(Issue 137), April 2006
Editor: Paul Cockcroft

All PCSOs are given full training to enable them to take appropriate action in the event of difficult circumstances. They are supervised by police officers and have radio access so they can call for assistance should it be required.

The Force now has 40 PCSOs, including 12 in the Western Area (Daventry, Brackley and Towcester), 10 in Northampton, 15 in the Northern Area (Corby and Kettering) and three in the Eastern Area (Wellingborough and East Northants), and is currently recruiting a further 56 to start at the end of this year, followed by another 117 in 2007/08.
 
Computers for Kenya
Following the visit of several Head teachers from Bungoma, Kenya, Deidre Daish (831979) is collecting old computers with the hope of sending them out to schools. If you have any keyboards, screens or any parts of a computer that you are not using, please give her a ring. It is asked that all hard drives are wiped clean. Thank you.  

Friends of Campion School
The Friends of Campion Association has existed since the school opened, working hard to raise funds for the little extras in school.

With a school the size of Campion, our fundraising efforts can often seem like ‘a drop in the ocean’, however there are some achievements of which we are currently very proud, namely contributions to purchasing the previous and current school minibus and continued contributions to the performing arts department, who in turn allow us to fundraise by selling refreshments at their events.

Last school year (Sept 2004–July 2005) was a very successful one with several events supported not just by parents of children at the school, but also by the good people of Bugbrooke. Following the success of our Dinner and Dance last July, we are once again arranging a Dinner and Dance for this summer on Saturday 13th May.

Tickets at £15 per person include a reception drink on arrival, 3 course table meal with wine, followed by dancing. There will be a licensed bar.
Please consider whether you can support us and have a great night out.
Tickets available now from Gillian Stone. 07761016583.

Campion Reunion, Campion Reunion, Campion Reunion
A reunion for all those of you who started Campion 20 (1986) and 30 (1976) years ago is being planned for July 1st.

Please book the date. Tickets will be available after Easter from either school reception (833900) or Jane Causebrook,

Bugbrooke Playgroup
It’s been a busy year already, with lots of changes. A big thank you to Sue Ward who has moved on after being supervisor and a member of staff for many years. The kids loved you and miss you lots. Good luck Sue. Welcome to Claire King and Gill, two new members of staff.

The pampered chef party was a success raising money for new toys for Play group. ‘Pay and Play’ in the February half term break was packed with children and it gave the adults the chance to have a cuppa and a chat. There will be ‘Pay and Play’ again in the Easter holidays, Thursday 6th April and Thursday 13th April from 10am–12pm. £1.50 includes one adult and one child and 50p per child thereafter.

If you have a child who is soon to be 2 years 6 months, please ring Kate Meech on 832669 or call Playgroup on 01604 832347 between 9 and 1. Weekday sessions are Mon–Fri 9.15am–12.45pm. This is including your child bringing packed lunch. Sessions cost £6.50.
Lorna Britten (Secretary)
 
St Michaels & All Angels Church News
Welcome
We welcome our new priest-in-charge Rev. Stephen French and his wife Gill. Stephen was licensed at a service on 12th February at which there was standing room only. Stephen is priest-in-charge of the new joint benefices of Bugbrooke and Rothersthorpe and Kislingbury and Harpole.

Church Office
The Church Office in the Sunday School building is open weekday mornings (except Thursdays) between 9am and 11.30 am. and it is also open on Tuesday evenings from 7pm–8pm for any enquiries about weddings, baptisms or any other church matters. The phone number is 830373 and there is an answer phone so you can leave a message and someone will get back to you.

Service Times
Service times in Bugbrooke Church are now 9.45a.m. on Sunday mornings and 6.30p.m. on Sunday evenings. We have an 8a.m. said Holy Communion on the third Sunday of each month.

Jubilee House
There is a communion service held at Jubilee House at 1.30p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month so that will be on April 5th and May 3rd.

Holy Week & Easter Arrangements
On Palm Sunday there is a Communion Service at Bugbrooke at 9.45a.m.
On Maundy Thursday there is an Iona Communion Service in Bugbrooke Church at 7.30p.m.
There is a Prayer Walk through the four villages in the Benefice on Easter Saturday. The walk starts at Bugbrooke and leaves at 9a.m.
On Easter Sunday at Bugbrooke Church we have a Communion Service at 8a.m and Easter Morning Praise at 9.45a.m.

Social event
There is a concert in Church on Saturday 22nd April at 7.30p.m. with the Northampton Male Voice Choir
Lynn King
 
Link meets Reverend Stephen French,
New Rector of Bugbrooke
Bugbrooke welcomes the Revd. Stephen French as the new Church of England Rector in the village. Stephen was inducted on the 12th February in Bugbrooke, an occasion which saw the church packed with around 250 people from the parishes of Bugbrooke, Kislingbury, Rothersthorpe and Harpole, covering the area of Stephen’s new responsibility.

Stephen was brought up in the Scotlands area of Wolverhampton, and left school to serve an apprenticeship and work as a toolmaker in the town. In his late teens he was drawn more and more to God and his church, and furthered his education by taking the ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels that would eventually enable him to later study for the priesthood. During the next decade he also met and married Chris, his first wife, bought a house and had 2 children.

In 1984, after an ever closer involvement with the Church of England, Stephen was invited to study for the priesthood, and after 2 years was ordained in 1987 as Team Curate at Chell in Stoke on Trent. Two years later he took on the role of Team Vicar at Chell Heath, where he remained for 5 years.
In 1994, Stephen returned to Wolverhampton as Vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Heath Town. While there, his daughter became seriously ill, eventually having a bone marrow transplant, and Chris died of cancer. Stephen at this stage took almost a year out and lived in a Vicarage in Liverpool, ‘in the shadow of Bill Shankley’s statue at Anfield’.

It was during this period that Stephen met and married his second wife Gill, whom he describes as a redhead Scouser. In 2001 he returned to full time work as team vicar in Hemel Hempstead with responsibility for 2 churches. He sees his achievement there as helping these churches to embrace change necessitated by falling congregations, and introducing them to contemporary church music! He will clearly be missed there judging from the number of those parishioners present at his induction.

This is Stephen’s first rural experience and he has taken to the village like a duck to water. He and Gill have been overwhelmed with the welcome given them. Clearly running four parishes will mean some streamlining in the services, the ministering and the administration, but Stephen’s intention is not to let the practical workings of the four parishes get in the way of providing, delivering and enabling good quality, accessible and relevant worship across all four churches.

Stephen is enthusiastic and fully committed to his work. He has an open mind to change but will keep the church identifiably Anglican. He will question what is it we are inviting people to, and work to improve the ‘church’ experience. His message is
“God loves you. Come along for faith, fellowship and fun”.
Geoff Cooke

The Parish Church of Saint Luke, Kislingbury
Unfortunately, with the creation of the new Benefice, our Sunday service times at Kislingbury have been altered to 11.15 am and our present organist is unable to continue. We therefore need another organist. It need not be every Sunday, we would just be pleased to accept anyone who could give us a small amount of their time and talent! Please contact me on telephone number 01604 830421.
Judith Tonge (Miss) Secretary, St Luke’s Parochial Church Council.

Friends of St Michael & All Angels Church
A very happy time was had at the church on Saturday evening, 25th February when the Northampton Amateur Operatic Group came and gave us a musical evening. It was bitterly cold and dark outside, but inside the church all was light and conviviality. It really is good that these singers are prepared to come all this way to give us pleasure and to help us in raising funds for the upkeep of this beautiful old building. We had our biggest audience yet, so that was good, and it was also most pleasing to see that Gill and Stephen French came to join us, they must really be having such a busy time trying to settle in to their four parishes; at least on this occasion they only had to 'pop next door' in order to join in.

Our next function, which will be over by the time this edition of LINK is published, will be our Race Night and Quiz on 24th March; more about this next time when we shall be able to say how it went. It's always a jolly and profitable evening.

After that comes our Annual General meeting to be held at 8.00pm on 12th April at the Sunday School. You really should come to that to enjoy the cut and thrust of dynamic discussion which goes on at it (as at most AGMs)!

Following this will be the Fish and Chip Supper and Quiz on Friday 14th July at the Community Centre. This is always a good evening with the Fish and Chips hot from the mobile chippy. The winners of the last year's Quiz (Dave Hyde and John Chapman, no doubt nobly supported) have agreed to produce and host this year's quiz so do come along and compete in their brain twisting questions– there's a prize for the winners.
Bob Peel, Chairman

Elvis night, Saturday 30 September
A ‘not to be missed date’ for the diary
Ladies aaaand genlmen, ‘Elvis will be in the building on Saturday night 30 September’– the building in question being the Bugbrooke Community Centre. Tickets will be available from the 1st July, so please get ready to book early to avoid disappointment– and watch this space for further information nearer the big date.
Alec Shaw

Bugbrooke St Michael and All Angels Church Fête
Saturday, 24th June at 1.00pm
This year the church fete will take place on Saturday 24th June, starting at 1.00pm. There will be the usual spectacular array of stalls, including face painting, sands of time, marble madness, coconut shy, tombola, splat the rat and ping pong pots for your entertainment. Bargain stalls selling garden produce, bric-a-brac, clothes, toys, and many other items essential for your good health and well being, will also be on display.
Eats and drinks will be available from the barbeque, ice cream, drinks and toffee apple stalls, and for our visitors with perhaps a little more time to savour the atmosphere of the occasion, excellent fare will be available from the refreshments area–under shelter from the blazing sun, of course!
The duck race will take place at around four o’clock and will be followed by the childrens’ races, rounding off the afternoon’s entertainment.

All this, to a background of music provided throughout the afternoon by the Bugbrooke Community Youth Orchestra and entertainment by Simon’s Disco, will be presented for your enjoyment.
Works of art from the Bugbrooke Art Group will be exhibited in the quiet solitude of the church building, providing a spell of welcome relief from the feverish activity on the fête field.
Look forward to seeing you on Saturday 24th June at 1.0 pm.
Alec Shaw
 
Mothers’ Union
On the afternoon of January 12th, the M.U. held a meeting in the Sunday School. The speaker being Kath Minett, the subject “Women of the New Testament”. The woman Kath had chosen to talk about was the woman who touched the hem of Christ’s garment in prayer. Kath told us of the impression this woman had made on her life, how she thought of her each time she (Kath) put her hands together in prayer, as if touching Christ’s garment. Lindsay took the service, hymns were sung and prayers said for our sister groups world-wide.
The evening of January 26th, 13 members enjoyed a social evening and meal at the Wharf.
Saturday, February 4th, the M.U. held its annual Jumble Sale, which raised £191.37 for Special Relief.
The afternoon of February 9th, a meeting entitled “Memories of Grandparents” was held in the Sunday School. 14 members attended, Lindsay took the service. Most of us told of the happy memories their grandparents had left them with, mostly of love and affection. Some of us had wonderful photos, which were passed around.

Wednesday evening February 22nd, Gill French, our new Vicar’s wife, spoke to us about “Foster-carers”. Gill told us that at the age of 24 years, being a mother of a small daughter living in a large house she decided to become a “Foster mother” to teenagers! Of course this did not happen overnight. After much training and many pitfalls in such a bold step, this is what she became. Gill told us of the many hazards and joys she encountered. A most interesting and enjoyable evening. Lindsay took the service, hymns were sung, prayers for our sister groups world-wide were said. Lots of questions were asked and answered.

Friday March 3rd, Women’s World Day of Prayer was held in Bugbrooke Church, subject South Africa. This was an open service, 65 attended. The service called “Sign of the Times” was prepared by Christian women of South Africa and taken by Maureen Hale who welcomed our brothers and sisters world-wide. Branches came from Harpole, Weedon, Heyford, Flore and Kislingbury to participate in the prayers of thanksgiving, confession and praise, readings were taken from the Bible. Hymns were sung, Derek Whittington played the organ. A collection was taken for World Wide Day of Prayer organisation, which is inter denominational. A delicious tea was prepared by Bugbrooke and Rothersthorpe M.U. This was a service of praise and renewed hope and joy. Our desire to stand firm in our faith, pouring out the gifts God has given us into our communities.
Pat Archer

Christian Aid
"You add–we multiply". Christian Aid Week May 14–20th 2006
Did you know that, according to recent research, many people in Britain spend more per week on entertainment (in all its forms) than on food? Whilst, in the developing world, a child dies every 3 seconds of malnutrition or other prevent able conditions. Can you afford to put the cost of a cinema ticket (£5) in the Christian Aid envelope this year? The most common question many people seem to ask is "How do I know my money actually gets there?" Christian Aid spends 12–15% on education and administration (as with many efficient organisations) and the money is distributed via Christian Aid partners in the developing world–not through corrupt governments– ! So 85% of the money you put in the red envelope will go to help the poorest of the poor.

We have just been working in tsunami areas of Sri Lanka for the winter and have seen how a little can go a long way in these countries, so please be generous this Christian Aid Week.
"You add–we multiply"
Sue Pace (local Christian Aid Organiser).
 
Jesus Fellowship, Bugbrooke Chapel
Easter is a time of celebration for Christians of all denominations across the whole world. The Jesus Fellowship is no exception, and once again at Cornhill in the Golden Marquee, we will be holding our annual celebration entitled the “Alive Weekend” (14th–17th April). Easter is the time when the death and the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ is remembered, and we celebrate the fact that “Jesus is Alive”, and just like he promised, he sends the Holy Spirit so that we too can be alive with Jesus. Our celebrations are always full of life, and many people experience both for the first time, and again, the inflowing life of the Holy Spirit. So how about taking a walk or a drive to Cornhill, and step inside the marquee and experience for yourself the promise of the Holy Spirit. We guarantee you will feel life!

If you can’t make it at Easter, there is a second opportunity at the end of May (26th – 29th) when we have our second marquee event called the “Power Festival”.  

Or if you prefer something more sedate, you can join us at the Chapel on Saturday 8th April for tea at 5.15pm, and the evening event at 6.30pm.

We have our regular Sunday morning services at 11am, to which all are welcome. These are on 2nd, 9th and 22nd and 30th April, 7th and 21st May. On Sunday 14th May the morning meeting is at the Jesus Centre, Abington Square, Northampton. Every Sunday evening there is an evening meeting at the Jesus Centre at 6.50pm, which is particularly suitable for first time visitors.

We continue to receive requests for prayer for people in need, especially for healing, so please let us know and we will make sure that every request is mentioned in our prayers. These can be confidential if required. Recently one man who has been severely disabled by a stroke was prayed for, and found immediate healing so that he could walk without a stick, and lift his right arm which he had been unable to do for 18 months. Praise God that he hears our prayers!
John Thomason
Contacts:
John & Avril Thomason 01327 340612; mobile 07966 341221
Ed & Judith Hunt. 01604 830004, 45, High Street, Bugbrooke.
 
Bugbrooke St Michael’s Football Club
As the season reaches its last two months it is possible to see the emerging fortunes of the teams. The first XI has a chance of finishing in the top 6 if they achieve some consistency. They have had some excellent results at times but have dropped points when expected to beat lower teams. The Reserves have done well and are currently likely to reach the Lower Junior Cup semi-finals. However they have fallen behind with their league fixtures and are likely to have two games a week at the end of the season. This might make it difficult for them to catch up the league leaders. If they can win their outstanding games they could possibly win their league.

The ‘A’ and ‘B’ sides are fighting for mid-table positions in the Central Combination. All senior sides have good young players in them that have come through the youth teams. It is good to see local players in the teams. The experience they have gained should be showing benefits soon.

The youth teams are always getting good experience of playing and there are some very good young players. Some have already been noted by the Cobblers and attend their youth scheme. Good luck to those showing such promise. A dedication to training will be a benefit if they want to progress. This season the under 12s are doing particularly well and other age groups managing to hold a mid-table position.

Off the pitch progress on new changing rooms and a revamped social area is making steady progress. Frosty weather in December and January has slowed progress for builders Kevin Gardner and his gang but it is expected to speed up as weather improves. A finish in July is expected in preparation for the new season. Once it is over and full concentration can be put on footballing matters everyone will be looking for success by the senior teams. The facilities provided are expected to be among the best in Northamptonshire.
John Curtis

Bugbrooke Cricket Club
John Mundy: Chairman & Treasurer 830725 (H, B & FAX) 07850–084535 (M)
Lesley Bird: Secretary 832630 (H)
Graham Trevitt: Saturday 1st X1 Captain 01327-843331 (H)
Wayne Chalmers: Saturday 2nd X1 Captain 07834-275915
Chris Chapman: Sunday Captain 01327-861324 (H) 07949-462361 (M)

Indoor nets are continuing to be held at the County Ground every Thursday 9pm to 10pm for Seniors until April 13th. Indoor nets for junior age groups under 11 to under 15 inclusive will be held at Campion School Sports Hall every Wednesday 5.30pm to 6.30pm until 12th April. For both nets get in touch with Roger Stone (842961) or just turn up on the day.

A touring side is going to Kent where 3 matches have been arranged over the Easter weekend on 15th, 16th & 17th April. For further details get in touch with Ian Street (709890) or Chris Chapman. Friendly Sat & Sun matches start the following weekend with League Matches from Sat 29th April. League Rules have tightened up this year where every Senior & Junior player has to hand in a signed form to the Secretary before playing, get in touch with Lesley if you wish to join the Club.

We will be running 2 Saturday league teams as well as Sundays, Junior & Midweek sides so get in touch with any of the above officers or myself if you wish to join the Club at its picturesque ground by the brook. Have a look at our website www.bugbrookecc.co.uk and www.bugbrooke.play-cricket.com for further information & chat on our Message Board.
Peter White (830451)  

Bakers Arms Golf Society
Cherwell Edge Golf Club (Banbury)
Well it’s that time again to get those clubs out and dust them down. The golfing season kicked off with the usual start, SNOW! Yes that’s right snow, still the full fry up was a warm and filling welcome. However by Tee off time the snow had stopped and the balls started to fly. The members were all worried at this time as we have a new member going by the name of Tiger Barnes, it will be interesting to see if he can live up to the name.

Unfortunately due to the weather we had to play off of 18 temporary Greens and Tees and this was not well received by some of the members, but at the end of the day it’s the same for everyone (so those prima donna members in question stop your moaning!). However by the time we reached the 19th hole a good day had been enjoyed by all.

The winners on the day were Denise Turvey on 47 points overall. The Division 1 winner was Mark Dunkley with 40 points and the Division 2 winner was David (Did) East on 47 points. Well done to them and to all those who turned up. See you next time at Abbey Hill on the 22nd April. Look out for the poster down the Bakers so you can get your name down.

P.S. The society would like to congratulate Claire and Kelly on the birth of their son George. Well done.
Darren (Daz) Smart (Former Captain and Society Event Organiser)

Nature Notes
Spring is in the air and the birds and animals are responding by busying themselves with producing the next generation. The birds will certainly appreciate being helped to feed their young by a continuation of food on bird tables and feeding boxes. It is also possible to help by ensuring bird boxes of a variety of types are sited in the garden and some shrubs are provided to give nesting places and shelter from predators. Unless you are a cat lover it is helpful to keep the garden free of cats and magpies. The predators like Sparrow hawks are likely to be happy in the fields once there is a plentiful amount of rabbits and birds to feed on.
This is also the time to watch trees come into bud. There is a wide range of native trees developing in the Millennium Green so it is possible to admire their variations. Here is a poem borrowed from Eric Roberts’ Chronicle and Echo item that might prove a guide:

On Chestnut buds you’ll stick;
Buds of Beech are sharp and prick;
Buds of Ash are always put
in tidy pairs as black as soot.
In a jumble Oak buds grow,
A most untidy twig they show.
Reddish brown are buds of Plane;
Bud of Sycamore shows green,
A big one at the top is seen
But small down the twig they grow.
Lime buds ruby red will glow;
Poplar buds in a single line
Down the twig in crimson shine.
Thus may all the trees be known
In Winter by their buds alone.

All the types mentioned can be seen in the Millennium Green plus Alder, Birch, Maple, Walnut, Whitebeam, Crab Apple, Hawthorn and Willow.
John Curtis

Bugbrooke Strollers
The Strollers have continued their programme of walks throughout the winter with about 30 people roaming about each Thursday morning. They are now looking forward to the Spring and the programme of walks includes visits to Greens Norton, Salcey Forest, Gayton, Everdon, Farthingstone and Harpole. Newcomers are always welcome on these social rambles through the country side. If you want more information please ring 830317.
John Curtis

Bugbrooke Guides  
At this year’s Thinking Day service on February 22nd, awards for service to Guiding were presented to:
Helen Bestwick 1st Bugbrooke Guides 30 years
Judy Ryan 1st Bugbrooke Brownies 10 years
Emily Moorhouse 1st Bugbrooke Brownies   5 years
Rachel Perkin 1st Bugbrooke Rainbows 5 years
Jane Evans 1st Bugbrooke Guides 5 years
Between them, this equals fifty five years of dedication to Guiding, (with a majority of these years served in Bugbrooke).
However, there are many other ladies who are between ‘award recognition’ years of service. The village has two Rainbow units, two Brownie units; one Guide unit and one Ranger unit, which all have their volunteer leaders including young leaders who are aged between 14 and 18. A total of 21 volunteer leaders working for Guiding in our village who have provided numerous and excellent opportunities for many girls over the years.
I think you will agree, to have given thirty years to this cause is an amazing feat, so well done Helen. I think, I will speak for all the girls whose lives you have enhanced when I say a big thank you.
Jane Evans 01604 832710

2nd Bugbrooke Brownies
After welcoming the new brownies into our pack at the beginning of this term we have started a jam-packed program.
We tried Haggis on Burns night, made valentines crafts, as well as going on a trip to Campion school to play ‘Bench ball’ which was a highly exhausting meeting!
For Thinking Day this year we had a service along with other units from the Division in Flore Church, where our district sang Edelweiss representing Guiding in Europe.
We gave the Brownies a choice this term of having a meeting outside of the Sunday School rooms and swimming was the clear favourite. Our last meeting before Easter will be a party where we will be having an Easter bonnet parade.
Future events: Both 1st and 2nd Bugbrooke Brownies are planning a holiday to Blackpool in August for five days with 24 girls.
Contact number for Brownies: Maria Claridge 01604 830934

Bugbrooke & Harpole Scout Group
Cubs are having an interesting Spring term. They made some colourful creations to celebrate the Chinese New Year on January 29th. They've made pancakes, and are now preparing for 'Nailer 2006' which is the International European Camp taking place at Towcester Racecourse at the end of July to commemorate 99 years of scouting. Cubs will be going to the camp with Braunston Cubs so that they can share each other's equipment.
 They've made a kit list, decided what food they want, and practised 'backwards cooking'. They filled a foil envelope with sausages or burgers which they cooked themselves in the embers of an open fire, and ate them in a bun. This was followed by bananas cooked with chocolate buttons–delicious! Future plans include a sleepover at the Hut soon.

14 Scouts enjoyed a residential weekend in log cabins at the Frontier Adventure Centre run by the Barnabus charity at Wellingborough in February. Two Duke of Edinburgh Award students and Sarah, our new Scout Leader were part of the group. They hiked around a 5 mile course taking in a community adventure facility and a full-size assault course. On the Saturday evening they cooked round a roaring camp fire. On Sunday Scouts abseiled down a 40 foot tower and later cooked their own midday meal–roast chicken with all the trimmings. They washed up and cleared everything away afterwards.

Scouts are camping at Nailer 2006 with Braunston Scouts. The camp lasts a week and features 99 different activities to mark the 99 years since Lord Badon Powell began the scouting movement in 1907. Activities include abseiling, archery, sailing ... the list goes on.

In the weekly meetings the Scouts have been pancake making, and using a methylated spirits burner to practise making bacon and egg sandwiches which they 'did for real' on their hike at the adventure centre. Our Scouts have good appetites!

Scouts have been running for two years this April, and the original small group of 10 year olds are now the more mature ones, as younger members move up from Cubs. They have the opportunity to work for various badges at different levels according to age and experience, individually and as a pack. There are a great many badges to choose from, and boys are encouraged to do their own badges, e.g. climbing, nature watching, karate, hobbies etc. One boy has been skiing on holiday and is taking his skiing badge. Others are going for the Adventure 2 Challenge badge.

The Scout programme includes a St. Georges Day celebration at Daventry, and 5-a-side football on 18th March, competing against other teams in the Daventry district. A nationwide Renewal of Promise overnight event is open to all Scouts in the summer. The idea is that everyone says their Scout Promise as the sun rises – they will need to take their alarm clocks!

Just to remind you, Beaver Scouts (aged 6-8 years) meet on Thursdays at 4:30–5:30 pm. Cubs (aged 8–10½ years), meet on Mondays 6–7:30 pm, and Scouts (aged 10½–14 years), meet on Wednesdays 7:15–9 pm, all in term time at the Scout Hut by the Rugby Club, behind the Community Centre. Do visit our website for more information at www.bahscouts.co.uk. If there is anyone who would like to regularly update our website we would love to hear from you!
Margaret Raymond, Secretary (830532)

Bugbrooke and District Flower Society
At our February meeting, a cheque for £250 was presented to Mrs. Jenny Massingham for the Air Ambulance–our charity for last year. Mrs. Massingham accepted the cheque with thanks and told us a little about the service, including the fact that it costs £100,000 a month to run. Sue Dedman was our demonstrator, and called her demonstration “Springtime”. Her ideas were certainly innovative, and some of them will no doubt be copied by members for their own homes. What about 12 red roses around a glass vase instead of in it–not as silly as it sounds, and the impact was stunning.

Our next meeting is on 27th March at the Sunday School, when the demonstrator will be Julie Woods with the title “Floral Illuminations”, followed in April by Jo Bromich, doing “Green Fingers”.

Then, on Sunday 7th May, at Campion School, it’s the ever popular plant sale. Members are already sowing, potting and planting. This sale is extremely popular, owing to the quality, prices and diversity of the plants and is our main fund raiser of the year. Do put the date in your diaries! Later that month, on the 22nd, our demonstrator will be Gill Shanks, doing “Something Special”.
V. Chambers  

Bugbrooke Art Group
Our annual art exhibition will be held on April 29th, 30th and May 1st. Our group of artists manage to produce an excellent selection of pictures. Hand made cards will be on sale, We provide homemade cakes, coffee and tea for a small fee.

Is there anyone else out there interested in art? We work in a very friendly, relaxed atmosphere, and welcome any newcomers of any age to the group.
For further information contact–
Barbara Clarke on 831740.

British Legion Women’s Section
A meeting was held February 18th, business included a discussion about what we could do for our anniversary. A competition, the nicest spoon, and a game of bingo followed.
A. Boswell

Bugbrooke History Group
The History Group is continuing to work on the idea of producing a pictorial history of Bugbrooke during the 20th century. Many people have lent photos of family or village events during the past 20 years and we are borrowing these for about a week to get them onto CD disc for presentation to a printer. This work is kindly being undertaken by Tony Pace. If you have any photos you feel might add an interesting aspect to the book please contact John Curtis on 830317. The photos do not need to be all that old. Remember, history starts from yesterday.

There are a series of talks planned for the rest of the year. These have been arranged by Dave Hewitt and began on Wednesday 8th March when Steve Hollowell talked about Northamptonshire enclosures. On Wednesday 14th June, Steve Parish will talk about the English Civil War on the eve of the Battle of Naseby whilst on Wednesday 13th September, Derek Smeather will relate the history of Northamptonshire’s early postal service.

Everyone is welcome to attend these talks. They are free with a donation requested towards the provision of refreshments.
John Curtis

Bugbrooke Now and Then

A view down Camp-Hill 80 years ago.


Historic photo by kind permission of the Bugbrooke History Group