The Parish News Vol.31 No.12 October 2013

THE PARISH NEWS

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

VOL.31 NO.12

OCTOBER 2013 NOW AVALIABLE ONLINE: www.sparkfordvillage.co.uk

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

01963 44 14 23

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FROM THE EDITOR Well my 1st edition as editor reached all your homes as it should have done. I would like to express my thanks to the legwork of all the distribution team whom do an excellent job each month, So much goes on behind the scene and without you all it would not be possible so THANK YOU. Can I please take this moment to get you all to advise me of any amended numbers of copies each person needs to make sure every part of our parish is covered, If you know of an Area, Road, House, or business that does not currently get a copy please feel free to drop me a message so I can amend the required numbers. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SPARKFORD PARISH COUNCIL REPORT The last Parish Council meeting was held on Monday 2nd September.

No Planning Applications had been received.

The following planning decision had been received: 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. Approved.

Work on the Commemorative Stone for the village is on-going. The blue lias stone has been chosen and the stonemason is currently carving out the name of the village. Hopefully by the time the November newsletter is published the stone will have been erected.

For those of you who regularly walk in Sparkford Copse we would request you look out for anyone cutting down trees or taking logs away. If you spot anyone please ring 101 to report the matter.

The date of the next Parish Council meeting will be Monday, 7th October 2013 at 8.00 pm.

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

SPARKFORD NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH We continue to make steady progress towards the purchase of a defibrillator for Sparkford and eventually for Weston Bampfylde as well. The Sparkford defibrillator will be sited at the Hazelgrove Service Station & will be available on a 24 hour basis through the good offices of Mr Clive Shepherd a director.

You may have seen in the Western Gazette that Allied Bakeries / Kingsmill Bread, have donated £500.00 to Hazelgrove Service Station, which they are kindly giving to the defibrillator fund.

We have also applied for a grant from the British Heart Foundation who recently reopened their grant application list. We are extremely grateful to everyone who has donated to the defibrillator fund and should anyone wish to donate, please ring 01963 440741.

It is hoped that the Speed Watch will soon be operating again which is very good news. Please put Friday 6th December in your diary and come to our Christmas “ Get Together “ in the Village Hall.

Bill Westcott ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FROM THE BISHOP The ‘Alternative’ Bishop’s Message for Parish Magazines: October 2013 From The Ven John Reed, Archdeacon of Taunton Caterpillars and Twiglets Both are edible, as I now know since my visit to Zambia in July.

When presented with a tray of crispy fried caterpillars by Archbishop Albert one night in Kitwe, I had to go for a new experience. I have a rule never to turn down food offered, no matter how strange. The trick is not to look too closely, and then equate the food to something you like. I love Twiglets, and happily the caterpillars had a similar texture and not much taste – apart from the fatter ones which were a bit bendy and chewy.

I had longed to visit Zambia, since being instrumental in setting up a link between Ilminster and Msoro in 1996. I thought I would never get there.

So, when asked to go with the Reverend Simon Hill, our Diocesan Director of Clergy Training, to represent the Diocese at two conferences and to visit some key links, I jumped at the opportunity. Simon and I certainly worked for our passage and it was a privilege to spend time with so many Zambian Christians in very diverse settings, exchanging our understandings on ministry and mission, opportunities and obstacles. We have much in common and much which is incomparable.

The Zambians we met in over 15 urban and rural centres were not lacking in vision, ideas and plans. What I observed and am still working through in my mind is why so many projects appeared to get off to a flying start and then slow up or come to a temporary halt. Often the blockage is said by them to be caused by lack of funds and materials; but I also sensed a different feel about organisation, timescales, targets and urgency.

I am comparing this with what I often observe around the parishes of Bath & Wells. Many talk the talk about organisation, timescales, targets and urgency, but have less to say about vision, ideas and plans. And this is not my judgment: it is what Churchwardens have said to the Archdeacons in this year’s Articles of Enquiry. 55% of parishes say that they do not have plans for the development of their churches – whether in worship, ministry, outreach, service or the buildings. I confess always to find this incomprehensible. But, then, parochial church councils can run out of ideas and be preoccupied with the immediate care and running of their churches.

This article may be read by those of a church congregation and people on the fringe of their local church who would not be inclined to offer their thoughts on how their church can serve Our Lord and local people in the future. But maybe you should.

In Zambia people eat caterpillars: catch a caterpillar and fry it. In England we eat Twiglets: buy a packet containing things made from wheat flour, yeast, vegetable and spice extracts and oil, niacin, riboflavin, salt and pepper.

Quite a contrast. Do we here complicate things and miss the simpler questions and answers?

John Reed. Archdeacon of Taunton VILLAGE BREAKFASTS This summer's Village Breakfasts ended on 24 August and the distribution of profits resulted in an award of £287.63 each to Sparkford Village Hall, Sparkford Playing Field, Sparkford Church and Weston Bampfylde Village Hall.

Many thanks to everyone who volunteered their time and energy for this event. There will be a Cheese and Wine evening, with raffle, for all helpers at a date to be confirmed.

Many thanks Helen Skinner, Secretary, Village Hall Committee

Queen Camel Tuesday Group July/September Meetings Well, our July outing to the New Forest was a beautiful summer day. The coach arrived to pick us up, on time and we whisked through the countryside in pretty good order. The lunch stop had to be in a car park, for logistical reasons and the idea of a picnic in the forest went out of the window. However, that said, we arrived at the holiday park in good time and were greeted, at the door, and shown to our tables. The four performers making up the entertainment troupe worked really hard to put on an excellent show of singing, dancing, conjuring tricks and jokes, with umpteen changes of costume. They all did so well. We had no meeting in August but met up again in September. !

In September We all exchanged holiday gossip over our delicious coffee and cakes and to listen to Mrs Alison Charles, who gave us a wonderful slideshow and talk about the journeys she and her husband Nigel have taken, across Europe, 'Searching for Butterflies.' That could have been a boring subject but her slides were breath-taking. The colour and diversity of these delicate creatures came to life with the crystal clear images captured and they were a joy to see.

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.

With Thanks Noel & Ian Mogridge of Brooklands Farm Sparkford would like to express their Thanks; On Friday 30th August they lost their beloved dog that is blind. To them their dog is a trusted friend, companion, & loved member of the family without him they would have been lost. They looked everywhere and thought all was lost but a saviour in the form of a member of our community gave them the hope they were looking for. He had found their dog and taken him in an looked after him and returned him home afterwards. All they know of this Saviour was that he was called Simon an lived somewhere on the Avenue area of Sparkford so If you are this Person or Know of him then please join us in saying a massive THANKS you made a family’s day complete.

Noel & Ian Mogridge Brooklands Farm

3rd Sparkford Scout Group

All sections started back this week with new members coming up from the lower sections and new beavers joining the group, there are still 1 cub and 4 scouts on the waiting list but all other children that were old enough and wanted to join us have been accommodated.

The hall was buzzing with fun and laughter as we held games nights to start the term in all sections A great start to the new term. We need to thank both Rob Butcher and Siobhan Dow our past cub and beaver leaders who have both stepped down from their positions.

Thank you to Luke Bugler who is the new Cub Scout leader. Anne Tuck is running beavers until we have a new leader assisted by Carrie Nicholson; the scout leadership remains the same. If you want to add your child’s name to the waiting list please do so in plenty of time!

Beavers 5 ¾ – 8 years, cubs 8 – 10 ¼, scouts 10 ¼ plus.

Trevor Tuck Group Scout Leader – 01963 44 08 60 or 07775 66 61 55

WANTED A Few Hungry Sheep or Goats required to munch way through around 2 acres of grassland as unable to cut themselves to arrange please Contact Noel & Ian Mogridge Brooklands Farm, Brains Lane, Sparkford. 01963 440283.

Labourer/ Gardener required as I am looking for someone to dig a small bit in my front garden please. To arrange / enquire Contact - Wendy Roberts 18 Green Close, Sparkford.

THIS MONTH'S RECIPE Lemon Cake 4 ozs. Margarine 8 ozs. Caster Sugar 8 ozs. Self-rising flour 2 large eggs 1/2 cup milk Grated rind of 1 lemon For the topping: 1/2 cup of granulated sugar Juice of 1 lemon Mix together and leave in a warm place.

Method: Grease and line a 7" or 8" cake tin with greased paper. Cream margarine and sugar together, add the eggs one at a time, and beat well. Fold in the flour and milk alternately. Add the grated lemon rind.

Cook for approximately l 1/4 hours at 350°F. When cool enough to handle, turn out on to a cooling rack and spoon the topping over the cake whilst still warm. (Put a plate under the rack to catch any surplus syrup and pour this over the cake.)

Village Archives: Rorna Deacon

Dates For Your Diary

CHURCH ROTAS

Oct 6th Oct 13th Oct 20th Oct 27th

Flowers

Church Cleaning

Sidesperson

Church Service @ Sparkford

Mrs A Belton

Mr & Mrs Tate Mrs Smith & Mrs Carpenter Miss S & Miss R Peaty Mrs Hardiman & Mrs Tallon

Ellen Marsh Café Xtra David Ham Together@Ten

9:30am BCP Holy Communion 9:30 – 11 Café Extra @ Hall 9:30am BCP Martins at Sparkford Together@Ten – Queen Camel

Flower Guild (Harvest)

CaféXtra The next CaféXtra Village Breakfast Gathering Will take place on Sunday 13th October. Breakfast served 9.30am – 11.00am Sparkford Church welcomes everyone for good coffee, toast and croissant, a milkshake bar And 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.

CaféXtra dates will be as follows: November 17th and a Christingle themed one on December 8th. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 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 MUSIC NIGHT Davis Hall, West Camel Wednesday 30th October 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 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Craft Fayre Saturday 2nd November 10am – 12:30 Craft Fayre to be held in the Queen Camel Village Hall a lovely range of hand-made gifts. Raffle with fantastic prizes, refreshments, children’s games, luxury hampers to be won and much more.

Everyone Welcome – FREE ENTRY Come along and start your Christmas Shopping.

All proceeds to Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Rachael Trott ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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