HIGH FLIGHT
September and Spitfires will forever be linked in my memory.
On 17th September 1941, my father, a 23 year old Flight Lieutenant, flew one from his base near Oxford to photograph the harbour at Dieppe, and wrote in his log that he “crossed the coast at Beachy Head”.
Imagine my delight when, for my birthday recently I was presented with a voucher enabling me to follow his slipstream in the rear of a converted 2 seater. Since I could choose the date of my flight, it obviously had to be as close as possible – albeit some 82 years later!
Arriving at Biggin Hill airfield, I was introduced to MJ627, built at Castle Bromwich.“She” first flew operationally on 25th September 1944 and 2 days later, with a Canadian pilot at the controls, shot down an enemy fighter. With purely peaceful intentions, I climbed aboard on a beautifully sunny afternoon, and we were soon airborne, heading south at about 180 mph 1,500 ft above Kent and East Sussex towards the coast.
Having established that I’d flown light aircraft before, it wasn’t long before the pilot uttered the magic words “You have control”. What a thrill to be flying this iconic Second World War aircraft, and in so doing, getting a small understanding of what my father and “The Few” experienced.
Thankfully we didn’t have to keep a constant look-out for hostiles. The journey took us over many familiar towns and villages, as I grew up and lived in the area. Within 15 minutes, there was the English Channel, and the Marina just east of Brighton. At this stage we “stooged around”, waiting for the chase plane containing my wife, daughter and family to catch up. From then on we flew in formation along the Seven Sisters, as the cliffs between Newhaven and Eastbourne are known, and so to the red and white striped lighthouse at – you guessed it – Beachy Head.
This gave the others great opportunities to take photos, so close that a very happy Michael can clearly be seen grinning like the proverbial Cheshire Cat in the rear cockpit. Reaching the outskirts of Eastbourne, I was able to pick out the school I attended in the early 1960s, and the road in which Jilly and I lived before moving to Rutland nearly 24 years ago.
All too soon it was back to base, but not before my pilot took us through a succession of rolls, inverting the aircraft. For obvious reasons, loose objects are strictly forbidden!
Finally, it’s appropriate to precis the beautiful poem written by a young Canadian pilot, John Gillespie Magee, Jr whose life was cut short when his Spitfire crashed in 1941:
“Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds,
– and, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God”.
Peterborough Arts Society
14th December 2023, The Arts Society Peterborough’s monthly talk is at The Fleet, PE2 4 DL.
‘Berthe Morisot and her life and art’ by Dr Lois Oliver.
Impressionist Berthe Morisot is known for her light-filled canvasses of modern life: afternoons boating, women in ballgowns, children playing. Lois reviews the artist’s work and highlights what set her apart from her predecessors and contemporaries.
Doors open at 10-15am for coffee and a chat, the talk lasts an hour, just come along and enjoy your first talk free, so why not come and join us? All are welcome.
For more information and details of how to join the society, visit: www.the-arts-society-peterborough.org.uk
Mobile Library Service in Barnack
The mobile library visits Barnack once every four weeks on Wednesday mornings, stopping at The Acres and either near the church or near the village hall.
Contact Roger Portess 07948 797835 / roger.portess@peterboroughlimited.co.uk.
Barnack Parish Council apologises for incorrectly stating in the 2023/2024
Directory that the mobile library service had been withdrawn from Barnack.
It is only the stop on the Uffington Road that has been discontinued
Thanks from Diane
My name is Diane and I live on the Acres in Barnack. In the last Parish news I was lucky enough to be given the Pride of Barnack award from the local people or a local person.
Firstly I would just like to thank the people who work with me to achieve any event we put on for the public, I do all the arranging but I am lucky to work with an absolutely brilliant team of volunteers who do all the hard work, they work tirelessly to achieve whatever function I put in front of them. They are all just wonderful so thank you to everyone who helped in any way for the Macmillan coffee morning and BBQ. I would also like to thank the people or person who wrote into the Parish news for the wonderful accolade, it was a lovely reward for both myself and the volunteers who do all the hard work for our events.
We had a wonderful day at our Macmillan coffee morning and BBQ I would also like to thank everyone who attended our marvellous day for their kind support in helping us raise a total of £1560.12. It was so rewarding and lovely to have not only tenants from Little Northfields and The Acres but lots of support from Barnack and other local villages too and the local police constabulary. It was because of this, that it was so successful so thank you again.
Diane
In Flanders Fields -Steven Brereton Martin
In Flanders fields the poppies grow,
Between the crosses, row on row.
It’s doubtful that Lt Col John McCrae, the Canadian Army doctor who wrote the well-known threnody, had any idea that his words would inspire such a powerful emblem of remembrance, still in use more than 100 years later. Inspired by the poem, an American teacher, Professor Moina Michael, started selling silk poppies in 1918 to raise funds for ex-servicemen. The “Disabled Society” was started in 1920 for disabled ex-servicemen and, to raise funds for it, Mrs Anna Guerin organised the production and sale of silk poppies. In 1921, Guerin persuaded Earl Haig to adopt the poppy as the symbol of the Royal British Legion and, in 1922, The Poppy Factory, in Richmond-upon-Thames, was set up to provide employment opportunities to wounded soldiers, making poppies and wreaths for the Royal Family and the annual Poppy Appeal, as it does to this day.
The tradition of the Two Minute Silence was established by 1921 and the first ever national Poppy Appeal raised £106,000 – a huge sum at the time; now the Poppy Appeal raises £40 million. Every purchase through the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Shop and donation to the Poppy Appeal goes 100% to the charity and its work helping members or former members of the Armed Forces community – the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force as well as the Army – and the work of the Royal British Legion continues unabated.
There is no War Memorial in Ufford, but the names of those from the village and surrounding villages who died in the First and Second World Wars, and who have died in conflicts since the last war, are read out each year at the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Barnack War Memorial.
John McCrae’s poem is seldom heard nowadays – though the symbol of the poppy endures – but the fourth stanza of another poem, “For the Fallen” by Laurence Binyon, is well known and is recited at the same Remembrance ceremony every year.
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left, grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
And we solemnly repeat the last line. I do hope that we will.
The Buttercross Club
The club met at the Reading Room in Bainton on the first Wednesday of the month which just happened to be November 1st. Despite the rain and chilly weather there was a very good audience to hear our speaker for the evening, who is also one of our members, Sandra Jones. She used to be an accountant but always loved food, especially her grandmother’s who was an exceptionally good cook. Sandra therefore decided upon a change of career and went to college where she trained to be a chef.
Sandra and her husband, who took early retirement, bought a house in Barnack and she intended to continue her new career. However, she had to take care of her mother when her father passed away so did local parties and catering. Her husband was sadly diagnosed with a brain tumour so Sandra learnt to drive so that she would be able to continue using her catering skills further afield. She also decided to extend her interests by signing up for an upholstery course at the Adult Education College in Peterborough. Shortly after,she was asked if she would teach catering at the college. She was persuaded to do a seven weeks course with students at the Jack Hunt school. The theme was Christmas and the course was very successful. This led to her being asked if she would teach men cooking. Before too long she led courses for ‘beginners’ men and ‘advanced’ men as well as for ladies. She ended up doing this work for 10 years but left to spend time with her grandchildren.
Sandra brought to our meeting trays full of delicious looking finger food suitable for the Christmas festivities. She went through each dish describing the ingredients so that we could replicate the fare at home. We were then invited to sample the food – an invitation which was readily accepted! It was beautifully presented, incredibly tasty and there were no leftovers! She gave us lots of helpful tips, of which the following are examples. She recommended using three kinds of cheese to make cheese pastry which should then be left in the fridge overnight,taken out next morning and left for a further two hours before being used. The three cheeses she said worked well are strong cheddar, parmesan and red fox (red Leicester). She also mentioned acceptable shortcuts like using ready rolled flaky pastry where necessary. The flavour of short bread biscuits can be enhanced by using stem ginger and a pinch of ground ginger then icing them and sprinkling ginger on top.
Sandra requested a donation be made to charity in lieu of a fee.
Diary Date: Our Christmas celebration will be in the Reading Room on Wednesday, 6th December, and will start at the slightly earlier time of 6:30pm. Please bring a plate of savoury or sweet food to place on the buffet table. There will be mulled wine, a ‘2 round’ quiz prepared by Carol Hall and a seasonal raffle.
Members are invited to bring one guest each. Feel free to celebrate the season by, say, wearing a Christmas jumper or some form of festive decoration!
Sheila Pepper and Family
Sheila Pepper and Family would sincerely like to thank the village people for their kind messages and cards on the death of Phil.
Before retiring he was a Carpenter and worked for people in all the local villages he was also well known for his regular walks round Bainton and Ashton.
Thank you
Wittering Carol Singing
On Friday 1st December, there will be Christmas Carols in Wittering. At the Christmas tree in Townsend Road, near the village sign. 6.30 pm followed by refreshments at the Social Club. Organised in association with the Wittering Events team.
Advent Carol Service at Bainton
On Sunday 3rd December we will be holding our Benefice Advent Carol Service at St Mary’s Bainton. This will be at 4.30 pm. Please come to join us as we enter into the excitement and expectation of Advent.
All other churches will have their normal services, marking Advent Sunday, in the morning on 3rd December.
The Stamford Singers: The Holly & the Ivy
The Stamford Singers return to St John’s Barnack on Wednesday 6th December at 7pm. A programme of music for the festive season.
Non-alcoholic refreshments at the break. Please feel free to bring your own refreshments if you fancy something that isn’t tea or coffee.
Ticket prices £10 in aid of St John’s funds
Please contact Revd Gary Alderson 07503975588 or gary.aldersonwrites@gmail.com for tickets in advance.
Wintry Words and Carols in Helpston
The John Clare Society and St Botolph’s Church, with John Clare Cottage and the Bluebell Inn, invite you to an evening of winter poetry and Christmas carols on Friday 8th November.
6.30-8pm – Poems at John Clare Cottage Woodgate, Helpston PE6 7ED – some Clare, some by other poets – or bring your own! Doors open 6 pm. Admission free.
8 pm – Christmas Carols outside the Bluebell (wrap up warm!)
Contact Gary Alderson gary.aldersonwrites@gmail.com or Scott Coe scottcoe@hotmail.com to get involved with the poetry.
Christmas Carol Service at Ufford
We will be holding a Christmas Carol Service at St Andrew’s Ufford, on 10 December at 4.30 pm. See the list for all the other Christmas services.
Carol Singers at the Acres
Ufford Road, Barnack, on Thursday 14th December at 2pm. Joining with the choir of Barnack Primary School, and the people from the Acres to sing carols and Christmas songs. Please let Revd Gary know if you’re coming.
Bainton Carol Service and Singalong
After the Bainton Christmas Carol service on 17th December at 4.30 pm, stay with us for a glass of mulled wine or fruit juice and some Christmassy singing.
Barnack Coffee Stop Christmas Singalong
Last year’s popular Coffee Stop Christmas Sing-Along in Barnack Church will be repeated this year: from 10.30am to noon on Wednesday 20th December. We hope that you can join us for some seasonal singing, an opportunity to socialise with friends and community, and hot drinks and mince pies “on the house”.
Barnack & Beyond – Local Heroes
Thank you to whoever wrote the piece in last month’s magazine ‘Celebrating our local heroes’, the sentiments of which I endorse wholeheartedly. It was a tremendous result that was raised for Macmillan and thanks are certainly due to Di and her team at The Acres for all the work that was involved in the Coffee Morning. Likewise, anyone that knows Sally Hullock would agree that she is certainly our ‘community dynamo’.
The article was full of encouragement and positivity but I am aware that there are many others in our villages that weren’t given a mention and the two ladies that specifically spring to mind are Margaret Palmer and Lisa Chadwick. So a big thank you to these ladies too, and why stop at the women! We are indebted to so many people who give their time and energy to promoting the wonderful sense of community that is found in Barnack and beyond.
TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAMWORK!
I just wanted to say thank you so much for the very kind article written in November’s edition, regarding my role within Barnack Community Association. As with any community event, it is never just one person that makes it a success, so I also wanted to celebrate Emma Thorp, who has organised Barnack Fun Run for the last couple of years. It’s Emma’s infectious enthusiasm and energy that makes us all want to help and support this brilliant community event. Thanks Emma for all you do.
It is also only right that I mention the two people who I discovered were responsible for last month’s article. After a bit of detective work, I learned it was Julia and Sarah Walker-Smith from Paynes Field,who definitely deserve a big “shout out” here.
Residents of Paynes Field, past and present, will know that they have shown incredible generosity and kindness to their neighbours over the last few years, not only in Paynes Field but particularly to residents of the Acres and Little Northfields. During the pandemic, they organised regular food drops to these residents,with goodies such as homemade scones, donated Hambleton bakery bread, choc chip cakes, Easter eggs, Advent calendars, Christmas hampers – to list only a few! They also organised children’s picture collections for VE Day, collections for the Afghan refugees and their spectacularly decorated Halloween “garage” has become infamous on the village Trick or Treat Trail for kids to enjoy. Thank you Julia and Sarah for bringing the Community together with so many acts of selfless kindness.
Sally Hullock
BAINTON, ASHTON, UFFORD SANTA SLEIGH – SUNDAY 10th DECEMBER
Santa’s Sleigh will be travelling around these villages on Sunday 10th December.
Santa and his elves would love to see you waving from your drive, doorways or pavements.
The sleigh will follow the same route and timings, as in previous years:
ASHTON at 5.15pm- travelling the Ashton loop from the Helpston end of Bainton Green Road, round the Ashton loop to the Ufford Road, and then in to Bainton.
BAINTON from 5.45pm – St Mary’s Close, Church Lane, up and round the Bainton House Triangle and back down Tallington Road and then turning towards Ufford.
UFFORD from 6.15pm – travelling up Main Street from Ufford Farm, stopping outside The White Hart for quick refreshments then up to Newport Way and Hillside Close. Travelling back down the village to turn left on to Walcot Road/Southorpe Terrace at about 7.00pm.
Contact Sally Hullock if any queries – 07795 565658
First Wednesday Club.
Our meeting in November to make a Christmas item proved as enjoyable as expected. Thanks to Beryl Burrows who had taken so much trouble in her preparation for the afternoon, and whose patience was endless, many houses in the nearby villages will have an angel on their Christmas trees. We are looking forward to our December meeting where we are visiting the Blue Bell at Helpston on the 6th for our Christmas lunch. Can I ask all members to check their emails to see the rota for lifts by car.