In Issue 5 of the Newsletter (Christmas 2001), I welcomed you to the new, 32 page format. At the time, I expressed the view that we were unlikely to mange anything bigger. Wrong! Welcome to the 36 Page Issue!
That we have grown again is mainly due to the growing demand for advertising space, which we like to think is because the newsletter is has developed a good reputation throughout the area. However, not wishing to swamp the main body of the newsletter with advertising at the expense of space for informative articles we are introducing a "Household Services" advertising section starting on Page 30. We hope that our readers will find it useful and that our advertisers will attract new business.
At the same time, the Newsletter continues to be distributed free to almost 2500 households free of charge, and the current non-commercial articles are printed free of charge (as long as space permits).  So if you've something to say that you think would interest a wider audience, let me (the Editor) know. You can write or email. my contact details are on the back cover. I look forward to hearing from you.
The other article on this page is written by Jeff Bird, the MACLA Chairman. You'll see that MACLA is busy trying to put together a credible bid for funds to build a Sports Hall. These thing s don't happen without an enormous effort. Jeff is asking for helpers, even if you can only offer a small amount of time. Now is the time for everybody to stop asking "What are they doing about it?", and start asking "What am I doing about it?". Collective effort is what we need.

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As discussed in the last newsletter, MACLA together with Metheringham Parish Council have been working behind the scenes over the past few months in order to introduce a major new project that will greatly improve the leisure facilities available in Metheringham and the surrounding villages. The scale of the project is quite immense and we require extensive help and assistance from the local community. This is your chance to get involved in a project that will affect the sport & leisure opportunities in your area over the next 20 years.

How Can You Help?

What we need at the moment are volunteers who can provide some professional support and advice. MACLA is currently forming teams of volunteers who will assist in developing the project. If you have expertise in one of the following areas and are willing to donate some of your spare time to assist in the project, we would urgently like to hear from you. :

Architect - Quantity Surveyor - Health & Safety - Heating & Lighting - Building Planning & Regulations Fund Raising - Business Plans - Market Research & Promotion.

If you can provide assistance or want to know more then contact either Jeff Bird, MACLA Chairman, on 323436 or Pete Ford, MACLA Secretary, on 320016. Alternatively, you could attend the MACLA AGM on Tuesday 13 May at 7:45pm in Metheringham Village Hall to hear more details of the Project.

Remember this is YOUR chance to get involved in improving the leisure facilities in the Metheringham Area.

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MACLA Annual General Meeting
and
Open Public Meeting

13th May 2003
Metheringham Village Hall
7.30pm

You are invited to attend the above meetings, which will be Chaired by Jeff Bird.
This will be an opportunity to find out about :
Proposals for a Sports Hall,
Progress made to date
What needs to be done, and
Who the key Organisations are.

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MACLA- FUNDRAISING IN AID OF THE NEW SPORTS HALL

PLANT SALE
FOR THE VILLAGE, IN THE VILLAGE, BY THE VILLAGE.

SATURDAY, 31ST MAY, 2003, 09:30 – 14:30
Metheringham Church Hall
 (BY KIND PERMISSION OF THE CHURCH)

Refreshments available
Are you digging for England at the moment in your gardens to get ready for the wonderful summer? Are you now dividing plants and are thinking of throwing the excess away? Have you any excess plants due to the number of seeds you have sown in your greenhouses? Or have you just too much foliage and are having a clear out?
Please give us your surplus in any shape or form and we can turn this into funds for MACLA to bid for the new Sports Hall.
All donations of plants welcome – please ring Gwyneth Holland 322633 who will be able to give you more details and pick up at your property any plants you wish to donate. Surplus flower pots are also very welcome as is anyone who wishes to help us with this event.
This is just one of many village fundraising events to be held in Metheringham and the surrounding villages to enable us to build a new Sports hall and the badly needed changing rooms for all to enjoy.
If anyone has any ideas or would like to help with our fundraising please contact Sally Wilson 321289
 

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Lindum Accordion Club

The Lindum Accordion Club has moved to new premises. Meetings are now held at Wragby Town Hall on the third Wednesday of each month. Doors open at 7.45pm.
Guests and potential new members are always welcome. Our new home doesn’t have the distraction of a bar, so feel free to bring your own refreshments.
On another matter, the Accordion Club is watching with more than a passing interest the progress of the Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Bill.
The Bill is currently passing through Parliamentary stages. There is real concern throughout the Music Industry that, as currently drafted, some of the consequences could include:-

· Live entertainment venues, including churches, schools, hospices, retirement homes and village halls, would be required to pay up to £500 for a licence to allow them to hold concerts.
· Event organisers would have to apply to local councils for permission. The councils would then be required to consult with other bodies and forward the application to magistrates for approval.
· Even a small music group rehearsing in each other’s homes would be affected, and their homes would have to be licensed.
· Rehearsals in church halls and other non-licensed premises would be illegal.
· The Bill would effectively outlaw the activities of more than 300 groups of performers in Lincolnshire.

There has been a groundswell of public opposition to the proposals, and the Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport (Dr. Kim Howells) has recently sent an open letter to the Press, seeking to allay the concerns that have been expressed. Nevertheless, you might like to consider sending a letter to Dr Howells, and/or to your MP, at the House of Commons, if you feel strongly about this matter.

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Friends of Metheringham Airfield

The “Friends” are currently preparing for a busy Spring season, and the Visitor Centre reopens on Saturday 29th March.
Three evening lectures have already been booked:-
“Flying the Phantom” on Wednesday 23rd April
“The early days of RAF long-range transport, culminating in the Berlin Airlift” on Wednesday 28th May
“Operation AERIEL – June 1940- the evacuation from France” on Wednesday 11th June.
All lectures start at 7.30pm and take place in the old gymnasium.
On Saturday 24th May, the excellent 1940’s Dance and Big Band Night will take place from 7.30 pm to midnight. This is followed on Sunday 25th May by an Open Day.
For further information, please contact Peter Scoley on (01526) 378270.

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Kesteven Blind Society, Heighington Social Club

The KBS has a Social Club which meets at Heighington and currently has 9 members from Metheringham.
On the 5th February, members were given an informative talk by a representative of the NHS Patients Advice and liaison Service (PALS) on how to use the system. PALS handles all kinds of enquiries and complaints from patients, and even sources medical equipment.
On 19th February members were entertained by Jenny Storr with an amusing talk on Travels with the Colonel.
The Club operates every fortnight in the afternoon. Transport can be supplied. Anyone interested in joining the club should contact Kesteven Blind Society on 01476 592775.

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Metheringham Bowls Club News

Following a very successful year in 2002, during which no fewer than 4 Metheringham Bowls Teams were runners-up in their league and/or Cup competitions, we are now working up to the 2003 Season. The Green has been expensively maintained and the 2003 Committee elected. The first event will take place on 20th April (Easter Sunday) when the Club will host an Open Bowls Drive starting at 2.30pm. Tea and Biscuits will be provided and bar facilities available. The Entry Fee will be £l.50 and we will welcome Bowlers from all around the area to join us for this Special Event.
On Sunday 27th April we will be holding the traditional start of season "Roll-Up", during which we will hope to see all our existing Members and any potential new ones. As we have lost a few of our more active Members during the closed season, we are especially keen to encourage some new ones to join us. So whether you are experienced or a complete beginner please make a note of the date in your diaries and join us on the day. You can be assured of a friendly welcome and as much help as you need to become an active Bowler.
For non-members, we will be running a couple of coffee mornings and afternoon tea sessions with accompanying Cake Stall and Raffle. Please look out for posters advertising these events and bring your friends along to enjoy a chat in different surroundings. The first Coffee morning will be held on Monday 12th May starting at 10.00am . If you require any further details please contact the Club Chairman, Mike Reep, on 321119 or the Secretary John Browett on 321967.
 

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Metheringham Methodist Chapel Diary

After our successful Christmas Celebrations we are now preparing for Lent and Easter. One project for Lent is to help UNICEF by taking part in their Jar of Grace scheme, you simply put a Jar of Grace label (available from the chapel) on an empty jar and then before each meal you drop a coin into the jar. These will be collect at Easter and the money will go towards eliminating maternal and neo-natal tetanus from Tanzania and Bangladesh. The Maundy Thursday services will at the Chapel on 17th April at 7.15pm meditating on the Last Supper. The service for Good Friday will start at 6pm and for Easter Sunday, to celebrate Christ rising from the grave, the service will be in the Chapel starting at 10.30am.
On Friday 7th March 2003 at 10.30am it is the Women's Day of Prayer Service at the Methodist Chapel. The service this year is prepared by Christian Women of Lebanon, everyone is welcome to join in this act of worship and the speaker will be Deacon Mary Neal.
Our annual Sausage & Mash Supper will be held in the Village Hall on Saturday 15th March, the supper starts at 7pm priced at £4 per ticket. Entertainment will be by Hi Notes, a vocal quartet performing songs from various musicals.
In May we have the Chapel Anniversary Service on Sunday 11th May at 10.30am and will be taken by the Rev. Frank Hutchings. There will be a B.B.Q. after the service.
On Sunday 8th June, at 10.30am, it is the Women's Anniversary Service; Mrs Studley from Grantham will conduct this year's service.
We are holding a coffee morning on Saturday 14th June at 10am this will be followed by a Ploughman's Lunch at noon.
The Wednesday Club, for children aged 6-10 years old, meets in the Chapel Hall between 5.30 and 6.30pm during term time. The Wednesday Fellowship meets fortnightly at 10am, but during Lent the meetings will be weekly, everyone welcome. The Sisterhood meets every Thursday afternoon at 2.30pm. For more information about any of the events please contact Joyce on 321729.

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What was on in Metheringham around Christmas 2002

The judging of the annual competition for the best decorated house or bungalow in Metheringham was on Thursday 19th December. Once again the spread of sometimes subtle and effective and sometimes gaudy and overdone was not reflected in the numbers entering Barry’s competition. The vicar, Rev David Payne and Simon did find a worthy winner this year and it was The Petch family on Rowan Way.

The evening of December 21st saw a new venture for the village with an Alternative Christmas Market instigated by Butch from the Star and Garter and organised with, for and by The Swimming Pool Association. The car park was turned into a party venue with decorated trailer and festive music. Sadly the hoped for fairground rides had to pull out at the last minute but there were games, a bric- a brac stall, a lucky dip tub, sales of a Watery quiz and a wonderful hog roast and mulled wine. When the pork ran out Butch rustled up a turkey and the evening was made a success by the Starlite Twirlers who performed a couple of displays including a new routine. MAD also performed some carols and were selling tickets for the pantomime. Many thanks to all who came out to start off their Christmas week in community style.

For the second year the Village Hall Committee and Metheringham Playgroup invited the senior citizens to a coffee morning in the Village Hall where the playgroup performed their Nativity play one more time. The refreshments were prepared by the Village Hall Committee.

This year there were three school plays at Metheringham Primary School. The Reception and Key Stage 1 classes performed their Christmas play, Mr Men and Little Miss Christmas to parents on Friday 6th and Monday 9th December while the older children performed two plays this year. For years 3 and 4 it was Stable Manners and for years 5 and 6 it was Angels Up High, with afternoon and evening performances for each. The Friends of Metheringham School and the Swimming Pool Association held a raffle at the performances which was drawn on the last night and raised £144 for each group.
Proceeds from ticket sales from the three school plays paid for Meals on Wheels in the area on Tuesday 17th and Thursday 19th December when representatives from Year 6 joined local WRCVS volunteers to deliver the meals and a copy of the school calendar. The remainder of the money will be donated to the local churches and Metheringham and Dunston LIVES First Responders.

Metheringham Library held their Annual Christmas carol concert at the Library on Thursday 12th December. Children from the Playgroup and Primary school joined representatives from various village organizations and the council for carol singing. The school children also entertained with readings and songs before Father Christmas appeared and rewarded all the good children. The Library staff served mince pies and hot or cold drinks.

Metheringham guides have done it again. Last year Metheringham guides, brownies and rainbows were all in the prizes for the Blake Shield BNA Trust environmental awards. This year Professor David Bellamy, Patron of the Trust presented guides Beccy, Vikki, Samantha and Kirrin with the Senior Award for the Blake Shield at the Trust’s 16th annual environmental competition presentation at Imperial College , London on December 7th. The address was given by Roger Tabor, Chairman of the BNA Trust and all the girls received books and T-shirts. Guide Leader Brenda Mighell escorted the Girl Guides to London for the presentation of the awards not knowing where they were in the top three for their age group only to find they had won a special first prize. The girls did a project over the summer surveying the wildflowers in St Wilfrid’s Churchyard. Because of the timing of the ceremony the group were also able to visit the Natural History Museum and to see Oxford Street with its’ Christmas decorations before catching the train home.

Metheringham Scout Group operated their Christmas Postal Service again this year. They delivered cards to Metheringham, Scopwick and Dunston villages only for a 10p stamp. Stamps and the special post boxes were available thanks to C & P news and Metheringham DIY in Metheringham and Bracks Garage in Scopwick.

Rev David Payne and Mrs Payne were presented with the banner designed by Laura Jones, aged 9, at the church hall on Friday 13th December. Laura was also present to see the finished work and to thank the small band of ladies led by Jean Simpson and Shirley Maddison who had transferred her striking and colourful design from an A4 page to the finished 7 foot banner. On Sunday morning the banner was officially blessed and unveiled at St Wilfrid’s church and now hangs at the east end of the North Aisle above the side altar of the church as a constant reminder of the 400th anniversary of the rededication in 1602 of St Wilfrid’s after the Great Fire of Metheringham in 1599.

BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Bus visited Metheringham on Friday 20th December 2002 in the yard of the Star and Garter. The bus is equipped with several computers and the staff on board can advise and help with almost any queries about computer and internet use, can demonstrate digital technology show you how to send e-mails and have a training advisor with them for any training and careers queries. Presenter Dylan Roys interviewed the management of Eros Laboratories; Joanna Payne about the Another Chance shop; Janet Hewitt about how she got the blood doning service to come to Metheringham; Stephen Wildgoose from the Swimming Pool Association; and Heather Routledge about the history of the settlement and also got caught up in the post ladies’ Christmas dinner.

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Branston Eagles

This is the name of the RSPB Wildlife Explorers (the junior section of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), that are based in Branston with members from Branston and the surrounding villages.
Meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month at 6.30pm to 8.00pm in the Youth Wing of Branston Community College, Station Road, Branston, during the winter months. During the summer, meetings are held at various nature reserves or at the "Jungle" in Branston. At present we are looking forward to our evening meetings now it is getting lighter.
The group also joins in at other times with national surveys, or go on special outings with neighbouring groups.
The January meeting was held at the Youth wing where the subject was "Pets." Pets of all descriptions were discussed but the highlight of the evening was the pair of Zebra finches and guinea pigs brought by one of the members. These we discussed fully and by the end of the evening everybody knew something about Zebra finches and guinea pigs.
The future programme was also discussed at the meeting, this giving the members a chance to say what they would like at their future meetings.
On the 25/l/03 the group participated in the R.S.P.B. Big Garden Bird Watch at a garden in Heighington. This is an annual national survey. Birds seen are noted down and the highest number of each kind seen at any one time are recorded over the space of an hour. This over the years gives an accurate picture of the ups and downs of bird populations, and also shows clearly how important garden feeding stations are.
Many of you will have seen the article in the Lincolnshire Echo about this survey and how our group were helping. They were also kind enough to publish two photographs of our group on separate nights.
If you would like to find out more about our group please call the leader John Welsh on 01522 525477.

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Metheringham Football Club

In place of the usual account of the Club’s progress in various competitions, space is given in this issue of the Newsletter to relate the story of Dayne Grove, who is a member of the Metheringham Under 14’s squad.

In early February Dayne fell ill with a seemingly simple stomach bug that failed to get better and subsequently proved to be Gastro enteritis. He was referred to Lincoln County Hospital by his G. P. who was concerned that Dayne was becoming de-hydrated. There, signs of heart failure were discovered and Dayne was immediately transferred to the cardiac unit at Glenfield General Hospital in Leicester.
He was quickly diagnosed as being in need of a heart transplant and his life expectancy in days was put in single figures without it. Dayne had at this time grasped the fact that his chances were very slim and set about ringing his friends on the evening of the sixth of February basically to say goodbye while he still could. A phone call my family and I will remember for the rest of our lives I'm sure.
Around lunchtime the following day Dayne was airlifted by RAF Sea King helicopter to the Freeman Hospital Newcastle Upon Tyne, which is a specialist transplant unit. There they stabilised his condition and began the search for a donor heart. During the 2-day wait for a suitable heart to become available his condition took a dramatic turn for the worse and his heart stopped for several minutes. He was successfully resuscitated and placed on life support.
A donor heart was found late on Sunday the 9th of Feb and the transplant procedure began in the early hours of Monday.
Happily things are looking much brighter now and all being well Dayne should be out of isolation around the 26th Feb (article written 22 Feb –Ed) and able to receive visitors. He is obviously feeling better as he has started chatting up the nurses and sending out for pizzas at all hours. He still has a long way to go but the future is now looking much better and I know that his parents are feeling more optimistic now after what must have been the hardest couple of weeks of their lives
I am sure you would all like to join me in sending Dayne your best wishes and good luck. He is a very brave young man who I feel privileged to know.
Item kindly submitted by Robert Halls, Dunston (Metheringham U12’s Manager)

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LIBRARY NEWS

I know it’s a bit belated but, on behalf of the staff of Metheringham Library, may I wish you all a Happy and prosperous New Year! We hope that 2003 will be a fantastic year for you and that you all manage to keep those New Year Resolution you so recklessly made on 31 December!!
Christmas Seems a long time ago now but we had a busy time of it in the Library. Mr Lowery kindly bought some of the children from the School to entertain us with songs and readings. Several children from Playschool also came and sang us some of the songs they had learnt for their Nativity Play. We all joined in with some community singing and worked up an appetite for our coffee and mince pies at the end of the session. Highlight of the day was when we were introducing Santa (who was hiding in the toilet!) to the children – Sue was trying to build up the atmosphere ready for the “grand entrance” and told the children we had a “very special visitor coming to see them” and “could the children guess who it was?” One little voice piped up “Yes, it’s Reverend Payne!” We think it made his day!!
We also held a special Christmas Storytime for our yonnger members. We sang Christmas songs, read Christmas stories, coloured Christmas pictures and ate mince pies and Christmas cookies! Hopefully they went off feeling very festive! Our storytimes are held on the first and third Friday of each month, from 2.15 to 2.45 and are aimed at pre-school children. They are free and we always welcome new people, whatever their age.
This latest in our highly successful CLAIT courses is drawing to a close now and we are taking names of anyone interested in the next one. These are held in the Library on a Thursday morning and run in conjunction with Lincoln College. The course is a basic appreciation of computer skills for the beginner and covers Word Processing, Spreadsheets and Databases. The tutor brings laptop machines for you to work on and it is run at your own pace, with an assessment at the end of each module, culminating in a qualification at the end of the course. For further information or to reserve a place, call in at the Library.
Think that’s it for now! If you haven’t yet found us, call in and see for yourself – Libraries AREN’T just books!!

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Metheringham Amateur Dramatics

It was hard work and we thought that we'd never get there but we did in the end and it was wonderful. The villagers of Metherocco are alive and well, safe from Ivana and celebrating with all that'Gold'.
Well done to our new principal boy and girl and the camel (it was very warm in there) The chorus were the best ever, they laughed and cried and screamed in all the right places.
It gave us great pleasure to present a lifetime award to the star of all our pantomimes and some of the plays and revues. Mr Graeme Pembery has that special something to turn the ordinary into a star performance. Never lost for a word he often puts them into the script. Backstage crew can often be heard saying "Where are we?" and realising that only half a page of script has passed. But there he is again, back on cue' and giving the feed line to the other performers. It is a new performance every night and we never know what he is going to do next, but whatever it is, he throws himself into it, a la Rhum Baba, and never tries to outshine other members of the cast.
Thank you Graeme.
We are very proud of all the team, for without any one of them we could not put on any of our productions. Thank you all.
Please join us again on 9,10,16 or 17th May for two one-act plays, both comic dramas, and in July for our second Summer Review and Bar-b-cue. Tickets will again be available from Metheringham Hair Studio on Caroline Road or by phone on 01526 321909.

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Metheringham Senior Citizens’ Welfare Committee

On December 19th a large group of Senior Citizens were delighted to attend a Coffee morning at the Village Hall, organised by the Village Hall Management Committee and Playgroup Leaders. Everyone enjoyed the Nativity Play, which set the scene for Christmas.
Dr. B.E.M. Wright, Chairman of Senior Citizens, presented a small cheque to the Playgroup, and thanked all concerned.
On February 4th, the Senior Citizens “Singles Party” was held in the Chapel schoolroom. Numbers were slightly down due to illness and the cold weather. A lovely tea, prepared by the Committee, was served and this was followed by a short entertainment and raffle.
On April 12th we shall be holding our Annual parish Party in the Village Hall. Senior Citizens who are new to the village would be welcome to attend.
Coffee mornings are held every Thursday in the Methodist Chapel schoolroom, 9.30 to 11.15 am.
For any information, contact BG Wilson, Honorary Secretary, on (01526) 320975.

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Metheringham Over 60’s

After a very successful winter programme of entertainment and outings this is what we will be doing over the next few months.
15th March 2003, Coffee Morning in the Village Hall at 10-00am
2nd April, Shaun Sweeney / Vocalist
7th May, Judy Theobald
14th May, Outing to Louth
4 th June, Outing to Bury St Edmunds
14th June, Coffee Morning in the Village Hall at 10-00am
2nd July, Outing to Sheringham
6th August, Outing to York
Rita Bell, Secretary (For Over 60’s contact details, see back cover –Ed)

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Review of the MAD 2003 pantomime –
 
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves belied the seasonal weather conditions by transforming panto goers to a land of eastern promise and bad jokes. Pantomime crowds were very encouraging for the first weekend with the audiences appreciating all the local jokes ( MACLA got a mention) and the excellent costumes and choreography in particular. Graeme Pembery has starred in the pantomimes for the last ten years and this year he was the dame, Rhum Baba, and once again adlibbed, controlled the audience, sang, danced and didn’t lose the plot. He gave a wonderful rendition, though slightly brutal, of Shirley Bassey’s “ I love you” to Stephen Wildgoose and the dance of the seven veils was spectacular !. Graeme was presented with a gift after the final performance in recognition of his long service to panto land.
This was not a one man band as all the cast did their bit with several new faces on stage, notably Alice McFarlane as Robin Hood and several former chorus members now taking parts. The evil duo of Ivana bin Laden Trump and Tariq, Demon of the Desert played by Rhea Robinson and Steve Watters just had to be booed and hissed and there was an air of eastern promise to Cous Cous the Fairy of Goodness ( Suzanne Tatton) –all three had excellent costumes made once again by Dian Robinson as did all the cast and chorus. Ali Baba’s younger brother, Kassim, was an exceptionally lively performance by Roz Treadwell, a former principal boy and goose. No pantomime is complete without an animal and Camille the camel was there to be stroked and help with the plot. Inside Katie Tatton and Leanne Riddell also managed to perform some good dance routines. I could go on to mention the excellent scenery , the seamless scene changes, spot on lighting, timely sound effects, spicy sounds from the saxophone and Sue Kelly’s marvellous musical accompaniment, but I’d be sure to miss out someone vital, the front of house and programme compiler, for example. I must not forget , though, to mention Sally Wilson who wrote and directed the pantomime but also managed to star in the November production of the Farnsdale Christmas Carol before really getting this show to such a level of polish and professionalism. I do hope I can join in again next year !

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Poetry Corner

Jill Spooner, our most frequent contributor, has kindly submitted the poem for this issue of the Newsletter.

Thoughts on “Time”

Seconds, minutes, hours, days,
Time ticks our lives away.
Newborn babe, toddler, child,
Then- adolescent – wild?
Adult – husband, wife.
Old age, death. That’s life.

Monday morning
Another working week dawning.
Weekends bring relief.
Relax, catch up, sleep.

Then the years have passed us by.
Work is only one part of life.
So much to do, so little time.
A lot to see before decline.

Take time to “stand and stare”,
Before it’s too late to share –
Happiness in many things,
That only “taking time” can bring.

P.S.
These thoughts may sound morbid –
A leisure Centre could stop us from becoming torpid?

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READERS’ GROUP REVIEWS

We have read several books since our last article appeared in MACLA. Here are our reviews on two of them:

SHIPPING NEWS – E.Annie Proulx
Although this was a Pulitzer Prize winning book, the consensus of our group was that you either loved it or hated it! Unfortunately, the majority of us fell into the latter group!
Basically, the novel is about Dan Quoyle, a third-rate newspaperman who moves away to start a new life in Newfoundland. It is his life story, the way he grows and develops as a person and his desperate attempts not to fail his children or himself.
The comments made by our Group were that it was a “non event” and “not an easy book to read”. Nobody understood the significance of the knots at the beginning of each chapter (although I have since read that they are supposed to be humorous – that point escaped me!) and that “the toilet blowing away was the most exciting thing that happened in the whole book!” No-one warmed to the characters or even cared what happened to them – not a good sign! One of our readers said that she “suffered and plodded through it because she belonged to the reading group but that she kept waiting for something to happen – it never did!”
STAR RATING – 2/10

NORTHERN LIGHTS – Philip Pullman
This is the latest book which we have just finished and caused a lot of discussion and varying opinions. Some readers didn’t like it as it is a fantasy book and they didn’t particularly like reading that genre of book although they were in the minority as most of us enjoyed it. Everyone commented how they couldn’t picture the setting or decide which era it was supposed to be in. It left you with a lot of questions so you felt you needed to read the other two books in the trilogy. It was a “fascinating and compelling book” and many of us “couldn’t put it down” Several of the group want to carry on and read the sequels.
Quote of the night was from one of the ladies who DIDN’T like it who said that there must be “Something weird about a man who can go into a shed, accompanied by a 6 foot long stuffed rat and write a book like this”!!
STAR RATING – 6/10

QUOTE OF THE MONTH – “Never get a book by an author whose name begins with a Z”!!? (This was said by a Librarian – I’m not allowed to say who!!)

Anyone wishing to join our gang of loonies – sorry, Readers Group (!) should come along to the Library on the first Wednesday of each month at 7.30. New members always welcome!

Sue Miller
Customer Liason Officer

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Nostalgic Recipe

The following recipe for “Paradise Pudding” has been reproduced with the kind permission of the “Friends of Metheringham Airfield”. It appears in the March issue of their Newsletter.
The recipe was one of many produced by the Ministry of Food during World War II to promote the use of dried eggs.

Ingredients:-
3 level tablespoons of dried eggs
6 ozs flour
5 level teaspoons baking powder
2 ozs fat
2 ozs sugar
a little milk
6 tablespoons water
vanilla essence

Mix eggs dry with flour, salt and baking powder and add to creamed fat and sugar, alternately with milk and water to make soft consistency. Stir in vanilla. Pour into a greased basin, cover and steam for 1 hour. Serve with jam or chocolate sauce.
According to the “Friends of Metheringham Airfield” Newsletter, this is one of the better recipes for using dried eggs.
Sounds great!

Do you have a favourite old recipe that you are prepared to share with our readers? If so, why not send a copy to the Editor?

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Metheringham Swimming Pool
Metheringham Swimming Pool Association held their Annual General Meeting in the Star and Garter on Tuesday 11th February.
In his report Chairman Stephen Wildgoose outlined the challenging year that 2002 had been with the change of officers, new faces on the committee and various practical and financial problems to be overcome. The main challenge for 2003 is to raise the £15000 needed to re-line the pool and secure its’ long term future. Mr Wildgoose said what fun some of the events at the pool had been, in particular the It’s a Knockout competition. He thanked everyone who had supported the pool in 2002 particularly the caretaker, committee, lifeguards and Parish Council without whom the pool would not stay open and also those who had donated money or granted funding, raising that bit more at each event in 2003 would be one way towards the next target..
The financial report showed that the monies raised from fundraising and donations were at much higher levels than previous years and this enabled the pool to replace various bits of worn out equipment and to start saving towards the re-lining of the pool. The open season of the pool had gone well but attendance and hirings etc could all be improved. The balance for opening the 2003 season is quite healthy. Thanks in particular go to Awards for All for a grant of £3350 which will be used to install a new ramped access and manual hoist before the new season opens. The Lincolnshire Police Authority provided a grant of £750 towards new winter covers after the old ones failed in October. Some fundraising events had been hard work for a limited return while others like the sponsored swim had gone really well and could still be improved for next year with more public support.
Reports were also given by Carol Dean about the lifeguards and anyone wanting to lifeguard at any time during the 2003 season should contact Carol as soon as possible. You must be 16 and have at least the Bronze medallion lifesaving certificate. Many of the lifeguards move on to university or are only available during holidays and for a few weeks so even a few weeks availability would help Carol with the rota.
Dian Robinson reported on the pool lessons which saw 129 children take up a place on the programme from many local villages and as far as Rowston and Coningsby. 1047 lessons were held, averaging 87 a week. Parents should be aware that lessons continue through the summer holidays. The pool has an excellent teaching regime with Dave and Sandy Williams. The pool also runs Rookie Lifeguard training for children who have gained their Bronze or Silver challenge awards and want to continue towards a lifesaving qualification but are too young. They are our future lifeguards.
Neil and Lisa Richardson reported that the maintenance rota which was a new initiative for 2002 had been only part successful – the part where people came when they had agreed to and did the work they had agreed to. Alterations will be made for 2003 but anyone wanting to help look after the pool surrounds, cut the grass etc for a week should contact the Richardsons. Hire of the pool had been well down on last year in the number of hirings but thanks to an increase in charge the income was similar. Book your party venue today for that celebration with a difference. The hiring covers use of the pool, the lifeguard and the barbecue and Jim Cogan is the man to contact.
The chairman, Stephen Wildgoose, treasurer Dot Howes and secretary Linda Sisley were all re-elected for 2003 and all those present agreed to continue on the committee along with those who sent apologies.
The pool costs around £7000 to keep open for the season and more than half of this comes from gate income the rest is down to fundraising and donations. Anyone wanting to help with a fundraising event or who is running a race or something similar, like shaving their beard, and looking for someone to raise money for at the same time, should contact the pool committee. The pool plans to open in 2003 on May 24th in time for the Spring Bank Holiday. The leaflet of opening times and events planned will be available in plenty of time and if you need any more for spreading the word to Metheringham and the villages about this fantastic local amenity please contact the pool committee. I still maintain there is no better way to start the weekend than the early bird swim on a Saturday morning.

Post script : The MSPA would like to thank Neil Kendall for preparing and marking the water quiz.
The treasurer would like to apologise for not selling more copies of the quiz, they were available at the Christmas market and over Christmas but she forgot to publicise the fact and no-one asked. Lessons were learnt. Anyone wanting to volunteer as a fund raising co-ordinator would be welcomed with open arms.

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Metheringham Village Hall

Both of the kitchens in the Village Hall have now been refurbished and we have held a coffee morning to show them off to the people of Metheringham. The refurbishment of the kitchens was made possible by an "Awards for All" grant, this is part of National Lottery funding so please remember when you are buying your lottery tickets some of the money is coming back to Metheringham. Other organisations in the village that have benefited recently from "Awards for All" funding are the Starlite Twirlers, Metheringham Swimming Pool and Metheringham Youth Club.

Our next fundraising event is The Metheringham Spring Fayre which is open to any village organisation to participate in and raise funds for their own group. The cost of hiring a table is just £5. For more information about the event, or to book a table, please telephone Jan Munday on 01526 323180. The event was very successful last year and we hope it will be even better this year.
The Metheringham Spring Fayre
on
Saturday 26th April 2003
from
9am to 12noon
Admission Free

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Metheringham Women’s Institute

Metheringham W.I. offers a warm welcome to any lady from Metheringham and surrounding villages. We meet in the Chapel Schoolroom on the third Wednesday in the month at 7.15pm. Come and visit first, we'd love to see you.
On Wed. 16th. April, Freda Howe is demonstrating parchment craft. This is a hands on evening, so ring and tell us that you are coming. The competition is for Illuminated Initials (yours).
In May, the 21st., we have our Resolution Meeting, when we decide the most urgent causes to take to Her Majesty's Government. The W.I. has a powerful voice and is represented at all levels of government fact-finding missions and advisory panels. A light, healthy supper will be served.
Also in May, members, family and friends will hold a sponsored walk for Macmillan Nurses attached to the County Hospital in Lincoln. We will meet at the Chapel at 6pm. and, maybe, stop off at the Red Lion on the way home.
On Wed. 18th. June, Cliff Hopkins will talk about Inns, their signs and stories. The competition is for home-made 'tipple'. It sounds like a bubbly evening.
In June, the Lincolnshire Show will keep members busy, either entering the competitions in the W.I. marquee or acting as stewards. It is four years since we last had the chance to show the skills of Lincolnshire South, because of the Foot and Mouth outbreak canceling the show. Do visit us, for the best breakfast bacon butties or the most delicious afternoon teas, as well as the displays of members’ skills. Many of the Metheringham ladies enter. Look out for our co-operative entry.
The W.I. supports MACLA in their quest to raise funding for the proposed leisure complex. We have registered this as our Community Challenge with National W.I. Headquarters in London and will hold fundraising events over the next few years within our own Organisation, as well as supporting events arranged by MACLA. Our first event will be an 'Open Gardens' in the summer for members and invited guests.
For more information, or a personal companion at a meeting, ring Emily on 01526 320442 or Dian on 07932 520362.

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Metheringham Youth Club

Please support your Local Youth Club! We desperately need Volunteers and Fundraisers!
Metheringham Youth Club provides a fun, safe environment for kids, ages 11-17.
We already have a great, friendly group, where the kids can enjoy the use of table tennis, pool, Playstation, Mega Drive, for only 50p a night, every Monday night 19.30 to 21.00, in Metheringham Church Hall.
We really need your support, and anything you feel you can offer….be it a small piece of your time to a fund-raising idea, we would love to hear from you!
Your Youth Club Needs You!
Phone Angela on 07903 467061, or Lesley on (01526) 323414.

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Newsletter Issue 11, Summer 2003

The next Issue of the Newsletter is currently scheduled for distribution around the middle of June.
In order to meet our preparation and printing deadlines, please submit written items for consideration by 25th May.
If you have not previously submitted an item, please be reassured that it is very easy. You can send it in handwritten or typed form to the editor at his home address. Or you can e-mail, when a “Word” attachment would be appreciated in order to minimise preparation time.
Editor’s contact details are on the back cover (at the bottom of the page)
Let the Newsletter work for YOU.

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