St Bees Priory Church Rev’d Becky Gibbs, Priest in Charge (01946 822279)

Retired Clergy with the Bishop’s Permission to Offi ciate: The Rev’d Jim Marshall (01946 64259) Rev’d Canon Jim Baker MBE and Rev’d Anne Baker (01946 822498) The Rev’d David Cox The Rev’d Canon Dr Trevor Park MBE Lay Readers Chris & Charm Robson (01946) 822468 Sunday Services 9.00 a.m. Holy Communion (1st, 3rd & 5th - 1662) 10.30 a.m. Family Service 6.00 p.m. Evening Prayer (1st - Evensong; 3rd Holy Communion) See Calendar for details of Family Services and Evening Prayer The sacrament of baptism is administered at the main service and must be arranged well in advance with the Vicar. For weddings, baptisms, funerals and other religious occasions, please contact 01946 822279 or email [email protected] Priory Web Site - http://www.stbeespriory.org.uk Hire of Priory & Halls The church, Old College and New College halls are all available for hire for meetings, functions, lectures, concerts and recitals, etc. Contact booking offi cers for details. Booking Offi cers Ian & Rosalie McAndrew - 01946 822326 or [email protected] Priory Secretary - [email protected] Magazine production & distribution This magazine is free but production costs are about 50p per copy. Contributions from the Parish Council and our advertisers, to whom we are most grateful, pay much of the costs. However this leaves the balance to be paid by the PCC. Donations to the Treasurer* or your Magazine Distributor are most welcome. Circulation - 900 households in St Bees, Sandwith, Rottington, Linethwaite, Coulderton, Middletown, Nethertown. * - Treasurer - Andrew Oldham, 2 Fairladies, St Bees, CA27 0AR. DTP & Final Editing - Ian & Rosalie McAndrew Printed by Printpoint (01946) 64305 22 i St Bees Parish A B C History Group works towards improving knowledge of local history. Lectures Area Visitor / The parish is divided into 30 small areas each with an offi cial arranged periodically. Details from Chris Robson 822468. Good Neighbour Church Visitor whose task is to welcome and help people in the Methodist Sunday Service & Sunday School is at 11.00 a.m. Family Service on Scheme name of the Priory. Co-ordinator - M Westhead (822674). Church the second Sunday. Over 60’s Club meets in Hodgett’s Club on 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month: Arts Society meets every two months on the last Wednesday of the month at 2.00 - 4.00 p.m. Details - Gill Richardson Tel. 822394. 8.00 p.m. Venue to be arranged. Details from Dilys Brownrigg Parish Council The Clerk to the Council is Mrs Jane Donaldson, East House, (822584) or Charm Robson 822468. Coulderton. Tel. (01946) 822560, e.mail [email protected], who Bellringing The Priory has a ring of 8 bells. Those interested in ringing or will answer queries on civil parish matters. learning to ring, contact D Sim, 31 Main Street. Practice Parochial meets 10 times a year. Elections for 20 members are held in March at Wednesdays, 8.00 pm. Sundays, ring at 10.00 a.m. Church Council the A.P.C.M. Its task is to spearhead the mission and ministry of the Brownies Brownies meet on Tuesdays. Further details can be obtained church in the Parish. PCC Secretary - from Amanda Smith or email [email protected] D McGee, E-mail - [email protected]. Cubs, Scouts, Cubs for children aged 8 - 10, meet on Thursdays, 6.30 - 8pm. Playgroup meets every Wednesday in term time only, from 9.30 - 11.30 a.m. in (Toddler Group) New College Hall, St Bees Priory. Details from Sarah Parr & Kelly Beavers Beavers meet on Thursdays (term time) from 5.00 - 6.00 pm. Details Morrow . Email - [email protected] from Graham Young & Andy James. They meet in CCF Hut, St Bees School. Scouts meet at Egremont. Pop-in Cafe Every Thursday from 10.30 a.m. to 12.00 noon - Pop-in Cafe in New College Hall. Everyone welcome - Coff ee and homemade cakes. Choir rehearses on Sundays at 9.30 a.m. Details from Frank Bowler, the Pre-School meets in the new building next to the Village School, All day, 5 days a Organist (Tel. 825307). week. For children 2 years 9 months +. Contact Pre-School on 823880. Churchwardens are leading lay Church members who will be pleased to help and Prayer Group meets on Thursdays from 1.45 - 3.15 p.m. in New College Hall . All advise on church matters. John Kennedy (822297), Rosalie denominations welcome. McAndrew (822326), Malcolm Lightfoot, & Wendy Mellor. Priory Singers rehearse in Old College Hall, Mondays at 8.00 p.m. Details from Frank Councillors Copeland - Dr Ian Hill - 01946 823305, 7.00 to 9.00 p.m Monday Bowler. (Temp). (01946) 825307 to Friday. Cumbria - Cllr Chris Whiteside, 01946 67575 or Priory Web Site The Priory web site has up to date information on the ministry team, 07798667678. E-mail [email protected] church services and activities. See http://www.stbeespriory.org.uk Electoral Roll is the list of all church members qualifi ed to vote at the Annual Seagalls meets fi rst Tuesday of month at 7.30pm in the Seacote Hotel. Contact Lynne Smith - Tel. 822285 - or Judith 07772523742 Parochial Church Meeting. E.R. forms are available in church Finance The Church Treasurer is Andrew Oldham, 2 Fairladies, St Bees, St Bees Triers Friendly running club for all abilities. Every Thursday 6pm & 7pm. Email [email protected] Tel. 823497 Web www.triers.co.uk Tel. 820409, who will explain our Christian Giving system. St Bees Youth meets 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month at 7.00 p.m. in New College Hall. First Responders provide Basic Life Support in association with the Ambulance Group All youngsters of secondary school age are welcome. Contact organisers Service. Contact Andy Brock 823497 on 07518 394297. Football Contacts - Seniors Tony Barnett 590640. Sunday Club for ages 3 - 11 meets during Morning Service at 10.30 a.m. Association Juniors (U-12) - Alec Morton 823992 & Alastair Billson. Contact – R McAndrew (822326), Freemasons St Bega Lodge meet 7:00 p.m. On 2nd Wed of each month, Village Village School exists to raise funds for the school and to foster links between school Hall. Details: 01946 64275 or www.cumbwestmasons.co.uk. Association and community. Secretary - via School - Tel. 822392. Friends of the assists in the conservation of the Priory and encourages interest in Village Hall Management Committee administers Hodgett’s Club. For details and Priory its historical and architectural heritage. Contact Philip Barratt or booking contact Phil or Valerie Turpin (Tel 823772). Tom Rice, Treasurer, Green Ghyll, Greendykes, Egremont. Village in Bloom Details from Eileen B Todd, 14 Main Street. St.Bees. (Tel 822522). Village Web Site Information for inclusion should be sent to Ian McAndrew (822326) or Garden Society Details from Mark Hewertson, (Tel. 01946 825468). Flower Show is [email protected] Address is http://www.stbees.org.uk held on the 3rd Saturday in August. Women’s meets 2nd Monday of month at 7.30 p.m. usually in New College Hall Guides meet on Tuesdays from 7.00 – 8.30 p.m. Further details can be Institute (see program). Contact Roxanne Benson Tel 823137. obtained from Amanda Smith or email [email protected] . ii 21 Calendar for October St Bees News October 2018 1 Monday 7.30 p.m. PCC meeting, NCH At the end of the summer, Harvest Festival is celebrated in churches and schools across 5 Friday 7.00 - 9.00 p.m. Youth Club, NCH the country. School children from St Bees to St Ives will be singing “Caulifl owers Fluff y” 7 Sunday 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion – a song written especially for Harvest that frustratingly lists all the fruit and vegetables 8 Monday 6.30 p.m. “Meet the Parish Council” and Exhibition that British children refuse to eat! Although, to be fair, I was quite a fussy vegetable eater as a child, possibly because of a bad experience with a sprout cooked within an inch of from 5.00 p.m. Hodgetts its life. Of course, being a fussy eater is one of the privileges of wealth, as my mum (and 7.30 p.m. St Bees WI, Paul Cusack, Cockermouth Travel, NCH more recently I) have been heard to say, “There are poor children in the world who would 9 Tuesday 2.00 p.m. Over-60s Club Visit from Moor Row love to eat your caulifl ower!” 10 Wednesay 10.30 a.m. St Bees School service One of the best things about the Harvest Festival is that it gives us an opportunity to give 7.00 p.m. Egremont Methodist Church: Meal & Talk thanks for an abundance of food and for the farmers who work all hard all year round Dr Claire Summers on her work in Africa. to ensure we have a varied and healthy diet. It also gives us cause to pause and consider 12 Friday 7.00 p.m. Hodgetts Club Quiz Night those who have less than us and to refl ect on the challenges of farming in all weathers. 7.30 p.m. Friends of the Priory: Rev Jim Baker: The lovely long hot summer was a blessing to Lake District tourists but our farmland “Tea with the British Ambassador in Tokyo” could have done with a spot more rain. 13 Saturday 8.00 - 9.30 a.m. Men’s Breakfast, NCH Unpredictable weather conditions are a challenge to farming communities throughout the Morning Decoration of Priory for Harvest world. In Mwanza in Malawi, the climate is hot and the rains are unpredictable. Some 14 Sunday 10.30 a.m. Harvest Thanksgiving with Orchestra and Buff et Lunch years there is simply not enough rain to grow the traditional maize crop. Last year, the 15 Monday 9.00 a.m. - 12.00 Parcelling of Harvest gifts Bishop of Carlisle’s Harvest Appeal raised money to support the “Pigeon Pea Project”. 2.00 - 4.00 p.m. Distribution of Harvest Gifts “Pigeon peas” are high in protein, drought resistant, don’t need fertiliser, can be sold to 6.30 p.m. Parish Council meeting, Hodgetts provide family income and their stems can be used for fi rewood. Nothing gets wasted. To fi nd out more about how people’s lives have been changed by these remarkable peas read 17 Wednesday 8.00 p.m. St Bees Arts Society, Business Centre Deb Lee’s short article in this magazine and https://www.christianaid.org.uk/fundraising/ 18 Thursday 1.30 p.m. Village School Harvest Service malawi-pigeon-peas 19 Friday 7.00 - 9.00 p.m. Youth Club, NCH Our donations at Harvest are helping people to grow their way out of poverty. This year 21 Sunday 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion we will be collecting again for the Harvest Appeal and some of funds raised will be 23 Tuesday 10.30 am Over-60s Club visit to Gretna Outlet invested in training working alongside community groups and church leaders to identify 28 Sunday 10.30 a.m. Morning Worship the agricultural needs in South Africa. For example, during last summer in the Ekwandeni November parish in Zululand, a core group of 19 local people received training – then they 4 Sunday 4.00 p.,m. “Remembering” in words and music, Priory established a community vegetable garden. The training brought the older people and the 6 Tuesday 7.30 p.m. Friends of the Priory: Anthony Payne youth together, and the impact of their work is being felt across the community. on “1918 – what else happened?” Community vegetable gardens are a great idea and we have the potential to start one 9 - 11 Friday - Sunday Multi-Charity Christmas Sale, OCH here in St Bees. The vicarage has a large walled garden (or jungle as it might be more accurately described) It is my dream to turn it into a community allotment where local groups will work alongside each other to grow food for ourselves and local food banks. I am no farmer but I know that fruit and vegetables need good soil and so the fi rst step is to clear the jungle and get rid of the weeds. I’m going to need your help. If you fancy Editor - November Magazine a weekend of jungle clearing please come to the vicarage on Saturday 10th November The November 2018 issue of St Bees News will be edited by Geoff Burgess, 7 Abbey at 10.00 a.m.. If you have suitable garden tools then please bring them along and wear Farm, St Bees who would appreciate all contributions not later than Monday 8 October protective clothing! Together, let’s grow some caulifl owers fl uff y! please. With love from Becky Email: geoff [email protected] Tel: 01946 822416 Reverend Becky Gibbs, St Bees Priory and the Mission Community 20 1 Harvest Festival – Sunday 14 October Parish Council News 10.30 a.m. Harvest Thanksgiving with Orchestra & Presentation of Harvest Gifts Meet the Parish Council event & Local history exhibition – The Parish Council is 12.30 p.m. Buff et Bring & Share Lunch holding its ‘Meet the Parish Council’ event on Monday 8 October In the Village Hall. 6.00 p.m. Harvest Evensong The meeting will be an opportunity to hear about parish council activities and projects Harvest Gifts of fruit, fl owers, vegetables and groceries will be welcomed for the Festival. and discuss topics such as traffi c and parking. Around the room there will be an exhibition Please bring your gifts to church, either on Saturday to decorate the Priory or on Sunday. of historical objects with an explanation about their signifi cance in the history of the Children’s gifts and baskets of goodies may be presented during the service. parish. From stone age implements found on St Bees Head to a Walkers sauce bottle, this is the history of St Bees Parish in 30 diff erent objects. If anybody has something in the Big Harvest Lunch - We ask everyone to Bring & Share for the Buff et Lunch. The Social attic which might be included in this exhibition then please contact Chris Robson. The Committee will provide refreshments and drinks – tea/coff ee and juice. Please contact exhibition will be open from 5pm with the meeting beginning at 6.30pm, followed by Sally Kennedy with off ers for the buff et or sign up at the back of church. wine and nibbles. Last year’s event was very well supported and we hope to welcome a Donations for the Bishop’s Harvest Appeal will go towards two farming projects started similar number this year. last year - making a diff erence to the lives of rural communities in South Africa and Malawi. The amazing pigeon pea plant has transformed food supplies – a hardy and Donations – the Parish Council has a small budget for grants to local groups. If any group nutritious cash crop with no need for fertiliser, as the leaves fertilise the soil and the stems is interested in applying for a grant, please contact the Clerk (email [email protected]. are used for fi rewood. The Anglican Church in S. Africa and Christian Aid in Malawi will uk) by 15 October. distribute the resources and organise business training. Community Speedwatch – many residents will have seen our dedicated team of Distribution of Harvest Gifts to the sick, housebound and bereaved, and those in volunteers using the speed gun to check the speed of vehicles travelling through the Care Homes and hospital – will be on Monday 15 October from 2.00 p.m. Parcelling village. This has a signifi cant eff ect in slowing traffi c with those exceeding the speed and sorting will be done on Monday morning from 9.00 a.m. Area Visitors and other limit being reported to the police. We need more volunteers to keep the scheme running volunteers are asked to contact Rosalie McAndrew tel. 822326 if you can, or indeed and extend the areas we cover. Training will be provided and the time commitment is not cannot help, please! great. If you would be interested in joining the team or fi nding out more, please contact Foodbank Collection Scheme will again be in action – when larger harvest items, plus Jon Mellor email [email protected] or tel 824936 packets, jars and tins of groceries (non-perishable) from the Village Primary School Commemoration of WW1 – the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1 is fast Harvest service at the Priory on Thursday 18 October are combined with Priory donations approaching. There will be the traditional Remembrance Day wreath laying and service for the Foodbank. in the Priory but it is planned to hold a number of other events in the week leading up to What’s On at the Priory the 11th. Full details will be included in next month’s edition but among other events it is hoped to have readings of war poetry in the Priory, wooden crosses to remember those Men’s Breakfast – will meet in New College Hall on Saturday 13 October from 8.00 a.m. from the School and the village who lost their lives in the confl ict, performance of a play to 9.30. for a hearty breakfast and lively discussion. written by Gus Kennedy & a lecture by Anthony Payne. St Bees Youth Club will happen on Friday 5 October and then on Friday 19 October from Public Access Defi brillator - plans are underway to install a defi brillator at the top of 7 to 9 p.m. Usual format of music, board games, chat and snacks will be off ered. Meeting Sea Mill Lane where it can be accessed in an emergency by those living at that end of fortnightly in N.C.H. the village. There has been no defi brillator at the bottom of Outrigg opposite the school Teens Church Group – will meet monthly on third Sunday of month during morning entrance for some time, and to prevent confusion the redundant box has been removed. service; and also on a monthly Sunday evening in the Vicarage for Bible-based discussion We hope to arrange further training events to demonstrate how to use the equipment once and social time. Evening Group meets on 14 October; Morning Group on 21 October. the new CPAD is in place. Secondary age youth welcome. Parish Council Meeting – the next monthly Parish Council meeting will be on Monday Egremont & District Churches Together One World Week event – A special 15 October – all welcome to come along. meal of African fl avours will be followed by a talk by Dr Claire Summers on her work in Africa on Wednesday 10 October at 7.00 p.m. at Egremont Methodist Church. All welcome.

2 19 18 3 From the Priory Registers Holy Matrimony 15 September Mark Munro and Samantha Moore, Whitehaven May God’s Blessing be on you and your families. In Memoriam - Let us remember the family and friends of the late Andrew Casson, the newly appointed manager of the Cornerstone Christian Bookshop, who died suddenly on 4 September at the age of 44 years. We keep his family in our prayers, as they struggle to cope with their tragic loss. Methodist News Our harvest service this year will be led by Viv Kendall on 14 October, when we will have a collection for the Food bank. We have services every Sunday at 11am, and everyone is very welcome to join us. Last month saw the Centenary of the death of Robert Lamb, whose memorial is the only one on the wall of the Methodist church. We remembered him, and his family, during the service on 23rd September. St Bees Methodist church will be hosting the circuit memorial service on Sunday 4th November at 4pm, led by Rev Dr Lindsay Gray. Pigeon Peas are little miracles Jesus told us from a little mustard seed a mighty tree will grow and from the little pigeon pea we saw a mighty change. You can help make this happen! As well as making delicious dhal (Becky can vouch for that!) Pigeon Peas survive both drought and fl oods because of their deep roots. Sadly drought and fl oods are now very common In Malawi as a result of climate change. Christian Aid works in partnership with the Nandolo Farmers’ Association of Malawi (Nandolo is the Malawi word for Pigeon Peas) providing training and seeds, encouraging farmers to work in co-operatives. I was lucky enough to go to Malawi to visit the projects supported by the Bishop’s Harvest Appeal. We met Frank (of Frank and the Pea Stalk fame from last year) and Bertha (featured on the Harvest Prayer card-make sure you collect yours!) As a result of our support of the Bishop’s Harvest Appeal Frank, Bertha and many other farmers we met can now send their children to school and feed them a more nutritious, varied diet as they can aff ord to diversify what they grow. Frank has also invested in a pregnant goat, others chickens and all hope to improve their living conditions, such as installing electricity. The cooperatives have great plans for the future (a warehouse, processing plant etc). They were keen for us to see how wisely they were all investing their profi ts and also for us to pass on their gratitude to the people in UK whose generosity had given them the opportunities to live life before death. Malita was given 5Kg of seed (that costs £5). After her harvest she gave back 10kg. Will you be as generous as Malita with what you have? The 13 of us who visited Malawi can vouch for the fact that your money is well used- creating a harvest for life! Deb Lee 4 17 News from the Village School What a wonderful fi rst few weeks to the term we’ve had. All the children returned looking very smart and have settled brilliantly into their new classes and are learning all about their routines and topics for this term. We’re thrilled to welcome Miss Telford and Mr Lloyd to our school this year and wish them all the very best. We’re also thinking of the staff and children that left our school at the end of the summer term and trust that they are happy and successful in their new endeavours. We will be holding parent information sessions this month to enable teachers to elaborate on their start of year letter, providing parents with the opportunity to meet the class teacher, see the classrooms and ask any questions. This year we will be running Reading, Writing, Maths and Art Competitions in school. Children are encouraged to enter all the competitions but are welcome to just pick their favourite one. Could we please remind parents and friends of the school to park sensibly and with consideration when visiting school or at pick-up and drop-off times, as quite often access for residents is being restricted. Nearby car parks are available at the Station and Fairladies which are both just a short distance from school. Dates for your Diary - October 9 Tuesday Y1 Parents’ Assembly @ 2.45 p.m. 10 Wednesday TEMPEST Photography – Individual Photographs 12 Friday Artefacts Theatre: Whole school -100 years Remembrance 16 Tuesday Reception Parents’ Assembly @ 2.45 p.m. 18 Thursday Harvest Festival - 1.30 p.m. (Parents are welcome and children can go home straight from church) 19 Friday Wear it Pink! 22-26 Monday to FridayHalf term holiday 29 Monday Back to school 30 Tuesday Y2 Parents’ Assembly @ 2.45 p.m. St Bees Village School are looking for a new Clerk to the Governors. If anyone would like any further information, please contact school on 01946 822392.

BEM. John and Sally Kennedy would like to thank the people who turned up for the investiture ceremony. It was a joy to welcome so many friends and colleagues to share in the event. We received many cards and greetings as well as bottles of champagne! Grant Gilmore on behalf of the parish council did a magnifi cent job in organising the event. The parish council sponsored it and the revd Becky Gibbs and the pcc supplied the venue for which we are truly grateful. The ‘light’ refreshments turned out to be a feast fi t for a king and queen. To all those who made the occasion so special we off er our heartfelt thanks.

16 5 Public activities at St Bees School Autumnfest 22nd to the 25th holiday camp New activities in the old gym next to the pool Tuesdays 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. Buggy fi t 6.00 p.m. to 7.15 p.m. Yoga with Margret Beck 7.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. Mokiefi t Wednesdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Zen Yoga With Bettina Thursdays 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Low back class with Nathan Our swimming pool runs a swim academy where learners of all ages can progress through a programme of lessons to become profi cient swimmers regardless of their starting ability. The Swim Academy is part of the STA’s (The Swimming Teachers Association) International Learn to Swim Programme. This programme is based on a series of awards ranging from the STARFISH series (designed to introduce your child to the water) to the Platinum Award (combining survival and rescue skills with advanced swimming and water polo) Lesson run Monday to Thursday 3.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. each day, We also do 1-2-1 on request.

6 15 Copeland Borough Council Review The Boundary Review Commission has completed the review of Copeland’s wards and their fi ndings are being presented to the government, which has the fi nal say. It is unusual for them to reject the fi ndings. The last time this happened was 1968. The commission’s fi ndings are based on the number of electors and the workload of each councillor, thus the higher the workload the lower the number of voters in that ward. They have also taken note of representations made by individuals, parish and town councils as well as the political parties and Copeland Borough Council. The major change is that there should be a reduction in the number of councillors from 51 to 33, which is in line with a majority of public opinion, some of which is long standing. Inevitably perhaps there is some opposition to the size of the reduction, but after reviewing all of the evidence the commission felt that 33 councillors could cope with the workload. Much of the debate within CBC revolved around the fact that the number of residents in the borough is greater than the number of registered voters. In 2015 there were 32 residences in St Bees in which there were no registered electors, of which about half were uninhabited. Although the exact number of people who were not registered to vote is unknown, the indications are that throughout the borough a signifi cant number of people were not registered at the time of the election. This fact was taken into account in the analysis of the evidence presented to the commission. All but one of the wards has been altered in some way. In 2015 the St Bees ward had an electorate of 1329 the new level is 1785, which is 6% more than the average for the whole borough. It has been estimated that by 2023 this number will have increased to 1836. The number of electors is a refl ection of the commission’s view that, bearing in mind the workload, this does not pose too much of a burden for one representative. The increase in the St Bees ward comes from the addition of the Middletown area, which was previously electorally part of Egremont. It could be said that history has dealt the people of the Middletown area an awkward representational hand. Because it lies outwith the St Bees parish council’s remit, it must remain within its existing parish boundaries whilst being a part of St Bees ward. This is not a new situation and it should work. The Boundary Commission does not have the power to alter parish council boundaries when reviewing principal councils. The only way that these boundaries can be changed or their electoral arrangements, warding or other matters, is by a Community Governance Review, that is carried out by a the district council. Copeland carried out such a review in the number of parishes a couple of years ago. Dr Ian R Hill Flower Rota - October 7 Mrs N. Woolaghan 14 Mrs M. McGee 21 Mrs Ella Southam 28 Flower Fund

14 7 St Bees WI I hope you all enjoyed our September evening at the Rosehill Theatre, Moresby: the play we saw was called ‘It Runs in the Family’ written by Ray Cooney and performed by the Whitehaven Theatre Group. The play was set in a fi ctional hospital with a hilarious plot, memorable characters with lots of laughter and smiles abound! With the timing just right, as a Nation, we are reminded of 70 years of the wonderful institution we all know as the NHS. Our next meeting is on Monday October 8th, we are welcoming Paul Cusack from Cockermouth Travel, who will be giving a talk on World Travel, with lots of tips on holiday destinations both new and established! So if you want some inspiration for your next holiday adventure come along and meet Paul, who will be happy to answer your questions. We meet at the newly refurbished New College Hall (in the Grounds of St Bees Priory) at 7.30 p.m., there will be a raffl e and refreshments, new members welcome to join at any time, visitors £4.00 per session. Further details from Roxanne Benson Tel 823137, Village Notice Boards, www.facebook. com/St-Bees-WI.

8 13 Village History St Bees School With the Armistice Centenary drawing near, I hope no-one will mind my repeating two It has been a busy time here at the School. Now that we are open we wanted to take a articles which appeared in this magazine several years ago. Both featured local men who moment to refl ect. went to the War – one from St. Bees for this month, and one from Sandwith for next. Through the summer, alongside our work to open the School we had the honour of hosting Bob Jopling Village History Group. the Suff rage Flag in an event organised by WiN (Women in Nuclear) and the National Memories of the Front – Joe Sim Nuclear Lab. Guests included Trudy Harrison MP, Claire Gallery-Strong (Chair of Cumbria WiN), and representatives of Orano (which became the 54th company to sign the Joe Sim was born in St. Bees in 1894. On leaving the village school he worked as a groom charter to address gender equality). at the Strands Hotel in Nether Wasdale. In 1914 he enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers, and fought with them in France and Belgium, being wounded twice. These are some Summerfest returned to St Bees School in August with three action-packed weeks of extracts from his account of the war ... activities. Which included a Circus School, a trip to the beach, and multi-sports. The success of Summerfest has opened up the opportunity for us to run Autumnfest during the “My brother John was in some of the worst fi ghting – it was after the Somme, in Albert – October half term. You can fi nd out more information about this by visiting the website when he was posted ‘missing, presumed dead’. But actually he had been evacuated with www.stbeesschool.co.uk. severe wounds, and ended up in the Castle Hospital, Dublin. Nobody here knew he had survived, until a travelling salesman from West Cumberland who was visiting the hospital We welcomed Danny Wang, the Group Managing Director of Full Circle, and other got talking to John who told him where he came from. The traveller visited our mother as members of the team to the School in August for a productive few days of meetings. This soon as he got back to St. Bees with the news that her son was alive. was a great opportunity for Danny to see how the School buildings are taking shape and was a lovely chance for the whole team to catch up. “When we were in Belgium up by the canal there, I saw Billie McNeal there. I asked him if any other village lads were there and he told me they were all out somewhere. We were The morning of the 6th of September quickly arrived for us and our doors opened. We talking, and I heard this laugh. I said “That’s Jack Middleton”. “Aye”, he said, “that’s fi nally welcomed our fi rst group of Pioneer Students into the Foundation Building. This Middie’s laugh”. I’ve known Jack Middleton since we were at the village school together. was a wonderful moment for all involved. The fi rst day was full of activities and included a trip to the beach to conduct a geological survey! “But poor Billie; that same night as I went back we were heavily shelled and I lay down on the duckboards as they exploded all around me. Later I got a letter from Billie saying Our teaching staff and students are settling happily into their new surroundings, and our how good it was to see me. But when I got that letter he was dead. He had lived just two corridors are once again fi lled with the sound of laughter. doors from us, at 43 Main Street. I lost a lot of friends in that war. It was tough, it was We are proud to see our children developing with an exciting curriculum and passionate terrible in those trenches. No cover, no shelter. staff . Our teaching team, alongside Headmaster Gareth Seddon, who specialises in “I got hit in the side, and in the knee on Passchendale Ridge. We’d been on a raid, and languages and History, consists of Rosie Cole who, as Lead Teacher for Outdoor and were coming back over no-man’s land – if you could tell which was no-man’s land – it Adventurous Education, will also teach Science and Geography. Vanessa Hall will teach was a horrible mess, shell holes like the perforations on a stamp. Me and another chap Mathematics, Physics and Computing. Beverley Pink will look after English and Drama. got astray. We’d been told to keep the moon on our left. Then we came to a railway Amy Zhang will teach Mandarin Chinese. They all bring an exciting dimension to life at embankment and I recognised it. It was breaking daylight, and by Jove I felt something. I St Bees School with their backgrounds and wealth of experience. reported to the M.O. – he came from Gosforth – and he got me a nice job on the cookers We want to take the opportunity to thank you all for your ongoing support during this to save me from carrying a heavy pack. It didn’t suit me, the cookers, although you got exciting time for the School. If you would like to stay up to date with our latest news you plenty to eat. After a month I wanted to get back among the lads ...” can sign up to the newsletter on our new website www.stbeesschool.co.uk. Note: “Billie” - 21 year old William Scot McNeal of Fleswick House - was a private in the You can also fi nd us on social media: Border Regiment. He was wounded in the abdomen and died on a hospital train while on www.facebook.com/stbeesschool the way to Calais. Joe Sim returned after the war and became a signalman on the Furness Twitter: @stbeesschool railway. His brother John was the popular porter at St. Bees station, where he served for over forty years. Jack Middleton became another well-respected village fi gure; he was our How to agree Home Guard’s sergeant during WW2. I recently bought a number of his Weapons Training Overheard manuals on e-Bay. He - Let’s agree to disagree. She - Yes dear ..... but I am right!

12 9 Grassroots Plastic Free St Bees Katy Taylor-Hamilton has been achieving great goals again – taking part in the Great Imagine a world where our seashores and wildlife are not blighted and strangled by plastic North Run, displaying now her 5K medal, and championing the Donor Transplant cause pollution, and everyone in our community from young to old is aware of the impact they at a publicity event at the Freeman Hospital - along with her mum Emma-Jane. What have on the environment and supports a move away from today’s throwaway culture. enthusiasm and dedication! Plastic Free St Bees is an initiative led by local people to work towards a plastic free The Editors wish to add a correction to the September magazine item to Katy’s surname community in the village of St Bees and a cleaner future for our seas. Sarah Lenehan, a – it should be Taylor-Hamilton, not vice-versa. And the venue for the British transplant resident of St Bees and parent to two eco-aware small children who spend much of their Games was Birmingham, not Manchester. Apologies, Katy. time at the beach, has signed up to be the Community Lead in St Bees for the Plastic Stratford Trip - The next St Bees Stratford trip will run from 6th - 9th August, 2019. Free Communities campaign. The Surfers Against Sewage campaign uses people power and community action to tackle the problem of avoidable single-use plastics. Through We will stay in Stratford for three nights and have the opportunity to see any, or all, of the raising awareness of the problem, leading community clean-ups, encouraging changes in following productions: behaviour and asking businesses to become Plastic Free Champions by swapping some of Shakespeare: As You Like It The Taming of the Shrew Measure for Measure their single-use plastics for more sustainable alternatives, we can achieve our vision. Ottway: Venice Preserved Vanbrugh: The Provoked Wife Sarah wants to set up a steering group to lead the initiative, so if you want to make a Further details can be obtained from Jon Mellor, 01946 824936 or [email protected] real diff erence in your community and lead our collective eff ort to reduce the fl ow of - please contact him for a booking form. unnecessary plastics into the marine environment – get in touch! Sarah can be contacted All reservations must be returned to Jon no later than Saturday, 13th October 2018. on [email protected], through the Plastic Free St Bees Facebook and The Village in Bloom ladies & the RAF (not all of them!) wish to thank all those who Instagram pages and by telephone on 07545026156. have helped the group, in any way, during an eventful & challenging year. The Friends of St Bees Priory Tim and Margaret Jones would like to thank members of the Priory and the ‘grass Rev. Jim Baker will give a talk in NCH on “Tea with the British Ambassador in Tokyo”. cutters’ for their kind wishes and prayers to mark his retirement from the ‘mowing’ -- a on Friday 12 October at 7.30 p.m.. task which he always enjoyed. There will be the usual Christmas Concert by The Priory Singers in December. Date still Over-60s Club: On 9 October Moor Row Over-60 Club will be visiting us for food to be confi rmed. and entertainment at 2 p.m. in Hodgetts Club. On 23 October we will be having a trip Also in late November it is planned to show a family fi lm in the Priory, More details later. to the Gretna Outlet for shopping and a meal,at the Gretna Pub .The bus will leave The Oddfellows at 10 30 a.m.- usual pickups. This trip is open to non-members. Please Seagalls contact Gill Richardson if you would like to go: Tel 822394. The Seagalls September meeting at the Seacote was very well attended and St Bees Village Hall Committee (Hodgetts) will be holding a Quiz Night on Friday 12 our speaker Chris Harrison a local vet from West Lakeland Veterinary Group was October at 7pm in the hall. Tickets £5: admission price includes pie and peas at half time. informative and entertaining. He taught us ‘it can and does happen to a vet’ even if it There will be a bar and raffl e during the evening. Come and rack your brains on a super shouldn’t. quiz which will include questions with local interest! Will you be the St Bees Mastermind this autumn? Come as a team or join up with others when you get there. Tickets available Chris talked us through his early affi nity with creatures and how he decided he wanted to in advance, please book as soon as possible to assist us planning the catering numbers. become a vet in his teenage years. His presentation depicted his career, starting with his Call Lesley and Gus on 824109. There will also be posters around the village and on the time at Liverpool University and secondment in Africa. His travels in Uk and abroad and village Facebook page to remind you! how he started out as a locum in Lancashire. Arts Society - The next meeting of the Arts Society will be on Wednesday 17th October at We were engrossed in pictures of of lambing, calving, dentistry, surgery and the general 8p.m. in the Whitelaw building. The subject will be ‘British Artists of the Early Twentieth breadth of veterinary work undertaken. Thanks again Chris. Century’ and the speaker will be Adrian Sumner. Ticket prices vary from £30 for a season October fi nds us travelling to Muncaster for a ‘Halloween tour’ New members ticket, £6.50 for a single ticket, £1 for a student & £0 for a pupil at St Bees School. are always welcome. For further information please ring Judith on 07772523742 or Lynne Smith on 07876023084 See also our Facebook page or the Parish Notice Boards for more detail.

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