We are fortunate in having a willing team of people who regularly mow the churchyard. However there is a limit as to how close the mowers can get to gravestones and the church building. So we need someone who can devote some time to strimming around the gravestones etc. in the churchyard. If you can help please contact either John De Val (293417) or Michael Keck (293357).
The Tuesday morning services of Matins on 8th, 22nd and 29th August are cancelled – services will resume again in September. However the scheduled service of Holy Communion will take place on Tuesday 15th August at 8am.
If military bands are your thing then make a note in your diary for the concert of The Royal Air Force Wyton Area Voluntary Band next Saturday, 8th July in Stilton. In aid of Stilton Churches Group Funds, the concert will be held at Stilton Pavilion, High Street, Stilton PE7 3RA. Doors open at 7pm; concert starts at 7.30pm.
Tickets: £10 from Chris Milton, tel: (01832) 280415 or Marjorie Spoor, tel: (01733) 243553, or any of the Stilton Group Churches.
Complimentary Refreshments will be available in the interval.
The Induction of Revd Mary Jepp took place at Holy Trinity Church, Kilmarnock on Thursday 15th June. A number of people from the Benefice travelled north to attend.
The church was packed for the service taken by the Bishop of Glasgow & Galloway. Besides Mary’s parishioners and members of other churches, the Provost (Mayor to you and me) of Kilmarnock and the local MP attended. After the service, there was an amazing spread in the church hall attached to the church, and we ‘Sassenachs’ were made to feel very welcome. We were left in no doubt as to the warmth of a community in very different surroundings from ours, and feel Mary and Mike will be very happy in this new chapter of their lives.
The two pictures reflect two aspects of the evening. The first might be said to show the formal Mary, with the Bishop. The second shows the real Mary with two of her new parishioners.
Michael Keck
The Revd Mary Jepp’s final service took place on Sunday 21st May at St Michael’s Church. The service was one of Choral Evensong. We were delighted to welcome back “Divers Voyces” to lead the music, and they sang settings by Bruckner, Morales, Holst and Peter Phillips. The organist, appropriately, was Paul Herring, one of Lois Jordan’s sons.
Before the service Mary re-dedicated the organ in memory of Lois, whose legacy paid for the additional work to be done. After the service, Mary Read made a presentation to Mary of a book on Icons and a cheque for £450. After the presentation, the two Mary’s were seen dancing down the nave together like the conclusion of a Morcambe & Wise Show. An appropriate ending, which highlighted the joy and happiness that Mary Jepp brought to her ministry in our community.
We wish Mary and Mike every success and happiness in the latest chapter of their lives, about to start in Kilmarnock.
Michael Keck
We have heard the sad news of the death of Bernard Foster. Known as “Bocky” to most people in the village, he worked in Trolove’s butcher’s shop in Main Street for many years. Our thoughts and prayers are with Betty and the family at this time.
There will be a Service of Thanksgiving for his life on Monday 12th June at 12 noon in St Michael’s Church.
Michael Keck
Photo: Catalyst Video Services
If you’d like to see what’s happening regarding the A14 improvements then pop along to the Parish AGM on Tuesday evening 16th May at 6.45pm (time to be confirmed), where the A14 Road Show will be visiting.
Full details from the Parish Clerk at giddingspc1@btinternet.com
DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE TALK AND ORGAN RECITAL
ON FRIDAY 19TH MAY HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
THE EVENT WILL BE RE-SCHEDULED LATER THIS YEAR.
Friday 19th May 2017 at 7.30 pm in St Michael’s Church at Great Gidding
José Hopkins (Diocese of Ely Organ Advisor) will give a short talk about the organ builder Denman of York, following which Stephen Barber (Kings Cliffe Parish Church) will give a 50 minute recital demonstrating to advantage the work recently completed on our own organ.
Light refreshments
Free Admission – there will be a retiring collection.
Work is in progress on the Denman organ in St Michael’s Church to achieve what might be termed “the completion” of the instrument. When the organ was built in the late nineteenth century; like today, money was obviously tight for the then congregation (nothing changes!). Accordingly certain things weren’t included, and this work seeks to remedy those omissions.
The work – being carried out by E J Johnson & Son (Cambridge) Ltd – has three elements:
- provision of the missing bottom 12 notes of the Swell Oboe, using full length Bassoon pipes
- a new coupler mechanism, including a Swell to Pedal coupler – never previously installed
- restoration of the Great Viola di Gamba rank, including new pipework
It is with thanks to Lois Jordan for her legacy which has enabled this work on the organ to be carried out.
We welcome back Divers Voyces with their Music Director, Jeremy Jepson, to lead the music at this service.
The Introit will be by Anton Bruckner (Locus isti), and the canticles sung to settings by the 16th century Spanish composer Christòbel de Morales and Gustav Holst. As Ascension Day falls in the following week, the anthem will be Ascendit Deus by the Elizabethan composer, Peter Phillips.
During the service the latest restoration work on the organ will be dedicated in memory of Lois Jordan. We are delighted that Paul Herring (Lois’s son) has kindly agreed to play the organ for this service.
This will be the Revd Mary Jepp’s final service before her departure to Scotland. After the service there will be refreshments, giving an opportunity to say farewell to Mary.
Service starts at 6pm.
Minutes of the Meeting of Great & Little Gidding Parish Council held on Tuesday 18th April 2017 at 7:30pm
Present: Cllrs A Alexander (Chair), P Hodson, P Jarvis and L James
In Attendance: L Ellis (Clerk) & two residents (one from 8:05pm)
Key:
CCC = Cambridgeshire County Council
HDC = Huntingdon District Council
PC = Parish Council
47.17
Chairman’s Welcome
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
48.17
Apologies and reason for absence
Cllr R Giddens (other commitments), Cllr R Hayden (illness) and Cllr E Richmond (illness)
49.17
Member’s declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
None.
50.17
Public and press participation session with respect to items on the agenda
A resident reported that beer cans and bottles have been put into the newly installed dog bin, she will continue to monitor the situation.
It was also reported that fly tipping materials had been set alight in Leighton Bromswold and Weston. Councillor James reported that Countryside Watch were aware and were monitoring the situation. HDC should be advised if fly tipping occurs on public and council land; if left on private land it is the responsibility of the land owner.
The resident further reported that children had been ‘door knocking’ and running away, the incidents have been reported to the parents. This is a matter for the police.
51.17
To confirm and accept minutes of the meeting held on 21st March 2017
To take the minutes as a true and accurate record.
Proposed by Cllr Jarvis and seconded by Cllr Hodson. The minutes were then duly signed by Cllr Jarvis.
52.17
Matters arising from minutes
To agree the APM agenda: The agenda was agreed and will be distributed to all households.
Village noticeboards: The Chairman agreed to remove the doors of the noticeboard outside the school to make it safe and to note if the noticeboard is being used. He will also take measurements for a new noticeboard.
Grass cutting contract: It was reported that CGM had removed the two clauses from the contract that the Council were concerned with. The contract was then duly signed by the Chairman.
Dog bins: It was reported that the dog poo bag dispenser had arrived and that the new dog bin was on order. It was agreed that the Chairman would liaise with the resident who had agreed to empty the bin as to where it should be sited.
53.17
Communication from Councillors
Councillor James reported:-
a) As requested she had organised the removal of the clothing bank from the village hall car park.
b) The triangular horse warning signs at either end of the village were now in place. The Council’s application for funding was unsuccessful, it was noted that other applications contributed more to their projects than our proposed 10% contribution and this may have been a factor in the decision process.
c) The extension of the 30mph zone may be a possible project via the next round of Local Highways Improvement grant funding.
d) A tree bough on the Luddington bridleway has split away. This was reported to HDC and the landowner has been informed. The report is now classified as closed. The tree bough has been re-reported as the work has not been undertaken and the tree is a danger to the public.
54.17
The Clarion and how to improve it
It was noted that the Clarion replaced the village magazine. It was agreed that the Clarion would be produced quarterly. Councillor Jarvis offered to work with the Clerk to prepare the articles for each issue.
Items for the June issue will include:-
Fly tipping
Clothing bank
Why our application for a Local Highways Improvement grant was unsuccessful
Why noticeboards are being changed
55.17
Correspondence
Correspondence duly noted.
It was noted that Anglian Water were not yet in a position to supply data on water main issues in Great Gidding for 2016. The Clerk to request the data when it is available.
56.17
Finance:
a) Payment of accounts
Expenditure:
£347.78 – L Ellis (100979)
£318.28 – Salaries (SO)
£21.08 – HDC (100980)
£103.82 – Glasdon UK (100981)
b)Review of asset register
All payments were unanimously approved and all associated documentation was initialled by two signatories.
Council considered the asset register. Cllr James was not convinced that the value of three play equipment items purchased in January 2014 were correct, she agreed to look in her records and update the Clerk so that the register could be corrected if required.
One resident left the meeting at his juncture (8:35pm)
57.17
Items for discussion at the May meeting
Clarion
Defibrillator
58.17
Date of next meeting
Tuesday 16th May 2017
Meeting closed
The Chairman thanked everyone for attending, the meeting then closed at 8:45pm