconvenience to other village residents, but please accept our sincere apologies if any disturbance is caused.

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Christmas Card Photo Competition

As mentioned in an earlier issue of The Parish Magazine, Churches Together in Repton are looking for a photograph to adorn the Christmas Card that will go out with this year's December issue. There are no hard and fast rules but we would prefer photographs that have not been photo-shopped, and we will obviously be drawn to pictures that are seasonal with a Christmas feel as well as winter. There is no entry fee but your photo should be sent to the vicar, theblacksheep@tinyworld.co.uk, left in the vicarage postbox, or left at the back of St Wystan's Church. The deadline for entries is Sunday 6th July.

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ngs Open Garden Sunday 8th June, 1 - 5.30 pm
National Gardens Festival Weekend

Robert and Pauline Little invite you to visit their garden at 10 Chestnut Way, a large garden packed with colourful and unusual plants. There are lots of clematis, and the early summer perennials are showing promise of colour. Lilies, alliums, poppies and rhododendrons should be bright too as well as lots of flowering shrubs.

There is a plant stall, with a great selection available at this time of year, home-made teas and cakes. Entry £3. All proceeds go to NGS charities. We hope to see you!

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A Fun Weekend!    Repton Open Gardens, 20th - 22nd June

An Evening of Wine and Music   Friday at 6.30 pm in St Wystan's Church

This occasion is now a firm favourite. Sparkling wine on arrival will be followed a short concert of music by pupils of Foremarke Hall under the direction of Susan Bloor; afterwards, canapés will be served and wine will be available to purchase. It is always very enjoyable with the musicians setting a superb standard. For tickets at £10 - which includes free entry to the gardens - children free, contact Sue Parker, 702550, or Jan Roberts, 702159.

The Gardens: On the Saturday and Sunday between 2 and 6 pm, you can visit seventeen gardens. They include two that are new this year, a further two that have not opened for some time, and four current 'Yellow Book' gardens, as well as Repton Memorial Arboretum. Do note, however, that the full range will only be open on the Sunday; if you want to see them all over the two days, you will need to plan your route. Programmes, which act as entry tickets, will be on sale in the village beforehand, as well as at the church lychgate and in the gardens on the day; adults £5 each, children free.

St Wystan's Church and Children's Trail: The bells will ring, the church will be open throughout, and a children's trail will help you discover this beautiful and historic place of worship. There are clues to find and riddles to solve as you unravel its story.

Scarecrow Trail and Competition: With prizes for the most entertaining or inventive scarecrows, there will be plenty to entertain you. If you have not yet entered, there is still time - if you are very quick; entry forms are in the Post Office or contact Jan Roberts on 702159.

Childrens' Treasure Trail: We hope that children will enjoy following the trail in gardens showing the Teddy Bear symbol; be sure to collect a competition entry form together with your Open Gardens programme. When it is completed, take it to the village hall and exchange it for a lucky dip prize.

Refreshments: On both afternoons, teas will be served in the village hall from 2.30 to 5.30 pm. The U.R.C. will serve cream teas in the schoolroom from 3 to 5 pm on Saturday only.

Stalls: Spread over the gardens, there will be a number of stalls, including plant stalls, a tombola, book, home produce and craft stalls. Donations for these will be gratefully received, preferably beforehand. (Plants and tombola, Jan Roberts, 702159; books, David Roberts, 702159; craftwork and home produce such as jams, biscuits, and sweets, Carol Lloyd, 702410.)

Prize Draw: Tickets for the prize draw will be on sale in the village beforehand and over the weekend; the draw will take place on Saturday 28th June.

Why we invite your support

The Open Gardens weekend is a major fund-raising event for St Wystan's Church. The money raised goes entirely towards the cost of keeping the church open and available to all - more than £60,000 a year. We hope that once again you will all join in to make it a real success.

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The Hall is on its way!

Thank you to everyone who voted for us in April in The Big Break Funding Competition. It was always going to be a long shot, ranged against national charities, and we didn't win, but we did pretty well and are grateful for your support.

In other directions, however, following the successful launch of the appeal in April, fundraising is gaining momentum.

Sunday Lunch in the Grand Marquee on The Paddock, Sunday 29th June

This will be the major event for the Appeal, if not for the village, this year. For a ticket price of £50, guests will enjoy a three course lunch provided by The Winery of Burton, including a specialist buffet prepared by their professional chef. Musical entertainment will be supplied by Cantabile, the nationally known London Quartet, who will present a diverse and humorous programme, and by the local Derventio Quartet.

The afternoon begins with a Drinks Reception from 1.30 pm and will provide enjoyment to remember. Tables of 10 are available, and even before invitations have gone out, several are already sold! For tickets, please contact Carol Lloyd, 01283 702410, Frances Wimbush, 703180, or Adrian Argyle, 701277.

Looking Ahead

The holiday season creates a break in activity but a full programme of events is in preparation, leading into 2015. In autumn we are arranging a Fashion Show, a Halloween Party for children, a dramatic Murder Mystery Dinner for grown-ups, and a Christmas Concert. Repton Road Cycle Club has offered to organise a sponsored ride, and a date for a Quiz Night in Burton will be announced shortly. All these events result from suggestions and offers from individuals following the Appeal Launch, and the committee greatly appreciates the effort and enthusiasm which is being shown. Dates and full details of all events will be announced in future issues of the Parish Magazine.

Financial Stuff

In a further development, Repton village hall has been awarded a grant of up to £14,695.80 from the Community Led Project Support fund1 to take plans to the next stage. The grant covers things such as the planning application drawings and fees, as well as a flood risk assessment, and it also includes a contingency fee in case plans need changing. It doesn't reimburse us for the £7k we have already spent on planning; that is seen as our contribution in a sort of matching funding.

In addition, we can confidently expect a grant of £25,000 from South Derbyshire District Council from so-called Section 1062 money in relation to the housing development off Longlands. However, this will only be transferred to us when the houses are built and sold, and when the village hall has been built. Although this may sound like a Catch 22 situation, we will be able to borrow against the promise of a grant.

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Repton Village Society

Joylon Maclain spent 22 years in the RAF, most of that time as a helicopter pilot in areas such as Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Belize, as well as on search and rescue in the United Kingdom. His well balanced talk included just the right amounts of humour, technical detail and personal observations, and we look forward to hearing the second part at a later date.

Thursday 5th June: 'Round the World in Eighty Plants'

Simon Gulliver is a professional horticulturalist, botanist and teacher who trained at the RHS and Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. His talk is the story of a world tour, travelling overland and by train where possible, that he made in 1995. It combines a travelogue of his journey through Eastern Russia, Mongolia, China, South East Asia, Australasia and Canada, with cameos of the people and strange and familiar plants he found on his travels.

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Repton Village History Group

Archaeological work continues in Repton as the old chemistry block at Repton School is demolished and replaced. Some evidence has been found of what may be Anglo-Saxon buildings, and as the foundation work proceeds it might get quite exciting.

On Tuesday 17th June at 7.30 in the village hall, we will be displaying parts of the village archive for folk to use for research purposes or just for interest. We also plan a display of advertisements for local businesses from a few years ago, and a display of the work we are doing to locate the medieval Tithe Barn.

We have two visits planned for July and August. On 9th July we visit St Mary's Church in Newton Solney for a guided tour, and on 20th August we visit Hartshorne Upper Manor. Booking is essential.

For more information contact Andy Austen on 702448

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How did they all fit in? ~ Repton Village History Group

It is generally believed that when the Great Heathen Army, the Vikings, overwintered at Repton in 873 - 874, they did so within a compound defended by what is now the Old Trent to the north, and a D-shaped rampart and ditch. This started at the bluff on the river bank to the west of the church, curved round to incorporate the church itself into the southern side, opposite the river, and continued from the east end of the church back to the marshy ground and the Old Trent again. Doors through the church's long walls served as a massively defended entrance to their fortification.

However, the area enclosed, some 1.5 hectares, is surprisingly small. The Great Heathen Army was actually made up of four armies led by four different chiefs, and is believed to have comprised at least 2,000 men. Some estimates suggest many more. When they camped at Torksey the previous year, the army occupied an enclosure of 26 hectares. Could they really fit into the much smaller enclosure at Repton? At Heath Wood near Ingelby, there is an important Viking cremation cemetery, so it is possible that they spread out over a greater area. Some archaeologists believe that they camped on an island in the Trent and that the ditched enclosure was a defendable bridgehead. Our 1762 map shows some small islands, and has field names that imply other, larger ones. Of course, the map dates from nearly 900 years after the Viking era, and the river has undoubtedly changed much in that time. Analysis of old river courses during the embryonic archaeological project 'Revealing Repton' may eventually tell us more.
For an artist's impression of the fortifications, use the site index to find Barry Marsden's article on Viking Repton.

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A busy month for Scouts!

May has been a busy month for Scouts and June will be similar. At the start of May, 11 Scouts survived a 9 mile hike before building fires to cook on and shelters to sleep in. Scouts have also had an evening of canoeing at Burton Canoe Club, and they tried out the new cycle path around Calke Abbey, cycling off-road all the way back to Repton. In June some Scouts will be taking part in a multi-activity day at Carsington Reservoir and joining the Cubs and other Scouts at Drum Hill Campsite for the Commonwealth-themed District Camp.

If you are an adult and would like to help to run Scouts, even if you cannot commit to being there every week, and want more information, please contact Mike Knowles on 07989 990119.

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Repton W.I.

At our May meeting, members were encouraged to 'be crafty', with demonstrations and help from four of our members. We made cards and boxes, and had a go at making pillow lace. There was a quiz with coffee and cake to follow.

Earlier we had adopted a resolution for the AGM concerning the shortage of organs for transplants. We are being urged to discuss our wishes on this important subject with our families.

Names were taken for the many outings planned for the summer, including the Fashion Show, the next Sudbury Prison lunch on 5th June, the W.I. Centenary Baton party on 24th June, a tour of Toyota factory on 25th June, and a visit to Derby Cathedral on 14th August to see the vestments and treasury. A Repton W.I. birthday dinner has been booked for 9th October at Hilton House Hotel.

Jenny Jones gave a talk about the work done by the ACWW to help disadvantaged women around the world with small self-help projects, such as drilling boreholes for fresh water. The W.I. supports this worthwhile charity, which makes us realise just how fortunate we are.

Members were reminded to give their bulb orders to Pat Court as soon as possible.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 10th June at 7.15 pm in the village hall. Pearl Mulholland will give a demonstration on enamelling. Visitors are always welcome.

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Repton Road Club

The Club continues to attract new riders, but others are always welcome. We leave Repton Cross every Sunday morning at 9 am for rides of approximately two hours' duration, and, with the lighter evenings, the club also stages shorter rides on Thursdays, leaving The Cross at 6.30 pm.

If you're looking to improve your fitness, making a return to cycling, just starting out, or looking for company on a training ride, then why not join in. There are no fees, nothing to pay, just turn up and join in. Alternatively, some of us meet in The Red Lion from 8 pm on the third Monday of every month. For more details, ring Neil on 703363 or see facebook.com/ReptonRoadClub.

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Chancel Repair Liability

If you have been worried by news from Shropshire, where property owners in Stottesdon have been told that they are liable for the cost of repairs to the chancel of their ancient church, you can sleep easy. As we reported last autumn, Repton and Newton Solney PCCs have both resolved not to pursue any contribution to chancel repairs. Chancel Repair Liability does not apply to Foremark or Bretby churches as they are both post-Reformation buildings.

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Repton Parish Council Jottings

Local Planning Applications: The Parish Council discusses the local planning applications at its regular monthly meetings. Members of the public are invited and have the opportunity to comment on these applications; local County and District Councillors are also usually present. Two recent applications and decisions have led the Council to express concerns:

      First, planning permission has been granted for the change of use of 5 Burton Road, Repton, from a shop to a restaurant / café. The Parish Council had objected on the grounds that there is inadequate provision for customer car parking: roadside parking would cause congestion and compromise road safety, especially in the evenings. Whilst the Parish Council is in favour of commercial activities in the village it wishes to minimize adverse effects for nearby residents. If adequate car parking could be arranged, the Parish Council would welcome the extended use of this building.

      The second decision is a consent to change the use of 62 Askew Grove from residential to a school craft annexe. The Parish Council objected to the loss of a bungalow in a prime residential site at a time when South Derbyshire District Council's Local Plan is stressing the need for more houses, with 100 or more sited in Repton itself. The report gives as the main reason for its decision: 'that the property has been recently put to auction and no purchaser took it on for such a purpose'. The Council queried why this decision was made by an individual Planning Officer when there was a significant number of local objections. The Parish Council asked how much local opposition there has to be before an application is referred to the Planning Committee. A reply is awaited from South Derbyshire District Council.

East Midlands Intermodal Park: Including rail-linked warehouses, the Rail Freight Interchange will be over 60 hectares in size with at least 4 freight trains per day. It is planned that eventually there could be 5,000 people employed there. The proposed site is immediately to the south west of the Toyota island, and planning is currently at the stage of public consultation. During June there will be a series of exhibitions so that local communities can view the proposals and have the opportunity to offer feedback. On Monday 16th June between 3 and 7 pm the plans will be on display at Repton village hall; the developers, Shepherd Group and Goodman, will also be present. If you wish to voice your opinion, it is important that you do so at this early stage. The final decision will not be made locally but by the Secretary of State for Transport, and will be binding.

Car Parking in Repton: The Parish Council has written to the Derbyshire Police Commissioner highlighting local concerns about car parking in the village. A new beat officer for this area has been appointed who is keen to discuss the issues with local residents. PC Collins will be attending the Repton Area Forum on Monday 2nd June, 7.30 - 8.30 pm at Repton village hall, and will be available for consultation afterwards.

Next meeting: Monday 9th June at 7.30 pm in The Community Room, Fisher Close, Repton. All are welcome.

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Milton & Foremark Village Matters

Milton Village Hall

During May, our Plant Swap and Sale attracted a record number of visitors, and a wide range of plants were swapped or sold. It was a lovely social occasion with gardeners chatting together over coffee. Many thanks to all who helped and supported us, raising over £800 for the village hall.

Plants will also be for sale at Milton Open Gardens on Sunday 8th June; admission is just £3. Gardens are open along Main Street and at The Waterworks from 1 to 6 pm, and there is tea and home-made cakes in the village hall.

For details of our Summer Fayre on Sunday 29th June, see the advert above.

To view or book Milton Village Hall, contact Polly on 703436 or through the website.

For your diary: Edward's Quiz is on 18th July.

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Milton W.I.

Our May Resolutions meeting came too late for the magazine deadline. I can, however, remind members about Milton Open Gardens on 8th June: members and friends have been busy baking home-made cakes to serve in the village hall.

A tour of the JCB factory has been booked for 5th June, and the Mercia Baton event will be at the Planters Garden Centre, Bretby, between 5 and 7 pm on 24th June.

Next meeting: Wednesday 18th June, 7.30 p.m. in Milton village hall. Liz Keeley will talk about 'Boarding School for Victorian Girls'. New members and guests are very welcome to come along and join our friendly meetings.

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Newton Solney Village Matters

Newton Solney W.I.

Our May meeting proved interesting; small groups discussed this year's Resolution on Increasing Organ Donation, and many issues were raised and debated. There were several entries in the handicraft competition to design a birthday card. Hazel Ward emerged as the winner and received the Handicraft Cup. Our thanks to Linda and Sheila of NS Art Group for judging and for inviting members to come and see what the art group is all about.

The Fauld walk and lunch was very enjoyable. Thanks to Sue Ellis and Rosemary Bartlett for organising it; we look forward to an autumn follow up! Our cake stall at the plant sale was well supported; thanks to all involved for raising funds for the village hall.

Two NS teams will shortly be competing in a W.I. quiz night; good luck to all our representatives. On 24th June, NSWI will be taking part in W.I. centenary celebrations at Bretby Garden Centre; local W.I. groups will be receiving the Centenary Baton on its tour around the country.

Our next meeting, on Tuesday 10th June at 7.30 in the village hall, is sure to be popular. Marilyn Ottewell will demonstrate flower arranging. Our own flowers on that evening will be arranged by Joan Buchanan; tea hostesses are Norma Bunn and Marjorie Gaffney. Mulberry Room lunches and W.I. whist drives continue as normal; Jean, 702463, and Rosemary, 703000, are the contacts.

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Newton Solney C of E Infant School

All parents, carers and local residents are most welcome to join us for Community Collective Worship in the school hall at 9.15 am on Thursday 5th June. The next - and last - date for this term is the 3rd July.

Coffee & the Community, Friday 27th June, 9 - 10 am in the school hall

Come along for coffee and chat to a coffee morning run by June Scott and members of St Mary's Church. School families and all local residents are very welcome. Please do join us if you able to.

Our Summer Fair will be held in the school grounds on Saturday 5th July from 12.30 to 3.30 pm. Everyone is very welcome to come along and join in the fun.

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Newton Solney Tuesday Club

This year 32 members and friends set off for Eastbourne. En route we stopped for coffee in Woodstock at a very pleasant tea-room in the heart of this pretty Cotswold town.

Our seafront hotel overlooked gardens and, though small, looked after us really well; unusually those with single rooms also had the benefit of sea views.

On Tuesday we had a trip to the Church of the English Martyrs in Goring on Sea, which has a replica on the ceiling of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, painted by one of the parishioners. In addition the church has beautiful stained glass windows made from glass recycled from demolished historic church buildings.

Wednesday was a free day to explore Eastbourne and its surroundings, many people taking the open-topped bus which visited beauty spots including Beachy Head. Unfortunately, the weather was misty at times making sight-seeing a little difficult.

On Thursday we visited Herstmonceaux Castle, where we were able to look around the gardens. Then on to Shoreham Airport, which was the first commercial airport in the country. The current building dates back to the 30s and is art deco in style. Most people had lunch there overlooking the runways, the aircraft consisting mainly of light aircraft belonging to individuals or flying clubs. Some of the fitter members of the group were taken on a tour around and into one of the hangers where they were able to get a good look at some historic aircraft belonging to the 'Real Aircaft Group'.

In all it was a very successful holiday which everyone seemed to enjoy. Our driver went out of his way to ensure we made the best of the scenery across the Sussex Downs, including a stop at the Devil's Dyke.

At our May meeting we had a very informative and entertaining talk by Colin Bagshaw on his latest trip to Namibia, complete with many pictures of the wildlife in the country.

Tuesday 3rd June, 2.30 pm

A business meeting followed by a talk by Rod Pearson, 'Beside the Sea'.

Tuesday 17th June: Trip to Bosworth Field, Museum and Falcon Display

We leave the Unicorn Inn at 9.30 and return at about 3 pm. The cost of £15 includes the entry fee and falcon display.

If you would like any information about Newton Solney Tuesday Club activities and visits, please contact our Secretary, Jane on 01283 564520.

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Gardening Notes

By now the alpina and montana clematis will be coming towards the end of their display. They can become huge if left unpruned, so I recommend that you cut them down after flowering; over time the montanas develop thick trunks that do not shoot if cut down, so be careful to leave some youngish shoots. If you follow this regime you will be able to keep your clematis to 6 foot or less, and your neighbours will appreciate your thoughtfulness. Although the montana clematis have a wonderful impact they do not flower for long, but there are two double varieties, Marjorie and Broughton Star, which flower for much longer, about six weeks, and the plants are smaller than the single varieties such as rubens. My favourite alpina is Constance which continues to bear a few flowers throughout the summer.

In June, home grown vegetables are still in short supply so it is good to maximise the available crop at this stage. Pinch out the tips of broad bean plants - they are delicious steamed. Pick your first beans at little-finger size, and steam the pods too. At the end of the season you can make the most of any oversized beans by steaming the podded beans and then slitting the skin of each bean and pushing out the bright green smaller bean.

Increase cabbage and lettuce crops by picking individual outer leaves. Eventually you will get a cabbage or lettuce growing on a tall stalk; this method is particularly useful if you are growing in raised beds or containers and are short of space.

It's not just trees and shrubs that need pruning. With the odd nip and tuck, flowering perennials, annuals and bedding plants will make more flowers, better quality blooms or bushier plants. There are several easy techniques you can use while pottering around the garden. Deadheading flowers as they fade not only tidies up the plant, but it interrupts the sequence of 'bloom and set seed' and stimulates new flowers to appear, preventing nuisance self-seeding of early-flowering annuals and perennials. Many annuals such as cornflowers make good cut flowers, so keep picking to get more flowers.

You can improve shape and form by removing the tip of the plant. Many plants concentrate their energy in a single tip bud, while other buds along the stem remain dormant. If this tip bud is removed then buds lower down will produce side shoots. This is called stopping, pinching or tip pruning, and is used to make bushier growth. Keep perennials compact. Chopping back perennials in late-spring will make bushier plants that flower later on in the season and often flower more prolifically. Known as the Chelsea chop, it is carried out in late May or early June, soon after the famous flower show has finished: cut or pinch back plants by half. Sedum, phlox, rudbeckia, echinacea, helenium and golden rod all respond well. To get the longest flowering season, leave some of the shoots unchopped.

Prevent plants from becoming leggy; lightly shearing over aubrieta, lavender and alyssum combines deadheading with light pruning and prevents leggy growth. It keeps plants compact and produces an abundance of flowers the following year.

Make time to visit other gardens in June; Repton Open Gardens is an ideal opportunity to visit lots of gardens without even leaving the village. See you there!