Tuesdays Short Mat Bowling 2.30pm Martley Memorial Hall (2pm winter months) Wichenford Ladies’ Fellowship 2.30pm 2nd Tuesday in the month (usually) Wednesdays Volume 1 No. July 2006 6 2 Teme Valley Shufflers Line Dancing Editor: Andrew Chilvers (01905 641986) 7pm Martley Memorial Hall. Editorial Team: Martley: Alan Boon (01886 Enquiries: Jeff and Thelma 01886 821772 888527), Nellie Bradley (01886 888339), Kate Martley Folk Club: 1st Wednesday in the King (01886 888439), Beth Williams (01886 month at The Admiral Rodney 888273) Wichenford: Janet Andrews (01886 Martley WI: 2nd Wednesday in the 888303), Sheila Richards (01886 888378) month 7.30pm at Heaton House. Advertising: Neil Stammers (01886 888513) Distribution: Martley George & June Lawrence (01886 821064) Wichenford Bill & Jo Root Thursdays (01886 888585) Wichenford Wine Club: 3rd Thursday in Contact The Villager: leave articles at Martley the month Post Office, call Janet or Sheila (Wichenford) or Martley & District Horticultural email the Editor at [email protected] Society: last Thursday in the month Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily 7.30pm Martley Memorial Hall those of The Villager. The Villager cannot be held responsible for any goods or services advertised in the magazine Other events: Citizens Advice Bureau Teme Valley Telephone Service: Mon & Tue 10am— 3pm Thu 10am— 7.30pm Great Witley Regular events in Martley &Knightwick Surgeries: Weds 10am - and Wichenford: 4pm - by appt. 01584 810860 Sundays See Church Words for details of services 2nd Sunday in the month: Teme Valley Farmers Market for local See articles inside for details of special produce 11am The Talbot, Knightwick events AND changes of times or dates of Martley Ramblers meet Church car park regular events 3rd Sunday in the month: Walking Not Working with the Path-or- See the Diary page on Nones. Meet 9.30am Village Hall car park www.martley.org.uk for a complete listing to help survey the footpaths of all forthcoming events (that the Diary page Editor knows about) Mondays 1st Monday in the month: Martley Parish Council 8pm Memorial Hall Articles to go in The Villager must be with the Editor by the 1st of the previous month TheThe Villager Villager * *January July 2006 2006 9 OUT AND ABOUT IN MARTLEY Visit our website—www.martley.org.uk Happy birthday potato Women and British colonial rule On July ended in Hong Kong on July 1 1997. 28, 1586 the potato Worcestershire Sitting first ar- Service rived in England Peter’s Story from Co- “My husband had a stroke when he lumbia. was quite young. As an independent July itself couple we got on with life and I did was named the things he couldn’t manage, and after Ro- over the years we coped on our own. man dictator Julius Caesar, who was As time went on, however, things be- born on July 12. The Anglo Saxon came more difficult; my husband names for the month included Hey- would occasionally fall, and if I went monath or Maed monath, referring to out shopping I had to rush home be- haymaking and the flowering of mead- cause I worried that he might fall ows. again. I no longer enjoyed meeting my Also in July the curious phenomenon friend for lunch because I couldn’t of crop circles occurs when circular relax. flattened patches begin to appear in We were introduced to Worcestershire fields of standing corn. This dates Sitting Service, managed by Age Con- from the 1970s, although examples do cern Herefordshire & Worcestershire. occur earlier. Now everything has changed. A Sitter comes to our house each week, stays Weather lore – St Swithin’s Day and chats with my husband, and I usu- “If the first of July it be rainy weather ally go out shopping or have lunch T’will rain more or less for four weeks with my friend. together.” Having a Sitter has made a big differ- July 2 1928 saw equal voting rights for ence to both our lives. My husband 10 The Villager * July 2006 and the Sitter have so much in com- foul and mon, they get on so well and I no having to longer have to rush everything or play with worry about my him. These few hours just 10 men makes such a difference, please offer they even your time, so more people can bene- had a pen- fit.” alty appeal Worcestershire Sitting Service ask turned ordinary people, just like you, who down. They have a few hours to spare a week, fort- did, how- night or month to become Sitters. ever, battle on and even went ahead We need people who can go and sit when Steve Prickett scored and Chris with someone, keep him or her com- Collins equalised, but Powick got past pany, so that the person who is usually the Spurs goalie, getting both a late at home with them can have free time. goal and the cup. This is often used to do a weekly Unfortunately, we still do not know shop, visit the hairdressers, attend a what will happen next season with medical appointment or catch up with regards to the various leagues as there friends. are so few teams making up the pre- If you read this and have a little time sent day leagues. to spare, and want to make a differ- Beth Williams ence to someone’s life, please contact Sue Abbott, or Miriam on: 01905- World Cup Memories 726652, 01386-422700, 01584- 819750 who will be happy to give you Football fever will have taken us over more information. as I write and, of course, we all hope England will do well. I never seem to Martley Spurs be at home when big finals take place and have some funny memories of The season is now over and our three England wins. I was in China when teams have not done badly; of course, England won the Rugby World Cup they have won some and lost some as final and in Rome when they won the all teams do. The Saturday Premier 1966 World Cup. I never actually side ended up third in their table while heard the famous “they think it’s all the Sunday Premier eleven and the over” commentary. Reserves lie neither at the top nor the There were few TV sets around in bottom of their tables. those days and in Milan, where I lived, Unfortunately, they lost their Martley cafes and bars turned into mini- Cup final against Powick by three cinemas when people went to watch goals to two. They lost Jon Barry what was on offer. But Rome did not when he was given a red card for a have the same viewing habits. July 2006 * The Villager 11 My friends and I ran around a deserted nally won. I think the entire Italian Rome centre looking for somewhere to population of Toronto were on the air- see England play Germany. Every port tarmac to welcome that plane in. shop, bar and café was closed and we Beth Williams finally found a side street dairy that was open. The old lady behind the Martley Old Grammar counter told us to go to the Feltrinelli School Foundation book shop, which we rushed to. It was open but apparently empty, not even A reminder to students under the age an assistant behind the counter. There of 25 years who live or who have a was a bell on it which we pressed, and parent living in Martley, or who have an assistant ran out and said: “Come at any time attended as a pupil at on, hurry up”, and took us to a back school in Martley and who need finan- room packed to the rafters in front of a cial assistance for further education, to small black and white TV, with people apply for a grant application form. watching, cheering, shouting at the This also applies to corporate organi- referee, and of course, the commentary sations that may be eligible to obtain a was in Italian. grant. For information of an applica- I never saw the 1982 final, which Italy tion form, please contact Mrs C Pear- won by beating Germany, because I sall, Secretary MOGSF at Inglewood, was on board a jumbo jet above the Hillside, Martley, Worcester WR6 Atlantic Ocean. 6QW Tel: 01886-888793. The said jumbo had picked up passen- Cheryl Pearsall, secretary gers in Rome and Hamburg before taking off from Milan, and its passen- Pudford Lane gers were either German or Italian. Everyone wanted to know what was Summer has arrived at last (with some happening. The hostess said that the mini floods) and all inhabitants are crew had no time and could not really settling back awaiting long, lazy days. understand the BBC commentary, but If only that were so. The weeds are that I could go into the pilots’ cabin growing apace, outstripping the vege- and inform the passengers what was tables and the lawns are almost jun- going on. gles. This was great fun (and would cer- The verges have been lovely with tainly not be allowed today). There Queen Ann’s Lace and the Ramsons, was a big cheer from one side of the although the latter have been a little plane when I informed them that Italy smelly when the sun is on them. Par- had scored, but kept my mouth shut ent Greater Spotted Woodpeckers ap- when the Germans did, at least until peared to be feeding their offspring for the Italians had scored again and fi- an incredibly long time. So did the 12 The Villager * July 2006 pair of wagtails in the ivy beside the birdfeeders.