SERVICES AND DATES FOR
LOCAL CHURCHES,
IN FEBRUARY 2015
Sunday 1st February
11.15 am
Service of Holy Communion at
All Saints’ Church, Mattersey
Sunday 8th February
11.15 am
Service of Holy Communion at
Holy Trinity Church, Everton
Sunday 15th February
11.15 am
Service of Holy Communion at
All Saints’ Church, Mattersey
Wednesday 18th February 07.15 am
(Ash Wednesday)
Service of Holy Communion at
St.Nicholas Church, Bawtry
Sunday 22nd February
(1st Sunday in Lent)
11.15 am
The Village Magazine of
Mattersey & Mattersey Thorpe
Service of Holy Communion at
Holy Trinity Church, Everton
Paul Savage’s ID Card authorising him
to sell copies of
“The Big Issue”in Birmingham
(See article on page 19)
YOUR CHURCH IS OPEN
The Parish Church is open on a daily basis, normally from sunrise to sunset.
The building can be an oasis of peace in a busy world. Please feel welcome
to make use of your church for prayer during these periods.
Please also feel free to contact me on 01302-710298 if there are any
concerns that you would like to discuss or pray about.
Jonathan Strickland, Vicar
20
Sunrise on a Frosty Morning
Photo reproduced by courtesy of
Sian McKay
1
February 2015
Some useful telephone numbers:
Commercial Services:
Animalhotelmattersey.co.uk: Luxury pet boarding & grooming 01777-817379
Beauty Therapist:(Mobile or Salon), Dermalogica Products-Diane 01777-817639
Blue Bell Inn, Gringley on the Hill: 01777-816303 www.bluebellinngringley.co.uk
Boiler/Central Heating Service: Alex Perry 07598-186001, [email protected]
Challenge Carpet Cleaning: Martin Cliffe-Taylor, Freephone 0800-3287941
Countryside Cleaning Ltd: General, Deep, Builders & Sparkle Cleans. Regular
or One Off. Contact Elizabeth on 07719 075355
Electrician: David Foreman 01777-817506 & 07971-513286
Foot Aid: Robert Wasteney 01777-710000
Garden Services: Green Stripe: Simon Clarkson 01777-818615 & 07833-494353
Holmegarth Garage:Jono Hunt 01909-591984, 07967-823869,
Pest Control—Buzz Off: Paul Drage 07706-747073, 01777-816074
Priory Garage: 01777-816606
Sitting Service: Are you caring for someone? Would you like to have some time
out? I am local, qualified, CRB checked and can help. Tel Lesley 07712-161890
Please email or phone the Editor if you would like to advertise your services
Message Board
MATTERSEY THORPE TRA
DAY OUT TO THE NATIONAL COAL MINING MUSEUM
SUNDAY 22nd MARCH 2015
BUS LEAVES AT 10AM
ADULT £7 (16 PLUS), CHILD £3 (5 to 15), UNDER 5 FREE
CONTACT: ETHEL DAWSON, 14 WINSTON GREEN, tel 01777 817528
(OTHER TRA EVENTS THIS YEAR – GALA FUN DAY SATURDAY 25th JULY
ANNUAL SEASIDE TRIP SUNDAY 23rd AUGUST)
MOBILE LIBRARY SERVICE 2015
The Mobile Library will be visiting Mattersey/Mattersey Thorpe on the
following Tuesday dates at the following locations and times:
Community Services:
Alcohol Advice Service:01777-272244, Alcoholics Anonymous:0114-2701984
Bassetlaw DC Councillor: Michael Gray 01777-700318
Bawtry & Blyth Medical: 01302-710210
BT Fault Line: 0800-800151
Church Issues: Anne Mills 01777-818398
Church Hall Bookings: Julie German 01777-817589
Crimestoppers: 0800-555111
Electricity—Emergency: 0800-375675
Mattersey Primary School Head Teacher: Mrs Sharon Patton 01777-817265
Notts Community Housing:Register at www.alhomefinder.org.uk. Immediately
available homes contact [email protected] or tel 0800 013 8555
Notts County Councillor: Liz Yates 01777-860219, [email protected]
Police: Community Policeman - PC 3258 Jason Fellows 07525-226893
PCSO Aaron Stocks 07824-457397
All non emergencies: 101
Relate: 08456-441027
Robin Hood Airport (Noise Line): 01302-623499
RSPCA National Cruelty Line: 0300-1234999
Samaritans: 08457-909090
Vicar: Jonathan Strickland 01302-710298, email [email protected]
2
Credits:
Many thanks to all the Commercial sponsors for the printing paper and inks. Also
to The Bible College for printing the magazine. Thanks to the Distribution Team
and Post Office for delivering the magazine to 300+ houses in Mattersey and
Thorpe every month.
Contacts:
If you have any information/comments/ideas about the Idle Talk publication
please contact the editor at [email protected] or phone on 01777-816694 or
send hard copy to: Nursery Cottage, Main Street, Mattersey DN10 5DY
Latest Submissions: 24th of Month @ 4pm (Earlier in month preferred)
3
Mattersey Memories
The ‘Villages Together’ forthcoming programme of events for next month
is published below.
Do come and join us in Mattersey Church Hall at 1.45pm.
VILLAGES TOGETHER — FEBRUARY SCHEDULE
Tuesday 3rd February - Tales from Mayflower Sanctuary - Penny
Tuesday 17th February - Dutch Links - Rodney Cousins
All are welcome to ‘Villages Together’ meetings which we hold every other
Tuesday and if you have friends in other villages, please bring them along.
See ‘Idle Talk’ for the programme of events
Villages Together is supported by Blue Skies Community
Initiative Tel: Sue for further information on 01777-818880
or 07921-132889
December Report for Ranskill/Lound Beat
by PCSO 4778 Aaron Stocks
Burglary / Theft / Criminal Damage
Period
Anti-Social Behaviour
Beat Area Mattersey / Thorpe Beat Area Mattersey / Thorpe
December 2014
7
0
3
0
November 2014
21
2
2
2
December 2013
5
0
5
2
Nottinghamshire Alert System
If you would like to find out what is happening on the local beat, I submit a crime
alert after each crime. Please register at www.nottinghamshirealert.co.uk
4
I just wanted to get in touch to see if you might like to include the
attached photo in Idle Talk. The photo was taken around the mid 1970s.
I must have been about 8 or so at the time, so I hope I've got this right, but
I think the picture shows Frank Sampson hosting an auction in the Village
Hall, with Bob Fisher looking on. The photo was taken by my Dad, Rev. Noel
Bevan, who was vicar of Mattersey at that time.
I always look forward to reading Idle Talk, just to keep up with what's going
on now - thank you for putting together the magazine each month.
Best Wishes
Mark Bevan
York
Editor’s Note:
If anyone can confirm the identities of the people on the photo or have any
memories/anecdotes regarding the Rev Bevan and Mark during their time in
Mattersey please advise & I will forward on to Mark.
5
Fracking Update
Statement from the iGas Community Liaison Group
iGas has advised the Community Liaison Group that they have identified a
site in the area, in respect of which they propose to prepare a planning
application for consent to carry out exploratory drilling.

The proposed exploration site is in the Springs Road area of Misson
Springs, in the Parish of Misson

Whilst this is the only site being considered at the present time, it
does not mean that the site will be fracked, or that other sites will
not be considered in the future

A commercial agreement has been concluded with a landowner.

A “scoping opinion” will be prepared for the Planning Authority in the
next month or so, and land and transport surveys will be started.

No date for a formal planning application has been set.

Should a planning permission be granted for an exploratory well to be
drilled then a well will be drilled to evaluate the geology and shale
potential.

A further planning application to allow hydraulic fracturing & test
flows of gas would be required.

The lead up to the preparation of the planning application will require
further consultation with local people, which the CLG and IGas will
help facilitate.
Latest Survey Results
A house to house survey conducted in local villages has shown that the
majority of local people do not want fracking in their area. In Mattersey
Thorpe 70% wanted a frack free area and in Mattersey 64% said they were
anti-fracking. This figure is rising, as those who couldn’t be contacted have
responded to a letter stating that they would like a frack-free Mattersey.
Results of the survey will be presented at the next Parish Council Meeting.
Local group, Bassetlaw Against Fracking has expressed concern regarding
potential fracking in the area stating that there is a risk to health as this
process involves drilling through our water source. Increased traffic, air
pollution, light pollution and the industrialisation of the local countryside has
not only a potential impact on wellbeing, but will disturb wildlife and could
lead to lowering of house prices.
In the News
Some councils are demonstrating their concern, for example Lancashire
County Council’s planning officers have recommended that Cuadrilla’s plans to
frack at Rosecare Wood and Little Plumpton should be refused. In Hatfield
area Egdon Resources are planning to explore fracking opportunities.
The infrastructure Bill is currently being rushed through Government and if
passed, would enable fracking companies to drill beneath your home without
your permission. It would also allow any toxic substance used in the process
to be left there.
Bassetlaw MP John Mann has been quoted saying: ”If my communities say
that they do not want any fracking—they do not want any shale gas or
coalbed methane to be taken from a certain area and that it should be done
somewhere else, we should have the right to make that decision.”
You can find out more about these and other fracking stories from these
websites: www.bassetlawagainstfracking.co.uk, www.frackfreenotts.org.uk
and www.frackfreesouthyorkshire.co.uk
Bev Fullwood
Concerns About Hydraulic Fracturing
Fracking is a relatively new method of gas extraction which involves drilling
1-2 km down into the ground; passing explosive charges
pipes; blowing
into
horizontal
holes through the pipes; fracturing the surrounding rock;
pumping high pressure water with chemical additives into the well to open up
the fractures to release the gas.
6
7
The Secret Gardener
Here is a list of gardening jobs
for January:
Audible Sunshine
"Spilling your rubbed and round pebbles of sound in air's still lake."
Words penned by Cecil Day-Lewis from his poem The Ecstatic, describing the
ascending song of a Skylark - an incredibly nostalgic sound most would associate
with balmy summer afternoons. Yet even in the chill of mid-winter, if the day is
clear and sunny, you may be lucky enough to have your heart warmed by this
small brown bird's thrilling repertoire. Launching its song as it rises, it
hovers over its territory on rapid wing beats to a height of up to 1000 feet
before falling parachute-like back to earth.
In winter, UK populations from higher moorland and mountain areas migrate to
lower farmland areas, where they can often be found joining forces with local
lowland populations to flock in search of seeds and even leaves.
Unfortunately skylark populations have declined by 50% in the last 25 years and
are now of high conservation concern, with the decline largely due to changes in
agricultural practices, and habitat loss. This fall in numbers is currently being
addressed by working closely with farmers and landowners to promote wildlifefriendly practices to help the skylark and other
farmland birds, including leaving winter stubble
and providing more field margins.
Flocks of up to 20 skylarks can currently be
observed passing around Idle Valley, so look out
for those warmer winter days and treat your
ears to a little audible ray of sunshine.
February Events
Contact: Rural Learning Centre 01777-713 945
to book all events unless otherwise stated.
28th Jan / Wild Tots / 10:30am - 11:30am / £3 per child
1st Feb / Wildlife Photography / 10am - 12 noon / £20 per person
7th & 8th Feb / Trees at Idle Valley / themed weekend activities
8th Feb / Wild Kids / 10:30 - 12 noon / £3 per child
15th Feb / Bird Walk / 9:30am / FREE
20th Feb / Wild Night - STARGAZING event / 5:30 - 8pm / £3.50pp
8
Starting with the vegetables,
leeks are a great vegetable to
grow and for this month I've
started with Musselbrough,
which are a firm favourite with
vegetable growers. These are
full of flavour and will stand up
to the British winter. They will be ready for picking in late summer, early
autumn and will go through to the following spring. Start them off from seed
in the greenhouse or a windowsill.
The tomato is now also ready for sowing. Marmalade, which will give you a
generous amount of fruit, is ideal for cooking. Ailsa Craig, Roma VF and
Costoluto Fiorentino have the added advantage of being able to grow both
inside and out. If you still haven't planted all your onion sets and garlic bulbs
not to worry, there's still time. Flower seeds for summer- colour that can
be sown now include Achillea Summer Berries and Dianthus Deltoides
Vampire. These will give the borders a real blast of colour for the summer
months,
I have been up to the allotment today digging and weeding the soil, preparing
it for spring. I do enjoy the physical side to gardening, working the land and
it gives me so much in a spiritual sense. Turning over the compost is a good
job to do now, as we start the New Year. By turning it over with a fork you
are allowing air to get in which will speed up the rotting down process. Keep
adding to it as much as you can.
Happy growing !
Kev
9
MATTERSEY PARISH COUNCIL
www.matterseypc.co.uk
Chairman: Mr. R. Kendall tel: 01777-817072
Vice Chairman: Mr. T.J. Roberts, tel: 01777-816862
Councillors: Mrs. L.B.Saint tel:01777-816319, Mrs. L. Hunt, tel:01777-817692
There are currently 5 vacancies on the Parish Council
Contact Details: Mrs. Adele Haddon, Clerk to Mattersey Parish Council,
Caudle Meadows, Wigthorpe Lane, Wigthorpe, Worksop. Notts S81 8BU
Tel: 01909-731565 email: [email protected]
Meetings are held 1st Wednesday of each month (except August) in the Church
Hall commencing at 7.30pm
Annual Spring Clean
Each year Bassetlaw District Council encourages local groups and
residents to join the annual spring clean event. This year it is a little
earlier than usual, running from 2nd to 14th March. It is an opportunity for
local groups, schools and parish councils to make a difference to their
local community. Mattersey Parish Councillors will be out and about on
Sunday 8th March at 10am picking up litter and clearing any ‘grot spots’.
If you would like to join them please meet up at the Post Office in
Mattersey or at the junction of Broomfield and Breck Lane, Mattersey
Thorpe. Bags, gloves and high viz vests will be provided.
If this date is not convenient or you prefer to embark on your own please
feel free to do so. The District Council would be happy to put any photos
of residents collecting litter or ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures on their website.
Millennium Green Trust
The Parish Council have now taken over the duties of trustees and funds
are being transferred to our care. However the involvement of the
community will still be needed to help maintain this village amenity and
volunteers for inspections, odd jobs and views on its future. There will be
an opportunity to discuss issues relating to the Millennium Green at every
Parish Council meeting so please feel free to come along at 7.30pm on
the first Wednesday of each month to air your ideas.
Parking
The Parish Council have received a number of complaints about cars
parking near to road junctions and on pavements. The Police have been
consulted as these incidents were felt to cause danger to other road users
and pedestrians. Parking near to junctions can seriously reduce the line
of sight of other vehicles. Also blocking a pavement could cause
pedestrians with pushchairs or elderly residents on invalid scooters to
have to go onto the road which again increases their risk of accidents.
The Parish Council is requesting advice from the County Council
Highways officers but would request all residents to think about other road
users and pedestrians when parking their vehicles. Parking further from
your front door will cause you little inconvenience but could mean greater
safety for others.
Christmas Thanks
We hope you all enjoyed the Christmas Tree this year and would like to
pass on grateful thanks to all involved particularly Proviso Systems on
whose land the tree was placed. They also paid for the electricity.
We are also grateful to Des Sykes, Mattersey Fundraising Group and the
many people who helped organise the lighting up ceremony.
Fracking Update
MISSON SPRINGS SELECTED AS A POTENTIAL SITE FOR AN
EXPLORATORY GAS EXTRACTION WELL.
At the Community Liaison Group on 8 th Jan, iGas advised that it is about
to start the process of applying for planning permission to drill an
exploration well to the north of Misson, to be located at Springs Road.
This is the only site currently being considered for planning consent.
Community consultation will be ongoing, with community events and
information made available, in order to keep local villages updated, as the
process continues over the coming weeks and months.
There has been some damage to one of the picnic benches as someone
put their barbecue on it and now there is fire damage to the table top.
Would anyone be prepared to offer to repair it? Please contact the clerk if
you are able to help.
10
11
Significant February Dates & Events
February 8th: - Anniversary of the Accession of Queen Elizabeth II
(As reported by BBC in 1952)
Princess Elizabeth has formally proclaimed herself Queen and Head of the
Commonwealth and Defender of the Faith. 150 Lords of the Council,
representatives from the Commonwealth, officials from the City of London
- including the Lord Mayor - and other dignitaries witnessed the accession of
the deceased king's eldest daughter this morning. The new monarch read an
official Proclamation declaring her reign as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
the Second.
"By the sudden death of my dear father I am called to assume the
duties and responsibilities of sovereignty. My heart is too full for me to
say more to you today than I shall always work, as my father did
throughout his reign, to advance the happiness and prosperity of my
peoples, spread as they are all the world over."
Her husband, Prince Philip of Greece, the Duke of Edinburgh, was also
present at the 20 minute meeting at St James's Palace.
After the Accession Declaration, at 1000 GMT, the new Queen held her
first Privy Council meeting and her Proclamation was signed by the Lord
Chancellor, the prime minister, and many other privy counsellors along with
representatives of the Commonwealth, the City & the Lord Mayor of London.
February 14th: - Valentines Day — Who was Saint Valentine?
Saint Valentine is a widely recognized third-century Roman saint
commemorated on February 14 and associated since the Middle Ages with a
tradition of courtly love.
Nothing is reliably known of the martyr other than his name and that he was
buried at a cemetery on the Via Flaminia close to the Milvian bridge to the
north of Rome on that day. Because so little is known of him, his name was
removed in 1969 from the General Roman Calendar, leaving his liturgical
celebration to local calendars.
Saint Valentine's Church in Rome, built in 1960 for the needs of the Olympic
athletes, continues as a modern, well-visited parish church. Many of the
current legends that characterize Saint Valentine were invented in the 14th
century England, notably by Geoffrey Chaucer and his circle, when the feast
day of February 14 first became associated with romantic love.
12
17th February: - Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent starts: It's a day of penitence, to
clean the soul, and a day of celebration as the last chance to feast before
Lent begins. It is sometimes called Pancake Day after the fried batter
traditionally eaten on this day. But there's more to Shrove Tuesday than
pigging out on pancakes or taking part in a pancake races.
It gets its name from the ritual of shriving that Christians used to undergo
in the past. In shriving, a person confesses their sins and receives absolution
for them. When a person receives absolution for their sins, they are
forgiven for them and released from the guilt and pain that they have
caused them.
18th February: - Ash Wednesday
Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian
calendar. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, churchgoers are marked on the
forehead with a cross of ashes as a sign of penitence and mortality. The use
of ashes, made by burning palm crosses from the previous Palm Sunday, is
very symbolic.
Lent:
Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of
Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ's
sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Lent is marked by
fasting, from food and festivities. So Shrove Tuesday is the last chance to
indulge yourself, and to use up the foods that aren't allowed in Lent.
Giving up foods: but not wasting them
During Lent there are many foods that some Christians - historically and
today - would not eat: foods such as meat, fish, fats, eggs, and milky foods.
So that no food was wasted, families would have a feast on the “shriving
Tuesday”, and eat up all the foods that wouldn't last the forty days of Lent
without going off.
The need to eat up the fats gave rise to the French name Mardi Gras
('Fat Tuesday'). Pancakes became associated with Shrove Tuesday as they
were a dish that could use up all the eggs, fats and milk in the house with
just the addition of flour.
13
NHS Complaints Advocacy
- POhWER
The NHS Complaints Advocacy Service provided by POhWER is a free and
independent service helping people to raise their NHS complaint using the formal
processes available. The service is not part of, nor funded by, the NHS and as
such we remain impartial to help those who have experienced problems with their
NHS care and treatment, or a family member or friend to raise this on their
behalf.
Anyone who wishes to make a complaint or raise a concern regarding NHS care
has the right to do so, and POhWER supports all members of the community to
do this, including people in prisons and secure accommodation.
The service helps people through the complaints process by providing
information, advice and guidance about their rights/options within the formal
complaint system. Where people require additional assistance, an experienced
and qualified advocate is assigned to support people through the complaint process – and through to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman if
required.
POhWER can provide a vital lifeline at what can often be a difficult time,
ensuring people do not feel alone when navigating the complaint process. We can
provide assistance with drafting letters, speaking to NHS staff regarding the
complaint, and empowering individuals to make their own decisions and have their
voice heard. We can also attend local resolution meetings with the client at the
hospital or surgery, if required, to assist in resolving the complaint.I have included the link to the information page on our web site which may be helpful:
http://www.pohwer.net/self-help-tools/nhs-complaints-advocacy-self-help-tools.
This page provides further information on how to raise an NHS complaint.
We also have literature that is tailored for our clients needs - including foreign
languages, and large print. We can also provide support through home or prison
visits, if appropriate.
Our Information, Advice and Advocacy Support Centre can be contacted on:
0300 020 0093 or by emailing [email protected]. I can be reached through
calling 0300 020 0093 or by email at [email protected]
Jill Pierpoint, Advocate
14
Ingredients
For the filling:
3 oranges;
6 fl oz (175 ml) water;
a thin strip of lemon rind;
2 oz(55g) granulated sugar;
3tbsps (45 ml) orange juice;
3 dessertspoons (30ml) lemon juice)
4 tbsps (60ml) Cointreau; caster sugar
For the batter:
4 oz(115g) plain flour
2 eggs; ½ pint(300ml) milk
2oz(55g) melted butter
Method
1.
Prepare the batter in the usual way. Cook the pancakes and put them
on one side, on top of one another, with greaseproof paper between
them.
2.
Prepare the filling. Peel 2 thin spirals of rind from an orange and cut
into fine shreds. Put them in a saucepan with the water and a thin
spiral of lemon rind, also in fine shreds. Cook in a covered pan until
tender.
3.
Remove the strips, add the granulated sugar and simmer until syrupy;
add the strained orange and lemon juice, and simmer until syrupy
again. Peel the oranges. Remove the pith, divide into segments and
heat them in the syrup. Add the Cointreau.
4.
Pour a little of the syrup into a hot frying pan. Add one pancake and
heat quickly. Arrange 2 orange segments in the centre, roll up and
keep hot. Repeat with each pancake. Serve at once, sprinkled with a
little caster sugar.
Cook’s comments: This is a luxurious version of the humble pancake, almost
as glamorous as Crepes Suzette.
15
Going faster, going further - Notts
broadband roll-out set to be extended
Nottinghamshire may already be on the way to becoming one of the best
connected counties in the country, but new County Council proposals could
see thousands of extra homes and businesses get access to faster
broadband.
Nottinghamshire County Council and BT are six months into the delivery
phase of Contract One of the £20m Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire
(BBfN) programme, which will see access to fibre broadband made available
to nearly 95% of the homes and businesses in the county by March 2016.
Now new £5m plans to extend the roll-out further, which would boost faster
broadband availability up to 97% of properties countywide, are to be
considered by the County Council's Policy Committee on 7 January.
Retford Ramblers
Retford Ramblers would like to invite you to join them on a Taster Walk.
8th February – we will be doing a 6 miler in the steps of Robin Hood
15th February – another local walk of 7 miles in the Tuxford and East
Markham area
1st March – a longer walk of 9½ miles on the Isle of Axholme
The Group meet in the Chapelgate Car Park usually for a 9.30 am departure,
car sharing is always encouraged with a voluntary
contribution to be made to the driver.
If you would to know more please contact :
Mike (Membership Secretary)
on 01427 880984 OR
e-mail – [email protected]
BBfN Contract Two (Superfast Extension Programme) would tap into an
offer of £2.63m in Government and £2.63m in D2N2 Local Enterprise
Partnership Growth Deal funding to deliver the scheme.
When Contract One is completed in March 2016, it's projected that
district-by-district superfast broadband availability will be:







Bawtry Theatres’ Next Play is
“Steel Magnolias”
Ashfield - 97.2% coverage (54,167 homes and businesses)
Bassetlaw - 88.1% coverage (46,556 homes and businesses)
Broxtowe - 97.6% coverage (50,367 homes and businesses)
Gedling - 98.4% coverage (52,320 homes and businesses)
Mansfield - 97.7% coverage (49,077 homes and businesses)
(February 28th to March 7th)
Newark and Sherwood - 88.8% coverage (48,358 homes and businesses)
Rushcliffe - 92.1% coverage (45.527 homes and businesses)
BBfN Contract Two would particularly target more rural areas in the
districts of Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood and Rushcliffe - where
availability after Contract One is not as high as elsewhere in the county.
For further information on this press release please contact me:
Rob Shirley, Senior Media Officer Nottinghamshire County Council on
0115-77 2802 or email [email protected].
Editors Note: My download speed of 4-5mb/s and upload of 0.5-1mbs
clearly puts Mattersey in the 11.9% Bassetlaw “still to do” bracket !
16
Jane Thompson
17
The Vicar’s Viewpoint
As you read this issue we will be well into a new year. The season of “good
will to all” is over. But should it be? The sharp eyed among you will have
noticed a different picture of me, largely obscured by the words “The Big
Issue.” (page 20) Recently I spent a day with the Big Issue team in
Birmingham. It was an amazing insight. I wonder what you think when you see
someone selling a Big Issue? Have you asked their name or shared a coffee?
When the Big Issue began it was the only not for profit organisation working
with the homeless. The founder, John Bird, saw there were plenty of
charities which gave things for free to people. He set up a charitable
enterprise as a hand-up and not a hand-out. Big Issue sellers buy their
magazines, pay for their badge and then sell them making a small profit on
each magazine, while the Big Issue use any profit they make to see their
sellers have a chance to achieve their dreams of employment and accommodation. Keeping an eye out for them too. Look out for the official badge and
vest, it’s been paid for.
January is a very lean month for Big Issue sellers, which is a surprise, surely
after the festivities of Christmas, the expectation of the beginning of a
New Year, it should be a bumper month? I am reminded that it only takes
one Big Issue in our lives for us to rely upon the generosity of others, but
beyond that each of us need other people. How many of us can say we are
self-sufficient?
If you want to have plenty of space on a busy street, all you need to do is try
and sell a Big Issue. I had 15 minutes to sell the Big Issue, I failed to make a
sale, but I could go home and not worry about it, my food, rent or electric
didn’t depend on it. Plenty of people just passed on by. Jesus is the selfgiving one, he knows his gift will be turned away by many, yet he still gave
himself. The Big Issue for you and me is that this life is a gift but so many
people take it for granted, until a Big Issue comes along.
I hope that when you see someone selling the Big Issue you will stop and buy
one and ask them their name, see what happens. But I also hope that you will
experience the wonder and the gift of knowing the one who gave himself for
us even if we walk on by he generously offers us hope again and again.
Paul Savage
18
19