Sutton Bonington Mike Elliott 0115 937 6506 elliottnews@btconnect.com

SUTTON BONINGTON SHOW. Sutton Bonington’s Show annual meeting last week was a special one for former chairman John Barton, for after over 40 years connection with the event he was stepping down to take a back seat.

Mr Barton was connected with the very first show when it was held in the former Plough public house - now a private dwelling - in the village next door to the Post Office. He became involved after a few friends with allotments in the village said they should organise a show.

The initial show was a success and it soon had to move to the village hall where there was more room. And over the years it has grown to what it is now, one of the biggest of its type in Nottinghamshire and looked upon by hundreds of people as a show not to miss.

The demise some 40 years ago of Kingston Show -which was described as a very successful horse show being held every August Bank Holiday, and combined with a few dairy cows being shown, and an exhibition of horticultural produce, etc. – allowed the event at Sutton Bonington to expand.

Under the leadership of numerous village folk, the event became more and more popular – and bigger and bigger. One of those leaders was the late Roger Dyson, who died suddenly a couple of weeks before the 2010 show. His ambition had been to make sure everyone knew the name Sutton Bonington and to tie with it the annual show.

Shortly before his untimely death, hugely popular Roger, in an interview with the Echo, said the 2009 Show – the last one he saw –was one of the best they had held and resulted in a record charity pay out of £7535. But he wasn’t satisfied and had wanted to make 2010 even better. But it became a memorial to him instead of the show visitors seeing him dashing around the showground in his own inimitable style.

The 2009 event introduced a new showground layout, and this was another big success. It was one that Roger instigated.

The show committee, in a statement prior to the 2010 show, at which there was a minute’s silence for the former chairman. said that the forward in the programme for the event that year was written by Roger just days before his passing. “It reflects his enthusiasm for the show, and his legacy which we hope to continue, to give enjoyment to many and to help worthy causes.”

At the annual meeting last week chairperson Chris Littledyke said they had received a number of letters of thanks from the organisations they had been able to give grants to following the 2017 event which she said despite some weather problems had gone reasonably well and has resulted in a very good financial report. The total pay-out to local groups and charities for 2017 had been £5,200 in all, with the donations being S.B. Play scheme £150, S.B. Luncheon Club £350, Community First Responders £250, Mayor of Rushcliffe Charity Appeal £250, S.B. Scouts £300, S.B. Guides £300, Loughborough Cancer self-help group £500, Air Ambulance £500, Bowel Cancer Research £500, Hayward House £600 and Nottingham Breast Institute £1,500

The Air Ambulance said the generous donation they had received had not been expected this year and they were very grateful for it, as were the Nottingham Breast Institute.

She said the committee were sad to receive the retirement news from Mr Barton and gave him a huge thank-you for all his efforts over the years. She paid tribute to everyone who had helped to ensure the annual event was another success, saying the fact they carried out such a lot of work both before show day and on it did bring the success it had been.

New secretary Lucie Ashley -Carter extended a warm welcome to all members to the Meeting.

She said as an elected committee, one of their main goals was to generate income to cover their costs and raise monies for their chosen charities.

In 2017 there had been ten meetings between March and November and they also had a subcommittee meeting to discuss changes to the field layout.

The show party was great collaborative event for fundraising for the Village Playgroup and over £3,000 was raised, with Sarah Cowley, Amelia Benskin, Juliet Brunt and many others putting a lot of work in to make this event such a great success.

The secretary’s report looked at the future and said whilst not losing the essence of what makes the Sutton Bonington Show so special small changes/suggestions have been made. “The loss of the Jets Ride will change the look and feel of the Show ground for 2018,” added the secretary’s report.

“Fundraising is a vital component for any committee to not only survive, but to also ensure that we can develop and provide an excellent Show for the wider community. While Fundraising is increasingly harder to undertake I think the more the work is shared out amongst committee members the easier the load for all of us. To this end it is great that Richard, Jackie and the dog-walking crew have agreed to help resurrect the raffle for 2018. Thank You.”

Election of officers for 2018 was as follows: Chairperson: Chris Littledyke, Secretary: Lucie Ashley-Carter, Field Manager: Andrew Corbett. Gate Manager: Paul Winson. Gate Assistant: Zoe Utton. Event Safety Planning: Richard Johnson

PLANS. Parish councillors at Sutton Bonington have not objected to plans for the replacement of existing main entrance door and door to rear elevation of the listed building at 40 Main Street in their village.

PLAYSCHEME. The date has been fixed for the 2018 summer play scheme in Sutton Bonington, with it being held over a two-week period starting Monday July 30 and running through to the final day Friday August 10. The annual event usually attracts scores of local children and it is always recorded as a big success.

EXTENSION. A single storey rear and side extension at 19 Park Lane in Sutton Bonington has been given planning permission by Rushcliffe Borough Council. They have also approved the erection of a proposed single storey orangery to rear of property at 72a Melton Lane and the replacement of existing main entrance door and door to rear elevation of the listed building at 40 Main Street in the village.

CRIME UPDATE. Only three crimes in Sutton Bonington were reported to police in the three-month period running up to Christmas and then last month.

In November the single reported crime was on the 29th between 10am and 4pm when unknown suspects forced entry to a property on Hungary Lane and stole items within.

In December on the 6th an incident on Charnwood Fields involved scrap metal and waste oil taken from garden of a property there and then between December 28 and 29 on Rectory Fields a car broken into by unknown means resulted in an untidy search, but nothing taken.

Rushcliffe South Beat Manager PC Kelly Carlile said there was no crime reported in January.

AUCTION. A sum of £75 was raised by Sutton Bonington parishioners who supported the auction of produce following the Harvest Festival service with the cash being sent to Severn Trent’s Water Aid Appeal.

A ‘thank you’ letter received by the church explains how such gifts of money help them to provide clean water, safe sanitation and hygiene to the world’s poorest people. “Thanks to everyone who contributed,” say both the church and the appeal organisers.

FUEL THEFT. Police have put out a warning over incidents of theft of Fuel from vehicles in parts of Rushcliffe, saying in a short period of time they have taken five reports of fuel tanks being drilled and fuel drained off in West Bridgford and then Ruddington. Vehicles currently targeted have been a Vauxhall Zafira, Fiat 500, Nissan Note, Ford Focus and a Nissan Qashqai.

The police statement said all victims report incidents had taken place overnight.

“It is likely that this is not a quick job for the offenders; whereby having to drill your tank and place containers underneath to collect the fuel as it drains, before returning to collect the containers.”

The warning goes on: “If you hear any noises outside, or your security light illuminates, please look out your window to see what has caused this, checking that nobody is near or under your vehicle.

“If you have any information as to who is responsible, please call us on 101 quoting incident 000570-02022018 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

BOULDERING. A free session offering visitors an opportunity to have a go at bouldering on the Sutton Bonington campus of Nottingham University climbing wall attracted many people. Climbing is a fun activity for people of all abilities and leaders were happy to provide help and advice to those involved while others were or just left to it to have some fun!

WHIST DRIVE. The third weekly whist drive, under the auspices of Sutton Bonington Bowls Club, took place on Monday, February 12 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall The drive was attended by only 17 players, and it is hoped that the number will grow has word gets around.

This week’s winners were Doreen Wright, Freda Blyth, David Gee, Joan Ball, Dorothy Winfield and Karen Trout. The highest half winners were. Trevor Popay and Mike Grout. Raffle winners were Brian Tipper, Maureen Johnson, Joan Ball and Freda Blyth.

Thanks again go to my fellow Bowls Club members who have turned out during our closed season to help set up, make and serve tea and biscuits and donate prizes.