The Parish Magazine July and August 2023
Serving the communities of Charvil, Sonning and Sonning Eye since 1869
Serving the communities of Charvil, Sonning and Sonning Eye since 1869
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 1<br />
<strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Parish</strong><br />
<strong>Magazine</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> John King Trophy <strong>and</strong> Gold Award<br />
Best <strong>Magazine</strong> of the Year 2018<br />
National <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> Awards<br />
Best Overall 2015, 2020, 2022,<br />
Best Content 2016, 2021<br />
Best Editor 2019<br />
Best Print 2018<br />
Serving the communities of Charvil, Sonning & Sonning Eye since 1869<br />
<strong>July</strong> / <strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
Church of St Andrew<br />
Serving Sonning, Charvil & Sonning Eye<br />
the church of st <strong>and</strong>rew, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF<br />
CHARVIL, SONNING <strong>and</strong> sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY
2 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to this advertisement<br />
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Serving the communities of Charvil, Sonning & Sonning Eye since 1869<br />
Church of St Andrew<br />
Serving Sonning, Charvil & Sonning Eye<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 1<br />
<strong>The</strong> John King Trophy <strong>and</strong> Gold Award<br />
Best <strong>Magazine</strong> of the Year 2018<br />
National <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> Awards<br />
Best Overall 2015, 2020, 2022,<br />
Best Content 2016, 2021<br />
Best Editor 2019<br />
Best Print 2018<br />
information — 1<br />
Contents <strong>July</strong> / <strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
THE ASSOCIATE VICAR'S LETTER, 5<br />
THE PARISH NOTICEBOARD<br />
— UCB prayers wanted, 7<br />
— <strong>The</strong> pulpit, 7<br />
— For your prayers, 7<br />
— STAY, 8-9<br />
— From the editor's desk, 11-13<br />
— <strong>The</strong> Persecuted Church, 15<br />
— Clare of Assisi, 21<br />
— Claude's View from the Pew, 17<br />
— St Willibald, 17<br />
FEATURES<br />
— Summer time blues, 19<br />
— On your bike day, 19<br />
— Thomas Cook it, 21<br />
— Holiday pitfalls, 21<br />
— What's the time Terry, 22<br />
—around the villages<br />
— Sonning School, 23<br />
— Two centenarians, 25<br />
— Coronation Cup, 25<br />
— Community beavers, 25<br />
— Tony Farnese steps down, 27<br />
— Charvil Village Hall singing, 27<br />
— WI tree planting, 27<br />
health<br />
— Dr Simon Ruffle headaches, 29-31<br />
HOME AND GARDEN<br />
— Smelly rain, 31<br />
— Sonning Glebe garden evening, 31<br />
THE sciences<br />
— Archaeology <strong>and</strong> the Bible, 33<br />
— Suffering in the image of God, 33<br />
THE ARTS<br />
— Albert Cuyp, 35<br />
— Book Review, 35<br />
— Poetry Corner, 35<br />
history, 37<br />
PUZZLE PAGE, 39<br />
children's page, 42<br />
information<br />
— Church services, 3<br />
— From the registers, 3<br />
— Local Trades <strong>and</strong> Services, 40<br />
— <strong>Parish</strong> contacts, 42<br />
— Advertisers' index, 42<br />
This ISSUE's FRONT COVER<br />
<strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Parish</strong><br />
<strong>Magazine</strong><br />
<strong>July</strong> / <strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
the church of st <strong>and</strong>rew, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF<br />
CHARVIL, SONNING <strong>and</strong> sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY<br />
Wotsits? See page 8<br />
Picture: Westy<br />
EDITORIAL DEADLINE<br />
<strong>The</strong> editorial deadline for every issue<br />
of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is 12 noon on<br />
the sixth day of the month prior to the<br />
date of publication.<br />
<strong>The</strong> deadline for the September<br />
issue of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is:<br />
Sunday 6 <strong>August</strong> at 12 noon<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> online<br />
<strong>The</strong> most recent issues can be viewed at:<br />
http://www.theparishmagazine.co.uk<br />
Earlier issues from 1869 onwards<br />
are stored in a secure online archive.<br />
If you wish to view these archives<br />
contact the editor:<br />
editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk<br />
From the Registers<br />
WEDDINGS<br />
— Saturday 20 May, Andrew James<br />
Shaw <strong>and</strong> Jessica Mole<br />
funerals<br />
— Tuesday 23 May, Philip Timothy<br />
Simpson, funeral at Reading<br />
Crematorium followed by memorial<br />
service in St Andrew's Church<br />
— Friday 26 May, Jean Margaret<br />
Darnell, funeral service at Reading<br />
Crematorium<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 3<br />
Services at<br />
St Andrew’s<br />
Sunday 2 <strong>July</strong><br />
— 8.00am Holy Communion<br />
— 10.30am Family Service<br />
— 4pm Choral Evensong<br />
followed by tea in <strong>The</strong> Ark<br />
Sunday 9 <strong>July</strong><br />
— 8.00am Holy Communion<br />
— 10.30am <strong>Parish</strong> Eucharist with<br />
STAY <strong>and</strong> Sunday Club<br />
Sunday 16 <strong>July</strong><br />
— 8.00am Holy Communion<br />
— 10.30am Family Communion<br />
— 3.00pm Messy Church<br />
Sunday 23 <strong>July</strong>**<br />
— 8.00am Holy Communion<br />
— 10.30am <strong>Parish</strong> Eucharist with<br />
STAY <strong>and</strong> Sunday Club<br />
Sunday 30 <strong>July</strong>**<br />
— 8.00am Holy Communion<br />
— 10.30am <strong>Parish</strong> Eucharist<br />
— 5.45pm Sunday at Six in <strong>The</strong> Ark<br />
Sunday 6 <strong>August</strong>**<br />
— 8.00am Holy Communion<br />
— 10.30am Family Service<br />
Sunday 13 <strong>August</strong>**<br />
— 8.00am Holy Communion<br />
— 10.30am <strong>Parish</strong> Eucharist<br />
Sunday 20 <strong>August</strong>**<br />
— 8.00am Holy Communion<br />
— 10.30am Family Communion<br />
Sunday 27 <strong>August</strong>**<br />
— 8.00am Holy Communion<br />
— 10.30am <strong>Parish</strong> Eucharist<br />
**PLEASE NOTE: STAY <strong>and</strong> Sunday<br />
club will stop for the summer holiday on<br />
Sunday 23 <strong>July</strong> <strong>and</strong> resume on Sunday<br />
10 September.<br />
OTHER REGULAR SERVICES<br />
Morning Prayer is held in church<br />
every Tuesday at 9.30am.<br />
Mid-week Communion in <strong>The</strong> Ark is<br />
held every Wednesday at 10.00am. Tea<br />
<strong>and</strong> coffee follows the service.<br />
Home Communion at Sonning<br />
Lawns Care Home is held on the first<br />
Monday of each month at 11.00am.
4 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to this advertisement<br />
24 May - 15 <strong>July</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 20 <strong>July</strong> - 29 <strong>July</strong> <strong>2023</strong>
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 5<br />
<strong>The</strong> associate vicar's letter<br />
Dear Friends,<br />
You may be aware of the phrase ‘you can’t teach an old dog new<br />
tricks!’ Despite referring to the training of dogs, it is also a phrase<br />
that people use too to describe themselves. Well, I am not sure this<br />
phrase is entirely true of dogs – my own dog doesn’t know many<br />
tricks but she is still able to learn some things at the age of 8 – but it<br />
certainly isn’t true of people.<br />
I am not suggesting I am old, but I am a lot older than my son who<br />
can often learn new things a lot more quickly than I can. However,<br />
over half term I learnt a lot of new things <strong>and</strong> I even sat an exam;<br />
my first exam since 2002. My son <strong>and</strong> I have needed to do the Grade<br />
5 Music <strong>The</strong>ory exam for a while in order to do a singing exam at a<br />
higher grade, but we couldn’t seem to motivate ourselves. So in May,<br />
I booked us on a ‘Grade 0-5 in 2 days’ course which we enjoyed so<br />
much that we are also attempting our Grade 8 theory exams along<br />
with our singing in November!<br />
<strong>The</strong> experience was a positive one for me, partly because I love to<br />
learn <strong>and</strong> also because it has been a long time since I studied music.<br />
Music can be incredibly powerful <strong>and</strong> is important to many people. It<br />
could be a certain piece of music reminds you of an event or period in your life, such as a first dance at<br />
a wedding, a childhood favourite, or a piece played at the funeral of a loved one. It can affect our mood<br />
<strong>and</strong> we may listen to different music depending on how we feel at the time. Whether it makes us laugh<br />
or cry, whether it energises us or relaxes us, I think most of us will be able to recognise the special<br />
place music has in our lives.<br />
STRONG MUSIC TRADITION<br />
At St Andrew’s we are blessed with a strong musical tradition <strong>and</strong> music is still a central part of our<br />
worship. Hannah, our music director, leads our adult <strong>and</strong> junior choirs as well as teaching our organ<br />
scholar. We sing hymns, we sometimes sing parts of the liturgy, <strong>and</strong> music is woven into the fibre of<br />
our worship. We also worship with more modern music at our Family Service <strong>and</strong> Sunday at Six where<br />
there is a worship b<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> sing less formally at Messy Church <strong>and</strong> in school collective worship. <strong>The</strong><br />
words are important of course, but so is the music itself <strong>and</strong> has been composed with worshipping God<br />
in mind.<br />
Using music in worship is something that has occurred for millennia. In the Psalms in the Old<br />
Testament we see a series of songs, many accredited to King David, which tell of the glory of God <strong>and</strong><br />
the wonder of creation. We also see references to playing various musical instruments. In the early<br />
church there appears to have been some debate about the place of musical instruments in churches,<br />
but over the years a strong musical tradition developed in Eucharistic services (also known as Mass<br />
or Holy Communion), as well as other choral services such as Evensong which is still widely held at<br />
cathedrals <strong>and</strong> churches, including St Andrew’s. Alongside this, there is the tradition of chanting<br />
which developed in monasteries <strong>and</strong> other religious communities, which again is still used today. If<br />
you are interested in church music, I would encourage you to look at our church website at the variety<br />
of services we have, although do bear in mind that in <strong>August</strong> we have a reduced choir <strong>and</strong> usual sung<br />
services resume in September.<br />
A DEEP JOY<br />
This summer I would like to encourage us all to reflect on the music that means a lot to us. <strong>The</strong><br />
songs we turn to when we are happy, sad or afraid. Perhaps the songs we avoid or switch off if they<br />
come on the radio. In the covid restrictions, when we couldn’t sing in church, there was a tangible<br />
change in atmosphere <strong>and</strong>, for most, a deep joy when we could finally raise our voices again in song.<br />
Let’s not take the power of music for granted <strong>and</strong> be more mindful of how it affects us <strong>and</strong> what it<br />
means to us <strong>and</strong> our relationships; with God, if you have a faith, <strong>and</strong> with one another.<br />
With love <strong>and</strong> prayers<br />
Kate
6 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to advertisements<br />
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the parish noticeboard — 1<br />
UCB pray-over-the-phone service is<br />
looking for pray-ers. Could you help?<br />
Many years ago, a couple who<br />
listened to the United Christian<br />
Broadcasters radio station wanted<br />
to be able to offer prayer to anyone<br />
who wanted to receive it. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
found some phone lines, shared the<br />
number, <strong>and</strong> people began to call.<br />
UCB now receives hundreds of calls<br />
every day <strong>and</strong> more than 100,000<br />
a year. Since Covid the number has<br />
increased.<br />
All kinds of people call up. Many<br />
ask for a prayer for healing. Others<br />
want prayer for a difficult situation<br />
or relationship. Some are in a crisis<br />
or are lonely. Some want to share<br />
an answer to prayer. Some have<br />
mental health challenges <strong>and</strong> need<br />
compassion <strong>and</strong> support. Some want<br />
prayer for faith.<br />
VOLUNTEERS<br />
Prayerline volunteers give a<br />
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up with a simple system from home<br />
so that they can be available for<br />
anyone who calls. <strong>The</strong>y are supported<br />
by a team at UCB’s main office in<br />
Stoke. You may have prayed for a<br />
friend, or for someone at church.<br />
Or you may have had someone pray<br />
for you. It can make a tremendous<br />
difference in people’s lives.<br />
Like the Samaritans, there is<br />
training <strong>and</strong> a selection process, so<br />
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able to listen well to the complexities<br />
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personal situations. But unlike the<br />
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verses from Scripture.<br />
Those who have volunteered have<br />
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solace to callers, grow in their use<br />
of Scripture in prayer, be stretched<br />
<strong>and</strong> trained in their spiritual life<br />
<strong>and</strong> found a network with the same<br />
calling <strong>and</strong> compassion. One said,<br />
'I have been a Prayerline volunteer for<br />
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If you know someone who would<br />
benefit from calling Prayerline, the<br />
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If you would be interested in<br />
finding out more about volunteering<br />
with Prayerline, or you know<br />
someone who might be interested, go<br />
to: https://www.ucb.co.uk/pray<br />
For your prayers in <strong>July</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>August</strong><br />
— All who are travelling for work <strong>and</strong> pleasure<br />
— All NHS workers on its 75th anniversary<br />
— Teachers preparing for a new academic year<br />
— Young people seeking their first jobs<br />
— <strong>The</strong> bereaved <strong>and</strong> lonely staying at home<br />
Hd3ds, dreamstime.com<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 7<br />
What does the<br />
pulpit say to you?<br />
Lord Carey preaching from St Andrew's pulpit<br />
Indy Biddulph<br />
By Rev Dr Jo White<br />
<strong>The</strong> pulpit is one of the four most<br />
obvious pieces of ‘furniture’ in a<br />
church; the others being the lectern,<br />
altar <strong>and</strong> the font.<br />
Today it is usually the place where the<br />
preacher st<strong>and</strong>s to give the sermon.<br />
It is raised higher than the pews,<br />
so the preacher can be seen by the<br />
congregation. Pulpits often have a<br />
‘sounding’ board canopy above them,<br />
so that the words may ‘resound’ more<br />
audibly.<br />
In Anglican churches they are<br />
likely to be between the nave, where<br />
the congregation sits, <strong>and</strong> the chancel,<br />
where the choir or church leaders sit. In<br />
bygone generations, the pulpit was used<br />
for all sorts of announcements. Without<br />
any microphones, it was better to use<br />
a raised area from which to address<br />
people.<br />
So the pulpits were used not only<br />
by priests for preaching, but also by<br />
the churchwardens for notices. <strong>The</strong><br />
pulpit was also where Marriage Banns<br />
were called, excommunications were<br />
pronounced, <strong>and</strong> indulgences were<br />
advertised. In fact, pulpits were not<br />
much used for sermons before the<br />
Reformation because the clergy in<br />
those days were required to preach only<br />
four times a year.<br />
Most commonly, the pulpit was used<br />
for the bidding prayers. <strong>The</strong>se, partly in<br />
English, were said for the leaders of the<br />
Church, the King, the governing orders,<br />
the people, special needs, <strong>and</strong>, finally,<br />
for those parishioners who had paid to<br />
have their names read out.<br />
What does both the pulpit <strong>and</strong> the<br />
sermons that you hear from it reflect<br />
about your faith?
8 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
the parish noticeboard — 2<br />
STAY on Friday<br />
St Andrew's Youth<br />
STAY on Monday<br />
<strong>The</strong> weekly youth club — STAY on Friday — is a place of continued fun <strong>and</strong><br />
growth for the young people of the parish <strong>and</strong> local area. As well as the<br />
regular young people enjoying volleyball, football, four square, man hunt,<br />
board games, games consoles <strong>and</strong> the tuck shop we also welcome year 6’s<br />
(above) on the fourth Friday of each month. <strong>The</strong>y are so polite <strong>and</strong> enjoy<br />
all that’s on offer at the youth club. I have no doubt they will transition to<br />
secondary school this summer with ease.<br />
STAY on Sunday<br />
STAY on Monday meets every two weeks in the<br />
young people's homes. We have had cake <strong>and</strong><br />
question sessions, faith building sessions <strong>and</strong><br />
games sessions. My particular favourite was when<br />
the young people enjoyed throwing Wotsits at one<br />
anothers' faces while covered in shaving foam.<br />
STAY on Sunday is coming to the end of a series on Jesus’s parables. <strong>The</strong><br />
most recent ones have included: ‘<strong>The</strong> Cost Of Discipleship’ in Luke 14:25-35<br />
<strong>and</strong> ‘<strong>The</strong> Prodigal Son’ in Luke 15:11-32. We got the young people thinking<br />
about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus <strong>and</strong> how much God loves us, no<br />
matter how far we’ve gone astray, like the father in the prodigal son story.<br />
Thank you to all the parents <strong>and</strong> volunteers who make STAY activities happen! email or text me for ideas, a
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 9<br />
STAY in May Half Term<br />
For May half term we organised activities for the local young people to enjoy, including: a Charvil<br />
sports session, a BBQ for all STAY on Sunday Youth <strong>and</strong> their families <strong>and</strong> a Spider-Man cinema trip.<br />
STAY <strong>and</strong> Emmanuel Youth Socials<br />
We have continued hanging out with the youth from Emmanuel church as we prepare to spend the week<br />
away camping at Satellites Youth Festival with them this summer. We have met after each Sunday at Six<br />
service for a social with games, food, discussion <strong>and</strong> prayer. We’ve also had time paddle boarding as a<br />
group <strong>and</strong> this was excellent fun!<br />
STAY in Schools<br />
We have had the privilege of delivering the last ever year 11 assembly at Piggott, sending them out with<br />
a message of hope through reading the ‘You Are Special’ book by Max Lucado. Plus we had the whole<br />
school assembly at Blue Coat where we thought about a story of a friend of mine who despite everything<br />
going against them, they still knew the love of their Heavenly Father. We have also continued the weekly<br />
Christian Union (CU) in Piggott with consistent numbers of around 15 students attending. As well as<br />
assemblies <strong>and</strong> the CU we have also continued mentoring 26 students across the two local secondary<br />
schools, with many year 11’s <strong>and</strong> year 13’s moving on this year. Prayers are with all who took their GCSE’s<br />
<strong>and</strong> A-Levels this summer <strong>and</strong> are making plans for what’s next!<br />
chat or to encourage what we are doing — Westy: youthminister@sonningparish.org.uk 0794 622 4306
10 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to advertisements<br />
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the parish noticeboard — 3<br />
When talking with some readers of this magazine they told me they always like the articles<br />
I write about the history of local people <strong>and</strong> someone suggested I write one about myself. I<br />
mentioned this to my wife who was as practical as ever <strong>and</strong> said, that's a good idea — it will<br />
be useful if I am ever asked to write your obituary! I will try to keep it brief!<br />
And the rest is history . . .<br />
Not being particularly academic, I failed the 11+ <strong>and</strong> went to a secondary school<br />
near Southend-on-Sea, in Essex. <strong>The</strong> only subjects I can remember enjoying at<br />
school were précis writing in English lessons <strong>and</strong> typography design in art. How<br />
could I ever get a job editing someone's work <strong>and</strong> designing text?<br />
I was too busy with out-of-school<br />
activities to get involved with school<br />
clubs, although I became head boy. Out<br />
of school I was lead drummer in the<br />
scouts marching b<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> played with<br />
a rock & roll group. <strong>The</strong>n there was St<br />
John's Ambulance Brigade, working<br />
for a local market trader selling fabrics,<br />
gardening jobs, cleaning windows<br />
<strong>and</strong> working in the local newsagents.<br />
At 6am every morning I met the van<br />
delivering the daily papers <strong>and</strong> sorted<br />
them into the 'rounds' for the paper<br />
boys <strong>and</strong> girls. It was a big job, almost<br />
every home took a newspaper. I loved<br />
reading the headlines <strong>and</strong> comparing<br />
how the different papers dealt with the<br />
day's news.<br />
UNIVERSITY<br />
I took a drop in earnings when I<br />
left school to be an apprentice with<br />
<strong>The</strong> Marconi Wireless Company. <strong>The</strong><br />
training cycle meant 6 weeks in the<br />
factory then 6 weeks in college <strong>and</strong> so on.<br />
One day, my college tutor suggested<br />
I reduced my apprenticeship by a year<br />
<strong>and</strong> go to university to study electrical<br />
<strong>and</strong> electronic engineering.<br />
My mother thought it was a crazy<br />
idea to give up work at 21 years old to<br />
go back to school — <strong>and</strong> I was also<br />
planning to get married!<br />
<strong>The</strong> only problem I had was that I<br />
needed GCE O level English — I had<br />
failed this at school. However, a crash<br />
course at evening classes enabled me<br />
to scrape through with the lowest<br />
possible grade <strong>and</strong> by working the<br />
summer season on the sea front buses<br />
I earned enough money to get married<br />
<strong>and</strong> go to university!<br />
I COULD WRITE<br />
<strong>The</strong> main thing I learnt during the<br />
next four years was that I don't have<br />
the technical skill to make anything<br />
electronic work. I could, however, write<br />
a good explanation why it didn't work<br />
<strong>and</strong> this resulted in me graduating<br />
with an upper second BSc(Hons).<br />
How was I going to use it ? I had<br />
no idea, so I signed up with a graduate<br />
register in the hope that something<br />
would turn up <strong>and</strong> fortunately it<br />
did. Out of the blue I received an<br />
invitation to meet a publisher in a<br />
Soho restaurant for lunch at the end<br />
of which he offered me a job with<br />
the gr<strong>and</strong> title of European editor<br />
for a prestigious group of technical<br />
electronics <strong>and</strong> communications<br />
magazines that included <strong>The</strong><br />
Microwave Journal (about which I knew<br />
nothing!), Telecommunications, <strong>and</strong><br />
Datacommunications.<br />
<strong>The</strong> electronic industry was going<br />
through a bad patch at the time <strong>and</strong><br />
jobs for graduates were scarce so I<br />
became an editor.<br />
A couple of weeks later, the<br />
American owner of the magazines<br />
turned up at the offices in Tunbridge<br />
Wells where the European editorial<br />
team — me — was based.<br />
After complaining about the warm<br />
beer in the local pub, he announced the<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 11<br />
From the<br />
editor's<br />
desk<br />
editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk<br />
One of my few claims to fame is being the drummer (far left) in a b<strong>and</strong> hired to keep Hayley Mills<br />
fans entertained before she made her appearance on stage.<br />
NEWSROOM<br />
European office was closing tomorrow.<br />
I would be out of work!<br />
<strong>The</strong> publisher who recruited me was<br />
furious <strong>and</strong> promised me a job within<br />
a week.<br />
REPORTER<br />
<strong>The</strong> next week I walked into a<br />
busy newsroom of a newspaper called<br />
Electronics Weekly. I was to be their<br />
technical reporter.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re was a staff of 12 journalists<br />
but none of them had any real<br />
knowledge of electronics. <strong>The</strong>y were<br />
mainly local <strong>and</strong> national newspaper<br />
journalists <strong>and</strong> the editor came from<br />
Tailor <strong>and</strong> Cutter magazine!<br />
By the next day I had a National<br />
Union of Journalists card which in<br />
those days every journalist had to have<br />
in order to work.<br />
I was given a desk <strong>and</strong> typewriter<br />
(which I had never used before) <strong>and</strong><br />
told to edit an enormous pile of<br />
press releases issued by electronics<br />
companies from around the world —<br />
<strong>and</strong> was given a deadline — lunchtime!<br />
turn to page 13
12 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
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from page 11<br />
PARISH NOTICEBOARD — 4<br />
<strong>The</strong> rest is history<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 13<br />
I think that on the basis I taught<br />
myself to type <strong>and</strong> to edit that<br />
morning, I kept the job!<br />
It was like being back at school<br />
enjoying precis writing, <strong>and</strong> working<br />
in the local newsagent <strong>and</strong> being<br />
fascinated with the headlines.<br />
SECRETS<br />
<strong>The</strong>re were no university or<br />
college courses on journalism,<br />
you learnt it on the job by rubbing<br />
shoulders with national newspaper,<br />
radio <strong>and</strong> tv journalists at press<br />
conferences <strong>and</strong> exhibitions, <strong>and</strong><br />
in the bars of the Fleet Street pubs<br />
<strong>and</strong> clubs where there was always an<br />
old hack or two who were willing to<br />
impart the secrets of the trade for a<br />
pint of ale!<br />
<strong>The</strong>se 'secrets' still apply to<br />
the design, writing <strong>and</strong> editing of<br />
magazines <strong>and</strong> newspapers today<br />
<strong>and</strong> I am still getting my money's<br />
worth from those drinks that I<br />
bought 50 years ago by passing the<br />
tips on to other church magazine<br />
editors through a voluntary role I<br />
have as vice-chair of the Association<br />
of Church Editors.<br />
PRESS AND PR<br />
After four exciting years in<br />
London I was invited to join the<br />
press office for Pye of Cambridge to<br />
edit the company newspaper <strong>and</strong> to<br />
write articles <strong>and</strong> press releases, <strong>and</strong><br />
to help organise press conferences<br />
for all the different companies within<br />
the group.<br />
And four years after enjoying<br />
life in Cambridge, I received another<br />
invitation to join a fast growing<br />
electronics company based in<br />
Bracknell called Racal Electronics.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se were exciting times to be<br />
involved with press <strong>and</strong> PR activities.<br />
Racal was exp<strong>and</strong>ing by acquiring<br />
groups of companies such as Chubb<br />
<strong>and</strong> Decca <strong>and</strong> one of my roles was to<br />
be a member of the launch team for a<br />
new communications venture.<br />
THE PHONE<br />
As well as writing stories about<br />
it, my job was to encourage other<br />
journalists to write about a device of<br />
the future that would enable people<br />
to communicate from wherever they<br />
were. It would, I was told, change<br />
the way the world lived, worked <strong>and</strong><br />
played. I was not totally convinced<br />
but it was a fun trying to sell the idea<br />
of what today so many people take<br />
for granted — the mobile phone!<br />
FREELANCE<br />
However, as the project<br />
progressed I found that the job was<br />
taking over my life <strong>and</strong> I seemed to<br />
spend more time managing people,<br />
which was never what I wanted to do,<br />
than writing <strong>and</strong> editing.<br />
So I left Racal Electronics to<br />
become a freelance writer <strong>and</strong> editor<br />
working for companies such as<br />
Ericsson, ITT <strong>and</strong> British Airways.<br />
Many of the assignments involved<br />
travel around Europe with one<br />
overnight visit to Houston in Texas<br />
to spend two hours interviewing an<br />
engineer! It was on these visits that<br />
I began to use my spare time looking<br />
at, <strong>and</strong> buying, nativity sets — but<br />
that's another story!<br />
A FEELING OF SERVICE<br />
However, I felt that I should be<br />
doing something else. Since I was<br />
confirmed into the Church of Engl<strong>and</strong><br />
in Cambridge, I had the feeling that I<br />
should be serving the church in some<br />
way. An ideal job, I thought, would be<br />
to work on a church magazine, <strong>and</strong><br />
I even applied for some — including<br />
with the Oxford Diocese — but as<br />
always, I was never successful with<br />
job applications.<br />
bcafilm.co.uk<br />
My only other claim to fame is meeting the, then, future King<br />
who presented me with Maundy Money in 2022 for service to<br />
the Church.<br />
<strong>The</strong>n a series of coincidences <strong>and</strong><br />
meetings — that's yet another story!<br />
— led me to train for a ministry role,<br />
<strong>and</strong> in 2000 I was licensed as a lay<br />
minister in the Church of Engl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
I had long given up hope of<br />
working on a church publication <strong>and</strong><br />
became involved with ministry in the<br />
local schools, leading home-based<br />
Bible study groups, <strong>and</strong> taking part<br />
in church worship.<br />
Previously, I had submitted<br />
articles to this magazine but it had<br />
drifted away from the original 1869<br />
church magazine focus to become a<br />
Sonning community newsletter. My<br />
articles never saw the light of day<br />
because, as the editor told me, only<br />
the vicar writes about God!<br />
<strong>The</strong>n Rev Jamie arrived in the<br />
parish <strong>and</strong> towards the end of 2013<br />
he asked if I would take over from<br />
him as editor. He had some exciting<br />
ideas for a new design that would be<br />
delivered free to every home in the<br />
parish. All he needed was an editor<br />
to do the job. <strong>The</strong> rest is history!<br />
Please remember your<br />
donations for the Woodley<br />
Food Bank inside<br />
St Andrew's Church
14 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
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PARISH NOTICEBOARD — 5<br />
Simplicity or<br />
affluence?<br />
Stained glass in the Chapel of Notre-Damedes-flots<br />
Jorisv, dreamstime.com<br />
Assisi, a beautiful town in the Italian<br />
province of Umbria, was the birthplace<br />
in the 12th century of two of that<br />
country’s greatest saints, Francis <strong>and</strong><br />
Clare. Francis, <strong>and</strong> then Clare — her<br />
feast day is 11 <strong>August</strong> — discovered<br />
the liberating effect of releasing the<br />
burden of wealth.<br />
For them simplicity, a godly poverty,<br />
was the way to blessing. <strong>The</strong>ir followers<br />
— Franciscan monks <strong>and</strong> Clare’s nuns,<br />
or the ‘Poor Clares’, set themselves to<br />
live without luxury. This freed them<br />
for a life of prayer <strong>and</strong> service, to care<br />
for the poor around them without<br />
distraction. <strong>The</strong>y did not build elaborate<br />
basilicas, though one was erected after<br />
the death of Francis, strictly against his<br />
wishes, to surround the simple chapel<br />
where he <strong>and</strong> his followers were based.<br />
<strong>The</strong> present-day house of the Poor<br />
Clares is a perfect example of the sheer<br />
beauty of simplicity.<br />
<strong>The</strong>ir life-style, their message, their<br />
simplicity of life <strong>and</strong> love of God's<br />
Creation offered a striking alternative<br />
to the society around them, where<br />
wealth — which Francis had enjoyed<br />
but rejected at his conversion — <strong>and</strong><br />
poverty <strong>and</strong> sickness lived side by side.<br />
<strong>The</strong>ir message is on a collision course<br />
with the values <strong>and</strong> goals of much of the<br />
western world today. Simplicity of life<br />
<strong>and</strong> affluence don’t sit easily together.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 15<br />
THE persecuted church by colin bailey<br />
Persecuted Sudan<br />
Christians in need<br />
of your prayers<br />
Sudan has been in the news over the last three<br />
months with the large scale evacuation of<br />
many British nationals <strong>and</strong> their dependents<br />
fleeing violence.<br />
In April Open Doors<br />
reported that the<br />
that the conflict<br />
will make things<br />
even harder for the<br />
Christians in Sudan,<br />
which is number 10 on the Open<br />
Doors <strong>2023</strong> World Watch List — a<br />
position that indicates Christians face<br />
face extreme levels of persecution.<br />
<strong>The</strong> violence in Sudan has resulted<br />
John Wollwerth, dreamstime.com<br />
from a power struggle between the Sudan Armed<br />
Forces (SAF) <strong>and</strong> the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) <strong>and</strong> it is spreading through<br />
the country. <strong>The</strong> number of casualties reported in May by the Sudanese health<br />
ministry — 730 people killed <strong>and</strong> 5,454 injured — is likely to be higher.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are almost 2 million Christians in Sudan, representing just 4.3% of<br />
the country’s population of 46 million. <strong>The</strong>re had been some progress towards<br />
religious freedom in recent years, until a military coup in October 2021. This<br />
followed an escalation of hostilities between conservative Islamists wanting a<br />
military government <strong>and</strong> those who toppled Omar al Bashir in April 2019.<br />
PLEASE PRAY FOR STABILITY<br />
After that coup, a transitional, power-sharing government emerged but<br />
protests caused the resignation in January last year of civilian Prime Minister<br />
Abdalla Hamdok.<br />
Open Doors reports how Christians — especially converts from Islam — are<br />
still vulnerable to extreme persecution in public <strong>and</strong> private life.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are now fears that Sudan will return to the authoritarianism of the<br />
years of the former president, <strong>and</strong> this could mean that the death penalty for<br />
leaving Islam that was abolished in 2021 could be reinstated.<br />
At the time of writing, there is relative calm in the capital Khartoum after a<br />
week-long peace deal was disrupted by clashes between the Sudanese army <strong>and</strong><br />
paramilitary.<br />
<strong>The</strong> ceasefire had come after five weeks of warfare in Khartoum <strong>and</strong><br />
outbursts of fighting elsewhere, including Darfur where a conflict had started<br />
in 2003.<br />
Please pray for Sudan, for stability in the region <strong>and</strong> for a government to be<br />
established that respects equality <strong>and</strong> religious freedom.<br />
Please also pray for the Christians in the l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> for the work of local<br />
church partners.<br />
References <strong>and</strong> further reading<br />
Open Doors on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opendoorsuk/<br />
Open Doors website - Sudan country focus: https://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/worldwatch-list/sudan/<br />
Amnesty International on conflict in Sudan: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/<strong>2023</strong>/04/<br />
sudan-new-conflict-escalation-exacerbates-20-years-of-suffering-for-civilians-in-darfur<br />
Reuters - Africa news on fighting following the ceasefire: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/<br />
fighting-threatens-sudans-week-long-truce-<strong>2023</strong>-05-25/<br />
HM Government Press Release on evacuation: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukcompletes-largest-<strong>and</strong>-longest-western-evacuation-from-sudan
16 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
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PARISH NOTICEBOARD — 6<br />
St Willibald's statue in Eichstatt Germany<br />
Prapton, dreamstime.com<br />
A Saint for curious<br />
holiday travellers?<br />
Where do you go on your summer<br />
travels? If you include a Christian<br />
element to your trips, such as making<br />
a pilgrimage, or visiting places rich in<br />
Christian history, then St Willibald<br />
is the saint for you — his feast day is<br />
7 <strong>July</strong>. He was one of the most widely<br />
travelled Anglo-Saxons of his time.<br />
Willibald began his life in Wessex<br />
where he became a monk at Bishops<br />
Waltham. He had the curiosity that<br />
besets all keen travellers — what is it<br />
like over there, just over the next hill,<br />
round the next corner?<br />
And so Willibald set out for Rome,<br />
Cyprus, Syria <strong>and</strong> Palestine. It was an<br />
amazing achievement to survive such<br />
journeys in the early 8th Century.<br />
In Palestine, he made his way<br />
round all the holy places associated<br />
with Jesus, as well as the numerous<br />
communities of monks <strong>and</strong> hermits<br />
living there, <strong>and</strong> on his return to<br />
Europe, he decided to dictate an<br />
account of all his travels to a longsuffering<br />
nun, Hygeburg, who wrote it<br />
under the title of Hodoeporicon — the<br />
first ever travel book to be written by<br />
an Anglo-Saxon.<br />
After a long stay in Constantinople,<br />
Willibald returned to Rome <strong>and</strong><br />
settled in Monte Cassino monastery<br />
which, under his reforming influence,<br />
began to prosper.<br />
This got Willibald noticed, <strong>and</strong> soon<br />
Boniface — the Apostle for Germany<br />
— asked Pope Gregory III to send him<br />
to Germany, to be Bishop of Echstatt.<br />
Here, he founded a monastery that<br />
became an important centre for<br />
the diffusion <strong>and</strong> development<br />
of monasticism. After 45 years in<br />
Echstatt, Willibald died c786 <strong>and</strong> his<br />
relics remain there.<br />
Sunday cycling<br />
is now a memory<br />
Being driven to church now that the<br />
warmer weather has arrived it's<br />
hard not to notice that the Sunday<br />
cyclists have oiled their bikes <strong>and</strong><br />
taken to our roads. It reminds me<br />
of my own cycling adventures in my<br />
younger days.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 17<br />
Claude's<br />
view<br />
from<br />
the<br />
pew<br />
My earliest memories are of a three<br />
wheeled trike given to me as a four<br />
year old. <strong>The</strong> trike, however, didn't<br />
last long once I started giving lifts<br />
to friends with them st<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
on the crossbar. <strong>The</strong> bike's frame<br />
eventually broke in half, much to my<br />
disappointment <strong>and</strong> the annoyance<br />
of my mother!<br />
Being pre-WWII, my father was still employed in his civilian role with<br />
John Warrick Cycles who were famous for their 'monarch' br<strong>and</strong>. Based in<br />
Caversham Road, Reading, they specialised in delivery trikes, mainly for ice<br />
cream vendors.<br />
Dad would often borrow a bike from them to transport goods from his<br />
allotment, <strong>and</strong> this also provided me with something to play with, although he<br />
would adapt it to allow my, then short, legs to turn the pedals. It was this bike<br />
that resulted in me depositing a group of girls, whom I was giving a lift to, all<br />
over the road.<br />
CYCLING TO SONNING!<br />
Dad also made my first proper bicycle in the factory in which he was working<br />
at the time. He took me out on it for its first trip from home in Mayfield Drive,<br />
Caversham to Sonning.<br />
As I grew older, technology moved on <strong>and</strong> I purchased a CycleMaster. This<br />
replaced the existing bicycle's back wheel with one having a 33cc petrol engine<br />
to propel the bike. It cost about £25 but only worked in dry weather so my next<br />
cycle was purchased in the form of a racing bike, which was just as fast <strong>and</strong> it<br />
worked in the rain.<br />
However, an advantage of CycleMaster was that allowed me to pass my<br />
motorcycle test <strong>and</strong> even today I could technically turn up to church on a<br />
1,000cc Suzuki — but don't worry about that ever happening. After a third<br />
encounter with the tarmac I gave up motorcycling for the stability of four<br />
wheels!<br />
While my son does not recall me ever riding a bike, my daughter does. She<br />
remembers me riding Barbara— my wife's — bike to her house when I fitted a<br />
kitchen for her. I only went by bike so Barbara could use my car!<br />
Claude Masters<br />
A Warrick Trike of the type use by ice cream vendors<br />
Claude Masters<br />
A CycleMaster rear wheel
18 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
feature — 2<br />
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feature — 1<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 19<br />
Solving those rainy summer time blues<br />
Ironically, a good solution for parents <strong>and</strong> guardians seeking ways to relieve<br />
the boredom of children in their care during the rainy summer holidays by<br />
encouraging them to switch off their phones <strong>and</strong> computers can be found on the<br />
internet where there are hundreds of suggestions.<br />
A good example is at https://www.<br />
eparenting.co.uk/activities_for_kids/100_<br />
screen_free_things_to_do_on_a_rainy_day.php<br />
eParenting has been online since<br />
2004 <strong>and</strong> provides ideas <strong>and</strong> resources<br />
to help parents <strong>and</strong> schools make<br />
education not only interesting but fun.<br />
For the summer holidays it has<br />
published a '100 screen-free things to do<br />
on a rainy day', which, despite the 'e' in<br />
eParenting, means switching off the<br />
electronic devices <strong>and</strong> resorting to funpacked<br />
games, many of which their<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>parents enjoyed!<br />
Parenting dates back much further<br />
than 2004 <strong>and</strong> indeed, before the<br />
'electronic screen' which modern life<br />
revolves around for many people.<br />
Parenting was an important part<br />
of God's Creation <strong>and</strong> throughout<br />
the Bible we find advice on how to be<br />
good parents, <strong>and</strong> how they, <strong>and</strong> their<br />
children should love <strong>and</strong> respect each<br />
other.<br />
From the beginning, God blessed<br />
<strong>and</strong> encouraged families, comm<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
Adam <strong>and</strong> Eve to 'be fruitful, <strong>and</strong><br />
multiply, <strong>and</strong> replenish the earth' (Genesis<br />
1:28).<br />
We are told that it is the parents'<br />
responsibility to teach their children<br />
God's word. We must instil 'in the heart<br />
of a child, love for our Lord Jesus Christ<br />
<strong>and</strong> the works of God'. (Deuteronomy<br />
11:18-21)<br />
While Proverbs 6:20-22 says: 'My son,<br />
keep your father's comm<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> do not<br />
forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them<br />
upon your heart forever; fasten them<br />
around your neck. When you walk, they<br />
will guide you; when you sleep, they will<br />
watch over you; when you awake, they<br />
will speak to you.'<br />
Parenting affects almost every<br />
life-form on Earth <strong>and</strong> in almost all<br />
non-human cases involves male <strong>and</strong><br />
female parents. It is estimated that<br />
the proportion of animal 'species'<br />
which reproduce exclusively by<br />
parthenogenesis — that is from<br />
a single female parent — is in the<br />
order of 1:1,000. Aphids, ants, wasps,<br />
<strong>and</strong> bees are typical examples of<br />
parthenogenesis in nature.<br />
Among eParenting's free 100<br />
suggestions for a rainy summer day,<br />
you will find making things, playing<br />
traditional games, cooking, putting<br />
on posh tea parties, puppet shows<br />
<strong>and</strong> plays, a tidying bedroom contest,<br />
undertaking science experiments,<br />
dressing up, cooking <strong>and</strong> making<br />
jewellery from recycled materials.<br />
Go to work (or church) on your bike day!<br />
Cycle to Work Day on Friday 4 <strong>August</strong> is the UK’s biggest annual cycling commuting event, <strong>and</strong> this year is its 10th birthday!<br />
<strong>The</strong> idea is to encourage workers in the UK to go to work on two wheels, not only for their own health <strong>and</strong> wellbeing, but for the<br />
world itself. <strong>The</strong> organisers, cyclescheme.co.uk said: 'It’s an event for everyone, from people who haven’t hopped on a bike since their<br />
school days to committed cycle commuters. What matters is jumping on a bike, <strong>and</strong> joining a community of cyclists sharing all that’s<br />
good about cycling to work.' Since 2019 participants have clocked over 38 million miles <strong>and</strong> saved over 6 million pounds of Carbon<br />
Dioxide. If you join https://www.lovetoride.net/cyclescheme you can log your ride, set a cycling goal, share photos <strong>and</strong> shout about<br />
your reason for riding. To find out more about the day, go to https://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/cycletoworkday … <strong>and</strong> if you don't go to<br />
work, or it's too far to cycle, but you would like to join in the spirit of the event, why not go to church on your bike!
20 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
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feature — 2<br />
Thomas Cook did not start his travel business with<br />
the primary goal of making money. Motivated<br />
by his Christian faith, it was to help combat the<br />
dangers of alcohol <strong>and</strong> to help the victims of<br />
alcohol misuse.<br />
Thomas Cook was born in 1808 in Derbyshire. At<br />
the age of 20 he became a Baptist missionary<br />
<strong>and</strong> toured the region as an evangelist distributing<br />
tracts, <strong>and</strong> in the 1830s, he became involved in the<br />
involved in the temperance movement. He was a<br />
cabinet maker by trade.<br />
With the expansion of the railway network<br />
around 1840, he had the idea of combining rail<br />
travel with the cause of temperance.<br />
He arranged to take a group of temperance<br />
campaigners from Leicester Street railway<br />
station to a teetotal rally in Loughborough, 11 miles away.<br />
Choose your holiday from a reliable<br />
travel company that is a member of<br />
the professional bodies that protect<br />
customers if it all goes wrong.<br />
Pay for the holiday using a credit<br />
card, so you can claim against the<br />
credit company if there is a serious<br />
problem.<br />
PROPER INSURANCE<br />
Prepare <strong>and</strong> research where you<br />
are going. Look up the Government<br />
travel advice pages on staying safe <strong>and</strong><br />
healthy in that country.<br />
Get someone to look after your<br />
house <strong>and</strong> pets while you are away.<br />
Make sure it does not look as though it<br />
is empty.<br />
Get proper insurance that covers<br />
what you need. <strong>The</strong> Association of<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 21<br />
Did you just book it? Or Thomas Cook it?<br />
Asks Sally Churchus<br />
MODERN TRAVEL IS BORN<br />
On 5 <strong>July</strong> 1841, he escorted 485 people, who paid one<br />
shilling each for the return rail journey <strong>and</strong> a meal, on his<br />
first outing. Many say that this is when the modern travel<br />
industry was born. Other excursions followed, including<br />
one in 1851 for 150,000 people to travel to the Great<br />
Exhibition in London. Four years later he was running<br />
trips abroad.<br />
By 1865 he had acquired business premises on Fleet<br />
Street, which included a shop selling travel accessories such<br />
as guide books, luggage, telescopes <strong>and</strong> footwear. He <strong>and</strong> his<br />
wife also ran a small temperance hotel above the office. As<br />
the business grew, he built an imposing Temperance Hall<br />
<strong>and</strong> hotel in central Leicester <strong>and</strong> used much of his money to<br />
‘From Troas we put out to sea <strong>and</strong><br />
sailed straight for Samothrace…<br />
we went on to Neapolis. From<br />
there we travelled to Philippi, a<br />
Roman colony <strong>and</strong> the leading city<br />
of that district[a] of Macedonia.<br />
And we stayed there several days.<br />
(Acts 16:11-12)<br />
I wonder if travel was in some ways<br />
easier in St Paul’s day! No waiting at<br />
airports, cancelled flights or passport<br />
problems.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Roman Empire had an amazing<br />
system of well-maintained roads,<br />
provided with inns, guards, signposts<br />
<strong>and</strong> milestones.<br />
Everyone spoke Greek <strong>and</strong> the<br />
currency was interchangeable.<br />
We do not live in classical times so<br />
how should we prepare for holidays?<br />
support the poor, often the victims of alcohol misuse.<br />
In all the excursions he went on to organise, he wanted<br />
to bring people closer together <strong>and</strong> nearer to their creator by<br />
making God’s earth with all its fullness <strong>and</strong> beauty accessible<br />
<strong>and</strong> affordable to all.<br />
Eventually his son, John Mason Cook, became a partner<br />
in the company <strong>and</strong> the name was changed to Thomas Cook<br />
& Son. Towards the end of his life his attitude towards<br />
profitability brought him <strong>and</strong> his son into conflict, including<br />
the issue of allowing lower fares for fellow Baptists. He died<br />
aged 83 in Leicester in 1892. After a number of mergers <strong>and</strong><br />
takeovers the company collapsed in 2019, but he had given<br />
many the opportunity to experience the beauty <strong>and</strong> variety<br />
of God’s world because of his strong Christian faith.<br />
Happier holidays if you avoid the pitfalls first!<br />
David Pickup, a solicitor, considers some of the possible pitfalls of travelling . . .<br />
(Left) Statue of Thomas Cook at Leicester Sation, Clive Stapleton,<br />
dreamstime.com. (Above) Panels at the Thomas Cook Building<br />
Leicester, Wikimedia Commons<br />
British Insurers has advice online<br />
about travel insurance, including how<br />
Covid-19 can affect it, <strong>and</strong> a guide on<br />
choosing the right travel insurance<br />
policy.<br />
Rules on claiming health benefits<br />
in Europe have changed. It is now the<br />
Global Health Insurance Card.<br />
When on holiday, keep your<br />
belongings safe <strong>and</strong> avoid dangerous<br />
places. Do not keep all your holiday<br />
cash in one place. If you lost your<br />
wallet, would you have details of what<br />
numbers to phone to stop your card?<br />
Take more than one credit/debit card<br />
with you, <strong>and</strong> keep them separately.<br />
Finally, have fun. You deserve<br />
it! As always this is a light-hearted<br />
introduction, <strong>and</strong> get professional<br />
advice if you have a problem.
22 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
feature — 3<br />
What's the time Terry?<br />
Terry, at home in his workshop where time never st<strong>and</strong>s still<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is a myriad of evidence from around the world that making time in your life<br />
for a hobby is good for your mental <strong>and</strong> physical health. Terry Hunt, who was a<br />
churchwarden at St Andrew's Church for 6½ years, takes the matter of making<br />
time for a hobby seriously — he makes clocks!<br />
After taking some time out from being<br />
a churchwarden, Terry returned to the<br />
role earlier this year as a deputy warden<br />
with the specific task of helping with<br />
the technical aspects of maintaining<br />
the fabric of the church buildings.<br />
NO REPAIRS<br />
Wendy Hunt<br />
'Let's get it absolutely clear', said<br />
Terry, 'I do not repair clocks or make<br />
them from old clocks, I make each part<br />
from sheets of brass <strong>and</strong> rods of steel.<br />
While I do the engraving, I do it on<br />
an old pantograph machine — not by<br />
h<strong>and</strong>.'<br />
Each clock takes several years to<br />
make — 'longer', said Terry, 'when one<br />
is a churchwarden!'<br />
He mainly makes the clocks using<br />
plans published by the late John<br />
Wilding, who is well known for his<br />
interpretation of classic clocks.<br />
<strong>The</strong> clock on the left (above) is a John<br />
Wilding 'Skeleton' built by Terry, while<br />
below (left) is a less complicated, <strong>and</strong><br />
even simpler way to tell the time — a<br />
sundial — which, of course has the<br />
disadvantage of not working too well on<br />
a cloudy day!<br />
Terry calls the six foot tall clock<br />
(right) his St Andrew's clock which is<br />
based on the design of a traditional<br />
English Regulator. He made it while<br />
serving as churchwarden <strong>and</strong> the two<br />
things were often in conflict for his<br />
time!<br />
<strong>The</strong> dial is peculiar to this type of<br />
clock <strong>and</strong>, while not so easy to read for<br />
telling the time, results in the reduction<br />
of a 'gear train' in the mechanism with<br />
its attendant friction. This was believed<br />
to enable greater accuracy. Terry's clock<br />
runs to within a few seconds a week.<br />
<strong>The</strong> sundial was made as a present<br />
for an old friend. In addition to telling<br />
the time, it shows direction <strong>and</strong> distance<br />
to a few places of significance to her.
around the villages — 1<br />
Community engagement<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 23<br />
It's been a very busy time for Sonning Primary School<br />
with some wonderful events in the community, writes<br />
Phil Sherwood, headmaster.<br />
Following the Coronation our choir<br />
enjoyed visiting Sonning Gardens care<br />
home to sing to the residents.<br />
As always, the pupils <strong>and</strong> staff<br />
thoroughly enjoyed engaging with<br />
the residents, who were wonderful<br />
hosts!<br />
Many of our pupils were able to<br />
take part in the Sonning Regatta at<br />
the beginning of June. It was a special<br />
event for the pupils <strong>and</strong> one of our<br />
pupil-organised teams won a race!<br />
Our thanks to the Sonning Regatta<br />
committee <strong>and</strong> everyone else who<br />
helped organise the event.<br />
<strong>The</strong>n it was on to the annual<br />
Sonning Village Rounders match when<br />
groups from Sonning Primary <strong>and</strong><br />
other village organisations took part. It<br />
was organised by the Sonning Primary<br />
PTA (the losers of the previous year<br />
must arrange the next year’s event!).<br />
<strong>The</strong> good news is that the Sonning<br />
School staff team (pictured below) won!<br />
<strong>The</strong> other teams taking part were:<br />
Sonning Tennis Club; Sonning WI;<br />
Sonning Club; St Andrew's Church; <strong>and</strong><br />
Sonning Primary School PTA.<br />
As we all risk drifting apart from<br />
our communities as social media <strong>and</strong><br />
technology grows, events such as these<br />
remind us of how important it is to put<br />
effort into our community <strong>and</strong> enjoy<br />
being connected.<br />
Our pupils benefit hugely from being<br />
part of such an engaged <strong>and</strong> supportive<br />
village, <strong>and</strong> if anyone would like to be<br />
more involved in the school, we are<br />
always looking for the following help:<br />
— Financial support<br />
— Volunteers to read<br />
— Volunteers to be governors<br />
— Running clubs for our pupils<br />
— Offering local expertise or business<br />
— Supporting PTA events such as a<br />
careers day.<br />
Thank you to all of our supporters<br />
for their help, including the team at<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> for their work in<br />
the community.
lla Interiors <strong>Parish</strong> ad April 23.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/<strong>2023</strong> 08:37 Page 3<br />
24 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to this advertisement<br />
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around the villages — 2<br />
Double centenarian celebration<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 25<br />
Coronation Cup<br />
Edna Wall (left) <strong>and</strong> Lady Pamela De Ville (right) congratulated one another<br />
on their 100th birthdays at Signature of Sonning care home. <strong>The</strong> home,<br />
originally called Sunrise of Sonning, has, since their 100th birthday<br />
celebrations, changed its name for the second time in 18 months. From<br />
1 June the home is called Sonning Gardens Care Home, part of the Avery<br />
Healthcare Group. But for the two centenarians the name of their home is far less<br />
important then their more treasured memory of the personal congratulations<br />
they both received from <strong>The</strong>ir Majesties King Charles III <strong>and</strong> Queen Camilla!<br />
Beaver-ing in the community<br />
By Magnus Smyly, Beavers section asssistant<br />
Sonning Art Group's latest<br />
Chairman’s cup — with the theme,<br />
<strong>The</strong> Coronation — was won by<br />
Brenda Hooper for an excellent pen<br />
<strong>and</strong> wash picture of Westminster<br />
Abbey. <strong>The</strong> group's summer<br />
programme includes tutor sessions<br />
<strong>and</strong> a sketching afternoon in <strong>The</strong> Mill<br />
at Sonning.<br />
1st Sonning-on-Thames scouts<br />
is continuing to make links with<br />
the local community — this time<br />
through its beaver colony — when<br />
Nick, the Berkshire County Sports<br />
Tennis Club head tennis coach<br />
hosted them for fun tennis games.<br />
<strong>The</strong>ir summer term programme has<br />
also included a visit by Red Watch<br />
crew from Wokingham Road Fire<br />
Station, who answered an array of<br />
questions from the beavers before<br />
giving a tour of their fire engine.<br />
This visit ended on a high note as<br />
the crew sped off ‘blue lighted’ as a<br />
call out to a fire came in.<br />
CRICKET<br />
In late May, coaches Sharon <strong>and</strong><br />
Grace from Sonning Cricket Club<br />
hosted the beavers on King George’s<br />
Field for an introduction to cricket.<br />
We thank all those who have<br />
helped to make these events happen.<br />
If you are interested in knowing<br />
more about beaver scouts (for 6 to<br />
8 year olds, meeting term time on<br />
Thursdays between 6-7pm), then<br />
we still have places available.<br />
For more information: Ann at<br />
waiting_list@sonningscouts.org.uk .
26 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to advertisements<br />
AB0027_<strong>The</strong>_Abbey_Nursery_Campaign_ROUTE_4_125x175_Ads.indd 1 26/05/<strong>2023</strong> 07:47
around the villages — 3<br />
Sing your way through<br />
summer <strong>and</strong> autumn<br />
in Charvil Village Hall<br />
Charvil's piano <strong>and</strong> singing teacher,<br />
Suzanne Newman, has arranged<br />
a full programme of summer <strong>and</strong><br />
autumn events for everyone who<br />
loves to sing together.<br />
All the sessions will be held in<br />
Charvil Village Hall <strong>and</strong> are open to<br />
anyone - you don't have to sing in a<br />
choir or have an amazing solo voice!<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 27<br />
Sonning <strong>Parish</strong> Council thank Tony<br />
Farnese — but it's not goodbye!<br />
Saturday 1 <strong>July</strong><br />
2-4pm, a fun singing afternoon for<br />
female voices with a selection of<br />
American folk songs arranged for<br />
2-part choir songs including L'il Liza<br />
Jane, Shen<strong>and</strong>oah, Simple gifts <strong>and</strong><br />
Buffalo girls. Cost: £10.<br />
Monday 17 <strong>July</strong><br />
8- 9.30pm. Improve your sightsinging<br />
— if you sing in a choir <strong>and</strong><br />
want to work on this skill then this is<br />
for you! Cost: £10.<br />
Mondays 7, 14, <strong>and</strong> 21 <strong>August</strong><br />
A three week course for female<br />
voices, 7.30 - 9pm to work on vocal<br />
technique plus a medley called<br />
Broadway Musical Magic. Songs will<br />
include Into the woods, Electricity,<br />
Seasons of love <strong>and</strong> Mamma Mia.<br />
Cost: £30, includes music.<br />
Saturday 2 September<br />
2 - 4pm. A fun singing afternoon<br />
for female voices to work on a great<br />
medley of songs from Broadway<br />
shows including: Hello Dolly,<br />
Tomorrow, What I did for love <strong>and</strong> On<br />
Broadway<br />
Cost: £10 includes music <strong>and</strong><br />
refreshments.<br />
Saturday 30 September<br />
2 - 4pm. A fun singing afternoon<br />
for boys <strong>and</strong> men to sing some great<br />
songs <strong>and</strong> rounds in a friendly <strong>and</strong><br />
supportive environment. Cost: £10,<br />
includes music <strong>and</strong> refreshments.<br />
For more details <strong>and</strong> to book a<br />
place in any of the sessions, contact:<br />
Suzanne Newman on:<br />
0118 934 0589<br />
suzanneynewman@btinternet.com<br />
Left to right: Trefor Fisher, newly appointed chairman of Sonning <strong>Parish</strong> Council; Lesley Bates,<br />
clerk to the council; <strong>and</strong> Tony Farnese, who has stepped down as chairman.<br />
Sonning <strong>Parish</strong> Council members have expressed their sincere gratitude to<br />
Tony Farnese who has decided to st<strong>and</strong> down as chairman, a position he has<br />
served in for the past 8 years.<br />
During this time, Tony has risen to many challenges, all for the benefit of the<br />
community of Sonning. <strong>The</strong>se include the examination of hundreds of planning<br />
applications, several of which were major development proposals. He has<br />
campaigned to improve road safety in the parish, including putting pressure<br />
on the local authorities for a third Thames crossing, <strong>and</strong> has taken a special<br />
interest in the maintenance of Sonning's green spaces, including King George V<br />
field <strong>and</strong> the Wharf by Sonning bridge.<br />
Members of the council said they were very pleased that Tony will be staying<br />
on as a councillor, bringing as he does his wealth of knowledge <strong>and</strong> experience<br />
in parish matters.<br />
At the annual Sonning <strong>Parish</strong> Council meeting held in May, Trefor Fisher<br />
was elected as the new chairman.<br />
Sonning <strong>Parish</strong> Council currently comprises seven elected councillors,<br />
supported by a clerk. <strong>The</strong>y normally meet on the second Tuesday of each<br />
month (except <strong>August</strong>) in the Pavilion, King George V Playing Field. Most of<br />
the council business is carried out between these meetings by committees<br />
<strong>and</strong> working groups formed from councillors <strong>and</strong> co-opted members from the<br />
parish — where appropriate — although decisions are made by the full council.<br />
It's never to late for a tree!<br />
Sonning Glebe WI is delighted that, at long<br />
last, they have planted their tree to celebrate<br />
the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen<br />
Elizabeth II! It is in King George’s Field <strong>and</strong> was<br />
planted by Carole Collier, president, on 29 April.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 'Rec' is ideal for the new tree — it was<br />
where the WI met during the p<strong>and</strong>emic when<br />
many pleasant hours were spent, walking,<br />
drinking coffee, chatting <strong>and</strong> meeting up with<br />
friends during a difficult time. <strong>The</strong> WI hopes<br />
the tree will become a long-lasting memory of<br />
the Queen's wonderful reign.
28 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
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HEALTH — 1<br />
Dr Simon Ruffle writes . . . Headache<br />
Headache symptoms are one of<br />
the most common presentations<br />
in general practice. 70% of the UK<br />
population will report a headache in a<br />
3 month period.<br />
Excluding the headaches that come<br />
with infections — or watching any<br />
political discussion — one in two of<br />
us will suffer with a specific headache<br />
disorder in a year. This is known as<br />
prevalence.<br />
Despite these high numbers most<br />
of these conditions are managed<br />
without medical help.<br />
However, in a typical practice one<br />
month’s worth of consultations for<br />
one GP is used up in a year discussing<br />
headache disorders. So the burden <strong>and</strong><br />
cost is high.<br />
Not that this is a staggering figure;<br />
what is staggering is that it costs £3.42<br />
billion pounds to the UK economy in<br />
a year.1<br />
In the US, migraine is suffered by<br />
more people than asthma <strong>and</strong> diabetes<br />
combined2 1:2 female, 1:10 male<br />
<strong>The</strong> majority of headache disorders<br />
are of a tension type, which are not<br />
everyday so classified as episodic.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se are followed by episodic<br />
migraine, which leaves less than 5% of<br />
headaches of other types; the majority<br />
being chronic daily headache.<br />
CONFUSIONS<br />
I have many patients who complain<br />
of a 'terrible migraine'. This is a<br />
confusion of terms.<br />
A migraine isn’t a bad headache. It’s<br />
a migraine!<br />
In the same way people use the<br />
term chronic when they mean bad.<br />
Acute <strong>and</strong> chronic are terms of timing<br />
not severity.<br />
I fully underst<strong>and</strong> the confusion<br />
as migraine covers a large spectrum of<br />
symptoms <strong>and</strong> the outdated diagnosis<br />
of ‘classic migraine’ is actually only<br />
suffered by about 20% of sufferers.<br />
A six country study (all G7<br />
countries) presented in Vienna looked<br />
at the barriers to get proper care.<br />
<strong>The</strong> UK came third out of the<br />
six but it showed that people with<br />
migraine diagnosed in the study<br />
only 30.5% of people got to see a<br />
professional.<br />
<strong>The</strong> overall diagnostic accuracy<br />
was 20% <strong>and</strong> appropriate treatment<br />
Chatsworth House<br />
was only provided in 11.8% of those<br />
patients in the study.3<br />
Despite the barriers to care 30%<br />
of all neurology referrals are for<br />
headache.<br />
Proper diagnosis is key. Migraine,<br />
currently, has no diagnostic tests <strong>and</strong><br />
brain scans are totally normal but are<br />
often asked for due to the severity<br />
of the symptoms <strong>and</strong> the disabling<br />
effects.<br />
However, a detailed history <strong>and</strong> the<br />
complete relief of symptoms points<br />
away from any disease that a scan<br />
will pick up; plus there is always the<br />
chance of finding something irrelevant<br />
on a scan that then needs further<br />
evaluation.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are many types of migraine.<br />
I recently went on a two day course on<br />
the new knowledge <strong>and</strong> treatments of<br />
headache disorders <strong>and</strong> half of one day<br />
was just on migraine.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are migraines with or without<br />
aura, headache, nausea, vomiting,<br />
visual changes, speech difficulty <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 29<br />
Simon Ruffle<br />
weakness symptoms. Some migraine<br />
types are felt in the abdomen <strong>and</strong><br />
some that are just vertigo. One key fact<br />
is that all the symptoms disappear in<br />
between episodes.<br />
HERE IT COMES!<br />
However, migraine can become<br />
chronic (time) <strong>and</strong> is diagnosed when<br />
people have migraine type headaches<br />
on more than 15 days a month for 3<br />
months.<br />
HERE IT COMES AGAIN!<br />
However, it can also be persistent.<br />
This is known as status migrainosus.<br />
This is a disabling migraine that lasts<br />
over 72 hours in its severe form.<br />
<strong>The</strong> cause of migraine is still<br />
debated but there is so much new<br />
evidence about the mechanisms<br />
behind the symptoms.<br />
Rather exciting is a new treatment<br />
that is being evaluated to try to stop<br />
turn to page 31
30 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to advertisements<br />
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from page 29<br />
HEALTH — 2<br />
Dr Simon Ruffle<br />
migraines occurring. NICE (National<br />
Institute for Clinical Excellence) has<br />
suggested that it will be valuable in<br />
certain groups of people.<br />
Classically we were taught that<br />
migraine had a period of symptoms<br />
before the headache <strong>and</strong> disabling<br />
symptoms occurred. This was known<br />
as aura. But, further research shows<br />
that there may be early signs that<br />
suggest the brain is about to go into a<br />
migraine phase.<br />
Functional MRI scans show<br />
activation in the brain hours or days<br />
before migraine starts. Feeling thirsty,<br />
cravings, neck stiffness, fatigue ,<br />
yawning <strong>and</strong> frequency of needing to<br />
pee can be symptoms. Others have<br />
reported feeling really well.<br />
Work is ongoing on how to treat<br />
this if the symptoms are recognised,<br />
but it looks like some of the antinausea<br />
drugs may be useful.4<br />
Most migraines can be treated<br />
with over the counter medications<br />
<strong>and</strong> aspirin for the over 16s <strong>and</strong> nonallergic<br />
is still very cheap effective<br />
medication, especially in combination<br />
with an anti-nausea drug. More<br />
disabling migraines are treated with<br />
other medications such as the triptans.<br />
If migraines are more than 5 per<br />
month then preventative therapy is<br />
recommended. This needs careful<br />
initiation <strong>and</strong> monitoring <strong>and</strong> there<br />
are at least seven different options.<br />
Beyond this are injectable<br />
therapies. <strong>The</strong>se can have many side<br />
effects <strong>and</strong> are only used if three types<br />
of preventative therapy has failed.<br />
Nerve blocks are also becoming<br />
more available <strong>and</strong> can be done in<br />
outpatients.<br />
ASPIRIN AND LAY DOWN<br />
Now that I’ve given you a headache<br />
just discussing migraine — they are<br />
separate ailments — I’ll leave the most<br />
common type of headaches for another<br />
time as I need a couple of Aspirin <strong>and</strong> a<br />
lay down!<br />
References<br />
1 All parliamentary Group on Primary<br />
Headache Disorders<br />
2 US census Bureau 1993<br />
3 Lanteri Minet et al, European Headache<br />
Federation Conference 2002.<br />
4 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.<br />
gov/30074545/#:~:text=Purpose of<br />
review: <strong>The</strong> premonitory, <strong>and</strong> increased<br />
frequency of micturition.<br />
HOME AND GARDEN<br />
In the garden<br />
<strong>The</strong> sweet smell of rain<br />
Recipe of the month<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 31<br />
Olga Frolova , dreamstime.com<br />
Have you ever noticed the sweet, fresh smell after a downpour of rain? That<br />
‘smell of rain’ is called petrichor, <strong>and</strong> it fascinates scientists.<br />
In 1965 scientists first named it. Petrichor comes from the Greek for stone,<br />
‘petra’, <strong>and</strong> the golden fluid flowing through the veins of the immortals, ‘ichor’.<br />
Petrichor is produced when raindrops form air pockets on the rocks <strong>and</strong> soil,<br />
<strong>and</strong> softly force the release of aromatic chemicals trapped there. <strong>The</strong> petrichorscented<br />
compounds drift upwards into the atmosphere as a gas, like a glass of<br />
champagne.<br />
<strong>The</strong> odour itself comes mainly from a chemical called geosmin, which is<br />
made by bacteria in soil. Geosmin is made by soil microbes, to fend off hungry<br />
worms. Geosmin is highly pungent, <strong>and</strong> even just five parts per trillion can be<br />
picked up by the human nose.<br />
Sonning Glebe WI invite you to<br />
A Gardening Evening with COLIN EVANS<br />
Gardening radio <strong>and</strong> television presenter<br />
regularly heard on Radio Berkshire!<br />
Friday 21 <strong>July</strong> at 7.30pm<br />
Pearson Hall, Sonning, RG4 6UL<br />
Tickets £7.50 inc refreshments<br />
For tickets: email barbara.carr71@hotmail.co.uk / 0118 934 5886<br />
RENDEZVOUS IN THE ARK<br />
Open to everyone of all ages for<br />
lunch <strong>and</strong> conversation<br />
Tuesday 11 <strong>July</strong><br />
Tuesday 25 <strong>July</strong><br />
Tuesday 8 <strong>August</strong><br />
Tuesday 22 <strong>August</strong><br />
at 12 noon<br />
Reserve your seat on: 0118 969 3298
32 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to advertisements<br />
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57732 AF Jones <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> Advert.indd 1 19/11/2014 10:43
<strong>The</strong> sciences<br />
Suffering in the<br />
image of God<br />
By Dr Ruth M Bancewicz, <strong>The</strong> Faraday<br />
Institute for Science <strong>and</strong> Religion in Cambridge<br />
Food banks are now a necessity. When<br />
given food, people show a variety of<br />
emotions: relief, happiness, hope,<br />
sadness, resignation, <strong>and</strong> desperation.<br />
I believe that our cries for answers <strong>and</strong><br />
our longing for life to be kinder, more<br />
just, less painful <strong>and</strong> chaotic, are signs<br />
that we are made in the image of God.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Bible describes God creating us<br />
to rule over the earth with the freedom<br />
to choose how. <strong>The</strong> world God made<br />
was 'very good', but human wrongdoing<br />
came between us <strong>and</strong> God, <strong>and</strong> between<br />
us <strong>and</strong> the rest of creation.<br />
From a scientist’s view it seems that<br />
the potential for accidents, disease<br />
<strong>and</strong> death may have been part of God’s<br />
creation, <strong>and</strong> there was a real threat<br />
of famine, albeit rarer than in our<br />
currently mismanaged world.<br />
How would we have managed<br />
in what Genesis describes as an<br />
unsubdued world if our relationship<br />
with God hadn’t broken down, <strong>and</strong> evil<br />
hadn’t been unleashed? Maybe painful<br />
experiences would have challenged<br />
us <strong>and</strong> brought us closer to each other<br />
<strong>and</strong> to God, rather than bringing us<br />
distress, isolation <strong>and</strong> fear. <strong>The</strong>se are<br />
theoretical questions that we can't<br />
answer, but are worth exploring.<br />
GOD'S RESPONSE<br />
However, God has responded<br />
to suffering through his death <strong>and</strong><br />
resurrection when Jesus broke the<br />
power of sin <strong>and</strong> death. We have yet to<br />
see the results of those decisive actions<br />
— the end of suffering for all who trust<br />
him — but we feel their impact.<br />
Many people have experienced the<br />
wonderful effect in their lives from<br />
receiving kindness from others: 'I will<br />
give you a new heart <strong>and</strong> put a new spirit<br />
in you; I will remove from you your heart of<br />
stone <strong>and</strong> give you a heart of flesh' (Ezekiel<br />
36:26).<br />
Some people who receive food<br />
are, said a community leader, 'really<br />
desperate', but yet they still trust God<br />
to meet their needs. My hope is that the<br />
Church worldwide will, with God’s help,<br />
be part of the answer to their prayers<br />
<strong>and</strong> demonstrate our true status as<br />
people made in God's image.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 33<br />
Archaeology <strong>and</strong> Creativity<br />
… <strong>and</strong> <strong>The</strong> Bible?<br />
Beit She'arim National Park in the Lower Galilee region of northern<br />
Israel. It is known for the remains of a Roman city located on a hilltop<br />
<strong>and</strong> ancient Jewish burial catacombs located within it.<br />
This year's Festival of Archaeology theme is 'Archaeology <strong>and</strong> Creativity'. It<br />
runs from 16-31 <strong>July</strong> <strong>and</strong> is organised by the Council for British Archaeology<br />
who describe it as incorporating 'hundreds of in-person <strong>and</strong> virtual events<br />
delivered by community groups, heritage organisations, universities,<br />
commercial units, <strong>and</strong> more in-person <strong>and</strong> online across the UK'. Does, you may<br />
ask, all this science disprove the historical account of creativity recorded in the<br />
Bible?<br />
Archaeology, say the organisers, is at<br />
its heart a creative process. It’s about<br />
exploration <strong>and</strong> imagination; it's<br />
visual stimulation <strong>and</strong> inspiration;<br />
it’s the process by which we create<br />
memory <strong>and</strong> meaning.<br />
By drawing on innovative<br />
technologies <strong>and</strong> using a wide range<br />
of tools archaeology helps us think<br />
about the world we live in.<br />
It is about storytelling <strong>and</strong><br />
archaeologists use creative practices<br />
such as art, music, creative writing,<br />
poetry, <strong>and</strong> theatre to bring to life<br />
the material the archaeologists<br />
uncover, <strong>and</strong> the stories of the places<br />
<strong>and</strong> people around us.<br />
NEVER CONTROVERTED<br />
Christians believe the Bible,<br />
the oldest collection of historical<br />
writings known to exist, is the true<br />
history of God's Creation, so how do<br />
archaeologists view the Bible?<br />
Here are two quotes taken at<br />
r<strong>and</strong>om from https://infostudenti.net/<br />
en/hasnt-archaeology-disproved-thebible/<br />
in response to the question:<br />
Hasn’t archaeology disproved the<br />
Bible?<br />
'It may be stated categorically that<br />
no archaeological discovery has ever<br />
controverted a Biblical reference. Scores<br />
of archaeological findings have been made<br />
which confirm in clear outline or exact<br />
Iuliia Kryzhevska, dreamstime.com<br />
detail historical statements in the Bible.<br />
And, by the same token, proper evaluation<br />
of Biblical description has often led to<br />
amazing discoveries.' – Dr Nelson Glueck,<br />
Rivers in the Desert, (New York: Farrar,<br />
Strous <strong>and</strong> Cudahy, 1959), 136.<br />
'<strong>The</strong>re can be no doubt that<br />
archaeology has confirmed the substantial<br />
historicity of Old Testament tradition.' –<br />
Dr. William F. Albright, Archaeology <strong>and</strong><br />
the Religions of Israel. Johns Hopkins<br />
University Press, Baltimore, 1956, p. 176.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se quotes, <strong>and</strong> 10 others listed<br />
with them, agree that the Bible is an<br />
accurate record of the many different<br />
historical events that have been<br />
recorded by both Old Testament <strong>and</strong><br />
New Testament writers.<br />
Indeed, another quote by Sir<br />
William Ramsey says of the Bible:<br />
'Luke is a historian of the first rank;<br />
not merely are his statements of facts<br />
trustworthy; he is possessed of the true<br />
historic sense…In short this author<br />
should be placed along with the very<br />
greatest of historians.'<br />
Far from disproving the Bible,<br />
archaeological research seems to be<br />
strengthening the Christian message<br />
of God's love for us <strong>and</strong> the world he<br />
created.
34 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to advertisements<br />
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THE ARTS<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 35<br />
Take time to savour the delights God offers us<br />
By Rev Canon Michael Burgess<br />
‘What is this life, if full of care, we<br />
have no time to st<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> stare?’<br />
But this issue's painting is the other<br />
way around as we sense the animals<br />
looking at us in ‘Herdsman with Cows<br />
by a River’ painted in 1650 by the<br />
Dutch artist, Albert Cuyp.<br />
It is an ordinary scene of<br />
nature, yet there is a radiance <strong>and</strong> a<br />
tranquillity that strikes us as we see<br />
cows st<strong>and</strong>ing in the still waters.<br />
Around them there is movement:<br />
birds flying, boats sailing into the<br />
sunset <strong>and</strong> two fishermen busy<br />
at their work. But the cows <strong>and</strong><br />
herdsman are quiet <strong>and</strong> contented,<br />
relishing the day closing, <strong>and</strong><br />
contemplating the world going by.<br />
In many of Cuyp’s paintings the<br />
sun bathes each scene in a golden<br />
light. Here, clouds are gathering as<br />
the sun sinks, but there is still a<br />
glowing calmness brought by the<br />
light of the sky.<br />
Some of us will be planning,<br />
or taking, holidays. Some can be a<br />
frenetic rush, while in others we<br />
sit back <strong>and</strong> relax, letting what we<br />
see around us bring refreshment<br />
<strong>and</strong> renewal. It is the way we are<br />
encouraged to savour the joy <strong>and</strong><br />
delight of scripture in what is called<br />
lectio divina.<br />
Monastic teachers compared it<br />
to cows grazing in the field. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
pointed to four stages: Lectio: we<br />
take a bite of scripture; Meditatio: we<br />
Book Review<br />
chew on that word; Oratio: we savour<br />
its flavour <strong>and</strong> nourishment; <strong>and</strong><br />
Contemplatio: we digest its goodness<br />
to feed body <strong>and</strong> soul.<br />
<strong>The</strong> cows in Cuyp’s painting have<br />
spent the day doing just that —<br />
grazing <strong>and</strong> ruminating in the fields<br />
nearby. <strong>The</strong> herdsman has brought<br />
them to the river to relax in the<br />
water. Soon they will go home to the<br />
farm <strong>and</strong> the safety of the cowshed.<br />
Tomorrow will be an opportunity<br />
to graze anew in the gift of another<br />
day. Walt Whitman wrote in one of<br />
his poems, ‘I think I could turn <strong>and</strong><br />
live with animals, they are so placid <strong>and</strong><br />
self-contained, I st<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> look at them<br />
long <strong>and</strong> long.’<br />
As we st<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> look at the cows<br />
in this painting, perhaps we may<br />
Struggling with God: Mental Health<br />
& Christian Spirituality<br />
By Christopher C H Cook, Isabelle Hamley, <strong>and</strong> John<br />
Swinton, SPCK, £14.99<br />
This book gets to the heart of a predicament<br />
for many Christians: when our mental health<br />
struggles are overwhelming <strong>and</strong> our capacity for<br />
faith <strong>and</strong> hope <strong>and</strong> love is diminished — how can<br />
we maintain, never mind nourish, our relationship<br />
with God?<br />
Jesus helped people wrestling with mental<br />
health problems; anxiety <strong>and</strong> depression, <strong>and</strong> more<br />
severe ones, including bipolar affective disorder<br />
<strong>and</strong> schizophrenia, are addressed by the author. <strong>The</strong>y explore the impact mental<br />
health disorders can have on individual Christians, Church <strong>and</strong> society. Each<br />
chapter includes Biblical reflections, prayers, questions for individual/group<br />
study, <strong>and</strong> pointers to further reading. It presents a Christian vision of spiritual<br />
<strong>and</strong> mental wellbeing through prayerful struggling with God.<br />
<strong>The</strong> National Gallery, Creative Commons Agreement<br />
realise that whether at work or on<br />
holiday, in Sunday worship or Bible<br />
reading at home, God can feed us<br />
through his world around us <strong>and</strong> in<br />
his word in scripture. As long as we<br />
take the time <strong>and</strong> the care to savour<br />
the delights that he offers us.<br />
Poetry Corner<br />
By Steven Rolling<br />
Willing Witnesses<br />
Tune: Abridge — ‘Be thou<br />
my guardian <strong>and</strong> my guide’<br />
Water of life, river now flow<br />
From us, that others know<br />
<strong>The</strong> Spirit’s touch through word <strong>and</strong> deed<br />
And to your message heed<br />
Message of salvation to all<br />
Who on the Lord’s name call<br />
Give us courage, boldness, that we<br />
Not as the blocked streams be<br />
Not stagnant, stale, but refreshing<br />
Something of God’s life bring<br />
To each we meet, be large, small ways<br />
Throughout our pilgrim days<br />
<strong>The</strong> gospel preached, teaching, healing<br />
Your name glorifying<br />
As you Christ did, so may we be<br />
Sharers of you freely<br />
That deaf shall hear <strong>and</strong> dumb shall speak<br />
Grace to the humble, meek<br />
That sick be healed, e’en dead to rise<br />
True gospel spread, no lies<br />
Eran Turjeman, dreamstime.com
36 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to this advertisement<br />
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SIG_ADV_CAV_0523_Sonning<strong>Parish</strong>Mag_02.indd 1
History<br />
Was it really . . .<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 37<br />
75 years of National Health<br />
Charlotte Leaper, dreamstime.com<br />
<strong>The</strong> Aneurin Bevan Stones at Bryn Serth, Ebbw Vale. Erected in<br />
Aneurin Bevan's memory to mark the spot of his open air meetings to<br />
constituents. Bevan was a founder of the UK's National Health Service.<br />
. . . 400 YEARS AGO on 4 <strong>July</strong> 1623 that William Byrd<br />
(above), English Renaissance composer, died. He is<br />
regarded as one of the greatest British composers, <strong>and</strong> is<br />
best known for his sacred music.<br />
. . . 175 YEARS AGO on 7 <strong>July</strong> 1848 that Waterloo railway<br />
station in London opened.<br />
. . . 150 YEARS AGO on 19 <strong>July</strong> 1873 that British-born<br />
Australian explorer William Gosse discovered Ayers Rock<br />
<strong>and</strong> named it in honour of Sir Henry Ayers, the Chief<br />
Secretary of South Australia. It is now known as Uluru/<br />
Ayers Rock.<br />
. . . 125 YEARS AGO on 30 <strong>July</strong> 1898 that Henry Moore,<br />
British sculptor <strong>and</strong> illustrator, was born. He is best<br />
known for his monumental semi-abstract bronze<br />
sculptures.<br />
. . . 100 YEARS AGO on 13 <strong>July</strong> 1923 that the Hollywood<br />
Sign was officially dedicated in Hollywood, Los Angeles. It<br />
was originally erected as a temporary advert for a housing<br />
development called Hollywoodl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
. . . 80 YEARS AGO on 25 <strong>July</strong> 1943 that Britain’s RAF<br />
bombed the Fokker aircraft factory in Amsterdam.<br />
. . . 75 YEARS AGO on 5 <strong>July</strong> 1948 that the National Health<br />
Service (NHS) began operating.<br />
. . . 60 YEARS AGO on 1 <strong>July</strong> 1963 that the British<br />
government revealed that intelligence officer Kim Philby<br />
was a long-term Soviet spy <strong>and</strong> that he was the ‘third man’<br />
in the Cambridge spy ring. On 30 <strong>July</strong> the Soviet Union<br />
announced they had granted him political asylum.<br />
. . . 60 YEARS AGO on 12 <strong>July</strong> 1963 that the Moors<br />
murderers, Ian Brady <strong>and</strong> Myra Hindley, killed their first<br />
victim, 16-year-old Pauline Reade, on Saddleworth Moor.<br />
. . . 15 YEARS AGO on 31 <strong>July</strong> 2008 that NASA reported<br />
that its Phoenix Mars L<strong>and</strong>er had found frozen water in a<br />
soil sample taken from below the surface of Mars.<br />
By Tim Lenton, <strong>Parish</strong> Pump<br />
It was 75 years ago, on 5 <strong>July</strong> 1948, that the National<br />
Health Service (NHS) began operating. It was formally<br />
opened at the Park Hospital in Manchester, now<br />
renamed Trafford General.<br />
<strong>The</strong> National Health Service Act provided for the<br />
establishment of a comprehensive health service for<br />
Engl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Wales. (Separate legislation was produced for<br />
Scotl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Northern Irel<strong>and</strong>.)<br />
<strong>The</strong> Minister of Health at the time was Labour<br />
firebr<strong>and</strong> Aneurin Bevan, but the NHS came into being<br />
through the efforts of many others as well – notably<br />
Conservative Sir Henry Willink, who was Minister of<br />
Health in the Coalition government in 1944. His White<br />
Paper laid down all the basic elements of an NHS – that<br />
no-one was excluded, <strong>and</strong> that healthcare was free <strong>and</strong><br />
based on need, not the ability to pay.<br />
THE ORIGINS<br />
But the origins of the NHS went back many years,<br />
starting perhaps in the early 1900s, with socialist Beatrice<br />
Webb’s Minority Report of the Royal Commission on<br />
the Poor Law. It aimed to get away from the workhouse<br />
system, where those with no resources were expected to<br />
look after themselves. <strong>The</strong> report was dismissed by the<br />
Liberal government.<br />
Strong ideas in the same vein had also come from<br />
biochemist Dr Benjamin Moore, from Liverpool, who is<br />
also credited with first use of the words 'National Health<br />
Service'.<br />
A novel called <strong>The</strong> Citadel by D J Cronin (also a doctor)<br />
drew attention to the inadequacies of health care at the<br />
time of its publication in 1937.<br />
In the end, the NHS was based to a large extent on the<br />
Beveridge Report, published in 1942. William Beveridge<br />
was a Liberal politician, economist <strong>and</strong> social reformer<br />
who also had a strong interest in eugenics – the aim of<br />
improving the human race by controlling reproduction.<br />
Today staffing shortages are currently one of the<br />
biggest problems facing the healthcare system, with<br />
staff numbers <strong>and</strong> retention among core concerns. As of<br />
September 2022, there were around 134,000 vacancies in<br />
the NHS, representing around 10% of its entire workforce.
38 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to this advertisement
PUZZLE PAGE<br />
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On 3 <strong>July</strong> the Church remembers St Thomas, also<br />
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15 - Cold dessert (6) his fellow disciples’ news of the Resurrection. But ‘doubt’<br />
did not mean that Thomas did not love Jesus! Only a few<br />
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16 - Background actors (6)<br />
8 4 19 14 10 8 25 14 8 2 10 20 1 14 weeks before, Thomas had urged his fellow disciples to<br />
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19 - Administrative capital J of Bolivia him.' (2,3) (John 11:16) Instead, Jesus had brought Lazarus<br />
21 24 19 7 20 22 21<br />
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7 20 6 19 8 3 16<br />
Rev Kate's<br />
Summer<br />
Quiz<br />
4<br />
5<br />
6<br />
7<br />
8<br />
9<br />
10<br />
11<br />
12<br />
13<br />
L<br />
17<br />
18<br />
19<br />
20<br />
21<br />
22<br />
23<br />
23<br />
25<br />
26<br />
T<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 39<br />
answers in the next issue<br />
June Solutions<br />
back to life. Thomas was sometimes very confused<br />
about just where Jesus was headed. But in John 14:5<br />
Jesus untangled his confused commitment: 'I am going<br />
to my Father', <strong>and</strong> 'No one comes unto the Father but<br />
by me.' Finally, after the Resurrection, Jesus appeared<br />
to Thomas, showing him the wounds of his crucifixion.<br />
Thomas was electrified, <strong>and</strong> his response immediate:<br />
'My Lord <strong>and</strong> my God' (John 20.26). Thus Doubting<br />
Thomas’ honest doubts, turned to honest faith, have<br />
become a reassurance for thous<strong>and</strong>s of people down<br />
the centuries.<br />
JULY<br />
DIE<br />
LIFE<br />
JEWS<br />
LORD<br />
GOD<br />
DOUBT<br />
LOVE<br />
JESUS<br />
FOLLOW<br />
LAZARUS<br />
BETHANY<br />
DOUBTING<br />
DANGER<br />
THOMAS<br />
CONFUSED<br />
GOING<br />
FATHER<br />
WOUNDS<br />
CRUCIFIXION<br />
RESPONSE<br />
IMMEDIATE<br />
HONEST<br />
FAITH<br />
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CROSSWORD<br />
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REV KATE'S JUNE QUIZ<br />
1. Ministry<br />
2. Birmingham<br />
3. Central<br />
4. LAX<br />
5. Tower Bridge as it opened<br />
6. Novak Djokovic<br />
7. Shane Warne<br />
8. Germany<br />
9. Usain Bolt<br />
10. Nicola Adams<br />
11. Thomas Hardy<br />
12. Moby Dick<br />
13.JK Rowling<br />
14. Malachi<br />
15. Jeeves<br />
1 <strong>July</strong> is named after which person from the Ancient Roman world?<br />
2 <strong>August</strong> is named after L which person from the Ancient Roman world?<br />
3a What is the surname of the American comedian, actress <strong>and</strong> mental health campaigner Ruby? 3b Who sang the 2007 song ‘Ruby’?<br />
4a What is the name T of the 7th element in the periodic table? 4 b) Complete the name of the 1954 musical: ‘7 Brides for ………’<br />
5 Which member of the Royal Family has a son called <strong>August</strong>?<br />
6 10 <strong>August</strong> is St Lawrence’s Day. Who played TE Lawrence is the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia?<br />
7 24 <strong>August</strong> is St Bartholomew’s Day. What is the name of Bart Simpson’s mum?<br />
8 What is the official last day of British Summer Time?<br />
Special summer maths quiz (because I love maths!!)<br />
9 Which Greek philosopher <strong>and</strong> mathematician discovered a theorem relating the lengths of the sides of a right-angled triangle?<br />
10 Which two-dimensional shape has nine sides?<br />
11 What is the name given to an angle between 180 <strong>and</strong> 360 degrees?<br />
12 Which Greek letter is used to depict the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter?<br />
13 How many equal sides does an Isosceles triangle have?<br />
14 Which Ancient Greek mathematician was considered the ‘father of geometry’?<br />
15 Which numerical value would be given to represent the probability of an event taking place being ‘certain’?
40 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
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0118 969 6978 - 0790 022 4999<br />
CLARK BICKNELL LTD - PLUMBING & HEATING<br />
Qualified Plumbing <strong>and</strong> Heating Engineers Gas Safe<br />
25 years experience - local family run company<br />
Office: 0118 961 8784 - Paul: 0776 887 4440<br />
paul@clarkbicknell.co.uk<br />
COMPUTER FRUSTRATIONS?<br />
For jargon free help with your computer problems<br />
PC & laptop repairs, upgrades, installations, virus removal<br />
Free advice, reasonable rates<br />
0798 012 9364 help@computerfrustrations.co.uk<br />
INTERSMART LIMITED<br />
Electrical Installation <strong>and</strong> Smart Home Automation<br />
intersmartuk@gmail.com<br />
Elliott — 0777 186 6696<br />
Nick — 0758 429 4986<br />
HANDYMAN & DECORATING SERVICES<br />
Reliable <strong>and</strong> affordable<br />
Small jobs a speciality!<br />
Call Andy on 0795 810 0128<br />
http://www.h<strong>and</strong>yman-reading.co.uk<br />
JAMES AUTOS<br />
Car Servicing, Repairs <strong>and</strong> MOT<br />
Mole Road, Sindlesham, RG41 5DJ<br />
0118 977 0831<br />
http://www.jamesautos.co.uk<br />
ALL AERIALS<br />
A local business based in Sonning. TV - FM - DAB aerials etc.<br />
Sky dishes. Communal premises IRS systems, TV points.<br />
Free estimates - All work guaranteed<br />
0118 944 0000<br />
MC CLEANING<br />
We are a family business with excellent references<br />
<strong>and</strong> we are fully insured<br />
All cleaning materials provided<br />
For free quote call: Maria 0779 902 7901<br />
PROFESSIONAL HOME VISIT SERVICE<br />
Thames Valley Will Service<br />
Also Lasting Powers of Attorney <strong>and</strong> Probate Service<br />
We are still working during the p<strong>and</strong>emic period<br />
0134 464 1885 tvwills@yahoo.co.uk<br />
THAMES CHIMNEY SWEEPS<br />
0779 926 8123 0162 882 8130<br />
enquiries@thameschimneysweeps.co.uk<br />
http://www.thameschimneysweeps.co.uk<br />
Member of the Guild of Master Sweeps<br />
SMALLWOOD<br />
L<strong>and</strong>scaping, garden construction,<br />
patios, lawns, fencing, decking etc<br />
0118 969 8989 https://www.smallwoodl<strong>and</strong>scaping.co.uk/<br />
office@smallwoodl<strong>and</strong>scaping.co.uk<br />
WANT HELP WITH AN ‘ODD JOB’?<br />
For local odd jobs please call Phil on<br />
0118 944 0000<br />
0797 950 3908<br />
Thames Street, Sonning<br />
BIG HEART TREE CARE<br />
Reliable <strong>and</strong> friendly service for all tree care<br />
NPTC qualified — Public Liability of £10million<br />
0118 937 1929 0786 172 4071<br />
bighearttreecare.co.uk info@bighearttreecare.co.uk<br />
BERKSHIRE STUMP REMOVALS<br />
Stump grinding <strong>and</strong> tree stump removal<br />
Latest narrow access machinery<br />
Contact: Mark<br />
0798 495 7334 http://www.berkshirestumpremoval<br />
THE BARBER SHOP<br />
177 Wokingham Road, Earley<br />
Since 1969 (opposite Fire Station)<br />
Open: Wednesday – Saturday 9.00am – 5.00pm<br />
Call John – 0118 966 6100<br />
Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to advertisements
CHILDREN'S PAGE<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 41
42 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when replying to advertisements<br />
information — 2<br />
<strong>Parish</strong> contacts<br />
Ministry Team<br />
— <strong>The</strong> Vicar: Revd Jamie Taylor (Day off Friday)<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> Office, Thames Street, Sonning, RG4 6UR<br />
vicar@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298<br />
— Associate Vicar: Revd Kate Wakeman-Toogood<br />
revkate@sonningparish.org.uk / 0744 747 8048<br />
On duty Tuesday, Friday <strong>and</strong> Sunday<br />
— Youth Minister: Chris West (Westy)<br />
youthminister@sonningparish.org.uk / 0794 622 4106<br />
— Licensed Lay Minister: Bob Peters<br />
bob@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 377 5887<br />
Children's Ministry<br />
— Alison Smyly office@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298<br />
Churchwardens<br />
— Stuart Bowman sdbowman73@aol.com / 0118 978 8414<br />
— Liz Nelson liz.nelson1@ntlworld.com / 0779 194 4270<br />
Deputy Churchwardens<br />
— Simon Darvall sdarvall@businessmoves.com / 0793 928 2535<br />
— Terry Hunt terencehunt@me.com / 0773 470 7368<br />
— Sue Peters mail@susanjpeters.com / 0118 377 5887<br />
— Ruth Jeffrey, 0118 969 3298<br />
— Molly Woodley (deputy churchwarden emeritus)<br />
mollywoodley@live.co.uk / 0118 946 3667<br />
<strong>Parish</strong> Office Manager<br />
— Hilary Rennie<br />
office@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298<br />
Parochial Church Council<br />
— Secretary: Hilary Rennie 0118 969 3298<br />
— Treasurer: Jerry Wood 0118 969 3298<br />
Director of Music, organist <strong>and</strong> choirmaster<br />
— Hannah Towndrow BA(Oxon), MA(RAM), LRAM<br />
music@sonningparish.org.uk<br />
Safeguarding Officer<br />
— Nicola Riley 0118 969 3298<br />
Sonning Bell Ringers<br />
— Tower Captain: Pam Elliston<br />
pam.elliston@talktalk.net / 0118 969 5967<br />
— Deputy Tower Captain: Rob Needham<br />
r06needham@gmail.com / 0118 926 7724<br />
<strong>Parish</strong> Website: http://www.sonningparish.org.uk<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>: http://www.theparishmagazine.co.uk<br />
— Editor: Bob Peters<br />
editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk / 0118 377 5887<br />
— Advertising <strong>and</strong> Distribution: Gordon Nutbrown<br />
advertising@theparishmagazine.co.uk / 0118 969 3282<br />
— Treasurer: Pat Livesey pat.livesey@yahoo.co.uk / 0118 961 8017<br />
— <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is produced by St Andrew’s PCC <strong>and</strong> delivered<br />
free of charge to every home in Charvil, Sonning <strong>and</strong> Sonning Eye.<br />
— <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is printed in the United Kingdom by <strong>The</strong> Print<br />
Factory at Sarum Graphics Ltd, Old Sarum, Salisbury SP4 6QX<br />
— <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is distributed by Abracadabra Leaflet<br />
Distribution Ltd, Reading RG7 1AW<br />
— <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> template was designed in 2012 by Roger<br />
Swindale rogerswindale@hotmail.co.uk <strong>and</strong> David Woodward<br />
david@designforprint.org<br />
Advertisers' index<br />
ABD Construction 6<br />
Abbey School 26<br />
Abbeyfield Wey Valley Society 20<br />
ACG Services Locksmith 40<br />
Active Security 26<br />
AJ Wealth Management 28<br />
All Aerials 40<br />
AMS Water Softeners 28<br />
Barber Shop 40<br />
Barn Store Henley 16<br />
Berkshire Stump Removals 40<br />
Big Heart Tree Care 40<br />
Bl<strong>and</strong>y & Bl<strong>and</strong>y Solicitors 14<br />
Blue Moose 30<br />
Bridge House 43<br />
Bridges Home Care 10<br />
Bull Inn 30<br />
Canon Tree Care 28<br />
CBLS Architecture 18<br />
Chimney Sweep, Thames 40<br />
Chiropody, Linda Frewin 40<br />
Clark Bicknell 40<br />
Computer Frustrations 40<br />
Design for Print 28<br />
Freebody Boatbuilders 6<br />
French Horn 44<br />
Gardiner’s Homecare 30<br />
Good Oaks Home Care 18<br />
Great House <strong>and</strong> Coppa Club Sonning 10<br />
H<strong>and</strong>yman <strong>and</strong> Decorating Services 40<br />
Haslams Estate Agents 2<br />
Heathium Clinics 20<br />
Hicks Group 16<br />
Humble Tiffin 28<br />
Home Stair Lifts 28<br />
Intersmart Electrical Installations 40<br />
James Autos 40<br />
Jones & Sheppard Stone Masons 32<br />
Kingfisher Bathrooms 12<br />
MC Cleaning 40<br />
Mill at Sonning 4<br />
M & L Healthcare Solutions 12<br />
Muck & Mulch 32<br />
Odd Jobs 40<br />
Physiocare Body Management 38<br />
Queen Anne’s School 34<br />
Reading Blue Coat School 10<br />
Richfield Flooring 14<br />
Sabella Interior Design 24<br />
Seniors Helping Seniors 32<br />
Shiplake College 14<br />
Signature Care Homes 36<br />
Sonning Golf Club 34<br />
Sonning Scouts Marquees 32<br />
Smallwood Garden Services 40<br />
Style by Julie 6<br />
Thames Valley Water Softeners 6<br />
Thames Valley Wills Service 40<br />
<strong>The</strong> 50 Plus Home Repairs 32<br />
Tomalin Funerals 16<br />
Walker Funerals 12<br />
Water Softener Salt 16<br />
Window Cleaner 16
Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to this advertisement<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 43<br />
For the very best in<br />
later living care<br />
At Bridge House we care passionately about enabling our residents to live their best lives.<br />
Every day is different, but our exemplary st<strong>and</strong>ards of care<br />
remain constant, delivered by a highly trained <strong>and</strong> dedicated<br />
team of clinical nursing <strong>and</strong> care staff that ensure our<br />
residents maintain their independence, dignity <strong>and</strong> enjoy<br />
a fulfilling day.<br />
Our welcoming, elegant Georgian country house on the edge<br />
of Twyford offers a timeless calm with stunning views across<br />
the grounds to the river Loddon, whilst our newly built<br />
rehabilitation centre provides access to short term recovery<br />
<strong>and</strong> recuperation though the in house team of therapists.<br />
To discuss your nursing, residential or rehabilitation<br />
needs, or a visit, please contact our new Care Home Manager<br />
Rachel Stoneman at info@bridgehouseoftwyford.co.uk<br />
or 01189 340777<br />
Visit bridgehouseoftwyford.co.uk<br />
BRIDGE HOUSE
44 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> Please mention <strong>2023</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to this advertisement<br />
<strong>The</strong> French Horn,<br />
Sonning. Quality.<br />
A continuing commitment to<br />
wonderful food <strong>and</strong> wine.<br />
0118 969 2204<br />
www.thefrenchhorn.co.uk