Marshland St James

From Norfolk RCC

Welcome to Marshland St James

We are a linear fenland village about 11 miles from King's Lynn and 7 miles from Wisbech. Surrounded by rich farming land the village was created in 1935 from the grazing land of the "Seven Towns of Marshland" The village is in Norfolk, near the border with Cambridgeshire. It is currently in the North West Norfolk constituency but will move to South West Norfolk at the next Parliamentary elections. We have a further problem with our identity as the Post Office splits the village into Marshland St James (nearer Emneth)and St Johns Fen End. The vast majority of people live on Smeeth Road. At one time the village was centred on the now redundant church and school and Middle Drove. When the village school moved near to the crossroads of the village and the railway stations closed the emphasis of development shifted to Smeeth Road.

www.marshlandstjames.net

Coming soon: Marshland St James very own website which will be the place for all the local news. This web site will also have all the details of services in the area, including doctors, links to the County Council and Borough Council and other useful information - rather like an electronic welcome pack to the village. It will also be a site for local businesses or people who wish to sell their goods or services to the people of Marshland St James to advertise. Contact Jean on 01945 430230 for details.

Village Hall

MARSHLAND ST JAMES JUBILEE HALL

The Jubilee Hall is owned by the village and run by a management committee which includes representatives from the local organisations. The sole purpose of the committee is to maintain a village facility that can be the heart of the community.

It is available for hire by contacting the Bookings Secretary – Sharon Arlott Telephone 01945 430815

Hiring fees are £8 per hour Daily rate £60 per day

Contact Sharon for details of availability.

The hall has a superb kitchen with 2 domestic ovens and loads of space to enable you to prepare your food. A Bar can be arranged if needed.

The village hall plays host to The W.I., the Sunshine (Over 60’s) Club, Mother and Toddlers, Charity Bingos and a Yoga class throughout the year. It is also the place to be if you have a birthday, wedding, christening or anniversary party. All profits from the hire are ploughed back into the upkeep and improvements in the hall.

This is YOUR hall use and enjoy.

Playing Field

The Parish Coucil is in the process of trying to upgrade the facilties on the Playing Field after representation from and consultation with both the children and adults of the village. The long winded process of getting grant aid has begun and we hope that these photographs of the plans will inspire young and old to support the council and fundraisers alike. The facilites are for all age groups, from the smallest children to teens and beyond. A separate play area for children and a skate/BMX track and teen shelter is all included.

Bowls Club The bowls club has a superb green in the corner of the playing field and welcomes all bowlers both young and old. The club plays in two leagues with matches in the Middleton league on a Tuesday and the Wisbech Rural on a Friday/Saturday. The season runs from mid-April to mid-September. Full details can be found by calling Jim Norman on 01945 430242

What goes on in the village

Womens Institite Monthly meetings are held in the Village Hall on the first Tuesday of each month at 7pm (except January when there is no meeting)A varied programme of speakers and outings make sure there is something for everyone to enjoy. Our W.I. was 70 years old in 2007 so they must be doing something right. Contact Margaret Hodge 01945 430171

December meeting: Speaker Mrs F. Ashfield on Christmas Crackers

All ladies are sure of a warm welcome.

Oversixties Sunshine Club Meetings are held on 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month in the village Hall at 2pm. During the summer months the 3rd Wednesday is an outing. Contact Gillian Fox on 01945 430193 for details.

''December 5th - Sunshine Club, December 12th -Christmas Lunch 2008, January 16th- New Year's Party, February 6th- Sunshine Club, February 20th- AGM, March 5th- Sunshine Club, March 19th - Birthday Party

Mother and Toddlers Every Monday and Thursday morning in the village hallfrom 9.30-11.30 am A chance for Mums (and Dads) to meet with other parents and for the children to enjoy play in a safe environment. Contact Sharon Arlott 01945 430815 for details.

Bingo Regular bingo sessions are held throughout the year in the village hall to raise funds for local causes. Eyes down at 7.15pm Next Bingo- December 13th for charity chosen by W.I.

Yoga A Hatha Yoga class is held in the village hall on Wednesday nights from 7.30-9pm, during term time,run by experienced teacher Isobel Collingwood-Smith. For dates and costs please contact Isobel on 10945 780797

Starting January 7th Mandy from Village Fit is running classes starting at 7.30pm for 1 hour. (These times may change if the class is over-subscribed) There are 3 weeks of Salsasise,then there are classes including Pole Dancing, Aerobics and Boxercise plus resistance training. There should be something to suit everyone. To book your place ring Mandy on 07901 957902

Parish Council

The Parish Council meetings on the third Monday in the months of January, March, May, July, September and November usually at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. The details and agenda is placed on noticeboards around the village. At each meeting the members of the public are welcome to attend and there is a 15 minute public forum where they can raise matters (please note this the maximum time and the 15 minutes is shared amongst all those who wish to bring matters to the council's attention). If you wish to write to the parish council please do so in plenty of time before the meeeting for it to be considered for placement on the agenda. Contact: The Clerk (Margaret Sawyer) Dairy Farm House 46 Tottenhill Row King's Lynn PE33 0RQ Next meeting 21st January 2008

Parish Plan

A steering committee has been formed to formulate a questionnaire which will be circulated to all residents of the parish. A number of public meetings will be held to consider what residents think is important for inclusion. Details of any forthcoming meetings will be posted here. A Parish Plan will show what residents want to happen in the village for the future and it is important that you make your views known. Please support the committee when they distribute the questions and make sure you fill them in.If you have any thoughts or comments you wish to pass on to the steering committee please contact David Markinson on 01945 430670 or by Email: cllr.david.markinson@west-norfolk.gov.uk

Places of Worship

St.Edmund’s Church United benefice of Emneth and Marshland St. James. This is the Anglican Parish Church for Emneth and Marshland St. James. Our aim is for our Parish church to be a place where our love for Jesus inspires our worship and prayer, our care for one another and our service in the community. You are all warmly welcome here. Your vicar Dawn 01945 583089

Every Sunday at 10.30am Holy Communion 23rd December - 10.30 communion - 4pm Joint lessons and Carol service with Brass Band Christmas Eve 4pm - Jesus Birthday Party and 11.30pm Midnight Holy Communion Christmas Day - 10.30 Joint Holy Communion

Some of the things we offer.

Monday Club age 4 -8 yrs. Footprints age 9 – 11 yrs These are held on every Monday from 5.45 -7.00 pm in the church hall at Emneth. The children’s leader is Yvette Gamble on 01945 463406

St. Edmund’s Lunch Club We meet in a pub for lunch and many people take this opportunity to eat with others and meet with new and old friends Some come on their own, some bring a friend, and transport can be provided. We meet every month, alternately on a Wednesday and a Thursday.

Fellowship Lunch The first Friday of every month we provide a light lunch in our church hall from 12.00 - 1.30. We simply ask a donation and this goes to Third World Charities, where it goes much further, and to support and educate our Sponsored child, Stephen, through the Leprosy mission. For further information phone 01945 584654 Please note no lunch in January

St James Methodist Chapel Smeeth Road, Marshland St James, Wisbech, PE14 8EP

Services: Sunday Services - 10.30am and 6.30pm All age worship monthly (usually 4th Sunday in month)

Minister Rev’d Denise Hague Telephone: 01945 880512

Midweek activities: Tuesday - Prayer Fellowship 11.00am

Wednesday - Women’s Own (2nd Wednesday each month) 7.15pm

Thursday - Alternate weeks Live Wires & Youth Club Live Wires Juniors 6.30pm-7.30pm Seniors 7pm – 8pm Youth Club Juniors 7pm - 8pm Seniors 8pm - 9pm (Live Wires is Junior Church on Thurs night)

Friday - Lunch Club (1st Friday in month) 12 noon

For further details of any of our mid week activities, please phone: 01945 430382.

St James’ also hosts the Circuit Men’s Supper Club on the second Friday of each month. Around 30 men gather for a meal and to hear a speaker on a range of subjects of common interest. All men are welcome. For details phone the Secretary on 01945 870602.

Our church is fully wheelchair accessible and the small meeting room and large dual-purpose worship space are both available to hire for community use. Telephone Mrs Beeken on 01945 430273.