The Mid-Elloe Villager The Free Community Magazine for Fleet, Gedney, Holbeach St. Marks & Holbeach Hurn 2020 1 No.442 NOVEMBER 2020 Parish Contacts The Rural Dean Revd. Rosamund Seal 01406 424989 [email protected] Authorised Lay Ministers Mr. David Smith 01406 363388 Deanery administrator – Caz Dennis – 01406 423460 [email protected] (Office hours Monday – Thursday 9.00-1.00) For all enquiries about Baptisms, Weddings and funerals Churchwardens: Fleet For any enquiries contact: PCC Secretary, Gill Graper 01406 423803 Holbeach Hurn Mr. David Baker 01406 362420 Mrs. Kay Jenkinson 01406 424428 Gedney Mr. William Webb 01406 363673 Mrs. Jill Duffey 01406 365586 Holbeach St. Marks Doris Johnson 01406 701250 Nick Worth 01406 701459 2 Useful Community Contacts The Pilgrim Hospital 01205 364 801 Queen Elizabeth Hospital 01553 613 613 Holbeach Hospital 01406 422 283 Johnson Community Hospital Spalding.. 01775 652 000 Peterborough City Hospital 01733 678000 Long Sutton Medical Centre 01406 362 081 Boots Chemist Long Sutton 01406 362 331 Samaritans 116 123 National Rail Enquiries 0845 748 495 Registrar Long Sutton 01522 782 244 Sir John Hayes 01775 711 534 NHS Direct 0845 46 47 Cllr Nick Worth 07866 415688 South Holland Parish Volunteer Car Service (Mon - Fri 09:00 - 12:00 / 13:00 - 16:30) Call Sharon: 01406 366820 or 07834 634336 3 It is hoped to produce a magazine MAGAZINE EDITOR: MARK ELSOM each month which will go on the [email protected] website and be emailed to as many people as possible. We Copy for the magazine should be with Mark hope you will understand that in by 18th of the previous month, marked Mid Elloe Magazine. these difficult times it may not always appear at the beginning of ADVERTISING EDITOR: GILL GRAPER a month and the content will be reduced. People who wish to [email protected] submit items should still do so by 01406 423803 18th of the previous month. For all enquiries about Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals please con- tact the Deanery Administrator, Caz Dennis, on 01406 423460 (office hours Mon- Thurs 9.00-1.00) For urgent pastoral issues please contact the Rural Dean – Rosamund Seal – 01406 424989 For all other enquiries please contact the churchwardens - details are in the Mid Elloe Community magazine. SEE US ON THE WEB The Magazine and details of services will be put on the new church website every month so please do check there for details of what is going on in your Parish and in the Benefice. Fleet: www.achurchnearyou.com/church/14562/ Gedney: www.achurchnearyou.com/church/14564/ Holbeach Hurn: www.achurchnearyou.com/church/14569/ Holbeach St Marks: www.achurchnearyou.com/church/14564/ 4 5 Belfry News Renaissance at Fulney Fulney was a hamlet, north east of Spalding, a few houses, a hall, corn mill and little else when in 1877 Miss Charlotte Charington (1801-1880) gave some £30,000, a massive sum in those days, to fund the building of St Pauls church. She laid its foundation stone on Octo- ber 18, 1877 and the church was dedicated on October 27, 1880. Designed by Sir George Gibert Scott, it is an impressive red brick building with a fine tower and spire. However , the choice of T C Lewis of Brixton to cast its eight bells was, I think, somewhat unusual, as this firm was better known as an organ builder rather than a bell founder. Cast in 1880 none of these eight “maiden” bells were tuned and there must have been problems with the treble and number two as these were recast by Taylors . 6 The frame was installed by John Taylor & Co in 1889 and is of composite construction com- prising massive oak trusses supporting cast iron “A” frames from which No’s 2 to 8 are hung. The treble has its own cast iron frame above the others, all having wooden head- stocks and plain bearings. There is written evidence suggesting an earlier frame perhaps dating to 1880 apparently installed by a John Wright of Spalding . Canon Felsteads records show 57 peals rung here, the first Bob Major on February 2nd, 1902 and the last, Yorkshire Major on December 8th, 2008. These were spread fairly evenly over the years apart from a 17 year silence between 1937 and 1954 when Taylors did some remedial work commemo- rated by a peal board recording 5056 Bob Major rung on October 4, 1954. A dusty old notebook found on a window ledge in the ringing room tells us much concern- ing practice and service ringing during the years 1971 to 1973 when pupils from Spalding Grammar School were active in the tower. Jim Benner ex Spalding Grammar,who now rings at Bourne said he was taught at Fulney by the late Ron Noon. “Yes I recall those times very well”, Jim reminisced, “Ron wouldn’t allow us to visit St Mary and St Nicholas until we could consecutively set our bells ten times hand and backstroke-but I stuck it!” ( that’s the way to teach ‘em) After these years there appears to have been a lapse in activity though the bells were rung for services during the 1980’s and 90’s. The final en- tries in the notebook dated September 7th and September 21st 2007 are reports of ring- ing for weddings. After 2008 all ringing ceased, the bells catalogued as “Unringeable.” This was the situation when on the evening of July 21st, Tony Walker, Luke Tobin and my- self,having received permission , went into the tower which was in an appalling mess. Jack- daws had nested there for –well-I suspect many years. There followed 14 evenings work culminating on August 21st when we were able to try the bells. The first three evenings were spent clearing the huge piles of twigs, dead birds, absolutely awful. Well masked not against Covid, but rather the dust which at times in the clock room assumed the density of a winter fog, truly a labour of love. We carried away two trailer loads.Luckily the composite bell frame of 1889 was in good condition though there were problems with the wheels, headstock bolts, clappers, clock hammer which have all been resolved. A representative from the Taylor Foundry visited on October 10th and produced a favoura- ble report. Yes there are additional requirements, but nothing preventing the ringing of these bells. Well I guess the “unringable” description can be deleted from the record and yes indeed it was a labour of love, but Miss Charington, were you still alive I am sure you would have been delighted. John Bennett 7 FLEET CHURCH NEWS 50/50Club Winners October 1. Malcolm Edwards 43 £25 2. Norma Bell 64 £15 3. Clive Waterson 55 £5 Subscription renewals for 50/50 Club will be due at the end of the year. Letters will be sent to all our present subscribers very soon. It has been decided to charge £10 for each number purchased, but also to raise the prizes to £30, £20 and £10 every month. There will also be a proforma for any new subscribers in the December magazine. We are most grateful to everyone who supports the church in this way, particu- larly following this very difficult year where we have suffered a huge decline in income, having been unable to organise a Flower Festival or Arts and Crafts Festival. REROOFING UPDATE Many will have noticed that the scaffolding went up and the work has started to reroof the area that was stolen at the beginning of the year. Whilst insurance will pay for much of the work that has to be done, the builders have found a few extra problems not related to the roof tiles being taken and this will have to be paid out of our church finances, as well as the temporary security alarm that is in place. As a result of the theft it has become imperative that a security alarm is in place permanently at the church. We are very grateful that the Mary Bass Charity has agreed to pay for this to be installed. Once the reroofing is complete a deep clean of the church will be or- ganised, so that the reopening of the church may once again become a reality, if only for Private Prayer. 8 FLEET CHURCH NEWS CHRISTMAS DRAW A Christmas Raffle is being organised by the Friends of Fleet group for Fleet Church. Amongst some of the many wonderful prizes are a SMART TELEVISION, an ALEXA and a £50 voucher. Tickets are available from Eileen Gilliatt, PCC members and many other people in the village. The Draw will take place at the Rose and Crown Pub on Saturday, 12th December. PLEASE DO SUPPORT US. WE NEED YOU In 1921 an organization was formed and is still going today. In 2021 this or- ganization will be having its centenary. There will be lots of activities through- out the country. Fleet & District Branch is hoping to be part of this. We have some ideas which will be fun and involve the communities, to allow this to happen we need you. Would you like to go on outings, meals outing and events which are part of a national organisation? We need you to join the local branch to keep it open. You don’t have to be ex-services and you can join at the age of 12yrs for free until 18yrs old. The organization helps veterans and their families from the world wars & other engagements like the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan to name a few. As well as its members of course. The Fleet & District branch covers Fleet parish, The Gedneys (excluding Gedney Drove End), Holbeach Hurn and Sutton St James.