August 2011 issue of the parish magazine, Your Berkhamsted

LeaderYour Berkhamsted Leader by Fr Basil JonesI recently attended alecture by Sir TomStoppard entitled ”Theprivilege of an artist” inwhich he exploredwhat it was that madethe artist and more importantly what isArt. He did not come up with any fixedconclusions but left us with various ideasto help us tussle out this intriguingsubject. He admitted straight away that hehad led a charmed life beginning as a Jewin Moravia who was sent to Singaporewhen he was ten to escape the Nazis andthen whisked away to India to escape theJapanese.As a young man in England he wrote hisfirst play in his twenties and then withmodest means he has been able to indulgehimself as an artist ever since. His lecturelasted an hour and I have a full transcriptfor any who may be interested, but hegave us certain pointers to stimulate ourthinking.A Russian 19th century critic calledVissarion Belinsky said “Every work ofart is the breath of a single eternal ideabreathed by God into the inner life of theartist.” Elevated claims but as TomStoppard says they are actuallycommonplace. Or as another Russian saidwhen going for trial in one of the purgesand asked “What makes you a poet?” -“Oh, erm, well, I thought - I think it wasGod”.Karl Marx saw things rather differently.His vision was that a man would be abaker in the morning, a lawmaker in theafternoon and a poet in the evening. ButStoppard goes on to say that in the generalscheme of things in the Anglo Saxonworld the artist is allowed to say “I paintpictures” or “I dance” etc., There is asense of privilege and almost a respectedplace. That is how we have organised oursociety.I will end this little piece by quotingwords which he put into the mouth ofJames Joyce: “An artist is the magicianput amongst men to gratify - capriciously- their urge for immortality. The templesare built and brought down around him,continuously and contiguously, from Troyto the fields of Flanders. If there is anymeaning in any of it, it is in what survivesas art, yes even in the celebration oftyrants, yes even in the celebration ofnonentities. What now of the Trojan Warif it had been passed over by the artist’stouch? Dust. A forgotten expeditionprompted by Greek merchants looking fornew markets. A minor redistribution ofbroken pots. But it is we who standenriched, by a tale of heroes, of a goldenapple, a wooden horse, a face thatlaunched a thousand ships-“But not quite, I must have the last word asusual! The Church’s Liturgy is thegreatest living work of art provided it isperformed to the best of the abilities ofthose present. It may have Colour,(Vestments etc.), Painting (stained glass),Dance (Movement), Perfume (Incense),Music and Singing (Hymns etc.), Poetry(The Word etc.). Most importantly it isincomplete as a work of Art without YOUto bring it alive and give Glory to theinspirer of all artists. yB3

Around the townLocal newsThe latest news from around BerkhamstedBerkhamsted'sHeritage OpenDaysFor a numberof years theBerkhamstedLocal History& MuseumSociety hasstaged HeritageOpen Days aspart of thenationallysponsoredOpen Days, providing opportunities tovisit and enjoy guided tours of localbuildings which are not normally open inthis way.Many local residents will believe thatthey already know their Berkhamsted andthat they have nothing new to learn, butbehind familiar facades there is muchhidden history. An added bonus of theseHeritage Open Days is that they are allfree.Berkhamsted’s Heritage Open Days arefrom 8th to 11th September and includetours of the Castle, Berkhamsted SchoolOld Hall and Chapel, St Peter's Churchand Court House, and the National Film& Television Archive, Kingshill. There ismore information on pages 13 and 14.Thanks from Berkhamsted & DistrictBranch RNLIWally Finch, Chairman of theBerkhamsted & District Branch RNLI,would like to thank the commuters ofBerkhamsted for their generosity at therecent single-daycollection atBerkhamstedRailway Station.The total amountcollected was£356.13.The next event willbe an OpenGardens Day on 6thAugust at PottenEnd. Refreshmentswill be available.All monies taken will be going direct tothe RNLI.The Children’s SocietyCalling all Gardeners and Chelsea FlowerShow fanatics! The Harpenden Committeefor The Children’s Society has got MsAlex Denman of the R.H.S. to give a talkon the challenges of organising “TheGreatest Show on Earth”. This will takeplace at Aldwickbury Park Golf Club,Harpenden, AL5 1AB on Thursday 1stSeptember at 7.45pm. Tickets £20 – toinclude canapés and a glass of bubbly,served from 7.00pm. Available from AnnBrowning 01442 864968 or 01582767836. Don’t miss it!More locally:- The BerkhamstedCommittee is supporting the NationalCoffee Morning for The Children’sSociety. They will host a Coffee Morningat The Court House, Berkhamsted onThursday 8th September between 10.00am and 12 noon. Delicious coffee andcakes. All welcome!(continues on page 7)5

http://www.blairelectrical.comPETER D HANNABYPainter and DecoratorInterior and exteriorwork undertaken.For competitivequotationsplease call:mbl: 07765 250092home: 01442 2889566Will Kimb e rle y01442 255784Grass cuttingHedge trimmingPatios cleanedGutters clearedAll cuttings andclippings removedReferences availableWhy not phonefor a quote?www.berkhamstedcarpetcleaning.co.ukBerkhamstedCarpet CleaningLtdcarpetsoriental rugsupholstery• residential & commercial• professional • good value• fully insuredDavid Green01442 8766220788 405 8795PO Box 903 BerkhamstedHerts HP4 3ZQwww.berkhamstedovencleaning.co.ukBerkhamstedOven CleaningLtdcomplete valet service forall ovens, hobsand extractors• professional • good value• fully insuredDavid Green01442 8766220788 405 8795PO Box 903 BerkhamstedHerts HP4 3ZQ

Around the townHalton House Open DayHalton House will be open to the publicon Sunday 4th September from 10.00amto 4.00pm.. This is a rare opportunity tosee this lasting reminder of Victoriandecorative style. Further information willbe available nearer to the 4th Septemberat: www.raf.mod.uk/rafhaltonOxfam Children’s Wear EventOxfam’s popular Children’s Wear Eventwill return to Berkhamsted Civic Centreon Friday 9th September with oneimportant difference - credit cards will beaccepted but not cheques. The eventopens at 9.00am for just two and a halfhours and offers a splendid selection ofclothes for the new season, as well as toysand games. All the money raised goes tosupport the overseas aid charity’s work.The Oxfam worker in Ethiopia waspuzzled by the woman standing gazingdown at a hole in the ground by her feet.Then a pair of hands supporting a bucketappeared out of the hole. On enquiring shelearnt that there was a chain of ten womenbelow ground accessing an undergroundspring, the only source of water for theirdrought-stricken village.Oxfam has particular expertise in the fieldof water and sanitation and is involved inwater-supply programmes across theglobe. Water is being trucked in to manydesperate locations in East Africa.Children’s Wear organizer Nicky Evanshopes to match her last total of £7000which would pay for seven of the largebladder tanks to hold the water fordistribution, as well as tapstands andspecially designed Oxfam buckets. Sohelp the family budget and desperatefamilies overseas by visiting the OxfamChildren's Wear Event.Berkhamsted Choral Society withChorleywood Choral SocietyThere will be a concert at St Peter'sChurch on Saturday 3 rd September at7.30pm: Peace and Passion: A ChoralCelebration. Selections from Messiah(Handel) and other English anthemsincluding Zadok the Priest. ConductorGraham Wili. Tickets: £13, Seniors, £11,Student and Dacorum Card £6, U16s free.Box Office: 07500 431643 or from ColeFlatt & Partners.Bike ’n Hike 2011 - 10th SeptemberNow is the time to begin preparing for thisyear’s Bike ’n Hike, which is beingorganised by Bedfordshire andHertfordshire Historic Churches Trust forSaturday 10th September.For the past 20 years, always on thesecond Saturday in September, cyclistsand walkers have visited churches andchapels throughout Bedfordshire andHertfordshire enjoying a day out and atthe same time raising money for churchrestoration and repair.This year the Bike ’n Hike celebrates its20th anniversary and the organisers wouldlike to make it a record breaking year. Sowhat are you waiting for? Enjoy a pleasantday cycling or walking to churches andchapels in our area and at the same timeboost our church’s funds as well as thoseof the Trust.For more information please contact ChrisClegg on 875818, visit the website atwww.bedshertshct.org.uk or emailbikenhike@bedshertshct.org.uk. yB7

ajwgardeningbuilding worksplumbingcarpentryelectricaldecoratinghome servicesANDREWWRIGHT07790 751335(answerphone)Friendly, efficient service - over 30 years experience in propertyWork charged at £15 per hourFURNITURERESTORATIONModern & AntiqueFrench Polishing,Lacquer Finish,Repairs. Kidsplayhouses, Dens,Treehouses.Cabinet Making &Carpentry. Spray Paint.Phone Brendon01582 84281707958 927806BOOKS PURCHASEDHARDBACK BOOKSWANTED OLD OR NEWLARGE OR SMALLAMOUNTSHOUSE CLEARANCEDISCRETION ASSUREDPROMPT PAYMENT01442 877757D J PROCTORBRIAN S GROOM MBHIQualified Clock Maker(over 30 years experience)Antique and qualityclocks repairedand restoredAlso watches, barometersand music boxesTelephone: 01525 8726798

Facelift for charity boutiqueHospice newsA unique Berkhamsted shop is beinggiven a fresh new look, just in time tocelebrate its fifth year of business in thetown. Number Twenty, in Lower KingsRoad, is a unique retail business, run byThe Hospice of St Francis.The business has defied tough economicconditions and makes a significantcontribution to hospice funding whilst atthe same time giving its discerningcustomers an exciting choice of designerproducts.The shop is managed by Sarah Coles anddeputy Nicola Harvey, who are assistedby a team of 25 volunteers. It is run as anindependent gift shop, paying rents andrates on an equal footing with other localretailers and purchasing from suppliers inthe usual way.Sarah and Nicola both have longbackgrounds in retailing and have theirown interior design consultancies. Theyboth worked closely to develop theconcept of Number Twenty alongside LinUnderwood, retail manager at the hospice.The shop’s sleek contemporary look,which has been designed by Berkhamstedbased graphic artist Katie Hunt of SoloDesign, has been created to reflect thestyle of merchandise the shop sells today.The new design also reinforces the link tothe hospice and the local community.Sarah says: “Number Twenty pioneerslocal designers and trends. We have acommitment to stock local products madeby local people and we champion oursuppliers. Very often people approachNumber Twenty with items they areLife’s a Partyproducing and we actively encourage thisapproach. As competition in the retailsector is increasing it is vital to stay aheadof the game."Designer names such as Robin Farquhar,Hannah Turner, Jan Constantine and KenEardley can also be found on the shelves.Life's a Party (pictured above) owner,Sofie Phillipson, is based in Marsworthand sells bunting and home accessories atNumber Twenty."Adds Sarah; "People want something alittle bit different and a little bit special,and most importantly, our emphasis is onraising money for the hospice and thisworks because we are at the heart of thelocal community."Sarah, who won the Dacorum SmallBusiness of the Year Award in 2007,continues; “Nicola and I have recentlybeen on buying trips sourcing newproducts and there will be some great newranges arriving soon. Do come and visitus. Customers are being more careful, butour success in this field depends on theinnovative mix of the right products,reasonable prices and great customerservice.” yB9

ACHILLES FOOT HEALTHA B W Services LtdPlumbing & HeatingA PROFESSIONALAND FRIENDLY HOMEVISITING SERVICE TREATINGTHOSE WITH COMMON FOOTHEALTH PROBLEMSIN BERKHAMSTED,NORTHCHURCH AND THESURROUNDING AREA.NICK JOHNSMAFHP MCFHPTel: 07739 535015Are you fed up searching for a reliable PlumberTired of waiting in vain for promised appointments?Call us now for a friendly, prompt and reliableservice.We are a Studham based and registered Plumbingand Heating Company, with many years experiencein the industry. If you have a plumbing and heatingproblem, whatever the size, we will be more thanhappy to help remedy it. We specialise in all aspectsof plumbing and heating including new bathrooms,new boilers and heating systems, servicing, upgradesto the latest building regs, high pressure hot watersystems, and not forgetting water treatment. Thiscan be in the form of water softeners installed orreplaced, to special house filtering systems toremove sediment and odours. This is especiallyimportant if you suffer from dry skin or eczema, thesefiltering systems really help.For any further information or to organise aquote, please contact Andy Warwick on:07775 853448 or 01582 873448LOCAL ELECTRICIAN“FAST”for 15 to 27 passengersFor all types of electrical work yourequire. Benefit from over 40 yearsof experience and our reliable andfriendly service. From rewires torepairs no job too small. Call todayfor a FREE NO OBLIGATIONquotation.Freephone Anytime0800 169 7409Part PRegisteredFully InsuredEmergency calls1 hour response10

Stepping into the pastLocal landmarksDan Parry takes us on a tour of Berkhamsted SchoolAmong Berkhamsted’s many highlightssome are particularly accessible and allow- invite even - frequent attention:Ashridge, the castle…the Boat to namebut a few. Others are a little moreexclusive. In a list of the town’s top tenmost charismatic features surelysomewhere near the top must come thewonderfully evocative though slightlysinister historic Tudor hall at BerkhamstedSchool. Walking up Castle Street, beforeyou get to the church you come across ablue plaque bearing the date 1541. This isthe outside wall of the old hall…but whatlies within? To the uninitiated one mightimagine something between acontemporary centre of excellence and,dare I say, Hogwarts. Venturing inside, inthe company of Rachael Guy, Head ofLearning Resources, together we went insearch of ghosts.In the last 500 years thousands of peoplereceived their first taste of the world in theclassrooms of the school, and I wanted toknow whether we could still discoversomething of the joys, the horrors, theambitions and the realities that theyencountered along the way. The first thingI found was that this wasn’t Hogwarts.The buildings might be quaint and thepresence of privilege is obvious, butevidence of forward-thinking iseverywhere. Where once there was apublic school dominated by a traditionalway of things (boarding was once far morecommon than now), today Principal MarkSteed (who prefers ‘independent school’)is introducing a timetable based on 20-minute packages believed to be unique inthe country.Nor does Rachael’s library have aforbidden section packed with books ofdangerous spells, though it does have anout-of-bounds attic filled with secrettreasures. Here beneath the roof liehandwritten ledgers bearing the accountsof years gone by, along with other ancientgems. Even while we were there, weunearthed a long-forgotten cache of rollsof film, complete with the old 8mmcamera presumably used to shoot them.As well as sobering black and whitephotos of former pupils from the yearsleading up to the First World War, theschool’s archive also includes the solidleather collar worn by the infamous Peterthe Wild Boy, the feral child rescued in1725 from a forest near Hanover.Visiting the chapel, the drama and dancestudio, the artist-in-residence’s exhibitionroom, the common rooms and the HQ ofthe school’s cadet force, we found thesame breezy, easy-going atmospherethroughout them all. The facilities areextensive to say the least. But far from aremote bastion of elitism, the schoolappears to foster an attitude of positivecan-do-ism that’s more about self-beliefthan pushy ambition. Mark Steed hassuccessfully promoted a refreshingatmosphere, grounded in the real world,which gives young people the resourcesto pursue their own choices and whichperhaps thus frees them from thecompetitive expectation associated withsome of the country’s other venerableindependents.continues on page 1211

Local landmarkscontinuedfrompreviouspageThis senseofgroundingperhapsarises froma variety ofsources. Aswell asinvolvementin the widercommunity(localcouncillors even sit on the governingbody), the school uses its extensiveresources in actively supporting stateeducation through its sponsorship of theWren Academy in Finchley. The future’sbright then, not just for Berkhamsted butfor Wren too.It’s a future built on the heritage ofBerkhamsted’s rich past. The pupilswho’ve come and gone in the last 500years did not leave without etchingsomething of themselves into the fabric ofthe school, literally in some cases. Hereand there timeless graffiti has been cutinto stonework or carved on the ancientdesks still occasionally to be found inforgotten nooks and crannies.Finishing up in the old hall, it was clearthat here was a relic of times gone by. Thewindows are a shade too high for childrento see out of. The room, lofty and large,might be described as foreboding. This isnot an intimate, modern classroom andnor does it pretend to be. Amid theportraits of past masters and the valuablecollectionof ancientbooksthere is anair ofsomethingdifferentcomparedto other,freshercorners ofthe school.This is theroom withthe ‘littlegreenbaizedoor’ immortalized by Graham Greene.For Greene, this came to symbolize thegulf between the security of family lifefound on one side of the door and theanxieties he associated with the widerworld that lay on the other.In Greene’s case his difficulties partlystemmed from the fact that his father washeadmaster at the time. In wanderingthrough the door and away from the hall, Icouldn’t help speculating that he mighthave been happier in the modernincarnation of the school.Today the world is not allowed to becomea source of anxiety but instead is invitedin and asked to make itself at home.In a place with such a long history, therewill always be room for the ghosts of thepast. It’s just that amid the enlightenedviews that permeate the school there arefewer dark corners for them to hide in.yB12

Berkhamsted Heritage Open DaysLocal eventsJenny Sherwood on rare opportunities to learn more about our townFor a number ofyears theBerkhamstedLocal History &Museum Societyhas stagedHeritage OpenDays as part of thenationallysponsoredOpenDays providingopportunities tovisit and enjoyguided tours of local buildings, which arenot normally open in this way. Manylocal inhabitants will believe that theyalready know their Berkhamsted and thatthey have nothing new to learn, but behindfamiliar facades there is much hiddenhistory. An added bonus of these HeritageOpen Days is that they are all free.Berkhamsted CastleJust a ruin, but the best example of amotte and bailey castle remaining in thecountry is Berkhamsted’s royal castle, richin history. Guided tours take place onSunday 11th September at 10.30am,12.30pm and 3.00pm.Berkhamsted School Old Hall &ChapelFounded in 1541 by Dean John Incent.Old Hall built in 1544 is the originalschool hall, one of the largest at that time.The Chapel built in 1895 by localarchitect C H Rew, is based on the Chapelof Santa Maria dei Miracoli in Venice.Tours 11th September at 10.30am and2.30pm, led by an Old Boy of SchoolHouse.St Peter’sChurch andCourt HouseThis church,probably thesecond largest inthe county, wasconsecrated in1222. There aremany memorialslinking the churchwith well-knownBerkhamstediansthrough the ages. The Court House isTudor and has been used for manypurposes through the ages. Guided tour11th September 3.00pm.St. Mary’s Church NorthchurchThe oldest part of this church, whoseparish once stretched from Dudswell rightto Bourne End, is Saxon. There are anumber of interesting monuments tonotable people, particularly one to Peterthe Wild Boy. The Prince of Wales ispatron to the living of St. Mary’s. Tours11th September 2.30pm and 3.30pm.Claire Lloyd Properties, 173, HighStreet, formerly Figgs the chemistThis is the oldest known urban timberframed building in the country, its timbersdating from the late 13 th century.Originally thought to be a shop, it isprobably part of a large hall house. Stairsare narrow and steep so not suitable forthe very young and elderly. Open 11thSeptember 10.30am to 4.00pm with smallgroup tours throughout the day.continues on page 1413

M. Rejewskl Pdish Enigma Work ., .. .message without being enciphered. He then eet thedrums to these letters, chose three other lettern as amesaage key, and, as before, after enciphering themtwice, placed them at the beginning of the message.Then he set the drum to the m q e key and beganthe actual encipherment of the measage itself.The changes in the trammbion of the message keywere implemented in all military units but were notcarried out in the SD network. AU we had producedup to that time for the recovery of daily keys andmessage keys-the card files and grid method-cameto naught with regard to the military units, becausethere were no more characteristics. We could solveand read only the SD network.In a very short time, perhaps a week or two, wecame up with two ideas-or rather, since this is moreimportant, we found ways to carry them out. I willattempt to summarize the ideas and their execution.With the eder method of transmitting the key, wepresented the key in the form of two three-letterpups. Now we had to present it as three groups-forexample,SHP, CHV PZTThe first group, separated by a comma &om therest, is not enciphered, and the other two group makeup the message key enciphered two times. Withenough cipher material it can happen that on a givenday three messages will be found with keys as in thefollowing example:RTJ, WAH WIKHPN, RAW KTWDQY, DWJ MWR- nously. After passing through all possible 26' Y1,576positions in a specified time (about two hours), themachine would indicate when three pairs of lamp(the same lamp in each pair) lighted.The order of the drums is unknown, so it would bebetter to build six such devices from the start, one foreach Wble ordering. But we must deal with permutationS. Duping this period, permutation S consistedof five to eight tmmpositions; that is, it changedhalf the letters on the average. One could thereforeexpect that a letter that is repeated six times in threemeasages (the letter W in this case) would not bechanged by permutation S at least every second time.I have just presented the operating principle. TheAVA factory built six such devices in an unbelievablyshort time-it waa only November 1938. For lack of abetter name we called them bombs. Our success wasthanks to the exceptional service of the factory's director,Antoni Palluth, who was not a regular employeeof the Cipher Bureau, but worked closely withit. Beii a cryptologist himself, he understood theneeds of the bureau very weltThe mcond idea, which originated at practically thesame time as the idea of the bomb, was based onapparently similar, but actuaUy completely differentassumptions. As with the bomb, we a h had to possessenough suitable cipher material. Out of this materialwe could expect about ten messages with keys such asKTL, WOC DRCSVW, DKR IKCBWK, TCL TSDEDV, PRS ZRTGRN, UST UQAGRA, FDR YDPMDO, CTW YZWAGH, SLM PZMJBR, LPS TOSITY, APO ZPDwhere the first and fourth, the second and fifth, or the In these keys either the finst and fourth, th; secondthird and sixth letters in the keys of all three messages and fifth, or the third and sixth letters are the same,are the same. In this case it is the letter W, but it but the identical pairs could be different in each key.could also be any other letter, just so it is the same in If we recall the characteristic shown in Equation 1, weall three messages. Let us assume for the time being should a h remember that the identical letters inthat permwtation S was the identity. If the ring setting corresponding place8 in the key represent one-letterwas also identical and if we knew the order of the cycles in the characteristic. But permutation S dmdrums on the shaft, it would be sufficient to set the not, after all, influence the length of cycles in thedrums at position RTJ; then by striking key W three characteristic and therefore does nat influence the facttimes in a row, the same lamp would light. The same of the occurrence or nonoccurrence of cycles.one letter.would happen in drum positions HPN and DQY. The long. . .setting of the rings makes the positions of theThus, in place of the card file of cycle lengths in allat which this would happen unknown to ILS, but the products of the type AD,we bdto produce a card filedifferences in the positions will be maintained and of the positions of all those products of the type AD inthus are known.One need only construct a device that in principlewhich 'one-letter cycles occdd and then comparethem with the one-letter cyelea o c h g in messagewould consist of sets of drupls from six Enigmas and keys for a given day. Buk how.could the comparison&at,- preserving the known mhd differences in #e be ca+d out? In thie process; &in the previous me,positions of the drums, would tuni the dnuns'synchfo- only tfie relativs.W of &letter cS;clei diecov- .4 - . - 1 .,, "- .,ac -I . 3 -. , . .. . 9. .F ., L.1 .,, . 226, . Annals of the Hiatory of~~mputhg, Volume 3. ~urnber$, July I WI ,-. . ,. - - -,:.L

First year finishes with second year home huntSam Limbert continues his column on university lifeAlmost without blinking, my first year atuniversity is over. After finishing examsin June, it was strange moving out of myuniversity halls as it barely seemed fiveminutes ago that I’d moved everything in.There may have been problems with thehalls (aren’t there at every universitythough), but that room will always be myfirst room at university. I had some goodlaughs in my flat and made some goodfriends.Whether it was throwing sweets down thecorridor into a glass, watching theinternational students be moments awayfrom setting our kitchen on fire or playingan interesting game of Pictionary after ourChristmas dinner, there have been loads ofmemories from my first university flat thatI’ll take away with me.Leaving halls has meant that I had to gohouse hunting for a place to stay in for mysecond year. My flat mate for next yearand I have spent countless hours trawlingin and out of estate agents, browsingwebsites and trying to work out budgetsfor next year. At the time of writing, ourhunt is nearing an end as we finally seemto have found a place that works for us.Finding a place to rent is all part of theuniversity experience, especially when itcomes to dealing with different people. Anumber of times, we were talking to estateagents, mentioned we were students andimmediately they acted differentlytowards us in discussions. I’ve also learntthe art of ‘thanks but no thanks’; politelythanking someone for showing you rounda property when realistically you know assoon as you walk in that there’s no chanceof you living there!This year has definitely been an adventurein terms of living away from home for thefirst time, cooking for myself, managingfinances, meeting new people, and doingthe odd bit of learning and essay writingas well!For those of you who’ve enjoyed readingmy column from university, you’ll be gladto know that it’ll be continuing in the nextacademic year as I passed all of my firstyear modules, so you can expect moreGuildford-based musings in the nearfuture. yBThe editor of Your Berkhamsted isactively seeking new contributors forthe magazine.Did you know that everyone who workson bringing Your Berkhamsted to youeach month is a volunteer?We would extend a warm welcome toanyone who would like to join us,whether you would like to contribute on aregular basis or just write a one-offarticle. We are always interested indiscussing ideas for features aboutBerkhamsted life. These could be aboutthe town’s history, interesting modern daydevelopments or local people of note (pastor present). We are also happy to promoteprojects, events and works by localgroups.Please email the editor for more details ateditor@yourberkhamsted.org.uk.15

Parish pagesSt Peter’s Church Choir tour to ViennaRobin McMorran reports on the choir’s recent tourShoppingfor purplethread isn’tnormallytop of mylist whilstpreparingfor a trip,but one ofthe hazardsof going ontour with achurchchoir isthat a button will almost certainly fall offyour cassock just before you pack it. I wasgetting ready to go on the 2011 tour ofVienna with the Choir of St Peter’s, GreatBerkhamsted; a purple button had fallenoff my purple cassock, and matchingpurple thread was nowhere to be found! Ahasty visit to Shepherd’s Bush Marketeventually solved that particular problem;ecclesiastical vestments repaired, I set offto join the choir in Austria.After months of planning and rehearsal, StPeter’s Choir, led by our illustriousKapellmeister Adrian Davis, was lined upto perform a selection of English andEuropean choral music in some of themost prestigious venues in Europe.Privileged as we were, we were alsoexporting one of Britain’s greatest culturalassets: the rich tradition of Anglicanchoral music. The Austrians’ selfsatisfactionfor having given the worldMozart and Schubert may be justified, butwe took a certain sense of pride inbringing to them the music of Tallis, Byrdand Howells,composersprobablyrelativelyunknown inCentralEurope. In thespirit of thebest culturalexchanges,were going toshow them athing or two.There is astory that the Austrian composer AntonBrückner went to view the body ofBeethoven prior to its re-burial in 1868;Brückner later realised one of hisspectacle lenses had fallen out, and wasoverjoyed because it had probablydropped into Beethoven’s coffin to beburied forever with the great composer.Brückner was revelling in glory byassociation, as if the greatness ofBeethoven would somehow rub off ontohim. An English parish church choirsinging in Viennese churches today enjoysa similar sense of glory by association; theAustrian capital is steeped in history,every building and street boasting analmost nonchalant association with A-listers such as Johann Strauss, GustavKlimt or a dynasty of Holy RomanEmperors. So when our first gig was in thetowering gothic splendour of theStephansdom (the cathedral of Vienna) wewere all too aware that this was the churchwhere Mozart’s funeral was held. In thedistinguished company of umpteen deadHapsburg Emperors, we filled the gothic16

arches with William Byrd's O SingJoyfully. The occasion was also markedby the world premiere of a new work,Video Caelos Apertos, a visionary textfrom the mass of St Stephen set todramatic musicby our ownAdrian Davis.We concludedour concertwith theirresistiblyrousing O Thouthe CentralOrb by CharlesWood, which,frankly, blewthe roof off.My cassockbuttons, I ampleased to report, held out throughout.Starting as we meant to go on, our nextperformances took place in equallymagnificent venues. Our Sunday morningengagement was Mass at the Votivkirche,a neo-gothic church built in 1879 inthanksgiving for the escape of EmperorFranz Josef from an assassination attempt.After that, we found ourselves singing inthe Peterskirche, a temple of baroqueexcess, walls dripping with gilded angelsand marble clouds (Father Michael wasprobably trying to work out a way ofFedEx-ing a selection of cherubim back toadorn St Peter's Berkhamsted). Anotherperformance found us in the rococo palaceof Schönbrunn, the extravagant formerresidence of Austrian royalty, singingAnglican anthems to visitors in MariaTheresa’s royal chapel. With eachappearance we rose to the occasion withstirring examples of British choralheritage: Thomas Tallis’s gem If Ye LoveMe, John Ireland’s tear-jerking GreaterLove, and of course we were duty-boundto sing at least one canticle from ourThe Stephansdom, Viennarepertoire of choral evensong canticles,the Magnificat from the gloriousCollegium Regale service by HerbertHowells. Our range of music was not,however,restricted to ourown localproduce, as wealso includedworks by otherEuropeancomposers in ourprogrammes:Palestrina’s Tu esPetrus featuredstrongly, and letus not forget thatAnglicancomposerCharles Woodwas himself an Irishman. Our organistJonathan Lee exhibited his skill at thevarious organ consoles around the citywith incredible performances ofMendelssohn's Sonata in A. In tribute toAustria’s great musical heritage, the choirsang one of Brückner’s best-knownmotets, Locus Iste, enjoying a particularlypoignant moment when Adrian Davisdirected the choir in a spontaneousperformance in front of Brückner’smemorial at the Belvedere Palace in hishonour (Brückner, in the end, found hisown glory). At the Peterkirche, JessMalcolm's voice resounded around theoval church with an ethereal quality,delighint the audience with her soloBenedictus from the Little Organ Mass,composed by that other great Austrian,Joseph Haydn.An important aspect of this tour waseducation. Everyone in the choirbroadened their musical experience, butmost importantly the trip offered newcontinues overleaf17

challenges to our younger singers. A numberof our choristers demonstrated theirskills with solos in pieces such as Greene'smoving 1743 anthem Lord Let me KnowMine End. Singing with St Peter's choirenables children from many differentbackgrounds to develop music skills withthe support of the Royal Schools ofChurch Music (RSCM), and trips like thisprovide an experience and a sense ofachievement that will stay with our choristersfor life. Chris Limbert, Alice Jullien,Charlotte Booth and Joe Grego all made afantastic début on the Austrian musicscene this year.The choir tour was an educational experiencefor us all, however. Adult singers,choristers and parents enjoyed toursaround Schloß Schönbrunn, discoveringthe rich heritage of the Austrian nation,led by our highly knowledgeable andWeddingsengaging guide Brigitte Timmermann. Inthe Vienna Woods we were shownaround the sacred cloisters of the 12 thcentury Heiligenkreuz Monastery (wherewe also managed a short impromptu performance).Vienna itself had no shortageof Bierkeller and Beisl bars, offering outstandingAustrian cuisine, beers andwines (in Vienna veritas, you might say)– there is much to recommend the city asa holiday destination, although it mustrank as one of Europe’s priciest locations.Choir tours are a great experience forsingers of all ages and abilities, and openopportunities for everyone to discoverdifferent cultures whilst proudly sharingsomething of our own. Some might saythat taking music to the home of Mozartand Schubert is like taking ice to the Eskimos– but this means nothing to me, OVienna. yB17 June Daniel James Orum and Germaine Nanette Dutton (St Peter’s)BaptismsRegisters5 June Hannah Georgie Stuart (All Saints’)25 June Rafael Fraser Branscombe; Max William Benedict Murray;Arthur Miller (St Peter’s)26 June Jacob Alexander Baylay-Ray; Alexander James Baylay-RayFreddie William Evans; Sebastian Alexander Hawkes;Sophie Elizabeth Anne Noble Roscoe (St Peter’s)Confirmations1812 June Sophie Padmore, Richard Edward, Merlin Howells, Sophie Nash,Mark Igbineweka, Adam Brierley, Peter Smith, Cathy Smith,Thomas Nash, Katey Adderley, Holly Bowyer, Mark Bowyer,Duncan Brigginshaw, MicheilaBrigginshaw, CarolynneCharman,Luisa Clarke, Matthew Size, Pamela Dalgas, James Doyle, ZoeDoyle, Helen Hanbidge, Nick Hanbidge, Emma Harris, HelenHolmes-Higgin, Peter Horsley, Salli Humphries, Jonathan Liddle,Michelle Liddle, Jamie Matthews, Charlotte Tarpey, GeorgieWilkinson, Miles Wilkinson (St Peter’s)

August Parish DiaryTues 2ndChurch Walk led by Pat Hearne, All SaintsSun 7th 11.30am Special Parochial Church Meeting, St Peter’sParish Diary information can be found at www.stpetersberkhamsted.org.ukSt Peter’s ChoirPlease note there will be no choir in St Peter’s during August, they will return—refreshedwe hope—in September.Sunday ServicesSt Peter’s8:00am Eucharist9:30am Sung Eucharist & SundaySchool6:00pm EvensongChoir holiday in AugustFirst Sunday in month Family Service at9:30amAll Saints’ - August7th 10:00am Morning Worship14th 10:00am Morning Worship21st 10:00am Holy Communion28th 10:00am Morning WorshipKey Church ContactsParish Office, Hilary Armstrong and Kate Perera, Court House, 878227.Fr Michael Bowie, 864194 (day off Fri). Team Rector, St Peter’s.The Revd Caroline Weaver, 866324 (day off Fri). Methodist Minister, All Saints.Further information available from our church websites:www.stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk and at www.allsaintsberkhamsted.org.uk19

The Upstairs GalleryLocal artistsJenny Thorburn unveils the new gallery at the Way InnWhen I first came to Berkhamsted 20years ago, looking for somewhere to livein the town, the café upstairs at the WayInn was one of the few places for adelicious reasonably priced lunch in town.Now the café is no more and the Way Innis looking for a new use for the space. 20years on I am looking for new adventurestoo – I have been studying art for a while,and wanting somewhere to show my work.Sometimes one’s prayers get answered,even when you don’t know they areprayers. I was puzzling over how to showmy art locally, and thought “well onesolution is to have a gallery, but no that isfar too big an undertaking, and anyhow Idon’t know anything about runninggalleries”. Having dismissed the thought, afew months later the opportunity threwitself at me, when I was having a chat withJoan Fisher, who is a trustee of the WayInn and was thinking about what to dowith the upstairs room. Quickly two otherartists/crafters, Joanna Bryant and MarieJahn joined in and we were off planningthe gallery.I have discovered that as an artist youwant to get your work ‘out there’; to showit, to sell it to other people. Also you needto be in touch with other artists – yourpeers, your community. All of us need thespiritual refreshment of encounteringsomething lovely made by another humanbeing. There are few visual arts resourcesin this area, such as galleries showinglocal art work.20

Our intention is to contribute to the localartistic community and art lovers by beinga contemporary art and crafts gallery,showing the excellence of artists andcrafters in the Chiltern area. We will alsoprovide information about art in the area,and we will have workshops and lecturesat the gallery.It’ll be a place to come and buy somethingbeautiful for your home or a gift that hasbeen made by hand, by someone in ourcommunity.The room has been refitted, repaintedbright white, with gallery lighting, picturehanging and display shelving – thoughyou may recognize the tables and chairsfrom café times. We are planning to openin September, and hope to be openTuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm.The money that the gallery makes fromproviding the exhibition space to artistsand commissions on sales will go tosupport the running costs and activities ofthe Way Inn, and surpluses will go to localcharities.We are all volunteers, and we will belooking for more volunteers fromSeptember onwards to help run thegallery. If you would like to help pleasedo contact us. Who knows – with othernew art ventures in the town, this could bethe beginning of something –Berkhamsted as the St Ives of theChilterns? For information aboutvolunteering, please email us atupstairsgalleryberkhamsted@gmail.comyBWe welcome news about your localgroup. If you would like your group tofeature in Your Berkhamsted, or havenews for our Around the town pages,please see the contact details on page 31.21

MCLEANDECORATORSINTERIOR ANDEXTERIORESTABLISHED 1985EXCELLENT LOCALREFERENCESFREE ESTIMATES ANDADVICEPHONE 01582 696032MOBILE 07957 848222DAVID GIDDINGSLANDSCAPESQualified PlantsmanGarden ConstructionPlanting Aftercare4 Kingsley Walk,Tring, HP23 5DNTel: 826628CG HOLDERPLUMBING & HEATINGLTDFor a good reliableinstallation of allplumbing andheating systemsGassafe registeredwith over 30 yearsin the trade01442 86224407973 14433622

The South Berkhamsted ConceptLocal landscapeGrand Union Investments (GUI), frontedby PR company Quatro, are proposing a1000 home pseudo-village at the top ofSwingate Lane. This is in addition to the1200 homes proposed in Dacorum’s CoreStrategy.2200 new homes amounts to an increaseof around 30% on existing housing stock.Save Your Berkhamsted ResidentsAssociation (SYBRA) was formed twoand a half years ago to oppose the CoreStrategy proposals and representresidents’ interest in developmentconsultations. Our primary objective is toensure that the character and “feel” ofBerkhamsted and its surroundingcountryside is preserved. This newdevelopment on Green Belt landrepresents a major threat to the characterof our town and surrounding countryside.The “South Berkhamsted Concept”website and recent presentations in thetown were, in our opinion, full of glossand short on facts and figures, but theirbasic premise appears to be that “ifBerkhamsted is going to get 1000 newhomes better to do it our way.” Their ownprojections indicate that closer to 3000homes are actually required! There are noproposals for new employmentopportunities in the “concept” so we canalso expect a significant increase incommuter traffic via the A41 and throughthe town. GUI’s main presumption is thatthe A41 is now the definitive townboundary and that virtually all land up tothe A41 is therefore fair game fordevelopment. SYBRA’s view is that theopen space between our town and the A41is the “green lung” that protects the townfrom traffic pollution and we should fighttooth and nail to preserve it!The proposed new East-West link road issupposed to alleviate the traffic impact onthe town centre and whilst it may speed upaccess from this development to the A41,people will still want to visit the towncentre to shop, eat, drink and socialise.Any development on this scale can onlylead to a dramatic increase in trafficaround the town. Berkhamsted’s creakinginfrastructure, with already huge trafficand parking problems, simply cannot copewith the additional demands thisdevelopment would involve. Significantdevelopment of this type and indeed theproposals outlined in the Core Strategy,will place a burden on the town’sinfrastructure which will destroy thecharacter of our town.The level of housing development inBerkhamsted will ultimately be decidedby a Planning Inspector who will takeaccount of the required level ofdevelopment across Dacorum as a whole.The South Berkhamsted scheme isopposed by both Berkhamsted TownCouncil and Dacorum Borough Planning.Even so, both Dacorum’s Core Strategyand the South Berkhamsted scheme willbe presented to the Planning Inspector fora decision. Berkhamsted could end upwith one or the other or both! This is theopportunity for residents to make theirviews heard. SYBRA will continue torepresent residents’ opposition to theseproposals but we recommend you alsomake your views known direct to yourtown council.www.saveyourberkhamsted.co.ukFollow us on Twitter @saveyourberko23

• Rewires• Replacement Fuse Boards• New Circuits• New Sockets, Switches• New Light Fittings• Downlights• Smoke Alarms• PAT Testing• PAT Testing• Periodic Inspection & Testing• Landlords Certificates• Power to : extensionssheds, garages, ponds,gardens, loftsworkshops• CCTV• Access systems• Gate automation• Satellite systems• Telephone extensionsApproved Contractor andPart P RegisteredTel : 01296 630124Mobile : 07825 747773Email : steve.rozental@circuitfix.co.ukWebsite : http://circuitfix.co.ukHome. There’s no place like itBeing able to live at home can be oneof the most important comforts in anolder person’s life and because familyand friends can’t always be there, HomeInstead Senior Care are here to help.From just a couple of hours, to fulltime care, our personalized service isavailable 24 hours a day, seven days aweek.Please call Bernie on 01442 233599 formore information.Truecommitment...Bailey & SonsBERKHAMSTED'S JEWELLER SINCE 18729 Lower Kings RoadBerkhamstedHerts HP4 2AE01442 86309124

Record breaking total for Petertide FairFundraisingPrunella Murray has good news about this year’s Petertide FairResidents enjoying this year’s Petertide FairAn impressive £9,690 was raised at the30th annual Petertide Fair on Saturday (11June 2011) held at St Peter’s Church,Berkhamsted.Berkhamsted residents turned out in forceto support the traditional fair enjoying hotdogs, Petertide Ale and Pimms whilstbrowsing the various stalls and sideshows.Children were entertained by a miniaturetrain giving rides across the churchyard,Punch & Judy and face painting.The Fair total will be added to £6k whichhas already been raised through variousfundraising events this year and the totalwill be split between this year’s Petertidecharities, the Sunnyside Rural Trust andMcCabe Educational Trust.Petertide Fair Chairman, Judith Limbert,commented, “I am absolutely thrilled withthe amount we’ve raised for this year’scharities which has exceeded all ourexpectations! We were particularlyfortunate that the sun shone whichencouraged record numbers to attend thefair.“Furthermore, I am delighted that throughour fundraising we will significantlyimprove the lives of others here in thelocal community and also in Nepal.”More information can be found at:25

DesignWorkshopAs a soft furnishings designer I createexciting designs and ideas for practicaland beautiful homes.From handmade curtains, valences,cushions and upholstery to Roman,Venetian, Vertical and Roller blinds,everything beautifully made and fitted tothe highest standards.Soft Furnishings & Gifts♦ Curtains / Blinds made to measure♦ Poles / Tracks supplied & fitted♦ Fabrics & WallpapersYou can use your own or choose from my♦ Gifts range for of all the occasions latest fabrics including as well as antraditional favourites. I also supply and fit aextensive range of Lolitawide range of tracks and poles.Glassware♦ Gift vouchers availableSo if you have just moved into your newhome or just want to update the look ofyour interior, call me.www.designworkshopuk.comSue Hawkins in StudhamDesign Workshop, 01582 873358 53-55 The HighStreet, Kings Langley, WD4 9HU01923 260990design.workshop@hotmail.com26

John Sayers AlmshousesLocal landmarksJoanne Lloyd Evans investigates the history behind a familiar landmarkObservant Berkhamstedians will havenoticed the almshouses on the High Streetat the corner of Cowper Street that bearthe clear inscription:“The guift of John Sayer Esq. 1684”I have always wondered as I walk pastwho has lived there over the centuries andwho John Sayer was, so I finally did someresearch and found that the benefactorhad an interesting history.John Sayer was a wealthy resident wholived in the local manor, BerkhamstedPlace. When he died in 1682, he left£1,000 in trust for the poor widows ofBerkhamsted and his widow, Mary,augmented the bequest by severalhundred pounds. £269 was used toconstruct the row of almshouses that stillstand today on the High Street, and theremainder was invested in land to providethe almswomen and other poorparishioners with an income. There wasaccommodation for six widows at a time,each with two rooms of her own.Candidates for rooms had to be at least 55years old, have lived in Berkhamsted orNorthchurch for at least ten years and be“of good fame, constant frequenters ofdivine service”. By acceptingaccommodation at the almshouses, thewidows also had to submit to a number ofrules and restrictions which seem quitestrict and patronising by modernstandards. If they wished to go away fromthe town to visit friends, they had to seekpermission from the trustees, who nevergranted permission for more than onewoman to be away at a time, and not formore than one month in the year. Theyoungest of the six widows wasresponsible for helping other almswomenin times of illness and she was alsorequired to “keep the court clean betweenthe wall and the house” and to unbolt andbolt the outer gate each morning and nightat a fixed time. But who was John Sayerand where did his money come from?Little appears to be known of his early lifeand I could not find from my research hisdate of birth or if he was born in the areaor moved here later. He had a relativecalled Sayer, who was the rector ofNorthchurch, but this does not prove thathe was from a local family.What is well known is that Sayer servedKing Charles II as his master cook.Charles II was forced into exile in Franceand the Netherlands after the execution ofhis father in 1649. The Latin inscription onhis tombstone in St Peter’s Church impliesthat Sayer followed Charles II into exileand was a faithful servant through histroubles. He presumably returned toEngland with his king upon the restorationof the monarchy in 1660.Sayer is mentioned in the diaries ofSamuel Pepys, who described anencounter with Sayer shortly after therestoration in September 1661 as follows:“ ... I went with Captain Morrice into theKing’s Privy Kitchen to Mr Sayer, theMaster Cook, and there had a good slice ofbeef or two to our breakfast; and fromthence he took us into the wine cellarwhere, by my troth, we were very merry,(continues on page 28)27

Local landmarksand I drankso much thatI was not fitforbusiness ...”As theking’sMasterCook, Sayerreceived£150 peryear(c.£12,750 intoday’smoney) and £40 for livery. Charles II wasoften late in paying his bills and Sayerhad to sometimes ask for his payment inarrears and on other occasions it appearsthat Sayer actually lent money to the king.He clearly had other sources of income ashe was able to take the lease ofBerkhamsted Place. Berkhamsted Placewas an Elizabethan manor house built inabout 1580 by Sir Edward Carey, thekeeper of the Jewels to Queen Elizabeth I.The Queen granted him the lease ofBerkhamsted Castle, but this had falleninto disrepair by this point and so he had amanor house built on the hill overlookingthe castle, using many cartloads of stoneand flint from the castle ruins.At the Restoration in 1660, the lease ofBerkhamsted was taken on by the 2ndEarl of Portland, but he was not to livethere for long. A large fire broke out in1662 and it destroyed two-thirds of themanor. John Sayer financed thereconstruction and the central part of thehouse was quickly rebuilt but the twowings which formed the side of thecourtyard were never restored. Sayer tookownership ofthe houseshortly afterit was rebuiltand becomesteward ofthe manor.He upsetmanyparishionersofBerkhamstedby hisinterpretationof certain ancient manorial rights. Therector, churchwardens and otherscomplained to the kind that Sayer hadunjustly kept market and other tolls forhimself, when they had previously beenused to help maintain the church, theschool and the poor of the parish. TheCourt of Exchequer found in favour ofSayer, which is probably not surprisinggiven his close relationship with the king.He lived there with his family until hisdeath in 1682. The Sayer family remainedin residence at Berkhamsted Place until1716.His elaborate marble tomb can be found inthe Lady Chapel of St Peter’s church.Remarkably, almost 330 years after theywere built, the almshouses are still run as acharity and are still used for their originalpurpose. Renovations were carried outduring the 1960s to change the layout ofthe living accommodation so that there isnow accommodation for four women,rather than six.It still provides subsidised accommodationfor single Christian women in need whohave a connection to Berkhamsted. yB28

The local beekeeperThe great outdoorsCrispin Baker continues his monthly beekeeping diaryAugust and time to harvest the honey.But before we do, let’s take time toconsider the final element to that sort afterbumper crop. The weather! Beekeepersare obsessed with the weather at particulartimes ofthe yearand for theidealharvestingconditionswe wantsunshineand warmshowers,i.e. perfectfor flowers to produce lots of nectar.Despite the April heat wave and droughtconditions followed by unseasonally coldtemperatures in May and June, ourexhortations to the clouds were rewardedwith showers in June and July. As a resultthe abundant blackberry flowers went onand on, supported by rosebay willowherb, sweet chestnut and lime.However, all good things come to an endand once the bees are no longer bringingin a noticeable surplus it’s time toseparate them from their precious storesand we do this by installing a one way beeaccess gate underneath the supers (honeystorage boxes) called a porter bee escape.The bees regularly leave the supers tofetch more honey for storage, but nowcan’t return, thereby draining the supersof bees and leaving the beekeeper free torelieve the hive of bee-free boxes ofhoney! However there are inevitablyalways a few bees who never seem tovacate the supers and these have to beremoved as the supers are then taken awayfrom the apiary as quickly and stealthilyas possible. Bees can follow you a longway and atthat time ofyear there areoften a lot ofbored beeshangingaround withnot a lot to doother thanguard theirwinter stores,so at any whiffof robbery, over-zealous bees can make asimple operation become, how shall wesay, complicated!Extracting the honey from the comb intostorage buckets must take place as soon aspossible, preferably while the honey isstill warm and viscous from the hives, andthis is carried out using a honey spinner.The frames from the supers are uncappedand placed in a spinning wire cage insidea large bucket and spun so that the honeyis removed with centrifugal force. It’s along job and involves getting the kitchenfloor very sticky, however there are perksbecause at the end of the day there ishoney for tea!That’s all folks, next time we’ll hear aboutfeeding and winter preparations.Bee Happy! Bee friendly plants for thistime of year: Borage, echinops, golden29

RODERICK WILSONFully qualifiedTREE SURGEON andFORESTRY CONTRACTOR07795 48194607768 93713801442 842716 (eve)THE ALEXANDERTECHNIQUEwithTrevor Allan Davies (STAT)To book a free introductory lessonin Central Berkhamsted:(07963) 642844info@trevorallandavies.co.ukJohn Cossins & Co.Chartered AccountantsA friendly and professionalaccountancy and taxation service forindividuals and small businesses offeredby a Chartered Accountant in Berkhamstedwith over 30 years experience.Competitive fees.Free initial consultation01442 863231email: johncfca@gmail.comIt’s as easy as 1, 2, 3……1. Select and pick your fruit and veg fresh from the field2. Weigh and pay for it at the PYO kiosk3. Take it home and enjoy eating the fruits of your labour!Grove Farm PYO, Great Gap, Ivinghoe, LU7 9DZFor info go to grovefarmpyo.co.uk or ring 01296 668175Open everyday from approx. mid-June to October30

The last word by Keith Treves-BrownAll Saints’ church is a Local EcumenicalPartnership (LEP); the building has beenshared by Anglicans and Methodistsunder the terms of a sharing agreementmade as long ago as 1980. For many yearsthe two congregations had separateSunday services, but for the last fouryears we have had combined servicesusing roughly alternate Anglican andMethodist rituals. In any four consecutiveSundays there will normally be aEucharist led by an Anglican priest, asacrament led by a Methodist minister, aservice led by an Anglican lay reader anda service led by a Methodist localpreacher. I use the word “sacrament”rather than “Holy Communion” for theservice led by the Methodist ministerbecause quite frequently over the pastyear it has been Infant Baptism.There used to be both a Methodistminister and an Anglican priest-in-chargeat All Saints’. The Methodist minister,although resident in Berkhamsted, wasstrictly speaking appointed to the HemelHempstead and Berkhamsted circuit, andhad responsibility also for TringMethodist church and sometimes sharedpastoral responsibility at the Mountprison. The priest-in-charge was a curateunder the direction of the rector of GreatBerkhamsted. However when RevdMartin Wright left he was not replaced,and pastoral responsibility for everyone atAll Saints’ devolved onto the Methodistminister, currently Revd CarolineWeaver. Although Caroline has beenresident in Berkhamsted for only threeyears she lived in Hemel Hempsteadbefore her ordination, and has been aminister in this circuit for twelve years.She will be moving on this year and isgoing to a circuit in north Bedfordshirewhere she will have charge of six villagechurches and be a chaplain at CranfieldUniversity.At the end of August we will welcome thenew minister appointed to this circuit,Revd Rachael Hawkins. Rachael ismarried to Andrew and they have twochildren, Thomas and Samuel, of primaryschool age. She was brought up inBeverley in Yorkshire, went to NewcastleUniversity, and worked in several differentparts of the country as a speech andlanguage therapist before going into theministry. She has been stationed inFarnborough since she was a probationer(the Methodist equivalent of a deacon). Inthe eight years she has been there she hashad experience of an LEP with the URCand of working alongside an Anglicanpriest in establishing a Christiancommunity centre. Here she will haveslightly fewer responsibilities thanCaroline in that she will not be going tothe Mount prison.With this background we feel sure thatRachael will want to play a full part in thelife of the churches in Berkhamsted. Weask all YB readers to welcome her andpray for her ministry here. yBEditor :Ian Skillicorn, 862628, editor@yourberkhamsted.org.ukAdvertising: John Gerry, advertising@yourberkhamsted.org.ukCirculation: Sheila Miller, 31 Lincoln Court, HP4 3EN (864277)Copy Dates: 5 August 2 September 7 OctoberPublished by Great Berkhamsted Parochial Church Council. Registered charity no 1130108Printing by Connekt Colour, Northbridge Road, Berkhamsted HP4 1EH31