BOW BRICKHILL PARISH NEWS  - FEBRUARY 2002

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

CHRISTMAS LIGHTING - Again this year the Church spire was illuminated and a Christmas tree placed on the Village Green. As a result of much positive feedback from the residents we shall aim to continue this in  following years.

TRAFFIC PARKING ISSUES – Bow Brickhill Parish Council would like to thank all the residents that have taken the time to attend the past two meetings and enable us to move forward with proposals to reduce this continuous and ongoing problem. We would also like to thank Newport Pagnell Police and Bow Brickhill First School for their support. A letter of proposals has been sent to Milton Keynes Borough Council and we shall keep you up to date with the response.

TRAFFIC CALMING - At the moment these proposals are with Milton Keynes Borough Council and we are waiting for feedback. 

STREET LIGHTING - As many residents may have noticed over the past month all the old lanterns have been replaced, completing the upgrade on the lighting  throughout the Village. The bulbs have also been changed from pink to white bulbs in line with our rural lighting policy.

PAVILION INTERNAL DECORATING - Following the external decorating of the Pavilion last year, it is felt that the internal should now be addressed. In light of this if you are a Professional Decorator and are interested in submitting a quote to conduct the work please contact the Parish Clerk for a specification. It is aimed to close the Pavilion week commencing April 1st for this to be carried out. Any quotes will need to be with the Parish Clerk no later than Tuesday 12^th February.

WATERWAYS PUBLIC MEETING – A flyer has been sent to all residents to invite you to attend a Public Meeting with the Waterway Trust in light of the canal proposals. This is to be held on Thursday 24th January at the Pavilion,Rushmere Close, 7:30pm – Please attend.

GOLDEN JUBILEE MEETING – All groups within the Village and residents have been asked to attend a meeting to organise an event for this special occasion.The meeting will take place on Wednesday 30th January at the Pavilion, Rushmere Close, 7:30pm.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING - The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday 14th February 2002, at 7:30pm in the Pavilion, Rushmere Close. If there are matters that may need investigating prior to the meeting could these be forwarded to the Parish Clerk. Any other issue that is of a shorter nature will be resolved if possible during meeting. Clerk : Mrs Julie Summerfield, 12 Station Road, Bow Brickhill.Tel: 01908 645158, Email juliesummerfield@btconnect.com

REPORT FROM COUNCILLOR DAVID HOPKINS 

Road Safety
There has been much debate around the continuing parking problems in the village. Especially off road parking on pavements and verges and those parents dropping off and collecting pupils from the village school. I was interested to hear the advice given by Sgt Johnson from Thames Valley Police at the Parish Council meeting on Thursday January 10th I noted all the suggestions made and have forwarded these on to the Council Highways Officers for their observations and comments. 

Whilst the speed reduction from 40 to 30 mph has had a very measurable and beneficial impact upon road safety in the village, it is only the start of what I hope will be a more holistic package dealing with the whole of the village, including Church Road. Many of you were good enough to forward your suggestions to Trevor Dove at MK Council following the recent circular I forwarded on the Boroughs Parish Road Safety Policy. However, I am now preparing a more complete questionnaire specific to the village which I hope to circulate in early February and that you will be able to get some time to complete and forward direct to the highways management officers at the Council.

Planning Application - London End Lane
The Borough has received an application to build 5 terraced dwellings with a mixture of 3 & 4 bedrooms on land at London End Lane, Bow Brickhill. If you require a copy of the application it is available for public inspection at Milton Keynes Council Offices, Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Central Milton Keynes. If you are writing regarding the application please quote reference MK/0l/002006 on any correspondence. The Planning Officer dealing is Alan Mills who can be contacted on 01908 252412.

David Hopkins, 80 Walton Road, Wavendon,Milton Keynes MKI7 8LW Tel 01908 582632 david.hopkins@milton-kevnes.gov.uk http://www.mkweb.co.uk/wavendon

David is the Danesborough Ward Councillor on Milton Keynes Council 

VILLAGE EVENTS

NOTICES

The family of the late Reg Goodger would like to thank everyone for their kind messages of sympathy, support, and donations for Pagnell Grange Nursing Home, after their recent sad loss.

For sale  - Ladies bike with gears, good condition. £30.00 o.n.o. If interested pleased phone Wendy Mills, Tel No. 374745.Proceeds to church funds.

Message from Val and Howard Wright
We have moved into Woburn Sands but it's not goodbye to all our friends as we hope to see you in the Sands. We have lived here for 31 years; it's a great place for families. When we first came the cows were still walking daily upStation Road to Poplar Farm for milking. We were involved with the first playgroup in the Church Hall, and as the playing field and village hall came into being, and of course, our children remember happy times at the village school. I was involved with the Parish Council for a few years..... And now our grandchildren enjoy the village. We shall no doubt see some of you when we take them in the woods with the dog!
Val and Howard Wright

Thanks
Mrs Selby-Lowndes wishes to thank everyone for the lovely cards and tributes at the sad loss of her dear mother, at the wonderful age of 101. "Granny", as she was called, will be sadly missed by us all. Special thanks to all who came to her funeral service and gave donations to the Leukaemia Research Fund, to Rev Graham Bradshaw who conducted a lovely service and to Barbara who played the organ so beautifully.

ALL SAINTS CHURCH

Readers' Rota

Feb 3 11.00 Family Service Mrs H Coghill
Feb 10 11.00 Holy Communion Mr N Causer, Mrs B Goodger
Feb 17 11.00 Matins Mr or Mrs T.Holden, Mr J Wales
Feb 24 8.00 Holy Communion Mr A Wilkins, Mrs A Duff
Mar 3 11.00 Family Service Mrs P Wilby
Mar 10 11.00 Holy Communion Miss J West, Mrs J Varney
Mar 17 11.00 Matins Mrs D Waldron, Mr S Leeming
Mar 24 8.00 Holy Communion Mr A Wilkins, Mr or Mrs T.Holden

Flowers & Cleaning Rota

Feb 3:   (F) D Kesterton,  (C) A Duff
Feb 17:  Lent,  (C)cJ Lousada
March 3: Lent, (C) B Toombs
March 17: Lent, (C) J Harper
March 31: East Service at Great Brickhill

Church Services February 2002
Bow Brickhill - All Saints
3rd February:11.00 Family Service
10th February:11.00 Holy Communion
17th February:11.00 Matins
24th February: 8.00 Holy Communion

Great Brickhill - St Mary The Virgin
3rd February:9.30 Holy Communion
10th February:9.30 Family Service 6.00 Evensong
17th February:9.30 Holy Communion
24th February: 9.30 Parish Communion
Little Brickhill - St Mary Magdalene
3rd February: No service
10th February: 11.00 Matins
17th February: 11.00 Family Service
24th February: 8.00 Holy Communion

Little Brickhill - St Mary Magadalene
3rd February: No Service
10th February: 11.00 Matins
17th February: 11.00 Family Service
24 February: 8.00 Holy Communion

Advanced Notice
Services March 2002
Bow Brickhill - All Saints
3rd March: 11.00 Family Communion
10th March:11.00 Holy Communion
17th March: 11.00 Matins
24th March: 8.00 Holy Communion
31st March:at Great Brickhill

Great Brickhill - St Mary The Virgin
3rd March:9.30 Holy Communion
10th March:9.30 Family Communion 6.00 Evensong
17th March:9.30 Holy Communion
24th March: 9.30 Parish Communion
31st March: 11.00 Benefice Easter Communion

Little Brickhill - St Mary Magdalene
3rd March: No Service
10th March: 11.00 Matins
17th March: 11.00 Family Communion
24th March: 11.00 Holy Communion
31st March: at Great Brickhill 

CHURCH NEWS

Many of you will be aware that the Reverend Stephen Toze has left the Brickhills to take up a new post in Bedfordshire. This means that for some months, until a successor is appointed, our communion services will be led by visiting clergy from the local area. We are continuing to hold services as normal and ask you to support us as much as possible in the coming months.Enquiries about the church and services can be directed to the wardens who will do their best to help. Wardens John Wales 373907 Stuart Leeming 372032

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
Sunday School continues to meet on the last Sunday of each month, in the Church Hall at 11am. We have anywhere between 6 and 20 children attending and sessions are great fun. This year we have decided to link the Sunday school themes to the readings at the Family Service which is always the week following Sunday School.

You will find a list of the themes for the year below. We welcome all children whether they are regular church goers or not.

SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAMME  
January 26th - Worrying
February 24th – Mothers (preparing for the Mothering Sunday service on March 10th)
March 29th Good Friday - Easter Extra 11.00-13.00 in Church Hall
April 27th - Thinking of others
May 26th - Jubilee Party
June 30th - 'You don't need to be big'
July 28th - Miracles
August - No Sunday school
September29th - Harvest and Giving
October 27th - Saints (meet at the church)
November 24th - Advent
December 1st - Advent and Christmas Sunday school in the church 11.00-12.00 followed by a short service in church 12.00- 12.30

FUNERALS 
Lilian Bone, Reg Goodger

CHURCH FLOWERS
We are very fortunate to have fresh arrangements of flowers in our church at all times through the year thanks to our volunteers and to help towards the cost of these at festival times a box is to be placed in the church for donations.  

MOTHERING SUNDAY
This is on March 10th and we will be having a Mothering Sunday service in the church at 11.00 a.m. All are welcome.

CHURCH ELECTORAL ROLL
Applications for enrolment on the church electoral roll are invited.If you wish to be on the electoral role this year, please collect a form from the church or contact Mr J R Wales on 01908 373907 This application must be submitted by 1st March 2002.

CAR BOOT SALE IN AID OF CHURCH FUNDS
Remaining bric-a-brac from the Autumn Bazaar has been sold very successfully at two Car Boot sales raising over an extra £100 for Church Funds. I would like to raise more funds this way but need things to sell so would welcome donations of unwanted household items, presents, etc. Please get in touch if you can help. Many thanks. Wendy Mills - Tel 374735. 

REFLECTIONS FOR LENT
February sees the start of Lent. This is traditionally a time for reflection and renewal in preparation for Easter. May the following Celtic prayers and blessings encourage and inspire you at this time.  

May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow
May the soft winds freshen your spirit.
May the sunshine brighten your heart.
May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you.
And may God enfold you in the mantle of love.

May the roads rise to meet you, 
May the wind be always on your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand

Open our eyes to your presence
Open our minds to your grace
Open our lips to your praises.

As the rain hides the stars,
As the Autumn mist hides the hills,
As the clouds veil the blue of the sky, 
so the dark happenings of my lot 
hide the shining of thy face from me.
Yet if I may hold thy hand in the darkness
It is enough....
Since I know that though I may stumble in my going,
Thou dost not fall.

Deep peace of the Running Wave to you.
Deep peace of the Flowing Air to you.
Deep peace of the Quiet Earth to you.
Deep peace of the Shining Stars to you.
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you.

PERFECT PANCAKES
The recipe below has never failed me. A heavy pan that distributes the heat evenly helps too. 
4oz (125g) Flour 
Half a pint (275ml) Milk 
1 egg
Put flour in a bowl, beat egg separately. Gradually add in milk and egg stirring all the time to break up lumps. Heat the pan, use as little oil as possible (hardly any in a non-stick pan). Ladle in small amount of mixture and swirl around to distribute. Let the bottom cook before attempting to turn. Cook briefly on the second side and serve.

WEBB IVORY
Many thanks to all who purchased from the Christmas Webb Ivory catalogue. The profit was £53.62 which has been donated to Church Funds. I now have the Spring catalogue - please ring me if you would like to see it. Diana Kesterton - Tel 372434.

PARENT & TODDLER GROUP

The group have enjoyed a fun packed and busy Christmas with parties and fundraising activities. We would like to thank Bow Brickhill First School for a space at the Christmas Fete and everyone who visited our stall. The duck catching was a great success with the funds raised being put towards new toys for the group. This year at the Christmas Party children enjoyed the soft play and a ball pit, toys and home area (from the Toy Library), craft activity, party food and a very special visit from Father Christmas (who we would also like to thank). For the adults we also had mulled wine with cake and a very successful raffle covering the costs of the event. The prizes were kindly donated by members of the group and McDonalds. As a result of hard work from our young budding artists:  Benjamin Summerfield, Charlie Knights, Nicholas Breslin, Thomas and Lucy Kane.

We have won second prize in the (PSLA) Toy Library design a poster competition. Winning a years membership.- Well done.

With a Planning Meeting and AGM due in January we are hoping to arrange some fun activities for children and parents in the coming months. If anyone is  interested in joining us at Toddlers we meet on a Thursday from 1:30 - 3:30 pm at the Pavilion, Rushmere Close, Bow Brickhill. Children from birth to School age are welcome. We look forward to seeing you.

GENERAL NEWS

PBB AND THE BEDFORD TO MILTON KEYNES CANAL PROPOSAL    Prerserve Bow Brickhill (PBB) is not adverse in principle to a rural canal through Bow Brickhill if it were to form an extension of the Milton Keynes linear park and the railway wild life corridor. 

However the presentation by British Waterways of Bedford & Milton Keynes Summary of the outline feasibility study for a new canal for the 21st century dated 2001, states that substantial construction is intended along the canal's length: waterside, housing,  restaurants, hotels, offices, shops, sporting facilities and marinas.

PBB exists to protect the village from inappropriate development and therefore opposes the current proposal routed through Bow Brickhill.

YOUTH ON SHOW
Rehearsals continue apace for our next production " A Ghost of a Smile",  scheduled to be performed before Easter. Watch this space for details. Thank you for all the white sheets we have been given. We'll soon have more in stock than Marks & Spencer!! If you would like to know more about Youth on Show contact: Heather 661389 or 07940 435033 or Mary 647003, powerplug@aol.com. Thank you.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
During January there were two sightings of a man acting suspiciously. One occurrence was in London End Lane and the other in Church Road, and both were late on frosty moonlit nights. Neighbourhood Watch is also operating via email - so if you have internet access and want to be included, please send an email to nw@bowbrickhill.com. Recent postings are also shown on www.bowbrickhill.com under Neighbourhood Watch.

PINOCCHIO
Tread the Boards Theatre Group presents Pinocchio at Wavendon Community Centre on Thursday 14th and Friday 15 February at 7.45 pm and Saturday 16 February at 2.45 pm and 7.45 pm. This small group of amateur thespians always puts on a very good show and Pinocchio is an entertainment for all the family. Tickets: Adult 4.50 pm,Children and Senior Citizens £3.50, or family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) £13,telephone 01908 582080, email chrissims24@aol.com or contact The Stables booking office.

Bow Brickhill Show 2001 Photographs
There is a very nice album of photographs from last year's show circulating the village. If you would like to look at it please contact Mary Preen 647003 or Julie Summerfield 645158.

Bow Brickhill School
We had a good year of fundraising last year and we are very grateful to everyone who has helped us with this. However we still need another £4000 to allow the library building to go ahead. Any ideas about how to raise this would be most welcme. We are particularly interested in finding company sponsors. The dates of the main events for this school year have been set and will be: Friday Mar 15th - Auction of Promises, Saturday July 6th - Summer Fete, Saturday November 2nd - Fireworks, Saturday 7th December – Christmas Bazaar (to be confirmed). Anyone from the village or the wider district is welcome to join the Friends of the School. If you would like more details contact Georgy on 372626.

Recycling 
Red Bins, Wednesdays Feb 5th, 19th
Blue Bins, Wednesdays Feb 12th, 26^th

BOW BRICKHILL CLUB
The festive season certainly kept its promise for the club, commencing on Tuesday December 4th, when our Christmas lunch at Splinters restaurant was enjoyed by thirty members. This was followed by a very generous buffet donated by Pauline and Tony at the Wheatsheaf on December 18th, only to be followed by our New Year party on January 1st 2002. Our next meeting will be in The Pavilion at 2.OOpm on Tuesday February 5th. The club would like to take this opportunity to wish all residents of Bow Brickhill a very happy New Year.

Mobile Library
By the War Memorial from 11 -11.15 am on the following Fridays: Feb 8th 22^nd.