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

Many exciting and thought-provoking events have taken place throughout our school in this Spring term. We celebrated Chinese New Year as a school and took part in Safer Internet day, where our Digital Leaders delivered a very informative assembly to the whole school. Classes 3, 4 and 6 completed their whole class assemblies which were enjoyed by all. Class 6 told us all about Martin Luther King and the strong message that we should all have a dream to be treated equally. Year 4 told us all about St Valentine and Year 3 gave us an insight into Hinduism and the Gods that are celebrated. Feedback from parents was super.

Our Reception children also really enjoyed making pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and learning all about Lent. They followed a recipe and measured out all of their ingredients before flipping their pancakes and eating them….. they tasted delicious!

We look forward to more enrichment events before the Easter break which include World Book Day, Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 Bikeability, many sporting events both home and away including football matches, cross country, house tournaments and our sports challenge of the month! There’s always something to look forward too!

Please remember, if you need any information about what’s happening at Guilsborough we have lots of information on our website www.guilsboroughprimary.co.uk, or you can keep up to speed our Twitter profile - @guilsboroughpri.

Mrs K Shilliam

Headteacher

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

Our Good Friday Special will be on Friday 19th April

10am – 12 noon.

For more information contact:

Janet 01604 740640

Guilsborough WI for ladies in Guilsborough and surrounding Villages.

Meet new people and have a fun packed evening with Guilsborough and surrounding areas WI

Witch & Sow the 3rd Monday of every month

Guilsborough Women’s Institute for ladies in Guilsborough and surrounding Villages of all ages.We meet the 3rd Monday of every month at the Witch & Sow, 7.30pm for 8pm start, bar is open, tea and coffee complimentary after the speaker. (Bring your own Mugs).

Visitors welcome, £5 per meeting.We normally meet in the Restaurant unless an event requires more space and then you will find us in the function room at the back of the pub.

Next meetings: -

April 15th – Arts and Crafts

May 8th – Meet at Pitsford reservoir, cycling all bikes provided, it’s aimed at the novice

May 20th – and discussion of resolutions, good social meeting

June 17th - Learn how to make your own pasta

July 15th– popular last year we asked for a return, everyone get on your Ukulele

August 19th – Let’s share our favourite recipes, great social event

September 16th—t.b.c.

For more details see the Guilsborough WI Facebook page or contact Caroline as below

Join our WI - for more information contact Caroline Collins: 07980-809002

Isn’t it nice that the sun has been out so much already this year!

It means here at pre-school, we spend lots of time outside in the garden and around and about in the village. For Spring we always plant some flowers and vegetables so that the children can witness them growing and changing and liken it to them growing and developing.

The childrenup and changing is one of the themes this term as well as Spring topics such as lambs and chicks being born and of course Easter celebrations. We celebrated Chinese New Year earlier this term and we also haverole play themes of Restaurants and Space which the children have loved participating in.

This year has seen a new introduction for pre-school whereby one of our very talented parents runs an Early Years Music Class “Monster Rockers” once a week and the children think it’s amazing fun!

Below -  some of the children enjoying the sensory part of their music class:

As we mentioned last time, our annual Quiz and Curry night happened in. Thank you to those who bought tickets and donated prizes for the raffle, it was a great evening and we  raised much-needed funds for Pre-school.

On Wednesday 6th, Thursday 7th and Friday 8th of February Guilsborough Academy presented Disney’s High School Musical on Stage. The three evenings were all a sell out……….

Click here for the full article with pictures

 wide range of times, so as not to restrict when alcohol could be sold, e.g. on a Bank Holiday Friday or Monday. Whenever the GPFA have held events at the Field before, it for a TEN, (Temporary Event Notice) to permit the sale of alcohol. The GPFA must comply with the conditions of the Licence, especially those who can serve alcohol and to whom.

The kitchen area at the pavilion has been refurbished with new cupboards and work tops, allow a bottle cooler to be installed, with a security shutter at the servery hatch. District Council provided a 50% grant for the work and have been thanked. Beer, lagers and wine will only normally be sold, plus soft drinks. A card only payment system is planned. The GPFA hope this explains what is going to happen from early May. Please contact the GPFA secretary, Graham.Byars@hotmail.com if you have any queries.

GUILSBOROUGH

OPEN GARDENS

May 12th Open Gardens

1.00pm - 5.30pm, entry to all eight gardens £6

 teas in village hall.

New to the National Garden Scheme:

Opening on June 9th,

is Ravenswood, Coton.

2 -5.30pm, £5.

Teas served in Guilsborough Church,by

The Ladies' Friendly Society.

Riding for the  Disabled Association

COTTESBROOKE  RDA GROUP

QUIZ NIGHT

teams of up to 8

Friday May 10th 2019 at 7.30pm

Guilsborough Village Hall

Tickets £10 to include a Ploughman’s Supper

To book a team place please ring:

Sally Norris  01604 740004 or

e-mail: johnnorris815@btinternet.com

OBITUARY

Ron Fitch, who lived in Guilsborough from 1961 to 2014, died peacefully in December 2018 in a Care Home in Oakham.He was 91.For over thirty years he worked as Sir John Lowther’s shepherd and was a well-known figure in the world of sheep dog trialling.He was a true countryman.At his request he is buried in Weedon Bec Cemetery - a fitting resting place for an old Weedon boy who after the war rented the field which is now the cemetery and grew potatoes and mangolds on it.His was a life well-lived and he is much missed by his family.

The GMADS production of The House of Frankenstein has been postponed until 13-16 November 2019. Please put the dates in your diary. It’s a wise-cracking spoof horror full of zany characters; a great night’s entertainment.

We have cast all of the roles but would welcome help behind the scenes. We rehearse on Thursday evenings from 7.45pm at Guilsborough Village Hall. Call in or contact our Chair Dorothy Whittaker on 01788 510392 or dorothywhittaker123@gmail.com or visit www.gmadsociety.com

Save the date in November for GMADS

The GPFA have applied for a Premises Licence at the pavilion, hopefully from May 1st. the GPFA held a Club Premises Licence which in effect restricted selling alcohol to only cricket club members. application has to be approved by the East Northants Licensing Authority, Daventry District Council’s Licence officer and committee, and Northants Police.

The Premises License permits alcohol to be sold to the general public. The Announcement on this page shows the days and times of the proposed sale of alcohol times. It will say that alcohol can be sold every day between 12:00 and 22:00 or 23:00 at weekends. However, will primarily be sold in late afternoon/early evening after cricket on a Saturday, occasional games on a Wednesday, plus several GPFA events, e.g. Village Lunch on a Sunday, occasional village events on a Friday evening.

The Daventry District Council Licensing

Officer encouraged the GPFA to apply for a

Licensing Act 2003

Application for a Premises Licence (Section 17)

Notice is hereby give that Guilsborough Playing Field Association (GPFA) has applied to Daventry District Council for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of Guilsborough Playing Field, West Haddon Road, Guilsborough, Northampton, NN6 8QE, and intends to carry out the following licensing activities.

The sale of alcohol at sporting events, e.g. cricket, at GPFA fund raising events, e.g. village lunches, village festivals,  and other times e.g.  bank holidays, special celebrations, when  the Playing Field is hired, to include Monday to Thursday 12:00 to 22:00h, Friday & Saturday 12:00 to 23:30, Sunday 12:00 to 22:00.

The licence application may be inspected at the Licensing Authority, Daventry District Council, Lodge Road, Daventry, NN11 4FP, during normal office hours 09:00 to 17:00 Monday to Thursday . 09:00-16:30 Fridays. Any representation by a Responsible Authority or Interested Party must be made in writing to the above address by 27th April 2019.

It is an offence to make a false statement in connection with an application punishable on summary conviction of a fine of any amount.

A new cricket cage and practice nets have been constructed the Field by Irrifence of West Haddon, and cost £4620. (See photo right ) A grant towards part of the cost was kindly provided by Northants Community Foundation from the Winwick Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund. The previous cage that supported the nets was 25 years old, had rusted and bent poles, and nets which needed constant repairs to prevent balls passing through them. They now have a vermin skirt to deter rodents from chewing holes in the bottom of the . The new cage and nets the most recent English Cricket Board’s recommendations on use and safety. The increased height of the cage enables spin bowlers to toss the ball higher; when this was done with the old cage, the balls hit the cage’s cross poles.

2019 GPFA General Committee

At the 2018 GPFA Annual General Meeting, held on 21st January 2019, following were elected to the General Committee in positions where shown:

Chairman, - Simon Smith, Vice-Chairman Mike Edwards, Secretary Graham Byars, Treasurer Mike Alcock, Publicity Officer & Parish Council Representative Katie Fulcher, Fundraising Chairman Jim Houghton, Safety Officer Gary Wakelin, West Haddon & Guilsborough Cricket Club Representative Richard Allen, Guilsborough School: Kit Woolridge, General Committee Members. Gary Ashworth, Corresponding General Committee members: Steve McGlasson, Sam Darbyshire,Stephen O’Connor, Mark Webster.

A key outcome of the AGM was the need to recruit new members from the village to the committee either as observers or fundraisers, as part of a succession plan. We would be delighted to explain more about the GPFA’s activities to those who have an interest in supporting a community organisation who want to provide and encourage sporting and physical activities. There is a “vision” group within the village who are reviewing how best to provide sporting activities for villagers at the Field, and they also would welcome those who could contribute. Please contact the GPFA secretary, Graham.Byars@hotmail.com or 07712649833 or 01604740545.

GUILSBOROUGH Parish Council News…..

UNDERSTANDING  HOW GUILSBOROUGH PARISH COUNCIL SPENDS YOUR MONEY

The Parish Council has only one main source of income, the parish precept, which is collected from households with the Council Tax. It is paid in two lump sums to the parish in April  and October. A small additional  income is derived from the renting of the Cob barn.

The parish sets the precept annually after reviewing and agreeing the next year’s annual budget. This is usually set in January, and is currently set at £23,500.00. This is an increase of 11.8% on last year for reasons explained below. The Parish is also required to maintain a reserve of approximately 50% of the budget.

So how do we spend your money?

The budget is made up of a number of expense items:

• By far the largest element are the costs that we have to fund every year. These include:
• Running costs of the Parish council - clerks wages, insurances, office costs, audits and membership of necessary bodies (32% of income)
• Maintenance and running costs for our street lights (20% of income)
• Maintenance of our green spaces including mowing and kerb weeding (new this year) (21% of income)
• Playground and field rent, inspection and maintenance of playground equipment (9% of income)
• A Total 82% or £19,975
• Other expenses include maintenance and replacement of the village assets and street furniture on a regular but ad hoc basis.
• One-off large expenditure items to improve the village environment or address specific issues raised by parishioners. Recently this included the replacement vehicle activated speed sign on the West Haddon Road and later this year the resurfacing of the access and front parking of the Village hall.
• Most years we make a small number of discretionary contributions to local community groups. The Councillors are always keen to support new community initiatives or expenditure that can improve the village assets and make them more useable (e.g. the village hall kitchen).

So will this change?

Although the specific issues of Northampton County Council have been well publicised there is also a national trend for Councils not being able to fund and maintain the level of services we have accepted as being normal.

As a result, the Parish Council now has to consider additional funding to replace the reduction in services. For the first time, this year the Parish is funding the filling of the

Grit bin located at the top of Pells Close and the weed killing along the boundary of the roads in the built up part of the village. In addition we have been asked to contribute to the funding of a replacement bus service (£32K/annum) and even a community police officer (£47K/annum).

It is highly probable that over time other services may be withdrawn from the new Northampton Unitary authority.

Clearly we would all wish to support the maintenance of services to the village, however it is not practical for the Parish Council to manage such large expenditure items and unrealistic for our Parish households to pick up the resulting cost of  a large increase in the precept.

Please remember, if there is a Parish issue that concerns you, please contact a Parish Councillor or Contact the Parish Clerk if you would like to discuss an issue at the monthly Parish Council Meeting.

All financial figures and calculations are based on the 2019-2020 Budget. The Parish budgets and Parish Meeting minutes are displayed on the Village Noticeboards and can be found on the Parish Council’s website: www.guilsboroughpc.org.uk

VEHICLE SPEED MANAGEMENT

Many of you will have noticed the new vehicle-activated speed sign that has replaced the old matrix sign on the West Haddon Road. In response to concerns expressed by our parishioners, regarding excessive speeding within the village, the Parish Council has funded the replacement Vehicle Activated Sign (VAS) at a cost of £4,295.99.

The sign displays the speed of oncoming traffic and this has been found  to be more effective in reducing vehicle speed when compared with a display only indicating that the speed limit has been exceeded. Considerable research was carried out with other local parishes to understand their experiences and the impact of using this type of sign and to ensure the most appropriate sign was selected for this location and its proximity to the school. To minimise costs, the sign selected makes use of the original pole and permanent electricity supply.

A key feature of the unit is the ability to analyse traffic speeds and infringements of the speed limit. The PC will monitor the impact of the new sign on speeding and if it is proven to be an effective deterrent, consideration will be given to the purchase and installation of further device(s) around the village.

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

This will be held on 9th April 2019 at 8pm and we encourage all parishioners to attend.

OPEN DAY

Guilsborough Tennis Club

19th May

10am - 12 noon