WELLAND MOTHERS' UNION
The next meeting of Welland Mothers' Union will be held at 2pm on Monday November 21st 2011 at "Tamar Lodge", Greatford Road, Baston. Christmas crafts will be demonstrated.
 

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM: GREATFORD
Greatford war memorial lists four men who died during the First World War (whose names will, as usual, be read out during the Remembrance Sunday service at Uffington): FRED GARNER: “4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, died July 2nd 1916.” Fred Garner was born in Dunsby in 1893, but by 1901 his parents (William and Annie) and their children had moved to Stowe Road, Greatford. The 1911 census described Fred as a “waggoner on farm.” Military records show that Private Frederick Garner died of wounds on 2 July 1916. He had been a member of the 4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment which on 1 July 1916 took part in a
diversionary attack on Gommecourt, slightly to the north of the main assault which launched the Battle of the Somme. Fred is buried at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty – a cemetery about 10 miles NE of Gommecourt which was used from June 1916 to May 1917 by two Casualty Clearing Stations – Fred evidently was wounded in the attack and evacuated from Gommecourt but died shortly afterwards.
HARRY HEADLAND: “8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action July 9th 1916.” Harry had been born in Hoby (near Melton Mowbray) in 1887 to John and Ada Headland, but by the 1890s the family moved to Main Street, Greatford , though by 1911 John and Ada and some of their children lived in Stamford Road, Barholm, while Harry was living at Aunby Lodge as a Horseman on Farm. Military records show that by 1916 Private 19747 Harry Headland was actually in the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. The Battalion took part in the Battle of
Albert (1-13 July – the opening phase of the Battle of the Somme). Harry was killed in action on 9th July (aged 29). He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial – one of the 72192 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces named there who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave, (though his body may be in one of the many graves in the Somme area bearing the inscription A soldier of the Great War known unto God).
ARTHUR PICKERING: “10th Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment. Killed in action March 3rd 1917.” Arthur was born in Greatford in 1889. In 1901 the family lived in Stowe Road (the next entry in the census to the Garner family). His father died in early 1904, and in 1911 Arthur was resident in Greatford with his (widowed) mother he was working as a domestic gardener. Military records show that when he was killed in action in March 1917 (aged 27) Private
40419 Arthur Pickering was in the 4th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. Like Harry Headland, he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
ARTHUR EMPSON: “Sherwood Foresters. Killed in action March 28th 1918.” Arthur had also been born in Dunsby in 1893, but by 1901 his family were living in Main Street, Greatford and the 1911 census records that Arthur was living with his parents, two sisters and a brother at Manor Farm Yard, Greatford. Arthur was a Horseman on Farm, his father (Henry Empson) was a Shepherd on Farm. Military records show that Lance Corporal 48700 Arthur Empson, 13th Battalion, Liverpool Regiment, (formerly Sherwood Foresters, Notts and Derby Regiment) was killed in action 28th March 1918 (aged 25 years) in the first Battle of Arras. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, among 35,000 other servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918 and have no known grave.
 

Uffington Church Roof Fundraising Calendar of Events
Sunday 6th November Village Sunday Lunch 12.30pm – Saffron Lounge - Come for a buffet Indian meal. £15 per person. Reserve your table for 4, 6, 8 or 10. Tickets from Jane Heap on 01780 756375 by 30 October
Saturday 19th November Children’s (and adults’!) Chocolate Bingo 2-4pm – Village Hall Traditional family fun with yummy prizes! £2.50pp
January 2012 - Launch of the Uffington 100 Club
Saturday 28th January ‘A year in the Life of Burghley House Gardens 2.30pm – Village Hall - an illustrated talk by John Burroughs, Head Gardener, followed by tea and cakes. How do they keep those gardens looking splendid all year? A must for anyone interested in gardening! £10 per person. Tickets from Michael Crowe on 01780 762490
Saturday 18th February An afternoon of light music, 2.30pm – Uffington Church sung by the choir of St John’s Church, Grantham, with ‘something warming’ served in the interval! £10pp Tickets from David Genever phone 01780 765005
Sunday 20th May Welland ValleyWalk 20 miles from Uppingham to Uffington, divided into easy sections. Walk it all, or just one or two sections…… More details nearer the time
We do hope that you will find something of interest and that you will
come along, join in, bring your friends and help us to keep the church
building watertight.
 

WEST DEEPING VILLAGE HALL
HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF HAVING YOUR FUNCTION HERE?
There are tables and chairs for 60 people, license available for 90
people, children’s tables and chairs for 12, overhead and/or
dimming lighting, staging for band or disco, kitchen facilities and
parking for 20 cars.
For further information and booking please contact
Mrs Gill Edwards at 60 King St., West Deeping 01778 345589.

WILDLIFE GARDENING IN NOVEMBER
Last month we talked about getting the garden ready for winter. Wildlife is also busy preparing for the cold months ahead. Some animals such as the Tortoiseshell butterfly, queen bees and hedgehogs will be finding hibernation sites away from the worst of the winter, and others will have laid eggs to overwinter and emerge in the spring as a new generation. Summer visitors such as the House Martin and Swallow have now left our shores, but other birds will be arriving from northern
Europe. Look out for ‘chattering’ Redwings and Fieldfares joining an influx of other thrushes seeking our relatively milder winters (compared to those endured on the continent!). This is the time when we think about feeding our garden birds with seed, fat and chopped nuts, and making sure they have fresh water. This is a great thing to do as it is known that gardens become vital feeding stations for both urban and farmland birds – almost like bird restaurants, and a range of gardens with different feeders can become like a varied menu! In our area you might be lucky and see, for example, both House and Tree Sparrow (both make the familiar cheep-cheep sounds, but House Sparrows have the grey cap whereas the shyer and farmland Tree Sparrows have a chestnut cap and spot on their cheeks). Tree Sparrows have become increasingly uncommon but one or two visit gardens in our area, during the winter months, along with Reed Buntings, Linnets and others.
It is very important however to ensure feeders, bird tables and water dishes are kept clean and free from droppings and mouldy food because they encourage diseases that spread between birds. We were recently told of one garden in the Uffington Group where three dead greenfinches were found close to the bird table. The mostly likely cause of death was a disease called trichomoniasis,
a common disease in doves and pigeons, but which seems to have ‘jumped’ species to devastating effect, now killing Greenfinches especially, as well as Chaffinches and other small perching birds. More information about this disease and what to do if you find dead birds can be seen on the RSPB website www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/health/sickbirds/greenfinches.aspx and the British Trust for Ornithology www.bto.org/news-events/press-releases/british-garden-birds-diseasespread-europe. The BTO report that the combined data from Garden Bird Watch volunteers and the Breeding Bird Survey show trichomoniasis was responsible for the death of perhaps half a million birds in 2006 alone. Since then it has been shown that the Greenfinch population has continued to decline even further. The disease is spread by saliva from infected individuals but maintaining good garden hygiene can help. Regular changing of water and cleaning of the feeders and the surrounds are vital. Proprietary disinfectants suitable for birds are available from garden centres and pet shops and it is really important that these are used to kill bacteria and harmful bugs. Make sure you wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly afterwards, keeping the cleaning materials separate from the other household items. Regularly moving of the feeding station in your garden can help prevent a build up of disease too – and helps encourage the birds to search and find new and different places for
food. Once again, a quick reminder to check for hibernating hedgehogs in your proposed bonfire site before setting it alight for Guy Fawkes Night celebrations! Donna & Tim (We are gardeners, with a special interest in wildlife, and would love to hear about the wildlife in your garden. Contact Donna Radley on 01778 561950 or Tim Barfield on 01780 481550)