Volunteer wanted

The advert organiser is asked to:
Accept requests for adverts by email.
Send out the sizes and prices
Create an invoice when the advert is booked.
Keep an eye on when existing adverts are coming to an end (the date of the last insertion of an advert is in small type at the bottom of each ad)
See if advertisers want to renew.
The treasurer lets the volunteer know what payment have been made and the volunteer should chase if payment has not been made.
Once an advert is booked the advertiser sends artwork to me, so no further input is required from the volunteer advert co-ordinator.

CLERK TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BAINTON POOR’S ESTATE

The role of this ancient Charity is to provide funds for the maintenance and upkeep of the Reading Room (village hall) and assistance to the poor of the parish of Bainton and Ashton.
The Trustees of the Charity are seeking to appoint an experienced part- time Clerk whose duties will include:
Arranging of meetings of the Trustees and minute keeping.
Day to day management of the Charity’s bank account and investments, preparation of the annual accounts, arranging all necessary insurances and ensuring compliance with all legal regulations.
Liaison with the Charity’s land agent and, as necessary, solicitors and other advisors.
Making of Annual Returns to the Charity Commissioners.
It is expected that these normal duties would take no more than 3/4 hours per month on average throughout the year.
The role would suit an experienced clerk who has fulfilled a similar role or other suitably qualified and experienced professional persons.
Salary is to be by negotiation.
Interested parties should apply to Nigel Clough (Chairman of Trustees)
nigelrclough@aol.com 07793806965

BARNACK POOR’S ESTATES CHARITY OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD: VOLUNTARY CHAIR OF TRUSTEES VACANCY

BARNACK POOR’S ESTATES is a village charity which provides almshouse accommodation and support to deserving residents of the parishes of Barnack and Southorpe. We are seeking an individual to ensure the effective management of the charity’s almshouses and to lead our board of trustees as Chair in this satisfying and rewarding role.
The Chair plays a crucial role in: .
Board Governance: Chairing trustee meetings. .
Liaison with almshouse residents and acting as their first point of contact. .
Repairs and Maintenance. Organising and overseeing any required works on the properties. .
Financial Oversight: Helping to ensure the charity’s financial stability and sustainability.
How to Apply:
If you are interested in this rewarding role, please submit a CV and brief statement outlining your suitability for the position to dare.knoop@chattertons.com by October 28th, 2025. For an informal discussion about the role, please contact, the current Chair, John Ward on 01780740016.

MacMillan Coffee morning

This was held in the Reading Room in Bainton on Saturday 20th September 2025.
We have raised a total of £1250.00 for MacMillan Cancer Support the event was a tremendous success and just could not have happened without amazing likeminded people to whom we are extremely grateful, from those who helped, attended & donated.

Buttercross Club: The Pacific Coast Trail

Suzannah Franks, whose mother Jane entertained us so well with her floral evening a year ago, proved to be a wonderful follow up act. This remarkable young woman travelled alone and completed a 2650 mile walk from Mexico to Canada last year over 5 months (April-September)
She brought in to show us much of the equipment she needed and talked briefly about the planning and logistics involved. The slides she had taken throughout the journey well illustrated the information she gave us. At the Mexican border we saw a well signposted and maintained trail. Apparently 45 visas a day are issued and Suzannah joined a group of 9 like minded hikers to form a trail family or “tramily” and she was given the trail name “milkpig”.
In temperatures of 40C walking through the California desert, it was vital to carry enough water; 2 litres if the next stream was 8 miles away. Crossing the Mojave desert had to be done at night. All the slides illustrated the wonderfully varied landscape but the sight of a sheer granite cliff face in the Yosemite National Park with a precarious metal ladder to scale looked especially daunting. The flat state of Oregon posed a different problem; that of wild fires and we witnessed a shocking slide of miles of dead trees.
The pictures of the wildlife Suzannah came across were very touching. The marmots were her favourite but she didn’t relish her encounter with rattlesnakes nor with the handsome mountain lion that she came uncomfortably close to.
Towards the end of the trip, reaching the Oregon/ Washington border, the weather changed and the rain started. The final slide was a view of the Canadian border and we were informed that she had gone through 5 pairs of trainers and grown two shoe sizes!
This really was a superbly entertaining evening.
The next Buttercross meeting on 5th November will feature Autumn Entertaining by Sandra Jones.

THANK YOU from the Hudsons

A big thank you to all in the Church and Village communities who contributed to our generous leaving presents and surprise at The White Hart. We have had a wonderful 47 years in what the estate agent described as The Golden Triangle of Barnack, Bainton and Ufford. Through the various challenges over the years, from “The Winter of Discontent” with snows cutting the village off, “The Beast from the East” to Covid, we have been a community who looked out for each other.
Thanks to those village organisations that have arranged social events and more recently The White Hart who have contributed so much to our village life.
We are grateful to the Parish Council for ensuring that the village remains so attractive.
We will miss you. Thank you again. Sally & Peter Hudson

Messy Church in November and December.

November 9th and December 14th have something special in common. They are both Sundays. They are both the second Sunday in the month. And therefore they are both dates for Messy Church to happen at Barnack!
On November 9th, Messy Church is entitled “He’s Coming” and we’ll be focussing on Mary being visited by the Angel; and on December 14th, we’ll be looking at the Christmas narrative and the birth of Jesus. So that Messy Church is entitled “He’s Here”.
As always, there’ll be the Bible story and crafts, music and singing, activities and prayers, and of course refreshments! We start at 3.30pm and finish at 5pm. Please do come along and join us.
For more information, please contact Carol Summers (tel. 07715 460 177) or Mike Mills (tel. 07523 312 387).

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS – COFFEE STOP CHRISTMAS SING ALONG

The planning has already started for our fourth Coffee Stop Christmas Sing Along which will be held on Wednesday 10th December (10.30-12 noon) in Barnack Church. Hot drinks and mince pies will be ‘on the house’.
You will receive a warm welcome at this great informal event which is open to all those in our community and neighbouring villages. It’s a great opportunity to get you in the mood for the Christmas season! You can expect a mix of the usual seasonal singing and other secular favourites, together with opportunities for lots of hilarity with some awful Christmas cracker jokes .. and maybe even some karaoke!
We are pleased that our resident musicians are again available to play for us. However, we would want to encourage any other folk to come and join us who play musical instruments or who may even be up for singing a solo! (If you would like to be involved in this event please would you contact me by 1st December).
To be assured of a table we would encourage people to come a little earlier than 10.30 am if possible. Disabled access and assistance is available and some tables will be reserved near the entrance for those who have mobility issues.
As in previous years there will be a collection for a charity as you leave the church, donations can be made by cash or card. Because of the good and important work that they do, including bringing aid to people in conflict situations, and especially now in Gaza, we have chosen to collect for Christian Aid. The Charity celebrates its 80th anniversary this year.
(Coffee Stop meets every Wednesday at the Millstone Pub in Barnack, 10.30-12 noon. It would be lovely to see you there, please feel free to join us).
Carol Pickering 01780 740438

Barnack Community Association ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – Summary

Thanks to those who supported our AGM on Thursday 18th September. We didn’t need to fight the crowds, but even just having a few people there was very much appreciated. Thank you for the kind words of support, for what we do, from those who came along. Full minutes are available to anyone, if wanted, but here’s some highlights from the Treasurer’s Report from our new treasurer – Paul Doubleday:
It’s been a great first year as Treasurer for the Barnack Community Association – a big thank you to Andy Cavaciuti for his careful stewardship over the last 6 years. Our balance has grown by 11% during the last financial year up to 31st March 2025. Total income rose to £13,782, driven by the huge success of events like the Oompah Night, Irish Night, and Party at the Pavilion. Hall bookings remain the BCA’s strongest source of income at £8,832, and we already have new classes lined up for the rest of 2025 and 2026!
On the expense side, our utilities and maintenance costs thankfully held steady. We will be changing energy suppliers and hope to reduce our utility bills by 15% from November 2025. Total expenditure was reported at £8,195 (previous year £9,859). Other costs include rent to Burghley Estates, cleaning and booking clerk fees.
All in all, it’s been a positive year of growth, careful management, and real community spirit. Thank you to everyone who’s helped make it happen!
LOOK OUT FOR OUR 80s NIGHT FULL PAGE AD inner front page in this edition – Friday 28th November (changed from a quiz, as previously advertised, due to popular demand!)
Barnack Parish Council’s Annual Christmas Tree Light Switch-On& BCA Santa Sleigh – Saturday 13th December, from 5.30pm in the Square. More details to follow.
Keep up to date on our Facebook page: BCA Barnack. Email: bookings.barnackca@gmail.com or call for a chat on 07795 565658

Ernest John Butterfield

Earlier this year representatives of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission were conducting a survey of the war graves in our area during which they came across the grave of a young man in Bainton churchyard who died during World War II. His name is Ernest John Butterfield. He died on 29th July 1942 aged 22 and his gravestone records that he was in the RAF.
We knew nothing about Ernest but assumed that the Stamford Mercury would have published his obituary or at least a notification of his death. However, a search in the Mercury archives failed to yield anything. Fortunately, one of the CWGC team obtained a copy of Ernest’s death certificate. This reveals that he died of pulmonary tuberculosis at his home – Keeper’s Cottage, Ashton and that he was an RAF electrician, service number 612755.
We shall now add Ernest’s name to all those that are read out annually at the Barnack War Memorial commemoration service on Remembrance Sunday. Brian Palmer

Closure of RBL Barnack & District Branch

It is with great regret that the committee of our RBL Branch announces our closure.
This follows a long period of steady decline in support of activities arranged by the committee for the benefit of members. We have an ageing and declining membership and no sign of younger people wishing to join. The decision has not been taken lightly. We have a membership of sixty four and in response to a questionnaire there were twenty three votesin favour of closing the branch and one for keeping it open. There were forty abstentions.
However, the Poppy Appeal will remain and Remembrance Sunday will continue to be observed since both have significant public appeal. Other important commemorative events will also be recognised as before at Barnack war memorial.
Brian Palmer
Hon. Secretary

BAINTON and ASHTON FETE

Once again we were blessed with another glorious sunny day for this annual event, although held at a later date this year, in the lovely garden of Bainton House now owned by the Hewson family. Mrs Sarah Hewson welcomed us and opened the proceedings as the roar and majesty of the RAF Lancaster flew very low over the garden. While the plane flew off to return with two more circuits Graham told the history of this wonderful aircraft of which there are only two left, one in America and this one part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at Coningsby.
Cameras and phones were ready the next time to record this spectacular event. One man confessed to having a lump in this throat at the sight.
The BBQ run by Grant and Gary did sterling work providing delicious food white Michael manned the Bar providing liquid refreshment. Apples and Grapes were also pressed for a welcome drink all afternoon.
Garden produce, Cakes, Books and Jigsaws, and Tombola stalls were busy and competitions for younger members including the annual Treasure Hunt were explored and enjoyed.
Foot tapping music was played by the Dukes of Rutland Ukulele Band before the awaited games began. All ages were encouraged to have a go in mad dashes, the three legged, sack and the water filled balloons which resulted in some taking an early bath causing much amusement for spectators.
The final game was the Annual Tug of War between Bainton and The Rest of the World. The result a win for the Rest of the World this year. Thanks go to Chris and his team for organising them. Thankfully Lee the designated ‘first aider’ for the day was not troubled.
After the games Jo and her team were very busy making cups of tea and serving cakes and strawberries.
The final competition and raffle winners were announced before a reflective Evensong brought another memorable day of simple fun and laughter to a close.
Our grateful thanks go to Graham and Su Fletcher and their willing band of helpers who set up, take down and organise this special day in our calendar.
A note for your 2026 Diary we will be doing it all again on the 13th September next year by kind permission of the Hewson family.

Christmas is coming

St Mary’s Church, Bainton is looking forward to the festive period and we hope we’ll see you at some of our services as we will need little helpers to help us on our festive way.
Come along on the 21st December for our 4.30pm Carol Service. Lots of old and not so old favourites to sing along to and where we will need helpers to set up our Nativity scene. Mulled wine and the odd gingerbread star will be served to help us get into the Christmas spirit.
Our Christmas Day service will be a communion “by extension” service, led by Su Fletcher, kick off 10am. Again, lots of helpers needed here to really make this a fun celebration of Jesus’ Birthday.
Hope to see you, Regards & blessings, Su