The Parish Magazine January 2023

The Parish Magazine - January 2023 1 

The 

Parish 

Magazine 

The John King Trophy and Gold Award 

Best Magazine of the Year 2018 

National Parish Magazine Awards 

Best Overall 2022, 2020, 2015 

Best Content 2021, 2016 

Best Editor 2019 

Best Print 2018 

Serving the communities of Charvil, Sonning & Sonning Eye since 1869 

January 2023 — The Epiphany 

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 - January 2023 

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The Parish Magazine - December 2022 1 





Best Overall 2020, 2015 



information — 1 

Contents January 2023 

THE ASSOCIATE VICAR'S LETTER, 5 

THE PARISH NOTICEBOARD 

— Confirmation Service, 7 

— STAY, 9 

— Drone over Sonning, 11 

— Claude's view from the pew, 11 

— The Persecuted Church, 13 

— My favourite Bible verse, 15 

— Christian basics, 17 

— From the editor's desk, 17 

FEATURES 

— Dry January, 19 

— Rescue, Recover and Service, 19 

— Look back to the future, 20-21 

— Monkey Puzzle tree, 22-25 

—around the villages 

— Sonning Art Group, 25 

— Macmillan Coffee Morning, 25 

— Pop rock in Pearson Hall, 25 

— Sonning School Admissions, 25 

— New Year Monday Club, 25 

— Children research WWI, 26-27 

health 

— Dr Simon Ruffle, 27 

THE ARTS 

— Turner's wonder, 29 

— Poetry Corner, 29 

HOME & GARDEn 

— Recipe quiz, 31 

— Disneyficated pets, 31 

— In the winter garden, 31 

history, 33 

THE SCIENCES 

— Miracles, 33 

PUZZLE PAGE, 35 

children's page, 37 

information 

— Church services, 3 

— From the registers, 3 

— Parish contacts, 42 

— Advertisers' index, 42 

This ISSUE's FRONT COVER 




January 2023 — Epiphany 


CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY 

Winter is the time to look after our trees. 

Picture: Keith Nichols 

See also pages 22-25 

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 February 

issue of The Parish Magazine is: 

Friday 6 January 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 


Services at 

St Andrew’s 

Sunday 1 January 

— 8.00am Holy Communion 

— 10.30am Family Service 

— 4pm Evensong followed by 

tea in The Ark 



— 10.30am Parish Eucharist with 

STAY and Sunday Club 



— 10.30am Family Communion 

— 3.00pm Messy Church 



— 10.30am Parish Eucharist 



— 10.30am Parish Eucharist 

OTHER REGULAR SERVICES 

Morning Prayer is held in church 

every Tuesday at 9.30am. 

Mid-week Communion in The Ark is 

held every Wednesday at 10.00am. Tea 

and coffee follows the service. 

Home Communion at Signature at 

Sonning is held on the first Monday of 

each month at 11.00am. 

From the Registers 

baptisms 

— Sunday 13 November, Isabelle Eva Field and Zachary Stanley Wynn Bailey 

— Sunday 4 December, Eddison John Karalus and Arlie Summer Karalus 

funerals 

— Wednesday 9 November, Terence Michael Stuart Burroughs, funeral service in 

church followed by burial in churchyard 

— Tuesday 15 November, Christine Mason, funeral service in church followed by 

cremation at Reading Crematorium 

— Wednesday 16 November, Reginald William Frederick Norkett, cremation 

service at Easthampstead Crematorium 

— Monday 21 November, Leslie Douglas Woodford, funeral service in church 

followed by cremation at Reading Crematorium 

— Tuesday 22 November, Peter Robinson, interment of ashes in the churchyard 

— Friday 25 November, Marjorie Doreen Turner, interment of ashes in churchyard 

— Saturday 26 November, Arthur John Foden, interment of ashes in churchyard 

— Tuesday 29 November, Reginald William Frederick Norkett, interment of ashes 

in churchyard 

— Friday 2 December: Janet May Hunt, interment of ashes in churchyard 

— Monday 5 December: Geoffrey Howard Fielder, funeral service in church 

followed by cremation at Reading Crematorium


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The associate vicar's letter 

Dear Friends, Happy New Year! 

I wonder how many of you will have made New Year’s resolutions. I 

wonder how many of you have made these resolutions truly believing 

that you’ll stick to them, and how many of you have made them knowing 

deep down that you’ll break your New Year’s resolution within the first 

month, week or even day of the year. 

Setting goals is something we often think of at the start of a New 

Year as we reflect on what has gone before and think about the changes 

that we’d like to make in the future. But the problem with goal setting 

is that we can be unrealistic and when we start off with unrealistic goals 

we can end up feeling like we’ve failed, even if we’ve actually done really 

well! 

A personal example: last year I struggled with my mobility and 

breathing and on a number of occasions attempted to return to work. 

Each time I threw myself back in, I ended up overdoing it and needing 

more time off to recover. Because I overdid it some days and ended 

up exhausted, I didn’t properly reflect on the little wins that each day 

had brought; the extra steps I had taken, the meeting I had managed 

to attend. It was only when I started a structured phased return that I 

could slowly build up to the goal I had wanted all along. It was achievable 

but I had to take small steps, both metaphorically and literally. 

SIGNIFICANT STEP 

I have been reflecting on the past few months in the parish since I last 

wrote the magazine letter and the small steps that have been taken. The 

Confirmation Service in November, which was featured on the Oxford 

Diocese website, was a service of great joy and hope. The 28 candidates 

made the significant step of being confirmed that day but it wasn’t 

just one big step, but rather weeks of small steps at the confirmation 

preparation classes, learning and growing in faith, building relationships 

and preparing both heart and mind for that final big step. 

Similarly, Messy Church took a while to build back up after stopping 

during the pandemic, but each month it has grown a little more and is 

now thriving. 

Jesus told this parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, 

which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, 

yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that 

the birds come and perch in its branches.' 

This parable reminds us that even something tiny can make a big 

difference and can grow into something greater. This is true of faith, acts 

of kindness and love. This parable encourages Christians to offer what 

they have, either to God in worship, in sharing our gifts with people or 

in offering love and service to those in our communities and beyond. But 

I would argue this parable is also true for New Year’s resolutions! 

It can be easy to feel despondent when steps are small or progress 

seems slow. However, often when we persevere we can look back and see 

how far we have come. At the start of this New Year, I want to encourage 

us all to think about some small steps we can make, whether that be 

towards growth of something that already exists, starting something 

new or making a change. 

What mustard seed sized New Year’s resolution can we make? I have 

chosen mine and I hope, like me, you will nurture yours and watch it 

grow. 

With love and prayers. 

Kate 

The Parish Magazine - January 2023 5

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the parish noticeboard — 1 

Bishop of Oxford 

welcomes 28 adults and 

young people into the 

Church of England 


Pictures by: Indy Biddulph 

On the Feast Day of Christ the King, 20 November, St Andrew's Church was packed to the brim, 

as we welcomed 28 new, fully fledged members to the Church of England. The adults and young 

people listed below were confirmed into the Church of England by The Rt Rev Dr Stephen Croft, 

Bishop of Oxford who also preached during the service. All the candidates, except two, 

were from St Andrew's Church so a real 'family' celebration followed in The Ark. 

Confirmation Candidates 

Presented by Rev Kate Toogood 

Associate Vicar: 

Christopher Michael Bailey 

Brian John Casserly 

Lester Kenneth Joseph Craig 

Matthew John Clive Harper 

Ronald Charles Hayes 

Ruth Deborah Jeffrey 

Katherine Elizabeth Karalus 

Tsering David Karalus 

Tabitha Jane Marsh 

Sharon Ann Pask 

Rosemary Ella Rixon 

Confirmation Candidate Presented 

by St Mary's Church Wargrave 

Sophia Sara Monté 

Confirmation Candidates 

Presented by Chris West, 

Youth Minister 

Milo John Colin Astrup 

Benedict Paul Bowman 

Isabelle Rose Lucie Jeffrey 

Nancy Eleanor Faye Jeffrey 

Michelle Josephine Maher 

Jos Lucien Willoughby Marsh 

Zoe Grace Masters 

Fynn Alexander Riley 

Samuel Benjiman Riley 

Sophia Elizabeth Smyly 

Annabelle Olivia Victoria Taylor 

Phoebe Beau West 

Joshua Michael Ambrose Wilson 

Martha Seraphina Hope Wilson 

Isabella Evelyn Crawford Wood 

Westy 

Received into the Church of England 

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St Andrew's Youth 

STAY Baptism and Confirmations 

group becomes . . . 

It was an absolute pleasure to lead 16 young people 

through their confirmation classes. We met in each young 

person's home and followed the Alpha Youth videos, ate 

pizza, played games and learned the Lord's Prayer off by 

heart. We had the honour of baptising five of them in the 

River Thames (see last month's magazine) which was such 

a joyous occasion two weeks before their confirmation 

service with Bishop Dr Stephen Croft. (Pictures and more 

on the Confirmation Service on page 7) 

The young people enjoyed meeting together on Monday 

evenings so much that they wanted to keep meeting ... so 

‘STAY on Monday’ was born. We will continue to meet in 

homes, play games, eat donuts and learn more about what 

it means to be a follower of Jesus. 

STAY on Sunday 

With a possible 22 young people growing in faith it is an 

exciting time to be at STAY on Sunday! Our gatherings 

have continued looking at the parables of Jesus, including: 

— Matthew 25: ‘The sheep and the goats’ giving to the 

needy as we prepare our hearts for Jesus to return. 

— Luke 7: ‘The money lender’, Jesus doesn’t count wrongs 

and forgives all who truly repent. 

— Luke 6: ‘Wise & foolish builders’, if we build our lives on 

Jesus, when the storms come we will stand firm and not 

crumble. 

— Matthew 5: ‘Lamp on a stand’, Jesus gives us 1,050 

commands to follow, including; love God, love others, 

love ourselves, love the world, whatever you do, shine 

your light in what can feel like a dark world. 

STAY on Friday 

Our weekly Friday night youth club had a special visit 

this month when the adult and junior choirs joined us 

for a pre-Christmas carol sing song. It was a great way to 

advertise the choir and invite young people along who 

enjoy singing. We doubled up the use of the fire pit by 

having s’mores for all the young people during youth club, 

then we used it to gather round with the choir. All the 

other usual games continued throughout November with: 

pool, table tennis, the nail bar, cookie making, PS5, Xbox, 

foosball, table tennis and air hockey. 

STAY in Schools & Chaplaincy: 

Our work in local schools continues to be sustained 

and grow with mentoring, assemblies, staff and 

governor prayer meetings, and working in partnership 

with local charities. We’ve also started helping in 

another local primary school with assemblies, which 

has been a wonderful addition. 

On Thursday 24 November, as part of my work 

in the Piggott Chaplaincy, and along with 27 other 

school chaplains, I was warmly invited to an evening 

of encouragement and networking at Eton College. 

I’ve got to say it was both encouraging and a time for 

some fantastic networking. We heard two lectures on 

the environment and Black Lives Matter from Bishop 

Olivia Graham and Laverne Williams, respectively. 

We were then fortunate to take part in the college's 

Compline service which had 20 choristers singing the 

most beautiful harmonies. The evening ended with a 

top class dinner where conversations continued. 

Chris West, Youth Minister 

youthminister@sonningparish.org.uk


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Drone over St Andrew's 


The Persecuted Church by Colin Bailey 

Claude's 

view 

from 

the 

pew 

From a series of images taken by a drone in November 2022 by Andy Abraham 

Experience has taught me that 

when it comes to an important 

service such as Confirmation, 

that you need to arrive in good 

time, especially if you have a 

special interest in the forthcoming 

proceedings. Thus, on Sunday 20 

November I was safely seated in the 

pews with time to ponder. 

My main focus for the day was my 

granddaughter Zoe, who was one 

of the 15 young people about to be 

be Confirmed into the Church of 

England. 

I was not alone as the only proud 

grandparent sitting in the pews, there 

were several more sitting with families 

and friends to witness this special 

moment in their loved-one's lives. 

As I sat there pondering, my mind 

filled with memories of my own 

grandfather who was rarely seen in 

church but if he had been, he would 

be surrounded by children who all 

called him 'granddad'. I, and five 

other grandchildren, had to share 

him with all the kids in the street! 

He was a Victorian gentleman 

who always seemed to be puffing on 

a pipe, making his own horseradish 

sauce, and playing tricks on us. 

He worked for a printing company 

in Reading and during the Second 

World War, being too old to fight, he 

got involved by organising the rota 

for the air raid wardens. 

As I write this, Christmas is 

approaching fast and this was always 

a special time for my grandfather 

who would give all his grandchildren 

a 2s/6d national savings stamp which 

for us was a small fortune. Today it 

is equivalent to 12.5p! I'm sure that 

my grandchildren would not be as 

impressed with such a stamp!



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A news headline from Barnabas 

Aid caught my attention recently 

— at least 21 Christians killed by 

Islamists in northern Mozambique. 

Isn’t this country an exotic holiday 

destination? 

I tried to find out more about the east 

African nation, a former Portuguese 

colony. Bradt guides have an article on 

its website called 'Five reasons to visit 

Mozambique'. They extol the virtues of 

the country and things that you should 

see as a tourist: white sands, sparkling 

turquoise waters, swaying palm fronds. 

There are fascinating historic towns 

such as Inhambane that should not be 

missed. 

Ilha de Moçambique is the oldest 

European settlement on the east coast 

of Africa. There are ‘fantastic diving 

opportunities’ along the coast. Several 

national parks have been upgraded 

and opened up. The nation's capital, 

Maputo, has busy streets and market 

and is, says Bradt Guides, a ‘most 

likeable city and as safe as any’. 

SAFETY HIGHLIGHTED 

Living conditions in Mozambique, 

are not encouraging. According to 

Mozambique’s Household Budget 

Survey, 46.1% of the population lives 

below the poverty line. Thus, about 

11 million people in the country are 

absolutely poor. 

There has, however, been a steady 

increase in the rate of literacy: over 

60% as of 2017. 

On the Foreign & Commonwealth 

Office website, which gives travel 

advice to foreign countries, safety and 

security are highlighted. Protests or 

demonstrations, they say, can occur 

‘with little notice’. 

Street crime, sometimes involving 

knives and firearms, is common in 

Maputo and increasing in other tourist 

spots. 

Most visits to Mozambique, 

say FCO, are trouble-free, but they 

advise against travel to several 

districts due to attacks by groups 

with links to Islamic extremism. It 

is ‘very likely’ that terrorists will try 

to carry out indiscriminate attacks 

in Mozambique. Islamic extremism 

in Mozambique’s northernmost 

province, Cabo Delgado, is 

mentioned. 

Mozambique is number 41 in the 

Open Doors World Watch List top 

50 countries where Christians face 

the worst persecution. The main 

threat in Mozambique is described as 

‘Islamic oppression’. 

Open Doors notes that Islamic 

extremism is on the increase in 

Mozambique. Attacks by Islamic 

militants have claimed the lives of 

many believers. 

Mozambique only entered the 

World Watch List top 50 in 2021, 

coming in number at 45. It rose higher 

in the 2022 list, largely because of 

an increased number of attacks and 

pressure. 

Back to Barnabas Aid. The killings 

happened throughout October — 

several houses and a church building 

were set on fire by Jihadists, in Cabo 

Delgado province. 

The Islamists also announced 

the killing of 20 Christians and the 

displacement of hundreds more in 

the province in that month. Those 

responsible were an Islamic State 

affiliated organisation known locally 

as Al Shabaab (not the Somali-based 

group of the same name). A Muslim 

leader and his wife were also beheaded 

by this group. 

Since 2017, the group has subjected 

Christian and Muslim communities 

in northern Mozambique to a terror 

campaign. 

Barnabas Aid has also reported 

that Islamic State Mozambique (ISM), 

has demanded that Christians and 

Jews pay a jizya tax as a sign of their 

submission to an Islamic caliphate in 

Cabo Delgado province. 

In a note, ISM (which is the above 

mentioned group also known as Al 


The Persecuted Church by Colin Bailey 

Christians and Jews terrorised in Mozambique 

A Christian church in Mozambique, 

KILLING 

Aussiecate, dreamstime.com 

Hyotographic, dreamstime.com 

Shabaab) pledge to kill all Christians 

and Jews unless they either convert to 

Islam or pay the tax. 

The letter also calls on moderate 

Muslims to join the Islamist cause 

or face death. The concept of jizya is 

derived from classical Islam and Sharia 

(Islamic law), which teaches that non- 

Muslim ‘People of the Book’ (Jews 

and Christians who do not convert to 

Islam) are permitted to remain in the 

land so long as they accept a secondclass 

status. 

Those who accept are known as 

dhimmi (literally ‘protected people’) 

and are treated as a conquered and 

subjugated people who must abide 

by various restrictions that reinforce 

their second-class status, including 

the payment of jizya to their Muslim 

conquerors. These practices are no 

longer enforced by the government of 

any Muslim majority country. 

PLEASE PRAY 

BBC News reported on 1 December 

that Samim, which is the military 

mission of the Southern African 

Development Community (SADC) 

was deployed as part of the fight 

against terrorism in Cabo Delgado. 

Samim said it had killed 30 suspected 

Jihadists in an operation; weapons 

used by the Jihadist suspects were also 

recovered. In the district of Nangade, 

north of Cabo Delgado, there are 

still strongholds of Jihadists who 

have carried out daily attacks against 

villages, farms, and military positions. 

Please pray for brothers and sisters 

in Mozambique. 

References and further reading: Bradt Guides - Mozambique: https://www.bradtguides.com/five-reasons-to-visit-mozambique/



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My favourite Bible verse . . . 

John the evangelistic journalist 

By Bob Peters 

I have no hesitation when it comes 

to choosing my favourite verse from 

the Bible — it's John 1:1 which 

reads: In the beginning was the 

Word, and the Word was with God, 

and the Word was God. These 17 

words also introduce my favourite 

gospel. 

The Gospel of John stands out for me 

because it is written in a different 

style from Matthew, Mark and Luke 

who tell the story of Jesus coming 

to earth, growing from babyhood 

to manhood, teaching, healing and 

dying a violent death. While they 

are essentially historical accounts 

presented in chronological order, 

John picks out different events in the 

life of Jesus to paint a picture that 

reveals the meaning that lays behind 

the things that Jesus said and did 

while he lived on earth. 

ENCOURAGES 

Matthew, Mark and Luke were 

noteworthy historians, John was 

clearly a journalist at heart and 

clearly seeks to present the facts in 

an understandable and entertaining 

way. 

Hence the first 17 words set 

the scene, captures the reader's 

imagination, and encourages us to 

read on and discover all that follows 

is pointing us to the life and teaching 

of the Word who is the Son of God. 

When I began learning the craft 

of journalism, one of my most 

influential teachers was an old hack 

from The Sun newspaper. He was a 

For your prayers in January 

— The work of Alcoholics Anonymous 

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Saint John the Evangelist depicted in the 

Dom of Cologne. Jorisvo, dreamstime.com 

sub editor who laid out the stories 

and for the price of a pint of beer 

taught me that everything I wrote 

needed a 17 word introduction that 

summarised, in an eye catching way, 

the story that was to follow. 'In some 

cases, in The Sun, the story was only 

17 words long', he said. 'If we don't 

catch the reader's interest in 17 words 

they will turn the page to look at 

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Jacob_09 BK, dreamstime.com 


the pictures! If you can capture their 

interest in 17 words', he told me, 'you 

will be able to call yourself a real 

journalist!' 

It was not until about 20 years 

later when listening to one of a 

series of fascinating studies of The 

Bible that linked the Old Testament 

to the New, that the speaker, a 

Baptist minister who influenced my 

life greatly, introduced one session 

with the comment that John's first 

17 words not only summarised his 

entire gospel, but the entire Bible 

from start to finish! 

17 words rang a bell for me, and 

everything fell into place! This was 

why I had always enjoyed John's 

gospel and found it the most readable 

and entertaining — it had had been 

written in a style that today is often 

considered to be good newspaper 

journalism, not as an historical 

document. 

I'm not decrying the historians 

and their great skill in writing 

history in a factual, logical way, 

in fact one my good friends writes 

historical books and has excellent 

writing skills that I could never hope 

to match, it is simply a different 

style from newspaper and magazine 

journalism. 

INSPIRES 

John's 17 words also remind me 

of an incident later in my career. I 

was working for a technical writing 

agency that operated from a disused 

church. Surrounded by stained glass 

windows it was an amazing and 

inspiring writing environment for 

about a dozen of us who were mostly 

journalists. 

One night some vandals smashed 

one of the stained glass windows and 

the owner ask me, as the only regular 

churchgoer in the company, to 

choose a Bible verse to be used at the 

foot of a new stained glass window 

that he was obliged to purchase. He 

wanted it to be appropriate for his 

business so I had no hesitation in 

saying John 1:1, and as far as I know 

those 17 inspirational words are still 

there.



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Christian Basics — Part 11 

SCRIPTURE 

HOLY SPIRIT 

COMMON SENSE 

WISE ADVICE 

CIRCUMSTANCES 

PX_Media, dreamstime.com 

How does God guide us? 

By Rev Paul Hardingham 

We are all faced with daily decisions about our jobs, 

future, money, relationships etc. Yet God promises to 

guide those who listen to Him: ‘My sheep listen to My 

voice; I know them, and they follow Me.’ (John 10:27). 

There are five key aspects of hearing God’s voice. 

Scripture: The primary way God guides us is through the 

Bible: ‘Your word is lamp for my feet, and a light on my path’ 

(Psalm 119: 105). The Scriptures give us general guidance 

for life, for example, whether to pay taxes, give or forgive 

others, as well as what to do in particular situations. 

Holy Spirit: ‘And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going 

to Jerusalem’ (Acts 20:22). The Holy Spirit helps us to hear 

God’s voice through Scripture, prayer or pictures, and also 

by prompting us in particular situations. 

Common Sense: We must not abandon common sense: 

‘Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight 

into all this’ (2 Tim. 2:7). In making most decisions, God 

uses our thinking about what to do. ‘God’s promises of 

guidance were not given to save us the problem of thinking’ 

(John Stott). 

Wise Advice: ‘Make plans by seeking advice’ (Proverbs 20:18). 

Although we’re responsible for decision making, it’s good 

to talk to others about the choices we are making. 

Circumstances: God guides us through circumstances, 

‘In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines 

his steps’ (Proverbs 16:9). He will open or close doors in 

particular circumstances. 

We won’t always get it right, but God can include our 

mistakes in his bigger plan: ‘And we know that in all 

things God works for the good of those who love him’ 

(Romans 8:28). 

From the 

editor's desk 

editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk 

Our carbon footprint? 


Last year ended on a good note for your magazine. On Friday 

2 December it was announced that we had won the title of 

the Best Overall Parish Magazine in the 2022 National Parish 

Magazines Awards. There were over 450 entries that were 

judged on editing, content, design, and print quality. This is 

our seventh award in 8 years — we did not enter in 2017! 

It's very rewarding to know that the format and style of 

our magazine that we have developed over the past 10 years 

is still being recognised as the best in the country. This is 

not to say that the other parish and church magazines are 

poor, each year the competition gets tougher and tougher as 

the general quality of this type of magazine has improved. 

I know this from first hand experience because I am also 

a judge of a similar nationwide competition for church 

and parish magazines and in recent years there has been a 

noticeable improvement in overall quality. 

LOCAL INFORMATION 

For churches throughout the country this is good news 

— local magazines and newspapers have declined in large 

numbers because they rely on making a profit, and online 

advertising opportunities have seen huge numbers of local 

businesses switch to social media style outlets. As a result 

of these changes caused by the internet, over 250 local 

commercial newspapers have closed since 2005. 

A main objective of every church is to inform their local 

residents about their church and we do this through our 

parish magazines, although there are still a few churches 

that seek to make a profit for church funds. Usually, printing 

costs are covered by advertising revenues and the delivery 

costs are paid for by the church through it's outreach budget, 

or by a team of volunteers. All this means that parish 

magazines are ideally placed to fill a huge gap in the market 

for local news and information because we can provide and 

deliver it for free to every home in the parish. 

TWO BILLION WEBSITES? 

But what about the internet you may well ask? Surely 

there's no need for printed magazines? Some people even 

suggest that printing them is bad for our carbon footprint. 

My answer to this is a question: Why did the government 

invest millions of pounds in printing and delivering leaflets 

in the covid pandemic? The answer is, they know that the 

vast majority of people don't go searching the internet for 

such information, even when it is life-saving. There is a much 

larger chance of them reading a leaflet that comes through 

their letter box. Likewise there is a much better chance 

of people reading the printed magazine that drops free of 

charge on their doormat than relying on someone to visit 

a website. That is not to say that we should not use websites, 

in certain cases, such as contacting young people they are an 

excellent valuable extra. But did you know it's estimated there 

are 2 billion websites? How much do they contribute to the 

world's carbon footprint? And how much energy is wasted?


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feature — 1 


Softdreams, dreamstime.com 

Angela Cini, dreamstime.com 

After the excesses of Christmastide, many people choose to sober up and eat a more healthy diet during January. 

One of the more popular ways of tackling this is to take on the challenge of 'Dry January' which calls for a month 

without alcohol. The idea dates from the 1940s when the Finnish government introduced 'Sober January' as part of 

the country’s war efforts. Today, Dry January is practised widely as a public health campaign throughout Europe and 

America and is designed to encourage people to stop drinking alcohol for a month and, in doing so, it aims to make us 

more aware of our drinking habits, manage alcohol consumption better, and develop a healthier relationship with it. 

Dry January does not aim to 

encourage teetotalism, which is 

the total personal abstinence from 

alcoholic beverages. The campaign 

only lasts a month, and while a small 

percentage of people stay abstinent, 

most participants return to drinking 

after the month. However, most find 

themselves able to manage their 

drinking better. 

DEPRESSANT 

While alcohol has an important 

place in many cultures around the 

world, it is also a depressant that acts 

like a drug. In small quantities, it 

reduces anxiety and makes it easy for 

people to socialize. However, as the 

body adjusts to the alcohol, larger 

quantities are required to produce 

the same effect. 

When taken in larger quantities, 

alcohol can cause alcohol poisoning, 

unconsciousness, and even death. 

Many people resort to harmful 

drinking episodes during difficult 

times, and this is made even worse 

if they already have an unhealthy 

drinking habit. 

LIFE EXPERIENCE 

For those who recognize that 

their drinking habit is showing signs 

of becoming harmful or are getting 

out of control, Dry January is an 

excellent opportunity to take stock 

and adjust their drinking habits, to 

experience life without alcohol and 

so give their bodies an opportunity 

to rebuild its coping mechanisms 

for day-to-day difficulties and 

celebrations. 

Rescue, Recovery and Service 

I'm sure that most of us have distant relatives and friends who we probably 

only see at family gatherings for weddings and funerals, or a special 

celebration, when we get on with them well and end up saying we must not 

leave it so long before we meet again — even if we feel that once a year is 

probably enough! — writes Bob Peters. 

When one of these distant relatives, who has been with the AA for about 30 

years, knocked on my door recently it was indeed a pleasant surprise because 

he was one that I really was pleased to see! He had found himself in Twyford so 

took the opportunity to call in to say hello. 

We got talking about what he had been doing in Twyford on AA business 

and he explained that there were three aspects to what he does — it begins 

with the rescue, then comes the recovery and, most important of all, it was to 

provide an excellent service throughout. 

It struck me that what he was describing is not unlike what Jesus offers us. He 

came to earth to rescue those who have spiritually gone astray, to help us recover 

from what we had become and to encourage us to show our gratitude by serving 

other people who have a similar need. I thought that Rescue, Recovery and 

Service could be a good motto for all Christians as we go about our daily lives. 

If you are thinking that the Automobile Association you may have had 

experience of was not like that then don't worry, because it's the other AA that 

my distant relative is involved with — Alcoholics Anonymous. 

NATIONWIDE DEMAND 

Not knowing anything about AA, I was surprised to learn that it began in 

America in 1935 although I was less surprised to learn that it was started by a 

church, hence the Christian type motto of Rescue, Recovery and Service that 

defines their organisation today. 

AA is no longer run by the church although meetings are often held in 

church halls. In the UK it is a registered charity that holds 4,400 meetings 

every week — something that clearly illustrates the nationwide demand for 

Rescue, Recovery and Service. 

The meeting my distant relative was exercising 'service' at was in the United 

Reformed Church, Twyford. There are several other local meetings including one 

in a United Reformed Church in Henley, a Salvation Army hall, Wokingham, 

the English Martyrs Catholic Church, Reading, St Catherine of Siena Anglican 

Church, Tilehurst and the All Nations Christian Church Centre, Reading. 

If you need help, or know someone who does, there are several different 

ways to contact AA at: https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/contact





Best Overall Magazine 2015 





















Trofoto, drea 




feature — 2 

IT'S BACK TO 

Janus, the Roman God after whom the first month of the year is named, was 

renowned for having two heads — one to look forward, the other backwards. Thus, 

January is the time we both look back over 2022 and forwards to the New Year. 

There can be little doubt that last year was 

one that future historians will focus there 

minds on. 

The covid vaccine global rollout began 

to achieve results and travel restrictions 

were relaxed, however, the unprovoked 

Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 

with its unprecedented impact on a fragile 

global energy situation stimulated a cost 

of living crisis that we not only begin the 

New Year with, but which promises to 

dominate several years to come. Add to this 

the global climate change issues that the 

world is struggling to get to grips and there 

seems little to commend 2022 but we all 

know there was! 

2022 began with Queen Elizabeth II's 

unique achievement of becoming the 

world's longest service monarch with the 

celebrations reaching a climax in June. 

The festivities came to an abrupt end on 

8 September when the Queen's death, at the 

age of 96, was announced and Charles was 

proclaimed King. His coronation is being 

planned for 6 May 2023 so the country, and 

the world, are looking forward to another 

joyous royal celebration to relieve the 

financial gloom that beckons. 

A Memorable 

When Buckingham Palace announced last 

Majesty The King will take place on Saturd 

nation's, and the world's next major month 

The official statement said: 

The Coronation Ceremony will take place at 

be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Charles III crowned alongside The Queen Conso 

role today and look towards the future, while be 

pageantry. 

The Coronation means there be three ban 

and 29 May. The extra May bank holiday, on 

King Charles III. 





The Parish Magazine - January 2022 1 


Best Content 2021 









The Parish Magazine - February 2022 1 











The Parish Magazine - March 2022 1 









The Parish Magazine - April 2022 1 









The Parish Magazine - May 2022 1 









June 2022 — Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee — Pentecost 

May 2022 — Ascension 

April 2022 — Holy Week and Easter 

March 2022 — Lent — Mothering Sunday 

February 2022 — Candlemas 

January 2022 — Epiphany 











the church of st and 

CHARVIL, SONNING and






























FUTURE! 

mstime.com 

THE 

October that the Coronation of His 

ay 6 May 2023, the time was set for the 

of merriment! . 

Westminster Abbey, London, and will 

The Ceremony will see His Majesty King 

rt. The Coronation will reflect the monarch’s 

ing rooted in long standing traditions and 

k holidays in May 2023 — 1 May , 8 May 

Monday, 8 May, marks the Coronation of 

Andy Abraham 

Merry Month of May is in the making! 

BANK 29 HOLIDAYS 2023 OTHER HOLY DAYS 2023 

1 January New Year's Day 

6 Jan The Epiphany 

2 Feb Candlemas 

2 January New Year Bank Holiday 

22 Feb Ash Wednesday 

7 April Good Friday 

5 Mar St Piran 

9 April Easter Sunday 

17 Mar St Patrick 

10 April Easter Monday Bank Holiday 

23 Apr St George 

28 May Pentecost 

1 May May Day Bank Holiday 

4 Jun Trinity Sunday 

8 May Coronation of King Charles III 

29 Oct Bible Sunday 

29 May Late May Bank Holiday 

31 Oct All Hallows Eve 

1 Nov All Saints 

28 August August Bank Holiday 

2 Nov All Souls 

25 December Christmas Day 

30 Nov St Andrew 

26 December Boxing Day 

3 Dec Advent Sunday 

9 

The Parish Magazine - May 2022 1 









The Parish Magazine - July/August 2022 1 









The Parish Magazine - September 2022 1 









The Parish Magazine - September 2022 1 









The Parish Magazine - October 2022 1 









The Parish Magazine - November 2022 1 





Drecember 2022 — Christmas 

November 2022 — Remembrance 

October 2022 — Harvest - Bible Sunday - All Hallows Eve 

September 2022 — Autumn Show Time 

July/August 2022 — Platinum Jubilee Memories 

rew, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF 

sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY 










CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY


feature — 3 

Magnificent, highly prized, revered, and left on ea 

It feels fitting that I write this article about my favourite tree species, the Monkey 

Puzzle tree, during National Tree Week at the start of December 2022. My love 

of Monkey Puzzle trees — and I am not alone in being fascinated by them as 

several dedicated books testify — began with a magnificent Victorian specimen in 

Yorkshire where I was taken on holiday as a child by my parents. 

There are several specimens of varying age in our parish — both in public view and 

also hidden away in back gardens. Keep your eyes open and you should spot some. 

Monkey Puzzle trees, Araucaria Araucana is its formal name, became popular in 

mid-Victorian times as a sign of wealth, along with other foreign species of tree and 

plants, including orchids. The ‘bling’ of their time, the saplings were sourced from 

seeds sent from Chile in South America, where the trees originate. 

Plant hunters sent out by nurseries such as Veitch’s in Chelsea, London would 

send back batches of seed for propagation and sale in the UK. Robert Holford, for 

example, when stocking his arboretum during the 1850s and 1860s planted seven 

monkey puzzle trees costing £20 each, compared with £6 for a Giant Redwood 

(Sequiadendron giganteum). Sadly the last of these original seven Monkey Puzzle 

trees at Westonbirt, the National Arboretum in Gloucestershire, succumbed to 

honey fungus and was taken down in Spring 2003. 

HIGHLY PRIZED 

Knots from branches working their way into the heart of the Monkey Puzzle 

tree trunk makes the wood highly prized by wood turners for elegant bowls etc. The 

wood can be purchased with ‘eyes’ of whorls around their circumference. 

Bling often begets bling, for example, the Rolle family at Bicton near Exeter 

planted 25 Monkey Puzzle trees on each side of a 500 yard long avenue in 1843, with 

its largest measuring a girth of 13ft and height 85ft a few years ago. Following storm 

damage and disease, new trees grown from the seeds of the original trees have been 

planted in-between them, providing an 

avenue today of 65 trees. 

On a more morbid tone, Monkey 

Puzzle trees were planted to mark 

out the Anglican parish burial plots 

at the 440-acre Brookwood cemetery, 

near Woking. Opened in 1854, it had 

easy to dig sandy soil and so provided 

more space for burying London’s dead. 

Several of these original 'marker' trees 

remain around the cemetery grounds. 

Magnus Smyly meets an ancient Monkey 

Puzzle tree in Chile 

EXPLODE 

Monkey Puzzle trees are dioecious 

which means they can be either male 

or female, their gender remaining 

unknown until 40 or so years after 

planting before the tree matures 

and fruits. The male tree bears long, 

pointed shaped cones 4”x 2.5”, which 

exist in sets at the tips of branches, 

having a brown appearance following 

the dispersal of pollen from densely 

packed scales. (picture top of page 25) 

The female tree carries large bright 

green ball-like cones 4 to 7½ inches 

long, weighing up to 2.2lbs. They appear 

in spring and ‘explode’ shedding their 

seeds in August or September the 

following year. The explosion — owners 

of female trees have noted the noise —


This month we have a 'bonus' favourite article in our ‘My favourite . . . ’ series (see page 11) — local resident 

rth for us! Magnus Smyly writes about his favourite tree species, the Monkey Puzzle. 

Melonstone, dreamstime.com 

cause up to 200 wingless seeds to shower down. They are edible, and fertile when 

male and female trees grow relatively close to each other. Rarely, Monkey Puzzle 

tree specimens are found that have both male and female branches — monoecious 

— one was recorded at Bicton, Devon. 

SURVIVING NATIVE 

Monkey Puzzle trees existed during the Jurassic period of the dinosaurs — look 

carefully at what the brontosaurus eats in BBC TV’s ‘Walking with the Dinosaurs’. 

When fossilised, the wood can form jet gemstone, as found around Whitby, North 

Yorkshire. 

Archibald Menzies introduced the Monkey Puzzle into Britain in 1795, allegedly 

having pocketed fertile seeds of the tree when offered them as a dessert while 

dining with the Governor of Chile on a global circumnavigation with Captain 

Vancover. He sowed and grew the seeds on his return voyage. 

The surviving native Monkey Puzzle forests are in Chile and Argentina, on the 

Andes mountain range, and there is a genetically distinct population on the Pacific 

coastal mountain range Cordillera de Nahuelbuta in Chile. While Monkey Puzzle 

trees are more widespread in Chile, they are threatened by commercial forestry 

endangering their natural habitat, and by fires, caused naturally by lightning 

and the volcanic environment, and allegedly intentionally by humans. Due to 

these pressures, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural 

Resources (IUCN) lists Monkey Puzzle tree on its ‘Red List’ as ‘Endangered’. In 2011 

they had only been ‘vulnerable’. 

VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS 

My wife and I were fortunate to be able to go on holiday in Chile in August 

2004 – at the close of the Chilean winter – and managed to visit the Andes area but 

not the coastal range. From our touring around Temuco, we could see little native 

forest exists outside of National Parks and Reserves, with the land cleared for 

farming or commercial forestry using faster growing Monetary Pine (Pinus radiata) 

and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus). 

We visited Parque National Conguillio surrounding the volcano Llaima and 

were able to witness how the lava flows from the 1994 eruption had swept through 

the native forest. The volcanic eruptions can cause forest fires, which due to the 

fire-resistant properties of Monkey Puzzle trees, in particular their thick bark, 

allows them to survive the quicker growing, but less fire resistant, competition 

from the Southern Beech (Nothofagus pumilio). We saw several examples of young 

Monkey Puzzle trees already growing on the solidified lava flow. 

Although Conguillio is cited as the best place in Chile to see Andean Monkey 

Puzzle trees, the snow meant our trip through Reserva Nacional Malalcahuello- 

Nalcas led us further into the centre of a Monkey Puzzle tree forest. It was here 

that we were able to gauge the size that fully mature Monkey Puzzle trees can grow 

– reaching up to 7ft in diameter and up to 165ft tall. (picture bottom left page 22) 

They can live up to 2,000 years old in this native environment. 

COLLECTIVE VOICE 

The indigenous people of Chile in this area – the Pehuenche – revere the 

Monkey Puzzle tree as a tree left on earth by God for them. Indeed, their 

name – Pehuenche – means people of the Pehuen, Pehuen meaning Araucaria. 

Traditionally, their livelihoods depended on Monkey Puzzle trees as their diet was 

based on the seeds (pinones) that they collected during the harvest season, with 

a single family collecting up to 8,800lb (4,000kg) each year. The Pehuenche have a 

special ceremony at the time of the summer solstice (21 January) to ensure that the 

next harvest will be plentiful. 

The Pehuenche have been a collective voice calling for the protection of their 

precious tree. While the Andean population of specimens has suffered severely, 

the greatest concern is for the distinct coastal population, which in the majority is 

held in private hands. While in Chile, I met Ned Holburn, Political Secretary to the 

turn to page 25


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 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. 



the church of st andrew SERVING CHARVIL, 

SONNING & sonning eye since the 7 th century 

IN THE ARK 


at 3pm 

RENDEZVOUS 

IN THE ARK 

revkate@sonningparish.org.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 

Tuesday 

10 January 

and 

Tuesday 24 January 

at 12 noon 

for lunch and 

conversation 

To reserve your place 

call: 0118 969 3298

from page 23 

feature — 4 

Monkey Puzzle 

tree favourite 


around the villages — 1 

Male fruit 

British Embassy to Chile in Santiago 

to discuss the Monkey Puzzle tree’s 

plight. 

Since the Chilean Monkey 

Puzzle tree is a protected tree but 

not its environment, a consortium 

including the International Conifer 

Conservation Programme (ICCP) 

based at the Royal Botanic Gardens 

Edinburgh (RGBE) have acquired 323 

hectares of land to comprise the new 

Nasampulli Reserve. 

It is hoped that this reserve, after 

further acquisitions, will form a 

corridor between existing national 

parks and reserves for the Andean 

population of trees. 

Closer to home, we saw many 

young Monkey Puzzle trees 

planted close to Holyrood Palace 

in Edinburgh two summers ago 

as part of the RBGE conservation 

programme efforts in this country. 

Marija Gajic, dreamstime.com 

Magnus Smyly 

Sonning Art Group members have been looking back over their very enjoyable 

and successful year during which they produced many high quality pictures, 

some of which, we have been pleased to publish. This fact was also reflected 

in the favourable comments and a record number of sales of art at the 

Scarecrow Trail and the Sonning Show. 

Macmillan Coffee Morning in The Ark 

A Macmillan fund raising coffee morning will follow the mid-week Communion 

Service in The Ark on Wednesday 11 January, to which everyone is invited. It 

will be from about 10.30am — the service starts at 10am and you are welcome 

to join that as well. There will be coffee and cake, a bring and buy table, some 

table games, and paintings and cards depicting local views. 

For more information speak to Janet Robson on 0118 969 2253. 

Charity rock, pop! 

Over £2,200 was raised at a charity 

music night on Saturday 29 November 

in Pearson Hall for Alzheimer’s 

Research UK and the Woodley Lunch 

Bunch. 

Since the first event, 6 years ago, 

about £10,000 has now been raised — 

that's despite covid cancelling the most 

recent bookings. 

The Walnuts played an eclectic 

mix of music from pop, folk, Celtic 

funk and cowboy traditions and were 

supported by the Hagen Brothers, a trio 

of brothers from Twyford. 

SONNING SCHOOL ADMISSIONS 

AMENDMENTS SEPTEMBER 2024 

The Local Governing Body of Sonning 

Church of England Primary School, as 

the admission authority for the school, 

is proposing to amend the admission 

arrangements from September 2024 

onwards. A consultation period to ensure 

all views are heard on the proposed 

changes is taking place from Thursday 8 

December 2022 to Thursday 19 January 

2023. For details on the changes go to the 

admissions section on 

https://www.sonning.wokingham.sch.uk 

or contact the admissions compliance 

officer, Louise Brown, 0118 969 3399, or 

compliance@sonning.wokingham.sch.uk 

to obtain a copy of the policy and a 

letter explaining the changes and the 

process. The school catchment area is 

the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Andrew's 

Church Sonning, Charvil and Sonning Eye. 

2023 Projects 

Charvil's Project Singers are working 

on two main projects this year, the 

first runs from January to March 

and involves travel songs such as 

Homeward bound, Already home, Skye 

boat song, Route 66 and Beyond the 

sea. The climax will be a concert at St 

Mary's Church, Twyford on 25 March. 

The second project runs from 

May to December with a concert at 

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, 

Maidenhead on 18 November. The 

theme will be popular songs that 

have stood the test of time and will 

include What a wonderful world, Stand 

by me, Unchained melody, You raise me 

up and My heart will go on. 

Female voices are invited to join 

the projects — contact Suzanne 

Newman on 0118 934 0589 or 

suzanneynewman@btinternet.com 

Make a New Year date 

with Monday Club 

Monday Club starts the New Year on 

Monday 9 January in Pearson Hall at 

2pm with a warm welcome, a cup of 

tea, a piece of cake and lots of chat. 

The following meetings will be 23 

January; 6 and 20 February; and 6 

and 20 March.


around the villages — 1 

Schoolchildren inspired and ever grateful for those w 

This month's Sonning CoE Primary 

School report is from Oak Class (Year 

6), who have been learning about 

World War I. As well as looking at 

the key events in this terrible conflict 

through an interrogation of primary 

sources, they have analysed war art, 

war poetry and took a trip to the 

Imperial War museum. Here's their 

report . . . 

We visited the war memorial in St 

Andrew’s church to ask questions 

about the men commemorated there. 

Back in school, we were allocated 

one of the Sonning war heroes to 

investigate using the Commonwealth 

War Graves Commission website, 

Forces War Records and other 

databases relating to the fallen of 

WWI, and we found out more about 

their lives. 

One invaluable source was The 

Parish Magazine from July/August 

2014 and we used the research 

already conducted by Trefor Fisher, 

Colin Pierce, David Hedley-Goddard, 

Gordon Nutbrown and Bob Peters, to 

help us fill in some of the blanks about 

their lives, for example, where they 

lived in the area and the jobs they had 

before the war. 

SHARED LEARNING 

We presented our work in our 

books then shared our learning as part 

of the school's Remembrance Service 

in the church. 

Our project moved us to write 

our own war poetry, two examples of 

which you can read here, and created 

our own pieces of war art. 

But more than anything we were 

inspired to be ever grateful for the 

sacrifice of these men and their 

families. May they never be forgotten 

A War of Attrition 

By Izzy Plush 

Through the scope I look, 

Aim, Fire! 

In a heart beat 

Death. Blood. Silence. 

Helpless men unarmed 

That trigger, 

That wretched trigger 

Will tear my dreams apart 

It will haunt me forever. 

Big Lad, Little Son 

By Elsa Davey 

Here was my chance 

Polished shoes 

Smart uniform 

In the mirror 

I am still a boy. 

Big lad, little son. 

Am I a coward 

Postman may deliver 

A letter to my mother 

Me 

DEAD! 

Pretending 

To be a hero. 

Big lad, little son.

ho made a sacrifice 


HEALTH 

What does Dr Simon Ruffle write? 

In March 2013, which is almost 10 years ago, we welcomed Dr Simon Ruffle to 

'The Parish Magazine' as a regular contributor on matters concerning health. 

During this time he has built up a wide following among our readers and 

has written on a host of subjects related to the NHS, medical history — of 

which he is particularly interested — and common and less common diseases. 

Below is a list of some of the topics he has covered during the last 6 years. 

Dr Ruffle is willing to continue writing for us but is asking for some help in 

knowing what to write about. Here's a letter to you from him ... 

Dear Reader, 

I’d be grateful for your help. 

Coming up with ideas and subjects to write about is quite fun but sometimes 

challenging as it ends up with my pet projects and thoughts. 

Please contact the magazine with any ideas and thoughts that you might 

like me to look into and write about. It might be a disease or a body part that 

you would like to know a little more about. I love the history of medicine so 

happy to research topics and write about them. 

I try not to swerve towards politics but, as you’ll have read before, fail 

miserably on occasions, but am happy to write about the structure and 

regulation of the NHS if you are having trouble sleeping! 

Thanks for you consideration. 

Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing what we can come up with 

together in 2023, 

Simon 

Ancient Wisdom Jan 2022 

Toxins Feb 2022 

March hares Mar 2022 

Secondary Care Apr 2022 

Hay fever May 2022 

Vibriao bacteria Jun 2022 

Monkeypox Sep 2022 

SAD Oct 2022 

DNA Nov 2022 

New York Dec 2022 

Medicinal plants Jan 2021 

Covid-19 Feb 2021 

Vitamins Mar 2021 

Shaking Apr 2021 

Thrombosis May 2021 

Nettles Jul 2021 

Waterworks Sep 2021 

Behind the headlines Oct 2021 

Five Senses Nov 2021 

Myeloma Dec 2021 

Archea organisms Feb 2020 

Coronavirus Mar 2020 

Cataracts Apr 2020 

Medical Statistics Jul 2020 

Food poisoning Aug 2020 

Hand washing Sep 2020 

Walking Nov 2020 

Lockdown quackery Dec 2020 

Do not wear briefs Jan 2019 

Bowel cancer Feb 2019 

The NHS weakness Mar 2019 

Gout Apr 2019 

Mumps May 2019 

Patient education Jun 2019 

Proton Beam Therapy Jul 2019 

Medicine in 1869 Aug 2019 

Malaria Oct 2019 

Broken heart Nov 2019 

Bacteria Dec 2019 

Type 2 Diabetes Jan 2018 

Look after your heart Feb 2018 

Stress Mar 2018 

Feeling better in April Apr 2018 

Multiple Sclerosis May 2018 

Scans and utrasound Jun 2018 

Ticks Jul 2018 

Airline phobia Sep 2018 

Flu jabs Oct 2018 

Rest, good food, drink Dec 2018 

Please send your suggestions for Dr Simon Ruffle to: 

editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk



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THE ARTS 

Creating wonder and amazement 

Amid the hectic, busy lives we lead, 

many people fall under the control 

of ‘the hurry syndrome.’ We have 

to do ‘A’ as soon as possible, and we 

have get to ‘B’ as soon as possible. 

And along the way, we have phone 

calls to make, emails to open, and 

and the social media to check. 

It means that we often go through 

the world without giving that world 

a second glance. This year in these 

articles we are going to pause, and, 

as the poet says, ‘stand and stare.’ 

Each month we shall be looking at a 

painting that celebrates the wonder, 

the joy, the mystery, and the marvel 

of the created world in which we live. 

LIGHT IN ART 

Joseph Turner (1775-1851) was one 

of the great artists of the 19th Century. 

He was passionate about his vision of 

the world which inspired his art. 

Wherever he went, he sketched and 

painted. The ending of the Napoleonic 

wars meant that people could travel 

safely through Europe, and he visited 

Italy many times. This taught him 

the place of light in art, which in 

many ways was the foundation of the 

paintings of his last 15 years. 

Ruskin hailed Turner as ‘a great 

Poetry Corner 

By Steven Rolling 

Star Sign - Matthew 2:1-6 part 

Tune: Epiphany – ‘Brightest and best of the sons of the morning’ 

Jesus born in Bethlehem, in Judea 

In the days of Herod the king He here 

Then came there unto Jerusalem wise men 

Magi from the east, to worship Him then 

They said, Where is He that is born King of Jews? 

We have seen His star in the east, good news 

To worship Him we have come from far country 

Tell us, we pray, where such a King may be 

Herod asked chief priests and scribes, Where Christ be born? 

They said to him, In Bethlehem the dawn 

Of salvation has come, so wrote the prophets 

Small town in Judea, there it still sits 

They said, Bethlehem, you not the least town be 

For out of you comes a Governor, see 

And He shall rule God’s people of Israel 

This comes to pass, hear it, and know it well 

Angel of the Apocalypse….sent as a 

prophet of God to reveal to men the 

mysteries of the universe.’ 

Turner was not particularly 

religious, but in the paintings of his 

old age, he was like a creator grappling 

with the elemental forces of light and 

sky, of water and sun. 

In 1842 he painted Steamboat in a 

Snowstorm. We see the water and the 

sky and the snow all cascading around 

Rawpixelimages, dreamstime.com 


By Rev Canon Michael Burgess 

Public domain, Wikimedia Commons 

each other. The clouds and driving 

snow, the churning of the water - all 

are there in abundance, and in the 

midst there is the steamboat trying to 

keep afloat and make its way through 

the forces of nature. Without that 

title we might think this painting is 

a modern abstract. With the title, we 

sense the wildness and wonder of the 

great forces of sea and sky, snow and 

clouds. 

January can bring snow which 

stops the traffic and maroons us in our 

homes. Here in the painting the snow 

and wind beat around the steamboat: 

it could be an image of human life 

tossed around by circumstance and 

event. 

FOUNDATIONS 

But I think Turner wanted us to 

see something of the extraordinary 

power the great forces of nature have 

over life — not to make us fatalistic 

and gloomy, but to proclaim that here 

in our world are mysteries and marvels 

that can stop us in our tracks. 

It is like the voice of God speaking 

to Job, who has questioned the justice 

of God’s ways in his world. ‘Where were 

you when I laid the foundations of the 

earth?’ God asks Job. ‘Can you bind the 

chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of 

Orion?’ 

Job’s response is to question no 

more. He puts his hand over his mouth 

and looks out at the world God has 

created in wonder and amazement.



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Happy New Year from Sonning Golf Club 

Wishing you all a 

Happy & Healthy 2023

HOME AND GARDEN 

Biblical Recipe Quiz of the Month 

If you can prepare and bake this cake without looking up the Bible reference 

you should be on Mastermind! It is suggested you use the Authorised Version 

which can found online at: http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/ 


Ingredients: 

1 — ½ lb of Judges 5:25 (end); 

2 — ½ lb of Jeremiah 6:20; 

3 — 1 tablespoon of 1 Samuel 14:25; 

4 — 3 of Jeremiah 17:11; 

5 — ½ lb of 1 Samuel 30:12; 

6 — ½ lb of Nahum 3:12 (chopped); 

7 — 2 oz of Numbers 17:8 (blanched and chopped); 

9 — 2 Chronicles 9:9; 

10 — a pinch of Leviticus 2:13; 

11 — 1 teaspoonful of Amos 4:5 

12 — 3 tablespoons of Judges 4:19 

Preparation: Mix 8, 9, 10 and 11, and put them aside. Beat 1, 2 and 3 to a cream. 

Still beating add 4, one at a time. Then add 5, 6 and 7 and beat again. Then add 

12. Bake in a low oven for 1½ hours. 

We will publish the answers to Bible clues next month! 

In the winter garden 

January is a great time to keep out 

of the garden as much as possible — 

stay inside in the warm and make 

plans for the coming year. 

If you are member of the Twyford 

and Ruscombe Horticultural 

Association, or are thinking of 

joining, then you could venture out 

to St Mary’s Hall, Twyford, RG10 

9NT on Thursday 26 January — 

check their website for the time. 

In the meantime they have 

already ordered the stock for 

the store in Loddon Bridge Road 

Twyford, RG10 9JA, which re-opens 

for trading on Sunday, 6 February 

from 9.30am to 11.00am every 

Sunday. 

You can apply for membership at 

the store, or email Jenny Wager at 

trhamembership@gmail.com. 

Elena Milovzorova, dreamstime.com 

Looking ahead to 19 March the 

society will be welcoming children to 

the store to plant potatoes in pots for 

them to nurture at home. 

Prizes will be awarded for the best 

crop later in the year 

There will be three Shows in 2023 

and they will be open to all comers. 

You will not need to be a member to 

enter your produce, or crafts. The 

Spring Show is on 25 March. 

Visit the TRHA website nearer the 

time more details: https://trha.org.uk/ 

Don't forget your donation 

for the Woodley Food Bank 

bin in St Andrew's Church 

during this winter 

Vvvita, dreamstime.com 

No hope for 

Disneyficated 

animals 

Your dog and cat should be allowed to 

be the wonderful animals that they 

are, and not be treated as if they were 

small humans. 

That is the advice of ‘EthicsFirst’, 

a group of campaigning vets and 

academics who are urging pet owners 

against the ‘Disneyfication’ of their 

pets, such as imposing dog jumpers 

and vegan diets on them. 

Dressing pets up like dolls and 

imposing unsuitable diets on them can 

cause problems that include anxiety, 

overheating, obesity, malnutrition and 

joint pain. 

GRUELLING TREATMENT 

Above all, EthicsFirst is urging 

owners not to put their pets through 

excessive medical treatment. 

Professor Eddie Clutton, who 

teaches veterinary anaesthesiology at 

Edinburgh University, urges owners 

to stop authorising vets to give their 

elderly pets prosthetic legs or gruelling 

cancer treatments. He argues that it 

would be kinder to ask for euthanasia 

or less invasive treatment because 

animals 'experience life in real time' 

and do not have the capacity to accept 

pain and discomfort now, based on 

hope for the future.

32 The Parish Magazine - January 2023 Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding this advertisement 

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History 

Was it really . . . ? 

. . . 250 YEARS AGO on 17 January 1773 that HMS 

Resolution, Captain James Cook’s ship, became the first 

ship to cross the Antarctic Circle. 

the sciences 


. . . 175 YEARS AGO on 24 January 1848 that the 

California Gold Rush began, when a construction worker, 

James W Marshall, found flakes of gold in the South Fork 

American River near Sacramento. 

. . . 125 YEARS AGO on 14 January 

1898 that Lewis Carroll died. He is 

known for Alice’s Adventures in 

Wonderland, Through the Looking 

Glass and the poems Jabberwocky 

and The Hunting of the Snark. 

. . . 100 YEARS AGO on 8 January 1923 that the first 

BBC outside broadcast took place, at the British National 

Opera Company’s production of The Magic Flute from 

Covent Garden London. 

. . . 80 YEARS AGO on 30 January 1943 that, on the 

10th anniversary of Adolf Hitler becoming Chancellor of 

Germany, the RAF launched a massed air raid on Berlin, 

disrupting major speeches by Goring and Goebbels which 

were being broadcast. It was a major propaganda coup for 

the Allies. 

. . . 70 YEARS AGO on 31 January and 1 February 1953 

that the North Sea flooded. Over 1,800 people were killed 

in the Netherlands, over 300 in Eastern England, and 28 

in Belgium. A further 133 people were killed when the 

Princess Victoria car ferry capsized off Scotland, and 

many fishing boats sank. 

. . . 65 YEARS AGO on 1 January 1958 that Chinese 

leader Mao Zedong announced the Great Leap 

Forwards with a 5-year plan to transform China from 

an agrarian economy into a socialist society via rapid 

industrialisation and collective farming. The plan failed 

and within three years tens of millions of people had died 

from mass killings, starvation and forced labour. 

. . . 60 YEARS AGO on 23 January 1963 that the British 

Intelligence Officer and Soviet Spy, Kim Philby, defected 

to the Soviet Union. 

. . . 50 YEARS AGO on 30 January 1973 that the 

Watergate scandal began when seven men were 

convicted of conspiracy, burglary and wiretapping at the 

Democratic National Committee headquarters in the 

Watergate Complex in Washington DC. 

. . . 40 YEARS AGO on 17 January 1983 that Breakfast 

Television was launched in the UK. 

. . . 25 YEARS AGO on 23 January 1998 that the film 

Titanic was released in the UK. 

Oleksii Terpugov, dreamstime.com 

Miracles: the will of God? 

By Dr Ruth Bancewicz, The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion 

in Cambridge. 

We live in a world where we can expect the sun to rise 

tomorrow and the milk to pour out of the jug when we tilt 

it over our glass. But for God, the properties of matter and 

the biological processes that we know and read about in 

textbooks are simply the usual ways he works. If he chooses 

to do something unexpected to demonstrate something 

about his character, his relationship with us, and his 

purposes, then he will. 

Fourteen UK-based science professors wrote to The Times 

in 1984: 'We gladly accept the Virgin Birth, the gospel miracles, 

and the Resurrection of Christ as historical events. We know 

that we are representative of many other scientists who are also 

Christians standing in the historical tradition of the churches.' 

For the non-believer, I would suggest a thought 

experiment: if God exists, why should he be bound by the 

same laws of physics as us? 

WONDERFUL TIMING? 

Prof Christine Done is an astrophysicist at the University 

of Durham. In the book True Scientists, True Faith (Monarch, 

2014) she writes: 'Even when I was an atheist I used to get cross 

at discussions…on how all Jesus’s miracles could be physically 

explained. To me, once you have believed in a God, a supernatural 

being, then it’s obvious that supernatural stuff could happen, 

since any God who can make the physical universe and its laws can 

presumably suspend those laws in any time and way he chooses.' 

Some miracles appear to be wonderful timing. The wind 

blew all night, and the Israelites crossed the Red Sea on dry 

land, for example. Biblical writers don’t seem interested in 

distinguishing between wonders that seem to break the 

usual rules of how things happen and those that don’t. 

Many in Jesus’ audiences were not won over by his 

wonders. Most of the people in the crowds who ate the food 

he produced out of nowhere were quite happy to turn on him 

when the religious authorities decided he was dangerous. 

We can only make sense of something unexpected, such as 

an answer to prayer for healing, in the context of a growing 

relationship with God. 

The exciting task for a Christian is to explain what 

this interaction looks like, and to demonstrate what ‘your 

kingdom come’ looks like in our communities. God works 

through us in words, works and wonders.



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CROSSWORD 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

9 10 

11 12 

13 14 15 

16 

17 18 19 

20 21 

22 23 

Across 

Down 

Across 

- (8) 

1 - Very subtle (13) 

1 - Knowledgeable (8) 

- Type of light (4) 

5 - Type of light (4) 

9 - Factual - Factual evidence evidence (5) (5) 

10 - Tough - Tough animal tissue animal (7) tissue (7) 

4 - Hire for work (6) 

11 - Sounding a bell (7) 

11 - Sounding a bell (7) 

6 - Singing voices (5) 

12 - Ski run (5) 

12 - Ski run (5) 

7 - Affectedly (13) 

13 - Small whirlpools (6) 

13 - Small whirlpools 14 - Plaque (6) 

14 17 - Plaque - Eighth (6) Greek letter (5) 

15 - Foliage (7) 

17 19 - Eighth - Perennial Greek letter (5) herb (7) 

16 - Doorway (6) 

19 

20 

- Perennial 

- Mental 

herb (7) 

collapse (7) 

18 - White heron (5) 

21 - School tests (5) 

20 - Mental collapse (7) 

22 - Consumes (4) 

21 - School tests (5) 

23 - In a carefree manner (8) 

22 Down - Consumes (4) 

23 1 - In Very a carefree subtle manner (8) (13) 

2 - Expressed disapproval facially (7) 

3 - Cooling device in the kitchen (12) 

4 - Hire for work (6) 

6 - Singing voices (5) 

7 - Affectedly (13) 

8 - Action of moving a thing from its position (12) 

15 - Foliage (7) 

16 - Doorway (6) 

18 - White heron (5) 

CODEWORD 

4 14 17 11 20 19 9 22 9 19 24 

8 

2 - Expressed disapproval facially (7) 

3 - Cooling device in the kitchen (12) 

20 16 15 11 18 10 26 

9 4 5 4 15 18 8 11 12 3 

16 4 10 23 24 15 11 18 18 

20 15 12 9 19 18 1 11 16 

3 15 9 22 11 16 21 11 16 

12 11 21 8 18 11 

21 20 7 11 11 16 13 3 8 

2 4 8 11 21 4 25 13 21 

11 4 8 14 9 6 8 4 4 

20 16 24 9 4 15 9 20 9 12 

19 18 15 4 18 20 11 

11 8 9 6 9 14 9 8 9 19 24 

SUDOKU 

8 - Action of moving a thing from its position (12) 

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 

E M 

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 

X 

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 EPIPHANY 


PUZZLE PAGE — the answers will be published in the next issue 

The Coming of the Magi 

‘Where is the One who has been born King of 

the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have 

come to worship him.’ So Matthew tells of the 

coming of the Magi, or wise men, to the baby 

Jesus. Today we remember it on Epiphany, on 

6 January. Did they come from Arabia Felix – 

nowadays southern Arabia? How many came? 

No one knows, but by the 6th century they 

were named Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. 

Why gold, frankincense and myrrh? Gold 

stands for kingship: Jesus was King of the 

Jews. Frankincense stands for divinity; Jesus 

was to be worshipped. Myrrh stands for death 

and burial; Jesus would become a sacrifice 

and die for his people. The wise men were the 

very first gentiles ever to worship Jesus. Isaiah 

foresaw this response to Jesus: ‘Nations will 

come to your light, and kings to the brightness 

of your dawn.’ The Magi wanted to worship 

Jesus; Herod wanted to kill him. But the Jewish 

leaders who knew about the prophecy of a 

Messiah born in Bethlehem did not even bother 

to visit Bethlehem. And it is only six miles from 

Jerusalem! 

KING 

JEWS 

STAR 

EAST 

GOLD 

MAGI 

WISE 

MEN 

BABY 

JESUS 

FRANKINCENSE 

MYRRH 

KINGSHIP 

DIVINITY 

DEATH 

ISAIAH 

NATIONS 

HEROD 

PROPHECY 

BETHLEHEM 

EPIPHANY 

ARABIA 

FELIX 

GASPAR 

MELCHIOR 

BALTHASAR 

WORSHIP 

JERUSALEM 

PRIESTS 

SCRIBES 

December 

Solutions 

CROSSWORD 

A I D S A B S O L U T E 

C R F I V P X 

C H A S I N G E I G H T 

O F E W R R R 

M E T A L I K E B A N A 

M D G S D V 

O L D A G E A T H E N A 

D I L L I G 

A S S U A G E M E D I A 

T P S A A R N 

I R O N S D E T R A C T 

N S E E E W L 

G U E S S I N G O N L Y 

CODEWORD 

J A C K R E C O V E R Y 

E A S J V X A 

R A P T U R E E S T E R 

O E P C R R D 

B E S P E C T A C L E D 

O R S A M Q 

A S T H M A B U R E A U 

M E A T T A 

R E F R E S H I N G L Y 

H M K E O L S 

A S I D E T S U N A M I 

I N T S S Z D 

R E G I S T E R W E R E 

SUDOKU 

WORDSEARCH CHRISTMAS 

ENTER THE MAZE HERE 

LEAVE THE MAZE HERE


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Car Servicing, Repairs and MOT 

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Free estimates - All work guaranteed 

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Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to advertisements

CHILDREN'S PAGE 

The Parish Magazine - January 2023 37

38 The Parish Magazine - January 2023 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 / 0744 747 8048 

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 

— Terry Hunt terencehunt@me.com / 0773 470 7368 

— 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: 0118 969 3298 

Director of Music, organist and choirmaster 

— Hannah Towndrow BA(Oxon), MA(RAM), LRAM 

music@sonningparish.org.uk 

Sonning Bell Ringers 

— Tower Captain: Pam Elliston 

pam.elliston@talktalk.net / 0118 969 5967 

— Deputy Tower Captain: Rob 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 

Abbey School 34 

Abbeyfield Wey Valley Society 18 

ACG Services Locksmith 36 

Active Security 34 

All Aerials 36 

Barber Shop 36 

Barn Store Henley 16 

Berkshire Stump Removals 36 

Big Heart Tree Care 36 

Blandy & Blandy Solicitors 14 

Blue Moose 8 

Bridge House 39 

Bridges Home Care 10 

Bull Inn 8 

Chimney Sweep, Thames 36 

Chiropody, Linda Frewin 36 

Clark Bicknell 36 

Comfort in Care 10 

Computer Frustrations 36 

Design for Print 28 

Freebody Boatbuilders 6 

French Horn 40 

Gardiner’s Homecare 8 

Great House Sonning 10 

Handyman and Decorating Services 36 

Haslams Estate Agents 2 

Heathium Clinics 18 

Hicks Group 16 

Intersmart Electrical Installations 36 

James Autos 36 

Jones & Sheppard Stone Masons 28 

Kingfisher Bathrooms 12 

MC Cleaning 36 

Mill at Sonning 4 

M & L Healthcare Solutions 12 

Muck & Mulch 28 

Odd Jobs 36 

Queen Anne’s School 30 

Reading Blue Coat School 10 

Richfield Flooring 14 

Seniors Helping Seniors 24 

Shiplake College 14 

Signature Care Homes 32 

Sonning Golf Club 30 

Sonning Scouts Marquees 28 

Smallwood Garden Services 36 

Style by Julie 6 

Thames Valley Water Softeners 6 

Thames Valley Wills Service 36 

The 50 Plus Home Repairs 28 

Tomalin Funerals 16 

Walker Funerals 12 

Water Softener Salt 16 

Window Cleaner 16

Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding this advertisement 


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

40 The Parish Magazine - January Please mention 2023 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

The Parish Magazine January 2023

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