Activity: March 2009 Archives

At the Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre - in the old gymnasium - on Wednesday 25th March 2009 at 7.30pm. Admission: Members free, Visitors £4.00 including tea/coffee and biscuits.

Enquiries to: Friends of Metheringham Airfield, Westmoor Farm, Martin Moor, Metheringham, Lincoln LN4 3BQ. Tel: 01526 378270/604

Access and facilities for the Disabled. All proceeds in aid of the Visitor Centre / 106 Sqn Museum.

Here we are already two months into the year and a new cricket season is just two months away. Preparations are already well in hand by Blankney Cricket Club for the forthcoming season.

The Club has just had their AGM and there will be three teams being run this season which include one mid-week side (limited overs games) and sides on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Saturday XI will again ply their trade in the South Lincs and Border League (now for the third season). This has proved a forward step by the club with some excellent grounds to visit. This team finished in a mid table position last season and will be looking to push forward and hopefully finished somewhat higher this season. This season Simon Behan will captain the side.

For the Sunday XI they will again be playing in the Lincoln Premier League for a fourth season with Will Carter continuing to captain this side. They will be hoping for better times this season as they finished below half way in the table last season. The Club will again be involved in local cup competitions including the Sleaford CC organised Pattinson Cup. Last season saw the side go out in the semi-final to a strong Caythorpe side who went on to lift the trophy.

The Mid-week season starts two weeks into May but for the weekend teams their season begins as early as the last weekend in April.

During the season (27th May) the club will again be hosting the Lincolnshire Over 50's side on their ground. These games are always worth watching with two sides of players over 50 still able to compete at the highest level.

The club hopes to hold several functions during the season to which anyone is more than welcome. Any such events will be advertised so come along and enjoy yourselves.

Again it is looking like being a really busy time on the tranquil setting of Blankney Cricket ground and with a licensed bar located in the Club House an enjoyable, relaxing time.
Finally and most importantly the club is always looking for new players. One has to believe that in a local community of the size of our neighbouring village Metheringham (where there is no cricket club) there has to be people of all ages who want to play cricket so if you fancy a game please contact Ian Holvey on 01522 794408
or 07958187922

Branston University of Third Age (U3A)

2008 has been another successful year for us with membership figures now around our projected maximum of 150. Prospective new members may have to go onto a waiting list, but, as the numbers are changing all the time, it may not be a very long wait. Several sitting members of the committee,including chairman Peter Foster, are retiring and a new committee will be elected at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting to be held on March 24th.
New interest groups which have been started during the last year include Croquet in the grounds of Branston Hall Hotel (not during the winter months!), German Conversation and Poetry and Prose for Pleasure.

For further details please contact George James, Vice Chairman & Publicity. Tel. 01522 792274.

As this has been our closed season, there is very little to report, but work is progressing on the green, and it looks as though we will have a wonderful playing surface for the forthcoming season. For the 2009 season, Dunston Bowls Club will again be playing from our green, so it looks like being another very busy season.

On Saturday 21 March we will be holding our annual dinner at Martin Moor Golf Club - full tummies do not make for good bowling, so hopefully most of our members will not be playing at Lincoln Indoor Bowls Club the following morning.

On Friday 3 April, the day before the Grand National, we will again be joining forces with the Football Club to stage a Horse Race night, courtesy of Butch at the Star and Garter. Butch always supports local sports clubs, and his help is very much appreciated.
Thank you Butch! If you would like to sponsor a horse it will cost £10, or to sponsor a race it would cost £50 - but hey - you might come out winning lots of money if you have the winning horse, or if you are the winning sponsor of the final race, which is auctioned off!

On Saturday 25 April, we will be holding a Coffee Morning in our Pavilion. There will be a tombola, raffle, and all the usual attractions. And of course Hannah's famous scones will be on offer with the tea or coffee!

We plan to open the Green for the 2009 season on Sunday 26 April. If you have never played bowls before, but think you might like to try it, this is the day to do it. You do not have to commit yourself - just come and have a go! You can meet our members, and see what a friendly bunch we are, and have a go at bowling (shoes and bowls can be provided if you do not have the necessary equipment).

If you are interested in playing bowls, please contact me - Dawn Smith Hon. Sec. Metheringham Bowls Club on 01526 320502 or e-mail me at: dawnsmith@homecall.co.uk

The 2nd Christmas Family Party was a resounding success with the hall being full to capacity throughout the evening. It was great to see everyone joining in the festive spirit.
During the evening there was a short ceremony in which a commemorative plaque was received by Mrs Jenni Honisett, on behalf of the Hall Management Committee for their "21st Century Energy Efficiency Project". The presentation was kindly made by County Councillor Mrs Pat Bradwell, District Councillors Mr John Rose and Mr Bill Chambers on behalf of the Lincolnshire Community Grant Scheme.

We would like to take this opportunity to say Thank you to all those who worked hard to organise and run the event and a BIG thank you to the following organisations: Silver Sound Brass Band, Starlite Twirlers, Line Dancers and the Karate Club who all entertained us with demonstrations of their skills. We were also lucky enough to be paid a visit by Father Christmas, in all making for a most enjoyable evening.

CCTV has now been installed covering all aspects of the hall exterior which we hope will deter future acts of crime / vandalism.

Notice of AGM 2009

The Annual General Meeting of the Village Hall Management Committee will take place in the Village Hall on Tuesday 21 April at 7.30 pm. Any organisations or person wishing to make representation or stand for election, please contact the Secretary, Cliff Tompkins (01526 320183) before 1 April. All existing organisations will receive their proposal forms by that date.

Saturday 21 March at 8.00 pm
We will be holding a "Race Night" at the Londesborough Arms by kind permission of Sharon and Reg. - For more information contact John Harrison - 01526 320644

Saturday 16 May - 9.30 - 1.30
A Spring Fayre will be held in the Village Hall. Any organisations wishing to purchase table space, please contact Ann Harrison on 01526 320644

We are currently trying to put together (date TBA) a display of local craft, hobbies, miniatures and model making etc., so if there is anyone who would like to show their skills and pastimes to encourage others, please contact John Harrison - 01526 320644

News from Metheringham Library

Although things are going well at the library, we would like to see more pre-school children and their parents at our story time every Friday afternoon from 2.15 to 2.45pm. At the moment Jacki is reading stories to two little girls and a baby, but she would be very happy to see more turn up.

Our Christmas coffee afternoon went well, but maybe because it was the last Friday before Christmas and parents were busy, we didn't actually get any children in to listen to stories. Responding to popular demand Jacki then read children's stories to our adult customers as they partook of coffee and mince pies!

If you have an interest in researching family history, why not book a slot on our computers. We have free access to the Ancestry website, so the only cost will be 5p a sheet to print out what information you find.

We also have a fax machine, cost 50p per sheet to UK numbers and a photocopier, cost 5p per A4 sheet.

Our reading group continues at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday of the month in the Star and Garter and we also have computer classes run by Lincoln College on Thursday afternoons.
Just to remind you, our opening hours are
Monday 2pm to 5pm
Wednesday 2pm to 7pm
Friday 10am to 4pm
Saturday 10am to 1pm

Pauline Ventress

As I write heavy snow is forecast. Hopefully as you read it we shall have endured the cold days of winter and be enjoying the longer hours of daylight and the Spring flowers .
Life goes on much as normal here at Dunston - with our Sunday morning worship and other activities. Our Christingle service was a joy - using light sticks in the oranges instead of candles this year and John held all the children's attention with a story about light.

We have finalised our plans for our 150th anniversary and plan an event each month. The January event was a beetle drive in the village hall organised by our friends at St Peters Church Dunston. It was great fun with hot dogs and lots of laughter.

The list of events taking place during the Spring Issue of the Magazine is below and we do hope you will be able to join us on some of these occasions . We will send details of some of the events nearer the time.

Sat 7 Mar Messy Church - What is Church? Chapel 4-6 pm
Sat 28 Mar Yogabugs 2-4 pm Chapel
Sat 4 Apr Coffee morning - Chapel 10-12 pm Knit a blanket

On Friday 7 March 2009 The Women's Day of Prayer Service will be held in Metheringham Methodist Church at 10.30am. This year's service as been based on the services of worship held in Papua, New Guinea. The Women's Day of Prayer Services are different and enjoyable and it is interesting to see how other cultures worship God. Everyone, including men, are welcome.

We are holding a Coffee Morning on Saturday 21 March, 9.30-11.30am in the Chapel Hall. Coffee, Tea and Scones will be served and there will be a cake stall, raffle and nearly new stall. Money raised will go towards a new water boiler for the Methodist Church.

After five and a half years my time with the Angels came to an end on the birth of Jack, who is doing well and keeping me busy.

I would like to thank all those children and parents who supported me over the years and take this opportunity to wish the girls well. I am looking forward to seeing them at some local fetes over the summer.

Cathy Raymond

The unit has grown in recent months and is at full capacity now with a waiting list for new members. Our Guides come from Metheringham and many of the surrounding villages. We meet at Blankney Old School on Tuesday evenings and have a very varied programme of events and activities.

The Centenary of Girlguiding in 2010 is fast approaching and in the run up to this very special event Rainbow, Brownie and Guide units have been challenged to "Change the World". For our part in this the major project running up to Christmas 2008 was an Enterprise Project, where each of the Patrols (groups of up to 6 Guides) developed and ran a fund-raising project to raise funds for a school in Tambana, The Gambia. The projects included card making, cakes and biscuits, bookmarks, a 50/50 bucket, and a sweet tombola. The Guides took their projects to the Metheringham and Nocton Christmas Fayres and overall £177.53 was raised. This money goes towards sponsoring children in the school and helps provide uniform, exercise books, pencils and a daily meal for them.

Guide Leader Linda Carpenter-Coxon went out to the school just before Christmas and thoroughly enjoyed working with the children. We also sang carols at The Cottage, Nocton which was much enjoyed by the Guides and Residents alike, and made decorations for the Christmas Tree in St Peter's Church, Dunston.
This term the Guides are working on their Go-for-its and some of the older members are planning and running activities for their Baden Powell Challenge awards.

Thanks to all the residents of Metheringham for leaving old newspapers out for us to collect on the first Saturday of each month. Monies raised from The Paper Shed is shared between our Rainbow, Brownie and Guide units.

If you would like to become involved with your local unit in any way, please contact Linda on 322410 or Paula on 320645.

After another very successful pantomime this year, we have now performed 17!! MAD is now in full swing for a year of further productions. The first of these will be in April.
The Shakespeare Revue is based upon the works of William Shakespeare, but not as you know it! The revue was first performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the sketches and musical numbers are a light - hearted and amusing slant on his work. A number of the songs are put to very familiar tunes and will appeal to anyone with a sense of fun and a love of musicals, musical hall and of actors being well aware of how ridiculously serious they sometimes look to others. Original work was written by the likes of Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie and Bill Oddie to name but several. Come along and we can guarantee that singing and acting of high quality will be presented to the audience in a way that is guaranteed to make them laugh their socks off!
The dates for the three performances are Thursday 23rd. April, which is William Shakespeare's birthday, Friday 24th, and Saturday 25th. April - Curtain up at 7.30 p.m.
This production will be directed by Sue Kelly (01526 321951)

We have been asked to perform our one - act play The Allotment in the Sleaford Little Theatre's festival on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd May.
This was first performed in Meg village hall some time ago. The same cast and director are hoping to stage another successful run of this powerful play.

Any support to come and watch our company would be very much appreciated.

A further two productions are in the planning process for the rest of the year and any further information for any of these productions or if you wish to join our company please contact Sally Wilson 01526 321289

The club re-opened for 2009 on 7 January when members were put through their paces with a games and quiz afternoon. Then on 21 January we were given advice by Gareth and Carol, the new local Police Community Support Officers on the advantages of using Smart water to mark valuables around the home. They also told members how to prevent "Cold Callers" getting into their home, and listed the most common scams to enter properties.

We meet every fortnight at Heighington Jubilee Hall anyone wanting to join us please contact Betty Knight on 01522 794 121 or Patricia MacPherson on 01522 856 981.

Ruskington Tennis Club has, for the passed couple of years (by kind permission of the RAF) played its games on the courts at RAF Digby. We are a long established but principally a recreational club catering for people of all abilities and ages. (Our current age range is 16 to 70+)

We have use of the courts on a Monday and Wednesday evening from 6.00 pm onwards (from April ). We would welcome any new potential members from the MACLA area.
Interested ?

If so Ring Peter Reeds on 320461

The Visitors Centre will open the 2009 Season on Saturday 28 March
Prior to this the Centre will hold the first Lecture of the Season. This will take place on Wednesday 25 March and the lecturer will be Mike Hodgson speaking about the D-Day Deception.

All lectures are held in the Old Gymnasium, commencing at 7.30 pm (unless otherwise stated). Entry is free to Members but for non-members the fee is now £5.00. This includes tea/coffee and biscuits.

A further lecture takes place on 27 May which will be 617 Dambusters Today by Sqn. Ldr J. Kent RAF

The Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday 1st April in the Old Gymnasium, commencing at 7.30 pm.
The Centre's Open Day will be on Sunday 3 May

Visitors will now see that a large scale model Spitfire now accompanies the Lancaster in the Gymnasium. It is hoped that one day they might have a Hurricane to make up the final member of the Metheringham Memorial Flight!

The Spitfire is a fifth-scale Mark 5 and has been made by long-standing friend and supporter of the Centre, Arthur Houghton. Arthur is well known for his large model building skills and gained his wealth of experience at the AVRO Maintenance Unit at Bracebridge Heath. He knows where every rivet fits, practically, on a Lancaster and the centre is most grateful for his thoughtfulness.

The Annual 1940's Dance will take place on Saturday 6 June in the Old Gymnasium. Once again the Ockbrook Big Band will provide the entertainment with music from the war years.

For any further information please contact Peter Scoley 01526 378604

In January, we held our open morning at the Methodist Church Hall in Metheringham. We were really pleased to see so many people. We gained a new recruit who will start his training soon - a big welcome to Andy and we also enjoyed seeing some of you who have had visits from the First Responders over the years and wanted to come down to say thank you.

Continued thanks to all who support us financially. I know we have said it before, but we really couldn't do it without you. The extra financial support is enabling us to buy some new resources. We are going to buy some equipment for publicity and fundraising events, such as a banner and information stand. More importantly, we are able to train up some of our most experienced Responders to an advanced status. This additional training will enable them to use some drugs. In particular, we can afford for these responders to carry a pain relief gas which will make a big difference to the service they can offer.

We are always happy to welcome new Responders, and are generally short of people who can cover daytime. Most of the First Responders are working people, only able to cover evenings and weekends. Think you can help? Give us a call!

Jenny Hutchinson 01526 321627
Beth Mcluckie 01526 321919

Plans for our trip to Trangé are progressing well. We will travel by train between 16-20 April and look forward once again to a weekend of fun and hospitality with our French friends .

Events planned include a CASINO EVENING in Dunston Village Hall on Saturday 28 February - tickets from Ralph Timms 322515

The DUCK RACE will be held on Saturday 4 July with an American theme. First race 3 pm
A new feature this year will be the decorated duck race. Watch this space for details!!
If you want to know more about twinning contact Beth 321919 or Ralph 322515

FoDS would like, first of all, to thank all of those who have supported our Autumn events. The inaugural Family Games Night held at the Village Hall in November was a great success, with everyone enjoying quizzes, beetle and bingo with helpings of jacket potatoes and fillings. Our sincere thanks go to Russ McLuckie for being our excellent Quiz Master and to Branston Ltd for their generous potatoes donation. It was great to see so many families there and indeed other village residents and we are delighted to have raised over £260 towards the new school library.

The School Christmas Fayre was as chaotic, fun and musical as usual and we took our best ever total of almost £500. Added to the antastic amount raised in the Sponsored Walk, Autumn had been a triumph for the FoDS!

As I write, the February Torchlight Treasure Hunt has been snowed off!! We will most likely be postponing until the far end of the year when it should be dark but NOT snowy! Watch this space.

The new library and music room extension at school is still at the planning stage and so the staff have been starting to spend some of the money raised by the FoDS over the last two years on fiction and non-fiction books which will go into the classrooms until the library is ready. We hope that the children will really notice a difference with lots of lovely new books to inspire and inform them.

The Friends would like to welcome the new children and families to the school and the community and thank everyone, as usual, for their support. We look forward to informing you of our forthcoming events.

Julianne Coggan, Chairman
Tel: 322499

We have made a great start to 2009 with the Tony Graham Duo entertaining us in January. February we had our very good friends Nick and Anita to entertain us with a fabulous evening of music and songs.

The Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Wed 4 March at 7.00pm. It is your club so now is the time to have your say, good or bad. We try to please everyone but this is not always possible with such a large membership.

April is Signing On night for existing members, please come along on the night if you intend to renew your membership as we do have a long waiting list. Members not intending to renew their membership please can you let a committee member know of your intentions.

Subject to available places new members will be notified and enrolled in May.
Trips for 2009 are at present being finalised, more on this at the next meeting. We have a Coffee Morning in the Village Hall on Saturday 7 March at 10.00 am. Everyone is welcome to join us at this event, besides coffee, we have a Raffle, Cake Stall, Tombola, Books and Bric-a-Brac.

We welcome guests to our meetings on the 1st Wednesday of each month at a cost of £2.00 per visit.

Diary Dates:
4th March AGM
7th March Coffee Morning

Ann Crooks (Secretary)

Although belated, I wish everyone a happy and health new year.

Looking forward the Senior Citizen's Annual Party will be held on Saturday 28 March. Doors will open at 3.30 pm with tea served at 4.00 pm. We will be entertained by The Withern Singers so please advise a Committee Member if you wish to attend.

Pam Woolley (Sec)

It has been a very quiet winter for a MADSPA without the Family New Year's Eve Party in the Village Hall. The fund raising will have to start in earnest soon to fund all the improvements and safety features required.

A small amount of damage has been caused to the fencing of the field side of the pool. One panel was kicked in a split but remained wedged into the trees. However over the last few weeks the loose pieces have been ripped out and scattered around and children and young people have been seen to enter the area. The pool is potentially a dangerous place, especially in the winter with a layer of ice on the water and covers that are not made to support the weight of a person. We would ask that parents talk to their children about the danger of deep, cold water. Death can happen in two to here minutes, so not enough time to call for help. The fencing will be fixed as soon as possible and hopefully, in the future we might have high wire fencing to match the school. This then might stop the teenagers who feel it necessary t take unauthorised swims on warm summer evenings! Unfortunately it is not just the swims - it is the damage caused to the expensive cover and picnic tables. The winter winds have also continue to play havoc with the summer covers - finally finishing off the damage caused last summer. New covers will be in place for the opening in May and maybe even a new solar heating system - fingers crossed!

During March / April we need to do some remedial work on the paved area around the pool. This will involve lifting the slabs, filling in with sand and relaying them. Additionally some of the blocks n the poolside need cementing back in place. If you feel you can offer any hep to our small committee, or have a brilliant fund raising idea, please contact Di (321581) or Ann (321175)

2009 is an important year for Metheringham W.I. They will be celebrating their 75th birthday. How, when and where, or in what form, we are not quite sure yet. The 70th year in 2005 was celebrated with a strawberry tea held on a beautiful July afternoon in the garden of one of our members.

This year commenced with an excellent "Christmas Dinner" held on Wednesday 21 January at Blankney Golf Club. Our thanks to the staff for making the evening so enjoyable.

The February Meeting was an excellent talk on Medieval Lincoln, given by Mr N. Lance.

Further Spring Meetings are as follows:
Wed 15 Mar AGM
Wed 18 Apr Birds and the Countryside - Mr J. Weston
Wed 20 May Resolutions - Talk on personal finance
Wed 17 June Ice Cream - A & E Dennett

The outing in July will be to Harrogate and Ripley Castle

Sports activities have included successful darts matches. Our thanks to the Star and Garter for their hospitality and for allowing the fun Monday practice sessions.
Table Tennis is played at the house of one of our members on Thursday evenings.
Ten Pin bowling has been a popular activity. Other activities include quizzes, theatre and cinema visits.

There was a follow-up craft day taken by some of our members, held at the home of another one of our members and a visit to the Quaker Tapestry Exhibition at Southwell.
We joined the local Brownie Troupe for a very chatty Knitting evening.

Our Meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of every month - 7.15 pm in the Village Hall.

2009 should be a very busy year.

Jill Spooner