The REEVE’S TALE    Feb 2009      NOTICE BOARD

 

Bawdeswell Post Office

When the Post Office closed in Bawdeswell, the Parish Council pursued the provision of alternative arrangements with Post Office Ltd.  It became clear that a purely commercial venture would not be viable.  The Parish Council was able to negotiate the re-opening of a Post Office in Bawdeswell as a result of co-operation between Post Office Ltd, Bawdeswell Church and Bawdeswell Parish Council.  The Church has made rent-free space available in the church building, Post Office Ltd has paid for the installation of the necessary telephone line and power sockets, and the Parish Council is making a contribution towards the additional heating costs at the church. 

 

Post Office Ltd has agreed to re-open a facility in the Church, with the help of the sub-postmaster from Mattishall, There is no guarantee it will remain open if we do not use it.


The Post Office is now open between 9am – Noon every Tuesday & Friday morning.

 

A  Thank-you Letter form Foxley

To the friends who were so kind following Mary's return from hospital, a sincere "Thank you".   It was not the best time to be on crutches but our Christmas time was given a real lift by all the cards, flowers and delicious home-baked treats which were much appreciated.                  

 John and Mary Fletcher 

 

Obituary: John Reginald Amis.  He  was born at the Orchard, Bawdeswell and attended the village school.  At the age of 15 he left and became an apprentice carpenter to Blythe & Son and then to R G Carter.  He met Margaret and they were married at Bawdeswell Church.  They went to live in Foxley and had a son Kevin and a daughter Kerry, then moved to Bylaugh where they lived for 45 years before moving recently to Swanton Morley.  They were only there four months when on 3rd November John was taken into hospital and sadly passed away suddenly.  He was looking forward to his first great grand child born today 12th January, Connor John.  He leaves a widow, a son, daughter and their families, and a 94 year old mother.  He is sorely missed.

Thank you all for the lovely cards and beautiful flowers sent to me.  God bless you all.

Kathleen Amis

 

British Legion Collection

I would like to say a big thank-you to all those people in Foxley who contributed to the British Legion Collection.  The amount collected was £110.   

Maureen Holmes

 

Music System looking for a new home.

Jean Collis has a music system, tape, CD and radio which was given to her by Clarissa Napier when she left Elsing.  If any association or group within the Benefice could give this a home please contact Jean on 01362 638192.

 

 

FEBRUARY   EVENTS DIARY

 

Mon 2

Bawdeswell Parish Council Meeting 7.45pm

Tue 3

Flower arranging Classes, Bawdeswell Village Hall 2pm

Wed 4

Blood Donor Sessions at Bawdeswell Village Hall

Thu 5

Funky Food classes, School House Bawdeswell  9am – 2pm

Book Club meets at Old Workhouse bar  7.30pm

Mon 9

Table Tennis, Bawdeswell Village Hall, see page 12

WI meet in the Old Schoolroom, Sparham at 7.30pm

Tue 10

Flower arranging Classes, Bawdeswell Village Hall 2pm

Foxley Parish Council Meeting, 7.30pm

Wed 11

Coffee Morning at Foxley Village Hall, 10.30am

Thu 12

Funky Food classes, School House Bawdeswell  9am – 2pm

Fri 13

Julian Group Meeting 8pm

Mon16 –Fri 20

Bawdeswell Activities Group – numerous family activities – page 12

 

Wed 18

Mobile Library at Bawdeswell  , 10- 12

 

Thu 19

Funky Food classes, School House Bawdeswell  9am – 2pm

 

Fri  20

Mobile Library at Foxley  3.10 – 3.25pm

Julian Group Meeting 8pm

 

Mon 23

Project Bawdeswell Wine & Cheese evening 7.30pm

 

Tue 24

Flower arranging Classes, Bawdeswell Village Hall 2pm

 

Thu 26

Funky Food classes, School House Bawdeswell  9am – 2pm

 

Fri 27

Bridge for Fun, 2pm Bawdeswell Village Hall

Julian Group Meeting 8pm

 

Sat 28

Fairtrade Event at Reepham Chapel, 10 - 4

 

 

Regular Weekly Events

 

Bawdeswell Village Hall

Young Farmers                     Tuesdays

Countrysiders                        Every other Wednesday

WeightWatchers                    Thursdays

Parents & Toddlers                               Fridays 9.30am

Pilates                                   Fridays

 

Foxley Village Hall             

Exercise Classes                   every Tuesday morning at 9.30am.

Short Mat Bowls                    Every Monday & Friday Evening

 

 

 

 

FOXLEY VILLAGE HALL

 

COFFEE MORNING & MARDLE

 

WED Feb 11th

at 10.30 am

 

RAFFLE

 

PLEASE COME ALONG ALL ARE WELCOME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BAWDESWELL  COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL

 

Christmas Celebration. – As well as our Key Stage 1 Nativity performance and the whole school church service which were held at the end of Term, a Carol Concert with North Elmham School also took place at Northgate High School.  The event was a great success with children from both schools enjoying the evening.  Thank you to all who came and supported us.

Panto Trip  -  Reception and Year 1 children from both sites visited the Norwich Theatre Royal on 7th January to see ‘ Snow White’ all the children enjoyed the performance very much.  Thank you to all the staff who made this trip a success and to the children who all behaved extremely well.

Football Development Programme – Children in Year 5 & 6 have the opportunity to take part in a football workshop each week for 10 weeks free of charge thanks to the Norfolk Football Association. This commenced on 19th January.

Funky Food – The Norfolk Family Learning Programme in conjunction with Bawdeswell and North Elmham schools are running a Funky Food course open to Parents/Carers, Grandparents and children. It is being held at the School House, Bawdeswell and runs between 9am and 2pm on Thursdays.  It provides fun food activities, try new foods, get ideas for lunch boxes and cooking on a budget.

 

BAWDESWELL BADGERS PRE – SCHOOL

Belated Happy New Year from Bawdeswell Badgers pre-school.

We welcome three new little gems – Isobelle, Lexi and Soli-Anne, we are looking forward to getting to know them.

Our numbers continue to rise so if you wish to be sure of a place please give us a ring or pop in, we have a waiting list.

This month we have a Winnies tea party, to celebrate A A Milne’s birthday and in this year of the Ox, Chinese New Year celebrations, these promise to be great fun.

Something is stirring at Chicken Cottage so we are off there to check things out.

Due to our tireless committee we are awaiting a new outdoor surface, this should be laid very soon and means we can access our outdoor area in all weather’s, the staff are nearly as thrilled as the children.

Love from us all at Pre-School.       Carol Taylor      01362 688875

 

PARENTS & TODDLERS / BABY GROUP

We meet at Bawdeswell Village Hall from 9.30am to 11.30am every Friday in term time. Come along for a chat and a coffee & let your child have some fun with play dough, colouring and puzzles plus lots of toys and there are additional activities most weeks.

For more information call Kate on 688834

 

 

 

FLOWER ARRANGING CLASSES

BAWDESWELL VILLAGE HALL

 

2 – 4pm

FEB 3, 10, 24

MAR 10, 31

APR 7, 28 (all day)

 

£5.50 per session

 

 

Contact:

Sue Lilwall 01362 688240

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friends of Bawdeswell Church

 

The Christmas concert was a great success.  The Iceni Choir and the new church organ gave the occasion a new dimension.  Thank you all who took part and those who supported the event.

 

Members of the 100 Club will have been invited to “Renewal Night & Thank You”.  If you haven’t paid your subscription for 2009, please do so as soon as you can.  We value your support in helping us to maintain the fabric of the church for the local community.  This year we hope to decorate the interior of the building which hasn’t been painted for 35 years.  The church architect has just carried out his 5 year routine inspection and will no doubt point out other work that needs to be done.

 

Below is a list of all the fundraising events planned for 2009.

 

MARCH 7th   QUIZ & SUPPER in the village hall.

MAY 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th   FLOWER FESTIVAL

JUNE 28th    Participation in THE VILLAGE FETE

OCT 17th    HARVEST SUPPER

DEC 5th    SALE OF CHRISTMAS WREATHS & TABLE DECORATIONS

DEC 13th    CHRISTMAS CONCERT

 

 

 

 

 

Friends of Bawdeswell Church

 

Quiz night and Supper

 

Saturday March 7th     7pm for 7.30pm

Bawdeswell Village Hall

 

Lasagne, salad, garlic bread

Apple crumble and Cream

 

Bar           Raffle

 

Make a team or come and Join a team and have fun

£7.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bawdeswell Book Club                     

Review of the November Book by Linda Rose

A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

This is the first of a trilogy of five books by Douglas Adams that follow the adventures of Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect. It was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1978 and the book written in 1979.

The book begins with contractors arriving at Arthur Dent's house, in order to demolish it to make way for a bypass. His friend, Ford Prefect, arrives while Arthur is lying in front of the bulldozers, to stop them from demolishing his home. Ford tries to explain to Arthur that he is actually from a planet somewhere near Betelgeuse and that the Earth is about to be demolished by the Vogons, an alien race, intend to destroy Earth to make way for a hyperspace bypass.

Moments before the Earth is smashed to smithereens the two escape by hitching a lift on one of the Vogons' ships. They are discovered, tortured, by being made to listen to a rendition of Vogan poetry and then thrown into space. Thus begin their adventures through space using the appropriately named ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ to explain the strange and wonderful life forms they meet.

The book is often at the top of ‘The Top Ten Humorous Reads’ but not all of us found it a ‘good read’, some feeling it was more appropriate for the younger generation. It is certainly an unusual book with some wacky, larger-than-life characters, such as – Marvin the depressed computer, Zaphod Beeblebrox and Slartibartfast. I did enjoy the book, although I think it was at its best in its original version as a radio play, however both allow free rein to the imagination.

Whilst we may not all have enjoyed the book over the 30 years since the original broadcast it has engendered a huge following; the original radio series having inspired books, a television series, an exhibition at the science museum, its own website and fan club, computer games and even a film.

We meet on the first Thursday of the month at the Workhouse Bar. New members are always welcome, so if you enjoy reading why not come along. The book we will discuss at our next meeting in February will be ‘The Moonstone’ by Wilkie Collins.



 

BECK WI

Aleathia opened our January meeting with a special welcome for our four W.I. friends from Elsing. She then introduced Ernie Richards who entertained us with his informative and enthusiastic talk on West Side Story - to his mind the "greatest musical ever".

After giving us some background information on the beginning of musical comedies, Ernie used a C.D. to remind us of some of the music. It was surprising that a chorus of W.I. ladies' voices didn't join in during one or two of the refrains! Many thanks Ernie - we now very much look forward to our visit to Norwich's Theatre Royal in a fortnight's time.

After the break Aleathia spoke about forthcoming events. Audrey won the raffle.

Our speaker next month is Jayne Arnold and she is giving us an aromatherapy demonstration. We look forward to seeing you all. The date is Monday, 9th February - 7.30 p.m. New members most welcome.

 

Date for the diary: Saturday March 28th. Spring Bazaar for Old School Room, Sparham.

10.30 a.m.

 

Mary Humphrey

 

 

 

REEPHAM & DISTRICT ROTARY

 

Club members have been busy helping with ‘Christmas in Reepham’. They first of all arranged the erection of all the Christmas trees in and around the Market Place. At the open evening Kevin Marles and his helpers ran a burger stall making a profit of £187.00. Members also raised £120.00 in the collecting buckets. All monies are being donated to the East Anglian Children’s Hospice. The club also agreed to pay for the expenses of the brass band, which played during the evening.

Club members recently met and filled a further 30 Aqua boxes. Since they first embarked upon the Aqua box project, a total of 240 boxes have been filled, quite something for a small club like Reepham. The Aqua boxes are sent to all parts of the world where disasters occur. They help to save many lives, with the ability to supply clean drinking water and the contents of the boxes help people to survive when they have lost everything.

The club has also sent £250.00 to the ‘Deck Congo’ funds.

Rotarian Paul Smith and his team are again helping next year with the youth technology awards, which are being held at the Hewitt School on the 12th March.

 

Ken Ewing

 

 

 

BAWDESWELL ACTIVITIES GROUP (BAG)

 

 

February Half Term at the Hall

Bawdeswell village hall will be open from 2pm – 5 pm Monday 16th to Friday 20th February during half term. Attendance is  open to all residents of Bawdeswell, Foxley and surrounding villages. As we have had difficulty in the past coping with all ages in our small hall we are having 4 days this holiday where older or younger children only can attend. Please see program for details. May we remind you that children aged 8 or under must be accompanied by an adult for the whole session.

VOLUNTEERS will run the ‘CAFE’ during the afternoons serving hot & cold drinks, sweets & crisps etc..

 

PROGRAM

 

Monday 16th February  - Games for children and young adults aged 9 and over, including a Self-Defence Taster Session run by members of  Saracen Martial Arts

Tuesday 17th February  -  Vegetable Printing for children up to 8 years old only

Wednesday 18th February  -  Indoor and Outdoor Games for all ages

Thursday 19th February  -  Origami for children and young adults aged 9 and over

Friday 20th February  -  Pancake & Pyjamas Party for children up to 8 years old

 

 

Tel: 01362 688749 for more information about any of these events

 

BAG Adult Activities

 

TABLE TENNIS – Monday 9th February, Monday 9th & Monday 23rd March

It doesn’t matter how well you play - come along and have some fun or just come along to socialise.  Other games will be available too.  The BAG café will be open for refreshments.  There is a charge of £1.50 towards the hire of the hall. We plan to continue these evenings normally on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. Please check your Reeve’s Tale magazine each month for future dates.

 

BRIDGE FOR FUN AFTERNOONS – Friday 27th February

As a follow up to the Bridge course during the Autumn term, the current second term and the Improvers Seminar, for all those who are interested in getting as many chances to improve their game by playing as often as possible, there will be a bridge ‘fun’ afternoon once a month on a Friday at Bawdeswell Village Hall from 2 pm  -  5pm on the following dates:  Friday 27th February, 27th March, 24th April, 22nd May, 26th June, 24th July, 25th September, 23rd October and 27th November.  There is no charge and you don’t need to book, just come along.   The cafe will be open for light refreshments. .

 

BAG is looking for additional volunteers to help with our activities.   Please contact our co-ordinator on 01362 688749 if you can spare an afternoon or two

 

 

Project Bawdeswell Invites you to a

Wine & Cheese Evening

 

at the Village Hall on

 

Monday 23rd February at 7.30pm

 

The final layout and plans for the new village hall and community centre will be there for you to see.

 

The next step will be to apply for planning permission.

 

Transport to the village hall can be arranged if required –

just call our secretary on 688749.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

PROJECT BAWDESWELL

 

At the December meeting there was discussion on the report to be made to the Parish Council on 2nd February and the Cheese & Wine event on 23rd February. Project Bawdeswell has now registered with ENTRUST as an Environmental Body and is in the process of submitting a grant application to Biffaward for new children’s play equipment. It was confirmed that meetings in 2009 would be on the last Saturday of each month.

 

The next steering group meetings will be on Saturdays 28th February and 28th March at 10am at the village hall.  Join us and hear all about the various work streams and share your ideas with us.

 

More information on www.projectbawdeswell.org.uk or call the Secretary on 688749

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOXLEY PARISH COUNCIL: EXTRACT OF MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 25 NOVEMBER 2008 AT 7.30PM IN THE VILLAGE HALL

 

Present: Councillors Harvey, Mears, Barrett, Hatch, Mr G Bambridge,  C Boer and 4 parishioners

 

Matters Arising: Anglian Water and the Village Hall – Clerk reported that following a discussion with the newly appointed Anglian Water Engineer he had confirmed that AW is actively seeking a new site for the pumping station.  This is following recent works on the village hall site that subsequently led to the find of a water pipe in the area where the pumping station was to be sited.

Emergency Plan – Following advice from a Breckland Council representative, the PC decided to archive the draft Emergency Plan at this present time, due to the fact that the Parish is such a small one and with the aid of the Emergency Services and parishioners working together it was felt that emergencies would be dealt with.

Community Car Scheme – Following the invite from Bawdeswell PC to participate in their C.C.S. and the returns of the Transport Questionnaire that was sent to all parishioners which indicated that some Foxley residents would support an introduction of a C.C.S. the PC agreed to accept the offer from Bawdeswell.  Clerk commissioned to try and seek a deputy coordinator and volunteer drivers for the scheme to help Bawdeswell PC.

 

Planning: Church Farm Barns – Foxley Gallery - The Enforcement Officer at Breckland Council has confirmed that the gallery/studio is now empty and the use ceased.  No further details as to what this building will be used for in the future at present.

Land South of Cherry Tree Cottage – The Enforcement Officer at Breckland Council confirmed that contact had been made with the Client and the Agent about the breach of conditions, and it had been agreed that the work should be completed by the end of the month.

Moor Farm – Caravans – Planning at Breckland Council now in receipt of a planning application for 1 caravan and this will be forwarded to the PC for comment in due course.

 

Finance: Precept 2009/2010 - The budget for 2009/2010 was discussed and finally the Precept was agreed at £3800.

 

Village Matters

i.         Concerns raised about the state of the road on the right hand side at the end of Chapel Road, following building work.  Clerk commissioned to bring this to the attention of Highways.

ii.        Concerns raised regarding persisting speeding of vehicles in Chapel Rd.  Clerk commissioned to remind new residents that this road is a 20mph zone.

iii.      Concerns raised about agricultural vehicles were parking on the grass verges on the road towards Themlethorpe.  Chairman agreed to raise these concerns with the owner of the vehicles.

 

Date of Next Meeting Tuesday 10 February 2009 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall

BAWDESWELL PARISH COUNCIL

DIGEST OF THE MEETING HELD ON 1 DEC 2008

 

Present:                 Councillors Shannon, Mason, Cockburn, Kirby, Lilwall, Mallen, Mr G Bambridge, C Boer and 3 parishioners

Apologies:            Councillor Beane

 

Ongoing Issues from Previous Meetings

Community Car Scheme – A contract between the PC and Breckland, setting up the financial basis for the CCS, had been signed, and a Coordinator, temporary Deputy Coordinator, and 2 volunteer drivers from Bawdeswell and 1 from Foxley found.  Foxley and Bylaugh have agreed to participate in the Bawdeswell CCS on a repayment basis. A meeting between Breckland officials/coordinator/deputy coordinator and all drivers is to be arranged shortly, following which a date for the formal opening of the Bawdeswell CCS will be set.

Transport Questionnaire – The overwhelming response from residents highlighted the need for an improved bus service to Dereham and better access to key services.  However, given the failure of the Parish Council’s previous attempts to get an extension to the ‘Konnect 04’ service from Swanton Morley, the Clerk will now inform Norfolk County Council of the results of the transport survey and seek further assistance in pursuit of enhanced public transport for the village through systems such as the Flexibus Dial-A-Ride system.

Community Speed Watch – Sufficient volunteers have now been found to set up the Bawdeswell Speed Watch Team, and the associated paperwork has been processed.  The Clerk is continuing to liaise with Norfolk Constabulary, to set up training sessions in the Village Hall, following which the Team will receive its equipment and be declared operational.  Speeding drivers beware!

Planning  -  Folland Court – Building of the new houses on Folland Court has started and several complaints had been received about the building work, and Councillors and the Clerk would continue to consult with Breckland officials, Peddars Way and the developer, Youngs, on these issues.  Youngs had confirmed that work on the pedestrian walkway around the corner of Paradise Road would start on 9 Dec but would extend into mid-Jan.  Traffic management on the bend would be in place while this work was in progress.

Clerks Report

Post Office – Arrangements for the opening of the outreach postal service in the Church were proceeding well, and the service is set to open on 6 Jan for 3 hours each Tues and Fri morning.  The PC wishes to encourage the use of this service by parishioners; otherwise, it could be withdrawn.

 

Finance

Precept 2009/2010 – The financial details for 2009/2010 were discussed in detail and, conscious of the need to limit the financial burden on parishioners at this particular time, the PC agreed a 2009/2010 Precept of  £11,000. Full details of the Precept can be obtained from the Parish Clerk. 

 

Any Other Business

Adams Pit – Following complaints about water flooding from Adams Pit on to the Old Dereham Road, the PC had been liaising with Breckland Environmental Health and Highways about correcting the immediate problem.  Breckland Environmental Health had ascertained that the floodwater was clear of impurities and, consequently, Highways had assisted in draining the floodwater from the Old Dereham Rd.  However, the problem of drainage from Adams Pit remains.  Councillors will continue to research the existence of possible outlets from Adams Pit, and solutions to the problem. District Councillor Bambridge also agreed to investigate the possibility of gaining advice from the Water Management Association on a longer-term solution for Adams Pit in concert with the existing PC plans to re-furbish the area.

Next Meeting  - The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Monday 2 February 2009, at 7.45pm in the Village Hall.  The main item on the agenda will be an update on Project Bawdeswell.  All are welcome to attend.

 

Great Witchingham Rendering Plant

Last Minute Appeal by Banhams

 

Banhams had until midnight on 5th January 2009 to appeal against the Enforcement Order issued by Norfolk County Council.  Their appeal arrived on 5th January!  The appeal could take up to 18 months to be heard and could result in a Public Inquiry.

 

To date there has been no outcome to their appeal against the refusal of planning permission.

 

Banhams still have not taken up their right of appeal against the refusal on the Pollution Prevention & Control permit which is vital to the running of the plant.  They have until the end of March 2009 to register an appeal.

 

No Stink Campaign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BAWDESWELL VILLAGE HALL

Bawdeswell Village hall can be hired by parishioners and non residents.  You can also hire tables and chairs for your own events. Regular activities at the hall include Table tennis on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, Young Farmers on Tuesdays, Countryside Rangers every other Wednesday, Weight Watchers on Thursday evenings and Pilates on Friday evenings. The Mothers & Toddlers group meet on Friday mornings 9.30 to 11.30.

 

               Hire Charges are unchanged for 2009

Period

(1) Standard Hire Charge

(2) Parishioners

other than in (3)

(3) Parishioners - Hires ending by 5pm on Weekdays #

Minimum (2 hrs)

£16

£15

£10

4 Hours

£30

£25

£15

6 Hours

£45

£35

£25

8 Hours

£50

£40

£30

10 Hours

£60

£45

n/a

12 Hours

£70

£50

n/a

Full Day

£85

£60

n/a

# Excludes Bank & Public Holidays.   Other hours charged pro rata.

When the hall is not otherwise in use on weekdays, Bawdeswell village voluntary groups may use the hall free of charge.

 

For availability, more details and a booking form please contact the booking clerk:-

David Cockburn, Tel: (01362) 688749, Mobile: 07778 835 254, Email:   BawdeswellVH@aol.com

 

 

BAWDESWELL FOOTBALL CLUB.

 

Following their excellent 2007/8 season Bawdeswell FC is now looking forward to challenging for the Division 3 title in 2008/9. So far this season they have won seven and drawn one of their eleven games and are currently in 2nd place.

 

 

For information about the club please contact Philip Duffield on (01362) 688611

 

More club  information is available online at http://bawdeswellfc.co.uk/default.aspx

 

 

BAWDESWELL BOWLS CLUB.

 

 

Bawdeswell has an excellent venue situated behind the Village Hall and new members are invited to join the club.

For further information please contact Paul Digby on (01362) 688615

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MUSICAL EVENING

 

ELSING HALL

 

SATURDAY 28TH MARCH

8pm

 

Enjoy an evening of light entertainment with Jane Mack & friends.

Songs from the musicals and operetta in the mediaeval Great hall,

 Elsing Hall, by kind invitation of Patrick Lines & Han Yang Yap.

 

Tickets limited - please book early to avoid disappointment

 

Ticket £12.50

including a glass of wine & canapés

 

All proceeds to St. Mary’s Church, Elsing

 

Tel:  01362 637782 / 637866 / 637089

 

 

 

Benefice News and Events

 

 

Some of the parishes have already planned their events for the coming year.  The list will be posted on the notice board of each church  to make sure you don’t miss out on any of them.  The list will be updated whenever there is a change to it so please keep reading it to note any amendments.

 

On 14th February there will be a Men’s Breakfast at Bawdeswell Village Hall at 8.30am.  Invitations will be going out soon.  Numbers are limited due to space but if you do not receive an invitation and would like to be included please contact your parish representative by 5th Feb at the latest.  They are:

 

Elsing                      Fran Neale                            01362 637782

Bawdeswell           Janet Cockburn                   01362 688749

Lyng                      Margaret Lawler                  01603 872173

Foxley                   Monica Hatch                      01362 688316

Sparham                Fiona Sayer                          01603 872246

Bylaugh                 Marilyn Collier                     01362 688017

 

The Benefice ministry Group will meet each Tuesday (except the third one) in March to discuss what they do, how they can develop  and how this information can be passed on to others in the Benefice.

 

The Rector would like to devise a database which will include every member of the 6 parishes using information from the electoral registers as supplied by Breckland Council.  The information on this will help him with his administration and visiting and none of it will be available to anyone else or published.  If you feel that you would NOT like your name to be included in this please inform the Rector on 01603 872381.  The Rector is licensed by the Data Protection Act to store information of this sort.

 

There was a good turn out on 11th January at Bawdeswell at the One More Step service where we said goodbye to Martin and Pauline Gray on their forthcoming retirement .The Bring and Share lunch which was held after the service on January 11th was a great success.  Our thanks to all who provided the food and helped with the mountain of washing up.  The Rector had the paintings and poems on display which he had produced during his sabbatical.  People found them very interesting and appreciated the opportunity to see them.

 

 

 

ST.THOMAS’ CHURCH, FOXLEY

 

Our Carol Service this year was led by the Rector and was totally traditional – familiar carols, Authorised Version Bible readings, as we’ve always known them.

The windows were full of holly and ivy and the tree, given by Brian Waters and decorated by the Rose family, was magnificent. There were candles glowing everywhere. Afterwards we enjoyed mulled wine, mince pies and friendly chatter; all very comforting in these anxious times.

Only three days later we were together again on Christmas Eve for Midnight Communion with the Reverend Tom Candeland. Both services were well attended and the collections were amalgamated and then augmented by the PCC, allowing £402-43 each, to be sent to The Royal British Legion and to East Anglian Children’s Hospices. Both of these are worthwhile causes, which the PCC and I am sure those who contributed, are proud to support.

To look forward to: -

A talk by the Head Gardener at Salle Park in early May

Open Gardens at Glebe House & Foxley Lodge on June 21st.

 

Diana Harvey, PCC Secretary

The Children’s Society - Our box-opening Coffee Morning on 3rd.December was particularly successful and raised £481-98, which was then doubled by Barclays Bank. When the £1223-96 from the boxes is added (actually a record) and £139-74 from Lyng’s Christingle, you reach a figure of £2327-66, just a fraction short of last year’s total (but then Barclays gave us a very generous £750!) We have issued several new boxes recently, so are very optimistic about this year’s prospects.                                                             All this money is so much needed, as we are reminded constantly in the media. So many children, from babies to teenagers, have no stability in their lives, no settled home-life or loving care, not to speak of deliberate abuse and cruelty. Our shop in Fakenham has benefited greatly from your generosity too. We have received an astonishing amount of domestic goods, clothing, linen, books and so on. It seems likely, in these cash-straitened times, that charity shops will be particularly useful in recycling goods, that we may have grown tired of, or grown out of. So, please do think about giving someone else the opportunity to re-use something of reasonable quality, rather than throwing it away! We are always ready to receive whatever you have to spare. You can leave it in the car-port at Foxley Lodge, if we are out. We can’t, of course, accept electrical goods or furniture. Should your old clothes or linen seem to be too well-used to sell, we’d be grateful if you could put them in a separate bag labelled “Rags”. The Ragman calls at the shop each fortnight and this boosts the income. Thank you all so much, on behalf of the Society, for your generous support! 

Diana Harvey. Parish Co-ordinator. Tel:01362688650

 

FAIRTRADE SALE

 

Saturday 28 February 2009

 

10am – 4pm

 

The Chapel, Station Road, Reepham

 

 

Contact Cecile Reeve – 07766 594472 – for more info.

 

 

 

FAMILY SERVICE AT SPARHAM.

 

For several years there has been an informal monthly  service at Sparham church, open to everyone in the benefice. A number of families come regularly and as the children have grown up, the form of service needed to change.

The new format involves a short and simple service, followed by coffee, tea, biscuits, etc and we discuss a specific topic. In January we talked about        “Why do we give presents ?”

We’d like to see YOU, so do come and join us – on the first Sunday of the month at 1030 am.

                                Jennifer Abram and Fran Neale.

 

 

 

 

 

ALL SAINTS, BAWDESWELL

 

Our thanks to the Friends for the December concert they arranged and to the singers and supporters that made that such a special occasion. Thanks to all the flower arrangers too.  Your displays lasted well all month.

 

We had a very good turnout at all our Christmas services and ended the year on high, with our new organ and lots of music and song. 

On Christmas Eve the 9pm Christmas Mass proved very popular  and the pews were full.

On Christmas day it was especially nice to see so many families with children coming along to take part in the GiG.

We had a Christmas story, a humorous puppet show, a violin solo and a very lively saxophone performance – all integrated into what was a very special Christmas Service.

Again there wasn’t a seat to spare.

 

In January we hosted a special Benefice service to bid farewell to the Archdeacon of Lynn Martin Gray and his wife Pauline.  Their home has been in Sparham for the last nine years and they have become friends to us all.  Pauline has been particularly active in helping with the youth in the area.  After the service we repaired to the village hall for a shared lunch which went very well and was a very relaxed occasion.

Our Rector David Head had on display the paintings and poems he produced during his Sabbatical last year.  It was very interesting to see the fruits of his labours and   admire his work.  A lot of people were very impressed.

 

We still have quite a lot of money to raise for the new organ  and the Friends of the church are making a contribution by arranging a four day Flower Festival in May, the proceeds of which they will donate directly to the Organ Fund.  Sponsors are  being sought to pay for the flowers, and will be invited to dedicate them to a loved or departed one, or why not a birthday?

 

Finally the Post Office is now open Tuesday and Friday mornings in the church.  This is a service to the community and we are not making any money out of it!  The Parish Council are to help with a contribution to the heating and lighting costs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the Rector

 

 

 

Dear Everybody, hello again,

 

I have recently done jury service.  In the old days, clergy were exempt from this.  Maybe it was assumed that clergy would always give people the benefit of the doubt; or, cynically, that they would believe anything; or that they might be involved in looking after the families of those who were in prison; or for loads of other reasons, I don’t know why it was.

 

But anyway, I had to do jury service.  It was interesting, being responsible to decide on a turning point in someone’s life.  Would the supposed perpetrator face punishment, shame, and a change of his life?  Would the supposed victim feel that justice had not been done, and that closure could not be reached?  By the time a case gets to court, it means someone will suffer.  So as well as being interesting, it was upsetting and distressing, because your decision was going to hurt someone.

 

We’re coming up to the season of Lent.  It’s a time at which Christians are supposed to look at the way that they live their lives, and accuse themselves of what they have done wrong.  It’s a little bit like forming our own court; prosecution, defence, judge, jury.  And if there are things we have done wrong, then maybe there are mitigating factors, but they are still things we have done wrong.

 

But all of us make these kinds of judgement.  We’ve been brought up with principles, and we think about whether we’ve been true to them.  We are faced with decisions about right and wrong in our lives, and we take responsibility for them.  But are you generally liberal with yourself, or hard on yourself?  When you think about what you have done, do you defend yourself more, or act for the prosecution?

 

I don’t think it’s good for you to take a position where you are always either too hard, or too lenient, on yourself.  What matters is trying to get to the truth.

 

God bless you.        

 

David Head          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHURCH SERVICES   February 2009

 

DATE

1st     

8th  

15th  

18th    

22nd  

Season

Epiphany 4

 

2nd  before Lent

Wed

Next before Lent

FOXLEY

EP 5.00pm DH

 

8am HC(PB)

-

HC(1)

10.30

DH

LYNG

HC2 0900

DH

3rd before Lent

5pm

EP

DH

-

10.30 FS

FST

ELSING

MP

1030

CW

-

9am HC1

DH

-

HC(1)

1030

TC

BAWDESWELL

HC(1)

10.30

DH

-

10.30

GiG

DH

HC(PB)

9am

DH

WP

1030

CW

BYLAUGH

-

HC(PB)

0900

DH

-

-

MP

0900

CW

SPARHAM

10.30 FS

FST

-

10.30

HC(PB)

TC

-

HC (PB)

9am

DH

 

Abbreviations:   

EP   Evening Prayer

HC(PB)  Holy Communion (Prayer Book)

HC(1) Holy Communion (Order1)

FS   Family Service

FST   Family Service Team

MP   Morning Prayer

 

EP      Evening Prayer

WP     Words & Praise

OMS  One More Step

GiG    God is Good (family service)

DH     David Head

TC     Tom Candeland

 

 

 

 

JULIAN GROUP Meetings

Fridays 13th, 27th February at 8pm.  Contact Susan March 01603 870342.