Harvest Project News...
Our Harvest Appeal this year was to fund the important post of part time Bursar for the Juba Secondary School. Those of us who came to hear Caroline Ferguson speak at our Harvest Festival were moved by the progress the school has made and the student’s stories. At the moment the school is waiting for a new head teacher to be appointed and so the role of bursar to help with the school’s financial management is crucially important. Our target was £1000 and we have raised a wonderful £1108 with tax recovered. Thank you to everyone who gave. If you haven’t given and would like to, and are a tax payer, please fill in a yellow envelope from the church, mark it Sudan Project, and put it through John Williams door at Rosebower, Stratford sub Castle or place it in the Sunday offering.
Services at the Church of The Most Holy Redeemer, Bishopdown Mass Times: Saturday (for Sunday) 6.00pm.
Ring 333581 for more information
Are you feeling under the weather ?
Do you need help? - with transport, shopping, prescriptions collected, library books returned or someone to walk your dog? if you are not well. Maybe you would like someone to visit you, bring Holy Communion to you or keep you company for an hour or two if you are housebound.
For help or information on any or all of these, contact John Williams (323549)or Helen Rowe(325234)
Carols at `Kings Bridge Mead`
Jim Wade invites friends and neighbours to join him for a Christmas carol evening at King’s Bridge Mead (on the corner by the footpath near Castle Keep) on Friday December 4th at 6pm.
The Stratford Singers will be singing carols and collecting for Save The Children and Shaw Trust Horticultural project at Old Sarum.
Get the Christmas spirit going - give Jim a ring at Sal. 322738 to say you’ll be there.
Christmas Fair
A Huge thank you to all who supported the Fair this year. Despite vile weather and the recession we made an inclusive total of £1015, our best for four years. We were pleased to welcome the Mayor of Salisbury and Malcom, her consort. Cllr Bobbie Chettleborough is no stranger to Stratford and her beaming smile was a welcome sight on this dreadful day. My especial thanks go to David, who as well as being Father Christmas, did the setting up and oversaw the event during the afternoon, as I was unwell. My thanks also go to Elizabeth Winders, who so ably organised the teas, and has been a great support during the planning process, together with the good friends and neighbours who ran the various “Stratford” stalls. As always we had an excellent supply of preserves of very high quality, and lovely items donated for the gifts and food stalls.
The charities supported have benefited as follows:- Save the Children raised £181 from the sale of Christmas cards and £417 each was donated to Breakthrough Breast Cancer and St John Ambulance.
Christmas Carols Celebration. You are invited to join the Todd family at the Old Smithy, Horseshoes, on Wednesday 23rd December at 7.30 p.m. We will be entertained by the Stratford Singers and, by special request, the St Thomas` Church Handbell Ringers. There may be some other surprises too! Come along and join in the singing. Some idea of numbers will be appreciated.Refreshments, mince pies and hot cider punch. A collection will be taken for Save The Children and the work of the Shaw Trust Horticultural project at Old Sarum, who offer support and opportunities for people with disabilities.
David and Mary Todd Tel: 336692
23rd Salisbury Scout Christmas Post
Support your local group, buy your stamps 20p each from any Beaver, Cub, Scout or Leader in the 23rd Salisbury Scout group or by contacting David Todd tel (01722) 336692 or Rachel Squire tel (01722) 339006.
Last day for posting will be THURSDAY 10th DECEMBER 2009..
Locations where stamps can be delivered: Alderbury, Allington, Amesbury, Barford St Martin, Berwick St James, Boscombe, Boscombe down, Bishopstone, Bowerchalke, Broadchalke, Britford, Bulford, Burcombe, Charlton All Saints, Cholderton, Clarendon, Codford, Coombe Bissett, Dinton, Downton, Durnfords, Durrington, East Grimstead, Ebbesbourne Wake, Farley, Figheldean, Firsdown, Ford, Fovant, Gomeldon, Great Wishford, Harnham, Homington, Idmiston, Langfords, Larkhill, Laverstock, Lopcombe, Lover, Morgans Vale, Netherhampton, Newton Tony, Nunton, Odstock, Old Sarum, Orcheston, Pitton, Porton, Quidhamton, Redlynch, Salisbury, Shrewton, South Newton, Stapleford, Stratford Tony, Stoford, Tilshead, West Grimstead, Whaddon, Wilsford, Wilton, Winterbournes, Winterslow, Woodfalls, Woodfords, Wylye.
Please note we are delivering to all our usual destinations, with new ones included this year for the first time: Landford, Nomansland, Sherfield English, Bramshaw, Plaitford, Hamptworth and Whiteparish.
Should you wish to be certain that you are moving in the right circles you should indulge in LYBURN cheese. It is not only sold in Fortnum and Mason but in Waitrose and is indeed exported to the United States in containers sailing from Liverpool.
On Wednesday, November 11th. the Guild was treated to an informative and amusing account of the processes that went to the making of a Lyburn cheese. But before introducing the Speaker, the Chairman made a moving comment on the importance of November 11th as stimulating our awareness of what is owed to our Forces both past and present.
The Speaker, Mr Mike Smales, recounted how in 1969 he moved to a farm on the northern edge of the New Forest. The business expanded successfully to include the raising of organic vegetables as well as cheese production. Recently there occurred the sale of a large quantity of pumpkins and squashes to provide for seasonable celebrations. An original herd of 200 cows is now reduced to one of 170 who are in milk for ten months of the year. It is a scandal that today milk is being sold in the supermarket for well under its production cost. His son is responsible for the vegetable output while he concentrates on the cheese. There is a core of permanent staff, including a professional cheese maker, and when necessary outside assistance is called in. His daughter-in-law is Polish so there is a strong connection with Polish workers.
A detailed description of the making of a cheese: equipment, temperature, curds and whey separation, the latter being fed back to the cows was given with details of flavouring, moulding and storage. The two cheeses which were sampled by the audience were STONEY CROSS and OLD WINCHESTER. (the Chairman found her duties included carving a sizeable cut into neat cubes ). The former cheese has a creamier texture than the latter which is slightly crmchy and is a good seller. The best outlet for the cheese is found in farmers’ markets and important stores. Our Speakers has proved a successful salesman, his enthusiasm leading him to doing a stint behind the counter in Harrod’s famed food hall.
Questions spilled into refreshment time and £60 was collected for The Wiltshire Air Ambulance Service.
The next meeting will be the Christmas supper enlivened by good entertainment with the “Ali Barbers”. It’s always a very pleasant occasion: Wednesday 9th in the Reading Room at 7.30. Entry by ticket only available from Jeff Long, 12 Shelley Drive Tel: 324421.
Next ‘Fact and Faith’ Wednesday Evening - 20th January, 2010,7.30 pm. 5, Shelley Drive
Last time, we thought about the problem of responding to the christian message, assuming that Christianity is not about an automatic rubber-stamp process, due to our being born in Britain. So how does one respond? Two recent sermons in St. Lawrence’s have underlined the need for response, but how does this happen? At a baptism it was made very clear that children need to make their own response later, but when and how? This is often shrouded in mystery in our western culture, even in ‘Confirmation’ and churchgoing.
So we looked at St.Mark chapter 10, where Jesus uses a little child as a model, to make the point that Jesus and his kingdom are reached for out of need, invited, entered, known, enjoyed and spoken of, and not just assumed in a cultural way. So the Christian begins to taste and enjoy heaven and eternal life here and now, through the inner witness of the Spirit, prayer, the bible and fellowship with other believers; and this without having to wait and hope that good deeds might in the end prove sufficient for them to ‘squeeze in’! This is why those who have died with this faith need our gratitude, not our prayers.They are like the prize-winners in the stands, roaring the contestants on to victory.
Do join us next time, as we seek to unwrap more of the certainties in Scripture.
Ian & Felicity Leakey Be born in me today
October
1st. Mrs. B. Dawson Orange 75 £40
2nd. Mr. K. Rathborn Brown 95 £20
3rd. Jamie Ollivierre Blue 29 £15
November
1st. Mrs. Tallis Purple 104 £40
2nd. Mr. K. Rathborn Brown 95 £20
3rd. Mrs. Davidson Red 8 £15
Winter months are thought of as a quiet time for gardeners, however here are some ideas to get you out in the fresh air!
Trim off the Hellebore leaves to allow the flowers to show in early spring. If your plants are like mine they will have some signs of black spots on their leaves. These should not be composted but burnt - the plant seems to have no ill effects from the disease.
Composting leaves, the gardens will have a good layer of fallen leaves, some compost better than others. Holly, laurel, beech, hellebore and acuba take ages to rot down, may be better shredded if possible or sent for Re-cycling. Otherwise put leaves in sacks, puncture a few holes and WAIT up to a year for good results. If you have a horse chestnut tree that has suffered with leaf miner and the leaves turned crispy brown and dropped off early, burning is the best way to dispose of them.
Still not too late to plants bulbs if you find some good firm specimens, they may flower a little later but will still be good value in Spring. Tulips certainly OK to the end of December.
Garden visit - yes really! The following should brighten up your winter and early spring:- Batsford Arboretum, Moreton -in-Marsh, Tel: 01386 701441 Open December and January 9-4 except Wednesdays, February to November 9-6. Famous for Hellebores.
No meeting in December, but our Spring Social will be held on January 28th at 7.30 in the Reading Room. We will have a film about “A Visit to a Famous Garden”, our raffle (prizes gratefully accepted), and refreshments. Tickets £2 to include food, fruit juice or coffee. Bring your own wine and glasses if required. Entry by ticket only - From Mary Todd, Horseshoes. Tel: 336692.
Wanted!
- people of all ages (12 upwards) to learn to ring St. Lawrence`s bells. What with holidays and homework it is a problem to find the requisite six ringers every Sunday morning. Please, please, please come along to one of our practices one Monday night, 7.30 - 9.00pm and see what we get up to.
The ringers enjoy some social activities such as outings to other towers, barbecues and skittles evenings as well.
Please, please, please come !
David Todd,
Captain of Ringers
St. Lawrence, Stratford sub Castle