Bride Valley News Ocober 2000

Two months ago I wrote about the supposedly greener grass on the other side of the English Channel. Your Vicar has been on his travels again, this time in late August to solemnise the Wedding of a godson who lives near Montreal. I went over to Canada by myself, and despite this had no great problems: no punctures, no shortage of food or "gas", and reasonable weather, with the evenings full of aggressive mosquitoes, and gentle reminiscing with my friend of over 50 years and his family.

In the middle of all this came the Wedding itself, and a Service similar but not identical to the Modern English Church of England rite. I had to concentrate really hard to prevent myself from lapsing into the words I was so familiar with, but at the end of the afternoon, James was properly married to beautiful Gina, and the 200 or so guests enjoyed a lavish and lively reception.

By the end of this year I will have officiated at 6 Weddings, including my Canadian godson's and my daughter's in Charmouth. That leaves 4 in the Bride Valley (east end). Consultations with my colleague, the Rector, has indicated that the total number of Bride Valley church weddings this year has been 6, from a population of over 2000. This is an average of one per summer month. At my godson's Church in a community double the size of the Bride Valley, and in which there are other churches of different denominations, there has been an average of 6 weddings per month.

Now I know that one must be careful with such comparisons, and no two communities are identical, but this does seem to support the feelings of many clergy, namely that it is only in the United Kingdom of first world countries, that the number of Church weddings is continuing to decline. As I heard on the radio recently, 'weddings (over here) are out of fashion'.

Is it really unfashionable for couples publicly to commit their lives and their love to each other, nurturing and developing a relationship, which Christians believe, will last into eternity? Put differently, should people allow fashion to dictate the course of love, for I cannot believe that people are losing the capacity to love each other so much that they are prepared to unite themselves in a state which should endure for ever?

Teresa of Avila, Teacher, 1582. Teresa travelled through Spain founding convents of the Carmelite Order. She combined the life of religious contemplation with that of 'intense activity and commonsense efficiency in practical affairs, and she recorded the results of both in literary form.'

16 Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of London, and Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Worcester, Reformation Martyrs, 1555.

19 Henry Martyn, Translator of the Scriptures, Missionary in India and Persia, 1812.

James Hannington, Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa, Martyr in Uganda, 1885.

The Bride Valley Team Council next meets on Thursday 16th November 2000 at 7.30 pm in Puncknowle Church Hall.

We begin this October a new course, this time looking at the prophet Micah. It will consist of 8 sessions, each one being held first at the west end, then at the east end of the Bride Valley, so that if your diary does not permit you attending at your end of the valley for a particular session, you can always go to the other end.

The course will last until Lent next year, and the 5 sessions up to Christmas, all beginning at 7.30pm and ending by 9.30pm are planned as follows:-

If you already have next year's diary, the dates for the remaining 3 sessions are:-

Don't forget that whatever your Biblical knowledge, you are most welcome to join us.

Sunday Club (East End). How sad it is for me to have to write that the Sunday Club at Litton Cheney is no more. Trevor and Hilary, Jethro and Beryl, Wendy, Avril, Hannah and many more in recent years, have given so much to entertain and enthuse our children and to help them learn a little about the Bible and Christian living. There have also been camps and expeditions and parties, love and commitment and good humour. The Sunday Club will be missed indeed, and our thanks are due, in great measure, to its leaders and helpers, past and present.

I would suspect that there are many reasons for the Club's decision to cease functioning: commitments elsewhere, increasingly obtrusive legislation, and perhaps most significantly declining interest. That wretched cliché "use it or lose it" applies just as much to organisations as to local businesses like village shops and post offices, and the inevitable has happened. However there are alternatives already in place at the east end of the valley. There are 9.30am Family Services every month at Puncknowle (1st Sunday), Littlebredy (2nd Sunday), Long Bredy (3rd Sunday) and Litton Cheney (4th Sunday). These are intended for children and adults, and give an opportunity for all age learning and worship. They are there for everybody in the Bride Valley.....

Suggestions for the future include the starting-up, in due course, of a "new" Sunday Club, and a Christian after-school activity. Are there others?

The Grand Organ Trip. Those 90 or so individuals, who supported this Millennium event on 9th August, enjoyed one of the most memorable days I have ever had anything to do with. Starting at about 10 o'clock on a lovely summer's day, participants enjoyed short talks and organ recitals in the churches at Swyre, Puncknowle, Litton Cheney, Long Bredy, Littebredy, Shipton Gorge and Burton Bradstock, with the day ending at about 7.30pm. There was morning coffee at Puncknowle (thank you, Church ladies), afternoon tea at Shipton Gorge (thank you again, Church ladies), and a splendid mildly alcoholic lunch at Long Bredy (thank you, W.I.). All arrangements ran extremely efficiently, and the letters of appreciation received afterwards testified to a success of successes.

The day itself was the glittering tip of a titanic ice-berg of research, organisation, practice and dedication by the wonderfully gifted Elizabeth Thornburn, who in addition to the superb playing, must have spent hundreds of hours in preparation. And her work continues, for she has provided the churches with considerable information on the history, specification, condition and restoration of their organs. In this enormous and historic undertaking, Elizabeth was helped and supported by the Pearse family, and especially by Mark and Josephine.

There has been a small profit on the day, and this will be used to promote organ playing in the Bride Valley, after consultation with Elizabeth.

Thank you, Elizabeth, for enabling the musical soul of the Bride Valley to be recognised.

The Bible Society Annual Series of Autumn Lectures will be given by the Rev. Stephen Thornton ( Training Officer of the United Reformed Church - Wessex Province) on Thursdays, 2nd, 9th and 16th November (7.30 - 9.0 p.m.) in the United Church, Bridport. The first session is entitled "Abraham to Israel", with emphasis on Amos and Hosea. The second lecture features "The Exile", with emphasis on Ezekiel and Isaiah. The last evening concludes with "The Return" with emphasis on Jonah. These evenings are sponsored by the Bridport and District Bible Society Action Group and Bridport Churches Together.

Just a reminder for your diary. At 12.30 pm Susan Clowes, SHELTER Housing Aid Manager for Somerset and Dorset, will be coming to Litton Cheney Church Hall to tell us about SHELTER'S work, locally and nationally.

Do come and support this vital work, and have a glass of wine and sandwiches (£1 per person; soft drinks available).

The Autumn Term is now well under way and our new Infant children have settled into the routine of school life. Do you remember your first day at school? My memories are of feelings and smells. The feeling of being parted from mum, of confusion and loneliness amongst strange children and adults, the smell of the wooden floors mixed with school dinner being cooked, disinfectant and school milk.

I have no idea what process of familiarisation by the school led up to my first day, I suspect that little thought went into it and I certainly paid no preliminary visits.

Much care is taken these days in inducting young children into school. Parents receive detailed booklets 6 months before their child starts. One of these, the school brochure, outlines all school routines, procedures, curriculum and exam results. They are also encouraged to visit, to gain a picture of school life well before their child starts with us. Parents then come to a meeting during the term before their child starts. I explain the school aims and ethos to them and Sheila Loftus, Head of Infants, outlines the daily routine, describes the initial assessment process the children are taken through, and answers any questions and concerns.

Sheila and I visit the children's playgroups so they can gain an initial impression of us. (I tend to clown around with musical instruments and songs, so they are under no illusion of what they are letting themselves in for) and the children also visit for two mornings in the term before they start.

Finally in their first term with us Sheila works with each child and their parents in compiling a 'Baseline Assessment' that provides a profile of where they are academically and socially. This is then used as a reference map to measure progress.

This induction process sounds complex and it is. To achieve successful induction requires such a process and high-class professional staff. The Reception teacher's work underpins all that follows in a child's school life and in Sheila I am blessed with one of the best in the profession.

Humble apologies to the Bosworth family for not getting a mention in despatches in the last B.V.N. Simon, the youngest Bosworth left in July, being the last of three wonderful children. My excuse is that mum, Hil Bosworth is still very active as a school Governor and so in a way the family have not left.well either that or creeping senility, I'll let you be the judge!

For Sale:- Macintosh LC computer complete with Ink jet Printer and extra Ram installed. Software including Microsoft Works and Norton Utilities all loaded and ready to go. Also discs, handbooks and guides.

This is an excellent beginners machine with good basic Word processing, Spreadsheet and Database programs. (E-mail and the Web not so easy but may be possible.)

The best offer over £50 before 14th October will secure. For more details please telephone David Kane at (01308) 897851.

Term goes on and all the new members of the school are settled and wondering what life was like before Thorner's, as do I! This term Class 4 are studying the recent history of Britain (since 1948) and I realise that I have lived through a great part of it! Not a pleasant thought or even one to dwell on, but needs must for me to deliver this part of the National Curriculum. I look back to my childhood when I was able to go out for hours on end during the summer holidays especially, skipping, running, inventing games, hide and seek, chase and playing in the fields surrounding the house with my friends. Our parents did not worry (or so it seemed to us), or if they did it was 'will they fall in the stream?' We always went back when we were hungry! How life has changed, now as parents we do need to think about where our children are, with whom and doing what? Even down here in the depths of Dorset, time seems to have stood still in many ways and the dangers far away, but are they? I cannot start to list the variety of things which have appeared in our homes during this time, and the new frontiers reached in space, it is all so hard to believe. If progress continues at this pace my parents would not recognise the world. When I started school in .. as a family we had no car, no colour television, no microwaves, no CDs, no computers, and were told stories about the 'man in the moon enjoying his cheese'. I expect a number of you could add to this list and tell quite a few stories. Do take the time to pass on this information to others, it may sound boring to you but it is living history.

This September the Government have imposed new guidelines on teaching the remaining curriculum. More and more choice is being taken away from the teacher; we are told what to teach and left to decide how best to deliver it - and yet isn't Mr Blair questioning comprehensives for doing just that? I keep wondering when we will start circling the other way and reversing all the 'new' trends. Quite a few staff meetings were spent on revising the topics we would be studying within each class. No sooner have we built up resources for a topic but it is removed from the curriculum. How are schools expected to manage with all the changes and still provide the same standards of resourcing from one year to the next? Some things never change and the football season is one of them. This year I have found it very difficult to choose a team as it seems all the class want to follow in the steps of last year's group ... winning the Kenway Cup. Our aim is to try and repeat what happened 10 years ago... winning two years following. Keep watching this space to find out how it goes. In the meantime we are enjoying the mini tournament within the cluster schools and are hoping to increase our skill with handball as well as netball, encouraging pupils to participate in tournaments to win, but also to compete. Being part of a team is a very difficult lesson for some youngsters as they want all the glory for themselves. I would hope to get the happy balance of working together to achieve success and fulfilling their own desire for acknowledgement of their part in that success.

Our fund-raising efforts continue. Thanks to Mike Lawless we benefited from a B-B-Q at the Crown Puncknowle and Chris Parsons did a sponsored leg-wax for us at the New Inn, Shipton Gorge, on the Friday evening before the Shipton Street Fair, from which we shall also be benefiting. We have held a Coffee Morning in Littlebredy, thanks to the Armstrong family and there is one arranged for Shipton Gorge on 18th November. The Venn Family did a sponsored walk of 163 miles along the South West Coast Path from Minehead to Padstow during 12th August and 2nd September for our Hut Appeal. We shall be running a Christmas Draw during the months up to Christmas. Our Scouts sold catalogues at the Melplash Show and also helped lead the animals in on the Champions' Parade. The Cubs have canoed at West Bay and we have been sailing again at Sutton Bingham. We now have two qualified instructors and hope to get a third. The plans for our hut are now finalised and the architect has submitted them for Building Regulations Approval. Please could anyone who has a green Scout Shirt, a green Cub Jersey or a Grey Beaver Sweatshirt and has no need of them, please contact me as we are trying to build up a stock of second hand uniforms.

A. A voluntary car service run by Dorset County Council to assist in mainly rural areas those who, through circumstances have no private transport and for whom public transport is not suitable, to fulfil essential needs. A modest charge is made for use.

A. Visits to doctor, dentist, collecting prescriptions, necessary shopping visits to people in hospital etc.

A. Volunteers who can make themselves available, say twice a month to do a trip. These people are of great value to our community, for this service they receive a mileage allowance from the County.

A. Of course, that is why I am telling you this. More drivers are needed to keep the scheme viable.

Please note that the Bus Service No. 45 from Litton Cheney to Bridport (9.20a.m.) and from Bridport to Litton Cheney (2.45 p.m.) does not run any more. The Town and West Bay timetables remain unaltered for the present

Mothers' Union The next meeting will be held at Hazel Brow, Shipton Lane, Burton Bradstock on Thursday 26th October at 2.30 p.m. We shall be shown a video entitled 'Family Matters', which portrays vividly work and projects being undertaken by Mothers' Union members.

Autumn approaches yet again with the start of our new lecture programme. The first meeting is a talk by Mr Ray Adams on "Bulbs and Herbaceous Plants for the coming season". This will be held at Thorner's School on Monday 9th October commencing at 7.30 p.m. We hope to see as many members as possible at this meeting; guests and prospective new members are particularly welcome.

As agreed at the AGM we will be using King's for our seed order this year. Hopefully by the time you read this notice you will have received your personal catalogue and order form. John Rowlands

The next meeting is on October 11th at 8.00 pm at the home of Susie Miles, Garden Close, Litton Cheney. The speaker will be from the charity 'Breakthrough'. New members are always welcome.

The Annual Poppy Appeal Band Concert will be held in the W.I. Hall Burton Bradstock on Friday 13th October. Tickets are available from the Post Office or from a member of the Committee.

The following article is included by special request, being a sermon preached in a Valley church one Sunday in September

'A soft fleshy viscus, movable ( sic) in all directions'; 'a restless evil which only the grace of God can bring under subjection'; 'the organ of speech, enabling man to give utterance'. Three very different definitions of the tongue, the first an anatomical definition from the last century, the second the biblical definition as conceived by St. James, and the third a modern definition to be found in a 20th century dictionary. The tongue is therefore an organ of some importance and great complexity. The author of the Letter was probably the brother of our Lord and it is thought that he was converted at some point between Christ's resurrection and his ascension. He was a man of considerable influence and authority and eventually became the head of the Christian Church in Jerusalem. This Letter was written in 43 A.D. mainly to Christian Jews who were in danger of regarding the outworking of faith as unimportant. The Letter represents an attempt to demonstrate that 'faith without works is dead'. Faith needs to show itself in actions and not just in words. "Be doers of the Word," says James, "and not hearers only." St. James was martyred some twenty years after writing this epistle. In the 3rd chapter of James the writer likens the tongue to 'a bit that is put in a horse's mouth enabling the rider to control the whole animal'; or 'think of a large ship,' writes James. 'Which can be turned by the slightest movement of a small rudder.' Imagine a forest fire, kindled by the tiniest spark. So it is with the tongue. It is one of the smallest parts of the human frame, but it has the power to build or destroy, to encourage or condemn. The tongue is small enough to remain hidden most of the time. It is sharp enough to hurt and wound at the merest whim of its owner. It is strong enough to act like a wild beast, liable if uncontrolled, to break loose and do a great deal of damage. James says this: 'The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil.nothing but the grace of God can bring it under subjection. It is a restless evil.' No wonder the psalmist was moved to resort to God in prayer: 'Set a watch,' he prayed, ' before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.'

The tongue has the awesome power to wreak havoc in the wrong ownership or to spread happiness and encouragement when under God's control. The cheery greeting, the simple expression of thanks, the word of encouragement, the message of comfort to someone in distress. It costs so little, but it achieves more than we shall ever know when it comes from the heart and with God's blessing upon it.

Uncontrolled and in the ownership of carnal man, it is, as James warns us, a most damaging weapon. It reveals itself openly in lies, slander and abuse. It can bring an end to a promising career. I have known, indirectly, of two good people whose teaching careers have been ruined by accusations proved later to have been false but the damage had been done. It can reveal its influence in more subtle ways. How easy it is for all of us to embellish a story or to misrepresent the facts in order to win approval. How easy to offer criticism which is both negative and hurtful. Our Lord said, "Judge not, that ye be not judged."

Three friends in my life stand out largely because they have learned to say little unless they are sure it is both constructive and helpful. They leave others to do the talking so that, when pressed for an opinion, it is usually worth hearing. We need, as Christians, to be good listeners. We need also to allow space for others, and more especially for God, to speak to us.

Finally there is the old enemy malicious gossip: damaging chit-chat that goes on behind one's back - it happens even in church circles - leaving the victim powerless to defend himself or herself. Most of us will have suffered from this at some time or other in our lives, and if we're honest, we have all unwittingly become a part of it. The thing we found most upsetting when we ran a small school in the Midlands was gossip amongst parents while waiting to pick up their children. It sometimes appeared that parents had little else to talk about but the cruel injustice of school and how so-and-so was always picking on their child. It didn't seem to occur to the parents concerned that a more constructive and honest way of dealing with the problem would have been to book an appointment with the Head.

The writer of 'Ecclesiasticus' in the Apocrypha says this: "Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not as many as have fallen by the tongue." Perhaps a line from Samuel Taylor Coleridge sums it up most aptly: 'Whispering tongues can poison truth.'

A great friend of ours likened the tongue to a traitor. It is always giving us away. It betrays firstly our health. The first thing the doctor says to us is, "Let me see your tongue." And from his observation he can get a shrewd idea of whether we are fit or ill. So it is that the person whose speech is larded with lies, gossip and unhelpful criticism reveals a pretty poor state of spiritual health. Secondly it betrays our nationality. However well a foreigner may speak our language, he usually betrays himself by his accent. Christians too, by the truthful, humble, generous way in which they speak, will show they are citizens of the Kingdom of God.

I came across these four lines recently; amusing they may be, but true nonetheless:

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These will be held at the Town Hall, Bridport from 9.30 am - 12.30 pm on the following dates:

14 different charities will be represented. Cards, calenders and small gifts will be on sale.

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Mid Week Worship - Holy Communion Wednesdays at 10.00 a.m. followed by coffee in the Rectory

Choir Practices Fridays at 6.00 p.m.

Gift Sunday 15th October The Pilsdon Community

The next Tiny Tots / Pram Service will be held on Friday 6th October at 11.00 am.

The next Healing Services at St Mary's will be held on Wednesdays 18th October (St Luke's Day), 8th November and 6th December, each at 7.00 pm.

The Parochial Church Council next meets on Monday 16th October in church at 7.00 pm.

FROM THE PARISH REGISTERS

Burial of Ashes 14th August E. R. J. (Bob) Hawkins

ELAINE'S SHOW of SHOWS

YES, a Millennium Show of Shows - 'Encore' in the WI Hall at 7.30pm. Thursday 26th October, Friday 27th October & Saturday 28th October.

Tickets will go on sale 9.00am TUESDAY 10th OCTOBER at Burton Bradstock Post Office, price £3.50 each. All seats are numbered.

FIRST COME FIRST SERVED. These shows sell out fast. Profits to Breakthrough (Breast Cancer) & B V Scout Hut Appeal.

BADMINTON

This restarts in the W.l. Hall on Tuesdays commencing 4th October from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. All welcome. For more information contact Peter Colbert 897922.

TABLE TENNIS

This restarts in the W.l. Hall on Tuesdays commencing 4th October from 6.00pm - 8.00pm. Children & adults welcome. For more information contact John Crawford 898139.

Peter Colbert

20th Burton Bradstock Festival -18th & 19th August

August would not be the same without the Burton Bradstock Festival. It was with great pleasure we learned that Mary Ryan, without whom there would be no concerts, had once more organised a festival for us.

On Friday we had an evening of Chamber music, the choice of which was perfect for the intimate atmosphere of the Church. David Mason opened the concert with his splendid playing of the Trumpet Tune by John Stanley. Mary Ryan and Hubert Dawkes, who always play so beautifully together, performed a Sonata for Flute and Piano by Gaubert. In the Turino Piano Trio and the Haydn String Quartet Op 3 no 5 in F, we were treated to some beautiful ensemble playing with fine tone and phrasing. After the Trumpet Minuet by Hollins, David Jutitz, violin, Martin Kegellmann, violin, John Couling, viola, and Helena Binney, cello were joined by the well known clarinetist, Colin Bradbury, for a delightful performance of the Mozart Clarinet Quintet, one of his most enchanting and moving works.

The audience was delighted to see the return of all the London Festival Players on the Saturday evening. This concert was once again opened by David Mason playing a Sonata for Trumpet and Strings by Purcell; followed by the well loved Adagio by Albinoni. We then enjoyed two Bach concertos; John Couling playing the Viola Concerto in A .and David Juritz giving a lovely interpretation of the Violin Concerto in A minor.

A warm welcome was given to the return of Norman Jones, cello, who gave a spirited rendering of the Variations on One String by Paganini. The evening ended with the London Festival Players joining Mary Ryan and Norman, under the baton of John Couling, in his own arrangement of the Variations on a Theme from the Magic Flute, by Beethoven.

Anne Southgate

HOME WATCH

Winter is almost upon us, and I would remind all residents of the need for special security in their homes. Our Home Watch scheme continues to be successful in deterring the potential thief. If you are out after dark, arrange for lights to come on at dusk by using an interrupter or delay switch, preferably in a room with curtains drawn. Our local police are always happy to advise on home security and can be contacted direct on Bridport 422266 or Beaminster 862222.

It is again necessary to draw your attention to dishonest workmen. They deceive the more vulnerable in our society by extorting large sums of money as payment for minor or inferior work to roof repairs, tree/hedge cutting and drive repairs. All doorstep callers should be treated with caution. Use your door chain and ask for identification, leaving your door chain on while checking details with employer or police. If work is required, householders are advised to obtain written quotations from reliable local tradesmen. Items should not be sold to visiting antiques or other dealers calling.

New residents may obtain Home Watch stickers from their local co-ordinator, whose name can be found in the Post Office, the Village Store or on the Parish Notice Board in the village. There has been one recent change in co-ordinators:- Mr William (Bill) Mann - Annings Lane - 898177. Stickers should be prominently displayed, clearly visible to anyone approaching the property. Freddy Tame.

BRIDE VALLEY NEWS DISTRIBUTION

I am updating the list of numbers of copies of the News required by each distributor. Would you kindly 'phone me to confirm or otherwise advise me if any change, up or down, should be made. This will avoid constant notes of alterations being made. Thank you. Elaine Tame 897957

Burton Bradstock Women's Institute

Members paid a silent tribute to Sylvia Anthony who has died after a long illness. Sylvia had been our link with the W.I. in New Zealand for several years and had remained in close touch with us, even though she had not been well enough to attend recent meetings. President Wendy Green welcomed 40 members and 2 guests to the September meeting. In the balmy warmth of an Indian Summer evening a presentation entitled "Christmas is Coming" seemed hardly appropriate. However, we were delighted to welcome back Mrs. Pamela Miley, a vivacious, stunning lady of many talents, not least her innovative skill and ability to recycle anything and make something out of nothing. This time she brought along an array of attractive Christmas decorations and useful and acceptable gifts, all hand-sewn to perfection, using fabric, ribbons, polystyrene balls, sequins, beads, pretty pins, bias binding and cotton wool. Bursting with enthusiasm and practical tips, her best piece of advice for surviving the culinary demands of Christmas Day is to sip a champagne cocktail at 11.0 am and the rest of the day will go smoothly.

Wendy Green read out a number of letters of thanks she had received for the Millennium picnic and evening show in July, and Joan Dady was presented with a bouquet of roses in appreciation of her special efforts and particularly her inspirational idea of booking The Yetties two years ago. Members were encouraged to support the forthcoming Promotion Afternoon and Craft Competition, the Group Meeting on 19th October, tapestry and badminton sessions, monthly walks and the new Drama Group about to be formed. On a final serious note, Wendy appealed for volunteers to replace the President, Hon. Secretary and Press Officer, all of whom are retiring in November, and without these essential offices the Burton Bradstock Women's Institute will fold. Please come forward and Save your Institute!

Flower of the Month was won by Cynthia Stevens with a magnificent red and yellow dahlia, and Lovely Linda Leaf, the lady in charge of flowers at our local Safeway's store, was thanked for her beautiful pedestal arrangement and President's table display. 100 Club winners were Tess Pritchard, Jill Spinney, Wendy Green and Jeanne Hill.

Carol Lumley

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SWYRE Holy Trinity Swyre

Village Correspondent: Mrs.Gilly Doar

Paddock Lodge Swyre

FROM THE REGISTERS

Burial of Cremated Remains John Hammond Doar, aged 92, on 15th August 2000

SONGS OF PRAISE

Our 5-Sunday Season, from July 30th to August 27th was most successful, and apart from the one evening when almost the whole of Dorset was rained off, attendances were up on last year. Our thanks to the hymn choosers, the Briddy Choir, and especially Paul Cheater who played for 4 of the Services.

Anthony Ashwell

Congratulations to Robert Dickinson who has passed his A levels with top grades. He will now take up a place at Oxford to study Modern History.

Swyre Parish Meeting

A further meeting was held on the 5th September to discuss the Grouping of Swyre Parish with Puncknowle and West Bexington Parish. The meeting, which was the next stage in the procedure, was attended by officers from West Dorset District Council, District Councillor, Mrs Pritchard, members of Puncknowle and West Bexington Parish Council and Swyre Parish Meeting.

It was agreed that should the Grouping go ahead there will be two Councillors to represent Swyre on the Group Council. Matters concerning the Parish Precept will need to be fully discussed by the two parishes and I shall have further details to bring to the Parish Meeting on the 4th October.

Would you please note that the October meeting is very important and decisions that affect all parishioners will be explained and discussed, it would be helpful if a member of all households could attend.

An agenda to advise order of business and venue will be circulated as usual. Madeline Marshall

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St Mary's Puncknowle PUNCKNOWLE & WEST BEXINGTON

Village Correspondent: Mrs Dorothy Barlow

Collingbourne, Hoopers Lane, Puncknowle

Telephone: (01308) 897761

HARVEST THANKSGIVING. By the time most people read this, St Mary's Church celebrations will be over. On Sunday October 1st we have:- 11.00am Harvest Family Service

12.00 noon onwards Harvest Lunch in the Hall.

(Ann Roberts has further details )

HEALING SERVICE. Being the Sunday nearest St Luke's Day, our October 15th Matins will be replaced by our annual Healing Service. Healing is a misunderstood, if not forgotten, part of the Christian Ministry, and all are welcome to this Service, for we all need both healing and wholeness. Anthony Ashwell

Congratulations to Reg Wheeler of Looke Lane who celebrates his 93rd birthday on October 12th.

Puncknowle, Swyre & West Bexington Social Evening

The first meeting for this session will be held in the Church Hall at 7.30 p.m. on Thursday October 12th. (Please note the change of day) Everyone is welcome and details of the Speaker will be announced at a later date.

Millennium Fete

Thank you again to everyone who so generously supported this year's fete. The net profit totalled just over £6,500. Of this amount, £4,500 was given to the Puncknowle Parochial Church Council to be divided amongst Puncknowle and Swyre Parish Churches and Puncknowle Hall. £400 went to the Bride Valley Scouts Hut Appeal and £200 to the Bride Valley Fledglings playgroup.. The remainder is being retained by the Millennium Committee to go towards the Millennium projects (such as the proposed seat on the Knoll and the conservation of the village cross). Once these projects have been completed and paid for, any money remaining will be divided amongst local charities. Carol Tyrrell

Puncknowle Art Group

The Meetings for October are Fridays 13th and 27th at The Crown

Christine Molony

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St Mary's Litton Cheney LITTON CHENEY

Village Correspondents:

Mrs. Gaynor Jones, 10 Manor Farm Close Tel.482517

Mrs. Elizabeth Kingston, 5 Manor Farm Close Tel.482384

One-off Change of Service Time: The Parish Communion on October 1st will, for this month only, be at 11 o'clock, not the usual 9.30am.

Anthony Ashwell

HARVEST THANKSGIVING at St Mary's Church will be at 11 o'clock on 8th October. The Service will be a more traditional "Country Thanksgiving" but with an opportunity for children to contribute. Although the Service is on the day after the village's Harvest Supper, it is being held later in the morning, and I do hope that as many as possible will come to praise and thank God for all his goodness.

Anthony Ashwell

SHIRLEY LAIRD has given the village a copy of her book "Mothers and Sons", which is most beautifully written and sets down her family's story, and their love of their cottage in Litton Cheney. If anybody fancies a really good read, the book can be borrowed from me.

Anthony Ashwell

LITTON CHENEY VILLAGE SOCIETY

Thorner's School Tuesday, October 17th 2000 at 8.00pm

Welcome to the next season's lectures.

We start with Mr. W. Putnam on the subject of 'Roman Roads of the area'. Some of you may remember his interesting talk on the aqueduct built by the Romans to supply the town of Dorchester (Durnovaria in their day). This included piped water to individual villas, an example of their excellent engineering. Come and discover how many of their road foundations we still tread daily.

Meg Turner

The Barbours' Revelry The Barbours would like to thank all their neighbours for their forbearance during their weekend of parties. The family parties were great fun. The Hospice Dinner on 5th September was enjoyed by over 200 guests and made £4000. We should like to thank everyone who contributed in so many ways, very very much. Lavinia and Robin Barbour

Thank you to everyone after my recent stay in hospital and especially to Noreen Maclaren for her prompt action. Mrs Irene Porter

Harvest Supper - Saturday October 7th

The Harvest Supper this year is being organised by the recently re-established Litton Cheney Social Committee. It will be at Thorner's School as usual on Saturday, October 7th at 6.30 for 7.00 pm. There will be a free glass of wine or other drink, a sit down three-course supper, a bar and band and dancing, and it should be a very enjoyable evening.

Prices of tickets are the same as last year - £5.00 for adults and £2.50 for people aged 16 and under. In addition there are 50 tickets at £2.50 for sale to people who wish to come to the dancing but not to the Harvest Supper.

A member of the committee should have called on everyone to sell tickets before you read this. If you have not bought a ticket yet, please ring Eddie Fry (482260).

Hugh Lindsay

Historic Churches Trusts Sponsored Bike Ride

Ian Slark and Freddie Spicer visited 37 churches cycling approximately 60 miles between 10.00 am and 6.00 pm. Well done to them both. They hope to have raised £400 in sponsorship. Their efforts will benefit the Historic Churches Trust, Litton Cheney Church and the Church in Long Bredy in memory of their cycling companion and friend, Patrick Frost.

Caroline Smart, after the disappointment of not being selected for the Sydney Olympics, had success at The Millennium Commonwealth Youth Games where she won 5 silver medals. Caroline, after passing 4 'A' levels, is now going to study Maths and Statistics at Portsmouth University where she will continue swimming under the guidance of a new coach and aim for the Olympics in 2004. We wish her every success. Keith and Susie Smart are now living at the newly built No. 1 Sunnyside Cottage. Their neighbours, whom we welcome to the village, are Stephen Owen at No. 2 and Neal Judd, Paula English and Morgan and Conal Judd-English at No. 3. A warm welcome is also extended to Isabella, William, Celia and Hester Underhill who have moved into Beech House following the closure of the shop. Jennie Cox has moved into her new home in Manor Farm Close and we wish her a happy retirement. Mr and Mrs Longland will be moving into Tythe Barn House. We wish them all happiness in their new homes.

Litton Cheney Relief in Need Trust

Are you retired?

Do you live in Litton Cheney?

Is your state pension your only or main source of income?

If you answer 'yes' to all of these questions you may be eligible for a grant from the Trust. For more information please contact Gordon Jenkins on 01308 482559 by 10th November.

If you normally receive an annual grant from the Trust you do not need to reapply.

Please could all articles for inclusion in the BVN be received by the correspondent by the 10th of the month. Thank you.

BIBLE SUNDAY falls this year on 29th October, and St Peter's Church will be having a special Service on that 5th Sunday morning at 11.00 am.

The 39 Articles of Religion of the Book of Common Prayer state that "Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation". It is good for us to remember this and to thank God accordingly.

No excuses for lateness by the way; the clocks go back that weekend, and it's an extra hour in bed that Sunday morning!

Birthday posies were presented to Carol Randall, Mildred Trenchard and Lisa Smith when members were welcomed to the first meeting after the summer break by President Elinor Frost. Four members will attend the Autumn Council Meeting at Weymouth and twenty two will go to the theatre outing in October. Treasurer, Mary Anderson, reported a healthy bank balance.

In August the Institute rose to the challenge of providing lunch for ninety six people taking part in the tour of church organs in the Bride Valley. All members contributed in some way and participants were very appreciative of the excellent food on a lovely, sunny day. Many letters of thanks have been received.

The Speaker was Barbara Whillock from Litton, who gave a most interesting and enjoyable talk on William Barnes, the Dorsetshire poet and mentor of Thomas Hardy. Born in 1800 in the Blackmoor Vale, he started his working life as a solicitor's clerk at the age of eighteen when he moved to Dorchester. He later became a schoolmaster, opening his first school at Mere in 1823. He was multi-talented, speaking many languages including Greek and Latin. He wrote the first of three volumes of "Poems of Rural Life in the Dorset Dialect" in 1844, and in fact his books in dialect always outsold those in spoken English. Members were given a copy of his poem "Clouds" in both, showing the differences between them. In 1847 he was ordained in Salisbury, holding the curacy of Whitcombe before becoming rector of Winterbourne Came in 1862, where he remained until he died in 1886.

Barbara's narrative was interspersed with a number of readings of his poems in Dorset dialect and she was warmly thanked by Phyllis White. Members were able to see the prints and cuttings she had brought to the meeting.

Mrs. B.Champkins, Pins Knoll, Chalkpit Lane, Litton Cheney, Dorchester, DT 2 9AN.

Congratulations to Charlie and Eleanor Pack of Number 8, Long Bredy on the arrival of a son, Toby, on Tuesday 5th September.

Palm, Trevor Toogood and Adrian Harrison have been cutting the grass this year. Trevor has been trying out some new mowers and so it looks as good as Wembley! Two attractive stone seats are in place. They are a leaving gift from Cedric and Sarah Littman and make an ideal viewing and resting point for Mums and Dads.

A stretch of chain link fencing has been put at the other end of the field to protect our neighbours from flying footballs. We are so fortunate to have this area in the middle of the village and that it continues to be administered by the Parish Council.

This will take place at Long Bredy Village Hall on Thursday 5th October at 6.30pm. Robin Pitcher and a team are going for two weeks to a village called Santana in Romania to take much-needed aid. Robin and the team will be creating four gardens and digging wells, so the local men can grow produce for the Feeding Centre which feeds a daily hot meal to 250 children. They are taking a 17.5 tonne lorry and they need to fill it with toys, garden tools, kitchen utensils, tinned foods (but not tinned meat products), personal toiletries ie.soap, bubble bath, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes. With the exception of toiletries, these items don't need to be new, just in good condition.

Please bring along anything you have to donate, or phone Rosemarie Pitcher on 01308 482486 to arrange for it to be picked up.

Help! Can you offer any grazing in the Bride Valley to Rosemary Dewhurst for her well-behaved horse and pony? If you can, please 'phone 482622 as soon as possible.

Harvest Supper As usual, this will take place in the Village Hall and will be held on Wednesday 4th October starting at 7.30 p.m. Tickets will cost £3.50. and are obtainable from the Churchwardens, Doris Benselin or Jo Harrison. Seating is limited, so buy your ticket early and join a very happy event. JPE Churchwarden

This is the new Artsreach show which will be staged at Shipton Gorge Village Hall on Wednesday 18th October at 7.30 p.m. 'My Kingdom for a Horse' is a one man play written and performed by Richard Derrington. Tickets priced at £4.50 are available on 01308 897547** or by calling at the New Inn or from members of the Hall Committee.

Richard Derrington, late of the Archers cast and currently playing at Alan Ayckbourne's Theatre in Scarborough in Ayckbourne's play 'Virtual Reality', appeared at Shipton Gorge before a full house and great acclaim in 'Taylor's Tickler'. This has now made 500 appearances worldwide from Las Vegas to the Royal National Theatre. The new show is imaginative and full of comedy. It speculates on the place in history of Yorkshire's most famous son Richard 111 (Villain or hero?), seen through the eyes of one Dickon Broome (Kent's least known brick-layer!), who is authentic and died on 28 December 1550.

I am sure you will recognise that Dickon Broome is the anglicised form of Richard Plantagenet! Fanciful or fact? Certainly intriguing. Historical fact and supposition are bound into an intriguing play by a master of his craft.

**Apologies for printing the incorrect telephone number in last month's BVN. We hope it did not cause too much confusion to our readers. Ed.

Village Theft - It saddens us to report that our 10 year old son, Tom, had his new birthday bike stolen on Thursday, 7th September. This happened right outside the front of 1 Rose Cottage, Brook Street. It was a red and silver Emmelle suspension bike with 15 gears.

The Queen Mother Cream Teas afternoon raised £99.23 for St. Martin's Church. Thank you to everyone who supported and helped at this occasion, and to the ladies who baked for us what is reputed to be the Queen Mother's favourite cake.

Everyone in the village will wish to know of a very special event in Rosamond Avenue this month - a Diamond Wedding

Harvest Thanksgiving Evensong, celebrating the Harvest, will take place at 6.30 pm on Sunday 1st October. We shall be delighted to welcome anyone from the Valley and beyond who would like to join us for our celebration.

Millennium Party A barbeque to celebrate the millennium was held in August. By slightly expanding the parish boundaries for the night, around 50 people were able to enjoy the party, held at Chilcombe Farm, courtesy of David and Barbara Fry. Tony and Karen Richards helped the Frys to organise the event and Rob and Ellen Roberts were in charge of barbequeing. A total of £95 was raised on the night and donated to Chilcombe Church - not a bad effort for a parish of only 6 households!

Christmas Service. A Christmas carol service will be held at Chilcombe on Friday, 22nd December at 6.30pm. It is hoped that as many of the village families as possible will take part in the service. An open meeting will be held at Rudge Farm in November to get together ideas for each family's part in the service. In the meantime, if anyone has any hitherto hidden talents, please let Sue Diment know (Tel:482630). How about some other musicians to join the flautist we already have?

Bride Valley News

October 2000

Index