Nettleham News - 2013-04 - Winter 2013 - Issue 124

Front cover photograph by Nigel Kingston

The village magazine of Nettleham: Lincolnshire

Winter 2013

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THE PLOUGH PUB & RESTAURANT

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Selection of traditional Batemans’ ales

Air-conditioned smoke-free atmosphere ●

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Home-made food 7 days a week

Lunches, evening meals and Sunday lunches

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Hemswell Antique Centres Coffee Shop

Take time out from browsing the largest selection of antiques and collectables in Europe and visit our licensed Coffee Shop where, in addition to a range of refreshing cold drinks and hot beverages, you can enjoy a choice of freshly prepared meals and light snacks, using only the very best fresh, locally-sourced produce.

Open 10am - 5pm every day Caenby Corner Estate, Hemswell Cliff, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire DN21 5TJ

Specialities from the blackboard

FREE PARKING

Special Senior Citizen 2-course Sunday lunches

Telephone 01427 668389

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Open all day 7 days a week

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Quiz night every Sunday and Wednesday

1 The Green, Nettleham, Lincoln

Email: enquiries@hemswell-antiques.com H E M S W E L L

C E N T R E S

or view online at

01522 750275

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Bob & Pauline Woolley offer a warm and friendly welcome at

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www.hemswell-antiques.com

FAMILY

RESTAURANTS

Your Favourite Choice Open all day every day for

snacks, drinks, meals and special offers Table service no need to queue Next to the river on Waterside South near High Bridge

01522 531126

People trust Mundys A high quality 21st century marketing service: Worldwide access to your property via the internet Voted Lincolnshire’s top Estate Agent in 2012 Valuation by qualified local valuers (Telephone or email for FREE valuation within 48 hours)

Unique Nettleham village video guide

Late opening

NETTLEHAM TENNIS CLUB MULSANNE PARK Nettleham Tennis Club is LTA registered and welcomes everyone, irrespective of gender, age or ability, providing tennis for both social players and league players, seniors and juniors Junior coaching Thursday evenings (see website for details) Membership Secretary: Chris Chester

Telephone 29 Silver Street, Lincoln LN2 1AS

Telephone 01522 510044 Email: info@mundy-uk.com

www.mundy-uk.com Specialists in Nettleham properties

01522 824597 Email: chris.chester@ntlworld.com or visit our website at

www.communigate.co.uk/ ne/nettlehamtennisclub

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From the Editor

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

Nigel Kingston 1 High Street Nettleham Lincoln LN2 2PL

NEXT EDITION

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

1st 1st 1st 1st

FEBRUARY for the spring edition MAY for the summer edition AUGUST for the autumn edition NOVEMBER for the winter edition

All contributions should be sent to the Editor

Read Nettleham News online at: www.nettleham.info Welcome to Nettleham News A very warm welcome to the winter 2013 edition of your village magazine - I sincerely hope you continue to find it interesting, informative and perhaps sometimes amusing as well.

As ever, many thanks to all those who have contributed items for this edition - it’s the wide variety of material that enables me to produce a lively and interesting magazine for your edification and enjoyment.

It is at this time of the year that I also like to thank all those residents who kindly assist with the production and distribution of our village magazine.

Particular thanks must go to all our Nettleham News distributors who deliver the magazine to your door, come rain or shine, throughout the year. Special thanks must also go to those who assist ‘behind the scenes’ with the administration and counting of the magazine.

And finally I must once again thank all the advertisers for continuing to support us over the past year - it is only through the funds generated by these advertisements that we are able to publish and distribute our village magazine. New advertisers do join us from time to time, so keep a lookout for new additions and do please remember to mention Nettleham News when responding to them.

Letters from Readers There are several pages of letters from readers of Nettleham News (9,11,13 and 15) and I am delighted that residents feel they can write to the magazine on a wide variety of different subjects which are of concern to them. It is just unfortunate that this is only a quarterly publication and so some of the letters, which may have been particularly relevant at the time of writing, are now perhaps a little out of date.

However, don’t let that put you off writing to the magazine in the future!

Changing Times I don’t like to end the year on a negative note, but our village is currently undergoing a number of fundamental and sometimes contentious changes: the introduction of parking restrictions in the centre of the village (see pages 36/37), the possible closure of our library, the uncertain future usage of the Linelands site (see page 15), the construction of new dwellings on Church Street, the difficulties being encountered with the Lincoln Rugby Club development (see pages 15 and 44/45) the list goes on.

Mike Pollard It was with sadness that I learned of the death from a heart attack of electrician Mike Pollard earlier this year. He advertised with us for a number of years and was known by many in the village. May I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Whenever possible Nettleham News will keep you informed of these changes and how they may affect your everyday life.

Nobody really cares much for change, but the world moves on and, like it or not, often we must move with it.

However, it appears that our trust in the integrity of this organisation may have been misplaced, with the result that a well-respected village organization, the Nettleham Woodland Trust, has been left with no other alternative than to withdraw their involvement in the development on Lodge Lane.

If you have any ideas or thoughts about these, or any other issues relating to the future of our village, do write to the Editor with your views - it sometimes helps to get things off your chest and perhaps 2014 will start on a more positive note!

Nettleham Noticeboard May I remind all our village organizations, special-interest groups, clubs, etc, about the ‘Nettleham Noticeboard’ feature which appears on page 3 of every edition of the magazine.

I sometimes struggle to fill this page and this is rather surprising, as it is absolutely free of charge to non profit-making groups to promote their activities and events.

It should be especially useful to those who perhaps support local charities and wish to bring to the attention of our readers news about their future fund-raising events.

Simply send an email with the relevant information to the Editor (however, as the magazine is only quarterly it does mean planning ahead well in advance!).

Lincoln Rugby Football Club The village welcomed the relocation of Lincoln RFC to Nettleham on the implicit understanding and trust that this rather controversial move would be mutually beneficial to all concerned.

The Chairman of NWT explains the position on pages 44/45 of this edition and I’m sure many readers will find the report most dismaying and disconcerting. I can only hope that this unfortunate situation may be resolved satisfactorily in the future.

LIVES We are very fortunate in Nettleham to have a very active and enthusiastic team of LIVES volunteers. A number of the local members have undergone training to the new enhanced Responder Level 1 service which is being introduced in the coming months (see page 25).

And finally...

May I take this opportunity to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year in 2014.

And if you have never sent anything in for publication in the magazine, why not make it your New Year resolution to do so?

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

Where photographs and/or names of children are published in this magazine, it is assumed that prior permission has been gained from parents/school.

Nettleham News is designed, edited, 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 The Old Vicarage Hayman’s Ghyll ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES S C Warren & Co ANTIQUES Hemswell Antique Centres AUDIO/VISUAL SERVICES Lincoln Audio/Visual

06 16 10 IFC 42

BATHROOMS Elixir Bathrooms

14

BEAUTY SALONS The Beauty Rooms Aspects of Beauty

26 38

BUILDING DESIGN Gary Milnes BUILDING SERVICES M J Spencer & Sons Fairclear Construction L&J Construction & Maintenance WEH Property Services Leesing Construction Ltd S J Wood Building Services

24 04 08 24 26 28 30

BUILDING SUPPLIES & TIMBER Listers 40 CAKE CREATION Fiona Milnes: Cakes by Design CHILDREN’S SERVICES Jo Jingles BabyBells CHIROPODIST SERVICES Mandy Spring

10 08 56 16

CHIMNEY SWEEPING SERVICES TL Chimney Sweep Services 28 CLEANING SERVICES Allan Cotterill COACH HOLIDAYS PC Coaches

22 60

COMPLEMENTARY HEALTHCARE Lincoln Chiropractic 10 Eden Reflexology 40 COMPUTER SERVICES The PC Stop (John White)

26

DANCING CLASSES Susan Gaisford Danielle Rawlinson

22 28

DOMESTIC SERVICES Pepperpots Domestic Services

08

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE SERVICES Neil Bark 12 Larry Jackson 30

EATING OUT JayDees

IFC

HOME SECURITY Secure Homes Limited

10

ELECTRICAL SERVICES Nock Electrical

12

KNITTING WOOLS Louby Lou Wools

56

ESTATE AGENTS Mundys Harrison

IFC 16

EYECARE SERVICES Clearview Opticians David Burghardt FINANCIAL SERVICES Thompson & Richardson

40 BC 18

FLORISTS Flowers by Design

10

FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES Wiltshire Farm Foods

IFC

FOOTCARE SERVICES JES Footcare Amble Down FUNCTION VENUES The Old School Nettleham Village Hall FUNERAL SERVICES Jonathan Whiting Lincolnshire Co-operative

08 10 06 22 42 46

FURNITURE & SOFT FURNISHINGS Edward W Crowther Ltd 20 GARAGE DOOR SERVICES Castle Garage Doors

24

GARDEN SERVICES Lincs Landscape Co P Westman Landscapes Countryside & Garden Co Ltd S&S Contractors

06 08 38 40

GIFTWARE Troika ScandiGifts

06 08

GOLF CENTRES Welton Manor Golf Centre

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GUITAR TUITION Kirk Stephenson

42

HAIR STYLISTS Salon Rouge Margaret’s

20 22

HEALTH & FITNESS Wellbeing Fitness

54

HEARING AID SERVICES Claire Armitage

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PRINTING SERVICES Cupit Print

58

56

LAWNMOWER SERVICES Paul Dales

PROPERTY LETTING SERVICES Your Home 08

22

LEGAL SERVICES Page Nelson Dale & Co Sills & Betteridge JGQC Solicitors Andrew & Co Wilkin Chapman

06 08 24 38 40 42

PUBLIC HOUSES The Plough Inn The Black Horse

IFC 55

RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES St Luke’s Nursing Home Willan House

12 26

MATHS/ENGLISH TUITION Robin Taylor Lynn Williams

12 26

ROOFING SERVICES Simon J Humphreys Philip Linder N B Reid

08 22 42

MOBILE HAIRSTYLIST Niki Clarke Maxine

SIGNMAKERS Venture Signs

BC

18 24

MOTORING SERVICES Roy Wilson Auto Services Lincoln MOT Centre Scothern Garage

SKIP HIRE SERVICES Handy Tip Thompson Waste Management

16 24

10 30 BC

SPECIALITY FOODS The Cheese Society

14

SPORTS CLUBS Nettleham Tennis Club

IFC

12

PAINTING & DECORATING S J Skepper Graham Hill T Lawson Holmes & Fields Tom Day

08 10 18 22 24

PET SERVICES & SUPPLIES Taylors of Welton

10

PHARMACY SERVICES Lincolnshire Co-operative

18

PICTURE FRAMING SERVICE David Sunderland

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PLASTERING Nettleham Plastering

26

PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES Trevor Lawrence 04 D White 08 Paul Strong Limited 10 Gas Wise 18 Glyn Rudd Plumbing 22 Rowmac Plumbing 24 Apex Plumbing 30 Simply Heating (Lincoln) Limited 38 Mick Rattigan Plumbing 52 J Curtis 56

HANDYMAN/HOME MAINTENANCE Helping Hands 22 Nettleham Handyman 24

08 12

LAWNCARE Lawnmaster

MULTIMEDIA SERVICES Blow by Blow Productions

GARDEN CENTRES & NURSERIES Rudies Roots 10 Scothern Nurseries 42

PRE-SCHOOLS Beckside Pre-School Stepping Stones

SUPERMARKET & POST OFFICE Lincolnshire Co-operative IBC TAXI SERVICES Your Cars Private Hire

22

TRANSPORT OPTIONS Lincolnshire County Council

58

TRAVEL AGENTS Imp Travel

22

TREE & HEDGE SERVICES Sara Bright Tip Top Tree Service Mark Cropper Wainwright Forestry

06 22 24 28

WINDOWS & CONSERVATORIES CRB Installations 10 Andy Yates 18 Starglaze 66

Please remember to mention Nettleham News when responding to advertisements

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Nettleham Noticeboard If your local group or organisation is staging an event, use these free spaces to let everyone know

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE WALK Sunday 29 December 2013

All Saints Church Social & Fellowship Committee

Friends of Nettleham Scouts & Guides

Come join us and have a great evening at

Grand Christmas

A very special

Raffle Draw

Christmas Concert

incorporating

Meet 11.00am on The Green for a 2-hour guided walk around Nettleham

Lindum Ladies & Friends

Nettleham Community Market

7.30pm Saturday 14 December

Crafts & Produce Stalls

Suitable for all ages and abilities, please note the paths may be muddy and uneven

All Saints Church, Nettleham

Surprise refreshments en route!

including carols and poems from

Tickets: £7.00 (includes glass of wine/drink and refreshments)

There will be a raffle Tickets available from: Bob: 754654; Lynne: 823867; Margaret: 822487; Sally: 754145; Trevor: 826941; Jocelyne: 750988 or Julie: 821161

Organised by the Fieldpaths Committe of Nettleham Parish Council

©

ALL SAINTS CHURCH

ANNUAL SHOW Saturday 6 September 2014 Nettleham Village Hall Flowers, fruit, vegetables, wine-making, baking, art, crafts, photography and children’s classes

Saturday 12 July

How do you get your message across to every household in the village?

How do you ensure that everyone in Nettleham knows what’s going on?

It couldn’t be simpler -

USE NETTLEHAM NEWS It’s what everyone reads!

Tickets available outside the Co-op on 6 December

NETTLEHAM GARDENERS’ ASSOCIATION

Nettleham Carnival

Don’t miss this popular annual village event

Stalls and refreshments Carol singing outside the Co-op Grand draw at 12.00 noon

‘CUPPA TIME’

2014 Put it in your diary now!

Nettleham Village Green from 1.00pm

SATURDAY 7 DECEMBER 2013 AT THE SCOUT HUT 10.00am to 12.00 noon

Auction of produce at 5.00pm

Suspended during winter Christmas Party on Sunday 15 December and re-open again on the first Sunday of March (2 March)

&

MUSIC MEDITATION Every Thursday throughout the year 2.30pm - 3.00pm

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

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Tombola, raffle and refreshments All proceeds to the Nettleham Gardeners’ Association

Put it in your diary now!

WANTED Your ideas for future editions of Nettleham News It’s your magazine, so if there is something that you would like to see covered in its pages then contact the Editor on

753000 nettlehamnews@ntlworld.com

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TREVOR LAWRENCE PLUMBING AND CENTRAL HEATING GAS SAFE 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

the Chartered Institute of Plumbing

GAS

safe REGISTER

Telephone 01522 750146

(OFTEC) UNVENTED HOT WATER

M J SPENCER & SONS (NETTLEHAM) LTD Builders & Contractors 22 BECKSIDE, NETTLEHAM, LINCOLN LN2 2PH FOR A

COMPLETE BUILDING SERVICE TELEPHONE 01522 806919 MOBILE 07887 855921 or 07789 406660

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Parish Council News Welcome to the latest update on Nettleham Parish Council business Firstly the Parish Council wishes all readers and residents a Very Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for the New Year Nettleham Library As mentioned in the autumn edition of Nettleham News, the Parish Council held an Extraordinary meeting on Wednesday 11 September 2013 to debate Lincolnshire County Council’s proposals to close Nettleham library.

Public attendance was less than expected unfortunately, but those that came gave eloquent and passionate contributions to the discussion. It was agreed that the Parish Council would write to LCC expressing our strong objections to the proposals and a copy of this letter can be seen on page 32 of this edition.

It was also agreed, however, that we have to have a fall-back position in the event that these proposals are implemented and the Parish Council therefore lodged an “expression of interest” in running a volunteer-led community library. This was considered preferable to a fortnightly mobile library service, or a community library run in conjunction with Lincolnshire Co-operative Society.

Two working groups have now been set up - one to explore the contractual obligations required by LCC and one to engage with residents interested in volunteering to run a library service.

Some residents have come forward to help on the second working group but, if the project is to succeed, many more people must come forward and volunteer their time. Please contact the Parish office if you can help.

LCC are currently evaluating the “expressions of interest” received in running a Nettleham library service

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

It is disappointing to have to alter the appearance of this part of the village and undoubtedly parking problems will be moved to other areas, but the situation could not continue. We want to see shops and businesses continue to thrive and pedestrians kept safe in this area.

A map showing the proposed Traffic Regulation Orders can be seen on the centre pages 36/37 of this edition of Nettleham News.

Skate Park Provision As a suitable site and costs beyond our means resulted in plans for a full skate park being abandoned, we are very pleased to let you know that we are investigating the possibility of a scaled-down facility for early/pre-teen children of both genders.

Parish Office Open Monday - Thursday 9.00am - 12.30pm

(ours was not the only one) and the matter goes to their Executive Committee on 3 December for a decision on the future of library provision.

Traffic Management in the Village Centre Proposals to alleviate parking congestion in the centre of the village were discussed at the September Parish Council meeting. Finding a solution to the problem will not please everybody, but it was agreed action must now be taken. Plans to introduce restricted waiting times and more double yellow lines have been forwarded to Lincolnshire County Council’s Highways Department, who are expected to implement the necessary Traffic Regulation Orders after a statutory consultation period.

This will take some months to come into effect and the new restrictions will be enforced by the Civil Parking Enforcement Wardens.

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We are looking to provide a limited amount of skate-park type equipment (such as grind rails, quarter-pipe, table-top, etc) which can be used for skateboarding, skating, push scooters and BMX bikes.

This would be sited on the old boules court at Mulsanne Park which would have to be appropriately resurfaced.

Whilst this option is cheaper, we still have to find ways to fund it, but are very hopeful of being able to provide a much-needed village recreation facility for this age group.

Sponsorship of Village Floral Displays We were very pleased to have several offers of sponsorship for the flower tubs in Vicarage Lane. Thank you very much to Dr Elwood and the Cricket Club and other anonymous donors for their generosity. This response made us wonder if people might also wish to sponsor planting at the War Memorial, Church Street Bridge or even the hanging baskets at the Old School.

Please contact the Parish office if this idea appeals to you. continued on page 7

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LINCS LANDSCAPE CO

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Self-catering Holiday Cottages

Horticultural Contractors ● Contractors for all horticultural advice ● Suppliers of all trees, shrubs, plants & seeds ● All estimates Free

Nettleham, Lincoln

David Storey FRHS

Delightful cottages within easy walking distance of the Village Green.

Offering well-equipped accommodation with garden and off-road parking Weekends, weeks and longer-term lets available

CG Certs in Horticulture

Cherry Willingham, Lincoln LN3 4AN

English Tourism Council

Telephone: 751325 Mobile: 07754 778361 Email: storey-david@btconnect.com www.lincs-landscape.co.uk

TROIKA CARDS & GIFTS Greeting cards, Gifts, Jewellery and Toys

The Green, Nettleham

LINCOLN 751164 House Signs

English Tourism Council

For more details contact

Self Catering Accommodation

Susan Downs Telephone 01522 750819 Email: susan@oldvic.net Website: www.oldvic.net

A friendly and local firm of solicitors providing: ● ● ●

Conveyancing - at a low cost fixed fee Probate - a sensitive and efficient service Wills - a personal approach with reduced rates for all Nettleham News readers

Victory House, Henley Way, Doddington Road, Lincoln LN6 3QR Telephone (01522) 687500 Fax (01522) 690296 Free car parking available enquiries@pagenelson.co.uk www.pagenelson.co.uk for appointments

Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

The Old School Owned by Nettleham Parish Council Do you need help looking after your trees?

Not sure if your tree is safe?

Suitable for meetings, parties, receptions, events, exhibitions, etc

Concerned about Ash die-back disease, or other tree ailments?

Competitive Hire Charges

For professional and independent advice please contact me ● Over 30 years’ experience of working with trees, gardens and woodlands ● The Arboricultural Surveyor for Lincolnshire County Council ● Public liability and professional indemnity insurance held ● Technician member of the Arboricultural Association ● Based in Nettleham

Self Catering Accommodation

Telephone/fax: 01522 750011

Sara Bright TechArborA sarabright141@gmail.com

Email: parishcouncil@nettleham.info

01522 875939

www.nettleham.info

Mobile 07885 914305

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Parish Council News

Best Kept Village Competition

appropriate in every way. She told us the dictionary definitions were a long narrow strip of land, the width of one sweep of a scythe, or a long strip of cloth used to wrap round a body.

Henceforth, it will be called The Swathe and Val has earned herself a mention in the history of Nettleham.

We are delighted to let you know that Nettleham has again won the Best Kept Village Competition this year. This is the first year with CPRE taking over as organiser. Many thanks to all the pubs, shops and businesses for their wonderful flower displays, residents for their tidy gardens and the Parish Council Village Walk staff for their considerable efforts in We have not held a village walk recently keeping the village a litter-free and but the Fieldpaths Committee would attractive environment. like to invite you to come and get some We are also grateful to a member of fresh air and exercise in between the Nettleham Art Group for re-painting the Christmas and New Year festivities.

BKV tree plaques. Thank you for your The route will not be too taxing and contribution - a labour of love refreshments will be served half-way considering how many we have along, so do put Sunday 29 December acquired over the years! in your diary and join us on The Green at 11.00am (see page 3).

Extended Burial Ground We were gratified to receive several responses to our request for suggestions of a name for this area of land yet to come into use as a cemetery.

Congratulations to Val Fane whose suggestion we thought was the most

The Fieldpaths Advisory Committee are also looking for new members and if you are interested in attending meetings of this committee, which are held twice a year, please contact the Parish Office.

Nettleham Parish Council Web Page The Parish Council’s web page (www.nettleham.info) contains a vast array of information, including contact details for leaders and/or organisers of local clubs.

The Council has become aware that some of these details have changed and it would be very helpful if group leaders could check the details on their entry on the web page and let the Parish Office know if any information requires updating.

If your club or group is not mentioned there, and you’d like it to be, simply let us have the details.

Nettleham Neighbourhood Plan Creation of a Nettleham Neighbourhood Plan continues and on page 23, Councillor John Evans, Chairman of the Parish Council Neighbourhood Plan Comnmittee, offers a report on progress to date on this important project.

PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS Meetings commence at 7.30pm and all are open to the general public All at The Old School unless otherwise stated

Parish Council Meetings Wednesday 18 December 2013 Thursday 16 January 2014 (at Mulsanne Park)

Monday 17 February 2014

Property Committee Wednesday 11 December 2013 (at Mulsanne Park) Dates correct at the time of going to press

Rose Walker (nee Marrison) Aged 91 has sadly passed away in Australia after emigrating there 48 years ago Councillor Terry Williams (Chairman) and Councillor John Downs receiving the plaque on behalf of Nettleham Parish Council for winning the 2013 Best Kept Village competition, presented by a representative from East Lindsey District Council on the 18 October at Billingborough

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Formerly of Riseholme and Heath Farm, Nettleham

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Simon J Humphreys

S J SKEPPER Interior & Exterior Painter & Decorator

Specialist in built-up felt roofing

City & Guilds Holder For free estimates telephone

8 Sudbrooke Lane Nettleham

WELTON 01673 861443 Mobile telephone: 07930 227414

Telephone 01522 751561

3 Ridge Close, Welton

Mobile: 07905 092174

PEPPERPOT’S

D WHITE

DOMESTIC SERVICES

PLUMBING SERVICES 30 years experience

Regular Cleans Laundry & Ironing Service Spring & Builder Cleans Windows & Carpets Cleaned House Moves

Bathroom design, supply and installation Showers and shower repairs Wall and floor tiling

TELEPHONE

All types of plumbing repairs No job too small and no call-out charge

01673 857691 Mobile: 07947 322023

01522 690554

LANGTON-BY-WRAGBY, MARKET RASEN elizabeth@pepperpotscleaning.co.uk

55 Meadowlake Crescent Lincoln LN6 0HZ

REGISTERED PLUMBER

P WESTMAN LANDSCAPES

ScandiGifts

Garden Design, Pruning, Turfing, Fencing, Tree Surgery, Patios, Hedging

The perfect place for Scandinavian home and gift ideas Telephone 07526 675815

FREE ESTIMATES GIVEN Telephone Philip Westman Ash Tree House 25 Eastfield Lane Welton Lincoln LN2 3NA

Open: Tuesday - Friday: 9.00am - 5.00pm Saturday: 9.30am - 2.00pm Unit 2, 19 The Green, Nettleham, Lincoln LN2 2NR (Just behind the Co-op)

01673 866660

Beckside Pre-School Extensions, New Builds, Brickwork, Block Paving, Patios, Concreting and more

For details on classes in: North Hykeham, Welton, Bailgate, Waddington, Saxilby, Gainsborough, Retford and Bawtry

Call Katy on 07736 463605 lincolnjojingles@hotmail.co.uk www.jojingles.com/lincoln

Early Years Unit, All Saints Lane, Nettleham 16 Sibthorpe Drive Sudbrooke Lincoln LN2 2RQ

Competitive Rates Free Estimates t: 01522 595189 m: 07970 387909 / 07970 387910 w: www.fairclear.co.uk e: enquiries@fairclear.co.uk

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For children 2 to 5 OFSTED Registered

Monday - Friday 9.00am - 3.00pm Come and see us learning through play

Telephone: 07940 873505 Email: becksidenettleham@googlemail.com

Helen Kendall and Jayne Ellis

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Letters from Readers More readers’ letters on page 11

Historic Site or Dog Walk (and Toilet!)

Following the articles in the spring and summer editions of Nettleham News about the Bishop’s Palace site, I visited the site for only the second time recently to appreciate the work that has already gone into this developing and excellent village asset.

Residents generally are probably not fully aware of how much work has gone on behind the scenes over quite a long period of time to reach the present situation and we should be extremely grateful to those individuals and organisations for all the time and effort they have invested in this community project.

Sadly I cannot continue in this positive tone. As I walked around the site, instead of being able to fully concentrate on the information provided, etc, my attention was increasingly drawn to the amount of dog faeces left on the actual mown walk areas, (I can only imagine the other areas were similarly affected) and I stopped counting after the eighth such deposit on the paths, as my initial interest and enjoyment of the site was now replaced by anger at the disgraceful, selfish and unsocial attitude of some dog owners.

So despite the polite requests in Nettleham News, on-site notices and the provision of bins, etc, the problem of irresponsible dog owners in the village has now extended to the spoil this important site as well. It begs the question as to why dogs have to be allowed onto this historic site at all?

Surely the purpose of developing it was to preserve and create an area of historic importance and information. I would therefore encourage responsible residents of Nettleham to lobby the Parish Council and the other managers of the site to achieve a ban now! It should not be allowed to become another ‘convenience’ for dogs and their selfish and lazy owners.

It also creates a bad impression with visitors from outside the village. We are plagued nationally by ‘bad’ dog owners, so often reported in all forms of the media, local and national, to the point of acute irritation. Why should this site, which has been so many years waiting to be recognised for its importance, be blighted by this ever-present problem?

And Yet Again...!

If schoolchildren are going to visit the Bishop’s Palace site on organised visits, as presumably they will, do we really want them to return home with shoes, clothing or hands soiled with dog faeces? Totally unnecessary, avoidable, extremely unhygienic and dangerous, as we well know, so a total ban is the only answer.

The ‘minority of offenders’ so often referred to will always be with us however many notices and pleas are made, simply because there is no enforcement of the rules or requests to clean up!

Until irresponsible dog owners are taken to task and seen to be dealt with, the problem will not entirely disappear.

Anyone who has visited our village playing fields cannot have failed to notice the procession of dog walkers who regularly use the sites - some acting responsibly, others not so. Dogs are regularly released from their leads and naturally run off across the sites, some leaving their ‘visitor’ cards, often conveniently out of sight of their owners.

Do we really want our children in particular to be placed at risk or suffer the extremely unpleasant and potentially dangerous effects of contact?

There is a solution here. These are public playing fields and were not provided as dog playing fields, nor dog exercise areas.

The intention behind their creation presumably had people (and particularly children) in mind, unless I am mistaken.

So an easily achieved remedy (no doubt unpopular with some dog owners) would be to fence off appropriately sized areas within the playing fields for dog ‘exercise’, but then ban them completely from the remaining areas. It’s not rocket science it has been and continues to be done successfully elsewhere in the country.

I cannot be the only resident to have noticed this situation in the village, so I call on Nettleham residents to lobby your local representatives so we have at least one officially dog-free public area in the village. And, just for the record, I’m not anti-dog, it’s just some of their owners with whom I take issue and they know who they are!

Allen Page Editor This is an ongoing problem and yet one which could be so easily resolved for the benefit of everyone.

The pavements and footpaths around the village are now relatively free of dog faeces because any transgression is likely to be witnessed and perhaps reported, but in more remote areas such as the Bishop’s Palace site and village playing fields, irresponsible dog owners may consider that the risk of being observed is perhaps reduced.

Once again I appeal to ALL dog owners to ALWAYS clear up after their pets.

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This morning I was walking our dog through the Burial Ground in the village following a Streetforce operative, who was changing the bin bags there, and I noticed him side-step something on the footpath.

When I reached what he had side-stepped, I was incensed to see - yes, it is exactly what it looks like - smack bang in the middle of the footpath!

I have over recent weeks seen several similar piles (and all from the same dog, if I’m any judge), but these before had been confined to the Burial Extension Ground. One disgusting pile had even been deposited, unbagged, under the new red dog-poo bin there!

I’m sending you the photograph hoping that, if it is published, it may prick the conscience of a particularly thoughtless dog-owning villager.

Please withhold my name and address, as I am basically a coward and I feel that anybody who has so little social conscience would have no compunction in coming round to mine and sticking one on me!

(Incidentally, I disposed of the deposit in the correct manner).

Name and address withheld Editor What a shame that certain dog owners in the village still fail to pick up after their pets!

I went outside one morning recently and found a pile of dog excrement in the middle of my gravel drive!

I urge any reader to report any instance of a dog-owner failing to pick up after their pet to the authorities, without hesitation.

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Letters from Readers More readers’ letters on page 13

Missing Apostrophe

Only Pulling Your Leg! During a recent stay in hospital, whilst recovering from an operation, I was awoken one morning by a clanking in the cubicle next to mine as two porters wheeled away the empty bed.

Into its place was wheeled a rather large lady balanced on her side on an elevated air-bed. When the porters had left, the young nurse did her best attending to the lady. She then asked the patient if she was comfortable.

Whilst visiting the Bishop’s Palace site for the first time, I couldn’t help but notice the apostrophe missing from the welcome sign above the new wooden gate.

Does this bother anyone else, or am I just an old-fashioned nitpicker/stickler?

Joan Foreman Editor Thank you for your keen observation Joan.

I suspect that the days of the apostrophe may now be numbered.

One increasingly sees it omitted where, grammatically speaking, it should be included (I’m sometimes guilty myself!).

Text messaging and emailing, where speed is the prime concern may be contributing to its demise, or perhaps our simply children aren’t being taught the correct use of this punctuation mark.

Interestingly, the palace itself was used over several centuries by a succession of different bishops, so perhaps it should be more correctly Bishops’ Palace?

Macmillan Coffee Morning I was very pleased to send a cheque for £320 to Macmillan following the Coffee Morning at my home on 20 September.

In addition, I also received a large number of donations and I would like to thank everyone, especially the ladies who worked so hard at various tasks.

My grateful thanks to everyone for their support.

Kathleen Ersser Please note that for correspondence to appear in the ‘Letters from Readers’ pages, the name and address of the writer must be supplied to the Editor.

A policy of strict confidentiality is applied and under no circumstances will the personal contact details of the writer be published, if a specific request to withhold this information accompanies the original correspondence.

The opinions expressed in these columns are not necessarily those of the Editor

“I shall be”, said the lady, “when I get my leg off”.

The young nurse looked horrified.

“But I thought you were admitted with a cardiac problem?”, she queried.

“Oh, I was”, replied the lady, “but if you unbuckle my leg from the right knee and stand it in the corner, I shall feel much better”!

I thought I had had a bad dream until, the next morning I saw the leg, complete with sock, standing by the locker next to mine!

Barbara Taylor Editor Thank you Barbara for recounting this amusing incident and I’m sure readers will join me in wishing you a full and speedy recovery.

Hospitals can be a rich source of amusing stories and I wonder if any readers have other amusing tales to tell of their experiences whilst in the hands of the medical profession?

Accidents and illness all too often result in sadness and depression and humour can sometimes help to lift the spirits and bring a smile in challenging times.

Thank You FUNDRAISING FOR SIGHT SAVERS Thank you all so much for your most generous support of the stall, held at Nettleham Cares, in aid of Sight Savers.

A sincere thank you to Doris Colman and her family for all the knitted gifts sent to us for sale on the stall and to Win Rollin for all her help in so many ways.

The proceeds of the stall, together with donations received, meant that I was able to send the grand sum of £120.00 to Sight Savers to help in their excellent work.

Thank you all for such generosity.

Joyce E Lewis 11

From Margaret in Watford As Christmas approaches, I have been trying to remember how we spent the day during World War II. The very first image that came into my head was my mother, sitting at the scrubbed wooden kitchen table, plucking the turkey. Nothing from that turkey was thrown away - every giblet, parson’s nose, etc, was used to make a meal. Rations were so severe and I praise the mothers who always managed to create a meal for their families. We were a fit nation then not an obese person in sight!

I remember hanging a stocking up on Christmas Eve and finding nuts, an apple and a threepenny piece (if I was lucky!) on Christmas Day. One present I received is still fondly remembered - a green leather purse with a zip fastener - the first zip I ever owned and I thought it was magical!

We always bought a packet of paper chains to decorate the front room. I can’t remember having to go into the cold, dark Anderson shelter any Christmas Day during the six years of war.

In those six dark war years, Christmas Day came and went without any great fuss really. How different it is for children today who seem to get so many presents that they often don’t appreciate any of them!

On another subject entirely, I read your article on page 23 of the autumn edition of Nettleham News about not receiving any responses to the appeal for anyone interested in eventually taking over from you, but I think that you have created such a super magazine that it is rather a hard act to follow!

Margaret Waggett Editor Once again Margaret thank you so much for an interesting and seasonal letter - I’m sure many readers will share your fond reminiscences.

Many thanks also for your kind words about the magazine - I’m pleased you continue to enjoy it.

However, I have to say that although I am responsible for putting the magazine together, it is the people who contribute all the material for publication, both regularly (like yourself) and occasionally, who make the magazine what it is.

As the deadline for each edition approaches, I sometimes wonder if I am going to be able to fill all the pages and then in the last couple of days, an avalanche of material usually descends!

So if you are sending anything for publication, please don’t leave it until the last minute sooner rather than later is preferred!

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Letters from Readers More readers’ letters on page 15

Noise Pollution

Simple Pleasures I have just read the autumn edition of Nettleham News and the letter from Margaret of Watford.

I wonder if anyone else in the village has become aware of increasing instances of continuous aircraft noise over Nettleham?

I grew up in Nettleham, moving there at the age of three when my father (George Pamley) came to live at the Co-op, spending many of my days fishing in the Beck, complete with fishing net and jam jar.

Spending long hours in the garden, I noticed that the same aircraft was flying round and round in a circuit extending from here to Lincoln, which took around five minutes to complete before the next circuit was started (resulting in 12 circuits an hour, or around 100 circuits in a working day!).

I eventually left the village when I married Colin (your village bus driver!). This summer we bought two of our grandchildren Ruby (6) and Archie (3) to Nettleham to do what I spent much of my childhood doing!

I talked grandad (Colin) into fashioning a jam jar with a string handle (aided with a tie wrap), grabbed two fishing nets and off we went.

Now I acknowledge that living where we do we should expect some aircraft noise and I fully accept this. You only need to glance up at a clear blue sky at most hours of the day to see several vapour trails where aircraft have passed overhead.

Both children had to be dragged out of the Beck after several hours, both soaking wet and very, very excited, they said that they had had the best time ever and so did we!

They can’t wait to come back and do it again. It was great to spend time on a free activity - and not a power-point in sight!

However, these come and go, the sound increasing and diminishing in volume as they depart the area. However, the aircraft which drives me mad is a propeller-driven aeroplane with two deep, droning engines which repeatedly follows the same circuit pattern and is never out of earshot.

Colin & Lynn Dallas

It is like having tinnitus (and I should apologise unreservedly now to anyone who has not been aware of it before, but now perhaps may be!). Once you have heard this incessant sound on a daily basis, it is almost impossible to ignore.

In desperation I wrote to RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire where they deal with nuisance aircraft complaints and I received a reply informing me that the aircraft in question was a ‘Defender’ taking part in a military exercise which was scheduled to commence on 23 July and end on 23 August - an entire month!!!

Nettleham News Does the Rounds! live on the Isle of Wight, and when they Hello - just a quick email to say how much have read it, it gets passed on to my neice, I enjoy reading Nettleham News magazine. so it certainly does the rounds! We all It’s wonderful! I don’t live in Nettleham think it’s a brilliant magazine! Nettleham but my sister (Maxine Green) does. I live in is such a pretty village and I always enjoy Harrogate, up in North Yorkshire, so she coming to stay with Maxine and Walter passes the magazine on to me after she (her husband) - they are very lucky to have has read it. I am disabled and don’t get out a beautiful house in a beautiful village! too much, so I really enjoy reading and I just wanted to pass on my thoughts doing crosswords! When I have read it, about your magazine, thank you.

I send it off to my two sisters-in-law who Denise Jones Harrogate, North Yorkshire Editor Nice to hear from you Denise and many thanks for your kind words - I’m pleased you and your relatives enjoy it so much and there’s a special Christmas puzzle for you on page 47!

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I was assured that “aircrew make every effort to minimise disturbance by varying routes as much as possible, but there are no truly unpopulated areas of the UK”.

So out of all the sparsely-populated areas of rural Lincolnshire, the airspace above the city of Lincoln is a selected route!

Anyway, there are thousands of square miles of unpopulated area around our coastline - it’s called the ocean. Why on earth can’t this relentless noise be transferred to the North Sea where the only disturbance will be to oil-rig workers and the occasional passing ship?

Please leave us gardeners to enjoy the peace and quiet of our gardens, something which is already all too difficult to achieve in this day and age.

The Editor

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Letters from Readers A reader’s letter on page 21 of the autumn edition of Nettleham News made a number of observations relating to the work of local nature conservation groups on projects in this area.

Here, Chris Williams, Chairman of Nettleham Woodland Trust responds to the points raised.

In his letter to Nettleham News, Harry Carter expresses an intense dislike of some developments in local nature reserves and in conclusion shudders “as to what new signs may be erected by these people”.

As one of ‘these people’ and Chairman of Nettleham Woodland Trust, responsible for the creation and management of Monks Wood and the Co-op Wood in the Ashing Lane Nature Reserve, I would like to inform Mr Carter that the ‘officials’ and ‘bureaucrats’ he rails against are those very same ‘volunteers’ whose hard work he admires at the beginning of the article.

We are local people developing woodland so that local people like ourselves, our friends, families and neighbours can enjoy a relaxing and tranquil setting which is attracting an increasingly varied range of fauna and flora as shown, for example, by some RSPB surveys.

We only erect signs for two reasons.

The first is prevent damage to Ashing Lane, its flora and its fauna by misuse. Horses leaving the bridleways can ruin pathways, whilst humans swimming in the lake have destroyed plants and probably discouraged a pair of swans from nesting there in spring/summer 2013. Indeed soon after groups of youths began frequenting the lakeside in the early summer, one of the swans was found dead in an adjacent meadow.

Vehicles can be restricted by the use of gates and ‘dragon’s’ teeth, but clear signage such as ‘No swimming’ and ‘No

Yesterday in Lodge Lane 70+ cars were parked on both sides creating a no-go area for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders.

horse-riding’ must also be part of the strategy, so that users of the reserve can see clearly what is acceptable in developing and fragile environments.

Mr Carter may be infuriated by the latest signs we have put up at the entrances to Co-op Wood, but we suspect he would be really angry if he had seen all the bottles, cans, food packets, discarded BBQs and even condoms, left by mindless visitors and subsequently cleared up by NWT members.

External advice has dictated further signs.

The PCSOs supported the ‘No swimming’ signs to enable them to carry out their duties and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust recommended the ‘Please keep to the path’ as a way of avoiding possible litigation if visitors stray from the main routes and are injured.

We should emphasise that we have not chosen to put up signs for everything.

NWT welcomes the regular dog walkers, but it is the way of dogs to leap and swim in the lake. However, the puddling of the margins caused by large dogs does have a significant negative impact on aquatic invertebrates that breed here and also on the reed-nesting birds in the spring.

We could fence off the lake, but hope we can avoid doing this through different approaches to raising awareness I can’t identify Mr Carter’s account of undergrowth being cut down as a description of the areas managed by NWT. The walks are mown several times a year to keep them easily accessible for walkers.

Their edges are certainly cut, and the hay meadow is mown annually, but the picture of devastation is not something we recognise in Monks Wood and around the Co-op Lake.

Indeed without NWT the majority of the wild flowers in the area would simply not be there. Moreover, photographer Mark Johnson would not have been able to take any of his outstanding pictures of insects in such a place, while Nettleham Woodland Trust would not have been the overall winner of the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards in July 2013 with a track record of destruction of this type.

Mr Carter begins his article by stating that “I have walked Monks Wood for many years now”. The area which is now Monks Wood and managed by Nettleham Woodland Trust was a wheat field farmed by the Wyke brothers until 2008, and the conversion to woodland started on 21 January 2009, less than five years ago.

The land had been grazed, or under the plough, for many centuries before this as shown by the 1844 Dunholme tithe award map. Perhaps Mr Carter is thinking of somewhere else.

Chris Williams Chairman Nettleham Woodland Trust Editor I would like to take this opportunity to thank Chris Williams for taking the time and trouble to respond to Mr Carter’s original letter and trust it serves to put his mind at rest

Lincoln Rugby Football Club Traffic

The police were informed and they promised to look into the situation.

If you look closely at the photograph you will see a man, woman and child trying to negotiate the tunnel created by all the parked cars and this area is a 60mph speed limit!

John Hewlett Email received by Nettleham Parish Council Madam Clerk, further to our telephone conversation this morning, would you please convey to your chairman and councillors, on behalf of LRFC our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience or upset the (extra) parking on Lodge Lane last Sunday may have caused the residents. It was caused by a mix-up with fixtures for the day and the fact that the construction of the car parking facilities have been delayed by the weather. When they are completed it will allow all parking to be done on site. We would therefore ask for your understanding in this matter and please be reassured we are giving this matter our most urgent and immediate attention to avoid a repeat performance. I look foreward [sic] to meeting with you in the near future to discuss this and any other matters. Yours sincerely Peter Small (chairman LRFC)

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Photograph of Lodge Lane taken by a reader on Sunday 27 October 2013

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Always a Warm Welcome For many people the summer of 2013 was a memorable one. From the birth of Prince George to Andy Murray winning Wimbledon, it truly was a summer not to forget. For me however, it shall always be remembered as the summer when I fulfilled my dream of running my own teashop.

From the 12 August, when I took over The Tea Cosy from Angie Grantham, the only thing that has struck me more than how busy the shop has been, is the warmth of the welcome that I have received from customers old and new.

The people of Nettleham and surrounding villages who have made The Tea Cosy such a vibrant place to be, have truly made me feel a part of the community and I would like to thank every single one of them.

The first three months have been hugely enjoyable and rewarding, as well as hectic!

Angie, together with the team that I inherited from her, have all been so supportive, making the experience of running my own business much more manageable.

Those of you reading this who are regular visitors to The Tea Cosy will have noticed some cosmetic changes over the last few weeks. If you haven’t seen the new decor yet, then please pop in out of the cold, for a warm welcome, a drink and something tasty from our menu.

I would also like to let readers know of our plans for December. Alongside some special seasonal treats, customers will also have the chance during the month to win some fabulous prizes in our Charity Christmas Raffle, which this year will be raising money for Matt’s Fund (a local charity raising funds for research into Malignant Melanoma).

Just to let you know that our last day of trading before closing for Christmas will be Saturday 21 December and we will be reopening on Friday 3 January 2014.

people of Nettleham a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year and I look forward to welcoming you all in the shop soon.

Finally, may I wish all of our customers old and new, The Tea Cosy team and all of the

For regular updates and offers ‘Like’ us on Facebook

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Nettleham Carnival Donation

Phil McGuiness presents the cheque to Robina Cameron and Carol Carter from Marie Curie Cancer Care

On Wednesday 30 October, Robina Cameron and Carol Carter, Chair and Deputy Chair of the Lincoln Marie Curie Cancer Care Fundraising Group, came to Nettleham to receive a cheque for £500.00 from Phil McGuiness, retiring Chairman of Nettleham Carnival Committee, which supported this charity at the 2013 Carnival.

Marie Curie Nurses make this happen in Lincolnshire, providing high quality nursing care for the patient, as well as practical and emotional advice and support both for the patient and their family. Marie Curie Nurses provide care during the day and more usually overnight, for up to nine hours.

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Shame! (or the Editor’s rant!)

What a sad and forlorn picture is presented today by the buildings on All Saints Lane, previously known as Linelands.

Once a place where people compassionately cared for others, they are a stark reflection of the dire state of our country. Boarded-up windows, overgrown gardens, weedy tarmac - it is a grim and sad indictment of the administration which allowed this situation to come about and should hang its collective head in shame. And it won’t end here - the library is earmarked next for potential closure - then what?

This country is financially (and mostly morally) bankrupt. We have sleep-walked into a situation where we can no longer afford to care and provide adequately for the young, the elderly and the sick people of our nation.

Residential homes for elderly and infirm folk are now few and far between and those that still remain in operation are only affordable by those who have somehow managed to save a substantial cash sum, or sold precious lifetime assets in order to fund their retirement years.

And if you’re sick, the NHS, once a world-class institution, may not have enough funding, beds or staff to offer you the level of professional care which you would expect to receive. Our local hospitals were recently identified as amongst the worst-performing in the country!

Politicians (of every political persuasion) are to blame for this shameful situation encouraging profligacy and credit far beyond our means to maintain a superficial ‘feel-good’ factor and so to keep them in their jobs and retain power. Greed and selfishness are evident from the very top down - every day the media reports more instances of individual and corporate corruption and falsehood - we are fast becoming a third-world country, with an unhealthy obsession with money, fame, celebrity, shopping, appearing young and the latest hi-tech gadgets.

We have been conditioned to perceive unlimited credit as desirable and somehow normal. The old adage of ‘live now, pay later’ has returned to haunt us. If the government runs out of money, the answer is easy - simply print some more! Someone else will pay later, and if the value of the pound is worth less with each passing day, who really cares?!

News has recently been announced that a new atomic power station is to be built in Somerset, but by a French company financed by China! Why on earth aren’t we building it? Do we no longer have the necessary skills, or is it simply that we’re complacent and broke? It’s high time we returned to more traditional values and got our priorities right.

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Nettleham Neighbourhood Plan Progress Report: November 2013 We had a very busy and successful consultation event at the Carnival where the aims and objectives of our earlier consultations were confirmed as the correct interpretation of local opinions for the emerging Plan.

Since then we have been busy forming focus groups to look in more depth at the main issues raised, ie housing, getting about, the environment and sustainability, infrastructure and well-being, shopping and employment. This all goes to provide an evidence base for the emerging Plan.

In addition we have secured funding from an organisation called Locality who channel government money into Neighbourhood Plans in order to provide professional support. We now have a planning support specialist who is guiding us through the process so that when the

NETTLEHAM CARES Thank you so much to everyone who joined in Nettleham Cares on Saturday 19 October and made the day so memorable.

It was good to have so many charities participating and on their behalf, I thank all of you for your support.

Thank you ladies for providing delicious refreshments again. Whether stall-holders or supporters, we did enjoy the goodies and know you all slept well that night!

Also my thanks to the ladies of Chevrette who again not only provided the music for us, but made no charge, thus supporting all the charities. Such a kind gesture.

Finally a great big THANK YOU to all those kind folk who helped me before and after the event - it’s so very good of you all.

I couldn’t have done it without you.

I think it is time now for me to pass the organising of Nettleham Cares to others.

Long may it continue. Please get in touch so I can help you with contact details, etc.

Once again so very many thanks to everyone.

Joyce E Lewis

Plan is finally presented for consideration it will not fail for procedural reasons.

He will also ensure that we have consulted as widely as possible, because this is the community’s Plan.

We have also secured a grant to cover the estimated cost of design and production of the Plan document. The combined value of the funding is in excess of £10,000 - a big saving for the parish.

The objective is to complete the main phase of the Plan by the middle of 2014.

It will then go for wide consultation, including the community and the District Council. Once the consultation is complete and comments assessed, it will be submitted for independent inspection to ensure that it meets the local development plan strategy. Once that has all been completed successfully, then it’s time for

the community of Nettleham to have a referendum on the Plan, which we anticipate to be around May 2015. If we get over 50% of those voting approving the Plan, then it will be adopted into the planning system and will help determine the future shape of our village.

It is vitally important that we have as many inputs as possible from a wide range of people in the community. If you feel that you would like to help shape our future, you would be very welcome to join one of the focus groups investigating matters relating to an area that interests you.

Please contact Sue Aikman at the Parish office on 01522 750011 and she will be able to discuss matters further.

John Evans Chairman, Neighbourhood Plan Committee Nettleham Parish Council

LINK TO HOPE SHOEBOX APPEAL 2013 First of all many thanks to you all for your support of the Coffee Morning on 29 August when we launched the Shoebox Appeal. This was so well attended we raised £227.00 which was a fantastic start. We did so appreciate the help given by both supporters and stall-holders.

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 151 shoeboxes are now ready to make their way to Eastern Europe, as well as boxes of cuddly toys, stationery, hats, scarves, jumpers, cardigans and blankets - a wonderful response from ladies who knitted squares which were stitched into blankets - they could be life-savers in the winter weather. Likewise the appeal for hats, scarves and gloves

was wonderful again this year all these gifts keeping folk warm and cosy. How much joy they will bring to families in eastern Europe at Christmas time and for many months to come.

Once again support for the appeal has come from far and wide - ie Barnsley, Doncaster, Nottingham, Swansea, Lincoln and all the villages around us.

Cherry Willingham Primary School, Christ’s Hospital School and Queen Eleanor Primary School, Harby, are also supporting us. So many folk told us how much they enjoyed packing the boxes, so please will you pass on this ‘thank you’ to those you know who will not receive a copy of Nettleham News. We so appreciate the support we are given and thank everyone.

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

Cora, Mary, Janet and Joyce

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HELP LIVES Fundraising This year’s Nettleham Cares event took place at the Village Hall on Saturday 19 October 2013. Mandy, Mavis, June, Shelagh and Zoe ‘manned’ the stall throughout the day with Marcus and Diane helping out in the afternoon.

There was a definite increase in the number of visitors this year, which was very welcome. In addition to the jams, chutneys and tombola prizes, we held a Christmas raffle as well. On the day we raised over £300, with a donation for some lace-making equipment still to be received. This is a very welcome addition to our funds. Special thanks go to all involved, on the day as well as behind the scenes, including our customers.

There will be a number of changes to our fundraising efforts in the future.

Mandy, one of our main fundraisers is taking a step back from the day-to-day activities, but you may still see her if available, helping out at the Carnival in the future. Mavis has retired from making jams and chutneys and she’s already donated her preserving pans to the Hospice. On behalf of us all at Nettleham LIVES we would like to thank Mandy and Mavis for their unstinting hard work over very many years.

Mavis is happy to continue as a helper/fundraiser in the future and will support June, Maurice and Shelagh in our efforts for the group. Please look out for us in the future.

Level 1 Responders All of the First Responders in the Nettleham group are trained to deal with emergencies up to Level 2 (providing basic life-saving support in emergency situations, which includes cardiac arrest, breathing difficulties, oxygen administration, assisting potential stroke casualties and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation).

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SAVE LIVES

LIVES headquarters have become involved in a new initiative to support patients in the community with urgent but non life-threatening emergencies.

To explain the background in a little more detail, approximately one in three of all emergency calls in the UK are non life-threatening. Of those, less than half require an ambulance response. However, most of these patients need urgent access to their GP, out-of-hours service, or other community-based services. In response to this growing demand from the public, LIVES are working with NHS Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire County Council to provide a service to local residents in their own homes.

These volunteers will be called Level 1 Responders.

At the moment, patients who call 999 or 111 with an urgent, but non life-threatening problem, may have to wait an indefinite time for a response because patients with life threatening problems always take priority. LIVES Level 1 Responders will respond to this type of call and, working with Ambulance Control and 111, will help in providing on-scene assessment of the patients and assist them in accessing the necessary services they need in a timely manner.

In summary, the role of the Level 1 Responder is to provide: ●

A prompt response to patients with urgent, but not emergency, health care needs

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Reliable assisted ‘on scene’ assessment and feedback to the GP, Ambulance Service or any other acute health care provider

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Hands-on assistance in signposting and accessing relevant healthcare for patients who may otherwise be unnecessarily transported to and/or admitted to hospital

●

Communication with the patient and

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their carers to establish what the problem is and what care that person needs ●

Communication with other health care providers such as GPs, community nurses, the Out-of-Hours Service, Adult and Social Care and EMAS to make sure the patient gets the appropriate care for their needs

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Help to keep people healthy and safe in their communities

●

Help frail and elderly patients with long-term conditions in their own homes.

In addition, some of the calls that Level 1 Responders will be called to will be generated by the ‘Life Line’ system. This system is one where a patient in need of assistance will press their button, which will be picked up by a call centre that has the patient’s details on file. Within the patient’s file will be details of personnel to contact in cases of non life-threatening emergencies. There are usually contact details of two people and the local LIVES group number will be the third.

The LIVES local group will be contacted in the event of there being no-one available from the first two contact numbers. The Level 1 Responder will then attend the patient and establish what action should be taken, using a number of established procedures.

I’m pleased to be able to advise Nettleham residents that a number of our Level 2 Responders have undergone training to respond to Level 1 call-outs and will offer this voluntary service in our community.

Whilst the service is still in its infancy, it is expected to become fully operational over the coming months.

If you’d like to know more about Nettleham LIVES or are interested in joining the team, please contact Edward Rouse our Co-ordinator, on 01522 753033.

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Police News British summertime is now officially ended, signalling the start of long dark nights and cold weather.

We need to be vigilant in the care of our neighbours, especially those who are more vulnerable. Just popping in from time to time can be enough, keeping our eyes open to see whether papers are still stuck in the letterbox, or the curtains are shut when they are normally open - small things like this can sometimes save a life.

Another option is to join the ‘Nominated Neighbour’ scheme covered in the last edition of Nettleham News.

It is not just the vulnerable that need to take care in these darker nights; here are our top tips for your security and safety: If you are leaving your house unattended make sure you fit timer switches, so that it looks occupied, draw curtains and blinds so your valuable items are not in view of windows. Leave a radio on, this will also help to keep pets calm.

Use a door chain so that you can see who is there before opening the door fully.

It is also a good idea to have an adequate light outside your main entrance, so that you can see who is outside from the window. Do not worry about leaving people at the door while you go to another window if you cannot see. If it is someone you know, they will be prepared to wait for you to come to the door.

If it is a workman who wants to come into your home, always ask for identification.

If you are not sure, ask for a number to telephone to check their identity before letting them in.

Distraction burglary isn’t common, but we all need to be aware of it. This is where criminals call at a house posing as officials, or asking for help with something such as a lost pet, or a glass of water, or perhaps pretending to be from an official company.

They then make up a story to get inside to steal whatever they can find.

Some work alone, but often they work in groups of two or more, usually one person will knock at the door with a convincing excuse that seems genuine or urgent.

The talker will persuade the victim to let them in and will keep you occupied whilst another will sneak in and search the house to steal cash and valuables. They can be men, women or children and smartly or casually dressed. As we have said, this is not common, but we do all need to be aware to protect our property.

If you suspect a bogus caller do not hesitate to call 999, don’t let them in and don’t get into conversation with them.

Don’t worry if they are genuine - the police would rather attend a false alarm, than not be called to a distraction burglary.

If you are using a bicycle or motorbike ALWAYS wear High Visibility clothing.

Hi-Viz waistcoats cost very little and could save your life.

Park your car in a well-lit area and remove all valuables and SATNAV holder marks.

Look for a ‘Safer Car Park’ sign - this means a car park has passed minimum standards for safety and security.

We now have a new PCSO at Nettleham: PCSO Glenn Patchett, who will be helping PCSO Jackie Parker with this area.

The officers at Nettleham are: PC716 Nick Prestwich PCSO Jackie Parker Mobile: 07944 776801 Email: jackie.parker@lincs.pnn.police.uk PCSO Glenn Patchett Mobile: 07796 267137 Email: glenn.patchett@lincs.pnn.police.uk If you want to keep up with all the latest police news in your area, please join us on Twitter and Facebook.

LINCOLNSHIRE POLICE Nettleham Neighbourhood Policing Team Police Station Scothern Lane Nettleham Lincoln LN2 2TU Emergency telephone: 999 Non-emergency telephone: 101 Email: nettleham.npt@lincs.pnn.police.uk

twitter.com@npt-nettleham

facebook.com/nptnettleham

If walking, stay in well-lit areas, be aware of who is around you and if you feel threatened or at risk, knock on a neighbour’s door or seek a public area.

nettleham.npt@lincs.pnn.police.uk

Grave Thoughts

And Finally...

CUPPA TIME

Three friends from the local congregation were asked, “When you’re in your coffin, and friends and congregation members are mourning over you, what would you like them to say?”

John was on his deathbed and gasped: “Give me one last request, dear”.

“Of course, John,” his wife said softly.

“Six months after I die,” he said, “I want you to marry George.”

“But I thought you hated George,” she said.

With his last breath John said, “I do!”

Cuppa Time is held every Sunday in All Saints Church from 3 - 4.00pm.

Arthur said: “I would like them to say I was a wonderful husband, a fine spiritual leader and a great family man.”

Bill commented: “I would like them to say I was a wonderful teacher and servant of God, who made a huge difference in people’s lives.”

Jim said: “I’d like them to say: ‘Look, he’s moving!’”

Wise Words Women and cats will do as they please and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.

The number of folk calling in for a cuppa has decreased recently and so we have decided to suspend Cuppa Time during the winter months.

So we will enjoy our Christmas Party on Sunday 15 December and re-open again on the first Sunday of March (2 March).

Happy Christmas to everyone and we look forward to seeing you again in the New Year.

Joyce Lewis and helpers

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Classes in ballet, tap and freestyle jazz taught by fully qualified teachers Ages 3 - 18 For further information please call:

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Nettleham Medical Practice and Cherry Willingham Branch Surgery Carol Varnam, Practice Nurse for 26 years, has recently announced her (early) retirement. She will be missed by everyone at the Practice, as well as by her patients.

The Practice is pleased to announce that Dr Ngozi Nwanosike will be joining us shortly as a new GP Partner. We also have two new receptionists, Aileen and Anna, who have recently joined the team.

Christopher Malone, (known as Chris) is our new Nurse Practitioner. He grew up in Nettleham and qualified as a nurse at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston in 1987. He has spent the majority of his career in Accident and Emergency, mainly in Lincolnshire, but elsewhere at times. Following this he has worked in the Out-of-Hours GP Service and helped set up the Walk-in Centre in Lincoln. For the last 3 years he has worked as a Nurse Practitioner in a busy surgery in Sleaford.

You can see him by appointment mostly for on-the-day health issues. He is able to prescribe if necessary and also refer on to other health professionals, if this is required.

Dr Williams Poster Wins National Award Dr Williams has won the ‘Best in Category’ award at the recent RCGP Annual Conference for his poster explaining the improved patient satisfaction reported after last year’s changes to the appointment booking system.

Patient Record Sharing Changes With effect from 2 December 2013 you will have new options about whether to share your GP electronic record with other local health services who use the SystmOne programme, such as District Nurses, Podiatry and A&E at Lincoln. For more information please refer to the leaflets which will be displayed around the Practice, or ask a member of staff for more details.

Vaccinations The surgery is now offering appointments for flu and shingles vaccinations. A new Rotavirus vaccine is now available for babies. Please contact reception to arrange an appointment, or to see if you are in the eligible groups.

Monthly closures for training In order to enable our doctors and staff to be kept up to date, Nettleham surgery will be closed for training at 1.00pm on the following afternoons: Tuesday 17 December Tuesday 21 January

Emergency help is still available by calling

111 Patient Participation Group We are still welcoming patients who wish to join the Patient Participation Group.

For further information, please contact Pam Henderson, Chairperson on 01522 858451 or by email at: pam.henderson36@ntlworld.com Pam Henderson Patient Participation Group Chairperson

Voluntary Driver Scheme The Voluntary Driver Scheme is proving very popular with in excess of 150 journeys made each month. Feedback from patients has shown that they are happy with the service too.

Currently we have sufficient cover in most of the villages we serve, but are in need of volunteer drivers based in Nettleham.

If you are interested, please leave your contact details with one of the Practice receptionists at either Nettleham or Cherry Willingham surgeries and I will make contact with you and discuss some of the finer points of the scheme.

Alan Price

FROGS Friends of Nettleham Guides & Scouts Most residents will know that we have the use of the Bottle Banks in the car park behind the Co-operative store. It is one of the main ways that we raise funds for the maintenance of, and facilities in, our premises in Vicarage Lane.

These funds ensure that we are able to keep the premises and site clean and in good condition, as well as safe, for all the groups that use the hut on a weekly basis including: Rainbows, Beavers, Cubs, Brownies, Guides, and Scouts.

We do realise that it is convenient for you to use the blue recycling bins provided by West Lindsey District Council at your home, but we hope that whenever possible you will put at least a portion of your glass jars and bottles, in our bins.

Our overheads, which include heating, lighting, insurance and also regular maintenance are constantly increasing, just like they do at home, and that does mean we appreciate very much all the help you can give to us.

Please do whatever you can, when you can, so that we can continue to provide quality facilities for the young people of Nettleham and local areas.

Thank you Rod Mountford Chairman of the Headquarters Committee

Voluntary Drivers Scheme Co-ordinator

Contact details:

Nettleham telephone: 01522 751717 When the surgery is closed, telephone: Freephone 111 Website: www.nettlehammedical.co.uk The recycling banks in the car park at the rear of the Co-op

Practice Manager: Helen Lunn 29

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The Moon As I write this quarter’s article there is a Full Moon, accentuated by the lovely clear skies of what has turned out to be a glorious Indian summer. I am writing it at this time of year because the winter moons are on the way and they are especially bright.

When I was five I lived in a remote farmhouse without electricity and have never forgotten the bright moons and the ink black skies. Older readers will remember the sleepless night in July 1969 when Man landed on the moon and the sight of it was never quite the same again.

The moon is full of superstitions.

Ancient man, not aware of the reasons why the moon got larger and then smaller, must have been fascinated by it. Because a Full Moon appeared every thirty days, it was used as an early method of recording passing time.

Easter is calculated using the dates of a Full Moon. It occurs on the first Sunday following the full moon occurring after the Spring equinox.

The word ‘lunatic’ is taken from the Latin lunar and lunacy was thought to be affected by changes in the moon.

It was thought if someone slept under the full rays of the moon without curtains, they would indeed go mad.

Madness was supposed to be more severe as the moon got larger and then diminish as the moon became smaller. This was even defined in the 1842 Lunacy Act. If a baby was born into the rays of a Full Moon this was an absolute disaster!

When the Moon is waning - getting smaller - this is the time for cutting back dead growth, harvesting root vegetables and drying flowers, herbs and fruit.

People in cottages who kept pigs slaughtered them in November just after the Full Moon as they believed the pigs had gorged on acorns by moonlight. However, the meat was not allowed to be exposed to the rays of the moon or it would become tainted.

Woodsmen avoided cutting down trees at Full Moon as they believed they would soon rot as they were too full of moisture.

An ancient cure for warts was to catch a moonbeam in a bowl and chant a rhyme while washing the hands.

I think trying to catch a moonbeam would be an interesting exercise to say the least!

During a calendar year there are twelve Full Moons, three for each season. Every two or three years there is an extra Full Moon within a calendar month. These are known as Blue Moons. As the moon affects tides, ancient people thought that two in a month would cause flooding and high tides.

Each Full Moon has a specific name and significance relating to farming and other rural activities and often rings true to nature.

January The Ice Moon: self explanatory!

However, this apart, the moon guided people who worked the land and there are gardeners today who plant and harvest at certain stages of the moon.

February Wolf Moon: Wolves howl in this month from lack of food

A Full Moon was believed to create more moisture, so gardeners were advised to plant seeds, repot plants and sow lawns. Full Moons are the times when mature crops requiring moisture should be harvested.

These include grapes, strawberries and tomatoes. If the moon pulls the tides, then surely the water in the earth would rise too.

March An optimistic time with four names for the full moon: Worm Moon: the warming earth activates worms Crow Moon: crows start to mate Lenten Moon: last Full Moon of Lent Sap Moon: first buds appear on trees 31

April Egg Moon or Hare Moon: symbols of fertility May Milk Moon: Flush of grass providing milk June Flower Moon or Honey Moon July Hay Moon: When hay is traditionally cut August Grain Moon: When grain swells both day and night September Harvest Moon: Full Moon nearest to the autumn equinox October Hunter’s Moon: Light enough for the shooting of migratory geese November Frost Moon: First severe frosts of winter December Long Night Moon: Often occurs around 21 December, the shortest day and longest night of the year Phyllis Maiden

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Nettleham Library Closure On Wednesday 11 September, Nettleham Parish Council held an Extraordinary Parish Council meeting in the village hall to discuss the possible future closure of Nettleham library and to enable members of the public to attend and voice their opinions. Following this meeting, the letter below was sent to Mr Jonathan Platt, Head of Libraries & Heritage at Lincolnshire County Council Dear Mr Platt, Re: Proposed changes to library provision in Lincolnshire.

Further to your letter and Information Pack dated 20 June 2013, the Parish Council held an Extraordinary Parish Council meeting on 11 September 2013 regarding the above proposals and in particular the proposal to close Nettleham Library.

At the above meeting the Parish Council unanimously resolved to formally object to Lincolnshire County Council’s proposal to close Nettleham Library in May 2014.

The Parish Council’s reasons for objecting to the proposals are summarised as follows: 1) As stated in your letter the statutory responsibility for providing Public Libraries lies with Lincolnshire County Council and the proposals to transfer your statutory function to voluntary organisations/Parish Councils is simply irrational.

2) The Parish Council acknowledges that Lincolnshire County Council has to make savings due to the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, however, a 31% reduction in the library budget is totally unreasonable; cuts of 5-10% would be acceptable.

3) If the £1.9 million reduction sought in the library budget was spread across those living in the county (over 700,000) this would equate to merely 5p per person per week, which illustrates the absurdity of your current proposals.

4) On the 50p coin that was issued in the year of the Millennium there is depicted ‘Public Libraries’, which was intended to celebrate 150 years (1850 - 2000) of such libraries across the whole of the UK. If LCC proceed with their current proposals, they will in effect be dismembering the work that was undertaken by our forefathers over that long period of time.

5) These proposals would have a significant impact on children’s educational needs, especially in the current economic climate. Furthermore, the elderly population would be adversely affected as they would be unlikely to access the proposed retained libraries due to transportation/health issues, etc.

A large proportion of the elderly do not have access to IT equipment which is becoming more and more necessary to undertake day-to-day activities.

6) A library is not just about borrowing books; it is also a hub for seeking assistance from the professional library staff for a great number of activities including assisting with IT issues and gaining necessary information.

7) The library service could continue to be undertaken by LCC if it adopted a more commercially astute approach in terms of the running of this service. For example, Nettleham Library at present only occupies a 1/3 of the overall building and rather than expecting other organisations to take over the management of the library

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service, some of the remaining 2/3 of the building could be rented to small/medium sized businesses, thereby securing an income that could be used to off-set the costs associated with the running of the library.

8) We have serious concerns in relation to the costs stated in the consultation document especially in relation to the support costs which were the highest in the country; some investigations need to be undertaken in relation to these costs.

9) The online consultation process was not user-friendly and the timetable (being held during the summer period) was grossly unfair. Moreover, the requirement to lodge an Expression of Interest before the end of the Consultation process was fundamentally flawed.

10) Finally, a topic of this magnitude should be decided by the whole Lincolnshire County Council voting on the matter and not by LCC’s Executive Committee; such an approach is, quite frankly, undemocratic.

Despite its formal objection the Parish Council nevertheless decided, as a fall-back position, that it would submit, on a without prejudice basis, an Expression of Interest prior to the 30 September 2013 deadline.

Yours sincerely Julia Finn Clerk to Nettleham Parish Council

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Nettleham Gardeners’ Association 2013 Show I think anybody who visited the Nettleham Gardeners’ Annual Show this year was in for a real treat.

As the weather had been kinder to us this year we had a record number of entries - both adults and children.

The tables were full of vegetables, fruit, flowers and home produce. The other classes were also well supported showing off the varied and extensive talents of the people of Nettleham and surrounding villages (remember, this show is open to everyone!).

We were very pleased to see new exhibitors, as well as all the regulars, and it is interesting to hear comments from people who have lived in the village for many years, but have only just ‘discovered’ the show! There was a lovely atmosphere and a real buzz, with many visitors enjoying tea and cake and a chat.

Paul Maxey of Scothern Nurseries, President of Nettleham Gardeners’ Association, presents Bruce Robinson with the new Nettleham News trophy for ‘Best in the Show’ for his superb hand-crafted rocking zebra (see below)

Just one note, next year we hope to encourage more people to stay for the auction and prize-giving. This only takes about half an hour in total and the prize winners would, I am sure, welcome the support.

We look forward to seeing you next year at the show on 6 September 2014 - put the date in your new diary now!

Decorated cakes displayed some very intricate detail work and great skill in icing and imaginative decoration

Sally Bradley

Best in Group Winners

Show Organiser on behalf of Nettleham Gardeners’ Association

Group 1: Flower Classes Mike Jones Group 2: Flower Classes R B Smith Group 3: Floral Art Julie Thornton Group 4: Pot Classes R B Smith Group 5: Vegetable Classes Mr & Mrs Wyborn Entries in the ‘Persian Jewels’ floral art category were particularly bright and colourful

Group 6: Root Vegetable Classes Brenda Edlington Group 7: Fruit Classes Marlene Curtis Group 8: Home-made Produce Classes Jean Currey Group 9: Children’s Classes Sophie Hopkins Group 10: Art Classes Sarah Windle

Exhibits entered in the show by children showed very imaginative and creative talents

The many exhibits in the vegetable classes displayed the usual high quality and beautiful presentation on the show benches

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Group 11: Handicrafts Classes Bruce Robinson Group 12: Home-made Wine Classes Malcolm Leaning

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The Latest News from Nettleham Woodland Bishop’s Meadow In late September, Charles Pickering of Ashlin Farm, Dunholme, cultivated the meadow area and in early October, Rod Newborough, Woodland Advisor to NWT and his wife Ann sowed the wildflower seeds. Charles then rolled the area and very soon after it rained and this, together with the mild weather, should result in good germination of the seed (see photograph right).

There is some ‘beating up’ (ie replanting) of shrubs and trees in the Bishop’s Meadow to be done this coming winter and NWT members will do this work.

The heritage orchard development is being led by Chrissie Clayton on behalf of Nettleham Parish Council

Poacher 2013 On a lovely warm day in July, scouts and guides, who were attending the Poacher event based at Lincolnshire Showground, came to Monks Wood to help NWT members with a number of jobs.

A raised-bed nursery was constructed in the All Abilities Area and the Memorial Garden was scythed, raked and a lot of ragwort pulled out (see opposite page).

All Abilities Area NWT have been developing this special area for a number of years now. There is a hard, wheelchair-friendly pathway running from the Watts Wood car park to Monks Wood.

With the help of local schoolchildren in 2012 we planted nearly 1,000 trees and shrubs around the area; they were donated by the Woodland Trust and have a harvest theme and an all-year colour theme. There is also a pond which will be planted up early in 2014 and a willow tunnel leading to a circular classroom. Pupils from St Francis Special School have made a special bench for the classroom.

In October 2013, an area of Bishops Meadow set aside for wildflower meadow and heritage orchard, was cultivated, levelled and sown

Response to a Reader’s Letter In response to the Reader’s Letter “What is it?” on page 11 of the autumn edition of Nettleham News, I would like to answer the question posed by Mr Froggatt.

‘It’ is the new entrance into the Bishop’s Meadow (BM) and the design is actually based on the main entrance threshold into Monks Wood, Ashing Lane Nature Reserve in Dunholme (see photograph below).

The Monks Wood structure is the result of a ‘Young Persons Design Challenge’ launched in 2009 by Nettleham Woodland Trust (NWT) with a grant from Star Energy.

The ‘Challenge’ invited local schoolchildren and youth groups to create designs for a main entrance into Monks Wood and a bridge across a ditch within the new woodland. Three groups took part: pupils from Welton St Mary’s Primary School, a Nettleham scout troop and 2nd Nettleham guides. In all, 61 designs were submitted by 57 children and young people.

The judges decided that there were so many good ideas amongst the designs that they could not pick two outright winners.

So they asked a local architect to take all the ideas and incorporate them into two workable structures. All the designers received a certificate and the three groups were presented with a special plaque made of ash.

The photographs show the finished designs which were constructed by the timber merchants Knights of Langworth using Scottish larch. The main entrance threshold design (which is now three years old) is based on Lincoln Cathedral, with its arch, towers and seating. We have planted two silver birch trees either side of the roof and a willow hedge has been planted on each side; ivy and honeysuckle are growing up the “towers”. Inside there are four interpretation boards (designed by the Editor: Nigel Kingston) telling the story of the creation of the Ashing Lane Nature

With a grant from Lincolnshire County Council and help from ‘Poacher’ scouts and guides in July, we have constructed a raised-bed nursery (see opposite page).

It is filled with topsoil and compost and visitors can plant acorns or hazelnuts in the bed, for replanting within the woodland at a later date.

A wildflower area is being developed and, as we get more funding, we will put interpretation boards and seating around the area.

The threshold gateway at Monks Wood with the walkway leading to the Monks Oak

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Bishop’s Meadow Wall Work on restoring the dry stone wall on the southern boundary of Bishop’s Meadow has now ceased for the winter months.

As can be seen in the photographs below, considerable progress on this feature has been made during the course of the summer and autumn months, when favourable weather conditions enabled work to continue uninterrupted.

Reserve and Monks Wood, together with a plan of the Reserve and suggestions of what to look out for in the four seasons and a display case for notices.

The finished wall will not only provide a very pleasing visual and physical boundary to Bishop’s Meadow, but will also provide nooks and crannies in which smaller wildlife can shelter both from adverse weather conditions and potential predators.

The term ‘threshold’ was used in the Design Challenge to describe “entering into a new experience”.

The bridge design is, of course, based on the Humber Bridge and both structures are unique features within the Reserve. The three groups were invited to make a time capsule and these were buried during the construction of the main entrance.

Returning to the BM entrance, the working committee asked NWT if they could use our main entrance design for the BM and we were happy for them to do so.

The main difference between the two is that the BM structure does not include seating. Just like Monks Wood, it was always meant to be a special entrance with information for the visitor, rather than a shelter, hence the style of the roof.

NWT will be planting two silver birch trees on either side of the roof over the winter, as we have done at Monks Wood.

The end of the wall on the eastern boundary showing the slight ‘batter’ or slope on each face of the wall

The internal void left by the wall stones is infilled with compacted small rubble to add stability and strength

Scouts and Guides from ‘Poacher’ assist NWT

So, the real designers of the structures at Monks Wood and Bishop’s Meadow were 57 youngsters, who probably would not mind getting a soaking!

I invite Mr Froggatt and any other readers to visit Ashing Lane Nature Reserve. It is a special place - 77 acres of woodland, meadows, ponds and lake, full of wildlife and, of course, our beautiful threshold gateway and bridge.

Susie Mendel Secretary, Nettleham Woodland Trust

Construction of a raised-bed nursery in the All Abilities Area at Monks Wood in July 2013

www.nettlehamwoodlandtrust.co.uk

The bridge across the ditch at Monks Wood

Scouts and guides from ‘Poacher’ assist with haymaking in the Memorial Garden at Monks Wood

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Proposed New Parking Restricti

If you have any thoughts on this proposed new traffic management scheme in the centre o

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ons in the Centre of Nettleham

of the village, write to Nettleham News with your ideas and share them with other readers

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1st Nettleham Scout Group It’s a while since we sent in an article for Nettleham News - we’ve just been very busy doing lots of activities with our young people!

Apart from the usual weekly meetings, this summer the Scout and Guide International Poacher Camp was held at the Lincolnshire Showground. A week of fantastic activities and endless opportunities for the scouts and guides to experience - everything from stilt-walking to eating beetles, from climbing to go-karting, meeting old friends and making lots of new ones.

At the beginning of September some of the group’s leaders attended the Gilwell Reunion Camp - an annual camp just for warranted leaders, held at the scouting headquarters near London. It gives leaders a chance to enjoy some of the outdoor activities on offer to the children and also to attend conferences and training sessions.

The most recent adventure was our annual walking weekend. This year we went back to one of our favourite youth hostels Boggle Hole, Near Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire. With a full mini-bus we travelled up to Boggle Hole on the Saturday morning and enjoyed a walk along the costal path to Ravenscar, before returning via the old railway line.

On Sunday we visited Robin Hood’s Bay and spent a lovely time searching for fossils and exploring rockpools before travelling up to Falling Foss waterfall and walking up to see ‘The Hermitage’.

With Christmas almost upon us we are holding our annual Christmas Raffle and Community Market event on Saturday 7 December 2013, 10.00am to 12.00 noon. (see page 3 for further information).

This is a great opportunity to buy some lovely Christmas gifts and take part in our Christmas Raffle draw - tickets will be on sale outside the Co-op over the weekend of 6 December 2013. This event helps to raise money for the upkeep of our hut which is such an important facility for the young people.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and to thank you all for the support you all give to scouting in our village.

Thanks must also go to all our leaders and volunteer helpers and most of all to all the young people who come along every week to take part! Here’s to another good scouting year in 2014 in Nettleham!

Trudy Connor Scouter in Charge / Beaver Leader

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Nettleham Ladies Club

The Hardy Plant Society

Nettleham Ladies Club meets on the last Tuesday of the month in the Village Hall at 7.30pm

All at Welton William Farr CE School, Welton

It is a very friendly and sociable group with over 100 members and new members are always welcome - great value at only £10 a year.

As you can see from our 2014 programme below, we have a wide range of interesting and varied speakers. We raise funds for many different charities and other good causes. Several outings and theatre trips take place each year.

If you are interested in joining us, or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact Jenny Staveley, Chairman on 01522 824541.

NETTLEHAM LADIES CLUB 2014 PROGRAMME

2014 Programme Admission to talks: £2.50 members, £4 non-members

Saturday 25 January 1.30pm AGM followed by ‘The Cutting Garden’ Rachel Petheram Saturday 22 February 2.00pm ‘Gardens of the South West’ Dr John Page Saturday 29 March 2.00pm ‘Sissinghurst, Hidcot, Great Dixter and York Gate’ Martin S Walker

28 January Rod Fanthorpe ‘Family History’

Saturday 26 April 2.00pm ‘Peonies, the Palette and the Place’ Jo Bennison

25 February John Campbell ‘Dean’s Verger’

Saturday 10 May 10.00am to noon Annual Plant Fair

25 March Douglas Carstairs ‘Women Prisoners in Lincoln Prison’

Saturday 27 September 2.00pm ‘Photographing Favourite Gardens’ Val Corbett

29 April Joy Liddle ‘Lincoln Street Pastors’ 10 May Spring Fayre 27 May Rudies Roots ‘Hanging Baskets and Pots’ 24 June Summer Meal 29 July Kaye Robinson ‘Bransby Home of Rest for Horses’

Saturday 25 October 2.00pm ‘Wollerton Old Hall - Past, Present and Borders’ Andrew Humphris Saturday 22 November 2.00pm ‘Meanderings in Madagascar’ Dr Crinan Alexander Saturday 13 December Christmas Event for Members (Details to be announced later in year) Details of special celebrity speaker talks will be published in 2014

August No meeting 30 September Anne Goodall ‘Garden Birds and Survey’

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St Barnabas If you receive any unwanted gifts this Christmas, please feel free to send them to St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice - we will be more than happy to make good use of them as prizes at our fundraising events throughout the year. It is only from the support of local people that we can carry on caring for life throughout Lincolnshire.

Merry Christmas.

11 December 4.30pm - 8.30pm Nativity on the Green Village Green, Lincoln Road, North Hykeham

Pop along to St Barnabas stand and pick up last-minute gifts, cards and decorations.

There will be live music, fireworks, a hog roast and Santa will be meeting children in his grotto!

Saturday 14 December 9.30am - 3.00pm St Barnabas Christmas Sing-a-long and High Street Collection St Benedict’s Church, High Street

Visit our stand to pick up last-minute Christmas gifts, cards and decorations 12 January 2014 6.00pm 10 weeks of lessons

St Barnabas Strictly Ballroom Premier Dance Centre, Monson Street, Lincoln

Strictly is back….

New year, New you, New challenge...

Ever fancied yourself as Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers? Returning for the 4th year is St Barnabas Strictly Ballroom Once again we have teamed up with Premier Dance Centre who will teach you everything you need to know. 40 of Lincolnshire’s novice dancers (20 female, 20 male) are being sought to take part in St Barnabas Strictly Ballroom fundraising event. And for those who feel they have two left feet, free tuition will take place every Sunday evening for ten weeks beforehand, to ensure that everyone will be able to put their best foot forward.

Training commences on the 12 January.

Each couple will learn two different dances with a grand finale to be held on Sunday 23 March in front of a live audience.

So if you would like to glide into the spotlight and be a part of this fantastic dance event, please email Becky Otter: becky.otter@stbarnabashospice.co.uk or telephone (01522) 559516

28 October Joe Cooke ‘Mayor’s Officer’ 25 November Annual General Meeting

For information on all St Barnabas events please visit our website: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk or telephone: (01522) 540300

December No meeting 41

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Report Back from your Local Councillors Free Training Courses Free introduction to computing and internet courses available! Do you want to shop online, trace your ancestors or find out some information, but not sure how to use a computer?

Then help is at hand - West Lindsey residents are being invited to register for a number of free ‘Introduction to Computing and the Internet’ courses. They are being run by Community Lincs on behalf of West Lindsey District Council.

Laptops and tablets are available on which to learn. Just register your interest and we will do our best to make your experience as easy and as much fun as we can.

It will mean that residents can take advantage of the new broadband ‘hot-spots’ which are now available even in the most remote parts of West Lindsey. This is thanks to the superfast broadband that West Lindsey District Council has installed into more than 30 village halls, creating speeds up to 40 times faster than previously.

Nettleham Old School already has WLDC broadband in the Large Hall and we expect the Village Hall to have it soon! Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr Jeff Summers said: “We are moving to a place where doing things online should be the first point of call, such as internet banking and claiming for benefits online. We need an internet solution here and now to help our communities and help our staff work in the community. I am pleased this scheme will be rolled out to all village halls interested. The village hall could be used as an educational facility for children and for entertainment for the older generation, now it has improved internet speeds.”

If you would like to register an interest in joining one of the courses, or would just like some more information, please contact Community Lincs on 01529 302466.

Council Tax Discount Are you be claiming a single person discount?

Please let get in touch with West Lindsey District Council and let us know if your circumstances have changed. You could now be entitled to a 25% discount!

If you wish to notify the Council of a change in your circumstances, or enquire as to your eligibility please telephone: 01427 676676 or email: council.tax@west-lindsey.gov.uk Short of Money for your Club or Organisation?

Both Cllr Leaning and Cllr McNeill have a Councillor’s Initiative Fund available to them to spend on local projects - a total of £4,000 over the next two years for each councillor.

The fund allows each District Councillor to put forward proposals for expenditure in their Ward to fund initiatives which benefit the local community.

All applications submitted are considered and assessed against how they contribute towards the Themes, Priorities and Outcomes in the Corporate Plan 2011/14.

Application forms can be obtained online at: www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/yourcouncil/your-councillors/local-councillorinitiative-fund/ Fixed penalty notices!

We need your help!

West Lindsey District Council take anti-social behaviour very seriously and will take action where necessary. Littering and dog fouling are unacceptable - it’s the responsibility of everyone to help keep West Lindsey clean for residents and visitors alike. We know residents feel strongly about these issues and we would urge people to report incidents to the council.

And finally…

We have been really pleased that across the district three communities - Caistor, Scothern and Nettleham have been victorious in the 2013 Lincolnshire Best Kept Village Competition. There are four classes in the competition and we are really proud that three are from West Lindsey.

Cllr Giles McNeill, said: “Nettleham is a beautiful village thanks to the hard work of both Parish Council and local residents.

“Once again I am proud that we have won against stiff competition.”

The Best Kept Villages and Small Towns Competition started in 1962 by Lincolnshire Branch CPRE and Community Lincs. It aims to encourage residents in those areas to ‘appreciate their surroundings and take pride in the communities in which they live’.

Littering is an offence under section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and fully trained council officers have powers to issue £75 fixed penalty notices to anyone caught littering. Under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996, the council is able to issue £50 fixed penalty notices to people who do not clean up after their pets.

If these fixed penalties are not paid, culprits face a fine at magistrates’ court of up to £2,500 for littering or £1,000 for dog fouling.

To report littering or dog fouling please telephone 01427 676676 Planning Decision Cllr McNeill and Cllr Leaning are both members of the Planning Committee at West Lindsey District Council. On Wednesday 30 October a special meeting of the committee took place at the Epic Centre, at the Lincolnshire Showground, to consider an application for ten, 126m high, wind turbines next to the A15 at Spital in the Street.

West Lindsey District Councillor Malcolm Leaning 11 Highfields, Nettleham Lincoln LN2 2ST Telephone 01522 873175 Email Malcolm.leaning@ntlworld.com

The Planning Committee spent an afternoon listening to representations from both proponents and opponents of the scheme.

In the evening the committee reconvened, to a packed hall of over 350 people, some with placards saying ‘No to Wind Turbines’, to determine the application for planning permission.

Following over an hour’s discussion and debate between members of the committee, cross-party amendments were made to the Officer’s recommendation to reject permission to include additional heritage sites and reject the application on the additional grounds of impact on the protected visual landscape.

The committee voted unanimously to reject planning permission and the hall erupted into a cacophony of cheers and applause.

It remains to be seen if RWE, the applicant, will now appeal to the planning inspectorate.

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West Lindsey District Councillor Giles McNeill 3 The Chestnuts, Nettleham Lincoln LN2 2NH Telephone 07896 730737 Email Cllr.G.McNeill@west-lindsey.gov.uk

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Nettleham Woodland Trust and It is with great disappointment that we must inform readers of Nettleham News that Nettleham Woodland Trust (NWT) has had no alternative but to withdraw from an agreement made with Lincoln Rugby Football Club (LRFC) to plant trees on 2.08 hectares on the north side of their new Lodge Lane ground.

A promising beginning In our Memorandum of Understanding between NWT and LRFC of 2 July 2012, NWT had agreed to obtain a Forestry Commission grant for the planting and management of circa 3,500 trees on the area south of the bridleway from Lodge Lane (BW147).

To enable the full public access required for the grant, LRFC agreed to move the recently installed fence back from the bridleway towards the pitches and carry out landscaping.

The creation of this new publicly accessible woodland, with wetland and water features, would have enabled LRFC to make a major and positive contribution to the Nettleham community and also fulfil about half of the planning permission conditions regarding tree planting, although they would still have to do the remainder themselves.

two days earlier prevented about half of these screening trees from being planted in a band along the southern edge of the site over a buried 4-inch oil pipeline, which in fact requires a minimum of three metres access on each side - information not supplied to us by LRFC.

access by 60% on Health & Safety grounds. This would affect the FC planting grant with NWT. Through its actions, the LRFC had breached the Memorandum of Understanding with NWT, which had agreed full public access to the new woodland. NWT was surprised that these Health & Safety issues had not been mentioned in any of the conversations which led to the successful application for a Forestry Commission grant. NWT has not been consulted or informed of any of this

by LRFC.

As time moved on and the necessary preparations were not undertaken by LRFC, the planting window of winter 2012-2013 was lost. In consequence the 3,500 trees purchased at a cost of £945.60 by NWT to meet the requirements of the agreement with the Forestry Commission, had to be heeled in elsewhere. Not all survived the summer. There are other episodes which could be added to this dismal record, but there were also grounds for optimism from statements by an LRFC representative in June and July that “all should be ready for your planting prior to November (2013)” and “the fence will hopefully be moved by the end of August (2013)”.

The change of direction On 4 September a Forestry Commission (FC) officer informed our Woodland Advisor that he had just had a meeting with a representative of LRFC. Apparently LRFC had decided to reduce the area available for public

The NWT committee met again on 16 September 2013, after which, as Chairman of NWT, the following letter was sent to the President of LRFC on Wednesday 18 September 2013:

E LAN GE LOD

Plan Diagram A (right) from the 2009 planning application documents.

The community woodland proposed in 2012 would have been the entire broad band of trees immediately south of the bridleway (arrowed).

Plan Diagram B (see opposite page) schematic version proposed on 4 September 2013. The proposed and continuous community woodland has now been effectively cut into four sections. The planting area around the water features and also the section by the main entrance are now excluded from public access, leaving a narrow section to the west and a small area in the middle, neither of which offer much scope for creative planting and new paths.

WETLAND AND WATER FEATURES

During the winter of 2012-2013 there were very few communications from LRFC to NWT. The few were very brief, and there was never any real sense that we were involved in a partnership, eg requests for schedule updates were ignored. As a gesture of our goodwill and commitment, NWT organised the planting of circa 250 trees, donated to LRFC by the Woodland Trust, on the south-east of the site that is not part of our Memorandum of Understanding.

Nobody from LRFC attended the planting day on 9 March 2013 other than to drop off the trees. Indeed only prompt action by NWT and very helpful guidance from IGas Energy

ENTRANCE

ENTIRE AREA WITH PUBLIC ACCESS

PLAN DIAGRAM A Fence Bridleway BW147 Agreed planting area (with public access)

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the Lincoln Rugby Football Club Re: Public access and planting adjacent to the bridleway north of the Lodge Lane ground Further to our conversation on Tuesday morning, this letter is to confirm that the committee of the Nettleham Woodland Trust decided at its meeting on Monday night not to continue in partnership with the Lincoln Rugby Football Club. There are two reasons, each of which would have been sufficient grounds for our new position. These are a direct consequence of a meeting held between a representative of LRFC and the Forestry Commission on 4 September: 1. Change of status of the land: The decision of LRFC to reduce the area of land available for public access on Health & Safety grounds is the starting point. This led to the Forestry Commission decision to withdraw the funding offer for moving the fence, because it was judged that the public access area would now be unviable.

The central aim of NWT as a charity is to nurture and develop woodland for public use. The consequence of the recent decisions is that NWT can no longer work on the site because the new woodland will not be available to the community as a whole, contrary to

our Memorandum of Understanding of 2 July 2012.

no problems with light and shade behind ‘the bowler’s arm’

2. Communications: NWT regards the recent sequence of events and total lack of communication as serious breaches of the Memorandum of Understanding. Despite its status as the agent for LRFC, NWT has been totally cut out of the recent discussions. Indeed, NWT has only heard about the change of status through the Forestry Commission and has had no communication from LRFC since 1 July 2013

Three members of the NWT committee spoke at the Parish Council meeting on Wednesday 16 October. Lincoln RFC was invited, but chose not to be present. One councillor remarked that: “Our trust has been betrayed, both literally and metaphorically”.

I regret that the situation is now impossible for us and we cannot continue in this relationship.

This letter was briefly acknowledged by the President of LRFC by return, but there has been no other contact since then.

On Thursday 19 September Nettleham Parish Council were informed of these events, and in turn the compliance officer of WLDC has become involved in matters relating to planning conditions.

Nettleham Cricket Club were also kept in the picture because of their interest in ensuring that the choice of trees in a 40-metre band opposite their pavilion in Mulsanne Park will create

E LAN GE LOD

WETLAND AND WATER FEATURES

Outstanding and legacy concerns These include: ●

Poor communications and lack of information from Lincoln RFC

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Sudden change of direction by LRFC, by withdrawing public access to more than 60% of the new woodland with no discussion with NWT

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LRFC ignoring its managing agent: NWT

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Failure of LRFC to engage fully with the local community

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Decision by LRFC to not create any significant amenity to benefit Nettleham itself

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NWT investing time, effort and almost £1,000 in purchasing trees, only to be ignored in a critical decision

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Possible non-compliance of LRFC in meeting WLDC planning conditions

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Grants from WLDC and other sources not being used in the public interest

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Nettleham Cricket Club left with renewed concerns about ‘the bowler’s arm’

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Concern that the tree planting might now be done by a contractor in a utilitarian way to meet the statistical and legal requirements, whilst ignoring dangers of medium and long-term canopy development

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Renewed concern about whether LRFC can be trusted to consider the interests of the community to which it has relocated.

ENTRANCE

AREAS NOW EXCLUDED FROM PUBLIC ACCESS

PLAN DIAGRAM B Fence Bridleway BW147 Planting areas (with public access)

We will leave it to the readers of Nettleham News to decide whether the cuckoo has taken over the nest!

Chris Williams Chairman of the Nettleham Woodland Trust

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CLUES ACROSS 2. Glean anew for heavenly host individual (5) 4. Pot cover is feeling warm and snug (4) 7. Blown apart as leaves beneath (5) 8. A prickly customer, she’s a friend of Ivy (5) 10. Finder can change into a pal (6) 13. Fond embraces under 31 across (6) 14 (and 4 down) A seasonal message just for you! (5,9) 15. Hilarious New York departure for amusement (3) 16. Stir gently - lo! Traditional verbal pastime is revealed (6-6) 21. Find the pudding sixpence and make one (4) 23. ...... borealis: The Northern Lights (6) 24. Specimen I cooked up for some seasonal treats (9) 26. Luncheon meat found amongst your emails? (4) 28. Leon returns for Christmas in Paris (4) 30. Conflict with a thousand is near in a parlour game (4) 31. Stole item to create a Christmas hanger (9) 34. (See 14 down) 36. Low by north and see a satellite (4) 37. Terrific and not synthetic - it’s out of this world (12) 40. Observe affection in Michelangelo Venus (4) 42. Members of the family lie and starve together (9) 43. Kiss goodbye to the winter runners (4) 45. Vehicle corrosion provides a tasty snack for Rudolph! (6) 46. Glue lass together for seaside visitors to our winter skies? (8) 48. A wizard short musical adventure from Australia? (2) 51. Not wide - first you lose a point then gain a point! (5) 53. The comedians in the pack! (6) 55. The Vicar of Dibley’s ‘Birthday boy’! (5) 56. Bring weapons back to find a cosy room at the inn (4) 57. It’s midday, whichever way you choose to look at it (4) 59. Identify the theme in panto pictures (5) 60. There’s no room here in northern town (3)

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CLUES DOWN 1. Presents with goodwill (5) 3. And it could be mother’s ruin! (3) 4. (and 35 down) It’s time for a hang-up! (9,3) 5. (and 9 down) Sounds like one will keep a record of festive fuel (4,3) 6. Twelve and why the result is feeling rather sleepy (4) 11. Santa’s little helper? (3) 12. Rebuilt Red Inn provides family Christmas meal (6) 14. (and 34 across) Spiced warm seasonal beverage (6,4) 17. Poetic frost? (4) 18. A glittering garland undergoes a transformation - listen! (6) 19. Here in France the first three clear the cold hanger (6) 20. New tenure offers several helpings of soup (6) 22. Amateur radio enthusiast is a poor actor! (3) 25. Now ask elf to make a white ice crystal (9) 27. Gasp at nothing in this short seasonal performance (5) 29. Gives gifts at Christmas (8) 30. Cold months identified in new international report (6) 32. A class aunt dresses up as Father Christmas! (5,5) 33. Traditional festive roast from eastern Europe? (6) 35. (See 4 down) 38. No shedding - always environmentally friendly (9) 39. Astrologist wins reading Gemini characters (5) 41. Taking back before a board game? Could be a cold cut! (6) 44. It’s now mandatory to include a cold-hearted favourite! (7) 47. The three kings catch cold - wonderful! (5) 49. The latest information from the four corners of the earth (4) 50. Turn over kitchen hardware for a fast and furious card game (4) 51. Batman’s buddy can be seen in our winter gardens (5) 54. Sounds like daddy’s boy is a shining example! (3) 58. Nothing wrong with this stable dweller! (2)

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The Christmas Crossword and Anagram Devised by the Editor 1

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First solve the crossword and then, using the letters which appear in the shaded squares, rearrange them to reveal a small item associated with Christmas

✂

When you have solved the anagram, write the answer in the entry form below, together with your name, address and telephone number, and return to the Editor (details page 1) to arrive no later than 1 February 2014.

The first correct entry to be drawn will win a ÂŁ10.00 prize.

NAME ADDRESS TELEPHONE

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The Lincolnshire Home Helping you live

Lincolnshire Home Improvement Agency (LHIA) is a local, independent charity dedicated to supporting elderly and disabled people across the county to stay independent in the home of their choice.

We operate county-wide to deliver support, home improvements, repairs and disabled adaptations to vulnerable adults and the parents and carers of disabled children; keeping them out of hospital and residential care.

Mick King, Agency Director and Nettleham resident joined LHIA in 2011 and is full of enthusiasm about an organisation that really does make a difference. “We provide real, life-changing support for people; it has such an impact that last year the Rt Revd Christopher Lowson, Lord Bishop of Lincoln, kindly agreed to be our president. The Bishop has observed that we all have a moral obligation to protect those disadvantaged by their circumstances and heads our ‘Connecting Those who care about Independent Living’ campaign.”

Mick continues: “Since we began in 2006, we have worked with over 4,600 clients, delivered over 2,100 disabled adaptations and essential home improvements worth over £10m, delivered over 3,700 Handyperson jobs worth over £390,000, and delivered over 400 home energy efficiency interventions worth over £240,000 with the Responders to Warmth (R2W) initiative. In the past year alone we’ve delivered six adaptations in Nettleham.”

Andy had his home adapted for motorised wheelchair use

The 6 key services that LHIA delivers are: Disabled adaptations ● Property improvements and repairs ● Handyperson ● Housing options ● Advice on funding and grants ● Aids for daily living ●

Disabled adaptations We can arrange housing adaptations to suit disabled persons to any degree, from mild to severe care requirements.

Access ramps, level access showers, stair lifts and widening doors to accommodate wheelchairs are just a few examples of the work we do to help disabled residents stay independent in their own homes.

Andy’s adaptation was sourced through LHIA and paid for through the RAF Benevolent Fund. We fully adapted his home for motorised wheelchair use, including lowered kitchen units, access ramp and level-access shower bathroom.

Andy praised LHIA’s project management of his adaptation and is particularly grateful for the advice and support that remains available to him even now.

“My case worker and surveyor are just fantastic. They’ve taken all the hassle out of the adaptation. It’s been the ideal experience. I wouldn’t have known where to start without them.

Rt Revd Christopher Lowson, Lord Bishop of Lincoln with Mick King, LHIA Director

“Polite, easy to talk to and always eager to help, LHIA have been a crucial contact point for me throughout the process and their ‘trusted traders’ meant I didn’t have to worry about who was working in the 48

house as I knew they were vetted carefully.

I would recommend LHIA to anyone having difficulty accessing their homes.

My condition has made it increasingly difficult for me to access mine, but LHIA have made it so much easier to get around and to continue to use my home to the full.”

Property improvements and repairs We can also arrange repairs to properties, ranging from minor jobs to more extensive works to the government ‘decent homes’ standard. New roofs, kitchens and bathrooms, and even something more comprehensive, like rewiring work.

We can arrange all this and more and will act as your crucial contact point, arranging everything on your behalf.

Handyperson This service is designed to carry out small repairs and improvements around the house to ensure that you are safe, secure and above all, granted optimum accessibility to your home. No job is too small and we can fit virtually anything, ranging from key safes or door chains to even minor plumbing jobs and electrical repairs.

Christine had grab rails fitted in her bathroom and outside her home to help her better access her home and reduce discomfort, the £120 cost being paid by a grant sourced by Lincolnshire Home Improvement Agency. “Grab rails changed my life,” she said, “Now my house is a home, not a hindrance. I can easily get in and out of the bath without straining

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Improvement Agency independently at home myself and getting up my step into the kitchen is so much easier. The staff were very helpful, particularly our caseworker, who organised everything and guided us every step of the way.”

Housing Options Our housing options advice initiative is a free service which is designed to help people who are struggling to continue living in their current home to assess their circumstances and make the informed decision of whether or not it would benefit them to move to more suitable accommodation. Our housing options adviser visits you at home and will talk you through every step, from your initial consultation to helping you choose the home that is right for you. We can also organise any eventual move and settling in period.

Access to funding and grants We know that some jobs can seem daunting and the worry of expense can be a constant burden. At Lincolnshire Home Improvement Agency we can offer you free advice on grants, benefits and other sources of funding which can pay for part of, or the whole of, your adaptations, if you are eligible. We are also currently running a two-year service funded by Comic Relief, called ‘Managing Money Better’, aimed at helping clients make the most of their income.

Aids for Daily Living For those who need a little extra help with everyday tasks, we can offer over 1,000 products for rest and relaxation, home safety, eating and drinking, health and wellbeing, dressing and grooming, personal care, fitness and leisure, and generally making things easier, including specific kitchen and bathroom items; all as used and recommended by healthcare professionals.

More information Our new website www.lincshia.org shows the depth and breadth of our services for vulnerable people across Lincolnshire, and particularly focuses on the benefits of those services, as brought to life through case studies and testimonials.

Our customers are at the heart of our business and therefore we wanted to use real photography and case studies to show the difference we can make.

You can also get more information on: 01522 516300

Twitter @LincsHomeImprov

Facebook.com/LincolnshireHome ImprovementAgency

Nettleham & District Probus Club The Nettleham & District Probus Club

has the simple aim of promoting Friendship and Fellowship among members. ● We meet every third Wednesday at Hemswell Court for Lunch. Good food, fine wine (or beer if you prefer), convivial surroundings, interesting company (you sit with different people every month), with entertaining after lunch speakers.

In July and December we also invite wives and partners to join with us. ● On the first Wednesday of every month we meet at The Garden Centre, Scothern for a Coffee Morning, where wives and partners are always welcome. ● In addition, we organise 3 or 4 outings a year to places of interest nominated by members.

Our club is open to professional and business men who have retired, or nearly retired, living in the Nettleham area.

A small committee operates the club in line with a constitution agreed by the members.

You can attend up to three of our luncheons as a guest (you need to pay for your meal) before deciding whether or not to join.

We currently have 45 members with an additional three at the guest stage.

Would you like to know more?

Then please contact our secretary, Ralph Sherwin, who will tell you how to proceed and also the name and subject of the next speaker.

Email: Sherwin.probus@gmail.com Telephone: 01673 862501

Christine felt that a small change made a big difference

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Mobile: 07977 401028

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All Saints Parish A Pastoral Message from Revd Richard Crossland, Rural Dean of Lawres This will be the first Christmas for some time that the parishes of Nettleham, Riseholme, Welton, Dunholme and Scothern have been without a vicar. Revd Jenny Rowley left us in September and about 20 of us went to support her as she was installed as vicar of St John the Divine, Selsdon, near Croydon.

This is a big, confident church and an exciting departure for Jenny and her family.

We wish them all well.

Back here it is very much business as usual.

I have stepped in as Rural Dean, as always happens, and excellent lay people are running the day-to-day business of our parishes. Miraculously, we are able to maintain the full roster of services in all the churches, and our rich pattern of pastoral care, prayer and action, thanks to the generous offer of support from some wonderful priests and lay ministers, some retired, some with other jobs. We look forward very much to our churches and their worship being enriched by the variety of their skills.

We are also very much blessed by the many talented and caring people stepping up to the plate within our churches themselves.

The season of Advent begins on 1 December and it is a time when we look forward to the light, festivity and sense of hope that Christmas brings.

In the church, we try not to spend the whole of the month pretending it is already Christmas, concentrating instead on readying ourselves to meet Christ, thinking about the darkness of the world and how much Christ’s love, forgiveness and healing are needed, remembering how God looks after us, even sending his Son like a sponge to soak up all the evil of the world. We do of course, like everyone else, feel the building excitement as the great festival approaches.

Our churches are open for services for all our many schools, for local families, for all our communities, and as we get closer to 25 December, there are literally dozens of opportunities to join in, hear the good news of God born as Man in Bethlehem for us, to bring all our cares for ourselves, for our families and villages and for the world to God, and to share the familiar stories and sing the familiar carols. From Christingles and Crib services, to Midnight Mass and a Quiet Christmas, there is something for all tastes and all ages across the five parishes.

One of the challenges of Christmas is to contradict the distorted, commercialised Christmas messages of excess, extravagance, greed, crudeness and binge culture that surround us. Spending a fortune on booze, pointless trinkets, and endless parties, being blackmailed by children whipped up by advertising and peer pressure to buy more and more expensive and unnecessary presents, many of which are broken or forgotten within weeks - these have nothing to do with the real Christmas.

The Christian Christmas has plenty of fun, gifts, parties and eating together, but Jesus shows us that sharing is better than grabbing. That social justice is better than greed or power. That we are truly blessed when we bless others. That when we enjoy ourselves it must not be at the expense of others. That we bring our gifts to God and to those in our society who are without, not just to ourselves or our own.

The weakness and vulnerability of the Son of God, tucked up in a cold stable behind an inn in a small poor town in an occupied country, with a young, confused mother, is a memorable image of the real Christmas.

All over the world, even in our own towns, villages and countryside, there is similar cold, poverty, fear and confusion. How reassuring that God knows this chill and vulnerability, this weakness, first hand. At Christmas, God challenges us to see his glory precisely in that weakness. Power redefined in the tiny, helpless fists of this tiny baby. God challenges 50

us to fight for all that this Jesus came to show us. To say no to selfishness and excess and cruelty. To change society so that all can have enough, all can have dignity, all can flourish into the beautiful creatures God intended us to be. To use the planet and its resources with love and care.

There is no better time than Christmas to ask ourselves what kind of world we want: what kind of a world do we believe God wants for us. And then to ask ourselves: what must WE do to bring that about. The great plan to save the world started with a tiny, powerless baby. Responding to that turning upside-down of everything the media, big business and the playground bullies tell us about success and power, starts with tiny gestures. How we spend this Christmas, how we think about those in need, how we behave towards those we love easily and those who are harder to love, how we use what we have, what we extract from our festivity budget to give to our chosen charity - these might be our tiny, weak and helpless gestures that can begin to change the world.

Our churches have started thinking about how they want to be from here on too; how they can be part of the kingdom of this powerless baby; how they can proclaim and live out this gospel of peace, love, forgiveness, justice and mercy that the world so badly needs; how they can use their own rich gifts and resources to make the world a better place. They are also thinking about the kind of person they want to lead them going forward. We plan to recruit fairly early in the new year, so we hope and pray that next Christmas these churches will have a new vicar - maybe, if we are lucky, more than one. Watch this space!

These are lovely churches, full of welcoming and faithful people. These are great villages, richly blessed, and ripe for serious mission to deepen faith, to build confidence in our calling and to proclaim and live out the gospel with infectious joy.

Meanwhile, enjoy a meaningful, caring, joyful and peaceful Christmas. My colleagues and I hope to see you at some of the services and events in our churches. Do contact me if you need to talk to a priest during the vacancy.

God bless you Father Richard Revd Richard Crossland Rural Dean of Lawres rcrossland@voxhumana.co.uk 01522 730535

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Church, Nettleham ‘ALL SAINTS’ ARE COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday 25 December

All Saints Church, Nettleham

10.00am Parish Eucharist

(Christmas Day) (unless otherwise stated - all other services as normal)

with carols

11.15am Holy Communion

You can raise funds for Nettleham Church when you shop at the Co-op.

Sunday 1 December

Lincolnshire Co-op has nominated All Saints Church as one of their Community Champions. We need you (and all your friends!) to register your dividend card by visiting: www.lincolnshire.coop/community

8.00am Said Eucharist 9.30am Parish Eucharist 5.00pm Advent Benefice Service

Sunday 29 December 8.00am Said Eucharist 10.00am Joint Benefice Service

at St Mary’s, Welton

at St Germain’s, Scothern

champions

Friday 6 December 2.00pm Nettleham Junior School Advent Service

LOOKING AHEAD…

Follow the steps online and “Choose my own Community Champion” and then, each time you shop, the church will receive a donation.

Many thanks to the Co-op for nominating us and to all of you who select us to receive their donations.

Nettleham Community Lottery

(Advent Sunday)

Tuesday 10 December 10.00am Nettleham Infants School Carol Service Saturday 14 December 4.00pm Family Praise 7.30pm A Special Christmas Concert with carols and poems from Lindum Ladies and Friends

Why have a Community Lottery?

followed by refreshments

All Saints has been in the village for over 1,000 years and whether you attend regularly, use it for ‘hatch, match and dispatch’, check your watch against the tower clock, or just like the look of it as you go past on your way to work or into town, you may imagine that it will be here for another millennium.

Wednesday 18 December 7.30pm A Quiet Christmas

But unless our village community takes action it will not. The church has just had its five-year inspection, which has revealed urgent repair work, totalling £26k, that needs completing in the next five years.

To raise funds for this, together with our community work, the Community Lottery was formed. You don’t have to be a church-goer to take part and you know that all the funds raised will be spent right here in Nettleham.

If you may be interested in joining and would like to know more, please contact:

(see page 3)

those who may struggle with a ‘merry’ Christmas this year

Friday 20 December 11.00am Nettleham Junior School Crismon Service Saturday 21 December 9.30am - 12 noon A Christmas Journey A morning of Christmas crafts and activities for children

Sunday 22 December 8.00am Said Eucharist 9.30am Parish Eucharist 11.15am Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Riseholme, in Traditional Language

3.00pm Carol Service

or telephone

(Christmas Eve)

May we take this opportunity to thank the businesses and people in the village who already support us

Monday 6 January 2014 (Epiphany)

7.30pm Sung Eucharist Sunday 2 February 2014 (Candlemas)

8.00am Eucharist 9.30am Parish Eucharist 11.15am Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Riseholme, in Traditional Language

Saturday 8 February 2014 2.30pm Beetle Drive in (Large) Old School Room with afternoon tea look out for posters after Christmas

From the Parish Registers We welcome into the Family of God’s Church through Holy Baptism:

1 September Holly Cloney Eliza-Mai Hayden 8 September Dylan Smith 15 September Bonnie Graves

(the Fourth Sunday of Advent)

Tuesday 24 December

Russ Coulter: 01522 850708

Sunday 5 January 2014 8.00am Said Eucharist 9.30am Parish Eucharist 6.00pm Healing Service

A special service of hope and reassurance for

community.nettleham@gmail.com Neil Duff: 07789 543422

at St Mary’s, Riseholme, in Traditional Language

We share in the joy of those being married in the Church:

24 August Matthew Rawlings and Jo-Anna Burnett 31 August Benjamin Jarvis and Gilly Monger 28 September Andrew Barnes and Charlotte Roberts

3.00pm Crib Service A simple service for the young why not come dressed as a character from the Christmas story?

7.00pm Carols on the Green followed by refreshments in church

11.30pm Midnight Mass

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We share in the sadness of those who mourn the death of a loved one, remembering those whose funeral has taken place, or cremated remains have been laid to rest:

8 August 9 September

Jacqueline Newby May Dale

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MICK RATTIGAN Plumbing & Heating

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USE THIS SPACE to promote YOUR products or services

REGISTER

Bathroom installation Boiler installation Central heating installation

ANY PLUMBING WORK UNDERTAKEN NO JOB TOO SMALL

01522 828341

Nettleham News is the first point of reference for people living in and around the village when they are seeking information about local products and services.

It’s the magazine that everyone reads and is the ideal way to maintain a high profile in Nettleham for your business.

Contact the Editor on Lincoln

Mobile: 07981 864487

753000

Mick Rattigan 20 Hamilton Road, Lincoln

Email: nettlehamnews@ntlworld.com

SUSAN ULYATT - MUM I can’t believe 3 years ago I lost you.

Where has the time gone? It hasn’t been easy, but your determination,strength and courage has got me through the hard times. You are such an inspiration to me.

A lot of people remember you as the little lady with the guide dog walking around the village with a smile and a kind and friendly manner.

I miss your beautiful smile and your laugh and the memories we shared.

I am very proud of you and always will be.

You were the best mum ever - always there when I needed you. You were always there to teach me right from wrong. You were always there to give me advice and support. I miss your big cuddles and kisses so so much. There is always something even so little that reminds me of you. You will miss some very special occasions this year, but I know somewhere you will be watching and celebrating too.

Every day when I wake up I feel there is a piece of my heart missing. At night there is always that one shining star which I think about: you.

I will always treasure the memories we shared, they will be locked in my heart forever.

In the future I promise to make you proud in everything I do. Your love and advice will help me through life and guide me through anything I may face. I will never ever forget you. I love you ever so much - you will always be in my heart and thoughts. I love you mum.

Your loving daughter: Amy xxx

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What a glorious summer it was for cricket as the sun shone throughout the season, enabling both the junior and senior sides to complete the majority of their fixtures.

The weather was great for the annual Junior Quick Cricket Tournament held at Mulsanne Park on Friday 2 August. This is for age group U9’s and U10’s who play the Quick Cricket format of 8 players in a team, batting in 4 pairs of 2, with each player bowling an over. The emphasis is on enjoyment, but even at this age players are competitive. The U9’s tournament was won by Upton & Kexby, and the U10’s by Cleethorpes, although Nettleham competed well in both age groups.

Thanks go to the managers, umpires, and helpers who assisted organisers Russ Binnington and Colin Woolfson on the day to make it such a success. Also, a big ‘Thank You’ to our local sponsor and supporter of this tournament: Simon Bilton of Wecando Flooring Specialists Ltd and to John Dingley and Dave Ranshaw for preparing the pitches.

All the work John and Dave put into the preparation of the cricket square and ground throughout the year, which is appreciated by players of all ages, was recognised again this year by the Leagues as Nettleham was awarded the top ground in the Lincolnshire Premier League.

The Junior Presentation Night was held at Mulsanne Park on Friday 20 September and hosted by Vice Chairman Colin Woolfson, where the following players were awarded prizes in their age group: U9’s Batting: Ed Beckett Bowling: Matthew Baker Fielding: Drew Wilson U10’s Batting: Alex Howes Bowling: Dan Hopkirk Fielding: Pranav Potula & Harry Jones U11’s Batting: Charlie Elliott Bowling: Haydn Bromfield Fielding: Reece Jones U13’s Batting: Lewis Bromfield Bowling: Deklan Binnington Fielding: Liam Myers Most Improved Junior Player Lewis Jones Congratulations to Charlie Elliott who also won the U11 Youth League Batting Award.

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Nettleham Cricket Club Autumn 2013 All team managers were thanked for the time they put into coaching and running the teams throughout the season, as were the parents who also gave up their time to support and help with the running of the teams.

The Nettleham senior cricket teams have also completed their season, with mixed results.

In the Readers Lincs County League Premier Division the Saturday 1stXI finished 9th, narrowly avoiding relegation, and must look to improve to compete in this league next season.

In Division 2 the Saturday 2ndXI struggled to field a full side and highlights the need for more players. They finished bottom in their league and are relegated. They must

look to introduce the promising older junior players next season, with the aim of gaining promotion.

In Division 1 of the McKinnells Lincoln League the Sunday 1stXI finished third, narrowly missing out on promotion to the Premier Division.

In Division 4 the Sunday 2ndXI finished 9th in their league, but this is the main feeder team to introduce junior players into senior cricket at the club, and results do not always reflect the experience gained by these younger players.

The Senior Cricket Presentation Night took place on Saturday 19 October and was well attended by club members.

Nettleham Kwik Cricket U10 team Left to right: Pranav Potula, Will Ward, Harry Jones, Alex Howes, Hermione Hunter-Evison, Guy Hinchcliffe, Dan Hopkirk, Ryan Davis

The club is always grateful to those that are willing to give up some of their time to help run the club, and actively supports new members to the committee with fresh ideas.

If you would like additional information about Nettleham Cricket Club, the club can be reached by email at: cricket@nettlehamcc.co.uk Information about the club is also on the website: www.nettlehamcc.co.uk

U11 Winners Left to right: Lewis Jones, Reece Jones, Haydn Bromfield, Charlie Elliott, with their manager Phil Brown

U9 winners Left to right: Ed Beckett, Matthew Baker, Drew Wilson with their manager Martin Strawson

U13 Winners Left to right: Deklan Binnington, Lewis Bromfield, Liam Myers, with their manager James Marshall

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U10 Winners Left to right: Harry Jones, Pranav Potula, Dan Hopkirk, Alex Howes with their manager Colin Hopkirk

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HEALTH CROSSROADS Have you ever had a conversation with someone where what they say suddenly seems to make absolute sense? They’re not telling you anything new, but all at once it seems clearer, like the last piece of a jigsaw being put into place.

Well, I had one of those moments the other day. I was down in Oxford visiting some friends there and I met a woman, Christine, who I think was in her 60s, but who certainly looked and sounded 10 years younger.

She was lively and energetic, slim and obviously in good shape. After a while she told me that her son, Alex was a personal trainer and he’d been on at her for years to do some exercise and she’d always refused.

She hated exercise and hated the idea of going to a big gym where she felt everyone (especially younger women) would be looking at her. She didn’t want to go through what she saw as the pain and misery of getting fit.

But, she told me, she was starting to feel the effects of age - getting out of breath, joints getting stiff, aches and pains, needing help with the shopping bags you know the sort of thing.

And then Alex said to her, “Mum, why don’t you give yourself a gift? - the gift of feeling like you did when you were younger.” So she did. She started working with him privately on a personal training regime and, she told me, it transformed her life. She changed to become the active, vibrant woman that I saw in front of me.

And then it struck me - that’s just what we do at Wellbeing Fitness. We train people, mainly, but not exclusively, aged over 45, in private in the studio on their own with their own trainer. We tailor a programme to fit exactly what they need and we look after them, give them motivation, making exercising fun and enjoyable. We show them that it doesn’t involve pain and misery and like Christine found out it’s never too late to start.

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Trainee Guide Dogs Seek Temporary Accommodation Guide Dogs are seeking a number of committed volunteers in the village of Nettleham to offer temporary homes (for a period of 10-12 weeks) to dogs undergoing training in the area.

Trainee dog boarding is sometimes called ‘bed and breakfast’ as boarders look after the dog in the evenings and at weekends. It is suited to all types of people who enjoy doggy company, but for various reasons can’t have their own full-time dog.

You could enjoy the companionship of having a dog in your home without the commitment of full-time dog ownership. All equipment, feeding and veterinary care is provided.

To find out more please contact Rebekah Shepherd at Guide Dogs on 0845 372 7414 or email rebekah.shepherd@guidedogs.org.uk

RUPERT April 1999 - October 2013 My husband and I would like to thank everyone for their support and kindness following the recent death of Rupert, our much loved and much missed dog.

Phyllis and John Maiden

We help our clients to give themselves the gift of feeling like they did when they were younger. Wouldn’t you like that too?

Tristan Lowe Wellbeing Fitness 20 Carlton Mews Carlton Centre Outer Circle Road Lincoln LN2 4FJ

Readers of the magazine will already know Phyllis through her excellent Book Reviews which she regularly writes for Nettleham News.

Telephone: 01522 525250 Email: info@wellbeingfitnesslincoln.co.uk Website: www.wellbeingfitness.co.uk

Losing a pet is always a very sad time and I’m sure readers will join me in offering Phyllis and her husband (who has recently undergone surgery) our heartfelt sympathy and best wishes.

(see advertisement on facing page)

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The Editor

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Beckside Preschool What’s been happening?

Shaving foam volcanoes, pink fairy rice (for lovers of all things pink and sparkly!), drawing on an imagination-filled fairy world full of storytelling and a pirate treasure hunt - all inspiring imaginations and offering lots of opportunities to talk, listen and be creative.

We explored the properties of sand as we used our sand handling skills to fill up socks with sand using a selection of scoops and spoons - offering early science and maths exploration within the context of something fun and unusual.

Den building, both inside and in our garden, has continued to be popular.

When the winter months arrived and more wet days came along, the sheets were replaced with tarpaulin or shower curtains.

These are just some of the exciting and inspiring learning opportunities in which the children have been engaged at Beckside Preschool.

Many of the activities we provide are chosen to enhance children’s interests and involve their creativeness from the start.

The more senses that are engaged in any activity, the more powerful the learning experience will be for the children.

Sometimes we end up completing the activity we started, but often we find that the children take their learning in a completely different direction - which is just great!

Looking at our wall displays you get a real sense of the children who inhabit the space. You can see their interests and their voices are being recorded using speech bubbles with things they have said, shaping the content of the curriculum.

Our self display board

The children can peg their own work up on our self display board and they are often seen admiring their pictures and the work and photographs of other children in the setting.

Find out more We operate from the Early Years unit at the Infant school in the village of Nettleham and now take children from the age of 2 to starting school, offering free early years places at the start of the school term following a child’s 3rd birthday. We are an inclusive preschool and welcome all families in the community and surrounding areas. We are open Monday - Friday (term time only) and offer full-day and half-day sessions. Our opening times are 9.00am 3.00pm. You can contact us on 07940 873505 to arrange a pre-visit and we would be very happy to show you around our preschool.

Alternatively you can visit our website at: www.becksidepreschool.co.uk to view our prospectus, policies and current newsletters.

Our work and achievements

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You can also email us at: becksidenettleham@googlemail.com You are welcome to drop by and pick up a registration and enrolment form, or give us a call and we will post them to you.

Our forms can also be downloaded from our website. We look forward to meeting you soon.

Helen Kendall Owner/Manager

Jayne Ellis Manager

Being outdoors in all weathers

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Stepping Stones Preschool The new term saw lots of new faces at Stepping Stones - we welcomed Sarah Scarbro to the setting as a midday supervisor and also all the new children and their families.

The Acorns (2 and 3 years old) learnt about their senses, tasting new foods at snack time, mixing ingredients with their hands to make cakes, smelling the delicious soup we made, experimenting with musical instruments to make loud and quiet noises and looking for different coloured leaves on our autumn walk.

The Oak Tree children (3 and 4 years old who will go on to school in September) made some fantastic autumn pictures with the leaves and sticks we found on our autumn walk. They also discovered how they are all different, drawing pictures of themselves and helping each other balance on our new equipment.

Julia Goodman (Early Years Practitioner and Head Gardener) along with her enthusiastic band of little gardeners have had a successful summer in our garden this year. They have watered (sometimes a little too enthusiastically!) their seedlings and been rewarded with lots of delicious vegetables which have been eaten at snack time, or turned into wholesome vegetable soup. The potatoes were dug up, counted and sorted into sizes before being made into a lovely potato salad, garnished with the chives the children grew in the herb garden.

The fruit garden wasn’t quite as successful, but still the children managed to grow enough strawberries and white currants to make healthy fruit smoothies. The plum tree didn’t produce a single plum this year, but the children are hopeful for a bumper crop in 2014! We are incredibly fortunate to have sole use of our garden which runs alongside the Beck behind the village hall.

The children enjoy playing outside as much as possible, they tend the fruit, vegetables and flowers they grow, play in our large sandpit, in our two willow wigwams or, of course, make as much mess as possible in the mud kitchen!

So much learning takes place whilst the children are playing and they are learn how to take turns, communicate and negotiate with their peers, important skills they will need throughout their lives.

Stepping Stones Preschool is an inclusive setting and we take children from 2 years to school age from Nettleham and the surrounding area. We are registered to offer funded places for eligible 2 year olds, and 3 and 4 year olds receive up to 15 hours of funded hours a week. We are open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 3.30pm and we also offer a Breakfast Club from 7.30am, an After School Session from 3.30pm to 5.30pm and Holiday Club should you need them.

During October’s Holiday Club, the children decided they would like to make some gingerbread men. First they thought about what they would need and we then took them to the Co-op in Nettleham to buy the 59

ingredients. Once back at the setting the children carefully measured out each ingredient before mixing them together and cutting out the gingerbread men shapes and then, when cooked, the children decorated each ‘man’ in their own distinct style! As well as baking, the children enjoyed trips to the park, being particularly creative using just scissors and paper and having fun and sometimes getting rather muddy in the garden!

If you would like to come and have a look around, or to put your child’s name on the waiting list, please get in touch:

07599 546426 Email: steppingstonespreshool1@live.com Vicki Smith, Suzanne Hayden and Allison Faulkner

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The Face A short story by T M Lewis “What! You again?” said the face on the bathroom wall.

“Yes it’s me, so what? I have to clean my teeth, wash my face, every morning you will just have to get used to it.

Why are you always complaining?”

I busied myself in my toilet arrangements and tried to ignore the face on the wall.

“Hurry up”, said the face. As I moved towards the door, it called out, “Don’t forget to pull the chain!”

I returned and pulled the toilet chain, gurgle, gurgle. “Goodbye”, I called out, closing the pink bathroom door behind me, relieved that was over. Now for breakfast.

The face closed one eye, and dreamed on, a creeping smirk on its face.

“Breakfast is ready”, sang out mother’s pretentious voice. Her face floated over the cornflakes, “Would you like fried or poached?”

I knew the face was referring to the hard eggs for breakfast every morning, the state of them was always the same: hard, hard.

“Neither this morning, mother, thanks I’m not hungry.”

I glanced at father, his face hidden behind his morning paper - a face in misery and decline. These thoughts made me choke over my burnt toast.

“Must hurry” said brother’s face, red and bloated through beer and riotous living.

He grinned, his huge teeth hovering over a slice of burnt toast.

I watched brother’s face disappear through the kitchen door. How did I come to have or inherit a brother, from a sweet-faced urchin to this rollicking fat blob?

Mother’s face hovering again. “Finished dear?”, grabbing the plate. I watched her whisk the plate into steaming hot water.

No dishwasher for mother, father thought it a waste of money.

Father’s face scowling again, he explodes in anger (I wish he wouldnt read the paper in the morning!).

“This goverment wants shooting, I won’t vote for them again!”. Father’s face is a picture as he heads for the bathroom.

I heard the door slam (that will please the face on the wall!).

Sounds of the toilet chain being pulled, water gurgling down the old pipes, (I bet he left the toilet seat up). That will annoy the face.

I sighed my usual swan-song, as I left for work “‘Bye mummy, see you tonight.”

Plodding to the bright red door, shutting the bright red door behind me, I stepped

into the bright fresh sunshine. This was great - “La-La-La” I sang happily to myself.

Wonderful!

television programme, I ventured into my bedroom and flung myself onto my three-foot wide bed.

My rapture soon dissipated, evaporated, gone, as soon as I stepped over the cracked doorstep, the sweet scent of the morning’s freshness, that had filled my senses with gratitude, vanished.

The face on the dressing table spoke softly.

“Is this what you call living? My sweet, take drugs, pep your life up a little, have an affair - the bank manager fancies you, steal some money, he won’t mind, give him sex sessions, go on be daring.”

I thought of the silent train journey, all those faces, what do they all think about?!

With their gleaming washed brows, sweet scented bodies, sly glances over their newspapers that they pretend to read.

You can’t fool me - I’m one of you!

The day passed slowly as usual, back on the train journey again, the same faces grimy now, miserable, bored expressions the daily ritual of light and darkness.

The face in the bathroom opened one eye, “Oh you’ve returned, what a boring life you lead, you should persist in changing your life style.” The face yawned and tugged at its hair, you had better shower because you smell a bit.

“Thank you! Your observation is unique.

I’ve been working hard for ungrateful people, it’s not easy working in a bank.”

I threw the wet flannel at the face.

“Now! Now! Don’t take your menopausal temper out on me”, the face sneered and promptly closed its eyes.

I left the bathroom in a foul mood and bumped into mother’s hovering face.

“Have you finished dear? Only your father is complaining about all the hot water you use and he is always left with cold water.”

I could feel the face in the bathroom smirking.

Tea was silent, except for munching, scrunching noises (animals in the zoo!).

Just faces above the table - brother rushing, gulping, throwing spoonfuls of meat and potatoes into his red gorilla mouth. He was getting ready for his evening’s sex orgy with his latest girlfriend (what does she see in him?).

Mother’s face hovering again, “Finished dear?” she clasped the dirty dish to her breast, she loves the dishes more than me.

Father’s scowling face explodes in anger, (again) “The mortgage rate is going up again, and, young lady, turning his deep-hot-with-fury-face towards me, “I will be first in the bathroom tomorrow morning for a change. I might be able to have a hot shower, I pay all the bills in this house and what do I get for it? Cold water!” Father’s face disappeared behind his evening paper.

Later on in the evening, after a boring 61

“Oh shut up!” I switched the pink lady’s crinoline lampshade off and went to sleep.

The face grinned maliciously at me the next morning.

“Your father beat you to it - he’s taken all the hot water”, the face laughed horribly, “How’s your temper this morning?”

“Not very good”, I yelled, throwing the wet flannel at the grinning face.

“Temper! Temper! You must learn to control it - you’ll never get a boyfriend.

By the way your father’s cut himself shaving. What a family!”

I growled at the face, “Don’t forget to pull the chain!”

The face called out “What would you like, fried or poached dear?” Mother’s hovering face seemed to have set back in her face, worry lines had appeared overnight.

“Neither thank you”.

Father behind his morning paper once more, brother fidgeting - he looked decidely pale. Serve him right, hope she sexed him to death.

If only I could fool the face in the bathroom! I know! The release from the daily faces hit me in the eye! I shall have a face-lift - all the film stars do it, why not me? Perhaps then I’ll get a boyfriend, maybe two.

Mother clutched the dirty dish to her chest.

She suddenly flung it on the floor - we all gazed, astonished at her behaviour.

“This is the end”, she cried, “I’m leaving you all. My taxi will be here soon and my bags are all packed - you can wash the dishes yourselves.”

We watched with mouths open as mother tore her apron off and rushed out of the door. We heard the taxi roar off. We sat transfixed.

Father said “I always thought she was highly strung.” He rustled his paper and went on reading.

Brother moaned, “I don’t think I’ll be going to work today, I feel positively ill.”

He staggered to the bathroom.

The face in the bathroom sneered, ”What a family. I’m off too - you won’t see me again!”

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The Toft or Croft The following article relates to what is at present a building site on Church Street (formerly Coles’ Garage) Mr Vernon Smith lived with his wife Mollie at 2 The Green, Nettleham until recently. Mollie is from an ancient Nettleham family, the Vickers, and Vernon made a study of her family and the buildings associated with them.

Nettleham parish in 1776 was a very different place to today. There were two large fields, the North and the South, together with smaller crofts, closes and tenements around the church. These latter had been surveyed prior to the Enclosure Act of 1777 when the large fields were divided up, new roads built and hedges planted to give us the landscape we see today. On the new Enclosure map the plot of land until recently the garage on Church Street was numbered 32 and called ‘a toft or croft’ (small holding). Mr Smith researched the history of this piece of land and this is the paper on it (verbatim), following his short introduction.

Plot No 32 ‘The Toft or Croft’ Plot, 32 as we are now aware, became Sir Francis Bernard’s by exchange from Mrs Jane Monck at the Inclosure award.

Among the many documents that were passed down to us from Mollie’s mother, Mrs Porter, were a variety of sworn statements relating to the Bernard family.

I thought at first that these were only dealing with proof of title of ownership of our house, but I gradually realised they were concerned with the former farmyard at the back of the house, namely Plot 32 ‘The Toft or Croft’.

Study of these papers compelled me to find out more about the Bernard family itself. The papers related to Sir Francis’ award at the Enclosure and wills, births, marriages and deaths, etc. They provided quite a lot of interesting information.

Using these and other sources, I have produced a part family tree of the Bernard

family to include those members who had any involvement with Nettleham.

Sir Francis Bernard was the eldest son of Francis Bernard, rector of Brightwell, Oxfordshire and his sister was Margaret Winlowe, of Notley and Lewknor, Oxfordshire. He was a barrister by profession, practised in the Midland Circuit and was elected steward of the City of Lincoln.

In 1741 he married Amelia, daughter of Stephen Offley of Norton Hall, Derbyshire.

In 1758 he was appointed governor of New Jersey, North America and in 1760 transferred to Massachusets Bay. In April 1769 he was created a baronet as of Nettleham in the County of Lincolnshire.

Owing to difficulties with the colonists, he was recalled. He resided at Nether Winchendon which he inherited from his cousin-german Jane Berisford in 1771 and later at Aylesbury, where he died in1779.

The view north-east from the tower of All Saints church showing the farmyard and outbuildings in the foreground (date unknown) This was before the construction of Coles Garage (now demolished) on this site

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The Bernard estates passed down to his grandson, Sir Francis Bernard Norland, (the Norland addendum having been added to his father’s paternal name at his marriage to Harriet Norland in 1785).

His inheritance came via his uncle Sir Thomas Bernard, who died without issue, the estate passing to his brother, Sir Scrope Bernard Norland, father of Sir Francis Bernard Norland.

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She was a descendant of the powerful and prestigious Tournay family of Caenby and Glentham. She and her sister Mrs Mary Porter were the daughters of Jane and the Rev Thomas Cunnington, vicar of Glentham; priest vicar of Lincoln Cathedral.

They were married at Welton-by-Lincoln on 14 November 1705. When stationed at RAF Hemswell during the war, I had no idea

that the nearby ‘Monck’s Arms Hotel’ named after the Moncks and the Plot 32, ‘The Toft or Croft’ at Nettleham, with which I later became so familiar, were connected with this same Jane Monck.

Another curious fact was that my mother-in-law and Jane’s sister, Mary, were both, as a result of marrying, to finish up with the name of Mary Porter!

Sir Scrope Bernard Norland died intestate and his son, Sir Fancis, took out letters of administration in 1830. Sir Scrope Bernard’s wife was Harriet Norland whom he married in 1785. Her father William Norland Esq is described in ‘Local Pamphlet (vol 20)’ as an opulent banker of Pall Mall.

It comes as no surprise therefore to learn that Sir Francis Bernard Norland was also a banker in partnership with his younger brother Sir Thomas Tyrringham Bernard and Sir George Ducket. Harriet Norland was William Norland’s only child, so I conclude that his banking business would pass on to his daughter and consequently to her son, Sir Francis Bernard Norland.

The Bernard fortune experienced a serious decline with the declaration of bankruptcy of their banking business in1832. A Fiat in bankruptcy was issued against Sir George Ducket, Sir Francis Bernard Norland and Thomas Tyrringham Bernard. Henry Ellis, etc, were appointed creditor assigns of the bankrupt estate. Bearing in mind that at the Inclosure, Sir Francis Bernard was lessee of some 700 acres of the Bishop of Lincoln’s land, as well as being awarded other property, this must have been a great blow to the Bernard prestige.

However the misfortune of Sir Francis Bernard Norland, with the disposal of his assets, enabled my wife’s great, great, great uncle John Vickers to then purchase Plot 32, the ‘Toft or Croft’.

John Vickers was Sir Francis’ Tenant at will and it was an obvious step for him to acquire ownership of this property, since he had already bought the adjoining Plot number 31: ‘The Plough Inn’ from George Bayles of Riseholme in 1825. We have in our possession the Indenture dated 1834 which states that the purchase price was £75 and that the official assignee was one Moses Asher Goldsmith.

Plot number 32 included the Jersey School building, the land on which it was erected having been leased to the trustees Samuel Hird and Samuel Pashley by Sir Thomas Bernard in 1786 for a sum of 1/- a year, for a period of 500 years. I conclude that this lease was rescinded at the transfer of ownership to John Vickers. The other party to the exchange of Plot number 32 at the Inclosure was Mrs Jane Monck.

Nettleham Heritage Association Winter/Spring Talks Programme 2014 All talks will be held at 7.30pm in the Large Hall at the Old School, Nettleham Everyone, including non-members, are welcome Wednesday 22 January 2014 ‘Tennyson in Lincolnshire’ Grace Timmins The Tennyson Research Centre, based in Lincoln Central Library is of world renown.

Grace is the curator of the collection and has chosen to focus her talk on the Lincolnshire aspects of Tennyson.

Wednesday 26 February 2014 ‘Tin, Territory and Tungsten excavations on Crown Hill, Dartmoor’ Jim Bonner Jim Bonner has been associated with archaeology in Lincolnshire for a long time and has a wide-ranging knowledge of it.

However, he has just been involved with an archaeological dig on Dartmoor, is excited about the finds made and is certain we shall be too.

Wednesday 26 March 2014 ‘Come into the Garden Fanny’ Jean Howard We can all sing: “Come into the Garden, Maud”, but in fact the young lady of the Tennyson poem was really called Fanny of Harrington Hall and Jean has discovered her history and family connections.

It makes a fascinating story.

Wednesday 23 April 2014 ‘The Royal Observer Corps in Lincolnshire’ Charles Parker Charles has studied and written on various aspects of aircraft and air activities in both wars in Lincolnshire.

His latest book is on the history of the ROC in the county.

Wednesday 28 May 2014 Annual General Meeting followed by ‘People of Roman Lincoln’ Antony Lee Grave and memorial stones have much to tell about people through the ages.

There are a number relating to Roman people who lived in Lincoln, including a stone found in Nettleham.

Antony is curator of Archaeology at The Collection in Lincoln and using these he has discovered some interesting facts about locals during the Roman occupation.

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The Winter Book Review The Mill on the Floss

by George Eliot I think this book is definitely a winter read by a cosy fire, as it has many pages.

Set in early 19th century England it tells the story of Maggie Tulliver, a wild and free-spirited child. With her brother, Tom, who is spoilt, she was brought up at Dorlcote Mill on the River Floss.

Disaster strikes the Tulliver family in the form of bankruptcy. George Eliot (the author of Middlemarch) was a gifted writer who portrayed the many sides of human emotions with remarkable accuracy.

Maggie grows up into a beautiful, but headstrong young woman, determined to find true love. However, she is restrained by a society that does not make allowances for her romantic personality.

It details the relationship she has with her brother Tom, whom she worships, but he badly lets her down in pursuing his own ambitions.

George Eliot’s prose is beautiful and I think this is by far the best of her books. She lived with a man when they were not married and I feel she is basing the non-conformity of Maggie on herself. She too had a brother.

Narrow Dog to Carcassone

by Terry Darlington Retired from an academic life, Terry and his wife Monica decided to take a long-boat called the Phyllis May across the Channel to France. Everyone told him he was mad and would die. However, he was determined and along with the ‘narrow’ dog, Jim, a whippet, they made it.

They took the narrow boat down the French canals to Carcassone one very hot summer.

Along the way they meet the eccentric French people that we, as tourists, seldom have the chance to meet on the conventional ‘touristy’ trips. He meets drunks, men with guns, academics and madmen and these strange people are delighted to meet Terry and his ‘narrow’ dog.

I read this a long time ago on a coach travelling down south and I remember laughing out loud! Terry Darlington’s style of writing is strange, particularly when he does not use quotation marks around speech, but I got used to this and I feel this gives the book a faster moving pace.

Some people have criticised this book when it was first published a few years ago. I recommended it to several people and even bought copies for presents and I did not receive any negative comments on it. He has written two other books on the same theme, both of which are just as funny.

The Phantom Tollbooth

by Norton Juster I asked Mary Michell if her children had any favourite books and apparently Peter really enjoyed this one.

I obtained it from the library within two days and could not put it down. It is an old book, written in 1962 and yet it seemed fresh.

I too thought it was magical. I can truly say it is the loveliest children’s book I have read in many years. It is suitable to be read out loud, or a child with a fairly good reading ability could read it.

It is one of those books where a child enters another world - in this case through a tollbooth - and meets amazing characters. I must admit I thought of C S Lewis’ books in this respect.

Milo, a bright child, is bored and restless. I don’t want to give away the plot, but needless to say he does enter the ‘Kingdom of Wisdom’ and begins wonderful adventures.

The author’s play on words is marvellous. In this magical kingdom he 64

eats subtraction stew and ends up more hungry! He meets a ‘watchdog’ called Tock, whose body is a round alarm clock.

There is a great deal more use of words in this way.

The message of this book is that Milo learns that he must see his own world around him through different eyes and take time to be more observant.

He notices how blue the sky is, with its lovely shaped clouds and the buds on trees. He doesn’t have to go far away to have discoveries and adventures.

A rollercoaster of a book, funny at times, which is fast-moving and I highly recommend it.

How I Live Now

by Meg Rossoff “Staying alive was what we did to pass the time.”

This sums up completely what happened to Daisy, fifteen years old and American, who travels to England to live with relations on a remote farm. The world is on the brink of war and early in her stay, war breaks out.

This book, now the subject of a film, is definitely for a young adult. It does contain slight sexual references and two expletives, but I still enjoyed it. Joan from the library recommended it.

It was published in 2004 and won The Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize.

Daisy falls in love with Edmond, her cousin, and they become close. We never know who the enemy is, but they attack Britain, a third world war begins and Daisy and her relatives are thrown into the grip of the turmoil and its resultant shortages and separations.

It is written through the eyes of Daisy and her thoughts are well portrayed.

She is impetuous and impatient, but very strong and at times courageous. On the brink of young womanhood, she feels the strength of first love with Edmond.

Graphic at times, this book is poignant and eventually Daisy lays her ghosts to rest. After the war she makes a decision about her future.

Phyllis Maiden

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RB Camera Club Where to go for the ‘Annual Photography Night Out’ is a perennial brain-teaser for the RBCC Committee, a trip to the moon being deemed a bit too daunting and a night on the tiles little too adventurous!

The museum must be regarded as one of Lincolnshire’s most comprehensive ‘secret’ attractions and provided a very memorable and enjoyable ‘Night Out’ for the club.

If you are interested in joining, making new friends and improving your camera skills, come along to a club meeting on any Friday in the village hall at 7.30pm.

It finally finished up with twenty-three members visiting the RAF and MOD Fire Fighting Museum, housed in the original ‘Dambuster’ Hangar at RAF Scampton.

There was much to see, including over forty wartime to present-day fire engines.

The visit was hosted by a team of enthusiastic volunteers, some of whom were dressed as firefighters in costumes appropriate to the date of the fire engines on display.

The museum does not make a charge, only asking for donations. The team leader is WO Steve Shirley MBE and contact can be made on 07912 658402 or by visiting their website.

Above: Club members take photographs inside the original ‘Dambusters’ Hangar at RAF Scampton

Below: The twenty-three members of RB Camera Club who visited RAF Scampton

Words provided by Stick Hancock and images by club member Helen Whincup

RB Exhibition RB Camera is staging an exhibition in the Museum of Lincolnshire Life until 15 December 2013.

The exhibition, entitled ‘Living In and Around Lincolnshire’ will be open from 10.00am - 4.00pm daily, except Sundays (but will be open during the Lincoln Christmas Market weekend). Admission to the exhibition is free.

Members watch the opening of the exhibition

Jean Brumby, Deputy Chair of LPA, opens the exhibition at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life

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Reader’s Photographs The winter months can present photographers with some delightful opportunities to take some stunning pictures.

Last winter was no exception and here is an image taken by Stephen Ryland of Cliff Avenue of the perimeter footpath in the burial ground extension, henceforth to be known as ‘The Swathe’ (see page 7).

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Nettleham Methodist Church During the period leading up to Christmas, called Advent, a period in the church calendar which helps us to focus on the real reason to celebrate Christmas - the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and into the New Year, there will be several special events and services taking place (in addition to the usual services) to which all are welcome. These include:

Have you noticed all the changes to the outside of our Methodist Church building - newly laid steps and paths, landscaped borders and a brand new notice board?

Well, things are happening inside too.

By the time you read this, plans will be under way to completely replace the kitchen to bring it into the 21st Century.

And it’s not just the building where new things are happening either.

Sunday 1 December 9.00am & 10.45am 1st Sunday in Advent

The first ever ‘Messy Church’ at Nettleham Methodist will be held on Sunday 15 December starting at 3.00pm.

Sunday 15 December 3.00pm - 5.00pm: Messy Church Sunday 22 December 4.00pm: Carols by Candlelight Tuesday 24 December 7.00pm: Carols on the Green

Find us at:

www.messychurch.org.uk/ ‘Messy Church’ is a fun time of celebration for adults and children of all ages to come and explore a Bible-based theme through crafts, story-time, prayer, music and games, and share a simple meal together.

Come and see for yourself!

Of course, not everything is changing.

We still have our Sunday morning services at 9.00am and 10.45am. The monthly Brazil Mission Coffee Mornings will carry on every 2nd Saturday 10.00am - 12 noon.

The Creative Fellowship continues to meet each Wednesday afternoon and has a full programme of activities planned.

In September their project was knitting teddies - some will be sold at the Scouts’ Community Market and some have been packed safely into shoeboxes for the Link to Hope Shoebox Appeal and sent on their way to Eastern Europe, co-ordinated in Nettleham by Joyce Lewis.

These are just a few of the things that happen inside the red brick building you may walk past on your way into the Bishop’s Palace.

Wednesday 25 December 10.30am: Christmas Day Family Service Sunday 5 January 2014 10.00am: Covenant Service Sunday 19 January 2014 3.00pm: Messy Church

Find us under ‘Churches’ at:

www.nettleham.org.uk

Lindum Ladies Choir Calling all ladies!

Have you heard of us? We are a group of 40 young-minded ladies of different ages who love singing. Do you think you would like to join us in our fun? Our practises are light-hearted, although Anne Osborne, our Musical Director, works us hard! Playing the ivories is another gem in our group Linda Hepburn-Booth. Our repertoire includes folk music, songs from the shows, and both light and classical music.

few rehearsals until you have made a decision, without any obligation.

All we ask is that you can sing in tune.

The ability to read music is an advantage, but not obligatory and there will be no audition.

If you are interested please telephone Sue Young on 01522 750314, stating

We meet each Friday from 6.00 - 7.30pm at the Old School, Nettleham: September to the third week in December, January to Easter and after Easter to the end of June.

However, it is not necessary for members to live in Nettleham.

If you would like to consider joining us, you would be very welcome to come for a 68

your name and whether you are first soprano, second soprano, or alto.

We regularly prepare for concerts at local churches and for other organisations quite often for charity (see page 3).

If you would like us to entertain your group or organisation, please contact Sue Young.

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Gentlemen: Hate Shopping?

After I retired, my wife insisted that I now accompany her on her trips to the local department store.

Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out again quickly. Equally unfortunately, my wife is like most women - she just loves to browse.

Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local department store: Dear Mrs Smith, Over the past few months, your husband has caused a number of incidents in our store (listed below and all recorded on our security cameras).

With regret, we have no other alternative than to ban him from entering our premises in the future.

June 15: He took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people’s trolleys when they weren’t looking.

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High Priority Email Subject: Third ‘Nile’ virus strain I think I’ve ticked ALL the boxes below and I thought you would want to know about this nasty email virus.

Even the most advanced security software cannot take care of this one. It appears to affect those who were born prior to 1957...

Symptoms: You send the same email twice You send a blank email You send an email to the wrong person.

You send it back to the person who sent it to you You forget to attach the attachment You hit ‘SEND’ before you’ve finished You hit ‘DELETE’ instead of ‘SEND’ You hit ‘SEND’ when you should ‘DELETE’ (Oh no!)

IT IS CALLED THE ‘C-NILE VIRUS’ Hmmm... have I sent this to you already, or did you just send it to me?

July 2: He set all the alarm clocks in housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

July 19: He approached an employee and told her in an official voice, “Code 3 in Housewares.

Get on it now.” This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor which resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money.

August 14: Moved a ‘CAUTION - WET FLOOR’ sign to a carpeted area.

August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers he’d invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the Bedding Department, to which twenty children obliged.

August 23: When a shop assistant asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, “Why can’t you people just leave me alone?”

The emergency services were called.

September 4: Looked straight into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.

October 6: In the Kitchenware Department, he practiced his ‘Madonna look’ using different sizes of funnels on his chest.

October 18: He hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, he yelled “PICK ME! PICK ME!” October 22: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a foetal position and screamed “OH NO! IT’S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!” November 17: He took a box of condoms to the customer service desk and asked where the fitting room was.

And last, but not least: November 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, and then yelled very loudly, “Hey! There’s no toilet paper in here.”

(It worked...!)

The White Stuff Students in an advanced Biology class were taking their mid-term exam. The last question was: “Name seven advantages of Mother’s Milk”, worth 70 points, only if seven are named.

One student was hard pushed to think of seven advantages. He wrote: 1) It is the perfect formula for a child.

2) It provides immunity against several diseases.

3) It is always the right temperature.

4) It is inexpensive.

5) It bonds the child to mother, and vice versa.

6) It is always available as needed.

And then the student was really stuck. Finally, in desperation, just before the bell rang indicating the end of the exam, he wrote: 7) It comes in two attractive containers....and the cat can’t get it.

He got an A.

Pulling Rank During winter training exercises, a lieutenant was driving down a lane when he encountered another jeep stuck in a deep snow-drift with a red-faced colonel at the wheel.

“Your jeep stuck, sir?” asked the lieutenant as he pulled alongside.

“No,” replied the colonel, coming over and handing him the keys, “Yours is.”

Calling Time Because they had no reservations at a busy restaurant, the elderly couple were told there would be a 45-minute wait for a table.

“Young man, we’re both 90 years old,” the husband said “We may not have 45 minutes.”

They were seated immediately.

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EU Directive No 456179 In order to bring about further integration with the Single European currency, all citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland should now be aware that the traditional phrase of ‘Spending a Penny’ is not to be used after 31 December 2013.

From this date onwards, the correct terminology will be: ‘Euro-nating’.

Thank you for your attention

MURDER AT TESCO Tired of constantly being broke and stuck in an unhappy marriage, a young husband decided to solve both problems by taking out a large insurance policy on his wife with himself as the beneficiary and then arranging to have her killed.

A ‘friend of a friend’ put him in touch with a shady underworld figure who went by the name of ‘Artie.’ He explained to the husband that his going price for snuffing out a spouse was £10,000.

The husband said he was willing to pay that amount, but that he wouldn’t have any cash on hand until he could collect his wife’s insurance money. Artie insisted on being paid at least something up front, so the man emptied his pockets, but found only a single pound coin.

Artie sighed and reluctantly agreed to accept the pound as down payment for the dirty deed.

A few days later, Artie followed the man’s wife to the local supermarket. There, he surprised her in the produce department and proceeded to strangle her. As the poor unsuspecting woman drew her last breath and slumped to the floor, the manager of the produce department stumbled unexpectedly onto the murder scene.

Unwilling to leave any witnesses behind, Artie had no choice but to strangle the produce manager as well.

However, unknown to Artie, the entire proceedings were captured by the hidden security cameras and observed by the shop’s security guard, who immediately called the police. Artie was apprehended and arrested before he could even leave the premises.

Under questioning at the police station, Artie revealed the whole sordid plan, including his rather unusual financial arrangements with the hapless husband who was also quickly arrested.

The next day in the newspaper, the headline declared...

ARTIE CHOKES 2 for £1.00 @ Tesco

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Frost at Midnight The Frost performs its secret ministry, Unhelped by any wind. The owlet’s cry Came loud and hark, again! loud as before.

The inmates of my cottage, all at rest, Have left me to that solitude, which suits Abstruser musings: save that at my side My cradled infant slumbers peacefully. ’Tis calm indeed! so calm, that it disturbs And vexes meditation with its strange And extreme silentness. Sea, hill, and wood, This populous village! Sea, and hill, and wood, With all the numberless goings-on of life, Inaudible as dreams! the thin blue flame Lies on my low-burnt fire, and quivers not; Only that film, which fluttered on the grate, Still flutters there, the sole unquiet thing.

Methinks, its motion in this hush of nature Gives it dim sympathies with me who live, Making it a companionable form, Whose puny flaps and freaks the idling Spirit By its own moods interprets, every where Echo or mirror seeking of itself, And makes a toy of Thought.

But O! how oft, How oft, at school, with most believing mind, Presageful, have I gazed upon the bars, To watch that fluttering stranger! and as oft With unclosed lids, already had I dreamt Of my sweet birth-place, and the old church-tower, Whose bells, the poor man’s only music, rang From morn to evening, all the hot Fair-day, So sweetly, that they stirred and haunted me With a wild pleasure, falling on mine ear Most like articulate sounds of things to come!

So gazed I, till the soothing things, I dreamt, Lulled me to sleep, and sleep prolonged my dreams!

And so I brooded all the following morn, Awed by the stern preceptor’s face, mine eye Fixed with mock study on my swimming book: Save if the door half opened, and I snatched A hasty glance, and still my heart leaped up, For still I hoped to see the stranger’s face, Townsman, or aunt, or sister more beloved, My play-mate when we both were clothed alike!

Dear Babe, that sleepest cradled by my side, Whose gentle breathings, heard in this deep calm, Fill up the intersperséd vacancies And momentary pauses of the thought!

My babe so beautiful! it thrills my heart With tender gladness, thus to look at thee, And think that thou shalt learn far other lore, And in far other scenes! For I was reared In the great city, pent ’mid cloisters dim, And saw nought lovely but the sky and stars.

But thou, my babe! shalt wander like a breeze By lakes and sandy shores, beneath the crags Of ancient mountain, and beneath the clouds, Which image in their bulk both lakes and shores And mountain crags: so shalt thou see and hear The lovely shapes and sounds intelligible Of that eternal language, which thy God Utters, who from eternity doth teach Himself in all, and all things in himself.

Great universal Teacher! he shall mould Thy spirit, and by giving make it ask.

Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee, Whether the summer clothe the general earth With greenness, or the redbreast sit and sing Betwixt the tufts of snow on the bare branch Of mossy apple-tree, while the nigh thatch Smokes in the sun-thaw; whether the eave-drops fall Heard only in the trances of the blast, Or if the secret ministry of frost Shall hang them up in silent icicles, Quietly shining to the quiet Moon.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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The following poem is by David Bohlman who was brought up in Nettleham and, like his father, is a keen life-long fan of Lincoln City Football Club.

Now living in Macclesfield, he frequently returns here to attend Lincoln City FC matches.

Poetry CRANKY OLD MAN

What do you see nurses? ... what do you see?

What are you thinking ... when you’re looking at me?

A cranky old man, ... not very wise, Uncertain of habit ... with faraway eyes?

The Game Who dribbles his food ... and makes no reply.

One night in December, When you say in a loud voice ... ’I do wish you’d try!’

Can’t help but remember, Who seems not to notice ... the things that you do.

And forever is losing ... a sock or a shoe?

Arrived late...

Who, resisting or not ... lets you do as you will, What’s the score mate?

With bathing and feeding ... the long day to fill?

“Ya missed nothing son...

Is that what you’re thinking? ... is that what you see?

None - none.”

Then open your eyes, nurse ... you’re not looking at me.

I’ll tell you who I am ... as I sit here so still, No cover here, As I do at your bidding, ... as I eat at your will.

Away fans don’t matter I’m a small child of ten ... with a father and mother, If we were fish, Brothers and sisters ... who love one another A young boy of sixteen ... with wings on his feet They’d hide the batter!

Dreaming that soon now ... a lover he’ll meet.

Rain teeming down on our heads A groom soon at twenty ... my heart gives a leap.

Better off in our beds!

Remembering, the vows ... that I promised to keep.

At twenty-five, now ... I have young of my own.

Pitch is a quagmire, Who need me to guide ... and a secure happy home.

We vent our ire A man of thirty ... my young now grown fast, On the referee, Bound to each other ... with ties that should last.

On a whistling spree.

At forty, my young sons ... have grown and are gone, But my wife is beside me ... to see I don’t mourn.

A tackle slid in, At fifty, once more, ... babies play ‘round my knee, A leg scored with studs, Again, we know children ... my loved one and me.

Will he give him a yellow? Yes, he does.

Dark days are upon me ... my wife is now dead.

I look at the future ... I shudder with dread.

Half-time is called, For my young are all rearing ... young of their own.

Time for a pie, And I think of the years ... and the love that I’ve known.

Yours looks cold mate... mmm, so is mine.

I’m now an old man ... and nature is cruel.

It’s jest to make old age ... look like a fool.

Bin the pasties, get us some crisps The body, it crumbles ... grace and vigour depart, Will they live up to their name? I wish!

There is now a stone ... where I once had a heart.

Tea not much better, warm and brown But inside this old body ... a young man still dwells, The powder it’s made from was dug from the ground.

And now and again ... my battered heart swells I remember the joys ... I remember the pain.

It all starts again, And I’m loving and living ... life over again.

We suffer this pain I think of the years, all too few ... gone too fast.

Of twenty players with no skill, And accept the stark fact ... that nothing can last.

So open your eyes, people ... open and see.

And fans wishing them ill.

Not a cranky old man .

Gets wetter and colder, Look closer ... see ... ME!

The striker gets bolder...

Clean through on goal Slips... takes a roll!

We sigh for the last time, We’re nearly all done, We won’t get a score now...

None - none.

Bottom two in the league We’ve got boredom fatigue.

The whistle blows, players trudge away.

We make for the car, glazed and pray That we’ll get better, win the next game ‘Cos we believe in football, glory and fame.

Inspired by Tranmere v Lincoln in the 1980s; Final score: 0 - 0; Bottom of 3rd division; 7:30pm Friday night kick-off

(1798)

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Winter-Time Late lies the wintry sun a-bed, A frosty, fiery sleepy-head; Blinks but an hour or two; and then, A blood-red orange, sets again.

Close by the jolly fire I sit To warm my frozen bones a bit; Or with a reindeer-sled, explore The colder countries round the door.

Black are my steps on silver sod; Thick blows my frosty breath abroad; And tree and house, and hill and lake, Are frosted like a wedding-cake.

Robert Louis Stevenson from A Child’s Garden of Verses (1885)

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Pages The Oxen CHRISTMAS EVE, and twelve of the clock.

‘Now they are all on their knees,’ An elder said as we sat in a flock By the embers in hearthside ease.

We pictured the meek mild creatures where They dwelt in their strawy pen, Nor did it occur to one of us there To doubt they were kneeling then.

So fair a fancy few would weave In these years! Yet, I feel, If someone said on Christmas Eve, ‘Come; see the oxen kneel, ‘In the lonely barton by yonder coomb Our childhood used to know,’ I should go with him in the gloom, Hoping it might be so.

Thomas Hardy

Ten Little Churchmen Ten little churchmen went to Church when fine But it started raining, and then there were nine.

Nine little churchmen stayed up very late One overslept himself, and then there were eight.

Eight little churchmen on the road to Heaven One joined a rambling club, and then there were seven.

Seven little churchmen heard of Sunday ‘flicks’ One thought he’d like to go, and then there were six.

Six little churchmen kept the place alive One bought a TV set, and then there were five.

Five little churchmen seemed loyal to the core.

One quarrelled with the minister, and then there were four.

Four little churchmen argued heatedly About the free will offering, and then there were three.

Three little churchmen sang the service through Got a hymn they didn’t know, and then there were two.

Two little churchmen disputed who should run The congregational Social, and then there was one.

One little churchman knowing what to do, Got a friend to come to church, and then there were two.

Two sincere churchmen each brought in one more, So the numbers doubled, and then there were four.

Four sturdy churchmen simply couldn’t wait ‘Till they found four others, and then there were eight Eight eager churchmen at worship every week Soon encouraged others, troubled souls to seek In the people crowded, cramming every pew, Supply, O God, this grace and zeal in our Parish too!

Sent in by a reader

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A Soldier’s Tale On English soil my feet do tread Our hearts are sad, our mouths do parch, Down to the shore on boats we go To kill or capture our unseen foe, Cry when English blood doth flow.

My pack is heavy with tins and shovel Some do moan and some do grovel My face in the dirt, the sky I curse, I lie wounded watching the nurse.

Oh beauty in thy eyes do shine Hold my hand in thine, in thine.

Soldier, bury me in sweet English earth I have no family for them to search.

My fighting is over I wait for the end Where is the glory in death, my friend?

Where is the glory in death, my friend?

T M Lewis

Me I am an adult female human I have raised two wonderful people, Hard working and moral, But now this time is mine.

So - do not tell me what to do Or what to think or believe.

If I want a drink or a smoke It is my right - I believe.

I am in my sixties Not a teenager Do not treat me like a fool, I am educated and, believe me, I have learned much in living’s harsh school.

But however hard you want life, However much you do The grim reaper is always present Is still going to come for you.

So, enjoy the days that are left to you, Relish your days in the sun, Celebrate every breath you take Unto your very last one.

And then join the numberless Who have gone before Peace and joy may await you Who could want for more?

Elaine King

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost (1923)

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The Darkness in my Mind The darkness in my mind: Is the darkness of an unfair judgement; The lack of welcome in an unlit stable; The blackness of a ‘contract-killer’.

It feeds on my gloomy thoughts And dreary dismay, To become my personal nightmare.

It blends in with the night, Darkness melts into darkness.

I attempt to ignore it, But it reinforces My dark despair.

Night is like death.

I sleep as though dead, But I have to rise again, Like Lazarus.

In the grey morning Of discontent, The darkness will disappear, Temporarily; Until night Rises again, In my head.

D J Fenwick

A Prowling Wild Cat At dusk, the prowling wild cat walks, Ferocious and long-limbed, it stalks.

It pads so softly, scarcely heard, A yellow shadow, thickly furred.

Its burning eyes flash, coldly cruel, And in its broad jaws, fierce fangs drool.

Whilst sharp-sheathed talons long to flay, Soft, yielding flesh of tender prey.

Marked like a tiger with dark lines, Hungry for flesh and blood, cat pines.

Tenacious, it will hunt, then kill, Its piercing scream, disturb and thrill.

D J Fenwick

Ode to a Pilot You seem like an ant below.

Tears fill my eyes, I love you so.

I see the flash, But hear it not.

Down I go into the earth to rot.

Cry for me in your quiet room, My youth has gone Too soon, too soon.

T M Lewis

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Festive Humour

5. There is a word in the English Language that is always spelled incorrectly?

What is it?

6. Billy was born on 28 December, yet his birthday is always in the summer.

How is this possible?

7. In Turkey, you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg.

Why not?

8. You are running a race, and you pass the person in 2nd place.

What place would you be in now?

9. Which is it correct to say: “The yolk of the egg are white” or “The yolk of the egg is white”?

10. A farmer has 5 haystacks in one field and 4 haystacks in the second field.

How many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in another field?

3. Mt Everest (it just wasn’t discovered yet) 2. Meat 1. Johnny of course

Answers

and a few one-liners!

How does Moses make his tea? Hebrews it!

Venison for dinner again? Oh deer!

I used to be a banker, but then I lost interest.

Haunted French pancakes give me the crepes.

England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.

I tried to catch some fog, but I mist.

I changed my iPod’s name to Titanic - now it’s syncing.

I know a man who’s addicted to brake fluid, but he says he can stop any time.

I stayed up all night to see where the sun went, and then it dawned on me.

This girl said she recognized me from the vegetarian club, but I’d never met herbivore.

I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can’t put it down.

I did a theatrical performance about puns.

It was a play on words.

We’re going on a school trip to the Coca-Cola factory. I hope there’s no pop quiz.

I didn’t like my beard at first, then it grew on me.

When you get a bladder infection you know urine trouble.

Broken pencils are pretty much pointless.

What do you call a dinosaur with an extensive vocabulary? A thesaurus.

I dropped out of the Communism class because of lousy Marx.

Jokes about German sausages are the wurst!

4. How much earth is there in a hole ...that measures two feet by three feet by four feet?

4. There is no earth in a hole

The old man hangs up his telephone and turns to his wife. “Sorted! They’re both coming for Christmas - and they’re paying their own way.”

3. Before Mt Everest was discovered ...what was the highest mountain in the world?

5. Incorrectly

She calls Scotland immediately, and screams at her father: “You are NOT getting divorced. Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow.

Until then, don’t do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?” and hangs up.

2. The man in the butcher shop is five feet ten inches tall and he wears size 13 shoes.

What does he weigh?

6. Billy lives in the southern hemisphere

Frantically, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the telephone. “Like hell they’re getting divorced!” she shouts, “I’ll take care of this!”

1. Johnny’s mother had three children. The first child was named April. The second child was named May. What was the third child’s name?

7. You can’t take pictures with a wooden leg you need a camera

“We can’t stand the sight of each other any longer” the father says. “We’re sick of each other and I’m sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Leeds and tell her.”

(Answers below)

8. You would now be in 2nd place (you passed the person in 2nd place, not 1st)

“Dad, what are you talking about?” the son screams.

Abroad for Christmas Two priests decided that instead of staying at home for Christmas as usual, they would treat themselves to a holiday abroad.

9. Neither, the yolk of the egg is yellow

A man in Scotland calls his son in London the day before Christmas Eve and says: “I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough.”

Here are a few quiz questions for children to ask adults who think they’re really smart!

10. One - if he combines all of his haystacks, they become one big one.

Home for Christmas

Home Truth The reason politicians try so hard to get re-elected is that they would hate to have to earn a living under the laws they’ve passed!

72

They were determined to make this a proper holiday, away from it all, by not wearing anything that would identify them as members of the clergy.

As soon as the plane landed they headed to a shop and bought some really loud and outrageous shorts, shirts, sandals and sunglasses.

The next morning they were on the beach dressed in their ‘tourist’ clothes, lying on sunbeds, enjoying a drink, the sunshine and the scenery when a beautiful topless young lady came walking straight towards them. They couldn’t help but stare.

As she passed them she smiled and said “Good morning, Father, Good morning, Father” nodding and addressing each of them individually.

They were both stunned. How in the world did she know they were priests? So the next day, they went back to the store and bought even more outrageous outfits and, in their new attire, they settled down on their sunbeds to enjoy the sunshine.

After a little while, the same gorgeous topless young lady came walking toward them. Again she nodded at each of them and said “Good morning, Father, Good morning, Father” and started to walk away.

One of the priests couldn’t stand it any longer and called after her, “Just a minute, young lady, we are priests and proud of it, but I have to know, how on earth did you know we are priests, dressed as we are?”

She removed her sunglasses and replied, “Father, it’s me, Sister Kathleen.”

Near Enough!

Two friends leave the pub. One says to other, “I’m too tired to walk all the way home.”

“I know, me too, but we’ve no money for a taxi and we’ve missed the last bus.”

“We could steal a bus from the depot,” replies his mate.

They arrive at the bus depot and one goes in to get a bus while the other keeps a look-out.

After a long time, the lookout shouts, “Haven’t you found one yet?”

“I can’t find a No 91.”

“You bonehead, take the No 14 and we’ll walk from the roundabout.”

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2 for 1 ON PAY & PLAY on presentation of this advertisement Hackthorn Road, Welton, Lincoln (Six miles north of Lincoln) Email: enquiries@weltonmanorgolfcentre.co.uk www.weltonmanorgolfcentre.co.uk

The Cottage Church Street Nettleham INVESTOR IN PEOPLE Lincoln LN2 2PD Telephone 01522 754821 Email info@davidburghardt.co.uk www.davidburghardt.co.uk