Idle Talk from My Computer and Through Your Letterboxes

The Village Magazine of

Mattersey & Mattersey Thorpe

JANUARY 2020

1 Some useful telephone numbers: Commercial Services: Animalhotelmattersey.co.uk: Luxury pet boarding & grooming 01777-817379 Beauty Therapist:(Mobile or Salon), Dermalogica Products-Diane 01777-817639 Boiler/Central Heating Service: Alex Perry 07598-186001, [email protected] Challenge Carpet Cleaning: Martyn Cliff -Taylor, Freephone 0800-3287941 Foot Care: Jane Cavanna 01777-816696 Holmegarth Garage: Jono Hunt 01909-591984 & 07967-823869, Pest Control—Buzz Off: Paul Drage 07706-747073 & 01777-816074 Priory Garage: Dave Phillips 01777-816606 Taxi Service: Bawtry Private Hire 01302-752300 Therapist: Aromatherapy, Massage, Reiki, Reflexology - Katherine 07779-272820

Please email or phone the Editor if you would like to advertise your services Community Services: Alcohol Advice Service:01777-272244, Alcoholics Anonymous:0114-2701984 Bassetlaw DC Councillor: [email protected] 07931-014035 Bawtry & Blyth Medical: 01302-710210 Cat & Dog Re–Homing Centre: Mayflower Sanctuary 01302 711330, Church Warden: Anne Mills 01777-818398 Church Hall Bookings: Julie German 01777-817589 Crimestoppers: 0800-555111 Electricity Emergency: Landline 0800-6783-105 from mobiles 0330-123-5009 Mattersey Primary School Head Teacher: Mr. Paul Higginbottom Tel: 01777-817265, e-mail: [email protected] MP: Notts Community Housing: Register at www.alhomefinder.org.uk. Immediately available homes contact lettings.ollerton@ncha.org.uk or tel 0800 013 8555 Notts County Councillor: Tracey Taylor, 01777-816781 / work 0115-804 3177 e-mail: [email protected] Police: Beat Manager—East Bassetlaw: PC 3258 Jason Fellows tel 07525-226893 email: jason.fellows@nottinghamshire.pnn.police.uk Police Community Support Officer: PCSO 9433 Lucy Campion tel: 07525 989445 email: [email protected] All non emergencies: 101 Power Cut Emergency Number: 105 RSPCA National Cruelty Line: 0300-1234999 Samaritans: 08457-909090 Vicar: Jonathan Strickland 01302-710298, email [email protected]

Message Board

“Mr Rock and Roll” Night A fun evening with plenty of dancing was enjoyed in the Church hall on Friday 29th November. The entertainment was provided by Mr Rock & Roll who sang plenty of songs that kept people returning to the dance floor. Thanks have to go to Mary Winder for organising this event in aid of the Church organ repair fund. It was a great success and raised £200 for the fund . Lynne Saint

PLEASE USE THE CLOTHES/SHOES COLLECTION BIN PLACED OUTSIDE THE BIBLE COLLEGE, MAIN ENTRANCE TO HELP SUPPORT THE PRINTING COSTS OF THE MAGAZINE CURRENTLY FUNDED ENTIRELY BY THE COLLEGE

Credits: Many thanks to all the Commercial Sponsors for funding, The Bible College for the printing, the Distribution Team and Post Office for delivering the magazine to 300+ houses in Mattersey and Mattersey Thorpe every month. Contact Details for Comments and Article Submission: Please contact the Editor at [email protected] or phone on 01777-816694 or send hard copy to: Nursery Cottage, Main Street, Mattersey DN10 5DY Latest Submissions: 24th of Month @ 4pm Earlier in month preferred 3 Editorial—January 2020 An opportunity to say “Happy New Year” to all and a big thank you to all who help to get Idle Talk from my computer and through your letterboxes. Firstly, thanks to all the regular monthly contributors, especially, the Parish Council, the Church, Mattersey Primary School, the recipe writer, Craft & Chat, Retford Ramblers, Villages Together, Everton Gardening Club and WI, Mattersey Thorpe TRA, Chesterfield Canal Trust, Daneshill Lakes & Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, Retford Photographic Society and any others not listed here. Personal messages and occasional contributions are much valued for their local relevance. Without these inputs there is no magazine! However we always have space to include more entries especially those with village interest. Secondly, without money, we wouldn’t have the funds to produce 333 paper copies each month, so many thanks to our commercial advertisers for their continued support. The Bible College’s willingness to print the magazine for us is so much appreciated and absolutely fundamental to providing the magazine in a paper format. So many thanks to Kaz Scott and David Pearson at AOG for their efforts. Electronic copies are available earlier and in full colour each month, so if you would like to receive these as well please send me your email address. The delivery team of 9 including, Pam Light, Liz Clark, Ian Kingston, John Wilkinson, Ethel Dawson, Ann Young, the Fisher family, Norman at the Post Office & my wife Gaynor continue to ensure the magazines get through your door in a timely manner. June and Ray Duxbury have also been extremely helpful standing in to help deliver when others were not able to do their rounds this year. Wishing the readers and the team a happy and prosperous 2020 and looking forward to receiving your contributions in due course. Steve Digby (Editor)

YOU ARE INVITED TO

ALL SAINTS’ CRAFT & CHAT and Darts & Dominoes with Jigsaw Exchange

TUESDAY 28th JANUARY In the hall 1pm—4pm

TEA / COFFEE and CAKE

ALL WELCOME

PROGRAMME - Winter 2020 14th January - Disappearing Hedgehogs - Sue Smith,7th Heaven 11th February - Sing Along with Pat - Pat Hodges, Entertainer

‘Villages Together’ meetings are usually held on every 4th Tuesday afternoon. A nominal charge of £3 is made per session which includes tea or coffee and biscuits. Do come and join us in Mattersey Church Hall (unless otherwise stated) at a usual starting time of 1.45pm. Villages Together is supported by Blue Skies Community Initiative Please telephone Sue Hughes on 01777-818880 or 07921-132889 for further information. Villages Together Christmas Lunch at The Sun, Everton

Main Street — Road Resurfacing Update I’m sure many of you were surprised and disappointed that the road works notified to take place on Main Street on 19th November were so limited in scope. They only did some patching work between the Post Office and the Church with nothing done to the heavily utilised B6045 part of the street. As this coincided with the closure of the A631 Gainsborough to Bawtry road due to flooding, it seemed sensible not to further inconvenience motorists by adding temporary traffic lights on the diversion. However no further work occurred after reopening the A631 and communications started with Notts Highways (“Via” East Midlands) and County Councillor Tracey Taylor. Their responses are copied below Steve Digby

Tracey Taylor responded with the following update: “I have been aware of the problem with the surface condition of Main Street since first being elected in 2017, and have made representations to have this addressed.

You will appreciate that not all works across the County’s roads can be undertaken immediately, and there is a constant and evolving programme to deal with those that present an immediate danger and those which require planned capital works and which have to be accepted to a budget year. The works that I first sought in 2017/18 were accepted into the programme during 2018/19 and agreed for the budget year 2019/20, to be undertaken during the third or fourth quarter (i.e. September 2019 – March 2020).

I became aware last month that when the surveys for the resurfacing works were undertaken they highlighted some drainage issues such that it would be counter-productive to resurface until they had been fully investigated and assessed. I received a fuller explanation that Highways’ investigations had identified some issues with the main carrier drain and its outfall which need addressing prior to resurfacing and some flat areas of carriageway that may 8 need additional drainage provision. The engineer is in the process of designing the scheme to include drainage repair/improvement and carriageway resurfacing during March 2020. The road will require a temporary closure to carry out the works and as it is a bus route, we need to give the affected bus companies 3 months’ notice. I have clarified that the statutory notices will be issued shortly, and the design works will continue during the 3 month notice period; so all should be teed up ready for the works to be undertaken in March.

It is often the case that patching work is undertaken whilst wholesale resurfacing is awaited, in order to prevent further deterioration or accidents; this seems to have been the case for the recent works near to the Post Office. Those works were never advised to the public as being the wholesale resurfacing works, and should not be confused with such.

I have no reason to believe that the resurfacing that I requested and secured will not be carried out. And whilst I’m frustrated that it hasn’t come sooner in the year, I expect it to be completed this financial year as scheduled and promised. I will continue to advise the parish council of any news that I receive“. Councillor Tracey Taylor Member for Misterton Division Vice Chairman Children & Young People’s Committee Nottinghamshire County Council tel: 0115 804 3177, mobile 07770 847086

The following extract is taken from the VIA response: “I am able, however, to advise that a full resurfacing scheme is planned for that location (Main Street). This work is scheduled to be undertaken before the end of this financial year. Unfortunately I am unable to provide you a precise date at this time.“ Patrick O’Neill, Preventative Maintenance Works Co-ordinator, Via East Midlands Ltd. 9 MATTERSEY PARISH COUNCIL

www.matterseypc.co.uk Chairman: Mr. R.Kendall, tel: 01777-817072 Councillors: Mr. M Doughty, tel: 01777-817213 Mrs S. McKay, tel: 01777-816471, Mrs E.Skelton, tel: 01777-817845, Ms S Smith, tel 01777-817022, Mr. A. Walker, tel: 01777 816567, Mrs. H. Wilson, tel: 01777 818846 Clerk to Mattersey Parish Council: Mrs. Adele Haddon, Contact Details: Tel: 01909 731565 email: [email protected] Meetings are held on the 1st Wednesday of each month (excluding August) commencing at 7.00pm in the Church Hall to which everyone is welcome. There is a public forum session to air your views.

JANUARY MEETING The January meeting of the Parish Council will take place on THURSDAY 2ND JANUARY 2020, the change being due to the 1st Wednesday in the month falling on a Bank Holiday. All Parish Council meetings now commence at 7pm.

THANK YOU TO RESIDENTS Parish Councillor Sandra Smith and County Councillor Tracey Taylor would like to thank all residents who gave generously to the Care Leavers collections last month. Sandra arranged for a collection box to be put in the Post Office after seeing Tracey’s appeal and the box of goodies was handed over at the Parish Council meeting. This is often a difficult time of year for young people who are without a proper family Christmas and who are just finding their way as independent adults. So thank you to everyone.

...... AND THANKS ALSO TO OUR RETIRING COUNCILLOR Lynne Saint has been a Parish Councillor for many years and stepped down at the meeting in December. The Parish Council would like to thank her for all her hard work and invaluable contributions over these years. The Chairman presented her with an engraved vase in appreciation. Lynne will be remaining active in the community as she is to become a school Governor and as an ex Head teacher will bring a wealth of experience to the role. 10

PLEASE PLEASE REPORT POTHOLES TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL

The recent floods and torrential rain have taken their toll on our roads. The County Council have legal obligations to repair any potholes over 40mm deep within a short space of time. If you see a pothole please report it via their website so they can identify and repair them promptly: https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/transport/roads/potholes/report-a- pothole.

POLICE INCIDENTS The Police have been unable to attend Parish Council meetings for some time due to operational restrictions. However they have recently amended their website to show regional statistics and we will try to extract information relevant to Mattersey on a regular basis and have them printed in Idle Talk. They will be in arrears by around 2 months. If you have reported an incident and would like further information we will try to obtain this for you.

Parish Council report continued overleaf

VE DAY CELEBRATION EVENT Arrangements for the VE Day celebrations on May 8th are continuing. There are calls for a nationwide bugler or piper playing the last post at 3pm. Unfortunately we are having some difficulty securing one…… unless you know differently???? If anyone can help please let the clerk know. We are also looking for some musicians to play 1940’s style music to help the street party along – perhaps you can recommend a small band.

We would also be very pleased to have more volunteers to help beforehand or on the day.

Lighting the Christmas Tree and Carols in Church

MOBILE LIBRARY SERVICE The Mobile Library will be visiting Mattersey/Mattersey Thorpe on Tuesday 7th January at the following locations & times:

Mattersey Church: 11.50 > 12.15

Mattersey Cricket Field (Retford Road): 12.20 > 12.35

Mattersey Chapel (Main Street): 13.30 > 13.40 Mattersey Primary School: 13.45 > 14.10 Mattersey Thorpe (Keyes Rise): 14.15 > 14.30

Mattersey Thorpe TRA Newsletter — New Year 2020 We wish everyone a Happy, Prosperous and Peaceful New Year. Thank you to all of you who have supported us during the past years. Without your support we could not do all that we do. We have had three successful trips in 2019. Whitby, Scarborough and the River Trent Cruise at Nottingham. We are planning more for this coming year. These are always advertised in the Idle Talk. In the summer we have a Fun Day at Mattersey Thorpe. This involves the whole Community. At Easter there is an Easter Egg Hunt where the children do crafts and hunt for eggs. The annual Christmas Fayre was held in the Community House. Thank you to everyone who helped us in any way by giving raffle or tombola prizes, articles to sell or baked for the cake stall. Thank you also to all who bought the raffle tickets and those who attended the event. We give selection boxes to the younger children every Christmas. Monies that we make go towards this and other future events. Bingo is held every Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock in the Community House anyone is welcome to join us, just come along. In 2020 we plan to carry on much the same as we have in 2019 but we are always open to new ideas if anyone has any helpful suggestions as to what we could do that is different. Best wishes to everyone for 2020. From the T.R.A. Committee 13

January Events All events at Rural Learning Centre unless otherwise indicated The Magic of Moths A talk about moths and moth trapping by Colin Watkin Date: Thursday 9th January 2020 Time 7.30pm Booking: Price £2.50 Contact: Jan Williamson 01777 709974, [email protected]

Optics Demonstration with Opticron Your chance to try out a range of equipment, such as binoculars, under real field conditions at our Idle Valley Nature Reserve. Expert advice on hand Date Sunday 12th January 2020 Time 10am-4pm Price Free event Idle Valley Bird Walk Join local bird enthusiasts for a walk around Idle Valley Nature Reserve. Please bring your binoculars and walking boots. Date: Sunday 19th January 2020 Time: 9.30-11.30am Cost: Donation welcomed. Know before you go Mobility: People with limited ability and wheelchair users please contact the organiser in advance. Facilities: Toilets, Shop, Cafe/refreshments, Picnic area Disabled toilet, Baby changing facilities, Dogs Under effective control

Don’t forget the forthcoming celebrity lectures at Nottingham Albert Hall with Gordon Buchanan on Wednesday 15th January and Chris Packham on Friday 20th March. 14 Retford Ramblers Happy New Year from Retford Ramblers Group. Why not start off the New Year by taking a Taster Walk. The 2020 programme launches on 5th January with a steady walk in the Edwinstowe and Rufford area. Just the thing to get the mind, body and soul back in order after the Christmas indulgence. The Group meet in the Chapelgate Car Park usually for a 09.30 am departure. Car sharing is always encouraged with a voluntary contribution to be made to the driver. Contact us if you would like any more information. Ring Mike 01427 880984 or email [email protected]

Chesterfield Canal Trust 2020 Calendar Our 2020 Calendar has 27 superb photos of the canal and its wildlife, all taken by our members. 13 months for the price of 12 because January 2021 features as well. It is A4 sized, opening out to A3. It costs £6, plus £1.50 P&P if ordering by post. To buy it from our online shop go to: https://www.chesterfield-canal- trust.org.uk/product-category/merchandise/

Health & Safety Officer The Trust is looking for a Health & Safety Officer to oversee a review of its working practices and policies. If you are interested in this post and have previous experience of such work, please email [email protected]

Rod Auton

Ingredients (Serves 8-10)

 125g butter  2 tbsp golden syrup For the Topping  2 tbsp cocoa  50g butter  1 tsp ground cinnamon  150g dark chocolate  50ml brandy  100g walnuts To serve  100g Christmas pudding or Christmas cake, crumbled  Clotted cream  200g digestives, crushed

 50g dried cranberries

Preparation method

1. Gently melt the butter, golden syrup, cocoa, cinnamon and brandy until combined. 2. Stir in the walnuts, Christmas pudding or cake, crushed digestives and cranberries. 3. Spoon the mixture into a greased and lined rectangular dish. 4. For the topping, melt the butter and chocolate in a bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Pour the melted chocolate over the biscuit mix. 5. Chill the fridge cake for at least 4 hours then cut into squares and serve with cream. 16

EVERTON GARDEN HOLDERS Everton Garden Holders have had a successful year, reported our Secretary, Val Kirby, at our AGM, She reviewed the year and the range of excellent speakers. The Plant Sale in its new format of including stalls had been a great success as had the Autumn Show with its record number of entries. Plans were made for 2020. We rounded off the evening with home made soup and very indulgent puddings. Then There was the annual Quiz which always tests us all, Jean’s quiz this time was no exception. A very enjoyable evening. The first meeting on Monday 13th January will be in the Blacksmiths to chat and look at these plans. Happy New Year to you all and a good growing year too.

BURNS NIGHT IN EVERTON Everton Wl will be celebrating Burns Night on Monday 20th January with traditional entertainment and a traditional meal of haggis and neeps. So we look forward to welcoming all our members to the first 2020 meeting and any potential members, please come, but let me know will be there so we have enough to eat. Ann Hickman 01777-818993

DATES AND SERVICES IN

LOCAL CHURCHES,

FOR JANUARY 2020

Sunday Service of Holy Communion at

5th January 11.15am All Saints’ Church, Mattersey

Sunday Service of Holy Communion at 12th January 11.15am Holy Trinity Church, Everton

Sunday Service of Holy Communion at 19th January 11.15am All Saints’ Church, Mattersey

Sunday Service of Holy Communion at 11.15am 26th January Holy Trinity Church, Everton

The girl has lost her mittens in the snow. Can you help her retrace her steps and find them?

Children’s Puzzle Page

Find thesehidden seasonal in this matrix words