Metheringham News - 29th April 2010

From Dot Howes

Metheringham's Annual Parish Meeting on Tuesday concluded with a colourful and informative talk and presentation by Vivienne Chambers, a Volunteer with Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance. The talk ended with fundraising examples and ideas to stir the audience to help raise the £1.5million needed each year to keep the helicopter flying.

Proceeds from the raffle during the evening were donated to the Ambulance.
Earlier in the evening Chairman of Metheringham Parish Council, Dr Mike Allen welcomed everyone and gave a report on the work of the Parish Coucnil for the past year. He highlighted the achievement of Quality Council Staus for which he thanked parish clerk Sharon Wetherall for all her hard work. The other big achievement was the New Village Cross unveiled at the Fayre and Feast. The optimism of last year's meeting when it looked as if the plans for a safe and secure playing field for Metheringham might at last be coming to fruition was premature and the County Council are still holding up plans. Sadly this has also impacted on the long term plans for improvements to changing room and toilet facilities for the playing fields and swimming pool.

Work has though been undertaken to tidy up the Spring Garden on Drury Street and the WI gate is open again. It was requested that a sign should indicate where it is.
Outdoor exercise equipment has now been installed alongside the car park at the Prince's Street Play Area. There is also some new children's equipment.

The accounts and budget for the council show a projected reduction in income for the coming year. It is hoped there will be a reduction in spending on street lighting although increases in play area and administration costs were expected to be higher.

The 2010 Fayre and Feast will be on 23rd October and once again there was a request for more stewards and also teams to help with setting up and dismantling stalls at either end of the event. The parish council thanked the management committees of the Bowls Club, the Village Hall and the Swimming Pool for keeping these amenities up and running on their behalf with the constant struggle for volunteers and to keep within changing legislation.

The Silver Sounds brass band entertained the audience with a short selection of tunes and began the reports from village organisations.

Other organisations speaking were Metheringham Fire and Rescue, the Methodist Church, Metheringham and District Swimming Pool Association, Mission X children's and youth clubs, Metheringham Amateur Drama, The army Cadet Force and Metheringham and Dunston LIVES. During the sumptuous and very elegant buffet the public were able to look at displays from the Police, the Community led Plan, the Methodist Church, Metheringham Animal welfare supporters group ( MAWS), Countryside NK, MAD and the Air Ambulance. District Councillor Bill Chambers gave a vote of thanks to the parish council for arranging the evening and to all involved in all the groups that keep the community alive.

Metheringham Parish Council made a presentation to Butch and Maggie, (Graham Bromfield and Maggie Kirsten) formerly proprietors of the Star and Garter, at the Annual Village meeting on Tuesday 27th April. Dr Mike Allen, Chairman of the council said that the Star and Garter under their management had always been happy to provide a venue for meetings and they had been a tremendous asset to the community through their help and involvement in village activities. He did not expect things to be quite the same again. While receiving a framed dedication with a photograph of the new cross outside the Star and Garter Butch assured the community that he and Maggie will still be resident in the village and will still want to help village groups where they can.

St Wilfrid's Church will be the venue for a night of Songs from The Shows performed by the Hi-Notes on Friday 14th May 2010 at 7.30p.m.
Tickets are £5.00 and there will be nibbles.