DECEMBER 2016

FREEVol 38 | No.10

LOVE YOURLOCAL NEWS

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Tel: (01525) 860292 Tel: (01525) 404919

208 Clophill Road, Maulden, Bedfordshire MK45 2AF 89 Oliver Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire MK45 2SA

CAR AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLES ALSO CLASSIC & AMERICAN CARS

SERVICING – REPAIRS – BREAKDOWN SPRAYING – M.O.T.

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Stuart Benson Building Projects

Design, Build and Maintenance including Interior Refurbishments, Kitchen / Bathroom fitting, Tiling, Flooring, Skirting boards, Doors

Garage conversions. Exterior Decking, Patios, Driveways Garden Offices/ Sheds

Tel: 07946 579862 or 01525 403083 Email: benson.stuart@ googlemail.com

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A word from the Editor...

The magazine staffEDITOR/ADVERTISING MANAGER

DESIGN MANAGER

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

TREASURER

COPY DEADLINE

Helen Gent editorial@clophillspotlight.co.uk ads@clophillspotlight.co.uk

Chris Abrahams cmabrahams@yahoo.co.uk

Pete Liddle

Richard Pearson

20th of the month

864836

860113

861110

“ Hello!

”Don’t forget you can now read Spotlight online at

www.clophillspotlight.co.uk

It also reminded me how blessed I am to live in a village like Clophill. The community spirit and support – particularly for the old and vulnerable – absolutely blew me away and made me proud to be part of such a lovely place.

As we head towards Christmas, I’ll be holding onto those warm thoughts. Yes, I’ll enjoy opening my presents and stuffing my face with chocolate, but I won’t forget that being thoughtful and kind are gifts you can give throughout the year.

From myself and the Spotlight team, I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

Well of course I can’t write my Ed’s letter without mentioning last month’s gas outage. It wasn’t much fun for people being without hot water and heating

and it certainly served as a reminder to us all how much we take these things for granted and how lucky we are.

PS: Don’t forget – Spotlight takes a break in January so the next issue will be out early February. Copy deadline is 20th January.

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Pumpkin Festival at The Old Church and Eco Lodges On 29th October we held a Pumpkin Festival, which was a huge success. Hundreds of people came from as far away as Oxford to carve a locally grown pumpkin ready to take home for Halloween, plus there were plenty of refreshment opportunities courtesy of the BBQ, café and bar. Over the same weekend we had two sold-out productions of Macbeth by The English Gardener Theatre Company.

Afterwards we received nothing but good reviews and we’re speaking to them about 2017 events – follow us on Facebook to be the first to hear of new shows.

Logs for sale at 49 High Street Part of our site maintenance involves the cutting and thinning of trees (mainly Oak and Hawthorn) from which hardwood logs are available at 49 High Street. In addition, Steve Dear Tree Services Limited supply netted logs (varied hard and softwoods) to us at cost. Steve’s business is truly eco friendly and recycles 100% of its felling operations – and we thank him for his support. You’ll find it hard to beat our prices – and in both cases all profits go to The Trust.

Lodges available for the New Year Our lodges are now fully booked for Christmas, but availability remains over the New Year period which may be of interest for residents whose relatives are visiting and need accommodation. Please contact either of our wardens Kayleigh or Emily.

Fancy volunteering? An increasing number of people are now volunteering at the Eco Lodges – helping with everything from Tower Tours and administration to painting and gardening. We always need help at the site and love welcoming new volunteers to the CHT family. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer please contact Kayleigh Waight (07889 980872), Ali Bradbury (07894 710001), Emily Hakansson (07825 051667) or call the lodge phone (07935 211907).

News from Clophill Heritage Trust

Find us at www.ClophillEcoLodges.org.uk and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/clophillecolodges

For bookings, get in touch at info@ClophilHeritage.org

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Carrie Hollick has taken over the maintenance of Clophill’s AED/Defibrillator, which is located at the Post Office. If anyone notices any

problems with it or have had to use it, please contact her directly so that she can fix any problems or replace items inside. You can phone

Carrie on 07966 665654 or email her at carrie@emtacademy.co.uk

Clophill’s AED/defibrillator

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St Mary’s School News

After a busy and exciting autumn term I think we’ll all be looking forward to the Christmas break – our last day of term is Friday 16th December! By this time the children in KS1 and KS2 will have presented their Christmas Play to their parents and Chestnut class will have performed ‘The Nativity’ in the last school church service on the last day of term.We’d like to take this opportunity to wish our friends and neighbours in Clophill a very Happy Christmas and peaceful, healthy New Year and we look forward to greeting the children back into school on Wednesday 4th January.

Fireworks Night News I think anyone attending our Fireworks evening on Saturday 5th November would agree that Friends of St Mary’s (PTA), as always, did an amazing job of organising a very professional event. They work incredibly hard to ensure that the event runs smoothly and that everyone has a great evening. I’m proud to report that FOSM this year raised £5,000 which will be spent on enhancing our children’s learning.

Easy fundraising for the school Want to collect free donations for Friends of St Mary’s Lower School Clophill every time you shop online? FOSM have already raised over £937 by encouraging parents to use our special fund-raising page – and we’d love to break the £1,000 barrier before Christmas. Just pop along and join up for free at www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/friendsofstmaryslow

Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Shoebox Appeal Our parents and children have once again excelled themselves as we’ve now sent off 45 boxes. We hope they’ll enjoyed by children in need all over the world.

Our theme of ‘People Who Help Us’ has really been enjoyed by the children. We had a visit from Savanna’s dad, who spoke about his job as a firefighter and about fire safety. As children explore the different occupations they could have our role play area is continually changing– it’s been a shop, a fire engine, a hairdresser’s, police station, a veterinary surgery and will soon become a Post Office to post our Christmas cards.

In the run-up to Christmas, the children have made cards for their families and Braydon’s dad has come in to help the children make a wooden tree decoration. We’re busy practising our Christmas show, ‘Mr Willowby’s Christmas Tree’, which the children’s families are invited to watch on Tuesday 13th December. And on the last day of term we’ll have a party with dancing and party food. We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Acorn Nursery News

School Admissions 2017If you have a child requiring a place either in Reception for September 2017 or Middle School September 2017, you can now apply online at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/school/admissions

The deadline for applications for lower, primary and middle school places is 15 Jan 2017.If you’re unable to apply online, please contact Sharon to get a paper copy application form.

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Hi everyone It’s definitely getting chillier as we approach Christmas but we’ve been outside playing as usual. We’ve had fun with our autumn sensory tray full of squash, leaves and wood shavings, rolled tyres across the grass, made potato print pumpkin face pictures, printed fireworks using cardboard tubes

and decorated leaves.

This has also been a term of festivals. We celebrated Diwali, telling the story of Rama and Sita and using clay to make our own pinch or coil pot Divas which we then decorated with little gems. We even had chapatis and raita for our snack! We’re now heading towards Christmas and have begun to practise for this year’s Christmas Show. Last year saw a record turnout of over 120 family members coming to watch us and we hope this year will be just as successful. We have to practise each day to ensure that each and every child is included in the show as we have a place for everyone.

For Remembrance Sunday we made poppies and Adam the Soldier came in. He showed us his medals and let the children try on his hats. He explained why we remember the lost soldiers with poppies and then taught all the children how to march and salute.

This term we’ve employed Katie Shattock, who runs Mini Moves in Silsoe, to come into Preschool to take a dance class each week. She’s here on a different day each month to try to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to take part. Some children start by just standing on the side lines to watch but you can soon see them swaying and starting to move. As they become more familiar with Katie and watch their friends, inhibitions fall away and everyone is dancing to the music – even the staff. In turn, this has led to the children becoming more interested in playing music on the CD player and using the musical instruments to create their own movement to music. We definitely have some musical directors in the making. For our show, Katie has also devised a dance for the children to perform, which they’ve loved practising.

This year we’ve again joined Fidelity’s Christmas Card scheme. We’ve printed Christmas trees from fern leaves, using a Lego brick to print the tub and little fingertips to dot on the baubles. They look brilliant! And with Christmas in mind, we’ve invited Graham from the Methodist Church to do his usual fantastic retelling of the Nativity to the children. Thank you, Graham.

We’ve had quite a few new children starting this term, all of whom are settling in brilliantly. It has been great being able to welcome these new families by inviting them to our coffee mornings and other activities, giving them and their children an opportunity to get to know the setting and staff before they start. On that note we’ve had some

News

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very busy coffee mornings this term with Rosemary from St Mary’s Church coming up at the last one to make Christingles with the children. Thank you, Rosemary.

We have another coffee morning at 9.15am on the last day of term (Thursday 15th) when we’ll also have our Christmas Craft session. We invite all Preschoolers or children under 5 to come up with their adult even if you haven’t started at Preschool yet. There will be lots of Christmas crafts to make and we’ll be serving cakes (provided by our lovely parents) and hot drinks.

We’re back to Preschool on January 4th 2017 and we hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

• Get in touch with Imogen on 07765 887868 or Chris on 07936 006381 or visit www.clophillpreschool.co.uk

Despite its name the Rotary Club of Barton le Clay draws its membership from many of the surrounding villages including Campton, Silsoe, Barton, Harlington and Flitwick. The Club meets on Tuesday evenings throughout the year for a leisurely meal followed either by a guest speaker, an in-house talk or a business meeting.Throughout the year the club is involved in a wide range of activities which typically includes:-

• January – quiz night with Luton Someries Club • February – an event to celebrate Rotary Day on the 23rd • March – Technology Tournament involving over 40 teams from local schools • April – a St George’s Dinner to mark our patron saint • May – the District Conference in Bristol • June – our President’s Night and 30th Anniversary Dinner • September – an afternoon tea and entertainment for the senior citizens of Barton • November – the annual GastroQuiz at Silsoe in aid of Rotary charities • December – putting up Christmas lights in Barton village and Santa’s Sleigh, a collection in aid of Rotary charities.

Along with our monthly events, the club is also involved in numerous charity activities at national, district and local level. There are also district meetings for members according to their particular interests.

• The Club meets at Beadlow Manor Golf Club, Nr Shefford, on Tuesday evenings at 7.15pm for 7.45pm. To arrange a visit or for more information contact David Swain on 01525 861107 or visit www.bartonleclayrotary.org

Barton Rotary Monthly Highlights

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1. Pre-heat the oven to 200º. 2. Remove the skin and seeds from the butternut squash and cut into pieces (approx 2”x2”). 3. Put the butternut squash pieces onto a lightly oiled baking tray and bake until tender. 4. Wash the leek and after discarding the tough green part slice the rest of the leek into thin rounds. 5. Cut the chicken breasts into bite-size pieces. 6. Finely chop or crush the clove of garlic. 7. Heat the remaining olive oil in a deep frying pan, add in the sliced leeks and garlic and fry gently over a moderate heat until softened. 8. Add in the pieces of chicken and increase the heat a little. 9. Season to taste and add in the grated nutmeg. 10. Once the chicken is cooked add in the butternut squash pieces 11. Deglaze the pan with the white wine to form a jus. 12. When serving, decorate with the chopped basil leaves. This dish goes beautifully with mashed potatoes or rice.

Chicken with Butternut Squash

Christine’s quick ‘n’ easy recipe

INGREDIENTS Serves 6

• 1kg free range chicken breasts • 1 large leek • 700g butternut squash • 3-4 fresh basil leaves

• ¼ tsp grated nutmeg • small glass of dry white wine • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil • 1 clove of garlic

Wildlifewalks & talks

Water Voles

For additional information please email flitvale.info@gmail.com or ring Ann on 07890 347327 after 6pm or at weekends

Monday 12th December, 7.15/7.45pm, Maulden Church Hall

The Water Vole is Britain’s fastest declining wild mammal and has disappeared from many parts of the country where it was once common. It’s threatened by habitat loss, but has suffered particularly

from predation by the introduced American Mink. Drawing on over a decade’s monitoring in Bedfordshire, Amanda Proud brings this illusive and much-loved friend from river and stream to life.

Preceeded by our AGM at 7.15pm. Cost is £2 per adult. No need to book – you can just turn up on the evening.

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At our October meeting we were entertained by Catherine Holness, who was visiting the club for the first time. Her chosen title was ‘Start with Music – End with Flowers’ because, as Catherine explained, there are many words in music that are also used to describe the elements of floral design, such as dominance, rhythm and harmony.

For her initial design Catherine was inspired by manuscript paper and musical notation. The main feature was a treble clef which had been made from dried wisteria stems bound with ivy leaves and sprayed lime green. This was accompanied by assorted foliage and simple white roses and white orchids.

Next up was ‘Harmony’, which was inspired by ‘The Blacksmith’s Forge’ from Handel’s opera Almira. Catherine made the arrangement in an inverted garden container, using a mix of foliage along with orange lilies, yellow, orange and red gerberas and orange roses. The colours certainly harmonised, and the addition of a horseshoe fashioned from dried strelitzia leaves perfected the design.

Catherine’s third design represented the princess’s coming of age scene in Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty. Into a container shaped like a castle turret Catherine positioned four anastasia chrysanthemums to depict the four princes. Red-tinged pink roses made a pathway through the design to illustrate the princess promenading between the gentlemen, while

plum-coloured alstroemerias acted as good fairies.

For the song ‘Rhythm of life’ from the show Sweet Charity Catherine used a pale green wooden crate. Three vertical pieces of twisted plant material symbolised DNA, the genetic material of plants, while lines of dark red roses provided the link to the heart for the ultimate ‘rhythm’. To complete the arrangement Catherine used anastasia chrysanthemums, hypericum berries, eryngium (sea holly), dark red hydrangea and cupressus.

Purcell’s Trumpet Voluntary inspired Catherine’s arrangement featuring cornus twigs, phormium leaves, fatsia and skimmia

japonica. Longiflora lilies represented the trumpeters, and for contrast in shape and texture Catherine included pale green carnations with additional small trumpets provided by alstroemerias.

For The Floral Dance finale, Catherine’s aim was to produce a rustic design in a container made to represent a battered euphonium. Purple liatris represented the woodwind, lime green chrysanthemums made up the drums and orange roses became the violins and cellos. Dancing in and out of this arrangement were pink gerberas, acting as villagers. Catherine then demonstrated how to make an ice cream cone with an aspidistra leaf and a white carnation. Ideal for cooling down the energetic villagers! Ann Dowding, Committee Member

Clophill & District Flower ClubClophill & District Flower Club

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These notes are a resume only. Official minutes are available on the internet and notice boards.All official correspondence should be sent to the parish clerk and not individual councillors.

The November Parish Council meeting was a busy one. Here are a couple of highlights:

New Chairman and Vice Chairman As of our January 2017 meeting, the new Chairman of Clophill Parish Council will be Paul Downing and the Vice Chairman will be Ralph Brough. Both have a wealth of experience as Parish Councillors, and both are passionate about our village.

Gas Outage Clophill Parish Council wishes to place on the record it’s sincere thanks to everyone in the village for their conduct during the recent gas outage. We’ve heard countless stories of selfless villagers who went out of their way to support the most vulnerable. The way the village pulled together reminds us that we’re very lucky to live in such a friendly community.

New council logo and website As we look to modernise certain aspects of Clophill Parish Council, we’ve agreed on a new website domain – www.clophill-pc.gov.uk – which will host a new-look website. We hope that this improved website will be used as both a way to promote Parish Council activities, and a platform for celebrating our village. Accompanying the new website is a new logo for the Parish Council, which has been added to our Facebook page, noticeboards and website. We hope you like it as much as we do.

Eco Lodges’ CCTV camera Clophill Parish Council is proud to support the Clophill Eco Lodges (run by the Clophill Heritage Trust), which offers both security for the Old Church and a fantastic venue/accommodation for the village. We’ve agreed to pay a grant for the installation of a security video camera and light source, for crime prevention purposes at the Eco Lodges’ site.

Goodbye to two elected members The December meeting of the Parish Council will most likely be the final time that long-standing Parish Councillors Peter Clarke and Roland Browne attend as elected members. Both have been considering their position for a couple of months and after many, many years of public service both are most likely to stand down in December. Their contribution to the village can’t be over estimated. Both are to be thanked by all, and their considerable efforts will be more fully recognised in the next edition of Spotlight.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year… The council wishes to take this opportunity to wish the village a happy Christmas break, with best wishes for the New Year as well. Thanks for your support in 2016 – we hope 2017 is a positive one for Clophill.

Clophill Parish Council Notes from the Parish Council meeting held on 29th November

The next Parish Council meeting will take place in the village hall at 7.45pm on Tuesday 31st January 2017

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Clophill Parish Council Continued

Planning CB/16/04266/LB Location: The Granary, Brickwall Farm, Kiln Lane Proposal: To change a timber sliding exterior door of this listed building to a white painted timber door. This isn’t part of the original building, it can’t be seen from the roadway and it will have little impact on the site or the rest of the adjoining buildings. SUPPORT

CB/16/05219/FULL Location: 2 The Gables, Kiln Lane Proposal: Replacement two-storey dwelling (to replace bungalow). This is a re-submission of an earlier approved application. The site is a mile or so north of the village and is one of two adjoining buildings. The site is set to the back of the other bungalow and although of two storeys will be some distance from the lane. SUPPORT

CB/16/02189/LB Location: 6 & 8 The Green Proposal: These are listed buildings but the work is for an internal doorway and to raise the ceiling height, which won’t be noticeable from the outside. SUPPORT

CB/16/04854/FULL Location: Land adjoining 15 Jacques Lane Proposal: Erection of three detached dwellings. This is outside the village settlement area and is serviced by a narrow country lane. OBJECT

CB/16/05127/OUT An application to build up to 50 houses on the former Quarry Site, Shefford Road

This is an enabling application. The houses being built to enable a country park (part of the old quarry site) to be prepared for and opened to the public. This is a new application, the previous one having been withdrawn. The Parish Council’s response last time is broadly the council’s intended response on this occasion. Whilst the reduction in the number of houses, (including affordable housing) is to be applauded, the main objections are concerns regarding the management of the lakes and the residual land.

At the moment there is no mechanism in place to say who or what organisation would operate the intended country park. Secondly, the residual land outside the planned park and development (approximately half) has no guarantees to future ownership and how it would be protected from any and all development. There are other concerns regarding access, parking, footpaths and land for the school. At the recent Parish Council meeting it was decided that once again the council would respond in a structured way. It would set out the reasons why we couldn’t support the current application due to the aforementioned problems and ask for remedial action by the applicant.

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Parish Registers for December

ST MARY’S CHURCH REGISTERS FOR NOVEMBER

Funeral November 7 Terence (Terry) Honey, 78

1966

Baptisms December 14 Thomas Elliot Hewitt Burials December 19 Edith Mary Stanford, 81

1816

Baptisms December 4 William Matthews

1916

Burials December 2 William Upton, 84 December 30 Lizzie Roberts, 85

Understanding the importance of a child’s play

FRIDAYS 10am – 11.30am at the Village HallSee ‘Village Groups’ for contact details

LOTS OF TOYS, SPACE AND FRIENDSFOR BABIES AND TODDLERS UNDER 3

DEC

EMB

ER

What’s on in and around ClophillWednesday 14th Christmas Lunch noon-2pm, St Mary’s Church. See this issue for ticket details.

Saturday 17th Live Music Out of the Hat perform at The Stone Jug, 8.30pm.

Saturday 31st Live Music Bring in the New Year at The Stone Jug.

Wednesdays... • ‘Tea and Chat’ 10.30am-noon, Clophill Methodist Church Schoolroom • Zumba Toning 8pm-9pm, Clophill Village Hall

One Saturday a month... • Messy Church 4pm-6pm, Clophill Methodist Church, 17 December. All-age craft activities, worship and a meal for all the family. No fixed charge, donations welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult. See ‘Village Groups’ for contact details.

On throughout the month...

If you have any diary dates that you would like included on this page, please email clophillspotlight1@hotmail.co.uk

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Fridays... • Clophill Toddler Group Clophill Village Hall, 10am-noon. See ‘Village Groups’ for contact details

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Gas (Emergency) 0800 111999 Electricity (Emergency) 0800 7838838 Emergency Fire/Police/Ambulance 999 Water/Sewage (Anglian Water) 0845 7145145 Telephone (Customer Services) 150 (Faults) 151 Highways Department (Central Bedfordshire Council) 0300 3008049 Benefits Agency (Bedford office) 01234 361500 Registrar’s Office (Births/deaths/marriages) 0300 3008089 Rail (Enquiries) 0845 7484950 Buses 01234 262151 (Link A Ride) 01525 840511 (Flittabus) 01582 406561 Luton Airport 01582 405100 Swimming (Flitwick) 01525 717744 (Robinson Pool) 01234 212479

LIBRARIES Bedford 01234 350931 Ampthill 01525 402278 Barton 01582 881101 Flitwick 01525 715268

LOCAL GOVERNMENT Central Beds Offices (Chicksands) 0300 300 8000 Mid-Beds MP Nadine Dorries 01462 811992 Central Bedfordshire Councillors Michael Blair 01525 404513 Paul Duckett 07988 184061 Paul Downing 0300 300 8541 Clophill Parish Council Peter Clarke 01525 861179 (Clerk) James Stirling 01462 887226

HOSPITALS Bedford (North & South) 01234 355122 Admissions 01234 261150 Appointments 01234 359012 Luton & Dunstable 0845 1270127

DOCTOR’S CLINICS Ampthill (Houghton Close) 01525 300898 (Oliver Street) 01525 631395 (Greensands) 01525 631390 Shefford Enquiries 01462 818620 Appointments 01462 810034 Barton 01582 528700 Flitwick 01525 715300

POLICE Non Emergency 101 County Police HQ 01234 841212 Ampthill Station 101 Clophill Local Policing Team 01234 842613

CHURCHES St Mary’s Parish Church Liz Henman 01525 860108 St Francis RC Church, Shefford Ian Gordon 01525 860875 Clophill Methodist Church Jim Davies 01525 860829 Baptist Churches (Ampthill) Doreen Gibbs 01525 862424 (Maulden) Ian Crawford 01525 634325 (Shefford) Hazel Arnold 01462 812564

SCHOOLS Clophill St Mary’s C of E Lower School & Nursery (Headteacher Mrs K Bingley) 01525 860206 Harlington Upper School, Harlington 01525 755100 Preschool clophillpreschool@gmail.com (Chris) 07936 006381 or (Imogen) 07765 887868 Redborne Upper School, Ampthill 01525 404462 Robert Bloomfield Middle School, Shefford 01462 628800

Useful numbers

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Village groupsBeverley Court Brownies Clophill Community Care Clophill Heritage Trust Clophill Parish Action Clophill St Mary’s C of E Lower School & Nursery Clophill Toddler Group Clophill United Charities Conservation Group Flower Club Friends of the Cheshire Home Funzone After School Club Greensands Community Choir Indoor Carpet Bowls Messy Church St Mary’s PTA Scouts and Cubs Tea and Chat Tuesday Club Village Hall Booking Secretary

https://enquiryym.girlguiding.org.uk Duty Contact Ali Bradbury Ali Bradbury Sharon Kempson Caroline Daniels Gillian Hill Brian Adams Gillian Hill Sue Pearson Luke Howard Tony Meredith Victoria Higgins victoriajhiggins@hotmail.co.uk Julia Skelton Ralph Rayner Anita Errick Betty Hampson Marilyn Browning

860920

07791 773705 07894 710001 07894 710001

860206 07734 495348

860539 862297 860539 861110

07903 167493 07975 520085

860754 07920 568861

07774 993973

403956 860695 860750

07821 643936

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REMEMBER OUR MOTTO “A VISIT TO THE JUG IS BETTER THAN GOING TO A PUB”

CHEERS JOYCE & VIKKI

The Stone Jug BACK STREET, CLOPHILL A Free House Telephone

01525 860526

It’s time to accept the fact that we are in the 21st century. So with this in mind we will be moving with the times this year and installing a chip and pin machine and joining the world-wide web! All in good time though, after all Rome wasn’t built in a day! Some things don’t change though – we still offer good quality, fairly priced home cooked lunches, a proper pub atmosphere, real ales and dogs welcome. So if you haven’t tried us yet make 2013 the year to make that change. Once again, thank you for your support So for now it’s business as usual………………

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LOVE SINGING!sing wi

th an exciting local choir ...Gre

ensand Com

munity Choir

Come along to your local community choir, for men and women of all singing abilities!Mondays, 8.00-9.30 pm at St. Mary's Church, Clophill.

Come and sing with an exciting new local choir led by a professional musical director Uplifting music in a variety of styles: musicals, classic pop, folksongs, sacred and world musicWelcoming singers of all abilities - no audition, no need to read music!New members - come along any time for a free taster

Enquiries to: greensandcommunitychoir@gmail.com or ring Luke on: 01525 838199

greensand choir-spotlight-amends-Oct14.qxp 24/10/2014 12:38 Page 1

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Welcome to Clophill St Mary’s C of E Lower School and Nursery

St Mary’s is a Voluntary Aided Church of England Lower School based in the village of Clophill. We are a small friendly village school with close links to the local community, taking children aged from 2 years 7 months to 9 years.

St. Mary’s is a Values Based school which provides children with a framework for living, tightly woven into the positive Christian ethos of the school.

Our vision at St Mary’s is to provide a secure, inclusive and stimulating child centred environment, where all children are inspired to achieve their full potential. Our aim is that every child will develop as a caring, respectful member of the

community and society as a whole. We will achieve this through a creative curriculum based on our values, refl ecting the Christian ethos of our school.

Please call us on 01525 860206 to arrange a visit

High Street, Clophill, Bedfordshire, MK45 4BETel: 01525 860206 stmarysclophill@cbc.beds.sch.uk www.stmaryslower.info

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On the Green beside the Post Office every Friday

3.30-7.30pm We are your local mobile fish and chip van, we have been parked on the

green every Friday for the past 6 years. We serve only the highest quality produce, cooked fresh to order and served

to you by our friendly staff. Why don’t you pop down and come and

Try Our Fry! To avoid waiting in the cold, give us a call to

place your order on: 07833 786108 A big thank you to all our customers who have loyally supported us over the

past couple of years.

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DRINKS – Coffees, teas, hot chocolate, soft drinks… SNACKS – Soup & roll, Toasties, Jacket Potatoes, Butties, Pasties, Hot Dogs… SWEETS – Scones, Muffins, Pastries, ice creams… Relax & enjoy your food at the Green or Take Away Phone in to pre-order for parties, business lunches, office snacks, special occasions School Lunchboxes for children by arrangement Give us a ring to see if we can meet your needs:-

01525 860988

Markham Architectural Salvage www.markhamreclaimed.co.uk

Reclaimed Timber Specialists Oak Beams – Doors – Flooring – Bricks

Bespoke Furniture – Landscaping Materials Mirrors – Roofing Materials

Opening Hours: Monday Friday 9am – 5pm Saturday 9am – 1pm

Tel: 01525 876428 or Mobile: 07766 051307 Upper East End Farm, Goswell End Road, Harlington, Bedfordshire, LU5 6NU

ROGER STOREY

YOUR LOCAL PAINTER AND DECORATOR Friendly and Reliable Service

Many Years Experience Please phone: 01525 861253 or 07800 777615

Based near Toddington, Bedfordshire.

We rescue, rehabilitate & re-home stray & abandoned cats. We have lots of beautiful cats waiting for loving homes.

Ring the shelter on 01525 875993

or Sue on 01582 650167 to arrange a visit. Registered Charity No. 1098984 Visit our website @www.straycatrescue.org.uk

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SHEFFORD BUILDING SUPPLIES LTD 44 HIGH STREET, SHEFFORD, BEDS

Key Cutting Gas Tools Electrical Timber Plumbing Sheet Materials Sand & Cement Gardening Domestic Paint Ironmongery

Tel: 01462 813381

TRULY AN ALADDIN’S CAVE Free delivery

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AIMS Tim Kemp BA FCA ♦ Professional service providing for Top Barn Rectory Road all your accounting and tax needs Steppingly MK45 5AT ♦ Practical advice based on 20 years experience in running businesses TEL/FAX : 01525 717141 ♦ Personal approach with fixed fees MOBILE : 07900 823 012 relevant to the work you need www.aims.co.uk ♦ Friendly, local accountant support- e-mail: timk@aims.co.uk ing the community for over 20 years

Please call for a free, no-obligation initial meeting

ACCOUNTANTS FOR business

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15

THE COMPUTER MAN

Got a problem with your computer and don’t know what to do? Suffering with a virus or spam?

Don’t hesitate! Ring your local computer expert

Remote repairs or home visits (Day, evening & weekend)

Lap top/desk top loan

(Free pick up & drop off in local area)

Comprehensive health check from £35 (Special Offer £35 - normally £40) Refurbished fl at screen available from £15 • Refurbished base units available from £99

Contact Stephen Amos

07976 718567 the.computerman@ntlworld.com

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Exam techniques and preparation. Revision and practice

papers: SATs and GCSE

Spanish for business or pleasure, all levels. GCSE & A-levels

Skills development: conversation, reading and writing

Maths: Boost your confidence and abilities

KS1, KS2, KS3, SATs and GCSE practice papers

DBS checked and references - Reasonable rates

01525 860743 - 07952 667814 rincontuition@aol.com

rincon tuition - Spanish & Maths Expand your knowledge. Boost your confidence

01525 860743

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Foot Health Practitioner

Corns, Hard Skin, Verruca, Fungal Nail Infection, In-growing Toe Nails, Diabetic Foot Care, Athlete's Foot,

Pedicure, General Nail Cutting etc. In the comfort of your home or at my clinic

Ann Gibbons MCFHP. MBAFHP. Competitive Rates

Tel: 01462 813252 Mob: 07872 315763 Web: www.shamrockclinic.co.uk

For opening hours and other details please refer to my website

Baths, Toilets & Showers

Sinks and Taps Guttering

Leaks and Burst Pipes Drainage

Handyman jobs also

Silsoe based No call out fee – free estimates Fully insured and guaranteed

No job too small 07720 723653 01525 864859

info@betaplumbing.co.uk www.betaplumbing.co.uk

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Unit 6, Woodside Farm, Clophill Road, Maulden, Beds, MK45 2AE

Feeds for Dogs, Cats, Rabbits, Horses, Ponies,

Poultry, Goats, Sheep, Birds

Tel: 01525 860150

‘For all creatures great and small serving the local community for over 30 years’

Chapman & Kirby Heating

Gas, Plumbing & Heating Installations

Gas Safe Registered

Boiler Servicing & Maintenance

Call us now

Email: info@chapmanandkirbyheating.co.ukTel: 01525 861255 Mob: 07831 132308

1C, Old Silsoe Road, Clophill, Beds., MK45 4AR

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Reassurance when you need it mostServing the people of Bedfordshire since 1875

www.nevillefuneralservice.com

Neville Funeral Serviceinc. George Squire & Sons since 1976

24 Clifton Road Shefford SG17 5AE

t: 01462 813258e: shefford@nevillefuneralservice.com

Neville Funeral ServiceThe Old Church Flitwick Road

Ampthill MK45 2NTt: 01525 406132

e: ampthill@nevillefuneralservice.com

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8

SHEFFORD 01462 627002 www.bathroomvogue.com

Unit 4A, Shefford Industrial Park, St Francis Way, Shefford SG17 5DZ

• Suppliers of traditional and modern equipment

• Working whirlpool & spa baths, power

& steam shower systems on display • Over 40 settings on display • Complete installation service if

required • Personal friendly service from a family

run business

• Wall and floor tiles • Accessories • Mirrors • Bathroom furniture • Heated towel rails • Saunas • Bathroom cabinets

EST. 1989

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Stephen’s Plantsat Maulden Garden Centre on the A507 bypass (near A6 / Clophill)

Seasonal and hardy plantsVegetable seeds and plantsHanging baskets and tubs

plus composts and fertilisersall with EXPERT ADVICEand a smile

Telephone: 01525 861696

for your

CTP CONSTRUCTION Local Building Company Established for over 25 years

U.K. Trades Approved No job too small - Competitive prices

Free estimates given on all Building Work Tel: Silsoe 01525 860105

www.ctpconstruction.co.uk

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TREE SURGERY, HEDGE TRIMMING, TURFING, FENCE MAINTENANCE,

DECKING, PATIO CLEANING Qualified, Fully Insured, Competitive Rates

Free Estimates

TEL: 01582 518954 MOB: 07828 490360 Web Site: www.adaminyourgarden.co.uk

Root n Branch Ad (126x31).pdf 1 14/03/2013 14:15

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MMBB AACCCCOOUUNNTTIINNGG SSEERRVVIICCEESS accounting solutions for the

Self–Employed and Small Business including

Bookkeeping ♦ Accounts ♦ Tax returns ♦ Cash flows

For a totally confidential service at very competitive rates contact Richard Fairholm T: 01525 861087 M: 07714189994 E:

mbaccounts@btinternet.com

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Phone: 07821 643 936Mail: Clophill.villagehall@gmail.com Web: www.clophillvillagehall.co.uk

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Pet Services Conifer Kennels & Cattery 34 Lizzie Brown Pet Care 28 Personal Dog Walker 19 Stray Cat Rescue 24 The Bluecat Luxury Cattery 21

Plumbing & Drainage Services Beta Plumbing 29 Chapman & Kirby Heating 30 Drain Doctor BC

Post Offices Mace Post Office & Stores 23

Print Services Ampthill Print Centre IFC

Public Houses The Stone Jug 17

Removals & Storage Stephens 24

Repair Services Tim Downing Repair Services 38

Security Services Maximum Security Systems 35

Take-aways The Happy Plaice 23

Tuition Services Rincon Tuition (Spanish & Maths) 28

Village Hall Clophill Village Hall 39

Windows/Replacement Andrew Baker Windows 36 AW Windows IBC Misty Double Glazing 21

Architectural Services Daniel Design & Build 18 S&S Coates Surveying & Design 20

Auctioneers & Valuers W&H Peacock 27

Bathroom Services Bathroom Vogue 32

Builders & Carpenters James Bonfield Carpentry & Construction 39 CTP Construction 34 McCaffrey Build 37 Peter Sharpe Building Services 15 Stuart Benson Building Projects IFC

Building Supplies Shefford Building Supplies Ltd 25

Carpet Services Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning 37

Car Services/Repairs A&F Motors Ltd IFC Mint Alloys 33 TC Coomber Car Services BC

Chimney Sweep Poppins Chimney Sweep 29

Cleaning Services Daisy Cooper 17 Time to Shine – Window Cleaner 17

Computer Services Compu-Doc 17 The Computer Man 27

Electrical Services Stuart Drew Electrical Services 24

Financial Services AIMS Accountants 26 ET Accountancy Services 30 Hills-Howson Financial Services 26 MB Accounting Services 38 Savage Accountants 19 SJ Tax & Accounting Services 19

Food Suppliers Woburn Country Foods 33

Funeral Services AL&G Abbott, Funeral Directors 16 Neville Funeral Service 31

Garden Services Adam in your Garden 36 Garden Doctor 25 Green Thumb Lawn Treatment 32 Root ‘n Branch 36 Stephen’s Plants 34

Health & Beauty A Cut Above Hairdressing 39 Ampthill & Flitwick Physiotherapy 30 Deborah Pedley Osteopathy 38 Linda Allsop Physiotherapy 19 Mobile Hairdresser 21 Molly Coddle 21 Shamrock Clinic - Foot Health 29 The Tanning Salon IBC

Home Improvements Christopher The Painter 14 Roger Storey - Painter & Decorator 24

Medical Training Services EMT Academy 18

Music and Entertainment Greensands Community Choir 16

Nursery Schools Clophill PreSchool 22 Clophill St Mary’s C of E Lower School and Nursery 22 Clophill Toddler Group 12 Wrest Park Day Nursery - Silsoe 35

IFC = Inside Front Cover IBC = Inside Back Cover

BC = Back Cover

Advertisers index

For further information about advertising in Spotlight, please contact our Advertising Manager at ads@clophillspotlight.co.uk

Ads from as little as £50 per year

The Tanning Station & Pebbles Beauty• Sunbeds • Facials

• Massage • HD Brows

• Eyelash Extensions • LCN Nail Extensions

• Bio Sculpture • Manicure

• Pedicure • Hot Stone massage

• Spray Tans • Waxing

• Footcare Specialist • Jessica GELeration

• LVL • Threading

01525 720 095 www.tanningstation.co.uk2 Steppingley Road, Flitwick, Bedfordshire MK45 1AJ

Opening TimesMonday - Tuesday 09.00 -19.00Wednesday - Thursday 09.00 -21.00Friday 09.00 -19.00Saturday 10.00 -16.00Sundays & Bank Holidays CLOSED

T.C. COOMBER

AMPTHILL 01525 406330

UNIT F, AMPTHILL INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, STATION RD, AMPTHILL, MK45 2QY

MOT’S CLASS 4/7SERVICING & REPAIRSCAR & COMMERCIALTYRES & EXHAUSTSAIR CONDITIONINGDIAGNOSTIC CODE READINGCollection

& Delivery SERVICE AVAILABLEPlease ask

Locally printed by Ampthill | Tel: 01525 300001. www.fidelityprint.co.uk