Vol 39.

MARCH / APRIL 2005

Questions and Answers!

The Village Plan Steering Committee has met on three occasions and some groundwork has been done. It was felt that the best way to establish the direction in which the village wished to go in the future was to ask the villagers. Co n se qu e n t l y a P RE LI MI N AR Y questionnaire was prepared to try and capture as wide a variety of thoughts and opinions as possible. It was hoped that the responses would help future questionnaires and surveys to better target areas of concern. DISAPPOINTING All in all, the number of questionnaires returned was disappointing! Approximately 200 questionnaires were printed with two copies posted to each household with further copies available at the farm shop. 25 completed returns were received. Early analysis of the results show that the question "What do you like about South Scarle and what would you want to keep?" elicited an almost unanimous response ie: its small size and quietness Among answers to the other questions there is a wide variety of wishes and wants and, once these have been analysed and grouped, further work will be carried out. Come on, Scarlians...its your village and its future! Below is a selection of quotes from survey responses revealing what WASNT liked about the Village. "The lack of character in houses that have been built recently" "Too much executive housing outside of most people's price range" "Road surfaces" "Lack of better public transport" "Loss of Hedgerows" "Need smaller houses" "On street parking" "Through traffic dangers" "Dogs" "Turning into a dormitory village" "The untidiness of the western approach" The Committee will meet again shortly to review the survey answers. From these, Adrian Lawton (Chairman) and the Committee hope to be able to establish trends and organise the next phase of activity. The full results from the survey will be published and shared with the village in due course.

EDITORS: Roy Turner, Hall Barn, Main Street : 01636 893665 Kate Murrell, The Retreat, Amos Lane: 01636 893402 Please support THE SCARLIAN by contributing your news and views !

E MAIL: TheScarlian@aol.com

TO LET .. Holiday Cottage BowNess-on-Windermere, Cumbria The cottage is in the centre of Bowness, very close to all the shops and facilities, and is ideally situated for the southern lakes. It is fully modernized, comfortable and compact. It comprises of Entrance Porch, Kitchen, Sitting/Dining Room, Shower, Cloakroom, Bathroom, and THREE bedrooms to sleep a total of SIX. There is a double bed, twin singles and two 3ft bunk beds. There is a small yard outside. 30 per day ALL INCLUSIVE.

FURTHER DETAILS: TEL: 01636 892409

Word has it that a certain adventurous lady, who was last seen in the pages of The Scarlian attached to a neighbour in a three-legged attempt to win the 2004 Summer weekend Fun Run, has taken to more serious running like a duck takes to water! She has been training under cover of darkness for her competition debut accompanied by her erstwhile spouse on his bicycle! When the clocks are altered soon her cover will be blown and we will all be able to cheer her on her way. We wish her good luck in her forthcoming Charity event!

CUTTING EDGE FURNITURE

Located on Redmay Industrial Estate, SOUTH SCARLE We are a furniture manufacturer in the heart of South Scarles community producing standard and bespoke furniture of high quality and finish and at competitive prices We offer a full and vast range of items. Designs and styles can be adapted to achieve a desired look or to compliment your existing pieces. Among the many woods we use are Redwood pine, reclaimed pine, beech and oak. We can help you obtain what you REALLY WANT and not what you Nearly want

Contact us on 01636 893399 or come and see us at UNIT 7

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PARISH SNIPPETS.
fRom PETERS DESK
Now that the Scarlian is firmly revitalized , there is less need for a parish newsletter. However, it is encumbent upon everyone to keep an eye on the parish notice board for dates of future meetings. Remember, everyone on the Electoral Roll is entitled to both speak and vote. Wherever possible, I try to give two weeks notice of a parish meeting even though the legal minimum requirement is seven days. In case you havent noticed, I have now started publishing on the noticeboard the unconfirmed minutes of the last meeting, also general information sent out by N.S.D.C/ & Notts C.C. is displayed in the Farm Shop. Playing Field The parish has now received full title from the Land Registry to the new playing field and this has been lodged with Messrs. Tallents solicitors. As soon as the weather improves, the spring sowing of the grass seed will take place.. Last year the precept was increased to take into account legal and other expenditure involved with the acquisition of the playing field. Therefore, this year the precept has been considerably reduced to a figure of 2661.00. Planning Improvements? Over the last few months various planning applications have been approved both by the parish and N.S.D.C., namely: Cornwall Cottage and Yew tree Cottage. The Chairman also informed parishioners at a recent meeting that if anyone was considering an improvement to their property they could first fill in a form from N.S.D.C. Planning Dept. outlining their proposals. They would then receive, at no cost, a reply informing them what permissions and consent, if any, would be required. Council Band Reduction For those of you who do not subscribe to The Fleet magazine, you will have missed the recent letter to the editor from Mick Dowell of Moor Road, Collingham, in which he outlines how he successfully applied for a council band reduction as a result of new build taking place adjacent to his property. The application form can be obtained from Nottingham Valuation Office (Tel: 0115 9800900) and the criterion to be used is that of change of circumstance leading to a devaluation of your property. Finally, I reiterate my previous newsletter information that, if you have a query or problem then please pop a note in my postbox and I will respond as soon as practicable. NEXT PARISH MEETING : TUESDAY 29th MARCH : 7.15pm for 7.30pm. AGENDA : Planning permission - Temporary extension from 3 Tractor Units to 8 Tractor Units, Redmay Industrial Estate. Forward Planning for Summer fund-raising event for parish and church. Peter Rowlands, Parish Clerk, The Old Stackyard
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ST. HELENAS NEWS

festivities were announced by the carol service in church which was well-attended. The items by the choir were much enjoyed as was the nativity tableau performed by village O children under the directorship of Judy Muirhead. Carols on the green on Christmas Eve proved popular and we thank the village n for giving us the proceeds from that event.

Christmas

The Family Service in February, though unfortunately timed for the

beginning of half-term, was a lovely occasion with the childrens tableau, hymns, music, readings and prayers illustrating how the darker aspects of our lives can be changed through the light of Christs teaching and example. These services give our young children and their parents a chance to meet when, otherwise, they would perhaps only do so through school.

Our periodic electrical installation check of the church and the parish room has
been done and the remedial work reported put in hand. The total cost will be upwards of 500.00 but we know that the building will then be safe for all who use it. will be on Friday April 15th in Girton Village Hall. This is open to all parishioners of the three villages though voting is restricted to Electoral Roll members. To be on this Roll and thus have a chance to influence the local governing of the churches you must be a baptised member of the Church of England. To be on the Parochial Church Council, with an even greater say, you have also to be a communicant member of the church. If there is anyone in South Scarle who would like to help St.Helenas in this way, please step forward! You would be very much welcomed!

The Annual meeting of the United Parish ie; South Scarle, Besthorpe and Girton

Readers may have noted from the November Scarlian that we need to raise at least 1000.00 each year to supplement our regular income. We hope there will be another village event sometime to help with this but gift-aided donations would be a very effective way of helping.
ANNE ACKROYD, Churchwarden

St. Helenas Fellowship

St. Helenas Fellowship was formed during the recent inter-regnum. The church is very much a focal point in South Scarle and we were keen to sustain the spiritual and social life of our community during the period when we would be without a Rector. A Drop-in Coffee Morning is held in the Parish Room on the second Saturday of each month from 10.00a.m. 12 noon. Everyone is welcome to call in for tea or coffee and biscuits, meet friends, old and new, and generally keep in touch with one another. The proceeds from the 50p charge are sent to support the Notts. and Lincs. Air Ambulance. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 5)
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First appearance at CRUFTS for South Scarles Rudi

Rudi, a Hovawart belonging to Ollie Martlew and Kate Murrell at The Retreat on Amos Lane, has made his first appearance at Crufts, the biggest dog show in the world At 23 months, he was a little too old for the Juniors and came 5th out of six in the Post Graduate Class competing against much older and more mature dogs. But the judge made a point of telling Kate, his handler, that he was the best-moving dog. Kate and Ollie are hoping Rudi will come into his own in future years - if he manages to qualify again. Despite all the tension, it was a great day out at National Exhibition Centre, with Rudi behaving impeccably outside the ring, and like a star-in-the-making inside it. Roll on next year! For anyone whos interested: The Hovawart breed was known in the Middle Ages to be used by Bavarian mountain farmers for guarding the home and herding. It died out until the beginning of the last century when it was revived. The Hovawart has German Shepherd, Newfoundland, Bernese Mountain dog, Leonberger, Hungarian Kuvacsz and Saluki blood. It was only introduced to England in the 1980s by Mrs W. Inches from Scotland who happened to be judging the breed this year at Crufts. ST HELENAS FELLOWSHIP (continued) On the spiritual side we have held, and still continue Family Services during each season of the year which have given us all a chance to welcome Spring, revel in the singing of our favourite hymns at the Summer Songs of Praise, give thanks for Harvest, celebrate the joy of Christmas and take time for reflection during the Winter Service. The South Asian earthquake must be in the minds and hearts of many of us over 150,000 dead and each and every one of them a precious family member. We dont know why natural disasters have to happen except that they seem to be part of the life of our planet, as much as the sunshine and plenty that we enjoy. We can be encouraged by the wonderful response of people from all over the world in the giving of aid, in worldwide prayers and in the way in which previously warring parties are now working together. Here are human beings at their best and light shining in darkness. Jesus said, I am the light of the world and again, The light shone out from the darkness, and the darkness could not overcome it. ( John 1 v5). Our prayer for 2005 is that caring in our world will grow stronger and hatred weaker. ANN CANDLISH
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SOUTH SCARLE DOVECOTES

The inside story by ERIC JOHNSON-SABINE, The Hall. Including tips on How to live to a ripe old age and How to cure that melancholy feeling
SOUTH SCARLE has two ancient dovecotes, buildings specifically constructed to house pigeons. One, originally in the grounds of Beeches Farm, is easily seen from Church Lane. The other is in the grounds of The Hall. Both are built of lias limestone as are several older houses in the village. The dovecote at Beeches Farm has recently been renovated and has a pyramidal pan -tile roof with a cat-slide dormer glover that provides access for the birds. The dovecote at The Hall is roofless but retains 221 well-preserved, stone nesting boxes. when other fresh meat was scarce. Each breeding pair produced two chicks about six times a year for up to seven years. Young squabs were usually selected for the pot after four weeks, before any flying had toughened the meat. MANY OTHER USES

Pigeons, however, had many other uses. Their well-known homing instincts have been used for centuries, for carrying messages, right up to the Second World War. In addition, their droppings were used for manure and for tanning and in the 17th Century, were a Originally, the right to keep pigeons major source of saltpeter used in the was only granted to feudal barons, manufacture of gunpowder. abbots and Lords of the Manor. Later, the privilege was extended to the parish MEDIEVAL REMEDY clergy. It was not until the mid-18th Pigeon feathers, along with those of Century that any landowners could build other farmyard birds, were used for a dovecote on their own land. Both of stuffing pillows and it was once South Scarles dovecotes were probably believed that those who slept on built well before this date. pigeon feathers lived to an old age. One medieval remedy for melancholy ROCK PIGEONS was to apply to the head a live pigeon The birds that were reared were blue cut in half. rock pigeons and today their descendants are the feral pigeons that Photographs of the dovecotes in our throng all our cities. They are distinct village are on the next page and are in Dovecotes of from, but related to the familiar wood m e n t i o n e d Nottinghamshire by John Severn, pigeons that are actually impossible to published by the Cromwell Press, which domesticate. gives a well-illustrated account of the Pigeons were reared mainly for their history and construction of these meat which was invaluable in the winter intriguing buildings.
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SOUTH SCARLE DOVECOTE

BIRDS RETURNING TO THE GLOVER

THE HALL DOVECOTE

ERIC SHOWS THE NESTING BOXES

The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit:Chapter1,The Beginning of things.

Mother began to be afraid the he (Peter) might be sickening for measles, when he suddenly sat up in bed and said: I hate gruel -- I hate barley water -- I hate bread and milk. I want to get up and have something real to eat. What would you like? Mother asked. A pigeon-pie, said Peter, eagerly, a large pigeon-pie. A very large one. So Mother asked the Cook to make a large pigeon-pie. The pie was made. And when the pie was made it was cooked. And when it was cooked, Peter ate some of it.. After that

his cold was better!

( Perhaps we all need a piece of Pigeon-Pie! Ed.)

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Clocking up the air Miles!

The continuing saga of the Betts Wedding Cake!
Lynn tells all.well, nearly all!
For those avid readers waiting for more news of the Betts wedding cake which
went to California last June, here is the promised update. The groom, after much persuading and eventual moral pressure, carried the bottom tier. Dave and I carried the middle one and a relative took the top tier. At the last minute Daves mum, who made and decorated it, gave me a container of sugar - craft flowers for the top if we got it all on the plane and through the suspicious American customs!

At San Francisco airport, the only question we were asked about its contents
was whether any suet had been used..from any mad cows, presumably! Daves mum was furious as she only ever uses best butter. Five days later the surviving top tier was on its way back to the UK with the bride and groom! The latest news is that it is about to go back again for the first anniversary. I wonder is there is another cake as well-travelled? If so, it will have to beat 18,000miles!

Staff Officer in Kabul

As a village with so many RAF connections I thought Scarlians may be interested in one of our other sons as well? DANIEL graduated from RAF Cranwell a few years ago and until recently was stationed in Norwich. He is now, however, in deepest Afghanistan with the Military Infrastructure. He flew out on a transport plane and took up his post as a Staff Officer in Kabul in mid-March this year. MEL, his wife, and I immediately read the bestseller The Bookseller of Kabul for a bit of background info. And what an eye-opener that was! We are expecting him to be shopping for her burka as we speak! Life within the British Headquarters should be interesting. As it is a Muslim country there is no alcohol which may prove the biggest challenge. Any tales from there I will pass on along with further news of the Cake!
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South Scarle welcomes ARTIST

A warm welcome to South Scarle for artist John Lansdown who moved into the village about a year ago with his girl-friend Eve. John previously lived in the harbour town of Whitehaven in the Lake District. He was a student at Newark Violin-making School for three years from 1996 to 1999 but now considers art his full-time career Impressionist John, who is 40 years old, describes his work as impressionist and classical. He likes to work en - plein - air (a French expression denoting painting done outside). Though he has taken commissions from as far afield as Canada and New Zealand, at present his work is proving more popular abroad than in this country selling mainly in France However, this may be about to change in the light of recent events. Exhibition An exhibition of thirty of Johns oil paintings has recently been on show in the Mezzanine Gallery at Millgate Museum, Newark and his painting A winters day in Newark Market Place (a view painted from the Town Hall balcony) recently raised 230 for Newark division of St John Ambulance. Johns desire to donate the money to the SJAB was as a result of his having learned first aid with them and because they are raising money to pay for a new vehicle and headquarters. We wish John every success in the future with his art and hope that he and Eve will enjoy being a part of our community here.

John is pictured with the Mayor of Newark, Mr. John Clark and SJAB Officer Philip Jessop

ODDS & ENDS Be WARNED..

Now that the silver bin recycling scheme is fully operational in the village it is important that residents are careful what they place in the bin! Anything with your name, address and other personal details needs to be properly shredded ( personal shredders can be bought very cheaply now and are very effective but use scissors if you must ). IDENTITY FRAUD is now rife and is being highlighted in news bulletins regularly. It s a sad fact that everyday hundreds of people are defrauded by conmen dont be one of them!

..Be a SHREDDER! CALLING ALL BOOKWORMS!

I am thinking of starting a BOOK READING GROUP in the Village. Preliminary ideas are for the group to choose one book every two months and meet to discuss it over a glass of whatever you fancy! - perhaps meeting in a different members home each time. Such groups have proved popular and stimulating in many parts of the country and I think there must be quite a few bookworms here in South Scarle. PLEASE .. If you would be interested in joining such a group I would like to hear from you and if there is sufficient interest we will have an inaugural meeting to organise things.. E MAIL me or drop me a note through the Hall Barn letterbox.. Roy. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Photographs on PAGE 3 and reproduction newspaper item courtesy of the Newark Advertiser Co Ltd, Editors, Roy and Kate, thank all who have contributed to this edition of the re-formed SCARLIAN. Your efforts are appreciated.
This is your village magazine so please let us have your news and views, diary dates and small adverts well in advance of any special events.. You can deliver items by post or by hand to the Editors at their home addresses on the front page, give them in at the Farm Shop where the lovely Anita will pass them on, or E.MAIL them to us at -

TheScarlian@aol.com.
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