Telephone numbers, e-mail and/or addresses printed in the Rudston Newsletter are in the public domain, as the Rudston Newsletter may be given to visitors to the area.

Just a reminder really, following problems encountered in neighbouring villages where outbuildings and sheds have been broken into and property stolen, power tools, garden equipment etc. Everything that will sell for cash..

Lock it up or lose it, simple as that. The same applies to caravans and trailers, they seem popular at the moment. Not for their intended use, but for scrap value.

Bogus officials and distraction burglaries appear to be an increasing problem, not around here but Hull and surrounding area. If someone calls and they are unable to produce relevant identification or you are not happy with them, say no thank you and don’t let them inside your house.

Write down a description and any vehicle number and inform the police or myself.

P.B. Smith

The next meeting is the Christmas Party at Margaret Reed’s, 7.30 pm.

Leader. Joan Jackson

Vote of Thanks. Pat Stephenson

I would like to say a big thank you for all of you who so generously contributed and provided Shoe Boxes full of gifts for the under privileged children in places of depravation. It was a joy to see them all in their colourful wrappings ready to be transported and to know that they will bring happiness to many needy children.

Eric was fortunate to visit the main depot in Hull. What he saw brought tears to his eyes as he saw volunteers packing thousands of shoe boxes that had been collected from all over the country. Rudston’s total this year was 53. Well done and thanks again.

Please collect all your postage stamps this Christmas.

Then pass them to either:-

Mrs Sue Gillbank at 7 Kilham Road Or Mrs Harper at 1 Council Bungalows, Eastgate. Thanks in advance.

The next meeting is the Christmas Dinner at the Bosville Arms.

7 for 7.30 pm.

Don’t forget your present, value £1.

Subscriptions due in February. £18.25.

Holly Wreaths from £4

Bulb Bowls from £3.50

Christmas Baskets from £5

Orders Taken

Winter Opening Times:-

Thursday, Friday, Saturday 12 — 4 pm.

Closed January and February

Tel. 01262 420617

1 – ADVENT SUNDAY

9.30 a.m. Holy Communion

8 9.30 a.m. Mattins

15 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion

9.30 a.m. Sunday School at Bethany Lodge

22 6.30 p.m. Carol Service followed by sherry & mince pies

24 – CHRISTMAS EVE

11.45 p.m. Midnight Mass

25 – CHRISTMAS DAY

9.30 a.m. Holy Communion

28 – HOLY INNOCENTS’ DAY

11.00 a.m. Holy Communion

29 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion [BCP]

1 – NAMING & CIRCUMCISION OF JESUS (NEW YEAR’S DAY)

10.30 a.m. Holy Communion

5 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion

6 – THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD (arrival of the Wise Men)

7.30 p.m. Holy Communion

12 9.30 a.m. Mattins

19 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion

9.30 a.m. Sunday School at Bethany Lodge

25 – THE CONVERSION OF ST PAUL

11.00 a.m. Holy Communion

26 8.00 a.m. Holy Communion [BCP]

6.30 p.m. Evensong

I know it’s hard when the shops start putting Christmas stuff out in September, but as far as the Church is concerned, Christmas starts at sunset on Christmas Eve, and runs for twelve days until Twelfth Night, January 5. And it is the duty of every confirmed member of the Church of England to receive Holy Communion at Christmas.

Welcomers Coffee Flower Rota

1 Dec Pat Stephenson Shirley Harland NO

8 Dec Joan Jackson FLOWERS

15 Dec Dick Robinson Joan & Hazel Conner IN

22 Dec Joan Conner Social Committee ADVENT

24 Dec Margaret Reed Joint

25 Dec June Sellers effort

29 Dec David Peace Joyce Peace for

5 Jan Joan Conner Pat Stephenson Christmas

12 Jan David Peace Mrs S Harland

19 Jan Joyce Peace Elizabeth Robinson Mrs S Harland

26 Jan Margaret Reed Mrs E Bowden

1 Dec Mrs E Robinson & Mrs S Harland

8 Dec Miss H Conner & Mrs P Stephenson

15 Dec Miss H Conner & Mrs P Stephenson

22 Dec Mrs C Gatenby

29 Dec Mrs C Gatenby

5 Jan Mrs A Cope & Mrs M Reed

12 Jan Mrs A Cope & Mrs M Reed

19 Jan Mr & Mrs D Peace

26 Jan Mr & Mrs D Peace

Wednesdays: Morning Prayer at 9.00 a.m. (not on Dec 25 or Jan 15)

Holy Communion at 10.30 a.m. (9.30 on Dec 25!)

Coffee is served afterwards!

Evening Prayer at 6.00 p.m. (not on Jan 15)

Saturdays: Morning Prayer at 9.00 a.m. (not on Jan 18)

Holy Communion: 11.00 a.m. on Dec 14, 28, Jan 4

6.30 p.m. on Dec 7, 21, Jan 11, 25

not on Jan 18

Evening Prayer at 6.00 p.m. (not on Dec 14 or Jan 18)

Christmas Coffee Morning: Come to the Bosville Arms on Tuesday December 10, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Raffle, cake stall, bring & buy, games, plus an opportunity to see the Art Gallery. Tickets £1.50 (with rumours of fresh-baked scones!). All proceeds to church.

Family New Year Party: Come and bring all the family to the Village Hall on Saturday January 4! The party starts with tea at 5 p.m., there will be games, and it all finishes at 7.30 p.m. Adults £2, children £1 – tickets from Mr & Mrs Corner on 420622.

Christmas Services: This year we are able to have a service on Christmas Day at 9.30 – full details of all Christmas services will be available in church from December 8. After all, if you plan your TV viewing in advance (as some do), then why not plan your churchgoing in advance too!

One year, when I was young, we spent Christmas with my grandparents in Germany. Christmas Eve came, and when it had got dark I was taken to church for a crib service by the men of the family, while the women decorated the house and Christmas tree. When we got home, everything was ready, and Christmas had arrived!

These days, it is so much harder to recapture the wonder of that moment when, on the right day, suddenly the house was transformed. All through our land, shopping centres have had their lights on for ages, trying to persuade us to part with our money – Christmas for them means the sound of tills ringing, not the sound of angels singing. And for many who have forgotten about religion, ‘Christmas fatigue’ will have set in long before December 24 or 25.

But the basic element of Christmas remains unchanged. Some 2000 years ago, a baby was born in a place called Bethlehem, whom they say was born of a virgin, and whom shepherds and wise men worshipped as the Son of God. No tinsel and turkey there – just wonder and awe. And still, in the depths of a quiet night, in church we remember the birth of the Saviour of the World. And having experienced the wonder of God’s love for us, even us, then we start to celebrate!

‘Jesus is the reason for the season’, so the Christian window sticker reminds us. I wish you all a happy Christmas, a holy Christmas, and yes, a very merry Christmas as well!

STEPHEN

Following the success of the first Open Exhibition for local artists it has been decided to make this a regular monthly event, where local artists can come along (by pre booking) and display and sell their own works.

The next two, (ONE JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS) will be on December 7^th & 8^th and the January 25^th and 26^th. Make a note in your diary; it’s a great show of over two hundred works at very good prices.

New teaching art video.

I am please to announce that the new ‘how to paint in watercolour’ video by Tony Hogan will be available by the first week in December. It is a very instructive and entertaining teaching video made by the top producers of this type of learning aid in the country. I am very honoured to have been selected to make such a video, which will be distributed by the makers throughout the world to a first mailing list of 80,000 names.

It makes a great Christmas present and will be available from the Art Centre Gallery for £17.99 or by mail order at £19.99

Original works of art for all.

To make original paintings affordable to all the gallery has introduced an interest free purchase plan when buying works over £200.

Original works over this level can now be obtained with a deposit of 50% and two further payments by standing order.

Works over £300 can be purchased with a 30% deposit and standing order payments over five months.

Snow over the Wolds painting.

Tony Hogan's most popular painting depicting an evening sunset over the snow covered Wolds from the top of Zig Zag has now been reproduced as a fine art print onto canvas. It is a limited edition of only one hundred and will be available from the gallery for £150.

A scheme has been launched by the government to enable villages to apply for grant money. The scheme is being promoted by The Countryside agency and advertised as Vital Villages.

The Parish Council decided to apply to join the scheme and has been working towards being accepted. The scheme has to encompass the views of all residents of the parish, not just one organisation. To achieve this it was decided to appoint a sub-committee and proceed with groundwork and include an open public meeting for villagers to put forward their ideas on what they would like to see happening in the village both now and in the next few years. From the views expressed a questionnaire will be sent to every house in the parish for everyone to have their say.

From the groundwork that has been done, sufficient money has been provided by the Countryside Agency to allow printing, distribution, collection and analysis of the questionnaire. This will become The Parish Plan.

When this process has been completed it will be possible to apply to the Countryside Agency for grants in three areas namely, transport, business, and environment, providing the village has expressed their wish for things to be done.

There is no guarantee that even when grants are applied for, any money will be available, but if there is no Parish Plan, grant money for this or any other scheme is unlikely to be considered since the first question on grant forms is “Have you done a Parish Plan/ contacted your community”.

The sub- committee comprises:

Jane Crossley

John Elsey

Tony Ezard Parish council representative

Tony Hogan Parish council representative

David Peace

Diane Piercy

Albert Pritchard Chairman

Charlie Richardson

If anyone would like more information, would like to join the committee or help in any way please contact any member.

Rudston Parish Council.

Please see Page 13 for “Ways to get Involved”

The feasibility study in respect of the proposed new Village Hall has now been completed and a meeting of the Rudston Village Hall Committee was held on Monday November 25th to discuss the implications of the findings of this study. A further meeting with the architect is planned within the next few weeks to discuss the next stage after which, it is hoped, a full report can be put forward to the village.

David Peace

Coordinator - Rudston Village Hall Committee.

CHURCH POSTCARDS, NOTELETS AND PRINTS

Tony Hogan has kindly painted a picture of Rudston All Saints Church in aid of church funds. Prints, postcards and notelets have been reproduced from the original and are available from the church and the Tony Hogan Art Centre Gallery.

Postcards are 20P each, notelets ( with envelope) 30P and A3 sized prints (on stiff card) £10.00. It is hoped that a framed print will be on show at the church within the next week or so. Please note that the A3 prints will only be available at The Tony Hogan Art Centre Gallery.

There has been quite a lot of interest of late by one or two people wanting to start a Conservation Group. It sounds like a good idea to me, so why not?

If anyone likes the idea, young or old, why not get in touch with Sue Ezard, Richard Gilbank, Charlie Richardson, Dianne at Eastgate Farm or myself.

John Elsey Tel. 420146 and let’s get it started.

For the good of this lovely village and the wildlife in and around it.

John Elsey

Many thanks to all those who have passed on records and brought specimens during the past year. It is particularly pleasing that some people who have not been in the village for very long have made contact.

Most of the recent activity surrounds the birds. As soon as the wind turned into the north and east there has been a steady progression of migrants. A few firecrests and a siskin made a brief appearance before moving on and there was a large arrival of male blackbirds and starlings. Many individuals of these latter species are still here and so are the woodcock, which arrived with them. Woodcock are however much more difficult to see, spending much of their time on the ground and in cover. A mixture of redwings and fieldfares arrived, spent a few days eating berries, and moved on. A short-eared owl, probably part of the same migration, has been hunting in daylight along Woldgate for a few days and is still there. At the same time as these arrivals the remaining swallows and house martins left us for their winter quarters. A pair of buzzards seems to have become resident and since there is plenty of food for them there is a good chance they may stay. There have been sporadic sightings of what is believed to be a red kite. One individual was known to be in the area and was being tracked by the staff of Harewood House from where it was released. Its transmitter has now stopped working and they have lost contact with the bird and have asked for any information. Bullfinches and tree sparrows have come back into gardens from the open countryside and greater spotted woodpeckers are again frequent visitors to nut supplies.

When the rain came after a dry spell, frogs again started moving to their over wintering places and many again became road casualties. This year’s froglets also moved and in one instance found their way into a house and covered the kitchen floor. Stoats and weasels have been reported more frequently than at any other time of year, almost all of them crossing roads. Roe deer, in small parties, have become much more visible, usually jumping out in front of cars in twos or threes and hedgehogs can still be seen on many nights.

Insects of note have been few and far between but a gorse shield bug was a surprise. A few late butterflies-recorded up to the first week in November- have been reported and moths are down to only a handful of individuals of two or three species, including the species which emerges latest of all in the year, the appropriately named winter moth. Please keep any reports and sightings coming and thanks once again to all those who contributed last year.

Each group that is willing to take on the following tasks will receive a payment into their club funds for their work.

Consult with members at your next meeting, tell them about the plan and proposed questionnaire. Ask them what’s good about living in Rudston, what's bad and what would make living in Rudston better. Note down the key points and give to one of the action team members.

Visit another group at one of their meetings and repeat the above exercise.

Deliver and collect questionnaires to an area of the Parish.

Assisting with inputting the data onto a computer.

Consult your group and others on the action plan that will be produced to address issues identified in the questionnaire.

BRIDLINGTON YOUNG FARMERS CLUB

Becoming a member of your local YFC is the first step to a great social life .Life in YFC is always fun – it doesn’t matter if you’re just interested in the social side of club life or want to get involved in community and environmental issues – it’s all about meeting new friends and enjoying yourself. Our club has lots of fun and gets to meet people all over the country. You don’t have to be from a farming background, most of the members at Brid Y.F.C are not .

Activities include:

Pub quizzes, competitions, ten pin bowling, tug of war, casino nights, discos, dances, team building events, international travel (fancy a trip to New Zealand? Our international exchange programme can take you anywhere you want to go), community projects, fundraising events… need we go on?

An official bit first this month. We finally got the return from the Audit, and they made no comment, so everything was OK. However, we now have to make the return available for anyone to see. The appropriate notice was placed on the notice-board in mid-November, the return is at Mr Tony Ezard’s in Eastgate until the 6th of December.

After initial approaches about the siting of the new bus shelter it looks as if we’ll be forced into the “complicated” route, so this could take some time.

The meeting on transport, which many will have attended in November, may have some bearing on that. By the time this is read, I and others will have discovered more at the Parish Council meeting on 27th November. The Vital Villages Scheme sub-committee only partly consists of members, but any grants to be applied for will be through the Parish Council. The Government made lots of money available for rural transport and we must try and help them spend it! This money might not be offered for rural transport again, which is why it would be nice to try and get something now.

Having just learned of the imminent change of ownership at the shop, I’m sure I can speak on behalf of the Parish Council in wishing Mary and Dave much future happiness and thank them for their many years in Rudston. The past few years have seen other villages lose their shop altogether, and they and those who support the local shop earn special thanks. In welcoming our new friends, let us all hope this continues.

While I’m “on behalf of” its that certain time of year again, so a Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for the New Year to all. The next Parish Council meeting will probably be at the end of January but notices will appear as usual.

The NFWI believe that when the letters begin to be sent out, they may not make the available options clear and that people may be led to think that they have no option but to have their money paid via a Current Account they already have, or that they must open such an account. If this is what you decide to do, then that’s fine but there is a choice. You could open a new type of account, a Post Office Card Account, which will enable the payment of your benefit, in cash at the Post Office.

The payment method will be slightly different in that you will need to take the card you will be issued with, to the Post Office, insert it into the new machine which has been installed at the counter, and key in your Personal Identification Number (PIN). The machine will then display the amount of cash available for withdrawal; you will take your card from the machine and hand it to the Postmaster telling him how much you want, he will insert it into his machine and pay you the amount requested.

There are certain benefits in this system in that you will not need to take out the whole of your pension or benefit money but will be able to withdraw only the amount you need at the time and leave the rest to accrue, in safety, until you need the extra to pay the electric, gas and telephone quarterly accounts or your Council Tax. You will not then have the worry of having surplus cash in the house waiting for the bills to arrive.

It also takes away the worry of losing one’s payment book or worse, having it stolen. The card you are issued will be of no use to anyone else provided you do not write your PIN number down and keep it with the card. The two things must be kept separate.

The main message is, don’t worry, these changes are not going to happen overnight. The letters are being sent out now, first to those in receipt of War pensions I believe, then through all the other benefits, with the whole process supposed to be in place by 2005. Just be aware that there is a choice. If you want to be paid at the Post Office and also help to preserve our rural post offices, then you can opt to do that just by opening a Post Office Card Account. They are not available yet but will be by the time they are needed. Your letter may not make this clear. Don’t be hassled into doing something that will not be convenient for you but more convenient for the Benefits Agency!! Good Luck!!

By Dick Robinson

This is not the time of year to be enjoying the beauty of the traditional English herbaceous borders. Most of the true perennial plants are by now completely dormant and are not a pretty sight, yet it is now that the work starts if a new border is planned or if an existing one is ready for a little ‘first aid’. All such borders do need regular attention during the winter to split up plants that may have grown too big and at the same time put back into the soil manure or compost, for a real he herbaceous border is only successful if the land is fertile enough for most of our perennial varieties.

Unfortunately, we seldom see the real herbaceous border that was once so common in the old state gardens and in the public parks, even at Wisley, the two long borders, backed by Yew hedges, have long since gone. These two, each twelve feet wide with a central grass path the same width and about fifty feet long, all running North and South were a sight to behold, a fantastic collection of perennials, but the labour involved each year was excessive. Two workers spent most of their time in charge of this feature, planting, weeding, thinning out dead shoots, staking and supporting the many species and varieties, dead-heading and edging the path, to a very high standard. I know, having been one of the workers in the summer of 1948! Memories to treasure.

These days we have mixed borders of annuals, perennials both herbaceous and permanent, even shrubs all give the maximum display during the year well into October. Tall ones to the rear and the small to the front, was the usual planting plan, but it’s what the individual likes, suffice to say it is hard work, so if your border needs renovating, there is just time before Christmas diner, so get cracking if the weather allows.

A Happy Christmas to all our readers.

We in the East Riding have many different soil types ranging from the heavy clays of Holderness and Howdenshire, to the sandy lands and gravel, silts and the carr soils which are the remains of plant life donkeys years ago. We on the Wolds have a mix of soil types overlaying the white chalk, the most northerly chalk in the UK. Gardeners talk about loam when discussing seed and potting composts, loam can be best described as a soil that has a balance of clay, sand, grit and humus, having said this, it is still a poor analysis, the old loam stacks found in the estate gardens were rich in fibre, having been made from thick turf cut from the old grass pastures and kept in a tidy stack for at least a year, the perfect material for making potting compost for a whole range of glasshouse plants.

The well-tried John Innes composts have sterilised loam as their main ingredient plus sand, peat, fertilisers and lime.

The nursery trade use the loam less composts these days but there is a lot to be said for a good old-fashioned loam compost, that’s my view, I must be getting out of date!

Salad potatoes are ‘in’ along with the humble shallot. Watch any TV cooking programme and the shallot has taken over from the onion and its now very fashionable to have salad spuds.

My first experience with these was 62 years ago as a garden boy at Thorpe Hall where the old variety ‘Pink Fir Apple’ was planted. Having tried a few, or rather my mother had the job, the conclusion was “that they were too twisted and curled to be able to clean,” a bit like some cloves of the Jerusalem Artichoke—so that was the end of salad potatoes in the Robinson household.

A few years ago I did grow Ratte when it first came on the market, far easier to prepare. Now this year I was given some Charlotte, a big smooth second early salad spud which I like, especially cold so from now on I shall try to plant a few. It does crop well in Driffield I’m told so should do well here at Rudston. My latest list has eight of these salad potatoes on offer ranging from the old Pink Fir Apple of 1880 to my new Charlotte. Other to grow if one likes, include Anya, Roseval and Juliette.

I still like Yuccan Gold as a main crop. It has a taste of its own but we all have our favourite, there are so many new ones to try.

You are all invited to an

There will be refreshments of Tea/Coffee/Squash and mince pies

Tickets £1 for Adults

Children Free

A Raffle will be held and the proceeds will go to the Alfred Bean Hospital appeal.

Please come and support what we hope will be an enjoyable evening to raise money for a good cause.

We look forward to seeing you all.

Building drawings, Planning and

Building Regs, Applications,

General draughting and

technical services.

Large format printing to A1.

Competitive rates. No job too small.

Please telephone David Peace

(01262) 420675

for an informal discussion

without obligation.

1/4 Page £2.50 per issue.

1/2 Page £5.00 per issue.

Full Page £10 per issue.

Please make cheques payable to

Treasurer: Tony Ezard, 420276.

Please note that your advert is also added to the

Rudston newsletter Website—FREE!

E-mail rudstonnews@supanet.com

MediBus 01482 395533,

E-mail: richard.willis@eastriding.gov.uk

The Library van calls every other Wednesday starting April 18^th, stopping in Eastgate and Long Street around 1.30.

Fishman – Chris Rudd calls every Wednesday, around 9am with fresh fish. If you want Chris to call, ring him on 605489 (home) or 0498 652675 (mobile).

Butcher – Mr Thompson from Burton Fleming comes every Tuesday and Friday. Tel. 01262 470236

Milk – is delivered by James Cole. Tel. 01262 604641

Many thanks to Pauline Warters for the above additions to this page. Please keep them coming!
East Riding of Yorkshire Council — Customer Services Centres:-

Tel: 01262 422500, Fax: 01262 422509

Tel: 01377 255556, Fax: 01377 253655

Eastgate Farm 420074