WOODLAND RISE – LANGTOFT
PLOT 22, THE RIBBLE £495,000
The Ribble is a four bedroom detached home with a front to back lounge and kitchen diner, to the ground floor there is also a useful utility room & WC. To the first floor there is an en-suite to the master bedroom, three further bedrooms and a family bathroom. Externally there is a spacious garden and a block paved driveway leading to the double garage.
PLOT 23, THE BAIN £500,000
The Bain is a well designed four bedroom detached house featuring three reception rooms comprising of a study, lounge and a kitchen / diner. To the ground floor there is also a utility room & WC. To the first floor the master bedroom benefits from an en-suite and there are three further bedrooms and a family bathroom. Externally there is a generous driveway leading to a detached double garage.
PLOT 24, THE TAY, £620,000
WOODLAND RISE, LANGTOFT
The Tay is an executive four bedroom family home, with plenty of storage and living space. The accommodation comprises of a spacious lounge with French doors leading to the rear garden, there is a large kitchen/family room, utility room, separate dining room and a cloakroom. There are two ensuite bedrooms to the first floor and two further bedrooms are serviced by the family bathroom. Externally there is a generous driveway leading to a Double Garage with dedicated home office space attached.
Newton Fallowell are proud to present the last remaining plots available in the popular Village of Langtoft. Flooring packages are included for all remaining plots and viewing is essential to appreciate both the location and specification on offer. Individual plots may vary but examples of the type of finish you can expect is underfloor heating, EV charge points, electric garage door and integrated appliances. Contact us now to arrange a site visit.
Welcome
The Waterton Arms in Church Street DSJ are the latest winners of the ‘Grand Idea’ by Stonegate Pub Partners for the Ska Fest held at the Pub back in July. Regional Manager, Colin Hardy said, ‘Kevin and Ian run a very good Pub with numerous events throughout the year. They continue to evolve the business and show great longevity’ Now set to become an annual event this was the first organised by the Pub in co-operation with the Back to Basics Scooter Club. With over 200 people in attendance the Festival has had a significant positive impact! The Marquee at the Waterton is set to be the venue for Deeping St James Parish Council’s Carols with the Salvation Army on Friday 13th December at 7.00pm - a great start to the Festive season! And on that note all at I’d rather be in Deeping magazine wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Judy Stevens
- 8.00pm at the Waterton Arms Deeping St James with the Salvation Army
Carols in the Marquee
Editor: Judy Stevens
Sub-Editor: Susan Hibbins
Designer: Gary Curtis
Features Writers: Judy Stevens, Will Bowell, Nancy Titman and Nicola Harris
Research: Joy Baxter, Nancy Titman
HOUSE REMOVALS
In-Ctrl IT Support
AFFORDABLE ONSITE PC/IT SUPPORT FOR HOME USERS / BUSINESSES IN THE DEEPINGS & SURROUNDING VILLAGES
call nick: 07719 853633 office: 01775 725755
www.inctrlitsupport.co.uk nick@inctrlitsupport.co.uk
VERY LOW RATES, NO VAT, NO CALLOUT FEE & A PROVEN 18YEAR EXCELLENT REPUTATION THAT YOU CAN TRUST SPECIALISTS AT TUNE-UPS, VIRUS/MALWARE REMOVAL, INTERNET ISSUES, DATA RECOVERY, BACKUPS, INTERNET SECURITY & GENERAL COMPUTER PROBLEMS ON-SITE OR REMOTELY SOMETIMES THE SAME DAY
Issues resolved from as little as £35 an hour remotely or £45 an hour on-site with nearly all visits under an hour. We also sell refurbished laptops & desktops too so if you’re considering replacing/upgrading ‘hassle-free’ get in touch.
The winner of the October competition for afternoon tea for two at Vine House Farm Cafe was pulled out of a hat by Nicholas Watts and is Deborah Croyle.
Sponsors of Art at the Priory (l-r Graham Magee from Molecey Mill, Michelle Allot from Black Cab Framing and Judy Stevens from idrbid magazine) were delighted to present £2,315 to the Revd Mark Williams following the successful art exhibition in October.
The Peoples Choice selected at the Deepings Camera Club Annual Exhibition was won by Tony Martin for his ‘Frosty Morn’ while the Draw to win your favourite print was won by Caroline Osbourne for ‘Splish Splash’ by Iain Toombs (who also claimed the Nature Award).
The Garden of Remambrance is declared open.
Deeping children were treated to a free Puppet show of the highest quality from the Barnpot Theatre Co. courtesy of the Deepings Library and Deepings Community Centre.
NEWS
The Deepings Community Library’s taste testers trialled a basket of festive treats from 4 major supermarkets with M&S coming out on top for cheese - chocolate and stollen with M&S and Tesco tying at the top for Mince Pies - favourite crisps were from Lidl and the volunteers decided that the best value for money overall was Lidl!
When Michelle Davenport and her team raised over £3500 at their Macmillan Coffee morning, colleagues at Lloyds Bank matched the amount taking the total to over £7000!
l-r
Kerry Ash, Michelle Davenport, Jess Stillwell of Lloyds, Wendy Smith and Debbie Hornsby
The 2024 winner of the Historic Houses Collections Award sponsored by Dreweatts has been won by Grimsthorpe Castle. Recent work at the Castle has centred around conserving and exhibiting a silk doublet and trunkhose that probably belonged to Robert Bertie, 13th Lord Willoughby de Eresby and may have been worn by him to the coronation of James I in 1603.
Three Deepings Swimmers competed in the Midlands Short Course Championships which had a quarter of the GB Olympic Squad in attendance, making it the fastest Regional Championships in the country! In the Boys 16 and Under section, Oliver Shepherd put in a stunning performance in the 800m Freestyle finishing 27th overall, improving his Lincolnshire County ranking to 11th. Jacob Briers, swimming as a Junior (16 and Under) competed in three events and is ranked 3rd in the county for 200m backstroke. Corey Farley swam in the 200m Fly in the Junior event posting a time just outside her current PB. She is ranked 3rd in the county. The Club also sent a squad to the National Masters Short Course Swimming Championships returning with a fantastic set of results.
Oliver Shephard
At the recent SKDC Community Awards Fiona Perry of the ‘Well Laid Table’ received the Neil Smith ‘Beyond the Call of Duty’ Award having successfully used life-saving CPR and then a defibrillator to a man who suffered a heart attack, despite never having done it before, until an ambulance arrived. Eyes right at the Market Deeping
Fond memories for Billy Burton (issue 108) on a Sunday school outing to Skegness. Billy is on the donkey aged 5 months (1934).
Deeping St James United Charities were pleased to officially open the new Studios/ Offices at the Cross School - designed to a high spec by Jonathan Hendry and constructed by JD Carter it is hoped that the scheme will breathe some commercial life into the old village providing a comfortable space with high eco credentials - enquiries Longstaffs 01778 420406
Remembrance Parade.
Glinton TRAVEL VACCINATIONS AND HEALTH ADVICE SERVICE
If you’re about to travel outside of the UK, you may need to be vaccinated before you set off for your trip. The childhood vaccination programme in the UK protects you froma number of diseases, but you may need extra vaccinations or antimalarials if you;re planning on visiting certain parts of the world.
Getting vaccinated can help prevent you from getting ill if you’re exposed to diseases which we don’t normally have in the UK. We can help you understand how to keep your risks low while abroad and help you work out which vaccinations and antimalarials you may want to consider depending on things like:
• Which regions you’ll be visiting • What activities you’ll be doing • Your age and general health
Some travel vaccinations may be needed several weeks before departure. Ideally you should see us six to eight weeks before travelling, but we may still be able to help if you’re leaving sooner, even days before for travel. • Cholera
We can help you with seven common conditions without needing a GP appointment • Sinusitis • Sore Throat
Earache (Children)
Infected Insect Bite
Shingles
Appointments can be booked direct to us by calling or pop in for a walk in appointment
Impetigo
Urinary Tract Infection (Women)
DEEP
Happy 25th Anniversary Glebe Singers
John of Bowlers Brewery, Market
Deeping launched his Green Hop Beer made from hops foraged locally - available at The Thirsty Giraffe
Art at the Priory - music combines with art in a beautiful setting!
Win afternoon tea for two at Award Winning Moor Farm!
Start the new year on a high and enter our competition to win afternoon tea for two in the cosy comfort of Moor Farm, Newborough!
Just answer the question
What colour is the tractor on the logo of the UK’s largest food and farming standards scheme? and send it with your contact details to idratherbeindeeping@gmail.com by 31st January. The first correct answer to be pulled out of the hat is the winner!
Decoy Road, Newborough PE6 7QE Tel: 01733 259645 www.moorfarmshop.uk
Puddings, cakes and Christmas
with Nancy Titman
Today when the Chancellor of the Exchequer and other financiers glibly talk of trillions of pounds, I think of my first days at school when the headmaster told us it was impossible to count to a’ million’ because it was such a huge number.
In the 1920s even those who were well off were economical after the war and planned ahead for Christmas festivities, so as the economy was based on pounds, shillings and pence, Christmas clubs ran for 12 weeks of installments to accommodate 12 pence to the shilling.
Mr Knowles in Eastgate advertised boxes of chocolates and tins of sweets, so one costing 4/6d (four shillings and sixpence) could be paid for in 12 installments of 4pence. Nothing would be more than 7/6d.
Mr Bollans in Church Street had different merchandise to tempt buyers. His shop window display included Christmas Annuals, manicure sets, honey or jam pots, dressing table sets, butter dishes, cream jugs, plant pots – all showing the price and the cost each week.
Women would set about making presents, knitting socks and pullovers, hats and scarves, and girls would make iron or kettle holders to surprise family members on Christmas morning.
Then as now it was essential to make early preparations for Christmas. The tried and trusted hand-written recipes for puddings and cakes were perused and the ingredients acquired. I had another little job, now obsolete since raisins are produced without seeds! I can remember sitting in my little chair, strategically with my back to Mum as I was picking the seeds out of the sticky fat raisins.’
‘Don’t eat them,’ said Mum. ‘No, I’m not eating them,’ but Mum said, ‘I think you are because I can see your ears wagging up and down.’
Another memorable day was near to Stir Up Sunday, when the collect for the last Sunday before Advent reminded everyone to make the Christmas pudding. I stood on a chair and dropped in the few silver threepenny bits and a generous tot of brandy from another half quarter into the mix.
The cake was also mixed, baked and put aside to mature until the marzipan cover was made and rolled out the hard way. Mum gave me the odd bits of almond paste to play with, so I rolled them into little shapes which resembled new potatoes when rolled in some cocoa powder and made delicious sweets.
Nearer to Christmas was the evening when one of our neighbours, a lady named Min, came to our house and helped Mum make the royal icing and decorated both their cakes. Whipping the egg whites was tedious hard work as they had no kind of whisk. I think they beat the egg with a thin bladed knife-(perhaps not) - but it took ages. Eventually the icing was made to their satisfaction and smoothed over the top and sides of the splendid cakes. We had a metal cylinder filled with icing which had a removable nozzle at one end. When the icing was forced out with a plunger it made lovely ribbon, string or rosette pattern depending on the design of the nozzle. Once unscrewed from the gadget, the nozzles were still full of icing. My perk once, as I had the chance to suck the sweet icing out of the shapers.
Dad had sensibly had an evening at the Rose and Crown (near to The Cross) while the fun went on in the kitchen at home but there were cosy winter evenings when the kitchen was glowing in the lamplight and the good fire in the range gave off a good heat. Mum sat in a basket chair under the deep inglenook, always busy sewing, crocheting, knitting or mending and I sat opposite in my child’s chair knitting or cutting up snips of old
garments to make rugs. Dad sat in a wooden armchair smoking his pipe and striking lots of matches to keep it alight. Once satisfied with the effort he read the newspaper or nattered to us.
As we all sat in the comfortable warmth crickets that had hidden in the crevices of the ancient walls would chirp away and sometimes a cockroach would take a stroll across the hearth. If they got too ambitious we set a trap for them overnight, putting some beer in a dish with pieces of kindling placed like ramps. (A cheaper liquid was a good substitute). Attracted by the smell, the beetles climbed the ramp only to fall in and drown. (This is true.)
All too soon it was time to climb the dark stairs with a candle and brave the icy bedroom with the lino-covered floor, but it was lovely to snuggle into bed and get warm. Beds were very different; instead of having one luxurious duvet for covering, there were several layers which had to be manhandled.
On top of a flock mattress was the feather bed which was a bed- sized bag of strong ticking material tightly packed with the soft feathers of innumerable chickens. An under blanket and two sheets covered that before the feather bolster and pillows were in place. Blankets next and a white counterpane, and last a smart eiderdown. It was like being in a cosy nest, and no one was keen to get up to face the cold reality of a new day.
Making the bed was not a two minute job of smoothing the sheet, shaking the duvet and plumping the pillows. It took ages turning back the blankets and pillows and shaking and turning the heavy feather bed, which was hard work. Everything was time consuming and repetitive.
We had two very old beds that were ancient in 1920 but were surprisingly comfortable. The bed-head and base and the two side supports were made of strong iron and slotted together made an open rectangular shape. Metal slats about one inch wide had to be woven in and out to make a trellis which was tightened to the sides with a bed key.
At last Christmas came. Santa Claus had left the traditional gifts:-an orange and some sweets in the stockings and usually another gift to delight the child. Everyone looked forward to Christmas dinner, the one big feast of the year when goose was the best choice but chicken was a treat for poorer people.
We were lucky to have a succulent goose – I can see and taste it still – followed by the Christmas pudding, and hopefully the helping contained a 3d bit.
Rosy with good fare and at his jovial best, my father rose to propose his special Lincolnshire toast:
’Ere’s to the man as kills a pig
And gives ’is neighbour a fry
Also a pint of good old h’ale
And a thumping big pork pie.
’Ere’s to the man as kills a pig
And gives ’is neighbour none
Let’s ’ope he never ’as swill nor grain
To feed another ’un on!
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Recreate a 1920’s Christmas
Nancy’s account of country life in a Deeping cottage is so vivid that it hardly needs illustration! But at a time when we are trying to create a more sustainable life for ourselves it is worth a thought if not to recreate a 1920’s Christmas lock, stock and barrel it is perhaps very worthwhile to look at elements of that cosy family Christmas where careful saving beforehand allowed for the purchase of gifts and that home made gifts were as highly valued as those that were shop bought!
Life in the decade between the two World Wars was hard, there was no National Health Service and the comforts of double glazing and central heating were far away. The country was striving to pay for the First World War and times were financially hard so the Christmas gifts that Nancy recalls were highly prized. A browse through Market Deeping Antiques is always a great way to sample a taste of life decades ago, pictured is a dressing table set in art deco style in bright green Guilloche enamel (just £12 from the Centre). Coco Chanel launched her new fragrance Chanel
Number 5 in the 1920’s – I wonder if any samples of this scent reached this rural outpost? It is likely that perfume bottles such as the one pictured could be found, with its fan art deco shape and metal atomiser – this piece of twentieth century history is just £11 from the Centre.
Cream jugs and lidded preserve pots tell of a time when tea was a more leisurely special affair when guests were invited into the home. In her story of life in service (Issue 06) Cissy Burton recounted the Revd Payne stopping by to take afternoon tea with Mrs Payne and her daughter Ethel at Kingscote in Church Street.
I wonder if the tins from a bygone age displayed on your right as you enter the Antiques Centre have made their way through the decades and were initially purchased by Nancy and her family and friends from Bollands or Mr Knowles?
The Annual was a staple Christmas present for children until relatively recently and Howard Prentice at Walkers Newsagents in Church Street (previously Bollands of the 1920’s) was stocking them well into the 1980’s. Now there is always a selection of all Annuals from the 1900’s onwards in Market Deeping Antiques and Craft Centre.
Knitting and crocheting were valuable past times and resulted in carefully presented pullovers and scarves that are now bought off the shelf without the loving care that was then put into each stitch. But far from being buried these skills are all the more treasured for their relative obscurity today and so the hand made crocheted items from Nikki at the recent Frost Fair proved to be a best seller. So, too, are the handmade dresses for children by Margarette Chambers carefully matched to the cardigans hand knitted by the Wool Artisan, Ruth Ellis. Crochet kits along with other handicrafts and featured on page 29 are available from Riverside Beads & Crafts on the High Street. Perhaps the popularity of local artisans, the coveted snowmen mug from Hopscotch pottery handmade in Market
Deeping that sold out so quickly at Frost Fair is testimony to are love of the authentic, unique skills that have stood the test of time!
Contemporary rag rug
1920’s sweet tin
From Ruth Ellis: The Wool Artisan
One More Brick
Peter Hiscock moved to the Deepings aged eight, when his father, Dr Keith Hiscock, MBE, relocated from Wales to work for the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) based in Peterborough. Not enthused by action figures, vehicles or other traditional boys’ toys, it was always about Lego for Peter. City, Castle, Space and Pirates were the popular themes of the time, and Peter would spend hours and days constructing models and dioramas of his own imagination.
As boys naturally grow older, the enthusiasm for Lego waned, and computers, girls and oddly, aquarium fish took over Peter’s life. After studying Aquatics at university in Winchester, Peter had several books on aquarium fish published and setup a successful pond maintenance business. Whilst business was good, the winter months were always quiet, so Peter tried his hand at other side-ventures, including building computers and an online fish and pet website. In the winter of 2009, now aged 30, he discovered a thriving Lego-selling community online and reignited his childhood passion by buying and selling parts. Realising that no-one was selling their own design Lego model kits (called MOCS in the Lego world – My Own Creations), he set about designing and selling small models. This venture soon snowballed and One More Brick as a company was born.
Space was always an issue with the business, which started in the living room, took over the spare room, then a purpose-built shed, and eventually in 2016 a move into the Eventus Business Centre on the Northfields industrial Estate. In 2020 the business moved over the
to a
unit and has been there ever since.
The business creates its own model designs, using genuine Lego bricks (never any other brand), and sells them as kits with building instructions. It is entirely based online, and sells nationally and internationally through its website, Ebay, and Amazon.
Christmas is huge for Peter and One More Brick, with the three months of October-December representing over 50% of yearly sales. Lego baubles, nativities, reindeer and many other Christmas items keep Peter and his team busy throughout the festive season. The company regularly sells at Lego shows held
throughout the UK, and has attended over 35 Lego shows this year, including the Peterborough Brick Festival held in April. Whilst the business has grown massively from its start, it is now time for Peter and the business to take a new direction. Peter and his partner, Penny, have a (nearly) two-year-old girl and another baby on the way. With the added pressure, demands and rewards of family life, the business is having to bend to accommodate a healthy work-life balance.
In recent years, One More Brick has moved towards creating Lego kits for corporate gifts and promotions, which is now more profitable and less stressful than online retail. Previous clients include some big names like Google, Meta, Ring Automotive, and Macquarie investment bank. Future plans for the business are to lean into this sector and away from retail and Lego shows, enabling Peter to focus on family life in the Deepings.
road
brand new 800 sq ft warehouse
Trees from only £19.99!
FRESH CUT NORDMANN FIR CHRISTMAS TREES AVAILABLE NOW Potted Christmas trees also available Blenheim Way, Northfields Industrial Estate, Market Deeping , Peterborough PE6 8LD
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK: MONDAY-SATURDAY 9-6. SUNDAY 10-4
01778 347500
The Big Christmas Shop
Christmas grazing board for two with handmade biscuits and chocolate ganache dipping sauces from Lillis, Market Gate, Market Deeping.
I’d rather be in Deeping Tea Towelperfect for posting at Christmas £10 call 07852649464
A wide variety of craft, bead, crochet, felting kits and more available from Riverside Beads and Crafts, 83 High St., Market Deeping.
Extensive range of Inis, Energy of the Sea, fragrance of Ireland available from Ruffles of Market Deeping, jnct of Towngate East and Halfleet.
Spoil your pooch this Christmas! £3.99 from Pet Stop, Peacock Sq. Northfield Ind Est Market Deeping.
Christmas in Market Deeping - art prints A4 & A3 and greeting cards. Click and collect and free delivery from www.wherethewildingsroam
Lincolnshire small batch gins - a little different from the regular every day gins! Both are available in several variants including for the Pin Gin London Dry and Navy Strength!l Available from The Cigar Shop, Market Place, Market Deeping
Create your own wooden winter village lit by LEDs from InsideOut Home Store, Northfields Ind Est. Market Deeping
www.moorfarmshop.uk
moorfarmshop@outlook.com
Bargain Hunt for Christmas! BARGAIN HUNT
Never before in the nine-year history of Bargain Hunt in the Deepings have two goliaths of the first tier of local government been locked in antique wars, but this year that was the case when Mayor of Market Deeping, Councillor Pam Byrd, accompanied by the Red Team, pitted their skills against the Deputy Chairman of Deeping St James Parish Council, Cllr Steve Gilbert and his wife Christine. This was a doubly auspicious occasion because it also took place in the thirtieth anniversary year of Market Deeping Antiques and Craft Centre on the High Street!
Jessica Wall of Stamford Auction Rooms was on hand to give advice and adjudicate if necessary but the proceedings went smoothly and the two teams each uncovered a haul of treasures for £50 each donated by I’d rather be in Deeping magazine. This will be taken by Jessica to the Wine, Whisky and Christmas Gifts Auction on 13th December. All proceeds made on the day from the Red Team will go to Market Deeping Relief in Need, and from the Blue Team to Hope for Justice – aiming to eradicate Modern Day Slavery.
Steve and Christine quickly alighted on an item which was to make the final cut; a vintage brass travelling/pocket microscope in its original wooden case. Jessica found it disappointing that it didn’t have a maker’s mark but felt that if there was any room for negotiation on the £40 asking price then it would be worthy of consideration. It was offered at a generous £17.50 so the couple were delighted to snap it up!
The Red Team found a large glass bowl, ideal as a table centrepiece; as Pam said ‘It had a bit of drama to it!’ For a while it was in serious contention for the team but when Jessica found a cabinet containing a selection of Winstanley pottery cats then Pam’s head was definitely turned – her sister had collected the cats and Jessica pointed out that the tortoiseshell kitten signed on the base was highly collectable. Down from the ticket price of £18, the kitten was the first purchase for the Red Team.
Meanwhile the Deeping St James team had found two vintage porcelain decanter labels, both for sherry, one a Staffordshire example, the other Coalport. If they could be reduced from their asking price of £9.50 each then Jessica thought that they would fit in well at the Wine and Whisky auction, so when the two came in for the negotiated rate of £9.50 together, they were included.
Pam had found a handsome Tudor Rose mirror which had it been Arts & Crafts as it looked it would have been a certainty at £45 but Jessica announced that it was a copy and Pam moved on! A pair of Beswick cats would have been a good match for the Winstanley kitten, but they were £25 each – Jessica advised against – so Pam turned away and almost immediately her eyes settled on a delicate Beswick pottery stag, tucked away at the bottom of a cabinet. It was perfect to grace a winter mantelpiece. At £27 this still left Pam with £5 –just enough for a cache of vintage tins including two Riley’s Toffee tins, Sullivan Powell & Co Oriental Cigarettes, and Pure China Tea, with their advertising slogans from a previous age. Jessica thought that they had a definite nostalgic value – evidence of times past! In choosing the tins Pam had not got enough to
Chris and Steve Gilbert
Jessica Wall and Pam Byrd
Clare Stubbins and Jessica Wall
Steve and Chris’s haul
BARGAIN HUNT
purchase the heavy brass bell with interesting inscriptions that Jessica had unearthed – so she bought it herself, interested to see what it would make on auction day!
Steve and Chris had found a Victorian button hook with a silver handle, embossed with decoration, 23cm long. It was priced at £9.50, down from £19. Capturing the essence of a Downton Abbey existence, this item found itself included in the DSJ haul. A Maltese Cross pendant necklace, the cross engraved with foliate decoration and hallmarked Birmingham 1906, on a silver chain, which had been £23 was brought down to £11.50 with some careful haggling by Claire, and was given the nod of approval from Jessica! The couple were left with just £2 – all that was needed to snap up a wooden cat, carved in a curled position, with black ears and tail.
Items that were identified but passed by included a pair of cloisonné pots that, although 20th century, Jessica thought would have been a good buy, and at the same time Jessica had steered Steve and Chris away from an attractive butter knife, announcing that silver plate doesn’t sell well.
The proof of the pudding, as they say, will be in the Christmas auction and the results announced in the first issue of the New Year in this magazine!
Market Deeping Antiques & Craft Centre
Thank you to all our customers and supporters over the last thirty years!
Pam’s haul
WOODSTOVE
12 inch Pizzas
MARGHERITA
Cheese, Tomato PEPPERONI
Cheese, Tomato, Pepperoni, Mushrooms
ACHARI (SWEET & HOT)
Cheese, Tomato, 24hr marinated Achari Chicken, Chopped Jalapenos, roasted Peppers, Pineapple, topped with Mango and Habanero sauce
HAM
Cheese, Tomato, Gammon Ham, Mushroom and Peppers HOT & SPICY
Cheese, Tomato, 24hr Marinated Chicken Breast in delicious spicy sauce, roasted Onions, fresh Chilli
TANDOORI
Cheese, Tomato, 24hr Marinated Tandoori Chicken, roasted Peppers & Onions,topped with fresh Coriander
MIXED GRILL
Cheese, Tomato, Chicken Breast, Pork, Sausage, Gammon Ham
BBQ
Cheese, BBQ Sauce, 24hr Marinated Chicken Breast in special BBQ sauce, roasted Onions and Sweetcorn
CHORIZO SPECIAL
Cheese, Tomato, Chorizo, Black Pudding, Mushrooms
VEGETARIAN
Cheese, Tomato, roasted Onions and Peppers & Mushrooms
VEGETARIAN PLUS
Cheese, Tomato, Mushrooms, roasted Onions & Peppers with Ham or Pepperoni
PULLED PORK
Cheese, tomato, BBQ Pulled Pork, Bacon, Honey, Goats Cheese, Jalapeno Chilli
DUCK
Cheese, Hoisin Sauce, Duck Spring Onion, Ginger
CREATIVE TOUCH INTERIORS & DESIGN
Ruffles Hair & Beauty
We have been providing expert advice to all our customers for over 30 years now, we are sure to have the right bed for you so please come and see us in store to view the whole range of beds and mattresses.
We stock a whole range of beds from many different brands and offer extremely competitive prices on all our beds and mattresses.
We offer a large selection of beds in stock that we can deliver SAME DAY Wishing our customers a very happy Christmas!
We offer FREE DELIVERY on all beds and mattresses within a 25 mile radius
Information and updates Keep
handy for future reference
The Winter weather is upon us sooner than expected and recent snowfall brings us swiftly and seamlessly into the festive season. I don’t know whether it is just me but I find there is something about a walk in the fresh air and bright sun that lifts the spirits at this time of year and helps us to focus on the needs of others. The extra cost of heating and food bills will once again place additional pressure on many household budgets and any help that can be given is greatly appreciated. Public warm spaces and low-cost food are available for anyone that needs them in Deeping plus a friendly welcome and the reassuring knowledge of belonging to a supportive community.
Warm spaces and local help
Deepings Community
Library is open 10am -5pm weekdays (except Thursdays) & 10am-3pm on Saturdays. If you are not yet a member, please do come along and sign up for our library services. We have a warm and friendly environment with lots of activities for everyone as well as computer access, photocopying and a coffee machine. If you would like to join the team and help in any way please come along and introduce yourself.
Age Concern
Deepings provides many valuable services including community meals, activities and companionship for our older residents. If you would like to access any of their activities yourself, guide family or neighbours to them, or become a volunteer – contact 01778 345558.
The Town Clock. Eagle-eyed residents may have noticed that the clock hands on the Market Place clock are moving once again. Unfortunately, this is intermittent and the clock is still unable to keep to proper time! The clock is very attractive and was donated to the town around 20 years ago. The original clock company is no longer able to attend to it and the costs of new parts and a repair visit are substantial so we will soon need to make a decision about the clock’s future.
Love Deeping and shop local. A plea on behalf of our wonderful retail and services sectors - when doing your Christmas shopping and when planning social events please can we all support local businesses as much as possible to ensure they are able to survive and thrive in the rather difficult current economic circumstances.
Wildlife in winter. What can be done to support our local biodiversity and habitats over the winter months? Some of our wildlife will be hibernating but many small animals still require fresh water, seeds, berries, nuts, fats and other nutritious morsels as well as cosy shelters. A simple option is to have a designated quiet spot in the garden and a regular routine for putting out suitable food – birds and small mammals are quick to learn and the feeding antics of regular visitors are delightful to watch.
Grapevine Community Café. This group is open to all ages from any area and meets every Wednesday (except the 3rd Wednesday of the month) at 10.30 in The Green School on Church Street, Market Deeping. Each week we have home-made cakes, tea/coffee, raffle, companionship and a non-competitive quiz. We will also be having our Community Christmas lunch on 18th December.
It’s beginning to look a lot like... Are your decorations up yet and do you have an Advent Calendar to count down the days to Christmas? The beautiful hanging baskets came down last month and the Market Place tree was successfully installed by Jamie, Peter and Bob at the end of November. With the lights on around the town we can all now begin to feel festive.
That Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT) allows registered members to sign up and receive a weekly collection of groceries at a significantly lower price than normal (Individual - £5, Family£8.50, Large Family - £17). Text 07860 063304 with your full name, postcode, and the name of the hub you will be collecting from. In the Deepings this is The Scout Hut on Wellington Way, Tuesday afternoons.
Other types of help are available through
Market Deeping Town Council: 01778 343170 Deeping St. James Parish Council: 01778 343266
South Kesteven District Council: 01476 406080 and Lincolnshire County Council: 01522 552222
FACES OF FROST FAIR
Another magical experience at Molecey
Images by Stuart Render
Bex Gosling
Glenn Fuller, Glenn Roberts and Graham Magee
Fiona Swepson and Ellie Sandall
Helen Major
Linda Allan and Michelle Wilson-Stimson
Michelle Steels
Libby Stygall
Laura Sulsh
Donna McKean-Smith
Gillian Anderson
Deeping Weddings 2024
Tamsin nee Bennelick tied the knot with Mark Dew in June.
Deeping hairdresser, Penny Avison married Steve Evans at a ceremony at the Priory Church Deeping St James in August. After a honeymoon in Spain the couple have settled in the village.
Gail Demaine and Alan Sprately of The Bull, The Stage, The Black Horse and The Horseshoe Thurlby, tied the knot in Mauritius in April.
Lucy (nee Biggs) and Phil While were married at The Priory Church in September!
Sean and Kirsty Pearson are based in the south of Lincolnshire and were married at Molecey Mill in June. The setting and amazing backdrop of such a historical place really added to the spirit of the day.
Image: Heather Jackson Photography
Image: David Pearson
Shattered Ice
A short story for Winter by Nicola Harris
There is pure magic in the air at the moment a winter breeze rushes past you. You can sense a beauty in its rawness that all at once both enthrals and threatens.
Tiny flakes of snow begin to fall silently from the heavy sky, and they appear to me like thousands of sparkling crystals raining down on the earth. Each one is unique, and each one strives to be the most beautiful. They are each caught in a few seconds of free fall, twisting and spinning, catching the light as they journey to the ground. Not one individual flake wins the title, they are all stunning and not one outshines another when it comes to beauty. As they settle on leaves, or posts, or the ground, their brief journey is over. They rest in silence, like miniature pure white butterflies.
The air around me is frozen, and a mist of delicate iced particles hangs in suspended time amongst the trees. Swirling briefly, I watch as it catches a few of the snowflakes. It lifts them high for a few seconds as if they are nature’s dance partners, moving elegantly around the forest together in a winter waltz.
The temperature is falling, and although it almost suffocates, it also calms. There is a sense of peace and serenity about the winter season, a sense that the cold must force all things together for the sake of keeping warm. I marvel at the purity of the white snow around me and although my skin is cold to the touch, the unfolding scene instantly affords me a sense of warmth too.
I notice some delicate tracks on the powdery floor, soon to be covered but still clear. My eyes follow them for a while, and I smile as I see a squirrel up ahead who has been caught unawares by the wintry afternoon. He bounds and leaps from left to right, maybe slightly disoriented by the snowy blanket that encircles him. Having seen this before, his sense is to keep moving, to find safety, to rise above any sense of threat from this weather and to treat it as the beautiful natural event it is. Although he seems a little panicked, I am sure that his instinct tells him that a thaw always follows the snow and that the cold doesn’t last forever.
Image: David Pearson
The uninterrupted silence which acts as a warm blanket around me is shattered as I step onto a frozen puddle. The thin ice cracks and the sound sends unnaturally loud shock waves around the forest. Birds take flight, making branches sway and shake off their snow, and the squirrel darts up the nearest tree. This one unexpected sound sets off a chain reaction against the backdrop of the stillness and I place my next steps more carefully.
I pass a fallen log and notice that its gnarled twists and turns make the perfect perch for what I believe to be the most heart-warming symbol of the frozen season. A robin stands proud upon it, his blaze of red chest like a sudden burst of fire burning through the whiteness. His almost perfect round body expands as he inhales and all at once he releases the most beautiful song to pierce the dense air. The smallest trail of breath escapes his delicate beak as he sings, and it hangs in partnership with his sweet tune. His tiny eyes catch mine and I decide that they remind me of individual specks of black winter coal. He dips his perfectly beautiful head in my direction like an acknowledgment and flies away.
I appear to have lost a few moments of time whilst being entranced by my new friend. My senses are all at once heightened as I realise that every single thing around me is now covered in snow. It has taken just a few minutes for all that I know to have changed form, and all that I’m familiar with to look so different. I am wary of this at first; the forest I know is usually bursting with colour, lively sounds and full of life. It now stands icy, bleak, unusually choking and completely devoid of movement.
I conclude that it is still beautiful in this changed world I find myself in, and it is still mine to be a part of. A story of changing seasons all taking place before my eyes, and a cycle that must be respected and valued.
For I know, just like the squirrel and my friend the robin, that to appreciate the warmth of the spring that will undoubtedly follow, we must first journey through the bitterness of a frozen winter.
There’s always so much happening over the festive season and here at the Pack Horse is no exception
Have I lost it?
Words and Pictures by William Bowell BIRDS
It seems I just never have time to go birding these days, dear reader—let alone lift my camera. By mid-November, it felt like autumn had completely passed me by. Apart from a midweek stay at Spurn Point with my friend Hugh, I hadn’t been out much at all in September or October. And I missed it.
I especially missed wandering around my patch, Deeping Lakes. Sure, I’d managed the odd early-morning visit to East Pit, but those were fleeting moments. I hadn’t walked the patch properly for what felt like an eternity. What if I’d forgotten how to do it? What if a rare bird popped up and I couldn’t identify it—or worse, didn’t even notice it among the usual crowd? And what if I’d forgotten how to take photos? The shame!
These thoughts were on my mind as I left work one Saturday in mid-November. My father had called earlier to say he’d seen a Dunlin and a Barnacle Goose at Deeping Lakes (lucky him!). Now, I’d given up on keeping a patch year list, as my efforts this year have been so poor, but I needed both for my year tally. I decided to pop over to see the Dunlin.
I found the Dunlin but didn’t have time to walk to the Lake, as friends from Leeds were visiting, and I was already late. Still, I resolved to try again on Sunday morning— if I could get permission.
Thankfully, my dear wife Amy took pity on me and granted a pass. In fact, she told me I could stay out as long as I wanted. I had no intention of being out long; I simply planned to walk to the Lake, find the Barnacle Goose, and head home.
When I arrived, a quick scan of the goose flock revealed no Barnacle Goose. Quel dommage, I thought. But I was struck by the number of birds on the Lake—it reminded me of the glory days. I decided to stick around and see what I could find.
It wasn’t long before I spotted the long-staying Black-necked Grebe. Once a regular visitor to Deeping Lakes, they’ve become rare in recent years. This one, which turned up in mid-October, was a welcome surprise. Though less striking in their winter plumage than in summer (when they sport golden tufts and a flaming red eye), this bird still impressed. In the morning sun, I enjoyed a good view of its black-and-white plumage and even caught a glimpse of that famous red eye.
As I continued scanning, I noticed a Scaup swimming out from behind the Lake. This sea duck is a scarce visitor to the area, and picking one out among the Tufted Ducks is always a thrill. But this one didn’t display the usual tell-tale markings of a Scaup. Was I imagining things? Had I forgotten how to do birding?
It dived, and I waited what felt like an eternity for it to reappear. Bigger than the Tufted Ducks, with a rounded head and a big bill, it also showed faint white feathers on its back, suggesting a young male. That clinched it—it was a Scaup. I was chuffed.
I shared the news in the local WhatsApp group, and soon some friends and a visiting birder joined me. We enjoyed observing the subtle features of the Scaup and agreed it was a great find.
Black necked Grebe
Ring Necked Duck
While we were chatting, I spotted another duck among the Tufted Ducks. Its distinctive bill caught my eye, but could it really be? Its head shape felt wrong, but I kept watching. Sensing my friends were about to leave the hide, I blurted out, “Guys, I think I’ve got a Ring-necked Duck!”
This male bird’s dark bill, with a pale ring near the tip and a light base, stood out. After some exchanges with my friend Josh Jones and confirmation via my shoddy phone photos, it was confirmed—a young male Ring-necked Duck!
This rare visitor from North America has been an annual find in our area over the past five years, but it was my first time discovering one anywhere in Britain—and the first I’d ever seen on my patch. Like the Scaup, it wasn’t the most obvious-looking example, which made it all the more rewarding.
We’re specialists in high quality bird food, growing much of the bird seed we sell here on our farm. We also stock a wide range of bird feeders & accessories. We are always available to offer advice on how to feed your garden birds
8AM - 5PM SUNDAY 9AM- 4PM
What started as a brief visit turned into a memorable morning. I spent the rest of the day sharing this rare bird with friends and visitors from further afield.
So, dear reader, I’m happy to report that I haven’t forgotten how to do birding. Next time, I’ll have to see if I still remember how to use my camera...
Will works at Grasmere Farm in Deeping St James (with a butcher’s and deli in Market Gate, Market Deeping) but in his spare time enjoys wildlife watching locally and across the country. He is also a keen photographer. Many of his images can be found at Just Wild Images, and photo cards are available at Market Gate Deli in Market Deeping or on Etsy under Just Wild Images.
Orders are now being taken for Christmas veg boxes. Order your Christmas meat from Grasmere’s instore butchery
Plenty of gifts & festive treats are available in the Farm Shop - bird food & feeders make great gifts too!
Warm up in the Café with our seasonal specials or try a gingerbread latte with a slice of homemade cake
Ring Necked Duck
The Christmas Store at InsideOut
For Paul and Matt of the InsideOut Home store Christmas starts when there has barely been time to box up the baubles and put away the lights! The first trade shows showcasing the latest trends for the new year start in January and last well into February! The intrepid pair can be found pounding the aisles to seek out the best buys and the latest ideas to stock what is undoubtedly the best Christmas selection of Christmas lights and decorations in the Deepings! The stock arrives and is carefully unloaded and stored until the last of the Halloween masks have been cleared from the shelves and the time is right to gradually stock the shelves with the latest in gonks, lighting and scandi style Christmas villages. A shipment of trees is heralded on social media as the curtain sider arrives with its much anticipated cargo and the garden guys have swopped their selection of pots for a forest of trees. Wrapped up against the weather they give a cheery welcome and the season is in full swing!
The Cake Baker
Although it feels like a well-established Christmas tradition, Debbie Howard has only been making Christmas Cakes for locals since 2022 when she decided to expand on the individual cakes that she had been selling at the Festive Trees & Treats Saturday at St Michael’s. The 30 orders she received increased to 40 (plus friends and family cakes) in 2023 and this year 50 cakes have been in production since September. Debbie makes ten cakes a week, using fruit that has been soaked in brandy the night before. Using a secret family recipe the cakes are fed with brandy until the end of November when they are marzipaned and iced with fondant icing. Finished with a simple ribbon and a Merry Christmas, the cakes are wrapped in cellophane for collection in the first week in December. There is a suggested donation to be made to the Church! As Churchwarden, Choir Leader and fund raiser, the run up to Christmas is a busy time for Debbie but there is satisfaction in the knowledge that the Christmas baking has been done!
The Bell Ringers
The sound of bells summon and welcome people to church on Christmas Eve for midnight mass and also on Christmas morning. Traditionally the old year was rung out with muffled bells on New Year’s Eve and the new year welcomed in at midnight with bells rung fully open. It’s a busy time for bell ringers. At St Guthlac’s our ringers look forward to meeting up on Christmas Eve at 11.00 pm to ring for half an hour before midnight mass. By that time the celebrations have already started so the ringers are likely to be a little merry! The sad fact is that our ringing traditions are under threat because there are fewer ringers. Here is a challenge for all ages from 10 upwards. Would you like to ring a bell for Christmas? Please contact me if you would like to have a go and join us. Call or message Keith on 07957336764
Five great local Christmas traditions
The Garford family have been farming at Nunton (between Maxey and Helpston) for centuries but it is only in the last 16 years that they have sold Christmas trees. Sam had always wanted to bring the public on to the farm to buy ‘direct from the grower’ and the seasonal Christmas tree season seemed like a perfect option. Since then it has grown and grown – quite literally – with Sam supplementing the trees that he sources in Scotland with ones grown on the farm, a thousand planted a year for the last six years, some of which available to buy this year. Nordmann trees (hanging on to their needles) prove the most popular but the scent of the Norway Spruce is hard to beat and they are sold too! Now trees are displayed in a marquee as well as the barn and mounted on spikes so that a tree can be turned around 360 degrees for better selection. It is a lively enterprise for the farm with family and friends drafted into help over the weekends – trees go on sale the last week in November and the first and second week in December are the busiest. ‘The family gathered around the tree is the symbol of Christmas,’ says Sam, ‘and a trip out to the farm has become a tradition for many families’
The Christmas Tree Seller
The Butchers
At this time of year, our butchers at Grasmere Farm are working flat out to prepare for the festive season. Christmas is the busiest time in our calendar, and the weeks leading up to it are all about getting stocked up and ready. We bring in more whole carcass beef than at any other time of year, ensuring we have the finest cuts ready for your Christmas tables.
Our skilled butchers are busy dry-aging beef, preparing turkey butterflies, and crafting festive favourites like cocktail sausages wrapped in bacon. Christmas week is the pinnacle of our hard work, with many of us averaging 90-hour weeks to ensure every order is perfectly prepared and ready on time.
The festive season is a labour of love for our team, and seeing our meats at the centre of your celebrations makes every long hour worthwhile. Thank you for letting us be part of your Christmas!
The Cigar Box
what’s on
Glinton
Horticultural Society talk
Fri 17th Jan 7.30pm
‘Orchids’ by Rev David Ridgeway. Members £4.00, visitors £5.00, incld refreshments. Glinton Village Hall
Christmas Tree Festival
Dec 9th -15th
Priory Church DSJ
Trees decorated by local businesses and community groups. Admission free. Lunches and Teas available.
Glinton Horticultural Society
Christmas evening
Fri Dec 6th 7.30pm
Main course and dessert, bring your own drinks and glasses. Quiz, raffle etc. Cost £9 members, £10 visitors.
Glinton Village Hall, contact lynne.best89@yahoo.co.uk or 01778 342115. All welcome.
Arts Society Peterborough
9th Jan 10.15 for 10.45am. The Fleet, PE2 4DL www.the-arts-society-peterborough.org.uk
‘Sir Henry Wood, founder of the Proms and Master Musician’ with Prof Raymond Holden. Rare film clips, recorded sound and performance artefacts this talk will examine the life of Sir Henry Wood and the impact he has had on musical life.
Deeping Rangers December Fixtures
Ladies
8th Dec v St Ives Town 1400 KO
Mens
14th Dec v Heanor Town 1500 KO
26th Dec v Wisbech 1500 KO
The Haydon Witham Stadium, Towngate East, Market Deeping, PE6 8LQ
Mens 1st team £7 Adult £5 Concessions and under 18 Ladies and Mens Reserve
Games are free admissiion. A tea bar selling hot and cold snacks an beverages is open for all these games.
The Arts Society Peterborough
12th Dec 10.15 for 10.45 am
‘What is an original print’ with Dr Susan Owens , Curator of Paintings at the V&A
Using examples by the greatest masters, this talk demystifies the idea of the ‘original print’, and offers clear explanations of the processes involved in printmaking techniques. www.the-arts-society-peterborough.org.uk
The Pack Horse Inn Boxing Day Walk
Start 11am a leisurely stroll around the village, taking about 45 mins then back to the Pub for drinks and some heartwarming food.
All welcome.
Carols around the Tree
Market Place, Market Deeping Tuesday 17th December at 6.30pm
Quiz Night with Pete and
Sat 14th Dec 7.00pm
Priory Church Hall, DSJ
Di Wheatley
Ploughmans Supper Teams of 4 £10 per person. Proceeds to the Priory Church & the Library.
Santa and Mrs Christmas
visit the Deepings Library
Sat Dec 14th 2.00 and 3.00 pm
Christmas storytime, little gift and selfie time with Santa. £5 per child (adults free) 2 adults per child only. Book at the Library M-F (closed Th) 10-5 Sat 10-3.
Priory Church DSJ
1st Advent Carols 6.00pm- 8th Christingle 3.00pm- 9th -
15th Christmas Tree Festival 15th Carols round the trees
4.00pm 22nd Nine Lessons and Carols 6.00pm 24th Crib
Service 4.00pm 24th Blue Christmas (a quiet reflective service) 7.00pm 24th Midnight Mass 11.30pm 25th
Christmas Communion 10.00am Sunday 5th January, Epiphany Carols 6.00pm
St Guthlac’s Market
Deeping
8th Dec Christingle
4.00pm -22nd Dec
Carols 5pm -24th
Crib Service 4.00pm - Holy Communion
11.30pm 25th
Christmas All Age Holy Communion
10.00 am Christmas Services
Santa Tracker
Fri 29th Nov Peakirk , Deeping
Gate , Suttons Lane
Mon 2nd Dec Millfield Rd / Hereward Way /Church St DSJ
Tues 3rd Northborough Village
Weds 4th Broadgate Lane & Eastgate
Thurs 5th Baston Village North
Fri 6th Baston Village South
Mon 9th Frognall Village / Spalding Rd / Horsegate
Tues 10th Linchfield Rd & Crowson Way
Weds 11th Stamford Rd ,
Church St , Hallfleet
Thurs 12th Lancaster Way
/ Wellington Way & The Brambles
Fri 13th Langtoft Village (East)
Mon 16th Langtoft Village (West )
Tues 17th Thackers Way / Burchnall
Weds 18th Lady Margarets Ave
/ Meadow Road
Thurs 19th Godsey Lane / Black
Prince Ave /John Eve Way
Fri 20th Tattershall Drive/ Kesteven Drive / Meadway
Mon 23rd West Deeping & Tallington Village
Tesco Sat 17th, 14th & 21st
Dec 10-4pm
Why do I need a will?
Wills are important to ensure that your assets pass to those you would like. If you are not married, your partner will not automatically inherit your estate. If you have children, you can also use a will to nominate guardians to ensure they are looked after if the worst may happen.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
What are they?
Lasting Powers of Attorneys (LPAs) are documents that allow someone that you nominate as your attorney, to deal with your financial or health affairs on your behalf.
These are used when you lose mental capacity but must be created while you can still make decisions. If you do not create these in time, then unfortunately the solution is more costly and time consuming.
Probate
What is it?
When a person sadly passes away, some banks and institutes require a Grant of Probate to enable you to collect in their assets. If you are selling a house, a solicitor will require this to complete the sale. We are licensed to assist with the probate application on your behalf, as well as distribute the estate, making everything simpler at this difficult time.
