The Okeford Benefice
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FFIIPPPPEENNNNYY NNEEWWSS The Community Magazine for The Parish of Okeford Fitzpaine Clocks go forward: 25th March ar 1 M u 0 Th is March 2018 50p THE OKEFORD BENEFICE serving the parishes of: Child Okeford with Manston, Hammoon, Okeford Fitzpaine and Shillingstone Benefice Website: www.okefordbenefice.org Facebook: @okefordbenefice The Ministry Team Rector and Assistant Rural Dean: Rev'd Lydia Cook Email: [email protected] Tel: 01258 863774 Please direct enquiries regarding Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals to Lydia Licenced Lay Minister: Mrs Sue le Riche 01258 861830 Licenced Lay Minister: Mrs Sue Rawlinson 01258 863733 Lay Pastoral Assistant: Ms Carolyn Angelucci 01258 860049 Lay Pastoral Assistant: Mrs Abi Rudd 01258 861367 Lay Pastoral Assistant: Mrs Ruth Allen 01258 860068 Holy Communion is celebrated in Millbrook House, Child Okeford at 10.30am on the first Wednesday of each month. Prayer and refection is led by Carolyn on a third Wednesday. St. Andrew's Okeford Fitzpaine Churchwarden: Mrs Sue le Riche 01258 861830 Churchwarden: Vacant Secretary: Mrs Elizabeth Colls 01258 860743 Treasurer: Mrs Carol Landricombe 01258 860858 Editor: Derek Day eMail: [email protected] Address: 3 Castle Lane, Okeford Fitzpaine, DT11 0RL Tel: 01258 861979 Twitter: @FippennyNews The deadline for copy is 17:00 on the 20th of each month. Copy can be accepted in any format but is preferred as a Microsoft Word compatible or text file. Images can be accepted in any digital format, or on paper up to A3 size (297mm x 420mm). I do commend to you our services through Holy Week and Easter at the end of the month and I pray that we may all have a blessed and prayerful time together. May I particularly encourage you to think about coming to a service on Good Friday. There are two opportunities for worship – the service in the morning is an opportunity to worship with our children and young people as we walk with Jesus through the events of Holy Week and the second opportunity is a more reflective and quiet service as we spend an hour reflecting on the meaning of the cross. All details are to be found elsewhere in the magazine. Children’s Ministry Our children’s ministry goes from strength to strength. In Child Okeford we have a thriving weekly Messy Church Toddler Group which meets every Wednesday in term time in the Community Centre. My thanks to Liz and Abi who coordinate and run this. Also in Child Okeford we have a lunchtime group for children in KS1 that meets at the School called Young Explorers. In Okeford Fitzpaine we have the hugely popular Trailblazers which meets on a Friday afternoon in the school from 5 – 6.30pm. I am greatly indebted to Steve Sexton for producing some amazing sessions for the children to enjoy and to Sue le Riche for doing all the food preparation. We have started our new venture called Trailblazers Plus which is open to all children aged 4 upwards which meets on third Sundays in the Village Hall in Okeford Fitz at 10am. It is a huge privilege and great fun working with so many children each week. Lay Pastoral Assistants We have three lay Pastoral Assistants working across the Benefice: Ms Carolyn Angelucci 860049; Mrs Ruth Allen 860068 and Mrs Abi Rudd 861367. If you would like a visit or know someone who would appreciate a friendly natter, a helping hand or a quiet prayer please do get in touch with them. We try and keep our ears to the grapevine but we know that sometimes people get missed out. Help us to extend our ministry to as many as need it. Rev'd Lydia Two courses plus tea/coffee Village Hall 12:30pm £5 per head For bookings please telephone: Sue Le Riche: 01258 861830 Sue Clay: 01258 861860 3 4 WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN THE ROTA FOR ARRANGING FLOWERS IN THE CHURCH? NO QUALIFICATIONS NECESSARY JUST A LOVE OF WORKING WITH FLOWERS AND CREATING SOMETHING SPECIAL IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE CONTACT ZOE GODDARD ON 861046 5 6 In Okeford Fitzpaine we have a strong tradition of bell ringing. In recent years, however, it has become more difficult to find and build full teams for our peal of 6 bells. Bell ringing, though not difficult to learn, requires practice to become a fully coordinated member of a heavy metal band. It’s a great way to meet people and get exercise without paying a fortune at the gym. If you would like to know more talk to Robert Corben on 01258 860101. 7 8 9 At this year's Fippenny Fair we hope to increase the attractions for children and families. if you fancy running the welly wanging or have another idea for a child friendly stall please contact Rachael Rowe on 01258 861979 or email rrowe@okefordfitzpainepc.gov.uk 10 Sirens and Planes Overhead During the war, when the siren sounded, very little happened at first. Once the bombing started, either east of us towards Portsmouth and Southampton, or to the west over Yeovil and Bristol there was a lot more activity in the air with dog fights taking place. A new directive about safety was issued because, should the school get a direct hit, it would have been a disaster. In the event of an air raid all of us would have to troop out of school and down Betty Hall Lane (that’s the lane next to the shop). The lane in those days went right down to The rear of Darknoll farmhouse showing my route the end of the school playing field. The up to the chimney. banks on both sides were high so there was a little protection. The next move was to let all the children who lived near the school go home. This would reduce the number of casualties should a bomb fall. So when the siren went my brother Stanley and I were sent home, just across the road. One day we heard a burst of machine gun fire from away up high. Looking southwest the planes were just like little silver specks, when suddenly there was an almighty flash. A plane had exploded. Little pieces were falling, some leaving little smoke trails. We wondered where it would land. After several days we were told it had landed at Piddletrenthide. That was miles away. Just after that, more machine gun fire and the planes were much lower. A German plane was on its way down with two British fighters wheeling around it. I thought it was coming down by the recreation field, so I scrambled up on to the roof at the back of the house to get a better look. I still could not see, so I dug my toes into the thatch, pulled my way up to the chimney and stood on the ridge of the roof. I could see all right now. The planes were right over Child Okeford and still going. I was shouting down to my brother telling him what I could see, when a loud voice boomed out “Come down off that roof Bernard Trowbridge!” It was the headmistress, Mrs Graham. So down I came a bit quick. I went indoors and sat down. Mother answered a knock at the door and I got a right tellingoff from both teacher and Mother. After all that, the plane came down in Iwerne Minster. We rode over on our bikes in the evening to take a look. The pilot had landed the plane, finishing up on the side of the hill just above the road. We were told he was OK but the navigator had been killed. Reproduced with kind permission from ‘Boyhood Memories’ by Bernard Trowbridge ©2007. Available from Okeford Village Stores. 11 The trouble with living in our part of the world is that there is just so much going on you cannot go to everything ... or if you did you would get very fat. We seem to be going through a phase where every village is starting up a coffee morning or similar event, plus the occasional breakfast. Okeford Fitzpaine has its weekly “Mudpie Cafe” on Saturday mornings in the village hall, Pulham is having bimonthly Saturday coffee mornings, Hilton has a monthly Saturday coffee morning in the church, Hazelbury Bryan is doing a Monday morning Coffee morning monthly, Ansty does one on the first Thursday, Tea and Chat Groups meet monthly in Pulham and Hazelbury, and Lydlinch and Glanvilles Wootton do the occasional full English Breakfast. Okeford Fitzpaine also did a “Welcome” event to newcomers to the village for a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon where the village organisations had stalls to publicise themselves. Its really good that so much social activity is going on in our rural area, bringing communities together for a pleasant hour or so whilst raising money for the village and offering social contact to some who may be lonely. From a Councillor’s point of view it is a very good way of just meeting people and learning about life in their village and hamlet, rather than only being contacted when there is a crisis. And the homemade cakes are always plentiful and excellent. Thank you to all those reliable local volunteers who work so hard to make the cakes, run the raffles and serve the refreshments on the day. This winter has been a bad one for colds and ‘flu’ with vaccination seeming to have had no preventative effect. It is important we keep an eye on our neighbours, especially the ones of more mature years who may be alone, to see if they need any groceries, or yet more paracetamol, or just cheering up.