The Parish Magazine February 2023

The Parish Magazine - February 2023 1 

The 

Parish 

Magazine 

The John King Trophy and Gold Award 

Best Magazine of the Year 2018 

National Parish Magazine Awards 

Best Overall 2015, 2020, 2022, 

Best Content 2016, 2021 

Best Editor 2019 

Best Print 2018 

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

February 2023 — Candlemas — Ash Wednesday — Lent 

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 - February 2023 

Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to this advertisement 

Sonning Parish_Haslams Ad_DNA_01.23.indd 1 03/01/2023 16:19

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




The John King Trophy and Gold Award 

Best Magazine of the Year 2018 

National Parish Magazine Awards 

Best Overall 2015, 2020, 2022, 

Best Content 2016, 2021 

Best Editor 2019 

Best Print 2018 

FEBRUARY 2023.indd 1 12/01/2023 10:07:21 

information — 1 

Contents February 2023 

THE ASSOCIATE VICAR'S LETTER, 5 

THE PARISH NOTICEBOARD 

— Christingle Service, 7 

— Shrove Tuesday, 7 

— Ash Wednesday, 7 

— Lent Morning Prayer, 7 

— STAY, 9 

— Churchyard benches, 11 

— Claude's view from the pew, 11 

— The Persecuted Church, 13 

— My favourite Bible word, 15 

— Christian basics, 17 

— From the editor's desk, 17 

FEATURES 

— Caring for others, 19 

— Ukraine War, 19 

— Christmas images, 20-21 

— Karun update, 23 

—around the villages 

— Sonning School report, 25 

— The boy who loved Christmas, 26 

— Volunteer drivers, 26 

— Me2 Club, 26 

— S&SE Society, 26 

— My Fair Lady singers, 26 

— Village Show date, 26 

This ISSUE's FRONT COVER 


Parish 

Magazine 

February 2023 — Candlemas — Ash Wednesday — Lent 

the church of st andrew, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF 

CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY 

A Nativity angel. 

Picture: Indy Biddulph 

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 March 

issue of The Parish Magazine is: 

Monday 6 February at 12 noon 


Services at 

St Andrew’s 

Sunday 5 February 

— 8.00am Holy Communion 

— 10.30am Christingle Family 

Service for Candlemas 

— 4pm Choral Evensong 

followed by tea in The Ark 



— 10.30am Parish Eucharist with 

STAY and Sunday Club 



— 10.30am Family Communion 

— 3.00pm Messy Church 

Ash Wednesday 22 February 

— 7.30pm Holy Communion with 

optional Imposition of Ashes 



— 10.30am Parish Eucharist 

health 

— Dr Simon Ruffle, 27 

THE ARTS 

— Stanley Spencer, 29 

— Poetry Corner, 29 

— Lent book reviews, 31 

history, 33 

THE SCIENCES 

— Wonderfully made, 33 

HOME & GARDEn 

— Recipe of the month, 34 

— Recipe quiz answers, 34 

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 

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. 

PUZZLE PAGES, 34 - 35 

children's page, 37 

information 

— Church services, 3 

— From the registers, 3 

— Local Trades and Services, 36 

— Parish contacts, 38 

— Advertisers' index, 38 

From the Registers 

funerals 

— Monday 19 December, Rosemary Digby, funeral service in church followed by 

burial in the churchyard 

— Thursday 5 January, Leslie Douglas Woodford, Interment of ashes in churchyard


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The associate vicar's letter 

February is a month when, whether we like it or not, we are faced with 

Valentine’s Day. To me, it seems to have become more dramatic and 

‘in your face’ over the years and many shops have huge Valentine’s 

Day displays, not only card shops but also supermarkets, jewellery 

shops, restaurants and many more. 

Many years ago, I heard the story of St Valentine which is a fairly 

gruesome tale as many Saint’s tales are, and yet he has become the 

Patron Saint of love. There are different theories as to how Valentine 

became linked to love, but no one knows for certain. What is known 

is that he was either a priest or bishop who was martyred in the year 

269 and that his body was said to be buried on 14 February. Without 

wanting to ruin the romance too much, interestingly St Valentine is 

also the Patron Saint of the plague! 

DIFFERENT TYPES OF LOVE 


In the Bible the word ‘love’ is mentioned numerous times, but the 

original Greek language had many different words for love. So, while 

we read the word love and perhaps attach our own interpretation to 

what kind of love it is talking about, the Greek offers distinct words 

for distinct types of love. In English we may say ‘I love chocolate’, ‘I love my best friend’, ‘I love my spouse’ 

and ‘I love my child’, and while all may be true, the type of love isn’t the same. 

I haven’t got the space in this letter to write about all the types of love, but I want to mention just a 

few. Firstly, there is the Greek word 'eros' which refers to romantic love. This is the kind of love we will see 

marketed in our supermarkets and card shops as they advertise Valentine’s Day. 

Another type of love is 'philia', and this is one many of you will be familiar with, even if you haven’t 

heard the name before. This love is the love of friendship. It is a love that is affectionate and the love we 

have for our closest friends and family. The term ‘platonic love’ is derived from the Greek philosopher 

Plato’s name, who wrote about a strong love that was not about physical attraction (although the actual 

word ‘platonic’ was coined many years after Plato had died). There are other Greek words too, each 

describing a different type of love. 

SERVICE, SACRIFICE AND REACHING OUT 

But what of God’s love? The Greek word for this is 'agape'. This is different from romantic love, or the 

deep love of friendship, or the love between family members. Agape is often described as the highest 

form of love. The love of God for humankind and the love humankind has for God. It is also the love that 

Christians are called to show when Jesus said ‘love one another’. This type of love isn’t characterised by 

bunches of roses or boxes of chocolates, but is shown through acts of service. It is sacrificial love, one 

which reaches out to others, and one not limited to those closest to us. Indeed the Greek 'agape' can also be 

translated as ‘charity’ as well as ‘love’. 

Service, sacrifice and reaching out are all aspects of love that we see in our communities, both local and 

further afield. This type of love brought about hope throughout the course of the pandemic and continues 

as we see many people struggling financially or with health issues, whether physical or mental. I am sure 

most of us will have both received and shown selfless acts of support and kindness. Love brings hope. 

Another important day that falls in February this year is Ash Wednesday which marks the start of Lent. 

Lent of course is the season which leads up to the great festival of Easter. There is no greater example of 

agape love than that shown by Jesus on the cross and for Christians no greater symbol of hope. 

I want to end with a quote from Mechthild of Magdeburg who was a medieval German mystic who 

lived in the 13th Century. She wrote 'There is nothing so wise, nor so holy, nor so beautiful, nor so strong, nor so 

perfect as love'. 

I think it beautifully captures agape and I hope we can also reflect on these words as we think of all the 

people we love in our own lives and how we can show love to one another. 

With love and prayers 

Kate

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Notices 

Sunday 5 February 10.30am Christingle Family 

Service for Candlemas 

Join us on Candlemas Sunday for our Christingle Family 

Service. Bring your Christingle with you (directions to 

make one on the right) to join in our special celebration for 

Candlemas which is traditionally the day that Christians 

celebrate the presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple 

and when all the candles used in churches throughout the 

year would be blessed. There will be a cash collection in 

aid of the Karun School in South India that St Andrew's 

Church has supported for many years — see page 23. 

Ash Wednesday 22 February 7.30am 

In Western churches Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, six 

and a half weeks before Easter, and traditionally began 

a 40-day period for fasting and abstinence (Sundays are 

excluded), in imitation of Jesus Christ's fasting in the 

wilderness before he began his public ministry (see bottom 

right for service details) 

Marking Lent with Morning Prayer 

Every Tuesday from 28 February during Lent our regular 

Morning Prayer service in St Andrew's Church at 9.30am 

will include a reflection from The Beatitudes followed by 

coffee, tea and conversation in The Ark. 

In addition, during Lent, Morning Prayer will also 

be said on each Friday morning at 9.30am. Everyone is 

welcome to join us in the church. 

Why pancakes before Lent? 

Author and broadcaster, David Winter reflects on Shrove Tuesday and 

Ash Wednesday ... 

Ever wonder why we eat pancakes just before Lent? 

The tradition dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, when 

Christians spent Lent in repentance and severe fasting. 

On the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, the church bell 

would summon them to confession, where they would 

be ‘shriven’, or absolved from their sins, which gives us 

Shrove Tuesday. At home, they would then eat up their last 

eggs and fat, and making a pancake was the easiest way to 

do this. For the next 47 days, they almost starved. 

Pancakes feature in cookery books as far back as 

1439, and today’s pancake races are in remembrance of a 

panicked woman in Olney, Buckinghamshire in 1445. She 

was making pancakes when she heard the shriving bell 

calling her to confession. Afraid she’d be late, she ran to 

church in a panic, still in her apron, and holding the pan. 

Flipping pancakes is also centuries old. A poem from 

Pasquil’s Palin in 1619 says: 

And every man and maide doe take their turne, 

And tosse their Pancakes up for feare they burne. 

The ingredients of pancakes can be used to highlight 

four significant things about this time of year: 

— eggs for creation 

— flour is the staff of life 

— salt keeps things wholesome 

— milk stands for purity 

Shrove Tuesday is always 47 days before Easter Sunday 

and falls between 3 February and 9 March. This year it's on 

Tuesday 21 February. 


How to make your Christingle 

for our Family Service at 

10.30am 0n Sunday 5 February 

You need an orange, four cocktail sticks, 

some dried fruit or sweets, tin foil, a 

candle and some red ribbon or tape. 

— The orange is the world. 

— Red ribbon or tape is wrapped 

around the orange to represent 

the blood of Christ and God’s 

love for us and that Jesus died 

for the whole world. 

— The dried fruit and sweets are 

symbols of God’s creation and are placed on three of the 

four cocktail sticks in the orange. 

We leave the fourth stick empty to remind us of the 

poor and hungry in the world. 

— The four sticks can also represent spring, summer, 

autumn and winter. 

— The lit candle symbolises Jesus, the light of the world. 

Some tips: It's a good idea to slice a piece off the bottom of the 

orange so that it does not roll over when you put it down. Make 

a hole in the top of the orange big enough to take your candle 

and put foil in the hole before placing the candle inside. 

Our Christingle service will be in St Andrew's Church 

at 10.30am on Sunday 5 February when will be celebrating 

the gift of Jesus as a light in our world. It will involve lots 

of fun and it would be great to see you there with your 

Christingle. 

Why 'Ash' 

Wednesday? 

Holy Communion with 

the Imposition of the 

Ashes in St Andrew's 

Church on Wednesday 22 

February at 7.30pm 

Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, 

is about getting things right between us and God. The 

tradition goes back to the Old Testament and the sins of 

the Israelites. 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 in repentance, 

covered their heads with ashes. 

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. Soon many other Christians wanted 

to take part, and to do so at the start of Lent. 

Ash Wednesday became known as either the 'beginning 

of the fast' or ‘the day of the ashes’. 

At St Andrew's this tradition of 'ashing' continues 

during a Holy Communion service when members of the 

congregation can, if they so wish, receive the mark of 

ashes on their forehead. It is entirely optional.


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St Andrew's Youth 

STAY on Sunday 

Our STAY on Sunday group (pictures right) in The Ark on the 

2nd, 4th & 5th Sunday mornings at 10.30am continues to see 

high numbers of young people coming along. The best part 

for me is that young people feel able to bring their friends, be 

honest about their struggles and open to growing in faith and 

understanding of each other. 

STAY on Friday 

STAY in Schools 

On Friday 16 December we 

treated the young people to 

an amazing Silent Disco! Each 

young person wears their own 

‘noise cancelling headphones’ 

and they choose from three 

individual channels, each 

playing a genre of music. They 

then dance to their own beat 

in a room of silence! It’s both 

strange and awesome at the 

same time! We then released 

100 glow balloons and 300 

glow sticks for them to dance 

with under the UV lights! 

Plus there were lasers, strobes 

and disco lights, creating the 

perfect dance floor. 

STAY on Monday 

Our young people who were confirmed in November 

continue to meet on Monday nights for our newest group, 

STAY on Monday. We meet in the homes of the young people 

as we did during the confirmation classes and enjoy games, 

snacks and some faith input. The group is loud with lots of 

laughter and fun had by all. 

At the start of December, and in partnership with 

other local churches, charities and parents we started a 

brand new Christian Union (CU) at The Piggott School 

Wargrave. 

We have around 10 students attending each Monday 

and we follow a three week cycle of games, cake and 

questions and faith input. 

On 12 December, with six amazing Piggott students, we 

dropped off and decorated a Christmas tree at the Churches 

In Reading Drop In Centre (CIRDIC). 

We also delivered festive Christmas assemblies at all the 

local schools, and I had the honour and privilege of giving the 

Christmas address to the 820 students and teachers at Blue 

Coat School's annual Carol Service in St Andrew's Church. I 

spoke about our worth and how Jesus was born for us because 

our worth to him is always the same, regardless of what the 

world throws at us, says about us or does to us. 

To contact me for a chat about our youth work, email me, 

Westy, on: youthminister@sonningparish.org.uk


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Please take a seat in our churchyard! 


The Persecuted Church by Colin Bailey 

Claude's 

view 

from 

the 

pew 

There are now 21 benches to relax 

on in St Andrew's churchyard and 

The Ark garden. Many of them have 

been donated in memory of a loved 

one and all are well used by people 

who may be out walking or who just 

want to enjoy the peace and quiet 

of the church grounds which are 

always open to the public. All we 

ask is that you take your litter away 

with you, keep dogs on a lead and 

don't ride your bike. 

The latest bench is unusual in that 

it was made and donated by Julian 

Clarke of Canon Tree Services — he 

is the son of Canon Chris Clarke 

(vicar of Sonning from 1997-2008). 

Julian is a tree surgeon and 

had been working on the trees in 

churchyard — see the front cover of 

last month's magazine. 

One of the old trees had to be 

felled because it was a potential 

safety hazard and as the trunk lay 

on the ground Julian thought that it 

was in a perfect place for a bench. He 

Above: the new bench created from an old 

tree, picture: Keith Nichols. 

Below: one of the standard benches in the 

churchyard and garden. Picture: Bob Peters 

set to work and created the 'rustic' 

bench in our picture above. 

If you would like to donate a 

bench, please don't chop down any 

of our trees, or place one of your 

unwanted garden benches in the 

churchyard or The Ark garden, please 

speak to Hilary, the parish office 

manager, and she will tell you what 

it involves to comply with the Oxford 

Diocesan regulations that govern 

what we can and cannot do in and 

around the church. 

Hilary's contact details are on 

page 38. 

See you on Sunday! 

I spent the Christmas weekend in 

the New Forest with my family in a 

posh country estate. While it was 

good to be with them all and the 

surroundings and facilities were all 

first class, I had a strange feeling 

that something was missing. 

At first, I thought it was because 

this was the first Christmas since 

Barbara, my wife, had died, but 

even so, there was still a piece of the 

jigsaw missing. 

Then I remembered. I have never 

liked Christmas Day when it falls 

on a Sunday. It's something that has 

never felt quite right for me. 

Since my early childhood, Sunday 

has always been a special day in its 

own right. It's the day I go to church 

where, in my younger days, I also 

enjoyed singing in the choir and 

serving as a church warden. 

THE GOOD NEWS 

The routine of Sunday worship 

has always been an important part 

of my day of rest, it's a time of joy to 

share with like-minded people, and a 

day to focus my mind on God. I still 

find it strange that shops, pubs and 

sports grounds open on Sundays! 

Christmas Day, of course, is one 

of the most important celebrations 

in the Christian calendar, but when 

it falls on a Sunday, it deprives me of 

my special day of the week. 

The good news is that next time 

Christmas Day falls on a Sunday 

will be in 11 years time so I won't 

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This month, Chris Bailey focuses 

on the small landlocked country of 

Burkina Faso in West Africa that 

has a population of 22 million. 

Its neighbours include Mali to the 

northwest, Niger to the northeast, 

Ghana to the south and Ivory Coast 

to the southwest. 

It was colonised by the French as 

part of French West Africa at the end 

of the 19th century. 

Becoming independent in 1958, 

it was named the Republic of Upper 

Volta. 

A coup d'état in 1982, saw the 

Council of Popular Salvation (CSP) 

taking power. The leader of the left 

faction of the CSP, Captain Thomas 

Sankara, was appointed Prime 

Minister in January 1983. He was 

subsequently arrested and efforts to 

free him saw him brought to power 

as a result of a military coup d'état in 

August that year. 

The following year President 

Sankara’s initiative saw the country 

renamed from Upper Volta to 

Burkina Faso — literally land of the 

upright men. 

VIOLENCE INCREASED 

Burkina Faso ranks at number 32 

in the Top 50 on Open Doors’ 2022 

World Watch List of countries where 

Christians face the most persecution. 

Around a quarter of the country’s 

population are Christians. Jihadist 

violence has increased in the last few 

years, and Open Doors reports that 

the persecution of Christians has 

worsened slightly during 2021. 

There were more reported 

incidents of violence, reflecting 

the growing influence of Islamic 

extremist groups in Burkina Faso. 

Islamist groups have a ‘huge and 

growing’ influence in the broader 

region, with violence spreading from 

Mali and Niger. 

The extremist groups have 

exploited the government’s weakness 

during the time of the Covid-19 

pandemic and have gained control of 

the country’s infrastructure. 

Hundreds of churches have 

closed, and extremist attacks 

have caused Christians as well as 

moderate Muslims to flee their 


The land of upright men where hundreds of Christian 

churches have been forced to close 

Hyotographics, dreamstime.com 

homes — there are many Christians 

among the total of one million 

internally displaced people in 

Burkina Faso. 

The current President of the 

country is army Captain Ibrahim 

Traore. He was sworn in as interim 

president in October 2022, having 

ousted his predecessor, military 

leader Paul-Henri Damiba, in a coup 

on 30 September. In that ceremony 

he pledged support for a transition 

leading to elections in July 2024. 

As he was sworn in, President 

Traore spoke of the danger of 

Islamist militants. 

In talking of reconquering 

territories occupied by the terrorists, 

he is quoted as saying ‘Burkina’s 

existence is in danger’. The coups 

d'état of recent times have actually 

come from soldiers’ anger at the 

authorities’ failure to curtail the 

Islamist groups. 

It is reported that attacks by 

jihadists have closed schools as well 

as churches, and that the terrorists 

have prevented people from farming. 

A Christian contact told Barnabas 

that granaries and barns had been 

destroyed in many villages, with 

cattle carried away. 

A typical church in Burkina Faso 

Matthieuclouis, dreamstime.com 

Please pray for the government 

and people of Burkina Faso — 

especially for security, safety and 

peace to come to the country, and 

comfort for those who mourn.



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BUT . . . 

the Word of 

God cannot 

be chained 

One of my favourite words in the Bible . . . 

By Bob Peters 

BUT it's time now for my next favourite in the series about 'My Favourites' . . . 

When reading the Bible, it is important to look out for the 

commonly used, three letter word 'but'— it is estimated to 

be number 20 on the list of the most common words used 

in the Bible and appears nearly 4,000 times. 

It is one of my favourite words in the Bible because 

it usually marks a very important message that is best 

described as a 'Blessed Undeniable Truth' – or BUT - about 

God and his love for us, and our faith in him. Here's a few 

Bible BUTs: 

Sigrid Zabel, dreamstime.com 

— Ephesians 2:4-5 

BUT because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in 

mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead 

in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. 

— Psalm 73:26 

My flesh and my heart may fail, BUT God is the 

strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

— Matthew 22:14 

For many are invited, BUT few are chosen 

— Acts 3:15 

You killed the author of life, BUT God raised him from 

the dead. 

For your prayers in February 

— The people of Ukraine as they move 

into a second year of war with Russia 

— The Charities working on the front line 

in Ukraine 

— The persecuted people of Burkina Faso 

— All who care for the elderly and the sick 

Xalanx, dreamstime.com 

— Romans 6:23 

For the wages of sin is death, BUT the free gift of God 

is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. 

— Acts 2:24 

BUT God released him from the horrors of death and 

raised him back to life, for death could not keep him 

in its grip. 

— Matthew 19:26 

Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is 

impossible, BUT with God all things are possible.' 

— Romans 5:8 

BUT God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that 

while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us 

— Timothy 2:9 

And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering 

and have been chained like a criminal. BUT the word of 

God cannot be chained. 

There is a good collection of 20 Blessed Undeniable Truths at: 

https://carlagasser.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20-BUT- 

GOD-BIBLE-VERSES-1-2.pdf 

Or better still, sit down and have a 'good read' of your Bible 

and see how many BUTs you can find.



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Christian Basics — Part 12 

The return of Jesus 

By Canon Paul Hardingham 

Nonneljohnvilbar, dreamstime.com 

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation 

to all people... while we wait for the blessed hope, the 

appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, 

Jesus Christ’ (Titus 2:11,13-14). 

During Advent we focussed on the first and second 

coming of Jesus. He first came as a baby in Bethlehem 

as our Saviour, ‘to redeem us from all wickedness and to 

purify for himself a people that are his very own.’ (v14), 

through his cross and resurrection. Now we wait for his 

return to judge the world and finally put an end to sin 

and death. 

TURNING POINT 

We can understand the relationship of these two events 

by considering D Day and VE Day in World War II. 

D Day marked the allied invasion at the beaches of 

Normandy on 6 June 1944. It was not the end of the war, 

but it was a decisive turning point in which victory was 

assured, although not finally achieved until VE Day on 8 

May 1945. 

OUR D DAY 

For Christians, Jesus’ death and resurrection marks 

our D Day, when he secured victory over sin and death. 

However, only when he returns, will Jesus finally end 

sin and death and all who have put their trust in him can 

share the great victory celebration in heaven. 

SAY NO TO UNGODLINESS 

In Advent we reflected on what it means to live in the 

time between these key events. Paul says, we need ‘to 

say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live selfcontrolled, 

upright and godly lives in this present age’ (v12). 

More troops died in the period between D Day and 

VE Day than during the rest of the war. Although we live 

under Christ’s victory, we will still struggle with sin and 

suffering. 

From the 

editor's desk 

editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk 

Writing for pleasure? 


I often mention that I am asked where the ideas for 

articles come from in this magazine and that my reply is 

that a good number come from chats over tea or coffee 

in The Ark after services or during social occasions such 

as the Rendezvous lunch club. Unusually, after the New 

Year's Day family service I found myself chatting with 

Rev Kate — we don't do so very often because we are 

busy talking with visitors or our regular members of the 

congregation. 

When Kate and I have time to chat I can't resist 

asking how her next contribution to the magazine is 

coming along and giving her a gentle reminder about 

the forthcoming deadline. Our conversation led to how 

people find writing for pleasure much easier than writing 

to fulfil a commitment which often involves a deadline. 

It is something that has never occurred to me because I 

actually enjoy writing for deadlines which is something I 

have done for more than 50 years. Writing for any other 

reason is not something I do very often! 

For pleasure, Kate said, she really enjoys writing 

quizzes, it's an activity that helps her relax. Knowing 

that many of our readers enjoy the occasional quizzes we 

publish, I suggested that, if she had time after writing the 

page 5 clergy letter for this issue, I would always welcome 

a quiz, perhaps we could even have a monthly one? 

The next morning, there on my desk, there was an 

email from Kate — it must be her letter I thought. But no, 

there were five quizzes, the first of which you can find on 

page 34. I hope you enjoy what will become a new regular 

feature in our magazine. Also, hopefully, by the time you 

read this her page 3 letter will have arrived! 

LOCAL INFORMATION 

For this issue, I was pleased to receive an unexpected 

good news update — see page 23 — from the Karun 

School in South India that we in St Andrew's Church 

and some of our local charities have been supporting for 

several years. It was also timely because a few days before 

at a planning meeting the ministry team decided that 

this year's cash collection taken at our Christingle service 

would be given to Karun. If you are unable to be at our 

Christingle service you can make donations via: 

https://www.karunschool.org/ 

In the last issue Dr Simon Ruffle, who has been 

contributing, since March 2013, one of the most popular 

columns in our magazine asked readers for ideas for 

future subjects to write about. I am pleased that the first 

result of his request is on page 27 of this issue. Thank you 

to those who have also sent in ideas, they have all been 

passed on to Dr Ruffle — so watch this space! If you have 

a subject that you would like Dr Ruffle write about — or 

an idea for local interest story that you would like to share 

then contact me on: editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk


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feature — 1 

Official portrait of Justin Welby, The Lord 

Archbishop of Canterbury 

by Roger Harris, Wikipedia 

THE WAR IN UKRAINE 

'The gates of hell' 

This past year, we came together 

to mourn and celebrate, Her Late 

Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I met 

many people from all over the world 

who queued to pay their respects. 

People looked out for each other day 

and night. 

It’s one thing to do that for a few 

hours, another when we need to give 

or receive care day after day. Then we 

all need help. 

Like many I rejoice that elderly 

relatives like my mother are still 

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has 'opened the gates of hell' and unleashed 

evil around the world, said the Archbishop of Canterbury during an interview 

on BBC1’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. 

He told of how, during a visit to Ukraine, he had seen the mass grave in Bucha, 

and heard of the massacres and torture carried out by the occupying Russian 

forces. The Russians are driven by 'an ideology of conquest' he said, their only goal 

is 'getting historic Ukraine back.' 

Justin Welby said it was important for Britain to continue to support 

Ukrainian resistance, and to recognise that 'you can’t talk about reconciliation when 

the guns are firing, because people are just concentrating on whether they’re alive for 

the next 20 minutes.' He said how the Ukrainians had told him that 'for us, that 

word (reconciliation) means surrender, and we’re not going to do that’. There was a way 

forward, said the Archbishop: 'and that’s withdrawal and ceasefire by Russian forces.' 

Ukraine — one year on . . . 

24 February is the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine, which has seen 

nearly 8 million people displaced and thousands killed. The Office of the 

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) verified 

a total of 6,826 civilian deaths during Russia's invasion of Ukraine as of 

December 18, 2022. Of them, 428 were children and 10,769 people were 

reported to have been injured. 

This winter is the worst in living memory for most Ukrainians, with medicine, 

food, water, and heating in short supply. If you would like to mark the first year 

by helping the people in Ukraine, here are some of the charities working at the 

front line of the war: 

The Disaster Emergencies Committee (DEC) is an umbrella group of UK charities. 

https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal 

Christian Aid, founded by British and Irish churches to help refugees after WWII: 

https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/emergencies/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal-2022 

Barnabas Fund works through local churches in poor areas, and has, for example, 

provided wood burning stoves for more than 1,000 families. 

https://www.barnabasfund.org/gb/latest-needs/help-ukrainian-christians-in-their-hour-ofneed/ 

Samaritans Purse has been airlifting medical supplies into Ukraine and has 

distributed more than 45 million kilos of food, and built water systems providing 

more than 30 million litres of water. 

https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/idr-crisis/crisis-in-ukraine/ 


Caring for each other 

The full text of the Lord Archbishop's New Year's Message on 1 January 2023 

around. Their memories, their 

presence, their independence, are 

precious. Caring for them, loving 

them, is a privilege after what we 

have received from them. 

Whitstable, in the Diocese of 

Canterbury which I serve, is a 

wonderful town. Like many coastal 

areas it has a high proportion of 

elderly people. People here — like 

everywhere — are dealing with 

rising costs. 

Care homes are struggling too. 

Bills have risen; hiring and keeping 

staff is a challenge. 

Why work as a carer when 

you might get paid more in less 

demanding jobs? 

ACTION 

Caring’s not easy. Good carers are 

wonderful people to be valued. 

Like Anne: who has worked as a 

carer for over 42 years. 

We know our care system is 

broken: but it doesn’t have to be. We 

can rise to the challenge of fixing it. 

That means action from all of us; 

you, me, families, communities and 

government. 

LOVE ALONE 

In a few weeks’ time, the 

Archbishop of York and I will publish 

a significant report on social care. 

It will offer a hopeful vision of our 

society. One where no one is held 

back, over-looked or treated as a 

burden — where families and unpaid 

carers get support too. 

Caring goes to the heart of what it 

means to be human. It’s hard, but it 

can also be the most life-giving thing 

we ever do. 

It comes back to that essential 

lesson: we need each other. 

Jesus reminds us of the value of 

every single person, young or old. He 

challenges me to love everyone as I 

know he loves me. 

For love alone, Jesus came into 

our difficult world. 

I pray that in the hard times and 

the good, you find yourself loved and 

cared for. 

And I wish you all a very Happy 

New Year.


feature — 2 

YOUNG AND OLD CELEBRATE CHR 

As well as over 1,000 people attending our traditional Christmas services, our parish celebrations were in full swing with young and 

carol singing, and, of course, food! Here's a pictorial round up from some of the church, schools and clubs in the parish. 

Sonning CofE School Christmas service in St Andrew's Church 

Crib Service in St Andrew's Church 

Sonning Art Group Christmas lunch at Sonning Golf Club 

Crib Service in St Andrew's 

Indy Biddulph 

Monday Club Christmas lunch in Pearson Hall Crib Service in St Andrew's Church Indy Biddulph


ISTMAS IN 'TRADITIONAL' STYLE 

old enjoying the fun, which often included 

Indy Biddulph 

Rendezvous Christmas Lunch in The Ark 

Keith Nichols 

Crib Service in St Andrew's 

Indy Biddulph 

Sonning School Candlelit Service


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EXPLODE

feature — 3 

Mark and Liz Stephen visited Karun 

in South India during the autumn 

2022 after no visits for 3 years 

because of Covid restrictions. They 

they were able to reconnect with staff, 

students and the local community 

to learn how badly they had been 

affected during this difficult time. 

It was also a good opportunity to 

find out what the school and local 

people need during the Covid recovery 

period. 

The school is still not at full capacity 

after the long break — the families 

needed considerable support and 

encouragement to return to their 

learning and written work. Staff have 

been giving extra help through catch 

up lessons. 

The sewing classes for women 

and the IT classes for local children 

continue to be very successful. These 

are provided free of charge to the 

local community and are very much 

appreciated by the students. They are 

fully subscribed. 

LEARNING NEW SKILLS 

The sewing classes take students 

from a beginner level basic hemming 

to cutting and constructing blouses 

skirts and gowns. The students have 

access to mechanical sewing machines 

and two new electrical machines were 

recently added for more advanced 

learners. 

Participants told Liz that the skills 

that they had learnt in the classes 

helped them to find part time local 

work. 

The IT classes for local children 

continue to have a very good take up 

and this is provided whether or not 

they are enrolled at Karun. They are 

taught by the daughter of the tailor 

who has just completed her degree that 

was partly funded by the Trust. 

These classes provide a good 

opportunity for the children to extend 

and develop their IT skills as well as an 

opportunity to meet their friends. 

Mark and Liz met the six sponsored 

students that the Trust funds who are 

continuing their education in other 

institutions. 

All the students come from 

disadvantaged families who were badly 

affected by Covid and were struggling 

to continue their education. They 

visited their families, homes, and 


Karun becomes a vital hub for the community 

schools. The students and families 

were very appreciative of the support 

given by the Trust to help them to 

continue their education. The students 

said that they would never have been 

able to achieve what they are now 

achieving. 

Their families now form part of the 

Karun community and will continue 

to be supported and nurtured. 

Mark and Liz also used their visit 

to discuss with local people and Karun 

staff how they can build on the success 

of recent initiatives to provide greater 

educational opportunities for the 

wider community. The discussions 

were very much welcomed. 

Expanding community and 

adult education services will help to 

reach the widest group possible and 

establish Karun as a hub that serves 

the whole community. 

The trustees would like to thank 

everyone at St Andrew’s for the 

continued support, prayers and 

encouragement. 

The funding enables Karun to 

make a difference to the lives of 

children and young people there 

and gives them real hope for a better 

future. Thank you! 

The cash collection at St Andrew's Christingle family service on 5 February will be given to the Karun School in India



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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, 

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the church of st andrew SERVING CHARVIL, 

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RENDEZVOUS 

IN THE ARK 

Tuesday 8 February 

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Tuesday 22 February 

at 12 noon 

for lunch and 

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To reserve your place 

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IN THE ARK 


at 3pm 

P.S. Rendezvous is now open to 

all adults who would welcome some 

friendly company at lunch time 

— there are no age limits! 

revkate@sonningparish.org.uk

around the villages — 1 

Christmas is a special time of year for 

so many of us, and we were fortunate 

enough to hold our Christmas 

Nativity Service at St Andrew’s 

Church on 15 December. 

This was an event for the entire 

school and was certainly a special one. 

Pupils read the Christmas 

story, performed — as groups and 

as soloists — and many people 

commented on the exceptional 

standard they achieved. 

As part of our vision to build 

strong foundations for the years 

ahead and with the words of Jesus 

recorded in Matthew 7:24-25, which 

says: Therefore everyone who hears 

these words of mine and puts them into 

practice is like a wise man who built his 

house on the rock. The rain came down, 

the streams rose, and the winds blew 

and beat against that house; yet it did 

not fall, because it had its foundation 

on the rock', we are mindful of our 

community duty to help build strong 

foundations for others. 

We therefore collected donations 

for a local charity, The Cow Shed, who 

help families in crisis in Berkshire, 

and a small UK charity called Ceda, 

who support the education of 

disadvantaged pupils in Uganda, 

and ended the term with a candlelit 

service for all pupils and staff. 

We have been able to purchase a new 

lighting control desk for our hall’s 

stage, thanks to the kind generosity 

of the Sonning Scarecrow Trail 

Committee, who donated funds 

to our school for our performance 

equipment. 

We would also like to extend our 

thanks to The Mill at Sonning and one 

of their technicians, Graham, who 

gave his time and expertise to advise 

us on which equipment to buy and 

then he came to the school to set it up 

for us. 

We feel very lucky to have such a 

wonderful community to support our 

school and its pupils; thank you! 

We were incredibly lucky that Bob 

Peters was able to celebrate the 

Christian feast of Epiphany with our 

pupils. Bob has had a long-standing 

relationship with Sonning School 

and has shared his Nativity scenes 

with us many times, however this 

is the first time since Covid-19 and 

the children were excited to see him 

again. 

Bob has about 165 Nativity scenes 

and many have been collected from 

his travels around the world, He also 

often receives them as gifts from 

people in the parish and his family. 

One very special scene came from 

Bethlehem. The children asked lots of 

questions and then each class came 

to the front to take a closer look and 

discuss them in more detail with Bob. 

Finally, Bob led us in our prayer 

and explained his unique Prayer Drill. 

A huge thank you to Bob for 

providing the children with such a 

fantastic memorable assembly. 


Building strong foundations for the years ahead 

Community has, once again, been 

on the minds at Sonning Church 

of England Primary School as this 

report from the headmaster and 

staff on their Christmas activities 

reveals . . . 

NEW LIGHTING 

THE KING CHARLES III OAK 

In November, we held an Eco Day led by our Eco Committee. This saw us 

working around the school tidying up our allotment beds and planting bulbs 

for spring. We then went into the local area for a litter pick (picture below), 

and were kindly given an oak by a local resident, which was grown from an 

acorn from the royal estate of Prince Charles, now King Charles III. The 

acorn was selected as part of Elizabeth II’s Jubilee celebrations 10 years ago, 

so the oak tree is the same age as our Year 6's who we call Oak Class! It is a 

special piece of history, and we have named the tree the King Charles III Oak. 

EPIPHANY COLLECTIVE WORSHIP 

More pictures of the school's Christmas celebrations are on pages 20-21


around the villages — 2 

Like me, Phil Sherwood, head teacher of Sonning CoE School, thinks 

that young people should be encouraged to write short stories rather 

than the brief social media messages many of them spend time on, 

so we hope this will be the first of many others — Editor. 

The boy who loved Christmas 

By Reeyen, Year 4 (Holly Class) 

There once was a boy who loved Christmas more than 

anyone in the universe. The problem was that Christmas 

was coming quickly but it was not coming quick enough. 

He went out of his bedroom and downstairs and asked his 

mum, 'Will Christmas come quickly?' His mum kissed him 

on the forehead and said, 'You’ll have to be patient my dear.' 

When it was finally Christmas the boy wrote a note saying: 

Santa, all I want for Christmas is for every Christmas to 

come quickly. When everybody was sleeping, Santa emerged 

from the old, dusty fireplace. While Santa was putting the 

presents under the Christmas tree, he read the boy’s note. He 

chuckled and exclaimed, 'He will love his present.' He quickly 

ate the mince pies. Then he disappeared into smoke. 

When everybody woke up to see their presents, the boy 

ran downstairs and tore open the wrapping paper. It was a 

genie lamp! He rubbed the genie lamp and the genie said, 'I 

will give you three wishes but you can’t wish for love, more 

wishes or harm to others.' The boy said I wish Christmas will 

come really quickly. 'Your wish is my command!' exclaimed 

the genie. 

In less than one second it was Christmas Eve. The boy 

learnt his lesson and said, 'I wish everything was back 

to normal.' Everything was back to normal. The genie 

exclaimed, 'Your wish is my command.' 

Soon the boy wasn’t even a boy he was an adult. His son 

ran to him and asked his dad if Christmas would come really 

quickly. The dad kissed his son on the forehead and said to 

him be patient while he tucked him in to bed! 

Finding it hard to get to 

medical appointments? 

If so, Twyford Volunteer Drivers could help you. 

The volunteer drivers use their own cars to help mobile, 

mainly elderly people who do not have other transport. 

Clients must register in advance and be physically and 

mentally independent, or take a helper. 

To enrol as a client or request transport to a medical or 

dental appointment one week’s notice is needed. Call 0118 

934 3010 (24 hour answerphone) or twadvc@yahoo.co.uk. 

If you wish to volunteer or want more information 

visit: https://www.twyfordvolunteerdrivers.org.uk 

A record 77 young people 

volunteer to help Me2 

help other youngsters 

During last year Me2 Club, a local charity that seeks to 

include all children and young people, aged 5-19 years 

with additional needs and disabilities, in mainstream 

leisure activities trained a record number of 77 new 

volunteer helpers. 

The volunteer helpers are young people who help the 

children and young people with additional needs and 

disabilities to take part in a wide range of activities 

including sports clubs, uniformed groups, drama classes, 

and so on. This gives those being helped an opportunity 

to build their independence and vital life and social skills 

that it would have otherwise been difficult for them to 

achieve. 

Last year Me2 Club also set up Wokingham’s first 

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) youth 

forum which met six times and gave 23 young people a 

chance to have their say on a range of subjects that affect 

them. For more about this and all Me2Club activities see: 

https://me2club.org.uk/ 

First talk of the year 

Sonning and Sonning Eye Society's first speaker of the 

year is Brian Hunt whose talk will be the war graves in the 

churchyard at St Andrew's Church on 17 March at 7.30pm 

in Pearson Hall. 

Meanwhile in Pearson Hall, on 21 February, the Film 

Club presents 'A Promising Young Woman', starring Carey 

Mulligan as a troubled young woman haunted by a 

traumatic past as she navigates balancing forgiveness and 

vengeance. Doors open at 7pm. 

Tickets for both events are available from: 

https://www.sonning.org.uk/ or penny.feathers@btinternet.com 

or 0118 934 3193. 

'My Fair Lady' fun singing session 

Charvil music teacher and choir director, Suzanne 

Newman, is leading a 'My Fair Lady' fun singing evening 

for female voices in Charvil Village Hall on Sunday 26 

March from 6-8pm. There will be a great medley of songs 

from the musical 'My Fair Lady' by Lerner and Loewe 

arranged for a two-part choir. 

Songs will include: On the street where you live, Wouldn't 

it be loverly?, Get me to the church on time, I've grown 

accustomed to her face and I could have danced all night. 

Tickets are £10 which includes the music and light 

refreshments. To book your place contact Suzanne on: 

0118 934 0589 or suzanneynewman@btinternet.com 

Sonning Village Show Diary Date 

The organisers of the annual Sonning Village Show have 

announced that this year's event will be held on Saturday 

16 September at the usual venue — Sonning C of E 

Primary School. Put the date in your diary now!

HEALTH 

Dr Simon Ruffle writes . . . Coeliac disease 

Writing this early in the New Year is a 

little resolution that I am going to get 

things done in plenty of time rather 

than seeing a deadline as a target! 

My hobby is photography. When I first 

investigated the subject more deeply, 

I didn’t really understand abstract 

photography. 

Abstract photography is described 

as ‘images created using photography 

materials and equipment that don't 

have an immediate association with the 

physical world.’ 

Irritable bowel disease (IBS) is 

the ‘abstract’ of the bowel disease 

world. There is no association between 

symptoms and any physical changes in 

the bowel. 

VARIED SYMPTONS 

It is a diagnosis of exclusion which 

means that we exclude other reasons 

for the problems that the person is 

experiencing. 

IBS has a varied range of symptoms 

that fluctuate in time, frequency, and 

severity. Pain, bloating, diarrhoea and/ 

or constipation are features. However, 

these symptoms are also associated 

with inflammatory bowel disease such 

as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, 

cancer, and Coeliac disease. 

There is no definitive test for IBS 

and therefore ruling out other diseases 

leads to the diagnosis. 

Important signs of bleeding and 

weight loss are rarely seen in IBS but 

are seen in other illness. No one knows 

why people suffer with IBS but there 

must be something wrong and one day 

there will be a more effective way of 

treating IBS as a disease instead of just 

alleviating some symptoms. 

FRUSTRATION 

Due to the issues described above 

getting to the diagnosis can take 

some time and it is frustrating for 

the patient and the doctor. We hate 

not knowing but one skill that all GPs 

must master is to live with uncertainty 

and keep an open mind, otherwise the 

diagnosis will be missed. 

Coeliac disease can be dismissed as 

IBS as they share a range of symptoms. 

Coeliac disease is often discussed 

as a gluten intolerance or allergy. It 

is not. It is an autoimmune disease. 

Essentially eating gluten causes the 

body to attack itself. Even small 

amounts in sufferers can trigger it. 

Gluten is found predominantly in 

wheat but also in rye and barley. 

Although the attack is usually in 

the small bowel, thus leading to the 

symptoms of bloating, pain, wind 

and diarrhoea, it can also affect other 

parts of the body including the skin. 

Undiagnosed Coeliac disease will 

lead to malabsorption of nutrients 

and then anaemia, weight loss and 

osteoporosis. Left over years, it can 

also lead to lymphoma of the small 

bowel. 

GLUTEN 

Similar to IBS there is no cure and 

the only way to control the disease is 

not to eat gluten at all. 

Taking an iron supplement 

and calcium is recommended if 

you get any symptoms as cross 

contamination of foods is common 

and, bizarrely, gluten-free food in the 

UK can contain 20 parts per million 

of gluten. 

Coeliac disease is not rare, and 

it is suspected that 1 in 100 people 

may suffer from it. Diagnosis starts 

with recognising the symptoms and 

some simple blood and stool tests. 

Following on from this, a biopsy may 

be required to confirm the diagnosis. 

Cutting gluten out of the diet before 

tests can lead to false negatives so 

your doctor will ask you to eat gluten 

before testing. 


Abstract lights’ by iMagesSRx 

Most sufferers can control their 

symptoms with diet but lightning 

can strike twice and Coeliac disease 

sufferers may also have IBS. 

More information can be found at 

https://www.coeliac.org.uk/informationand-support/coeliac-disease/aboutcoeliac-disease/ 

however, a little 

warning that this site asks you to 

accept all cookies, not the best idea for 

some unless they are gluten-free! 

Love is better for 

you than money 

Your mental health is the biggest 

single predictor of your personal 

happiness. Suffering from 

depression or anxiety disorders can 

devastate your life. 

Finding love is also a vital ingredient 

for happiness. 'People need to be 

needed, and to be in meaningful 

relationships', says a recent study by 

the London School of Economics. 

It goes on: 'Happiness is hugely 

affected by the ethos of a society, which 

affects everyone in it. For example, 

happiness is higher in societies where 

people trust each other. Freedom is also 

a crucial determinant of happiness.' 

The report also found that a boost 

in income, or more education, did not 

significantly affect our overall wellbeing. 

Having good mental health 

and someone to love were far more 

important.



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57732 AF Jones Parish Magazine Advert.indd 1 19/11/2014 10:43

THE ARTS — 1 

By Rev Canon Michael Burgess 

At the end of this month we enter the season of Lent: those 

40 days when we follow Jesus into the wilderness and 

prepare ourselves to celebrate his Easter victory. 

In the last century an artist called Stanley Spencer planned 

to create a series of 40 paintings, each depicting a day in the 

wilderness. In the end he completed nine, one of which is 

this month’s painting: ‘Christ in the Wilderness – Scorpions.’ 

Painted in 1939, it is held in a private collection. 

Stanley Spencer lived and worked in the village of 

Cookham in Berkshire where the village and the local 

countryside were the setting for many of his paintings, and 

the local inhabitants were his models. 

Through their everyday life he was trying to glimpse 

and convey the transcendent. ‘Angels and dirt’ he called it: 

the divine seen in the ordinary. So, in a painting of Christ 

carrying his cross, Jesus has the face of the local grocer. 

LIFE IN HEFTY REALITY 

Another villager modelled for Jesus in the wilderness. — 

the strong, hefty, broad figure in our picture. This is a great 

contrast to the Christ of stained-glass windows who often 

seems too good to be part of our world. Here is real life: a 

large man filling the canvas with his head, his hands and his 

feet. 

This figure of Jesus comes as a shock: a very human 

model, ordinary with nothing handsome or special about 

him, apart from his tunic which seems to sprawl and 

undulate like the hills around. Here is a Jesus born into this 

world and one with this world. 

There are two focal points in the painting — the neat, 

little scorpion and the massive, unkempt head contemplating 

each other. One is life in all its hefty reality; the other a tiny 

creature able to squeeze that life out by one swift flick of its 

tail. 

Jesus is shown in the wilderness pondering the life and 

ministry called of him by God — a life and ministry that will 

take him from the countryside into the towns and villages 

and take him also to the death of Good Friday. Will he find 

the strength and renewal to embrace that ministry during 

his time in the desert? 

Poetry Corner 


40 Days and 40 Nights — and 40 Paintings! 

https://www.wikiart.org/en/stanley-spencer/christin-the-wilderness-the-scorpion 

During Lent as we follow Jesus, we seek to live for God. 

That may mean dying to all that separates us from God. He 

has a ministry, a calling for each of us. As we contemplate 

that calling in this season of Lent, we may find it is a calling 

that leads us through these 40 days to life and Easter life — 

we may find it a journey that calls us to die to ourself to find 

our God. 

Majestic Musings by Steven Rolling – Psalm 93 

Tune: Southwell (‘Lord Jesus, think on me’) 

The Lord reigns, He is clothed 

With majesty bestowed 

He is clothed with strength, wherewith He 

Has girded self, so be 

The world also is set 

Established, not moved yet 

Your throne, Lord, is established too 

From old, e’erlasting you 

The floods have raised their voice 

Though we do here rejoice 

That you the Lord are mightier 

Than them, e’en though they stir 

Your testimonies sure 

Lord are, and evermore 

Holiness does your house adorn 

Evening, night, day, and morn 

Cookham's 13th Century Church 

Patrick Rowney, dreamstime.com 

Wirestock, dreamstime.com



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THE ARTS — 2 

Seven new books for Lent 

Failure: What Jesus Said About Sin, Mistakes and Messing 

Stuff Up, Emma Ineson, SPCK £8.99 

It is the Archbishop of Canterbury's Book for Lent 2023 

In 2019, Emma Ineson wrote about ambition and what it 

means for Christians to be successful. And then there was a 

global pandemic . . suddenly failure began to feel very much 

more familiar than success. But what is failure? What did 

Jesus think of it? What did he say about sin, mistakes and 

generally mucking things up? 

At the start of this humorous and encouraging book 

that ends at the cross, it's suggested that our tendency to 

lump all kinds of failure together could be unhelpful. An 

understanding of what sort of failure we're dealing with 

might allow us to respond more appropriately. 

This idea leads 'Towards an (Imperfect) Theology of Failure', 

based on key Christian thinking, and Emma poses the 

question of whether sin is individual or corporate. Looking at 

the church, we consider, what is God's purpose for it? 

Godforsaken: The Cross, the Greatest Hope of All, Stephen 

Cottrell, Archbishop of York, John Murray Press, £14.99 

Stephen Cottrell explores Jesus' final words on the cross. 

recorded in the Gospel of Mark's account of the Passion 

narrative, when Jesus calls out 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' 

which is Aramaic for 'My God, my God, why have you 

forsaken me?' — the first line of Psalm 22. It's an anguished 

expression, ascribed to King David, of defeat, failure, 

abandonment and despair. 

This series of reflections, ponders the significance of these 

words. What does it mean for Jesus to have quoted them, at 

the very end of his life? What do those words mean for us 

and how do they lead us to the greatest hope of all? 

Reflections for Lent 2023 by Kate Bruce, Mark Oakley and 

Graham James, CHPublishing, £4.99 

Designed to enhance your spiritual journey through Lent 

this book has reflections on readings from the Common 

Worship Lectionary, written by some of today's leading 

spiritual and theological writers. 

Each day includes: full lectionary details for Morning 

Prayer; a reflection on one of the Bible readings; and a 

Collect. It's suitable for individuals and groups. 

Images of Grace: a Journey from Darkness to Light at 

Easter, Amy Scott Robinson, BRF, £9.99 

At the heart of the Christian message is a collection of 

abstract nouns such as: love; sin; forgiveness; and grace. 

When we use them, we assume that the person we are 

talking to understands them, and we assume that they have 

the same understanding of the word that we do. 

Amy Scott Robinson explores different biblical images 

of repentance, sin, forgiveness and grace, bringing them 

together in Holy Week as a lens through which to view 

Christ’s work of reconciliation on the cross. 

Prayers around the World, Deborah Lock and Helen Cann, 

Lion Children’s Books, £7.99 

This beautifully illustrated book of prayers reflects on God’s 

amazing world, celebrating different countries, landscapes 

and traditions. From fishing villages to the African plains, 


farming in Peru to the snowy landscape of Greenland, 

blossoms in Japan and leaf kicking in Eastern Europe and 

to the shores of the Pacific Ocean, these prayers share God’s 

love and care for his world. 

All’s Well That Ends Well — Through Lent with 

Shakespeare, Peter Graystone, Canterbury Press, £12.99 

Few writers have a deeper understanding of the foibles 

of human nature and life's absurdities and tragedies 

than William Shakespeare. This makes him a fascinating 

companion for Lent, a traditional time for self-examination. 

This engaging, wise and often amusing book sets 

quotations from Shakespeare's characters and poems 

alongside biblical passages and reflects on the resonance 

between them. 

There is one reflection for each day from Ash Wednesday 

to Easter Sunday. Each day's reflection opens with a 

quotation from Shakespeare and explores its ideas in 

conversation with the Bible and Christian thought. 

Easter Book of Days — Meeting the Characters of the 

Cross and Resurrection, Gregory Cameron, Canterbury 

Press, £10.99 

Following the bestselling Advent Book of Days, Gregory 

Cameron turns his artistic, literary and pastoral skills to the 

Easter story, introducing us to the characters who populate 

the crucifixion and resurrection. 

He explores 25 characters from the stories of Lent, Holy 

Week and Easter from the perspectives of scripture, history 

and legend and asks how they can enrich our practice of 

faith today. As well as the familiar figures, he explores 

aspects of the story not found in scripture, such as Veronica 

wiping the face of Jesus as he carried his cross. Considering 

biblical accounts alongside folk legends, he also explores the 

rich traditions that have built up around the cross and the 

crown of thorns, as well as tales of how the robin got its red 

breast, or what happened to the disciples after the ascension, 

creating a richly textured guide to the Easter season. 

Please remember your donations 

for the Woodley 

Food Bank inside 

St Andrew's Church

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History 

Was it really . . . ? 

the sciences 

Fearfully and 

wonderfully 

made 


RMS Titanic 

Boyan Dimitrov, dreamstime.com 

. . . 175 YEARS AGO on 21 February 1848 that the 

Communist Manifesto written by Karl Marx, with the 

assistance of Friedrich Engels, was published in London. 

. . . 150 YEARS AGO on 7 February 1873 that Thomas 

Andrews, an Irish/British shipbuilder and businessman 

was born. He was in charge of the plans for RMS Titanic 

and died with 1,500 others during her maiden voyage. 

. . . 100 YEARS AGO on 16 February 1923 that British 

archaeologist Howard Carter opened the sealed doorway 

to Tutankhamen’s tomb in Thebes, Egypt. The next day he 

discovered a wealth of treasures in the burial chamber. 

. . . 70 YEARS AGO on 28 February 1953 that British 

scientists Francis Crick and James D Watson announced 

their discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA. 

. . . 65 YEARS AGO on 17 February 1958 that St Claire 

of Assisi (1194-1253) was declared the patron saint of 

television by Pope Pius XII. Although too ill to attend 

Mass, she had been able to see and hear it on the wall of 

her room. 

. . . 50 YEARS AGO on 8 February 1973 that the US 

Senate established a select committee to investigate 

the Watergate scandal. This led to US President Richard 

Nixon’s resignation in August 1974. 

. . . 40 YEARS AGO on 8 February 1983 that champion 

racehorse, Shergar, was kidnapped in Ireland and a £2 

million ransom demanded. Shergar was never seen again. 

. . . 30 YEARS AGO on 24 February 1993 that Bobby 

Moore, captain of the England football team that won the 

1966 World Cup, died. 

. . . 25 YEARS AGO on 23 February 1998 that Osama bin 

Laden issued a fatwa against all Jews and Crusaders. 

. . . 15 YEARS AGO on 29 February 2008 that Prince 

Harry was immediately withdrawn from active service 

in Afghanistan after the media revealed he was serving a 

tour of duty with British troops there. 

Zoia Fedorova, dreamstime.com 

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

in Cambridge. 

Every person who ever lived was once a sperm and an egg. 

Those two cells fused together, and in nine months they 

turned into a living, breathing, human being. Each of us 

emerged from this same embryonic development process, 

which is highly complex and organised, but variable 

enough to turn out a unique individual every time. 

If you like order – such as neat piles of stationery, or tidy 

colour-coded files – you will enjoy this story. One of the 

most important stages of an embryo’s development is 

when each section of the body, from head to rump, takes 

on its identity. Each part is told what shape to take, and 

which limbs or internal organs to grow: legs or arms, 

lungs or kidneys, and so on. 

The most beautiful part of this body-patterning 

process is that it brings the dimensions of time and space 

together in such a neat way. 

The DNA instructions for the procedure, known as 

genes, are organised in the order in which they are needed 

during development which is also the order in which they 

appear on the body. No other sets of genes are known to 

be arranged in such a tidy pattern. 

YOU CREATED MY INNERMOST BEING 

So, as the embryo develops, the tissues near the head 

end activate the first sets of genes. Those active genes then 

make all the proteins needed for that part of the body to 

grow and develop in the right way. 

The tissues just below the head then switch on the 

second set of genes, and so on. A wave of activation passes 

down the embryo, specifying each section of the trunk in 

turn. 

The Wisconsin-based developmental biologist Jeff 

Hardin often quotes Psalm 139 to express the wonder of 

embryonic development. The Psalmist did not understand 

how this process happened, but he knew that it was a 

marvellous thing. 'For you created my inmost being; you knit 

me together in my mother’s womb…your works are wonderful, 

I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when 

I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in 

the depths of the earth.' 

The story of the tidy genes brings out the hidden 

beauty in the very early stages of embryonic development. 

The more biologists get to find out about how we came 

to be born, the more we can say, 'I am fearfully and 

wonderfully made!'


HOME AND GARDEN 

Recipe of the Month 

From Emma of Emma's Kitchen 

Welsh Rarebit 

Craig Russell, dreamstime.com 

Ingredients (2 generous portions) 

— 2 thick slices of bread ... any will do 

— 120 ml brown ale 

— 25g unsalted butter 

— 25g plain flour 

— 140g mature cheddar (grated) 

— 1 heaped teaspoon of English mustard 

powder 

— 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce 

— 1 tablespoon chopped chives 

PUZZLE PAGES 

Rev Kate's 

February 

Quiz 

How much can you 

remember about last year? 

1. Which country won the Eurovision Song Contest? 

2. Which men’s football team won the FA cup? 

3. Which television series brought about the revival of the 

Kate Bush classic song ‘Running up that hill’? 

4. Which film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature? 

5. What was the name of Queen Elizabeth II’s pony who 

was in the funeral procession? 

6. Who came 3rd place in the men’s FIFA World Cup? 

7. Which two countries were invited to join NATO in June? 

(2 marks) 

8. Which city hosted the Commonwealth Games? 

9. Who won the Wimbledon women’s singles final? 

10. Name 3 of the 8 new British cities created in honour of 

Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. (3 marks) 

11. What was the most Googled word of 2022? 

12. Which long running BBC medical drama ended after 23 

years on air? 

Total marks = 15 

Method 

Warm the ale in a pan (do not boil) 

In another pan melt the butter until 

foaming. 

Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute 

Slowly whisk in the ale until a thick 

mixture is achieved 

Whisk in the cheese until you have a 

thick paste. 

Add the Worcestershire sauce, chiv3w 

and mustard. 

Grill one side of each slice of bread until 

golden brown. 

Turn over the slice and liberally spread 

the paste onto the whole slice. 

Put back under grill for 1 - 2 minutes 

until bubbling and brown. 

Serve immediately with a small green 

salad. 

Bible Cake Ingredients? 

Answers to Bible cake clues – published on 

page 31 of our January 2023 issue. . . 

i. curd (butter) 

ii. sugar 

iii. honey 

iv. eggs 

v. raisins 

vi. figs 

vii. almonds 

viii. flour 

ix. spice 

x. salt 

xi. leaven (baking powder or yeast) 

xii. milk 

BIBLICAL CROSSWORD 

Across 

8 Interrogated (Acts 12:19) (5-8) 

9 ‘Burn it in a wood fire on the — heap’ (Leviticus 4:12) (3) 

10 Tobit, Judith, Baruch and the books of Esdras and the 

Maccabees are part of it (9) 

11 Science fiction (abbrev.) (3-2) 

13 Clay pit (anag.) (7) 

16 Went to (John 4:46) (7) 

19 ‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, 

to — your bodies as living sacrifices’ (Romans 12:1) (5) 

22 David’s plea to God concerning those referred to in 14 

down: ‘On — — let them escape’ (Psalm 56:7) (2,7) 

24 Royal Automobile Club (1,1,1) 25 How the book of Ezekiel 

refers to God more than 200 times (Ezekiel 2:4) (9,4) 

Down 

1 Seas (Proverbs 8:24) (6) 

2 One of the sons of Eli the priest, killed in 

battle by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:11) (6) 

3 Specialist in the study of the Muslim 

religion (8) 

4 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but 

— him as if he were your father 

(1 Tim 5:1) (6) 

5 One of Esau’s grandsons (Gen36:11) (4) 

6 Taking a chance (colloq.) (2,4) 

7 God’s instructions to the Israelites 

concerning grain offerings: ‘ — salt to — 

your offerings’ (Leviticus 2:13) (3,3) 

12 Confederation of British Industry (1,1,1) 

14 ‘All day long they twist my words; they 

are always — to harm me’ (Ps 56:5) (8) 

15 The crowd’s reaction to Jesus bringing 

back to life a widow’s son in Nain 

(Luke 7:16) (3) 

16 Disappear (Psalm 104:35) (6) 

17 How Jeremiah was likely to die if he 

wasn’t rescued from the cistern where 

he was imprisoned (Jeremiah 38:9) (6) 

18 What the prophets do to a wall, with 

whitewash (Ezekiel 13:10 (4,2) 

20 Made by a plough (Job 39:10) (6) 

21 Noah was relieved when the flood 

waters continued to — (Gen 8:5) (6) 

23 Jesus gave the 12 the power and 

authority to do this (Luke 9:1) (4)

CROSSWORD 

1 2 3 4 5 6 

8 

7 

9 10 

11 12 13 

14 

15 16 17 18 19 

21 22 

24 

Across 

Down 

1 -- African antelope antelope (6) (6) 

7 - Make something look more attractive (8) 

- Make something look more attractive (8) 

8 - Scientific workplace (abbrev.) (3) 

8 - Scientific workplace (abbrev.) (3) 

9 - Large terrestrial monkey (6) 

910 - Large - Close terrestrial by monkey (4)(6) 

10 11 - Close - Estimate by (4) (5) 

5 - Lavish (8) 

13 - One's mother and father (7) 

11 - Estimate (5) 

15 - Plausible; defensible (7) 

13 - One's mother and father (7) 

17 - Reclining (5) 

15 21 - Plausible; - Gemstone defensible (7) (4) 

17 22 - Reclining - Huge (5) desert in North Africa (6) 

23 - Opposite of high (3) 

21 - Gemstone (4) 

24 - Text of an opera (8) 

22 - Huge desert in North Africa (6) 

25 - Followed a route or signal (6) 

23 Down - Opposite of high (3) 

24 1 - Text Doing of an opera nothing (8) (6) 

2 - Small stone (6) 

25 Followed a route or signal (6) 

3 - Goodbye (Spanish) (5) 

4 - Thing causing outrage (7) 

5 - Lavish (8) 

6 - Narrow passage of water (6) 

12 - Plasters (anag) (8) 

14 - Small storage rooms or cupboards (7) 

16 - Sprightliness (6) 

18 - Sloping (of a typeface) (6) 

19 - Shone (6) 

20 - Fire a weapon (5) 

CODEWORD 

the answers will be published in the next issue 

20 

25 

23 

1 - Doing nothing (6) 

2 - Small stone (6) 

3 - Goodbye (Spanish) (5) 

4 - Thing causing outrage (7) 

6 - Narrow passage of water (6) 

12 - Plasters (anag) (8) 

14 - Small storage rooms or cupboards (7) 

16 - Sprightliness (6) 

18 - Sloping (of a typeface) (6) 

19 - Shone (6) 

20 - Fire a weapon (5) 

16 23 1 12 14 7 

5 14 14 15 9 18 8 5 16 2 19 15 

8 15 19 5 20 20 5 

3 4 8 3 4 9 12 9 4 8 3 23 

14 4 7 12 15 17 15 

2 24 5 19 22 20 2 7 15 

7 19 23 15 23 20 14 

6 2 1 12 17 21 15 5 19 

26 14 5 5 2 24 5 

15 13 1 4 14 7 5 20 18 4 19 10 

9 20 6 15 6 23 26 

8 5 20 7 2 9 11 4 19 4 15 1 

15 23 25 7 7 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 

Q 

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

P 

D 

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 CANDLEMAS 

In New Testament times 40 days old was an 

important age for a baby boy: it was when 

they made their first ‘public appearance’. 

Mary, like all good Jewish mothers, went to 

the Temple with Jesus, her first male child — 

to ‘present him to the Lord’. At the same time, 

she, as a new mother, was ‘purified’. Thus, 

we have the Festival of the Presentation of 

Christ in the Temple, 40 days after Christmas. 

Jesus is described in the Bible as the Light of 

the World, and so early Christians developed 

the tradition of lighting many candles in 

celebration of this day. The Church also fell 

into the custom of blessing the year’s supply 

of candles for the church on this day — hence 

the name, Candlemas. The story can be found 

in Luke 2:22-40, where Simeon makes his 

great declaration of faith and recognition 

of Jesus. Simeon’s ‘Nunc Dimittis’, is 

embedded in the Office of Evening 

Prayer. 

FORTY 

DAYS 

BABY 

BOY 

PUBLIC 

MARY 

JESUS 

LORD 

LIGHT 

NUNC 

WEST 

JEWISH SIMEON 

MOTHERS PRAYER 

TEMPLE WORLD 

PURIFIED PRESENT 

DIMITTIS 

OFFICE 

FESTIVAL 

EVENING 

CANDLEMAS 

APPEARANCE 

PRESENTATION 


January 

Solutions 

CROSSWORD 

I N F O R M E D L A M P 

M R E N D L R 

P R O O F G R I S T L E 

E W R A S O T 

R I N G I N G P I S T E 

C E G E L N 

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

P R P C E I 

T H E T A O R E G A N O 

I G T R M F U 

B U R N O U T E X A M S 

L E R A N G L 

E A T S B L I T H E L Y 

CODEWORD 

O B J E C T I V I T Y 

C R N E A W Q 

I O Z O N A L E M U 

R O W D Y N E A A 

C N M I T A K E R 

U N I V E R S E R 

M E S L A E 

S C H E E R F U L 

P O L E S O X F S 

E O L B I G L O O 

C R Y I O N I C I M 

T A N O A C E 

E L I G I B I L I T Y 

SUDOKU 

WORDSEARCH CHRISTMAS 

MAZE


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Door and window locks fitted, UPVC door lock expert 

Checkatrade member - Which Trusted Trader 

Call Richard Homden: 0149 168 2050 / 0771 040 9216 

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 

SMALLWOOD 

Landscaping, garden construction, 

patios, lawns, fencing, decking etc 

0118 969 8989 https://www.smallwoodlandscaping.co.uk/ 

office@smallwoodlandscaping.co.uk 

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 

BERKSHIRE STUMP REMOVALS 

Stump grinding and tree stump removal 

Latest narrow access machinery 

Contact: Mark 

0798 495 7334 http://www.berkshirestumpremoval 

THE BARBER SHOP 

177 Wokingham Road, Earley 

Since 1969 (opposite Fire Station) 

Open: Wednesday – Saturday 9.00am – 5.00pm 

Call John – 0118 966 6100 

Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to advertisements

CHILDREN'S PAGE 

The Parish Magazine - February 2023 37

38 The Parish Magazine - February 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 Office Manager 

— Hilary Rennie 

office@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298 

Parochial Church Council 

— Secretary: Hilary Rennie 0118 969 3298 

— Treasurer: Jerry Wood 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 - February 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 February 2023

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