AUGUST 2020 The Parish of Kidmore End & Sonning Common The Lamb and Flag The parish magazine of St John the Baptist Church, Kidmore End and Christ the King Church, Sonning Common 50p CONTACTING THE CLERGY OR CHURCH OFFICERS Rector Revd James Stickings Telephone 0118 972 1459 Email [email protected]. James will normally take Monday as a ‘day off’ so if you need advice or support that day, please leave a message, or contact one of the churchwardens. Associate Priest Revd Sheila Walker Telephone 0118 972 4861 Email [email protected] Churchwardens Robert Lynch Telephone 0118 972 4699 Email [email protected] Karen Broadbent Telephone 0118 972 4606 Email [email protected] Musical Director – St. John’s Frances Brewitt-Taylor Telephone 0118 948 2743 Email [email protected] PCC Treasurer Nick Room Telephone 0118 972 2258 Email [email protected] PCC Secretary Jenny MacGregor Telephone 0118 947 2855 Email [email protected] Parish website: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/166/ FROM THE RECTORY Dear Friends Looking back over my previous contributions to the magazine, something I do whenever I write my letters, I see that last year I spoke about the importance of sabbath – not literally Sundays, but the important principle that rest should be built into the structure of our lives. For many people, the summer provides an opportunity to observe this principle. This summer, however, is not a typical one! After months of lockdown, we may feel that we have had our fill of “sabbath”, and want to get on with normal life. At the same time, we are also, to a greater or lesser extent, anxious about the continuing impact of the virus on our lives. All of this has an effect on our life as a benefice. Doubtless there are some among us who would like to get back to normal as soon as we can, while others are more wary. My own view is that we need to adopt a patient and gradual approach, mindful at all times of church and government guidance. We had our first church services in the benefice on Sunday 19 July, having made the requisite preparations. That was a major milestone. As for what the short- and medium-term future holds for us in terms of practical arrangements for services, please do regularly check the church websites at www.achurchnearyou.com for up to date information. In August this is particularly important, as there will not be a service in each church in the benefice every week. Can I also urge everyone to be guided by www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid- 19/people-at-higher-risk/whos-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/ as this lists factors which lead to higher risk from coronavirus. Please note that people who fall into the high risk group (clinically extremely vulnerable) are advised not to come to church, and those who fall into the moderate risk group (clinically vulnerable) – and this includes everyone over the age of 70 – are still being advised to stay at home as much as possible and when going out (e.g. to church) to pay particular attention to social distancing and hygiene. For those who opt not to come to services, we will continue an online option: either a video or a “printed” service to use on one’s own God bless James 1 GRAHAM DOUGLAS FOULIS BROWN – A PERSONAL MEMORY A tribute to Graham during the funeral service on 10 July It is a great privilege to be asked to pay tribute to Graham and to share some personal memories with you. Forgive me if some of this might sound a bit light hearted – but I don’t think Graham would mind! The Revd Graham Foulis Brown inherited me as his PCC secretary when he arrived in the Parish of Kidmore End in September, 1990. I had met briefly with him and Flossie before his appointment as Vicar, when a small group of us entertained them at the home of the Head Teacher at Kidmore End School. I felt they were a breath of fresh air – a young couple with two small children who were moving from Bicester. At that first meeting, there was evidence of two strong people and both with a sense of humour. It boded well. Graham was born in Renfrewshire on 4 September 1950 and he never lost his pride at being a Scot. He could turn on the Scottish accent very quickly and could mimic most Scottish dialects. Coming from Scotland too, enabled me to understand some of the things he said and referred to; his opening to phone calls often began with “”You’ll have haud yur tea…?” – which really meant “Have you finished eating”! He invested in a dress kilt in the Douglas tartan and liked nothing more than to wear the full highland dress, complete with sporran and Skean Dhu. He wore this at Ellie and Ben’s wedding. How many of you remember Magnus – that talented Labrador who used to write for the Parish Magazine, the Lamb and Flag, when his master was off playing at being S(c)illy? Of course Graham wasn’t playing – he was acting as a locum priest on the Isles of Scilly, which he loved to visit each year, leaving Magnus to hold the fort in Kidmore End – and writing the Vicar’s letter for him in his absence…. Traditionally, the Vicar of a Church School is appointed as the Chair of Governors and within a short time, Graham took over that position. He worked tirelessly as Chair and thanks to his amazing knowledge and wisdom, he supported the school through some very difficult times. He worked with three Heads, two interim Heads, then with Janet Maul and latterly with the present Head Teacher, Linda Hull. Everyone in turn expressed their 2 appreciation of his support and involvement with the school community. On the occasion of staff birthdays, it was traditional for each birthday person to provide a cake to share with the staff. Graham used to pop in at break times – how did he know when cake was to be offered? - and he always said that KES had the only staffroom he knew of, that had a set of cake forks in regular use! In many ways, Graham was a house husband and on one occasion, one of the staff came into the Staffroom, complaining that young Rupert, who was in Year 3 at the time, had fidgeted continually all morning. On being questioned as to what was wrong, Rupert said plaintively, “Daddy sewed up my trousers this morning – and he’s left the needle in them…..!” On another occasion the same young chap appeared in school, soaking wet. On hearing this, one of the staff said, “You would have thought that with a father like his, he would have taught Rupert to walk on water…!” I’m not sure that Graham ever actually managed to perform miracles! Graham was involved in many outside organisations. He was a member of the Coopers’ Company, to whom he was their chaplain; he was a magistrate for many years, serving on the bench of the Oxfordshire Youth Court, and he was chaplain to a local Lodge of the Masons. I believe he was also Chaplain to the local St John’s Ambulance Brigade. As well as eventually running two parishes in the newly formed Benefice, he was made an Honorary Canon of Christ Church Cathedral – all of which took up a great deal of time and yet he always had time for people who needed his help and support. I have many personal memories of his kindness and his wisdom. If anyone ever needed to know something, the response would be “Ask Graham! He will know!!” - and he always did. PCC meetings could, at times be challenging and Graham could be irascible – he also talked a great deal! – but these moments never lasted long. He was always the first to say thank you for efforts put into special services, concerts, etc, thus valuing contributions made by members of his flock. Forgive me if I read part of an article that appeared in the Peppard News when Graham retired, five years ago. It said: “ Graham is a very capable parish priest and is known as a man you can depend on. He likes to get to the crux of a matter and we have benefited from his sure grasp of many church issues and diocesan intricacies. At heart a traditionalist, Graham has been a reassuring presence for those caught up in the personal highs and lows of weddings and funerals and Remembrance 3 Days and other formal occasions. His love of tradition and understanding of ceremony can be seen in his long devotion to the Coopers’ Company. He is a good preacher (perhaps because he enjoys preaching). His sermons convey a clear message, are original, thoughtful, wide ranging, with a dash of humour at the right time. Graham has taken particular care to involve the children in church services and is an unwavering supporter of the music in the church. Graham will be greatly missed. It is a blessing to have a rector with so clear a dedication to the priesthood, secure as other faithful priests in their ‘reasonable, quiet, unpretentious, sober faith in God’. We are very grateful for all Graham has contributed as Rector of Peppard.” The article ends with a memory of the hilarious occasion at a Harvest Lunch when Barry Olsen, Graham and Hugh Warwick, suitably costumed, appeared on stage as The Three Ladies of the Church. It brought the house down! Despite the ending of their formal union, Graham and Flossie remained real friends, sharing many happy family occasions together with Ellie and Rupert and their wider family.