ISSUE NO: 515 April 2021 The NIB Neatishead, Irstead and Barton Turf Parish Magazine THE BENEFICE OF St BENEDICT The Parishes of Ashmanhaugh, Barton Turf, Beeston St Lawrence, Horning, Irstead and Neatishead Rector: The Rev’d David Smith 01692 630216 [email protected] From your Parish Priest A year ago, I wrote in this magazine: COVID constraints. It will not go away, but it is “When we don’t have an answer to a question our human nature – our God-given human or problem, many resort to simply saying, it’s ingenuity – which when faced with a mortal complicated”. Well, as we all now know, life has threat will confront it head-on, and not give up just become particularly complicated and we until it is overcome. shall continue to face and deal with the Coronavirus threat for weeks, if not months, to The Easter season and the Easter story is come. It will impact our individual lives, nations, always about new life, new opportunities, new and economies around the world, and the after hopes, new futures, emerging from even the effects will persist long after we have most hope-less of situations. The despair of the conquered the virus itself. disciples on Good Friday is never forgotten; it doesn’t get airbrushed conveniently out of the Even though there were scientists suggesting picture to make everything sweetness and light worst-case scenarios of a UK COVID death toll again. The shadow of the Cross is permanent, in six figures, I suspect most of us still for all time, because the memory of the welcomed and favoured the more up-beat transition from the despair of Good Friday to the predictions of ‘a vaccine by the autumn’. It was hope of Easter Day is exactly what sustains us, reminiscent of those wartime expectations: “The even in the darkest times. Whatever we suffer, boys will be home by Christmas.” We didn’t God in Christ has been there, done that, got the expect to be still in lockdown mode a year later, T-shirt – to use that flippant modern phrase – with another disrupted Easter, but here we are and God is with us now. Yes we must mourn, – and that is perhaps the point. Here we are! and commiserate, and give thanks, and We must mourn the loss of those who have celebrate and never forget, but most of all be died, and commiserate with those grieving for hopeful and communicate and share that loved ones taken prematurely. We must give Christian Easter hope with those around us, thanks for those still caring for the sick despite near or far. any risk to themselves, and celebrate the achievements of research teams and With every blessing, for a hope-filled Easter. companies providing the vaccines that will David Smith, Rector protect us and ultimately release us from these YOUR village hall and I do hope you will resume using the hall whenever the time is right for you. New Victory Hall Bookings are being taken for future events including private parties with deposits and The NVH expects to reopen on Monday 12th April cancellation charges waived for the time being. but in line with government restrictions only the Community Gym, Children’s Dance and Finally, one of the most frequently asked Children’s Parties are permitted to operate questions is “Will you run a Community Breakfast indoors at Stage 2 of the Roadmap. Pilates will be again?” The answer is we hope to when the time held outside weather permitting. It is hoped to run seems right and as long as we can get enough the Farmers’ Market on Saturday 8th May but volunteers! limitations on hospitality venues mean Best wishes from all the Trustees for a healthy refreshments can only be served outside or as and peaceful Easter. takeaway. At this stage, social distancing and Doreen Dean on behalf of NVH Trustees Covid measures will continue to be in place in the hall premises so please wear face coverings etc. Three Villages Community It is understood the hall will still be used as a th Association - Report of AGM Polling Station for local elections on Thursday 6 May with Covid precautions put in place by The Three Villages Community Association Ltd, NNDC. which operates The White House Stores in th At Stage 3 of the Roadmap on 17 May, most Neatishead, held its Annual Members Meeting on regular activities should be able to resume at the Thursday March 18th via Zoom and 28 members hall but the exact detail on which prevention logged in. measures will be kept, eased or abolished is still The minutes of previous meetings were approved awaited. I understand this information will not be and then the Chair, Liz Powell, in her report paid published by the government until early May so it tribute to the work of the Management Committee will be best to contact your group organiser direct and the shop staff who have kept the shop open for plans on specific activities. At Stage 4 of the and serving the community throughout the Roadmap from 21st June, the government plans pandemic crisis. Amanda Brooks the treasurer to remove all legal limits on social contact so presented an overview of the financial hopefully the hall will operate normally again. I performance of the business, which had held up can assure you that all arrangements at NVH will remarkably well as the shop had enjoyed strong be in line with current government and public local support. The report and accounts are health advice as the safety of all who come to the available to view in the shop. Company hall is the priority. The hall will have a deep clean Secretary, Mark Clayton, reported that there were in early April including all kitchen and other currently 233 members of the Association adding equipment so it will be fresh for those groups that there will be activity to promote membership returning and our excellent cleaners will keep it once the lockdown restrictions are lifted. In the that way. meantime if anyone is interested in becoming a The Village Screen Cinema hope to show a film member, please contact him using the details th on Monday 7 June, more details next month. below. The Events Team have also booked the Finally, a number of members were elected or re- Sheringham Shantymen for Saturday 16th elected to the management Committee which October - you will recall they were cancelled last now consists of 8 people: Liz Powell (Chair), year due to the first lockdown, so there are things Amanda Brooks (Treasurer), Christine Breden, to look forward to. Margaret Maxwell, Hugh McGill, James As momentum for using the hall picks up again, Mickelburgh, Christine Warren and Mark Clayton we need a few new volunteers to assist us (Company Secretary). If any existing member is particularly with things like the Farmers Market interested in joining the committee, then please and events so if you can give a little help contact the secretary. please get in touch. Mark Clayton 07787 553050 Hire income has taken a severe knock whilst the [email protected] hall has been closed but government grants have been pretty generous so I am pleased to say the Translations for us non-native speakers (1) hall continues to be in good financial shape as ‘He dint ortera dun it’: He ought not to have done long as we can return to normal levels of use by it the autumn, so it is important to support ‘Oi hent nart gort none’ :I have not got any. 2 FROM YOUR PARISH COUNCILS Even the most resilient of warriors struggle at A reminder to all parishioners of Neatishead, times! Barton Turf and Irstead that the help line that was We have huge trust in their capability to cope. set up in March 2020 in response to the They will be okay. They will bounce back. coronavirus pandemic is still active. We can be As they all return to school once more, they don't contacted on: need high pressure and stress to 'catch up'. What Glenn Neave (Barton Turf) ............07885 706493 they need is to continue their learning journeys in Martin Mills (Barton Turf) ..............07501 622068 an environment where there is time and space to Helen McFadyen (Irstead) ............01692 630150 play and be creative. That is what we seek to Caro How (Neatishead) ................01603 784952 offer at Neatishead Primary. Nick Fowle (Neatishead) ...............01692 630249 I would like to think that everyone in our community takes time to reflect on what this year Neatishead Parish Council: New Pavement? has been like through the eyes of a child and to Neatishead PC wishes to canvass your opinion do what they can to make the world a little less following a decision to investigate the feasibility of wobbly for our children. a footpath adjacent to School Road from as near They have indeed been extraordinary. We have to the School as possible as far as the King much to learn from them. Street/School Road crossroad (Pit Corner). In the last few years the school has grown as has the Julie Church Dunham’s factory site and as a result traffic has Executive Headteacher greatly increased both motorised and on foot, especially in the case of children. Before submitting an application to the appropriate authorities we do need to first gauge the level of support. Please email comments on this proposal to [email protected] or any member of Neatishead Parish Council. Neatishead CoE Primary School Thank you to all the children at Neatishead Who said Easter Eggs? Kate’s layers Barton Primary School We have always known that our children are Ye Olde Saddlery- Planning ‘Hitch’ capable of extraordinary things.