Tuesdays Short Mat Bowling 2.30pm Memorial Hall (2pm winter months) Ladies’ Fellowship 2.30pm 2nd Tuesday in the month (usually)

Wednesdays Volume 15 No. 3 August 2005 Teme Valley Shufflers Line Dancing Editor: Michelle Higgins (01886 888344) 7pm Martley Memorial Hall. Editorial Team: Martley: Alan Boon (01886 Enquiries: Jeff and Thelma 01886 821772 888527), Nellie Bradley (01886 888339), Kate Martley Folk Club: 1st Wednesday in the King (01886 888439), Beth Williams (01886 month at The Admiral Rodney 888273) Wichenford: Janet Andrews (01886 Martley WI: 2nd Wednesday in the 888303), Sheila Richards (01886 888378) month 7.30pm Sport Martley Advertising: Neil Stammers (01886 888513) Distribution: Martley George & June Lawrence (01886 821064) Wichenford Bill & Jo Root Thursdays (01886 888585) Wichenford Wine Club: 3rd Thursday in Contact The Villager: leave articles at Martley the month Post Office, call Janet or Sheila (Wichenford) or Martley & District Horticultural email the Editor at [email protected] Society: last Thursday in the month Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily 7.30pm Martley Memorial Hall those of The Villager. The Villager cannot be held responsible for any goods or services advertised in the magazine Other events: Citizens Advice Bureau Teme Valley Telephone Service: Mon & Tue 10am— 3pm Thu 10am— 7.30pm Regular events in Martley & Surgeries: Weds 10am - and Wichenford: 4pm - by appt. 01584 810860

Sundays 2nd Sunday in the month: See Church Words for details of services Teme Valley Farmers Market for local produce 11am The Talbot, Knightwick See articles inside for details of special Martley Ramblers meet Church car park events AND changes of times or dates of 3rd Sunday in the month: regular events Walking Not Working with the Path-or- Nones. Meet 9.30am Village Hall car park See the Diary page on www.martley.org.uk to help survey the footpaths for a complete listing of all forthcoming events (that the Diary page Editor knows Mondays about) 1st Monday in the month: The cover photo shows Nellie and Jack Martley Parish Council 8pm Memorial Bradley, Martley’s Golden Couple. See Hall Page 12. Articles to go in The Villager must be with the Editor by the 1st of the previous month

The Villager * August 2005 9 OUT AND ABOUT IN MARTLEY Visit our website—www.martley.org.uk

Martley Parish Council and marking. Rat Catcher: Details Draft Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting were read out about a person who is of the Martley Parish Council held on prepared to catch rats for free, the Monday 4 July 2005 at the Memorial Clerk to advertise the details. Hall. Cllr Mr. D. Cropp Chairman. Helipads: Cllr. Mr. G. Coombey-Jones The Democratic Period/Public gave a brief précis of the Planning Question Time requirements. The Chairman invited all present to Parish Map: ask questions or make statements Cllr. Mr. C. Coombey-Jones outlined about Parish business, the following the format. This would enable The points were raised: Licensing Law: Clerk to pass information to WCC The Chairman had been in touch with Highways. MHDC and The Hall license will District Councillor’s Report: transfer across without problems, but District Councillor Mrs. B. Williams individual applicants will have to pay apologised for missing last month’s separately. Millennium Meadow: The meeting. She outlined the format of trees are now becoming quite tall and the new Planning Committee which obscuring the view of the church. The removes both North and South Clerk to write to the trustees committees and replaces them with requesting trimming. Shelsley Walsh one. Henceforth, not every councillor Hill Climb: Some cars are coming will be able represent their ward with a through the village quite quickly. The vote although they will be able to Clerk to write to the organisers to ask speak. the drivers to take care and observe the The Local Plan is still being speed limits; a copy of the letter to go adjudicated by the inpector. to the police. Hope House County Councillor’s Report: Lane/Willow Road junction: There County Councillor Mr. A. Davies was an accident at this junction on 24 reported the proposed extensions to June, the Clerk to write to Highways The Chantry. A set of plans were requesting a review of the priorities available to see. The weight restriction

10 The Villager * August 2005 order for Ankerdine Hill is published Finance: (18 tonnes). A trffic calming plan is There were nine cheques totalling being developed for this location £1880.59 for agreement and signature Correspondence: Parish Paths Warden Report: Included - CPRE: Subscription The Clerk read out the report. renewal £25.00. dfra: Clean Councillor Training: neighbourhoods and environment Act The feedback was encouraging and 2006. WCC: Various temp. closure positive; additional training will be orders (Barbers Lane). Elgar: Fence at arranged in September. Heaton House. Nora Parsons Day Councillors Reports and Items for Centre: Invitation to AGM 17 July at Future Agendas: 7:30pm. BT: Removal of cash facility The surface of the road at the bend, at 01886 888780 call box. Elgar just beyond the junction of Horn Lane Housing: Housing advice and and B4197 is poor; the Clerk to report homelessness service in MHDC area. again to WCC Highways. The WCC: B4197 Ankerdine Hill caravans at Lower Hollins Farm are proposed prohibition of heavy still of concern, the Clerk to follow up commercial vehicles in excess of 18 again with Planning enforcement. tonnes. Community First: email ref. Local Project Funding: database. WCC: Options for the future The Clerk has not received any of Malvern Hills Primary schools. additional entries. Further notices will Planning: be displayed. 05/00813/LBC Peartree Cottage Date and Time of Next Meeting: Witton Hill Rationalisation of existing The next meeting is on Monday 8 buildings. Cllr. Mrs. M. Randall. August 2005 at 8 p.m. This is a change 05/00678/FUL as above. from the previously advertised date. 05/00880/FUL 15 Mortlake Drive; Acknowledgement of Local People: extn. Cllr. Mr. D. Cropp. It was resolved to remove the public 05/00964/FUL Treetops Hillside Re- and press for the discussion of this siting of approved replacement sensitive issue. The minutes will be building. Cllr. Mrs. D. Goodyear. held separately. 05/00960/FUL Change of use of Tom Pearsall, Clerk to the Council agricultural land to domestic. Cllr. 01886 888256 Mrs. D. Goodyear. 05/00951/LBC Hilltop Horsham, alteration of existing derelict farm building to form new garaging. Cllr Mr. G. Taylor. Applications Approved/ Refused/Withdrawn: 05/00631/FUL The Tegs Approved

August 2005 * The Villager 11 Martley’s Golden Couple which was not always a delight! She has been a member of the W.I. for Two of Martley’s best-known many years and has also sold poppies ‘citizens’ will be having a very for the British Legion for over 50 special celebration in August. years and they both still play indoor bowls at the Village Hall. Jack and Nellie Bradley were married Jack was employed in agriculture and sixty years ago on 4 August 1945 at horticulture for the whole of his Pipe Hayes in Birmingham. The working life. He has been a keen couple met when Nellie moved to member of the Martley Horticultural Martley after joining the Land Army Society and Show Committees since and being billeted at the Hollins Farm they started. Nellie worked for many with the Nott family. At the time, Jack years at the Chantry School as one of was working at the neighbouring Hope the Dinner Ladies and is still House Farm and they first said hello to renowned for her pasty making! each other over the farm hedgerows! The couple have two children, Helen, Nellie was bought up in Erdington in who has now retired after 39 years Birmingham, while Jack has been a with the DVLC and David, who Martley lad for all his 84 years, having broadcasts every afternoon on BBC been born on Hillside. Both have taken Hereford and Worcester. They have a very active part in the life of the two grandchildren, Lynsey and Village and still contribute and help to Amanda. The family plan a quiet week distribute the Villager Magazine. of celebration and will be joined by Jack has been involved with the Jack’s brother, Bert, who was Best Village Hall for 60 years, has been on Man 60 years ago, and bridesmaids the Parish Council and also played Louise Edwards, who now lives in football and cricket for Martley, as Hertfordshire, and Margaret Genever, well as being in the Air Gun team for who now lives in Hallow. many years. He was one of the prime We wish them many congratulations movers in gaining a playing field for on reaching 60 years of wedded life. the village and in building the pavilion on the sports (I am sure that everyone who knows ground. the Bradleys will join in the Nellie has shared congratulations, and as Editor, I Jack’s sporting would like to thank both of them for interests, sharing their wealth of local and including making horticultural knowledge with the cricket tea in the readers of The Villager each month. M ‘old hut’ on the Higgins) Crown Meadow,

12 The Villager * August 2005 Martley & District Horticultural Society

Society members were invited to Scar Martley WI Cottage, the home of Ian Pennell and Pam Spokes, for their June meeting. 10 August- Outing to Warren Farm Members were able to explore the This month we forgo our monthly garden, and use their gardening meeting and are off to Warren Farm, knowledge, to identify the many and Bringsty, for an evening looking at the varied species of plants that fill the farm, the craft shop and enjoying a beds and borders. The weather was supper we haven’t prepared for very good considering that heavy ourselves. Please be there by 6.45pm – storms were witnessed during the day. if more details or lifts are needed A peacock, which lives in the garden, please contact Secretary Mary gave a magnificent display to the Kipping. visitors. Refreshments were served, Congratulations from all to Nellie and and the hosts were thanked for the Jack Bradley who will be celebrating evening by Barbara Kirby, Chairman their Diamond Wedding on 3 August. of the Society. Nellie is one of our longest-serving There is still time to collect a schedule members, very rarely misses a meeting for the Society’s Annual Show on and is always willing to help wherever Saturday 20 August at 2pm from help is needed. Thanks to all who Martley Post Office, Central Stores or helped to make the garden meeting a a Committee member. success - even the weather was kind. At the meeting on Thursday 29 A garden quiz was won by Sheila September, 7.30pm in Martley Village Craker and Mary Kipping was Hall, the guest speaker will be Brian successful in bowling for the pig, but Draper MBE. His subject “The Hidden preferred the packet of sausages as a Wildlife of a City”. This will be an prize. Mike Kipping, auctioneer, open evening. Details in the persuaded us to buy things we didn’t September issue of The Villager. really want, all in a good cause – Nellie Bradley namely funds. Over £120 was raised. Thank you very much, Mike. Kate & Congratulations Harry King were thanked for hosting the evening and were presented with a Congratulations to Greg Pratley for lovely cake, made and iced by winning the “Against all Odds” President Pat, and a bouquet of golden category in the Student Services roses, to celebrate their Golden Section at Worcester College of Wedding. It was a lovely surprise and Technology. greatly appreciated.

August 2005 * The Villager 13 To round off a busy month and at the Calling All 4 - 12 Year Olds request of the Parish Council, Pat Crook prepared a WI display in the All local children in this age group are Memorial Hall, showing we are alive invited to embark on a journey of and well, for the judges of the discovery with Martley's Library Link. Village of the Year This County Junior Summer Reading Competition. Any interested female is Challenge entitled "Reading Voyage" invited to come along to a meeting on is designed to encourage children to the second Wednesday of the month to read through incentives such as check our aliveness and wellness. We puzzles, games, stickers to collect, are NOT middle-class oldies as some prizes to be won, etc. and runs from 18 people seem to perceive us and, if we July to Saturday 1 October. Just call in are, then we will gladly submit to a at your local library branch in Martley makeover! We meet at Sport Martley Village Hall for details. Library 7.30pm, but not this month. opening times: Kate King Monday 2.00 - 7.00 pm Wednesday 4.00 - 7.30 pm Chantry News Thursday 10.00 - 1.00 pm Friday 2.00 - 4.00 pm The next meeting of the 'Friends' is on Saturday 10.00 - 12 noon 2 October at 8pm (in the Music Room?) and will include AGM business. New members are always Two Welcomes! welcome and attendance does not include mandatory volunteering for 1. Welcome and best wishes to Ian and jobs or holding office - PROMISE! Sacha Treadwell and their daughter, Mia, who have moved from Great Martley Spurs Witley to live at Lower Hollins Farm. 2. Welcome also to Ed, Juliet and their August sees the start of the 2005-2006 daughter Mia who have moved into season. All three of our teams did well Sandpits Close, near to Juliet’s mum, last year so there is no reason for them Margaret Rushgrove. Juliet remembers to be relegated. All home matches are playing in the garden of her new house played on the Jury Field on Saturday as a child! afternoons (the Premier side) and on Sunday mornings (the Premier and Martley Ramblers second division elevens). Remember there are no home games played on Hill Country 14 August Saturdays until the end of the cricket 2pm Church car park season. Good luck in this new season! The usual Sunday Ramble in June was Beth Williams around Upton-on-Severn and Hanley

14 The Villager * August 2005 Swan and everyone enjoyed the varied they had many children: and historical area. The June evening Charles (1879) ramble was poorly attended and Annie born 1881 abandoned. It was a shame as Monty Ellen born 1884 and Alex Walker had spent time James born 1887 and killed in planning it and it would have been a Belgium in 1914. shady wooded walk on a warm Alice born 1890 evening. Do we really want a Frances born 1893 Rambler’s Club in Martley? Decision Edward born 1894 time will probably be at the AGM in Emily born 1895 November. We are a mixed age, very Mary born 1897 informal, group who enjoy walking, William born 1900. chatting and admiring the wonderful William came to Coventry where the countryside we live in. Everyone is family all still reside. He had two sons, welcome to give us a go and perhaps one who is my father in law and the discover areas they didn’t know singer Vince Hill, who now lives in existed. Surrey. If anyone knows of these I This month Colin Hill will be leading would love to hear from them. us around Hill Country in and Thank you— areas. Our thoughts have Caroline Wetton been with Pam during her recent 44 Abbotts Lane illness and we hope she will soon be Coundon fully recovered and able to stride out Coventry with us once again. CV1 4AZ Kate King [email protected]

Looking for Hills Thank You! Dear Editor I am fitting out kitchen in Village Hall I wondered if any readers can assist and the following people have been a me. I am looking for information great help, especially as two of them about the HILL family who came from took time off work to do things at Martley. My partner's grandfather was home then got stuck in with me and a William Hill born in 1900. The only third was recovering from a glass or information to hand at present is: two of alcohol (Harry King). Charles Hill was born in Martley I would like to say THANK YOU to 1858, in 1861 and 1871 he was living my wife Eileen, Helen and George, as a 'nurse child' in Martley with Harry King, and to Jack and Nellie Thomas and Ann Martin. In 1878 Bradley for moral support. Charles married Barbara Whitty and Neil Stammers

August 2005 * The Villager 15 A Martley First for the order to expand the availability of County Internet access. Subscribers become part of the mesh by linking to the High speed broadband access is a key nodes. tool for business and residential users Confused? Well, we’re all used to how of the Internet – improving a television receives signals from the productivity, efficiency and local transmitter: Connecting to a node enjoyment. Contrary to publicity, the is similar. You only receive decent ADSL solution is simply not reception if you’ve an aerial on the obtainable in every household or chimney or wall of your house business in rural areas, either now or pointing towards the transmitter, with in the foreseeable future. Its a cable running down to connect to the availability depends wholly upon the television set. Our system also does location of the subscriber and the local this, although we can, if required, telephone exchange. However Martley provide a complete Wi-Fi package that Web Mesh (MWM) has the solution! enables your computer to be connected Wireless is the new Information to broadband Internet services without Technology! any extra wiring. Your laptop, for MWM uses the 802.11b Wi-Fi instance, can be used from wireless standard. With the co- ANYWHERE in the house without operation of the Martley community using or sharing a telephone we can expand and cover those areas connection. We can also provide in the parish other means can’t reach. multiple connections for all the family MWM is a non-profit-making co- members. Installation is free and you operative enterprise run, supported and pay only for the equipment plus a maintained by a team of local reasonable monthly charge for the residents which is being developed for connection. As we are a non-profit the benefit of the parish and making local enterprise, prices are surrounding areas. However, we need extremely competitive compared to your active support for it to succeed other commercial enterprises. and flourish. For more information e-mail:- So let’s briefly explain our Wireless [email protected] or ring John on Mesh Network. A mesh is a series of 01886 888460, Tom on 01886 888256 strategically placed nodes, each node or Richard on 01886 821237. talks to as many other nodes as it can Remember this is a local venture, for reach. Some nodes will have a local local people, supported, maintained connection straight to the Internet. and run by local volunteers. And it’s Nodes with access to the Internet are the first in the county. Join the team! known as gateways and all other nodes John Layton establish a path to these gateways in

16 The Villager * August 2005 Village of the Year Award You will be delighted to hear that, whilst we did not win the Village of the Year as a whole, we won Worcestershire ICT Village of the Year for 2005. This means that we will go on to the Regional and National finals at the end of September. As before, we have to make a written submission - limited exactly to pages/ descriptions - to the University of Warwick. Hopefuly with Martley MESH we are August 1905 well positioned to do ourselves credit. Dave Cropp This month, 100 years ago, the outing of the Juvenile Foresters See a demonstration of Martley took place on the 2nd, and several Web Mesh—and sign up—at boys were absent from school, Martley Horticultural Society which closed on the 25th, for the Annual Show & Fete on Annual Harvest Holidays. Saturday 20 August 2005.

MWM needs website volunteers

MWM (Martley Web Mesh) is looking for volunteers to help with keeping the Martley website up to date—updating pages, creating new pages as required, deleting old pages etc. Familiarity with Dreamweaver and web-page construction would be useful but training can be given. If you are interested, e-mail:- [email protected] or ring John on 01886 888460, Tom on 01886 888256 or Richard on 01886 821237

August 2005 * The Villager 17 Over the Garden Wall in Wichenford WICHENFORD NEEDS YOUR NEWS

Janet Andrews 01886 888303 Church Flowers Sheila Richards 01886 888378

7 August Mrs J Root 14 August All Age Worship Team 21 August Mrs B Hadfield 28 August Mrs C Wetherall

There will be no meeting of the Ladies Fellowship in August. Baby News Open Garden weekend Congratulations to William and Sasha Pearce on the arrival of their son, The Open Garden Weekend was a Alexander Daniel, a brother for resounding success and a record sum Matthew. of £5,800 was raised. Our thanks and appreciation go to all those who Trevor and Ann Sanders of Ruggs helped to achieve this wonderful Place, Wichenford, are delighted to result. A detailed report will appear in announce the safe arrival of their the next issue of The Villager. Granddaughter, Charlotte Isobel, born to their son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Anna, who live in . A Tim Matthews (Quads) baby sister for Josh.

Congratulations Tim on your first anniversary. Hope you have many more. Love Mom and Dad. Car Cleaning Some of our young people worked very hard cleaning cars in the car park whilst visitors enjoyed the open

18 The Villager * August 2005 Garden of Dave & Val Mills at Kings Green open for the Open Gardens weekend gardens. They did a magnificent job Pat Pegrum and raised a substantial sum towards equipment for the Millennium Green. We are so very sorry that Pat Pegrum Well done! Your efforts were much has died and send our deepest appreciated. sympathy to John and to all her family. Pat ran our post office and shop for a number of years and is remembered for her friendly and cheerful manner. She always made time to advise and help customers, indeed it seemed a pleasure to her. Sometimes people would need items not in stock and she was always happy to obtain things in the quickest time possible. We remember her with appreciation and affection.

August 2005 * The Villager 19 Well Done Wichenford Local Heritage Dale Jaime Matthews swam 82 Group lengths, just over a mile, at Lower The Group has been successful in Wick pool. Dale did this on Sunday 20 obtaining a new grant from the Local February for the Tsunami appeal, Heritage Initiative. The grant is for the raising £185. The cheque is to be Wichenford Landscape project and passed to Charlotte Meek who teaches will be used to create maps of the local at the Chantry School. Miss Meek is a landscape during Saxon times and relative of Annie Hofton who around the time of the conquest. We tragically died with her husband in the shall be helped in this by the Tsunami disaster. The money will be Worcester archaeologists and an added to the Annie and John Hofton Anglo-Saxon expert from Birmingham Memorial Fund. Dale thanks everyone University. We shall also be who supported her. completing the survey of pollarded and coppiced trees in the parish which Jane Field and Heather Rendall have Wichenford Ladies Circle started. We shall receive help with this It is with regret it has been necessary survey from pupils at the Hallow to discontinue the monthly meetings. School. Sadly two of our members have We plan to organise a meeting to passed away and other members have launch the project on the Wednesday become incapacitated with health 28 September. This will coincide with problems. We thank Mrs E Whitehead registration for the Autumn evening and Mrs J Wells for their welcoming classes. Details of the evening classes hospitality since the group started in will be published in the next issue of 1997. The members will continue to The Villager. remember the warmth and Mervyn Mitchard neighbourliness of our meeting together. At the conclusion the funds amounted to £100, and it was decided Congratulations to donate £50 to Cancer Research and Congratulations to Wendy (Ivy £50 to Diabetes UK. Perkins’ daughter) on completing the Race for Life. She completed th 5kn race in a respectable 57mins 27 secs. Wendy raised £510 for this very worthy cause—an excellent result! Sue Ganderton

20 The Villager * August 2005 Garden of Dave and Val Mills at Kings Green open for the Open Gardens weekend

Roses in the garden of Rosie Cannon in Wichenford open for the Open Gardens weekend

Wichenford 100 Club Millennium Green June winner Helen Mason. No.9. £112. Tidying & Inspection Rota August: H. Rendall

August 2005 * The Villager 21 Children’s Centre

s a result of the Government’s children up to age 5 in the Village Hall white paper ‘Every Child with the aim of helping them to A Matters’, Children’s Centres develop their physical ability as well are being developed Countrywide. as their self confidence. A coffee shop Their aim is to bring together a range will run alongside the classes where of services in health, education and parents and anyone of any age in the social care for under 5’s and their community are invited to ‘drop-in’ and families. Initially there will be just ten have a cup of Fair Trade coffee and a in the County of Worcestershire and healthy (!) cake or biscuit too –you one of these is being developed in never know who you might meet Clifton Upon Teme to serve families there! in the Teme Valley. It will be one of There are more initiatives in the the only Rural Centres created and its pipeline and Hilary is keen to hear aim is to address the issue of rural from anyone who has further ideas or isolation and current lack of services may be a service-provider. If you to support young families. would like more information about All Centres will be attached to schools anything mentioned or wish to book a and must offer full-day, flexible place on the ‘Leaps and Bounds’ childcare and pre-school education. programme she can be contacted on Clifton was earmarked as its Primary 01886 812982 or mobile 07950 School already provides many extra- 482553. curricular services: the Borrowers Toy Hilary says “I am delighted that one of Library visits the community regularly the first Children’s Centres in the and an established childcare facility is County is going to be in the heart of in place via the on-site Early Years the Teme Valley. We know there Centre. A few months ago, Hilary really are issues related to rural Higton was appointed as the Co- isolation and it’s great that we have ordinator for the Children’s Centre. the opportunity to address this. With Examples of the kind of initiatives the help of people in the community I already happening are a Post Natal hope the Centre can provide an Support Group, a Baby Massage exciting and specially-designed Course and from 15 September ‘Leaps service to support families in these and Bounds’ from Tumble Tots will rural parts. be coming to Clifton. Half-hour Hilary looks forward to meeting many sessions will run for toddlers and of you very soon.

22 The Villager * August 2005 The Final Days of World War 2

Many ceremonies, parades and fes- in Nagasaki. Thousands of British tivities are being and have already servicemen were taken prisoner, been held to celebrate the end of tortured, suffered and died under World War 2 but the real end came the Japanese. on 8 August 1945 when the Ameri- I do hope some recognition of all cans dropped the first atomic bomb this horror and sacrifice will be on the Japanese city of Hiroshima held in August after all the ceremo- and a second one on Nagasaki on nies held for the end of the war in the 9th. Europe. 225,000 people died immediately Beth Williams and thousands more of a suffered slow death for years afterwards. A few years ago, I visited both cit- ies. I went to Hiroshima's Peace Distribute Park, an incredibly moving, yet peaceful place, close to the A- The Villager dome, which is what is left of a re- inforced concrete building, kept standing as a memorial to those Wanted at the end of who died. September, someone to The park itself is full of single me- organise the main morials, often a specific number of distribution of the paper cranes have been put up in October issue of The memory of certain groups of peo- Villager ple who died. This peaceful place has a museum of such horror - films, objects such -For one month only - as paving stones with bodies melted into them, burnt children's Please phone June on satchels, clothing, warped house- hold tools and objects. I found the 01886 821064. whole experience so horrifying as to be unable to face its equivalent

August 2005 * The Villager 23 Quick Inspirations Anagram Telegram To love and to be loved is to feel the Following the appearance of anagrams sun from both the sides. in the June issue of The Villager, your David Viscott Editor received a phone call from someone in Pershore. Read on and There are only two people who can tell find out why! you the truth about yourself - an The caller was on his way to Great enemy who has lost his temper and a Witley and called into the shop in friend who loves you dearly. Martley to enquire the way. Whilst Antisthenes there, he purchased a copy of The Villager (as you do). A tremendous Among those whom I like or admire, I enthusiast of cycling, after reading the can find no common denominator, but anagrams, he realised that VELO, the among those whom I love, I can: all of French word for bicycle, is an them make me laugh. W. H. Auden anagram of LOVE. Were these events all a big Treat people as if they were what they coincidence? Dear reader, you decide! ought to be and you help them to Michelle Higgins become what they are capable of being. Goethe

Martley Horticultural Society Annual Show & Fete Saturday 20 August 2-4pm

Martley Playing Fields

Visit The Villager stand

and much, much more ...

24 The Villager * August 2005 Sudan Correspondent—Part 7 Here in El Geneina the lifestyle is earthenware storage pots are another primitive with many of the older peculiarity of this region. They are residents unable to read or write and built in many sizes and look similar to most of the children never getting the two normal round pots sitting one on chance to attend school for long, if at top of the other with the bottom of the all. top pot removed to allow access to the We have no means of boiling bottom. The tallest are over four feet sufficient water for our needs. There tall. Not being really watertight, stood are a couple of charcoal stoves, which on a simple platform with a bucket could, if one had the time, be used for placed underneath to catch the drips, boiling water, but hey take ages to get they make jolly good water filters, going, and do the job of cooking well removing most of the sand from the enough once a sufficiently high well-water! temperature has been reached. The Unless you are prepared to fly food in, stoves are nothing more than simple a costly affair, nearly all our meals use welded metal containers local produce bought in with short legs, about one the outdoor markets. The and half feet tall, to butcher just kills a beast contain the charcoal. which is then displayed by There are no trade names hanging it from wooden to be seen on everyday poles stuck firmly into the items. Everything from ground or hung from the chairs and tables, beds and remains of a tree before coffins, to pots and pans being cut up for sale. The are provided by one-man meat is very tough and businesses plying their covered with flies and fine trade along the roadside. Chairs are particles of sand thrown up by passing constructed with welded tubular traffic. Fresh meat definitely means frames, the seat and back area strung live meat! And lean. There are no fat with coloured twine. The weave is cattle in Darfur. coarse to allow air to circulate as much I wish I’d learnt four words in Arabic as possible. Beds are constructed in a before I came here: Stop. Go. Up and similar fashion here although as one Down. It would have saved me hours moves further south in Africa, say to of gesticulation and frustration. Northern Uganda, beds are constructed Maybe two more words as well, but using entirely different materials and I’m not going to tell you what those with wooden stretcher boards rather are, because they are very, very, rude! than twine to fill the base area. The John Layton

The Villager * August 2005 25 Church Words The Rectory 01886 888664

worship. I do believe the services of worship held across the benefice Music, what sort do you like? reflect this diversity and richness. We Classical, opera, Jazz, easy listening, have recently been blessed at St. pop, rock, urban, rap, folk. country, Peter's by a group of musicians, some blues, soul, gospel? I could go on. adults and some teenagers, joining There is music to suit all of us, and of together to play at our 4th Sunday course many of us have a variety of 6.30pm contemporary worship service. tastes. My own collection of music From organ to drums, we have used has, believe it or not, a selection of all our instruments to worship the Lord. those styles. I remember my mother We also have traditional evensong at taking me, as I grew up, to the local both and Wichenford, record shop, which used to play the contemplative worship at music in booths (remember those?) so and family worship at Martley, that we could check on what we were Wichenford and Broadwas, something buying. I would be asked what on for all and perhaps something for each earth I was listening to! Now some of of us to experience even if it is not our that 'row' as it was referred to, is preferred style of worship. acceptable, almost 'middle-of-the-road' The Psalms encourage us to 'Sing a music. Church Music also has its great new song to the Lord'. Maybe there is diversity and, surprisingly, always has yet a song within your heart to be had. In scripture we are told to sing written and sung? Why not come and Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual songs to experience these varying styles for the Lord. Not so different to the yourself and find the richness that can variety of today. Each generation has be found in diversity? brought something new to church Rev David Sherwin music that has enriched its life and

26 The Villager * August 2005 Church Diary for August

Monday 1 Aug 9.00am Morning Prayer St Laurence Wichenford Tuesday 2 Aug 10.00am Holy Communion St Mary Magdalene Broadwas Sunday 7 Aug 8.00am Holy Communion Knightwick Chapel 9.30am Holy Communion St Laurence Wichenford 11.00am Family Worship St Peter Martley 11am Morning Worship St Mary Magdalene Broadwas 6.30pm Evensong St Leonard Cotheridge Monday 8 Aug 8.30am Prayer Breakfast at Rob Barlow's, The White House Wed 10 Aug St Laurence Day - Holy Communion or Evensong 7.00pm 10.15am Holy Communion Heaton House Sat/Sun 13/14 Lower Teme Valley Giving Weekend for the Church Improvement Project Sunday 14 Aug 8.00am Holy Communion St Leonard Cotheridge 10.00am Family Worship St Laurence Wichenford 11.00am Holy communion St Peter Martley 11.00am Morning Worship St Mary Magdalene Broadwas 6.00pm Thanksgiving Songs of Praise St Mary Magdalene Broadwas Monday 15 Aug 9.00am Morning Prayer, Martley Tuesday 16 Aug 10.00am Holy Communion St Mary Magdalene Broadwas Sunday 21 Aug 8.00am Holy Communion St Peter Martley 9.00am Matins St Leonard Cotheridge 11.00am Holy Communion St Mary Magdalene Broadwas 11.00am Morning Worship St Peter Martley 3.00pm Evening Worship Knightwick Chapel 6.30pm Evensong St Laurence Wichenford Monday 22 Aug 9.00am Morning Prayer St Mary Magdalene Broadwas Wed 24 Aug 10.15 Songs of Praise Heaton House (Choose a hymn and, if you want to, tell us why it means so much to you either during the Service or over coffee.)

August 2005 * The Villager 27 My Garden In the Garden A garden is a special place Where I find a blessed peace. Each lovely tree and flower A lesson seems to teach. So when I’m feeling weary, Garden Tips for August Or just a little sad, It’s wonderful to know A regular job this month is the dead- The answer can be had. heading of flowering plants. Failure to As I walk into my garden remove the dead heads will mean the Where beauty doth surround, plant putting all its energy in setting And marvel at each lovely thing seed. This will reduce the flowers. That comes from out the ground, Carnations and chrysanthemums will And should I stay need some buds removed if you wish For one sweet moment, to produce large blossoms. Climbing Or spend many happy hours, and rambler roses can be pruned and Comfort is always there trained into position. Prune wisteria in In my message from the flowers. the early part of the month. Prune gooseberries, blackcurrants, Enid Larsen loganberries and raspberries, taking out the old canes and tying in new (Another poem found in a New ones, but autumn fruiting raspberries Zealand “Home & Country” journal) should be pruned in the early spring. Onion sets will be ready to harvest this month. Gently lift the roots with a fork and leave to dry out. Continue to feed tomatoes. Sow wallflower seed. Sow spring cabbage and turnip seed, spring onion seed and the seed of lettuce, parsley and radish. Brassicas will need planting out into their winter positions. These include purple sprouting and white sprouting broccoli, January King Records of the Parish Council meetings in and Tundra cabbage. the two parishes are not intended to be full minutes. Minutes of meetings can be seen by contacting the respective Clerks to the Jack Bradley Councils

28 The Villager * August 2005 Village Contacts

Editor of The Michelle Higgins Villager [email protected] or 01886 888344 or leave articles at the Martley Post Office Advertise in The Neil Stammers Villager [email protected] om or 01886 888513 Church Rector: Revd David Sherwin—01886 888664 Curate: Revd Jennifer Whittaker—01886 833897 Martley Website [email protected]

Martley Parish Chair: Dave Cropp—01886 Council 888398; Clerk: Tom Pearsall—01886 888256 Martley WI Pat Crook—01886 888550

Martley & Dist Pam Minchin—01886 Hort. Soc. 888521 or Margaret Jackson—01886 888654 Royal British Joyce Tyler—01886 Legion 821551

Martley Harry King—01886 888439 Ramblers

Wichenford Janet Andrews—01886 contacts for The 888303, Sheila Richards— Villager 01886 888378

Resource Centre Alan Boon—01886 888527

Kenswick & Clerk—Shirley Sanders Wichenford 01886 888302 Parish Counl.

Wichenford Secretary—Mike Holmes Wine Club 01905 641739

Trefoil Guild geraldine.cooper@btopenw orld.com

August 2005 * The Villager 29