Defford & Besford Volume 1 | Issue 2 June/July 2020 Parish News Please forward the newsletter to others in the Parish and [email protected] ask them to email the Editor to be added to the mailing list. View from the Vicarage Rev’d Allison Davies July has always been a special month in our family – several family birthdays, my wedding anniversary and normally the end of the academic year which gives way to the long summer holiday. Yes, it is also usually the time when many school examinations take place, but this is quite soon forgotten by the prospect of much anticipated summer holidays. The weather is also usually warm, or even hot, at least in part of the month, and friends of mine always used to joke that it was always sunny on my birthday, when we would have the opportunity to enjoy an annual summer’s barbeque. This year, however, July will be different, and although birthdays and wedding anniversaries will still happen as dates marked on our calendars, celebrations will take place in other ways. Whether we can still have our annual barbeque in the vicarage in Eckington, will not only be dependent on whether the government lifts its’ restrictions in relation to how we can socialise together, but on whether the weather is fair or not. 15th July as many of you will know is St. Swithin’s Day, a day on which people watch the weather, because as tradition says whatever the weather is like on St. Swithin’s Day, will be the weather pattern for the next 40 days. In fact, there is even a weather rhyme, dating back to Elizabethan times, which says: 'St. Swithin's day if thou dost rain For forty days it will remain St. Swithin's day if thou be fair For forty days 'twill rain nae mair.' St. Swithin was a Saxon Bishop of Winchester, who became famous for his charitable gifts and the building of churches. However, legend has it, that as the bishop lay on his deathbed, he asked to be buried out of doors, where he could be trodden and rained on. I have to say that I’m not sure as to what the purpose of this was, but for nine years his wishes were followed. After this time, however, the monks of Winchester attempted to remove his remains to a splendid shrine inside the cathedral on 15 July 971; But, according to legend, there was a heavy rain storm either during the ceremony or on its anniversary, and this led to the old wives' tale about whether it rained on St Swithin’s Day. 2 Data from the Met Office is said to have proven, by testing on 55 occasions, that this old wives' tale is nothing other than a myth; However, I’m sure that in spite of this many of us will still be watching what the weather is like on 15th July. But, we are told in the Bible that God is creator of the world, and in Deuteronomy 28:12, it says “the Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands.” God will therefore continue to bless His people and all that we do. This surely is the hope of all farmers and gardeners, especially after such a lovely dry Spring, and we give thanks for all they do in producing the food we rely on. But this is also a tremendous encouragement to all of us, when so much of our world seems uncertain and fragile; whatever the weather, whatever the circumstances we are facing in life, God will continue to watch over and bless His children and all that they do. This is not some light weight and half-hearted promise, said to make people feel better in that moment of time, but then to be forgotten; No, God’s words are true and eternal – they will not waver dependent on the colour of our skin, our age, gender or academic ability, because God is faithful, and His mercy endues for ever. This was proved when He sent His Son to die on a cross and to rise to life again for all people, a sacrifice borne out of love and care for His children. We need to hold onto this promise and that when the sunshine seems to have disappeared from our lives, and all we seem to see are the storm clouds and threatening rain, then we must seek the rainbow, that expression of hope, which assures us when the rain has passed, there will be sunshine once again. So, perhaps we can all hope for sunshine on 15th July, but if not, let’s not be too disappointed, but instead, as we gaze on the rain, let us remember this is a sign that God is still with us and that He will continue to bless His children for ever. May you all enjoy a wonderful summer everyone, whatever you will be doing. A Church Near You Rev’d Allison Davies As we face up to the current challenges of the Corona virus; the Clergy and non-ordained ministers across the Bredon Hill Group will continue to pray for and worship as recommended in the Archbishops' guidance and we will provide resources for worship at home. Please visit is at A Church Near You: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7963/ for information and links to online services during this period of lockdown. John Bolton Margaret Mallet on behalf of Anne Bolton John passed away peacefully at Worcester Royal Hospital, on May 25th 2020. A devoted husband of Anne and much-loved dad to Andrew. He will be greatly missed. John was aged 84 years. He had lived in Defford for over 80 years, man and boy. A gentle, kind and generous man, he was highly regarded by everyone who knew him. Anne and Andrew would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes, cards, letters of condolence and kind thoughts. May he rest in peace. 3 For Information and Awareness Defford cum Besford CE First School Elaine Mather: Headteacher I don’t think any of us were quite prepared for the year we have had at school! Our Spring Term was going really well, with preparations in hand for our Easter Service and Mother’s Day assembly, when suddenly we found ourselves in the unprecedented situation of opening only for the children of critical workers and organising home-schooling for the rest of our pupils. Our parents have been amazing – becoming teachers overnight and taking on a role which no one had prepared them for. The staff have been brilliant too, setting up Zoom meetings with the children and organising lessons and activities which can be accessed remotely. We even had a whole school V.E. Day Zoom celebration! As I write this, we have begun welcoming back some of our younger children, whilst continuing to teach the critical worker children in other year groups as well as home-school the rest. It has been so wonderful to see our pupils back and we look forward to the day when we can welcome everyone back to school. We miss them all very much. Stay safe everyone. Pershore Rural Safer Neighbourhood Team Local Policing Number: 101; in an emergency call 999 Email: [email protected] Rural Safer Neighbourhood Website Our local team cover the villages and hamlets surrounding Pershore PC 3509 Daz Riley PCSO 6427 Julie Pardoe PCSO 40422 Faye Allen-Carter 4 Defford & Besford Parish Council Lynne Yapp: Parish Clerk MINUTES FROM MEETING 19th MAY 2020 (Abridged) 1. COVID-19 - Cllr Clarke wished to have his grateful thanks recorded to all those involved (Cllrs and residents) in volunteering support and help to those parishioners self-isolating or vulnerable. A number of residents had volunteered time and help with shopping, collection of prescriptions and the making of face masks. 2. FINANCE - Year End accounts 2019/20 had been circulated for approval. There were no issues raised. The clerk would make the necessary arrangements for the accounts to be internally audited. VAT (£776.44) had been claimed and received. Community Infrastructure Levy Grant (£9658.80) has also been received. Discussion to take place as to how best to spend this fund would be investigated. Current Account Balance: £31,566.66. Deposit Account Balance: £4,084.27 3. FOOTPATHS/RIGHTS OF WAY - a number of issues had been raised regarding the poor condition of some of the paths and lack of way marking. These would be looked at by the parish council and raised with WCC. 4. SPEEDING - It was suggested that the parish council should be looking at traffic calming measures, i.e. VAS signs, white ‘village gates’ or road markings. A meeting with WCC would be arranged once the Covid-19 crisis is over so that we can discuss the best options for each ‘hot spot’ before any financial commitment is made 5. DRAINAGE / FLOODING - Cllrs met with WCC and WDC drainage and flood alleviation officers just before Christmas and a number of issues were identified. The majority have been rectified with help from both authorities, landowners and the lengthsman. There is still some work that needs investigating and a further meeting will be arranged once the Covid-19 crisis is over. 6. CHURCH WALL - further quotes are being sought and investigation in any possible grant funding. 7. PHONE BOXES - The phone box in Besford has been re-furbished with the Defford box to follow.