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The Parish Magazine Repton, Foremark, Milton, Ingleby, Newton Solney
August 2016

Out from the dark 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 Yard Sale at 5 Monsom Lane, Saturday 3rd September Coffee Mornings recommence on Saturday 10th September Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Baptisms Maisie Elizabeth Bowskill Olivia Francesca Alger Marriages Emma Lee and Harry Welch Zoe Dormer and Christopher Jones Robert Osborne and Victoria Thompson Marriages in August David Storer and Melanie Ashby Martin Ward and Fleur Clark Benjamin Tomlinson and Alexandra Henderson Benjamin Hawtree and Rebecca Goodwin Mark Smith and Rebecca Freeman The Memorial Book Repton Benefice House Groups Bible Study Groups Church School Changes St Wystan's News Messy Church and Sunday Club are taking a break Floodlighting the Church One of the extraordinary places in the country Local Diary Event Details Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 3rd August Newton Solney Summer Party, Wednesday 10 August Books, Browse and Coffee, Wednesday 17th August Milton Lunch Club, Thursday 18th August Yard Sale at 2, 3 & 5 Monsom Lane, Saturday 3rd September Newton Solney Show, Saturday 3rd September Repton Village Show, Saturday 3rd September Repton Village Society trip to Kingston upon Hull, Saturday 10th September Repton School Concerts Society 2016 - 2017 Programme The Great War Commemorated 100 years ago, the Vicar wrote . . . Repton Village Hall Appeal Sunday Lunch on the Paddock 100 Club Autumn Programme South Derbyshire Local Plan, Part 2 Repton Village and History Repton Rags, Friday 19th August An Act of Remembrance Rent a Beast, Friday 5th August Repton Casuals Soccer School restarts on Saturday 10th September Mussoc sings Mozart Mobile Library, Tuesday 23rd August Thank you to Repton Lunch Club! What is the Lunch Club? A Messy Sheep Trail Repton Village Society Repton W.I. Repton Village History Group ngs Open Garden, Sunday 7th August ngs 'Repton Village Gardens', Sunday 28th August Thank you! Repton Open Gardens Scarecrow Competition Results The Vicarage Dig 2016 Repton Parish Council Milton & Foremark Village Matters Milton BBQ and Fun Day Milton W.I. Newton Solney Village Matters Newton Solney Tuesday Club A Vacancy at John Higgott's Almshouses Newton Solney W.I. Newton Solney Parish Council News South Derbyshire Rosliston Forestry Centre Out & Active Holiday Club What's On in South Derbyshire and The National Forest You and your Pet Microchip your cat! Neighbourhood Watch Gardening Notes

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Out from the dark

In June, archaeologists from Bristol University spent two weeks digging in the vicarage garden and surveying in the local area. They were looking for more Anglo-Saxon material and signs of where the Great Viking Army might have camped.

Archaeology puts us in touch with our forebears. Looking at the Staffordshire Hoard, you are moved by the incredible skill of those ancient metalworkers. Handle a piece of medieval pottery and you are linked with the last person to have cooked with it or drunk from it perhaps 750 years ago. Uncover an iron age dwelling and you can sit on the 2,000 year old floor of someone's home.

In Neil Oliver's book on the Vikings, I came across this very moving account of the grave of a young woman, buried some 6,000 years ago in Sweden:

'I like to imagine she was lovely. Around her neck was a string of red deer teeth collected from as many as 40 different animals. Such a keepsake, made of trophies from 40 separate kills, speaks of a great and skilful hunter. It is not much of a leap to see it as a gift to the most important person in his world, his daughter or his wife. Buried beside her is a new born baby laid upon the wing of an adult swan, the bones as light as a bundle of straws. By the baby's hip was a little knife knapped from a piece of flint. We cannot ever know but it seems at least likely the woman died in childbirth and her baby with her. The passing of 6,000 years does not lessen the tragedy, or its impact. Someone grieving for them saw to it that they went to their grave together, she wearing the necklace he had made for her, and her baby nestled on the wing of a white bird.'

People from 6,000 years ago – so very different from ourselves in so many ways, and yet so very much the same. There is so much tenderness and caring in the gift of the necklace and the use of the swan's wing, just as we might express when we lay members of our own family to rest. There may also have been a symbolic meaning – the teeth perhaps representing the grace, gentleness and beauty of a deer, the wing of the swan associated with the passage to the afterlife.

Whatever the symbolism, we will never fully understand for it has now been lost to us. 4,000 years after that grave was created, Christ came to tell about God's unbreakable love for each of us. The Cross became the symbol of that love; Jesus' promise that He would be with us as we journeyed on towards heaven took the place of the swan's wing.

As much as I enjoy archaeology, so often it only reveals the material evidence of life long ago; we can still be in the dark as to what life was really like and what people truly believed. Fortunately, when it comes to God we don't have to be in the dark, for Christ shines a bright light on all life, on love and on all we should believe in. That is theology; that is what our faith is about, that is what love is about, that is what life as we know it is about.

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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
Frances Wimbush, 703180

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Brasses
Sue Parker, 702550

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

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The United Reformed Church

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Yard Sale at 5 Monsom Lane, Saturday 3rd September

We need donations of items to sell, large or small. Please ring 701581 to arrange collection. All proceeds for church funds.

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Coffee Mornings

. . . will commence again on Saturday 10th September.

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Baptisms

Maisie Elizabeth Bowskill, daughter of Sam and Kate Bowskill of 4 Rose Hill, Swadlincote, was baptised on Saturday 25th June at St Wystan's Church.

Olivia Francesca Alger, daughter of Tom and Sharon Alger of Burdett Way, Repton, was baptised on Sunday 17th July at St Wystan's Church.

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Marriages

Emma Lee and Harry Welch of Chapel Lane, Lincoln, married at St Saviour's Church on Saturday 25th June.

Zoe Dormer and Christopher Jones of Springfield Road, Repton, married at St Wystan's Church on Saturday 23rd July.

Robert Osborne and Victoria Thompson of Pinfold Close, Repton, married at St Wystan's Church on Saturday 23rd July.

Marriages in August

Wednesday 3rd	St Wystan's Church at 2.30 pm	David Storer and Melanie Ashby of The Mill House, Bretby
Friday 5th	St Wystan's Church at 12.30 pm	Martin Ward and Fleur Clark of Longlands, Repton
Saturday 6th	St Saviour's Church at 2.00 pm	Benjamin Tomlinson and Alexandra Henderson of Mickleover
Saturday 27th	St Saviour's Church at 3.00 pm	Benjamin Hawtree and Rebecca Goodwin of Ruddington
Sunday 28th	St Wystan's Church at 1.00 pm	Mark Smith and Rebecca Freeman of Alvaston

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The Memorial Book

Repton has a fine memorial book permanently on display in St Catherine's Chapel in the north aisle of St Wystan's Church. It was donated in memory of Henry Chilton as a place to commemorate former residents of Repton.   All are eligible and welcome, as well as those buried or interred in St Wystan's churchyard or Monsom Lane cemetery.   There is no charge but a donation towards church funds is greatly appreciated.   All we need is the full name and the dates of birth and death.

Please contact us.

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Repton Benefice

House Groups

Intercessory Prayer for Healing meets at 3 Richmond Court on Tuesday 2nd August at 7.30 pm. If you would like us to pray for you or for someone you know, please contact Wendy Longden on 703259.

Bible Study Groups : Both groups are having a summer break. Wendy and Stephen Longden's group will then meet at Woodend Cottage, 134 Main Street on Thursday 8th September at 7.30 pm. Please contact Stephen, 703259, if you would like to know more.

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Church School Changes

Church of England schools such as Newton Solney Infant School vary in how far they go to promote the Christian faith. Some are more active than others. Now there are attempts to ensure that those who attend all church schools get a good grounding in what our Christian faith is about, not just in the classroom but in assemblies and church as well.

At Newton Solney most of the proposals are already in place, but new initiatives are also being introduced. One is a simple service at which the children are introduced to the idea of Holy Communion. The first took place in July. Sharing bread and wine at a communion service is a regular church activity, and it is important for children to have some understanding of what we do and why. At this 'infant level' we share a loaf of bread to remember Jesus (He did say: "Do this in remembrance of me"), and the children will be able to see others receive the bread and the wine.

You may have heard of plans to open a new Church of England secondary school in Derby. This is just one of 125 projects nationally as the Church looks to improve standards of education across the country and increase its involvement in nurturing young people in our Christian faith.

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St Wystan's News

Messy Church and Sunday Club

. . . are taking a break during July and August. We wish you a good summer and look forward to seeing you again in September.

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Floodlighting the Church

St Wystan's Church floodlighting is not currently operational; one of the lights is defunct, and we have found it impossible to get replacement bulbs. The PCC is to explore the possibilities of a new LED set up, but this will have to join the queue of other projects, and it may be some time before the lights are working again.

Floodlighting was originally installed in 1977 to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee which happily coincided with the Golden Jubilee of Derby Diocese. Recently the church has been lit on Thursday and Sunday evenings and lighting has also been sponsored by parishioners for special occasions.

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One of the extraordinary places in the country

When in the 1940s the art historian Nikolaus Pevsner began publishing his Architectural Guides to the Buildings of England, people joked that it took a foreigner to make us appreciate the treasures in our midst.

In May this year, Yale University Press, which now publishes the series, brought out a new edition of Pevsner's guide to Derbyshire. With a larger format and many more pages, descriptions are more detailed and colour photos a great improvement on the previous edition. As well as the obvious places – great churches, stately homes and attractive civic buildings – the guide also includes very interesting minor ones. The Repton entry now has nine pages, mostly about the church and school buildings. Other buildings mentioned include The Grange and Tudor Lodge, just as before.

'One of the most significant Anglo-Saxon buildings in the country' St Wystan's Church is described as 'one of the most significant Anglo-Saxon buildings in the country, with features found nowhere else in England', and in a talk on the book, its revising editor said: "Repton is one of the extraordinary places in the country. Its church has a crypt which dates back to the 8th century, and when you go down into the crypt you could be walking straight back into that era. It must be one of the most atmospheric historic spaces in the country."

Pevsner also praises the church guidebook: 'Some church guidebooks reflect very high standards of research. Among the best [is] Dr. H.M. Taylor's guide to St. Wystan, Repton.' At £35 – or from £26 online – the new Pevsner is not cheap. However, Dr. Taylor's guide is available in St Wystan's Church for a more modest £2.

A distinguished academic, the first Vice-Chancellor of Keele University and the doyen of Anglo-Saxon church studies, Dr. H.M. Taylor CBE TD remains the foremost authority on the history of St Wystan's Church. Together with Professor Martin Biddle and Birthe Kjølbye-Biddle, he conducted extensive archaeological exploration at Repton during the 1970s and 1980s.

Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 3rd August from 12.30 to 1.30 pm in St Wystan's Church £4.   Homemade soup, bread, cheese, a chance to borrow books - and chat! Everyone welcome. Do come!

Newton Solney Summer Party Wednesday 10 August at 7 pm In a marquee in the grounds of Rock House, by kind invitation of Roger Kerry SOLD OUT!

Books, Browse and Coffee Wednesday 17th August, 11 am - noon in St Wystan's Church and every 3rd Wednesday in the month Coffee and biscuits £1 A chat and a chance to borrow books and jigsaws Loans are free Also at the first Wednesday 'Soup, Cheese and Chat'

Milton Lunch Club Thursday 18th August, 12.30 pm in Milton Village Hall.   £5. Contact Lynn, 704540, Sue, 701978, or Polly, 703436 Everyone welcome wherever you live! If you need transport, let us know

Yard Sale at 2, 3 & 5 Monsom Lane Saturday 3rd September from 10 am Fantastic assorted items for sale. Everybody welcome. All proceeds to charity!

Newton Solney Show Saturday 3rd September in Newton Solney Village Hall Details, schedules & entry forms from Chris Freestone, 01283 701147 Support your Village Show!

Repton Village Show Saturday 3rd September in Repton Village Hall Schedules & entry forms at the Post Office or the Show on the day Support your Village Show!

Repton Village Society Visit to Kingston upon Hull European Capital of Culture, 2017 Saturday 10th September, depart St Wystan's Church at 8.30 am Once a major, wealthy port, Hull has many fine, interesting buildings. Coffee in the former Seaman's Mission. Optional guided walking tour of the Old Town. Free time to shop, visit the museums or The Deep, or just to have a long lunch. Travel via the Humber Bridge. Return to Repton about 6 pm. Maps provided. Tickets £16 from Alan Webster, 01283 701838.   Non-members most welcome.

Repton School Concerts Society 2016 - 2017 Season Tuesday 13th Sept 7.45 pm Magnard Ensemble: Roald Dahl's 100th Birthday     'Revolting Rhymes and Marvellous Music' Wed 2nd Nov 7.45 pm Michael Petrov, cello, Erdem Misirlioglu, piano Wed 16th Nov 7.45 pm Pupils of Chetham's School of Music Wed 18th Jan 7.45 pm Nature: The Natural World:     Repton Music Department Wed 1st Feb 7.45 pm Daniel Lebhard: Piano Wed 1st March 7.45 pm Sean Shibe: Guitar Wed 26th April 6.30 pm AGM followed at   7.30 pm by Repton School Music Competition Final Wed 10th May 7.45 pm The Solem Quartet Wed 7th June 7.45 pm Solstice Jazz Sextet All concerts take place in the Robert Beldam Hall in Repton Music School. Tickets for the whole season are available at £75. Tickets for individual concerts are £13.50 and £10.50 (concessions). For further information or tickets contact Sue Parker, 56 Askew Grove, Repton, DE65 6GR

The Great War Commemorated - The Somme

100 years ago, the Vicar wrote . . .

Dear Friends

The advance of our forces has been magnificent. Anyone who has studied the map of the extraordinary maze of German trenches – each a fortress in itself – will dimly understand the heroism and the splendid military qualities of our new army, and although the difficulties before them are no less, and probably greater than before, yet they have the will to win, and that the dark cloud of terror and oppression is slowly lifting and that peace and victory are drawing nearer day by day.

But yet day by day also the price is being paid in that long list of officers and men who have freely surrendered their lives for their country; here in Repton we have news of two more of our lads who have fallen, George Pegg and Reginald Kerry, while in the great naval victory another lad born and bred in our village, Charles Dyer, has gone from us. While our truest sympathy goes out to their relatives, yet their names go down to posterity among the heroes of what will be the proudest and greatest times of England's history. Their lives have not been given in vain. To turn to the other aspect of the war, we all rejoiced that Lieutenant John Auden had been recommended for the Military Cross, and our heartiest congratulations will go out to him and his relatives. P.S. Please remember that August 4th is the day on which the third year of the war begins. It is a day indeed to be kept, as far as we are able, in the services in God's house.

The Volunteers

Notice has been received that the Home Guards are to be disbanded, and that recruits of all ages exempt from military service or otherwise, are wanted for the formation of a body of Volunteers . . . . This ought to be attractive to every patriotic man.

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Repton Village Hall Appeal

Sunday Lunch on the Paddock

Once again, Sunday Lunch on the Paddock at Repton School was a fabulous event. The marquee looked very attractive, magnificently decorated still for the previous evening's Leavers Ball, and after a 'bubbly' welcome, over two hundred sat down to a superb lunch prepared by The Winery. During the meal, Peter Hartley's violin playing was greatly appreciated, and later The Swing Commanders, a stunningly vibrant and versatile group, lived up to their reputation with an exciting mix of 1940s classics, boogie-woogie, western swing and 50s jump jazz. At the last moment, Adrian Argyle had to stand in as our auctioneer, and what a splendid job he did!

We are very grateful to those who gave so generously: Repton School for the loan of the marquee, and all those who provided the auction prizes – Jeremy Bournon, John Boyle, Lesley Carruthers, Patrick Hammond and Heidi Taylor, Michael Hall, Louise Hardwick, Roger Kerry, Leigh Parry, and Ben Robinson. The event raised over £9,000, a very welcome boost to the appeal.

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The 100 Club

The quarterly subscription is £12.50 and each month there are four equal monthly prizes totalling half the subscriptions for the month.   When all numbers are taken, each prize is worth £52.   To join the Club and be included in the draw, contact Adrian Argyle, the 100 Club promotor, for an application form and a copy of the Club Rules.

After a break for the summer we have four events planned for the autumn. Please note them in your diary and then join us for . . . Saturday 24th September, 7.30 pm at Repton Village Hall Pig Racing An evening of laughter and excitement.      Refreshments Tickets £15 Saturday 22nd October, 7.30 pm at Repton Village Hall Wine Tasting Evening Enjoy educating your taste buds.      Refreshments Tickets £15 Saturday 29th October, 5.30 - 7.30 pm at Repton Village Hall Children's Halloween Party Games, fancy dress competition & refreshments Tickets £5 (children up to age 11) Elaine Newbold Saturday 19th November, 7.30 pm at Repton Village Hall Beer and Skittles A fun evening with a Ploughman's Supper If you have fundraising suggestions or can offer help in any way, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact either Adrian Argyle or Carol Lloyd

South Derbyshire Local Plan, Part 2

40 more houses in Repton!

South Derbyshire District Council is currently consulting on the draft part 2 of its Local Plan. You are strongly encouraged to study it and to give your opinions.

If you think you have read that before, you have – in the January Parish Magazine. Since then, however, the background has changed. Note that the Local Plan is not the Neighbourhood Plan, work on which continues.

What is the Local Plan?

Part 1 of the Local Plan, submitted to the Secretary of State in August 2014, was finally approved in June this year. It deals with strategic allocations for employment and housing, together with other key policies. However, its approval came with unexpected alterations, so SDDC now needs to go through the consultation on part 2 again.

Part 2 deals with 'non-strategic' housing sites of fewer than 100 dwellings, retail, heritage, countryside, telecommunications, local green spaces, settlement boundaries, educational facilities, and the protection of trees, woodland and hedgerows.

More houses in Repton

One item of particular concern is the proposal to extend Repton village envelope, allocating farmland in Milton Road, adjacent to Burdett Way, to build 40 new houses. This flies in the face of views expressed in the consultation on Repton Parish Council's draft Neighbourhood Plan, where the great majority said that the envelope should be preserved, and that development sites in Repton should be limited to fewer than 10 dwellings.

Comment by 5 pm on 15th August 2016

Whatever your views may be, now is the time to express them. To access the relevant documents, follow the well marked link from the home page at south-derbys.gov.uk. They are also available at District Council offices and all South Derbyshire libraries, as well as the libraries at Burton upon Trent, Chellaston, Mickleover and Sinfin. Questionnaires with the return address can be found from all the sources above. Complete them electronically or by hand (comments must be in writing) and return them by 5 pm on 15th August 2016. If you have any questions, contact the planning policy team on 01283 228735.

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Repton Village & History

Repton Rags, Friday 19th August

We have had to change the date of our second RAGS afternoon this summer, and will now meet at the Den from 1.30 to 4.30 pm on Friday 19th August.

RAGS stands for relax, activities, games and sports, and in these sessions we can do all of that! If you haven't been to RAGS before, we meet at the Den on Mitre Drive, and aim for ages 7 - 14. It's a great chance to meet up with your friends or make new ones! It costs £3 for the first child in the family, £2.50 for any sibling. Parents are welcome to stay and enjoy the afternoon too.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Otherwise, just come along and have fun. We will provide drinks, but you are welcome to bring your own as well. Hope to see you all there!

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An Act of Remembrance – The Battle of the Somme

At 7.30 am on Friday 1st July, an act of remembrance at the village War Memorial by St Wystan's Church marked the start of the Battle of the Somme. Over 20 people gathered to remember those fallen in the battle, which continued right through to the 18th November. The moment when troops went over the top 100 years before was signalled by the Vicar blowing an officer's whistle made in 1916. Others who had brought whistles joined in this moving and poignant moment.

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Rent a Beast

On Friday 5th August from 2 to 3pm, come to a Rent a Beast session at The Den, Mitre Drive, Repton, meet our mini-beasts, learn about them, and have a hands-on experience. We will have giant millipedes, hissing cockroaches, giant African land snails, and all sorts of stick insects. It costs just £4 per child. If you have any questions, please contact Julie Groom.

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Repton Casuals Soccer School

. . . restarts at Broomhills Lane playing field on Saturday 10th September at 10 am. All children, girls and boys, in reception or school years one or two are welcome. The basic skills of soccer, preparing for junior team football, are taught through small-sided games in a safe and friendly environment. Refreshments are available, there are toilets and plenty of space to park. For further information, please phone Bob Errington on 701183, or Dave Jacobs, 701361.

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Mussoc sings Mozart

This autumn, under the leadership of Oliver Walker, Repton School's new Director of Music, we will be singing Mozart's Requiem.

Rehearsals, Thursday evenings from 8th September, 6.30 pm in Pears School The choir is made up of members of the village, staff, pupils, their parents and friends. Everyone is welcome; there are no auditions but you must have an ability to sing and be able to read music. Scores will be provided.

If you would like to join in or want further information, please contact Rosie Carpenter, Choir Coordinator.

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Mobile Library, Tuesday 23rd August
Repton village hall, 10.15-11.30 : The Square, 11.35-1

The library has a four-weekly timetable. Although the date has not yet been published, its next visit should be on 20th September. For the Long Eaton base, contact 01629 531398; for the van, 0780 904 4405.

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Thank you!

We would like to thank all the many people who provide a delicious hot meal for over 20 of us every Friday in term-time throughout the year, the cooks, the servers, those who wash up, and – with some of us in our 90s – to those who drive us there. Our thanks go too to Repton School pupils, who help with the cooking and whose donation from the Sale of Work enables us to enjoy occasional outings for meals. After lunch, many of us stay on and are joined by other friends for the Drop In, where we enjoy entertainment such as games and quizzes, a talk by local speakers, children singing and even sitting exercises. There are so many helpers that we sadly can't name you all, but we would especially like to thank the organisers, Kiki, Judy, Elaine, Hazel and Julia. The Lunch Club and Drop In are a wonderful service provided by so many lovely people, an outstanding example of the caring spirit in our village.

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What is the Lunch Club?

Repton Lunch Club meets each Friday in the community room in Fisher Close, off Askew Grove, and offers a homemade meal to some of our senior residents. It is funded by a weekly £3 contribution from members and a donation from Repton Sale of Work. This also funds about six visits a year for a meal elsewhere – a welcome trip out!

Can I join?

We have a short waiting list for the Lunch Club but if you or anyone you know might be interested in joining us, please contact Kiki Muir on 01283 702350.

Why not drop in?

After the meal, many of the members stay on for the Drop In. True to its name, this is open to other friends who come along, as well as Lunch Club members who stay on for entertainment such as games and quizzes, or a talk by visitors.

Help wanted with transport

We are always looking out for drivers to help transport members to and from the Lunch Club and Drop In. It doesn't have to be every week but your help would be really welcome. If you could help, please contact Kiki as above.

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A Messy Sheep Trail

Before breaking for the summer holidays, Messy Church followed a Messy Sheep trail over the fields from St Saviour's Church to St Wystan's.

Both churches have windows portraying Jesus as 'The Good Shepherd', and at several points, we stopped to think about a phrase from psalm 23, 'The Lord is my Shepherd'. Clues from 'sheep' signs along the way also gave us the letters of 'Jesus is the Good Shepherd', which we celebrated with song and a prayer when we reached St Wystan's.

Meanwhile a team had been preparing a barbecue, not just for the Messy pilgrims – rather wet by this point! – but also for the wider congregation. It brought this season of Messy Church to a very enjoyable conclusion. We would like to thank all who have helped with Messy Church over the year, and on this occasion, special thanks to Neil and Helen Skipper for clearing the path between Foremarke and Milton in time for our walk.

Messy Church resumes on Sunday 25th September.

All are welcome. Contact us to find out more.

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Repton Village Society

In his illustrated talk on 'The Geology of the East Midlands', Colin Bagshaw outlined how the various rock strata had been laid down, giving examples of those to be found in our region in places such as Charnwood Forest, the Vale of Belvoir and, indeed, Repton. Two days later he was our exemplary guide on a coach trip to visit these areas. We saw both rocks still in the ground at quarries and others where they had been used as building materials.

There are no events in August.

Thursday 1st September, Repton village hall at 7.30 pm

Wendy Foley will give 'An Introduction to the Work of Medical Detection Dogs', remarkable animals that have been trained to sniff out cancer or detect changes in the medical condition of people with life-threatening illnesses such as diabetes.

Saturday 10th September, depart St Wystan's Church at 8.30 am

At first sight Kingston upon Hull may not seem an obvious place to visit, but in the past it was a major, wealthy port, and it has many fine, interesting buildings. It has also been nominated the European Capital of Culture for 2017. After coffee in the former Seaman's Mission, now a pub, members of Hull Civic Society have kindly agreed to lead us on a walking tour of the Old Town. The walk will take about 75 minutes over flat ground. Then there will be free time after lunch to return to the area, go shopping, visit the Wilberforce, Transport or Maritime Museums – all free admission – or The Deep, a large, modern aquarium, concessions £10.75, or just to have a long lunch before leaving at 4 pm to be back in Repton, via the Humber Bridge again, for about 6 pm. Maps will be provided and the walk is of course optional. Non-members are most welcome. Tickets £16 from Alan Webster, 01283 701838.

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Repton W.I.

In July, Jo Thompson showed us how to wrap gifts, both usual and unusual shapes, to make them extra-special. A bottle, a soft toy and an ordinary rectangular box became presents that looked too beautiful to unwrap. Jo's company specialises in wrapping gifts for corporate giving, sometimes at only a few days' notice. We're looking forward now to seeing members' Christmas gifts!

Members have led and served teas for two very successful guided History Walks, the latest being on the afternoon of the meeting. There was also a report on the national annual meeting in Brighton. To follow the September meeting about the Back-to-Back properties in Birmingham, a visit is being arranged.

Instead of an evening meeting, there will be a tea party on Tuesday 9th August from 2 pm in the garden of Jenny Jones, 15 Main Street. This will be a celebration of the Queen's 90th birthday and of the W.I. in Repton, our 98th year, with a sandwich, cake, scones, strawberries and a glass of fruity Pimm's.

On Tuesday 13th September, Clive Katz will talk about the Back-to-Back National Trust properties. Visitors and new members are always welcome.

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Repton Village History Group

In June, Catrine Jarman, who was directing an archaeological dig in the vicarage garden, came to talk to us about her work on the bones and teeth found during Professor Biddle's excavation of the burial mound there in the 1980s.

Catrine had two main aims, to establish if all the bodies were contemporary with the Viking presence in the winter of 873/4 AD, and to determine whether the bodies were locals or Vikings, and where they may have come from.

Silver coins found in the mound very closely dated the placing of the bones to 873/4 AD, but carbon dating revealed two main groups, one from about 873/4, but other bones appeared quite a lot older. However, Catrine's isotope analysis of the teeth revealed that the second group ate a high marine diet, so for them a correction of about 400 years has to be made. (Fish absorb carbon that may have been in the sea for a very long time, while plants and animals absorb carbon that is relatively fresh.) This then brought the dates of both groups into line with 873/4. Minerals associated with the source of drinking water leave a signature in teeth and bones, so isotope analysis gives a guide to where they originated. The vast majority came from Viking territory – not from one location but from a whole range of Viking countries.

Sadly there is no longer any physical evidence of the 9 foot tall giant found by Thomas Walker in the 1700s who, it is speculated, was the famous Viking leader Ivar the Boneless. However, now that we know that the occupants of the mound were almost all Viking, the suggestion gains more credibility.

In July we visited Sinai Park House, a 13th century house of respite for Burton Abbey, replaced by a second hand timbered building, probably from Burton, and then augmented by another second hand building. When the abbey was closed by Henry VIII it was acquired by William Paget. A central building was added to make a pseudo Elizabethan House and hunting lodge. An infamous cross-dressing descendent later sold it to pay off debts, and more recently it had a chequered life as a war time billet for the RAF, a farm, and then six cottages, before slumping to become a chicken run upstairs and a piggery down. Acquired by the Murphys in the 1990s, one wing has been restored and is now their home. The rest is still deteriorating steadily but a feasibility study for its restoration is underway.

There is no meeting in August, so our next is on Tuesday 20th September when we will have talks by two members – 7.30 pm in Repton village hall. All are welcome. Further information from Andy Austen.

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ngs Open Garden, Sunday 7th August, 1.30 - 5.30 pm
Wendy and Stephen Longden, Woodend Cottage, 134 Main Street, Repton

This is a plant lover's garden with glorious views on a sloping 2½ acre site that has been developed organically for year round interest. On lower levels, herbaceous borders are arranged informally. Further up, mixed woodland and a grassed labyrinth lead naturally into fruit, vegetable and herb potager with meadows beyond. For the summer season, our two fields are home to two guest ponies, Annie and Stirmac, and Phyllis, a gentle grey mare. Perennials and grasses for sale. Home-made teas in aid of St Wystan's Church. Entry £3. Do come!

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ngs 'Repton Village Gardens', Sunday 28th August, 1.30 - 5.30 pm

The following 5 gardens are all open: Askew Cottage, 23 Milton Road; 10 Chestnut Way; Holme Point, Mitre Drive; 22 Pinfold Close and Monsom Lane Allotments. The combined admission is £6, children free. Homemade teas are available at 10 Chestnut Way. This is the last chance this year to see these lovely gardens this year. All the money goes to the National Gardens Scheme, which last year gave £2.7 million to Nursing and Caring charities.

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Thank you! Repton Open Gardens

The Open Gardens weekend began with Wine and Music in St Wystan's Church, where, over wine and canapés, a large and enthusiastic audience thoroughly enjoyed a concert by the highly talented pupils of Foremarke Hall directed by Susan Bloor.

Over the weekend, sixteen gardens opened including an astonishing six current or previous 'Yellow Book' gardens, as well as Monsom Lane allotments, which are now also part of the National Gardens Scheme, and Repton Memorial Arboretum.

In weather that was overcast but mostly dry, children enjoyed the scarecrows and bee trail, and loved looking for the fairies, while adults were more drawn to cakes and cream teas. In the gardens there was home produce, a tombola, plant sales and a bookstall.

A big thank you to a number of generous sponsors: the Awbery Management Centre of High Street, Repton, provided wine at Friday's 'Evening of Wine and Music', East Midlands Airport gave financial help, and Gibson Technology of Repton gave the first prize in our Open Gardens Prize Draw, a Weber One-Touch 57 cm kettle barbeque. We are also very grateful to all those who gave prizes for the Prize Draw; a full list, together with winners, is on page 32.

Thank you once again to everyone involved, whether by opening their gardens or by contributing in so many other ways, providing cakes and confectioneries, plants, produce and prizes; to those who were so generous with their time and energy; and finally, to all the visitors who graced our gardens and made it all so worthwhile.

The weekend raised some £4,300 for St Wystan's Church funds. Congratulations to Tom Hyde and all his team.

Scarecrow Competition Results

With the high standard of entrants this year resulting in a shortlist of 11 of the 23 scarecrows, picking the winners was not easy, but it had to be done:

First prize went to Ethan Wilcox for his Big Friendly Giant, with Sophie tucked into his waistcoat pocket, and complete with his jars of dreams and picnic hamper.

2nd Prize to Gay Prevett for her marvellously crafted Guardsman standing to 'Attennntionnn'!

3rd Prize to Lily and Maisie Truman for their eye-catching Queen Elizabeth II, resplendent in coronation robes on her golden throne.

And because it was so difficult to choose, there were also five awards of 'Highly Commended':

• St Wystan's School for the 1950s schoolgirl with her historical connection to the Queen's visit.

• The Auterson Family for Miss Muffet and the huge straw spider !

• The Holt Family for their take on the Battle of the Somme in this year of remembrance.

• Diane and John Micklewright for Percy Bloomer and the Bugs Hotel.

• Mrs. Talbot for her evocative Bill and Ben and Weed !

A huge 'thank you' to all who took part. Please carry on the good work in 2017!

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The Vicarage Dig 2016

Amid a recent flurry of interest in Viking Repton from programme makers and archaeologists, Professor Mark Horton of Bristol University, who had been involved with Prof Biddle's excavations of the 1970s and 80s, returned with two post-grad researchers and up-to-date ground penetrating radar. Then, after a survey of the vicarage lawn detected what might be the ancient walls of a rectangular building, a team returned in mid-June for a two week archaeological dig.

Near the surface there were clay pipe stems and quite a bit of relatively modern high quality pottery, as well as a circular tag bearing the inscriptions Repton and Selwyn; clearly the Rev'd Selwyn had a dog. Just about where the radar predicted a wall, larger stones emerged. Quite a few of these were identified as broken quern stones for hand grinding cereals into flour, and some were thought to be parts of a mill stone, possibly Anglo-Saxon. One was found to have quite intricate carving which could be Anglo-Saxon. As soil and pebbles were removed, variations were noticed, but exploration of these will have to await another dig.

Towards the end of the excavation a number of post holes were identified and excavated. It was clear how the posts had been erected: first a hole was dug, then the post put in place and stones packed around it to hold it up before the whole thing was back-filled. The posts had gone and the voids had filled with soil, but the stones were still in place. The edges of the original holes could be seen in changes in the soil colour. Throughout the process, everything in the excavation was sketched, measured and documented, and the finds annotated. Mark had brought a drone, which meant that there were vertical as well as the more conventional oblique views of the site. It brought excitement and occasionally terror into the proceedings.

A number of other artefacts were found: slag from metal working, possible gaming pieces, lots of small pieces of lead, two pieces of rusted iron, originally thought to be early knives, a number of rusted nails, some massive and others smaller.

Small fragments of bone were found which might have been human and thus indicate the proximity of a cemetery, so the soil had to be laboriously sieved to check that no grave goods such as beads were missed.

On the last day, a membrane was put down over the bottom, and the hole was back-filled. Some 40 tons of soil had been carefully scraped away by hand!

The core team on site was led by Catrine Jarman. Henry Webber did most of the geophysics and GPS work. Mark Horton was there most of the time and others came generally for a few days to help out and gain experience. There were visiting dignitaries too, most of whom who took a turn at scraping. Professor Martin Biddle came with Hamish, one of his original team from 40 years ago, as well as Michael Hirst who writes historically accurate drama for TV, including recent series on the Vikings and Tudors.

Much to our delight, Henry found time to run the radar over the site where we suspect the medieval priory mill may have been, and the magnetometer over the suspected site of the tile kiln. The results of this work have still to be processed.

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Repton Parish Council

Repton Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan: Drop-in events as part of the second stage consultations took place during the last week of June, with good attendance at both Milton and Repton village halls. Response to the draft policies was overwhelmingly positive and useful additional comments were offered. The draft is available online at reptonvillage.org.uk.

Summer Activities at The Mitre Field: These are funded by the Parish Council and free of charge for all local young people.

Tuesday 2nd August	2 – 4 pm	Play Mobile
Wednesday 10th August	2 – 4 pm	Sport Mobile
Wednesday 17th August	2 – 4 pm	Play Mobile

The Play Mobile offers a range of play and craft activities including space hoppers and sack races, and the Sport Mobile contains a range of sporting equipment for games including football and cricket. All the activities do, however, require fine weather!

Parking: Civilian traffic enforcement officers (CEOs), not the police, are now responsible for parking issues. Contact the Parking Enforcement Team on 01629 538671 or parking@derbyshire.gov.uk. The police are still responsible for enforcing double white lines, obstruction including on pavements with no parking restrictions, and dangerous parking such as on brows of hills or bends. Call the police on 101.

Next meeting: (There is no meeting in August.) Monday 12th September in Milton village hall – Parish Meeting at 7 pm, followed by the Parish Council Meeting at 7.30. All are welcome.

Parish Council Office, 40 High Street

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Milton & Foremark Village Matters

Milton BBQ and Fun Day

In July over 300 people came along to enjoy an afternoon and evening of BBQ, music and games in aid of Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre. Duncan Hogg, a Milton resident, and his team of helpers organised a superb family event at The Swan Inn. Everything was free – funds were raised by individual donations and donations for the BBQ food, games and raffle.

For the children there was a bouncy castle, coconut shy, and Ted's Treasure Hunt; for the adults, a test of strength and model boat racing. With music playing in the background the atmosphere was akin to a lively country garden party. The Lady Mayor of Derby, Councillor Linda Winter, visited to show support and perform the official opening of the treasure hunt. An amazing £7,005 was raised for the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre, thank you to all who helped and supported.

To hire Milton village hall

. . . contact Polly Faulkner. Regular users will be pleased to note that the large tables have been replaced. The old tables were robust but rather heavy to set up and pack away; the new ones are equally sturdy but much lighter.

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Milton W.I.

In July Heather Harrington spoke about Georgiana Spencer, the Duchess of Devonshire who married William Cavendish in the eighteenth century. We learned the historical facts of her life – and then the fantasy history depicted in the movie 'The Duchess', which was filmed at Kedleston Hall. Refreshments were served by Eve Smith and Jane Mawson and Sue White gave the vote of thanks.

On 10th August eight members will join Willington W.I. on a trip to Bletchley. Our own social outing on 17th August is a visit to the Roundhouse in Derby followed by lunch.

There is no meeting in August, so our next is on Wednesday 21st September at 7.30 pm in Milton village hall. Sue Hyde's talk is on 'How to dress your shape'. Visitors are always welcome.

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Newton Solney Village Matters

Newton Solney Tuesday Club

We had a good turn-out of members and friends for our June trip which took us to Bakewell. This was a change from our advertised visit to Southwell as we would have been unable to go around the Minster there. The Southwell trip will now take place in September. The weather was good, which made wandering around the town for a few hours very pleasant. The driver took a route via Ashbourne across country before going down into Bakewell, returning via Matlock.

At our last meeting before the summer break we enjoyed a game of kurling. Eight teams of two competed in a knockout competition, with the final two pairs competing for the prizes of plants. It was great fun, with spectators giving lots of advice and support.

There are no meetings or trips in August, so our next meeting is on Tuesday 6th September when Colin Bagshaw will give a talk on the Orkney and Shetland Isles. Then, on Tuesday 20th September will come our postponed trip to Southwell.

Please contact our Secretary, Jane, on 01283 564520 for further information about any of the Tuesday Club activities.

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A Vacancy at John Higgott's Almshouses, Newton Solney
Registered Charity No. 214465

A vacancy has arisen in one of the almshouses in Main Street, Newton Solney, comprising living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.

Applicants should be 65 or over, of limited means, capable of looking after themselves, and have been long-term residents of Repton or Newton Solney.

If interested, please write with your details to Mrs E J Plant, The Walled Garden, Well Lane, Repton, DE65 6EY, giving your address and telephone number.

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Newton Solney W.I.

At the July meeting, two NSWI members, Denise Parker and Lesley Oldknow, gave members 'A South African Experience'. Denise spoke about her support for the Knysna Education Trust Charity which helps pre-school children with basic education, and also about the help she gives to the community to provide education, nutrition and safety for some of South Africa's poorest children and families in the townships near Capetown. Lesley had prepared some delicious South African food: the Cape Malay chicken curry was especially good, and with a glass of South African wine courtesy of Denise, members had an informative and enjoyable evening.

Our Summer Social, held instead of an August meeting, will be on Sunday 14th August by kind invitation of Mr and Mrs Steve Parker. On Tuesday 13th September our meeting will include a talk by Stuart Brown on 'The Life of a Vet'.

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Newton Solney Parish Council News

Dog Fouling on Recreation Field: Following a number of complaints, the Parish Council has been in touch with the dog warden who will investigate.

Himalayan Balsam: The Parish Council has arranged for a local contractor to remove the invasive Himalayan Balsam growing on the riverbank.

Three new village planters have been purchased to sit outside the Almshouses. They will be installed by the village Horticultural Society.

The Annual Cricket Match will take place on Sunday 28th August at 2.30 pm on the Recreation Field. Please come down and watch!

Next Meeting: There is no meeting in August, so the next is on Friday 9th September at 7.30 pm in the village hall. All are welcome.

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South Derbyshire

Rosliston Forestry Centre Out & Active Holiday Club
8th - 12th & 22nd - 26th August, 9 am - 5 pm

Suitable for children aged 8+. Fully supervised, fun packed days with a great range of outdoor and sporting activities that may include archery, bushcraft, drumming, cycling, human table football and laser combat. £20 per child per day. Booking essential. Please call 01283 563483.

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What's On in South Derbyshire and The National Forest

The late summer / autumn edition of 'What's On' is now out, with hundreds of events locally, many at very low cost or even free. Look on the SDDC website - search for 'What's On in South Derbyshire' - or pick it up from Swadlincote Tourist Information Centre at Sharpe's Pottery.

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You and your Pet

Microchip your cat!

Cats Protection's Derby and District Branch is encouraging cat owners to keep their pets safe by having them microchipped. This is a safe and permanent means of identification which increases the chances of a missing cat being reunited with its owner, but around 85 per cent of the cats that come into Cats Protection's Derby and District Branch are not microchipped.

A volunteer says: "When a cat comes into our care, the first thing we do is look for some sort of identification, including scanning for a chip. When there is no microchip we have to trawl lost and found registers and advertise the cat as missing. It's a very time consuming process with no guarantee that we will ever locate the owner. And yet all these problems could be solved by a tiny chip no bigger than a grain of rice."

Microchipping can be carried out by a vet or suitably trained individual and involves a small data chip being inserted under the cat's skin between the shoulder blades. The details are stored on a national database. Most vets and rescue centres routinely scan all lost cats to quickly reunite the missing pet with its owner. However, if owners move home or change phone number it is important for them to keep their records on the database up to date.

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Neighbourhood Watch

Cybercrime: Whether checking your emails on the go, updating your Facebook status, online banking or chatting to friends on webcam, technology plays a big part in our everyday lives, and it is important to stay safe. Derbyshire Police have created a cybercrime hub where you can find helpful information and advice to help protect yourself online. You will find support on a range of topics including social media security, cyber bullying, child sexual exploitation and online fraud. Search for 'derbyshire police cybercrime'.

PayPal scam: If you use the 'family and friends' payment option to pay a commercial trader for goods or services, you won't be protected if things go wrong. So whatever excuses you may hear, don't give in. Only use 'family and friends' to send money to people you know you can trust.

Two stage verification: When a web service such as Facebook or Google offers you the option of two-step or two-factor authentication, take it seriously. (Facebook calls it 'Login Approvals', for Twitter it's 'Login Verification'.) It is generally easier than the traditional password and much more secure: even if your password is guessed or phished, an attacker will find it difficult to access your account. If you need help to set it up, there is lots of advice on the internet.

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.

Adrian Gillham, Chairman, Repton Neighbourhood Watch

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Gardening Notes

It is said that if you plan for an August garden, the rest of the year will look after itself.

Hardy fuchsias are one of my favourite late summer plants; they improve year on year, are generally trouble free and really floriferous, carrying on until the first frosts. Every year I buy a few more; this year I am trying Tom West which has strong variegation that does not fade in a shady position. I also grow some less hardy varieties in pots, and store them in a cold greenhouse over winter. As summer borders fade, I can move some of the pots into the border to fill in gaps.

Dahlias are another favourite and, with the mild winters we've been having, many will survive over winter in the ground. Keep deadheading to keep the flowers coming. Finally, penstemons and salvias complete the picture.

The border in August is like an ageing beauty, subject to rapid collapse and in need of support. Tidying up, dead-heading and cutting back the plants that have had their day will help. This year the spring lasted until July so plants are very lush and vulnerable to wind damage. Extra support can be added to taller plants: I find metal hoops very useful to support floppy plants near the front of the border. The grass is still growing and the weeds are still coming up. Keep weeding and try not to let them set too much seed

Once they have finished, cut the fruited stems of summer-fruiting raspberries back to ground level. Strawberry plants tend to deteriorate after two or three years. Produce new plants by pegging down fresh runners into open ground or pots of good rooting compost. Plants raised in pots transplant better than those grown in open ground.

Increase feeding of tomatoes. In the greenhouse, stop the plants when five or six trusses have formed; outdoor plants will not have the time to ripen as many. Remove the leaves below the ripening trusses to increase light levels.

Keep sowing salad crops or the slugs and snails may go hungry! Cover your leeks with a fine mesh towards the end of the month to protect them from allium leaf miner.

Most established hedges need cutting in August. Ideally, most established conifers, yew, laurel, cotoneaster and pyracantha hedges should be pruned up to three times a year, but more realistically a single cut in August is good enough, giving time for new shoots to grow before winter. If hedges need to be cut back severely, this is best done in January.

Propagate tender perennials such as fuchsias, argyranthemums, pelargoniums, anthemis, osteospermums, lavenders and penstemons by cuttings. Take them semi-ripe, early in the day when the plant is turgid and plant as quickly as possible. If they have to wait at all, put them temporarily in water or a plastic bag.

Buy bulbs for autumn and spring. Daffodils make roots in September so need planting at once. Tulips are best left till November to lessen the risk of tulip fire.