LITTLE STAUGHTON NEWS – February 2021

permitting, we will complete clearing the area PARISH COUNCIL - FROM THE CHAIR with a view to making it more pleasing to the I am happy to say that I continue to see a eye. It has been suggested that some large number of villagers bracing themselves grassed areas within the village could be against the winter weather during my daily dog developed by planting ‘wildflowers/grasses’ walks. I even saw younger residents trekking so, if you have a personal view, please let a through the village with sleds but their member of the PC know. comments suggested that conditions were Don’t forget, should you wish to make the PC less than ideal! Unfortunately, whilst the snow aware of any concerns or ideas to help widened the opportunity for daily exercise for enhance the village please drop an email to some it hampered those less mobile and Mary Jordan, our Clerk at prevented some from receiving their Covid [email protected], or vaccinations. Let’s hope that those with the chat to a Councillor - we are all very greatest need can receive their ‘Jab’ in a approachable and more than happy to discuss timely manner and thereby have some anything that will help improve/develop the defence against the virus - that said area in which we live. restrictions are unlikely to change significantly In the meantime, enjoy the warmer weather - in the near future so please continue to keep a at least some is forecast - and keep safe! lookout and offer help/support where it may be needed. Regards Clive Burchett The Parish Council (PC) held a ‘Telephone Conference’ meeting on the 20 January and NEWS dealt with a number of ongoing issues that will impact the Village in the future. Our response SPEED WATCH to proposed changes to London Luton The Speed Watch Team have been advised Airport’s aircraft arrival procedure has been by Police that we can undertake prepared and will be added to the consultation sessions during the current Covid restrictions website by the end of the month. Whilst the but only with a group of 2 socially distanced proposed Hold and its associated access volunteers. Given that the same Covid routes will be established at above c8’000 feet restrictions prevent anyone from playing golf the village will be impacted by noise with 1 other person we have decided that we generated by transiting aircraft - to what will ‘play safe’ and refrain from recommencing degree is unclear. It is suggested that noise Speed Watch sessions until the situation levels similar to those in a ‘Busy office’ will be improves. In the meantime the MORELOCK apparent when aircraft overfly the area. The device, now located opposite the Village Hall, available routing data suggests that the village will continue to be maintained. Bryan Kitchen will, at best, be sandwiched between aircraft is working hard to capture the data that has transiting to join the Hold and those circling been saved by the device since a software within it; whilst aircraft bypassing the Hold upgrade. We plan to pass specific details on from the West may fly over the Airfield. The to the Police to help focus their speed control consultation Feedback process has a deadline efforts within the village. of 5 February so you only have a short period to personally respond should you wish to do LITTLE STAUGHTON VOLUNTEERS so. Friends and neighbours, as we continue with We have responded to the Boundary our third lockdown, the Little Staughton Commission’s proposal to transfer Little volunteers are continuing to be available to act Staughton Parish from Ward to as support for vulnerable and shielding people Riseley Ward via the consultation webpage in our community. and await the Commission’s considered As I write, the cases appear to be levelling response. out. UCH are reporting the R rate across the The fence encroaching the Bridleway beside country at 0.8, a considerable improvement on the Playing field should be removed by the a couple of weeks ago. The infection rate in end of the month and, Covid restrictions 1

LITTLE STAUGHTON NEWS – February 2021 the East of is down from 140 per 100,000 on the 1st January to about 47 per GORDON CHARLES JAMES 100,000 this week. Admissions to hospitals started to plateau around 16th January and we We are sad to report the death of Gordon can be hopeful that will begin to reduce soon. James in Peterborough City Hospital on Deaths remain high, and are not expected to Tuesday 29th December 2020 aged 79 years. fall for another couple of weeks. Gordon was very well known locally, This is all quite good news, but it is important especially in farming circles. His grandfather, to understand that the new UK variant John James farmed at Elm Farm, (B.1.1.7) is about 55% more transmissible. Row East for many years. Gordon’s parents, There are question marks over how this is Charlie and Ruth, then took on Ashfield Farm going to play out, but some countries are in addition, where Gordon was born. After extremely concerned that without stringent being educated at Keysoe School and lockdowns the new variant could cause Kimbolton Grammar School, Gordon happily dramatic spikes of infection similar to what has settled into farming life at home. In 1977, occurred here and in Ireland. Our improved Gordon married Sylvia Bellamy at Dean figures are a direct consequence of lockdown. Church. After starting married life in Lower The new variant is now the most common Dean, Gordon and Sylvia moved to Little covid infection in the UK, in other words it has Staughton in1983. Gordon worked with his overtaken the original covid virus.* parents, Charles and Ruth, for many years, gradually introducing new ideas, modern machines, and generally making the farm AGE UK more efficient. Gordon was also very interested in conservation and embarked on We have a money saving opportunity for older various government schemes to support people who live in and Luton. wildlife: setting up a tree planting scheme Age UK Bedfordshire has been working with around a pond near Donkey Lane, naming it energy suppliers to save money for older Ruff Spinney after their great family friends people and to ensure your home is insulated and former Keysoe residents. In 2000, Gordon and energy efficient. Over the last 10 years we planted Millennium Wood to the North of have helped over 1,000 people to keep Ashfield Farm. Both are now maturing into warmer in winter and to save money on fuel great assets for the countryside and wildlife. In bills through the colder months. 1. FREE small recent years Gordon set up a farming insulation aids that we will fit Free of Charge partnership with his niece, Sheila, and her through our Handyperson Service Simple husband, Robert Smyth. Together with Sylvia, items that can save you money include:- Low they extended the farm, and continue to bring Energy Light Bulbs Low Energy Night Lights in new ideas: farming never stands still! Remote Control Plug In Sockets Timer Gordon did not have much time for leisure Switches Radiator Reflector Kits Letter box activities but did enjoy growing fruit, flowers Brush Strips or Flaps Draught Excluders for and vegetables in his poly tunnel. He was a windows and doors. If you or someone you great supporter of the Village Show at Keysoe know is over 50, lives in Bedfordshire or Luton where he made many friends enthusiastically and would benefit from this opportunity then entering numerous classes each year: he did please contact us:- Tel: 01234 360510 or like to win, especially the Best Farmer Class! Email - [email protected] Gordon’s winter shoots were very much Don’t miss out we have limited supplies which enjoyed: initially for family, these quickly are on a first come first served basis. See expanded to include local farmers and friends. overleaf for another money saving opportunity Farmers rarely retire and although Gordon Please note we are taking all precautions for had poor health for some years, he continued COVID-19 with all clients and workers—social farming until September, determinedly distancing, masks, gloves, visors, anti bac and completing his 61st harvest before allowing health himself to be taken into hospital. The funeral is at the church of St Mary the Virgin, Keysoe on 2

LITTLE STAUGHTON NEWS – February 2021

Monday 1st February followed by cremation. couple of days to see their hope realised, Due to Covid restrictions, both the funeral and whereas we have no idea how long this will cremation are private. Flowers are family only; last. How long will we go without seeing but donations in lieu in memory of Gordon can friends and family, meeting up at restaurants be made to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent or going to church again? Only time will tell, Institution (RABI) or Cancer Research UK via but amid all this, we shouldn't worry but rather T L Cobbold Funeral Directors, 11-13 New cling onto the hope of God. Street, , PE19 1AE; telephone 01480 With love and prayers, 476136. Our sincere condolences are offered Nicki to Sylvia and the family at this sad time

SERVICES ALL SAINTS CHURCH All services are via ‘Zoom’ for which we have a New Meeting ID: 418 4055 563. The

Password is the same: 022067. The change Dear Friends, enables people to join in both on screen and As we go into another month of restrictions, I by phone (telephone 0208 080 6591). am afraid that all our services and activities Parish Communion: every Sunday at 9.00 am are back on Zoom. Candlemas Service: Tuesday 2 February at We are, however, very aware that there are 10.30 am some of you out there that we are not Ash Wednesday Communion Service: 17 reaching because you don’t have the internet February at 10.00 am. and so we are making our services accessible by phone and in order to help people connect CHURCH LIGHTING both on screen and phone we have changed the Zoom ID. January was all birthdays. Clive and Gill Shaw Find out more, please sign up for our celebrated their two granddaughters' birthdays Newsletter by contacting Elizabeth Edmunds by lighting All Saints’ church. Also Martin on [email protected] Banks and Mary Hopperton marked what It was in Lent last year that we entered our would have been their mother Jean’s 100th first lockdown and who would have expected birthday. Our church lit up, can be seen from a us to be in another lockdown for the start of great distance and helps to boost us all in Lent this year? these difficult times. If you would like to mark a Lent is a time of self-denial and of giving special occasion or remember someone by things up in the lead up to Easter where we lighting the church contact Gill Shaw on remember the Passion and death of Christ 376530. All we ask for is a minimum donation before we celebrate the glorious resurrection. of £10. During this year, the whole world has slowly gone into a lockdown situation of some sort, a FRIENDS OF ALL SAINTS’ 200 CLUB situation where everyone is having to practice the self-control and self-denial of Lent. In the This month’s winners were as follows:- wilderness Jesus was tempted to think that there may be an easier way to live out his 1st prize £80 Angela Bradford calling, likewise this year has put all sorts of 2nd prize £40 Mary Hopperton temptations in front of us , to be with our loved rd ones, to break lockdown, but the hard way , 3 prize £20 Surg & Jas Bubbra the way of denial and obedience will hopefully 4th prize £10 David Green pay dividends. If you would like to join the club or have any As I write this on a gloomy Saturday I look forward to the end of the pandemic with hope. queries please give a call on 376530, or email The apostles had to live in a similar way me at [email protected] between the crucifixion and the resurrection, they lived in a state of not knowing what the future had in store, but they only had to wait a 3

LITTLE STAUGHTON NEWS – February 2021

The Rev Dr. Martin Luther King had also been shot dead. America was in turmoil. The BAPTIST CHAPEL November election was won by Richard Nixon – be careful what you ask for. www.littlestaughtonbaptist.org Events in Europe were equally dramatic. In

France, General De Gaulle, the war hero who As we enter the new year of 2021 our prayer had saved his country from chaos in 1958 was for you all is that you will be kept safe and driven from office when students violently know the hope and peace that can be found in rioted on the streets of Paris. Behind the Iron the Lord Jesus. Curtain in Czechoslovakia the Communist Due to the on-going concerns around the party’s attempt to give communism a ‘human spread of the coronavirus we will continue to face’ was crushed when tanks and troops meet on a Sunday at 10:00am using Zoom. If invaded the country. The so-called “Prague you would like to join us you would be very Spring” was destroyed. welcome and we would be delighted to see How could such a year end? Would the first you. Please join us at: journey as far as the moon and back be a spectacular enough conclusion because that https://usO2web.zoom.us using the meeting is what happened. The U.S space mission ID:738 386 1651. If you do not have access to Apollo 8 travelled to the moon orbited it at the internet you can still join us using your Christmas and returned safely. The pictures telephone landline. You’ll be charged your sent back by the astronauts showed the good usual call costs for a standard UK number. earth to be a tiny oasis of life and beauty in a forbidding cold universe. On Christmas Eve 1. Call any one of the following numbers that year to accompany these stunning in the normal way: 02034815240, images of the “earth rise” over the moon they 01314601196, 02030512874 or read the first 02034815237. Ten verses of the bible to the listening world 2. You will hear the following – ‘Welcome starting with, to ZOOM, enter your meeting ID followed by #.’ “In the beginning God created the heavens 3. Enter the meeting ID number: 738- and the earth ……..” 386-1651 4. You will be able to hear everything in This is a good reminder that however much the meeting and speak. turmoil there was in mankind that year, God You’ll be charged your usual call costs for was still in control. What a wonderful way to a standard UK number. finish a tumultuous year!

2020, what a year that was! Covid, Brexit and the end of Mr Trump’s presidency. Could any other year in history compare? How about

1968? All copy for the March 2021 issue to Vicki Airs 1968 began with U.S. President Johnson the at No 10, Spring Hill or email red-hot favourite to win another term in office. ([email protected]) In the January’s primaries his fellow on or before Wednesday, 24th February 2021. Democrats made clear that they were not sure Thank you. they wanted him. In a shock move President

Johnson declared that he would not stand for re-election as President. The new favourite of the Democrats was a certain Bobby Kennedy, the brother of the famous John F Kennedy.

Like his brother he was gunned down. His was not the only appalling assassination that

Spring. The great campaigner for social justice

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LITTLE STAUGHTON NEWS – February 2021

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