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The Parish Magazine Repton, Foremark, Milton, Ingleby, Newton Solney
August 2017

Sure and Certain Hope 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 For your Diary Friday 29th September: Derbyshire Constabulary Male Voice Choir Sunday 8th October: Leprosy Mission Service and Lunch Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Baptisms Eliza Verity Ridgarde Charlie George Dolby Freddie Richard Dolby Hannah Victoria Ward Marriages Natalie Carroll and James Kinnard Marriages in August Elizabeth Yates and Christopher Berry Eleanor Wardman and Paul Fowler Charlotte Ironmonger and Christopher Tranter Funerals and Burial of Ashes Edna Ayres Maisie Eileen Ward Margaret Ann Quinton William Neville Cheatle The Memorial Book Repton Benefice Sunday 16th July, a day of great blessings Housegroups St Wystan's News St Wystan's Church may close temporarily Sunday Club for 4 - 11 year olds is on holiday Local Diary Event Details Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 2nd August Charity Breakfast, Saturday 5th August Books, Browse and Coffee, Wednesday 16th August Milton Lunch Club is on holiday in August Messy Church is on holiday in August Repton Village Show, Saturday 2nd September Newton Solney Show, Saturday 2nd September Repton School Concerts Society 2017 - 2018 Season St Mary's Church Harvest Lunch Sunday 24th September The Great War Remembered 100 years ago, the Vicar wrote . . . Repton Village Hall Appeal Events past and future 100 Club Repton Village and History Magazine distributors needed Summer Play on the Mitre Field If you can sing, come and join Mussoc Repton Casuals Soccer School Mobile Library, Tuesdays 1st and 29th August Repton Village Hall Scouts' amazing achievement Fun, fundraising and fireworks! - The Sale of Work Repton Village Society Repton WI Repton Village History Group A huge 'thank you' - Repton PTA . . . and another - Sue Banks Thank you! - Repton Open Gardens Scarecrow Competition Results Repton Open Gardens 2017 ~ Prize Draw Winners Repton Parish Council Milton & Foremark Village Matters Edward's Quiz Milton Charity BBQ - report Self-defence class for disabled people Milton WI Newton Solney Village Matters Tim and Abs' 10-hour challenge Newton Solney Tuesday Club Newton Solney C of E Infant School Newton Solney WI John Higgott's Almshouses - Vacancy Newton Solney Parish Council Willington Surgery Meningitis and the MenACWY vaccine Evening and Saturday appointments Sharing information South Derbyshire SDDC council tenants - 'Repairs Roadshow' Get Active in the Forest - Rosliston Forestry Centre You and your Pet When a picture is worth a thousand words Neighbourhood Watch Don't swim in open waters Parking Gardening Notes Holidays Computer Security Malware on your mobile

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Sure and Certain Hope

As by now we are all aware, Theresa May got it wrong. When she called the election she appeared to be in full control. Now a sword hangs by the slimmest of threads above her head. From a position of confidence at home and abroad, all of a sudden uncertainty blows through the debates and negotiations. Life has an added insecurity, just like watching England men's play cricket: you never know whether they are going to play brilliantly or collapse.

Yesterday, the 17th July, on a warm and close summer's day, there it was, an advert for artificial Christmas Trees, complete with Christmas jingles! Not the earliest perhaps, but still infuriating. I might have thrown my gin and tonic at it if I hadn't recently bought a new TV and hate wasting a good drink!

And today the media are reporting on plans for HS2, from a couple of angles: the allocation of a mere billion and a half to various contracts with the overall cost perhaps rising to something like £60 billion, double its initial forecast – as a more understandable figure, that's something like £403 million per mile! And then the misery the line will impose on far too many individuals and communities the length of our country. Together, the cost and misery cast serious doubt on the wisdom of going ahead, especially at present when austerity is devastating so many treasured and important parts of our society and way of life.

If you hadn't spotted the common theme here, it is timing, even the mention of England's batting, because batting is all about getting your timing right. Theresa May misread the times. Advertisers should make more effort to respect the special nature of the seasons. At a time of austerity, HS2 seems altogether unaffordable.

Of course, we all get our timing wrong, we are human and will fail just as often as we succeed. It is the way of things. But with God the timing will always be right. A famous passage in the Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1, reads: "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." Words of wisdom.

Another equally inspirational passage, Ecclesiastes 8:6, runs: "For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him." This reminds us that whatever happens, we can have hope. Hope that Brexit will end with a fruitful relationship with Europe as well as the rest of the world; hope that one day the government will make decisions that are wise and just; hope that one year advertisers will accept seasonal limitations.

And of course we can have a sure and certain hope in God. As the Psalmist wrote: "Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

I know the truth in these words and hope you can find it for yourself. Sadly, I'm not so sure it applies to England men's cricket.

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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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For your Diary

Saturday 9th September	Coffee Morning
Monday 11th September	SHELL group meets again after the summer break.
Sunday 24th September	Harvest Festival Service followed by a Harvest Lunch

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Friday 29th September: Concert by Derbyshire Constabulary Male Voice Choir

We are pleased to welcome back the Derbyshire Constabulary Male Voice Choir who will give a concert in the church starting at 7.30 pm. Tickets cost £5, including refreshments, and are available from church members or you are welcome to pay at the door. Please come and join us!

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Sunday 8th October: Leprosy Mission Service and Lunch

A special service taken by Allister du Plessis, Regional Manager for Central England and the East Midlands and Natalie Gibbs will be held on Sunday 8th October to learn more about the Leprosy Mission and how we can support the work they do.

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Baptisms

Eliza Verity Ridgarde, daughter of Timothy and Emma Ridgarde of Grantham, was baptised at St Saviour's Church, Foremark, on Sunday 2nd July.

Freddie Richard Dolby and Charlie George Dolby, sons of Richard Dolby and Catherine Sellars of Oadby Rise, Burton, were baptised at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on Sunday 9th July.

Hannah Victoria Ward, daughter of Jenny and James Ward of Springfield Road, Repton, was baptised at St Wystan's Church on Sunday 16th July.

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Marriages

Natalie Carroll of Chapter Close, Oakwood, Derby, and James Kinnard of Stanton Road, Burton upon Trent, were married at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on Saturday 1st July.

Marriages in August

Saturday 5th	St Mary's Church at 1.00 pm	Christopher Berry and Elizabeth Yates
Saturday 19th	St Saviour's Church at 1.00 pm	Eleanor Wardman and Paul Fowler
Saturday 26th	St Wystan's Church at 2.30 pm	Charlotte Ironmonger and Christopher Tranter

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Funerals and Burial of Ashes

Following the death of Edna Ayres of the Percy Ratcliffe Almshouses in Newton Solney, a service at Bretby Crematorium on 30th June was followed by cremation.

Maisie Eileen Ward of Hill View, Repton, died peacefully at the Nightingale Macmillan Unit on Monday 26th June aged 82. A funeral service at St Wystan's Church on 13th July was followed by cremation at Bretby. Maisie was for many years the caretaker at Repton Primary School, looking after it as though it were her own home. Her husband, Roy, is a former standard bearer for the Repton branch of the Royal British Legion.

Margaret Ann Quinton of Brook House, Repton, died on Friday 14th July aged 95. A committal at Bretby Crematorium for the family only will be followed at 12.15 pm on 1st August by a service of Thanksgiving at St Wystan's Church, Repton.

Ashes

The ashes of William Neville Cheatle, lately of York, who died on 17th May aged 88, were interred on Tuesday 18th July in St Wystan's Churchyard, close to his mother, Dorothy Eva Cheatle.

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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

A day of great blessings

Sunday 16th July was a day to remember. In the morning it was a delight to baptise Hannah Ward at our main act of worship. We wonder if she will follow in her mother, Jenny's, footsteps and become a bell ringer? Her baptism was especially memorable as the first to be performed using the new font given to us by the former Bishop of Repton, † Henry Richmond, and his wife Caroline.

Then in the afternoon our focus moved from St Wystan's to St Mary's, from Baptism to Confirmation, and from a previous to our current Bishop of Repton, The Rt Rev'd Jan MacFarlane. The most important people present were of course the candidates: from Repton, Emily Holt, Madeleine Holt and Louise Fox; from Newton Solney, Belinda Robinson, Simon Jarvis and Sophie Jarvis; as well as two candidates from Aston on Trent and one from Bretby. The setting of St Mary's was perfect for an intimate and deeply meaningful service, and the glorious weather enabled Bishop Jan to lead everyone out of the church at the end of the service, existing and newly confirmed members together, to symbolise our moving out in our Christ-given mission to the world.

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Housegroups

Intercessory Prayer for Healing meets at 3 Richmond Court at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 8th August. If you would like us to pray for you or for someone you know, please contact Wendy Longden on 703259.

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St Wystan's News

St Wystan's Church may close
Fortunately, it's only temporary!

During September and early October we hope to replace all the electrical wiring and install new lighting. We have not yet received all the consents needed for work on our Grade 1 listed church – from the Diocesan Advisory Committee, SDDC and Historic England – but are hopeful that final permission will be granted shortly after this edition of The Parish Magazine is published.

Provided all the consents are received in time, the church will close from Tuesday 29th August to Friday 20th October. The Bishop has given his permission, and alternative arrangements have been made for many of our services. Different venues will be used, but we have not been able to arrange for all the usual services to take place.

Full information will be published in the September Magazine. It will also be on the website and on the church noticeboard. Each week, a banner highlighting the next Sunday's worship will be displayed at the front of the churchyard. We are very grateful to our sister churches in the benefice, and to the United Reformed Church for offering to host us.

Baptisms and funerals

If you wish to hold a baptism during that time, please speak to the vicar. Funeral directors are also asked to contact the vicar because we can offer services at our other churches.

Closed will mean exactly that!

Once the building is handed over to the contractors there will be no entry to the church building at any time.

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Sunday Club for 4 - 11 year olds

. . . is on holiday in August.

In other months Sunday Club meets every Sunday at 9.45 am, except for the 1st Sunday of the month when we all 'Worship Together'.   Join us in september for Bible stories, craft & games.   All are most welcome!   Ring Jane Griffiths for more details.

Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 2nd 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!

Charity Breakfast Saturday 5th August 9.30 to 11 am in Milton Village Hall Full English breakfast served with tea and coffee Adults £5, children under 11 £2 To book, please contact Roberta Higson on 01283 225620 organised by Milton WI in aid of the Methodist Homes for the Aged who provide music therapy for Dementia sufferers

Books, Browse and Coffee Wednesday 16th 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 . . . is on holiday in August. Back on Thursday 21st September

Messy Church . . . is on holiday in August. To find out more, email Messy Church or call Ruth Attwood. Everyone is welcome!

Repton Village Show Saturday 2nd September in Repton Village Hall Schedules & entry forms at the Post Office or the Show on the day

Newton Solney Open Fruit, Flower, Vegetable and Craft Show Saturday 2nd September in Newton Solney Village Hall Exhibits to be brought between 9 and 11.45 am Show open to the public from 3 pm Prize-giving at 5 pm, followed by the auction and prize draw Details, schedules & entry forms from Chris Freestone, 01283 701147

Repton School Concerts Society 2017 - 2018 Season Wed 20th Sept 7.45 pm Voces 8: vocal ensemble Wed 1st Nov 7.45 pm Konstellation: song and chamber music     (pre-concert talk at 6.30pm) Wed 29th Nov 7.45 pm Charles Owen: piano Wed 17th Jan 7.45 pm National Youth Jazz Orchestra Ambassadors     in the 400 Hall Wed 21st Feb 7.45 pm Viva Espana: Repton School Music Department Wed 14th March 7.45 pm A4 Brass Quartet Wed 25th April   Repton School Young Musician of the Year Finals   7.30 pm Juniors   8.45 pm Seniors Wed 9th May 7.45 pm Students from Birmingham Conservatoire Wed 23rd May 7.45 pm Jeremy Woodside: organ     in Repton School Chapel Unless otherwise shown, 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

St Mary's Church Newton Solney, invites you to join us for Harvest Lunch Sunday 24th September at 1.30 pm in Newton Solney Village Hall Raffle      Good Food      Good Company Please bring your own drinks - glasses provided! Tickets from Hazel Ward (701244) 21 Blacksmith's Lane Adults £10         Children under 12 £5

The Great War Remembered

100 years ago, the Vicar wrote . . .

Dear Friends

On August 4th the war will enter on its fourth year of its existence: it is a stupendous fact in itself that the world should have been able to maintain itself without total ruin for all this time of hideous waste of life and treasure, and still the end is not yet in sight. But it is now the time, above every other time, to strengthen ourselves in resolution, to go forward with unabated confidence as to the ultimate issue, to dedicate ourselves once again to the task that lies before us. We owe this to the memory of those who have fallen for England and its cause: to be worthy of what they have borne and suffered.

I am very glad to record the fact that Mr. E. Sanders, jun., has been given a commission, and that Mr. Traice will shortly receive one also.

We shall in September have a great influx of clergy from the diocese of Lichfield, who are coming here for a retreat; it will be an interesting event to have a gathering from the diocese in which Repton was for 1,300 years until 1884, though the Gospel was preached in Repton even before Lichfield itself. Now, however, Lichfield has its Bishop and Repton its very humble perpetual curate, and little prospect of anything better – perhaps in years to come no Vicar at all.


Other matters recorded by the vicar included successful collections for the French Flag Day (£12.10s) and the Lord Roberts Memorial, but the response to his appeal to fund the War Shrine was disappointing; only 70 families, one-fifth of the parish, had so far contributed to a total of £12.

Correction: In July 1917, the vicar listed Edward Ward of Shakespeare Cottages among the dead. However, Edward, who had previously survived the Boer War, survived the Great War too. He later became Sergeant Major at Repton School, died in 1944, and is buried in St Wystan's churchyard alongside his wife and daughter.

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Repton Village Hall Appeal

The BBQ at the Red Lion in mid-July was a thoroughly enjoyable occasion, and the weather was just about perfect for it – warm and dry, but not too hot.

In the afternoon the children enjoyed the bouncy castle, games and face painting, and the beef-burgers went down well. In the evening the music, food and drink were greatly appreciated, as well as the opportunity to relax and chat. Particular thanks to The Red Lion, The Greedy Pig, to Geoffrey Jumper and to Boss & Co for all their help and support.

It has been a really busy time this year, and the fund-raisers have already got their feet up for a short break before we start again in September.

Coming up

Four events are planned for the autumn. There is a Pig Racing Evening on 23rd September, a Children's Halloween Party on 28th October, a Bridge Day on 9th November, and '3,2,1 Blast Off!' on 26th November. Please put them in your diary.

Details of these and all our events are on the village hall website.

We would be delighted if you could join us

. . . to have fun and support the Village Hall Appeal, even more delighted if you could suggest new fundraising ideas or offer to help! For more information contact Carol Lloyd.

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Repton Village Hall Appeal 100 Club

Monthly draws take place at the Boot. Contact Adrian Argyle for an application form and copy of the club rules. The quarterly subscription is £12.50.

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Repton Village & History

Magazine distributors needed

Over fifty volunteers deliver The Parish Magazine each month to all the houses in our local villages; many of them have done the job for a long time. Now, with all the new houses that have sprung up, I am in need of some new distributors in Repton. So if you have a free hour to deliver some magazines once a month could you please contact me, Karen Perks.

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Summer Play on the Mitre Field

Come along and enjoy the facilities; they are all funded by Repton Parish Council and free of charge for local young people. Just turn up on the day. Suitable clothing and footwear should be worn.

Tuesday 1st August	2 – 4 pm	Adventure Mobile
Friday 11th August	1 – 4 pm	Big Fun Friday
Tuesday 15th August	2 – 4 pm	Play Mobile
Tuesday 22nd August	2 – 4 pm	Sports Mobile

The Adventure Mobile is aimed at 5-16 year olds. It includes the laser combat arena and the new inflatable mountain climb. There will also be soft archery, rounders and circus skills.

Big Fun Friday is an extended session and will include many different activities including the inflatable mountain climb.

The Play Mobile offers a range of play and craft activities including a bouncy castle, space hoppers and sack races, and is aimed at 5 - 12 year olds.

The Sports Mobile contains a range of sporting equipment including football and cricket.

Under 8s should have a responsible adult with them at all times. We hope that these activities will provide fun and enjoyment during the school summer holidays, although they do require reasonable weather! Mark your diaries now and come to the Mitre Field for a great time!

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If you can sing, come and join us

Under the leadership of Oliver Walker, Repton School's Director of Music, Mussoc will be singing 'Zadok the Priest' and Haydn's 'Nelson Mass' in Pears School on Sunday 26th November. The choir is made up of village residents, staff, pupils, parents and friends.

Rehearsals, Thursdays from 7th September, 7.30 - 8.30 pm in Pears School

There are no auditions but the ability to read music and to sing is essential. Scores will be provided. If you would like to join in or want further information, please contact Rosie Carpenter, the Choir Coordinator. Everyone is welcome.

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Repton Casuals Soccer School

We are looking for children to join our new Under 8 teams.

Soccer School restarts at Broomhills Lane playing field on Saturday 9th 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.

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Mobile Library Tuesdays 1st and 29th August
Repton village hall, 10.15-11.30 : The Square, 11.35-1.00

The library has a four-weekly timetable, not monthly, and in August it comes twice. In September it will be here on the 26th.

For the Long Eaton base, contact 01629 531398; for the van, 0780 904 4405.

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Repton Village Hall

Sounding out opinion: An essential step towards getting a new village hall involves sounding out public opinion in a fair way as it is our money that will be spent if we go ahead. A joint working group with the Parish Council and village hall team is looking at this to report back in September to the Parish Council. We will also have more information on the village hall website and Facebook page. I am always happy to take questions.

When you get a leaflet please read it and then voice your opinion in whatever way the Parish Council asks of you. If the council is not happy to consider a loan due to lack of support or interest in the community, then the hall will get no further grant to top out the funding and that will be that.

Practise on our piano: Our piano was recently tuned and would benefit from being played more. If anyone wishes to practise on it for free, please let me know. The tuner commented on the good acoustic in the hall, this is largely due to the wooden floor.

Improving our site: I apologise for the fact that the part of our site close to the brook is a mess. We are responsible for it as are all brook-side owners, but we have waited to see how much work the environment agency wanted to do as the bridge area was badly silted up. Now they have finished we will get professional help to clear the bank and the heavy growth swamping the bench. In the long term, it would increase the amenity value of the site if we could not only tame the wild but also enhance the green areas we do have, perhaps along the lines of the community inspired work at Willington station. If we fail to get a loan to build in 2018, we might at least make the site nice for as long as the hall lasts. Any interest from individuals or groups, young and old, will be gratefully received.

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An amazing achievement

Over a weekend in July, five Repton Scouts completed the district hiking challenge. Starting and finishing at the Den, they hiked to all the Scout headquarters in the district – an amazing achievement. Well done, Adam, Anton, Robert, Sam and Daniel, and thanks to Natalie and Rob supporting them.

On Activation, a multi-activity day at Carsington Water, a number of Scouts had a great time enjoying activities such as bushcraft, shooting, hiking and caving.

Scouts finished for the summer with an evening of badge presentations followed by everyone getting soaked in a number of water pistol games – and some of the water pistols were huge!

We start again on Wednesday 6th September. Meanwhile, if you would like more information about Scouts, please contact Mike Knowles.

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Fun, fundraising and fireworks!   The Sale of Work

For 140 years, the annual Sale of Work has embodied the close relationship between Repton village and Repton School, the two communities working together to raise money for a wide variety of charitable causes.

The day of the 'Sale of Work' is the culmination of a lot of effort, with a great deal of money raised by the School Houses in the weeks beforehand. Last year's event saw stalls for every taste, including those selling home-made produce and refreshments, as well as a host of games and competitions for children. The entertainment was rounded off in explosive style with a superb fireworks display and it was a great pleasure to welcome so many families through the Arch for this.

All the money raised is distributed to charities

. . . nominated by local residents and members of the School, with a particular emphasis on village organisations. In 2016 the groups supported included Repton Primary School, Newton Solney Infant School, Talking Newspapers, Repton Lunch Club, St Wystan's Church, Repton URC, Repton Allotment Society, Ticknall Cricket Club, Safe and Sound Derby, Swarkstone Sailability and the Village Hall Appeal.

We are always looking out for new volunteers. What about YOU?

Local involvement is our lifeblood. We welcome offers of help as well as fresh ideas for stalls or fundraising. If you would like to share in our partnership or suggest organisations to benefit from our support, please get in touch with Frances Wimbush or Gemma Hill. There will be further details in the Parish Magazine in the coming months, but meanwhile, do put the date, Saturday 4th November, in your diary for more fun, fundraising and fireworks!

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Repton Village Society

In his very comprehensive talk Daniel Martin, the Curator of the Silk Mill, described the way in which the building is being altered and enlarged to become 'Derby Silk Mill - Museum of Making'. The new museum, funded by a £16 million grant, will display all the artefacts presently held in store in order to celebrate the makers of the past whilst at the same time empowering innovators of the future through inspirational environments for learning programmes and activities for all ages. The project is due to be completed by 2019 / 20.

A final farewell

After the talk the evening continued with a glass of prosecco and delicious cup-cakes, a treat provided by Pam and Alan Webster as a 'thank you' to members for "the fantastically generous gift that the Society members gave Pam and me as a leaving present in November. Get stuck in because we don't want any of it left over!" Thank you, Pam and Alan! We wish you well in Chippenham.

Our next meeting in the village hall is on Thursday 7th September at 7 30 pm. Philip Heath will speak on 'Mystery Buildings - Swarkestone Hall and Weston Hall'.

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Repton WI

It was drinks all round at the June meeting of Repton WI. Joe and Rick from the Boot Inn demonstrated how to make several cocktails for us to try, and finished off inviting ladies to come up and make their own. We also had canapés and non-alcoholic cocktails, which made this a really nice evening. It was so successful that some of the ladies decided to go to the Boot for further drinks afterwards.

Audrey Hall, the speaker in July, entertained us with the amusing tale of taking her one-woman performance of 'Shirley Valentine' to Skiathos, complete with stage props and lighting, to raise money for charity.

Our next meeting is an afternoon garden party on Tuesday 8th August, starting at 2 pm, in Jenny Jones' garden at 15 Main Street.

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Repton Village History Group

All are welcome to our meetings in the Repton village hall. They start at 7.30 pm, members £2, visitors £3. At our next on 19th September, Ivor Sandars will outline the history of the Derby Telegraph and add a few memories of his own. For further information, contact Andy Austen.

Meanwhile, it has been busy. In July, a small group visited Newark Civil War Centre and then the Castle, and in August another group will be visiting Melbourne Hall.

Excavations in the vicarage garden

In June, a team from Bristol University returned to the vicarage garden for a three week archaeological dig. Enlarging last year's trench, they explored several features that might have been grave cuts – but weren't. Then they excavated the low gravel mound that they found last year. There were hopes that the roved ship's nail and a gravel covering might indicate a serious burial. Sadly, no such joy, but what they did find was that the compacted gravel was one of a series of deliberately laid floors and that there was considerable evidence of industrial activity including woodworking tools, scraps of metal, slag from smelting iron, bits of lead from casting, and fiddle-key horseshoe nails (Anglo-Saxon or Viking). There was also evidence of a high status Roman (or Romano-British) building somewhere about. The team is planning to come back next year.

Cat Jarman's report in the village hall

Towards the end of the dig, Cat Jarman, the Dig Director, spoke to a packed History Group meeting about the dig and about her work on isotope analysis of the two groups of skeletons in the mound that Professor Biddle and Birthe Kjølbye-Biddle excavated in the 1980s. Explaining the difference in the Carbon 14 dates found, she confirmed that all the skeletons were consistent with the 873 over-wintering of the Great Heathen Viking Army. Analysing the source of the water that the Vikings had been drinking showed that the army was composed of groups from various parts of Scandinavia.

Also at the meeting we were fortunate to have Professors Mark Horton and Martin Biddle, who had also invited Dr. Robert Stoddart. Currently completing one of the three books which cover Professor Biddle's work here, Dr. Stoddart is a pathologist, able to tell us more about the injuries that caused the deaths of those interred in the mound. Many skeletons also showed signs of bone damage to the shoulders, typical of those subjected to long periods of rowing without the benefits of a modern sliding seat.

Professor Biddle showed us a stone he had borrowed from Derby Museum. It came from his dig here in the 1980s and was thought to be a quarter of a stone cross associated with the very ornate grave cover found in the vicarage garden, also now in Derby Museum. Of particular interest are the holes bored in it. This is the first time evidence has been found that the Anglo-Saxons were capable of drilling stone. It is hoped that the museum will produce a 3D image of the stone which may allow us to look inside the holes.

The museum has recently produced a rotatable 3D image of a little carved medieval man which was for some decades on the windowsill of St Wystan's Church vestry but is now on loan to the museum.

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A huge 'thank you'

. . . to everyone who supported Repton Primary School PTA Barn Dance on 1st July. It was great fun, with delicious food by Greedy Pig and the bar kept well supplied by the Red Lion. Dance Cupola's wonderful music encouraged everyone onto the dance floor and Repton School kindly lent us their wonderful marquee for the event.

To round it all off we raised over £500 for the school. Many thanks to you all!

and also

. . . to all the kind, generous people who contributed to our yard sale. A cheque for £1,390 has now been sent to Marie Curie Cancer Care, and all 'left-overs' have been distributed amongst other charities. Once again, thank you!

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Thank you!   Repton Open Gardens

This year's Open Gardens event stretched over two weekends as the now traditional curtain-raiser, an evening of Wine and Music, came a week earlier, making for a more relaxed time for the gardeners. Over wine and canapés, an enthusiastic audience thoroughly enjoyed a concert by the highly talented pupils of Foremarke Hall directed by Susan Bloor.

Although slightly fewer gardens opened this year, they took visitors to all points of the compass, from Mill Hill to Tanners Lane, from Main Street to Monsom Lane allotments, and despite the fierce sun, some visitors managed them all! If you haven't visited the allotments, you really should: what you see from the road is but a fraction of the 20 plots, cultivated in different styles and producing a wide variety of vegetables, fruit and flowers.

A big thank you to our generous sponsors: the Awbery Management Centre of High Street, Repton, provided wine at Friday's 'Evening of Wine and Music' and East Midlands Airport sponsored the prizes for the Scarecrow Trail. We are also very grateful to all who gave prizes for the prize draw, particularly to Gibson Technology of Repton and an anonymous donor who gave the first two prizes; a full list, together with winners, is on page ????

Thank you once again to everyone involved, whether by opening 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 just under £4,000 for St Wystan's Church funds. Congratulations to Tom Hyde and all his team.

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Scarecrow Competition Results   Repton Open Gardens

What a high standard of entrants and all different. It was thrilling to see the original use of everyday items in so many inventive ways – a Tin Man wearing Raybans and a tea strainer; how stylish!

The journey began face to face with Chewbacca and his comrades, then the Minions appeared, ready and eager to serve. Dodging round a fully armed Power Ranger, it was on to Holloway for a nature lesson in how a Pupa becomes a garden-munching Caterpillar then emerges as a glittering sparkling Butterfly.

After a chat with a Knight in shining armour and a fork-wielding Farmer and his sweetheart, there was Medusa with her wonderful scary fingernails, gleaming white teeth and the conveniently placed mirror! At the lych gate the Headmaster kept a watchful eye on the church, where a talented Donkey used campanology to scare the birds.

Safe in the knowledge that Batman was on patrol, Foxy, lurking nearby, made sure the delightful Messy Church child behaved! Some entire houses were used as background for their tableaux: a ne'er do well entering an upstairs window on Main Street and Jack climbing the beanstalk under the watchful eyes of the hen laying her golden eggs and a very patient cow.

On to Burton Road to find a huge Easter scarecrow, impeccably dressed with floral fingertips, hedgerow braces and an entourage of bunnies, chicks and sunflowers. Then on to the brilliantly life-like Simpsons and the temptation to take up a position as the resident Bookworm !

Thank you to everyone involved in contributing to such an interesting and fun day.

Prize-winners

1. The Minions 2. Medusa 3. Pupa to Butterfly

Highly Commended

1. Jack and the Beanstalk 2. Bell ringing Donkey 3. Easter Scarecrow

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Repton Open Gardens 2017 ~ Prize Draw Winners

Donor		Winner
Gibson Technology Limited	Barbeque & Tools	Colin Wood
Anon	133 piece Tool Set	Wendy Gould
Anon	Bottle of Port	Mr. Whitehouse
Bluebell Nurseries	Plant	Mrs. L. Pierzycki
Bulls Head	£50 Voucher	Perks
Everards	Hamper of Wine	Harvey
Greedy Pig Butchers	£20 Voucher	J. Scott
Jaipur Restaurant	£20 Voucher	Jane Griffiths
Mount Pleasant Inn	6 Bottles of Red Wine	Janette Goudge
Mulberry Beauty Salon	£25 Voucher	Tom Hyde
Planters at Bretby	£10 Voucher	Jowett
Repton Post Office	Bottle of Wine	S. Beale
Repton School Shop	Large Teddy Bear	Polly & Adrian Page
Repton Tea Rooms	Cream Tea for Two	Ron Griffiths
Samaras Hair and Beauty	2 Bottles of Wine	Pete Balfour
Spar Shop	Chocolates	Robert Crockett
Spar Shop	Chocolates	V. Davis
Swarkestone Nursery	Garden Restaurant Carvery for 2	Lilith Hitchman
Very many thanks to everyone who donated prizes, or sold or bought tickets

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Repton Parish Council

Repton Village Hall: Parish Councillors have decided to form a joint working group with representatives of Repton Village Hall Management Committee to decide how best to consult local residents about the possibility of the Council's raising a loan to part fund rebuilding the village hall. As it is important that the Council should be open and transparent regarding the details of the project, any plans for borrowing, including the cost and implication of loan repayments, will be made available at an early stage of the consultation. Further details will follow over the coming months.

The Neighbourhood Development Plan was formally submitted to South Derbyshire District Council in June for a final check to ensure that the Plan and all accompanying documents comply with legal requirements. On the basis of feedback, we have made changes, basically in layout and the ordering of the consultation process. Hopefully the document will go shortly for the necessary six week consultation period before being submitted to an examiner. It is on its way. SDDC Planning Consultation: There is still time to respond to the consultation on a number of issues including the design guide, affordable housing, and local green spaces. This last is particularly relevant to our own Neighbourhood Plan. Please make your views known – the closing date is 7th August at 5 pm. Documents and response forms are to be found at south-derbys.gov.uk/policyconsultation.

Summer Play at The Mitre Field: Young people are encouraged to take advantage of this month's play activities on the Mitre Field. As they are funded by the Parish Council they are free for all local young people.

Location of a New Bench: The Parish Council has a bench available to use in the village. If you have any suggestions as to where it should go, please speak to one of the Councillors or contact the Parish Council office (see below). We are looking for a site which would benefit as many residents as possible.

Dog Fouling: The Parish Council continues to receive complaints. South Derbyshire Dog Control Orders make it illegal for owners not to pick up after their dogs on all public open land. Safer Neighbourhood patrols are instructed to investigate all complaints about dog fouling and to act on any intelligence about possible offenders. Initial fines of £80 can be issued 'on-the-spot'. An owner who refuses to pay the fine can be taken to court and fined up to £1,000. Incidents can be reported to SDDC, neighbourhood.wardens@south-derbys.gov.uk or 01283 595795.

New Litter Bins: In response to calls from local residents for more litter bins, the Parish Council has decided to fund the purchase and twice weekly emptying of four new bins. Three will be located at the junction of Brook End and Boot Hill, the junction of Clayfields and Milton Road, and the junction of Chestnut Way and Burton Road. The fourth will be sited on Main Street.

Repton Area Forum & Safer Neighbourhood Meetings: Area Forum meetings are held regularly in this area. They provide an opportunity to meet your District and County Councillors, and to raise questions in public on a range of local issues. Topics raised at previous meetings include drainage and flooding, overgrown vegetation, road markings and Japanese knotweed. Safer Neighbourhood Meetings also include an open forum where members of the public can highlight issues of concern. The local PCs and PCSOs are also in attendance. Details of the next meetings are displayed on the Parish Council noticeboards or contact SDDC on 01283 59585.

Allotments: We currently have at least one plot available for rent at Monsom Lane allotments. Please contact me if you are interested; the rents are extremely reasonable.

Next meeting: The Parish Council does not meet during August; the next meeting is on Monday 11th September in Milton village hall, Main Street, Milton. A Parish Meeting at 7 pm will be followed by the Parish Council Meeting at 7.30 pm. All are welcome.

Parish Council Office, 40 High Street

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Milton & Foremark Village Matters

Edward's Quiz

This annual event in support of the village hall posed interesting questions, and brought much good-hearted banter between the teams. The final result was a tie with both winning teams donating their winnings to the village hall funds. Many thanks to Edward for the quiz, and to the ladies who provided delicious refreshments; they were greatly appreciated.

To hire Milton village hall, contact Polly Faulkner.

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Milton Charity BBQ in aid of Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre

This free, friendly, family event was superb. The sun shone, the burgers sizzled and the children played. Apples were bobbed, coconuts toppled, and mini-boats raced whilst the adults could either test their strength or simply enjoy a drink and chat to friends in the outdoors.

Around 500 people visited during the day including the Mayors of Derby and East Staffordshire and their ladies. The Mayor of Derby has selected Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre to be one of his charities for this year.

Three days after the event, the total money raised by the BBQ stands at £7,601, but the total is still rising as additional donations come in. It was a brilliant effort.

A huge thank you to the volunteers on the day, to everyone who helped or supported in any way, and above all to Duncan Hogg who organised the event and was still smiling, even after 12 hours cooking on the BBQ, a true gentleman.

Self-defence class for disabled people Tuesdays, 7 to 8 pm in Milton Village Hall Anybody, any disability Fun Free, no hidden charges Contact Duncan Hogg on 07973 663601

Milton WI

At the end of June, a group of WI members and friends enjoyed an organised tour of Derby Cathedral before walking around the corner to see the Weeping Wall of Poppies at Derby Silk Mill. We finished off with lunch at the Council House.

At our July meeting, Jo Walker gave a very interesting talk about Haddon Hall, illustrated with a slideshow.

On 5th August from 9.30 to 11 we are holding a Charity breakfast in Milton village hall, a full English breakfast with tea and coffee, in aid of Methodist Homes for the Aged who provide music therapy for Dementia sufferers. For details, see the advert above.

For our social outing on Wednesday 16th August we will visit the Hypnos bed factory at Castle Donington for a tour followed by lunch at the The Castle Inn. The next members' meeting in Milton village hall will be at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 20th September.

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Newton Solney Village Matters

Tim and Abs' 10-hour challenge

On Saturday 5th August from 8 am to 6 pm, Tim and Abbey van Dijk, father and daughter, will be running non-stop half hour legs of laps around the village to raise money towards rebuilding Newton Solney Pre-school. The starting point for each lap is Holly Cottage, 2 Trent Lane, Newton Solney, opposite the infant school, and they invite you to join them there at some point during the day. They would really appreciate your support and are offering cake and coffee between 11 and 3 in return for a donation.

Newton Solney Pre-School, which first opened in 1972, is a voluntary group affiliated to the Pre-School Learning Alliance. It is a registered charity managed by committee and financed by fees and many fund-raising activities. The group learnt recently that temporary planning permission can no longer be granted on the building in which they operate, and have been given just three years both to raise the £140,000 needed and to build a new one.

For more information, see justgiving.com/crowdfunding/abbey-van-dijk.

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Newton Solney Tuesday Club

There are no meetings or trips in August, so our next meeting is on Tuesday 5th September when the business meeting will be followed by 'War Time Memories' presented by Dennis Ward. Then on Tuesday 19th September we have arranged a trip to the Bentley Brook Hotel near Ashbourne for a meal, stopping en route at Fairways Garden Centre for coffee. As usual we will leave the Unicorn Inn at 9.30 and return to Newton by about 3 pm. The cost of £30 includes the coach, meal (£20), coffee after the meal and tips.

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

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Newton Solney C of E Infant School

Thank you to everyone who attended our fundraising Summer Fair last month, organised by the Friends of Newton Solney School. We had a very enjoyable day and really appreciate all the support for the school.

Now we are into the summer holiday so our next Community Worship is some way off, but please mark the date, Thursday 5th October at 9.15, in your diary. Once again, parents, carers and local residents are warmly invited to join us in the school hall.

Another date for your diary is an Open Morning for prospective parents for our reception class intake in September 2018. This will be on Thursday 9th November from 9.30 - 11am. It will give you a chance to see the school in action and some of the work that goes on in the classrooms. There will be an opportunity to talk to staff and governors and to ask any questions you may have. Applications are welcome from both Derbyshire and Staffordshire children. For further details, please contact the school, info@newtonsolney.derbyshire.sch.uk or 01283 703461.

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Newton Solney WI

The July meeting was well attended, members appreciating Katie Hall's talk about osteoporosis. She explained what it is, how it affects the body, and what measures people can take to avoid bone fractures.

President Vanessa Archer reported on an enjoyable visit to the Burrows Garden near Brailsford and read out a report by our Mercia group delegate to the WI AGM in Liverpool.

Members were reminded about our Summer Social in August.

As there is no formal get-together next month, our next meeting will be on Tuesday 12th September at 7.30 pm in the village hall. Cathy McAteer will speak on 'All Things Russian', an excellent beginning for the autumn programme. Sue Ellis has kindly volunteered to provide flowers; tea hostesses will be decided upon nearer the date.

John Higgott's Almshouses, Newton Solney A vacancy has arisen in one of the almshouses in Main Street, Newton Solney, comprising living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. Applicants should be 55 or over, of limited means, capable of looking after themselves, and have been EITHER long-term residents of Repton or Newton Solney, OR have relations living in either of these parishes. 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. Registered Charity No. 214465

Newton Solney Parish Council

Bus Shelter: Following a unanimous vote to replace the existing shelter, Councillors are pleased to announce the arrival of a much needed bus shelter in Main Street.

Recreational Field: The PC has made an application to Tesco’s ‘Bags of Help’ scheme, for the creation of trim trail on the Recreational Field. To vote for the project, visit the local Tesco store and place a green token following your shop. More to follow.

Village in Bloom: The PC would like to thank the Horticultural Society for their help with the hanging baskets situated in the village, and also landlords Steve and Stella for their amazing floral display.

Dog fouling: Complaints are still being received by the Parish Council. Parishioners should note any nuisance behaviour to the Safer Neighbourhood Team. A £1,000 fine can now be imposed for not cleaning up after a dog. A patrol team will be checking the site on a regular basis.

Planning permission granted

Alterations and extensions to the Lodge adjacent to the hotel.

Play equipment at Newton Solney School.

Listed building consent at The Lodge.

Other planning applications

Installation of an agricultural shed at 2 Newton Mount. NSPC objects to proposals.

150 houses in Sales Lane, Winshill. NSPC objects to proposed plans.

Next meeting: Friday, Friday 8th September at 7.30 pm in the village hall. All are welcome. The Parish Council does not meet in August.

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Willington Surgery

Meningitis and the MenACWY vaccine

Meningitis can kill, but the MenACWY vaccine offers protection. It is currently available to teenagers born between 1st September 1998 and 31st August 1999, who are leaving school or college. They should arrange an appointment at the surgery now. First year university students under the age of 25 are also eligible for the vaccine.

Meningococcal group W disease (Men W) has historically been rare in the UK, but since 2009 cases of Men W have increased and continue to do so. A particularly aggressive strain is causing disease in all age groups, but there has been a significant increase among university students.

Signs and symptoms of meningitis

The vaccine helps protect you from four types of meningitis and blood poisoning, but there are other types, so you need to be aware of the signs and symptoms. Not everyone will develop them, and they can appear in any order.

Pale, blotchy skin with or without a rash

Irritability and / or confusion

Severe headache or muscle pains

Dislike of bright light

Stiff neck

Convulsions / seizures

Fever, cold hands and feet

Vomiting and diarrhoea

Drowsiness, difficult to wake up

Feeling really ill

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Evening and Saturday appointments

You will be aware from the news that GP surgeries across the country are struggling with increased workloads and shortage of appointment capacity, but we are pleased to announce that Willington Surgery has now joined together with eight other local GP surgeries to offer additional appointments for our patients.

Please do not phone or go to the Medical Centres directly

This is still in its infancy and the number of appointments is limited. If appropriate (and available) they will be offered by the surgery. Evening appointments are between 6.30 and 8 pm at our weekday hub at Hollybrook Medical Centre in Littleover, and Saturday appointments between 8 am and 2 pm at Haven Medical Centre, Allenton.

Hub appointments are for acute problems and may mean you are treated by a General Practitioner or Nurse Practitioner. We are also able to offer dressings for patients on Saturdays at the Haven hub.

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Sharing information

The Medical Interoperability Gateway (MIG) enables GPs to make relevant medical information from your GP record available to other healthcare professionals who are providing you with direct care, even if they are not using the same electronic records system as the GP practice. Examples of organisations that may want to access your GP health information include walk-in centres and local A&E departments.

Your consent must be asked on every occasion

Before your information can be accessed in this way, the clinician must ask you on every occasion for your explicit consent. If you say 'no' they will not be able to see any information and no data will be made viewable via the MIG. Information on the MIG will not be shared with other individuals, nor will it be stored anywhere. It is just a viewing system.

If you have not already opted out for sharing information we will assume you are happy for us to share your records. Remember, this sharing is only between professionals involved with your care, for the purposes of your care.

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South Derbyshire

SDDC council tenants

. . . were invited to 'Repairs Roadshows' in July to give feedback about dealing with the authority. None of the sessions was local. If you would have liked to attend and are keen to share your experiences, email tp@south-derbys.gov.uk by 4th August to take part in a short survey.

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Get Active in the Forest at Rosliston Forestry Centre

There are two events for you to think about this month. For more information, call 01283 563483.

Teddy Bear Cycle Ride, Wednesday 9th August, 10.30 am - 12.30 pm

Join Bertie the Bear for a cycle ride around Rosliston Forestry Centre. Bring your Teddy along for the ride. Bike hire available, but you must book your bikes ahead. This is a free event but car park charges apply.

Family Bushcraft, Wednesdays 16th and 30th August, 5.30 - 9 pm

Learn how to survive in the wild! £10 per adult, £7.50 per child – suitable for children aged 7+. Children must be accompanied by a paying adult.

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You and your Pet

When a picture is worth a thousand words

As technology advances there are multiple benefits for us vets: better equipment makes for safer procedures, faster results and quicker correspondence with referral centres. Here, however, I am writing about its benefits in initial diagnosis.

Vets come to dread the folded up kitchen towel that is presented during a consultation, the wrapped up bit of undigested animal vomit or excrement to show that bit of blood or strange colour! Even so, it is often very useful, and we can use it to get clues – which is helpful when the animal cannot speak for itself. But the arrival of cameras and videos on phones has really enhanced our work. People can bring or send us pictures or films of things that concern them, lameness perhaps or odd behaviour, which can help us ascertain whether a condition is serious. Filming an animal having a strange episode or a seizure can give us many clues about the location where the seizure has arisen, when it is unlikely to happen during a consultation.

Always make sure your animal is safe whilst you are taking photos or filming, and call your vet as soon as possible, but a short film can be immensely helpful when in the surgery. As they say, if only they could talk!

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Neighbourhood Watch

Don't swim in open waters: When it's hot, it can be very tempting to take a cold dip in an idyllic location. Don't! Not merely do you endanger your own life, but also the lives of others if you get into difficulty and need help. Even for experienced swimmers, open water such as lakes, reservoirs and disused quarries can be extremely dangerous, with strong currents, sudden drops, steep sides, and things under the water that you might not see from the surface. It isn't worth the risk.

Parking: The main responsibility for parking now falls to Civil Enforcement Officers at DCC. The police have reported to them complaints about parking in Repton in Pinfold Lane, High Street and Main Street.

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

Holidays

When you go on holiday, do you have a willing neighbour to look after your garden or do you just leave it to chance?

If you have to leave plants in small pots unattended for a while it is worth putting them in a tray such as mushroom basket lined with plastic; make a few perforations at the edge so that the plants will not sit in deep water. You can also use capillary matting which will hold a lot of water much like a sponge. For indoor plants, put the pots together on capillary matting on the draining board and drape the matting into a bowl of water in the sink. Several years ago we bought a battery powered automatic watering system for the greenhouse using a water butt as the water source. It is not as good as an expert, but it does save a lot of work.

If you are fortunate enough to have a willing neighbour, do try to arrange things so that they only have to visit at most once a day. In the greenhouse, automatic window openers will do a better job at controlling the temperature than you do! Hanging baskets are the most vulnerable to lack of water, it is worth putting them in a shady position while you are away and if possible get them really wet before you go. We have dipped them in a water butt to make sure that they are thoroughly wet.

August is a good time to prune hedges including beech, hawthorn and yew. By now nesting birds will have fledged, and new growth will have time to harden up before the winter. Over time your hedges will gradually broaden out but don't be tempted to cut them back really hard in the summer; leave that till January. Early this year we cut one side of a beech hedge to within about 8 cm of the trunks. It has greened up very well and is now about two foot thinner than before.

If you have old overgrown apple trees such as Bramleys, August is the time to cut back large branches. You need to do it over several years and must expect a number of water shoots – the long straight shoots which will need to be thinned. If you need to prune plum or cherry, do it in August while the sap is still rising as they are very vulnerable to silver leaf disease.

Keep camellias and rhododendrons well-watered at this time of year to ensure that next year's buds develop well. At the same time, make sure all newly planted shrubs and perennials are well watered.

Now is a good time to order bulbs for the winter, daffodils start to produce roots in August so the earlier they are planted the better.

At the end of August, cover your leeks with a fine mesh netting to protect against allium leaf miner. Last year we left the netting on all winter and had our best crop of leeks ever.

Pinch out the growing tips to limit your tomato plants to four trusses outside or six in the greenhouse; the fruit will ripen earlier, and you will avoid having masses of under-ripe green tomatoes later on.

Jobs for August

Feed pots with a high potash feed such as tomato feed; by now most potting compost has run out of steam.

Dead head annual and perennial flowering plants to prolong their display.

Sow oriental vegetables such as mizuna, mustard and hardy lettuce for winter use. I put them in large pots to be moved into the greenhouse for winter.

Take cuttings of tender perennials such as geraniums, fuchsias, argyranthemums and salvias.

Pick, pick and pick your fruit and vegetables.

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Computer Security

Malware on your mobile

Today few people would neglect to install anti-virus software on a desktop, but many forget that mobile phones are also very powerful computers.

Recently, over 2 million Android users have fallen victim to malware in fake companion guide apps for popular games such as Pokémon Go and FIFA Mobile from the official Google Play Store. Although now removed from the store, they are still active on many devices.

To protect your mobile

Use a good antivirus app. Keep it up-to-date.

Download apps from trusted developers; stick to the Apple or Google Play Store.

Verify app permissions before you install. If an app is asking too much, don't install it.

Don't download apps from third parties, even if the 'same' app is in the official store.

Avoid unknown and unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots.

Keep wi-fi on your mobile turned off when you are not using it.

Think twice before giving an app administrative rights. They can give full control.

Never click on links in SMS or MMS sent to your mobile phone.   Go directly to the website of origin.