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

PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWS…

From the Headteacher…

Happy New Year!

As usual, December was non-stop and packed with many fun festive activities! We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Our Nativity play by Reception, Year 1, 2 & 3 children was a real treat and I’m so proud of all children for their first-class performances. I’d like to thank all involved in putting this perfect production together.

We did lots of fundraising over the Autumn term including the bake-off, hamper raffle, children’s disco and Santa visit so we’d like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone involved. We have raised lots from all of these events and couldn’t have done this without your support. The School Council will be deciding on what else they feel the money could be spent on to make our school even better.

A huge THANK YOU to Stone Gnome Farm for our wonderful visit in the last week of term. Lindsey and Mary gave all our children and staff the opportunity to see their cows, donkeys and Borris the pony whilst learning so much about the land and important facts around rearing cows! The children also enjoyed their Christmas decorating and hot chocolate treat in the barn! It really was a very special experience had by all.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Christingle service at Guilsborough St. Etheldreda Church. We do hope you all enjoyed the festive carols and Christmas atmosphere; I know I did!

A BIG well done to our Drama Club who performed for parents and our whole school, it was a super performance. Also to our Guitar performers, they really do get better and better every year! Thank you to Chris for his continued support teaching our children to play this instrument.

Our end of term house team winners where WATER! They had a morning of fun and sparkles on the last day of term with lots of sweet treats, a Christmas film, followed by playing games. Mrs Holcombe was very proud of her Water house team!

We really are looking forward to a super Spring term now and please remember, if you need any information about what’s happening at Guilsborough Primary we have lots of information on our website  – www.guilsboroughprimary.co.uk or you can keep up to speed via our Facebook account – Guilsborough C of E Primary School (a closed group for parents, guardians or carers) or through our Twitter profile – @guilsboroughpri/x and our Instagram account - Instagram.com/guilsboroughprimaryschool.

MMM

Monday Morning Meet

Guilsborough Village Hall

9 – 11am every Monday (excluding Bank Holidays)  

All welcome, baby – OAPs.

£2.50 per Adult, Children Free

Meet for a chat, knit, hot drink & cake.  

For more information contact
Janet 01604 740640

GUILSBOROUGH PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

Road Safety

There are still some instances of speeding traffic in the village, in particular when heading out of the village but still well inside of the 30mph limits. Some of these instances would most definitely be defined as dangerous driving as the speed involved is quite possibly approaching twice the speed limit. Please do respect these limits, they are in place for everyone’s safety, including the minority that choose to ignore them and if you witness this type of driving please do note the registration, location and time and report it to either us or the police.

Councillors

At our November meeting ,we welcomed Sarah Edwards to our council as a new co-opted member, filling one of the two vacancies we had. Sarah had shown an interest in joining us and attended a meeting as a member of the public to get a feel of an ordinary meeting prior to making her decision. I’m sure she will make a valuable contribution to the work that the Parish Council does. Sadly, we have also said goodbye to a long standing member. Graham Metcalfe had given us plenty of notice that he intended to resign at the end of the year, feeling that the time was right for him to step down plus it would be in good time for the coming elections. He will be missed and we thanked him for all his contributions over the years. The members of the council had each contributed towards a personalised pen which was presented to him at the December meeting. Thankfully he has agreed to remain involved with our annual village clean up!

Local Elections  

We still have two vacancies on the council and election time will soon be upon us. It has been a long time since Guilsborough has elected any parish councillors and it would be good for the village to be able to choose who they want to represent them. For this to happen, we need more people to stand for election than the 9 seats we have. If you want to find out more about just what the Parish Council does (and equally what we can’t do!) please do contact our clerk clerk@guilsborough-pc.gov.uk) or the chairman, Tony Hart (councillor.hart@guilsborough-pc.gov.uk) or 07917 101008.

Precept

At our January the budget for 2024-25 was agreed which in turn dictates our Precept which remains the same as last year.

Hold the date!

A provisional date of Monday 5th May has been identified as a possibility for our Annual Village Showcase Event. More information and confirmation in the next edition of Village Link.

VICE VERSA

20th-22nd March 2025

GMADS’ (Guilsborough Music & Drama Society) next production is a comedy romp through ancient Rome. It is ripped off from the Roman comedies of Plautus, written by Phil Porter, especially for the Royal Shakespeare Company. It’s suitable for ages 12 & over as there are a few bawdy jokes!

Performances are 20-22 March, 7.30pm at Guilsborough Village Hall. Bar opens at 7pm. Tickets are £10 from www.ticketsource.co.uk/gmads or Emma on 07899 891901 (booking fees apply).

Visit www.gmads.co.uk or follow us on Facebook/GMADSAmateurDrama for more information. This amateur production of “Vice Versa” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk

GUILSBOROUGH FRIENDS

Are a local friendly group for ladies and gentlemen, usually meeting at 7.30pm, at Guilsborough Village Hall, the second Thursday of the month. During the summer months we arrange outside events, weather permitting.

Social activities include: Guest speakers, garden visits, meals out, visits to local places of interest and much more

£3 per meeting, unless otherwise stated, which is used to cover refreshments, costs and make charitable donations.

We look forward to welcoming new members.

Our Programme for the next 2 months:

Thursday 6th  February: Money Raising Supper for Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service.

Thursday 13th March: Talk about the life of Arthur Cockerill, self-made Northamptonshire Philanthropist. Speaker: Dr Isabella Robinson

For further information contact:

Janet Minney T01604 740640

Elizabeth Southgate T01604 740064

The meeting of the village called by the trustees and committee of the Guilsborough Playing Field Association (GPFA) was held at the Village Hall on 29th January 2025.

This article was written before the meeting because of the publication date of Village Link.  Therefore there is no outcome to report as yet but the GPFA feels it is useful to reiterate the issues which led to the calling of the meeting.

The main headline is that your playing field is threatened with closure.

Below is some information which may not be fully appreciated by some:

• Located past the school on the West Haddon Road
• Currently run by only six volunteers
• Has a quality cricket wicket and several football pitches in seven acres
• Used by over 2,000 juniors and adults to play football and cricket
• Villagers walk their dogs, knock a football around, use the nets and the exercise equipment and just enjoy the fresh air

The Association is a charity and under its charter any radical change means we have the duty to consult the whole village, so we are inviting you to get involved and find out more.

Over the last few years, it has proved harder and harder to raise the essential £12,000 needed (maintenance, insurance etc.) so we are looking to the Guilsborough community to help, or help us explore what this land should be used for.

Several of the current committee are also due to step down soon after many years of service, so more volunteers are required to help us in the future…whatever the future maybe!

We have several options including restructuring the sports activities, partly or wholly redeveloping as housing or workshops and any other ideas are invited. All this will have been discussed at this meeting.

We need your input and assistance. Thank you.

The future of  Guilsborough Playing Field

If you would like to be involved with the future of the Playing Field please contact Freddie freddie@d’lisle.co.uk or Graham graham.byars@hotmail.com

Christmas Wedding

On 14th December the Lowther family were blessed by a sunny day for Lucia’s wedding to Max Read. There had been much excitement in the weeks leading up to her big day, not least about whether the tent which had been installed in the garden, could withstand the terrific storm the weekend before. We battened down the hatches and thankfully all was well.  

The church looked gorgeous, decorated by Abi Shand Kydd with flowers, birch trees, bracken and ivy, the choir sang their hearts out and we all raised the roof to Robbie Williams’ ‘Angels’.

What a happy day and not a dry eye in the place. We held the reception at home and happily danced the night away, hopefully not keeping our neighbours awake.  

A big thank you to Paul Jacobs and all the church team for their support in ensuring the church was clean, warm and ready on the day.

Brownies

On 25th November, Guilsborough Brownies spent the evening at St Etheldreda Church, handbell ringing with Merrick Bowles and Julie Woolley. had a surprise when the Brownies were invited to ring the church bells with the help of the bell ringers. They really enjoyed the evening and thanks to everyone.

If you have a daughter aged between 7 and 10 years who might be interested in joining the Brownies then please give me a call on 07989 194282.

If anyone would like to help with the running of Guilsborough Brownies I would be very pleased to hear from you.in guiding is not essential.Brownies range from 7 to 10 years of age.are a friendly and very well established unit, with games and badge work which they enjoy.

Thanks, Mary Fowler.

Autumn Produce Show

It is planned to hold this event on Saturday September 27th

in the Village Hall.

Lots of categories will be included for Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers, Baked goods, Jams, and Arts and Crafts. Children’s entries will also be welcomed.

More details in our next issue but think about growing your entries for this fun show in our Village.

Any queries/ offers of help please contact c.benbow@hotmail.co.uk

Or gay.webster6@gmail.com

welcomes new and existing members from ALL VILLAGES for the 2025 season! A friendly club, playing social tennis.

Tennis continues throughout the Winter/Spring months (weather permitting). Play is on Tuesday nights at 6pm (when evenings are light enough), and Sundays at 10am.

Subscriptions are due on 1st April 2025. For more information contact Graham on 07894 424328

Carol Singing Success

A big thank you to everyone who joined the carol singing in Guilsborough this December, to those who listened and donated and to the Evans’s for warmth, mince pies and mulled wine.

We raised £205 for the Northampton Hope Centre which will no doubt be put to good use to help those less fortunate than ourselves.