Author Archives: Editor - Nigel Stickells

Grand Opening of the Refurbished Lavendon Village Hall

The Grand Opening of Lavendon Village Hall will take place on Saturday, 9th July 2016, from 2pm. 

You are invited to come to the Grand Opening of the refurbished Lavendon Village Hall
Lavendon Village Hall was officially opened on 7th May 1955 by Courteney Hope of BBC radio's "The Archers" fame.

Lavendon Village Hall was officially opened on 7th May 1955 by Courteney Hope of BBC radio’s “The Archers” fame.

The present Lavendon Village Hall was originally the site for an ex-Army Officers’ Pavilion that was purchased in 1953 for the princely sum of £650 and officially opened in May, 1955. Since then it has been re-designed several times in order to increase its size and add to its facilities.

Some years ago, it was decided to embark on an extensive modernisation programme and work on the first phase started just before Christmas 2012. Chunks of work for this ambitious refurbishment programme, named Project Diamond, were built as and when funds permitted, using village volunteers or mainly local specialist contractors.

The work was funded from a number of sources: fund-raising events, a generous local Company, local individual and organisation donors, the Milton Keynes Community Foundation, Local Giving and a large international Company. This money has enabled the £110,000+ Project Diamond programme to be completed.

We now have a new boiler house, reconstructed ladies and gents toilets, a new wheel-chair accessible toilet, a kitchen, fitted out to a high commercial standard, a re-configured bar area, a widened corridor, fitted out with attractive doors, an eye-catching entrance to the hall, with circular steps and matching canopy. The tarmacadam surface around the front of the hall will also be resurfaced.

To commemorate the completion of this work, we are organising a Grand Opening on Saturday, 9th July. It will begin at 2pm, with children and adults attired in red, white and blue outfits, marching from the new Salt Box housing development and making its way to the Hall, where William Tusting will perform the tape-cutting ceremony at 2.30.

The general public will then be invited into the Hall, which has charitable status, where refreshments will be served and the red, white and blue outfits will be judged. As well as a variety of displays and activities, regular users of the Hall will be show-casing what they have to offer around the periphery of the Hall.

Do come along with family and friends.
You will be most welcome!

A Lavendon Timeline – Anniversaries in June 2016

Lavendon in the News – Vintage extracts from local newspapers of the past

Vintage newspaper extracts give us a great insight into the daily life and times of our Lavendon village residents in years gone by. They also remind us just how much easier our modern day lives can be now, compared to the past. Some extracts are undoubtedly amusing to our modern eyes, but others can be quite dramatic and sad, often reflecting hard times.

To see the detailed vintage news and anniversaries from many years ago for the month of June 2016 click here: June 2016 Anniversaries (as summarized below).

To see much more vintage news, go to the main monthly listing by clicking here: Vintage Newspaper Extracts

The following is a summary of vintage newspaper extracts and anniversaries for the month of June 2016:

1866: Charles Fairy, a waggoner and native of Lavendon met with a fatal accident at Wellingborough Mills – 1896: Lavendon men summoned for neglecting to have their children vaccinated; report of the first anniversary of the new Union Chapel at Lavendon – 1906: Sunday School anniversary services in the Union Chapel – 1916: Various Lavendon cases at the Newport Pagnell Petty Sessions; Private J Green of the Bedfordshire Regiment wounded – 1936: Old-time dance proceeds to fund Ambulance cadet uniforms; Mrs Shakeshaft of Castle Road fell down the stairs; Church wedding of Miss Frances Tompkins and reception in Ambulance Hall; Hospital Sunday parade from New Row to Harrold Road corner with church service and band playing around the memorial; Mr Bristow, Head Master of Lavendon School, elected to represent East Anglia on the Rural Schools Committee of the NUT; Grand Prix motor-cycle races at Costor Pits south of Lavendon Mill – 1946: Lavendon’s Victory Day celebrations well observed with fancy dress parade, children’s tea party, concert and evening dance; British Legion Whit Sunday parade; an inaugural meeting of the Women’s Section of the Lavendon branch of the British Legion – 19 members enrolled; four Council houses at Lavendon due to be completed in about three weeks.

History Group Talk – Make Do and Mend

History Group Talk – Make Do and Mend
2pm Monday, 23rd May 2016
Lavendon Village Hall 

Amanda Picard, better known as one half of the 1940s duo, Harry & Edna, will be giving an amusing talk for the History Group at 2pm on Monday, 23rd May in the Lavendon Village Hall. As always these light-hearted interesting talks are open to everyone, entry £2 with tea/coffee and biscuits included.

Meanwhile, here’s some useful advice …..

Make Do And Mend

Make Do And Mend

Friends of St Michael’s Church Lavendon 100 Club

Friends of St Michael’s Church, Lavendon 100 Club
IMGP5145 Lavendon Church

St Michael’s Church, Lavendon

Valuable funds raised by this 100 Club are used by the Parochial Church Council for the running of and maintaining of the fabric and structure of our historic church.

By joining the Club you can help running the church, and maintaining the fabric as well as having a chance to win cash prizes every month! The Friends of St Michael’s 100 Club is a private lottery and is open to all residents of the parish of Lavendon and the surrounding area, their family and friends. As a private lottery you have to be invited to join, you will be allocated a number and your tickets are not transferable. You have to be over 16 to join. The subscription will be £5 per month per number (£60 per annum), paid in advance, preferably by Standing Order on a basis of a minimum period of twelve months.

Each month at the Coffee Morning in the church (on the second Monday of the month) there will be draw for 50% of the income.  This amount will be divided between 3 lucky winners. For example, if we have 100 members (our aim) the income for that month will be £500 and 50% will be used for the prize fund i.e. £250 split into three prizes.

1st prize      £125       (if 100 members)

2nd prize     £75          (if 100 members)

3rd prize      £50         (if 100 members)

The more people who buy a subscription – the higher the prize money!

You may have ( and are encouraged to do so ) more than one number per month.

Interested? Contact Ralph Hipkin on 01234 712743

 

A Lavendon Timeline – Anniversaries in May 2016

Lavendon in the News – Vintage extracts from local newspapers of the past

Vintage newspaper extracts give us a great insight into the daily life and times of our Lavendon village residents in years gone by. They also remind us just how much easier our modern day lives can be now, compared to the past. Some extracts are undoubtedly amusing to our modern eyes, but others can be quite dramatic and sad, often reflecting hard times.

To see the detailed vintage news and anniversaries from many years ago for the month of May 2016 click here: May 2016 Anniversaries (as summarized below).

To see much more vintage news, go to the main monthly listing by clicking here: Vintage Newspaper Extracts

The following is a summary of vintage newspaper extracts and anniversaries for the month of May 2016:

1776 To be Let – All the Great and Small Tithes belonging to the Parish of Lavendon – 1826 Mr John York’s mare has her 16th foal – 1876 Frederick Parsons and Henry Parris were charged with allowing sheep to stray on the highway; John Barcock charged with riding without reins – 1886 Charles Warren summoned by John Billing for stealing a quantity of turnip tops; Jonah Fairy found not guilty of stealing a leveret trampled by cows – 1936 Laundry van crashes into telegraph pole in Castle Road when loose hampers pin driver against steering wheel; Parish Council meets to discuss village cleaning and cemetery, also the gift of grass roller from the cricket club, and the water supply & standpipes in Olney Road – 1946 Lavendon & District Agricultural Club, sheep shearing competition; public meeting to discuss ideas for a Victory Celebration; resumption of Bedford Cricket League following its suspension in 1940, including Lavendon players; Parish Council meeting to discuss street lighting, extension of electricity to the Castle area, and public rights of way; the Green Man – an enjoyable darts and skittles evening followed by a smoking concert; Forewoman wanted for Lavendon boot and shoe closing room in Olney Road factory.