Clarion Spring 2012

By on May 3, 2012   /   Home page latest news, Parish Council News & Notices   /   Leave a comment
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Clarion Spring 2012

Great & Little GiddingParish Council

Clarion – Spring 2012

 

ELECTIONS of District and Parish Councillors will take place on Thursday 3rd May – see noticeboards

BLOOM IN GIDDING – following on from the successful Anglia In Bloom Silver Award of 2011 we are looking for volunteers to co-ordinate the 2012 entry.  An excellent start was made last year in this community initiative and many hands make light work.   If you are interested in helping in anyway please let the PC office know and we will put you in touch with each other.  

ALLOTMENTS – there is a half allotment available from the 10 new ones provided last year   Full plots are £15 per year (£20 from 2013) and subject to a tenancy agreement.       

JUBILEE WOOD – a new pond has been excavated in the Jubilee Wood and it is hoped to have it established for the Diamond Jubilee.   Fourteen new trees have been planted including mulberry, pear, peach, nectarine, plum, cherry and apple. There is to be a JUBILEE Coffee Morning (and activities) in the wood on Sunday 3rd June.

RECREATION GROUND – our application for Queen Elizabeth II Field Status has been accepted and a commemorative plaque will be unveiled at the JUBILEE lunch being held on 4th June.   The idea behind the Big Lunch is to get as many people as possible to join with their neighbours for friendship and fun.   All you need to do is turn up with your picnic and for the energetic amongst you games will be available!   

VILLAGE HALL – a textile recycling bank has been located in the car park.    The District Council is trying to encourage residents to recycle clothing and shoes.   The materials put in the textile banks are sorted and sent to Africa, any clothes not suitable are cut into rags for industry.   A small income may be generated from this (£150 per tonne) for the village.

A group are organising a 1950s dance night in the hall on Saturday 2nd June to celebrate the JUBILEE and the Parish Council have allocated funding to support this community event.

The AGM of the Village Hall & Recreation Ground committee will take place on Monday 16th April at 7.30pm in the Village Hall – please do go along and show your support.  

VILLAGE WEBSITE -The Lottery Funding received by the Parish Council has funded the new village website including the newt trail.       

AFFORDABLE RURAL HOUSING SURVEY – This has been organised by ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) in consultation with the Parish Council and distributed to all houses within the village. The details of results will be presented at the Annual Parish Meeting on 17th April.

STREET LIGHTING – the County Council have changed to a white light source which should not impact upon the visibility on the street.

THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING will be held on Tuesday 17th April at 7pm prior to the Parish Council Meeting.

THE PARISH COUNCIL meet on the 3rd Tuesday of the month in the Village Hall at 7.30pm – members of the public are very welcome to attend but if you would like to speak on a particular subject, please let us know prior to the meeting.  

 

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Chipping The B660

By on April 28, 2012   /   Home page latest news, News stories and reports, The Environment   /   1 Comment
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Chipping The B660

Every few years on a rolling programme most the roads in the parish receive a new surface coating of stone chippings, rather than explain the finer details of the process take a look at The Idiots Guide To Highway maintenance, a really excellent and detailed web site about how our roads are maintained.

This series of photographs were taken on 22nd July 2010 as the B660 was being resurfaced from the Lutton crossroads to Great Gidding.

We all know something is imminent when the signs appear and the road sweeper starts hoovering up beyond the village boundary. Above we see the convoy of vehicles proceeding down the hill. Traffic management is by stop/go boards and radio communication.

The bitumen or tar lorry as they were known is always a site to behold, clouds of water vapour emerging from the spray applicator as the hot bitumen meets the cooler atmosphere.

This is the crunch part of the operation, the bitumen emulsion being sprayed out on to the road surface quickly followed up the stone spreader with an 8 wheeler tipper keeping the spreader topped up. The rate of application of bitumen and the stone chippings will have been predetermined in the contract. The idiots guide to highway maintenance will inform you of these things in greater detail. Click the link and have a read.

The stone spreader operator has a commanding view of the operation, he has to judge forward speed and the width of spread whilst keeping an eye on the hopper load.

The job has several hazards, passing traffic, moving machinery, hot liquids and obstructions to deal with such as overhanging branches that get hooked up on the passing tipper lorry.

Immediately following the first stone spreader another one follows on putting a finer layer of chippings down.

To make sure that the chippings adhere to the bitumen base layer, road rollers are used to compress the two elements together. Road rollers have evolved from the first steam rollers, diesel powered rollers, multi tyred rollers and now site rollers. Another useful reference site is the Road Rollers Association

Finally as the convoy makes its way to Great Gidding we see some of the work force in a lighter moment. These chaps are the stop /go board operators for traffic approaching from behind. Now the road has been resurfaced it takes on the feel of a skid pan as loose stone chippings accumulate. This is where drivers always observe the speed limit signs and drive diligently according to the road conditions. A road sweeper will follow up this operation with two or three passes in the forthcoming weeks.

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About The History group

By on April 27, 2012   /   Giddings history   /   1 Comment
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About The History group

General information about the Group:
Meetings take place on the third Wednesday (September to April) and are very informal (no committee or agenda) and quite often we are just chatting about times past and memories, you don’t have to attend each one but would be really pleased if you would like to join us. The venue is usually the Fox and Hounds Pub and sometimes the Village Hall.

We have a growing collection of recordings of Gidding villagers talking about their memories – if you would like to take part please contact us. We have recently started to gather together photographs, newspaper articles and documents which have been generously donated to the Group and will be stored at the Village Hall. We welcome any additions to this collection, so please don’t throw anything away that may be of interest to the Group and/or future researchers of village/family/local history – what you may think is rubbish could be just what someone else is looking for.

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The old Great Gidding Raceway site

By on March 27, 2012   /   Giddings history, Home page latest news   /   6 Comments
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The old Great Gidding Raceway site

This is copied from the Simon Lewis Books website:

Great Gidding in Cambridgeshire where Northampton’s John Clark promoted GP Midgets. Now an industrial estate off Hemmington Lodge Lane. Steven Parker, who works at the site today says “there’s very little evidence …the tarmac or concrete surface was broken up for unknown reasons leaving us with huge flooded potholes. …you can still see where the carpark would have been near the entrance for spectators & racers although its like a jungle now!.” More of Steve’s photos can be seen on the Gt Gidding page – www.simonlewis.com/gidding.html.

Great Gidding Raceway on Simon Lewis website

As you can see above it’s now a very anonymous site but the faint outline of the track shows up on Google Maps Does anyone know when the track operated or have any old photos?

Visit the Simon Lewis Books website

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Alfred’s Recommended website of the week

By on March 23, 2012   /   Home page latest news, Newt articles   /   1 Comment
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Alfred's Recommended website of the week

The Wildlife Trust  for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.

Laura Watson, Community Conservation Officer produced the survey of the ponds in Great Gidding  their website, is packed with information and ideas to help us all enjoy our environment.

Look out for the Species A -Z  Everything you need to know from Acorn Barnacles to Zebra Spiders

Have you seen any toads this month? why not join Garden Watch or if you love Bluebells they have information just for you!

You can even sign up to receive their E-newsletter and so much more.

Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire wildlife website

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Driving test past

By on March 23, 2012   /   News stories and reports   /   Leave a comment
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Well done to Jamie Fox from Winwick who passed his driving test first time with only two driving faults. Jamie has been trained for the road by Rachel Giddens.

The current practical driving test requires young drivers to drive for a short distance ‘independently’, to drive in an ‘Eco’ way and to know something about the maintenance and functionalities of today’s modern cars. Not forgetting of course, to be able to drive safety and courteously and to be able to perform various manoeuvres.

For ‘pay as you go’ driving lessons or refresher courses call Rachel on 01832 293277.

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A welcome message from the Baptist Church

By on March 9, 2012   /   Baptist Church, Home page latest news   /   1 Comment
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A welcome message from the Baptist Church

Great Gidding Baptist Church

Our Purpose – Love God Love People Serve the World

The Baptist Church is in fellowship with Grace Fellowship Little Stukeley; Grace Fellowship is part of the International Baptist Convention (I B C) and affiliated to Baptist Union of Great Britain

My Wife and I first came to Great Gidding some 30 years ago as a guest speaker for the day returning from time to time to worship or preach, then we moved to Great Stukely. That’s when Pastor Albert asked me to take care of the Church while he was away in Uganda. During this time we have seen many changes to the Church. When Albert was so ill Penny and I were regular visitors both to the hospital and the home, on their Return to Bristol they asked us to take on the church.

Work to do
There has been much work to do as we redecorate the  manse and clear up the rubbish that has been gathered over the years and we are still working at getting the grounds and sheds dealt with, it will take time to do all we have in mind.

The first service we will take is to be held on Easter Sunday At 3pm.
We welcome you all to come and join us for the service and share a cup of tea or coffee after the service.

Further details of regular meetings will be announced soon.

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Polio and the ‘Purple Pinky’ and crocuses in front of the church

By on March 3, 2012   /   Community, Home page latest news, News stories and reports   /   Leave a comment
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Polio is a terrible crippling disease.  It was once the major cause of disability.  Before 1988 there were over 350,000 cases reported per year worldwide.  Now it is down to about a 1,000 cases per year.  India use to have more cases than anywhere else.  Now it has reported only one single case in the last 18 months. 

Polio charity crocuses outside St Michael's Church Great Gidding

This is down to 25 years of hard work on the part of Rotary International and other agencies.  For years the programme has depended on charitable giving and the precious time of individuals prepared to go out and help, at their own expense, in vaccination clinics.  At last we are on the brink.  One final push is needed to get rid of this dreadful disease once and for all.  If we don’t make that effort now and leave off it will come back.  That final effort will cost money.  Bill Gates has generously contributed $355 million but there is still a need to raise a further $200 million world wide to see it through.

During national immunisation days in India, as many as 65 million children are immunised. Volunteers hold these days every six weeks, visiting remote villages and slum areas to deliver the life-saving vaccine. Although polio is nearly wiped out, work has to continue through this next generation of children to be sure to eradicate the disease for good.  Booths are set up in major cities, attracting school children and families, who will travel for miles to protect their children.  After vaccination each child has a finger dipped in purple dye for control purposes.

In order to bring your attention to the vaccination programme purple crocuses have been planted all over the UK.  It is hoped that the 500 bulbs planted in front of the church last autumn will eventually multiply to make a magnificent springtime display.  When you look at them please think about all the children walking around with purple “pinkies” who will now have a better chance in life.  It will be wonderful when the day comes when no one else will ever have to suffer from polio.  This can be a real success story!  Will you please help?

Donations to the “Rotary Club of Kimbolton Castle” can be handed to Tony Scott, 15 Mill Road, Great Gidding or to Jed and Aruna at the village shop.

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New couple at Great Gidding Baptist Church

By on March 1, 2012   /   Baptist Church, Home page latest news   /   Leave a comment
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New couple at Great Gidding Baptist Church

Welcome to Pete and Penny Bourne

“If you see us working at the Manse please stop and introduce yourself to us. We are hoping to hold our first service Easter Sunday 3pm please come and join with us”

Pete Bourne

For the time being the contact details are as follows
Pete and Penny Bourne
Phone 01480432207
Penny’s Email penny.bourne@sky.com
Pete’s Email bourneagain58@yahoo.co.uk

Read more about the Great Gidding Baptist Church

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Bateman’s, Hook Norton and Fullers beer and Skittle’s night.

By on February 11, 2012   /   Home page latest news, News stories and reports   /   Leave a comment
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Bateman's, Hook Norton and Fullers beer and Skittle's night.

It’s the bleak mid winter, snow lying deep and crisp and even. Well you get the picture, so thank you to those who braved the cold for the February B & S night.

As usual it was with great interest to see what the various offering would be and how many bottles of the same beer would be set on the bar and as usual in that magical Gidding way none were duplicated.

A great range of beers
Fullers topped the evening but only one London Pride which is their main beer. London Porter and Chiswick Bitter along with ESB were sampled. A bottle of Golden Pride 8% has been held over for the next event. Hooky Gold and Hooky Bitter along with the Xmas 12 Days were offered from the Hook Norton Steam Brewery. Bateman’s ales were far more elusive with a bottle of Victory Ale. Somehow we acquired a good selection from the Sole Bay Brewery at Southwold. Any Adnams beer is welcomed so thanks for those. Because of the low numbers attending this time, several bottles have been put in the cellar for next time.

A talented newbie and a new top score record.
A robust couple of rounds of skittles were played and Newbie to the evening Mr Steven Garner showed us a thing or two about how to play skittles and was the overall winner of the evening and walked off with the Ale’d and Aimless trophy.

Mr Adam Titmuss almost demolished the skittle table with some power throwing and achieved an evening top score of 14.

The muppet award again fell into the hands of the event organiser for a dreadful first round score of 3 after showing so much promise in the warm up.

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