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Don’t forget to check our Events Diary for more information on events in all our villages and surrounding area.

PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWS…

….From the Headteacher…

It has been wonderful to see the school so full of life again since the Easter break. Pupils have settled straight back into their learning, and the buzz around classrooms and corridors has been fantastic.

The children have especially enjoyed returning to their music lessons, Pacesetters sports clubs, Drama Club, and choir. We’ve also had brilliant participation in gymnastics competitions and girls’ football matches. Our Reception pupils shone at their Multi-Skills Festival, which they thoroughly enjoyed. A huge thank you to Niall for organising these enriching experiences for our children.

This summer term is always one of our busiest, and this year is no exception. Our Year 6 pupils have now completed their SATs and are eagerly awaiting their results, I know they will have done brilliantly. While SATs are an important part of primary school, at Guilsborough we place wellbeing, positivity, and happiness at the heart of everything we do. As in every year of my headship, we ensured that our Year 6 pupils felt calm and supported throughout the process. They all enjoyed their SATs welcome breakfast, giving them a relaxed and positive start to each day. We are now looking forward to the Year 6 residential in early June.

Year 4 swimming lessons will begin this summer and will take place every Monday morning for seven weeks.

We are also excited to be planning our Whole School Trip. Last year’s visit received such positive feedback that we will once again be choosing a destination linked to our Summer Term 2 Project Friday. This will be something meaningful, memorable, and a real treat for the children, who absolutely deserve it.

Please remember, if you need any information about what’s happening at Guilsborough Primary we have lots of information on our website – www.guilsboroughprimary.co.uk or you can keep up to speed via our Facebook account – Guilsborough C of E Primary School (a closed group for parents, guardians or carers) or through our Twitter profile – @guilsboroughpri/x and our Instagram account - Instagram.com/guilsboroughprimaryschool.

Parish Council

Please keep reporting potholes on Fix My Street (www.fixmystreet.com); in fact you can report a whole host of other problems such as damaged pavements, obstructed footpaths, fly tipping, damaged drain covers, blocked drains and lots more. It’s very easy to do and you can even upload pictures and the great thing about it is you can immediately see on a map if the problem has already been reported. Plus it only takes a couple of minutes!

Parking nuisances

We are still receiving complaints of inconsiderate and illegal parking. Instances of driveways being obstructed, parked vehicles being blocked in, pavements being obstructed and parking too close to junctions and bends are all complained about.

Speed fiends

Speeding and inappropriate speed is still a problem. Not just the minority of drivers exceeding the speed limit but also drivers travelling too fast for the situation. There’s been a marked increase of traffic on the Cold Ashby road, which is realistically a single track lane, where not only are some drivers exceeding the speed limit by a considerable amount as they leave/enter the 30mph limit but also driving at inappropriate speeds once outside of the speed limit, causing some very near misses with the many pedestrians who use this road, as well as the horse riders and other vehicle users.

Guilsborough Friends

Where Good Company Meets Great Conversation

Looking to make new friends and enjoy lively social activities in a warm welcoming group? Guilsborough Friends is a diverse mix of ladies and gentlemen who enjoy meeting once a month to share, interests, ideas and good company.

Our varied programme includes:

Fascinating guest speakers

Informative garden visits

Enjoyable suppers and social evenings

Visits to local places of interest

And plenty more besides

£3 per meeting, unless otherwise stated, which is used to cover refreshments, costs and make charitable donations.

We look forward to welcoming new members.

Our Programme for the next 3 months:

Thursday 11th June Visit to 2 gardens in Flore. Proceeds to the National Garden Scheme

Friday 10th July Summer Supper - Hollowell Sailing Club

Thursday 13th August Walk and Talk - The Bringtons

For further information contact:

Janet Minney T 01604 740640

Elizabeth Southgate T 01604 740064

Farewell to Ron Boyes 1925 - 2026

On 28th February, we said goodbye to Ron Boyes at the remarkable age of 100.

Ron was born in Rugby on April 1st1925. He attended Lawrence Sherriff Grammar School and subsequently undertook a 5-year electrical engineering apprenticeship at British Thomson-Houston (BTH) in Rugby. During this time, he was accepted by the RAF for pilot training. His service was deferred until his apprenticeship was completed, however the war ended before he got the chance to fully enlist. In his final apprentice year, he was involved in the design of torpedo propulsion units.

Ron met Pauline, his future wife, whilst at BTH and they married in 1947 setting up home in Bilton, Rugby, where their three children Lydia, Elizabeth and Ian were born. Ron’s subsequent career focussed on designing and selling electrical equipment for the papermaking and printing industries. This involved extensive foreign travel, with work visits to over 35 different countries, including living in South Africa for two years.

After working in Manchester for a few years, Ron and the family moved to Church Mount in Guilsborough in 1970, which they both loved, and where they made many close friends. Ron always had a keen interest in sport and continued this in his retirement, playing tennis on Sunday mornings with neighbours from Church Mount. He joined the Probus lunch club, a local walking group, attended cricket and rugby matches, and lent his hand to scenery and props for the GMADS drama group.

Family meant so much to Ron. He loved the company of his grandchildren and was fortunate to have lived so long to see them grow and have families of their own. The great grandchildren are all lucky that they are old enough to have wonderful memories of him.

A Memorial Service was recently held at St Etheldreda’s Church which, at Ron’s request, “should celebrate my life and good fortune”, which it certainly did!

Ron and Pauline’s marriage of 78 and a half years was one of the longest in Britain. Pauline continues to live in Church Mount.

The Boyes Family

Anne Collins

Anne Collins of West Haddon Road, Guilsborough passed away on 26th March and was laid to rest at St. Nicholas Church, Overstone, followed by a wake at Guilsborough Village Hall.

Ron Boyes

Our condolences to Pauline Boyes and family on the passing of Ron Boyes, fellow centenarian, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

A new standard, but old traditions

Guilsborough Hollowell and District Royal British Legion replaced their RBL Standard after almost 100 years. Our present standard bearer Tony Letts (centre back row) is the son of Rio Letts carrying on a family tradition and following on from Frank Letts our last Standard Bearer who retired in 2025.

A huge thank you to all who contributed to a gift on my retirement as churchwarden of St Etheldreda's after 20 years. The flowers were beautiful and the vouchers perfectly chosen. The rôle was a great privilege, and I appreciate the support, encouragement and friendship of fellow members of the PCC, the regular congregation and the wider community.

Sincere thanks to all.

Hilary Worton

This England?

A quirky peek at England's history from the Stone Age to the Spanish Armada

19 June 7pm or 20 June 2.30pm

Join GMADS for their summer production at Four Acres, The Green, Guilsborough, the beautiful garden of Gay and Mark Webster. Refreshments available for a small charge in aid of the church. In case of rain, the production will relocate to the village hall.

Tickets £5 on the gate, children free with accompanying adult.

www.gmads.co.uk

Facebook: GMADSAmateurDrama

Poster on our home page

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Hollowell Steam Bottle Stall

As usual GPFA will have a bottle stall at the steam rally on 4/5th July. If anyone would like to help on the stall or donate bottles (wine or spirits only) please contact Katie 07747 604067

Guilsborough Pop-up-Pub

Guilsborough Village Hall

FRIDAY 12th June

Opens 6.30pm

Draught beer / Draught Lager /Cider/Wine/ Prosecco/Gin and Tonic/Soft drinks

and

Pizza available from the ‘Love it Pizza Co.’

Profits towards the GPFA (Guilsborough Playing Field Association)

With support from The Red Lion Pub, Thornby

Cricket
On the 30thApril, Guilsborough playing field once again hosted the West Northamptonshire schools cricket skills day. Children representing 14 different Primary and Secondary schools participated, benefitting from the facility in wonderful spring weather. ground has become a favourite for this event, Northamptonshire Sport having made use of the ground for the last 10 years

Keep our Courts!

Six tennis courts, right on our doorstep. No queues, no booking apps, just a gate code, a racket, and a sunny afternoon.
Our village tennis club uses the school's courts, available in school holidays and after hours during term time. It's not a coaching academy or a competitive league setup. It's something simpler and, we'd argue, more valuable: a community facility that families can use informally, and often. Bring the kids, bring a friend. The courts are there for you.
To keep this going, we need to cover £790 a year in rental and insurance costs. A family membership is just £35 (£20 for an individual) — after that, every visit is free. That's extraordinary value for a whole summer's worth of tennis. But we can only make the numbers work if we get 20 families on board. Once we have that core, we can plan social events, including our popular annual doubles tournament, to top up the fund and keep things sustainable for years to come.
If 20 families say yes, we keep six courts open. If we can't get there, we lose something that would be very hard to get back.
Joining is easy — membership gives you gate access and the freedom to play whenever the courts are available. Sign up online by scanning the QR code, or call Chris on 07857 707503 to find out more. Let's make sure these courts are still here for us next summer.