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(Link February 2008) Bugbrooke
Guides Hello, we are members of the 1st Bugbrooke Guides and our
names are Sarah Bennett and Sophie Cattell. We are going to tell you
about our trip to Herons Lodge, which is a Girl Guiding Centre in Milton
Keynes. We went on Friday 21st November. On the Friday we got our beds set out and made them,
and we arranged all our items into the right places. We started off with
doing some crafts and games. These were: doing the outline of some
Christmassy stained glass window stickers; we played with some velcro
gloves and balls, you had to catch them and they would stick to your
gloves. We also played a game where you had to score as many points as
you could by shooting juggling balls into some target holes. We were
rubbish. Finally we played on some plastic skis which 2 people had to
walk on together. This was fun but really hard and we On Saturday we woke up, got ready and had a big breakfast, as there was a
long day ahead of us. We walked to the ice skating rink and hired our
ice skates. We got onto the ice rink and started going slowly, but we
sped up towards the end. We all fell over quite a bit but it was still
great fun. We then walked back to Herons Lodge and had a gorgeous lunch
of pasta and sauce. After the washing-up we did some more crafts, which
was fun. That night we had a Christmas dinner and a Christmas party! The
Christmas dinner was a proper one, with turkey, stuffing, vegetables,
sausages, bacon and gravy. For pudding we had a meringue with cream and
strawberries, or cake, Yum Yum. Before bed we played drawing in the
dark, which was harder than it sounds. By then we were all worn out by
our busy day, so we went to bed. We woke up the next morning ready for another busy day. A hearty breakfast
helped get us going. We walked to the shopping centre where, in groups,
we went off to do some Christmas shopping. We then walked to the Snow
Dome and had our lunch before going to X-scape to go tobogganing. The
first toboggans we tried were OK, but then we got onto some round dish
toboggans which really flew. There were lots of crashes and piles of
snow went down our necks – chilly. Our parents picked us up and we went home. We all had a great
week-end. Thank you Helen, Jane, Chris and Marilyn (our Leaders). Just before Christmas we went to Jubilee House and with Sue Pace on key
board and the hand-bell ringers we entertained the residents with music
and singing. We took decorations we had made the previous week at
Guides, and also had a competition to make a Christmas decoration using
an egg-box. All the entries were great, but well done to Kizzy and Lydia
who won with a sleigh pulled by 8 reindeer (yes all from an egg-box!) It
was great fun. Guides
is Great ! Bugbrooke
and Harpole Scout Group
Beavers have been growing things for their Discovery
Challenge badge. They have found out that hyacinth bulbs are planted
with the tip showing above the compost, while dwarf daffodils and
crocuses are covered completely. Bulbs grow slowly in a dark, cool
place. Their cress seeds by contrast, grew in a few days on damp
cotton-wool into cress plants, which their mums cut for sandwiches.
Beavers have done floatation experiments with various items, guessing
beforehand what the object would do. This was easy with washers and
lolly sticks, but some items like paper, and cotton-wool balls with the
air squeezed out float at first, and then sink when they get wet.
Beavers made a Santa Claus mobile at Christmas time. Cubs made paper poppies at their first November meeting, and a poster
with army pictures, while they discussed Poppy Day, what and who it’s
for. They heard how World War 2 started, and some told the story of
their relations who were in the war, and in other conflicts up to the
present day. Cubs took part in the Remembrance Day service, along with
Beavers, Scouts, Brownies and Guides on November 11th, to honour those
who have died serving our country. Cubs visited Daventry Police Station,
and sat in a police car with the lights and sirens going. They went into
the cells, hopefully their only time, and they didn’t have their
fingerprints taken with an ink pad – it’s all done electronically
now. As a follow-on Cubs did their Personal Safety badge this term; they
have also gained their Communicator’s badge, finding out how to
converse with deaf, mute and blind people by lip-reading and sign
language. In December, Cubs made Christmas paper and boxes. Scouts have been experimenting with Morse Code, spelling out their
favourite films. They watched Blackadder videos one evening, and went on
a three-mile hike in the locality where they got very muddy. They have
made constructions with pioneering poles and rope, and tried their
skills as pastry cooks on a ‘Bring a Friend’ evening. It took a long
time to cook all the mince pies and jam tarts they made. Four new Scouts
and an Explorer Scout were invested on the Christmas party night. To celebrate the start of the new year, several scouts joined over 150
young people and adults at the Brass Monkeys Winter Camp at Overstone.
Activities included shooting, archery, a night hike and backwoods
cooking and loads more. The challenge of the camp was to spend two
nights under canvas, whatever weather January decided to bring. Snow was
forecast, but there was rain, wind, sunshine and an overnight frost to
contend with instead – they all survived! Our lads won the sedan chair
race competing against other teams in the Daventry District. They also
won the District go-cart race last summer, and may soon be banned from
competing, to give the rest a fighting chance! Future events include a
spring camp and the raft race. We would like to thank the Summer Ball committee for a generous donation
to our funds. In April, it is planned that our Scout Leader, Richard
Heighton will start a section of Explorer Scouts (14-18 year olds). Our
Group will then be providing the full age range of scouting activities.
However, this does mean that we are looking for a replacement for
Richard as Scout Leader. If you, or anyone you know, would be prepared
to volunteer, or would like an informal chat about what is involved,
please contact our chairman, Alan Kent, 830518, or the secretary. It is
possible for two or more people to work together, sharing the leader’s
role on a rota. This is happening in other Scout Groups in the Daventry
District, our covering organisation, who provide full training, help and
support. If you are interested, we would be very pleased to hear from
you. For more information, visit our website, www.bugbrookelink.co.uk/scouts. Secretary Margaret Raymond 830532 Women’s
Institute 80 Years Young Bugbrooke W.I., formed on the 5th January 1928, is
today a friendly, enthusiastic group of women who meet the first Monday
each month in the Sunday School Rooms at 7.30pm. You will find we are
not just jam and Jerusalem but definitely 21st century in outlook. It should be mentioned that a number of our members have taken the
opportunity for life-changing, challenging and exciting courses at
W.I’s Denman College near Abingdon, Oxfordshire – they include
silversmithing, dowsing, digital photography, reflexology and
graphology, to name just a few. We continue to uphold the fundamental values of the W.I., which are
friendship, supporting the community and the education of women. Without
the W.I. many women in the UK would be worse off – practically,
socially and politically. Issues which have been the subject of
campaigns by the W.I. include Parliament, Police women, Family Allowance
and more recently, trafficking of women and children, fair deal for
dairy farmers, cutting out unnecessary packaging and reducing our own
carbon footprint. W.I. also contribute on a regular basis to projects in
the Third World such as provision of clean water in rural areas. If any of the above interests you, please come along to our meeting on
February 4th or any other throughout 2008. I assure you a warm welcome
awaits you. President, Cherry Pilcher 830084 or 830389 Royal
British Legion Poppy Appeal The sum collected in the village for the 2007 annual
poppy appeal was £1240.97, which is slightly less than the £1316.13
collected in 2006. I should like to thank all those who gave to this
very worthwhile appeal, to those who undertook the house to house
collecting, and to all the village schools, shops and pubs who kindly
had our collecting boxes and trays of poppies on display. Terry Ward Bugbrooke
and District Flower Society On a dark, cold and dismal November evening we gathered
at Nether Heyford Village Hall to see flower arranger Jackie Eyre
demonstrate ‘Christmas Delights’ and what a delightful evening it
was to round off our year for the very varied and talented flower
arrangers. Jackie’s ideas were refreshing, her flowers beautiful and
her arrangements inspiring. We also had a well stocked sales table that evening with some lovely
seasonal ideas and goodies, then finished the evening with a welcome
‘cuppa’ and a slice of stollen. We meet again on Monday, January 28th at Nether Heyford Village Hall at
8pm for our AGM and social evening. Our first demonstration of 2008 will
be by Carol Johnson on Monday, February 25th. There is no meeting in
March because of Easter. Veronica Chambers Bugbrooke
Strollers The programme for February and March will include walks
to Wood Burcote, Hulcote, Eastcote, Shutlanger, Milton Malsor,
Rothersthorpe, Bugbrooke Mill and Smiths Lane and Nether Heyford. All
walks meet at 10am on Thursdays at the church car park. Walks take place
at a leisurely pace and are suitable for those wanting a sociable stroll
enjoying the countryside. They go across fields and follow rights of
way. John Curtis
www.bugbrookelink.co.uk/strollers. Bugbrooke
History Society The ‘Pictorial Bugbrooke’ book has sold 300 copies.
Any remaining ones will be in the Post Office or Cherrenee. There is no
current intention to produce any more although an updated version for
1940-2000 has been suggested. The group will have to consider whether
this is feasible. Thanks go to all those who helped to produce material
for the first book and those who bought it. Copies of ‘Bugbrooke
2000BC-2000AD’ and ‘A History of Football in Bugbrooke’ are both
available in the two shops at £10 each. The group continues to have a talk every three months although the next
one has yet to be established at the time of writing. It will be posted
on the village notice boards and should be in April. Did you know? The Wharf pub was converted from farm buildings associated
with the farmhouse that stands behind the pub and restaurant. The last
farmers were the Belgrave family. The area where the outside picnic tables are now located was a coal wharf
where barges used to drop off coal and other produce. Carts (and later
lorries) would come to the wharf to pick up the coal and distribute it
to houses in Bugbrooke and surrounding villages. Being a coalman was a
dusty business and often blackened the face of the workers. Children
were often threatened, if they were naughty, to be put in the coal hole
or ‘bogey hole’ at home. Bill Belgrave was a very friendly coal
merchant and farmer often nicknamed ‘Ning’ for his habit of
shortening ‘Good morning’ when he met people while delivering his
coal. But he also was known as Bogey Belgrave because he came out of the
coal hole! He and his wife organised many dances for village folk in the
Sunday School rooms and he liked nothing better than a game of snooker
in the Village Hall on a Saturday night. John Curtis
www.bugbrookelink.co.uk/history Nature
Notes The ability of wildlife to adapt to humans can be seen
by their willingness to seek our help by frequenting our gardens for
food. This willingness to use human support was illustrated when we
visited a friend in France where they still hunt with guns and dogs on
Wednesdays and Saturdays. I was admiring the birds in the garden when
she said, “The partridges will be in on Wednesday and Saturday.” She
was not referring to Tim and Esther but to the fact that the partridges
had found out they were safe in gardens when the men were out hunting in
the fields on those two days of the week. She rarely saw them on other
days. Whilst most birds can be fairly sociable when food is scarce it is
interesting to note the territorial habits of some. We have had a mistle
thrush in the garden eating the berries off the yew tree and it has been
very aggressive in defending what it clearly sees as its larder.
Blackbirds, starlings and smaller birds have been given short shrift
when venturing near his source of food. Robins can also be frequent
chasers-off of those smaller birds that venture in to their territories.
However, they all have different eating habits and if you have a variety
of sources such as hanging feeders, bird tables, fat balls or even food
scattered on the floor, all the birds seem to find some food. Feeders
attract the tit family, finches and nuthatch; the table is favoured by
robins, blackbirds and starlings whilst the ground seems the favoured
spot for sparrows, doves, jackdaws and pigeons. By the time this edition comes out the evenings will show signs of
opening out. As we progress into March the birds will be beginning to
think about nesting especially if we have a warm spell. They need to
time having young when there will be a source of food to feed them. This
is why some birds struggle if they nest too early. A cold snap of
weather will disrupt their plans and also make it difficult to keep eggs
or young warm enough to survive. If this happens we could be invaluable
in helping them over their short term problems, although it might be
difficult to help those birds that rely on insects and flies. The national newspapers have been showing daffodils in profusion in the
Scilly Isles and West Country in early January. I have not noticed them
this early in Bugbrooke although I expect them to be around by March.
This is still fairly early compared with decades ago and is a sign of
the global warming that is causing worldwide concern. If some of the
direst predictions come true and sea levels rise by six feet by the end
of the century our great grandchildren will only have to get to
Peterborough to be at the seaside! They could also be growing vines in
the back garden. Some people seem to discount the warning signs but when
six of the warmest years in the last century have happened in the last
eight years, some notice needs to be taken. Gardeners will be sowing seed in February and March and optimism will be
in the air. The lambs will start to appear in the village (look in
Captains Close or behind the Cricket Pavilion) and the sun will be
getting warmer. Let’s hope we all have a good springtime. John Curtis
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