Benefice Together Day
The Buttercross Club
Our speaker at Wednesday’s meeting was David Palmer, a freelance auctioneer whose work takes him from Cornwall to Scotland. He has been on the television several times – some at auctions in Stamford. He is known for his rather splendid waistcoats and had donned one of them for the talk he gave us.
We learnt that nothing has a fixed value and the location of the sale can make a difference to the price an item achieves. For example, pottery sold at auction in Staffordshire achieves a higher price than elsewhere because of the importance of pottery manufacture in that area. There are also many reproductions around so buyers must check the authenticity of the items that interest them. Currently the price of gold has risen. For example, sovereigns are selling for £280 to £300. Many gold items of jewellery are therefore being melted down after purchase at auction as their gold content is selling so well.
A few members had brought along one item each for David to comment upon. These included decorative plates. They are no longer worth quite as much as they used to be unless they are extremely rare. He urged us to go to Burslem to see the Wedgewood factory if we get the chance as it is magnificent. He also pointed out that it is better if each item has a background story as just being old doesn’t make money nowadays. However, the market for antiques has opened up because of the internet. Items can now get snapped up by international buyers and, where prices are concerned, there will always be surprises.
Provenance remains at the top of the list for a successful sale. The value of an item can depend upon where it was made. For example, at the moment Norwegian brooches are highly saught after and prices have gone up accordingly. It seems Clarice Cliff pottery is no longer quite so popular but David noted that her ‘funkier’ items may well continue to be more valuable. He said that they are collectable rather than antique.
Sales are not just held in designated sales rooms. Indeed, they can, for example, be in people’s homes or out in the open. Charity auctions at functions are also popular and very enjoyable, often raising substantial and much welcome funds.
At an auction 600 lots are achievable in one go. David also pointed out that though the auctioneer needs a refreshing drink from time to time, tea/coffee do not wet the whistle and one is better off sticking to cold fresh drinks. In his case, however, he drinks hot chocolate!
David is an excellent speaker, imparting useful knowledge but making us laugh a lot at his astute observations.
Diary Dates
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, June 5th, when we shall be visiting the Rutland Nursery/Garden Centre, Lyndon Road, Manton. As well as a vast range of outdoor and indoor plants, there is a superb gift shop and a great restaurant.
We are meeting at the car park outside the Reading Room at 2pm. Please try to work out in advance who is travelling with whom although there is plenty of parking space at the Garden Centre.
PICNIC AT BURGHLEY
There is an open invitation to everyone in Barnack village (and beyond!) to join the usual Coffee Stop crowd who are having a summer picnic at Burghley House on Wednesday 28th August from 10.30 onwards.
We will meet on the area near the logs on the left hand side. There is disabled parking nearby for those who need it and also close at hand is the Garden Café and toilet facilities.
Please bring your own chair and picnic and any suitable outdoor games.
If it’s a great day and folk want to stay on longer than the usual finish time of 12 noon that’s absolutely fine of course. If the weather is very inclement we will meet at the pub as usual.
For more information, or if anyone is in need of a lift, please contact Carol Pickering on 740438.
Free Concert In aid of the Evergreen Care Trust and Cancer Research UK
Saturday June 15th, 7.30pm: One A ‘Chord.
Stamford Methodist Church, Barnhill, Stamford
A variety of easy listening songs to listen and perhaps even sing along to
Raffle & Refreshments
We would value your support
Any questions please get in touch
Su Fletcher su.fletcher@outlook.com
01780 740034
Concert in Ufford Church
HYMN TO ST CECILIA
The St Peter’s Singers return to St Andrew’s Church on 6th July at 7.30 pm to perform a summer concert entitled ‘Hymn to St Cecilia’. Benjamin Britten had long been attracted to the notion of dedicating a work to St Cecilia, partly because he was born on St Cecilia’s day, but also because she is the patron saint of music. It is a brilliant setting of words by WH Auden – a challenging and dynamic piece for singers, but an established favourite among choirs. The remainder of the programme is made up of choral works by Parry, Stanford, Grainger, Ravel, Walton and Holst, with organ solos played by Jeremy Jepson, our Musical Director.
Tickets £15, to include interval refreshments, are available from Keith Lievesley 01780 740679 or Sally Hudson 01780 740475, or on the door.
St John’s Patronal festival
On June 23rd at St John’s Barnack, we will be celebrating the Patronal Festival (John the Baptist’s Birthday) with a communion service at the usual time of 9.30 am.
And then at 4.30 pm there will be an Evening Praise celebration, with Barnack Primary School choir and the Archdeacon of Oakham, the Ven Alison Booker, preaching.
St Botolph’s Patronal Pet Service
We’ll celebrate St Botolph’s Day the week before on 16th June, with a pet service. Bring your dog, pony, pot-bellied pig, or whatever other creature you can keep on a lead!
Inside if wet (in which case please don’t bring a pony).
BARNACK & PILSGATE ANNUAL VILLAGE MEETING
Messy Church, Barnack, June 9
We are so much looking forward to welcoming both “regulars” and new families to the next Messy Church, which will be at the usual time (3.30-5.00pm) on Sunday, June 9th in Barnack Church.
We will be learning about “God Sending Help”, the time when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help his apostles. We’ll follow the normal pattern for Messy Church: refreshments, Bible story, crafts, singing and prayer, plus some toys for the little ones. Messy Church is aimed at all the family, so please do come along and join in. If you would like more information, please call Mike Mills on 07523312387 or Carol Summers on 07715460177.
Some Thanks
Firstly, Lisa Chadwick, who continues to produce this magazine and get it printed and distributed across the villages. A real labour of love, and one we should all be grateful for. Thanks for all you do, Lisa.
Now all the annual church meetings have taken place, thanks to all those who are serving or have served as officers in all the parishes in the benefice. Our Church Wardens are now: John Bradshaw and Geoff Dunkley (Wittering); David Laycock (Barnack); Nigel Clough and John Wreford (Bainton); Kate Hinchliff (Helpston). And thanks to Gary Ward, who is stepping down as Warden at Helpston.
Thanks to our now former councillor, David Over, who stood down at the local elections in May. Thanks so much David for your diligence in representing the ward, and attending so many local events over the years. I know you seem to have been ever-present whenever anything is happening in one of my parishes.
And our prayers for Irene Walsh, and her work as our new ward councillor. Thanks are due to Irene for her willingness to stand, and represent us in the City Council.
Finally, for those on our parish councils who have either just stood down, or have now been elected. Keith Lievesley in particular who has stood down having served Ufford for such a long time. All those who give up their time freely for our communities deserve our thanks.
Reverend Gary
Community Speed Watch
I am writing to the Parish News to put out a call to arms to the local community to join our local speed watch group to help us deal with the endemic speeding issues in Barnack, Bainton and Pilsgate (and beyond hopefully!)
I have been a member of our small speed watch group for some time, which is patiently managed by Kim Cameron.
However, our group is so small that very often we do not have enough members to complete the basic speed watch duties (we need a minimum of three, ideally four in very busy periods).
That said, on a number of occasions when we have managed to get out to monitor traffic speed we have been tackled mid-session in Barnack by members of the public, often questioning how effective we are and what actual difference we can make to the problem of speeding in their villages.
To that we must reply, we are doing what we can and would really appreciate more local residents coming forward to help man these speed watch sessions and thus contribute to the fight against speeding in our area!
The training is online and will take up less than an hour of a person’s time, followed by a session with our friendly group to see how easy and manageable being part of the speed watch team is.
We try to do one speed watch session a month for just one hour at a time, so it really isn’t a massive commitment, but it is a commitment to make a real difference to the road safety of where we live.
Many thanks, I understand if you need to edit this down, I hope you can fit it into your next edition.
Ruth Jones, Pilsgate