spratton parish newsletter december 2013
DESCRIPTION
News, views and events from the Northamptonshire countryside published every quarter by Spratton Parish CouncilTRANSCRIPT
News,&views&and&events&from&the&Northamptonshire&countryside&
published&every&quarter&by&Spra:on&Parish&Council&&(The&views&expressed&in&this&publica@on&are&those&of&contributors&&
and¬&of&the&Parish&Council&unless&specifically&stated.)&!www.spra'on.org.uk
Spra'on
Parish Newsletter December 2013
Neighbourhood&Plan&
Next&Steps&!Pocket&Park&Work&
Completed&!Revd&TaylorHCook’s&
Christmas&Message&!Cover&Designed&By&
Sophie&Copson
Clerk’s Tweets
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Welcome to the December 2013 edi3on of the Spra9on Parish Newsle9er and, on behalf of the Parish Council, let me start by wishing everyone in Spra9on a very happy Christmas and a prosperous, healthy and happy New Year.
WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR SPRATTON?IT’S BUDGET TIME!
The Parish Council is formula3ng its budget for 2014/15 and its strategy for next and future years. If you have any ideas about what you would like to see done in Spra9on to make it a be9er place to live, now is a good 3me to make your voice heard. Similarly, if you would like to support or help out with the development of any of the projects listed below, the Parish Council would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact me, Lynne Compton, by 31st December 2013 -‐ you can call me on 01604 880727 or email me at [email protected] or simply leave a comment on the website at www.spra9on.org.uk. Below are some of the ideas the Parish Council are already discussing:
• Speed reduc3on measures (e.g. purchase of fixed or mobile vehicle ac3vated speed warning signs)
• Improvements to the entrance of the village from Brixworth Road with rural signage and suitable flowering plants
• Forma3on of a Cinema Club• Crea3on of a Community Book Exchange• No3ceboard at East View Cemetery (showing burial fees and regula3ons)
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MOBILE LIBRARY -‐ SERVICE REVIEW
Mobile libraries are about more than just books -‐ you can obtain audio books, make council enquiries and bus pass applica3ons, all for free. The mobile library no longer stops in Spra9on due to lack of a9endance, but if enough people write in to request that the service is reinstated then we are assured it would be seriously considered. Please submit your request, or any other comments or sugges3ons about the mobile library service, to Melanie Khan at Northampton County Council on 0300 126 1000 or by email at [email protected] or via their website at www.northamptonshire.gov.uk
HIGHWAYS ISSUES
As reported in the last Newsle9er, a recent speed survey (undertaken by the Police on behalf of the Parish Council) showed that over 95% of vehicles were speeding as they entered Spra9on, with speeds oeen significantly in excess of the speed limit. Following on from this, the Parish Council is reques3ng that Northamptonshire County Council inves3gate measures to reduce speeds in the village. One possible measure involves a review of the Spra9on’s 20mph limit -‐ this is covered in more detail on page 9 of this Newsle9er. Other possible measures include:
• Changing the road priority on Brixworth Road (on entering the village from Brixworth)
• The purchase of Vehicle Ac3vated Signs • Pain3ng 30mph roundels on Brixworth Road to reinforce the limit• Removing or improving the effec3veness of the Sleeping Policeman speed humps
• Removing the central white lines in narrow parts of the village
Other improvements include repain3ng the zebra crossing (likely to be in the Spring) and replacing reflectors to the telegraph pole near Sauls (thanks to Councillor Pacey).
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BRIXWORTH ROAD PARKING
We’ve had a number of comments about inconsiderate parking on the Brixworth Road making life difficult for both motorists and pedestrians. Although the Parish Council accepts that there is limited parking in Spra9on, please could residents refrain from parking which obstructs visibility and pavements.
MILLENNIUM GARDEN
The refurbishment work on Millennium Garden has now been completed. The under performing roses have been removed, a tonne of soil condi3oner has been dug in (well done and thanks to Dave Cooke and Councillor Heaton -‐ it was good exercise!) and new shrubs have been planted. We hope everyone agrees that this is a vast improvement.
NEW STREETLIGHTING CONTRACTOR
We are pleased to inform you that aeer being let down by our previous service provider, new contractors have now been appointed. By the 3me you read this, those streetlights that have failed in recent months should have all been fixed. If you no3ce a streetlight that is not working properly, please contact the Parish Clerk.
PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS -‐ 22nd May 2014
Parish Council elec3ons for Spra9on are due to be held on 22nd May 2014. This is slightly later than usual to coincide with the European Parliamentary elec3ons. In the next Newsle9er we will publish details of how to be involved. If you would like to do something to help your community, this could be just the opportunity you've been wai3ng for!
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ROYAL BRITISH LEGION POPPY APPEAL
Thank you so much to everyone in the village who donated to this very worthwhile cause. Collec3ons in Spra9on raised £1503.01!
DAVENTRY DISTRICT COUNCIL COMMUNITY STRATEGYHave Your Say!
Daventry District Council is preparing a Community Strategy for the district on behalf of the Local Strategic Partnership (a group of representa3ves from local government, community and voluntary bodies, and the private sector). The Community Strategy is a key strategic document for the Council and its partners, sepng out the long term vision and key priori3es for the district. There is a public consulta3on on this document that started on 1st November and runs un3l Friday 24th January 2014.
You can make sure your opinions are heard by comple3ng a ques3onnaire that can be found at:
h9ps://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2014CommunityStrategy
Have you got any special skills?Can you spare just a few hours?
Do you want to help your community?
If the answer is YES to any of these questions please visit www.spratton.org.uk
and put your details on the Spratton Volunteering Forum. Your details will be
circulated to relevant village organisations.
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SPRATTON ANNUAL SOCIAL (aka Parish MeeRng 2014)
The date for this mee3ng has been set for Wednesday 7th May at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. This is a chance for villagers to discuss Parish ma9ers important to them, and for the Parish Council and Community Groups to update the community about their ac3vi3es and enjoy some refreshments together.
CONTACT THE PARISH COUNCIL
We are always eager to hear from the people of Spra9on about any issues, concerns or ideas to improve life in the village.
Here are some of the ways to get in touch:
‣ Call/email Lynne Compton, Parish Clerk: 01604-‐880727 or [email protected]‣ Facebook you can Message us, Post something or Like us at www.facebook.com/pages/Spra9on-‐Parish-‐Council/350035681721691‣ Visit the Website at Spra9on.org.uk and post a message‣ Use the Drop Box in Spra9on Village Stores to leave a note‣ Write to Lynne Compton, Parish Clerk: 12 Olde Forde Close, Brixworth NN6 9XF‣ A:end a Parish Council mee3ng—usually on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, 7.30pm in Spra9on Village Hall, School Road, Spra9on. The mee3ng agenda is always posted on the Parish no3ceboard opposite the shop.
Alterna3vely, you can talk to one of the Parish Councillors -‐ you’ll find their contact details in the box below:
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Lynne Compton, Parish Clerkfor and on behalf of Spra8on parish Council
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SpraVon Scout Group
Following the fundraising meal, held at The Chequers, Ravensthorpe, where we raised £450.00, Graham and Chris were able to take a total of £1600.00 to the Bwaise Schools, Uganda, from the Scout Group, which also included generous dona3ons from the people of Spra9on and surrounding villages. The schools were most apprecia3ve of the money and football shirts. Graham and Chris are safely back now and have lots of photographs and stories to share. There will be a report in the next edi3on of the Spra9on Parish Newsle9er.
A Group Christmas Fayre will take place on Thursday 5th December at 6.30pm in the Village Hall, where there will be fun stalls with lots of prizes. All proceeds to the Scout Group and Bwaise Schools.
The Group is arranging a ChrisRngle Service at St Andrews Church SpraVon on Thursday 12th December at 6.30pm. All village organisa3ons are welcome to a9end.
SpraVon Primary School Report
As Christmas fast approaches and I reflect on our Autumn Term, I can’t believe how fast 3me has flown and how much we have achieved in such a short space of 3me. Children across the school enjoyed a visit to the Brixworth Road Cemetery Pocket Park with John Hunt with some wonderful follow up work in various art mediums: clay, pastels and pain3ngs. Harvest fes3val seems a long 3me ago, children gave their dona3ons to the Hope Centre in Northampton and gained a be9er understanding of what it means and how it might feel to be homeless. Our World of Work topic has led to a wealth of knowledge, understanding and skills being shared in school. I would like to extend my thanks to the Nourish Catering Staff, the Magistrates, the Air Ambulance, the Fire Service and the Community Police. We have also enjoyed a visit from the author Jack Trelawny; wore pyjamas to raise money for Children in Need and par3cipated in the NSPCC’s Math’s Day. Our collec3on at the Christmas Produc3on will go to the NSPCC.
As I write this, the final prepara3ons for our Christmas Fayre on Thursday 28th November are being put together. Thank you to all those who supported this event, the money raised is always gratefully received to support the purchasing of school resources.
The children and staff are busy preparing for our school Christmas celebra3ons. These all fall in the week beginning the 16th December and include our Christmas Produc3on ‘Na3vity – it takes a village’; a visit to the Castle Theatre at Wellingborough to see 101 Dalma3ons and for those wan3ng to join in, a whole school tradi3onal Christmas Dinner. We finish the week with a Christmas Church Service on Friday 20th December at 9:30 at St. Andrews; I would like to invite everyone from the community to join us.
Over the last few weeks we have run a compe33on in school asking the children to design a front cover for the December edi3on of the Spra9on Parish Newsle9er. Thank you to Barry Frenchman, Lynne Compton and Tim Forster who judged the compe33on. They found it very difficult to choose a winner from all 3 classes and then even more challenging to determine an overall winner as the
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standard from all the children was so high. So much so, we have decided to have 3 different covers printed for the December Newsle9er -‐ hopefully you’ll like the version you receive! Well done to the winners from each class:
Class 1 – Cassia Bradley Class 2 – S?rling Green Class 3 – Sophie Copson
The winners will be presented with a prize in a celebra3on assembly in school. Thanks to Simon at Spra9on Village Stores for kindly dona3ng the prizes.
We have recep3on places available for September 2014 and warmly welcome visits to the school. Please feel free to a9end our open day or contact me either through the school office on 01604 846530 or by email: head@spra9on-‐ce.northants-‐ecl.gov.uk .To find out more about school life please visit our website at www.spra9onprimary.net Each class has their own blog, some pupils have individual blogs and there is space to write a comment too. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I look forward to a prosperous 2014.
Mrs Sarah Stoppani, Headteacher
Forthcoming Primary School events -‐ all are welcome:Forthcoming Primary School events -‐ all are welcome:
Christmas produc3on -‐ extended to the elderly of the village community
Tuesday 17th December at 2.00pm in school, refreshments aeerwards
Christmas Service at St. Andrew’s Church Friday 20th December at 9.30am
Open Day Wednesday 8th January from9.30am un3l 3.00pm
Speeding in SpraVonShould we keep the 20mph limit?
The recent speed survey, conducted by the Police for the Parish Council, showed that 95% of traffic entering or exi3ng the village on the Brixworth Road was exceeding the legal speed limit.
We have a problem that the Police cannot prosecute in a 20mph limit so we are proposing that we reinstate the 30mph limit throughout the village, s3ll retaining road humps to slow the traffic. This change will allow the Police to enforce the limit and prosecute offending motorists. It will also make it possible to have a Speedwatch programme in the village.
We need your views on this before we go any further. Please email your comments to me [email protected] or the Parish Clerk [email protected]
Thanks in advance for your valuable input.Mark Pacey
Chairman of the Parish Council Highways Advisory Group
We Need Your Help!Can you spare just 2 hours, once a year?
We need volunteers to clean our Church -‐ in pairs, once a year on a rota basis. It really doesn’t take long and is simply a ma9er of vacuuming the carpeted areas, clearing the cobwebs and sweeping the pews. Please contact the Spra9on PCC secretary with your name and phone number as soon as possible. Please spare just 2 hours a year, that’s all it takes! We look forward to hearing from you.
The PCC Secretary is Linda Fletcher, you can call her on 01604 821617 or email [email protected]
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NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
Firstly, we would like to thank the large number of people who a9ended the consulta3on over the weekend of the 9th & 10th November. 210 parishioners, 22 percent of those on the electoral register, came to the Village Hall, and this represents an excellent level of community engagement.
The process s3ll has some way to go, and the key milestones are as follows
• Launch of the Drae Neighbourhood Plan On Sunday aeernoon 2nd February 2014, there will be a public mee3ng in the Village Hall at 2.30pm when the conclusion of the recent consulta3on will be announced and a summary of the drae Neighbourhood Plan will be presented. The mee3ng will then be open to discussion and comments from anyone a9ending. A door drop and other publicity will announce this date in January.
• Independent inspec3on of our Neighbourhood PlanBy May, we hope to be ready to appoint the independent Examiner. The processes which the Plan has been through will be subjected to examina3on and the Examiner will have to be sa3sfied that we have carried out our consulta3ons in line with requirements and that the Plan meets certain basic condi3ons.
• ReferendumIf all goes well, Daventry District Council will then hold a referendum on our behalf. Everyone on the Electoral Register will be en3tled to vote and the referendum will be a simple Yes/No on whether parishioners approve our Plan. Our target is for this to take place in October 2014.
Tucked into this 3metable are two formal 6-‐week consulta3on periods.
The first of these will start in February, and will seek comments from parishioners, which will then be reviewed and incorporated within the drae Plan where appropriate. This process takes place before the Examiner is appointed. The second 6-‐week consulta3on period, run by Daventry District Council, starts shortly aeer the Examiner has been appointed. At the end of this second consulta3on period, the Plan is then ‘examined’ in public (around July) and following this the Examiner publishes their report and recommenda3ons, and these are incorporated in the Plan as appropriate.
Exhausted yet?!
This is quite a daun3ng process for the Parish Council but with the evident support and involvement of parishioners, the Parish Council is confident of a posi3ve outcome. Councillors were very encouraged by the very good atmosphere that prevailed at the recent consulta3on, and the seriousness with which parishioners addressed the issues.
This remains YOUR Plan. Thank you for your help so far.
Michael Heaton, Neighbourhood Plan Project Manager
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Make Your Children Your New Year’s Resolu?on
It’s coming up for the busiest 3me of the year for Spra9on resident Carol Moffi9, whose English and Maths tui3on centre welcomes scores of new students every New Year.
Carol, who set up First Class Learning in Kingsthorpe in 2012, runs aeer school tui3on classes every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and helps primary and secondary school children with everything from catching up and excelling to passing exams and improving at school.
“January and February has been my busiest recruitment 3me,” said Carol, who lives in Yew Tree Lane. “Many parents and their children start to focus on the year ahead and set new year resolu3ons to boost grades and confidence. That’s where we come in.”
Carol and her team have seen huge success this year, with a host of students, here are a few examples:
Jordan, 16, moved up two maths sets aeer nine months and in a recent test came top of her new set, she is now on track to get her GCSE in maths.
Seven-‐year-‐old Finn was struggling with sounds and could only recognise 14 le9ers when he started 9 months ago, he is now reading fluently and has mastered joined up wri3ng.
Bryony, 16, was not expected to get her GCSE in maths when she joined First Class Learning 12 months ago but is now sipng the higher paper in maths next summer.
Polly, 11, has had a new lease of life since joining First Class Learning. Her mum, Jessica, gave us this tes3monial:
“My 11 year old daughter is due to start secondary school in 2014 and I had un3l recently been concerned. Nine months ago she was graded and looked bound for the lower sets in her new school. How would she remain confident
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and interested, let alone determined to succeed if she was placed in the lower bands? All has now changed. Polly has been with First Class Learning for just over a year and at her primary school tests this week she was graded as soaring two whole grade bands.
She has just under a year un3l 'big' school and she is already on track for the upper sets ... s3ll a way to go but her confidence has rocketed and what is more special is that she is excited, proud and happy with achieving good grades. That simply didn't happen before. Thank you to Carol and her team at First Class Learning.”
First Class Learning runs aeer school classes every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Pastures Community Centre in Kingsthorpe, with children a9ending once a week.
To find out more contact Carol MoffiV at First Class Learning on 01604 315191 or email [email protected] and visit www.firstclasslearning.co.uk
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Another mum, from Pitsford, has seen her two primary school children go from a slow start to soaring success.
"When my son started falling below average in Maths and English at school I was at a loss as to how I was going to help him. Finding Carol and her team has lieed that pressure by providing structured homework that is delivered in very short daily bursts. This approach makes it manageable and easy to fit into our daily rou3ne.
“The homework is con3nually assessed and adjusted in order to bring my children on in these core subjects -‐ this bespoke approach is something I find lacking in school.
“Carol and the team build the children up to meet their goals in an intensely posi3ve and rewarding atmosphere. My kids pre9y much bound in to the classroom to start their session, which is something I never thought I would see!"
Making Northamptonshire The Safest Place in England
It is the aim of Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commission to make our county the safest place in England. We would like the views of the community on the following:
• Whether we are working on the right police and crime priori3es• Any issues you may have in your local area• What can be done to improve your feeling of safety
Your feedback will inform the work undertaken by the Police and Crime Commission and Community Safety Partnerships across the county, which are made up from Northants Police, local councils, the NHS and others. The survey can be found at: h9ps://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SafestPlaceinEngland
If you have any ques3ons, please call Marie Rose, Consulta3on Advisor on 101 (Police non-‐emergency number) extension 346864.
Home Fire Safety Check for Elderly
Residents
Happy At Home (part of the Daventry Volunteer Centre), working in partnership with the Northamptonshire Fire Service, are offering a free Home Fire Safety Checks for elderly residents.
For more informa3on, or to arrange for a qualified person to visit your home to conduct a Fire Safety Check, please call 01327 300614
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Christmas & New Year Opening HoursChristmas & New Year Opening Hours
Monday 23rd December 7am-‐6pm
Tuesday 24th December 7am-‐5pm
Christmas Day Closed
Boxing Day Closed
Friday 27th December 8am-‐6pm
Saturday 28th December 7.30am-‐7.30pm
Sunday 29th December 8am-‐12 noon
Monday 30th December 8am-‐6pm
New Year’s Eve 8am-‐5pm
New Year’s Day 9am-‐12 noon
Spratton Village StoresChristmas 2013
Come in and look at:
✴ Our range of Christmas Cards, Wrapping Paper and Christmas
“Goodies”
✴ Our 3 weekly LONDIS promotions
✴ LONDIS promotions in THE SUN newspaper w/c 9th December including
offers on various Wines & Spirits
Simon, Sarah and all the staff wish all of our customers a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
Lunch Club Report
Time seems to be flying by and we have now had three lunches in Cafe Doris, which all have been well a9ended and according to feedback received they have been very enjoyable. The success and many thanks must go to the ladies of the WI who have helped prepare the tables, serve the food and washed the dishes together with AbFab (Tracey) for cooking and delivering the lunch.
To clarify the situa3on you will no3ce on the opposite page that there is an advert for an invita3on to tender for providing lunches in the new year. We have been advised and that this is a legal necessity, as the Parish Council is a public body they are required to put out to tender service contracts. We have now formed an Advisory Commi9ee, we will endeavour to keep the cost of the lunch low and con3nue into next year as we have ended this year.
The monthly raffle is proving invaluable, covering our extra costs such as hea3ng in the church and necessary miscellaneous items. Our special thanks must go to Mrs Frances Roseblade, Mrs Babs Wykes, Mr and Mrs Ron Collins for their gies. Please if anyone has an unwanted gie suitable for a prize it would be most welcome.
Our Christmas Lunch on 10th December is almost fully booked, so if you have not already put your name down you will need to do so quickly to reserve a place. Please ring Jay Tindale 946251 or Carol Constable 846252
Jay Tindale
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Although AbFab (Tracey) has done a marvellous job in feeding us all at the Lunch Club. we have been advised that contracts for services should be put out to tender.
Offers are invited from suitably quali ied persons (with relevant Food Hygiene Certi icates) to provide and
deliver on the third Tuesday of each month to Cafe Doris, St Andrews Church, a lunch consisting of a hot main course, dessert, tea or coffee for a maximum of 36 covers. Please note, there is no kitchen, therefore all food will need to be prepared on your own premises. Assistance with serving the food will be provided by Spratton Women’s Institute volunteers.
Tenders to be received by not later than: 5.00pm, Friday, 3rd January 2014.
For further information please telephone 01604 946251 or email: [email protected]
Jay Tindale, Spratton Lunch Club “The Cottage”, 6 Manor Road
Spratton, NN6 8HN
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Work Complete On Pocket Park
The new Pocket Park at the old Brixworth Road Cemetery Wildlife Remembrance Garden is now complete. Local stonemason Tim Foster has finished the stone work on the walls and the railings are back in place. The rather difficult carpentry work needed on the 110
year old Lychgate has also been done, the joints of which had sprung apart and needed restora3on.
The paths are complete, the two new benches in place, the Interpreta3on Board (shown here) erected and the long grass mown ready for the wild flowers to come again in the spring. The last job is to paint the railings but this will need a week or so of dry frost free weather.
There are a few hip 3les that are to be replaced on the lychgate roof which again needs reasonable weather. The Lo9ery fund require us to
fix a small no3ce, that they will provide, acknowledging their contribu3on.
The last flowers to appear were t h e N a k e d L a d i e s . O u r Contractor has now raked and cleared the Pocket Park ready for the winter.
There will be a formal opening event on 14th June 2014 so look out for details in the next Newsle9er.
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Pocket Park AcRviRes
The pupils of the Spra9on Primary School were a model audience when I gave a presenta3on about the Spra9on Pocket Park in assembly on 2nd October. When I started to demonstrate the biodiversity and each species being dependent on another in the food chain, I soon discovered that they had already learnt about that in class and were eager to see for
themselves what was going on in the Pocket Park. So the following week I lead an enthus ias3c troop being classes 2 and 3, down to the Pocket Park via the field of Graham Smith who had kindly permi9ed access. The first adventure was the mass climbing over a
previously forbidden fence at the bo9om of the school field and immediately coming across a giant Puff Ball which gave out clouds of smoke-‐like pores to the delight of the children. I had hidden a series of bird photographs in the hedges on the way down for the children to find and although it wasn’t quite the normal serene kind of Bill Oddie birdwatching – a great 3me was had by all in discovering the pictures. On finally reaching the Pocket Park, even more fun discoveries were made. Some sharp eyed sleuth found badger hair on the bo9om wire of a fence and then other evidence of badger ac3vity appeared in the form of tracks through the hedge and a badger loo!
Dave Cooke, the man who started the wildlife garden in the Pocket Park, was on hand to give any advice about the plants and although the flowering season was over, the seeds for the next season were well in evidence. The ant hills were well studied and one of the highlights was the discovery of a Green Woodpecker dropping which was made up of the remains of the Woodpecker’s favourite food, ant skeletons!
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Back at school the children created a very impressive display of drawings, photographs and wri3ng about their visit to the Pocket Park and I received a good number of perfectly wri9en le9ers of thanks with descrip3ons of what the children enjoyed with one comment saying that the Queen would enjoy a visit there!
Badger Walk and Bug Walk
In October these two walks were scheduled for the public and both took place at the Pocket Park with the Badger Walk ending on the land of Chris and Fiona Cox who had kindly permi9ed access. The weather was not kind on both walks and whilst we did not see a badger we did see a fox, heard the owls and enjoyed the an3cipa3on. Hopefully the weather will be be9er on the next occasion.
John Hunt
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Natural Spratton - Call To Action!!Jubilee Wood and Pocket Park
Both projects are moving ahead very successfully and we now need more volunteers to help maintain the wild flowers and
young trees whenever you have time.
If you can spare an hour or two now and again, please call John Hunt on 846705 or email [email protected] Thanks.
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Get To Know Your Parish Council
10 Ques?ons for Mark Pacey
In each edi3on of the Spra9on Parish Newsle9er we’ll focus on one Councillor, so that villagers know a bit more about the small group of local men and women that make up Spra9on Parish Council.
First to spill the beans is Councillor Mark Pacey.
How long have you lived here in SpraVon?I have now lived here for 15 years.
What do you do for a living?I run a small haulage company down the Teeton Road, carrying cereal products from the local farms to local cereal and flour mills.
Do you have a family?I live with my wife, Melanie (married for 14 years but we lived in sin for ten years just to make sure she was the right one) and my daughter Elise who is now 13. Melanie and Elise are regularly seen out on their horses around Spra9on.
Why do you live in SpraVon?We moved to Spra9on because we come from Hollowell originally so we like rural life.
What do you like about SpraVon?It is close to my business and the village has lots of good ameni3es. It has stayed rela3vely small which s3ll gives it a village feeling.
What don’t you like about SpraVon?Being Chairman of the Parish Council’s Highways Advisory Group, I would have to say speeding on the Brixworth Road. Apart from that, not a lot really!
What do you do to relax?To relax, I take myself off to the workshop, lock the gate, shut the door and just spend some 3me on my own, building engines or just building anything that I put my mind to.
Do you play or watch sport?I play ski9les twice a week with t h e f o o t b a l l c l u b o n a Wednesday and Friday through the winter, I've been involved heavily in a motor sport called Tractor Pulling for the last 28 years. They call it "The world’s most powerful motorsport"
with engine combina3ons up to 12,000 horsepower. Myself and daughter Elise both compete. Elise competes in the smaller class with horsepower up to 750hp. We are currently building a new tractor which will house three engines, eventually producing somewhere around 5,000 horsepower. We travel around the countryside in a coach we converted to carry the tractors, which also has f u l l s l e e p i n g a n d l i v i n g accommoda3on.
Why did you join the Parish Council?To get more involved in the village and try to have an input for the people of Spra9on.
Finally, what would you like for Christmas?A few beers, some 3me at home and a li9le bit of snow if someone can arrange it would be good -‐ as a family we do love sledging.
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Members who came to the social evening on Monday 2 December will know what lies in store for 2014. Those who did not will find out when they pay their subscrip3on, due in January to your ‘collector’ who will call on you in the normal way.
We welcome new members, please contact Michael Heaton at 6 Yew Tree Lane or 846032. The annual subscrip3on is only £2 and for this we arrange four talks (£2 payable on the night), two coach ou3ngs, two self-‐drive ou3ngs and two social events.
As I did last year, so here are a few words of gardening wisdom.
• New gardeners learn by trowel and error.• A man should never plant a garden larger than his wife can take care of.• Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not pupng it into a fruit salad • When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily it is a valuable plant.
Michael Heaton
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Message Regarding Rev’d Mark BaTson
“The Bishop is very sorry to announce that the Revd Mark Bapson has given no3ce of his inten3on to resign as Rector of the Uplands Benefice on health grounds. With great regret, the Bishop has accepted this and agreed that Mark will not return to ministry in the benefice.”
The Rev’d Andrew Taylor-‐Cook will be leading the Uplands Benefice unRl a new Rector can be appointed.
For all Benefice enquires please contact :Valerie J KerrCoordinator/Administrator of the Uplands Group of Parishes 01604-‐743444 07956-‐[email protected]
Rev’d Andrew’s contact details are as follows:
The Rev'd Andrew Taylor-‐CookAssistant Priest (Ac3ng Vicar) with the Uplands Group of Parishes & Chaplain amongst Deaf People The Vicarage2 Church RoadSpra9onNorthantsNN6 8HR Tel/Fax: 01604 843215Mob/txt: 07840 848123Email: [email protected]
Christmas Message From Reverend Andrew Taylor-‐Cook
Each one of us I am sure has a favourite Christmas Carol or Hymn that speaks to us deeply and profoundly. Whether it takes you back to your childhood or to a par3cular year -‐ it’s the Carol or Hymn that helps make Christmas for you. My favourite Hymn has always been: O’ come, O’ come, Emmanuel…it is the hymn that starts the Christmas journey off for me. I just love to hear the beau3ful haun3ng sound of the Choir as they sing these long awaited words. When I was in Bethlehem visi3ng the Church of the Na3vity in January 2011, I heard those beau3ful and haun3ng words being sung by a group of priests and people inside the Church -‐ a sound that will stay with me for ever.
But Christmas as a whole has a new depth and meaning for me since my trip to the Holy Land, because I’ve actually stood where Jesus was born. Not only that, I have touched the stone-‐slab on the stable floor where Jesus was laid in the manger. I was there -‐ in Bethlehem, and as close as one can possibly get to Jesus’ place of birth. I can s3ll visualise the day; the people; the building; the music; the smells and so on. I remember standing in the Shepherd’s Fields too, for it is here that the shepherds were told by the Angel of God that on this day, the Messiah, a baby lying in the manger, wrapped in bands of cloth, shall be born. (Luke 2: 8-‐14) I have sung ‘While Shepherds Watch their flocks by night’, whilst standing in the Shepherd’s Fields, and have also sung ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’ in one of the side chapels in the Church of the Na3vity. Wonderful memories, that, I shall for ever cherish. Memories that are sparked off by singing: O’ come, O’ come, Emmanuel’. All of which leads me to ask you: what is your favourite Christmas Carol or Hymn I wonder? What memories does it provoke in you?
Whatever your plans are this Christmas, I hope and pray that you have a wonderful and peaceful 3me. Please look out for our Christmas Services and events across the Uplands Benefice and pop along if you can -‐ for it would be really good to see you! Who knows, we may even be singing your favourite Carol or Hymn. Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a most blessed New Year.
Andrew26
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St Andrew’s Community Project
Café Doris ConRnues To Serve The Village
Regular opening 3mes for Café Doris are every Tuesday and Thursday mornings in St Andrew’s Church. In December the regular openings will reduce because of other events in church, so watch out for our pavement signs to see if we are open on any par3cular day. However, instead, on the 3 Saturdays before Christmas in December we shall experiment with a coffee club in the mornings – 3me to read your newspapers in peace perhaps, have a chat, and enjoy a special coffee and hot mince pie (who knows maybe even a freshly baked croissant from the Village Stores if Simon gets enough interest from you).
November has been a busy and successful month for various reasons, we have been trying various types of freshly ground coffee beans, some more popular than others of course. And there has been a regular supply of scrump3ous cake…thank you ladies, very much indeed, you know who you all are and we extremely grateful to you.
Come along and join us, stay and meet villagers and guests, see what’s going on -‐ all ages welcome whether in a group or on your own, & we will make sure you enjoy the experience.
Tell us about your preferences and we will prepare coffees & teas to your own liking. We are so convinced about the quality of our drinks, that we promise to change or replace anything free of charge, and of course, all refills are only £0.50p. Remember this is a volunteer run, non-‐profit making community resource, so keep coming and we will con3nue to enjoy serving you.
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On the lee: Marianne, volunteer barista
extraordinaire
On the right:An example of one of our
Signature Specials
How could you resist!!!
Other local events are con3nuing to make successful use of the resources which Café Doris can offer.
For example, the recent Mothers Union Wheels Appeal Coffee Morning on Sat 9th November was very well supported, and the Messy Church family event on Sunday 17th November (pictured) to name but two of the more interes3ng and diverse community events.
We con3nue to seek approvals for our proposed new eco-‐friendly hea3ng system; a Faculty Applica3on has now been submi9ed to the Peterborough Diocese and a preliminary mee3ng held with English Heritage and a Daventry Historic Buildings advisor. Addi3onal grand-‐aid support is also being pursued from various sources. Its early days, we are hopeful and we will keep you posted of our progress. All this is being done of course, to help our on-‐going and beneficial enjoyment of the facili3es throughout the winter months.
David Benne8, Team Leader Café Doris Contact Tel no: 821785
MESSY CHURCH
Lee and right:Singalong
Below:Grubs up!
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W.I. Report
Commi9ee members dressed up as 1920 style waitresses on Sunday, 22nd September, to serve tea and cakes to members and invited guests at St Andrews Church, Spra9on. A short talk was given by Carol Constable, cur rent P res ident , wh ich included some history of the organisa3on as a whole and in the village. Photographs taken over many years were displayed as well as various items of interest to look at. Guests, including our County Chairman, Shirley Corked, were entertained by Debbie Atkinson, whose beau3ful voice sang songs to celebrate the era when the Women’s Ins3tute was started in Spra9on, 90 years ago. This was followed by tea and cake served in lovely china tea sets. A very pleasant aeernoon was enjoyed in the beau3ful surroundings of this historic church.
Debbie Atkinson entertains
L to R Carol Constable,Pauline Shaw, Jean Sutch, Hazel Petersen, Meg Price, Ruth Jones, Cherril Hammond, Pat Polak
On Tuesday 12th November Douglas Maddy, a very talented Magician, entertained us with some amazing magic and showed how people can be tricked into seeing things in a way that altars their percep3on of what they see.
Future W I Events:Tuesday 10th December ~ Amanda Pickard ~ “War3me Christmas”
Friday 17th January 2014 ~ “ Members Annual Dinner” at The Kings Head, Spra9on.
Mee#ngs are held every second Tuesday in the Village Hall at 7.30 pm. New members are very welcome to come along and join us as we get to know other ladies in the village and have an enjoyable night out. If you would like to come along a couple of #mes for free we would love to see you.
Carol Constable
Cupng the 90th Anniversary Cake L to R Past Presidents Anne Townsend, Frances Roseblade, Cherril Hammond (who made the cake) and current President Carol Constable
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SPRATTON W.I. OUR STORY 1923 TO 2013
The year was 1923, the season it was spring.The Ladies of the manor said, “We’ve thought of just the thing.We’ve heard there is a group where village lady folk can come,
Where they can get together, once a month and have some fun.”“Let’s start one here in Spra9on”, was heard the eager cryAnd thus was formed our very own named Spra9on W I.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~“We need a hall”, said Lady M, “but money how to raise?”
They set to work with…. whist drives, jumble sales, dances, socials…….And aeer many days…
They had enough to pay. In 3me a wooden building fit For many years of village use and…weddings, par#es, dances,
shows, play school, keep fit, cub scouts, History Society and W I mee#ngs... were oeen held in it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~From Strength to strength the W I encouraged old and young.
To meet together in the hall, Jerusalem was sung Before each mee3ng once a month
And then a speaker would come on and talk of many things…Travels overseas, Home Nursing, An Elizabethan Housewife, Folklore,
How the Brain works, Ci#zenshipAnd many very good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Or demonstrators help us to acquire a useful skill
Like making baskets, hats, gloves, cards, Indian food, flower arrangements, line dancing….Or entertain us with a song, a sing along un3l
A welcome break, a friend to make, refreshment 3me had comeAnd then the business of the day, when everything is done
To plan our… dinners, ou#ngs, par#es, courses, craQ fair… but mostly have some fun.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now so much 3me has come and gone and ninety years have passedSince Spra9on started WI. How has it gone so fast?
A Hall was built, a war was won, and raising lots of moneyTook place, to keep the Hall from falling down. It wasn’t funny.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Today it is the Village Hall, no longer W I
It’s someone else’s problem now and “Thank goodness!” we cry.Let’s make the many years ahead be like the many gone –
Filled up with things to learn and makeAnd tea to drink and cakes to bakeAnd friends to meet and trips to take
And on and on and on.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So we thank our sister members from over all the yearsAnd raise our glasses readily to wish a hearty, “ Cheers!”
Carol Constable 201332
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Wednesday 18th December 2013“Spra9on in WW1”Members will talk about the village in 1914-‐18 and launch a research project on the 132 young men from Spra9on who enlisted in the Army, the Navy or the Royal Flying Corps. If you are interested in helping with the research, do please come along to the mee3ng. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served.
Wednesday 19th February 2014“Excava3ons at Northampton Castle 2013”A talk by Andy Chapman of Northamptonshire Archaeology. Come and find out what has been found on the Northampton Sta3on redevelopment site.
SpraVon Local History Society
Mee3ngs take place at the Village Hall, Spra9on at 8.00pm
Everyone is welcome!Members £2.00
Non-‐members £3.00
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Ideas for Christmas presents‘Spra9on -‐ A Village History’ £8
‘Memories of Old Spra9on’ £8 ‘Life in Spra9on 1911’ £9.50
All published by Spra9on Local History Society Obtainable from [email protected] 01604 821260
The next issue of the SpraVon Parish NewseVer will be published in March 2014. The copy date for editorial and adver3sements is
Monday 17th February
Adver3sing costs per annum (4 issues)Quarter page £20Half page £40
Please contact the editor, Tim Forster 07979 705910 [email protected]
Sausage Quiz ResultsThanks to everyone who entered Martyn’s fiendishly difficult sausage quiz in the last issue. The lucky winner was Jo Rutherford who wins a £20 Sauls voucher towards Christmas fayre!
For those people who have been unable to sleep for 3 months wai3ng for the answers, here they are:
Q. In 320 AD the Catholic Church banned the ea3ng of sausages. Why was this? A. They were linked to pagan fes?vals
Q. Under which king’s reign were sausages first divided into links? A. Charles 1
Q. Which famous criminal of the 18th century worked as a butcher? A. Dick Turpin
Q. Which is Britain’s oldest recognised pig breed? A. Berkshire
Q. What breed of pig is also known as the Orchard or Co9agers pig? A. Gloucester Old Spot
Q. During World War 1 Frankfurters were given a new name, what was it? A. Liberty Sausage
Q. Why were Germans banned from ea3ng sausages during World War 1? A. Cows intes?nes were needed to build Zeppelins
Q. Why were sausages nicknamed bangers during World War 2? A. They o`en split due to too much water
Q. Which members of our present day royalty keep Gloucester Old Spots? A. HRH The Prince of Wales and The Princess Royal
Q. The earliest known men3on of sausages is in a play da3ng back to the 5th Century, by whom? A. Aristophanes
Q. What shape is a tradi3onal Cumberland sausage? A. Coiled
Q. What is a Glamorgan sausage? A. Welsh vegetarian sausage
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Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year from all of us
at Sauls
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