| The drone of engines broke the Sunday quiet of the May Bank Holiday
as the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane of the RAF's Battle of Britain
Memorial Flight flew low from North to South over the river Witham where
it flows between the six churches of the Bassingham group. The bridges
across the river were crowded with people anxious to get a good view.
The first church on their route, Aubourn, is the smallest and it sits alongside
Aubourn Hall, the lovely Elisabethan manorhouse. |
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At Norton Disney, home of Walt's ancestors, the recumbent effigies
of long dead knights and their ladies lay still among the still lifes and
landscapes of the art exhibition put on by the local art group. Whilst
outside, a small bedding plant stall was doing brisk business. Meanwhile,
at the nearby church of Carlton-le-Morland there was a fascinating display
of timepieces of all types, ranging from old longcase clocks to sundials,
which were compemented by photographs of village time past. |
| It was said that in times past, you could get anything you wanted in
Bassingham, but not now! The display in the church belied that statement
however, as 34 village-based businesses displayed their wares. These
ranged from oil rig services through furniture making and bespoke wedding
dress creations to a very modern candlestick maker. Further to the
north-west, on the other side of the Witham, lies the small parish church
of Thurlby St German, with its memorial to Lieutenant Bromhead VC and other
soldiers of the family who fought for monarch and empire. The church grounds
also contain the graves of many gallant RAFand commonwealth aircrew who
lost their lives whilst serving at the nearby RAF airfield of Swinderby,
and the exhibition within the church celebrated the 60 years of association
with the RAF station. |
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Over the weekend, about £1500 was raised for the Hospice via Lincolnshire's
'Go for Gold' appeal together with collections at the churches from sales
of produce and refreshments, and from a collection made by a touring group
of villagers who performed a Jag Play in all the villages. What,
you may ask, is a Jag Play?
