Ouse News
      The Parish Magazine  July 2003

Home Page  |  Main Index    Ouse News - Index to back numbers  |  Return to Current Edition
 


 
Ouse News is published by Felmersham Parochial Church Council and Sponsored by Chesham Insurance Brokers

Holiday Time is Here Again  -  Rev D Mason

 I am writing this just after we have returned from a very enjoyable and interesting holiday. Time spent away from the routine of daily life is valuable in providing time for families to be together and have space to develop relationships, and to stand back and look at the way that they are living. This month is the time when many of you, particularly those of you with children of school age, will be embarking on your annual holidays.
We live such pressured lives that there is all too rarely time to stop and think, time to take a good look at where we are, and where we seem to be going. Life can become a treadmill, it can seem that we are always running to catch up, that we are reacting to events rather than initiating them. The time spent on holiday is important to get some rest from the pressures that are there at all other times. If such pressures as I have described are all too familiar to you it may well be that the holiday time away from those pressures is the time when you should re-examine your life style. Time to see if some changes could be made which would enable you take more control. I am sure that it is not God's intention that the gift of life that he gives to each one of us should be so pressured that the gift becomes a burden rather than a thing to be enjoyed and treasured. Is it really necessary that we completely fill our lives to the extent that there is no space to stop and think? God has given each one of us the gift of life to enjoy and to use wisely. He has given us a pattern of living proclaimed by Jesus in the gospels, so let us examine our lives in the light of that pattern of living, and make changes as they are necessary to restore a healthy balance to them. The forces of this world seek to enslave us, and will attack us at our most vulnerable points.
It is natural that we should seek the best for our families, and to strive for the wealth to enable us to provide all the material things that are available. But in striving all the hours that are available we are in danger of depriving our families and ourselves of precious times spent together, of weakening that precious gift of love that unites families, and forms the basis of a healthy relationship in which the family can grow together. I hope that you all enjoy your holidays, and spend time together working out if any changes of life-style could or should be changed to enable more time to be spent together as a family.
 

Village Fair and Show - Maggie Spoor

A date for your diary. The Village Hall Committee are organising a Village Fair and Show to be held on Saturday 6th September. This will be in aid of Village Hall funds. More details in next month's Ouse News.


Home Watch - Summer Burglaries
Joan White/Paul Keeble

Our Local Beat Manager has advised us of-eleven house burglaries in our rural area. The thieves have used windows left open for ventilation during this hot weather when the homeowner has gone out, often for a very short time. In one neighbouring village a house was targeted when the occupant went to post a letter, in another a handbag was stolen from a car in the few minutes the victim was stowing one bag of groceries before returning for the next. These thieves are opportunistic and constantly on the prowl. However a more determined set of villains is at work, a gang of four or five youths are robbing houses when the occupants are in. They are very quick workers and use open windows when the occupants are in the garden or use distraction techniques such as knocking at both the front and back doors in quick succession or asking for water.
It is encouraging to see more people visiting the mobile police office when it comes to the village. It is an excellent opportunity to meet our local beat managers and voice our concerns personally. If you have any complaints or worries please tell the police as this enables them to build up an accurate picture of what is actually going on in the villages. Don't rely on someone else drawing things to their attention, the more people who report an incident the more seriously they take it. The next visit is 17 July 4.30 - 6.30 Radwell Green 7.00 - 9.00 Felmersham Bridge One of our Beat Managers, PC Edmondson is retiring next month so we wish him all the very best for the future and thank him for all he has done for rural policing.

Coffee Morning  - Jane Wells

The Coffee Morning for July, in aid of the Church Heating Fund, will be held at the home of Ian and Margaret Coomber, at The Bakery, Grange Road on Saturday 5 July at 10.30 am. Home made cakes, toiletries produce and brlc a brac for the bring and buy stall will be greatly appreciated. All welcome There is no Church Coffee Morning in August
 

P3 Update - Chris Ure

 The following matters have recently been undertaken:
• Footpath clearance between Carlton Road and Odell
• A new kissing gate installed at FPA5 (opposite the Swan Public House)
• A BTCV working group in the village over a weekend in June
• Agreement for dog latches along the Pinchmill Islands footpath
• A reprint of the first footpath leaflet, delivery due soon
The following matters are receiving attention.
Plans to reprint the two maps for the map boards Plans for a third leaflet based on the map boards Purchase of tools
The next meeting of the group: Thursday 24th July 2003, The Old Plough, Church Lane 7.45 p.m. New Members Welcome

Women's Institute - Joan Ure

You are invited to journey back in time to enjoy an evening of Victorian Magic Lantern entertainment. Local enthusiast Aleck Foster will bring with him examples of his rare collection of magic lanterns to provide a fascinating glimpse into a bygone age where you will enjoy some of the earliest examples of projected images.
This is an open meeting hosted by Felmersham and Radwell WI at 8pm on Tuesday 16th September at Pinchmill Hall. Entry is free and everyone is welcome (men, women and children!).
 

Mill Theatre Companion Dog Show - Theo Gibbs

The Companion Dog Show (KC) (formerly known as Exemption) is on Sunday 7'' September from 11am. Pedigree & Novelty Classes including Best Rescued, Child Handler, Best Family Group, Fancy Dress, Best 6 legs! Trophies. Rosettes to 6th place. Refreshments - Licensed Bar - Stalls. Proceeds to Mill Theatre Disabled Access Lift Fund.... Help give us a lift & enjoy a happy day out with your companion beside the River Great Ousel.
 

All Saints' Church, Odell - Jill Cheadle

Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of our Queen's coronation with a FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS in August, The Church will be open from 10am-5pm on Saturday 23 Id and 11.30am-5pm on Sunday 24'h. Tea and coffee will be served. Admission ĢI.
Also: JOHN ZARADIN CONCERT 7.30pm Saturday 23rd in the Church. Tickets Ģ10 to include light refreshments. John, a local classical guitarist of international fame, will entertain with a diverse programme including items from his recently premiered 'Latin American Suite for Guitar and Orchestra'. Tickets available from Jill Cheadle, 01234 720261. All proceeds to the All Saints' Appeal Fund.
Alex Stubbs

Top of page | Home Page | Index | Ouse News Index  |  Return to Current Edition
Page last updated: 04/08/03  Ouse News is published by St Mary's PCC
 Ouse News will print anything of interest to the community not just reports of past village activities or reminders of forthcoming ones. Feedback on any of the items published would be most welcome – whether for printing or not.
Items for next month's Ouse News should be sent to the editor: Clive Just, 2 The Old Rectory by the 25th of the month. It would help if items were emailed to OuseNews@bigfoot.com; sent on disk; or typed. Phone 781967 for more details.