Building work on the hall extension should be getting underway soon. We are hoping it will all be completed without too much disturbance to the general use of the hall.

The Brick Fund has had lots of support, including some very generous donations; many thanks to those of you who have donated. The fund is still open, so if anyone would like to make a donation please find a committee member (a list is on display at the hall and most users have a representative on the committee), they will be only too happy to relieve you of your money! The Forest Forge Christmas Show this year is “A Christmas Carol”. It will be presented in the Hall on Thursday 11th January at 7:30pm. Expect beautiful scenery, magic, music and some ghostly goings on as we follow the stories of grumpy Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim et al. Fun for all the family.

Forest Forge productions are always very popular; if you haven’t seen one yet, why not start now? Tickets (£7 and £4) are available from John Hunt, Kath Davis or email tickets@michelmershandtimsbury.org

The Annual General Meeting of the Jubilee Hall Management Committee will be held on Monday 22nd January at 7.30 pm in the Committee Room of the Jubilee Hall – All parishioners are welcome to attend.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the festive fare which included Roast Beef, deliciously cooked by Sue Holden and Prue Musgrave's equally scrumptious Christmas Pudding – served with brandy butter, cream or for those “in the know of a good thing” Betty Nutley's rich custard! A choice of wine and soft drinks was on hand and with the tea and coffee a small gift was handed to the most contented members.

The next meeting will be on Thursday January 18th so if you'd like to come long please ring Peter or Sue Pritchett-Brown.

I am writing this just before Christmas, so I clearly cannot give a report on what went on during the festivities! However, we have had an interesting time since the last Newsletter:–
In November we had an evening of Middle–Eastern Dancing in the Jubilee Hall. This was kindly organized by Sarah Saunders–Davies. Kate Baker, who till recently lived in the village, and her friends, provided the exhibition of dancing. Kate's mother, Liz, explained about the history of Middle Eastern Dancing, and in between we were entertained by various types of dance, followed by mint tea and eastern nibbles. It was almost certainly a unique evening in the history of the Church of England locally, and raised more money towards the cost of our ceiling repair.

On 10th December we had our Christingle Service. No one was singed, I am pleased to say. Timsbury Church, by candle light has a very special and intimate atmosphere. During the winter months we sometimes just use candles and oil lamps for evening services anyway.

In anticipation of probable future changes in the United Benefice, from January there will be a change in our service plan: weeks 1 and 4 in the month will remain as now, but in week 2 we will have an 11am Family Service, and the 8am Communion Service will be in week 3. We shall not be changing the board in the car park for a little while, to make sure it all beds in properly.

EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE MICHELMERSH AND TIMSBURY RESIDENTS AND RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION

Held at Kilderry Rudd Lane 28th November 2006
It was resolved to wind up the Association in accordance with the rules of the Association as amended 1st November 1985.
It was unanimously agreed by the members present to formally close all further proceedings and dissolve the Association.
Furthermore the disposal of the assets of the association was discussed and it was agreed to transfer the remaining funds of the Association into the hands of Dr Chris Thomas for the stated purpose of a traffic survey in connection with the proposed development of the Redland Tileworks site.

Philip Hutchins, Chairman
Jeff Foulger, Treasurer

For our November meeting the advertised speaker, Marion Emery (‘Victorian Christmas’) was unable to come, but we hope to see her sometime in the future. In her place Peter Chivers was able to give his talk on Pelargoniums that he had had to cancel last year. Well done to Jo Morgan, the programme organiser for some quick juggling.

Peter Chivers started growing Pelargoniums while still at school; an early lesson gained in the winter of 1962–3 was that they were not hardy! An old chest of drawers was converted into his first 'greenhouse' and now he shows his plants and is a national judge. Illustrating his talk with photographs of the most impressive plants, He described the different types of pelargonium, their likes and dislikes, when and how to take cuttings and how to bring the plants on.

In December the Annual Christmas Party was once again very well attended, members being welcomed to the Jubilee Hall with a delicious punch drink dispensed by John & Peta Hunt. Under the ebullient guidance of master of ceremonies Bob McQuay the guests were entertained by a most ingenious quiz arranged by John and Jane Chambers. Following a warming supper provided by members of the committee Bob announced the quiz results and Roger Purssey conducted a beauty competition of artistic entries to “draw a chicken”. Entries varied wildly (!) but he awarded the prize to Anna Hunt for a sketch, fully fledged as you can see. After this the tables were put to one side a huge silver parcel revealed made by Anne James for 'Pass the Parcel'. Bob McQuay ended the evening with a little sage advice for those present. “Never design a garden that is too large for your wife to maintain.”

A very Happy New Year to all our members with hopes for good growing weather in the next twelve months. January 8th we have a talk on 'Gardening for Wildlife' when there will be plants for sale. On February 12th we join Richard Horder on a visit to the chateaux and gardens of outer Paris and the Loire Valley (with the AGM to follow). A fuller report on events will be in “Garden Cuttings” available for members in the New Year.

Another very busy and successful year draws to a close for the village band – an auspicious year which saw us celebrating 120 years of unbroken music–making. We will all look back with great affection at the celebration service in St.Mary's Church and the cream tea that followed in the Barns. It was lovely to celebrate in our home village with friends old and new.

November found us travelling to Torquay to compete in the South Western Brass Band Association Contest. The decision to forego attending the Wessex Association Contest – our usual winter contest – in favour of facing the tougher opposition in the West Country paid off as we were placed a very creditable second in our Section. Our euphonium player Darren was deservedly awarded the 'Best Musician' prize too.

We must apologise to those of you who were disappointed over the ticket shortage for the Jubilee Hall Christmas Concert. Sadly the Hall is just not big enough to cope with the numbers wishing to attend and last year we fell foul of Health and Safety rules regarding numbers. The very strict ticket allocation this year did, we realise, cause problems and we can only apologise for that. We hope to have seen as many of you as possible over the festive season, be it at your home or at the Barns on Christmas Eve and feel privileged to share this very special time with you. Our very best wishes for a happy, peaceful and healthy 2007 go to you all.

Claire Topp, Hon. Secretary MSB

Thursday, 8th March 2007 at the Jubilee Hall from 7.15pm–8.30pm. Everyone over the age of 65 is welcome and we would look forward to seeing them.
rsvp Sarah Beaman 023 80814295

The Parish Churches of St. Mary's, Michelmersh and St. Andrew's, Timsbury
Rector: The Revd. Canon D. Bruce Kington, The Rectory, Braishfield, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 0PR.
Telephone: 01794 368335
Rest Day: Tuesday

A new year; a new beginning! Or so many people hope as they frantically make resolutions – to stop smoking; to stop eating chocolate; to try and be a better person. There is some merit in taking the beginning of the year as the challenge to make a change. Sadly, the proposed change often fizzles out, and things are back to where they were before the year changed.

One of the features of the Christian Faith is the way in which, through the process of forgiveness for the past, it offers the hope of a genuinely new beginning for all those who find faith in Jesus Christ. In him, as St. Paul puts it, “the old has gone; the new has come.” In my last letter on this page, I tried to describe some of the visible effects of that new life in the faces of those who believe. The reason that new life in Christ is able to continue to grow and to have effects in a person's life is because, unlike the situation with New Year's Resolutions, the individual is not left to try and make the changes on his own. As a person believes, so the Lord Jesus Christ becomes part of that person. His continuing presence then provides the new believer with the strength to make the changes that will help him to grow into the likeness of Christ.

Changes, of course, do not apply just to individuals: groups change direction, have new ideas, respond to changes in society about them. It is no different with the Church! Indeed, for the churches at Michelmersh and Timsbury, the new year will usher in some fairly major changes to the service programme, as follows:

First Sunday of the month
9.30am Morning Worship at Michelmersh, not a Family Service
11.00am remains as Morning Prayer at Timsbury

Second Sunday of the month
11.00am Family Service at Timsbury for Michelmersh and Timsbury
6.00pm Holy Communion at Michelmersh

Third Sunday
8.00am Holy Communion at Timsbury
6.00pm Evening Prayer at Michelmersh

Fourth Sunday
8.00am Holy Communion at Michelmersh
6.00pm Evening Prayer at Timsbury

Our hope is that you will not be inconvenienced by these changes, some of which have been driven by views expressed in our recent Michelmersh Vision Day. We very much hope that families from Michelmersh will feel able to support the Family Service at Timsbury on the second Sunday, and we hope to expand our childrens' work with the launch of the JAM (Jesus And Me) after school club for 5 to 8 year olds in the spring. Please watch this space for further details!

Warmest greetings for the New Year.
Bruce Kington, Rector.

There have been several sporting fixtures recently. Netball and Football tournaments took place during November and December. Teams were selected from Years 4, 5 and 6, the children enjoyed taking part and played very enthusiastically. The inter–house cross country competition had to be postponed for a drier day but then still turned out to be quite a muddy affair with “Asia” emerging to be the worthy winners.

Classes 1 and 2 visited the Whitchurch Silk Mill in November to support their science topic which was “Investigating Materials”. The silk mill was built in 1800 and has been producing high quality silk since 1820. The children enjoyed a tour of the mill and museum before getting crafty in the education centre.

The School Council instigated two events in aid of Children In Need. Firstly, for a small donation pupils were allowed to wear their pyjamas to school although they did have to stay awake during their lessons ! Secondly a Bring & Buy Sale was held in the school hall to which parents and siblings were all invited. This event created lots of excitement as each class set up their own stalls and took turns to be the shopkeepers. The children then had the freedom to make their own purchases prior to their parents arriving at 3pm.

As always December was a hectic month at school. The Advent Fayre was very well attended and raised over £1300, a big thank you to the hardworking PTA and to all those who supported the event. The school choir attended the Victorian Christmas Fayre at Mottisfont Abbey on the 8th December and enjoyed performing in such beautiful surroundings. The singing continued at the Christmas production of “Stable Manners” and at the annual Carol concert at All Saints Church Awbridge.

Mr Barnes takes up his post as the Head Teacher of Awbridge School when the new term starts on the 4th January. All members of the school community are looking forward to working with him in the New Year.

Diary Dates
3rd January	Inset Day
4th January	School Restarts after Christmas Holiday
19th – 23rd February	Half Term Holiday

When this issue of the newsletter was being compiled the Clerk to the Council was on leave. Council Reports will resume in the next issue