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| The Parish Magazine Repton, Foremark, Milton, Ingleby, Newton Solney |
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February 2019 | ||||
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God didn't send me a valentine
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 Coffee Morning: Saturday 9th February SHELL Group: Mondays 4th and 11th February World Day of Prayer: Friday 1st March 182nd Church Anniversary: Sunday 17th March. Personal Announcements & Obituaries Marriages Rachel Laura Smedley and Andrew Wilson Funerals and Burial of Ashes James Ellor Tom Davies Obituaries Roger Denniss The Memorial Book Derby Diocese and the wider Church Bishop Libby Don't pray like a parrot! L'appel de Dieu Repton Benefice A Service for Candlemas Housegroups St Wystan's News Sunday Club for 4 - 11 year olds Local Diary Event Details Coffee & freshly baked Cake, Every Tuesday A Photographic History of Repton School, Friday 1st February Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 6th February The Importance of Being Earnest, Saturday 9th February Repton School Concert, Wednesday 13th February Book Swap, Wednesday 20th February Milton Lunch Club, Thursday 21st February Hot House Gospel Choir, Saturday 23rd February Messy Church, Sunday 24th February Baked Potatoes & Pancakes, Tuesday 5th March After the Great War 100 years ago, the Vicar wrote . . . The vileness of Bolshevism The Education Act of 1918 J.H. Gurney and The Priory Repton Village Hall Progress ~ and thank you! Repton Village Hall Appeal The 100 Club Repton Village and History Hot House Gospel Choir Repton Casuals Fixtures at Broomhills Lane Homeless in Derby Maypole Dancing at Repton Village Party ngs Snowdrop Festival, Sundays 17th & 24th February Repton Baby and Toddler Repton Cubs Scouting in Repton ~ Explorer Scouts New gardens welcome! Repton Village Society Repton WI Repton Village History Group Litter Mobile Library, Tuesday 12th February Awards available for residents of the parish of Repton Repton Parish Council Vacancy for Repton Primary School Governor Milton, Foremark & St Saviour's Church Milton WI Self-defence class for disabled people Newton Solney & St Mary's Church Newton Solney WI St Mary's Children's Society Box Collection Newton Solney C of E School Newton Solney Pre-School Appeal Newton Solney Tuesday Club Newton Solney Parish Council Derbyshire Dashcams help the police Dodging potholes You and your Pet Myth-busting Neighbourhood Watch Gardening Notes Snowdrop Time |
God didn't send me a valentine
'Blue Monday', said to be the most depressing day of the year, has come and gone. I hope it wasn't that bad for you and that, like me, you are able to enjoy the longer days and emerging buds of spring. But there is further cause for hope. Earlier in January we were reminded in church of the occasion, at the start of his ministry, when Jesus was baptised by John. As he came up out of the water, Jesus heard God's words of assurance and encouragement, 'You are my Son whom I love; I am pleased with you.' The preacher suggested that, since Jesus was fully human as well as divine, and humans have been created by God to have a special place in his creation, we could take these words to ourselves as an encouragement. We are all invited to look at ourselves in a mirror and say, 'I am a child of God, I am loved by God, and he is pleased with me.'The good news about God's love is that it is so much greater than our efforts to love. As we come to Valentine's Day with its commercial hype, and also the heartache it brings to some, it's helpful to remember that God's love is there for all who will receive it and allow it to enter their lives. Many years ago a friend wrote the following reflection, which she has allowed me to share with you:
God didn't send me a valentine.I thank God for all that this means and pray that you too will know the blessing of God's love.
He sent his Son.
God didn't write, 'I love you' on a beautiful card.
He wrote it in all creation – the sky, the sun, the flowers,
and he wrote it across history in his blood.
God didn't draw a heart pierced by an arrow,
but his own body was broken and his blood poured out for me.
God didn't say, 'I love you, dear, in spite of all your faults.'
He said, 'I take your faults on my own self,
and in my body I crucify them,
so that I may love you without faults,
clothed in the righteousness of my Son.'
So God loved me.
Bridget Hunt
Ruth Attwood
Services at Foremark, Newton Solney
and Repton Churches
St Wystan's, Repton
EVERY Wednesday 10 am Holy Communion Sunday 3rd 5th before Lent 8 am Holy Communion 9.45 am Worship Together 11 am Matins 6.30pm Choral Service for Candlemas Sunday 10th 4th before Lent 9.45 am Parish Communion 6.30 pm Evening Prayer Sunday 17th 3rd before Lent 8 am Holy Communion 9.45 am Parish Communion Sunday 24th 2nd before Lent 9.45 am Parish Communion 10.45am Prayer for Healing 4 pm Messy Church
St Saviour's, Foremark
Sunday 10th 4th before Lent 4 pm Evening Prayer Sunday 24th 2nd before Lent 4 pm Holy Communion
St Mary's, Newton Solney
Sunday 3rd 5th before Lent 10 am Parish Communion Sunday 10th 4th before Lent 10 am Worship Together Sunday 17th 3rd before Lent 10 am Parish Communion Sunday 24th 2nd before Lent 10 am Matins
Readers, Intercessors and Offertory at St Wystan's
3rd 11 am Malachi 3: 1 - 5 John Cawdron Hebrews 2: 14 - 18 Luke 2: 22 - 40 Stephen Longden 10th 9.45 am Isaiah 6: 1 - 8 1 Corinthians 15: 1 - 11 Jan Gillham Luke 5: 1 - 11 Rev'd David Fergus Intercessions: Stephen Longden Offertory: Karen Wells 17th 9.45 am Jeremiah 30: 1 - 3, 10 - 22 1 Corinthians 15: 12 - 20 Susan Ashby Luke 6: 17 - 26 Rev'd Andrew Baguley Intercessions: Stanley Morris Offertory: Susan & Roger Ashby 24th 9.45 am Genesis 2: 4b - 9, 15 - 25 Revelation 4: 1 - 11 Stephen Gould Luke 8: 22 - 25 Rev'd Andrew Baguley Intercessions: Nick Parish Offertory: Monica Westwood & Stephen Gould
Altar Flowers
Frances Wimbush, 703180
3rd: Noreen Driver. 10th: Beth Rogers. 17th: Jan Gillham. 24th: Margaret Blackshaw.
Brasses
Sue Parker, 702550
tba
Altar Flowers at St Saviour's
Ann Redfern, 01332 862350
3rd: Rosemary Nash.
The United Reformed Church
3rd February 11 am Morning Worship 6.30 pm Service at Fisher Close Community Lounge 10th February 11 am Morning Worship 17th February 11 am Holy Communion led by Rev Graham Maskery 24th February 11 am Morning Worship 6.30 pm Joint Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service Friday 1st March tbc Service for the World Day of Prayer
Coffee Morning: Saturday 9th February, 10.30 - 11.30
Come and join us for coffee, chat with friends and enjoy the home made cakes and preserves on sale. Everyone is very welcome!SHELL Group: Mondays 4th and 11th February
For young people aged 7 and over. SHELL Group meets on Mondays from 6.30 - 7.30 pm for craft activities, games and a Christian message. Activities this month include baking and making Valentine's cards. New members are always welcome!World Day of Prayer: Friday 1st March
'Come – Everything is Ready!' is the theme of the World Day of Prayer which this year has been prepared by Christian women of Slovenia, one of the smallest and youngest countries in Europe. The joint service of prayer will be held at the United Reformed Church on Friday 1st March.Date for your Diary
182nd Church Anniversary: Sunday 17th March.Personal Announcements & Obituaries
If you would like to announce the birth, baptism, marriage or death of a relative or close friend, or if you feel that the wider community would be interested in reading an obituary, please contact the editor, Chris Lloyd.Marriages
Rachel Laura Smedley and Andrew Wilson of Holloway, Repton, were married at St Wystan's Church on Saturday 15th December.We offer them our best wishes for their future lives together.
Funerals and Burial of Ashes
James Ellor, formerly of Mitre Drive and Chestnut Way, Repton, died at Springwood House Residential Care Home on Saturday 22nd December aged 95. A funeral service at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on 25th January was followed by burial at Monsom Lane cemetery.Tom Davies, Headmaster of Foremarke Hall from 1960 to1985, died on Wednesday 2nd January aged 91. A service of thanksgiving for his life was held at St John's Church, Staplegrove, Taunton, on 21st January.
We offer our sympathy to their families and friends.
Obituary
Roger Denniss
14th March 1935 - 25th November 2018
Born in Hanwell, West London, to Rose and Edward Denniss, Roger had two sisters, Wendy and Mary, the latter now a well known music teacher who has led winning choirs at Llangollen, as well winning Sainsbury's 'choir of the year'.
Even though both attended Walpole Grammar school, a small mixed school, both were of similar age, and both took part in the school orchestra with Jean playing the saxophone and Roger the violin, it was not until long after school that Roger met his future wife, in 1960 at a football dance. Jean recalled that Roger was rather shy, so it was she who took the lead, going to his house to ask him out. They married in 1962, and their two children, Simon and Sarah, were born in 1964 and 1966.
Following a five-year apprenticeship with a Vauxhall Bedford distributor in Acton, Roger spent almost all his career, including National Service with the RAF in Cyprus, in various vehicle related jobs. The exception was a three year spell when he joined his father in his shoe repair business.
In the late 1960s he joined Shell BP at Leeds as a technical rep covering the North of England and Lowlands of Scotland. In the next few years the family moved via Wetherby and York to Lichfield, before finally settling in Repton in 1971.
It was in York that Roger had joined the recently merged Bass Charrington, starting as chief vehicle examiner and progressing to group fleet engineer before ending as director of distribution services at his retirement in 1992. When he moved to the Midlands, Jean also took a job with them, and alongside her own job, helped Roger to nurture and develop the talent in his team. Roger was devastated by her death in 2014.
One of the most influential commercial vehicle engineers of his generation, Roger was highly respected. Even after he retired, his knowledge was still much sought after, and he travelled the world lecturing on vehicle engineering and maintenance. His greatest achievements were as a founder member of the Brewery Transport Advisory Committee. Although primarily focussed on brewers' distribution needs, its annual fuel economy trials were a major factor in improving the operational efficiency of trucks across the wider industry. In 1991 he was recognised for services to the road transport industry with the Motor Transport Award.
Prior to retirement from (by now) Bass PLC, Roger set up Lorry Logic in 1980, a consultancy involved in all aspects of road transport operations, including acting as an expert witness on a number of occasions that included three cases of attempted murder.
Locally, however, Roger will be long remembered for his contribution to Repton sport. He has been at the heart of summer fêtes and celebrations. Among other things he organised family fun days for the Golden and Diamond Jubilees as well as five a side football and the tug of war for the village parties.
But, after his family, his first love was Repton Casuals. At Broomhills he worked tirelessly to provide facilities for junior and youth players. Single-handedly he turned the adult pitch through 90⁰ to make room for a second pitch, and even managed to squeeze a cricket square between the two. Not content with sorting out playing surfaces, he planted scores of trees around the border, both as a shelterbelt and to enhance the setting. Hundreds of young players have reaped the benefit.
At Newton Solney too, he worked on the playing field, both to adapt the football pitch to that season's requirements and to improve the playing surface. He also organised a square for the annual August Bank Holiday cricket.
Roger never stopped learning, passing his GCSE in Information Technology at the age of 71. It was a typical example of his drive, determination, and willingness to try something new. His achievement is huge. He will be greatly missed.
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
Bishop Libby
Following the retirement of Alastair Redfern, his successor is to be the Right Reverend Libby Lane, currently the suffragan bishop of Stockport, and in 2015 the first woman to become a bishop in the Church of England after a historic vote on the issue the previous year.Bishop Libby grew up in Glossop and read theology at St Peter's College, Oxford, where she met her husband and is now an honorary fellow. They have two children. She was selected for ordination while working in the parish of St Thomas Brampton, Chesterfield, and consecrated in January 2015.
During a service in 2018 to mark the centenary of women's suffrage, she described how her life had been transformed by freedoms newly open to women. She spoke of a commitment to continuing "the struggle for women, and all who are disenfranchised, excluded, oppressed, or discriminated against, in our own communities and nation, and across the world."
Her interests include supporting Manchester United, reading and doing cryptic crosswords. She is an elected suffragan for the northern province in the House of Bishops and a chair of General Synod.
Her installation at Derby Cathedral will take place after Easter.
Don't pray like a parrot!
In his first audience of 2019, the Pope told worshippers to stop trying to flatter God by repeating long streams of praise 'like a parrot'. God does not want to be 'appeased' with adoration, he said, telling Catholics that they must pray from the heart, and may prefer to do so in silence.With the Lord's Prayer as his example, he said that prayers do not become more effective just because they contain more words. He referred to a passage from St Matthew's Gospel in which Jesus states that worshippers must not 'babble like pagans', who thought their gods would listen only if they were lavished with praise and repetitive invocations. 'No, praying is done from the heart, from Within. God does not want to be appeased with long streams of adulation. It is enough to talk to him like a father who knows what we need before we even tell him.'
L'appel de Dieu
In many French churches you will find:
II est possible qu'en entrant dans cette église vous entendiez l'appel de Dieu.
Par contre, il est peu probable qu'il vous contacte par téléphone.
Si vous voulez parler à Dieu, entrez, choisissez un endroit calme et parlez-lui.
Si vous voulez le voir, envoyez-lui un texto en conduisant!In English: The call of God
When you enter this church you may hear the call of God.
However, He is unlikely to call you on your mobile.
Thank you for turning off your phones.
If you want to talk to God, enter, choose a quiet place and talk to Him.
If you want to see Him, send Him a text as you drive.
Repton Benefice
A Service for Candlemas
On Sunday 3rd February, 6.30 pm at St Wystan's Church
. . . a Choral Service celebrates the Feast of Candlemas the preceding day, an ancient festival that marks the midpoint of winter, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox. We hope you will join us.
The name 'Candlemas' derives from the custom of blessing all the candles to be used in church in the coming year. Candles were, of course, important in the days before electric light, but for Christians, they are a symbol of Jesus' coming as a light in the darkness. We speak of Jesus as 'the light of the World'; candles lit at services remind us of this.
For the Church, Candlemas has yet another significance. It is the day on which we commemorate the ritual purification of Mary, forty days after the birth of Jesus. Ritual purification goes back to a Jewish tradition that women were considered 'unclean' after the birth of a child. For forty days after the birth of a boy, sixty in the case of a girl, women were not allowed to worship in the temple. At the end of this time, women were brought to the temple to be purified, and allowed to take part in religious services again.
But most important of all, this day marks the ritual presentation of the baby Jesus to God in the Temple at Jerusalem. Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem because every firstborn child was to be dedicated to the Lord. There Jesus is purified by the prayer of Simeon, who, recognising the Messiah, gave thanks in a song we now call the Nunc Dimittis:
"Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace: your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people; a light to reveal you to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel."Simeon's also prophesied that a sword (of grief) would pierce Mary's heart, so this celebration looks back to Bethlehem and forward to Calvary, an important staging post in our journey of worship through the year.
Housegroups
Intercessory Prayer for Healing meets at 3 Richmond Court at 7.30 pm on Monday 4th February. If you would like us to pray for you or for someone you know, please contact Wendy Longden on 703259.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.
Coffee & freshly baked Cakefor the over 70s – or those nearly there!Every Tuesday, 11 to 12.30 at the Community Room, Fisher Close, Repton Voluntary 50p. Meet others, catch up and relax! Contact Victoria Dunn |
A Photographic History of Repton SchoolFriday 1st February, 7 - 9 pm in Repton School LibraryThe School Archivist, Paul Stevens, will present a slideshow, with commentary, of the most rare and interesting photographs of the School from 1858 onwards. Seats are limited. Please email pjs@repton.org.uk or contact the School Lodge (just inside the Arch), by telephone 01283 559200 or in person. |
Soup, Cheese and Chat!Wednesday 6th February 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! |
The Importance of Being EarnestA Two Gents ProductionSaturday 9th February at 7.30 pm Milton Village Hall, Main Street, DE65 6EF Love, high jinks and cucumber sandwiches from Oscar Wilde! This witty, fast-moving version of a famous and funny play is thoroughly entertaining and often surprising and – faithful to the original and with a friendly playful interaction between actors and audience! If you're used to seeing fully costumed versions of this play with a lot of furniture, this will be like no other! There is no licensed bar, so bring your own drinks. Tickets £12 from Dawn, 01283 703075, contact@miltonmatters.org.uk |
Repton School Concerts Society
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Brass DectetWednesday 13th February at 7.45 in the Robert Beldam HallRoyal Birmingham Conservatoire is an international leader in educating young brass players, and ensemble playing is fundamental to the brass player's musical life. We are delighted to welcome these ten outstanding musicians and look forward to a rich evening of brass magic! Tickets for this concert are £13.50 and £10.50 (concessions). For further information or tickets contact Sue Parker, 56 Askew Grove, Repton, DE65 6GR |
Book SwapWednesday 20th February, 11 am - noon in St Wystan's Churchand 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 ClubThursday 21st February, 12.30 pm in Milton Village Hall. £5.Steak Pie and Chips + Jam Sponge and Custard! Contact Lynn, 704540, Sue, 701978, or Polly, 703436 Everyone welcome wherever you live! If you need transport, let us know |
Hot House Gospel Choirsupported by Saxology – saxophone ensembleand Wil Pearson – solo piano St Wystan's Church, Saturday 23rd February at 7.30 pm A delightful mix of Gospel, Musical Theatre and Easy Listening, with great 'joie de vivre'. Tickets £7.50 (£5 concessions) from info@hhmusic.co.uk, 07792 550437, or on the door All are welcome. Audience members are welcome to join in at any point! |
Messy ChurchActivities, celebration and food for all the familySt Wystan's Church, Sunday 24th February, 4 to 5.30 pm To find out more, email Messy Church or call Ruth Attwood. Everyone is welcome! Come along and try it! |
Baked Potatoes & PancakesCarol and Chris would be delighted if you could join usfor a baked potatoes & pancakes lunch Tuesday 5th March, noon to 2 pm at 1 Milton Road, Repton Raffle & Jams £5 including lunch and coffee |
After the Great War
100 years ago, the Vicar wrote . . .
It is rather difficult to write a parish letter in these times of quiet after all the thunder of the years of war. But the Peace Conference now beginning in Paris will be fraught with matters of tremendous importance for every nation in the world. It needs not only the moral but the spiritual support of every one of us. We must win the peace as we have won the war, not only by force of arms, but by a clear demonstration that the ideals of the Allies summed up in the League of Nations will bring about a fairer and better condition for all mankind.The vileness of Bolshevism
There is one thing in this world that must be suppressed, if necessary by force of arms, and that is Bolshevism. In Russia, though it is loathed by the vast majority, yet at present it has chief power, gained by cunning and exercised in foul cruelty. Although we only know a tithe of what has been done, the rule of Lenin and Trotsky exceeds in vileness the worst periods of the French Revolution. Besides atrocious murders and executions galore, besides driving practically all decent people of all classes into sheer beggary, religion in Russia today is being deliberately stamped out, little children are being forced to learn atheism, the ties of the marriage bond are treated as dirt, free love and anarchy reign supreme. Do we want this kind of thing or anything approaching it in England? If the Allies determine to take drastic measures it is our plain duty to support them to the utmost.The Education Act of 1918*
I am not certain when the new Education Act will come into force, but when it does it will necessitate a considerable number of changes and presumably a larger teaching staff and greater accommodation. If our Church schools are to continue this will entail very large sacrifices by Church people. As for boys and girls themselves, the principal changes will be that all must attend until the age of 14, and there will be also compulsory continuation schools for another three years, of course with shorter hours, much as the evening schools were.Incidentally, we are welcoming back our headmaster, Lieutenant A. Traice, who, after three and a half years of active service, has been demobilized. I am sure the school will rejoice to have him back again, and the village owes a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Maxey and the other lady teachers who have carried on so well during his absence.
Your faithful friend and Vicar, Stephen Selwyn
* The main provisions of the 1918 Act raised the school leaving age to 14 (from 12!) and abolished all fees in state elementary schools. 60% of the costs were transferred from local authorities to central government. This was partly to foster a greater sense of professionalism among teachers by allowing them improved salaries and pensions.
J.H. Gurney and The Priory
The Parish Magazine of February 1919 reported the death of John Henry Gurney, "little known to most of us, for he has lived in almost complete retirement for many years. Yet, in his day, both physically and intellectually, he was one of Repton's most distinguished sons. He was in the School Cricket XI in 1868, and afterwards, for four years, an athletics blue at Cambridge, President of C.U.A.C. 1873, and winner of the University rackets the same year. For 28 years he was Mathematics and Science Master in the School, and on his retirement continued his scientific investigations as his hobby."It was Gurney who at his own expense built what is now The Priory, using it as a school house called St Wystan's until 1901, when he retired. Then he lived alone there until he died, leaving it to the school. The boys moved across out of the Old Priory, which was refurbished as a memorial to those who died in the Great War.
Gurney also maintained a coach and four. Those were the days!
Repton Village Hall
Progress ~ and thank you!
On 9th January the site was fenced off to allow work to disconnect the electricity and gas supplies. Unfortunately, that meant digging up part of the road in Askew Grove. However, the gas supply for the new hall will be taken from Brookside Close, so Askew Grove should be spared a second visit by the diggers. For information, the experts found a few traces of asbestos bonded in some floor tiles and one toilet cistern. None of this should present any risk during demolition.The construction will be done by A&S Enterprises Ltd. Their website has plenty of examples of their work on projects of a similar scale. We are confident that they will do a good job for us and also do their best to minimise disruption with deliveries. At the time of writing, the plan is to hand the site over for demolition to begin on 21st January; by the time of publication there may not be much of the old hall left. From the date of handover, the contractors have total control and responsibility for the site.
Thank you!
It has taken a lot of patience and perseverance by many people to get the project to this stage. Without the help of the planning department, hard work by the parish council, and the patience shown by Bi Design and Armsons, we would not be rebuilding now.There have been some outstanding examples of generosity recently. Over £1,000 has been raised by an eBay campaign led by Adrienne McStocker to recycle elements from the hall. We even managed to sell the old kitchen as a period item. The Gould family have provided a huge amount of free storage for us. The PCC has given us a generous cheque following a fundraising quiz evening, and St Wystan's School have given us a donation from Halloween activities and a fancy dress disco in the hall. Thank you to everyone.
Congratulations and thank you to John Perks for the success in obtaining a SDDC Community Partnership Scheme grant for £25,000. This arrived as the tender process was being finalised and the budget was getting tight. During the construction, we will continue to bid for funds for specific items: at present, we are not sure we can change our tables, chairs and other items, and we have trimmed aspirations on landscaping until we see how much we can afford.
The 100 club managed by Adrian Argyle is still functioning and there is room for new members if you feel you can support us that way. Please use the email address below or ring 701069.
When we open the new hall, we will equip it as best we can, remembering that we have to maintain a reserve for emergencies. We are also planning to start a savings fund so that future items such as car park resurfacing, tree work, redecoration and other maintenance will always be affordable. The trustees and committee will shortly be turning their minds to all the planning and preparation that needs to be done during the closure period so that we can welcome users back in late August or early September. Plans will be outlined in more detail in the months to come.
Finally, we must thank all the committee members past and present who have carried on regardless with this difficult project for many years. There is no way we would have made it without their dedication and perseverance over nearly two decades. The current chair is a mere newcomer to the project. We would also like to acknowledge the three years of hard work by the appeals team who were phenomenally successful.
Repton Village Hall Appeal
The 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
Hot House Gospel Choir
St Wystan's Church, Saturday 23rd February, 7.30 pm
Hot House Community Gospel Choir is renowned for singing a delightful mix of Gospel, Musical Theatre and Easy Listening songs with a certain 'joie de vivre'. Audience members are welcome to join in at any point!
Supporting the choir will be Wil Pearson playing solo piano pieces, and Saxology, a saxophone ensemble established in 2017 and already invited to perform at the Lyon Conservatoire of Music in France. They like to play a diverse selection of music including Putting on the Ritz, and Cafe 1930 by Piazzolla.
Wil Pearson is a rising star who has just finished his Christmas tour, performing to over 4,000 people.
Come along and enjoy an evening of community music suitable for young and old alike. It is sure to leave you with a big smile on your face. Tickets can be reserved in advance from info@hhmusic.co.uk or call 07792 550437. £7.50, £5 for concessions.
| Repton Casuals Fixtures at Broomhills Lane | ||||
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| Team | Opponents | |||
| 3rd | 10.30 am | Under 15 White | Stapenhill Swans | |
| 3rd | 10.30 am | Under 13 Orange | Mercia Juniors FC Saints | |
| 3rd | 2.00 pm | Under 15 Blue | Marlborough Rovers | |
| 10th | 10.30 am | Under 15 White | Outwood Hawks | |
| 10th | 2.00 pm | Under 15 Blue | Blackfordby FC Hawks | |
| 17th | 10.30 am | Under 15 White | TS Sports United | |
| 17th | 10.30 am | Under 13 Orange | Albert Village Hurricanes | |
| 24th | 2.00 pm | Under 15 Blue | Abbotts Bromley | |
Homeless in Derby
Thank you so much for your support. Without it we could not continue our work with the homeless people of Derby. Last year the day centre received over 24,000 visits, served over 25,000 meals, provided over 2000 emergency food parcels and had over 100 stays in our 12 bed homeless hostel.Homelessness across the country is increasing, putting great financial pressure onto small charities and organisations such ourselves. If you or someone you know could give a small monthly donation please go to justgiving.com/padley or contact Kerry on 01332 774480.
Maypole Dancing at Repton Village Party, Saturday 4th May
We are looking for lots of enthusiastic children to come along and help us put on a really splendid display at the Village Party! Local boys and girls aged 7 and over are invited to join our After-school Club at Repton Primary School on Thursday afternoons from 3.30 to 4.30. Starting after half-term we will have six sessions before the Easter holiday, with a final dress rehearsal on 2nd May. Please contact me if you are interested and would like more informationPractices start on Thursday 28th February. The sessions are quite busy, so, to make the most of the dancing time, it would be extremely helpful to have a couple of volunteers at each session to assist with practical details such as setting up, signing in and refreshments. Whether you are an accompanying parent or someone who could spare a couple of hours on a Thursday afternoon, I'd be delighted to hear from you!
Our next Village Party planning meeting is on Thursday 28th February, 7.30 at The Red Lion. As ever, newcomers are welcome. The more volunteers, the merrier!
ngs Snowdrop Festival
10 Chestnut Way, Sundays 17th & 24th February, 11 am - 3 pm
Robert and Pauline Little are again opening their garden for charity and invite you to come along. There will be loads of snowdrops and other early bulbs of course, but also hellebores, Daphnes and viburnums, as well as brightly coloured stems and bark. In the sunshine the willow bed looks amazing.
The garden is level, flat and suitable for wheelchairs. There will be home-made soup available and the conservatory will be open in case of rain, but let's hope for sunshine. Entry £4, children free. Home-made teas and cakes, a plant stall with snowdrops from the garden. All the money goes to the National Garden Scheme, which will again be donating over £3m to nursing and caring charities. Do come; we would love to see you.
Repton Baby and Toddler
This year's Christmas party, held in our new temporary location (the Iris Bentley Pavilion, Broomhills Lane), was a huge hit with both toddlers and parents. The children enjoyed making reindeer food, dancing with Kimbles and meeting the big man himself, Santa. We would like to thank everyone for coming along, with a special shout out to the dads who helped pack away, and, of course, the fantastic Santa who gave every child a super present.Over the holidays, the group didn't meet, so it was great to see familiar and new faces arrive in January. This month we will be organising our 'child free' night out – keep an eye on our Facebook page for details.
We meet every Wednesday from 9.45 to 11.45. Everyone welcome from 0 to school age. Just turn up. Find us on Facebook or contact Natalie Matthews.
Repton Cubs
At the end of the autumn term, we went to Clip and Climb in Derby. Everyone managed to climb to the top of the tallest wall and many showed quite fearless skills in climbing difficult features. The best bit is jumping off and belaying down! Our final session before Christmas saw us making delicious chocolatey treats and a box to take them home in, although how many actually made it home before being eaten is unclear!The Spring term started with a problem solving game, and we are looking forward to other activities to gain us our Skills and World Challenge badges.
We have a few spaces for children aged 8 - 10 so, if you are interested, please contact Jez Broohs.
Scouting in Repton ~ Explorer Scouts
We plan to start an Explorer Scout section after Easter. We have a number of Scouts who will be 14 and looking to move onto the next stage in their scouting journey, as well as three keen volunteers to lead the group. Explorers is for anyone aged 14 - 18, boys and girls – you don't have to have been a Beaver, Cub or Scout to join. Many of the activities will enable young people to work towards the Duke of Edinburgh Awards as well as the Queen's Scout Award.What are Explorer Scouts?
With the support, direction and guidance of Unit leaders, Explorer Scouts are encouraged to lead themselves, design their own programme and work towards the top Scouting awards. Explorers offers fun and adventure including camps and expeditions both at home and abroad, as well as adventurous activities such as mountaineering, parascending and offshore sailing. Explorers also have the opportunity to be a part of The Explorer Scout Young Leaders' Scheme, which develops their leadership skills and sense of responsibility by helping to run meetings for younger sections.Discussion meeting, Wednesday 13th February, 8 pm at the Den
If you are interested in becoming an Explorer Scout, please come! If you can't make the meeting, please email the Group Scout Leader, Rebecca Auterson.Repton Open Gardens ~ Saturday 15th - Sunday 16th June
New gardens welcome!
We are preparing for this year's Open Gardens Weekend, and, as ever, would welcome new gardens in our programme. They don't have to be large – in fact many people prefer to look at smaller gardens; nor do they need to be of National Garden Scheme standard – very few are, and in any case it isn't a competition! The fun comes from welcoming visitors who are unfailingly friendly and often flattering. If you would like to consider opening your garden, please contact Wendy Longden on 703259 or Jan and David Roberts on 702159.
There will also be the usual Scarecrow Trail, so, time to start thinking!
Repton Village Society
Our last meeting was for many of us a trip down memory lane as Judy Richter talked about flying in 'Cabin Crew Daze'. Judy has had a varied career, from working on a Dakota DC3, through Viscounts, to a number of years on the plushest of private jets. She has had to deal with most of the difficulties that we as passengers would expect, but when, standing in at the last minute, she found herself snubbed by one client on a private charter for failing to provide Greek Yogurt, it was a surprising experience. On one occasion she had to decline a valuable jewel from another client who wanted to buy her services! It was a really interesting talk with many members of the audience chipping in with their experiences.A new venue
(Yes, in keeping with the evening's theme, we did have to do the emergency exits routine!) Repton School Junior Common Room is a lovely place to have our meetings, warm, comfortable and small enough to be easy to interact with the speaker. To find it you need to follow the drive between the Old Mitre on the Cross and the Red Lion Pub until you come to a large school car park. The Junior Common Room is in the building next to it. The door to the meeting room is tucked away at the end away from the drive and has a disabled toilet sign on it! If there are any problems, contact Martin on 703180 or me on 703748.Our next meeting is on Thursday 7th February, when Keith Blood will be speaking on 'The Bamford Dams'. His talk will cover the social history behind the construction of the Derwent and Howden Dams in the 1900s, which involved a large workforce and the flooding of communities.
Peter Rainey
Repton WI
On the theme of 'Get to know your WI', our first meeting of 2019 was particularly busy. First a speaker from Derbyshire Federation of WIs (DFWI) told us about the Associated Country Women of the World, an umbrella organization that supports projects proposed and managed by women in underprivileged regions. DFWI has previously supported mushroom farming in Tanzania and purchased cows in Southern India. Projects are monitored by the National Federation to ensure the focus is upon the advancement of women. A bring & buy sale at the meeting raised funds for their work.Then the DFWI Denman Representative came to tell us about Denman College, the WI educational establishment that runs day and residential courses throughout the year in a listed building in Oxfordshire. Available courses can be found on their website. There are 84 ensuite rooms, and non-members, male or female, can visit too. Bed and breakfast is also offered.
Two of our members who are mental health nurses spoke of their professional experiences, and another told us of her interaction over many years with the local Derbyshire service which, amongst other treatments, offers talking therapies.
Mental Health issues account for 23% of the NHS workload but attract just 11% of funding. 1 in 10 of 5 - 16 year-olds has mental health problems, rising to 1 in 4 of those aged 16 - 65. Women are more affected than men. In those aged over 65, 22% of men and 28% of women have mental health issues. However, these numbers are thought to be under-reported. We were reminded of the 'Think Twice' campaign, which offers advice on how relatives and friends can help:
- Take it seriously
- Listen and reflect
- It's okay to ask questions
- Don't try to fix it
- Build your knowledge
Activities in February and March
Tu 12th Feb Meeting at Repton Primary School at 7.15 pm: Professor Rohan Rajan will talk about the Neverest Orthopaedic Charity
Tu 19th Feb Happy hour at the Boot at 6.30
Wed 27th Feb Coffee morning at Sweet Little Café, Sudbury Hall Courtyard, 10.30
Tu 12th March Gin Tasting – bring a designated driver and try new flavours
Wed 20th March Happy hour at the Boot at 6.30
Wed 27th March Lunch at Hackwood Farm at 11.30. £5
Linda Shortt
Repton Village History Group
My best broom – had it for ages – it's only had two new heads and three new handles! The ancient structures in the village are much like that. Tudor Lodge recently had considerable work done to repair its timber frame, and there will have been similar work on it several times since it was built over 350 years ago. The Stone House next door, Melen's old bakery and confectioners, has also had quite a bit of stone replaced recently. It is thought to have been first built using stone from the demolished Priory Church, but, while this is possible, it is later than Tudor Lodge by about 100 years, so probably built about 200 years after the Priory was demolished.The Arch, originally part of the gate house to the priory, has also had stones replaced in the last year, and if you look at the buttresses, it is clear that some of their lower stones are not just replacements but also second hand. In the early 1900s the road level through the Arch was dropped by two feet.
One issue in renovation is the extent to which new stone work should be made to blend in with the old. As buildings age, walls can move and new stones may have to be cut to match. You will have noted the tiles embedded in the priory wall near the bus stop, and may remember that a few years ago, eroded stones were lifted out, turned round and put back. Two very different approaches to repair. The same wall in Brook End has more modern repair work, and further down, but on the other side of the wall, there is evidence of its being repaired (or perhaps even built) using shaped stones from the Priory Church.
One of the most iconic buildings in the village is The Cross. Probably dating from the early 1300s when there was a Wednesday market, it too has undergone change. The two topmost tiers of steps look as though they have been replaced, and we know that in 1806 a tapered square column was replaced by the cylindrical one we see today. The pavement is relatively recent, perhaps 80 years old, and serves to protect the ancient monument itself from the heavy goods lorries that are part of our everyday traffic.
Ongoing repairs to historic structures are essential and even though much of the original might eventually have been replaced, they are still a treasured part of our heritage.
For further information about Repton Village History Group, please contact Andy Austen, rvhg@reptonvillage.org.uk or 702448.
Litter
Another heartfelt plea this month, to keep our village tidy. If you are out and about, whether celebrating or just relaxing, please be thoughtful, use the litter bins or take your rubbish, your bottles and take away cartons, home with you. After New Year's Eve, there was even a large crate of 32 empty rocket launchers left by the arboretum. And if you might have been a little tired (or even emotional) at the time, it's really no sweat to pick things up the following day. It's a matter of respect – for others, and for yourself.Mobile Library, Tuesday 12th February
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. With a four-weekly timetable, the library will be here again on 12th March. For the Long Eaton base, contact 01629 531398; for the van, 0780 904 4405.
Sir John Port's CharityAwards available for residents of the parishes of Repton and EtwallThe Governors of Sir John Port's Charity invite applications for a single project to promote the education, including social and physical training, of children or young persons resident in the Parishes of Repton or Etwall to a maximum total value of £1,500. Grants may be subject to means testing. Applications should be made in writing, addressed to the Bursar, Repton School, Repton, Derbyshire, DE65 6FH, and should reach him by Friday 15th February 2019. |
Repton Parish Council
Planter for Repton: Councillors have now held a site meeting with representatives from Derbyshire County Council and possible sites have been identified. It is hoped that locations and type of container can be agreed, and that a new planter will be in place for the spring. Those in Milton have been a welcome addition; hopefully this can now be replicated in Repton.Footpaths 13 & 14, Meadow Lane towards Twyford: We would be very grateful if you can help with the Parish Council's application to upgrade footpath 13 and onwards towards footpath 14 and the river Trent as a bridleway for public use. Councillor Dickson has found historical evidence of a public bridleway from Brook End leading towards Twyford, and this has been documented. We are required to supply evidence that this route is used by members of the public, and the necessary forms are available at the Parish Council office. We have already received some completed forms, many thanks; however we still require a few more. If you use or have used this route, please could you contact the office (see below) and complete an evidence form; it would greatly assist this application.
Adverse Weather: Up to date information regarding the weather, gritting activity, road and school closures can be found at derbyshire.gov.uk.
The grit bins around the village have now been replenished. They are located on Springfield Road, The Pastures, Monsom Lane outside the Burial Ground, Milton Road at the junction with Monsom Lane, Burdett Way at the junction with Milton Road, Hill View and Red Hill Lane. The grit is for use on the public roads and pavements. Please do not take it for private use.
Goodbye: After working here for over eight happy years I have now decided to retire. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Parish Council office, firstly at The Dales and then above the Jaipur Restaurant. I have met many local people and hopefully have helped you with your queries and concerns. Councillors are currently recruiting a new Clerk to start in February so that we can work alongside each other for a few weeks. I am sure he or she will look forward to meeting you over the coming months. Thank you for the kindness and understanding you have shown me over the past years. I do look forward to seeing your new village hall!
Next meeting: Monday 11th February in The Community Room, Fisher Close, Repton at 7.30 pm. All are welcome.
Susan Reilly, Clerk to the Council
Parish Council Office, 40 High Street, t: 01283 701309
Parish Council Office, 40 High Street
Repton Primary School Co-opted Governor VacancyThe governors at Repton Primary School are looking for a committed individualto join them as a co-opted governor. Being a school governor is challenging, but hugely rewarding and enjoyable. It allows you to make a valuable contribution to the local community, using your existing skills and experience to guide the future of the school. It is also a great way to develop leadership skills and get to know and work with a strong team across the school staff and other governors. Anyone aged over 18 can be a governor. You do not need to be a parent of a pupil or have any existing association with the school. In fact, we wish to make the board as diverse and balanced as possible, so are keen to bring in someone from outside the current body. To find out more, please contact Andrew Brown, Vice-Chair of Governors, A.Brown@repton-pri.derbyshire.sch.uk. |
Milton, Foremark & St Saviour's Church
Milton WI
At our January meeting, Mark Vallis from Derbyshire Blood Bikes and his wife, Sue, explained their work and its importance to the NHS. In 2018 their volunteers made 1411 journeys, transporting urgently needed blood, biological samples, medication and even donated breast milk between hospitals in the area, helping to save lives. Jan gave the vote of thanks for a most interesting talk, and Roberta and Linder provided tasty refreshments.At our next meeting on Wednesday 20th February, 7.30 in the village hall, Janina Wyzykiewicz will entertain us with a talk on 'Tax, Care and Toy Boys!' New members and guests are welcome to enjoy it with us at the start of another lively WI year.
Further dates for your diary
Wed 6th March Annual Dinner, 7 pm at the Mount Pleasant InnMon 25th March Mercia Group Meeting, 8 pm at Newton Solney village hall
To hire Milton village hall, contact Polly Faulkner.
Self-defence class for disabled peopleTuesdays, 7 to 8 pm in Milton Village HallAnybody, any disability Fun Free, no hidden charges Contact Duncan Hogg on 07973 663601. |
Newton Solney & St Mary's Church
Newton Solney WI
Our January meeting was a busy night for all present. We began with the national WI Resolutions for the coming year. With our votes placed we then felt it time to have a bit of fun – a Beetle Drive with the winner moving on to the next table. The noise of laughter and clatter of dice became ever louder as members tried to shout 'Beetle'. An exhausting time for us all!At our next meeting on Tuesday 12th February, Keith Blood will tell us ghost stories of Derbyshire. We would like to open the evening to any visitors who might like to listen to the topic. We meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 7.30 at Newton Solney village hall.
Pauline Barker
St Mary's Children's Society Box Collection
A big 'thank you' to all who support this national charity helping vulnerable children and young people. When the boxes were emptied in November, the total collected was £640.50, an impressive achievement exceeding all previous totals, and our expectations. If you would like to donate to this worthy cause by becoming a box holder, please contact Linda Williams on 01283 701366.Newton Solney C of E School
Community Worship – Thursday 7th February: Everyone is welcome to join with the children in the school hall at 9.15 am.Newton Solney Pre-School Appeal ~ Raising funds for our new pre-school building
Fundraising is well under way, and we have lots planned for 2019; keep an eye on our facebook page for details. We have so far raised approximately £25,000 and also managed to obtain a grant from Derbyshire County Council for a further £25,000. Thank you for all your support.Art Exhibition, 17th, 18th and 19th May in St Mary's Church
Following on from the success of last year's event we will once again be holding an Art Exhibition showcasing a range of local and national artists. The preview evening is on Friday 17th May at 7.30 pm. If you would like to enter your work, please email nspreschoolbuilding@gmail.com for a submission form. We'd love to hear from you!Village Festival ~ Saturday 15th June, 2 - 7 pm
Planning Meeting Wednesday 6th February at 7.30 pm
Live music, a licensed bar, many stalls, children's games, teas and food stalls – and much, much more, the Village Festival on Newton Solney Recreation Field will be great fun for all the family. If you are able to help in any way, please come along to our first planning meeting in the pre-school building (next to the school). Everyone is welcome. It would be lovely to see some new faces! For further details or stallholders' application forms, email nspreschoolbuilding@gmail.com.
Newton Solney Tuesday Club
We hope you enjoyed our programme of speakers and trips in 2018. I would like to thank the committee for their hard work and everyone who supported us throughout the year. We have again tried to compile a programme for 2019 to suit all tastes, and look forward to the continued support of members and friends.Tuesday 5th February at 2.30 pm
A business meeting followed by a talk and demonstration of 'Wartime Puddings' by Kath Reynolds, following on from her previous presentation in September.
Tuesday, 19th February: A Trip to Fairways Garden Centre (Ashbourne)
with a coffee stop at the Denstone Farm Shop. We leave the Unicorn Inn at 9.30 am and return to Newton by about 3 pm. Cost £12. Tuesday 26th February: 7 pm: Whist Drive in Newton Solney village hall.
For further information on any of our activities, please contact our Secretary, Jane on 01283 564520.
Rachel Freeman, Chairman
Newton Solney Parish Council
Bretby Lane / Newton Lane: In spite of complaints, Derbyshire County Council has stated that in its opinion the condition of this road does not warrant attention. Meanwhile it continues to deteriorate. The Parish Council will monitor the situation and notify DCC of pot holes as they occur. Individuals should also log on to DCC website and post any complaints that they have.Summer Festival: Newton Solney School has been granted permission to hold a Summer Festival in aid of the Pre-school Project on 15th June on the recreation field.
Common Land Security: Competitive tenders have been obtained for work on the security of the Common Land, and the tender from STJ in the amount of £6,000 + VAT has been recommended for acceptance. However the work cannot start until the Parish Council obtains significant grants to finance the project. We are now in the process of making grant applications.
The bonfire site is to be inspected to make sure that it is clear. Arrangements will be made to have any rubbish removed.
Trim Trail: Quotations for the Trim Trail have been obtained. The most favourable is from Streetscape in the amount of £11,800 + VAT. Moving this project forward is dependent on getting the necessary funding. No action will be taken until funds are in place.
Parish Councillors: We are compiling a circular to distribute to all households in the parish, explaining the need for parishioners to be involved in parish affairs. The Parish Council administers the parish on behalf of South Derbyshire District Council and is the vehicle for parishioners to voice their views on the facilities and needs within the parish so that necessary action can be taken. The Parish Council needs your support.
Budget: The Parish Council budget for 2019 / 2020 has been compiled, discussed and approved at the Parish Council meeting of 11th January 2019. The precept has been increased by £100 to a total of £5,000.
Planning
Permission for tree work at Primavera : granted.The Heathers (variation of plans) : pending
John Higgott Alms Houses (front and rear doors) : pending
22 Main Street (relocated access) : pending
Next meeting: Friday 8th February at 7.30 pm in the village hall. All are welcome.
Derbyshire
Dashcams help the police
With many of us now having dashcams, Prince Phillip's recent accident is a reminder that the footage they capture can help police to investigate road traffic incidents, and in Derbyshire we can now upload it directly and securely via their website. The footage must be less than ten days old, as that allows officers enough time to contact the vehicle owners, in compliance with the Road Traffic Act.When you submit footage, you will be sent an email outlining the possible outcomes, which may include 'no further action'. After your footage is reviewed, you will be contacted if criminal proceedings are to be undertaken or if further information is required.
Footage can be uploaded at https://snap.derbyshire.police.uk. The process is simple and straightforward.
Dodging potholes
More than half a million potholes were reported to local authorities last year, a 44% increase on 2015. Avoiding them can be tricky, especially when there is a lot of traffic around.Potholes are a danger to road users, particularly cyclists, and also cause problems to vehicles. Among the most common are damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels. According to the RAC, drivers breaking down after hitting potholes last year reached a three-year high.
Advice to drivers
Check tyre pressures regularly. They are your first line of defence.Keep your eyes peeled when you drive, particularly in wet weather or snow or the dark, when deep holes could be hidden. Leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front so you can see potholes in advance. Watch your speed: hitting potholes at higher speeds will cause more damage. Try not to brake when you drive over a pothole as this places more stress on the front suspension. If you must drive over a pothole, allow the wheel to roll freely into the hole.
And if you suspect your car has been damaged, get it checked out. Ask your garage to check the wheel alignment, tyres and suspension.
Please report them
We should all make a point of reporting serious potholes, whether directly to SDDC at south-derbys.gov.uk, or through fixmystreet.com, which is much easier.You and your Pet
Myth-busting
This month we will try to bust a few myths about dogs and cats.1. Dogs and cats see in black and white:
They can see in colour, though, compared to humans, they have fewer cone cells which control colour perception on their retina. This means they do have a more limited colour spectrum. To a cat, pattern and brightness are more important than colour.
2. A human year is equivalent to 7 dog or 3 cat years:
This is very much breed and size dependent, with giant breeds often having a shorter lifespan. There are charts available online that try to take account of these factors.
3. A wet nose means a healthy pet:
This is untrue. A poorly pet may have a wet, cold nose, and a healthy pet may have a dry, warm nose. The time to be concerned is if there are changes to the nose itself, such as sores or discharge from the nostrils.
4. Dogs and cats have clean mouths:
Pets often want to lick their wounds, and owners often let them as they believe the wound is being cleaned. The problem is that dogs and cats do not have clean mouths. They are not very discerning about what they pick up out and about, and do have a lot of bacteria in their mouths. The odd lick will do no harm but persistent licking will.
5. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks:
Whilst socialising and training a pup will help safeguard against future problems, that is not to say older dogs cannot learn. It just requires persistence.
6. Ginger cats are male, tortoiseshells are female:
Ginger cats are three times more likely to be male than female. Tortoiseshells males are rare, but they do exist; they are genetic variants that have an extra chromosome.
7. Starve your pet if they are vomiting or have diarrhoea:
This advice is now outdated. It is better to keep feeding your pet with smaller, more frequent, bland meals. Starving doesn’t help the gut to recover or heal. If your pet has persistent vomiting or diarrhoea then it is always best to contact your vets.
Anna Marie Knight, Beech Vets, Willington
Neighbourhood Watch
Adrian Gillham, Chairman, Repton Neighbourhood Watch
Police non-emergency, 101. Victim Support, 01332 349956.
Anti-Social Behaviour hotline, 01283 595 795.
Dog Fouling, neighbourhood.wardens@south-derbys.gov.uk
Contact crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Anti-Social Behaviour hotline, 01283 595 795.
Dog Fouling, neighbourhood.wardens@south-derbys.gov.uk
Contact crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Gardening Notes
Snowdrop Time
Whenever I go into the garden in February I know I will find something to make me smile; for me this is the essence of gardening. The details of plants such as snowdrops, cyclamen, hellebores and hepatica, and the emerging greenery when there is relatively little else to distract the attention can be quite breath-taking.There are a few jobs to do in February to make for better displays later in the year. Cut back evergreen foliage, particularly iris look-alikes such as libertia and liriope but also hepaticas, asarums, epimediums and hellebores. If you don't remove the old foliage, it becomes mixed with the new and the flowers are hidden. It is then a slow, painstaking job to separate the old and new foliage without damaging the new flower stems.
Try to get all your border perennials cut back by the end of the month. I am quite brutal with most of my hardy perennials, cutting them as low as possible. If you have spare compost to use, mulch around the plants as it makes the border look nice and does wonders for the plants.
You can sow seeds in February, but for most outdoor flowers you will get better results if you wait until March. Sow greenhouse vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and aubergines if you must, but remember that you will need to give them some heat to germinate. Keep them frost free in a really light position and be prepared to pot them on twice before planting out.
For an earlier crop, sow broad beans in pots or a very deep tray in the greenhouse. Early peas can similarly be grown inside. They don't like being transplanted so use guttering, and carefully swoosh them into a narrow trench dug in the veg patch. Chit early potatoes in egg boxes on a windowsill in a cool bedroom. I get best results with earlies in pots started in the greenhouse and put outside once frosts have passed. Start your slug treatment on St Valentine's Day by scattering pellets around hostas and other vulnerable plants. Scatter them very sparingly: you are trying to attract the slugs and poison them before they reach your plants; using a lot will not be more effective. To protect pets and wild-life, put the pellets under bent wire netting. As I write this in mid-January we hardly seem to have had any winter, but cast your mind back to 'The Beast from the East' in March last year: as the old saying goes, 'Ne'er cast a clout till May be out'.
Diminsdale near Staunton Harold is the best place locally for snowdrops. Hopton Hall near Carsington and Hodsock Priory near Worksop are further away but well worth a visit. Or if you want to keep your travelling to a minimum, lookout for NGS signs in Repton and Melbourne.
Pauline Little