Serving Charvil, Sonning and Sonning Eye since 1869
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 1
The
Parish
Magazine
The John King Trophy and Gold Award
Best Magazine of the Year 2018
National Parish Magazine Awards
Best Content 2021, 2016
Best Overall 2020, 2015
Best Editor 2019
Best Print 2018
Serving the communities of Charvil, Sonning & Sonning Eye since 1869
March 2022 — Ash Wednesday — Lent — Mothering Sunday
Church of St Andrew
Serving Sonning, Charvil & Sonning Eye
the church of st andrew, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF
CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY
2 The Parish Magazine - March 2022
Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to this advertisement
We have 1000s of buyers waiting to move.
Book your valuation today.
Feel at home with Haslams
0118 960 1000
Serving the communities of Charvil, Sonning & Sonning Eye since 1869
Church of St Andrew
Serving Sonning, Charvil & Sonning Eye
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 1
The John King Trophy and Gold Award
Best Magazine of the Year 2018
National Parish Magazine Awards
Best Content 2021, 2016
Best Overall 2020, 2015
Best Editor 2019
Best Print 2018
information — 1
Contents March 2022
THE Associate VICAR'S LETTER, 5
THE PARISH NOTICEBOARD
— Choral and music plans, 7
— For your prayers in March, 7
— Christian Basics Part 2, 9
— Ash Wednesday, 9
— STAY, 10-11
— The Persecuted Church, 11
— On Reflection: Deuteronomy, 13
— From the editor's desk, 13
— Mothering Sunday, 15
— Claude's view, 15
— The joy of Lent, 17
features
— Life in The Ark, 19
— Platinum memories, 20-21
— 25 years of Ali's Pond, 22-23
around the villages
— Shaping up at school, 25
— Saving Karun, 25
— Scarecrows are back, 25
— Painting for the Jubilee, 27
— Heritage walk and talk, 27
— Eleven charities, one roof, 27
— Project Singers project, 29
— FoStAC quiz night, 29
history, 31
HOME & GARDEn
— Through the Palace gates, 33
— THRA opens again, 33
— Recipe of the month, 33
THE ARTS
— Platinum poem, 34
— Metaphysical dean, 34
— Book Reviews, 35
— The Potato Planters, 35
HEALTH
— Dr Simon Ruffle, 36
— Tinnitus, 37-38
— The anxious word, 38
the sciences
— Reality beyond objects, 38
PUZZLE PAGE, 39
children's page, 41
information
— Church services, 3
— From the registers, 3
— Parish contacts, 42
— Advertisers index, 42
This ISSUE's FRONT COVER
March 2022 — Lent — Mothering Sunday
The
Parish
Magazine
the church of st andrew, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF
CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY
Sonning Lock on a crisp winter's day
Picture: Ali Payne of Charvil
EDITORIAL DEADLINE
The editorial deadline for every issue
of The Parish Magazine is 12 noon on
the sixth day of the month prior to the
date of publication.
The deadline for the April
issue of The Parish Magazine is:
Sunday 6 March at 12 noon
The Parish Magazine online
The most recent issues can be viewed at:
http://www.theparishmagazine.co.uk
Earlier issues from 1869 onwards are
stored in a secure online archive. If you
wish to view these archives contact the
editor who will authorise access for you:
editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk
Don't forget to put ALL your
clocks forward 1 hour at 1am
on Sunday 27 March!
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 3
Services at
St Andrew’s
Ash Wednesday 2 March
— 7.30pm Holy Communion with
the Imposition of Ashes
Sunday 6 March
— 8.00am Holy Communion
— 10.30am Family Service
— 4.00pm Choral Evensong
followed by tea in The Ark
Sunday 13 March
— 8.00am Holy Communion
— 10.30am Parish Eucharist
STAY and Sunday Club
Sunday 20 March
— 8.00am Holy Communion
— 10.30am Family Communion
— 3.00pm Messy Church in The Ark
Mothering Sunday 27 March
— 8.00am Holy Communion
— 10.30am Parish Eucharist
STAY and Sunday Club
— 6.0opm Sunday at Six in The Ark
with refreshments served on
arrival from 5.50pm-6.05pm
OTHER REGULAR SERVICES
Morning Prayer is held in church
every Tuesday at 9.30am. During
school holidays please check the Week
Ahead notices for service details.
Mid-week Communion in The Ark is
held every Wednesday at 10.00am. Tea
and coffee is available following the
service.
Home Communion at Signature at
Sonning is held on the first Monday
of each month at 11.00am. Visitors
must comply with the care home's
Covid restrictions so please check with
Signature at least four days before.
From the register
funerals
— Thursday 13 January, William John Fry, funeral service in Church followed
by cremation at Reading Crematorium
— Friday 4 February, Margaret Moore, funeral service in church followed by
cremation at Reading Crematorium
4 The Parish Magazine - March 2022
Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to this advertisement
COMING TO THE MILL IN 2022
3 FEB - 26 MAR
28 APR - 25 JUN
DIRECTED
BY
BRIAN
BLESSED
THE WATERWHEEL BAR
Open Tuesday - Sunday 11am - 5pm
for Hot Bar Food, Homemade Cakes
& Artisan Coffee.
Come and treat yourself to a scrumptious lunch
in the most beautiful setting.
30 JUN - 20 AUG
FIND (0118) OUT 969 7082 MORE
PLEASE FIND FULL MENU ONLINE
millatsonning.com/millang
The associate vicar's letter
DEAR FRIENDS,
It is a bit of a cliché to talk about new beginnings as we enter into the season of
spring, but the reality is that the last few months have been full of new beginnings
which I would like to share with you in this letter. I haven’t written the letter since
the summer due to illness and so I have a lot to say!
As you will be aware, I am the chaplain at Reading Blue Coat and this academic
year has seen the emergence of a new chaplaincy team made up of pupil chaplaincy
assistants, and next year, I am very excited to announce there will be a chaplaincy
prefect as well. The role of these chaplaincy assistants has been varied, but I want
to share just one example with you in which my two roles, parish and school, came
together.
Although my school is in the parish, it can often feel as though my two roles
are very separate. However, chaplaincy assistant Minahil had a wonderful idea of a
fund raiser, which she organised herself, for Me2 Club which is an inclusion charity
for children and young people with additional needs and disabilities. She suggested
a cake sale and raffle. I decided to ask in church for volunteers to bake. Parishioners
ended up baking 11 cakes and we made just under £300! For me, it was an absolute
joy to see that connection between my school life and parish life.
THRIVING
Another new beginning that I have been excited about for months was the
resumption of Messy Church. We started in December with a special Christmas
party and since January we have met on the third Sunday of the month. I admit I
was slightly apprehensive as many of our regular attendees were now at secondary
school and I wasn’t sure how many people would come, but we had lots of families,
old and new, and it has been wonderful to see Messy Church back and thriving. I
am also pleased that we now have six young leaders to help run the activities, some
from the church community and some from Reading Blue Coat.
My favourite Messy Church activity has been the Frame of Hearts which we will
add to each month. I bought this frame online in the first summer of the pandemic
and kept it with eager anticipation for the day Messy Church restarted. Each child
and young leader has written their name on a heart and added it to the frame. The
idea is that each time a new child comes to Messy Church they also add their name
to the frame as our community continues to rebuild and grow.
The theme of Messy Church in January was Hope, something that I think we
can all relate to and something many of us have prayed for over the past two years.
The season of Lent starts this month when we prepare to remember the events
of Holy Week in early April. Lent is a time of reflection; there is a sombre and
penitential feel to the liturgy, hymns and prayers in church. But it is also important
to remember that at the end of this season comes the great feast of Easter. Easter
is the ultimate celebration of Hope as we see light conquering the darkness and life
conquering death.
As a final note, I would like to thank everyone who has supported me over the
past 5 months while I have been suffering with long covid and a number of other
longer term covid related conditions. Each thought, prayer, card or offer of help has
meant a great deal to me and my family, and I feel truly blessed to be part of such
wonderful communities, both in this parish and in my school.
With love and prayers, Kate
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 5
Rev Kate with the Messy frame of hearts
Minahil and Liz from Me2 Club
Kate with head girl Charlotte at the cake sale
Felicity, Harriet and Charlotte with Rev Kate at the
Christmas party
Molly, Liz and Ella, three
Messy Church leaders
Messy Church crafters in action . . .
and the results
6 The Parish Magazine - March 2022 Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to advertisements
Winter Issue
| Hair Cutting and Beauty Therapy
| Experts in Colouring and Permanent Waving
| Hairdressing for Men, Women and Children
@stylebyjulieReading
@stylebyjulie
@stylebyjulieRG
Private Hair
and Beauty Salon
Badgers Rise,
Woodley, Reading,
RG5 3AJ
0118 4378178
salon@stylebyjulie.co.uk
www.stylebyjulie.co.uk
Banish limescale with a
TwinTec Water Softener
• Enjoy a scale-free kitchen and bathrooms
• Protect and improve the efficiency
of your boiler
• Lower your energy bills
• Reduce time spent cleaning
• Enjoy softer skin and shinier hair
No buttons or routine maintenance: it’s easy
Call for a free installation
survey or quote
Twyford: 0118 9344485
Finchampstead: 0118 9733110
thamesvalleywatersofteners.co.uk
10
YEAR
GUARANTEE
THAMES VALLEY
WATER SOFTENERS
the parish noticeboard — 1
Choral and music
plans surge ahead
after Covid rules
are relaxed
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 7
The legacy of the music and choral
traditions at St Andrew’s which
date back over several hundred
years was fully evident on the first
Sunday of February when junior
and senior choirs played a full
part in our morning and evening
worship — at the 10.30am family
service we celebrated Candlemas
with Christingles and in the late
afternoon, Evensong was held for
the first time in two years since covid
restrictions were introduced at the
start of the pandemic.
The two services demonstrated the
diverse repertoire of both the junior
and senior choirs that spans music
from the 16th Century up to the
present day and encompasses an array
of different styles.
The morning family worship was
a joyful 'modern' occasion, while
the evening worship dates back to a
service written by Thomas Cranmer
in the 16th century but, despite it's
age — or perhaps because of it —
it was also joyous, although in a
different, way.
EVENSONG IS BACK
Evensong is now being held on
the first Sunday of every month
starting at 4pm. The first Evensong
since covid fell on 6 February and
so coincided with Her Majesty The
Queen's accession to the throne
70 years previously. The service,
The joyful celebrations at the
end of the Candlemas with
Christingles service (above)
were for Celeste (on the left)
who was also celebrating her
18th birthday.
(Below right) Four of the junior choir proudly display their Christingles, although one of them
seems to have eaten it already!
therefore, was an appropriate
occasion to commemorate the death
of the Queen's father, King George VI,
and celebrate the start of her reign by
following it with a special tea in The
Ark laid on by the social committee,
and attended by more than 60 people.
Future Evensongs will also be
followed by tea in The Ark, although
we can't promise that it will include
'The Toast' made to Her Majesty on
her special day!
CHORAL SCHOLARSHIPS
The relaxation of the covid
restrictions has also meant that the
plans to boost further the music and
choral capabilities at St Andrew's
can push ahead once again. As well
as the organ scholarship that is now
well established, St Andrew's PCC is
inviting applicants for a new choral
scholarship.
It is envisaged that the choral
scholars will provide a strong core
within the choir and enhance it even
further. Potential applicants might
include university music students,
sixth form students hoping to study
music at university or music college,
potential Oxbridge Choral Scholarship
applicants or any other able singer
with a passion for collective music
making.
It is hoped that the first choral
scholars will be starting in September
this year.
ASSISTANT ORGANIST
To further strengthen the music
making capabilities in the church,
the PCC is also seeking to appoint an
assistant organist to provide support
for the weekly Sunday services as well
as playing for weddings, funerals and
other events when needed.
Further information about the
scholarships and assistant organist
role can be obtained from Hannah
Towndrow, director of music, on:
music@sonningparish.org.uk
For your prayers in March
— Marie Curie Nurses who provide support for all aspects of dying, death and bereavement
— Hannah Towndrow as she seeks to appoint an assistant organist and choral scholars
— All who are planning special events to mark The Queen's Platinum Jubilee
— All who are struggling to live with the side effects of covid
Tinnakorn Jorruang, dreamstime.com
8 The Parish Magazine - March 2022 Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to advertisements
BOOK A BEAUTIFUL
NIGHT STAY WITH
US.
RECEIVE 15% OFF
QUOTE THE CODE
FST1845
Gardiner’s Homecare is an established family
business that has been serving the local community
since 1968. Proudly supporting people to continue
to enjoy living independent lives in their own homes
for as long as possible.
TAKE AWAY
FISH AND CHIPS £10
The Bull Inn, Sonning on Thames
Berkshire RG4 6UP, T: 0118 969 3901
e: bullinn@fullers.co.uk www.bullinnsonning.co.uk
Our team of experienced care workers can provide
help with personal care, medication, overnight stays,
housework, companionship and much more. You will be
assigned your own Care Manager who will work closely
with you to ensure you receive the care and support
that is tailored to your personal wishes and needs.
For more information, contact us on
0118 334 7474
www.thebmgc.com
Large Format Print Operators Required - Permanent Positions
Immediate start for the right candidates
We are looking to recruit two new members of staff; large format pre-press / print finisher operatives.
The candidates must have previous experience in large format print.
The responsibilities will include:
· Ensuring all machines are set
· Operating various printers
· Reviewing orders
· Handling pre-press work for print projects
· Lamination, mounting and CNC cutting
· Trimming and finishing
The ideal candidates for the roles will have knowledge of:
· Large format printing
· Customer liaison experience
· UV and latex printing
· Good understanding of quality processes
· Adobe suite
· Print trimming and finishing
Benefits:
· Permanent role with an attractive package offered
· Progression opportunity
· On site car parking
· Competitive salary offered per annum depending on experience, plus benefits.
If you are interested in either of these positions, please apply with a CV via email, (mike@thebmgc.com),
or for more information contact Mike Gleeson or Martyn Allen at The Blue Moose Graphic Company.
Tel: 0118 934 5016
The Homestead, Park Lane, Charvil, Reading RG10 9TR
the parish noticeboard — 2
Christian Basics — Part 2
Rev Paul Hardingham's series on the foundations of the Christian faith
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 9
Ash Wednesday: mourning
3,000 years of sin
Adam and Eve
Jorisvo, dreamstime.com
What's wrong with the world?
How can a God of love allow suffering? Many people
struggle with such questions, however the Bible helps us
to understand how sin affects both our own lives and the
world.
Genesis provides us with a picture of how sin entered the
world. In Genesis 2:16-17, God gave Adam and Eve both
permission — 'You are free to eat from any tree in the garden'
— and a prohibition — 'But you must not eat from the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil’ — alongside warning
them of the consequences of disobedience — 'For when you
eat of it you will surely die'.
OPEN TO SIN
In Genesis 3, they broke God’s law by eating fruit
from the forbidden tree. As a result, their eyes were
opened to the nature of sin — 'they knew shame' and their
relationship with God was broken — 'they hid from him'.
As a consequence, death entered their lives.
This story reminds us that God gives us free will — an
essential aspect of being human — to choose whether he
will be at the centre of our lives or not.
DIFFERENT DESCRIPTIONS
The Bible offers different ways of describing how sin is:
— a spirit of independence: we don’t want God to
interfere with our lives, preferring our own ideas,
plans and ways of behaviour.
— ignoring the maker’s instructions: if you ignore user
instructions, you only have yourself to blame when
things go wrong! God created us to function with him
at the centre of our lives.
— missing the mark: we fail an exam even when we miss
the pass mark by one mark: ‘All have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23).
I AM
In a famous correspondence in The Times under the
title ‘What’s wrong with the world?’ GK Chesterton’s letter
simply said: ‘Dear Sir, I am.’
Vetre Antanaviciute-meskauskiene, dreamstime.com
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. But why 'Ash'? The
reason has to do with getting things right between you and
God, and the tradition goes back about 3,000 years to Old
Testament times.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites often sinned. When they
finally came to their senses, and saw their evil ways as God
saw them, they could do nothing but repent in sorrow. They
mourned for the damage and evil they had done and covered
their heads with ashes. Putting ashes on your head, and even
rending your clothes, was an outward sign of their heart-felt
repentance and acknowledgement of sin. (Genesis 18:27; 2
Samuel 13:19; Job 2:8, 30:19; Isaiah 58:5; Jeremiah 6:26; Jonah 3:6)
In the early Christian Church, the yearly 'class' of
penitents had ashes sprinkled over them at the beginning
of Lent. They were turning to God for the first time, and
mourning their sins. But soon many other Christians
wanted to take part in the custom. They heeded Joel's call
to 'rend your hearts and not your garments' (Joel 2:12-19). Ash
Wednesday became known as either the 'beginning of the
fast' or ‘the day of the ashes’.
FORGIVE AND RENEW
The Prayer Book collect for Ash Wednesday stresses
the penitential character of the day. It encourages us with
the reminder of the readiness of God to forgive us and to
renew us, as do the Bible readings for the day which include
Paul’s moving catalogue of suffering: 'having nothing and yet
possessing everything.' (2 Corinthians 5:20b - 6:10)
The custom of 'ashing' was abolished in the 16th Century
Reformation, though the name for the day remained. Today,
throughout the Church of England, receiving the mark of
ashes on one’s forehead is optional. Certainly, the mark of
ashes on the forehead reminds people of their mortality:
'Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return' (Genesis 3:19).
The late medieval custom was to burn the branches used
on Palm Sunday in the previous year to create the ashes,
which is how it is done today in St Andrew's — we burn last
year's palm crosses and mix it with consecrated olive oil. All
who attend the evening Holy Communion service on Ash
Wednesday are given the option of receiving a cross on their
forehead.
10 The Parish Magazine - March 2022
the parish noticeboard — 3
STAY on Sunday
Our Sunday youth has also grown in
number and soon will need to spread
into the second upper room (read
on for more info on this exciting
next phase). We have continued
to cover the topic of relationships
since September 2021 and this has
meant we have thought about all
the different relationships in our
lives. What’s good and bad about
them? Where are they healthy and
sometimes unhealthy? What sort
of friends do we have? Who do we
fancy and what should we expect
from romantic relationships? What
influence do people in the media
have on us? What is it like being a
Christian in a country where you
get arrested, imprisoned or even
killed for being a Christian? These
themes have raised some amazing
conversations and resulted in new
ways of thinking for us all.
Second Upper Room Plan
During lockdown we had the amazing privilege of having the second upper
room built in The Ark because our youth work has steadily grown in the past 3
years. We need the extra space for groups on Sunday and for STAY on Friday.
This is an exciting time and the room is a blank canvas.
As with the first upper room, we sat with a small group of young people to come
up with a plan for the space. We then took the plan to the youth on Friday and
got a few more ideas. Of course we couldn’t promise everything — some asked for
padded walls and floor to make a wrestling room, and others wanted beds so they
can sleep when they get tired! After filtering out the more left-field ideas we are
left with a solid list of items that will transform the space into an amazing room of
possibilities.
Below are examples of the items we would love you to sponsor, only if you felt
able to, for the second upper room. As well as asking you, the lovely people of the
parish and church, we will also be asking the young people and their families to
help raise funds for the cost of the equipment. We have some ideas in the pipeline
so watch this space.
Please get in touch if you would like to sponsor an item or piece of equipment for
the young people. For more details of how to do this, or make a donation, contact
Hilary in the parish office on 0118 969 3298 or office@sonningparish.org.uk
STAY
wooden
letters
£10
Wall stickers £250
Plants £80
PlayStation
£650
Lockable storage units £2,000
Virtual
Reality
headsets
£600
LED lights
20m — £30
STAY o
Our wond
continues
many of t
kitchen t
krispy ca
usual fun
Clock £30
Fairy lights
£30
Breakfast bar and stools
£300
Two Bins
for rubbish
& recycling
£85
TV £650
Bean bags and
bean bag sofa
£500
Table £80
For yo
Wes
n Friday
erful youth club on Friday nights in the Ark
to grow and flourish with new young people and
he old faces still coming along each week. In the
he youth have recently made yummy cookies,
kes and jam roly poly, as well as having all the
and games of youth club!
The Persecuted Church
Blasphemy in Pakistan
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 11
By Colin Bailey
uth related ideas, chats or musings, email
ty on: youthminister@sonningparish.org.uk
A church and mosque in Peshawar, the oldest city in Pakistan
Pakistan has the world’s second
strictest blasphemy laws in the
world after Iran, according to the
US Commission on International
Religious Freedom.
Blasphemy is punishable by death in
Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Brunei,
Mauritania and Saudi Arabia. About
1,500 Pakistanis have been charged
with blasphemy over the past 30
years. No executions have taken
place.
However, Islamic extremist groups
are known to attack or kill in extrajudicial
fashion those accused of
breaking the laws. Reports suggest
about 80 people since 1990 have been
killed in Pakistan over claims of
blasphemy.
Christians are targeted, often
after a dispute that concerns work or
tenancy. In many cases, people who try
to help those charged with blasphemy
are also subjected to threats and
violence.
Laws outlawing insulting religion
have existed in the region since 1860
and were incorporated into Pakistan’s
Penal Code at the country’s founding
in 1947. The laws were strengthened
under the military government of
General Zia-ul-Haq (in office 1978-88).
Shahid Khan, dreamstime.com
In 1998, on the steps of a court in
central Pakistan, Bishop John Joseph
committed suicide in a protest of
Pakistan’s strict blasphemy laws. He
had been campaigning for decades to
reform those laws.
A few days prior to his death,
a young illiterate man had been
convicted and sentenced to death for
blasphemy.
In April 2021, the European
Parliament adopted a joint motion
for resolution on the blasphemy
laws in Pakistan, calling for more
comprehensive approaches to address
the abuses of blasphemy laws in
Pakistan. Yet Prime Minister of
Pakistan, Imran Khan, has been
calling for the introduction of
blasphemy laws in other countries.
In August last year, a Pakistani
Christian couple were acquitted of
blasphemy after 7 years on death row
and have left the country.
A Pakistani Christian, who was
accused of blasphemy in May 2017,
was sentenced to death by Rawalpindi
District Court in January this year.
Open Doors asks us to pray that
blasphemy laws will not be abused to
target Christians, and that the death
penalty for blasphemy is abolished
References and further Reading
Aljazeera:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/21/explained-pakistans-emotive-blasphemy-laws
Barnabas Fund:
https://barnabasfund.org/news/pakistani-christian-accused-of-blasphemy-sentenced-to-death/
The Conversation:
https://theconversation.com/understanding-the-history-and-politics-behind-pakistans-blasphemy-laws-173570
Deutsche Welle (DW):
https://www.dw.com/en/pakistan-whatsapp-blasphemy-death-sentence-reinforces-dangerous-trend/a-60511046
Forbes:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2021/05/26/european-parliament-condemnspakistans-blasphemy-laws/?sh=2e196786344f
Foreign Policy:
https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/12/08/pakistan-blasphemy-killing-priyantha-kumara-islam/
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law:
http://jaapl.org/content/early/2020/01/24/JAAPL.003916-20
Open Doors: https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/pakistan-couple-blasphemy/
We will look at the broader situation affecting Christians in Pakistan in a future issue.
12 The Parish Magazine - March 2022
Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to advertisements
Independent And FREE Advice For All Individual & Company Members
• Switch to an alternative scheme – If you are currently insured, switching to a competitor can mean substantially lower rates
• Pre-existing conditions covered – It is often possible to include pre-existing medical conditions currently covered by your existing provider
• Improve your coverage – We can frequently improve your cover whilst also lowering the cost of your premium
• Complexities of different schemes – In many cases, people are over insured – we can ensure you are covered with a scheme that
meets your individual needs and requirements
• Full cover for cancer treatment – Many polices do not cover cancer in full – we are able to advise on your current level of coverage
For further information, please call Steve Maguire at M&L Healthcare Solutions:-
PHONE 01628 945944 or 01223 881779
Email: steve.maguire@mlhs.co.uk
quoting ref: The Parish Magazine
M&L Healthcare Solutions is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA Reference number 554206)
A.D.D. Plumbing & Heating
THE FUNERAL PEOPLE
A FAMILY BUSINESS SERVING
SONNING SINCE 1826
READING 0118 957 3650
HENLEY 01491 413434
CAVERSHAM 0118 947 7007
ALSO AT MAIDENHEAD, BRACKNELL, WOKINGHAM, THATCHAM
TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY FUNERAL
SERVICE AND DIRECT CREMATION
FLORAL DESIGN & MONUMENTAL MASONRY
PRE-PAID FUNERALS, LATER LIFE LEGAL SERVICES
BEREAVEMENT CARE
WWW.ABWALKER.CO.UK
SELECTED
Independent
FUNERAL HOMES
Heating installation, servicing & repairs
All domestic plumbing
Free written estimates
No job too small
Local and fully insured
References available
0118 934 4624 or 07932 072912
www.addplumbingsolutions.co.uk
In-Home Services for
Seniors by Seniors.
We provide friendly and dependable seniors to help
with services such as light housework, transportation,
shopping, personal care, companionship...and much
more. It’s like getting a little help from your friends.
Contact us today 01628 302 132
For more information contact:
steve@seniorshelpingseniors.co.uk
www.seniorshelpingseniors.co.uk
the parish noticeboard — 5
On reflection . . .
By Elizabeth Spiers
Deuteronomy, Exodus
and Numbers
The Promised Land
Rndmst, dreamstime.com
In Deuteronomy 1:1 we are told that it takes 11 days to go
from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Seir road. So
from Egypt to the Promised Land it’s an 11 day journey.
Why would a journey of a few days have taken the Hebrews
escaping from slavery in Egypt 40 years?
First, they didn’t take the direct route. That would have
taken them too close to the Egyptians and they certainly
weren’t ready for any kind of fight. So God took them on
an indirect route and the Israelites didn’t like it. Two years
later, God brought them to Kadesh-Barnea, at the edge
of the Promised Land — the land ‘flowing with milk and
honey’. God was giving it to them forever to provide all
they needed for life.
However, after being slaves for so long, the Israelites
no longer had confidence in either themselves or in God.
Despite the plagues, their escape with gold and silver,
the parting of the Red Sea, and being led by the pillar of
fire by night and the cloud by day, they couldn’t realise
their position or appreciate what God had done for them.
Rather than obey God and go straight into the promised
land, they sent 12 spies on ahead first but only two of
them returned with a confident report that God would
help them conquer the land.
The Israelites rebelled by refusing to enter the land and
turned away from God, and they even longed for the ‘good old
days’ of poverty and slavery in Egypt. What a tragedy! They
still had so much of Egypt in their thinking and behaviour
that they thought going back to slavery would be better than
pressing on through adversity into freedom and a new life.
REWARDING
And it’s just like that for us today. We become Christians,
but there’s so much of our old lives in our thinking and our
behaviour that we often yearn for those days when we did
what we liked without reference to God.
He has a unique plan for each of us that he doesn’t
want us to miss. He wants us to enjoy the richness of our
relationship with him, but it depends on our willingness to
do things his way. So often we end up in our own wilderness,
wondering how on earth we got there. And unless we return
to God and confess our rebellion and our sin, we may be there
a long time. If you find yourself in the wilderness today, ask
yourself if it’s worth it. Is the dry and dusty place you’re in
better than living in the will of God? I can’t promise you it’s
easier being in God’s will — you may have to make some
sacrifices — but I can promise you it’s far more rewarding.
From the desk
of the editor
editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 13
We all have a 'second
nature' story to tell . . .
I am always pleased to hear from you, our readers,
whether you are complimenting or criticising the
magazine, or indeed complaining that you have not
received the latest copy — such complaints are, of
course, one of the best compliments!
The response to our January issue was particularly
encouraging and I am pleased that so many of you have
taken the time to tell me how much you enjoyed and
appreciated it. I hope you enjoy this issue.
One of the regular questions that I always find difficult
to answer is 'how do you manage to find so many different
interesting articles?' It's a bit like asking someone how
they manage to ride a bike or swim. There are many
things in life we all do without thinking about how we
actually do them. Even if we have not been on a bike or
in a swimming pool for years, most of us, having learnt
when we were younger, can still do it for as long as we are
physically able to. It is a 'second nature' for us.
Likewise, recognising the possibility of there being a
story to write about something, or someone, is for me,
'second nature'. At the age of 25 years I was thrown in
the deep end of journalism without any formal training
— I had spent the previous eight years training to be
an engineer! The only journalistic training I received
was being told by my newspaper editor that everyone
and everything has a story to tell, and 'I want the story
by 5pm today'! Now, 50 years later, recognising an
opportunity for a story is 'second nature'.
SHARE YOUR STORY
Standing by The Parish Magazine rack at the north
door of the church after the 10.30am Sunday service to
say goodbye to members of the congregation and hand
out copies of the February issue to those who don't have
it delivered to their home, I was pleased to be reminded
that several people take more than one copy to pass on
to friends and family, some of whom have moved out
of the parish but enjoy reading the magazine — covid
restrictions in the past did not allow us to stand by the
door and physically hand the magazine to anyone. Please
feel free to give your family and friends a copy.
While I edit every story and article that we publish,
many of them are written by our local contributors who
do an excellent job, or by a specialist church news agency
which is run by a journalist, who like me, is also a licensed
lay minister in the Church of England.
We all have a story to tell and if you have the urge to
share your story, or your special interest, with our readers
send it to me. I can't guarantee that they will all be
published, but I can guarantee that if it is published, I will
edit it — editing is another of my second natures!
14 The Parish Magazine - March 2022
Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to advertisements
Follow Us
@ShiplakeCollege
Welcoming
Year 7 girls
from 2023
• Top brand name flooring at the lowest price
• Samples to view in your home/office day/evening
• Free Advice / FreeQuotes
• Old flooring uplifted & furniture moved
• Fast turn around on fitting if required
• Carpet, design and wood flooring specialists
We supply and install: Amtico
Carpets - Laminate - Wood - Vinyl
Non-slip and more...
Next Open Morning
Saturday 26 March 2022
www.shiplake.org.uk/opendays
Tel: 0118 958 0445
10 Richfield Avenue, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 8EQ
info@richfieldflooring.co.uk/www.richfieldflooring.eo.uk
the parish noticeboard — 6
Hospitality: north,
south and west!
Hospitality, writes Claude Masters,
is a fundamental Christian activity
that we often hear referred to in
the Bible and in sermons, and is
something that, as well as offering
it to others, we can enjoy when it
is offered to us. Hospitality is not
confined to our homes or our church,
we can experience it wherever we
travel and sometimes it leads to
unexpected, but memorable, events
Onepony, dreamstime.com
Mothering Sunday
The Fourth Sunday in Lent was called
‘Mid-Lent’ or ‘Refreshment Sunday’,
when the rigours of Lent were relaxed
more than was normal for a feast day.
It was called Mothering Sunday as a
reference to the Epistle reading for the
Day (Galatians 4:21-31). The Lenten
Epistles follow from each other with
teaching about our life as Christians
and how we are to follow Christ.
On Mid-Lent Sunday the Epistle
talks of bondage and freedom; the
bondage of the Law and the Old
Covenant as compared to the freedom
in Christ, 'the promised one', and the
New Covenant. Verse 26 reads: 'But
Jerusalem which is above is free, which is
the mother of us all.'
We gain our freedom from
Christ and, as it was seen before
the Reformation, the Church. Thus,
Mothering Sunday is about the
freedom that we gain through the
promise of Jesus delivered through
our Mother the Church.
People were encouraged to go to
their ‘Mother Church’ to worship and
give thanks so apprentices, and others,
went home for the weekend and often
took gifts home to their family.
MOTHER OR MOTHERING
On the other hand, Mother’s Day is
a secular festival invented in 1904 and
is celebrated on the second Sunday in
May in most countries in the world —
the UK seems to be the exception.
Mothering Sunday for Christians
is a special day because we give thanks
to God for two important parts of our
lives: our Church and our mothers!
Mothering Sunday is on 27 March.
that go beyond good food and drink.
An hospitable North Devon dairy
farmer asked me if I would like to
witness the birth of a calf. Witness
was hardly the word as I helped him
pull it out of the back end of the cow.
I had towed our caravan to
Trebyla for a holiday in North Devon
and sited it on a Caravan Club
Certified Location, or CL, at a dairy
farm. The owner made caravanners
very welcome and was keen to
involve anyone who showed interest
in the farm.
The calf I helped to deliver was
a beautiful big brown one but sadly
was still born. However, there was a
joyful twist. At about the same time,
the farmer's daughter gave birth to
his first grandchild 100 miles away in
South Devon and he invited us into
his house for the evening to wet the
baby’s head!
In the dairy was a vat that held
hundreds of gallons of milk and
when we arrived I was told to take
whatever we wanted, but not to turn
on the stirring paddle before taking
it. That way we got plenty of cream.
When paying the site fees before
leaving the farmer had no idea what
the retail price of a pint of milk was!
He was a good example of what being
hospitable means.
DOUBLE CREAM
On another occasion we were on
the way to a holiday on the Gower
peninsula in South Wales when we
stopped overnight at a CL near the
Severn Bridge and took advantage of
the evening meals that were offered.
The site owner apologised saying that
they had visitors that evening so she
would bring the meals to us in the
caravan. It was fascinating to see her
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 15
Claude's
view
from
the
pew
followed by two burly farm workers
carrying the meals across the field
and the meal included a quart of
double cream which enhanced our
desserts for several days.
Nearer home, the Rendezvous
lunch in The Ark for Burns Night
was not quite what I was hoping
for — haggis, neeps and tatties —
although the sausages were tasty
and I can understand that we need
to pander to Sassenach tastes in this
neck of the woods! Sometimes being
hospitable means we have to tolerate
the preferences of others.
HAGGIS AND MALT
When our daughter lived in
Stirling my wife and I stayed with
her for a month in the summer and
enjoyed haggis several times.
In Scotland I imagine there are
as many restaurants offering haggis,
neeps and tatties as there are selling
fish and chips. There may also be
some near the border but, as with
single malt whisky, the further South
you go the less there is to be found.
There are over 120 distilleries in
Scotland and a hotel bar there is lined
with dozens and dozens of different
single malt whisky. A hotel I stayed
at in Bournemouth had only one on
offer.
As you may have gathered, I
enjoy a single malt and have several
different ones in our cocktail
cabinet. I have fancied becoming a
connoisseur but that would not be
wise nor could I afford it. However a
single tot of whisky is a lot cheaper
than a bottle of beer.
Cheers! or ‘Eggy Sheggy Reg’ as
they say in Hungary and lets all be
more hospitable!
16 The Parish Magazine - March 2022
Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to advertisements
The Window Cleaner
• Interior & exterior
• All windows, frames, sills & doors
• Conservatory cleaning
• Fully insured
We provide a reliable, professional service, ensuring that your home
will sparkle. For a free quote call or email
07967 004426
thewindowcleaner1@googlemail.com
Whatever you want to store...
...for whatever reason - house sale and purchase
not coinciding, travelling, house building work,
paperwork overload or even “de-cluttering” to
sell your house more quickly - we offer a
friendly and flexible local service.
With competitive rates, secure storage
and hassle free 24/7 access,
contact us now!
0118 940 4163
www.barn-store.co.uk
Only 5 minutes
from Henley on
the Reading road!
With 35+ years of experience, the Active Domestic
Appliances team have built an excellent
reputation in and around the local area.
Specialising in the repair of all makes and models
of washing machine, washer dryer, tumble dryer,
dishwasher, oven, hob and refrigeration they are
Gas Safe registered and offer a 12 month
warranty on parts and labour.
Active Domestic Appliances have an extensive
customer base working with letting agents,
landlords, private schools, colleges, care homes
and residential property owners.
Fully insured and DBS checked.
Contact us on:
0118 931 2071
0777 080 6129 (no sms)
repairs@activedomestic.co.uk
the parish noticeboard — 7
The joy of Lent
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 17
Paulus Rusyanto, dreamstime.com
I grew up with the idea that Lent was a dreary time in the Church calendar,
writes Bob Peters. The hymns always seemed dull, the sermons talked only
of repentance, there were no flowers to brighten up the church, we were
not allowed to say Alleluia and, worse still, we had to give up something we
enjoyed — as a child it was usually sweets or chocolate! As Ash Wednesday,
this year, falls on 3 March, I decided to look into how the traditions that go
with Lent developed and was reminded that it is meant to be a time of joyful
preparation!
I have to admit that I should have
known this years ago, but as is
usually the case, our lives and beliefs
are often shaped by our childhood
memories.
My research led me to the work
of Father Norman Tanner, SJ, a
professor of church history at the
Pontifical Gregorian University in
Rome which was founded in 1551 by
Ignatius of Loyola.
In 1961, Fr Norman became a
Jesuit — a Roman Catholic order of
religious men that was also founded
by Ignatius. The order is known for
its educational, missionary, and
charitable works.
Fr Norman also studied church
history at Oxford University, where
he taught from 1978 to 2003.
He is considered to be a leading
expert in the history of church
councils — one of his papers that
makes interesting reading, 'A Short
History of Lent' can be found online
at: https://www.thinkingfaith.org/
articles/20110315_1.htm
LENGTHENING
Fr Norman, explains that the
earliest mention of Lent in the
history of the Church comes from
the council of Nicaea in 325AD.
The original word used for the 40
days before Easter was tessarakonta a
Greek word meaning 40 and around
the world is translated in a variety of
ways.
In Anglo-Saxon England, however,
the 40 days became known as Lent, a
word that aptly meant 'lengthening'
— during the 40 days before Easter
the daylight hours steadily lengthen
and so gives us the perfect image of
'the light of Christ' slowly spreading
into the world.
Whatever it is called, the 40 days
reflects the time Jesus spent in the
wilderness being tested by the devil
after his baptism. (Matthew 4:1-11;
Luke 4:1-13)
The Lenten period is also mirrored
by the 40 'joyful' days of Advent
as we prepare for the Christmas
festivities.
JOYFUL SEASON
Fr Norman reminds us of this joy:
'It is important to remember that
Lent is a joyful season. The first Preface
for the Mass in Lent makes the point
very elegantly: Each year you give us
this joyful season when we prepare
to celebrate the paschal mystery with
mind and heart renewed. You give us
a spirit of loving reverence for you,
our Father, and of willing service to
our neighbour. As we recall the great
events that gave us a new life in Christ,
you bring to perfection within us the
image of your Son.'
REFLECTION
All Christian denominations
observe Lent with different
traditions, and often individual
churches of the same denomination
have their own and ways of marking
the 40 days. In the past 2 years covid
has meant, and continues to mean,
that many of the in-person house
groups, services, and Lenten suppers
have not been possible.
At St Andrew's this year we
will be marking Lent by having a
Lenten reflection given by one of
the ministry team, during Morning
Prayer in the Church at 9.30am on
each Tuesday, starting on 8 March.
Lenten Morning Prayer will be
followed by coffee in The Ark.
Parish Pump
18 The Parish Magazine - March 2022
Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to advertisements
Thinking about
Equity Release?
Then speak to us first!
Mortgage Required is a local, friendly award
winning Equity Release Specialist who puts
their clients first.
We don’t spend thousands on expensive TV
advertising or employ celebrities to represent us.
This enables us to pass these savings on to you.
We tick all the boxes
Compare our low fees
Whole of market
Free first
appointments
Mortgage and Equity
Release Advice
Initial chat without providing
personal details
5 star
Google reviews
Typical
Fees
£599
mortgagerequired.com
01628 507477
Finance House, 5 Bath Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 4AQ
This is a lifetime mortgage to understand the features and risks, ask for a personalised illustration. There will be no fee for Mortgage Advice. There may be
a fee for arranging a mortgage. The precise amount will depend upon your circumstances, but we estimate it to be £599. Mortgage Required Ltd, Finance
House, 5 Bath Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4AQ is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority reference 573718 at www.fca.org.uk.
feature — 1
Life in The Ark is brighter than ever!
Before covid gripped the country The Ark at St Andrew's Church, which
opened in May 2017, was a hive of activity but sadly when the virus struck,
everything ground to a halt and the building stood empty. But the good news
is that, from the start of this New Year, it has burst into life again — and this
new life is looking even brighter than before!
At The Ark opening in 2017, Rev Jamie
outlined plans for the future. He told
the Henley Standard: 'We need space for
our growing Sunday school and our new
outreach programme, which will include a
pensioners’ lunch club and youth club. The
Ark has given us the facilities we need.'
Now, almost 5 years later — and
despite Covid — these plans are
not only back on track, but they are
exceeding expectations!
YOUNG PEOPLE
The 'growing Sunday school' Rev
Jamie spoke of is now a very active
Sunday Club for the younger children
who meet there on a Sunday morning,
and a young people's STAY group that
meet to explore how their faith can
help them come to terms with many
of the pressures that society puts
on them. The Sunday STAY group is
reaching the stage where they could
soon be outgrowing the room in The
Ark where they meet, and a second
room will need to be equipped so they
can split into two groups.
YOUTH CLUB
A key part of the outreach
programme Rev Jamie spoke of was
the creation of a youth club that meets
on a Friday evening. The club has
quickly got up and running again after
covid with some 50-60 young people
RENDEZVOUS
IN THE ARK
For senior citizens
We meet every
second and fourth
Tuesday
of the month
for lunch and
conversation
To reserve your
place call
0118 969 3298
turning up to enjoy the facilities that
provided for both indoor and outside
sports, games and activities.
RENDEZVOUS
The pensioners' lunch club, Rev
Jamie envisaged became 'Rendezvous
in The Ark' and this also has steadily
got going again after covid. Unlike the
children and young people's groups
where often the building is full of
games equipment and electronic
devices, Rendezvous becomes a
comfortable dining lounge where
members meet to enjoy an excellent
lunch prepared by Emma's Kitchen of
Twyford, and to share in 'grown up'
conversation.
'It's a great opportunity to meet new
people and have the time to just sit, talk
about anything and everything, and to
laugh together — and to enjoy a good
meal prepared by someone else!'— is a
good summary of what the members
say the club is all about.
MEET TO CHAT
One of the other main reasons
for building The Ark was to provide
a comfortable and safe venue for
everyone, young and old, to meet
and chat with each other after the
main Sunday services and enjoy a
cup of coffee or tea. This was one
aspect of church life that sadly
disappeared during the worst days
of the pandemic, but again, the good
news is, it is now up and running.
Each week it seems, that more and
more members of the congregation are
feeling confident about meeting again
in a social environment.
MORE GOOD NEWS
The other good news is that the
Wednesday morning mid-communion
service held in The Ark is also back and
running again, and so is the coffee and
chat that follows it!
While all the above is very
rewarding for the members of the
church whose efforts not only raised
the money to build The Ark and in
doing so took a huge 'step of faith'
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 19
Messy Christmas
into the unknown because it could
easily have failed, there are two other
unexpected exciting developments
that have been made possible by The
Ark — Messy Church and Sunday at
Six.
MESSY CHURCH
Messy Church arrived in The Ark
in April 2018, about a year after the
official opening. It offers people of all
ages an alternative style of church in
which 'messy' activities help to explain
the Bible, the Christian faith and why
and how we pray, in a practical way
using everyday objects. Activities
revolve around craft, food, games,
music, story telling, sharing a meal
and music.
Messy Church soon became a
popular service that supplements the
more traditional services held in the
church and it attracts young and old
alike. It has returned after Covid on
the third Sunday of the month at 3pm.
SUNDAY AT SIX
Rev Kate
On the fourth Sunday of the
month at 6pm a small group of
church members began meeting to
explore another less formal, relaxed,
alternative style of worship, prayer and
Bible study.
Although, like Messy Church, this
was not on the agenda when The Ark
was designed, it has already proved to
be the perfect venue for this exciting
venture. Called Sunday at Six, it is
proving to be a huge success and each
month attracts a growing number of
families and people of all ages. Since
the re-opening of The Ark after covid,
the number of people who come along
to share in this new venture is now
around 50 - 60 and growing!
20 The Parish Magazine - March 2022
PLATINUM
The day I met the Queen — and when I introduced
Prince Philip to the chopper in the board room!
By Gordon Nutbrown
During the 1980’s I was chairman of
the five operating companies that
comprised the Gieves Group. One of
these companies was Gieves & Hawkes,
the military and civilian tailors who
had the distinction of holding Royal
Warrants to Her Majesty The Queen,
Prince Philip and the Queen Mother.
In 1980, Gieves & Hawkes were invited
to publish a book of the Royal Naval
College Dartmouth and we asked that
Her Majesty the Queen might accept a
copy.
It was arranged that I would present
the copy to Her Majesty during a
forthcoming visit to attend her son’s
passing-out at Dartmouth: this was
Prince Andrew, later the Duke of York.
Rosemary and I attended the formal
luncheon and we both met Her Majesty
afterwards when I presented the book
to her.
WRONG FOOTED
Another of our companies in the
Group was the book printers and binders
Redwood Burn.
The bindery was at Esher and was
honoured with a visit from Prince Philip
the Duke of Edinburgh.
I escorted him on a tour of the
bindery which employed over 300
people.
During the tour Prince Philip
frequently stopped to ask someone,
'What do you do?' When asked this
question one young lady replied, 'I work
the chopper in the board room'.
The Duke was clearly wrong footed by
this reply and quite possibly had visions
of miscreant directors being dragged to
the guillotine!
However, he seemed somewhat
relieved when I explained that this
particular young lady operated a
machine that cut the cover boards of
books to the required size in a room
aptly named the 'board room'.
Have you met Royalty
or have a memory
to share about the
Coronation or an
earlier Jubilee?
Above: Gordon
Nutbrown (left)
meets The Queen
in 1980.
Left: Gordon
welcomes Prince
Philip to
Redwood Burn
book binders.
Right: A copy
of the book
presented to
The Queen.
If you have, and
would like to share
them with our
readers send them to:
editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 21
MEMORIES
Molly Woodley poses by The Queen's limousine after receiving the two purses of Maundy Money
Thank you for coming Ma'am!
Despite the Royal etiquette that you only answer questions when addressed by Her
Majesty The Queen, Molly Woodley, being her usual friendly and polite self, could
not resist thanking Her Majesty for coming. Molly obviously did not end up in the
Tower, as she can often be found saying the same thing to Rendezvous members
when they set off home after their lunch!
Molly met Her Majesty on Maundy
Thursday in March 2013. She had been
chosen to receive Maundy Money from
The Queen by the Oxford Diocese for
service to the church. The following is an
extract from her story published in The
Parish Magazine in May 2013.
'On the great day,'there were 87 men
and 87 women who were to receive the
‘Purses for Pensioners’. We were put into
alphabetical order, which worried me
slightly as I am a ‘W’ and I was number
171!'
Our companions took up their seats
in the Cathedral first and we sat in
front of them. I was relieved to see my
companion, Rev Jamie, in a prestigious
position right next to the sanctuary
where we had a perfect view of the Queen
and Prince Philip, and of the arrival
of the bishops and other dignitaries,
including the Queen’s personal body
guard, the Yeomen of the Guard, in full
dress uniform.
The distribution of Maundy Money
was in two parts, separated by hymns
and readings. As the Queen approached
me the Chapel Royal choir sang Zadoc
the Priest — it doesn’t get much better
than that!
HOMAGE
When The Queen handed me the
purses she said, ‘These are for you.’ It
was an extremely humbling experience;
my Sovereign paying homage to me.
There were two purses, one red, the
other white. The red purse contained
a crown and a 50p piece minted in
2013, and the white one had specially
designed silver coins of 1p, 2p, 3p and
4p denominations, amounting to the
sum of 87p, the Queen’s age in April. The
purses were carried round the Cathedral
on silver gilt dishes that were once part
of the Chapel Royal Plate dating from the
reign of Charles II (1660 — 1685).
After the service we were invited to
lunch in the Great Hall of Christchurch.
A few of us were told that the Queen
had gone to the Dean’s office and if we
waited we might see her. We were so
delighted that we did this because she
came straight towards us and asked if
we enjoyed the service. I am told that I
thanked Her Majesty for coming!
We then proceeded into lunch to find
the room was so full we had to go into
another room, and oh what a shame we
had to eat with the Lord High Almoner
and the Sub Almoner.
It was a day filled with all the
historical pageantry that I love and it was
magical to be such an intimate part of it.
22 The Parish Magazine - March 2022
feature — 4
ALI'S POND NATURE RESERV
25 years ago this month, Ali's Pond nature reserve was created on Parish Council land at King George
King George's Field, became a designated Local Nature Reserve for its wildlife and amenity value in
The reserve has been managed with a gentle touch throughout this time by Ali and his volunteer Frie
1997 Creation! Ali's Pond liner is installed 1997
1997 The first trees are planted around
the new pond
2001 Volunteers hay
2004 Hedgerow planting after fire damage 200
2006 Sonning Fire Brigade Trust fill the
newly created Sonning Field pond
200
2006 Sonning Prima
pond dipping
2009 Log pile restocking 2013
2013 Filming pond clearance with George
McGavin, Big Wildlife Revival on TV
2013 Rt Hon Theresa
plant the Queen
201
2016 Reading Blue Coat School teachers
installing bird boxes
2019 Home Schooling Club gets to grip
with mini beasts
Pond residents: Great
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 23
E'S SILVER ANNIVERSARY
's Field by Sonning resident and professional ecologist Alastair Driver. The 1 acre site adjacent to
2001. In 2006 the site doubled in size when Reading Blue Coat school bought the adjoining land.
nds of Ali's Pond. Here we present a pictorial journey to celebrate the silver anniversary of the site.
raking by hand 2003 Legacy of a visit by travellers 2004
2004 Fire damage caused by contractors
cleaning up traveller rubbish
200
ry School ready for 2008 Reading Blue Coat School pupils
2008 Snow in April
plant a new Sonning Field hedgerow
May MP helps to
's Diamond Jubilee Oak
2015 Hedge restoration work party 201
2016 Friends of Ali's Pond win a CIEEM
national award for small conservation
crested newts
Orange Tip, one of more than 20 species of
butterfly found in the nature reserve
Rainbows ahead for Ali's Pond Nature Reserve
24 The Parish Magazine - March 2022 Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to advertisements
Pearson Hall Sonning
is an ideal venue for
your parties, regular
classes or meetings
Complete Pest
Solutions
WASPS • RATS • MICE • SQUIRRELS
BED BUGS • FLEAS • BIRDS & RODENT PROOFING
Leslie Parker
parkerleslie65@aol.com
0125 624 2135 0799 081 4143
PROFESSIONAL PEST
CONTROLLERS REGISTER
2 Vyne Lodge Farm Cottage, Bramley, Tadley, Hampshire RG26 5EA
24 hours service | Private client parking | Private chapel of rest
Free home visits | Pre-paid funeral plans | Full written estimate
Woodland funerals | Religious and non-religious services
Find out more and check availability
using our online booking system
www.pearsonhall.org.uk
Tel: 01491 573370
www.tomalins.co.uk tomalin@btconnect.com
Anderson House, 38 Reading Road, Henley-On-Thames, RG9 1AG
A Family Run Independent Funeral Service
YOUR HOME
FROM HOME THIS
WINTER
reception@thegreathouseatsonning.co.uk
0118 969 2277 l www.greathouseatsonning.co.uk
around the villages — 1
With all the focus on healthy living
in the early New Year, what better
time was there for Sonning Church
of England Primary School children
to take part in an initiative that
helped them learn the importance of
eating the right foods, the benefits of
a healthy lifestyle and taking regular
exercise.
Reading Football Club visited the
school in January and February to
hold practical sessions and workshops
that included several games and
puzzles that highlighted good eating
practices.
Then the youngsters hit the
playground to enjoy a host of ball
skills and training stints, just like the
real professional footballers do at the
Madejski Stadium.
Governor Kate Voss also visited the
school twice to run assembly sessions
on good dietary practice, the benefits
of healthy living and some of the
pitfalls to avoid.
Over a four week period, the
children were also encouraged to try
new foods, run a mile a day, swish a
badminton racket, cut out fatty foods,
eat less chocolate, play netball, walk
or cycle to school, appreciate fruit and
vegetables, and give a new sport a go.
Chris Berry from Reading FC said,
'It was wonderful to see the children’s
enthusiasm for trying new training
exercises and practicing ball skills. I
was also impressed by the knowledge
the children already had about healthy
living and which foods to choose to
stay in shape.'
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 25
Sonning School children shape up for 2022
Save the date
to save Karun
The International Committee of the
Inner Wheel Club of Reading Maiden
Erlegh is hosting a 'Saturday Brunch'
in Charvil Village Hall on 14 May in
aid of Karun School, Trichy, South
India.
Inner Wheel supported the school,
which was severely hit during the
covid lockdown, by paying for two
sewing machines and for a ‘seamstress’
teacher to expand the knowledge of
both local women and girls at the
school. More details on:
http://www.innerwheelrme.org
Ian McCann
Scarecrows are back for the royal holiday!
Sonning Scarecrows will be back for the Platinum Jubilee holiday weekend when
there will be all the usual attractions, including open gardens and no doubt, lots of
royal scarecrows!
To find out how to make a scarecrow, register an entry, offer help with
refreshments (making or serving), manning a garden, marshalling or generally
helping in any way go along to Pearson Hall on Tuesday 22 March at 7.45pm.
If you have a garden on the scarecrow trail — bottom of Pound Lane, Pearson
Road, High Street, Thames Street or bottom of Charvil Lane — for displaying a
scarecrow, or to open your garden contact: Barbara.carr71@hotmail.co.uk
26 The Parish Magazine - March 2022
‘Excellent’ School
An independent company
rated good
by Care Quality
Commission, our customers
and staff alike.
Home Carers Wanted!
Bridges Home Care is growing...
Rated highly by customers... Staff and the profession...
Providing quality care in the Oxfordshire area...
Why not join our close knit team?
I love care work
and being around
to help people
The managers
are approachable
and supportive
My main carer
is very good, she
is wonderful,
like a friend
The training gives
you confidence to
learn more
‘Pupils’ social development and collaboration skills
are excellent.’
‘Pupils make an outstanding contribution to
the lives of others.’
ISI Inspection, November 2019
Register online: rbcs.org.uk
An Independent Day School for Boys 11-18, and Girls 16 -18
Bridges ticks all the boxes
n✔ Full training given
n✔ Existing skills
& experience valued
n✔ Guaranteed work,
local area
n✔ Flexible hours or
shifts available
n✔ Supportive hands-on
management
If you think this might be for you, find out more...
call Bonny or Wendy on 01491 578758
or email bonny@bridgeshomecare.co.uk
visit www.bridgeshomecare.co.uk
UKHCA
Supported by Oxfordshire County Council
Oxfordshire Association
of Care Providers
Interior & exterior blinds,
shutters, awnings
& screens
Always excellent service
and great value
www.blinds-reading.co.uk
Call John at Blinds Direct
on 0118 950 4272
johndacre@blinds-reading.co.uk
Bathrooms &Kitchens Ltd
Plumbing, Plastering, Tiling
and all associated work
Contact us today for a
FREE
No obligation Consultation
and Quotation
0778 897 2921
markt@kingfisher-bathrooms.com
http://www.kingfisher-bathrooms.com
167 167 Fairwater Kingfisher Drive, Woodley, Reading, Berks RG5 3JQ
around the villages — 2
Local artists
painting for
the Jubilee
Sonning Art Group reports that
they are back to full capacity
following the pandemic and they
are now busy making preparations
for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee
weekend in June when they will be
staging an exhibition of their work
in Pearson Hall in conjunction with
the Scarecrow Trail. Their Jubilee
exhibition will be in Pearson Hall on
2-3 June. Three of the groups latest
pieces of art are . . .
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 27
Walk and talks but no film shows
Dinton Pastures by Maggie Hollidge
Salisbury Cathedral by Pauline Simpson
Rob Farquhar's dog
Reading Abbey
Mark Zhu, dreamstime.com
Most of the Sonning and Sonning Eye events are now running again, the
main exception being The Film Club which is still temporarily suspended.
This month, there are two events to look forward to: a guided Heritage walk
around Reading Abbey and the Museum, and a talk in Pearson Hall on the
Thames during the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
The guided Heritage walk around
Reading Abbey starts at 2pm on
Tuesday 8 March. The Abbey is
famous for being founded in 1121 by
King Henry I, who was the youngest
son of William the Conqueror. The
museum is known for displaying
the only full replica of the Bayeux
Tapestry which depicts the Norman
conquest of England.
Details about how to join the
walk, which is limited to 20 people,
are available from Penny Feathers
(contact details below).
The Pearson Hall talk is on Friday
25 March and will be presented
by Simon Wenham from the
Department of Continuing
Education at Oxford University.
His subject will be 'Leisure and
Pleasure on the Thames through the
Victorian and Edwardian periods'.
Simon has written several social
history books about the importance
of leisure during that period and his
talk will explore how society had fun
and entertained themselves with
particular emphasis on boating and
the growth of local boatyards.
The talk starts at 7.30pm
(doors open at 7pm). Tickets are
£4 members, £5 guests and can be
obtained via:
https://www.sonning.org.uk/
or Penny Feathers 0118 934 3193,
penny.feathers@btinternet.com
Eleven charities share one roof
The Wokingham Charity and Community Hub, which opened in January, is
now home to 11 charities and organisations.
The hub, is in Waterford House, Erftstadt Court, RG10 2YR, and is open Monday
to Friday from 9am- 5pm to seek advice, help and support, or you can make
an appointment calling 0118 228 0480 or emailing reception@vcshub.co.uk The
charities based there are:
— Involve (which is managing the hub)
— Cranstoun Wokingham, a drug and alcohol recovery service for adults
— Home Start Wokingham District
— Health Watch Wokingham Borough
— The Link Visiting Scheme
— Mind in Berkshire
— CLASP - Counselling Life Advice Suicide Prevention
— Promise Inclusion - for adults and children with learning disabilities
— Wokingham Volunteer Centre
— Wokingham Foodbank
— Citizen’s Advice Wokingham
28 The Parish Magazine - March 2022
Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to advertisements
Cruz Kitchens
Bespoke, Made to
Measure Kitchens
Designed | Supplied | Installed
Call 0118 961 1295
Email: info@cruzkitchens.co.uk
Visit: www.cruzkitchens.co.uk
studio dfp
complete graphic
and web design
service on your
doorstep
Since 1984 · 0118 969 3633
david@designforprint.org
WATER SOFTENER SALT
Tablet/Granular Tablet/Granular Harvey Block
10kg * 25kg* Salt 2 x 4kg*
• 5x10kg=£35
• 10x10kg=£65
• 20x10kg=£130
• 3x25kg=£35
• 5x25kg=£49.95
• 10x25kg=£95
• 5 Packs £35
• 10 Packs £60
• 20 Packs £115
FREE LOCAL DELIVERY
Email: Martyncollins@portmanpm.com
FOR OFFERS & PRICES ORDER ON LINE AT
www.salt-deliveries-online.com
Tel 07785 772263 or 0118 959 1796
Unit 2, 6 Portman Road Reading RG30 1EA
*Prices are subject to change please check our website
Assisted Living | Nursing | Dementia Care | Respite
WELCOMING NEW RESIDENTS!
Studio suites and one-bedroom apartments,
all with en suite wet rooms and kitchenettes
Cliveden Manor, Signature’s care home
in Marlow, provides exceptional care by
compassionate people for both individuals and
couples. The home has a variety of communal
areas and the apartments are typically twice the
size of an average care home.
To find out more or to arrange a visit to our
lovely home, please contact Jan Marples – Client
Liaison Manager
01628 702319 | enquiries.cliveden@signaturesl.co.uk | signature-care-homes.co.uk
210 Little Marlow Road, Marlow, SL7 1HX
around the villages — 3
Project Singers March project . . .
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 29
Suzanne Newman (left) with some of the Project Singers who entertained visitors to Sheeplands Garden Centre with Christmas carols last December.
Formed in September last year by
Suzanne Newman, Charvil's music
teacher and choir director, The
Project Singers are working on a
number of choral projects, the next,
of which, is being held this month.
The female voices choir rehearse at
Charvil Village Hall in two sections
— one for girls between the ages of
10 and 18 on Sundays between 6.15
and 7.45pm; the other for ladies who
rehearse on Mondays between 8.00
and 9.30pm.
Friends of St Andrew's
Church, Sonning
Notice of Annual General Meeting
followed by
with
Fish & Chip Supper
Thursday 17 March 2022
at 7.30pm in
The Ark
The singers' March project is A
Night at the Movies which culminates
in a concert at Norden Farm Centre
for the Arts, Maidenhead on 26
March at 7.30pm, when the choirs
will be singing a great selection of
songs from films including: Fame,
Singin' in the rain, Hopelessly devoted
to you, City of stars, We have all the
time in the World and a medley from
The Sound of Music.
They will be joined for their
concert by Crosfields Strings, an
ensemble from Crosfields School.
The Project Singers next major
project for the summer term is Let's
Sing! — all the songs being about
singing, such as: One voice, How can
I keep from singing, Cantar! Thank
you for the music and With a voice of
singing.
This project will culminate in
a concert in St Mary's Church,
Twyford on 3 July.
If you are interested in becoming
a Project Singer contact Suzanne on:
suzanneynewman@btinternet.com
or 0118 934 0589.
Planning Your
Traditional Wedding?
Then you might like to
discuss the possibility of
marriage in our ancient and
beautiful parish church.
If so, call the vicar, Jamie
0118 969 3298
He will be pleased to help!
In aid of FoStAC fund raising to ensure sufficient funds
are available for any future emergency repairs.
Tickets £15 including Fish & Chip Supper
(Bring your own bottle/drink)
Please email Sally Wilson on mustangsallywilson@gmail or 0787 689 9513
to confirm your attendance. Quiz teams will be in tables of four and payment
can be made to any of the Trustees in advance of the event.
Closing date for numbers will be Wednesday 16 March at 10am so that food
can be ordered in advance.
Registered Charity No: 1101944
In addition to the stunning and historic location in Sonning,
we will work hard to provide you with a memorable and
moving occasion. We can provide a choir, organ, peal of
eight bells, beautiful flowers, over 100 lit candles set in
ornate Victorian chandeliers and the use of our beautiful
churchyard as a backdrop for your photographs.
Church of St Andrew
Serving Sonning, Charvil & Sonning Eye
the church of st andrew SERVING CHARVIL,
SONNING & sonning eye since the 7 th century
30 The Parish Magazine - March 2022 Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to advertisements
Louise Amanda Sheppard (BA/Dip)
EMDR Specialist
Hypnotherapist
Mobile Therapist covering
Oxfordshire & Berkshire
EMDR Therapy
(Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing)
A powerful tool, proven to be extremely useful in the
treatment of traumatised individuals, which can give
people back control in just a few sessions
Trauma . Victims of Rape . Assault
Combat . Drug Addiction . Bereavement
Fears/Phobias . Anxiety . Depression
Hypnotherapy
Pain . Anxiety . Fears . Phobias
Smoking . Weight Management
Age Regression/Past-Life Regression
Gestalt Therapy/Dreamwork
Parts Therapy
07842 262 583
lasheppard61@gmail.com
History
Was it really . . . ?
. . . 500 YEARS AGO from 9-17
March 1522 that Martin Luther
preached his Invocavit Sermons. He
urged citizens to adhere to the core
Christian values and trust in God,
rather than, using violence to bring
about change.
. . . 175 YEARS AGO on 3 March
1847 that Alexander Graham Bell,
Scottish-born American engineer,
and scientist, was born. He is
credited with inventing the first
practical telephone.
. . . 100 YEARS AGO on 10 March
1922 that Indian independence leader
Mahatma Gandhi was arrested
and charged with sedition for his
campaign of non-cooperation against
the British Indian government. He
was sentenced to 6 years in prison
but released after 2 years as he
needed surgery.
Martin Luther (1483-1546) on an engraving
from 1859 by Nordheim and published in
Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, Germany.
Georgios Kollidas, dreamstime.com
. . . 75 YEARS AGO on 1 March 1947
that the International Monetary
Fund began operating.
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 31
Ireland resigned, and on 30 March
1972 that the British government
introduced direct rule of Northern
Ireland from Westminster (until
1999).
. . . 40 YEARS AGO on 3 March 1982
that the Barbican Centre in London
was opened. It is the largest arts and
conference venue in Europe.
. . . 30 YEARS AGO on 19 March 1992
that Buckingham Palace announced
the separation of the Duke and
Duchess of York (Prince Andrew and
Sarah Ferguson).
. . . 25 YEARS AGO on 6 March 1997
that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
launched the official Royal website:
http://www.royal.gov.uk
. . . 80 YEARS AGO on 8 March 1942
that the bombing of Essen, Germany,
took place. It was the first attack on
a German city by the RAF following
the Area Bombing Directive of 14
February, which authorised the
bombing of civilian areas.
. . . 80 YEARS AGO, on 25 March
1942 that Aretha Franklin, the Queen
of Soul, was born. The American
soul/R&B/pop/gospel singer's hit
songs included Respect and I Say a
Little Prayer. She died 2018.
. . . 65 YEARS AGO on 25 March 1957
that the Treaty of Rome was signed,
creating the European Economic
Community (EEC) which came into
force on 1 January 1958. It was
renamed the European Community
in 1993 and dissolved in 2009, having
been replaced by the European
Union.
. . . 50 YEARS AGO on 24 March 1972
that the government of Northern
Ritu Jethani dreamstime.com
. . . ALSO 25 YEARS AGO on 21
March 1997 the Rev W V Awdry,
clergyman and children’s writer,
died. He is best known as the creator
of Thomas the Tank Engine.
IN THE ARK AT ST ANDREW'S CHURCH
Sunday 20 March at 3pm
32 The Parish Magazine - March 2022
Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to advertisements
For a helpful professional service
FIELDSPHARMACY
Wide range of health advice provided
including private consultation area
www.etsheppard.co.uk
01491 574 644
36 Reading Road, Henley-on-Thames RG9 1AG
1a LONGFIELD ROAD, TWYFORD RG10 9AN
Telephone: 0118 934 1222
Fax: 0118 932 0372
Email: fields.pharmacy@gmail.com
www.afjones.co.uk
0118 9573 537
33 Bedford Road, Reading, RG1 7EX
Established in 1858
A.F. Jones
Stonemasons
Limited
CHRIS the plumber
I offer the same friendly, reliable service as
always but in addition to general plumbing
I now offer domestic and commercial gas
work — boiler repairs, installations, fault
finding, power flush.
Repairs not covered by Homeserve?
Speak to a tradesman, not a salesman!
Emergency call out available
Ask Chris Duvall for a FREE quote
christheplumber75@gmail.com
0785 095 6354
3584769
57732 AF Jones Parish Magazine Advert.indd 1 19/11/2014 10:43
Home and garden
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 33
Buckingham Palace gates
Throughout March and April you can
enjoy the tranquillity of Buckingham
Palace Garden when it is not usually
open to the public and discover its
highlights on a guided tour led by one
of the palace wardens.
You will be given special access to the
whole 39-acre grounds in springtime,
when the garden is at its fullest.
Throughout the season daffodils,
primroses and bluebells will emerge
in the meadows and the camellias,
magnolias and azaleas around the
garden will bloom.
You will be able to learn about
the role that William Aiton — then
Recipe of the month from Emma's Kitchen
Sausage, Apple and Leek Pie
Ingredients (Serves 6)
12 Cumberland sausages
2 large leeks, washed, trimmed, thick cut
2 Cox apples, cored and roughly chopped
2 tbsp wholegrain mustard
1 egg for glazing
Aughty Venable, dreamstime.com
An opportunity to go through the
gates of Buckingham Palace
director of the Royal Botanic Gardens
at Kew - George IV and Queen Victoria
had in shaping the layout of the
garden, its wildlife and rare trees and
flowers, and how it is now used by The
Queen and other members of the Royal
Family.
The tour will end with an
opportunity to take pictures by the
Palace overlooking the lake. Should
you visit the gardens we would love
to be able to share your pictures with
readers!
To book a tour, and for more
information: https://www.rct.uk/event/
buckingham-palace-garden-guidedtour-03-2022#/
1 tbs butter
3 tbs plain flour
250ml chicken stock
250ml cider
500g puff pastry
Method — Oven 2000C/Gas mark 6
Bake sausages for 30 minutes until browned and cooked through. Set aside and
allow to cool
Melt butter and fry leeks until softened (8-10 mins). Add the apples and cook
for a further 1-2mins, add the flour and stir until apples and leeks are coated
and cook for another minute. Slowly add the stock and then the cider, stir and
cook until a bubbling thick sauce. Add the mustard.
Chop the sausages and add to the sauce, stir until thoroughly mixed then add to
either six individual casserole dishes or one large one.
Add the puff pastry to the top, press down the edges and glaze on top.
Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until piping hot.
Serve with seasonal vegetables and mashed potatoes.
Artur Szczybylo, dreamstime.com
The Twyford and Ruscombe
Horticultural Association (TRHA)
store in Loddon Hall Road, Twyford
RG10 9JA — it's next to the
Twyford Doctors' Surgery — is
now open for members to purchase
horticultural goods on Sunday
mornings from 9.30-11.00am.
A ‘not for profit’ organisation TRHA
has been run by volunteers since
1956 and is affiliated with the Royal
Horticultural Society.
TRHA's main objective is to
promote gardening and allotment
cultivation to members of all ages
in the local community through
various activities that include a
monthly newsletter, three shows a
year and the sale of garden supplies
in the store.
BLOOMING
Its members support a number
of local horticultural projects,
particularly 'Twyford in Bloom'
which is part of a nationwide RHS
event, although this year RHS has
decided to suspend it because of the
covid pandemic.
Last year, the pandemic led to
TRHA holding an informal show in
the autumn of 2021.
This year, the spring show will be
held on Saturday 26 March. Details,
when available, will be on the
association's website: http://trha.org.uk
where membership details are also
available.
Alternatively, contact: Jenny
Wager, on trhamembership@gmail.
com or 0118 932 0127. The annual
household membership is £8 per
year, or £7 for those over 65.
34 The Parish Magazine - March 2022
THE ARTS — 1
Poetry
corner
The metaphysical dean
Psalm 21:1-7
Blessed people of platinum year
Of seventy years past and dear
Elizabeth your servant reigns
Christ-like her life with no unfeigns
The Queen shall joy in your strength, Lord
Rejoice in your salvation, Lord
You have, Lord, given her what she
Desired in heart, and heard each plea
For you meet her with the blessings
Of goodness, each her honour brings
You set crown of gold on her head
Faithful she peoples still has led
She asked life of you, and you gave
Her life, and salvation to save
Even length of days for ever
His witness to you fades never
Her glory is great in your deeds
In your salvation, it she heeds
Honour and majesty have you
Laid on her, as King David true
For she trusts in you as did he
Of old, now so these days does she
Through the mercy of the most High
She not be moved, knows you are nigh
Arthur C James, dreamstime.com
Platinum Peace
By Steven Rolling
Tune: Gonfalon Royal ‘The royal banners forward go’
Wirestock, dreamstime.com
John Donne (1572–1631) was an English poet, scholar,
soldier, secretary and finally Dean of St Paul's Cathedral.
But he is most remembered for his poetry and is seen as the
greatest of the 17th Century ‘metaphysical’ poets.
He was born into a Roman Catholic family in London at a
time when the Church of England was the dominant faith,
and Roman Catholics were considered second class citizens.
Although he studied at Oxford and Cambridge, his Roman
Catholicism denied him his degree. So, in 1592, he went to
London to study law at Lincoln’s Inn.
In 1594 Donne converted to the Church of England, and
this opened up a new life for him. Two years later he joined
a naval expedition led by the Earl of Essex against Cadiz in
Spain. On his return in 1598, he became private secretary to
Sir Thomas Egerton, Lord Keeper of the Seal. All was going
well, until he fell in love with Egerton’s 16 year old niece,
Anne More, whom he secretly married in 1601. Egerton was
furious, Donne lost his job, and spent a short time in prison.
INSPIRING PREACHER
For several years after that he worked as a lawyer and in
1610 he wrote a book encouraging Roman Catholics to take
the oath of allegiance to the king. His book caught the eye of
James I, and Donne was appointed as a royal chaplain only a
few months after his ordination in 1615.
In 1617 Donne’s beloved wife, Anne, died, and four years
later he was appointed the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, where
he proved to be a much loved and inspiring preacher.
Throughout his working life, he continued to write poetry,
though most of it remained unpublished until 1633. It was
then mostly forgotten after his death, until early last century
when in the 1920's, both Ezra Pound and TS Eliot openly
acknowledged their literary debt to him. Donne’s place as one
of the greatest of the 17th Century ‘metaphysical’ poets is
now assured — metaphysical poets placed greater emphasis
on the spoken rather than lyrical quality of their verse.
The ARTS — 2
Book Reviews
Victorian Stained Glass by Trevor
Yorke, Shire Publications, £8.99
This beautifully illustrated guide
introduces the world of Victorian
stained glass which can be found in
countless British churches, municipal
buildings and homes. It is often
glowing with colour, with designs
influenced by the Gothic Revival, the
Arts and Crafts Movement, and even
the Art Nouveau, as a new century dawned. Its famous
designers include A W N Pugin, and Pre-Raphaelites
William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones. Trevor Yorke,
a historian, tells how Victorian craftsmen re-learned the
lost medieval art of colouring, painting, and assembling
stained glass windows, that in an age of industry became
mass produced.
The Bible: a story that makes sense
of life by Andrew Ollerton, Bible
Society, £11.99
This book explores how the story of
the Bible not only helps us understand
our lives, but also gives a framework
for making sense of life in general.
We can see how the narratives in the
Bible mirror the narrative arcs we go
through. Wherever you stand with the Bible, whether
you are seeking to find out its meaning for your own life
or just want to know more about its stories, this book is a
fantastic starting point.
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 35
Enter my rest
Wikipedia, public domain
Rev Michael Burgess continues his series on God in the Arts with a look
at ‘The Potato Planters’ by Jean-Francois Millet. It hangs in the Museum
of Fine Arts in Boston.
At this time of the year, we are planning our gardens for the
spring and summer ahead. The book of Genesis opens with
a glorious account of God’s work of creation, and it also tells
us that God rested on the seventh day.
We all need to find that balance of work and rest, of activity
and slowing down in our lives. And we are not always good
at that because our world seems to be in the fast lane. We
rush everywhere, we rush out of habit, and we rush because
everyone around us is rushing.
This month’s painting, The Potato Planters by Jean–
Francois Millet, a 19th century French artist, portrays two
peasants at work. They don’t seem to be rushing, but Millet
has certainly portrayed the hard toil of their work, digging in
the earth from sunrise to sunset to eke out a living.
Millet was the son of a farm labourer and many of his
paintings convey the severe realism of peasant life. We can
sympathise with the couple working on the land, and our
eyes focus on them as they dominate the canvas.
But in the corner under the shade of a tree there is a
donkey and a sleeping child. The donkey knows only too well
the reality of toil and work, but here he is resting, enjoying
the peace and the shade.
STAND APART
Andy Merrifield, an American philosopher, has just
published an account of his travels with a donkey, Gribouille.
As they journey together, the donkey teaches him the value
of patience, the importance of going slowly through the
world, and the preciousness of tender friendship between
humans and animals. They are all caught up in the little
donkey in this painting.
The man and woman in the foreground may reflect our
own lives with the duties, the expectations and the demands
called of us at work. Take time to focus on the donkey,
enjoying his rest.
Take time this spring and summer to find relaxation and
recreation. The world may carry on spinning around us, but
we can stand apart, and enter into the rest that God enjoyed
after his work of creation.
36 The Parish Magazine - March 2022
HEALTH — 1
Dr Simon Ruffle writes . . . March hares?
March was the first month of the
Roman calendar, named after
Martius who is related to Mars
the God of war and was ancestor
of Romulus and Remus. In Saxon
times it was Lentmonat after the
spring equinox and, likely, where
the term 'lent' comes from
A quick note of the March hare:
Long before Lewis Carroll told us,
correctly, that the hare was mad
in May, but not as mad than in
March — the English hare was seen
fighting in March.
It was thought that these were
the males fighting for dominance.
That is incorrect; it is the females
fighting off the unwarranted
attention of the male hare as they
are not yet in season or interested.
March is early in the season which
lasts to September.
ENDOMETRIOSIS
Humans are unusual in the fact
that we don’t have seasons as such
and it is on the topic of reproduction
that I want to write.
March is the world wide month of
endometriosis awareness.
Endometriosis comes from
Greek: end — inside; metro —
womb; and osis— disease. This is a
misnomer when referring to humans
but probably not in horses!
The uterus has a lining known
as the endometrium. This is a blood
rich lining that allow fertilised egg
to implant and lead to pregnancy.
This is the lining that is shed every
month.
This lining can go wrong. It
can over grow, develop cysts and
the endometrial glands become
inflamed.
No one cause has been found but
it is likely to be genetic and related
to other autoimmune diseases that
cause inflammation, like asthma.
These inflamed glands can ‘seed’
outside the endometrium which
is what causes the symptoms of
endometriosis.
Anatomy is important here as
the womb sits in the pelvis with
the bladder and bowel. These seeds
tend to sit only in the abdomen
and pelvis. Rarely, they can move
to other areas of the body such as
the brain, lungs and other mucosal
linings.
Symptoms of endometriosis
vary widely. Some women have no
symptoms whatsoever and some
can be crippled by period pain. This
is with or without endometriosis,
however, with the disease it is more
likely that symptoms occur.
Bloating, lower abdominal pain,
painful +/- heavy periods, and painful
sexual intercourse are the most
common symptoms.
DIAGNOSIS
Some symptoms that are due to
endometriosis can be mistaken for
other common issues such as irritable
bowel disease and urine infection.
Recurrences of these symptoms
and painful periods should trigger
investigation for the diagnosis.
Due to the commonality of
symptoms diagnosis is often delayed.
Diagnosis comes from a careful
history and often a trial of therapy. A
treatment for heavy periods such as
the pill or progesterone is used.
Diagnosis of endometriosis
involves an invasive process that isn’t
risk free, laparoscopy. A laparacope is
passed into the abdomen and pelvis.
As you can imagine this procedure
is not comfortable and not totally
safe. This also adds to the ‘delay’ in
diagnosis.
Simon Ruffle
Endometriosis needs oestrogen,
so it does recede after the menopause
but denying women of oestrogen
through therapy also leads to many
side effects, unwanted symptoms and
other disease.
I’d need the whole Parish Magazine
to go through all the options for
treatment and would dilute the
message in this article that March is
‘awareness’ month.
Other issues with the diagnosis
of endometrial disease are misogyny,
embarrassment and trivialising
of female only issues. Oh, it’s just
period pain. Those of us of a certain
generation laughed along with Les
Dawson in drag mouthing ‘lady
problems’ and ‘the change,’ while of
its time, doesn’t help bringing issues
to prominence.
Maybe the female hares are onto
something.
Neil Harrison, dreamstime.com
HEALTH — 2
'A mosquito'; 'reminds
me of a steam train';
'it’s hard to describe,
it’s not like anything
I’ve heard before' . . .
By Nic Wray
Communications manager, British Tinnitus Association
These people are talking about their tinnitus, a
condition often described as 'ringing in the ears' but
which can appear as almost any type of noise, or
mixture of noises. Some people even hear snatches of
music. Comedian and naturalist Bill Oddie’s tinnitus
plays trombone or bagpipe music!
While musical tinnitus such as Bill’s is fairly rare,
tinnitus is a very common condition. It is more prevalent
in people over 50, although all age groups can experience
it, even children. Tinnitus is experienced by over 600
people in the communities of Charvil, Sonning and
Sonning Eye alone — are you one of them?
Tinnitus is rarely spoken about, but it is a common
condition. About one in eight adults (7.1 million people)
in the UK have tinnitus, and of those, about 1 in 10
find it has an effect on their quality of life. This means
it can cause distress, anxiety, sleeplessness and lack of
concentration.
CAUSES OF TINNITUS
The causes of tinnitus are not fully understood, but
some of the more common causes associated with it are:
— Hearing loss: the delicate hair cells in the inner ear
may reduce in number due to ‘wear and tear’ as people
age. This gradual change can cause hearing loss, which
makes tinnitus more noticeable as it is not masked by
external sound.
—Exposure to loud noise: hair cells can also be damaged
by loud noise, which could generate tinnitus.
— Stress and anxiety: it’s not always clear whether
stress causes the onset of tinnitus. However, tinnitus
may be more noticeable if you are anxious or stressed.
— Ear infections: middle ear infections can cause
hearing loss and tinnitus. This is normally temporary, but
it is important to get treatment from your GP.
Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease, but it is wise
to see your doctor if you think you have it. Your GP will
be able to refer you to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
specialist and Audiology services.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Sadly, many people believe that ‘nothing can be done’
for tinnitus and that they just have to ‘learn to live with
it.’ While it’s true that there is currently no cure, there are
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 37
Image credits:
man: Tibanna79, dreamstime.com; mosquito: Vladvitek, dreamstime.
com; steam train: nicepng.com; triangle: Tibanna79, dreamstime.com
management tools and methods available to ensure that if
you have tinnitus, you don’t have to ‘suffer’ from it.
The British Tinnitus Association’s booklet Living with
Tinnitus outlines five top techniques for learning to live
well with tinnitus:
— Information: you will probably feel better when you
find out more about the condition, that it is very common,
and that you are not alone.
— Correcting any hearing loss: if your tinnitus is
accompanied by any hearing loss, then trying to correct
this loss with hearing aids is often very helpful.
— Sound therapy: if the noises seem louder at quiet
times, particularly during the night, it may help to
have some environmental or natural sound from a CD,
a sound generator, or even a fan or ticking clock in the
background. Some people use in-ear sound generators.
— Relaxation: learning to relax is probably one of the
most useful things you can do to help yourself. Those
who practice relaxation techniques say they reduce
the loudness of their tinnitus and help them become
indifferent to it.
— Counselling: techniques such as Cognitive Behavioural
Therapy (CBT) can be helpful, either as a standalone
therapy or combined with sound therapy.
Tinnitus can make us feel isolated and trying to tackle
it alone can sometimes feel like a challenge. There is
support out there to help you to feel less alone.
The British Tinnitus Association (BTA) can offer
support through its freephone helpline, email, SMS/text
and web chat services. BTA's tinnitus support team has
many years of experience supporting people with tinnitus.
— Freephone helpline: 0800 018 0527
— Web chat: http://www.tinnitus.org.uk
— Email: helpline@tinnitus.org.uk
— Text/SMS: 07537 416841
TINNITUS SUPPORT
TAKE ON TINNITUS
BTA has developed a free online learning resource
Take on tinnitus, designed primarily for people who have
just begun to experience tinnitus. However, it is also a
turn to page 38
38 The Parish Magazine - March 2022
HEALTH — 3
THE SCIENCES
What's the difference between a
cathedral and a physics lab? Are
they not both saying: ‘Hello’?
from page 37
Tinnitus
valuable resource for those who have experienced the
condition long term.
Take on Tinnitus, which is designed so it can be used on
mobile phones, tablets or computers, includes an initial
taster session followed by seven 10-15 minute learning
modules covering the fundamentals of tinnitus, hearing
and tinnitus, benefits of using sound, the link between
tinnitus and relaxation, sleep and tinnitus, the benefits of
talking about it and living your life with tinnitus.
http://www.takeontinnitus.co.uk
SUPPORT GROUPS
Artur Szczybylo, dreamstime.com
Members of tinnitus support groups often share
experiences and advice. It can be helpful just getting to
talk with other people who have it.
Support groups may be facilitated by audiologists or
hearing therapists, volunteers with the condition or, in
some cases, by staff from local charities working in the
area.
Every support group is different, but you can expect a
warm welcome and the opportunity to talk to others in a
similar position. Some groups meet in person, and some
meet online. All groups have the common desire to help
people with tinnitus and all the groups BTA supporters
have signed up to a Code of Practice.
Some groups organise guest speakers and are
structured. Other support groups place an emphasis on
emotional support and shared experience and are less
formal. And some do a bit of both.
Currently, the nearest group to Charvil, Sonning and
Sonning Eye meets in Marlow. Volunteer Gilly Wright
facilitates the group with the support of audiologists
Selma Becker and Kevin Jeffery at Help in Hearing. If you
would like to attend a meeting, contact:
events@helpinhearing.co.uk or 0345 222 0579
An anxious year for the young
The word ‘anxiety’ has been chosen by children as how
they would describe their experience of 2021. Oxford
University Press asked more than 8,000 pupils, aged 7-14, to
choose from a shortlist of 10 words which one they felt was
most applicable to them: anxiety, challenging, isolate, wellbeing,
resilience, bubble, kindness, remote, cancelled, empathy. The next
on the list were ‘challenging’, and ‘isolate’.
By Dr Ruth M Bancewicz, church engagement director, The Faraday
Institute for Science and Religion, Cambridge
Scientists often speak of a reality beyond the objects they
are studying, and for some this is encountered in powerful
episodes of wonder and awe. The Christian writer JW
Sire quotes the headline above from Annie Dillard in
his book 'Echoes of a Voice', which explores spiritual or
‘transcendent’ experiences.
Sire describes moments that are 'emotional, intellectual, highly
charged, usually sudden, unannounced, often odd, some weird,
others glorious', and places them on three different levels:
— Level 1: A material object that points beyond the material
reality. For example, someone might develop a sense of what
is good and evil, based on the actions of others.
— Level 2: Experience of something personal ... just behind
the surface of what we are directly experiencing, often
something with which one feels at peace or even at one, or,
perhaps, as dangerous or threatening.
— Level 3: A felt presence that has a specific character or
presence, for example, holiness, inspiring humility, fearful
awe or wonder.
The first two levels, says Sire, are fairly common.
The third is rare. He gives a wide range of examples,
including scientists. Some are religious or interested in
spirituality, others are atheists. For some, their moments of
transcendence carried a particular meaning, others simply
sparked curiosity.
A SPECIAL JOY
Luq1, dreamstime.com
The famous geneticist Francis Collins described several
significant moments when he was young: 'being transported
by the experience of looking through a telescope', or 'a Christmas
Eve where the descant on a particularly beautiful Christmas
carol…left me with a sense of unexpected awe and a longing for
something I could not name'.
These experiences meant that when Collins was faced
with the question of belief in God, 'all [his] arguments seemed
very thin'. Now, as a fully-fledged scientist and a believer
in God, he is able to say that 'for a scientist who occasionally
is given the remarkable privilege of discovering something not
previously known by man, there is a special kind of joy associated
with such flashes of insight.'
Footnote: If you are wondering why I chose the picture above of some
ancient olive trees it is because they are in the Jerusalem-Garden of
Gethsemane where I experienced such a moment of transcendence that
Ruth Bancewicz is writing about — editor
CROSSWORD
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8
11
13
18 19 20
22 23
24
9 10
16 17
Across
Across
- or implied idea (11)
1 Suggested or implied idea (11)
9
-
Apply pressure
(5)
(5)
10 - Mineral spring spring (3) (3)
11 - Adjusted the the pitch of pitch (5) of (5)
12 - Agreeable sound sound or tune (5) or tune (5)
13 Mislead (8)
13 - Mislead (8)
16 Mexican pancake (8)
16 - Mexican pancake (8)
18 Dry red wine (5)
18 - Dry red wine (5)
21 Dissatisfaction (5)
21 - Dissatisfaction (5)
22 Golf peg (3)
22 23 - Golf Small peg (3) antelope (5)
23 24 - Small Initiators antelope (11) (5)
24 - Initiators (11)
CODEWORD
12
14 15
21
5 - ___ pole: tribal emblem (5)
19 Large body 17 - Possessing of water (6) (5)
20 - Select; formally approve (5)
19 3 15 23 16 21 6 13 12 19 16 9
12 25 9 20 5 11
19 13 8 9 14 23 16 21 12 19 13 7
13 1 13 13 21 25
16 14 6 25 20 4 23 9 13
7 1 10 9 25 16 13 9 13 1
20 2 2 16
25 13 19 2 19 1 12 5 19 10
7 25 12 9 16 6 19 16 19
25 9 16 1 6 22
13 18 9 20 1 24 24 13 23 9 3 9
9 17 23 21 19 6
3 26 9 13 19 12 12 9 12 23 1 19
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
T P
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
O
SUDOKU
Each of the nine blocks has to contain all the
numbers 1-9 within its squares. Each number
can only appear once in a row, column or box.
WORDSEARCH FOR LENT
March brings us Lent and Mothering
Sunday. Lent is a time of spiritual selfassessment
as we prepare for Easter. It
is a time to turn to God, and grow closer
to him. Mothering Sunday reminds us
of not only the mothers that have loved
and raised us, but of Mother Church,
who has spiritually loved and nurtured
us throughout our Christian pilgrimage.
How many words can you find on these
themes in this month’s Word Search?!
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 39
PUZZLE PAGE — the answers will be published in the next issue
Down
Down
2 - Unity (7)
2 Unity (7)
3 Necessary
3 - Necessary
(7)
(7)
4 Rained heavily 4 - Rained (6) heavily (6)
5 ___ pole: tribal emblem (5)
6 Expels from 6 - Expels a position from a position (5) (5)
7 Immoderate (11)
7 - Immoderate (11)
8 Compelling (11)
8 - Compelling (11)
14 Non-believer in God (7)
14 - Non-believer in God (7)
15 Careless mistake (7)
15 - Careless mistake (7)
17 Possessing (6)
20 Select; 19 formally - Large body approve of water (5)
lent
spiritual
easter
preparation
fasting
prayer
desert
selfdenial
repentance
seeking
finding
growing
1. Who downsizes to upgrade?
2. Which family business was established in 1968?
3. Who has spent 300 years on the River Thames?
4. Who gives a little help like your friend?
5. Who has apartments twice the size of an average home?
6. Who will light over 100 candles for you?
mothers
love
care
nurture
learning
teaching
disciples
worldwide
flowers
thankyou
nursing
family
WHO DOES WHAT AND WHERE QUIZ? [IN THIS ISSUE]
February
Solutions
CROSSWORD
B O N S A I H T U
U I B L U S H I N G
T A G I M I D
T G L A Z E D N E O N
O L A R K N
N E E D S J U P I T E R
CODEWORD
J A P E B L A C K O U T
U I P O R U R
S E Q U O I A E X T R A
T U L F A S N
I R E I E T W I G S
F C O R G I D C
I P Y V E R
C A H E D G E I
A U D I O I N M A P
T D L E E A T
I D L E D S A S H I M I
O E E E S Z O
N O S T R I L S B E E N
SUDOKU
O S M N
B O X W O O D A G E N T
G N P S N H
T R O T H E N R Y V R
E U I O I C E
E S P R E S S O E A
S N M P R E S E T
WORDSEARCH ROMANCE
WHO DOES WHAT AND
WHERE QUIZ?
1. Sonning Scouts
2. Thames Valley Will Service
3. Bridges Care Home
4. The Mill at Sonning
5. Muck & Mulch
6. Mortgage Required Limited
Natalia Riabchenko, dreamstime.com
40 The Parish Magazine - March 2022
Local Trades and Services
ACG SERVICES - LOCKSMITH
Locks changed, fitted, repaired and opened
Door and window locks fitted, UPVC door lock expert
Checkatrade member - Which Trusted Trader
Call Richard Homden: 0149 168 2050 / 0771 040 9216
Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to advertisements
CHIROPODY AND PODIATRY
Linda Frewin MInstChp, HCPC member
General foot care and treatments
25 Ashtrees Road, Woodley RG5 4LP
0118 969 6978 - 0790 022 4999
CLARK BICKNELL LTD - PLUMBING & HEATING
Qualified Plumbing and Heating Engineers Gas Safe
25 years experience - local family run company
Office: 0118 961 8784 - Paul: 0776 887 4440
paul@clarkbicknell.co.uk
COMPUTER FRUSTRATIONS?
For jargon free help with your computer problems
PC & laptop repairs, upgrades, installations, virus removal
Free advice, reasonable rates
0798 012 9364 help@computerfrustrations.co.uk
INTERSMART LIMITED
Electrical Installation and Smart Home Automation
intersmartuk@gmail.com
Elliott — 0777 186 6696
Nick — 0758 429 4986
HANDYMAN & DECORATING SERVICES
Reliable and affordable
Small jobs a speciality!
Call Andy on 0795 810 0128
http://www.handyman-reading.co.uk
JAMES AUTOS
Car Servicing, Repairs and MOT
Mole Road, Sindlesham, RG41 5DJ
0118 977 0831
http://www.jamesautos.co.uk
ALL AERIALS
A local business based in Sonning. TV - FM - DAB aerials etc.
Sky dishes. Communal premises IRS systems, TV points.
Free estimates - All work guaranteed
0118 944 0000
MC CLEANING
We are a family business with excellent references
and we are fully insured
All cleaning materials provided
For free quote call: Maria 0779 902 7901
PROFESSIONAL HOME VISIT SERVICE
Thames Valley Will Service
Also Lasting Powers of Attorney and Probate Service
We are still working during the pandemic period
0134 464 1885 tvwills@yahoo.co.uk
THAMES CHIMNEY SWEEPS
0779 926 8123 0162 882 8130
enquiries@thameschimneysweeps.co.uk
http://www.thameschimneysweeps.co.uk
Member of the Guild of Master Sweeps
CALLAGHAN CARPETS & FLOORING
Thirty-six years local experience
Family run company
0118 962 8527 0779 223 9474
callaghancarpets@btinternet.com
WANT HELP WITH AN ‘ODD JOB’?
For local odd jobs please call Phil on
0118 944 0000
0797 950 3908
Thames Street, Sonning
BIG HEART TREE CARE
Reliable and friendly service for all tree care
NPTC qualified — Public Liability of £10million
0118 937 1929 0786 172 4071
bighearttreecare.co.uk info@bighearttreecare.co.uk
SMALLWOOD
Landscaping, garden construction,
patios, lawns, fencing, decking etc
0118 969 8989 https://www.smallwoodlandscaping.co.uk/
office@smallwoodlandscaping.co.uk
ALL WASTE CLEARANCE & DISPOSAL
Waste clearance from office, house, garden, loft
Licensed waste carriers, no job too small or large
Contact: John
0771 021 2056 j.garmston@ntworld.com
BERKSHIRE STUMP REMOVALS
Stump grinding and tree stump removal
Latest narrow access machinery
Contact: Mark
0798 495 7334 http://www.berkshirestumpremoval
PAINTER and DECORATOR
Roger McGrath has 25 years experience
Restoration painting work of any size undertaken
For a free quotation call
Roger 0742 332 1179
CHILDREN'S PAGE
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 41
42 The Parish Magazine - March 2022 Please mention The Parish Magazine when replying to advertisements
information — 2
Parish contacts
Ministry Team
— The Vicar: Revd Jamie Taylor (Day off Friday)
The Parish Office, Thames Street, Sonning, RG4 6UR
vicar@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298
— Associate Vicar: Revd Kate Wakeman-Toogood
revkate@sonningparish.org.uk / 0746 380 6735
On duty Tuesday, Friday and Sunday
— Youth Minister: Chris West (Westy)
youthminister@sonningparish.org.uk / 0794 622 4106
— Licensed Lay Minister: Bob Peters
bob@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 377 5887
Children's Ministry
— Alison Smyly office@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298
Churchwardens
— Stuart Bowman sdbowman73@aol.com / 0118 978 8414
— Liz Nelson liz.nelson1@ntlworld.com / 0779 194 4270
Deputy Churchwardens
— Simon Darvall sdarvall@businessmoves.com 0793 928 2535
— Sue Peters mail@susanjpeters.com / 0118 377 5887
— Molly Woodley (deputy churchwarden emeritus)
mollywoodley@live.co.uk / 0118 946 3667
Parish Administrator
— Hilary Rennie
office@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298
Parochial Church Council
— Secretary: Hilary Rennie 0118 969 3298
— Treasurer: Richard Moore 0118 969 2588
Director of Music, organist and choirmaster
— Hannah Towndrow BA (Oxon)
music@sonningparish.org.uk
Sonning Bell Ringers
— Tower Captain: Pam Elliston
pam.elliston@talktalk.net / 0118 969 5967
— Deputy Tower Captain: Rod Needham
r06needham@gmail.com / 0118 926 7724
Parish Website: http://www.sonningparish.org.uk
The Parish Magazine: http://www.theparishmagazine.co.uk
— Editor: Bob Peters
editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk / 0118 377 5887
— Advertising and Distribution: Gordon Nutbrown
advertising@theparishmagazine.co.uk / 0118 969 3282
— Treasurer: Pat Livesey
pat.livesey@yahoo.co.uk / 0118 961 8017
— The Parish Magazine is produced by St Andrew’s PCC and delivered
free of charge to every home in Charvil, Sonning and Sonning Eye.
— The Parish Magazine is printed in the United Kingdom by The Print
Factory at Sarum Graphics Ltd, Old Sarum, Salisbury SP4 6QX
— The Parish Magazine is distributed by Abracadabra Leaflet
Distribution Ltd, Reading RG7 1AW
— The Parish Magazine template was designed in 2012 by Roger
Swindale rogerswindale@hotmail.co.uk and David Woodward
david@designforprint.org
Advertisers index
ABD Construction 6
ACG Services Locksmith 40
Active Domestic Appliances 16
Active Security 30
ADD Plumbing 12
All Aerials 40
All Waste Clearance 40
Barn Store Henley 16
Berkshire Stump Removals 40
Big Heart Tree Care 40
Blandy & Blandy Solicitors 14
Blinds Direct 26
Blue Moose 8
Bridge House 43
Bridges Home Care 26
Bull Inn 8
Callaghan Carpets & Flooring 40
Chimney Sweep, Thames 40
Chiropody, Linda Frewin 40
Chris the Plumber 32
Clark Bicknell 40
Complete Pest Solutions 40
Computer Frustrations 40
Cruz Kitchens 28
Design for Print 28
EMDR Hypnotherapist 30
Freebody Boatbuilders 6
Fields Pharmacy 32
French Horn 44
Gardiners Nursing 8
Great House Sonning 24
Handyman and Decorating Services 40
Haslams Estate Agents 2
Hicks Group 16
Intersmart Electrical Installations 40
James Autos 40
Jones & Sheppard Stone Masons 32
Kingfisher Bathrooms 26
MC Cleaning 40
Mill at Sonning 4
M & L Healthcare Solutions 12
Mortgage Required 18
Muck & Mulch 28
Odd Jobs 40
Painter and Decorator 40
Pearson Hall Sonning 24
Reading Blue Coat School 26
Richfield Flooring 14
Seniors Helping Seniors 12
Shiplake College 14
Signature Cliveden Manor Care Home 28
Sonning Golf Club 32
Sonning Scouts Marquees 30
Smallwood Garden Services 40
Style by Julie 6
Thames Valley Water Softeners 6
Thames Valley Wills Service 40
Tomalin Funerals 24
Walker Funerals 12
Water Softener Salt 28
Window Cleaner 16
Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding this advertisement
The Parish Magazine - March 2022 43
BRIDGE HOUSE
of TWYFORD
Because you deserve
the very best
Welcome to Bridge House Nursing Home
Established for 35 years, the elegant Georgian Grade II listed Bridge House has extended its facilities to
include a beautiful, light-filled and airy purpose built nursing home.
Our philosophy is built upon helping residents maintain their independence and dignity, whilst ensuring
their needs and expectations are fully met. We believe that being independent means having the freedom
of choice and flexibility over how the day is spent. Working closely with families and professionals
is fundamental in delivering and maintaining the required level of health and wellbeing.
At Bridge House, our comprehensive facilities and care provision is designed to deliver skilled,
professional and individually planned care in an unobtrusive manner.
Call 0800 230 0206
Visit www.bridgehouseoftwyford.co.uk
INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • NURSING HOME
190821 - Bridge House Ad Parish Mag v01.indd 1 21/08/2019 18:06
44 The Parish Magazine - March Please 2022 mention The Parish Magazine when responding this advertisement
The French Horn,
Sonning. Quality.
A continuing commitment to
wonderful food and wine.
0118 969 2204
www.thefrenchhorn.co.uk
Change language