Nettleham News - 2006-04 - Winter 2006 - Issue 96

The village magazine of Nettleham Lincolnshire

Front cover photograph by Nigel Kingston

Winter 2006

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SCOTHERN NURSERIES & GARDEN CENTRE

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serving hot meals and Sunday lunches

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H E M S W E L L

C E N T R E S

Come and discover the largest selection of antiques and collectables in Europe Over 300 dealers, licensed coffee shop and free parking Gift vouchers and wedding lists available All major credit cards accepted Located 10 miles north of Lincoln on the A631 west of Caenby Corner

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● Sales Point for Bygone Films eg Bygone Lincoln 1-3

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● Output to tape, CD, DVD, Web

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OPEN 10am-5pm EVERY DAY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR or view online at

www.hemswell-antiques.com Telephone: 01427 668389 Email: info@hemswell-antiques.com

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From the Editor

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DEADLINES Nettleham News magazine is produced quarterly and the deadlines for receiving contributions for each of the editions are:

Nigel Kingston 1 High Street Nettleham Lincoln LN2 2PL

NEXT EDITION

➜ 10th February: Spring edition 10th May: Summer edition 10th August: Autumn edition 10th November: Winter edition

Telephone/fax: 01522 753000 Email: nettlehamnews@ntlworld.com

All contributions to the Editor

Welcome

Many thanks

Nettleham Now

A warm welcome to the winter 2006 edition of Nettleham News. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading it and find all the news, views and information of interest.

Many thanks to all the people who sent in the articles, poems, photographs, etc, for this fourth and final edition of the year.

At the end of another year, I would like to sincerely thank all the people who make this magazine possible - the advertisers without whom there simply would be no magazine and, of course, the distributors who deliver Nettleham News to your door four times a year, come rain or shine.

Once again, I hope to produce this invaluable guide to businesses, services, amenities and facilities in and around the village for 2007.

The front cover photograph was taken in the Lincolnshire Police HQ grounds last year, when we all took great delight in the snow, which came just at the right time immediately after Christmas.

I would also like to thank Ken and Ann Harrison for their invaluable assistance with administration and counting of the magazines for distribution, Geoff Campling for his efforts in taking out the magazines to the distributors and not least to my wife, Sheila, for proof-reading every edition of the the magazine.

Nettleham Heritage Walk In the last autumn edition of the magazine I said there was a special surprise in store for you all, and with this winter 2006 edition, you should also have received your very own complimentary copy of the brand new “Nettleham Village Heritage Walk” booklet. I do hope you find it interesting and attractive - an early Christmas gift from Nettleham News!

Further copies of the “Nettleham Village Heritage Walk” booklet are available from the Editor at £2.50 each. If you would like to purchase additional copies, perhaps to send to a relative or friend, simply call 753000, but don’t delay, as there is only a limited number available.

I must also say a special thank you to all those people who responded to my appeal in the last edition for additional names for the reserve distributor list. I was simply overwhelmed by the response and I now have quite a number of names to call on in the future, when the need arises.

And lastly, I would like to sincerely thank all those residents who have sent in contributions to the magazine over the last twelve months. Their news, articles, poems, letters, views and comments all help to make the magazine a lively, interesting (yes, and even sometimes controversial!) read for you all.

Nettleham Heritage Association actively fosters interest in all aspects of local history and promotes the unique heritage of the village, and it is hoped that this new and long overdue publication will go some way in fulfilling this objective.

Do keep them coming - it really doesn’t matter what it is about - the more variety the better! Make it your 2007 New Year resolution to send something in.

If you are interested in any aspect of local history, why not become a member of the Nettleham Heritage Association and participate in its activities? New members are always most welcome (see page 35 for information about forthcoming events).

On page 59, there is a special Christmas Crossword for you to solve, with a £10.00 prize for the first correct entry to be drawn from the sack.

If you wish to know more about the Nettleham Heritage Association, please contact Pat Gregory (Secretary) on 01522 809062 or email p.gregory@ntlworld.com

Competitions

Some of the clues are really easy and some are a little harder, to give you the opportunity to dust off the brain cells after all the indulgencies of the festive season.

The deadline for entries to this competition is 10 February 2007.

So a final reminder to all clubs, societies and special interest groups in the village check your 2006 edition and please let me know if any of the information has changed. I would like to ensure that the information in this publication is kept fully up to date each year, living up to its title of Nettleham NOW. Thank you.

Nettleham Investment Club Due to a number of members retiring recently, a limited number of places are currently available.

The club meets once a month at a local hostelry and the members enjoy an informal and convivial evening reviewing their investment portfolio, discussing the markets and making buy/sell decisions over a drink or two.

If you might be interested in joining, please contact me for further information.

Nettleham News Email Address Please remember the email address to which all your contributions for the magazine should continue to be sent: nettlehamnews@ntlworld.com By far the easiest, quickest and surest way to send text for publication is to compose the article, poem, etc, in your favourite word processing software, then simply copy and paste the entire text into the email for sending to me (if you like to put “text starts” and “text ends” to clearly define the wording to be published - even better) then I can copy and paste it again straight into the magazine.

And finally...

May I take this opportunity to wish all our readers a very merry Christmas and a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year.

The views and opinions expressed in Nettleham News magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor.

Nettleham News is designed, originated and published by Nigel Kingston, 1 High Street, Nettleham, Lincoln LN2 2PL. Design copyright © Nigel Kingston.

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under design copyright above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior permission of the publisher.

Printed by F W Cupit Printers Limited, Horncastle.

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Directory of Advertisers This magazine is funded solely by the revenue from advertisements and readers are urged to support these businesses whenever possible. Please mention Nettleham News when responding to advertisements.

Acceptance of advertisements does not imply any endorsement by Nettleham News and those responding to the advertisements are responsible for confirming the quality and suitability of the products and services offered.

It is the advertisers’ responsibility to ensure that their material does not contravene advertising standards or any Act of Parliament.

IFC: inside front cover; IBC: inside back cover; BC: back cover

Accommodation Costa del Sol Luv-a-Duck Cottage Los Cristianos (Tenerife) The Old Vicarage Hayman’s Ghyll Old Barn Holiday Cottages Spanish Apartment Holiday Home in SW France Accountancy Services Peter Allen ASAP Andrew Seymour

8 12 24 28 34 38 38 52 16 40

Antiques Hemswell Antiques Centres

IFC

Book Shops Autumn Leaves

20

Building/Property Services JW Builders L&J Construction & Maintenance Leesing Construction Ltd Crow Developments Ltd M J Spencer & Sons Fairclear Construction

12 16 24 26 30 58

Cake Creation Fiona Milnes: Cakes by Design Ceramic Tiling Simon Clover Caravan Service & Repair Leisure Wright

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20

Childrens Services Nettleham Inflatables

52

Chiropodist Services Mandy Spring

12

Clothes Alterations & Repairs Sally’s Sewing Box Cleaning Services Safeclean LTC Driveway & Path Cleaning Allan Cotterill Complementary Therapies Karen Addlesee Karen White

42 34 34 56 40 42

Computer Services Cornelius Computers Everyman Computers Bob’s Computers

16 40 60

Dancing Classes Susan Gaisford

16

Financial Services Thompson & Richardson

28

16 32 38

Flooring Services Bernie’s Carpet Services

16

Florists Flowers by Design

24

Food Delivery Services Woodlands Organic Farm Wiltshire Farm Foods

20 38

Domestic Services Pepperpots Domestic Services

40

Domestic Appliance Services Neil Bark Larry Jackson

8 10

Dress Hire LA Gowns

28

Garden Services R H Kime Whatling Horticultural Services Crown Gates & Services Soil Solution Garden Services P Westman Landscapes Garden Centres & Nurseries Scothern Nurseries Rudies Roots

38 58

Home Interiors Sylvie Gay

42

Printing Services F W Cupit (Printers) Ltd

BC

Home Security Secure Homes Aztec Security

12 38

Ink Cartridge Supplies Inkinit

56

Property Services Trade Windows Direct Cherry Property Services PL Services Hodgson Elkington Omega Conservatories

10 10 12 26 48

Joinery Services Tasker Joinery CP Woodworks

4 34

Public Houses The Plough The Black Horse

6 28

Kitchen/Bedroom Services Nu Door

20

Lawnmower Services Paul Dales

60

Roofing Services PL Roofing Simon J Humphreys N B Reid

10 20 32

Legal Services Oliver & Co Sills & Betteridge Andrew & Co Andrew Jay & Co

16 40 42 52

Signmakers Venture Signs

BC

Skip Hire Service Handy Tip Parker’s Skip Hire

38 60

Maths Tuition Lynn Williams

58

Sports Clubs Nettleham Tennis Club

28

Motor Vehicle Sales Lumbard Trade Cars

58

Supermarket & Post Office Lincolnshire Co-operative

IBC

Multimedia Services Blow by Blow Productions

IFC

Taxi Services Lynn Cabs

32

Newsagents Beckside Newsagents

30

Theatre Arts School Stagecoach

52

Nursing Homes St Luke’s Nursing Home

50

Travel Agents Imp Travel

52

Painting & Decorating T Lawson S J Skepper Holmes & Fields The Paint Shed Graham Hill John Borman Max Brown

8 12 16 38 56 58 60

Tree & Hedge Services Tip Top Tree Service

60

TV/Video Services Horizon Aerials Aerial View Arthur Hopkinson

8 58 60

Vacuum Cleaner Services Lincoln Vac Centre

52

Window Cleaning ABC

56

Wine Retailers Witham Wines

40

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Garages/Service stations Roy Wilson Auto Services Ltd

Pre-School Playgroups Nettleham Pre-School Playgroup Beckside Pre-School

IFC 6

Farm Shops Uncle Henry’s

Furniture & Soft Furnishings Edward W Crowther Ltd Jean Kelsey Thorpe Soft Furnishings Shah Robert Truelove & Sons

24 44

Hair Stylists Margaret’s

Estate Agents Mundys Harrison

Funeral Directors Jonathan Whiting

Health & Beauty The Beauty Rooms Aspects of Beauty

BC

Electrical Services Neil Caldwell G & A Beckett Ltd

Function Venues The Old School Nettleham Village Hall

8 12 24 26 28 50 56 60

24 56

IFC BC

40

Chemist Krystals Chemist

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Plumbing & Heating Services Bob Golland Plumbing Roy Pyrah & Son Paul Strong Limited Instagas D White Trevor Lawrence WR Home Maintenance Gas Wise

Graphic Design Nigel Kingston

Eating Out JayDees Welton Manor Golf Centre

First Aid Services First Aid 4 Sport St John Ambulance LIVES

58

12 16 34 40 42

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Eyecare Services David Burghardt

Plastering Nettleham Plastering

General Services Peter Davis & Son Helping Hands Handyman Services Nettleham Handyman Grafters

Driving Tuition Highway School of Motoring Phil Barton Driving School

4 58

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4 8 16 22 56

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IFC 8 20 26 56

Pest Control Services Paul Leigh Pet Services & Supplies Taylors of Welton Dunholme Boarding Cattery Scothern Kennels & Cattery

IFC 8 2

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8 10 52

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Nettleham Noticeboard LINDUM LADIES CHOIR

NEW YEAR’S DAY VILLAGE WALK

The ladies of the choir regularly give concerts with a variety of music.

A family walk around the village for approx 2 hours

If you would like them to organise a concert for your church or charity, please contact:

Walk off the excesses of the holiday!

Nobody is too old or too young to take part!

Monday 1 January 2007

Sue Young, Secretary

Meet 10.30am on the Village Green

01522 750314

Organised by the Fieldpaths Committee of Nettleham Parish Council

Nettleham

Every Sunday afternoon from 3.00 - 4.00pm

Nettleham Heritage Association is hosting a series of three winter evening talks at 7.30pm in the Old School on:

Wednesday 24 January Wednesday 28 February Wednesday 28 March

CUPPA TIME AT ALL SAINTS CHURCH

Winter Evening Talks

(see page 35 for further details)

FROGS

Special FREE 45-minute Bystander CPR Training Sessions

Friends of Nettleham Guides and Scouts Please continue to support us by using the

BOTTLE BANKS

(See page 32 for more details)

in the Co-op car park for recycling all your glass bottles and jars.

They provide us with an important source of income, especially important at this time with our new roof and extra accommodation projects.

Thank you

Music and Meditation

A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY

NEW

Discover the true meaning of Christmas

Creative Craft Workshops

All Saints Church

Friday 22 December 2006

Friday 26 January 2007

9.30am - 12.30pm

“Introduction to Creative Textiles”

every Thursday 2.30pm - 3.00pm

Christmas Craft Activities - Treasure Trail Blessing of the Crib

Friday 23 February 2007

(Providing the church is not being used for services)

Come along and enjoy some cake and biscuits and a chat

Come along and let your mind experience peace and tranquility for half an hour on Thursday every week

Village Hall 8.00pm Thursday 18 January 2007 Thursday 15 February 2007 Thursday 15 March 2007

For primary school children (aged 4-11)

All Saints Church

For further details contact:

Michelle Webb

Telephone: 01673 866464 Email: mrsmichellewebb@btinternet.com

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1.00pm - 4.00pm The Jubilee Room, Dunholme Village Hall Friday 12 January 2007 “Meet the Tutor” and see some samples

“Gorgeous Gift Bags”

Friday 23 March 2007 “Take a Triangle - Make a Bag” For more information contact:

Janet Taylor 01522 750869 Email: janet@fibreworks.co.uk

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TASKER

Joinery

● ● ● ●

All Domestic Joinery Internal/External Work Property Maintenance Kitchens, Bedrooms

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The Old School Owned by Nettleham Parish Council Suitable for Meetings, Parties, Receptions, Exhibitions, etc Reasonable Hire Charges

Call Chris for a free quote on

827616 or 07929 532686

Bathrooms/Kitchens Floors/Walls

Simon Clover Ceramic Tiler Professional Fixing Service Free Quote Telephone: 01673 885939 Mobile: 07780 668 601

Telephone/fax: 01522 750011 Email: oldschool@nettlehampc.info www.nettleham.info 4

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Nettleham Parish Council News Best Kept Village competition This year we were runners-up in the Class III large village and small town category of the competition (2,500-7,000) residents. Sadly, we lost points due to litter observed around the village during the final round of the competition. The winner in our category was Washingborough.

Rubbish The Parish Council were asked by West Lindsey to suggest various waste materials which would be appropriate for a collection site. WLDC has been sent a letter from the Parish Council stating that, in our view, the amount of roadside collection of recyclable waste has gone down of late, as a result of changing contractor and collection practices.

In fact it has been a retrograde step and now we are recycling less, not more. This is an issue requiring attention in advance of the subsequent matter of considering a collection point for other recyclables. Concern was expressed that a collection centre would only produce more pollution, caused by people using their cars to take material to the site.

WLDC are reviewing the matter and we might soon see a situation where more plastics can be placed in the blue bins, but not yet.

Purchase of land for the community The Parish Council is still interested in purchasing land for the community for additional recreational activities and also to provide more space for football training, so that the cricket pitch is not damaged during the football season. Planning permission was renewed for the plot west of Mulsanne Park, but no approach has been made to purchase the land. It was felt that while we have Planning consent for recreational use, it would block other plans the owners might have for it. The owners (The Church Commissioners) have given no indication of wanting to sell to us for the price appropriate to recreation. Other options are also being considered at this time.

Bus Stop Plans have been put forward for the bus stop near All Saints Church entrance to be raised.

However, as this is a major crossing point for High Street, it was thought to be potentially dangerous, causing people to trip as they approach the bus stop from the other side of the road. A question was raised about the popularity of this stop and whether it was even necessary at all, considering the other stops in the vicinity. An assessment will be made of its usage and the situation will be reviewed again.

School Safety Zone

The Old School Mill Hill Nettleham Lincoln LN2 2PE Telephone/fax 01522 750011 Email: parishcouncil@nettleham.info www.nettleham.info

Industry) to permit gas storage underground after their due consideration. However, the Gas Act 1965 is, as the date suggests, an old law, designed for a nationalised industry and, of course, much more safety-focussed legislation has come into use since 1965.

DTI are seeking legal advice on this matter.

Dog Fouling Six more anti dog fouling notices are being installed along Beckside, as this is an area of greatest concern in the village.

Parish Plan As you probably know, a Public Meeting was held on the 30 October in the Old School, and the large hall was packed with over 100 residents to hear an overview of the results of the recent questionnaire. For those who could not get to the meeting, a summary of some of the results can be found on pages 14-15 in this edition of Nettleham News.

Councillor John Evans Nettleham Parish Council

Open Monday - Friday 9.00am - 12 noon

that the zone be implemented, it was made clear to the road safety partnership that the hours of no parking be limited to school start and finish times +/- 30mins, (in order to minimise inconvenience to local residents), the signs currently say “throughout school hours�.

Q It was also felt that the yellow zigzag lines are far too big for a narrow residential street.

The Road Safety Partnership has been so advised. The scheme has, as predicted, moved the parking problem further along the road, but at least the entrance to the school is clear, so hopefully less chance of a child being injured whilst crossing the road.

Parking in Church Street

Business (shop) owners in Church Street have observed that the street is always full of parked cars during shop opening hours.

These cars generally belong to the employees of the businesses, and results in restricted parking for their customers. The Co-op has been approached to see if they would be prepared to provide some spaces in their car park. At this time they have kindly offered 6 spaces for use by the employees and this has greatly alleviated the congestion.

For dates and venues of Nettleham Parish Council meetings for 2007 see page 67

Facilities Assistant Applications are invited for the position of

Facilities Assistant The Parish Council are seeking to employ a person to carry out day-to-day grounds maintenance, including litter collection and caretaking responsibilities, all such duties being consistent with its land and property ownership.

The successful applicant will be expected to use appropriate mechanical equipment for carrying out the duties attached to the post, for which training will be provided, if required.

The hours involved in the position will be approximately 20 per week apportioned between winter and summer times to the extent that they are likely to be less in the former and greater in the latter.

QUALITY COUNCIL

The recently implemented safety zone on All Saints Lane has been discussed and it has been noted that the speed restriction signs are all but hidden in the adjacent tree foliage.

When it was agreed by the Parish Council

Gas Storage appeal by Star Energy at Sudbrooke As you probably know, Star Energy had appealed against the refusal of planning permission by Lincolnshire County Council.

They had also applied for the Hazardous Substance Consent. Quite suddenly they withdrew the appeal and they have now said that they want to pursue the matter via the Gas Act of 1965. This piece of legislation allows the Secretary of State (for Trade and 5

Precise duties will be discussed at the time of interview, but in line with a job description, available on request.

For further information please contact: David Dubut Clerk to Nettleham Parish Council at The Old School, Mill Hill, Nettleham Telephone/fax: 750011 or email: parishcouncil@nettleham.info

No later than 31st December 2006

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Bob & Pauline Woolley welcome you to

THE PLOUGH PUB & RESTAURANT 1 The Green, Nettleham, Lincoln

Telephone 01522 750275 ● Open all day 7 days a week ● Selection of traditional Bateman’s ales ● Newly refurbished lounge bar and restaurant ● Home-made food 7 days a week ● Lunches, evening meals and Sunday lunches ● Specialities from the blackboard ● Special Senior Citizen 2-course lunch menu ● Catering for any occasion ● Air-conditioned, smoke-free atmosphere ● Big-screen plasma TV with Skysports ● Quiz night every Sunday and Wednesday ● Special Christmas menu now available

A warm, friendly welcome and good company awaits you VALUATIONS ● RESIDENTIAL SALES ● RESIDENTIAL LETTINGS ● COMMERCIAL SALES & LETTINGS ● FULL MANAGEMENT SERVICE ● LAND DEVELOPMENT ● LEASE RENEWALS ● RENT REVIEWS ●

FOR PERSONAL QUALITY SERVICE AT COMPETITIVE PRICES CONTACT:

Tel: 01522 568880

17 Guildhall Street Lincoln LN1 1TR

Fax: 01522 549450 Email: property@harrisonestateagent.co.uk Web address: harrisonestateagent.co.uk

Nigel J Harrison FRICS Chartered Surveyor 6

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Woodlands for Nettleham?

WOODL M

We are lucky indeed to live in a lovely village with well-kept footpaths radiating out into the surrounding countryside.

It could also include open areas in which to play, picnic or simply enjoy a leisurely stroll and enjoy the changing seasons.

LEHA T T

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Of course, such a mixed woodland would have many different varieties of trees and could include some with fruit, nuts and berries to pick.

ST

A small group is forming to try to do something about this, and would like your ideas and help.

The proposal is to locate one, or more, pieces of land that could be purchased, or leased, and turned into ‘community woodland’, as other communities around the country have done.

D TRU AN

However, the predominantly agricultural nature of the land immediately surrounding our village means that there are actually very few areas where people are free to wander and picnic, and where children can play freely and safely.

The creation of new woodland areas in the vicinity could provide such freedom, as well as encouraging a greater diversity of wildlife in our local environment.

Woods Round Nettleham In addition to providing a leisure amenity for the community, it would also provide a new habitat for a wide variety of wildlife which naturally inhabits this kind of environment - wild flowers, birds, animals and insects. In recent years there has been a steady decline in certain species and new woodland could help in restoring the natural balance. And, of course, planting trees assists in reducing global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

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We would hope to be able to raise some of the money required from various grant-giving bodies, but only if there is good local community support for the idea. To begin with, please tell us: ● what you think of the idea in general, together with any particular ideas for what you’d like to see ● if there are any pieces of land which you think would be suitable for community woodland, and which the owner might consider selling for this purpose ● if are you willing to be involved, initially in the planning work (we particularly need a treasurer and website designer), and later on with tree planting and looking after the area For more information please call Ian Benford 822475 email: ian.benford1@ntlworld.com or Susie Mendel 751283 This is the start of a project to enhance our village life, now and in the future join us, share your vision and help to make it happen!

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TAYLORS OF WELTON

Pet and animal feeds and accessories Stockists of Eukanuba the complete pet food for adult dogs with a tendency to be overweight Suppliers of Allen & Page horse, poultry, goat, sheep, pig, etc, feeds

12 Cliff Road, Welton Telephone

SHOP 01673 862996

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JACCUZI AND SAUNA

Plumbing Engineer

IDEALLY LOCATED FOR FAMILY AND GOLFING HOLIDAYS

7 Westmoreland Avenue Scampton Lincoln

NEIL BARK

TV, Radio & DAB aerials Satellite points Free View Digital Set-top Boxes supplied and fitted

TELEPHONE 750107 “HOME”, 22 MAIN STREET, SCOTHERN, LINCOLN LN2 2UW

✓ Fast Efficient Repairs & Service ✓ No Call-out MACH BOU INES Charge G ● WASHERS

● DISHWASHERS ● TUMBLE DRYERS ● MICROWAVES ● VACUUMS ● ELECTRIC COOKERS ● REFRIGERATION

TELEPHONE 01522 698884 MOBILE 07771 553496 21 Hykeham Road, Lincoln LN6 8AA

robgollandplumbing@aol.com

HORIZON AERIALS

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE ENGINEER

& SO HT LD!

Telephone 01522 731197 Mobile 07749 449210

Telephone Dave or Jackie

FAIRWOODS, WRAGBY ROAD, SUDBROOKE

LINCOLN 753482

No call out fee Free quotes

Robert Golland

01522 824879

74 SCOTHERN ROAD, NETTLEHAM

BOB GOLLAND PLUMBING

SWIMMING POOLS

or visit www.paraisoriviera.com

All types of interior and exterior decorating.

Small building and joinery repairs.

Free estimates.

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LUXURY 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT

Small charge for local deliveries

DULUX SELECT PAINTER AND DECORATOR

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COSTA DEL SOL Near Marbella

HOME 01673 860215

T. LAWSON

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Direct from the Grower NURSERIES Hardy exotics: Palms, Bamboos, Ferns.

Seasonal Hanging Baskets/Planters.

Bedding, Perennials, Trees/shrubs.

Xmas Trees.

Palms to hire for that special occasion.

OPEN 7 DAYS

01522 752762 or 881492 Mobile: 07770 664949 SCOTHERN ROAD, NETTLEHAM, LINCOLN LN2 2TU

Whatling Horticultural Services RHS CERTIFIED

Personal care and attention given to your garden

JEAN KELSEY LOOSE COVERS - CURTAINS - BLINDS PROFESSIONALLY MADE TO YOUR REQUIREMENTS

Competent in all types of garden maintenance Hedge Cutting, Fruit Tree Pruning, Tree & Hedge Planting, Lawn Renovation, Flower Borders & Vegetable Plots Maintained, Regular Garden Maintenance

WIDE RANGE OF

SANDERSON

FULLY INSURED

FABRICS AND

CROWSON

For a free no-obligation quote, call

FABRICS NOW AVAILABLE

Richard Whatling

Telephone & Fax: 01673 862844

01522 751380

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Mobile: 07941 562428

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Nettleham Trees: The Evergreen Oak The first of this new series on the trees of Nettleham focuses on one of the more unusual and less well known trees in the village.

If you walk into the cemetery, across the road from All Saints church, turning left at the memorial cross and continuing along the path, you will soon become aware of a very large multi-trunked tree on your left, near the far end of the path.

This imposing tree is a specimen of Holm (islet in, or land by, a river, submerged in floods) or Evergreen Oak, Quercus ilex.

Not that you would think it was an oak when you take a look at the leaves - they are so very different from the oak leaves that we are all so familiar with, that you would be forgiven for thinking that this was a different species of tree altogether.

Instead of being multi-lobed, as the familiar Common, Pedunculate or English Oak (Quercus robur), the leaves are finely serrated along the edges, with a glossy green upper surface, and a soft grey/green underside due to a short, thick covering of down. Introduced into this country from the Mediterranean region in the 16th century, its Latin name of Quercus ilex

offers some explanation, the term Ilex being the Latin name for our familiar Christmas evergreen holly, and indeed, the serrated leaves do superficially resemble those of the common holly.

But the clue to its real identity lies in its seeds (see photograph right) which are true acorns and very similar to those of the Common Oak, with the seed contained in a small stemmed cup. The acorns of this tree, however, take two years to mature, becoming dark brown when ripe.

It is not a very common tree, but may be seen in parks and gardens throughout the country, frequently used for shelter from sun and wind, particularly near the coast, where it is resistant to salt-laden spray and to atmospheric pollution in urban areas.

An interesting piece of village history has emerged regarding this particular tree, recounted by local Councillor Alf Frith.

Apparently the tree was planted in fond memory of Richard Harper, one of the first Nettleham residents to lose their lives in World War II. He was killed at Scapa Flow whilst serving aboard HMS Royal Oak and his name is on the village war memorial on The Green.

The magnificent multi-trunked specimen of Holm or Evergreen Oak in the cemetery on Mill Hill opposite All Saints Church 9

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PL ROOFING Roofing Contractor

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The Nettleham Oasis Lincolnshire, so the County Council tells us, produces 20% of the country’s food. As a newcomer, I’ve been very impressed by the high efficiency of the farmers around here.

It seems incredible how quickly crops are harvested and fields resown. And although it can occasionally be annoying to be stuck behind a combine harvester on a narrow road, there really seems surprisingly little obstruction, when you consider what a huge area needs to be cultivated in a short time.

As in all things, however, there is a downside, which is what I call (exaggerating for effect) a desert of intensive industrial agriculture.

By which I mean huge fields with very few different crops; high use of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides; few hedges - and those mostly thin and straggly - and not many trees.

This is not a criticism of farmers, who do these things to produce cheap food for us, and are strongly influenced by the subsidy regimes of the Common Agricultural Policy.

There have been hopeful signs on this front recently, with more of the subsidies being based on how the land is looked after, rather than how much is produced, but around Nettleham the effects are not very evident.

Does this matter? Well, without going into arguments about biodiversity, what I notice when out walking our local footpaths (and all credit here, by the way, to the local farmers who are generally excellent at keeping them open) is how little wildlife there is.

For instance, very few butterflies (and those mostly cabbage whites), a rather unexciting range of wild flowers and not many birds plenty of woodpigeons, but what a pity not to hear the song of skylarks soaring above, or see buzzards hunting for rabbits.

There’s no mystery about why this is the farmers don’t want pests and weeds competing with their crops, so they control them rigorously. So wildflowers suffer from herbicides and lack of space to grow (in the fields they are weeds).

The birds (mostly) suffer from lack of insects and seeds to eat, and also places to nest.

The butterflies are killed by insecticides and their caterpillars lack the food plants they need, such as nettles and brambles, which grow on ’waste’ ground.

So the end result (although this may be trivial compared to some of the other effects) is country walks which are very uninteresting compared with those in areas of mixed farming, smaller fields, or more woodland.

Those who have holidayed in rural France, for instance, cannot fail to have noticed the abundance of wildflowers and butterflies, which we used to have, but whose steady decline locally may not have been noticed.

So what about our green oasis then? There’s no question that Nettleham provides some habitats that the surrounding ‘desert’ lacks more mature trees, gardens full of flowers, a few patches of nettles, bird boxes and feeders - and the result is far more wildlife than in the countryside.

A red admiral butterfly on a stinging nettle

But it’s still not all that much. Partly this is because in the village there is another ‘agricultural regime‘, that keeps the verges mown and plants confined mainly to ornamental trees. This gives great benefits in appearance, and places that are easy to walk on and play in, and so on, but again there is (like everything) a downside, which is that those areas are much like a lawn.

There was a good effort to make a small wildflower verge along Watermill Lane a couple of years back, and very nice it looked, until the ‘no mowing’ notices disappeared and the mowing contractors flattened it.

So my plea is, let’s not take the tendency to turn the whole village into a ‘parks and gardens’ environment too far. Tolerate a few ‘untidy’ verges and waste patches, don’t overdo the planting of non-native trees which are less good for wildlife - they may provide berries for the birds (but have you noticed that there are so many berries and so few birds that most of the berries go through the winter uneaten?).

Another sad feature of the tendency to want to control nature and make it look pretty is the planting, by very well-intentioned people, of cultivated garden plants in waste places and along the country footpaths - tulips and grape hyacinths for instance. Wild flowers would be just as pretty, more likely to thrive, and more likely to encourage wildlife, as well as looking natural, rather than out of place.

And if, like me, you like seeing red admiral, peacock and tortoiseshell butterflies visiting your garden flowers, do remember they are only there because there are nettles nearby, which the provide the foodplant for their caterpillars.

A garden spider waits patiently for prey in the centre of its newly-spun orb web in a bramble plant

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S. J. SKEPPER

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Readers Letters What Happened to the Poetry?

Thank You

A letter sent to John Pateman, Head of Libraries, by Sheila Gravells and 17 other signatories

I would like to thank everyone who came and supported the coffee morning at my home on 29 September and with donations. I have forwarded a cheque for £250. Many thanks,

On visiting our local Nettleham library recently, I was deeply shocked to find the poetry section had completely disappeared. The title above the two empty shelves read, ironically, “Literature”.

How can an establishment called “a library” contain no books of poetry?

Who makes the decision to rid the library of its poetry? Not the people of Nettleham for certain.

Why should the poetry lovers of our village be deprived of their reference books, when almost every other interest is catered for?

“Literature is language charged with meaning”, as defined by Ezra Pound, and what is more charged with meaning than poetry? The language of sound bytes is also meant to be charged with meaning, but do we want that to become our future language?

I am informed that present policy has incurred a 20% reduction in library books, but that should not mean the 100% reduction of poetry books.

Why have they been removed? They were not dilapidated; there is plenty of shelf space for them. What has happened to them? Have they

been destroyed? Like novels, poetry is being published all the time. Perhaps if the selection had been increased, more readers would have shown an interest.

Some of us in Nettleham have spent our lives in education, fostering, among other things, a love of poetry in young people - a waste of time if that resource is to be denied them in their adulthood.

Two poetry groups are flourishing in the Nettleham and Welton area - Lindsey U3A, “Poetry for Pleasure” and “Chapter and Verse”.

We are poetry lovers and require this resource in Nettleham. Choosing a book is now denied to us. It is not the same as ordering a specific book from Central Library. Browsing is part of the pleasure, however meagre the selection. This pleasure is not denied to readers of novels, or resource books.

I know from the content of Nettleham News that the Editor encourages the reading and writing of poetry, but what do other readers feel about this?

Sheila Gravells (Nettleham)

Kath Ersser

Unnecessary Risk?

Years ago when working in Lincoln I used to cycle from Nettleham along the well-trodden cycle path, laid out at public expense, which runs alongside the main A46. I always thought it was very safe.

I then saw that, at great expense, the council had laid a cycle track further along the A46 right up to Dunholme, providing an even a safer haven for pedal cyclists.

So why, when there is a perfectly good cycle track, are we still seeing the occasional cyclist travelling on the main road, putting themselves at great risk and also the unfortunate motorist who may collide with them.

I am mystified by their insistence to ride along a very dangerous road, when an alternative route is available. Isn’t it about time that these indifferent cyclist were compelled to use the cycle paths we all paid for? That way, they are safe, the motorist is safe and the hospitals do not have the expense of having yet another road accident patient to deal with.

H Carter

Julia Hart (Nettleham); Val Dunn (Welton); Lorna Flint (Nettleham); Judith Gibbons (Welton); Muriel Newman (Nettleham);

Highfields, Nettleham

Marion Knowles (Nettleham); Kathleen Rowett (Nettleham); Myra Lowthorpe (Nettleham); Rev. Carolyn Zotov (Nettleham); Effie Mansfield (Nettleham Fields); Rev Pat McCullogh (Nettleham); Ruth Nichol (South Carlton); A. Haywood-Kenny (Scothern) Marion Plenderleith (Scothern); David Jones (North Carlton); Lorna Whalley (Nettleham); Iris Wilson (Nettleham)

Thank You to our Police

More Information Please

I would like to say “Thank You” to PC Mark Lassmans, our local Police Officer and Jackie Parker, our Police Liaison Officer at Nettleham Police Station, for the quick response and helpful advice which I received from them when, on two nights in October, a large number of ornaments were stolen from my garden.

When a charity event is being organised in the village (eg Nettleham Cares) and advertised in Nettleham News, it would be most helpful if details of where donations (eg bric-a-brac, raffle prizes, etc) can be taken, could be included in the magazine. Thank you.

To prevent this happening again, the front gates will now be locked during the hours of darkness.

Anyone wishing to visit me during this time, must let me know before dark when they wish to come.

Editor: Event organisers please note!

I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause blame the thieves!

Elsie J Hardwick Sudbrooke Lane Editor: I’m sure everyone sympathises with you Elsie it’s upsetting to be the victim of one theft, but for them to return a second time, and help themselves to even more of your treasured possessions, is despicable

Lyn & Peter Broadley Kingsway

SIGHT SAVERS AT NETTLEHAM CARES Thank you so much to all who supported the Sight Savers’ stall at Nettleham Cares.

The stall raised £57.50 and further generous donations mean that £100.00 has been sent to Sight Savers to continue their sight saving work.

Joyce Lewis 13

Trick or Treat!

This year, in particular, it has been widely discussed in the media whether trick or treating should be done and how some use this opportunity to act improperly.

In my opinion if it is done properly it is not a problem.

Ideally, if you know the homeowners, it is even better.

This year I had 3 groups attend my house. The first two groups were fairly small in number and were polite. I gave them some sweets and off they went.

The final group to attend my house came as bit of a bit of a shock to me. I would estimate that there were about 15 children and a total of 20 people altogether.

I provided a bag of sweets to the boy in front of me which was snatched out of my hand. I then had another boy trying to climb in my front door.

Although I was not intimidated by the size of the group, or their behaviour, I was surprised that the parents didn’t see this as a problem.

No consideration was shown as to how intimidating a group of this size can be to some people. If they had split the group up and had a few kids to each door, it would have been fine.

I hope next year, when the media debate the issue again, parents accompanying their kids around will think about the intimidation some people experience.

Name and address supplied What do you think? Write to the Editor (details page 1)

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Nettleham Parish Plan Questionnaire: A total of 319 completed questionnaires were received from village households.

This is about 25% of Nettleham and to those who took the time to complete the questionnaires, a big thank you.

The completed questionnaires will provide valuable guidance to the Parish Council and others involved in delivering services to the village in the future. It is better obtain clear guidance by consultation, than to guess and spend a lot of time, effort and money on something, only to get it wrong.

Figure 1: Number of residents in each age group

Age in years

As you know, there were many questions in the questionnaire, but only questions relevant to respondents should have been answered, thus not all 319 responded to all the questions.

Reproduced here is a summary of some of the more significant indications which have been identified from the survey so far. There is more detailed work yet to be done and after that an action plan will need to be produced in order to implement some of the key findings.

The following results were presented to a packed Public Meeting on the 30 October 2006 in the Old School, as well as to the Parish Council in the previous week. I hope it provides a flavour of some of the interesting attitudes and facts to emerge from the returns.

Population age distribution It can be seen that we have an aging population in the village, with the majority over 50 years and only 17% under 21 (Figure 1).

This has serious implications regarding sheltered housing and other needs over the next 10-20 years. The population is also very stable, with around 50% of residents having lived in the village 20 years or longer.

The Quality of Life Over 65% of the population, who have lived here more than 10 years, felt that the quality of life in the village had either improved, or at least stayed the same, over that period. Most people say what they value most about Nettleham is the sense of community, quality of life, tranquillity and local village facilities.

0-4 5 - 10 11 - 16 17 - 21 22 - 39 40 - 59 60 - 64 65 - 74 75 - 84 85 - 94 95+ 0%

This shift to sheltered accommodation and long-term residential care could, in fact, release affordable houses as starter homes for the young. However, it will be necessary to consider how we can implement more sheltered housing and residential and nursing care in the village. It is clear that most people would much prefer to stay in the village, where they have lived for so long.

10%

15%

20%

25%

Figure 2: What type of housing do you think you will need in 10 years?

Other (please specify) Respite care Long term nursing care Long term residential care Sheltered housing Shared equity property (part purchase, part rental) Affordable, small independent housing Small rented accommodation Family home to rent Family home to buy Starter home to rent Starter home to buy Needs currently satisfied 0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Figure 3: How would you like to see any extra money, raised by Council Tax, spent in the village?

Purchase Police HQ playing fields, lake and woods Facilities for the young Facilities for the elderly Traffic and parking initiatives Sports and recreation Amenity and green space The village’s character and setting 0

Housing When asked what sort of housing people thought they would need in the next 10 years, just over 30% though that their current homes would suffice (Figure 2). Over a quarter felt they would require sheltered housing, with another 17% wanting long-term nursing and residential care. This is not surprising, considering the demographic bias towards the elderly.

5%

5

10

15

20

25

% of extra money raised

Figure 4: What single action would you find beneficial to enhance Nettleham’s environment?

Other (please specify) Don’t know Nothing Farmers’ Market Improved rights of way More employment locally Community composting Improved public transport Energy saving Recycling More tree planting Reduce traffic More green space 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

% of 292 responses

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50%

60%

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Some of the preliminary findings Recreational facilities and activities It was generally felt that the facilities of the village were well maintained and a valuable asset to the community. When asked what improvements should be made to the current sports facilities in Nettleham over the next 10 years, there was an overwhelming indication that the Police HQ playing field, lake and woodland area should be purchased, if possible, for sports and other recreational activities.

There was little support for improvements to other village sports facilities, apart from upgrading existing hall for sports usage.

Figure 5: General issues Agree Strongly

Agree somewhat

Neutral

Disagree somewhat

Disagree strongly

Response Total

Nettleham does not have a litter problem

19

109

51

106

13

298

The village has enough litter bins

21

106

52

93

18

290

The roadside verges are kept mown and tidy

52

169

29

35

10

295

Some roadside verges should be allowed to grow for wildlife

56

84

70

60

20

290

7

31

111

102

28

279

The gates, stiles and bridges are in poor repair

General expenditure

Open more footpaths and bridleways

60

103

81

28

8

280

When asked if people were prepared to pay more council tax to improve life in Nettleham, 80% were prepared to pay more, with 65% prepared to pay £5 or more a year on the rates, providing the money was spend on Nettleham.

Plant more trees, bulbs, flower beds and shrubs in the village

83

119

58

18

9

287

The village dog bins are emptied frequently

17

36

111

66

46

276

Enhance the villages wildlife areas

92

122

67

6

0

287

When asked how they would like to see the additional money spent, most support, again, was for purchasing the Police HQ playing fields, lake and woodland, with least spent on other sports facilities (Figure 3).

The Beck should be more naturalized

62

85

92

41

6

286

The village needs more allotments

26

45

148

37

20

276

The villages waste collection facilities are adequate

76

151

39

14

8

288

The village recycling facilities are adequate*

66

146

30

36

12

290

The village needs more covered bus shelters

51

70

107

37

24

289

The village has enough post boxes

50

131

75

21

16

293

When asked what should be done with the Old Bishops Palace field, 65% of respondents wanted it to be purchased, but there were many varied ideas on exactly what should subsequently be done with the area, including landscaping and planting as a garden.

*Prior to the recent changes

Enhancement of the local environment When asked what single action people would find beneficial to enhancing the local environment, 50% wanted a reduction in traffic and 13% wanted a Farmers’ Market (Figure 4).

General issues Figure 5 has been produced to allow you to gauge the feeling of residents relating to general issues affecting the village.

Village Design Statement A Village Design Statement (VDS) sets out clear and simple guidance for the design of all development in a village, based on its character. It is an advisory document produced by the village community, not by the planning authority. It will not stop change from happening, but it can help affect how any new building fits into the village. It is intended to influence the operation of the statutory planning system, so new development is in harmony with the village’s setting and makes a positive contribution to its environment.

Approximately 90% of respondents felt this would be of benefit to the village.

Other data We collected additional data on issues ranging from clubs and sports activities, to bus services and transport needs, as well as the various needs of the young and old in our community.

This additional data will take time to analyse, but will be useful in determining future plans for various groups and clubs in the village.

Conclusions At this stage we can draw a few preliminary conclusions.

We have a stable, but aging, population, which must be cared for in greater numbers over the coming years. Provision for their accommodation should be planned in the near future to enable them to continue living in the village we all value so much. In the meantime, we cannot ignore the needs of the next generation, if we want to maintain a balanced community.

We have gained much information in this survey to provide guidance on interests and activities of various age groups, ranging from sports to social clubs, and this is still being analysed.

It is also very evident that there is a need to do something about traffic and parking issues in the village.

would like to see that enhanced further.

It is also appreciated that we do have a tremendous range of facilities available to us, for a community of our size.

We have many issues to look at here; we need to formulate a plan to try to help achieve the aspirations of this community. We need to be creative in our thinking to achieve solutions, which are practical, and can be implemented without costing the earth.

It is a challenge that the Parish Plan Steering Committee will be working on over the coming months and, following discussions with external interested parties, will result in a Parish Plan being published next year.

If you have some bright ideas on what could be done, don’t keep them to yourself - take part in this challenging task to help to improve the environment we all live in and make a contribution to the future of Nettleham.

In addition there is as a tremendous desire to buy the Police HQ field, lake and woodland, as well as do something positive with the Bishops’ Palace field to make it into some kind of recreation area for the village.

We are particularly short of people under 21.

If younger people in the village feel that not enough facilities are provided for them, then why not come along and make a contribution as a youth group on the committee.

Most residents are prepared to pay more in Council Tax to continue to improve the environment of Nettleham, showing we are realists - acknowledging we can’t get something for nothing.

All those interested would be most welcome to join the Parish Plan team, just contact me, any of the committee members, or through David Dubut at the Parish office in the Old School.

John Evans Telephone 824574

The population does value the natural environment and setting of this village and 15

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Police News CUT OUT AND KEEP IN A CONVENIENT PLACE Nettleham Police Station Scothern Road Nettleham Lincoln LN2 2XT Telephone: 01522 882222 (Ext:5796) Mobile: 07939 312757 Voicemail: 01522 558798 (1170) Fax: 01522 805797 E-mail: jackie.parker@lincs.pnn.police.uk Jackie Parker mobile: 07944 776801 Welcome to the winter edition of Police News for 2006.

I would like to start on a serious note and warn you about nuisance door-to-door persons.

They usually target vulnerable people such as the elderly. These are men who say they are builders and that you need work doing on your property. They are very friendly and persuasive and make you feel that they are doing you a real favour by carrying out the work.

Often the work does not need carrying out and the work they do is usually substandard and then they charge extortionate prices. When the money is paid they are often never seen again, or they might tell you that they will do work inside the house and exhort even more money out of you. They may leave you with a contact telephone number or address, but these are sometimes false. The decision to have work carried out on your property is your decision and no one else’s, but please be aware of these unscrupulous people.

If you are in any doubt, then send them packing. Don’t agree to anything until you’ve checked with other people that the work needs doing and do not let them into the house under any circumstances. Tell them that you want to get several quotes before any work is undertaken and ask them to come again another time when you have had time to check them out.

This kind of scam has taken place in a couple of local villages recently and in both cases we were told by the victims that they thought they were ‘lovely men’, so beware! One very elderly gent was even driven several times to the ‘hole in the wall’ by this unscrupulous builder, who convinced the man he was doing him a favour by taking him to the bank! Please keep an eye out if you have an elderly, or vulnerable person living near you. Be a good neighbour!

We have had a spate of anti-social behaviour in and around the village in the last few weeks.

Any incidents of anti-social behaviour that are reported to the police are looked at and any names that are taken of people that are involved are recorded and kept on file.

Several of the youths have been taken home and given warnings in front of parents and their names will be sent to the Anti-Social Behaviour Team for them to consider what will happen next. Do you know where your child is on these dark nights? It may be that we will be stopping and speaking to your child if they are in the area that anti-social behaviour has been taking place. If you know the people involved in anti-social behaviour, or any of the vehicle details, then please make a note of them.

Anti-social behaviour cannot be resolved without the help and involvement of the local community, so please don’t suffer in silence contact us!

Now that the dark nights are upon us, you must stay alert and watchful. Please make sure your property is as secure as it can be when you go out and remember to set your alarms!

If you are planning to go away at Christmas, then invest in a number of timer switches for your lights in order to create the impression that someone is in and therefore deter any undesirable people. (NOT the hall lights - how many of us only use the hall light when we are in? This is a sure sign to the burglar that you are out!). We need ensure that no one gets the opportunity to commit offences, by reporting anything that you feel is suspicious. These people are well aware that we all buy things at Christmas and that we will have them in our properties around this time of year.

Please also make sure that your vehicle is locked and secure and that you do not leave valuables such as wallets, telephones and tools on show in your vehicle.

On my walks around the villages, I have also seen many garage doors wide open, some with lights on with very expensive tools on show.

The owners can be heard in the back garden mowing the lawn, or cutting the hedges! Lots of times I could have helped myself to anything on show and even the odd bottle of wine, or something from the freezer, and they would have been none the wiser as to who it was.

The same goes for warming up your vehicle to defrost the windows before you set off on your journey. Engines running, keys in the ignition and doors opened are not covered by your insurance policy.

Report any suspicious people or vehicles immediately to the police. The sooner we get a call, the sooner we can act upon it.

As we are on the subject of dark nights, please, please, could you make sure that you have adequate lights on your bicycle and that of your children’s. I have spotted one or two paperboys and girls out in darkness with no lights. Make sure the bulb and batteries in your bicycle lights are in good working order.

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Friends of mine had a ‘close encounter’ with a paperboy only last week. They were reversing out of their drive and missed the lad by centimetres, as they had not seen him at all, as he had no lights, a dark jacket and his fluorescent paperbag had no reflective strip.

If your son or daughter is a paperboy/girl, please make sure that they can be seen on these dark nights.

New Child Seat Regulations Please remember we have the new child seat regulations, which came into effect in September. It is easy to forget the rules, especially when you do not care for the child all the time, such as having your grandchildren come and visit. This happened to me recently when I looked after my four nephews for the weekend. It wasn’t until the children were climbing in the vehicle, that the youngest child asked me where his booster seat was, that I even thought about it! Luckily, my brother had thought of it and the booster seat was in my hall waiting to go in the car. Until that point I had not even thought about car seats, as I have not needed to have one for a few years, so I know how easy it is to forget. Basically these are the rules: Baby Seat: rear facing for children up to 13kg (approx age: birth to 9/12 months) Child Seat: forward facing and for children 9kg to 18kg (approx age 9 months to 4 years) Booster seats: for children 15kg to 25kg (approx age 4 to 6 years) Booster cushions: for children 6 years and up if under the height of 135 cm.

Rear facing baby seats MUST NOT be used in a seat protected by a frontal air bag unless the airbag has been deactivated, manually or automatically.

Who is responsible? The driver is responsible under the law for making sure children under 14 years of age use a seat belt, restraints in cars, goods vehicles and mini-buses.

When reporting a crime please report them directly to Lincolnshire Police Headquarters on 01522 882222 where your crime can be recorded and an officer allocated, if necessary.

Due to the very nature of our job we cannot always be at the Police Office to answer the telephone or receive personal callers. Please do not leave URGENT messages on an officer’s voicemail. We do work shifts, have rest days, annual leave and sickness and may not be able call you back until next on duty.

And finally, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas from everyone here at Nettleham police station. We hope that 2007 will be an even better year for everyone.

Jackie PCSO 2108 Parker

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The first collections of the new blue wheeled recycling bins have been a success, with many bins full to the brim with carefully sorted, washed and crushed recyclable waste.

Thanks to the continuing participation of West Lindsey residents, nearly 35% of waste was recycled during the months of July-September.

With your help the amount we recycle will continue to increase, ensuring that as much material as possible is diverted away from unsightly, increasingly expensive and rapidly decreasing landfill sites.

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RECYCLING IN NETTLEHAM YOUR BLUE WHEELED BIN IS INTENDED ONLY FOR RECYCLABLE WASTE

✓ YES PLEASE

✗ NO THANKS

Glass

Glass

All bottles and jars

Window glass light bulbs Pyrex cookware fish tanks and any ceramics including plates and cups

West Lindsey District Council is aware that the change from bags to bins has caused confusion for some residents, but in fact, very little has actually changed.

Metal All food tins and drink cans

With regard to the change in materials, it is only textiles that will no longer be collected with the rest of your recyclable waste from the kerbside.

This is due to the difficulty in separating it from other recyclable items and keeping it clean, undamaged and useful. Therefore more textile and shoe banks will be provided for this purpose.

Glass bottles and jars (previously only recyclable at bring sites), metal tins and cans, and the majority of plastics, can all be placed in the blue bin (ideally flattened to reduce volume).

We currently ask that only paper and cardboard are placed separately in plastic bags at the side of your bin, to ensure that it remains clean and dry. However, as we understand that this is less convenient, we are currently trying to negotiate the inclusion of these items in the blue bin and will inform you when this is successful. Any bags left out that contain anything other than paper and cardboard may be left uncollected, as they will not be able to be sorted.

It seems that plastic is causing the most confusion, and therefore alongside there is a simple table listing common items to aid you in the sorting of your recyclables.

Plastics Types:

Metal

2

1

Tin foil, aerosols, scrap metal

including: fizzy drink and squash bottles ready meal trays milk containers fabric conditioner washing up liquid shampoo containers cosmetics bottles bleach and detergent bottles cleaning product containers and other similar plastic containers

Plastics Plastic bags crisp packets margarine tubs yoghurt pots plastic wrappers from junk mail polystyrene

PLACE CARDBOARD AND PAPER IN A SEPARATE BAG BESIDE YOUR BLUE WHEELED BIN

The basic rule is: if the product has a symbol 1 or 2 printed, or embossed, on it, it can be put in your blue bin, if it has any other number or no symbol at all, then unfortunately it has to go in the black bin.

Note that this is no different to the types of plastics that were recyclable in the former bag scheme. CORY had defined in their service specification that only ‘rigid plastics’ were permissible (ie types 1 and 2). These are the most common and heaviest plastic.

✓ YES PLEASE

✗ NO THANKS

Magazines blue telephone directories catalogues computer paper white envelopes junk mail cardboard

Brown paper brown envelopes Yellow Pages directories plastic wrappers on magazines and any items not made of paper or card

Your continued efforts are both essential and worthwhile and only because of them the amount of household waste being recycled is constantly increasing. Details regarding your waste collection service, and how you can help us to continue your successes, can be found on the West Lindsey District Council website www.west-lindsey.co.uk

OTHER RECYCLING SYMBOLS

✂

Alternatively, queries can be directed to the Customer Service Team on: 01427 676676, via email at: waste.services@west-lindsey.gov.uk or sent to: Environmental Services, West Lindsey District Council, 11/13 Cross Street, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire DN21 2AX. Cut out the panel on the right and keep it in a convenient place (eg on the inside of a cupboard door, inside the lid of your wheeled bin, etc) to remind you what items may be recycled.

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There are many recycling symbols in common use and many consumers are confused by the range of environmental symbols found on food and other packaging materials.

Below are several of the most common.

4 LDPE Made from recyclable material

100% recyclable aluminium

Dispose of responsibly

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Recyclable where facilities exist

“Green Dot” recycling paid by producer in some EU countries (not in UK)

Recyclable steel

One of several types of plastic

Please place in a recycling bank

“Recycle Now” campaign symbol

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Don’t throw out your old kitchen!

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Ian and Sue Young

● Made to measure replacement door and drawer fronts ● Supply and install or supply only ● Lots of styles and colours at factory prices ● Standard and non-standard sizes ● No deposit - fully guaranteed ● Make your kitchen look like new!

19 The Green, NETTLEHAM, Lincoln LN2 2NR Telephone (01522) 750779 (24 hours)

Quality second-hand books and new CD’s at affordable prices New books obtained to order Opening hours: Tuesday - Thursday 9.15 - 4.30 Friday 9.15 - 5.00 Saturday 9.15 - 12.30

Also full kitchens and fitted bedrooms with all accessories - drawers, baskets, trouser rails, etc No salesman - call now for no-obligation survey

Email: leaves@onetel.com www.abebooks.com/home/autumn leaves

NU DOOR 01724 336814

KRYSTALS CHEMIST NETTLEHAM SUNITA SHINGDIA MRPharmS Your Pharmacist is always at hand to give you advice and information, in private if required, on a wide range of matters concerning your health and medication.

Being in the village gives us a unique privilege of knowing our customers personally

HAIR STYLIST Ladies, gents and children

Open Monday to Saturday 6 High Street Nettleham Lincoln 750326

Simon J Humphreys Specialist in built-up felt roofing 8 Sudbrooke Lane Nettleham

and gives us a great advantage in helping you to choose appropriate

Telephone 01522 751561

over the counter medication, as well as dispensing your prescriptions.

Mobile: 07905 092174

All the assistant staff are qualified Pharmacy Interact Assistants and have also passed Dispensary Assistant courses.

We also pride ourselves in being able to offer a competitive range of Toiletries, Perfume, Cosmetics (Laura Paige), Baby goods, Fancy Goods, Toys (including the full set of

WOODLANDS ORGANIC FARM

Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends) and much more.

Organic Vegetable Box Scheme

NEW

We grow and deliver fresh, seasonal organic vegetables to your area every Tuesday

CONSTANTLY CHANGING 99p SECTION

ALL MAJOR CREDIT AND DEBIT CARDS ACCEPTED

Boxes from £6.00 including delivery

LINCOLN 751702

Organic beef, lamb & poultry also available!

With incoming new legislation the chemist is under threat from multiples.

Your continued support is much appreciated to keep your chemist in the village.

Telephone 01205 724778 www.woodlandsfarm.co.uk

CROWN GATES & SERVICES GATES & FENCING HAND MADE TO MEASURE IN WROUGHT IRON OR TIMBER D. BURKHILL White Cottage, Wickenby Road, Lissington, Lincoln LN3 5AE

Telephone & Fax: 01673 885636 Mobile: 07768 885873

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Grandad A little boy ran into his grandfather’s study and said “Grandad, please will you make a noise like a frog.”

Grandad replied “I’m really too busy and must get this letter written today.”

The little boy said “Oh please, Grandad, just once will do, but please will you make a noise like a frog.”

“No” said Grandad “I’m really too busy just now.”

The little boy started to cry.

The grandfather stopped what he was doing to comfort his grandson and patiently asked “Why do you want me to make a noise like a frog anyway?”

The little boy replied “Because Mum said when Grandad croaks we can all go to Disney.”

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NETTLEHAM CARES Thank you so much to everyone who joined in Nettleham Cares on Saturday 14 October and made the day so memorable.

I did appreciate all the help I was given in setting up the tables before the event and it was so good to have seventeen charities participating. On their behalf, I thank all of you for your support.

Thank you, ladies, for providing delicious refreshments once again. Whether as stall holders or customers, we did enjoy the goodies you provided and know you will have slept well that night!

Finally my thanks to Chevrette who provided the music for us and to those good folk who helped me put the tables away at the end of the day. So very kind of you all.

Joyce E Lewis

Are you still looking for that perfect Christmas present?

If you still haven’t managed to find that perfect Christmas present for a relative or friend this year, there are two books available about the history of Nettleham, which would make a very welcome addition to the bookshelf of anyone who has an interest in our village.

‘A Sign of the Times’ by Barbara Taylor and ‘Nettleham Yesteryears’ by Pearl Vose offer a fascinating insight into the history of Nettleham and the characters who lived in and around the village in years gone by. Both have received wide acclaim, both in the village and beyond, since their publication.

Patient Support Group The Nettleham & Cherry Willingham Patient Support Group met on Tuesday 26 September at Cherry Willingham.

Amanda Brewster, from the practice, updated the group on “The Quality Outcomes Framework”, which is the practice’s quality performance measure of service to patients.

You will be pleased to know the practice achieved 99.9% of the required standards (they missed the 0.1% by 3 days, due to the new telephone system installation. The 0.1% was awarded for being directly transferred to the GP Out of Hours Service.

A new nurse (Kate) and a new GP Registrar (Dr Chhaya) have joined the practice team.

Stuart Miller has stood down as Chairman of the Patient Support Group. A new Chairperson will be appointed shortly.

Meg Rawden Group Secretary

LINK ROMANIA FAMILY SHOEBOX APPEAL 2006 Thank you all so much for your support of the Shoebox Appeal. This has been a fantastic year as, once again, you have all been so very generous.

At the time of writing 276 shoe boxes are now ready to make their way to Romania, as well as boxes of cuddly toys, stationery, hats, scarves, jumpers, cardigans and blankets. Many more of you felt able to sign the Gift Aid form this year and this will mean increased funds to support all projects. The response to the appeal for hats was wonderful again this year - most boxes contained a hat and there are more which can be handed out to the children. How much joy they will bring to Romanian families at Christmas and indeed many months to come.

Once again, support for the appeal has come from far and wide, ie Nottingham, Swansea, Scunthorpe, London, Leeds, Lincoln and all the villages around us - Tanya Knitwear of Fiskerton sent a most generous quantity of long-sleeved jumpers which will keep folk cosy through the bitter months. Please will you pass on this “thank you” to those you know who will not receive a copy of Nettleham News. We so appreciate all the support we are given and thank each and every one who has joined us in our care for our Romanian friends.

Both of these attractive books are available from: Beckside Newsagents (on High Street)

Happy Christmas to you all and thank you for making it a joyful one for so many families in Romania.

or alternatively from

Cora, Mary, Janet and Joyce

Autumn Leaves Bookshop (at the side of the Lincolnshire Co-op foodstore on The Green)

PS Whilst we were clearing up after Nettleham Cares at the Village hall, we found a bag of shopping from charity stalls including ONE TOY FISH. If this is yours, contact Joyce Lewis on 856818 21

Dining, Living, Bedroom

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Welcome to the different world of SHAH where you’ll experience a new approach and superior standards across two of the most beautiful showrooms in Lincolnshire. SHAH – refreshing quality, reassuring service, rewarding value.

For that unbeatable family touch, try us today!

237 Lincoln Road (opp Village Green) North Hykeham LINCOLN LN6 8NH

Tel: 01522 884433 Dixon Street (off Tritton Road) LINCOLN LN6 7BN

Tel: 01522 884444 Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 9am - 5.30pm.

Any other time by appointment (Closed Sundays & Mondays)

www.furnitureandinteriors.co.uk

VISIT US NOW FOR CHRISTMAS | WINTER SALE IDEAS 22

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In more recent years, donations of the planters on Vicarage Lane near the Co-op Store, has also enabled that part of the village to be enhanced by flowers. Twice a year these are replanted and, with ongoing care, the general consensus in the village seems to be one of great appreciation.

However, person(s) who use the cover of darkness to express their disapproval of these plants, have on three occasions this year (twice in the last month!) ripped plants out, overturned planters on Jubilee Bridge and done similar damage in Vicarage Lane.

There is a limit to how often these plants should be replaced and, at the risk of appearing too optimistic, it would be more constructive if the disaffected people concerned would go and talk to the Parish Council about the problem they seem to have with the plants.

It will be a sad day when Nettleham cannot support the existence of a few plants, but this can only continue if the culprits are identified, and all residents are asked to be vigilant and report anything suspicious they see in the vicinity of the two areas concerned.

Name and address supplied What do you think of this anti-social behaviour?

Write to the Editor with your thoughts (details page 1)

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In a Nutshell

A Blooming Disgrace!

The Parish Council have, for some years now, arranged for the planting of flowers in containers on Jubilee Bridge and in front of All Saints Church on High Street.

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Hello there, You may have spotted me around the village - up trees, down drainpipes, stealing the food from the your bird table - I get everywhere!

Mind you, there aren’t many of us around now. Despite being fleet of foot, several of my family have come to a sticky end (and I mean sticky!) under the wheels of vehicles over the last few years.

And it’s getting worse! - you wouldn’t believe the speed that some humans drive through the village nowadays. I really wish they would show a little consideration for others - after all, instead of being a cute little furry creature, I could be a cute little human child running across the road!

You know, many years ago, my cousins, with their smart red coats, were quite common around here. But sadly, over the years, the woodland where they used to live has mostly disappeared, to make room for crop fields, roads and houses.

Okay, I know these things are needed by humans, but wouldn’t it be nice if, instead of frequenting tidy suburban gardens, I could range freely in the wild countryside.

There is still a nice little spot, Vicar’s Wood I think they call it, in the centre of the village next to the church, but I’m bored of this - I need more room to roam!

I have recently heard a whisper that some new woodland may be planted around the village. Hooray! I shall be able to go and find nuts and seeds and perhaps a juicy blackberry or two to eat (I’m sick of peanuts!). But this will only come about if enough humans really want it to happen I do hope they will all get behind this great new idea.

And I know lots of other animals, birds, insects and plants which would be simply delighted to discover that their old haunts are back and they can come home again.

It makes my tail shiver with excitement just to think about it!

And talking of shivering, winter is now upon us again and we squirrels, like the wild birds, don’t hibernate. Many humans think we do, but (rather sensibly) I stay in my bed and have a good lie-in every day instead! Life can be pretty tough finding enough food to eat when there’s snow around and the ground is frozen as hard as iron. So please remember to put out some food for my feathered friends (and don’t be surprised if I turn up too!). I have buried a few tasty snacks here and there, but my memory isn’t what it used to be, so I may not find them all again!

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Another thing that makes my life a misery in winter is mud! And you find it in the most unexpected places. Just after I’ve made a dash for my life across the road to the safety of what should be a nice grass verge, suddenly I’m up to my armpits in squelchy horrible mud! Humans again!

Parking their vehicles on the verges and churning them up into a sticky, unsightly, muddy morass. It makes a real mess of my glossy grey coat and I’m sick of it, I don’t mind telling you! There’s really no need, when humans have lots of space to park either on the road or their front drives.

Sometimes I despair for the future of humans you know - despite all their intelligence and knowledge, some of them don’t seem to respect the environment, or even take a pride in their own village any more. It makes me so very sad!

Take litter for instance. How much effort does it take to pop a sweet wrapper into your pocket until you see a litter bin, or get home and put it in the waste bin there?

And yet I’m forever tripping over discarded packets, wrappers and drink cans which thoughtless humans have carelessly thrown away. Please don’t!

By now you’re probably fed up with me complaining about this, that and the other so am I, so let’s resolve to do something about them and make me a happy bunny (oops, sorry - a case of mistaken identity!).

It’s hard enough to write with my tiny paws - I would much rather be composing some poetry, or continuing with my latest book “The Nuts and Bolts of Life” (it’s all about me - how to steal peanuts from the bird-table and get away with it!).

I’ve heard that humans celebrate a special day around this time of year. Christmas, I think they call it. Apparently, they buy things, wrap them up in paper and give them to other humans, who unwrap them again, say “Ooh lovely”, put them away in a cupboard and then wrap them up again the following year and give them to another human (making quite sure that it isn’t given back to the original human!).

How quaint - we call it ‘Pass the Parcel’!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all I look forward to seeing you again in the next edition.

Cyril PS Do please write to me I would be delighted to hear your views on these and any other village subjects.

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2nd Nettleham Guides 2nd Nettleham Guides turned 30 last year, and we’re taking this opportunity to share our recent successes.

First and foremost, our Senior Guider Elizabeth Tebbs received an award for 20 years as a Guide leader in May, and was presented with her prize by County Commissioner Anne Price. Well done Elizabeth, from all your Guides, past and present, and here’s to another twenty years!

As well as this highlight, we’ve had many other exciting opportunities come our way.

In September our four unit helpers qualified as official Guide Leaders, boosting our numbers up to a five-strong leadership team.

In the middle of the term, we were lucky enough to be the first group to experience Lincoln’s newest art establishment “The Collection”. During October we had an informative evening touring the Guildhall above the Stonebow. We finished the year with a super trip to Lincoln’s Christmas ice rink.

Spring had us sewing with a vengeance, after earning both the First Aid and Fire Safety badges in the first weeks of term.

We had an “eggsellent” time at Easter when we spent an evening having fun, doing all kinds of egg related activities.

We also had an eventful weekend at Parva House, Little Hale’s answer to the Hilton.

As well as this, 2nd Nettleham experienced another first as we stayed for three days at the new PGL Centre, (which doesn’t stand for Parents Get Lost- as popular gossip would have you believe) at Caythorpe, where we faced our fears on the high ropes and giant swing.

This summer we enjoyed many meetings outdoors, with activities including an ice-cream treasure hunt and a visit to Woodside Falconry and Conservation Centre with the rest of the Welton Rural Guiding District.

This new term brings new adventures for some members of our unit - Leader, Carolyn Myers is leaving us for Veterinary School. Hopefully she will join us on pack holidays in the future.

We are pleased to welcome Linnea, Carianne and Alison, our eldest Guides who are joining the leadership team as Young Leaders from September.

We’ve got another fun-packed year ahead of us, kicking off with an enjoyable evening, sampling culinary delights from the world over!

Liz Wheatley, Carolyn Myers, Charlotte Ashworth Clare Myers and Senior Guider Elizabeth Tebbs 2nd Nettleham Guides

CHRISTMAS PAST

Fine old Christmas, with the snowy hair and ruddy face, had done his duty that year in the noblest fashion, and had set off his rich gifts of warmth and colour with all the heightening contrast of frost and snow.

Snow lay on the croft and the river-bank in undulations softer than the limbs of infancy; it lay with the neatliest finished border on every sloping roof, making the dark-red gables stand out with a new depth of colour; it weighed heavily on the laurels and fir-trees till it fell from them with a shuddering sound; it clothed the rough turnip-field with whiteness, and made the sheep look like dark blotches; the gates were all blocked up with the sloping drifts, and here and there a four-footed beast stood as if petrified “in unrecumbent sadness;” there was no gleam, no shadow, for the heavens, too, were one still, pale cloud - no sound or motion in anything but the dark river, that flowed and moaned like an unresting sorrow.

But old Christmas smiled as he laid this cruel-seeming spell on the outdoor world, for he meant to light up home with new brightness, to deepen all the richness of in-door colour, and give a keener edge of delight to the warm fragrance of food: he meant to prepare a sweet imprisonment that would strengthen the primitive fellowship of kindred, and make the sunshine of familiar human faces as welcome as the hidden day-star. His kindness fell but hardly on the homeless fell but hardly on the homes where the hearth was not very warm, and where the food had little fragrance; where the human faces had no sunshine in them, but rather the leaden, blank-eyed gaze of unexpectant want. But the fine old season meant well; and if he has not learnt the secret how to bless men impartially, it is because his father Time, with ever-unrelenting purpose, still hides that secret in his own mighty, slow-beating heart.

Senior Guide Leader Elizabeth Tebbs on the high ropes at PGL, where the guide unit had a short holiday this year 25

From “The Mill on the Floss”

by George Eliot

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OIL OLUTION

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Hedges trimmed and lowered.

New lawns created. Grass cutting. Lawn doctor.

Flower beds created. Shrubs pruned.

Borders gravelled - a speciality.

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Drives/paths cleaned and pressure washed.

Small/medium trees felled and removed.

Pond maintenance.

Vegetable plots created.

Rotavating, transplanting, weeding, strimming, etc.

All waste shredded (Chippings for sale).

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Tel/fax: 01673 866668 26

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A Tree in Memory of Dawn One damp day in April, several families met together at Bill Bailey’s Field to plant a Cherry tree, in memory of their much-loved friend and childminder, Dawn Myers.

Dawn had looked after several of our children since shortly after their birth, so we were all greatly upset at her early death last July.

It was typical of her caring nature that she continued to look after the children until shortly before her final admission to hospital. She had provided a home from home for our children, who always loved going to her house while we were working. We were always happy that Dawn was providing our children with a

safe and loving environment and enjoyed our end-of-day chats with our extended family as we went to collect our children.

Dawn often took the children to play at Bill Bailey’s, (you may have seen her pushing a pushchair up Scothern Road with a trail of children behind her!) so we thought it would be an ideal place to plant a memorial tree. The children still play there and they will have a visible reminder of her each time they go.

Cherry Willingham Community School

Results the best ever in 2006 Perhaps like many people in the general public, you get a bit fed up with hearing this story.

We actually don’t agree exams are getting

It was lovely for all the children, parents and friends to meet up with Dawn’s husband Andy and son Paul as we planted the tree. As Andy said ‘We hope the tree will flourish, as the children did under Dawn’s care’.

easier; they are different from the past.

Pupils are taught better and they learn good examination techniques. There are also different types of examinations for different types of pupils. Schools are actually very successfully doing what they

Joanna Benton

have been asked to do.

If somebody decides the system needs to change yet again, we shall aim to do our best to deliver. 62.5% of the school’s pupils achieved five A*- C grades this year, with 100% achieving five A*- G. One of our highest-achieving pupils was Emily Lawrence, from Nettleham, who gained five A*s, five As and one B. Very well done to her!

What is more important is that the school is clearly in the top 15% of schools nationally for its value added results, based on the progress pupils make whilst they are with us.

We do want to reassure parents that we value highly things that you can’t measure on league tables such as respect, good manners, relationships with others,

Paul and Andy Myers with Victoria Cobb, Freddie Payne, Jonathan, Katherine and George Benton, Georgia Knaggs, Harley

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working in teams, citizenship and individual responsibility and leadership.

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NETTLEHAM TENNIS CLUB THOMPSON & RICHARDSON (FINANCIAL SERVICES) LINCOLN LTD INDEPENDENT FINANCIALADVISERS ON Local contacts:

TERRY LITTLE Cert P.F.S., F.C.I.B. STEVE STRAW Cert P.F.S., A.C.I.B., CertII (MP)

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MULSANNE PARK Nettleham Tennis Club is LTA registered and welcomes everyone, irrespective of sex, age or ability, providing tennis for both social players and league players, seniors and juniors.

Coaching available telephone Karl on

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Meals are served lunchtimes and evenings (booking recommended) Functions catered for.

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Telephone 01522 750702 Toilets with wheelchair access

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REGISTERED PLUMBER

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Welcome to our new Vicar: Rev Jenny Rowley Rev Jenny Rowley I am married to Mark and we have two children, Kate who is 12 and Helena who is 10 and a half.

I was ordained deacon in 2002 and priest in 2003 at Peterborough Cathedral and served as Assistant Curate for nearly two years in the parish of St John the Baptist, St David and St Mark, Kingsthorpe, Northampton.

For the last two years, I have been working as Assistant Curate in the parish of St Peter and St Paul, with St Michael’s, Kettering.

P&P is a large town centre church - very different to Nettleham, and I am looking forward very much to this next step in ministry here as your parish priest.

In the same way as my predecessor, Gordon Sleight, had responsibilities beyond the parish, as well as being your parish priest here, some of my time will be spent working with young people across the deanery. It has already been fun to begin to get to know staff and students at both the Infant and Junior Schools in the village, and to welcome them to the church as warmly as I have been welcomed to their schools. And I am hoping to encourage both young and old alike to feel they are an important part of our worshipping community here at All Saints.

I trained for ordained ministry on the East Anglian Ministerial Training Course. This course is based in Cambridge and is one of the few courses available non-residentially.

It was good to train on a non-residential course - for me it was more family-friendly at a time when the children were really quite small. It also meant that I could continue working part-time as a Trade Mark Attorney whilst training. I have become quite good at juggling over the years!

Being a Trade Mark Attorney for 17 years proved a real party-killer. It is an obscure branch of law. Answering the question “What do you do?” would often consign me to the kitchen for at least half an hour of explanation. But despite the effect on my social life, Trade Mark Attorney was a career which was good for me - Mark and I met when I went to work in a law firm in Hong Kong where he was working at the time.

As a family, we have been very touched by the warm welcome we have received from so many of you here in Nettleham. We already feel very “at home” here, and I am looking forward to getting to know you and putting names to faces, and faces to names (hopefully the matching ones!).

Do stop and say hello if you see me whether you come to All Saints regularly, sometimes or never, I am privileged to be your Parish Priest

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE Ask a child what they think Christmas is all about and they’ll probably give you one word - Presents.

And, do you know, our children are right!

Presents, Jim, (but not as we know it) are at the heart of Christmas. Or rather a present.

The kind of present a loving father will give to his children - not necessarily what they think they want, or even what they think they are asking for, but what they need.

Not the kind of present wrapped in gold paper and sending the giver into debt for the rest of the year. This present didn’t come gift -wrapped. It came unexpectedly, unobserved, overlooked by the busy world.

Only a few poor shepherds scratching a living on the hillside heard the angels sing.

God’s present to his world on that first Christmas was a newborn baby, his own Son. God himself taking on our humanity, God as one of us, coming to share our life. Not as a king, gift-wrapped in gold, but the weakest and most fragile of human beings, a baby, totally dependent on others for warmth, food and love.

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This is not the present anyone thought they had asked for - or even thought they wanted.

But it was what God the Creator and loving father saw his world and his children needed.

Because, in the birth of this little baby, God broke into his creation and transformed all that we are, all our brokenness into his wholeness. So we know there is no corner of our humanity or our human experience, however good or bad that might be, where God’s love cannot reach.

And that’s something worth celebrating and worth singing about. So if you’re an angel - or even if you’re not, I hope you will join us at one, or more, of our Christmas celebrations this year - details are on page 31 in this issue of Nettleham News.

So come and celebrate God’s extraordinary gift of love given to you and all of his children.

Wishing you every blessing this Christmastime Rev Jenny Rowley

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BECKSIDE NEWSAGENTS 751331

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NETTLEHAM

CHURCHES AT CHRISTMAS All Saints Church, Nettleham 20th December: A Christmas Service with friends from Age Concern 22nd December: 9.30am - 12 noon: A Christmas Journey (activities for younger people) 24th December: 9.30am: Eucharist for the 4th Sunday of Advent 3.00pm: Carol service 7.00pm: Carols on the Green: followed by refreshments based at the church 11.30pm: Midnight Mass 25th December: 9.00am: Family Eucharist for Christmas Day 26th December: St Stephen's Day: 10.30am: Eucharist

Nettleham Methodist Church 24th December: 9.00am: Service with Holy Communion: lead by Rev Mark Lawrence 10.45am: Service: led by Peter Reast 4.00pm: Crib Service (featuring Nettie!)

7.00pm: Carols on the Green: followed by refreshments based at the church 25th December: 10.45am: Family Service: led by Rev Mark & Mrs Carolyn Lawrence

Threshold, Nettleham 24th December: Meet at Village Hall 10.30 for refreshments: 11.00am start.

25th December: Meet at Village Hall 10.30: Christmas Day worship

St Mary’s, Riseholme 24th December: 11.15am: Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) 25th December: 11.15am: Holy Communion (Traditional Language)

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The Nettleham First Responders are offering a FREE 45-minute training session in Bystander CPR Training Bystander CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) is used to maintain circulation until expert help arrives. This could easily save a life, quite possibly a friend, or even a member of your own family.

Over the next few months, we will be running a series of free short training sessions on Bystander CPR. These sessions will last approximately 45 minutes and by the end you will be able to carry out this simple procedure, should the need ever arise.

The next three sessions will be held at the Village Hall at 8.00pm on: Thursday 18 January, Thursday 15 February and Thursday 15 March 2007

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HELP LIVES

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SAVE LIVES

I must start with a big thank you to Nigel Cooke who on 20th August competed in the UK Ironman Triathlon in Sherborne near Yeovil.

calling the ambulance at night, do switch on your house lights to make the property stand out, making it easier to find - in an emergency every second counts.

The bottles are free and they come with full instructions. If you ring the number at the bottom of this article we will deliver one to your home.

This involved swimming 2.4 miles, then cycling 112 miles and then finishing off with a marathon of 26 miles 385 yards.

Nigel managed to achieve all this in 13 hours and 22 minutes!

Message in a bottle

A new Co-ordinator

When answering any emergency call-out, the ambulance crew require personal and medical details and in some situations this information is very difficult to find.

At our recent AGM Janette decided to stand down as the Nettleham LIVES Co-ordinator and has handed over the reigns to Kay Horner. Janette has been the Nettleham Co-ordinator for 4 years and we as a group have benefited immensely from her hard work, dedication and enthusiasm during that time. Thank you Janette and well done.

Friends, relatives, work colleagues and his employers kindly sponsored him to complete the challenge. He raised a staggering £1,075 and Nigel very kindly decided to donate the money to the Nettleham LIVES First Responders scheme.

The photograph shows Nigel after the event with his two sons Dominic and Alexander. Thank you Nigel and well done.

On the call-out front we have been kept very busy. The group have attended 92 call-outs so far this year, far exceeding last year’s total.

We still endeavour to run the scheme 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with any ‘off line’ time being extremely minimal.

To keep up this high level of cover, we are constantly asking for more volunteers to join our group as First Responders. I do believe the group is performing a valuable service for the residents of Nettleham and it would be such a shame if we have to lower the amount of cover that is presently given, due to a lack of First Responders.

‘The Lincoln and Hykeham Lions Club’ have kindly donated a quantity of plastic bottles.

‘Message in a bottle’ - it’s a simple idea that encourages people to keep their basic personal and medical details in a common place where they can easily be found in an emergency.

The small plastic bottle containing all your details is kept in the fridge. The emergency services will know you have a bottle by displaying two labels, one on the inside of your front door and the other on the door of your fridge.

Can you help?

If you have some spare time, perhaps 3 or 4 hours a week, why not give us a ring and find out more about the First Responders scheme in Nettleham.

Finding your address One thing that is very apparent on the call-outs we have attended is how difficult it is to find house numbers, especially at night. Some are badly weathered, some are concealed by plants and hedging and some just don’t exist at all! Please take a walk outside and check the condition of your house number, a quick coat of paint, or a trim with secateurs, could make finding your property so much easier in an emergency. One other suggestion: after 33

I would just like to end by thanking you for your continued support during 2006 and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

For more information please contact Kay Horner (Nettleham Co-ordinator) 751844

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Enjoy a roaring log fire in winter or a swim in summer in this beautiful 300 year old cottage Chris & Alan Dawkins Haymans Ghyll 9 Church Street Nettleham Lincoln LN2 PD

Tel/fax 01522 751812 Email: dawkins_net@talk21.com

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A Week on an Archaelogical Dig I had never been on an archaeological dig and it is something I have always longed to do. Knowing that one was going to be run on my doorstep again this year, and the fascinating talk by Craig Spence of Lindum Heritage at the AGM of the Nettleham Heritage Association in May, were the spur I needed.

So I booked myself on week three of the four-week dig at Sudbrooke this summer. It was a decision I did not regret, as it was a brilliant week.

The pre-dig material was useful and interesting, with lots of practical information and a history of finds and earlier excavation of the site - Lindum Heritage ran a four week dig there in 2005.

The historical summary concluded: “Overall the excavation provided evidence for the presence of a substantial masonry-built structure of Roman date, which was provided with mosaic pavements, painted plaster walls, hypocaust system(s) and possibly tanks and pools - together suggestive of a bath house. … This is an interim conclusion based upon one season’s excavation.”

Getting down to the real business - excavation techniques are demonstrated to the diggers before they start work

(to indicate depth) and how to label a finds tray.

Then, after a tour of the site, we did some practical work - I was sieving buckets of material dug out from two different contexts - noting that ‘excavated’ and ‘sieved’ were in separate trays and being very careful not to get the two mixed up!

Initially it all seemed very complicated, but we soon settled down to the routine of the site - work with three break intervals. The site kitchen was more than adequate - tea, coffee and biscuits were available mid-morning and afternoon and a decent lunch was provided - rolls, cheese, meat, crisps, cake, fruit and an additional treat such as sausage rolls, chicken wings or quiche. We took it in turn in pairs to be responsible for a break, ensuring hot water was ready on time (and washing up afterwards!).

Visitors provided excellent workshops, one on photographing an excavation and another on Roman pottery. Craig ran additional workshops on other aspects of site work, such as planning and levelling.

Craig Spence (Lindum Heritage) discusses a point of interest

With my rucksack containing waterproof trousers, gardening gloves and my pointing trowel, I arrived excited, but also a little apprehensive, at 9.30am on Monday 24 July. There were twelve trainees, plus Craig and Zoe (Directors of Lindum Heritage) who were supervising the dig, some students from Bishop Grosseteste College, a Site Supervisor and a Finds Supervisor. Of the twelve trainees, some had been there the previous week, others were old hands from the previous year, but some, like me, were first-timers.

I did very little actual digging, arthriticky knees making this an uncomfortable activity. I did do quite a lot of sieving and had the excitement of finding a small piece of red painted plaster and a fragment of flue tile. However, I became fascinated by the preparation before digging - ie the planning and detailed drawing of a context, the processing of finds by cleaning them, marking up the individual pieces of pottery with the dig code and context number and finally bagging up the finds for later analysis. The end-of-the-day look at especially interesting finds was exciting too.

We had an introduction to the site, the routine and the rules - especially the paramount importance of ensuring that any finds were correctly labelled indicating their provenance (or rather their context number in archaeological techno-speak). We learnt about site identification to be used for everything (SUD06 for this dig), context numbers (a unique number which identified an area in a trench - some large, some small, as appropriate), levelling

There were lots of choices of activities and if you were not happy out in the glaring sun, there was a cool shaded area for finds processing and our break intervals. During our week there were always enough people for each necessary task - in theory we had a timetable with allotted tasks for each of two groups, but in practice we all slotted into the tasks we most enjoyed, whilst ensuring that we tried each activity at least once.

A final practical essential were the two portaloos in the car park - so don’t imagine you either had to cross your legs all day long, or find a bush to squat behind - all mod cons were provided!

Zoe and Craig were endlessly patient and informative, making this a great week and well worth the fee paid. My fellow workers were friendly and chatty, so all in all it was a very enjoyable and enriching experience. The days passed quickly and the week seemed to be over in a flash - I want to do two weeks next year. Remember, however, you don’t have to commit yourself to a week to visit this site, as site tours take place on several Thursdays during the dig.

I have concentrated on the practical aspects of the week, but to get an update on what was found and the interim conclusions, come to Craig’s talk at 7.30pm in the Old School Rooms on Wednesday 28 February (see below).

Patricia Gregory

Nettleham Heritage Association is hosting a series of three Winter Talks in the coming months. They will take place on the following dates at 7.30pm in the Old School.

Wednesday 24 January 2007 Anne Boyle: “Mediaeval Pottery” Wednesday 28 February 2007 Craig Spence: “Update on the Roman Archaeological Dig at Sudbrooke” Wednesday 28 March 2007 Stewart Squires “The Use of OS Maps in Historical Research”

The diggers are introduced to the excavation site by Craig Spence (Lindum Heritage)

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Everyone is welcome

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The Bishops’ Palace at Nettleham in the middle of the twelfth century

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Ponds where fish may have been farmed to provide a continuous supply of fresh food

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Workers on the estate would have lived nearby in very small and simple dwellings constructed from wood, mud and thatch

30 Watermill where grain would have been stone milled to provide flour for baking bread, cakes, pastries and other victuals

ost readers will be aware that we have a site of significant historical importance in our village and although we may be familiar with the location of the Bishops’ Palace Field adjacent to the Methodist Chapel on High Street, many of us are perhaps unaware of just how it may have appeared when it was a flourishing community.

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The King’s Chamber comprising sumptuous private living and sleeping accommodation for visiting roy nobility and other dignitaries the upper floor, with servant quarters beneath on the ground floor

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Early in the 12th century, King Henry I of England granted the Manor of Nettleham to the Bishops of Lincoln. Bishop Hugh of Avalon became Bishop of Lincoln in 1186 and thus inherited the estate. A great builder and administrator, he initiated the reconstruction of Lincoln Cathedral following a catastrophic earthquake in 1185. He also carried out significant alterations to Nettleham parish church and it was probably at this time that the Manor House in Nettleham was also extended and, as the principal administrative centre for the diocese, it was henceforth referred to as a Palace.

Productive gardens where a wide variety of seasonal produce would have been cultivated to provide fresh fruit and vegetables throughout the year

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Although badly damaged during the Lincolnshire Uprising of 1536, it was in use for nearly 500 years until at least 1585.

After being plundered for building materials, confiscated by the king, fired in Cromwell’s era and returned to the Church at the Restoration, it gradually degenerated until the only evidence which remains today is a series of grassy mounds marking the outlines of the original buildings.

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The Great Hall would probably have had an aisled banqueting chamber on the first floor for entertaining visiting royalty, nobility and dignitaries, with kitchens and other services on the floor below

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27 Decorative formal gardens containing flowering plants and shrubs, together with medicinal, culinary and aromatic strewing herbs

Following extensive research some time ago, John Blakely, a Nettleham resident, constructed a scale model of part of the site which aroused a great deal of interest when it was first displayed in All Saints Church during the weekend of 9/10 November 2002.

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26 An orchard would have produced fresh seasonal fruit for eating and storage, and may also have provided a secure enclosure for poultry

This, in turn, has enabled an illustration to be created which depicts how the estate may have appeared, although much is conjecture, as evidence is too fragmented to create a more accurate picture.

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25 Honey would have provided an important source of natural sweetness and bees may have been kept in straw skeps in the orchard to aid pollination of the fruit trees

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24 Quarry providing small limestone for the lime kiln

© Nigel Kingston 2006

23 Lime kiln where limestone from the quarry would have been burnt to create a constituent of mortar for building work and stored in the adjacent damp-proof store

Plan of the Bishops’ Palace site based on a survey by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England 36

21 22 Timber cut from surrounding forests would be seasoned, cut to size and stored for both construction work and fuel

The surrounding country would have been a mixt of scrubby heathland an forest, providing additio food including deer, rabb and other game

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Stables for horses and storage of harnesses, with an adjacent paddock for grazing. There may also have been a blacksmith’s forge for farriery, together with production and repair of implements, tools and domestic hardware

The Beck would have followed a more meandering course and, because of the greater volume of water at this time, would probably have flooded frequently during the winter months

All Saints Church at this time would probably have been a simple cruciform building constructed from local limestone and with a thatched roof

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Possible location of a dwelling owned by the Dean of Lincoln and surrounded by his own land adjoining the Bishops’ Palace estate

9 In addition to cereal crops, hay would have been harvested and stored in large ricks for winter animal feed. Following this harvest, a second decorative garden is to be created on part of this meadow

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10 The Bishops’ Palace would have been the predominant building on the estate, with luxurious private living accommodation and latrines on the upper floor and kitchens and other services below on the ground floor

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The Beck may have formed a large pool which would have been used as a watering place for livestock

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11 Inner courtyard

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12 Motive power for transport was provided solely by horses and oxen

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13 Different varieties of animal and poultry would have been reared to provide a regular and reliable source of fresh meat

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18 19 20 Officers Lodgings would have provided accommodation for senior administrative staff, with living and sleeping quarters on the first two floors and working offices below

The main entrance to the estate was directly from Wragby Road to the south and it is likely that a fortified gatehouse would have been constructed across the entrance

The principal buildings on the estate would have been constructed from local limestone and roofed with either thatch or oak shingles.

Some may also have had cellars for storage of wine, dairy products, fuel, etc 37

Homestead farm buildings for overwintering animals, milking, sheep shearing, threshing, slaughtering and storage of tools and wagons

17 Something may still have remained of the original timber Royal Saxon Manor House and Bower which may have occupied this site in earlier times

Defensive wall and ditch would have offered some security against invaders and predatory animals 16 Two massive stone buildings on either side of the main entrance to the estate may have contained lodgings for the bishop’s retinue perhaps fifty to a hundred people in all. The buildings may also have provided secure storage for enough food to last through the winter months

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01522 704799 OR

07860 852374 38

All kinds of delicious and wholesome Christmas food and drink, with crafts, cards and gifts too!

Tue - Sat 9.30am - 5.00pm Late night Fridays to 7.00pm Sun & Bank Hols 10am - 4pm

Telephone: 01652 640308 www.unclehenrys.co.uk

THE HEART OF GOOD FOOD

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Bishops’ Palace Print Offer Would you like a full colour limited edition print of the centre-page spread in this magazine to frame?

Or perhaps you would like to give one to a relative or friend, as a gift, to frame and hang on their wall as an attractive memento of the village.

Printed individually to order in high resolution full colour onto heavyweight bright white 167gm matte paper, it is available in two options either with the Gill Sans title style (illustrated above) or the Old English title style (illustrated below).

The size is A3: 420mm (161/2”) wide x 297mm (113/4”) high, enabling the fine detail of the illustration to be clearly seen.

The Bishops’ Palace Gill Sans title style (actual size)

The cost per print is £5.00 and if you wish to obtain one, or more, please complete the order form below and return to the Editor (details page 1) together with your payment.

Your print will be delivered to you by hand, either for you, or for you to post on to a relative or friend.

✂ ORDER FORM NAME ADDRESS

POSTCODE TELEPHONE Gill Sans title style Number required:

The Bishops’ Palace

Old English title style Number required:

Old English title style (actual size) If you wish to see the print before purchasing, a copy of each style will be on display in the front window of 1 High Street, Nettleham Postage/delivery to destinations outside the village is not available

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Payment enclosed for

£

Please make cheque payable to Nigel Kingston

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PHIL BARTON DRIVING SCHOOL ● Your

friendly and patient local Nettleham instructor ● Driving Standards Agency approved ● All types of tuition available including Learner, Pass Plus, Refresher and Motorway ● Excellent test pass rate ● Competitive prices: individual or block lessons

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Complementary Therapies

New retail independent wine merchant The new local business bringing you the best the grape can offer.

Sound, expert advice, enthusiastic passion for wines and for providing the best, unique wine service around.

We make that difference.

Please call us for a list, visit the website or contact us to talk about our wonderful services.

The natural way to improve your life, gaining relief from the stresses of modern-day living and renewing your energy levels

www.withamwines.com Tel: 01522 705122

Call to discuss your individual needs:

07913 248157

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NETTLEHAM HANDYMAN All aspects of property maintenance No job too small Insured/Enhanced CRB Disclosure

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Andrew Seymour Accountancy Practice

Gift vouchers available for all therapies For information about therapies and appointments telephone

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01522 800866

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Karen Addlesee MICHT, MIFHB, MGHT

or mobile:

07990 644389

PEPPERPOT’S DOMESTIC SERVICES *One-off & Regular Cleans* *Spring & Moving Cleans* *Builder Cleans* *Ironing & Laundry Service* *Collection & Delivery* *Trustworthy & Dependable* *References Available* *Free Consultation*

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Reflexology Aromatherapy Body massage Hopi Ear Candles Indian Head Massage Reiki

Accountancy services, tax return preparation and business consultancy for smaller and medium sized enterprises Prompt & Efficient Personal Service

Andy Seymour MAAT, FCCA Greetwell Place, 2 Limekiln Way, Lincoln LN2 4US

Telephone: 01522 523591 Fax: 01522 525260 Email: info@asap-lincoln.co.uk Website: www.asap-lincoln.co.uk

Complementary Therapist 5 Westholm Close, Lincoln LN2 4TS

Sills&Betteridge solicitors

divorce, separation, children and family issues?

Worried about finances, property or problems with children?

mediation email: mediationmatters@sillslegal.co.uk www.sillsonline.co.uk 46 Silver Street Lincoln LN2 1ED

Contact Mediation Matters for an informal discussion about how mediation can help you to reach an agreement.

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Inconsiderate Vehicle Parking One of the clear points to emerge from the recent Village Plan questionnaire is the strong feelings in the village about inconsiderate parking of vehicles, both on pavements and grass verges.

The photographs were taken in Hither Green in the Borough of Lewisham in London SE13.

With parking spaces in London at a premium, the authorities have designated part of the pavement for the wheels of parked vehicles, with signs on nearby lamp standards to confirm the arrangement.

Because the roads in Hither Green are relatively narrow and the pavements relatively wide, the implementation of this system has enabled vehicles to park on both sides of the road, yet still allows two-way traffic to flow down the centre.

Unfortunately, in Nettleham, the pavements are too narrow to consider introducing a similar system, but folks still do it!

When there are several spaces available in the adjacent lay-by, where is the need to park on the pavement/grass verge?

Perhaps the answer is the sign (left) spotted on the internet!

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Create your dream interior Interior design: expert advice bringing your ideas to life LIGHTING FURNITURE FABRICS WALLPAPER FLOORING BLINDS PAINT ACCESSORIES SOFT FURNISHINGS RUGS CURTAIN POLES

173A Burton Road, Lincoln LN1 3LN t: 0870 6098030 f: 0870 6098031 e: sylvie@sdsdesigngroup.co.uk

KAREN WHITE

Fiona Milnes Cakes by Design 62 Sudbrooke Lane Nettleham Lincoln LN2 2RR (01522) 804904 www.cakes-by-design.com

BTEC PDC MICHT MAR

With you every step of the way For expert legal advice on wills, powers of attorney, planning for nursing home fees and all other matters affecting the older client Your contact: Helen Hewson St Swithin’s Square, Lincoln LN2 1HB Telephone 01522-512123

www.andrew-solicitors.co.uk

Clothes Alterations & Repairs Home Collection & Delivery Available

Email: helen.newson@andrew-solicitors.co.uk

Mind and body holistic healthcare

Telephone: 01522 595 250 Mobile: 07903 331 494

We pride ourselves on providing a reliable and conscientious service

Keith Kimpton tel: 01673 862501 mob: 07725 585374 Block Paving ● External Painting ● Gardening Gutter Cleaning ● Creosoting ● Re-pointing

Lound Farm Bungalow Saxilby Road Lincoln LN6 5TZ

Reflexology Therapeutic Massage Aromatherapy

Fax 01522 518912

Sally’s Sewing Box

Skellingthorpe

Complementary Therapist

Telephone: 01522 702072

We endeavour to be polite and courteous at all times

Mobile: 07979 317171

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Stunning Home Interiors 173a Burton Road is the location of an impressive home interiors showroom for Sylvie Gay. In 2002, Sylvie gave up her job as a recruitment consultant and decided to follow her dream - she had always had a fascination with people and their living spaces and she wanted to help her clients create their own individual home interiors.

But rather than telling clients what to do and what to choose, she uses her interview skills to develop an intimate understanding of their likes and dislikes, their lifestyles and, most importantly, how they propose to use the space they aim to create. In this way, she is able to make suggestions, but always encourages people to make the decisions themselves, guiding, encouraging and giving them the confidence to make the right choices and decisions. The interior spaces thus created are unique and always in harmony with the individual’s own style and preferences.

The scope of her work is wide - makeovers for people selling their properties, house extensions/renovations, to creating home environments designed to last a lifetime.

The showroom was designed and developed to Sylvie’s own specifications and is absolutely stunning, with diagonal dividers creating individual spaces where furniture, furnishings, fabrics, etc, are displayed. There is also a room on the first floor above, which is a gallery showing the work of local artists and photographers, who carry out special one-off commissions for her clients.

With free on-street parking, people are very welcome to come in and browse - and the displays, together with a vast range of catalogues and sample books, frequently inspire people to have their own creative ideas. Above all, Sylvie does not want anyone to feel daunted or obligated her services are extensive, but clients can simply pick and choose the items and services in which they are interested.

The showroom is open to everyone, even if you only wish to purchase a few metres of fabric, a lamp, some rolls of wallpaper, or order an individual item of furniture from the extensive range available.

Alternatively, you may be seeking a full service, from architecture and building to complete interior design and decoration, and here too, Sylvie can help you to create your perfect interior.

Everything and anything is on offer and you can even arrange an out-of-hours appointment if you lead a very busy life and are unable to come during normal showroom opening hours!

Make sure you visit this stunning showroom soon and see for yourself the exceptional choice available. You will be truly inspired to create a beautiful interior which is unique to you and fits in perfectly with your own individual lifestyle.

Sylvie Gay SDS Design Group 173A Burton Road, Lincoln

Telephone: 0870 6098030 www.sdsdesigngroup.co.uk (See advertisement on facing page)

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Beauty Therapy and Skin Care Specialists

Professional skincare science

The original non-surgical face and body lift system A skin care system in anti-ageing techniques used by dermatologists and cosmetic specialists CREATEUR DE

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Natural nail cultivation Light therapy for skin rejuvenation and acne

AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES

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Experience the power of real aromatherapy

Bare Escentuals Natural make up for natural people

... and for those seeking a gift for that special occasion, anniversary or birthday, please enquire about our exclusive gift packaging

DiamondTome Crystal free dermabrasion skin therapy

DEKA Laser photosilk therapy for permanent hair removal

Aspects of Beauty Limited 1 Vicarage Lane, Nettleham, Lincoln LN2 2RH

Telephone 01522 754902 BABTAC Members National Care Standards Registered

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ZIGZAG OTT? The yellow warning lines, added to All Saints Lane on the approaches to Nettleham Infant School during the summer months, would indeed be difficult to miss. One cannot help but question if it was really necessary to make them so obtrusive in a residential area. And one of the warning signs (circled in the inset photograph) is less than clearly visible whilst there are leaves on the trees!

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Sixteen people bapti On Sunday 20th August, following our family service celebrating the previous week’s Holiday Club, we departed from Nettleham Methodist Church to Sutton-on-Sea for our annual believers’ baptism service on the beach.

Contrary to what we’re told in some newspapers and television reports, the Church of Jesus Christ is growing in many parts of the UK. Globally it is increasing by about 250,000 people a day. That’s not through physical births, but by spiritual ones!

We were blessed with good weather, which was a really wonderful answer to prayer! This is the fourth consecutive year we have had the privilege of doing this and each time we’ve been provided with good weather.

The really good news is that God is at work in our local community and lives are being changed for the better as a result. People are being healed, families are being strengthened and young people are finding their purpose and direction in life as well as many elderly people finding friendship and support. This is the grace of God – we can’t boast!

Sixteen people decided to put Jesus’ words into practise by being baptised. Following a short service on the beach (below) with the singing of a couple of hymns (Amazing Grace & O Lord my God) we processed down to the water’s edge, with many on-lookers! There were people in our party from the four churches, I pastor as well as supporters from different churches in the area including Baptists, New Life and Anglicans - it was a wonderful occasion.

But why would anyone in their right mind want to be submerged (momentarily) beneath the North Sea in public view! The answer to that question is a spiritual one!

The Bible teaches that baptism is simply a public demonstration of an inward spiritual reality. People want to show their dedication to Jesus Christ and start a new life with him. Christians believe that, in Christ, they are given a new start free from condemnation, guilt and regret. Baptism is a cutting off from the old ways and a beginning of a new life with God. Baptism is also a command of Jesus himself. At the end of the Gospel of Matthew (the first book in the New Testament) Jesus told his disciples to baptise those who believed in him.

Baptism doesn’t automatically make someone a Christian, but is an act of faith in Christ.

In the Bible it is clear how we are made right with God. Paul speaking to the Christian believers in Ephesus (a town in present day Turkey) said: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no-one can boast.”

(Ephesians 2:8-9)

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If you’re interested in finding out more about the reality of Jesus Christ, do feel free to contact me - I’d love to meet with you and share more.

With every blessing, Rev Mark Lawrence Minister: Nettleham Methodist Church

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sed in the North Sea!

Some of the sixteen people who were baptised in the North Sea on Sunday 20 August 2006

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Bring light and life to your home with a new Omega conservatory

From Europe’s leading manufacturer of PVC-U systems, comes the new FORMULA 1 RANGE offering a wide choice of stylish and elegant designs combining the very latest in quality, durability and security, for complete confidence and peace of mind A local company, we have over 35 years of experience in fitting secondary double glazing, windows, doors and conservatories for local people and we would be delighted to come and discuss your dreams, arrange a survey and give a quotation

OMEGA WINDOWS UK LIMITED

TRITTON ROAD

DIXON CLOSE

Freephone 0800 0266381 48

WE ARE HERE

DIXON STREET

Sunningdale Trading Estate Dixon Close Lincoln LN6 7UB Email: sales@omegawindowsuk.com Telephone: 01522 521898

NEW OM RO W SHO OPEN NOW

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New Sewing School opens in Nettleham Lucy Brandon, is an International Software Educator for the Husqvarna Viking 3D Embroidery System.

She has worked closely with the software development team for many years and continues to teach both dealers and customers in the UK, Europe and the USA. As a teacher, she is renowned for her patience and enthusiasm and loves to see her students flourish in all aspects of creative textile art.

Her design company, Esther Faye London, specialises in supplying bespoke church linens, embroidery designs on disk, together with providing artwork in all media and dtp work for various clients.

As well as using traditional methods, Esther Faye London is now helping to bring the crafts of Embroidery, Cross Stitch and Blackwork into the 21st century.

Esther Faye London’s new Sewing and Craft School opened its doors in October of this year. The school is grateful for the generous sponsorship of DST Humidity Control Systems Ltd, for allowing the use of its conference facilities.

Monthly software classes cover all aspects of the Husqvarna Viking 3D Embroidery System from Beginner through to Masterclass, taking each level step by step to ensure thorough knowledge and confidence.

The Husqvarna Viking 3D Embroidery Software package consists of 10 separate modules and allows the user to create stitch files, copy, paste and edit them, so that the number of embroideries that can be created is almost limitless. Plain fabric can be embellished automatically to create a new look.

her students in the past had originally stated that they could not sew. These students have produced some of the most beautiful embroidered pieces without ever picking up a needle and thread!

There are tutor groups for sewing and quilting, taking the classes beyond the ‘norm’. Students learn fabric manipulation to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Anyone who crafts will know that many crafters begin projects enthusiastically and then get stuck or bored, only to find that their original enthusiasm is dulled and the object is the consigned to the back of a cupboard. One day per month at the school is assigned to a workshop where students can bring in their ‘Unfinished Objects’, (UFOs) for help and advice.

There is a beautiful Rag Doll project. There are embroidered and beaded trinket boxes for that special gift. Supplies required for classes are generally included in the cost of the class. It will also be possible for students to purchase a small number of other sewing notions as well as ready-made design disks, threads and beads on site.

Also included are classes to teach the beautiful craft of Blackwork. With its beginnings in the 16th Century, Blackwork is hand worked and is used to create imitation lace for edgings and pictures.

As well as sewing, embroidery and quilting, there are beading classes.

Learn how to take a drawing or picture, load this into the program and then create a beautiful embroidery file that can be stitched onto almost anything. The Husqvarna Viking embroidery machines will embroider easily onto all fabrics, from leather to the finest silk.

Imagine creating personalised wedding invitations with embroidered initials, all with matching stationery and napkins.

The scope for this craft is only limited by the user’s imagination. Lucy believes that we all work better and create more when we set time aside and come together to pool our knowledge resources. Some of 49

These aim to teach Beadweaving, Needleweaving and traditional stringing methods to create custom-made jewellery using Gutermann beads and Swarowski Crystals. There are also classes to create greetings cards and invitations using embroidery, beads and much more.

Software classes will be held on the first Saturday of each month, and sewing/craft classes will be on Fridays. All classes will run from 10.00am to 4.00pm and must be pre-booked.

A class brochure featuring the classes on offer, together with costs and times can be requested from: Esther Faye London Unit 7, 22 The Green, Nettleham, Lincoln LN2 2NR If you prefer to telephone, please use: 07879 816581 or e-mail: education@estherfayelondon.com making the subject line ‘Education’

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TREVOR LAWRENCE PLUMBING AND CENTRAL HEATING CORGI Registered gas installer Central heating installations, boiler change and servicing.

Bathroom and shower installations Tiling: wall and floors

KITCHEN INSTALLATIONS & SMALL BUILDING ALTERATIONS Free estimates and advice 2 Orchard Way Nettleham

Telephone 01522 750146

St Luke’s Nursing Home (Established 30 years)

Our Priorities are Care, Comfort and Happiness • Quiet village setting five miles from the City of Lincoln • Homely atmosphere • Spacious lounges • Nurse call system • Lifts • Family cooking • 24 hour experienced nursing • Recreational Services

Social Service funded and private residents welcome on long or short stay Contact Matron on

(01673) 862264 for our full information pack

St. Luke’s Nursing Home, Main Street, Scothern, Lincoln LN2 2UJ 50

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Poetry Page LOOK AT ME! A poem about going to William farr School for the first time

by Katie Trutwein (aged 11)

I have a parrot named Brian At least I think that’s true EXCEPT he thinks that I’m a parrot OR he’s a human too!!

He worries about my plumage All that naked skin Just a few feathers on my head Not beautiful like him...

With bread and jam for breakfast Fruit and veg for a treat Pots of seed for a welcome snack And anything I may eat!!!

With a huge ‘HELLOOOO’ every morning A welcome to the day An ‘It’s alright’ if he’s frightened But love makes it go away.

He gives me so much loving With tickles and kisses galore Games and fun aplenty He’s always ready for more!

He whistles like a sparrow Miaows as the cats go by Barks like the neighbour’s dogs Laughs ‘til my tears run dry He shouts along with the footie fans Whistles the ‘Great Escape’ by choice AND do not say that you did not swear Because he does it in YOUR voice!!!

And when the day is over And all his world is right He settles on his favourite perch And says - ‘God Bless, Good Night’.

Elaine King

The Snare I am a lowly shop assistant I really do try my best, But police and Trading Standards Set me up for a test.

Get a boy of fourteen Who looks sixteen - picked with care, Send him to buy cigarettes But shop assistant beware!

IF you sell to the stool pigeon Back the police will come Fine you eighty pounds - or more And a caution - by gum.

Then the child of seventeen Sent to buy some beer, Whiskers, make-up - or both This will cost you dear.

Am I a shop assistant??

Or am I a policeman too??

Let me get the pay of both OR identity cards will do.

Anon

MABLETHORPE Ancient forces possess the waves, As they rush pell-mell towards the shore, Impatiently reclaiming territory.

The perpetual motion of the tide Scours the vulnerable beach, Leaving it levelled and free of flaws,

Look at me, I’m so small, All the others’ll be so tall.

As Nature intended.

Look at me, laden with bags, The weight of which is making my shoulders sag.

Then settle upon the cleansed sandscape,

Look at me, getting on the bus, My mum crying like a wuss.

Before the relentless sea ploughs back.

Look at me, arriving at William Farr, All my friends arriving by car.

Which roars at their affrontery,

Look at me, with my friends, I just can’t wait for registration to end.

Befitting its conferred might.

Opportunist gulls, ride the persistent breeze, To search for squirming shrimps and prawns, The birds rise to skim over a lashing seventh wave, Demanding the deference,

As the sun sinks lower in the heavens,

Look at me, all jiggly and squirming, Listening and learning.

It casts the colours of its crimson glory,

Look at me, leaving first lesson, onto break, All of us barely awake.

And makes them appear less formidable.

Look at me, yawning and looking bored, only half way through the day, I just know I’ve got a long way.

In a provocative manner, as they leap and subside,

Look at me, going home, Sat with Ana, at least I’m not alone.

Of intricately patterned light and shade.

Upon the ever-restless waters The foam-capped waves sparkle Forming a kaleidoscopic spectacle

The untamed allure of the ocean,

Look at me, a big year seven, Just gone eleven.

Contains a combination of admiration and awe; For it possesses a mysterious beauty,

September Evening So sweet, so still The evening air Peace overwhelms me I have no cares.

Sounds of water and evensong, Deep colours of the night, For rest I long, For I have no cares.

Silver sky as the sun sinks west September evening Just the best, I have no cares.

Take the peace into your heart, Welcome the sleep, Accept your part, Surrender your cares.

Birds settling for the night, Fish in the pond All the world is right, I have no cares.

Tomorrow soon, stark white light, Resume your burdens But for a while tonight Have no cares.

But retains a primeval savagery, Which can be unleashed unexpectedly.

The temperamental tyrant has many moods, And must be afforded the respect That its majesty merits.

D J Fenwick

Speaking as a Sparrow Please don’t trim your conifer hedge Whilst my babies are in the nest Leave it until the autumn That time is much the best.

Elaine King Silken leaves and spikey branches

This Sceptred Isle Friends, Yeomen, Countrymen.

Lend me your eyes.

Should that not be Ears?

Who’s arguing, pay attention, Look and see, The written word appears, And disregard what fools would mention, For fools who speak in latter years, So political correct, By cuckoo land invention, Have Shakespeare’s wisdom nearly wrecked, And his was by the pen, For you to read by eye, Think for yourself and only then, Will Britain, once again, stand high Fred 51

Make a nest site so secure Wind and rain cannot penetrate I could not ask for more!

Shaded from the summer heat Safe from stalking cats, Hungry birds of prey make search But they won’t see a sparrow in that!!

Then, when my babies have all flown And autumn mists arrive Come and trim my highrise home And THEN apply your scythe.

Elaine King

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HOLIDAY HOME IN SOUTH-WEST FRANCE TO LET St Augustin sur Mer close to Royan in the Charente Maritime region

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Contact your local

SCOTHERN KENNELS AND CATTERY

Independent Travel Agency for all your holiday and travel requirements.

Speak to Paul Brewer or a member of his staff for their excellent and unbiased advice

Heated accommodation Individual covered runs Dogs walked daily Current-vaccinated pets only

IMP TRAVEL

Diana Walls

17 SINCIL STREET,

01673 862282

LINCOLN 513009

Stainton Lane, Scothern, Lincoln LN2 2UR

(5 LINES)

House to let with shared pool.

Three miles from the beach.

Two bedrooms, One mezzanine, sleeps six.

Nearby bar restaurant, shops, tennis court, golf course, equestrian centre and cycle routes to beach.

From £200 - £375 per week Easy drive from channel ports or fly low cost with Ryanair to La Rochelle/Bordeaux For further information contact Steve or Lynn Toogood

01522 753753 email steve.toogood@ntlworld.com

ANDREW JAY & CO SOLICITORS

REPAIR - SERVICE ESTABLISHED OVER 30 YEARS

NO CALL-OUT CHARGE SPARES FOR ALL MAKES

Here’s a way to spend weekends that will really have 4-16 year olds buzzing!

The skills they learn aren’t just for the stage they grow in confidence, self-reliance and self-esteem.

Enrol them in your Stagecoach Theatre Arts School in Lincoln where, for three hours, they learn to act, sing and dance.

Stagecoach training is a training for life you’ll see new sides to your youngsters you want to applaud.

STAGECOACH THEATRE ARTS SCHOOLS www.stagecoach.co.uk

There’s no interview, they take no audition.

Enthusiasm is all thy need!

Call the principal Rebekah Ross for a prospectus on

01522 522000

NETTLEHAM INFLATABLES For the ultimate children’s party, bar-b-ques, galas, fetes or family fun days at home

For conveyancing advice contact:

Telephone: 01522 539111

FREE ESTIMATES

Stretch your child’s imagination in three directions at once...

For matrimonial, childcare and accident claim advice with a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION

Graham Bembridge

AC ENTRE

394 HIGH STREET, LINCOLN

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VC

INCOLN

New and reconditioned machines for sale Part exchange welcome

Now also at

contact:

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01522 520503

INFLATABLE SLIDES AND ASSAULT COURSES UE Y EN LL R V LOCA G) O KIN DO E IN LABL O BOO I TT A C AV UBJE (S

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DAVE OR RACHAEL 01522 595793 MOBILE 0780 9006965

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Poetry Page CREATURES IN WINTER The utter darkness of late afternoon In my garden, signals the presence of winter, As a biting wind sweeps in from the east: Reducing the temperature; Freezing the pond’s surface completely; Chilling me to the bone, And forcing me to find shelter.

Elsewhere, wisely ensconced in a hole, Running beneath the old hawthorn’s roots, A hedgehog rests comfortably In a bed of dry leaves.

Whilst under the eaves of a thatched cottage, Sparrows huddle together for warmth.

Wrens too, have built a winter retreat At the top of a sheltered haystack, Where several snuggle closely in their hidden nook.

Hardier creatures, such as the woodpigeon, Roost amongst the impenetrable foliage of a pine tree, As the wind sighs and buffets Throughout the long night, Providing the occupants With a mournful lullaby.

All God’s creatures are awaiting The first warm spring-like day, To resume their allotted roles in life.

At length, the sun will return to rule, For its cherished rays will stream from above, Bringing longer daylight hours and milder weather, With the attendant shedding of interminable winter shackles.

D J Fenwick (Inspired by a narrative of “Hedgerow.”)

Wake Up Long gone are the days of counting sheep, For old age brings moments when I sleep, At any time of day, Though I may be plagued by barren nights, Not the Songsters! (Though the pun delights), When zany notions play.

Now, where was I? For this pen is apt, To get my two-celled brain entrapped, In other measures, When sleep is the theme for these few verses, That my two good cells and this pen rehearses, For my meagre pleasures.

Oh yes! And to this path I hope to keep, For a third of our lives are spent in sleep, When dreams may fill the night, Yet should I ramble in this narration, Take pity, for age is like constipation, Hard at times when you need - er - things right!

Fred

HEARTLESSNESS IN LINCOLN CASTLE Inside the castle, much of the evidence of inhumanity and class-domination has been ‘deodorized’, demolished, or hidden.

The anonymous dead are remembered by scratched initials, which personalize tombstones, atop a high, earthen mound.

The iron fittings for a gallows structure on the roof of Cobb Hall, are obscure reminders of public hangings, that were enjoyed by a multitude of the uncaring.

Little remains, to tell the tale of those who left here, for the rotting hulks, before being transported to Australia.

Selected cells have ‘token’ openings, on high days and holidays.

Exercise yards have been demolished or altered, but a huge, stone bath, left in the open, presents a truer picture of long-term harshness.

Damning evidence of insensitivity, survives in the unhallowed sanctum of the Prison Chapel, where all-encompassing boxes and forward-sloping seats, speak of denied salvation.

Set apart, is the grandiose Crown Court, representing the system of judiciary, which has been relentless for nine hundred years.

It stands in ironic memory of the prisoners who built it.

Overlooking all is the Observatory Tower; a platform for those who rose highest in class-domination.

A governor regarded the heavens from here, whilst Lowrie-like figures exercised their lack of rights, in the yards below.

Injustice and suffering call to us from afar, to remind us that the castle is no museum, but a stage; where people hoped, languished and died.

They were our forebears; whom we forget at our peril.

D J Fenwick 53

In Praise of Womanhood Such lovely creatures, every one, In domestic role of wife and mother, And even a shoulder to cry upon, Should trouble find a wayward brother.

Could man, for private fortune then annex, A furtherance to swell his wealth, Without the aid of the female sex, Keeping his happiness in good health.

She lays a table to suit his taste, Just one of the chores of domestic duty, Before his arrival, does she not haste, To perfect small flaws in her natural beauty.

Why then does man pay so little heed, To the simple delight of her female chatter, ‘Tis only her even-tide chance to feed, His ear, with the small-talk, she thinks may matter.

To incur the wrath of disgruntled man, Is not what this pen in truth would seek, For some modern males fit good nature’s plan, To weigh the wisdom, that a wife would speak.

Though, to the ear of all arrogance, Let shame be your self-centred prize in life, For this pen in defence, becomes a lance, When thrown for equality of a suffering wife.

Woman, this pen in all alliance, Will forever praise your grace and worth, For I see you not as an home appliance, But the true Goddess of planet Earth.

Fred Politics have no place in poetry.

But! Political lunacy is like a one legged wasp that spins in its own venomous circle and stings the innocent finger that tries to stop it.

And that is something different!

Through political correctness our words are now rationed, Words that inspired are now a sad flaw, Would you think of me ancient, or plainly old fashioned, If I say censorship is a weapon of war.

We have idiots now in our parliaments seat, Whose rules are completely over the top, What I learned as a boy, must I this day delete, For political lunacy races non-stop.

Dogmatic authority is edging its way, What once was old England has now petered out, St George sad to say has no flag to display, Except by the whim of political clout.

So how many onions will make up a pound?

I don’t know for my veg has a different weight, All I know is that onions are now on fresh ground, Issuing orders that are policed by the state.

Must the ink of my forefathers dry on this pen ‘Tis a sorrowful day now that madness has bled, The red blood of England that made us great men, And those onions now stamp on the graves of the dead.

So I’ll throw my last dart, as censorship looms, Regardless of onions and let it be said, Their actions are crazy, they need padded rooms, That’s my lot and God help us.

Yours faithfully Fred

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The Christmas

CHRISTMAS The bells of waiting Advent ring, The Tortoise stove is lit again And lamp-oil light across the night Has caught the streaks of winter rain.

In many a stained-glass window sheen From Crimson Lake to Hooker’s Green.

The holly in the windy hedge And round the Manor House the yew Will soon be stripped to deck the ledge, The altar, font and arch and pew, So that villagers can say “The Church looks nice” on Christmas Day. Provincial public houses blaze And Corporation tramcars clang, On lighted tenements I gaze Where paper decorations hang, And bunting in the red Town Hall Says “Merry Christmas to you all”.

And London shops on Christmas Eve Are strung with silver bells and flowers As hurrying clerks the City leave To pigeon-haunted classic towers, And marbled clouds go scudding by The many-steepled London sky.

And girls in slacks remember Dad, And oafish louts remember Mum, And sleepless children’s hearts are glad, And Christmas morning bells say “Come!”

Even to shining ones who dwell Safe in the Dorchester Hotel.

And is it true? and is it true?

The most tremendous tale of all, Seen in a stained-glass window’s hue, A Baby in an ox’s stall?

The Maker of the stars and sea Become a Child on earth for me?

And is it true? For if it is, No loving fingers tying strings Around those tissued fripperies, The sweet and silly Christmas things, Bath salts and inexpensive scent And hideous tie so kindly meant.

No love that in a family dwells, No carolling in frosty air, Nor all the steeple-shaking bells Can with this single Truth compare That God was Man in Palestine And lives today in Bread and Wine.

John Betjeman

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The Spirit of Christmas

‘Twas the Night before Christmas

I have a list of people I know All written in a book And every year at Christmastime I go and take a look.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

And that is when I realise That those names are a part Not of the book they’re written in But of my very heart.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

For each name stands for someone Who has crossed my path some time And in that meeting they’ve become A treasured friend of mine.

And once you’ve met some people The years can not erase The memory of a pleasant word Or a friendly face.

So when I send a Christmas card That is addressed to you It’s because you’re on that list Of folk I’m indebted to.

And you are one of many folk Who in times past I’ve met And happen to be one of those I don’t want to forget.

And whether I have known you For many years or few In some way you have a part in Shaping things I do.

This, the spirit of Christmas, that Forever and ever endures May it leave its richest blessing In the hearts of you and yours.

Anon

A Christmas Carol In the bleak mid-winter Frosty winds made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter, Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him Nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away When he comes to reign: In the bleak mid-winter A stable place sufficed The Lord God Almighty Jesus Christ.

Christina Rossetti 54

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863)

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Poetry Pages Christmas Bells I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Marmion

Christmas Has he been?

I haven’t heard him, We’ll go downstairs, put on the light.

But be careful and go quietly, It’s the middle of the night.

And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Oh look! Some socks from ‘Woolies’ There are some toffees in that jar.

And look! A plane I can assemble, And a little wind-up car.

Till, ringing, singing on its way The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, A chant sublime Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

There’s some apples and some oranges, Some lead soldiers and a drum, A puzzle book and a tin of paints, What time did you say she’ll come?

Then from each black, accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound The Carols drowned Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

After lunch she’ll play the piano, I hope she plays my favourite tune.

Would you like to try a chocolate?

No thank you, trifle’s coming soon.

And in despair I bowed my head; ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said; ‘For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!’

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: ‘God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!

The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men!’

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

SNOWFLAKE Out of the bosom of the Air. Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken, Over the woodlands brown and bare, Over the harvest-fields forsaken, Silent and soft and slow Descends the snow.

Even as our cloudy fancies take Suddenly shape in some divine expression, Even as the troubled heart doth make In the white countenance confession, The troubled sky reveals The grief it feels This is the poem of the air, Slowly in silent syllables recorded; This is the secret of despair, Long in its cloudy bosom hoarded, Now whispered and revealed To wood and field.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

She said, Now I’ll have my ‘night-cap’, She said, That’s it! Then shed a tear.

She said, Come here! Do you love Gran?

I said, I’ll let you know, next year.

Roy Creasey

Voices In The Mist The time draws near the birth of Christ: The moon is hid; the night is still; The Christmas bells from hill to hill Answer each other in the mist.

Four voices of four hamlets round, From far and near, on mead and moor, Swell out and fail, as if a door Were shut between me and the sound: Each voice four changes on the wind, That now dilate, and now decrease, Peace and goodwill, goodwill and peace, Peace and goodwill, to all mankind.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

The Bird of Dawning , Some say that ever gainst the season comes, Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrated, The bird of dawning singeth all night long; And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad; The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike, No fairy takes, or witch hath power to charm, So hallow’d and so gracious is that time.

William Shakespeare (Hamlet: Act 1, Scene 1) 55

Heap on more wood! - the wind is chill; But let it whistle as it will, We’ll keep our Christmas merry still.

Each age has deem’d the new-born year The fittest time for festal cheer: Even, heathen yet, the savage Dane At Iol more deep the mead did drain; High on the beach his galleys drew, And feasted all his pirate crew; Then in his low and pine-built hall Where shields and axes deck’d the wall They gorged upon the half-dress’d steer; Caroused in seas of sable beer; While round, in brutal jest, were thrown The half-gnaw’d rib, and marrow-bone: Or listen’d all, in grim delight, While Scalds yell’d out the joys of fight.

Then forth, in frenzy, would they hie, While wildly loose their red locks fly, And dancing round the blazing pile, They make such barbarous mirth the while, As best might to the mind recall The boisterous joys of Odin’s hall.

And well our Christian sires of old Loved when the year its course had roll’d, And brought blithe Christmas back again, With all his hospitable train.

Domestic and religious rite Gave honour to the holy night; On Christmas Eve the bells were rung; On Christmas Eve the mass was sung: That only night in all the year, Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear.

The damsel donn’d her kirtle sheen; The hall was dress’d with holly green; Forth to the wood did merry-men go, To gather in the mistletoe.

Then open’d wide the Baron’s hall To vassal, tenant, serf and all; Power laid his rod of rule aside And Ceremony doff’d his pride.

The heir, with roses in his shoes, That night might village partner choose; The Lord, underogating, share The vulgar game of ‘post and pair’.

All hail’d, with uncontroll’d delight, And general voice, the happy night, That to the cottage, as the crown, Brought tidings of salvation down.

The fire, with well-dried logs supplied, Went roaring up the chimney wide; The huge hall-table’s oaken face, Scrubb’d till it shone, the day to grace, Bore then upon its massive board No mark to part the squire and lord.

Then was brought in the lusty brawn, By old blue-coated serving-man; Then the grim boar’s head frown’d on high, Crested with bays and rosemary.

Well can the green-garb’d ranger tell, How, when, and where, the monster fell; What dogs before his death to tore, And all the baiting of the boar.

The wassel round, in good brown bowls, Garnish’d with ribbons, blithely trowls.

There the huge sirloin reek’d; hard by Plum-porridge stood, and Christmas pie; Nor fail’d old Scotland to produce, At such high tide, her savoury goose.

Then came the merry makers in, And carols roar’d with blithesome din; If unmelodious was the song, It was a hearty note, and strong.

Who lists may in their mumming see Traces of ancient mystery; White shirts supplied the masquerade, And smutted cheeks the visors made; But, O! what maskers, richly dight, Can boast of bosoms half so light!

England was merry England, when Old Christmas brought his sports again.

‘Twas Christmas broach’d the mightiest ale; ‘Twas Christmas told the merriest tale; A Christmas gambol oft could cheer The poor man’s heart through half the year.

Sir Walter Scott

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RB Camera Club

February 2 Ray Brammall ARPS, DPAGB “Old Coat New Colours” 9 Bob Rowe ARPS MNAPP “Something Different” 16 N&EMPF Slide Exhibition 23 Natural World Competition: Judge Ian Pinn March 3 Gerald Hall MPAGB, AFIAP, ABPPA, BPE3* PSA3* “The Life of Badgers” 9 John Colmer ARPS, AFIAP, BPE 2*, DPAGB “Darkroom & Digital Prints” 16 Jon Baker MFIAP, FRPS, EFIAP/g “Landscape thro’ my Camera Eye” 23 Our own John Wells FRPS returns with “The Second Coming of Age” 30 People Competition: Judge Peter Cheetham APAGB

RB CAMERA CLUB PROGRAMME 2007

January 5 David Neve LRPS “How I got into the Photographic Business” 12 Michael Hughes “The Struggle” with Chris Kent (RB Members) 19 First Open Competition: Judge Ralph Bennett ARPS 26 Social Evening at a Local Hostelry

April 6 Informal Meeting (Easter) 13 William Bowser “When in Rome” also featuring Mandy Watmore & Tina Finney (RB Members) 20 Dr David Butcher ARPS, FRSC “Magnificent Monochrome” 27 The LPA Folio Evening (Prints and Slides)

Photograph taken by William Bowser

The story behind the photograph above Back in August when the weather was hot, RB Camera Club went on an outing to Norfolk and these two fine creatures were found on Holkham Beach by our intrepid young photographer Will.

Apparently they were looking for naturists and decided to disguise themselves as marmots!

Much fun and hilarity were had by all who went.

For those who don’t know the intrepid marmots, they are John Whaler, our Chairman and his Vice-Chairman, Tony Houlden.

May 4 Informal Meeting (May Bank Holiday) 11 “Show and Tell Evening” featuring Alex, Merv and Brian (D) of RB 18 Landscape Competition: Judge Chris Upton 25 Informal meeting (Spring Bank Holiday)

June 1 London Salon 2006 Print Exhibition: slide show of prints 8 Margaret Salisbury FRPS, EFIAP, APAGB “The Dragon comes to RB” 10 Outing 5 Pits Walk somewhere in Derbyshire 15 Second Round of LPA Battles: RB versus Horncastle and Trusthorpe (also Horncastle Moviemakers) 22 Mini Photographer of the Year Competition: Judge Dave Stewart 29 Members Practical Evening “To Show & Tell how it’s done” July 6 Sid Pearce FRPS “A Tribute to the Creative Talents of Edie Sethna” 13 Mike Cottingham “The Goings-on at Number 42” and Robin Symons ARPS of RB “Bits and Bobs” 20 Alan Rowsell “Living in Poland” 27 Third Round of LPA Battles: RB versus Spalding August 3 Projected Images Open Competition: Judge to be announced 10 Mike Buxton “An Evening with Mike Buxton” 17 John Scarbro “The Long Road” 24 Informal meeting (Summer Bank Holiday) 31 Robert Falconer “Pictures with Altitude”

If you would like to come and join RB Camera Club, which occasionally has a bit of fun, then why not come to one of our meetings and see for yourself.

September 7 Members go “Out & About” (Weather permitting) 14 Print of the Year Competition: John Colmer ARPS, AFIAP, BE2*, DPAGB 21 Malcolm Sales FRGS, QEP, ARPS, ABIPP “Malcolm is Digital” 28 Practical Portrait Evening hosted by our very own Tony Houlden

The full programme for the coming year 2007 is printed alongside and you will see it is both varied and interesting.

October 5 Barbara and Rowland Hill both ARPS “The continuing story” (RB Members) 12 “Show and Tell” Members evening, also featuring work from Lincoln Nebraska 19 Projected Image of the Year Competition: Judge Ray Brammall ARPS, DPAGB 26 51st AGM (subs are due)

The Club is also having another exhibition, this time in the Museum of Lincolnshire Life between 20 January and 25 March 2007. There is now a lift to the exhibition space, as well as steps. Everyone is welcome to come along and see new work from our members.

Hazel Bingham Marketing and Exhibitions Secretary Email: rb.cc@ntlworld.com

November 2 Peter Yeo FRPS APAGB DPAGB “The President’s Night” 9 Keith Scott ARPS, DPAGB “International Entries to the RPS AV Competitions” 16 Retford Photographic Society entertains at RB tonight 23 Auction Night (Pick up a bargain) 30 John Whaler CCL “The Chairman’s Night” December 7 “Us v Them” Fun competition: (Judge to be press-ganged!)

14 Annual Awards Night (Set to music) and Christmas Party 21 No Meeting (Merry Christmas) 28 No Meeting (Happy New Year) 57

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Nettleham News

CHRISTMAS CROSSWORD Devised by

The Editor

ACROSS

DOWN

2. One (or all) of the flock watched by the shepherds (5) 4. Change ale into joyful high spirits (7) 5. Strongly inclined to the French church tower (7) 8. A con I sorted out for Christmas trimmings (11) 9. Finish in frozen delights (3) 13. Seeing a cold companion is now mandatory (7) 15. Crackers for seasonal nibbles? (4) 16. Vermin return for a celebrity appearance (4) 17. Cold symptoms? Especially down the spine! (7) 18. Oddly lets in the sparkling garland (6) 19. Christmas dinner from Istanbul? (6) 21. Still getting interference? (6) 22. Force on track for Da Vinci quest (5) 23. Half the headwear of Rudolph (6) 26. X marks the spot! (5,3,9) 30. Telephone for a halo? (4) 31. Present and correct (4) 34. Either way, it’s stories for the over-50’s (5) 36. A shifty girl hides a string of sparklers (5,6) 37. Artist in Deep Winter composition (5,2,4) 38. Said to be completed in buff hue (3) 21 39. Initially a credit note (3) 40. There’s a nice LP in the drawer (6) 41. Urge on in spoon race (3) 26 42. A workers’ group, initially (3) 30 43. Cancer or Capricorn? (6) 44. One of three French layers (3) 36 45. Flowers by Design (3,8) 46. Carol’s quiet after dark (6,5)

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1. You’re in it right now! (9,4,7,8) 2. The same answer to one and all (8) 3. Officially announce a Cramp Oil cocktail (8) 6. Kings of Eastern origin seen at the banquet (5) 7. Heavenly figure appears in a strange light (5) 10. Any Goltho characters comprise a collection (9) 11. Bedtime story of the wee folk (5,4) 12. In at last! The lost city is found (8) 14. Keeping on the shelf - it’s a Christmas hang-up! (8) 18. Melting in both a wing and a prayer (7) 20. Eulogy about learner in the winter trunk (4,3) 24. Dazzling headland for light level (10) 25. Late circle mix can be quite shocking (10) 26. Put clay in badly and it’s not the norm (9) 27. Hark the Christmas pudding steaming (7) 28. Prime set cups in the frame? (7) 29. Duck under the bedcover (9) 30. I need err and the delivery team appears (8) 32. Contemplating a slender monarch? (8) 33. A fraudulent musician on the roof? (7) 35. Count or fried for crunchy garnish (7)

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NAME ADDRESS

POSTCODE TELEPHONE

✂ Complete the crossword, fill in your name, address and telephone details, cut out and send it to the Editor (details page 1) in an envelope clearly marked “Crossword Competition” to arrive no later than 10 February 2007 The first correct entry opened will win £10.00

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1st NETTLEHAM 4th LINCOLN SCOUT GROUP REPORT By the time you read this article all the leaders and helpers will have had a well-earned rest over the school summer holidays and will be well under way with new programmes for the rest of the year.

You will all by now have received your blue recycling bins and full instructions on their usage. These bins can take various items for recycling, one of them being glass. I am sure as Nettleham residents you will all have taken your glass bottles and jars to the bottle banks in the Co-op car park, but how many of you realise that these belong to the Scout and Guide group and are one of our main ways of fundraising over the year, often giving the group as much as £3,000 per year towards the upkeep of our hut facilities? Please continue to support us and bring your glass to the bottle banks. Obviously this will take a little more time and effort than depositing the bottles in your blue bin just outside your house, but we really would appreciate your continued support for the Scout and Guide group.

A big thank you to everyone who supported our Breakfast on the Green - we will be organising another one in the spring.

The Cubs and Beavers have been celebrating their 90 years and 20 years birthday over the last twelve months and we recently held a birthday party for the children at our Scout HQ. Our pictures show what a good time was had by all and the beautiful birthday cake by Fiona Milnes (“Cakes by Design”).

In 2007, scouting is celebrating its 100 years and there will be lots of great events and challenges for all involved. This may take you back to your own scouting experiences and remind you of all the fun times you had as a youngster. Scouting is still very much alive and great fun is had by everyone involved perhaps you might like to join us and take part in the biggest youth organisation in the world? We are currently looking for an additional Beaver leader - please feel free to contact me for any further information.

Trudy Connor Group Scout Leader Telephone 01522 754344 61

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Readers’ Photographs Have you taken any interesting photographs lately? Why not send them to the Editor to be considered for publication in Nettleham News?

Ideally they should be sent as separate JPG image attachments to an email, but if you don’t have access to a computer, simply drop a print through the Editor’s letterbox (details page 1), remembering to include your name, address and telephone number, and a note saying whether you wish the photograph to be returned to you.

When sending JPG pictures for inclusion in the magazine, please keep them as large as possible to ensure that the quality of reproduction is good when printed.

Hoar frost round the lake in the grounds of the Police HQ 2002 Photograph sent in by Alan Tyler

If you can convert the picture to black and white from the original colour file, this will help to reduce the file size (and therefore the time required) to transmit the image electronically via email, but if you are unable to do this, simply send the original colour file.

Photographs can be of any subject you like, but please remember to include a caption saying where and when the picture was taken.

Field with Snow, Nettleham, 2004 Photograph sent in by Jack Snowden, member of the RB Camera Club

Bridge across the Beck

One of the attractive wall decorations created for the filming of the Da Vinci Code in Lincoln Cathedral

Photograph sent in by Martin Gerrish

Photograph sent in by Jean Johnson 62

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Nettleham Gardeners’Association SHOW SECRETARY’S REPORT 2006 Once again, as nobody offered to take on the post of Show Organiser, I decided to give it another go. Along with a small Committee, who decided on the content and rules of the schedule, we set about organising the event. Our grateful thanks go to Louise Bromfield for all her help in amending and printing all the paperwork involved - without her I don’t know what we would have done, as none of our members came forward with an offer to put the information on their computer!

As last year, the show took place on the second Saturday in September in the hope of encouraging more children to enter after they had gone back to school, but sadly this didn’t happen - with only half the number of entries in the Children’s Classes.

As we all know, the weather in July was exceptionally hot and a lot of the flowers and some of the vegetables came and went in a matter of weeks, leaving very little to enter in the show. Thankfully 51 exhibitors managed to pull out all the stops and the show went ahead, albeit with a reduced number of exhibits of 297 (down be 54 on last year). After an encouraging start last year in the Handicraft Section, we had hoped for more entries, but unfortunately this was not to be.

The number of people who came round in the afternoon was also reduced this year, but one pleasing aspect was that there were more non-members viewing. We can only hope that they will be encouraged to exhibit something next year.

My thanks go to all who helped on the Friday evening in setting up the hall, on the day with stewarding, etc, especially Cynthia and Judy for sorting out the points and cup winners, and to those who helped with the clearing up afterwards. It was hard work, but I think everyone enjoyed it!

Sue Williams receives the Association Jubilee Cup for the Flower Arrangements Classes from Ann Harrison

Despite the exceptionally hot weather in July, there were some excellent exhibits in the show this year

TROPHY WINNERS 2006 NETTLEHAM CUP (Chrysanthemum classes) Mike Jones ASSOCIATION ROSE BOWL (Flower Classes) Cyril Needham ASSOCIATION JUBILEE CUP (Flower Arrangements) Mrs S Williams DALBY CUP (Pot Plant Classes) Mr P Currey/Mrs A Harrison CORONATION CUP (Vegetable Classes) Mike Jones A E POTTER CUP (Onion Classes) Cyril Needham 85 CUP (Root Vegetable Classes) Cyril Needham ASSOCIATION FRUIT SHIELD (Fruit Classes) Mrs J Goodman ASSOCIATION FRUIT BOWL (Cakes & Pastries, etc) Mrs A Harrison PRINCESS DIANA MEMORIAL CUP (Childrens Classes) Alex Goodman/Sophie Hopkins THE PALMER CUP (Handicrafts, etc, Classes) Mrs C Edison ASSOCIATION WINE SHIELD (Home Made Wine Classes) Mr M Leaning GEOFF CLARKE MEMORIAL CUP (Best Garden) Not competed for THE BROOK CUP (Overall points) Mr C Needham NETTLEHAM NEWS CUP (Best in Show) Mrs A Harrison (for apple tart) TOP VASE: 1st: Mr C Needham; 2nd: Mrs P Warden; 3rd: Mr M Jones TOP TRAY: 1st: Mr M Jones; 2nd: Mr C Needham

Some of the exhibits and trophies at the 2006 Gardeners’ Association Show in September 63

Ann Harrison receives the Nettleham News Cup for the Best in Show from the Editor

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KEEP WARM AND KEEP WELL IN WINTER

Nettleham Cricket Club Season 2006

by Russ Binnington, Captain The 2006 season saw Nettleham CC plying their trade for the first time in Lincolnshire’s ECB Premier Division, after gaining promotion, as champions, from the Lincolnshire League.

This would be a huge test for Nettleham competing against the top sides the county has to offer for the first time in the history of Nettleham CC. It proved to be yet another successful season for the club, finishing a creditable sixth place in the top tier of Lincolnshire cricket. Only one team managed to beat us twice throughout the whole season, that team being Lindum. Which shows me that we are more than capable of maintaining our status in this division, hopefully for years to come.

We surprised many teams with the way we approached games with good preparation and a solid work ethic. This was down to all the players that played for me during the season. Nobody let me, themselves or Nettleham CC down. Thank you to you all.

During the 2006 season, we were invited

by Grimsby Town CC to participate in the Grimsby Knockout Tournament, which is an annual invitation-only event, based on 20-20 Cricket with coloured kits and fielding restrictions. We managed to hold our own against some good opposition in the early stages, qualifying for the final, where we came up against a side comprising the best overseas and county players. Unfortunately we lost! But still a great effort by the lads and a great night out.

The Albion Cup is a similar competition to the Grimsby tournament. This is the one cup I have always wanted to win after seeing my dad pick up the trophy so many times for Claytons CC and thinking one day I would like to do that. For the second year running we made it to the final of the Albion Cup, again coming off second best.

I am determined to win it one day.

Congratulations to all the winners at the presentation evening held at Welton Golf Club, the following people picked up the following awards:

The cold can seriously damage your health - look after yourself and your parents

SATURDAY TEAMS First XI Jarrod Allan: Batting Matt Smith: Bowling Rob Cook: Fielding Sam Hickingbotham: All Rounder Second XI Martin Connor: Batting Martin Connor: Bowling SUNDAY TEAMS

It is important to remember that although the exceptionally mild autumn has been a bonus to us all this year, winter can be a difficult time for the older people in our community.

Age Concern Lindsey can help by offering information and advice on Winter Fuel Payments and other entitlements - please contact us if you would like a home visit from one of our I & A Officers. You can also contact us for an Energy Savings quotation to see if you can save on your fuel bills by switching to the Powergen Age Concern tariff.

Keeping warm in winter: top tips

First XI Rob Cook: Batting Matt Smith: Bowling Second XI David Scott: Batting Martin Strawson: Bowling Also congratulations to Matt Smith as being recognised as the East of England’s Player of the Season in Wisden Magazine (how much did you pay them Smithy?).

I would also like to say a special thank you to a few people.

Firstly the groundsmen, John Dingley and Dave Ranshaw, for all their hard work on the preparation of the wickets and the outfield.

Also thanks to Anthony Rice (aka Maggot) for coming along every week and scoring for us, which I know is a thankless task, as I used to do it as a junior many moons ago.

Winter conditions can make you ill. The mortality rate goes up in winter - 25,700 extra deaths in the winter of 2005, 90% of those were over 65, according to the National Office of Statistics. Help yourself and those you know over 65 with these top tips, to stay warm and healthy over winter.

Dress appropriately ●

Wear multiple layers of clothes rather than one thick layer

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Choose clothes made with wool, cotton or fleecy synthetic materials

Stay active ●

Take regular exercise to help keep warm and enhance your well-being

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Keep moving throughout the day - don’t stay still for long periods

Eat well ●

Maintain a healthy balanced diet, including at least one hot meal a day

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Have hot drinks throughout the day and before bedtime

Prepare your home ●

Seal gaps around windows and doors

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Insulate your home to reduce heat loss

Another thank you to Sam Naughton, who acted as twelfth man for us throughout the season, which was a great help when players were injured out on the field of play and he also supplied the team with drinks at the fall of a wicket (if he wasn’t preoccupied by any girls who happened to be in the area at the time!).

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Check your heating system is working efficiently and is serviced once a year

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If you use an electric blanket, make sure you have it checked by a safety expert at least every three years

And finally thanks to Emma and Colin Woolfson, for organising the presentation evening held at Welton Golf Club.

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Winter Fuel Payments

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Warm Front Grants

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Cold Weather Payments

That’s it for now. Hopefully I’ll have something to write about the juniors in the next article. Lastly, nets will start in mid-January - your respective team managers will be in touch regarding this matter.

Further information

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Financial support You may be eligible for assistance with heating your home, or making it more energy efficient.

Check if you can receive:

Find out more details with: “Keep Warm Keep Well: Winter Guide 2006/07” published by the Department of Health.

Age Concern Lindsey can send you a free copy of the guide - please contact the Horncastle office on 01507 524242.

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Reading Group’s Visit to Oxford In August the “Earlyworms” Reading Group visited Oxford University to explore the links between the colleges and well known writers of prose and poetry. The groundwork had been laid by consulting guide books and the internet and by drawing on some personal experience of the locations of the colleges.

Our base, for the three days we were there, was Clive Booth Hall at the Oxford Brookes University in the Headington area of Oxford, where we stayed in en-suite rooms which, in term time, were undergraduate accommodation. It was a very convenient arrangement, as we were only a few minutes bus-ride from central Oxford. After settling in at Brookes, we finalised our itinerary of visits and and set off to our first port of call Magdalen College on High Street.

This college was founded in 1492 and lies along the banks of the River Cherwell. It is recognised by many as the most beautiful set of buildings in Oxford. One of its luminaries was Oscar Wilde who went up to Magdalen in 1874. He was a brilliant scholar and took a double First in “Greats” (Classics) and won the prestigious Newdigate prize for poetry. He left Oxford in 1878, but it was on a later visit to Oxford that he met Lord Alfred Douglas and started the relationship that eventually resulted in his imprisonment in Reading jail.

In the 1920s Sir John Betjeman, Poet Laureate, was an undergraduate at Magdalen where he was tutored by C S Lewis, but he never took study seriously and left without graduating. He had rooms in New Buildings and wrote fondly of them:

W H Auden was also at the college (between 1925 and 1928), but though by the age of 20 he was already recognised as a poetic prodigy, he did not work at his studies and got a poor degree.

After leaving Christ Church, we were able to visit “Alice’s Shop” across the road. This building is now a souvenir shop, but in the late nineteenth century was a general store at which Alice Liddell almost certainly would have bought provisions.

In the first part of the afternoon we made our way to the University Library, the Bodleian, two parts of which, the Old Bodleian and the Radcliffe Camera, are on the south-eastern end of Broad Street, the third part being on the north eastern end. The first possible inside tour of the library was mid-afternoon, so we contented ourselves with doing an audio tour of the outside, starting in the centre of the Old Bodleian, Schools Quadrangle.

We learned that the library is one of the three English copyright libraries, which entitles it to a free copy of any book published in Britain. This means it owns millions of volumes, so it can’t possibly store them all in the buildings referred to.

In fact the New Bodleian stores the most, but many more are kept in miles of underground shelving beneath Radcliffe Square and Broad Street. There is also a major store some miles to the south. Among all these books are a seventh century copy of the Acts of the Apostles used by Bede and a First Folio of Shakespeare.

The one room we were able to go into was the Divinity School with its astonishing fan-vaulted

ceiling. This is the oldest purpose-built classroom in the University, constructed between 1427 and 1488 for lectures and examinations.

The second half of the afternoon was spent in Merton College on Merton Street to the south side of the High. We were not able at this time to see any of the interiors, but we were very interested by the outside of the buildings . Merton, founded in 1264, is the third oldest college after Balliol and University colleges. Its Mob Quad is the oldest quadrangle in Oxford and gave us a good impression of what life was like for a scholar in a medieval university. The pinnacles of its chapel rising up behind the quad served to remind us of the church’s influence on learning at that time.

Merton’s alumni include Max Beerbohm, T S Eliot (who gave the first reading of his poem “The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock” in Oxford) and the war poets Edmund Blunden and Keith Douglas. J R R Tolkien was Merton Professor of English Language and Literature.

We left Oxford the next day after relaxing for an hour or so in the Botanical Gardens.

We had enjoyed our visit and had been impressed by all that we had seen and heard. There was also an awareness that there was so much to see and do, that we had only scratched the surface of the University’s history and the achievements of its greatest talents. And - note - there is not even a mention of Endeavour Morse in any of the above!

“Earlyworms” Reading Group Nettleham

“My wide-sashed windows looked across the grass To Tower and hall and lines of pinnacles.

The wind among the elms, the echoing stairs, The quarters, chimed across the quiet quad From Magdalen tower and neighboring (sic) turret-clocks, Gave 18th-century splendour to my state.”

The next day we made our way to Christ Church College on St Aldates. We didn’t think that it was particularly beautiful, but it is certainly impressive both in its buildings and in its list of graduates.

Its main quadrangle, Tom Quad, is huge and Tom Tower, built over the main gate by Sir Christopher Wren, is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Oxford. Its Great Hall is magnificent. Christ Church cathedral (the smallest in Britain) is also the diocesan cathedral for three counties. William Penn, John Locke, the philosopher, and fourteen British Prime Ministers (including Peel and Gladstone) were at Christ Church.

A fellow undergraduate of Gladstone was Henry Liddell (1811-98). Liddell stayed on and became Dean in 1885. He was the father of Alice Liddell, the young friend of “Lewis Carroll”, the maths don Charles Dodgson, and the inspiration for “Alice in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass”.

In 1837 John Ruskin went up to Christ Church.

He excelled in his studies and won the Newdigate Prize for poetry in 1839. He later became the Slade Professor of Fine Art, with rooms in Corpus Christi College, which is very near to Christ Church. (Readers may recall that in our visit to the Lake District last year we visited Ruskin’s home.)

Members of the Earlyworms Reading Group in the New Buildings quad, Magdalen College, Oxford 65

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BANG GOES CHRISTMAS! Santa Claus, like all pilots, is regularly tested by a representative from the Civil Aviation Authority and it was shortly before Christmas when the CAA examiner arrived.

In preparation, Santa had got the elves to polish the sledge, and bath and groom all the reindeer.

Meanwhile he got his logbook out and made sure all his paperwork was in order.

The examiner walked slowly around the sledge.

He checked the reindeer harnesses, the landing skis, and Rudolph’s nose. He painstakingly reviewed Santa’s weight/balance calculations for the sledge’s enormous payload. Finally, they were ready for the test ride. Santa got in and fastened his seatbelt and shoulder harness and checked the compass.

Then, much to Santa’s surprise, the examiner got in carrying a shotgun.

“What’s that for?” asked Santa. The examiner replied, “I’m not really supposed to tell you this, but we have to check your competence skills in emergencies, so you’re going to lose an engine on take-off.”

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NETTLEHAM LIBRARY NEWS AND OUR YOUNGEST READER IS …..

Congratulations go to Daniel Backhouse, who was our youngest borrower at the time of registering with the library (at the grand old age of 60 days) and getting his own library card. Thanks, too, to Mrs Backhouse for allowing us to print Daniel’s name. Overall we had 9 close contenders for this title, showing that it’s never too early to join your baby and introduce them to the wonderful world of books. Please don’t worry if your baby or toddler damages a book, we know it’s likely to happen and we’d rather see a child falling in love with books and reading, than keeping our stock for this age range in pristine condition.

NEW NON-FICTION Thank you to everybody who made suggestions as to which adult non-fiction sections you would like to see benefit from additional books, following our appeal in the last edition of Nettleham News. Taking your wishes into account, we will shortly be buying in mainly biography and travel writing books, with a sprinkling of other titles to fill in gaps elsewhere - so please keep your eyes peeled for lots of new books to borrow in the near future!

QUESTIONNAIRE

“Thank you for coming in on Christmas Eve, Mr Claus - I do hope it wasn’t too inconvenient.”

A MOVING WINTER STORY One winter morning, a couple was listening to the radio over breakfast. The radio announcer said, “We are going to have 8 to 10 inches of snow today. You must park your car on the even-numbered side of the street, so that the snowploughs can get through.”

So Fred’s wife goes out and moves her car.

A week later, while they are eating breakfast, again, the radio announcer says, “We are expecting 10 to 12 inches of snow today. You must park your car on the odd-numbered side of the street, so that the snowploughs can get through.”

Fred’s wife goes out and moves her car again.

The next week they are again having breakfast, when the radio announcer says, “We are expecting 12 to 14 inches of snow today. You must park...” Then there was a power cut!

Fred’s wife is very upset, and with a worried look on her face she says, “I don’t know what to do. Which side of the street do I need to park on so that the snowploughs can get through?”

With love and understanding, Fred patiently says ”Why don’t you just leave the car in the garage this time?”

ANOTHER FINE MESS...

It has been brought to the public’s attention recently via the media, about the state of public footpaths in our towns and villages.

This week I received a letter from a local lady, who said: on Friday 13th October she walked out of the paper shop on High Street and unfortunately slipped on some horrid mess.

A man standing outside said to her, “I did that”.

So she hit him.

A big thank you to everybody who filled in a questionnaire for us in September - we really appreciate your overwhelmingly positive comments and generally high ratings of staff, books, the building and atmosphere. This was a major exercise for library staff, made much easier by your willingness to help us. Overall 20 Lincolnshire Libraries took part in the survey and the information will be used in future Library Service planning.

‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY… Don’t forget to stock up on your reading matter and DVDs to take you through the Christmas and New Year period. You can borrow up to 20 books and 4 DVDs at any one time (charges apply to DVD rental - £1.50 for 2 days and £2.00 for a week). Alternatively, have you thought about borrowing a talking cassette? We now have an extended selection for you to listen to, and it only costs 50p for a 4 week period, unless you are exempt from paying. And after Christmas, why not call in and see what bargains you can find in our sale?

Finally, everybody at Nettleham Library wishes you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

We look forward to seeing you in 2007.

NEWS FOR OUR YOUNGER READERS Long dark nights mean we can spend more time round the fire reading stories. I can recommend Peter Pan in Scarlet, by Geraldine McCaughrean, if you are age nine or older.

The proceeds from sales of this book will go to the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.

The book takes you to that place between dreaming and being awake. I enjoyed sharing the magic when I read it to children at Scampton Church of England School during their recent book week.

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If you listen hard and look out round dustbins at night (from your window) you just might hear and see foxes. I love reading and finding out about animals and so I enjoyed Finding the Fox, by Ali Sparkes which is the first book in the Shapeshifter series. It’s about a boy who changes into a fox and is hard to put down, so you might need a torch to read it under the covers! You will be reading with the light on if you try The Tide of Terror, second in the Vampirates series by Justin Somper, for fans of Darren Shan, if you are eleven or older.

Please come to Nettleham Library and take a free bookmark and voting slip for the Lincolnshire Young People’s Book Award. It’s free to order all the titles. You can vote online at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lypba and look at what other children say about the books. The list for 9 to 11 year olds includes the adventure story Secrets of the Fearless by Elizabeth Laird, and Lucy Daniel Raby’s Nickolai of the North which tells the ‘real’ story of Santa Claus. The older reader’s section is great too!

If you know of any junior book which you would like to read, which is not available at Nettleham Library, please let us know. We have special suggestions slips for you to fill in at the Library, which we will then forward to our colleagues, who buy in our books, for consideration for purchase. If you are stuck for anything to read, you can always ask us, or you can visit www.storiesfromtheweb.org or www.rif.org where you can find new books, play games, take part in competitions, and meet your favourite authors.

Christmas is coming, so please call in to the Library to decorate a paper gingerbread man, and add him to our Christmas garland. The mystery ‘gingerbread librarian’ will then make you a book recommendation for you to look at on your next visit!

Stories bring people together. It’s great to share ideas, magic and wonder - so it’s been a delight to see all the mums, dads, grandparents, and childminders singing, playing with puppets and meeting each other at Story Time in the last year. Do bring your babies and under-fives and join with us on Friday 15 December and Friday 26 January at 2.00pm.

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THE GREAT NORTH RUN We don’t really remember how it happened, but we applied for, and got, places in the Great North Run held on 1st October 2006.

Last January we started training and have run about 400 miles each to get fit, not counting all the gym work!

Many of you will have seen us plodding around Nettleham through rain and shine over the last 9 months. We threw in a couple of 10k runs, just to see what it was like, but it seemed a long time coming, the BIG day. By the time the “6 weeks to go” arrived we were all longing to get it over with, so we could say: that’s it, done it, no more!

Well, the day was as good as we’d hoped - so many runners, so many stories - both sad and happy. They moved you to tears as you met them on the course.

The bands played wonderful beaty music, which got your feet moving and the crowds, cheered you along.

It was Iovely to see familiar faces along the way and hear shouts of your name.

We plodded along in the sunshine (+20°c at times) through the wonderful ‘showers’, which included hosepipes run from the family home, and held by ‘dad’ to cool us down. Past Carol Vordemann, who

was walking it and was the only celebrity we saw.

Through a heavy rain shower which was great at first, but we were very wet by the time it finished and glad when it stopped.

We never managed to eat any of the biscuits offered in the final 2 miles, but we watched the Red Arrows performing and thanked the Lord for them as we were concentrating on finishing and what a long way the last 800 metres seemed!

So we’ve all got our medals, Jenny is definitely never doing it again, I’m tempted, Jane is definitely doing it next year with brother Tim, who had to drop out.

Geoff will run it with anyone who wants to go and Sarah (who we think started it all!), well, her achievement was fantastic. She never thought she’d get past the Gateshead Stadium (10 miles to go) but she did and went over the finish line and wasn’t last!

We’ve raised a lot of money for our charities and have lots of lovely memories to keep forever.

Chris Dawkins Jane Dawkins Geoff & Jenny Newmarch and Sarah O’Brien (not in photo)

NETTLEHAM PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS 2007 Monday 15 January Small Hall The Old School

Tuesday 13 February Small Hall The Old School

Wednesday 14 March Large Hall The Old School

Thursday 19 April Mulsanne Sports Pavilion PARISH MEETING

Monday 14 May Small Hall The Old School ANNUAL PC MEETING

Tuesday 12 June Mulsanne Sports Pavilion

Wednesday 18 July Large Hall The Old School

Thursday 13 September Mulsanne Sports Pavilion

Monday 22 October Small Hall The Old School

Tuesday 13 November Mulsanne Sports Pavilion

Wednesday 12 December Large Hall The Old School All meetings commence at 7.30pm Meeting venues may be subject to change

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NETTLEHAM LADIES’ CLUB Are you new to Nettleham? Maybe you have lived here for a long time. When reading Nettleham News you can’t fail to notice just how many clubs there are in the village. Can I introduce you to ours the Nettleham Ladies’ Club - we meet once a month in the village hall (except for August and December).

As you will see from the programme below we invite a wide variety of speakers to talk about many interesting topics. At our July meeting, Mr North spoke to us on his subject of “Snails - Not What You Think”.

What did we think? Rather than find out more about the very unwelcome guests in our gardens, we were treated to a simply fascinating talk about how snails develop and live in many different parts of the world. He also brought along a collection of the most wonderfully coloured and rare shells.

At May’s meeting we heard about the sensitive voluntary work carried out by The Samaritans; in April the Work of the Fraud Squad. Going forward into September, Mr Curtis came to the meeting to show us how to make a pork pie and in October we heard about the Volunteer Prison Chaplaincy. We usually fit in at least one visit to the theatre to see one of the county’s amateur operatic productions. In June we go out for our Summer Meal,

which this year was at Horncastle College.

Each year we hold our Spring Fayre to raise money for a charity, which we try to choose so that people in the locality can benefit. In 2006 we raised money for The British Heart Foundation, although a national charity, they will be targeting the money to place defibrillators in many local areas. As usual we had great support from the village raising over £1,300 (see photograph below).

We are a thriving Club with over 80 members - a number most organisations would be proud of! Most have been with the Club for many years and new members are most certainly welcome. Perhaps you would like to come along with a friend, but please don’t be afraid to come on your own as you will be greeted by a friendly face; and if you are new to the village it is a great way to get to know new people.

Our annual subscription for the coming year is £7.00, which I think you will agree, from the range of speakers we have, is good value. For visitors, the charge is £1.00 per meeting. For more information please contact me on 595392, or Chairman, Mavis Greathead on 751846.

We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.

Christine Brook Secretary

Ladies Club Programme for 2007 30 January Adoption 27 February An Insight into the Work of our Local Policeman 27 March Facial and Make Up Demonstration 24 April The Magic of 3D 28 April SPRING FAYRE 29 May Trust Me - I’m a Magistrate 26 June Summer Meal 31 July Visit to Romania 2004 August No Meeting 25 September Two Thousand Pounds for a Teapot 30 October Historic Medieval Lincoln 27 November AGM December No Meeting

Mavis Greathead, Chairman of the Nettleham Ladies’ Club, presents the cheque for £1,300 raised at the Spring Fayre, to Helena Mair of The British Heart Foundation

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Learn About Antiques Find out more about antiques on a unique course at Hemswell Antique Centres During the summer months, Hemswell Antiques Centre offered its customers a unique opportunity to learn about antique furniture from a practicing dealer.

Given the amount of media coverage and the public interest in antiques, you would think there would be antiques courses everywhere. Not so - Alex who took a place on the first course - came all the way from London, because she could not find what she wanted anywhere else. “There were a few fine art courses offered by the auction houses, but they were far too vague and didn’t offer me the hands-on experience with furniture that I was looking for”.

“We can’t teach people to be experts in three days”, says Chris, “but we can teach them enough to avoid the obvious pitfalls and give people confidence and a strategy to adopt, before they go out buying. That can save them a lot of money, or stop them buying a real howler. The first course was a great success, with all the students wanting to sign up for more specialist courses”.

The three-day course was directed by one of the county’s most respected and experienced antique dealers and LAPADA member, Chris Wilde. Chris not only has over twenty years’ full time in the antiques trade, but, prior to that, spent over ten years in education as a lecturer in history, so he has the ideal background for the job.

Chris agrees with Alex’s assessment of the situation: “You can’t really learn about antiques just from books or pictures you need hands-on experience examining pieces carefully under the guidance of a professional, who can show you what to look for and how to look. That’s what we do on the course - we give a complete overview of all the period styles using the extensive stock of the centre to show students what they should be looking for in order to appreciate antiques and to spot alterations and downright fakes and copies. There is nowhere else in England that I know of teaching about antiques in this way”.

The course is designed with two distinct types of people in mind - those who own, or have an interest in, antiques and want to learn to appreciate and understand them, and those who want to buy antiques and don’t know where to start, or what to look for.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the latter group can’t afford not to do this course.

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The courses are limited to a maximum of 10 people and cost £125 per person for the three days, including a complete set of course notes and refreshments.

For further information, please telephone Hemswell Antique Centres on: 01427 668389 (extension 228) or e-mail: enquiries@hemswell-antiques.com

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Beckside Pre-School We started back in September with a very busy programme of fun and learning for the children. We welcomed our new boys and girls to Beckside, who are now enjoying all the activities at Pre-School.

Over the summer, we grew our own potatoes, onions and strawberries, which the children enjoyed planting, caring for and finally harvesting.

During our Harvest Festival Week at Pre-School, we talked about all the vegetables and fruit and the children had a fantastic time making soup, fruit salad and coleslaw. We also had a messy time baking bread with the children!

Leyton, Tyler, Lewis and Matthew “down on the farm�

India, Ryan and Amy making bread

We have lots of activities and events to look forward to this year: Diwali, Bonfire Night, Children in Need, our very own Nativity Play, the Christmas Party and a visit from Father Christmas.

We are open Monday - Friday, from 9.05am - 3.10pm and if you would like to see us at play, please contact Debbie or Jane - we would love to see you and the children will enjoy showing you around their playgroup.

India, Thomas and Jasmine dressing up

Our staff are highly committed, caring and enthusiastic and this makes Beckside a happy and stable environment for our little ones to achieve and enjoy what they are doing and make good progress towards ELGs. Debbie and Jane

Beckside Pre-School All Saints Lane Nettleham Lincoln Debbie Pryke 01522 595680 Mobile 0794 087 3505

Thomas, William and Mia counting all the onions and potatoes 70

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Nettleham Pre-School Playgroup The Village Hall, Nettleham Registered Charity No: 518013 Ofsted Registered

Parents complete a settling-in plan with staff at the playgroup during their pre-visit. This is flexible to suit the needs of both the parent and child. Settling into the group is the most important part to get right - young children need to feel secure and they need to form new attachments. Some children need their parent to stay for a while, whereas others prefer to explore on their own.

We talk to parents about what will suit their child.

A member of staff is given key worker responsibilities and acts as replacement for their main carer and offers someone to one support, cuddles and reassurance.

Hello, I’m Karon Parker the new Manager in day-to-day charge at Nettleham Pre-School Playgroup.

I have completed 4 years training as a child care practitioner through the vocational route, having been observed and assessed whilst working to ensure my competence. I hold the necessary NVQ level 3, First Aid, child protection and many more qualifications.

Before having a family, I was a Personnel Officer for Marks & Spencer, but now feel I have found my true vocation in life - working with young children. Everyday brings something new and it is so rewarding when you see children developing and learning new skills.

I am very passionate about Nettleham Pre-school Playgroup. My son attended a few years ago and so I have experience of life as a parent and a member of staff. Learning through play is very important for young children; too much structure can stifle their creativity and imagination. I found that playgroup offered my child a chance to learn and develop through free play and exploration, with adults on hand to support and extend learning.

Dispelling the myth The first thing that parents ask me when visiting the setting is: What is the difference between a nursery, a pre-school or playgroup? Well the answer is quite simple: there is no difference in terms of the care and education that the children receive. With the introduction of the government’s Nursery Education Grant, all settings that are in receipt of these funds must adhere to the same National Standards and are inspected by the same authority - Ofsted. Although we are a registered charity and are run by a management committee of volunteers, we still must have the same ratios of staff to children, policies, procedures and training as all other settings who offer sessional care for children under five.

With the introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in 2008 - the single quality framework for services to children from birth to five, all settings will have a single clear framework. Some of the key principles of this are not new to settings who, like us, are members of the Pre-School Learning Alliance.

Playgroups were established on the principles of: ● The importance of parents and families as children’s first educators ● The importance of a key person for each child ● The central role of play both indoors and outdoors ● Effective partnerships with parents, carers and professionals ensuring joined-up care for the child

Birth to Three Matters Settings who take children under 3 (we take children from 2 years 6 months) have a separate framework for this age group. This ensures that the youngest children are not being expected to achieve the same targets for development as the 3 and 4 year olds. Children between the ages of 2 and 5 years vary greatly in their capabilities.

‘Birth to Three Matters’ is a framework that recognises the need to support young children towards independence and foster their social and emotional development through close relationships.

Nettleham Pre-School Playgroup supports children with individual and special needs. For children who need extra help in some areas of their development, we implement individual plans and targets with the advice of our Early Years Support Teacher - Frances Hellier. One of the most important things that I have learned during my time in Early Years, is that children do not neatly conform to development milestones and every child is individual and special.

The Foundation Stage Children enter the Foundation Stage after their third birthday. At this time, we start to gather information from observations and we use this to compile their Record of Achievement. Children are not tested, there is no pass or fail at this age. Information from these observations tells us what the child can do and allows us to see what the child needs to do next. We plan throughout the year to ensure that all six areas of learning are covered and re-visited Links with School Playgroup staff work closely with the village Infants school to ensure that children have a smooth transition to the reception class. Teachers regularly visit our group and our staff pass on children’s Records of Achievement so that the school is aware of their starting points, strengths and interests.

Parents as Partners As I mentioned before, we are run by a committee who are also parents of children who currently attend the setting. This ensures that playgroup keeps in touch with parents’ wishes and views, something which is an essential part of the new EYFS. Parents are the most knowledgeable people regarding their child and the setting can benefit enormously from close links with parents and carers.

George makes sure he gets the last drop!

Daily Routine 9:10am: Free play 09:30: Welcome time 09:40: Adult-led activities in small groups 10:30: Snack time 10:45: Free Play Inside/outside - physical activity 11.30: Story time 11.45: Free Play 12.10: Home time Snack time Children enjoy a range of healthy snacks - selection of apples, bananas and raisins, brown and white toast.

Sometimes we try different fruits from around the world and celebrate cultural festivals with food, for example naan bread, popudums, hot cross buns and prawn crackers.

The children have become very independent at snack time, they help themselves by pouring their own drink and selecting their choice of fruit. Children take it in turns to lay the table for the other children and adults.

Snack time is a social time and we gather lots of evidence of language and communication development over a beaker of milk!

If you are interested in a place and would like to come and see us at play, please contact me at the village hall during session time: 750467. Alternatively please contact our Waiting List Secretary Louise Bromfield on (01522) 752738 who will arrange a visit.

Karon Parker

Messy play is so much fun!

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WI and Guides Knit Together!

The ladies of the W I were delighted when the leader of the Nettleham Girl Guides contacted Elspeth Young to ask if anyone would come and teach the girls to knit.

You can contact the Nettleham Women’s Institute through:

President: Vivien Millard 01522 874383

When she explained the request at a meeting in the summer, there was soon a list of people ready and willing to go along to the Guides’ meetings to pass on their skills to the girls.

or

Secretary: Maureen Pilcher 01522 595788

The first of three evenings was arranged for the 29 September and a band of eleven ladies, plus wool and needles, duly arrived and were warmly welcomed. The girls were all busy undertaking various craft projects hoping to earn a merit badge through their efforts.

Visitors are always most welcome and, of course, new members too!

Hope to see you some time soon.

The girls, aged from 11 upwards, were all very keen to learn. Some had previously been shown how, often by Grandma. Many had very busy Mums who found it hard to find the time alongside all the family needs (and some said their Mum’s couldn’t knit - sorry Mums!).

It seemed quite a task to pass on the skills of casting on, plain & purl, and casting off in such a short space of time, but the girls proved a delight to teach - and very quick at picking it up. The first evening the group headed off home keen to knit further during the week and returned a week later with various lengths of growing scarves (some intended for favourite Teddy Bears).

This scenario was then repeated on the next two Fridays, enabling all the girls to learn and produce individual pieces of knitting. Well done to them all!

So, the ladies of the WI would like to thank the Girl Guides for their kind invitation to go and spend time with them, and for the pleasure all the girls gave to the many ladies who participated over the three weeks. We all had a great time and hope the girls did too!

So, Happy Knitting to all the Nettleham Girl Guides from the Ladies of the Nettleham WI. PS We all hope the girls will think about joining the WI, in due course, but perhaps they could mention us to their Mums and Grandmas if they are not already members.

Nettleham WI meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month in the Village Hall at 7.30pm.

Tea and coffee are available and a variety of speakers entertain us throughout the year.

Coming events include: 12 December 2006 Christmas Entertainment “Just Us” singing group plus a faith (or American) supper 9 January 2007 “Chi Kung” Cultivated Universal Energy for Health

by Mr G Bloggs 13 February 2007 “Going Green - It’s easier than you think”

by Mrs D Green 13 March 2007 “My life as a Village Baker”

by Mr P Welbourne 72

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Foodstore: 8.00am - 8.00pm 7 days a week Post Office: Monday - Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm Saturday 9.00am - 12.30pm

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THE FALCONER at Welton Manor Golf Centre

For a simply wonderful dining experience ● Serving the Falconer Bistro Menu Monday to Thursday 11am - 3pm and 6pm - 9pm ● Serving food all day Friday & Saturday 11am - 9.15pm ● Serving food all day Sunday & Bank Holidays 11am - 8pm ● Weddings, christenings, party bookings, private functions

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753000 The only number you’ll ever need for graphic design

● PARTY BOOKINGS Four or more people eating Bistro main dishes will get a free bottle of house wine on production of this advertisement

● FREE KIDS MEAL (12 years and under) One childs meal from the kids menu with every two adults eating dishes from the Bistro main menu (before 6.30pm)

● BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Enjoy your birthday with us - free main course on your birthday (with proof of ID) for party of four or more (Booking required)

● PUB QUIZ ● LICENSED PATIO AREA

01673 861888 ● 18 Hole golf course ● Floodlit driving range ● Golf tuition

01673 862827

Hackthorn Road, Welton, Lincoln (Six miles north of Lincoln)

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Nigel Kingston Graphic Designer

Wednesday fortnightly throughout the year

Squirrel Cottage 1 High Street Nettleham Lincoln LN2 2PL

Telephone & Fax 01522 753000 Email: nigelkingston@ntlworld.com