The Parish Magazine April 2023

The Parish Magazine - April 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 

April 2023 — Easter 

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 - April 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 Parish Magazine -March 2023 1 

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 

information — 1 

Contents April 2023 

THE ASSOCIATE VICAR'S LETTER, 5 

THE PARISH NOTICEBOARD 

— Holy Week and Easter Services, 7 

— Coronation Service, 7 

— Ring for the King, 7 

— STAY, 8-9 

— Claude's view from the pew, 9 

— Mark's Easter Prelude, 11 

— From the editor's desk, 11 

— Easter meditation, 13 

— For your prayers in April, 13 

— The Persecuted Church, 15 

FEATURES 

— Ken Trimmings RIP, 17 

— Memories of Charvil, 18-21 

— I was Glad, 21 

— A year in Iraq, 22-23 

—around the villages 

— Coronation Weekend events, 25 

— Inner Wheel 21st birthday, 25 

— Sonning Art Group, 25 

— Canal talk, 25 

— FoStAC Diary, 25 

— World Book Day, 27 

— Community investor wanted, 27 

— My Cancer, My Choice, 29 

HOME & GARDEn 

— Dogs and children tips, 31 

— In the garden, 31 

This ISSUE's FRONT COVER 


Parish 

Magazine 

April 2023 — Easter 

the church of st andrew, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF 

CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY 

Easter Lilies in St Andrew's 

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 May 

issue of The Parish Magazine is: 

Thursday 6 April 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 

Please see page 7 for more details about 

the Holy Week and Easter services below. 

Palm Sunday 2 April 

— 8.00am Holy Communion 

— 10.30am Family Service 

— 4pm Choral Evensong 

followed by tea in The Ark 

Maundy Thursday 6 April 

— 7.30pm Holy Communion 

Good Friday 7 April 

— 2.00pm The Last Hour with 

readings, prayer and reflection 

Easter Eve Saturday 8 April 

— 8.00pm The First Holy 

Communion of Easter 

Easter Sunday 9 April 


— 10.30am Family Communion 

Sunday 16 April 


— 10.30am Parish Eucharist with 

STAY and Sunday Club 









— 5.45pm Sunday at Six in The Ark 

THE ARTS 

— Poussin's Easter Alleluia 33 

— Poetry Corner, 33 

— The Hiding Place, 33 

— Book Reviews, 35 

history, 35 

health 

— Dr Simon Ruffle, 37 

PUZZLE PAGES, 38 - 39 

children's page, 42 

information 

— Church services, 3 

— From the registers, 3 

— Local Trades and Services, 40 

— Parish contacts, 42 

— Advertisers' index, 42 

From the Registers 

WEDDINGs 

— 

In 

Friday 

the 

10 

garden 

February, Colin 

. . 

James 

. 

Anderson Menzies and Vanessa 

Claire Wood 

funerals 

— Thursday 9 February, Memorial 

service for Kenneth Arthur 

Trimmings followed by interment 

of ashes at St John’s, Woodley 

— Thursday 16 February, Memorial 

service for Nicholas George 

Strong followed by interment of 

ashes in the churchyard 

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. 

Please remember your 

donations for the Woodley 

Food Bank inside 

St Andrew's Church


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The associate vicar's letter 

Dear Friends, 

You have probably seen my new monthly quiz in The Parish Magazine 

which I admit I have thoroughly enjoyed writing! I like quizzes, partly 

because I get to use my brain and think about things that perhaps I 

wouldn’t usually think about, but also because I learn a lot. When I look 

at the answers to quiz or crossword questions that I can’t answer myself, 

I obtain new knowledge and I genuinely love to learn. 

In 2023 Easter falls in the month of April and so I thought I’d use this 

month’s parish letter to ask and answer some questions about Easter. 

It’s not a quiz as I am providing answers as well as questions but it will 

hopefully be interesting and perhaps even teach you something new. 

Easter is a Christian festival that people are very familiar with, not 

just Christians but people of many different faiths and none. Shops are 

full of Easter eggs, our schools have a holiday over the Easter period and 

many people who work will have extra bank holidays on Good Friday 

and Easter Monday. But for Christians, Easter is not about eggs and 

holidays, and, although we may think we know the Easter story well, it is 

always good to ask questions and to think of things in deeper and more 

challenging ways. 

WHY DOES THE DATE OF EASTER CHANGE? 

Easter falls on the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon — Paschal is Greek meaning Passover— which 

is the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. The reason for this is that the early Church wanted the feast of 

Easter to coincide with the Jewish Passover and because the Jewish calendar is in line with lunar cycles, the 

Christian festival of Easter also changes. Spring equinox is taken to be 21 March, so this year Easter is 9 April. 

Easter can fall within the period from 22 March to 25 April. 

WHAT IS HOLY WEEK? 

Holy Week is the week that begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday. It is a journey which begins 

with Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem with the crowd joyfully shouting ‘Hosanna’. Just a few days later 

we remember the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday. At this meal with his friends Jesus gives us the famous 

words that we use at Holy Communion including ‘take, eat. This is my body’ and ‘this is my blood of the new 

covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’. These words, commonly known as the Institution 

Narrative, have been used since the early church as Christians celebrate Holy Communion, and it all began that 

night as Jesus broke bread and poured wine the night before he died. It was also at the Last Supper that Jesus 

washed his disciples’ feet, a sign that he came to serve others in love. 

Good Friday is when we remember Jesus’ death and the crowds are now shouting ‘crucify him’. Often 

Christians observe the Last Hour from 2pm-3pm and this is a time to reflect on the words Jesus spoke on the 

cross before he died. Finally, we celebrate the joy of the Resurrection at the great feast of Easter, when the new 

Paschal Candle is lit and we proclaim ‘Alleluia!’ Holy Week is a week of mixed emotions and it is an important 

journey for Christians each year. 

WHY DID JESUS DIE? 

A simple answer is that Jesus died to reconcile the world with God. Of course, it is more complicated than 

that, but we see throughout the Old Testament that God’s people repeatedly turn from him, disobey his law 

and turn to false idols. The world that God created in love had become a mess. Humankind had strayed from 

God’s way and so the world needed to be saved. Our Saviour came in the form of Jesus, who was both fully 

human and fully divine, God Incarnate. The question as to how Jesus’ death and resurrection achieved this 

reconciliation is one that has many theories and has been debated by theologians for over a thousand years! 

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ST ANDREW'S CHURCH THIS EASTER? 

As well the usual services throughout Holy Week, we are also having our annual Easter Saturday family 

day which involves an Easter egg hunt, a free BBQ, Messy Church craft activities, a bouncy castle, a teenage 

obstacle course, a short interactive Easter family service, trips up the Tower, egg & spoon races and a riverside 

walk. It would be great to see you there — for more details see page 7. 

I wish you all a blessed and hope filled Easter when it comes. 

With love and prayers, Kate

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the parish noticeboard — 1 

Holy Week and Easter 

Palm Sunday 2 April, 10.30am 

We meet in The Ark Garden before 

processing into church for a Family 

Service with an abbreviated version 

of the traditional Passion Reading. 

Maundy Thursday, 6 April, 7.30pm 

Holy Communion to celebrate the 

Last Supper. The service concludes 

with the stripping of the altar, after 

which there is silent reflection before 

the congregation depart in silence. 

Good Friday, 7 April, 2-3pm 

The Last Hour. Bible readings, 

prayers and silent reflection. 

Easter Saturday 8 April Family 

Fun Afternoon, from 2pm 

Meet inside the Church at 2pm for 

a welcome and short family service 

before moving outside for an Easter 

egg hunt, bouncy castle, an obstacle 

course for teenagers, riverside walk, 

egg and spoon races, trips up the bell 

tower, Messy Church activities, and a 

free BBQ. 

IMPORTANT: Please let Hilary in the 

Parish Office 0118 969 3298 know if 

you are planning to be at the BBQ so 

we can buy enough food for everyone! 

Easter Eve 8 April, The First 

Communion of Easter 8.00pm 

We meet outside the Church north 

door where the Easter fire will be 

lit. The congregation will be given 

candles, which are lit from the 

Easter fire. We then move into the 

dark church carrying 'the Light of 

Christ' to celebrate the first Holy 

Communion of Easter. If you have 

been to this service you will know 

that it is one of the most meaningful 

services of the year. 

Easter Day 9 April 

BCP Holy Communion at 8am 

Parish Eucharist at 10.30am during 

which the children will make the 

Easter Garden in The Ark. 

Messy Easter in 

The Ark 16 April 

Family worship, prayer, 

games, activities, singing 

and free food with an Easter theme 

will be held in The Ark at 3pm. 

Everyone is welcome! 

Lord Carey to preside at 

our Coronation Parish 

Celebration Service on 

Sunday 7 May 


After attending the Coronation on Saturday 

6 May in Westminster Abbey of Charles III and 

his wife Camilla as King and Queen of the United 

Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, 

The Rt Rev and the Rt Hon the Lord Carey of Clifton will preach at a special 

Coronation Eucharist in St Andrew's Church Sonning on Sunday 7 May at 

11am. Following the service the celebrations will continue in The Ark and The 

Ark gardens. Everyone is welcome to both the service and the following drinks 

reception in The Ark gardens. 

Lord Carey was the 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury from 1991 to 2002 and is 

always a very welcome visitor to St Andrew's. His last visit was to preach at 

our special service to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum 

Jubilee in June last year. 

Could you ring for the King and Queen? 

A new Ring for the King website — 

https://ringfortheking.org — has been 

set up by The Central Council of Church 

Bell Ringers to encourage young people 

to try their hand at bell ringing. The 

immediate aim is to ensure that as 

many church bells as possible will be 

rung for the Coronation on 6 May — 

there are about 38,000 church bells, 

but only 30,000 ringers in the UK! 

The website says that bell ringing is 'an 

activity like no other — a unique mix of 

physical exercise with mental agility that is 

a deep part of our history but still practised 

and evolving today.' It suggests that after 

10 - 15 hours of one-to-one tuition, a 

beginner can learn to handle a bell, use a 

bell rope, and begin to ring with others. 

The Central Council has said that 

while a swell of new recruits in time for 

the Coronation would be ‘fantastic’, they 

hope that people find this new hobby, 

skill and social activity something they 

St Andrew's bell tower 

would want to continue with beyond 

the Coronation. 

At St Andrew's there is a very active 

and friendly group of ringers who 

always welcome new team members. 

They would also welcome your enquiry. 

You can find their contact details on 

page 42 — why not give them a ring!



St Andrew's Youth 

STAY on Friday 

Friday night youth club goes from strength to strength. Numbers 

and faces are consistent, games, activities and baking are enjoyed 

and the tuck shop is always busy. Our recent final thoughts 

included: Don’t be a people pleaser, let your yes be yes and your no 

be no using this quote: 

STAY on Sunday 

Our bi-weekly Sunday group has also been lots of fun and 

learning about Jesus’s mysterious parables. This month we’ve 

thought about the parable of the lost sheep. It was an incredible 

time of honesty, faith growing and prayer. We asked: 

1 Have we ever lost anything? 

2 What does it mean to be lost? 

3 How do we celebrate being found? 

4 What do the words lostness and foundness mean to you? 

5 Why does Jesus want each of us to be found? 

Nonneljohnvilbar, dreamstime.com 

STAY on Monday 

Our bi-weekly faith growing group on a Monday night is also a 

fantastic space for having fun, deepening our faith and being 

together. As always, we gathered in the homes of young people 

and were able to think about how we are made up of 'mind, body 

and spirit'. We had three balloons with those words written 

on them, blew a puff of air into each balloon as we thought of 

ways that we use and exercise each one. For example, we use our 

bodies to do PE at school, we ride our bikes, we go for walks and 

we play sports for a team. This meant the body balloon was full. 

We use our minds to learn at school, problem solve, play games 

online and think about relationships and friends. Our mind 

balloon was also full. Then we tried thinking about our spirits. 

Where in a week do we use our spirits? The room went silent… 

the balloon remained empty…then they thought about being in 

church or praying, standing on top of a mountain or watching 

the sun set and being in awe. The point being that we often use 

and exercise our mind and bodies but less so our spirits, why is 

this? Surely all three are as important? If that’s true then we need 

to engage more regularly with our spirit. 

STAY in Schools 

Our work in schools continues to be fruitful and positive. With 

about 30 students being mentored, regular assemblies across five 

local schools and providing an opportunity for staff to gather and 

pray each term — this always feels like a great moment to pause, 

breathe and pray. 

Sunday After Six Youth Social 

In partnership with Emmanuel Church Youth we have launched 

a new youth social for those in school years 9+. It is being held 

from 7-8.30pm in The Ark at St Andrew's following the Sunday at 

Six service on the last Sunday of the month, and it will provide a 

space for fun, games, deepening faith and making new friends. 

Mental Health First Aid Course 

We have been kindly offered a free Mental Health First Aid 

Course to help those of us working with young people from 

the local area. We’ve got 10 youth workers and schools workers 

signed up and we hope this will enable us all to further support 

those young people who are suffering with poor mental health 

and those most in need of our care. 

To contact me, or for an informal chat about 

our youth work, email me, Westy, on: 

youthminister@sonningparish.org.uk


The Persecuted Church by Colin Bailey 

Claude's 

view 

from 

the 

pew 

Foraging for food 

The shortage of common foods 

has reminded me of the rationing 

years during and after WWII, and 

in particular, benefitting from my 

grandfather's habit of foraging 

foods that resulted in what was 

considered to be a luxury. 

He collected items from the local 

area and turned them into rare 

condiments such as horseradish 

sauce and pickled walnuts. Both 

were far too strong in flavour for my 

young tongue, but much enjoyed by 

my parents. 

They would share the cooking 

at home and my father would often 

cook for Boys Brigade summer camps 

on the Isle of Wight. The camps were 

for poorer children and were more 

holidays than traditional camping to 

give them a break from their normal 

routines. I, however, much preferred 

the scouts. They were far more fun 

and we cooked our own food. 

WONDERFUL SUNDAY 

Mum was also an excellent 

cook — her menus were always 

varied with the limited ingredients 

available. My favourite was always 

‘dripping sandwiches’ due mainly 

because of the lack of butter. 

There were sweet rations during 

the war and mum would make 

peppermints that would feed most 

of my friends so I remained the most 

popular kid in the street 

My father, however, would 

always criticise her cooking unfairly, 

even into latter life, much to the 

annoyance of my wife who once even 

took him to task as we shared yet 

another wonderful Sunday lunch.


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Mark's Easter Prelude 

By Bob Peters 

Christ healing the blind men on the road to Jericho by Pieter Norbert 

van Reysschoot (1738 - 1795) in St Peter's Church, Gent, Belgium 

Jozef Sedmak, dreamstime.com 

Mark's story (10:45-52) of the miraculous healing of a 

blind man near the city gates of Jericho, stands out from 

other miracles performed by Jesus because Mark tells 

us the name of the person being healed – Bartimaeus, it 

means the son of Timaeus. 

Why Mark named him is a mystery because neither 

Bartimaeus nor Timaeus are mentioned anywhere else in 

the Bible. We can only assume that he was a well-known 

beggar who had a regular pitch just outside the city. 

When I visited Jericho in 1996 I was disappointed 

because, unlike most towns and cities in Israel, which were 

lively and welcoming, Jericho seemed to be very hostile 

and unwelcoming. I was relieved when the visit was over. 

If Jericho was like that in the time of Jesus, I’m sure that 

Bartimaeus would have had an unimaginably hard life as a 

blind beggar. 

ON THE ROAD TO JERUSALEM 

The point of Mark’s story is not about who Bartimaeus 

was, but how he responded after Jesus told his disciples 

to call him. Bartimaeus recognised Jesus as the Messiah, 

the Son of David, and when he was called he immediately 

threw aside his cloak, which was probably the only thing he 

owned of any worldly value, and he went to meet Jesus who 

promptly changed his life by giving him sight. Bartimaeus 

then follows Jesus along the road. If you read on you will 

see that the road was taking Jesus, his followers, and 

Bartimaeus, to Jerusalem where Jesus was to be welcomed 

first as a King and a week later crucified alongside two 

thieves. Mark's story of Bartimaeus is a prelude to Easter. 

Mark sets out a clear pattern for our Christian lives. 

We must first recognise Jesus as the Son of God, we must 

recognise his call, and place our faith in God, rather than in 

worldly possessions, and then follow him. 

For Bartimaeus, his response was instant. I would guess 

for most of us that it took, or maybe, is still taking, much 

longer to respond. One of my great regrets is that while I 

recognised Jesus as the Son of God at an early age, I did not 

recognise God’s call or respond in the way that Bartimaeus 

did. It took me many years before I found the right road 

to follow him along and something I discovered is that it 

is not always the road you plan. God, I have found, likes 

to challenge us in ways that we think are impossible so we 

must rely totally on him rather than on ourselves or the 

world around us. Have you found the right road for you yet? 

From the 

editor's desk 

editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk 

A warm feeling inside 


Handing out the latest issue of The Parish Magazine at 

the door after the Sunday service which marked the 

beginning of Lent, someone came up to me and said thank 

you for a sermon that I had preached a few days earlier on 

Ash Wednesday. With all the recent busyness in my life 

those two simple words, 'thank you', left me with a nice 

warm feeling inside. 

Gratitude, of course, has been considered a moral 

virtue for thousands of years. According to Cicero, who 

was a Roman lawyer, philosopher and politician born 100 

years before Jesus walked on Earth, gratitude is not only 

the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all other virtues 

that can be found in the Bible — chastity, temperance, 

charity, diligence, patience, humility and kindness. 

Kindness is closely linked to the word gratitude, 

which is derived from the Latin gratia, meaning grace, 

graciousness, and gratefulness. It can be confused with 

grazie, which means thank you. Saying thank you is the 

response of your grace or gratefulness. 

Gratitude is a state of mind that comes from our spirit 

and is a combination of wonder, appreciation, and the 

readiness to respond by saying thank you, which itself is 

an act of returning kindness to someone else. 

When someone says thank you to you, you are usually 

left, as I was, with a nice warm feeling that whatever you 

did to deserve it was appreciated. 

Rabbi Harold Kushner once said this about that nice 

warm feeling: 'If you concentrate on finding whatever is good 

in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly 

be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.' 

How much better would our world be today if more 

people took the time to nurture the souls of others by 

concentrating on what is good in every situation and 

simply say thank you? 

MORE THANK YOUS INSIDE 

On page 17 of this issue we say a very well earned 

'thank you' to Ken Trimmings, whose memorial service 

was held in St Andrew's Church on 9 February when 98 

people representing Sonning village groups such as the 

Royal British Legion, Monday Club, the Almshouses, the 

Allotments, and indeed, St Andrew's Church came to say 

thank you. In church he was best known for his voice 

which was a feature of the annual Remembrance service 

when he honoured the servicemen who sacrificed their 

lives during the two world wars and other conflicts since. 

We also say 'thank you' to the family of Nick Strong 

who have given us permission to publish extracts from 

the memoirs of his early life growing up in Charvil and 

being educated in Sonning. His memorial service was held 

in St Andrew's a week after Ken's. The first part of Nick's 

memoirs begin on page 18 and will continue in our May 

issue. 

And last, but by no means least, thank you, for reading 

this issue of The Parish Magazine!



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An Easter Meditation by Dr Herbert McGonigle, formerly Senior Lecturer in Historical 

Theology & Church History, Nazarene Theological College, Manchester. 

‘I have gotten me Christ and 

Christ has gotten me the victory’ 

Ivansmuk, dreamstime.com 

Two donkeys had been walking the 

streets of Jerusalem. One said: 'Just 

a few days ago I came down that hill 

carrying Jesus, and the people were 

all singing and shouting and throwing 

down their cloaks and palms for me 

to walk on. But today they don’t even 

recognise me.' 

The other donkey replied: 'That is 

how it is, my friend. Without Jesus, 

none of us amounts to much.' 

For your prayers 

in April 

— All preparing celebrations 

for the Coronation of our 

King and Queen 

— All who have welcomed 

Ukrainian families into their 

homes 

— All providing public services 

during the Easter holidays 

— Secret Christians forced to 

hide for fear of persecution 

Pop Nukoonrat, dreamstime.com 

Romolo Tavani, dreamstime.com 

In the New Testament the resurrection of Jesus is presented as a simple 

historical fact. He rose from the grave on the first Easter morning. Four 

evangelists, and Paul, carefully lay out the evidence. They record the details 

of the empty tomb, the names of who visited it, the appearances of the risen 

Jesus and how he was seen by more than 500 witnesses. 

But the New Testament tells us more: It tells us, not only of the power of God 

that raised Jesus from the grave (Romans 1:4) but also that the same power is 

invested in the Church. Christians are new people! We are ‘made alive’ in our 

risen head (Ephesians 1:1). His victory has become our victory! As Jesus promised: 

‘Because I live, you will also live’ (John 14:19). 

Until our Lord returns again one day, Christians will die physically, but their 

victory over death is already guaranteed. As Paul demonstrates in 1 Corinthians 15, 

death is ‘swallowed up in victory’! Death’s sting is abolished! Paul proclaims 

our victory anthem. ‘Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord 

Jesus Christ’ (verses 55-57)! 

FEARLESS PREACHING 

For 2,000 years Christ’s people have lived in the glorious victory. An example 

is Donald Cargill (1619-1681), a Presbyterian minister and a covenanter in the 

years known in Scotland’s history as ‘the killing times.’ The covenanters opposed 

all attempts by the English parliament to impose episcopacy on Scotland. With 

other covenanters, Cargill strongly denounced the immorality and irreligion 

of the court of King Charles II. Hundreds of covenanters were imprisoned, and 

many were executed. Cargill’s fearless itinerant preaching made him a marked 

man. In July 1681 he was arrested. The outcome of his trial was never in question. 

The government of the day 

was determined to silence 

this influential ‘rebel.’ He was 

sentenced for execution on 27 

July in Edinburgh, at which 

he declared, 'with less fear than 

ever I entered a pulpit to preach.' 

Raising his eyes to a blue July 

sky over his beloved Scotland, 

he cried out: 'I have gotten me 

Christ and Christ has gotten me 

the victory.' 

The brave soul of Donald 

Cargill joined the martyrs who 

died in the victory of the risen 

Christ. That glorious victory 

is not only for all martyrs, but 

for all who belong to Christ. 

Death is defeated. The grave is 

conquered. Christ lives for ever 

in the power of an endless life. 

And we can all say: ‘I have gotten 

me Christ and Christ has gotten 

me the victory.’ 

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



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PARISH NOTICEBOARD — 5 


THE persecuted church 

Christians suffer most in Arab world's poorest country 

A young boy sits by his house destroyed by civil war in Yemen 

Colin Bailey reviews the current situation for persecuted Christians in Yemen 

The modern Republic of Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest country, was formed in 1990 when the Yemen Arab Republic 

and South Yemen— previously the Aden Protectorate — united. The country is the second largest Arab sovereign 

state in the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia to the north and Oman to the north east. In ancient history, 

Yemen was the home of the Sabaeans who founded the kingdom of Saba'. In the Qur’an, Saba’ is mentioned twice, and 

Sabaeans are mentioned many times in the Baha’i Writings. In the Bible, there are mentions of Sabaeans in Genesis, 1 

Kings, Isaiah, Joel, Ezekiel and Job. 

Between 2014 and 2015 there was a coup d’etat against 

President Hadi, led by the Houthis and their supporters. 

The Houthi insurgents were Shiite rebels with links to 

Iran. After failed negotiations, Hadi and his government 

resigned. A civil war has been ongoing since 2014 between 

the Yemeni government and the Houthi armed movement. 

In March 2015, Saudi Arabia led an intervention in the 

civil war, with a coalition of nine countries from West 

Asia and North Africa. This was in response to calls from 

President Hadi for military support after he was deposed. 

Hadi rescinded his resignation in September 2015 and 

fighting continued. 

FEARS OF MORE WAR 

In April 2022, Rashad Muhammad al-Alimi became 

chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, through 

a decree by President Hadi, who transferred his powers 

to the council. Saudi-led air raids have, according to the 

Yemen Data Project, not been recorded in Yemen since the 

country began a ceasefire at the end of March 2022. The 

ceasefire expired in October despite diplomatic efforts 

to renew it, and this has led to fears that the war could 

escalate again. 

At the time of writing, the British Navy says it seized 

anti-tank missiles during a raid on a small boat heading 

from Iran, ‘likely to Yemen’. This follows other seizures, 

by French and American forces, in the region. A UN 

resolution bans arms transfers to the Iranian-allied 

Houthis. Tehran however has long denied arming the 

rebels. 

Akram Alrasny, dreamstime.com 

The civil war has triggered a food insecurity crisis, 

since 2016. The World Food Programme estimated, in 

September 2022, that 17.4 million Yemenis struggled with 

food insecurity. Describing Yemen as one of the largest 

humanitarian crises in the world, UNICEF say that 23.4 

million people are in need of assistance, including almost 

13 million children. Others claim it to be the world’s 

worst humanitarian crisis. The UN has said that 131,000 

of the estimated 233,000 deaths in Yemen since 2015 are 

the result of ‘indirect causes such as lack of food, health 

services and infrastructure’. 

LIFE IS DANGEROUS 

Yemen is at number 3 in the 2023 Open Doors World 

Watch List of the 50 countries where Christians face the 

most persecution. There are a few thousand Christians in 

this country of 31.2 million people that rose two places 

in the list this year, largely due to a higher number of 

reported incidents of violence against Christians. 

Yemen is strongly tribal. Tribal law forbids members 

of the tribe from leaving. The punishment for becoming 

a Christian might be banishment or even death. It is also 

illegal to convert from Islam to Christianity. A woman 

converting to Christianity is considered to bring shame 

on the whole family and might be isolated in the home, 

abused, raped or killed. If their faith is discovered, 

Christian men are likely to be imprisoned, detained or 

killed. 

Life is dangerous for all Christians in Yemen. Most 

believers from a Muslim background cannot gather 

turn to page 38



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feature — 1 

Thank you Ken for never flinching 

from any task where you could help 

When 98 people gather in St Andrew's Church to say thank you to someone then 

you know that the someone is very special — especially as several more people 

were unable to attend the memorial service for Ken Trimmings on 9 February. 

Here is a selection of the many stories, tributes and thank you messages we 

received about him ... 

Ken was born on a farm in Crazies 

Hill 6 July 1930. He had two brothers, 

and after a happy childhood left 

school at 14 years old to work in a 

hardware shop in Reading delivering 

household products and paraffin that 

were used widely for lighting, heating 

and cooking. 

He then joined Huntley & Palmer 

and it was here that he met Betty 

Woodage who he married in January 

1954 after he had completed his 

National Service. 

Ken and Betty eventually moved 

to Woodley where in June 1956 their 

daughter, Susan Mary was born, 

bringing great joy to their lives. Their 

family was completed in December 

1960 with the birth of their son, 

Mark. 

Ken, being community minded as 

he was throughout his life, became 

involved with the Woodley Carnival. 

THREE WHEELS 

1971 proved to be a life-changing 

year. In April, Susan Mary was taken 

ill and died and this prompted a 

move to Sonning where Ken found 

an allotment at the back of his 

small garden. His hobby at the time, 

tropical fish, then became tending his 

allotment! 

He joined the Sonning Working 

Men's Club and the Royal British 

Legion and so became entrenched in 

village life. 

When Huntley & Palmers closed 

down— Ken had worked there 

25 years — he took a new job at 

Hallmark Cards in Reading but 

travelling on his motorbike to work 

became less attractive when it was 

cold or wet so he bought his first 

yellow three wheel car that was to 

become his signature in and around 

Sonning. He never held a driving 

licence and eventually owned three 

different three wheelers that he 

drove at speed until he was well into 

his 80s. 

His retirement gave him even 

more time to be involved in village 

life. As well as his allotment, and the 

Working Mens Club, he joined the 

Monday Club and became its leader 

organising games, entertainment, 

and outings. 

Ken and Betty moved from their 

house in Pound Lane to the Robert 

Palmer Almshouses in Pearson Road. 

Sadly, Betty, the love of his life, died 

in 1991. 

Ken, being his natural caring 

self, became the warden of the 

Almshouses and kept an eye on the 

other residents, helping them as 

much as he could. As well as tending 

the communal gardens, he took 

a new allotment situated behind 

the Almshouses and he specialised 

in growing colourful gladioli and 

dahlias. In the summer he could 

be seen driving around the village 

delivering colourful bunches of 

flowers to everyone he thought 

needed cheering up. 

VOICE OF SONNING 

One day, when asked to share his 

secret about growing such colourful 

flowers he replied, 'They all look the 

same to me because I have been colour 

blind all my life, I just grow them 

because they make other people happy!' 

Another of Ken's remarkable 

talents was colouring by numbers, 

which again, he did to give pleasure 

to others. His colour blindness never 

stopped him from doing anything for 

other people. 

For many, Ken is remembered 

with great affection for his 

participation in the Sonning Branch 

of the Royal British Legion. For 35 

years he donned his best suit and 

went on parade with them at the 

annual Remembrance Sunday service 

in St Andrew's Church. During the 

service he would stand up and read 

all the names of the local servicemen 

who sacrificed their lives in the two 


World Wars and other conflicts since. 

While he did so, a bunch of flowers 

in a silver vase was placed beneath 

each of the wall plaques bearing the 

individual's name. Ken was the voice 

of Sonning at this service for 35 years 

and will be a hard act to follow. 

Ken also loved to cook and had 

a dab-hand with making pastry. He 

was renowned for his apricot tea 

bread and rock cakes which formed 

part of Monday Club's afternoon 

tea for several years. Even after he 

had given up leadership of the club 

he continued to attend and quietly 

continued with his organisational 

skills. 

FAMILY FIRST 

But even with all his outside 

interests and efforts to care for 

others, his family was always 

his greatest love and pride. He 

surrounded himself with their 

photos and always had room for 

more. Every Sunday he would call 

Mark and his wife Cheryl, and their 

children Bronwyn and Neve. He also 

made 17 trips to Australia to spend 

time with them in Australia. 

Ken's involvement with so many 

different parts of village life means 

he has left behind many good 

friends. As one friend said: 

'He had a rich tapestry of friends. 

If you popped into to see him the kettle 

was on within minutes and tea or 

coffee was served. Some mornings it 

could be difficult to find a chair because 

there were so many of us enjoying his 

hospitality.'


feature — 2 

Memories of a good life in Charvil 

1947 — 1968 By Nicholas Strong 

Nicholas Strong, who died in Ireland in December 2020 aged 73 years, was born in Charvil 

and is now buried in the churchyard at St Andrew's Church where his parents and brother 

are also buried. He remained very fond of Charvil and Sonning all his life and kept in touch 

with his school friends, some of whom still live in the parish. Before he died, he wrote his 

memories of the parish that he always loved. Here is the first of a two part article based on 

extracts from his account. Part Two will be published next month. 

For the first 21 years of my life — except when at university, Scout camps and residential 

musical events — until I married my first wife Deirdre, I lived in a three bedroom bungalow in 

Park View Drive Charvil with my parents. 

My dad built it between 1936 and 1938 at a cost of £400. It was on a 

⅓ acre plot purchased from the Sonning Land Company for £80. 

Park View Drive was, for the most part, middle class although 

it was a stony potholed dirt road. The exceptions to the middleclassness, 

much to my mum’s displeasure, were our south-side next 

door neighbours, the Wheels, who were a social welfare family, and 

north of the new A4 by-pass built in 1929, was a council estate. 

The problem with the Wheel family was, I think, they provided 

me with sugar sandwiches, which as a 3-4 year old I rather enjoyed. 

But obviously they weren’t good for my teeth. 

By the time I started primary school, the Wheels moved out and 

the Corderys moved in. Mr Cordery had a market garden outside 

Wargrave and was a keen home gardener on his ⅓ acre. 

A LARGE KITCHEN AND . . . 

Our bungalow, like the other houses in the road, had a large 

kitchen where we ate most of our meals around a small table — the 

exceptions were Christmas dinner and other special occasions that 

were partaken in our dining-room. 

My friends, I discovered later, had very small kitchens no bigger 

than those found in New York apartments! We also had a fairly 

spacious lounge that housed a grand piano. My mum played the 

piano quite often and I soon started tinkling on it. 

The house was heated by open fires in most rooms and a kitchen 

stove that was turned into a central heating boiler in the early 50s. 

An airing cupboard with an electric immersion heater was also in 

the kitchen, as was a large pantry cupboard with a fly-screened 

window. Everyone else had a larder! 

. . . A BRICK-BUILT GARAGE 

Outside was a brick-built garage for our 1938 Wolseley 14, reg: 

FKN 366. My dad had received it as a gratuity on leaving war service 

from the RAF in 1945. The garage had a service pit. Car ownership in 

the late 40s and early 50s was for the minority of the UK population 

and so we were regarded as reasonably wealthy. 

Not every house in Park View Drive had a car but my dad needed 

a vehicle for his work as a builder. Behind the garage we had two 

brick-built sheds, one for coal and the other for coking coal for the 

boiler. When coal was delivered, and I was old enough to count, I 

had to count the 20 cwt bags to ensure we got the full ton. 

In the garden, we grew vegetables, as did everyone who could — 

those without a garden had an allotment – because food rationing, 

controlled by paper coupons issued by the Government and based 

on the occupancy of each household, was in operation after the 

Second World War. We also kept chickens, had apple and pear trees 

and fruit bushes, and at one time we kept a pig in a piggery in Park 

Nicholas George Strong 

Lane. We had to provide the food for our pig that mainly seemed to 

be kitchen scraps. 

We got eggs from the chickens, one of which became Christmas 

dinner, its neck rung by my dad and plucked and drawn by my mum 

seated at the kitchen table smoking a cigarette because of the smell! 

The pig was eventually slaughtered, and we got the best cuts and the 

remainder were sold. We had no refrigeration at that time. 

One summer, my mum decided to grow mushrooms. She laid 

the spawn on the lawn and covered it with a tarpaulin. We waited 

in anticipation of the fine feast that we would soon enjoy, but they 

sprouted on next door’s lawn! 

At the end of our garden was a large field that provided extra 

space for playing until it was built on in the late 50s and became 

Strathmore Drive. 

HOME APPLIANCES AND FIRST TV 

Our first appliance in the house was a refrigerator with a minute 

freezer shelf that meant we could buy meat and the few vegetables 

that were acquired less frequently than daily. In fact, once we had 

a refrigerator meat was bought from a travelling Co-op butcher 

who called twice a week in a mobile shop akin to a mobile ice-cream 

van. This lasted a number of years but when the quality of the meat 

declined, we started buying from Jennings Butchers, next to the 

Post Office in Twyford. 

Next came a Bendix automatic washing machine that, I’m sure, 

saved my mum a great deal of time with the laundry that, until 

then, had been done by hand. The spin dry action of the machine 

was so violent that it had to be concreted into the ground to stop it 

wobbling out the back door, pushing the refrigerator ahead of it. 

My favourite appliance was a Cannon gas cooker with a 

rotisserie attachment for the eye-level grill. This device was 

excellent for barbecuing kebabs of lamb, onion and peppers. Some 

Sunday afternoons, Paul, my brother, or I would make junkets for 

dessert as a change from lemon meringue pie or ice cream. 

We were probably the first house in Park View Drive to own a 

television. It was a 9 inch Pye purchased from Barnes and Avis, 

Reading so that we could watch the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth. 

My mum was proud of our tv — the best brand on the market! 

A number of neighbours came into the front room, where the 

television was installed, to crowd around what would now be the 

size of a tablet! It had a massive case as the technology required 

much larger components than now. 

CHARVIL'S LOCAL SHOPS 

Initially, there was Charvil Post Office at the crossroads of Park 

View Drive and the A4 and Selesta Stores at the Old Bath Road end


Sonning School pupils: front row left to right: John Freemantle, Nick Strong; Colin Patrick and John Head; Bridget Cox and Gillian Thomas. In the next rows are 

Susan Jacobs (nee Wright), Susan Screen, Clifford Blackburn, Wendy Plummer and Susan Holland. 

Picture from: John Freemantle 

of Park View Drive. It was run by Mr Bawlwell, and was a small 

general grocery business where most provisions were sold loose. 

Items such as sugar and tea were stored either in sacks or in large 

wooden tea chests and were shovelled into packaging made out of 

newspaper shaped into a cone and then it was weighed on a scale. 

Shortly after my memory begins, the Spenceley family took over 

the Post Office and opened a grocery store on the premises. While 

Mr Bawlwell was elderly, Mr and Mrs Spenceley were younger and 

ambitious and pretty soon Selesta Stores closed. 

On one occasion, I was sent to Spenceley’s to buy a pound of 

cheese with the required coupons. Back at home it transpired that 

Mrs Spenceley, who had served me, had added some cigarette ash to 

the purchase. I was sent back for a replacement block of cheese. This 

didn’t seem to upset my mum’s relationship with the Spenceley’s, 

however, as she became friendly with Ellen Spenceley and, I think 

became ambitious for my own education because their son, Ian, 

read mathematics at Cambridge and then became a turf accountant! 

FIRST SCHOOL DAYS 

At 4¾ years old I had my first day at Sonning Church of England 

School. The Duke of Edinburgh, who had recently become engaged 

to the future Queen Elizabeth II had been in the news, and was 

very much on my mind. The school was in Thames Street, Sonning 

between very imposing residences occupied by the great and good of 

the parish. I remember strutting around the schoolyard pretending 

to be the Duke of Edinburgh in my new school blazer. 

Because of the ravages of the Wars on the male population, 

primary schools in England, and probably elsewhere in Europe 

were, it seems to me, headed by a man but staffed otherwise by 

unmarried female teachers. 

At Sonning School, the headmaster was Harold (Charlie) 

Chapman, a north country graduate in German, probably untrained 

as a teacher, and three spinster ladies. The reception class was 

taught by Miss Simmonds who smelt of wintergreen camphor 

liniment. Both she and Miss Wilkins, a very tall, sickly woman who 

taught the next few years’ classes occupied the large, original school 

room, which was used for different classes each year as the number 

of pupils varied. Sometimes the class I was in and Miss Wilkins’ 

class, each of which had eight or 10 pupils, were separated by a 

curtain across the middle of the, what at the time, seemed a vast 

space. 

The room was heated by a pot-bellied stove in the middle. In 

winter, it was useful for thawing the small bottles of milk that all 

children were given daily. Some children, though, got orange juice; I 

guess they didn’t like milk. 

We often had to wear our coats in the classroom because it 

was so cold! The milk was delivered by the local milkman in a 

crate left at the front gate of the schoolyard and, if it was really 

cold, it would stand like an ice lolly exploding from the bottles 

with the aluminium caps perched on top. The toilets were outside 

and the boys’ urinal had no roof. There were cold water taps and 

basins in the cloakroom attached to the school room and behind 

the school buildings, but part of the school, was a field in which 

there was a stream. Beyond this were the village Almshouses that 

accommodated the needy pensioners of the parish. 

Throughout primary school, the boys and girls were separated 

by single sex pairs of desks. I sat next to John Freemantle who has 

been my lifelong friend. Behind us sat John Head and Christopher 

Vooght although Chris’s older sister, Vivienne, was across the aisle 

from me and sat next to Susan Wright. 

Both the Misses Simmonds and Wilkins were very fond of 

girls as pupils and, as a result, girls were always top of the class at 

the end of the first four years of schooling. It was quite a pleasant 

surprise, therefore, having completed our first year in Miss Fox’s 

class and following the first real tests that I can remember doing 

that I emerged as first in the class, a position that I held for the 

remainder of my primary school years. 

Miss Fox’s school room was in Pearson Road located in what had 

been the Home Guard drill hall during World War II. The school 

canteen with its own kitchen and a small meeting room were also 

turn to page 21



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from page 19 

feature — 3 

Memories of the good life 

there. School dinner, served in the middle of the day, was 

available at a small charge but some children, including 

John Freemantle, who lived in the village, went home for 

food. There was one boy, who came from a very poor single 

parent family, David Smith, who got free meals. I don’t know 

whether he was embarrassed that when the dinner money 

was collected each Monday morning, it was obvious to the 

rest of us that he didn’t pay. But the cooks made sure he was 

well fed. 

Canberra Bomber 

TWYFORD AIR CRASH 

On 27 January 1953, at the beginning of my second term 

at school, I heard while at school that a plane had crashed 

between Twyford and Charvil on the Old Bath Road. It was 

said that Chris Pointer, a boy at school, had been there and 

had seen the pilot’s head on the ground. When I got home 

from school I headed for Twyford on my bike and, sure 

enough, just by Goody’s junk yard about ¾ mile from home, 

there was an immense crater in the road and police, fire 

engines and Royal Air Force trucks. 

It seems that an 11 day old English Electric Canberra 

bomber (registration WH696) had taken off from Abingdon 

RAF Base, either on a training flight or to deliver the plane 

to the RAF Base at Aldergrove in Northern Ireland, and 

had crashed into the road killing the crew of two, the pilot 

— Master Pilot CS Orrell and Navigator Sgt WG Haupt. 

Aldergrove is the location of Belfast International Airport 

and beside it there had been an RAF Base. 

The inquest into the deaths of the two men was held in 

the Almshouses in Twyford a week later, 4 February, and 

the cause of death was recorded as the disintegration of the 

plane. No cause for the accident was disclosed. 

GOODY'S YARD 

Public Domain Crown Copyright 

Just outside Twyford, on the way to Charvil was an 

Aladdin’s cave called Goody's Yard where it seemed that you 

could buy just about anything that people offered him. It was 

a good source of items for making go-carts that were made 

of wood with wheels and either a steering wheel or reins to 

steer. It was pushed by a 'sucker' or freewheeled downhill. I 

was always building and repairing a cart. 

On one occasion, Keith Pusey and I went to Goody's to 

buy some wheels. Goody had a not very bright assistant 

called Charlie. Goody and Charlie were trying to straighten 

a bent steel girder. Charlie was holding one end of the 

girder, the other being on the ground, and Goody using a 

sledgehammer, saying, 'you ‘old it Charlie and I’ll 'it it.' 

More memories next month 

Pictured right is Sir Charles 

Hubert Hastings Parry (1848- 

1918) who is famous for several 

religious works: for example 

the music for the hymn 

Jerusalem, the Coronation 

Anthem, I was glad, and the 

lovely tune Repton to the 

words Dear Lord and father of 

mankind. 


I Was Glad 

By Les Ryan, Mumbles Ministry, Swansea 

Parry was born in Bournemouth 

to a wealthy family. He attended 

Public Domain 

Eton and then Exeter College, Oxford. He had set his eyes on 

a business career and read Law and Modern History. 

However, music soon took over his life. He became an 

assistant editor writing 123 articles for the ground-breaking 

Dictionary of Music and Musicians compiled by George Grove. 

By the 1880s Parry was Professor of Composition at the Royal 

College of Music and in 1895 became its principal. At the 

same time he was also Heather Professor of Music at Oxford. 

An exceptional honour. Parry’s hobby when he was not 

involved in music was sailing and he became a member of the 

Royal Yacht Squadron – quite an achievement! 

DOUBLE CHOIR 

All Coronation services, since King Charles I in 1626, have 

featured a choral setting of words from Psalm 122 — I was 

glad when they said unto me let us go unto the House of the Lord 

— to be sung as an anthem when the monarch arrived at the 

west door of Westminster Abbey. 

Parry’s majestic anthem was composed for King Edward 

VII in 1902 and revised for King George V in 1911 with 

additional brass and organ fanfares. The music features a 

double choir — two sections of sopranos, two of altos etc — 

organ and orchestra. The music has an overwhelming feeling 

of grandeur and empire. 

Parry’s innovation in this piece was the addition of the 

Latin acclamations Vivat Rex — Long live the King — or Vivat 

Regina — Long live the Queen — which traditionally are 

sung, or rather, shouted, by scholars of Westminster School. 

Not everything runs smoothly at these great national 

events. For example, one of Handel’s Coronation anthems 

in 1717 for King George II and Queen Caroline ended in 

confusion we are told, while another of the anthems in the 

order of service was left out altogether! In 1902, I was glad 

finished too early in the service. The King hadn’t arrived, so 

the quick-thinking organist improvised some tunes on the 

spot until King Edward VII turned up, rather late! Then the 

anthem was sung again! 

More recently, in 2011, I was glad was sung for the bridal 

procession of Catherine Middleton at her marriage to Prince 

William. It had also been sung at the wedding of Prince 

Charles and Diana in 1981. 

In 1898 Parry was appointed a Knight Bachelor and in 

the 1902 Coronation honours he was created a Baronet of 

Highnam Court. 

Parry died after catching Spanish flu in the 1918 pandemic.


feature — 4 

Hello & goodbye 

The ancient country we know today as Iraq is thought to 

be Mesopotamia, the birthplace of the Bible. It is 

where the Garden of Eden and the Tower of 

Babel were, and where other Old Testament 

stories such Daniel and the lion's den, took 

place. Mesopotamia was the land between 

the rivers Tigris and Euphrates, which is the 

reason it was so fertile. In the mid 1950s Colin 

Pierce (right) lived in Iraq for about a year. It 

was to be an historic time that still has 

repercussions today. This is his story ... 

It was in late summer 1954 as a 

young RAF officer I stepped off the 

Hastings aircraft into the oven-like 

heat of RAF Habbaniya located along 

the Euphrates River 50 miles from 

Baghdad, Iraq. I had been posted to a 

force known as the Iraq Levies run by 

an RAF regiment that formed part of 

the ground defence force of Iraq. 

The Iraq I was now in had been 

much changed over the centuries. 

Biblically it was Mesopotamia, 

first with the Nestorians, latterly 

known as Assyrians, who ultimately 

believed in one god — Ashur — so it 

was easy for them to become among 

the first early Christians. 

The 7th Century brought the Arab 

conquest and in the 19th Century the 

Turkish Ottoman dynasty. 

MODERN IRAQ 

The modern Iraq state was formed 

after World War 1 and given a king 

and a cabinet following the mandate 

given to the UK in 1921. 

Winston Churchill, aided by the 

famous Arabist, Gertrude Bell, was 

largely responsible for the Iraq I now 

set foot in. 

Gertrude Bell was an English 

writer, traveller, and government 

official. She travelled throughout 

the Middle East in the early 1900s 

and, as a confidante of Faisal — the 

last King of Iraq — she played an 

important role in the establishment 

of Iraq. 

NEW HOME 

My new home was mainly a 

Muslim country but with about one 

million Christians, namely Assyrians 

and Chaldeans who were associated 

with the Roman Catholic Church. 

My unit, the Iraq Levies, was 

formed to help protect Iraq — there 

was also an Iraq army in Baghdad. 

The Levies were made up of three 

soldier units, a headquarters and a 

hospital. 

The soldier units were Assyrian, 

the largest, a Kurd and an Arab one. 

Most of the latter were from the 

Marsh Arabs in the south east of 

the country who were Shia Muslims, 

whereas the Kurds were Sunni from 

the north. Associated with the 

soldiers was a very large civilian 

village attached to RAF Habbaniya. 

YES SIR! 

My first port of call was the 

force commander, who gave me my 

instructions: 'Go to the stores and get 

dressed in Army uniform'. Yes, we wore 

khaki not blue. 

Then he asked, 'Do you ride? (Bike?) 

'No sir.' 'Why do they send me officers 

who cannot ride! Get down to the 

stables in the Levy Lines and someone 

will teach you to ride horses! 

'Oh yes, your immediate job is to be 

the adjutant of the training camp at Ser 

Amadia in Kurdistan. Get up there!' 

'Yes sir!!' 

So in my smart khaki and Levy 

hat with a magnificent blue plume, I 

took the night train from Baghdad to 

Mosul. From there I was taken by a 

Levy lorry to Bebaidi, a village at the 

foot of Ser Amadia, our mountain 

top training base. 

LOCAL SICK 

During my stay in Bebaidi I 

saw the Levy hospital at work. The 

doctors not only looked after Levy 

soldiers but sick villagers from the 

whole area. 

The local sick needing help 

would queue every morning hoping 

to be treated by our medics. 

But I had to go up the mountain! 

I was met by my Levy muleteer and 

a mule, which I rode up the gorge to 

to an historic year w 

Images: Unless stated and all images are from Colin Pierce's per 

Top row: Left: Colin Pierce at a Remembrance Day service in Su 

dreamstime.com; right; UK and Iraq flags, Ruletkka, dreamstim 

Second row: Left: RAF Habbaniya, Sgt Jeremy Lock, UK Gover 

Third Row: Levy officers, British and Iraqi 

Bottom row: Left; On stage 'Rookery Nook'; right: the Levy cros

the top and into a large tented area. 

This was home while training. 

In my free time I wandered 

around the mountain and villages 

meeting lots of locals from Kurds to 

Arabs to the somewhat mystical (and 

currently brutalised) Yazidis. 

Then it was back to Habbaniya 

and the routine of a British base with 

fighter and transport squadrons, 

plus, of course, the Levy base. 

RAF Habbaniya had a hospital 

and also a magnificent theatre/ 

cinema. 

I joined an amateur theatrical 

group and we performed regularly. 

In fact, we took our plays to 

Baghdad where I performed in three 

plays on a stage at the Alwiyah Club, 

one of the best elite social clubs of 

Baghdad that opened in 1921 and was 

always crowded. 

The three plays were: Rookery 

Nook, The man who came to dinner and 

Harvey. 

After one post performance 

reception I was asked to take home 

a local young Christian girl, which I 

was please to do. 

Walking back alone past Baghdad 

houses guarded by squawking geese, 

I never felt unsafe. I doubt I would 

nowadays in Baghdad. 

Poor Iraq, first a bloody 

revolution, then a war with Iran, 

then two more wars, leaving a 

somewhat unsafe country with 

frictions between Shia and Sunni 

Muslims and a difficult Kurdish 

minority. The million Christians in 

my time have dwindled to less than 

250,000, with scarcely any evidence 

of the Assyrian Christians. 

Meanwhile I was given other nonmilitary 

duties. Habbaniya had a race 

course and of course, horse races. The 

local Arabs would join our eventers, 

but not me, a non-rider I was put in 

charge of the Tote! 

The Levies were keen on their 

horses and often went hunting in 

the desert for jackals. The hunt was 

formalised as the Exodus Hunt but 

being a non-rider, I ended up as the 

hunt treasurer. 


hen British Forces helped to protect Iraq 

sonal album. Where appropriate Colin is indicated by a circle. 

nrise of Sonning 2020; centre: Iraq map, Rose Joy Villote, 

e.com. 

nment public domain; right: Colin Pierce astride a mule. 

s country team, winner of the county championships 1955 

ON STAGE 

TREASURER 

But I could run and I led the 

Levies to win the Iraq cross country 

championships with a team mostly 

made up of Kurds. 

The mixture of religions in the 

Levies meant we probably got more 

than our fair share of holidays! 

KEEN TO LEAVE 

Politically, the UK government 

was keen for us to leave Iraq. The 

Middle East Treaty Organization, 

also known as the Baghdad Pact and 

subsequently known as CENTRO, the 

Central Treaty Organization, was a 

military alliance of the Cold War. It 

was formed in 24 February 1955 by 

Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, and the 

United Kingdom. The alliance was 

dissolved on 16 March 1979. 

GOODBYE AND HELLO 

The Iraq army moved in and took 

over traditional Levy defence roles. 

The British government also 

wanted all commitments reduced, 

but were conscious of the need to 

resettle the Levy soldiers. Houses 

were planned in Baghdad and the 

search for jobs began. 

Many Arab Levies joined the Iraq 

army or police forces, but most of the 

Kurds went back to the north. 

My last Levy job was to go up 

to Kurdistan to settle with former 

Levies any commitments the British 

government had, such as pensions, 

most of which were commuted. 

To do this, again I would get the 

night train to Mosul where I stayed 

in a terrible hotel. I would then hire a 

taxi for two or three days and set off 

past Nineveh into Kurdistan, where 

fortunately in the north there was a 

much better hotel. 

After Mosul it was Dohuk and 

then several villages up to Amadia 

and dear old Bebaidi. I did that trip 

twice. 

Thus on 5 November 1955 my time 

in Iraq ended and I was posted to 

Cyprus — it was goodbye Saddam 

Hussein and hello EOKA, or union 

with Greece — independence 

was already on offer. The Turks 

and Turkey were not happy about 

that and my Cyprus tour covered 

the period leading to the Turkish 

invasion, but that is another story!

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around the villages — 1 

Portraiture art 

Sonning Art Group made the most of 

their first tutorial since the pandemic 

when Jenny Halstead (above right) 

discussed and demonstrated the 

art of portraiture. Mike Sheppard 

(above), a member's husband, 

made an excellent model and the 

group enjoyed an informative and 

successful afternoon. 

Canal talk 

Graham Horn will be giving an 

illustrated talk on the Kennet and 

Avon Canal, in Pearson Hall on 

Friday 21 April 7.30. 

As well as talking about how and 

why the canals came about, how they 

worked and their subsequent decline, 

he will also explain why the Kennet 

and Avon canal is one of Britain's 

premier inland waterways, and how 

it was restored over the last 40 years. 

Tickets available online through 

the Sonning and Sonning Eye 

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on 0118 934 3193 / penny.feathers@ 

btinternet.com. 

FoStAC diary dates 

Charlton Down House Private 

Garden Tour and Tea on 12 June 

Near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, this 

tour is in aid of FoStAC fund raising 

for St Andrew’s Church vestry wall 

repairs. Tickets are £30, including 

afternoon homemade cake with tea 

or coffee. Transport to the gardens 

may be possible. 

Sponsored Cycle Ride and Walk 

from The Ark and back 1 July 

Annual Sonning Garden Party on 9 

July at 3pm 

More from: Sally Wilson on: 

mustangsallywilson@gmail.com 

Sonning events for the 

Coronation weekend 


Coronation Day Saturday 6 May 

The Coronation will be televised and those wishing to view the event with their 

friends can see it on the big screen in Sonning Club. The Club will be open all 

weekend with food being served in the garden by TACITO Street Food. 

The Sonning and Sonning Eye Society will be holding a celebratory dinner in 

Pearson Hall on Saturday evening with a three course meal provided by Emma’s 

Kitchen. The cost will be £25 per ticket and includes a glass of champagne to 

toast the newly crowned King and Queen. Wine will be available at £10 per 

bottle. Tickets will be available on https://www.sonning.org.uk from 10 March or 

from Penny Feathers on 0118 934 3193. 

Sunday 7 May — Celebration Church Service, followed by 

the Big Lunch and Family Entertainment 

There will be a celebration service in St Andrew's Church at 11am on Sunday 

morning when Lord Carey, who will attend the Coronation on the previous day, 

will be preaching. Lord Carey was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1991 - 2002. 

Pearson Hall will be open for families to get together from 12 noon. Tables 

will be set up to seat about 100 inside with a similar number in marquees in the 

gardens of Sonning Club. Bring your own picnic — prizes will be given for the 

best decorated hampers. Alcohol will be available from Sonning Club. 

Two AbbaStars singers will perform from 1pm. The first 45 minute session 

1 – 1.45 pm will be while tables are still in place for lunch. Most of the tables 

will be removed for the 2.15 – 3 pm session to allow dancing to take place near 

the stage. This will be followed by children from Sonning CofE Primary School 

choir performing in the hall and maypole dancing in the Sonning Club gardens. 

A professional caller will organise barn dances in the hall for children and 

adults from about 4 - 8pm with prizes awarded for the best dancers. 

Monday 8 May — Volunteering Day in Pearson Hall 

Pearson Hall will be open from 11.30am – 2.30pm for local charities, societies 

and organisations to showcase their activities and attract new members 

and volunteers. Teas and cake will be available to buy, served by members of 

Sonning WI. 

Apart from the dinner on Saturday evening and teas and cakes on Monday there 

will be no charge for participating in the events, this is made possible courtesy of the 

Sonning Volunteer Fire Brigade Trust and the Sonning and Sonning Eye Society. 

Happy 21st birthday to Inner Wheel ladies! 

Reading Maiden Erlegh Inner Wheel has celebrated 21 years of friendship and 

service to the community. They meet on the third Thursday of the month at 

Sonning Golf Club for a chat and a drink at 7.15 for 7.45pm and then enjoy a 

two course meal, which is usually followed by an interesting speaker. Their 

community projects of knitting and sewing continue to support The Cowshed, 

Chemo Gift Bags, and blankets for the Hamlin Fistula Foundation.



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EXPLODE



SONNING CofE primary school update 

A highlight of the day was hosting the first 'Great Sonning 

Book Swap'. Pupils from across the school brought in 

books they had read and no longer needed, which our 

Year 6 pupils in Oak class sorted into age-appropriate 

groups. Classes then came in and, helped by our Oak class 

volunteers, the pupils chose books to take home and read. 

This was a lovely way to share recommendations, try new 

genres and create a buzz about books! 

Here's what pupils said of World Book Day: 

— 'The Great Sonning Book Swap was really fun as I now get 

to read a book I have never read before.' 

— 'I love celebrating reading!' 

— 'I liked dressing up, because you get to be creative and learn 

about other books and characters.' 

— 'I enjoyed sharing other books, because it starts a 

conversation and you can see other people’s interests. 

— 'I liked seeing the different costumes people chose to show 

off what book they liked.' 

World Book Day inspired 

our school's love of reading! 

Sonning Church of England Primary School enjoyed several special events on 2 March to celebrate reading and to inspire 

a love of books, writes Phil Sherwood, head teacher. The children heard from famous authors about how they choose and 

enjoy books, dressed as their favourite book characters and completed activities about their favourite books. 

Sonning Church of England Primary School, is seeking 

'Angel Investors' for its Performing Arts Studio. The studio's 

objective is to promote and deliver rich experiences and 

development in acting, dance, music, song, art and general 

cultural appreciation. The new building (see last month's 

magazine) will be within the school grounds and, during the 

day, it will be used by the school pupils. At weekends, in the 

evening, and in the school holidays, it will be available for 

— 'I liked World Book Day as I came in a costume from my 

favourite book which I chose with my mummy.' 

Another highlight was an annual Book at Bedtime event, 

where our youngest pupils from Reception, Year 1 and 

Year 2 classes, came back to school in their pyjamas or 

onesies for an evening of stories. 

Adult volunteers read stories to small groups of pupils, 

who also enjoyed hot chocolate and biscuits. And everyone 

was treated to a story from Mrs Kelsall, deputy head 

teacher, as well as Mr Sherwood, head teacher. 

Here's what pupils said of the Book at Bedtime event: 

— 'I liked the hot chocolate and marshmallows!' 

— 'Adults reading to us was amazing.' 

— 'The stories were really funny – I liked The Great Dog 

Bottom Swap.' 

— 'Mrs Kelsall’s voices were very funny!' 

— 'We got to see pictures of Mr Sherwood’s pig when he 

read Meet Wild Boars to us.' 

ARE YOU A LOCAL AUTHOR? 

If so, legacy and inspiring a love of reading for years to 

come is a key part of World Book Day, so if you who would 

like to get involved with promoting reading at Sonning 

Church of England Primary School, please get in touch 

with them at: spsadmin@sonning.wokingham.sch.uk 

Could you be a 'Community Angel Investor'? 

the wider communities of Sonning, Charvil, Sonning Eye, 

Wargrave, Woodley and Twyford. 

If you are, or you know someone who is, passionate about 

the Arts, who knows its importance and who wants to see 

the Arts thrive and develop in new generations of pupils, the 

school would welcome donations and support. Please contact 

the school office via email: spsadmin@sonning.wokingham.sch.uk 

for the attention of the head teacher, Phil Sherwood.



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Charvil's My Cancer, My Choices Charity Cycle Challenge 

This year's annual cycle rides, 

organised by Reading Matins 

Rotary Club to raise funds for My 

Cancer, My Choices, Charvil's local 

cancer support charity, are on 

Sunday 21 May — last year, these 

popular events raised £3,000! 

My Cancer, My Choices was founded 

by Mandy Barter and Liz Lee in 

2014 and is based in Old Bath Road, 

Charvil. 

Having had cancer, Mandy saw a 

need to support people living with 

cancer from diagnosis onwards. Liz 

had a background in nursing and felt 

equally passionate about providing 

therapies to benefit cancer patients. 

Both, being complementary 

therapists, combined their skills and 

experience to establish the registered 

charity with the help of Liz Riddle 

from the Oncology Outpatients 

Clinic and Macmillan Cancer 

Support Information Centre. 

My Cancer, My Choices provides 

a holistic complementary therapies 

service that supports the wellbeing 

of people with cancer in Berkshire. 

MATINS 

As its name implies, Reading 

Matins Rotary Club usually meets 

at 7.30am so its 30 members can 

get on with the rest of their day. 

While the members come from a 

variety of backgrounds they all 

share a common interest in serving 

the community in areas where they 

believe their work will add value. 

Organising the annual fund 

raising cycle ride is a prime example 

of the club's work. 

They meet every 1st, 2nd and 3rd 

Wednesday of the month at Cobbs 

in Englefield, every 4th Wednesday 

via Zoom and when there's a 5th 

Wednesday they hold an evening 

social event. 

TWO EVENTS 

The two cycling events begin in 

Thames Valley Park Drive RG6 1PQ 

with the signing in from 9am. 

A 30k ride starts at 9.30m for 

cyclists aged 12 years and over 

and takes a circular route that is 

predominantly off-road along some 

picturesque canal paths through 

Reading, out to Theale, Sulham and 

back to Thames Valley Park. The entry 

fee is £20 plus an Eventbrite fee. 

Cyclists will leave in guided 

groups along a marshalled route 

that will take about 2 to 3 hours, 

depending on fitness level. 

A 5k ride is for cyclists aged 6 

years and above starts at 10am. 

It takes an off-road route along 

the River Thames, and the wetland 

ponds and nature reserve around 

Thames Valley Park. 

You can also choose to walk or 

run the 5k route. 

Entry is £5 plus the Eventbrite fee 

This route will have marshals at 

key points and you can choose to 

run or walk the 5k route again if you 

want to do 10k! 

OFF-ROAD RULES 

Please note the routes are not 

suitable for road bikes, an off-road 

bike is highly recommended. All 

participants must be aged 6 years 

or older. Anyone aged 6 to 11 years 

old must be accompanied by an 

adult. Anyone aged 12 to 15 must be 

accompanied by an adult to cycle the 

30k route. Anyone aged 16 or 17 must 

have written permission from an 

adult to take part in the 30k route. 

SPONSORSHIP 

If you would like to raise third-party 

sponsorship, you can fund raise 

on Just Giving by setting up your 

fundraising page. If you raise £50 

Monkey Business Images, dreamstime.com 

in sponsorship, the organisers will 

waive the cost of registration on 

request and they will also help with 

fund raising support. 

Following the rides everyone 

is invited to stay for a picnic — 

refreshments will be available to 

purchase, but take your own picnic. 

Bike maintenance provided by AW 

Cycles, Caversham will be available 

on the day, 

Please Note: Both rides are noncompetitive, 

fun, social charity events. 

MORE INFORMATION 

My Cancer, My Choices: 

https://mycancermychoices.org/ 

Reading Matins Rotary Club: 

https://www.rotary-ribi.org/ 

Full cycle ride details: 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/my- 

cancer-my-choices-annual-charity-cycle- 

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He's training for 

a charity ride



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HOME AND GARDEN 


Asparagus! 

Do you 

RSPCA tips for keeping 

children safe around dogs 

Dogs and children communicate very differently, but they can be great 

friends and help children develop kindness and a sense of responsibility. 

Just remember RSPCA's six golden rules for keeping your children safe and 

your dogs happy. 

1. Stay with your children around dogs: Never leave your child alone in the 

same room as a dog, even your own. 

2. Interact with dogs at the right times: Teach your child not to approach dogs 

when they're eating or having a treat. Have a toy or something else they really 

like. 

3. Be gentle: Teach your child to be kind and polite to dogs. Don't let your child 

climb on dogs, pull their ears or do anything you wouldn't allow them to do to 

another child. 

4. Play nicely and teach tricks: Teach your child how to play nicely with your 

dog. For example, your child can teach your dog some really funny tricks, or to 

play dead or roll-over. 

5. Give your dog space if they need it: Supervise your child when they're with 

your dog - if your dog looks unhappy, let them go somewhere they feel safe and 

happy. 

6. Don't let your children approach dogs they don't know such as when you're 

out in the park. 

In the parish back gardens 

Lightfieldstudiosprod, dreamstime.com 

Peter Rennie 

Matthew Kleis 

These muntjacs were spotted enjoying the new green shoots of spring in the 

back gardens of houses in Sonning (left) and Charvil (right)! 

love it or hate it? 

Traditionally, the British asparagus 

season runs from St George's Day 

on 23 April to the Summer Solstice 

on 21 June. It is one of the earliest 

of ancient, annual vegetables and is 

like Marmite – you either love it or 

you hate it. 

Although there is evidence of it being 

grown in the ancient world since 

Biblical times, it is never mentioned 

by name in the Bible and theologians 

seem to be divided as to whether it is 

classed as a good or a forbidden food. 

VARIETIES 

There have been times when the 

first crops of asparagus have been 

blessed in church, although some 

bishops have declared it sinful to do 

so. In the UK there are some local 

events such as the British Asparagus 

Festival on 23 April in Evesham and 

the Asparagus Harvest Festival on 

27 May in Deeside that celebrate 

asparagus. 

There are many different 

varieties, but four general types: 

green, white, purple, and wild. 

Within these four types there many 

varieties with various colours, tastes, 

textures, and hardiness. 

Some varieties of asparagus 

plants can live up to 30 years, and 

there are some that are a grown 

for aesthetics and should not be 

consumed because they are toxic.



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

THE ARTS — 1 

In the 17th century the name 

Arcadia evoked an earthly paradise 

that was celebrated in art and 

literature as an idyllic place of peace 

and harmony where humanity and 

nature were at one. To live in such 

beautiful surroundings was to find 

heaven on earth. 

We often have that feeling when 

we are out in the countryside amid 

the hills and woods, the valleys and 

lakes. The sun shines benevolently, 

and we feel nothing can destroy that 

happiness and sense of unity we 

have with creation around us. 

That is the mood shown to us 

when we first look at this month’s 

painting, ‘The Funeral of Phocion.’ It 

is by the Baroque artist, Nicaolas 

Poussin, who was born in France 

but spent most of his working life in 

Rome, where he died in 1665. 

In the distance are friendly hills, 

and then closer at hand we see the 

trees and bushes, a winding river, 

Poetry Corner 

Death Destoyed 

By Steven Rollings 

Isaiah 25:6-9 parts; Tune: Lyngham 

‘O for a thousand tongues to sing’ 

In mount Zion the Lord shall make 

A feast, and none shall take (x2) 

It from His people, it fine fare 

Rejoicing, plenty there (x3) 

He will destroy on that mountain 

Death, and bring life’s fountain (x2) 

Will destroy face of covering 

Death’s pall spread o’er each thing (x3) 

It be a veil spread o’er nations 

Of peoples, all stations (x2) 

He swallows up death in victory 

So shall His triumph be (x3) 

And the Lord God will wipe away 

Tears from each face that day (x2) 

Will take away from His people 

Rebukes, accusings all (x3) 

Then the people shall in that day 

This is our Lord God, say (x2) 

We have waited for Him, and He 

Will save us, joyful we (x3) 

the shepherd and his sheep, a couple 

walking and talking, and the farmer 

and his cart. There are also signs of 

civilization — it is the city of Athens 

with its temple and buildings, a place 

where harmony and reason rule. 

Poussin presents us with a calm, 

ordered landscape. 

But in the foreground, we see 

something that jolts us out of this 

reverie. Two slaves carry off a body 

for burial. It is Phocion, an Athenian 

general. He was known as ‘Phocion 

the Good,’ admired for his honesty 

and integrity and for his simple way 

of life. 

In the 4th century BC, Phocion 

argued for peace when the city around 

clamoured for war with Macedon. His 

enemies won the day and they plotted 

to have him condemned. 

As a traitor, Phocion was denied 

a burial in Athens, and so his body 

is being taken outside the city. The 

world of civilization and the world of 

nature seem oblivious to this tragedy 

of a moral life cut down by others. 

In this month of Eastertide we can 

think of a similar scene of nature and 

civilization. The garden of Joseph of 

Arimathea where a body is brought 

for burial — someone, who like 

Phocion, stood out for goodness and 

peace, but who fell victim to the forces 

of hatred and jealousy within the city 

walls of Jerusalem. 

Poussin painted a second canvas 

where the ashes of Phocion are 


Easter Alleluia rings out to embrace us all 

By Rev Canon Michael Burgess 

Public Domain 

returned to his grieving widow — a 

sad end to a good life with no hint of 

hope for a better future. 

In this season we rejoice in a 

different end to the story of Jesus. On 

Good Friday his body is laid to rest 

in a tomb. Two days later the Lord of 

Easter walks again in that garden to 

tell a grieving Mary Magdalene that 

there is hope for her future. 

There is the promise of a new 

creation and a new world where 

eternal life is triumphant. In such a 

world, the human heart within, the 

dwelling places of people and the 

countryside around can never be the 

same again. The Easter Alleluia rings 

out to embrace us all. 

The Hiding Place 

GOODNESS 40 years ago, on 15 April 1983, 

Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch writer, 

watchmaker, and Holocaust survivor, 

died. She left behind her experiences 

written in Christian books that 

became best-sellers. 

Her family were Christians and offered 

shelter, food and money to the needy. 

They believed the Jews were precious 

to God and that all people were created 

equal. 

During World War II the family 

helped many Jews and others to 

escape from the Nazis at great risk 

to themselves. A secret room in 

their house behind Corrie’s bedroom 

became known as The Hiding Place — 

the title of her most famous book.



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THE ARTS — 2 

Book Reviews 

3 Days that Changed the World – the 

three most significant days in history 

By Roger Carswell, 10Publishing £3.99 

The crowds shouted, ‘Crucify Him!’ … So 

began the three most significant days in 

world history. Three life-changing days that 

have the power to transform your world. 

Roger Carswell explains what led to the 

events of the first Easter, and shows how 

Jesus’ death and resurrection still impacts each one of us. 

God Save the King – the King’s Coronation 

By Alan Marsden and Roger Carswell, 10 

Publishing, 15p each, multi-buy discounts 

Evangelistic tract explaining the Coronation 

of the new king, and pointing ultimately 

to our servant-hearted Saviour King who 

reigns over a different kind of kingdom. 

Ideal for giving out in the run up to King 

Charles' Coronation. 

The Day the Earth Shook 

By Helen Buckley and Jenny Brake, 

10Publishing, £3.99 

This book, aimed at 4-to-7-year-olds, 

is about the earthquake in Jerusalem 

on Good Friday. The earth quaked. 

The rocks split. All because someone 

incredible died. But just who was this 

man powerful enough to shake the earth, and why did 

he have to die? This book introduces children to ‘super 

powerful, super strong love in action’, as they discover just 

why this was the most incredible day in history. If you’re 

planning to give these away, there is a special pack available 

at £50 for 50 copies. 

Lighting the Beacons – Kindling the Flame of Faith in 

our Hearts By Jill Duff, SPCK, £12.99 

Highlighting stories from contemporary 

culture, scripture and the writings of the 

saints, the book aims to encourage those 

who are curious about the Christian faith, 

those who feel discouraged and those 

aspiring to be giants of faith and part of a 

transformed society. It would be a good gift 

for those who yearn to be transformed by 

God. With study guides at the end of each chapter, it is also 

an ideal book for group discussion. 

Honesty Over Silence – it’s OK not to be OK 

By Patrick Regan, SPCK, £9.99 

The book tackles topics that many find 

hard, such as trusting God when life is 

painful, anxiety and depression, looking 

after ourselves, developing character, and 

living with thankful hearts in tough times. 

It examines our strength in letting go of our 

need to be in control, and how we can stop 

comparing ourselves with others, but live authentically and 

honestly as we grow into the people God has created us to be. 

History 


Was it really . . . ? 

. . . 125 YEARS AGO, on 3 April 1933 that the first 

flight over Mount Everest took place. British pilots 

the Marquis of Clydesdale and Donald McIntyre 

flew two biplanes over the summit. 

. . . 80 YEARS AGO on 30 April 1943 that the Bergen- 

Belsen concentration camp was established in Germany. 

The former prisoner-of-war camp was converted into 

a holding camp, mainly for Jews. Tens of thousands of 

people died of starvation and disease in the overcrowded, 

unsanitary conditions. 

. . . 75 YEARS AGO on 7 April 1948 that the World Health 

Organization (WHO) was founded in Geneva, Switzerland 

as a specialist agency of the United Nations. 

. . . 75 YEARS AGO on 30 April 1948 that the Land Rover, 

a British all-terrain vehicle, was officially launched at the 

Amsterdam Motor Show. According to Yougov.co.uk 95% of 

us have heard of them, and 58% of us admire them. 

. . . 60 YEARS AGO on 16 April 1963 

that American civil rights leader 

Martin Luther King Jnr wrote 

his famous ‘Letter from 

Birmingham Jail’ while 

imprisoned in Alabama. He 

stated that the Black 

community was forced to 

protest when the white 

power structure left them 

no choice. 

Steve Allen, dreamstime.com 

Atomazul, dreamstime.com 

. . . 50 YEARS AGO on 4 April 1973 that the World Trade 

Centre in New York City was officially opened. It was 

destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. 

. . . 40 YEARS AGO on 1 April 1983 that tens of thousands 

of anti-nuclear weapons protestors formed a 14-mile 

human chain in Berkshire. They linked the US airbase 

at Greenham Common, the nuclear research centre in 

Aldermaston, and an ordnance factory in Burghfield. 

. . . 30 YEARS AGO on 29 April 1993, to raise funds to 

repair Windsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth II announced that 

Buckingham Palace would open to the public for the first 

time. 

. . . 25 YEARS AGO on 10 April 1998 that the Good Friday 

Agreement was signed in Northern Ireland. It was a 

political deal designed to bring an end to 30 years of 

violent conflict in Northern Ireland.

36 The Parish Magazine - April 2023 Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding this advertisement 

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VOMIT 


HEALTH 

Dr Simon Ruffle writes . . . What's up Doc? 

A common presentation to GP 

practice is ‘I’m tired all the time.’ So 

much so, that if you write ‘TATT’ in 

the notes other healthcare workers 

understand. 

Generalised fatigue symptoms are 

common and can suggest many 

different illnesses, fortunately 

mostly harmless. This presentation 

is often followed up by a request for 

a blood test or a scan to make sure 

everything is okay. 

This is fraught with difficulties. 

There is no blood test that 

encompasses everything, many are 

non-specific and some will set in 

train a process of elimination that 

may involve invasive or harmful 

procedures. 

We have a term for people 

injured by having a ‘scan’— VOMIT 

—Victims Of Medical Imaging 

Technology. There are many 

companies that allow people to pay 

to be scanned. Unfortunately, the 

results can be confusing as we have 

many ‘normal’ findings requiring 

invasive investigations. There are 

recorded deaths from surgery that 

turn out to be ‘nothing.’ 

Compounding the difficulties in 

getting GP appointments, lots of 

patients access their medical records, 

which is a good thing generally, 

but seek consultations to explain 

why some of their test results are 

abnormal, despite us marking them 

as normal. 

All results are based on 

confidence intervals, which for 

medicine is set at 95%. Essentially, 

a spread of 100 results, 95% of them 

will be within the normal range, 

with 5% being abnormal. However, 

the majority of these 5% are normal, 

but to have confidence that we do 

not miss a problem, a percentage are 

marked abnormal. 

When we analyse those results, 

we have the context of why the test 

was done, the person’s history and an 

overall review of all the results. 

A full blood count has between 

10-15 different parts to the result. 

Commonly, one of these results will 

fall outside the confidence interval 

and be marked abnormal. In context 

with the other results, it is likely to 

be normal, however, our laboratory 

reporting systems mark them 

otherwise. Now that patients can see 

these results, they, understandably, 

worry, and call. 

Investigating fatigue symptoms 

starts with a comprehensive history 

of the symptoms, work/life balance, 

diet, exercise, menses data, drinking 

and smoking habits, family history, 

sleep, medication, and drug taking 

history and past medical history. 

Psycho-social factors are the most 

common answer that need few or no 

investigations. 

Stating the obvious, common 

things are common. Iron deficiency 

is high up the list and a full blood 

count will tell us. Iron studies can 

then be performed if the cause is not 

obvious. Thyroid disorders, diabetes 

and vitamin deficiency follow on as 

possibilities. 

We do not look for zebras when 

we hear hooves — unless we are in 

Africa — so sometimes two or three 

blood tests are needed especially 

when symptoms change or escalate. 

The costs of tests to the NHS are 

in the range of £2 billion/year, so 

doing unnecessary tests on the NHS 

may deny funding to other areas. 

BEING HONEST 

A popular, TV advertised, 

company will do a full screen for 

around £126. It isn’t a ‘full screen’ 

in fact it does little and they offer a 

full money back guarantee if they 

find nothing abnormal! Maybe their 

confidence interval is 50% or less. 

To be honest we really hope we 

find nothing as well, but we end up 

with a list of issues that we have to 

investigate properly or spend a lot 

of time analysing the history and 

results that were organised by a 

for-profit company that is essentially 

propped up by the NHS. 

A well-respected private health 

company also offers a comprehensive 

screen, but their quote is far more 

realistic at £330 or so, but this 

includes a physician analysing the 

history and tests. However, this is 

still done on demand and often not 

true need. 

A simple question of: What’s up 

Doc? Not really, as it may lead us 

down a rabbit hole that we do not 

want or need to go down. 

Images: ©Simon Ruffle. (Above) blood 

bottles; (left) A green needle used for blood 

sampling has a diameter of 0.8mm (shot with 

macro lens and extension tubes)


PARISH NOTICEBOARD 

from page 15 

Yemen Christian 

persecution 

together, because of the growing fear 

that neighbours will report them to the 

local authorities. 

Christians in the south are at 

particular risk as there is a strong al- 

Qaeda presence. 

It has been indicated that there is 

more pressure in the Shiite Muslimcontrolled 

areas in the west than 

in areas under control of the Sunni 

government. 

RELIEF AID 

All Yemenis are affected by the 

humanitarian crisis, but Yemeni 

Christians are additionally vulnerable 

since emergency relief is mostly 

distributed through local Muslims and 

mosques, which allegedly discriminate 

against all not considered to be devout 

Muslims. 

Open Doors say on their website 

that they support the body of Christ 

in Yemen by distributing relief aid and 

Christian literature, and offering shelter, 

protection and livelihood training to 

persecuted believers and their relatives. 

Visit the Open Doors Donate link below 

if you wish to give. 

Please pray for secret Christians, 

bravely still following Christ despite the 

dangers, for humanitarian aid to reach 

all people in need including those on the 

margins of society, and for reconciliation 

to the factions in conflict. 

References and further Printed reading with Permission 

Yemen Wikipedia page 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemen 

Council on Foreign Relations - War in 

Yemen 

https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/ 

conflict/war-yemen#:~:text=Nearly%20 

twenty%2Dfive%20million%20 

Yemenis,rights%20and%20international%20 

humanitarian%20law. 

Al Jazeera missiles seizure 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/2/ 

uk-navy-intercepts-iran-missiles-likelyheaded-for-yemen 

UNICEF 

https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/yemencrisis 

Open Doors World Watch List 2023 

https://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/ 

world-watch-list/yemen/ 

Open Doors Donate 

https://www.opendoorsuk.org/act/donate/ 

PUZZLE PAGES 

Rev Kate's 

April Quiz 

Total marks = 15 

BIBLICAL CROSSWORD 

It’s general knowledge again this month 

with some special Easter themed questions. 

1. Who was Henry VIII’s 4th wife? 

2. Which is the 6th planet from the Sun. 

3. In what year did the singer Olivia Newton John die? 

4. What is the name of the famous sequence that begins 0, 

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13….. 

5. Which member of the Royal Family has a Stepson called 

Christopher who is known as ‘Wolfie’? 

6. Which famous novel has the opening line ‘When Mary 

Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her 

uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeablelooking 

child ever seen’? 

7. Which African country used to be called Bechuanaland? 

8. Inspector Javert is a villain in which Musical? 

9. In the animated show The Simpsons, what is the name of 

Homer and Marge’s youngest child? 

10. What is a cavy more commonly known as? 

11. On which day of Holy Week (the week leading up to 

Easter Sunday) do we usually remember Jesus washing 

his disciples’ feet? 

12. In which of the 4 Gospels in the Bible (Matthew, Mark, 

Luke and John) does the Easter story involve Jesus’ 

mother Mary at the foot of the Cross? 

13. What important Christian day falls 40 days after Easter 

Sunday? 

14. In which year did Cadbury’s make their first chocolate 

egg: 1845, 1875 or 1905? 

15. What is the name of the 2011 animated film following the 

adventures of the son of the Easter bunny? 

Down 

1 Coastal rockfaces (Psalm 141:6) (6) 

2 Academic (1 Corinthians 1:20) (7) 

3 Publish (Daniel 6:26) (5) 

5 For example, the Crusades (4,3) 

6 11 Across is certainly this (5) 

7 He reps (anag) (6) 

9 Liberator (Psalm 18:2) (9) 

13 Man who asked the question in 11 Across 

was in charge of all her treasury (Acts 8:27) 

(7) 

14 They must be ‘worthy of respect, 

sincere, not indulging in much wine’ (1 

Timothy 3:8) (7) 

15 The human mind or soul (6) 

16 ‘O Lord, while precious children starve, 

the tools of war increase; their bread is — ’ 

(Graham Kendrick) (6) 

18 ‘We played the flute for you, and you did 

not —’ (Matthew 11:17) (5) 

20 Bared (anag) (5) 

Across 

1 Relating to the whole universe (6) 

4 The disciple who made the remark in 8 Across (John 20:24) (6) 

8 ‘Unless I see the nail marks — — hands, I will not believe it’ (John 20:25) (2,3) 

9 He urged King Jehoiakim not to burn the scroll containing Jeremiah’s message (Jeremiah 36:25) (7) 

10 Baptist minister and controversial founder of America’s Moral Majority, Jerry — (7) 

11 ‘Look, here is — . Why shouldn’t I be baptized?’ (Acts 8:36) (5) 

12 Repossessed (Genesis 14:16) (9) 

17 Port from which Paul sailed on his last journey to Rome (Acts 27:3–4) (5) 

19 ‘Moses was not aware that his face was — because he had spoken with the Lord’ (Exodus 34:29) (7) 

21 Roonwit, CS Lewis’s half-man, half-horse (7) 

22 Grill (Luke 24:42) (5) 

23 ‘The lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the — apostles’ (Acts 1:26) (6) 

24 ‘I was sick and you looked after me, I was in — and you came to visit me’ (Matthew 25:36) (6)

CROSSWORD 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

9 10 

13 

11 12 

14 15 16 

17 18 

20 21 22 

23 24 

Across 

Down 

Across 

1 

-- Excerpt 

from a newspaper 

from a 

(8) 

newspaper (8) 

5 - - Official Official language language of Pakistan (4) of Pakistan (4) 

9 - African country whose capital is Niamey (5) 

910 - African 

- Authors 

country whose 

(7) 

capital is Niamey (5) 

10 11 -- Authors Total (7) confusion (12) 

14 - Possesses (3) 

11 

15 

- Total 

- Individual 

confusion (12) 

things (5) 

14 16 - Possesses - Entirely (3) (3) 

7 - Disturb (8) 

17 - Uncomplimentary (12) 

15 20 - Individual - Moves things at (5) great speed (7) 

16 22 - Entirely - Herb (3) (5) 

23 - Team (4) 

17 24 - Uncomplimentary - Campaigner (12) (8) 

20 - Moves at great speed (7) 

CODEWORD 

the answers will be published in the next issue 

Down 

22 1 - Herb Insincere (5) moral talk; bank (4) 

23 2 - Team Act (4) of entering (7) 

3 - Especially (12) 

24 4 - Campaigner Of recent (8) origin (3) 

6 - Pass a rope through (5) 

7 - Disturb (8) 

8 - Type of cloud (12) 

12 - Believer in a supreme being (5) 

13 - Mental considerations (8) 

16 - Angered (7) 

18 - Fader (anag) (5) 

19 - Listen to (4) 

21 - Male aristocrat (3) 

8 

19 

1 - Insincere moral talk; bank (4) 

2 - Act of entering (7) 

3 - Especially (12) 

4 - Of recent origin (3) 

6 - Pass a rope through (5) 

8 - Type of cloud (12) 

12 - Believer in a supreme being (5) 

13 - Mental considerations (8) 

16 - Angered (7) 

18 - Fader (anag) (5) 

19 - Listen to (4) 

21 - Male aristocrat (3) 

21 5 2 7 12 19 3 20 11 5 20 6 

5 9 18 19 14 5 

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 EASTER 

Even as Jesus ate that last Passover meal 

with his disciples, he warned them he was 

about to be betrayed. He took the bread, 

blessed it, broke it and gave it to them; he 

took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to 

them to drink. The Old Covenant, based on 

Law, was ticking away its final hours; the 

New Covenant, based on Christ’s body and 

his blood, was about to be ushered in. Jesus 

prayed in Gethesame that this fearful cup of 

suffering might be removed from him, but 

even more, that God’s will might be done. And 

it was. Because of Easter we can approach 

God through his Son, Jesus Christ. He has 

opened the gates to heaven for us! 


March 

Solutions 

CROSSWORD 

R S R A C A C I A 

G E N E R O U S H N 

P A M S A U K 

C A R P A W A R D S L 

I L N Y E E 

A D V A N C E P O S I T 

CODEWORD 

M A C E C R U C I B L E 

I L H H O E K 

S H A D O W Y H E D G E 

M S P M E E S 

A P P R E H E N S I V E 

T L S I I R 

C O N V E X S V E L T E 

H E S F E P 

Q U E S T I O N A B L E 

J T N Z E E L 

A G R E E Z E S T F U L 

R O S L S I E 

S I N I S T E R S T U D 

SUDOKU 

N E D V 

F A C E S R E V E R I E 

L A S C R N 

O V A L U E R S O F T 

A G E G Y E U 

T R A P P L A U S E 

S E N I O R T S E 

WORDSEARCH CANDLEMAS 

BIBLICAL CROSSWORD 

10 6 18 15 15 20 3 5 11 18 16 17 

20 14 15 20 17 17 

24 18 4 14 20 14 5 9 4 

25 26 4 4 2 4 20 2 26 9 

4 5 19 4 

5 20 3 12 8 9 5 17 18 11 

20 4 23 16 19 18 5 4 18 

18 16 20 2 1 20 

22 9 18 20 7 4 3 5 26 18 13 4 

26 20 19 9 14 5 

4 2 6 19 12 9 19 11 18 24 5 26 

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 

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

Z Q L 

IN 

ATE 

LAW 

LAST 

OLD 

NEW 

GOD 

BLESSED 

JESUS 

PASSOVER 

REMOVED 

MEAL 

DISCIPLES 

GETHSEMANE 

WARNED 

BETRAYED 

BREAD 

WINE 

THANKS 

DRINK 

COVENANT 

BODY 

BLOOD 

CUP 

WILL 

EASTER 

APPROACH 

OUT 

REV KATE'S QUIZ 

1. K 

2. Colin Firth 

3. 100 

4. 2013 

5. Bakerloo 

6. Geese a laying 

7. St David 

8. Anne Boleyn 

9. Richard Aldworth 

10.1982 

11. Accra 

12. Banquo 

13. Aunt 

14. 12 

15. Jill Scott


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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 - April 2023 41

42 The Parish Magazine - April 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 

Safeguarding Officer 

— 0118 969 3298 

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 26 

Abbeyfield Wey Valley Society 18 

ACG Services Locksmith 40 

Active Security 26 

AJ Wealth Management 28 

All Aerials 40 

AMS Water Softeners 28 

Barber Shop 40 

Barn Store Henley 16 

Berkshire Stump Removals 40 

Big Heart Tree Care 40 

Blandy & Blandy Solicitors 14 

Blue Moose 30 

Bridge House 43 

Bridges Home Care 10 

Bull Inn 30 

Canon Tree Care 28 

Chimney Sweep, Thames 40 

Chiropody, Linda Frewin 40 

Clark Bicknell 40 

Computer Frustrations 40 

Design for Print 32 

Freebody Boatbuilders 6 

French Horn 44 

Gardiner’s Homecare 30 

Great House Sonning 10 

Handyman and Decorating Services 40 

Haslams Estate Agents 2 

Heathium Clinics 18 

Hicks Group 16 

Home Stair Lifts 28 

Intersmart Electrical Installations 40 

James Autos 40 

Jones & Sheppard Stone Masons 32 

Kingfisher Bathrooms 12 

MC Cleaning 40 

Mill at Sonning 4 

M & L Healthcare Solutions 12 

Muck & Mulch 32 

Odd Jobs 40 

Queen Anne’s School 34 

Reading Blue Coat School 10 

Richfield Flooring 14 

Sabella Interior Design 24 

Seniors Helping Seniors 28 

Shiplake College 14 

Signature Care Homes 36 

Sonning Golf Club 34 

Sonning Scouts Marquees 32 

Smallwood Garden Services 40 

Style by Julie 6 

Thames Valley Water Softeners 6 

Thames Valley Wills Service 40 

The 50 Plus Home Repairs 32 

Tomalin Funerals 16 

Walker Funerals 12 

Water Softener Salt 16 

Window Cleaner 16

Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding this advertisement 


For the very best in 

later living care 

At Bridge House we care passionately about enabling our residents to live their best lives. 

Every day is different, but our exemplary standards of care 

remain constant, delivered by a highly trained and dedicated 

team of clinical nursing and care staff that ensure our 

residents maintain their independence, dignity and enjoy 

a fulfilling day. 

Our welcoming, elegant Georgian country house on the edge 

of Twyford offers a timeless calm with stunning views across 

the grounds to the river Loddon, whilst our newly built 

rehabilitation centre provides access to short term recovery 

and recuperation though the in house team of therapists. 

To discuss your nursing, residential or rehabilitation 

needs, or a visit, please contact our new Care Home Manager 

Rachel Stoneman at info@bridgehouseoftwyford.co.uk 

or 01189 340777 

Visit bridgehouseoftwyford.co.uk 

BRIDGE HOUSE

44 The Parish Magazine - April Please 2023 mention The Parish Magazine when responding this advertisement 

The French Horn, 

Sonning. Quality. 

A continuing commitment to 

wonderful food and wine. 

0118 969 2204 

www.thefrenchhorn.co.uk

The Parish Magazine April 2023

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