February 2017 The BRAMLEY Magazine Little London Brewery An update from the Clift Meadow Trust New Chair of Governors for Bramley School Plus all the regular articles and much more Thursday 9 February FOR BRAMLEY AND Don’t forget to vote in the Referendum LITTLE LONDON on the Bramley Neighbourhood Plan – 2 WELCOME Happy New Year! A lot of people are probably hoping that 2017 will be better The than 2016 but be careful what you wish for. 100 years ago, at the end of 1916, Tsar Nicholas II wrote in his diary “The Year 1916 was cursed; 1917 will surely Bramley be better!”. He should have appreciated 1916 a bit more because, sadly for him, on 22 March 1917 he was placed under house arrest with his family and came to Magazine a sticky end in 1918. Perhaps there is a moral there somewhere – enjoy life while you can or “Always for Bramley and look on the bright side of life” as Monty Python would say. I think children can sometimes be better at this than adults – possibly because they don’t have to Little London think about tedious things such as mortgages and tax returns. A lot of people February 2017 are understandably concerned about the amount of building in Bramley, and looking at the picture on page 19 I do wonder how many more of those Chairman of Steering Group: green fields will be built on during my lifetime. But my 8-year-old looks at Rhydian Vaughan it in a different way. She saw the new development at St James’s Park as an [email protected] opportunity to make more friends and have a playground closer to home. As you will read on page 7, John and Ann Lenton have gone on a three-month Editor: sabbatical until Easter. It’s great for them and thoroughly deserved, but they Rachel Barclay Smith leave a big gap to fill at church. However, every cloud has a silver lining. Sarah [email protected] Mitchell, who preceded me as editor, is staying in the vicarage with her husband Schools Editor: while John and Ann are away so perhaps I can go on a sabbatical too…… Emily Sykes Most people have probably broken any New Year resolutions they made by now but if you had any I am sure they were positive ones – get more exercise, Advertising: Christine Delve sort out the finances, lose weight. I am yet to meet anyone who decided that [email protected] the New Year was a time eat more sugar and take up smoking. If you managed www.fromthesmallestseed.co.uk to have a dry January then well done – you have a lot more will power than me. Take a look at page 8 to see how you could reward yourself with a locally Treasurer: brewed pint. If you resolved to keep fit but are finding it difficult to motivate Colin Simmons (881223) yourself then perhaps you will be inspired by the articles on page 14, or you’ll [email protected] decide to join one of the many classes advertised on page 32. If you are elderly Minister: and live on your own, you may find the cold dark February days a bit lonely. If Rev’d John Lenton (880570) so, turn to page 13 to see how Cherry Blossom Manor can help. [email protected] Whatever you do with your time have a good February and if you want to know www.stjamesbramley.com what John and Ann are up to on their travels take a look at their blog. There is Bramley Parish Council a link to it at stjamesbramley.com Clerk: Maxta Thomas (07810 692486) Best Wishes [email protected] Chairman: Anthony Durrant Rachel www.bramleypc.co.uk Rachel Barclay Smith - Editor Artwork and Printing Ian Crossley, Greenhouse Graphics Unit 8, Cufaude Business Park, Cufaude Lane, Bramley, RG26 5DL What I like to drink most is wine that belongs to others. 01256 880770 www.greenhousegraphics.co.uk Diogenes – Greek Philosopher 320BC Produced and delivered by the Church for the benefit of the community. Material for the March issue to be sent (preferably by email) to the editor no later than 15 February please. Disclaimer: Bramley Magazine is intended to provide readers with information they may find useful and of interest. We take all reasonable steps to keep this information current and accurate, but errors can occur. The editor reserves the right to make changes to any contributions. Bramley Magazine is not responsible Cover photo: for and does not endorse any advertising, products, or opinions expressed in this publication and shall not Sunset in Bramley be liable to any party as a result of information published herein. by Rachel Barclay Smith All photographs are included with kind permission and may not be reproduced. 3 6WHYHB&DQQLQJ%UDPOH\/D\RXW3DJH GENERAL DOMESTIC MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS Electrical Plumbing Painting Decorating Doors & Gates Outbuildings Steve Canning TMIET MIOSH 21, Hawkley Drive, Tadley 01189 820477 (home) 07818 422191 (mobile) [email protected] 4 CHURCH SERVICES SAVE THE BRAMLEY APPLE TREE! As reported in a previous issue of the magazine, the 200-year-old parent of all Bramley’s Seedling apple trees has honey fungus. It needs urgent treatment with a new chemical, thought to be the only way of getting rid of the fungus. According to an article in Gardening Magazine a funding appeal has been set up to pay the Church diary for February 2017… £100,000 cost. Anyone who contributes £100 or more will receive a clone or bonsai version of the tree. 5th Fourth Sunday before Lent 9.00 Sunday@nine – Cross House Speak to Phyl Davies for more information. 10.30 Matins (BCP, 1662) – St James 12th Third Sunday before Lent 8.00 Holy Communion (BCP, 1662) – St James 9.00 Sunday@nine – Cross House 10.30 Holy Communion – St James 19th Second Sunday before Lent 8.30 Holy Communion – Little London 10.30 Together in Worship – St James 26th Sunday next before Lent 9.00 Sunday@nine – Cross House 10.30 Holy Communion – St James …into March 1st Ash Wednesday 7.30pm Holy Communion – St James 5th First Sunday of Lent 9.00 Sunday@nine – Cross House 10.30 Matins (BCP, 1662) – St James 12th Second Sunday of Lent 8.00 Holy Communion (BCP, 1662) – St James 9.00 Sunday@nine – Cross House 10.30 Holy Communion – St James 19th Third Sunday of Lent 8.30 Holy Communion – Little London Catholic services 10.30 Together in Worship – St James Basingstoke Church of St Bede, Popley Way, RG24 9DX Sunday Mass: 9.00 am, 11.00 am and 6.30 pm in St Bede’s JOHN MORRIS Mass usually: Tues, Thurs and Sat 9.30 am in St Bede’s We would like to thank you all so much for the many Holy Ghost Church, Sherborne Road, RG21 5TX: cards, letters and words of comfort you sent to us on Mass usually: Mon, Wed, Fri 9.30 am in Holy Ghost Church the very sad loss of John. His passing has left a huge Phone 01256 465214 or email hole in our lives and we miss his incredible sense of [email protected] for information humour and the immense guidance and support he See www.stbedesbasingstoke.org.uk has always given us. Tadley We appreciate your kindness so much, thank you all St Michael’s Church, Bishopswood Road, RG26 4HG Saturday Mass: 6.00 pm Brenda, Sarah and Ian Morris Sunday Mass: 9.15 am Parish priest: 0118 9814572 5 6 ON REFLECTION friend of ours used to and their respective spouses, together dread going on holiday with all their children, in a family celebration in sunny California. It will A because, first, he knew be a bit of a do, and no mistake; we’re that it would take a terrific looking forward to the party. work-up to get everything We’re also going to be chillaxing, as sorted out before he went – David Cameron (remember him?) put and then, when he got back, it, in Kenya, the country where we grew up and were married in 1967. And in it would be another huge between, we are going to Argentina, work-up to sort everything the country where my father was born out that had piled up during and grew up before coming to England their absence. He needed to join up when war broke out. And in celebration of that, my dear wife took another holiday after getting me to a dance lesson today, to learn it all sorted. On balance, he how to do the tango. Olé! reckoned, it really wasn’t worth But actually, when it comes right going away. Easier just to keep Rev’d John Lenton down to it, the fundamental reason for working, less exhausting. taking a 3-month break is so that we biblical practice in taking a break from can both be refreshed and renewed for As I write this we are on the point of work in our seventh year (and only for the work still to do here in Bramley. going on holiday ourselves – well, three months, not a year). And if I’m We love what we do, but we know it’s more precisely, on three months’ looking for more excuses, the dear old possible to get stale, and we’d like sabbatical. And at this point, I do start Church of England does encourage its to avoid that, or at least nip it in the to feel some sympathy with his point ministers to take sabbaticals.