BARROWBY NEWSJAN 2014 BARROWBY VILLAGE NEWS AND INFORMATION ISSUE 20

Supporting new Community Groups

Are you interested in starting a new group but uncertain about the first step?

Would you or your group like help in finding a venue or maybe bringing in speakers?

Do you have a great idea for a village group but not sure how to get people involved?

Do any of these questions apply to you? Is there an activity or interest which you would like to see in Barrowby: photography, wine-tasting, film nights, quilting, village history and archaeology, a village wildlife or nature group?

The Barrowby newsletter has been in publication for 18 months now and has received tremendous support from the Parish Council, villagers and advertisers. The Barrowby Newsletter Team would, therefore, like to support the village in its turn.

We would like to facilitate the development of more social and community groups in Barrowby, giving us all the chance to learn new skills, learn more about the village, or just meet our neighbours and other residents.

If you have an idea, interest or burning passion contact us on news@barrowby.org.uk and we can talk about ways in which we might be able to help.

Do you have ideas for the newsletter? Can you help out?

We are keen to involve more villagers in the production of the newsletter: if there is anyone who could help with the IT and design, providing news and copy, photos or just ideas for content please get in touch. It does not have to be for every month and you don’t have to come to the meetings and be on the committee, although tea and biscuits are supplied!

Contact us at news:barrowby.org.uk if you think you could help in any way. Thank you.

The GlassesThe glasses which were reported in the last issue have been claimed even after one year! Let us know if you have lost or found anything and we will try to help.

Inside

Barrowby’s Christmas Party

Hobbies and skills for 2014

What was the Star of Bethlehem?

Grantham Astronomers have some suggestions

Barrowby’s Christmas Party120 villagers enjoyed a wonderful Barrowby Christmas Party on Sunday December 8th at the Reading Room. The highlight was the visit of Father Christmas, who left his trusty reindeer in Lapland and instead appeared in an open topped sports car complete with gifts. The children had a great time as they visited Santa's Grotto and described the presents that they hoped to receive on Christmas Day. People enjoyed Abi Moore’s choir ‘Raised in Song’, a specially invited magician, mulled wine, hot dogs and mince pies.

Chairman of the Parish Council, Richard Cross, commented: "We were delighted to see so many children at the event. It is a great example of what can be done when a few like-minded people develop a plan for an event in the village. There is a real opportunity to expand the number of social events in the village but we need more people to come forward and join in to make these events really special. If you would like to help organise or have some good ideas for more village social activities please contact us at barrowbypc@hotmail.co.uk."

Want to start a new hobby or make new friends in 2014?

If you are looking to develop a new skill or meet new people in 2014, here are some of the regular events in the Reading Room: Barrowby Scribblers: Thursdays at 7.30pm contact - Shelly on 07725 985 637Adults’ Choir: Wednesdays restart on the 8th Jan. 5-6.30pm Contact Abi Moore 07786 548337Baby Massage 6wks to 8 months old - each Wednesday 1.30 – 2.30pm Contact Pip Craig - 07711 994 145No Fears Bridge Club: Wednesdays 10 a.m. until 1pm Contact June Dixon – 565644

• Winter hedge cutting• All types of tree work• Seasoned hardwood log nets £3.00

Unit 6/RZÀHOGV�/DQHAllingtonNG32 2EETel: 01400 281486Mob: 07976 551710

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Dates for the Diary

28th Dec: Charity Ceilidh, Memorial Hall

5th Jan: Quiz at The White Swan

6th Jan: Parish Council

9th Jan: Folk at The Swan

8th Feb: Burns Night Supper, Memorial Hall

24th Feb:Barrowby Gardeners Association AGM

Deadline for the next issues January: 10th

February: 12th

E-mail us your events to news@barrowby.org.uk

Barrowby Scribblers

Did you know that November was National Novel Writing Month with the goal of writing 50,000 words in 30 days? Barrowby's new local writing group, the Barrowby Scribblers, took up the challenge with enthusiasm, excitement and some trepidation....Read in the next issue how they all got on and more about the group.

Barrowby W.I. News In November we enjoyed making some Christmas baubles during an afternoon with refreshments and mince pies - to get us in the spirit of Christmas! At our meeting on Wednesday 20th, our speaker was Sheila (from Sheila's Cakes), who showed us how to make Christmas poinsettias out of sugar craft, and some of us made one to take home to decorate our cakes. For those who did not participate, she gave out ones that she had made earlier. We have some interesting speakers coming in the New Year, so do come along and visit us. Our meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the Barrowby Memorial Hall. Visitors are always very welcome.

The Allotment Annual Dinner and AwardsThe Barrowby Gardeners’ Association held their annual dinner and awards evening and enjoyed a lovely four course dinner at The White Swan. The award for Best Allotment 2013 went to Julia and Nigel Jones, 2nd place: Rob Shelborne, 3rd: Graham Ross, 4th: Pippa and Ian Walker, 5th: Jane and Phil Cupit. Juliette Hurrell was Best Newcomer. Many congratulations to all the winners. Now is the time to start planning your 2014 growing season, so get your seed orders in by 31st December. Get in touch if you are interested in gaining the benefit of membership or would like advice on produce growing and harvesting.

ScoutsThe Scouts’ most recent activity was to make Christmas cakes in a baked bean can, in two stages, cooking it one week and decorating the following week. This will contribute to their Craft Badge. Since the sleepover at the National Space Centre in October they have also been working on the Astronautics Badge and started the DIY Badge with still some stages to be completed. The Hi-Notes event was very successful, raising much needed funds for Barrowby Scouts. A big thank you to Hi-Notes, and to everyone else that came along and bought tickets, donated raffle prizes and helped out on the night.

Around The Parish

Whilst every care is taken to ensure that the information in this publication is accurate, neither the Barrowby Newsletter Editorial Group nor any of the contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party or any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. The Barrowby Newsletter does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved.

All Saints’ Church Barrowby January Services

Sunday 5th January8.00am Holy Communion9.00am Prayer for healing 9.30am Morning Prayer Sunday 12th January8.00am Morning Prayer 10.30am Holy Communion and Sunday Clubs Sunday 19th January8.00am Holy Communion 9.30am Families Service

Sunday 26th January8.00am Morning Prayer10.30am Morning Prayer and Children’ HandbellFor more information, or if you need a lift to any service, just ask. Rev Peter Hopkins 01476 565737

Barrowby Baptist Fellowship We meet in the Memorial Hall. All welcomeSundays 10.15 Worship and Sunday SchoolMonday 10.00 Cane and Able Coffee Morning John 01400 250475 or Veronica 593317Friday 6.30 Fantastic Friday Youth Group Phil 07904 492190

What was the star of Bethlehem?Astronomers are often asked: “What was the star of Bethlehem that the wise men followed?” No one knows for sure, but there are a number of candidates:

1. Planetary alignment These are impressive. In the late December evening, look high in the south: you can’t fail to see Jupiter. So imagine if the other bright planets, Venus, Mars and Saturn, were also in the same area...But planetary alignments occur regularly

and were predictable even then, so they may not have been unusual enough.

2. Exploding star or super nova These are random, occurring at anytime, anywhere in the sky. They can be bright enough to be seen in the daytime then, after a few days, fade from view. However, they leave behind an expanding shell of gas, which can be detected for many centuries. The Crab Nebula, which exploded in 1054, was recorded by Chinese astronomers; it can still be seen today. But none match the right timescale.

3. Bright comet or meteor

These occur regularly and, like super nova, would have been undetectable until they lit up in the sky. They can stay visible for several weeks, before fading, leaving no trace. But, at the time, comets were seen as a bad omen. So would the wise men have followed one? Meteors are the other short term phenomena, but would they have been spectacular enough?

So we do not know the answer. But the night sky is a fascinating place, with always something of interest to see. Grantham amateur astronomers meet most Fridays, 7:30 in the White Swan Barrowby. If you would like to find out more about the night sky please join us for a drink and a chat or phone Dave, 07881 452384.