Firstly I must apologise for the lateness of the last newsletter. Unfortunately last month everything that could go wrong did and it was all out of our control - so this month we are keeping our fingers crossed. We do our best to get the each issue out as soon as possible and it does help a lot if articles meant for the newsletter are in on time.

I’ve had various people stop and ask me about the amount of dog dirt that is around the village footpaths. We do not dislike dogs, just their dirt, so please dog owners don’t let your dog foul the footpaths. I am aware that it does not apply to all dog owners.

Whilst walking along the beckside on Sunday afternoon I was confronted by two cyclists and two very large horses. I was on the footpath just before the children’s playground, the riders did wait near the playground until I passed, had I been nearer the Eastgate Bridge end of the footpath I dread to think what would have happened. There is hardly room for two people to cross on the path let alone a horse. As I continued along the path towards the Village Hall I noticed the horses had chopped the grass up on the playground with their hooves. I didn’t recognise the horseriders so I don’t think they were local. I’m asking the Parish Council is there anything that can be done to prevent this becoming a regular habit, after all it is a footpath, not a bridle path.

I must reassure people who have given me poems etc. for the newsletter, if they have not appeared yet it is because we have not had room for them , but rest assured they will be used when space permits. So do keep your articles coming in please.

Now we come to one of the hardest things that I have ever had to write. I’m sure everyone would like to join me in extending our heartfelt sympathies to Mr Edwin Wilson and his family following the tragic death of Mrs Margaret Wilson. We must also remember Elsie, Margaret’s twin sister and Len Wilson and their families. Everyone who knew the family has been stunned and left in deep shock, until recently Heather lived in Southside Lane in our village. We are thinking of you all at this tragic time and sharing your grief. Our once idyllic surroundings have been violated by wicked and evil forces. Never, ever again will we be able to enjoy our carefree way of life, it has been tainted by an evil we will never forget. Words fail me, it should never have happened to anyone, let alone such a lovely person who lived for her family and friends. God bless you all and help you at this sad time.

I would like to send our best wishes to Mrs Audrey Coulbeck, Mrs Nellie Milner and Mrs Beryl Wood, we hope you’ll soon be fully recovered after your recent spells in hospital.

All articles for the April Newsletter no later than 22nd March to:

Barbara Lingard

Thank you very much.

Elsie

1st 10.30 am Holy Communion & Imposition of Ashes ( Ash Wednesday )

5th 9.30 am Holy Communion

12th 11.00 am Mattins

18th 9.00 am Holy Communion ( St Joseph )

19th 9.30 am Holy Communion

9.30 am Sunday School ( in the Old School )

25th 9.00 am Holy Communion ( Lady Day )

26th 8.00 am Holy Communion ( Book of Common Prayer )

4.00 pm Mothering Sunday Service for all the family

Welcomers Coffee

5th Joan Jackson June Sellars

12th June Sellars

19th John Gatenby Joan & Hazel Conner

26th Lady Mary

Flower Rota Cleaning Rota

5th No Lady Juliet & Mrs L Proctor

12th Flowers Mrs J Sellars

19th during Mrs J Sellars

26th Lent Mrs W & Mrs J Gatenby

Wednesdays - Morning Prayer at 9.00 am

Holy Communion at 10.30 am

Evening Prayer at 6.00 pm

Saturdays - Before a 1st or 3rd Sunday : Morning Prayer at 8.30 am

Holy Communion at 9.00 am

Evening Prayer at 6.00 pm

- Before a 2nd or 4th Sunday : Morning Prayer at 9.00 am

Evening Prayer at 6.00 pm

Holy Communion at 6.30 pm

Please check the notice-board for last-minute alterations.

You are all welcome to our special Mothering Sunday service on March 26th at 4.00 pm - there should be something for everyone! Please note also that there will be a Book of Common Prayer communion service at 8.00 that morning ( now there’s something different! ).

Every Wednesday from March 8th to April 5th, at 7.00 pm at Westcroft, for just under an hour, we will meet for discussion. All are welcome to any or all of the meetings. Come and join in!

The unspeakable excitement of this yearly affair takes place at 7.30 pm on Friday March 17th at Westcroft. Everyone is welcome to attend, regular churchgoers or not.

Many of you will already have read this, but I think it bears repeating:

Margaret Wilson - R.I.P

I am sure I speak for all right-thinking folk when I say that I was utterly shocked and horrified by the tragic death of Margaret Wilson last month, and our sympathies go out to all her family and friends.

Many people will be wondering why it happened. As yet, there are no answers, and I don’t think, the way things are at the moment, that there ever will be. Such an act can only be born out of some sort of evil. But we can console ourselves with the thought that evil cannot and will not overcome.

However much we might lose sight of it from time to time, and especially at moments like this, the victory has been won by Jesus Christ, and there is eternal life for Margaret to rest in peace, God grant that her place is set at the heavenly banquet.

So until it is our turn, God willing, to join her there, let us all remember her and the family in our prayers, and try to recapture normal life as soon as we can.

I did also promise something on Lent in last month’s offering. The purpose of Lent is for us to concentrate on our sins, on what we do wrong, and try to do better - so that when Holy Week comes, we can remember for ourselves those sins which we nail to the cross with Jesus. And also remember that he forgives us - providing we ask him for forgiveness. And that’s where this idea of giving things up can perhaps help. If one of our sins is gluttony, then perhaps we can give up some food. If one of our sins is not thinking enough about God, then perhaps we can give up some of our time and go to church more, or read a spiritual book, maybe even the Bible. But there is no point in just giving something up for no further reason. Lent is there for us to improve ourselves, spiritually, and not just for us to get depressed. And maybe some of us might do better to do something extra rather than give something up.

Three other little points. First, although it will often be obvious, you shouldn’t go around telling everyone what you’re doing for Lent; it’s between you and God. Second, if you are giving something up, remember that any money you save ought properly to go to some good cause - Lent is not there to make you richer! And finally, if you are giving something up, remember that Sundays don’t count. Sunday is always the Day of the Resurrection, whatever the season. ( How else could Lent only be forty days long . . . )

Happy Lent!

Stephen.

Ladies and Gentlemen you are invited to a Coffee Evening in the Village Hall on March 7th at 7.30 pm in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. Dick Robinson will be showing slides of Wisley Gardens.

Admission 50p to include coffee and home made biscuits. There will also be a raffle so do come and support this worthwhile cause.

I would like to thank Audrey and all my friends at the Craft Club for the lovely cakes, wine and flowers to celebrate my birthday. I’m sure we all enjoyed ourselves, many thanks once again.

Pat Stephenson

Residents of Southside Lane. I am sorry to read that you are still having parking problems. I only hope you do not have to wait as long as we have on Long Street to get the house numbers correct. 8 years have passed and the situation is still unsolved. Perhaps we are complaining to the wrong person’s concerned ?????

I would like to thank all friends who have asked after my health and also the lovely cards and flowers I have received both in hospital and at home. I am now recovering, thank you.

Audrey Coulbeck

With effect from 15th February 1995, Humberside Police are operating a vehicle watch scheme throughout the whole county. I would like to explain how the scheme works.

There is no fee payable to enable you to take part. The scheme will operate between the hours of midnight and 5.00 am daily and by joining you would be informing the police that your car would not normally be used during those hours and should it be seen it may have been stolen. If the vehicle is seen being driven during the operating times it may be stopped and the driver’s details checked to ascertain that the vehicle is being driven with the consent of the owner.

Anyone interested in joining the scheme can apply to Driffield Police Station.

I once more ask everyone to please note the number of any car that is acting strrange in the village and let me know.

Julia Overfield

Area co-ordinator

from Tony Ezard

At the end of January a greenfinch was brought to me which had been found dead. On it’s left leg was a ring bearing the inscription "British Museum" and a code number. The ring signifies that the bird had been caught, probably in a mist net, by an authorised bird ringer. Such people are carefully monitored and have to undergo a good deal of training and inspection before they are granted a licence to trap and ring wild birds. They must account for every ring used and forward the details of all captures (and releases) to the headquarters of the British Trust for Ornithology. When any of the ringed birds is found dead much valuable information can be gained on such things as the life expectancy and movement of birds, providing of course that the information on the ring is passed to the right place. One such bird ringer has been allowed to operate in our area for the last few years and it is likely that the dead greenfinch was rung locally, but the ring details have been sent off to the appropriate authority for checking. They are, unfortunately, rather long winded and it may be some time before a reply is received.

Perhaps the most unusual record for some time is that of a blackcap feeding in a local garden. The blackcap is normally one of our summer migrant songsters, but for a few years individuals have been reported overwintering not many miles from here. As far as I am aware this is the first time one has done so in our area and it is good to have confirmation that this happens here.

Since the Gypsey Race started to flow a little faster the kingfisher has returned and has been seen by at least five people in the area of the Village Hall. Many of the birds are showing signs that spring is close by, chaffinches in particular have adopted full breeding plumage, mallard have been paired for a while and the earliest of them will probably have started laying eggs by now, blue and great tits are inspecting nest boxes and robins are defending territory. Spring is not yet here however and many birds are still relying on bird tables to supplement their food, but strangely some birds, greenfinches in particular, seem to be almost absent at some feeders while plentiful at others.

The first of the moths have started to emerge, most have been those expected at this time of year, but one in particular, the chestnut, is slightly different. The chestnut is one of only a handful of moths and butterflies which hibernates and it was tempted out during a mild spell in February to be found sitting at an outside light.

Tony Ezard

The Playground Committee wish to thank everybody for taking part in buying raffle tickets for the Christmas Trolley Dash. The winner was a farmer from Wilsthorpe who wished to remain anonymous. He also did not want the prize so he gave it to a young mum who lives next door to him. She managed to grab £298 worth of groceries for Christmas. We sold £818 worth of tickets, with deductions to take off - £298 for the trolley dash, £35 for a gaming licence and £50 for raffle tickets. The remainder of the money is in the Playground Committee’s Funds which brings the Grand Total to date to £2100.

On Monday 27th February the contractor will be seeing Mr Kevin Ashby and also Mr Peter Gray to arrange a date to start the first stage of the new playground to be built (very soon I hope) and once again we wish to thank you for your contributions and we are still trying to think of ways to make more money for the playground because everything has to be replaced according to safety regulations.

K.Ashby.

On Friday 3rd March at 2.00 pm a small group of conservation volunteers are coming to Rudston to plant trees in the recently levelled pit. There are 250 trees to plant and to get the job finished in the time available they will need some help from the village. Please try to spare an hour on this afternoon and let’s have the job done!

Warm a lemon before use to give double the juice.

To keep lettuce crisp, add a few drops of lemon juice to the final rinsing water. Salt makes lettuce flabby.

Don’t throw away the hard core of cabbage, eat it raw or grate it coarsely and add to the cabbage in the pot.

Slice raw mushrooms and serve with french dressing

Prospective New Members are invited to attend this meeting. It is extremely good value as it entitles you to play at any time you wish and you are given a key to the Sports Pavilion. Club equipment is available until you are sure you want to be a bowler. If you need further information please ring me, or call at the Old Butchers Shop.

The final of the Indoor Bowls Sunday Knockout Competion, the Norma Collis Memorial Cup will be on Sunday 19th March at 2.00 pm. The presentation for the Stevenson League Cup will take place after the match. Please come and support the finalists. Tea and cakes will be served and a bowls match for those present will be organised. Fee 50p. Prizes. Everyone welcome.

Jim Warters would like to thank everyone who wished him well after his recent operation. He is doing very well and who knows, he may be bowling this summer.

We are all delighted Norah Dawson is improving and hope she will be able to join us this year on the green.

Hon.Sec. Pauline Warters.

PS. There is a brightly coloured striped umberella hung in my back porch. Is it yours? Left after the Sunday Luncheon.

Those who read the Free Press report on the speed limit may have concluded that things were at a standstill. My own reply from the County Council is a little more encouraging. They say that consultation is taking place and we will be contacted again when a decision has been reached.

We have had some correspondence from the East Yorkshire Community Health Council who are willing to send representatives to speak to groups of people on three main topics:

"Know what your Community Health Council does for you", "Express your views about the Health Service" and "Have a discussion on some aspect of Health Care".

At our last meeting, your Parish Council was not sure what interest (if any) there would be in the village for this sort of thing. I am to ask, therefore, that if anyone would specially like such a meeting in the village, would they contact me before 15th March please? I may be contacted by telephone on 0377 257695 or via Mr K. Tattershall at No 8. Long Street. We will only arrange a meeting if enough people are interested.

I hope it won’t affect us, but Humberside County Council’s Emergency Planning Service wish it to be known that information on their new Flood Warning Service can be obtained by telephone on 0482 883188.

Some people have seen the Home Energy Conservation Bill posters around the village. Don’t worry - the Parish Council are not about to march on Parliament! If any individual feels strongly enough, they can go of course. The Bill is explained on the poster but it may be noted that it is not supported by any local M.P.’s. The Parish Council was asked to support this originally last year, which they did in principle only. It all sounds good, but is the sort of thing better fought out in Parliament than involving local Councils.

By coincidence, more parking problems are causing concern in the village. This time it is Eastgate. It will feature on the Agenda for the meeting of 15th March. On checking back I find that the Eastgate problem was raised at a meeting in September, 1993. The then newsletter editor highlighted in the next edition, pointing out potential problems in the event of emergency services wishing to gain access. Obviously, this still holds good. I may have more next time on this, unless our intrepid Free Press reporter takes an interest in the subject!

Phillip Crossland

An Evening in the French Style

MENU

1st Course Soupe a L’Oignon

2nd Course Moules Mariniere et Pom Frites

3rd Course Beouf Bourguignon (with rice)

4th Course French Apple Tart ( with Fresh Cream or Ice Cream)

5th Course Large Brandy Coffee

Time: 8.00 pm for 8.30 pm - Limited Tickets @ £9.50

[Has anyone any War-time memorabilia that Chris could borrow to help celebrate V.E.Day - more details in the next newsletter]

RHYMED REMINDER

The Complete Correspondent

Write for business. Write for pleasure,

Just to chat with friends at leisure,

Promptly answer when invited

Or your hostess may feel slighted

Write when babies come to town,

To her who dons a bridal gown

Kind enquires send by letter

To the sick, to hope they’re better

Thank for kindnesses received

Sympathise with those bereaved

On birthdays and at Christmas, too,

Your friends expect a line from you.

Exams are passed, promotion won?

Congratulate ere set of sun.

In life’s trials, luck, delights,

Courteous he who quickly writes.

From Jill Pallister