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Page 1 2 3 4Bugbrooke Link Magazine(Issue
146), October 2007 Editor Paul Cockcroft It
is an interesting time for LINK as we look back to the start of the
magazine and forward to how we might develop in the future. In an obituary
for John Gardiner, you will read about the start of LINK and his
assessment of the first few years of its life and optimism for the future.
We already have a taste of how the magazine might change over the years,
with the development of the website and the ability for people all round
the world to have access to the current and early versions of the
Bugbrooke Village Magazine. Times
move on and people change and at our last meeting we discussed the
likelihood of the cover of the December issue being in colour so that we
can consider the implications and test the reactions from our readers. We
have reconfirmed our decision to try to keep an even split between adverts
and articles as we believe that the magazine should be driven by news from
the village but recognise the importance of access to local services and
businesses that the adverts provide. Veronica Chambers has resigned from
the committee, we offer our thanks to her, and in future Family
Announcements can be sent via e-mail or posted through my letterbox. The
Bugbrooke LINK website can be found at www.bugbrookelink.co.uk
and as well as reading the current and past copies of the magazine online,
there is an ever expanding selection 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 new e-mail address As
you know, for the Christmas issue we include quizzes and puzzles and we
would be very grateful if anyone could supply something a little bit
different for inclusion, maybe something devised specifically with the
village or one of the societies in mind. The deadline for articles and
advert changes for the December issue is Monday 05 November 2007. Free
Small Ads. On the Link Website The
number of visits to the Link website continues to increase, month by
month. In August we had visits from 10 countries, including the United
States, Hungary, Ireland, Australia, Malta, France and Canada. We also had
some nice feedback from Hannah Kelley in Seattle, who says "I am
loving the fact that LINK is available online! I grew up in Bugbrooke and
now live in Seattle USA and it's great to keep in touch with what's going
on. Keep up the great work!" To
improve our service to the Bugbrooke community, Link is launching a free
small ads. facility
on the Link website, where any article offered privately Geoff
Cooke John Gardiner
It
is with deep sadness that we report the death of John Gardiner who was one
of the founders of Bugbrooke Link magazine. On behalf of the Link team we
send our condolences to his wife Lesley and his whole family. (Also see a
notice in Announcements at the back of this issue). Link
originated in a series of meetings in the Rectory during early 1983 and
John was chairman for most of those meetings. At these meetings he argued
vigorously that Link must not be seen as a church magazine but must be for
the whole village – that aim has continued to this day. He chaired the
inaugural Open Meeting on May 9 1983 and was formally elected as chairman
of the management committee in June of that year. The first ever issue of
Link appeared in July (you
can see a copy on the Link web site).
John remained chairman until 1987 when he and Lesley moved to West
Hunsbury. Even
after he left Bugbrooke, John remained involved in the village. He was
deeply involved in the Drama Society as an actor, producer and singer and
he remained a strong supporter of the church. He was also a supporter of
the twinning association and his fondness for France eventually led to his
moving there last year. I last saw him in hospital in Poitiers just a few
days before he died and, though clearly very ill, he was still in good
spirits. As he wished, his ashes are interred in Bugbrooke churchyard. Tony
Pace –
Deputy
Editor The following article, written by John
Gardiner, was first published in Link in August 1986 (issue 19) A
Letter From Your Chairman As the Link Magazine comes to its fourth
year in circulation to every household in Bugbrooke, I feel it is time to
reflect on the past and to look forward to the future. We recently held
our Annual General Meeting, at which two of the management team stood down
to allow new blood onto the team, namely Rev. Tim Partridge and Anne
Jenkins who held the position of Treasurer. I would like to thank both of
them for their dedication and hard work over the past three years. It was
Tim in fact who first sowed the seed for the magazine, when he called for
volunteers to meet and discuss the project. I well remember sitting in his
study with a handful of other people offering to help, but not knowing
anything about producing a village magazine and indeed not knowing where
to start. However after various meetings and hours of discussions we
decided to go ahead. It was impossible to judge at that stage how the
magazine would turn out. But I think you will agree that the
"LINK" of Today has come a long way since that very first
publication. This is all down to a tremendous amount of hard work by a
large band of people who put the Link together six times a year. On your
behalf I would like to offer our thanks to everyone who contributes to the
magazine's success. The future too is looking good, with three new members
voted on to the management team at the A.G.M. this will hopefully
stimulate new ideas and give the readership more variation in content. We are continually looking for more help in all aspects of
producing "LINK", so if you have time to spare please contact
any member of the team. Remember 'many hands make light work!’ Also if
you have any ideas for regular features, why not discuss them with your
Editor: John Sexton. Yours
Sincerely JOHN GARDINER Chairman
– Link Management Committee Parish
Council Report Because
of summer holidays, there has only been one full Council meeting since my
last report. To update you on the Parish Plan surveys you completed
earlier in the year, key issues and objectives have been determined by the
Development Working Party and the council is looking to work with other
authorities to improve or fulfil these objectives. I will keep you
informed as these develop in the coming months. In
conjunction with the Housing Association which is responsible for Jubilee
House, the Council has been able to provide a tarmac surface on the path
which leads from Meadway down to the High Street past the Primary School.
It must be remembered that this a ‘grace and favour’ pathway and not a
designated right of way and as such is closed for one day a year to
prevent it becoming official. It is however a much used important
thoroughfare and will benefit from this surface work. At the sharp turn, a
metal barrier has been erected which will prevent people on bikes or
skateboards from racing around the corner and inconveniencing pedestrians
whilst still ensuring motorised wheelchairs and buggies can use the path. Phil
Bignell – Chairman
www.bugbrookelink.co.uk/parishcouncil
Securing
Your Sheds, Gardens and Garages
Now
is the time to consider the possible outdoor crime problems associated
with sheds, gardens and garages. What can you do? Shed
Security Thieves
target sheds because they often contain valuable items such as pedal
cycles, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers and other tools. Everyday garden
implements can be used by thieves to break into the owner’s house and
therefore, sheds should be made as secure as possible. · Fit
a good quality hasp and staple with close-shackled padlock to the door and
secure it with either non-return screws or preferably coach bolts secured
internally with a large washer. · Hinges
should be fitted with non-return screws. · Shed
windows can be fitted internally with a weld mesh grille and items can be
obscured from view with net curtains or bamboo blinds. · Cover
any valuable items in the shed with old sacks or curtains. · If
valuable items are stored in the shed, lay a small area of concrete within
the shed and fix anchor points, to which large items can be secured with a
length of chain. If the shed is very flimsy or fragile, consider storing
valuable items elsewhere. · Fit
a battery operated shed alarm. · Postcode
property with either an etching tool or dye stamps. Postcodes can also be
painted onto large items. Garden
Security · Ensure
that any gates into the back garden are fitted with padlocked bolts. · Consider
using gravel on pathways. This is noisier to walk on than paving stones
and can alert you to intruders. · Remove,
where possible, any items close to the garden perimeter which could be
climbed on by thieves for an easy exit. · Securely
store any garden implements after use so that they are not used by thieves
to gain entry to the house. · Photograph
any valuable garden ornaments so that police can circulate an accurate
description if the item is stolen. Garage
Security · Pedal
cycles, ladders and other valuable items should be securely padlocked to
an immovable object within the garage. · If
the house is protected by a burglar alarm, consider extending the alarm to
cover the garage. Alternatively, consider the use of a custom-made battery
operated alarm. · Keep
the car in the garage and make sure it is alarmed and immobilised. Tree
of Light Service 2007 This
year's Tree of Light service will be held in Bugbrooke church on Please
give names and donations to Lynne Clayson, Orchard Way, The Paddocks or to
the Church Office (next to the Sunday School in Church Lane) by December
1st.
Friends
of St Michael and All Angels Church The
annual Fish & Chip supper and Quiz took place in the Community Centre
on 6 July. As ever the Fish & Chips were excellent and gave us
strength to answer some of the questions set by Steve Ellis and his family
who were the winners of the quiz in 2006. The winners this year were the
team “Geezers of Nazareth” and they have already indicated that they
will follow established tradition and set the quiz for next year. Overall
this year’s quiz raised just over £670 to be added to the Church
Friends funds. This
money will soon be put to good use as repairs are required to the church
roof which started to leak during some of the storms we have had this
summer. Consideration is also being given to improving the electricity
supply. Our
next fund-raising event will be the Wine Tasting on Friday, 30 November.
This is always a popular event and ticket numbers will be limited so do
remember to book early so as not to be disappointed. Tickets will go on
sale in October. Tony Pace,
Chairman (832516) www.bugbrookelink.co.uk/friends
Mothers’
Union
July
12th. 2.30pm. 15
members enjoyed a tea and social afternoon at the home of our branch
leader Lindsay Moss. July
26th. 7pm. Attended
an evening meal at the Red Lion, Kislingbury. We now look forward to our
autumn session, which starts with September
13th, 2.30pm Service
and tea in Sunday School led by Revd. Stephen French. All are welcome. Pat
Archer
Bugbrooke
Strollers The
programme for October and November will include walks at Gayton, Everdon,
Alderton, Little Brington, Abthorpe, Harlestone, Heyford, Rothersthorpe,
Flore and Norton. Cars
leave the Church car park at 10am each Thursday and newcomers are always
welcome on these leisurely strolls through the countryside. They last
about two hours and we are back in the village by 12.30pm. The
Christmas lunch is due to take place at The Wharf on December 13th when we
would be pleased to see all those members who are unable to walk with us
at the moment. John
Curtis
www.bugbrookelink.co.uk/strollers
Bugbrooke
History Society The
next talk to the group will be on Thursday, November 15th at 7.30pm in the
Community Centre. The speaker will be Jenny Smith who will reminisce on
her “Memories of Novelty Farm”. Everyone is welcome to these talks and
refreshments are available at 50p. There is no charge for the talk. The
pictorial history of the village from 1860-1960 is now complete and at the
printers. It should be ready for sale in the village by the end of
October. It will cost £10 and will be available at the Post Office,
Cherrenee and Bugbrooke Stores. It has about 200 pages and consists of
photographs, paintings and poems about activities and people in the
village over the 100 years. People
with family connections going back a few generations will have their
memories jogged whilst new residents in the community will find it
interesting to see how life was lived in the early part of the 20th
century. The
book could be a useful Christmas present for those living away from the
village and you will need to be on your toes to get the first copies. It
is hoped to arrange an agreement with the printers for extra copies if the
initial run proves insufficient to meet needs. Thanks
go to the working committee of Terry Ward, Betty Prime, Pat Kent, Liz and
Ellie Thomas, Dave Hewitt and John Curtis for putting the book together,
and to Tony Pace and Rob Stone for their help in computerising the
pictures and formatting them into book form for the printers. We
hope you find the book a valuable addition to the records of Bugbrooke. John
Curtis
www.bugbrookelink.co.uk/history Nature
Notes On
the grounds that things can only get better we can perhaps look forward
to an Indian summer and mild autumn. At least the wet weather has
ensured that the brook has kept running strongly throughout the summer
and has been able to provide better cover for the fish, crayfish and
other wildlife that enjoy its resources. Unfortunately mink have been
seen in the vicinity of the aqueducts and these creatures will have a
significant impact on life in the brook and canal unless kept well under
control. They have the same effect as a fox in a chicken run and destroy
for pleasure. Let us hope some way is found of reducing their number. As
autumn progresses we will all get pleasure from the changing colours in
the trees. With the extra rain this year we might get a colourful
display. The horse chestnuts have certainly flourished and youngsters
will get a bumper crop of conkers this year. The Millennium Green and
Park are a good source although there are others if you look hard
enough. This
is the time when we can start to help the birds to survive the winter.
At the moment the trees and hedges are providing plenty of berries and
fruit but once these begin to diminish we can play our part by providing
food on our bird tables and water in the birdbaths. You will get what
you feed for, so, if you do not want starlings and crows, don’t throw
out slices of bread. Stick to seed if you want to see smaller birds. Grass
snakes appear to be thriving this year and our chemist, Joe, reports
finding one in his fishpond; so if you suddenly find fish and newts are
missing do not always blame the heron. Some of these snakes can be about
a metre long but are harmless. One got run over in West End in August. Squirrels
also seem to be in abundance in the Park and are busy collecting food
for their winter hibernation. They and the woodpeckers seem to enjoy the
many trees in that part of the village. A quiet sit in the Millennium
Green gives a good chance to see and hear these particular species
although there is a lot more going on as well. The butterflies enjoy the
stinging nettles and long grass as well as seed eating birds like
goldfinches. The trees that were planted to commemorate the millennium
are also maturing well and beginning to make their mark on the
landscape. In another 10 years they will play a dominant part in the
village scene. Rabbits
are currently being hard hit by myxomatosis but they will no doubt have
recovered by next spring in time to ravish the young plants sowed at the
allotments and in gardens on the fringe of the village. If
you see anything out of the ordinary pass the message on and I will
advise everyone in the next edition. Meanwhile keep helping the birds,
and take your part in compensating for the loss of habitat in the fields
and hedgerows. John
Curtis |
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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.
or by putting your
ad. through the letterbox of any committee member listed on Page 4 of this
Magazine. 
