The Parish News VOL.32

FEB 2014

Magazine www.sparkfordvillage.co.uk

FROM THE EDITOR What a month it has been at one point I wondered if the terrible wind & rain were ever going to stop. Thankfully it did and the water levels have returned to normal. This magazine is for you the community, without your input it would not be here. I need to remind you that the deadline for anything you want to be added to the Magazine is On the 15th of each month. This could be pictures, letters, Jokes Memories, Puzzles, Anything. Please if you have email send all items to me at peterdownton@btconnect.com if not you can find my address on the rear of the magazine just drop it in my letterbox or better still stop me in the street and tell me. I hope all you enjoy the latest edition.

**** STAR OF THE MONTH ****

FANCY A PADDLE? - Brenda Pay of Sparkford out enjoying an afternoon walk ankle deep in flood waters Nr Sparkford Hill Lane on Saturday 4 th January 2014 thanks to Donna & Brenda for allowing me to use this picture.

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Dates For Your Diary Come and play a night of Cash Bingo at Sparkford Village Hall On Friday 7th February In Aid Of Cary Comedians Carnival Club Doors open 6.45pm. Eyes down 7.30pm. Under 16’s to be accompanied by an adult. Contact Donna Osmond on 01963 440477.

CaféXtra The next CaféXtra Village Breakfast Gathering Will take place on Sunday 9h February. Breakfast served 9.30am – 11.00am Sparkford Church welcomes everyone for good coffee, Toast, Croissant, milkshake bar & a round of bacon rolls. This venture aims to provide a monthly meeting point for our village, with the option too to pray and hear a Bible story at one point in the morning. No charge for breakfast but contributions welcome.

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Davis Hall, West Camel Wednesday 26th February 8pm–11pm - £4 Doors open 7.30pm Enjoy an evening of music ranging from classical, traditional, blues, country, folk, boogie, jazz and more. Each month anything from 8 - 12 different extremely talented performers entertain on a variety of instruments, from guitar, fiddle, mandolin, bazooki, flute and keyboards etc. The artists range from local young groups or soloists, to established groups visiting from all over the South West. Raffle & bar. Find Camelot Music Night on Facebook or contact Martine/Iain on 01935 851556 or martine.hardy@live.co.uk if you would like to play and for more details

Advert for Women’s World Day of Prayer We will be holding our service at Weston Bampfylde on Friday March 7th at 2.30pm followed by refreshments. The theme “Streams in the Desert” has been composed by Christian women in Egypt. The service is led by local women from our parishes and neighbouring ones. If you would like to know more or take part please get in touch with Yolanda Tel: 01963 440835

DID YOU KNOW??? Did you know that you can Hire Tables, Chairs, Kettles, Crockery, Glasses, Cutlery & More from the Sparkford Village Hall. Just make a Donation to the Village Hall Committee Contact Victoria Rogers Tel: 01963 440475

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What’s On At Sparkford Village Hall…. Galhampton Preschool (term time) Monday 9:00am – 3:30pm Wednesday 9:00am – 1:00pm Thursday 9:00am – 3:30pm Friday 9:00am – 3:30pm Contact Fiona Hooper Tel: 01963 440626 Monday & Tuesday Evenings (Term Time) Scouts Cubs & Beavers Tuesday Yoga 10:00am – 12:00pm Contact Marjorie Rourke Tel: 01963 350452 Wednesday & Thursday 6:00pm – 8:00pm Dog Training Classes Contact Lucy Roberts 07817 487901 Friday Men’s Barber in Committee Room 12:00pm – 6:00pm

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Queen Camel Tuesday Group January 2014 Meeting Did you know that 400 years ago there were many Eurasian cranes in England? (No, not the lifting variety, the birds) Unfortunately, they tasted delicious and Henry ll had 115 cranes killed to satisfy his Christmas guests. Others shared Henry's passion for the delicacy and the cranes disappeared from our shores. In recent years moves have been made to reintroduce these wonderful birds and we were fortunate enough to have as our January speaker, a representative from the RSPB who has been involved in a 5 year programme to bring cranes back to England and to our own Somerset levels. We were shown a most interesting and amusing film showing how the programme is progressing. Crane eggs are taken from nests in Germany; apparently Mum and Dad cry for 2 days after the eggs are removed but then soon lay more. They are sent to England and when the eggs hatch they are adopted by 'human' foster parents whom chicks follow around constantly. The foster parents are dressed from head to foot in long grey smocks and carry 'sticks' shaped like a cranes head which are used to imitate a 'pecking action for the chicks to copy. The chicks never hear a human voice although bird songs are played to them. These include a parent crane calling its young to food when the foster parent is ready to feed the newly hatched chicks from long handled spoons. The birds are taught all they need to know from their grey smocked parents, and eventually are tagged and fitted with a G.P.S. transmitter they are then ready to be released. There is not room for me Suffice it to say that so far, the wild of which 66 have the Levels and Slimbridge. it may be a crane.

to write all the interesting facts about these amazing birds. 4 years into the programme, 77 birds have been released into so far survived. They spend most of their time flying between So next time you think you see a heron flying over, look again,

The Tuesday Group meets in the Queen Camel Memorial Hall on the first Tuesday of each month, at 10.00am. If you want any more information about our activities, please call Pat Champion on 01963 32264 or Marion Chapman on 01963 220741.

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3rd Sparkford Scout Group 3rd Sparkford Scouts need projects from YOU! The Scouts are seeking photos and stories from anyone in the locality who was a cub or scout themselves, in the Sparkford group or elsewhere, for a display and hopefully an event for the Scout Community Week on 2nd – 8th June 2014. Could you all start having a search for any photos etc. that could be used by us for this upcoming event. Please contact us by any of the two methods below Sadly we haven’t has any response from our local communities to this message which we sent out in our last update L – please can you help? The Scouts and their leaders are currently working on the programme of activity for spring, and would like to engage more with the local community. Do you have or know of any tasks that would benefit local community areas that the Scouts could complete? This would help them complete their community challenge badge and they need to complete 6 hours’ worth of community work. Can anyone help us please by making some suggestions? We really do want to be an active and supportive part of the community – what could we do to help in your area? Please call one of our leaders Julia on 07966226916 to discuss your ideas or email helen@cuddledry.com . Thank you.

The playgroup returned after a much enjoyed Christmas break. Parents are welcome to visit at any time but February 3rd – 7th 2014 is our Dad’s week when we encourage Dad’s, Uncle’s, & Granddad’s to come & spend some time helping and playing with your children. In March we will be having a “Bake Off“ in aid of sports relief. We welcome parents & families from the local area to join us for this, but be warned the competition is FIERCE. More details & how to enter will be in the March Issue. Details of our ongoing events & news can be found on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/GalhamptonPlaygroup

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We now have 2 defibrillators in the Parish, One at Hazelgrove Services and One in Weston Bampfylde – Its exact location will be announced in the next edition of the Parish News Magazine. It was presented to Mr. Justin Crawford on 24th January, when 16 people received instruction from Chris Cox, of the Somerton Red Cross, in CPR & AED. None of this would have been possible without the generous contributions from local residents and businesses, for which we are extremely grateful. Should these machines be responsible for the saving of even one life, everyone’s efforts will have been worthwhile. In common with many other people we have all been on the alert for floods, leaking roofs & blocked drains. These problems have now receded to a large extent. On the other hand, there is never a time to relax our guard against opportunist thieves & our own security. If you are not a member of Neighborhood Watch why not join. It is only £1.00 per household with lots of benefits. See your contact person or ring on 01963 440741. Bill Westcott

Members of the Sparkford Neighbourhood Watch Team, Chairman of the Parish Council Justin Crawford & Spar Store Manager Mark Elliott watch as director of the Hazelgrove Services Clive Sheppard receives the portable defibrillator from Homewatch. 9

LOCAL CONTACTS VILLAGE HALL For Hire of Items, Bookings & Queries Please contact Victoria Rogers Tel: 01963 440475 SPARKFORD PARISH COUNCILLORS CHAIRMAN: Mr Justin Crawford, The Old Rectory, Weston Bampfylde, BA22 7HT Tel: 01963 440878 email: justincrawford@waitrose.com VICE CHAIRMAN: Mr Trevor Tuck, Elmhurst, 5 Manor Close Sparkford BA22 7JZ Tel: 01963 440860 email: Trevor.Tuck@hills-group.co.uk CLERK: Mrs Karen Bourke, Marberry House, Ainstey Drive, Sparkford, BA22 7JT Tel: 01963 440112 email: sparkford.clerk@gmail.com Mr Tony Bourke, Marberry House, Ainstey Drive, Sparkford, Somerset BA22 7JT Tel: 01963 440112 email: tony.bourke1@btinternet.com Mr David Braithwaite, Greystones, Church Road, Sparkford, BA22 7JZ Tel: 01963 440848 email: david.braithwaite@btinternet.com Mr Larry Piper, Long Hazel Farm, High Street, Sparkford, BA22 7JH Tel: 01963 441431 (Day) 01963 441446 (Eve) email: larwpiper@btinternet.com Mr Kevin Davis, 35 Church Road, Sparkford, Somerset, BA22 7JH Tel: 01963 440068 email: d.k.davis@btinternet.com Mr Peter Downton, Wychwood, Church Road, Sparkford, Somerset, BA227JN Tel: 01963 441423 email: peterdownton@btconnect.com SOUTH SOMERSET DISTRICT COUNCIL The Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 22HT Tel: 01935 462462 COUNTY COUNCILLOR & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR Mr Mike Lewis, Upperwood Dairy House, Cary Road, Sparkford, BA22 7LH Tel: 01963 440231 email: michael.lewis@southsomerset.gov.uk CHURCH WARDENS Sparkford: Mr Andy Voysey Tel: 01963 441010

Mr Ted Marsh Tel: 01963 440634

Weston Bampfylde: Shirley Hoskins Tel: 01963 440242

Gill Lawson Tel: 01963 440551

Sutton Montis Julia Skelhorn Tel: 01963 440586

Peter Scarlett Tel: 01963 220533

Cam Vale Benefice Administrator Rosemary Rymer Tel: 01963 441585 ( in office Monday, Wednesday & Thursday AM Only ) Email: admincamvale@gmail.com 10

Beat Manager and Police Community Support Officers for Sparkford. PC Sara Stephenson Tel: 0845 456 7000 (ask for Wincanton Police Station) Voice Mail: 01935 402268 ext 7 1164 email: Sara.Stephenson@avonandsomerset.police.uk PCSO 7815 Thelma Mead Tel: 0845 456 7000 (ask for Wincanton Police Station) Voice Mail: 01935 402268 ext 7 7815 email: Thelma.Mead@avonandsomerset.police.uk Queen Camel Medical Centre West Camel Road, Queen Camel, BA22 7LT

Main Tel: 01935 850225

Dispensary Tel: 01935 850379

Post Office The Supply Stores, High Street, Queen Camel, Somerset, BA227NG Tel: 01935 850432

SPARKFORD PARISH COUNCIL REPORT The last Parish Council meeting was held on Monday 6 th January 2014. Three Planning Applications had been received: 1.

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13/04617/FUL - Erection of a two storey side extension incorporating new garage, two storey rear extension, alterations to existing porch to incorporate alterations to front wall of sitting room and window. Demolition of existing utility room and partial demolition of existing garage. Firwood, 55 Church Road, Sparkford. Mr S Comley 13/04855/FUL - Extension to existing agricultural building. Land opposite Hazelgrove Lodge, High Street, Sparkford. Mr Adrian Smith. 13/05041/FUL - Erection of a retaining stone wall. Mr C Eykyn, Little Weston House, Little Weston Road, Sparkford.

The following planning decision had been received: 13/04762/LBC – Internal alterations and the removal of cement render from the front façade. Little Weston House, Little Weston Road, SPARKFORD. Application permitted with conditions. The date of the next Parish Council meeting will be Monday, 3 rd February 2014 at 8.00 pm. Karen Bourke Clerk to Sparkford Parish Council sparkford.clerk@gmail.com 01963 440112

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Coffee Break Puzzle

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Church Service Calendar Sunday, 2nd February 2014 – Presentation of Christ in the Temple (White) Readings: Malachi 3.1-5, Hebrew 2.14-end, Luke 2.22-40, Psalm 24.(1-6)7-end 9.30 am BCP Holy Communion at Sparkford 9.30 am

BCP Holy Communion at Sutton Montis

9.30 am

Village Service at Corton Denham

10.00 am 4.30 pm 6.30 pm

Family Service at Queen Camel Tea Time at the Davis Hall, West Camel CW Evening Prayer at Weston Bampfylde

Wednesday, 5th February 2014 10.30 am Cleaveside Community Service at the Community Hall 7.00 pm Sacred Space at Corton Denham Sunday, 9th February 2014 – 4th Sunday before Lent (Green) Readings: Isaiah 58.1-9a(9b-12),1 Corinthians 2.1-12(13-end), Matthew 5.13-20 09.30 – 11.00 CaféXtra at Sparkford Village Hall 10.00 am Holy Communion at Queen Camel 11.00 am BCP Holy Communion at West Camel 11.15 am Informal Morning Worship at Sutton Montis 4.30 pm BCP Evening Prayer at Corton Denham 6.30 pm BCP Evening Prayer at Weston Bampfylde

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Sunday, 16th February 2014 – 3rd Sunday before Lent (Green) Readings: Deuteronomy 30.15-end, 1 Corinthians 3.1-9, Matthew 5.21-37, Psalm 119.1-8 8.00 am BCP Holy Communion at Queen Camel 9.30 am BCP Holy Communion at Corton Denham 9.30 am BCP Matins at Sparkford 11.00 am BCP Matins at West Camel 6.30 pm BCP Holy Communion at Weston Bampfylde 6.30 pm Evening Service at Sutton Montis Sunday, 23rd February 2014 – 2nd Sunday before Lent (Green) Readings: Genesis 1.1-2.3, Romans 8.18-25, Matthew 6.25-end, Psalm 136 (136.1-9, 23 end) 10.00 am Together at 10 The Cam Vale Benefice Service – Holy Communion at Queen Camel

Sparkford Church Rotas Sidespersons

Flowers

Feb 2nd

Feb 2nd

Bill Tallon

Feb 9th

Feb 9th

Café Xtra

Feb 16th

Feb 16th

Rene Carpenter

Feb 23rd

Feb 23rd

Together @ Ten

Keyholders

Cleaners

Feb 1st

Feb

8th

Mrs Hardiman & Mrs Tallon

Feb 2nd

David Ham

Feb 9th

Heather Sanders

Feb 16th

Norman Yeates

Feb 23rd

Ted Marsh

Mr & Mrs Marsh

Feb 15th

Mrs Spencer & Mrs Hoddinott

Feb 22nd

Mr & Mrs Tallon

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Lent course 2014: The Long Road to Heaven

Many people enjoyed the Lent course based around the film Chocolat which we ran 2 years ago. This year we are taking another film as our theme. The Way stars Martin Sheen as Tom, an American doctor, who comes to France to collect the remains of his son, killed in the Pyrenees in a storm while walking The Camino de Santiago, also known as 'The Way of Saint James'. Driven by his profound sadness and desire to understand his lost son, Tom decides to embark on the pilgrimage. Armed only with his son's backpack and guidebook, he begins the 800km historical pilgrimage but soon discovers that he won't be alone on this journey - he meets other pilgrims from around the world, all broken and looking for greater meaning in their lives, thus an unlikely group of misfits are bonded and Tom begins to learn the difference between "The life we live and the life we choose." The book that accompanies the course is called the Long Road to Heaven by Tim Heaton and over 5 weeks it examines the questions: What are we saved from? What are we saved for? Who can be saved? What do we have to do to be saved? How are we saved? It looks like being a thought provoking and uplifting course with lovely touches of humor along the way. We will be running 2 groups in the benefice: An afternoon group on Mondays at 2.30p.m in Weston Bampfylde Village Hall Dates for the afternoon group will be Full showing of the film Monday March 3rd beginning at 2.15p.m. Followed by Mondays March 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st and April 7th all at 2.30p.m. An Evening group on Wednesdays at Menteith House, Sutton Montis at 7.30p.m. Full showing of the film on Wednesday Feb 26th Followed by Wednesdays March 12th, 19th, 26th, April 2nd and 9th. Sign up forms for the groups will be appearing in churches very soon For more details please contact Rose and Alan 01963 440026 Or Rosemary at the parish office 01963 441595

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The Rectors Letter Dear All As I look out of my office window, there is a very watery winter sun shining onto a very wet landscape. But although the real wintery weather of hard frosts and snows hasn’t hit our part of the country (yet!), there are already hints of spring – if you look hard enough for them. In those warmer corners of the garden a few brave bulbs are already pushing a green tip above the soil. Winter roses are giving a hint of colour too into a predominately grey landscape. Christmas seems an almost distant memory now, but there were some wonderful services in our churches over Advent and Christmas, with many churches overflowing with people. An amazing way to celebrate the birth of the Christ child again in 2013. There were over 200 at the Queen Camel Nativity and Christingle Service on Christmas Eve. At Sparkford there was a terrific turnout with the beavers, cubs, scouts and leaders, joining the regular churchgoers – this meant that children were seated on the floor on kneelers, and the comment was heard “I’ve never had to queue to get into church before!” Reports from the other churches too, give a similar story. There is so much talk in the news of today's society, that the church is dying, that people are turning their backs on it – but maybe, just maybe, we here in the Cam Vale Benefice are beginning to buck that trend. Now we are into the New Year of 2014, and we have a new future ahead of us. A new Rector for the Benefice will join us sometime in the spring – hopefully full details will be available for the next edition of the magazine. A new Rector (and family) will bring fresh ideas, different ways of doing and being. We will all have to be ready, with them, to move forward, to adjust, to learn and to share in the up and the downs. When you read the stories of Jesus, and his disciples, and their reception by the villages that they passed through on their travels, they were very different. In some places, they were almost mobbed by the crowds, and Jesus had to slip away to try and find some peace away from the demands of the people who wanted to be healed, from the demands of the people who wanted to hear his stories. Whilst in other places, they were almost mobbed by the crowds, who wanted nothing to do with them, who might even have stoned them had they had the chance, wanted to get rid of them as quickly as possible. Very few of us relish change - but it can be very healthy to be got out of a comfortable rut - to experience fresh thoughts and ideas. So during the coming year, I hope that each of us, wherever our lives take us, whoever we meet, will allow ourselves to accept the opportunities that are placed in our path. Rosemary Rymer

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Bishop’s Message - February 2014 Seeking justice is 'absolutely central' to Christian faith Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury When Christians speak in public about community flourishing or about justice, there’s always someone who will pop up and ask why we’re sticking our noses in, as if these things were miles away from the proper concerns of Christianity. Recently there have been the issues of money and credit unions and power costs of which the church has spoken. Stick to God, we are told. So we do, and we find Jesus saying: Love God, love neighbour. The common good of the community and justice are absolutely central to what it means to be a Christian. They flow from the love of Jesus on the Cross, offering salvation, enabling justice and human freedom. Loving God and loving our neighbour go together like the warp and the weft of a piece of fabric. They hold each other in place and together can be strong, and beautiful, and adaptable, for any number of uses. But each without the other would be disconnected strands. When we weave them together in our life as people of God, we open up a range of possibilities that can make a real difference. Possibilities that can transform lives and transform communities. That is our calling. We don’t speak about common good and justice because we think we have some automatic right to be heard, but because loving our neighbour places responsibilities upon us. We have responsibilities to act, to do what we can to make a difference, to work for our neighbour’s flourishing, to bring justice. We have responsibilities to speak, even when it might be easier to stay quiet, to point to injustice and to challenge others to join us in righting it. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that the Church is part of the solution for building community blessing at local level – although I suspect that it might be questioned by some. We need the imagination to see where we can do more. And we need to be rooted in that vision God has set out for us, of welfare and of justice. It is the common good and justice that transforms our communities. Taken from the Archbishop of Canterbury's speech at the Church Urban Fund Tackling Poverty Together conference, London

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Long Hazel Park High Street Sparkford Yeovil Somerset BA22 7JH Website: www.longhazelpark.co.uk Email: longhazelpark@hotmail.com Quality-inspected holiday touring and lodge park exclusively for adults. Luxury holiday lodges for hire and sale as second holiday homes.

“Just Cakes" " Let me create a cake for your special occasion." Justine Spacey Mandeville Green Close Sparkford Tel 01963 440785 or 07779 609613.

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The Village Cookbook.. Classic Fudge-Walnut Brownies Ingredients 3.38 ounces all-purpose flour (about 3/4 cup) 1 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chunks, divided 1/3 cup fat-free milk 6 tablespoons butter, melted 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, divided Cooking spray Preparation 1. Preheat oven to 350째. 2. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl. Combine 1/2 cup chocolate and milk in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave at HIGH 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds. Stir in butter, vanilla, and eggs. Add milk mixture, 1/2 cup chocolate, and 1/4 cup nuts to flour mixture; stir to combine. 3. Pour the batter into a 9-inch square metal baking pan coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup nuts. Bake at 350째 for 22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in centre comes out with moist crumbs clinging. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into 20 pieces.

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Copy deadline for inclusion by noon on 15th of each month The Parish News Editor: Mr Peter Downton, Wychwood, Church Road, Sparkford, BA22 7JN Tel: 01963 441423 Email: peterdownton@btconnect.com Printed by JH Haynes & Co Ltd, Sparkford, Nr. Yeovil BA22 7JJ

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