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Page 1 2 3 4 5Bugbrooke Link Magazine(Issue
147), December 2007 Editor Paul Cockcroft Welcome to
the Christmas issue of the village magazine.
I hope you like the colour cover picture as much as I do, and that
you enjoy the puzzles and quizzes. Introducing colour to this extent in
the magazine is something new and we hope to be able to repeat it in
future. We have received many requests for
new adverts and we have done our best to accommodate as many as we
sensibly can, by increasing the number of pages for adverts, but also
increasing the amount of other contributions to maintain a 50 / 50 split.
Apologies to those of you who have not managed to get into the magazine
this time and thank you for your interest in advertising and supporting
the magazine. We welcome Donna Bowater to our
committee. She will help us with magazine production and website
management as well as by injecting ideas and articles as we move forward
with changes to the way we present LINK to Bugbrooke. The website has been successful
over the first year of life and we have made the decision to continue this
service to the village which also allows people all over the world to get
a taste of Bugbrooke. By way of response, John and Jenny
Unwin who now live in France have supplied a delicious article about food
and culture in that country over the Christmas period Returning to home, there are
details of religious services and festive events in the village, along
with updates from clubs in the village and news of activities that you
could get involved in. From all on the LINK committee, we wish you a happy
Christmas and a peaceful New Year. The Bugbrooke LINK
website can be found at www.bugbrookelink.co.uk
and as well as reading the current and expanding number of past copies of
the magazine online, there is wide range of information and links to other
organisations and websites. You can contribute to
the magazine by posting articles through my door or preferably by
submitting copy by e-mail to the e-mail address The
deadline for articles and advert changes for the February issue is Monday
7 January 2008. Website
to Continue The
decision was taken at the November LINK Committee meeting, to continue
with the Bugbrooke LINK Website after the initial trial period ends in
February. The first year has been very successful, and it is proving to be
more and more an asset to the village. Our intention over the next year is
to invest in more up-to-date software, which will allow maintenance by
more than one person, and to start taking advertisements to provide a
catalogue of local businesses and services for your information and use. As well as trying to keep the home
page abreast of current news and events, we are trying to build up a
complete database of the village and its activities. We can only do this
with your help, so do let us know of anything happening via the feedback
page. Geoff Cooke
www.bugbrookelink.co.uk Bike For Christmas? There are 3 bikes for sale on Bug-bay at the moment as
well as several other items. Find them at www.bugbrookelink.co.uk/bug-bay,
your free village on line small ad facility. Christmas
Crime Prevention · Put internal lamps on timer switches to come on when it gets dark, and keep
your curtains closed · Don't display your Christmas gifts under the Christmas tree in full view of
passers-by · Keep front and back doors locked at all times, even when you are home · Find somewhere safe to keep your house and car keys at home. Make sure that
they cannot be seen from outside · Always guard your PIN when using cash machines · Don’t hang your handbag on pushchairs or shopping
trolleys · Don’t leave shopping or items on display in your car
when you park · Remove your satellite navigation systems from your car
when parking · Don’t advertise your cash, mobile or MP3 player to
thieves. · When recycling empty boxes, fold the card inside out so
that you don’t advertise your new gifts If you are not
in a Neighbourhood Watch, call 08453 700 700 to set one up. South
Northants Homes Tenants of
council houses voted in favour (57%) of a transfer of housing to the above
organisation in September 2007. South Northants Homes will be working in
conjunction with Aragon Homes from April 2008 when they will take over the
running and maintenance of former council houses. They are a non-profit making
social landlord and a charity. They provide housing for those in need and
applications will be considered in the same way as for council housing.
The benefits of changing to a social housing landlord are that they can
claim more money from the Government for improvements and repairs, and the
building of new houses. Whereas South Northants Council could only retain
25% of the sale of a council house, South Northants Homes will be able to
retain all of it. They will therefore be in a better position to make
improvements to existing housing stock. They have negotiated an agreement
with South Northants Council for the five years from April 2008 that will
see £46 million spent on improvements. This will include 1,700 new
kitchens, 1,150 new bathrooms, improved communal areas in sheltered
schemes, bed sits converted to one bed flats, £400,000 per year for aids
and adaptations for the less mobile, £70,000 on environmental work and £1million
for off-road parking. In addition they will provide a
handyman service, gardening and decorating service, better grass cutting,
free telephone for reporting repair requirements, repairs appointment
service, faster response time, Tenancy Support Officer and Community
Development Officers. The association claims rents will
remain the same and Housing Benefit will not be affected. There will be a
right to succession and there will be no tenancy change without agreement. We won’t get everything in
Bugbrooke all at once! There are 70 parishes in South Northants and this
is a five year plan. Nevertheless, tenants in former council houses should
soon be able to look forward to significant investment in their property. John Curtis Affordable housing for
Bugbrooke Earlier in
the year Bugbrooke Parish Council conducted a village survey. One aspect
of the survey looked at housing provision and of those who responded, 65%
considered there was a need for affordable housing. South Northamptonshire
Council now want to take this a stage further and carry out a detailed
housing needs survey which will more clearly identify the specific housing
need, including whether an affordable housing development is required. The survey will cover two areas.
Firstly, general views from residents about a small affordable housing
development in Bugbrooke, and secondly the actual housing need within the
village. The survey form will be delivered to each household in the New
Year and should be returned, in the pre-paid envelope provided, to South
Northamptonshire Council, who will undertake the analysis of the results.
Please be assured that all replies are confidential. The analysis of the survey will
find out who: · needs to move in the next 5 years · wants to live in Bugbrooke · has a strong local connection to the village. Every form
counts, so please take the time to complete the survey. It’s a chance for you to have your say, even if you
don’t have a need for housing yourself, you may know family members or
local people who may have a need. If the results indicate a housing need,
this will help to identify the appropriate number and type of housing for
people with local connections to the village and a suitable area of land. In the meantime, if you would like
any further information please contact Laura Welch, Strategic Housing
Officer at the Council, on 01327 322372 or email Rural
Reach….supporting village groups Did you know
SNVB, in partnership with Daventry Volunteer Centre, now offers help and
support to voluntary groups across South Northamptonshire and Daventry
districts? We advise new
and existing voluntary groups. We help
village groups to become established. We can offer
funding advice and guidance. We help
recruit new volunteers and offer training and advice. We can help
with constitutional matters and volunteering management. We are able
to provide IT information and expertise. We are able to put you in touch with
other groups having the same interests. We can signpost you to countywide
and national organisations which may help you. We can connect you to the Forum on
our website, advertise your activities and volunteering needs in our
newsletter and on our monthly poster. If we
do not know the answer to your enquiry, we are confident that we know
someone who will. Our
outreach workers, Mel Bignell, Mal Thompson and Barron Walton are out and
about in villages across the two districts. If you
think we can help, phone or e-mail to the addresses below. · Volunteer Centre, 5 Market House Courtyard, Brackley,
Northants, NN13 7AB ( 01280 841 250)
Registered charity 1104848
Company limited by guarantee 5068116 · Volunteer Centre, The Library, North Street, Daventry
NN11 4GH (01327 300614)
Christmas is Coming! Picture the scene. Two ladies, Mrs Smith and Mrs Jones are waiting at a bus stop. It's 3pm on Christmas Eve. They've just finished their shopping and their bags are full. We overhear their conversation:–
Yes,
religion does seem to get in the way of the Christmas celebrations. Yet,
you know, the coming of Christ into the world, so that he could grow and
take his place on the cross, is very much what the Christian faith is all
about. To
really celebrate Christmas we have to acknowledge that God came to be with
us, then to die for us, in a pure undiluted outpouring of love. In fact
our eternal destiny rests on whether we acknowledge that, or reject it. May the God who came to us in
Christ, give you a Christmas to remember, as you let him give you His
love, shown in the pouring out of his blood on the cross. Stephen French, Rector of Bugbrooke, Harpole, Kislingbury and
Rothersthorpe Services and Events at St. Michael and All Angels Church Bugbrooke A
weekly leaflet is available in Church. Please take a copy and
keep up-to-date with Bugbrooke Church Services, News
and Events. The
leaflet also covers the parishes of Harpole,
Kislingbury and Rothersthorpe. Sunday
Services 8am
BCP Communion 3rd and 5th Sundays in the Month 9:45am 2nd and 4th Sundays in the month Holy
Communion 1st
Sunday in the month Morning Worship 3rd
Sunday in the month Worship for All 5th
Sunday in the month watch for details 6:30pm Evening
Worship Other Services Tuesdays during term time 2:15pm Tiny Tots in
Church Third
Thursday in the month 10am BCP Holy Communion First Wednesday in the month 1:30pm Holy
Communion at Jubilee House First Wednesday in the month 7:30pm Holy
Communion Regular Events Each Monday at 8pm Bell Ringers Most
Monday and Thursday evenings St Michaels At Someone’s House
House groups See
the weekly notice Sheet for times and venues or ring the Benefice Office. Christmas Services 2007 Sunday December 9th 4pm Christingle Service Thursday December 13th 10am Family Morning carol
Service 7pm
Tree of Eternal Light Service Sunday
23rd December 7pm Carols by Candlelight followed by mulled wine and mince
pies Christmas Eve 2:15pm Crib Service 5:30pm
Carols on the Green 10pm
Holy Communion Christmas Day 10am Christmas Communion Watch your letter box for full
Christmas details Please keep an eye out for other services
and events. Home Communions by prior arrangement. Bookings for Weddings, Baptisms or any
other queries please contact the Benefice Office on
830373 or Stephen on 831621 Tree
of Light Service 2007 This
year's Tree of Light service will be on Thursday December 13th at 7.00pm
in Bugbrooke St Michael and All Angels church. The special Xmas tree full
of lights, each one a remembrance of our loved ones who
have passed away, will be lit and there will be a short service of about
an hour with carols, music and the reading aloud of the
names which have been put forward. Messages may be written on the stars
provided and tied on the tree after the service if you wish. It is a calm
and beautiful hour which gives us all an opportunity to remember
during a busy and sometimes difficult time of year. All
we ask is for a donation for each name that is put forward. This year’s
donations will be divided equally between Arthritis Care, CLIC Sargent
(the childrens' cancer charity) and Bugbrooke church. Please
give names and donations by December 1st to Lynne Clayson, Orchard Way,
The Paddocks (last house on the private drive between Nos 4 & 6) or to the Church
Office next to the Sunday School on Church Lane. If you can't get out, ring me and I'll collect. Thanks As
frequent visitors to the Churchyard, we would like to say a big thank you
to Mr Richard Akehurst for his time and effort in making the footpaths
look so tidy. He enjoys what he is doing and it is certainly making the
difference. It is well worth a visit. Bernard, Pauline, Jen and Don Mothers’
Union On
September 19th, 14 members met in the Sunday School to hear a talk by Mr
Richard Appleby of the work of the Hope Centre (once called The Soup
Kitchen). Lindsay took a small service, hymns were sung, prayers said. The
facilities now available for disadvantaged people are food, workshops,
clothes store, toilets, showers, and computers. The centre relies on a
strong volunteer force and donations, and is therefore aptly named. On October 11th, members met in
the Sunday School. A short service was taken by Lindsay. The subject was
“Victim Support”. Kay Diamont told us of the vast area this
organisation covers. They provide help and information both practical and
emotional to people who have experienced any type of crime. Last year
16,000 victims were supported. October 18th, a Deanery Autumn
meeting was held in Weedon Church. 40 members attended and the service was
taken by Freda English. The talk by Jill Goodman was about the work of the
M.U. “Action and Outreach” at home and abroad, the help given in many
ways to those in need. Pat Archer Bugbrooke Guides Hi, we are
Anya and Catherine and we would like to tell you about our recent
activities at Guides. In July we went to our summer camp at Castle Ashby,
which was based on a Harry Potter theme. We were put into houses
Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and mean old Slytherin. Everyone had a
great time cooking on open fires, playing in the woods, creating creepy
crafts, singing round the camp fire, building rafts at Grendon, and doing
various activities around the site. Not forgetting the washing up!!! Our
favourite activities were racing on home-made broomsticks and cooking (or
sometimes burning!). In
September we held our annual Jumble Sale and we would like to thank you
for supporting us in donating jumble, helping out or perhaps grabbing some
bargains. We raised a whopping £650 which will help us a lot throughout
the year. Last month we went to Milton
Keynes Theatre and saw Slava’s Snow Show. It was the most amazing show
we have ever seen!!! It was very cleverly mimed with lots of things for
the audience to do. Our favourite part was when they threw massive
balloons into the audience. At
the end of November, the guides are going away for a weekend to Herons’
Lodge in Milton Keynes. We will be going ice skating and doing lots of
other fun stuff! We can’t wait! Finally,
we would like to say a big thank you to Helen, Jane and Chris for all
their hard work in making Guides such fun! |
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I will keep
checking the old e-mail address for some time yet, so hopefully we will be
able to pick up everything that is sent through to us for consideration
and inclusion.
