Scotsman flying through on Saturday

On Saturday 2 July 60103 Flying Scotsman will be northbound through Oxenholme. No times are listed yet and may not be due to people trespassing on the line. I have been informed (I hope reliably) that it will leave Carnforth at 11:20.

Pat Williams

Eighteen houses planned near Oxenholme Filling Station

Click here for more details. SLDC Website.

Minutes of June Parish Council meeting and 2016 Parish Meeting published

Two sets of minutes have just been published by the Parish Council. You can download or read the minutes of this month’s parish council meeting here and download or read the minutes of this year’s parish meeting here. (Well done to Kevin, our Clerk, for getting both out so promptly.)

British Empire Medal for services to Natland

Ray Richardson, our recently retired Chairman of the Village Hall Committee, is to receive a British Empire Medal for his services to the community in Natland. He recently received a letter from the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria to that effect, and expects to be presented with the medal shortly. Ray proclaimed himself to be really chuffed.
Ray chaired the Village Hall Committee for twenty six years, with good humour and admirable brevity of meetings. His most demanding time was when he organised the building of the big hall. He had heard that a millenium grant was available for village halls and after a meeting with around 100 local people, nearly all of whom were in support of the idea, he went ahead and applied for the grant and for planning permission. Both were granted but the millenium fund grant had to be matched to the tune of £38,000. Many local organisations were contacted, hall users raised funds, and eventually the money came together. Russell Armer did the work at cost but it was rather a shock to find at the end that there was a £9,000 shortfall. Ray asked for interest free loans from village hall users and was glad to be able to repay them in two years.
The Village Hall has been used by many clubs over the years and it is good to think that so many people's lives have been enriched as a result, and as a result of Ray's commitment, though he says he was glad to find a successor in Paul Want, the new Chairman.

Parish Council agenda published

You can read or download the agenda for the next meeting of Natland Parish Council (Monday 27 June) here. Any member of the public is welcome to attend the meeting as usual and contribute during the Public Participation section of the agenda.

Laying down the law at the Women's Institute

At the June meeting members heard about the work of local magistrates and details of their summer trip out were disclosed. Click here for more details.

Open Gardens Day

  SUNDAY 17th JULY, 11.30am - 5pm

• We have gardens in the village centre, Oxenholme Lane and Helm Lane, Longmeadow Lane, at Little Cracalt and off the A65 Burton Road as well as one special garden near Oxenholme station.  
• Programmes will be on sale in advance at £4.00 for adults (accompanied children free) from Natland and Oxenholme Post Offices or online at http://www.trybooking.co.uk/407 or in St Mark’s Church on Sundays after the 10am service.  Admission from one week before and on the day will be £5.00 at the Church door or at the more remote participating gardens.
• Refreshments will be available in the village hall from 12.00noon to 4.30pm.
• Tell your family, friends and everyone who you think would enjoy an afternoon out in some wonderful gardens.
• Kindly sponsored by Oakmere Homes

Monday Club Outing

The summer event on the 20th June will be at Grange when members will be taking lunch at Clare House.
Meetings will resume on the 19th September '16 when we hope to welcome members back for the 2016/17 season and trust the attendance will be as good as was recorded this year.

Window Cleaning - Help with information

A new window cleaner started in Natland on the Monday 9th May. In cleaning our windows, he smashed the front roof gutter. He promised to repair it on Wednesday, then Friday. No sign of him on Friday. When I contacted him on his mobile phone, he promised to repair it by the following Wednesday at the latest. He didn’t turn up. Four weeks later and I've replaced the gutter myself. I would like to present him with the bill but the mobile number only takes messages and no promised reply “when I get back” ever comes. I understand the man’s name is Geoff Holgate.

Does anyone have better contact details for him which they can give me - martjay@btinternet.com - so I can get him to put the matter right, or has he just disappeared?    Martin Jayne

St. Mark's Church Fete

Saturday 11th June 2016, 2 - 4pm 
Natland Vicarage Gardens and Village Hall

Cakes, afternoon tea, raffle, plants, tombola, books, gallimaufry, bric a brac, toys, games etc.  
Fancy dress competition on a theme of 90 Glorious Years.
St Mark’s CE School Choir will sing. 
For further information please contact Andrew Whittaker 015395 60355 
Kindly sponsored by Milne Moser Solicitors and Estate Agents

A Cakes and Jelly Tea Party for the Queen

To celebrate the Queen's 90th Birthday on Sunday 12th June, 4-5pm in St. Mark's Church there will be a Cakes and Jelly Tea Party to which everyone is invited. Please wear some red, white and blue.

Church Magazine for June available now

Click here to find out all about the celebrations for the Queen's birthday taking place in Natland, about school sporting events and about the various outings that are being arranged.

For sale: The Post Office, Natland,

Summary: A rare "life style" opportunity to purchase a substantial semi-detached 17th Century four bedroom house of considerable character together with a Post office and convenience shop and business, situated in the centre of the highly attractive South Lakeland village of Natland, about a mile.
£295,000. http://www.michael-cl-hodgson.co.uk/property-for-sale/details/1186/The-Post-Office--Natland--Kendal--Cumbria--LA9-7QQ/

May minutes available

The minutes of the May meeting of Natland Parish Council are now available to read or download here.

Natland Badminton Club AGM

At their recent AGM Natland Badminton Club reluctantly decided that from September 2016 they would be unable to sustain a Juniors section.  Other commitments meant that Kath Cater & Gill Taylor were unable to continue running Junior sessions. They and fellow club member Malcolm Beaty, who assisted if required, were thanked for their help over many years.

The new season starts on Thursday 15th September with third-generation club member Rosie Gregg at the helm as coordinator.  Weekly sessions will run at the earlier time of 7.30-9.30pm.  New members always welcome.

High and dry in May

2016		2015
Average temperatures
Temperature at 8am	11.0C		8.5C
Min temperature	8.8C		6.8C
Max temperature	15.6C		12.5C
Total rainfall	mm	in	mm	in
	39.5	1.6	164.5	6.6

Last May was the wettest I had recorded. This year was the second lowest rainfall and half the average for May. Temperatures on average were quite high, building up from a cool start.

John Dobson