Little Staughton Village Newsletter On-Line
The Last Monthly Newsletter as delivered around the village
Contact details at the bottom of this page if you wish to contribute to the village newsletter
Little Staughton News
January 2012
A HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all and I trust the Christmas festivities have been peaceful and passed without too many challenges!
Many thanks to Sandy Moor for arranging the Village Christmas card. This is great support by all who contribute to the charity that is selected each year. See details below. Thanks Sandy.
I am sure that there will be many challenges in the year ahead in the village. But one for the first will be to get the Speed Limits reduced. The petition was presented to the last full council meeting in December and will be debated at the next meeting on 11th January. We are still hopeful of a positive outcome.
Each month there is an update from the Neighbourhood Watch team, which is useful. However one of the services provided by the Police is the Ringmaster service. You can sign up for the notification of events from Ringmaster. Either Google “Bedfordshire Ringmaster” or go to http://www.safer-beds.org/rmwebportal/startup.aspx?selectedtab=home&tabstate=portal
This newsletter does contain several events that will be happening over the next few weeks, and I am sure that there are many more to come during the year. If you would like toi have your say about life of events in the village than pleas do contact the Editor – Jeannette will be very pleased to hear from you.
January is generally recognised as the coldest and darkest month of the year. At times it does seem to be never ending after all the celebrations of the New Year, and bright lights. Let’s hope this year it is not too cold, but cold enough. And even though the day light hours will lengthen, hopefully they will be graced with stunning sun sets and dry weather.
Enjoy the year.
The Village Christmas card raised £612 for the Bedford Alzheimer’s society. Thank you to all of you who contributed and for Sandy Moor for organising the electronic charity card.
Services
o 8 January Little Staughton Epiphany
Celebrant: Rev Ron Ingamells
o 15 January Bolnhurst Epiphany II
Celebrant: Rev Derek Draper
o
22 January Little
Staughton Epiphany III
All Age Worship Led by Nigel Bastin
o 29 January Bolnhurst Epiphany IV
Celebrant: Rev Derek Draper
o
5 February Little
Staughton
Third before Lent Celebrant: Rev Derek Draper
Heating
The new heating system is now installed and needs to be put to the test, so please come along to a service and try it out.
South Aisle floor
Repairs to the floor at the west end of the south aisle should be completed by the time you read this. We now have a 'social' area free of pews where we can gather after services for coffee, etc. It will also provide a children's area.
Proposed move from the Diocese of St Albans to the Diocese of Ely
Below is an important notice from Jane Kneeshaw and Andrew Norfolk (Chuchwardens of Little Staughton and Bolnhurst Churches).
All Saints’ Church, Little Staughton and St Dunstan’s, Bolnhurst have been without an incumbent for 10 years. We are now in our third term of suspension which means that we will remain in this state for a further 5 years and there is little prospect of us having an incumbent at the end of this period.
Revds. Derek Draper and Ron Ingamells have both given us regular support with some of our services and Rev. Derek has also given us pastoral support for which we are very grateful, but they are both retired and this support has always been a short term arrangement.
With the help, support and advice of Rev. Derek and the support of the Bishop of Bedford and our Archdeacon, we have started the process of making a formal approach to be part of the St Andrew’s - Great Staughton, Hail Weston and Southoe - group of parishes. Both of our PCCs and the present incumbent of the Great Staughton group and their churchwardens are fully supportive of this move.
Clearly, if this move is to happen, it will bring with it both benefits and implications.The benefits are that we would, at last, have an incumbent who would take regular services at both of our churches and would also provide us with pastoral support. Ely is very much a rural diocese and has much experience and understanding of the rural situation.
The implications are that there would be financial ramifications and that we would move from the Diocese of St Albans into the Diocese of Ely. It is hoped to make this move with the goodwill and support of both congregations and to this end, the churchwardens of All Saints’ and St Dunstan’s will hold a meeting and endeavour to answer any questions following the service on 22nd January 2012 at All Saints’, Little Staughton.
Friends' Annual Dinner
Saturday 4th February,
Little Staughton Village Hall.
Tickets £22.50
from Bernard Hopperton on 01234 376292.
Church Lighting
The church was lit in December by Dee and Jez Last for their grandchildren. Sonny Woodhams celebrated his wife Wins 70th Birthday with a kind donation. Vicki Airs remembered her father Jim Griffiths who loved Little Staughton. And Ken Shackleton lit the church in memory of his sister Ruth. A very big thank you to everyone who has illuminated the church this year and we look forward to hearing from you again in 2012. If you would like to light the church for a minimum donation of £10, please contact Gill Shaw on 376530.
Wednesday Morning Meeting
A short time of
fellowship each Wednesday morning, followed by refreshments.
All welcome
Livewires
Livewires will start again on Thursday, 5th January,
6.15pm - 7.15pm.
All children aged 5 to 11 years welcome.
Afternoon Tea and Cards
If you like playing cards or
talking or both, come to the
Village Hall
2.30 to 3.30pm
Friday 13th January
£1.00 Admission
Tea, coffee and biscuits
Bring your own cards
Everyone Welcome
Christmas Dance
Thank you to everyone who helped contribute towards this most enjoyable evening; in particular to Malcolm Baker and his band of willing chefs for preparing such a delicious supper and to The Crown for supplying the beer.
Thank you also to Top End Village Stores for so generously donating the Christmas Tree which was enjoyed by all Hall users over the festive season.
Comedy Evening
Saturday 10th March, come and join us for an evening of fun and laughter.
Check out menus and events on the new website:
Monday Quiz Nights
There is a fortnightly quiz at The Crown. Entry fee is £2 per person and the quiz will start at 8.15 pm. Why not get a team together (up to 4 in a team) and come along and have a go. If you don't have a team - turn up anyway and you can join a team on the night. If you don't want to take part in a team answering the questions then, how about trying your hand at setting a quiz
The regular Quiz starts on Monday 9th January 2012, and is then every fortnight.
For more details contact Mary Hopperton on 376515 or Maria at the Crown on 376260.
Proposed Temporary Road Closure – Bushmead Road, Colmworth/Staploe
Reason: Carriageway patching.
Length Affected: From Colmworth Road, Little Staughton to the county boundary.
Date: The closure is anticipated to be in operation from Monday 6th February to Wednesday 8th February 2012, between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm – Specific dates will be advertised locally closer to the time – Where possible access will be maintained to property and premises but may be restricted from time to time according to local signing.
Alternative Route: Proceed in a northerly direction along Colmworth Road, continuing onto Spring Hill and then Green End Road to Staughton Road. Turn right and proceed through Great Staughton to The Highway (B645). Turn right onto the B645 and continue to the mini-roundabout adjoining Crosshall Road and Great North Road, Eaton Ford. Take the 2nd exit onto Great North Road and continue to the mini-roundabout adjoining Bushmead Road. Take the 2nd exit onto Bushmead Road and continue to site, and vice versa.
Proposed Temporary Road Closure – Little Staughton Road, Colmworth
Road: Little Staughton Road, Colmworth.
Reason: Carriageway patching.
Length Affected: From Bolnhurst Road to Queens Road.
Date: The closure is anticipated to be in operation on Saturday 4th February 2012, between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm – Specific dates will be advertised locally closer to the time – Where possible access will be maintained to property and premises but may be restricted from time to time according to local signing.
Alternative Route: Proceed in a westerly direction along Bolnhurst Road to Kimbolton Road (B660). Turn left and continue to New Road, Colmworth. Turn left and continue to Church Road/Wilden Road. Turn left onto Church Road and continue to site, and vice versa.
If you would like further information on the Little Staughton First Responders contact Mike Sargeant (376458). Please note that our First Responders are covering 98% of the hours available every week and have now been fully operational for a year. Recently, our first set of Responders passed their annual reassessment; congratulations to them all.
Some tips from a burglar!
A burglar recently jailed for five years has drawn up a “checklist” of things which have stopped him from raiding homes:
· A dog or a sign warning of a dog
· Pebble drives or shingle patios
· Alarms, even if the external box is possibly a fake
· CCTV camera even if suspected as fake
· Wire on gates and anti-climb paint
· Well lit inside the house and out including motion sensor lights
Of the 70+ offences he committed he never had to force an entry. He entered through open windows, unlocked doors or premises that did not have one of his “deterrents”.
· More advice is available to you through your NHW Street Co-ordinator. When you sign up to NHW you receive a package which gives good advice, includes a permanent U V marker pen and stickers to go on doors and windows warning of security measures taken and advertises NHW.
· If you live in High Street, West End, Grays Grove or Colmworth Road up to The Moor, you have recently had a letter from your new Street Co-ordinator Tony Poulton. So far Tony has had a very limited response. If you want to be part of Little Staughton NHW do get in touch with him. If he has your email address you will get regular information about crimes or suspicious incidents not just in our village but in surrounding villages too. Contact him at a.poulton07@btinternet.com tel: 376380 or 3 The Old Allotments, West End.
· If you live in Green End, Spring Hill or Church Lane and still have not signed up to NHW then contact Mike Sargeant: m.sargeant442@btinternet.com tel: 376458 or Tree Tops, Spring Hill.
· It costs nothing to join NHW and you have everything to gain, especially living in a crime free village where everyone is looking out for each other and being alert to suspicious incidents. We have a good working relationship with our local PCSO Paul Jones and the policing team based at Riseley. Working together we can hope for a crime-free New Year in Little Staughton.
Crime statistics for the village for December were not available at time of going to press. They will be reported on next month.
Kymbrook Lower School are collecting Nestlé box tops for books. These can be found on Nestlé cereal boxes and they can be swapped for educational books for the school library. Please drop any tokens in to school or to Rachel Smith at Cherry Trees (three houses up from Roger's garage).
Just Ask is a free of charge service provided to the Bedford Borough villages. Its aim is to bridge the gap between those who may need help and the various organisations that are able to provide it.Village Agents can help you access the services and support you need.
You can invite your Village Agent to visit you in your own home, or you can talk to us by phone. All Village Agents are CBB checked and operate in the strictest confidence. Your Village Agent can help you find out about:
· .. feeling safer at home
· .. becoming healthier
· .. pensions and benefits
· .. support for carers
· .. transport options
· .. joining a local group
· .. finding a job
· .. local volunteering opportunities
· .. housing issues
· .. or anything else.
Just Ask your Village Agent if you need help to access the services and support, either by calling FREE on 0800 039 1234 or contact your local Village Agent, Carol Hurrell, on 07925 428323 (if no answer, leave a message, we will call you back)
January 9th Monday – Quiz night at the Crown, 8.30 pm, all welcome.
January 13th Friday – Afternoon Tea and Playing Cards; 2.30 to 3.30 pm, all welcome.
January 17th Tuesday – Parish Council Meeting, Village Hall, 7.30 pm, all welcome.
January 23rd Monday – Quiz night at the Crown, 8.30 pm, all welcome.
February 13th Monday – Quiz night at the Crown, 8.30 pm, all welcome.
February 21st Tuesday – Parish Council Meeting, Village Hall, 7.30 pm, all welcome.
February 27th Monday – Quiz night at the Crown, 8.30 pm, all welcome.
March 3rd Saturday - Annual Village Litter Pick
March 10th Saturday – Comedy Night – reserve tickets now from Village Hall Committee Members now
March 20th Tuesday – Parish Council Meeting, Village Hall, 7.30 pm, all welcome.
All copy for the February 2012 issue to
Jeanette Atkinson by post (Claydon, Spring Hill)
or email (jeanette@pjatkinson.plus.com)
by Friday 27th January
http://www.littlestaughtonvillage.co.uk