NOW

COVERING:

Aylton, Little Marcle, Munsley, Pixley &

Summer June - Aug 2020 Formerly The Putley Press Issue No.87

'Team' Urbanski clapping for key workers every Thursday evening A word from the Editor by Julie Crompton What a strange 3 months and living that make for a better life, better understanding and a way to be rid we've all had. New words of this dreadful Virus. include Lockdown, socially One of the things we thought we'd distancing, Corona virus struggle with was what to fill our magazine and Covid-19! with for this issue with seemingly, nothing happening. We needn't have worried. As Who knew about 'Zoom' until we were always, even in a locked-down situation, all confined to our homes? It does look the people of our parishes have been like we have all been up to many things we busy getting creative and finding ways to never dreamed of being up too! Making entertain themselves, help those in need, scrubs for the NHS has been a big one, share love and kindness and do their level but also clapping for all the key workers. best to get themselves and others through All these acts of kindness have been this situation. overwhelming. The things people are We don't know what the next three doing for others and themselves now is months have in store, but by keeping amazing, and of course this doesn't ever ourselves and others as safe from this have to stop. invisible threat, finding new ways to bring This year will mean different things for us joy into all of our lives, we stand a pretty all. It has brought peace and tranquillity good chance of getting through this as into my usually very busy world. I have felt intact as possible. every emotion possible though. Although If you have any stories you'd like to share I really know what is important in my life, of your lock-down life, please share with it has heightened my awareness of those me so we can feature them in the next things. edition of The Cider Press. Each and everyone one of us will have Thank you all for supporting your local learnt something through all of this. I only magazine! hope it brings about new ways of working Julie Please support the local businesses who advertise in our magazine. Some are already providing a much needed service to us all, and as soon as they legally can, the others will be open for business.

If you have any events, stories, photographs or Copy deadline for the Autumn Issue: news, please let me know. If you don’t tell me Saturday 1st August I can’t pop it in our very own little mag! [email protected] 2 3 A busy Fran Robbins Some of Irene Tomkinson's 103 completed Scrub Bags

Rachel modelling a finished garment Putley Open Gardens 2020 Putley WI sews for the NHS The volunteer sewers got out their old As with most, if not all, public events Any one may join in if you wish to help Who do you call in a machines, dusted them off and oiled them Year Six did not take place on May 8th. our community. You do not have to be a national emergency? The ready for work. One member started making If things go smoothly for the next three “gardener” to offer a plant. Pot it, name it Women's Institute of course! scrubs outfits, while another went round her months we will reschedule the event for (if you can), put a price on it and leave it village (at a safe distance) asking for unwanted Saturday September 26th. The event brings outside. Don’t forget to water it regularly We've all heard about the problems the NHS sheets and pillow cases. She single-handedly in a significant amount of money, shared and don’t worry if it remains there for some is having due to shortage of PPE and as made over 100 scrubs bags for NHS workers equally, between the Parish Hall and the days/weeks!. Then trust that whoever secretary of Putley WI, I was trying to find to safely take home and launder their scrubs, church. Should we be able to in September, removes it pays the asking price. out what we could do to help. My husband without risk of cross infection. this coincides with the two day Malvern was also trying to see how his employer, The Hopefully, we will continue with this Helping Hand cut the fabric and added Autumn Flower Show, so we hope to Helping Hand Company, could assist. We presentation of plants throughout the 3.75km of bias binding, elastic, and 5.5km encourage more “foreign” money in to our found the Facebook page ‘For the love of summer, when with some lifting of the of tape, provided by Doughty's of . coffers. Scrubs ’ and hatched a plan. lockdown, more people will be on the move. Kits were distributed to WI members, and With the closure of Putley Church and The hospital would find fabric, For the Love of production began. Several members have Since the forgoing was first penned, The Scrubs would find the haberdashery supplies, cancellations of bookings for the Parish already completed their gown 'kits' and on 4th Parish Hall Committee have generously Helping Hand would cut the fabric to an Hall, both institutions are lacking income. May the first 40 gowns arrived at the County asked that all the money stay with the approved pattern, and Putley along with Gardeners are trying to help by placing Hospital. Church. They, the Parish Hall, have other local WI's and volunteers would sew the plants, shrubs, seedlings (vegetable and received a useful grant which will help hospital gowns. A total of 170 gowns have been made by flowers) at their gates for sale. To avoid Putley WI and friends, with others made meet their expenses for some time. With personal contact, we ask that payment be Shower curtain fabric was on its way we were by volunteers all over Herefordshire. WI no services in church, this is a lovely made by BACS to the church account with told, but what arrived was shower curtains, members are happy to have brushed up their community gesture. Thank you. the reference POG20. At the end of each individually wrapped, complete with curtain dressmaking skills and feel proud to have done month the Treasurer remits 50% of the total Tim Beaumont rings! We had a dressmakers’ pattern and their bit in the emergency. to the Parish Hall account. This, in some Helping Hand engineers made a wooden small way, helps compensate for the lack of 01531 670801 former to enable them to cut-out industrial [email protected] quantities. In 2 weeks enough fabric was cut regular income. by Rachel Wilson for 2500 gowns. 4 5 A matter of taste Was there life before Hummus? by Melissa Hawker When did hummus become so ubiquitous? Suddenly it seemed to be on offer at every Variations gathering; barbecues, children’s birthday I divide this into three as it makes quite a parties, even conference buffets! Then substantial amount. Leave one plain, serve supermarkets started experimenting with with just a drizzle of olive oil and some different flavours, and people started making paprika sprinkled on top. Give the second it at home. The trouble was most of the one the chilli treatment with a dash (to homemade stuff, including my own, was taste) of a sweet chilli sauce (Linghams or very thick and stodgy – where were we Encona) and a bit of sweet smoked paprika. going wrong? The third, and my particular favourite, is Putley WI - Stay as safe as you can I discovered the secret in Yottam whizzed up some more with finely chopped When this lock-down is over and you are looking for fun, friendship and inspiration, join Putley WI! We meet at Putley Ottolenghi’s cookery book Jerusalem. Use fresh coriander and the juice of a lemon. Parish Hall at 7.30pm on the second Wednesday of each month. If you need more information just give Julie a call. They keep well in the fridge, but do take only the light tahini, whizz it up for far Julie Crompton on: 01531 670340 or email: [email protected] longer than you think and add iced water! them out at least 30 minutes before serving I use the Spanish jars of ready cooked to come up to room temperature. chickpeas. We don’t use enough of the dried ones in this country to be sure they A Salad for Difficult Times are not years old and the older they are, the This will forever be known as Lockdown longer they take to cook and can be a bit Salad as I invented it in the depths of Leadon Valley gritty. If you can’t get the jars then use good March when nipping out to get other, more quality tinned ones. Here is Ottolenghi’s tempting, ingredients was an anti-social Accountancy Ltd recipe adapted for jars or tins along with my thing to do. Rummaging around in the favourite variations. fridge I found a piece of smoked mackerel, Providing a tailored approach to all your and an avocado that had finally ripened accounting and taxation requirements: Basic Hummus but not yet gone squishy. There is always • 1 jar or 2 tins of cooked chickpeas basmati rice in the pantry, so I cooked up • Bookkeeping • 180g light tahini some of that, flaked the mackerel into it and • Payroll sliced the avocado. Very boring. Back to the • 3 tbspns lemon juice pantry, where I found a jar of caperberries • VAT • 3 garlic cloves, crushed which I sliced into the rice - perked it up • Management Accounts • about 75ml of iced water no end. With a dash of olive oil and some • Budgeting and Forecasting • salt seasoning it was the perfect light lunch. If • Financial Accounts I’d had spring onions, they would have made Drain the chickpeas and, using a food it even better. Smoked trout or salmon • Personal and Business Tax processor, whizz to a stiff paste. With the would work, or even some tinned tuna. motor still running add the tahini, lemon No caperberries? Ordinary capers, olives Business Centre juice, garlic and a teaspoon of salt. Slowly or sliced gherkins would add that touch of 136 Bridge Street, Ledbury, HR8 2AS drizzle enough iced water to get a smooth, acidity just as well. 01531 631095 light and creamy paste. This can take 5 [email protected] minutes! www.lvaccountancy.co.uk 6 7 NEW SHOOTS A Horticultural Dilemma by Rosa Mundi

of gardening. Though he has discovered LOCKDOWN that pruning the jasmine with the recently re-discovered electric hedge cutter works Large Garden 4 better if you don’t slice through the cable. Spring Springing 4 It has also dawned that taking tools back and putting in the greenhouse every Old Age 4 Bad back 4 night is a bore. So now a bucket with No Help 4 What to do? secateurs, knife, string, trowel, slug pellets, labels and gloves is left full. It goes in the wheelbarrow every morning with weed OPTION 1 Abandon the lot and buckets, a border fork and spade and that sign up for an online course on the is taken everywhere so one is less likely to study of British Wildlife. put off the job that has suddenly appeared in what seemed to be an immaculate bed. OPTION 2 Fiddle about with the A shoot of rose out of place on the arch? beds by the house and leave the rest. Tie up quick. A dock lurking behind the OPTION 3 Take a deep breath, delphinium? Hoick it out. A nibbled leaf on the emerging dahlias? A sprinkle of grab some tools and head for the nearest pellets (organic of course). border. Garden, not international. On a Really Bad Back Day the raised vegetable beds are just wonderful. Plant a We chose the latter and find that achieving row of parsnips, sit on the edge. Pick some at least one task a day, even a teeny weeny parsley, cover the lettuce with a cloche, sit one, makes us feel better. A bucket of down again. If challenged, “Planning what weeds a day is manageable, though of to plant” is the stock reply as to why one course you need two buckets, one for isn’t bent double over a trench of potatoes. compost one for perennial weeds. Of And an afternoon in the greenhouse with which we have plenty. We gave up on the Gardeners’ Question Time on the radio (or celandines which cover every bed in a D.B’s jazz at a million decibels from the yellow blanket. They do die down in May. adjacent barn), planting seeds, pricking But by doing a small weedy patch really out and potting on with the scent of thoroughly we have winkled out the tiny the lemon tree and the cheeriness of the brambles and hollies and May seedlings clashing flowers of the pink, vermillion growing from seeds dropped by birds. and magenta geraniums waiting for The chickweed comes out with a rake and their summer pots, must be the most a stray bindweed is tucked into a cut off therapeutic way to endure Life in the Time plastic bottle and dribbled with something of Covid. nasty. Dearly Beloved likes this Warfare bit 8 9 PUTLEY PARISH COUNCIL

the Hereford Road, Ledbury nestHerefordshire HR8 2PZ 01531 670816

There can only be one topic to by to help. Details are also on the Homepage start this issue’s Parish Council of the Putley website www.putley.org.uk update and that is the Covid-19 The Parish Council’s last meeting was virus and the lockdown advice held on the 19th March in the Parish Hall from the Government. with sensible distancing measures being implemented. Two planning applications A leaflet was distributed by the Cider were considered with responses given Press delivery volunteers to each and every to planning application 193094, land at household within the Cider Press catchment Coombecroft and planning application parishes offering assistance to those who 200487, The Fosbury. Another planning are unable to call upon friends and family application has since been received – nearby. The leaflet has details of people application 201197, Lower Court Farm. who can be contacted for help, be it with grocery shopping or prescription collections. Welsh Water were contacted by a resident This leaflet was distributed before the more about a leak in the road opposite Riley rigorous lockdown was implemented so if Gardens, Putley Common on Wednesday you did not receive a copy or have mislaid it 22nd April and work is already underway CAFE - DELI - STORE please contact the Cider Press and they will within 7 days so all being well that leak, and see that you get the information you need. the axle breaking pothole, will be resolved Gallery & Outdoor Venue If you have the leaflet and need help; then quickly now. please do not hesitate to contact any of the Future Parish Council meetings will be volunteers – and, in Putley, that means – held online using Zoom until the lockdown Annie Blandford, Ali Haydn-Jones, David ends with the next meeting scheduled for nestledbury.co.uk Pealing or Norman Stanier - they are standing Thursday 21st May. 10 11 The 1916 Sale of The Little Marcle Estate by Charles Thwaites Twenty five years ago I Prospective purchasers were encouraged by some explanatory wording in the General bought the main house at Remarks. Such as: All farms being within easy the former Knapp Farm, reach of the town of Ledbury where there is an Pixley. One of the previous excellent fortnightly market. All farms being let to good tenants, in many cases of long-standing, owners of this house was and are in a high state of cultivation. Any about to emigrate to France. purchase amounting to more than £500 can be He kindly gave me a package paid by instalments. of papers containing many The Special Conditions of Sale contain (I assume standard) evidence that Lord Somers of the details of the 1916 sale was the rightful owner of these properties by auction of what was then and therefore fully entitled to sell them. known as the Little Marcle But they also note an all too contemporary condition: The Vendor being abroad on active Estate. service in connection with the present War The Estate comprised seven tenanted farms, the Conveyances will be executed by Attorney well known to this day, spanning the parishes and every Purchaser is to be satisfied with such of Little Marcle, , Pixley and execution ….. without requiring any evidence Alyton. The farms in question were The that the Vendor is alive or otherwise. Knapp Farm, Pixley Court, Prior’s Court In the event, all farms but one (Little Farm, Lillands, Laddin Farm, Little Marcle Marcle Court) were sold to existing tenants. Court and Brook Farm. Not surprisingly, Pixley Court obtained The auction was held at the Feathers Hotel in the highest figure at £4800. As a happy Ledbury at three o’clock on 28th November postscript, Lord Somers - whose main estate 1916. The sale was billed as the disposal of was centred on Eastnor - survived the war. the outlying portions of Lord Somers’ Estate Although twice wounded, he was awarded a at Little Marcle, comprising 1606 acres, with DSO, an MC and appointed to the French rents amounting to £1340 19s 0d. The sale Legion of Honour. was essentially divided into seven main lots, With the Editor’s permission, I hope to give based on each farm. The acreages ranged more details from 1916 of each farm in turn from 163 (Prior’s Court) to 282 (Pixley in coming editions of The Cider Press. I hope Court) and all were sold with cottages, the readers will find them interesting. most being five.

12 13 Lock-down life Cycling the lanes Baking Sourdough Bread Lock-down has given some of us the The sentiment seems very apt for today. opportunity to express our creativity in Thank you Jake Herbst who obtained the ways both new and old. People are sewing, permissions for us to be able to print this. crafting, gardening, cycling, baking, On a slightly darker, but very tongue in bartering, expressing feelings through cheek level, there's a skit penned by writing and by knocking back a glass or 'news' Darrell Brown, who is obviously channelling two! We have a few examples over the next the late great Ronnie Barker during the few pages. A poem by David Murdoch, enforced break from his own business. and a poem written in 2008 by Michael Written for the fun of the pun, so we Rosen, the 2007/9 Children's Laureate hope none of our realities mirror this to commemorate 60 years of the NHS. work of fiction. Simple Pleasures by David Murdoch

Riding round the Putley lanes, astride my good old bike, it’s great to see a friendly face for real, not just on Zoom or Skype Titivating the Parish Hall Enjoying a cheeky tipple

It’s “Action Week” (in Hockney speak), with blossom poured around like thick white cream o’er apple trees, to smooth away my frown A weasel’s appeared in our garden, hunting mice for to feed to its young, These are the hands nature’s fast on its feet at this time of year, spring definitely has sprung by Michael Rosen An orphan lamb has moved right in, with a young family along the way, These are the hands Pour the jug And these are the hands their Labrador looks quite non-plussed, at the games he wants to play! That touch us first Replace your hip That stop the leaks Feel your head Empty the pan Some get inspired by Bob Ross’s brush, or the Sewing Bee on the telly, These are the hands and as baking rises to unforeseen heights, just keep an eye on your belly! Find the pulse Wipe the pipes And make your bed That fill the bath Carry the can If your daily woes have got up up your nose, and are causing you far too much ire, Mop the floor Clamp the veins why not treat yourself to a fine ferment, of cider, right here, in The Shire These are the hands Flick the switch Make the cast That tap your back Soothe the sore Log the dose Or if it’s something else that floats your boat and brings you much more cheer, Test the skin Burn the swabs And touch us last. whether tall and blonde, or stout and dark, make sure by the way, that it’s beer! Hold your arm Give us a jab Wheel the bin Throw out sharps So plant your seeds and watch them thrive, as you tend them with loving care, Change the bulb Design the lab. looking forward to your home-grown veg and other country fare. Fix the drip While our world’s on pause and we’re obliged, to obey many stringent measures, take a moment to breath and indulge yourself, in some of life’s simpler pleasures! 14 15 Stoke Edith Blinds and the owners at Putley Herbs have called Thyme. and Finally... It's sink or swim at Little Marcle baths, by Darrell Brown the number’s up at Bromyard Bingo and The bra factory in Leadington has gone bust, Coddington Coffee has ground to a halt. Pixley soups has gone into liquidation, and Trading at Brakes stopped the paper factory which supplied the local abruptly while over the border in origami groups, has folded. Gloucestershire, the odds on Dymock's Trumpet Waste and Sludge has gone down Bookmakers reopening are evens at best. the drain, the Pick n Mix shop in the It's far better news at Preston Cross's Homend has come to a sticky end. cork factory where business is said to be Eastnor's Mobile Phone Superstore has been buoyant. The spokesperson for Marcle disconnected, and Stoke Lacy Bathrooms has Ridge Hydraulics confirmed that they are had the plug pulled. thriving under the pressure and Asparagus Farms across the region are experiencing the Fownhope Frozen Foods have been put on growth of new shoots. ice, Checkley Removals decided to pack it in and the wheels have come off at Frome BREAKING NEWS Valley Tyres Local Ice-cream man, Alberto Gelato, Little Marcle Carpets have been completely was found unressponsive in his van this floored by the way the rug has been pulled morning. He was covered in raspberry sauce, from business in their sector. Pool End whipped cream and chopped nuts. Police Casino has had it’s chips, it’s curtains at suspect he may have tried to top himself.

HEREFORDSHIRE Home And Garden CARE AND REPAIR

Bartering is back! Sally Smart, Caroline & Guy Bodger are swapping toilet rolls for sweet peas in Lockdown Aylton! 16 17 VJ Day - we will remember them In August the 75th Anniversary of the “on arrival here Mr. Felton had high fever and real end of WW2 will take place. But jaundice. Everything has been done for him not celebrated as VE Day because the but he passed away this morning, June 11th. “Forgotten Army” still remains largely He told me that ‘Cherry’ had arrived safely forgotten. in India but did not know just where he was. In early May 1942 Sub Conductors Colin He said he had seen him a few days ago. May Felton and Laurence Cherryman, seconded Mrs. Felton and yourself be given strength and from their British Army regiments to the help in bearing whatever comes to you.” Indian Army Corps of Clerks, reached A later account by a local tea planter Myitkyina in Northern Burma. The Retreat who was assisting the refugees, told what was under way and they assembled at the happened. airfield to be flown back to India. But the airfield was bombed and everyone had to “The track by this time had become even worse start walking. Over 200 miles, across the than before, the mud being so deep it was all a mountains and rivers between Burma and strong man could do to wade through it. The Assam, in the newly broken monsoon. The journey of only eight miles took some refugees tracks were packed with civilians, Indians, two or three days to accomplish. In one place British wives and children, American I found a soldier clerk named Cherryman missionaries, boarding school children led who had died, having stepped into a mud hole by nuns, a Swedish diplomat, teak plantation three feet deep from which he was unable to workers, Chinese soldiers, anyone associated get out. These holes had been caused by Steel with the British. All fleeing the relentless Company elephants. There is no doubt these pursuit by the enemy from the south. The elephants caused more deaths than the lives paths were deep in mud, the mountains they saved”. • MOT Testing • 4 x Wheel Laser Tracking steep, the food drops from India scarce, the Felton and Cherryman have no known • Servicing • Tyres, Batteries & Exhausts rain incessant, the tropical diseases rampant. graves. They are commemorated Hundreds died on the way. together on a column at the War Graves • Mechanical Repairs • Hybrid/Ev Vehicle Servicing Commission cemetery outside Rangoon. • A/C Re-Gas and Repairs • Engine Diagnostics The two soldiers climbed up to the Pangsau Pass near which Felton collapsed, On 15th August, in this house, we will • Auto Gearbox Flushing • Trailer Servicing was picked up off the track and taken remember both of them. to Gauhati in Assam, to the American Women’s Mission Hospital which had been requisitioned for the war, from which this Call us now on: 670278 by Simon Felton TRUMPET • LEDBURY • HEREFORDSHIRE • HR8 2RA letter was sent to Mrs. Cherryman. 18 19 People power pressure for Broadband roll-out Can I please urge everyone who does register your interest. not currently have 'Fibre to the Premises' As a community we all need to push for Broadband to register on the Openreach the roll out of 'Fibre to the Premises' website – openreach.com. Some homes in to ensure our villages can survive and our villages already enjoy fibre broadband compete in the 21st Century. Please take right into their homes and are getting five minutes to register your interest. A 60Mbps download speeds whilst others, concerted spike of interest might push including my business, are working with Openreach to extend their service to all 3Mbps! residents in and around Putley and result Please visit openreach.com, scroll and in all homes having the opportunity to down to the FAQ section, click on 'What benefit from superfast broadband. if fibre isn’t available in my area yet' and Thank you - Andy Booth HOUSE FULL?

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20 21 Pixley and District Parish Council This is a time of great May also marks the departure of Ken Bray as Chair of the PC. Ken will remain as an stress and anxiety for ordinary member and his deputy Mark Beltane many people. The Parish Tristram will take over. Many thanks to Ken for having taken this on over the past council meetings in two years. As a result of the difficulties the immediate future associated with having meetings at by Bike present, we have decided that this change have been cancelled for will happen de facto as of April 30th. Four thirty am on a Friday morning thus our tiny Dragon Orchard Peloton made Everyone I’m sure wishes Mark luck in its Grand Départ in the pre-dawn gloaming. obvious reasons. The is not the normal time for the alarm From our house to the top of the Cockshute is his two-year tenure of the role of Chair. to go off, but on May 1st at Dragon a steady two miles uphill, not to be rushed at annual parish meeting has We are also saying goodbye (or hopefully House it is not unusual. that time of the morning. been postponed and we rather ‘au revoir’) to Mike Skittery who is Annie and I moved in just twenty five years The birds of Putley Common and Mains wood also leaving the council for family reasons. ago and for a good many of those we have were in full song and deer disappeared into the await advice on this. ventured up May Hill to celebrate May Day trees below Roughwood. Naturally, like many people we are and to watch the sunrise at 05:39. Our timing was perfect. The few clouds over There is a great deal of useful information investigating having a meeting of some The traditional name for May Day is Beltane British Camp reflected the about-to-rise sun, about how to cope with the current crisis kind using the now ubiquitous video which means Blazing Fire and May 1st is and as the first fiery shafts appeared, the clouds on the County web pages and the Parish parted revealing a perfect Beltane sunrise. conferencing services such as Microsoft midway between the Spring Equinox and Council encourages everyone to take a the Summer Solstice. It stands opposite Spectacular, stirring, blood warming and Teams. In this we are indebted to HALC look, or, if you are not able to, or lack the Samhain, the ancient version of Halloween totally live affirming. – the organisation that is in effect the which marks the end of the Harvest season equipment, ask a friend to have a look for Laurie Lee wrote that “this sunrise in spring, Herefordshire administrative body for and the start of the dark half of the year. transforms the face of our world, changes the you – at least the telephone is safe!! all Parish Councils. As soon as more is Beltane was marked by fires and traditionally sky and shakes our roots. Its fragile intensity all the hearths in the Community would be known about this and our next face to is one of the miracles of the land , rocking us There are changes afoot at Pixley and extinguished and relit with brands from the again with disquiet and rapture, thawing out District Parish Council. Ken Davies has face meetings we will communicate with Beltane fire. These flames were supposed to for a while even the frozen heart and warming resigned after many decades as a member everyone via the website, the notice boards have a cleansing effect, the renewed solar light its pulse to the beat of poetry.” We could only (now at Little Marcle Crossroads and also driving out the accumulated bad spirits and stand in wonder, totally connected to our – we will write an appreciation of Ken and pestilence of the long winter, the disinfecting The Nest) and word of mouth. roots, grounded in The Shire and placed in our his service in the next issue. Our Clerk, power of the returning sun being especially Parish. Janet Chester has also resigned for family welcome in 2020. Finally, for those of you who use the We freewheeled home for a well earned reasons and we all thank her for her work However, it was not possible to drive to May public footpaths – there has been a major breakfast hearts full of joy and appreciating on the surprisingly complex administrative Hill this year so we had hatched to create the cleansing of the May Morning Sun and the improvement to the stile between Chase’s aspects of the Council. Janet was a new tradition, closer to home, traveling driving away of darkness and pestilence. orchards and Mike Skittery’s land in Little under our own power to watch the sunrise especially helpful during the creation of We are planning to repeat this new tradition Marcle. It’s satisfying to have got this and celebrate from the top of The Cockshute, on Saturday May 1st 2021 so do put the date the Neighbourhood Development Plan. done in these trying days. Stay safe. which stands proudly at the north end of the in your diary. There might be a celebratory A replacement for Janet is being sought Marcle Ridge with spectacular views west to Bring and Share Beltane Breakfast involved so immediately as, without, a clerk it is very The Malverns, north to Shropshire and Clee watch this space. Hill and south to May Hill and beyond to The difficult for the Council to function. Severn and The Forest of Dean. This meant by Norman Stanier wheels turning on our Bikes by 05 15 and 22 23 by Josephine Felton I love Boris! REDECORATION: The ceiling, slightly damaged during the by Sally Smart new roofing, has been repainted with the happen when it’s all over? For permanent generous use of a free tower by Bradfords, change of behaviour it is said you need to be a donation for the paint and a week’s work doing this change for at least 6 months. by the Secretary’s brother-in-law who rashly volunteered during his Christmas lunch in But solo exercising can get tough. For those the hall. used to attending indoor classes there are online opportunities that work well. So well, in some cases that I wonder if this may become the norm. Mr Johnson suggests ‘a run, walk or cycle – alone or with members of your BOOKINGS: household’. I don’t suppose I am the only one who is missing my ‘running mates’ and the Is all this really happening? All the lovely motivation that comes from exercising with events in the Hall for May and beyond others. cancelled and zero income. We have received and followed advice from Community First Covid -19 has brought much I have been focussing on the positives that this which sends us news from other halls and distress and anxiety to us all, solo time provides. I exercise at the time of day passes on overall suggestions for keeping that suits me, I hear the birds, I see nature and halls ready for when they can get back to but what I love in all of this is this ‘me’ time becomes special with thoughts being safe centres of their Communities. and ideas whizzing around. I also feel very CHAIRS: that Boris Johnson has given us This included clarification of sources of fortunate that I can choose to run/walk/cycle. financial aid and identified a hall run as In March, the day before life-as-we-know-it permission to exercise! That as things are there are no restrictions as charitable institution as being eligible for stopped, the 70 beautiful new chairs arrived. This has been number two on his list of ‘When to how far we can go from home. (In Ireland the Small Business Grant, despite not being Silver frames, squishy, wider, deeper, blue can I leave the house’ from the beginning of people can currently only go 2km from the a “business”. Hereford Council were also seats. Much more comfy for the posterially lock down some 6 weeks ago, as I write. house). pro-active in ringing up and offering this challenged. The old ones, for which a and paid within 24 hours straight into our donation was received, were recycled to their If this had happened 20 years ago I wonder We hope to restart the Putley Fitness Walk before too long but this will obviously depend bank account, no justification asked for. So fourth home in Aylton. if exercise would have been listed. We all we will be able to keep the lights on! know how important physical activity is but on the government’s Lock Down and Social actually doing it does not come easily to us Distancing stipulation. When it becomes A.G.M. all. I have devoted most of my working life to possible we will revert to meeting on the first GARDEN: This should be held in May and be open encouraging people to increase their activity Monday of the month, ready to set off at 10am The good news is that in the Time Before to the public, but the Trustees decided levels. (so much so, people would cross the from Putley Parish Hall. Followed by drinks. Lockdown the scruffy corner by the P.O. to postpone until at least July. Monthly road to avoid me!) We walk between 2.5 and 3 miles. For further was prepared by stalwart volunteers wielding Agendas are still being sent and necessary information ring Sally on 07468 793405 hammers and spades and sacks of compost decisions taken by email or telephone so we To my delight, with this lock down, I am and planted up with shrubs which will are doing our best to run the hall as usual seeing more & more people out for their ‘one Sally Smart is a fitness specialist who has led provide both blossom and fruit for visual until we can open the doors again. form of exercise’ and if you believe social Walking & Running groups for 20 years. She pleasure and for wildlife. The new fence and media they are doing it in the house too. ran the marathon as Sally Ellis in the Barcelona gravelled area completed the transformation Contact the Secretary on: 01531 670425 Children are being more active, family groups Olympics in 1992. of a neglected part of the garden. email: [email protected] are seen out and about. I wonder what will 24 25 Prancing Pony Plenty of blossom but no at Putley Parish Hall by David Harris Blossomtime in Putley! At the time of writing there is no prospect are taking a big hit from lockdown. This of the Prancing Pony re-opening for year’s blossom is the start of next year’s cider business any time soon, which is a sad – but first there is a need to sell last year’s prospect. We may have to resort - like so stock. Normally, Putley Parish Hall would many others - to a virtual pub, via Zoom. have been heaving with visitors buying cider, Anyone for a Pub Quiz?! If you have any and apple juice. The nine producers ideas or suggestions, do please let us know. who had arranged to be there have been In the meantime, the Harris Clan are working hard to find extra ways to make keeping traditions going! their drinks available within the licensing laws – whether that is through online Pub nights take place from 7.00-10.30 on the last Friday of the month. The Pub is run orders, local deliveries, click and collect, entirely by volunteers from among the membership. All are welcome, and membership is just farm shops and village stores. So the Big £5 per year. One-off visitors are asked to make a donation of £2. Apple is supporting them through a special information area on their website at www. bigapple.org.uk/blossomtime-2020. Virtual Cider Tasting and “The Full Juice” Many Big Apple regulars are to be found On Saturday 9th May, and in the absence though this years restrictions prevented there, including Once Upon a Tree, Gregg’s this year of the Big Apple Cider and Perry tasting and purchasing in the usual way Pit and Woodredding Farm, Pope’s Perry, Trials, twenty five of us were very privileged from these fine folk at Putley Parish Hall, Yew Tree Farm and Jus Apple Juice. And two special guests who each won awards at to take part in a “Virtual Cider Tasting”. that you can still do so. Full details of each maker's arrangements, including collection last year’s Big Apple Cider and Perry Trials: The event was hosted on the popular online and delivery options, can be found online at The (not so) early May Bank Bartestree Cider, last year’s Champion “Zoom” platform by Gabe Cook, aka "The bigapple.org.uk/blossomtime-2020/ . Please Holiday weekend should have Perrymaker, and Halfpenny Green Cider, “Ciderologist”, who hails from Dymock, just support them if you can, by ordering a few been the Big Apple’s thirtieth winner of the bottle fermented/conditioned over the border in Gloucestershire. bottles now, to help you and your family cider. So please support our local makers. year of running Blossomtime Take a look to find out how you can get hold Nine producers who had booked sales through the duration! Gabe Cook is also co-founder of an international magazine in Putley, but of course it didn’t of your favourite tipple – or try something tables in Putley Parish Hall for Sunday’s Big new – or better still, try several! Apple Blossomtime celebration, presented featuring fascinating stories about Cider happen this year. their latest pressings and fine ferments and Perry all around the world. You can But the orchards full of blossom arrived as And many thanks to all the local live onscreen. We all toasted them with download yourself a free copy of “The Full usual – a little earlier than some years, but organisations who worked together to whatever juice, cider and perry we had in Juice” at fulljuice.co.uk The latest edition the cider fruit was still flowering. Local create an excellent one-day programme stock at home, augmented by some very contains an in-depth interview with Putley’s residents had more opportunity than ever to to accommodate the new Bank Holiday tasty cheese and biscuits, at least from what I Norman and Annie Stanier, about their life enjoy the blossom, but we have missed out arrangement. We hope to welcome you could see in the little segments of the Zoom at Dragon Orchard and the history of the on tasting the many different local ciders, back next year. Thanks to Simon Day, we screen! I was lucky enough to be sampling Putley Court Estate. A highly recommended and apple juices which have become were ready to go to press when we took the some of the first fruits of last halloween's read, and the pages even ‘turn" just like in an established part of our calendar. So many decision to call off the event – it looked “Spooky Cider Pressing” as featured on page a real magazine, when viewed on a laptop craft makers depend on local events and great! 27 of the Winter edition of The Cider Press. or desktop computer. What’s not to like? tourism and hospitality businesses to sell Wassail! Jackie Denman It was very re-assuring to learn, that even by David Murdoch their cider, perry and apple juice – and they Secretary, Big Apple Association 26 27 Cider Churches. Weddings were rapidly rearranged for this Autumn or Summer 2021. The hardest news of Church closures was that families could now only gather in very small numbers either at the graveside or Crematoria for funerals. With hospital visiting no longer permitted, self-isolation for the over 70’s, and physical distancing mandatory for all, it created a vacuum of Steak Monday My first Holy Week and the usual physical and emotional support 2 x Sirloin Steaks Open 7 days a week that families and communities normally Our wonderful, friendly team can serve Easter as the Rector of offer and experience together in times of an approaching death, and the aftermath £25 you great tasty food, excellent ales, wines, the Cider Churches, did of its grief. whiskys and a full selection of soft drinks. not happen in the way I About a fortnight after the new ‘reality’ Fish & Chip Wednesday Dogs always welcome in the bar. had imagined, due to our descended upon us, someone rang to ask if I was enjoying my unexpected ‘free’ 2 x Fish & Chips £14 ‘lockdown’. time, and I assured them that I had not To Book a Table call: o1531 67o277 However, it was a memorable Easter stopped for two weeks.! Like for many celebration for its uniqueness which gave email: [email protected] www.TrumpetInnLedbury.co.uk of you, it has been a steep learning curve us time to reflect upon what is important into adapting and continuing work in in life, and as to where we look to find our the circumstances in which we have hope. found ourselves, separated from our usual It was sad first to see Public Worship place(s) of work and our colleagues. suspended which included the I have often been described as ‘a people enthronement of our new Bishop of person’ and the enforced separation from Hereford (Richard Jackson). Over a all of the Cider Churches parishioners, thousand representatives of our Diocese by virtue of the anomaly of the Vicarage were due to attend at the Cathedral. This for the Parishes being in Ledbury, has was suddenly whittled down to half a been hard, and especially when I am still dozen to ensure the legalities of the service so new here. However, God calls us to were met on the day, and he preached his rise to the challenges of life knowing first sermon behind closed doors! we are never alone in them, and I have On Mothering Sunday, I sat alone at appreciated greatly the encouragement prayer in our Churches on behalf of all and support of those within our parishes our communities. The following day came to teach me new skills learnt in ‘lockdown’. the announcement that Churches across These have included weekly meetings by the land were to be locked, and weddings ‘Zoom’ for Putley prayers on Mondays, and baptisms were no longer permitted and Aylton house group on Thursdays. to take place. This prompted a flurry of The latter even kindly participated in our phone calls from those whose family first foray into a recorded audio service celebrations were booked for the Summer for the Cider Churches when they took months here in our beautiful and varied part in the ‘Stations of The Resurrection’ 28 Continued over the page 29 which was circulated to parishioners Facebook groups to post it as a weekly CONTACTS via email. Considering I have always update freely available to parishioners as AYLTON detested cameras and having my photo ‘From the Vicarage’. Church Selina Marcon - [email protected] 01531 670900 taken, it is surprising how I have ‘enjoyed’ I have been very proud to belong (even at Parish Council Allen Mawby - [email protected] 01531 670185 this new method of communication, a distance)! from communities in which alongside the more traditional daily so many volunteers speedily and naturally LITTLE MARCLE email correspondence and telephone ‘stepped up’ to assist their neighbours Church Jim Glanville - [email protected] 07800 714011 communications too. (Huge thanks for near and far at this time. Jesus words in Parish Council Mike Skittery - [email protected] 01531 670227 Sally Smart’s encouragement in getting Matthew 25 remind us that the Church- PIXLEY me Zooming!) Our weekly Sunday The Body of Christ is not contained in readings/notices sheet, has adapted in a building, but lives and breathes within Church Beata Davison - [email protected] 07989 108237 the absence of upcoming events and each of us as the people of God, for ‘just Parish Council Steve Swaithes - [email protected] 01531 670433 meetings to become a reflection on life, as you did it to one of the least of these PUTLEY and I am indebted to Churchwardens for who are members of my family, you did it Eric Porter its wider distribution on email, and to the Church - [email protected] 07527 444949 to me’ Parish Council Norman Stanier - [email protected] 01531 670263 volunteers of our local village websites/ Best wishes Va l Chrissie Daniels - [email protected] 07484 055877 Rev. Val Tait - email: [email protected] Tel: 01531 634035 PCC Tim Beaumont - [email protected] 01531 670801 Vicar Val Tait - [email protected] 01531 634035 March Results: WI Julie Crompton - [email protected] 01531 670340 First prize no 55 Second prize no 11 Prancing Pony Mary Fielding - [email protected] 01531 670389 April Results: Parish Hall Josephine Felton - [email protected] 01531 670425 First prize no Second prize no 54 24 Wildlife Group Kate Wollen - [email protected] 01531 670834 May Results: Tree Warden Sally Webster - [email protected] 07836 389369 First prize no 5 Second prize no 4 Cider Press Editorial Julie Crompton - [email protected] 01531 670340 Advertising Aylton Sally Smart - [email protected] 07468 793405 Putley Parish Hall Little Marcle Jim Glanville - [email protected] 07800 714011 Pixley Lesley Clothier - [email protected] 07957 435276 Open on Mondays 1pm - 3pm Putley John Sandfield - [email protected] 07961 652357 Currently Closed(except due bank holidays) to Corona Virus Cash Withdrawals Mobile Phone top ups Cash & Cheque Deposits Gas and Electricity top ups Parcel Returns Bill Payments Call: 01531 670340 [email protected] www.monster-creative.com 30 31 CIDER GROUP of CHURCHES

Although all Churches in the country remain closed at the time of going to press. The House of Bishops' approval for one Minister living locally to a Church to enter to lead prayers came just in time for Eric Porter a Reader in the Cider Churches, to enter Putley Church on VE Day 75 to ring the bell and lead prayers on behalf of all of our Cider Churches communities. As soon as we are permitted, we look forward to our churches being open again for private prayer, and to recommence public worship. In the meantime you can access services by phone and on-line.

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