Local news from , , Creaton, , , & Thornby Issue 85 February/March 2018 www.villagelink.org.uk

COMMUNITY MATTERS Inside this issue: Cold Ashby p3 At the time of writing, the share issue for the Cottesbrooke community shop in Creaton has realised p4 £75,000. This is an extraordinary figure and Creaton p5-7 many thanks go to those who have bought Guilsborough p8-11 shares. Even though the share issue has closed, Hollowell p12-13 you can still become a member of Creaton Community Benefit Society and have a say in the Church p14-15 running of the new shop. You do this by buying Snowy scenes p16 one share (£20). Fundraising still continues and in early March there will be a concert held at St Michael’s. The Wonderful World of Creaton will What’s On feature soloists Dawn Mallard-Parker, Susannah Carr and Jonathan Carr, and the Creaton February Singers. The songs will be interspersed with poetry and readings arranged by Robert Grange. 5th –GPFA AGM, Guilsborough The concert takes place on Saturday March 3rd and starts at 7pm. Refreshments, including a 10th– Creaton Walking Group glass of wine, will be available. Tickets are £10 (accompanied children free) and are available 14th- Creaton W,I. History of ballet from Creaton Post Office. All proceeds are in support of the new community shop. 18th- Creaton History Group For more information about Creaton Village Shop, contact Richard Hollingum on 07887 652599 19th- Defibrillator Training or [email protected]. You can also look at our website, Guilsborough www.creatonvillageshop.co.uk and we are on Facebook, Twitter and now Instagram. Let us 19th- Guilsborough WI, Cake know you are there and we can follow you. Decoration 21st– Guilsborough Pre-school Open Day URGENT 23rd– Hollowell Quiz night Hollowell Steam Show is a major date on 24th- Creaton Litter Pick the local calendar, run totally by volunteers 27th– Hollowell Steam meeting at for the benefit of local Churches and Good Hollowell Village Hall Causes. March Organised by a group of people from the 3rd– Creaton Concert area, they meet in Hollowell Village Hall on 6th– Creaton Parish Council the last Tuesday of the month, if you are 9th– Creaton Playing Fields AGM interested in this event continuing please 10th– Creaton Walking Group come along, you will be made most welcome. The Group is looking for someone who will 10th –Lent Lunch, Guilsborough take on the role of main organiser to take 14th– Creaton WI Life in Spain over from Allen Eaton the present Chairman 14th-17th— GMADS “A Damsel in who will retire at the end of 2018. Distress” and Charity Gala on Saturday 17th The Show has a tried and tested formula 15th- Creaton History Group which could continue or if so needed could be altered, so long as it is for the benefit of 17th– Creaton St Patrick’s Night the local charities and good causes who rely 19th– Guilsborough WI, Keep Safe; Northants Police on it to continue their good work. If you or a group could take on this role please contact 22nd– Guilsborough WI, Theatre Trip Allen on 07802 570 590 or 01604 505 422 or

come to a meeting. Please do not allow this event to end. [email protected] MMM, Guilsborough Village Hall 9-11am, most Mondays

Copy deadline for next issue:- Wednesday 28th February 2018

Book ahead for Valentines Day - Wednesday 14th February Mother’s Day - Sunday 11th March

Some villages sent in photos of their pre-Christmas activities. Here are a few of them in full colour, with more on the back page. Further information on the village pages.

Hollowell Hens enjoyed wreath making (left) and Friends of the Village Hall ran a successful Christmas Café to help raise funds for planned refurbishments.

St Etheldreda Guilsborough was aglow for many weeks with its highly Cottesbrooke Christmas Fayre raised funds for an successful Xmas Tree Festival raising funds for the Church, more pics on p15 orphanage in Nepal

2 COLD ASHBY NEWS

COLD ASHBY FRIENDLY CLUB The Friendly Club wish to thank everyone who contributed to the £293 donated to Macmillan VILLAGE LINK Cancer Support in 2017. is a bi-monthly publication delivered free of charge to households in Cold Ashby, Cottesbrooke, Creaton, SUMMER WEDDING Guilsborough, Hollowell, Teeton and Thornby. It is produced and distributed by volunteers. Due to restrictions of time and space there is no guarantee that copy submitted will be used. All funds received from advertising go towards printing costs. Editorial team: Andrea King 01604 740670 Angela Hubbard 01604 740379 Tony Hart 01604 740535 Sarah Dalzell 07917 608238 Katie Fulcher 07747 604067 Douglas McEwan 01604 505406 Mark Revitt Smith 01604 740240 Sophie Tinkler (nee Cotton), pictured here being Wherever possible please email welcomed by Rev Chris Peck, was married to your contributions to. Andrew Tinkler at St Denys Church in August. [email protected]. This saves Sophie’s parents live in Cold Ashby, and she grew considerable time re-typing up in and Northants. We wish them information! When providing hard every happiness. copy materials, please post to Glanville Hart, Hyview, Well Lane, Guilsborough, NN6 8PZ CONGRATULATIONS! PUZZLE PAGE WINNER Advertisements are welcome from local businesses, charities, clubs Jenny Sheehan (pictured below), of The Gables, Cold Ashby, adult winner for completing the and societies. Commercial businesses crossword correctly and solving the Polygon (FESTIVITY); identifying most words of three pay advertising rates. One insertion: letters or more. Jenny wins a £30 voucher towards dining out at the Witch & Sow in full page £140, half page £70, quarter page £35, eighth page £20. Guilsborough. Two or more insertions: full page The under 18 prize of a £10 Amazon voucher goes to Katie £120, half page £60, quarter page £30, Caldwell (aged 9) of Guilsborough (see P8). eighth page £15. All prices are per insertion. Colour available in some issues, price on application. Private ads are also welcome. Back page ’lineage’ cost £1.50 per line. Please contact Angela Hubbard on 01604 740379 to book advertising or email. [email protected] Cheques payable to ‘Village Link’ ——————————————

DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: Wednesday 28th February 2018

—————————————— Disclaimer: the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. They cannot be held accountable for the accuracy of advertisements appearing in this newsletter, nor for editorial information sent to them or published by them.

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COTTESBROOKE NEWS DONATIONS OF WARM CLOTHES GREAT ASSISTANCE A Donation of warm clothes was given to the Homeless at Our Postman does more than deliver the post. He was seen the Hope Centre by a family in Cottesbrooke pushing a car up a driveway in the snow and ice in Cottesbrooke. when the first snow fell and the temperature fell below zero. We are most grateful for people like him. See back page for some Great thoughtfulness was given to the people sleeping on the snowy scenes. street by supplying the warm clothes. Thank you to the people of the village for remembering those who undergo CHRISTMAS FAYRE homelessness, and for giving them eggs to eat and gifts to The Christmas Fayre held at share. One young man appreciated a simple piece of white Cottesbrooke Village Hall on card for his little 3 year old girl to draw on. the 2nd of December was a fabulous success which raised THE CAROL SERVICE £391 for the Ama Ghar Children’s Orphanage in Archdeacon Richard Ormondson found a full church when he Nepal. See photos on inside led the Carol Service at All Saints Church Cottesbrooke on front cover. 17th December. Teenagers took a leading role by reading

some of the lesson in the service, another gentleman offered One of the organizers Suzie himself as a “standby” to read, if someone was ill and unable Bowley from Cottesbrooke to read. Others helped to serve sherry and mince pies to the went out to Nepal. Here is a crowd. Families, friends and neighbours enjoyed seeing each photo of her teaching the kids other. A new resident helped to decorate the Church. how to play Twister. A special thank you to Mr and Mrs Rogerson of Creaton for

printing a copy of Creaton’s carol sheets for us as a back-up in case ours did not arrive in time. However the courier did a great job and the carols arrived in time. THE CAKE MAKING MARATHON I hope that the 57 customers for whom I made Christmas cakes really enjoyed eating ALL A FLUTTER! them! The village of Cottesbrooke was This started as a fund raiser some years ago invaded over the first week of the when I became a Friend of Ashby St Ledger’s New Year by birdwatchers from the Church. To restore the wonderful Wall local area and even further afield. paintings in that Church is a very costly Some were keen locals on their business, so some of the money I raise goes lunch break, whilst others travelled there. As my clientele became more quite a distance, such is the power widespread, Ashby agreed that I could help other Churches these days of the internet to inform involved especially Guilsborough and Cottesbrooke. people of the day-by-day sightings of The secret behind producing what seems a large number of cakes rarer species. – is organisation! Weighing the ingredients and soaking the fruit in The species of bird which excited such interest is the advance is time consuming but makes the process much Hawfinch, and this relative rarity is shown here, taken by my smoother, each cake is made and baked individually. If I get up wife Alla as it sat in the top branches of the trees behind the early I can cook four in a day – and then there is the washing up post box. Sadly, the day was very overcast and so the each time! But I have to confess that the exercise gives me a sense beautiful colours are not seen to best advantage. In all, we of satisfaction. Esme Godden have seen up to five of these interesting and unusual birds around the village. UK with irruptions from the continent INSPIRATIONAL The hawfinch is a resident species in Great Britain but in very and are consequently easier to see on small and localised populations. They are also in long term the bare branches. SAYING decline and total resident numbers are now likely to be Hawfinches are colourful birds with The Poet Rabindranath under 5000 birds. The only relatively local population I am plumage that is like a mixture of their Tagore wrote: aware of reside close to Rockingham but this is a cache of commoner and smaller cousins – “I slept and dreamt that one or two pairs only. Chaffinches and Bullfinches. They are the life was joy. More particularly, they are hard to see in the spring and largest member of the Finch family in I awoke and saw that life summer months because they tend to dwell in the tree tops Europe and distinguished particularly by was service. and are therefore more difficult to spot. They are also their powerful oversized bill which helps normally found in larger woods and forest areas. I acted and behold, ser- them to forage for seeds. vice was joy”. However, in winter months there are greater numbers in the Richard Hollis

4 CREATON NEWS CREATON SINGERS UNITED REFORM CHURCH A Happy New Year to all Village Link readers from The Minister; Rev. Elizabeth Kemp Creaton Singers. Thank you so much to everyone who joined us You are warmly welcome to join us for our Sunday Wor- for carolling on the green and through the village and for the ship and Junior Church and are invited to join with us as concert in the village hall. we celebrate our Saviour's birth. The programme included the much-awaited encore Date/Time February 2018 Service led by of a variation of 'Rudolph' Sunday as well as new and 4th 11am Worship & Holy Commun- Jon Heard traditional pieces, a flute ion solo of a less-known version of Away in a Manger and a humorous poem entitled The 11th 11am Rev. Elizabeth Twelve Days of the Turkey. Donations to the Salvation Army Kemp raised £200 for which the singers thank everyone very much for 18th 11am Lindsey Cole their generosity. 25th 11am Jon Heard A new year and a new programme of events. The Creaton Singers have been invited to take part in the concert on March 2018 Saturday 3 March at 7pm in Creaton church in aid of the new 4th 11am Worship & Holy Commun- Rev. Geoff village community shop in Creaton. Tickets £10 each. The programme will include a song specially written for the concert. 11th 11am Mothering Sunday Joint Rev. Elizabeth The Creaton Singers have also been invited to sing at the Service with St Michaels at Kemp Friends of St Michael's History Group St Patrick's Night on Creaton URC Saturday 17 March at 7pm for 7.30pm at Creaton Village Hall. This will be a jolly singalong of some well-known Irish songs. So 18th 11am Alan Thompson come along and support your local singing group. 25th 11am Bryan Heard Ducklings Pre-School Creaton POPPIES COFFEE SHOP We have been very busy and had our Ofsted inspection at the The shop is open daily from 9am to 12 noon Monday, Tuesday, end of the year, you can read the report online, we are so Wednesday and Friday. You will be most welcome. proud to say that they have rated us GOOD which is fantatsic and the council continue to rate us OUTSTANDING. The inspectors were very complimentary of our learning experiences, our environment, behaviour management and the FOSM HISTORY GROUP consistency of our promotion of quality in education, mentoring Thursday February 15th shoemakers by and training of other settings and the rapid development of Ken Noakes children in our care. Talks begin at 7.30pm in St Michael and all Angels, Creaton and We start a new year with plans of forest school sessions, are followed by complimentary refreshments. growing our own snack in our onsite allotment and a huge amount of outdoor play and experiences. Come and enjoy the craic at our : We recently visited reindeer at Welford christmas tree farm and the garden centre to purchase some pre-school pets (fish), St Patrick’s Night which the children love to observe and care for. Creaton Village Hall We take children from the age of 2 years- 4 years 11months, Saturday 17th March 7 for sparking imaginations and motivating children to explore, investigate, challenge and learn through play. 7.30pm 2 year funded children, 30 hours free child care, and EYPP Saturday 17th March at Creaton Village Hall 7 for 7.30pm welcome. Four course meal plus Irish coffee and mints Come and visit our setting and see what we can offer your Musical entertainment, licensed bar. children. We open Monday-Friday 9am -3pm (offering flexible Tickets £12.50 from the Post Office. sessions). If you have any dietary requirements call Kate on 505406 Phone Ducklings Pre-School 01604 505172 to book a stay and play session with us. Please complete our registration form to join our waiting list for a place.

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CREATON NEWS

PLAYING FIELDS ASSOCIATION We meet in the United Reform Church First of all we would like to wish all of our helpers a Happy New (next to the Post Office]) at 7.30pm on the Year, we hope you all had a good Christmas. second Wednesday of each month. If the Our 'Quiz Night' last year was a great success, a big thank you to meeting is to be held at a different venue Rod Goldberg for being an excellent Quiz Master once again. A this will be stated. big thank you to all those that helped on the night. We have had the fence repaired and altered the position of the February 14th The History of ballet by Natalie Carter gate on the Road. The ditch has been dug out which March 14th Life in Spain by Moira Morris. we hope will stop the field from being flooded every time we have heavy rainfall. We still need to replace the edging around We welcome you to one of our meetings as a guest or a new the play area and are in the process of getting some quotes. The member. Come to meet old friends and make new ones. goal nets were completely trashed last year. Please contact Daphne on 01604 505546 for more Our A.G.M. will be held on Friday 9th March 8pm at the U.R.C. Please come along and support us. information.

WALKING GROUP The Creaton Walking Group started the year with their traditional New Year's Day walk, which this year was towards . The highlight was seeing a family of swans including 2 cygnets on a temporary pond caused by flooding near Cottesbrooke. The January walk was around the beautiful Bringtons with stunning views from the various vantage points. The group have been pleased to welcome new walkers and hope this trend will continue. Walks are circular and about 8 miles mainly off road over pretty bridleways and footpaths. Walks take place on the second Saturday of the month. Meet at the lychgate at 10am.

Next walks: 10 February,10 March, 14 April.

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CREATON NEWS PARISH CLERK: - UPDATE Any concerns from trees to potholes, this system diverts to Hello from Katrina your Parish Clerk for Creaton, I can be the correct person, landowner etc. and is the most effective contacted on; [email protected] or telephone me on 01604 way to report things that concern you as a resident. Please 740862. As you will be aware we meet Bi-monthly with the use this service to highlight any issues you have. exception of Planning meetings and Extraordinary meetings. Dates for Parish Council Meetings in 2018 are: Get in touch to keep in touch 9th January 2018 Important updates – could reach you directly if you share 6th March 2018 your email address – as technology moves on not having 1st May 2018 residents’ emails to update you of changes that impact on you 15th May 2018 (Annual Meeting of the Parish) really concerns us as a Parish Council and that information 3rd July 2018 may get to residents much less effectively. With our new 11th September 2018 Clerk in post, you are invited to forward your email address 6th November 2018 to [email protected]. Your email will not be shared, and will only be used to inform you of village information or th We also have the Spring Litter Pick on Saturday the 24 February consultations as and when there may be some consultations th 2018 and the Annual Parish Meeting on 15 May where we have a that you would like to be made aware of. It’s your choice as a chance as a Village to showcase what activities and groups we have resident to email in to be added to the Creaton Parish in our community. Council update distribution list. This would really improve PROJECTS AND COUNCILLORS communication, so please send your email to the Clerk. who lead these areas for our Village: We are considering a Parish Council/Community Street Lighting – Cllr Reg Thomas Facebook Page. This will allow us to cascade information to Village Shop & Post Office Development -Cllr James Hill our community and would have been particularly helpful Creaton Heritage Project – Cllr Michelle Aveyard during the last spell of bad weather, as we could have notified Creaton in Bloom – Cllr Geoff White you of the change in refuse collection, and provide links to Creaton Community Events – Cllr Maxene Atkinson important consultations on local services. This would be Planning Chainman – Cllr Geoff White, Resident L Tombs another method of reaching out to our community speedily School Liaison – Cllr Anna Hughes and effectively. It’s worked very well for the communication Defib and First Responders -Cllr Sue Leggett on the Village Shop Development. Grass Cutting – Cllr Geoff White

DDC Campaigns – Cllr Reg Thomas Annual Parish Meeting – Cllr Sylvia Winter & Cllr Maxene Atkinson COMMUNITY ACTION: PCC Link – Cllr Anna Hughes We have confirmed that the date of the Spring Litter Pick General Communication – Cllr Sylvia Winter (CPO) 2018 will be Saturday 24th February. Great Creaton Primary School have been invited to run a Poster Competition At the start of each Parish Council Meeting there is a 15-minute slot for this community event. Prizes will be presented at 11.45am for you to come along and discuss any issue that you have or to at Poppies Coffee Shop following the Litter Pick. Meet at offer your help in your community. The Parish Councillors are 10am, at Poppies, collect your pickers and return ready for residents just like you. refreshments and the presentation. We hope you take the time to attend and make our community the very best it can be. Thanks

are on the District Council APPLICATIONS We would like to thank William Miles, of Welford Christmas website and updates received by the Parish Council will be added to Tree Farm, again for donating a Christmas tree, on the Green, the Parish Council website and included in relevant meetings. You of our village, which was enjoyed by our residents, decorated can contact Daventry Council's Planning Department on - 01327 by Cllr Geoff White and which looked very festive. 871100 if you are not on email or via the Website. As of the 05/11/2017 We would like to take this opportunity to wish STREET DOCTOR: - Report Your Problem you all a very Healthy, Happy and Prosperous This is a function for all residents to use and not just for Parish New Year. Councillors. The system lets you see previous entries, up to date repairs, outstanding repairs, so please report any concerns directly to Street Doctor: trees, roads or anything else that concerns you. You can do this on Northamptonshire County Councils Website . Or call Tel: 0300 126 1000. (This number is charged at local rates, including from mobile phones) or report online.

7 GUILSBOROUGH NEWS O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! GUILSBOROUGH The weekend of 8-10th December saw Guilsborough PRESCHOOL Church looking magnificent with a cornucopia of We’ve had an amazing Christmas Tree creations, all completely magical as Autumn term, with their sparkling lights glittered and reflected along lots of early years fun windows and pews. and learning, including Imagination ran riot, when local organisations our Christmas submitted twenty eight very different trees, Production of showcasing their individual activities. The church Stickman. Reviving our Facebook Page has meant parents looked stunning! The Pre-School Tree and family can see just some of the many activities the Saturday morning was very busy, with festive stalls children enjoy at Guilsborough Preschool as well as our and tables awash with glitter and glue, as children made their cards and other charity news. We’ve continued to take part in decorations. Christmas Tales were told to the little ones and community activities such as the Christmas Tree Festival and excitement was heightened by a visit from Father Christmas himself! the Sheep Trail. In the evening, the pews were full, to be entertained by ‘The Magic of This term we look forward to exploring Guilsborough Christmas’, with festive music and readings in the atmospheric setting through winter walks. We’ll continue fundraising to update of candle and tree light, all washed down with mulled wine and the interior decoration and to improve our outdoor spaces. delicious canapés. Our plans for the back garden include a sheltered quiet This anticipation of Christmas culminated on Sunday afternoon, as space for reading and playing games, a sandpit and planting parents and children trudged through the snow to the Crib Service. herbs and vegetables in our new planter. We’re crossing our Tea towels to the fore for the shepherds, a gold paper crown for the green fingers in hope that the children can eat their produce. king and tinsel for the angels. Due to the snowy conditions, the We’ll be opening our doors on 21st February for an Open shortage of a Joseph was remedied by a particularly tall Dad, in tunic Day event allowing parents to view and chat about what and headdress, thankfully kneeling next to Mary and the Baby Jesus for Guilsborough Preschool has to offer their child. We of the Nativity Scene. This is what it is all about! course will happily give parents a tour before then with our Our grateful thanks must go to all those who contributed in many ways manager, Dawn by appointment. and worked so hard to make the Christmas Tree Festival a real 2017/18 is Guilsborough Preschool’s 50th anniversary. success. £700 was raised for church funds, but mainly it was a chance Please check our Facebook page for future news, for families and the community to come together to celebrate activities and events: Christmas. https://www.facebook.com/GuilsboroughPreSchool/

DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINING AND FIRE STATION OPEN EVENING

We have a community defibrillator in Guilsborough on the wall of the Primary School. Should you ever need to use it, the machine will talk you through the use, but if you would like more information and extra first aid training the fire station staff have kindly offered to provide some in Katie Cauldwell, Village Link conjunction with an opportunity to look round the station Under 18 Puzzle Page winner, and discover what goes on there! aged 9 The Village Link Christmas Tree

HISTORICAL SOCIETY Training Evening to be held at the Fire Station, The Historical Society will be holding their next community Pells Close on Monday 19th February at 7pm. open day in the village hall on Sunday April 22nd. Open to all Guilsborough residents This will include a slide show of old postcards and a chance to share memories. Refreshments will be available. For help with numbers please register your intention to If you have any old pictures of Guilsborough and would like them attend to be included in the slide show please contact Gary Ashworth [email protected], 07747604067(text or phone). [email protected] 07896559662 or David O’Neil More details and times in the next Village Link (April/May).

8 GUILSBOROUGH NEWS PARISH COUNCIL NEWS AND NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN UPDATE The Guilsborough Neighbourhood Development Plan Playground is now in its second draft, having taken account of all the Our latest annual safety inspection of the children’s playground comments and concerns expressed during the Village has highlighted two pieces of equipment which are no longer fit Consultation last May. Subject to its final check by the Steering for use in their present condition. The cradle swings need Group and recommendation to the Parish Council for replacing as soon as possible and the multi climbing frame is either advancement to Stage 8, Formal Submission to the Local in need of some extensive refurbishment or replacing. Costs and Planning Authority, it will be submitted to options are being explored so don’t be surprised if you see either Council (DDC) this January. This full public consultation, which or both items temporarily removed or being worked on. As we will take place over a 6 week period (to be announced by do not own the playground but lease it on an annual basis we DDC), will allow all interested parties, including the residents struggle to find external funding for work such as this however of Guilsborough, a further opportunity to make comment this may change which will allow us to look into renewing more of upon the plan prior to its final scrutiny by the independent the equipment and installing more new items of play. examiner (appointed by DDC) to determine it as being a Grit Bins proper plan. A reminder of the use of the grit bins sited around the village – The Plan will become statutory planning policy should a simple please note this is only for use in public areas and isn’t for majority be achieved in the Village Referendum that will be personal use. Anyone needing rock salt for their own use should conducted by DDC most likely in May 2018. purchase their own. If grit bins need refilling please notify our Additional news includes two welcome proposals in DDC’s Snow Warden, Gary Ashworth on 01604 743762 or alternatively emerging Local Plan (Part 2) now out for public consultation: you can notify NCC through their Street Doctor website. Guilsborough is identified as a Secondary Service Settlement, Contact Carol James on 01604 771141 or email (so limiting potential future pressure for larger scale housing) - [email protected] for more information. meaning we can move ahead with what its community wants and not what might be imposed; the Special Landscape Area policy has been updated and remains in the Local Plan – that is, Guilsborough WI for ladies in Guilsborough rd sympathetic to Guilsborough’s plan and adding a layer of and surrounding Villages. We meet the 3 protection against larger developments. A note of caution: Monday of every month at the Witch & Sow, these proposals may change should the consultation and the 7.30pm for 8pm start, bar is open, tea and independent examiner’s response to it determine otherwise. coffee complimentary after the speaker. (Bring your own mugs). NEW MEMBERS WELCOME, please come GUILSBOROUGH CEVA PRIMARY SCHOOL along, you are welcome at any meeting. First meeting £5 if not My name is Mrs Katie Shilliam and I wanted to briefly introduce joining on the night. We normally meet in the Restaurant unless an myself as the new Headmistress and express my enthusiasm for event requires more space and then you will find us in the function the exciting times ahead at our School. room at the back of the pub. Our Autumn term provided many opportunities for us to work Next meeting speakers: - th closely with our local community. Firstly, thanks to everyone February 19 - Cake Decoration who supported our successful Christmas market in December. March 19th - Keep Safe - Northampton Police It was lovely to meet so many people. I’d also like to thank March 22nd - Theatre Trip everyone who attended our senior citizen’s festive afternoon April 16th - Beauty Tips and make up as we age where our Year 6 were super hosts and sang beautifully. We Phone Julia to organise your first visit 07711 526302 or email will have more community events in 2018 and I look forward to Caroline [email protected] or just come along! seeing you then. We have many exciting things planned in the next 2 terms. Our GUILSBOROUGH FESTIVAL big project is to turn our overgrown pond area into a Peace Garden for all to enjoy. With funds raised by the superb efforts June 22nd to 24th 2018 of the PTA we can soon start this project. The children are very Friday night—Barn Dance with band and excited to be involved in the planning and design process and caller. Pig Roast Supper. are especially looking forward to the finished area where they Saturday—Sports activities in the day, will be able to learn, relax and play. We’ll keep you posted on Western /Cowboy Film Night in Village Hall developments! We’ve also improved our website www.guilsboroughprimary.co.uk and have a new Twitter profile Sunday—Street Fair with Wild West @guilsboroughpri. and Facebook page too: Theme, Rodeo Bull and lots of fun events! @guilsboroughprimary. These are really useful channels when it Anyone wishing to hire a stall for the street comes to communicating any important updates like the school fair please contact Chris Benbow by email closures due to snow, so do take a look. [email protected] Together we are ‘Building brighter futures’. Thank you for your continued support, it really is appreciated!

9 GUILSBOROUGH NEWS GPFA NEWS sponsors who could then advertise their businesses on such things as noticeboards at the Field entrance The GPFA Annual General Meeting is at 7.30pm and around the Field. If you have the skills and time to th on Monday 5 February. All villagers, especially those help then please contact any of the GPFA Committee who have an interest in sport and/or supporting a including the secretary. charitable organisation and/or want to start a new sports club, are very welcome and eligible to attend. Please contact the The Guilsborough Playing Field is continually used by adults secretary, Graham Byars, for further details, at Bird- and children. Out of respect for and the health of all those [email protected], 07712649833. who use the pitches and field, please do not allow your dog to foul on them and be out of control. It is an offence to The GPFA would be delighted to hear from anyone who could allow your dog to foul the pitches and where children and take-on the role of securing sponsorship funding. The GPFA adults play, or to be out of control for which you can be fined. believe that there is an opportunity for raising money from

Cricketers Needed, All Levels of Experience and Ability Welcome and Guilsborough CC run two teams in the Northamptonshire League playing on Saturday afternoons throughout the summer. This is a friendly club who play both at the Guilsborough ground and the ground in West Haddon. All new players are welcome, the 2nd XI is a sociable side which the club use to give our younger players experience. If you would like to play cricket in a relaxed team and help some of the local youngsters to develop this would be a great team to join. Father and son (or daughter) combinations are especially encouraged! Junior Cricket Winter Nets Start Soon It may not feel like the cricket season but spring is just around the corner. West Haddon and Guilsborough CC will be running indoor training sessions for juniors from mid-February. All ages and abilities welcome, please contact [email protected] for more details, or call Jim on 07748920176. A Fun Filled Introduction to Cricket – for children aged 5 to 8 years This summer West Haddon and Guilsborough CC are delighted to be taking part in a major nationwide initiative to offer boys and girls a great first experience of cricket. The programme is designed to introduce children to the game and develop early skills with the emphasis on having fun. All participants will also receive a personalised goodie bag provided by the ECB as well as 10 fun-filled sessions at West Haddon. More information can be found at https://www.ecb.co.uk/play/all-stars. Alternatively please contact [email protected] or [email protected].

M M M MISSING CAT Our beautiful cat Harri went missing on 3rd September 2017 from Guilsborough. He is ginger Monday Morning Meet and white and is quite small, he is Guilsborough Village Hall only just over a year old. He has a 9 – 11am every Monday weepy eye and a little kink on the (Excluding Bank Holidays) end of his tail. He is castrated and chipped and missed very much by All welcome baby – OAP’s. his family. Please ask around in case anyone has taken him in and is feeding him. We will not be cross if anyone has taken him in as it’s easy Baby & toddler toys for youngsters. to think he could have been a stray. We just want our little man home. Meet for a chat, coffee/tea, cake. Please contact Sam 01604 740866 / 07414 503099

Only £2/adult - includes refreshments. Children free. CAROL SINGING SUCCESS! GOOD FRIDAY 30th March, come along for Hot Cross Buns and Easter Crafts Thank you to everyone who participated in the door to door carol 10am to 12 noon singing in Guilsborough in December; those who came along and sung,

those who donated and those who kindly provided mulled wine and For more information contact: mince pies. We had a fun and successful evening which raised £220 for Janet 01604 740640 NAASH at Oasis House who care for single homeless people in Northampton and help them to find homes. Mike and Katie Fulcher

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HOLLOWELL & TEETON NEWS

HOLLOWELL HENS SNOWY SCENES The 2017 wreath making evening in Hollowell village hall was a A number of Hollowell resi- great success. About 15 Hens produced seasonal wreaths and dents enjoyed the two recent baskets using foliage from the village. Many thanks to our retired periods of snowy weather. The resident florist Judy for the instruction and to Sue and Sarah for young and not quite so young, organising the evening. See colour photo on inside front page. were glimpsed skimming down the slopes on sledges. Thanks to Benjamin Mourant PARISH COUNCIL and Alan Morrison for these The Parish Council has continued its review of income and pictures. expenditure and determined a need to raise the precept for the 2018 - 19 financial year from £10,100 to £10,800. This increase will be shown in the Council Tax demands issued by Daventry District Council in April 2018.

This decision has not been taken lightly. The Council took careful note of known increases in expenditure and other likely increases or additional costs that can only be estimated at this time. The implementation of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) in May 2018 and the ongoing consultations emanating from Northamptonshire County Council, create uncertainty as to what additional costs will need to be met by the Parish Council.

Minutes of Parish Council meetings (draft) will be placed on the HOLLOWELL & TEETON VILLAGE HALL TOTE WINNERS Council web site within a month of each meeting to inform The lucky winners of £10 each for November and December parishioners of the issues being considered by the Council. are: Joan Leatherland, Chris Blake, Bob Carnell, Kathleen Litch- A. G. Crisp field, Joan Tice, Mrs Leach, Ben Hall, Claire Evans-Schreiber, Chairman Kate Willson. Congratulations!

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HOLLOWELL & TEETON NEWS

CHRISTENING IN HOLLOWELL CHURCH HOLLWELL CHRISTMAS CAFE Congratulations to Lizzie and Steve Allan, whose baby daughter, The Village Hall Committee held a successful 'Cafe Matilda was christened by the Rev Chris Peck, in St James’ Church, Christmas' on December as part of the plan of organising Hollowell at the end of November. Lizzie says the service was sociable events and raising funds for the refurbishment of "superb" and she wishes to thank all those involved. Matilda's the Hall. grandparents Gwenda and Alan Hughes live in Hollowell. Lizzie kindly sent us some photographs. Over 40 people attended during the morning. They were able to tuck in to savoury and

sweet snacks, taste freshly

ground coffees , admire paintings by a local artist, try their luck at tombola and have

a go at playing hand bells. The event was greatly helped by the recently established 'Friends of the Hall' who have volunteered to help with the running of social events. It was CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE also nice to be able to welcome some new comers The 10pm Christmas Eve Carol Service held in St James' Church, to the village, especially as they came along with their Hollowell was particularly popular this year with more than 80 children. people in the pews. Many thanks to James Bonsor, who played The next Committee event is a grand Quiz Night on the the organ so beautifully and to the Rev Judy Peck for taking the 23rd February with a professional Quiz-master and drinks service. We particularly appreciated the hard work of the flower and nibbles. Watch out for further announcements and start team who made the church look so splendid and there were some organising your teams now! excellent readings from members of the congregation.

12 MESSAGE FROM REVEREND CHRIS PECK CHURCH NEWS RECTOR OF THE UPLAND GROUPS OF PARISHES

Having said goodbye to Linnet in October, I am very pleased to much with and from the people of this announce that our new Associate Priest is to be Revd Allison community and look forward to being able Twigg. Allison comes highly recommended; she is currently the to continue this alongside the communities Assistant Curate at St Peter’s, Weston Favell. She has been a of the Uplands group. teacher, assistant head and school governor, and has done Having met with both Chris and Judy over much to develop work with families in Weston Favell. Allison recent months, alongside many of the lay will be licensed at St Andrews, by Bishop John at 3.00 leaders, I do feel very called to serve in the group. I have been th on Sunday 29 April and I hope as many as possible will want to excited to hear about the ways in which the church and the be there to welcome her. Allison will be working from Spratton communities are growing and moving forward together. I have a Vicarage until August when she and her family - husband passion for schools and family work that is clearly linked to my Matthew and children Megan and Edward - will move into the former career but do believe that church should be a place that Vicarage. offers a genuine welcome for all and should be a place where all Allison will be full time; I shall remain as Rector but shift to generations feel happy and safe. being half time. All the clergy will continue to lead worship There will of course be things that I will find challenging in the across the Uplands Group, with Allison having a particular next few months- getting to know the different worshipping administrative and pastoral focus on Cottesbrooke, Creaton, communities and learning Guilsborough, Hollowell and Spratton, with myself focussing on names being just one of Cold Ashby, Ravensthorpe and Thornby. With this them! Yet I am still looking appointment, I am very hopeful for the continuing life of the forward to it and would ask Uplands Churches into the future. So, over to Allison to say, that you hold my family and ‘Hello’. myself in prayer at this time Hello! of change. I am very excited about making a move to the Uplands Churches at the end of April. Following a career in Primary education, and theological training at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, I was ordained in 2015 and am currently serving my curacy in the parish of St Peter’s, Weston Favell in Northampton. I have had a great time during curacy and have learnt

Lent Lunch 2018 Shoe Boxes and Blankets Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Shoe Box & blanket collection this year. We sent 23 blankets & 102 shoe boxes in support of the Blytheswood Project. 2018 is going well so Saturday 10th March far – we already have some completed blankets!! 12 – 2pm Sue Needham By kind permission of St Ethledreda’s in the snow Col. & Mrs Evans High Street. Guilsborough Tickets £5 Available from Janet Minney 01604 740640 Offers of soup or cheese would be welcome

13 Uplands Group of Parishes office (answerphone): 01604 743444

CHURCH ROTA Email: [email protected] BCP = Book of Common Prayer CW = Common Worship * Guilsborough Village Hall Village Guilsborough * Worship Common = CW Prayer Common of Book = BCP Colour Holy Day of MonthWeek Thornby Spratton Ravensthorpe Hollowell Guilsborough Creaton Cottesbrooke ColdAshby Sunday Morning Prayer is held at 9am: Guilsborough on Monday,WednesdayTuesdayon on mornings ThursdayGuilsborough & Spratton & PrayerheldMorning 9am: is at Communion Communion Communion Communion Communion before Lent before No No Evening 2nd Sunday No No Service Worship 11.00am 11.00am 11.00am Invited Feb-04 8.30am service 9.30am 9.30am to join for All Green Guils BCP BCP BCP BCP CW 1st

ServicePlanner -2018 The -UplandsAPRIL Group Churches FEBRUARY of COLD ASHBY Communion Sunday next before Lent before UPLANDS Common Worship SERVICE 10.00am Feb-11 GROUP Green with FEBRUARY 2018 FEBRUARY 2nd

Worship Worship for All Worship for All Worship for All Brunch @ 11 Communion Communion Communion Communion Prayer BCP No No Service No Service 1st Sunday Evensong Morning 11.00am 11.00am 8.30 BCP Feb-18 5.00pm 9.30am 9.30am of Lent Purple Prayer BCP 9.45 BCP CW CW 3rd

Morning Prayer Communion Communion Communion Communion 2nd Sunday No No service Table Talk Evensong Worship Worship Baptism Worship 11.00am 11.00am Feb-25 8.30am 8.30am 9.45am 6.30pm 9.30am 9.45am of of Lent for All Purple for All 5pm BCP BCP BCP CW CW 4th

Communion 5pm Evening Communion Communion Communion Communion 3rd Sunday No No Service Worship Mar-04 11.00am 11.00am 11.00am Invited 8.30am 9.30am 9.30am to join of Lent for All Purple Celtic Guils BCP BCP BCP BCP CW 1st

BCP Communion 4pm Mothering Sunday @ URC Communion Sunday Tea Mothering Mothering Mothering Mothering Mothering Mothering No No service Mar-11 11.00am 11.00am 11.00am 8.30am 8.30am Sunday Sunday Sunday 9.45am Sunday 9.45am Sunday Purple BCP 2nd MARCH2018

BCP Communion Brunch @ 11 Communion Communion Communion 5th Sunday No No Service No Service No Service Prayer BCP Evensong Morning Mar-18 11.00am 8.30am 9.30am 9.30am of of Lent Purple 5pm 9.45 BCP CW CW 3rd

RAVENSTHORPE Palm Sunday Communion UPLANDS Common Worship Mar-25 SERVICE 10.00am GROUP with Red 4th

APRIL 2018 APRIL Sunrise Sunrise 6.00am Communion Communion Communion Communion Communion Communion Communion Easter Day Evening 11.00am Apr-01 6.00pm 8.30am Service 9.30am 9.30am 11 CW White BCP 9.45 BCP BCP CW CW CW 1st 11

14 More pics from Guilsborough Xmas Tree Festival (see page 8 for story)

15 Local news from Cold Ashby, Cottesbrooke, Creaton, Guilsborough, Hollowell, Teeton & Thornby www.villagelink.org.uk

A SPECIAL REQUEST TO AND IT WALKERS FROM COTTESBROOKE ESTATE SNOWED! ... Cottesbrooke Estate kindly allows 4 miles of permissive access around fields next to Creaton village. This links the Macmillan Way, allowing people access to the countryside. This is part of an Environmen- CREATON: This snowy tal Stewardship scheme. The Estate clearly vista kindly provided by marks these routes and it is important that Richard Hollingum. walkers stick to the paths, as areas not involved are part of other schemes to COLD ASHBY This photo is not encourage wildlife and to help improve the new, but it is so beautiful that, in environment. All dogs must be on leads in the absence of any recent images accordance with the countryside code and sent in by residents or Natural rules on permissive access. correspondents, we thought we Lately we have been having issues with would borrow it from the PC people parking cars in gateways at the facebook page! access points to walk dogs. This has caused On a general note to all our issues with access for farm equipment. readers, if you have a photo of your There is no parking for paths and we would village or villagers that you are ask people not to park on or around these allowed to share, please do send it access points. in, we will print it if we can. We have also seen an increase in litter generally. The Countryside Code states: “Litter and leftover food doesn’t just spoil HOLLOWELL snowy scenes, sent in by our correspondent Emily Curtis the beauty of the countryside, it can be dangerous to wildlife and farm animals – so take your litter home with you. Dropping litter and dumping rubbish are criminal offences”. We ask people using the permissive access to please take their litter and dog dirt away with them. The Estate hopes you continue to enjoy the amenity that the permissive access provides, and encourages considerate and responsible users of the countryside. Henry Clemens, Cottesbrooke Estate

GUILSBOROUGH’S nursery slope (left) and below the COTTESBROOKE HALL favoured ‘red run’, just before the sledgers arrived. Photos courtesy of Dawn Davidson and Caroline NGS OPEN GARDENS Houghton Sunday 22 April 2-5.30pm Cottesbrooke NN6 8PF

ALPHABETICAL ADVERTISERS J.M Billings Plumbing & Heating Engineer - page 12 Brixworth Osteopathic Clinic - page 15 Cold Ashby Golf Club - page 11 COTTESBROOKE: Sledgers enjoying the snow on David Sleight Conservation - page 3 the Main Street, and the Clemens family snow- man bows out! Dawn Mallard Hairdressing—page 12 LocBox storage solutions - page 6 Mark Burdett Plumber - page 11 Merrick School of Driving and Towing - page 3 Watsons Petroleum - page 15 Wills Direct - page 6 Witch & Sow Guilsborough - page 2 VILLAGE LINK is produced with support from

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