USEFUL FACTS & NUMBERS

POLICE Contents Page (non emergency) 101 Useful Facts And Numbers ROADS, PAVEMENTS AND STREET 2 LIGHTING ISSUES Cover Story report online at: 3 www.staffordshire.gov.uk/reportit Book Review 3 STREETSCENE Back To The Future Meetings 3 Floodplain (litter and dog mess) 01785 619401 (Page 10) Village Voice GNOSALL SURGERY 4 01785 822220 Faith Matters 5 GNOSALL PHARMACY Samaritans 5 01785 822228 St Lawrence Church News 6 GROSVENOR CENTRE Letters & Announcements 01785 822685 7 Gnosall Library GNOSALL VILLAGE HALL 7 01785 823303 (L Malone) War Ends Gnosall Methodist Church (Page 12-13) 8 GNOSALL & DISTRICT VOLUNTARY Gnosall Catholic News CAR SCHEME 9 Gnosall’s Floodplain Co-ordinator: Jenny Hodkinson 10/11 Contact 01785 823425 War Ends Mobile 07583 390363 12/13 only between 9am-5:00pm Gnosall Heritage Group 14 VET - SHIRES VETERINARY PRACTICE Christmas Stable 01785 823713 14 or emergency only Eccleshall 850218 A Little Help Via Social Media RBL 15 (Page 16) PEST CONTROL - STAFFORD Christian Book Explanation On Zoom BOROUGH COUNCIL 15 0845 505 7378 Dust If You Must Poem 15 STAFFORD RECYCLING CENTRE Royal British Legion 16 St Alban’s Road - Opening Times Gnossword Every Day 9am to 5pm 17 (Except over the Christmas Period) Quote Of The Month Close: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 17 New Years Day Stole Our Smarties 18 Stole Our Smarties EMERGENCY SERVICES Macmillan Cancer Support (Page 18) 18 • Police:Telephone 999 in emergency Gnosall Writers where there is a danger to life or a 19 crime is in progress. GLRC Telephone 101 for non - emergencies 20 where police attendance is required, to Gnosall Parish Council report any other incidents. Calls to 101 21 have a fixed cost of 15p per call. Jambusters WI • Fire & Rescue Service: 0300 330 1000 22 • Ambulance HQ: 01785 253521 Local Trade Directory • Electricity: 0800 6783105 or 105 22/43 GLRC • Water: 0800 7834444 Gnosall Photographers (Page 20) • Gas: 0800 111999 44

HOSPITALS CONTRIBUTIONS

• County Hospital ( Stafford ): Contributions for the GPN must be received by the 15th of each month by 5pm for inclusion in the 01785 257731 next edition, please send details to the Editor. • Cannock Chase: 01543 572757 EDITOR - Joyce Rowe Tel: 822579 email:[email protected] • St George’s: 01785 257888 DESIGN & PRINT PRODUCTION - Keith Kinsella Tel: 0772 512 6333 • University Hospital of North DISTRIBUTION - Bob Colman, Holly House, The Rank. Tel: 823955. email: [email protected] ADVERTISEMENTS - Olive Wakefield email: [email protected] Staffordshire: 01785 715444 WEBSITE - Bob Alker - www.gnosallparishnews.com TREASURER & CHAIRMAN - Pat Tweed. Tel: 822523 email: [email protected] 2 Cover Story, ! BACK TO THE FUTURE MEETINGS

Well we’ve been told by the present day government that Petrol/Diesel driven cars will become a thing of the • Gnosall Writers every first Thursday of the past. month, 7:00pm, at the Library. • Gnosall Memorial Village Hall Committee Meeting - 3rd Tuesday of the month. Contact So I hope you don’t mind me posting this picture on Mags Yeo on 01785 822862 for details. the front cover of the February GPN 2021. All welcome. It’s of an old 1947 WAYNE ESSO PETROL PUMP • Newport Chess Club every Thursday at Model 1880 I am told (minus it’s famous dome 7.30pm at the Royal British Legion Audley head). Road Newport, call Daniel on 01785 82332 • Gnosall Lions 7.30pm, Fire station 1st Monday It’s still standing at an old petrol station in in the month • Gnosall Handbell Ringers Grosvenor Centre Waddesdon near Aylesbury Buckinghamshire. Tuesdays 8.00 - 10.00 p.m. Contact 822592 It’s not in use I hasten to add. • Bowling Monday 3pm, at Gnosall Village Hall also Thursday 3pm and 7pm Today we fill up our cars with petrol from • Bingo Friday 7.30pm at Village Hall pumps at filling stations, but for the first 25 • Bridge at the Grosvenor Wednesday 7.20pm years of British motoring such things didn't exist. Instead, contact Pat & John on 824203, you could only buy petrol in two-gallon cans from chemists, hardware • Phoenix at Grosvenor Friday 10am -12noon shops and hotels, as well as from garages. Then petrol filling stations began to appear. • Gnosall Players, 7.45pm Tuesdays at the Youth Club Cabin, Grosvenor Centre. • Healthy Walking Group Wednesday & Sunday The first filling station in England was opened in November 1919 at Aldermaston, 10.30am Berkshire by the Automobile Association (AA). At the time, the AA was trying to • Military Whist, Grosvenor Centre 7.30pm promote the sale of British-made benzole fuel - a by-product of burning coal - as an Wednesday Starts at 7.45pm alternative to imported Russian petrol. Prior to this, benzole from Russia had been Contact Hilda 824984 widely available, but in the aftermath of the 1917 Russian Revolution, this trade was • U3A Newport. Meetings are held on the third viewed in England as tantamount to supporting the Bolsheviks. Tuesday of the month at the Royal British Legion Club, Audley Road, Newport. • Gnosall Painting Group Friday afternoon At the Aldermaston filling station, with its single hand-operated pump, motorists were sessions 1.30pm – 3.30pm at the Methodist served by AA patrolmen in full uniform. The organisation opened another seven filling Church. contact Carol Perry tel.824917 stations, and very soon the idea of selling British-made fuel took off, with 7,000 • Gnosall Toddler group Every Thursday 9.30- pumps in use by 1923. 11.30 School Room in the Methodist Church Contact 07816 100 068 Well I ask you,will Petrol Stations become a thing of the past as we all turn to • Church Bell Ringers Practice Friday evenings from 7.30-9pm at St. Lawrence & ring at plugging our electric cars in at home ? 9.45am most Sundays. Contact Phil on 07913 757512 Your thoughts are most welcome. KK • Gnosall Jambusters WI 1st Wednesday in the month GMVH 7.30pm • Gnosall Grosvenor Youth Club – GG’s Youth Club is open on Wednesday Evenings 6 -7.30pm for Children in School Years 4, 5 & 6 and 7.45 - 9.15pm for Children in School Years 7, 8 & 9. The Youth Club Building is located behind the Grosvenor Centre, contact Jordan on 07715 392345 for any information. Book Review • Royal British Legion Gnosall Memorial Village Hall 1st Tuesday in month Bel Canto by Ann Patchett • Gnosall Art Class, Gnosall Grosvenor Centre, Published 2001 Thursday 7 pm – 9 pm • Bradley Mixed Media Art Class, Bradley Village A friend recommended Ann Patchett to me and I first read and enjoyed The Dutch Hall, Mondays 10 am – 12 noon. For further House so decided to try another of hers: Bel Canto. In many details contact: Debbie Chatfield, 01785 781075 or 07727216523; ways it was a strange choice for a ‘lock-down read’ as the plot debs@ debbiechatfield.co.uk centres around a hostage situation which doesn’t quite go to • Newport Photographic Club every Tuesday at plan. The rather rag-tag group of youths and ‘generals’ are 7.45pm Baptist Church, Water Lane Newport hoping to kidnap the President of Peru in order to achieve the more information at release of political prisoners – instead they find themselves www.newportphotoclub.com holding a very mixed group in the Vice-President’s mansion, • The Friday night youth groups at Gnosall including Roxanne (an opera singer), a French Ambassador and Methodist Church are now enrolling. The junior club is on from 6.15-7.45pm. the chairman of the largest electronics company in Japan. All The senior club is for young people in years 9, of the action takes place in the house and grounds, hence my 10 and 11 and doors open 8-9.30pm comment about lockdown! However, against the background • The opening hours of Gnosall Community of futile negotiations, the hostages and hostage-takers settle Library are: Monday 4:00 - 6:30 pm Tuesday into a new way of life, building relationships, crossing 10:00 am - 12:30 pm Wednesday 3:00 - language and cultural barriers and all against a backdrop of 7:00 pm Thursday 2 - 4pm Saturday 10:00 am Roxanne’s amazing voice and the international language of music, particularly opera. - 12:30 pm phone No. 01785 895750 • Gnosall Singers Wednesdays 10.30 to 12.30 The reader knows that there cannot be a happy ending for all, yet on the whole this is Methodist Hall. a warm, uplifting story with wonderful characterisation and some unexpected Contact Anne Robotham, Tel: 01785 822423 developments. • Gnosall Over 55s Friendship Group 2nd Wednesday of the month 2.00 - 3.30pm I have read 3 of Anne Patchett’s novels now, Commonwealth being the third. If you Community Rooms Impstones. want a more gentle introduction to her novels then try The Dutch House but if you Tel: 0800 111 4554 want something that bit different, Bel Canto will not disappoint. 3 Beryl Whincup BEING LEFT-HANDED

If you are among the 90% of the population who are right-handed then the title of this article may put you off reading it but perhaps, along with the rest of the population who are left-handed, you might read on.

Left-handedness is known as sinistrality and the split between left-handed and right-handed people has remained around 90%, in favour of right-handedness, for more than 5,000 years. Taking the slightly higher current estimate of left-handed people, that would mean around 700 million people are left-handed across the global population. By Ruth Finister Did you know that if your mother is left-handed and your father is right-handed then you have a 22% chance of being left-handed? If you have a left-handed father and a right-handed mother then your chances are 17%. With two right-handed parents your chances are back to 10%. Even if you are a twin there is no guarantee that you and your sibling will be the same. And did you know that for 44 years there has been an International Left-handers Day which occurs in August.

For years, left-handed people were thought to have shorter lifespans, thanks to a 1991 study that suggested they died younger. The study also said it was due in part to driving accidents, assuming that left-handed people were bad drivers. More recent studies, however, have since disproved those theories, and it's now generally accepted that handedness doesn't directly affect one's lifespan (or driving skills!).

For centuries in many cultures, left-handed people were considered unlucky, weak, crooked, and even evil — the word "sinister" is derived from the Latin word for left. In the Middle Ages, lefties were associated with the devil and often accused of witchcraft, and even as recently as the 20th century, left-handed students were forced to learn to use their right hand.

You will have guessed that I’m left-handed but I don’t consider myself disadvantaged because I don’t know any different and have just adapted to a right-handed world. It’s something I don’t even think about until I get annoyed with things that are biased towards right-handers; like scissors, serrated knives, corkscrews (screw tops are great!).

There is one peculiar thing that happens though and that is I am very aware when I see someone else who is left-handed. I pick up on it straight away and when I am watching TV and see a left-handed person, I shout out ‘left-handed!’ I can’t seem to help it.

Famous Left-handers

Barack Obama Steve Jobs Aristotle Prince William David Bowie Jimi Hendrix Julius Caesar Buzz Aldrin Gordon Ramsey Diego Maradona Leonardo Da Vinci Albert Einstein Lewis Carroll Jack the Ripper Winston Churchill Marie Curie Uri Geller Nicholas Parsons Benjamin Britten Marilyn Monroe

I could go on with this list and even more facts about being left-handed, but I have run out of room so maybe another time………

Ruth Finister 4 FOREVER 2020 Forever 2020 will be the year of Covid. Covid has brought our world to a shuddering halt in so many ways. There is something deep within each human person that needs physical and human contact and Covid has taken this away from us, particularly for those living alone and for those living far from family.

Our son-in law’s mother who was widowed two years ago lives alone, 200 miles away from her son. For her birthday on 23 December he drove to her house and back, a road trip of 400 miles in a day, to stand at her front door, masked, to give her birthday presents and to speak to her personally. As he left she turned her back so that she was By Rupert Lister facing away from him and asked him to hug her: the first person to hug her in 2020.

Like so many elderly couples my wife and I spent Christmas alone. Our immediate family, our married daughter and son and our grandchildren, live in the south of England so we zoomed on Christmas day and again on 29 December as my wife celebrated her birthday: another family zoom as she opened her presents ‘on camera’. As she did so I was reminded very forcibly that it was twelve months to the day since we had all been together in one place - our son and daughter, their spouses and their children – as she celebrated her 2019 birthday at our son’s house.

So can we learn anything from this terrible year as we search for consolation and hope? If the experience of a highly contagious and dangerous disease has taught us anything it is that everyone has a stake in the health and well being of everyone else. Before the virus appeared and under the all pervasive social and political pressure of individualism, neighbourliness was perhaps at a low ebb nationally – but not, thank God, in Gnosall.

Maybe 2020 has seen it revived. The National Health Service has been described as the nearest the British have to a national religion, but religion has, in general, long gone out of fashion. However, the NHS is a national commitment to the common good and, as St Thomas Aquinas taught, the ultimate common good is God. Perhaps clapping for carers is a prayer, an Act of Thanksgiving.

Gratitude is not just an emotion; it is spiritually transformative. It does us good deep down in our being. If we are searching in this New Year and through Covid for God then being grateful is a good place to start.

OUR EMOTIONS / AND FEELINGS

It can happen any time, often in the most unlikely places. You hear a tune, smell a smell or see somebody that looks like somebody else and your emotions take over.

There are so many different emotions and feelings that we can be experiencing, sometimes conflicting ones at the same time.

It could be happiness at having heard good news, whilst still struggling with the sadness that previous bad news has brought you. Maybe excitement mixed with trepidation about a future event. Jealousy and disappointment can be there with frustration and guilt.

One thing that is important to remember is that these emotions and feelings are far too important to keep to yourself.

Whilst it might be easier to share the good vibes with folk, the dark thoughts should also not be kept inside your head, to grow and maybe become all consuming, damaging your self confidence and self esteem.

Samaritans offer you the space in a very safe, confidential environment for you to share whatever feelings you are experiencing and at a time that suits you to talk.

Samaritans free phone 116123 is open all hours and the support will be there for you without judgement.

Alan Alecock – outreach coordinator Stafford Samaritans

5 Rector: Rev Kathryn Hammond 01785 822820 [email protected] [email protected] (Day off Friday)

Associate Minister: Rev Cathy Dakin - 07971 101259 [email protected]

CHURCH WEBSITE www. gnosallparish.org.uk St. Lawrence www.facebook.com/GnosallParish Church Gnosall Part Of the Benefice of the Staffordshire Border Group of Churches.

Services in February Sunday 7th Morning Worship on zoom at 9.00 & 10.00 am Sunday 14th Morning Worship on zoom at 10.00 am – this will be our last service with Rev Kathryn before she retires and we will just have ONE service that day so we can all be together. Sunday 21st Morning Worship on zoom at 9.00 & 10.00 am Sunday 28th Morning Worship on zoom at 9.00 & 10.00 am Messy Church will meet on zoom on Sunday 21st February at 4.00 pm We hold services of Night Prayer at 9.30pm each evening via zoom, and also Morning Prayer each Tuesday at 9.30am We have permission from Bishop Michael to continue holding services online so we do not anticipate holding any Sunday services in church before March. Any changes to the schedule above will be advertised on our noticeboards and our website. Please get in touch if you would like advice about accessing services on zoom – all are very welcome! St Lawrences will still be open daily for private prayer. Thank you to everyone who is making this possible by opening and closing the church and cleaning in between. The annual ecumenical service for the World Day of Prayer is usually held in early March but we have decided to postpone this year’s service until later in the year.

We hold in our prayers the families & friends of those who have died recently: William Edward Joseph Evans.

Gnosall 100 club winners for January Keith Perry £25.00 - Margaret Winfield £15.00 - Freda Dale £10.00 - Jennie Wilkinson £5.00

It is nearly five years since I became Rector here in Gnosall although I had been working alongside Rev Mark for five years previously so I felt I knew a lot of folk here already. However since I actually moved from Woodseaves into the Vicarage in the village it has been lovely to get to know people even better. Gnosall has so much in it’s favour. It is small – but not too small. Which means that people get to know one another but (in normal times) there is such a lot going on to cover a wide range of interests. There is a good range of age groups and an excellent community spirit. I think this has become even more apparent during the recent difficult months. We have such a good Parish Council which sprang into action very quickly and has come up with some really good initiatives to keep the community together. I’ve really enjoyed discovering all the footpaths and hidden areas around the village on our ‘permitted’ walks and realised how lovely this area is. But what I am going to miss so much when I move in February is the people. It is such a privilege as a priest to be allowed to be part of the significant moments in people’s lives and to be alongside many families through their joys and their sorrows and I have many happy memories to take away with me. We have some great characters and a lot of very kind and caring people living in this parish and as we emerge from this present crisis I know you will all pull together to rebuild the community and build on all that we have learnt in the last year. I think we have all discovered that there are a lot of things we can live without but what we do need is one another. After being encouraged so much to stay at home and keep ourselves safe I really hope, when the crisis is past, we don’t lose the incentive to look out for one another and get involved. I’m sure I will be back to visit in the coming months and I look forward to seeing this village and parish regain its lovely sense of community as the different events are allowed to re-start. But they are going to need people of all ages to bring new ideas and energy as well as the wisdom and experience those who have done so much in the past. Thank you for allowing me to share the past few years with you. Look after one another and I pray for God’s blessing on this parish and all those who live here.

6 Rev Kathryn To Gnosall Family & Friends Early Retirement for Gerry. John from Coton Wood Holding would like to thank the Lady Walkers Joan Timmis The committee of the GPN want to thank Gerry Dale who is retiring at and Gilly and Clive for the cards and presents they have left him Grateful thanks to the three people who the young age of 86 (you’d never helped when Geoff slipped on the icy believe it to look at him) after helping Thank you drive. They were George, Lynne and to print, organise and deliver the Kevin. They were real friends when we magazine for 20 years. were in need. Geoff was taken to Royal GPN January 2021 Stoke Hospital. He had broken his hip in Gerry tells me that he was cornered two places, He has since had a in St Lawrence church by Bryan We would like to offer an apology replacement hip. Morrison, about 2 days after arriving to GPN readers, advertisers and in the village and invited to come and distributors as the pandemic has Thank you help print off the GPN, work which severely disrupted our ability to was then actually carried out in the print the magazine. church itself where the printer was housed. He describes himself as At the time of writing we are still apprenticed for 3 years to John awaiting the arrival of the January Rev Kathryn’s final service Philips who was then the Editor. He edition. This severe delay was due also helped with distribution to our to an outbreak of coronavirus My final service will be on February 14th deliverers and in more recent years, amongst staff at the printers and via zoom. I would love it if you could join Gerry served as a Committee member further disruption to courier to say goodbye – just get in touch for the and deliverer, and we are happy to services from the printers to details to link in. say that he and Freda will continue Gnosall. With my love to you all with the latter role. The GPN Management Rev Kathryn So, thank you Gerry and enjoy Committee is hoping this is a your retirement. short term problem and that “normal service” can resume as soon as possible. But with Covid infection rates nationally still very high (the date today is 15th January) there may be further problems.

In particular we would like to thank our volunteers who have been prepared to carry on distributing the magazine, whilst taking the necessary precautions to protect themselves and readers.

And thank you to all the subscribers who have sent their subscriptions to Bob Colman and to distributors who are also holding money that has been delivered to them.

Should circumstances prevent us printing the magazine , an on-line only version will be available at www.gnosallparishnews.com

Note: deliverers will not collect subscription money until at least the April edition. There is no reason to be making direct contact with subscribers at this time.

GPN Team

7 SUNDAY SERVICES

Our Services to date are still on Zoom. Hope to have some dates for next month. Notices will be on the Chapel door and the Notice Board.

When we return to normal the following will apply. Crèche facilities and Junior Class (4 years upwards) at morning service. Bookings : Mrs Joan Jobling 01785 822592. Friday: 6.15 – 8pm Junior youth club Contact for Minister through Circuit Office Tel. 01785 229973

February all ready! I can’t believe I am already preparing February’s page. I thought Gnosall ‘Lockdown’ would be a drag and time would go slowly, but lots of people seem to be finding that’s not the case. Methodist Church Many of us have been doing things we don’t normally have time for. Some have been knitting for the prem. baby units in hospitals. Tiny hats, “Welcoming All To Grow in Christian Faith and Love” comfort squares that mothers and baby’s swop so that baby gets used to the smell of their mum, and little knitted bands to put over the tubes on baby’s wrists to keep them safe. Then there’s the ‘jigsaws’ that have been tucked away in cupboards. I have been asking my husband for ages to get our jigsaws out of storage. Finally, he agreed, after much muttering that they were such a waste of time. WELL, I never knew that he was so competitive, always trying to get the most pieces in the right place first. We have had a lot of laughs and one or two arguments! The first jigsaw took us six hours over three days. The one we are attempting now; well I wouldn’t like to guess on how long this will take or even if we’ll still be married at the end of it! On a different topic I would like to share with you the wonderful support our churches have given to their congregations while in ‘Lockdown’ and also those that don’t worship with us, in the wider community. Our circuit, over Christmas, put together gift bags to give out to the congregation. What I enjoyed most (besides the gift of a little box of homemade peppermint creams) was the DVD and CD. This was made up of a Carol Service, I presume on zoom, followed by a children’s nativity and then to watch on Christmas day, a Christmas Service. All very enjoyable in these difficult times. A big thank you should also go to all the people involved with taking out the Christmas dinners on Christmas day and all the preparation before hand from Greens Tea Rooms. This is what is so good about belonging to a Church Family, we look out for each other and also care about the wider community. There is always someone who seems to phone, just at the right time. We live in such a wonderful, beautiful world, It’s Gods world, on loan to us and He watches how we take care of it and each other. Sadly, man thinks he’s more important and knows what’s best, but the mess we have made of it enables things like Covid to take over. God is giving us a ‘wakeup call’ but even through this He has given men and women the knowledge to create a vaccine that hopefully will give us another chance. Because our God is a God of Love. In Romans 8v22 it says ‘We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to this present time’ Let’s hope we will all be having our vaccines by the time you read this and we can all look forward to changing and creating a better happier, healthier world and even seeking God’s love for ourselves through the gift of His Son. Gwendoline Jones

Extracts from letters. While sorting out my husband’s Aunties things after she passed away, I came across this list in an address book. It’s titled ‘Extracts from letters sent to the Pensions Office. They are all genuine’

I cannot get sick pay - I have six children - can you tell me why this is so. This is my eighth child- what are you going to do about it. Mrs. B. Has no clothes, has not had any for years, the clergy have been visiting her. In reply to your letter, I have cohabited with your officers, so far without results. I am glad to say that my husband who was reported missing, is now dead. Sir, I am forwarding my marriage certificate and two children, one is a mistake as you will see. Unless I get my husband’s money I shall be forced to live an immortal life. I am writing these lines for Mrs. J who cannot write for herself. She is to be confined next week and can do with it. I am sending you my marriage certificate and six children. I had seven and one died which was baptised on half a sheet of note paper by the Rev. Thomas. Please find out if my husband is dead, for the man I am living with won’t eat or do anything until he is certain. In answer to your letter, I have given birth to a boy weighing 16lbs. Is this satisfactory. You have changed my boy into a girl, will this make any difference. Please send me my money as I have fallen into errors with my landlord. I have no children as my husband is a bus driver and works day and night. In accordance with your instructions, I have given birth to twins in the enclosed envelope. Milk is required for baby and father is unable to supply it. Re your dental enquiry, the teeth on the top are alright but the ones in my bottom hurt terribly. Just a bit of light humour from many years ago.

A Prayer from the Prayer hand book 2020/2021 Creator God, we know that the world is not ours, and yet we behave as if it is. We know that we have too often exploited the earth’s resources when it is our responsibility to care for them and use them wisely. We know that too few of us hold on to too many resources when it is vital that we share them fairly and justly. Guide our thoughts and decisions, so that we may act for the good of your creation and for the wellbeing of all creatures and live in anticipation of your coming kingdom. Amen Clive Marsh, Vice-President, British Methodist Conference 2019/2020 8 Parish Priest : Canon Michael Neylon St Austin’s, 82 Wolverhampton Road, Stafford ST17 4AW. Tel: 01785 223553 email: [email protected] Parish Website: www.saintaustins.org.uk St. Austin’s News: Firstly, the Catholic community of Gnosall is pleased to extend prayerful congratulations to Canon Michael as he celebrated the 48th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood on Wednesday 13th January 2021. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide him as he continues his ministry in the parish of St. Austin’s in Stafford.

Cancellation of Birmingham Lourdes Pilgrimage 2021. Uncertainties surrounding the continuing coronavirus pandemic mean that the Lourdes Pilgrimage Committee has come to the decision that they cannot continue with the arrangements for a pilgrimage to Lourdes this year. Last year many joined them on a “virtual pilgrimage” and they plan to do the same in 2021, details of which will be published later. Covid-19: Canon Michael is pleased to report that the person who tested positive for coronavirus following attendance at 11.00am Sunday Mass on 3rd January was subsequently showing only mild symptoms of illness and continues to feel better. Those who were asked to isolate as a result of being at the same service only had to self-isolate for a very short period, as notified by the local Health Authorities. He also confirmed that both he and Fr. Simon have since received negative test results. However, the guidance remains that masks must be worn at each service and that anyone, or anyone in your household, has a high temperature or new, or continuous cough or loss of taste or smell, MUST NOT ATTEND CHURCH.

Live Streaming of Services from St. Austin’s: Monday 10.am: Wednesday 7.0pm: Friday 12.00 noon: Saturday 5.00pm: Sunday 11.00am:

Revised Weekend Masses from the 3 churches in Stafford:

Saturday: 1.00pm at St. Patrick’s: 5.00pm at St. Austin’s: 6.30pm at St. Anne’s: Sunday: 8.00am at St. Patrick’s: 9.30am at St. Anne’s: 11.00am at St.Austin’s:

Ecumenical Matters: The Gnosall Churches Together Group held a Zoom meeting on Wednesday 6th January and discussed how each community had coped with the coronavirus pandemic during 2020. It was reported that both Methodist and Anglican churches had successfully held services which complied with appropriate guidelines and were pleased that they had seen very good responses from their own congregations where attendance on line was particularly high, indeed in many cases much higher than attendance in normal times. That gave us some thought as to how these current circumstances may influence church service arrangements for the future. As Lent approaches, much thought was given as to how some form of service can be provided on an ecumenical basis during Holy Week and it was agreed that a short reflective service could possibly be provided each evening and streamed on line by a representative from each of the Christian communities taking daily turns. More details of this will be provided nearer the time.

Time To Say Goodbye: As many will know, Reverend Kathryn Hammond will retire from her ministry at St. Lawrence Church on February 14th and on behalf of the Catholic Community of Gnosall I would like to send best wishes to her for the future. She has been so kind to us over the years by inviting us to take part in all ecumenical activities and services and has made us feel so very welcome. She has also allowed us to hold Vespers-Evensong service on many occasions in St. Lawrence Church for the benefit of the Christian community of Gnosall. During her tenure she has brought a feeling of serenity, goodness and passion to the whole village and has comforted so many people with her kindness and compassion during times of sadness. On a brighter note I know how welcoming she has been to those who have celebrated Weddings, Baptisms and Anniversaries of one form or other, and she has brought peace and tranquility in the time she has been carrying out her duties as Rector in Gnosall. God Bless Her. 9 By Mike Deegan

Climate change is causing more extreme weather and here in the UK we are experiencing an increasing number of prolonged dry periods and extreme rainfall incidents. Our weather has also become less seasonal, with floods as likely in summer as droughts are in winter. Locally this is putting greater pressure on our watercourses and floodplains.

The Doley Brook is the only main river in our parish as classified by the Environment Agency (EA), the public body responsible for rivers and managing flooding. The brook rises near Doley Common and flows south through the centre of the village towards the Church Eaton Brook (and into the River Penk). These tributary rivers run like a tree’s root-system in reverse; all part of one catchment that eventually feed into the River Trent.

There is very little fall in height from start to finish along the Doley Brook, so the floodplain is highly susceptible to flooding. Like all floodplains, this low-lying ground either side of the brook plays a crucial role in storing excess water after heavy rainfall. It should also be remembered that the Doley Brook does not act in isolation. When Gnosall’s floodplain is inundated, it is likely that other watercourses downstream are also in spate, meaning floodwater can only drain away slowly downstream.

In the past this was not a problem as our ancestors wisely used floodplains seasonally during the drier months for marginal uses such as summer meadows, rough grazing or harvesting willow. However, over the past 50 years we have increasingly encroached onto floodplains with development, intensive agriculture and recreational uses. This has been made possible with more mechanized drainage and occurrence of drier weather between 1970 and 2000.

In the same period, our land-use of the Doley Brook’s catchment has also intensified. Every natural watercourse has a surrounding catchment, which is the area from where all the ground and surface water flows after rainfall. Normally this would seep through the ground quite slowly, but over the same last 50 year period, Gnosall has rapidly expanded and a significant area is now covered with housing and tarmac. Agriculture has also become more intensive with significant drainage of farmland, particularly in the Hollies Brook catchment. These factors have all resulted in water being passed far more rapidly into the brook and onto the floodplain.

Many people advocate the modern practice of dredging to help tackle flooding on the floodplain. However, EA guidance states this is not an effective way to reduce flooding ‘Dredging the Doley Brook will be ineffective as it’s so flat this would just make the channel less effective in conveying water’. It is also extremely destructive to both river biodiversity and the floodplain’s wildlife habitats. We should never forget that the Doley Brook is a natural watercourse and not a man-made-ditch and deserves to be treated with greater value.

Furthermore, the national approach to river management has changed drastically over the past two decades, with greater emphasis on adapting to climate change. The government is looking for different ways to protect built-environments by slowing rivers down and retaining floodwater upstream at the top of river catchments. This protects urban areas downstream such as Penkridge, Burton and Nottingham. Every time the Doley Brook or floodplain is drained, it only moves the problem quicker downstream. Drainage is also extremely expensive and an analysis of costs versus benefits shows little advantage in the intensive use of marginal floodplain land over the benefits of letting them naturally store floodwater.

Extreme UK weather and flooding events are only predicted to worsen. So it’s time to stop seeing the brook and floodplain as a problem, but start appreciating this wetland as a natural asset for our village and parish. The floodplain plays a vital function - not only as a location for wildlife, but as the natural place where all our excess rainwater goes. All-year round or intensive land-use of the floodplain can never be guaranteed. Instead we should learn from our predecessors that this wetland is a fragile environment that needs to be managed sustainably and treated with respect. So, let’s allow the Doley Brook to rejuvenate and start appreciating it when we see the breathtaking natural landscape of a floodplain in full flood, alive with the sight and noise of wetland wildlife.

(Floodplain South Of Former Railway Line & Recent Dredging Of Brook. *More Images On The Back Cover )

10 (Map - Flood map 2011 Gnosall)

11 (Map of Doley Brook flows to the Trent) WAR ENDS …. AND ICE CREAM AGAIN

Ron Large , now 87 and living in Gnosall, used early lockdown to write a memoir recalling his wartime childhood. In this final extract, he looks back to 1945 and the last few months boarding at Amber Valley when Derby School was decamped to the country

Following my “escape” from Amber Valley camp my father was easy with me. I think he was half amused and half proud of me making it home to Derby! Nevertheless, he let me know in no uncertain terms that I had to go back. My parents had paid all of my boarding fees and of course the school had my ration book. After a couple of days he took me back as arranged with the school.

Somehow, I felt a lot better. I think the school managers were really worried about the security lapse I had exposed. To cut it short, I was made quite a fuss of and moved to a dormitory called ‘Melandra’ named after the Roman fort in the extreme north-west of Derbyshire. All my old school chums were there and the dorm had its own built-in wash and shower rooms. I was also a bit of a celebrity too as no-one had ever made it home before. There was still just about enough snow on a north-west facing hillside for sledging. I went along just to be sociable as I had no sledge. Nobody was very successful in sliding down the hill until our new P.E. teacher came along. He was an Iraqi (don’t ask), quite young, fit and like most P.E. teachers, a bit of a show off. He borrowed a sledge, jumped on it gave it a push. His extra weight must have given it the necessary momentum because it hurtled down the hill at high speed and utterly out of control. Straight across the track of the Ashover Light Railway, through a line of trees and straight into the River Amber with an enormous splash. He got an even more enormous cheer and I don’t think he was injured. So, the weeks and months went on and Spring 1945 was soon with us. One of my old primary school friends and his brother took me for walks at the weekends when my parents weren’t visiting. These often took us along the little railway tracks as there were no trains running at weekends. The little bridges that criss-crossed the River Amber several times were quite scary as you could see the drop below between the sleepers! There was a strange huge mound at a little place called Milltown quite near to Ashover. On it was a massive marble image of a woman’s face. We were told that it was the tomb of a Gypsy Queen. Nearby was a hole in the ground. We use to drop stones in and count up to five before we heard them splash! Apparently Ashover was the scene of an engagement between the Cavaliers and the Roundheads during the Civil War. According to the historians, the Roundheads knocked all of the windows out of the church to get at the lead to make musket balls and bullets. For their part, the Cavaliers confiscated all of the ale and wine in the village. What they couldn’t drink, they flushed down the drains. I don’t think either side was thought of very highly by the locals! Easter came along so we all went home, apart from a few whose parents were away probably on war service. It was quite a sad holiday really as my parents told me that my beloved black spaniel Peter had been hit and killed by an American army lorry a few weeks before and that Fluff the cat had mourned him ever since. Then it was back for the Summer term. In some ways the war seemed far away to us in that remote valley tucked away in the Derbyshire hills. We had two woods close to the school and we were allowed ( I think!) to play in them. In the lower wood, senior boys had built some very sophisticated huts out of rocks and branches they found just lying around. Life had become very pleasant as the spring progressed. As April morphed into May each day just seem to come and go just like its predecessor.

In Melandra, I had elected to have the lower bunk and it seemed to be just an ordinary night as l turned in for lights-out on that early May evening. In those days, 6th Form pupils were given a lot of responsibility. In fact, they were 12 (Churchill gives the Victory in Europe speech) actually permitted to dish out physical punishment by using a gym slipper. The two who had charge of Melandra however were quite decent sorts and we all got on really well. They were not known as prefects at Derby School but as praepostors.(That’s the right spelling, I checked!) They of course didn’t have to observe lights-out at our time but were expected to be quiet when they went to bed. All was quiet when suddenly, the lights at the far end of the dormitory were switched on and everyone started to stir.

A female voice issued forth. “Wake up every-one!” It belonged to Miss Sadler a geography teacher who strode purposefully in, followed by our two six-formers. Between them they carried a large cumbersome radio, two chairs that they placed it on and quite a bit of wire. Some for the mains electricity and the rest as some sort of makeshift aerial. There was quite a bit of frantic fiddling but eventually the bleeping and whining subsided and the radio decided to behave itself. Just in Time!

The unmistakable voice of Prime Minister Winston Churchill boomed out saying that the Germans had unconditionally surrendered and that the war in Europe was over!

“Oh well”, I thought as his speech ended and wondered what was coming next.

“Get up” said Miss Sadler “And pack enough things to last you for a few days because you are all going home after breakfast tomorrow!”

And so we did. I went to a big street party across the road from where we lived in Derby and ate lots of really nice things that had obviously been stored for such an occasion as this. We were later entertained by a magician. I must admit that my absence from home made me feel somewhat of an outsider.

Then it was back to Amber Valley where everything seemed to be in turmoil. No-one could settle and there was much talk of a general election with senior boys wearing what looked like blue or red rosettes.

It was still May when all us 2nd formers (we were called that for historical reasons but were actually 1st years – now called year 7) were told that we were to be sent home as the school was leaving Amber Valley and returning to Saint Helen’s House next term and in short we were in the way. Everything had to be packed away and of course the senior boys had school certificate and university entrance exams to cope with.

So, just as at the outbreak of the war, we began a very long holiday this time of almost four months. Not without its moments of course, as with things like atomic bombs, the unconditional surrender of Japan, a general election and of course another street party where this time I was fully accepted. Oh yes, and my 12th birthday and the first taste of ice-cream for six years! On the day of the true ending of the war I remember the headline in the Derby Evening Telegraph reading – PEACE.

If anything, rationing was worse (even bread) and back at school the meals were so awful, that I often made the eight-mile round trip on the trolley bus to eat at home. All that including the arrival of my new sister and the privations of the harsh winter of 1947 is however, yet another story.

I will finish with a tale that I think typifies how things began to progress in the brave new world.

All through the war (and some years before for that matter), our bread was delivered by ‘Jim’ and his Co-op Bread cart pulled by his faithful mare ‘Doll’. Even at the worst times we had a delivery every week-day and it was never known for Jim to fail, even for that short time whilst bread was rationed.

But Doll got old and was finding pulling the cart too much. The day came when she was retired to green pastures and Jim got a grand new motorised bright red bread-van. All seemed fine until a very apologetic and red-faced Jim gave us the news that he could no longer deliver the bread every day but had to restrict it to twice a week. “You see”, he said. “Doll used to keep up with me by drawing the cart along so that I could deliver to several houses and only have a short walk back. Now I have a long walk as the new van doesn’t know how to do that and I have to get in and start the engine, draw alongside, stop the engine and get out for each load”. Ron Large 13 John de Knightley challenges the Churchmen - 1395

In the late 14th century, it was the custom that when a parishioner died, their animals went in txhxexx fxuxnxexxraxlx xpxrxoxcxex ssion to the church and were impounded in the churchyard, so that the prebendaries (senior local clergy) could choose the second best animal to keep as their own property. This was known as a mortuary.

At a court hearing in 1395, fourteen of ‘the older and most responsible men of Gnosall’ swore that this was the case, and William de Multon, freeman aged 70, said since time immemorial the Gnosall church rectors had chosen the second best beast before any division or distribution of the deceased’s goods. And so said his father John who died 50 years ago, and so said his grandfather John who died 100 years ago.

However, John de Knyghtley, a wealthy Gnosall man and MP, challenged this custom over 15 years or so, and the case came to court.

The prebendaries cited the particular case of a black cow, which had belonged to the late Isabel Cowper of Cowley and a tawny bullock, which had belonged to the late Eleanor de Wotton of Cowley. Both these animals had been driven away from the churchyard to stop the prebendaries having them.

The prebendaries retaliated by threatening Eleanor’s widower, John de Wotton, with grave penalties including excommunication if he didn’t hand the bullock over.

He handed over the bullock at High Mass – but then on the advice of John de Knyghtley used the King’s Writ of Trespass to have three of the prebendaries, Thomas Waryn, William Smyth and John Colet, arrested at Haughton by the King’s under-sheriff Hugh for abducting the bullock and trespassing against the King’s peace. To the indignation of the church, Smyth and a servant were taken to Stafford, put in the stocks for a day and a night, and imprisoned in Stafford Castle until they paid a fine.

Similarly, when Roger de Peshale, Lord of Knightley, specifically left his best horse, named Griselle (a grey mare?), to Gnosall church and its canons, Richard Nowell on John de Knyghtley’s orders took the horse to Ellenhall Park outside the parish boundaries, where the prebendaries couldn’t get it.

The result of the court hearing is not recorded.

Source: Historical Collections of Staffordshire, 1927, William Salt Library.

Note. John de Knyghtley is said to have been challenging the church for 15 years, i.e. from around the time of the so-called “Peasants’ Revolt” of 1381. This rebellion was by no means limited to peasants and extended up to the gentry – as this story shows. Gnosall Heritage Group

Find us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/119397392108700

Website - http://www.gnosallparishcouncil.org.uk/heritage/index.php

E-mail – [email protected]

Christmas Stable Outside St Lawrence Church

Due to the restrictions on meeting, particularly inside buildings, we decided to bring the Christmas message to the village in the form of a stable outside the Church. We hoped by doing this it would bring the community together to celebrate in safety. It was made and erected, with lights, by Church members. The figures of Mary and Joseph were made and donated by Gnosall W I. Jambusters. The main focus for the stable was for the Crib Service at 4.00pm on Christmas eve. We were very pleased that around 200 adults and children attended this short service, for which a temporary sound system and lighting was provided. It was pleasing to receive positive comments and thanks from a number of people. However, after Christmas, it was disappointing that we had to take the stable down earlier than planned, due to it being a target of vandalism. We hope to have the stable outside the Church again next Christmas and in years to come.

14 A LITTLE HELP VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

The Gnosall Community Support Group on social media’s Facebook have clocked up 1,600 members to establish an amazing network of help for the village and surrounds.

From distributing food parcels, presents for Gingercroft care home residents, providing Christmas dinners, an egg hunt for children, furnishing and painting, fund raising ... the achievements and support from villagers has been remarkable.

Gemma Hodgkins an administrator of the Facebook group explained the site was started by Jessica Moult, and then joined by Shannon Fleming, Victoria Hainsworth and Gemma, in response to the need they saw during the first lockdown.

“There were quite a lot of people who needed help to get through the first lockdown and the food bank was set up at the Scout Hut.”

Villagers responded generously to appeals put out on the Facebook page providing food and donating cash ... and continued to do so as the months of the pandemic went on. As restrictions eased in the summer and the Scout Hut was no longer available, any remaining donations were passed to the House of Bread in Stafford.

Over the Christmas holidays, thanks to £1,000 proceeds raised in a raffle with the help of the parish council clerk Jayne Cooper, donations from the Co-op, and tireless work by Louise Goodall at Greens, the goodwill was spread ever wider. Christmas lunch was delivered to 65 homes, Secret Santa gifts and cards went out to the elderly, and packed lunch parcels were provided for children.

Julie Clayton and her husband delivered prepared meals for £1 a time to help those who may have been struggling or needed a little pick-me-up.

And Cathy Shaw made colourful Rainbow Wreaths in support of the NHS, raising money for charity at the same time.

As the membership of the social media group has grown so has the range of subjects posted. The site provides a useful way for villagers to donate items they no longer need. It has also proved invaluable to those who have moved away from the village but want to keep in touch.

Warnings of local flooding or traffic hold ups are quickly circulated on the Community site. Dust if you must (a poem by Rose Milligan)

The group’s organisers are now planning a leaflet drop Dust if you must, but wouldn’t it be better around the village to increase awareness of the charitable To paint a picture or write a letter, work and explaining how villagers can help. Bake a cake or plant a seed, Should we still be confined by Easter, the egg-hunt around Ponder the difference between want or need? the village for children will doubtless be coming back for a second year. Dust if you must, but there’s not much time, “The community spirit here in Gnosall is just amazing. With rivers to swim and mountains to climb, I love it and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” said Music to hear and books to read, Gemma. Friends to cherish and life to lead. Steve Torrington Dust if you must, but the world’s out there, With the sun in your eyes and the wind in your hair, A flutter of snow, a shower of rain, This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind, Old age will come and it’s not kind. And when you go-and go you must- You, yourself will make more dust.

Reproduced from the Benefice Bugle, by kind permission .

15 JOIN THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION GNOSALL BRANCH You do not have to be an ex service person or a serving member of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, anyone can join ! For more information, please telephone: 01952 691131 or email: [email protected] Lawrence’s Story After an exemplary military career Lawrence Philips found himself struggling to adapt to civilian life and at the mercy of a payday loan company when COVID-19 meant he couldn’t work.

After seven years in the Army, Lawrence was medically discharged after injuring his spine whilst weightlifting. Despite initially securing jobs in recruitment and construction, he struggled to settle and find a path after the Army. "I was depressed, suicidal. I never wanted to leave service and found it really tough to adjust," Lawrence says. Reaching out To help Lawrence get the support he needed his fiancée Danielle advised him to get in touch with the Legion.

He was contacted by one of our local Case Officers, Paul James, who was able to get Lawrence the mental health support he needed.

Still struggling financially Lawrence took out a small £500 loan in December 2019 to help the family get through Christmas.

But when Lawrence was unable to work due to Covid-19, the debt suddenly spiralled by almost 400%.

Once again, Lawrence turned to the Legion and, despite the restrictions due to COVID-19 , our Benefits, Debt and Money Advice team (BDMA) were able to help.

They arranged a three-way call with the creditors and took control of the situation to negotiate a significant discount on the debt to allow Lawrence to clear a much smaller payment.

With the weight of the debt off his shoulders, Lawrence has secured work as a supervisor in two local schools, where he hopes his background in both physical instruction and the military will help him to swiftly climb the ladder.

"Without the help of the Legion I would be dead now, 100%," Lawrence says.

“They have helped me sort out both my mental health and my financial health. I’m debt-free and looking forward to starting a new career, I cannot thank them enough.

“I will be forever grateful to Paul and everyone at the Legion. I don’t really want to think about where I would be without 0 2 0 them.” 2

l a e Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we have been able p p

A to help other veterans who like Lawrence have found y themselves in difficulty due to these unusual times. p p o P

u “Despite the current pandemic, our financial advice o y

service continues to provide free, confidential advice k n about benefits and unmanageable debt, which has a h T clearly affected thousands of people during Covid-19,” L Debbie Harding, Area Manager for the Royal British Legion in B R Yorkshire, says.

“We are delighted to have assisted Lawrence during a difficult time, and help him along the road to a brighter future.”

David Winterbottom PRO for the Gnosall and District RBL Branch. 16 GNOSSWORD

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DOWN 34. Whether Januarys Gnossword Answers 38. Biblical figure 1. Prediction 40. Gape 2. Wizard's home 42. Bob or Thomas 3. Italian 44. Greek letter 4. Lane 45. Hut 5. Apex 47. Drug 6. Asian Country 48. Platinum 7. Glide 49. 600 8. Delete 9. Strontium 12. Nazi Org. 13. Epoch 16. Actor David 20. Adam's son QUOTE 22. Help! 23. 400 OF THE MONTH On s trength...... 25. Revere “Strength does not come 26. Congregated from winning. 28. History Your struggles develop 29. Grains your strengths.” 31. Limited 32. Low point Arnold Schwarzenegger

17 Acronyms are abbreviations made up of the first letters of several words, occasionally with numbers too. They can sometimes be pronounced as words, for example NATO, or by their individual letters, such as in USA. The use of acronyms in the English language is a relatively new linguistic phenomenon, often resulting from advances in science, technology, and business practices. Humans are essentially pretty lazy and look for ways to make most things, including speech and writing, less effortful.

Some acronyms have become so embedded in our language that we have sometimes forgotten their originating words. For example, Scuba stands for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Radar was coined in 1940 by the US Navy, as an acronym for RAdio Detection And Ranging. You might know that WD-40 is a Water Displacement product, but did you know that the 40 relates to how many attempts it took the chemist, Norm Larsen, to perfect the formula?

The American candy manufacturer, Forest Mars, of Mars bars fame, saw British soldiers eating smarties and took the concept back to America. He teamed up with Bruce Murrie of Hershey’s chocolate company and together they created the chocolate candy M&Ms, using their last names for the name of this arguably inferior version of smarties.

Spam is an acronym shrouded in mystery in the clandestine world of meat processing. It might stand for Special Processed American Meat, Spiced Ham or Shoulder of Pork and Ham. In more recent times, thanks to its use in a famous Monty Python sketch, spam started to be used to describe anything repetitive and unavoidable. Hence, we now have email spam cluttering up our inboxes.

The letters SOS have been used as a code for emergency since 1905, and have given generations of children minutes of amusement working out what this acronym means. Save Our Sausages. Save Our Smarties. However, in this article on acronyms I end with something that isn’t an acronym at all. The letters SOS do not stand for Save Our Souls, as frequently assumed. They were chosen based on the distinctiveness of the …---… Morse code sequence, which makes it stand out from other telegraph transmissions.

By Andrea Lacy

We all know about the Macmillan Nurses who work in hospitals and provide palliative care in peoples’ homes, but Macmillan Cancer Support is more than that because in addition to those nurses we employ a whole range of personnel in a variety of professions such as Medical Surgeons and Doctors, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Oncologists, Reconstructive Surgeons as well as Financial Advisors, Welfare Workers and other professionals, all engaged in a huge team supporting those living with cancer. Macmillan’s ambition and aim is to reach and improve the lives of everyone living with cancer. The impact Macmillan is having and the support we are giving everyday has never been greater. This can be a Macmillan Nurse helping someone in their own home or in hospital, it can be someone receiving accurate information about their type of cancer and the treatment they will receive or being helped with the cost of their bills or helped with the cost of transport to and from hospital to have treatment. We also provide equipment or mechanical devices for use in the home or arrange for changes to be made to furnishings which will improve the wellbeing of those in need, as well as giving grants to those for the purchase of clothing etc. where the cost cannot be met by the individual. There are challenges, not least the state of the economy and public finances and expensive cancer medicines and procedures, but there is no doubt that we will succeed in achieving our ambition of not only reaching and improving the lives of everyone living with cancer but inspiring others to do the same. MACMILLAN SUPPORT LINE: Our specialist Financial Guidance service is available to anyone who calls the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00. If you are having tests for cancer, have just been diagnosed or you are in treatment, we are here to help. Find out about different ways we can support you: Macmillan nurses are specialist cancer nurses who can help you to understand your treatment options and support you through your cancer experience; Our cancer information nurse specialists are dedicated cancer nurses available to talk to on our Macmillan Cancer Support Line; Macmillan information and support centres support people affected by cancer. They are free to use and we have Cancer Information Centres at County Hospital in Stafford and The Royal University Hospital in Stoke which anyone can access; “SafeFit” has been designed in response to Covid-19 to support people living with cancer to maintain and improve their physical and emotional wellbeing, whilst following Government guidelines; BOOTS Macmillan information pharmacists give local support and BOOTS Macmillan Beauty Advisors are trained to give face to face advice to help cope with the visible side effects of cancer treatment. If you have access to the internet you can go on line to www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information. More recently we have introduced a Telephone Buddy Service so you don’t have to face cancer alone. Cancer can be an isolating experience at any time, and especially when social distancing so our free Telephone Buddy service is here for you. We’ll match you with someone who understands what you are going through, and they’ll give you a weekly call. You can register your interest and we’ll find a Telephone Buddy who suits your needs and you can receive up to 12 weeks or more of support, or whatever works for you. Ring for information, 0808 808 00 00 MONTHLY DRAW WINNERS for November and December are as follows: (The Draw took place at Bank House on Friday18th December 2020.) November: 1st No.48 G. Renshaw £34 - 2nd No.107 M. Winfield £20 - 3rd No.83 J. Day £13 December: 1st No.55 S. Ransom £34 - 2nd No. 56 D. Healey £20 - 3rd No.13 R. Prichard £13 During the period we are in Coronavirus Tier 4 we will make the Draw for the next few months as and when it is appropriate to do so and will keep you informed. If you have not yet joined it is not too late to become a member and although the cost is £12.00 per year you will only pay the amount proportionate to the period of the year remaining. Please call Gill on 01785 308584 or Mike on 01785 822348. 18 Another story from our group for February: Flash Fiction: Entanglement

I climbed into bed. The night air cold and the bed welcoming, even though it took a while for it be so. It was welcoming for another reason. For a few hours I would not have to worry or think about the day I would awaken to. The day I had feared for so long but now so near, I could no longer bear to contemplate.

The room, dark-stained walls and mudded windows, what fool would want to be in this place?

I awoke, something was different. Looking around everything was different! I was in a whole new place.

Sumptuous bedclothes, thick carpet, oil paintings on the walls and an ornate ceiling. This must be a dream, but it feels so real.

I tried to get up but instead my limbs would not work. I felt pain. A strange pain I had never felt before, a weakness. I managed to pull myself out of bed but my body also felt strange. My hands wrinkled as if aged and my legs thin and bizarrely withered. I shuffled to the mirror at a dresser. To my horror, a stranger looked back at me, reflecting a grim-lined face of an old man. The young man I had been the previous night in the cold damp room to this, an old man in a pristine room!

I knew of course, underneath the denial, this was the dread I had yet did not know its form, its result. If, indeed, it was a dream, I want to wake up.

More terrifying, memories begin to flood into my befuddled brain; of a life I never had, of successes and failures of women I had loved and lost, of a life filled with adventures I never experienced yet the memories persisted; they were mine to have, yet impossible to believe.

Those days were done. Now this room was all I had; outside were servants who gave me everything but what I craved. My life, any life but this. My body confined to a bed; my body riddled with disease making it impossible to leave this ornate but desolate gilded cage. From somewhere deep within me I knew I would be here for the rest of my life, an intolerable life lasting 15 years, a tormented hell until I die.

He turned and looked out of the window and an enviable view, courtesy of his wealth. It was late Autumn and the last glory of the dying leaves now being blown to the ground, leaving the tree to survive without them. He sobbed.

It was into a drab room to which he awoke, he felt it as soon as he opened his eyes, a surge of power, of health! He dashed out of bed to the cracked mirror and saw his face.

“I did it,” he exclaimed with a glee of triumph. The reflection was of a 15-year-old boy. Through his work on quantum entanglement, he had found a way of switching his mind into his younger self, back in time and with something all the riches he had gained in his older self, that money could not buy... Youth and health.

The surroundings did not matter, it would change as he knew it would, and this time he had all his memories and experience at his command. He also knew what he needed to do when the time came around again, he would do it over and over again. Life, existence, repeated itself, but now he had found a way of circumventing the loss of memories and will on each reiteration and with each reiteration, he would change things to his advantage. Not like these poor saps who do not understand the true reality of life. 19 Mike’s Story

‘I hate running but I love the smug feeling you get afterwards’. I heard that quote from a comedian called Jason Manford and thought to myself ‘that sounds like me’.

I was never a runner. I'm still no runner. I always played team sports games at school and university; rugby, football or any game which involved a ball and being part of a team. Running to me meant participation in the annual cross-country event when all the rugby blokes came last and all the kids that you thought couldn’t do sport ran miles ahead and made us all look stupid. I always thought of runners as being loners or ‘in the zone’, not talking to anyone else, just singularly focused on their own, self-obsessed goals. How little I understood then about running.

Once I started my career, running was the only exercise I got which did not involve great expense in money or time. Whilst travelling around the world for business I would usually run early in the morning to clear my head or set myself up for the day. I still hated the idea of running but it was then I realised that the act of putting one foot in front of the other relatively quickly wasn't the idea. It was all about the experiences I had along the way. I discovered so much more about the places I visited. Whilst running, I experienced French, Portuguese or Danish towns waking up in the morning, getting hosed down by cleaning lorries, running around French waiters putting out the chairs outside their cafes, Americans celebrating Halloween through the night or Icelandic geysers bubbling under my feet. I would arrive at a customers' premises already understanding more about the culture of their country, full of questions about the places I had seen, the statues I had run around or the countryside I had circumnavigated.

Despite all these experiences, I still didn't run regularly enough to improve my fitness. In 1990 and 1993 I entered the Gnosall 10k, more as a way of supporting my new village home, rather than as an athletic goal. In those days it was in aid of St. John’s Ambulance and the Friday before I would do a tour of the local pubs and the club to raise money. Using this method, I often raised over £500, whilst getting to know so many great people in the village. I still regularly tour the local pubs and the club with no particular fitness goals in mind.

As I got closer to my 60th birthday, I thought it was time I started running again, this time as a life goal. I did the Gnosall 10k-ish in 2019 with not enough preparation and was about to give up when a woman limping along next to me with her knees and legs strapped up encouraged me to push on to the finishing line. I thought if she can do it, I can do it. I started to understand then that running could be a team sport. In 2020, whilst working from home during lockdown, the one hour' of exercise was the only time out of the house. The Gnosall 10k in 2020 was ‘virtual’ due to pandemic restrictions. Rather than run alone again, I contacted Bob Middleton, an old friend who was one of the organisers of the 10k and asked him if I could do the 'real' 10k route with him. I was sure I'd get lost if I did it alone. Despite the early start, it was one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling days of 2020. Since then I have run regularly with Bob's boot camp every Saturday morning. Following him across Staffordshire's fields, I went from couch to 5k to 10k to 18k in less than a month! Now I understand how running can be such a team sport. I made lots of new friends who are also daft enough to get up and do a socially distant run at 6.30am. They are such a positive bunch (far more than I am that early) that I feel I've had a week's worth of experiences before breakfast .They talk with such enthusiasm about how running has benefited their lives and improved their health and self-confidence. We also have a great laugh navigating barbed wire fences, boggy fields, cow pats and cows and get to see some sensational countryside and sunrises.

For me, I certainly don't hate running anymore. I actually look forward to running on a Saturday morning now and I am missing my boot camp buddies during this latest lockdown. I’ve found that Jason Manford's statement is true in that the feeling of achievement and well-being that running gives you sets you up, not only for the day, but for dealing with many of the challenges that we all face now in our daily lives.

Mike Sullivan

20 GNOSALL PARISH COUNCIL (INCLUDING THE WARDS OF MORETON AND KNIGHTLEY)

Who would have thought that when we were faced with the first lockdown in March 2020 that almost 12 months on we would still be dealing with the difficulties that the Covid pandemic has caused. Sadly, the parish office has been closed to the public for most of the past year. New ways of working have been established and will continue for some time for example Parish Council meetings Office Opening Times will be held virtually until at least May 2021, members of the public are able to join the meetings by using the zoom login details which are published on the Monday - CLOSED website (or obtained by calling the office). Although projects and events had to Tuesday - 10.00am – 2.00pm be cancelled or put on hold last year, staff and councillors have remained busy Wednesday – 9.30am-12.30pm with other tasks that can carried out from their homes, nowhere near as exciting Thursday - by appointment only or interesting as planning village events and managing projects but nonetheless just as important – many of the councils documents have been reviewed and It is preferable to telephone or updated (Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and numerous policies), an online email the office during the booking system for use when the Grosvenor Centre is able to open has been pandemic rather than visit developed and working virtually (with a lot more electronic documents particularly planning applications) has become the norm and will, we are sure, continue as an option post Covid. Of course the Parish Council had to adapt to the needs of the Jayne Cooper Clerk, parish during the pandemic and has had an active hotline for many months, Gnosall Parish Council, The signposting callers to receive the help they needed. Grosvenor Centre, High Street, Gnosall, Stafford ST20 0EX The financial constraints the council faces in the next financial year (2021/22) will Tel: 01785 822685 also impact on the council’s projects. Significant cuts have had to be made to many budgets and consequently planning new projects and picking up pending email: projects will be suspended until the Council’s finances are more stable. [email protected] Essential maintenance will continue and possibly the revamp of the play area on Brookhouse Road will go ahead using S106 funds that are retained by Stafford www.gnosallparishcouncil.org.uk Borough Council. Facebook On an optimistic and more positive note, it is hoped GFest2021 will take place even if it is on a smaller scale. Hopefully by the summer, things will be a lot better Did you know Gnosall Parish than they are now. The dates for GFest will be set and tentative plans made and Council has a Facebook page? if restrictions are lifted, the plans will be put into action! Gnosall’ Carnival Local information and events are Committee have also set the date for a summer carnival. Looking further ahead posted regularly. Why not “like” the Parish Council very much hopes to be able to organise the usual Christmas our page and start following us. lights event in November. Hundreds of other people do and help share useful local Parishioners certainly could do with events to look forward to, to meet friends and information. family again and have some fun! Useful telephone numbers In the meantime, the hotline remains active for anyone who needs help with Police (non emergency): 101 shopping, prescription collection or other services - someone is always available for a chat, to offer help or guidance and answer questions to the best of their Highways: ability. (roads, pavements and street lighting issues) If anyone needs help with meals, please remember that Julie Clayton offers home report online at made one-pot meals for only £2 for the elderly and vulnerable and Rachel from www.staffordshire.gov.uk/reportit Green’s Tea Room can also provide family meals and children’s lunches as well as her very popular Sunday lunches – all delivered or available using a takeaway Streetscene: 01785 619401 service. (litter and dog mess) The Boat Pub also has a delivery and collection service – Fish & Chips on Fridays 5pm-8pm and Sunday lunches 12pm-4pm. Hiring The Grosvenor Centre, Stuart Ridgewell These services are there for anyone locally, please do not think you are not [email protected] or eligible. 01785 822685 Parish Hotline: 07947 104411 Rachel from Green’s Teas: 07960 847 829 Julie Clayton: 01785 823788 The Boat Pub: 01785 822208

21 LOCAL TRADE DIRECTORY

FOOD SERVICES: Gnosall Express p24, Hogart Well February has soon come around - How Wines p24, Occasions Caterers p24, Boat Inn p25, The Bakery p24, Matthews Butchers p25. time flies!! Navigation Inn p24. Yes it’s 2021 and in another lockdown, there is one consolation, the vaccine is up and ACCOUNTS & FINANCIAL: Mike James p26, Bright & Co p29, Deaconsfield p32, Kates running, fingers crossed this will improve the Accountancy Services p42, Jeanette Martin p26. situation, we must remember, to following the rules!!! Wash Hands - Wear a Mask - Keep your Distance APPLIANCES: Tom Sturgess p31, Appliance Force p36.

This may seem a bit late but I would like to thank Rachel from Green’s Café ART AND PUBLISHING: Hare and Moon p42, and her volunteers for a marvellous job providing Christmas Meals to our local The Extrahand Marketing Company p42.

community this just proves the community spirit is out there despite the BATHROOM, BEDROOM, KITCHEN: situation the country is in, so a big Thank you from Gnosall Jambusters WI. RT Bathrooms p27, Regent House p33, Kitchen Visions p34. Our Act of kindness continues, Jayne Cooper received flowers as a thank you BUILDERS: Phil Dolloway p27, LT Talbot p35, for all the hard work she does for the Parish, June CR Large p35, Daniel Mattocks p40, our WI flower guru delivered the flowers, June has also delivered flowers to some members who have CARE INC. RESIDENTIAL: Gingercroft p31, The Care Company p36, been feeling unwell, just a little something to cheer Newport Cottage Care p38. one up. Moving On!! CHILDCARE & EDUCATION: St Lawrence Pre-School p37. Just a few updates:- We have received some lovely emails from members CHIROPODISTS: Wendy Palser p34, thanking the committee for delivering the Christmas Clare Pitchford p36, Sarah Irvine p41. gift/card you were all most welcome, we all enjoyed CLEANING (Home, Windows, Chimney): doing the rounds!! Mark Smith p25, You Can't I Can p25, Magic (Jayne Cooper) Carpet p26, Helpful Housewives p28, Gutter Cleaning p29, Safeclean p41, First Ladies Walking Group unfortunately is not taking place at present, however Impressions p42, Gnosall Laundry Services p43. fingers crossed this can resume by the end of February. COMPUTING & TV: AAS Aerials p30, AAS CCTV You would have all received an email regarding The Resolutions, WI ladies vote p32, Computer Running Slow p32, iTom p33. what they wish to be forwarded, after the count it was decided that DANCE, EXERCISE: Fit4TheFuture p29, Prevention of Ovarian Cancer, our vote, will go forward and all numbers will Movement Matters p39, Diddi Dance p39. be collated. DECORATORS: Steve Dimelow p26, Steve Taylor Our AGM - will not be held in the village, due to the virus, we will be p30, Gordon Hall p31, IS Ferguson p34, DW Zooming, more information to follow as soon as we have more information. Bentley p42, Aaron Mayer p37.Glenn Ward p39.

ELECTRICIANS: Hall Electrical p27, Westwood Our January meeting was held via zoom - The Speaker was Lynn Barrow - Electrical p29, Craig Michael p31, Nick Bundy Quirky Birds p32, Rob Souter p26. What a lovely evening this was, Lynn gave us an insight to when she was a FUNERAL SERVICES: Owens Memorials p26. Tour Manager travelling round the world to Quirky Birds. Sadly for Lynn her Tour Manager job has been put on hold due to the virus, so she decided to FURNISHING: Staffordshire Kitchens p28, Will concentrate on her illustrations, some ladies put pen, paint to paper and Mockett p33, Home Farm p35, followed Lynn’s instructions, they were amazing! Penn Home Services p43. you can follow Lynn on Facebook she now has GARDENS, TREES, LANDSCAPING: Gnosall 14,000 followers, she hosts classes and Tutorials. Lawn Mowing Services p27, J Hitchenor p28, It’s well worth a look. You never know ladies we Mark Hodgkins p29, M Bissell p29, Squirrel Fencing p31, JB Ground Care p33, Littlehales p37, could start a zoom painting workshop “watch this JWH p38, Autumn Leaves p38. space” Next month our speaker will be Jo May - Spoon HAIR, BEAUTY, JEWELLERY, CLOTHING: Barber Shop p28, Sewing Alterations p29, Hair Razor Playing Workshop - so get your spoons ready! p34, so please join us February 3rd the more the Angela Smith p38, Parkview Lasercare p41. merrier - usual time 7.30pm HANDYMAN: The Shropshire Handyman Services (Lyn Barrow’s illustrations) p26, The Handyman P30,Handyman Servcies p39, Owen-Hampton Flooring p40. I think that's it for now - in the meantime please stay safe, if you know of HEALTHCARE: Katharine House shops p37, anyone on their own it would be nice to knock the door to see if they are ok! Gnosall Dental p38, MASE p40. Joanne Vogel p30. Wendy Prescott (Reflexology) p23. Until next time - Jean - Gnosall Jambusters Treasurer 22 L o c

HEATING: Fifth Element p27, Brain Brothers p30, a

Charles Swann Coal p39. Park Nook Logs p25 l

T

HOLIDAY HOMES: Kinno House p23. r a JOINERS: David Bebbington p30, Charlie Jones p31. d

LEGAL: Legal Legacies p36, Donn&Co p40. e

LEISURE: Gnosall Heath Incredible Jigsaws p23. D

MOTOR TRADE: SDW Automotive p25, i Gnosall Autobodies p33, AJ&H Wright p35, Bank Top p43. r e

MUSIC: Paul Weaver p40. c t

OPTICIANS: In-Home Eyecare p36, Mincher Lockett p42. o r

PETS: Kitty Sitty p27, We Pamper p28, Shires Vets p35, y Grooming Great p26, Dog Grooming p39.

PLASTERERS: RHJ Plastering p27.

PLUMBERS: JH Knight p32, Daniel Mattocks p40, Howfield p41, Alan Moore p41.

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE: Richard Carn p36, Marc Hinde p40.

ROOFING: Weathertight p37.

RETAIL OUTLET: Tylers Gas and Electrical Andy Wright p34. Agiyo Ltd p38.

TAXI: Mr Jenkins p28, Core Cars p33, Austin's Travel p40.

VAN HIRE: Stafford Removals p41.

VENUE HIRE: Grosvenor Centre p26.

23 Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory e t o u 2 Q

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Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Local Trade Directory Gnosall Photographers

Featuring The Work Of Mike Deegan

(Floodplain South of former railway line)

) Acres on the plain (Flood

(Doley Brook in flood - the Acres)

If you would like your pictures to feature on a future issue please contact: [email protected]