KNIVETON‟S ONLY PAPER February– March 2010 On Saturday 9th January over 60 family and friends of Stephen Bradbury and Pauline Homer gathered at the Knockerdown pub allegedly to surprise Pauline on her 50th birthday. Everyone braved the weather and icy roads to arrive safely at the venue, despite severe weather warnings. Even the pub staff were unaware of what was about to transpire before their eyes. Apart from a few conspirators, everyone was unaware that as they were arriving at the Venue Stephen and Pauline were getting married at Ashbourne Registry Office. Mr and Mrs S. Bradbury would like to thank the conspirators, John and Debbie Wain (First Responders), Paul and Debbie Holmes (First Responders), Angela and Terry Holgate (Local copper, never trust a copper!) Also Keith and Bronya at The Knockerdown for the secrecy and delicious buffet and warm welcome. Thanks also to Auntie Sheila for a lovely birthday cake and everyone for the cards, gifts and well wishes. Pauline and Stephen would like to thank everyone from the bottom of their hearts for helping to make their wedding day and Pauline‟s 50th a truly Unforgettable experience. XXX Kniveton News Feb/ March 2010 FEBRUARY DIARY 4. Green compost Bin Collection 7. Kniveton Church 10 30 a.m. Parish Communion Flowers – P Stafford and A.Gascoyne 9. Parish Council Meeting , Kniveton Village Hall. 7.45 p.m. 10. Blue Box Collection 14. Chapel – Communion service 2.30 p.m. Rev Tim Morris 17. Church - Ash Wednesday 7 30 p.m. Group Eucharist at Atlow 17. W.I. Sara Byard – Seamstress at Chatsworth. 18. Green compost Bin Collection 18. Village Hall – Jean Henshaw 2 pm Village Hall 21 Kniveton Church 10 30 a.m. Family Service 24. Blue Box Collection 28. 11 00 a.m. Joint Church/Chapel service at the Chapel Sister Merle 11.00 a.m. Everyone made most welcome especially children WHIST DRIVES The November Whist Drive raised £80.74 and the December Whist Drive raised a magnificent £211 both amounts are to be donated to the Air ambulance. The January Whist Drive was cancelled due to bad weather. The February Whist Drive will be in aid of the Air Ambulance and the March Whist Drive will be in aid of Kniveton Church Yard Fund. The donation of prizes for the Whist and Raffle prizes will be very gratefully accepted by John and Nancy Bradbury. SAD LOSS TO THE VILLAGE It was sad to hear from Dave Bott of Brook Farm that he has ceased to be a dairy farmer and has now taken all his dairy herd to market. This decision was not of Dave‟s choosing as dairy farming on Brook Farm has been a family concern for very many years. Unfortunately, new European Union regulation were issued to all farms wishing to produce Milk and who have a brook running through their fields. Brook Farm is a relatively small village farm with a stream running through it. Unfortunately Dave felt he was unable to comply with these new regulation concerning Farms similar to Dave‟s. and therefore had no option but to cease Dairy Farming. Dave‟s father took over the running of the family farm from his father in law (The late Bob Goodall‟s father) in 1947. At that time there were around 32 producers of milk in the Kniveton area. Now there are only three left. 2 Kniveton News Feb/ March 2010 MARCH DIARY 2. Church – see note below Lent course commence 4. Green compost Bin Collection 7. Kniveton Church 10 30 a.m. Parish Communion Flowers – M Lomas and J Thorne 10. Blue Box Collection 17. W.I. Air Ambulance. 18. Green compost Bin Collection 18. Get Together Club – Mystery Tour and Lunch (11.am) 20. Community Waste – see below 21. Kniveton Church 10.30 am Family Service 24. Blue Box Collection 28. Palm Sunday 11 00 a.m. Joint service at Methodist Church COMMUNITY WASTE COLLECTION Ketch – 0745 to 0815 Chapel Lane 0820 to 9.00 Hallsteads 9.05 to 9.45 Lent Course: This year there will be a course called 'The Well is Deep', in which we look at the meaning of mission today. There will be three sessions, but there is a choice of times and places: Tuesday 12 noon at Hulland Rectory 2nd, 9th or 16th March, bringing your own lunch OR Tuesday 7 30 p.m. at Hognaston Church 2nd, 9th or 16th March. Notes for April April 1st Maundy Thursday 7 30 p.m. Group Eucharist at Hognaston April 2nd Good Friday 10 30 a.m. An Hour at the Cross at Bradley April 4th EASTER DAY 11 00 a.m. Parish Communion SING PRAISES 4TH JULY 2010 3pm ADVANCE NOTICE ASHBOURNE and WIRKSWORTH CHURCHES TOGETHER SONGS OF PRAISE EVENT AT CARSINGTON WATER BRING YOUR CONGREGATION, FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALSO A PICNIC AND YOUR VOICES. Put it in your diary now DON‟T MISS IT. ENTRIES FOR THE NEXT KNIVETON NEWS TO MARY VAUGHAN AT WILLOWBANK IN WRITING OR E MAIL BY 23rd MARCH 2010 3 Kniveton News Feb/ March 2010 VILLAGE HALL REPORT On the 27th January a Village Hall committee held a meeting A review of the final accounts for the year 2008/9 was carried out. The village hall received an increase in the school rent of approx 30 per cent. This was due to the fact that no increase had been received for the two previous years. The overall trading balance showed a loss of £682 but this was due to the purchase of new tables and chairs to replacing the original tables and chairs. Interim accounts for this trading year look promising as the hiring‟s were higher than anticipated and we will have a full year at the new school rent. Hopefully costs will not increase significantly. It was felt that no serious maintenance was necessary this year apart from redecoration. This will be progressed by a member of the committee. The secretary has received a letter from the relatives of the Late Bob Goodall in which they proposed with the committees permission to erect a two seater Bench in remembrance of Bob by the village hall entrance, facing down the village towards the church. The committee agreed as they felt that that this would recognise the hard work by Bob in the village and would be appreciated by all who sat there and contemplated the view. WHERE HAVE ALL THE HEDGEHOGS GONE? Most couples when they move into a new home eventually get around to looking at the garden. We were such a couple. We moved into a house with a garden which was bigger than our previous one. Generally it was a bit of a mess and it caused us some concern but we successfully casted it from our minds as there was more important things to do. There were areas that could politely be described as overgrown, especially the previous owners rather large veg. patch. I jokingly called these area our “Bits of Rough”. When I contemplated doing something with these “bits of rough”. I subconsciously observed that Birds, Butterflies, other funny insects and Hedgehogs regularly appeared. In a small wet area (uncared for pond) Frogs, Newts, Dragonflies and Tadpoles would seasonally appear. Eventually, tidying up the garden became a bit more pressing. Bit by bit the areas of overgrown bushes, plants and long grass became transformed into neat little gardens and immaculately trimmed lawns. Much to the approval of our visitors and neighbours . The ragged hedges and conifers were soon replaced by neat fence panels. It was only recently while mowing these neat lawns that I came to realise that there did not seem to be so many birds or butterflies or insects. The wet area was still there –just. But the number of frogs was greatly reduced – no dragonflies or newts, that I could see. But definitely no Hedgehogs. 4 Kniveton News Feb/ March 2010 It was during reflection while partaking of a much deserved cold beer that I realised the reason for the reduction in the number of creatures of nature was down to our “glamourisation” of our garden. We had got rid of all our “Bits of rough” and gone were the gaps which provided the access to our garden. The Hedgehogs could not get in and if they did there were no funny little insects etc for them to eat. After much reflection I made a commitment from now on I would promote “Bits of Rough”. Every home should have at least one “Bit of Rough” Every garden should have holes in their fence. Little ones to let little creature like hedgehogs and frogs and other creepy crawlies to get into our garden. Bushes, flowers long grass and trees to encourage insects etc. It is now time to think Creepy Crawlies, Hedgehogs and little living creatures. Think “BITS OF ROUGH” “Can I borrow your memories please?!” Hello neighbours, We are very lucky to have John Hartle who has been so dedicated in researching Kniveton‟s history, in particular the Church history. Following on from that, one of the next areas of research is going to be the history of the Vicarage – now known as Kniveton Carr. We have already compiled a list of inhabitants from 1881 to 1911, and we‟ve had a couple of interesting tales about some of the residents! Do you have any stories about how the vicarage was involved in village life? Do you know who lived in the Vicarage from 1911 onwards? Ever attended a garden party at the Vicarage? With or without the croquet?! Previous inhabitants here had a resident housekeeper apparently, did you meet her? Did you step inside the property? Can you describe how the rooms used to be? Do you remember the scandal when the village‟s asset of a vicarage was sold by the church? Do you remember when Mr Wright purchased his motor car? I am aiming to collect some of the more personal tales from neighbours, and if you think you could have something to share, I am planning to set aside Mondays to work on this project, so would you like to pop over? Of course, I can promise a yummy cupcake in exchange for your story! Thank You for any assistance you can offer, Charlotte Cupcake Corner, Kniveton Carr 5 Kniveton News Feb/ March 2010 ASLAN…OR PERHAPS HOUDINI? Many thanks to all my kind neighbours in The Hallsteads who phoned up in early January with sightings of my lost kitten, and especially to those who searched sheds and outbuildings looking for him.