September Buttercross meeting : Autumn Splendour.

Jane Franks made a very welcome return to the Buttercross Club and set the stage for a memorable evening of warm words and cheerful banter. The table was set up with an old apple crate on which she placed a “lazy Susan” topped with a shallow basket containing a large oasis. Alongside the crate was a second basket and propped up against the crate was an ancient potato riddle.
This was the setting for what was to become an extraordinarily beautiful sweeping double display. First came the frame of much greenery comprising ferns, green bracken ( dead bracken is also very effective apparently), two sprigs of mellow brown smoke bush and then the insertion of fruit and flowers; quince branches, red berried hawthorn, rosehip and crab apple followed by yellow gladioli – Jane prefers dahlias but they weren’t available- protea, the extraordinary national flower of South Africa in shades of red and pink and finally crimson gladioli. Loose apples, quinces and horse chestnuts were placed on the table in front of the display and the final touch of trailing hops over the riddle completed the autumn splendour.
As the refreshments were being prepared, there was an impromptu celebration of Sheila Bratley’s 90th birthday. Jill Plant, as an equally longstanding member of Buttercross, recalled some of Sheila’s memorable contributions over the years and Sheila was then presented with a large bouquet and a birthday cake which every member helped to consume!
Finally, two lucky winners of the raffle were able to claim the large and smaller display as prizes.
The next Buttercross meeting on 7th October will feature a talk on Pottery and Ceramics by Steph Bowden Hughes.

Bainton & Ashton Fete

Thank you to everyone who came along to the Bainton & Ashton Fete in September. It was such a brilliant afternoon enjoyed by one and all. The Gretton Silver Band played throughout the afternoon with a very broad range of tunes ..I heard the Beatles being played at one point. The children’s races – as always – where the highlight of the day, the egg and spoon race for the 0 to 4 year olds was priceless.
And the Tug of War – won by Bainton – against the rest of the world was of course a bonus. Balloon Toss was as always such good fun. Thank you to everyone who supported the day. Special thanks go out to everyone who helped set up on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Extra special thanks go out to our stall holders who not only set up but manned their stalls throughout the afternoon, brilliantly.
Thank you also to those who helped with the tear down on the Monday….many hands and all that.
Our enormous thanks as ever go to the Hewson family who once again allowed us to invade their house and gardens. It is so very much appreciated…
The monies raised will be split between our church of St Mary and local charities.
Thank you all again for attending and supporting this amazing event which we think has been running now for nearly 90 years.
Date for your diaries 12th September – for the 2027 Bainton & Ashton Fete.
Thank you all again for making it such a wonderful afternoon.
Regards & blessings, Su

St Luke’s Day Service

We will hold a special service on Sunday 18 October at 4.30 pm at St Mary’s in Bainton, to give thanks for and pray for all those who work in Healthcare – especially remembering those in our villages who work or have worked for the NHS, as doctors, nurses, porters, chaplains, or administration staff.
All Souls’ Service of Remembrance
On Sunday 1 November, morning services will be focused on the feast of All Saints’. At 4.30 pm, at St Mary’s Bainton, we will have a service of remembrance for those we love who have died. Come along, light a candle, and hear the names of those we wish to remember read out.
There will be a sheet for names to be read out, at the back of the churches in the last two weeks of October.

The Secret Life of Our Water:

Why you might be interested in the upgrade at Bainton & Ashton Allotments Pumping Station
The route water takes to your tap is anything but a straight line. A complex and invisible machinery springs into action when rain falls across our landscape; it feeds into the rivers Nene and Welland and also soaks deep into the earth to replenish local groundwater – a vital resource that has been accumulating for thousands of years. From these three sources, the water is pumped uphill from Stamford and Wansford to Rutland Water Reservoir for storage and then onto the treatment works at Wing before entering the pipe network that comes back down to our homes. While this reservoir is a massive local landmark, its catchment area – the land that actually collects the water- is surprisingly small; only about six times the size of the actual reservoir.
This water geography isn’t just local trivia; it is essential for regional survival for the environment, agriculture and the economy. Too little or too much are both problematic.
To understand the scale of the system that keeps our taps flowing, look at the numbers from the Met Office data (see map). Our annual rainfall is in the low 400–600mm band. For comparison, Jerusalem gets about 500mm of rain per year! The South East of England is the driest in the UK. A large pipe connects Rutland Water to the whole of this region, so this makes it a vital shared resource for many, not just locals.
The Growing Strain: Beyond the Drain
Our water’s story takes a dark turn the moment we pull the plug or flush the loo. The local sewer network is currently facing a ‘hidden cost’ brought about by rapid local expansion. Our region has seen a surge in housing growth, but the underground systems were never designed for this level of pressure, operating at the edge of their capacity. Modern development hides a harsh reality: developers rarely add infrastructure and frequently take their profits out of the local area. This leaves the community to pay the price through deteriorating local services and the immense cost of maintaining overstretched, ageing utilities.
The Hidden Battle Under Our Feet
This pressure isn’t just about the number of new houses; it is about a physical battle occurring right beneath our feet. Our ageing pipe infrastructure is already struggling to survive and is increasingly being battered by extreme weather patterns. During droughts, the parched ground shifts, causing pipes to crack. When the weather flips to heavy rain, clean groundwater seeps into these cracks. The sewage system is forced to pump and treat a lot of infiltrating groundwater. This wastes energy and treatment capacity on water that shouldn’t even be in the sewer in the first place.
While the weather causes the cracks, ‘modern life’ causes the clogs. Our sewers are designed strictly for the three Ps: Pee, Poo, and Paper. However, Anglian Water’s teams had to clear a staggering 35,000 blockages last year just to keep the system flowing: 80% of these were avoidable. The biggest culprit? Wipes. A whopping half a million wipes are flushed every single day in our region.
When our infrastructure works, it’s invisible. When the system fails, the consequences arrive at our doorsteps:
Sewage backing up into our gardens
Wastewater flooding inside your home through toilets and sinks
Overflowing manholes on our local roads
Harmful pollution entering our rivers and killing local wildlife.
What is happening at Bainton & Ashton Allotments Pumping Station?
The sewage pumping station near the allotments is a local frontline in this battle. Because of the frequency of wipe-related blockages, Anglian Water has had to install specific, expensive upgrades:
Dual-Pump Security:
The installation of a backup pump so that when the main pump is choked by wipes, the system can stay operational.
Remote Digital Management:
A new control system that allows technicians to remotely monitor and manage the many ‘ups, downs, and blockages’ that occur with increasing frequency.
Call to Action: Just Bin It
The health of our local environment depends on what we do in our bathrooms and kitchens. Just because the marketing says it is ‘flushable’ does not mean it breaks down as the three Ps. Wipes, etc. snag on pipe joints, catching other items and creating a massive, solid obstruction.
Then there is the ‘Fatberg’ effect. In the kitchen, leftover cooking fats, oils, and grease (FOG) become the ‘glue’ of the underworld. While they may be liquid when poured down the sink, they solidify quickly in the cool sewer pipes, trapping sanitary products and wipes to create thick, impenetrable blockages.
By making some small changes at home, we can protect our local environment and our own health: ‘Just Bin It’ for all wipes, sanitary products, and fats.

Arts Society Peterborough

8th October 2026
The Fleet Community Centre, Fletton, PE2 8DL. ‘The Art of the Industrial Revolution’
Presented byChristopher Owen
Time: Doors open at 10-15am for coffee and a chat, the talk starts at 10-45am and lasts an hour, all are welcome, so why not join us?
For more information and details of how to join the society:
visit: www.the-arts-society-peterborough.org.uk or contact The Membership Secretary Ian Webb at napier_nimbus@btinternet,com

BIG THANK YOU TO JEEVES CATERING of Maxey

Just wanted to formally thank Jeeves Catering for their amazing food, service and organisational help at my “special” family Birthday party, at my home, over the Summer.
Their food and service was second to none, and the team ensured the whole day ran so smoothly and the buffet food was delicious.
Thank you to all those who worked on the day – it was very much appreciated.
I would highly recommend Jeeves Catering to anyone who needs catering provision for a special occasion. Lynne Robinson, Barnack.