Recently in Activity Category

On behalf of the trustees and management committee may I take this opportunity to thank everyone for their strong support over the past year and wish you all a belated Happy and Prosperous 2010.

At the close of 2009 we were entertained by "The Lincolnshire Show Band" (ex Fire and Rescue) and what a treat we had, with music for all tastes. This was followed by the Christmas Party which is always a very popular event and we would like to say a big Thank You to The Starlight Twirlers / Silver Sounds Band / Dean with the Karate Display
and all the hard work given by the organisers, not forgetting Fiona for her willingness to help where needed.

The New Year programme is in the process of being put together but we already have three dates for your diary:-
On Friday 12 February - New Age Kurling started its 2nd 10week session, beginning with the first evening FREE of charge. (Please contact Gwyneth on 01526322633 for more details). Come along and give it a try, IT'S FUN, IT'S FRIENDLY, IT'S FRIDAYS.

Saturday 27 March - The Spring 50/50 Auction will take place.
Friday 26 March (between 5-7pm) is drop-off time at the hall.
Viewing is then from 8am on the day and the Sale starts at 10am.
Unfortunately we CANNOT offer a collection/delivery service. Nor can we accept television sets due to the problems caused with safe disposal of items not sold and reclaimed by the owners. (Contact J. Duggins 01526320715)

Saturday 8 May 9am Spring Fayre. For details and table space please contact (Gwyneth Holland 01526322633).

The Celebration of Local Arts, Crafts and Hobbies is now in the planning stage for later in the year. Interested parties please contact (Cliff 01526320183)

Now to a point of Health and Safety ruling.

Any hirers of the hall must be able to provide the appropriate number of stewards to comply with health, safety and fire regulations, people who have been made aware of emergency exit procedures and the positions of fire extinguishers, etc. These persons must be highlighted by a badge or armband provided by the hirer. These stewards cannot be persons involved in any other activity during the event (ie bar, kitchen workers or paying guests).

Unfortunately the above could not be upheld for the recent MADSPA New Year Party request and the executive committee had no option on this occasion but to cancel the booking....The safety of all is our main concern, which ultimately allows all hirers and guests peace of mind to enjoy the event.

Thank you for all your help with funding by giving such generous support to your village hall. These monies are much needed for upkeep, improvements and general running costs and we are just keeping our head above water

Cliff Tompkins (Secretary)

It seems a long "cold" time since my last report, but in a few weeks hopefully it will be fine and sunny, ready for the opening of a new bowling season.

Please note the start times for games
28 April Cliff League 6.30 away
29 April Afternoon League - 2.00 Home
30 April CEBA Fours League - 6.30 Home

So, weather permitting the Green will be open for Roll-ups on Thursday 22 April, with the official Opening Day on Sunday 25 April at 2.00 pm.

If you would like to try your hand at the game of Bowls, you will all be welcome on that day.

We will be holding a Coffee Morning on 24 April at the Clubhouse at 10.00 am - Raffle prizes and a few cakes would be much appreciated.

If you have a day or two to spare before the Coffee morning to help with a spot of Spring cleaning in the Clubhouse and the surrounding area please give me a call on 321967.

Please read the Notice Board for Club Competitions and any other information.

Wishing you all a successful Bowling season but most of all enjoy the game.

John Browett - Club Sec

Are you aware that there is a diary in the library foyer where you can publicize village events? It does help, particularly with fund-raising groups who can then plan ahead and so not clash with other organizations with similar plans. You are welcome to enter the details in the diary yourself.

Again I'd like to make a plea for more pre-school children to come to story time. I know that the one little girl who does come regularly, likes to have Jacki as her personal story teller but it would be good to see a few more children. The regular story sessions are every Friday 2.15 to 2.45 but we also plan to have more themed events.

A new computer course covering Presentations and Microsoft Publisher started in January but we do have an ongoing waiting list for the Lincoln College IT courses and are willing to take names to pass on to the College staff. The courses available at the library are: Internet and Email & Word Processing. Presentations & Microsoft Publisher. Spreadsheets & Databases. Introduction to Digital Photography & Digital Photograph Editing.

So if you have some idea of which course interests you, we can pass on your details to the College.

We are hoping to have a big book sale of discarded items in the near future so watch out for the publicity posters.

You may have noticed that the containers at the base of the green trellis in front of the library have now been planted up, so once the growing season starts we may well disappear behind a mass of foliage!

Pauline Ventress

On Wednesday 21 July we are to be entertained by a Ukrainian duo who will be on a short tour of England. The money that they raise from their tour goes to a charity that is associated with the Children of Chernobyl.

Both of the guys are in their twenties, and their 2009 tour was extremely well received. We are lucky to be getting them at our Club.

We meet in Wragby Town Hall, and there will be more details in the next MACLA Magazine.
Just make a note in your diary now, to avoid disappointment.

Geoff Brown

A Metheringham Group Book Review

My type of book, a medieval murder mystery set towards the end of Henry VIII's reign when England was in the grip of religious turmoil. The old religion is reasserting itself, with Bishop Bonner purging the Protestants. Henry is drawn to the old religion and even the Archbishop of Canterbury is not spared investigation.

Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer, is asked by the Court of Requests to defend a young man who had been put in Bedlam by the Privy Council "for blaspheming true religion in his madcap frenzy". He feared the man could be burned as a heretic.

When an old friend is horrifically murdered he promises his widow that he will bring the killer to justice though powerful people at Court want the murder suppressed. There follows a series of horrific murders, which soon bring talk of witchcraft, demonic possession and the dark prophecies of the Book of Revelation.

Shardlake, with his assistant Barak and physician friend Guy Malton investigate, the murders for Archbishop Cranmer, who is desperately defending Protestantism and trying to persuade Catherine Parr, a reformist sympathiser, to marry Henry. Shardlake must be careful; he has enemies, his old patron Thomas Cromwell has been executed and if Cranmer is displaced it will mean certain death for Shardlake.

For enjoyment 10/10
For writing 9/10

Jan

This book was our most popular in recent times and scored an average of 8½ for both enjoyment and the quality of the writing. Most people loved it, apart from one in our group who likes neither historical nor crime fiction. We knew she was always going to struggle but she did read it.

FOMS would like to thank all who came along to the Christmas Fayre on 3 December.It was a very good event.

We will be organising an Easter Raffle - which always goes down well with the children! We will have a display in the school entrance with all the Easter Eggs that the parents kindly donate and FOMS then sell raffle tickets - date to be confirmed.

We are also in the early stages of organising another Summer Fayre. Fingers crossed the weather will be good to us again. Watch this space for more details nearer the time.

FOMS always welcome new members. Look out for reminders in your children's book bags of when and where the meetings are, or ask a Committee member for details.

List of members can be found in the school entrance.

Nikki Edwards - FOMS Secretary

It has been very difficult to imagine playing cricket during the period of very cold weather that we have experienced over the last two months. However, the officers of the club have been busy during this period, ensuring that the club is ready for the forthcoming season. AGMs have been attended and fixtures prepared. The club will again have three teams for the 2010 season.

The Saturday team will continue to compete in the South Lincs & Border League. There are two new teams in the division in which we play, namely North Luffenham and Burgh le Marsh, so we will continue to play on some very nice grounds in this league.
The Sunday team were thankfully relegated from the Premier Division of the McKinnells League at the end of last season and will now play in Division One. We should now be playing against teams of a standard more similar to ours and hopefully this will give us a chance to compete at a level more similar to our own.

The Blankney Estates team will again play in Division One of the Lincoln Midweek League, giving those that wish to play an opportunity to play midweek cricket.
The club will also be entering three cup competitions namely the Smiler Parker Village Trophy, the Pattinson Cup (all games are played at Sleaford Cricket Club) and the Midweek Senior Cup.

There will also be the odd friendly where they can be fitted in.

The club is always looking for new members who are always made welcome and, as can be seen, there is plenty of cricket to be played for everyone. If anyone would like play again after being out of the game for a while or youngsters who are struggling to get a game elsewhere, then please contact the club secretary Ian Holvey on 01522 794408 or email him at blaunkenayborder@aol.com.

The club will shortly be commencing nets ready for the forthcoming season and players of all standards are welcome to come along and meet us.

Ian Holvey (Sec) 07897907141

Looking forward to Spring and all the promise of new life - lambs in the fields and leaves on the trees!

Life at Dunston Chapel continues much as always - the lunch club meets monthly - dates shown below. Do come and join us if you are free, love home-cooked food and good company. Thursday Club children and village families enjoyed a Christingle service led by John Corrie in January. The light from the candles, on the faces of the children, was a joy to behold - as was the eating of the sweets and raisins !!

We continue to appreciate the ministry of John and Martin and the local preachers, leading our worship and helping our growth. Our fellowship meeting on Thursdays is considering the cross during a Lent course.

Two dates for your diaries - we would love to see you

Pudding Party Saturday 24 April 1-3 pm Tickets £2.50
available from Beth 321919
Lots of yummy and interesting desserts to try. Get your ticket now !!

Strawberry tea Saturday 3 July 2.30 - 4.30 - just come along and enjoy the taste of summer

Lunch club dates:
We start at 12 pm and the cost is £3.00 for 2 courses plus tea / coffee

• Fri 19 March


• Fri 21 May


• Fri 18 June


• Fri 16 Jully


• Fri 17 September


• Fri 15 October


• Fri 19 November

Beth McLuckie

We have been really pleased to welcome another responder to our group recently. David lives in Scopwick, but will be responding to emergency calls throughout our area of Dunston, Metheringham, Blankney and Scopwick. We are always looking for new volunteers, especially responders who may be available during the day time. Almost all of our current responders work full time so the day shifts are traditionally the most difficult to cover. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you would like to help in any way. We are slowly building a team of fundraisers to support the first responders, so there really is a job for everyone!

As I write, the first responders are about to undertake their annual re-qualification session. All responders complete an initial 3 day training course, which is backed up with a monthly training session held in the chapel hall at Dunston. Once a year they are all tested by a LIVES representative from headquaters to ensure that everyone is up to the appropriate standard. It is a rigorous process, designed to guarantee the best pre hospital emergency care possible.

I conclude by thanking you all for your continued support, particularly financial. We really couldn't do it without you.

Jenny Hutchinson
321627

2009 concluded, firstly with a visit to Chatsworth House in November to experience their World of Christmas. Sadly the adventure playground was out of bounds but some of us did brave the Coal Hole! (an underground passage). Then the Christmas Social in December, where there was much eating - every member brought "a plate". Also games, a quiz and Santa's Sack.

2010 was heralded in by another eating session. The annual dinner at Martin Moor Golf Club saw our hosts provide an excellent meal.

To counteract the winter feasting, activities have been planned to keep us fit, both physically and mentally. Two darts teams, a table tennis team and three quiz teams have been entered into the WI Leagues. Also entries into the Golf Days and outings to the Lincoln Ten-Pin Bowling Centre.

The trips to the Kinema in the Wood are always popular, also to the Theatre Royal in Lincoln.

Future Meetings
17 Feb - Life of Auctioneers and Cricketers - Talk by Alan Porter
17 Mar - AGM plus a Bag Beetle Drive.
21 Apr - Health Care talk by Sean Barkes.
19 May - Resolution plus a talk by Stage Coach - the Bus Company - not the Theatre Company.

W.I. Events

(a) The Annual Federation Meeting in Spalding to hear Pippa Greenwood of Gardener's Question Time fame.
(b) The Phoenix Group Meeting (the W.I.'s in this area) to be held this year at Rauceby. Entertainment by Keith Loades of Thursford fame.
We are also planning a visit to Thursford Christmas Spectacular on 25 Nov.
(c) The Summer outing to Holkham Hall in Norfolk on 15 July,

Membership continues to increase - 47 altogether - but there is still room for anyone else wishing to join.

Meetings are held every third Wednesday of the month in Metheringham Village Hall.