I wonder if you realise there are only 42 shopping days left to Christmas?

What is it about Christmas that is so appealing to us? Even to those who consider themselves unbelievers? Well, if you’ve ever watched the face of someone giving a gift, I think you’ve got the answer.

Something within us delights to give. There is far more joy and delight on the face of the giver than on the one who receives. Jesus knew what he was talking about when he said “It is far more blessed to give than to receive”.

We were made for giving.

The example of our giving as Christian people is that of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself sacrificially. And that, of course, is why we give presents at Christmas. To remember the gift of God’s son given to us.

Most of us want to be sure that our friends and families will be delighted with our gifts so as we think about Christmas approaching us again this year, I wonder what might be the best gift we can give to someone?

We might want to answer diamonds or a new car, but deep down all of us know that what means the most to us is not just the material things we are given but knowing that we have been remembered and thought about.

It makes an enormous difference to our lives. Just as a postcard on a dark day brightens it up considerably. It is just knowing that someone cares enough to remember us that means the world.

This year at Martin House, we have a new way you might want to give a Christmas gift. It is called the ‘Light up a Life’ campaign.

The idea is simple; for a donation to Martin House you can dedicate a light to someone special on our Christmas tree giving you the opportunity to remember them at this time of year. You may like to dedicate a light to someone who has passed away, a friend who has moved, a family member to whom you would like to give a unique gift or say a special thank you to someone.

You will be sent a card marking your dedication, which you can either keep or pass on. A special service will be held at St Mary’s Church in Boston Spa on Wednesday the 8^th of December at 7.30 pm. This will be a fun time for all the family with carols and a Christmassy theme and everyone will be welcomed.

Through Light up a Life, we hope to raise much needed funds to help our children and young people here know that they are loved and special. If you would like to know more, you can ring me on 01937 842430.

Have a very happy Christmas.

The Elysian Singers presents
CAROLS FOR CHRISTMAS
at Mary’s Church, Boston Spa
Saturday 11th December at 7.30 pm
Tickets including Christmas Cheer £6
available from Group Office

The Drighlington Brass Band presents an evening with Christmas Music and Carols at Bramham Park Sunday 19^th December 6.30 for 7.00 pm. £16 for Adults and £10 for Children under 14. Light refreshments will be served. Tickets available in Church on Sunday or please ring Anne Palmer 842850. Tickets are limited, so get them early.

CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE

In view of the Christmas Concert at Bramham Park, our annual carol service this year will be on a Saturday. The date is Saturday 18^th December at 6.00 pm in All Saints Church Bramham. Mulled Wine and Mince Pies will be available after the Service.

The next Children’s Service will be on Sunday 12^th December at 10.00 am. If you were unable to join us on the first special service on 7^th November, we look forward to welcoming you to All Saints’ on 12^th December.

In the new year we will arrange for the Children’s Service to be on the same Sunday of the month. 10. 00 am seems to suit you all better than 9.30 am. We were delighted to see so many children at the first service on 7^th November.

There is Family Worship with Communion on the 4^th Saturday of each month.

The United Service with the Methodists of Bramham is held on the Fourth Sunday of the month at 10.00 am

For the time being we strongly advise you to consult the Parish Magazine for service times, as there have been so many changes recently. We will fix the times and dates in the new year, and then try very hard to stick to the new timetable.

We are awaiting instructions for a new Parish Notice Board and we hope this will be fixed in position during the early part of 2005.

It was good to see such a full church on Remembrance Day together with the Brownies and their leaders. Wreaths were placed on the altar by Mr Paul Topping for the Parish Council and by Mrs Mavis Wilson for The Yorkshire Countrywomen's Association. A short service was held at the War Memorial. and the Last Post and Reveille sounded.

Churchwardens
Anne Palmer and Peggy Kitchen
 

At our meeting in October, our speaker, Mr J. Luckett, a popular visitor, told us how to go about “Digging up the Ancestors” or, in other words, how to research your family tree. With the help of some very interesting documents and maps, he explained very clearly what to do, tempting his listeners to delve into their past.

Our Christmas Party will be held on 15th December at 7.00 pm at the home of Mrs L. Barton and the competition this year will be a handmade Christmas hat.

Any ladies who would perhaps enjoy an evening trying out this popular make-up will be most welcome to come and join us.

Bramham branch of the NSPCC would like to raise the profile of this worthy charity by producing a calendar for 2006.

We would like to invite entries into a photographic competition entitled modern Day Bramham” from residents, social and sports groups, employers, schools etc.

Hopefully, judging in varied categories and selection for the calendar will take place in the Village Hall some time in September 2005, so you have nearly 12 months in which to capture the “Spirit of our Village”

An organised Bonfire was held by the Tenter Hill Allotment Holders on Saturday 6th November.

Refreshments and fireworks were enjoyed by a good crowd, and thanks are due to everyone who helped to make it such a happy evening.

A collection was taken and £250 is being sent to the Harrogate District Hospital Baby Renal Unit.

Friday night 7 pm to 9 pm

We have:

Volley Ball, Basket Ball, Table Tennis,

Snooker/Pool, Badminton,
Football, Air Hockey,
Playstations and X Boxes.

If you are over 12 years of age, come along and join in the fun

Entrance Fee: £1
For further information contact

You are invited to tea with entertainment to follow in The Village Hall on

Saturday 5th February 2005 from 3.30 to 6.00 pm

If you wish to come please ring

Yes, the clocks have changed and it does get dark much earlier now. Does your home look lived in whilst you are out? Have you set your timer switches to come on earlier in more than one room? These precautions do confuse the would be opportunist thief on the look out for a quick chance to nip in and nip out again with some of your possessions.

Remember to trim back those overgrown hedges and bushes for two reasons. First, they are a danger especially when overhanging a boundary fence or wall. So easy to cause damage to a passer by when they are walking past them. Second, when left to become overgrown they very often-obscure windows and doors giving the opportunist thief an ideal location to be hidden from view whilst attempting to enter your premises.

Remember to lock and secure your windows, garages, sheds, gates and house doors. It is not always easy to hear a noise outside whilst sitting listening to music or watching TV. Take good and wise precautions, then sit back and relax for that afternoon snooze or pleasant evening.

Whilst out shopping, watch out for your purse, bags and wallets. NEVER leave them on top of a shopping trolley. Keep purses and wallets safe in a secure inside pocket rather than in your hand if you do not carry a bag. Christmas is getting nearer, shops and Post Offices are getting busier, please be aware who is around you.

See or hear anything suspicious, you can always telephone Wetherby Police Station. on 0113 232 2096 or telephone 0845 60 60 606 for Non Urgent calls or 999 for immediate help. For Crime Stoppers telephone 0800 555 111

Crime Prevention Advice is available for home or business. Telephone 0845 60 60 606 to make an appointment for a Crime Prevention Officer to visit you.

Maureen Brewer

Chairman - Telephone 01937 582 441.

To all who attended the firework display at the Tenter Hill Allotments, a very big thank you for the money which was raised for Harrogate Special Baby Care Unit.

A massive £225 was collected to say thankyou for all the help and support they gave both to Harry in getting well after his lungs collapsed at birth and also the emotional support they gave to us. We would like to make them aware of how grateful we are in making our very precious son well. Thank You.

Michael, Emma & Harry (Sanderson

5 DOLLAR SHOES

(11 piece soul band) with Bar and Disco

BRAMHAM VILLAGE HALL

Tickets from Bramham Post Office or Mal Robinson 07836 629278

at the invitation of Mr & Mrs N Lane Fox

and join The Drighlington Brass Band playing Christmas Music and Carols

Adults £16 Children under 14 £10

This is the end of my second year of promoting bands in the Village Hall. This year, we’ve continued to attract crowds of over 200 people and we’ve had some great nights listening to Boccigalupe & The Badboys and Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan. I think it is fair to say that we have seen bands far better than I ever expected when I started out. I guess that came home to me when I found out that one of the Badboys had played gigs with Bon Jovi, Aretha Franklin, Sam & Dave and Phil Collins!

I’d like to thank everybody who turned out to the three nights that we held and to all the people who help make sure that these nights are a great success: the Village Hall committee for organising the bar, John at the Post Office for selling tickets, Sue Craven and Denise Ashby for helping distribute the fliers, my brother Gary Robinson for manning the door and Lisa for feeding the bands and road crew.

The profits from the bar go to help refurbish the village hall while the profit from the tickets gets used to support local groups and organisations. Amongst others, we have helped the guides buy a play kite for a play scheme in India, we have supported the Drama Group with a new stage curtain, we have contributed £150 to the Bramham Xmas lights and some money has gone to Bramham and St Edward’s Primary Schools.

So what about next year? Well, I’m aiming to have three bands during the year – first off will be Loserville supported by the Nicki Allan Band. I haven’t lined up the other bands yet although having seen how much Boccigalupe & The Badboys enjoyed themselves in October, I think it will be hard stopping them from coming back! I’m already talking to some other bands to fill the third slot but we don’t know dates yet. Rest assured that the other band will be great too!

Loserville are from Sweden and play a very catchy brand of guitar pop and their second album was produced by the guy who produced the Roxette albums. Nicki Allan is my wife Lisa’s sister-in-law. She sang with Micky Kemp in February and her fantastic voice has always gone down well so we are giving her the chance to play some blues and soul music with her own band.

Tickets are on sale from early January – please come along and keep supporting live music!

Keith Robinson

We have now started our winter programme of badges and activities. One patrol has just finished a “Chocolate Badge” which was great fun as it involved making lots of things with chocolate. The Rangers are planning to start a Community Service Project in January.

All of us are going to the District Carol Service which will be held in Bramham Church this year on Monday 6th December. The Guides will finish the year with a traditional Christmas Party and the Rangers are planning a Christmas Dinner.

In January the Guides and Rangers (along with the Brownies) are all going to Euro Disney for the weekend. We are all looking forward to the trip. We will be staying in cabins at the Disney Ranch which will be a lot of fun.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas from the Guides & Rangers.

Fiona