February 2016
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The Dun Valley Churches are members of The Clarendon Team
THE CLARENDON TEAM MINISTRY OF CHURCHES TEAM RECTOR Revd Nils Bersweden, The Rectory, The Plantation, Winterslow, Salisbury SP5 1RE Tel 01980 862231. Mobile 07960 321355 E-Mail: [email protected] TEAM PRIEST Post Vacant
TEAM CURATES Revd Cynthia Buttimer Tel: 01980 862017, [email protected] Revd Jane Dunlop Tel: 01794 884793, [email protected] TEAM LAY LICENSED MINISTERS Mrs Gill Morgan, Mr Bill Thompson, Mrs Debbie McIsaac, Mr Michael Barratt OTHER CLERGY Canon Roger Sharpe, Canon Jeremy Davies, Revd Anthea Cochrane, Revd Gordon Mitchell CLARENDON TEAM WEBSITE – www.clarendonteam.org - an informative website covering Worship services, notices and activities throughout the Team Team Worship Rota – www.clarendonteam.org/rotacurrent.htm, or to download in MS Excel www.clarendonteam.org/rotacurrent.xls
TEAM ADMINISTRATOR Clarendon Team Office, St. John’s School Room, Gunville Road, Winterslow, Salisbury SP5 1PP Tel 01980 863635 (Mon-Fri 9-11 a.m.) E-Mail [email protected]
WEST DEAN WITH EAST GRIMSTEAD CHURCHWARDENS Mr Bob Trott, Oakley, East Grimstead (Holy Trinity) 01722 712685 Mr Mike Marx, The Old Vicarage, West Dean (St. Mary’s) 01794 340271
FARLEY WITH PITTON CHURCHWARDENS Mrs Sara Bossom, Stockbottom House, Pitton 01980 611133 (Acting) Mrs Jane Bawden-Jones, The Barn, Farley 01722 712854
WEST DEAN WITH EAST GRIMSTEAD FARLEY WITH PITTON
LAY PASTORAL ASSISTANTS LAY PASTORAL ASSISTANTS Mrs Jenny Cotter, East Grimstead, 01722 712316 Mrs Gill Morgan, Farley 01722 712438 Mrs Sara Bossom, Pitton 01980 611133 TREASURER Ms Jane Higgins, 01794 340536 TREASURER Ms Mandy Kerley, 07971 679466 SECRETARY Gill Sowerby, 01722 712665 ORGANISTS Mr Barry Cooper, 01722 712350 Ms Janice Brown
MAGAZINE EDITOR Rod Coppock, Timbers, Beeches Close, Pitton, SP5 1EF Tel 01722 712469 E-Mail: [email protected] ADVERTS EDITOR Tim Hawkes, Lodge Farm House, Elm Close, Pitton, SP5 1EU Tel 01722 712577 E-Mail: [email protected] 2
JULIAN MEETINGS
Julian Meetings are groups of people who meet regularly in order to grow in the practice of contemplative prayer in the Christian tradition. Please find more information at www.thejulianmeetings.net.
Pitton Methodist Society The Pitton Methodists worship together with the Anglicans at St. Peter's Church and have a Methodist led service there once a month (currently the 3rd Sunday). Acting Superintendent - Rev. Bryan Coates [email protected] 02380 252960 Steward - Mrs. Sarah Sankey 01722 712581 EAST GRIMSTEAD HOLY TRINTY Once again we had a packed church for our Carol Service. It was great to see so many people there and that so many enjoyed the service. Thank you everyone who did readings, especially the young. Ladies as always you did wonderful work on the flowers. Many compliments have been passed! Thank you. Wishing everyone all good wishes for 2016
PathFinders@Pitton 2016 is meeting next on Sunday 7th February. Mothering Sunday is the 6th March
For more details contact Sara Bossom on 01980 611133 3
I wonder what feelings that word ‘discipline’ stimulates for you? Perhaps it calls to mind the effort that dieting or exercising requires of us to do what feels counter to our natural inclination? It’s a word we often shrink away from, reminding us of past failures, or as being too difficult, and yet it can bear such excellent fruit if we only had the determination and will it demands to turn it into a good habit! On Wednesday 10th February the season of Lent begins again with a special service of ‘Ashing’, (7.30pm Winterslow Parish Church) in which we are reminded that we are ‘dust and to dust we shall return’, and that if we are to make something of our lives (or more correctly to allow God to make something of our lives) before we do return, there is some effort required of us to counter the default tendency to let everything that is good and admirable in us to dissipate from our lives! It urges us to discipline ourselves and serves to re-engage us with all that is most important in our lives beyond the temporal and sometimes insignificant aspects of our existence; so that forty days and forty nights later when Easter is celebrated, our lives will have been re-calibrated to face the right spiritual direction, where we can again see the miracle of life. The giving up of things such as chocolate or alcohol has its physical and maybe even altruistic benefits (if we decide to contribute the money saved to some good cause), but the exercise of discipline itself can serve to create stronger spiritual muscles to withstand the temptations that lead us 4 astray. By strengthening us through the small and apparently unimportant matters, these muscles enable to recognise and deal with the bigger challenges too! In our churches, as well as inviting people to observe some personal daily discipline, I will also be encouraging us to engage together in some corporate study and reflection (which you may think of as either a pleasure or a discipline, or maybe even both - for it can be both). These ‘Lent Groups’ can help us to see that we are not alone, and so strengthen our resolve to persevere in our decided course of discipline and benefit from the fruit it will produce in our lives. I invite you therefore to the observance of a holy Lent, and you are very welcome to join one of our Lent Groups.
For more information on our groups see www.clarendonteam.org You may also like to look at www.40acts.org.uk/
By carefully keeping these days, Christians take to heart the call to repentance and the assurance of forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel, and so grow in faith and in devotion to our Lord. I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Brothers and sisters in Christ, since Lent, by self-examination and early days Christians have observed repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self- with great devotion the time of our denial; and by reading and meditating Lord’s passion and resurrection and on God’s holy word. prepared for this by a season of penitence and fasting. (from the Anglican Liturgy for Ash Wednesday) 5
From the registers
Baptisms
Imogen Sophie Alica PITKIN at All Saints, Farley on 6th December 2015
William Thomas Geoffrey RYAN at All Saints, Farley on 13th December 2015
Funerals
Ann Greville WILLIAMS at Holy Trinity, East Grimstead on 8th January 2016
Frederick Gordon MANSTON at All Saints, Farley on 15th January 2016
THE AMOUNT COLLECTED DURING THE RECENT POPPY APPEAL IS £4093.65p The collection was taken up in Alderbury, East and West Grimstead, Farley and Pitton and my thanks go to the collectors who gave their time and to the residents of these villages for their generosity. Pat Sheppard, Poppy Appeal Organiser for The Alderbury and District Branch of the Royal British Legion. 6
What are you giving up for Lent?
At the end of the vicar’s pre-Lent sermon he suggested, as an example to the rest of the community, that the congregation should worship in an unheated church for the whole of Lent. As they made their way into the chill Sunday air the vicar addressed one member of the congregation, asking what she had decided to give up for Lent. “Church,” she replied firmly.
George Manston and his family would like to thank all those who attended his father's (Jim) funeral at All Saints, Farley on the 15th January. Also, we would like to thank everyone for their kind donations towards the All Saints Farley Church Fabric Fund. At the time of writing the total achieved is in the region of £300. This is a valuable contribution towards the upkeep of the Church building.
Wiltshire Council meeting the people Wiltshire Council will be hosting a series of interactive and informative meetings to discuss the challenges of 2016 and beyond. The council currently spends £900 million each year on more than 350 services. The changing demographics, rising demand and reduction in funding has meant they have had to find substantial savings which will continue into next year’s budget and beyond. Their priority continues to be to help the most vulnerable in our communities, as well as taking action to boost the local economy, safeguard and create jobs and to work with communities to help them to do more for themselves. Cabinet members will be attending each meeting to join the discussion and would like to hear your views and suggestions. The meeting in Salisbury is on 10th February, at 5.30pm in the Guildhall. If you wish to attend, please email: [email protected] to confirm a place.
1acre field to let in East Grimstead, annually or shorter term. Newly fenced. Suitable for pony grazing. No water available. Please contact Annie Standen 01722 712736, or Gill Sowerby at [email protected] Field is the property of West Dean with East Grimstead PCC 7
Where are people getting married these days? In the year 2000, some 270,000 couples were married in England and Wales. Almost half these weddings took place in a Registry Office (47%), and over a third (36%) in a church, with a sixth (17%) taking place in an Approved Premise. But the dislike of people marrying in Registry Offices in the 21st century has grown hugely, while the popularity of Approved Premises has boomed, so that in 2015, when some 280,000 couples married, only 5% took place in a Registry Office and over two-thirds (68%) in an Approved Premise. A quarter (27%) still took place in a church. The number of people marrying in a church (including all denominations) has dropped from 97,000 in 2000 to 75,000 in 2015, a decline of 22%, which is rather larger than the 16% decline in numbers attending church in those two years. This presumably means that some couples, about 6,000 in 2015, preferred their wedding in an Approved Premise rather than a church. The trend is likely to be true in other denominations. More and more Christians are marrying non-Christians, which means that passing on the faith to their children will become more difficult and could provide a tension point within the marriage.
New DVN puzzle -
Sudoku
Answer on p.20
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St Valentine’s Day There are two confusing things about this day of romance and anonymous love-cards strewn with lace, cupids and ribbon: firstly, there seems to have been two different Valentines in the 4th century - one a priest martyred on the Flaminian Way, under the emperor Claudius, the other a bishop of Terni martyred at Rome. And neither seems to have had any clear connection with lovers or courting couples. So why has Valentine become the patron saint of romantic love? By Chaucer’s time the link was assumed to be because on these saints’ day - 14 February - the birds are supposed to pair. Or perhaps the custom of seeking a partner on St Valentine’s Day is a surviving scrap of the old Roman Lupercalia festival, which took place in the middle of February. One of the Roman gods honoured during this Festival was Pan, the god of nature. Another was Juno, the goddess of women and marriage. During the Lupercalia it was a popular custom for young men to draw the name of a young unmarried woman from a name-box. The two would then be partners or ‘sweethearts’ during the time of the celebrations. Even modern Valentine decorations bear an ancient symbol of love - Roman cupids with their bows and love-arrows. There are no churches in England dedicated to Valentine, but since 1835 his relics have been claimed by the Carmelite church in Dublin.
Shrove Tuesday – Pancake Day – 9th February It’s odd, really, that confessing one’s sins to God should ever have involved making pancakes. And yet the beginning of Lent brings us both – Shrove Tuesday is Pancake Day, and is followed by Ash Wednesday, and so Lent begins. In centuries gone by, the pancakes were made to use up the milk and eggs before the fasting of Lent. More recently, many readers will have childhood memories of the wonder of watching our mothers break an egg, mix it with milk and flour – and out of that gooey mess, to produce a light and delicious pancake. These days more and more of us buy pancake mix, or even ready-made pancakes. It seems we prefer the certainty of ending up with pancakes - to the risk of having made nothing BUT a mess of the kitchen. In many parishes they used to hold pancake races on the day. Why anyone would want to run around a field while holding a pancake is not clear, but in Olney, Bucks, they have held a pancake race almost every year since 1445. 9
Pitton Primary School We have returned to school full of excitement for the new term. The Infants are working on an ‘ice and snow’ topic and are delighted that the weather has taken a turn for the cold so that they can experience the weather whilst learning all about it! Our lower juniors are working on a ‘railways’ topic and had a wonderful time at Didcot Railway Museum finding out all about the early days of the railways and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, whilst our upper juniors are finding out all about London and the role of the Lord Mayor. We were delighted with our annual trip from the Life Education Centre van at the end of the month. Each class spent a session in the van finding out about relevant issues including ‘my wonderful body’, ‘meet the brain’ and ‘bcyberwise’. Some of our parents also took the opportunity to look at this high-tech van and find out all about it. Sporting events are being booked in the diary for the next few weeks, with our upper juniors taking part in their second orienteering session for the season and our netball team having a series of matches as part of the Hi-5 Netball League. If you get the chance, please do look at our wonderful new website: www.pitton.wilts.sch.uk to find out more about the school and our activities. Brownies and Guides We have had a busy start to the New Year, with Guides working on their patrol resources and Brownies working through Rustle, Bustle and Squeak challenges. Across the 2 units we have had exploding rockets, tasted homemade sherbet, made a spiders web and spider, practised stage make-up techniques, held a snail race and created some fantastic ice art! Added to this, the Guides celebrated A.A. Milnes birthday by holding a ‘Winnie-the- Pooh’ evening with honey tasting, a quiz and sketches whilst the Brownies celebrated ‘Popcorn Day’ with popcorn tasting, table ‘popcorn’ football and popcorn art! Both units are looking forward to a day at Hazel Hill Woods in Farley at the end of February, when they can take part in conservation and environmental activities, and the older Guides are again taking part in the Alabare SleepOut in Salisbury Cathedral Cloisters at the beginning of March – if they ask you for sponsorship then please do give generously as our younger girls on this event are only 12 and it gets very cold outside at night! 10
Pitton Pre-School Our theme for this term is ‘super powers’ and we are having a wonderful time following the children’s interests in exploring a range of super powers including running, jumping, flying, x-ray vision, ice and invisibility. We have listened to stories about super powers, looked at the ice outside on cold days (and found out how it is made!) and built vehicles to test super powers on. We are having great fun!
Marriage is more than finding the right person; it is being the right person.
And, continuing the Valentine’s theme: The Geography of a Woman Between 18 and 22, a woman is like Africa. Half discovered, half wild, fertile and naturally beautiful! Between 23 and 30, a woman is like Europe. Well developed and open to trade, especially for someone of real value. Between 31 and 35, a woman is like Spain. Very hot, relaxed and convinced of her own beauty. Between 36 and 40, a woman is like Greece. Gently aging but still a warm and desirable place to visit. Between 41 and 50, a woman is like Great Britain. With a glorious and all conquering past. Between 51 and 60, a woman is like Israel. Has been through war, doesn't make the same mistakes twice, takes care of business. Between 61 and 70, a woman is like Canada. Self-preserving, but open to meeting new people. After 70, she becomes Tibet. Wildly beautiful, with a mysterious past and the wisdom of the ages. An adventurous spirit and a thirst for spiritual knowledge. The Geography of a Man Between 1 and 80, a man is like Iran. Ruled by a pair of nuts.
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Equine Acupuncture and Chiropractic
Is your horse stiff or sore? For a consultation phone Sue Devereux MRCVS 01722 712802 or 07866 431888 www.equineacupuncture.co.uk
GEORGE JUDD East Farm, Winterbourne Gunner Salisbury SP4 6EE 01980 610576 / 611828
Chair caning, porcelain repair, leather work, upholstery
PLUMBING AND CLASSIC CABS DRAINAGE
YOUR LOCAL CABBY IS Plumbing Heating Blocked Drains/Toilets/Sinks KEITH BATH Bathroom/Kitchen installation All Work Fully Guaranteed TEL 01722 710111 25 Years Experience Free Quotes AIRPORTS. BUSINESS. SOCIAL TRAVEL. PLEASE CALL DAVID DISABLED FACILITIES. 01725 512645 / 07818 046222 12
J. MATTHIAE & CO LTD. PETER NIGHTINGALE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT Garden and Landscape Service CHARTERED TAX ADVISER Hard Landscape Specialist Patios, Paths, Steps, Garden Walls, Pergolas, Arches, Trellis work and Gates Financial accounts prepared Turfing and beds prepared for planting. Payroll and PAYE services Ponds, Palisade and Sleeper Walls. Value Added Tax Shed bases and Sheds erected. Timber decking. Personal & corporate tax returns OVERGROWN GARDENS CLEARED Taxation advice AND TIDIED. GENERAL GARDEN MAINTENANCE. JUDITH MATTHIAE ACA CTA DESIGNS AND IDEAS. General Property Maintenance. Hebron, Middleton, Winterslow TEL. 01980 862285 Tel: 01980 863494
JOIVE MBR PLUMBING & BATHROOMS PROPERTY SERVICES Oil Boiler Service & Breakdowns Oil Tank Replacements CALL MATTHEW ROWE ON 01794 341709 OR 07831 624887 ***EMERGENCY CALLOUT*** Decorating, Tiling, Flooring, *Complete Bathroom Refits inc tiling* Plumbing & General household maintenance *Showers supplied and repaired* 01722 712728 - 07807 019371 *Washers & Dishwashers installed* [email protected] *Leaks fixed*
The local handyman for local people ***NO JOB TOO SMALL!!!***
Barbara Heil 1st Aerials ‘R’ Us MCSP SRP Grad Dip Phys Digital TV Installation Maple Hill Sky Dish re-alignment Physiotherapy Clinic
TV Points, Booster repair Experienced in treating back, neck and joint pain and sports injuries. 01980 610095 Electrotherapy, joint mobilization, massage and rehabilitation programmes. OAP Discount Free Quotes Trained in Acupuncture SAME DAY SERVICE techniques. Registered with healthcare insurers No Call out Charge Daytime and evening appointments Contact 01980 862862 No VAT The Flashett, Winterslow 13
REFLEXOLOGY AND KINESIOLOGY TREATMENTS START FROM £15 Stress, Hormonal Problems, Skin Conditions Digestive disorders and More
DOREEN RIVETT MBRA, MNFSH ON 01980 862285
Mike Chambers
Cabinet maker & Joiner Design, Manufacture, to your requirements
Tel : 01980 610651 Mobile: 07763 803508 Not VAT Registered mikechambersjoinery.co.uk 14
Livery Road West Winterslow Tel 07495078205 [email protected] All types of upholstery undertaken by Master Craftsman with 25 years experience. Specialising in traditional and antique work ARGYLE upholstery offers a complete service with a choice of fabric books, friendly advice and excellent customer service.
BORDER SERVICE STATION @ Lopcombe Corner
A Family Garage Providing Quality Repairs & MOT At Competitive Prices
All Aspects of Professional Tree Work Undertaken. Tel 01980 862378 Fully Insured & Work to BS.3998 www.phipson.co.uk Fully Qualified & Experienced Stumps ground out N.D. Arb / NPTC Certificated Changing your Car Tel: West Dean 01794 340610 We Have Just What You Want Mobile: 07810 342750 www.needasmallcar.com 15
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The Silver Plough Robert Amor Mike and Katie welcome you with Architectural Consultant Real Ales Seasonally Changing Menus Listed buildings/conservation New build & extensions Home Cooked Food Conversions Accommodation Domestic & commercial Skittle Alley Function Room Available Full design/planning service
Come and join us! Office:- 01722- 712825 01722712266 Home:- 01722- 712263 [email protected] Mobile:- 07765 414757
for all your garden requirements “Outstanding” OFSTED An exciting, stimulating environment.
Pitton Village Hall.
For a free, no pressure quote Please call in to see us, or ring Carrie On regular or one-off work 07785 933966 for more information. Call: 01794 340977 www.pittonpreschool.com
UPVC House, Attic or Garage Fascias, Soffits Clearances Bargeboards and Guttering Swift, Polite & Discreet, 20 years guarantee on white Free Consultation and 10 years guarantee on Advice given..... guttering
10 years guarantee on labour Free quotation Call Steve 01722 712267 or [email protected] TEL 01722 331901 18
Colin Macintyre OVEN GLEAM Picture Framer EXTREME CLEAN DEEP CLEANING FOR YOUR OVEN ------OVENS HOBS HOODS BARBECUES A quality bespoke service & AGAS at an affordable price FULLY INSURED ------ECO FRIENDLY PRODUCTS USED For a free estimate : RELIABLE CONSCIENTIOUS SERVICE tel: 01794 342080 TO REFRESH YOUR OVEN PLEASE email: [email protected] RING web: www.cmpf.co.uk 07919656254 OR 01980619289
Wood Burners Sale and installation of wood/multifuel stoves. Chimney Lining. Servicing. Frenchmoor Country Stoves 01794 340246 19
Sudoku solution
(puzzle p.8)
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Bus services review - DO TELL THE COUNCIL WHAT YOU THINK Wiltshire Council is reviewing its Local Transport Plan (LTP) Public Transport Strategy and service delivery (i.e. Council supported bus services). The review is being undertaken because of continuing and growing pressures on the Council’s budgets that mean that funding is no longer available to continue delivering supported bus services at the level that was envisaged when the LTP was published in 2011. The review of the Public Transport Strategy is part of a wider review of all areas of Wiltshire Council’s passenger transport remit (except rail and taxis). The wider review will include re-examining policy and spending in home-to-school and college transport, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) transport and social care client transport. As a first stage in the review, a pre-consultation exercise was undertaken during July and August 2015 to provide key stakeholders and partners (e.g. town councils and bus operators) with an opportunity to shape the scope of the review. We are now keen to hear the views of bus users, residents, stakeholders and other interested parties to help us shape a new Public Transport Strategy. The Council has made no decisions as yet and would like to see how far you agree or disagree with the options presented in the consultation questionnaire available from http:// consult.wiltshire.gov.uk/portal/ltp/wiltshire_local_transport_plan_- _public_transport_strategy_review From the above link you can also obtain further information on the review including a PDF version of the questionnaire together with other review documents (including Frequently Asked Questions). Paper copies of the questionnaire are also available on request by telephoning 0300 456 0100. Copies of the questionnaire will also be available: on buses operating Wiltshire Council contracted services; in libraries; and in main Council offices. Questionnaire and comments need to be submitted by 5pm on 4 April 2016. 22
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One of the Christmas Cards I received this year had this rather amusing story inside it. I couldn’t resist reprinting it here. Ed. The Story of a Secret Nativity It was the day after the Christmas nativity at the RDA Centre. Rax was feeling very grumpy. “Do I really look like a camel?” he said to anyone who would listen. “I mean, look at me!” “Me too” said Oliver. “I am not the same colour, size and shape, yet every year I have to look as if I am enjoying being a camel and I am not!”. Poppy giggled and said that she rather liked having tinsel in her tail and mane and if pretending to be a camel was the price of being pampered she was happy to do it. Jim, Binky and Abe were also a bit cross. “We never get to play a part in the Nativity” they grumbled “as we might tread on someone’s toes or knock over the stable”. “Well then”, burst out Spangles, “let’s do our own nativity”. Kaya was dreaming of stardom. She could even be nominated for an Oscar and walk down a red carpet with Cameron Diaz and Daniel Craig! “Get real” grumbled Monty “there is as much chance of that as Father Christmas coming with presents for us all”. Gentleman Jim decided to take charge and the ponies held auditions in Rax and Oliver’s field the next night after all the volunteers had gone home. Jim was very fair and with Basil as his co-director decided Kaya could be Mary, Tinker could be Joseph, Luka Carrie and Monty could be shepherds with Oliver being the lamb. “That’s nearly as bad as being a camel” he muttered. March, Mr Blue and Skye were the three kings and Harry, Frankie and Poppy were their pageboys. Mr Blue was so excited as he had visions of being able to eat the presents! Spangles and Binky were the Innkeeper and his wife and Abraham was the other Innkeeper and took great delight in slamming one of the gates in Tinker’s face when he had to do the ‘No room at the inn’ bit. “Don’t over dramatise it” said Rax as Abraham did his part for the sixth time. They decided to ask a local rabbit to be the baby as none of the ponies could fit into the hayrack they were using as a 24 manger, although Harry did try to jump up but landed in a heap in the mud. The ponies had a lovely evening acting the Christmas story and sung ‘While Shepherds Watched’ at the end. On that Christmas Eve, Father Christmas even left a bag of mince pie flavoured pony nuts in each field so Monty had to rather eat his words. The volunteers often wondered why the gate on one of the fields seemed to have broken hinges. But they never found out. Story by Nancy Buchanan, on behalf of Wilton Riding for the Disabled Association, www.rdawilton.com
GRIMSTEAD PARISH COUNCIL REPORT An Open Day has been arranged for Councillors to attend Hazel Hill Wood and see how things have developed over the last few years. A litter pick-up in West Grimstead has been arranged for Saturday 5th March when it is hoped that as many people as possible will help pick up the litter around the village. (A letter has been received from Community First stating that volunteers acting under the instructions of the Parish Council are covered for public liability and personal accident.) A nationwide event is also being organised during March to celebrate the Queen’s 90th Birthday. An email register of all those living in West Grimstead is urgently required. As Mrs Janice Ford already has quite a lot of people on her system, it was felt Councillor Gwyneth Doran would liaise with her to try and get more people on it. Although events, etc. are advertised in the village magazines, it was felt this was another way of letting people know what is going on. East Grimstead already has a register with at least 90% of residents on it. EE are interested in setting up mobile phone coverage in both parishes but they need to know as soon as possible if there are enough people interested in such a scheme which will not cost anything. The problem of flooding at East Grimstead railway bridge is ongoing and the Council is trying to get this sorted out.
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Remembering Galileo – and how the earth revolves Galileo Galilei found himself at the centre of controversy 400 years ago this month, when he was ordered by the Catholic Church on 26 February 1616 to abandon his opinion that the Earth and planets revolve around the sun. He was banned from holding the opinion, promoting it, or teaching it. Highly respected as a scientist, Galileo has been called the father of observational astronomy, of modern physics and of science generally. But the Church at the time feared that his championing of heliocentrism and Copernicanism cast doubt by implication on the authority of Scripture. Galileo himself argued for a non-literal interpretation of Holy Scripture to solve the “problem”. Galileo was born in 1564 near Pisa, then part of the Duchy of Florence. The first of six children of a famous lutenist, he started studying medicine but became fascinated by mathematics and became Professor of Mathematics at Pisa in 1589, then moved to a similar position at Padua in 1592. In 1609, Galileo heard about the invention of the telescope in Holland. Without having seen one, he built a superior version and made many astronomical discoveries, including mountains and valleys on the surface of the moon, sunspots, the four largest moons of the planet Jupiter and the phases of the planet Venus. In 1632, he was again condemned for heresy after his book Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems was published. Galileo was summoned to appear before the Inquisition, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment – later reduced to permanent house arrest at his villa in Arcetri, south of Florence. He was also forced to publicly withdraw his support for Copernican theory. Galileo died in 1642. In 1758, the Church lifted the ban on most works supporting Copernican theory, and by 1835 dropped its opposition to heliocentrism altogether.
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FARLEY HOSPITAL – Registered Charity (no 201348)
Farley Hospital provides accommodation for persons in need only. A Warden is permanently on site but there is no medical care.
Farley Hospital is a Grade 1 Listed Building.
Accommodation in the Hospital is comprised of 2 two–person dwellings and 6 single-person dwellings.
We currently have vacancies at The Hospital. If you would like to apply for an Almshouse please contact The Warden.
Michelle Kirkman The Wardenry Church Road Farley Salisbury SP5 1AH
[email protected] 01722 712 397
True sayings? The old forget, the young don’t know yet. The one things that hurts more than paying an income tax is not having to pay an income tax. Advert for a new minister: ‘Wages not high, but retirement benefits out of this world.’
WHIST DRIVES - PITTON VILLAGE HALL 3rd Wednesday in the month at 7.30 pm Next one on 17th February 27
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For the latest information on what’s happening in Pitton or Farley, see:
www.pittonandfarley.co.uk
Photos, news and details of upcoming events welcome: [email protected]
THANK YOU from WINTERSLOW SCOUT GROUP
Thank you to everyone who supported the Scout Christmas Post, and helped us to raise funds for our Scout Group and scouting in the Salisbury area. Special thanks go to our hard-working stamp sales outlets, sorters and deliverers. Overall we sold 3740 stamps and delivered over 3,600 cards in our local area (which includes Winterslow, Firsdown, Pitton, Farley, East Grimstead, West Dean and Lopcombe Corner). Thousands more cards were sorted in Salisbury and delivered throughout the whole of the Salisbury area!
Friends of Bentley Wood Forthcoming Events
Wed 9 Mar 2016 Annual General Meeting. At East Grimstead Reading Room. The hall will be open at 7 pm for payment of subscriptions and the AGM will start at 7.30 pm. Refreshments will be served and there will be time to circulate, chat, enjoy meeting other Friends over a glass of wine, and pick up your 2015 Nature Notes. There will also be some entertainment! Non-members wishing to join on the night are welcome.
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Equality or not? Equality is a word of today, isn’t it? But several stories have already caught my eye this year which make me doubt that there is much equality around. First up was the fact that the average salary of FTSE 100 Chief Executives is £4.96m - yes, that’s million, and it’s only the average - which is 180 times the average salary of everyone else (including them), and thus these CEOs earn the UK average salary on the second day of the year. All the excuses “they’re worth it”, “that’s the rate for the job”, “we have to pay that to get the best” are as trite as the “lessons will be learnt so this never happens again” nonsense. Next I heard about the High Street traders in Crickhowell who have formed a company to operate a bit like Amazon, Google, Starbucks and the rest. They have registered their new company off-shore, from where it will probably charge the local traders huge consultancy fees, and they are going to legally test what HMRC will do about it. Let me guess - HMRC will come down on them like a ton of bricks, but if the non Corporation Tax-paying internationals can get away with it, why shouldn’t everyone else? More of it, I say, until the legislators ensure that there is a level playing field for big and small companies alike. We seem to have fallen over backwards to enable same-sex couples can have the option of civil partnerships or marriage, but it seems that heterosexual couples cannot legally form civil partnerships and enjoy the benefits that might give them if they do not want to get married. Why not? Where is equality here? Then, as I was beginning to write this article, I heard that some black film stars plan to boycott the Oscars because there are no nominations for black directors, actors and actresses this year (for the second year running). Well, I don’t know whether the lack of nominations is down to inequality or lack of opportunity, but if anyone thinks that the Oscars are a recognition of the best then they clearly don’t understand what lobbying and marketing are all about. My conclusion is that there is nothing equal about living in today’s world. Become bigger than government, lobby hard, and you can learn how to become more than equal. 30
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
FEBRUARY 3rd 10.30am Farley Coffee Shop Village Hall 9th 10.30am Pitton Pancake Party St Peter’s 10th 8.00pm Pitton Quizgo Silver Plough 17th 7.30pm Pitton Whist Drive Village Hall 17th 7.30pm Pitton & Farley Parish Council Farley Village Hall 20th 12.30pm Pitton Social Club Winter Lunch Village Hall 26th 7.00pm Men of Pitton Annual Dinner Silver Plough 27th 1.30pm Pitton Ladies Visit to Bombay Sapphire factory
MARCH 2nd 10.30am Farley Coffee Shop Village Hall 4th/5th 6.45pm Pitton Theatre Club Last Bread Pudding Village Hall 5th 8.30am E Grimstead Big Breakfast Reading Room 9th 7.00pm Friends of Bentley Wood AGM E Grimstead Rdg Room 9th 8.00pm Pitton Quizgo Silver Plough 16th 7.30pm Pitton Whist Drive Village Hall 17th Men of Pitton Visit to Science Museum, Wroughton 18th 3.00pm Pitton Social Club Talk on ‘Great Bustards’ Village Hall 19th 7.00pm Pitton Sticky Toffee Jazz Village Hall 30th 7.30pm Pitton & Farley Parish Council Pitton Village Hall
APRIL 6th 10.30am Farley Coffee Shop Village Hall 8th 7.30pm Pitton Ladies Skittles and Lasagne Silver Plough 13th 8.00pm Pitton Quizgo Silver Plough 20th 7.30pm Pitton Whist Drive Village Hall 26th Men of Pitton Visit to Tower of London 28th 8.00pm Pitton Ladies Style Potential Greenhills, The Green
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