MACLA News Magazine - Spring 2007

Spring is almost here, and along with it the deadline for another quarterly issue of our news magazine. This time of year usually finds me in a relaxed and contented frame of mind as I compose my editorial comments; sadly not this year. Instead I have been plagued with several weeks of stressed out anguish from our Treasurer who has been struggling to collect money owed by a number of our advertisers.

Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, the author of the most inspirational poem of aviation literature, “High Flight”, is buried in the graveyard of Holy Cross, Scopwick. Here below we are indebted to his brother, the Rev. Hugh Magee, for his recollections which are reprinted with his permission below.
We also owe a debt of gratitude to Barbara Hodgson of Coleby. Mrs Hodgson had gone to Scopwick to view the graves of fallen airmen following a previous article which had appeared in the MACLA magazine. Here, totally unexpected at the graveside of John Gillespie Magee Jnr's, was his younger brother and friends. She got into conversation with the Rev Magee explaining why she was there and told him of our magazine article which she then sent to him. This he thoroughly enjoyed, and subsequently he has written back giving his "Memories of a "Famous Brother". Apparently Rev Hugh has also been interviewed by the BBC regarding his “famous” brother.

Did you know that your local Post Office is not just there for pensions and posting, but we also offer the following services:

P is for Paying bills (Gas, electric, phone, catalogues…the list is endless)
O is for On Demand Euros plus all your holiday essentials
S is for Savings accounts – a wide selection available
T is for Top-ups for the majority of mobile networks
O is for 0% commission on foreign currency orders
F is for Financial Services and Banking – we do more than you think!
F is for Friendly Advice – always with a smile
I is for Insurance for you car, home or Hols
C is for Cash Withdrawals – ask if you can,
E is for Envelopes and Stationery supplies.

The range of products and services we can offer our customers has increased greatly in the last few years. Why not pop in and see if we can help – you might just be surprised!

Answers to the 2006 MACLA Christmas Fun Quiz are:

1. Scrooge
2. Its A Wonderful Life
3. The Snowman
4. Santa Claus The Movie
5. Holiday Inn
6. The Polar Express
7. Scrooged
8. Home Alone
9. Elf
10. How The Grinch Stole Christmas
11. White Christmas
12. Die Hard
13. A Christmas Carol
14. Miracle On 34th Street
15. The Nightmare Before Christmas

How many did you get correct?

Reader’s Group Review

Winner of a prestigious Crime Writers' Association Dagger Award, Half Broken Things is quite the most impressive novel yet from a writer whose work (Funeral Music, Fearful Symmetry) has combined total narrative command with a laser-like psychological penetration.

Just a few lines to let people know what the Troup are doing at this moment in time.

Our last display of 2006 was The Lincoln Christmas Market where most of the Troupe took part. It was a windy but enjoyable evening on the “Opening Night.”

We are presently very busy training on Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings ready for this years competitions. We start on 31 March with individuals at Leeds for B.I.B.T.A. On 14 July it is then the N.B.T.A. The B.I.B.T.A Nationals take place over the week-end of 11 / 12 May at Reighton Sands, near Filey and then on 29 / 30 September the Terry Preston Memorial Championships are held.
We have also accepted the invitation to joining The Party in the Park Charity Fun Day at R.A.F. Digby on 4 August together with a number of village fetes throughout July and August.

Chris Searby – 01526 322105

Excerpts from the forums:

Blankney Hall/Londesborough/Eleanor Samuel - The search for my Great Grandfather

I have established from census data and limited family knowledge that my great grandmother,
Eleanor Samuel, was employed as housekeeper by Charles Denison, 3rd Earl Londesborough, at Blankney Hall in nineteen hundred and one. Eleanor gave birth to my grandfather John in eighteen ninety nine in her Welsh home village but never revealed the identity of the father. My grandfather's birth certificate states 'father unknown' but we do know that my great grandmother was not apparently dismissed and that a foster family was found in Kent for my grandfather and that he was 'looked after'. I wonder whether anyone in the Metheringham/Blankney area may be able to provide any further information or leads in my search to try to solve this family mystery?

Yours sincerely David Samuel david.samuel4@btinternet.com

For this article Web Watch is going to look at the changes that are happening to our own site, www.macla.co.uk

Started in 2001, the MACLA site has grown out of all proportion to its humble origins. There have been nearly 50000 visits to the site in 6 years. Thanks mainly to you, the local community, who have provided many of the articles, comments and photos, the site has flourished.

North Kesteven District Council would like to say a big thank you to all its residents – for recycling 51.5% of their rubbish, making them the best in the country!

Announced in the week before Christmas, by Defra, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the District is the only area in the entire country that recycles more than half of its waste.

Our Singles Party was held on the Chapel Hall on Tuesday 13 February. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves. Numbers were unfortunately down at the last minute due to illness. Tea was provided by the Committee and served at 4.00 pm after which Mr Tweedie entertained us with a few of his Odes, some of which caused a few chuckles. This was followed by a free raffle. All plates had a Raffle ticket underneath. We had quite a few prizes donated to us and we also raffled the Plants which decorated the tables.

Our Parish party will be held in the Village hall on Saturday 14 April 2007 at 3.30 pm to 7.00 pm. entertainment by Tommy Curtis. If you have not been approached by the time you read this and wish to be included please give your name to a committee members.

Pam Woolley (Secretary)

Another busy day has passed and by the time you read this we will have held our annual General Meeting.

In December we held our Christmas Dinner which went off very well, members enjoyed a three course meal followed by sherry, tea or coffee and mince pies.

As we move into the last few weeks of yet another busy season several of the Metheringham FC’s thirteen teams still have championship aspirations to aim for. Two of our sides, namely the Sunday Reserves and the Under 10B’s, are presently holding top spot while a further three, the Under 12’s, Under 11’s and the Under 18’s hold second place. Of the remaining sides three hold respectable positions in the top six while four are towards the bottom of their league, fighting to avoid the drop. All in all this is making for a more than interesting finish to the season and hopefully at least one of our sides will lift a title.

Although this has been the "closed season", many of our members met up at the end of January for an enjoyable dinner and social evening. On 23rd. February we ran a highly successful Race Night at the Star and Garter. The event was very well supported by members of the Bowls Club as well as village members and we all enjoyed the occasion. Sincere thanks to Butch for allowing us to use his venue and facilities, and also to Pete Ford, without whose advice and guidance we would have had difficulty getting this off the ground.

Following MAWS very successful Christmas Market in November the volunteers could be forgiven for thinking they could have a well earned rest as it would be a quiet time until the start of the Garden/outhouse sales in March. Wrong! After Christmas MAWS were inundated with stock, unwanted gifts were donated as raffle and tombola prizes. All old stock had to be sorted and sent to auction, sold by fee ads in newspapers or share with animal charities that MAWS supports. So much to do!. Then the strong winds moved the poly tunnel greenhouse that the garden sales are held under. So the volunteers added emergency repairs to their CV’s. What will they turn their hands to next one wonders.

The Summer Play for 2007 is a farce by Philip King.

‘See How They Run’ made its debut in 1945 and is one of the various farces which were very popular in this era. Just like the Whitehall farces this has all the ingredients of a rip-roaring comedy, playing on the old classic of mistaken identity, at its best.

Welcome to the first Library News of 2007. We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and send our best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2007. I hope you made (and kept!) lots of New Year resolutions – one of which might be to come along for yourself and see what we’re all about? Nationally issue figures are falling and Libraries, particularly lesser used ones, are in danger of becoming extinct so if you want YOUR local library to stay open, come along and use it! You will be assured of a warm welcome and we really don’t all wear twin sets and pearls, sensible shoes and half moon glasses!! In addition, as you will be aware, if you happen to venture in on either the first or third Friday of the month, between 2.15 and 2.45pm during our “lively” (noisy!!) storytime sessions, we don’t expect our borrowers to be quiet either!!

Everyone knows that "Prevention is better than cure" or that "in-hindsight we should have" and "if only". These are common phrases used everyday that are sometimes spoken after an incident where we can sit back and reflect on "never mind" and "Oh well".

Metheringham Fire Station urgently requires more people to train as Firefighters to work within the local community. If you are 18 or over, Male or Female and can answer Yes to any of the following questions,
Do you like a challenge?
Do you have commitment?
Would you like to learn new skills?
Would you like to help your community?
Would like to get paid for doing all of the above?
If you answered Yes to any of the above questions then please use the contacts below for more information and application forms.
Watch Manager Roy Darwood 01526 321489
Crew Manager Pete Leggett 01526 321473
Metheringham Fire Station on 01526 321933 (Monday Evenings 7-9pm).

The club re-opened after the Christmas break on the 10 January. The finances of the club were discussed and suggestions implemented. This was followed by a quiz.

On the 24 January, Debbie Lincoln a Herbalist from Metheringham gave a very interesting and informative talk. This was followed by a scrumptious tea to celebrate Betty Scott's birthday.

On the 7th February, the members enjoyed a talk on aromatherapy. On the 21st February, Brenda Webster gave a talk on the history of Heighington to which some of our members were able to make a small contribution.

The club meets every fortnight, anyone wishing to join must contact South Lincs Blind Society on 01476 592 775.

Patricia MacPherson

Have you ever wondered why people drown?

Could it happen to you or a member of your family? YES Unfortunately, drowning can happen to anybody. With the approach of that period of the year when most cases of drowning occur we eed ot be aware of the risks: where, how and whom.

Local Musician Julien Gash is now offering Electric Guitar and Singing
Tuition on Monday evenings at Metheringham Music Factory.
( The Barn, Fen Lane ) Well established for its soundproof rehearsal
rooms the barns are an ideal location for students from the surrounding
area.

As January floats on by, the clouds all scurry across the sky
The birds are singing early while in bed we still lay
And earlier each morning it gets lighter and lighter
As the clouds in the sky get higher and whiter

I am organising an exhibition of the history of Dunston village for the week-end of 23 -25 June with the help of my faithful band of warriors. This is instead of St. Peter’s annual flower festival. It will mainly centre on Dunston and Nocton Estate and is titled ‘All Our Yesterdays’.

I need help in finding old photographs of the village and people as far back as possible together with views of the surrounding area. Farming and the Nocton estate pictures would be most welcome. Has anyone got some old ladies hats for display as well as dresses tucked away in bottom drawers, that have not seen the light of day for a very long time? Newspaper cuttings with stories that will be interesting to today’s villager. Either give me a ring 323183 or tell anyone from St Peters who will pass the message on. Even if you have only one old picture it all helps o build up a picture of the history of our village. PLEASE HELP.
Stuart Rogerson.

Little is happening locally at the moment with the Dunston Twinning Association as most members are preparing for the trip to Trangè. Over the Easter Holiday 63 members will be visiting our friends in Trangè to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Twinning.

As we move through the year we will again be holding our annual Dunston Duck Race which will commence on The Green at 3.00 pm on Saturday 16th June. Stalls and various other attractions will open here from 2.30 pm so come along and join us.
Beth McLuckie

Next year will be our centenary year, so we are trying to raise funds for the celebration. With this in mind, at the end of March (Friday 30th March) we are to have a Lincolnshire Folk Evening, when everything except the tea and coffee, will be from Lincolnshire. We start the evening at 7.00pm in the Village Hall with a Sausage and Mash Supper followed by entertainment by Brian Dawson whose roots are in Metheringham.

Well another year begins and we hope sanity prevails and any cats needing it are neutered. A majority of the kittens we bring into care are from domestic pets and not, as is supposed, from strays and ferals. Help and advice is available so there’s no excuse. Thanks to Kirsty and Emma for their time given helping the needy cats. Thanks also to everyone who supported at ‘The Feast’, the funds raised were very helpful. Please call us or e mail if you see a cat needing help or you know of someone having problems.

Thank you. Brian (Lincoln Cat Care) brian.lewis8@ntlworld.com

Is it only just over a couple of months before the new cricket season start? The answer is yes. The weather will certainly have to improve dramatically before anyone would even start thinking about it. For Blankney Cricket Club it will be another exciting new venture for them as their week-end 2nd XI has left the Lincoln Saturday (Seconds) League and joined the South Lincs and Borders (Division Two).

Are You Interested In Learning To Communicate With Your Baby Before They Can Speak?????

Babies as young as six months old, living in Lincolnshire now have a new way
of making themselves understood, many months before they utter their first
word.

The Village Hall Committee has recently faced some major financial setbacks, including needing to replace the boiler which is now well past its ‘sell by date’. We are also constantly having to do repairs as a result of vandalism.

Programme for 2007

Saturday 31st March - Visitor centre opens for the 2007 season.

Wednesday 29th March - Lecture by Gp Capt F Dorien RAF (retd) 'My Flying Career in the RAF and USAF and conicidences.'

Wednesday 25th April - Lecture by Sqn Ldr M Pugh-Davies RAD 'Flying in Aghanistan'.

Metheringham WI continues to attract new members with two more
enrolled at the February meeting last week. The last few meetings have
been out of the normal routine as the December social was cancelled at
the last minute due to the vandalism to the Methodist Hall heating
system.

No doubt most people are aware that Parish Council Elections will be held on 3 May 2007 and nomination packs for anyone interested in standing for their Parish Council will be available from the elections Office at North Kesteven from the beginning of March.

South side of St Wilfrid’s closed Churchyard and Ancient Spring Site (Drury Street)

These two areas are moving on as nature and I intend –slowly- with both flora and fauna improving. Work is done according to seasonal need and weather and time allowing. In about 2 to 3 years hence these areas will have become safe and lovely places for local wildlife (of the non-human kind) and for the gentle art of watching and listening by the caring kind (human).

The Mobile Skate Park (provided by the Parish Council for local youngsters) will again be coming to the Star & Garter Car Park, Metheringham this year.

Dates as yet are unconfirmed but hopefully this facility will be here on three occasions during spring and summer. Check the Village Notice Board and the next issue of the magazine for dates and details

Calling all youngsters - The Metheringham Parish Council and Misson X would like to provide a Youth Shelter in the Village - can youngsters go onto the macla website and advise as to where they would like it situated.

Leasingham Village Hall, Sunday 20 May 2007

Doors Open 10.00am to 4.30pm - Admission - £1.00

Reflexology, acupressure, crystal healing, spirit healing, aura photographs, Stalls, Tarot readings, and Private Sittings with Mediums. There will also be a Demonstration of Mediumship

Gardeners are being warned against cutting back their hedges and climbing plants too early in the year.
The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (01507 526667) as issued a warning to everyone working on their gardens to give consideration to nesting birds.
During the bird-breeding season many have built their nests in garden hedges and the Trust is issuing a warning that it is a criminal offence to cut back plant life which might damage the nest or birds themselves. The Trust is suggesting that gardeners should wait until the end of the bird breeding season before they start cutting back their hedges or trees.
For further information contact the Trust on 01507 526667.
Should you wish to report incidents of negligence—contact Lincolnshire Police on 01522 532222 or ring 01522 558684.

Parish Council Planning meetings in relation to your village are held on the second Wednesday of each month in St Wilfrid’s Church Hall, Church Walk from 7.30 pm onwards. These meetings are only held when there are issues to be addressed. All interested parties are more than welcome to attend as it is your village and you may have a valid point to raise. For further information contact Mrs Jenni Honisett (Vice Chairperson) 01526 320968

Summer Sessions of Mission X will be held in Metheringham Methodist Chapel Hall between 7.00 - 8.30 pm on alternative Fridays on the following dates:
20 April
4 May
18 May
1 June
15 June
29 June
13 July
27 July

for further information contact Nikki Williams on 01526 322305