PARISH NEWS covering SHILLINGTON, PEGSDON & HIGHAM GOBION www.shillington.org.uk After extensive work and refurbishment The Crown is now under the new ownership of Philip & Victoria Kelly, serving quality food and drink within a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere for all. Pop in to try our fantastic menu or just to enjoy a pint, glass of wine or cup of coffee. Family friendly, dog friendly, community friendly! To book a table or for further information please contact us on our temporary telephone number: 07757 249457 or email: [email protected] or book online: www.crownshillington.com OPENING HOURS: Mon-Thu: midday-11pm / Fri-Sat: midday-midnight / Sun: midday-11pm FOOD SERVED: Mon-Fri: midday-3pm & 6pm-10pm / Sat: midday-10pm / Sun: midday-9pm Issue 135 – April 2018 Deadline for June edition - Friday, 25th May 2018 PARISH COUNCIL VILLAGE SIGN: After much debate and several meetings with our designer Diane Butler, who has put a lot of hard work into the design, plus further meetings with “Signs of the Times” at Tebworth, Parish Council have agreed the new sign for the Village Green on High Road. We had considered a ‘pub’ style sign like many of those across the country, but felt that due to the amount of trees planted on The Green, it would be hidden in the foliage and missed by many. The background would be red with white writing and some of you will recognize the photo reproduced by kind permission of John Whitehall. So we are just awaiting permission from CBC Highways/Street furniture folk to see if it would be acceptable and can be located in place of the current plain “SHILLINGTON” sign currently on display. WW1 CENTENARY – COMMEMORATION: We have been looking at ideas to commemorate the centenary of the end of WW1 and hope to be able to do something in conjunction with the School. One idea is to involve the pupils in the planting of two native trees on Horns Pasture (lower field on the Playing Field), coupled with the installation of a sturdy bench with suitably inscribed plaque. We will hopefully have more details in the next edition if members of the community would like to join in the event. REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY – 11th NOVEMBER – BUGLAR REQUIRED ! As this is a special year with the 11th November falling on the Sunday, unfortunately our regular ‘Buglar’ is unable to be present at our service this year due to other commitments. We would therefore be very pleased to hear from anyone in the community who could do a live rendition of “The Last Post” and “Reveille” at the War Memorial on this date, or knows a person who could. If you can help with this request, please could you kindly contact the Chair or Clerk. Your help would be much appreciated. For all Parish Council issues please contact: Mrs. Helen Smith, Clerk to the Parish Council 11 Hillside Close, Shillington, Hitchin, Herts, SG5 3NN. 01462-713224 email: [email protected] website: www.shillington.bedsparishes.gov.uk ANNOUNCEMENTS / ITEMS / NEWS IN BRIEF Joan Ivy Dewick 1 May 1926 – 13 February 2018 The family of Mrs. Joan Dewick would like to sincerely thank friends and neighbours for their lovely cards, flowers and kind messages of condolence following her sad passing on 13th February at the Lister Hospital aged 91 years. Several people had wished to attend her funeral, but her last wish was just a simple cremation with no religious funeral service, no mourners, no flowers and her ashes buried with her dogs in the back garden. The family will be having a small event once the weather improves for the interment of her ashes. Any donations in her memory are in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support www.memorygiving.com/joanivydewick – a charity which she had supported over the 20 years when we had village open gardens. Ken, Sally & Andy, Shaun & Thomas Dawn Allen 7 May 1933 – 6 March 2018 Dawn was a real village character and, to those who knew her, she was kind and considerate and you always knew where you stood with her, she always said what she thought. She had so many stories to tell of her life in Shillington from when her mum was caretaker at the Old School at the top of Church Street to the many adventures of the village kids at that time. She recalled wearing new red wellies and ending up being swept away down Bury Road brook as she was told by Denis Day that they were “special boots” and she would be able to walk on water…luckily the village midwife managed to grab her and pull her out. War time recollections included standing on the Church steps watching London burning; seeing German bombers flying over to bomb London and watching a dog fight between a Spitfire and Messerschmitt up Bury Road. Henlow Camp was the base for a Spitfire Squadron. Fortunately many of her stories have been captured in an interview and will hopefully be published along with others later in the year. Her funeral service was conducted by Revd. Richard on 29th March with refreshments served at the Social Club afterwards. Thanks to the Metcalfe family for these arrangements and for looking after her so well, Dawn would have been very pleased. RIP Dawn we will miss you. Letter from the Vicar Richard Winslade The Vicarage, Shillington 01462-713311 [email protected] Dear Friends As I write this the church is half way through Holy Week. This is the week when Christians around the world do their final preparations for Easter. In this parish we have been preparing ourselves spiritual for the Easter celebrations. Our services in Holy week include Compline (the final monastic service of the day), The way of the Cross (a reflection on the sufferings of Christ), Maundy Thursday Eucharist and watch (remembering the last supper) and on Good Friday Prayers at the foot of the cross (a reflection on the last hour of Christ’s life here on earth). Then Easter technically begins after our Easter Vigil service on Saturday. But why so much preparation you may ask. Easter is the most important date of the church year. We celebrate the most important event ever to have happened in the world. An event that changed the world, changed the disciples and followers of Jesus and an event that still changes the lives of people today. In the death and resurrection of Jesus we see the wonderful and overwhelming love of God for his creation. In the resurrection we find the promise of eternal life. In the resurrection we find hope and strength in our daily lives. Our Lent course this year has looked at the impact of the resurrection and has challenged us to be a risen church full of the joy, hope and love of Easter throughout the year. It has also challenged us to look at the world around us and accept the challenge to tell others the wonderful news of the resurrection. Alleluia, Christ is risen. Richard ALL SAINTS NEWS www.allsaintsshillington.org.uk or follow us on Facebook Parish Priest: Rev’d Richard Winslade ( 01462-713311) [email protected] (Day off on Fridays) Churchwardens Liz Brewer : 01462-711594 Patricia Humphreys : 07754-760073 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]. Church Services: • 9.30am - Sung Eucharist - every 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sunday. • On some fifth Sundays some services are held jointly with the Congregational Church at alternate venues. • First Sunday of the month: 9.30am - Family Service 6.00pm - Choral Evensong. • All other Sundays: 9.30am – Holy Communion For details of all our services and for PCC members’ contact details, please see our website www.allsaintsshillington.org.uk or the church notice board. All Saints Church Rector - The Reverend Richard Winslade and the Church Wardens welcome your prayer requests. Burials – Rest In Peace 9th February 2018 - Mary Marie Bullard 15th February 2018 - Sheila Agnes Skeggs 14th March 2018 - Evelyn May Cain 200 Club Winners February 2018 March 2018 1st £50 10 Susan English 1st £50 87 Dennis Swindon 2nd £25 182 Liz Carboni 2nd £25 115 Peter Farmer 3rd £10 48 Nell Hanks 3rd £10 39 Maggie Lambert ALL SAINTS’ ILLUMINATED To celebrate or commemorate your special occasion please contact: 01462-711850 (Catherine) It only costs £25 to sponsor a whole week’s illumination – a perfect way to commemorate a special family occasion or loved one’s anniversary. The ideal gift for the person who has everything. Sponsor Message From To In loving memory of Richard Whiteley, formerly Saturday The Whiteley Sunday of Gravenhurst, who died on 14th February 2018. 17 Family 11 February Sorely missed by friends and family. February The Edwards In memory of Carl. With love from Mum, Dad, Sunday Saturday Family Debbie, Chris, Rebecca & Ethan 4 March 10 March In memory of Bryan Bowles on the occasion of Sunday Saturday Bowles Family his birthday on 17th March. 11 March 17 March Love from all the family Remembering Ben Simkins, who would have Anne, Christine, celebrated his 90th birthday on 19th April. You Sunday Saturday Clare & are always in our thoughts and we have missed 15 April 21 April Benjamin you so much over the past 25 years. David & Fiona Kathleen MacKinnon – remembering your Sunday Saturday Howarth birthday on 30th April. 29 April 5 May In loving memory of Joan Ivy Dewick who died on Ken Dewick & 13th February 2018. 1st May would have been Sunday Saturday family her 92nd birthday. 29 April 5 May Also happy birthday to Shaun Dewick on 4th May. Iain & Diane In loving memory of Stewart & Annie Dunbar, Sunday Saturday McDonald loved and remembered every day 20 May 26 May ODE TO ALFIE From puppyhood to eight years old your character soon began to unfold.