Apethorpe's Christmas Extravaganza!

Father Christmas says: "Apethorpe needs you!"

HAVE you ever fancied showing off your talents in front of the great and good of Apethorpe?
Well now is your chance following the announcement of ACE (Apethorpe Christmas Extravaganza), Apethorpe's very own Christmas talent show.
The event which is being organised by Diane Gifford, Mandy Foxwell, Justine Bentley and Nicola Pearson, will take place at St Leonard's Church on Saturday December 11th at 6.30pm.
It aims to bring back the fun and celebration of a real community Christmas and the organisers hope everyone will be involved whether actually performing or just being in the audience singing carols.
So if you've ever fancied reciting your own poem, singing your favourite song or creating a sketch with a neighbour then let Mandy Foxwell know on: 01780-479055.
Tickets cost £2 for performers and £5 for the audience with all proceeds going to St Leonards Church. Under 16s are free. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served at 6.30pm with the performances starting at 7pm.

Charity Dance with Fish and Chip Supper

APETHORPE'S very own rock stars, Gone to the Dogs, are appearing at a charity dance and fish and chip supper in Woodnewton next month.
The event at Woodnewton Village Hall on Saturday November 20th is to raise money for the Sue Ryder Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Care, with all proceeds exlcuding the hire of the hall and food going to these worthy causes. The ticket price of £12.50 includes the opportunity to get your rocks off to the sounds and delights of Gone to the Dogs, and a fish and chip supper. If you'd like a drink then please bring your own along for the event which starts at 7.30pm.
Pat Howells said: "It will be a fun night but the hall limits us to 100 people so tickets will be on a first come, first served basis."
Pat is also holding a raffle and looking for donations, again, with all proceeds going to charity. So if you have anything to donate, from a tin of biscuits or Christmas crackers to toiletries or spirits, or anything imaginative and new, everything will be appreciated.
Tickets are available from the Kings Head or by calling Pat on: 01780-470129.

Village Picture to be recreated!

FANCY taking part in a village photograph similar to this one taken to celebrate the Millenium?
Well, following an idea by Mike Phillips, that's exactly what is going to happen on Remembrance Sunday after the Church service.
Apethorpe News has agreed to provide a photographer to capture the people of Apethorpe on Sunday November 14th.
Many thanks to Mike and Lois for the idea and for supplying a copy of the picture above which I'm told was taken on September 15, 2000.

Objections to new Holiday Village

PLANS to build a massive new retail and holiday village near Apethorpe were discussed at length at the Village Meeting last month.
The proposed development between the industrial estate in Kings Cliffe and Jacks Green would cover some 650 acres.
At present no formal planning application has been submitted but the council has asked for the view of villagers. Kings Cliffe Parish Council have already said they 'strenuously resist due to the large number (1140 dwellings) of accomodation units proposed'.
Chairman of the Village Meeting, Malcolm Winder listed the points of objection villagers had already made to him previously and appealed for people to make their voices heard.
The list so far includes:
• Disturbance to wildlife and vegetation
• Concern for the present Rights of Way
• It is a place of historical interest
• There would be increased noise  particularly from the amphitheatre
• The amount of waste generated from the site
• Light pollution
• The impact of increased traffic
• The visual impact
• There are already caravan sites at Nassington and Yarwell
The above objections, plus views concerning the county structure plan will be put to the East Northamptonshire District Council.

Flora and fauna postcards

YOUR photos of flora and fauna are needed to help create Apethorpe's very own postcards.
Mike Johnson of Manor Farm is asking for the best pictures taken in and around Apethorpe so that he can make the cards.
They will go on sale in the Church and the King's Head pub.
The postcards follow on from Mike's very succesful village calendar he printed last year.
Email entries to Mike at: annmike.johnson@tiscali.co.uk

Phone Box to be turned into Village Library

APETHORPE'S very own telephone booth will be turned into the village's smallest and only library following discussion at the last Village Meeting.
Graham Warren has agreed to turn the box into a library for CDs and books for the village to share and use.
Turning old BT telephone boxes into useful items for towns and villages has really taken off recently with booths turned into everything from night clubs to an art galler across the country.

Apethorpe says 'No to Nuclear Waste'

APETHORPE came out fighting following news that an appeal to dump radioactive nuclear waste in the nearby village of Kings Cliffe would be held in Corby.
Apethorpe residents filled their windows and houses with 'Radioactive Waste No Thanks' posters and banners to show our dissaproval at the plans.
The appeal runs from Tuesday October 26 in the Manor Suite, Holiday Inn, Corby at 10am for four weeks.
The posters around the village were displayed following a discussion at the last Village Meeting to show our view on the proposed plans to dump waste at the Augean site near Kings Cliffe.

Keith sends his thanks

KEITH HOWELLS would like to extend his thanks to the support, kindness and friendship everyone in the village has shown throughout his recent illness.
Keith said: "Everyone has been so kind and supportive, not only to me, but just as importantly Pat .
A number of good people in Apethorpe  have been through this and are excellent roll models as well as first class surgical and medical staff in Peterborough (as well as kind Nick Blackford in Apethorpe) to look after me. Although I don't think I fall within his current paediatric remit!"
We wish Keith and Pat all our love from everyone at Apethorpe News.