epworthjan2025 by Arrow Publications Ltd

Also covers West Butterwick Beltoft Sandtoft

3600 copies

Welcome to the Epworth and

Belton Arrow

The Haxey Hood, a historic and lively tradition in Haxey, will be held on Monday, January 6, 2025. The event begins at 12:30 PM at the Carpenters Arms in Westwoodside with singing and the "Smoking the Fool" ritual. Following a procession, the main game starts around 2:45 PM. This annual game involves moving a leather hood into one of several local pubs, with a large "sway" or scrum of participants competing to secure it for their team.

The 2024 Haxey Hood was won by The King’s Arms pub in Haxey. The victory was described as relatively quick and straightforward, marking a successful reclaiming of the Hood from the previous year's winner, The Loco.

This custom, dating back to the 14th century, combines fun, history, and community spirit. It continues regardless of weather and is considered one of the UK's most unique traditions. Spectators are welcome, but participation in the sway can be intense! For safety and enjoyment tips, attendees should prepare for muddy conditions and follow the designated areas.

If anyone has any photographs of the event and would like them published in the next issue of the Arrow please email to carolyn@arrowpublications.co.uk

The February issue deadline for adverts and content is 10th January. The Arrow will be delivered by the 2nd February.

BELTON COMMUNITY AID

Charity No. 215886

The charitable body Belton Community Aid is able to assist residents of Belton, Beltoft and Sandtoft, who are in hardship, with small financial grants. The trustees welcome personal applications throughout the year for consideration and will deal with each application in confidence and on its own merits.

For further information please contact Melanie Williams at beltoncommunityaid@gmail.com

Fits Alarms

Isle of Axholme News

EPWORTH & DISTRICT WI

TUESDAY 14 JANUARY 2025

IMPERIAL HALL (SMALL HALL)

7:30pm

I hope everyone has had an enjoyable festive season and I wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year.

As we look back over the past year at our WI events there have been some outstanding moments, too many to mention individually, but we would like to highlight and thank everyone who supported our Charity Autumn Fashion Show which raised over £600 for the local Blood Bike Service. An amazing local charity. Watch out for our next show in March!!!

At our meeting on 14 January we will be welcoming Kim Oakley founder of Streetbeat who will be talking to us about how this local business started, what they do and their involvement with the local community and further afield. For those who are feeling energetic Kim will do a short Line Dancing instruction which promises to be fun!

Visitors welcome £5 to include refreshments and there will be a raffle. Free to members.

A busy spring and summer beckons for Isle Choral Singers, kicking off with a return invitation to perform at Lincoln Cathedral, on Saturday, January 25th. This follows on from the choir's performance (again, by invitation) of Evensong at the cathedral on October 31st , a very moving and memorable experience for all members. We all discovered that there is rather more to singing as a cathedral choir than just, well...singing. We had to practise processing formally and neatly, in formation, into and out of the choir stalls, bowing to the altar at certain points. We also learned (and this was a particularly moving revelation) that whoever is officiating at the service greets and prays with the choir separately at the side before we all process in together.

Isle Choral Singers' next appearance on January 25th will be a less formal affair and takes place at lunchtime in the Chapter House, rather than the main body of the cathedral.

Other dates for the diary: isle Choral Singers spring concert, April 12th at Wesley Chapel, Epworth and at St Hugh's, Cantley, on April 26th. Our spring programme this year features John Rutter's REquiem so if you fancy getting your teeth into a piece of iconic classical music, don't hold back - come join Isle Choral singers at rehearsals every Monday from 7.15pm to 9.15pm at the Imperial Hall in Epworth. No audition, no need to read music and definitely no judgment.

Isle Group of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Members evening

Thursday

January 2nd 2025

at 7.30pm The first meeting of the new year will be on Thursday January 2nd 2025 at 7.30pm when we will be having our annual members night which is always a popular evening. Anyone can bring along a small selection of photographs for everyone to see. This can be on any topic, not necessarily on wildlife, which they are interested in and would like to share with everyone. The images need to be on a memory stick and it would be helpful if you can let the chairman, Tony Lee, know that you would like to show some images before January 2nd so that he can plan the programme (details below) Hopefully we will have a variety of interesting talks.

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.

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High Levels WI

The November meeting of High Levels WI had a Spanish theme to accompany the AGM. The President welcomed 30 members and 5 visitors before Jerusalem was sung. Then, as the AGM business progressed an entertainment duo arrived and performed some Salsa dancing. This was greatly enjoyed before the business cotinued. There was mention of outings and the Harvest Auction and the continuing donations for the local foodbanks. The meeting was officially closed and as the evening was to celebrate Spanish culture a minute’s silence was held to remember the victims of the recent flooding disaster. A delightful Tapas meal was then served by the staff of The Reindeer Inn. A quiz about some Spanish facts was available on each table. By the conclusion of the evening there was a general atmosphere of a very pleasant evening spent with friends, part of the ethos of WI.

As they left the venue members were looking forward to a return of the dancers who will hold a dance class at the start of the Christmas social evening. The January meeting heralds a talk on an Holistic approach to healthy eating and some chair yoga. February will welcome Dr Nicola Crewe who will talk on Forensic DNA Profiling and at the March meeting Chris Creaser will show some photographs of Venice.

You will see we have a varied programme and welcome any who wish to join us. Do look at our website: www.highlevelswi.co.uk We meet on the third Wednesday of each month and begin at 6.45pm. The venue is The Reindeer Inn, Sandtoft.

If you would like

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Isle of Axholme News

The folk dances run by local folk dance band Lys St Georges continue this spring as follows:

Thursday 9 January

Thursday 16 January

Thursday 23 January

Thursday 30 January

Thursday 6 February

They are all in Westwoodside Village Hall, starting at 2.30pm and lasting till 4pm.

You don’t need a partner nor any experience in country dancing, and these friendly dances will be suitable for all levels of fitness. There’ll be live music and expert tuition. As one dancer said at the end of an earlier programme ‘What's not to like! Live music, gentle exercise, lots and lots of fun and every assistance.’

There’s a small admission charge of £3 for each dance.

For more information contact Kate Billmore on 01427 753363 or Peter Barnard on 01427 873937.

News from Isle of Axholme Rotary

It has been a busy autumn for Epworth & Isle of Axholme Rotary.

In early November we held a Ceilidh, entertaining about 70 people to a fun evening of dance and song led by Most Friendly Folk Ceilidh Band. This event was great fun and there was a lot of laughter. Along with a raffle it raised just over £500. The proceeds have been shared between Jen's Special Place - a charity offering bereavement support for young people in this area - and Firefly, a local charity providing support and free transport to patients having treatment for cancer. In addition, a donation was given to the ceilidh band's preferred charity, The Wharncliffe Trust which supports underprivileged children by funding educational projects.

Despite the inclement weather we also planted about 4000 crocus bulbs in Haxey. These flowers mark Rotary's End Polio Now campaign. Rotary has been working for 35 years to eradicate polio, over which time cases have reduced by 99.9% but the fight goes on to eradicate it completely. Buying these bulbs funds the life saving vaccination programme as well as providing a beautiful display on the Isle in spring next year.

At the end of November we attended the Epworth Lights Switch on with our annual Teddy Tombola recycling previously loved toys to new children. The monies raised from this will be shared between a project chosen by the pupils of Epworth Primary School and Sri Sai Vidyarthi High School in a slum area in India. This latter is a Rotary District Charity helping deprived children gain education and thus work prospects.

In December, working with Epworth Primary School and Epworth Coop, we sent Christmas cards and chocolate to older folk in the Isle. The pupils of Epworth primary once again provided us with beautiful handmade cards to send out.

We will be holding our annual tea party for older folk on Sunday 23rd February 2025. If you or someone you know would like an invitation please let us have, with their permission, their name and address and as space allows we can invite them this year or next year. Contact Dr John Lambert, 01427 872466 or 6 Rectory Street, Epworth DN9 1HB

Haxey and Westwoodside

Heritage Society's first meeting of 2025 is on 9th January at 7.30pm in Westwoodside Village Hall. Peter Frost is coming along with a presentation on Epworth Mechanics' Institute Library and the Mechanics' Movement. All welcome. £3 including refreshments. See us on facebook.

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The cubs have had a very fun-packed month! Starting with a very informative and enjoyable visit to the Misterton Fire station, who have certainly made a few new recruits from this pack! They absolutely LOVED it. They were then entertained by our fabulous Scout group for a full session while the leaders/parents ticked off the formalities for another year (in the form of the AGM).

We then welcomed Paul Taylor, our Families Worker, to lead us in a game of nerf wars!

To finish the year we have also organised a party for all sections to Go Bounce! A great treat for all the hard work they have put in this year, and lots of big thank you from the cub pack to Misterton Fire station & Paul!

The Beavers have been working hard on learning the opening/closing routine, as well as improving their crafting skills incredibly!

Meanwhile, the scouts have been busy finishing their homemaker/life skills badge, as well as developing their map and compass skills. Which we then used during a night hike following a pre-planned route around Gringley. We just managed to finish our walk before the heaviest snowfall! We will finish our Scout year with a Christmas bake off competition and then the joint Go Bounce party.

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

Kick start your year with a challenge to support Lindsey Lodge?

The virtual event will run for 30 days and will finish with an event at Parkrun, a 5 and 10k run with walkers also welcome.

This year, we're offering exclusive benefits:

Free, high-quality training plans developed by University Campus North Lincolnshire (UCNL)

Two weekly running sessions at Central Park with qualified trainers

Unique Jog On January 2025 t-shirt

Exclusive Jog On January 2025 medal upon completion

Finish strong on February 8th at Parkrun in Central Park. Join us for a 5K or 10K run or walk, and celebrate your achievements together. Make a difference by signing up for Jog On January today!

Why Book?

15 per person

£30 minimum sponsorship

Training support from UCNL

Two weekly running sessions at Central Park

Free Jog On T-Shirt

Medal upon completion

Free access to our mobile app

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Recycle your tree with Lindsey Lodge Hospice. Booking your Treecycling with Lindsey Lodge is a great way to support your local hospice raise vital funds during the festive season, while taking the stress out of your new year routine. Trees are collected week commencing 6th January. Tree’s must be left outside and clearly visible for collection for the full week.

On Monday, 11th November the Chairman of Epworth and District Flower Club welcomed Mark Entwistle to the club’s annual Open Meeting at South Axholme Academy. Mark, a NAFAS demonstrator from Cheshire, made a return visit to entertain a large number of ladies who watched with delight as he created six stunning arrangements.

Mark entitled his demonstration “Snow Storm” but in his first arrangement there was no suggestion of snow. His flowers were large red amaryllis, threaded onto bamboo sticks, small red gerbera and red velvet roses. Fatsia, blue spruce and cordyline were his foliage. Holly berries and red baubles created a Christmassy effect. This arrangement as displayed in a red rectangular frame.

Mark’s second arrangement was placed on top of a white tree with a little blue decoration. He carefully and easily split some large phormium leaves (New Zealand Flax), added some creamy fatsia flowers, small delphinium and blue agapanthus. White roses and finally amazing cream orchids gave a wonderful cascading effect. Senecio and eryngium hid the foam base. Mark told the audience about a new biodegradable foam being developed. This arrangement was completed with blue sparkly baubles and a few small blue feathers.

The next arrangement had a more autumnal theme. Above a base of fan palm leaves, sprayed a copper colour, Mark added gold painted oak leaves, orange snapdragons, deeper orange lilies, large headed chrysanthemums and beautiful pincushion protea. Mini gerbera and Mokara orchids, completed the arrangement.

The next three arrangements had much more of a wintery feel. Into his fourth arrangement Mark placed lime green choisya, variegated holly, rolled phormium leaves and gladioli. He talked amusingly about blush pink flowers and added pink dipped twigs, short pink gerbera, white snapdragon, white anthurium with very pale pink tips and finally deep cerise orchids. This arrangement was an inverted crescent shape which he displayed above an angel’s wings!!

Mark’s next arrangement incorporated long ferns and ivy giving a “wild” effect. He used “explosive” orchids in three “bundles”, green camouflage roses, green anthurium, small green carnations and small petalled gerbera. Somewhere hidden in this arrangement were two ornamental brassicas. The wild arrangement was to resemble a large bird’s nest and he completed this with a large white owl.

Finally Mark produced a “pedestal” into which he so expertly inserted a variety of foliage which he used to cover the mechanics. Then his flowers were white lilies, large chrysanthemum blooms, white agapanthus, snapdragons and rather his signature, a whole spray of pale creamy white Singapore orchids.

The vote of thanks was given with a very appreciative round of applause from the audience. The flowers were then raffled to several lucky winners. Mark had demonstrated six arrangements but most of them were accompanied by a similar arrangement, possibly slightly smaller, resulting in at least ten fortunate winners.

In addition to the demonstration by Mark Entwistle there was a display table of items for sale to benefit Weston Park hospital. Many of the committee were wearing tee-shirts to advertise the charity and the proceeds from the evening will go to Weston Park. As the audience left everyone was given a small bag containing chocolates so no-one left the wonderful evening empty handed.

Epworth and District Flower Club meets in St Andrew’s Church, Epworth on the second Monday each month at 7.30pm. New members are always welcome.

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Happy New Year from Doncaster HF Rambling Club, an independent walking club which strives to provide its members with opportunities for the healthy enjoyment of the countryside in a spirit of friendship and fun. We organise three grades of walks to suit all abilities, from an easy 5 mile stroll, an intermediate walk, to a more challenging 10 to 12 mile hike. A detailed description with maps and pictures from the three walk leaders is posted on the club website two weeks before each walk.

So, if you are considering taking up a new activity and would like to make new acquaintances this New Year, or you are looking to become more active, we are a friendly group and we always welcome new members.

We meet every four weeks on a Sunday, visiting a wide range of locations, travelling by coach from a number of pick-up points around Doncaster. We offer anyone interested to come along on two walks as a guest before committing as a member. The cost of the coach fare is £15. Full details of our club, including booking onto a walk, and what we have to offer can be found on our website: www.doncasterhframblingclub.org.uk