Spring 2020 Free
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ISSUE 57 - SPRING 2020 FREE StramashThe Orwell and Portmoak Quarterly Parish Magazine Scottish Charity Number: SC015523 HOPE AND JOY All shall be made right! LOVE IN ACTION So many reasons to be hopeful! 17th Century Scottish Castle Castle Wedding for 110 and Family Home Marquee Wedding for over 200 Grade A Listed with a 9th century [email protected] ruined medieval church, maze and a www.tullibolecastle.com 150 yard ‘moat’ situated in its parkland Tel: 01577 840236 OPENING TIMES MON 9-5 WED 9-5 THUR 9-5 FRI 9-5 SAT 9-4 101 HIGH ST. LATE NIGHT ON REQUEST KINROSS KY13 8AQ SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY 01577 862095 FIND US ON | 39 High Street, Kinross KY13 8AA 1 on this issue, and what contrasting Dear Friends, emotions our departure has evoked. The old phrase ‘betwixt and Exuberant parties of celebration between’ has just come to in some places were matched by have a new resonance for wake-like gatherings in others. For us all in this country. A few some, this is an exciting moment hours ago (as I write) we woke up of great progress in our national to find ourselves in exactly that life; for others, there has been an situation, having now officially left the overwhelming feeling of sadness European Union. We haven’t been and loss for what’s past, and of here for nearly half a century and apprehension about what the future Life is usually more grey than black some readers at least will never have might hold. and white. We can but hope that known life except as citizens of the we will at least see an end to the EU. The times they are a’ changing. And we really are ‘betwixt and coarseness that has entered our between’, for although we are out public discourse during the last few Reports of gatherings up and down of the EU, we remain for the rest years, with greater calmness, self- the country to mark our departure of this year in a strange transition control and mutual respect among show clearly how divided we remain period, when the future shape of our politicians. Instead of polarizing our relationship with the EU will arguments, we want to see our be decided. Intense negotiations lie leaders work together to make ahead and it is not clear what that our nation a place where all can CONTENTS future relationship will look like. flourish and the weakest and most vulnerable are cared for. Is this too 1 BETWIXT AND Our political situation is a much to ask for? BETWEEN reminder that life is made up of a Quiet confidence of hope series of endings and beginnings, A theme running through the Bible transitions from one state or set of is that every ending is accompanied 2 LOSS OF A LEGEND circumstances to another. This is as by the presence of new hope. This Brian’s life of fulfilment true for us as individuals as it is for hope brings joy. The Christian faith is institutions and nations. Willy-nilly, essentially all about the hope and joy 6 POETRY PAGE we are caught up in ceaseless change. so conspicuous by their absence from Walking in Springtime We find ourselves regularly in what contemporary culture. Woody Allan has been called ‘the limbo of liminality’, quipped that ‘hope for the future has 7 ‘DEFROCKING’ that in-between state before crossing become a thing of the past’. Christian DAWKINS the threshold (limen is Latin for hope, however, is not a blind Bursting the Atheist’s balloon threshold) and becoming something optimism but the quiet confidence else. This is just the way life is. that, because the God who has 8 COFFEE Children become adults, pregnant revealed himself in Jesus is there, all CELEBRATIONS mums become mothers, ageing shall ultimately be made right. Saluting the ‘Scent’ ministers become retired has-beens! This hope has been a light which 9 FAMILY FAVOURITES Each rite of passage has within it a down the ages has guided countless Pen pictures of pets moment of the ‘not yet ended’ and the folk through life’s uncertainties ‘not yet begun’. Not infrequently, this and perplexities. It has the same 10 PATROLLING betwixt and between phase creates transformative power today for all PASTORS a certain level of anxiety about what who are willing to embrace it. As Street service of love lies ahead, together with sense of CS Lewis said of this ultimate hope, excitement about the prospect of ‘There are far, far better things 11 A LOCAL HERO new beginnings. ahead than any we have left behind.’ Supreme courage under fire No doubt the transition period Yours sincerely, 12 PRIDE IN PRIMARIES lying ahead for our nation will not Angus Morrison Changes and challenges be wholly bad – or wholly good. Very Rev Dr Angus Morrison 14 THE BIGGEST BRIDGE Passing over the Pease COVER PHOTO: Doug Carrie EDITORIAL ADVERTISING DESIGN Ruary MacLeod on 01577 863992 Kim Reid on 01577 862686 Sarah Deighan CONTACTSor email [email protected] or email [email protected] email [email protected] 2 Brian’s Memorial Service On the first of February on to Summer Fields in Oxford, this year, a large number of where Brian wrote a bestselling people, from as far south as mathematics textbook for prep London and Oxford, gathered schools. We heard how Brian was in the beautiful Cleish Parish the only man ever to be interviewed Church to remember and give for the post of Head at St George’s thanks for the life of Brian School for girls in Edinburgh. He Ogilvie who had passed away loved to tell that story, adding with on the 7th of December 2019. a wry smile, ‘Sadly, I didn’t crack the glass ceiling!’ its life. He was almost always the first Regular readers of this Parish to respond positively to my quarterly Magazine will recall the countless Three areas of interest and close pleas for submission of ‘pieces’ for the articles penned by Brian for these involvement gave Brian enormous next issue. I could be sure of receiving pages over many years. These ranged pleasure and fulfilment. The first was from Brian a rich variety of most widely, from theology to book his joining the Dorothy L. Sayers interesting, informative and amusing reviews to café reviews. They were Society, of which he became a anecdotes. He was a good friend who always stimulating, often thought- devoted Treasurer for many years. will be sorely missed by me and by provoking, and not infrequently laced We heard an appreciation from the his many reader ‘fans’ who eagerly with his distinctive brand of humour. Society’s Dr Geraldine Perriam of awaited the pleasure of ‘devouring his Brian’s valued work and friendship in pieces’ when published in Stramash It was typical of Brian that he had that context. and of heading off immediately to prepared his own memorial service in try out Brian’s latest, recommended great detail. The extent of the detail Secondly, Brian heard and responded eating-place!” caused a headache or two to those to the call to service in the church. who were charged with organizing He initially became a Reader in Brian was a unique person of many and leading it, but in the event all the United Reformed Church. talents. He had a deep interest in went well. The congregational singing This enabled him to move directly and concern for people, from the of the five hymns Brian had chosen into the role within the Church of pupils he taught in school to the was superb. He had also prepared Scotland, on his and Moira’s return parishioners he served through the introductions for each of them and to Kinnesswood. He served the church. It was impossible not to these were read by five friends from parish of Cleish and Fossoway under warm to him. We shall all miss him the Fossoway Men’s Breakfast at which three ministers, the Revs David greatly, especially of course Moira Brian had been a regular attender. McLeod, Joanne Foster and Elisabeth and his family. We can be thankful, Stenhouse, each of whom he held however, that his suffering is over, We sang the great hymn, ‘Here is love, in high regard. From Joanne, at the that we have many bright memories vast as the ocean’, known as the ‘love service we heard memories of this to sustain us and that we can look song’ of the 1904 Welsh Revival. On period of Brian’s much appreciated to a future irradiated with the hope Brian’s instruction, before singing it, service. Elisabeth offered a most of the Gospel. As Dorothy L. Sayers’ we heard a verse sung in Welsh over appropriate prayer of thanksgiving. friend, CS Lewis, once famously the sound system. My impression was roared across a busy Oxford street, that the Cleish congregation did an As already mentioned, the third to a friend departing for the States: even better job! sphere of engagement which gave ‘Christians never say Goodbye!’ Brian much pleasure - and others In the eulogy, among much else, enrichment - was his regular and Moira wishes to convey her warm we heard of Brian’s early life of much valued contributions to appreciation for all the support poverty in Dundee, the academic Stramash. Ruary MacLeod, the editor, offered to her during Brian’s illness achievements in chemistry and comments: - and the many expressions of mathematics of this lad o’ pairts, sympathy following his passing, and his love for the brilliant young lady, “Brian was a most intelligent, loyal, for all who attended the Memorial with an Oxford doctorate, who diligent and enthusiastic contributor of Service in Cleish Church.