ISSUE 059 / APRIL 2020
Onlin Editio e n
FEATURE
The Witt Family Part 2
INSIDE
Tips for Home Schooling
Visit us on: www.newtonfallowell.co.uk Call us on: (01778) 345978
Hilary Gentle
Keith Brown
Welcome When we ran the story of the tradition of ringing the pancake bell in the February edition of this magazine we were hopeful that the bellringers at the two local parish churches of St Guthlacs and the Priory Church would take up the challenge to resurrect the tradition that had been carried on by Horace Day until the 1950’s. So it was with delight that I’d rather be in Deeping photographer, David Pearson captured the two bellringers on Shrove Tuesday on camera! Judy Stevens Horace Day
3
The Wild Garden
Home deliveries currently suspended while a safe and sustainable method of delivery is found.
w
Natural, seasonal, eco-friendly flowers for all occasions. Using the best of British, and beautiful blooms straight from the cutting garden. www.the-wild-garden.co.uk Mobile 07568 514182 email: wildgardenposies@gmail.com
FOR QUALITY uPVC LIT WINDOQWUSA& DYOORS WINDOWS & DOORS
We will be back to serve you as soon as we possibly can be!
01733 57 47 47
A RATED DOUBLE A+ RATED TRIPLE A LARGE RANGE OF COMPOSITE DOORS
Contact us The Boundary and River Restaurant 64 High Street, Market Deeping PE6 8EB
www.boundaryfishandchips.co.uk/ 4
BI-FOLDING DOORS
NON-PUSHY SALES ▶ FREE ONLINE ESTIMATES
&
WERRINGTON SHOWROOM ▶ PE4 6ZL ▶ Est 1982
1 1 YEARS FITTING FOR THE PUBLIC ! ! !
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
DISCOUNT
10%
10%
33 14 19
38 07-13 News
Inside Editor: Sub-Editor: Designer: Features Writers: Research:
31
Books to travel with whilst staying in!
14
That Witt Family, part two
35
Love Deepings
18
Profile: Pat Farrell
37
Allin Barsby
21 Oakwood
38
Home Schooling
25 Fashion
41
Covid Crisis helpline information
42
Vine House Farm
28
If you do two things in your life…
Judy Stevens Photography: Ian Baxter, David Pearson Susan Hibbins and Graham Clegg Gary Curtis at Zerosix Design Publisher: Judy Stevens Judy Stevens, Maggie McKay, Suzie Legge, Printed by: Warners Midland PLC Zoe Kornfeld, Linda Hill and Alison Ireland Kingfisher in Flight’ Graham Clegg Joy Baxter, Nancy Titman Peoples Choice at the 17th Annual Deepings Camera Club Exhibition
PRINTED BY WARNERS 01778 395111
Disclaimer. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of I’d Rather Be In Deeping. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, I’d rather be in Deeping assume no responsibility as to accuracy and shall not be liable for any omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance of information in this publication .Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of advertising material.
Deeping I’d rather be in
DBC The Media Award 2016
DBC The Media Award 2019
Contact: 01778 348859 Email: idratherbeindeeping@gmail.com I’d rather be in Deeping
@BeInDeeping
5
TOWNGATE TYRE & SERVICE CENTRE LTD
Business as usual!
Shutting it in or shutting it outWhatever You Need, We Have The Solution... Garage Doors -
Whitley Way, Northfields Industrial Estate, Market Deeping Tel: 01778 347973 Open Mon-Fri 8am - 5.30, Sat 8am - Midday
GREAT PRICES ON: 4 TYRES o 4 EXHAUSTS o 4 BATTERIES o
ALL MAKES & MODELS SERVICING & REPAIRS
4 REPAIRS o 4 MOT’S (APPOINTMENT ONLY) o 4 BRAKE PADS & BRAKE DISCS o
COURTESY CAR AVAILABLE
New, Repairs & Servicing.
Proud winners of the DBC Award 2016 Practical Excellence Award Deepings Business of the Year
www.mcvehicles.co.uk Email: Towngatetyres@aol.com
All types supplied includingRoller & Sectional. Automate existing doors.
Blinds - Made to Measure. Pleated, Roller, Vertical, Venetian, Roman, Vision and Intu/Perfect fit.
Other Services: Insect Screens Internally or externally fitted. Lets air & light in, keeps insects out. Shutters Plantation, Security or Decorative. Commercial, Industrial & domestic. Security Jail Bars Retractable grilles
Professional, friendly & personal service. No obligation Free quotations
NEW WEBSITE www.garagedoorandshutterservices.co.uk Call: 07709 337647 Securing your property in style! 28 Cowslip Drive, Deeping St James, Peterborough PE6 8TE
New Peterborough office open
JC Security UK offers customers that little bit extra.
15 year’s experience in the security industry having been trained at the highest level. Very competitive rates please call and ask for Jamie. Free site survey and no obligation quote. Police checked and fully insured. SSAIB accredited in Intruder and CCTV.
Problem with your existing alarm? No problem, we offer a complete takeover service e: jcsecurity@outlook.com
COVERS ALL AREAS INCLUDING:
VISIT OUR DEEPING CCTV AND INTRUDER SHOWROOM
• MARKET DEEPING • BOURNE • STAMFORD • LANGTOFT • BASTON • SPALDING • PETERBOROUGH
t: Peterborough: 01733 797040 t: Deeping: 01778 349432
Yell.com Safe local trades JC security UK
@jcsecurityuk
www.jc-security.co.uk
• DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL • INTRUDER ALARMS • CCTV • ACCESS CONTROL • AUTOMATED GATES • FIRE ALARMS • SECURITY LIGHTING • 6
NEWS
Ronald the hearing dog in training at the Market.
Civic dignitaries from the area line up for Mayor Xan Collins’ Civic Dinner, this year held in Market Deeping at the Sports & Social Club.
The winner of the I’d rather be in Deeping competition for 2 tickets to the Deepings Summer Ball was Pat Hales.
Deeping Gate Ladies Group make a donation of £600 to Paisley Paddison from StBarnabas Hospice
World Book Day at William Hildyard School.
kevinbates
bathrooms, heating & plumbing services
Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning
● ● ● ● ● ●
Domestic Commercial Fully Insured Child & Pet Safe End of Tenancy Stain Removal
Covering... The Deepings Bourne Peterborough Stamford Spalding
Tel: 07983 567999 l Web: www.deepingcleaning.co.uk
Heating specialist with 30yrs experience boilers/radiators/fires - installation/repairs/servicing upgrades to the latest designs Cookers/Hobs, LPG and Unvented Cylinders Landlord Certificates & servicing Bathrooms/Showers Supply installation and upgrades incl disability bathrooms Contact Kevin on 07905 506061 or 01778 343081
7
nd ire ta h or rm le Sh g teailab n Lo av
THE AREA’S LARGEST INDEPENDENT HIRE COMPANY Est. 1985
Property
Wills & Probate
Crime
Dispute Resolution
Family
Business
18 Priestgate, Peterborough PE1 1JN Telephone: 01733 865880 www.mcp-law.co.uk
In-Ctrl IT Support VAN HIRE
CAR HIRE
Small Vans
Budget Cars
Short wheel base vans
Small and large cars
NOW LOCATED AT:
Boundary Garage, Main Road PE11 3DL (opposite the speed camera) Bourne
Luton Vans with Tail Lift
holas Deeping St Nic Northfields Ind Est.
Petrol / Diesel
WE ALSO OFFER
Deeping
OLD ES IS PREM
Car and Van Sales Vehicle Servicing & Repairs Tyres supplied & fitted MOT testing arranged for class IV and VII vehicles.
Telephone 01778 344493
Broadgate Lane
WE ARE NOW OFFERING SELF STORAGE
Visit us at: www.deepingcarandvanhire.co.uk 8
call nick: 01775 725755 mobile: 07719 853633 www.inctrlitsupport.co.uk nick@inctrlitsupport.co.uk
7 Seaters
Long wheel base vans including hi-top Manual & Automatics
AFFORDABLE ONSITE PC/IT SUPPORT FOR HOME USERS / BUSINESSES IN THE DEEPINGS
VERY LOW RATES, NO VAT, NO CALLOUT FEE & A PROVEN 13-YEAR 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 £25 an hour remotely or £35 an hour on-site. Evenings & Saturday’s available too We also sell refurbished laptops and desktops too, so if you’re thinking of replacing/upgrading ‘hassle-free’, get in touch
OVER 7400 HAPPY CUSTOMERS SINCE 2006 AND COUNTING
NEWS
There were almost 140 prints on display at the Deeping Camera Club’s 17th annual exhibition. The public vote for the favourite image went to: Graham Clegg for his photograph of a kingfisher in flight (our cover picture), with ‘Milky Way over the Sirens’ by Pete Atkinson in second place. Graham Clegg also scooped third place with a beautiful print of a pair of harvest mice, pictured above.
Cheque presentation by Judy Stevens of the magazine to Laura Denny (left) of Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall after the 2019 Deepings Bargain Hunt which took place at Market Deeping Antiques Centre represented by Diane Cox.
Cheerleading at the Spin Room!
• Body Repairs • Machine Polishing • Light Scratch Removal T. 07801 494 311 E. avb1@hotmail.co.uk Unit 7, Peacock Sq. Northfields Ind. Est., Market Deeping
Members of Inner Wheel bake their own ‘March of the Cakes’ to the Peterborough Soup Kitchen via Kevin Dawson.
Thompson Skip Hire
Camp Farm, Six Score Road, Langtoft Fen, Market Deeping
Tel: 01778 346624 or 24 hour mobile 07930 548172 • Any size of skip • Site Clearance • Aggregates & topsoil • We can load it for you • Local family business
Bank Holiday Service
Same or Next Day Delivery Open 7 Days a Week 9
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT OVER THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES. STAY SAFE EVERYONE.
Professional treatment for strains, pain, injuries and rehabilitation. WWW.PIPERPHYSIOTHERAPY.CO.UK
FREE PARKING • NO ADMIN FEES • AFFORDABLE PERSONAL TRAINING 1-2-1 OR COUPLES WELCOME ONLINE BOOKING NOW AVAILABLE
Take away menu and Pop Up Shop See website for details or download our Bluebell App
Good food, great drinks and a welcoming atmosphere
We hope you all stay safe. Lesley & the team
Woodgate Helpston PE6 7ED 01733 252 394
Visit our website to find out more bluebellhelpston.co.uk or find us on facebook, twitter & instagram Download our Bluebell App from the App Store
10
TEL. 01778 380191
NEWS
Riverside Beads have raised a record ÂŁ1325 for Sue Ryder this year, here they are at a Make and Take held at Riverside Beads in the High St.
Tom Alexander-Jones (left) and Jonathan Brewell walk away with a Gold Award from the British Property Lettings Awards for Market Deeping.
Spring is on it’s way - time for a boiler service!
11
CORNER FARM INTERIORS
“Beautiful furniture because your home deserve it” SALE NOW ON
12+ rooms displaying a huge selection of furniture and home accessories. Popular made to measure service “You design it, we make it”
KATES BRIDGE nr THURLBY BOURNE PE10 9EN 01778 561333 I www.cornerfarminteriors.co.uk
NEWS
Christine Masters of Priory Church Ladies Coffee Morning makes a cheque presentation to Chris Halley (pictured left) of the Priory Gardeners, Graham Thompson of Foodbank, Paul Hanson (right) of Deeping Youth Group.
Elaine Grice from Felicity and Paula Machin from Pet Stop team up to support Guide Dogs for the Blind - Elaine will be running for them as soon as normality returns.
Gaynor Murray, whose amazing weight loss featured in the January 2019 issue of this magazine, appeared on ITV’s Tipping Point where she won £4,250, a pamper hamper and a holiday in Prague.
Online and Phone orders available now 83 High Street, Market Deeping, Peterborough, PE6 8ED www.riversidebeads.co.uk 01778 344550 13
The Witt Family, Part Two ‘Messing about in boats’ to Witts End! By Maggie Mckay 14
FEATURE
Ann Otter’s experience of education at the Girls’ High School had been much happier than Dick Witt’s at the Grammar School. She excelled in a number of subjects, especially music, and after finishing school she went on to Secretarial College for further education. A year later her first job took her to the GPO in Peterborough from where she transferred to the telephone exchange. This entailed shift work, however, and the afternoon shift ended at 10.00pm, too late for the last bus to Deeping which left at 9.15. One solution was to cycle to and from work, which she did many times, often playing her Hohner mouth organ on the way; the other option was to take digs in Peterborough when she was on the late shift, which she sometimes did too. She eventually became acting supervisor at the telephone exchange and she was also put on to training new staff. Like Dick, Ann was keen on all kinds of sports. They both loved the water and as a child Ann, and her friend Joyce Newton, often swam in the river which ran at the bottom of the gardens on the south side of the Market Place. In the winter there was ice skating at Cowbit Wash, and anywhere else there was ice. After the war ended the young couple moved into the old cottage next door to The New Inn (now The Deeping Stage). The house was one of those owned by Ann’s parents, and between 1945 and 1956, their four children were born there. Their growing family did not put a stop to their sporting activities however. They were both members of the Deeping tennis club, and they routinely partnered one another in tennis matches and tournaments which they also often won – to the dismay of other players in the district, who could be heard to moan, ‘Oh no, not the Witts again!’ After being demobbed and settled in Market Deeping, Dick Witt set up his own engineering business with a partner. This was known as Witt and Butcher and later became the firm of GBW, (Garford, Butcher and Witt) manufacturing sugar beet harvesters designed by Norman Garford; when his sons were almost grown up, the firm became R. F. Witt & Sons
and a factory was built on Godsey Lane on land owned by Ann’s father. Dick’s main regret in the first post -war years was that when Molecey Mill was sold he was not in a position to buy it. He loved the mill, had had a happy childhood there and would have liked it to be his family’s home; but that was not to be. After the sale of the mill Dick’s parents, Cyril and Florence, moved into the house next door to Dick in Market Deeping. The company was now doing mainly general engineering, but Dick always wanted to try his hand at something different – like boat building! The first boat was a speedboat on which the family often went to Snettisham on the Norfolk coast. The local carpenter, George Frost, made water skis so the family could water-ski at the same time. The idea was fine but the water skis were not much good and the children spent more time in the sea than on the skis. Gillian was usually fastened into a German life jacket that her father had picked up during the war! Being in the sea was the best fun of all. After the speedboat Dick went on to build a much bigger vessel that could actually accommodate his whole family. This was a six-berth cabin cruiser, on which they had many excursions, often out into the Wash where they would gather huge cockles from the sandbanks and samphire on the way back to their mooring in Spalding. These cockles were the biggest and most delicious any of them had, or indeed have since, ever tasted, Gillian says. By the end of the 1950s life in the Market Place was changing. Dick disliked all the traffic and noise and hankered after somewhere quieter. By chance his wish was fulfilled when, one day, he saw a 23-acre field that was for sale, along Outgang Road, and on an impulse he bought it. He had a house built on the land and at the beginning of the 1960s the family left the Market Place and the river for their brand new home, Willowfield. Leaving the river and the neighbours and friends that they had had for continued >
15
FEATURE years was a great wrench, Gillian says, especially since her passion was for boats and water! For the younger members of the family it was different. Marilyn, third in the family, was already keen on horses and riding, and she competed in many pony and horse events. At Willowfield there was plenty of space and Ann and Dick set up a riding school for their daughter. It was run by Ann and was a great success, eventually being known as The South Lincs Equitation Centre. David, the youngest, was also competing by this time and he took over the riding school when Marilyn married and left. Older brother, Alan, (who had followed his father into the engineering business), had taken up motorbikes. He started grass track racing, went on to speedway and even raced vintage bikes. For Gillian, who had just left school and started working, the move was less welcome. She had to get the bus into Peterborough every day after a two-mile bike ride from Willowfield. She really missed living in the Market Place since she loved the boats and the river. Dick had always been a risk-taker and that was what decided him, at the age of 60, and unbeknown to Ann, to take his pilot’s licence! The family greeted the knowledge of their father’s latest accomplishment with some apprehension, which was not lessened when they learned that what he was proposing to fly was small, rather fragile looking microlights! However, all went well, more or less, and over the next decade Dick in his microlight became a familiar sight in the skies above the Deepings. His career as pilot only came to an end when he was well into his seventies and Ann put her foot down - she had had enough of getting calls from irate farmers into whose fields of corn Dick had been forced to land! Eventually the running of Willowfield passed to younger members of the family and Ann and Dick moved into a bungalow in Maxey. Supposedly the house was built on what had been Alan’s ‘rubbish dump’! However,
16
the bungalow was in fact ‘pleasantly’ situated on the corner of two lanes and, sense of humour intact, they named it, ‘Witt’s End’. It was Ann and Dick’s final home together - but they enjoyed it for more than 20 years. Dick died at home at the age of 84 and Ann lived to be 95. Two lives well and fully lived. Words: Maggie McKay Research Maggie McKay and Gillian Berry (nee Witt) Afterword: the Ashton Mill engine. A chance occurrence in 1996 brought Dick Witt briefly back into engineering. When Gillian was visiting Ashton Wold, near Oundle, Northamptonshire, she happened to glimpse an old Blackstone’s engine. It was an ESI twin-wheel engine which had been used at Ashton Mill to generate electricity and pump water. A visit was arranged for Dick who saw that it was identical to those that he and his fellow engineers had been building at Blackstone’s in 1937, and all such engines passed through their workshop in those years just before WWII. The discovery coincided with the planned opening of the National Dragonfly Museum in Ashton. The museum sponsors would happily display the engine as part of the history of Ashton Mill. But it needed extensive restoration. Dick was once again up for the challenge – and, now nearly 77, he took it on! It caused him considerable anxiety; some missing parts had to be made and, with Alan’s help, some bits from an identical engine that was unrecoverable were used. The work caused him many sleepless nights. But it was all worthwhile The reconstruction took six months, but it was finally displayed in the National Dragonfly Museum as an integral part of the mill’s history. What could be more satisfying than this for an old engineer? Note: Ashton Mill was built to supply electricity to the Rothschild owned Ashton Estate. Miriam Rothschild, following on the research of her father, Charles Rothschild, was the world’s greatest expert on fleas! She made the gardens at Ashton a haven for all kinds of wildlife, especially insects, and supported many ecological and other benevolent causes. She lived at Ashton all her life and died in 2005 at the age of 96.
Family run company Free, no obligation design service Supply only or supply with installation Siemens and Neff Master Partner
43-45 Bridge Street, Deeping St James Lincolnshire PE6 8HA Tel: 01778 346415 www.devonportskitchensbathrooms.co.uk
PROFILE FEATURE
The legacy of horse racing in Deeping - Pat Farrell It is hard to imagine, as the traffic whistles by on the A15 to Bourne, that the fields here provided the gallops for the yard of successful small trainer Mike Vergette known to all his employees as ‘the guvnor!’. With a stable of about 40 horses, mostly National Hunt, some flat racers, the horses were trained on the fields that are now Tattershall Drive, the old Deeping Show Field on Millfield Road and on Six Score Fen Road at Langtoft. Imagine the sound of thundering hooves, the divots of mud kicked into the air and the excitement of this happening on Deeping’s doorstep! Pat Farrell (nee Gowland) had always loved horses. She moved to this area from Yorkshire when her mother fell ill from TB and was treated at Papworth, living with her grandparents at the Three Tuns on Westwood Street, Peterborough. It was about this time that Pat managed to get her own pony, Tammy. She belonged to Sam Frear of Spalding and would not be broken in – biting and kicking and impossible to catch. Pat rented a small paddock from the vicar at Longthorpe and would tie her to a fence post while she mounted her and would ride her bare back, as she was unable to afford the conventional tack. When she had settled down Sam took her back and sold her but she would have a special place in Pat’s heart forever! Pat quickly got a job of her dreams with Michael Stokes who had a livery yard and riding stables in Wansford. At 16, Pat joined eight others and became a ‘lad’ for Mike Vergette. Her first digs were with Tess Blessett and now Tess’s granddaughter, Louise, homes her horse with Pat! Some lived in a metal bivvy hut in Towngate East with a pot-bellied stove in the middle, some in a condemned cottage using a rope to get upstairs – eventually demolished to make way for the 18
Purple Silk beats Nicholas Silver at Doncaster May 1963
bungalow which was also used for accommodation. They were up at 6.30 whatever the weather, including Christmas Day when there would be half a day off. If one of the lads’ charges happened to be racing on Boxing Day it would have to be turned out the day before. Every three weeks there would be a day off. The Head Lad would ensure that work was carried out properly and would feed the horses before the other lads arrived in the morning. Each lad would have two or three horse charges and they would look after them from being just broken into fitness to racing, “We became very fond of them” recalls Pat,
“especially if you had a winner which was a real bonus!” The Guvnor would write on a board which horses would be ridden by which jockey on any given day. Breakfast would come after the first horses had been ridden out. After the second ride of the day, stables would be set fair and the yards would be swept and the tack cleaned. Then the lads would line up with their sacking and the Guvnor would dole out the hay for each horse. He would stand at the back of the stable and the lads would walk between the horses, some of which were temperamental and would kick out: “Sometimes you would come out in one piece but not always!” winces Pat.
PROFILE
A string of racehorses once a familiar sight in Market Deeping At one in the afternoon the lads were free unless there were other jobs to be done. Returning at 4.00pm, stables would be cleaned and straw bedding put down with hay in a sack for each horse. Each horse would be strapped with a piece of damp hessian and brushed with a body brush and combed with a curry comb. On completion the dust would be knocked out of the comb onto the floor in one pile so the Guvnor could be assured that the job had been done to his satisfaction. Then would be the moment of reckoning, when the trainer would come round to check on the health of each animal, paying particular attention to their legs – the lads holding the horse for this inspection. Then the water buckets would be filled and again the dreaded line up for feeding. On one occasion coming down from the gallops Pat‘s horse bolted down the Bourne Road, the others shouting after her to get a Racing Post from Jack Blades. “The Guvnor was a fair man who didn‘t say a lot but you knew when you had done wrong – he was not a not above chucking his hat on the floor and
doing a little dance. But overall I loved the life, though it was dangerous at times – there was no health and safety in those days! But it was thrilling, tough but never short of a laughs. Usually at someone else’s expense!” Pat remembers the lads that she worked alongside. Now working for Hugo Palmer, a trainer in Newmarket is Bryn Walker who was the second foremost dedicated working lad. Nobby Clarke, a local Deeping boy, was a jockey, Barry King who is still in the area, Richard Mann, nicknamed Bomber and Patsy Flannigan. The camaraderie amongst the team was almost tangible, they would share broken ankles, ribs and fingers but they were all addicted to the lifestyle and the excitement that went with it. Pat’s favourite was Crush who, having won a race at Kempton Park, was entered for the Champion Hurdles at Cheltenham but broke down and was never to race again. Purple Silk ‘Silky’ was fast and furious, coming second in the Grand National but
also a performer at home, biting and kicking his way to stardom. “Usually the good horses exhibit a bit of temper,” comments Pat! It was only natural that Pat would meet her future husband at the yard, a jockey from Barnsley who had worked for Rufus Beasley at Malton and Boyd Rochford Sneddon at Wetherby. When her children were small Pat worked for Market Place butcher Eric Freeman, taking his three hunters out regularly – his stables were in what has been known as the Coach House. Pat and Pete were married for 50 years and had three children all riders; daughter Julie was a show jumper. When the opportunity arose to purchase land at Stowgate Road they did so and set up a riding school and livery. Even now on Grand National Day the old faces will assemble at the yard and the local enthusiasm which was rife in the days when the locals all put their money on Purple Silk will be revived with a glass of something fizzy and gales of laughter!
19
Thinking about a care home?
Tallington Lodge Care Home Tallington Lodge Care Home is a well established part of the community, providing family led residential and dementia care. Now fully refurbished, our care home is luxurious, whilst retaining a warm family atmosphere that makes Tallington Lodge feel extra special. • Residential, Dementia and short term Respite Care • Courtyard Café and rooftop garden • Daily meaningful activities
01780 740 314 20
tallingtonlodge@countrycourtcare.com
• Hair and beauty salon • Daily fine dining • Railway Inn pub
Main Road, Tallington, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 4RP
OAKWOOD
A family affair The story of Oakwood Financial Services starts as a love story which quite rapidly turned into a family affair! Stewart Jones and Jean met in East London in early 1975 – an auspicious year: Margaret Thatcher had become leader of the Opposition, the Vietnam War ended and the film Jaws was released. And three weeks after their first date Stewart asked Jean to marry him and so began a 42-year love affair and the birth of three children; Matthew, Martin and Stephanie. The couple moved to Peterborough with Stewart’s job as a computer support manager at Pearl Assurance, where he had worked since leaving school aged 16, and at first settled in a house in Bretton, later moving to Market Deeping where they bought their young family up in Wade Park Avenue and then Holland Close. After being made redundant from the company aged just 41, Stewart took up employment for Agon, but after redundancy hit again the conscientious businessman vowed never to be in that position again. Going it alone as an Independent Financial Adviser working initially from home, Stewart enjoyed having control over his destiny. It was during these years that he worked with both the Lions Club of the Deepings and became a member of the Rotary Club too. As President of the Lions he organised a Gala Fun Day in his Presidential year and organised a concert at the Key Theatre Peterborough with TV’s Hi di Hi Star Ruth Maddoc. His strong sense of social responsibility has remained a Stewart Jones
linchpin with the company who continue to sponsor the Carnival, the Dog Show and the Deepings Literary Festival, amongst other major local events. Oakwood was established as a business in 1996: the name chosen for its sense of being solid and after all out of tiny acorns mighty oaks do grow! Initially Stewart worked from an office he rented from Tony Martin, who ran Eurosure in Market Deeping. Stewart established his insurance business in an office on the corner of Conduit Road in Stamford in 2000, thne in 2006 the opportunity to purchase the current building arose. This is where Scallywags and Baltic Batik were operating and when these closed, the Financial Services and Insurance Brokerage eventually came together. His son Martin
headed up the insurance brokers and then in 2013 the company again expanded to include a property management arm. Matthew took over at the helm. Both wives are involved in the businesses. As Jean had been made redundant she decided to come on board, and the family enjoyed a relatively brief period working together before Stewart passed away aged 65 in 2016. His legacy, however, has been a strong, dependable and primarily local family business. It is important to the team that training and qualifications are up to date and in a rapidly changing world the symbol of the oak has proved to be both enduring and memorable.
21
Create your very own
Calling all the vulnerable and elderly of the community..... we are offering our help in these uncertain times.
22
Blenheim way, Northfields Industrial Estate, Market Deeping, Peterborough PE6 8LD
enchanted garden!
Can we deliver any products to you? Send us a list of things you require and we will try our best to get your shopping to you. REDUCED OPENING HOURS 10-4 MONDAY - SUNDAY INCLUSIVE
FREE LOCAL DELIVERIES
Tel: 01778 347500
Wedding Mr
The Granary is the perfect, adaptable backdrop. Whether you want your special day to be wonderfully romantic, dreamily intimate or daringly different, here you can let your imagination run wild.
24
I do...
Be our guest
Feast with us
Marvellous Mill
Molecey Mill, Stamford Road West Deeping, Lincolnshire PE6 9JD thegranarydeeping.com | 07855242356 thesquire@moleceyestates.com
Health & Fitness
Special Occasions
Open for business
Mother and daughter
FASHION
step into Spring!
Styles for the new season at Felicity
Dresses by Joe Brown continued >
25
FASHION
Carol wears a White Stuff jumpsuit and necklace
Emily wears a White Stuff skirt, Mistral top and jacket by White Stuff, hat models own
26
FASHION
Jackets by Brakeburn, Jeans by White Stuff Carol’s top Brakeburn, Emily’s top Mistral
Photography: David Pearson Shot on location: Molecey Mill, West Deeping Clothes: Felicity: 22 High Street, Market Deeping Due to Covid 19 currently closed but follow on Instagram and Facebook Models: Carol and Emily
27
Mr Moverz Ltd Deeping’s leading removal company. For all your moving needs. Home and business moves. Free quotes and advice given. Call us on 07950 529 571 Email us at Mrmoverukltd@gmail.com Find us on Facebook @MrMoverUk Or visit our website mr-moverz-ltd.business.site
Stay
connected
EMPOWERED LIVING Online club or in person coaching, mentoring & accountability for your business & self development journey. www.emmalannigan.com @emmalannigan Women In Peterborough Awards Finalist
28
If you do two things in your life… It is often said that pride comes before a fall. In my case it has been a lengthy catalogue of “falls”, mishaps and watery disasters.
with the plumber, Gary, who removed the worn parts of the cistern and isolated the toilet water supply. He proposed to return after Christmas.
It all started when I won, a competition in I’d Rather Be in Deeping magazine. When the editor, Judy Stevens, called to deliver my prize I revealed that I had won numerous prizes over the years and the conversation resulted in an article detailing my prize-winning history.
I stayed home with only Buster for company for New Year’s Eve, my invitations to go out rescinded by neighbours fearing contagion which, as it turned out, was incredibly fortunate. At 11.45 pm I heard what appeared to be heavy rain coming from the utility room. On investigation I discovered water was running down the walls and dripping through the ceiling via the light fittings! I threw heaps of towels to soak up the flow but realised that I had to quickly turn off the mains water supply. The stopcock was rusted solid and wouldn’t budge so the only way was to turn off the main supply in the street.
Suzie Legge & Buster
On the Sunday morning following Judy’s visit I discovered a pool of water on the floor of the utility room. A plumber took a few minutes to diagnose the problem and replace a worn valve and I duly paid the emergency rate for his time. On 23rd December, despite a nasty flu like virus, I managed to drive myself, Buster my dog and a car loaded with festive fare to meet my friend at our rented cottage in the Cotswolds. We quickly settled into our idyllic holiday home and apart from the cottage being incredibly hot it seemed perfect. Unable to fathom the workings of the property’s central heating we decided the only way to control the temperature was to turn off the boiler overnight. Next morning we were unable to restart it and a considerable amount of water had leaked from the boiler. Thus, we found ourselves on Christmas Eve in a very cold rented house and without heating or hot water. Thankfully, it was quickly put right by the charming host. A few days later, back at home I received my water bill, much higher than usual and prompted me to address ongoing problem I had been experiencing with my ensuite toilet. It had been continually leaking a very small amount from the cistern into the toilet pan thereby wasting water. I was now on first name terms
At midnight as the good folk of Langtoft heralded the start of the new decade I was to be found in the street with my neighbour, huddled over the mains water regulator! Happy New Year! I received a call from Gary who quickly paid me a visit and realised that it was his handiwork that had failed causing the leak. This time he disconnected the toilet from the mains water and planned to replace the missing cistern parts the following day. So, the new year began, and I discovered a large pool of water in my ensuite where the heated towel rail had begun to leak! By now I didn’t panic but mopped up the water, placed a large bowl to catch the drips and contacted Gary! It appeared that the valve had become worn. To replace it would involve emptying the entire central heating system both costly and time consuming, so he repaired it with the warning that it was not a permanent fix. I was proud to receive the January I’d Rather Be in Deeping complete with a large photograph of Buster and me. It told the story of all the prizes I had won to motivate readers to try their own luck by entering competitions. It was entitled If You Do One Thing This Year…… I shall remember storm Ciara. It blew down a fence panel in my garden and I awoke on Sunday to find that
the whole village was without electricity. Thankfully, the power outage was short lived but when the power returned, the central heating would not turn on. The LCD panel on the boiler was flashing random numbers and eventually “died”. After carrying out all the usual DIY boiler repair procedures, i.e. repeatedly turning everything on and off whilst staring at the display panel, scratching my head I conceded defeat and called an engineer. The engineer, Stuart assessed the boiler. The electric panel was broken and he went to obtain a quote to replace it. Only minutes later the boiler began to leak. Water was now dripping out at an alarming rate and I had to ask him to return. He discovered that the expansion vessel had suddenly cracked rendering the boiler useless. Finally, the new boiler was installed. I bade Stuart farewell but had to call him back as the toilet where he had been working would not stop flushing. This was due to the water having been turned off, he fixed it and calm was restored for a few days. I shall remember storm Dennis, my utility room flooded..……. I was alerted to the problem by the sound of gushing water a few minutes after flushing the toilet. The toilet was continually flushing but this time, instead of the water going down the pan it was overflowing all over the floor. By fiddling with the cistern, I managed to stop the flow of water. I left a message on Gary’s mobile nd shortly after he arrived and said that the problem was due to a blockage caused by brick dust and debris in the cistern. Thankfully he was able to fix it A week later I attended an Indian cookery demonstration and I won first prize in the raffle. A few days after I had a £100 pay-out from my Premium Bonds……….. Normality restored. So, if you do two things in your life ……. • NEVER boast about your good luck. • ALWAYS ensure you have the number of a good plumber on speed dial. 29
Open aye W dnesd 9-5 y a d Satur al. as usu
01778 218 269
Stove installation and care
When we are all back to norm al Outdoor caterin for all events w g home grown beith & lamb and Li ef nc quality pork. s
58 High St., Market Deeping info@dtstoves.co.uk
MOOR FARM, DECOY ROAD, NEWBOROUGH PE6 7QD
www.dtstoves.co.uk
Tues - Fri 9.30 am – 4.30 pm Sat - by appointment only
dt stoves.indd 1
18/04/2019 12:41
BESPOKE SOFT FURNISHINGS MADE IN OUR OWN WORKROOM
ROLLERS • SHUTTERS • VENETIANS • VERTICALS
T UPLIGHTYOUR HOME UP YOUR HOME LIGHT UP YOUR HOME 10 Saville Road,
Visit TheThe Largest Independent Visit Largest Independent Lighting Showroom Visit The Largest Independent Lighting Showroom in Cambridgeshire Lighting Showroom
Cambridgeshire ininCambridgeshire
T: 01733 T: 01733264391 264391
10 Saville Road, Westwood, Westwood, 10 Saville Road, Westwood, Peterborough PE3 7PR 7PR Peterborough,PE3 E: sales@tlsw.co.uk E: sales@tlsw.co.uk (Next door Party (Next doortotoThe The7PR PartyPlace) Place) W: Peterborough,PE3 W:www.thelampshadewarehouse.co.uk www.thelampshadewarehouse.co.uk E: sales@tlsw.co.uk
T: 01733 264391
FREE ADVICE, HOME VISITS & MEASURING
Beautifully Bespoke Curtains, Shutters, Blinds & Accessories, Wallpaper and Paint
01778 345777 www.creativetouchinteriors.co.uk
info@creativetouchinteriors.co.uk (Next door toOpen The Party Place) Opening Times Times Tuesday to Saturday W:Opening www.thelampshadewarehouse.co.uk Open Tuesday Blenheim Way, Northfields Ind Est, Market Deeping PE6 8LD Tuesday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm
Free car park
to Saturday
30
Open Tuesday toFree Saturday car park Free car park
Tuesday to Friday Saturday 9.00am to9.00am 4pm to 5.00pm Saturday 9.00am to 4pm
Opening Times Tuesday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm Saturday 9.00am to 4pm
We will back! As soon as the Crisis is over!
Books to travel with whilst staying in!
BOOKS
As we approach a time when we’re not going to be able to leave the house except for essential supplies, Linda Hill suggests are a few books that can transport readers to other places from the warmth and safety of your own homes: How about a trip to Wales with Carol Lovekin’s Wild Spinning Girls? If it wasn’t haunted before she came to live there, after she died, Ty’r Cwmwl made room for her ghost. She brought magic with her. And the house, having held its breath for years, knew it. Ida Llewellyn loses her job and her parents in the space of a few weeks and, thrown completely off course, she sets out for the Welsh house her father has left her. Ty’r Cwmwl is not at all welcoming despite the fact it looks inhabited, as if someone just left... It is being cared for as a shrine by the daughter of the last tenant. Determined to scare off her old home’s new landlord, Heather Esyllt Morgan sides with the birds who terrify Ida and plots to evict her. The two girls battle with suspicion and fear before discovering that the secrets harboured by their thoughtless parents have grown rotten with time. Their broken hearts will only mend once they cast off the house and its history, and let go of the keepsakes that they treasure like childhood dreams. Or perhaps you’re missing the large skies and flat lands surrounding the Deepings? Tommy Wieringa’s The Blessed Rita can take you to Holland: What is the purpose of a man? Living in a disused farmhouse with his elderly father, Paul Krüzen is not sure he knows
anymore. The mill his grandfather toiled in is closed, the glory of the Great Wars is long past, and it has been many years since his mother escaped in the arms of a Russian pilot, never once looking back. What do they have to look forward to now? Saint Rita, the patron saint of lost causes, watches over Paul and his best friend Horseradish Hedwig, two misfits at odds with the modern world, while Paul takes comfort in his own Blessed Rita, a prostitute from Quezon. But even she cannot protect them from the tragedy that is about to unfold. In this darkly funny novel about life on the margins of society, Dutch s e n s a t i o n Tommy Wieringa asks what happens to those left behind. If you prefer darker crimes, and you fancy going further afield, then SJI Holliday’s Violet will take you on the Trans-Siberian Express into a world of unnerving danger: When two strangers end up sharing a cabin on the Trans-Siberian Express, an intense friendship develops, one that can only have one ending … a nerve-shattering psychological thriller.
One of the best books to be published in 2020, and slightly nearer to home in Somerset, is Rosamund Lupton’s Three Hours. This is a heart thumping thriller that will keep you transfixed: Three hours is 180 minutes or 10,800 seconds. It is a morning’s lessons, a dress rehearsal of Macbeth, a snowy trek through the woods. It is an eternity waiting for news. Or a countdown to something terrible. It is 180 minutes to discover who you will die for and what men will kill for. In rural Somerset in the middle of a blizzard, the unthinkable happens: a school is under siege. From the wounded headmaster in the library, unable to help his trapped pupils and staff, to teenage Hannah in love for the first time, to the parents gathering desperate for news, to the 16-year-old Syrian refugee trying to rescue his little brother, to the police psychologist who must identify the gunmen, to the students taking refuge in the school theatre, all experience the most intense hours of their lives, where evil and terror are met by courage, love and redemption. If Siberia and blizzards leave you wanting to travel somewhere warmer as you hole up with a book, perhaps South Africa via London might be a good choice with Miles Montague’s Carbon Game: Ex-military operative Michael Cranmer is instructed by his far right-wing political leaders in South Africa to return to London where he has infiltrated an extremist faction within MASA, a British Left-wing movement. continued >
31
BOOKS A violent diamond robbery gone wrong gives Cranmer the opportunity to implement his plan to realise his party’s ambitions. He manipulates the MASA faction into carrying out his plan, little realising their leader, Janet Bromsgrove, has no intention of playing by his rules. Meanwhile, following a tip-off from an informant, a crack team of MI5 officers closes in on the extremists. Can MI5 prevent a bloody catastrophe on the streets of London and the downfall of governments on opposite sides of the world? Set against the backdrop of the international antiapartheid movement of the mid-1980s, Carbon Game is
a political crime thriller that will keep you gripped right to the last page. And
if you’d much rather be transported by a gentler read then let Rosanna Ley take you to Cuba in Last Dance in Havana. Cuba, 1958. Elisa is only 16 years old when she meets Duardo and she knows he’s the love of her life from the moment they first dance the rumba together in downtown Havana. But Duardo is a rebel, determined to fight in Castro’s army, and Elisa is forced to leave behind her homeland and rebuild her life in distant England. But how can she stop longing for the warmth of Havana, when the music of the rumba still calls to her?
Award-winning author Ros Rendle AT WAKE HOUSE, BOURNE
England, 2012. Grace has a troubled relationship with her father, whom she blames for her beloved mother’s untimely death. And this year more than ever she could do with a shoulder to cry on – Grace’s career is in flux, she isn’t sure she wants the baby her husband is so desperate to have and, worst of all, she’s begun to develop feelings for their best friend Theo. Theo is a Cuban-born magician but even he can’t make Grace’s problems disappear. Is the passion Grace feels for Theo enough to risk her family’s happiness? Happy reading!
WE’LL BE BACK AS SOON AS WE CAN BE!
Ruffles Hair & Beauty
6 WEEKS COURSE
3 Halfleet, Market Deeping PE6 8DB
ONLY £45 for all six weeks
01778 344677 At Ruffles we have a highly skilled team of creative stylists, in a very welcoming environment.
Plot Showing not telling Characters Setting Rich language Editing and revising
MAY 21ST, 28TH JUNE 4TH, 11TH, 18TH, 25TH Email: rosrendle@gmx.co.uk Tel: 07940 714914 32
Also at 3 Halfleet you will find
HT I G TO M CT ES BJE GE T DA S U A N H BE C
Ruffles
Dress Agency 01778 344677
follow us on facebook for opening times
where you can buy or sell your top quality garments... Mother of the Bride/Groom, Prom Dresses, Eveningwear, top end daywear, bags, hats and shoes... Pop in for a browse
33
G R AY T O N E S P R I N T E R S
For aLL yoUr PrINTINg NEEdS
Charity Ball_Layout 1 13/01/2017 09:26 Page 1
Charity Ball
A choice of memorials Floral arrangements A range of funeral plans 4 Horsegate, Deeping St James Peterborough PE6 8EN
01778 338322
www.rjscholes.co.uk
34
017 t 1 21/01/2
Project1_Layou
Ticket_Layout
17 1 02/03/20
1 11:07 Page
1 09:33 Page
Wedding Stationery, Funeral Service Sheets, Birthday/Party Invitations, Thankyou Cards, Notelets, Art Prints, Photocopying Services. Unit 17 King Street Ind. Est., Langtoft, Peterborough. PE6 9NF T: 01778 560261 E: mail@graytones-printers.co.uk www.graytones-printers.co.uk
Love Deepings! COVID-10 COMMUNITY COMMS Unchartered territory for all of us! Things are moving so fast! By the time you read this the situation will have moved on. A little glimpse into my day. Today ‘Love Deepings’ delivered across the community and chatted with community organisations, businesses and volunteers. We use these labels every day but, when you strip away the bones, we are all the same. We want what is best for our loved ones, for our families and we want our community to be a good place to live! I have been humbled, in the last week especially! The Mum at home with a family in isolation and co-ordinating village volunteers. The coffee shop up against it, offering free food, and the Deepings library determined to supply books to those cut-off! Just a sample of kindness across the Deepings. We are facing unchartered waters and the months ahead will test us all! Love Deepings is connecting with many local groups, agencies etc. So many people quietly beavering away, planning how they can help their communities . A network is growing, one armed with volunteers ready to help. I am sure more volunteers will be needed. In the times ahead; each of us may come to call upon the kindness of another.
• If you are a local volunteer group, and you would like to update the community, please post your news on our page. https://www.facebook.com/ lovedeepings/ We are building a picture of key services across the Deepings & villages; if you are a local group with resources please contact us. • A local resident? Follow too. As and when we are given information about services and volunteer groups, we will pass it on. Need something answering? Post your question to the page, someone else may know. • Local Business wanting to share how your services are adapting to all this? Feel free to post on our page.
LOVE DEEPINGS
• Look out for updates from local Councils and agencies – they will be shared to the page or posted directly. Rest assured, there are so many local volunteers working under the radar, many more starting to galvanise offers of help. Agencies are uniting across the Deepings and villages. That network will grow stronger over the coming weeks. We will all be tested one way or another. Some are already shining and thinking of the needs of others. Take care all Love Deepings Group Powered by Deeping Business Club
Love Deepings is currently connecting agencies and building a picture of what is set-up. Where possible we are encouraging the different agencies to work together, at that stage we may step back and then focus on helping to share their info on the page. See our page for a neighbour to neighbour template. If you would like to help a neighbour in isolation, and there’s no village group volunteers covering it, pop a neighbour postcard through their door. Please follow our page for updates. 35
PIPPINS PATCHWORK & CRAFTS at the Antique & Craft Centre Stockists of Stylecraft and King Cole Yarn, including Double Knit, Chunky, Baby and 4ply Sock Yarn. Also stockists for Makower, Lynette Anderson and Henry Glass Fabrics
visit our etsy shop @pippinspatchwork
pippinspatchwork@hotmail.com t: 07951040717 We Deliver! Free of charge in the Deepings area
SPRING SALE
Open 9.15-5.30 Monday to Saturday 10-4 on Sundays Unit 10 Peacock Square, Northfields Industrial Estate, Market Deeping. PE6 8LW. 01778 218228. Instagram is #marketdeepingpetstop
and facebook is @petstopmarketdeeping.
36
The Story behind the Stone
ALLIN BARSBY
You may have marvelled at the story of local centenarian Nancy Titman, who as a child was encouraged to touch the gravestone of Allin Barsby in the Priory Church Yard. Allin died in 1876 aged 101 years and 17 weeks, and it was thought that this action would bring good luck and that Nancy would live a long life! Now approaching her 102nd birthday, this action might well have been considered fortuitous! Allin Barsby was born on 29th June 1775 in the village of Belton near Uppingham. He was the son of John and Elizabeth Barsby. He married Tabitha who was described at the time as being ‘respectful and industrious’. The couple were married for over sixty years; Tabitha died aged 82 in 1855 and is also buried in the churchyard at Deeping St James. They had a large family of three sons and six daughters. In his early life Allin was a farm servant and for many years a ground keeper, bailiff and shepherd of Stowgate Farm, finishing his working life as a shepherd for Edmund Pawlett of Priory Farm, Deeping St James. Out of his savings he had purchased some houses and land on one of them in Eastgate, where he was living with Tabitha, a granddaughter and three grandchildren at the time of the 1851 Census. He resided there until his death under the care of one of his daughters, Frances, and her husband John Leaton. His hundredth birthday celebrations were a grand affair; he was visited by his daughters and many of his descendants who all sat down for a grand tea together. Allin had always been an early riser and early to bed; in fact, until a few years before his death, he was rarely in bed after three in the morning. He was described as having an erect gait, being in good health with good hearing and able to see to read. His short-term memory was deficient but his tales of days of old and his own early history were full of vivid recollection. His rule for living had been moderation in all things: he was not a spirit drinker but he never denied himself a ‘point of old yakle’ and he enjoyed his beer and pipe until the end of his life.
WindowDoctor
We will open as soon as we can!
Whatever Your Problem - It’s No Problem
Pawfection is a dog grooming parlour based in Langtoft Qualified and fully insured Family run business providing a safe and friendly home environment Cage free Using all natural professional products
We Offer: Puppy Pamper Package Bath, Brush & Blow-dry Full Groom Hand Stripping Nail Trim
Collection & Drop Off available
Amy & Mary Parmenter - 07865 944 202 or 07960 821 372 Cloven Ends, Langtoft PE6 9LF
For all your Repairs to Windows, Doors and Conservatories • Patio – Not Rolling • Door Dropped • Misty Units • Broken Hinges • Draughty Windows • New Locks • Sticking Tilt & Turn Windows • Extra Security • Broken Handles • Leaking Conservatory
Ring For A FREE Consultation On 01778 343865 Email: windowdoctor1@aol.com
www.windowrepairslincs.com 37
HOME SCHOOLING
Once upon a time when home became school for a while …. As a primary school teacher, and mother of two under-fives, Zoë Kornfeld gives us some food for thought as our schools close for the foreseeable future. At the time of writing, it is less than 24 hours since the Prime Minister announced the closure of UK schools in response to the coronavirus. We all knew it was coming, but every parent and teacher took a unified deep breath as the confirmation came. As someone prone to overwhelming feelings of anxiety, I have to regularly remind myself that, yes, there are things out of my control, but reassuringly, there are always those that I can. As we have no choice to wait patiently for the finer details to be unpicked, I decided to think about some things that we do have control over during our time in isolation.
Of course, there’s no better time than now to shelve the notion that screen time hinders our children’s development. Yes, it’s all about balance, but with each passing hour, I’m discovering more and more fantastic online opportunities to connect, engage and inspire us during the coming months. Not only those gems traditionally only found in a teacher’s toolkit such a Twinkl, Oxford Owls, Purple Mash, White Rose, or Phonics Play, but the flood of creative ways that people are reaching out to our youngsters at this time. Book readings by famous authors, live theatre shows, online cookery classes, music tutorials, dance parties, tours of famous galleries, museums, zoos, as well as an amazing array of ways to stay fit and healthy from the comfort of your own home – online resources such as Go Noodle and Cosmic Kids yoga. The Body Coach has committed to free P.E. session every morning at 9pm. Failing that, put some music on and work up a sweat dancing to Baby Shark! What a great opportunity for the whole family to enjoy staying active together, which might be something you’ve not done before, but could signal a shift in the way you spend your time together. I expect that their usual social interactions with friends, playing together, parties, family gatherings might be one of the biggest challenges for our children who must be at home in isolation for a long periods of time. We must find new ways to celebrate and connect, perhaps using Zoom/Skype to sing songs with classmates, or posting pictures in our windows for our neighbours to enjoy. Supporting those we know well, and those we do not, but who we think might be feeling lonely, will be so, so important. At a time when it feels like our freedom is being taken away, many of us will be gifted the chance to create our own way of doing things, carve out our own rhythms, and try out new approaches to how we do things in our own little family bubbles. For some of us, this may look quite structured, but to others, it may present a welcome change of pace, and the opportunity to slow down and be less routined. Children feel safe with structure, but the ability to deviate from the lesson plan for the day
38
New Potatoes Now Available in the Farm Shop Sweet and delicious, perfect for Springtime recipes.
Unwashed potatoes last longer as the dirt protects them.
Vine House Farm Deeping St Nicholas, PE11 3DG 01775 630208 Open 7 Days
Deeping New Pots Apr 18 1.indd 1
12/04/2018 14:43:51
and simply cuddle up and read books all morning, spend time connecting, holding those we love close at this time is a gift. Time is a gift. Your child’s teachers will be there to provide resources and support, but wonderful news is, children don’t need to be taught. So, don’t worry about replacing their teachers, they already come fully-equipped with their own curiosity and spongelike ability to soak in and learn all about the world around them. Try not to think of learning as something that only happens during school hours anyway, children have been learning before they were born, every interaction, whether making a sandwich, building a tower with a sibling, or dusting the shelves, is a footprint in a child’s development. After all, weren’t you, as parents, their first teachers? In other good news (and don’t we need it at the moment?): children learn best when they lead. Schools would love to tailor make a curriculum that sang to every child’s current interests, but this is pretty much impossible. It is achievable at home though, and while you might want to spend a little time each day completing the work set by school, following the suggested timetable, don’t be afraid to deviate, and spend a whole week designing and creating a collaborative abstract version of the Sydney Opera House completely out of baked bean tins and milk bottles, or spend the whole day acting out your child’s favourite story, complete with script writing, set building and costume design. 39
HOME SCHOOLING
Something that teachers are encouraged to do when lesson planning is to set the lessons in a real-life context because there is a real emotional investment, enthusiasm and thirst for learning that comes when children can relate things to their own lives. Try to include what’s going on outside in your discussions and use it to engage your little learners. Perhaps writing could involve composing a letter to an elderly neighbour to lift their spirits, perhaps maths could involve measuring the ingredients for a cake or a science project could focus on how germs spread. Spend time in nature if and when you can. If you have a garden, now is the perfect time for spending time nurturing it, whilst being able to breathe, reboot, and be mindful of your family’s mental health. One thing I do urge all young people and families to do at this time is to create a journal, in whatever format – written, photos, videos etc. Whether we like it or not, we are part of a significant moment in our history, a time that will more than likely stand out in memories of childhood. Capture all of your emotions, thoughts, ideas, and time together, to look back on when all the dust has settled. It will also be an invaluable help in processing emotions during this challenging period. In our house, play, communication, fun and connection will continue to be top priority. I would wholeheartedly suggest these as the core subjects of your own Covid-19 curriculum. My heart goes out to our children, who, like us, face an uncertain future, and so many changes to their daily lives. We must choose really carefully how we communicate with them. We must explain the situation in words they can understand, without underestimating their ability to grasp the seriousness of what is happening, and without piling our concerns onto them. Children, as much as we do, need to feel that they have control. Give them tools to feel empowered. They can become hand-washing experts, discuss and learn the importance of staying hydrated, talk about kindness, generosity, selflessness, and think of ways to help and support others. Encourage children to talk about how they feel, normalise being scared or worried, and use this time to grow even closer as a team. And through the daunting days ahead, know that there will be joy, 40
laughter, silliness and fun. Over the last few days, I have been unable to sleep with worry, and overwhelmed to tears with fear for the future. But I have also had lots of moments where we were so engrossed in playing together, in simply enjoying each other, that we forgot the outside world altogether. My mission is to help nurture as many of those moments as I can over the coming weeks. I’m under no illusion about how tough the next few weeks and months are going to be for all of us, on a personal, local or national level – sometimes the enormity of what is happening takes my breath away. I do however think there are lots of positives that are already starting to be seen. Communities are rallying round – I’ve already seen people showing incredible creativity, solidarity, and kindness: ultimately we are being forced to reflect on what is important to us. As odd as it might sound, I truly don’t believe you have to wait for the storm to pass to search for a rainbow. If you can’t see it yet, create your own – paint it in whatever crazy colours you choose, and in your own unique style. And please don’t forget that we’re in this together, and we will come out the other side; perhaps we will even be better people for it. Take care everyone – be kind, be silly, be safe.
DEEPING ST JAMES PARISH COUNCIL AND MARKET DEEPING TOWN COUNCIL CORONAVIRUS HELPLINE As we have all been told to stay in our homes unless “absolutely necessary� a Community Support Group has been set up. The Town and Parish Councils are helping by facilitating the volunteer list and ask people to call during this time if they need to register for help.
Email: clerk@dsjpc.co.uk or mdtc.townclerk@btconnect.com Contact numbers: 01778 343266 or 01778 343170 If you are seriously concerned please email or phone and we will try to direct you to the appropriate organisation who will be able to offer the assistance you need. In the meantime, a help your neighbour slip can be downloaded from the Love Deepings Covid19 Community Communications Facebook page. Data Protection
Your details will be held confidentially but will be shared with appropriate organisations who can offer help. Your personal details will be disposed of once the crisis is over. 41
VINE HOUSE FARM
It’s a growing thing! One of the favourite haunts for readers of I’d rather be in Deeping magazine is Vine House Farm Shop at Deeping St Nicholas where they sell bird food and vegetables grown on the farm. They are now working on a new building which, along with a larger shop, will also house a 100seat café serving home-style dishes from mostly locally sourced ingredients.
will also be used for future events, where the local community and visitors from further afield can learn more of the value of native wildlife in a farming context.
The desire to help wildlife and the environment has been the raison d’être of the Watts family who have farmed here for generations. This will continue in their new venture. The café will overlook a newly developed pond and wildlife area. This
Lucy Taylor, daughter of farm owner Nicholas Watts MBE, says ‘The new farm shop and café is something we’ve been planning for many years, but we decided now was the time to put the plan into action. We’re all passionate about farming with the environment and wildlife in mind, plus encouraging people to buy local produce wherever possible. So the overall venture combines all these factors, as we’ll be able to
use the facility to educate about how we farm, show people the birds and other wildlife we attract, plus of course sell local produce and serve it to customers in the café.’ The current plan is to open the new shop and café later this year, or early 2021, and it’s expected this will create at least 15 jobs for local people. The current farm shop is located right on the A1175 in Deeping St Nicholas, with the new building plot already visible from the road now work is well underway.
Business as usual!
We can accommodate most motorhomes for services & MOT
OPENING TIMES: Mon- Fri 7.30am - 5.00pm and Sat 8.00am - 11.00 am 42
43
