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PEN PAPER Photo: Robert Nu)er The newsle)er of St. Michael’s Church and the Parish of Pen Selwood Pen Paper Mar 2018 Contents In this issue: Rector’s Reflec?ons 3 Recent Events 4 Clubs and Society News 5 Farming Diary 7 Parish Council News 8 Bringing Superfast Broadband to Pen 10 Kaiserschlacht 12 Garden Notes for Pen 15 No?ceboard 16 Church Services 19 Village Diary 20 From the Editor The cover is to recognise and thank Tony Appleton and his team for renovating our historic signposts. Later this year we mark the centenary of the Armistice. Andy Warren shares what was happening 100 years ago leading up to the Armistice in the Emperor’s Battle. He has written five novels about the First World War all carefully researched. In this issue you’ll also find a report on the housing survey results, the latest on improving broadband and upcoming social activities. Geoff Parcell 841216 !2 Pen Paper Mar 2018 Rector’s Reflections Courage, honesty and sensitive concern I wonder what you think of newspaper reporters and TV and radio news broadcasters? I know my Mother had a poor opinion of them - “all a bit shifty and looking for scandal” sort of thing. Recently however, I have grown to appreciate some key reporters who have acquired much knowledge, as well as skills in assessing the politics of a nation. Many reporters also have a great deal of courage in going to volatile, and sometimes dangerous places to find a truer picture. In recent times I have come to admire the BBC Africa Editor, Fergal Keane, with a very recognisable Irish accent on radio and television. He has written a number of award winning books, and the one book of his I have read, entitled ‘Letter to Daniel, Dispatches from the Heart’, moved me deeply. He reveals a great humanity and has been prepared to go where there is great human suffering, danger and injustice. His reports and reflections reveal a sensitivity and deeply held concern for humanity; one sees this in his face, and feels it in his honest and attractive use of words. You may ask why am I sharing these thoughts? Perhaps it is because qualities of courage and honest searching, combined with sensitive concern for the suffering are what I admire and sometimes lack. I also believe we should not relegate such qualities to reporters abroad. Rather, why can we not strive to exercise courage and sensitivity in our everyday lives - even in the communities of beautiful English villages, and ancient market towns? What that means in practice one can’t always predict or define, but all I can say is that it seems to begin with that quality of ‘being oneself’, and ‘in my-books’, it is about knowing my weaknesses and acknowledging my need for God’s Presence in my life. As St Augustine wrote in the 4th Century Roman world: “Our hearts are restless, until they can find their rest in you.” This is just a little part of St Augustine’s writings and teachings which inspired him in later life, having found faith in Jesus after many years of resisting the Gospel teachings of the new church. In that strange and wonderful way he found peace of heart and mind when he finally became part of the courageous Christian Church facing Roman persecution. But that’s another story! With every good wish, Nigel !3 Pen Paper Mar 2018 Recent Events The Co"ee morning was held on the 25th November 2017 in aid of St Michael’s Church and raised £500. Thank you to Jess & Clive Simpson Gee for hosting the event at Ballands and to everyone who supported the event. Heather Doe Many of you took part in the Christmas Carol singing which ambled it’s way up Combe Street and along Bleak Street, onto Field Lane and to the party at the village hall on 16th December, calling at various residences along the way. I want to thank Rita Capron and her merry band of choralists for arranging the singing and the fun after-party. It was a lovely seasonal affair, well-done everyone. Photo: Mike Carson Bell Ringing We were approached again by John Jenkins, a long term supporter of our ringing, who asked us to ring in memory of his parents, Oswald and Betty Jenkins. We did so at our practice on Monday 22nd January. You can listen to one of the pieces that we rang by clicking the link on the item in the News section of the Pen web site or by going direct to this youtube link https://youtu.be/4OO49TPUD4U The Jenkins used to live in Chaffeymoor and worshipped in St Michael's. John lives near San Francisco in California. Charles Buckler (Tower Captain) Bruce Bower (Correspondent) !4 Pen Paper Mar 2018 Clubs and Society News Pen Selwood Community Association As I write this, the sun is blazing into the room, the wind has vanished and the crescendo of bird chatter tries to lure me into believing spring is but a page turn of the calendar away. It is just as well the Committee of the Community Associate is busy planning events to cheer, amuse and stretch you during the coming months. Firstly, on Sunday, 8th April is the annual leisurely run around the undulating hills which surround our beautiful village. For those who don’t part take, it is euphemistically referred to as the fun run. To those who do, it is a Tough 10k. It is always a lot of fun whether you run, support the runners or just show up for a bacon butty and a cup of tea or coffee. We stage the race with the help of Gillingham Trotters Running Club. There are 3 accurately measured races, a 10k route starting at 11:00 with an age limit of 15, a 5k route for under 15s, and a 2k run for under 11s. You can find more information on the village website which will link you to Gillingham Trotters site which has a course map and entry information. We are always looking for marshals to help guide the runners around the course, and preferably, to the finish. If you can help, please contact Andrew Jenkins on 840773 or myself on 840697. Either way, we look forward to seeing you all on 8th April. Next, we are planning a village coffee morning to be held on 19th May. This year, with the kind permission of Paul Shinar, the event will be held at Penhouse Farm. More details will be published nearer the time, but for now, please mark your diaries. Twenty-five years ago, led by the late Bryan Young, a group of villagers managed to acquire the land we now refer to as The Bryan Young Community Field. To celebrate the anniversary a “Pen Feast” is being organised 30th June. A reminder to everyone, please let us have your ideas for functions, parties, competitions or any other gatherings you would like to see happen. It will be exciting to receive your fresh ideas. Please contact me on tel 840 697 or by email [email protected]. Tony Harrison !5 Pen Paper Mar 2018 History Society The geophysical survey on the Beacon field has now been completed thanks to SSARG. The results look very interesting and a number of target excavation sites have been identified, including possible pits, settlement boundaries and gateways. In the summer we will be looking for volunteers to scrape and dig under supervision. This is an opportunity to have our v e r y o w n T i m e Te a m ! T h e excavation is the cheap part, we must also look for funds to cover potential post excavation analysis including analysis of pots and bones and radiocarbon dating. Let me know if you are keen to participate in the archaeological dig. Geoff Parcell Play Reading Group This group consists of drama enthusiasts who read scripts from selected plays provided by the local library services. No acting ability is required, nor is there any requirement to read the play in advance or learn any lines. Members meet approximately monthly in each other’s homes, taking it in turn to host and also to cast the plays. We read a wide range of genres - comedy, drama, one act thrillers and have even tried the odd Shakespeare. Recently we thoroughly enjoyed reading a pantomime to celebrate the season. Some plays provoke a debate and we often find more humour than the playwright intended and usually have a very light hearted evening. I have taken over the task of sourcing plays from Elizabeth Carter who organised our Group for many years - thank you for all your efforts. Please contact me if you would like to go on our waiting list. Stella Parcell [email protected] or 841216 !6 Pen Paper Mar 2018 Farming Diary Winter is slipping away without much real cold weather and certainly no skating on the lake. We used to have cold east winds that would freeze diesel fuel in the pipes and filters and then I had to lag the sides of the tractor engine and the battery. Instead we have had plenty of rain and mud so the last of the ewes came into the barn in the second week of January to settle on a ration of hay before they were all shorn on 1st February. Luckily for them this was a fine dry day. In four hours 200 ewes were shorn by two shearers while I penned them up.