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(Issue 150), June 2008

Editor Paul Cockcroft  

The 2008 AGM of the LINK committee was held on 8 May 2008.  I reported that Veronica Chambers had left the committee and that Donna Bowater had joined.  I thanked the committee members and was pleased to note that the magazine had been published successfully six times since the last AGM.  The LINK website is going from strength to strength, with the introduction of advertisers on to the website.

For the magazine I commented that there seemed to be fewer regular contributors, particularly articles associated with some of the sports clubs.  The level of advertising is good but we have debated several times whether it should be allowed to dominate the magazine.  For now we are attempting to maintain the balance and putting potential advertisers on hold or directing them to the website.

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 a 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 next issue is Monday 7 July 2008, but earlier submissions are most welcome particularly for changes to adverts which are time consuming.

Directory of Services is Now in Use

If you can’t find your copy of the LINK, and need information on local services, you may be able to find them now on our website www.bugbrookelink.co.uk.

We have created a directory of local services, with links to the advertiser’s own website or a webpage of information produced by the LINK.  This gives the advertiser the opportunity to give you more information than is possible in a magazine advert, and allows us to provide a more rounded advertising service to you.

We hope you will find this service useful, and increasingly so as the directory expands.

If you are an advertiser and wish to be included in the directory, please contact us via the web site feedback facility, or e-mail

Geoff Cooke

Painting Competition for Children at Key Stage 1 – Design a Front Cover for LINK

You’ll remember we had a competition for key stage 2 children to design a cover for the April edition of LINK. Now it’s the turn of the key stage 1 children.  This will be for the August issue and because of generous offers of sponsorship we can afford to have it in colour.

The rules are:

· The theme of the picture is “on the Farm”  (see tips and suggestions below).

· The picture is to be in colour and should be submitted on A4 sized paper in portrait mode (in other words upright not sideways).

· The competition will be open to all children at key stage 1 who live in Bugbrooke and/or who attend Bugbrooke Primary School.

· The picture must be entirely the child’s own work.

· Entries must be submitted by 30 June 2008 and should be given to Jim Inch at 16A High Street or any member of the LINK committee. The child’s name (and address if not at the Primary School) should be given on the back of the picture.

The entries will be shortlisted (depending on number); and then judged by a panel. It is intended that the panel will include one member of the school staff, one member of the LINK Committee and one other village representative.

The winning entry will be used as the front cover of the August edition of LINK. The runners-up will be featured inside the magazine; and all short-listed entries will be published on the LINK website.

The winner and runners-up will receive prizes in the form of art materials.

Tips and suggestions

The theme is “on the Farm”, so the picture could include farm animals such as cows, sheep, pigs, chickens or ducks; or farm machinery like tractors or combine harvesters. And of course fields, trees and farm buildings can go in the background. But don’t try and include too much: simple is usually best.  Because it will be in colour you can use paints, coloured pencils, crayons or felt tips.

GOOD LUCK

Jim Inch

Parish Council Report

The production of the Parish Plan which I have referred to in the past is nearing completion with production of the first draft. The council will now obtain quotes for its printing and production. It is envisaged that every household will receive a summary document with full copies available for collection at various points around the village. The separate affordable housing survey that was conducted by SNC has revealed after initial analysis, there is a need for as many as 60 extra properties.

We have agreed to replace the notice board on Meadway as well as the damaged dog bin in School Close. Also new litter bins will be sited at the bus stop at the top of Butts Hill, on the High Street near the Bakers Arms bus stop  and at the corner of Johns Road and Oaklands.

Since 2006 the Council has been asking the County Council to assess the safety of the C54 road between Bugbrooke and Kislingbury following a spate of accidents. No comprehensive response has ever been received but the Casualty Reduction Officer has said he would investigate the road in April and would report back.

 At our May meeting we will be co-opting another member to the Council to bring us up to a full quota of 15. After 15 years of service to the council, Emma Bignell, the Clerk, has decided to stand down. She has achieved many things during this time, most notably gaining ‘Quality’ status for the council, the first parish council in Northamptonshire to do so. She has brought the council and its procedures up to date and enabled us to operate in a professional manner and will be greatly missed. The Council are in the process of recruiting a replacement and hope to fill the post by the July meeting.

Phil Bignell – Chairman

www.bugbrookelink.co.uk/parishcouncil

Crime Down Across Northamptonshire

All crime has now reduced for 4 consecutive years in succession. Crime volumes for 2007–08 were 19% lower than in 2003/4. This means nearly 15,000 fewer victims of crime.

In the past year (1 April 2007 – 31 March 2008) Northamptonshire Police has seen total crime drop by 3.5 per cent, or 2,318 fewer recorded crimes, on the back of a 3.1 per cent decrease in crime the previous year (06–07).

Alongside the reduction in crime countywide, both policing areas of the county – Northamptonshire West (covering Northampton, Daventry and South Northants) and Northamptonshire North (covering Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough and East Northants) have also seen a drop in crime, with 1,244 fewer crimes (a 3.4 per cent drop) and 1,074 fewer crimes (3.7 per cent reduction) respectively.

Most categories of crime countywide have fallen too, including house burglary (DOWN 5.8 per cent, or 228 less offences), robbery (DOWN 15.5 per cent, or 161 fewer offences), vehicle crime (DOWN 11.4 per cent or 1,036 fewer offences) and criminal damage (DOWN 7.3 per cent or 11,167 fewer crime). The only slight increases were in violent crime (4 per cent or 471 more offences).

Chief Superintendent Paul Phillips, Area Commander of the Northamptonshire West area, said: “Officers and staff have been working flat out to bring crime down through targeted operations, their efforts mean that there have been 1,244 fewer crimes and therefore fewer victims on the Northamptonshire West area over the last year.

“A particular area of success has been a reduction in criminal damage, with 836 fewer incidents in the past year. The local Safer Community Teams play a significant contribution in the reduction in this crime type, with many teams having criminal damage and anti-social behaviour as a local identify priority.

“Burglary remains a challenge with 1 in 4 of all house burglaries down to insecurities, and I would remind people of the importance of locking up at all times, including when you are at home. Some people are also still leaving valuables, such as sat nav systems in vehicles, which provide rich pickings for offenders, so the message is remove it, don’t lose it.

“Last but not least, I would like to thank members of the public for their support to date, and urge them to continue to work with us and our partners into this year to help make the county even safer.”

To view crime statistics in detail visit www.northants.police/beatstats

Does this reflect what you have experienced?  Have your say on the notice board of the Bugbrooke LINK website, and don’t forget, if you are a victim of crime, no matter how minor, report it.  Statistics are important.

Litchborough Road Closure

The road is believed closed for works to strengthen the wing wall of the railway bridge. There has been a road notice which states it will be closed for several weeks, as it is a significant job. The diversion is through Heyford but there is always Cornhill depending on whether you wish to go north or south on the A5.

All For One

Elsie lived in a small cottage in a village about the size of Rothersthorpe for all of her 94 years. She had, in the 'thirties', walked daily the five miles to a nearby town and back. As a mill-girl she had never married. And since her mother died, back in the 60's, Elsie lived alone.

You could set your clocks by her.  Monday at seven in the morning, her washing would hang out to dry.  Half an hour earlier, you could hear her sploshing her clothes in the dolly-tub.  She used no machines, not even a fridge.  Her milk bottles stood outside, draped with a cloth and standing in a bucket of cold water.

You never saw her take a holiday.  Nobody ever came to take her for a run in a car.   She wouldn't even join the village old folks club. 'I mightn't like it!'  And that was that.

Once a week, only, she took the bus to town for her absolute essentials.  No tea in a cafe.  Back again on the next bus, every time.

One lonely soul in the Bible took a trip for the needs of her day.  She had no real home.  Her journey to the well was an irksome, thankless, dull routine – until someone different asked her for a drink of water – someone her tribe would never talk to.

Yet that simple task of giving a sip of water to a thirsty and lonely Jesus not only changed her life, it changed the lives of her whole village (John Chapter 4 v 5 to 42).

No one had told her that the Saviour was thirsty for friendship too.  Jesus, tired out by the trip, sat down by the well.

Next time you take that solo trip to the sink, fill the kettle with your love.  Remember that Jesus is lonely too…....for you.

Stephen French Rector of Bugbrooke, Harpole, Kislingbury, Rothersthorpe

Mothers’ Union

March 7 was “Women’s World Day of Prayer”. The service was held in Kislingbury church. 50 from the benefice attended. The service was prepared by the Christian Women of Guyana with the title “God’s wisdom provides new understanding.” The service was taken by MU member, Anne Gargaro. Prayers were said and hymns sung. The sermon was by Yvonne Chapman, a very beautiful service, and a tea was provided by Kislingbury members.

On March 20, the Maundy Thursday service was held in Kislingbury church. The service was taken by Rev. Stephen French. The communion was offered by Stephen then passed from one to another, a very sobering and thoughtful service of preparation.

Pat Archer

The Wednesday Club

All is going well at the new club. Lynne now offers half Bingo, and half Beetle drive for those who don’t play whist, which they all enjoy.

On March 12, Mrs Violet Creamer cut a birthday cake to mark her 90th year and a special tea was served. Well done Violet! A few old songs were sung and Lynne had made cardboard hats for each to take home to decorate them to wear at the next meeting.

On March 26, wearing our hats with Easter décor, we sat down to a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Thank you Lynne and her team for all their work to make this a happy event. They also judged the Easter hats, which all looked so pretty and colourful, not an easy task. It was a tie between Mrs A Sharp and Mrs V Creamer.

On April 23, Mrs Sue Pace brought slides and gave an account of the work she and husband Tony had done building schoolrooms in Northern Tanzania. The club welcome new members to come along and enjoy an afternoon with us.

Mrs D M French

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