Chelsfield Village Voice July 2017.Pub
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July 2017 Supported by The Newsletter and “What’s On” Guide for Residents & Friends of Chelsfield Village The Blackbird 2 Open Garden for Demelza 3 Mutterings from The Millers 4 The Spitfire is Back! 5 Neighbourhood Watch 6 Chelsfield WW1 Casualties 7 Philip Lane Photography (2) 8 Paula’s Fund 10 Local Burglary 11 Local History Group 11 “My Hero” by Philip Boswell 12 Healthier Bromley Event 15 Archaeology Family Fun 15 Useful Contact Numbers 15 Dates for your Diary 16 PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR EVENTS We need your news, reports, stories, photos, diary events, cartoons, etc. to continue to make the Village Voice interesting and useful Please send anything you feel suitable for the August 2017 issue to: [email protected] or post to: Chelsfield Village Voice 2 Bucks Cross Cottages Chelsfield Village BR6 7RN by Friday 28th July 2017 July 2017 Page 2 The Blackbird This month I decided to type were considered to with this nervous bird, its choose a bird that is well be fowl. Consequently call is both shrill and known to us all: the the blackbird became of persistent. This occurs common or garden the only bird that could most frequently when a blackbird (Turdus honestly carry the name predator such as a cat merula). The male sports tag although I do recall prowls into the bird’s the colour that gives the hearing a presenter on territory and a persistent bird its name while the the radio state that he ‘chink chink’ call heralds female looks identical but thought all bird that were danger to all species of for deep brown plumage. black were ‘blackbirds’ birds. Blackbirds sing so and was surprised to find readily that there is a now This bird is a member of that there were redundant idiom that the thrush family and one distinctions between states “To whistle like a of the most common in them! Clearly a townie… blackbird”, which means Britain although historic to do something very records suggest that its Blackbirds are quite easily. Such is this bird’s relative the song thrush prone to partial albinism ease whilst singing. was once more common, which can appear the two species spontaneously or can be Historically all thrushes, apparently reversing inherited. A few white including blackbirds were prevalence over recent feathers does make them regularly eaten and the centuries. Consequently, easy to identify as an price for a dozen was historically there are individual (see photo even regulated by more poetic references to below) although these statute. Killing for thrushes than there are to birds are very territorial consumption continued blackbirds. Its name is so one would only expect until at least the 1940s interesting in that it one of to find one male plus and there is a record of those names that is possible family members the residents of the onomatopoeic (it sounds on any given patch. village Roydon in Norfolk like the object it trapping and eating describes). But there are This birds’ song is one of blackbirds during the many British birds that the most under- harsh winter of 1947 are entirely (or almost) appreciated aspects of when villagers were black; ravens, crows, the countryside and has trapped by heavy rooks and choughs for been described as snowdrifts. Talking of example. Why is it that coming nearer to human eating blackbirds brings none of these acquired music than any other bird us to the well known the moniker ‘black’? It song. It’s both melodic nursery rhyme “Sing a seems that in times past and mellow and one of song of sixpence”. the word ‘bird’ only the first to herald each Sing a song of sixpence, applied to small birds new dawn. But when a pocket full of rye; while larger birds of any startled, as is very easy Four and twenty July 2017 Page 3 blackbirds baked in a pie; accounts went down a pecking against ones When the pie was treat with the guests. Just window then there will be opened the birds began for good measure, on a death in the family or to sing; occasion, snakes or mice amongst close friends. Was not that a dainty would be added. Clearly But then robins, dish to put before a King? the standards of hygiene considered by most as expected of one’s host being friendly birds also One may ask how the were a little different in have connections with birds survived the ordeal Tudor times. Still, worth death involving visitations to households that would be considered unusual (see the Dec 2014 issue of The Village Voice). My only personal experience up close with a blackbird was when I had a large ivy hedge in my garden and knew that a blackbird was going in and out on a regular basis. So I decided to have a quick look and of the oven? The answer considering the next time shoved my head into the is that this rhyme is not you invite the boss hedge to simply find out just a whimsical poem for around for dinner.... where the nest was only kids but like many to find myself eyeball to nursery rhymes is Interestingly the eyeball with the female. actually based in fact. It blackbird’s colour does As is usually the case, a seems that in Tudor not appear to be nesting bird will simply times the kitchen would associated with evil or freeze and so I backed on occasion create a bad luck anywhere in off as fast as I could and ‘surprise pie’ by doing the Europe although saying the blackbirds raised a usual baking then lifting that, I did find one brood with no harm done. the pie’s crust and adding reference from Cumbria the live birds just before that says that if a Steve Fuller serving which by all blackbird should be found July 2017 Open Garden for Demelza Demelza Hospice Care on 16th July from It is a beautiful garden for Children's Open 2pm - 5pm There will be and well worth a visit. Garden at 18 Grosvenor refreshments, plants and Rd, Orpington, BR5 1QU other stalls. Rosemary Norris July 2017 Page 4 Mutterings From The Millers The crop growth has now 15% plums left after the caught up with itself and frost hit his orchards. we are on target to start Once that blossom has combining the barley by been damaged that is it. the end of July, all being well and although we Our old farm cats have need more rain, we don’t sadly died but we are want it too heavy pleased to rehome some otherwise it will knock the cats from an industrial cereals down. Never estate. The Celia satisfied are we. The Hammond Trust collect cold and dry did affect the these semi feral cats and peas but that rain we had then help us establish in May has done them them on the farm. We Yellow Rattle (fading) the power of good and have introduced over the they have shot away. past few weeks two cats electric fence! Hopefully You probably have seen and hope to have their this will do the trick with the pods if you walk brothers and sisters by the fox visitors. across the field next to the time you read these Hewitts. Unfortunately notes. Although we feed Just maintenance work the pigeons like them too them, they help keep the has taken place over the and had been attacking vermin under control and past month really, as them. We apologise for stop the mice eating the Peter went to Indonesia the noise of the guns but twine around the bales. and proposed to his it was the only way to Trying to pick up a bale girlfriend ahhh and then keep them from eating with broken string isn’t Steve and I went to the pea pods. The fun. pigeons are leaving them alone now and feeding on The first batch of the barley that has been swallows has fledged and knocked down by the it is lovely to see them weather. Hay making will sitting on the telephone start any day now. wire being fed by their parents. We have had Although the frost did Great Tits, Dunnocks, some damage, the crops and Robins with their have recovered but Steve young in the garden too. was talking to a fruit A great sight. On the bird farmer recently and he side of life, I have order a has only 40% of his few new hens but also a apples, 20% pears and new energiser for the Pyramidal Orchid July 2017 Page 5 Ireland. When it was rattle has finished but course we all know about very hot, Steve did do there are some beautiful 15th July, St. Swithin’s some spraying at about 4 pyramidal orchids Day. I do like this one in the morning and saw amongst the ox-eyed about summer though deer running through the daisies. A lovely place to crops. There seems to walk and of course you Swallows high, staying be a lot more around this have that amazing view dry year. towards London too. Swallows low, wet till blow. On the green opposite Not many country lore the farmhouse, the yellow verses for July but of Chris Miller Chelsfield Village Fair (8th July) The Spitfire is Back! If you have been emergency planning Any traffic build up in this following my endeavours briefing. area will force us to with the Civil Aviation cancel the flying displays. Authority in the Village You may, if you live on Voice or on-line, you will one of the affected roads, We realise that this is an be, I hope, pleased to have received, or if not inconvenience and we learn that we have the you soon will receive, a really appreciate that you permission for the CAA letter from our Chairman, come through for us for both the Extra and the Peter Lamond with every year but the lanes Spitfire.