Tel: 01635 873173 Mob - The Community of Bucklebury WIKI

As I write this I’m looking out on a very 

snowy scene, and hearing forecasts of more 

snow to come. This is the second major bit 

of snow we’ve had since we’ve been here, 

and it’s times like these that you really feel 

you’re in the countryside. I am sure that 

many have experienced the help of 

neighbours and strangers, whether it is 

digging out the car or getting supplies to 

remote households, and it’s in these kind of 

conditions that communities like ours show 

themselves for what they are. 

As the country is gripped by the coldest 

winter for almost 50 years, local councils are 

rapidly running out of grit for the roads. 

West Berkshire has been one of the worst 

affected and we have been told that the grit 

is reserved for high priority roads. That is 

completely understandable, but is not much 

consolation for rural communities where the 

roads would be perfect for ITV’s Dancing on 

Ice! They are just not a priority, not 

important or used enough to be gritted. 

That’s not a criticism, just an observation. 

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS 

Distributed free 

February 2010 

But it does remind me that there are 

people or sectors of our communities that 

just don’t seem very important, their value is 

deemed to be less than others. Perhaps 

that’s how our society has taught us to 

think, some people just have more value 

than others; perhaps that’s why ‘celebrity 

culture’ is so popular. 

The Bible tells us something different. 

Genesis 1 tells us that human beings are 

made in the ‘image of God,’ the one true 

God who both created and sustains the 

universe. Being made in the image of God 

means a number of things, but at the very 

least, it means we have value. 

Everybody has something in their house 

which is ‘valuable.’ It may be worth a 

fortune, absolutely priceless and be insured 

up to the hilt. Or it may be something worth 

absolutely nothing to anyone else, but is 

precious to us. When we look at how much 

things are worth, we have to remember that 

‘worth’ is a very subjective term. The value 

of anything is based merely on how much 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in 

him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV) 

Parish magazine of the Churches of St Mary Bucklebury, All Saints’ Upper Bucklebury and St Mary Marlston.

Ministry Team 

The Administration Office 

For all enquiries for: 

Baptisms, Marriages, 

Funerals & Thanksgiving 

services 

Tel 01635 860220 

office@2bsd.org.uk 

www.2bsd.org.uk 

Monday to Friday 

9:30am-12 noon 

Priest in Charge 

Revd Jules Gadsby 

01635 866731 

julian@2bsd.org.uk 

(Thursday N/A) 

Revd David Chattell 

(Associate Clergy) 

Tel. 0118 974 4333 

(Friday N/A) 

Revd Rosemary Green 



(Thursday N/A) 

Revd Raymond Obin 


Tel. 01635 38212 

(Friday N/A) 

Revd Lyn Bliss 

(Curate in Training) 


Mrs Ruth Chattell 

(Licensed Lay Minister) 


Dr Mike Kerry 



Dr David Sammon 



Mr Alec Hitchcock 

(Licensed Preacher) 


Magazine Distribution 

tara.duffy@tesco.net 

Typeset and printed by 

The Alpha Xperience 


someone is willing to pay for it or how much it means to them. 

Being made in the image of God means that we are more than just a 

collection of cells, or just the result of natural selection. We were 

created. And if we are created beings, then we are created for a 

purpose. God does not create anything that is valueless. We were 

designed for dignity and beauty. And yet how often do we see our 

humanity filled instead with hatred, selfishness, greed, gossip, slander, 

filth? It can all get so ugly. The image is still there, but it is marred. In 

the end, we devalue each other and ourselves. Surely there is something 

more than this for us? 

We may be treated as less than valuable by others, but God says we are 

valuable to him. How do we know this? “For God so loved the world that 

he gave his only Son that all who believe in him should not perish but 

have eternal life.” (John 3:16). God did not send the most valuable thing 

– his Son – for something that didn’t matter. We matter. Everything we 

do matters. Perhaps this is the year to come and discover just how 

valuable you are to him that he sent his only Son to die for you. 

With every blessing for this coming year 

Jules Gadsby 

Magazine contribution 

This magazine comes to you free of 

charge. However, if you would like to 

make a contribution it would be very 

gratefully received. The current cost per 

recipient is £3.50 per year. Please make 

cheques payable to “Bucklebury PCC” 

and send to Dr. D Sammon, PCC 

Treasurer, 27 Berry’s Road, Upper 

Bucklebury RG7 6QL, stating 

“Magazine contribution” on the reverse 

of the cheque. 

Thank you. 

Magazine Production & 

Distribution 

This edition published Thursday 

28th January 2010 

Copy deadline for March issue is 

Monday 1st February before 10am 

March issue will be published 

Thursday 25th February 2010 

All enquiries to 

tara.duffy@tesco.net 

Welcome 

If you have recently moved into 

our community, we hope that you 

settle into your new home and 

surroundings quickly. 

We would love to see you at any 

of the church services listed on the 

back cover. You are assured of a 

warm welcome. 

Parish Registers 

Laid to rest 

11th November 2009 

Joyce Ruby Tann 

2 FEBRUARY 2010

Mission Aviation Fellowship - 

The Lost Boys Return 

Aid Sudan was founded in 2000 in response 

to the needs of the “Lost Boys” 

These boys were far from their homes herding 

cattle when soldiers raided their villages in 

Sudan. Upon their return they found nothing but 

devastation, burnt-out huts and family members 

dead or gone. Left with nothing, these orphaned 

boys, some as young as five or six, fled. 

Thousands walked to Ethiopia. Then, forced 

to leave, they walked back to Sudan and on to 

Kenya. Those who survived the horrific journey 

were placed in refugee camps. Years later, many 

were taken to the USA to forge out a new life. 

Today, Aid Sudan is working with some of 

these Lost Boys, equipping them to return to 

southern Sudan as missionaries. 

Every Year 

Led by Maker Manyang and Jengmar Yat, 

both formerly Lost Boys, Bible schools have 

been set up at Nasir and Nimule. Students 

learn Bible stories by heart to enable them to 

share God’s Word in a culture where oral 

tradition is a way of life. 

Each year, Aid Sudan also takes several teams 

into Sudan, flying with MAF to reach remote 

destinations. ‘Without MAF, we couldn’t do 

what we do, because Sudan is logistically so 

difficult to get in and out of,’ shares Kerry 

Henderson, Country Director for Aid Sudan. 

Alongside education, healthcare, well repair 

and veterinary work, teams share the Gospel 

through chronological Bible stories. A veterinary 

team visited the cattle camps at Nimule. 

Nimule is now home to many displaced 

At a Glance Diary Dates - February 2010 

Praying … 

for the Parish and the World 

February 2010 

7th ❤ Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowships (UCCF) 

❤ Standing Committee 

❤ Bucklebury Village, Pease Hill and Hillfoot 

14th ❤ The Children’s Society 

❤ Youth Fellowship (11-18’s) 

❤ Roundfield & Little Lane 

21st ❤ Crosslinks 

❤ Children’s Sunday Teaching Groups 

❤ Hopgoods Green & Briff Lane 

28th ❤ COINS Trust (Christian Outreach in Newbury Schools) 

❤ Sidesmen & Sideswomen 

❤ Benefice of Basildon with Aldworth & Ashampton 

peoples. During the war, thousands of Dinka 

people fled here and most have remained. Tall, 

many with distinctive facial markings, the 

Dinka are one of Sudan’s largest people 

groups. Maker’s family resettled here after 

being forced to leave their homes in Bor. 

It’s the first time a team has come here. 

Maker remained in the USA but his family 

welcome the team with such warmth, giving up 

their homes for them. The team is very 

humbled by the hospitality and generosity. 

Cattle Camps 

Cattle are central to Dinka culture. In the 

absence of banks, they are used as a store of 

wealth. They are used in the dowry as the bride 

price. Many children are named after cows. On 

the cattle camps, culture is handed down to 

the next generation. 

Having visited four camps on the first day, 

the team was ready to work at a camp where 

the chief herders were more receptive. 

Monday 8th , 22nd 7.30pm – 9.00pm Meet Mondays: Christian group for adults with learning disabilities 

All Saints’, Upper Bucklebury 

FEBRUARY 2010 3

The camps are an hour’s drive up into the 

hills on a bumpy, windy, narrow road. Women 

walk it daily to get to town. 

It’s early morning – important to arrive before 

the cattle are taken to graze and the heat 

becomes unbearable. Piles of dung lie 

everywhere. Some are burning - to prevent flies. 

Others just lie as an obstacle to bypass or trudge 

through. 

Down to Business 

A sea of cattle stretches endlessly into the 

distance, each one tied to a little wooden stub. 

It’s really noisy. The cows are thin as grazing 

land is limited and dry. Children roam around, 

many of them covered in dung. Women are 

milking cows by hand. A few tukuls are dotted 

around the camp. 

After meeting the chief, it’s down to business. 

Weaving in and out of hundreds of animals, the 

camp chairman leads the team. It appears 

random, but vet Johnny Johnson is impressed: 

‘The chairman is picking the cattle I would pick.’ 

Cattle have to be restrained, bringing to life 

the phrase ‘taking the bull by the horns.’ 

It’s best not to stand too close! Cows are 

vaccinated, wormed – and one bitten by a 

crocodile is given antibiotics. 

Early Results 

By the end of day one, the team has treated 

over 300 cows. Within three days, herders can 

see results and with it the people’s growing 

appreciation for the work. 

The culmination of the team’s visit came 

when they shared the last of the Bible stories 

with the men, women and children. The people 

listened intently to the account of Christ’s 

crucifixion, but when it reached the 

resurrection, the camp began to clap and shout 

‘Hallelujah!’ It was a powerful moment to see 

their hunger for God’s Word. 

The chief thanked the team for sharing the 

stories of God with the children so that they 

grow up to know God. 

Team leader Andrew Brown writes, ‘God had 

truly gone before us and blessed the work of 

our hands. It was very clear that by treating the 

cows of the Dinka people, we had touched 

their hearts at a deep level and it opened the 

doors to share God’s Word with power and 

authority. We praise God for His work!’ 

A month after the veterinary team left 

Nimule, Maker returned to continue to minister 

to the needs of his people. 

Extracted from MAF News, 

the magazine of Mission Aviation Fellowship. 

Sermon Series 

7th 5 loaves + 2 fish + Jesus = 

14th The root of the problem 

21st He has done all things well 

28th Do you understand what I have done? 

February Gardens 

There can be few pursuits more affected by 

the weather than gardening and agriculture 

and as the science of weather forecasting 

improves so we rely on the Met Office’s 

product more and more. I have just looked 

back at my December and January notes where 

I commented that it was dry and warm and 

that we were likely to be infested by plagues of 

creepy crawlies unless the temperature falls. 

Now, in early January, there is snow 

everywhere with the cold weather expected to 

last for another week, at least, which will mean 

that this near sub-zero weather will have been 

with us, continuously, for more than 5 weeks! 

While I no longer enjoy the cold, it should sort 

out many of our pests. Heavy wet snow can do 

damage to trees and shrubs and limbs may snap 

4 FEBRUARY 2010

under the weight of snow, as many trees and 

shrubs become a bit brittle during the winter 

dormancy. Where you can, knock the snow off the 

branches to release the strain. It is unlikely that 

any plants will be killed by the cold unless you 

have transformed your garden into a 

Mediterranean garden in anticipation of ‘Global 

Warming’ (whatever that is!!). Enough of the 

present problems as gardening is all about looking 

forward. There is nothing like planting seeds to 

make one think and feel for the future sunny 

months. Now is a good time to sow onion seeds 

and I do not mean onion sets. In my experience 

onion seeds produce much more reliable and 

stronger plants than sets and at less than a fifth of 

the cost. The seeds, ideally, should be planted in 

modules with two seeds to a module (the weaker 

seedling is removed when transplanted) but sown 

in a seed tray is fine – germination at about 12-15 

C should take about 14 days. I rather dismissed 

onion sets without explanation so I will now give 

my reasons: unless you get them direct from a 

seedsman, I have found that they have often 

become ‘desiccated’ in stores and can carry 

disease. I am about to sow antirrhinum Madam 

Butterfly which is not only a good ‘cut flower’ but 

quite handsome in the flower border as it grows to 

3 ft; although described as an annual I have found 

that quite a few plants will survive into a second 

year and produce four or five good stems. 

Summer flowering dahlias are now appearing in 

plastic bags in the garden centres; it is quite a 

good idea to buy early and pot them up, in the 

warm, in a mixture of potting compost and John 

Innes No 1 and in a few weeks they will produce 

shoots; if you are careful you can now get some 

extra plants for nothing; take a sharp knife and 

cut the shoot off at the stalk of the tuber and 

plant it at the edge of a small plastic pot in a 

mixture of potting and seed compost and 

vermiculite. Water in (you should be able to get 4 

or 5 around the edge of the pot) and enclose with 

in a plastic bag (medium freezer bags are ideal) 

and close the opening with a rubber band; pot on 

in about five weeks when there is a good root 

system on each cutting. If your lawn is anything 

like mine, green but almost all moss after the dry 

autumn, curb your enthusiasm to put down a 

moss killer as we will still have more frosts and the 

moss killer will stimulate the grass into soft new 

shoots which will then be knocked back. 

My last thoughts are about Potting Compost 

and Multipurpose Compost. In recent years I 

have been appalled by the quality of 

multipurpose compost; much of it is very 

coarse with fine, unrotted twigs and even bits 

of plastic – it might be alright to dig into a bed 

but it really should not be used in the green 

house. When purchasing potting and seed 

compost do make certain that the bags have 

not been exposed to the rain – last year I 

foolishly bought a couple of bags that were 

quite sodden, hoping that I could mix them 

with a soil based compost but it was quite 

impossible. Finally, I am afraid that I will 

always go for the peat based compost as it is a 

proven better growing medium than any of the 

alternatives such as coir – while Irish and 

Somerset Levels peat may be, and is, a 

precious, finite commodity, peat from eastern 

Europe and Siberia is plentiful, being replaced 

with the life cycle of the mosses 

John Tennant 

*am* 

at All Saints’ Church, Upper Bucklebury. 

8.45am-12pm every Monday morning 

Why not come along and meet new people, 

chat with good friends, and enjoy a warm 

atmosphere and good coffee (or tea!) 

FEBRUARY 2010 5

Church Bulletin for Bucklebury 

with Marlston, Bradfield and 

Stanford Dingley 

During school term time a bulletin is 

produced which gives details of church services 

and other events. The bulletin is available in 

the churches and is also distributed by e-mail. 

If you would like to be included on the e-mail 

distribution list please phone the 

Administration Office 01635 860220 or send 

an e-mail to office@2bsd.org.uk. The bulletin 

is normally issued on Thursdays. 

Rushall Organic Farm 

I was having lunch at a friend’s 50th birthday 

party on New Year’s Day. I sat next to someone 

who had been to the same primary school in 

Glasgow. We were both there at a significant 

time. Battlefield Junior School, an impressive 

building made of huge red sandstone, burnt 

convincingly down. It was a child’s dream. 

However, to our disappointment it didn’t stop 

the serious business of teaching us reading, 

writing and arithmetic under the rule of the 

leather strap, for much more than a day. It was 

because of the beautiful countryside 

surrounding Glasgow that I decided to make 

farming my chosen career. It was also because 

my father, at 6 foot 4 inches tall, didn’t 

comfortably commute on a Corporation bus, 

and I didn’t want to follow in his footsteps. 

Over the last few weeks we have been calving 

our 71 suckler cows. Most of them are 

homebred Angus crosses and have been bulled 

either by Ianto, Bingo or Ivor, our 3 Stabiliser 

bulls. A Stabiliser is a cross between Angus, 

Hereford, Gelbvieh and Simmental. It’s a 

remarkably unattractive name for a composite 

breed but we hope the progeny will be more 

impressive. We are lambing over 800 ewes in 4 

weeks time. These have scanned well with 

plenty of twins and a low number of barreners. 

Prices for finished lambs have been at a record 

high so the 120 lambs remaining from last year 

gave the best return. 

My grain trader phoned me the other day to, 

I thought, wish me seasonal greetings; in fact, 

it was to inform me that my organic malting 

barley, variety Quench, wasn’t quite dry 

enough, had a slight problem with 

germination, was marginal on nitrogen content 

and had some dead mites in it which I needed 

to remove. It would have been much easier if 

he had told me that he couldn’t sell it because 

the trade has been so bad. Evidently we are 

not drinking enough beer! 

We were very disappointed to have to cancel 

our Christmas Eve services. It is a very special 

part of our year and we felt bereft without it. I 

know it’s late for resolutions but I’ve been 

Help Needed 

This is a request and an opportunity for a 

rewarding experience for a volunteer to help 

support the continued development of our 

beautiful daughter. She is 8 years old with a 

developmental age of around 12-14 

months. We have supported and enabled 

that development through different 

programmes, exercises etc. 

After some 5 years one of our wonderful 

volunteers has had to devote her time to 

other things. We are therefore looking for 

someone to offer 11/2 hours sometime on a 

Monday between 10am and 3pm to help 

with one of our daughter’s programmes. 

Please contact Kathy McQuillen on 

01635 869343 for more details. 

6 FEBRUARY 2010

impressed by this verse from the Bible for the 

months ahead, “I’ve pitched my pitch tent in 

the land of hope” Acts 2 v 25 (The Message). 

Christmastide in Retrospect 

John Bishop 

We should have realised that we were in for a 

spell of bad weather when all the holly berries 

were gobbled up by the birds in the middle of 

December, so there were no holly berries in the 

church decorations this year. 

The annual Carol Service by candle light was 

held in the Parish Church as usual, on the 

Sunday Next before Christmas, and was attended 

by about 130. This year Bucklebury Primary 

School choir, coached by Mrs. Jane Obin, sang 

two of the carols and the seven readers 

represented areas or organisations in the parish. 

In Christmas week the precipitation 

threatened to turn from light rain to sleet or 

snow. On Wednesday the 23rd it did turn to 

snow at around 3 pm catching out late 

shoppers and the return from work. Local 

driving became quite difficult as the roads had 

not, or did not appear, to have been gritted, 

though Basingstoke was particularly affected 

and became a national point of interest! The 

West Berks Council, on the following day, did 

‘salt’ the primary and secondary routes (all A 

and B roads and school routes) and most 

Pastoral Support 

Please contact the Administration Office on 

(01635) 860220 if you would like to make an 

appointment to see any member of the 

ministry team. 

If you would like someone to pray for you, 

please call the above number or e-mail 

office@2bsd.org.uk or write to “Bucklebury 

Parish Prayer”, c/o Administration Office, All 

Saints’ Church, Broad Lane, Upper Bucklebury 

RG7 6QH. You only need to give your first name 

and a few details of what you would like prayer 

for. No one will contact you unless you ask. All 

requests will be treated in the strictest confidence. 

Please note that the Administration Office hours are 

Mon - Fri 9.30am - 12.00 noon term time only. An 

ansaphone service operates at other times. 

parishioners were able to finish their Christmas 

shopping without too much difficulty, though 

they drove or walked with added care. One 

casualty, however, was Revd Julian Gadsby 

whose car took to the ditch on the road down 

past Bushnells Green – though he was shaken 

the car was written off. Some helpers cleared 

the paths to the parish church for the 

Christmas services and one was well gritted. 

On Christmas Eve a Crib service was held for 

the young and was attended by about 45 of 

various ages. Later, at 11.30pm, the first service 

of Christmas took place by candle light and was 

attended by about 78 communicants – the cold 

weather probably kept the numbers down. 

Christmas day was bright but cold. The 

church was pretty full with about 150 

attending the celebration. Many of the side 

roads remained icy until Monday and on 

Tuesday heavy rain washed some snow away 

though the ice did persist in Briff Lane. The 

next event was a well heralded snow fall on the 

following Tuesday when at least 9-10 inches of 

good crisp snow fell during the daylight and 

FEBRUARY 2010 7

into the evening. Luckily there was no wind 

and thus no drifting but the trees were bowed 

down with the weight of the snow. On 

Wednesday there was little movement on the 

roads and only that by farm vehicles and a few 

‘4x4s’ – the council only cleared ‘primary’ 

routes such as the A4, all minor roads including 

the Common and Avenue were left covered by 

snow. Day and night time temperatures 

remained well below freezing with minus 9.5 C 

recorded at 7.30am one morning. 

I think that we were fortunate not to have had 

any power cuts unlike Bradfield and Stanford 

Dingley who lost power for quite a few hours 

on Tuesday night – no television, no central 

heating, no cooking – it must have tried post 

Christmas conversation! But in Bucklebury all 

the hills became toboggan runs with Pease Hill 

road down to the Manor being considered a 

‘Blue’ run by skiers. Thankfully nobody tried, 

but Briff Lane looked like the Cresta Run, 

encased in ice. I fear the snow will be with us 

for a week or two unless there is a rapid thaw in 

which case the Pang may overflow its banks 

and which is the better of two evils? 

John Tennant 

St Mary’s Church Cleaning Teams 

Both the flower arrangers and the church 

cleaning teams were invited to luncheon by 

Barbara Perry at Black Barns. All the delicious 

food was cooked by Barbara; quiches and pies 

followed by crumbles and then delicious mince 

pies. It was a very happy occasion and many 

thanks to Barbara. It was a lovely opportunity 

for us all to meet together. 

The dusting teams have a new volunteer – my 

husband Michael – perhaps that might 

encourage another person to join our team. It 

means 2 – 2 1 ⁄2 hours work, about 6 times a year. 

Our Spring cleaning date for St. Mary’s is 

February 12th 2010, from 9.30am. 

May I take this opportunity to say thank you 

to the cleaning teams for their loyalty and hard 

work throughout the year. 

St Martins Club 

Pippa Leavey 

We continue to hold our meetings in the 

Memorial Hall and the programme for the next 

two months is as follows: 

2 February, 2pm, AGM plus a talk by Gwen 

Barton entitled, “World Tours” 

2 March, 2 pm, Talk on Continental chocolates. 

Bucklebury Toddler Group 

Are you looking after small children on a 

Friday morning? Why don’t you get out of the 

house and come and meet other like minded 

people? We are a very informal friendly group 

that meet from 10am – 12am every Friday 

morning during the school term time in the 

Upper Bucklebury Village Hall. The children play, 

let off steam, stretch their imaginations and 

socialise with other children while the adults can 

catch up over a cup of tea or coffee. You only 

pay when you come (£1.50 first child, £1.00 

second child), and we just ask that when you 

come you muck in and give a hand either setting 

up/putting away toys or making the coffee!! 

Come and join us. You will be most welcome. 

Come and Meet us on Mondays! 

S-M-I-L-E – that’s what we do a lot of at 

‘Meet Monday’, a Christian group for adults 

with learning disabilities. The group meets at 

All Saints’ Church, Broad Lane, Upper 

Bucklebury on the second and fourth Mondays 

of the month at 7.30pm until 9.00pm. Some of 

our members come from local homes, others 

8 FEBRUARY 2010

live at home with their parents or on their own 

in the community. We hope to get to know 

each other well and offer one another practical 

and prayerful support. We worship together; 

study the Bible and apply it to real life 

situations; and have fun. Drama, craft, dance 

and puppets are used as teaching tools and 

Makaton signing aids understanding and 

enhances the worship. 

If you know of an adult with a learning 

disability who might like to join us, or if you 

would be interested in joining our willing group 

of helpers, contact Christine Mackie on 01189 

417170 or Helen Waters on 01635 866849. 

St Valentine’s Day 

There are two confusing things about this day 

of romance and anonymous love-cards strewn 

with lace, cupids and ribbon: firstly, there seems 

to have been two different Valentines in the 4th 

century - one a priest martyred on the 

Flaminian Way, under the emperor Claudius, 

the other a bishop of Terni martyred at Rome. 

And neither seems to have had any clear 

connection with lovers or courting couples. 

So why has Valentine become the patron saint 

of romantic love? By Chaucer’s time the link 

was assumed to be because on these saints’ day 

-14 February - the birds are supposed to pair. 

Or perhaps the custom of seeking a partner on 

St Valentine’s Day is a surviving scrap of the old 

Roman Lupercalia festival, which took place in 

the middle of February. One of the Roman gods 

honoured during this Festival was Pan, the god 

of nature. Another was Juno, the goddess of 

women and marriage. During the Lupercalia it 

was a popular custom for young men to draw 

the name of a young unmarried woman from a 

name-box. The two would then be partners or 

‘sweethearts’ during the time of the 

celebrations. Even modern Valentine 

decorations bear an ancient symbol of love - 

Roman cupids with their bows and love-arrows. 

There are no churches in England dedicated to 

Valentine, but since 1835 his relics have been 

claimed by the Carmelite church in Dublin. 

Signs & Symbols: Ashes 

Many churches offer a service on Ash 

Wednesday, the first day of Lent where ashes 

are used to mark each person’s forehead with 

the sign of the cross – known as the Imposition 

of Ashes. 

It’s a strange feeling; first the grittiness when 

they are first placed, then a tingling sensation, 

then a time of self-consciousness of knowing 

they are there like a dirty smudge. Lastly comes 

the ‘Decision’. Should I wipe them away before 

leaving the church or later? 

But what is the point of it all? 

There are many references in the Bible to 

people using ashes as signs of either penitence 

or preparation for an important event 

(Jeremiah 6:26). In church records, ashes are 

used for penitents by the sixth century, but it is 

not until the beginning of the eleventh century 

that the faithful took part in a ceremony on 

the Wednesday before Lent that included the 

imposition of ashes. It is only later that this 

came to be called Ash Wednesday. 

At first clerics and men had ashes sprinkled 

on their heads while women had the sign of 

the cross made with ashes on their foreheads. 

In the twelfth century the rule developed that 

the ashes were to be created by burning palm 

branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday 

– and in most churches this is still how they are 

made today. 

Over the centuries the emphasis of meaning 

for the imposed ashes has changed, from a 

FEBRUARY 2010 9

preparation for baptism, a renewal of baptismal 

vows, to an understanding of a community’s 

preparation for the event of the Paschal 

mystery of rebirth at Easter. 

This month: 

As the priest says the traditional words over 

you, “Remember that you are but dust, and to 

dust you will return. Turn away from sin and be 

faithful to Christ. Amen.” what will you be 

focusing upon? 

Seasoned 

LOGS to your 

WOODPILE 

Cut and split to your fire size. 

Full and Half loads available 

T: 07836 223467 

please call for more details 

Parish Diary 

FEBRUARY 

1st (and every Monday) - am Coffee Morning, 8.45-12 noon, 

All Saints’ Upper Bucklebury 

2nd St Martin’s Club AGM plus a talk by Gwen Barton entitled 

“World Tours” (Reg Allum 01189 713716 or Ron Mather 

01635 863440) 

4th (and every Thursday) Bell ringing, St. Mary’s, Bucklebury, 7pm 

(John Durham 01635 866524) 

5th (and every Friday in term time) Toddlers, Memorial Hall 

10am – 12 noon. (Sarah Beeson 01635 862918) 

8th, 22nd 7.30pm – 9.00pm, Meet Monday, Christian group for 

adults with learning disabilities. All Saints’, Upper Bucklebury. 

(Christine Mackie, 01189 417170 or Helen Waters, 01635 866849) 

Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators 

Burdens Heath: Allan Brown 01635 862162 

Turners Green: N Rendall 01635 865899 

Blacklands Road: Mrs S Dorling 01635 864256 

Long Grove: vacant 

Bucklebury: B. Ward 0118 9712581 

Hatch Close: C Fleming 0118 9712315 

Hatch Lane (central): Frank Harvell, 0118 971 0021 

The Avenue: Mrs J Bywater 0118 9744124 

The Slade: H. Cairns 01635 866021 

10 FEBRUARY 2010

E.A.LAMING 

Flat roofing 

15 years 

Guarantee on all high 

performance felts 

also 

Tiling and Lead Repairs 

Phone Bradfield 

0118 974 4701 

21 years experience 

If you have ever tried to treat your lawn yourself, 

you know that the results of getting it 

wrong can be disastrous for your garden. 

GreenThumb takes the risk out of lawn care. 

Over the past 20 years we have developed our 

service to offer you the finest lawn care products 

in the world. administered for you by fully trained 

operatives. 

• The UK’s largest Lawn Care Company 

• Over a quarter of a million homeowners trust us to 

care for their lawns 

• No contract to sign – simply pay-as-you-go 

• Costs less than DIY 

• Over 170 branches nationwide 

Call today for your free, no obligation, 

lawn analysis and quotation on: 

0800 0111 222 

www.greenthumb.co.uk 

Professional Foot Care 

Treatment of Foot and 

Nail Conditions 

Pedicure 

Helen Duffy 

0118 9714236 

07919 288929 

Surgery and 

Domiciliary Practice 

Discount for Group Bookings 

Present this advert to receive 

a 10% discount on your 

first treatment 

Computer Problems? 

• Computer always crashing? 

• Worried about Viruses? 

• Installing Broadband? 

• Wireless Networking? 

• Computer running slowly? 

• Software not working? 

• Need an upgrade? 

If you need urgent help or 

just a chat with an expert call 

(0118) 981 0800 

email: help@midgham.com 

Home or Business 

We can help 

NO FIX — NO FEE 

FEBRUARY 2010 11

M + P Services 

Tree Care, Hedges Trimmed, 

Fencing, Patios, Decking, 

Free Quotation. 

Logs for Sale! 

T: 01635 860478 

M: 07766 114100 

Bucklebury PCC accepts advertisements without verifying the standard of service offered; therefore you may wish to make your own enquiries. 

Bucklebury 

Tennis Club 

Broad Lane, Upper Bucklebury 

Welcomes: 

New members, guests and visitors. 

Tennis all the year round. 

For more information please call Mike James 

0118 971 2285 

Local Builder/Handyman 

• Garage & Loft Conversions 

• Extensions 

• Kitchens & Bathrooms 

• Patios & Fencing 

• Household maintenance 

Call Phil Harrison on: 

Tel: 01635 873173 • Mob: 07713 400413 

Email: harrisonphil@btinternet.com 

FIONA KIRBY INTERIORS 

(CITY & GUILDS QUALIFIED) 

Soft Furnishings 

(Curtains, Blinds, Loose Covers) 

Upholstery, Design 

Telephone: 0118 971 2972 

Regular Garden 

Maintenance Specialists 

Supplying a bespoke service 

for the discerning client 

Tel: 01256 850 855 

Mobile: 07710 586 666 

www.pdsmaintenance.co.uk 

PDS Maintenance 

Berry Court 

Little London 

Tadley 

Hampshire 

RG26 5EU 

12 FEBRUARY 2010

ABSOLUTELY 

Tree and Hedge Care Ltd 

The complete tree and 

hedge care service 

based in Woolhampton, 

serving Berkshire and Hampshire 

Please call Roger Molloy 

on 07876 598 411 

for more information 

and a free quotation 

21 Orchard Close, Woolhampton, 

Berkshire, RG7 5SD 

BEAUTYTHERAPY 

Bradfield sports complex 

Experienced therapists 

Open 2 late nights and most days 

www.cloud9-beauty.co.uk 

Tel: 01189 644600 

The Village Montessori 

Nursery School 

Cock Lane, Bradfield, Berkshire. RG7 6HW 

Telephone: 0118 974 4643 

Outstanding in all areas of care and education 

(Ofsted 2007) 

Accredited by Montessori Education 

To arrange a visit contact 

Mrs. Jackie Maclean 

BRADFIELD SOUTHEND 

VILLAGE STORES 

& POST OFFICE 

Southend Road, Bradfield, RG7 6EY 

(next to Bradfield Village Hall) 

Tel 0118 9745087 Fax 0118 9745415 

Email b.s.v.s@btinternet.com 

OPENING HOURS 

Shop Post Office 

Mon – Fri 7.00am – 7.00pm 9.00am – 5.30pm 

Sat 8.00am – 1.00pm 9.00am – 12.30pm 

We don’t close lunchtimes or Wednesday afternoons 

THE SHOP PROVIDES 

Fresh food daily – Sandwiches – Fruit and Vegetables 

Bread – Milk – Eggs – Delicatessen – Homemade Cakes 

Fair Trade Foods – Newspapers and Magazines 

Greetings Cards – Photocopying – Stationery 

Dry Cleaning – Laundry – Faxing – Phone Top Ups 

Electricity and Gas Key Card Updates! 

COME TO THE POST OFFICE FOR 

Personal Banking Services and Investments 

Cash Withdrawals (some banks) – Vehicle Licences 

Euros and US Dollars (Cash and Travellers Cheques) 

On Demand – Other Currencies To Order Commission Free 

Travel Insurance 

Switch and Major Credit Cards Accepted 

Drowning in paperwork? 

My services include payroll, bookkeeping and admin. 

For more details call 

Bucklebury Bookkeeping 

on 01635 872053 

Qualified (ICB) and insured. 

www.buckleburybookkeeping.co.uk 

LANDLORDS 

Looking to make more profit from your property? 

Professional and personal service 

with the lowest rates in town! 

Managed rates from 5% 

including property presentation 

Call NOW to see how much more 

monthly profit you can make! 


FEBRUARY 2010 13

BUCKLEBURY 

MEMORIAL HALL 

Registered charity No: 300135 

THE IDEAL VENUE 

Parties, Receptions, Dances & Meetings. 

Well Equipped: 

Large Hall or Committee Room 

Kitchen • Toilets • Car Parking and 

Disabled facilities. 

For further information please contact: 

Mike Scholl, Temp Lettings Secretary, 


OPENFIELDS NURSERY SCHOOL 

Grange Lane, Lower Beenham. 

Children 2 years 6 months to 5 years 

Mon & Wed 8.30–1pm 

Tue & Thur 8.30–4pm Fri 8.30–12 

OFSTED grant from term after 3rd birthday 

Small group in home environment 

Large garden for play and learning. 

Contact Sue Burnham 01189 713619 

Luxury Ski Chalet 

Mont Tremblant • Canada 

• 4 Bedrooms (sleeps 8) 

• 2 Baths (+ ensuite WC) 

• Kitchen / Diner • 2 Living Rooms 

• Cable TV • Wireless Internet 

A beautiful, fully equipped log chalet with 

stunning views and excellent local amenities, 

90 mins drive from Montreal Airport. 

Tel: 01635 276066 / 01635 200941 

High Class 

Family Butchers 

& Game Dealers 

Delicatessen • Kebabs • Sausages 

BBQ Fare • Burgers • Droewors 

Boewors • Biltong 

Tue–Thur: 8.30–5 Fri: 8–5.30 Sat: 8–1 

Tel: (0118) 971 3508 

14 FEBRUARY 2010

andrea 

garden newill 

design 

Creative, practical gardens to suit 

your lifestyle and budget 

Tel: 0118 9710450 07901 856408 

www.andreanewillgardendesign.co.uk 

Linda Davies 

CT ABRSM ISM 

Saxophone/Flute/ 

Clarinet Tuition 

Home: 


Mobile: 

07816968060 

lindadaviesmusic@yahoo.co.uk 

HEATING ENGINEERS 

& PLUMBERS 

Outstanding personal, local service 

Boilers and central heating • Breakdowns, servicing, 

installations • Landlord certificates 

Insured, regulated and experienced 

Registered to work with Mains Gas & LPG & Oil 

Members of the Institute of Heating and Plumbing 

Corgi 18667. OFTEC C7891 

Tel: 01635 863336 or 07970 661962 

OilTec Services 

Proprietor : Colin McMordie OFTEC Registered 

Oil-Fired Boiler & AGA/Rayburn 

Service 

Maintenance 

Commissioning 

Try A Reliable and Friendly, Local Service 

Give Colin a call to book an appointment 

oiltec.services@btinternet.com 

Tel: 01488 648656 

Mobile: 07766 542116 

Established over 150 years 

Burials & Cremation • Woodland Funerals 

Pre-Paid Funeral Plans • Vintage & Specialist Vehicles 

Memorials & Plaques • Horse drawn Hearse & Carriage 

Motorcycle Funerals • National & International Funerals 

Personal Service & Competitive Prices 

Contact us day or night for immediate assistance 

90 West Street Newbury Berkshire RG14 1HA 

Newbury: 01635 ~ 522210 

Thatcham: 01635 ~ 871692 

Fax: 01635 569471 Email: mail@camphopsonfunerals.co.uk 

FEBRUARY 2010 15

Horse Drawn Weddings and Special Occasions 

Tel: 01635 863437 

www.a-step-back-in-time.co.uk 

RICHARD EDMONDS 

Plumbing and Heating Engineer 

Oil Boiler Installations 

Oftec Reg No:C7929 

Bathrooms • Tiling • Power Flushing 

Full Central heating systems Installed 

Dripping taps etc. 

Contact Richard 

Mobile: 07973702480 

Landline: 0118 9712706 

e-mail: redmonds72@btinternet.com 

Lesley A Clay 

Solicitor 

Wayside Cottage, 

The Slade, Bucklebury 

Reading, Berkshire RG7 6TE 

-----------------------–––– 

Your local lawyer 

For your legal needs 

---------------------––––-- 

Tel: 01635 862937 or email 

laclaysolicitor@btconnect.com 

Website: 

www.laclaysolicitor.co.uk 

BUCKLEBURY CONSTRUCTION 

Brickwork and Building Service 

Extensions / Alterations / Underpinning / Driveways. 

Groundwork / Garden Walls. 

Morrisen Landscapes 

Telephone: 01635 600268 

Mobile: 07780602252 

E-mail: morrisenlandscapes@live.co.uk 

www.morrisenlandscapes.co.uk 

For free advice ring your local builder. 

Telephone 0800 389 2679. 

Including: 

• Family law 

• Conveyancing 

• Landlord and tenant 

• Civil litigation Wills & 

probate 

Office hours by 

appointment to include 

evenings and weekends; 

24 hour answer phone 

Quotations available on 

request 

This firm is regulated by the Solicitors 

Regulation Authority Registered in England 

and Wales (Registered Number: 497515) 

16 FEBRUARY 2010

FEBRUARY 2010 17

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The Broadway, Thatcham, Berkshire RG19 3HP 

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Tim Wale Ltd 

(Motor Engineers) Est 1983 

Bradfield West Berkshire 

T G Wale Cae Eng Tech Amimi 

Free local collection and delivery service 

10% discount to student and OAP’s 

All major credit/debit cards accepted 

We are pleased to announce a new member 

of full time staff who joined us in 2008 

Mr David White 

Formerly at Peach’s Garage 

Upper Bucklebury for 27 years. 

Tel: 0118 974 4069 

Fax: 0118 974 4637 

Mobile: 07836 296996 

www.timwale.co.uk 

18 FEBRUARY 2010

Tomlins Bucklebury 

T: 07802 774 835 

E: david.j.orme@ukgateway.net 

Unique solutions 

inspired by nature 

Local Builder 

Handyman 

• Extensions & loft 

conversions 

• Kitchens & bathrooms 

• Patios & fencing 

• Household maintenance 

& Repairs 

Call Phil Harrison on: 

Tel: 01635 873173 

Mob: 07713 400413 

Email: harrisonphil@btinternet.com 

Ace Property 

House Maintenance 

Bathrooms Complete refits shower pumps tiling 

Plumbing Sinks mixers Rads Trv’s hot water cylinders 

Electrical Lighting extra sockets Immersions faulty rings 

Carpentry Floors laid Doors hung Stud work created 

Plastering Dry lining new ceilings wall & ceiling skims 

ALL HOUSE MAINTENANCE REPAIRS UNDERTAKEN 

Paul H Morris New Hope Beenham Reading RG7 5NN 

Mobile: 077522 85222 Tel: 0118 9710 579 

E: aphm@btinternet.com www.ace-property.co.uk 

FEBRUARY 2010 19

Church Services 

FEBRUARY * denotes Book of Common Prayer (BCP) 

7th 8.00am Holy Communion* St. Mary’s, Bucklebury 

9.30am Morning Prayer St. Mary’s, Bucklebury 

9.30am Morning Worship St. Peter’s, Bradfield Southend 

11.00am Morning Worship All Saints’, Upper Bucklebury 

11.15am Morning Prayer St. Andrew’s, Bradfield 

6.30pm Holy Communion St. Denys’, Stanford Dingley 



9.30am Holy Communion St. Peter’s, Bradfield Southend 


11.15am Holy Communion St. Andrew’s, Bradfield 

11.15am Morning Prayer* St. Denys’, Stanford Dingley 

17th 8.00pm Holy Communion for Ash Wednesday 

St. Andrew’s, Bradfield 

21st 8.00am Holy Communion * St. Mary’s, Bucklebury 



11.00am Holy Communion All Saints’, Upper Bucklebury 

11.15am Morning Prayer* St. Denys’, Stanford Dingley 

4.30pm Evensong St. Peter’s, Bradfield Southend 

28th 8.00am Holy Communion* St. Mary’s, Marlston 

9.30am Holy Communion St. Mary’s, Bucklebury 



11.15am Morning Prayer St. Andrew’s, Bradfield 

11.15am Morning Prayer St. Denys’, Stanford Dingly 

7.30pm Thirst (informal worship) 

All Saints’, Upper Bucklebury 

EARLY MARCH 





11.15am Holy Communion St. Andrew’s, Bradfield 

11.15am Holy Communion St. Denys’, Stanford Dingley 

Holy Communion – Every second & fourth Wednesday, 

11.30am at St.Denys’ 

For more information about services, please 

contact the Administration Office, 01635 860220. 

Teaching for children 

All Saints’, Upper Bucklebury - 

The United Youth Fellowship meets on most Sundays at 

6.30pm at St. Peter’s, Bradfield Southend. 

St. Peter’s, Bradfield Southend – 

The United Youth Fellowship meets on most Sundays at 

6.30pm at St. Peter’s, Bradfield, Southend. 

Facilities for the Disabled 

Both St. Mary’s, Bucklebury and All Saints’, Upper 

Bucklebury have facilities for the disabled, easy wheelchair 

access and induction loops for the hard of hearing. 

St. Denys’, Stanford Dingley has good wheelchair access. 

Both St. Andrew’s, Bradfield and St. Peter’s, Bradfield Southend 

have induction loops and an amplified sound system. 

St. Peter’s has easy wheelchair access and St. Andrew’s can 

set up portable ramps with advance notice. 

Other Churches 

Bucklebury Congregational Church 

Turners Green 

Worship at 11.00am on the 2nd, 4th & (where appropriate) 

5th Sunday of the month. 

Holy Communion on the last Sunday of the month. 

Sheila Kent, 01635 862543 

Roman Catholic Churches 

Douai Parish, Woolhampton, 

Parish Priest: Telephone 0118 971 5350 

Thatcham, Parish Priest: Telephone 01635 864416 

PRAYER REQUEST LINE 01635 860220 

20 FEBRUARY 2010

Tel: 01635 873173 Mob - The Community of Bucklebury WIKI

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