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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…

We are very pleased to be back this Autumn term, energised and raring to go. It has certainly been a super start to our new academic year 2024-25.

We welcomed our new intake of pupils in Reception, together with those who have joined in our other year groups, and they’ve all got so quickly back into school life after several weeks away over the summer.

We wanted to share news about some developments that have taken place during the summer holidays, together with a little about what we have coming up in this first school term.

You may have seen lots of building work happening around our school - this was so we could make our front playground even safer with our new higher gates and entry system. Our playgrounds have been retarmacked and we have also had a new refurbished front entrance area, new toilets in this area and Reception/Year 1 and new hall doors. The school is looking amazing!

We’re looking forward to plenty of celebration events between now and the end of the year, a maths day, a day of languages, our Young Leaders Awards, as well as other trips and visits that we’ve got coming up.

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.

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Monday Morning Meet

Monday Morning Meet Guilsborough Village Hall

9 – 11am every Monday

(excluding Bank Holidays)

All welcome, baby – OAPs.

£2.50 per Adult, Children Free

Meet for a chat, knit, hot drink & cake.

For more information contact
Janet 01604 740640

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

We have identified the next 11 street lamps most likely to fail which will be converted to the new LED lamps. This will help reduce our electricity costs due to their greater efficiency.

West Northants Council are pushing ahead with their pothole repair program but please do continue to report them via their dedicated website at www.fixmystreet.com. You can use this website to also report overgrown vegetation, obstructed footpaths and fly tipping so please do make good use of this.

We are receiving some complaints regarding parking, not just on public grassed areas where it’s causing considerable damage, but also close to junctions and on bends where it prevents drivers seeing oncoming traffic.

We currently have vacancies for councillors so if you have an interest in helping support your community please do speak to any councillor or email clerk@guilsborough-pc.gov.uk

Lastly, due to the availability of councillors, our October meeting has had to be rescheduled and will now be held on Monday 21st October.

Sir John Lowther Cricket Game

On Sunday August 11th, the Annual Sir John Lowther Cricket game took place at the Guilsborough Playing Field. 70 enjoyed a good lunch provided by the Ward Arms and bar provided by the Red Lion at Thornby, plus watching some fine cricket by Hugh Lowther’s X1, who played some adventurous cricket to win by 3 wickets against an experienced Guilsborough Gentlemen’s team captained by Jim Houghton of Guilsborough.

A Call for Volunteers. The GPFA is managed by volunteers; it welcomes those who understand the need to provide sporting amenities for many children and young adults who currently use the Field and its facilities. Hence, if you have the enthusiasm to support the GPFA’s activities, especially in the roles of organising and/or performing some of the maintenance needs of the premises. Contact Graham Byars if interested.

Cricket News Another successful season for Haddon CC drew to a close at the end of September, all of our senior men’s and ladies’ sides have performed well, maintaining their league standings with 3 games to go mid September. Our Ladies’ side is based at the Guilsborough ground and plays in the Northamptonshire 8-a-side competition. It has been great to see so many new players join the team this season - it is open to ladies of all experience and abilities. A high point for the club this year has been the impact that younger players, who have been through the clubs junior sections in recent years and are now in the senior sides, with both wickets and runs, the likes of Ethan Clough, Sam Helmn, Brandon Wakeford and Elliot Clough, all in the 15-17 age group have been some of the clubs strongest performers. Our U15s side has also had a stand out season completing the league and cup double in the Rugby District and finishing runner-up in the Northampton District League.

Thoughts will shortly turn to preparations for 2025 and our winter training programmes, we are always keen to welcome new players of all ages and abilities. Indoor training over the winter is an ideal time to give cricket a try to rediscover your touch if you are coming back to the game after a break. It would be great to see some new faces. Please contact jim.houghton72@outlook.com.

West Haddon Junior Football Club

U5/6’s, Year 1 + Reception

Is your child in Year 1 or in Reception? We are launching our U5/6s training group on Saturday 21st September and will train each Saturday morning throughout the season, 10am–11am.

Boys and Girls, all Welcome. No need to buy new football boots if you don’t have them, trainers will be fine.

The subs will be £50 for the year but nothing to pay immediately; come along and have a trial run until October half-term and ensure your child is enjoying it before paying any money.

If any parents fancy helping out with these sessions, it would be fantastic and very much appreciated.

Northampton Road, West Haddon, NN6 7AS

10am – 11am.

Any questions or to let me know you’re coming, please contact Rob Paul 07982 468834

Football for other ages:

The season commenced on Wednesday 11th September for the Under 16s. Other age groups from Under 9s and upwards commence a week later. Those who want to participate should contact Marc Garrett, marc.garrett@live.co.uk

Top of Page

The 20th Guilsborough Plate Tennis Tournament took place on Sunday 8th September. After a night of thunder and rain on Sunday morning, we thought that we might be unlucky with the weather. Thankfully, the skies cleared, the sun shone and the wind died down, so we had a perfect afternoon for a closely contested Tennis Tournament. Pairings were drawn from the hat, and the 14 players (7 Couples), played each other. After 36 games (and some tie-breaks!), the final contenders

for the Championship were decided; Chris Benbow & Luc Belaiche versus Ian Miller & Robert Sabin, who had both scored 25 games each to

reach the final. Chris & Luc were the Champions.

A fun social event took place at the Ward Arms (Witch & Sow) after a very energetic afternoon, where drinks and refreshments were much

needed.

If you would like to find out more about GTC please contact Graham on

07894 424328, or Chris on 07857 707503.

GUILSBOROUGH FRIENDS

Guilsborough Friends would like to extend an open invitation to our October and November illustrated talks.

Thursday 10th October at 7.30pm at Guilsborough Village Hall - Blood Bikers and Babies. Speaker Captain Kamran Irani

With its roots going back over half a century, the rapid response motorcycle based charity, is run by unpaid volunteers. Their mission as Blood Bikes, is to support member groups in providing a professional rapid response medical transport service, to the NHS, free of charge. A valuable service. Please help us support this charity.

Thursday 14th November at 7.30pm at Guilsborough Village Hall - Antiques Evening, Talk and Valuation by Denise Cowling from Gildings

Gildings is a family owned auctioneers and valuers based in Market Harborough specialising in antiques, jewellery, art & collectibles. Established 44 years ago it now features regularly on TV. We will be hearing about what happens behind the scenes when the TV arrives. You are welcome to bring small items (no furniture) for valuation at your own risk.

Tickets for both events £5 per person on the door. To include refreshments.

Further information available from:

Elizabeth Southgate 01604 740064 or Janet Minney 01604 740640

Mark Revitt-Smith

Never happier than when he was connecting people through a variety of social events, Mark Revitt-Smith was popular and well-known locally and his sad death in August has left many of us mourning a much-loved friend and neighbour. Mark was a devoted and extremely proud family man who is survived by his wife, Judithe, children Emma and Julian, and grandchildren Thomas, Oscar and Evie.

For many villagers, an early memory of Guilsborough is of a friendly welcome from Mark accompanied by an invitation to his home for a gin and tonic. Little did they know that those gins, along with his champagne cocktails, enjoyed a powerful reputation which spread as far as Norfolk where Mark, Judithe and their family also enjoyed spending time together.

Known simply as ‘The Revitt’ to his many friends, Mark was born and raised in Ravensthorpe and moved to Guilsborough in the early 1970s. Over the years he was an enthusiastic proponent of several village causes, projects and events that raised funds and brought people together. He also served on the Parish Council, including a stint as Vice Chairman.

As a knowledgeable and keen countryman his early working life was on livestock farms. He then worked in the pig and poultry sector before establishing his own highly successful business with a close and loyal network of customers across the country.

A full attendance for Mark’s funeral at St Etheldreda’s church in Guilsborough saw many family, friends and business associates pay tribute to this hugely likeable, charming and caring man.

From The Principal…

Guilsborough Academy is thrilled to kick off the new academic year and warmly welcomes all students. We have already started work on preparing for future admissions, and to help ease the transition, we are offering Taster Sessions and

Open Days for prospective students, which can be booked here -

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/guilsborough-multiacademy-trust

This year, following being awarded the Eco-Schools’ Green Flag in 2024 and as part of our commitment to community development, we are introducing termly litter-picking events in the local area. This initiative aims to improve the environment while fostering stronger community ties. We are inviting residents of the village and surrounding areas to provide input on where the litter-picking efforts should be focused. If you have any suggestions, please email