Personal Announcements & Obituaries Times of uncertainty indeed…. If you would like to announce the birth, baptism, marriage or death of a relative or close As I write the Covid19 situation is developing and we are beginning to realise friend, or if you feel that the wider community would be interested in an obituary, please the huge impact this will have on all of our lives, both in the short and long contact Sue Goodwin, 704580, [email protected]. There is no charge. Funerals and Ashes term. Healthcare and supporting services are over-stretched, supermarkets th strain to cope with panic buying, businesses and many employees are Marian Frances Campton, formerly of Milton, died on Tuesday 11 February. A service at St Wystan’s church, Repton, on Tuesday 3rd March was followed by cremation at massively concerned for their future, sporting events have been wiped off the Bretby. calendar and other closures are being announced daily. Beryl Joan Shufflebotham, formerly of Repton, died on Tuesday 3rd March. A private In our churches we responded to the challenge and complied with good service at Bretby Crematorium was held on Monday 23rd March. practice published by the Government and National Church. Initially we gave Anthony Charles Southgate, formerly of Duffield, died on Tuesday 3rd March. A private up handshakes at The Peace and sharing the Chalice at Communion. Then service at Trent Valley Crematorium was held on Tuesday 31st March. safeguards to prevent cross-contamination stepped things up several degrees. Russell Muir 1940 - 2020 Now, public worship, our services, I find it hard to write and to accept, have Russell was born in Stockton on Tees to Scottish parents and was educated at Bramcote in been abandoned altogether? Scarborough, Shrewsbury, and Queens’ College Cambridge where he read Mechanical At a time of trying to deal with many difficult things perhaps the hardest is Sciences. coping with the uncertainty of what lies ahead. We seem to cope better with After 4 years teaching at Brentwood School in Essex he arrived at Repton in 1968 to teach knowing. This is where strong, clear leadership is all important. We like to be mathematics, a job he thoroughly enjoyed until his retirement. After 10 years as Head of told the truth. If we know we can come to terms with things, make a decision Department he became Housemaster of New House in 1983 which was the high point of his career at Repton. During his 13 years there he was always keen to support his boys in we can stick to and work towards. It is in the unknowing that we find ourselves whatever they were doing - on the sports field, at the art school, in the workshops, or on floundering, worrying about what might be if we do this, or that, and what if Sundays driving them to play golf locally or playing fives with them. After leaving the something else happens? And so we are living from day to day; walking on house he returned to full time teaching before retiring in 2000, after which he continued ever shifting sands of recommendations and advice; pushed and pulled by with maths tuition either at the school or helping those further afield if they were struggling with a subject that was often much needed for further education. tides of change; seeing the world around us alter with every press release; empty supermarket shelves and a single topic of conversation bearing witness He was a keen philatelist specialising in Hong Kong stamps and their postal history. to the inescapable reality that is here and now. He enjoyed hill walks either with his family, Kathleen, Nick and Katharine in the Welsh hills or the Lake District, or more challenging ones like the Pennine Way. Latterly he was It is at times like this that we need anchors to hold on to and as Christians we to be seen walking his border collie Robbie around the village before he became unwell. have such an anchor. In our faith we believe in an unchanging, loving God Above all he always looked forward to family gatherings with his 6 grandchildren either who is always here for us. In Christ, however isolated we feel, we have a at home in Repton or at their house in Harlech, North Wales where the high spot would be companion, friend and brother who journeys with us every step of the way, peeling and eating the prawns the family had just caught in the pools locally. In later however uncertain that may be. In the Spirit we have a source of wisdom and years the annual summer holiday was in North Cornwall when he would treat them to a power who has always helped those who ask, giving strength and courage and mackerel fishing trip with the hope of a BBQ the same evening - so long as he didn’t have to cook! that deep inner sense of peace that can only come from knowing God. And of course, in our faith we know that at the end of our journey there is a new He and Kathleen were married in 1970 in St Wystan’s church with the reception in The kingdom awaiting us, the real reason for our Easter celebration. To have such 400 Hall. Almost 50 years later the wake was held there following a moving and uplifting Thanksgiving Service in The School Chapel. certainty, and alongside that hope for the future, is just part of what God offers ********* us all to help and sustain us at times like this. May you all come to share these Cover photos: Thank you to Howard Gould and Fred Hill for supplying the photos of gifts of His. Repton and Newton Solney village halls. Martin Thank You David Beasley and family would like to thank everyone who sent cards, messages and Facebook posts following the death of Sue in December. Sue was well known in Repton and touched the lives of many during her time as a nursery assistant and Cub leader. Messages were received not only from the local area but also from around the world, all being very much appreciated. Repton Village Hall, Askew Grove Note from the Editor Coronavirus Update The information contained in the Magazine regarding Covid 19 was correct at the time of Following Government guidelines and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all going to print on 22nd March, but the situation changes from hour to hour. Some Maple Tree volunteers and customers, we have regrettably had to close the cafe contributors have asked for their events to remain listed in the hope that they may be able and cancel all events until the Coronavirus situation is resolved. to go ahead, but please do check nearer the time. Many items have contact details listed or details can be found inside the back cover. Pancake Fun & Games With no Church services the centre of this magazine is given over to providing details of There was great fun to be had when members of the Repton Community came together community support groups within the villages. These pages can be pulled out and placed in the Maple Tree on Shrove Tuesday to see who could toss the most number of pancakes on a notice board or by the telephone. in just 60 seconds. Cafe customers were keen to cheer on staff and students from Repton For this month and the following 2 months the covers feature our local village halls. The Primary School, St Wystan’s School and Repton School along with other enthusiastic idea was to include within the magazine details of the activities that take place within them. competitors from the History Group, St Wystan’s Church, the Village Society, the WI, the When the design was created it seemed inconceivable that the halls would largely be Community Choir and the Maple Tree. closed, and many of the population self- isolating Max, Head Boy from St Wystan’s School, emerged triumphant winning the Maple Tree If you are spending more time at home and would be prepared to share some memories of Pancake Tossing Trophy 2020. Our congratulations to Max and our thanks to everyone the villages as they were, it would be a valuable source of social history to record for the who took part in this event. Start practising for next year! future. Please see the fascinating Repton Village History Group article concerning the Karaoke Group Sing Along original village hall in High Street which caught fire in 1962. Do you remember going to Boss & Co brilliantly accompanied the large crowd who gathered together in the Village dances or events there or have any funny anecdotes to share? Hall on Saturday March 7th for a very successful Group Sing Along Karaoke Evening. Do you remember the youth club which used to take place twice a week in the room above Repton’s wannabe rock stars let their hair down and sang and danced to some rock and the Repton School gym, visiting the old shops such as first and second Taylors? Do share your memories of all our villages, they are very precious. disco classics. A great time was had by all. Our thanks to the Karaoke organising Please email to [email protected] or [email protected] or post to Dane committee. Lodge, Main Street, Milton, Derbys. DE65 6EF 01283 704580 Sports Relief Week A huge thank you to everyone who supported our Sports Relief raffle and rowathon. Local businesses were extremely generous in their donations to our raffle helping to raise an amazing £699.90, a fabulous community effort.