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The Parish Magazine Repton, Foremark, Milton, Ingleby, Newton Solney
Copy date for the August magazine: Wednesday 17th July
If you didn't receive a reminder for July, please let me know.
July 2019

Journeying together Repton, Foremark and Newton Solney Parish Churches Services at St Wystan's, Repton Services at St Saviour's, Foremark Services at St Mary's, Newton Solney Readers and Intercessors at St Wystan's Altar Flowers at St Wystan's Brasses at St Wystan's Altar Flowers at St Saviour's United Reformed Church Services at the United Reformed Church SHELL Group: Mondays 1st, 8th and 15th July 'The Big Speak Out', Sunday 7th July Family Barbeque at 5 Monsom Lane: Saturday 20th July Yard Sale: Saturday 7th September Dates for your Diary Personal Announcements & Obituaries Marriages Susannah Perks of Repton and Timothy Gwyn of London Amy Forbes and Richard Pepperdine of Leicester Mira Beknazarova and Harry Cooper of Australia Funerals and Burial of Ashes Alec James Brown Maria Boni John Fishley Joan Mary 'Biddy' Weston Thomas George Hyde The Memorial Book Repton Benefice Congratulations to the Rev'd Andrew Baguley Housegroups St Chad's Pilgrimage St Wystan's News Sunday Club for 4 - 11 year olds Messy Church in Repton Worship Together and Sunday Club Local Diary Event Details Coffee & Cake, Every Tuesday Ocho's Summer Soirée, Tuesday 2nd July Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 3rd July Repton Primary Summer Fayre, Saturday 6th July Padley Ladies Lunch, Thursday 11th July Book Swap, Wednesday 17th July Milton Lunch Club, Thursday 18th July URC Summer Barbecue, Saturday 20th July Milton Charity BBQ , Sunday 21st July Repton Village Hall A true community hub Repton Village and History Repton ngs Open Gardens, Sunday 21st July Let's keep the countryside tidy Repton Baby and Toddler Repton Cubs Repton Village Show now in Repton Village Hall Scouts One Day Jitty Closure, Thursday 30th July Summer Play provided by Repton Parish Council Open Gardens Scarecrow Trail Results Repton Village Society Repton Village History Group – Industrial Milton Repton WI Mobile Library, Tuesdays 2nd and 30th July Repton Parish Council Milton, Foremark & St Saviour's Church Milton Open Gardens Milton WI Milton Village Walk Thank you! from Nick Wells Self-defence class for disabled people Newton Solney & St Mary's Church Horticultural Show, Saturday 7th September Newton Solney Tuesday Club The Four Churches Run Teddy Bears' Picnic Newton Solney WI Newton Solney Parish Council Health Matters Safe summer food South Derbyshire Shared Lives What's On? Photography Walk, Sunday 14th July Neighbourhood Watch Student rental fraud Gardening Notes Carried away!

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Journeying together

On 9th June I returned to work as vicar. I am still catching up at the moment, but with each passing week am taking on more and more responsibility. Well over a year is a long time to be off work because of ill health, but since my recovery the diocese has taken care and time to ensure I am fully fit. I hope to continue to be as healthy and robust as ever I was before my illness.

May I take this opportunity to thank Rev'd Andrew Baguley, all the clergy and ministers, the wardens and many others from among the congregations and community who have had to cover my absence and cope with the pressures of not having a vicar. I appreciate all your efforts very much and ask you to bear with me as I re-engage with church life and our local groups and organisations. It will take me a time to get up to speed with everything that has changed since Christmas 2017!

I know many people have been confused about my absence. Unfortunately, when I was signed off work I was in no fit state to tell people that I had mental health issues, and the diocese, as an employer, has been rightly cautious in what they have shared. An added difficulty is that mental illness is not visible! A broken bone or a heart problem can be easier to talk about and is better understood. Unless you have been there, mental illness can be very hard to relate to. It affects people in many different ways and can take a long time to cure. Thankfully some forms of mental ill-health can be recovered from. I count myself fortunate that is what has happened in my case.

I know some people have been surprised that as a priest I was not immune to mental health issues, believing that my faith should have protected me. But priests are human too, and we are as open to illness as everyone else. Yes, at times the drugs I was on made it hard to connect with God, but I always knew that He was there for me. However, my drug induced alienation from God was to disappear as I weaned off the tablets and my faith is now as strong as it ever was, if not stronger. Which is why I wanted to get back to work and fulfil my calling both as a priest and to serve in this place.

When I arrived in the benefice in 2012, I talked in terms of our journeying together, exploring life and love and God. Now I feel as if I am getting back on board the 'benefice bus', having missed out on a lot of that journey. I am really looking forward to sharing with you whatever lies ahead: the good times and the bad; the happy times and the sad; the ups and the downs that may not make life as comfortable as we all might wish, but most certainly give us the opportunity to be there for one another. May God bless us all as we journey on. I pray that journey may lead every one of us deeper into His love.

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Services at Foremark, Newton Solney
and Repton Churches

St Wystan's, Repton
EVERY Wednesday	10 am	Holy Communion
Sunday 7th, Trinity 3	8 am	Holy Communion
	9.45 am	Worship Together
	11 am	Matins
Sunday 14th, Trinity 4	9.45 am	Parish Communion
	6.30 pm	Evening Prayer
Sunday 21st, Trinity 5	8 am	Holy Communion
	9.45 am	Parish Communion
	6.30 pm	Choral Evensong
Sunday 28th, Trinity 6	9.45 am	Benefice Communion
	10.45 am	Prayer for Healing
St Saviour's, Foremark
Sunday 14th, Trinity 4	6.30 pm	Evening Prayer
Sunday 28th, Trinity 6	9.45 am	at Repton
St Mary's, Newton Solney
Sunday 7th, Trinity 3	10 am	Parish Communion
Sunday 14th, Trinity 4	10 am	Worship Together
Sunday 21st, Trinity 5	10 am	Parish Communion
Sunday 28th, Trinity 6	9.45 am	at Repton

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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: Mondays 1st, 8th and 15th July

For young people aged 7 and over. SHELL Group meets on Mondays from 6.30 - 7.30 pm for craft, art, games and a Christian message. This month's activities include board games, rounders, sports night and a BBQ! New members are always welcome.

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Morning Worship with the young people attending 'The Big Speak Out'
Sunday 7th July, 10.30 am

Everyone is invited to join the young people who have been staying in the village for 'The Big Speak Out', a residential week-end organised by the URC for 11 to 18 year olds. The theme of the week-end is 'Making Your Mark'.

We will be joining the young people for worship in Repton School Chapel at 10.30 am, and after the service are invited to return with them to The Mitre to take part in inter-generational games in the garden (or an indoor quiz in bad weather) followed by a picnic lunch together. Bring your picnic lunch and join in the fun!

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Family Barbeque at 5 Monsom Lane: Saturday 20th July

You are invited to a Family Barbeque with games for all ages, a bouncy castle and lots of tasty food. The fun starts at 3 pm; food will be served from 4.30. To help with catering, admission is by ticket only, available from Church members, or please ring Christine on 701581.

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Yard Sale: Saturday 7th September

Along with neighbours in Monsom Lane, we are holding another Yard Sale. Any donations of items to sell, large or small, will be gratefully received. Please ring 701581 to arrange collection. All proceeds for the United Reformed Church.

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Dates for your Diary

Saturday 14th September: Monthly Coffee Mornings re-commence

Sunday 29th September: Harvest Festival followed by a Harvest Lunch

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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.

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Marriages

Susannah Perks of Repton and Timothy Gwyn of London were married at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on Saturday 8th June.

Amy Forbes and Richard Pepperdine of Leicester were married at St Mary's Church, Newton Solney on Saturday 15th June.

Mira Beknazarova and Harry Cooper of Australia had a blessing on their marriage at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on Friday 14th June.

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Funerals and Burial of Ashes

Alec James Brown, of Newton Solney, died on Sunday 14th April. A service at St Mary's Church on 23rd May, was followed by cremation at Bretby.

Maria Boni, formerly of Brookside Close, Repton, died peacefully on Monday 6th May. A service at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on 28th May was followed by burial at Monsom Lane cemetery.

John Fishley died on Friday 17th May aged 79. A funeral service at York Crematorium on 6th June was followed by cremation. John came to Repton School in 1961, was Head of Physics and C/O of the CCF. He left briefly in 1975 to go to Oundle, returning here in 1979 as Repton's first ever Second Master. In 1985 he left to be Headmaster of Churcher's College near Petersfield in Hampshire.

Joan Mary 'Biddy' Weston, formerly of Forge Close, Repton, then of Tutbury, died peacefully at Derby Heights Care Home, Littleover, on Thursday 30th May aged 86. A funeral service at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on 13th June was followed by interment at Repton Cemetery.

Thomas George Hyde, formerly of Milton Road and then of Brook House, Repton, died on Monday 3rd June. A funeral service at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on Friday 21st June, was followed by cremation at Bretby.

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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

Congratulations to the Rev'd Andrew Baguley

. . .  who, after doing such a splendid job looking after the Repton benefice during Martin's absence, has now been appointed Priest-in-Charge of Ilkeston St Mary and of Ilkeston St John. He hopes to take up his new role in the autumn.

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Housegroups

Intercessory Prayer for Healing meets at Woodend Cottage at 7.30 pm on Monday 1st 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: We continue our studies in Luke's Gospel on Thursdays 4th and 18th July, starting at 7.30 pm.

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St Chad's Pilgrimage

In 699AD, Chad became the fourth Bishop of the Mercians, and the centre of the new Christian mission to the Kingdom of Mercia was relocated from Repton to Lichfield. On Saturday 8th June, to mark the 1,350th anniversary of that event, 57 of us met at St Wystan's Church for 'St Chad's Pilgrimage', walking the 19 miles to Lichfield Cathedral. Although Anglicans and Roman Catholics were in the majority, there were also representatives of Methodists, Baptists, Charismatics, the Interfaith community and the United Reformed Church.

Following a short service led by Bishop Jan, the Bishop of Repton, we set off in four groups for the walk along field footpaths from Repton to Burton, where we had coffee and cake at St Modwen's, then along the canal towpath to Alrewas for a well-earned rest and late lunch.

With some leaving and others joining at both Burton and Alrewas, there were finally 97 – now in six groups – who arrived at Lichfield Cathedral. After coffee and a very large flapjack, there was a short service in the Lady Chapel, conducted by the Bishop of Lichfield, who had carried part of the relics of St Chad along the way.

Including stops, the walk took about 9 hours, and in spite of the rain earlier in the day, it was very successful and much enjoyed.

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St Wystan's News

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

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

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Messy Church in Repton

. . . has been going for over seven 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 22nd September at 4 pm

If you haven't yet come to Messy Church there will be more opportunities after our summer break. Look out for the notices and come and join in the fun.

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 7th July, 4th August and 1st September, and Sunday Club for children aged 4-11 during the morning services on 14th and 21st 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 at St Wystan's Church. If you have any questions or would like to know more, please contact me

Coffee & freshly baked Cake for 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

Ocho's Summer Soirée songs from Pentatonix, Voces 8, The Real Group, John Lennon, Eva Cassidy, Frank Sinatra, Gustav Holst, Bryn Terfel and others, sung by award winning a cappella group, Ocho Tuesday 2nd July, 7.30 pm at St Wystan's Church Tickets £8, concessions £6 from Derek 07741 330453 or ochosingers.com or on the door

Soup, Cheese and Chat! Wednesday 3rd 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!

Come and join us on Repton Primary School field for our Summer Fayre Saturday 6th July, 12 - 4 pm Fun for all the family         Entry FREE Bar         Ice Cream Van         Mini Ski Jump BBQ         Penalty shoot-out         Trampolines Tombola         8ft High Striker         Inflatable Slide Raffle         Bungee Run         Sweet Stall hosted by Repton Primary School pta

Padley Ladies Lunch Thursday 11th July, 11.30 am Kedleston Park Golf Club, Quarndon, DE22 5JD Gorgeous food and wonderful stalls selling chocolate, handbags, fragrances, jewellery and handmade cards. Also a luxury raffle with truly amazing prizes Tickets £25 from Kerry Collyer on 01332 774480, kerry@padleygroup.com in aid of The Padley Group

Book Swap Wednesday 17th 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 18th July, 12.30 pm in Milton Village Hall.   £5. Ham Salad + Eton Mess! Contact Lynn, 704540, Sue, 701978, or Polly, 703436 Everyone welcome wherever you live! If you need transport, let us know

Summer Barbecue 5 Monsom Lane Saturday 20th July at 3 pm tasty food, a bouncy castle and games for the children a chance for the adults to relax in the sunshine! Admission by ticket only, adults £5, children £3 from U.R.C. church members or Christine on701581

Sunday 21st July from 11 am till late Milton Self-Defence Charity BBQ Live Music, Beer Festival and Fun Day at the Swan at Milton Martial Arts Demo : Nerf Zone : Mini Beer Festival : Water or Wine Stall Face Painting : Tractor Rides : Live Bands from 6pm Guest Appearances from a Dalek : Darth Vader and his Storm Trooper Morris Dancers : Strawberries and Cream : Home-made Cakes Tug Of War : Treasure Hunt : Mega Raffle : Bouncy Castle Tombola : Adopt a Teddy and much, much more Organised by Milton Self Defence with all proceeds going to Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre Contact Duncan for information on 07973 663601

Repton Village Hall

A true community hub

As construction continues, the building is looking good both inside and out. At the time of writing plenty of wires are going in, to be followed shortly by other utilities. There has also been a fair amount of discussion and effort to make sure that the audio-visual system is fitted properly and that other small but important technical points will be right, such as making sure wi-fi works where it is needed. The construction team are proving very helpful.

We had already started working on a colour scheme when a rather odd request came through. Apparently, there is a rush nationally on orders for toilet cubicle fittings, so we had to choose colours and get an order placed quickly. However, this was not as difficult as it might have been as the team leading on the colour scheme already had a good plan.

A planning application has now gone in to request the removal of trees in the car park which are not in good condition, and to plant replacements in better locations.

Opening event, Sunday 1st September, 3 pm in the hall

As the construction is going on time, we have committed to an opening event, and David Haines is kindly bringing the Burton Concert Band to provide entertainment. We are planning a small opening ceremony with a very local focus. You will have an opportunity to look around the hall afterwards and during the following weekend. There will be further details in the August magazine.

Somewhere to be and find company

In recent weeks we have been talking to and signing up our old regular users and some new ones. Some groups have been flexible, enabling us to fit in more people than we might otherwise have done. I am very grateful for this and pleased to report a good level of interest for family events too.

The parish council and village hall liaison group have met to review progress and to discuss making best use of the office space that the parish council will use on Monday and Thursday afternoons.

On 12th June there was an open evening in the Red Lion for anyone interested in helping with the community cafe, library, book exchange and youth initiatives. Quite a few people who had given their names could not be there, but attendance was actually quite high and work is starting on these areas. There is a real desire to make the new facility a true hub for community activity, somewhere to be and find company. We have a long list of activities that have worked in the past and others we could add in the future. For example, people have suggested board game afternoons or evenings in the community café, computer advice sessions and informal language groups. What we make of it is very much up to us as a community.

The task of going through the archives continues. The old hall featured on the front cover of a Derbyshire wide community magazine in 1971 in its splendid new glory. That was also the year that Repton won a 'Best Kept Village' award for villages with more than 1500 residents.

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Repton Village & History

Repton ngs Open Gardens, Sunday 21st July, 1.30 - 5.30 pm

10 Chestnut Way : 22 Pinfold Close : 16 Askew Grove
Askew Cottage, 23 Milton Road : Repton Allotments

The last chance this year to visit these lovely NGS gardens for £6 (children free). They are very different, but all are full of interest. Homemade teas are available at 10 Chestnut Way. The money raised goes to the National Garden Scheme - this year it will once again donate £3 million to nursing and caring charities.

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Let's keep the countryside tidy

Cans, plastic bottles, crisp packets, glass bottles, sweet wrappers, there is so much rubbish around us in the fields and hedgerows, rubbish that could well be there for many years. Not merely does it look horrible, but it's a danger to wildlife and to the environment. We need to do something about it.

Now, in conjunction with our Parish Council, and with the kind support of Mr Joshi and Shirley at the Spar and Post Office, litter pickers are available at the post office for you to take with you on walks. Just call in, collect a couple as you set off, and bring them back when you finish. There is also a notebook to record the area you have visited, so maybe the next person can choose a different walk if they wish.

You will need your own gloves and something to put the litter in – buckets or a sturdy carrier bag work well. Please put the rubbish collected in your own recycling bin. The more people that join in, the less litter there will be for each of us to deal with.

A note of warning though: Do keep safe and don't try to collect rubbish from the sides of busy roads. The best thing there is to notify SDDC.

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Repton Baby and Toddler

A belated 'thank you' to everyone who helped martial the Village Party Parade. The children thoroughly enjoyed the day.

For the Repton Open Gardens Scarecrow Competition, the group made a couple of well known potatoes, Mr and Mrs Potato Head. The children liked seeing their crafts on display in the village and were very pleased with 2nd prize!

We currently meet in the Iris Bentley Pavilion, but only have a few weeks remaining there before we take a break for the summer and then return to the village hall. Please keep a close eye on our Facebook page for dates.

We meet every Wednesday from 9.45 to 11.45 am. Everyone welcome from 0 to school age. Find us on Facebook or contact Natalie Matthews.

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Repton Cubs

Cubs have continued to work on their knotting and lashing. They have learnt to square lash and tripod lash, and revised the clove hitch and reef knot. With these skills, they built a chariot from poles and a chair, which they could use to race up and down the field with one 'king' or 'queen' sitting on top – lots of noisy fun.

In their sixes, they also managed to build a washbowl stand for camp. This involved a lot of teamwork and skill with sticks and string but all groups managed very well. The children (and leaders) have also spent time on the river in bell boats and kayaks. All cubs managed to control their craft up and down the river and steer in the right direction – most of the time! At the end of the session, the brave ones even jumped in! Thank you to Mike Knowles and the members of the Burton Canoe Club for making this possible.

We have a few spaces for children aged 8 - 10 so if you are interested please contact Jez Brooks for further information.

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A change of venue for Repton Village Show
Saturday 7th September in REPTON VILLAGE HALL

With great pleasure we can announce that Repton Village Show will be held in the new village hall, in conjunction with an open day run by the Village Hall Management Committee. Please come along, view the hall, enter the show (or view the entries in the afternoon) and enjoy a cup of tea in the café. It will be a super first event. We hope to see you there..

Schedules and entry forms will be available in the Post Office during August, or you can email Caroline Thompson.

The Show Committee would like to thank Mr Tague and Repton Primary School for agreeing to hold the show there had the hall not been ready. We really appreciate it.

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Scouts

In May the Scouts went camping on a Scout campsite in Cannock Chase where they tried archery, Monkey Trees (climbing extremely high trees with a safety rope attached), zip wire, Frisbee golf, wide games, wood chopping and cooking on open fires. Luckily the rain held off for the weekend and we all had a great time.

At the weekly Scout meetings the Scouts have progressed further with their paddle sports badge with more canoeing and kayaking on the river Trent. They've navigated their way around the footpaths surrounding Repton and Bretby, hunted for geocaches and cycled the Tramway Trail at Calke Abbey.

If you would like to know more about Scouts, if you are interested in joining as a helper or would like your child to join, please contact Peter Tubby.

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One Day Jitty Closure, Thursday 30th July

The jitty between Repton School Art School and the Priory boarding house will be closed for one day only on Thursday 30th July 2019. 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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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 23rd July	6 – 8 pm	Sports Mobile
Tuesday 30th July	2 – 4 pm	Play Mobile
Tuesday 6th August	2 – 4 pm	Adventure Mobile
Tuesday 13th August	6 – 8 pm	Sports Mobile

The Adventure Mobile is aimed at 5-16 year olds and includes a giant, inflatable Mountain Climb.

The Play Mobile offers a range of play and craft activities with games such as giant Snakes and Ladders, Connect Four and the arts & craft table full of craft activities.

The Sports Mobile is aimed at 8-16 year olds and contains a range of sporting equipment including athletics, football, goal ball, cricket, rounders, tennis, rugby and dodgeball. 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 Open Gardens Scarecrow Trail Results

The rain showers that accompanied this year's Repton Open Garden's weekend couldn't break the hearts of the fifteen brave scarecrows that made up the scarecrow trail.

As ever the creativity on show was amazing, including a zombie rising out of the ground, Sam and Tom's Ash from Pokémon, and a duet from Ronaldo and Elsa from Frozen with the great pun 'Let it Gooooooal'. The WI put lots of plastic waste to good use in making a beautiful scarecrow, and myths were brought to life with a toga clad Greek scarecrow and a garden fairy.

This year's winners were Alfie and Rocco who had made use of their entire front garden to tell the story of The Three Little Pigs. There was even the opportunity for you to take the part of the wolf. Close behind were Repton Baby and Toddlers Group's Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head and Helen Jowett's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

Many thanks to everyone who took the time to make and visit the scarecrows. We really appreciate you taking part in this great community event.

Prize-winners

1. The Three Little Pigs – Alfie and Rocco

2. Mr and Mrs Potato Head – Repton Baby and Toddler Group

3. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves – Helen Jowett

Highly Commended
Camping Scout – Robert Thompson
Lego man – The Minto Family

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Repton Village Society

At our last meeting we learnt a lot about the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway (EVR). They don't just run excursion trips on a range of historic rolling stock: a major source of income is testing manufacturers' equipment to British Rail standards. This allows them to get the necessary authorisations to operate it on the British Rail network. EVR has also featured in a number of films and TV dramas, providing yet another income stream.

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway was started by six men in a kitchen in 1992. The line, which was formerly a branch line mainly used to transport high quality limestone from the mine at Ravenstor near Wirksworth, closed down in 1967, 100 years after it had first opened. Although closed, the line was designated a strategic freight site so the rails and facilities were still in place though completely overgrown. In 1996 EVR managed to get a Light Railway Order for the line, and in 2008 the section from Wirksworth to Idridgehay was opened. In 2011 the line to Duffield Station was completed, so there is a platform link there to the Midland Mainline; in fact EVR is in charge of Duffield Station. This very interesting talk was given by Eric Boultbee who had been one of the six people in the kitchen and is now a director of the Wyvern Railway Company that runs the railway. He knows all the ins and outs of its history and future plans.

Thursday 4th July, 7.30 pm in Repton School Junior Common Room

We have a change of programme as our planned speaker is unavailable. We will be welcoming back Paul Newsome, this time to talk on 'British Traditions and Customs'. The Junior Common Room is down the drive between the Old Mitre and the Red Lion – by the car park behind the Old Mitre.

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Repton Village History Group
Industrial Milton

Although Milton is essentially an agricultural settlement, it does have its industrial past.

Opposite the village hall is the footprint of a small building that was probably a stable. It may previously have been a cottage, but there is also evidence of a fire pit and a suggestion that it was once a blacksmith's. Certainly there was a mill driven by the brook which may have been one of the two for Repton and Milton mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. In its natural state, the brook does not have the energy to drive a mill, so a mill pond was needed to store a head of water. Indeed, there were two ponds, one feeding the other, as was also the case in Repton. The land below the Milton Mill (to its north) was later reworked to make fish breeding and fish farming pens for the Milton Fishery business.

There was gravel extraction to the south of the village, and the Foremarke estate built a timber yard and saw mill close by; it is still there and was working up to a year or so ago, albeit with electric power replacing the earlier steam engine. It is possible that there was a tannery in Milton, but we know that hides were being taken to the tannery at Repton for processing.

A booklet outlining the history of Milton is long overdue. Probably an Anglo-Saxon settlement contemporary with Repton – and quite possibly host, along with Foremark, to parts of the Viking Great Heathen Army – this village has been too long overlooked.

For more information about the History Group please contact Andy Austen.

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Repton WI

At our June meeting we had a speaker from Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire Blood Bikes. Everyone involved in the charity is a volunteer. They offer an emergency service to deliver urgently required items 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They carry urgent items between hospitals in their area, mainly blood samples, blood and platelets, but also bone marrow, donated breast milk to neonatal units, and faecal matter transplants. It was a fascinating talk and we were all a lot wiser at the end. The WI made a donation to the charity and a collection amongst members on the night raised a further £86.

Some of our members dressed a scarecrow in non-recyclable plastic waste for the Open Gardens scarecrow competition, and on 15th June Prunella Plastic was at the Primary School gates ready for the judge. It's a good job she was weather-proof!

The July meeting will be our last at the Primary School. We have been very grateful to the Headmaster and school for allowing us to use the premises for our monthly meetings whilst the new village hall was being built. We hope to be back at the village hall in September, but want to thank the school for offering us a 'home' when we needed it. We'll be helping at their Summer Fayre on Saturday 6th July.

Programme for the next couple of months

Tues 9th July	'Strawberry Fields Forever' Serving up an evening of Wimbledon, strawberries' and fun and games at Repton Primary School, 7.15 pm
Wed 17th July	Coffee Morning @ Sweet Little, Sudbury, 10.30 am
Tues 13th August	Our August garden party. This year Jenny Jones has volunteered her garden for the afternoon and we will be fundraising for a Breast Cancer Charity. 2.30 pm

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Mobile Library, Tuesdays 2nd and 30th 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 books for adults and children, large print books, books on tape and books on CD as well as a selection of local studies books and information.

It works to a four-weekly timetable so will be here twice in July. For the Long Eaton base, contact 01629 531398; for the van, 0780 904 4405.

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Repton Parish Council

Full minutes of Parish Council meetings are available on the Council website following approval at the next meeting.

Welcome to the five councillors who were co-opted at our June meeting, bringing the Council up to full strength. Barbara McCardle and Peter Rainey have been on the Parish Council before and bring a wealth of experience. Anthony Brown, Ian Griffiths and Anne Munnien are serving for the first time and their perspectives and new ideas will be really appreciated.

The Parish Office: We are planning to move the office from the High Street to the new village hall, hopefully in September. We will also be moving Council meetings to the village hall, and will keep you informed.

The Brook: We have had reports of rubbish and garden material being dumped in the Brook. This can cause blockages and flooding. Could adjacent garden owners (and others) please dispose of waste correctly.

Footpath 9: Please continue to take care on the footpath 9 which runs along the east side of the Brook. Between FP 10 to Mill Hill and FP6 to Milton (and very roughly in the stretch between Gibson Technology and Bank House Farm) some of the staked boards and fencing is not very safe. We are waiting for information on who is responsible for the repair.

The footpath between Repton and Willington: A request has been made to DCC to have the grass removed and the hedge cut back on the footpath along the road between Repton and Willington. It is now so narrow that people find it unsafe.

Summer Play at The Mitre Field: We are pleased that we have once 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.

Planters: We are moving ahead with the provision of planters in Repton, three smaller ones on the triangle by the Cross, and a larger one on the grass at the Willington entrance to the village. We are very grateful for offers of help with their planting and upkeep.

Broomhills: It is anticipated that invitations to tender for new doors and windows at the Iris Bentley Pavilion will be going out this month, the first stage of renovations.

Monsom Lane Allotments: Two more plots have been allocated to people on the waiting list.

Monsom Lane Cemetery: We have had a number of thanks for the excellent job that Mercia Garden Care has made of mowing the burial ground. They have now been awarded the contract for its continued maintenance, and also to maintain footpaths round the villages.

Litter Bins: We will be writing to SDL Property Management who are responsible for the upkeep of the grounds at Priory Grange, Holloway and Mill Hill, regarding the litter bins not being emptied, dead trees and hedge, and the need for upkeep of the children's play area.

The Dales: So far there is no more news on the future of the Dales. We understand that Derbyshire County Council and South Derbyshire District Council are working on plans and specifications.

Planning Application: We have put in an objection to application 9/2019/0453, an application for the Old Sawmill, Main Street, Milton, to be demolished and replaced by three houses.

Next meeting: Monday 8th July at 7.30 pm in The Community Room, Fisher Close, Repton. All are welcome.

Carol Lloyd, Chairman
Parish Council Office, 40 High Street,  t: 01283 701309
Office hours: Monday and Thursday, 2.00 - 6.00 pm

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Milton, Foremark & St Saviour's Church

Milton Open Gardens

With stalls and plants for sale opposite the village hall, the centre of Milton was transformed into an oasis of colour, people, and bunting. The telephone kiosk was transformed into a 'pop up' pub, complete with glamorous mannequin barmaid. Scarecrows lurked around the village, and our resident 'live' scarecrow kept everyone in order with her sweeping brush. The gardens, eleven along the main street and a further three at The Waterworks were much admired, and the village hall became a tea rooms for the afternoon with the ladies of Milton WI serving tea and delicious home-made cakes.

In the evening, villagers and friends gathered for a BBQ at The Swan to enjoy a well-deserved drink and a burger: despite the unwelcome sharp showers Milton had still welcomed 279 visitors. The profit of over £2,300 will be split between Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance, Macmillan Cancer Support and the upkeep of Milton village hall. Many thanks to all the visitors who came along, and to everyone who helped make the day possible.

To hire Milton village hall, contact Polly Faulkner.

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Milton WI

Vice President Sue White welcomed Duncan Hogg and the Krav Maga team to our June meeting. Basic self-defence protection techniques were demonstrated and members encouraged to participate. It was a very enjoyable and rewarding evening. Delicious refreshments were served by Polly Faulkner and Barbara Bailey.

At our next meeting on Wednesday 17th July, 7.30 pm in Milton village hall, Susan Bailey will give a talk about diabetes. Guests are very welcome to join us.

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Milton Village Walk

On Sunday 9th May, following breakfast in the village hall, a large group of walkers, ably led by Helen, joined in the annual Milton Walk.

There was a choice of a long or a short walk, but under a blue sky most preferred the former. A gentle start up Slacky Lane, the bridleway to Ticknall, allowed us to enjoy the wildflowers and views across to the Peak District. In Ticknall we walked along Chapel Street, turning left at the end across fields and through part of the new forest to Knowle Hill Cottage, a Landmark Trust holiday home with a rich local history. At one time it had extensive gardens fashioned into the surrounding landscape; a lake and waterfall gave us some idea of what it had once been like. Coming then through Seven Spouts, the views toward Derby and beyond amazed everyone.

Crossing the Ticknall - Ingleby road we were now on the home straight through Heath Wood down to Foremark village and on to Milton, looking over the Trent valley where most could recognise a landmark or two. To the delight of the children some very large fish were easily visible in the lake at Foremarke Hall. On our return to Milton the more mature walkers found refreshment in the sunshine at the Swan.

In all a walk of 6.3 miles, with very little road walking, that took us nearly 3 hours. Walkers particularly appreciated an introduction to new routes on our door step, and discoveries such as Knowle House, Seven Spouts and the bluebells of Heath Wood. Our thanks to Helen, and also the ladies who prepared the delicious breakfast.

The walk takes place every May. Look out for it next year and come along.

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Thank you!

I would like to thank the many parishioners of St Saviour's Church for the wonderful present they gave me after Evensong on 12th May. It is a beautiful pen and ink drawing of the interior of the church by the celebrated local artist Jackie Adshead, whose drawings have graced the front cover of the Parish Magazine for many years. It will be a lovely memory for Liz and me to cherish as we return to Herefordshire after 24 years teaching at Foremarke Hall.

It has been a privilege to worship at Foremark church and serve on the PCC, and I will take away many happy memories. Thank you to all members of the PCC, past and present, for all their efforts, especially the stalwarts, Ann, Polly, Heather, Stephen and Betty as well as Peter Paine and Martin Flowerdew. I am very proud of all the major projects we have undertaken. Since I joined the PCC in April 2005 we have completed extensive work in the churchyard including refurbishing the Burdett gravesite; re-roofed the entire church roof in stainless steel after several lead thefts; upgraded lights and electricity, and redecorated the inside of the church. We have enjoyed many fantastic and well-attended services with parishioners and the choirs and boarding community at Foremarke Hall; extensively supported the Padley Centre and other charitable organisations; gained a new electric organ and sound system.

It has been lovely to play a small part in St Saviour's life of worship and service to the local community. I hope that it continues to flourish for years to come.

Self-defence class for disabled people Tuesdays, 7 to 8 pm in Milton Village Hall Anybody, any disability Fun Free, no hidden charges Contact Duncan Hogg on 07973 663601.

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Newton Solney & St Mary's Church

Newton Solney Horticultural Show, Saturday 7th 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 is open to the public from 3 pm, and the presentation of prizes at 5 pm will be followed by an auction and the prize draw. Everyone is most welcome to exhibit. Please plan ahead now to come and join in.

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Newton Solney Tuesday Club

At our last meeting Mig Holder gave an enthusiastic and inspiring presentation on recycling fabrics, making unwanted materials into wearable and useful items. I'm sure many of those at the meeting went home to look out unwanted household items and clothes, and break out the sewing machines.

Although the numbers were down for our trip to Lichfield, and instead of a coach we went on a very comfortable mini-bus, we had a most enjoyable time. The weather was kind, giving people the opportunity to have a good saunter and find a suitable place for a leisurely lunch.

Tuesday 2nd July, 2.30 pm

A business meeting followed by a social afternoon with a Bring & Buy stall, a cake stall and a quiz. Depending on the weather there may a chance to have a game of bowls or kurling. There will of course be time for a chat, a cup of tea and a biscuit.

Tuesday 9th July: A trip to Felly Priory in North Nottinghamshire

Please note the date – the coach was unavailable for the following week. Felly Priory has gardens, a tea room, and a nursery selling a large selection of plants. We leave the Unicorn Inn at 9.30 am and return to Newton by about 3 pm. Coach £12. Entry to the gardens £5; they are lovely and well worth looking around.

Tuesday 30th July at 7 pm: Whist Drive in Newton Solney village hall.

Looking ahead

We have no activities in August so you may like to put the September dates in your diary.

Tuesday 3rd, 2.30 pm	Business meeting and talk on Reflexology by Denise Austin
Tuesday 17th	Trip to Chesterfield. £12
Tuesday 24th, 7 pm	Whist

Please contact Jane, our Secretary on 01283 564520 if you need further information about any of our activities.

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The 'Four Churches' run for St Mary's Church and Newton Solney Pre-
Win a £50 Winery Restaurant Voucher

On Sunday 14th July, Tim Norman and Abbey van Dijk will be running to the four churches within our parish to raise money for St Mary's Church and Newton Solney pre-school building. All you have to do is guess how long it will take them! Their times will be added together and the closest guess (to the nearest second – e.g. 1h 12m 5s) will win. Each guess costs £3, 4 guesses for £10.

Starting at 2 pm from St Mary's Church, their route will take them along the river Trent to Repton and St Wystan's Church gate, through Milton to St Saviour's Church gate, back via Milton village green, past the Mount Pleasant Inn towards the United Reformed Church, and then via Well Lane and Newton Lane to St Mary's Church.

To add your support, please contact Tim Norman with your guess on 01283 704794, or pledge your guess on the sheet in St Mary's Church.

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Teddy Bears' Picnic

Newton Solney Teddy Bears' picnic was a great success; with a lull in the rain that otherwise fell relentlessly, Sunday was sunny, warm and dry. We are grateful to everyone who helped, particularly Abbey who donned a Teddy bear's suit that must have been really warm, and Vicky who painted just about every child with face paint. Thank you too to the people who made and donated cakes and teas – they all went!

The profit of £178.40 will be split between St Mary's Church and Newton Solney pre-school, but this was not just about the money; it was great to get people together from around the village.

The next challenge is the 'four churches' run' on Sunday 14th July, so please enter your predictions and pledges. See above for details.

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Newton Solney WI

In June we had an excellent presentation on beekeeping by Richard Matkin, particularly the honeybee. We learned how bees have been around for longer than humans and how we humans have learnt to farm them by building hives to provide an easier way to collect the honey. We also learned how we can help and encourage bees with our garden plants and shrubs.

At our next meeting on Tuesday 9th July, 7.30 in Newton Solney village hall, Simon Evetts will talk about 'Wines from New Zealand'. All are welcome.

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Newton Solney Parish Council

Posts on the Village Green: Following the decision to replace the posts, quotes are being obtained. Work will be completed as soon as possible.

Common Land security: We are currently in the grant application process and hope that work will commence once this has been completed.

Next meeting: Friday 12th July at 7.30 pm in the village hall. All are welcome.

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Health Matters

Safe summer food

Is anything more evocative of high summer than the smell of a barbeque – but every year, carelessness with BBQs results in food poisoning. So here is a little advice.

-	Always use different chopping boards and utensils for raw meat.
-	Make sure frozen meat is fully thawed before cooking. Microwave it on the defrost setting or defrost it in the fridge, not in the kitchen at room temperature.
-	Don't wash raw chicken; that just spreads bacteria around.
-	Don't leave food out for longer than two hours – one hour if it's very hot outside.
-	Don't overload the barbecue. Remember that disposable barbecues take longer to heat up and to cook food.
-	Always cook burgers (or any minced meat, including good quality or expensive meat) right through. When meat is minced, any harmful bacteria from the surface of the raw meat are spread throughout the burger. Unless the burger is well done, the bacteria can remain alive on the inside.
-	Similarly, always cook sausages, kebabs, pork and chicken until there is no pink meat and any juices run clear. Pre-cook chicken and pork in the oven.

For more on how to stay safe this summer visit food.gov.uk/safe-summer-food.

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South Derbyshire

Shared Lives

Could you open up your home to give older people or adults with disabilities the chance to lead ordinary lives in the community? Derbyshire County Council is looking for more people to become Shared Lives carers. The scheme offers over 18s the chance to move in with a carer to share their family life, whether for a long term arrangement, short break or day care. If you already work with adults with learning or physical disabilities, mental ill health or an older person, then Shared Lives could offer them the chance to live an ordinary life.

You can become a carer regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or disability. There is no upper age limit although you have to be over 18. You don't need to own your home, but you do need to be patient, enjoy a stable home life, be flexible and willing to learn. Many carers have already had their own families, and their children are now grown up. However it is a career that works well with a young family too, and for those cared for, sharing their life with a young family can have many benefits.

Full training is provided and support is on hand. Carers are paid depending on the type of support they offer, and are also entitled to four weeks paid respite a year to allow everybody a break.

Shared Lives is registered with the Care Quality Commission and carers are assessed and approved. To find out more visit derbyshire.gov.uk/sharedlives.

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What's On in South Derbyshire and The National Forest

As I write, the summer edition of 'What's On' is due out any day. Search for 'Swadlincote Tourist Information Centre' to read it online; it's easier to find than through the council website. You can also pick it up from the tourist information centre at Sharpe's Pottery. With long holidays coming up, it's a great source of inspiration.

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Rosliston Forestry Centre
Photography Walk, Sunday 14th July at 9.30 am

This walk of 1½ hours round Rosliston Forestry Centre will be led by a professional photographer. Bring your own camera and learn how to get the best from your photos. The walk of about one mile may take you through long grass, so sturdy footwear is advised. £3. Meet in the foyer at 9.15. For more information, call 01283 595906.

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Neighbourhood Watch

Student rental fraud

At this time of year, fraudsters commonly target college and university students ahead of the new year, taking advantage of the huge demand and students' anxiety to have somewhere to live. In the four years from April 2014 to March 2018, victims reported losing over £22m, an average of £1,396 per victim.

They were tricked into paying an upfront fee to rent a property which didn't exist, had already been rented out, or had been rented to multiple victims at the same time.

Contact is often made online. The adverts seem genuine and are often accompanied by photos and contact information. In some cases, the victim will view the property in person, but in most cases payment is made without prior viewing.

Four tips to protect yourself

•	Don't pay any money until you or a reliable contact have visited the property with an agent or the landlord.
•	Be cautious about how you send money. The safest way to pay is by credit card in person at the letting agent's office.
•	Don't be pressured into transferring large sums on the spot.
•	Check the approved housing list with your student union or accommodation office. Look for accreditation membership such as National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS), Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA).

Adrian Gillham, Chairman, Repton Neighbourhood Watch

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Gardening Notes

Carried away!

We visited Chatsworth Show in June with a modest shopping list – plant labels, large flowered pink rhodohypoxis and a clematis 'Jackmanii superba'. But just like everyone else at the show I came home laden with unplanned purchases. The clematis was easy to find, especially as part of a collection of five for £20, but of course this didn't include 'Nubia' and 'Olympia' which I just had to have, and finally we still have lots of space in the woodland area so one or two more little shade plants were just what was needed!

I had a plan of sorts for all the plants, but of course the new sisyrinchium 'Dragon's Eye' (almost sterile and a great price) was rather big, so the geranium nearby had to be moved and more of the camassias removed, and the lovely potentilla 'Flamenco' had to be split.

I'm trying a different method to divide irises this year. In the Doddington system, rather than digging up the iris rhizome and dividing it, replacing the best pieces in August, I'm dividing them in June / July in situ without lifting, ensuring that the rhizomes are exposed to sun from August to October. The advantage is that the roots are not disturbed just at the time when new flowers are forming. About 30% of the root is removed each year rather than doing a more radical division every 3 years.

Cut helianthemum (rock roses) back hard after flowering; new leaves will soon grow, and they may flower again. Left unpruned they become leggy. As they resent being pruned very hard, make sure you leave some leafy growth. They are quite cheap and can be grown from cuttings, so don't hang on to them if they look like a witches broom with a few green leaves. Similarly with nepeta (catmint): as soon as flowering finishes, cut stems right back. New foliage will quickly appear and instead of a sprawling mass in autumn the plant will neatly re-flower.

Rhododendrons have finished flowering now. I am experimenting by cutting back some of the more vigorous by a third, which I hope will not result in too much flower loss next year. This is more about reshaping than rejuvenation (cutting almost to the ground) which is far more dramatic. After last year's drought I thought one of mine, 'Red Dawn', had died, but it is now re- sprouting from low down, and I hope it will flower next year. I do try to deadhead the azaleas and rhododendrons. To remove old flower trusses on rhododendrons, use a pruning shear to snip the truss at its base, about half an inch above the emerging new growth. In addition to improving flowering next year, removing the seedhead will prevent the ripening seeds being covered in honeydew which attracts the aphids – always bad news – so get deadheading.

Please try not to spray aphids as this kills the predators such as ladybirds and their larvae. It's much better to put on a pair of gloves and rub them off the ends of new growth. Sometimes plant such as lupins and cabbages are very badly hit. At that point I would just cut off the worst affected areas and put them in the brown bin. A scientist who was researching aphids found the best way to increase them was to spray, as it killed their natural predators; I have never sprayed aphids since and have loads of ladybirds, and enough aphids to feed them and the birds.

The heavy rain in mid June has replenished the moisture in the soil but nearly destroyed our strawberry crop. I hope the raspberries, blueberries and currants will compensate.

July is a good time to spray ground elder, bindweed and other persistent weeds with a glyphosate-based weed killer such as roundup: the plants now have lots of leaf surface area with which to absorb it. Don't be tempted to dig these weeds out – you will never win! Any grass weed including couch grass is very susceptible to glyphosate, but you do need to avoid any contact with the foliage of plants you want to keep.

Silver-leaved plants do well in hot weather. Senecio, artemisia and stachys all thrive in the heat, and act as a foil to stronger colours in the border. I hate the flowers of senecio though; I think it was the first healthy plant that I ever removed just because I didn't like it, and I don't regret it one bit.

Don't work too hard in your garden in July. This is a time to just enjoy it.