The first of the celebrations to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday takes place on 24th April and the Vintage & Classic Car Rally has been confirmed for 22nd July.
 
In this issue:
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Services at St James’s Church during April will be held at the following times:
  • Sunday 3rd: Family Service, 10.30am (with Peter Stansbie)
  • Sunday 10th: Eucharist, 10.30am (Rev. Alma Organ)
  • Sunday 17th: Morning Praise, 10.30am (Joanna Williams)
  • Sunday 24th: Songs of Praise, 6.00pm (Rev. Claire Lording)
Full details of the special Songs of Praise service at 6.00pm on 24th April are given below.
 
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The next Cuppa & Chat takes place on Wednesday 6th April, from 3.00pm to 4.30pm. Come and enjoy tea, coffee and cake in Birlingham Village Hall – an opportunity to meet friends and catch up with the latest news.
 
All are welcome and transport can be provided if required. For more information, please contact Adrianne Woodward on 01386 750936.
 
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The Annual Church Meeting will be held on Monday 18th April at 7.30pm in Birlingham Village Hall. All welcome.
 
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As part of Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations there will be a Songs of Praise Service at St James’s Church at 6.00pm on Sunday 24th April. Following the service, refreshments will be provided. The event is being organised jointly by St James’s Church and the Jubilee Committee.
 
Rev. Claire Lording writes:
Come and celebrate the Queen’s ‘proper’ birthday with a good sing at St James’s. There will be a list at the back of church after Easter for people to write down their favourite hymn and although we can’t guarantee to use them all, we will use as many as we can. If you’re stuck about which hymn to pick, think about ones you’ve sung at special times in your lives or ones that might say something about the Queen’s long life of faithfulness and service, or simply ones that you just like to sing! We look forward to welcoming everyone to this special service and continuing the celebrations afterwards. Many thanks, Claire.
 
A further celebration is being planned to mark the Queen’s official birthday in June.
 
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This year’s Vintage & Classic Car Rally will take place on Friday 22nd July. The rally is at Birlingham Cricket Club, starting at 6.00pm (with cars arriving from 5.30pm). Full details will be available nearer the time but book the date now!
 
If you wish to bring a classic vehicle or have any other queries, please phone Mark Yeomans on 01386 750251.
 
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At its meeting on 16th March, Birlingham Parish Council discussed a number of issues, including the following:
  • County Councillor Adrian Hardman agreed to investigate the possibly of a ‘No HGVs’ sign for New Barn Lane and to look at ways of restricting heavy vehicles along Church Lane (behind the church).
  • Councillor Hardman also stated that Church Street is included in this year’s plans for resurfacing. The current plan is to resurface the road as far as the Swan Inn but he hopes to get that extended as far as the junction with Shorthill.
  • The Parish Council are setting up a Community Fund, which will be available for applications from all village organisations.
  • The first meeting to discuss the Village Design Statement will take place in early May.
Full minutes of the Parish Council meeting will be available shortly at www.birlingham.org/pc_info/pc_minutes_2016-03-16.pdf.
 
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Whitehall Lane will be closed, except for limited access to properties, from Thursday 31st March for up to one month. The road closure is on behalf of Western Power Distribution for low voltage cable laying to accommodate wayleave termination of overhead lines in Whitehall Lane.
 
We understand that access to frontages will be maintained. The official closure notice can be viewed at www.birlingham.org/docs/road_closure_2016.pdf.
 
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Mary Sadler has resigned her position as Bookings Secretary for Birlingham Village Hall, as she and Nick will be leaving the village in April.
 
Chairman of the Village Hall Committee, Kelvin Hartshorne, will be taking over this role temporarily until a new Bookings Secretary is appointed. Until that time, please direct all enquiries and queries to Kelvin at kelvinhartshorne@btinternet.com or phone 01386 750547.
 
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9. Litter Pick Thanks
 
Thank you to all those who took part in the village litter picks on 5th and 19th March. Litter pickers included:
 
Neil Lightbody, Terry and Jacqueline Griffin, Steve Conder, Ken Fitch, Gemma Hiden, John Moore, Steve Diston, Maryanne Dyer, Tara Kirkham-Evans with Alex and Olivia, June Hiden, John Hill, Ian Yates, Steve Morris, Sue Dennett and Bruce Hayward.
 
Particular thanks to Carl Brassington for using his pickup, and Kevin ‘The Cider’ and ‘Redneck’ Ben for use of their vehicles and trailers.
 
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This email is distributed by Birlingham Jubilee Committee and is available to residents of Birlingham, their families and friends. If you know anyone who would like to receive these emails, or have any comments or items for inclusion in future emails, or wish to be removed from the mailing list, please write to news@birlingham.org.
The email is open to any organisations or business within the parish to promote events. Inclusion of an event does not imply that Birlingham Jubilee Committee supports either the event or the views of the organisation promoting it.