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| The committee are currently busy organising a range of social events for the remainder of the year. The quiz with fish and chip supper was another success, while at the Over 70’s Christmas lunch at The Barn Restaurant, Upper Stowe, the food and service were yet again a triumph. Thanks must go to Anne and her hardworking team for treating us all so well. On Friday 9th December we are fortunate in having a return visit from The New Perspectives Touring Theatre Company. (see enclosed flyer) Those of you unfamiliar with their work may not be aware that they are probably the most innovative and polished professional company touring this area. Their current show has just returned from a very successful stint at the Edinburgh Festival and comes highly recommended. Tickets cost £7 with no concessions and can be purchased from committee members. Many thanks to those of you who have joined the Tote for yet another year. The money raised really does help to keep the hall going, especially crucial in view of the current structural problems. If you haven’t signed up to the Tote and would like to do so, please contact wappenham@tiscali.co.uk. The cost is £2 per month, and there is a monthly draw with prizes of £25, £10 and £5 respectively, plus a Grand Christmas Draw with a bumper prize of £50. Thanks also to everyone who purchased a Wappenham calendar; we were unsure how the sales would go but have been pleased at how successful this venture has proved. Also thanks must go to Colin, who kindly sponsored us to the tune of £200. We do have a few calendars left, so if you’re looking for that extra special Christmas present, please contact Julie Long. We plan to have a 2013 calendar with the theme of ‘Knobs, Knockers, Doors and Gates’. So now is the time to keep an eye out for anything that looks suitable. The images need to be in landscape format. Although portraits will be accepted, it is highly likely that if chosen they may be cropped and possibly lose detail. The images need to be of a high resolution, and if scanned from prints need to be a minimum of 3000dpi. A group page on Flickr has been set up to receive images. Some of you may have heard talk of the possible closure of the hall due to cracking in the wall between the toilet extension and the main body of the hall. The committee commissioned a structural report, which found that the cracks had appeared as the result of a particularly dry summer, compounded by trees on the perimeter taking out yet more moisture from the clay soil. We have also consulted our insurance company who are to monitor the situation over an eighteen-month period. Their current view, however, is that the situation will improve, especially if we have a wet winter, and that it is not a cause for any concern. Season’s greetings from the Village Hall Committee. Jenny
Szczerbowski Parish Councillors If you remember from the last newsletter, the Parish Council was hoping to co-opt a councillor to fill the remaining vacancy. I am happy to say that we now have a full PC – we are very pleased that Laura K decided to join the team. As you may well know, being a councillor involves a bit more than just attending meetings: it is a big commitment and it is always difficult to recruit new members, but more so younger members of the community. And that is why I am doubly pleased that Cllr King, the youngest person to join the PC in many years, has put herself forward. In July 2010, Laura qualified as a barrister. For those of you who kept the Autumn 2010 Newsletter, there is a picture of Laura with her proud parents, Paul & Sheila. Full Parish Council: Paul Featherstone (vice-chair), Laura King, Howard Mordue, Michael Payne, Dianne Walsh (chair), Hilary Wickham, and David Wilson. Clerk: Liz Hart. If you would like to contact the PC, please email Liz at wappenham@stationhousehelmdon.co.uk Queen’s Jubilee A working party, led by Cllr Michael Payne, in collaboration with representatives of Wappenham village organisations, has met to discuss possible arrangements for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Amongst other things, a new bench on The Knob has been proposed and a date for festivities to take place – 5th June 2012. I will keep you posted with new developments. You can contact Michael via Wappenham email address wappenham@tiscali.co.uk Planning The PC, as usual, has been busy with planning applications. Planning meetings needed to take place in between ordinary meetings in order to respond to applications within new timelines (all to do with SNC’s new delegation scheme). High Street House, 8 High Street: (Full application and Listed Building) Conversion of roof space into habitable living accommodation to include internal works, the addition of a new dormer window and structural alterations to the existing roof structure. General refurbishment and repair. PC planning meeting scheduled on the 14 November 2011. The application is pending. Chantry House, 3 The Lane: (Full application and Listed Building) Demolish and rebuild part of the existing wall to create a vehicular access and 2 no. parking spaces and revised pedestrian access. The PC had no objections and made comments. The application is pending. (Minutes 18 October 2011) Rear of 5 Pittams Lane: Erection of a single dwelling. The PC objected to the planning application and made substantial comments. The application was refused by SNC. (Minutes 4 October 2011) Wappenham STW Slapton Road: Kiosk to house dosing and control equipment for phosphorous removal. The Parish Council had no objections. SNC had no objections. (Minutes 6 September 2011) 2 Brookside: conversion of garage to self-contained annexe. The PC made no objection but made some comments. The application was approved by SNC. (Minutes 19 July 2011) Beeches House: Greenside, single storey rear extension, conversion of barn to living accommodation, re-roof existing garage, pedestrian gateway. The application was withdrawn to include a bat report and make amendments; the new plans no longer include a rear extension. The PC had no objections to this second submission and made minor comments. The application was approved by SNC. (Minutes 2 August 2011) If you would like to view applications online or read the officer’s reports visit SNC’s planning register on http://snc.planning-register.co.uk/. Wappenham Website I am still looking for a successor. Anyone interested in managing the website, please contact me at wappenham@tiscali.co.uk. Dates of future meetings Tuesday 29th November
– Ordinary Meeting – 8pm Links to the Minutes of the Parish Council, from 2004 onwards, are on the Parish Council page. Prior to 2004, they can be viewed at Northamptonshire Record Office, Mereway, Northampton. The Astwell Benefice Helmdon with Stuchbury and Radstone, and Syresham with Whitfield, Lois Weedon with Weston and Plumpton and Wappenham Sun, Moon and Stars During a low point in his life a man found himself reading the ‘Stars’ in the newspaper every day, something he would not normally do. Why was he doing it? They might be interesting to read, they might be fun, but you should not make the mistake of living your life by them. It was because the man felt so low and he could not see the future for himself. Everything was dark. He needed to see. He wanted someone to tell him that everything was going to be all right. Advent tells us that all will be well. A star has appeared in the sky. A bright morning star has come to visit us. Jesus is the light of the world. The world is still menaced by dark forces, and our own inner world can collapse. Christians must shine like stars to give the world hope and to point to a future. Christmas Would you open your home and share Christmas with a student from some other part of the world, who would otherwise be stuck at an almost deserted UK university? HOST invites you to give Christmas, perhaps for the first time in their life, to someone who is a guest in this country, who would experience your way of life and make your stay-athome Christmas special. This is not deep philosophy, but maybe it does express those feelings that we have all experienced at some time in our spiritual lives when God has seemed distant. The words from a popular song with the right sentiments for some may well lead to meditation and prayer. Perhaps if this seems a little ‘way out’, there is a precedent. Turn to the Song of Songs in the Old Testament and see how Solomon expressed his love for God. The Astwell Benefice Helmdon with Stuchbury and Radstone, and Syresham with Whitfield, Lois Weedon with Weston and Plumpton and Wappenham. HOST will match you with one or two guests to suit your household. More volunteer hosts are urgently needed for 1-3 days at Christmas. Please see www.hostuk.org. Confirmation St James the Great, Syresham Thirteen candidates from across the Astwell Benefice were prepared for confirmation on 30th October by Rt Reverend John Flack, Honorary Assistant Bishop of Peterborough. Three of the candidates were from Wappenham. They were Finn A, Joshua L, and Thomas C. These occasions are always ones of great joy. We pray for God’s blessing upon them all. Strictly Come Dancing Astwell Benefice Style Rehearsals have begun in Syresham for this year’s Astwell Benefice’s Strictly Come Dancing event for charity. Will our dancers of 2011 be able to raise more than last year’s magnificent total of £7,500? Wappenham is exceptionally well represented by Mark G and his dazzling footwork. Beware, however, as he will very soon be seeking your support (ie money!). The dance evenings are on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd December at 7.30 pm in Syresham Village Hall. Watch out for notices about the sale of tickets. Last year they sold out in days! Special Services Sunday 18th Dec Christingle Service
at 4 pm St Mary the Virgin’s Church Youth Club Every third Sunday on the month from 5.30 – 6.45pm It was good to see so many young people join us at our first meeting on Sunday 18th September 2011. We were also pleased to have Iain Anderson, South Northants Development Worker, with us on this occasion. Best wishes, Will Adams, Rector Thank you to the small army of people in the village who quietly work to keep the church and churchyards looking beautiful and well tended. The path up to the church is looking especially beautiful now that the yews have been expertly trimmed and bounded. The new lavender bushes will form a sweet-smelling and comforting edging for all our worship. As ever, with such an old building, when one problem is resolved something else crops up. Thus, whilst the church is now weatherproof again, thanks to work on the roof, we are now dealing with a problem with the east gate. Years of use have loosened the mortar of a large stone, which held the fastening in place. To avoid harm to anyone using the gate, we have taken the stone out: it will be replaced once the right mortar is identified. Now that autumn and the time to plant bare root hedging is here, the last phase of the graveyard enlargement is underway. The hedge marking the previous boundary is being removed and hedging planted along the fence marking the boundary of the newly-consecrated ground. We are very grateful to those people that have made this possible. Christmas is coming up and, if you are looking for a simple present, something light to post and practical to own, we have Wappenham tea towels showing the village of yesteryear, in two different versions, available from Di W at £5 each or 2 for £8. Thank you to everyone for their support at the Village Fete where we raised just over £350 for the Friends. STOP PRESS – our next event will be another warm and sociable Winter Supper on Saturday 3 March 2012, again with a silent auction. Offers of lots – services, treats, loan of holiday homes – would be much appreciated. Jane Mordue News
from Slapton and Wappenham Dear Friends, As Christmas
time approaches… Christmas is about the appearing of the Lord God upon the earth - some churches use the word Epiphany – this is actually the Greek word for ‘appearing’. In 2 Corinthians the apostle Paul says “for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sakes, he became poor!” So the son of God was sent down to the earth and as John puts it in his Gospel, “The word became flesh, and made his dwelling amongst us”, so God sent His son into the world. The angels from heaven went to the shepherds and told them “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, and goodwill towards all men.” The shepherds would find a baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger in Bethlehem. So it was, and Jesus (meaning Saviour) was born over 2000 years ago. He grew up and He walked and lived in this world, and then later He was sentenced to death upon the cross where He died, as He had foretold his disciples; then three days later, He rose from the dead, and some 40 days later still, He ascended back to heaven. The whole purpose was for the salvation of sinners and that is the grace of God’s and His gift to us all who believe: a gift of eternal life in heaven. Every time across the globe people write the date without a thought - this year we write 2011. Why is it the year 2011? The world is much older than that. We go back that many years to the birth and to the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He appeared to the people of the time and continues to make Himself known to us through the Bible. He came into the world to make this great truth of His saving love known, so men and women from every part of the world might come to know the Lord Jesus Christ. So here we have this tremendous truth, that God gave us the Lord Jesus Christ as the real gift of Christmas - it is not those presents we receive or the family gatherings – but the fact that God sent His only begotten son into the world to save sinners like you and me. The crucial part is that we must come before God and ask to be saved. This is our choice. The consequences of not asking are not worth thinking about, so remember, our time on earth is short and we all have an opportunity to ask Him. All we need to do is pray to the Lord Jesus, and ask for Him to come into your life and for Him to save you. If you want to learn more about Jesus then you are welcome to come along to the chapel and hear a Gospel ministry each and every week. Why not make that step this Christmas time and really have something to celebrate? Through Gods’ grace we can all be saved. We have been made new people and we have a new life because of that grace and that it works in us. Our Services Each Sunday our service in the morning is held here Wappenham at 10.45am and at Slapton Chapel in the evening at 6pm. We are very privileged to have Pastors and Preachers of the Gospel Truth who come and share ministry with us. You are very welcome to join us. The regular congregation and members are a very warm and welcoming group of Christian people. We have between 20 and 30 people regularly attending both our morning and evening services, and some travel up to 15 miles to come right here to Wappenham. We also have a Bible Study each Tuesday evening at 7.30pm and all are welcome. Sunday School The Sunday School meets each week in the schoolroom at the back of Wappenham chapel from 3 till 4pm each Sunday afternoon. We welcome children who are ideally from 5 to 11 years old. They all share in a reading, some singing, a short prayer and various learning activities. Those children who do come say how much they really enjoy themselves. Please do encourage your children to come, again they will be most welcome and will have a great time. Ladies’ Meetings Once a month we have a Ladies’ meeting, which is again held in the schoolroom on a Wednesday afternoon at 2pm. This is held once a month; the details are displayed on the notice board outside the chapel giving details of the visiting speaker. The meeting is always held by a lady and is for the ladies only. Christmas Special Services: Family Carol Service – Carols and Readings - Sunday Evening, December 18th – 6pm at Slapton Chapel – We warmly invite you all to this special service. Christmas Morning Family Service – 10.45am at Wappenham Chapel If anyone has any questions please do not hesitate to ask us. Really everyone is welcome to come and join us for any of our weekly services and meetings. With Best Wishes to you all this Christmas time and May God bless you in the New Year, Richard Kennett – On behalf of Slapton and Wappenham Independent Evangelical Church FROM WAPPENHAM RECREATION ASSOCIATION Fete The Fete was held on Saturday 3rd September 2011with a gross taking of £1,406.84. This has been distributed between the WRA, Village Hall and Church. The weather was fine considering the rather wet August we had encountered. I would like to thank everyone who helped organise the fete, gave prizes, helped on the day and attended, in making this year’s fete another success. The WRA have now been the main organiser of the fete for the last 8 years and have come down with ‘fete fatigue’. It is therefore with some relief that we have decided to take a break from the organising of the event. We will of course continue to help out on the day but have notified the various organisations (Church, Village Hall and Parish Council) that we wish to take a break from the organisation for a while. Hallowe’en On Monday 31st October a gathering of around 28 children attended our Trick or Treat evening. The Monsters & Witches games were supplemented with a new game of ‘Guess Which Parent Is A Ghoul’ which went all right once the parent was prompted to own up that they were the ghoul! Again this year the kids (and parents) were split into 3 groups and sent in different directions and at different times. Anthony and Jane require some particular praise for the horror scene they created and my youngest son now believes a monster lives there. They have now set a standard for next year. A very big thank you should go to all the houses that took part and those that offered. My children seem to start looking forward to Hallowe’en about 3 months in advance and seem more excited about it than Christmas. (This may be down to the dried bread we give them for presents?) Campout 2012 Next year’s campout will now be incorporated into the Diamond Jubilee celebration that is being organised, and due to the date (a Tuesday) and the next day being a school day, the camping part will be omitted! Celebrations will start a little earlier and will still take place in our field, with food, games, music, bonfire etc. Further details will follow in the New Year. Future of the Playground Will Adams has started a youth group at the village hall in preparation of approaching the Church re the relocation of the playground. We will let you know how we get on when a formal application is issued. New Blood We are currently a member down, so if you are new to the village and would like to join up with our relaxed group please contact me. Dene Ayres
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