Honeycomb—On Line

Honeycomb May 2011

Rector′s Remarks

Clergy are lucky in that our pension scheme is still what is called a “defined benefit scheme” where our pensions are calculated on a final salary (more of that later). Most private sector pensions today are “defined contributions” schemes where a pot of money is accrued which is converted into a pension on retirement. However we are not as lucky as we were. Last year the Church of England pension fund consulted with all its members about changes to come in at the start of this year. The changes built on changes already implemented in 2007 after a similarly short consultation period. As a result clergy retirement age has risen to 68. The number of years we have to be members to have a full pension has changed from 37 years to 411/2 years. We now have to pay a higher rate of National Insurance contributions. The final salary (always a nominal amount and less than what we are actually paid) on which our pensions will be calculated will be reduced, as will future pension increases. I wonder if you noticed clergy on strike last year and marching on Lambeth Palace in protest against these changes? No of course not. It did not happen.

At the end of June we did see teachers on strike and protesting in London. Pensions are complex so it is hard to compare the changes proposed for the teachers to the changes we accepted. If I have got it right teachers will have to work to 66 by 2020. Other changes will apply from 2015. Their scheme will change from final salary to career average salary which will benefit the lower paid teachers. The contributions they make to their pensions will rise from 6.4% to about 9.5%. Other than retirement age, all these changes would be implemented in four years’ time rather than the six months’ notice we had.

I guess that the changes the teachers face are might be as tough as the changes we have had to accept. What puzzles me is why clergy accepted the changes without protest whilst teachers are fighting them tooth & nail. After all we both work in what are often called vocations. We do what we do in the service of others not for the rewards which are typically far less than we might earn in other endeavours.

I think the difference might be who pays for our pensions. Other than employee contributions, other people pay for our pensions. For the teachers the “other people” are the government which of course is actually the taxpayers. For the clergy the “other people” are members of our congregations who pay the costs of clergy stipends (salaries) and their pensions. There is a clear difference between those two groups of “other people”. The government and taxpayers are anonymous. Our congregations are people we know personally. We know that if our pension provisions had not changed the cost would fall directly on the individuals in our congregations. We know each of those individuals and the strain their own finances are often facing. It is hard, if not impossible, to ask that they dig deeper into their pockets for our benefit. No such personal relationship exists between the teachers and the taxpayers en mass even though most of us are taxpayers who teachers know personally.

The lack of real personal relationships seems to be a trend particularly since the start of this century. Many people rely on virtual relationships through the media of the likes of Face Book and Twitter. When we do not have real personal relationships it can be easy to become self-centred because we are not really aware of the cares and concerns of others. It is one thing to read on Face Book that so and so has lost her job. It is far more real to be in so and so’s house seeing her give the last slice of bread to her child with nothing left for herself.

Christianity believes in relationships – not virtual ones but real ones. We believe that we are bound to each other with a responsibility for other people. This belief takes away the focus on self and enables us to care for others – not just our family and closest friends but all those to whom we are linked. I am not saying that the teachers do not care about those who fund their pensions but it is hard to care without real relationships and we do seem in danger of loosing them.

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Meet the ‘club sandwich’ generation

We are living longer, which means our families are growing by an extra generation. Who will be bearing the cost? Meet the ‘club sandwich’ generation – the middle-agers and nearing-retirement folk who are forced to juggle work with caring for elderly parents - and also supporting their grown-up children and grandchildren.

In 20 years time, one in four families will include frail great-grandparents in their 80s and 90s, as well as infant great-grandchildren. Experts warn that that the ‘squeezed’ middle generation – aged 55 to 64 - will face a ‘triple whammy’. They will be asked to contribute towards the care of their parents, help their children as they establish themselves in careers, and help with the ‘babysitting needs’ and education of their grandchildren. The projections are the result of research by Anchor, the care home charity.

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Ten million face starvation across the Horn of Africa

Christian Aid has launched an emergency humanitarian appeal to help people across the east and Horn of Africa after two failed rainy seasons have left ten million on the brink of starvation. Drought and displacement combined with rising global food prices have left Kenya and Ethiopia in particular facing severe food shortages, with UNOCHA reporting that the regional situation is the worst food security crisis in the world today.

Some parts of the region are experiencing the driest conditions in 60 years, and Christian Aid emergency teams are continuously assessing how best to help local populations.

“The crisis has been building for some time, especially in Kenya and Ethiopia, and is fast escalating across the region,” warns Nick Guttmann, Christian Aid’s humanitarian director.

“People are desperate and if we don’t act now we could be looking at one of the worst humanitarian situations the world has seen in a long time.”

Funds are urgently needed for life saving measures such as: provision of water for villages experiencing the worst of the drought conditions; food for families, malnourished children, and pregnant women; animal feed to protect livestock that are so crucial to survival.

To make a donation to Christian Aid’s East Africa Food Crisis Appeal call 08080 004 004 or visit www.christianaid.org.uk/east-africa-appeal

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A father’s love should be for life

School’s out – it is time for family holidays. But – where is dad? Where are our fathers? Here are some sad statistics to ponder: one in eight children under five will never meet the man who donated half their genes. In some of the poorest parts of the UK, families have been without fathers for three generations. It is not always the father’s fault: for every feckless young man, there is an uncertain young man, who would love to love his kid, but his ex-partner won’t let him near.

But sons need their fathers. Seventy per cent of our young offenders were raised in a lone-parent home. Daughters need their fathers. Scientists have recently found that the more a father interacts with his daughters when they are very young, the more likely they are to mature slowly and go on to have a happy, stable life. Without this, having to face the world without the protection of a father, girls face an increased risk of early sexual maturity, then pregnancy... and the whole sad cycle starts again.

“I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection” said Sigmund Freud. The Labour MP Frank Field has said: “We are the first generation in recorded history where society has not made the man who begets a child responsible for that child.”

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All in the Month of August

300 years ago:-	on 11th August 1711 that the first horse race meeting at Ascot took place, initiated by Queen Anne.
150 years ago:	on 6th August 1861 that Britain annexed Lagos, Nigeria, making it a crown colony and halting the slave trade.
100 years ago:	on 10th August 1911 that British members of Parliament voted to receive salaries for the first time.
90 years ago:	on 19th August 1921 that Gene Roddenberry, American screenwriter and creator of Star Trek, was born.
80 years ago:	on 2nd August 1931 that Nobel Prize-winning German physicist Albert Einstein urged all scientists to refuse to do military work.
75 years ago:	on 1st August 1936 that the XI Olympic Games opened in Berlin, Germany. It was the last Olympics for 12 years, due to World War II.
70 years ago:	on 14th August 1941 that Britain and the USA issued the Atlantic Charter, a joint declaration that laid out the aims and goals of the Allied powers during and after World War II.
50 years ago:	on 13th August 1961 that East Germany sealed off the border between East and West Berlin. Construction of the Berlin Wall began on 15th August.
30 years ago:	on 12th August 1981 that IBM launched the Personal Computer (PC).
20 years ago:	on 8th August 1991 that British journalist John McCarthy was released by Islamic Jihad in Lebanon after being held hostage for more than five years.
15 years ago:	on 23rd August 1996, that Osama bin Laden issued a fatwa entitled ‘A Declaration of War Against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places’. At that time few people knew who he was, so the fatwa received little attention.
10 years ago:	on 6th August 2001, that U.S. President George W Bush received a daily briefing warning that Osama bin Laden was determined to strike in the USA (six weeks before the 11th September terrorist attack on New York).

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John Bunyan

After the Bible, John Bunyan’s wonderful Christian allegory, the Pilgrim’s Progress, is one of the most celebrated and widely-read books in the English language. It has been translated into more than one hundred languages around the world and keeps its place as a Christian classic. Names of people and places from its pages have been commonplace wherever English is spoken. We need only re-call the Slough of Despond, Vanity Fair and the Celestial City.

Bunyan was born on 28 November 1628, at Elstow, near Bedford, England, of a poor family. He had little formal education and his father taught him to be a metal worker. His first wife died young. His second wife, Elizabeth, helped him considerably with his blossoming literary career. His conversion was the result of reading the Bible, and the witness of local Christians. From that time the Bible became the great inspiration of his life. He wrote more than fifty books on Christianity. A Baptist by conviction, he had little time for the Established Church.

Bunyan became a popular preacher, but because of his opposition to the Established Church he did not have a Church of England preaching licence. Despite that, he preached at Yelden Church on Christmas Day 1659. The vicar, William Dell, was sacked for allowing this. Bunyan was imprisoned in 1661. It was in prison that he wrote Pilgrim’s Progress. It was not only Bunyan’s greatest book but was destined to become one of the most popular Christian books in the world.

Pilgrim’s Progress is an allegory, using the names of people and places from the Bible to teach spiritual lessons. The vivid and unforgettable imagery in the Pilgrim’s Progress covers the whole Christian gospel. Bunyan died on 31 August 1688. His portrayal of the death of Mr. Valiant For Truth is Bunyan at his allegorical best. This brave old soldier of Jesus Christ has received his summons to ‘go home.’ Calling his friends together he says, ‘My sword I give to him who shall succeed me in my pilgrimage … My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me, that I have fought His battles, Who will now be my rewarder.’ … So he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.

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The end of writing cheques…. ??

Over the past 20 years, the number of people who use cheques guaranteed by card has fallen sharply. At the same time, alternative ways to pay – such as debit/credit cards, online payment facilities and electronic transfers – have grown in popularity. After talking to lots of businesses and customers, including groups representing older people, the Payments Council coordinated the closure of the cheque guarantee card scheme to prevent confusion, as businesses were increasingly not accepting them. This means that since 30 June, you are no longer able to pay using cheques guaranteed by card even if your card still carries the Shakespeare cheque guarantee logo. However, you can still use cheques to pay for things like goods and services, just not guaranteed with a card.

You may have heard 2018 is a target date for closing the central processing system for cheques. The decision on whether this should happen will be taken in 2016 and only if alternatives are in place and are acceptable for all those who need them. Until then, people can still use their cheque books, as they've always done. The Payments Council have set a target date to close the cheque clearing to avoid a situation where people are reliant on a method of payment that is no longer widely accepted.

For more information visit www.payyourway.org.uk or contact your bank. If like me you need cheques then go to this website and sign the petition: http://middorsetlibdems.org.uk/en/petition/save-our-cheque-petition.

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Bowing and Bending in Church

Have you noticed that some people – and in some churches just about everyone –bows or genuflects when they pass in front of the altar? Perhaps you do it yourself? But do you know why or is it just because ‘we’ve always done it that way’?

To ‘genuflect’ means to ‘bow (or bend) the knee’ so they are in essence the same and have the same meaning. If you’ve never genuflected, have a go! It’s like kneeling, but only the right knee touches the floor and then only for a second. You need to keep your back straight and if you put your hands on your left knee you can keep you balance easier.

Both come from the time of the early church when Paul wrote to the Phillipians saying that “at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow” (Philippians 2.10). The Romans were very influential in the early church and Paul’s command married with their own court traditions. They symbolise one’s smallness or lowliness in the presence of one’s ‘Lord’.

Bowing is an outward show of an internal attitude or thought. In this case it is showing respect, love, awe and esteem to the person to whom or to which one is bowing. Sometimes people will bow when the name of ‘Jesus’ is said within the service . This is because Jesus is ‘Lord’. Bowing to the altar is done because it is there that Holy Communion is celebrated so Christians believe that in some mysterious way Jesus’s body and blood are on the altar whenever Holy Communion is celebrated.

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Don’t mess with me!

If someone you know is in a foul mood, consider this: they may be on a diet. It seems that we like our food, and when we diet, we are far more likely to be irritable. Scientists say that the effort involved in exerting self-control over our eating habits can put us in an aggressive frame of mind. So much so, that when we choose apples instead of chocolate, for instance, we may well prefer films with anger and revenge themes, than milder movies. It was also found that bossy bosses irritated healthy snackers more than junk food snackers.

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Church notices that didn’t come out quite right…

This evening at 7 pm there will be a hymn-sing in the park across from the church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the church hall on Friday afternoon.
The Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. All proceeds will be used to cripple children.

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Stop!

A woman drove a mini-van filled with a dozen screaming children through the supermarket car park, looking for a space. Obviously frazzled, she drove through a stop sign. ‘Hey, lady, have you forgotten how to stop?’ yelled an irate man. She rolled down her window and demanded indignantly: ‘What makes you think these are all mine?’

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Golf

There was a clergyman who was an avid golfer. One Sunday was a picture-perfect day for golf, and the minister could not resist the temptation. He rang his assistant and told him he was too ill to attend church. Then he packed up the car, and drove three hours to a golf course where no one would recognize him. Happily, he began to play the course. But angel up above was watching the minister and was quite perturbed. He went to God and said, ‘Look at the minister. He should be punished for what he's doing.’ God nodded in agreement. The minister teed up on the first hole. He swung, and the ball sailed effortlessly through the air and landed right in the cup three hundred and fifty yards away. A perfect hole-in-one. The minister was amazed and overjoyed. The angel was a little shocked. He turned to God and said: ‘Begging your pardon, but I thought you were going to punish him.’ And God smiled. ‘Think about it; who can he tell?’

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August is the month of......

Sounds
Music festival as parent drops off teenagers...
Daughter: Did you ever hear anything so amazing as that band?
Father: Well, I once heard a collision between a milk float and a little van filled with ducks.
Music appreciation
The music critic enthused: “Here is Tchaikovsky at his best. Music so beautiful it has to be heard to be appreciated.”
A lot of music is like that.
Drama
“Did the play have an unhappy ending?”
“Oh no – everyone was glad when it was over!”

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With the pitfalls of daily life in mind...

Spelling
Teacher: Donald, how do you spell crocodile?
Donald: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L
Teacher: No, that's incorrect.
Donald: Maybe it is, but you asked me how I spell it.
Say again?
The foreign student fell in love, and wanted to say: ‘I am bent on seeing you...’ but he wrote: ‘the sight of you doubles me up.’
Bird
I planted some bird seed. A bird came up. Now I don't know what to feed it.
Politicians
Politicians are people who, when they see the light at the end of the tunnel, order more tunnel.

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The secret of a long life

People with lots of friends and some loving family members live longer than those who are solitary. In fact, being a hermit can be as unhealthy for you as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, being an alcoholic or doing no exercise. Even being obese is only half as likely to kill you as solitude, over any given period. A study of human interaction and health over seven years at Brigham Young University in London found that “When someone is connected to a group, and feels responsibility for other people, that sense of purpose and meaning translates into taking better care of themselves.”

Meanwhile, another study has found that friendly physical contact, such as squeezing someone’s hand, can have enormous health benefits on the elderly. Yet a poll of 3,000 people for Abbeyfield, a charity for older people, found that more than one in four said they had never held the hand of even a grandparent.

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Dean and Sthelton Shop

Do you have a surplus of Fruit / Vegetables / Eggs / Honey / Jam or Plants ?

Would you like to find them a good home?

If the answer is yes then why not bring them down to the Dalton Hall on Saturday 20th August between 10.00am and 12.00pm.

Price your produce below supermarket prices, bring your own cash float / bags and containers etc, and hopefully someone will be willing to give your surplus a good home.

5% of your takings to go towards the Dalton Hall Would you like to buy fresh local produce at very competitive rates? Virtually no air miles and very eco friendly

For one morning only you might be the right person to buy some surplus produce, please come to the Dalton Hall between 10.00am and 12.00pm on Saturday 20th August and see what is on offer.

You may even be able to swap some of your excess garden produce with other people there.

For further details please contact John & Jo Cordell 01480 869486 Stephen Hall 01234 708462 Ruth Low

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Stodden Birdlife

In the last Honeycomb, I requested villagers to email me (JohnB@crownsys.co.uk) with details of any unusual birds spotted in and around the villages this year. 

Among the responses:
Sparrowhawk seen regularly in Melchbourne (Robin Machonochie). Another seen in Upper Dean (Sally Scott) and another in Yelden (Rosemary Morgan)
Yellowhammer - hedgerow between Shelton and Hargrave.
Tawny Owl heard regularly in Upper and Lower Dean. Female in Upper Dean garden (Sally Scott).
Red Kites nesting in Upper Dean (John Reynolds)

Bullfinch seen in Yelden (Rosemary Morgan, Barry Hobbs) and Upper Dean (Sally Scott)
Coal tit (Barry Hobbs, Yelden)
Fieldfares (Barry Hobbs, Yelden)
Reed Bunting in garden (surely very unusual??) in Yelden (Rosemary Morgan)
Barn owl in Yelden garden (unusual!) Rosemary Morgan
Treecreeper (Lower Dean, Marion Limb)
Turtledoves (Lower Dean [Marion Limb], also heard but not seen in fields between Upper and Lower Dean [John Braga])
Nightingales heard in Andy Clark's garden in Upper Dean (also in Spanoak wood)
Green woodpeckers are very plentiful (seen by most who responded).


  Has anyone seen a nuthatch recently?
Or a spotted flycatcher?
(I had one in my garden about 6 years ago, and John Reynolds had one nesting in his Upper Dean garden for several years, but not recently)

Please keep replies coming!
John Braga

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Dean

Correspondent- Annette Brooks

Notes of the Meeting of Dean and Shelton Parish Council held on Wednesday 6 July 2011

Apologies were received from Cllr Macarte due to holidays and also from Cllr Phillips.

There were no disclosures of interest.
Item 14a was amended to read “Cllr Alder instead of Cllr Cordell” and with the agreement of all those present the minutes of the meeting 11th May were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
Mrs M Limb had applied for co-option and it was unanimously resolved to elect Mrs. Limb who completed the declaration of acceptance and undertook to complete the register of interests.
Mrs. Limb then took her place on the Council.

A financial statement and bank reconciliation to 30 June 2011 was received and noted.
It was resolved to approve induction training courses (£10) for Cllrs Macarte, Phillips and Riggs and Chairmanship Skills course (£25) for Cllr Alder. (LGA 1972 s111)
The signature of Wren Grant Application for Dalton Hall was approved by all those present.
The donation of the deposit for new kitchen equipment for Dalton Hall was approved by all those present. (Item 4a MOM 9/2/11) (LGA 1972 s133)

Accounts for Payment:
The payment of the following accounts was approved by all those present:
Alan Summerfield Invoice 2775 – First grass cut £672.00 (Highways Act 1980 s96)
BATPC – Course fees as a) above - £55 (LGA 1972 s111)
R Grasmeder - Clerk salary & expenses 1 April 2011-30 June 2011- £552.58 (LGA1972 S.112)
Whitco – Invoice 53467 for Deposit for donation of catering equipment for Dalton Hall - £4266.00 as (d) above (LGA 1972 s133)
Broker Network Ltd – Insurance renewal £400.17 (LGA1972 s111&114)
Application No: 11-00029-CCD - Conversion of former defence buildings to form fire training facility at Chelveston Airfield. It was resolved that the Council had no objection to this but the Clerk was asked to register its concern over the safety of walkers and riders on bridleways used for traffic and that the designation as a brown-field site was not accepted.
Application no: 11/01296/FUL - One and two story side and rear extensions and porch – Top Farm, Upper Dean. It was resolved that the Council had no objection to this.
A letter regarding the St Johns Arms was discussed and it was resolved that no action would be taken as the letter was anonymous.
Cllr Cordell circulated proposed changes to the Dalton Charity Management Committee if the merger with the Dean Sports and Social Association proceeds. These include the number of Trustees, how they would be elected and from where they would be drawn; the position if insufficient nominees are found. These are appended to the minutes. The Clerk was asked to circulate copies of the Deed of Trust and other documents for information.
Standing Orders were suspended to ask for comments from the public. A letter received from the Charity commissioners will be circulated by Mrs Aylott. It was pointed out that the Parish Council should not become responsible for the day-to-day running of the village hall. Standing Orders were re-instated.
It was resolved that the proposals were accepted in principle subject to consideration by and the response from the Charity Commissioners which will be circulated by Cllr Cordell.
Parish Plan Updates: Walks and vegetable exchange are being progressed. Review of Plan will be undertaken and Clerk will re-circulate document.
Thanks to Parishioners Mrs June Goodson for her work in maintaining the planting around the war memorial and to Cllr Chris Riggs for cleaning traffic signs in the Parish.
Date for next meeting 10 August 2011 at United Reformed Chapel (This is a Provisional date to discuss Planning or urgent items if required) or 14 September at Dalton Hall. Commencing at 7.30pm.

Dean Chapel Services
Sunday 14th and 28th August at 2.30p.m. in the Chapel Schoolroom.
We are grateful to those who have supported us despite the lack of information in Honeycomb problems which we hope have been sorted.
The Area meeting hosted by Dean at the end of June was a joyous occasion with a nearly full Chapel and music was supplied by a group, who led the singing well. To have people from as wide a field as Kettering and Olney was a privilege and the tea and chat afterwards enabled a real sharing of news.
The elderly of Dean
Surveys have taken place to find out what the over 60’s views are of the future of the Dalton Charity and its present legal position of supporting the elderly and the young. The Dalton Trustees have agreed that they will offer grants to help the elderly. The amount of money available has never been large but it was hoped by the Dalton sisters that there would be enough to supply some cheer.

If you are over 6o and would like to have a copy of the survey or would like to put your views in writing please do so and contact one of the three people putting the views together to submit to the Dalton Trustees, please pass to Gillian Aylott, Rosemary Hallworth or June Goodson.

Summer/Pub Walks Around Dean & Shelton
So far two pub walks around the villages have taken place and been well attended. The first met at the Three Compasses and then headed off to walk around Swineshead Woods. It was a lovely May evening with the sun dappling through the early summer leaves. The weather and the company were perfect. The dogs too had a great time. Arriving back at the Compasses for a pint and a bite to eat rounded off a perfect evening.

In June we met at Chelveston, parking at the Star and Garter and then walking over to the Old Airfield site. (No wind turbines yet). Again the weather was kind to us though now it felt like summer was here and we could amble through the fields where the crops were waist high and there was hardly a cloud in the sky. We returned to the Star and Garter to sample their hospitality and so completing another enjoyable evening.

On Thursday 11 August we will be meeting at the White Horse, Tilbrook at 6.00pm for a walk around Tilbrook/Kimbolton. For anyone who wishes to join us (fingers crossed for good weather) and would like to sample the wares on offer at the White Horse after the walk please ring either Colin Alder 01234 709767 or John Cordell 01480 869486 so that we can book the table(s). For those not wishing to eat after the walk simply turn up for what should be another companionable evening.

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Melchbourne

Correspondent-Phil Pahl

Village web site - http://mmmatmelchbourne.yolasite.com/Information Required"

Church Cleaning Rota & Flowers
14th August Jill & Ruth cleaning Helen flowers 28th August Joy & Malcolm cleaning Joy flowers

Feast Day
The 747th Melchbourne Feast day was held on 10th July. The sun shone and the crowds came. With attractions ranging from a vast Tombola stall (more than 100 prizes) to Teas, Strawberries & Ice Cream, Cakes to Games and even Face Painting, a great time was had by all. The Feast Day Committee extends its sincere thanks to James and Judy Stewart who hosted the event in their gorgeous garden and also to everyone else who, in any way whatsoever, contributed to the success of the day.

Feast Day Committee
Mothers’ Union
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 17th August at 2.30pm in Pertenhall Village Hall. A representative from the Ouse Valley Mothers’ Union group is coming to pass on their experiences of starting up a new group which covers from Sharnbrook to the south of Bedford. The new year for Pertenhall Mothers’ Union begins in September with a service and preacher, the Revd Jan Brookshaw. Programmes for the year should be available by early August.

The weather was not kind for us on June 15th when we went for a tea and chat to 3 Churchyard Kimbolton at the kind invitation of Mrs Elsie Bass. However we had a good time indoors with good chat and a tea that had been prepared by Elsie and Joan of the usual high standard of well filled sandwiches and a delicious cake.

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Swineshead

Correspondent-Jenny Leishman

Swineshead 100 CLUB

Amount	July Draw
£ 20.00	Jane Smith (7)
£ 10.00	Jean Constant (81)
£ 5.00	Julie Hall (73)
£ 5.00	Matt Elsegood(51)

Swineshead Village Hall
Swineshead proved the weather forecast wrong and provided a fine, warm evening on Saturday 9th July for Supper with a Swing at the village hall. The event was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. Many thanks to everyone who helped with the evening, particularly to Jean & Wendy who organised everything so well. Special thanks go to Guy Newsom for providing Swineshead’s first Swing Band; Guy and five other young musicians played throughout the evening and their excellent music certainly made the event go with a swing!

The Sixth Bell Bar will be open fro 8.00pm on Fridays 5 August a& 2 September.
Afternoon Teas will be served from 3pm on Thursdays 4 & 18 August, and on 1, 15 & 29 September.

St Nicholas Church
Service Date	Cleaning	Flowers
August 14	Emma, Jan	Carolyn
September 25	Pat, Jean, Sian
HARVEST FESTIVAL All arrangers please

Swineshead 10 Mile Run
The Run this year will be on Sunday 11th September with the races themselves starting at 11.30.

The High Street will be officially closed from 11.00am until 2.00pm. Please leave your car outside the village if you need to use it between those hours. There will be the usual car park at Brook Farm.

We will have live music, a bar with real ale, a barbecue and many stalls: tombola, cakes, books and CDs etc, produce all arranged by the Village Hall committee.

If you have not yet been asked to help either with the stalls or barbecue, then please offer to help with a water table, marshalling or administration, there are a lot of jobs to do, and the village doesn’t get any bigger!

Almost all proceeds stay within the village and it is our biggest fundraiser of the year so please help if you can.

If you can help, please contact Stuart Long, Lesley Salter, Jenny Leishman or Martin Newsom.

If you fancy running then forms are available on the back of the programme or available on line.

There is an official 10 Mile Race and a 5 Mile race. Not forgetting a Fun Run which is suitable for children, which is all on roads and tracks, that are closed to traffic.

www.swineshead.org.uk To contact the organisers, please email us at:swineshead10@gmail.com

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Pertenhall

Correspondent-Chloe Reid

Mothers’ Union
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 17th August at 2.30pm in Pertenhall Village Hall.

A representative from the Ouse Valley Mothers’ Union group is coming to pass on their experiences of starting up a new group which covers from Sharnbrook to the south of Bedford. The new year for Pertenhall Mothers’ Union begins in September with a service and preacher, the Revd Jan Brookshaw. Programmes for the year should be available by early August.

The weather was not kind for us on June 15th when we went for a tea and chat to 3 Churchyard Kimbolton at the kind invitation of Mrs Elsie Bass. However we had a good time indoors with good chat and a tea that had been prepared by Elsie and Joan of the usual high standard of well filled sandwiches and a delicious cake.

Position available
I am going to university to September and from that date will be stepping down as from the position of Pertenhall correspondent. Hence, there will be an opportunity to take over my role. It only takes a few hours each month.

If you have any questions please contact Chloe on 01480 861115.

An evening of Georgian Music for organ, harpsichord and spinet
Introduced & played by Gerald Gifford, Organ Consultant & Senior Member, Robinson College, Cambridge and Honorary Keeper of Music, the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

at St. Peter's Church, Pertenhall on Saturday July 30th 2011 at 7.30pm

Tickets £12 each from Judy Vasmer (01480 860312), Julie Botterill (01480 861382) or David Eddowes (01480 860514)

Hope to see you there for what will  be a real musical treat

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Yelden

Correspondent-Sue Taylor

METHODIST CHAPEL
Karen and Michael Ellis hosted the annual Coffee Morning on a sunny Saturday. It was very successful raising £275 by all those attending and many donations. This is a very important part of funding for the small Methodist Chapel and they are extremely grateful for all your support.

STRAWBERRY FAYRE

As always weather was on our minds as we worked towards our annual SF but with bunting up – and down after a windy night – it became clear we were in for a sizzler. And it brought people out in their droves. The car park could hardly keep up with the flow and ran out of programmes early on – even then reports say the High Street was lined with cars. SF has obviously become part of everybody’s calendar but that’s no reason for complacency, the publicity we give to it is essential, posters, flyers, word of mouth, all in the last few weeks are important and thanks to all of you who do just that. All those involved in teas deserved a day of rest – but probably didn’t get it – for their constant hard work in steamy conditions. The Art Group sent a delightful invitation to their Preview Night and it was a lovely atmosphere with Teresa’s floral displays to enhance the artwork.

As is the practice at Yelden, clearing up was done promptly, signs, bunting, tables and those with any energy left, relaxed with a BBQ at the Village Hall where Mike Pond gave us the fantastic news that we had raised around £5,000. Well done everybody – it really is a ‘village’ event.

A small note from the Bottle Stall with a BIG thankyou to all those who donated so generously to make our takings a record of nearly £400. Sue T

YELDEN ART GROUP

The members of the ART GROUP are once again very grateful to all the residents of YELDEN who attended the Preview Evening of their 4th Exhibition in St Mary’s Church.

It was an enjoyable occasion and we hope you fond the artwork interesting; it is very encouraging to see you all each year.

During the next 12 months we will hopefully find more inspiration for next year and are very thankful for your continued support.

A date for your Diary Don’t forget our Harvest Supper on the 15th October with entertainment by the Ouse Valley Singers. The following morning will be the first Café Sunday at Yelden Village Hall (more details to follow). Then on the evening of Sunday 16th October will be our Harvest Festival service at 6pm.

FLOWER AND CLEANING PLAN

7th August	Lesley / Stephanie – 9am
21st August	Teresa / Sue – Patronal 10.30
	Also a Christening for Sam
4th September	Sue / Lorna – 6pm

YELDEN BALL

Yelden’s Annual Ball was held on July 9th and this year took on an Art Deco theme. 100 villagers and their friends fully supported the truly decadent atmosphere created by Tim and Helen in the village marquee. Thanks to every one who participated and helped to create another successful event for Yelden Village Hall.

Watch out for pictures of the event on www.yeldenvillagehall.co.uk

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Forthcoming Attractions

10th September	Dalton Hall & Fields	Dean & Shelton Flower Show
Click here to visit Flower Show 2011 web site
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