Community Magazine Fleet, Gedney, Holbeach St. Marks & Holbeach
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Community Magazine Fleet, Gedney, Holbeach St. Marks & Holbeach Hurn 2019/2020 1 No. 432 DECEMBER 2019 Parish Contacts The Rural Dean Revd. Rosamund Seal 01406 424989 [email protected] Authorised Lay Ministers Mr. David Smith 01406 363388 Deanery administrator – Caz Dennis – 01406 423460 [email protected] (Office hours Monday– Thursday 9.00-1.00) For all enquiries about Baptisms, Weddings and funerals Churchwardens: Fleet Peter Graper 01406 423803 [email protected] Geoff De Roux 07826 843611 [email protected] Holbeach Hurn Mr. David Baker 01406 362420 Mrs. Kay Jenkinson 01406 424428 Gedney Mr. William Webb 01406 363673 Mrs. Jill Duffey 01406 365586 Holbeach St. Marks Doris Johnson 01406 701250 Nick Worth 01406 701459 2 Useful Community Contacts The Pilgrim Hospital ………………………….. 01205 364 801 Queen Elizabeth Hospital …………………… 01553 613 613 Holbeach Hospital ……………………………… 01406 422 283 Johnson Community Hospital Spalding.. 01775 652 000 Peterborough City Hospital…………………. 01733 678000 Long Sutton Medical Centre ………………..01406 362 081 Boots Chemist Long Sutton ………………… 01406 362 331 Samaritans ………………………………………… 08457 90 90 90 National Rail Enquiries ………………………. 0845 748 495 Registrar Long Sutton ………………………… 01522 782 244 M. P. John Hayes ………………………………… 01775 711 534 NHS Direct …………………………………………..0845 46 47 Cllr Nick Worth …………………………………….07866 415688 South Holland Parish Volunteer Car Service (Mon - Fri 09:00 - 12:00 / 13:00 - 16:30) Call Sharon: 01406 366820 or 07834 634336 3 MAGAZINE EDITOR: MARK ELSOM [email protected] Copy for the magazine should be with Mark by 18th of the previous month, marked Mid Elloe Magazine. ADVERTISING EDITOR: GILL GRAPER [email protected] 01406 423803 SEE US ON THE WEB The Magazine and details of services will be put on the new church website every month so please do check there for details of what is going on in your Parish and in the Benefice. Fleet: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/14562/ Gedney: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/14564/ Holbeach Hurn: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/14569/ Holbeach St Marks: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/14564/ For all enquiries about Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals please con- tact the Deanery Administrator, Caz Dennis, on 01406 423460 (office hours Mon- Thurs 9.00-1.00) For urgent pastoral issues please contact the Rural Dean – Rosamund Seal – 01406 424989 For all other enquiries please contact the churchwardens - details are in the Mid Elloe Community magazine. 4 Mid-Elloe Worship Rota December 2019 5 Mid-Elloe Worship Rota December 2019/ January 2020 6 Your Mobile Library carries a selection of adult and junior fiction and Non-fiction books, large print and talking books, local history, books on Prescription and much more. Wheelchair access. MOBILE LIBRARY STOPS TIME DAY December Holbeach St Marks -St Mark's Road 10.30-11.30 Thursday 12h South Gedney - Church End 14.45-15.15 Thursday 12th Gedney Dyke - Roman Way 12.15-12.45 Wednesday 11th Fleet Hargate—Hargate Close 12.00 - 13.00 Thursday 12th LONG SUTTON LIBRARY Address: Trafalgar Square, Long Sutton, Spalding Lincolnshire PE12 9HB Tel: Customer Service Centre (Libraries) 01522 782010 Opening hours: Monday – 2pm – 6pm Tuesday – 10am – 5pm Wednesday – CLOSED Thursday – 2pm – 6pm Friday – 10am – 5pm Saturday – 10am -1pm We offer: IT facilities, printing/scanning/photocopying, Local History books and information, Children’s Library, Teenage Library, DVDs, Talking Books, Large Print Books, Self Service, Library Shop and a Family History Buddy. 7 Belfry News A Christmas Ghost To recount this little story we must return to the Leicester I knew some 70 years ago, the days of my long gone youth, the days when those bone shaking trams rattled through the town's thoroughfares and the many chimney stacks advertised the city's prosperity. At the lower end of Churchgate one found (and still does today) the ancient church of St Margaret, an impressive structure, its imposing tower containing 14 bells. In my time the adjacent vicarage itself very old, was the home of Rev. Canon Eric Ducker MA., his family and in an annexe, known as "the vergers lodge" Ernest Morris, verger, author, bell ringer with his redoubtable wife Beatrice, known to we youngsters, though not to her face as "Beatie." The vicarage and annexe had one other resident, a ghost who Ernest told me he had seen while fire watching during the war. Taking a short nap, he awoke to find it standing near his bed before slowly disappearing through the wall. A ringing friend , Jack Adams a solicitor, also claimed to have seen this spirit . Doors in the vicarage would mysteriously open of their own accord, not that this bothered Rev Eric "Oh don't worry, he will close them" he said. Eric had no fear of ghosts as often in winter when we arrived to ring for evening service, we would find the whole church in an eerie darkness, except for the organ console where in a pool of light sat Eric blasting out Bach. Likewise fearless "Beatie" or more respectfully, Mrs Morris, would have swept up the ghost, even as she swept the confetti after day- time weddings. In later years due to a road improvement the vicarage was demolished leaving the ghost homeless. All that remains and seen through a gap in an old red brick wall are a few weed covered cobbles, relics of a one time home. The characters depicted in this story have sadly all long gone,but it is said that the ghost moved into the church though I have no news of sightings. Anyone keen to spend an investigational night in St Margarets? H'm perhaps not-far better to retire to one's bed for hopefully pleasant and ghost free dreams. John Bennett 8 FLEET CHURCH Fleet Church 50/50 Club November WINNERS 1. Chris Marshall £25 2. Charlotte Gernert £15 3. Dorothy Atkinson £5 Thank you to all the people who support this method of raising funds for the church We hope that all our present members of 50/50 club will renew their sub- scriptions for 2020 and letters have been sent. If you would like to support the church by joining this scheme, please complete the form in the maga- zine. ARTS AND CRAFTS EVENT @ FLEET This very successful and enjoyable event took place on 16th and 17th November. The many visitors who came were treated to a feast of over 100 paintings and 14 craft stalls, as well as the usual cake stall, raffle and refreshments. It was very en- couraging that so many visitors commented on the beauty of the church and the friendly welcome they always have. We would like to thank the craft stall holders, painters, all the helpers and all the visi- tors who came during the weekend. You helped us to raise nearly £1700 - a record figure in recent years. 9 ST MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH, FLEET 50 / 50 CLUB Please consider supporting this scheme which is a vital part of our fundrais- ing during the year - did you know that it costs in the region of £25,000 every year to ensure the church in Fleet remains open, in good fabric order and with regular services. The club runs from January 2020 for 12 months and the annual membership is £8.00. This gives every entrant at least 36 opportunities during the year to win a prize, as winning numbers return to the draw every month. There are 3 prizes eve- ry month: £25, £15, £5 You are invited to join the club by completing the mem- bership form below. You may wish to include additional names for other members of your family. PLEASE PRINT THE DETAILS CLEARLY ADDRESS:_____________________________________________ POST CODE:_____________________________________ TELEPHONE NUMBER:_________________________________ E MAIL: ________________________________________________ NAME NO. OF TICKETS @ TOTAL £8 Cheques payable to: PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF FLEET or CASH £_____________ ENCLOSED Please return form with payment to Gill Graper by the end of December. Diamond House, Roman Bank, Holbeach Clough, Lincs PE12 8DJ Forms and payments may be put through The Rectory letter box, which is checked each week for post. 10 CHRISTMAS SERVICES AT FLEET We look forward to welcoming you to our special services at Christmas. Fleet Wood Lane Primary School will be coming for their Carol Service on Wednesday, 18th December in the afternoon. Years 5 and 6 have a Christingle Service on Wednesday 4th December. We have our annual Carol Service on Sunday, 15th December at 6.30 p.m. and this will be followed by mulled wine and mince pies. The Midnight Mass for the Benefice is at Fleet this year, starting at 9.30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Please note the starting time for this service. HISTORY OF FLEET CHURCH A new guide leaflet is now available in the church to satisfy your curiosity about the wonderful history of the church and the area around it. We are very grateful to Freya Trotman and Geoff De Roux for producing this, as many people visit the church and enjoy finding out about its background and special features. Freya gave fascinating talks to two separate groups of visitors in October and it was wonderful to welcome people who show a genuine affection for and interest in church buildings. It is hoped that in 2020 there will be the opportunity for further talks to be given. Gill Graper 11 FLEET BAPTIST CHURCH THE FLEET POOR LANDS CHARITY The Trustees of the Fleet Poor Lands Charity invite applications from ELDERLY Residents living within the boundaries of the Parish of Fleet to participate in the Bi-Annual DISTRIBUTIONS OF THE CHARITY’S MONETARY DOLES which take place at The Community Hall in Hocklesgate, FLEET HARGATE in the months of April and December of every year.