Bottesford Playgroup has existed for 39 years and, during that time, hundreds of children have passed through its doors. For the last 17 years it has occupied its own purpose-built building in Belvoir High School grounds, a beautiful setting with good facilities, just made for children to have fun while they learn.

Bottesford Playgroup is a charity and is run by a committee of parents whose fund- raising efforts in the last few years, from tabletop sales to Casino Evenings, have added exciting and valuable resources to the building. Funds raised have added a sensory garden, an all weather play area and a sun awning for when there is sunshine! It runs morning and afternoon sessions with the provision for all-day care during term times. Each session has qualified staff and is run by group supervisors Kim Doleman and Lucinda Tongue. Playgroup received an excellent report following their recent OFSTED inspection. You are welcome to visit Playgroup at any time, or call 844489 Mon-Fri 9-4 for more information.

the AGM in November numbers had swelled to 54. The Area Ramblers organised the first 6 months and then the group was left to its own devices - with great success! Committee members came and went but the group went from strength to strength and, today, there are 104 keen ramblers. They meet every Sunday throughout the year, except during July and August, when it is on alternate Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. The walks try to cater for all abilities ranging from less than 6 miles to more than 10. An open-air theatre visit or place of interest is often arranged as a reward at the end of the trek! Eileen Gibbs not only organises the walks, but also a Christmas event, summer barbecue and long weekend each year, together with a summer coach trip. To mark the 10th Anniversary they are holding a Treasure Hunt in Bottesford on 2ndJ uly for past and present members. If you are interested in joining or just want to have a go contact Eileen on 875769 for details.

Call us for all your electrical needs
Service sales and electrical
Engineers
Established 37 years

East Midland Tree Services
1 Paper Mill Farm Cottages
Bridge End Rd, Nr Grantham, NG31 7TR
All types of tree work Hedge Cutting
Logs Delivered Bark Chippings
Telephone: 01476 591462
Mobile: 07860 217189

Amongst those local groups boosting their own fundraising this year at the May
Day Gala on Monday, 2nd May will be Bottesford Scouts, Friends of Chernobyl's
Children, Vale of Belvoir Lions, the Skateboard Park Group and the Village Hall
Committee. The Gala will be opened at 11.30am by the Mayor of Melton, David
Wright, who will crown the May Queen, and at 11.45am, fire off the Fun Run. The
Beer Tent and Barbecue will then be open, with live music provided by local band
Replay and others. Come along and lend your support at this fun filled day for the
whole family.

We have recently heard from a Toronto correspondent eagerly awaiting the next issue of Village Voice! We have also heard that copies have travelled as far as British Columbia.Let us know where else the Village

Have you a relative, friend or neighbour who is either blind, visually impaired, elderly or housebound in the Bottesford area, who would like to receive, free of charge, monthly tapes of news and items of local interest? If you have, please call Pat Honey on 01949 844240.

Are you interested in helping to run Bottesford's new Village Hall? If so, why not put your name forward as a potential Trustee. Application forms can be obtained from VC Hall Secretary, Sue Neale on 844464.

Rubbish is our strategy the
council has declared,
For the future we all must be
prepared.

Follow the instructions,
alternate weeks for brown or
black,
Put rubbish in the black bin
never in a sack.

Now for the brown bin, garden
waste goes in here
And, as if by magic, compost
will appear.

We still have the boxes, blue
and green you’ll find,
It’s easy this new system,
unless you’re colour blind!

For details of Bottesford
Environmental and
Conservation Volunteers’
meetings and activities, call
844026
For details of the Roman
Catholic Church, Grantham,
telephone 01476 563935

CHARTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Registered with Health
Professional Council

Monday-Saturday: 12noon –2pm & 6-9pm
Sunday: 12noon-3pm
Sunday evening quiz – a mixture of
general knowledge and music:
8.45pm – 10.30pm
Large parking area and grassed
children’s play area .
Meetings and party bookings
catered for Golden Years Menu available
5 Grantham Road, Bottesford

ALL ASPECTS OF BUILDING WORK
NEW HOMES, EXTENSIONS, ETC
FREE ESTIMATES AND QUOTATIONS

Having paid her travel expenses of £1000, she needed to raise a further £2000 resulting in much fund-raising including Table Top Sale, Quiz Nights and a Valentines Dance.

Nancy, 46, a practice nurse at the surgery in Bottesford, wishes to thank her family, friends, the people of Bottesford and local businesses who have encouraged and supported her - an extra special thanks go to Mick and Helen Hackett. She will soon meet 65 other people determined to complete the trek and is confident of success - she has confided that she is 'dreading the lack of loos on the way' and the thought of 'cold fried egg sandwiches!' There will be temperatures up to 35°, high humidity and severe terrain.

So far Nancy has raised a staggering
£4300 in support of Cancer Research
UK©. If you wish to sponsor her, details
and information are on www.bmycharity.com/nancy or call her on 844083 or e-
mail nancy@forster.f2s.com.

Rainbows is travelling to Minsk this summer to help support the Belarussian Guiding movement as a representative of both our village and the South Lincolnshire Guides. Belarus was badly affected by the effects of the Chernobyl disaster and this disadvantaged country greatly values the support of our Guides.

Claire has worked with Rainbows for 4 years and also helps at Bottesford Primary School each Wednesday afternoon. In order to go on this trip Claire has to raise £650 and hopes to achieve this amount through Bingo evenings, cake sales, and quiz sheets. Please look out for these fund raising efforts to help her on her way.

Many people with a road ditch or stream passing their homes will be familiar with those letters from ‘the authorities’ reminding them of the need to keep them clear but how many have ever been thanked for their efforts? In recognition that such details are an important part of the precautions against flooding, Bottesford Action Group would like to take this opportunity to thank the two residents of Easthorpe who co-operated with clearing their length of ditch, and the third who shared the cost incurred. No doubt there are others elsewhere in the parish who have ensured that drainage is not obstructed, and we would also like to express our appreciation to them.

Why not try the Grantham Occasional Orchestral Workshop,
a professionally lead group sponsored by SoundLincs and
South Kesteven District Council. We meet for 3 hours on a
Saturday morning once a month, for the sole purpose of
making music for fun. The GOOW meets at Grantham
Guidhall and all we ask is that you bring your instrument,
music stand, £5 and an enthusiasm for music making. For
more information contact www.soundlincs.orgor Mary Timms 01526 322515