Anyone seen my teddy bear...?

Back from a few glorious days camping in Norfolk in time to chair last night's Deeping St James Parish Council meeting - on my 32nd wedding anniversary.

Looking forward to meal out tonight with my wife Gill at the Packhorse in Northborough - we hear the chef has transferred from the White Hart at Ufford where our daughter Claire was married at Christmas. Wedding fare was first rate so hoping for good things...

Tomorrow morning, I'll be at a meeting of United Charities Finance Committee at 9.30 followed by helping to put up the parish council stand at the Rose and Sweet Pea Show at the Vicarage.

And Sunday, I'll be digging out my old teddy bear for the Picnic and walk in the afternoon at the DSJ nature reserve - organised by the parish council. Not sure if my five month old grandson Jack will appreciate it, but hope it's a good family event.

So, a busy weekend in St James. Hope the weather is kind to us...

Our Rev. Mark gets a new calling...

News just received: "The Bishop of Lincoln is pleased to announce that the Revd Mark Warrick, who is currently Vicar in the parish of Deeping St James in the Aveland & Ness Deanery, has been appointed Priest in Charge of the benefice of All Saints and St John´s Stamford, subject to CRB Disclosure.

"Mark, his wife Alison and their family hope to move to the parish in January and Mark is due to be licensed on 28th January 2009."

Congratulations to Mark, who I've had the pleasure of knowing since he arrived in Deeping St James some ten or so years ago.

I've served with Mark on Deeping St James Parish Council for a number of years and we are currently both trustees of the United Charities Trust.

I've also enjoyed supping an occasional pint or two with Mark down at the Waterton Arms while we put the world to rights.

Mark's undoubted compassion, wit, and valued contribution to our communuty will be greatly missed. Hope he forgives me for the rather cheeky snap I took of him at the Rose and Sweet Pea Show on the vicarage lawn a year or two ago.

Hopefully the Warrick family link with DSJ will continue through Alison's role in a senior teaching post at the Deepings Comprehensive School.

Building Bridges with Islam in The Deepings...

How does Islam fit in British society and what should our reaction be to our Muslim neighbours and colleagues...? The First Deepings Lecture takes place this Thursday with the Archdeacon of Southwark The Ven. Michael Ipgrave speaking on 'Building Bridges with Islam'.

Michael Ipgrave is a national figure on interfaith issues and is visiting our community at the invitation Deepings Churches Together to help us to work through some of the issues, from a Christian perspective sympathetic to British Muslims.

I've agreed to chair the event at Deeping St James CP School, Hereward Way, Deeping St James at 7.30pm.

Free admission (just like museums!)...Everyone's welcome.

Police crackdown on anti-social behaviour in DSJ...

Police have seized two vehicles in Deeping St James in the first few days of a sustained crackdown on bikers causing problems for local residents.

It's great news that our local Neighbourhood Police Team are taking tough action in response to a spate of complaints about young people riding mopeds, scooters and mini-motos wrecklessly, dangerously and illegally.

Our very own Police Community Support Officer Chris Clarke says:

So far we have issued six Section 59 warnings and seized two vehicles.

Section 59 Warnings are one of the new powers given to local police under Labour's Police Reform Act.

Police now have the power to issue a formal warning which means if either the offending vehicle - or the driver/rider - is caught being used in an anti-social manner a second time, it will be seized.

In his monthly report to Deeping St James Parish Council last night, PCSO Chris said:

We will only give one warning and after that it is too late. It's not just a case of paying the fine and recovery costs to get your vehicle back, but you will also receive a summons to court where you could get points on your driving licence.

Last week a mini moto was seized from a 13-year-old in Crowson Way, Deeping St James after he was spotted riding on the footpath and highway illegally.

The second vehicle, a red Yamaha moped, was seized last Friday on the playing field off Thackers Way.

The seizures are good news. Only last weekend, I was in my back garden at dusk when a young lad roared his scooter - illegally and dangerously - up Church Walk. Anyone on the footpath would have been forced to jump for their lives...And for the next half hour, a group of lads took turns to race the scooter around the playing field.

Most youngsters ride their scooters and mopeds responsibly, but dangerous anti-social behaviour needs nipping in the bud and I'm delighted our local police are tackling the problem.

A couple of years ago when I first took action to recruit our own PCSO, I was delighted that my proposal was backed unanimously by the parish council.

I believe the move is now paying dividends in our community...

What's your view? Do post a comment.