Epworth and Belton Arrow by Arrow Publications Ltd

Also covers West Butterwick Beltoft Sandtoft

3600 copies

Welcome to the Epworth and Belton Arrow

Here is hoping the villages will be bustling with community events this Christmas! There is Epworth Christmas market on Sunday 1st December, selling festive goods , homemade crafts and delicious treats.

Belton will be holding their fourth annual Christmas lights switch on at the Crown Inn, a chance to see Santa and support the local businesses selling their produce.

There is still time to book tickets to see Father Christmas at Crowle Peatland Railway, check it out online, see page 14 for more details.

Christmas at the farm is a wonderful experience. Boston Park have their farm days on the 14th, 15th and 21st December where you can take a trailer ride to see Santa and play at the farm all day.

Santa will also be arriving at The Old Smithy on the High Street of Owston Ferry. Today a museum showing displays and photos of the past and present village today.

Santa’s Grotto at Holmes and Gardens Garden Centre is always very popular with the children as well as the delights of the garden centre and Lemon Tree Tea Room for the adults too.

Don’t forget the annual Santa fundraiser by the Isle of Axholme lions. Their main fund raising is during December (1st - 24th) when they travel all over the Isle of Axholme with Santa's float, this has raised many thousands of pounds a year, over several years. Dates, times and locations will be posted on our Facebook page.

Further afield is the Winter Illuminations—Light & Lantern festival at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, a fantastic walk around experience full of magic festive fun for everyone.

The January issue deadline for adverts and content is Friday 6th of December. The Arrow will be delivered by the 5th January.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

CarolynGrant

Mobile no 07912643010 carolyn@arrowpublications.co.uk

GD PLUMBING SERVICE

Isle of Axholme News

Haxey & Westwoodside Heritage

Society's last meeting of 2024 is on Thursday, 12th December at 7.30pm in Westwoodside Village Hall. Our speaker for the evening is local historian and author David Seymour with further interesting stories and facts about the villages of Misterton and West Stockwith. All welcome, £3 including refreshments.

Isle Group of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust

Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta

By Geoff Trinder

Thursday December 5th

At our monthly indoor meeting on Thursday December 5th, we will be having a talk on the wildlife of the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta. Well known local naturalist and photographer, Geoff Trinder, will be talking to us about the varied wildlife and landscapes he saw on his visit.

We meet at Belton All Saints Centre (Church Hall), Stocks Hill, Belton, DN9 1PE Everyone is welcome, you don't have to be a member of the Wildlife Trust so please come along and join us. Entrance fee is £2. There will be refreshments available and a raffle. For further information about the local Trust group and their meetings please contact Tony Lee on 01427 753831 or Chris Trinder on 01427 872051. Details about the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust can be found on their web site.

Epworth Short Mat Bowls

Please note we now have a later session on Monday from 6pm to 8pm to accommodate working people. Short Mat Bowls is an indoor sport that is a modern variation on Lawn Bowls.

Come along and join our friendly group in the Sports Hall at Epworth Leisure Centre.

Sessions are held on Monday 6 – 8pm, Wednesday and Friday, 3.45 – 5.45pm.

Tuition is provided and woods are available to borrow. Flat soled shoes are required.

If you would be interested in attending a session or would like more information please contact Edwin on 07742877538

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1st Isle of Axholme BP Scouts December 2024

Cubs: The last four weeks has been of two halves! First, Halloween madness, pumpkin carving and our annual visit to Boston Park Farm to enjoy the Maize Maze. This is a great activity for the cubs, not only do they have so much fun with their friends, seeing and feeding all the animals, but the maze also promotes teamwork and healthy competition. They also put their navigation skills to the test which they have been working on! The second half was preparing for remembrance, we practised our marching and wore our kit with pride to the Haxey Church. They all did so well and represented us very well. We have also invested more new cubs and welcomed more to the pack!

Beavers: We also welcomed back our Beaver colony – thanks to the amazing Sarah for bringing this back to life post covid. They have enjoyed a couple of sessions getting to know each other and learning the story of ‘The Friends Of The Forest’, with lots of fun crafting and games thrown in. We are actively looking for more Beavers leaders, so if you are looking for a rewarding, voluntary role, please contact the team!

Scouts and Senior Scouts: Having finished our observer badges, we have moved onto homemaker badge where we check we have learned life skills such as tying neck ties, cleaning shoes and ironing! We also had a joint session with cubs at the Maize Maze which was great fun, and preparing for Remembrance parade. We have welcomed 3 new scouts who have studied their Tenderfoot requirements and been invested into the troop. This term brings dark nights and therefore the opportunity for night navigation outings!

Sections all meet at the Westwoodside Village Hall: Monday (Cubs, Scouts and Senior Scouts) meeting at 6pm (Cubs), and 7pm (Scouts & Senior Scouts), and Tuesday evening at 6pm (Beavers).

Remember, we are still looking to recruit more leaders/ helpers for all sections. Please get in touch if this is something you would like to do.

All General Building Work

- Walls removed - Modernisation

- Alterations

- Roofing repairs

- Re-roofing

- Chimney Stack repair

- Fibre glass and rubber re-roofing

- Plastering

- Landscaping

Established over 30 years

The Hall, Station Road, Owston Ferry, DN9 1AW

07766 688111 (evening) 0800 0689969 (day) info@tvm.ltd

All Aboard for Christmas Cheer at Crowle Peatland Railway!

Dates: Saturday & Sunday 7th & 8th December and Saturday & Sunday 14th & 15th December

Join us for a magical train ride to visit Father Christmas in his enchanting Grotto on the Moors. This festive event is sure to be a highlight of the season for the whole family.

Booking is essential for this event, so please don't miss out!

What to expect:

Help yourself to mince pies, hot chocolate, or mulled wine while waiting for the train.

Take a pre-booked train to the end of the line, where you will board the Lisbon Tram to meet Father Christmas.

Enjoy a leisurely chat with Father Christmas when children will receive a small gift and chocolate selection box.

Take the train back to the Old Peatworks after your visit.

The whole journey time from leaving and returning to The Old Peatworks is approximately 30 minutes. We look forward to seeing you at Crowle Peatland Railway this Christmas! Book your tickets online from 14th October: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/crowle-peatland-railway/

CHRISTMAS 2024

Owston Ferry Heritage Society invite you to visit

SANTA at the SMITHY

(High Street, Owston Ferry DN9 1RE) Sunday 1st Dec 2pm - 5pm Saturday 14th Dec 2pm - 4pm Sunday 15th Dec 2pm - 5pm

Refreshments-Raffle-Gifts

No entrance fee

Admission to see Santa £4 (including gift)

Ask yourself, what’s the point? No knife is worth anybody’s life.

The detrimental impact that one knife can have on so many lives is devastating. In the last year and a half, six families have been left navigating a lifetime of heartache, grief, and despair after losing their loved one at the hands of a knife.

Not only that, but multiple people in our force area have unfortunately also suffered serious and life changing injuries as a result of a knife or bladed weapon.

In the hope of saving others the same heartache, the families of those left shattered by knife crime, alongside first responders who tried to save them, and the detectives who then sought justice for them, share their own stories of the detrimental impact one knife can have on so many lives in a bid to tackle knife crime across our region.

Detective Superintendent Al Curtis from our Major Crime Team leading the campaign said: “Nobody should ever lose their life at the hands of a knife, and the consequences of somebody using one can be catastrophic.

“These are not all premeditated attacks by people who sought out specialist or adapted knives, most are incidents involving easily accessible, general household items which have caused deadly consequences as a result of momentary madness whether that be at home, on a night out, or in the street.

“Not only does it impact the family and friends of those who have lost their loved one, it is then the subsequent ripple effect on everybody involved whether they witnessed the incident as it happened or the emergency services who have helped the victim in seeking urgent medical attention.

“Knife crime can impact people from any walk of life, that is why we continue to support the national knife surrender Operation Sceptre which launches on Monday 11 November.

“It is really important to educate our communities that by possessing some types of knives, even just at home, you could be committing a criminal offence. It is also crucial to mention the fact that even if you are not the one carrying a knife, but you were there when a knife was wielded, you too could suffer the criminal consequences.

“By taking part in operations like this, not only can we educate people, but we can remove unwanted knives, and other bladed weapons, from our communities.

“Whether you find yourself in a confrontational situation at home, or are thinking about carrying a knife for your protection, ask yourself, what is the point? One knife impacts more than one life.”

If you have been a victim of crime, you may need further support and information to assist you through the process. You can visit our website for further support @humberside.police.uk/victim-support and download a copy of our victim support leaflet.

Haxey Tennis Club 2024 News

Have you and your family ever watched a sport on TV and thought you'd like to give it a go? Well, the Ryde family did exactly that!

“In May 2022 inspired by watching the French open, our family decided to give tennis a try. We bought two racquets at sports direct, grabbed some tennis balls and headed to the courts in Mexborough where we live. None of us had ever played tennis before, but it didn't take long for the girls to fall in love with the sport. Right from the start Emily and Molly showed great hand-eye co-ordination, hitting rallies over the net with ease. Their excitement for the game was contagious and even on holiday they’d pack their racquets and find a court to play. As the months went by, they began group coaching and entered local tournaments, although it wasn't easy at first. They faced players who'd been playing since 5 and 6 years old and it took them several months to win a match. Despite the initial challenges, Emily and Molly kept improving with every practice and were feeling OK with losing, as the 0-4,0-4 losses were becoming 1-4,2-4 losses, and they were winning more games. After a few months, they won their first matches, which was a huge confidence boost. The wins started to become more frequent and they wanted to practice and play more. Emilys talent led her to be called up to the junior county squad, while Molly excelled in adult leagues. It soon became clear that they needed expert coaching to help them grow and a friend’s recommendation led us to John Willis, a renowned coach based at Haxey Tennis Club. With John's mentorship, both girls have flourished. Emily won the Sheffield and District under 12s title this year and made the semi-finals of the Yorkshire championships, while Molly made it to the finals in the under 18s doubles. They've since joined the Haxey team in the Gainsborough League and are thriving in match play with adults. This winter they're competing in the national junior league against the top juniors in Lincolnshire and excelling in club tournaments, Emily even won the adult doubles round robin tournament recently.

Our family has found a warm and supportive environment at Haxey Tennis Club, where the girls train with experienced coaches like Jake Walker and John Willis. We’re so fortunate that Emily and Molly have found a sport they love, with a team that nurtures their growth. While Wimbledon may seem like a distant dream they're chasing it with determination, knowing that every match and every training session brings them one step closer to those famous grass courts.”

Haxey Tennis club are very happy to have the Ryde family join our club and wish the girls every success for the future. It's been a pleasure watching them grow and gain confidence. Tennis doesn't stop during the winter at our club, we just layer up and play all year round. So, if you’re interested in playing or would like coaching with Jake and John please get in touch via our website. Haxey Tennis club also offer a 25% discount for new club membership or you can just hire a court for an hour or two.

High Levels WI

Isle of Axholme News

The October meeting of High Levels WI is always a Harvest Auction and it is always an enjoyable and entertaining evening. This year was no exception. The function room at the Reindeer Inn, where we regularly meet, was decorated with our Show the Love (of the environment) bunting and members took produce, baking and other acceptable donations for auction. The singing of Jerusalem was abandoned and instead a harvest hymn was sung. After the usual necessary business, the auction began. Members produced pumpkins, almond slices (a favourite among the regulars), eating apples, Bramley apples, onions, preserves, bread, plants, chocolates and various other items. The total raised by the entertaining auctioneer exceeded last year’s.

The November meeting celebrates a country and this year a meal at the Reindeer will celebrate Spain. In December the group will hold a Christmas social with some physical activities!

As usual you are invited to have a look at our website: www.highlevelswi.co.uk and see what we get up to. We usually meet the third Wednesday of the month at 6.45pm at the Reindeer Inn, Sandtoft. You would be most welcome to join us or come as a visitor

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Our Kiln Dried Firewood Logs are selected from the finest hardwood and have been through a kiln drying process, which means they are perfectly dried and ready to burn on your open fire or wood burning stove.

Light, clean and easy to handle, they also emit a delightful aroma when burnt. The performance of your stove is directly related to the quality of the wood you use. Our kiln dried wood has a moisture content between 10 and 20 percent, ensuring it burns hotter for longer, increasing the efficiency of your stove or appliance.

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In Memory of a Lost Loved One

Join us for a special Light Up a Life service on Thursday, 5th December at 7 pm. Come together at St Hugh’s Church, 75 Old Brumby Street, Scunthorpe, DNI6 2AJ, for a heartwarming evening of carols, readings, and music. Celebrate the lives of loved ones with us as we reflect and find comfort in shared memories. Enjoy performances by The Hospice Harmonies Choir and our band, throughout the service. Refreshments will be served from 6:15 pm.

Everyone is welcome. Whether your loved one was cared for by the Hospice or not, you are invited to dedicate a light in their memory. Each light will shine brightly throughout the Christmas period in our Memorial Garden.

As a token of remembrance, you'll receive two tree decorations. Write a personal message on one and hang it on our memorial tree during the service. This dedication will then be transferred to the Hospice Memorial Garden. Keep the other decorations to cherish at home.

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