Saints Alive: Stanhoe and Barwick Newsletter

December 2011

WI news:-

The Stanhoe & Barwick WI would welcome any lady from the village at any meeting. There is no need to be a member, and no need to let us know in advance that you are coming (although you are welcome to do so). You won’t be left on your own – if you are curious, do come along!

Meeting schedule:-

December 3rd:Christmas market at Dragon Hall, Norwich / 14th – Christmas lunch at The Duck Inn

January 12th:3:00pm – Tea at The Duck Inn

January 20th:-7:30 pm – North Creake visit – “Dracula ” the Panto–

Activities and Outings:-

A handbell concert by the Windmill Ringers:December 1st at 2:30pm

Christmas market:Dragon Hall, Norwich, 3rd December. Details of transport to be given at meeting

Christmas Lunch at The Duck, Stanhoe:14th December 2011

Contacts for any of the above: Geraldine (518025) or Pamela (518033)

Services at Stanhoe Methodist Church:-

• Wednesday 14th December at 7:00pm;Christmas Carol Service, led by Brian Ogden and Elizabeth MacLeod, followed by mince pies and a time of fellowship. A collection will be taken for charity. All welcome.

• Sunday 18th December at 11:00am 4th Sunday in Advent. Morning Worship. All welcome.

• Sunday 25th December at 10:00am Christmas Day. A short family service, led by Brian Ogden. All welcome.

• Monday, 23rd January 2012 at 2.30 pm at the Methodist Church. Joint Ecumenical Songs of Praise, followed by tea and a time of fellowship, to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. All welcome.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee:-

A successful inaugural meeting to discuss the jubilee celebrations was held on 26th October, at which a number of suggestions were covered. The favoured plan for village residents is for one or all of the following: an afternoon ‘fun’ event in the village – a treasure hunt was proposed – followed by a commemorative tree planting, and then a barbecue with music, using the Reading Room and a marquee as required. A Stanhoe Jubilee souvenir for village residents is also under consideration. A working party is to be convened to handle the budgeting and arrangements, and a further public meeting will take place at 7:00 pm in the Reading Room on Wednesday 23rd November – please come along and discuss what you would like, and whether you could help in any way, either with the working party or on the day.

Parish Council Meeting dates:-

Meetings of the Parish Council are scheduled on the following dates. All meetings are on Thursdays and will be held in the village hall, commencing at 7:00pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

• 12th January 2012
• 8th March 2012
• 10th May 2012
• 12th July 2012
• 13th September 2012
• 8th November 2012

Help for the hall:-

The MEHM Trustees have at last found professional help for the technical side of the Reading Room modernisation project.

Mark Roche, chairman of the Trustees, has been talking to architect Mark Nolan of Chaplin Farrant, a Norwich firm which offers free professional services through an organisation called Norfolk ProHelp.

The deal has taken several months to set up and the two Marks met with other Trustees on Friday 11th November. Mark Nolan made several useful suggestions and the Trustees believe this association will be key to creating a project plan and budget that will satisfy the demanding requirements of funding organisations such as the National Lottery.

With half a dozen major project items to consider and a budget currently estimated at £100,000, the Trustees welcome expert help in putting together a solid case with all the necessary cost figures.

For the central heating system alone, for instance, they need to show funders that they have considered and costed a variety of different technologies and fuel types. “I’m confident that with guidance from Chaplin Farrant we can put together a strong project plan,” Mark Roche said.

Grant application progress:-

In the meantime the Trustees, especially Chris Drysdale, have been working on the formidably complex application form for a Lottery grant. Chris, Mark and Yvonne Rawlins recently attended a training course on how to win Lottery funding. “We learned a lot,” said Chris, “in particular the need to present the project in terms of what it will do for the community, rather than just as a building.”

At their meeting on 25th October the Trustees also discussed ideas for future events in the Reading Room, including a wine tasting, film shows and a reading club. A window cleaner has also been appointed.

In due course the Trustees hope to install a computer – though at the moment without an Internet connection – to replace the CIP computer, which has now gone back to the Council following the closure of the CIP.

Thanks:-

Our thanks to all the residents who offered their support in organizing fund raising events to support the Reading Room modernization project – more details to follow in future editions of Saints Alive.

Further thanks:-

Thank you also to Patience for donating her mother’s books to swell the bookshelves in the Reading Room. Patience’s mother was Joan Tomlinson, a long time resident of the village and it’s nice to think that her books will be enjoyed by others in Stanhoe once the reading club starts – more information to follow.

And finally...

...just a couple of –December 25th’ facts:-

• December 25th is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar

• After that date there are only six days remaining until the end of the year – Happy New Year!

My thanks, as always, to the Wikipedia website for supplying the monthly interesting facts

My wishes to all Saints Alive readers for a happy and peaceful Christmas.