Village News – 06 February 2020

ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S CHURCH

The service on Sunday 9th February is “Holy Communion” and the service commences at the usual time of 9:15am and everyone is welcome.

SPEED WATCH

Observant motorists and early morning travellers may well have come across the local Speed Watch team operating in the village in the early hours of last week. The team, all volunteers, are out there in all weathers trying to educate drivers as to the authorised speed limits within the village. The operation was deemed a worthwhile success, with a few drivers slightly over the limit, any others excessively over the limits will be informed in due course. Drivers – please slow down in the village, you know it makes sense.

CAT SCAN

Please be aware that metal thieves operating in various areas are targeting cars with a view to removing catalytic converters. A national newspaper dated 1st February in an article “Cat Theft’ warns that exasperated insurance companies facing escalating claims, up 600% in 2018-2019, are either refusing to reinsure or requiring premiums in excess of £2,000 for renewed cover. The pressure is on us all, Cats are extremely valuable and are increasingly targeted by thieves. Cats, an abbreviation for Catalytic Converters, the devices that modern cars have incorporated into their exhaust systems principally to reduce Nox emissions. The Cat Converters are not unlike silencer boxes but also contain a couple of precious metals, rhodium and palladium. Rhodium is particularly valuable at $10,000 per ounce, six times the price of gold. Thieves can remove the Cat Converters from cars in a matter of minutes working from beneath the vehicles. The first you are likely to know about it is when you start up the car after a theft noticing warning lights and an extremely noisy exhaust system.

There were reports of Cat Thefts from car parks in Retford at a recent liaison meeting with our Rural Policing Team and a Sutton resident also recently suffered an attempted Cat Theft from the drive of their property. Presumably those thieves were disturbed. Most at risk are Hybrid Vehicles and manufacturer Toyota reports a huge and sudden spike in thefts with 1,000 postings on its website many from furious customers complaining of the ease of removal. In 2018 Toyota supplied 60 replacement Cats, last year 4,800 replacements. Hybrid vehicles are particularly vulnerable as the Cats are cleaner, having to deal with lower emissions of exhaust gas.

So what can you do to reduce the risk of Cat Theft? Garage your vehicle, park in well populated and well lit areas; think about buying a Cat Lock. A Cat Lock (typically “CatLoc” around £120) is a cover that fits over the Cat Converter to make removal that much more difficult. Whatever precautions you take it’s certainly time to become more Cat Aware so that a theft is just that much more difficult for thieves to undertake.

VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS

Enquiries with regard to the booking of the Village Hall should be made by contacting 01777 854 392 – Please note the new number! The Village Hall web site is available at www.suttonvillagehall.net or email: bookings@suttonvillagehall.net.

PARISH LUNCH

The date for the next Parish Lunch has been identified as Tuesday 11th February at the usual time of 12:00noon. The venue as usual is The Gate Inn public house in the village. You are invited to join us for good food and conversation. NB: a small contribution is made to the current building fund after each lunch session.

Details of the lunches which occur approximately every six weeks are available from Church Warden Janet Webb on (01777) 818 682 or Lay reader Joan Herrington on (01302) 742 562 or please just call in to the venue on the date announced.

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

The next meeting of the council is scheduled for Wednesday 12th February at the usual starting time of 7:00pm. The chair and fellow councillors invite you to join them!

MEET THE NEIGHBOURS

A gentle reminder that the next meeting of the neighbours group is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 19th February in the Village Hall at the usual time of 1:15pm. Main Course – Roast turkey with stuffing and chipolata sausage, roast potatoes, buttered Sprouts with pancetta, carrots and parsnips followed by a Sherry trifle dessert, prepared by local chef and caterer Nigel Bower. Please let Brian Seddons know if will be able to make it on the day. A date for your diary!

GARDENING CLUB

The Sutton and Barnby Moor Club held their meeting on Tuesday 4th February at Barnby Moor village hall at 7:30pm. The speaker on this occasion was Andrew Ward from Norwell nurseries Newark. He addressed the membership on the subject of “Winter gems”. Further details to follow.!

For details about the club and its activities please contact Jenny Bailey (01777) 708 155. New members and visitors are always welcome.

CHURCH SERVICE

The service at the local church on Sunday 2nd February 2020 at 9:15am was “A Candlemas Service” (a Christian festival held on 2 February to commemorate the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of Christ in the temple. Candles were traditionally blessed at this festival).   The officiant on this occasion was Joan Herrington, ably assisted by Worship Leader Janet Webb. Following the usual warm welcome, a Gospel reading took place, Luke: Chapter 2  verses 22- 40 were read by Monica Hockenhull. After various hymns and prayers the congregation were invited to light their candles at the front of church and after the blessing of the same, re-assembled at the back of church by the font for prayer and completion of the service. Another joyful and heart warming presentation enjoyed by those present. On conclusion of the service the gathering were invited to remain for refreshments and socialise with their peers.

QUIZ NIGHT

The quiz continues to take place in the Village Hall every Sunday night, £1.00 entry per person which is paid back as prize money! The bigger the crowd – the bigger the prize! New contestants always welcome. Following the quiz “Play your cards right” – Cash Prize! Can you beat the local teams? Come along and try. 8:00pm start and bar open.