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The Parish Magazine Repton, Foremark, Milton, Ingleby, Newton Solney
July 2018

The chains of leprosy 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+) Leprosy Mission Service: Sunday 1st July The Leprosy Mission Family Barbeque: Saturday 21st July Yard Sale at 5 Monsom Lane For your Diary Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Baptisms Scarlett Rose Hughes Finn Patrick Taylor Wayne Arthur Taylor Marriages Robert Thomas Hill and Katie Claire Gunstone Tobin Scott Kelsey and Samantha Freeman Russell David Hurcombe and Joanna Catherine Williams Marriages in July Damien Khaira & Alice Langford James Tumilty & Danielle Derry Peter Rigney & Danielle Ellis Christopher Manning & Harriet Wheeler Ross Smith & Tyne-Megan Preston Funerals and Burial of Ashes Patricia Margaret Rees John Stuart Holmes Eric Wheeldon The Memorial Book Repton Benefice Sunday 1st July, Leprosy Mission Service Sunday 29th July, Foremark Picnic and Benefice Service 8.00 am Holy Communion Housegroups St Wystan's News Sunday Club for 4 - 11 year olds Messy Church Worship Together and Sunday Club Bellringers' Annual Outing Would you like to ring? Local Diary Event Details Sunday Lunch with the Leprosy Mission, Sunday 1st July Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 4th July Repton Primary School Summer Fair, Saturday 7th July Charity BBQ and Fun Day, Sunday 8th July Book Swap, Wednesday 18th July Milton Lunch Club, Thursday 19th July Joules Seconds Sale, Thursday 26th July The Great War Remembered 100 years ago, the Vicar wrote . . . Repton Village Hall Appeal Thank You! R-Fest triumphant Repton Village Hall Appeal 100 Club Repton Village and History Swimming lessons for beginners, any age Repton ngs Village Gardens, Sunday 22nd July Summer Play Repton WI celebrates its 100 Birthday Repton Baby and Toddler Summer Outing Scouts Garage Sale, Saturday 1st September Tracing the Repton Smith Family Repton Village Society Repton Literary Festival, 26th - 28th October Æthelflæd, Queen of the Mercians The Repton Dig One Day Jitty Closure, Thursday 26th July Mobile Library, Tuesday 10th July Parking Repton Parish Council Milton, Foremark & St Saviour's Church Milton Open Gardens Live and Local in Milton Milton WI Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre Newton Solney & St Mary's Church Newton Solney Horticultural Show, Saturday 1st September Newton Solney Infant School and Pre-School Newton Solney WI Newton Solney Tuesday Club Newton Solney Parish Council South Derbyshire What's On in South Derbyshire and The National Forest You and your Pet Rabbits Is your cat safe in the garden? Neighbourhood Watch Keep your wits about you! http or https? Gardening Notes Bamboos

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The chains of leprosy

Leprosy has ruined Habsou's life and blighted her daughter's. Her granddaughter Saoude, a bright and vivacious eight-year-old, hopes to train as a nurse when she grows up, so that she can "make granny better".

Habsou came from a poor family that moved around daily to find food. In Niger, the sun-scorched earth lacks nutrients, rainfall can be scarce and few crops can grow. Habsou was just five when the first signs of leprosy appeared on her body. Her parents were recommended to take her to Danja Hospital where The Leprosy Mission has provided services for decades, but they did not want her to go because of the shame surrounding the disease. The fear of their whole family being rejected by their community was just too great. Instead Habsou was given traditional medicine and hidden away in a hut for many years. She was deprived of her freedom to play outside with the other children, and her leprosy worsened.

Finally Habsou came to Danja Hospital aged 13, but by then she had already lost her fingers and toes and her sight was fading. Over the coming years, her leprosy was treated and her wounds tended.

As an adult, Habsou was only able to feed her family by begging, she was simply too disabled to work. Her leprosy-affected husband died when she was pregnant with their youngest child, Mariama. When Mariama was 15, Habsou told her to marry a leprosy-affected man much older than her as she could no longer afford to keep her. Mariama was considered tainted and 'dirty' even though she had never had leprosy herself. No boy from a respectable family would ever consider marrying her.

Mariama had to marry him – there was no choice. Soon she became pregnant with Saoude. The chains of leprosy had wrapped themselves around her.

Today, Saoude goes to primary school in Danja village and her world seems full of possibility, although the threat is ever present. An education and a job can save her from all of this. Then she will be able to look after her parents and grandmother with the money she earns. There is a possibility of freedom!

In the Gospels, we hear how Jesus brought healing and acceptance to people with leprosy. Two thousand years later, perhaps you could help The Leprosy Mission to continue His ministry to people who desperately need it.

If you would like to add your support, you would be very welcome to attend the service on Sunday 1st July, 11 am at the URC. Alternatively, please call 01733 370505 or visit leprosymission.org.uk.

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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 at St Saviour's
Ann Redfern, 01332 862350

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The United Reformed Church

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SHELL Group

. . . meets on Mondays 2nd, 9th and 16th July. Activities this month include a sports night, cricket, and an end of term barbeque! New members are always welcome.

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Leprosy Mission Service: Sunday 1st July at 11 am

We will be joined by members of St Wystan's Church for a special family service led by Allister du Plessis, Regional Manager for Central England and the East Midlands, and Natalie Gibbs. We hope that you will be able to join us! The service will be followed by lunch with all proceeds going to The Leprosy Mission. If you would like to stay for lunch, please contact Christine on 701581 as numbers are limited.

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The Leprosy Mission

Leprosy is unfortunately not a disease of the past. The World Health Organisation finds that there are more than 200,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

The Leprosy Mission is an international Christian development organisation that diagnoses, treats and offers specialist care including reconstructive surgery to leprosy patients. As well as providing healthcare, it offers rehabilitation, education, vocational training, small business loans, housing, fresh water supplies and sanitation to tens of thousands of people each year, regardless of religion or ethnicity, promoting equality and social justice.

The Leprosy Mission England and Wales currently works in 11 countries across Africa and Asia (Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Mozambique, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar).

For more information about the Leprosy Mission visit leprosymission.org.uk

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Family Barbeque: Saturday 21st July

You are invited to join us at a Family Barbecue with games for all ages, a bouncy castle and lots of tasty food. The fun starts at 3 pm, and the food is served from 4.30. To help with catering, admission is by ticket only, available from Church members, or telephone 701581.

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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!

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For your Diary

Saturday 8th September: Monthly Coffee Mornings resume.

Sunday 23rd September: Harvest Festival followed by a Harvest Lunch.

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Baptisms

Scarlett Rose Hughes, daughter of Beverley Hughes of Repton was baptised on Sunday 3rd June at St Wystan's Church.

Finn Patrick Taylor and Wayne Arthur Taylor, twin sons of Yvonne Taylor and Robert Hicklin of 6 Perth Close, Winshill, were baptised at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on Sunday 10th June.

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Marriages

Robert Thomas Hill and Katie Claire Gunstone Tobin of 62 Penwith Road, London, were married at St Mary's Church, Newton Solney, on Saturday 26th May.

Scott Kelsey and Samantha Freeman of Allestree, Derby were married at St Saviour's Church on Saturday 9th June

Russell David Hurcombe and Joanna Catherine Williams of 63 Elms Avenue, Littleover, Derby were married at St Mary's Church, Newton Solney on Saturday 16th June.

Marriages in July

Sat 7th	St Mary's Church at 12.00 pm	Damien Khaira & Alice Langford
Sat 7th	St Mary's Church at 3.00 pm	James Tumilty & Danielle Derry
Sat 14th	St Saviour's Church at 1.00 pm	Peter Rigney & Danielle Ellis
Sat 21st	St Mary's Church at 1.00 pm	Christopher Manning & Harriet Wheeler
Sat 28th	St Mary's Church at 12.00 pm	Ross Smith & Tyne-Megan Preston

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Funerals and Burial of Ashes

Patricia Margaret Rees of Hollies Close, Newton Solney, died on Saturday 5th May aged 81. A funeral service at Bretby Crematorium on 16th May was followed by cremation.

John Stuart Holmes of Repton died on Saturday 26th May aged 80. Cremation at Bretby Crematorium was followed by a Memorial Service at St Wystan's Church on 19th June.

The ashes of the late Eric Wheeldon of Newton Solney were interred at in St Mary's churchyard on Sunday 27th May.

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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

Sunday 1st July, Leprosy Mission Service

At 11 am we will join the URC congregation at their church 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.

The only service at St Wystan's that day will be Holy Communion at 8 am.

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Foremark Picnic and Benefice Service

On Sunday 29th July, St Saviour's Church at Foremark will once again host our summer picnic, weather permitting, in the garden of Kate and Tony Garner behind the church. (Drive along the drive to the church and continue straight on). Please do join us at 5 pm with your blanket and sandwiches. Tea and cake will be provided. If it is raining the tea will be held in the home of Kate and Tony rather than in the garden.

The picnic will be followed by a benefice service of Holy Communion at 6.30 pm.

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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 – 1st and 15th July. We are very grateful to the Revd Michael Mookerjie for conducting these services.

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Housegroups

Intercessory Prayer for Healing meets at 3 Richmond Court at 7.30 pm on Monday 9th July. 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: On Thursdays 5th and 19th July at 7.30 pm we continue our studies in Luke's Gospel.

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St Wystan's News

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

In July Sunday Club meets on the 8th and 15th.   Join us for Bible stories, craft & games.   All are most welcome!   Ring Jane Griffiths for more details.

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Messy Church at St Wystan's Church

Messy Church in Repton has been going for over six years now, and many families gather regularly together on the fourth Sunday of the month for fun, creativity, games, drama, learning together about Jesus and eating plenty of sandwiches and cake. In the church you can see photo albums recording our activities over the years, and a display of recent events.

Our thanks go to the many people who help to run each session as well as those who prepare delicious food.

Messy Church starts again on Sunday 23rd September

During July and August we are taking our summer break, but please note the date when we start up again, and come and join in the fun. New families are always welcome.

Worship Together and Sunday Club

Meanwhile you are very welcome to join us for Worship Together, a service for all ages at 9.45 am on 5th August and 2nd September, and for Sunday Club for children aged 4 11 during the morning services on 8th and 15th July. Sunday Club then also breaks for the summer, to restart in September. Over the summer, children's activity sheets will be available during the morning services.

We hope you will have a great and refreshing summer and look forward to welcoming you in the autumn at St Wystan's Church. If you have any questions or would like to know more, please contact Ruth Attwood.

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Bellringers' Annual Outing

With the sun shining in May, 45 of us embarked for a day exploring the villages, churches and bells of Market Drayton, Hodnet, Stanton upon Hine, Moreton Corbet and Shrewsbury. About half of us were ringers, including a few from Melbourne and Kegworth. The rest were friends or family members who came along for the sights, shops and company. Lunch and dinner were booked at pubs in Hodnet and Shrewsbury, and there was a picture quiz on the features of the various churches.

If you keep your ear to the ground around the same time next year, you may hear of spare places on the coach – it's always difficult to find a Saturday that suits all our ringers.

Would you like to ring?

Come and join us in the bell tower at St Wystan's Church any Thursday evening between 7.30 and 9 pm (and afterwards in the pub) to meet the team and find out if ringing may be for you. Alternatively, contact David Roberts.

You are invited to Sunday Lunch with the Leprosy Mission Sunday 1st July in the United Reformed Church Pinfold Lane, Repton   DE65 6GH Tickets £5 from Christine Gibbs, 01283 701581

Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 4th July 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 Primary School Summer Fair Saturday 7th July, 11 am - 2 pm in the school grounds Fun for all the family Entry FREE vintage swings : face painting : local business stalls fish and chip van : ice creams : bar – and much more Come along and enjoy the day!

Sunday 8th July from 11 am till late Free Charity BBQ and Fun Day at the Swan at Milton Bouncing Castle   ▪▫▪   NERF Target Area Ted's Treasure Hunt   ▪▫▪   Excellent Raffle Prizes   ▪▫▪   Many Stalls ▪▫▪   Wood Breaking Demonstration   ▪▫▪ Organised by Milton Self Defence with all proceeds going to Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre Contact Duncan for information on 07973 663601

Book Swap Wednesday 18th July, 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 Thursday 19th July, 12.30 pm in Milton Village Hall.   £5. Ham salad + chocolate dipped strawberries and cream! Contact Lynn, 704540, Sue, 701978, or Polly, 703436 Everyone welcome wherever you live! If you need transport, let us know

Raising funds for the Nightingale Macmillan Ward at Derby Royal Hospital Joules Seconds Sale Thursday July 26th in Repton School Sports Hall Main Entry 6.30 to 8 pm HUGE REDUCTIONS on Homeware, Clothing & Accessories for women, men & children Advance Tickets £4, on the door £5* from Mulberry Beauty Salon, High Street, Repton, or Elaine Newbold @joulessecondssalerepton *on the door tickets may not be available if all tickets are pre-sold in advance

The Great War Remembered

100 years ago, the Vicar wrote . . .

The events of the past month have on the whole been decidedly reassuring to the Allies. The summer is gradually passing; it is, as [the enemy] knows full well, a case of now or never: yet up to the time of writing he has not gained one single object of his confident expectation. For that alone we can be profoundly thankful. Meanwhile in Italy our brave Allies have hurled back the Austrian attack with consummate success.

But again with profound regret I have to record losses among the men of our village. First, there is the extremely sad blow which has come to Mr. and Mrs. Eaton, of Church End. Already two of their sons have fallen, and now the news has come to them that their eldest son, George, has died of wounds, while their fourth and sole remaining son is missing. For such an overwhelming blow as this, mere human sympathy and comfort is unavailing. It is for such poor souls as these that our prayers go up day by day to the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. We have also lost Alfred Hawkesworth, who for years was a most faithful and diligent helper in the church; his mother in her sorrow is assured of the deep sympathy of all who knew him. News also has come through that Ernest Gaskin and Harry Massey are prisoners of war, and I very much hope are being decently treated.

I am glad to record that in a recent visit paid by H.M.’s Inspector to the Elementary School he expressed himself as most highly pleased with the tone in the school and the excellent progress that had been made.

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Repton Village Hall Appeal

Thank You!

With the R-Fest the Village Hall Appeal came to a close, at least as far as events are concerned. Launched in April 2014 it has been triumphantly successful.

Fund-raising events have been many and various with events for children and adults alike. Children had their own special events including Halloween discos, Blast Off and My Marvellous Machine, a beetle drive, and even and a tots triathlon! but they also had a great time at the pig race evenings, and kurling.

Designed more for adults, in the village hall we enjoyed an antiques evening, bridge days, a ladies' pamper night, lunch with Charles Hanson, murder mystery evenings, a fashion show and an SOS clothes sale, St George's Day celebrations and a wine tasting evening, concerts, jazz evenings, and 'Fit for a Queen', whilst the really energetic started off the New Year with a Repton activity day.

By courtesy of Repton School we enjoyed jazz evenings in Pears School organised by the Village Society, and two magnificent Lunches on the Paddock. St Wystan's Church donated takings from its annual quiz and Repton Christmas Tree Festival donated half its takings, whilst Carol and Michael Hickebottom twice ran 'Quiz at the Constitution' in Burton.

Outdoors we had a dog walk, ghost walks, Repton history walks (organised by the Village History Group and Repton WI), a BBQ, a horse trek, and – with the music still ringing in our ears – thanks to Melissa and Andy Cooke, the R Fest.

It has been surprising too how much has been raised by small things such as the sale of plants and Christmas and Easter novelties.

In all, these activities, including more than 50 events, have raised around £85,000, demonstrating the strong support of the village. Added to a substantial legacy from Mary and Ken Vincent, the village hall's own reserves, and moneys previously committed by Repton Parish Council, they have enabled the Parish Council to undertake the next step and seek to take out a loan to cover the balance.

For the moment the appeal continues through Easy Fundraising, the 100 Club, the coin collection and the village hall jigsaw.

Huge thanks

. . . are due to the Appeal Fundraising Committee under its chairman, Adrian Argyle. Howard Awberry, Lesley Carruthers, Louise Chilton, Peter Court, Carol Lloyd, Elaine Newbold, and Frances Wimbush have been there from the beginning, and as the appeal has progressed, it has been particularly pleasing to welcome new recruits – Jo Bamford, Kyran Farrell, Jo Hinton and Herbie Kaur. The committee has worked tremendously hard and organised the bulk of the events themselves.

But the committee wasn't alone. It has been supported all along the way by people too numerous to mention. To them also and to all you who came along, we are truly grateful.

It has been great fun!

Although – to state the obvious – the purpose of the appeal was to raise money, these events have been great fun, most clearly seen perhaps in the children's events which began to sell out as soon as they were advertised, but also for us wrinklies. It would be good to think that the same spirit will continue when the new village hall is built!

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R-Fest triumphant

On a sunny Saturday in June it was great to see over 400 people from all over the village enjoying music and generously supporting the village hall appeal.

Melissa Cooke came up with the idea of a music festival and very generously provided not only the land but also a huge amount of creativity and effort to organise a very successful event.

From mid-afternoon to the close of play late in the evening, a wide variety of music including folk, jazz, brass band, ska and rock saw the scene change from a picnic in the park with the Symphonic Winds to a full rock concert as the night wore on.

The event was supported by many local donors and businesses supplying food, drink or prizes for the silent auction, and the professional event organisers and caterers also agreed concessionary rates or donated a share of takings.

Setting up the event was a huge task and Melissa's husband Andy led the way as many volunteers appeared on site, including tradesmen without whom it would have been very difficult. It is impossible to overestimate just how much hard work this was and it is wonderful that people are so generous with their time.

Thanks to the generosity and spirit of Repton residents and friends, the event comfortably exceeded its £10k target, raising approximately £12k. This will help greatly towards getting the hall built, landscaped and equipped for everyone to enjoy.

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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.

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Repton Village & History

Swimming lessons – beginners of any age

During the summer, from Monday to Friday of the weeks beginning 13th and 20th August, 9 to 11 am, JW Swimming will be providing swimming lessons for beginners at Repton School swimming pool. Lessons, each for no more than two people, last 30 minutes. All of the teaching is done from within the pool itself. The aim is to build confidence and develop early swimming skills. JW Swimming is run by Jessie Watkins, a fully qualified AQA Level 2 swimming teacher and NPLQ lifeguard, who is currently training as a primary school teacher. Being able to swim is a vital life skill, but it can also lead swimmers on to joining local swimming clubs and maybe even one day the Commonwealth or Olympic games. Everyone has to start somewhere – Adam Peaty did much of his training here in Repton. For more information, contact Jessie Watkins on 01283 704758 or 07788 194647.

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Repton ngs Village Gardens, Sunday 22nd July, 1.30 - 5.30 pm
10 Chestnut Way : 22 Pinfold Close : Askew Cottage - 23 Milton Road
Holme Point - Mitre Drive : Repton Allotments : Woodend Cottage - 134 Main Street

This is a great opportunity to visit six lovely NGS gardens for £6 (children free). All six are full of colour and interest, but very different. There are home-made teas at 10 Chestnut Way, and at Woodend Cottage (in aid of St Wystan's Church). Money raised goes to the National Garden Scheme which each year donates over £3million to nursing and caring charities, with Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Hospice UK each receiving £500,000.

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Summer Play provided by Repton Parish Council
Mitre Field, Mitre Drive, Repton

Come along and enjoy the facilities; they are all funded by the Parish Council and are free of charge for local young people. Just turn up on the day. Suitable clothing and footwear should be worn. Under 8s should have a responsible adult with them at all times.

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

The Adventure Mobile is aimed at 5-16 year olds. It includes the Laser Combat Arena and the new Inflatable Mountain Climb. There will also be Soft Archery, Rounders and Circus Skills.

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

The Sports Mobile is aimed at 8-16 year olds and contains a range of sporting equipment including football and cricket. This year it also includes a Mountain Bike Challenge course with ramps and balance beams. Bikes will be provided, but young people are encouraged to bring their own. There are two evening sessions.

We hope that these activities will provide fun and enjoyment during the school summer holidays, although they do require reasonable weather! Mark your diaries now and come to the Mitre Field for a great time!

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Repton WI celebrates its 100 Birthday

Helen Rowe, our speaker in June, had our rapt attention when she spoke about 'Laughter Yoga' (who'd have thought it?) for stress relief and healing through relaxation and mindfulness. As we listened to a relaxation tape complete silence descended, not something we often experience at Repton WI, especially as on this occasion we had 66 ladies waiting to start the centenary celebrations.

Afterwards the hall was buzzing when we cut and enjoyed the anniversary cake and shared a cake from a member's 'special' birthday. By the time this goes to print we will have had our centenary service at St Wystan's Church, our celebration dinner, and entertained the village to an afternoon of WI memories, games for the children, raffle, treasure hunt, and, of course, the ever popular WI tea and cakes.

In July

. . . we continue our usual activities. On Tuesday 10th at our monthly meeting, 7.15 pm in Repton village hall, Wendy Coley brings us up to date with the latest developments in the use of Medical Detection Dogs in healthcare.

Monday 2nd	Craft and Chatter at Richmond Homes Cafe Bar
Saturday 7th	Repton Primary School Fair
Wednesday 18th	Happy Hour at The Boot
Thursday 26th	Coffee Morning at Swarkestone Nursery

If you fancy giving WI a try, do come along. You will be made very welcome. See our Facebook page for photos of what we do and more details of events.

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Repton Baby and Toddler
A summer outing

Repton Baby and Toddler had great fun on their summer outing to Bluebell Dairy. Children enjoyed playing in the sand pit, riding tractors and meeting the farm animals, but most of all, they enjoyed the delicious ice cream.

This month, children have been making Little Bo Peep's sheep for the Repton Open Gardens Scarecrow competition. Next month we will be celebrating World Book Week with a visit from Etwall library.

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

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Scouts

We had a very good last two weeks before half term, with wide games outside the Den as well as rounders, football and cricket. Then the last week was a bushcraft night.

As we are going camping from Friday till Sunday at Beaudesert camp site on the edge of Cannock Chase, the first week after half term was a team tent assembly night to make sure everyone knows how to put them up and check they are stable and secure.

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

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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. All proceeds go to charity.

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Tracing the Repton Smith Family

St Wystan's churchyard contains a number of Victorian headstones belonging to a local Smith family who often share the Christian name of Seth. We would like to contact any surviving members of the family regarding a particular headstone whose most recent inscription is for Richard Seth Smith who died in 1985. The burial register gives his last address as 100 Main Street.

If you are able to help, please contact the churchwarden, George Johnson.

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Repton Village Society

In June we were happy to see the return of Rod Pearson, his theme this time 'When Mat and Mel came to town; the work of the Ordnance Survey in Derby'. The need to map the United Kingdom accurately was recognised during the Jacobite rebellion of 1745 when the army realised that it did not have the information it needed. The responsibility was given to the Board of Ordnance, and only recently has it been separated from the military, though the name has been retained.

The original baseline ran across Heathrow Heath – part of it now part of the airport. The original sea level benchmark was in Liverpool Docks, but as this was affected by wind and atmospheric pressure, the benchmark was moved in the 1920s to Newlyn in Cornwall, both to minimise this problem and to provide a more stable geological foundation.

The work was extraordinarily detailed and accurate. Rod showed us how the height of land was measured and in particular how the survey from Matlock to Melbourne was carried out. He also identified benchmarks in Repton, one on the wall at Brook End and one on the bridge across the Old Trent. Thank you very much to Rod for an informative and well presented talk.

At our next meeting on Thursday 5th July (7.30 pm in Repton village hall), Richard Booth's subject will be 'Around the Coast of Britain by Motorcycle', featuring some things we will recognise, as well as more unusual features of our coast.

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Repton Literary Festival
Friday 26th – Sunday 28th October

We are grateful to Repton School which is kindly lending its facilities for this festival during the school's autumn half term break.

Details are not yet ready to publish, but authors have been invited to speak on their recently published books in the areas of politics and philosophy, history and religion, sport and children's literature.

Pears School will provide the focal point of the festival. To coincide with the centenary of the Armistice, it will also be housing an exhibition about the Victoria Cross, and the School library will have an exhibition on the events of the period. Saturday 27th October is appropriately national 'Tell-A-Story Day', celebrating story-telling of all kinds. Rooms in the Old Priory undercroft will provide a unique setting.

Please note the dates. We hope to see you. There will be more details later in the year.

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Repton Village History Group
Æthelflæd, Queen of the Mercians

On the 1100th anniversary of her death on 12th June 918, Prof. Mark Horton and Dr. Cat Jarman from the archaeological dig in Repton, took part in a celebration in Tamworth of the life of Æthelflæd, the eldest daughter of King Alfred the Great.

When the Vikings overwintered in Repton in 873 - 4, they were no longer simply plundering and pillaging as in earlier times, but aimed at conquest and settlement. Whilst they still found rich pickings by attacking the many kingdoms here and demanding money to withdraw, a sort of political settlement evolved whereby they gained control of a large part of England, The Danelaw. Repton was within the Danelaw, albeit close to the edge, but Derby was one of its five boroughs, the fortified towns of the Viking armies.

When Æthelflæd became queen of the Mercians in 911 following the death of her husband Æthelred, she had for some time been largely responsible for the government of Mercia owing to his declining health. In 917 it was her army which drove the Vikings from Derby. A year later Leicester surrendered without a fight and York offered her its loyalty. She died that year and it fell to her brother King Edward the Elder to finish the re-conquest of Mercia.

There is a significant programme of events in Tamworth in July some of which look to be good fun. Search for 'tamworth aethelflaed'.

The Repton Dig

. . . by Bristol University is in its third season. The placement of this year's large trench was guided by ground penetrating radar, and at the time of writing (about half way through the dig) they have just about reached the Anglo-Saxon and Viking levels. The usual bits of iron and pottery have been emerging together with good-sized lumps of stone, all of which may make more sense as the dig progresses. Also found in the higher levels have been a couple of early Neolithic flints (about 6,000 years old) and two musket balls. This just proves that the garden was terraced and landscaped and soils moved around, probably by the Victorians.

The History Group has been providing a rota of members (Mud Monkeys) who have moved the spoil, metal detected and riddled it to find anything the archaeologists have missed, and another team (The Scrubbers) who are washing all the finds.

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

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One Day Jitty Closure
Thursday 26th July

The jitty between Repton School Art School and the Priory boarding house will be closed for one day only on Thursday 26th July. The alternative route to re-join the jitty up to Mitre Drive is via Burton Road and the footpath between the Red Lion Public House and Greedy Pig Butchers.

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Mobile Library Tuesday 10th July
Repton village hall, 10.15-11.30 : The Square, 11.35-1.00

The library has something for everyone including fiction and non-fiction 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. As it works to a four-weekly timetable, in August it should again be here on the 7th. For the Long Eaton base, contact 01629 531398; for the van, 0780 904 4405.

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Parking

Towards the end of June you may have noticed increased parking congestion by the church. A large section of Repton School's Sports Centre car park has been closed for resurfacing as part of the Centre's development, and members have been advised to find alternative parking in the village. The work should be finished in early August.

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Repton Parish Council

Repton Village Hall: The Parish Council has now formally applied to the Department for Communities and Local Government for a loan to assist with rebuilding the village hall. Documents regarding this application are displayed on the Parish Council website, the village hall website – reptonvillagehall.org.uk, and also within the village hall itself. Should you wish to see the full documentation which has been sent in support of the application, please contact the Parish Council office where a paper copy of the application is available. It is hoped that a response from the Government should be received over the coming weeks.

Village Signs: The Parish Council is currently obtaining quotes to restore the 'Repton, Historic Capital of Mercia' signs located in the village. It is anticipated that during the summer they will be removed and repainted. They should be back in place before the winter months.

The finger sign post at the top of Boot Hill is also being repaired, one of the directional finger signs was broken. This work should also be completed over the summer months.

Summer Play at The Mitre Field: We are pleased that we have again been able to secure a number of activities for the school summer holidays. They are funded by the Parish Council and free for all local young people. See page 29 for details.

Public Rights of Way: Councillors are currently checking the condition of some of our local public rights of way. The Parish Council receives a small amount of funding for the routine maintenance of these footpaths, and can also report major issues such as severely overgrown public rights of way to Derbyshire County Council for investigation. If you have noticed or experienced any problems with the public rights of way in Repton or Milton, please let us know. If you could provide the exact location of the footpath or its number, it help would significantly.

Next meeting: Monday 9th July in The Community Room, Fisher Close, Repton, at 7.30 pm. All are welcome.

Parish Council Office, 40 High Street

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Milton & Foremark Village Matters

Milton Open Gardens

Wow! What a success! It was a wonderful afternoon with lovely visitors and everyone in the village making them welcome. The feedback has been fantastic.

On a Saturday in early June, we were proud to welcome 503 visitors, many of them first timers. The sun shone on 13 amazing gardens, diverse and beautiful, all reflecting the vision of their owners. The telephone kiosk was decorated to commemorate the centenary of the end of the Great War and to commemorate those from Milton, Ingleby and Foremarke who lost their lives, and Milton WI served tea and home-made cakes in the village hall.

The scarecrows were imaginative and fun, and, of course, the event would not have been complete without our very own live scarecrow, keeping everyone in order with her sweeping brush!

The evening ended with a BBQ in The Swan beer garden where tired but happy Miltonians and friends enjoyed bangers and burgers – and maybe a pint or two.

Profits from the event, £4,250, will be split between the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance and the upkeep of Milton village hall.

Milton may be a small hamlet, but residents together with many friends make our events special. Thank you to everyone involved. Your efforts are very much appreciated.

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Live and Local in Milton

In May the Foundry Group, four talented and enthusiastic actors, entertained us with 'The Ministry of Biscuits', a clever and entertaining musical comedy packed with repartee and neat one liners. Set in the London of 1948 where fancy biscuits were prohibited, it followed the progress of a sparkling confectionery rebellion. Drawing inspiration from 40s music, George Orwell's '1984' and Ealing Comedy, this satirical fantasy was genuinely funny and thoroughly enjoyable. Rich Tea biscuits will never be the same again!

To have an act of this calibre in Milton was wonderful. Live and Local is supported by the Arts Council. We are grateful to them and to the Foundry Group for such an entertaining evening.

To hire Milton village hall, contact Polly Faulkner.

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Milton WI

The magazine deadline is again too early to report on our June meeting, when our speaker is Tony Hurrell from Sharpe's Pottery Museum, and our outing to Betty's Sewing Box.

At our next meeting on Wednesday 18th July, Richard Stone will talk on Richard III, 'The Body in the car park', and the following week, on Wednesday 25th July, we are hosting our group business meeting. Our regular meetings are on the third Wednesday of the month at 7.30 pm in Milton village hall. New members and guests are always welcome.

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Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre

. . . is a registered charity that provides Derbyshire children experiencing difficult times at home with a week's holiday in Skegness. The project started as a small idea in 1891, and having recently expanded, now provides 660 places a year.

A holiday is something most of us take for granted, but for these children it is a rarity, even a one-off. Many of them have never been away, and may have no prospect of doing so.

A stay at the Holiday Centre can make a huge difference. For a week, they can just enjoy being on holiday. With time and space to relax in a supportive environment, the youngsters gain confidence and self-esteem, as well as creating new and memories. For many children the relationships gained remain with them throughout their lives. For their parents or carers too, it offers important respite time, safe in the knowledge that the children are being well looked after.

In 2016, the Charity BBQ and Fun Day, organised by Duncan Hogg, raised £7k for the Centre, and in 2017 approximately £8k. Do come along on Sunday 8th July to have fun and give your support once again this year. For details see above.

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Newton Solney & St Mary's Church

Newton Solney Horticultural Show
Saturday 1st September

Entry forms and schedules for Newton Solney Open Fruit, Flower, Vegetable and Craft Show are now available from Chris Freestone, 01283 701147.

The show takes place in the village hall on Repton Road. Entries should be brought between 9 and 11.45 am. The show is open to the public from 3 pm, and the presentation of prizes at 5 pm will be followed by an auction and then the prize draw.

We really value your support for this traditional village show where everyone is most welcome to exhibit. Please be planning ahead now so that you too can take part.

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Newton Solney Infant School and Pre-School

The summer term will soon be drawing to a close and the children have been busy enjoying all that summer has to offer – sports on the field, country dancing, exploring our new forest school area, and most importantly, learning whilst having lots of fun! They are now looking forward to the end of term disco.

Community Collective Worship: Everyone is welcome to join us in the school hall at 9.15 am on Thursday 5th July. The children loved seeing some new faces last month, so please come along!

Celebration Service in St Mary's Church: Do join us on Friday 13th July at 2 pm as we celebrate the end of another successful school year.

School places available for September

We have space available in all classes for the next academic year. Rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted, we are a small, friendly school with a happy family atmosphere and excellent staff and pupils. Please contact the school office for details, 01283 703461.

Pre-School Building Fund: A huge thank you to everyone who supported our fundraising events in June; it was lovely to see so many people. The Art Exhibition showcased a great variety of work from many local artists, from a magnificent metal horse's head to pre-school splashes! It was a great success and raised a fantastic amount – over £2k. Thank you to everyone who exhibited, attended the preview evening, bought a picture or simply enjoyed the tea and cake!

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Newton Solney WI

We have had a busy month with a visit to Sinai House and an enthralling evening on the history of Burton.

At our monthly meeting Simon Evetts spoke on 'Wines from Chile'. Hemmed in between the ocean and the Andes, the temperature variations from north to south are extreme, allowing growers to use a variety of grapes. After sampling seven wines ranging in origin from the coastal to the hillside regions, and in character from lighter to fuller bodied varieties, we finished off with a dessert wine. We were left with a question: As grapes are a fruit, does wine count as part of our '5 a day'? It was a very enjoyable evening.

Our recent Italian Evening to raise funds for the village hall was a great success. A lovely two course meal was prepared and served by our WI ladies, and we were entertained by Blue & White, a great combination of vocals and guitar. Many thanks to them and to everyone who helped out and supported the evening.

Our next meeting on Tuesday 10th July will be a Cookery Demonstration. Nancy Hawkesworth will share her skills and help us with our '5 a day'.

New members are always welcome. We meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7.30 in the village hall. In August, however, there is no 'monthly' meeting. Instead we will have our Summer Social on Saturday 19th August in the village hall.

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Newton Solney Tuesday Club

In May we had a beautiful trip through Derbyshire. At Masson Mill in Matlock Bath, we stopped for coffee and had time to shop before the driver took the scenic route to the Peak Village. Here we had a leisurely lunch and more retail therapy. The weather was beautiful and we were able to see the countryside at its best.

At our last meeting, Jenny West, who has spoken to us previously, gave a cookery demonstration in her usual amusing style. After a starter of mackerel pâté, the two main courses were chicken breasts wrapped in foil, and a vegetarian tomato and courgette bake. The sweet was a mixed berry Eton mess. All the food – four portions of each course – was raffled off at the end of Jenny's presentation. It was a most enjoyable afternoon, followed by tea and cake in celebration of the 90th birthday of one of our members.

Sadly we have received the news that our oldest member, Jack Antliff, has passed away after a short illness at the age of 104. He will be very much missed by his family, friends and our members.

Tuesday 3rd July at 2.30 pm: A business meeting followed by a talk on the history of Newton Solney by Sue Ellis.

Tuesday, 17th July: A trip on the Whaley Bridge Canal with a meal on board.   We will stop for coffee en route. We leave the Unicorn Inn at 9.30 am and return between 4 and 5 pm. The cost of £35 includes the coach, boat trip and meal. It will be lovely! (A minimum of 25 people is needed to cover our costs; if we are unable to get sufficient numbers we will be going instead to Bridgemere Gardens, leaving the Unicorn Inn at 9.30 am and returning by about 4 pm. Cost £10.) The usual pick-up points are available for either trip.

Tuesday 24th July: Whist Drive at 7 pm in Newton Solney village hall. All are welcome!

For information about Tuesday Club or any of the above activities, please contact our Secretary, Jane, on 01283 564520.

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Newton Solney Parish Council

The Common Land: After a review of security following a number of incidents, the Parish Council has drawn up plans and is awaiting approval from those who access the site.

Recreational Field: The Parish Council is awaiting three quotes before moving ahead with plans to install a trim trail.

Sports Mobile and Summer Activities: We are planning to hire the Sports Mobile once again. Details of dates and times will appear soon.

Planning

Alterations to the front façade at Newton Park Hotel: pending
Pruning three trees at Bladon House School: pending
Felling of one tree and crown reduction of another at 54 Main Street: pending

Next meeting: Friday 13th July at 7.30 pm in the village hall. All are welcome.

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South Derbyshire

What's On in South Derbyshire and The National Forest

Once again a reminder to look for 'What's On'. The summer edition is now out with a host of events and attractions in South Derbyshire. Search for 'Swadlincote Tourist Information Centre' to find it; it's easier than through the council website. You can also pick it up from the tourist information centre at Sharpe's Pottery. It is a great source of inspiration for ways to keep grandparents and children out of your hair.

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You and your Pet

Rabbits

. . . have surged in popularity over recent years. They are very social animals and should really be kept in pairs. A good combination is a neutered male and a neutered female. It is advisable to neuter rabbits anyway, both to prevent fighting and unwanted babies, and also to prevent uterine tumours in females, which can be common.

Rabbits can live in- or outdoors, but should have the freedom to exercise, play and dig daily. Some are more people-orientated than others, but all require gentle handling; short bursts of daily handling should start when they are young. Rabbits do like a good chew, so any electrical wires should be kept well out of reach. Outdoors they need to be well sheltered from the elements, and have shade available from the sun. They need space to move freely with places to hide, platforms to stand on, and enough room to stand on their hind limbs without hitting their heads.

Hay and grass is the mainstay of any rabbit's diet, supplemented with a small handful of good quality nuggets and leafy greens such as kale. They also love herbs such as parsley and mint. This will keep their continuously growing teeth and their very sensitive digestive systems in good shape. Any rabbit that goes twenty-four hours without eating must be seen by a vet, as they can develop ileus, a very serious condition whereby their guts stop working.

In spring and summer, rabbits' cleanliness should be checked daily. Any soiling around their bottoms, should be cleaned to stop flies being attracted and laying eggs, which can cause very serious problems. They should also be vaccinated annually against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease.

Although they do require quite a lot of work, rabbits can be full of personality and charm. They make great pets for dedicated owners!

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Is your cat safe in the garden?

In summer, just like gardeners, pets enjoy long days and warm weather amongst the flowers and shrubs. Whilst most pets are perfectly safe in the great outdoors, there are a host of potential garden hazards for cats. Lilies, barbeques and too much sun can all prove harmful.

Garden chemicals: Read the label on pest control products. Slug pellets containing metaldehyde can prove fatal.

Take care with BBQs: After cooking, make sure the fire is properly cooled or covered. Your cat can suffer nasty burns if it jumps in.

Plants and flowers: Certain plants and flowers can be toxic to cats, particularly lilies. Avoid them both for outdoor and indoor arrangements. If you think your cat has eaten or come into contact with any part of a lily, get it to a vet as soon as possible. For a full list of potentially dangerous plants, visit the Feline Advisory Bureau website at fabcats.org.

Too much sun: Like humans, cats can develop skin cancer, and certain cats, particularly white and pale cats or those with sparse hair on their ears, are more at risk. A high factor sunblock can be obtained, and can be applied to vulnerable areas such as the ears, but owners should be aware that most cats will clean this off, so speak to your vet for advice on an appropriate sunblock. It is best to keep your cat indoors or in the shade when the sun is at its hottest.

Sheds and greenhouses: Be careful not to trap cats inside outbuildings, especially during hot weather.

Fleas thrive in hot weather. Make sure your cat is protected. Your vet will be able to advise on what treatment is most suitable.

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Neighbourhood Watch

Keep your wits about you! A fraudster may pretend to be a police officer or bank official, and suggest for example that money has been removed from your bank account. He will give you details about you and your account (which can be picked up from various websites) to gain your trust.

You will then be asked to cooperate in an investigation by attending your bank and withdrawing money, which is allegedly needed as evidence. You are promised the money you have handed over or spent will be reimbursed. (How likely is that?) In reality there is no further contact and the money is never seen again.

http or https? When you visit a website, the address in the browser will probably begin with 'http://'. It is insecure – others can tap into your computer's conversation with the website. If you fill out a form on such a website, others can read it. However, if the web address begins with 'https://', your interchange can not be overheard.

So, if a website asks you for credit card information, you should ALWAYS look at the web address. Unless it begins with 'https://', NEVER enter sensitive information.

Remember:

• Secure your door chain.
• Make absolutely sure a caller is genuine before you let him in.
• Staff from utility companies carry an identification card. Always ask to see it. If in any doubt, contact their company for verification.
• Don't give them any personal or bank details.
• If they have a vehicle, take down the registration number, make and model.

Always look out for your elderly and vulnerable neighbours.

Adrian Gillham, Chairman, Repton Neighbourhood Watch

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Gardening Notes

Bamboos

Growth has been luxuriant this year as a result of the very wet winter and unusually warm weather in May and June. I fear that once we get wind and rain there will be lots of damaged soft growth, but one plant unlikely to be affected is bamboo. We have a number in the garden. I definitely see them as 'man' plants – 'sleep, creep, leap' plants. They are slow to get going, but once they have their feet down, they will romp.

Bamboos need to be placed carefully to give long-lasting pleasure. I would recommend planting them in a container buried just below the ground, an old header tank from the loft is ideal. If you don't thin the branches you will have an unruly mess after a year or two, and the all-important stems will be hidden. This year some of the new shoots have been exceptionally large, so these will be used to replace older thinner stems. There is no point in keeping new stems that are thin, they will never thicken up. You need to clear the side-shoots from at least the bottom two thirds of each stem but do not cut off the tops as they will not regrow.

Bamboo does not compost well, but you can get a good supply of canes for garden use. Thin black canes are especially useful to discreetly support single stems such as lilies and delphiniums. When we use them to support runner beans we sometimes leave the tops on, which looks rather fun.

Bamboos come in a range of colours, some with stripes and even some with kinks in the stem. They are expensive to buy as they are quite difficult to divide and small divisions often fail to establish. Heaven help you if you need to remove a large bamboo – unless you have very good access and a strong man it is probably a job for a mini-digger.

Jobs for July

Flowers: The main aim in July is to keep your plants flowering, and the most effective way is to deadhead. Some flowers like sweet peas will continue flowering as long as you deadhead regularly before seeds appear. Some like pansies, delphiniums and some salvias should be cut back hard when the flowers are about 75% done to encourage a new crop. Others like heleniums just keep flowering but look so much better if they are deadheaded. Roses will also produce more flowers if you deadhead. The method varies from removal of individual flower heads to shearing off small repeat-flowering types. Remember that some roses produce decorative hips, so dead heads here should not be removed but left to mature.

Fruit and vegetables: To make the most of the space available, train cucumber stems upwards instead of letting them trail over the ground. Tie in their long stems to vertical wires or a wigwam of poles. We already have four stems and loads of baby cues. Pinch out tomato side shoots each week, and cut off any leaves growing below the lowest ripening trusses to improve air circulation and prevent disease. Boost your tomato crop by feeding them once a week with dilute tomato fertiliser. If leaves look pale and yellow, feed more often. You can do the same for sunflowers too. Pick your courgettes while they are young. Regular picking encourages more fruit.

Keep picking your strawberries and raspberries, but resist the temptation to harvest more rhubarb stems and allow the plant to build up reserves for next year. Pick runner beans regularly to prevent them becoming stringy and to make room for developing pods. Leaving mature pods on the plant can prevent further flowers forming and reduce your crop.

Harvest beetroot, peas, carrots, chard, potatoes, salad leaves this month; there is still time to sow more, but do water the ground well first. Use grass clippings as a mulch around potato plants to stop tubers near the surface turning green. Alternatively, earth up your potato plants as they grow. If you are growing potatoes in bags, gradually add more compost until the bag is full.

Remember that gardening is all about doing better each year!