Dear Friends

THE PARISH MAGAZINE OF

ST PETER’S, EDGMOND

WITH ST CHAD’S,

KYNNERSLEY

AND

ST LAWRENCE PRESTON WEALD MOORS

including

VILLAGE NEWS

MAY 2014

Visit us at www.stpeterschurchedgmond.org and www.edgmondparishcouncil.co.uk

RECTOR (usual day off: Monday) The Revd Prebendary Edward Ward, Edgmond Rectory 820217

RESIDENT MINISTER (part time; usual day off: Saturday) The Revd David Stokes-Harrison, Tibberton Rectory 551117

LICENSED READER Paul Benton 603071

CHURCHWARDENS John Ingram, Lovatt Cottage, 5 Turners Lane, Edgmond 810337 Chris Taylor, Provost’s House, High Street, Edgmond 810880

PCC SECRETARY Jane Gill 811201

TREASURER AND STEWARDSHIP RECORDER Rodney Bunyan 810957

ORGANIST AND CHOIRMASTER Dr Colin Brown 550164

TOWER CAPTAIN and RINGING MASTER Edric Broom 825851

TOWER SECRETARY Paul Lewis 820135

PUBLICITY c/o Penny Westgate 812920

MOTHERS’ UNION Margaret Matthews 825976

MAGAZINE EDITOR Sara Taylor, Provost’s House, Edgmond, TF10 8JY 810880 Email: [email protected]

MAGAZINE ADVERTISING Chris Taylor, Provost’s House, Edgmond, TF10 8JY 810880 Email: [email protected]

MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTION Penny Hughes 813017

2 Dear Friends,

“When I use a word” said Humpty Dumpty in a rather scornful tone, “it means just what I want it to mean – neither more nor less.” I feel that we’ve got into that position over marriage with the new equal marriages coming into force. Who defines marriage: the state, the Church, or who else?

However the state has frequently intervened over the centuries to define aspects of marriage and divorce. For instance it has decreed how old people must be before they can be married; bigamy and polygamy are forbidden; marriage between people who have a certain relationship with each other is forbidden; it has made it more difficult for people outside the EU to marry (you should see the amount of paperwork this involves for the parish priest; a degree in Law is required!). The state has said that adultery is not the only reason for divorce. It has added many more. So the state has often intervened, and by and large, the Church has accepted these decisions.

Marriage for all major Christian Churches is a relationship between a man and a woman. It is a sacrament performed and lived by a man and a woman, through which “husband and wife may know the grace of God” and that “… they shall be united with one another…as Christ is united with his bride, the Church”. And it is not homophobic to argue that marriage is undertaken by a man and a woman. The recent legislation distinguishes between the new equal marriage and the Church’s understanding of marriage, although you wouldn’t know that from the attacks upon the Church from the secular world. Perhaps it would have been better if the Church had declared that gay relationships can be God-given and God-blessed but that they are intrinsically different to the Christian understanding of marriage.

So where do we go from here?

One suggestion which I have seen recently is for the Church to withdraw from the legal business of solemnizing and registering marriages, and adopt the continental system where everyone has to have a civil marriage and those who want to can have an additional religious service in a church. This doesn’t sort out the problem of exactly which couple, and what kind of relationship can be blessed, but it may sort out part of the problem. Or another solution could be the adoption of a form of service of blessing and dedication after a civil marriage which would include a same-sex relationship. This would affirm the relationship but not necessarily name it as a Christian marriage.

Whichever way the Church goes, it must at all times show love and respect to all the people who come to her for guidance seeking a blessing upon their relationships.

For where love is, there is God.

God bless you.

Your priest and friend,

Edward Ward 3

SERVICES IN THE

MAY

DATE EDGMOND KYNNERSLEY PRESTON Thursday 1st 9.30 am St Philip & St James Holy Communion SUNDAY 4th 7.45 am 10.30 am 9.00 am Easter 3 Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion 10.30 am Family Communion Thursday 8th 9.30 am Holy Communion SUNDAY 11th 7.45 am 10.30 am 10.15 am Easter 4 Holy Communion Holy Communion Family Service 10.30 am Sung Eucharist 6.30 pm Healing Service Wednesday 14th 9.30 am St Matthias Holy Communion Thursday 15th 9.30 am Holy Communion 8.30 pm Compline SUNDAY 18th 7.45 am 10.30 am 9.00 am Easter 5 Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion 10.30 am Family Service Thursday 22nd 9.30 am Holy Communion SUNDAY 25th 7.45 am 10.30 am 9.00 am Easter 6 Holy Communion Family Service Holy Communion 10.30 am Sung Eucharist Thursday 29th 7 .00 am Ascension Day Holy Communion and Hymns from the Tower 9.30 am Holy Communion

SIX PARISHES

2014

DATE TIBBERTON GREAT BOLAS WATERS UPTON Thursday 1st St Philip & St James SUNDAY 4th 10 . 30 am 10.30 am 9.15 am Easter 3 Family Service Morning Prayer Holy Communion

Thursday 8th

SUNDAY 11th 9.00 am 10.30 am 9.15 am Easter 4 Holy Communion Holy Communion Said Communion

Wednesday 14th St Matthias Thursday 15th

SUNDAY 18th 6 . 30 pm 10.30 am 9.15 am Easter 5 Evensong Holy Communion Holy Communion

Thursday 22nd

SUNDAY 25th 9 . 00 am 10.30 am 9.15 am Easter 6 Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion

Thursday 29th Ascension Day

5 FROM THE REGISTERS

HOLY BAPTISM 29th March at St Michael & All Angels, Waters Upton – Ella Rebecca-Rose, daughter of Nathan Cieciora and Samantha Corbett.

FUNERALS 4th March at St Peter’s, Edgmond – Margaret (Peggy) Denton. The service was followed by cremation at Telford Crematorium. 29th March at St Peter’s, Edgmond – Suzanne Bruce. The service was followed by interment in the churchyard. 2nd April at St Peter’s, Edgmond – Stuart Locklin. The service was followed by interment in the churchyard.

BURIAL OF ASHES 6th March at St Peter’s, Edgmond – Margaret (Peggy) Denton. 22nd March at St Peter’s, Edgmond – Phyllis Edwards. 26th March at St Lawrence’s, Preston upon the Wealdmoors – Joyce Brayne.

ASCENSION DAY

Ascension Day this year falls on Thursday May 29th. As is the tradition at St Peter’s, Edgmond there will be two celebrations of Holy Communion that morning: the first at 7.00 am according to Common Worship and the second at 9.30 am according to the Book of Common Prayer. For the more energetic the early morning service (7.00 am) will be followed by hymn singing from the roof of the church tower, which symbolises Jesus’ return to heaven. All are welcome at these services.

ARCHDEACON’S VISITATION

The Archdeacon’s Visitation this year will be held on Tuesday, May 20th at St Andrew’s, Shifnal. It is at this meeting that the recently elected Churchwardens are officially and legally admitted to their Office.

This year the Bishop of Shrewsbury will be at the Visitation, and the meeting is entitled “All Together Now”, and is a follow-up to the “Streams in the Desert” discussions each PCC has had. The meeting will include some teaching, sharing of ideas, and is open to all members of the congregation. The Bishop is hoping that 20% from every congregation will attend. 6

FROM THE EDITOR

Many festivals and celebrations take place during the month of May, some of which are illustrated on our front cover. May Day (May 1st) traditionally features Maypole dancing (top left) – a community activity which became very popular in England following the Restoration of 1660. The photograph of Jerusalem (centre left) reminds us of the Jewish celebration of Jerusalem Day, 28th May, which was declared a holiday in 1968 to commemorate the liberation of Jerusalem resulting from the Six-Day War the preceding year. On 29th May this year Christians celebrate Ascension Day to mark Jesus’ ascension into heaven. Here in Edgmond the doughty among us climb to the top of St Peter’s Church tower after the 7.00 am Communion Service and enjoy some lusty hymn-singing over the village (see page 4) – last year’s singers are pictured bottom left. Lastly, on the right we see the image of St Bede the Venerable, the immensely scholarly monk who most famously wrote “An Ecclesiastical History of the English People” and whose Saint’s Day falls on May 25th. St Bede died on Ascension Day in 735 AD and was buried in Jarrow; his tomb is now in Durham Cathedral.

The next edition of the Parish Magazine and Village News will cover the month of June and the deadline for contributions is Sunday, 4th May. Please deliver your contributions in good time to me at the address on the inside front cover – or you can email them to me at [email protected]. This is your magazine and depends entirely on your reports, news, articles and comments! Do remember too that I’m always delighted to receive your photos (preferably by email), especially ones of people, places and events which take place in and around our villages.

Don’t forget that you can also read this magazine online on both the village and church websites (addresses on the front cover).

HEALING SERVICE TIME

The monthly Healing Service at St Peter’s, Edgmond reverts to the usual time of 6.30 pm during Spring and Summer. This is a short, quiet, reflective service which includes the laying on of hands. Everybody is most welcome to come to this service. As the Rector stresses it is not a curing service and therefore it makes no claims, but a healing one, where the healing takes place inwardly and spiritually, for all sorts of things which need healing including memories, relationships, as well as physical ones.

7 ST PETER’S CHURCH, EDGMOND

SUNDAY SERVICES

7.45 am Holy Communion 10.30 am Morning Service (as announced) 6.30 pm Healing Service (2nd Sundays)

10.30 am SUNDAY SERVICES AND BIBLE READINGS MAY 2014 May 4th Family Communion Easter 3 Gospel: Luke 24: 13-35 May 11th Sung Eucharist Easter 4 New Testament Lesson: Acts 2: 42-end Epistle: 1 Peter 2: 19-end Gospel: John 10: 1-10 May 18th Family Service May 25th Sung Eucharist Easter 6 New Testament Lesson: Acts 17: 22-31 Epistle: 1 Peter 3: 13-end Gospel: John 14: 15-21

COME AND CHAT OVER TEA & COFFEE AT ST PETER’S CHURCH

On every third Thursday of the month at 10.15 am after the 9.30 am Holy Communion service there is an opportunity for people to meet up and have a chat over a cup of tea or coffee. This is not restricted to those who’ve been to church, or even to the service beforehand. It is for any and everyone who fancies meeting up over a cuppa for a chat and friendship

FAMILY SERVICE

On the third Sunday of every month a Family Service is held in St Peter’s instead of the Eucharist. For the past seven years Penny Westgate has organised it and she wishes to take a rest. We thank Penny for all her hard work in leading the service and in finding people to come and speak at the service.

The PCC feels that it is important that St Peter’s has one non-Eucharistic service a month at least, and that the format of the service may need re-structuring. If there is anyone, or a group of people, willing to take over the Family Service would they please contact the Rector. If no one comes forward then the Family Service will cease and another service will replace it, but not necessarily led by the Rector.

8 EDGMOND BRASSES

Our thanks to all the ladies who volunteered to clean the brasses in St Peter’s last year. We hope you will continue in 2014, using the same rota.

Anyone else who would like to join the rota is asked to contact Christine and Tudor Pengelly on 01952 813840.

A Date for your Diary

Everyone gets busy in December, so put this date into your diaries now …

The acclaimed GALLERY SINGERS will be giving a concert in St Peter’s Church on Sunday, December 7th at 3.00 pm

CHRISTIAN AID

Christian Aid week starts on Saturday, 10th May with our annual cake and plant stall in The Square, Newport, 9.00 am – 12 noon approx. All contributions gratefully received either on the day or before.

If anyone can spare an hour or so to help with the house– to–house delivery and collection please let me or Jane Ryan know. It is not an arduous task and can lead to interesting encounters.

The work of Christian Aid both in emergencies and in development projects is as vital as ever. Thank you.

Chris Supple (820047)

On Thursday, 8th May at 2.15 pm in Edgmond Village Hall our speaker will be the Revd David Kichenside, Curate of Lilleshall & Muxton. Everyone is most welcome.

For further information and/or help with transport please contact Margaret Matthews on 825976.

9 EDGMOND W.I.

During the business of our evening in March, we were asked to sign a letter composed by our committee, which we had already endorsed, to the NFWI, stating that we were unhappy with the amount by which our subscriptions were rising each year. We await their reply. On a more positive note – the NFWI were inviting entries for the Denman Cup Competition – a poem entitled “What My WI Means to Me”. It was suggested that our members tried their hand at composition, even if only in the form of a limerick.

Our representative at the SFWI Annual Spring Meeting in the Theatre Severn will be Alison Matthews. The guest speaker, after all reports etc., will be Royal Chef Colin Anderson, recounting some of the details of what goes on behind closed doors at Buckingham Palace.

Margaret Bradley was presented with our WI Competition Cup, and finally, birthday posies were given.

Then followed our speaker, Hilary Johnson, her topic being “From Grease Monkey to WI President”. She was originally a Durham girl, and her quick fire delivery kept us on our toes. She had always been interested in mechanics from an early age, and despite an unwelcoming attitude to her application for a training course along with over 100 young men, she stuck it out, and eventually became a skilled motor electrician with a very good reputation. And of course there were lots of incidents along the way. When she retired, she had time for other pursuits, one being to join her local WI at Astley, where she has been their President for 18 years !

The Competition for the meeting, “An Unusual Light”, was won by Margaret Bradley.

In May our meeting is on Wednesday 14th in Edgmond Village Hall. It is an Open Meeting and we will be holding a Plant Sale as well as having our speaker Trish Dawson tell us “Tales from a Shopping Basket”. Visitors will be very welcome to come and buy as well as listen. There is a small visitor’s fee. We start at 7.15 pm, Room 2. Further details are available from Dianne on 825564, or Diana on 811561.

For the May 2014 Village Hall Diary of Regular Activities and Special Events please see the website www.edgmondparishcouncil.co.uk

10 SUZANNE BRUCE

Edgmond and the wider community were shocked at the news of the suddenness of Suzanne’s death, as she was only diagnosed five weeks before she died. And so St Peter’s Church was packed with family, colleagues and friends, for her funeral. Suzanne trained as a teacher of children with special needs and many if not all the staff from the Bridge School (the school she was teaching at when she died) were present. One of the school staff gave a tribute to Suzanne as a teacher and read out comments of parents and children about her.

Suzanne had helped run the Sunday School at St Peter’s for a while, and also helped at the Children’s Workshops. She was a member of the PCC and ran the Fair-Trade stall in the church. She was a loving, faithful and loyal wife and mother to Richard and their sons Edward and Oliver, and she supported Richard and the boys in their Scouting careers.

We offer our deepest sympathy to Richard and Edward and Oliver.

STUART LOCKLIN

The community of Edgmond was shocked at the news of the suddenness of the death of Stuart, and St Peter’s was full for his funeral with family, friends and colleagues to pay their respects to him.

Stuart was the only child of Raymond and Sylvia Locklin and they lived in Flatt Road when the cottages there were for the workmen at Harper Adams College. It was said that Stuart was part of the College from his birth, as his mum Sylvia used to wheel him in his pram to the College when she went to work. After leaving school Stuart trained as a plumber at Stafford College, and first worked in the Estates dept at Harper Adams and then as a porter. In total he worked at Harper Adams for 25 years and the flag was flown at half mast at his death as a mark of respect.

He had to leave Harper Adams because of ill health but eventually gained a job with Telford and Wrekin as a Cleaning Supervisor. He loved this job and his boss remarked that if there was a problem he would send Stuart to sort it out.

Stuart was a member of both Edgmond and Childs Ercall Bowling Clubs. He was a faithful supporter of Liverpool City (his father Ray supported Wolves) and would attend every game he could. He was also often involved in the community life of Edgmond. He loved and cared for his mother, especially since his father died and also during her recent illness, and would take her on holidays to exotic places such as Thailand. We offer our deepest sympathy and condolences to his mother Sylvia and all his family. 11 Edgmond Village Hall REALLY IMPORTANT News

A Village Hall should serve its community but those who use the Hall have told us that its design significantly restricts the way it can be used.

Everyone would like to be able to access the room they have hired and use the kitchen & toilets without having to go through another room and disturbing others. Everyone would like better heating, thermal insulation and ventilation. All sedentary groups suffer from the cold and in the summer the Hall can be uncomfortably hot.

Everyone would like better sound insulation. For example the Parish Council meetings are audible in the Snooker Room and the Snooker Club is disturbed by noise from the Main Hall. The Village Hall has had to turn bookings away because the noise of one activity would disturb another. Better sound insulation would allow for more activities and would reduce external disturbance.

Most groups want more floor space and extra storage. Everyone wants the toilets updated and the kitchen modernised. The Toddlers, Guides and Scouts want a secure outside area for their activities. Most groups want a bigger and safer car park.

How can we meet the needs of our users and provide an attractive venue for new users and private parties?

Based on the response to our questionnaires, the Committee believes that the most feasible plan for the future is to rebuild the Hall. Financial considerations mean that this would require us to sell the land and build elsewhere. Following discussions with Telford & Wrekin Council we have identified an opportunity to rebuild the Hall on part of the playing field site (to be provided FOC) in exchange for providing a new sports pavilion.

In order to sell some or all of the Village Hall land we need the support of the community. Our Governing Document stipulates that if we wish to sell any or all of the land to fund the purchase of another property we must call a meeting of ‘…the inhabitants of the age of eighteen years or upwards of the area of benefit…’ and that the majority of those present must vote in favour of the proposal. This meeting will be held on 7th May at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall.

Rest assured - the land would still not be sold unless there was a viable scheme in place to replace the Village Hall. The Trustees have a personal responsibility to act in the best interests of the Village Hall, ensuring that it is well-run and delivering the charitable outcomes for the benefit of the public for which it has been set up. We must use charitable funds and assets reasonably and only in furtherance of the charity's objects.

12 The Village Hall has provided Edgmond with a place to meet for almost 100 years. Time has come to look at the future needs of this community. A ‘Yes’ vote still doesn’t mean that the land will definitely be sold - that will only happen if the sale will provide enough capital to build a new Hall. However, a ‘No’ vote will mean that we will not be able to provide a new Hall.

This is a great opportunity and an exciting project! You have a hard working Committee prepared to give their time and effort to take up this challenge. Please come to the meeting and vote ‘yes’ so we have the chance to provide a community facility we can all be proud of. Just ask yourself… what’s the alternative?

Paula Doherty (Secretary) [email protected] or 813520 www.edgmondparishcouncil.co.uk

EDGMOND VILLAGE HALL - AN ALTERNATIVE CONCEPT

A group of Edgmond residents is concerned about recently revealed plans of the Edgmond Village Hall trustees. The Village Hall and its land belong to the village of Edgmond and its future should be decided by the Villagers.

With only one month's notice, advanced plans for rebuilding the Village Hall and financing it by selling off the land it sits on, have been thrust upon us. It is obvious that a lot of background work and planning has gone into the meeting of 26/27th April ..... but no-one outside the Village Hall trustees has known about it until this week (31st March - 6th April).

Rumours are that the new Village Hall will cost over £1,000,000 (YES...ONE MILLION POUNDS) - a ludicrous amount for a village hall. The only way of financing this amount is by selling off the Village Hall land for building. In their desire to renew the Village Hall, is it possible that the Trustees may have overlooked some viable options to renew the existing facilities?

Please could someone provide a detailed report of what is wrong with the existing Village Hall and how much it would cost to upgrade it?

Surely a better option, and one more in keeping with our village ethos, would be to keep the current hall, renovate it by raising money with normal fundraising methods and use the land around it as a Village Green with picnic tables and seating. Retention of treasured green space at the heart of the village is an essential component of its character.

If you value keeping your village as a village, then please vote against the new Village Hall plans at the meeting on May 7th. Anne Green 13 PARISH WARDEN’S REPORT

There were two reported crimes in Edgmond during March (up to the 27th). These were both cases of theft. On the 6th, some ducks were stolen from a pen in the Stackyard Lane area. On the 2lst, several items of plant machinery were taken from a trailer in the Robin Lane area.

West Mercia Police have issued advice on several subjects during the past month. The main ones were scrap metal dealers, mobile phone thefts, and lottery scams.

Scrap Metal Dealers: Last October the law changed governing the people who come around collecting scrap metal, batteries, etc. You might like to have a look at www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/2276/contents/made for the details, together with Home Office – Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 which will reveal the full breakdown of the law. In brief

1. Scrap metal licences are valid for 3 years.

2. The person going around touting for scrap MUST display his licence in the vehicle’s windscreen.

3. The licence must be for the appropriate Council in whose area he is operating, but some collectors may be registered with more than one County or Local Authority.

4. Scrap Metal Dealers must not receive scrap metal from a person without verifying their Name and Address.

If they cannot produce a licence, or if they remove any scrap items without your permission, then where possible you should take down details and report it.

Mobile Phone Thefts: The statistics suggest that there were 742,000 victims in 2012/13 – just in England and Wales! - with 16 to 24 year olds being the most likely age group to be the target of ‘theft from the person’ offences. If you are receptive to advice on avoiding the theft of your mobile, then have a look at www.police.uk/crime-prevention-advice/protecting-your-mobile-phone.

Lottery Scams: Suffice it to say, Beware of Lottery Scams. Do not respond to any random letters or emails stating you have won a lottery. Recently warnings have been issued about various lottery and World Cup scams using emails and some very impressive letters. These warnings originated from the Warwickshire and West Mercia Economic Crime Unit. (If you have subscribed to a genuine lottery, keep your receipt, and only respond to the contacts published on each ticket.)

There was one reported crime in the village during February (up to the 27th). This was a matter of “criminal damage” in Connors Lane. John Keeping (813125) 14 EDGMOND RURAL COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

Thankfully, it would appear that we have the minimum number of volunteers required to run the free sports coaching sessions during the school summer holidays.

The coaching will be done by professionals, and will cover a number of sports, as previously. The sessions will be on each Wednesday of the holidays (23rd and 30th July; and 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th August), between 2 pm and 4 pm. Details of how to apply for a place on the sessions will be publicised in due course.

Marion Keeping - Hon. Sec. John Keeping – Hon. Chairman Edgmond Rural Community Initiative

U3A NEWPORT (SHROPSHIRE) BRANCH

We meet on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Royal British Legion Club, Audley Avenue, Newport. Admission £1. Visitors always welcome. The next speaker will be on Tuesday 20th May 2014: Ken Whittaker, Nurseryman - A light–hearted look at the seasonal do’s and don’ts in and around your garden.

Note: Extra Meeting: Tuesday 6th May 2014 - First Annual General Meeting. Usual venue. Coffee, Tea & Cakes. Lively conversation. NO ADMISSION CHARGE. VISIT: http://u3asites.org.uk/newport or telephone John and Iris Waite 01952 820376.

NORBURY CANAL FESTIVAL & NORBURY JUNCTION MAY BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND

This year the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust has again teamed up with the Norbury village community and the Junction Inn to jointly organise the annual May Bank Holiday Canal Festival. The Festival will be open from 10 am each day. We are planning for more traditional stalls than ever before, with some along the canal towpath and others alongside Norbury Wharf, as well as in the garden of the Norbury Junction Inn. Refreshments will be available from the pub, the wharf and from stalls around the site. Other attractions will include boat trips on the canal, a fairground and bouncy castle and a WI tea stall. Radio Stafford will again be transmitting from the event. On Sunday the Burton Borough Brass Band will be playing in the marquee and the traditional canalside church service will be held on Sunday afternoon. Over the week-end there will be a gathering of boat traders, modern narrowboats and restored working boats. Visitors will have the opportunity to look inside some of the boats to see what life is like on board. There will be plenty of activities to keep children occupied including the always popular Wild over Water interactive games relating to canals (see www.wow4water.net), learning about canal life and its history in a fun way. Each evening in the large marquee we have a variety of acts. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday will be £5 in advance or £7.50 on the night. They can be bought in advance at the Junction Inn. On Saturday evening we will be “Jammin at the Junction” with Driftwood, playing acoustic music with a big dollop of soul (http://www.driftwoodmusic.co.uk/), plus two supporting bands. On Sunday evening we have the Blues Brothers Band, then on Monday Mal Edwards and friends will be singing traditional canal songs.

There will be plenty of parking available in a field near to the Junction Inn and two shuttle buses for those who prefer to ride to the event. More attractions are still being booked - so watch out for more information at http://www.sncanal.org.uk/intro.htm.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Performances 7.30 pm Wednesday 14 May to Saturday 17 May, 2.30 pm Matinée on Saturday 17 May The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford, TF2 6EP Tickets £12 - £14 (discount available on group bookings) Call our box office on 01952 382 382

BRIDGE PROBLEM OF THE MONTH

Many hands are played in a Trump contract, particularly in Spades or Hearts – the ‘major suits’. Our choice of trumps gives us an obvious measure of control over the hand.

We are often looking for an 8-card (or more) trump suit by identifying through the bidding a 4-4 or 5-3 minimum trump suit fit between the two hands. There is a simple statistical reason for this – if you and your partner hold eight trumps between you – the suit will ‘behave’, i.e. trumps of the opponents will be split 3-2 approximately two-thirds of the time. By contrast, if your joint holding is only seven trumps then two thirds of the time the split will be 4-2 or worse!

This can result in losing control of the trump suit i.e. by an opponent ending up with one or more trumps left when both your hand and dummy have run out of trumps. This is particularly likely if we hold a 4-3 trump suit and have had to ‘ruff’ a lead from an opponent so that we are reduced to a holding of 3-3 when there are four trumps in an opponent’s hand.

This is the problem that Declarer (South) faced on the following hand in a contract of 4 Spades. West leads A, K, Q of Hearts and if South trumps the third round of Hearts he will be reduced to a 3-3 trump holding. But South found a cunning solution to the problem – can you spot it?

NORTH Spades J 10 2 Hearts 8 7 6 Diamonds A Q 3 2 Clubs K 6 2

WEST EAST Spades 7 6 Spades 9 8 5 4 Hearts A K Q 3 Hearts 10 5 4 2 Diamonds 10 8 7 Diamonds 9 6 Clubs J 9 4 3 Clubs Q 10 8

SOUTH Spades A K Q 3 Hearts J 9 Diamonds K J 5 4 Clubs A 7 5

Solution – see page 19.

17 EDGMOND METHODIST CHURCH

Minister: The Revd James Whately 11 Silverdale Close, Church Aston, Newport, TF10 9FA Telephone: 01952 813959

SERVICES in MAY 2014 at 10.30 am

May 4th SANDWELL GIRLS’ BRIGADE May 11th CHAPEL 154th ANNIVERSARY: Preacher – The Revd Derrick Lander May 18th Mr P Mitchell May 25th The Revd James Whately (Sacrament)

May 10th Cream Tea and Social Hour at 3.00 pm – EVERYONE WELCOME

If you had called a man who was a Jew, in the time of Jesus, a “Samaritan”, it would have been an insult. But if you were called a Samaritan today – it would be a compliment. What happened to the word? Jesus changed it. He told that simple story about a robber infested road, a bleeding victim, a callous priest, a Levite, a despised Samaritan, a wondering inn keeper, a receipted bill. Jesus took that name out of the gutter – and made it descriptive of saints. You can be a Samaritan – but as you do people good, remember to love them too.

In Praise of the English Language

We’ll begin with box; the plural is boxes, But the plural of ox is oxen, not oxes. One fowl is a goose, and two are called geese, Yet the plural of moose is never called meese.

You may find a lone mouse or a house full of mice; But the plural of house is houses, not hice. The plural of man is always men, But the plural of pan is never pen.

We speak of a brother and also of brethren, But though we say mother, we never say methren. Then the masculine pronouns are he, his, and him; But imagine the feminine … she, shis, and shim!

18 ST CHAD’S CHURCH, KYNNERSLEY

Churchwardens: Mr Jack Edge 07730 217813 Mr Richard Fox 605878 PCC Secretary: Ms Helen Mitchell 07919 620691

SERVICES in MAY 2014 Sunday May 4th – Easter 3 NT Lesson Acts 2: 14a, 36 - 41 Richard Fox 10.30 am – Holy Communion Gospel Luke 24: 13-35 Chris Blagden Sunday May 11th – Easter 4 NT Lesson Acts 2: 14a, 36 - 41 Jack Edge 10.30 am – Holy Communion Gospel Luke 24: 13-35 Georgina Edge Sunday May 18th – Easter 5 NT Lesson Acts 2: 14a, 36 - 41 Richard Fox 10.30 am – Holy Communion Gospel Luke 24: 13-35 Anne Prosser Sunday May 25th – Easter 6 10.30 am – Family Service

At our Mothering Sunday service in March children from the parish presented Pat Jones with a Jasmine plant as a thank you for all her enthusiastic work leading our family services. A short and relaxed family service is held at St Chad’s on every fourth Sunday of the month. We already have a good number of children attending, reading lessons and getting involved in activities but more are always welcome! The service is followed by coffee and biscuits.

We would also like to extend our thanks to Dr Colin Brown for all his help in securing a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to restore our church organ. In celebration of this work being completed we will be holding an organ recital, with a vintage tea room on Sunday 22nd June followed by Evensong. Further details of this event will appear in next month’s magazine.

KYNNERSLEY VILLAGE HALL NEWS

Here are some dates for your diaries of events to be held this year, please try to come and support as many as you can!

Race Night - 17th May Wine Walk - 28th June BBQ - 16th August Quiz Night - 4th October

The Village Hall is available to hire at very competitive rates or if you have any ideas of events you would like to see in the Village Hall do not hesitate to email [email protected] or phone Khadine on 07790 396237.

19 ST LAWRENCE’S CHURCH, PRESTON

Churchwardens: Dr D Nurse, 1 Manor Barns 608455 Mr D Brown, The Conifers 676671 PCC Secretary: Mrs P Jones, The Rockery, Wheat Leasowes 603612

MAY 2014 Sunday May 4th NT Lesson Acts 2: 14a, 36 - 41 Mrs P Jones 3rd of Easter Gospel Luke 24: 13-35 Mr D Brown 9.00 am – Holy Communion Sidesman Mrs J Shore Sunday May 11th – 4th of Easter 10.15 am – Family Service Sunday May 18th NT Lesson Acts 7: 55 - end Dr T Goode 5th of Easter Gospel John 14: 1-14 Mrs A Smith 9.00 am – Holy Communion Sidesman Mrs B Vickers Sunday May 25th NT Lesson Acts 17: 22 - 31 Mrs B Vickers 6th of Easter Gospel John 14: 15-21 Dr D Nurse 9.00 am – Holy Communion Sidesman Mrs J Walters

ST LAWRENCE SCHOOL NEWS

Since the last time of writing, it has been an exciting time for school! We were visited by Ofsted on the 5th and 6th March. The inspector took time to speak to parents and pupils as well as interviewing the teachers and governors and observing the general school day and lessons. After a busy two days, we waited with bated breath for our report and we were awarded an Ofsted GOOD! As governors, we are immensely proud of this achievement, all which could not have been done without the hard work of all the staff in the school, but especially the hard work and vision of our head teacher, Mrs Gaskell. We now begin a new journey with school, as we try to hit our new target of being outstanding the next time Ofsted visit. We also welcome a new member of the teaching staff to school this term. Mrs Roberts is our new class 3 teacher, and we are lucky that she will be able to start in school after the Easter break. This means that she can work with our current class 3 teacher and ensure that there is a seamless handover, and she can really get to know both the children and our school before the new year in September.

This month we are also working with an artist to produce 3 special sculptures, one for each class, ready for our Rural Arts Festival in June. When viewed from the right angle these 3 pieces of art will take the form of St Michael from our picture project. We look forward to welcoming you all to the Rural Arts Festival to view these, as well as celebrate the art work produced by our other rural partner schools. Look out for details of times the Rural Arts will be open next month, and please come and have a drink and piece of cake with us. Pat Jones & Helen Ashby Community Governors of St Lawrence School 20 BRIDGE SOLUTION (from page 15)

South cannot afford to trump the third round of Hearts in hand, so South simply discards a club. This is a classic play known as ‘loser on loser’ – the 8 of Hearts in dummy and the 5 of Clubs in hand being the two losers. The best West can do is to lead a fourth round of Hearts and now Dummy can trump high with the Jack of Spades and the Declarer can draw all the trumps in the necessary four rounds. This raises another useful point – look out for situations where you can trump from the shorter trump holding (usually Dummy) thus preserving the main trump holding. South has lost 3 rounds of Hearts, drawn trumps and has no further losers. Ten tricks – contract of 4 spades made.

AND FINALLY … from the classroom

TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell 'crocodile?' GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-L-E TEACHER: No, that's not right. GLENN: Maybe it isn’t, but you asked me how I spell it.

TEACHER: John, your composition on 'My Dog' is exactly the same as your brother's.. Did you copy his? JOHN: No, sir. It's the same dog.