Little Hadham Parish News November 2015 Socks ! Socks ! Socks ! Socks ! Socks ! Good quality used MEN’S socks Brand new MEN’S socks All manner of MEN’S socks Any Colour – Any Size – Any Style Collection service - call Carmela 01279 898591 or leave in box at The Old Cottage, Bury Green Please leave socks at Ann Clayton’s house - next door to Nag’s Head pub Thank you for your generosity! Rector of Parish: Revd. Giles Tulk Asst. Priest: Revd. Clive Slaughter 01279 842609 01279 844955 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Churchwarden: Don Gibson 771325 Log on to www.littlehadham.com for issues dating back to May 2006 Letter from the Rectory Dear friends in Little Hadham Change On Sunday 11th October I announced that I will be leaving my role as Team Rector of the Ash and Quin Valleys’ Team at the end of December to take on a new role responsible for five rural parishes on the Welsh borders in the Diocese of Hereford. Although Sara and I will of course be sad to say goodbye to the many friends we have made in Little Hadham (in St Cecilia’s Church, Little Hadham School and wider community) we are at the same time excited about the opportunity for me to minister in a part of the country we know well and love. Change tends to always generate these two emotions: sadness at leaving (usually friends and colleagues) and excitement about the challenges that lie ahead. For people of my generation and younger, change has become an accepted part of life, including changes to individual circumstances, in job, or maybe a complete change in career direction, and of course moving house. This is in marked contrast to my parents’ generation, when most people did the same job (and often for the same employer) for the whole of their working life, and often they lived in the same locality. So what does the Bible say about change? In the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament we are told: For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. This reminds us that life is never static, but rather life changes just as the seasons do. But whilst things around us change, the one thing that remains constant in our lives is the love of Jesus Christ for each of us, as the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament reminds us: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. In a changing world and in the changes we encounter in our own lives, it is a comfort to know that Jesus Christ is always walking alongside us, never changing, always there when we need him. God Bless. Reverend Giles Harvest Supper This year’s Harvest Supper on 10th October at the Village Hall was an unqualified success, and the introduction of a new and talented musical duo added enormously to the evening’s enjoyment. Due to holidays and illnesses the numbers were down on previous years but a great atmosphere prevailed and the organisation by Karin and Frank Green ensured we all went home very satisfied. Revd Julie Gawthorpe from Braughing was introduced to those present, said Grace, and during the meal mixed in well with local people. The back-room staff, led by Ann Fuller, served up a great meal and ‘Jono’ rounded off the evening by thanking all those involved, including the six children who earned ‘pin money’ by serving the meals and tidying up afterwards. All proceeds from the Supper and the Harvest Church Service on 18th will go towards the Syrian Appeal, helping those in dire need of food and shelter. 2 Parish Council News Cyclists at the Traffic Lights received one please ring 0300 123 4040, The public have raised concerns that email [email protected] or numerous cyclists have been jumping the visit their website at www.hertsdirect.org/ traffic lights whilst at red, causing a danger a120bypass. The documents relating to the to themselves as well as others. The local Little Hadham Parish Council response to the Police have been asked to pay attention to bypass continue to be listed on the website: the traffic lights again. www.thehadhams.com. A120 Bypass and Flood Alleviation. The next Parish Council meeting will Hertfordshire Highways have issued an be at the Village Hall on Tues 3rd Nov at 8pm. update leaflet showing the route of the bypass, We use the main hall so there is plenty of and how they intend to address some of the space, and there is a hearing loop installed for concerns raised during the last consultation. the hard of hearing. Please come and let the Their Planning application has not yet been Councillors know what you would like to see lodged, but once it is the Little Hadham Parish happen in our village, and listen to the work Council will review it. Each household should that is being carried out. Contact the Parish have received a leaflet and if you have not Clerk on [email protected]. Little Hadham & Albury Social Club Vic Bottrill came along on Tuesday 13 October – he shone a lot of light onto the interesting subject of body language – eye contact, facial expressions, hand shakes and even ‘being in very close proximity with strangers in a lift’ came up – depending on the situation, human behaviour is truly fascinating. On Tuesday November 10 Vie Carter from Albury Road will give a demonstration on card making – Vie makes absolutely beautiful greeting cards. Well worth coming along and ordering those ‘special or personalised’ cards for Christmas or indeed any occasion. Wine and nibbles will also be abundant so do please come along and bring a friend, everyone is welcome! Thank you to all who support our social club. Carmela, Binnie & Sue Little Hadham School Believing and Achieving I can’t believe that we are now on a countdown to Christmas! We have a very busy half term ahead and some dates for your diaries! Firstly, we are holding an Early Years Open Morning on Thursday 5th November, so please encourage all young families to come along at 10am and share the morning with us. November 29th is the date for our Christmas Bazaar, so do mark the date on your calendar and come along to start off your Christmas festivities! Thank you for your continued support and hope to see you on the 29th! Thanks to everyone who supported the Nag’s Head marrow weight competition. Liz Stockley, Head teacher, 01279 771285 or [email protected]. 3 The Hundred Parishes Ken McDonald, Secretary Our area is one of the driest in England, with relatively low rainfall and no major lakes or rivers. There are, of course, lots of small rivers whose valleys contribute to the beauty of our countryside. Three have their source on the relatively high ground in the Henham and Debden area near the centre of the Hundred Parishes: the Chelmer eventually flows into the Blackwater and reaches the sea at Maldon; the Roding flows into the Thames; and the Cam flows north to join the Ouse and discharge at the Wash. The absence of water has been a key factor in allowing this area to remain relatively unspoilt, with insufficient natural water supply to service major industrial or residential developments. However, man’s ingenuity has enabled a growing population to survive, with a variety of manmade devices to supplement natural water sources. Water is pumped from rivers or from deep artesian wells; farms have invested in reservoirs; and our waste water is recycled. One of the most remarkable man-made devices for increasing water supply is the New River, which passes through the far southwest corner of the Hundred Parishes at Great Amwell. Water is pumped from the River Lea near Ware into this aqueduct and it flows south for nearly 30 miles, through London’s northern suburbs to Hackney. What is perhaps most surprising about the New River is that it was constructed over 400 years ago. At that time, it took desperately-needed clean water into the heart of London. It still serves that purpose. Our selection of walks from railway stations includes number 19 whose easy 4 miles from St Margarets Station to Ware station includes an interesting stretch of the New River. The route can be downloaded from our website, www.hundredparishes.org.uk. Adverts removed 4 Tom Doig’s recent talk on dating Victorian photographs from the 1820s until ca 1900, was historically illuminating and delivered with many amusing anecdotes on the examples shown. The earliest was by pioneer Niepce in 1827 and needed a 13hr exposure. By contrast his contemporary Daguerre, was able to get an image from a 10 min exposure on the back of a glass slide. When the two finally collaborated in 1830, the process was firmly established and images could be mounted and framed. Photographs of life events, e.g. marriages, were taken in studios and subjects needed a long neck clamp to keep them still during the long exposures. This was tortuous and might well explain why sitters had serious non-smiling expressions. What a long way we have come since then, sending images instantly to anywhere in the world. Framing is crucial to dating Victorian era photographs as about every 10 years, mounts changed to keep up with the latest trend. By contrast sitters’ clothes were very often loaned by the studio and could be from any period. One word of advice, if you have images of your Victorian family, do not take them out of the frame and do keep them out of sunlight or any other strong light.