Produced and Sponsored by St. Vincent’s Church, Caythorpe,

Parochial Parish Council Supported by the Parish Council

Editor. Roger Welby-Everard 01400 273459 Email: roger@welby-everard.com

‘Bless me with thy presence when my joy is full, lest I forget the giver of the gift’.

These words come from a Hebridean Blessing used in the early part of our recent Holy Week Services. Like many Celtic prayers that remind us of the three na-tures of God, the Trinity, they constantly refer the events of daily life as bless-ings and things to be blessed. Blessing is in part a thanksgiving. Our Easter cele-brations have been times and occasions to give thanks for the giver of the gift, which in this continuing Easter Season is life in all its fullness through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and through his promise to us of the gifting of that third nature, Holy Spirit, which came upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost. We shall celebrate Pentecost, otherwise known as Whit Sunday at St Nicholas, Carlton Scroop, by celebrating the Eucharist at 10 am. on Sunday the 31st of May bringing together three congregations, and four village communities (with Nor-manton), bound into the Benefice which is a gift of many blessings if as Jesus said ‘we have eyes to see and ears to hear’. We hope you will join us for this special day. Most villages have few facilities left in them but their churches, thankfully some remember they are there when there is a life well lived to give thanks for at a funeral, or when two are given in love at their marriage or again for a new life celebrated by baptism, and most churches celebrate these opportunities to meet and serve their community in this way. Someone once said that ‘the church is the only organisation which seeks to serve its non – members’. I say again, we are happy to do so, but there is a cost, a great financial burden laid at the door of our churches, where you might feel you can help by giving a sum of money spread across the year. No one is untouched by the current financial problems, and our churches already struggling to maintain let alone improve our buildings, are not spared these problems. If you can help, you may ring me and I will refer you to the treasurer of your local church who will be happy to help you. May you live with joy the merry month of May by remembering the ‘giver of the gift’ which is for all people through the love of him who died,

with my love and prayers, June

CHURCH CLEANING Mrs Scott & Mrs Russell

Flower Rota Joyce Levesley

BRASS CLEANING Mr & Mrs Baigent

PHOTOCOPYING We do welcome people who wish to do some photocopying at the Rectory. This is offered as a facility to all people who live in the Benefice, and the “contributions” made (5p per copy) help to keep the cost of maintenance of the machine down.

St. Vincent’s Church, Caythorpe Parochial Church Council

PARISH PRIEST: The Revd June Freshney 279199 LAY CHAIRMAN: Mrs Janet Avison 272158 CHURCHWARDENS: Mrs Jo Russell 273551 Mr John Scott 272974 SECRETARY: Mrs Carol Ridler 273267 TREASURER: Mr Roger Welby-Everard 273459

We remember Denis Norman Godson who died in March whose funeral was in St Vincent’s church on 19th March Friday Club meets in St Vincent’s Church on 22nd of May. 3.45 all family mem-bers welcome!

Church Floodlighting 22 May For Robert and Una Green 23 May Celebrating the wedding of 24 May David and Catherine Green

To have the Church Floodlit for your celebration or remembrance contact Mary Siddans 01400 272371

Visitors from Arnhem I was pleased, on behalf of the Church and Village, to welcome a party of visitors from Arnhem accompanied by their fellow Rotarians from Brain-tree in Essex, on the afternoon of Saturday 25th May. These charming people expressed great interest in our Church and the ‘Arnhem Connection’ of which we are all so proud. They gave a gener-ous donation towards the proposed new Arnhem Window. Thank you, Bob Greybrook for organising this - let us hope the connec-tion between the three communities continues to flourish.

Roger Welby-Everard

SERVICES IN MAY Friday 1st May Ss Philip and James 8.45 am Fulbeck Morning Prayer Sunday 3rd May EASTER 4 9.00 am Caythorpe Holy Communion 10.00 am Fulbeck Sung Eucharist 2.00 pm Caythorpe Baptism 6.00 pm Normanton United Benefice Evensong Wednesday 6th May 9.00 am Caythorpe Holy Communion Friday 8th May Julius of Norwich 8.45 am Fulbeck Morning Prayer Sunday 10th May EASTER 5 10.00 am Caythorpe Sung Eucharist (Mrs Hoddell & Mrs Watson) 6.00 pm Carlton Scroop Evensong Wednesday 13th May 9.00 am Caythorpe Holy Communion Friday 15th May 8.45 am Fulbeck Morning Prayer Sunday 17th May EASTER 6 10.00 am Fulbeck Sung Eucharist 6.00 pm Caythorpe Celtic Worship Wednesday 20th May Rogation Day 9.00 am Caythorpe Holy Communion Thursday 21st May Ascension Day 7.30 pm Brant Broughton United Deanery Eucharist Friday 22nd May 8.45 am Fulbeck Morning Prayer 3.45 pm Caythorpe Friday Club Sunday 24th May EASTER 7 Sunday after Ascension 9.00 am Carlton Scroop Holy Communion (BCP) 9.30 am Caythorpe Breakfast 10.15 am Caythorpe Joint Family Service Wednesday 27th May 9.00 am Caythorpe Holy Communion Friday 29th May 8.45 am Fulbeck Morning Prayer Sunday 31st May PENTECOST Whit Sunday 10.00 am Carlton Scroop United Benefice Eucharist

St Mary’s Catholic Church Grantham 1, North Parade (Tel. 01476 563935)

Masses Saturday 6.00 pm Sunday 8.00 am, 10.00 am Most weekdays 9.00 am

CHRISTCHURCH (Methodist & United Reformed Church) GRANTHAM Sunday Services held at 10.30am and 6.00pm at Finkin St./Castlegate

Friends of St Vincent 200 Club Easter draw:

£70 Roy Markham £50 Pete Endley £30 Olive Rodgers April draw:

£15 Judy Munday £10 Joyce Metheringham £5 Don Patterson The 200 club 'new year' starts again this month and annual subs will be collected shortly. The proceeds go towards helping with purchasing items for the church that otherwise we would stuggle to fund. If you would like to join please contact either Richard Johnson (272002)

or Mary Siddans (272371)

CAYTHORPE & FRIESTON OPEN GARDENS OUR NOW ESTABLISHED BIENNIAL OPEN VILLAGE GARDENS WILL BE ON SUNDAY 21ST JUNE THIS YEAR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WILL BE OPENING YOURS . DON’T FORGET LARGE OR SMALL, TIDY OR NOT!

PEOPLE LOVE A LOOK ROUND PRIVATE GARDENS. Phone me on 273428 OR Email mmpalmer@waitrose .com

Maureen Palmer

St Nicholas' Church - Fulbeck If you have supported the Church in any way during the past year by at-tending services, cleaning, flower arranging, helping in the church yard, financially etc., the PCC members would like to thank you by inviting you to join them in Fulbeck Village Hall on Thursday, 14th May 2009 at 7.30pm. Come and enjoy nibbles, cheese and a glass of wine or fruit juice. If you are able to come please reply to:-

Iris Morrison (279100) or Geoff Cottingham (272379)

CHRISTIAN AID MAY 11TH - 16TH 2009 There will be a limited door to door collection for Christian Aid week beginning May 11th. As we only have a few dedicated collectors again this year on behalf of Christian Aid I appeal to all the generous people of Caythorpe that if your envelope is not collected that you would be kind enough to deposit your donation in the red en-velope from the Caythorpe News into either a collection box in the Post Office or St. Vincent’s Church. Thank you in anticipation Val Panter

CARLTON ELECTRICAL

SERVICES 8 Sands Lane, Carlton Le Moorland.

Lincoln LN5 9HJ

Fully Qualified Electrician. Part P Reg’d

Domestic, Commercial Industrial & Agricultural.

Inspection & Testing. Every job done promptly, safely & to

Customer requirements Phone or Fax 01522 789159

/ Mobile 07720 717548 Email:

carlton.electrical@btinternet.com

JP MAINTENANCE SERVICES

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

MANY TYPES OF WORK UNDER TAKEN.

INSIDE AND OUT GARDENING AND TREE WORK

GUTTERS CLEARED DECKING LAID

GARDEN WALL BUILT DECORATING

SMALL PLUMBING WORK NEED AN EXTRA PAIR OF HANDS

MATERIALS SUPPLIED OR USE YOURS

CALL JOHN PADLEY ON. PHONE 01636 626510 MOBILE 07757 086003

john@padley92.freeserve.co.uk

GARY BOWEN

Roofing Contractor

For all your roofing requirements

CALGARY HIGH STREET CAYTHORPE GRANTHAM

LINCOLNSHIRE

Tel: Loveden (01400) 273261 after 6.00pm

Mobile 07903 351822

GRAFFOE PLUMBERS, GENERAL BUILDERS AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

(ACOP & Corgi Registered Gas Installer) “24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE”

Plumber, Heating Engineer, Plumbing Surveyor, Water Meter Installer.

Gas, Oil, Solid Fuel, and LPG Installations. Bathrooms and Kitchens - Property and Roof Repairs.

Underpinning and Foundation Repairs. Drainage, Plastering, Wall and Floor Tiling.

Insurance Work Undertaken

30 YEARS EXPERIENCE TEL: 01529 306501 MOBILE 0776 7611166

MONDAY-FRIDAY 8:30-5:30 SATURDAY 8:30-12:30

MOT TESTING SERVICING BODYWORK EXHAUST TYRES

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CUSTOMISING VALETING MOT REPAIRS

CAR CARE CENTRE OVER 15 YEARS EXPERIENCE

ALL VEHICLE REPAIRS UNDERTAKEN

FREE QUOTATIONS FREE COLLECTION SERVICE

Belmont Garage, Lincoln Rd, Caythorpe, Lincs, NG32 3DD

Goulash Childminders Marie Welby-Everard

Edale, 33 Hough Road

Frieston

Experienced childminder regis-tered with OFSTED and NCMA. I can offer quality care, structured activities and play to enable your child to develop social, physical and creative skills in the environ-ment of my friendly safe home.

For further information please call

01400 279088

Mobile Butcher’s Van visiting Caythorpe

& Frieston

twice weekly Tuesdays

& Fridays

Telephone 01400 272497

Heart Of Glass 71 High Street, Caythorpe

Heart of Glass sells arts and crafts, antiques and vintage stuff. We are open for tea, coffee and cake. Wed-Sat 10am—5pm, Sun 11am—

4pm.

We especially welcome local art-ists and craftsmen who may wish to

exhibit with us.

The Boiler Man

Boiler & Tank Replacements Basic Plumbing Jobs

Have your boiler regularly serviced and save money

Evening Tel: 01522 789840 Mobile Tel: 07946 114955

Registered

SHARON MAGAN DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

RELIABLE, PATIENT, FEMALE INSTRUCTOR COVERS GRANTHAM

& SURROUNDING VILLAGES INTRODUCTORY OFFER -

FIRST 3 HRS FOR £50

Tel. 01400 272359

or 07931 454930

SPECIALISTS IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES

WE ARE A SMALL, FRIENDLY

BUSINESS WITH OVER 25 YEARS SKILLED EXPERIENCE

FROM WORKSHOP THROUGH TO SALES

PHONE

01400 272189 07966 490077

HOUGH RD. FRIESTON NG32 3BY

…. ROBINSONS

…4x4 Ltd

PEST CONTROL

INSECTS, RODENTS, MOLES, RAB-BITS, SQUIRRELS, PIGEONS

DOMESTIC, AGRICULTURAL & BUSINESS PREMISES

NICK HEMSTOCK

Prompt and discreet service Tel. 01400 272296

Mob. 07837 057693

Environmentally Friendly Gardener

Advice on Water Saving & Composting Friendly & Reliable Service Guaranteed

ANDY FOOTE

Tel: 01476 560079 / 07853 245591 www.greenandy.co.uk

andyfoote@greenandy.co.uk

Hedge Trimming Garden Tidy-Ups

Odd Jobs

Grass Cutting Pruning Lopping

PLUMBING SOLUTIONS

Tap into Tony for prompt and Friendly

Service Small jobs or repairs

welcome Drains unblocked and

cleared Bathrooms remodelled,

Repaired or replaced Small Domestic Jobs &

Repairs undertaken

All Work Guaranteed Call Tony on:

Tel: 01400 272976 Or Mobile: 07973 252268

Ian MacLean Interior and Exterior

Paintwork Over 25 years

experience Fully Insured

References Available

Telephone

01400 272071

Caythorpe Mother & Toddlers Group We meet each Friday in the Village Hall at 1.45 pm to 3.15 pm. Cost for Mother and one child £1.50, additional adults/children 50p, babies under 9 months no charge. Drinks and biscuits included .

. For further information contact: Chris Stevens 275046

CAYTHORPE PRE-SCHOOL Caythorpe Pre-School runs morning sessions from 9.15 am to 12 noon on Tuesday to Friday each week in Caythorpe Village Hall. (Term time Only).

Children must be 2 years or over. Funded places are available for 3 and 4 year olds.

For more details and an application form please call 07952 990710 (during session time)

CAYTHORPE BADMINTON CLUB We meet every Monday evening in the Village Hall from 6.30-9.00 pm

Junior Session (11+) 6.30-7.30 pm (adults most welcome to assist) Adult Session (18+) 7.30-9.00 pm

Rackets and Shuttlecocks provided. Contacts: Cheryl 01400 273357 Mary 01400 273069

BRIDGE The Caythorpe Bridge Group is up and running. We meet on Mondays at 7.30

pm. for mixed ability social bridge. For further details please contact Jenny Lawis 01400 272535

Caythorpe & Frieston Village Hall Great for clubs, parties, dances or meetings.

Village Events every couple of months Tuesday and Friday evenings are now available. If you wish to set up a club, or have ideas for using this regular booking slot, please contact:

e: catherine_dickinson@hotmail.com t: 01400 272055

Contributions for Caythorpe News Please send by email to roger@welby-everard.com or on paper (preferably typed) to:-

Owl’s House, 3 Frieston Road, Caythorpe NG32 3BX. Please note that the closing date for copy is normally around the 20th of the month.

Caythorpe Surgery Reception Opening Hours

Mon 8.30am - 8.30pm Tue 8.30am - 6.00pm Wed 8.30am - 6.30pm Thu 8.30am - 6.00pm Fri 8.30am - 6.00pm

Surgery Hours Monday 9.00am - 12.00 noon 3.30pm - 8.30pm Tuesday 9.00am - 12.00 noon 3.30pm - 5.00pm Wednesday 9.00am - 12.00 noon 4.00pm - 5.30pm Thursday 9.00am - 12.00 noon 2.00pm - 3.30pm (Child Clinic only) Friday 9.00am - 12.00 noon 3.30pm - 5.00pm

For Appointments Telephone 272215 MEDICATION QUERIES AND REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS ONLY

Telephone 272770 Dispensary Opening Times

Monday 8.30am - 8.30pm Tuesday 8.30am - 6.00pm Wednesday 8.30am - 6.00pm Thursday 8.30am - 6.00pm

Friday 8.30am - 6.00pm When the surgery is closed the emergency service is obtained by dialling

01400 272215 or 999

USEFUL NUMBERS Electrical emergencies/power cuts ..................0800 056 8090 For Electrical faults .........................................0800 363363 (Powergen) Anglian Water (Emergencies).........................0845 714 5145 Street Lights not Working...............................01522 552921 Highway Problems..........................................01522 553170 Environment Agency (Smells!).......................0800 80 70 60 Caythorpe Beat Officer (PC McGibbon)..............01400 281852 /07939 312821 Caythorpe School............................................01400 272600 Grantham Police..............................................01476 402222 Grantham Fire Station.....................................01476 565441 Grantham Hospital ..........................................01476 565232 South Kesteven District Council .....................01476 406080 SKDC Environmental Health 24 hr Helpline..01476 406375 SKDC Contract Monitoring (commercial waste) .01476 406276 (Garry Knighton) Lincolnshire County Council ..........................01522 552222 LCC Waste Disposal Services ........................o1522 782070 Trading Standards ...........................................01476 561061 NHS Direct......................................................0845 46 47 Samaritans.......................................................08457 90 90 90 Childline..........................................................0800 1111 NSPCC Child Protection Helpline ..................0808 800 5000 Lorry Litter .....................................................01522 554817 (Tim Collis LCC Env) Or ................................................01522 785043 (John Giles Env Agency)

CAYTHORPE – A PERSONAL VIEW LIKE A PATCHWORK QUILT Janet Norman ©

‘Once upon a Time’, all fairy stories begin that way. Immediately we know what comes next is a combination of imagination, hearsay and wishful thinking because a fairy story is a form of escap-ism, especially if it deals with kings, queens or knaves. That assumption is all very well, as long as the story is pure invention, with not a modicum of truth. But just suppose the story is based on events that really happened? Being a historian means I live in the past, forever probing and enquiring, into the lives of our famous ancestors. Of course, Caythorpe is part of that rich tapestry of England because Caythorpe exists and is not a figment of somebody’s imagination. And that brings me to St Vincent’s Church. Last month I started to probe into the history of the church using the church’s official guide to the history of the building. According to the booklet we owe the existence of St Vincent’s to Lady Elizabeth de Burgh, (pictue opposite)a niece of King Edward II. So far so good. For years I have studied Plantagenet history; an era that ended with the death of King Richard III, at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. It is probably the most colourful period in English history because the various families that went to make up the great barons of the land were forever seeking to enhance their image and prospects for accruing ever greater influence at the king’s court. But, I hear you ask, where does Caythorpe fit into that fabric of the nation? Through the line of King Henry III (1216-1272) and his wife Eleanor of Provence, they had three children, Edward, Beatrice and Edmund. Are you still with me? Edward became King Edward I, his sister Beatrice mar-ried John, who held two titles, that of Dukedom of Brittany and also the Earldom of Richmond, which brings us to Ed-mund, the youngest son, (16 January 1245 -5th June 1296), and it is Edmund that we are interested in. Edmund, 1st Earl of Lancaster married twice, the first to Aveline de Forz did not produce a child, and was dead within four years of marriage. Incidentally, she was only 15 when she died. However, by his second wife, Blanche of Artois he did have issue, and it is the line of the second son Henry Plantagenet, 3rd Earl of Lancaster that interests us. Before pursuing the connection between Elizabeth de Burgh and Caythorpe, just pause for a second to take a look at Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster, if ever a person lived life to the full it was most certainly this gentleman. Oh, and why was he called ‘Crouchback’, was it because of some physical deformity? No, it was to do with his religious fervour. He went with his elder brother Edward on the 9th Crusade to Palestine in 1271 and according to Encyclopaedia Britannica he was given the nickname of Crouchback which meant he was entitled to wear (on his tabard) the emblem of the Cross in the reverse (the back) side. This gentleman lived to the ripe old age of 51 and actually died while acting on behalf of his brother, Edward at the siege of Bayonne, Duchy of Aquitaine on June 5th. Thankfully, Bayonne is on the coast because it is recorded that his body was interred at Westminster Abbey on 15th July 1296. Thirty-five days between death and interment, even today, with all the accoutrements of modern science it might have taxed sobriety, but in 1296. The mind boggles!

To be continued

We did it again – and still none of us fell overboard! (continued) After our noisy night in Frontignan we set off into the Étang de Thau. Our plan was to cross the 20 km length of the étang and spend the night at a village called Marseillan which is in the north eastern corner of the étang. The Étang de Thau’s great claim to fame is the acres of oyster beds which sit along its northern shore. These beds (parcs à huîtres) stretch some 1 to 1½ km out from the shore. Poles driven into the bed of the étang support nets on which baby oysters are encouraged to grow. There are several things that are banned from the étang, first you are not al-lowed to flush the loo and although there were no notices to that effect I suspect they don’t allow Walruses or Carpenters either! We headed on north-by-northwest-by-left-a-bit course (accurate navigation this without a compass) hoping to see the Parcs so as to know when to turn westward. Captain having looked at the excellent chart in the Guide decided we could turn and continue west to-wards the end of the Parcs when we would take a sharp starboard turn towards Marseil-lan. At least two yachts, who would have a much greater keel depth than ours, were sail-ing happily to the south of us. Captain was content he was on a safe course and standing well off danger. 1st Lt then fired up the GPS navigation on his mobile phone and showed a map with a little beetle in the middle which apparently is us. The beetle was a somewhat south of the recommended route but still well inside the deeper (3m plus) area according to the chart in the Guide. In the interest of peace and harmony Captain adjusted his course to take us a bit closer to the Parcs. The beetle obediently started to move north! Dashed clever these things. We chugged on through the étang, ahead we could see the town of Marseillan which was our destination. The temptation to aim straight for the town had to be resisted as there were parcs à huîtres in the way. Finally we reached the point where we turned right and headed towards Marseillan. The entrance to the port involved a fairly sharp turn to the left behind a breakwater and then another hard right into the harbour. The harbour is a long straight channel that juts into the middle of the town. Along the western side were private moorings for yachts and along the eastern side the public moorings. We were lucky to find a space right at the outward end of the jetty. We could not reach the electricity supply but we discovered the boat ahead of us was planning to move later on so we would be able to move up. Once we had secured, Captain and CCBW walked round the end of the port to the Capitainerie (Harbour Master’s office). While CCBW sunned herself on the jetty Cap-tain climbed up a narrow spiral staircase to the office. A grizzled Capitan du Port sat behind a desk and after finishing a lengthy negotiation with a young man turned to Cap-tain. Captain asked for one night’s mooring for Locaboat Ayrolle. This required refer-ence to a computer that sat on the desk. It appeared that the computer would require various details of the boat, and when satisfied would print a permit, in exchange for €36. After considerable one finger typing, and enthusiastic use of the delete key, a muttered voilá, sweeping flourish of the mouse and a click signalled completion of the task. However all was not well - the screen went blank. Various zuts and heavy banging of the keyboard, screen and desk seemed to have no effect as the printer remained stubbornly silent, but two books fell off the desk. After several minutes of frantic effort to coax the perfidious ordinateur into life, a heavy sigh of resignation was released and the desk

drawer opened. A pad of forms was taken from the drawer, after much searching a sheet of carbon paper inserted below the top sheet of the pad and, after a further search for a biro, a permit was written out in careful, and ornate, longhand. Captain handed over €40, having no small change. Now a further search found the cash box, a little later its key was unearthed, and with great ceremony Captain received his €4 change. Clutching the vital piece of paper Captain, having enquired the whereabouts of the toilets and showers, re-negotiated the spiral staircase and rejoined CCBW on the quayside. ‘I thought you had been kidnapped,’ she said. As you are not allowed to use the loos and similar facilities on your boat while in Mar-seillan to protect the oyster beds we felt it important to locate the official facilities pro-vided ashore. The directions Captain had received were concise in the extreme ‘Á gauche, á droit’. So we went left and then right, and found no obvious sign of any facili-ties. Eventually Captain noticed a well endowed (frontally) French Madame, clutching a roll of loo paper, disappearing through a wooden door into a hut. We had found the fa-cilities – très français, mais pas pour les Anglais! It is legs-crossed from now on folks! Captain and CCBW wandered back along the sides of the harbour back to our boat. There were numerous cafes along the waterfront who no doubt did a roaring trade from visiting boaters. You sit at a table outside and a waitress appears shortly to take your order, ‘Deux verres du vin blanc et un bière, si vous plait’. ‘Oui M’sieur, et les cabinets sont á la gauche au fond du café!’ (‘Two glasses of white wine and a beer, please’. ‘Yes Sir, and the loos are on the left at the back of the café’). When we got back to the boat others were arriving, one proved to be our acquaintance from Frontignan the night before, the Locaboat man. Many proved unsuccessful in their search for moorings, but one, we think full of Italians, was made of sterner stuff. This boat stood out from the crowd as its cabin top was stacked high with cases of wine, bot-tled water, long legged Italian girls and other essentials for the voyage. The Italian crew decided that there was room for them to do a stern-to moor on the jetty opposite us. With great aplomb they turned the boat and reversed towards the jetty. Various ancient Frenchmen watched this manoeuvre with cynical gaze from the dockside. As the Italians approached the wall stern first with increasing velocity, cries of ‘En avant! En avant!’ rang out. To no avail, a sickening crash signalled the meeting of an immovable granite harbour wall and the rather flimsy stern of the boat. The cases of wine and water and the girls on the cabin roof were not so keen to stop their backwards progress and continued on their way before coming to a juddering halt against the rails round the cabin top. A well formed Italian leg was seen to wave in the air as its owner fell over. One of the features of Marseillan is that it is the home of that excellent aperitif Noilly Prat. Joseph Noilly, in 1813, designed a process that made France's first vermouth. In 1855, his son Louis Noilly and son-in-law Claudius Prat set up the company that became Noilly Prat, (It shows admirable faith by a father-in-law to entrust the family firm to his Prat of a son-in-law!) We decided the factory deserved a visit. The process used today is virtually unchanged since the 1850s. Noilly Prat is made ex-clusively from white grape varieties grown in the Marseillan area. These produce light, fruity wines which are matured in massive Canadian oak casks inside the original store-rooms. The wine stays in these casks for 8 months, maturing and absorbing the flavour of the wood, before being transferred to smaller oak barrels which are taken outside and left for a year. Here they are exposed to the sun's heat, wind from the sea and low winter

temperatures, while the wine is slowly changing. The result is a wine that is dry, full-bodied and amber coloured similar to Madeira or Sherry. During the year outside, 6 to 8% of the volume is lost to evaporation, the ‘angels' share’. Brought back inside and left to rest for a few months, the wines are then blended together into oak casks. A small quantity of Mistelle (grape juice and alcohol) is added to the wines in order to soften them, along with a dash of fruit essence to accentuate their fla-vour. In the oak casks, a process of maceration, unique to Noilly Prat, takes place over a period of three weeks. A blend of some twenty herbs and spices is added by hand every day. The exact mix of herbs and spices that goes into Noilly Prat is a closely guarded secret, but includes camomile, bitter orange peel, nutmeg, centaury, coriander, and cloves. After a further six weeks, the finished product is ready for bottling. We sampled the three varieties available, white (the original), red and amber. Each was delicious but after careful consideration and further tasting we settled on a bottle of the red which CCBW reckoned was her choice. On reflection we should have bought more than one bottle! Back at the boat we sat and rested and watched the steady flow of sightseers who walked up the harbour looking at the boats. Lots of yachts were sailing on the étang which made a very pretty sight. There were also a number of speedboats which charged around aim-lessly across the water. Now and then a speed boat would enter or leave the harbour – we learnt to judge them on the quality of the upper-works of the female crew (mostly uncovered) ! As evening drew in we walked up to a restaurant where we had an excellent meal sitting in the open air - Captain took the chance to inspect and test the very civilised plumbing that the hotel had to offer. From our table outside on the pavement we had a clear view of the boats and all the other restaurants. They all seemed busy with happy diners drinking and eating in pleasant harmony in the balmy warmth of the evening. The walk back to Ayrolle was made slightly hazardous by the many mooring lines that stretched across the quayside but we reached our target without disaster. Back on board we sipped some Noilly Prat. We decided that we would observe the spirit of the ‘no-loo’ rule by restricting ourselves to widdle and not flushing anything or letting out the basins. And so to bed.

PRIZE BINGO NIGHT at Caythorpe & Frieston Village Hall

on Saturday May 16th Doors open at 6.30pm Eyes down at 7.00pm

Tea, coffee and soft drinks available Everyone is welcome to bring their own nibbles and drinks

To raise funds for the Caythorpe & Frieston Old Friends’ Christmas Party 2009

If anyone would like a lift on the night or would like to donate a prize for bingo or contribute to the Old Friends’ party please contact Rachel on 01400 272724 or

07852 195873

A SHORT STORY……. In June 2007 I celebrated my 36th birthday, no big occasion, but a significant age all the same. For it was at this time I realised that I was now closer to 50 than I was 20! The following months were spent wondering where the years had gone and more importantly what I wanted from the future. I needed a new challenge, something to sink my teeth into. Years before, in my native Lancashire, I had done a lot of painting and decorat-ing; mostly for friends and family over a period of 9 years or so. I had always found it enjoyable; never a chore and loved creating something special. Taking a step back to view the end product filled me with a sense of pride and achieve-ment. If I was going to take a new direction in life painting and decorating was the obvious choice. Although I knew that in order to progress and to take my deco-rating to the next level I would need to be up skilled. I contacted Learn Direct who in turn put me onto Lincoln College. I arranged a meeting with them and despite being 3 months into the course they saw my potential and allowed me to start in January 2008. My time at the college was enjoyable, although daunting. Going back to school at 36 was a shock to the system to say the least, most of the students were half my age; on my first day someone asked me if I was a new tutor!! The course was extensive, taking in all aspects of painting, paper hanging, creat-ing special effects and so importantly these days Health and Safety. I found my previous experience gave me a head start. It was just a case of adding to and fine tuning the knowledge I already had. I took a lot from it, with special thanks to Lenny and Dave, masters of their profession who took me under their wings and gave me invaluable knowledge of the trade, one advantage of being a mature student, preferential treatment! The course culminated with me passing my Health and Safety test in October and my City and Guilds exam on Bonfire night….with a Distinction. I am now Self-Employed, fully registered and insured. My aim is to offer a Painting and Decorating service based on 3 golden rules, COURTESY, PROFESSIONALISM and PRIDE. I offer a full range of works, interior, exterior and commercial premises. I look forward to delivering an efficient, friendly service…….with Distinction

DARREN RALPH PAINTING AND DECORATING SERVICES

CRANWELL VILLAGE 01400 262495 0776 585 7233

darrenralphdecorating@hotmail.com

Leadenham Outdoor Bowls Club Looking for a new pastime in the summer months, why not join your local

bowls club and enjoy a friendly social game. Novice and experienced players welcome.

Practice sessions start mid April. Details and information from Maurice Appleyard

Tel 01400 272178

Caythorpe & Frieston Sports & Social Club Barn Dance Saturday 4th July

Doors open 7pm Band Starts 7.30pm

“Howdee Partners” why not come along on American Inde-pendence Day and enjoy traditional English Barn Dance.Dossie

Dow to the sounds of Live Band “Ploughmans Bunch” Their caller will guide us through a variety of Hoe Downs. Bring along your own picnic and blanket but please refrain

from bringing your own alcohol as we are a licensed premises and there will be plenty of “moonshine” for sale.

Children welcome but must be accompanied by an adult and supervised at all times.

A marquee will be erected in case of inclement weather. Tickets £8 per adult and £2 per child

Available from the Social Club Bar, the Post Office, Any committee member or Tel 01400 273204

Free Glass of Punch on arrival

ROBERT ELLIS Professional

Vacuum Chimney Sweeping Service

Established 1979

CHIMNEY POTS COWLS & BIRDCAGES SUPPLIED & FITTED BOILERS SERVICED

SOLID FUEL APPLIANCE SPECIALIST TRIANCO & PARKRAY TRAINED

Master member of THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

OF CHIMNEY SWEEPS HETAS REGISTERED

Telephone 01636 702583 Fully Insured

Loveden Plumbing &

Heating 13 Chapel Lane CAYTHORPE

Lincs NG32 3EG 01400 272998

Full Central Heating Systems (Oil, Gas or Solid Fuel)

Bathroom Suites Installed Tiling

Boiler Exchanges Worcester Bosch Approved Installer

All Plumbing and Heating work undertaken For all enquiries contact:

Mark Pinfold at the above number Mobile 07951 758835

KEITH ELVIDGE DOMESTIC APPLIANCE REPAIRS

WASHING MACHINES

TUMBLE DRIERS DISHWASHERS

COOKERS REFRIGERATION

26 FEN ROAD TIMBERLAND

LINCOLN LN4 3SD

APPLIANCE SALES NO CALL OUT CHARGE

PHONE 01526 378345

SUE MARSHALL SOLUTIONS Complete design & Installation service

for Kitchens & Bathrooms

Whether you are looking for a complete makeover or just want to give the room a face lift

Including wall & floor tiling Over 25 years experience

For a competitive quotation call Sue

to discuss your requirements

Call 01400 262125 or 07968 876890

SEEN IN THE GARDEN How refreshing it is to feel Spring is really here and how particularly brilliant the blossom has been this year. This seems to happen after a hard winter; the narcissi and magnolias have been a joy. The birds have been busy and only today we found a Blackbird’s nest with chicks which stopped any further pruning. A Wren gives us great pleasure visiting the hanging basket just outside the window as we watch it poking about among the pansies. Coal and Blue Tits are back but there are fewer Blue Tits which may reflect the severe winter. In last month’s maga-zine I mentioned the Peewits nesting on Fulbeck Low fields. David Theaker has emailed me to say that he has 11 pairs nesting on his land which is great news. Given the right habitat, wild life will return. Wild life will adapt to changing conditions by changing their habits. An example of this, is the growth in the numbers of Long Tailed Tits, believed to be up 49% according to the RSPB since 1979. The Big Garden Birdwatch in January re-vealed that they are now among the 10 most common birds in our gardens. It appears that these previously woodland birds and insect eaters have found our gardens and the seed we provide suits them. They have even started on the pea-nuts! Also, their numbers have been boosted as they breed much earlier thus avoiding the heavy rain last year. Their very fine beaks are ideal for picking the spiders’ webs which they use to line their nests. Sadly, the same cannot be said for Starlings and House Sparrows which continue to decline, down 73% and 65% respectively and are now on the Red List of endangered species. We take particular pleasure when we go outside and hear the Sparrows chattering away in our hedges. I have just read in Bird Table that House Sparrows have very good eyesight which enables them both to feed but also keep an eye open (sorry!) for movement above, ie., Sparrowhawk or other predator. It is due to the position of their eyes in the skull along with a high degree of movement that gives them this advantage. A regular in the garden is Percival (a Pheasant) and his lady friend, Penelope. He is quite unfazed by Cuthbert, that well known cat when they meet. We watch them walk past each other, each with his nose/beak in the air. An RSPB member, during the winter, discovered that Blackbirds loved the halved apples she put out for them, pecking out the middle and leaving just the skin. She found she had to put a skewer through the apple and pin it to the ground to stop the squirrels whipping them.

Alasdair F-D

I recently was delighted to see our feline thug - Murgatroyd - being hotly pur-sued by one of Perceval’s brothers across the far end of the garden! Murga-troyd’s panic stricken arrival at the French Windows into the house was saluted by an impressive flapping of wing’s and triumphant crowing by said Pheasant!

Roger W-E

Thank You! I would like to thank all my family and friends for the lovely Birthday Cards to celebrate my 90th Birthday. Also for their company at my party and a big Thank You for their generous donations of £553.44 for the South Linconshire Blind Society.

Thank you all! Mag (Metheringham)

The Playing Field News The Canter at the beginning of April was a great success with approximately £1700 raised towards our funds and 190 entrants taking part. Thanks must go to Steve Lord and all our other volunteers who work tirelessly to make these events a success. We had sev-eral e mails complimenting us on our organisation and our catering. Deanna and Ros did an amazing job producing cakes, apple crumble and sandwiches for all the entrants.

Results: Short Course 1st Male Stephen Shanks (Holme Pierrepont) Time 1.27.12 1st Lady Sarah Jefferies (Grantham) Time 1.45.02 1st Local Peter Langley (Caythorpe) Time 1.47 1st Junior Matthew Smith (Grantham AC) 1.41.50 1st Walker Neil Devlin (EPOC) 2.43.40

Results: Long Course 1st Male Andrew Fisher (RAF AA) 2.56.50 1st Lady Zoe Bloomfield (Sutton-on-Sea) 4.25

The AGM of the Playing Field is to be held at the Hammond Pavilion on Tuesday June 2nd at 8pm.

Every one is welcome to attend this Annual General Meeting. The Playing Field is a village facility and includes the Field, Play Area and the Pavilion It is managed by a committee for the benefit of all. If you would like to join the commit-tee or help in any way please come to the meeting. If you are unable to attend please con-tact Sue Dix 01400272105 and your name can be included in selection for the Commit-tee.

Sue Dix

Caythorpe Pre-School Pram Race 2009

Sunday 12th July at Caythorpe Cricket Pavilion Sign In at 11.30am First Race at 12pm

Children’s individual races by age. Adult relay teams of four plus one in pram. Fancy dress optional, but there will be prizes. Trophies for race winners. Raffle, cakes and drinks.

Call Kriss Stevens on 01400 275046 for more details

Andy Roberts (Chairman) 01400 273 320

Richard Dix (Vice-Chairman) 01400 272 105 Simon Barter 01400 273 733

Marie Crawford 01400 272 104

Neil Fritzsche 01400 273 293 Janet Norman 01400 273 878

Mark Ridler 01400 273 267

John Scott 01400 272 974

Andrew Smith 01400 272 625 Peter Taylor

01400 272 848 Mark Woodward 01400 273 942

Clerk to the Council Mr Pat Fleming 01400 275 105

Parish Council News The next meeting of the Parish Council is at 7.15pm Wednesday 13th May in the Village Hall Lounge. Items under discussion will include the Burial Ground, the Recycling Site, High-ways matters, replacement fencing and gate in the Playing Field, the purchase of a seat for the Gorse Hill Lane - Waterloo Road area requested by people with poor mobility and no transport walking to and from the Burial Ground to look after relatives graves. The Revd June Freshney has asked the Parish to consider purchasing a Lincoln-shire County official flag for the Village Flag Pole in the Church Yard. This and other matters will be discussed. All are welcome to attend. There is an open session at the start when any relevant Parish matter may be raised. The Annual Parish Meeting is at 7.15 pm Wednesday 27th May in the Village Hall. A report of the activities and the financial affairs of the Council will be given. Questions on decisions made and suggestions for the future are welcomed by all Village residents who are invited to attend. The Playing Field and Village Hall reports will be given. The Parish Clerk and Chairman attended a meeting with South Kesteven District Council Housing officials to discuss Council House allocation and management and the provision of further Social Housing for village people on the housing list. Progress is slow but still on going. The Village Plan of 2004 is being looked at and updates are being discussed.. The Council have expressed their appreciation to all those involved in the provi-sion of the new cycle track in the playing field which has become very popular with the teenagers. Andy Roberts Chairman