Price 60p (£6.00 per annum) December 2020–January 2021
Thoughts from the Rector From November through the Festive Season and New Year So, here we are again at the beginning of November and looking forward, if it is permitted to speak of “looking forward”, to another lockdown. We know that such a course of action is necessary. If the accident and emergency services of our hospitals were to become overrun, and we are awfully close to that possibility, our doctors would be forced into having to decide who is to live and who is to die. That is an intolerable choice for anyone to make. Because of the lockdown earlier in the year we were able to avoid this situation but now we face it once again. The choice has been made and, whether you agree with it or not, once again you and I must find the inner strength to deal with it. I would like to offer a source of inspiration from our history as one possibility. Back in the 1960s my father ran a farm in the Thames Valley, just a few miles north of the town of Wantage. We often used to go down there, and I got to know a statue in the town that stood proudly at its heart. It was a statue of Alfred the Great who was born in that town in 849. I am so glad that my school head teacher taught us history through the telling of stories and I fell in love with this tale, of how at Christmas in 878 the Danes, under Guthrum attacked him in Chippenham and how he escaped to the Isle of Athelney in the Somerset Levels. It is here that I turn to what has been for me a recent discovery. It is a poem by G.K Chesterton entitled, The Ballad of the White Horse. Chesterton wrote it in 1911 and many British soldiers carried copies of it with them to the trenches of the Western Front in the 1914-18 war. It inspired them then and it seems to be appropriate for where we are now. The poem begins with the king, a refugee in his own land in the Isle of Athelney. Athelney is all that is left of free England. Alfred is a beaten man, the king of a beaten people and, in this moment of despair he sees a vision of the Virgin Mary who refuses to tell him whether he will regain his crown or not and then gives him these words. “I tell you naught for your comfort, Yea, naught for your desire, Save that the sky grows darker yet And the sea rises higher. (Continued overleaf on Page 2) 2
(Continued from Page 1) Night shall be thrice night over you, And heaven an iron cope, Do you have joy without a cause, Yea, faith without a hope?” What words these are to take us bravely through the days that lie ahead! How tempted we are to be joyful, happy or at peace when things fall out well for us. What this condemns us to is a life in which we are happy when things go well and unhappy when they don't. We are filled with anxiety about how each day is going to turn out. Will we have enough? Will we be on time? There is so much about which we do not have control, but we worry about these things nonetheless. In Chesterton's poem, Alfred is promised naught for his comfort. He does not know if he will end his days in this dank and miserable place. But then the Virgin Mary gives him a challenge and gives the same to each one of us as well. “Do you have joy without a cause, Yea, faith without a hope?” With these words, Alfred goes out and recruits an army to defeat the Danes. Chesterton describes his encounters with a beaten and cynical people, used to the standard language of politicians, “If you will put your trust in me then I will give you...” (add your own promises here). Alfred offers them nothing, “Save that the sky grows darker yet And the sea grows higher.” It is in circumstances such as these that they are called to live with joy even when there is no cause for joy, to live with faith even when there seems to be no hope on which to base any faith. In 1911 Chesterton's words did not seem to apply to very much. In 1914 all that changed as it was to once again in 1939. We need such inspiration once again to live joyful and faithful lives in our times. Those of you who read my thoughts each month must hope that the day will come when I will not write about Covid 19 and our experience of it anymore. All that I can say in reply is that I look forward to that day too. I am struck that when people are looking for a word to describe a really bad event like a storm, for instance, or now in our case, this global pandemic, they use the word, biblical…. (Continued on Page 4) 3
Burial of Ashes at St Mary’s 14 November 2020 Josephine Elizabeth and Leslie Donald Dear THE SEVEN PARISHES OFFICE Administrator : Mr Nick Wright Tel 01905 622464 (please leave a message) or 07968 531216 (in emergencies only) . Email: [email protected] post: The Seven Parishes Office Web: www.7parishes.co.uk c/o The Old Post Office Cutnall Green DROITWICH WR9 0PW ST JAMES CHURCH If you wish to book a wedding or a baptism please contact the Seven Parishes Office. If you have any queries about your wedding or baptism or wish to speak to a member of our church, you may contact: Chris Webb, wedding and baptism co-ordinator on 01299 250452 or Carolyn Gumbley, churchwarden on 01299 251148 4
(Continued from Page 2) Never mind the fact that the main part of the bible is about other things, it is those vivid descriptions of destruction that come to mind. How close these are to the human imagination and our fear of loss. Actually, when the New Testament speaks of the Day of Judgment, the word in the original Greek that is translated as judgement is krisis, and we don't need to be scholars of Greek to know what other word in English is related to that one. We are in the middle of a crisis now and, just as in the Day of Judgment, it is asking us the question, what about you will last, what about you is real, when everything is stripped away that made you feel substantial? Christmas is a good time to ask that question. I remember the famous psychiatrist, Professor Anthony Clare, once saying that if he wanted a quick way of finding out someone's current state of mind, he would ask them about their memories of Christmas. I would like to invite you to spend some time thinking about this in the next few weeks. If your memories are happy then ask what you would like to preserve this year when so much that is familiar and comforting feels very fragile. At the same time, what are you quite happy to do without, that feels like so much froth with no real significance or substance? And if your memories are sad, or even unhappy, try to think what it is that you long for. And when you have done this, stay quiet for a moment and try to imagine yourself in the presence of Great Love and share what is in your heart with that Love. As you do so you will begin to realise that there is something far deeper, more beautiful, more wonderful, beneath you and around you than the mere stuff that tends to shout for your attention much of the time. And my prayer for you is that you will find great joy this Christmas time and, in the year, to come, even in the midst of this day of judgment. The Rev’d Stephen Winter 5
FROM THE CHURCHWARDENS SERVICES We are not yet ‘back to normal’ but in the centre pages of this magazine you will see that we have included the rota of services at Hartlebury during December and January. As we go to press, we are hopeful that all these will take place. We will not be able to hold the traditional Christingle in Church on Christmas Eve, but Claire Thorley – who organises the service – has come up with a way of sharing the Christmas story on behalf of The Children’s Society. Please see elsewhere in this magazine for the details. It was with sadness that we were not able to hold the services on Remembrance Sunday or on Armistice Day due to the restrictions placed on us by the guidance concerning the coronavirus pandemic. However, the children at Hartlebury CE Primary School were able to participate in their school assembly on Armistice Day and the Year 6 children read the names of the Fallen in their class. Later that day, they laid a school wreath at the War Memorial. POPPIES COMMEMORATING THE END OF WW1 At last we appear to be making some progress towards being able to display, in church, the poppies which the Gardening Club, Wi and History Society purchased. Carolyn Gumbley & James Homer 6
The Treasurer of St James and St Marys is planting dormant Generosity seeds across the Parish in the hope they will germinate as Spring arrives. Watch this space in February magazine Thank you Covid 19, the church closed for most of the year with few services and no col- lections has meant a reduction in the funds for the day to day running of our church this year. However, we have raised £120 from this appeal. Thank you very much. 7
Open 7 days a week 10am till 4pm Friday 27st November to Sunday 20th December Prices held for the forth year running! Both traditional and ornamental trees start from £4.00 per ft. Netting £2.00 and blocking £2.50 Now taking all major card payments For information call David or Linda on 01299 250 884 (NB. We use call guarding. Please follow the prompt and say trees) Looking forward to seeing old and new customers! 8
David Gwilliam I would like to say a huge \"thank you\" to all my friends and neighbours for all their kindness, help and support during the two lockdowns but particularly the period before and after losing my husband David in August. I don't know how I would have coped without them. I wish you all a happy, peaceful, and more importantly a healthy Christmas and New Year. Wendy Gwilliam Answers to November Quiz You spent £2 on the taxi tip and have £2 change so you spent £18 on the meal, the tip and the taxi fare. As the meal was twice the cost of the taxi. The meal was £10, the tip was £1 and the fare was £5. Eat/hate/heart/heater/breathe. 432. Numbers are multiplied by 2 and 3 alternately. 76p. Add the consonants together (A=1, z=26) A pack of cards. Sneeze. Acrophobia. Bude- Bode – Bore- Yore – York. Drop the ‘Y’ – Sturgeon. Primrose. 9
Hartlebury Parish Magazine Planning Our Future Revolution? Evolution? Tradition? What do You Think? This magazine is run by volunteers appointed by the Parochial Church Council (PCC) but intended as a resource for everyone who lives in the village. So when it comes to thinking about its future we need your help. Over the next few weeks the HPM review group are looking at the magazine from all sides to see what and if it should be changed including Content - what should we include? Exclude? Format - is A5 the right size? Presentation - should it be in colour? More graphics? Columns? Advertising - all together or spread out? Ideas from other magazines? Price - last changed in 2008! But most of all we need to know if you like what we give you and how we could improve it for you. So please let us have your thoughts Write to John Hellens at [email protected] Or call 01299 251657 Looking forward to hearing from you! 10
Hedgerow Ramblings Dear Villagers, As we all approach the season of festive cheer and goodwill, it seems reasonable to share our experience of extending shelter and friendship to disadvantaged young people through the local charity ‘Nightstop’. It is possible some faithful readers will remember I wrote a few years ago when we awoke, after a night of driving rain, to find a young lad of around 20, asleep in our porch. He ran away before we could offer him tea or breakfast, as we would have been inclined to do. This led us to think hard about the problems of homelessness and hopelessness of many young folk and we found a charity who dealt with it locally. Nightstop, enlist volunteers to offer respite to those between 16 and 24 years old who find their family situation intolerable. In some occasional cases they are foster children whose hosts simply do not want them any more. As a host family we were asked to offer a bedroom and a meal (and wi-fi code!) to our young guest; almost all arriving much more afraid of us than we were of them. The stay varies between one night to two weeks. The experiences we have had, in two-and-half years of volunteering, have been positive and we have been introduced to some smart, confused, talented, anxious, temporarily-lost teenagers. They have all been appreciative and good-natured. We have enjoyed their company, had many a good laugh, swapped stories and musical tastes and much more besides. Many of us live in comfortable roomy homes and have the great good fortune to have been raised by steady, loving, self-sacrificing, non-abusive parents. We have financial security, holidays, computers and smart phones. Most of us have a garden and a car. So many young folk have, by contrast, had a wretched life; some having to shield younger siblings from harm, some not having regular meals, or new shoes, or lifts to school. One of our young guests - eldest of 7 children - was rescued when a teacher at his High School noticed he was always tired and hungry. She talked simply and kindly to him whilst organising free school meals and he opened up. It has changed his life to be cared-for by strangers, 11
with a university course now in place. Many young folk are unused to sitting at a table and eating home-cooked food. Sensitivity is definitely required once you realise this is something of an ordeal for your guest, something we all take for granted, yet so alien to them. One of our youngsters took a shine to our brown sugar. Another, a vegan young man, introduced us to oat-milk. If some strange habits exist, such as disliking metal cutlery, this can be accommodated. Observing someone, formerly stressed and upset, begin to relax, eat unselfconsciously and open up a little is a reward worth waiting for. The beauty of being able to do this through Nightstop is the support the charity offers. You are never alone with an unsolved problem. The staff are always on the other end of the phone. In this strange year, these odd times, we are inclined to only see the world as imperfect and ourselves as powerless observers. The truth is we can – with relatively little effort - make a difference and share our comforts. In the words of John Wesley… “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.’’ Keep your spirits up Hermione Details of Nightstop underneath Phone: 01562 743111 email: wyreforestnightstop.org.uk 12
The year 2020 will go down in history as being a memorable year for all the wrong reasons. It has certainly been a rather unusual year, and many events that had been planned have not taken place. Remembrance Day in November was also a more low-key event. 2020 marked the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior in the tomb at Westminster Abbey. This reminded me that over the period of 2014 – 2018 Hartlebury History Society marked the centenary of the First World War in our Discovery Magazine. With considerable help from Sam Danks, one of our members, we produced some details of the men from Hartlebury and the surrounding area who gave their lives and who are commemorated on the War Memorial in St. James Churchyard. So here is a selection of those who were killed in 1918 focussing on men who were born in Hartlebury. THOMAS EDWARD CUPPER Private 201732 Thomas Edward Cupper of the 10th Battalion the Worcestershire Regiment was born in Waresley in April 1883, the son of William and Mary Cupper. Father William was a Market Gardener who died in 1897 when Thomas was only thirteen and living in Inn Lane. After schooling at Hartlebury Church of England School Thomas became a Domestic Gardener. In 1911 he was a Gardener living with his Uncle in Kidderminster. By the time he enlisted Thomas was living in Stourport and “Was married for a fortnight and never came back”. His widow Ada Agnes Randle was born in Hartlebury and received £29/12/9d from his effects. Thomas was killed in action on the 21st March 1918 and was buried in the French Department du Pas-de-Calais. (I am indebted to Andy Cupper for much of the information about his great-great uncle Thomas Edward Cupper.) JOHN CYRIL CLINTON Private G/29088 John Cyril Clinton of the 1/20th London Regiment, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment was born in Hartlebury in July 1899. His parents, John, and Eliza Clinton lived on Moors Road and his father worked as a Railway Signalman. John was always known as Cyril and is listed as Cyril 13
Clinton on both Hartlebury schools’ memorial boards. He attended Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School from September 1911 until July 1915. After a short spell as a trainee architect he joined up and qualified as a signaller. However, due to the great need for men in 1918 he was transferred to the London Regiment. He was killed in action on 1st September 1918 aged just nineteen. Cyril was buried in the Perrone Cemetery, Department de la Somme, Picardie. (Further details are in “A History of Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School”) JOSEPH WILFRED SPARKES Private 202409 John Wilfred Sparkes of the 4th Battalion the Worcestershire Regiment was born in Hartlebury in July 1897. He lived at Titton Sands with his parents Alfred and Sarah Sparkes and five older half-brothers. Father was a labourer on a farm. Joseph went to Hartlebury Church of England School and is recorded on the school memorial board. Very few records remain for Joseph except that he was killed in action on 2nd September 1918 and buried at Ploegsteert, Hainaut, Belgium. His name is on the Ploegsteert war memorial. WILLIAM KINGS Private 30988 William Kings of the 2nd Battalion the Worcestershire Regiment was born in Hartlebury in April 1885. His parents, James, and Harriet Kings, then lived at Waresley, but moved to Stoney Lane, Crossway Green before 1901. Father James was an Agricultural Labourer. William went to the Hartlebury Church of England School and is recorded on the school memorial board. In April 1911 William married Harriet Birch (1887-1957), also born in Hartlebury, and on 1st July 1916 their son William Henry King (1916-2001) was born. William worked as an Agricultural Labourer until he enlisted at Kidderminster. STANLEY HERBERT MAYALL Private 46943 Stanley Herbert Mayall of the 1st/4th Battalion the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry was the brother of Leonard Mayall who had died in November 1917. Stanley was born in Hartlebury in July 1898, his family living in Inn Lane. Stanley went to school at Hartlebury Church of England School. (Continued on Pages 32 and 33) 14
Statement from Hartlebury Parish Hall Management Committee Relations between the Parish Council (PC) and us, the Parish Hall Management Committee, have been strained since March of this year. This is a situation we do not like and would not wish for. The Hall Management Committee (HMC) is legally responsible for the Hall building, while the PC is responsible for all the surrounds, the Green and recreation areas. As a result, the Council has the task of maintaining and managing the new car park, MUGA, play area, etc. which were fully refurbished and improved in 2018. The Hall surrounds restoration project was managed by the previous PC who worked ridiculously hard to access funding, consult the public, and source the professional landscape architect. Many hours of hard work were put in by the steering committee and project management team. Towards completion, several councillors carried out the installation of benches and organised a community tree-planting day, and readers will recall the many villagers coming along to help. The spirit, back then, was one of camaraderie and good cheer. Having been fully inspected and approved, the project was signed-off by the District Council Planning Officer. The car park was then used for 14 months with no damage to the surface. High rainfall coinciding with an increased volume of vehicles at the election-time unfortunately meant potholes formed in the car park which needed prompt attention and repair earlier this year. The PC did not take this action but resolved in August this year to make progress; in early September placing two large concrete barriers at the entrances of the main car park. To date (late November) no work has started, and the delay has led to the current situation with the potholes unfilled and the Hall surrounds looking unkempt. Despite many attempts for open dialogue between the HMC and the PC, regarding the restoration project and how best to cope with the need for 15
ongoing maintenance, the new PC have preferred to disregard advice, all of it offered in good faith, and in the hope the project improvements would be protected and built-upon. Naturally, all new Councils must find their feet and work out priorities for spending the £25,000 precept (funding) given to them for enhancing and serving their community. We had hoped for a sharing of solutions and goals to assist with the maintenance issues, since the PC and HMC should both aim to serve our parish well. This sharing has not been the case so far, though we genuinely hope it will be. The Parish Hall has no set income; it relies completely upon the bookings throughout the year for our revenue. We are wholly dependent upon the PC to fund repairs to the car park and maintain the surrounds. This last nine months has, of course, been financially incredibly challenging for the hall and we will take some time to recover our losses. We have a fabulous hall of which we are immensely proud. We manage it to the best of our ability, entirely voluntarily and hope the community enjoy and use it as much as possible. The current state of the car park distresses us very much and will be off-putting for potential hirers. This will have a serious impact upon our recovery period if not addressed very soon. We have not been given a timeframe for when any remedial work will start, despite many attempts to ascertain PC plans. At the time of writing we are keeping up the hope of a solution to the car park problems before Christmas. Two members of the PC and three from HMC have met via Zoom to discuss a way forward. Our Chair has arranged a meeting in the car park with a professional to advise both PC and HMC on the quality of the work; the surface chosen is one the National Trust use in their car parks. This is very much a step in the right direction, but it remains to be seen if common sense, trust, and good working relations can be restored. Hartlebury PHMC 16
Hartlebury WI has reached the remarkable milestone of it being 100 years since it was inaugurated by the Gibbon sisters and Lady Mary Pakington holding the first meeting at the “The Pleck”. These women were well known to the local community at the time and had organised a hospital for wounded soldiers in their home and at Hartlebury Castle during WW1. Many of the local women who joined those early meetings were from farming families and often attended wearing hats and bringing their knitting. Meetings were very formal in the early days and everyone was given their title “Mrs” or “Miss” and the President being addressed as “Madam President”. The archives describe one meeting with the topic of how to skin a rabbit and make a pair of gloves from the skins. Over the last hundred years Hartlebury WI members have been an integral part of the village, many of them involved in all aspects of the community. This includes the local schools, the Parish Council and the Parish Hall which was funded and built by the community in the early 1950s. The stage at the Parish Hall has seen many events staged by the WI from stage plays, pantomimes, and musical extravaganzas as well as an enormous range of interesting and fascinating speakers. The WI reflects the community it serves and over the last century life in the village has kept pace with the wider world. Many members have moved to Hartlebury from larger conurbations rather than being born and brought up in the area. It is now the case that more members are retired but that is to the advantage of any society as they have more time to enjoy all the benefits that WI can offer. It is one of WI’s mottos that it can be whatever you want, there are lots of opportunities to learn something new, take part in the national resolutions, campaign on behalf of important issues, learn a new skill or craft or just enjoy meeting friends at the monthly meetings and listening to different speakers or demonstrators. 17
For the first time in its history Hartlebury WI meetings have been suspended as during these unprecedented times we cannot gather in groups. Hartlebury WI has done an amazing job keeping in touch with the members and a newsletter “Wanderings”, with contributions by the members, has been circulated regularly. The book club continues with participants writing reviews of the books enjoyed, a competition has been held each month, the winners listed in Wanderings and all sorts of crafts have been tried. Hartlebury is a close community and members have been supportive towards each other during this pandemic. It is hoped for the centenary in 2021 the WI will be able to come together again and enjoy the companionship and inspiration that are part of the strengths of the WI. Wishing everyone a peaceful Christmas and New Year with the added message this year “stay safe”. Marion Inman President, Hartlebury WI 18
Hartlebury WI Centenary Hartlebury WI will celebrate its centenary in 2021 and we planned to have a planting ceremony for 10 roses as part of our celebrations, at Hartlebury Castle but unfortunately only a few members were able to attend the planting ceremony due to the then current government restrictions in place. With the kind permission of the trustees of Hartlebury castle, Hartlebury WI have planted 10 WI centenary roses called Inspiration. Jane and Vicky from the Castle planted the roses by the outer wall at the entrance to the castle gardens, Marion Inman President of Hartlebury WI, helped with the last couple. It is hoped by next summer all the members of Hartlebury WI as well as all the visitors to the castle, will be able to enjoy the roses and a WI celebratory tea party can be held in the castle grounds. Special thanks to Jane Finch at Hartlebury Castle for her help in achieving this and we all look forward to a wonderful display next year. Marion Inman, President 19
Josie Cox. Those who have lived in the village for quite a long time will, no doubt, remember Waresley Stores, situated on the Old Worcester Road, which was run by Joe and Edie Cox. Their daughter, Josie, was born in the village and lived here until 1954 when she married Leslie Dear, at St. James Church, Hartlebury. They then moved to London where Leslie took up a post with the Air Ministry. They both had a great affection for Hartlebury and were frequent visitors with their two sons, John and Ian, keeping in touch with their family here in Hartlebury. On Saturday, the 14th of November, Leslie, and Josie's ashes were brought home and buried in St. Mary's Churchyard. Present at the burial were their two sons, and a small family gathering. The service was conducted by James Homer, in a quiet, thoughtful manner which was much appreciated. Their niece, Sheila, gave a short tribute to them both. The rain had stopped, and the sun tried to come out. A fitting conclusion to the ceremony. Sheila Bishop Livery Button Find Finding a Livery button in a field near to the Mitre Oak tree led to some interesting research. The button depicts a lion holding a Shuttle between its paws. With help from the Kidderminster Carpet Museum, it was found that the crest was for the Peel family. The button, made by Reynolds and Co. of London between 1861 and 1875, was likely to have been made for the Very Rev. John Peel DD Doctor of Divinity, 1798-1875. It would have been for one of his manservants to wear and possibly lost on a hunting or shooting outing. He held the living, i.e. was paid to be priest, at Stone, Worcs, from 1828, becoming Prebendary of Canterbury Cathedral, an administration role, in the same year. (Continued on Page 39) 20
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Footpath Matters Again, thanks to Sandra and Geoff for their Geo caching efforts! Not so many visitors last month. I hope they don't take it personally if there aren't as many cachers operating? In any event, with more lock down and personal exercise allowed, hopefully our footpaths will see a lot of walkers enjoying our footpath network and exploring some of the less visited parts of our lovely Parish! Now for the feed back on my last article. No replies to our Editor, Ruth. I had four in support, none against! I think it would be fair to say that there was general bewilderment about what causes offence and how to avoid causing offence generally. Of course we don't want to cause offence, but it seems that sometimes people are determined to find offence where there was none! Surely there is still freedom of speech? Or are we being ‘woked’ into silence? Following on from the above and also the brouhaha created by the BBC to the singing of \"Rule Britannia\" at The Last Night of the Proms, I came across this which I thought might be of interest! \"In the 16th Century the seas around England were ruled by North African Muslim slavers. They stopped British ships and carried off their crews to be sold in Algerian and Tunisian slave markets. The situation became so bad that fishermen from Cornwall, Devon and Somerset would not put to sea for fear that they would be captured by North African slave traders. Between 1609 and 1616, 466 British ships were captured in the English Channel, Bristol Channel, Irish Sea and the North Atlantic and their crews sold into slavery. In 1625 a raiding party landed at Mounts Bay in Cornwall and 60 people who had taken refuge in the local church were dragged out, loaded up and taken to North Africa and sold as slaves. On the 16th August, 1625, the Mayor of Plymouth wrote to London for military aid after 27 ships had been seized by North African Muslim slave traders in just 10 days. In 1645 240 people were seized as slaves in Cornwall alone. The situation only began to change with the end of the Civil War when Oliver Cromwell began to build up the strength of the navy. By 1700 the North African slavers generally knew better than to bother the British Isles in their (Continued on Page 38) 24
News from Hartlebury Church of England Primary School Our Value this month is ‘Tolerance’. Matthew 5 V44-45 \"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” We are holding both a Kindness and an Anti-Bullying week this month, which aim to focus on being Tolerant of each other, appreciating our differences and understanding the needs of others. Keeping Children Safe We continue to work within the constraints of the Coronavirus pandemic and aim to keep each other safe by minimising the risk to everyone in our community. Teachers and parents are now wearing face coverings on the playground and we are continuing with our staggered start and end of the day times, as well as break and lunchtimes. We are following all the Government Guidelines and supporting the NHS procedures. Remembrance Service —Armistice Day Unfortunately, due to COVID19 we were unable to hold our usual annual Remembrance Service in school to commemorate Armistice Day. However, we did hold a Virtual Remembrance Service at 11am on 11th November and our Year 6 children read out the names of all those who died locally. They then took a Poppy Wreath, created from all of these names, to the War Memorial at St James’s Church, during the afternoon. We also raised money for the Royal British Legion by selling their merchandise in their Poppy Appeal. 25
Raising money for Charity Children in Need- Friday 13th November-A ‘Spotacular Party! We supported Pudsey again this year! We had a Virtual Visit from Pudsey and the children had a ‘Spotty Day’, dressing up in all things spotty, including their faces! We raised £133 for Children in Need. Well done to all those who took part! Christmas Preparations It is so difficult this year to keep spirits up! But at this time of year, for the young and the young at heart, it is especially important to remember the real meaning of Christmas and the message it sends. We remain thankful for our blessings and hopeful that the coming year will see a marked improvement in circumstance. We celebrate Christmas, while and when we can, and we are starting here early in December! We are holding Virtual Nativities in our Early Years and Key Stage 1, while holding a Christmas Jumper Day and having a Santa Dash for the whole school. We would like to wish you a safe, healthy and happy time and a very Merry Christmas. Take care and stay safe! Claire Grand, Head of School, Hartlebury Church of England Primary 26
HAVE YOU SECURED YOUR RECEPTION PLACE FOR SEPTEMBER 2021? Although applications have closed and places allocated, we will happily show you around and help you through this process. It’s never too late to find the best school matched to your child’s personality and needs. IS YOUR CHILD AGED 3-4? WOULD THEY LIKE TO JOIN HARTLEBURY HEDGEHOGS PRE-SCHOOL? Hartlebury Church of England Primary School Parents wanting places in our Early Years Unit for their youngest children need to apply directly to the school office- we are registering children now for September and filling up rapidly! • We offer places for children in their pre-school year • We offer excellent staff/children ratios of approximately 1:7 • We offer amazing indoor and outdoor facilities, with great outdoor learning opportunities. • We offer complete wrap around care from 7.30am-6.00pm, supported by familiar staff for our youngest children from the Early Years Unit We offer a nurturing village school environment, at the centre of the village community But don’t take our word for it; come and visit! You will always be very welcome and we’re sure you will leave thinking this is a great place to learn and make friends! We do! To arrange a visit please contact our school office on 01299 250312 or email [email protected] 27
Rector HARTLEBURY PCC - 2020-2021 Rev. Stephen Winter 07773 760899 Churchwardens Carolyn Gumbley 251148 James Homer 851637 PCC Secretary Chris Webb, Churchwarden Emeritus 250452 PCC Treasurer Beryl Thomas 251459 Parish Safeguarding Officer Lynne Moseley 250202 Caroline Boughton-Thomas 07496 850192 Richard Berry, Reader Jeremy Broadway 28 Fiona Mason David Parker Geoff Phillips John Webb
Hartlebury Gardening Club A few months ago, I wrote about the value of a pond to your garden by increasing biodiversity. We have become more aware of the declining numbers of wildlife including birds, insects, frogs, newts and hedgehogs. Intensive farming, development, climate change and drainage, has caused the loss of many ponds and streams. As gardeners we can help to support a wide variety of wildlife by providing food, water, a habitat, and a place to breed. In return we benefit from pollination, predation on aphids, slugs and snails and many other garden pests. This is a time of year when gardeners tidy up and clear away the plants which have finished for the year. Please don’t be too tidy as seed heads will feed birds through winter and nettles carry the eggs of butterflies because they are a good source of food for their caterpillars when they hatch out in Spring. Log, stone, and leaf piles contain cavities where so many creatures shelter, pupate and hibernate. So, leave the tidying until Springtime and give nature a home. The Wyre Forest U3A Environmental Concern Group want your help to build and maintain one thousand wildlife ponds in gardens in the greater Wyre Forest area, by Easter 2022. This is a big challenge but by engaging the help of other groups and organisations and many interested individuals, we think it could be possible. Worcestershire Wildlife Trust are very supportive, allowing the group to include their logo on documents. Their website: www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk has lots of advice on building ponds and mini- ponds, written in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society. A wildlife pond does not have to be large, expensive, time consuming or involve heavy manual work. Children and Grandchildren are usually keen to help make and maintain miniponds in a washing up bowl, tin bath or a plastic trug which can be sunk into the ground. They may want to each make their own, in different parts of the garden or make you one as a Christmas present. Add a layer of stones on the bottom and a few larger stones or logs so creatures can get in and out of the water and finish with two or three plants for them to hide in. Ideally let it gradually fill with rainwater as it doesn’t contain chemicals. If you do use tap water, leave it to settle for a couple of days before adding plants. It will be fascinating to watch as all sorts of creatures come to drink and bathe, live, eat and reproduce. This is one of the best times of year to make a pond. Rain is more abundant, 29
and the pond has time to settle before the busy Spring period. As ponds are registered with the group, their locations are represented as dots on a map. This will show the network of ponds across the area which helps to identify any gaps which can possibly be filled. If you already have a pond, please register it straight away by emailing me at [email protected] If you are going to make a new pond or ponds, let us know at the same email address and we can answer questions you may have to help and encourage you. We hope to share ideas with our ‘wildlife pond community’ and find out what sort of creatures turn up in your pond. There is a pondlife key to help you identify some of the wildlife on our website at www.thousandponds.blogspot.com It is in its early stages but has photographs of mature and recently built ponds with information about their progress. There is also a private Facebook Group which you may choose to join to share photos, ideas and advice on ponds. The project allows you to be involved as much or little as you like but at key times throughout the year it will be great to know what is happening in your ponds, for instance in February/March when frogs spawn and tadpoles may be seen. Please share this information with friends and family who have a pond or might like to make one. The Gardening Club Lockdown Quiz should have been emailed to those members we have email addresses for and some have been posted through letterboxes. If you haven’t received one and would like to keep your little grey cells firing, contact me at [email protected] and I will let you have a copy. They need to be returned either by email or posted to arrive by 12th December. Don’t worry if you can’t do them all, it’s unlikely that anyone will. There will be prizes! Pat Jewkes 30
Live and Local returns to Hartlebury Parish Hall!! Live and Local (or ‘Shindig’ as they’re sometimes known) is that wonderful group of people who send us fantastic professional acts to perform at our Parish Hall. Each act is subsidised by the Arts Council so we can afford to see performances in the comfort of our own local hall which you’d normally have to travel much further and pay much more to see. Obviously, our Parish Hall performances have been hit hard by the Corona virus pandemic and sadly we had to cancel two of our shows that were planned for earlier this year. Now that we’re heading towards Christmas however, Live and Local have been bending over backwards to find ways of offering us a show which will get us all into a festive mood whilst being safe and sensible about protecting ourselves from nasty viruses. Mumbo Jumbo are a three part group who will put on a highly professional and thoroughly entertaining evening with an eclectic mix of jazz, blues, folk and generally unidentifiable but terribly amusing music. This modest little appraisal is taken from their website; if you want to know more go to www.mumbojumbo.biz. ‘Mumbo-Jumbo takes three of the Midlands most experienced gigging musicians – Oliver Carpenter, Chris Lomas and Phil Bond – throws them together in a broadly acoustic format and lets them deliver what they are best at – live music performance. They play around 85% of their own music, and the writing is so good that they were nominated in the British Blues Awards in the Best Original Song category for their track ‘Nice Work’.’ Of course we are not free of virus restrictions yet, and depending on Government advice we may still need to cancel the show, possibly at a late stage. Live and Local have promised that if this happens, we will not be charged at all, and we will be able to fully refund any ticket money already taken. In order to keep the venue safe, we have to strictly limit the number of people who can attend, and we do have to ask for cash in advance (refundable if the show is cancelled). All that aside, it’ll be really lovely to be able to see professional performances in our Parish Hall again, so if you haven’t got your tickets already, get in touch with Cath and Peter Holden straight away to make sure of your place. Best wishes Cath, Peter, Ruth and Barry 31
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Seven Parishes Service Rota December 2020 & January 2021 Dec6th Dec13th Dec20th Dec24th Dec25th Dec27th Hampton 3.00pm Christmas Rushock Lovett service ? 9.00am HC CW 9.00am HC CW Rushock 9.00am HC CW Elmbridge 9.00am HC BCP Elmley Lovett 11.00am HC CW Zoom service 11.00am Morning Doverdale Family 4.00pm Christmas HC Hartlebury 10.30am HC BCP Doverdale Prayer 9.30am Service + Ombersley CW Zoom 9.30am Sunday First Hartlebury 4.30pm Christmas Carols Hartlebury 6.30pm HC CW Hampton 10.30am Family Elmbridge & Readings Lovett Service Ombersley HC Zoom 34 11.00am HC CW + Ombersley 11.00am HC CW Hartlebury 11.00pm Service Family zoom 11.00am Service + Zoom Jan3rd Jan10th Jan17th Jan24th Jan31st 9.00am HC CW Hampton 9.00am HC CW Rushock 9.00am HC CW Elmbridge 9.00am HC BCP Elmley Lovett 10.00am Benefice Rushock Lovett Service 11.00am MP Doverdale Family 9.30am MP Ombersley 9.30am Service + Ombersley MP Hartlebury 10.30am Zoom 9.30am Sunday First Hartlebury 10.30am MP Elmley Lovett 9.30am HC CW Elmbridge 10.30am Family Service Elmbridge 11.00am MP Doverdale 11.00am HC BCP Doverdale 11.00am HC CW Hartlebury 11.00am HC CW + Ombersley 11.00am HC CW Hartlebury 6.00pm Evensong Hampton Zoom Lovett
DATE SERVICE CALENDAR DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 PLEASE NOTE CHANGES TO THE USUAL PATTERN OF SERVICES 6 DECEMBER 9.30 SUNDAY FIRST SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Readings 2 Peter 3.8-15a; Mark 1.1-8 35 13 DECEMBER THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Readings 11.00 PARISH EUCHARIST 20 DECEMBER 2 Samuel 7.1-11,16; Romans 16.25-27; Luke 1.26-38 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT 4.30 CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS with READINGS & 24 DECEMBER MUSIC CHRISTMAS EVE Readings 4.00 CHRISTMAS COMMUNION 25 DECEMBER Isaiah 52.7-10; Hebrews 1.1-4; John 1.1-14 27 DECEMBER NO SERVICE AT HARTLEBURY NO SERVICE AT HARTLEBURY
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(Continued from Pages 12 and 13) He enlisted as Private 8/9275 in the Somerset Light Infantry, then became Private 28442 in the Somerset Light Infantry before finally being Private 46943 in the 1st/4th Battalion the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. He en- listed at Worcester and fought in the Western European Theatre. Stanley died aged 20 in the Province di Imperia, Liguna, Italy on 24th Octo- ber 1918 and was buried in Bordighera British Cemetery, Grave I.B.2. His name is recorded on both the Churchyard and the Church School memori- als. WILLIAM HENRY JONES Private 2085 William Henry Jones of No 4 Section, C Company the 7th Worcestershire Regiment was born in Hartlebury in 1888, the son of George H. and Emily Jones. His mother Emily was also born in Hartlebury. Between 1892 and 1898 the family moved from Hartlebury to Astley, where his father William worked as a Carpet Designer. By 1911 William was working as a Draper’s Assistant in Nottingham. The Kidderminster Shuttle of 19th December 1914 lists William as “of Hartlebury Common” in its list of those serving with H.M. Forces. This would make him one of the earliest to enlist. There were at least four men of the same name serving in the Worcestershire Regiment, but none of them had the number or Battalion given in the Shuttle. He may have been the William Henry Jones (No number) aged 30 who died at Gallipoli on 10th November 1918 whose name is on the Helles Memorial, Canakkale Panels 104-113. No further details have been found. ARTHUR MAYO Private 235296 Albert Mayo of the 1st Battalion the Worcestershire Regi- ment was born in July 1898, brother of Charles Edwin Mayo who had died of wounds in August 1917. In 1911 Arthur aged twelve was a pupil at Hartlebury Church of England School, worked as a Newspaper Boy, and lived with his family in Waresley. Arthur joined up and after initial training was sent to France. He fought at Ypres and died of his wounds on the second of January 1918. He was bur- ied in the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Grave VIII.I.146. He is recorded on the Hartlebury Church Memorial, the Hartlebury Church of England School Memorial, and the Kidderminster Baxter United Reformed Church 37
memorial. WALLACE BERRY Private 30226 Wallace Berry of the 2nd/4th Battalion the Dorsetshire Regi- ment was born in October 1898 in Hartlebury. His parents, William, and Annie Berry lived in Summerfield in 1901 and at Low Hill in 1911. Father William worked as a Railway Packer, and if records are to be believed lived until the age of 99! Wallace attended the Hartlebury Church of England School and is recorded on the school memorial board. His name is also on the Summerfield and the Kidderminster War Memorials. He was sent to the Israel/Egypt theatre of war and died of his wounds aged nineteen on the 20th September 1918. He was buried in the Jerusa- lem Cemetery, Part One A-L. Just a few of the 48 men - “sons” of Hartlebury who are remembered on the War Memorial, and it is worth noting that some of them are also named on the Memorial Boards at the two Hartlebury Schools. The Memorial Board listing those men killed in the 1914-18 War and who had attended Hartlebury C of E School was in the British Legion until the building was demolished back in 2014. At the time there were fears that the Board had been lost. It was eventually (rather sadly) tracked down to a Council skip at Blackpole. Fortunately, it was rescued by Peter Holden and restored by John Maughan, and finally returned to the School. 38
(Continued from Page 23) search for slaves because of the Royal Navy. It was a triumph that at last Britain could control its own coastal waters. It was in commemoration of this that in 1740 James Thompson wrote \"Rule Britannia\". The line \"Britons never shall be slaves\" refers of course to Britons being taken by African slavers and has absolutely nothing to do with the Slave Trade as generally recognised. \" Richard Prosser. He finished with \"BLM, Liberals and guilt trip Brit haters would do well to take notice of this\". Difficult to add anything more to this, I think! Again, remember that the book of walks will make a fantastic Christmas stocking filler! On sale at the village store in Hartlebury or Stourport Library for a mere £10.00! As a friend of mine commented, who has bought a book, it is a bit like joining a gym, that is the easy part, the difficult part is using it! In any event a book could form part of a New Years Resolution! Perhaps , one new walk a week for the family! John Denby. Footpath Warden. 01299 250429. [email protected] To report footpath problems, as well as copying me in, please send to:.https://e-services.worrcestershire.gov.uk/onlinereporting/ findlocation.aspx?faulttype=8 39
(Continued from Page 19) He rented and lived at Waresley house, Hartlebury, with his family, from 1830 until his death in 1875 when he was buried at Stone Church. In 1851, Noake refers to Waresley house as a “handsome mansion, the site of a Dame School, a Sunday School and a Dorcas club for the supply of wearing apparel for the poor of the parish… upwards of 4,500 garments and 3,450 yards of flannel have been provided.” He became Dean of Worcester Cathedral in 1845 only resigning in 1874 due to ill health. We are grateful to him for being responsible for the addition of the porch onto St. James church. His philanthropy had probably extended to the other religious buildings he was associated with as they all saw major restoration during his lifetime. Stone Church, St. Marys, had been completely rebuilt in 1831 after a fire had destroyed the previous medieval building. The Arundel Tower was built in Canterbury Cathedral in 1834. He oversaw major renovations to Worcester Cathedral, working with the architects Abraham Edward Perkins and Sir George Gilbert Scott. In 1868 he gave the Reredos or alter screen, as a memorial to his wife Augusta, nee Swinfen, also buried at Stone Church. The magnificent Cathedral Reredos cost £1,500, equivalent to £1,700,000 today, and was carved in alabaster by Farmer and Brindley a leading London firm to Scott’s design, and Peel is acknowledged on the rear face. His grandfather and father had made the family fortune from the Lancashire cotton industry, hence the Shuttle used in the family crest. Slavery and the use of child labour blighted the development of the industry, but it certainly helped in clothing the world, raising the wealth of the British Empire, and heralding the start of the industrial revolution. His father Sir Robert Peel the 1st Baronet moved into politics becoming MP for Tamworth and moving to Drayton Manor. John’s eldest brother, also Sir Robert Peel, the 2nd Baronet, became Prime Minister twice and is famous for establishing the Metropolitan Police, hence the terms “Bobbies and Peelers”, and the Repeal of the Corn Laws. He rebuilt Drayton Manor amassing a 10,000-acre estate and a large art collection. Sadly, the 3rd and 4th Baronets lost the family fortune on high living, horses, and gambling. The gutted stately home was demolished in 1929 with only the Clock tower remaining which is now surrounded by the modern theme park. The Peel Society is based at Middleton Hall, Tamworth, where there is a small museum. (Ref. Hartlebury by R.O. Walker Wikipedia. Facebook. Google) Michael Southall 40
Hartlebury Common Local Group When I joined the group, about 9 years ago, I felt so inspired by the natural world that I started to study environmental science and biology – during my older years! Most of our members have a general to keen interest in the countryside and Hartlebury Common in particular. Our group is fortunate, as well, to have members with great wildlife knowledge, especially in certain are- as (butterflies, moths, birds, dragonflies, etc.). Never hoping to catch up with any of these, I have thought that I would like to develop in one area, too. Somehow, this year has confirmed that I will be learning more about plants. Being less knowledgeable than most gardeners (especially as to the names of weeds), never liking the glossaries of so many plant terms and with a some- what struggling memory, I have now made a start. Yes, it really is surprising what you can learn whilst being locked down with a garden full of weeds – I learned their names whilst digging them up! I now intend to learn more about the plants on the Common and the many habitats that they support there – what a great place to start! Hopefully, in future, I’ll be able to record the ups and downs of its plant species and be able to explain more of the plant-life on our diverse nature reserve. This month, our Webmaster, Jason, and Chairman, Mike, have kindly written articles on areas of their expertise. Excellent images of many of the species mentioned by them can be found on our website (address at the end). The Winter Birds of Hartlebury Common (by Jason Kernohan) When the country has to face restrictions designed to control the spread of Coronavirus, Hartlebury Common becomes a lifeline to our local communities giving us a place where we can walk, exercise and improve our mental well-being. If, like myself, you are interested in local wildlife, it also provides a place to catch up with and observe some of our local species. Even in the winter months, there is still much to see on the Common and hopefully I will highlight some of the birdlife that you may see when visiting. By mid-autumn, Hartlebury Common’s breeding warblers will have left to migrate south to warmer climes. Also, a number of the site’s breeding ‘arable’ birds such as Linnets and Yellowhammers will have also departed. These two species will form flocks, roaming local fields to feed amongst the stubble or on the seed heads of left-over crops and perennial weeds. But birds are not just leaving us at this time of year, there are many arrivals: with ‘winter thrushes’, such as Redwings (see picture) and Fieldfares, returning from Scandinavia to feed up on our autumn/winter berries. A good place to look for these species are on Holly and Ivy berries in Hartlebury Common’s more wooded areas; but 41
they will also feed on Rowan and Hawthorn trees that are dotted around too. With the arriving winter thrushes (Redwings and Fieldfares), also, comes a large influx of our more recognisable bird species: such as Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Mistle Thrushes. These Scandinavian arrivals really do bolster our resident bird numbers and during the winter you, literally, can’t walk 10 metres without seeing a Robin perched up on a Gorse bush. Redwing (Image: J Kernohan) The colder winter temperatures cause the local Tit populations to form flocks to look for food together. These flocks also add an extra factor of safety, as there are more birds looking out for predators as they flit through the now leafless canopy. It’s always worth a look at these mixed flocks as amongst the regulars such as Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits and Long-tailed Tits you may spot something more unusual. These flocks can often be joined by Goldcrests, Nuthatches & Treecreepers and, if you are very lucky, you may even see a wintering Blackcap tagging along with them. The Bog at Hartlebury Common can be a very interesting place during the winter months, especially as water levels rise and wet marsh channels form. Small numbers of Common Snipe (see picture) can be found here most winters feeding on invertebrates in the wet marshy ground. They have an incredibly long bill which is ideally suited for feeding in such habitats and are incredibly well camouflaged with their straw-coloured, streaky plumage allowing them to blend in perfectly with their surroundings. Common Snipe (Image: J Kernohan) (Continued overleaf on Page 42 and 43) 42
(Continued from Page 41) Some of the Common’s resident birds are present all year round and are often easier to see during the winter months. Kestrels can still be seen hovering over the open heath and the beautifully coloured Jays are much more conspicuous this time of year as they hop around, near the oak trees, gathering fallen acorns. Hopefully, you too may see some of the wonderful species of birds that Hartlebury Common plays host to during your visits this winter. Monitoring Butterflies on Hartlebury Common (by Mike Lomax) In our July magazine, Michael Howard mentioned that I was often out on the Common ‘counting butterflies’. To explain this further, what I have been doing throughout the summer, and for the last 6 years, is walking a ‘Butterfly Transect’. Butterfly transects are a way of monitoring the number and variety of butterflies present at a site by walking the same route every week from the beginning of April to the end of September. They are part of a national scheme, the United Kingdom Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS), which organises about 3,000 transects, all walked by volunteers, across the whole UK. Butterfly transects are important because butterflies have a rapid life cycle and are highly sensitive to changes in environmental conditions. For this reason, they are good indicators of the state of the environment. The data generated by transects is used by many scientists to study the effects of climate change and to monitor the impact of conservation work. It’s ‘citizen science’ at work. 2020 findings So, what are this year’s transect results? 2020 wasn’t a good year for butterflies on Hartlebury Common. I do the transect with Peter Smith and we counted 2,474 butterflies compared with 2,529 last year; it was the second lowest total in the last 6 years and the long term trend is down. This is in line with national trends and probably part of the very worrying massive decline of insects internationally. Although it could be that the unusual weather this year, very wet winter and an unusually warm and dry spring and early summer, affected conditions on the Common in a way detrimental to butterflies. I haven’t yet seen any regional or national transect results so, at the moment, don’t know if our results are typical, or not. 43
Some well-known butterflies have increased However, not all the news is bad. The combined observations of butterflies known as the ‘whites’ (Large, Small and Green-veined) were way up on last year from 363 to 832 and had their best year on record. Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock were, also, all up on last year, which is very good news as these are the butterflies that have suffered the steepest decline over the last decade or so. Special Heathland butterflies Out of the 24 species of butterfly recorded on Hartlebury Common, three are recognised as Lowland Heath specialists: Green Hairstreak, Small Copper and Small Heath. Of these, the Small Copper did very well: 132 were recorded this year compared to 82 last year, and it was the highest total for the 6 years of doing the transect. The other two species did not do so well. 21 Green Hairstreaks were recorded this year, compared to 38 in 2019. That sounds bad, but it is the second highest total in the last 6 years, and the long term trend is up. However, only 72 Small Heath were recorded compared to 117 in 2019: the lowest count since 2015. Our AGM cannot take place under the present circumstances, neither can our normal monthly meetings and talks. However, ‘Zoom’ talks over the internet are being arranged as follows: Rosemary Winnall on ‘Gardening for Wildlife’ 1st February Mike Southall on ‘Butterflies and Moths of Bolivia’ 1st March Please see our Facebook page and website for further details or if you would like to join us as a member: hartleburycommon.org We wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a better New Year! Michael Howard 44
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Vera’s Quiz for the Festive Season Month for troop movement? Jewel seen in a shop alcove? Small amount of pudding? 79 x 5 – 100 + blackbirds in a pie – number of things that grow on the little nut tree. Can you identify these 10 letter words from their centres? ***bust*** ***ends*** ***grim*** ***item*** What word can mean ‘prisoner’ and ‘find guilty? Helen’s Birthday was earlier than Anne’s but later than Margaret’s whose birthday was on a nice special day in the year. Anne’s had a ‘U’ in the month and if 2 more letters were added at the end it would become a person’s name. Helen had a month where if the vowel was removed, it would still leave a valid word. Can you say in which month each girl had a birthday? Apart from humans which is the only animal to have unique fingerprints? One falls but never breaks, the other breaks but never falls. They are never seen together. What are they? Can you turn ‘FOOL’ into ‘SAGE’ onE letter at a time? Each step has to be a valid word. How many times does the digit 5 appear in the numbers 1 -100? What film is this? ‘HENRY V111, I’. 46
A Point of View When my brother was a struggling young composer he lived in a tiny flat on Highgate Hill in London. I can still just about picture it – but not its exact location. I do know, though, that it was near to Highgate Cemetery which I truly regret never having visited because, with things as they are, I probably never shall. I do, however, have a wonderful, illustrated book called Highgate Cemetery – Victorina Valhalla, with which I have just spent a happy hour. But that is not really what I had planned to write about. I want to talk about churchyards because these are much in my mind now. We have two here in Hartlebury and I am sure many readers will have been using their hour of permitted exercise to walk the circuit of the village, taking in the footpath across the churchyard of the Parish Church along the way. I am told that footfall increased enormously during the first lockdown and it is a more pleasant route than the longer alternative of taking the main road and turning in to Inn Lane. It also allows one to pause at the War Memorial where, alas, no service could be held this year to commemorate Armistice Day and to allow the children from Year 6 at the school to plant their crosses and to establish memories for themselves of wars they never knew or experienced. This has now become an established tradition for them to take part in and to resolve afresh that nothing so terrible can ever be allowed to happen again. On the north side of the church the path passes close to the tombs of two of the five Bishops who are buried here and passers-by may have noticed the work which has been carried on sporadically over the summer on one of them – that of Bishop Hurd who lived at Hartlebury Castle until his death at the age of 88 in 1808. His tomb was originally on the west side of the church, where it would have been better seen today, but when the church porch was added at the west end of the tower (at about the same time as the churchyard was extended right down to the roadside of Quarry Bank) it was moved to its current location, later to be joined by that of Bishop Carr. In order to restore the tomb, it had to be entirely dismantled, since one of the panels forming the sides was collapsing inwards. When it came to the rebuilding it was decided that a sturdy brick core should be built. This would carry the considerable weight of the lid and relieve the side walls of the strain of carrying it. Before 47
this was completed a laminated sheet was placed inside, with the following message: Thanks to the generosity of Miss Christine Penney – Hurd Librarian at Hartlebury Castle – this tomb was conservatively dismantled, restored and rebuilt in August/September 2020. And we are so grateful that a person of today should be so appreciative of the heritage of the past that she should give such a magnificent legacy to the people of the future. But as she said herself, Bishop Hurd has given her so much by enriching her retirement through the research she has been able to do into his life and work. Chris lives in Stratford-on-Avon and – when she was “allowed” – she would come to Hartlebury by train every Tuesday to work with people who also loved the Hurd Library. She would walk from the station to the castle and always took the path through the churchyard, where she would appreciate the scurrying rabbits, which would disappear to their burrow beneath the church as she passed. People would transcribe papers, clean the shelves and clean the books; one would work on the “tailpieces” in Thomas Bewick’s Book of British Birds, or on reproducing the illustrations in William Curtis’s Flora Londonensis, while another worked on transcribing handwritten letters. It was a hive of activity and Chris would write a lively blog about what was going on, and would also write a bi-monthly report for Bishop John, which would be copied to the “Friends” of the library. Chris even found time to design, and “make happen”, a glass door through which castle visitors could see into the library and all this was fed through into an “interpretation room” where visitors could really experience the “feel” of an 18th Century Bishop’s study. Thinking about the “feel” of a place takes me back to my theme of the churchyard – for these are special places, each with a “feel” of its own. Hartlebury churchyards are, for me, filled with the presence of those who have gone before us. I have been photographing gravestones over a number of years and have noticed how the soft sandstone of which most of our headstones are made have deteriorated over the time I have been doing it – which is all the more reason to record the names of the families who inhabit the churchyards before it is too late. Most of the headstones and memorials at St James can now be related to a hand-drawn plan which was done as a project by two teenage members of the “Explorers” group in the early 1970s. (Continued on Pages 48 and 49) 48
(Continued from Page 47) It is not to scale but is a useful foundation on which to build. What would be lovely would be to try to build up a social history of the Parish at the time most of the interments at the Parish Church took place. Those at St Mary’s are generally later, as the land was given by Bishop Philpott once it became clear that the 1837 extension to the churchyard would not serve the parish for ever. Bishop Philpott, who died in 1892 is himself buried at St Mary’s, which he built ten years before he died. He called it “a lovely peaceful place” and it was his wish to be buried there. It is still rather peaceful and lovely today, especially as there is now less traffic on the A 449 now. It was only a country road in 1892. My sister-in-law works for a Charity called “Caring for God’s Acre”. It works nationally to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy burial grounds and graveyards. There are over 20,000 burial grounds in England and Wales, ranging from small rural medieval churchyards to large Victorian city cemeteries, spanning different cultures, religions, and centuries. I recently attended a (Zoom!) lecture where we were told by a specialist about the wealth of social history which can be gleaned from careful observation of the way churchyards are arranged. The talk stirred no end of memories of the many churches and churchyards I have visited with Tim Bridges, who has taken many local groups of people (mostly from the Four Square group of parishes) to visit churches in Shropshire, Herefordshire and elsewhere. We have been to churches where he churchyard is studded with wild daffodils in March, and to river-side churches where there is a brass plate on the wall to show the height of the water when it comes in during times of flooding. We have seen massive Yew trees (often an incredibly old church is set within a circular planting of Yew trees) with a hollow large enough to accommodate a seat. We have seen churches in the Cotswolds where there are hundreds of table tombs, similar to that of Bishop Hurd, which reflects the wealth of the local farmers who made their money from the wool trade and used some of it to benefit their local community. We once, quite by chance, were visiting the church in Alveley when a team of volunteers from God’s Acre arrived to help local volunteers tackle some work which was to be filmed by BBC Midlands Today! Wherever you are in the country and there is a churchyard that needs some helpful attention, you might find other like-minded people to share the caring with. You don’t 49
have to be a churchgoer or religious to be involved, you just must care about the churchyard and wildlife and maybe enjoy human company. If you prefer solitude, then that can also be found. The more I have visited churchyards, the more I have appreciated what they have to offer just by what you find there. You might find that all people are created equal – and that the Quakers show this to be true, and an aspiration to be practised, by the way they order their burial grounds. There is no hierarchy here at Almley’s Meeting House. It is one of the most peaceful and inspiring places I have ever seen. So let us treasure our own churchyards – and let us thank those who met together at St Mary’s recently and trimmed trees and cleared away rubbish and had a good time while doing it, while keeping their social distance! And let us thank the young people given work by Muddy Boots for what they do – and Lesley who manages and transports them about – not an easy job with all that equipment! And, when spring comes, let us enjoy the primroses that grow on the bank at St James and wait for the daffodils to bloom again – as they surely will As the hymn puts it – Give thanks with a grateful heart. Bystander 50
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