Dave Bristow Kelling House R G & S M ANCLIFFE Electrical Bed and Breakfast Electrician Sue Evans Upholsterers

Part P Registered Tel: 01400 251440 www.kellinghouse.co.uk Main Road,

01400 250952 e-mail: Over 50 years experience [email protected] 07973 510650 17 West Street, Barkston, 01400 250550 [email protected] , Lincs, NG32

G H Linnell Community Caring Hands (Rachel Metcalfe) Monumental and ●NVQ Level 3 ●16 years experience ●CRB checked Architectural Masons ●Liability Insurance● Needs Assessment 40 Castlegate, ● Personal Care (showering or bathing) Grantham ●Assistance with medication ●Food Preparation Tel/Fax 01476 564189 ●Cleaning ●Laundry/ironing ●Shopping

e-mail: Home: 01400 250755 Mobile: 07920 096439 [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]

The Magazine of

Barkston, Belton, Honington and Syston

Rural Dean: Rev. Sonia Barron 01636 626720

Associate Priests: Revd. Stuart Hadley 01476 575854

Revd. Lilian Hall 01400 250729

Reader: Mr R O Wall 01400 281133

Editor: Mrs Wendy Card 01400 250462 ([email protected]) 16 Issue 318 Mar/Apr 2015

Barkston and Syston Village Hall Regular Bookings Andy Martin SCOTTS GARAGE DOMESTIC APPLIANCE REPAIRS

Monday: Parent and Toddler Group, 10.00-11.30 a.m. The Garage, Main Rd 01400 281244

Short Mat Bowls 2.00—4.00 p.m. Barkston NG32 2NG REPAIRS TO AUTO WASHERS Tuesday: Dance class 12.00—4.00 p.m. Wednesday: Dance class 12.00—9.30 p.m. Workshop Direct ELECTRIC COOKERS, Thursday: Yoga 10.00—12 noon Line TUMBLE DRYERS AND DISHWASHERS Short Mat Bowls 2.00—4.00 p.m. 01400251196 ALL WORK GUARANTEED Saturday: Dance class 9.00—4.00 p.m. Rainbow, Brownies and Guides meet weekly, more information is Hougham, Marston & Barkston Playgroup available at girlguiding.org.uk From 2 years, at Hougham and Marston Village Hall Cardiac Group meet every second Tuesday of month 2.00 -3.00 p.m. Monday & Thursday 9.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. Macular Society, WEA Courses and Lincs Trust for Nature Tuesday & Wednesday 9.00a.m. - 3.00p.m. Conservation The Hall is available for hire for, children’s parties, family parties, Bring your child’s packed lunch wedding receptions and christenings. £10.00 per session - OFSTED approved Bookings—Carol Bradford 01400250744 For more information please contact Kathryn Davies Tel:07958 262727 Google “Barkston Playgroup” County Council Representatives Ray Wootten is County Councillor for Barkston, Belton and Syston NIGEL STANLEY PLUMB TREE PROPERTY SERVICES Parishes. (Tel: 01476 400183 or e-mail cllrr.wootten@.gov.uk) Domestic Plumbing and Tree Felling Plumbing & Heating Additional services - Fencing, Painting, Shed felting, Post Office, St Nicholas Close, Barkston Guttering cleaned and repaired, Grass & Hedge Cutting

Mondays and Thursdays 9.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m. Central Heating Contact Tel No: 01636 704516 Tel: 01476 579186 07745 473727 Range Cookers Emergency Call Out Condensing Boilers Mobile Library dates Discounted rates for senior citizens Underfloor Heating

The library will be in West Street between 11.00 p.m. - 11.30 p.m. Bathroom Suites on the following Monday 16th March, 13th April. Door to Door Free advice service MOTHER & TODDLER GROUP Cottage Hair Salon & quotations Items for inclusion in the next issue of `In Touch’ Village Hall (Joyce Thorsen) Please send to Wendy Card by 24th April 2015, on Every Monday 07944 339885 Telephone 01400 250462 [email protected] 10 a.m. - 11.30 a.m. Tel: 01400 250478 (except school holidays) or e-mail [email protected] by 24 April 2015 Mobile 0781 8462 765 2 15

GRAHAM WILSON GARDENING Church Street, Barkston NG32 2NB NOT FROM THE RECTORY Tel: 01400 250553 Fax: 01400 251625 SERVICES [email protected] Complete garden service Grass cutting, Turfing, To find out more about us please telephone Garden Clearances, to arrange a visit or look at our website at: ‘Really cheers you up, doesn’t it?’ said the lady walker. We’d both Fencing, Patio & Ponds. paused to admire the drift upon drift of snowdrops by the lake at www.barkstonsyston.lincs.sch.uk Belton. It was one of those days when despite the ground still being Pre-reception Class available for 4 year olds For a free quotation Phone 07791 996550 frozen solid, a touch of real warmth in the sun told you that Spring was on the way. We’re so used to the variations in our climate, to feeling Paul Schofield Macular eye disease COMPUTER our hearts lift at the first signs of Spring or to enjoying a country walk Painter & Decorator PROBLEMS? on a crisp autumn day, that we can sometimes forget what a blessing For free help our changing seasons are – how they add colour and interest to our Interior & Exterior RUNNING SLOW? Work lives, stimulate our senses, give us something to smile about and or advice contact Ring Dave Turton something to grumble about. Tel: 01476 577573 Tel: 01476 579453 Mobile: 07803041279 Bernard Noyes Mob: 07788571700 paul.schofield10 The Church’s seasons work in much the same way. They give shape, Daveturton texture and a sense of rhythm to our year; they add colour and drama @btinternet.com (01400) 250359 @talktalk.net and help us feel that we are part of a bigger story, one that is ages old and yet continually unfolding. At present, having passed through the Cady & Simpson upbeat seasons of Christmas and Epiphany, we are into the more sombre season of Lent. At least, sombre is the way it usually comes Unit 30, London Road Industrial Estate, Grantham across. Traditionally Lent has been a time of prayer, penitence and Office telephone: 01476 563771 Fax: 01476 594875 Mobile: 07966 164341 abstinence for Christians – a time for ‘giving something up’. The 40 e-mail: [email protected] days of Lent remind us of the 40 days Jesus spent in prayer and fasting Karndean and Amtico vinyl floors * Any make of carpet supplied and fitted in the wilderness in preparation for the great mission God had Cushionfloor * Laminate floors * Engineered wood floors and hardwoods entrusted to him. In the same way, for us, practising some form of self Safety flooring in wet rooms, screeding and floor preparation -denial is not meant to be an end in itself but a way of helping us Schools - Offices - Shops - Council work undertaken engage with God in deeper ways. The end result is, or should be, a heightened sense of celebration when we come at last to Easter, our great ‘Feast of Feasts’. Chris Ward Carpets & Flooring Ltd. VISIT OUR NEW KARNDEAN & AMTICO SHOWROOM It is this undercurrent of joyful anticipation that can sometimes be Carpets, Natural Flooring, Vinyls, Woods & fitting service available missing in the way Christians observe Lent, and is perhaps something Showrooms at 26-28 Denton Avenue, Grantham NG31 7JL we need to rediscover. It is a time for taking serious stock of our lives, Tel: 01476 565202 Email: [email protected] but we shouldn’t feel we have to be miserable about it. The word Lent www.chriswardcarpets.co.uk is derived from an old word meaning spring, and in the early days of

14 3 the Church, Lent was not seen as a time of rather dreary self-denial but of spiritual renewal. The disciplines of prayer and fasting were a Sam & Mike welcome you to THE STAG means of bringing about a kind of springtime of the soul, an inner re- Church Street, Barkston. awakening that coincides with the reawakening in the natural world we Tel: 01400 250363 see going on all around us. Food served Monday: - Friday 12.00—2.00 pm., 5-30—9.00 pm. Saturday 12.00—3.00 pm, 6.00—9.00 pm. Sunday 12.00—4.00 pm. If this year is anything like typical, there are sharp frosts and wintery Take away available Mon—Thursday 5.30—8.30 pm. showers still to come, but all the spring flowers will carry on pushing Fish, Burger or Ribs & Chips £6.00. through regardless. What a blessing our changing seasons are.

M D Lewis Plumbing Robert Ellis

With best wishes, Lilian Professional Vacuum Chimney Sweeping General Plumbing, Service From: The Revd Lilian Hall, Associate Priest, Barkston & Hough Oil Fired Boiler Est. 1979 - Fully insured group of churches. Fitting and Servicing HETAS registered stove & fire-place installer SAMARITANS FASHION SHOW Solid fuel boilers serviced Tel 01400 250966 Master Member National Association of Chimney Sweeps Lincs Fashions fashion show and sale Mobile 07703 516922 Tel: Newark (01636) 702583 All garments half price or less - no seconds, top brand names. Barkston Village Hall 7.30pm on Tuesday 21st April. HASSALL DECORATORS Original Tickets available from: Paintings Amanda Strawson - tel 01400 250364 For all your Commercial & Domestic needs And Maeve Streeter 01400 250201 172 Somerby Hill, Grantham Lincs, NG31 7ET Drawings by Fundraising for the Samaritans. Tel: 01476 570050 Pauline Thompson LOVEDEN DEANERY Mobile: 0779 884 6627 QUIET MORNINGS www.hassalldecorators.co.uk Tel 01400 250428 Deanery quiet mornings give us an opportunity to take some precious time out in a peaceful, atmosphere. They usually comprise shared, guided reflection followed by personal quiet time, and are open to all. STUART WATTS Barkston Paul Berry USED CAR SALES Service Station Chimney Sweep

MOTOR VEHICLE They are held on the first Tuesday of every month at the Sports Pavil- ENGINEER Off Licence, Shop, NACS and HETAS 30 years experience Registered ion, Old Lincoln Road, Caythorpe, meeting at 9.30am for a 10 am Gas and Coal, start. They usually conclude with a short Holy Communion service Tyres, clutches, exhausts Expert service /advice and services National Lottery, and a shared lunch. Everyone is welcome. from Free collection and delivery Hand Car Wash Fireplace to Chimney For more information contact Penny Grosset at 01400 272715 penny- in Barkston area Tel: 01400 282778 [email protected] or the Revd Lilian Hall at 01400 250729 Tel: 01476 590229 Tel: 01400 250488

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IN TOUCH DELIVERY Letter from Bishop Christopher

Would anyone be willing to undertake the delivery of In Touch to the Hough This month the church begins the season of Lent – traditionally a time of Road and Thorold Gardens area please? Unfortunately Mr & Mrs Roberts reflection and prayer when we to reflect on our life as followers of Jesus. feel they can no longer deliver these due to health problems. I am sure everyone would join me in a big thank you and wish them well for the future. During Lent the story of John the Baptist will be read in our churches. John is a fascinating character who risked being mocked not only for his If you are willing to help, please contact Wendy Card—01400 250462 eccentric dress and his bizarre taste in food (locusts and wild honey) – but also for the controversial things he said, calling people to repentance. To ‘repent’ is to turn away, to change direction and do things differently. Barkston Caravan Storage We can store your caravan, trailer John called his hearers to turn away from the mistakes of the past and to re-orientate life in the Christian way. That is the same vocation to which and motorhome God, through Jesus and his church, calls us today. www.barkstoncaravanstorage.co.uk High level of security—CaSSOA approved As you know, the diocese has begun a Year of Discipleship, running through 2015, and I’m excited about the signs of growth and renewal in Call Steve Elnor on 07944475521 our churches which I hope will flow from this initiative. One of the things which set John the Baptist apart was that he was prepared to talk about things that matter – what it is to lead a holy life, how to reflect on our experience through a spiritual lens, how to talk about God, and so on.

I want all of us to be able to talk freely about our faith. My hope and prayer is that the Year of Discipleship will increase our confidence about OVER 60 AND LOOKING doing that, and help us to find the words to share the love of God with FOR A GREAT WAY those we meet in our daily lives, for our faith to be expressed in lives of TO EXERCISE? discipleship and service, enabling us to make a real difference to the life of our communities.

Bishop Christopher Vitality exercise to music classes are a great way to get active, have fun and meet others. Join us to see improvements in your mobility, strength and suppleness. RAINBOWS CONCERT Your first class is FREE and you’ll receive a warm welcome whatever your ability. Update on the last report re the Church Christmas Concert—the final Wednesdays 9.45am-10.45am amount forwarded to the Rainbow Hospice was £400 following a Barkston & Syston Village Hall, Main Street, Barkston, NG32 2NH generous donation after the event. Many thanks to all who gave for Call 01529 411194 or see www.vitalitylincs.co.uk for details. such a deserving cause. Subsidised by Lincolnshire County Council and NHS approved. 12 5

Barkston and Syston Parish Council pavement. Autocraft pointed out the dangers of using the road in the area but sent The Parish Council met on Monday 12th January 2015. 8 Members of letters to workers asking them to be courteous to other users. They asked that the P.C the Parish Council were present together with two member of the public propose an extension to the current cycle path or improve lighting to provide safer passage for cyclists and pedestrians through the parish. Cllr. Wootten attending a and the District and County Councillors, Councillors Scott and Wootten. “Cycle Meeting” next week and said he would ask about extending the current cycle path to or The Garden Centre and if possible on to Chandlers. Before the public forum and the Parish Council meeting, Mr Martin Fagan from the Community Heartbeat Trust gave a short presentation on There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.50.pm the work of the Trust, following the Council’s decision to proceed with the installation of a unit in Barkston. He said that once the unit had been put in place a community awareness evening would be arranged, to In Memoriam explain the operation of the system to local residents. Consideration was Belton given to the installation of a unit in Syston, subject to the availability of a 27th January 2015, The Hon Caroline Elizabeth Maud Partridge – the Daughter of the 6th Baron Brownlow. grant, which was to be pursued. SOUP LUNCH During the public forum, a member of the public referred to recent articles in “In Touch” in relation to proposals to refurbish the children’s Saturday 28th March, 12noon—2pm Adults £5, Children £2.50 corner at the Playing Field. The article had invited comments from residents, and two had been received, including one from the resident at Friends of Barkston Church will be holding a Soup Lunch in the Village Hall, the meeting. He asked for, and received, an update and information on Soup/Cheese & Biscuits/pudding. Please come along and join us. the questions he had posed. It was agreed that the responses from residents would be taken into account during the consideration on the Ladies Night at The Stag in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer budget later in the meeting. Glad Rags and Handbags! Thursday 26th March 7.00pm The Stag Barkston. Highways matters were discussed, and the Council received an update with regard to matters on which action had been promised. The Once again Helen Lane and I are doing our (almost) annual 24 mile hike in aid of Countryside Officer had declined to take action in regard to the reported Breakthrough Breast Cancer. This time along the Norfolk coast (which is at least illegal use of bridleway no. 4, and had submitted photographs showing relatively flat!) but to do our bit we need to need to raise a minimum of £500 to help fund vital research into this devastating disease which affects so many no evidence of illegal use by motorcycles and 4WD vehicles. It was families. agreed to continue to monitor the area and record photographic evidence With the very kind help of Sam, Mike and Matt at The Stag we are hosting a ladies of any unauthorised use. night on 26th March. Tickets are £12.50 each, reserved and paid for in advance for a two course set meal. There will be a raffle and a handbag stall on the night. Consultation in regard to the double yellow lines around the Church We have a restricted number of tickets to sell for the meal so it will be on a “first Street/Church and Honington Road corner was expected to start shortly. come first paid” basis. If you would like to help, but can’t come, we would be The flooding at The Stag corner had been investigated by the Area grateful for any handbags that you may wish to donate or indeed any sponsorship. Any bags not sold on the night will be donated to The Cancer Research Shop. Surveyor and action to replace pipes and install new gullies was Many thanks for your support. proposed. Flooding at the garage and the Hough Road corner was being Linda Painter (3 Thorold Gardens 01400 251422) and Helen Lane (32 Hough Road dealt with by the Environment Agency. Although the worst of the holes 01400 250542) on the road to Barkston Gorse had been filled, it was suggested that the 6 11

Area Surveyor be asked to look at the area again, with a view to carrying BELTON AND MANTHORPE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING out more work to fill in the holes. The damaged grit bin on the lower

Minutes of the Meetings held at Manthorpe Village Hall slope on Minnetts Hill was to be replaced by the Area Surveyor, who was On Thursday 19th February 2015 also to arrange for overhanging vegetation on the Syston bypass to be trimmed back. Attending: Six Councillors, County Cllr R. Wootten, and one member of the public attended. The application for the erection of a bus shelter had been approved, and Matters pertaining to Belton were as follows:- the licence to erect the structure on the highway footpath had also been th Belton Old School – Village Hall & Parking in Belton Car Park is now finished but it approved. The contractors had proposed week commencing 19 January is now a muddy mess. People don’t want to use it as they walk mud into the hall. to erect the shelter but it was suggested that this be deferred until half- Vehicles from the car park are bringing the white hoggin mud out onto the road. term, in view of the possible congestion this might cause at school time. The National Trust is aware and is proposing to do something about it. M. Coney and Clerk to query this with the suppliers. T. Hopwell will bring the situation up next week at a meeting with the National Trust. LCC Highways have approved the suggestions sent in regarding plans for yellow A dangerous headstone in the Burial Ground will be repaired. At the same lines and parking bays. LCC will shortly put these out for consultation. When the time the contractors will repair a memorial in the Churchyard, at no cost. consultation begins the Chairman will arrange a meeting for Belton Villagers to view This stone is a memorial to J W Blackbourn, who is named on the War and discuss the plans Memorial. Councillors Card and Rowell advised that the dead trees in the Speeding through Manthorpe & Belton. The Reactive sign has now been Burial Ground would be removed shortly, and other maintenance work delivered and put up in Belton Village opposite the Village Hall. This has been would be carried out. working for a week (there are four approved sites in Belton where the sign can be used). Much information is recorded by the sign i.e., speed and number of vehicles It was agreed to contact the Village Hall Committee in regard to an SKDC passing through the village. The average speed through Belton was 27 mph but some vehicle speeds were much higher. The mobile sign will be used in Manthorpe also offer to provide community broadband/wi-fi in community venues, such as where there are two approved sites. There is still a strong feeling that there should be village halls. a 50mph speeding limit on the A607 from Manthorpe, through Main Road Belton and as far as Barkston. Cllr.Wooten to make enquiries. An offer from SKDC to provide a stock of sand and sandbags to help cope Pot Holes in Belton: The potholes reported have been filled but more are with cases of localised flooding was accepted. The sand would be stored appearing. Some have been filled on Five Gates Road but not the one reported by M. in the Bier Shelter in the Burial Ground. Coney at the side of the road, which is very dangerous. Ray Wootten says that he reports any new ones he comes across and suggested that everyone do the same so The Parish Council received a detailed report on the budget for 2015/16, that they will be filled in. and noted comments made by residents in regard to funding for the Smoke Pollution in Belton. Smoke pollution in Belton is much better but improvements to the village hall, as well as options for financing them occasional fires are still being lit in the Wood yard. S Thompson reported that there suggested in the report. Funding for the new bus shelter, defibrillator and had been a fire lit there last Tuesday or Wednesday. tree felling had already been included. In considering the funding options Flooding outside 8 Main Road, Belton and Coach House. The lady from 8 Main for the Playing Field, it was agreed to allocate £5,000 from balances and St., Belton wished to thank M.Coney for digging out the dyke which has stopped the budget for another £5,000, to make a total available of £10,000. The total flooding. budget agreed was £14,185. Any Other Business: Autocraft had responded to letter from P.C. re workers cycling on pavement on A607 The next meeting is on MONDAY 9th MARCH 2015 at 7.45 pm at the at Belton and through the village, showing no respect for pedestrians on same VILLAGE HALL. Malcolm Hall Clerk to the Council 10 7 Church Services for Mar-Apr 2015 Services of Wholeness and Healing Date Barkston Belton Honington Syston

Wholeness and Healing services are held on the second Thursday of each 1st March 10.30 am RW 11am JC month at St Nicholas' Church, Barkston at 7.30 p.m. These are quiet reflective St David’s Day Morning Holy services, where people have an opportunity to pray for any concerns, personal 2nd in Lent Prayer Communion or of a wider nature. The service consists of two or three hymns, a meditation, prayers and opportunity to light candles, place written prayer requests on a 8th March 11.00am Prayer Tree, receive the laying on of hands for oneself or for others, or simply 3rd in Lent Holy to enjoy a time of peace and rest. Prayer is complementary to, and in support Communion of the work of medicine and treatment. SH St Nicholas' Church is warm and has toilet facilities. Refreshments are served after the service. The next services will be held on March 12th, April 9th. 15th March 11.00am 9.30 am JC Fourth in Lent Family Ser- Holy Mothering Sunday vice JB/LH Communion Prayer and Praise

22nd March Prayer and Praise at the home of Joy Bristow, 38 West Street, Barkston, Fifth in Lent (01400 250339), will be held on Mondays 4pm. March 2nd,9th,16th,23rd,30th (Lent Course) April 20th, 27th.

29th March Honington Honington Honington Honington St. Nicholas Knitting Circle, Barkston Palm Sunday 11.00am 2nd April Our next Knitting Circle meetings will be on Mondays March 23rd, April Maundy Thursday 7.30pm 27th, May 18th in the Community Centre, St. Nicholas Close, between 2.00 5th April 9.30am at 11.00am 9.30am p.m. and 4.00 p.m. We knit for The Jacob’s Well Appeal, Beverley, Yorkshire. Easter Sunday Syston Holy Holy Come and join us for a Knit or just a Natter. Communion Communion Joy Bristow (01400 250339) 12th April 11.00am Low Sunday Holy Communion SH 19th April 11.00am 9.30am JC KEY: Family Ser- Holy HC - Holy Communion FC - Family Communion FS - Family Service vice JB/LH Communion MP - Morning Prayer ES - Evening Song EP—Evening Prayer CS - Crib Service RS - Remembrance Service SP - Solemn Prayers 26 April

AL - Alan Littlewood SH - Stuart Hadley LH - Lilian Hall JC - John Cook JB – Joy Bristow PC - Peter Coombs DF - Di Fairhead RF - Dick Fairhead JL - John Lord BL - Ben Lyte SM - Sheila Mitchell AS - Angela Sims BG - Betty Groves DH - David Hitchcock RW - Bob Wall MT - Ministry Team (RS) - Richard Shireby (BW) - Brian West

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