Welcome to the new Bramham Village blog where you can add a post or a page about any or many of the varied activities, organisations and goings-on in Bramham.  If you submit regular reports to the Parish magazine why not file them online your self or email your article to webmaster@wetherbyweb.com when you submit it for the printed magazine

All posts will be listed in date and time order until they expire. 

If you want to view the posts in a particular category, click on the Category dropdown menu on the right and choose one.  The number of posts is listed alongside.

Pages contain ‘static’ information which changes less frequently.

Don’t click on the ‘Filed in’ link below a post as this may take you away from the site

30th Jan – Special Parochial Church Meeting St Mary’s Church Parish Room 7.30 pm

1st Feb – Drama Group AGM— Village Hall 8.00 pm

2nd Feb – Bramham Parish Council Meeting 7.30 pm OAP Shelter

5th Feb – Bramham Discoverers—4.00 pm in Church

6th Feb – Monday Club Bramham Village Hall 1.30 pm

8th Feb – Bramham Readers Group 7.30 pm The Swan

11th Feb – Comedy Night with Supper Bramham Village Hall 7.30 pm

14th Feb – Church Bell Practice Night 7.00

15th Feb – YCA – Bramham Village Hall 7.00 pm

24th Feb – Pop Music Quiz The Swan 8.30 pm

28th Feb – Church Bell Practice Night 7.00

28th Feb – Bramham Community Action Group AGM 7.30 pm OAP Shelter

2nd March – The Leeds Ceilidh Band Boston Spa Village Hall 8.00 pm

9th March – New Carers Support Group Boston Spa Village Hall

10th March – Table Top Sale, Bramham Village Hall 11.00 to 2.00 pm

21st March – Lotherton Hall Chamber Music

5th April – Queen visits York – Maundy Thursday

21st April – Wedding Fair Bramham Village Hall 11.00 – 4.00 pm

5th May – Roy Orbison and 60’s Tribute Night Bramham Village Hall 8.00 pm

20th May – Bramham Sports Carnival

2nd June – Village Gala

13th June – WiSE Summer Coffee Morning Primary School 10.00 – 11.45

Keep Your Keys Safe

A number of burglaries are committed simply to obtain car keys! The primary target is the car that is parked in the driveway. With modern cars being fitted with immobiliser as standard the days of ‘Hot Wiring’ a car to steal it are past. To take a modern car the thief needs the keys.

Firstly the majority of stolen cars are taken when parked on the street or in driveways so if you have a garage USE IT. You may have already told your insurance company you garage your car overnight. So, leaving your car on the driveway may cause insurance problems if stolen.

Always keep your car keys OUT OF SIGHT. Do not leave them on the Hall table or kitchen worktop. Keys can be ‘Hooked’ through letter boxes and cat flaps using garden poles.

Do not leave them hanging in the door lock with your house keys!

Take a few precautions to hide your car keys and garage your car overnight.

For further information please contact your local Crime Reduction Officer by dialling 101 and asking for a Crime Reduction Officer.

REPORT MINOR CRIME ONLINE: Did you know you are now able to report a West Yorkshire crime online, request a callback or report lost property, all via the website http://www.westyorkshire.police.uk

The Wetherby & District Crime Prevention Panel is receiving requests to attend Community Events through 2012. If you would like us to attend your event please contact the Chairman on the details below.

The Panel is also available to give Crime Prevention talks to groups, small or large. Morning, afternoon or evenings. Again, please contact the Chairman to arrange a convenient time to suit your organisation. See contact details at foot of page.

Maureen Brewer,

Telephone 01937 582 441

Mobile 07711 150 438

Building work on the pavilion is progressing according to plan with the foundations laid and work commencing on the external walls; luckily, we have not yet been impacted by the weather. The planners have signed off the “Discharge of Conditions application’, we are receiving lots of ideas and support for the landscaping plan and the stone for the walls has been selected from the two panels built by the builders cabin; lots of people gave us their preferences and it was a close call. There have been a few technical issues with mismatches on where the utility services were thought to be, where they are and where they should be but this all in the capable hands of Bardsey Builders and the project manager who are providing solutions.

Sports carnival

Looking ahead to summer, with the 2012 Olympics and the push to encourage greater participation in sport, Bramham Sports Carnival, postponed from September, will now take place on Sunday May 20th at the playing fields. By rescheduling it at the end of the football season there are encouraging signs that the senior 5-a-side football tournament will be well supported by teams from the surrounding area – let’s make sure Bramham is also well represented! Other activities on offer will be family Olympics, taster sessions for archery, beat the goalie, boules, score a rugby goal plus many more family oriented sessions. This forms part of Bramham’s comprehensive program for the village jubilee celebrations. The BSLA web site will be kept updated with opportunities, events and application forms.

BSLA Committee

Work is speedily proceeding with the gardens on the corner of Lyndon Ave and Wetherby Road. At the time of writing this the contractors have said that providing the weather stays mild they should be finished by the end of February.

Funded by a grant from The Big Lottery the garden will include a hard surface pathway leading to seating made from re cycled materials. Hundreds of plants will be used to provide virtually maintenance free shrub borders and year round colour and ground cover. The contractor Brambledown of Leeds are very experienced in doing these projects and we are sure that it when it is finished it will form a most attractive visual feature as we all enter the village.

Keith Innocent and the Bramham Community Action Group have been liaising with the Big Lottery and Groundworks Leeds to provide this village facility without the need to draw on the Council Tax or the Community Fund.

We all apologise for the disruption this may be causing in the area while the work is going on, but rest assured the contractors will ensure minimum disruption and mess over the period. We know that it will be worth it!

Watch next months edition for some exciting news regarding the gardens.

Keith Innocent

CIVIC, Church and Tourism leaders have hailed news that the Queen will visit York on 5th April to distribute Maundy Money.

The Lord Mayor, Coun David Horton, who announced the royal visit said how “honoured and delighted” he was that the Queen would be coming in such an important year, both for her personally and for the city. He said: “York has a long association with the British monarchy and I’m sure residents will provide a fitting welcome for the Queen.”

The monarch is expected to enter the city in traditional fashion at Micklegate Bar, where she will be greeted by the Lord Mayor and York’s first female town clerk – council chief executive Kersten England – and then go to the Minster for the service.

The Dean of York, the Very Reverend Keith Jones, said staff at the cathedral were “thrilled” the Queen had decided to distribute the Royal Maundy there in her Diamond Jubilee Year.

“The Queen has asked that representatives from all over the United Kingdom should be included in the Royal Maundy this year, alongside the recipients from the Diocese of York, and there will be a special air of thanksgiving for her long reign,” said the Dean, who retires only weeks after the service. “There is so much excitement centred on London this year that it’s great that York will once again be the place for this Royal and beautiful ceremony.” He said the last time the Queen distributed the Royal Maundy in York was in 1972. “This year Her Majesty’s visit also coincides with the 800th anniversary of the granting of the City of York’s charter, which adds to our delight.”

In December we celebrated Christmas with our usual party, complete with festive drinks, nibbles and delicious mincepies, together with a quiz and a visit from Secret Santa. A good time was had by all!

Our speaker on February 15th is an old friend Mr John Gilleghan who will give a travel talk on The Jewels of the Black Sea in the Village Hall at 7.00 pm

All visitors are most welcome to join us.

Jean Dale

The Parish of Lower Wharfe:

All Saints, Bramham, St. Mary the Virgin, Boston Spa,

St. Peter, Walton and

The Parish of All Saints, Thorp Arch

Re: Appointment of Mrs Cathy Dibben as Pastoral Care Co-ordinator for the Benefice of Bramham

Following our Staff time away last year and subsequent conversations about how we manage the many requests we receive for pastoral support, I have asked Cathy Dibben, our Diocesan Reader, to accept the role of Pastoral Care Co-ordinator for the Benefice of Bramham. Cathy has kindly agreed to do this.

What does this mean in practice? All information in connection with any re-quests for a pastoral visit are treated confidentially. All requests for pastoral care, other than those which, for personal reasons, may be made directly to the clergy including calls from the families of parishioners who are dying, should be directed to Cathy.

This will include requests for Holy Communion which she will pass on to Peter Wood, who will continue to co-ordinate the Eucharistic Ministers for the parish churches in the Parish of Lower Wharfe.

Given that there are currently four clergy (including Stanley) some pastoral vis-its have clashed. Cathy will be able to assist us in this regard.

One very important role that Cathy will undertake will be to keep up to date lists of parishioners who are housebound and/or sick. Names of parishioners requiring a visit can be given to Cathy directly or through the Parish Office. This will enable the Staff to keep track of this vital work.

Thanking you for your kind attention.

With every good wish,

The Rev Peter E Bristow, Vicar

The New Year got off to an encouraging start with a visit to the Tadcaster Circuit from the President of the Methodist Conference, the Revd. Leo Osborn. Boston Spa Methodist Church hosted the evening service of Holy Communion. The President gave the address, and District Chair, Revd. Stephen Burgess presided at Communion. The offering of the evening went to support the President’s chosen charity, the Methodist Relief and Development Fund. It was a joyful service, with great music, thanks to Nick Farnell on the organ, and Jackie Faulkner who led a fabulous choir who came together for the occasion. Thanks are also due, as usual to the team of helpers who were doing more of everything on such an occasion.

It is always wonderful to recognise that Christ’s body is much bigger than we realise. We are sometimes so comfortable in the churches that we attend, that we can forget that we are part of something much much more. The President reminded us that there are seventy million Methodists across the globe. And it is heartening to think that that figure is still a fraction of all the Christians who, in spite of our different ways of worshipping, and our different theologies, still find unity in Jesus Christ.

He was also an encouraging voice for change and growth, telling us of a church who could no longer support their building and who developed a ministry in an Asda supermarket – first a crèche, then a mini-service then a regular time of worship as demand for the ministry increased. Yes, demand! People are still looking for ways to worship God in ways that are relevant for them! A church for whom the outlook appeared bleak was reborn through a new vision and a will to serve God. It reminded me of Paul’s second letter to Timothy “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline”.

May this be a year when we recapture the vision God has set before us, and respond to his call to follow where he may lead – even if the path is a little scary and unfamiliar!

Blessings

Susan

Traffic & Speeding issues:

The Council discussed the issues raised by residents at the December meeting with our local police liaison officer. The Police have agreed to carry out speed spot checks in problem areas and to hold ‘days of action’ at the school where the children help catch speeding motorists who can then be fined or given ‘lines’ to write! They will also liaise with Boston Spa school re the problem of school buses cutting through Bramham. The Police advised the obstruction rules for parking by the shop and garage. A ticket can be given if cars are too close to the junction or not leaving access on the pavement.

The Council also intends to approach Leeds City Council regarding a 20mph speed limit in some areas and the police will back our request.

Neighbourhood Plan:

At the time of writing the council is planning the Steering Committee meeting (Saturday 21st January) with those who have volunteered to help. A further update will be given next month and it’s not too late to become involved (however little time you have, your help will be appreciated), just contact our clerk below.

Dog Fouling:

The Council fully recognises that the majority of dog owners are responsible people who clear up after their pets and in no way wishes to castigate all dog owners. There are however some problem areas, particularly grass verges, the churchyard, and the playing field. Residents are reminded that dog mess can be put, bagged, in normal litter bins except on the playing field where the bins are emptied by private contractors. Please remember that dog mess on the playing field is a very unpleasant hazard to all who use it, including children and the footballers.

Playground:

The council is organising some minor repairs and is also looking into a grant to improve facilities.

Queen’s Jubilee:

Councillor Keith Innocent is organising events to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee which includes a “Street Meet” to be held during the Gala on Saturday 2nd June. It is hoped that a commemorative coin can be issued to all Bramham children under 16. The council is also considering ideas for a permanent commemoration such as a plaque or tree.

Bramham Archives:

We are still looking for a volunteer, or volunteers, to take on the Archivist role, ie the job of gathering new data to be added to the archives to record continuing life and change in Bramham. If you might be interested please let us know

Pavilion:

Work is ongoing and fortunately has not been hampered by bad weather so far.

Access to the wildlife area by the Old People’s Shelter:

The council is contacting the Environment Agency re the provision of a handrail on the bridge.

Communications:

The Council notice board in the garden of the old people’s shelter has been much improved by Cllr Mackie. We will be keeping this board up to date with information about the Coun-cil, things going on in our village and useful contacts. Please take a look and let us know if you have any suggestions for further improvement. We have also located files in the shop, the doctor’s surgery and the shelter with copies of the council minutes and will be adding further information to these files as our work evolves to keep you all informed.

Old People’s Shelter:

We need a gardener for the garden at the shelter. This is paid, not voluntary. If anyone is interested please contact the clerk or any of the Councillors.

Next Meeting:

Wednesday 2nd February, 7.30 in the Old People’s Shelter. As always, residents are very welcome and you can raise any issues then, during the residents’ session, or via our clerk, details below.

Bramham Parish Council

Contact:

Alison Henson

Bramham Parish Clerk

E mail: clerk@bramhamparishcouncil.org.uk

Address: Chantry House, Northgate Lane, Linton, LS22 4HS

Website: www.bramhamparishcouncil.org.uk

What happened on the 24th December & 8th January?

The children have been brilliant over the past couple of weeks and a massive thank you goes to them and the parents.

The 24th December saw the children perform the Nativity and it was brilliant, unfortunately we didn’t have any real animals but we did have a talking donkey!

The 8th January was the Christingle Service. We were joined by some children from St Mary’s Discoverers, Boston Spa. Here they learnt about what the Christingle service was all about and what it meant. They were then involved in the service, reading bible passages.

Next Bramham Discoverers…

If you feel like you’ve missed out, feel free to join us for a special Discoverers on the 5th February at 4pm, then the following Sunday Family Service at 10am.

If you would like to help with refreshments or anything else, please speak to

Alex Clayton 07584 435276