2012 08
DESCRIPTION
Monthly news magazine for Cople, Bedfordshire, UKTRANSCRIPT
Cople News
August 2012
August 2012 2
WILLINGTON POST OFFICE & STORES
Telephone: 01234 838 240
Friendly. helpful staff, well stocked shelves, wide range of products.
News paper& magazine ordering service, optional delivery to Cardington, Cople, Willington and Moggerhanger.
Fresh local produce on external stalls, Free range eggs from Cardington,
Willington honey, fresh bread and cakes from local bakery. Specially decorated iced mini cakes and cup cakes for Mothers Day, Valentine, etc
Chilled snacks and sandwiches, salads, ham, cheese, and bacon,
Varieties of designers cards for all occasions, stationary, packaging material.
Lottery. groceries off licence (Good collection of wine)
Pay station for phone top up, gas/electric key charging and bill payments
Post Office Counter for Personal Banking& Business banking services. Foreign Currency (Euros & Dollars on Demand)
Car Tax, Phone& Broadband
Services, Savings products, Car/home/travel/life/pet & Business Insurance products, Credit services, Gifts cards etc.
Special services: Send flowers by post “BUNCHES” for all occasions.
Dry cleaning & repair service. Household coal &logs. Making fruit & veg Baskets for special occasions.
Samosa veg and non veg on Friday/Saturdays Home delivery on the purchase of £10.00 (enquire in the shop.)
SHOP OPENING HOURS
MONDAY-FRIDAY 6.30AM to 6.00PM
SATURDAY 7.00AM to 7.00 PM. SUNDAY 8.00 AM to 12.00 NOON.
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August 2012
Cover picture by Keith Moore.
Angus Moore, who lives in Willington Road Cople, taking part in
the Olympic Torch relay at Whitchurch on 9th July. Angus has
recently completed 3.5 years of chemotherapy and is now in re-
mission waiting a double hip replacement. He enjoyed every
moment of the event and was elated at the support he received
from all his family, friends and teachers from school.
Editorial
The pace of activity in the village changes in August. After the
Music Festival, major events disappear for a while and people
get on with their holidays.
One of the leisure activities the Parish Council is keen to
encourage is hedge trimming. The rain has produced a
spectacular spurt of growth and you may not have noticed that
your front hedge has taken on triffid proportions and is now
marching across the public footpath. Please have a look at your
garden and do something about it if necessary. No one,
especially our councillors, wants to go down the tedious and
upsetting route of writing letters to residents and issuing
enforcement notices.
There was a great deal of public interest in the Council meeting
held on 9th July to discuss a planning application for showman’s
family quarters on land north of Bedford Road. By a vote of 5 to
2 it was decided to object to the proposal on numerous grounds
which can be seen in the minutes published on the village
website. The decision lies with Bedford Borough Council.
Cople needs a Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator. Anyone who
thinks they might be interested, or wishes to know what is
involved, should call Mike Vacher on 831207. Another crime
prevention initiative is the “Bobby Scheme” which is outlined on
page 28. The scheme is aimed at helping elderly and vulnerable
people improve their home security.
It looks like better weather is on the way. See you at the Music
Festival.
Ged Peeke
August 2012 4
5
August 2012
ACE PEST CONTROL
Fast Efficient Service
Rats, Mice, Fleas, Moles,
Wasps, Bird Proofing etc
We offer very competitive rates with normally same day service
Proprietor: Mr J. T. Hillyard Telephone 01234 - 838391
August 2012 6
Letter from the Vicarage
At the end of June I attended a very good clergy conference at
Swanwick in Derbyshire. It was titled “Equipped”-- meeting the
challenge of Mission and Ministry. I suspect the greatest
challenge that the church faces today is to know how to respond
to our rapidly changing culture and how to finance what we do.
So first how do we make our faith relevant in today’s world?
There are no easy answers but clearly we need to know what we
believe and why we believe it so that we can have a Christian
perspective on all that we do.
At the conference I learned of a new course called "Foundations
in Living God’s love” which is being launched next month. It is a
Diocesan course to help people to explore and grow in their
discipleship. The first module called “Going deeper into God”
aims to help us to explore afresh our understanding of God and
our relationship with him. There is always more to discover - it is
a journey of a lifetime. There will be more about this in next
month’s magazine giving details of when and where our home
groups will meet. The second aspect to being well “equipped” is
to ensure that our finances are in good order. Although we are
in good heart we are small in number and so look to you for
support on our Annual Gift Day. This year it will be on Saturday
27th October to coincide with All Saints tide and our monthly
Heritage day.
As we watch the Olympics this summer we will reflect on the
commitment the athletes have made in order to equip them for
their task. They have trained for years in order to reach their
goal. Success requires being totally committed and taking a
long term view. So as a church we also need to take a long term
view. Indeed our church dates from the sixteenth century and
is a beautiful building which has been well cared for over many
generations. In the New Testament the word church does not
mean the building but the gathered people of God. So we as
Christians also need to ensure that we are well equipped to love
and serve our Lord, now and in the years to come.
With all good wishes
Lynda Klimas
7
August 2012
Curate’s Corner
Life is often referred to as being like a journey and I like the
analogy. When we go on a journey we need to make
preparations: making sure all is well with those we are leaving
behind; packing the right things we will need for travelling and
for when we arrive; and preparing for what we will do when we
arrive at our destination.
I have been in the midst of all these activities for the past month
or so, as I prepare to leave the benefice and move to St Mary’s
Goldington. I hope I leave you with not too many loose ends
and I am grateful for all you have given me in the way of
experience to take with me.
My thanks obviously go out to Lynda for the thorough training
she has given me, through her experience of ministry and her
patience in passing her knowledge on to me, I do have much to
take with me to the new parish. My thanks also go to the
churchwardens, all those involved in running the church and to
you all for welcoming me into your lives and allowing me to
become a part of them.
I am of course excited about going to Goldington and all the new
challenges it will bring but I will miss you all. As you will know
my farewell will be held at the Danish Camp Songs of Praise
Service on Sunday 12th August at 11am. My final services will
be on 26th August. When I reflect back on the past 3 years I can
see how much I have learnt, how many people I have come to
know and how happy my time has been with you, so thank you
and God bless,
Jackie Buck
Police Update There has been one crime in the village since the beginning of
June. This was criminal damage at Rye Crescent. Surrounding
areas are still having sporadic issues with catalytic converters
being stolen, please keep your eyes peeled for anything in
relation to this and contact us if you have seen or heard
anything. We are very keen to gain intelligence and apprehend
offenders.
PC Paul Jones
August 2012 8
Mother’s Union
Members from the Wilstead Branch joined us last month for our
meeting at Glebe House when the speaker was Jackie Buck.
After prayers, Jackie took as her theme the plants, fruits and
flowers in the garden and the Bible. We were then split into
three teams for a quiz based on this theme. The final result was
very close between all three teams.
Judith very kindly provided the refreshments and was thanked
for her hospitality and Jackie was given our best wishes as she
moves to her new parish shortly.
Members from three branches attended the funeral of Audrey
Tatman our much loved and long serving member and former
Branch Leader. The Church was full, which was a testament to
how much Audrey was thought of in the village and throughout
the MU branches in the Deanery. The reading and MU prayer
were given by two members and several members also formed
part of the choir. Audrey loved the MU and Cople Church, and
everyone wrote in the Memory Book which the family will keep
as a reminder of the love and affection we had for her.
As usual we will not be meeting in August, so our next meeting
will be on Monday 10th September and will be led by Gwynneth
Akins. At the moment the venue has not been decided, but we
know a cream tea will be involved.
Liz Buck
Prayer
Thank you, God, for the high hopes of young people who believe
they can do something worthwhile with their lives.
Thank you for the courageous hope which keeps people
struggling on through illness and misfortune.
Open our eyes to the promise of life, and the possibilities in our
lives.
(Praying Round the Clock)
9
August 2012
Bedford Food Bank
Cople Church would like to thank everybody who has donated
food to the Bedford Food Bank. This is an on-going project and
for anyone wishing to donate non-perishable food, there is a box
at the back of the Church, near the font. Volunteers from the
Foodbank collect the food every month or so and at the moment
they would particularly like tinned fruit, cereals, UHT milk and
fruit juice.
The Bedford Food Bank is based at the Brickhill Baptist Church
and the Salvation Army. Every day people go hungry for
reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill
on low income. The Foodbank volunteers work with referral
partners to provide a minimum of three days’ emergency food
and support for people experiencing crisis in our community.
Last year foodbanks in the UK fed over 60,000 people
experiencing food poverty.
Volunteers sort food to check that it’s in date and pack it into
boxes ready to be given to people in need. Care professional
such as doctors, health visitors, social workers, CAB and police
identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher.
Foodbank clients bring their vouchers to a foodbank centre
where it can be redeemed for three days’ emergency food.
Volunteers meet clients over a cup of tea or free hot meal and
are able to signpost people to agencies able to solve the longer-
term problem.
Thank you for your support.
“ON YOUR MARKS” - Holiday Club
Howard Memorial Church, Cople Road, Cardington, MK44 3SH
13th to 17th August. 6:30pm to 8:30pm each evening.
Free Activities for all School ages.
Further details : Brian Addington 01234 216080
Or visit our website howardmemorialchurch.co.uk
August 2012 10
B. W. Taylor
Plumbing Roofing and all Building
Maintenance
From “Complete Bathrooms and Kitchens” including tiling and plas-tering through to “Ball Valves and “Garden Taps”
No Job too small Local Reliable service at Reasonable Rates
References Supplied if Required
Telephone: Barrie Taylor 01234 - 838 676 Mobile 07979 - 928 186
WENDY
Mobile Hairdresser
Tel : 01234 838460
Mobile : 07795 573409
46, Station Road, Willington
Need a job doing? No one practical at hand to help you.
“This Man Can”
Dave Crawford
No job too large or small, hired for a variety of jobs, hanging curtain poles, garden decking, tiling, garden watering systems, lofts emptied. -
reliable, pride in work, references available, CRB checked. For a no obligation quote call 07981 881688
or email [email protected]
11
August 2012
Architectural Design
Stephen Funge Architectural Design Ltd 38 Howard Close
Haynes
Bedfordshire
MK45 3QH
Tel/Fax 01234 381800. Mob 07710 268372
Stephen Funge MCIAT MAPM
Planning and Building Regulations Applications.
Design and Project Management.
Extensions, New Houses, Offices, Shops.
Call for a chat. No obligation
August 2012 12
Open Church Sunday and Open gardens
On Sunday 24th June we took part in the Diocesan Open
Churches Sunday. This is an annual event to encourage people
to visit and enjoy the beauty of our buildings. We moved our
monthly Heritage day to coincide and also organised “Open
Gardens” around the village. We are most grateful to all those
who welcomed people at the church, who organised tower trips,
guided tours and provided teas.
We also want to
thank all those who
kindly opened their
gardens and to
Debbie and Julia
who organised a
children’s trail. Sue
and Alistair sold
pickles and home
made wine which
proved to be very
popular. Thanks are
due to them for
their initiative and
fundraising. Despite the
inclement weather it was
a good occasion and we
raised just over £100
from the event.
The next Heritage day is
on Saturday 25th August
from 10am-1pm. If you
are able to help or could
make a cake please
speak with Pat or Mike
831207.
Lynda Klimas June Shanahan and Mike Vacher
Pictures by Julie Sherrer
13
August 2012
Saturday 8 September 2012 10 am to 6 pm
Have fun Cycling or Walking Help save your local heritage Raise funds for your church or chapel Over 600 churches and chapels to visit
Raise money for the repair of your local church or chapel by getting sponsorship for cycling or walking between churches in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Anyone can take part and there is a choice of over 600 churches and chapels for you to visit, most of which will be open.
For more information please contact: Judith Howard 01234 838467
S p o n s o r e d
Bike ’n Hike R a i s i ng fu nds f o r you r ch u rch
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Historic Churches Trust
Saving the Past for the Future
www.BedsHertsHCT.org.uk BHHCT Registered Charity No. 1005697
Bike ’n Hike in association with the national Ride & Stride
August 2012 14
15
August 2012
Eamonn , Julie and Katie would like to welcome you to the Five Bells in Cople , a traditional country village pub .
It is our intention to provide a warm welcome in comfortable surroundings for visitors and locals alike to enjoy a
drink or a hearty meal .
Wherever possible , we have sourced our ingredients from local suppliers and our menu is designed to be as homemade as
possible .
We also provide a wide selection of fine ales , wines and spirits and great care is taken to ensure they are kept to the highest
standard
Themed Menu every Wednesday Live Music most Saturday nights (see website for details)
Sunday Roasts £8:50 (Very popular, booking recommended) Party bookings available
Tel : 01234 831330 www.fivebellscople.com
August 2012 16
SJ TAX & ACCOUNTING
Professional Friendly Free initial consultation.
Sole traders, Ltd companies, Start ups, CIS, VAT, TAX
Email: [email protected] Tel: 01767 601221
Mob: 07899 808592
QUALIFIED ACCOUNTANT
17
August 2012
Fundraising for St John’s Hospice
Our fundraising groups play an important part; they are valued
and provide much needed help and support to the Hospice.
They not only help to raise awareness but they also raise
valuable sustainable income. We currently have fundraising
groups sited within the community but there can never be
enough support to ensure that we can continue raising funds to
deliver the essential care at Sue Ryder-St John’s Hospice.
There are many things you can do to help us which include, quiz
nights, musical evenings, dances, open gardens, strawberry
teas, barn dances, the list is endless. If you are thinking of
setting up your own fundraising group in your village, please
contact our Community Fundraiser Jessica Wilson on 01767
642412 o r ema i l j e ss i ca .w i l son@sueryder .o rg
Jessica Wilson
Future Events
19 August - Country Fete - Moggerhanger
Held in our grounds and field behind the hospice with steam
engine rides, stalls, BBQ, cream teas and so much more.
29 September - Starlight Hike - Shuttleworth
A sponsored 10K walk for EVERYONE! A beautiful woodland
walk with surprises at every turn, and a release of candles onto
the lake in memory of loved ones.
For more details please email us or give us a call on 01767
642412 or click on www.sueryder.org/events
Nearly New Centre
Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm
& Saturday 10am to 1pm
At Sue Ryder Palliative Care Home
St. John’s Moggerhanger
August 2012 18
Audrey Tatman
Extract from the Funeral address for Audrey Tatman given by
Revd Lynda Klimas.
We have come here today to the Church that Audrey loved, in
the village where she spent most of her life to thank God for all
she did and for all that she meant to us.
Audrey was a lady who had a great God given gift – a huge
capacity to love. She had a long and happy marriage to Alf, very
much enjoyed being a mother to Linda and Helen and was the
proudest of grandmothers to Stuart and Sarah.
Everyone who met Audrey could not help but like her. She had a
great sense of humour, enjoyed being with all sorts of people
and was one of the most generous people you could meet. From
a secure and happy home she was able to share her love with
her family, also at work, with her friends, and especially here in
the Church. Audrey was a life long member of the Mothers’
Union and so this is the charity that she would want us to
support. She would have attended Church every day had there
been a service and so we rejoice that Audrey was such a
committed Christian.
So what was it that made Audrey so special and what are the
memories that we want to treasure today? All of us gathered
here today knew Audrey in a different way and all of us feel
blessed by the privilege of knowing her.
Audrey grew up in Willington with her older brother Leslie. They
attended the chapel until the family moved to Cople when she
was 8. After leaving school she did munitions work for Allens
during the war. In 1953 she married Alf and they moved into
their home in Willington Road when it was newly built. They
chose the plot and worked hard to buy the house which very
important to them both.
When she married Alf she also joined the church as he was in
the choir and church warden for many years with their next door
neighbour Arthur Mayes. Indeed they became firm friends and
Audrey got on very well with his wife Emily and saw Jennifer as
19
August 2012
another daughter.
Once Linda and Helen were born Audrey devoted herself to
being a mother. She was a real homemaker, excellent cook and
would love people coming to the house. As the children got
older she went to work as a dinner lady at Cople School. Even
when they left Audrey continued as she always loved children.
She had a sweet nature with a twinkle in her eye and they loved
her too.
Audrey also enjoyed knitting and sewing and made some of the
church kneelers. She knitted endless squares for blankets and T
shaped sweaters for children abroad. She was always busy
never one to be idle. She was Branch leader of the Mothers
Union.
As Audrey spent so much time at Church she knew all the Vicars
very well and would baby sit their children. She seemed to like
everyone and would rarely say anything unkind.
Audrey loved singing hymns and had too many favourites for us
to name them all. She would regularly watch “Songs of Praise”
on the television and as she left this world for the next her
greatest comfort was listening to favourite hymns at The
Mallards. Thanks are due to the wonderful staff there who were
so kind and caring during her time there.
So what can we say in conclusion. Audrey lived a good kind and
straightforward life. She had that child like trust in the way in
which she dealt with people and in her relationship with God. At
the end of the bible passage we are reminded that for now we
only see as in a mirror dimly but one day we will see face to
face. For Audrey that day has come as she is reunited with her
Alf and her Lord in heaven.
I am sure God has welcomed her home saying “Well done my
good and faithful servant enter into the joy of your Lord”.
So may God’s love sustain us until once again we laugh and sing
with Audrey and all those who have gone before us to eternity.
August 2012 20
Cople Sports and Social Club
The weather has been pretty poor over the last month but we
have managed to sit out on the patio a few times. It hasn’t
stopped the regular members from calling in some evenings and
weekends.
Ben Halliday many of you have known for his service to the
Sports and Social Club has retired from his duties. We would
like to thank him for his time and commitment over the years.
Ben is still a regular visitor at the club but he is on the other side
of the bar these days socialising and playing dominos. Ben has
been made an honorary lifetime member of the Club and we
hope will continue to frequent the club.
Hopefully we will see some better weather over the next month
to enable us to sit out and enjoy a drink, the environment and
maybe take in a cricket match. Please enquire in the club or
contact Jeanette in regard to any events happening in the near
future.
Jeanette Skipsey
Mob: 07749272249 Email: [email protected]
Back to Church Sunday 30th September
Back to Church Sunday has grown beyond all expectations since
the first day in Greater Manchester in 2004. It is now the
largest single local-church invitational initiative in the world
taking place across the denominations worldwide.
Bishop Paul, the Bishop of Hertford writes” We know that there
are at least three million people in England who would come
back to church if they had an invitation. And we know that there
are hundreds of thousands of Christians who want to invite their
friends”
So if you are interested put a note of the date in your diary.
This year the service is on Sunday 30th September at 11am at
Cople. The guest preacher is The Revd Andrew Hollins.
Meanwhile if you would like to know more please contact me
838431
Lynda Klimas
21
August 2012
August 2012 22
Contact us now for a free, no obligation quote
Glyn Carroll
2 Glebe Road, Sandy, Beds, SG19 1LT
01767 680898 / 07859 070517
e-mail:[email protected]
We hold a valid Waste Carriers Licence
Public Liability insurance to 5 million.
We are a small, friendly, reliable
Construction Company based in Sandy.
We specialise in Plastering, Bricklaying,
Decking, Fencing and Patios, but can
fulfil all your building requirements.
23
August 2012
August 2012 24
Arnolds
Funeral Service 48 Roff Avenue, Bedford
an independent family
owned business established in 1875
Day and night
personal attention
Chapels of Rest Flower service
Memorial service Catering arranged
Pre-payment plans and
pre-arrangement advice available
…..reassurance when you need it most
Telephone 01234 - 359529
25
August 2012
Sunday Church Services in August
5th 11:15am
1:00pm
Sung Communion
Baptism Freya Klimas
12th 09:00am Holy Communion BCP
19th 11:15am All age Communion and Baptism of Jack
Saunders
26th 09:45am
11:15am
Sunday School
Sung Communion
Cople All Saints
Willington Saint Lawrence
5th 10:00am Holy Communion BCP
12th 11:00am Songs of Praise at Danish Camp with the
Willingtones
19th 10:00am Sung Communion
26th 10:00am All age Communion
Moggerhanger St John the Evangelist
5th 09:00am Sung Communion
12th No Service
19th 09:00a
6:00pm
Holy Communion BCP
Songs of Praise
26th 09:00am All age Communion
August 2012 26
Cople Calendar August 2012
Wednesday 1st
7:30pm to 10:00pm Carpet Bowls in Village Hall
8:00pm Music Festival Quiz in the Five Bells
Thursday 2nd
10:00am to 11:30am Baby and Toddler Group in Cople
Village Hall
Friday 3rd
Music Festival evening in the Five Bells
Saturday 4th
10.30am-12noon Traidcraft Coffee morning Willington
4:00pm Music Festival on the Sports Field Cople.
Monday 6th
09:00am Morning Prayer
11:00am Tiny tots sing along Cople Church
Tuesday 7th (Green Bin)
10:00am to 12:00 noon Coffee morning Village Hall
2:30pm Over 60’s Club in Sports Club
Wednesday 8th
7:30pm to 10:00pm Carpet Bowls in Village Hall
Thursday 9th
10:00am to 11:30am Baby and Toddler Group in Cople
Village Hall
Monday 13th
09:00am Morning Prayer
11:00am Tiny tots sing along Cople Church
Tuesday 14th (Orange Bin)
10:00am to 12:00 noon Coffee morning Village Hall
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August 2012
Wednesday 15th
7:30pm to 10:00pm Carpet Bowls in Village Hall
Thursday 16th
10:00am to 11:30am Baby and Toddler Group in Cople
Village Hall
Monday 20th
09:00am Morning Prayer
11:00am Tiny tots sing along Cople Church
12.30pm Luncheon Club Cople Church
Tuesday 21st (Green Bin)
10:00am to 12:00 noon Coffee morning Village Hall
2:30pm Over 60’s Club in Sports Club
Wednesday 22nd
7:30pm to 10:00pm Carpet Bowls in Village Hall
Thursday 23rd
10:00am to 11:30am Baby and Toddler Group in Cople
Village Hall
Saturday 25th
10:00am to 1:00pm Heritage Day Cople Church
2:00pm Wedding blessing Victoria Clarke and
Jonathan Lamb in Cople Church
Monday 27th
Bank Holiday
Tuesday 28th (Orange Bin)
10:00am to 12:00 noon Coffee morning Village Hall
Wednesday 29th
7:30pm to 10:00pm Carpet Bowls in Village Hall
Thursday 30th
10:00am to 11:30am Baby and Toddler Group in Cople
Village Hall
August 2012 28
The Bobby Scheme
The Bobby Scheme is a service designed to help elderly and
vulnerable people who have been the victims of crime. A small
team of tradesmen has been recruited to respond to a victim
within days of a crime, following a referral from the police or
other local agencies, such as Victim Support. They assess each
case individually and fit whatever security devices are necessary
to ensure that the property is secure. They are able to spend
time explaining the procedures, all the time being receptive to
the victim’s concerns. The Bobby men are dressed in
Partnership uniforms and carry Bedfordshire Police Support Staff
photographic identification.
There is no charge for this service with the possible exception of
specialist equipment, locks and other items purchased with the
permission of the individual concerned.
The scheme is run by the Bedfordshire Police Partnership Trust
which is a registered charity supported by local businesses, local
authorities, town and parish councils and grant support from
various agencies. Cople Parish Council has joined the scheme
and will pay £250 per year into the Trust. The Scheme costs
approximately £200,000 per year to run. The Bobby Scheme is
recognised nationally and has been endorsed as a key crime
prevention initiative.
The scheme has been extended in recent years to be proactive in
ensuring any elderly residents or vulnerable people who wish to
have a security survey are able to access the scheme.
Ged Peeke
29
August 2012
Tuesday Club Cheese and Wine Evening Pictures by Sue Hillyard
August 2012 30
Cople Carpet Bowls Club
Have you ever thought of playing bowls. If so why not
come along and join in a game of carpet bowls which is played indoors on a 30 ft carpet. Carpet bowls is played in
Cople Village Hall on Wednesday evenings 7:30 to 10:00 pm and the subscription is only £2 each per session.
There is no need to buy any equipment as everything you
require is supplied. If you are 18+ come and give it a try. New members are very welcome and will help keep this socialable village activity running. Any enquiries contact
Pauline on 01234 838102.
Regards
Pauline Baynes.
31
August 2012
August 2012 32
Music Festival
This year there will be a small charge for the Saturday Proms
which will help to cover costs of fees and travel of the performers
and also go towards general maintenance of equipment etc. This
is necessary to enable the Music Festival to continue and
provide a great event for all the village to look forward to for
many years to come.
There are programmes on sale for £1.00 that give all details of
the week and these are available from the Five Bells and
committee members.
Parking restrictions will be in place on the roads but there are a
car parks off Grange Lane.
Details are also on the website www.cople.org.uk
Jill Ebbs
33
August 2012
August 2012 34
Stick Making “An Ancient Craft”
Sticks have been in use for thousands of years, a bow made
from Yew found in a bog in Denmark was carbon dated @ 40000
years old. They were used as weapons, staffs for walking and
fighting, hunting, badges of authority, shooting aids and fashion
accessories. The materials used to make them were many and
varied, ranging from Cabbage Stalks (Jersey Cabbages) to ebony
and ivory and even large animals willies. The choice of material
depended on the application and was often determined by what
was available locally.
Some of the rarer types are quite valuable to collectors, for
example carved stag horn topped sticks and rams horn antiques
can fetch hundreds of pounds even some sticks made today will
cost you 2-300 pounds and are works of art in their own right.
These are commonly known as market sticks and were carried
on market days for show and never used in the work place.
Almost all of them were made by rural craftsmen as a way to
while away the long winter nights and earn some beer money,
from materials found locally and with very basic and simple
tools. On the Welsh Borders in Cumbria and on the Scottish
Borders stick making competitions are held annually at Country
Fairs where competition is both fierce and of a very high
standard.
The most popular woods used for making the shafts of sticks
here in the UK are Hazel, Holy, Sweet Chestnut, Ash, Blackthorn,
Privet, and Broom. For the tops or heads of sticks the most
commonly used materials are Stag Antler, Rams Horn, Water
Buffalo horn and certain hard woods. The big difference
between horn (which is compressed hair and antler (which is
bone) is that horn can be bent to shape and antler cannot.
Water Buffalo Horn has almost replaced Rams horn which is
difficult to obtain due to restriction introduced to prevent the
spread of BSE.
Wooden stick shafts need to be seasoned (dried) for between
one and two years at which time they can be straightened by the
application of heat, wet (steam) or dry (hot air) and cut to
length. The most sought after sticks are known as twisty's,
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August 2012
sticks that have had honeysuckle growing around them causing
them to distort as they grow. The first stick I cut on Wenlock
Edge in Shropshire 25 years ago was a twisty which I still have,
it is a very good example of this condition and would be difficult
to beat, although I never stop looking. There is an old saying
amongst stick makers, "If you see a good un take it or some
other b----r will". Autumn is the best time to cut sticks when
the sap drops, as they then dry out much sooner.
When finished there are several ways of preserving sticks, you
can oil, wax or varnish them, its really a matter of taste or
application, its your choice.
If you want to find out more on the subject there are some good
web sites you can access or if you want to buy one then give me
a ring on 831207 or go to Sporting Targets @Risley where I
have a sales presence or to Daphne Morris@Franklins at Hatch
where she has a delightful little Shop mostly for the ladies and a
small selection of my sticks for the gents!.
Mike Vacher
Pilates Classes – Held Weekly Willington Mondays 2pm and Thursdays 2pm/6:30pm/7:30pm (on the 1st Thursday of
each month the 2pm session is held at Cople)
For full timetable and further details
www.forwardfitness.co.uk or 0794 6066067266
Julie is a friendly Pilates Instructor with over 20 year's
experience and affiliation with FITPRO, and also qualified to RSA
and YMCA standard. Julie completed her Pilates training with Fit
from Within Teacher Training Academy, at Bliss Studios, and
STOTT. and APPI. Julie prides herself in keeping up to date with
the constantly changing requirements of the industry.
August 2012 36
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August 2012
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MK443PX
PLEASE CONTACTJAMES ON
LANDLINE 01234 838274
MOBILE 07773 077042
EMAIL: [email protected]
FREE QUOTATION
August 2012 38
Wild About Cople
Take a walk across the cricket field (pausing to watch the game,
if one is being played) and towards the large fields currently
growing potatoes. Walk along one the paths around the edge of
the potatoes and stand for a while and listen out for an insistent
‘tswi-eep’ or ‘tsree-ee’ sound rising towards the end of the call
and repeated over and over again. Looking over the ridges of
potatoes (you may need binoculars) you may eventually spot a
small yellow bird balancing precariously on top of one of the
potato plants, long tail bobbing up and down as the bird utters
its repetitive call.
This is the Yellow Wagtail and there are a few pairs around in
the Cople area at the moment. And what a lovely bird it is with
its bright, canary-yellow head and underparts, pale greyish-
green crown and back and yellow eye stripe. The whole bird is
an example of slim elegance and the long yellow tail is often
bobbed up and down. In flight, with that tail streaming behind
them they look rather like little yellow comets fizzing over the
potato plants.
The yellow wagtail is a summer migrant, arriving here in early
April and departing in October to Africa, where they overwinter.
The birds have a limited
distribution in Bedfordshire
preferring damper, low-lying
areas, river valleys and around
the edges of reservoirs with a
particular liking for fields
where cattle, horses or sheep
are present as they attract
plenty of insects upon which
the birds feed. The wagtails
are active and very adept at
flycatching, making little
jumps and flights into the air
to expertly catch flies, gnats
and other insects. The nest is a grassy cup built on the ground
where the female lays 5 or 6 eggs. The eggs hatch after
approximately 2 weeks and the birds will usually have 2 broods
39
August 2012
before leaving the country. The young stay together with their
parents for a few weeks, learning and honing their developing
skills and survival methods.
So, wander over and have a look (or listen) for the Yellow Molly,
the Potato Setter, the Cow-klit, the Barley Bird, the Oat-ear, the
Golden Dishwasher, the Quaketail, the Summer Wagtail, the
Yellow Waggie, the Sunshine Bird!
By the way, the country name, the Golden Dishwasher is
supposed to have arisen from the similarity between the up-and-
down bobbing of the tail with that of the action of someone
washing or scrubbing clothes, or dishes, by the waterside.
Despite the pretty dreadful weather we’ve been having, the few
sunny, warm days have encouraged a few butterflies to get out
and about. Look out for the distinctive and lovely Marbled White
with its black and white chequerboard patterned wings in and
around grassy fields and meadows with wildflowers. This
butterfly is spreading its range and is becoming more numerous.
It is a good flier and easily disperses to new areas. The female
flies over the tops of grasses and drops her eggs like miniature
bombs into the grasses below. Once hatched the caterpillars,
who are not fussy eaters, feed on a range of common grasses
and fescues. A good place to look out for this and other
butterflies is the lovely little grassy meadow behind the school.
And finally, with regard to our bees and our bee-keeper in the
village, a Red Alert has been issued by the GB Non-Native
Species Secretariat of a new species of Hornet which may be
about to invade our shores. This is the Asian Hornet, a slightly
smaller (although still large), darker version of our native hornet
and it is a specialist predator of insects, particularly honey and
bumble bees and it could pose a significant threat to our own
pollinating insects. The hornet is in France already and is rapidly
expanding its range so it could easily cross the channel or be
imported with plants, soil, various freight etc. See more here:
https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/alerts/
index.cfm?id=4. Please report and/or try to capture this insect,
if you see it, using the details on the website.
Steve Halton [email protected]
August 2012 40
Cople Baby & Toddler Group
Has opened its doors again
Every Thursday (Inclusive of school holidays)
10.00am-11.30am At the Cople Village Hall (off Grange Lane)
First session free, £2 per family thereafter Adults with one child under 7 months £1
Willingtots Pre-school Peace Memorial Hall
Church Road Willington
Telephone 07972 148085
E-mail [email protected] Website www.willingtots.co.uk
Fundraising www.buy.at/willingtots
Sessional care for children aged 2 to school age during term time
FREE PLACES for eligible 3 and 4 yr olds
09.15-12.15 Monday to Friday (£9.00)
12.15-15.15 Tuesday & Wednesday (£9.00)
Lunch Club daily 12.15-13.15 (£3.00)
Registered Charity No. 1035672 Member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance and registered with OFSTED
“We are totally committed to safeguarding children”
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August 2012
Cople Lower School
Before & After School Club
Regular and one off bookings, including Casual bookings.
Registration forms and information packs
available from: Naomi Whittingham – Play Leader
07592 012 249 [email protected]
Hours Fees
Monday to Friday Regular bookings
Breakfast 8.00am – 8.45am £3.00
Session 1 3.30pm – 5.00pm £7.00
Session 2 3.30pm – 6.00pm £8.50
Casual bookings:
an additional £1.00 on
regular session fees
JB Plumbing & Heating
Julian Biggs
All types of plumbing and heating work.
Oil Fired Boilers - Servicing, Repairs and Installation - OFTEC registered.
Bathrooms, Showers and Toilets Radiator Installation, maintenance and repairs.
Hot and cold water tanks and cylinders.
Prompt, reliable and professional service. Free quotations. No call-out charges.
Fully qualified and insured.
Tel: 01767 627591 / 07950 705479
9 Ickwell Road, Northill
August 2012 42
News from Cople Lower School
As I write, we are rapidly approaching the end of another busy
school year. The highlight of the term has been our ‘Cople Goes
for Gold’ day held on the 5th July on the playing fields. Our
‘opening ceremony’ in the morning was a cultural feast of singing
and dancing based on countries around the world and the history
of the Ancient Olympic Games. This went alongside an exhibition
of art work and other learning in the village hall where
refreshments were served all day by our ‘Friends’ volunteers.
After a relaxed family picnic (we were blessed with lovely
weather all day), our sports day began with our own torch relay
before the children took part in archery, javelin, long jump,
obstacle course and an equestrian event (on space hoppers!)
The children competed for their house teams and the afternoon
culminated in a very special ceremony where the children were
presented with gold, silver or bronze medals by visiting
Olympians from the Maldives (whose team are staying in Bedford
ahead of the London games.) The Olympic spirit stayed with us
the following week when Angus Moore visited us to share with
‘Lifting the Flame’
43
August 2012
t h e c h i l d r e n t h e
experience of carrying the
Olympic Flame. He
showed the children the
torch, his special outfit
and answered their
questions.
We will be saying goodbye
this term to two of our
teachers. Mrs Legg, who
has had a long association
with the school as a
parent and then a
teacher, will be taking a
well-deserved retirement
and Mrs O’Sullivan, who
has taught our youngest
children in the Catkins
class for the last two
years, is moving on to
pastures new. They have
both made significant
contributions to the school and will be missed. I wish them both
every happiness for the future and know that we shall see both
of them in school in the future in different capacities.
Some minor building work will be taking place over the Summer
holidays to improve our learning environment and we look
forward to the new school year ahead with two new teachers,
some internal improvements to the buildings, some exciting new
topics and our biggest ever new intake of pupils into the
Catkins.
Helen Johnson, Headteacher
Pictures from Jill Ebbs
August 2012 44
This months Gardening Tasks
According to research, gardeners live longer than non-
gardeners. The reason: we are always looking forward. And
this, it is mooted, is beneficial to one’s health. Plant anything
and the daily examination routine eagerly checking progress is
as enjoyable as the moment it goes into bloom.
Invest in a packet of seeds and this ritual is even more
rewarding but there is another cost effective way of increasing
your stock which is every bit as satisfying as that little packet of
magic: taking your own cuttings.
Simple to do, the other major benefit is that you produce the
exact same plants as you already have which can aid your
garden’s design, with symmetry and/or impact.
So, if you have never taken cuttings before and fancy an
immensely gratifying challenge, this is the perfect time of the
year, here’s what you do.
Using a pair of secateurs or even sharp scissors for small plants,
simply cut through a new shoot from a mother plant. Using
fingers remove lower leaves and immediately insert into a pot
you have filled with good quality potting compost. Dipping the
cut end into hormone rooting powder prior to this can aid the
process. The next step is to water and give plenty of light. An
old horticulture lecturer of mine used to say, plants want to
grow – the gardener’s job is to make it easier for that to
happen. Bear this is mind and an exciting new world suddenly
emerges.
Lawn Doctor
Event Planner 2012
7th October Harvest Sunday
3rd November Shipwrecked
The Friends of Cople Church next event in the Village Hall (more details to follow soon).
24th November Race Night
45
August 2012
37, Ridge Road
Kempston, Beds MK43 9BS
Lawn Doctor Garden Services Clearance, Redesign, Maintenance
Tel: 01767 627 581 or 07796 328 855
Email: [email protected]
Tree Care, Planting, Weeding, Hedge Trimming, Turfing, Jungle
Clearing, Patio/Drive Pressure Washing
Landscaping, Lawn Improvement, Holiday Watering etc., etc.
City & Guilds Qualified & Widely Experienced – OAP Rates
– References Available Upon Request - Northill Based
‘Lawn Doctor deserve a medal. They are worth their weight in gold and I,
without doubt, will be using them in the future. A true gem.
August 2012 46
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August 2012
August 2012 48
Village Hall
Bookings: Marie Grohmann
Email: [email protected]
Tel : 838248
Over 60's Club
Secretary : Hazel Shreeves
Tel : 838817
Mothers Union
Contact: Jill Ebbs
Tel : 838659
Cople Lower School
Headteacher : Helen Johnson
Tel : 838827
Cople Village Trust
Chair : Sandra Thacker
Tel : 831344
Royal British Legion
Chair: Max McMurdo
Tel: 01767 680624
Welfare: David Hansen
Tel : 01767 226020
Police
PC Paul Jones
Riseley Police Station
Tel : 01234 - 842864
Carpet Bowls
Secretary : Pauline Baynes
Tel : 838102
Willingtots Pre-School
Group
Tel: 07972– 148085
Before & After School Club
At Cople Lower School
Tel: 07592 - 012249
Brownies (Willington)
Karen Murray,
Tel: 01767 683719
Beavers, Cubs & Scouts
Contact Emma Whiterod
Tel: 07908 167356
Friends of Cople Church
Chair: Vaughan Southgate
Tel: 838714
Cople Sports & Social Club
Chair: David Hughes
Tel : 838669
Tuesday Club
Joy Duthie
Tel : 838407
Cricket
Cople Argus Cricket Club
Chris Gregory 01234 838396
Biggleswade Chronicle
Village Correspondent:
Jill Ebbs Tel: 838659
Cople Web Site
Ian Whiting Tel : 838347
Email: [email protected]
Web Site :www.cople.org.uk
Cople Baby and Toddler
Contact Kylie Dougall
Tel: 01234 740745
07999 257165
Just Ask
Wendy Worgan
0800 039 1234
Village Contacts
49
August 2012
All Saints Church
Vicar: Assistant Curate:
Rev Lynda Klimas Rev Jackie Buck
The Vicarage 54 Henderson Way
Grange Lane, Cople Kempston, Bedford.
Tel: 01234 838 431 Tel: 01234 407020
[email protected] jackiebuck@hotmail,co.uk
Churchwardens
June Shanahan Mike Vacher
34 Grange Lane 91 Willington Road
Cople Cople
Tel: 01234 831705 Tel: 01234 831207
Cople Parish Council
Clerk to the Council: Jeanne Pope
42 Wingfield Road, Bromham, Beds. MK43 8JY
Tel: 01234 823 297 [email protected]
Cople News
Editor : Ged Peeke
39 Willington Road, Cople, Beds, MK44 3TH
Tel 01234 838379
Email: [email protected]
Deadline for copy and advertising 15th of every month
Advertising Rates Annual Charges
Full Page £95
Half Page £47:50
One Third Page £31:50
Delivered free to every home in Cople every month Circulation 360 copies
August 2012 50
Cople Village Hall
and Playing Field
Available for Hire for
Private Functions, Children’s Parties,
Weddings, Conferences
and other bookings by arrangement
Hire Charge from £ 9 per hour
Please Contact
Bookings Officer: Marie Grohmann
Telephone : 838248
COPLE VILLAGE TRUST
Reg. No. 1090113
200 CLUB
Prize winners for July2012
1st Prize of £60 213 Clive Owen
2nd Prize of £30 240 Doug Parrish
3rd Prize of £10 209 Judy Prior
Thank you for your support
For just £1 a month you can support the village hall & playing
field and have the opportunity
of winning up to £60.
51
August 2012
August 2012 52
GroundcareMachinery Services Limited
Water End, COPLE, Bedford
Suppliers of Leading Brand Names
in Domestic & Professional
powered garden machinery
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For details of Products and
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