In this issue November 1996

The Season of Remembering

Berkhamsted, Greene and Waugh

5000 Years of Occupation

Eat yer heart out, Cecil B. de Mille!

To Bake or Not to Bake?

This month’s Notes & Events

The Parish Magazine of St Peter’s with All Saints’

Welcome to the November issue of the Review. In this month’s issue... We have been very encouraged by the response we have had from our readers in Remembering the form of contributions of all kinds for Revd Mark Bonney recalls that the magazine. Thank you to all who have November is the month for remembering written. I should point out that we always saints, souls and tragic events. use contributions; even if they cannot be fitted into the current issue, we do use , Greene and Waugh them. Some items are of course topical Literary links abound in Berkhamsted. and we give them priority before they Stephen Halliday looks at two well become time expired, but many others known writers with ties to the town. remain interesting for a long time and so can be carried over until space permits. Eat yer heart out, Cecil B.! Please bear with us if your piece waits a Liz Baxendale reveals the secrets of the little! If you have not yet written anything most popular show of the year. but would like to, please do come forward! We could do with a greater number of To Bake or Not to Bake? suppliers of photographs. There are many Sheila Newland addresses an annual talented photographers in Berkhamsted. conundrum.. So, if you have a picture which you think would make an interesting illustration, we 5000 Years of Occupation should be glad to consider it for the John Cook reflects on the popularity of Review. We do of course return all living in Berkhamsted over five originals in due course if required. It millennia. doesn’t matter whether pictures are landscape or townscape, with or without people, or possibly of a local event - we’ll ... plus much more, including our regular be interested to have them! features, your letters, dairy dates, notes David Woodward & notices and contact lists.

Editorial Team: David Woodward, 3 Murray Road HP4 1JD (862723) Barbara Belchamber, 38 Gaveston Drive HP4 1JF (864933) Chris Smalley, 18 Osmington Place, Tring HP23 4EG (826821) Advertising: David Woodward, 3 Murray Road HP4 1JD (862723) Circulation: Daphne Montague, 27 Hill View HP4 1SA (875320) Treasurer: Miles Nicholas, 46 Fieldway HP4 2NY (871598) Committee Sec.: John Cook, The Gardeners’ Arms, Castle Street HP4 2DW Responsibility for opinions expressed in articles and letters published in this Review and for the accuracy of any statements in them rests solely with the individual contributor

Next Copy Dates (all Fridays): 1 November* 6 December 3 January (* note early date)

2 review leader

November is the acknowledged and then the path to month of remem- acceptance and forgiveness can be started Fr Mark Bonney, bering. November upon. Forgiveness is not about forgetting, considers the value 1st is All Saints’ but about healing between peoples, of remembrance Day when we between ourselves and God, and within rejoice in the ourselves (sometimes the most difficult in our own lives fellowship of that person to forgive is oneself). today. great multitude of Remembering can be an escapist trip down people who have memory lane, rather like when we pick an borne witness to old box of photos and wallow in the past. Christ, but who are not celebrated by a Every Eucharist has the words Do this in special day to themselves. The saints are remembrance of me; this isn’t to do with not inaccessible plaster figures, but our thinking nice thoughts about the past but friends. They are real men and women about making the past a present reality who in every age have led lives that have now. The Jewish people remember the showed a little bit of heaven to others, and great saving acts of God in the past every are our friends in heaven supporting us time they celebrate Passover because the with their prayers as we run the race set God who acted powerfully then can act before us. powerfully now. The same thinking lies at On 2nd November we celebrate All the heart of real Christian remembering. Souls Day, when we commemorate and None of the Eucharists we celebrate, and pray for the souls of the faithful departed. especially those on All Saints and All While we are called to be saints, we know Souls Days, are memorial services ourselves to be sinners, and on this day we thinking about dead heroes. We recognise that. In our remembering we remember a God who is active and alive need to acknowledge human grief and through all of time and beyond it. By fragility in a way that is not possible when remembering and reflecting upon our own we celebrate the triumphs of All Saints’ lives we can be enabled to see his presence Day, and All Souls Day allows us to do within them and be given the grace to just that. forgive and to live joyfully now. The second Sunday of November is always Remembrance Sunday, the day when we remember those who have died in the two world wars and other armed conflicts of this century and it rightly has a significant place in our national and parochial life. To forget the two world wars would be an act of terrible amnesia and must never be allowed to happen. Remembering is a very important Cover: Georgina Tregoning and Alan Conway ceremoniously dispose of the first piece of litter human and spiritual activity and needs to at the start of the autumn clear-up in the Three be properly directed. Remembering can Close Lane cemetery. A large number of lead to anger and bitterness and continued enthusiastic parishioners took part and enjoyed resentment, and such things do none of us a sumptuous picnic afterwards. any good. Such feelings need to be Photo: Chris Smalley 3

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4 Brownlow Road, Ellesmere Road and Egerton Road. Residents of Berkhamsted Place are recorded in Finch Road and Murray Road. Another famous - or infamous - inhabitant of Berkhamsted Place, , is not so marked, perhaps because he was thought to have brought no credit to the Town from the crucial role he played in the execution of Charles I. We were reminded of this episode in a recent lecture on in the Civil War given to the Local History Society. For the crime of regicide Axtell was publicly hanged, drawn and quartered. Incidentally, exactly the same fate was wished on me at a public meeting when I was Town Mayor and the Kingsgate controversy was at its height. Butterflies, Birds and Rectors The problem of what to call new streets The last batch of houses on the Chiltern may not arise in Berkhamsted much in the Park Estate is rather tucked away at the future. It is difficult to foresee what far south east corner of this large opportunities there will be for any more to development. The streets where they are be built here. We are surrounded by Green to be found have been named after Belt which we want to preserve so the species of butterflies which used to boundaries of the built up area are not flutter over the gentle chalk slopes and elastic; and there is not at present much meadow land on which the houses have prospect of building being allowed on any of been built. You can find Tortoiseshell the remaining open spaces in the Town. Way, Peacocks Close, Brimstone Way and Admiral Way; but those entrusted Butterfield with selecting names discretely decided ‘Many architectural historians place William not to call any street after the species of Butterfield as the most perfect architect in butterfly which has been seen in the Anglican field, and put All Saint’s in unprecedented numbers this year. Margaret Street in London as his most Painted Lady Way might have given the perfect church.’ So a learned article in the wrong idea. latest newsletter of the Ecclesiological Over 30 years ago the old Urban Society claims. District Council decided to name most One of the other commissions which of the streets of the newly built Ashlyns Butterfield took on was of course the major Estate after birds: Falcon Ridge, Robin restoration of St Peter’s Church, Hill and four closes - Curlew, Pheasant, Berkhamsted, in the 1880’s. There could Kestrel and Plover. In earlier years and hardly be a greater contrast than that at different times several former rectors between these two buildings. In the of Berkhamsted were immortalised in Margaret Street church there is barely a street names: Cobb Road, Curtis Way, square inch, inside and out, which is not Seymour Road, Birch Road and Cowper richly decorated, while Butterfield left St Road (more after the son of a rector Peter’s fairly plain - rather plainer than in rather than the rector himself). fact he had found it. Why the difference? Former residents of Ashridge are remembered in Bridgewater Road,

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6 I suspect it was for a number of reasons. Butterfield was allowed only a limited budget at Berkhamsted, and in any case he would not have been prepared to spend anything like as much of his precious personal time on designing the decoration of the parish church of a small market town as on his wonderfully ornate buildings at Margaret Street, Keble College Chapel at Oxford and Rugby School. Perhaps also Berkhamsted was not then ready for the extravagant high gothic revival architecture and its associated bells and smells that were so fashionable at that Graemesdyke Road - one of the last remaining signs time in avant-garde parishes of London. of Grims Ditch. Even so, it is still a surprise that ‘conclusive evidence that the heavy clay Butterfield left St Peter’s without any of lands were inhabited intensively through his decorative designs at all. these early periods’. If you want to see All Saints, Margaret The report makes a lot of the discovery Street, it is only a short walk from Oxford of the prehistoric site at Bottom House Circus and usually open. During services, Lane (close to where the Berkhamsted though, it can be difficult to admire the bypass joins the Tring bypass). It says its interior because of the dense fog of importance cannot be over-emphasised. incense smoke. Nationally that particular site is unique. 5000 Years of Occupation Grims Ditch The Exhibition recently put on in The mystery of the purpose for which one Berkhamsted Civic Centre by the of our most famous local archaeological Dacorum Heritage Trust was well worth a remains - Grims Ditch - was dug in the visit. It concentrated on the outcome of the Iron Age (700 BC - 43 AD) may have major project that was mounted in 1991 to come nearer to being solved. From the record the archaeology along the route of evidence of their detailed analysis the our bypass before all was destroyed by the archaeologists conclude that it is highly roadworks. It has taken since then to likely that the purpose of Grims Ditch analyse the work. There were ten main was, rather unexcitingly, ‘purely for excavated sites, including Pea Lane, demarcation of a pastoral landscape’. Oakwood, Chesham Road and the place Anyway, its nice to know that the town just west of Northchurch where Grims where we have chosen to live is in an area Ditch crosses the line of the bypass. which has been a popular residential area To the eye of a layman the finds were for 5000 years. Among the rather blurred not at all spectacular, but hundreds of illustrations in the booklet on the project little bits of evidence of human occupation produced by the Dacorum Heritage Trust of the area, of great significance to the is a drawing of an Iron Age man working archaeologists, were unearthed. They go at his bowl furnace behind what is now the back to the Neolithic Period (4,500 - 2500 Cow Roast. What changes have taken BC), through the Bronze and Iron Ages as place in the 2500 years since then! But well as the Roman, Anglo Saxon and some things don’t alter much: the bellows Medieval Periods. According to the he is using look remarkably like those in published report of the work they give my own late 20th century hearth. ™

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HIRE OF HALLS To book a Parish Hall please contact Jean Green (878227) for St Peter’s Court House or Doug Billington (866038) for All Saints’ Halls

8 ll too soon it is This led me to A time to think explore further and I about the annual To Bake or found on the back of Christmas cake my much-used recipe problem. Shall I Not to Bake? for cheese scones and bother this year? Is it rock cakes a letter I really worth it? Shall received many years I buy a fruitcake and Sheila Newland considers ago from a member of plonk some icing on my family quoting the the top? But no, I that perennial problem - words of St Theresa mustn’t weaken. My the Christmas cake. (the Great) about mother was famous ‘Christ has no body for her Christmas now on earth but cakes - she made about six every year for yours. No hands but yours...’ and finished various members of the with these wise words, family - and her recipe is ‘Buria1 is the reverent somewhere in my disposal of that vehicle cookery book waiting for through which man, its annual outing. created in the image of My cookery book - God, expressed himself what a mess! It started during his lifetime" (no off as a useful book with doubt we had been ruled pages and coloured having one of our deep sections for easy and interesting reference. It must be discussions at that time about thirty years old on religion and the judging by my daughters’ meaning of life!). On the childish handwriting - I next page one of my allowed them to write on daughters had written, the first few pages when ‘…bake for 20 muinits. it was new. Sometimes the recipes have Cut tomartos in half and mix with been stuck onto the pages with headings lettuice’. No, she isn’t dyslexic. She is a such as Brenda’s chocolate cake, Jan’s teacher now and, hopefully, her spelling sweet corn flan and Fruit cake - easy has improved. (music teacher). Who would have thought that a Then, on the back of a rich, savoury tattered old recipe book, with its messy, omelette recipe I saw, to my surprise, greasy pages, could provide such a trip ‘Parish of Berkhamsted A pastoral letter down memory lane? Now, I really must from the rector: Dear Sisters and Brothers make that decision - to bake or not to in Christ…’. bake? ™

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Articles REGISTRAR ...NEWS...NEWS. . . NEWS... of Births and Deaths at the Court House Letters on Tuesdays Do you have a point you'd like to make? Some interesting news from the parish (3.00 - 4.00 pm) or the town you think others would and Thursdays like to hear? Or simply a latent creative streak seeking an outlet?! (9.15 - 10.15 am) Then let's hear from you! The Review depends on a constant stream of interesting news, letters and editorial. Phone 228600 So please do send your contribution to: David Woodward for appointment 3 Murray Road, Berkhamsted HP4 1JD (tel: 862723)

10 The Thomas Coram Middle School

t the end of last year we were very We are continuing with our support of A pleased that so many people were able the Hertfordshire/Gambia initiative. Pupils to visit the exhibition in the Civic Centre have now raised more than £1,000. The produced by all the ten schools in first shipment of goods purchased with Berkhamsted. this money is currently on its way to The new academic year has begun very Tujering. During October half term Sylvie positively, with 110 new pupils joining the Ridgway, of our teaching staff, will be school - including 90 admitted into Year 5. joining the working party visiting Gambia Preparations are in hand for our annual and labouring for this most worthy cause. celebration of the man whose name the school proudly bears. We are delighted Colin Stevens that Father Mark has agreed to give the Headteacher address at our Thomas Coram service.

he October meeting burden of buildings Tof the PCC N EWS F ROM T HE maintenance was considered the usual highlighted, which wide and varied range particularly affects a of subjects, under the P z C z C parish like ours with chairmanship of Father two large churches to Mark Bonney for the first time. maintain (did you know that, in The subject of next year’s today’s money, the parish has Petertide Fair was raised, with the spent more that £600,000 on Council universally agreeing that building maintenance in the past the Fair was an important local fifteen years?). event well worthy of continuing. Recent developments in As planning starts in November recruiting a parish Youth Worker each year, the need to identify an were noted, as was the continuing organising committee was identified. activity in appointing a Priest-in-Charge Two important aspects of the parish for All Saints’ with the post being re- finances were discussed at some length. advertised. The Charities Act 1993 makes some There was some discussion on the important changes to the way in which the proposed changes to the Liturgy from the accounts of PCCs are maintained. Michael year 2000, with the introduction of new Robinson, our Honorary Treasurer, and changed services and some changes to described the effect these would have and the Rite A Holy Communion service with circulated an analysis of them. This was the introduction of the revised ASB. An followed by a discussion of the ‘parish article on this subject will appear in a share’ system and how the calculation of forthcoming edition of the Review. the parish share affects our parish. The CJS

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12 am happy to say The now with an added Ithat all of the problem to overcome. Ashlyns School Vene- Wanderers Return We were to be going zuela expedition team away with somebody returned safely. The whom we had never expedition was fantas- Helen Appleyard and her met and with whom tic and although, in we had not had the parts, it was not what fellow travellers survived their opportunity to build we had been expect- expedition to Venezuela. up any kind of ing, it was an amazing relationship. Yet we experience that lived had to put our trust in up to our expectations and was worth the him for our safety and the smooth running twelve months of planning, preparation of the expedition. For the first time, I was and fundraising that went into it. beginning to find the whole thing rather In the last few days before we were to daunting. set off on the expedition tension and Goodbyes before leaving were a excitement were running high. Then, just mixture of apprehension and anticipation. five days before, we learned that Terry, However once we had arrived at Ashlyns who was to be our expedition leader, had just after lunchtime on Sunday 7th July we been in a car crash. Fortunately he was knew this was it. No turning back. The not seriously hurt but was badly enough expedition had begun! injured to mean that he would not be able It was a month of many new and to accompany us on the expedition. This varied experiences. Each bizarre activity came as a shock and we were all quite followed several others, so that soon we upset. World Challenge had found a just got on with things. In fact, it’s only replacement but we would be unable to since getting home that we have really had see him before we left. I think it was at a chance to look back in wonder and this stage that many of us realised the appreciate many of those experiences. scale of what we were letting ourselves in We learnt a lot about working as a for. We were disappearing off to a very team, coping with disappointment, making different country on the other side of the difficult decisions, surviving in a different world, to undertake some very difficult culture and, above all, tackling unfamiliar tasks and experiences. We would be away situations with confidence. ™ from all that was familiar for a month, and

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14 A cross the land, on in!” Historical from the end of Eat yer heart out, accuracy isn’t easy October onwards, with infants. On thousands of one occasion, ‘Misses’, ‘Mrses’ Cecil B. de Mille! having been visited and ‘Sirs’ will be by a suitably blonde engaged in some of Gabriel, Mary was the greatest produc- Budding luvvies are lining up for doing a little light tions in theatrical their theatrical big breaks. dusting when history - school Joseph walked on nativity plays. Liz Baxendale shares her and said, “I’ve Luckily the experiences of the Nativity Play. finished this cradle, storyline stays much what shall I do with the same from year it?”. “Put it in the to year. There is a goodly number of lead garage till we need it”, said Mary without roles so plenty of children can be ‘used looking up! up’ - in fact, in your small village school One year the dressing-up box yielded everyone can have a star part, or you can precious little. Our third king, a gangling add a flock of six or so sheep. Larger gingerhead of seven summers, ended up in numbers, however stretch the imagination a blue brocade evening. dress and a short somewhat, but one need not be hidebound fur jacket, crowned in cardboard and fruit by convention. gums (they make marvellous gems and Nowhere in the Bible does it say the shine luverly in the lights!). During wisemen numbered but three (though their rehearsal a kerfuffle broke out in the gifts may have been detailed), so it is king’s department. I demanded to know possible to have six, or eight; to these, add what was going on. “Please Miss”, a dozen servants each and perhaps a drawled Third King, “They keep handmaiden or two, and you can use up a interfering with me!”. “With him in that whole class with great effect! The star of Bethlehem presumably did not shine in an otherwise darkened sky, and I feel that twenty four stars, twinkling with tinsel and prancing about makes a jolly addition to any production. Likewise a good crowd of shepherds is acceptable (providing you exclude the one with the ‘souvenir of Clacton’ tea towel on his/her head). There is nothing to say they were all masculine either! It is essential to make sure that the players know the story. Disaster strikes if the inn keeper suddenly says, “Yes, come

The third king was a gangling seven year old gingerhead dressed in a blue brocade evening dress and short fur jacket…

15 get-up, is it any wonder?”, a good story, having many muttered a colleague under modern day parallels ... her breath. teenage pregnancy, red At least my kings had a tape and authority, place in the hall. I refugeeism, housing remember another problems, royalty, rehearsal at one school, astrology and supernatural where the Head (she of the beings. What more could thyroid and organstop the average six year old eyes) bellowed from time want? to time, “Three kings, Casting is tricky. We COME OUT of the bottom all have stereotypical toilets NOW!”. Many views on angels (blonde), school halls are short on kings (tall), shepherds staging and wings, so it’s (unimaginative), Joseph not unusual to find the (tall and reliable) and heavenly host lurking in a Mary (sweet natured and stock cupboard or pretty). It is a bold Miss shepherds behind the that casts the Mary taller piano. than Joseph, a black- Music is important of haired angel and the course. This is the time for the beginners’ school ‘handful’ as Joseph. recorder group to pipe its way to On The Day, every child is a star. Bethlehem, making a row to waken any There will not be a dry eye in the house, as sleeping babe. And that’s always a thorny the final tableau is accompanied by Away problem. How do you ‘deliver’ the baby? in a Manger. Nobody will have minded Personally I liked it secreted beneath the that the shepherds came in from the left hay in the manger to be instead of the right; that produced by Mary at the It’s not unusual to Joseph dropped his lantern and appropriate moment. Others nearly knocked out the second favour arrival by angel find the heavenly king; that the baby was feet bearers. Whatever - but it host lurking in a uppermost for the best part of helps if Mary gets the child the stock cupboard. the show; or that Gabriel had right way up from the start. to leave early because he was Getting the shepherds to sick. ‘quake with fear’ is a bit of a problem too. It is Christmas again and even the most After all, the class know-all in a nightie is hardened ‘Scrooges’ amongst us cannot nothing compared with Spiderman, Doctor fail to be won over as a six year old Mary Who or the Masters of the Universe. and her baby doll tell us again the most However, religious significance aside, it is wonderful story ever told. ™

The Christmas issue of the Review Available on 23rd November Your usual features, notes and notices plus Christmas events and diary dates.

16 t's surprising how writing, both Butts Imuch your town Meadow and council has got up CUTTING Dellfield have to over the past year waiting lists but or so. I, like many both Sunnyside old others felt that the and new have plots council just, well, COMMENTS available at silly ‘happened’, or, in monies if you are the words of John keen on gardening. Cook, that it had Local Councillor Norman Cutting Remember the old very little power but continues his tour through council saving: use it or does have a little lose it! influence. I’m sure committee life. The allotment that over the early holders expressed months we must an interest in the have made so many errors that the town's formation of an Allotments Association. residents started to wonder if the promises A meeting was held in February to discuss and aspirations of the new council were the matter and I believe around fifty going to fall by the wayside and whether people turned up. I also understand that anyone would take us seriously. However, the idea was rejected after one councillor, we have gained experience, started to pick who had nothing to do with the ourselves up and even the borough is environment committee, does not have an beginning to realise that we are different allotment or even live in the town, spoke and believe the town expects (and should on the matter. A member of Berkhamsted get) more from this council than previous Gardening Club told me that a number of ones. years ago a similar scheme was mooted, In this article I will bring you up to only to flounder through lack of interest date with the Environment, Finance and though the end result was the Gardening Policy Committees. The Environment Club. Perhaps readers can throw more Committee is responsible for the town's light on this matter! main asset - namely, the allotments. The The Finance and Policy Committee is chairman, Cllr. Kenneth Duvall, hopes led ably by the deputy mayor, Cllr. Terry that action by both the borough and town Lundberg. The new council is proactive, councils will make our town a more and at the first of the regular public attractive place to live and work in. meetings, it was made clear by those who We are hoping to have a large input to attended that change must take place. It the joint English Heritage and borough was made clear that being pro-active council conservation action plan. This is a meant more resources being made three year partnership scheme to protect available one way or the other. We have the conservation area and has received found out that funds are available for all funding approval by the borough council. sorts of things from the borough and The broad plan was approved by English officers have indicated that they have Heritage earlier this year and, as a start, often wondered why the town council did Herts County Council have agreed to pay not take advantage of this money. Not a for the design work connected with ‘Phase lot of it has been asked for as yet, but I'm IV’ of the ‘highway enhancement’ scheme sure Terry is working on schemes to take from the bottom of Swing Gate Lane to advantage of funds available from other the Rex Cinema. sources. The allotments take up at least half the The Committee is also looking to bring time of this committee, and at the time of back as many of the functions of the

17 borough that it can. The majority of the council is taking the view that it was elected to take control back for CAUX the town from the county and borough councils. The self appointed Fifty Years On chairman's committee wandered off to visit Ware Town Council earlier this year to find out how we can improve Vera Pullen revisits the Moral matters in our town. I have every Rearmament centre at Caux on its 50th confidence that this committee will be anniversary. promoting ideas to match those of Ware. These could include increasing the precept to over £180,000, and This year Jim and I were privileged to visit raising funds for capital projects such Caux again on the 50th anniversary of the as new offices, visitor centre, tennis opening of this remarkable Moral Rearmament courts/lido and community centre. centre, to meet people from all over the world Starting from an idea put forward in a spirit of friendship and reconciliation. It is by Ken Sherwood, the chairman has very difficult to describe the feeling of hope, decided to kick-start the Graham enthusiasm and love engendered there. Green Birthplace Trust into action. The subject for this year’s conference was Although originally not interested in Healing the Past, Forging the Future . The allowing the council to be involved, programme included meetings, seminars, his latest proposal is for the council to jubilee lectures, plays and films, with form a company limited by guarantee simultaneous translation. We were divided up called The Graham Greene Arts into ‘communities’ which met each morning Centre Trust. Cllr. T. Lundberg and after breakfast to discuss various items which Cllr. P. Such would be the initial had been raised the day before. directors/trustees appointed by the We were with a group of Germans and town council. He is proposing that the German-speaking Russians, but luckily one Rex Cinema is used as the centre with lady translated for us. Our visit wasn’t long funds raised from outside bodies such after the English/German international football as the National Lottery, borough and match and we felt we had to apologise for the county councils and any one else way some of the papers here had jumped on interested. The figure could be as the bandwagon. You would have thought we high as £2 million (Cllr. Lundberg's were at war once more. figure), which could mean over £140 MRA is a way of life. Its goal is global added to the precept for each £1 transformation carried forward by people of million raised if the council wished to different convictions and faiths who seek finance the project itself. The one God’s inspiration for individual and common advantage the town council has over action. Every individual is encouraged to the borough is that the precept is not accept absolute moral standards - in particular, capped, and you could be prosecuted love, honesty, purity and selflessness - as for not paying it!! I wish my business guides to personal liberation and the moral and had the advantages of being able to spiritual renewal of society. This is open to prosecute customers who did not want everyone who wants to engage in it, listening to pay. May I suggest that you make and responding to ‘the inner voice’ - God’s your opinions known to the council. ™ spirit illuminating the human mind. ™

18 irst, can I thank BERKHAMSTED, last but the connection F the numerous with the Jacobs family readers of last GRAHAM GREENE was the reason for Evelyn month’s Review who AND Waugh’s numerous visits contacted me in re- to Berkhamsted at about sponse to my request EVELYN WAUGH this time, shortly after the for information about end of World War I. He Cooper’s Animal refers to Barbara’s habit Feeds and its long Stephen Halliday examines of ‘adorning herself with association with the the links between two crude jewellery of beaten town. I will be writ- successful writers with ties silver and copper, ing about this in a enamel, semi-precious future issue but for to Berkhamsted. stones and amber, that the next two months I was made by a bearded want to concentrate crank in Berkhamsted’. I on some writers whose association with wonder who that was. Berkhamsted is unaccountably overlooked Waugh also makes some interesting in the leaflet on Dacorum Literary Links comments on an incident which, he which has been published by the local believes, may have influenced Graham authority: W.W. Jacobs and George Greene, a contemporary of Waugh, who Macaulay Trevelyan, both of them briefly describes Greene as ‘an honoured friend’. mentioned last month in John Cook’s Waugh explains how, during a visit to Around the Town. Berkhamsted, he put on some airs before William Wymark Jacobs (1863-1943) one of the Jacobs boys, ‘contrasting the was a very popular and successful short severe life of a boarding school [Waugh story writer around the turn of the century. was then at Lancing] with his softness as a One of the visitors to his house, day-boy. Somehow these boastings must Beechcroft, in Chesham Road, was the have spread at Berkhamsted School. schoolboy Evelyn Waugh (1903-66) who, Graham Greene himself is unaware of the in his engaging autobiography, A Little process. But again and again in his Learning, gives an amusing account of the novels, when he wishes to portray a seedy disputes that raged between Jacobs and his character who nurtures a pathetic loyalty wife about the education of their children. to a minor public school, he attributes this Mrs. Jacobs, a suffragette who had been emotion to Lancing. I am the only old boy jailed for breaking windows and was an of Lancing whom he has known well. early advocate of the more equal treatment Neither he nor I see any likeness between of women, would occasionally kidnap myself and these sad fictions. Something their children from a school selected by young Jacobs said must at second or third her husband because, in her view, it was hand engendered them’. insufficiently progressive. She would Graham Greene had a very high secrete the child in a more enlightened opinion of Evelyn Waugh whom he establishment before returning home to a described as ‘Incomparably the greatest furious row with the father whom Waugh writer of our generation. When I heard of describes as ‘wan, skinny, sharp-faced, his death I felt as though my commanding with watery eyes. Like many humorists he officer had died’. How strange that, gave scant evidence of humour in private through the Jacobs connection, one of the intercourse.’ greatest writers of the twentieth century One of the Jacobs’ daughters, Barbara, should have influenced another, even married Evelyn Waugh’s older brother, though Greene and Waugh did not meet Alec (1898-1981). The marriage did not until they were at Oxford four years later. ™

19 review letters

Music in Churches What Do They Mean? Clifford Gossling writes: Ted Lewis writes: I have been very interested in reading I must confess that I have been quite a number of readers’ comments spreading a totally false rumour in the appearing in The Times recently referring town. So, for the record, would you to ‘Music in Church’. please note that the piles of earth and I though fellow readers of the Review rubble, the holes and barricades, the long might be particularly interested to read slowly moving lines of overheated part of a letter from The Rev. K.W. Clark vehicles and weary people, the noises of of Battle, East Sussex from which I quote: heavy machinery and the machine-gun like Music can be, and is, in many sounds of road drills are not, repeat not an churches, used to ‘set the scene’. exhibition commemorating the 80th In the days when I was a parish priest I anniversary of the battle of the Somme. often told my people what I was taught at They are, so we are informed, the latest Sunday school many years ago: ‘Before enhancement to our town. the service, talk to God. During the I became bewildered by the variety of service, let God talk to you. After the lines painted on the roads at the service, talk with your friends’. approaches to the new roundabouts. There Too many congregations ignore this are double narrow broken lines, single these days, but a sensitive organist with narrow broken lines and single wide appropriate music can encourage a broken lines. There are also single broken prayerful silence on the part of the medium width lines but I think that these congregation before the service. must be inaccurate attempts at painting It would be interesting to learn the one of the others, rather like ‘The largest view of some Berkhamsted readers on the dwarf in the world’ or ‘The smallest giant subject. in ’. 16 St Johns Well Court But what do they all mean? ‘Do not Berkhamsted HP4 1JQ use between 8:30am and 6:30pm?’; ‘circle for 3 minutes before leaving?’. I asked friends. Nobody knew. I searched a Welcome, Father Mark modern copy of the Highway Code. No Stuart Kibble writes: help. Eventually I went to the top and May I say thank you to everyone who called at the police station and there an has been involved in the long search to fill amused constable explained all. The marks the vacancy at St Peter’s. on the roads have to relate to the traffic I would like to say welcome to Father signs at the side of the road. All of our Mark, his wife and family and hope they road markings at the mini-roundabouts have settled into the Rectory. I hope that mean exactly the same thing : give way to their stay with us at St Peter’s will be a -traffic approaching from the right. long and happy one. 9 Shrublands Avenue 23 Douglas Gardens Berkhamsted HP4 3JH Berkhamsted HP4 3PE

20 review northchurch

One of the many come to St Mary’s? They have been Denis Roberts highlights of the seeking and finding the assurance of God proclaims the church fete is a and staying to worship him. Anyone visit to the top of needing insurance, and we all do from Assurance the church tower time to time, will quickly discover the of God. and when peering difference between assurance and down on the insurance. Assurance deals with a people coming certainty, an event which is bound to along the church path, it is fascinating to happen and so we have life assurance ponder on the multitude that have trod policies to help out when we die. On the before right back to the Saxon times. The other hand, there are insurance policies to earliest inhabitants of the hamlet of help when something happens which may Northchurch, whose church was dedicated not (and we hope does not) happen, such to the Virgin Mary, were followed by as a car accident. This distinction between those led by the earliest recorded Rector, what will be and what may be the case is Hugh de London, in 1221 and then by a at the heart of our experience of life and host on through the reformation, the fundamental to the life of our church and dissolution of religious houses, the parish. In these moving and turbulent Cromwellian commonwealth and onto the times, it is not always easy to tell and we recent times of two world wars. At this may get swept along by the conflicting time of interregnum, we are again sources of information: government reminded of our history as our patron sponsored campaigns, free information is the Duke of Cornwall - the first being packs, advertisements and the ever the Black Prince created Duke in 1337. growing pile of junk mail! We need help. The gift of the living has been in royal Is there anyone who has been this way hands from early times - Queen before that we can ask? departed from custom for some years but During the summer I went on a journey soon reverted to the norm. Why have so to the Isle of Skye where it was said there

21 review notes¬ices

COWPER SOCIETY how to protect ourselves and others. The meeting commences at 8:15pm and new The Cowper Society is again members are welcome. Please contact Thelma presenting The Making of Harris (865785) or Rene Dunford (862420) if Berkhamsted - a look at you need more details. housing in Berkhamsted and at the lives of some of the LEPROSY MISSION people who have lived there. Maps, slides, drama and music all combine On Saturday, 9th November in All Saints’ to give a historical perspective to the growth of Church Hall from 10:00am to 12 noon there the town. will be a Coffee Morning and Bring & Buy The presentation will take place on Friday, Sale. Cakes, Christmas gifts, cards and 1st November in the Town Hall at 8:00pm. calendars will be sold in aid of the Leprosy Tickets, at £2, are available at the door, or you Mission’s Countdown to Cure campaign. Your can phone in advance on 877089. support will be greatly appreciated. Please will all box holders who would like TUESDAY CLUB their boxes to be emptied bring them to the coffee morning or contact May Kempster On 5th November we look forward to (863037) or Meg Harper (865443). welcoming P.C. Andy Rolls who will tell us

Northchurch Review (continued) were the Cullin mountains, indeed red faith we understand that the worlds were ones and black ones. On arrival there was prepared by the word of God so that not a Cullin to be seen. What to believe - which is seen was made from things that the travel brochure or my own eyes? The are not visible’. next day we set off on a tour of the island. Once we accept that God is creator of Various banks of mist were declared to be heaven and earth an of each one of us hiding the mountains; by the afternoon the individually, how different our world sun had melted the clouds and the scenery becomes. No longer are we an accidental was magnificent. Those who had been pack of genes but part of a planned before were right and to be believed in purpose which we can join or reject. Yes, spite of the early evidence of my own there are mysteries aplenty beyond our eyes. limited wits to understand but God has The Bible is crammed full of accounts sent his prophets and the greatest of them by people who have gone before, not only all, his Son, to help and reassure us. of physical things, like mountains, which It is up to everyone of us, from our given time it is easy to prove exist, but of experience, to show that God is real and things that cannot be seen. The writer of can be relied upon. All we need to do is Hebrews points to faith as the entry to this accept the gift of faith and trust his word. second category, ‘Now faith is the ™ assurance of things hoped for, the continuation of things not seen, indeed by Denis Roberts is a former churchwarden faith our ancestors received approval. By and current parish treasurer.

22 CHARITY CHRISTMAS CARDS want to teach, despite all the adversities they face every day. Maybe we here in Britain have Charity Christmas cards a lesson to learn from that! will be on sale at the The books were distributed to various Court House on the schools and some even to Kamarang and following dates: Jawalia in the bush. Thank you again for your generous donations from those in Guyana and from Friday & Saturday, 8th & 9th November Mavis and June. Friday & Saturday, 22nd & 23rd November from 10:00am to 4:00pm THE OXFAM FAIR TRADE COMPANY

CHRISTMAS MUSIC The Oxfam Fair Trade Company was launched - or rather re-launched - in October. Its aims Many will recall that remarkable, evocative are: performance by the Chiltern Chamber Choir of • to help people to earn a living from their Praetorius’ Christmas Mass last December, skills, which involved robust audience participation • to pay them a fair price, for the various chorales. This year the Chiltern • to bring their products to the customer Chamber Choir will be performing (in English direct, this time!) Bach’s Christmas Oratorio on • to help them towards a better future though Monday, 23rd December at 7:30pm in St direct support and training. Peter’s Church. Once again, audience participation is invited. A limited number of Fairly trading with people helps them to ‘Singers Tickets’ is available to able and help themselves. Far trade means a better deal willing singers, who should attend the ‘warm- for Oxfam’s producers and customers. up’ rehearsal beforehand at 7:00pm. Music and For producers in the Third World it means tickets (at £4.00) are available from the Choir’s that they are not exploited, they work in decent director, Adrian Davis (864722) or from the conditions and they receive a fair price for their Choir’s secretary, Jean Green (863241). skills and time. Most importantly, with a Normal tickets are available from The helping hand through fair trade our producers Bookstack at £6.00 each (concessions for achieve independence. children at £4.00). For you as a customer, fair trade means that you can choose from an exclusive range of hand-made products from around the world. A BIG THANK-YOU FROM Many designs and materials have been passed MAVIS AND JUNE HAILE down from generation to generation, helping to You may remember, some months ago, Mavis preserve age-old traditions and skills. Each of and June Haile appealed for books and other the handmade items is unique, reflecting the items for schools in Guyana. The response was touch of the individual craftsperson. magnificent and six boxes of books and other Visit the Oxfam shop to see examples of things such as sheets and so on were sent off. many fine artefacts or to pick up a catalogue Mavis and June thank everyone for all that was for the full range. So buy Fair Trade Christmas given. presents this year and your goodwill will go You can imagine the delight of pupils and twice as far. teachers on receiving books of all kinds, in a land where there is a severe shortage of books. OXFAM EVENING WEAR PREVIEW The ‘library’ consists of a few bookcases on the way up the stairs. Each class has 50 to 60 The Oxfam shop will remain open from children, and due to the problem of space most 5:00pm to 7:00pm for a preview of evening and chairs have two children sitting, or rather party wear for both men and women on perched on each one. The classes are not Tuesday, 5th November. separated from each other, the floors are simply one large space. Children from different classes are sitting next to each other. Can you imagine the noise? The children are desperate to learn. The teachers are so positive, they

23 FRIENDS OF ASHRIDGE W.I. life and her many interests. These included cookery and basket making. She is obviously an expert at the latter craft and soon will be going to Canada to teach how to make a The season is nearly over at Ashridge: the coracle. Amusing anecdotes interspersed the centre, tea shop, shop and battery cars close at musical items and the evening finished with a the end of October and will reopen at Easter cacophony of sound as members played drums, 1997 . The National Trust Shop will however cymbals, triangles, maraccas, bells, be open for Christmas shopping from late tambourines and so on. Mrs. Blumson thanked November to early December. her for an entertaining and amusing evening. It has been a successful season, particularly Two members had joined a party of W.I. for the education centre with some 2,000 visitors to the Imperial War Museum exhibition children taking part and hopefully learning on evacuees and Mrs. Evans reported on a something of the countryside environment. The nostalgic, humbling and somewhat humiliating battery cars for the disabled have been well exhibition of the effects of war on young used and an appeal is currently in hand to people. provide another hard surface route through the A coffee morning had raised over £50 for forest for their use. our bursary fund. The draw for a bursary on a Repairs to the Bridgewater Monument have course at Denman College took place in now been completed, paid for partly by grants October. from various conservation bodies. Our crime prevention representative, Mrs. Unfortunately its closure through the summer Elphinstone, gave a report on her visit to the has meant a loss of income for the Ashridge CCTV centre in Hemel Hempstead. Estate. Our next meeting is on 20th November at It has been a wonderful year for butterflies 7:30pm in the Gable Hall, Price Edward Street. with many varieties appearing and, in This will be our annual meeting. All are particular, the Silver-winged Fritillary after welcome to come and join and meet with many years absence was seen on the Beacon. friendly W.I. members. Also the rabbit population appears to have quadrupled but so far we have managed to keep them out of the garden! W.I. A Reminder! The annual lecture will be At our October meeting, our president, Joan given on Friday, 15th November at 8:00pm in Griffiths, welcomed 25 members and one the Welcome Great Hall, Berkhamsted Town visitor. After we had dealt with business Hall by Anthony Hopkins, the well known matters, we were pleased to be introduced to broadcaster, musician and resident of Ashridge. our speaker, Mrs. Jean Archer, paying us a Tickets, at £3 each, may be obtained from welcome return visit. She gave us a most Barbara Brookfield. interesting and amusing talk on the History of the Chilterns. We viewed beautiful slides of BERKHAMSTED W.I. local villages ranging from flint-built cottages to the grand country houses including Chequers Our September meeting was at Wendover. unusual in that our speaker A Group 7 Craft meeting at Little hopefully expected some Gaddesden last month was a great success with audience participation and four speakers talking to a packed hall. help during her musical On 1st November we hold our annual entertainment. Mrs. Elton meeting attended by June Smith, county visitor, Barratt sang her way, with at the Court House in Berkhamsted at 2:00pm. guitar accompaniment, through episodes in her ™

Let People Know What’s Happening! Are you planning an event? Or is there something you’d like to bring to people’s attention? Then let us know and we’ll include an item in the Review’s Notes & Notices section. See the inside front cover for copy dates and contact details.

24 review registers

Baptisms (St Peter’s) 15 September Jacob Henry Lewame 22 September Isabel Bryony Davies Blessing (St Peter’s) 13 September Elizabeth Charlton-Taylor and Richard Kent Funerals 2 September Sydney Knight Duff The Chilterns Crematorium 5 September Margaret Elizabeth Lambert The Chilterns Crematorium 6 September Paul Jay The Chilterns Crematorium 12 September Olive Winifred Barlow The Chilterns Crematorium 12 September Kathleen Violet Fincham All Saints’ Church (Chilterns Crematorium) 18 September Joyce da Cunha St Peter's Church (Kingshill Cemetery) 20 September Michael Lansdell Cotter The Chilterns Crematorium 24 September Gwyn Gibbons The Chilterns Crematorium 25 September Ronald John Walker The Chilterns Crematorium 3 October Elizabeth Margaret Bayliss St Peter's Church (Chilterns Crematorium)

review diary

DECEMBER 1 1:15am Choral Matins St Peter’s 1 6:30pm Advent Carol Service All Saints’ 1 8:00pm Concert - The London Concertante St Peter’s 4 7:30pm Alpha Course All Saints’ 4 8-9pm Advent Talk St Peter’s, Lady Chapel 6 8:00am Anglican/Methodist Joint prayers All Saints’ followed by breakfast 10 10:00am Coffee & goodies in the Lower Hall before… 10:30am Pram Service with Travelling Crib All Saints’ 10 Bishop Christopher’s deanery visit followed by tea All Saints’ 10 Choral Evensong to mark Bishop Christopher’s St Peter’s Deanery visit 12 8:00pm Ecumenical Carol Service St Peter’s 15 7:30pm Berkhamsted School Carol Service St Peter’s 16 9:15am Victoria School Eucharist St Peter’s Lady Chapel

Diary dates for November appear on page 26.

25 review diary

All services at normal times unless stated. NOVEMBER 1 8:00pm All Saints’ Day Patronal Festival: All Saints’ United Eucharistic Service 1 8:00pm The Making of Berkhamsted The Town Hall - A Cowper Society production 2 8:00am Anglican/Methodist Joint prayers All Saints’ followed by breakfast 2 9:30am All Souls’ Day Eucharist St Peter’s 6 7:30pm Alpha Course All Saints’ 7 All Saints’ Area Committee 8 St Peter’s Area Committee 10 3:00pm Royal British Legion Remembrance Service St Peter’s 12 10-11:30am Anglican/Methodist women’s Lower Hall, All Saints’ coffee morning 13 7:30pm Alpha Course All Saints’ 16 8:00am Ecumenical Breakfast followed Kings Rd Evangelical by prayers 18 8:00pm Cowper Society presents Brief Lives The Court House - an illustrated monologue 19 8:00pm Cowper Society presents Brief Lives The Court House - an illustrated monologue 20 7:30pm Alpha Course All Saints’ 20 8:00pm Cowper Society presents Brief Lives The Court House - an illustrated monologue 20 8-9pm Advent Talk St Peter’s, Lady Chapel 23 7:30pm Sing Good News -A Musical All Saints’ 24 6:30pm Sing Good News -A Musical All Saints’ 26 10:00am Coffee in the Lower Hall before… All Saints’ 10:30am Pram Service All Saints’ 27 7:30pm Alpha Course All Saints’ 27 8-9pm Advent Talk St Peter’s Lady Chapel

Advance diary dates for December appear on page 25.

26 review factfile

SundaySchool Churches PCC 1996/7 Contacts CONTACT LIST

Names and local telephone numbers for jobs, rotas and information (for clergy, parish officers, music, bells and banns etc. see back page). Parish Office in the Court House (sec: Jean Green, 878227) is usually open 9:30-5:30 Tues/Wed, 9:30-1pm Friday (ansaphone other times). St Peters All Saints Altar service Keith Middleditch (862423) Doug Billington (866038) Chalice rota Martin Macdonald (872002) Doug Billington (866038) Sunday school Julie Kemp (872576) Vivienne Bull (870921) Youth activities Carole Dell (864706) Doug Billington (866038) Church maintenance John Cook (866278) Mike Limbrick (863008) Church cleaning Jean Green (863241) Jean Meyer (862648) Flower arrangements Gwen Beddall (862845) John Banks (871195) Sunday morning coffee Rene Dunford (862420) Pam Rushton (864467) Service recordings Tony Blair (864660) Ian McCalla (384574) Intercessions Rev. Mark Bonney (864194) Jenny Wells (870981) Epistle Readers Joan Cook (866278) John Banks (871195) Electoral Roll June Haile (873087) Pat Hearne (871270) Pathfinders Stephen Lally (863526) John Malcolm (874993) Sidesmen Christopher Green (863241) John Banks (871195) Social events Angela Morris (866992) Pam Rushton (864467) Catering Val Atkinson (866792) Pam Rushton (864467) Hospice contact Beryl Langley (863692) May Kempster (863037)

DAVID GIDDINGS

K. D. WRIGHT LANDSCAPES INTERIOR and EXTERIOR Qualified Plantsman PAINTING AND DECORATING Garden Construction CRAFTSMAN QUALITY Planting for the usual and unusual Aftercare ADVICE and FREE ESTIMATE 24 Shrublands Avenue Berkhamsted Berkhamsted Herts HP4 3JH Tel. 871846 (after 6pm) Tel: 871018

27 review backpage

The Revd Mark Bonney, The Rectory, Rectory Lane. Tel: 864194 (day off Monday) The Revd Canon Basil Jones, 17 Lochnell Road. Tel: 864485 The Revd Jim Lawrenson (Hon.Asst.Priest), Downside, 7 Torrington Road. Tel: 865999 The Revd Preb Stephen Wells (Hon.Asst.Priest), 57 Meadow Road. Tel: 870981 Miss Marjorie Bowden (Reader), 18 Greenway. Tel: 871283 Mrs Joan Cook (Reader), The Gardeners Arms, Castle Street. Tel: 866278 John Malcolm (Reader), Landswood, Shootersway. Tel: 874993 Tom Montague (Reader), 27 Hill View. Tel: 875320 Mrs Jenny Wells (Reader), 57 Meadow Road. Tel: 870981 Parish Secretary: Mrs Jean Green, The Parish Office, The Court House Tel: 878227 Churchwardens: Christopher Green, 17 Cowper Road. Tel: 863241; John Banks, Ladybrand, Cross Oak Road. Tel: 871195 Parochial Church Secretary: Alan Conway, 7 Kilfillan Gardens. Tel: 865798 Council: Treasurer: Michael Robinson, 36 Trevelyan Way. Tel: 863559 Director of Music: Vaughan Meakins. :01494 837412; Assistant: Mrs Jean Wild. 866859 Organist: Mrs Jean Cooper. Tel: 874088 Sundays Weekdays 8.00am Holy Communion (1st Sun Rite B) Holy Communion 9.30am Family Sung Eucharist with Wednesday 6.45am Sunday Schools (in the Court Thursday 11.00am House) followed by coffee in Friday 9.15am the Court House. Morning Prayer: Tues-Sat 7:30am 11.15am Matins & Sermon (lst Sunday only) Evening Prayer: Tues-Fri 5:30pm 6.00pm Evensong & Sermon Holy Days - see weekly Notices (except lst Sunday see All Saints’) Matins & Evensong said daily Confessions: After Saturday Evening Prayer (5.00pm) or at other times by appointment. Weddings, Banns of Marriage, Baptisms, Funerals Please contact Father Mark Bonney. Bellringers (St Peter’s): Miss Priscilla Watt, 9 Kings Road. Tel: 863804 Organist: Mrs Valerie McCalla Tel: 384574 Choirmaster: Peter McMunn Tel: 874894 Sundays 8.00am Holy Communion (lst Sunday - Methodist rite) 9.15am Family Sung Eucharist & Sunday Schools, then coffee in the Hall 11.00am (Methodist Morning Service) 6.30pm Evening Service (1st Sunday - Anglican rite, other Sundays Methodist rite) Weekdays Holy Communion: Tuesday 9.30am Holy Days - see weekly Notices (All Saints’ is shared with the Berkhamsted Methodist Church)

Published by Berkhamsted St Peter Parochial Church Council

28 Printed by the Rodway Press 01923 237155