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Autumn is always a busy time in our of being the editor!) especially the Quiz on villages, with many events and activities to 16th October, Mpostponed from its usual May inspire you as the nights draw in. In these slot. Get your table booked asap, it always pages you will find them all, and if you are sells out! new to the area, why not go along and get to know people. Gone are the days (sadly) when Then there’s the Harvest Supper (see page you could walk down the street and meet folk, 5 for both these events) which is being held or exchange news in the post office, we all in the marquee at the White Hart for the rush around by car now and have no time to second year - more room so no excuse not to just chat- lucky for us then that we have such bring along a gang! an active community, and this mag to tell you all about it! And don’t forget the Parish Breakfasts in October and November- it’s a great privilege Lucky too that we have the ‘Good for me to cook this for those who come along Neighbours’ group to support people in our - why not give it a whirl? (See Page 3) community who need a bit of extra help. There’s an interesting article about their work New for this year is the proposed ‘Living on Page 15 - if you can give a few hours to Advent Calendar,’ an idea which I have help them , they would be so grateful. shamelessly stolen from my daughter’s village in West Berkshire! If you have ANY I’d like to draw your attention to a few events festive event to publicise, this is for you. See that are close to my heart (these are the perks Page 7 for more details. Village website? It’s at; http://flittongreenfield.bedsparishes.gov.uk Church website; www.3churches.co.uk Contact Clare at [email protected] From Your Parish Council ... Keep up to date with what’s going on in Flitton, Greenfield and Wardhedges While walking through the village it is very rewarding to see and hear from residents and visitors how lovely it looks. The Parish Council can take some credit for this following a deal with Central Beds Council a few years ago, when responsibility for street lighting was exchanged for us taking control of grass cutting. Although this costs more than street lighting, we can do more cuts at a better standard. Thanks must also go to all residents who maintain their own verges and hedges and keep the village a safe and pleasant place to live.

We are also grateful to our litter collectors - Maureen Morey in Flitton and I am also now delighted to say that Greenfield has its own - David Harley who is at Harlington School. I am very impressed that someone so young has taken up this position and I have already seen David working away in the village. Please thank them too if you see them out and in action!

Having said that, it is always disappointing to see the amount of litter and dog mess. In the MUGA car park today I picked up the entire contents of a used McDonalds meal dropped less than 2m from the bin. This is unfair on residents who do the decent thing and I would make a plea to think of others including our litter pickers, before dropping rubbish. Everyone taking responsibility for this problem will help maintain our standards. See Page 11 For more on this subject.

Two new benches are now in place at Highfield Road and residents can make the most of the weather to sit outside and admire the view. A picnic table at the Playing Field will soon have a plaque to thank three villagers - Gordon Patterson, Terry Blount and John Lake for helping establish the facility many years ago.

There are still a few vacant allotment plots at both sites starting at just £5 a year. We are considering plans for a community orchard at Flitton and we need to demonstrate local support, so if you are interested please contact Cllr Gareth Ellis on 07809 873124 or [email protected]

I hope to see many of you at the Gala on September 5th and trust that we will be lucky with the weather again this year. On the following Monday, there will be the exciting installation of new Fitness Trail equipment in the Playing Field which should be ready for use the week after and I am looking forward to hearing your comments about that too whilst out and about in the Parish. Nick Thompson Chairman Parish Council

‘Flit ‘n’ More’ is published and distributed by the Parochial Church Council of St John the Baptist, Flitton. The Editor is Angela Ayres, Sunnyside Cottage, Cobbett Lane, Flitton MK45 5DX, 01525 860723, [email protected] Please note that views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor or Parochial Church Council. ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT/ORGANISATION IN FLIT’N’MORE... THAT’S WHAT IT’S THERE FOR! The next issue will be out in Dec 2015 for events up until Feb. Please contact Angela if you have something to publicise or Simon on 861727 if you would like to advertise. Free for voluntary groups, very good rates for businesses. Services for Autumn at St John the Baptist, Flitton

Sun 6th Sept 10.30 am Family Service - activities for children and refreshments for all at 10.30, 11 a.m. then informal service at 11. Sun 13th Sept 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion led by the Rev David Bell Sun 20th Sept 11 a.m. Morning Worship led by the Rev David Bell Sun 27 Sept HARVEST FESTIVAL led by the Rev David Bell. Mon 28th Sept 7 p.m. Harvest Supper and Auction of Produce in the White Hart Marquee, by kind permission of the Hale family. A two course meal and a good evening’s fun is included in the £10 ticket price. See overleaf for details Sun 4th Oct 10.30 am Family Service - activities for children and refreshments for all at 10.30, 11 a.m. then informal service at 11. Sun 11th Oct 9.30 a.m. Choral Communion led by the Rev Julie Cox Sun 18th Oct 11 a.m. Morning Worship led by the Rev Roger Wood Sun 25th Oct 8.30 a.m. Holy Communion - a shorter service without hymns using the Book of Common Prayer. Followed by PARISH BREAKFAST in the church hall - see page 5 for details Sun 1nd Nov 10.30 a.m. Family Service - activities for children and refreshments for all at 10.30, 11 a.m. then informal service at 11. Sun 8th Nov 10 a.m. Remembrance Sunday. Starting with the Act of Remembrance and reading of the names on the War Memorial in the church grounds with the British Legion, followed by a special service and finishing with the 2 minute silence at 11 a.m. Sun 15th Nov 11 a.m. Morning Worship led by the Rev David Bell Sun 22nd Nov 8.30 a.m. Holy Communion - a shorter service without hymns using the Book of Common Prayer, followed by PARISH BREAKFAST Sun 29th Nov 10 a.m. Three Churches Service at - Choral Communion with a guest preacher. (NB no service at Flitton) Sun 6th Dec 4.30 p.m. Christingle A delightful service telling the story of the Christingle, when each child receives a lighted candle in an orange. Sun 13th Dec 6.30 p.m. Carols by Candlelight A service of favourite carols, readings and poems, preceded by mulled wine and mince pies from 6pm in the Church Hall. Thurs 17th 7.15 p.m. Carols Round the Christmas Tree Join the choir outside the White Hart Dec for a really festive sing - it wouldn’t be Christmas without it! Sun 20st Dec 10.30 a.m. Blessing of the Crib A short service especially for the very young, with our famous knitted Nativity! Thurs 24th 9.30 p.m. Christmas Communion. Our very special start to Christmas, with the Dec choir, led by the Vicar, the Rev David Bell lease join us in the Church Hall for breakfast on Sun 25th Oct and Sun 22 Nov, following the 8.30 am short communion service. You can enjoy a full cooked breakfast, chat with friends, read the newspaper for only £5 (£3 for children) so call Angela on 860723 Thanks to all who (well over 100), (pig, puds, sides, beer, bread, cheese, cream, raffle prizes and Our Harvest Festival (Sun 27th Sept) is more) and with their time and one of the highlights of our church generous loan of equipment at this year. Even if you don’t usually come event in aid of the Church Hall funds. It to church, it’s worth a visit to see the was a marvellous day, the sun shone church decked out with fruit, veg, brightly and everyone had a great flowers and produce. afternoon, raising nearly £1700 . Please watch developments at the Church Hall This year we return to the White Hart to see how the funds are being used to for our always a make improvements to the building great evening, with good food ...it's a new floor on the list next! courtesy of the Hale family and our regular auctioneer David Stoppard with his Harvest Elf, John Smith. Details opposite! In August we were delighted to meet the families of and We need your produce and other gifts , who were baptised in for several reasons; Flitton Church. We welcome Jack and make Oliver into our church family, and wish the church look great, and are sold them all the best for the future. at the Harvest Supper Auction - in- If you or someone you know were come from this important fundraiser baptised in Flitton Church, you can is shared between the church, the commemorate it by having a pane en- church hall and our chosen charity. graved in our unique which will which will last for generations to come, help swell the auction pot. maybe to mark a special birthday? to give to our The cost is £100 for up to 18 letters and local FoodBank - which helps many the date. If you do not know the bap- in need. It provides a minimum of 3 tism date, we can look it up for you. days emergency food supplies and If you are interested, or would like to offers support to local people in a come and see the window, please crisis. Many churches are involved as contact Margaret Butt on 862170 or well as the Church of . Please [email protected]. Alternatively bring your gifts (or leave in church you can have a look if you come to porch) on , or bring our Family services on the 1st Sunday them to the service - children can of the month. take their gifts up to the altar. If you would like to receive a regular If you would like the Vicar to visit, do update on Church news, why not sign feel free to phone him - he would be up for our email newsletter - it’s the best delighted to hear from you. Or call way to keep in the loop. Just email Clare any PCC member or Churchwardens - at [email protected] The numbers are on the back page…

Now don’t say you haven’t been warned... Book your table EARLY to avoid disappointment! Friday 16th October at 7.30 pm Flitton Church Hall You thought you had missed it, But no! It’s that flitton quiz… Yet again! Let hope triumph over experience, and come along once more to battle for glory… or the wooden spoon! BAR! RAFFLE! PRIZES! Teams of up to 6 -Ticket price £10 per person includes hot supper and there’s a pay bar (Please no BYO as its a fundraiser for Flitton Church) Call Angela on 01525 860723 to reserve your table, and why not book your Harvest Supper tickets at the same time? See below… The Friends of Flitton and Greenfield Church Wine Tasting The wine tasting on 10th July was a success raising nearly £350 towards the repair and maintenance of the Church. Thanks to Barry Edwards for leading the evening and to all those who attended. “Flitton & Greenfield in the Great War” On Friday 13th November Margaret Butt will be giving an illustrated talk on life in the village in the Great War. The event is a joint venture between the Friends and the PCC, will start at 7.30 pm, tickets are £6 each available from Margaret (for more details please see advert on Page 5). Coffee Morning, 21st November There will be a coffee morning on Saturday 21st November in the Church Hall starting at 10:30 am. As well as the refreshments, there will be stalls and of course the opportunity to buy the Friends’ Christmas Card. Make a note of the date for this village social occasion Members The Friends would welcome new members and especially anyone willing to join the Friends’ Board to assist in the planning and organisation of Friends’ activities. If you are interested please contact Caroline (telephone 07749 836245 or email [email protected]) or Michael.

Christmas Cards

Although it is only August, it’s time to publicise the Friends’ Christmas card for 2015. This year the cards again feature an artwork by Lynden Thompson, a view across the fields to the Church. The cards are 200mm x 150mm (8 x 6) portrait, undated, in packs of 10, with envelopes, and are priced at £5 per pack. Advance orders can be lodged with Michael Brown 01525 716230 or email [email protected]). Make your Christmas event part of Flitton and Greenfield Living Advent Calendar! We know that so much goes on in our villages over the festive season, and this year Flit’n’More invites you to promote your event in a special brochure which we will deliver to every house, and publicise throughout the village and beyond. All your event needs to be is between 20th Nov and 24th Dec, and public or ticketed (e.g. switching on lights in your road, carol singing, fundraising bazaar.) You’ll get an ad in the brochure and a special numbered poster to display outside your event. They will be numbered in date order - you see the idea? It costs NOTHING, you just need to let me know details of your event. We need 24 events to make it work!! Contact Angela on 860723 [email protected] Balancing Body, Mind & Spirit

David A Semple

Domestic Electrical Services Friendly service for everything from replacement light fittings and extra at the Wrest Park sockets to Enterprise Centre complete rewires Free estimates (01525) 717519 07742 662462 Contact Helen on (01525) 717519

THE FAMOUS FLITTON POTATO RACE - SUNDAY 21ST JUNE This event is now in its 6th year and keeps attracting record numbers of runners and spectators. 275 people of all ages and levels of fitness crossed a start line and ran for fun, pain, charity or just to say that they had done it. There were even four men and two ladies who finished carrying 40kg and 20kg respectively – twice the weight of their peers; (not their maris peers, surely?) They want to try a heavier weight next year! This year we were recognised as a county event when the Lord-Lieutenant of , Helen Nellis, agreed to start the races, ably supported by her Cadets. She commented how impressed she was with the community spirit and enjoyment of the whole event. All those over 9 years old ran the full mile from Moat Farm to The White Hart; we only had one casualty who recovered quickly thanks to Network Medical. A total 55 adults (same as last year) crossed the finish line and the winner was Chris Lamb from Northants with a new course record of 5 min 30 sec, taking 12 seconds off the existing record. 1st lady home was Deborah Pedley from . We had 8 adult relay teams this year and for the 3rd year running it was a battle between The Wheeler Peelers and The Cod Squad and the barrel of Shefford Bitter was won by The Peelers; their winning time was 4 min 40 sec. The cadet relay shield was retained for the 3rd year by Platoon, Army Cadet Force. With a record 150 children entering, races were split into spud and spoon and spud and fork races depending on age; the spud and fork entrants ran from the village hall and the younger entrants with spud and spoon started from the cemetery.Full results can be seen on www.flittonpotatorace.co.uk and we are still collecting photos – any happy snaps would be most welcome. The prizes were presented by David Siegler DL on behalf of the Lord-Lieutenant, after which there was plenty to keep everyone occupied with fairground rides, stalls, hog roast, BBQ and music. As this year’s race coincided with Father’s Day, there was an inaugural Test your Strength for dads after the race, speed-lifting 50kg of spuds – what else? It will make a return next year! Apart from the prize-giving, the highlight of the afternoon was the draw for the weekend for two at The Waldorf Hilton kindly donated by Hilton Hotels; this raised significant funds. This year’s local charities were East Anglian Air Ambulance and the Army Benevolent Fund, and the numbers who turned up on the day and the estimated £4,000+ raised would make the day a great success. To cap it all, Barclays have promised matched funding of £1,000 to the Air Ambulance which is fantastic news. Particular thanks go to John Boutwood of Isle of Ely Produce for providing the core ingredient! Since the prizes are traditionally cash, we are extremely appreciative of those who covered the prize money and other costs; the principal benefactors can be seen on the website. However, there were as usual many unsung heroes who helped on and before race day; finally, thanks to everyone who put up with the road closures which were inevitable in these health and safety conscious times. Greenfield & Pulloxhill schools organised a design-a -potato-head competition judged by Rev Dave Bell, our new vicar, and there was the Tatties in a Bucket competition for Greenfield, Pulloxhill, and pupils; the winning weight from 3 seed potatoes was an impressive 1.37 kg. Increased numbers bring fresh logistical challenges which we try to anticipate; we introduced online registration for adults, moved the start and finish lines and had registrations at the village hall. I am sure that there are other improvements so the committee would welcome any suggestions for the future, volunteers to help both on the day and on the race committee and financial backers, so contact Simon Sadler on [email protected], or [email protected] The final furlong - The youngest runners head for the finish line! Photo by Michelle Townsend

The start! And below the 40kg sack carriers - respect! Photos by Annabel Sadler

Powering home! Photo by Emma Brewer RS Cars Ltd Your Local Garage for Competitive Servicing - Parts Exhausts - Tyres Paint and Body work MGOC Cornerway Garage 2 Flitton Road, Greenfield Bedfordshire MK45 5DJ 01525 717346 KY IC F ERS T IN G S

If you are a mum, dad, grandparent or child minder, you look after a child of pre school age and are free on a Monday morning then why not come along to the village toddler group - Sticky Fingers from 9.30 to 11.30 at Flitton and Greenfield Village Hall. We cater for babies up to four years old with toys and games, craft every week and story time too. And during the summer holidays, we arrange weekly get-togethers. The cost is only £2.50 per family including a hot drink for you and squash and biscuits for the children. We are a friendly bunch and we try to meet socially one evening a month in the pub or a local restaurant. It’s pay as you go so you don’t have to come every week and the first session is free! Either drop in or call Kelly Bosworth on 07828 292019 for more information. Flit Vale Wildlife Trust Autumn Programme Saturday 5th September 8.30am at Moor. Small mammal trapping with Colin Carpenter & Richard Lawrence. Find out what small creatures we have… …maybe Yellow-necked Mouse or Harvest Mouse. Wednesday 28th October 10.00 am at Flitwick Moor. Fungal Foray with Peter Walker, Flitwick Moor is one of the best sites in SE England for fungi - come & find out what we have. Friday 20th November 7.15pm at Village Hall Annual Quiz Night - teams of up to 6. Book a table early to avoid disappointment. Tickets £10 each - includes fish & chip supper (or veggie option), plus a glass of wine or juice. Monday 14th December 7.15 pm at Maulden Church Hall. AGM - followed at 7.45pm with talk by Brian Kerr on “The Making of the Bedfordshire Countryside”. For walks please book as numbers are strictly limited. £1 per adult requested for walks - £2 for talks. Contact Ann on 07890 347327 or [email protected]

Flitton Moor Annual BBQ! Beasties & Bats! and DUCK RACE Wednesday 9th September from 6.00pm Come along to find out what different creatures live on your Local Nature Reserve. Duck Race timed for approx. 7.00pm Meet at site of old shed on Flitton Moor, at the bottom of Brook Lane. Please bring some food with you for the BBQ, we will provide the cooks! Sweep netting & mini-beast hunting; Pond dipping; Nature Trail; Night walk with bat detectors; Moth Trapping For further information contact David Sedgley on 01525 714961 Your Flitton & Greenfield Good Neighbours Scheme Needs You!

An Interview with Chairman Andrea McCormick:

Andrea, when did the Flitton & Greenfield Good Neighbours Scheme begin? It doesn’t seem that long ago but we actually started in July 2010 so we’re celebrating our 5�� anniversary. We were set up by the Bedfordshire Rural Charities Commission and report to them quarterly on our activities. This allows them to obtain funding to help set up more of these schemes in the area.

What areas do you cover? We offer our services to clients in Flitton & Greenfield of course, but also to those living in Pulloxhill and Wardhedges.

What kind of services do you offer? Well, the vast majority of our clients need help getting to and from doctors’ appointments, hospitals and opticians and dentists or with getting to the shops – the essential services that most of us have access to. This is particularly important given that the bus service for the villages is very poor.

So is it a kind of volunteer taxi service? Not at all, our volunteers are police checked and are able to assist our customers from their homes to their cars and often into their appointments. We understand that it can be difficult for some of our clients just to get in and out of a car, or put their seatbelts on, so we take great care. We charge a small nominal fee for lifts to cover the cost of running the phone and the fuel costs for our volunteers, as apart from a small initial grant from the BRCC, we are self-funding. Unlike a taxi service we do need as much notice as possible, I’d say at least a day or two, more if possible.

What else does the Good Neighbours Scheme do? Quite a lot - although a lot of our requests are for lifts to essential services we do so much more than that. We offer companionship; help those who can’t manage with light housework and occasional gardening or dog walking. We’re here for everyone, from the young to the old who need help. That might be someone with a permanent need or who might be ill or recovering from surgery. Nobody is excluded from asking for help and whenever we can help, we will.

Does that cover everything you do? No, we also provide litter-picking services around the playground in Flitton to assist the Parish Council. We also take care of the Phone Box Library. It’s a pretty innovative use of space for all the residents of the village, especially those that can’t get to and from the local library.

Where do you get the books? Residents donate them all. We try to rotate them and then donate some to local charity shops when space is short.

How can the residents of Flitton, Greenfield, Pulloxhill or Wardhedges help you? We urgently need more volunteer drivers; the requests for lifts are sometimes hard to meet. Our volunteers have jobs, businesses and families so they can’t cover everything that’s needed by our residents. We always welcome help with the litter picking and donations of books or time to answer our dedicated phone. Our clients help by understanding we can’t always arrange a lift immediately, so as much notice as possible helps, most let us know a few days in advance.

What sort of commitment is needed? For the phone it’s just a few minutes a day, arranging lifts and calling back clients to confirm who will be helping them. Most of our drivers do a couple of lifts a month so you only need to commit to whatever you can do – that might be one morning a week or less, everything helps. Once a call comes in requesting a lift, an e-mail goes out to all our driver volunteers and if you are able to do the lift, we confirm this to the resident and give you all the details you need.

What is the phone number for the Flitton & Greenfield Good Neighbours? It’s 07594 578 741, we can’t always answer but if clients or new volunteers leave a message we always return the calls the same day.

Thanks. Andrea, how are you going to celebrate your 5�� anniversary? Well, we’d like to grow our volunteer base and increase awareness of the scheme. We’ll be having a stand at the Flitton & Greenfield Gala this September based on a second hand book sale to fit in with the Phone Box Library and all donations can be dropped off at either 8a Flitton Road or placed in the storage box outside 51 Mill Lane Greenfield or even brought along on the day, so potential volunteers can come along and find out more about us and what’s involved. It’s really easy to join and a little time goes a long way with our clients.

To volunteer with your village good neighbour scheme please call us on the Good Neighbours Scheme phone on 07594 578 741 or e-mail [email protected] 2015 is a special year for the Women’s Institute as it celebrates its Centenary Year. Flitton and Greenfield WI is a thriving group of 55 members. We meet once a month and also have coffee mornings, meals, visits, a weekly summer walking programme and a darts team. Visitors are very welcome. Flitton & Greenfield WI Programme 2015-16 Date: Meetings 3rd Tuesday each month Place: Flitton & Greenfield Village Hall Time: 7.30 for a 7.45 pm start 2015 5th Sept: Flitton & Greenfield Gala: WI Cake Stall - cakes and help appreciated 15th Sept: Ripple Africa - Jo/Charlie 5th Oct: Group Meeting hosted by Barton WI Venue: Barton Church Hall 20th Oct: Birthday Celebration - Light Meal 17th Nov: Royal Mistresses - Roger Powell 15th Dec: Christmas Dinner - please order and pay by November 2016 19th Jan: Man on the Spot - 50 Years as a Journalist and BBC Broadcaster - Bill Hamilton 16th Feb: Dunstable Food Bank - Mike Pittam 15th Mar: Members Night 5th April: Group Meeting at Flitton and Greenfield Village Hall, The Wartime Kitchen - Amanda Pickard

Dog Control Order Notices are now in place and the sanctions for not cleaning up dog mess or allowing dogs in prohibited areas like the Playing Field are just waiting to be used and may result in a Fixed Penalty Notice or fines of up to £1000. We know that there are still some regular transgressors and in particular a dark haired gentleman who exercises his large black and small white dogs in the Playing Field, who we need to get this message through to, before any enforcement action is necessary. (Nick Thompson, Chairman of the Parish Council) Wardhedges, Flitton 01525 860626 www.jollycoopersflitton.co.uk Put these important Summer Dates in your diary… now! All over August Bank Holiday: 2nd annual Beer Festival Come and sample the best of local and national real ales and ciders Sunday - Charity Day Live Music - Hog Roast and watch the A Board for lots more! Bobbi and Ian look forward to welcoming you to The Jolly Coopers! The AGM of the Village Hall will be held at 8.30 pm on Thursday 19th November, during which a new management committee for the forthcoming year will be elected. Anyone living in Flitton & Greenfield and over 18 is welcome to vote or join the committee or propose a nomination. Any nominations should be submitted to Simon Sadler on [email protected]. Flitton Moor Barn Due to problems with documentation there has been a delay in erection of our new barn. But it should now be happening sometime in October. We have funding for the major part of the project – but some modifications and additions are so far not funded. The Friends of Flitton Moor are therefore asking for donations in the form of payments for various items – e.g. from £1 for a brick, £5 for 1m of seating, or £10 for an internal panel. I will have a stall at the gala so please come & see me for more information, or if you would like to donate. Or, if you can’t make the Gala, don’t forget our BBQ and Duck Race on Wed 9th Sept. David Sedgley Flitton Moor volunteer warden. Laptop & Jackie Laden Computer (FHP chp)

Printer, Server, Setup, 23 years Repairs, Internet, Wireless, CHIROPODY Virus Infection, Network, Data Recovery, Home/Office Experience Computer problems. Foot Care 7 Day Services from £40. For corns, nail cutting, hard skin or No Fix-No Fee thick nails and much more! Qualified and Experienced CALL Jackie on 07717 791617 We Come to You Clinic at The Tanning Station [email protected] 2 Road, 01525 306316 Flitwick, MK45 1AJ 07925 338435 or home visits available Village History by Margaret Butt FLITTON FACTS Letter to Churchwardens dated 1580

This letter hangs in the church and was sent in 1580, when the threat of Spanish Invasion seemed very real and harbours along the south coast were being repaired and strengthened. I don't know how many of these letters went out, possibly all over England, and whether specific ports were always mentioned. I think we can assume that the cost of the defence of the realm would have been a matter for the whole country. The letter, mostly in a printed form with the names handwritten, is written to the Churchwardens of the Parish of Flytton in the Diocese of Lincolnshire. We were part of that diocese for centuries before joining Peterborough and then finally St. Albans a hundred years ago. Up to Victorian times, the parish was Flitton cum Silsoe so the area was much bigger than today. The letter includes a picture of Queen Elizabeth 1 with the words ‘God Save the Queene.’ Basically, the letter says it is to be read out by the Curate of the church, asking for money for the repair of Colliton Haven, then an important port on the south coast of Devon near modern day Seaton. The Tudor harbour is now inland due to silting up of the estuary. In Tudor times, it was a centre for ship building which was vital to the navy. The collection was to be held every year for 12 years which was quite an undertaking for a small village. Presumably the De Grey family were expected to contribute. The money was to be sent before Midsummer and finishes 'And thus fare you heartily well. Your loving friend...... '. The signature is illegible but must have been someone of considerable importance. The Spanish were becoming increasingly aggressive towards England. King Philip 11 of Spain had been married to Queen Mary 1, Elizabeth's sister. His aim was to return England to the Roman Catholic faith,turning it away from Protestantism, and to curb our trade with the rest of Europe. The Spanish were becoming very annoyed with privateers such as Sir Francis Drake who attacked Spanish ships returning from the New World. Also, Drake and other navigators were trying to find easier routes to the East Indies in order to take over the Spice trade from Spain and Portugal which added to the tensions between the countries. England was aware of the plans for invasion and the Armada of 1588 had been expected for some time. The repair and upkeep of the southern ports was vital if the Spanish were to be thwarted. Small villages like ours had to play their part however far inland they were. It is interesting that maybe they knew more of the outside world than we might have thought. The Vicar was Ludovic Price who was the incumbent for Flitton cum Silsoe from 1555 to 1600. He had been presented by the Chapter of Christ Church, Oxford. His curate would have read out the letter at a Sunday service – hopefully it was explained to the villagers what it was all about. The farmworkers presumably could not pay anything so it would have been up to the yeomen farmers to give what they could. We are fortunate that the letter has survived, giving us an insight to life in Elizabethan times. ORGANISATION CONTACT NAME PHONE

Vicar The Rev David Bell 861163

Churchwardens Angela Ayres 860723 Clare Butler Ellis 861496

Flit’n’More Editorial: Angela Ayres 860723 Advertising: Simon Sadler 861727 Distribution: Pat Woodland 860189

Church Choir Flitton Contact: Clare Butler Ellis 861496

Bellringers Vernon Green 712916

Church Flowers Lesley Arthur/Julie Abrahams 713325 718331

ChurchCleaning/Baptism Window Margaret Butt 862170

Parish Council Nick Thompson (Chair) 860421

Village Hall Hire Pauline Downing 860595

Church Hall Hire Jill Chandler 860715

Bedfordshire Police Team 01234 841212

Greenfield Lower School Headteacher: Mrs Annette McCullion 712426 And Ducklings Pre-School

Sticky Fingers Toddler Group Kelly Bosworth 07828 292019

Scouts and Cubs Badger Hill Scout Group; www.badgerhillscouts.org.uk

Brownies Jane Staff 717294

Multi Use Games Area bookings Dawn Leaning 07860 632427

Allotments Gareth Ellis 861496

Village Gala Margaret Lowe 861111

Friends of Flitton Moor Dave Sedgley 714961

Jazzercise Clare Godleman 404858

Women’s Institute Meriel Davies 633421

The Greensand Trust Maulden Office 01234 743666

Flitwick & District Heritage Group Dave Sedgley 714961

Keys to Mausoleum (English Heritage) Barbara Stimpson 860094

Ampthill & Flitwick Flyers (Running Club) Dave Sedgley 714961

Ampthill and District Lions Bob Pledger 860962

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS ADDED TO OR DELETED FROM THIS LIST, PLEASE CONTACT THE EDITOR