The Parish News Vol.31 No.11 September 2013

THE PARISH NEWS

SPARKFORD, WESTON BAMPFYLDE, LITTLE WESTON, SUTTON MONTIS & QUEEN CAMEL

VOL.31 NO.11

SEPTEMBER 2013

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EDITOR: Peter Downton Wychwood, Church Road, Sparkford. BA22 7JN email: dcs_ltd_uk@btinternet.com

01963 44 14 23

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FROM THE EDITOR Firstly I would like to express all our thanks to Jay Farmer who has done an excellent job in the running of the newsletter, I would like to wish her the very best of luck for the future which I am sure will be fruitful in whatever she decides to do.

I thought it would be a shame to lose this vital connection to the local area so decided to take on this role as editor. I look forward to getting to know you all again over the next few months and continue to keep this newsletter alive.

Please feel free to contact me with any news or events you wish to be included in the next issue. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SPARKFORD PARISH COUNCIL REPORT

The last Parish Council meetings were held on Monday 1st July and Monday 5th August.

The following planning applications have been received: 13/02558/AGN – Erection of an agricultural building for the storage of farm implements.

Little Weston Farm, Little Weston Road. Mr Jonathan King Brain.

13/02557/AGN – Extension to existing agricultural building for the storage of haw/straw and farm machinery.

Little Weston Farm, Little Weston Road. Mr Jonathan King Brain.

13/02466/FUL – Construction of children’s wooden tree house with ladder and slide around lime tree situated in back garden.

6 Ainstey Drive, Sparkford. Miss Nicola Brine.

13/02807/FUL – Erection of a new calf house. Land at Middle Farm, Weston Bampfylde Road. Mr Michael Bishop.

The following planning decisions have been received: 13/02558/AGN – Erection of an agricultural building for the storage of farm implements.

Little Weston Farm, Little Weston Road. Mr Jonathan King Brain. Prior approval not required.

13/02557/AGN – Extension to existing agricultural building for the storage of haw/straw and farm machinery.

Little Weston Farm, Little Weston Road. Mr Jonathan King Brain. Prior approval not required.

13/02079/COL – Application for a certificate of lawful development for an existing single storey extension to the rear corner of the existing 2 storey building. The New House, Ainstey Drive, Sparkford. Mr Brian Belton. Granted.

It has been reported that more trees have been cut down in Sparkford Copse. If anyone sees any suspicious vehicles in the area please report it to the Police on 101. There seem to have been several thefts from sheds in the area. Please make sure all your gardening equipment is locked away securely.

At the August Parish Council meeting Mr Peter Downton was co-opted onto the Parish Council to fill the vacancy left by Mrs Goodland.

The date of the next Parish Council meeting will be Monday, 2nd September 2013 at 8.00 pm.

Karen Bourke Clerk to Sparkford Parish Council sparkford.clerk@gmail.com 01963 440112

SPARKFORD NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH Our BBQ on the 15th June was a great success. The profit of £288.77 was shared with the Playing Field. Numbers where down on last year since some people didn’t have complete trust in the weather !

The 20th June saw our local filling station& shop launching their new car wash & very kindly did a bucket collection in aid of the Sparkford defibrillator fund & have raised over £100.00. They are also providing a site giving us 24 hour access to the defibrillator which is ideal. We have been through a very dry period & it is hoped that there will be no more reports of fires caused by the irresponsible use of Chinese Lanterns, we hope it is not long before they are banned.

It is regretted that our Speed Watch is still in suspended animation, since the traffic shows no sign of observing the speed limits & is a constant threat to us especially children. There is a police warning about garden sheds not being secure & the theft of garden tools showing its seasonal increase.

The display of a ‘hone contact number by the front door has a lot to commend itself especially whilst we are on holiday. The Christmas “Get Together” will be held in the Village Hall, on Friday 6th December. Please make a note in your diary.

Bill Westcott ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FROM THE BISHOP The Venerable Nicola Sullivan, Archdeacon of Wells How welcoming is your church?

How do you feel when you go to a new place for the first time? Probably most of us can remember our first day at school, the beginning of a new job or the move away from home. Anxiety, nervousness at doing or saying the wrong thing and the longing to find a friendly welcome and smile are probably common to most of us. I cannot imagine what it must be like to go to church for the first time ... or after a very long time away because it’s always been part of my life. But when I'm on holiday and go to the local parish church I'm reminded that it probably requires great courage and resilience! Why? Because on the whole my experience has been - bluntly - that we Anglicans are not very good at welcome.

I'm spoilt as an Archdeacon ... when I go to a parish usually someone has been briefed to meet me, even carry my bags and make sure I get to the vestry and know what I'm doing. When I go to church on holiday (not in this diocese of course!) my experience has been generally dismal collecting books from a group of people chatting to one another and no doubt thinking theirs is a very friendly church, no indication as to where to sit ... we all dread the embarrassment of being told we’re in someone else's seat ... and no one cheerily saying, ‘Good morning, welcome, are you are visitor? Good to see you…. Let me introduce you to so-and-so.’ Frankly, I wouldn't want to go back to many of them as the experience felt more like gate-crashing an exclusive club than worshipping God with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I'm making a plea for us to look at the ministry of welcome. This is not a grand initiative to recruit new congregation members; rather it is offering simple kindness, acceptance and hospitality to another human being. It does not have to be intrusive or cringe-making. It's better to risk getting it wrong and welcoming someone who you later discover has been coming to church for 40 years, than ignoring the stranger. The Letter to the Hebrews says, ‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.’ (13:2). our faith is centred around a welcoming God who delights in all of us in joyfully gathering for praise and thanksgiving. Yes, I could go on and encourage attractive notice boards, interactive websites, colourful welcome packs and quality refreshments…. but the first step is small, and yet essential – a warm smile and greeting and ensuring the visitor is not ignored.

So, if you are away on holiday – try out the local church and see how its welcome rates. If you are in your own church over the summer weeks, look out for angels in disguise. Archdeacons are easier to spot.

Archdeacon Nicola.

Queen Camel Tuesday Group June/July Meetings In June there was a return visit by Rev. Mary Teed talking about 'Pompeii Then and Now,' and we packed in a strawberry tea, courtesy of one of our members, Maureen McDermott, to very successfully raise funds for the club.

As for July, well, we had a beautiful cold lunch of coronation chicken, quiche, salads and jacket potatoes followed by strawberries and cream with top entertainment from Adelaide Brown and her colleague who played us through a musical, floral quiz. Later in the month there is a coach trip to the New Forest to see a '1960's Show which includes an afternoon tea.

Now don't you want to be part of such a vibrant group?

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 Jo German on 01935 851592, Pat Champion on 01963 32264 or Marion Chapman on 01963 220741.

3rd Sparkford Scout Group The summer saw us fundraising – bag packing at Morrison’s and we raised just under £400 with the first two breakfasts.

We currently have 60 children from 45 families in the area involved in the group with a further 20 children on the waiting list, without additional help some of these children may have to wait a long time, one child who is old enough has already been on our list for a year so please consider volunteering with us. Full training will be given and a uniform provided, we need help in all three sections, if you could give us some time please call Trevor Tuck on 07775666155 to discuss this further.

We have signed up as a community group with Boilerjuice.com, if you order your heating oil on line from boilerjusice.com go to the “about” button and click on community fundraising and look for 3rd Sparkford Scout Group they will donate a sum of money to the scout group for every order of oil you don’t have to be a scout group member to do this. It may be as little as £1.50 per order but every little helps!

All sections of the group are now full you can add your child’s name to the waiting list by calling Anne Tuck 075 385 02812 Beavers 6 – 8 years, cubs 8 – 10.5 years. Scouts 10.5 – 15 years.

Library Service To Your Door Can’t get to a library? Can we help?

Did you know that anyone living in Somerset who is unable to visit a library can receive a free home delivery service?

Royal Voluntary Service & Somerset County Council’s Library Service are working in partnership to deliver books, DVDs & talking books from your local library. This service is available to anyone who cannot easily visit a library.

The Home Library Service manager will match you to a local volunteer, who will pick up your books from the library and deliver them to you at a time that suits you.

For more information contact us on 08453 459 177 or visit somerset.gov.uk/libraries.

Dates For Your Diary

CHURCH ROTAS

Sept 15th Sept 22nd Sept 29th

Flowers

Church Cleaning

Sidesperson

Church Service @ Sparkford

Mrs R Giles

Mrs Rogers & Mrs Skinner Mrs Carpenter & Mrs Yeats Mrs Pay & Mrs Osmond

Bill Tallon

11:00am Harvest Service Together @ Ten 9:30am BCP Holy Communion

Mrs L Rankin

Rene Carpenter

CaféXtra & Harvest Festival Service – 15 September 2013 This year we will be holding our Harvest Festival at 11.00 on Sunday 15th September and it will start with coffee/tea, milkshakes and croissants as there will not be a separate CaféXtra in September.

We are intending that the proceeds of the Service will go to local residents and the food bank in Castle Cary so donations of both fresh and dried/canned produce would be most welcome. After the Service we will be holding a buffet lunch across the road in Elfinsacre costing £5 per head for adults and £3 per child to include the first drink. Tickets will be available from Ted Marsh or Andy Voysey.

CaféXtra in its normal format will resume in October. The dates will be as follows: October 13th, November 17th and a Christingle themed one on December 8th. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sparkford Fun Day Sunday 15 September from 1.00pm at Sparkford Playing Fields Fun for all the family!

There will be Children’s games and activities, races, stalls, raffle, refreshments and barbeque No admission charge, but donations welcome All proceeds going to Sparkford Playing Field Committee Come along and join in with the fun!

Scared of Sculpture (An Introduction Workshop in Creating 3 Dimensional Objects) Queen Camel Sculptor and Community Artist, Perry Chapman would like to invite all ‘Budding Artists’, ‘Happy Amateurs’ or ‘Have-a-goers’ to a fun six week workshop.

All six sessions are designed as a ‘hands-on’ experience for all ages and abilities, teaching basic sculpting techniques and tricks that will enable you to complete a finish table top work of art.

Each 2 hour session will be in Countess Gytha School Hall between 7 and 9pm, Wednesday evenings from the 18th of September to the 23rd of October.

All you need to bring are old clothes, suitable footwear and You’re “Imagination!”

For booking information please contact Perry by Mobile: 07811 556807 or email: perryjansenchapman@msn.com ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Camelot Challenge Camelot Challenge is a half marathon course and takes place on Saturday 21 September. It takes in both Somerset and Dorset along the planned circular route. It is open to walkers of all abilities, Entrants should email camelrace@hotmail.com, or visit www.facebook.com/camelotchallenge For further information. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CAMELOT MUSIC NIGHT Davis Hall, West Camel Wednesday 25th September 8pm–11pm - £4 (& last Wednesday of every month) 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 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT Sparkford Parish Hall Friday 27th September – 10:30am – 12:30pm A coffee morning will be held in the Sparkford Parish Hall to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support There is to be a Raffle & Stalls so please come & support us. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Counterinsurgency talk with Cheese & Wine Saturday 5th October at 19:30 at Corton Denham Village Hall Tickets: £6 Dominic Goggs, a Lieutenant Colonel working in the British Army's Counterinsurgency Centre, will talk about the UK's approach to counterinsurgency, how that differs from what the Army is traditionally designed for, and some of the dilemmas that emerge from this type of operation.

For further information and tickets: cjgoggs@hotmail.com or call 07971 297355 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Craft Fayre Saturday 2nd November Craft Fayre to be held in the Queen Camel Village Hall all proceeds to Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance More details coming soon - Rachael Trott ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Copy deadline for the October issue: NOON, Saturday 15TH September 2013 to Peter Downton Typeset by Peter Downton Printed by JH Haynes & Co Ltd, Sparkford, Nr. Yeovil BA22 7JJ