SLIP END PLAYGROUP
The Summer Term started well for us. Some
children moved on to Nursery where they have settled in fine
and are enjoying themselves. We meanwhile have some new
children too. They are settling well and getting used to the
routine, to playing with other children, to leaving their
parents for a while and having different adults to rely on
and to play with.
We celebrated the Queen's Jubilee by having a Fun Run in the
children's park and a picnic and activities in the grounds of
the Village Hall on Friday 31st May. This was a joint venture
with the Toddler group and we were very pleased to see lots
of children, parents, grandparents and friends from the
village. The weather was beautiful and the children all ran
round the park to be rewarded with a certificate and a Union
Jack flag to mark their achievements. There were activities
such as colouring, playdough, cars and garages and the balls
with goal posts for the children and refreshments, a raffle
and tombola for the adults as well as the picnic complete
with jellies and ice cream for the children. Thanks to
everyone who helped to make a successful and very enjoyable
morning.
With half term holidays over we are now going be doing a
project based on the story of the Very Hungry Caterpillar and
also hopefully watching some caterpillars of our own turn
into butterflies.
Towards the end of term we are hoping to organise a trip to
Woodside Wild Fowl Park using some of our money from the
sponsorship of the Fun Run.
Jill Acton
Crossing the finishing line with the flag.
Children from the playgroup
Enjoying the Jubilee tea
And here come some more runners - closely followed by Jill!
Report from Elizabeth Poole
Slip End Playgroup and Toddlers held their annual
Fun Run along with Golden Jubilee Celebrations. Luckily the
weather was in our favour and all the children were kept busy
playing outside with the activities provided. Hopefully they
gave the senior citizens who came along a pleasant morning in
the sun.
Jill ran round the play-park several times so that all the
children could take part in the sponsored run, thank you Jill.
Also, a big thank you to all the parents, grand parents and
carers who provided the picnic, cakes and helping out and not
forgetting the ladies who served the tea.
SLIP END PARISH COUNCIL.
JUBILEE COINS.
I am still receiving names for the above coins.
There must still be young people out there whose names have
not been put forward. If you think that your child may be one
of them, please contact me.
CRIME FIGURES
The Crime Figures for May are as follows:-
1 Taking and Driving Away. 1 Assault (ABH). 1 Criminal Damage
(vehicle.) 3 Theft (other). 2 Thefts from Motor Vehicles. and
1 Theft of a Motor Vehicle.
For June, so far, 1 Theft (other) and 1 Interference of motor
vehicle.
Lets keep reporting the crimes, eventually we may get the
Police!!!
BUS SERVICES.
I have received a letter from BCC Mr Malcolm
Roxburgh, the Transport Policy Advisor a copy of which went
to Cllr. Richard Stay, informing the Parish Council of - in
our opinion - severe curtailment of Bus Services with effect
from this Summer. It reads thus: 'Luton Borough Council has
given the County Council notice that the Borough Council will
cease to make any financial contribution after 31.8.02.
towards four supported cross-boundary contracts. The Borough
Council states that this is to avoid an overspend on its
tendered local bus services budget in 2002/03. The BC's
adopted Statement of Public Transport Policies gives services
within Luton and 'the conurbation' (not us, you note) a
higher priority than cross-boundary services. The contracts
affected include the evening journeys (which run on
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only) and the Sunday
journeys on service 231 Luton - Slip End - Caddington -
Dunstable. Secondly, Arriva the Shires has given notice of
major service changes with effect from 28.7.02. Those
affecting Slip End are as follows:-
Service 231 Luton-SlipEnd-Caddington-Dunstable, which is
operated commercially on Mondays to Saturdays on an
approximately hourly frequency, will be withdrawn completely.
A new service 342 will be introduced St Albans-Markyate-SlipEnd-Caddington-Luton,
operating 5/6 times a day Mondays to Saturdays.
Rural bus subsidy grant Service 202 Harpended-Pepperstock-SlipEnd-AleyGreen-Caddington-ChaulEnd-L&D-Dunstable.
Arriva proposes the withdrawal of the first and last journeys
(which are little used) but the introduction of an additional
mid-morning return journey between Slip End and Dunstable.
The following services in Slip End will not be affected:
Supported Service 4 late night 2305 dep. from Luton, which
extends to Slip End and Caddington. Supported Service 32
Luton-SlipEnd-Pepperstock-AleyGreen-Caddington. Partly
supported 46 Luton-SlipEnd-Markyate-HH. Commercial services
of other operators: Grant Palmer, Refresh Travel. To
summarise, the effect of these Arriva changes will be:
Fewer buses between Caddington, Slip End and Luton at quieter
times of the day.
No buses between Slip End, Caddington and Dunstable via the A5,
but there will still be buses between these points on Service
202 via the L&D.
No buses for pupils not entitled to free school transport
between Slip End, Caddington and Dunstable Southern Campus
and Queensbury schools.'
So, in a nutshell it looks as if Arriva and Luton Borough get
their way the wagon trains will only come through a couple of
times a week. We discussed this at the last PC meeting and
have put forward our concerns and possible contributions as
to how this will affect us as a community - along with input
from interested members of the public. I have been invited,
along with Terry Oliver Chairman of Caddington PC, to go to
County Hall on the 18.6.02. to discuss these changes and the
implications of them. We also intend to write to our Member
of Parliament, Luton Borough Council and - in keeping with
this current Governments policy on rural transport - the
Prime Minister and Minister of Transport. So I will keep you
all posted. In the meantime, if you wish to voice your own
opinions personally to any or all of the above, please do so.
NUISANCE NEIGHBOURS.
No, I'm not going to go on about the bloke next door
who always lights bonfires when you've just put your washing
out. Or the couple down the road who allow their dogs to foul
everywhere, or the family down the street with kids who are a
danger to society, I am talking about the biggest nuisance
neighbour Slip End has to put up with. LUTON BOROUGH!!!! They
renege on their bus agreements, we have to put up with their
planes arriving at the Airport but get none of the subsidies,
they want to put their blasted Stadium on our doorstop (note
obviously they don't expect any fans to arrive at this
Stadium on public transport because there is not going to be
any!!). What I want to know is what are we going to do about
it? Firstly, may I suggest that you start to omit the word
Luton when using your address:- (Slip End, Beds. followed by
Postcode). Insurance quotes for cars etc., are based on
crime, which happens in Luton LU1. As a personal crusade I
will be contacting the Post office to see how we can get our
postcode changed and whatever else we can do to either
distance ourselves from these so called neighbours of ours or
at least see how we can boycott the whole damned lot of 'em!!!
Watch this space. That's is for this month, I'm getting of my
soap box before I fall off of it!! Take care of yourselves.
Christine Benson.
Chairman. Slip End Parish Council.
SLIP END SCHOOL
Photos taken of the children from Slip End
School enjoying the celebrations at the party to celebrate
the Queens Golden Jubilee. All the children received a
commemorative mug.
OPEN DAY
Did you know that Slip End School has
the following…………..
· 100% SATS results in
Writing, Maths and Science.
· All classes have under 25
children
· A fully equipped Computer
Suite
· An 'After School Club'
· A beautifully Natural
Environment
On Friday 28th June the school will be having an Open Day.
Tours of the school have been arranged to give parents a
chance to see the school in action. We hope to have a report
in next months issue.
SLIP END CUBS
The Cooks badges are still being awarded so
that means that the leaders waists keep gaining in girth. We
only have two leaders since Sandy left. That's myself as
leader (Akela) and Mervyn as assistant leader. (Any
interested parties in helping please let us know) On Saturday
22nd we are having a day out with the Beavers. This is a
Circus fun day held at Gilwell Park which just happens to be
Scout headquarters. The coach is picking us up bright and
early so hopefully we should have a good day out.
Lorraine Crossett
HUMOUR
Earning a crust!
A couple were walking along the South Bank in London when
they saw a busker playing an instrument that neither of them
recognised. They went over for a closer look but the man
stopped playing and took out his sandwiches. "Thought
I'd have a bite," he smiled, "Oh yes," the
young lady said, still looking at the instrument in his lap.
"We were just wondering what it was." "Cheese
and pickle," he replied.
It's a wonder!!
A priest is driving down from Norwich to London and gets
stopped on the Wymondham bypass. The traffic cop smells
alcohol on the priest's breath and then sees an empty wine
bottle on the floor of the car. He says; "Sir, have you
been drinking?" "Just water," says the priest.
The policeman says: "Then why do I smell wine?" The
priest looks at the bottle and says: "Its another
miracle…"
Date Line
During the computer class, the teacher chastised one boy for
talking to the girl next to him. "I was just asking a
question," the pupil said. "If you have a question,
ask me" the teacher tersely replied. "OK," he
answered. "Do you want to go out with me on Friday
night?"
WOMENS INSTITUTE
After 47 years holding our meetings in the
Collings-Wells Memorial Hall, we held our first monthly
meeting st the Baptist Church Hall in Caddington. It was a
first for Mrs L. Kalisz as well, as our Madame President. I
wonder if she knows what she has let herself in for!
The speaker, Mrs Vesey, was a tonic. Her Myths & Legends
could have been very mundane but she presented it with such
humour, we were laughing most of the time. The antidote for
breaking a mirror is bad luck will not follow if you bury it.
If you walk under a ladder you disturb the balance of your
life, so keep four fingers crossed until you see a dog. The
oak tree is a symbol of strength, hat decorated with acorns
prevents lighting striking you. George Washington believed in
the power of oak to such an extent that he had dentures made
of oak.
A few members made their way to Woburn to take part in a
Bedfordshire Group Treasure Hunt. Some of the clues were so
cryptic that we really had to concentrate. A fish and chip
supper with a good natter finished off a very pleasant
evening; no, Caddington did not win!
Forthcoming dates:
July 16th: Life in the Falklands, Mrs J. Bates
August 20th: Découpage Cards, Theresa Mela
September 17th: Birthday Meeting
We meet on the third Tuesday of each month at the Baptist
Church Hall (next door to the Chequers) in Caddington, where
a warm welcome awaits you
Patricia Crick
ST. ANDREW'S EVENTS
COMMITTEE
Don't forget!!!
It is almost
time for the Open Gardens event in Slip End. This is on
Saturday 13th July and will be open to the whole Village.
Gardens will be open from 11am until 5pm and there will be
teas, refreshments, plants and produce all available. The
proceeds will go to the Gardeners Benevolent Fund and Keech
Cottage Children's Hospice. Free programmes available from
the Post Office from 6th July.
The 'hanging basket' competition will be judged by Reverend
Joy Daniel and her husband Geoff on the 11th July and I will
let you know the result in next month's issue.
Try to get along to the gardens and see for yourself some of
the wonderful plants and arrangements. You never know - if
this proves to be a success it might turn into an annual
event!
URGENT LATE REQUEST
Sunday is the loneliest day of the week for
some elderly people. Often restricted to their homes by
illness or immobility they lose the opportunity to attend
church or meet with friends. For 28 years Contact the Elderly
in Luton have been alleviating loneliness amongst local
pensioners by taking out a small group to tea one Sunday a
month. The group is facing closure unless more volunteer
drivers can be found. Can you help?
An urgent search is on for :
DRIVERS with cars and an afternoon to spare ONCE
A MONTH.
HOSTS willing to put on a simple tea in
their home for about 10 old people and their drivers ONCE
A YEAR . The only requirements are easy access, a
downstairs toilet and a large teapot!
"The time I feel most lonely is after six o'clock, but
when I've been out to a Contact tea I don't feel lonely at
all - just fresh memories of a lovely afternoon with friends."
Harold, 89.
Do you know anyone who would benefit from our service? Please
call to learn more about our group in Luton and our sister
group in Dunstable
FREEPHONE 0800 716543 or visit www.contact-the-elderly.org
Registered Charity No 244681
EDITORS COLUMN
It's been another busy month and entries are
still arriving very late. Please try to get them in by the 16th
of the month otherwise it leaves a lot to be done before the
disc can be sent to the printers in time for the 1st of the
month. I've also had problems this month and have started a
new job, so spare a thought for the poor editor trying to
meet her deadline!
I know of several people in hospital at the moment including
my dear mother, and people that are recovering from illness
at home, so I would like to send them our very best wishes
and the following poem.
A Garden of Sunshine:
Just peeping in to say hello
and wish you well, my dear
If I could "hang the sunshine out"
you'd never shed a tear.
But life is meant for teardrops
and loneliness and sorrow
But God has promised sunshine
in the garden of tomorrow!
And he will bless and keep you
in his tender care
For we are all a part of God
and God is everywhere.
Our pages are also published on www.slipend.co.uk, reaching a far wider community
than our local area. If you have not been on line yet, take a look; as well as local news
there are bulletin boards, forums, pictures and other items, all of local interest.
PLEASE NOTE
– ALL CONTRIBUTORS
Articles for the
July issue of Parish News should be passed, by 15th
June
or earlier please, to Sue Cowell, 83 The Crescent, Caddington
(733507),
e-mail:
SueCowell@Caddington18.fsnet.co.uk.
Parish News
distribution queries? Please contact Brian Church on
01 582 458443
Anonymous
material will not be published, however names may be withheld
on request.
Parish
News reserves editorial rights.
Good Luck to anyone waiting for School or University exam results |
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Happy Holidays to all our readers who are
going away. |
Finally, a big thank you to Citroen for sponsoring last month’s colour cover. What a difference it made and if there is anyone else who would like to sponsor a colour issue please do let me know. Thanks, Editor
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