The Parish Magazine January 2024

BEST PARISH MAGAZINE 2023 

The 

Parish 

Magazine 


Parish Te 

155 

The Parish Magazine 1869 - January 2024 1 

YEARS 

Serving Charvil, Sonning and Sonning Eye 

2024 

The John King Trophy and Gold Award 

Best Magazine of the Year 2018 

National Parish Magazine Awards 

Best Overall 2015, 2020, 2022, 2023 

Best Content 2016, 2021 

Best Editor 2019 

Best Print 2018 

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

January 2024 — The Epiphany 

Church of St Andrew 

Serving Sonning, Charvil & Sonning Eye 

the church of st andrew, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF 

CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY

2 The Parish Magazine - January 2024 

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Parish Te 

The Parish Magazine 1869 - January 2024 1 

2024 

Serving Charvil, Sonning and Sonning Eye 




Best Overall 2015, 2020, 2022, 2023 




information — 1 

Contents January 2024 

THE VICAR'S LETTER, 5 

THE PARISH NOTICEBOARD 

— New youth worker, 7 

— STAY, 8-9 

— From the organ bench, 11 

— Christmas Rendezvous, 11 

— Claude's view from the pew, 13 

— From the editor's desk, 13 

— Gaza war prayers, 15-17 

FEATURES 

— Charvil Charity's Kings Award, 19 

— The Epiphany, 21 

—around the villages 

— Sonning School, 22-23 

— Remembrance at Avery, 23 

— Beavers learning experiences, 24 

— Rotary and Camp Mohawk, 24 

— Sonning Art Group, 25 

— Charvil singing, 25 

— Sonning RNLI, 25 

— Sonning Show, 25 

— WI Quiz, 25 

— Age Concern centre reopens, 26 

— Raising £1,000 in Charvil, 27 

— Christmas wrapping, 27 

— Revolting children wanted, 29 

— Arts and Craft Fair, 29 

— Charity Race, 29 

THE ARTS 

— The Shofar, 30 

— Poetry Corner, 30 

HEALTH 

— Dr Simon Ruffle, 31-33 

HOME AND GARDEN 

— Potatoes and strawberries, 33 

— Clarice Cliff, 33 

Awareness, 34 

This ISSUE's FRONT COVER 




January 2024 — The Epiphany 

155 

For the first time in living 

memory the St Andrew's 

Saltire was flown on the church 

tower for St Andrew's Day. The 

last time this flag was flown 

was 50 years ago in Cathcart 

Old Parish Church, Glasgow. 

Picture: James Gilchrist who 

also provided the Saltire. 

EDITORIAL DEADLINE 

The editorial deadline for every issue 

of The Parish Magazine is 12 noon on 

the sixth day of the month prior to the 

date of publication. 

The deadline for the February 

issue of The Parish Magazine is: 

Saturday 6 January 

at 12 noon 

YEARS 


CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY 

BEST PARISH MAGAZINE 2023 

The Parish Magazine - January 2024 3 

Services at 

St Andrew’s 

Sunday 7 January 

— 8.00am Holy Communion 

— 10.30am Family Service 

— 4.00pm Choral Evensong followed 

by Tea in the Ark 



— 10.30am Parish Eucharist with 

STAY and Sunday Club 



— 10.30am Family Communion 

— 3.00pm Messy Church 

—Sunday 28 January 


— 10.30pm Parish Eucharist with 

STAY and Sunday Club 

— 5.45pm Sunday at Six in The Ark 

OTHER REGULAR SERVICES 

Morning Prayer is held in church 

every Tuesday at 9.30am. 

Mid-week Communion in The Ark is 

held every Wednesday at 10.00am. Tea 

and coffee follows the service. 

Home Communion at Sonning 

Garden Care Home is held on the first 

Monday of each month at 11.00am. 

FASHION 

— What to do in the New Year, 35 

THE SCIENCES 

— Power, love and self-control, 36 

history, 37 

BOOK REVIEWS, 37 

PUZZLE PAGES, 38 - 39 

children's page, 41 

information 

— Church services, 3 

— From the registers, 3 

— Local Trades and Services, 40 

— Parish contacts, 42 

— Advertisers' index, 42 

The Parish Magazine online 

The most recent issues can be viewed at: 

http://www.theparishmagazine.co.uk 

Earlier issues from 1869 onwards 

are stored in a secure online archive. 

If you wish to view these archives 

contact the editor: 

editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk 

From the Registers 

baptismS 

— Sunday 12 November, Albert John Atkins and Madeleine Lucy Scandrett

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The vicar's letter 

Dear Friends, 

I once heard about a man who decided to make only New Year 

resolutions he could keep. He resolved to gain weight, to stop 

exercising, to read less and watch more TV, to procrastinate more 

and to never make New Year's resolutions again. 

Maybe he was onto something. Why torture ourselves when we 

so often don’t keep those resolutions for more than a week? What 

we need, of course, is not another resolution, but a revolution. We 

need a turning point in our lives. Like the wise men of old we need 

to catch a glimpse of a guiding light, and we need to follow that 

light to a new life in Christ. 

GLOWING WAKE 

There is a scene in the film Apollo 13 where astronaut Jim Lovell 

is asked if he was ever afraid. He said that he had been afraid many 

times, but one time sticks out in his memory. He was returning 

from a combat mission and couldn't find his aircraft carrier. It was 

dark, and because they were under combat conditions, the carrier 

didn't have its lights on. His radio navigation equipment was of no use because they were under total 

radio silence to avoid enemy detection. In a last attempt to determine his location, he turned on his 

map light to see if he could calculate his position. Suddenly an electrical short circuit caused all of 

the lights to go out. It was then that he saw it. In the darkness, there was a luminescent glow. It was 

the glow of sea plankton that is generated by the wake of a ship as it passes through. All he had to do 

was follow this glowing sea plankton, like a 'highway' to the ship. He said, 'You don't know what will 

transpire to lead you home. If the map light had not shorted out, I would never have seen the glowing 

wake.' 

MEANING, PURPOSE AND DIRECTION 

This is the season of Epiphany. We celebrate this as the time when the wise men followed the star 

that led them to where the young child lay. It reminds us of the light Christ brought into the world. 

Christ has given us power over sin and death. Christ tells us who we are: 'Children of God and only he 

can give us meaning, purpose and direction'. 

In 1992 a friend of mine attended the Olympics in Spain. He told me that as he entered the 

stadium for the closing ceremony, he was given a packet of items, including a torch. After a thrilling 

programme, including Placido Domingo, all the lights were extinguished, and a hush moved over the 

vast audience. The entire stadium then began to be lit up as thousands of spectators turned on their 

individual torches. He described the scene as one of darkness to light, not because one person flipped a 

switch on some giant stadium floodlights, but because each member of the audience played their part 

by turning on their tiny, individual lights. It was a poignant and powerful moment that he told me he 

would never forget. 

For Christians that is surely our purpose in the New Year. As Jesus said to us, 'No one lights a candle 

and puts it under a bushel, but on a lampstand . . .' (Matthew 5:15) 

We are to move boldly into this New Year, because the light of Christ floods our hearts, giving us 

hope and wholeness, and then we are to shine our light so that others may know that the light of 

Christ still shines into our world. The darkness has not overcome it and never can. 

Happy New Year! 

Jamie

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the parish noticeboard — 1 

When we invited Corinne, the newest member of St Andrew's children and youth ministry team, to introduce 

herself she was in her home country of America, so we are pleased to bring you . . . 

Corinne's letter from America . . . 

Hi everyone! My name is Corinne 

(pronounced 'KUH-rin') Robertson 

and I am the newly appointed 

female youth and children's worker. 

I am an American and traded the 

Rocky Mountains of Colorado for the 

River Kennet in Reading to be with 

my English husband, Matt. 

In 2017, I studied at the University 

of Oxford for six months during 

my undergraduate degree. I met my 

husband Matt while studying in 

Oxford. 

During my time there, I studied 

as a visiting student at the smallest 

college, Regent's Park, and took 

tutorials in food justice and political 

sociology. 

I received two degrees during 

my four years of study at Pacific 

Lutheran University, near Seattle, 

Washington USA, one degree in 

Environmental Studies and the other 

in Sociology. 

These two degrees fostered my 

vocational call to care for others and 

our environment. 

LIVING INTO BELIEF 

I am the oldest of three, but 

recently gained three additional 

older step siblings as my mother, 

Amy, remarried and we formed a 

newly blended family. 

I'm grateful that my mother is an 

Episcopal priest and the rector of a 

parish in Denver, Colorado, because 

she is an example of living into her 

own beliefs and inspiring my own. 

I am a confirmed member of The 

Episcopal Church — the American 

branch of the Anglican Communion 

— and look forward to broadening 

my faith within the Church of 

England. 

Growing up in a strong multigeneration 

female home, I am 

particularly excited about connecting 

with the women and girls within 

the parish and local schools, and to 

nurture the strong community that 

already exists here. 

COMMUNITY SERVICE 

I have a variety of experience and 

skills working with organisations in 

community service, education, and 

faith. I'm especially proud of the 

work I have done as a SEND teacher, 

programme assistant at a food bank, 

swim instructor, and childcare 

worker. 

In addition, my faith journey 

has been impacted by time I spent 

in community working and serving 

with The Episcopal Service Corps 

(Denver, Colorado, USA); Holden 

Village (Lake Chelan, Washington, 

USA); Locally Haiti (Colorado, USA 

& Petit-Trou-de-Nippes, Haiti); and 


as a founding member of the Diocese 

of Colorado's youth mission trip 

programme (Colorado, USA). 

I'd welcome the opportunity to 

learn more about each of you and 

to share my interests and hobbies 

around cooking Mexican food, 

photography (including DSLR and 

black and white film), swimming, 

Hello Kitty, travel, discovering new 

music, and hiking. 

If you want to hear me go on 

about concert venues, ask me about 

Red Rocks near where I lived in 

Colorado. It's amazing! 

I feel grateful to be a part of the 

St Andrew's Sonning, Charvil and 

Sonning Eye community, and look 

forward to meeting many more of 

you as time allows!



STAY on Sunday 

St Andrew's Youth 

The STAY on Sunday youth only met once in 

November as we remembered those who had given 

their lives in war on Sunday 12 November at the 

annual Remembrance service. 

We continued our water theme and looked at 

how Moses didn’t drink any water or eat any food 

for 40 days while he was up Mount Sinai receiving 

the 10 commandments from God. 

We thought about where else we see the number 

40 in the Bible and what it represents. It rained for 

40 days and nights when Noah built the Ark and 

God flooded the earth. 

For 40 years the Israelites wandered around in 

the desert before reaching the promised land. 

Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the 

wilderness, was tempted by Satan, before starting 

his ministry of miracles and healing. 

We worked out that the number 40 often 

represents a time of testing and trial followed by a 

time of blessing and fruitfulness. 

STAY on Sunday also gave over 10 bags of items to 

the Woodley Food Bank (picture right) and we used 

a reverse Advent calendar to help guide the things 

to buy. This was a great way of getting the youth 

to think about those who have less and those who 

need our love and support at this time of year. 

STAY at Reading Youth Event, Wycliffe Church 

Following the successful Reading Youth Event last June at KVFC, the Reading Youth Wo 

young people again for an amazing night of ‘Life’s Big Questions’ with the guys from Re 

from London. We also had great fun playing opening games, including; head, shoulders 

games master calls heads, shoulders etc, and when they shout shoes the first player to g 

STAY on Friday 

At our weekly youth club 

we gave the young people a 

suggestion box and boy, did we 

get some cracking ideas about 

what they would like to have 

on a Friday night . . . 

Floodlights, Astro pitch, 

go kart track and boxing ring. 

All we need to do is get the 

funding and we are sorted. I’m 

obviously joking! 

We did also get some 

very practical and helpful 

suggestions such as; timed 

turns on the PS5 & Xbox, a 

wider selection of games, more 

organised games by the leaders 

and savoury snacks at the tuck 

shop. 

We also had some final 

thoughts to provoke their 

thinking, including: 

'I am me. And that should be 

enough, it always has been 

enough. I was the one who didn't get tha 

writer. I'm a person. And a good one at t 

realest people get treated the worst, but 

you that' - Tupac


rkers gathered their 

boot, a group of apologists 

, knees and shoes. The 

rab the shoe wins. 

STAY on Monday 

Our bi-weekly Monday night group met on the 6 

and 20 of November at the young people’s homes. 

We continued with our STIR cards where we looked 

at ‘does praying make you spiritual?’ and ‘what 

happens after this life?’. Both these questions 

sparked some healthy discussions and created 

space for the young people to think deeper about 

their faith and the hope they have in Jesus Christ. 

STAY in Schools 

Our schools work continued throughout 

November with weekly mentoring sessions and 

Remembrance assemblies at the two primary 

schools, the Wargrave Piggott School address on 

Remembrance, and plenty of governor support 

during the latest SIAMS (School Inspection for 

Anglican and Methodist Schools) inspection at 

Charvil and Wargrave Piggott School. 

As you can see, we had a great time in 

November with the young people of the 

parish and beyond. Please hold the young 

people in your prayers as many still suffer 

with poor mental health and also for those in 

years 10 and 11 who did their mock exams. 

email or text me for ideas, a chat or to 

encourage what we are doing 

t. And now I do. I'm an actor, I'm a 

hat.' – Matthew Perry. and…'The 

they win in the end, I can promise 

Westy 

youthminister@sonningparish.org.uk 

0794 622 4106

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the church of st andrew, SERVING THE 

COMMUNITIES OF CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye 

the church of st andrew, SERVING THE 

COMMUNITIES OF CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye 





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SONNING & sonning eye since the 7 th century


Why the organ is the 

King of Instruments 

By Richard Meehan, director of music, St Andrew's Church 

For people whose experience with keyboard instruments is 

mostly built around the piano, the most obvious difference is, of 

course, the pedals. 

In my teenage years, my approach to playing with pedals would be 

to glean a minimum of technique from my father and half a lesson 

from a wonderful Latin teacher named William Walls. 

I would apply this as best I could to the instruments and 

occasions when I was called on to play. 

I am quite sure that this involved staring intently at my feet as 

I improvised on film themes and pop hits of the day. Eventually, 

becoming more determined finally to learn the organ properly, I 

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Christmas Rendezvous 

The Rendezvous Christmas lunch 

proved to be as popular as ever and 

was enjoyed by all. A traditional 

Christmas meal was followed by 

carol singing and lots of friendly 

conversation (picture right). 

Rendezvous Lunch Club is open to 

everyone of all ages and meets on a 

Tuesday twice a month in The Ark at 

12 noon. The January lunches are on 

9th and 23th. All you need to do is 

book your seat in advance by calling 

th Parish Office on 0118 969 3298. 

From 

the 

organ 

bench 

set out in adulthood to learn proper 

technique, and it was natural enough 

to start with the pedals. 

Pedalboards represent the 

fundamental challenge of playing the 

organ, in that every one is different. 

SWELL 

Older pedalboards tend to be 

arranged in straight rows, whereas 

newer ones are curved, and might 

include a few extra notes. 

A short pivoting pedal, the 'swell 

pedal,' is usually found in the centre 

of the board. It controls shutters to a 

set of pipes kept in a box which then 

allows for dynamic control. 

One’s heart tends to sink when 

presented with a console built 

before this mechanism was widely 

used. This involve trying to steer 

an awkward lever-and-ratchet 

mechanism with the outside of the 

right leg. 

Not all organ benches are 

adjustable in their height, and this 

can make life difficult in reaching up 


and down. It is like trying to walk 

and finding the floor in the wrong 

place. 

New organists tend to find that 

if left to their own devices, the left 

hand and pedals will do the same 

thing as each other. New players will 

spend many hours practising this 

independence. 

As with many things, there comes 

that point when one day you realise 

that you have been doing this skill 

that once felt so difficult without 

even realising it. 

One of my many stock phrases 

is that 'The bass has been the 

controlling voice in western harmony 

since 1550'. In other words, the lowest 

part is fundamental to the way music 

gets its 'meaning'. 

These musical lines, though 

often simple, have a very powerful 

effect, and the organ pedal board 

being given over to the vital role is 

just one of many ways in which it 

earns its nickname as the King of 

Instruments. 

Keith Nichols


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Claude's 

view 

from 

the 

pew 

Seeing all the Baden Powell troops in church for 

Remembrance Sunday reminded of my scouting days. 

One of my fondest memories was loading up a trek cart 

to transfer all our equipment to a local campsite for the 

weekend. 

The cart was about six foot square with timber cart wheels 

around three foot in diameter and a long handle big 

enough for two scout leaders to pull. This was also assisted 

by the scouts who would help pull the cart by ropes 

attached to the side of the trek cart. The ropes would be 

pulled over the cart in order to stop the cart from going 

too fast. 

On one memorable occasion when we were ‘braking’ 

the cart had been moving too fast for the accompanying 

scouts and left the leaders struggling to stop it. 

The situation was only resolved by applying a sharp 

turn to the left so that the cart would run into someone’s 

driveway bringing it to a safe but somewhat hairy halt. I 

don’t think the leaders were best pleased with the scouts 

leaving them to it! 

A 1936 Scout Trek Cart 

On another occasion, a pal and I were tasked with 

taking an empty cart back to the HQ. We decided that we 

would push it, rather than pull it. We soon found out to 

our cost why the ‘pull only’ rule existed. We lost control 

of the cart and it ran down Prospect Street in Caversham, 

eventually stopping when it collided with a limousine 

that was parked near the junction with Church Street and 

Gosbrook Road. 

It was our good fortune that the chauffeur took pity on 

a couple of wayward scouts and seeing that there was no 

significant damage, he waved us on. I suppose the whole 

thing would have been very different had the cart not 

been empty. 

From the 

editor's desk 

editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk 

Best parish magazine! 


When wondering what I would say in this column, 

an email arrived announcing the winners of the 2023 

National Parish Magazine Awards — we had won two 

awards: one for the best A4 magazine and the other was 

the top award, the Best Overall Parish Magazine! 

There has been a lot of discussion of late among church 

magazine editors about the demise of printed parish 

magazines. It is thought that their demise has been 

hastened by Covid when many churches turned to online 

'magazines', and it is thought that many are no longer being 

printed. They have been 'replaced' by websites. 

However, my email from the competition organisers, 

revealed that almost 450 entries were judged. As a journalist 

for over 50 years it is satisfying to know that so many printed 

church magazines such as ours are still being printed. 

In reality, while websites are an amazing source of 

information, and hardly a day goes by without me using one 

to research a story, many experts tells us they will never be 

a replacement for the printed word. Indeed, some mental 

health specialists advise us to stopped staring at screens 

about an hour before we go to bed. Instead, they say, pick 

up a book, or a printed magazine, and read that. It will help 

your brain relax and you will enjoy a better quality sleep. 

AMUSING AND INSTRUCTIVE 

This year, our magazine clocks up 155 years of service 

to the parish of St Andrew's Church Sonning. In the first 

issue, January 1869, the founder editor, Rev Hugh Pearson 

explained the purpose of the magazine. He wrote: First to 

supply amusing and instructive reading of a general character, 

at the lowest possible cost. This was followed by a list of 

specific church related matters that would also, and still are 

included. 

Today, we abide by the objectives, and I am pleased to 

report that we will continue to make it available at the 

'lowest possible cost', namely free of charge! We can only do 

this, of course, if we are funded by local people, companies 

and businesses who are willing to advertise. 

If you are an advertiser, we thank you for your support, 

and if you are a reader, we ask that you support our 

advertisers. Please mention to them that you saw their 

advert in The Parish Magazine. And, of course, we hope that 

you find our magazine an 'amusing and instructive' read! 

FOR YOUR PRAYERS IN JANUARY 

— Our youth ministry; especially for Westy and Corinne 

— For all blighted by terrorism, especially in the Holy Land 

— For the Jewish community in this area 

— For Rev Kate Toogood as she 

begins her ministry at 

Earley St Peter’s Church 

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PARISH NOTICEBOARD — 5 

This month we again consider the ongoing war between 

Israel and Hamas, examine the connection between 

Hamas and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and hear about 

the difficult situation of Christians in Iran and Palestine. 

According to the US State Department, Iran supports Hamas 

with funds, weapons, and training. News broadcaster CNN 

obtained a document from Israeli officials that purports 

to be evidence that in the run-up to the 7 October attacks, 

Iran was seeking to provide technical training that would 

help Hamas produce its own weaponry. CNN could not 

independently verify the document’s authenticity but 

current and former US officials said it was ‘consistent with 

how Iran projects power throughout the Middle East’. 

The Telegraph defence and foreign affairs editor, Con 

Coughlin, reports that Iran’s threats to set the Middle 

East aflame if the Israelis continued their offensive were 

‘bluster’. The Iranians were not forewarned of Hamas’s 

plans of mass murder and, says Coughlin, were ‘piqued’ 

about that. 

Soon after the attacks, Iran’s UN mission denied 

Tehran was involved. Iranian leader Khamenei said Iran 

and the various Islamist terror groups have no intention 

in getting directly involved in the war. 

Coughlin’s conclusion is that without Iran provoking 

a wider escalation Hamas has no chance of prevailing 

against the Israeli Defence Force (IDF). 

CHRISTIAN PEOPLE 

In Iran, anti-Israel sentiment is taken out on Iranian 

Christians. Iran considers both Christianity and Israel as 

‘agents of western influence’ in the Middle East. 

Lana Silk from the organisation Transform Iran says 

'The government considers Christians as people who side with 

what they call Zionist Israel, and the Christians pay a high 

price for how the government feels about Israel’. 

Last month we reported how Christians in Gaza 

may choose not to openly sympathise with sentiments 

of Zionism expressed by Christian communities in the 

West. We also reported how Palestinian Christian leaders 

refrained from expressing sympathy for the victims of 

the 7 October Hamas terrorist attacks, voicing concerns 

and criticism after Israel’s response and focusing their 

condemnation on Israel’s actions in the aftermath. 

News organisation France 24 interviewed churchgoers 

in Beit Hanina, a Palestinian neighbourhood in East 

Jerusalem, one of whom said, ‘I’m against killing. What 

Hamas did was terrible and I do not support it…But it’s 

very complicated because the people in Gaza, they didn’t do 

anything…It’s a group of people called Hamas who did that.’ 

On 7 October, Christian leaders called for ‘an 

immediate cessation of violence’. Away from the cameras, 

some churchgoers were more outspoken about Israel. The 

violence was blamed on ‘prolonged political conflict and the 

lamentable absence of justice and respect for human rights.’ 

One said, ‘They are living in an open-air prison and are 

the children of terrorism from Israelis against them… 

They [Israel] made them be violent…Because they were 


THE persecuted church by colin bailey 

Gaza war: Pray for a fair and peaceful outcome 

POLITICAL CONFLICT 

An Israeli rescue team soldier hugs a young girl who saw a missile 

launched by Hamas terrorists explode near her house. 

Rostislav Glinsky, dreamstime.com 

suffocating them.’ Israel’s reprisals ‘outraged’ many in 

the congregation. But they feel they cannot speak out 

against Israel. So a reticence to criticism works both ways. 

They report ‘increasing restrictions’ by Israeli authorities 

as well as ‘hostility and attacks by Jews’ putting their 

communities at risk. 

Local Christians are 2% of the population of the Holy 

Land. ‘We are Christians, yes, and we are also Palestinians…’, 

said one churchgoer in Beit Hanina, ‘…it is our land and 

we feel the same as any Palestinian living here…We can’t 

believe what’s happening in Gaza. And it really hurts us to 

see that all the sympathy is only with the Israelis and not the 

Palestinians.’ 

Speaking in the UK’s House of Lords, Lord Verdirame 

KC on 30 October addressed the question of ‘the test 

of proportionality’, considering Israel’s response to the 

murderous Hamas terrorist attacks. ‘It does not mean’, 

he said, ‘that the defensive force has to be equal to the force 

that was used in the attack. Proportionality means that you 

can use force that is proportionate to the defensive objective, 

which is to stop, to repel, and prevent further attacks.’ 

'From a legal perspective, it seemed to him,' Lord 

Verdirame said, 'that Israel’s war aims – the destruction 

of Hamas’s capability – were to him consistent with 

proportionality in the law of self-defence given what Hamas 

‘says, does, has done, and continues to do.’ 

Footage of this may be found on the Facebook account 

of watchdog group UN (United Nations) Watch. 

MASSACRE 

The Executive Director of UN Watch addressed the 

remarks by UN officials about the 1,400 people massacred 

by Hamas against thousands of Palestinians killed in 

the aftermath. Neuer dismissed this ‘Dresden defence’ 

as he referred to it. This had been the argument of the 

Einstazgruppen (Nazi death squads) at the Nuremberg 

trials which he paraphrased as ‘we may have done these 

killings but you the Allies you killed civilians when you bombed 

Dresden and other cities’. That argument, Neuer said, was 

‘wholly rejected’ by the Nuremberg court. The notion that 

the deliberate and purposeful killing of civilians was equal to 

the taking of civilian lives that is undesired, unintended, and 

unavoidable was ‘absolutely rejected’. 

TURN TO PAGE 15



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FROM PAGE 13 

PARISH NOTICEBOARD — 5 

Gaza war 

‘Those’, he said, ‘are completely two different things’. He 

went on, ‘The essence of civilisation is to distinguish between 

those two and sadly at the UN we are seeing the scandalous 

Dresden defence being brought up again and again – to equate 

the purposeful, deliberate killing of civilians, which is a crime, 

equating with the taking of civilian lives that is undesired, 

unintended, but unavoidable. That should be rejected completely.’ 

In Iran, Christian converts must meet in house churches. 

The Christian underground movement is growing. This is 

in part due to frustration with a repressive and ‘religiouslyrooted’ 

regime, along with targeted missionary activity. 

The Iranian authorities see the organised house church 

movement as political opposition, threatening national 

security. It is forbidden for Muslims in Iran to convert to 

other religions. Converts do not have access to registered 

churches. 

Christianity has deep roots in Iran. According to the 

Iranian constitution, traditional Christian groups may 

practise their faith and organise family law matters in their 

Christian community. But apostasy from Islam is forbidden 

and punishable by death, although this has not been codified 

in the Iranian penal code. 

Previously, and under certain conditions, the government 

tolerated Protestant churches where members were Muslim 

converts; but almost all of those churches were closed by 

the authorities between 2009 and 2013. The Constitution 

specifies the death penalty for proselytizing and attempts by 

non-Muslims to convert Muslims as well as for moharabeth 

(‘enmity against God’) and sabb-al-nibi (‘insulting the 

Prophet or Islam’). 

The constitution states Zoroastrians, Jews, and 

Christians (excluding converts from Islam) are the only 

recognised religious minorities permitted to worship and 

form religious societies ‘within the limits of the law’. 

Let us continue to pray for Christians under the 

repressive regime in Iran, for them to be able to meet and 

worship, and for the similarly small percentage of Christians 

in the Holy Land and for all the people there living through 

the ongoing conflict, 

References and further reading 

Telegraph article: Hamas has lost the war. It may yet win the peace’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/11/19/hamas-has-lost-thewar-it-may-yet-win-the-peace/ 

Mission Network News article:‘Iran takes anti-Israeli sentiments out 

on Christians’: https://www.mnnonline.org/news/iran-takes-antiisraeli-sentiments-out-on-christians/ 

France 24 article:‘Palestinian ‘Christians mourn “suffering” in Israel- 

Hamas war’: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231017- 

palestinian-christians-mourn-suffering-in-israel-hamas-war 

US Department of State 2022 Report on International Religious 

Freedom: Iran: https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-oninternational-religious-freedom/iran/ 

CNN article: ‘Found document suggests Iran sought to help Hamas 

make its own weapons ahead of attack, sources say’: https://edition. 

cnn.com/2023/11/14/politics/document-iran-hamas-weapons/index. 

html 

United Nations Watch on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ 

unitednationswatch/ 

United Nations Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ 

unwatch 

Transform Iran: www.transformiran.com 

Article 18 on Apostasy in Iran: https://articleeighteen.com/news/12393/ 


Gaza peace prayer and appeals 

Praying at the Wailing Wall, Jerusalem Atm2003, dreamstime.com 

The crisis in Israel and Gaza continues, so we are 

offering a list of some of the Christian UK agencies 

that are working in either Israel or Gaza, and who have 

launched appeals for help. 

Each appeal below has been adapted from the website of 

the agency concerned, and so they reflect their particular 

concern and emphasis. They are in alphabetical order, but 

first, a prayer from Winchester Cathedral: 

Heavenly Father, we pray for the many people whose lives 

have been torn apart by conflict in Israel and Gaza. 

We pray especially for those who have died, those who are 

grieving, the injured and those now without food, shelter or 

medical supplies. 

Strengthen and support the work of all relief organisations. 

We pray also for those who have the power to bring peace. 

May they be touched by a spirit of compassion and kindness. 

Lord hear us as we pray in the power of your Spirit, through 

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Bible Society Appeal 

Bible Society teams are serving in both the Israeli 

and Palestinian communities. They are distributing 

everything from Bibles to food to blankets to hygiene 

items, but they need your support. If you would like to 

help, please go to: https://biblesociety.org.uk 

Christian Aid Appeal 

In Gaza, Christian Aid's medical partner is providing 

mobile medical and psychological care. In southern Gaza, 

they are responding to the recently displaced, providing 

them with mattresses, medicines, and emergency food 

items. Your donations can make a huge difference. Please 

go to: https://give.christianaid.org.uk 

Embrace the Middle East Appeal 

Help the people of Gaza. If you can help support Embrace’s 

Christian partners as they work to help people caught up 

in this crisis, please go to: https://embraceme.org/gazacrisis 

World Vision: Middle East Emergency Appeal 

World Vision is already working in the West Bank, 

supporting the thousands of vulnerable children, families 

and communities impacted by this crisis. To donate go 

to: https://www.worldvision.org.uk/emergencies/middle-eastappeal/#donate



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feature — 1 

My Cancer My Choices, a local 

charity based in Charvil, has 

been awarded The King’s Award 

for Voluntary Service. This is the 

highest award a local voluntary 

group can receive in the UK and is 

equivalent to an MBE. 

My Cancer My Choices (MCMC) 

provides complementary therapies 

and support to people living with, and 

beyond, cancer throughout Berkshire. 

Its mission is to empower people 

with cancer, enabling them to make 

active choices to enhance their wellbeing, 

as they come to terms with 

their diagnosis. 

Specialist therapists volunteer 

their time to offer a range of one-toone 

therapies — acupuncture, scar 

tissue, aromatherapy and oncology 

massage, art therapy, reiki and 

reflexology — and group therapies 

such as mindfulness and yoga. These 

help manage the side effects of 

conventional treatment and improve 

mental and physical health. 

These choices are offered from 

the time of diagnosis, and are not 

restricted by individual’s finances or 

cancer stage. 

The charity has 65 volunteers, 

with about half of them offering 

the therapies at four locations in 

Berkshire. 

In addition, the charity’s 'Meeter 

Greeter' volunteers regularly donate 

their time to welcome users with 

a cup of tea and to manage the 

bookings. 

The charity is supported by an 

experienced board of volunteer 

trustees, and a committee to raise 

the funds needed to run it. 

My Cancer My Choices’ founder, 

Mandy Barter, said, 'We are so 

proud to receive this award, which is 

in recognition of volunteers — both 

past and present — who are truly 

outstanding and who make a big 

difference supporting people with cancer 

in our community. 

'We could not deliver our service 

without our exceptional group of 

dedicated, caring, professional and hard 

working volunteers. This award is a 

wonderful acknowledgment of them.' 

The MCMC volunteers make a 

significant impact on the service 

user’s experience, as acknowledged 

by Claire Grove, who benefitted from 

the therapies, 'I can't stress enough 

how much of a difference the My Cancer 

My Choices volunteers make. From 

the greetings I got when I attended 

sessions, to the therapies I received, I 

felt embraced by everyone I met. The 

gratitude I feel to those volunteers, as 

well as the ones who work behind the 

scenes to ensure therapy sessions are 

well organised and booked, and to the 

volunteers who fundraise for such a 

valuable service, is immense. They all 

help make a very stressful and difficult 

time with cancer, more manageable. 

They helped me feel more human and 

less like a patient.' 

The MCMC team also feel the 

benefits of donating their skills 

and time. 'When patients tell me how 

relaxed they feel after a massage or 

reflexology session, I know it is making a 

real difference to their well-being. I can’t 

think of any better way to use my skills 

and experience in oncology massage 

than to volunteer with My Cancer 

My Choices. It’s always a privilege to 

see the changes in patients even after 

one session. It is truly rewarding. As a 

volunteer with My Cancer My Choices, 

I feel recognised and supported as 

a valued member of the team, said 

Anne Thomas, an MCMC volunteer 

therapist. 


King's Award for Charvil cancer therapy charity 

VOLUNTEERS 

REAL DIFFERENCE 

My Cancer My Choices was founded by 

Mandy Barter and Liz Lee in 2014 

MCMC was registered as a charity 

in 2015, and since then has supported 

over 2,000 people with cancer, 

delivering over 7,500 treatments and 

65 courses across Berkshire. 

Volunteers currently donate 

around 700 hours a month to help 

at the MCMC offices in Charvil, 

Deanwood Park (West Berks), 

the College of Integrated Chinese 

Medicine (Reading) and Bracknell 

Healthspace. 

They also meet virtually to make 

the service accessible to as many 

people as possible. 

BUCKINGHAM PALACE 

My Cancer My Choices is one of 

only two organisations to receive 

this highly prestigious accolade in 

Berkshire this year. Nationally, 262 

local charities, social enterprises and 

voluntary groups around the UK will 

receive the award this year. 

Representatives of My Cancer My 

Choices will receive the award crystal 

and certificate from Andrew Try, 

Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire in early 

spring 2024. 

Two volunteers from the charity 

will also be invited to attend a 

garden party at Buckingham Palace 

next summer. 

If you would like to support 

My Cancer My Choices through 

donations or by joining the volunteer 

team, there is more information at: 

https://www.mycancermychoices.org


feature — 2 


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feature — 2 


The life-changing 12th day of Christmas 

One thing that always strikes me 

about the Christmastide readings 

in the Bible is their briefness. 

Much of the traditions of Advent, 

Christmas and The Epiphany, such 

as the number of magi, their names 

and the time of their arrival, a 

description of the stable nativity 

scene we use, rather than an 

underground cave, and so on, are 

not found in the Bible. They are 

changes and additions that add to 

the wonder of Christmas. Sadly, 

commercialism has smothered the 

original purpose of the 12 Days of 

Christmas. 

The visit by the magi and their 

'epiphany' only appears in the Gospel 

of Matthew. Yet God’s word in the 

Bible never becomes old news, there 

is always something fresh and new to 

be learned from every phrase because 

they are there for a good reason. 

Bible scholars tell us that the 

main purpose of Matthew’s gospel 

is to convince the Jewish people 

that Jesus is the Messiah who was 

promised in the ancient scriptures. 

It is about a Jewish King who is to 

save the Jewish nation. Jesus was to 

be the King of the Jews. 

Yet here, at the beginning of his 

book, Matthew includes the magi, 

wise men from the East, probably 

from the Persian area that today 

includes Iraq and Iran. 

These men are clearly Gentiles, 

yet they had travelled great distances 

to worship the newborn King of the 

Jews. 

So right at the beginning of 

Matthew’s Gospel, we find God 

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The Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, in Poland, is celebrated with spectacular parades 

revealing himself to be the God of 

all nations of the world — Jew and 

Gentile alike. 

The visit by the magi was clearly 

included in Matthew’s gospel for this 

reason, it is part of God’s revelation 

of his private plan for the universal 

church. 

This is one of the reasons why 

making time to study the Bible helps 

us to understand God better and so 

develop a stronger relationship with 

him. 

When we seek to do this with 

sincere determination as the magi 

did, we will find him. He is not 

hiding from us. He wants to have a 

closer more intimate relationship 

with each of us. 

In the UK, our Christmas 

celebrations officially end on the 

12th day, the day of The Epiphany 

— the word Epiphany means 'a 

moment when you suddenly feel that 

you understand, or suddenly become 

conscious of, something that is very 

important to you.' 

In many parts of the world 

the Epiphany has become a major 

Christian holiday celebration 

with grand parades and services 

attracting large numbers of people. 

Here, in the UK, it is generally 

a much quieter affair, with people 

going about their daily business of 

work and school as usual. 

YOUR SPECIAL DAY 

This year Epiphany officially falls 

on Saturday 6 January. How will you 

be marking this special day? 

If you are a committed Christian, 

make time to thank God for your 

own 'epiphany', the day that you 

committed yourself to becoming a 

follower of Jesus. 

If you have not yet committed 

your life to Jesus — or you are in 

need of a refresher — and would like 

to explore what it means to share in 

The Epiphany, see the Alpha course 

invitation on the left. 

Please remember, that after the 

magi found Jesus and worshipped 

him as God, they did not go back the 

way they came. Likewise, as we get to 

know Jesus and God our new way of 

life will be different from the old way 

that we leave behind us.


AROUND THE VILLAGES — 1 

Community in action — part of Sonning School's 

personal development creative home learning 

The Autumn Term was filled with community events, writes head teacher, Phil 

Sherwood. As well as being in school, a large part of our work was completed by 

pupils as part of their creative home learning projects with the theme of ‘service’. 

Pupils conducted litter picks in our area, baked treats and held cake sales for 

charities, helped at local charities, visited care homes and much, much more. It was 

an impressive community effort and one that will help our pupils live out our vision of 

building strong foundations for the years ahead. 

Remembrance and St Andrew’s Day services 

Christmas in Sonning 

A key part of our Christmas calendar 

was the start of Advent and decorating 

our tree. Each pupil decorates their own 

bauble and places it on the tree as part 

of a big celebration assembly. We also 

wrote Christmas cards to our partner 

care homes, Signature at Caversham and 

Avery Sonning Gardens and delivered 

these before the Christmas break. We 

look forward to growing our links with 

the care homes in 2024. 

We were grateful to welcome Rev Jamie and Richard Adams, Sonning Royal British 

Legion, to Sonning Primary for a special Remembrance Day service (above), while on 

Saint Andrew's Day (below) the school walked to St Andrew’s Church for our service, 

which was supported by Rev Jamie and Westy. 

Children In Need 

Being part of the 

national Children In 

Need event helped our 

children understand 

the importance of 

supporting others, 

making a difference and 

being part of something 

bigger than ourselves. 

We raised hundreds of 

pounds for Children In 

Need this year, and even 

had a visit from Pudsey! 

Inter Faith Week 

As a Church of 

England school, we 

have a Christian ethos 

which welcomes all 

religions or none. As 

part of celebrating 

diversity, we joined in 

with Inter Faith Week 

and learned about 

a range of different 

cultures and faiths 

within our school 

community.



Ex-service men reunited at the Sonning Gardens care home Remembrance service: 

resident Sir Oscar Deville (seated) and (left to right) Grp Cpt Colin Pierce, president 

of Sonning Royal British Legion, Richard Adams, Sonning Royal British Legion 

standard bearer, and Julian Harman, from the Sonning Gardens maintenance team. 

Care Home residents remember 

More than 50 residents, family members and friends gathered for 

the annual Remembrance day service at the Sonning Gardens Care 

Home when they also joined in the nationwide 2 minutes silence. 

During the service everyone had an opportunity to remember their 

own loved ones who died fighting for the freedom we enjoy today. 

This personal act of Remembrance involved placing their poppy in a 

tray (see below) which was blessed and placed on a memorial table in 

the reception area. Poppies were also placed outside in the garden by 

a memorial olive tree that was planted during part of this service a 

few years ago. It is also an occasion when ex-service men and women 

enjoy being reunited to share their experiences.


around the villages — 2 

Beavers enjoy local health and spirit visits 

1st Sonning-on-Thames Beaver Scouts have been learning health and spiritual matters from local experts. Healthy 

Eating was top of the agenda when they met Kate Voss. After hearing about why it’s important to eat healthily and 

the need to consume across different food groups, they put into action ‘eating the rainbow’ by making some fruit 

kebabs. Another visit was to St Andrew's Church where, as part of their Faith Badge, youth minister, Westy, help them 

to understand what the Christian faith is about. The Beavers currently have places available, so if you are interested in 

knowing more about Beavers, which meets 6-7pm on Thursdays, please contact Ann at waiting_list@sonningscouts.org.uk 

Rotary projector project support for Camp Mohawk 

The Rotary Club of Reading Maiden 

Erlegh (RCRME) has provided Camp 

Mohawk with a special projector for 

their sensory room. 

Camp Mohawk is the Woodland 

Trust Centre for children and 

young people with special needs 

and is situated in 5 acres of ancient 

woodland near Wargrave. 

SENSORY 

RCRME has a long association 

with Camp Mohawk and has 

supported it financially and with 

hands on help over the last 15 

years and often provided special 

equipment such as the projector 

which projects continually changing 

images onto the wall of the sensory 

room alongside several other images 

and activities for the children. 

It was handed over by members 

of the Club to Matthew Wood, the 

site and operations manager for 

the charity that provides a range of 

activities, facilities and natural space 

to encourage children with a variety 

Rotary Club members hand over the new projector for Camp Mohawk 

of special needs to play, socialise 

and learn in a secure and caring 

environment. 

Richard Nicholson, president of 

RCRME, said, ‘Camp Mohawk does a 

wonderful job helping children with 

special needs in our area and it is 

an absolute pleasure watching them 

enjoy its wonderful facilities as well 

as giving their parents a well-earned 

rest. We are always delighted at being 

able to help them’.


Inner Wheel 

remembers 


Chairman's Cup for poppy field 

On Remembrance Day, Margaret 

Adams, president of the Inner 

Wheel Club of Reading Maiden 

Erlegh laid a wreath at the 

Woodley Memorial in memory 

of those who made the ultimate 

sacrifice for the country. 

Inner Wheel, is a worldwide 

organisation for all women that 

was formed in Manchester between 

the wars and will be celebrating its 

Centenary this year. 

Stock taking 

Stock taking! 

Phil Mason 

Sonning Art Group's last Chairman's Cup of 2023 was won by Joan Gaines 

(left) who is seen receiving it from committee member, Jean Hutchinson. 

The cup was awarded for Joan's lovely watercolour of a field of poppies. After 

being closed for the Christmas season, the first 2024 meeting will be on 

Friday 5 January in Pearson Hall from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. If you would like 

find out more about this friendly group who welcome all artistic abilities, 

then go along to Pearson Hall on a Friday afternoon. 

2024 DIARY DATES 

Sonning RNLI Glebe WI quiz 

After a successful year when Sonning 

branch of the RNLI, raised £5,688.73 

they are hoping to replicate this year by 

holding several more events in 2024. 

The annual music night is on 

Saturday 3 February in the Pearson 

Hall. Tickets, £20, include a welcome 

drink. Take your own food. Tickets 

from: David Bates, 0118 969 7376 

The summer garden party will 

be on Saturday 8 June, by kind 

invitation of Mr and Mrs D Haldane, 

The Dower House, Pearson Road. 

It is hoped that a sea shanty 

evening will be held in the autumn. 

Sonning Show 

The date for next year's Sonning 

Village Show will be Saturday 14 

September. Now is your chance 

to get involved. If anyone has any 

suggestions for the classes please let 

Carole Collier know on 0773 405 0317 

Sonning Glebe WI will be holding 

a quiz on Saturday 17 February in 

Pearson Hall at at 7.30pm. Tickets 

are £8.50 per person, which includes 

a hot supper — take your own 

drinks. Maximum of 6 people 

per team or go along and be part 

of a team. More details from: 

sonningglebewi@berkshirewi.co.uk 

Charvil voices 

On Saturday 24 February, 2-4pm 

in Charvil Village Hall, Suzanne 

Newman will be running a fun 

singing afternoon for female voices 

with a medley of songs from The 

Greatest Showman arranged for twopart 

choir. Songs include The Greatest 

Show, A Million Dreams, This is Me and 

Come Alive. The £12 fee includes music 

and light refreshments. To book: 

suzanneynewman@btinternet.com 

0118 934 0589



Twyford Age Concern Centre re-opens with 

new invaluable services for all the elderly 

The Age Concern Twyford Centre 

has been relaunched and is now 

providing a range of new services 

for the elderly. 

Over the last 25 years, the charity 

has supported hundreds of local 

members and their families. Through 

the generosity of local suppliers and 

charities, they have been able to 

update the Twyford Centre with new 

lighting, new chairs, new window 

blinds and a fresh lick of paint. And 

they have introduced a range of new 

services, including the Anne Greaves 

fully-equipped salon to provide 

hairdressing and chiropody, and an 

evening meals take home service. 

COMPANIONSHIP 

‘We are delighted to be able to 

provide these invaluable services 

and companionship in the heart of 

our local community,' said Patrick 

Heather, chairman of the board of 

trustees. 

'The new evening take home meal 

service for members attending the 

same day, is proving very popular', 

he said. 

The Anne Greaves Salon was 

officially opened by the Rt Hon 

Theresa May, Member of Parliament 

for Maidenhead. 

NEW MANAGER 

A new centre manager, Alan 

Boyle, has been appointed and as 

well as the day-to-day running, 

he is responsible for developing 

relationships with Age Concern 

partners and the local community, 

and increasing membership. 

For the last 12 years, Alan has 

been a director of his own company. 

Since starting at the centre he has 

implemented many new systems to 

move from paper based to digital. 

He has also introduced new 

services for both members and nonmembers 

and is now focusing on 

obtaining funding for a new minibus 

to enable them to serve more of the 

surrounding community. 

He said, ‘It’s been a pleasure to 

meet our members and many of our 

volunteers, who not only assist as carers 

and relief cooks, but also those who 

provide the much-needed transport 

services for our members. 

'We really need more of these 

wonderful people especially as our 

membership is on the increase.' 

‘Outside the centre,' he added, 'I 

have a very busy family life. My wife 

and I have three children whom we love 

spending quality time with. My wife 

also works in the care sector as a nurse.’ 

Alan is supported by the 

long-serving care manager, Debs 

Heffernan and an experienced team 

of carers, kitchen staff, drivers and 

volunteers. 

REJUVENATING 

'Today,' said Alan, 'we need your 

help to continue developing the centre to 

provide the best possible facilities and 

reach as many local people who need our 

services as possible. 

'Your donation will contribute to one 

of the many projects rejuvenating our 

centre. 

'Whether it be the funding of a new 

WAV — Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle 

— to reach those less mobile, or a new 

kitchen to provide warming lunches to 

our members. 

'Every donation makes an impact. 

'We are also always looking for new 

volunteers to join our friendly team in 

Anna Griessel, dreamstime.com 

the main hall, the kitchen or as drivers 

to bring members to the Centre.' 

INDEPENDENCE 

Age Concern Twyford & District 

is a registered charity (1163722). 

It aims to promote and maintain 

independent living for elderly 

residents in the local community. 

The Centre is in Polehampton 

Close opposite the library. It is open 

Monday to Friday and offers a freshly 

cooked hot daily lunch, evening 

take home meals, seated exercises, 

crafts, entertainment, carer support, 

chiropody and hairdressing services, 

and are Dementia friendly. 

CONTACT DETAILS 

AGE CONCERN CONTACTS 

Chairman: President: Patrick Lady S Heather Watt 

Centre Manager: Alan Boyle 

Care Manager: Debs Heffernan 

0118 934 4040 

Alan@ageconcerntwyford.org.uk 

www.ageconcerntwyford.org.uk 

@AgeConcernTwyford 

Age Concern Twyford Centre 

Polehampton Close 

Twyford, Reading RG10 9RP



How to raise £1,000 silently in Charvil . . . 

Despite the sound of silence that filled Charvil Village Hall on the afternoon of 25 November when 64 players gathered 

for a Bridge Drive and tea held by the Inner Wheel Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh, they raised more than £1000 for 

The Cowshed, a local charity which provides support to people and children of all backgrounds in times of crisis. 

This is a special Centenary year for Inner Wheel. It was founded in the UK and is now a worldwide organisation, The local 

branch meets at Sonning Golf Club on the third Thursday evening of every month and welcomes new members to join in 

the fun, take part in activities, raise funds for charity and support the local community. 

https://www.innerwheelrme.org or iwcrme@gmail.com 

. . . after getting wrapped up for Christmas! 

Five members of the Inner Wheel Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh spent an afternoon happily selecting and wrapping 

Christmas presents for children referred to The Cowshed, a local charity which provides support to people and children 

of all backgrounds in times of crisis 

Cowshed is a compassionate and community-driven charity dedicated to providing support to individuals of all 

backgrounds during times of personal crisis. It offers good quality, cleaned, and ironed clothes and other essential items 

free of charge to those in need.


Please mention The Parish Magazine when replying to advertisements 

TAKE AWAY 

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167 Kingfisher Drive, Woodley, Reading, Berks RG5 3JQ


Poor Bear, Santa an Elf, also known as, members of 

the Inner Wheel and Rotary Clubs of Reading Maiden 

Erlegh helped out Winnersh Garden Centre and Hare 

Hatch Sheeplands and in the process raised money for 

local charities. 

CHARITY RACE NIGHT 

Saturday 

24 th February ‘24 

7pm for 1 st race 

@7.30pm 

Pearson Hall, Sonning 

on Thames 

Ticket price: £20 (for Race Night & Fish and Chip Supper) 

Venue: Pearson Hall, High Street, Sonning on Thames, RG4 6UL 

Email: Sally Wilson on mustangsallywilson41@gmail.com or 

Phone: Sally Wilson on 0118 9793328 

Opportunities are available to sponsor a Table (10 in total) or Race (6 in total) 

at the event. Email Sally for further information. 


Wanted: revolting 

local children! 

Revolting children are wanted for a fun singing and 

drama workshopto be held in Charvil Village Hall on 

Saturday 2 March! 

Suzanne Newman and PJ Barnes are looking for 

children and young people between the ages of 9 and 18 

years to work on a selection of songs from Matilda the 

Musical. 

The session runs from 2.oopm - 5.15pm and will 

end with an informal performance. There are 20 places 

available at £20 per person. For more information and an 

application form: suzanneynewman@btinternet.com 

Art and Craft Fair raises over 

£7,000 for local charities 

The Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh’s recent 

Reading Charity Art and Craft Fair was one if its most 

successful ever. It raised over £7,000 for local charities. 

It was held at Oakview, Leighton Park at the of October 

when 76 artists displayed their work along with 14 craft 

stalls — everything having been created by local people. 

Over 500 people visited the event and all the exhibits 

were for sale with the artists donating 25% of the sales 

price. 

The café made £900, and this will be donated by Inner 

Wheel to The Cowshed, which provides support to local 

people of all backgrounds in time of personal crisis. 

The bulk of the other money raised will be donated 

to the Feeding Communities initiative with the balance 

being distributed to local charities by Rotary. Feeding 

Communities is a project locally between The Thomas 

Frank Foundation and Leighton Park School to help reduce 

food poverty by providing free chilled or frozen meals for 

those in need. The recipes are created to provide a highly 

nutritious meal using the freshest of ingredients. Rotary 

will be distributing over 1,000 meals locally in January. 

Please remember your 

donations for the Woodley Food 

Bank and place them in the box 

just inside St Andrew's Church. 

Thank you! 

This is a fundraising event to raise funds for the 

Vestry Wall at St. Andrew’s Church 

Charity No: 1101944


THE ARTS 

Rev Michael Burgess begins a year-long series looking 

at great works of Christian music . . . 

‘Glorious the song 

when God’s the 

theme’ 

The Shofar, or ram's horn, is one of the earliest known instruments. 

Tomert, dreamstime.com 

Those words of the 18th century 

poet Christopher Smart remind us 

how faith and music have always 

gone hand in hand, faith inspiring 

the music and music expressing the 

faith. In this series we shall consider 

12 pieces of music inspired by the 

Christian faith, beginning from its 

roots in the Old Testament. 

Among the earliest references to 

music in the Old Testament is the 

Song of Moses and the Israelites, 

thanking God for Israel’s deliverance 

in Exodus. 

There is also the music of the 

shofar, the ram’s horn, proclaiming 

God’s jubilee in Leviticus. 

Hebrew music came into its own 

when performed in the temple. A 

small choir, using mostly strings 

and including a harp, would sing 

from the psalms, that incredible 

Poetry Corner 

Redeemer Revealed by Steven Rolling 

Matthew 2: 1-12 part. Tune: We Three Kings 

1. Three called Kings, they wise men were then 

Made their journey, travelling when 

Christ-child's star in the east they saw 

Come to worship, adore 

collection of 150 hymns of praise to 

God. All human life is found in the 

psalter, and inevitably they passed 

into Christian worship through the 

monastic daily office of prayer and 

praise. Possibly Psalm 23, The Lord is 

my shepherd, is the most loved psalm. 

THE VICAR OF DIBLEY 

St Francis of Assisi sang it on his 

way to visit the sultan. 

Most of us know the tune 

Crimond, while Howard Goodall’s 

setting became the theme music for 

The Vicar of Dibley. 

Leonard Bernstein’s setting of 

Psalm 23, the ‘Chichester Psalms,’ set 

six psalms in their original Hebrew 

for solo voice, choir and orchestra. 

The middle movement begins with 

a boy soprano, or countertenor, 

singing a beautiful melody to the 

opening words of Psalm 23. 

Bernstein’s melody has a bluesy, 

Jewish feel, and is accompanied by a 

harp, as we remember David playing 

the lyre. 

Suddenly the men’s voices 

interrupt the soloist’s song of trust 

with the words of Psalm 2, Why do the 

nations so furiously rage together?’ 

But their outburst cannot halt 

the serene outpouring of the soloist 

which sounds out clear and strong 

amid the threat of war and division. 

The movement leaves us with 

the melody of Adonai ro-i in our 

heads and hearts, assuring us that, 

because the Lord is our shepherd, we 

need not fear, even in the darkest 

valley. Even when the world hurls 

the threats of Psalm 2 at us, God’s 

goodness and mercy will follow us all 

the days of our life. 

3. Precious gifts to Christ they did give 

Saviour, in whom all may now live 

Gold, frankincense, myrrh presented 

By star they to Him led 

Chorus 

Chorus 

O here be the Epiphany 

Christ revealed unto all, see 

To the Jews and to the Gentiles 

Here stay, contemplate a while 

2. Bethlehem, though you little town 

Noe be of an endless renown 

Chosen by God, in you be born 

His Son, redemption morn 

Chorus 

4. Guide us, Lord, that we too humbly 

Present gifts and selves to you, see 

Serving you in freedom, gladness 

Desiring you us bless 

Chorus 

5. Bright your light, you Light of the world 

At your Epiphany unfurled 

Sharing with others your gospel 

Light o’ercomes darkness all 

Chorus 

Jacob 09 BK, dreamstime.com

HEALTH — 1 


Dr Simon Ruffle writes . . . NHS v the World? 

As we move into 2024 let’s compare our NHS in 2023 with 

other countries. 

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? 

Listen to any talk radio or read any newspaper and you will 

receive verbal diet of anecdote and sad stories. Good news is 

no news. 

Comparing our data with other, comparable countries 

is important as we have nothing else to compare the NHS 

with except our own historical data. That data shows 

fewer doctors and nurses, beds, CT and MRI scanners and 

spending per patient, falling from 2012 onwards. 

This links with falling spending per person in other public 

services. However, does this mean we’re not performing 

against our neighbours? 

Pre-COVID waiting times in the UK for common 

procedures were hovering in the middle and efficiency 

was very good because the NHS was performing well with 

fewer resources than other countries. Post COVID that 

performance has fallen. This is a direct result of the resource 

provision; other countries have been able to catch up. 

The UK is very good at protecting people from financial 

costs and bankruptcy through medical bills. However life 

expectancy and deaths are performing less well; but may I 

refer you to last month’s article health and wealth are linked. 

In saying the above is not a call for a wholesale change to 

the funding or running of the health service. I quote: 

'There is little evidence that one particular ‘type’ of health care 

system or model of health care funding produces systematically 

better results than another. Countries predominantly try to 

achieve better health outcomes by improving their existing model 

of health care, rather than by adopting a radically different model.' 

— The King’s Fund June 2023. 

According to The Organization for Economic Cooperation 

and Development (OECD), in 2021 we have lower numbers of 

doctors and nurses than our comparator countries (19 high 

income nations). 

We have high numbers of foreign trained nurses and 

doctors and our wages are on the lower side. 

Only New Zealand and Australia are more reliant on 

foreign born nurses and doctors than the UK. The UK recruits 

little from New Zealand and Australia but 25% of foreign 

trained staff are from the UK in New Zealand and Australia. 

In 2022 we saw nurses and doctors on strike. OECD 23 

show that nurses wages are just lower than the average 

worker with France, Finland and Italy being lower. GPs 

in Portugal and the UK have seen their wages fall against 

other countries and for specialists, Belgium join the UK and 

Portugal in letting their wages fall. 

RETAINING OLDER STAFF 

The UK reports the highest level of over 55s leaving the 

UK, medical profession or stopping seeing patients in the 

next 1-3 years with 67% 

At the same time OECD shows that Britons report 

higher levels of anxiety, lower levels of physical activity but 

mid range of self reporting of obesity than the comparator 

countries. 

OTHER RESOURCES 

Milosdrn, Dreamstime.com 

Japan has 166.7 CT and MRI scanners per million 

patients, the UK has 16.1. This is a little unfair as a 

comparator due to the manufacturing capabilities of Japan 

in this area, there is even a scanner housed in a petrol station 

in one area! 

The age of our scanners is in the middle of the pack 

based on surveys or the major medical imaging companies, 

Cannon, Fujifilm, GE, Philips and Siemens. 

BEDS 

Data for 2019 shows 2.5 general beds per 1,000 people and 

7.3 per 100,000 intensive care beds. Only Sweden has a lower 

number of general hospital beds and we are 14th out of the 19 

countries. 

DRUGS 

Our healthcare spend on medicines is the lowest in terms 

of percentage of healthcare spend. We spend 9% whereas 

Spain spends double. 

There is some good news in that. The buying capacity 

of the NHS helps and the tight control and regulation of 

medicines in the UK. But the access to medicines is quite 

restrictive in the UK. 

What this translates to is that prescribing is evidence 

based with high rates of more cost effective medicines being 

prescribed, especially in antibiotic spend and appropriate 

use. The UK was pretty good at licensing and introducing new 

medicines. 

Now that the European Medicines Authority is now in 

Brussels instead of London we will see if that performance is 

maintained. 

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 

(NICE) seems to drag its heels when approving new 

medicines and technology, especially where patients are 

waiting for new advances to come through, but it does mean 

TURN TO PAGE 33



Would you like to help at the 

St John and St Stephen’s Child 

Contact Centre Reading? 

• We are a volunteer run organisation providing a 

• safe place for children from separated families to 

• re-connect with their non-resident parent and relatives. 

• Volunteers work as a small team to ensure a safe, 

• friendly and calm environment for contact, 

• always putting children’s needs first. 

• Each team is on duty roughly every 

• 6 weeks on a Sunday afternoon. 

• Volunteers 

o Help to prepare the Centre before children arrive. 

o Welcome families and show them around. 

o Listen to adults and children without judging, 

o advising or taking sides. 

o Tidy up once the Centre is closed. 

o Report any concerns to your Team Leader 

o 

• We offer training and support 

• and will help you arrange your DBS check. 

INTERESTED? 

Check out our website https://readingchildcontactcentre.org.uk 

Download our volunteer leaflet for further information 

E mail us at hello@readingchildcontactcentre.org.uk 

Or ring us on 0785 835 0424 and leave a message with your contact number 

We are also looking for a Team Leader, someone with experience in the 

field of safeguarding and child protection. This could be suitable for 

an existing volunteer or someone who wants to gain the necessary 

experience to take on this role.

FROM PAGE 31 

HEALTH — 2 

Dr Simon Ruffle 

writes . . . 

. . . NHS v the World 

that the we get the best ‘bang for our 

buck.’ 

One area where our more frugal 

approach to health spending is in 

administration. In the USA 8.9% of 

health spending is administrative, it is 

1.9% in the UK, with Japan, Sweden, 

Italy, Greece, and Finland being lower. 

It is always an easy trope to blame 

the managers. 

Since Covid, our outcomes for 

potentially avoidable deaths in terms 

of heart attacks and stroke has 

fallen in comparison, our hospital 

admissions for Asthma and COPD is 

higher although we’re pretty good at 

managing diabetes and heart failure 

with a lower percentage of patients 

requiring admission. 

WHERE ARE WE LEFT? 

The NHS is performing okay with 

the level of staff equipment and 

finance that it has. 

Reform of the NHS has been 

constant with 2012 being a massive 

(behind the scenes) shake up. 

These reforms and austerity had 

not left the NHS in a stable position to 

cope with the Covid crisis and we have 

seen our performance levels fall since 

then as there was no ‘reserve.’ 

Ask any business, it is people that 

are the most important components 

for a successful business. 

While we lose our professionals, 

replace them with cheaper less 

qualified people, allow our estates and 

equipment to age we cannot expect 

a recovery in patient experience and 

performance but the Kings Fund and 

OECD show us we are not spending 

enough per patient despite the overall 

spending being higher now than it 

was in 2010. 

THE CHALLENGE 

The health secretary’s challenge is 

enormous but looking to change our 

systems or add new styles of health 

provision form other models is not 

the way forward until we supply the 

scanners, staff and resources to the 

cost effective system we have already. 

HOME AND GARDEN 

Strawberries provide 100% of the 

recommended daily vitamin C 

amount in a single cup serving, and 

they also contain heart-healthy 

nutrients such as folate, potassium, 

fibre, phytosterols and polyphenols. 

A recent study has found that 

eating about eight of them a day for 

3 months can improve your mood, 

help your memory, and lower any 

symptoms of depression. The study 

was carried out at the University of 

Cincinnati’s Academic Health Centre. 

Perhaps it is the things that you 

eat with your strawberries that need 

your attention? 

Potatoes have also been a target 

of the 'anti-carb' brigade for probably 

long enough. An affordable staple 

food for centuries, they have fallen 

out of favour in recent times, amid 

the trend for low-carb diets. 

'The humble potato has been given 

a bad rap,' says Dr Duane Mellor, 

If you like colourful ceramics such as this lily vase, 

then you are probably familiar with the work of 

Clarice Cliff. Her glowingly vibrant plates, cups, 

teapots, and vases are world famous – and still loved. 


Don't forget to include 

potatoes and strawberries in 

your garden plans for 2024! 

Hxdbzxy, dreamstime.com 

Julia Sudnitskaya, dreamstime.com 

Strawberries and potatoes are probably better for you than you think, so 

don't forget to included them in your garden this year. 

a senior teaching fellow at Aston 

Medical School in Birmingham. 

'The truth is that potatoes contain 

a lot of vitamins and other nutrients 

that are important for good health.' 

he added. 

These include vitamin C, vitamin 

B6, potassium, and choline. 

Potatoes also contain fibre, 

including resistant starch. This helps 

to feed the gut bacteria, which in turn 

has a wide range of health benefits. 

Both the skin and the flesh of 

potatoes are good for you. The skin 

provides fibre, and the flesh contains 

most of the vitamins and minerals. 

So, the healthiest way to cook 

potatoes is to boil or bake them in 

their skins. 

And like strawberries, it is 

probably the 'extras' such as butter 

and oil that you need to be more 

mindful about? 

Does Clarice Cliff have a place in your home? 

Clarice was born 125 years ago this month, on 20 

January 1899, in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent. Her father 

worked in an iron foundry, and her mother washed clothes to help feed their 

seven children. Clarice left school at 13 to work in the potteries, a job she 

enjoyed so much that, at 17, she joined A J Wilkinson in Newport, Burslem, to 

gain more experience. Soon she was modelling figurines and vases, keeping 

pattern books, and learning to hand-paint ware. She died in 1972 and some of 

her work can demand very high prices. The world record for a piece of Clarice 

Cliff is held by Christie’s in London, who in 2004 sold an 18-inch ‘charger’ in the 

May Avenue pattern for £39,500. 

Wirestock, dreamstime.com


AWARENESS 

Are you aware of what you should be doing? 

Hardly a day goes by now that 

has not been claimed by someone 

as a special 'awareness' day. 

Many of them are for really good 

causes, while some are simply 

excuses to market and sell 

products and services, Here is 

a selection of some of the more 

worthy awareness days, weeks 

and month, and we have included 

some of the more traditional 

days when the Church celebrates 

a Saint or remembers religious 

events . . . 

DRY JANUARY 

Dry January is an annual health 

campaign that encourages people to 

abstain from alcohol for the entire 

month of January. 

Alcohol abuse affects a huge 

number of families. According to 

the NHS, 7.5 million people in the 

UK have an alcohol problem. 

Dry January is a voluntary 

challenge that has gained 

popularity worldwide as individuals 

commit to starting the New 

Year with a fresh, alcohol-free 

perspective. 

VEGANUARY WORKPLACE 

CHALLENGE MONTH 

This is a 31-day pledge that 

encourages work forces to try being 

vegan for the month of January. 

Staff are challenged to eat a purely 

plant-based diet for one month, but 

there is no reason why you can’t join 

in on your own at home! 

OTHER JANUARY MONTHS 

Here are some other January 

Awareness months that you can 

find out more about on the internet: 

National Blood Donor Month, 

Cervical Health Awareness Month, 

Mental Wellness Month, and 

Poverty Awareness Month. 

WORLD BRAILLE DAY 

THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 

Created by the United Nations, 

World Braille Day has been 

celebrated since 2019. Its objective 

is to raise awareness of the 

importance of Braille as a means 

of communication in the full 

Thursday 4 January is World Braille Day 

realization of the human rights for 

blind and partially sighted people. 

Thursday 4 January is the birthday of 

Braille's inventor, Louis Braille. His 

gift brightens the lives of millions 

of people who are blind or visually 

impaired, and they benefit from his 

work every day. 

THE EPIPHANY 6 JANUARY 

A day celebrated by thousands of 

Christians around the world, while 

many churches will also celebrate it 

in their regular Sunday services the 

next day. (See page 19). 

BREW MONDAY 15 January 

On Brew Monday Samaritans remind 

us to reach out for a cup of tea and 

a catch-up with the people we care 

about. The third Monday in January 

is sometimes referred to as ‘the most 

difficult day of the year’. Samaritans 

say this is a myth and there is no 

such thing as ‘Blue Monday’ – we all 

have our good days and our bad days, 

and those aren’t for the calendar 

to decide. Their answer is to have a 

conversation over a brew – and they 

add that you can do this any day of 

the week or the year! 

ST FRANCIS DE SALES 

24 JANUARY 

St Francis de Sales, ‘the Gentleman 

Saint’, is remembered in both Roman 

Catholic and Church of England 

churches on 24 January. He was born 

Vkarafill, dreamstime.com 

on 21 August 1567 and died in Lyon 

on 28 December 1622, aged 55 years. 

He is known as ‘the Gentleman 

Saint’ because of his great patience 

and gentleness. 

He the patron of writers and 

journalists because of his extensive 

use of broadsheets and books in 

spiritual direction and in his efforts 

to convert the Calvinists of the 

region. He also developed a sign 

language to teach a deaf man about 

God, hence is also the patron saint of 

the deaf. 

BIG GARDEN BIRD WATCH 

26—28 JANUARY 

This is the UK’s largest garden 

wildlife survey. It was first held 

in 1979, and every year, around 

700,000 people take part. It is easy. 

You simply watch the birds in your 

garden or local park for one hour, 

record and report what you see. Find 

out more: https://www.rspb.org.uk/ 

whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch 

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY 

27 JANUARY 

Between 1941 and 1945, six million 

Jewish men, women and children 

were murdered by the Nazis and their 

collaborators. Their attempt to murder 

all the Jews in Europe shook the 

foundations of civilisation. The day is 

also used to remember the genocides 

which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, 

Bosnia, and Darfur.

FASHION BY HARRIET NELSON 

Happy New Year everyone! The 

New Year brings resolutions, and 

for fashion, this can be a fun way to 

refresh your style and wardrobe. 

How about trying new trends, 

decluttering your wardrobe, or 

experimenting with different 

accessories? 

When it comes to New Year's 

resolutions, sometimes, we set out too 

ambitious or unrealistic tasks, making 

it harder to stick to them. 

Start with small, achievable goals 

you can build upon over time and feel 

great about. 

If you are looking for fashion-related 

New Year's challenges to kickstart 

your year, here are a few resolutions to 

partake in this year. 

How about a resolution for shopping 

your own wardrobe? 

Most of us will have clothes in our 

wardrobes that we don't use, or they've 

only been worn a couple of times before 

they're hung up and forgotten about. 

LOST TREASURES 

There's no time like the present 

to switch this up. Searching into the 

depths of your wardrobes to find these 

lost treasures you have forgotten about 

is a refreshing discovery that can 

inspire you to create a new outfit with 

these lost items. 

Declutter your wardrobe and take 

some time to go through your clothes 

and get rid of items that you no longer 

wear or love. It'll help you create a more 

organized and curated wardrobe. Set 

yourself the task this year of having 

fun with what you wear, trying to 

incorporate new and old clothing items, 

and creating new outfits you love with 

the clothes you already have at home. 

You'll save money and be a part of the 

sustainable and vintage trend that 

keeps returning to fashion. 

Experiment with colours and go 

bold with your clothing choices this 

year! Another resolution could be to 

try and incorporate more vibrant and 

bold colours into your outfits. For the 

next 12 months, set yourself the task 

of having fun with what you wear. You 

don't have to follow the crowd with 

trends, but create your own styles! It 

would be boring if we all wore the same 

outfits daily. Make yourself unique and 

find a style that is all yours. Find your 

fashion and show it off, whether that's 

patterns or colours. There are no rules 

other than simply wearing what feels 

right to you at the right moment. 

Another resolution could be to shop 

more sustainably by opting for ecofriendly 

and ethical brands. Whether 

it's making or clothing brands, there 

are so many sustainable options in the 

market for you to try. 

We all know that the fashion 

empire isn't the best at being ethical. 

We should always try to shop more 

sensibly, making the most of our 

current wardrobes and considering 

what purchases we do make. 

It's a wonderful way to support 

environmentally conscious practices 

and make a positive impact. 

TIMELESS 

Another resolution could be 

to invest in quality basic clothing. 

Consider investing in timeless, 

high-quality pieces that can be the 

foundation of your wardrobe. 

These items will last longer and 

can be mixed and matched with 

various outfits. These pieces will 

last a lifetime and will go with most 

outfits you already have. It could be 

purchasing some staple pieces that go 

with most outfits. For example, some 

Doc Martens; these boots are known 

for lasting forever and go with almost 

every outfit and style, as well as being 

practical outdoor footwear. Or perhaps 

purchase a proper woolly jumper that 

lasts all winter and won't go out of 


Will you make a fashionable New Year resolution? 

Andrey Popov. Dreamstime.com 

fashion and that you can wear year 

after year. 

Remember the power of accessories! 

Every outfit will only be complete with 

the perfect accessories. 

Make a resolution to experiment 

with accessories like statement 

jewellery, scarves, hats, or belts to 

elevate your outfits and add a personal 

touch. 

Jewellery is the best way to bring 

an outfit together. A pair of unique 

earrings or a simple necklace can tie 

your outfit together and make it look 

complete and well put together. You can 

change up your outfits in the simplest 

way and create new styles for the New 

Year. New Year, new you! 

What fashion resolutions will you 

try and commit to this year? 

Fabio Lamanna, dreamstime.com


THE SCIENCES 

The science of power, love and self-control 

By Dr Ruth M Bancewicz, Church engagement director at The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion in Cambridge 

xusplexus, dreamstime.com 

It has now been four years since the 

Covid pandemic began to seep into 

Western consciousness. Dr Francis 

Collins, a leader in medical research 

in the United States, spoke early in 

the pandemic about his faith and his 

hope in God to help us through that 

time. 

He expressed the grief that so many 

were experiencing, and described an 

intensity of scientific work he had 

never experienced before. 

He also shared his conviction that 

he was in exactly the right place in 

2020 — serving God with science. 

Throughout the pandemic, he held 

on tight to the words of Paul in 2 

Timothy 1:7: 

‘For God gave us a spirit not of fear 

but of power and love and self-control.’ 

POWER 

In 2 Timothy the apostle Paul 

encourages his friend to ‘fan into 

flame the gift of God’ that is in him. 

I am thankful that scientists like 

Francis used their own particular 

talents to understand this virus, and 

to help prevent or treat infection. 

The things they discovered are not 

just useful, but at times also display 

the beauty and wonder of God’s 

creation. 

LOVE 

Scientists show their love for God, 

for people and for the rest of creation 

through their work in the lab. 

One described his experiences to 

me: 'I study God’s fingerprints in his 

creation to learn more of him and 

the world he placed us in and to learn 

how we should take care of it and 

each other…I pray for inspiration and 

insight into how his creation works… 

and that he provides the opportunities 

to give the glory to him.' 

SELF CONTROL 

It is largely our own and others’ 

selfish actions that can turn one 

animal’s friendly virus into our own 

species’ personal nightmare. 

Thankfully Jesus’ suffering, death 

and resurrection are the solution to 

evil. 

Our ultimate and certain hope 

is that one day all Creation will be 

renewed. We can also have hope 

that God is with us in our suffering. 

When we respond in positive ways 

to painful events, that is evidence 

that Jesus is alive and working in our 

lives. 

Science will not solve all our 

problems, but with God’s help and 

wisdom we can use the tools of 

science to serve him and love others. 

Jamais, Jamais, 



Jamais . . . 

Have you ever stared at a single 

word for so long that, suddenly, 

it looks very odd, and loses its 

meaning? 

It is a phenomenon known as ‘Jamais 

Vu’, and you can experience it if you 

try scribbling a single word around 

30 times, or for about a minute. 

Suddenly, it will look very peculiar. 

Researchers at the University of 

St Andrew's asked people to write out 

words, over and over again. About 

two thirds of them reported ‘Jamais 

Vu’, meaning ‘never seen’. 

One psychologist explained: 

'There is something about repeatedly 

encountering the same word that 

causes your awareness of that word 

being a proper word to remain 

unchanged, while your subjective 

experience of encountering that 

word starts to go a little ‘off’.' 

‘Jamais Vu’ is often called a 

‘dissociative experience’ — where 

aspects of conscience experience, 

that normally work seamlessly 

together, break down.

History 

Was it really? . . . 

Hairpin bends on the Silk Road in Asia. . 

S B Stock, Dreamstime.com 

. . . 700 YEARS AGO on 8 January 1324 that Marco Polo 

died. This Venetian/Italian merchant, explorer and writer 

is best known for his book The Travels of Marco Polo which 

detailed his travels along the Silk Road in Asia. 

. . . 200 YEARS AGO on 8 January 1824 that Wilkie 

Collins, British novelist and playwright, was born. He is 

best known for The Woman in White and The Moonstone, 

regarded as the first modern British detective novel. 

. . . 175 YEARS AGO on 13 January 1849 that the Colony 

of Vancouver Island was established. It became part of 

Canada in 1871. 

. . . 150 YEARS AGO on 25 January 1874 that Somerset 

Maugham, British playwright, novelist and short story 

writer, was born. 

. . . 125 YEARS AGO on 20 January 1899 that Clarice Cliff, 

British ceramic artist, was born. 

. . . 100 YEARS AGO on 21 January 1924 that Vladimir 

Lenin, Russian Communist leader, died. He was the 

architect and first head of the Soviet Union. 

. . . ALSO 100 YEARS AGO on 22 January 1924 that 

Ramsay MacDonald became Britain’s first Labour Prime 

Minister. 

. . . 80 YEARS AGO from 17 January to 18 May 1944 that 

the WWII Battle of Monte Cassino, Italy, took place. 

This Allied victory is regarded as the hardest-fought 

and bloodiest battle of the war, with around 250,000 

casualties. 

. . . 75 YEARS AGO on 10 Jan 1949 that RCA launched 

the 7-inch 45-rpm vinyl record, commonly known as the 

single. 

. . . 60 YEARS AGO on 11 January 1964 that the US 

Surgeon General published a report which concluded 

that cigarette smoking caused lung cancer and chronic 

bronchitis. This was the first official US government 

report on the health issues of smoking. 

. . . 25 YEARS AGO on 1 January 1999 that the Euro officially 

became the new currency in 11 European countries. 

BOOK REVIEWS 

Sunday - A History of 

Religious Affairs through 50 

Years of Conversations and 

Controversies 

By Edward Stourton, SPCK £29.99 


Radio 4 listeners are familiar with 

Edward Stourton of BBC Radio 

4's Sunday programme. Here he 

chronicles over 50 years of current 

affairs on Sunday, in collaboration 

with BBC Producer Amanda Hancox. Sunday has crossexamined 

guests on everything from the Church's answer 

to the cost-of-living crisis, to the debate around female 

bishops; from the abuse within the Catholic Church, to the 

new wave of anti-Semitism. Not to mention the evolving 

debates on pertinent issues such sexuality, bioethics, 

nuclear weapons, and many more! 

Edward Stourton provides critical reflections on how 

religion has impacted some of the world's most epochmaking 

moments. The book also includes interviews 

with well-known leaders such as Desmond Tutu, Rabbi 

Jonathan Sacks and Enoch Powell. 

Sunday lies at the intersection of ethics, politics, 

and religion. It has featured hundreds of stimulating 

discussions, and is a testament to how religion remains a 

powerful force in the lives of most people, whether of faith 

or non-believers. 

Brighter Days - 12 Steps 

to Strengthening Your 

Wellbeing 

By Patrick Regan, SPCK £12.99 

The demands of modern living 

take their toll on all of us. Yet we 

can feel as though we’re the only 

ones who are weary, overwhelmed, 

or anxious. The truth is that we 

all have days where life feels too 

much. So this book is packed full of 

practical tips, on how to invest in your emotional, mental, 

physical and spiritual health, so that you can look forward 

to a healthier and more hopeful future. 

God Never Gives Up on You 

— What Jacob's Story Teaches 

Us About Grace, Mercy, and 

God's Relentless Love 

By Max Lucado, 10Publishing £11.30 

Ever wonder if you’ve gone wrong 

too many times for God to use 

someone like you? 

This is a book for members of 

the Lost Halo Society – for the 

strugglers among us and the 

fumbler within us. We are all of us part saint, part 

scoundrel. We mean well, but we don’t always do well. We 

have breakthroughs and breakdowns, often in the same 

hour. We need no reminder of our failures, but we could 

always use a refresher course on God’s perfect plan.


PUZZLE PAGE — 1 

BIBLE CROSSWORD 

ACROSS 

1 Paul said the wrath of God ‘is being revealed from heaven’ 

against this (Romans 1:18) (11) 

9 Go smite (anag.) (7) 10 ‘But — I have risen, I will go ahead 

of you into Galilee’(Matthew 26:32) (5) 

11 ‘Take and —; this is my body’ (Matthew 26:26) (3) 13 Type (2 

Thessalonians 2:10) (4) 

16 ‘Woe to those who — iniquity’ (Micah 2:1) (4) 

17 ‘How shall we — if we ignore such a great salvation?’ 

(Hebrews 2:3) (6) 

18 Opposite of evens (4) 

20 Previously cited (Latin) (4) 

21 ‘There is surely — — of God in this place, and they will kill 

me because of my wife’ (Genesis 20:11) (2,4) 

22 The Thessalonians were warned to keep away from every 

brother who was this (2 Thessalonians 3:6) (4) 

23 Beat (anag.) (4) 

25 To trouble or afflict (Job 16:3) (3) 

28 Part of a roof (1 Kings 7:9) (5) 

29 Attain (Job 5:12) (7) 

30 Insect noted for its gymnastic ability (Psalm 78:46) (11) 

DOWN 

2 Smell (John 11:39) (5) 

3 Lion’s home (Jeremiah 25:38) (4) 

4 ‘Jesus Christ is the — yesterday and today and for ever’ 

(Hebrews 13:8) (4) 

5 Tidy (4) 

6 Made their home (Genesis 47:27) (7) 

7 Their task was to carry the curtains of the tabernacle 

(Numbers 4:25–26) (11) 

8 Timothy’s was called Lois (2 Timothy 1:5) (11) 

12 The Lover likened the fragrance of the Beloved’s breath to 

these (Song of Songs 7:8) (6) 

14 Times Educational Supplement (1,1,1) 

15 Eight-tentacled sea creatures (6) 

19 ‘And lead us not into temptation, but — us from the evil 

one’(Matthew 6:13) (7) 

20 D.L. Moody’s legendary song leader, — D. Sankey (3) 

24 Rarely used musical note (5) 

25 ‘Your will be done on earth — it — in heaven’ (Matthew 6:10) 

(2,2) 

26 and 27 ‘The Lord Almighty will — them with a — , as when 

he struck down Midian at the rock of Oreb’ (Isaiah 10:26) (4,4) 

27 See 26 Down 

US State Verse Search by Ralph 

S 

U 

T 

E 

N 

N 

E 

S 

S 

E 

E 

N 

I 

A 

M 

A 

K 

S 

A 

L 

A 

I 

N 

A 

C 

A 

N 

A 

I 

I 

P 

T 

E 

E 

E 

L 

E 

S 

A 

S 

O 

O 

S 

G 

N 

E 

C 

O 

A 

S 

W 

O 

L 

N 

T 

N 

S 

H 

N 

E 

N 

O 

O 

K 

Y 

O 

I 

U 

G 

O 

I 

A 

T 

I 

S 

Ralph's ‘word search’ grid above contains the names of 

26 USA States. If you find all 26 states you will also notice 

that the unused letters in the grid spell out a relevant 

verse from the Good News Bible. You might even manage 

to identify the verse. Good luck, and God Bless! 

Write your answers here . . . 

ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH'S FOOTBALL VERSE SEARCH 

HUDDERSFIELD 

BOURNMOUTH 

READING 

NOTTINGHAM 

CHELTENHAM 

LUTON 

ASTON VILLA 

ARSENAL 

MANCHESTER 

N 

H 

C 

O 

A 

F 

U 

N 

I 

S 

C 

R 

K 

M 

O 

S 

E 

R 

I 

O 

D 

I 

T 

S 

S 

A 

S 

E 

O 

T 

Y 

K 

B 

R 

X 

H 

H 

I 

H 

M 

I 

M 

I 

Y 

A 

L 

S 

N 

R 

S 

E 

P 

T 

O 

D 

O 

A 

A 

W 

R 

V 

I 

A 

A 

A 

P 

M 

H 

R 

N 

A 

S 

N 

E 

K 

NORWICH 

REAL MADRID 

BURNLEY 

NEWCASTLE 

SUNDERLAND 

LEICESTER 

LIVERPOOL 

BARCELONA 

MILAN 

JUVENTUS 

A 

U 

W 

X 

I 

S 

A 

W 

T 

O 

W 

K 

T 

A 

A 

N 

T 

P 

D 

E 

L 

K 

A 

E 

N 

N 

E 

O 

E 

N 

I 

A 

A 

R 

K 

T 

N 

A 

I 

N 

O 

S 

T 

T 

S 

A 

H 

L 

O 

D 

A 

R 

O 

L 

O 

C 

T 

H 

N 

A 

WREXHAM 

COVENTRY 

DERBY 

YEOVIL 

RAITH 

CELTIC 

YORK 

BURY 

LEEDS 

The hidden Bible verse was from Philippians 3:14 

(Good News Bible) 

So I ran straight towards the goal 

O 

P 

D 

N 

A 

L 

S 

I 

E 

D 

O 

H 

R 

D 

S

PUZZLE PAGE — 2 

CROSSWORD 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

9 10 

12 

11 

13 14 15 

17 18 

20 21 

22 23 

Across 

1 -- Chiropody (8) (8) 

5 - Cook - Cook (4) (4) 

9 - Suggest (5) 

9 - Suggest (5) 

10 - Deserving affection (7) 

10 - Deserving affection (7) 

11 - Showed (12) 

11 13 - - Showed Expenditure (12) (6) 

13 14 - Expenditure - Stage whispers (6) (6) 

17 - Principal building face (12) 

14 - Stage whispers (6) 

20 - Uncomplaining (7) 

17 - Principal face of a building (12) 

21 - Stroll (5) 

20 22 - Uncomplaining - Portion of (7) medicine (4) 

23 - Driven to action (8) 

21 - Stroll (5) 

22 - Portion of medicine (4) 

23 - Driven to action (8) 

CODEWORD 

16 

8 

19 

Down Down 

1 - Apple seeds 1 - Apple (4) seeds (4) 

2 - Sweet course 2 - Sweet (7) course (7) 

3 - Science of space travel (12) 

4 - Enjoy greatly (6) 

4 - Enjoy greatly (6) 

6 - Established custom (5) 

7 - Diabolically 6 - Established cruel (8) custom (5) 

8 - Make a guess 7 - Diabolically that is too cruel high (8) (12) 

12 - Muddled (8) 

15 - Unit of sound intensity (7) 

12 - Muddled (8) 

16 - Shelter (6) 

18 - Woodwind 15 - Unit instruments of sound intensity (5) (7) 

19 - Large group of cattle (4) 

3 - Science of space travel (12) 

8 - Make a guess that is too high (12) 

16 - Shelter (6) 

18 - Woodwind instruments (5) 

19 - Large group of cattle (4) 

4 13 4 6 2 3 25 19 6 3 25 11 

12 1 14 6 4 19 

25 4 26 25 18 11 25 20 26 

24 7 16 25 6 14 11 5 18 5 

6 5 25 24 3 16 4 6 5 

17 5 4 6 3 25 25 18 5 14 

12 26 5 15 8 2 

7 3 5 8 8 19 26 14 10 5 

4 26 18 5 2 4 18 8 6 

20 16 25 3 15 5 24 20 5 2 

21 19 5 19 5 6 3 5 25 

2 22 14 25 5 13 

2 17 11 4 9 14 24 23 5 11 25 11 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 

N 

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

X C 

SUDOKU 

Each of the nine blocks has to contain all the 

numbers 1-9 within its squares. Each number 

can only appear once in a row, column or box. 

WORDSEARCH FOR SILENT NIGHT 


answers in the next issue 

December 

Solutions 

Wise Men and St Paul meet Jesus 

The Wise Men and St Paul were both 

on trips when they first encountered 

Jesus, but how different those trips were! 

The Wise Men, whom we remember 

on Epiphany (6 Jan) were seeking the 

One for whom the Star shone, and 

came to Bethlehem to worship him. St 

Paul, whose conversion we remember 

this month (26 Jan), was on his way to 

Damascus, seeking to kill those who 

worshipped Jesus. When the Wise 

Men encountered the Baby Jesus, they 

worshipped Him and gave Him gifts of 

gold, frankincense and myrrh. When 

St Paul, the proud, fanatical Pharisee, 

encountered Jesus, he fell blinded on 

the road, and then worshipped Him by 

giving Him the rest of his life. St Paul 

endured years of suffering and hardships 

in his work as the great apostle to the 

Gentiles. His mighty faith in Christ has 

kindled similar belief in many hundreds 

of millions of people down the centuries. 

CONVERSION 

SUFFERING 

ENCOUNTER 

SEEKING 

APOSTLE 

BLINDED 

KILL 

BABY 

WISE 

MEN 

TRIPS 

PAUL 

JESUS 

DIFFERENT 

EPIPHANY 

BETHLEHEM 

GIFTS 

GOLD 

PROUD 

ROAD 

SHONE 

STAR 

CROSSWORD 

G A P S S M A S H I N G 

L I C U H N O 

O N E R O U S A N V I L 

R C S I R E D 

I C E M N P A S S E 

F O U G H T T N 

I A P O S J 

C M O C E A N U 

A V A I L L G L A B 

T L I I U O I 

I N G O T C H E R V I L 

O A A I D E E 

N O M I N A T E U R G E 

CODEWORD 

R O S E O F F I C E R S 

E P R L N T A 

S Q U E E Z E C L E A R 

I R J E O R I 

D E N O U N C E M E N T 

I V E P A W 

N E R V E S H E A L T H 

G U N M T I 

A B R A S I V E N E S S 

P B T C N X T 

A L I B I R E C I T A L 

L S N O Y O E 

M A H O G A N Y E L K S 

SUDOKU 

WORDSEARCH ANGELS



Trades & Services 

ACG SERVICES - LOCKSMITH 

Locks changed, fitted, repaired and opened 

Door and window locks fitted, UPVC door lock expert 

Checkatrade member - Which Trusted Trader 

Call Richard Homden: 0149 168 2050 / 0771 040 9216 

CLARK BICKNELL LTD - PLUMBING & HEATING 

Qualified Plumbing and Heating Engineers Gas Safe 

25 years experience - local family run company 

Office: 0118 961 8784 - Paul: 0776 887 4440 

paul@clarkbicknell.co.uk 

MC CLEANING 

We are a family business with excellent references 

and we are fully insured 

All cleaning materials provided 

For free quote call: Maria 0779 902 7901 

THAMES CHIMNEY SWEEPS 

0779 926 8123 0162 882 8130 

enquiries@thameschimneysweeps.co.uk 

http://www.thameschimneysweeps.co.uk 

Member of the Guild of Master Sweeps 

studio dfp 

complete graphic 

and web design 

service on your 

doorstep 

Since 1984 · 0118 969 3633 

david@designforprint.org 

To Advertise your Service or Products 

in the UK's Best Parish Magazine 

and which is delivered free to every 

home in Charvil, Sonning and Sonning 

Eye, as well as to all members of 

St Andrew's Church who live outside 

the church parish, and the many 

visitors to the Church contact Harriet: 

advertising@theparishmagazine.co.uk 

BERKSHIRE STUMP REMOVALS 

Stump grinding and tree stump removal 

Latest narrow access machinery 

Contact: Mark 

0798 495 7334 http://www.berkshirestumpremoval 

HANDYMAN & DECORATING SERVICES 

Reliable and affordable 

Small jobs a speciality! 

Call Andy on 0795 810 0128 

http://www.handyman-reading.co.uk 

COMPUTER FRUSTRATIONS? 

For jargon free help with your computer problems 

PC & laptop repairs, upgrades, installations, virus removal 

Free advice, reasonable rates 

0798 012 9364 help@computerfrustrations.co.uk 

BIG HEART TREE CARE 

Reliable and friendly service for all tree care 

NPTC qualified — Public Liability of £10million 

0118 937 1929 0786 172 4071 

bighearttreecare.co.uk info@bighearttreecare.co.uk 

SMALLWOOD 

Landscaping, garden construction, 

patios, lawns, fencing, decking etc 

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

office@smallwoodlandscaping.co.uk

CHILDREN'S PAGE 

The Parish Magazine - January 2024 41




42 The Parish Magazine - January 2024 Please mention The Parish Magazine when replying to advertisements 

information — 2 

Parish contacts 

Ministry Team 

— The Vicar: Revd Jamie Taylor (Day off Friday) 

The Parish Office, Thames Street, Sonning, RG4 6UR 

vicar@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298 

— Youth Minister: Chris West (Westy) 

youthminister@sonningparish.org.uk / 0794 622 4106 

— Licensed Lay Minister: Bob Peters 

bob@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 377 5887 

— Female Youth and Children's Worker, Corinne Robertson, 

0118 969 3298 

Children's Ministry 

— Alison Smyly office@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298 

Churchwardens 

— Stuart Bowman sdbowman73@aol.com / 0118 978 8414 

— Liz Nelson liz.nelson1@ntlworld.com / 0779 194 4270 

Deputy Churchwardens 

— Simon Darvall sdarvall@businessmoves.com / 0793 928 2535 

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

— Sue Peters mail@susanjpeters.com / 0118 377 5887 

— Ruth Jeffrey, 0118 969 3298 

— Molly Woodley (deputy churchwarden emeritus) 

mollywoodley@live.co.uk / 0118 946 3667 

Parish Office Manager 

— Hilary Rennie 

office@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298 

Parochial Church Council 

— Secretary: Hilary Rennie 0118 969 3298 

— Treasurer: Jerry Wood 0118 969 3298 

Director of Music, organist and choirmaster 

— Richard Meehan MA ARCO 

music@sonningparish.org.uk 

Safeguarding Officer 

— Nicola Riley 0118 969 3298 

Sonning Bell Ringers 

— Tower Captain: Pam Elliston 

pam.elliston@talktalk.net / 0118 969 5967 

— Deputy Tower Captain: Rob Needham 

r06needham@gmail.com / 0118 926 7724 

Parish Website: http://www.sonningparish.org.uk 

The Parish Magazine: http://www.theparishmagazine.co.uk 

— Editor: Bob Peters 

editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk / 0118 377 5887 

— Advertising: Harriet Nelson / 0770 707 7773 

advertising@theparishmagazine.co.uk / 

— Print and Distribution: Gordon Nutbrown 

classified@theparishmagazine.co.uk / 0118 969 3282 

— Treasurer: Pat Livesey pat.livesey@yahoo.co.uk / 0118 961 8017 

— The Parish Magazine is produced by St Andrew’s PCC and delivered 

free of charge to every home in Charvil, Sonning and Sonning Eye. 

— The Parish Magazine is printed in the United Kingdom by The Print 

Factory at Sarum Graphics Ltd, Old Sarum, Salisbury SP4 6QX 

— The Parish Magazine is distributed by Abracadabra Leaflet 

Distribution Ltd, Reading RG7 1AW 

— The Parish Magazine template was designed in 2012 by Roger 

Swindale rogerswindale@hotmail.co.uk and David Woodward 

david@designforprint.org 

Advertisers' index 

ABD Construction 6 

Abbeyfield Wey Valley Society 6 

ACG Services Locksmith 36 

Active Security 28 

AMS Water Softeners 20 

Barn Store Henley 6 

Berkshire Stump Removals 36 

Big Heart Tree Care 36 

Blandy & Blandy Solicitors 12 

Blue Moose 18 

Bridges Home Care 10 

Computer Frustrations 36 

Design for Print 28 

Good Oaks Homecare 18 

Great House Sonning 10 

Handyman and Decorating Services 36 

Haslams Estate Agents 2 

Hicks Group 16 

Home Stair Lifts 18 

Kingfisher Bathrooms 28 

MC Cleaning 36 

Mill at Sonning 40 

Muck & Mulch 32 

Reading Blue Coat School 12 

Richfield Flooring 14 

Shiplake College 14 

Sonning Golf Club 14 

Sonning Scouts Marquees 36 

Thames Valley Water Softeners 6 

Tomalin Funerals 10 

Walker Funerals 10 

Water Softener Salt 16 

Window Cleaner 16 

Would you like to join the list? 

To advertise your service or 

products in the winner of National 

Parish Magazine 2023 competition, 

and which is 

delivered free to 

every home in 

Charvil, Sonning 

and Sonning Eye, 

as well as to all 

members of St 

Andrew's Church 

who live outside 

the church 





parish — and the many visitors 

to the Church, contact: Harriet: 

advertising@theparishmagazine.co.uk 

May 2023 — Pentecost 



The Parish Magazine - May 2023 1 


Best Overall 2015, 2020, 2022, 




CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY



A shared passion for 

the finest care 

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

Every day is different, but our exemplary 

standards of care remain constant, delivered by 

a highly trained and dedicated team of clinical 

nursing and care staff that ensure our residents 

maintain their independence, dignity and enjoy 

a fulfilling day. 

Our welcoming, elegant Georgian country 

house on the edge of Twyford offers a timeless 

calm with stunning views across the grounds to the 

Visit bridgehouseoftwyford.co.uk 

river Loddon, whilst our newly built rehabilitation 

centre provides access to short 

term recovery and recuperation though the in 

house team of therapists. 

To discuss your nursing, residential or 

rehabilitation needs, or a visit, please contact 

our new Care Home Manager Rachel Stoneman 

at enquiries@bridgehouseoftwyford.co.uk or 

01189 340777 

A shared passion for later living 

BRIDGE HOUSE 

of Twyford



The French Horn, 

Sonning. Quality. 

A continuing commitment to 

wonderful food and wine. 

0118 969 2204 

www.thefrenchhorn.co.uk

The Parish Magazine January 2024

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