Activity: June 2009 Archives

Three presentation evenings were held after the 2008-09 season ended.

On Friday 22 and Saturday 23rd May the eight Juniors Sides presentations were held in the Village Hall. Both events were excellently attended with parents and friends supporting the youngsters.

At the first presentation for the Under 7 / 8 / 9 and 10's Danny Hone of Lincoln City came along to make the presentations.

The recipients were as follows:
Under 7 -
Top scorer - Daniel Lindsey
Manager's Player - Benjamin Whitehouse
Player's Player - Ethan Thomson
Parent's Player - Ethan Thomson
Under 8 -
Top Scorer - Oliver Smith
Manager's Player - Jay Pacey
Player's Player - Jamie Gourkroger
Parent's Player - Jack Turner
Most Improved - Harry Wilson
Under 9 -
Top Scorer - Daniel Preston
Player of Season - Harvey Conyers
Player's Player - Harvey Conyers
Manager's Player - Joshua Hill
Most Improved - Charlie Brayshaw
Under 10 -
Top Scorer - Elliott Ludlow
Manager's Player - Matthew Whitehouse
Player's Player - Nathan Fenwick

At the Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre - in the old gymnasium - on Wednesday 24th June 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.

A year has flashed by and we come to the end of another eventful and entertaining Football Season! I hope you have enjoyed it and are looking forward to a couple of months off before we start all over again, not counting the occasional five or six-a-side competition of course.

After last season's double champions and a Runners-up spot, a look at the league tables doesn't appear so good this time. However, the Under 16s, Under 14s and Under 13s were all in title/promotion contention going into the last few weeks of the season. Sadly none of them could maintain the momentum and all just failed to win the prize.

We have recently returned from a visit to Trange where we were all treated to the usual generous hospitality of our French friends .During the weekend we were taken to an amazing theme park which is well worth a visit if you are ever in western France - it is called Puy du Fou . It is our turn now to organise for their visit next Spring so we all need our thinking caps on for some good ideas!! During the visit we learned that there are several new French families who are waiting to get involved so you have ever thought about it if now is your chance . It's always easier to get involved by hosting as you are on familiar ground - then on the return trip you already know the family.

The Duck race will be on the village green at Dunston on Saturday July 4th and as this is American Independence day we are theming the whole event. The first race will be at 3 pm and there will be the usual stalls and games, with a few new ideas.

If you are interested in twinning and would like to find out more contact Beth on 321919 or Ralph on 322515

A new season is now well underway for Blankney Cricket Club with another full and varied programme to undertake. Again the club has two weekend sides, one in the South Lincs and Borders League on a Saturday and the other in the Lincoln Sunday Premier League.

To date the Saturday are in the top half of the table with two wins from four games played. The lost games were in the first and most recent match. Losing at Long Sutton there was one high with new skipper Simon Behan making an unbeaten 73. Since then the side has beaten Baston and Langtoft (here veteran player Ian Holvey took 5-11, 14 year old Tom Woodcock 3-11 and Behan was again unbeaten with 59. Then in the latest game Claypole were beaten with Simon Behan making yet another unbeaten innings of 59, Ian Holvey taking 4-21 and Tom Woodcock 2-10). The most recent match saw defeat at Boston when the side failed to defend their total of 176. Simon Behan was out for the first time this season, making 52.

On Sunday's the team saw last season's skipper Will Carter leave the club at the eleventh hour with local lad James Ingamells taking over. To date the side is still seeking a first win, narrowly losing their opening three games. Again entered the Pattinson Cup (played at Sleaford Cricket ground), the team saw an early exit, after reaching the semi final last season. In rainy conditions they met and lost to local rivals Timberland who reached their target of 112 with three balls to go.

In Midweek the club had dropped one of their two sides with just the Estate side competing in Division One this season. For them it was an early start with the 2008 Senior Cup final to play, having been postponed last season due to poor summer. Meeting Hartsholme at Blankney, at the start of May they went on to lose as Hartsholme chased down 91 (from 12 overs) with 5 balls to spare.

On the league front the Estate side has yet to collect a win, after two games played. The club is always looking for new players where they are guaranteed a warm welcome in a tranquil setting, very accurately described on Wikipedia;

"To travellers, the sight of the picturesque limestone houses grouped around the cricket ground gives Blankney the quintessential essence of the English country village".

On Saturday 11 July the Club will hold a Curry Evening at the Club, with tickets priced at £8.00 - anyone interested in joining the club or wishing to come to the Curry Evening please contact

Secretary Ian Holvey - 01522 794408 / 07974480383

The Annual General Meeting of the Village Hall was held in the village hall on the 21 April 2009 where the chairman Mrs Jenni Honisett took the opportunity to thank the 2008/9 trustee officers and committee for their input over the year. Also thank you to Dot Howes for her help with the 21st century energy improvements.

Now that this project is completed we are looking forward to the next phase, to improve the south side of the building with a fenced play area for pre-school and to drastically improve the entrance from the car park, making it much more attractive and welcoming.

The Branston & District U3A is fully committed towards providing a wide range of opportunities in order that its members can share a variety of educational, creative and leisure pursuits in a friendly and relaxed environment. Moreover, social events and organised coach trips take place throughout the year. Coach outings usually involve visiting heritage locations, cathedrals and historic houses. Most recently a very successful trip involved visiting Southwell Minster which included a conducted viewing of the Quaker tapestries.

In order to provide an effective means of communication with its 120 members, and to update them on forthcoming activities, monthly meetings take place at the Branston Village Hall on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Usually, most members arrive at 1.30pm for tea or coffee and biscuits prior to the meeting which commences at 2pm. Guest speakers are invited to each meeting and talks are given on a broad range of interesting subjects. Non U3A members are welcome to attend these meetings in order that they can glean information about the activities and special interest groups that are currently available within the Branston & District U3A.

A busy Spring for the Ladies (and occasional Gent) of the Metheringham W.I.

The March meeting was the A.G.M. Audrey Webb was elected as President, Ronnie Wright (Secretary), Brenda Hutchinson (Treasurer), plus seven committee members, all allocated with a variety of tasks. This meeting concluded with refreshments, a quiz and a message from our president - "The ingredient of a good W.I. is a good laugh" and we do have our share of laughs.

In April it was Metheringham's W.I.'s turn to host a meeting for the seven W.I.'s in the area:- The Phoenix Group. The speaker was John Southgate, a member of the Inner Magic Circle - Gold Star. His talk "The History of Mystery" - complete with Harry the Rabbit in a Top Hat - was well received and the evening was fun.

Slides of well known birds, all photographed locally were shown at the April Meeting by Mr J. Weston. They gave us an opportunity to become more aware of the markings, colours and attitude of our local birds.

Well done the Darts Team for winning the Darts Competition and once again, thank you to the Star and Garter for allowing Matches and Practice Sessions.

There was a Cinema visit to see Young Victoria and a trip to the Theatre Royal to see The Producer. The play was a romp and entertaining.

In May the meeting was Resolutions - A talk on personal finance by Ella Chapman. This will be reported on in a future publications of the magazine.

Forthcoming (Wed) meetings
17 June - Ice Cream - A&E Dennett
15 July -Harewood House (Not Harrogate)
19 Aug - Talk on Hats - Dorothy Woods
19 Sept - Open Meeting - Wood-turning - Alan Halsam

Other Activities partaken
a) A Card Making Session at the house of one of our members
b) A Tombola Stall at the Village Spring Fayre
c) A group of members have entered the Lincs Show Co-operative - the theme being the 60th Anniversary of Lincs Wildlife Trust.
d) The highlight of the year will be the 75th celebration (Sat 27 June). Past members and W.I. officials have been invited and Edna Burns will be the guest of honour as the longest serving member (70 years). Also happy 85th birthday Edna

Jill Spooner

We held our 40th Annual General Meeting on Monday 18 May in the Methodist Chapel Hall. This went well and we are all geared up for another busy year.

Our yearly Senior Citizen's Party was held in the Village Hall on Saturday 28 March. We had expected 130 people but due to bad weather and illness we were down to around 100, which was a little disappointing. We had tea at 4.00 pm followed by the entertainment, who were The Withern Singers and they were really excellent.

Outing Dates for your diary:
Tues 11 Aug - Skegness
Tues 8 Sept - Doncaster Market
Tues 29 Oct - Brigg Garden Centre (by popular demand this trip will include Lunch)

Pam Woolley (Secretary)

This 150th anniversary year is proving to be a real delight with a range of events from toddlers doing their Yogabug activities to ladies knitting squares for blankets.

If you can join us for any of the forthcoming events they include:
Sun 21 June (11.00) David Perry
Sat 27 June Strawberry Tea3-5pm Chapel garden
Sun 2 Aug (11.00) Village prayer walk followed by picnic lunch
Sat 12 Sept L.I.V.E.S. Basic First Aid training10-12 in Chapel

We have been considering what our village would have been like when the chapel was first used for worship and hope, later in the year, to arrange an act of worship as it might have been experienced. It is quite amazing to think of how things have changed since 1859, but reassuring that our God does not change.

The lunch club continues to meet on the Third Thursday in the month. We now have two mums and tots groups using our building - one on Monday and the other meeting Thursday and the local LIVES group meet for training once a month. We are so pleased to be able to offer our building in this way - and it is an added reason to keep the grass cut.

Tuesday chewers will shortly move to Thursday - if you are available on that night and would like some bible study / fellowship with a generous helping of cake, do come along.

Beth McLuckie

Wednesday 4 March, the Metheringham Over 60s held their Annual General Meeting, in the Metheringham Village Hall, with over 120 members in attendance. The President, Mr. Bill Chambers, opened the meeting and summarised the events over the past and thanked all those involved with the organisation. A review of the Club's activities was given by Chairman Mrs. Margaret Amos with the conclusion that 2008 had been another very successful year for members. The Club is run by Volunteers who give up a lot of their time and effort to ensure the smooth running of the many activities.
Thanks were expressed for those retiring officers, their replacements and to Sheila Kettleborough and the many unsung helpers who organise the catering and flowers. Additionally, our drivers, Margaret Amos, Derek Bell, Kath Mandall, Maureen Reynolds and Pam Woolley, who bring members to the meetings and events throughout the year. This was met with an appreciative round of applause from the members.

Hello from the 1st Metheringham Scout Group, our Scouting Family continues to grow and local children from 6 to 14 enjoy a full and varied programme of activities. These include hiking,nature walks, arts and crafts, camping and traditional field crafts like fire lighting.

Cubs and Scouts have an annual summer camp where they get to do things like climbing and abseiling. In June this year, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, together with their families, will be camping out for the weekend on our annual family camp. It will be a fun weekend of activities with a big celebration around the camp fire on mid summers eve.

As an adult there are many opportunities to get involved and we are always pleased to welcome new leaders to the group. You get full training and the chance to really make a difference to the young people in our community.

So come on all you budding outdoor adventurers, give it a go. (All adult membership is subject to CRB clearance).

Beaver Scouts is for Children aged 6 to 8, Cubs for 8 to 10 and Scouts from 10 to 14.
If you would like to know more please contact Brian Crombie on 01526 320917 or Pete Lincoln on 01526 321055.