Friday 30 November 2012

Movember - raising vital funds and awareness for men’s health

Movember
by Howard Wallis

During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in the UK and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
  
It's now nearly the end of Movember and throughout the month I’ve been cultivating a patch of fuzz on my top lip to support Movember:

Howard's Movember Moustache
If you feel I have made enough of a fool of myself, please support this worthwhile cause by making a donation. The size of it isn’t important, every little contribution helps Movember to continue its funding of world class programmes.  If you want to know more about what you’ll be helping to fund, you can visit Movember's Program Overview page.

To highlight the importance of what I am doing, take a look at these statistics:
  • 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime
  • This year 40,000 new cases of the disease will be diagnosed in the UK
  • 47% of testicular cancer cases occur in men under 35 years and over 90% occur in men under 55 years
If you’d like to help change these statistics (or if you’d just like to have a laugh at my ‘tache’), please donate to the cause by:
  • Donating online at: http://mobro.co/howardwallis
  • Writing a cheque payable to 'Movember', referencing my Registration ID: 3408093 and mailing it to: Movember Europe PO Box 68600 London EC1P 1EF 
I know I’m not ‘the only Mo Bro in the village’ – there are a few other brave souls taking part too – including Charlie, Maurice & Pete (and probably others too) – so if you’d like to donate to them please do.  It all goes to the same good cause.   As this is a rather last minute plea – I am keeping the ‘tache for an extra day so all you lucky people have a last chance to catch a glimpse of it if you see me out and about tomorrow!
  
Many thanks

Howard

Thursday 29 November 2012

Christmas Meeting Point - Saturday 15th December 2012


Saturday 15th December 2012
2pm to 4pm
Huttons Ambo Village Hall

Stalls will include tombola, raffle, Christmas gifts
and bran-tub as well as all your favourite Meeting Point stalls, tea, coffee, cakes and children’s activities
 
Father Christmas will visit with a gift for each child

Village Carol singing, accompanied by the accordian, from 3pm
 

All material © Philip Stone 2012

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Flooding in Huttons Ambo

Flooded fields from Malton to Huttons Ambo
The Low Lane to Malton was closed yesterday, following the recent heavy rainfall and flooding and today I went down to see how bad the water levels were. The Derwent overtopped its banks some days ago but the water has now filled the fields and flooded the lane at Low Farm.

Low Lane flooded at Low Farm, Low Hutton
  
Flooded fields on Low Lane, Low Hutton
The fields are still sodden with water and run-off is coursing across the road and adding to muddy brown floodwaters.

Run-off from fields washes across Low Lane


Back at Low Hutton at the bottom of Water Lane the water has come through the railway viaduct, cutting off the Swingbridge to Menethorpe.

Water Lane flooded at the railway viaduct, Low Hutton
At the base of the viaduct the water pressure is so high that jets of water are spraying from cracks in the brickwork and a large blister of tarmac has formed in the road where spring water is welling up from the ground.


Water leaking from railway viaduct, Water Lane, Low Hutton
 




Tarmac blister caused by spring, Water Lane, Low Hutton
 We're lucky though, no homes have been flooded and with a bit of luck it should start to recede in a day or two.

For more information about flood risk and forecast river levels, visit the Environment Agency website.


All material © Michelle Stone 2012

Monday 26 November 2012

Advent Carol Service, St Margaret's Church, Sunday, 2nd December

by Anita Topp

All are welcome to our Advent Carol Service on Sunday, 2nd December at 11am.

Lead by Juliet Bleasdale with the Choir and the Children's Choir there will be all your favourite Advent hymns and songs with some lovely readings. 

Families are especially welcome today to see the Advent Candle being lit and to enjoy coffee and cake afterwards.

Note this is the Advent Carol Service, the Christmas Carol Service follows on the 23rd December

Wednesday 21 November 2012

St Margaret's Church - Taizé Meeting - 27th November

Taizé Meeting

There will be a Taizé Meeting in the church on Tuesday, 27th November at 7.30 p.m. lasting 30 to 40 minutes.

We shall meet in our quiet Lady Chapel for meditation and reflection and to sing chants – all are welcome, particularly if you just wish to come and listen.
 
Find out more about Taizé here.
 
All material © Philip Stone 2012

Monday 19 November 2012

Huttons Ambo Soup & Cheese Lunch – 2nd February 2013

The annual soup & cheese lunch will be held at Minster Hill on Saturday 2nd February at 12 noon.

You are invited to come for a lunch of soup (including a vegetarian option), cheese, a free
glass of wine and coffee for £5 per head. Children free.

There will be a raffle and the donation of any prizes would be welcome. All proceeds will go to support St Margaret’s Church.

Please notify numbers (including those who would prefer the vegetarian soup option) to Rosa Naylor on 01653 695008.

Do come – everybody very welcome.

All material © Philip Stone 2012

Friday 16 November 2012

A Waxwing Year? The Return of the Bohemian Chatterer

Waxwings, AKA Bohemian Chatterers, at the Village Hall, Huttons Ambo

I was walking past the village hall when I heard a high pitched trilling sound and saw a small flock of colourful birds in the trees next to the village hall. At first I thought they were jays, but jays are skittish woodland birds and these seemed quite unafraid. In fact they were brave enough to wait while I fiddled around and changed lenses and took a few pictures.

A bit of research immediately showed them to be Waxwings. Waxwings aren't native to Britain: they breed in arctic and subarctic countries but in certain years when their population exceeds the local food supply then they migrate to Britain, in search of their favourite food, rowan and hawthorn berries.   These occasional invasions are known as 'Waxwing Years', the earliest on record was in winter 1679-1680 and the biggest on record was in 1965-1966 when it is thought 11,000 waxwings may have arrived in Britain.

Waxwing in flight, showing yellow fringe to tail and waxy red blobs at the tips of flight feathers (upper wing)
Waxwings are attractive little chestnut coloured birds, with a quirky little crest of feathers, a yellow fringe to their tails and little waxy red blobs at the tips of their flight feathers.  Their official name is 'Bombycilla garrulus' but they also go by the delightful moniker of 'Bohemian Chatter', because of the chattering noise they make in the breeding season.

The birds here in Huttons Ambo and elsewhere in Yorkshire have probably flown over from Finland and are making a temporary stop before moving further inland in search of winter berries, so make the most of your chance to see them.

Sources:
Field Guide to the Birds of Britain, Readers Digest
RSPB Bird Index


All material © Philip Stone 2012

Wednesday 7 November 2012

Recording The Lives of Huttons Ambo's Fallen - You Can Help

Remembering the Fallen
by Sharon Jackson

Huttons Ambo War Memorial
 
When the Village War Memorial was erected, the men, whose names are recorded upon it, would have been known and remembered by the community in which they lived, and by their families who lived in the houses we now live in. Many will have attended the village school and all will have been known to each other. Now, sadly, given the elapse of time, for most of us they are names from the past and no more. I am sure most of us think it is important that we should remember their sacrifice, and to know more about them, and how their lives parallel ours.

First World War 1914-1919
The Internet and census records have provided only limited information in relation to those who died in the First War.

The information I have gathered so far can be downloaded in this word document - but can you add any more information?
 
I can find little or no information relation to George Arundale, Wilfred Everett and
George Francis Bowes and I am not sure how accurate the information is about George Brown.

Any information at all would be helpful, particularly if you can identify any homes or addresses, for example the census records tend to refer to cottage numbers e.g. cottage 44 and it appears that the numbering varied between censuses.

In 2 years time it will be 100 years since the start of the First War it would seem appropriate for this village to try and make some record of the details of the lives of these men.  Can you help?

Second World War 1939-45
Given that this war is somewhat closer in time, it may be that many of you know the families of, or are related to some of these young men. There are no census records available for this period in our history as yet; and so if you do have any information, which you would be prepared to share, in order to help us remember them, then that would be much appreciated.

Please Help
If you have any information in relation to anyone commemorated on the Village War Memorial, or any other information about Huttons Ambo during either war, which you are prepared to share, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Finally, can I ask to ask you to remember all of them on Remembrance Sunday.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

“…. Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam
A body of England breathing English air
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home…”
 
Many thanks,
 
Sharon Jackson


Editor's Note:
If you have any information to help Sharon, please use the contact form below and I'll pass the details on. Thanks for any information you can share.

You can also see the Royal British Legion website here: http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance


St Margaret's Church - Taizé Meetings

Taizé Meetings

by Anita Topp

The Lady Chapel, St Margaret's Church, Huttons Ambo

Taizé meetings are held in St Margaret's Church in the Lady Chapel and last for 30 to 40 minutes, allowing time for quiet meditation and reflection and to sing chants – all are welcome, particularly if you just wish to come and listen.

The next Taizé meetings are on Tuesday, 27th November at 7.30 p.m. and Tuesday, 18th December at 7.30 p.m.

What is Taizé ?

In August 1940 Brother Roger, a Swiss Protestant, settled alone in Taizé, a small hamlet in Burgundy, France.  It was wartime and he wanted above all to help people going through difficulties.  He began by offering hospitality to refugees, especially Jews.  He intended eventually to create a community that would be a “parable of communion”.  After two years, his first brothers joined him.  Today the community numbers more than one hundred brothers, Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, from twenty-five different countries.  Small groups of brothers also live among the poor in Asia, Africa and Latin America.  Since the end of the 1950’s tens of thousands of young people from every continent, and adults too, come to Taizé, usually to stay for a week, living simply and gathering with the brothers three times a day for Common Prayer in the huge Church of Reconciliation.

Singing is one of the essential elements of worship.  When people come together to pray, meditative singing can help everyone to participate and to stay together in waiting on God.  Using just a few words, they express a fundamental reality than can quickly be grasped by the mind.  As the words are sung over many times, this reality can gradually sink into one’s whole being.

You can read more about Taizé  on the Taizé Community Website.

Anita Topp

Saturday 3 November 2012

Quiz Night Success for 'High Hutton Hopefuls'

Forty brave people came and supported Quiz Night in the Village Hall last night (Friday 2nd November), run by Maggie Stone and her team with Andy Dorman hosting the quiz in his usual inimitable and quirky fashion.
 

Andy Dorman dispenses fiendish questions with customary aplomb

At half time an excellent soup made by Chef Phil Astridge was served along with nibbles and other refreshments.

In the end the 'High Hutton Hopefuls' won the first prize of two £15 vouchers for the Jolly Farmers Pub in Leavening and, trailing by just one point, 'Open All Hours', won the second prize of a bottle of wine.
 
The 'High Hutton Hopefuls' (from left to right): Jem Charles, Steve Dunning, Angie Jessiman and David Purdy show off their first prize vouchers
At the final count £141 was raised for village hall maintenance and an excellent evening was had by all.
 
Many thanks to Maggie Stone, Andy Dorman, Clare Jenyns, Phil Astridge and Beth Laughton for all their hard work in organising and running a succesful evening.



All material © Philip Stone 2012