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

The three Rs revisited We will remember them! 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 Shell (for children aged 7+) Christmas Party: Saturday 2nd December Advent Carol Service: Sunday 3rd December at 6 pm Roman Catholic Churches Christmas Mass at SS Peter and Paul and St Joseph's Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Baptisms Henry John Minto Betsy Grace Clark Marriages in December Katie Gooding and Thomas Hunt Issy Bucknall and Thomas Higgs The Memorial Book Repton Benefice Christmas Services and Carols Housegroups Vicar Braves the Shave St Wystan's News Sunday Club for 4 - 11 year olds Repton Procession of Carols Local Diary Event Details Concert with Soup & Sweet, Friday 1st December Christingle @ Messy Church and Worship Together, Sunday 3rd December Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 6th December Repton Christmas Tree Festival, 8th - 10th December Pot Pourri, Friday 8th December St Mary’s Christmas Tree Festival of Light, 8th - 10th December St Mary's Festival Concert, Saturday 9th December Repton School Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, Sunday 10th December Christmas Bands Concert, Wednesday 13th December Milton Lunch Club, Thursday 14th December Books, Browse and Coffee, Wednesday 20th December The Great War Remembered 100 years ago, the Vicar wrote . . . Repton Village Hall A great result! Repton Village Hall Appeal Round-up The Village Hall Jigsaw Puzzle Village Hall Appeal 100 Club Repton Village and History Repton Christmas Tree Festival Repton Casuals Fixtures at Broomhills Lane Repton Baby and Toddler Carols on the Green Scouts Thank You!   Sale of Work Repton Village Society Repton WI Repton Village History Group Stocking Fillers Repton Parish Council Milton & Foremark Village Matters Milton Village Hall Turning on the lights, Friday 1st December Milton Christmas Party, Friday 8th December Milton WI Newton Solney Village Matters Newton Solney Tuesday Club Newton Solney WI Newton Solney C of E Infant School Newton Solney Parish Council Willington Surgery Audiology Services Influenza and pneumonia vaccines GP Trainees South Derbyshire Army Cadets What's On Mince pie and mulled wine walk Further Afield Derby & District Scouts deliver your Christmas mail You and your Pet Beware of the Fruit Cake! Neighbourhood Watch Only let Santa in! Police Advice Gardening Notes

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The three Rs revisited

What is Christmas all about? For some, perhaps for many, it is about debt, about guilt or loneliness, about pressure and stress. A focus on shopping and the 'must dos and must haves', so loved by the media, distances people from its true meaning. Even sending Christmas cards can provoke guilt: "We dropped them from our list, but now they've sent one to us!" And so our celebration of this most precious festival is tarnished.

In schools since 1818 we have had the three Rs, reading, writing and arithmetic. Now we have three new ones: resourcefulness, responsibility and respect. But can I suggest to you a set for December: remember, resist, and rediscover. Remember the simplicity of the incarnation, God becoming man, Jesus born in a stable, no wealth, no power, but with joy and peace and love. That simplicity can, if we allow it, help us to resist over-indulgence, be it at the office party, Christmas lunch, or buying mountains of gifts for the children. Resisting those pressures can help us rediscover the truly good things, the things that come with loving, with sharing, with generosity and warmth of heart, with compassion and caring, with real joy and peace. We will find that they are more important and more bountiful than we can ever imagine.

So where to begin? Recently I came across this idea. If you haven't yet bought presents, arrange with your family and friends to give them something of your own, and for them to do the same to you. It is likely to be more precious in the giving and more treasured in the receiving, because you are sharing things that are personal. A further step might be to give the money you would have spent on presents to a charitable cause.

If you do have to buy a gift, you can help to save the planet by refusing to give plastic, buying gifts that are made from wood, books made from paper, fair-trade items made by people, not by profit-driven companies.

You might hand make a card and hand deliver it, taking time and giving it to the person directly. Have a conversation, have a hug. Maybe even have a kiss. It is too easy to post cards, too easy to say "I haven't time". Good, strong relationships cost, they cost love and time, but give of those to others and rediscover the joys of being close.

We who are older remember when Christmas was simpler and seemed more enjoyable. These are not romantic images we have created, they are what used to be. We have lost so much that was good. As a person in the public eye I fear what reaction I would get now if I were to produce a piece of mistletoe! That loss, of innocence, of simplicity, of gathering together as families and friends, is part of why so many are incredibly lonely, so many are living for themselves rather than for others, why so many search for inspirational leadership to help us recapture the joy of living. But that leadership has been ours forever, for all we truly need, all we ever need, is to follow in the ways of the child whose season this is, the child born in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ.

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We will remember them!

Repton

Wednesday 1st November, Rededication of the Memorial in Repton Church

Following the 10 am communion service nearly 20 people gathered in St Wystan's Church porch to re-dedicate our carved wooden War Memorial, 100 years to the day after it was originally dedicated by the Bishop of Derby. Repton British Legion was represented both by members and the Standard.

Saturday 11th November, Remembrance Day,

In a short Act of Witness, villagers and members of the British Legion gathered at Repton War Memorial to mark the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month on this, the 99th year since the guns fell silent.

Sunday 12th November at 10.45 in St Wystan's

We were blessed with fine weather once again as the local Scout and Guide movements turned out in force to support the Royal British Legion Club in the parade. It was a delight to see so many youngsters, with uniformed organisations, representatives from St Wystan's School, a choir from Repton Primary School and a group of Cadets and Officers from Repton School, as well as Bretby Freemasons, dignitaries and many villagers. With over 400 attending, St Wystan's was again very full, and we apologise to the many who had to stand throughout the service. We will try to arrange more seating in future.

As ever the young standard bearers – including Sophie Hedges (Beavers), Joshua Bhardwaj (Cubs), Sam Auterson (Scouts), and Matthew Elliott (Repton British Legion) – were splendid. George Elliott, Chairman of the Repton Branch read the Roll of Honour, as well as the familiar words of Laurence Binyon and the Kohima Epitaph. A trumpeter from Repton School played The Last Post and Reveille, and a Repton Primary School choir movingly sang 'A Wish for Peace'. Gerald Gibbs led prayers, and Nick Parish read 'Breakfast', a poem by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson that brought sharply into focus the mundane familiarity of death in the trenches.

After the service the congregation gathered around the War Memorial. Wreaths were laid by Brigadier Edward Wilkinson, Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire, George Elliot, President of the Repton Branch of the Royal British Legion, and Trevor Skeith on behalf of Repton Parish Council. Beth Wyatt, Alex Cheeseman, Haydn Simpkins, Jack Seacombe laid wreaths on behalf of the Scouts and Cubs, and Nancy Goulden with Jack Harling and Stanley Corbett with Fiona Haldar laid wreaths on behalf of Repton Primary and St Wystan's Schools respectively, and a wreath was laid on behalf of the Masons. Then, with the Deputy Lieutenant taking the salute at The Cross, the parade processed back to the Legion for refreshments.

Newton Solney

At the Service of Remembrance at St Mary's, those from the village who sacrificed their lives in conflicts over the past century were remembered prior to the two minutes silence for all who gave their lives and for those who continue to suffer the consequences of war. Fred Hill, the Chairman of the Parish Council, read their names and laid a wreath of poppies at the War Memorial in church.

Foremark

The Headmaster, Richard Merriman, led the Act of Remembrance, with the names of those who had lost their lives including a former pupil. Two of the pupils laid a wreath, before a trumpeter from the school, Oliver Ewart-White, played The Last Post and Reveille. During the service Foremarke Hall Chamber Choir with soloists Hatti Harman and Megan Prince sang Nella Fantasia.

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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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SHELL Group: for young people aged 7 and over

. . . meets on Mondays 4th and 11th December from 6.30 to 7.30 pm. New members are always welcome!

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Christmas Party: Saturday 2nd December

Members of SHELL and Junior Church will join together at 3 pm for their Christmas Party.

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Advent Carol Service: Sunday 3rd December at 6 pm

Everyone is invited to join us to celebrate the beginning of Advent at a joint Carol Service for South Derbyshire Association of United Reformed Churches to be held this year at Alvaston United Reformed Church.

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You are invited to celebrate Christmas with us
at these special services at the United Reformed Church

Sunday 17th December at 11 am: Nativity Service

A special family Nativity Service retelling the story of the first Christmas.

Christmas Eve at 11 am: Christingle Service

A service for all the family where everyone will make their own Christingle to take home.

Christmas Eve at 6.30 pm: Candlelight Carol Service

On Christmas Eve come and sing your favourite carols in the glow of the candles and listen once more to the story of Jesus' birth, followed by coffee and mince pies!

Christmas Day Family Service at 10:30 am

Come and celebrate the birth of Jesus at a short service for all the family; remember to bring a present to show to everyone!

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Roman Catholic Churches

Christmas Mass at SS Peter and Paul and St Joseph's

St Peter & St Paul, 70 Newhall Road, Swadlincote, DE11 0BD
Christmas Eve	5.00 pm	First Mass of Christmas
Christmas Day	12.00 am	Midnight Mass with carols from 11.30 pm
Christmas Day	11.00 am	Christmas Day Mass
St Joseph's, Mount Street, Winshill, DE15 0JA
Christmas Day	9.00 am	Christmas Day Mass

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Baptisms

Henry John Minto, son of Matthew and Sarah Minto of 8 Holloway, Repton, was baptised at St Wystan's Church on Sunday 29th October.

Betsy Grace Clark, daughter of Lee Clark and Helen Green of 2 Mill Hill, Repton, was baptised at St Wystan's Church on Saturday 18th November.

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Marriages in December

Friday 1st	St Mary's Church	Katie Gooding and Thomas Hunt
Saturday 16th	St Wystan's Church	Issy Bucknall and Thomas Higgs

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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

Christmas Services and Carols

Sunday 3rd December

Christingle Service and Worship Together at St Wystan's, 9.15 / 9.45 am

Come at quarter past nine for coffee – or hot chocolate and croissants – and make your own Christingle before we share in a short service starting at 9.45. A collection will be taken for the work of The Children's Society. If you would like a collecting 'flame' to fill and bring on the day, please pick one up from the back of church. Gift Aid envelopes are also available. Children at Repton Primary School can collect a 'flame' from the school office.

St Wystan's Advent Candlelight Service, 6.30 pm

This service of candlelight and soft illuminations is a lovely way to celebrate the start of the Advent season. It includes well-known Advent carols and hymns sung by the congregation, together with motets and anthems sung by the Wystan Singers. Readings for Advent anticipate the coming of Christ and the Christmas story.

Sunday 10th December

Parish Communion and Gift Service at St Wystan's, 9.45 am

As in previous years, our gifts will go to support the valuable and much needed work of Home-Start in South Derbyshire. These are challenging times for all organisations that rely on charitable giving, and Home-Start is enormously grateful for our help. If you would like to contribute, please bring cash or a cheque payable to 'Home-Start South Derbyshire'. Your gifts will be received during the service as usual, and a representative will join us at the service to tell us more about their work.

Christingle Service at St Mary's, 10 am

This will form part of the Family Service. Everyone will be most welcome to join in a Celebration of the Light of Christ.

Sundays 10th and 17th December

Christmas Carols by Candlelight

The churches will be candlelit for these popular services.

10th: St Saviour's, 6.30 pm

For this service of traditional readings and well known carols we are joined by the boarders from Foremarke School, and the chamber choir will sing anthems. Afterwards, by the kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Merriman, there will be coffee and mince pies in the assembly hall.

17th: St Mary's, 4 pm

The warm, cosy atmosphere of St Mary's lends itself to a candlelit service. With traditional readings and well known carols this service will warm the hearts of everyone.

17th: St Wystan's, 6.30 pm

We celebrate the traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols, similar to that broadcast from King's College Chapel on Christmas Eve. Hearing the Christmas story as well as listening to and joining in some wonderful carols will remind our hearts and minds of what Christmas really means.

Out and About, Carol Singing

Thursday 14th December, 5.30 pm, Repton Procession of Carols

A new event this year for adults and children alike, with thanks to The Boot for taking the initiative and asking! For details see below.

Wednesday 20th December, 8 pm: Carols in the Brickmakers, Newton Solney

An informal singalong of our favourite carols – everyone welcome.

Friday 22nd December, 6 - 6.30 pm: Carols on the Crescent, Repton

Everyone is welcome to join in our annual singalong on the Crescent at the top of Askew Grove with hot drinks and mince pies to follow. Budding musicians should see page ???

Christmas Eve

Crib Service at St Wystan's, 4 pm

Everyone is welcome to this popular service where children sing Christmas songs and use figures from the crib scene to build up the Christmas tableau as the Christmas story is told. The Church Army introduced this way of preparing for Christmas and so we make a retiring collection for their work in disadvantaged urban communities in our country.

Midnight Communion at St Wystan's and St Mary's, 11.30 pm

This is the first Communion of Christmas, and at this hour during the night when Christ was born a very special service indeed. Sing popular carols and share Christmas together on this most blessed of nights.

Christmas Day

Repton, 8 am, Foremark, 9.15 am, and Newton Solney, 10 am

Christmas Communion.

St Wystan's, Family Carol Service, 10.30 am

The Family Carol Service with its focus on children and traditional carols is always one of the most popular Christmas services. Come along, join in, and share the true spirit of Christmas.

New Year's Eve

Carols and Communion for the Benefice at St Mary's On the Sunday after Christmas, a chance to pause and reflect in God's presence. Take a break from the sales and come to worship!

New Year's Eve Watch-night Service: St Wystan's, 11.30 pm

The Watch-night Service welcomes in the New Year and is followed by bell-ringing, bring and share refreshments in church, and fireworks in the churchyard.

In December we are also hosting

1st	12 noon	Concert and Soup & Sweet Lunch at St Wystan's
3rd	2 pm	The Derbyshire W.I. Carol Service at St Wystan's
8th - 10th		Christmas Tree Festivals at St Wystan's and St Mary's
14th	10 am	Repton Primary School Carol Service at St Wystan's
14th	2.15 pm	St Wystan's School Carol Service at St Wystan's
15th	7.30 pm	Rainbows Hospice Concert at St Wystan's
19th	2.00 pm	Newton Solney Infant School Carol Service at St Mary's

Housegroups

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

Woodend Cottage Bible Study Group will not be meeting in December. The first meeting in the New Year will be on Thursday 11th January at 7.30 pm.

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Vicar Braves the Shave

On Friday 15th December at the Rainbows Concert in St Wystan's Church, I will be shaved of beard and hair! Having gone public on this, I am now a bit nervous: what will I look like underneath it all? I have had the beard since my teenage days. Yes, it has come off a couple of times, but memories are vague, especially of the time it happened at a New Year party! And, of course, I am a bit older now and my face will have changed. But it is all in a great cause, raising money for the Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People. I know just how important hospices are and what wonderful work they do. Those called to work in a hospice for younger people have a very precious calling.

The idea of the shave came to mind during last year's concert, and now it is going to happen. I hope that many of you who read this will respond by sponsoring me. If you prefer you can go on line to my justgiving page, or there are sponsorship forms in all three churches. Thank you – and do come to the concert if you want to see the dreaded deed done!

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St Wystan's News

Sunday Club for 4 - 11 year olds
9.45 am at St Wystan's Church

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

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Repton Procession of Carols
for adults and children alike

A new event this year. Thank you to The Boot for taking the initiative and asking!

On Thursday 14th December at 5.30 pm you are invited to gather in The Red Lion. Nibbles and mulled wine will be served while we sing carols and there will be a few simple activity sheets for those who are younger – or young at heart and like a challenge.

Then we will walk in procession to St Wystan's Church, not singing now because we need to be very aware of traffic as we cross the roads; marshalls will be on duty. At the front of church we will gather for a few more carols, a reading and some prayers before singing a carol in procession when we leave church to head for The Boot. Once again great care will be taken on the road crossings. It is hoped that on both legs of the procession people will have lanterns glowing. Please remember, if you are making a lantern, to ensure it will not catch fire or hurt people if it breaks.

At The Boot, more light refreshments while we sing carols and round it all off with a rousing chorus of 'We wish you a merry Christmas'.

Concert with Soup & Sweet A concert by pupils from Foremarke School followed by home-made soup and a sweet St Wystan's Church, Friday 1st December at 12 noon Produce Stall Tickets £5 from Carol Lloyd or Jan Roberts This is a really lovely event; all are welcome. All proceeds to St Wystan's Church.

Christingle @ Messy Church and Worship Together St Wystan's Church, Sunday 3rd December, 9.15 - 10.45 am Come for coffee or hot chocolate and croissants, make your own Christingle, before we share in a short service at 9.45. A collection will be taken for the work of The Children's Society. If you would like a collecting 'flame' to fill and bring on the day please pick one up from the back of church. Gift Aid envelopes also available. Children at Repton Primary School can collect a 'flame' from the school office. To find out more, email Messy Church or call Ruth Attwood. Everyone is welcome!   Come along and try it!

Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 6th December 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!

Repton Christmas Tree Festival St Wystan's Church, 8th - 10th December Friday 11 am to 5 pm : Saturday 11 am to 6 pm : Sunday 1 to 6 pm £2 entrance, children free Saturday 3 pm - Christmas Carols Sunday 2 pm - Bell ringing Sunday 3 pm - Novice musicians entertain Saturday & Sunday 4 pm - Children's Christmas Story Refreshments and Craft & Produce Stall

Short Pot Pourri of Entertainment followed by mulled wine and mince pies St Wystan's Church, Friday 8th December at 6.30 pm Tickets £2.50, children free, from Morag Hill or Jan Roberts

St Mary’s Church, Newton Solney Christmas Tree Festival of Light St Mary’s Church, 8th - 10th December, 11 am - 4.30 pm Entrance £2, children free Friday 2 pm Carols with the children from Newton Solney Infant School Saturday 7.30 pm Festival Concert by Derby A Cappella and Alex White Sunday 10 am Christingle Service Help us to raise funds for St Mary’s maintenance projects and Newton Solney Pre-School Building Fund

St Mary's Church, Church Lane, Newton Solney Festival Concert with Derby a Cappella & Alex White Saturday 9th December at 7.30 pm Tickets : Adults £10, Children £5 from Sue Elson, 703604 or 07503 158 633, or Hazel Ward, 701244 Proceeds will be split between Newton Solney Pre-school new build, and on-going maintenance at St Mary's Church

Repton School Service of Nine Lessons and Carols for parents, staff and parish Repton School Chapel followed by a reception in the 400 Hall foyer Sunday 10th December at 6.30 pm Free. No ticket required

Repton School Christmas Bands Concert Repton School Concert and Jazz Bands and Foremarke Hall Wind Band Wednesday 13th December at 7.30 pm Pears School, Repton School FREE tickets are available from The Lodge (just inside the Arch)

Milton Lunch Club Thursday 14th December, 12.30 pm in Milton Village Hall.   £5. Christmas dinner + Christmas pudding Contact Lynn, 704540, Sue, 701978, or Polly, 703436 Everyone welcome wherever you live! If you need transport, let us know

Books, Browse and Coffee Wednesday 20th December, 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'

The Great War Remembered

100 years ago, the Vicar wrote . . .

Our sympathies go out to our valiant and true ally, Italy, in the day of her sore trial. There can be no doubt that never, almost since the war began, has the outlook been so difficult as it is now, but the noble defence being made by the Italians after so fearful a blow heartens us all to do our utmost on her behalf. At the Battle of Caporetto, Italian losses were enormous: 10,000 were killed, 30,000 wounded and 265,000 taken prisoner; 3,152 artillery pieces, 3,000 machine guns and 1,712 mortars were lost, along with a vast amount of stores and equipment. In contrast, the Austro-Hungarians and Germans, who advanced more than 100 km in the direction of Venice, sustained only 70,000 casualties.

P.S. Since writing the above we have all been cheered by the success of our army in France.

The Battle of Cambrai, which started on 20th November saw the first use of the new tank weapon in a large-scale attack. It was the only time the Allies achieved a complete surprise andon the first day the Germans lost ground. Selwyn was not to know that by 7th December, the British had lost almost all the ground taken in the first few days.

Digest

The Porch War Memorial was unveiled by Mrs. Fisher and dedicated by the Bishop of Derby on All Saints' Day, 1st November.   In memory of Haydn Pattinson his mother presented two silver vases for it.

The 'Sunday School Treat' could not be held owing to the impossibility of procuring the necessary provisions. The money which is usually spent on it will be given to the children, and it is hoped the parents will be able to give them some little treat at home.

The Sale of Work raised £139 2s. The largest donations were to the British Red Cross, £45, and Repton Nursing Association, £15. A total of £57 was sent to several missionary charities. Donations to local charities totalled £14.

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Repton Village Hall

A great result for our village hall!

In last month's referendum on the village hall 77.5% of votes cast were in favour of the proposal with a 'yes' to both questions. (For the proposal to be adopted, we needed a 'yes' to both items on the ballot form.)

For a local ballot, the turnout of 38% was remarkably high, and the 'yes' vote was higher than that on the questionnaire for the neighbourhood development plan two years ago. Of the 'no' votes, one third said 'no' to the precept change but 'yes' to the hall – implying an overall level of support for the village hall of some 85%. The electorate has now done its bit. The next step will be decided by the Parish Council at its meeting in December.

Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this happen.

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Repton Village Hall Appeal

2018 will be the last year of the appeal, and we are finishing with a range of events for all ages. A Beetle Drive on Sunday 18th February will be followed by an Oompah evening in March, although the date has not yet been confirmed. In the summer there will be an SOS Fashion Show on Thursday 17th May, followed by a Plant Sale two days later on the 19th. For the grand finale we are planning a festival for Saturday 9th June. It would be really great if you could support us on our final lap.

Tickets for the Halloween Party sold out within two hours of going on sale, and no wonder, for the children love it - games, fancy dress competition, refreshments, and lots and lots of ghoulish fun! This was another great success for Elaine Newbold and her team. The party raised £346 as well as money from the bar which is still awaited – presumably spent by the parents. (I wonder why!)

A very sociable Puzzle Day last month at Chestnut Way saw the total raised by 'the jigsaw' so far rise to a remarkable £1,100.

As I write, '3, 2 1, Blast Off!' has still to happen, but both performances sold out in very short order. That's hardly surprising following the great success of 'The Marvellous Machine' last March.

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

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The Village Hall Jigsaw Puzzle

. . . which is steadily being transformed from the old to the new, received a significant boost at last month's Puzzle Day at Chestnut Way; the total raised to date now stands at over £1,100. Very many thanks to everyone who came along and supported us!

There are still a number of pieces remaining, so if you have missed out so far, there will be more opportunities to buy puzzle pieces at future village events!

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Repton Village Hall Appeal 100 Club

Winners in October were Mrs. S M Hornsby, Andy Austen, Rosie Carpenter, and Julia and Roger Juneau. The draw takes place on the last Thursday of each month at 6.15 at The Boot. Members and spectators are welcome! 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

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

During the weekend over 40 trees decorated by societies and businesses in the village will light up the church. Do come and see them. There will be refreshments – with homemade cake! – and a stall selling jam and marmalade, cakes, Christmas decorations, toys, handmade bags and jewellery. You can name the doll and try to win a Christmas Hamper.

On the Friday evening there will also be entertainment, a short 'Pot Pourri' at 6.30 pm followed by mulled wine and mince pies. Tickets at £2.50 (children free) are available from Morag Hill, 702799, or Jan Roberts, 702159.

On the Saturday afternoon there will be carol singing at 3, and on the Sunday afternoon, bell ringing at 2, and a performance by novice musicians at 3.

On both Saturday and Sunday children will love hearing a Christmas story at 4.

You don't need tickets for these, just come and enjoy the atmosphere.

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Repton Casuals Fixtures at Broomhills Lane
		Team	Opponents
3rd	10.30 am	Repton Royals	Alrewas Athletic
	10.30 am	Under 13 Blue	Lakeside FC
10th	10.30 am	Under 14	Winshill
	10.30 am	Under 13 White	Abbots Bromley
17th	10.30 am	Repton Royals	Oakthorpe Athletic
	10.30 am	Under 13 White	Marlborough Rovers Black

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Repton Baby and Toddler

December is our favourite time of year. Children will decorate a Christmas Tree for the Repton Festival and Santa will be paying us a visit at our Christmas Party on the 13th.

In November, Etwall library popped in to read the children an exciting story, sing rhymes and give each child a special book to keep, whilst parents had an opportunity to join the library. Special thanks to all the parents who helped clean our toys.

We meet every Wednesday at Repton village hall, from 9.45 to 11.45, for everyone from 0 to school age. Just turn up. Find us on Facebook or contact Natalie Matthews.

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Calling all young musicians!   Carols on the Green

On Friday 22nd December from 6 to 6.30 pm we will once again be carolling on the Crescent, with hot drinks and mince pies afterwards. Everyone is welcome. If you play an instrument please contact me for a copy of the music. If you would like to sing, you can just turn up on the night – words will be provided. We hope to see you all there.

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Scouts

I would like to welcome Peter Tubby, a highly experienced leader, to the fold.

Over the last few weeks we have completed the Athletics Badge and moved on to the Teamwork and Artist Badges. This week we shall be doing a night walk to test map reading skills.

The turnout last month for the Annual Service of Remembrance and Parade was one of the biggest we have had in years. The Scouts turned out very smartly and showed great respect, laying a wreath after the service.

If you would like to know more about Scouts, do contact me. If you are interested in joining, please let me know and I will add you to the waiting list.

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Thank You!   Sale of Work

. . . to everyone who contributed to the success of the Market Stall at this year's Sale of Work, whether by donating homemade produce, bottles for the tombola or by helping on the day. It was all very much appreciated and helped achieve the aim of encouraging more village involvement. The stall raised a record sum of over £560, a significant contribution to the overall total which will be distributed among many charities, several of them local.

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Repton Village Society

Despite traffic hold-ups in Derby, Danny Wells arrived just about on time to deliver a surprising talk on the 'Art of the Christmas Card'.

The first cards were sent in the 1840s. With the introduction of the penny post in 1840 and new printing technology the market exploded. Now the sender had to pay the postage, whereas previously the recipient had paid – and it had been expensive, based on the number of sheets: an envelope and a single sheet counted as three sheets.

More surprising was the subject matter for many of the cards sent at that time. Dead robins, mushrooms, insects, a really weird array of images met our eyes but then they were acceptable and meaningful. With up to four postal deliveries a day, including one on Christmas Day, the last day to ensure Christmas delivery was for most addresses as late as Christmas Eve – how things have changed!

Many of the late Victorian cards were painted by significant artists and are masterpieces in their own right. This market died out with the mechanisation of printing, but despite the recent introduction of 'virtual' Christmas cards, physical cards are still prospering with charity cards a major part of the market.

Danny's talk was followed by the customary cheese, wine and chat.

Thursday 4th January, 7.30 pm at Repton village hall

With no December meeting, we reconvene in January to hear Dave Hollis talking on 'A Year in the Woods', a look at the woodlands of lowland Britain, featuring badgers, red squirrels, deer, butterflies and rare orchids.

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Repton WI

In October some of our members had a distinctly spooky night when they ventured into Derby to take part in a ghost walk led by Richard Felix and hear chilling tales from the past. Then two days later the Repton skittles team enjoyed an evening of fun and laughter at Burton Bridge Brewery and, to our amazement, won second prize in the competition. We put it down to the pork pie in the interval buffet.

At our November meeting, Graham Keal entertained us with anecdotes about his work as a cub reporter for a Lincolnshire paper and later as a freelance journalist that took him to America and Grenada. It was clear that in a long career his meeting with Eric Morecambe impressed him more than any other celebrity interview he'd done.

In December we have the Derbyshire WI Christmas Service at St Wystan's on the 3rd, Christmas Dinner at Mickleover Golf Club on the 5th, and our Christmas meeting on Tuesday 12th December at 7.15 pm in the village hall. There'll be a Christmas Fuddle, a Secret Santa, a quiz and a chance to create a Christmas card – and Christmas jumpers are allowed!

This has been a really good autumn for us with many new members joining in. It is great to see a mix of ages and people with different interests getting along together and contributing to a happy social atmosphere. We are always pleased to see visitors of all ages; this month we were happy to welcome a delightful baby girl – mum came too – so if you want to give it a try, do come along.

For more details of all our events and plans for next year – including Movie Night, Fizz n' Chips, Potty on the Patio and Laugh yourself Happy – see Repton WI Facebook page.

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Repton Village History Group

On Tuesday 19th December Keith Blood will be telling us that 'Christmas is Coming', describing the facts, myths and traditions of Christmastide. All are welcome to our meetings at 7.30 pm in Repton village hall. Members £2, visitors £3. For further information, please contact Andy Austen.

Graffiti to ward off evil spirits

Meanwhile, members of the History Group had the opportunity to learn a bit about graffiti and hunt for early markings in St Wystan's Church. The word 'graffiti' is a Victorian invention. Today we regard it as an unacceptable, antisocial activity, but not so in medieval times* when people believed in the power of evil, and would do everything they could to ward off the ill forces that lurked outside the church door, including drawing intricate designs intended to trap evil spirits within their interlocking circles and shapes. So we found crosses, the letters INRI or IHS, and circles, sometimes concentric and sometimes with 6 petals within them, as well as the ubiquitous 'witch mark' of the interlocked letter 'V'.

Of particular interest is the scratched peacock. The ancient Greeks believed the peacock's flesh to be incorruptible and St Augustine claimed to have confirmed this by personal experiment. The shedding and regrowth of their tail feathers hints at resurrection, the multitude of eyes in the tail suggest the all-seeing eye of God and the bird's reputation for killing serpents and being immune to their venom made them powerful protective symbols. Peacocks are also known to eat poisonous plants with no ill effects, another reason why their feathers are a symbol of incorruptibility and immortality.

Of course there are later markings; on the alabaster knight there is the stick-man of Lesley Charteris's 'Saint' (created in 1928) plus the word Togo, a name which may still be familiar to older Repton residents.

Togo

Togo was the nickname of Frank Atherley, a postman who was also 'chauffeur' to Dr Cronk. He couldn't drive but wore a chauffeur's cap and rode in the dicky seat. His job was to open the gates. In those days, not only did the big houses have gates but the public roads were also gated. One just outside the village at Park End (also known as Wood End), just beyond the new farm turning, was still there in the 1930s; the Wood End lads used to earn a few coppers by opening it for passing traffic.

There is a tale of Cronk's car standing in Green Lane where the doctor was in the Conservative Club and Togo trying to explain to the police that even though he was the chauffeur – with a chauffeur's hat – he couldn't move the car for them.

* Nor apparently more recently. A former headmaster of Repton School, William Bagshaw Stevens, who died in 1800, incised his initials into the fireplace of his sitting room at The Hall.

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Stocking Fillers

'A Historical Map of Repton', also published as an A5 postcard by Repton Village History Group, is available from the Post Office or Ivor Sandars on 01283 702688, and will appeal to all Repton residents, as will 'A Stroll through Repton of Yesteryear'. Other History Group publications that are still available are 'Repton - Historic Capital of Mercia', 'We Will Remember Them ' (describing local servicemen who died in the Great War), 'Remember the Blue Bus', 'The Repton Institute', 'William Astbury's Repton Diary, Summer 1843' and 'Notices and Jottings from St Wystan's Parish Magazine, 1889 to 1937'. Contact Ivor, 01283 702688.

The Repton Spoon is particularly attractive for anyone with Repton connections. A solid silver version is no longer available, but in silver-plated pewter it costs £35. There are pictures at reptonchurch.uk. Contact Frances Wimbush.

Greetings cards, the definitive guide to St Wystan's Church by Dr. Harold Taylor, and the 'Repton Trail' are all available from St Wystan's Church. The latter is a very useful guide for visitors and newcomers. For St Wystan's Church mugs, £7.50, and tea towels, £5, contact Karen Perks on 702392, or Frances Wimbush as above.

Finally, among the many guides to Calke, Colin Kitching's edition of the diaries of Sir George Crewe, 'Squire of Calke Abbey', gives a fascinating picture of Calke in the early years of the 19th century. It is on sale at Calke or on the internet.

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Mobile Library, Tuesday 19th December
Repton village hall, 10.15-11.30 : The Square, 11.35-1.00

The library generally has a four-weekly timetable, but following a break over Christmas it will be here in January on the 23rd. For the Long Eaton base, contact 01629 531398; for the van, 0780 904 4405.

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Repton Parish Council

Consultation on the Village Hall: We now have the results of the consultation on the Parish Council seeking permission to apply for a Public Works Loan to help rebuild the village hall. A total of 435 ballot papers were returned, of which 2 were spoiled, 337 voted 'yes' to both questions and 96 voted 'no' to either one or both questions. This represents a turnout of 38.1% of those eligible to vote. Out of the votes received, 77.5% were in favour of the proposal. The Parish Council would like to thank all the volunteers, including several sixth form students from Repton School for their assistance during the count.

Councillor Vacancies: There are currently vacancies on the Parish Council. As a Councillor you can become a voice for your community and participate in local matters. If you are over 18 and have lived or worked in this Parish for the last 12 months you are probably eligible to apply. Meetings are held monthly, with the exception of August. Further information regarding the role is available from the Parish Council office at the address below. Should you wish to be considered please forward your full details, together with the reason why you wish to become a Councillor, to Repton Parish Council at the address below.

Adverse Weather: The most up to date information regarding the weather, gritting activity, road and school closures can be found at derbyshire.gov.uk. The grit bins around the village will be replenished over the next few weeks

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

Parish Council Office, 40 High Street

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Milton & Foremark Village Matters

Milton Village Hall

The Village Hall Committee meeting on 9th November was followed by a village meeting to discuss the suggested increase in the Parish Precept to fund a new village hall in Repton. Kyran Farrell kindly attended to answer questions about the funding process, the research which had been carried out, and the facilities a new hall could provide.

On 11th November Miltonians young and old enjoyed the annual bonfire party. A huge bonfire, impressive fireworks, hot soup and bonfire toffee all contributed to a lovely social evening enjoyed by all. The event was funded totally by donations from local residents; any surplus will be given to the Polly Appeal.

Turning on the lights, Friday 1st December

The lights on the Christmas Tree outside the village hall will be switched on at 6 pm. Mulled wine and mince pies will be on hand to mark the occasion. Villagers and friends of Milton are very welcome to come along.

Milton Christmas Party, Friday 8th December in the village hall

Our Christmas Party is a family event. Between 7 and 7.30 there will be a children's playtime followed by a hot meal between 7.30 and 8.30. Afterwards, enjoy some festive games and a short mini-sketch performed by local residents and friends of Milton.

The hall will be decorated for the occasion, so do come along and enjoy good food and good company. A vegetarian option is available if pre-booked. Everyone is welcome. There is no bar so remember to bring your own tipple. Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for children from Sue, 701978, or Polly, 703436.

To hire Milton village hall, contact Polly Faulkner.

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Milton WI

Following our business meeting in November, we were entertained by Geoff and Kath Dayton, our speakers for the evening, with a mixture of Christmas and amusing folk songs as members foot tapped and sang along. Linda Murray gave the vote of thanks, refreshments were provided by Kay Dolman and Rosemary Mumford.

One of our resolutions this year was 'alleviating loneliness', and Milton WI has started a monthly supper club for members who live alone, hosted in October by Kay Dolman and in November by Sue White. Future dates and venues will be announced at our monthly meetings.

Our Christmas meeting is to be held one week early on 13th December in Milton village hall at 7.30 pm. Festive refreshments will be served followed by games and the exchange of bran tub gifts.

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Newton Solney Village Matters

Newton Solney Tuesday Club

In October our trip to Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet was well attended with a number of local people and friends in addition to our members.

At our most recent meeting, a Cookery Demonstration and tasting, Jenny West gave us ideas of meals to cook in the next couple of months and for the festive season. Jenny prepared canapés of Parmesan onion toasts, a starter of wrapped Stilton mushrooms, a main course of fish en papillote with vegetables, and for a sweet to complete the menu, a lemon layer.

The demonstration was both entertaining and informative as Jenny answered questions from the floor while she worked, and the afternoon was thoroughly enjoyed. At the end of the demonstration, the three main courses (three of each) were raffled off for people to take home. To complete the afternoon, the canapés were handed round for people to enjoy with their cup of tea.

Tuesday 5th December at 1 pm in the village hall: Christmas Lunch

Cost £10. Please feel free to bring your own wine or soft drinks. We will be providing tea and coffee as usual. This is our only activity in December.

For further information regarding Tuesday Club, please contact our Secretary, Jane on 01283 564520.

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Newton Solney WI

At the November meeting, members and guests very much enjoyed the talk by Mark Newbold, telling of his recent visit to the Falklands with 200 veterans, many of whom, including himself, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Staying with islanders, they experienced Falklands life, paid respects to fallen comrades, and formed new friendships. Mark continues to help PTSD sufferers with his support for 'Holidays for Heroes'.

Hazel Ward chaired the meeting, detailing recent and forthcoming events including DFWI carol service at Repton and a Christmas visit to Kedleston Hall. Angela Wilshire and Jane Kitto displayed their beautiful embroidery skills in the work they have designed and made to form part of a wall hanging to celebrate Derbyshire Federation Centenary next year.

The Christmas meeting on Tuesday 12th December will include a bring & share supper, a Secret Santa present exchange, a bit of party bling, and comedy sketches by Pat Hall. The Committee will be refreshment hostesses and Pam Haines will provide flowers.

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Newton Solney C of E Infant School

Community Collective Worship for parents, carers and local residents is on the first Thursday of the month. The next is on Thursday 7th December at 9.15 am. We would be very pleased if you could join us in the school hall.

During the Christmas Tree Festival there will be a service with the children in St Mary's Church at 2.00 pm on Friday 8th December.

The School Fair will take place on Saturday 9th December.

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Newton Solney Parish Council

Bonfire Night: Hundreds of spectators descended on the Common Ground near the River Trent for our fireworks show. The event raised £1,280, and will see a donation of £1,000 to the Pre-school Project. Thanks go to Roger Kerry, Chris Woodland and all who helped out, for their support on the night.

Dog fouling: Parishioners should notify nuisance behaviour to the Safer Neighbourhood Team. A £1,000 fine can be imposed for not cleaning up after a dog. A patrol team, who are aware of problems in Blacksmith Lane and the surrounding area, will be checking the site and watching CCTV to identify offenders.

Halloween Party: Youngsters had a 'fang-tastic' time. £160 was raised for the new Pre-school building.

Recreational Field: The Parish Council has received a £1,000 grant from Tesco's 'Bags of Help' scheme. The money, which is to be spent on the recreational field, will go towards the creation of the trim trail. The play equipment, which was damaged deliberately, has now been fixed.

Security: Following a number of incidents at the Recreational Field and the land by Trent Lane, the Parish Council has decided that a locked timber gate should be erected on the Recreational Field at a cost of £461.47 to improve the security of the area.

Speed activated sign: The speed activation sign, which has been out of use for a number of months, will be examined during the next few weeks. The Parish Council has requested that the highways team examine the issue urgently.

Planning applications

Pruning of trees at Bladon House, Winshill: Permission granted.
150 houses in Sales Lane, Winshill: The Parish Council objects.
Felling of oak tree at 22 Main Street: Referred to the County Council.
Demolition of 22 Main Street and construction of a new dwelling: Plans withdrawn.

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

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Willington Surgery

Audiology Services

From 1st January 2018 Burton Hospital will no longer provide an audiology service at Willington Surgery. The nearest centre for hearing aid appointments is now Wellbrook Medical Centre at Hilton. For further information, contact Burton Hospitals on 01283 511511 x 5188.

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Influenza and pneumonia vaccines

Early deliveries of the influenza vaccines allowed us to start our clinics in September enabling us to make great progress in vaccinating the majority of eligible and 'at risk' patients before winter really starts.

If you are eligible for an influenza vaccine and have not yet received it, please contact reception to book an appointment. Note though that our Saturday flu clinics, which were very successful and quite pleasant social events, have now ended. In the draw we were pleased to raise £200 for Patient Participation Group funds; four lucky prize-winners received £50 each.

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GP Trainees

Willington Surgery is very pleased to have been accredited as a GP training surgery. GP trainees are fully qualified doctors who can consult and prescribe independently but have not yet completed their specialist GP training. While working here, they will be supervised and mentored by the GPs in the practice. We are expecting our first, Dr Sophie Reiter, at the beginning of December.

Please help us to support new trainees. Like all professionals, they need extensive supervised experience to become good General Practitioners. If when you book in, the appointment you are offered is with a trainee, the reception team will always make you aware of the fact and check that you are happy to see them.

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South Derbyshire

Army Cadets Ticknall Village Hall

Ticknall Detachment of Derbyshire Army Cadets has been busy recruiting. Since the start of the school year, 14 recruits – aged 12 and in Year 8 – have joined to begin an exciting hobby. With military subjects, adventurous sports, leadership courses and much more, cadets develop a range of skills and qualities that will see them go further in life.

Cadets were very active during the Remembrance period. A visiting team of soldiers from the Mercian Regiment gave a thought-provoking presentation on the reasons for Remembrance Day, and cadets assisted in the Poppy Collection, raising £2,400 in Derby city centre. On Remembrance Day itself, cadets joined the Melbourne Parade and marched through the town centre.

If you are interested and would like more information, please contact me on 07748 332058.

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What's On in South Derbyshire and The National Forest

The autumn / winter edition is on the SDDC website – search for 'What's On in South Derbyshire' – or pick it up from Swadlincote Tourist Information Centre at Sharpe's Pottery. It is a great source of inspiration for ways to keep the children, and their grandparents, busy during the school holidays.

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Mince pie and mulled wine walk
Rosliston Forestry Centre, Saturday 9th December, 2 pm

A bracing walk around the Centre, finishing off with a warming drink and a mince pie. Meet at 1.45 for a 2 pm start in Rosliston Forestry Centre Foyer. Two miles, no stiles. £3.50 includes mince pie and hot drink. For more information call 01283 563483

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Further Afield

Derby & District Scouts deliver your Christmas mail

Stamp & Deliver is run entirely by volunteers, and all profits go to local Scout and Guide Groups and local charities, which this year are The Children's Air Ambulance and Derby Mountain Rescue Team.

Deliveries take place at weekends, when those under 16 can be supervised by an adult. Stamps cost 30p each, about half the price of the Royal Mail! By law, we can only deliver greetings cards – definitely no cash enclosures. For details of the delivery area, look out for the leaflet through your letter box, but in general it includes all of Derby, its suburbs and surroundings extending to Breaston in the east, Belper to the north, Hatton and Hilton to the west, and Ticknall and Melbourne to the south. Lists of the delivery areas are on each of the post boxes. Cards for other areas can't be delivered. For a list of all post boxes, see stampanddeliver.com or call 07930 760 655 between 4th and 19th December.

The first collection will be on Monday 4th December, with the last collection at 2 pm on Tuesday 19th. Cards will be delivered by Christmas Eve. Please use the postcode.

You can buy stamps and post cards in the distinctive yellow posting boxes at

Repton	Mulberry Beauty Salon; Redshaws Family Butchers; Royal British Legion; Samaras; Spar Stores
Milton	The Swan Inn
Newton Solney	The Brickmakers Arms; Jim and Jean Ward, 11 Blacksmith's Lane

We are indebted to them all for the time and effort they willingly give each year.

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You and your Pet

Beware of the Fruit Cake!

Christmas is great time for our pets, lots of new toys, nice smells from the oven, and long frosty walks. However there are many extra temptations that we need to beware of. Most people know that chocolate is poisonous to dogs, but grapes, raisins, garlic and onions can also be very toxic. Dogs steal mince pies and Christmas cake from the table, and if not treated promptly, can suffer serious, ultimately fatal damage. We need to act quickly because the main treatment is to make the dog vomit, removing the toxin before it passes through the stomach. We then give a liquid solution to stop the body absorbing the toxin, and, if necessary, a drip to help protect the kidneys.

Another very tragic problem at this time of year is cats ingesting anti-freeze. It takes only a very small spill in the garage or on a pavement to kill a cat. They really like the taste, but it is highly toxic and the tiniest of drops can cause irreversible kidney failure. Again, very prompt treatment is required. Signs of a problem are vomiting, depression, salivation, inappetence (lack of appetite), wobbly movement, twitching muscles, head tremors, increased thirst and fits. So do be very careful when handling anti-freeze.

On a happier note, enjoy those walks this Christmas, and watch out for the cat hiding in the tree!

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Neighbourhood Watch

Let only Santa in!

For burglars, Christmas is the busiest time of the year, and for you, a time to think about your security.

Close curtains if necessary to avoid lighting up valuable presents under the tree, and be aware that boxes left outside your home can be evidence of expensive purchases.

Property mark expensive, stealable items with an ultra-violet pen to aid identification if they are stolen and recovered. Note the serial numbers – frame numbers for bikes – and register them to the intended user, free, at immobilise.com.

Hide car keys, especially for high performance cars. Lock all doors and windows, and remove the keys! Lock tools and ladders away.

If you go away, leave security lights on timers, and ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property. Don't advertise your movements on social media.

Check that your insurance cover is adequate.

Are your locks adequate and up to date? Sash jammers for UPVC doors and windows cost pounds but give extra protection from intruders.

For a free security check, please get in touch.

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Police Advice

Cyber Security: Install the latest software and app updates on all your devices. They often contain important security upgrades which protect you from viruses and hackers.

Cannabis: In November six large bin liners of cannabis plants together with holdalls full of compost were dumped on Robins Cross. Police collected the cannabis, and the compost was collected by the clean team.

Fraud is rife in online private sales of cars and machinery. Whatever the exact method, it always boils down to persuading you to pay upfront, via bank transfer, before collecting the goods.

To protect yourself:

• When you make a large private purchase, always meet the seller face to face first. Take a photo. Inspect the goods before transferring any money.
• If you receive a suspicious email asking for payment, check for spelling, grammar, or any other errors, and check who sent the email. If in doubt, check feedback online by searching the associated phone numbers or email addresses of the seller.
• Contact any third party the sellers are purporting to use for the transaction. They should be able to confirm whether the email you have received is legitimate or not.
• Vehicles and machinery are often advertised well below market value. Always be cautious. If it looks too good to be true then it probably is.

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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Ten tips for your garden

• To avoid soil-borne pests and diseases, plant roses and other susceptible shrubs in cardboard boxes filled with 'clean' soil. The box will rot away after a year or two but by that time the plants will be stronger.
• Use willow clippings as a mulch around ailing plants: willow contains aspirin.
• If a plant isn't thriving, try moving it somewhere else in the garden.
• Prune shrubs at the right time of year before they get too big.
• If you want to keep a plant, give some of it away.
• Grow what you like, not what is fashionable.
• Grow less but grow it better
• Grow your veg as near the kitchen as possible. You will look after it better and make more use of the produce.
• Use one large pot in preference to a number of small pots. The effect will be better and they will need less watering.
• If you find a plant that does well in your garden, then get another or a similar one, geraniums and phlox do very well for me so I have lots of them.