This projects predates the founding of the charity and for the last five years it has paid for a qualified nurse to run a small clinic to support the community.  More recently the Trust has helped pay for the construction of a new clinic building to replace the tiny hut they were using originally. The longer term aim is for this clinic to be the first part of a small hospital.

The Trust has also helped pay for electricity to be installed in the new clinic and the immediate next step is to develop a small laboratory that can support medical tests locally.  This will greatly increase the level of care and speed up the rate of delivery.  To support this the Trust needs to raise nearly £2,000 for the required equipment and £100/month to pay the lab technician.

Can you help fund this critical community health project?  Anything we get above the basic requirement for the laboratory will go towards a fund to build the small hospital.

Osiligi Secondary School, Tanzania: 

The immediate need is to build a further double classroom before the end of this year, so that it is ready for the new students arriving at the start of next year.  After that they would like to build another teacher’s house (for two teachers’ families) and a small library where students can study.  To support this the Trust wants to raise £7,300 for the classrooms and £3,300 for desks and fittings.

Can you help fund this education project in one of the poorest countries in the world?  Anything we get above the basic requirement will be put towards further buildings and equipment for the school.

If you would like to contribute to either of these projects, or if you would like to visit either project and perhaps help with some of the work, please contact Dave Clayson (tel 830480) or Sue Pace (tel 832516).

One summers day during the Second World War, I sat on the double kerbing outside the school at Bugbrooke, with my youngest brother Malcolm, who was about two and a half years of age.

We very rarely moved from this area, because mother knew where we were, and she occasionally would look along to see if we were okay as our house was only a few yards away. Some days there would be lots of soldiers coming through the village on manoeuvres along with lots of army lorries towing very large guns. Also travelling through Bugbrooke there were bren gun carriers, and very large tanks.

Occasionally a horse and cart from one of the local farms would pass by, with the familiar clip clopping sound from their hooves, and the white marks on the roadway that the iron rims on the wheel made.

It was during a lull with not much going on during this particular day, when Malcolm pulled on my arm, and muttered a few words about a monster. I looked to where he was pointing and walking towards us making no noise in any way or form, was this huge grey creature twice as tall as the man that was walking with it.

It was the first time in our lives we were to see a live elephant. I shall never forget the smell it had, and the size of it, with its large trunk reaching out sniffing and blowing. It had very long eyelashes around its eyes that occasionally blinked, and it never stood still like a horse does. It kept nodding its head, and moving its body and legs about all the time. After a short stop the man and the Elephant walked off down Church Lane, so silent for such a big animal.

I since have learnt that it belonged to Fossets Circus, and it was used at times to pull a plough in the fields, or to help shunt railway trucks about in the siding at Northampton Railway Station, and Weedon Station. Perhaps on this particular day it was on its way to Weedon, I do not know.

Stanley Joseph Clark

John Mundy:Chairman & Treasurer 830725 (H,  B  &  FAX) 07850–84535 (M)                                                

This year is the 60th Anniversary of our Club playing at the Camp Hill Farm Ground, the first matches being played here in 1948.   Before that we used to play in a field belonging to the Adams family off the Heyford Road by the brook, where the first job was always to clear the cattle muck from the outfield before the game could begin!      

We have 2 Saturday League teams this season with the 1st playing in League 6 and the 2nd in League 12. A lot of work is being done on our ground and pavilion – come and have a look!      

We have friendly matches every Sunday until the end of September with midweek matches also. If you wish to be involved with Junior Cricket contact Roger Stone (01604–842961), this year we have matches against other Clubs for  Under 11’s, 12’s & 15’s. Evening practices for Juniors will be held every Monday at 6pm during the season at our ground – just turn up,  we have been getting around 30 every time.               

If you wish to join a progressive club at its picturesque ground by the brook, get in touch with any of the above officers or myself.  We have a well stocked bar which is open most days during the summer where Tony Bird will always give you a good welcome!  Have a look at our websites 

www.bugbrooke-cricket-club.bravehost.com & www.bugbrooke.play-cricket.com for further information & chat.  

Peter White (President) 50 High Street,  Bugbrooke 

 (830452  H. B & X )   

The 2007/08 season finished with all senior sides reaching reasonable league positions. The first and reserve sides finished in eighth position and the A side in fourth position in their respective leagues. The most successful senior side was the B team managed by Kevin Gardner and John Bass. They followed up their outstanding Northants Area Cup success by finishing runners-up in their league. The season has been much more successful this year for all senior teams and has hopefully laid the basis for a challenge for honours on all fronts next time around.

The youth teams have all enjoyed a season of gaining experience and enjoyment of the game. The most successful teams have been the under 11s and under 15s although all teams have given a good account of themselves with the backing of their managers and parents. The club will be hoping to continue fielding a full complement of age groups from under 8 to senior youth at under 18 next season. There are many good young players developing at the club and their continuing improvement bodes well for the future.

The club has completed its refurbishment of its social facilities and the clubhouse now provides an excellent venue for groups of up to 100 people. A full range of refreshment facilities is available to those wishing to hire them. The premises manager is Teresa Garlick. 

The senior presentation meeting was held at the clubhouse on May 10th.  The Clubmen of the Year trophy went to John Moore and Russ Garlick for their work in improving the clubhouse.  The Fundraiser trophy was won by Dave Astwell, the Supporters Player of the Year was Steve Spruels whilst the Sportsman of the Year was credited to Jamie Bull.  Each team had its Managers Player, Players Player and Clubman trophies.  These were won in the 1st team by Adam Godfrey and Craig Murray; in the reserves by Will Briscoe, Dave Winchcombe and Dave Gore; in the “A” team by Sean Weston, Mel Gartland and Dave Griffin; in the “B” team by Spen Francis, Stuart Wootton and Dave Sharp and in the under 18’s by Bradley Janes, Alex McNeillie and Kieran Condon. 

Chairman Bill Preston concluded that the club teams had consolidated well throughout the season with all teams finishing well in the top half of their leagues.  He expected this trend to continue for next season with the first team pushing for promotion into the top division of the United Counties league and all teams looking to do well in county cup competitions.

Bugbrooke St Michael's FC will have hosted their annual exchange with a German sports club in May.  The long-standing link between Bugbrooke and the footballers from Vohl, Germany, started about 26 years ago and takes place each year alternately in Bugbrooke and Vohl. The visitors arrived on May 20 and were to be treated to an evening at the club house in Birds Close, a tour of the village from John Curtis, lessons at Campion school and trips to Oxford and Nottingham.  The team of footballers ranging between 12 and 16 years of age were to leave on May 25.