BJnews

5th February
ABbA – AGM.
Back in 2003 many people in Abthorpe wished to make use of the latest Internet technology – Broadband. Unfortunately none of the major suppliers, for a variety of technical reasons, were able to provide us with broadband. During the spring of that year villagers Eric Malcomson, Dave Cunningham, Richard Tomalin and Keith Fenwick – supported by others – decided that if the big boys couldn’t provide us with broadband, then we’d do it ourselves.

A satellite dish was obtained to provide a connection to a Belgian Internet provider and a wi-fi network was constructed so that home and businesses in Abthorpe and nearby Slapton could access the Internet using broadband. Remote Area Broadband Inclusion Trial (or RABBIT for short) grants were obtained to help pay for the infrastructure. Once everything was operating and a few villagers had trialled the system to prove it all worked, the steering committee launched the Abthorpe Broadband Association Ltd or ABbA for short.

Nine years later our little not-for-profit company is thriving. At the recent Annual general Meeting held in our pub the New Inn, Dave Cunningham the company’s Financial Director reported that ABbA is in a sound condition. Eric Malcomson the Company Chairman reported that the past year had been relatively uneventful with a very small number of subscriber gains and losses. He emphasised that the Internet world is going through a period of rapid technological advances through the medium of mobile telephones, tablets, TV receiving, MP3 players, videos, etc.. As these advances mean a greater demand for speed and capacity on broadband, ABbA’s volunteer technologists have not been idle.

Northamptonshire County Council has been given the green light by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to facilitate superfast broadband to two thirds of the county’s premises by 2014. Unfortunately for Abthorpe, we fall into the last 10% of areas to be considered. As a result much research and many investigations have been made over the past 6 months in an effort to look at where ABbA can go from here. Eric is confident that the company can bring superfast broadband into our community at a very attractive price. We will know whether that is feasible by the end of March.

After the meeting ABbA’s members enjoyed a buffet prepared by the New Inn’s chef and quaffed our local brew Hooky. There was one major topic of conversation. Will there be yet another milestone in the history of the Abthorpe Broadband Association Ltd?

29th January
A note from the Chairman.

“1648. Mrs Jane Leeson died April ye 1^st.” So runs the simple record in the parish registers of Abthorpe. Our village has remained forever grateful to Jane Leeson who died unmarried as she left endowments; one of which funded the construction of a school house for the benefit of local children.

“1642. Jane Leeson hath builded this hous as a free school for ever,” states the old plaque high up on the exterior walls. Some 245 years after the construction of the school house an extension was added. At Christmas 1887 the then Rector wrote; “To the energy and perseverance of the Rev. R.C. Willy, well supported by the liberality of the late Duke of Grafton, Lord Southampton and others is due the substitution of the present handsome schoolroom for the narrow and incommodious building of Mrs Leeson’s time. The old school is preserved, but its low ceiling removed, and it opens at a right angle into the new and lofty school.”

Abthorpe School is now our village hall and subsequent generations of parishioners have looked after the building so that now it is in a good state of repair. Recently, in a letter delivered to all homes in the parish, Jules Dyckhoff the current Chairman of the Old School Committee has invited villagers to attend the Annual General Meeting on Thursday 9^th February at 8:00pm. She writes that over the last 10 months we have begun the process of raising funds to enable us to upgrade both the kitchen and the toilets to ensure compliance with current legislation regarding disabled access. Jules is delighted with the phenomenal response to the fund raising and is extremely grateful to all those who have given support. However, she states, we are a small committee and, like everyone, busy with work and families, and we need more help! We particularly need a new secretary and help with fund raising events.

22nd January
Affordable Housing – new plans.
Back in 2006 South Northamptonshire Council carried out a survey to determine if there was a need for affordable housing that would allow people with strong connections with Abthorpe to continue to live in the village once they needed their own home. The survey showed the need for only two homes. This was considered too small to justify any development. But as the nearby villages of Wappenham, Bradden and Slapton had similar requirements proposals were drawn up where one scheme would serve the needs of all four parishes. The SNC identified a site in our Brackley Lane opposite the garages that was considered suitable.

Plans were drawn up and presented to villagers for inspection in March 2010 at a display in the Old School our village hall. It was envisaged that the development would be of nine dwellings consisting of four flats, each with two bedrooms that were aimed at single people. Additionally there were two bungalows designed for older people plus four family homes – three with two bedrooms each and one with three. There was considerable interest in the proposal but sadly, as Cllr Keith Fenwick the Chairman of the Parish Council reported at the Annual Parish Meeting in May 2011, the scheme had fallen through as the owners of the land in the end declined to sell. He continued that this decision enabled Mr David Snelson who owns the adjoining orchard at the corner of Wappenham Road and Brackley Lane to offer his site. Detailed new plans were presented to our Parish Council in March 2011 who voiced strong opposition to the inadequate car parking provision of only 14 spaces.

Now South Northamptonshire Council has drawn up new, but very similar plans, for the orchard plot behind the village notice board at the junction of Brackley Lane and Wappenham Road . In a circular distributed to homes in our village Mrs Laura Welch the SNC’s Strategic Housing Officer has stated that there will be nine new homes. All will be for affordable rent or shared ownership and will be for local people from the villages of Abthorpe, Bradden, Slapton and Wappenham. The plans of the proposed development on the SNC’s web site show that a huge amount of thought has gone into their plans. For example a traffic survey has observed driver behaviour in the vicinity.

In brief the plans show a small close with its entrance approximately 50 metres up Brackley Lane . The four flats are located immediately behind the current village notice board with the bungalow close by. A terrace of the 3 two bedroom homes lies parallel to Brackley Lane with the larger 3 bedroom house at the back of the plot. There are 16 parking spaces indicated on the plans.

It all looks very well designed and interesting. I just hope that if the scheme goes ahead the relics of the once proud Abthorpe shoe industry that lie in a shed on the site are not simply thrown in a skip but recorded for history.

15th January
Jack Alexander Hammon was recently christened in our parish church at a combined baptism and Holy Communion service. The ceremony was witnessed by his parents Katherine and Alexander and a large gathering of family, friends and regular members of the congregation. After Jack’s godparents Nicola Roche, Paul Byron and Max Baines had pledged to support the child, our Rector the Rev’d Paul McLeod held baby Jack in his arms and baptised him with water that had been specially warmed. Jack took it all in his stride and made not a murmur even when he was paraded up and down the aisle to be welcomed into the church by the congregation.

The unseasonal warmer weather in the village has caused many plants to think that spring is already here. Crocuses are in full bloom in some gardens even before the snowdrops, our usual harbingers of spring, have poked their leaves through the grass. Daffodil buds are ready to burst into bloom and numerous ladybirds can be found amongst the foliage of some plants. Now that a spell of much colder weather has arrived it will hopefully delay the onset of spring as there are dangers that fruit blossom could be wiped out by vicious night time frosts.

8th January
Hollywood film stars’ son makes contact.
Just before Christmas Richard Tomalin our Church warden received an e-mail from Beverley Hills in Hollywood , California . It was from Peter Ford who explained that he was the only child of Eleanor Powell a significant film star at MGM Studios in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. She retired when she married Peter’s father Glenn Ford who became a famous film star in his own right.
The reason why Peter Ford contacted our Richard was part of a genealogical quest. Peter had already discovered that his 9^th great grandfather on his mother’s side was a Nicholas Symkins who was baptised in our parish church here in Abthorpe on 7^th October 1598. Richard looked up the records to confirm this and additionally was able to give Peter a piece of information that he didn’t know. It was the date of the marriage in Abthorpe of his 10^th great grandparents and the name of his 10^th great grandmother. It was Frances More.
So why did Peter’s 9^th great grandfather Nicholas Symkins leave England for America around 140 years before the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States? The years before the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642 was a period of disillusionment. Peter stated that knew that Nicholas Symkins was a Puritan. As King Charles I was not sympathetic to these renegades they fled to America . When a local historian was contacted she was able to give Peter a lot more information. It seems highly possible that Nicholas Symkins travelled to America in about 1636 with a group of dissenters led by Towcester man Thomas Shepard. She even questioned whether they travelled on the same ship and produced a copy of a Symkins family will from about that period.
Now Peter has stated that he would like to cross the Atlantic and visit Abthorpe. He states that when he gets here he hopes there will be someone at our pub The New Inn to buy him a pint of Hooky so that he can hoist a toast to old Captain Nicholas Symkins. And I’ve been asked to tell our readers that should they make the trek to Beverley Hills , California , there will be a cold American beer and a visit to their home waiting for them.

Notelets with Abthorpe scenes

The images on these cards are taken from original watercolours by June Willsher

All profits are being donated to the Abthorpe Old School Refurbishment Fund

For all orders and enquires contact June on 01327 850575