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(Issue 145), August 2007

Editor: Tony Pace

This is one of those rare occasions when it falls to me to edit Link because Paul is away enjoying his holidays. By the time you read this (three weeks after I write it) many of you will be ready for your holidays. I hope you all have a great time, wherever you are going, and that you have better weather than we have had so far through this damp summer – record breaking though not in quite the way we thought!

This unusual weather leads to more debate about global warming – Is it or isn’t it happening? And if it is happening, are we to blame for it? As I write, the multi-continental “Live Earth” concerts, telling us we must all save the Earth by using less, have just finished and the Silverstone F1 race, not really about fuel efficiency, is about to start. Both attract equal headlines; we do live in a strange world! For myself, I take the view that we all have a duty to care for our world and pass it on to future generations in good condition. I am not sure we are doing very well at this.

Of course one of the attractions of Silverstone is that, at last, we have an English hero. But let us not forget we also have a Bugbrooke heroine. Hollie Avil is European Triathlon Champion and you can read all about her remarkable achievements through the Bugbrooke Link web site

The web site www.bugbrookelink.co.uk, continues to grow in popularity month by month with 600 visits in June. We will publicise all coming village events on the web site so do let us know of them. Also the offer is still open for all village organisations to take an area on the website to publicise their activities, as an increasing number are already doing.

The deadline for articles for the next issue is Monday, 3 September. If possible we would like you to submit articles by e-mail and our new e-mail address is

You may also post articles through the door of our editor, Paul Cockcroft or to any member of the Link management committee.

Parish Council

Since my last report we have had elections at both District and Parish level. Previously we had two District Councillors covering Bugbrooke and Gayton but we have had a change of boundaries which meant we now have two Councillors covering Bugbrooke and Nether Heyford. For the election there were four candidates seeking election for the two positions. Those elected were John Curtis from Bugbrooke and Graham Smith from Nether Heyford who will serve for four years. This meant unfortunately that David Harries who previously represented Bugbrooke was not re-elected. David has served Bugbrooke very successfully in the past achieving a great deal for the village and it is a great pity that he no longer represents us.

After more than 20 years as a member of the council Dr Dutta decided not to seek re-election and 14 candidates stood for the election so all were elected unopposed. My fellow councillors and I would like to thank Dr Dutta for his many years of contributions on a wide range of matters. Dr Shribman continued the medical theme by seeking election and the final place on the Council has been filled by John Scoble and I welcome both of our new members to the Council.

There has been a spate of vandalism around the village involving the street lights. One or more people have been climbing lamp posts and removing the sensor from the lamp top which renders the light inoperative. This has meant we have had to replace these sensors at some cost as well as having the poles painted near the top with anti-climb paint. If anybody has any information about who might be responsible for this vandalism I would encourage them to contact the Police direct or phone the Parish Office. This vandalism is not only costly but makes the village unsafe during the hours of darkness and needs to be stopped.

Phil Bignell – Chairman

Information on the Parish Council, and minutes of Parish Council meetings, are available to read at www.bugbrookelink.co.uk/parishcouncil.

Peace of Mind While You’re Away on Holiday

Everyone needs a holiday some time. And however much we like our homes, there is nothing like a change of scenery.

But we all want to come home and find everything as we left it. Almost half of all burglaries happen when a flat or house is empty. By following these tips, you can help to make your home more secure while you are away. Tick off the items before you go.

Before you go:–

· Make your home look like someone is living in it. Don’t close your curtains – in daytime this shows the house is empty. Use automatic timer-switches to turn your lights on when it goes dark.

· Cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries.

· Avoid discussing holiday plans where strangers may hear details of your absence from home.

· Cut the lawn before you go and trim back any plants that burglars could hide behind.

· Uncollected mail is a sign that you are away. The Royal Mail’s ‘Keepsafe’ service will keep your mail for up to two months while you are away.

· Consider leaving important documents and valuable items with other family members or a bank, or lock them in a safe.

· Do not put your home address on your luggage when you are travelling to your holiday destination.

· If you normally leave valuable pedal cycles or similar items in your shed, consider putting them in the house – out of sight.

· Finally, make sure that you’ve locked all outside doors and windows and, if you have a burglar alarm, make sure it is set.

Don’t forget your passport and tickets!

Help from your neighbours

It’s a good idea to get help from your neighbours. You could ask them to collect post, open and close the curtains, mow the lawn. They could even occasionally park their car on your driveway, or put your wheelie bin out. Anything to make the place look lived in.

Let your neighbour know when you will be away and, if you can, give them details so that they can contact you, or someone who can act on your behalf in an emergency.

Is there a Neighbourhood Watch where you live? Visit www.northants.police.uk to learn more or call 08453 700 700 and ask to speak to the Community Watch Liaison Officer.

On behalf of Northamptonshire Police, have a great holiday .

See all of the previous advice from the Police at www.bugbrookelink.co.uk/police.

Nature Notes

It is often said that the weather has a habit of leveling itself out. Following the hot summer of last year and the exceptionally dry Spring of this year, it will be no surprise to many people that we have suffered the wettest June on record this year. Whilst we have the option to stay inside, wildlife has to cope with whatever conditions come along. This accounts for the variable survival rates from year to year, especially when we have cold winters. Our ability to help out with food can help birds and animals survive such variable situations.

Colin Ashmore of Cornhill told me of an unusual situation whilst he was on holiday. He came back to discover his windows covered in slime and dirt with bird mess on the sills. He thought it must have been blue tits fighting their reflection in the glass but was woken at 4.00am to find two large crows or rooks attacking the glass. They were trying to repel invaders that they saw in the reflection!

A local development with the potential to impact on the countryside is currently being built near the Old Crown. Mr Adams is building a new marina on the side of the canal for about 100 boats. This will create a large body of water on a quiet stretch of the canal and could provide an inviting location for moorhens, coots and other waterfowl. Screening alongside the canal has been suggested in the plans and this could provide excellent cover for such birds. It has also been suggested that the new bank created by the excavation would be a suitable site for the creation of a wildflower habitat as the plants will be able to develop unhindered by agricultural practices.

There seem to be a lot more foxes about this year judging by the number run over on the roads. This could be a result of the banning of foxhunting but should serve as a warning to those keeping chickens or pets. They are frequently seen in gardens around the village, especially those open to fields. Some people are even enjoying the sight of them by putting out food in the evening. Someone has even mentioned badgers in the garden although I would personally deter them because of the damage they do to lawns and flowerbeds. Once a badger decides to come through a fence or hedge it is very difficult to dissuade them, so caution is recommended.

We must be doing something to make wildlife feel at home because some residents are reporting being able to persuade robins and blackbirds to feed in the house. Keep up the good work!

J Curtis

What Price Truth?

Many years ago (in the late 60's), at a football match in the north of England, an incident occurred that gained

 much media coverage. Part way through the game a dart was thrown at the goal keeper, who in turn, had to be escorted from the pitch. Yes, an incident well worth covering, BUT the following Saturday there were a number of copy-cat incidents, as darts were thrown not only at players, but within the crowds.

It has to be argued that the idea of throwing darts was placed into people's minds by the explicit nature of the reporting accompanied by graphic pictures of the goal keeper. Where do we draw the line between the need and the right to know and overly influencing reactions and fuelling prejudice? Would it not have been as effective to report that a small missile had been thrown, rather than the full details? Yes, the next week missiles would have still been thrown, but rather than just darts the missiles would have ranged from toilet rolls to money! Perhaps the latter would have been thrown to help the referee buy a new pair of glasses!

I believe those who feed our seemingly insatiable appetite for news should think more than twice about how much information is reported for no-one can give a purely objective view of an incident. It is impossible to remain detached from the event being reported – so the question is posed – What price truth?

However, responsible reporting not only applies to specific incidents but also to wider issues ranging from politics, both national and local, to major wars and local upsets. Yes, it was right that Brian Hanrahan was restricted in his reporting of how many planes left an aircraft carrier in the Falklands conflict – but he was able to report with dramatic effect on this by saying "I have counted them all out and I counted them all safely back". Great reporting, with a good sound response to the situation in hand.

Now, if that is true and right for the big event and issue, is it not also right for the local event and issue. In fact, for the local situation, it is of vital importance, as it can have either a good or detrimental long term effect. If a national or local reporter was seen to be openly racist it would cause an outcry, to say the least, but when a reporter is "a realist" it goes unchallenged. Again, reporters should balance ‘the need to know’ scenario, with any long term implications. Too much information can, quite seriously, hold the future stability and outlook of not only an individual but a whole community and area in its hands.

Thankfully the vast majority of reporters do take their job seriously and responsibly, but that needs to be across the board. Whether the story is local, national or worldwide, big or small, it is by and large dealing with human lives and the written word can cut as deep as any knife.

Worth a thought or two I’m sure!

Grace and Peace

Stephen French, Rector of Bugbrooke, Harpole, Kislingbury and Rothersthorpe

Bugbrooke History Society

The next open meeting of the group will be on Thursday, 13th September at 7.30pm in the Community Centre. There will be a talk by Bert Manton on past rural life under the title “Rural Bygones” with a quiz to follow.

On the eve of the anniversary of the Battle of Naseby on 14 June, six brave souls met in atrocious weather to have a tour of the battlefield with Stephen Parrish. With umbrellas up we went to the memorial site and had the plan of the action explained to us. Stephen gallantly went in his Cavaliers outfit and even sang some of the hymns that the Roundheads sang as they went into battle. Those who stayed at home probably made a sensible decision but missed a memorable evening, particularly in the Fitzgerald Arms after the event.

Work on the pictorial history (1900–1960) is now well progressed to the extent that printers are being consulted with a view to getting editions ready for November. It is hoped the cost will be kept to £10 and the book will make a very interesting insight into the life of the village during that period. An initial run of 200 copies will be made so you need to be ready when it appears in local shops.

One thing we have found missing is a full view of the old Rectory from the park. If anyone has such a picture, we would like to copy it for the book. If you can help, please ring Pat Kent on 830518.

J Curtis  www.bugbrookelink.co.uk/history

How the Church Raises Money

We are lucky to have a beautiful church and churchyard and, in different ways, it benefits us all, whether we attend or not. But if it is to survive, it has to be paid for and we can all contribute in different ways.

The regular church goers give to the general running costs of the church which includes the “Parish Share” which goes to the diocese. Many members also hold fundraising events such as concerts, the fete, car-boot sales, ploughman’s lunches and sponsored bike rides. The Historic Churches Trust Bike Ride this year is on Saturday, September 8. If anyone would like to joins us for a ride round some of the local churches, please contact Philippa Betts (832036).

The Friends of St Michael’s & All Angels Church is a secular charity which raises money for the upkeep of the fabric of our beautiful historic church. The most recent contribution is to pay for some repairs to the roof. It runs several fund raising events each year.

The wonderful band of volunteer mowers in the churchyard save us a lot of money by giving their time and energy. But we are all getting older and would welcome more help so if you can find some time, please contact me.

This August there will be the annual house-to-house collection for the churchyard fund and upkeep of the church. You can all help by responding generously to the collectors who will be coming to your door.

Sue Pace (832516)

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