36. Autumn 2009: September 2009 Archives

Editors Corner

Welcome to the Autumn edition of your community magazine which you will see has had to have a further four pages added because of the continuing demand by organizations etc, wishing to contribute. I am sure there will be something of interest for everyone.

In this issue, by request, you will see I have now added, in the opening page, an index of most events reported on in the magazine which are taking place in the area during this autumn period. Hopefully this will enable readers to be able to take a quick glance at when events are taking place. If anyone feels they would like to see any other changes or additions, please do not hesitate to contact me, in the end, it is "your" community magazine.

Before closing I wish to make a sincere apology to residents in the Scopwick area. It came to our attention just a couple of weeks ago that the Summer Issue had only just been delivered. This was as a result of our distributor finding out that the volunteer who usually delivers in your area had taken a fall and had been hospitalized soon after receiving the magazines. Unfortunately Maggie,our distributor, did not become aware of this until August and immediately went and collected them from the volunteer and distributed them with her daughter. This was a most unfortunate situation which we hope will not happen again as it is more than disappointing, for me as producer of the magazine, for our distribution team, and I guess, even equally disappointing for our recipients, as many events included in the magazine have passed by. Sorry once again.

Blankney Cricket Club has had close links with Blankney Hall and the local gentry since it was first formed during the reign of Queen Victoria. The first known records of the club go back to 1873 when Sir Henry Chaplin, later 1st Viscount Chaplin, was 33 years of age. Henry, being educated at Christ Church College, Oxford was a close friend of Queen Victoria's son the Prince of Wales (later to be Edward VII). Known to be a "playboy" prince Edward probably saw Blankney as an escape from the hustle and bustle of the capital and possibly his favourite haunt for his amorous clandestine liaisons with his many known mistresses, even after his marriage to Alexandra of Denmark in 1863. One can quite possibly imagine that one of these mistresses, British actress Lillie Langtry, French actress, Sarah Bernhardt, Lady Randolph Churchill (mother of Sir Winston Churchill) or even Alice Keppel, the great grandmother of Camilla, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, could have watched a game of cricket on a balmy summer's evening in Blankney!

Allotments - Metheringham The Parish Council is still in negotiations with the land agent to acquire further land in the village for use as allotments. Unfortunately the land will not be available until December 2010 due to the surrender of the current lease. If anyone has any comments or requires any information, please contact the Clerk.

Recreation fields The Parish Council is in the final stages of negotiations with Lincolnshire CC. The Parish Council and LCC Solicitors are in consultation to finalise the details of the Heads of Terms agreement for the lease of the Star & Garter field. Metheringham Parish Council and Lincolnshire County Council are totally committed to providing better facilities for the community.

The Parish Clerk has tended her resignation due to a house move to another area of the country. As such, the council are seeking a new clerk to take over the role. The position is for 6 hours per week, working from home, and is basically to carry out the administration of the parish council. If you think you may be interested and would like more information, please contact David Nelson, Chairman, on 01526 322292.

Much to your credit, the parish has been put through to the second round of the Best Kept Village Competition run by Community Lincs. Last year the parish was placed second in its category so let's hope that this year you are even more successful. Keep your fingers crossed!

A Parish Litter Picker has now been employed to maintain the high standards of cleanliness in Scopwick and Kirkby Green. You will no doubt see him from time to time working in the villages.

The parish council are in regular contact with Lincolnshire County Council Highways Department. Recently the uneven surface of the footpath on Heath Road between the garage and the Granaries has been reported and Highways have programmed the work for late Autumn. The deep ruts in Trundle Lane have been caused by motor bike 'joy riding' and the lane is now almost impassable. This matter has been reported to the Footpaths Officer and the local police have been informed of the problem and are keeping an eye out for offenders. A request has been made by a resident of Kirkby Green for kerb edges and a path in Main Street. Members were keen to support this request which has now been passed to Highways for their consideration.

The parish council have approved improvements to the structure of the bus shelter on Heath Road which will increase protection from the elements.

The launch of the new Treasure Trail in Scopwick took place on the evening of the 15 July with 26 people in attendance. It was a beautiful and tranquil evening and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. It is hoped that this new asset to the community will give much pleasure over the coming years.

A number of requests for the provision of allotment gardens have been received and the possibility of providing land for this purpose is being actively pursued.

With the mid summer (spring clean) finished, including the refurbishment of the floor, the hall now looks great. This is thanks to the hard work and long hours given by the dedicated team of John, Anne and Carol. "Well Done."

Due to the high cost of the floor we will be asking all hirers to treat it with the respect it deserves.

Sketch plans have been presented to the Parish Council for the proposed exterior alterations. It is intended that this will form a more welcoming entrance and fenced off area leading in from the car park. Along with this a replacement facia and guttering is proposed for the Fen Road elevation.

To raise funds for this project and everyday maintenance cost we are putting together a number of events for the coming season

Our first event is the ever popular 50/50 Auction on 5 September. The sale starts at 10.00 but viewing is from 8.00 courtesy of our auctioneer John Duggins.
On 9 September Harmony Lincs, a local singing group, will be holding a vocal rehearsal from 7.30 pm which the public are allowed to FREE of charge.
Our first ever Celebration of Arts, Crafts and Hobbies event is proving so popular that we have now closed the allocation of tables. This event will be on 26 September from 9.00 am.
The New Age Kurling is due to start on Friday 11 September, with the first evening FREE for all to try their skill. We are ALL beginners so there will be no need for anyone to feel embarrassed. We hope to make this a regular event through the winter months. Come along at 7.30 pm - ALL WELCOME.

The Management Committee wish to thank all residents for their support during the summer season and look forward to seeing you for the autumn events.

Please watch out for notices posted on the notice board and around the village.

The Hall is for the community. Let us build on a firm foundation and make the most of an excellent asset. If you have any ideas for events /activities you feel we should consider please write to:
The Secretary, Metheringham Village Hall, Fen Road, Metheringham, LN4 3AA

C. Tompkins (Secretary)

As I am sure many people are aware the tower of St Oswald has had strapping around it for some time; a sure indication of problems! Following the recent quinquennial inspection and report we now know the full extent of repairs required. The most immediate repair work needed is, of course, to the tower but other work to parts of the roof, stonework and also the belfry, is also needed. In effect we are looking at costs around the £180,000 mark. The P.C.C. are in the process of applying to English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund for grant aid. Several other organizations have also been approached for this funding. As you can imagine, being such a small parish, we need all the help we can get! So please look out for future funding events at St Oswald and come along and support us if you can.

The Harvest Festival will be on Thursday 8 October at 6.30 pm, the visiting preacher being Revd. John Patrick, vicar of St Denys, Sleaford - this will be followed by a Harvest Supper at 7.30 pm in the Old School, Blankney. Local posters will give prices and availability.

Still a little while away the Carol Service will be on Sunday 20 December at 4.30 pm. The usual coffee/ tea and mince pies will follow.

Finally the Revd Charles Sowden, former House for duty Priest of the Metheringham Group of Parishes, will be installed as Vicar of Wyberton and Frampton on Tuesday 8 September at 7.30 pm at St Mary Church, Frampton. We would like to take this opportunity to wish Charles every success in his new appointment and hope that he and his family enjoy life in their new surroundings. I am sure Charles would be delighted to see a few familiar faces at his installation service if anyone from the parish is able to attend.

Ann Garrick

All these Plus loads more for your "One Stop Christmas Shop" So Come along and get some bargains

Hi to you all from Starlite Twirlers. We hope you have enjoyed your summer as much as we have!

During the summer we have taken part in various fêtes across the county and very much enjoyed doing so. It has got the girls out and about into communities and they got to show off their Baton and Pom Pom Skills. They were very well received, as usual. Now the girls have been given a break during August to recuperate and chill and then we will be starting back to training at the end of August so that they are ready for the next competition. This is taking place at Primrose Valley, Filey during the weekend of 3 October where we will have Babies, Tinies, Juniors and Senior girls competing against troupes from across the Region.

In the next addition we will update you with the results.

We thank you for your continued support and we are sure you will join us (the committee) in wishing the girls the best of luck for their forthcoming competitions.

Starlite Twirler Committee

This is the Nativity Story. In our telling of this well-known story, we escort Mary and Joseph by donkey and on foot to Bethlehem. We retell the story in words and music as the audience joins the Guide with a walk through the grounds of Blankney Church and stable grounds telling their story.

Performance dates Friday 4th and Saturday 5th December at 19:00 hrs.
See posters for details near the date or ring Sally Wilson on 01526 321289 or willowshome@hotmail.co.uk

The Band recently held a concert and presentation of awards / social evening at which they performed some of the new music they are working on for the coming season, including The Great Escape and an arrangement of the hymn tune St Anne. Each young player in the Band was presented with a certificate of achievement by Roy Duncan, the Musical Director; and he then presented the following awards:
Most Promising Player: Sophie Primett
Player of the Year: Hayley Fox
Most Improved Player: Alice Lee
Bandsman of the Year: Sophie Fox
Most Improved Beginner: Samuel Palmer

We have had another very busy and fairly successful season this year, and have been lucky enough to fulfil most of the fixtures without interruptions from the weather.
We lost in the semi-final of the Onyx Cup, and also the semi-final of the County Cup; and we were disappointed to miss out on the Hospital Cup by just one shot on an extra end! At the time of writing we are lying third in the District Premier League and we are top in the ASC Metals League. Phil Garrick did a double whammy when he won two county singles finals on one day in July, Ray Lockey and Albert Mawer won the County Doubles and Andrew Creasey again made it to the Nationals in Worthing, but lost in the second round. Well done anyway Andrew!

We have played host to two Touring teams, one from Durham and one from the London area, and hosted the District Finals Day on 9th August.

Our AGM will be held in the pavilion on Tuesday 6 October, beginning at 7.00 pm.

Dawn Smith

Angels Dance Squad has had a very successful summer, attending a number of local fetes and shows. We attended Newark Show in June, where we had slots both days over the weekend and entertained large crowds. We also attended Heckington Show, and danced in the Radio Lincolnshire Arena, meeting a number of the presenters. At the Lincoln Weekend we performed at the Brayford Wharf, this time meeting presenters from Lincs FM. The weather was very kind to us at all of these shows. This helped us to pull in large crowds and we therefore generated a lot of interest from potential new group members, who will hopefully join the squad in the autumn.

The Angels are presently busy training for the BIBTA National Competition to be held early October. Many new routines are in the process of being developed throughout all of the age sections and the girls are working hard to perfect these routines, with training continuing twice weekly during the summer. We wish the girls 'Good Luck' with this competition.

As always, new members are very welcome. Please contact Lesley Crompton on 07946472363 for more information

St Peter's present their second Scarecrow Weekend on 26 / 27 September. The events include: Scarecrow trail, Raffle, Tombola, Children's mini scarecrow display, Children's fancy dress 2pm Saturday, Silver Sounds Band, Choral Evensong with Lincoln Cathedral Choir 6pm Sunday.

Entry to the Scarecrow Competition is free and for fun, and we hope as many homes in Dunston as possible will take part (There were 82 scarecrows last year!). The winner will be chosen by the public and the quiz will be based upon your entries.
Contact Kay Howat 01526 321780.

Saturday and Sunday 5/6 December
Christmas Tree Festival in St Peter's Church, Dunston and Nativity displays in Dunston Chapel.

A man is sitting in a pub feeling rather poor. He sees the man next to him pull a wad of £50 notes out of his wallet. He turns to the rich man and says to him, "I have an amazing talent; I know almost every song that has ever existed."
The rich man laughs.
The poor man says, "I am willing to bet you all the money you have in your wallet that I can sing a genuine song with a lady's name of your choice in it."
The rich man laughs again and says,
"OK, how about my daughter's name,
Joanna Armstrong-Miller?"

The rich man goes home poorer!
The poor man goes home richer!
What song did he sing?

Another season is just under way for Metheringham Football Club and it sees a number of changes in the executive positions within its structure. At the recent AGM Cyril Ford stood down as Club President after nine years as the figure head. This saw another of the club's longest serving members, Roger Dawson, take over in the prestigious post, standing down from his position as Treasurer, which he had held for 42 seasons. The position of Treasurer was taken by club secretary Peter Ford who will combine both posts. As Roger Dawson moved up to President the new Club Vice-President was Derek Sampson who had been the previous Vice-Chairman. This post was taken over by Graham Bromfield while John Wood continued as Chairman for the twentieth season. The club also created a new post of Funding Officer with Liz Rogers taking up the position.

At the AGM Roger Dawson, in his last report, commended the club on turning around the working loss of over £1,500 the previous season to one of a profit of nearly £650 this season. Over £14,000 had been raised with expenditure approximately £13,350. Much of the expenditure was on referee fees, insurance, affiliation fees, equipment and laundry, accounting for over £8,000. In standing down he wished the club good fortune in the coming season.

The club had proposed to move into the 2009-2010 season with nine junior sides and three senior teams but before things got underway the Under 13's were forced to withdraw because of a lack of players - a sad sign of the times at this age in the lives of youths today. Despite this set back the season gets underway in earnest on 6 September and it is estimated around 150 football matches will take place on the village sports field over the next eight months. Does that not suggest there is a greater need for better facilities than at thepresent time. The Club Chairman would remind those "interested" that he attending a meeting way back in 1989(20 years ago when he took over as chairman) saying just this and especially in relation to toilet facilities which are virtually non existent and unacceptable in today's society. When our junior sides entertain clubs and their supporters (mums and young children) from as far away as Skegness, Retford, Boston, Gainsborough it is a long time to go without the use of a toilet!

This said, the Parish Council does have to be congratulated on getting the car park resurfaced but in all honesty it was becoming a bit of an embarrassment to a village of the size of Metheringham - anyway well done to the Parish Council. Now let us hope they can go that little step further and get things moved on to improve facilities on the sports field.

During the season the club is looking to carry out several funding events. The first of these is a Sponsored Indian Evening at The Mowgli on 6 October where the proceeds are to be shared between the club and the proprietor, Tyrone. Tyrone's share is towards raising funds for a new school in his native Bangledesh.

On Feast Day the club will hold its Mulled Wine stall and this year it is hoped to include Peas / Mince Sauce. Before Christmas, Liz is looking to hold a Xmas Fayre with stalls, face-painting etc, and also include a "choir" singing carols. Also before Christmas the members will be carrying out their annual Bag-Packing at one of the local town supermarkets. Then in the new year we will hold our annual, Grand National Eve, Race Night in April, in the Star & Garter before the season comes to a close with it presentation evenings in May (a busy few months).

Keep abreast of club scores on the club website - www.metheringhamfc01.co.uk

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue have completed the roll out of the new Interspiro Breathing Apparatus sets. The new set comprises of a BA Computer and LED read out display which measures BA cylinder capacity and air consumption over a fire fighters working duration. The new BA sets provide the fire fighter with additional safety features to monitor low cylinder air content, and BA set warning indicators. Additional equipment can also be installed such as a "Head Up Display" feature that is fitted in the BA mask giving the fire fighter an instant visual aid to the BA set safety features. Training on the new sets has completed and the new sets are now "On the Run".

The National Car Wash Day is on Saturday 19 September between 10am and 2pm at Metheringham Fire Station so please bring your car along for a wash and clean. There will be refreshments available and additional attractions and stalls to browse while you wait. Please come along and support us.

Metheringham Fire Station will also be attending the annual village Fayre and Feast in October along with other Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue teams. This year, as you enter the event from lower High Street (Drury Street), you will be greeted by Metheringham Fire Station personnel, Community Fire Safety team, LFR Recruitment team, Road Safety Partnership team, the Urban Search and Rescue Team and the vintage Fire Engine. If you require any information on Fire Safety, Road Safety, or how to become a Fire Fighter then please visit us on Feast Day.

If you require any further information please contact Roy Darwood on
01526 321489.

C\M Pete Leggett Station 26 Metheringham

It may not only be the temperatures this winter that will be like Scandinavia! - Visitors to Lincolnshire may also notice people walking with what look like ski poles! We're reliably informed that they are Nordic walking and that it is the fastest growing fitness activity in the world with over 10 million enthusiasts now regularly taking part in what was originally used by super fit cross country skiers as a way to stay fit during the summer.

"It is suitable for all ages and fitness levels, simple to learn and really sociable" says Pete Woollard a local Nordic walking UK Instructor, Personal Trainer and wellness expert. "By using the specially designed poles, you can use all the major muscles in the body and burn up to twice as many calories as ordinary walking but the best thing is that the poles actually propel you along so it feels easier!" he adds.

The poles also reduce the pressure on the knees and joints and the gentle upper body movement is great for easing back and neck pain too. It's so effective that it is being used for weight loss, rehabilitation and sports specific training all the over the UK and those who have tried all agree that being outdoors was energising and that they felt fantastic afterwards!

However it is not simply a case of grabbing a pair of poles and walking with them! It requires the correct technique in order to get the whole body working and it is essential you learn this from a qualified Instructor who will ensure you get the full benefit and fastest possible results. Pete offers you to come and try the sessions and 4 week technique courses - Check out his page on the Nordic walking UK website for all the dates and times http://your.nordicwalking.co.uk/pete_woollard or call them on 07967 214848 to give it a try!

This time, we wIll look at some popular web sites that contain recipes. As you would expect, one of the most popular UK sites for recipes is the BBC [www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/]. This is an excellent , well laid out site where you can easily browse or search by recipe, ingredients, or chef. The 12000+ recipes are well ordered with simple-to-follow instructions. Top site.

Next is the Good Food site [http://uktv.co.uk/food/homepage]. This site has more bells and whistle and lots more pictures and options. A good site but not as easy to navigate as the BBC one.

A personal favourite is Delia Online [www.deliaonline.com/recipes]. Only 1400 recipes but well laid out, easy to use and presented in Delia Smith's own inimitable style.

Lastly, there's Jamie Oliver's site [www.jamieoliver.com/recipes]. Again, a comprehensive list of recipes with good clear instructions. The bonus on this site is that it is laid out more like a blog with feedback on each of the recipes.

Finally the web team would like to welcome the village of Nocton to the folds of the Metheringham Area website [www.macla.co.uk/nocton/]. Added at the suggestion of one of Nocton's residents, the Nocton pages will prove to be a hit with locals and visitors alike.

The Weaver

"Amaryllis" return by popular demand

The entertaining duo of Tracey Middleton and David Garwood will be returning to the Club on Wednesday 21 October. Better known by their stage name of "Amaryllis", we can be confident that they will be presenting a varied and enjoyable programme of music.

They have been together for about 14 years, and often perform at prestigious festivals such as the Cheltenham Folk Festival and Stratford upon Avon Arts Festival. Their diverse repertoire covers everything from 18th Century dance music to Walt Disney!

A great evening is assured, and non-members are most welcome to join us. The nominal admission fee of £3 includes raffle tickets and tea/coffee with biscuits during the interval.

The evening starts at 7.30 in Wragby Town Hall.

Coffee mornings seem to start earlier these days. If you find you are shopping early please feel free to call in.

Our outing to Skegness on 11 August seems to have been enjoyed by one and all. The weather was glorious.

The next outing is to Doncaster Market on 8 Sept. Lets hope the weather is kind again.
Tuesday 27 October we are going to Brigg Garden Centre for lunch and Xmas Shopping

Pam Woolley (Sec)

The academic year 2008/2009 has ended and we have bid farewell to our 37 Year 6 pupils who are now moving on to six different senior schools. The Year 6 pupils and their parents and carers attended a leavers' assembly on the last day of term where photographs, poems, sketches and stories were shared of the children's memories of Metheringham Primary School. We are sorry to see our Year 6 pupils leave and we wish them every success and happiness in the future.

We have been kept very busy with events, visits and visitors to school this term. Pupils have visited Burghley House, The Butterfly and Wildlife Farm, Whitepost Farm and Whisby Wildlife Centre with their teachers and helpers. Our Family Learning group of parents, pupils, younger siblings, tutors, crèche workers and teachers all spent a day at Rand Farm to conclude a very successful and enjoyable course. The Year 5 pupils have visited some of the local senior schools for taster sessions to help them make a choice about their future schools and our Year 6 pupils attended the induction days at their new schools.

At Metheringham we have been delighted to welcome out 29 new Reception pupils to 4 different induction sessions at school. Our new pupils were also invited to the Graduation ceremony of this year's Reception pupils where certificates and achievement books were awarded and many photographs were taken. A party concluded the morning's celebrations.

Healthy Schools' Week took place in June and pupils took part in a wide range of activities throughout the week. These included a LEPRA fund raising activity that raised over £1000 for the charity, Healthy Habits workshops run by Lincoln City Football Club, peer massage sessions with the Healthy School's team and learning through landscapes and playtime games sessions with members of the school staff. The week ended with Sports Day that was attended by many of our parents and carers.

The year ended with an outstanding performance from our Upper Key Stage 2 pupils. The creative skills of our Year 6 script writers were put to the test as they combined the television programme 'Britain's got Talent' with the film and stage production 'Mama Mia". Some wonderful singing and dancing, super acting and a few comedians with their own unique sense of humour entertained our parents and carers who attended the performance!

We are now looking forward to the next academic year and all of the surprises, challenges and achievements that this will bring to us all.

Elspeth McMenemie Headteacher.

The Club held its seventh AGM on 13 May followed by a representative from the South Lincs Blind Society who demonstrated new equipment. On 27 May we enjoyed an afternoon of quizzes.

At the start of June, Alison Nicholl from Brinkle Springs Kennels gave a very informative and enjoyable talk on dogs, followed by lots of questions from our dog owners. Then on 25 June we all once again enjoyed a wonderful evening of songs from the Harmony Lincs in St Johns Church.

On 8 July, despite the speaker not turning up, the club enjoyed an afternoon of chat and quizzes. Our Summer programme closed on 23 July with members enjoying a lunch at Elite Fish & Chips after which they meandered around the Moorland Centre doing a bit of shopping. The club was closed for August, reopening on 9 September.

Celebrate the History and Art of Sleaford

Experience an explosion of light in Sleaford on Saturday 26 September!

Light Night sees the return of Sleaford Arts Festival! Come along and watch as the historic market town becomes illuminated and discover its hidden gems - all for FREE.
Take a walk around the town enjoying spectacularly lit historic buildings and let history be brought to life as you listen to a podcast with fascinating facts about the town.

Various entertainment will be on offer too - from live street theatre to live music, there'll be something to please everyone!

Treat yourself or a loved one to a unique gift at the artists' market in Navigation Yard. While at the market, make sure you pay a visit to Navigation House and learn the story of the Navigation and the part it played in Sleaford's history.

There is something for the kids too, as they can take part in various craft activities during the event.

Sleaford BID will provide FREE glow sticks so that visitors can create a sea of light as they travel through the town.

The night will begin at the Hub National Centre for Craft & Design, at 7pm. You can then experience the trail throughout the town centre. Hire an MP3 player, or pick up the trail guide from the Hub before setting off.

Light Night will take place from 7pm to 10pm and is FREE for all visitors to enjoy. Free parking is available at Eastgate car park off East Road, next to the Hub.

To find out more about, please call Jayne Olney, Events Officer, on 01522 694353 or 01529 308717, or email eventsofficer@leisureconnection.co.uk or log onto www.sleafordartsfestival.co.uk

Our 150th anniversary celebrations have continued this quarter with a service led by Rev David Perry Chairman of the Lincoln and Grimsby district. We also enjoyed a strawberry tea and a village prayer walk. We have also had another working weekend to fix and clean our 150 year old building!!

We are looking forward to September, Dunston scarecrow weekend - 26 / 27th and to our pudding party in November.

The lunch club is having a break - we re-convene in September - the third Friday. If you fancy a good home cooked meal and some company we meet at 12 and the cost is only £2.50.

If you can join us for any of our anniversary events we would love to see you.

Saturday September 12th - LIVES Basic First Aid training 10-12 in Chapel

Friday October 16th - Celebration Lunch Club 12 pm

Wednesday October 14th - Bowls evening Village hall

Saturday November 14th - Pudding party 7.30 pm

Beth McLuckie 01526 321919

Unfortunately St Wilfrid's Church has suffered from an outbreak of dry rot. It was first noticed at a high level on the internal walls of the south side of the church.

David Glew, of the Lincoln firm Glew & Smith, is the inspecting architect for the church, and he arranged firstly ladder access, then internal scaffolding and an external cherry picker to investigate the problem. It was found that the gutter was blocked, causing water to overflow onto wall below, which in turn had made the timber roof structure wet, following which the dry rot had started to grow. Emergency repairs are now being drawn up for the approval of the Diocesan Advisory Committee, before the actual works can be carried out.

This part of the roof may well have to be shored up to make it safe and then estimates of costs will be required, the early estimate given is around £20,000, but I will let you know once quotations have come in.

The church council have met to discuss the situation as this has come up unexpectedly and is an expense not budgeted for. If anyone would like to give a donation towards this work please contact the churchwardens. Also please support our fundraising events.

Richard Brewin (Hon Treasurer)

Metheringham & District Swimming Pool Associaition (M.A.D.S.P.A.)

Please support some or all of our fund raising activities to keep this wonderful facility open in our village

Fri 11 Sept - Sponsored moonlight swim - 9 pm to MN (forms available from the pool)
Sun 13 Sept - Beach Party with children's entertainer - 2.00 pm Entry £2 Adults - £1 Children - sweets, drinks & BBQ available
Sat 3 Oct - MAWS table top sale (Village Hall) - Make your own card or buy one
Fri 16 Oct - Hallowe'en Disco & Badge Presentation 6-9 pm School Hall - Entry £2
Sat 24 Oct - Fayre and Feast - Win a bike and lots of other prizes on our stall
Fri 13 Nov - Quiz with Fish & Chip Supper - bring a bottle and glass School Hall 7.30 pm - £5 - please book
Fri 11 Dec - Christmas Disco - School Hall - 6-9 pm £2 entry

If you have a couple of hours to spare once in a while please contact any committee member to offer your help with the upkeep of the Pool

Dian 321581 / Ann 321175 / Dawn 321803 / Shirley 322575 / Maria 320133 / Mike 323191

If you would like to get involved with the organization and running of the Pool please contact Dian 321581

Metheringham Amateur Dramatics' (MAD) last production of 'Twelfth Night' was a success despite the less than favourable weather. Many a brave audience member braved some very unseasonable conditions to see this production.

Our next production is ' Starlight Bethlehem' is written and directed by Ken Frape. It is the nativity story which will be played out whilst the audience walk around Blankney Church and Stable grounds with words and music. This will be a quite a magical production with the audience joining in the singing of carols, with a guide who will bring the story to life.

The performances will take place on the 4 / 5 December and will end up with hot drinks and refreshment and more carols at Blankney Church.

In January it is our annual pantomime (Pirate Treasure), the auditions of which will be held at Metheringham Village Hall on 13 September. Anyone wishing to audition should arrive promptly at 5.30pm. We look forward to seeing you.

A further production in June 2010 will be 'Allo 'Allo.

Further information can be obtained from Sally Wilson 01526 321289 or by e-mail willowshome@hotmail.co.uk

We always welcome new members, whether you would want to tread the boards or be part of our production team.

Before closing can I please remind you that membership subscriptions for 2009/10 will be due at the beginning of September. Gwyneth Holland will be dealing with the memberships as usual, so please contact her any time before then.

Sally Wilson

The duck race was a dry affair for the first time ever !! It was so dry we had to damn the beck to get enough water for the races. The sunshine brought a record attendance and a record sum raised . Thanks to every one for their support and to raise sponsors.

We have heard from France that there are a number of new families who plan to join on next year's exchange - the dates are April 14th - 18th . If you would be interested in hosting a family and getting involved in the twinning experience do contact one of the people listed below. We have families in Nocton Dunston and Metheringham so all are welcome . Call for an informal chat about what is involved - its a great way to get to know France and the French.

Our AGM will be held in November - dates to be confirmed . At this point I will pass on the role of chairman to Helen Door and the committee will be looking for a new vice chair.

Sue Kelly - Secretary - 01526 321951
Ralph Timms -Treasurer - 01526 322515
Beth McLuckie - Chairman - 01526 321919

Beth McLuckie

I will begin by once again thanking the local people who support our group so generously. Without your donations we would not be able to run and we greatly appreciate the money given to us.

We are continuing to develop as a group, with one new responder and two more in training. We are excited about the possibility of extending our daytime cover as this is traditionally the time that we struggle to have a responder on duty, as all of our responders have jobs that keep them busy on week days.

We have also been pleased that some of our most experienced responders have undertaken some additional training allowing them to administer some extra drugs and pain relief. We hope this will improve the service we can offer to people in medical need in our community.

We are always open to new members, either as First Responders or fundraisers. For more information please contact Beth McLuckie 321919 or Jenny Hutchinson 321627

After our campaign to get more children and parents to come to Jacki's story time sessions, the Teddy Bears' picnic was a triumph. 22 children accompanied by 22 teddy bears and 9 parents enjoyed hearing teddy bear stories, coloured pictures of bears and ate teddy bear shaped crisps. The regular story sessions are every Friday 2.15 to 2.45 but we also plan to have more themed events.

On 18 Sept 10.30 to 11.30am we have Lullaby Learners for mums and babies from 6 months to 24months old. Come and enjoy this free sensory lullaby session. Sing along and join in the activities and meet Twinkle The Star.

On Friday 6 November 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm why not come to the library to meet Bo Peep and Friends? This session is for families and carers with children aged five and under.
After the summer break, a new computer course will be starting in September covering the Internet and e-mail. Although this course is full we are taking names for the next course in January.

Whilst the reading group is still thriving, we can't take any more new members at the moment. If you are interested, please add your name to our waiting list or, if you have like minded friends, you could set up your own group. There are information packs available to guide you.

Just to remind you that you cannot telephone the library direct. When The Customer Service Centre first started and our old phone number was dialled, the call was transferred through to the centre. The old number has now been disconnected so you need to dial (01522) 782010.

Pauline Ventress

Sunday 14 June, a coach full of members of the Metheringham Over 60s Club departed for a short summer holiday at the Hedland Hotel, Torquay; we stopped for lunch at the Wyevale Garden Centre.

On arrival, we were warmly welcomed at the hotel and allocated our rooms. Over the week, the food was excellent with several choices for each course and the staff behaved wonderfully. The entertainment was very professional and most enjoyable.

Daily outings were to Dartmouth , Buckfast Abbey, Looe, Exeter , Dawlish and Teignmouth. Our Courier for the week, Jilly, was magnificent - she had a special hat for anyone having a birthday - we had two, Nora Creasey and Derek Bell. Also, she organised a free raffle with lovely prizes. Our driver was very helpful, he had a good rapport with everyone on the coach and kept us informed of important sights and places of interest as we enjoyed our journeys. Apart from the Wednesday morning and early afternoon we enjoyed very good weather. A good time was had by all.

As I write this we are preparing for the new school year to begin. We particularly look forward to welcoming the 10 new reception children and their families to Dunston St. Peter's Primary School. All the children of Dunston school will be able to enjoy the new library building and the FODS will be looking for a new fund raising project.

We have several events planned for the Autumn term and warmly invite you to join us at any or all of them!

Sponsored Walk
Our annual sponsored walk will take place on September 20th at 1pm, beginning and ending at the school. Traditionally the children walk about 3 miles around the village. Watch out for children with sponsor forms - all donations gratefully received.

Pamper Evening
This event is probably one for the ladies! To be held at the school on October 16th from 8pm. There will be a range of stalls with great present buying opportunities as well as some mini treatments available. Find a few friends and come along for a fun filled evening.

Torchlight Treasure Hunt
A great evening for all the family. The Treasure hunt was postponed earlier in the year due to extensive snow on the school playground. Now to be held on the evening of November 13th at 6pm, it is a treasure hunt in the dark! Bring your torches and enjoy some excitement in the school grounds, with prizes available for the winning teams.

Christmas Fayre
Come and join us for some traditional festive fun at 3pm on December 4th. Stalls, games and refreshments to get you in the mood for Christmas.

For more information on any of the above contact Jenny Hutchinson 321627

Research into Family History recently brought Metheringham resident Pam Brook closer to the uncle she never knew. The story goes back 50 years when a plumber found what is known as a "Dead Man's Penny" in a rubbish skip in Shoreditch, London.

It was decided during World War One that all next of kin of service personnel who lost their lives as a result of the war would be presented with a memorial plaque and commemorative scroll from the King and country. The plaques (to become known as a Dead Man's Penny) were cast in bronze and were approximately five inches (125 mm) in diameter. On the plaque no rank was recorded as the intention was to show equality in their sacrifice.

The name on the "plaque" in question was in honour of Henry Vivian Drew from Sampford Courtney, Devon - a soldier with the 10th Royal Fusilliers who had fought and died on Flanders fields on St George's Day (23 April), 1917.

As said, 50 years had passed when the plumber's daughter, Jill Gumble, a pub landlady from Widford, Ware, Hertfordshire, who used to polish the metal plaque as a child, decided she wanted to try and find out if Henry still had any living relatives. With help from friends an exhausting trawling of History websites followed with such sites as Great War Forum and Genes Reunited visited. This saw an involvement of some 20 people until the search led to Roger Brooks of Metheringham who had, three years earlier, started to research the family history of his wife Pam. It turned out that Pam's father John Vivian Drew was in actual fact the twin brother of Henry Vivian Drew, the sons of Henry Vivian Drew Snr. and Caroline Hexter, born in 1897 in Sampford Courtney. When old enough the brothers had gone up to Stockton on Tees to join up with the merchant navy but ended up in the Army with Henry a Fusillier and John, known as Jack, a machine gunner.

Unfortunately Henry was killed on 23 April 1917 and is buried in Chille Trench, Chavelle, France while Pam's father John was fortunate to come through the conflict. In addition, as a merchant naval engineering officer her father also came through the second world war, despite twice being torpedoed by German U-boats. Pam never knew anything of her uncle until Roger started delving into her past, as her father had never mentioned him. Pam was emotionally moved when the memorial arrived, to think that this would have been received in such sad circumstances by her grandmother all those years ago. Pam expresses gratitude to husband Roger for his efforts in researching her ancestors but the Brooks are eternally grateful to Jill Grumble and friend Jackie Craig who had worked tirelessly to ensure the memorial returned to the family and now it takes pride of place in their home. Pam even says goodnight to it for luck before going to bed each evening.