Review of Christingle service 2011

By on January 10, 2012   /   Home page latest news, News stories and reports   /   Leave a comment
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Our Christingle service in December was a great success – lots of children came along to the Christingle-making session at the school beforehand, and then Mary welcomed us at the gate through to the churchyard and we all went up to the service.

Led by Mary, the service was fun (complete with captivating Canadian wolf story and plenty of howling…!) and thought-provoking at the same time, and when the children stood at the front of the church with their lit Christingles it really did look magical.

It was lovely to see so many people there, and great to see some new faces. Thank you all for coming, and hope to see you next year!

Christingle service, Saturday 10th December 2011

Christingle service, 10th December 2011

Amanda Williams – Jan 2012

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News from the Churchwardens November 2011

By on November 12, 2011   /   Home page latest news, News stories and reports, St Michael's Church   /   Leave a comment

Our Harvest Festival was a very enjoyable occasion, as was the Harvest Supper which followed, at the Fox and Hounds. Chris Hill produced a first class meal, and everyone went away feeling very satisfied! The church looked really beautiful, thanks to the efforts of Sue Jarvis and Barbara Floyd and smelt wonderfully of autumn fruits.

On Sunday 9th October we held a coffee morning at Churchside House in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. We raised £115 which will be sent off to the charity. A most enjoyable morning – thank you to those who supported the event.

We have at last secured a faculty for the PA system and the children’s room in the church, and hope that work can begin before too long.

Churchyard trees
During the summer we had to make the decision to remove the horse chestnut tree at the entrance to the churchyard. Two heavy branches had fallen close to the school and the Huntingdon DC tree adviser
informed us that it was diseased and would have to be felled on grounds of health and safety. We have also had a fallen tree at Little Gidding, and are again in contact with Huntingdon DC to see what further action we need to take. At Steeple Gidding we are very grateful to Mr Brian Scotney who has done a great deal of clearing up in the churchyard there.

Paul Freestone
We extend our very sincere sympathy to Sue, Frederik and Freya Freestone on the sad loss of Paul.

Service dates
There will be a service on Sunday 30th October, the nearest Sunday to All Souls Day, at 3pm, when we shall remember all our loved ones who have died. Mary Jepp asks that we give her any names we would like read out in the service. (To contact Mary, tel: 01480 890284 or email: m.jepp@btinternet.com)

On Sunday 13th November at 5pm, we shall be holding a Remembrance Service which this year will be led by the Sawtry branch of the British Legion. This will be our first Remembrance Sunday service without our dear, much missed, Shep leading the worship.

Home Communions will be held on Tuesday 15th November.

Advance notice
The Advent Carol service on Sunday 4th December and the Christmas Carol service on Saturday 17th December, will both be at 6pm.

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Message from the Parish Priest

By on November 12, 2011   /   Home page latest news, St Michael's Church   /   Leave a comment
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I am sure you have all heard the expression ‘the past is all around us’, and I am sure that we would all acknowledge the truth of these words, living where we do. Ancient churches, homes, bridleways and footpaths all speak of times long past, and then there are the remains of the many airfields which dot our countryside and speak of our more recent history, which remind us of places far away, of wars fought.

These days we are reminded almost daily that armed conflicts still continue, despite the efforts of those who govern this world. Although many I have spoken to, especially individuals who survived the Second World War, will say that it is a terrible waste of life, there seems to be no end to humankind’s foolishness; our young continue to lose their lives on foreign battlefields. The lessons that many believed were learnt at the end of the first war and were repeated over and over again seem to have not made any difference. Although we hope and pray for peace, perhaps it is just not the way of the world.

So what other lessons can be learned from previous wars and their aftermath? Perhaps a starting point might be the way in which we care for individuals whose lives have been affected by war, especially our own servicemen and women and their families. The war in Afghanistan has raised our awareness of the casualties. Those casualties’ numbers are high, and many of them will need support throughout their lives. It is important that we also remember their families, who see in a sense strangers returning home. Our family has some experience of this as my eldest is a serving member of the armed forces; he had a difficult time re-adjusting to life in the UK when he returned from Afghanistan following his first tour, and so it is for many others.

There is perhaps little we can do as individuals to stop wars, but we have the ability to try to demonstrate love by working towards alleviating the pain of those who serve their country overseas, so that they are able to live full and rewarding lives despite their memories, experiences and injuries.

Revd. Mary Jepp

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Meeting of the Parish Council on Tuesday 18th October 2011

By on October 18, 2011   /   Home page latest news, Parish Council Minutes   /   Leave a comment
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Minutes of a Meeting of the Parish Council held in the Village Hall, Great Gidding on Tuesday 18th October 2011 at 7.30pm.

Present: Cllrs Alexander (Chairman), Hodson, Howden, Hill, Giddens, Trolove, clerk and two members of the public

A proposal was put to the council for a celebration to mark the Diamond Jubilee 2012 with an evening event on the 2nd June in the village hall and a family event on the Recreation Ground on 4th June.

729.11 Apologies for absence
Received from Cllr Hayden

730.11 Minutes of 20th September 2011
Approved and signed

731.11 Matters arising
(information only)

732.11 Members declaration of interest for agenda items
Cllr Giddens item 738.11

733.11 Parish Plan Refresher
Only two questionnaires had been returned, comments noted but no further action required.

734.11The Great Gidding Newt Trail update and payment of invoices
Work has started on the new website and the map for the interpretation boards.   Warning signs had been ordered and received along with the invoice from the Wildlife Trust.

735.11 Fields for the Future – Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge
No update received

736.11 Review of Neighbourhood Forums in Huntingdonshire
Cllr Hayden to be asked to complete questionnaire.

737.11 Diamond Jubilee – village celebration update
Following a written request and presentation prior to the meeting it was agreed to underwrite the proposed evening event on 2nd June in the village up to £1000.

738.11 Planning
Application 1101354FUL two semi-detached cottages 47 Main Street, Great Gidding – the council agreed to approve this application for infill  development appropriate to this site .

739.11 Society of Local Council clerks membership renewal £82
It was agreed to renew membership

740.11 Training – clerk and councillor.
Clerk was given approval to attend a training day on 14th November (working day) and approval to claim travel expenses.   Clerk to investigate code of conduct training for new councillors.

741.11 Parish Council Expenditure 2012/13 est. cost of contested election £750 uncontested £105.
This was noted and will be accounted for in the budget proposal for next month

742.11 Disposal of old laptop (wiped clean)
Offer received £20 – it was agreed to accept this offer

743.11 Reconciliation of accounts and payment of cheques agreed
• S Dalley (clerk) £295.70
• Bradgate (grass cutting) £255.00
• Bradgate (replacement cheque for 100744) £255.00
• P Hodson (charity account- allotments)  £19.44
• P Hodson (Lottery fund – signs) £54.08
• P Hodson (new pond) £19.99
• SLCC membership    £82.00
• A Underwood (S137) village event £350.00
• The WildlifeTrust (Lottery fund) £2,700.00
• M Read (Clarion delivery) £10.00 Not claimed

744.11 Representatives reports
• Rights of Way – Cllr Giddens – no known R oW problems
• Allotments – Cllr Howden to take water meter reading
• Highways & Police – Cllr Hayden no report but communication from Anglian Water received.   It was agreed to ask for more details on length of time leaks taken to fix before writing to the Highways and copying to MP.   At the time of the meeting we were informed that the leak in Luddington Road was causing low water pressure in the village and no water for properties in Luddington Road
• School – Cllr Alexander to attend official opening of the improvements to the school on Friday 21st October.   It was noted that the school had asked for use of the car park for this event.
• Village Hall & Recreation Ground – Cllr Howden reported that the grass was still being well kept and the Sawtry colts still making good use of the facilities.   Repairs to the front fence will be carried out in due course
• Finance & Charities – Cllr Hodson submitted annual returns to the Charity Commission had been completed.
• Tree Warden – Cllr Trolove – Elm Tree Scheme was not found to be suitable.   A request for the full annual allocation of 50 trees from the District Council has been made.   It was agreed to allocate £300 for planting fruit trees in the Jubilee Wood to mark the Diamond Jubilee.

745.11 Correspondence received
• Parish Council’s HCV strategy meeting invite 29th November, 7-9pm, Swavesey – noted
• How to respond to planning applications: an 8-step guide – Cllr Alexander agreed to read and pass on information
• Luminus Street representative Scheme update – noted
• The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons – the guide to taking part – noted
• CPALC AGM agenda and minutes for 3rd December and membership renewal reminder – agreed in April not to renew this year
• Broadband – Letter received from Shailesh Vara MP who is speaking to the County Council on our behalf to request a better broadband speed.
• Anglia in Bloom Seminar 1st November in Dunstable – noted
• Village SOS event in St Ives 15th November – noted

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