Village news
REMEMBRANCE
REFLECTION. In the approach to Remembrance Day this weekend, Sutton Bonington’s Rev Michael Brock, writing in the parish church newsletter, has recalled his earlier days when he was growing up in Coventry.
“I watched the new Cathedral rise alongside the ruins of the old Cathedral. The old Cathedral was badly damaged during a German air raid on the night of the 14 November 1940. Soon after the raid, a cross, made from two charred beams, was erected at the east end of the burnt out ruins and beneath it were placed words spoken by Jesus as he was being nailed to the cross by Roman soldiers, ‘Father forgive’. These two words were to shape the vision on the new cathedrals mission.”
The Rev Brock says that 18 years after the Coventry bombing, Canon Joseph Poole wrote a simple prayer which has given shape to the cathedral’s ministry of international reconciliation over the past fifty years.
“As we approach Remembrance Sunday on the 12 November, not only do we remember the fallen, we also pray for peace in our troubled world,” he says, adding: “We know, only too well, how elusive and difficult the path to peace is. This prayer recognises that lasting peace is built on humility and contrition – a willingness to recognise how we have fallen short of God’s standards, but it also recognises that we must be ready to forgive those who have hurt us.”
The Minister says we are all too aware of the divisions within nations and between nations, in Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. “The barriers of ignorance, mistrust and hostility seem insurmountable and potentially extremely dangerous. Yet we know from the conflicts of the past the enormity of the suffering that can result from our failure to find the path to peace. This prayer invites us to take the first step towards peace by asking God to forgive us. When we receive that forgiveness, then we are ready to forgive each other and be at peace with them,” he says. REMEMBRANCE DAY. Remembrance Day this weekend will be marked in Sutton Bonington with a United Service of Remembrance with a parade by the Uniformed Organisations, with the service being held at 10.45am on Sunday at St Michael’s Church. The service will include wreath laying and the two minutes silence at 11am. Poppies will be scattered from the tower at the end of the service. Children of all ages are most welcome.
Next year Remembrance Day on November 11 will be exactly 100 years to the day since the ending of World War 1 and nationwide special commemorations will be taking place to mark that fact. CHRISTMAS MARKET. Christmas is coming is the well used verse of words at this time of the year and Sutton Bonington parish churches of St Anne’s and St Michael’s will be getting into the spirit of the season when they hold their annual Christmas Market on Saturday November 25th, from 2.30pm at the Village Hall.
In addition to all the usual stalls the church leaders say that they are hoping that Santa Claus will be available to come, to make his first official visit to the village for Christmas 2017. GARDEN WALKABOUT. Sutton Bonington has become renowned for its Garden Walkabout as it raises much needed funds for Cancer Research
The 2017 fund raiser was again a marvellous success and raised the wonderful figure of £5,591 to bring the grand total raised so for the Charity during the Walkabout’s thirty-five year history in the village – with some help from neighbouring Kingston on Soar -- to an amazing £155,997. And the organisers say add to that figure the funds raised at other events such as Christmas and the figure then exceeds £200,000!!
Many grateful thanks have been passed on to those who have helped in any way over the years.
Now those who are behind the annual event says that the few of them who organise this popular and successful activity think that the time has come for some fresh faces and new ideas. The existing group feels it has “Walkabout Burnout”!
“For example, there could be a completely new group of people who might like to take the event forward in a different way or in support of a different charity. Perhaps the existing committee could be augmented by someone with skills in modern advertising/communication techniques or who is interested in any of the roles currently shared out between four committee members liaising with the charity, approaching gardeners, organising various stalls and refreshment locations, cake making and selling, collating the programme. Could you possibly help with any of these?”
The annual Christmas fundraiser for the cause will take place on Saturday November 11 between 2.00pm and 4.00pm in the village hall. The four group members will be in the hall for much of that day and would welcome anyone interested calling in to have a word with them. They say alternatively, anyone can contact any of the any of them at any time – Rosy Hopkinson (672811), Mary Thomas (672056), Joyce Winton (672026) or Rachel Blackshaw (672144) and they look forward to getting calls. CHIEF TOLD ABOUT SPEEDING ISSUE. The new Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire, Craig Guildford, has been told by the parish council at Sutton Bonington there is a speed issue in the village.
The move by the council - they also wrote to the Chief Executive of Notts County Council with the same message – followed the council looking at the Speed survey results carried out earlier this year using the Community Road Safety Scheme/Speed Trolley.
The results showed the 85 percentile figure as 32mph in the advisory 20mph zone, this showed that 85.3% of motorists were speeding.
The council agreed that the figures were sent to Nottinghamshire County Council Chief Executive and the Chief Constable informing them that there is a speed issue in the village and request that action be taken.
The village representative on Notts County Council , Coun. Andy Brown, has also been copied in to the correspondence. FOREST SCHOOLS. Sutton Bonington Primary School are very pleased to be running a series of Forest Schools sessions once again this year, led by Mrs Blossom, a qualified Forest School practitioner. During the sessions she will be accompanied by one of the teaching assistants at the school, taking groups of around 8-10 children depending on the class size.
Each class will have a block of sessions over the course of the year, with every child in school having two visits to the woods by the village playing field.
Head teacher Mr Mark Brumwell says the activities may include shelter-building, story-telling, team games, nature identification and a drink and snack by an open fire!
He says for those not familiar with Forest Schools, its ethos is “to offer all learners regular
opportunities to achieve, develop confidence and self-esteem, through hands on learning experiences in a local woodland or natural environment with trees.” VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT SURVEY. A Village Development Survey undertaken in Sutton Bonington by the parish council showed that just 10 per cent of the village had responded with 50 residents stating that they did not want to see any further development in the village and 24 stating that they would like to see development take place. STATION ROAD JUNCTION
SIGN. Sutton Bonington’s Station Road junction is not likely to get a ’Stop’ sign in place of its current ‘Give Way’, says a Notts County Council officer.
Emails from Kendra Hourd, the Area Highways manager, and the Accident Investigation Team have responded to the parish council on the matter, pointing out that the junction does not meet the visibility criteria for it to be changed from a ‘Give Way’ junction to a ‘Stop’ junction and that visibility is much better than the criteria required by the Dft.
The County Officer has also pointed out that road markings have recently been repainted and foliage that was restricting views has been cut back.
Students at the University Campus have been asked to sign an online petition regarding changing the junction to a ‘Stop’ junction. A letter, as circulated, has been sent to the Accident Investigation Team with copies to the village representative on the County, Coun. Andy Brown, the Nottinghamshire Chief Executive and Kendra Hourd.
WHIST. It was a good night’s work for Joan and Bill Kyle at Monday night’s Whist Drive, held on 30th October, as between them they won three prizes, nineteen players taking part.
Whist winners were; Joan Kyle 174, Bill Kyle 172, Brenda Stainsby 169, Pat Knight 168, Dorothy Winfield 165 and Alan Richardson 164.
Colin Stinchcombe won the Consolation prize which was two Tiramisu desserts.
Raffle prizes were won by Doreen Wright, Mike Grout, Dorothy Winfield and Bill Kyle.
The “13 Kitty” survived the evening and moved on to £5. It is there to be won at our next Whist Drive which will be held on Monday 13th November starting at 7.30pm as usual.