Don’t forget to check our Events Diary for more information on events in all our villages and surrounding area.

We are very pleased to be back this Autumn term and wanted to share with you some news about some developments that have taken place during the summer holidays, together with a little about what we have coming up in this first school term.

You may have seen lots of pictures on Twitter or Facebook of our new magical reading forest at our school. Mr John Smith, an artist from the Midlands came in over the holiday period to bring the children’s ideas to life. This area is certainly helping inspire the passion and enjoyment from reading! The children are delighted with the area and it was lovely to see their excited faces on the first day back!

Also, having successfully become a 5* RHS School we have decided that we are going to work towards achieving our Eco Schools Award. Last academic year I had a group of children who came to see me expressing a real passion for environmental issues and showing courageous advocacy in wanting to do all that they could to support this very current and important cause. From this discussion it was clear that we could do more as a school to LOVE OUR PLANET. We will have an eco-warrior to represent every class and our first ‘Project Friday’ will be called ‘Love Our Planet’. We’re all really looking forward to working together as a school to make a difference.

Please see our school website www.guilsboroughprimary.co.uk and Twitter profile @guilsboroughpri to find out about all of the exciting things we are doing at our school and for any important updates.

MMM

Monday Morning Meet - Guilsborough Village Hall

9 – 11am every Monday (Excluding Bank Holidays)

All welcome baby – OAP’s.

Baby & toddler toys for youngsters. Meet for a chat, coffee/tea, cake.

Only £2/adult includes refreshments. Children free.

For more information contactJanet 01604 740640

We present a comedy horror set in the grim castle of Baron Frankenstein. We meet  mysterious, menacing and comical denizens of the night seeking cures for their weird afflictions. Mayhem ensues……..

Tickets will be £10 Wednesday to Friday.

Charity Gala Night Saturday 16 November

The gala performance is in aid of Northampton Association for the Blind, in memory of Nigel Townsend, who played an active part in this charity and was a founder member of GMADS. Drinks and canapés served from 7pm.

Dressing up for the occasion would be great, though NOT OBLIGATORY. Think Dracula, a mad scientist, a werewolf, a monster, Phantom of the Opera, Lucrezia Borgia, Quasimodo, Cruella de Ville, Rocky Horror, or anything else which fires your imagination! A prize will be awarded for the best costume!

There will be a very special raffle to raise funds for this local charity. If you can donate a prize then please call Dorothy on 01788 510392.

Tickets available from www.wegottickets.con/gmads or Frances Scammell on 740549, Wednesday  - Friday £10, Saturday Gala Night £15.

TENNIS CLUB NEWS

Christmas Fair

Guilsborough

Village Hall

Saturday 23rd November 2019

10 – 2 pm

Come and find some unusual Christmas gifts.

Neals Yard, Usbourne Books, Flamingo cards, Flower & Farmer, Crafty Little Bees, RNLI, Wood Turner & more.

Raffle, Lunch, Snacks & Hot Drinks

Information Janet 01604 740640, Sue 01604 740916

Proceeds in support of Guilsborough Church

PARISH COUNCIL

The Parish Council meets monthly in the village hall. The October meeting will be on 14th and November on 4th. Members of the public can observe meetings, minutes are displayed on the lantern notice board in the centre of the village and more information can be found at the parish council website.

Shoe Boxes & Blankets 2019

Just to remind you that we will be sending shoeboxes & knitted blankets to the Blythswood Project this year. If you would like to put a box or blanket together yourself, we will need them ready by the end of October. Alternatively, you can bring useful items - toothpaste, soap, toothbrushes, wrapped sweets, scarves, gloves, hats etc on:

Sunday October 20th at Brunch

View the blankets and meet Derek from the Blythswood Project or

Monday 21st October - 3 M’s

 In Guilsborough Village Hall.

There is a box in church and at MMM for donations.

Any spare wool con be donated to make more blankets. Contact Janet: 01604 740640

Guilsborough Pre-school might be in it’s 51st year but it is going from strength to strength with a new Secret Garden (aka a private allotment space) and weekly music lessons that are open to all.

We were offered the allotment space just before the end of the last term and it is already known to the preschool children as ‘The Secret Garden’. It’s a beautiful secluded spot and will be used regularly by the preschool children where, with lots of help from staff and villagers alike we hope, they will grow flowers and vegetables, enjoy digging, picking fruit and learning about nature by making a bug hotel. A new monthly Forest School session will also be held in the space which will include a mud kitchen, fire pit and seating. What an exciting time!

Of course the clearing and developing of the space has been hard work and the Preschool were very grateful for the time volunteered to them by a team from Nationwide’s Northampton office recently. They dug and bordered the growing areas and fire pit complete with tree stump seating and made a compost heap, the difference made in just a day was huge. The Witch and Sow, have generously donated some tables and seating from their garden and plans are afoot to decorate with the children’s beautiful artwork in September.

Whilst all this is going on outside, indoors the Preschool weekly Monster Rockers music and singing sessions will be returning in the autumn - The Monster Rockers, music sessions will be held on Wednesdays in term time at 9.30-10.30am. Places must be booked due to limited space and that can be done by calling Dawn or Alexis on 01604 740761.

Guilsborough Preschool is always very popular and now with these fantastic additions to offer it’s even more appealing. There are some spaces available in September 2019 for children from age 2 to 5. The preschool is open Monday to Friday, 9am-3pm term time (15 and 30 hours funded places welcome). Why not book a show round or call to find out more about the Monster Rockers stay and play sessions? Call Dawn and the team on 01604 740761 or contact  admin@guilsboroughpreschool.org.uk

The new art in school

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If you are looking for a school place for your child in September 2020,

we would very much like to welcome you!

Our open days are:
Tues 12th Nov 2019 at 1.30pm-3.00pm

Fri 15th Nov 2019 at 9.30am-11.30am

If these days are unsuitable, please call the office to arrange a separate visit as you are welcome at anytime!

During your visit you will have the opportunity to meet our Headteacher, Mrs Shilliam, and tour the school.

We hope that this experience will show you and your child the exciting, enriching, caring and nurturing environment we strive to create for all children at Guilsborough C of E Primary School.

Please call  01604 740307 to book a visit.

Please look at our school website or twitter page to find

out more about us!

For spaces available in other year groups

please call our office on 01604 740307

Work in the “Secret Garden”

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Your Village Hall hosts many regular activities and is all senses at the centre of village life

To find out more about these activities, or about the hire of our well equipped facilities for your own event….

Contact:  Sue Needham

Tel:07342 382706

E: info@guilsboroughvh.uk

Or see contact details for the activity organisers at our website

www.guilsboroughvh.uk

Monday Morning Meet

Clubs & Societies

ANNUAL TOURNAMENT :

The 15th Annual Guilsborough Plate Tennis Tournament took place on Sunday 1st September, and was won by Chris Benbow and Simon King.

AGM: The Guilsborough Tennis Club (at Guilsborough Academy)  AGM will be held on on Monday 28th October at 7pm at the Witch & Sow.All welcome.

RACE NIGHT :

Saturday 12th October 7pm

Guilsborough Village Hall

REPORT ON THE ANNUAL SIR JOHN LOWTHER MEMORIAL CRICKET GAME AND WI VILLAGE LUNCH
On Sunday 15th August, in marquees erected at the Field, over 75 villagers enjoyed a delightful lunch provided by the Witch & Sow and their new chef Craig, in the idyllic surroundings of the Guilsborough Playing Field, West Haddon Road just past Guilsborough Academy. They were entertained at the event by the annual Sir John Lowther Cricket Game, between Hugh Lowther’s X1 and West Haddon & Guilsborough Cricket Club. WHGCC scored 166 off 40 overs; Hugh Lowther’s X1 were on course to reach this total but then lost wickets to fast good seam bowling by Graham Cottle, (WHGCC captain), and in the end were 20 runs short of their total. So once again WHGCC triumphed in a game and occasion that was enjoyed by many . At lunch, Hugh Lowther said how much his father would have been pleased to know that the annual game continues, as he, (Sir John) raised the first team to play Guilsborough Cricket Club in 1949, 70 years ago. In that first game Sir John amazed the opposition and on-lookers, by extending his leg to stop a fast moving ball on the way to the boundary with a loud "clunk". He had used his tin leg, following a mine exploding whilst fighting in Normandy. Hugh also thanked Jim Pye, who prepares all the wickets at Guilsborough, for all his hard work over many years; Jim was captain of Guilsborough Cricket Club, and played for Northampton 2nd X1, and now lives in Spratton.

FIELD USE
The ground has been used extensively during the spring and summer, with senior men's and ladies cricket, and junior cricket for boys and girls from ages 7 to 15. In addition, the Field was used by A) Northants Sports Association on 3 occasions for school activities, such as Kwik Cricket and Tri-Golf when over 100 children attended on each occasion from 9 local junior schools,

B) Both Guilsborough Primary and Guilsborough Pre-School for their Sports Days,

C) Youths who play football on the practice pitch,

D) Adults, fathers and sons for batting and bowling practice in the practice nets,

E) Joggers, walkers and keep-fit individuals.

The GPFA have approached local football clubs such as West Haddon Football Club, to offer the GPFA facilities for football, as many boys and girls who play at West Haddon come from Guilsborough and surrounding villages to play at West Haddon.
A grant has been applied for to install distance markers around the Field, to aid joggers and walkers to enable them to assess more accurately fitness and performance.
The "Vision Project" that relates to the future and increased use of the Field for villagers has identified four routes that are to be progressed; they are an artificial grass games area, a cycle track, a pavilion extension, and tennis courts. These routes will be developed and progressed by a dedicated team of the GPFA.

VOLUNTEERISM

Have you given any more thought to it, following the last article in Village Link? We would be delighted to hear from you; we have roles to suit your talents!

Graham Byars Secretary graham.byars@hotmail.com

CRICKET NEWS

West Haddon and Guilsborough CC have had another enjoyable season field 4 junior sides and 4 adult sides, including a Ladies Team.club are always looking for new players for both juniors and adults at all levels of experience, preparations for the 2020 season will start in January with indoor training.If you would be interested in finding out more information please contact jim.houghton@olivehorse.com or 07748920176.

The Witch and Sow is undergoing major changes with new Chef consultant, Craig Haywood.

We have now developed no less than four new menus including a new children’s menu with a colouring page - we can guarantee chef’s Pasta Pomodoro with Parmesan will go down a treat!

We now have a slimline lunch menu and separate dinner/ evening menu, with some old favourites and new dishes mixed in. Chef Craig is taking us in a fresh direction as described in his letter below.

“My vision for the Witch and Sow is a destination pub with excellent locally sourced produce, as much as is possible. Obviously we can’t get cod out of the local reservoir hahaha.

I have over 28 years of chef and management experience working at venues such as Royal Ascot, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014 and Hampton Court Palace, to name just a few.

The Witch and Sow has excellent prospects and I intend to recruit a strong gastro pub chef, who will share my vision for this lovely venue and maintain a good level of consistency. Moving forward, I would like to include more game and some dishes that are new to everyone.

I am very happy to announce that all of the desserts at the Witch and Sow are now home made on the premises, including our custard. The only thing we now buy in is the wonderful ice cream from Gallones in Northampton.

Our bread is now made by an artisan baker and I can assure you that you will not be disappointed. This fledgling company has been good enough to take us on as a customer and we feel very honoured that they are now supplying us. Their bread really complements our lovely selection of lunch time sandwiches.

As you can see we are making some lovely changes and really hope that you can join us soon.”

Yours, Craig K, Haywood