Magazine Archive		Magazine Contacts	Church Contacts		Repton Church Home
The Parish Magazine Repton, Foremark, Milton, Ingleby, Newton Solney
June 2018

Three 'English' Saints 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 Group Cream Teas: Saturday 16th June Leprosy Mission Service: Sunday 1st July Lunch: Sunday 1st July Family Barbeque: Saturday 21st July Yard Sale at 5 Monsom Lane: Saturday 1st September Dates for your Diary Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Marriages Maddeline Lesley Jackson and Marc John Tams Marriages in June Robert Hill and Katie Tobin Scott Kelsey and Samantha Freeman Russell Hurcombe and Joanna Williams The Memorial Book Derby Diocese and the wider Church Barrow Church is celebrating Repton Benefice Housegroups St Wystan's News Sunday Club for 4 - 11 year olds Sunday 17th June, Celebrating 100 years of Repton WI Leprosy Mission Service at the URC, Sunday 1st July 8.00 am Holy Communion Local Diary Event Details Milton Open Gardens, Sunday 3rd June Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 6th June Art Exhibition, 8th - 10th June in St Mary's Church Evening of Wine and Music, Friday 8th June R-Fest, Saturday 9th June Newton Solney Family Festival, Saturday 16th June Book Swap, Wednesday 20th June Milton Lunch Club Ascot Picnic, Thursday 21st June Messy Church and BBQ, Sunday 24th June Newton Solney Coffee Morning, Saturday 30th June The Vikings are Back! Saturday 30th June Dr Cat Jarman, Saturday 30th June Summer Lunch & Cricket, Sunday 1st July The Great War Remembered 100 years ago, the Vicar wrote . . . Repton Village Hall Progress Report Thank you to Peter Court Repton Village Hall Appeal Fashion Show report R-FEST 100 Club Repton Village and History Scarecrow Competition, 16th - 17th June Evening of Wine and Music, Friday 8th June Gardens and Scarecrows Gardens, 16th - 17th June Charity Summer Lunch & Cricket, Sunday 1st July Neverest Orthopaedics Foundation Repton Village Society Repton Primary School PTA Scouts Garage Sale, Saturday 1st September Repton Table Tennis Club Repton WI 1918 - 2018 WI Centenary Celebration, Sunday 24th June Remembering ALL who served in the Great War Repton School Speech Day and Leavers' Ball Thank you from Repton Brownies and Rainbows Repton Village History Group, The Priory Mill The Vikings are back! 30th June Cat Jarman on this year's Dig Mobile Library, Tuesday 12th June Repton Past, with a link to Little Moreton Hall Repton Parish Council Milton, Foremark & St Saviour's Church Milton Diary Milton WI Newton Solney & St Mary's Church Newton Solney C of E School Open afternoon, Friday 29th June Pre-School Building Fund Newton Solney Tuesday Club Newton Solney WI Newton Solney Parish Council South Derbyshire Burton Bridge Anchor Church Environment Matters Swift Awareness Week, 16th - 23rd June Noise You and your Pet Keeping cool £10 Neutering Neighbourhood Watch Area Forum Lock your door Don't swim in open waters Gardening Notes

---

Three 'English' Saints

The traditional church view of a saint is someone who by their exceptionally virtuous and godly life was felt to be assured of a place in heaven. Some became well known as the patrons of particular countries or causes.

As I write this in early May, we have just passed St George's Day on 23rd April when we remember that curious legendary figure, a focus for English patriotism, who supposedly slew a dragon, originated from modern day Syria, and never came anywhere near England. Despite his foreign origin George was known in England from the time of the Crusades, and the play 'Henry V' with its clarion call, "Cry God for Harry, England and Saint George", tells that by Shakespeare's time he was firmly established as England's patron saint.

By contrast, Repton's own St Wystan, remembered on 1st June though not included in the official church calendar, is less well known. He crops up only in local church dedications, the poet W.H. Auden's first name, and curiously as the father-in-law of Horace Rumpole, John Mortimer's fictional barrister. Wystan was a prince of the Mercian royal family murdered around 849, probably as a result of a dispute over the succession. He must have been known as a particularly good man and was regarded as a martyr due to the circumstances of his death. This together with miracles – a chronicler tells that a column of light shot to heaven from the place where he was murdered and remained visible for thirty days – made him a saint.

Another saint commemorated in June, on the 22nd, is Alban, who deserves to be better known and would arguably be a more appropriate patron saint than George. A Romano-British citizen of Verulamium, one of the largest settlements of Roman Britain, he died a Christian martyr around 300 AD. The story is that he took in a Christian priest fleeing from persecution and was so impressed by the man's faith and courage that he volunteered to take the priest's place and let him escape. Alban was arrested and, refusing to renounce his new-found faith, received the punishment due to the priest, execution by beheading. Chroniclers' accounts and more recent archaeological investigation indicate that the execution took place on a hill above the Roman city and that Alban was buried in a cemetery close to what is now St Albans Cathedral. It seems that the burial site soon became a focus for pilgrims; there was certainly a church there commemorating Alban by 400 AD.

Even if we may not see all these three very different figures as admirable examples of godly life, they do tell us something about the continuity and Christian character of English history over the last 1500 years.

---

Services at Foremark, Newton Solney
and Repton Churches

St Wystan's, Repton

St Saviour's, Foremark

St Mary's, Newton Solney

---

Readers, Intercessors and Offertory at St Wystan's

---

Altar Flowers
Frances Wimbush, 703180

---

Brasses
Sue Parker, 702550

---

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

---

The United Reformed Church

---

SHELL Group

. . . meets on Mondays 4th,11th, 18th and 25th June. Activities this month include rounders, making sausage rolls, a sports night, and making Fathers' Day cards. New members are always welcome.

---

Cream Teas: Saturday 16th June, 3 - 5 pm

On the Saturday afternoon of the Open Gardens week-end, Cream Teas will be served in the Schoolroom. You are very welcome to join us there!

---

Leprosy Mission Service: Sunday 1st July, 11 am

We will be joined at the United Reformed Church by the congregation of St Wystan's for a special service taken by Allister du Plessis, Regional Manager for Central England and the East Midlands and Natalie Gibbs. Everyone is very welcome to come and learn more about the Leprosy Mission and the work they do.

---

Lunch: Sunday 1st July

Following the service, lunch will be served in the schoolroom with all proceeds to the Leprosy Mission. If you would like to stay for lunch please ring 701581.

---

Family Barbeque: Saturday 21st July

Lots of good food, a bouncy castle and games for everyone – or just the chance to relax in the sunshine – make this an unmissable event! Tickets are available from church members, or telephone 701581.

---

Yard Sale at 5 Monsom Lane: Saturday 1st September

Donations of items to sell, large or small, are needed for the Yard Sale which this year will be held on Saturday 1st September. Please ring 701581 to arrange collection. All proceeds to church funds. Everyone welcome!

---

For your Diary

Saturday 8th September: Monthly Coffee Mornings resume. Sunday 23rd September: Harvest Festival followed by a Harvest Lunch.

---

Marriages

Maddeline Lesley Jackson and Marc John Tams of 28 The City, Woodville, were married at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on Saturday 5th May.

Forthcoming Marriages

Saturday 26th May	Robert Hill and Katie Tobin	St Mary's Church at 12.30 pm
Saturday 9th June	Scott Kelsey and Samantha Freeman	St Saviour's Church at 1.30 pm
Saturday 16th June	Russell Hurcombe and Joanna Williams	St Mary's Church at 1.00 pm

---

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.

---

Derby Diocese and the wider Church

Barrow Church is celebrating

They have been awarded a Heritage Lottery Grant (requiring extensive match funding) to transform the interior of the church with a new floor, toilet, kitchen, lighting and heating, together with Wi-Fi, broadband and multimedia systems. The transformation will provide much better access to the building and enable its use by everyone.

St Wilfrid's is the parish church of Barrow upon Trent with a stable congregation mainly coming from the village.

As an Anglo-Saxon based church in a small village with an aging congregation and only 21 on the electoral roll, it is a constant challenge to keep the church open and well-maintained. The Knights Hospitallers were given the church in 1165 and left in 1540. St Wilfrid's is one of only two in the country that are known to exist in their original state as the Knights left them. It is well worth a visit.

---

Repton Benefice

Housegroups

Intercessory Prayer for Healing meets at 3 Richmond Court at 7.30 pm on Monday 4th June. 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: During the summer we are continuing our studies in Luke's Gospel. Dates are the 14th June, and the 5th and 19th July, all Thursdays at 7.30 pm.

Bible Study at The Pastures: We continue our studies on 'Meeting Jesus'. Please contact Ruth Attwood, 702804, for more information.

---

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.

---

Sunday 17th June, Celebrating 100 years of Repton WI

All are welcome to join in the main morning service at 9.45 am, which forms part of the Repton WI's Centenary Celebration. Members will be reading, taking up the offertory and leading the intercessions. We will also, of course, be singing Jerusalem!

---

Leprosy Mission Service

On Sunday 1st July, we will join the congregation of the URC in Pinfold Lane for a special service taken by Allister du Plessis, Regional Manager for Central England and the East Midlands and Natalie Gibbs. Everyone is very welcome to come and learn more about the Leprosy Mission and the work they do. Following the service, lunch will be served in the schoolroom with all proceeds to the Leprosy Mission. If you would like to stay on, please ring 701581.

---

8.00 am Holy Communion

In the vicar's continuing absence, 8.00 am Holy Communion now takes place only on the first and third Sundays of each month – 3rd and 17th June, and 1st and 15th July. We are very grateful to the Revd Michael Mookerjie for conducting these services. Please check the weekly pew sheet for any updates.

Milton Open Gardens Sunday 3rd June, 1 to 6 pm Enjoy a diverse selection of gardens of 14 gardens from small cottage gardens to larger landscapes Plants for sale : Tea and home-made cakes in the Village Hall Easily accessible : Free parking : No long walks! : Sorry, no dogs Entry £5 per adult, children under 16 free

Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 6th June from 12.30 to 1.30 pm in St Wystan's Church £4.   Homemade soup, bread, cheese, a chance to borrow books - and chat! Everyone welcome. Do come!

Newton Solney Summer Festival Art Exhibition 8th - 10th June in St Mary's Church Preview evening with canapés & drinks Friday 8th June at 7.30 pm Tickets £10 are available from the school office or pre-school or email nspreschoolbuilding@gmail.com or call 01283 702053 / 07708 943808 Saturday 10.30 am - 5 pm and Sunday 12 - 5 pm Open to all to browse and buy. Refreshments available Adults £2 on the door, children free.

Repton Open Gardens Evening of Wine and Music Friday 8th June at 6.30 pm in St Wystan's Church Sparkling wine on arrival followed a short concert by pupils of Foremarke Hall under the direction of Susan Bloor. Afterwards, canapés will be served, with wine available to purchase. Tickets at £10 include free entry to the gardens - children free from Wendy Longden, 703259, Jan Gillham, 703340, or Jan Roberts, 702159

Repton Village Hall Appeal R-Fest Saturday 9th June, 3.30 - 11.00 pm off Broomhills Lane An incredible musical line-up from 4 pm includes Mini Proms in the Park by Glebe Symphonic Wind Band followed by live sets of Jazz, Folk and Rock Licensed bar and refreshments available with fish and chips and pizzas Admission by advance ticket only: £25 (children under 16 £15) from Herbie Kaur

Newton Solney Summer Festival Family Festival Saturday 16th June, 12 - 8 pm on the Recreation Field A fun-packed day for all the family Live Music : Stalls : Children's Activities : Family Games Crafts : Food : Bar Children free, adults £3

Book Swap Wednesday 20th June, 11 am - noon in St Wystan's Church and every 3rd Wednesday in the month Coffee and biscuits £1, and a chance to borrow books and jigsaws Chat and loans are free! Also at the first Wednesday 'Soup, Cheese and Chat'

Milton Lunch Club Ascot Picnic Thursday 21st June, 12.30 pm in Milton Village Hall.   £5. Contact Lynn, 704540, Sue, 701978, or Polly, 703436 Everyone welcome wherever you live! If you need transport, let us know

Messy Church Wonderfully Made! Join us for (hopefully) outside activities, craft, games and celebration of the beautiful world and amazing bodies God has given us. St Wystan's Church, Sunday 24th June, 4.00 to 5.30 pm for children and adults, anyone, any age – just turn up! Stay on for a barbecue at 5.30 Booking required by 18th June. Tickets £5 for adults, accompanied children free To reserve a place at the barbecue contact Ruth Attwood. Everyone is welcome!

Barbeque Sunday 24th June at 5.30 pm at St Wystan's Church, Repton Tickets £5 from Karen Perks 702392 and Ruth Attwood 702884 Everybody welcome! Please bring your own drinks, glasses – and a chair if possible

Newton Solney Coffee Morning Newton Solney Village Hall, Saturday 30th June, 10.00 - 12.30 Cakes, tombola and fun! If you have any raffle items, can back a cake, or know anyone who would like a craft stall, please contact Val Hackett on 07727 815388. in aid of Leukaemia Research (Bloodwise)

The Vikings are Back! Saturday 30th June, 10 am to 4 pm on the Mitre Field When the Vikings were last here in 874 AD they used St Wystan's Church as a fortified gateway, built a defensive ditch around it, destroyed the monastery, and forced King Burgred into exile. Come and meet Viking re-enactors who will be camping here and living the part of Vikings. There will be demonstrations, historic tours and maybe the odd skirmish. Have a go archaeology. Modern refreshments will be available. For further information contact Repton History Group

Saturday 30th June at 4.30 pm in St Wystan's Church Dr Cat Jarman will talk on this year's Repton Dig and her ongoing research work Admission £3 For further information contact Repton History Group

The Neverest Orthopaedic Foundation Summer Lunch & Cricket Sunday 1st July, 12 noon to 6.30 pm The Marquee on Repton School Paddock Live music from Uttoxeter Brass Band and The Soulm8ts Auction with Charles Hanson Entertainment, a cash bar and free parking Tables of up to 10 £350. Individual bookings available For enquiries & bookings, neveresttickets@gmail.com or 01335 330758

The Great War Remembered

100 years ago, the Vicar wrote . . .

Up to the time of writing the war on land has been extraordinarily quiet, although there is every portent of the bursting of the most furious storm¹. There can be no doubt that, although the danger to us and our cause was exceedingly great in March and April², yet the enemy failed to attain anything like what he confidently expected. And the cost to him has been enormous. Nevertheless, we shall have to brace every nerve to withstand physically and morally his full and, we may hope, final effort.

Meanwhile, on sea we rejoice over the splendid and glorious achievement of our Navy in its exploits on the coasts of Belgium. Upon our seamen, in these vastly more difficult times, there has indeed fallen a double portion of the spirit of Drake, Nelson and Cochrane. ³

But the cloud of sorrow hangs continually ever us. After so terrific an encounter as these last weeks have seen, there is not only the record of those fallen or wounded, but for many also there comes a time of most trying uncertainty, when for weeks no news or intelligence of a loved one arrives. This is perhaps one of the hardest things of all to bear.

May I, in conclusion, say one personal word? I am away now for two Sundays. I should not like anyone to feel that I am deserting my post even for a short time in such a time as this, but I am acting under medical orders. I may say, as also some small excuse, that in the seven years I have been here I have had only five Sundays off, though, of course, there is not anything like the strain as in a town parish or in other work.
1. The Third Battle of the Aisne, part of the 1918 German Spring Offensive, began on 27th May.

2. The Spring Offensive which began on 21st March was a series of German attacks along the Western Front bringing the deepest advances by either side since 1914. The Germans had realised that their only remaining chance of victory was to defeat the Allies before the overwhelming human and material resources of the United States could be fully deployed. They also had a temporary advantage in numbers afforded by the nearly 50 divisions freed up on the Eastern front by the Russian surrender. Losses on each side totalled about half a million men.

3. At the end of April, British naval forces blocked the ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge.

---

Repton Village Hall

Progress Report

While the Parish Council's application for a public works loan is proceeding, we have instructed Darryn Buttrill of BiDesign to begin the drawing process and to start sorting the appointment of key professionals. This is because the technical input can take up to ten weeks to complete, and the feedback from the loan application eight weeks. With the two ready together, we can proceed with tendering and still make a start on or before the beginning of October to beat the worst of the winter. Why the rush? This is because the loan application is not an unusual project for the Department of Local Government, we have some funds available now, and because every month that passes sees the erosion of the spending power of our final budget.

Work is also beginning on grant applications to enable us to fulfil the wish list for a hall that will be fully functional from day one and a good visual amenity after years of looking old and tired. Recently, we have put together the history of this project; discussions started in 1999!

Thank you to Peter Court, the previous village hall chair

Peter recently stepped down from the village hall committee. Last year we said thank you to Pat Court who had served for many years as bookings secretary, having initially agreed to fill in 'temporarily'. Pat and Peter were a team that kept the hall safe for many years. Peter served for at least 20 years as chair, and did everything from high level lobbying to clearing up after the messiest of users; he always remained calm and phlegmatic. He was key to developing the design we are now pursuing and never wavered in his purpose or his message, even though it has been a long, tortuous and often frustrating road. The fact that the present hall is still functioning is largely the result of his efforts, and as his successor I would have been lost without his help. I am very grateful that he has been willing to continue to be part of the committee, really until the last minute possible. Our thanks go to both Peter and Pat for all they have done for the community. We wish them well in their new life in Worcester.

---

Repton Village Hall Appeal

The final fundraising event in the village hall saw ladies from the village modelling famous name fashion before a packed audience. We are very grateful to all who volunteered. SOS Fashions provided the clothes and the appeals team ran a prosecco bar. In a convivial atmosphere that continued long after the show, the audience socialised, perused the clothes, seemed to buy plenty and generously supported the raffle. It was great to see such a cross-section of the community there, including a few men. Our thanks go to those who organised the show, particularly Herbie Kaur whose idea it was, and to all who worked so hard to make it a success, financially as well as socially: it raised over £700 for the appeal.

---

R-FEST
Saturday 9th June, off Broomhills Lane, Repton

The final major event of our Appeal will be a Music Festival. Entertainment will run from 4 to 11 pm, starting with a Mini Proms in the Park by the Glebe Symphonic Wind Band, followed by sets of Jazz, Folk and Rock from live performers.

There will be a licensed bar with beer, cider and wine, gin and prosecco, and refreshments will be available from mobile fish and chips and pizza operators.

Admission is by advance ticket only, costing £25 (children under 16 £15). These are limited so book well ahead. Contact Herbie Kaur or see the R-FEST Facebook page.

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

---

Repton Village Hall Appeal 100 Club

Monthly draws take place 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.

---

Repton Village & History

Scarecrow Competition
Repton Open Gardens 16th - 17th June

Have you started on your scarecrow yet? Have you returned your entry form? If you have lost last month's Parish Magazine with the entry form, please call Andrew Brown on 701463 by Saturday 9th June.

Entry is FREE and open to everyone, and you may enter as many scarecrows as you wish – but please use separate entry forms for each. There are cash prizes for the most inventive and entertaining. All scarecrows must be clearly visible from a public road and in position from 12 noon to 5 pm on the Saturday and Sunday.

If you have – just for the moment – run out of inspiration, there are lots of brilliant ideas online, and even step by step guides. So, no excuse!

---

Gardens and Scarecrows in Repton
Evening of Wine and Music, Friday 8th June
Gardens, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th between 2 and 6 pm

Starting with an Evening of Wine and Music on Friday 8th June in St Wystan's Church, Repton Open Gardens is a fun event you shouldn't miss.

The gardens themselves are open the following weekend, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th between 2 and 6 pm. Twelve splendid gardens include The Headmaster's garden and The Garth at Repton School and five current or previous 'Yellow Book' gardens as well as Monsom Lane allotments, which are also part of the National Gardens Scheme, and Repton Memorial Arboretum. Note that two of the gardens are only open on Sunday. Programmes, which double as entry tickets, will be at the church lychgate and in the gardens on the day; adults £5 each, children free.

On the way round there is plenty to look out for including a Scarecrow Trail and Children's Treasure Trail which the children always enjoy; having completed their entry form, they can exchange it for a lucky dip prize at the village hall.

On Saturday there will be Cream Teas at the URC, and on both afternoons at the village hall.

Spread over the gardens, there will be plant stalls, a tombola, book and home produce stalls, and tickets for the prize draw will be on sale everywhere; the draw will take place on Friday 22nd June.

Do come. We enjoy meeting you.

---

Charity Summer Lunch & Cricket
Sunday 1st July, The Marquee on Repton School Paddock

Please join us at Repton School for a delicious lunch, cricket match, and afternoon tea from 12 noon till 6.30 pm. As well as live music from Uttoxeter Brass Band and The Soulm8ts, there will be an exciting auction of amazing prizes presided over by Charles Hanson, entertainment, a cash bar and free parking.

The event is in aid of the Neverest Orthopaedics Foundation. Tables of up to 10 cost £350, but if you haven't a table, please get in touch anyway. For tickets (or to make a donation) contact neveresttickets@gmail.com or 01335 330758.

Neverest Orthopaedics Foundation

Neverest Orthopaedics Foundation (Registered charity 1167446, President: Joanna Lumley OBE) is a Derby based charity composed of Orthopaedic Surgeons and allied healthcare professionals, which improves trauma and orthopaedic standards in Nepal by regular teaching and donation of surgical equipment. In the last 5 years, Neverest Foundation has donated £2.5 million of new and used surgical equipment to five hospitals, built a women's refuge and an orphanage for girls. It now aims to build a residential special needs school for 120 pupils and a spinal rehabilitation unit for 50 patients in the next 24 months. For more information on us and our work, go to neverestfoundation.com or search on Facebook.

---

Repton Village Society

At our May meeting Kath Reynolds led us on a fascinating memory trip looking at 'Food, Glorious Food'. In contrast to the wide range of coffees and teas available now, we were transported back to when coffee was Camp, in a bottle, and tea was loose in a caddy. Beans were Heinz, and if Friday was fish it was not fish fingers. Takeaways did not exist. Meals were made from scratch and rationing did not disappear till the mid 50s. We were reminded of the perils of trying to open corned beef tins, and it was interesting to note in a recent newspaper article that youngsters are still complaining about trying to open Fray Bentos pie tins! The innovations of Vesta Chow Mein and curries, together with the Smash and Angels Delight jingles, brought both smiles and groans from the audience. Kath told many stories, including how Bird's Custard was developed by Alfred Bird as his wife was allergic to eggs, and HP Sauce got its name from a photo taken at the Houses of Parliament. It was a really good trip down memory lane.

The next meeting is on Thursday 7th June at 7.30 pm in Repton village hall. Rod Pearson's theme is 'When Mat and Mel came to town; the work of the Ordinance Survey in Derby'. Rod has given us a number of excellent talks over the years and has always provided us with new insights in an amusing and informative manner. It will be an enjoyable evening.

---

Repton Primary School PTA

It has been another busy month for us. We would like to thank everyone who came along and supported the Duck Derby. It was a beautiful day, very much enjoyed by all, and we raised a quacking £580.55 for our school! We also celebrated the Royal Wedding with a cake sale and a red, white and blue themed 'non-uniform day'.

Now we can look forward to our Summer Fayre on Saturday 7th July, 11 am - 2 pm at Repton Primary School. Entry is free and there will be fun for all the family, so please do come along and enjoy the day with us. Any local businesses who would like a stall are invited to get in touch for more details.

A massive 'thank you' once again for your amazing kindness, support and generosity which is currently allowing us to buy, amongst other things, new interactive whiteboards and a CD player for our school. The children of Repton Primary School are very lucky to be surrounded by such a caring community!

---

Scouts

We are delighted to welcome to the team a lovely lady called Elsa as our new assistant leader.

In the last month we had a very successful night covering the Forester badge – equipment and axe work, tree recognition, transplanting and management. We also had a good Navigation Skills night followed by bike maintenance and then a bike ride from the village hall in Ticknall back to Repton, all off-road.

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

---

Garage Sale Saturday 1st September

We are collecting once again for our annual Garage Sale at 2 and 5 Monsom Lane in aid of local organisations, and will be happy to relieve you of anything saleable. We accept almost all household goods. Please phone Sue Banks on 701726 if you would like to contribute in any way.

---

Repton Table Tennis Club

At the Derby and District Table Tennis League end of season presentation evening in May, the Repton first team collected an engraved shield and medals for winning the Division 2 title. Silverware was also presented to Adam Champion and Martin Shean for successes at the Derby and District Annual closed event, which was very well supported by Repton players.

The second and third teams both played in Division 3 for the first time and did extremely well to establish themselves at this level.

Repton Table Tennis club was formed in 2011 as a recreational club, open to all abilities, and this is still very much the case today. (Under 14s do need to be accompanied by an adult.) We meet every Tuesday night at 8 pm at The Den in Mitre Drive, where we have four tables in constant use for two hours.

Club nights are informal and tend to start off with games of singles following by doubles later in the evening. So whether you are a budding 1st Division player, someone who just enjoys a knock, or somewhere in between, you will be very welcome. Find out more at reptontabletennis.com.

---

Repton WI 1918 – 2018

The May meeting featured Kevin from Chapman's Nursery with a supporting cast of around a hundred colourful plants. Judging from the queue of members wanting to buy plants and follow his advice, Kevin's tips on how to plant up patio pots to ensure colour and survival throughout the summer were taken to heart. On the following day in the sunshine we had a group photo taken in the Headmaster's Garden at Repton School, replicating the very first, 100 years ago.

In the County WI quiz in April there was success for Repton's teams. In the south of the county we came second and third.

Our Centenary events and other activities in June

Tuesday 5th More beauty sessions at Innovations in Burton
Saturday 9th A morning walk around Rutland Water
Tuesday 12th Our monthly meeting with a centenary celebration cake
16th / 17th Open Gardens Weekend. Look out for the WI centenary scarecrows!
Sunday 17th St Wystan's Church Morning Service
Tuesday 19th Members' Celebration Dinner
22nd / 24th The Cross in bloom
Wednesday 27th Coffee Morning at Staunton Harold, in the courtyard if dry.

Centenary Celebration on Sunday 24th June

From 1.30 pm onwards the village hall will be a hive of activity to celebrate 100 years of Repton WI. Entry will be free and there will be lots to see and do including:

–	A Lyons Tea Shop serving delicious Tea and Cake;
–	An exhibition of WI archives, photographs, memorabilia and crafts celebrating 100 years of Repton WI, past and present;
–	Chocolate tombola;
–	A 'lucky bag' stall;
–	Stickman crafts
–	Free, fun, family 'Travel through Time' treasure trail, starting from the village hall.

Bring along your family & friends!

At our monthly meeting on Tuesday 12th June – 7.15 pm in the village hall – the speaker will talk about stress relief through laughter. A centenary celebration cake might help too! Visitors are always welcome at our meetings. See our Facebook page for more details of activities.

Remembering ALL who served in the Great War

Margaret Austen is still researching those from local villages who were involved in the Great War and survived. If any of your relatives were involved, she would love to hear from you.

---

Repton School Speech Day and Leavers' Ball

The School will be holding its annual Speech Day on Saturday 30th June and, as in recent years, the day will conclude with a ball for our Upper Sixth pupils and their parents in a marquee on the Paddock, ending at 1 am.

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

---

Thank you from Repton Brownies and Rainbows

A big Guiding 'thank you' to everyone who helped to make our recent Spring Fayre such a success. Thanks to the parents who donated tombola and raffle prizes and so many delicious cakes. Thanks also to the ladies in the kitchen who served refreshments, and to everyone else who came along and supported. We raised £341, to be shared between Brownie and Rainbow funds.

---

Repton Village History Group

Our AGM in May was rewarding: in the more intimate environment of the Red Lion, people felt able to ask questions, make suggestions and discuss things as we went through the usual AGM agenda.

The Priory Mill

There followed a talk on work to locate the Priory Mill. In fact the mill was in existence before the Priory, and certainly by Domesday in 1086, and was likely to have supported the motte and bailey castle belonging to the Earl of Chester, roughly where Repton School's Pears School now stands. It is not impossible that it is even older and may have made flour for the Royal establishment that was here from about 550 AD, and the Benedictine Monastery that was here from about 650 AD. However, a number of broken quern stones that were found in the 2016 dig suggest that at that time cereals were being ground by hand.

However old the mill is, it will have been rebuilt several times as technology improved or bits of the structure wore out. But mills rarely changed their location as that would have meant reconstructing the channels that fed it and possibly the mill pond that supplied it. Measurements of the winter flow in the brook confirm that it could not have powered a useful mill without a mill pond, and using probes to measure underground electrical resistance we have located three possible water channels and an area that may well have been the pool. One of the channels represents the priory fish ponds (shown on the 1829 map) and another heads for the known location of the Priory dining room, bakery, kitchen and toilets. We anticipate that the third is the leat for the mill. Helped by depositions made in a number of Elizabethan court cases, we have identified a most likely location for the mill, but more work remains to be done.

We are very grateful to Repton School for their patience and their willingness to allow us access to the cricket field.

The Vikings are back!

Come and meet them on the Mitre Field on 30th June from 10 am to 4 pm. See page 35.

When they were last here in the winter of 873 - 4, the Vikings built a defensive enclosure by the river (now the Old Trent), surrounding it with a deep ditch and rampart, and using St Wystan's Church as a fortified gateway. They destroyed the monastery and forced King Burgred into an exile from which the Mercian royal house never recovered.

Come and meet Viking re-enactors who will be camping here and living the part of Vikings. There will be demonstrations, historic tours and maybe the odd skirmish. Have a go at archaeology. Modern refreshments will be available. The event is FREE.

Cat Jarman on this year's Dig

Following on at 4.30 pm, Dr Cat Jarman will speak in St Wystan's Church on this year's Repton Dig and her ongoing research work. Admission £3.

For further information on these events or the History Group, please contact Andy Austen.

---

Mobile Library Tuesday 12th June
Repton village hall, 10.15-11.30 : The Square, 11.35-1.00

The library has something for everyone including fiction and non-fiction books for adults and children, large print books, books on tape and books on CD as well as a selection of local studies books and information. It works to a four-weekly rota so in July it will again be here on the 10th. For the Long Eaton base, contact 01629 531398; for the van, 0780 904 4405.

---

Repton Past, with a link to Little Moreton Hall

Repton Village History Group has been lent a book about a little girl, Elizabeth, who died suddenly aged 7. It is based on the diary of her mother, Mary (known as Molly), and was published in 1927 by The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, as a memorial, as an inspirational story, and to raise funds for a training place for someone to help young mothers bringing up children.

Born in June 1918 in Bakewell, the first child of Molly and Arthur, Elisabeth Brown-Wilkinson was bright, happy and intelligent. However, just as she turned seven she was taken suddenly ill and died within a few days from what turned out to be pneumococcal peritonitis, which in the days before effective antibiotics was extremely serious.

Elizabeth's father served as an army chaplain in France, where he was awarded the MC. Her grandfather, Charles Abraham, was the second Bishop of Derby, at that time a suffragan bishop in the Southwell Diocese, and vicar of Bakewell. He and his wife had 10 children, Molly being the 4th born and 2nd daughter. In 1912 he inherited Little Moreton Hall from a cousin, a nun, and passed it to the National Trust in 1938. Born in New Zealand but educated at Oxford, Charles' father was a bishop, as was one of Charles' sons. Another son, Nicolas, became a QC, high court judge, and Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary; he was created baron in October 1991.

Repton plays a significant role in their story, and it seems that on many occasions they spent time here. One of Molly's sisters was married in St Wystan's in 1923. Where they stayed is unclear, but by 1921 the Bishop had moved from Bakewell to Bower Hill in Repton, where they lived until 1928 before moving to Cheshire after Derby Diocese was created.

In 1925, Elisabeth and her sister were to have a month at Bower Hill while their parents holidayed in Switzerland. There was an outburst of joy on seeing the first Repton landmarks. The diary records Elisabeth saying, on arrival, "I'm going down to Mr Mee's for Grandmamma now at once." Out and about "down i' the lane" was a great joy. However, it was here on her seventh birthday that Elisabeth Jane, who had been excitedly looking forward to birthday cake, paddling in the stream, and tea in the hay, woke with pains which grew worse. She was rushed into Derby Hospital and operated on for acute appendicitis, but to no avail. On the third day, surrounded by her parents and grandparents, she slipped quietly away.

Mr Mee kept 'bottom' Taylors in The Square. The lane was Well Lane. Paddling in the stream was likely to be in Bamfords Brook which runs down Well Lane.

---

Repton Parish Council

New Parish Council Chairman: At the Annual General Meeting Carol Lloyd was elected Chairman of the Parish Council. Carol is actively involved in many aspects of village life and brings a wealth of knowledge to the role. Councillors wish her well in the year ahead.

Planters: The Parish Council is funding two planters to be located on the grass verges in Milton – one at each end of the village, close to the existing benches. They should be in place, ready planted with summer colour, early in June and will provide a welcome to local residents and visitors alike.

The Council had also applied to locate a third planter on the triangle, in front of Repton Cross. However, DCC Highways Department was concerned that it would be too close to the highway. Other sites will now be considered for a planter in Repton.

Summer Activities: The Parish Council has organized various activities for young people during the summer school holiday. They are funded by the Parish Council and FREE of charge for all local young people.

Tuesday 24th July	2 – 4 pm	Play Mobile
Tuesday 7th August	6 – 8 pm	Sports Mobile
Tuesday 14th August	2 – 4 pm	Adventure Mobile
Tuesday 21st August	6 – 8 pm	Sports Mobile

We hope that these activities will provide fun and enjoyment during the school summer holidays! They do, however, require fine weather! Mark your diaries now. There will be more information in next month's magazine.

Area Forum: Local residents often contact us with queries regarding matters including potholes, parking, traffic and crime, over which the Parish Council has no powers to act. The arena in which to raise these issues is the Area Forum where the local police, council officers, district and county councillors will be present and able to answer. The next takes place at Repton village hall on Tuesday 19th June at 6.30 pm. Please take advantage of this opportunity to raise these local issues with your representatives.

Willington Bus Shelter: The Parish Council has provided financial assistance for the new bus shelter, now in place on the south side of the road, close to the doctors' surgery in Willington. Many local residents use this surgery, and it is hoped that those waiting for the bus to return to Repton will appreciate it – especially during the winter months!

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

Parish Council Office, 40 High Street

---

Milton & Foremark Village Matters

Milton Diary

In May we gathered in Milton village hall for a delicious full English breakfast before setting out in the Spring sunshine for our Annual Village Walk.

We were all in good spirits, with the age range including one yet to start school and some still at school, but for most of us school was a distant memory! We were guided across the well-established footpaths towards Foremarke Church, then onwards to the Trent and explore the caves at Anchor Church. The caves were a highlight for the younger members of the group, and everyone delighted in the beautiful bluebells that lined the woodland paths.

Beyond the caves the group split, with the more adventurous led by Helen, heading off via Ingleby and Knowle Hill Cottage to take in the views at Seven Spouts. Meanwhile Neil took those with tired legs and Duck Derby tickets, back across the fields to the Foremarke School Estate and then onto Milton. A glorious adventure, in the sunshine and dappled shade concluded with well-earned refreshments in the beer garden at The Swan.

Thank you to the ladies who made a super breakfast, to Edward for providing us with a pre-walk quiz, and to Helen and Neil who guided the walk.

To hire Milton village hall, contact Polly Faulkner.

---

Milton WI

At our May meeting, following a delicious supper served by the committee, members discussed the 2018 resolution 'Mental Health matters' to be voted on this month at the national Annual Meeting in Cardiff.

On Sunday 3rd June, Milton WI ladies will serve homemade cakes and beverages at Milton's 12th Open Gardens. A visit to Betty's Sewing Box, a tearoom and craft centre in Ashbourne, has been booked for Wednesday 27th June.

At our next meeting on Wednesday 20th June, Tony Hurrell from Sharpe's Pottery Museum will give a talk about the potteries' clay / coal based heritage and sanitary ware manufacture. New members and visitors are always very welcome.

---

Newton Solney & St Mary's Church

Newton Solney C of E School

Community Collective Worship is on the first Thursday of the month. Please come along and join us in the school hall on Thursday 7th June at 9.15 am. Everyone is welcome, and the children would love to see some new faces.

School places available

Give your child the best possible start to their education by joining us. We are a small friendly school with superb pupils and staff and are rated outstanding by Ofsted. Please contact the school office for details or come to our open afternoon.

Open afternoon for prospective parents, Friday 29th June, 1.30 – 3 pm The pupils and staff invite you to visit our school, view their work and explore our exciting new Forest School area. Talk to staff and governors and see for yourselves what makes our school so special. Everyone is welcome at our outstanding school.

Pre-School Building Fund

We are fundraising to build a permanent pre-school building, and would love to see you at our events in June: Art Exhibition: Friday 8th – Sunday 10th June in St Mary's Church. Discover the vibrant art scene here on your doorstep. St Mary's Church is opening its doors to showcase work from local artists and craftspeople. All work is available to buy, with a percentage of the proceeds going towards the pre-school building fund. For details, see the ad on page 10. Family Festival: Saturday 16th June on the recreation field from noon to 8 pm. A fun filled family day with live music, stalls, children's games, licensed bar, jacket potatoes, fish and chip van, WI tea tent and lots more! See the ad above.

---

Newton Solney Tuesday Club

Tuesday 5th June at 2.30 pm: A business meeting followed by a cookery demonstration and tasting given by Jenny West.

Tuesday 19th June: A trip to Tamworth, dropping off in Tamworth and Ventura Retail Park. We leave the Unicorn Inn at 9.30 am and return to Newton by about 3 pm. Cost £10.

Tuesday 26th June: Whist Drive at 7 pm in Newton Solney village hall. All are welcome!

If you would like to find out more about Tuesday Club or any of our activities, please contact our Secretary, Jane, on 01283 564520.

---

Newton Solney WI

A major part of the May meeting was taken up by our AGM. Members heard the Secretary's report about the varied events of the last year and the Treasurer's report was presented and adopted. Following resignations, two new committee members , Pauline Barker and Vicki Oldknow, were appointed, and Vanessa Archer was re-elected President. Hazel Ward thanked the President and her committee for their enthusiasm and hard work during the last year.

The resolution regarding action on mental health was discussed and voted upon, to give guidance to our delegate at the national AGM in Cardiff. Joy Holdcroft was the winner of the Craft Cup this year for her excellent Victoria sandwich cake.

The next meeting on Tuesday 12th June at 7.30 pm in the village hall will include a talk by Simon Evetts on 'Wines from Chile', sure to be popular. Flowers will be provided for the occasion by Denise Parker.

---

Newton Solney Parish Council

Road conditions: The Parish Council will request further repairs to local potholes; some work has already taken place. The Council has also contacted SDDC regarding repair of the pavement between Newton Solney and Repton.

The Common Land: A planning application is being made for installation of a barrier to improve the security of the common land.

Trim Trail: The Parish Council is exploring further grant applications to enable sufficient funds to implement a trim trail on the recreation field.

Newton Solney Family Festival: Come down to the recreation field on Saturday 16th June from 12 pm for music, stalls, games and lots of fun!

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

---

South Derbyshire

Burton Bridge

Work on Burton Bridge is due to start on Monday 18th June and take 11 weeks to complete. During this period, three of the four lanes on the bridge will be closed at any one time, except for two nights when a full closure will be necessary. The majority of maintenance work is due to take place during the summer holidays, generally a quieter time for traffic.

The bridge will be reinforced by filling three of the disused and redundant arch spans that are already closed on one side, and by supporting a further span under which the foot / cycleway passes by constructing an arch beneath it. It will also be resurfaced and the gullies upgraded to help prevent surface flooding.

The work this year, following on from the strengthening of St Peter's Bridge in 2017, is the second phase of a £6.1 million refurbishment scheme to improve Burton's two bridges over the Trent,

---

Anchor Church

In the light of the Milton Village Walk to Anchor Caves (see above), you may like to know a bit more about them.

Overlooking Black Pool close to Ingleby, four interconnected caves, often referred to as Anchor Church, are set in a sandstone outcrop more than 100 metres long and 12 metres high which once formed the southern bank of the River Trent. The caves were formed partly by the action of river water on the soft rock, partly cut out by hand.

St Hardulph

First mentioned in Repton Church records in 1648, the name Anchor Church has nothing to do with boats. It comes from the word 'anchorite' – a person who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion. It was in isolated places such as these that the early Christians sought refuge to worship God whilst avoiding persecution. Anchor Church is thought to have been the cell of St Hardulph, a hermit who lived and prayed here in the 6th century. The church at Breedon on the Hill is dedicated to him. In the Middle Ages, the caves were used by a monk named Bernard who died there doing penance for some unknown crime.

The Burdetts

In the 18th century the Burdett family of Foremarke Hall enlarged the caves to their present size, fitting a door in 1845 and some additional brickwork, including a set of steps to the main entrance. Sir Francis Burdett used the caves as a summerhouse and held picnics there as the sandstone guaranteed a cooler temperature.

Anchor Church Walk

To find Anchor Church and its pretty pebble beach, provided the land isn't flooded, you can start your walk from the Milton - Ingleby Road at its junction with the track leading to Foremark Church. Follow the road towards Ingleby for approximately 150 metres and cross the stile on your left into an arable field. Then follow the path along the field edge, passing beneath the craggy sandstone escarpment to a stile at the far side. Continue on the path with Black Pool to your left to reach Anchor Church after a short distance.

These directions are taken from an informative leaflet published by Derby Ramblers' Association. The entire walk it describes is circular, starting and finishing at The John Thompson Inn in Ingleby. Search for 'Anchor Church Walk' on the internet.

---

Environment Matters

Swift Awareness Week, 16th – 23rd June

Swift numbers have declined by over 50% in the last 25 years, and many groups across the country are working to halt their dramatic decline. Unlike many species, it is relatively simple to help them by putting up nest boxes on your house or recording where pairs are nesting and protecting their nest sites.

Swifts spend only a few months here in the UK, where they come to breed. They are supreme aerialists, spending almost their entire lives on the wing. In comparison to swallows and house martins, they are all black and have long scimitar-shaped wings. Watching them scythe through the air and hearing their distinctive screaming call on a warm sunny evening is one of nature's delights.

Sadly their widespread decline is reflected locally, with only a handful of nest sites confirmed in Repton and Newton Solney in recent years. If you would like to help survey for swifts, or if you have seen them flying and screaming at roof level close to buildings, please contact us at swifts@derbyshirewt.co.uk.

Swift Walk around Melbourne, Saturday 23rd June at 8.30 pm

Alternatively if you would like to find out more about swifts, join us for a Swift Walk around Melbourne on Saturday 23rd June from 20.30 until dusk, starting at the large bus shelter in Melbourne Market Place. As well as watching and hearing the birds, you will hear all about their amazing lives and why they need our help. The event is free, but numbers are limited so please call 01773 881188 or email Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, enquiries@derbyshirewt.co.uk to book a place.

---

Noise

Summer and open windows, a time when noise can be particularly irritating.

Over the last three years, South Derbyshire District Council has received 1,250 complaints about noise. In the majority of cases the council advises an informal approach; formal legal action was necessary on only four occasions. Barking dogs and loud music headed the list of complaints, with almost twice as many complaints about dog noise as anything else.

Dogs provide friendship, affection, exercise and security, so they are hugely important to the wellbeing of many families and individuals. However, a dog that repeatedly barks or whines can be as upsetting for its owner as it is for neighbours.

SDDC has produced an exceptionally helpful leaflet for dog owners offering advice on practical solutions such as time-outs, set-ups and preventing separation anxiety. It is available online at south-derbys.gov.uk/environment.

---

You and your Pet

Keeping cool

As we enjoy a gloriously sunny day it seems incongruous to think of keeping cool, but for the sake of our pets, that is just what we should be doing. Much of it is common sense, but sometimes we can be a bit eager to get out and take advantage of the sunshine, taking our pets with us.

In very hot weather it would be sensible to walk during the cooler parts of the day and stick to areas with shade. If your dog starts to pant heavily or stop, let it rest. It is a great idea to take a bottle of water and foldable bowl with you. Overweight dogs and short nosed breeds such as pugs and French bulldogs shouldn't be exercising in the heat at all. A great idea for vulnerable dogs is a cool coat. It works by slowly evaporating water, keeping the dog cool.

Filling a Kong toy with frozen treats is another good way to cool dogs down. Cats particularly like a prawn frozen in an ice cube – it cools them down and keeps them entertained! Cats with white ear tips are also prone to sun damage so do apply pet or child sunscreen to their ears before they go outside. They may not thank you at the time but it is in their best interests!

---

£10 Neutering

Don't let kittens have kittens. Derby and District Branch of Cats Protection is offering to neuter and / or spay your cats for just £10 per cat if you are in receipt of income support, housing benefit, council tax benefit, pension credit, state pension, income based ESA or JSA, or earning less than £15,000 per annum. All you have to do is contact a participating vet and show proof of benefits or low income to be eligible. For more details, phone the Catline on 01332 206956 leaving your name, phone number and a short message, or contact enquiries@derbybranch.cats.org.uk

---

Neighbourhood Watch

Area Forums: Safer Neighbourhood meetings and Area Forums have now merged. The next meeting is at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 19th June at Repton village hall. It will have a strong focus on crime and anti-social behaviour, and there will be an opportunity to raise concerns and questions at the beginning. This will be followed by a local authority update and Q&A, and a discussion or presentation on a local community issue. The meeting will close at 8pm.

Lock your door: Amazingly almost half of householders leave their house unlocked when they go out. 42% said they regularly leave their home unlocked and would only think about locking it if they were away overnight. In addition less than half of us change our locks when we lose our keys, and only half of us with a burglar alarm actually activate it when we leave the house. When it comes to investing in our homes, security obviously falls way behind the priorities of a new kitchen or updating the décor.

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

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

---

Gardening Notes

We are beginning to see the effect of the very wet winter and followed by a hot dry spell in early summer. Most perennial plants in my garden have loved it but a few have drowned. The spring bulb season has been very compressed, especially for tulips and daffodils which all seem to have come together and soon gone over in the hot sunny days. The same is true of the early flowering shrubs and climbers, but the roses are looking very promising. Now the grass has got going and we can cut it regularly, we can just ignore the moss, but do try to keep the blades high.

I think the prolonged winter wet has reduced the number of slugs, we have very little damage at the moment, particularly where it has been very wet. However, I have never seen so many weed seedlings – something seems to have suited them. When they are small they are easier to get out, but there are more of them. If the soil is quite dry, I do a lot of 'foot weeding' by rubbing the sole of my foot over the soil. It is very effective and quick on small weeds, especially close to the lawn edge. The first 6 inches are the most visible, weeds further in soon get hidden in other growth.

The fruit trees seem to be showing bumper crops at the moment. I have resolved this year to thin the top fruit that I can easily reach so that I get fewer but bigger apples and pears. The earlier you start the more effective it is, the 'June drop' generally starts the job off.

It is safe to plant out any tender plants now that the danger of frost is over. Before I put the plant in it I always water the hole and let the water drain away. I then place the plant and finally water gently from on top. That way the plant roots are encouraged to get into the damp soil below. This year the soil is still quite damp below the surface except where there are greedy tree roots. If you have planted shrubs or new trees you need to water them during dry spells.

Trim back early flowering perennials. Some such as poppies and geraniums will re-flower, and they will all produce new fresh leaves.

In the vegetable garden, plant out beans and courgettes. You can sow them directly into the ground, or you can buy a huge range of small plants from the garden centre. You can still sow salads; they seem quite expensive to buy as plants compared with the cost of buying them at the supermarket, particularly if you share them with the slugs and the pigeons!

June is a great time to visit gardens. The owners work very hard to put on a good show, but it is very rewarding to share your garden with others. What better way to relax than walking round someone else's garden, enjoying tea and cake on the way, knowing that you are raising money for worthy causes doing something that you enjoy.