TABLE TENNIS
Ufford Village Hall is getting sporty!
Get your trainers on and get booked in at our Village Hall for an hour of fun and exercise.
We are excited to offer you the opportunity to book the hall by the hour to use our table tennis table (bats and balls provided if needed).
Children must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
Your first booking is FREE and after that it will be £5 per hour to rent the hall and use of the Table Tennis.
It’s a great chance to do something active on these cold days and dark evenings with family or friends.
If you are interested in making a booking, please contact Emma Thorp (uffordvillagehall@gmail.com / 07769 587 742).
Kathleen Clarke Thanks
The family of Kathleen Clarke would like to thank everyone who attended her funeral on 30th January at Barnack Church and for all the kind words of condolence and donations made in her memory for the British Heart Foundation.
HOT SUPPER AND RACE NIGHT
Ufford Village Hall
Saturday 22nd March 2025
Bar opens 6.30pm, First race at 7.30pm
Join us at Ufford Village Hall for a fundraising social and place your bets during a night of racing.
There will be a bar and a hot supper of jacket potatoes & chilli is included in the ticket price.
Contact Judith Hague (07872 909 945) to reserve your tickets. Please specify any dietary requirements at the time of booking.
Tickets £12.50
Please bring cash for races. Cash & card accepted at the bar.
All proceeds to Ufford Village Hall.
BARNACK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION brings you… IRISH NIGHT – Friday 14th March 2025
Come and celebrate all things green at Barnack Village Hall on Friday 14th March, in anticipation of St Patrick’s Day. Doors open from 7.00 pm for a 7.30 start.
Your £15 ticket includes Live Irish Music from folk band Pennyless; lephrechaun punch; Irish-inspired stew; baby guinness and no doubt a bit of Irish fun and games.
All proceeds support the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of Barnack Village Hall.
TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Tickets available to purchase online: barnackca@sumupstore.com or contact bookings.barnackca@gmail.com or call/whatsapp 07795 565658.
Spring Social Lunch” at Barnack Village Hall
Tuesday 25th March 2025
Following the success of the lunch at the end of October last year, organised by Judy Francis, Barnack Community Association (BCA) would like to host another lunch social, for villagers, on Tuesday 25th March from 12.00 noon.
Tickets will cost £10 per person and this includes a main meal & dessert. The BCA will provide the main meal this time, so no volunteers are required to cook, but if anyone is happy to make a pudding then volunteers will be gathered for this. There will be the usual setup of 8 tables of a max 8 people on each. Sally Hullock will be regularly popping in to Coffee Stop – weekly on Wednesdays at the Millstone Pub – to share more details and to gather interest. Any profit made from this event will go towards the management and upkeep of the Hall, If you would like more details or would like to book your place at the lunch then please call Sally on 07795 565658 or email: bookings.barnackca@gmail.com or chat to Sally at Coffee Stop.
Barnack Messy Church
The next Messy Church is on Sunday 9th March from 3.30 to 5pm in Barnack Church. This time we will be thinking about ‘forgiving others’ through a parable Jesus told about the unforgiving servant. There’ll be a Bible story, themed crafts and activities, songs and a prayer. We start with coffee, tea, squash and snacks and a time to chat or have a go at the warm-up challenge. A friendly welcome to all families whether you come regularly or are trying it out for the first time.
Please do come and enjoy the family fun. To find out more about Messy Church in Barnack please contact Carol Summers 07715 460177 or Mike Mills 07523 312387.
Bainton Church Primrose Festival
St Mary’s Bainton with the Langdyke Trust and Bainton & Ashton Nature Recovery
From 1 pm on Sunday March 30th
• Cream teas – come out for Mothering Sunday!
• Children’s Treasure Hunt
• Children’s crafts
• Flower arranging competition
• Art Exhibition with Maxey Art Group in the Reading Room
• Nature Walk around the Village (2pm – bring good boots)
• Nature Walk around the Pinfold, Churchyard, Buttercross (3pm)
• 4.30 pm Praise service
To enter the Flower arranging competition contact Revd Gary: gary.aldersonwrites@gmail.com, 07503975588, or turn up on Saturday, or Sunday morning with your arrangement and your name and contact details under the arrangement!
“God in the Garden”: Hints of Resurrection
We’ll be considering life, death, and flowering bulbs in the churchyard at St Mary’s Bainton on Sunday 16th March at 4.30pm . As usual with “God in the Garden”, a chance to worship inside and outside the church, and see the wonders that God has created. Especially at this time when the primroses will be blooming and bulbs shooting.
Lent Courses
Why not take up something new up instead of (or as well as) giving something up? Some ways to enter the season of Lent:
• Tuesdays at 3pm from 11 March – a short talk on “People on the Path to the Cross” during Common Prayer Holy Communion at St John’s Barnack
• Wednesdays at 6.30 pm at the Coffee Stop, Townsend Road, Wittering
• Thursdays at 7.45 pm in Botolph’s Barn, Helpston from 6 March: “A Journey to the Cross” – following Jesus’s journey to Jerusalem
• Fridays at 12.15 pm from 14 March – a short discussion on “People on the Path to the Cross” within Prayer During the Day at St Botolph’s Helpston
Another Op’nin’, another Show
The Stamford Concert Singers at
St John the Baptist’s Church, Barnack PE9 3DN
Saturday 5 April 7 pm £10 tickets from Revd Gary: gary.aldersonwrites@gmail.com or on the door. Children / students free.
“Pints of View”
A new initiative I’d like to try… An idea I’ve pinched off my friend Revd Keir… A monthly discussion on a Tuesday night in one of our local pubs, where anyone at all can turn up, have a view, express it, and not worry about being shouted down or overly theologised at.
All I want is to have around 6 to a dozen people (of any gender) prepared to come along each time, support the initiative, and have a view. Then we can take it from there. Anyone interested? Let me know.
Young people and Children’s Worker
It’s obvious from the success of activities such as Messy Church that we have clear mission fields and opportunities in all of our villages to reach young people and/or children, and to make a real difference. But we don’t have the resources to do this within our existing congregations beyond what we are currently doing.
I believe we would benefit from employing a (probably part-time) person to work across the benefice, able to spend time developing the strategies and putting them into place alongside the Rector to hold activities that will reach young people and children. At the moment I have no views on what the person would look like – so please let me know if you’d like to work with us to develop this idea and come up with objectives and a job description.
Revd Gary
Benefice Weekly Newsletter
A reminder that the Benefice weekly notices are on Facebook every week on assorted local websites. Or if you want to use a slightly lower-tech result, you can sign up to receive the emailed notices at https://parishnews-online.co.uk/church-services-for-this-month/ – or scan this QR code on your phone.
A BIG THANK YOU
I would just like to thank all those who sent such lovely Get Well cards and messages, whilst I was ill in hospital over the last few weeks. They all really cheered me up – so thank you to all who took the time.
Joan Laycock
Shrove Tuesday Pancakes!
Barnack Church & Barnack Community Association
Once again pancakes will be served at the Barnack Village Hall on Shrove Tuesday, which is March 4th this year. Please come along for a pancake from 3.30-5.00pm and enjoy the fun, before you start to fast for Lent (?). There’s no charge.
Zena Coles
Much loved by all her family and many friends, passed away peacefully on Thursday 6th February.
A Church service will be held on Monday 3rd March at St John the Baptist Church Barnack at 1pm. All are welcome at Church with a private committal for family only to follow.
As Zena always looked on the bright side of life colourful dress would be welcomed.
Donations in memory of Zena can be made at the service to go to BEAT and Macmillan Cancer Support or online at https://zenacoles.muchloved.com
Castor Lodge Care Home Sponsors Annual Sutton Quiz
in Support of Local Church 11th Feb 2025;
Castor Lodge Care Home in Castor, near Peterborough was proud to sponsor the Annual Sutton Quiz, a well-loved community event raising funds for the local church. Held at Castor Village Hall, the quiz night brought together residents, staff, and locals for an evening of fun, friendly competition, and fundraising.
Residents and staff from Castor Lodge joined in, enjoying the quiz and catching up with members of the community. The evening wrapped up with a classic fish and chips supper, giving everyone a chance to relax and socialise after the event.
“It was fantastic to see our residents getting involved, chatting with people from the local area, and having a great time,” said Priya Jassar, Home Manager at Castor Lodge. “We love being part of the community, and sponsoring the Sutton Quiz was a great way to support an important cause while giving our residents an enjoyable experience.”
Castor Lodge Care Home remains committed to supporting local events and building connections with the community.
For more information about Castor Lodge Care Home and its involvement in the local community, please contact Senior Customer Relations Manager, Morgan Hicks at morgan.hicks@countrycourtcare.com or call 07834 790 400.
The Children’s Society
It is now time to empty your collection boxes. Please could you deliver your box, or a donation, to Skipport, Main Street, Barnack, or give me a call on 740929 and I will collect it. The Children’s Society supports young people as they overcome huge life challenges and move forward to face their futures with hope. If you would like to have a collection box or would like to make a one-off donation to this worthwhile charity please contact me. Thank you. Catharine Wright
Bainton and Ashton Wiki Cafe
This year marked the 20th year of our Wiki Cafe sessions in the Reading Room at Bainton. The first one was in response to the Boxing Day Tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004. Residents came together with a quick (Wiki) response by holding a ‘coffee morning’ on the first Saturday after the New Year with their ‘leftover’ Christmas biscuits and cakes and made a donation to those who were left with nothing.
Over the years it has evolved into a gathering on the first six Saturdays of the new year. Each week is hosted by different volunteers who supply the coffee and biscuits/cakes. Customers’ donate whatever they want and the proceeds are given to a humanitarian charity.
It has become a good place to meet up with neighbours and find out what is happening in the villages. This year we also had a Defibrillator training on one of the Saturdays, some artwork/craft displays from villagers and even a visit from a passing cycle club! Why not make it a destination on one of your winter walks or cycle rides next time round?
Takings vary but to date we have given about £5k to various charities. There is never a shortage of ‘needy causes’. This year – with all the conflicts and natural disasters happening – the money has been given to ‘Shelter Box’. https://shelterbox.org/what-we-do/aid-items/
As ever, heartfelt thanks go to all our volunteer hosts who generously give of their time and ‘supplies’ and to everyone who attends. See you next year! IanAD
The Buttercross Club
Our first Buttercross gathering of 2025 was on Wednesday, February 5th and began with a business meeting during which our chairman, Jill Plant, summarized last year’s successful programme and spoke to us about planned forthcoming meetings for the remainder of the Buttercross year. It is amazing how quickly a year can go by in a planning meeting and before too long we had arrived at Christmas Festivities for 2025!
Helen Fancourt, the club’s treasurer, brought members up to date about the money we have in club funds and we all agreed that there was sufficient to make a donation towards shelter boxes. The business meeting was followed by a talk on chair yoga given by yoga expert Marleni,who is both a private carer in Stamford and a yoga teacher. She helps people who have health problems which have affected their normal mobility. Marleni told us that chair yoga contained the same elements and philosophy as mat yoga.
The origins of yoga lie in India and are more than 7000 years old. It is very good for improving and maintaining muscular strength. It can affect your emotions too, making you feel calmer. She pointed out that we tend to take breathing for granted unless we become short of breath. We need to use the full capacity of our lungs. Our chest lifts with an in breath, expanding and making space. This can help with sleeping. Yoga releases tension and makes one feel more relaxed.
Chair yoga is an alternative way of practicing yoga particularly useful for senior citizens and anyone who has mobility problems. Marleni also clarified the difference between pilates and yoga. Essentially it is one of derivation, as pilates comes from the west of our planet but yoga has its origins in the east. However, yoga is somewhat more about relaxation and meditation. It aids the mind as well as the body; if one feels calmer and happier one can achieve more. Marleni outlined the personal effect it has had on her. She has taken up sports such as swimming and cycling, does breathing exercises, hand stands and so on and as a result feels more energised and focussed. She has even taught people with Alzheimers and dementia and the exercises have had a positive affect on both their mental and physical health. She summed up by saying that life is better with yoga and that there is no age limit. It can be especially helpful during troubled times such as when one is grieving.
Diary Dates: At our meeting on the 5th March our guest speaker is Chris Harrison-Smith who is going to talk about a cruise he took which was linked to the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June 2024.
The Friends of Barnack Church
The Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 25th, at 5.00pm in Barnack Church.
This is an opportunity to review the year just past and to make plans for the year ahead.
Next year will see the fortieth anniversary of our inauguration, so perhaps a chance to celebrate.
This year has seen the completion of the roof repair to which we contriibuted £11,000, our largest single donation to a repair project.
Our thanks are due to Brian Palmer for his lecture and to Judy Francis for her lunch. Each raised over £600.
Some members of the committee will be stepping down this year so if you feel that you could consider joining us, please come to the AGM or speak to me beforehand Thank you. Elizabeth Young, 1, Canon Drive, Barnack
Pilates Classes
Mondays 7-8pm , Tuesdays 1.45-2.45pm
Fridays 9.30 – 10.30am
Bainton Reading Room
Contact Nichola Williams
07493338345
nichola.studio2@gmail.com