OPEN GARDENS – OPEN PURSES
Many thanks to Geoff Broad and John Russell for all the hard work they put into organising the Open Gardens Weekend last weekend, to which many visitors came.
As a result, the grand total of £1,300 was raised for the Holy Cross Action Project.
Many thanks must also be sent to those who provided the teas and cakes, and the numerous helpers who gave of their time to help in various ways – not forgetting those who bravely opened their gardens for the weekend.

PRAYER BOARDS
In both Boddington and Byfield churches there is now a prayer board for all to use.
You are invited to leave your prayer request on the board, and at either the Sunday services or the 9.45am holy communion service on Wednesdays your requests will be prayed for during the intercessions.
If you need someone 'to say one for me' – they will be pleased to help.

VILLAGE CLUB
Tomorrow (Friday), poker night, with an 8pm prompt start. Cash prizes for first and second place.
Saturday, July 11, is the Annual Fun Day, which will start at 2pm.
In a change to the usual format there will be a barbecue with sausages and burgers supplied by Marriott and Sons of Woodford Halse.
Other food available includes kebabs, fish, steak, and a vegetarian option, with lots of salads to accompany. Everyone is welcome.
There will be the usual live music, disco, and licensed bar, with a free bouncy castle, balloon game, fun golf game, and much, much more. This year there will be a raffle in aid of Northamptonshire and Warwickshire Air Ambulance, at £1 per ticket, on sale in the club now.
A reminder that all first round games in the snooker tournament need to be completed by the end of July – and don't forget to pay your subs for the tournament.
Saturday, August 1, darts competition, £3 entry fee, to book your place please call in to the club asap.

COMBINED CHURCHES CELEBRATION
The Churches Together Songs of Praise will be held at Boddington Methodist Chapel at 3pm on Sunday, followed by tea. Please take a plate of food to share. All are welcome.

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
The next meeting of the branch will be held in the lower annexe of Byfield Village Hall on Monday at 8pm.

DEANERY SYNOD
A meeting of the Deanery Synod will take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday at Chipping Warden. All are welcome to attend.

OVER 60'S
Byfield Over 60's are holding a special summer meeting on Wednesday from 2.30pm in the main hall of Byfield Village Hall.
Andrew Spackman will be showing Byfield as a 'Winter Wonderland', with photographs taken of this year's snow, as well as some from the photo museum of snowfalls of the past. Full afternoon tea will be served, and everyone is welcome. Tickets are £1 per person for non-members, available from Jean West, 8 Becketts Close, Byfield, (01327 260917).
Please note the change of meeting day for this event.

RECTOR'S BREAKFAST
At 8.30am on Saturday, July 11, members of Byfield Men's Breakfast will partake of the annual Rector's Breakfast at The Rectory.
This is an occasion when the Rector, the Rev Lynda Randall and her husband Chris, very kindly provide a proper cooked breakfast for members.
If it's a fine morning breakfast will be served in the Rectory garden; if it's wet, it'll be under cover.

200 CLUB
The July draw is due to take place on Sunday, July 12, and for the chance to win in this and future draws contact Chris Cross on 01327 260764, and for £12 your number will be placed in 12 monthly draws to win one of the two prizes on offer – £50 and £25.
In aid of Holy Cross Action Project.

WI MEETING
Inspired by the Open Gardens last week? At our next meeting John Cornwall will show us 'How to Make the Most of a Small Garden'.
The meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday, July 15, in the lower annexe of Byfield Village Hall, and prospective members and visitors are very welcome to attend (visitors £3). Why not come along and see what happens? You never know, you might like it! Byfield WI Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm.
Contact our president, Pam Birdsall, on 01327 260861, secretary, Ann Caldwell, on 01327 260993, or treasurer, Angela Weller, on 01327 260022, for more details.

PARISH COUNCIL
The next meeting of the parish council will be held two weeks later than usual, on Thursday, July 16, and there will be no meeting in August unless there is a need to consider any planning applications.

BYFIELD MEN'S BREAKFAST OUTING
Saturday, July 18, will see members set off for a trip to travel on the Severn Valley Railway, spurred on as a result of an excellent talk by David Stowell, one of their volunteers, given in April of last year.
After meeting in the village hall car park at 9am to arrange car sharing, the 52 mile journey to Kidderminster will begin.
The trip will take in the railway from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth and back, the return fare for which will be £14 and £12 for seniors, or £17 and £14.50 to include the Engine House at Kidderminster.
Families are welcome on this visit, of course.

COURSES FOR YOUNG DRIVERS
Time is running out for young drivers or would-be drivers to register for these courses at Silverstone race circuit in October. Applications have to be returned to Northamptonshire County Council by August 14 at the latest, but the sooner they are in, the better.
At least 10 young people from Byfield will have the opportunity to gain driving experience at Silverstone, courtesy of the council.
On Sunday, October 18, drivers aged 17 to 24 (with full UK driving licenses) can find out first-hand how to drive more safely, handle a skid, and much more. So far only one young person from Byfield has requested an application form for this course.
Then, on Tuesday, October 27, (half term), those aged between 16 and 17 on the day of the course can apply for a Drive16 course, where they will have driving experience with a qualified instructor, plus learn how to keep a driving license once they have one.
So far, four young people from Byfield have asked for application forms for this course.
The places on these two courses are free to applicants, as they are being funded by the county council as part of its Casualty Reduction Partnership.
So, if you live in Byfield and would like an application form for either course, contact the clerk to the council (Angela Weller) on 01327 260022 as soon as possible.

CHURCH SERVICES
Sunday, 8.30am, holy communion at Byfield; 9.30am, family service at Boddington; 11am, benefice holy communion at Aston le Walls; and 3pm, Churches Together Songs of Praise at Boddington Methodist Chapel – please bring a plate of food to share at the following tea.
Wednesday, 9.45am, holy communion at Byfield.
If anyone requires transport to enable them to attend a service, please contact the Rectory on 01327 260204.