SOUTH LAFFORD ECUMENICAL ASSOCIATION FOR CHRISTIAN MINISTRY (SLEACM)

The AGM of the South Lafford Ecumenical Association for Christian Ministry was held at Aunsby after a shortened Evening Service on Sunday May 11th.

The chairman of the charity, Mr Alan Cooper, announced his resignation and Canon David Pink was elected as the new Chair. There being no nominations for the post of Secretary and, as in the past year this post was held by Canon Pink, for the time being the post of Secretary will continue to be held by him. Reports were received of continuing successful functionss organised by the charity during the last year and of an improving financial situation in the capable hands of the charity's treasurer Jill Morris.

At the meeting of the Executive Committee on Thursday19th June two new committee members were welcomed: Jenny Seddon and Julie Frudd.

In spite of some hiccups in the organisation of the advertising by SLEACM quite a few people from outside the parish were attracted to the events put on in the South Lafford Festival. Thanks to the initiative of the Revd. Charles Robertson at least minimal information reached The Lincoln Bulletin and certain web sites which brought the Festival events to the notice of a wide audience in Lincolnshire. Some further publicity was arranged through local radio stations.

This advertising was supplemented by the churches distributing posters and flyers and by using the local press, who were very supportive and gave good coverage.

From accounts from the churches whose Festival events had taken place by the time that this newsletter went to the printers, the Festival so far seems to have been both successful and enjoyable.

On Sunday June 1st Aswarby Church was open to coincide with the Open Gardens at Aswarby Park in aid of St. John's Ambulance. People visiting these gardens opened by Nicholas and Sonia Playne raised £280 for St. John's Ambulance while people visiting the Open Church donated £60 to its funds.

On Sunday 14th June a Group Service at Aunsby at which David Watson preached preceded [lie Parish Pilgrimage when a handful of parishioners walked to Scott Willoughby to lunch in the churchyard there. Then back at Dembleby prayers were read at the sites of the old chapel and the old St. Lucia before the Pilgrimage service in the present church. This pilgrimage had been intended to signal the official start of the Festival.

The weekend of June 14th & 15th featured a two day programme of events which included a typical village fete on the Saturday together with a number of village residents' gardens open to the public. The first sunny days attracted large numbers of visitors to the fete and the gardens as well as to the church with its displays of embroidery, paintings etc, which was open on both days. Refreshments were on sale throughout. Thanks to the hard work before and during the weekend about £3000 was raised for the church.

Gabriel, a bell of 1595, spoke for the start of the Newton on the Hoof walk. Mixed with dates, facts and anecdotes. were a walk over ancient Open Fields, a hunt for pottery sherds on Roman and Saxon sites, an opportunity to examine artefacts found there and then relaxation over picnic lunch on the terrace of Newton Hall thanks to the kindness of Carl and Pamela George.

Alongside this event the open church was showing its originally designed and colour co-ordinated kneelers among flowers and paintings while visitors were able to enjoy tea and cakes in the pretty Lady Chapel cafe. At the far end of the village Creina Roberts, the Lay Chair of Newton DCC, had a wonderful Plant Sale. Here helped by friends. she raised £300 of the total £903 takings for the 2 day event.

Several villagers and friends took part in the Songs of Praise which ended Newton's Festival event. Especially we thank Laura Sharp for a lovely treble recorder solo and Davina Pickering for accompanying the hymns on the organ. After this the raffle was drawn while tea. coffee and cakes were served.

On a sunny last Saturday in June Pickworth Church welcomed over 120 visitors, more than 80% of whom came from outside the village. They heard Ann Ballantyne, one of the leading conservators in England, bring the mediaeval wall paintings 'back to life' as she explained their history and took her audience on a visual walk round the walls and transported them back to the mediaeval era.

After this local historians, Norman & Celia Whiting led the guests on a fascinating trip back to Pickworth of the Domesday Book and onwards through the centuries to the present

Luncheons were served in the sunny. tranquil churchyard as the guests relaxed. The church funds benefited by a splendid £800.