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

New Beginnings Repton, Foremark and Newton Solney Parish Churches Services in Repton Services at St Saviour's, Foremark Services at St Mary's, Newton Solney Readers and Intercessors Altar Flowers at St Saviour's United Reformed Church Services at the United Reformed Church Coffee Morning: Saturday 9th September SHELL Group: for young people aged 7 and over Harvest Festival and Harvest Lunch: Sunday 24th September Derbyshire Constabulary Male Voice Choir, Friday 29th September TLM Service: Sunday 8th October Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Baptisms Montgomery Bullivant West Marriages Elizabeth Yates and Christopher Berry Charlotte Ironmonger and Christopher Tranter Marriages in September Rebecca Cluer and Steven Hood Funerals and Burial of Ashes Michael Raymond Hickebottom Rev'd David John Talbot Rymer Obituaries Elizabeth Sarin (née Allan) Margaret Ann Quinton The Memorial Book Repton Benefice Healing Bible Study Groups St Wystan's News Sunday Club for 4 - 11 year olds St Wystan's Church is closed until Friday 20th October Worship arrangements during the closure Wanted, an Administrative Assistant St Wystan's Harvest Lunch, Sunday 1st October 'Open the Book' and Messy Church The Civic Service Soup, Cheese & Chat and Books, Browse & Coffee Local Diary Event Details Repton Village Show, Saturday 2nd September Newton Solney Show, Saturday 2nd September Repton RBL Horticultural Show, Sunday 10th September Repton School Concerts: Voces8, Wednesday 20th September Milton Lunch Club, Thursday 21st September Pig Racing, Saturday 23rd September St Mary's Harvest Lunch, Sunday 24th September Messy Church, Sunday 24th September MacMillan Coffee Morning, Friday 29th September Derbyshire Constabulary Male Voice Choir, Friday 29th September MacMillan Coffee Morning, Saturday 30th September Milton Harvest Supper, Friday 6th October Soup, Cheese and Chat! resumes on Wednesday 1st November Books, Browse and Coffee resumes on Wednesday 15th November The Great War Remembered 100 years ago, the Vicar wrote . . . A new political party Repton Village Hall Appeal Events 100 Club Repton Village and History Scouts: Change at The Den MusSoc: If you can sing, come and join us Repton Casuals Soccer School Repton Casuals Fixtures at Broomhills Lane Repton Christmas Tree Festival, 8th - 10th December Family Barn Dance with Bonnyrigg, Saturday 14th October Repton Village Market Stall, Saturday 4th November Repton Village Hall Repton WI Repton Village Society Scottish Dancing Repton ngs Village Gardens, Sunday 24th September Repton Village History Group Creative kinds of careers / all careers are kind of creative Mobile Library, Tuesday 26th September Repton Parish Council Milton & Foremark Village Matters Kind hospitality and a new bench at St Saviour's Milton WI Milton Village Hall Newton Solney Village Matters Christmas Tree Festival of Light, 8th - 10th December Collection for the Newstart Shops Newton Solney WI Newton Solney Tuesday Club Newton Solney C of E Infant School Vacancy at John Higgott's Almshouses Willington Surgery Seasonal Influenza Vaccines Pneumococcal Vaccine NHS Shingles Programme 2017/2018 Fairly Local Bacon Buttie Walk, Saturday 9th September Heritage Open Days, 7th - 10th September Useful stuff By bus to Derby Community Hospital Your Gold Card You and your Pet Pet Travel Neighbourhood Watch Gardening Notes Tomato bliss!

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New Beginnings

For many people, September is a month of new beginnings. In the UK over one and a half million children will start at a new school or nursery and around half a million will begin higher education. Many more will enter employment, including well over 20, 000 new teachers, while others will be changing jobs. In Repton, we welcome Karan Hopkinson as the new headteacher at St Wystan's School, and wish her well.

In all families children return to school with a mixture of excitement and apprehension as they begin in a new class. New friends, new things to experience and learn, new hopes and fears. For all of us, life is like a journey where we don't know what is around the corner. We may have plans in place but we know that no one can control their own future, let alone that of the country or the world.

For Christians, it is a great strength to believe that God is Lord of history. True, there are many unanswered questions, but in the Bible, 'His Story', we read how God can work out his purposes even through the mess that people make of things. I sometimes picture life as being like a maze – it's hard to see where I'm going. But it's as if God is above it all and can see the way through. If I look to him to guide me, he will show the way.

It's because we believe the Bible still has relevance today that a team of five 'storytellers' visits both Repton Primary and St Wystan's schools to present 'Open the Book' assemblies. So much of our culture is underlain by principles and ideas which come from the Bible, and we aim to present the major stories and events in a fun and engaging way.

We also welcome families to Messy Church each month. This is so named, not just because some of our activities involve paint or glue, but because we recognise that all of us experience a degree of 'mess' in our own lives. We don't have to have everything sorted to come along and be part of a messy family afternoon, where we find out more about Jesus and his plans for us.

You'll find more details of both activities on page 29. And, if these aren't relevant to you but you'd like to find out more about the Christian faith, do contact someone from one of the churches – see the contact list opposite. It may be that this season of new beginnings could be a great opportunity for you! We'd love to see or hear from you.

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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 and Intercessors in Repton

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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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Coffee Morning: Saturday 9th September, 10.30 – 11.30 am

Come and join us for coffee, catch up with the news of the summer, meet friends and enjoy the home-made cakes and preserves on sale. Everyone is welcome!

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SHELL Group: for young people aged 7 and over

. . . meets on Mondays 11th, 18th and 25th September from 6.30 to 7.30 pm. New members are always welcome!

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Harvest Festival and Harvest Lunch: Sunday 24th September

This year at our Harvest Festival we invite you to donate gifts of money to support the WaterAid 'Life-giving bottles' Harvest Appeal, to ensure that communities in Zambia and around the world will never have to face another dry season without clean water, and / or to bring tins and packaged foods for the Hope Centre in Derby, which distributes food to families who are struggling to feed their children.

The service will be for all the family and will be followed by a Harvest Lunch. Please let us know if you would like to join us for lunch.

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Concert by Derbyshire Constabulary Male Voice Choir
Friday 29th September, 7.30 pm

To continue our 180th Church Anniversary celebrations, we are pleased to welcome back the Derbyshire Constabulary Male Voice Choir for an evening's entertainment. Tickets for the concert, £5 for adults, include a buffet supper and are available from church members, or you are welcome to pay at the door. Please come and join us!

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TLM Service: Sunday 8th October

A special service led by the Regional Manager for The Leprosy Mission, Allister du Plessis, 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. The service will be followed by lunch.

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Baptisms

Montgomery Bullivant West, son of Charles and Sally West of The Crescent, Repton, was baptised on Sunday 6th August at St Wystan's Church.

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Marriages

Elizabeth Yates and Christopher Berry of Westfield Drive, Loughborough, were married at St Mary's Church, Newton Solney, on Saturday 5th August.

Charlotte Ironmonger and Christopher Tranter of High Street, Repton, are to marry at St Wystan's Church, Repton on Saturday 26th August.

Marriages in September

Saturday 16th	St Mary's Church at 1.00 pm	Rebecca Cluer and Steven Hood

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Funerals and Burial of Ashes

Michael Raymond Hickebottom of Brook End, Repton, died on Sunday 6th August aged 66. A funeral service at St Wystan's Church on 21st August was followed by cremation at Bretby.

Rev'd David John Talbot Rymer, vicar of Willington and Findern 1996 - 2003, died on Thursday 10th August. At noon on 1st September at St Paul's Church, Quarndon, a service of thanksgiving for his life will follow his cremation at Markeaton. David is warmly remembered for the help he gave to St Wystan's Church, particularly in 1998 - 9 whilst Rev'd Julian Barker was in Australia, and again during the interregnum of 2004.

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Obituaries

Elizabeth Sarin (née Allan)
1939 – 2017

Elizabeth was the second of the five children of Dr. Malcolm Allan and his wife, Kathleen, who lived in Repton in The Pastures. Malcolm was the Medical Officer of Health for what later became South Derbyshire District Council, and the Secretary of Repton United Reformed Church, where Kathleen ran the Sunday School and Elizabeth was a leader.

Of Elizabeth's siblings, Margaret went on to serve with the Methodist Missionary Society in Dahomey, West Africa, Robert became a consultant physician at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Birmingham, Christine was deputy head of catering at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and Ruth now lives in Montreal, where she worked as a nurse.

After Burton High School, Elizabeth herself qualified as an SRN at the QEH and went on to pursue a very varied career, demonstrating considerable energy and resourcefulness.

Among many roles in many countries, she worked with the World Council of Churches on a student work camp in Austria, where young people from 14 countries constructed a car park for a new Protestant hospital. In Florence she worked as a private nurse at a Roman Catholic hospital, and in Nazareth she trained Arab nurses at a Medical Missionary hospital. More than once she had to interpret and communicate in various languages entirely by using phrase books. In Holland, even though she couldn't speak Dutch, she looked after four children whilst their mother was ill.

Returning to England, Elizabeth married Ranjit Sarin, an engineer from Delhi, and worked as a health visitor in Barton under Needwood. However, in 1969 she moved to Canada to join her husband, whose work had taken him there. They lived in Manitoba, Elizabeth working in health care on First Nation reservations for the indigenous population. Later, the family, which by now included three children, moved to Whitehorse, the capital city of Yukon.

In July this year, Elizabeth died of a heart attack. Her funeral was in Calgary, and a celebration of her life in Clear Lake.

Elizabeth will be remembered with great affection, particularly by older residents and members of the United Reformed Church in Repton, who will also be aware of her family's contribution to Repton life over many years.

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Margaret Ann Quinton
24th January 1922 – 14th July 2017

Margaret was an only child, the daughter of Dorothy and Frank Nicholls, born in Epsom. Frank was a successful bank manager and so Margaret moved home over 12 times while growing up, but despite changing schools on a regular basis, she was very successful there. During the war she joined the Wrens, making many good and lifelong friends.

In 1946 she married Richard Quinton, an RAF pilot. Richard worked on a farm for a short time after leaving the RAF, but, after qualifying as an engineer, joined Rolls Royce in Derby, where their son, Richard, was born in 1948. In the late 1960s they moved to Pippins in Repton, and were very happy there. By this time Margaret had worked both as a cosmetic adviser and as a market researcher, and during her time in Repton, she served on the Parish Council. After 36 years together, Richard died in 1982, nursed by Margaret during the last 18 months of his life.

Margaret moved out of Pippins and, after some months in a flat, bought a house in Newton Solney. Her beautiful garden there gave her much joy, and no small amount of work. At the age of 80, it became too much for her and she moved again, this time back to Repton, into Brook House. She showed an amazing determination to get a flat there, almost before Repton School handed it over.

Margaret thoroughly enjoyed playing bridge with her many friends. She loved tennis and Wimbledon, watching avidly every year, sometimes lucky enough to go. A long-term member of NADFAS, she loved going to lectures, plays, musicals, ballet and visiting museums. With Molly, a childhood friend, she went on cruises and visited many places across Europe. She was a regular churchgoer and strong in her faith.

A doughty lady, some would say feisty, Margaret was certainly indomitable. Always immaculately dressed, she both respected and reflected the highest standards of her generation, but she also had the light of life, a sparkle and infectious humour, an ability to talk to young and old alike, and was always interested in the action of the day. For the family – she was a great grandmother to 5 – there were particular memories of pavlova, meringues and yummy chocolate cake, but all who knew her will miss her for her sparkling wit and good company.

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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

Healing

Intercessory Prayer for Healing meets at 3 Richmond Court at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 5th September. If you would like us to pray for you or for someone you know, please contact Wendy Longden on 703259.

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Bible Study Groups

28 The Pastures: After our summer break, we will be looking at passages from the Gospels on the theme of 'Meeting Jesus'. September meetings are on 14th and 28th from 7.30 to 9 pm. New members are welcome. Please contact Julia Stentoft on 704436 or Ruth Attwood, 702804.

Woodend Cottage: Autumn dates for the group are 14th September, 12th and 26th October, and 9th and 23rd November. All start at 7.30 pm. Having completed the Bible Course which gave an overview of the whole Bible, we will be studying Luke's Gospel, looking at who wrote it, when and where, and for whom. We will then look at the picture of Jesus as portrayed by Luke.

Newton Solney: The next meeting of the Group will be on Wednesday 6th September at 2 pm in St Mary's Church. We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. On 6th September we will begin looking at the Prophet Isaiah. All are very welcome!

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St Wystan's News

Sunday Club for 4 - 11 year olds

Continues at 9.45 services in Repton village hall while the church is closed.   Join us for Bible stories, craft & games.   All are most welcome!   Ring Jane Griffiths for more details.

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St Wystan's Church is closed until Friday 20th October

Now that we have received all the consents necessary for work on our Grade 1 listed church – from the Diocesan Advisory Committee, SDDC and Historic England – we will be closing the church for nearly seven weeks in order to replace all the electrical wiring and install new lighting.

Service arrangements during the closure are shown on pages 21 and 35. We are grateful to our sister churches in the benefice, to the United Reformed Church, and to Repton village hall for offering to host us, but regret that some services and events cannot take place. We apologise to anyone who is inconvenienced.

Baptisms and funerals

For baptisms and funerals, please contact the vicar as we can offer services at our other churches, St Mary's and St Saviour's.

Messy Church and Sunday Club

. . . will both take place in the village hall. For Messy Church see the ad on page 22.

Cancellations

Bell-ringing will resume at the end of October. The Wednesday lunch – 'Soup Cheese and Chat' – and 'Books, Browse & Coffee' resume in November.

Closed means closed!

There will be no entry to the church building at any time.

The churchyard

. . . is not affected and will remain open as normal.

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Worship arrangements during the closure

Services not listed below will not take place
SEPTEMBER
Sunday 3rd	10.00	Parish Communion	St Mary's, Newton Solney
Wednesday 6th	10.00	Holy Communion	URC
Sunday 10th	9.45	Holy Communion	Repton Village Hall
	10.00	Worship Together	St Mary's, Newton Solney
	6.30	Evening Prayer	St Saviour's, Foremark
Wednesday 13th	10.00	Holy Communion	URC
Sunday 17th	9.45	Holy Communion	Repton Village Hall
	10.00	Parish Communion	St Mary's, Newton Solney
Wednesday 20th	10.00	Holy Communion	URC
Sunday 24th	10.00	Harvest Festival & Lunch	St Mary's, Newton Solney
	4.00	Messy Church	Repton Village Hall
	6.30	Holy Communion	St Saviour's, Foremark
Wednesday 27th	10.00	Holy Communion	URC
OCTOBER
Sunday 1st	9.45	Worship Together	Repton Village Hall
	10.00	Parish Communion	St Mary's, Newton Solney
Wednesday 4th	10.00	Holy Communion	URC
Sunday 8th	8.00	Holy Communion	St Mary's, Newton Solney
	10.00	Worship Together	St Mary's, Newton Solney
	11.00	Joint Service	URC
	6.30	Harvest Festival	St Saviour's, Foremark
Wednesday 11th	10.00	Holy Communion	URC
Sunday 15th	9.45	Holy Communion	Repton Village Hall
	10.00	Parish Communion	St Mary's, Newton Solney
Wednesday 18th	10.00	Holy Communion	URC
The church opens and normal routine resumes on Saturday 21st October

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Wanted, an Administrative Assistant

We are looking for an administrative assistant to work with the vicar and ministry team, supporting the work of our churches in Repton, Foremark and Newton Solney. This will be an interesting and varied role for someone with administrative experience, working on your own initiative and as part of a team in the heart of the local community.

You will have good interpersonal skills and can be totally trusted with confidential material. You will be familiar with Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Publisher and Excel. Hopefully you will also have some experience and knowledge of the Church of England, although this can be acquired.

The work will be flexible averaging 8 hours a week, although some must be at a time when the vicar is available. You will be required to work in the vicarage and in St Wystan's vestry for some of the time, but may also work from home. We are open to your being a volunteer, self-employed or employed by us. We are offering £8 - £10 per hour depending on experience and employment status.

If you would like to obtain further details or talk to the vicar, please contact him. Contact details are inside the front cover. Application will be by CV, including two references and a supporting letter, to the vicar by Wednesday 30th September.

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St Wystan's Harvest Lunch
Sunday 1st October, 12.30 pm

We would be delighted if you could join us in Repton village hall for this year's Harvest Lunch. It is a chance to make new friends and renew old acquaintances. It is 'bring and share' – every adult brings a dish for 6 people – and remember also your own drink and glass! It needs coordination to make sure we don't end up with only snowy eggs and trifle, so please contact Carol Lloyd for details or to discuss dishes.

A date for your diary: Repton Quiz Evening: Saturday 18th November, 7.15 pm for a 7.30 start.

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'Open the Book' and Messy Church

If you have a child starting at Repton Primary or St Wystan's School this term, you may soon hear them singing the theme song of 'Open the Book'. This is part of a national project to enable children to hear, enjoy and understand the relevance of the Bible today.

Each Tuesday morning a small team from St Wystan's Church takes an assembly for children in KS1 and presents a Bible story with the help of simple props, costumes and mime, puppets or pictures. The children often help with the drama or join in with an action song. Most of the stories are based on those in The Lion Storyteller Bible, retold by Bob Hartman and available from bookshops. This year we will be hearing stories from the Old Testament, including 'In the Beginning', Abraham, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and Moses. Do ask your children to tell you more or contact me for further information.

You are invited to join us at Messy Church

If you are interested in exploring more about the Bible and the Christian faith with your family, we'd love to invite you to join us at Messy Church.

Once a month families come together at St Wystan's Church to enjoy meeting one another, sharing in a variety of fun and creative activities, celebrating God together with Bible story, music and prayer, followed by eating tea together.

Our Messy Church at Repton is part of an international network of thousands of Messy Churches; you can find out more at messychurch.org.uk.

In September we will be in Repton Village Hall. Messy Church takes place on the fourth Sunday of most months – 24th September, 22nd October, 26th November – from 4 to 5.30 pm. Check the Parish Magazine or notices at the school gate for details. We normally meet at St Wystan's Church but, because of the lighting work there, we will be in the village hall in September.

Everyone is welcome, children of all ages with parents or grandparents, whether you have been to church before or not. To find out more, do contact me – or just turn up!

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The Civic Service

I was delighted when Councillor Michael Stanton chose to mark his taking office as Chairman of South Derbyshire District Council with a Civic Service in St Wystan's Church. So at the end of July, members of Swadlincote Air Training Corps directed parking and welcomed people into church. The civic party, including the Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire, the High Sheriff of Derbyshire, our Member of Parliament and others took their place ahead of mayors, chairmen and others representing various local authorities.

The service celebrated volunteers and the voluntary sector in South Derbyshire, something that Councillor Stanton wishes to emphasise. Readings and my address focused on why volunteers and voluntary work are vital to a healthy society. Several quotations were woven into the service; here I have selected just two, firstly from Martin Luther King, Jr:

"Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

and then from Albert Schweitzer:

"Wherever you turn, you can find someone who needs you. Even if it is a little thing, do something for which there is no pay but the privilege of doing it. Remember, you don't live in the world all of your own."

It was indeed a privilege to be part of such an inspiring service.

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Soup, Cheese & Chat and Books, Browse & Coffee

. . . are both in abeyance whilst St Wystan's Church is closed. They will be back in November. Lunches cost £4 with homemade soup, a selection of cheeses, and a sweet (but not a pud!) to go with your coffee.

Books, Browse & Coffee offers an excellent selection of books that you can borrow for free, and an opportunity for a chat over coffee and biscuits for just £1.

You will notice that 'chat' figures strongly in both. It is a good way for you to meet new people, and we enjoy seeing new faces. Do join us again in November.

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Repton Village Show Saturday 2nd September in Repton Village Hall Staging entries 10 to 11.45 am : Show open to the public from 2.30 Prize-giving 3.15 : Auction and raffle 3.30 Schedules & entry forms at the Post Office or the Show on the day Prepare to be amazed!

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 Royal British Legion Open Horticultural Show Sunday 10th September Entries 12 - 2 pm, presentation at 6 pm followed by auction and raffle 30p per entry        Prizes for 1st and 2nd Schedules available behind bar Donations welcome All monies raised in aid of Repton RBL

Repton School Concerts Society Voces8 Wednesday 20th September at 7.45 in the Robert Beldam Hall The British vocal ensemble VOCES8 is now established as one of the world's most versatile and best-loved singing groups, exploring a rich and diverse collection of choral music inspired by dance. From chapels and courts to cinema and clubs, this rhythmically diverse and harmonically rich programme showcases the ensemble at its versatile best. The programme will include Britten's 'Choral Dances', Stanford's 'Beati Quorum via', arrangements of folk songs, and contemporary arrangements of music by Justin Bieber and Duke Ellington. Tickets for this concert are £13.50 and £10.50 (concessions). Tickets for the whole season of 9 concerts cost £75. For further information or tickets contact Sue Parker, 56 Askew Grove, Repton, DE65 6GR

Milton Lunch Club Thursday 21st September, 12.30 pm in Milton Village Hall.   £5. Gammon and pineapple + Apple pie! Contact Lynn, 704540, Sue, 701978, or Polly, 703436 Everyone welcome wherever you live! If you need transport, let us know

Repton Village Hall Appeal Pig Racing Saturday 23rd September at Repton Village Hall An evening of laughter and excitement from 7.30 pm, first race at 8 Raffle        Pig auction Hot food, snacks & soft drinks available to buy   Bring your own booze & glasses Tickets £6, under 12s £2.50 from Jo Hinton and Mulberry Beauty Salon, Repton

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

Messy Church starts again for the autumn What a Wonderful World! Activities, celebration and food for all the family REPTON VILLAGE HALL, Sunday 24th September, 4.00 to 5.30 pm To find out more, email Messy Church or call Ruth Attwood. Everyone is welcome!   Come along and join inthe fun!

Coffee Morning in Milton The Swan Inn, Friday 29th September at 10.30 am Entrance £3 to include coffee and cake Buy cakes from our cake stall and if you are feeling lucky try to guess how many spots are on the cake. Be part of the world's biggest coffee morning in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support

URC 180th Anniversary celebrations Derbyshire Constabulary Male Voice Choir Repton United Reformed Church, Pinfold Lane, DE65 6GH Friday 29th September at 7.30 pm A varied programme including songs from the shows, traditional male voice choir, well known items by popular artists, solos and piano pieces, all together with a touch of humour! Tickets only £5, including buffet supper, from URC church members or at the door Come and enjoy yourself - everyone is welcome - bring your friends

Coffee Morning in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support Saturday 30th September, 10 am – noon 9 The Crescent, Repton Stalls include Bric-a-Brac, Raffle, Tombola & Books All Welcome Donations, prizes and anything for the stalls would be greatly appreciated. Phone Sue on 701619, or leave them in the front porch at the above address

Milton Harvest Supper Friday 6th October at 7 pm in Milton Village Hall Families welcome Tea and coffee included, but please bring your own tipple Vegetarian meals available, please mention when booking Tickets £8, under 12s £3 from Sue, 01283 701978, or Polly, 01283 703436

Soup, Cheese and Chat! resumes on Wednesday 1st November

Books, Browse and Coffee resumes on Wednesday 15th November

The Great War Remembered

100 years ago, the Vicar wrote . . .

It is with very great regret that I have to record the death in action of Rupert John Arnold, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold, of Milton [who have now] lost two sons bravely fighting for their country.

The fund for the new shrine has progressed very well indeed of late, and I have enough in hand to give the order for the more expensive design.

I very greatly fear that we shall again be forced to have our Evensongs during the winter in the afternoon. The only feasible way of darkening our church would be to have permanent blinds over the clerestory windows and large blinds over the east and south windows, or else to have al1 the gas brackets shaded. [The former would] mean gloomy darkness in the mornings; the chances are [that the latter] would not be passed by the authorities; in either case it would be very expensive, and we are very poor.

An anonymous article (itself unusual) recorded the foundation of a new political party:

"August 30th, 1917 may prove to be the day when the beginning of a real regeneration of our political system and through our land took place."

and appealed for Church support:

"I trust the pulpits of the Established Church will be tuned to give this new and great movement their whole-hearted support, and if some clergy are too fearful or too lazy to do so they should be prodded on by the Bishops."

This was the National Party, a short-lived British political party created as a right-wing split from the Conservatives. At its peak, the party boasted 7 MPs and 11 peers, but the 1918 general election saw only two of its candidates elected. In 1921 it was disbanded.

It is unlikely that the article would have been published without Selwyn's approval.

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Repton Village Hall Appeal

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

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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

Scouts: Change at The Den

The new term for Scouts starts on Wednesday 6th September at 7.30 pm at The Den. We welcome six Cubs who will be moving up. Mike Knowles has had to step down as Scout Leader and is replaced by Jay Large with Rob Jacobs and Oliver Allseybrook continuing to support him.

In September we return to Alton Towers for the theme park sleepover. Scouts will be camping amongst the rides, swimming in the water park, and getting an early entry into the park.

A huge THANK YOU to Mike Knowles

. . . from everyone at the Scout Den in Repton. Between Cubs and Scouts, Mike has been involved for eight years, and with dedication, energy and flair has helped to build a lively and successful troop. Under his leadership, six Scouts attained the Chief Scout's Gold Award, which is a great achievement. Although Mike has now stepped down as Leader, we are glad that he will still be helping out with camps, walks, and canoeing activities.

If you would like more information about Scouts, please contact Jay Large.

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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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Repton Casuals Fixtures at Broomhills Lane
		Team	Opponents
10th	10.30 am	Under 14	Uttoxeter Juniors
10th	10.30 am	Under 13 Blue	Uttoxeter Juniors
17th	10.30 am	Repton Royals	Edge Hill
17th	10.30 am	Under 13 White	Outwood Hawks
24th	10.30 am	Under 13 White	Albert Village

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Repton Christmas Tree Festival
St Wystan's Church, Friday 8th - Sunday 10th December

This year our Christmas Tree Festival will be raising funds for Repton Village Hall Appeal and for St Wystan's Church. Many organisations and groups in the village will be decorating trees, and it would be very good if lots of families could be part of the festival as well – how about you? You can choose your own theme this year which should give plenty of scope for decorations with a difference.

Letters have already been sent to those who took part two years ago (it is a biennial event), but if we have missed you, do let us know. And there is plenty of room for newcomers too. If you have any questions or requests, please get in touch.

Please contact us before the end of October so that we know how many trees to order. It would be lovely if you could join in.

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Family Barn Dance with Bonnyrigg
Repton village hall, Saturday 14th October, 7 - 10.30 pm

Once again this year, we are fortunate to have Mike Gentles and his band, Bonnyrigg, to lead our Barn Dance. Nobody does it better, so we know we are in for a good time! Anyone and everyone can barn dance, young and old, and the music is infectious, full of life and energy.

The ticket price remains the same at £10 for adults, £5 for children under 14, and £25 for a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) with a Baked Potato Supper included. There will also be a raffle and you pay for the bar, but the prices are very reasonable.

So book your tickets early; they always sell quickly - and it helps the caterers! And then prepare for a fun evening. Contact Frances Wimbush or Janette Goudge.

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Repton Village Market Stall
at Repton Sale of Work & Fun Day, Saturday 4th November

Last year, we amalgamated the traditional cakes and produce stalls at the Sale of Work in order to raise the profile of the village contribution to this major fundraising event. It proved to be a success so we will be doing the same again this year.

As always, we rely very heavily on contributions and volunteers from the village. We will be delighted to receive donations of homemade bakery (sweet or savoury), preserves, chutney, marmalade and so on. If you don't have homemade items, we also have a 'bottles and jars tombola' as part of our stall, so a contribution of practically anything in a bottle or jar would be most welcome!

And so, if you happen to have been particularly enthusiastic in dealing with all the fruit this summer, and have jammed or bottled more than you need, please think of us!

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Repton Village Hall

Every cloud . . . The dead space behind the village hall has long been a place where minor vandalism occurs. A more determined effort at entry recently has led to some rapid DIY, but has also provoked a useful review of health and safety and fire procedures so users will notice a few changes. Please go along with them. They are based in common sense, and it is a wooden building after all.

Site improvements

The risk of vandalism can be reduced by good design but also by having a better looking site. A team from the WI came recently to look at possible ways to enhance the green space around the hall as part of their centenary celebration in 2018. There is quite a lot of it when one stops to look, and we hope to make a plan when we know which way we are going with the hall re-development.

Keep in touch

Both in keeping the old place going and in preparing for redevelopment, I have been asking lots of favours around the village. Thank you to everyone who has responded so willingly. News and developments will be on the Facebook page and the village hall website, where important background information is already available, and you can also see pictures of the hall's decay.

Join in!

It would be really great to see young villagers join our team, learning how things get done. Showing support for your community can do a lot for your CV.

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Repton WI

Unfortunately, our annual WI Garden Party in August was cancelled due to the poor weather.

Our next meeting, on Tuesday 12 September at 7.15 pm in Repton village hall, is a craft evening. There will also be a produce stall. Please come along, make new friends, socialise with old friends and enjoy.

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Repton Village Society

After a quiet month, 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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Scottish Dancing

After a break for the summer, Scottish Dancing resumes in September. We are a small, friendly group who enjoy unravelling some of the better known Scottish reels. All you need is a pair of soft soled shoes (not trainers) and a sense of humour.

The new dancing 'season' starts on Monday 25th September from 7.15 to 9 pm, and then we are in Repton village hall on the last Monday of each month through to March. We charge just £3 a session to cover the cost of the hall. Do come and join us – it's good fun and good exercise! Contact Frances Wimbush or just come along. Newcomers are always very welcome.

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Repton ngs Village Gardens Sunday 24th September, 1.30 - 5.30 pm
Askew Cottage, 23 Milton Road : 10 Chestnut Way
Holme Point, Mitre Drive : 22 Pinfold Close

Combined admission to these four lovely gardens is £6, children free. Homemade teas are available at 10 Chestnut Way. The money raised goes to the National Garden Scheme, which this year has donated a record £3 million to nursing and caring charities.

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Repton Village History Group

July and August are quiet times for the History Group, but in August we enjoyed a visit to Melbourne Hall. Until its sale by James I in 1604, Melbourne was a Royal Manor with an unfinished Lancastrian castle built between 1311 and 1322. Its ruins can still be traced. The castle was demolished in the early 17th century, leaving Melbourne Hall as the most important house in the parish.

The Hall was originally built as a Bishop's palace. Its origins can be traced to 1133 when Henry I founded the bishopric of Carlisle, appointing Adeluff, Prior of Nostell in Yorkshire, as its first bishop. It was used as a residence for various bishops who wished to live away from the troubles on the northern border. Later, once these conflicts were resolved, it was leased out (including to Thomas Cromwell) but allowed to fall into serious disrepair. Around 1600 it was largely replaced by Francis Needham, and when Sir John Coke bought it in 1629 he re-developed it further. Lord Kerr, the present owner, is a descendant of Sir John, the family name having changed from Coke to Lamb to Cowper to Kerr as ownership sometimes passed through the female line.

The Hall contains many portraits, including some of the family by the present Lady Kerr, and many beautiful pieces of furniture. The weather was kind, and we were also able to enjoy the extensive gardens with Robert Bakewell's celebrated 'Bird Cage'.

Excavations

In August, we dug the first two test-pits as part of an ongoing project to locate the Anglo-Saxon (royal) settlement in Repton, and to find the extent and rate of development of the medieval village. One pit came to naught, revealing that the small beer garden at the Red Lion is laid on top of the car park surface. The other, in the Old Mitre car park, identified a number of interesting layers and finds, including a piece of medieval church floor tile. We hope to dig more than 40 pits in total with two more planned for the early autumn. New diggers are welcome.

On Tuesday 19th September we have our next indoor meeting. Ivor Sandars will talk on the 'History of the Derby Telegraph', with a few personal memories too. All are welcome to our meetings in Repton village hall. They start at 7.30 pm, members £2, visitors £3. For further information on the History Group, please contact Andy Austen.

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Creative kinds of careers / all careers are kind of creative
The Robert Beldam Hall, Wednesday 13th September at 6.30 pm

Freelance art writer, copywriter, blogger and old Reptonian Ruth Millington has had numerous roles from museum educator to Impressionist Art dealer's assistant before now writing freelance. She is an experienced commentator and speaker on such subjects as: The use of social media to sell yourself and your skills and engage with employers; Effective work experience and fitting it around your studies; Volunteering and other experiences that allow you to network, develop skills and knowledge, and to work out the arts career that would best suit you.

You are all invited - just turn up. Admission is free.

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Mobile Library Tuesday 26th September
Repton village hall, 10.15-11.30 : The Square, 11.35-1.00

The library has a four-weekly timetable, not monthly. In October it will be here on the 24th. For the Long Eaton base, ring 01629 531398; for the van, 0780 904 4405.

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Repton Parish Council

New Bench: If you have any suggestions as to where to put the new bench that the Parish Council has available for the village, please speak to one of the Councillors or contact the Parish Council office (see below). So far we have received only one suggestion, and as we are seeking a site which would benefit many residents we look forward to receiving further ideas.

New Litter Bins: The order has now been placed to install four new bins in the village. They should appear shortly. The Parish Council hopes that they will be well used and help to keep the village tidy.

Parking Complaints: The police have asked us to remind you that, where restrictions are in place, the main responsibility for handling parking complaints falls to the Enforcement Officers (CEOs) at DCC, not the police. To contact them, phone 01629 538671 or email parking@derbyshire.gov.uk. It may also be useful to look at their website, parksmarter.org.uk, which contains details of what they and the police can do.

Summer Activities on The Mitre Field have been well attended, and, with one event still to go, the weather has been kind. Over sixty local children attended the Play Mobile in August, and the organisers reported a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. The Parish Council is pleased to be able to provide these activities during the summer holidays.

September Meeting in Milton: Once a year in September, both the Parish Meeting and the Parish Council Meeting take place in Milton. We welcome the opportunity to meet local residents and hear your views.

On Monday 11th September a Parish Meeting at 7 pm will be followed by the Parish Council Meeting at 7.30 in Milton Village Hall, Main Street, Milton. All are welcome.

Parish Council Office, 40 High Street

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Milton & Foremark Village Matters

Kind hospitality and a new bench at St Saviour's

At the end of July we held our annual picnic and Benefice Service at St Saviour's. Sadly this year's event was not blessed by good weather and a rainy day put many people off.

Those who did brave the weather were invited into the home of Kate and Tony Garner where we sat around in the lounge, enjoying their hospitality and the drinks and cake supplied by members of the church. Wet weather puzzles had been set by the vicar and most people, young and older alike, had a go at solving them. A break in the weather allowed children to go on a sweetie search in the graveyard – rumour has it they didn't find them all, so you might care to go and look!

We are very grateful to Kate and Tony for their hospitality. Thank you too to others who provided cakes.

A magnificent bench in memory of the late Lawrence Archer

Immediately before the service, Rev'd Martin Flowerdew dedicated a magnificent bench carved in memory of the late Lawrence Archer who farmed for many years in neighbouring Milton. The bench was given by his wife Mavis and her family and stands just outside the front wall of the churchyard. The area has been thoughtfully landscaped so that those who sit there can enjoy the magnificent view down to the River Trent and over the fields around. It is a unique and beautiful bench that will be enjoyed by visitors and walkers for years to come, and we thank the Archer family for their generosity.

After the dedication, a service of Evensong brought together parishioners from across the benefice.

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Milton WI

Our charity breakfast in Milton village hall to raise funds for the Methodist Homes for the Aged was very well supported. Many thanks to all who helped and donated.

In August nine members visited the award-winning Hypnos Bed factory in Castle Donington. Following a short film about the manufacturing process, we were taken around the factory to see the beds and mattresses being made. After spending some time in the showroom testing the quality of the beds, we made our way to The Castle Inn for lunch.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 20th September at 7.30 in Milton village hall. Jill Barker will give a talk on 'The Runnymede Chairs'. Visitors are always welcome

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Milton Village Hall

Over the last two years, the hall has been extensively refurbished outside and in, with a new kitchen and a new heating system to keep you warm in the chillier months.   To hire Milton village hall, contact Polly Faulkner.

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Newton Solney Village Matters

Christmas Tree Festival of Light
St Mary's Church, Friday 8th - Sunday 10th December

This year's Christmas Tree Festival of Light will include ready planted mini-trees supplied with battery lights. They cost £20 and will be available during the last week in November, to be decorated and returned to church by 6th December. After the festival they can be collected and taken home.

Proceeds from the festival will be divided between a church project and the pre-school new building fund. As in the past we look forward to your support, working together to make this a village success. To book your tree contact Hazel Ward on 701244 or Carolyn Steele, 07779 601774.

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Collection in Newton Solney for the Newstart Shops

St Mary's collection for the Newstart charity shops in Burton will take place from the 11th to the 17th September; please look out any unwanted items (not electrical) to pass on to individuals in the community. The church will be open all week for donations. If you are unable to get them to church, please put your donations in a bin liner –or similar – and leave at the front of your house. We will collect between 2 and 4 pm on Saturday 16th. There will be a special Service of Thanksgiving for the work of Newstart on Sunday 17th September at 10 am.

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Newton Solney WI

At our next meeting on Tuesday 12th September, 7.30 pm in the village hall, Cathy McAteer will speak on 'All Things Russian'. Sue Ellis has kindly volunteered to provide flowers. Tea hostesses will be decided upon nearer the date.

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Newton Solney Tuesday Club

Our last day out before the summer break was a trip to Worcester. We were very lucky with the weather, everyone seemed to find plenty to do, and we had a good time. There were a good number on the coach, which helped us to cover our costs. Unfortunately, our return home was delayed, as we were caught up in traffic following an accident on the A38 near Stretton.

Our programme for the autumn and early winter up to Christmas is now organised. We hope everyone will enjoy the activities and speakers we have arranged.

Tuesday 5th September at 2.30 pm

A business meeting followed by 'Wartime Memories' presented by Dennis Ward.

Tuesday 19th September: Lunch at the Bentley Brook Hotel near Ashbourne

We leave the Unicorn Inn at 9.30 am, and return to Newton by about 3 pm. En route we will be stopping at Fairways Garden Centre for coffee. The cost of £30 includes the coach and a two-course meal, with coffee at the hotel and tips.

Tuesday 26th September: Whist Drive starting at 7 pm in the village hall.

If you would like to know more about the Tuesday Club or join any of our trips, please contact our Secretary, Jane, on 01283 564520. You don't need to join the Club to come to the meetings or on the trips. We will be very pleased to see you.

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Newton Solney C of E Infant School

Our next Community Worship is still 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 to note is Thursday 9th November when from 9.30 - 11 am we are holding an Open Morning for prospective parents for our reception class intake in September 2018. 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 on 01283 703461.

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

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Willington Surgery

Seasonal Influenza Vaccines at Willington Surgery

If you are 65 or over, or a carer, or pregnant, or suffer from a chronic disease such as diabetes, chronic heart disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, chronic neurological disease, asthma (if you have received medication within the last 12 months), immunosuppression, and / or are morbidly obese BMI 40+, it is recommended that you have an annual influenza injection.

Saturday clinics are available to book now: 23rd September, 7th and 28th October.

Pneumococcal Vaccine

Patients aged 65 and over are entitled to a pneumococcal vaccine which could be administered at the same time as the flu vaccine. It can prevent some cases of pneumonia. If you would like to receive a pneumococcal vaccine, please ask when booking your influenza appointment.

NHS Shingles Programme 2017/2018

This year we are able to vaccinate anyone who at the time of vaccination is aged 70 or 78. In addition, patients who were eligible for immunisation in the first three years of the programme but have not yet been vaccinated remain eligible until they are 80 – i.e. patients now aged 70 to 73 and those aged 79. Patients aged 80 or over are no longer eligible for the vaccine due to its reducing efficacy as age increases.

Please book appointments with reception, 01283 703318.

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South Derbyshire

Get Active in the Forest at Rosliston Forestry Centre
Bacon Buttie Walk, Saturday 9th September at 11 am

A walk round Rosliston Forestry Centre in the autumn sunshine, with a bacon buttie afterwards. Two miles, no stiles. £4 (includes buttie). Meet in the foyer at 10.45. For more information, call 01283 563483.

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Heritage Open Days
7th - 10th September

This September you have a chance to visit a local 'SuperHome' – an older home refurbished for greater comfort, lower bills and fewer carbon emissions. Visitors can expect to come away with plenty of ideas for improving their own properties.

Other places to catch the eye are a guided walk round Shardlow Heritage Centre and a tour of Claymills Victorian Pumping Station. Local churches include St Mary's Bridge Chapel in Derby, and St Modwen's and St Paul's in Burton. Calke Abbey, Kedleston Hall and Sudbury Hall and The Museum of Childhood are all putting on special events and exhibitions too. Search online for Heritage Open Days.

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Useful Information

By bus to Derby Community Hospital

If you don't drive, it can be quite a trek from Derby bus station to the Community Hospital in London Road, especially if you find walking difficult. But there is an easier way.

Take the V3 to Littleover and, at the junction of the Burton Road with the Ring Road (Manor Road), get off at the first stop after the traffic lights. There is a shelter and seat where you then wait for the small blue or red hospital bus that runs every 12 minutes Monday to Friday between Derby Royal and the Community Hospital. For visiting at 2 pm the V3 bus that leaves Repton at 1.20 will get you there just after 2.

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Your Gold Card

Derbyshire County Council suggests we check the expiry date on Gold Cards. Thousands are due to expire in the next few months. Existing card holders who haven't received a new card are urged to renew online at derbyshire.gov.uk/renewyourgoldcard.

If

your current card is due to expire before November and;

your name and address have not changed and;

you have a card due to age or

you have a Gold Card due to a disability and do not need to provide evidence of your continuing eligibility;

you can apply to renew your Gold Card now.

It takes only a few moments, and doesn't require payment or a new photo, just your surname, date of birth, and the number of the old card. If you have any problems, local libraries are also able to offer help with renewing online.

If your card expires after November, your name or address has changed, or if you have a Gold Card due to a disability where you need to provide continuing proof of eligibility, contact SDDC for advice.

If you have moved out of Derbyshire altogether, you still qualify for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme pass in your new local authority area, but you are no longer entitled to a Derbyshire Gold Card.

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You and your Pet

Pet Travel

We are getting more and more requests for pet passports for travel overseas. Often they are for holidays, but as people travel more freely for work, they are also needed for emigration. The rules have been relaxed and the days of quarantine and blood testing for re-entry to the UK have gone. However, every country has its own requirements and some are definitely more straightforward than others! You will need to check for the countries you are visiting.

If an animal is to come back to the UK, it must have a microchip and a passport, and must have had a rabies vaccination three weeks before entry. Dogs must also be treated for tapeworm between 1 and 5 days before re-entry to the UK.

If you don't follow these rules, your pet may be put into quarantine for up to 4 months – or refused entry if you travelled by sea. You are responsible for any fees or charges.

All this may seem an unnecessary hassle, but we in this country are fortunate to have been free from rabies for many years; it would be disastrous if it were re-introduced. The requirement for tapeworm treatment is also a public health measure. The tapeworm can be carried by dogs and passed on to humans, causing a potentially fatal disease.

Even though it is no longer a requirement of the passport, we advise that when abroad you keep your pet up-to-date with tick treatment as again we are very lucky where we live: ticks abroad carry many more deadly diseases for our pets. For more information visit www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/overview.

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Neighbourhood Watch

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

Tomato bliss!

This year we picked the first of our unheated crop at the end of June and expect to continue picking into November, over four months of tomato bliss. But why do our own tomatoes taste so much better than those from the supermarket?

Commercial growers need to produce uniform, round, red, long lasting fruit. They do this wonderfully well, but that's what you get – round, red and tasteless. Those on which you have lavished care taste so much better. Of course – you have grown them yourself! But there are other reasons why your own are so much nicer.

You can choose a sweet tasting variety. My usual choices are 'Shirley' for a large tomato, and for a cherry tomato, 'Sweet Million' or 'Gardener's Delight'. Shirley is an old commercial variety. It is disease resistant and produces a generous, meaty fruit. Sweet Million is delicious and reliable.

Your own tomatoes fully ripen on the plant.

They are freshly picked.

Home-grown tomatoes are usually produced in the sunny, summer months. Plenty of light gives those important ingredients of flavour, sugar, acids and solids.

There are advantages to being less skilled than professional growers! They achieve very high yields, but the flavoursome ingredients are spread around more thinly. Badly grown tomatoes sometimes taste best!

You can be assured that no chemicals have been used in their culture or marketing. (My own are not sprayed but I do sometimes feed them with comfrey or a seaweed-based product.)

I have grown grafted tomatoes for years and recommend them highly. I also use an automatic watering system. I have one Shirley type, Elegance, and one baby plum-type, Aviditas. Each is allowed to produce three side-shoots in addition to the main stem, which gives us enough for eating and for freezing.

This year we grew a grafted cucumber for the first time – and probably the last. It is like the magic porridge pot, it just keeps on producing baby cues. They are tasty, but there is only so much you can do with a cucumber!

Jobs for September

This is a good time to divide perennials: the soil is warm and there is plenty of moisture.

Plant spring-flowering bulbs except for tulips. Most people plant too shallowly and too closely: bulbs will flower the first year whatever you do with them, but in subsequent years you won't get any flowers. Try to plant at a depth of three times the bulb size. If you have too many bulbs, plant them in a pot to use in a gap in the garden later.

Dead-head. Hanging baskets will often keep on flowering until the first frost.

Sweetcorn is ready when the silky tassels at the end of the cobs turn brown, and when you pinch a kernel the juice is milky.

Keep picking your French and runner beans. You may not need to water after all the rain we have had.

Pot up mint for the kitchen windowsill.

And finally, do enter your flowers and vegetables into the local shows. Even if you win nothing, it's fun, and you learn from chatting and comparing notes with others there.