MEMORIAL HALL NEWS
Thanks to your support the Memorial Hall continues to be used and enjoyed for a variety of events. The recent breakdown of the heating has been resolved by the replacement of one of the heaters and a new outside unit, so we are once again enjoying a warm venue.
Thank you to all of you who supported our Spring Fair which was a great success.
Preparations are well underway for our celebrations of the Diamond Jubilee in June. We hope you will join us throughout the weekend of June 2nd and 3rd, when the History Society will be putting on an exhibition of Coronation memories, memorabilia and Life in Helpringham in 1952-1953, at the Memorial Hall. In the garden of the Hall on the Saturday there will be the dedication of the trees planted to commemorate the Jubilee and a family BBQ and on the Sunday a Cream Tea will be available. We will keep you informed as the plans develop, so please watch this space!
Another date for your diary is Saturday 20th October when we are planning to repeat our Quiz Night with a ploughman's supper which was so well received
last year.
The Memorial Hall is there for you all and we hope you will continue to book it for your family occasions. Contact Mick Bothamley on 421853 or Laraine on 421110
To hire the hall for all your functions, weekday rates are £6.50 per hour for clubs
and £11.00 per hour for fund raising and weekends, plus £10.00 for use of the
kitchen and £10.00 for use of the bar.
Hire of Conference Room £6.00 per hour
Daily Hire of complete Hall £120.00
These prices include heating or air conditioning.
For Bookings please telephone Mick 421853 or Laraine 421 1 1 0
49 CLUB
The winners of the national lottery bonus ball for weeks 18th February through to 10th March were as follows. Each winner received £25.
Sat 18th Feb Larraine Wright
Sat 25th Feb Mrs Barnes
Sat 3rd Mar Doreen Davis
Sat 10th Mar Mrs Barnes
All proceeds go to the Memorial Hall
3 numbers are available, if anyone wishes to join the 49 Club please call Roma Parry on 421312.
St Andrew’s Church Helpringham Services for April 2012
Sunday 8th April Group Holy Communion 9.30am
Easter Day
Revd Chris Harrington
Sunday 15th April Holy Communion 9.30am
Easter 2
Revd Chris Harrington
Sunday 22th April Matins 11.00am
Easter 3
HOLY WEEK HECKINGTON AND HELPRINGHAM GROUP OF CHURCHES ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
1ST April Palm Sunday
10.00am Donkey Procession from Heckington Sports Field to St Andrew’s Church Heckington. Ecumenical and Family event
11.00am Ecumenical and Group Morning Praise with Palm Sunday Theme St Andrew’s Church Heckington
6.00pm Group Communion Service at Scredington with Passion Readings and Group Choir.
5th April Maunday Thursday
7.00pm Foot/Hand washing Communion and stripping of the altar at Heckington using Easter Sepulchre plus 1 hour Prayer Vigil afterwards with readings of the betrayal, arrest and denial. (Inc Group Choir)
6th April Good Friday
9.30am Stations of the Cross at Great Hale
10.30 am Procession of the Cross from Great Hale to Heckington village Green for united open air service of hymns, readings and prayers followed by hot cross buns at the Methodist Chapel (Ecumenical Event)
2.00pm Hour at the Cross at Wesleyan Chapel at Heckington (Ecumenical Service)
7th April Holy Saturday
10.00am Children’s Easter Workshop at Heckington Methodist Church (Ecumenical Event)
8th April Easter Sunday
6.00am Dawn Eucharist at St Andrew’s Church Heckington followed by cooked breakfast at The Rectory.
All from the Group welcome – Please let Chris know if you intend to take breakfast.
9.30am Group Holy Communion St Andrew’s Church Helpringham (Plus Group Choir)
11.00am Group Holy Communion at St Andrew’s Church Heckington
Time to be announced
9.30 am Swaton Extended Communion Service by Karen Clark-Tyler Reader in Training
11.00am Great Hale Extended Communion Service by Christine Newitt Authorised Lay Minister
9th April Easter Monday
Family “Emmaus walk” from Howell at 2.00pm to Asgarby for an informal Service at 3.00pm and picnic tea in Church followed by an Easter Egg Hunt around the church and church yard
APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE OF HELPRINGHAM
It is hoped that future newsletters will be written by our new Vicar Reverend Chris Harrington so this could be the last one for a while from the Churchwardens.
One of the complaints we face is that the pews are uncomfortable and it puts people off coming to Church for services, the concerts and other functions. We have listened and we have embarked on a programme of providing plush cushions for every pew in the Church.
We are appealing for donations for long full length cushions for the old and very hard wooden pews. The new cushions will make weddings more comfortable and lift the spirits of those attending funerals. We are to have a monthly service for the school so the children will also benefit.
We are asking for £5.00 per head (or is it bottom) for each square of cushion. Your name will go in a donation book so that future generations will be able to see who made their comfort possible.
Like the ice cream man if you see me about STOP ME AND BUY ONE.
Terry Markham
Churches were not commonly furnished with permanent pews before the Protestant Reformation. The rise of the sermon as a central act of Christian worship, especially in Protestantism, made the pew a standard item of church furniture. (Made it easier to sleep through the sermon)
In some churches, pews were installed at the expense of the congregants, and were their personal property; there was no general public seating in the church itself. In these churches, pew deeds recorded title to the pews. Pews were originally purchased from the church by their owners under this system, and the purchase price of the pews went to the costs of building the church. When the pews were privately owned, their owners sometimes enclosed them in lockable pew boxes.
Enquiries re baptism, weddings etc should be made to The Reverend Chris Harrington on Telephone 01529 460904
Churchwarden Terry Markham 01529 421373 18 Highgate NG34 0RD
Authorised Lay Minister Jan Dudfield 01529 421024
Reader in Training Karen Clark Tyler 01529 421130
PETTICOAT CLUB NEWS
The AGM was held in March and the Chairman was pleased to report another successful year. Special thanks went to Sally Woodhead, who has again audited our accounts free of charge, to the Committee for their help and to all members for their continued support. As well as enjoying a varied programme of speakers and activities an amount of £500 was raised for the Heckington First Responders through the annual charity coffee morning. The Treasurer reported a healthy bank balance and even though speakers’ fees have increased, meeting fees will remain unchanged. Members again enjoyed a subsidised New Year Lunch which this year was held at the Ship Inn in Pointon. The existing Committee was re-elected and then we all enjoyed some very entertaining poetry readings from Rosemary Bailey.
This year’s programme is just as interesting and starts with the return of Nan Davenport with a talk on a ‘mystery’ topic! Nan’s last talk was on the ‘Welsh Princess at Sempringham’ and we’ve been promised that this one will be just as fascinating. We’d love to see as many of you as possible at 7.30pm on Wednesday 11th April and at all future events. New members and guests …….. and new ideas …….. are always welcome. Do come along and join us.
HELPRINGHAM AND DISTRICT GARDEN CLUB
25 members enjoyed a slide show on the History of Kew Gardens given by Mr. Tony Boughen on Wednesday February 22nd . The photographs were taken by himself or his wife and brought out in great detail the infinite variety of plants, trees, buildings and exhibitions.
There are 350 acres of grounds so even when it is very busy there are still plenty of places for solitary contemplation. From the Tree Walk up in the air to the underground tunnel showing roots and their function, the whole area is a delight. Just one proviso; when you visit, take comfortable walking shoes and prepare to walk miles. Once seen, you will be sure to want to go again and again.
The April meeting will be a half-day trip to Felley Priory, Nottingham on Sunday April 15th
This Royal Horticultural Society listed Garden is holding this Open Day under the National Garden Scheme and it will be on 'Daffodil Sunday' when the carpet of Daffodils (yellow, apricot, white and orange) in the orchard is the main feature. There should also be a "stunning carpet of bluebells."
HELPRINGHAM HISTORY SOCIETY
The Society wishes to thank all those who have bought the book on the village. We have now sold out of the first print run of 100 copies. If any of you would still like a copy we are starting a new order list. When we have enough orders and pre payment of £8.50 we shall have further copies printed.
We are still trying to collect your memories of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11 and life in Helpringham in 1952-1953 to help with our exhibition at the Diamond Jubilee. Please look out any photographs, memorabilia or artefacts which you would be willing to lend to us. To contact us about this or to order a copy of the book please telephone Laraine Wright on 01529 421110 or Julie Close on 01529 421265 or any other members of the Society.
DARBY AND JOAN CLUB
The AGM of the Darby and Joan Club was held on 15th March. Officers elected were – Chairman Mrs M Bains, Secretary Mrs A Bourne, Treasurer Mrs C Mays. Committee elected - Mrs M Glenn, Mrs V Squib, Mrs J Hanstock, Mrs L Thompson, Mrs N Oliver and Mrs L Turner.
Programme of events and outings were discussed.
Outings:
Wednesday 13th June ‘Jubilee We’ll Meet Again’ at Embassy Theatre, Skegness
September 13th Springfields, Spalding
Saturday 10th November ‘The Sound of Music’, Theatre Royal, Lincoln
June 7th Jubilee Celebrations with Jubilee tea 2pm to 4pm
July 19th 50th Anniversary celebrations – strawberry tea 2pm onwards
April 14 and September 15th Rummage sales 2pm
The outings and 50th celebrations are open to anyone who would like to join us. Contact Alison 421478 or Carol 421617. See newsletter for further details nearer the time.
There will not be a Darby and Joan meeting on Thursday 29th March due to elections.
Meetings for April 12th and 26th, the Darby and Joan Club is open to anyone over 50 years and meets fortnightly on a Thursday afternoon 2pm to 4pm.
Don’t forget the rummage sale on Saturday 14th April.