Request for Christmas Donations St. Radegund’s Church is organising a in the front porch of the Mainwaring- collection of tinned and dry goods for Taylor’s house on the Green from 3rd to delivery to Hambleton Foodshare on 11 10th Dec. Or contact John (tel. 748 617) December, for those in need at for collection. Details of items needed will Christmas. Please leave any contributions be sent out on Network Scruton. Happy Christmas and a safe New Year, when hopefully A Covid Christmas (as Vera Lynn would say) “We’ll Meet Again!” Nick Baines, the Bishop of Leeds, Farming News Nature Notes believes we need to be realistic that by Malcolm Barker Christmas is not going to be anything like By Andy Johnston normal. However, a pared-down When I left school, farming was simple. This Autumn is one of the warmest on Christmas may be just the ticket for Produce food for people to eat, as much record with no frost of any note as yet. remembering the original Christmas story, as possible to feed the nation. The more Consequently, Summer flowers are still in he said, “We talk about there being no we farmers produced the better off we bloom. On the village green, snow drops room at the inn. We talk about an were financially. By the time of the and daffodils are well through and even a inhospitable environment and yet the light Ethiopian famine, I thought that we could few celandines are flowering. Mild shines in the darkness and the darkness help feed the world. weather has encouraged rooks to begin will not put it out. Christmas didn’t begin nest building in the limes and a song in Debenhams or Marks and Spencer but Those days are past. If we still wish to thrush was singing in a tree at Pittfields in an obscure part of the Roman Empire produce food, it must be no dearer than Corner recently. Fields along the A684 to when life was very cheap.” world prices, whilst the fuel and inputs Morton Bridge are a haven for wintering must be bought at highly taxed British flocks of curlew, golden plover, lapwing Scruton Sky at Night prices. In recent years we relied on and gulls. An unusual event has been the European subsidies to make up the regular meeting of feeding hares, with by Peter Williams difference, but these end next year and eighteen spotted recently. At 7 am on 12 December the thin waning government money will go to nature crescent Moon will be low in the SE, with conservation. Do I mind? I’m not sure. Venus to the lower left. This should be a Last Summer I planted 8 acres of herbal spectacle as the Earth will be illuminating leys (a mixture of clovers, herbs and the night hemisphere of the Moon. grasses to attract insects & pollinators) to The maximum of the Geminid meteors see if I can feed my cattle and sheep, takes place on the 13th. Geminids may using lower input costs whilst helping Whooper swan Mute swan nature. This is a trial, but producing be seen from the 4th to the 17th, and the The first major flood coincided with the maximum this year is very favourable unwanted food is certainly uneconomic. migration of whooper swans from Iceland because there is no Moon to interfere. Scruton History and the flooded fields at Morton Flatts This ‘Shooting Star Shower’ is the richest attracted a family group of six. If you see of the annual showers. Meteor rates can Scruton History Group - On 28 swans flying over the village don’t be around 100 per hour. December’s February there was an inaugural meeting assume they are mutes as more and New Moon is at 4 pm on the 14th. The of the Scruton History Group attended by more whoopers are wintering here. In Winter Solstice takes place at 10 am on over 20 people. There was much addition to their larger size, they have a the 21st. The Earth’s north pole is tilted enthusiasm and discussion about the rich distinctive whooping call. Currently a as far as it can be away from the Sun and archive of historical material available huge flock of starlings is feeding on the this day is the official start of Winter. about Scruton. Ideas were suggested for stubble fields along Common Lane and a number of projects. Then came COVID! they can be frequently seen in a murmuration. When the cold weather Little progress has been made since, but arrives look out for waxwings. don’t give up! Feedback from February’s meeting has been kept and everyone who Scruton Christmas Card attended will be contacted in the New Year with the aim of ‘picking up where we Thankyou to everyone who bought village left off’. If you didn’t attend the February Christmas cards. All cards are now sold (however prints can still be ordered). meeting but would like to be kept up to Jupiter approaches Saturn for one of their date, please contact the editor. The deadline for signature donations and closest conjunctions on this day when the Christmas greetings for inclusion in the Scruton History – Interested in local card which is delivered to every house is two planets are separated by only 0.1°. history? Then Trevor Howe’s folders are Look for them with binoculars, low in the the 9 December. The sale of Christmas available to borrow. They cover each cards and the donations raises money for SW at around 5 pm. With sufficient decade from 1900 to 1990s; Scruton magnification, you may see the four major charity. This year the money raised is for Estate Sale; Hoare/Fothergill Family; St. Radegund’s Church Fabric Fund. satellites of Jupiter and Saturn’s rings. Peacock Family; Coore Family and Please contact Joan Walker, 24 The This is a rare occurrence and I would Scruton Cricket Club. Call Trevor on 748 Parklands, 01609 748 458 or email: urge you to witness this interesting event. 355 or email: [email protected] [email protected] Scruton’s Oldest Man Lych Gate Carols Alan Moore 1919 - 2020 Cedric Alan Findlay Moore aged 101 Alan Moore was born in Sunderland. His father was Head Teacher at Bede School Please join us in the afternoon on Sunday sadly passed away peacefully at home on 20 December, when we hope to play (the oldest school in England); his mother Saturday 14 November 2020. Alan was was daughter to Jim Coley, a founding Carols from the new church lych gates. married to Hilda for 71 years and leaves member of CWS (the Co-Op as we know Details will follow on Network Scruton. two children, Gillian and Roger it today). Alan was the youngest of three St Radegund’s Church We believe the secret of his longevity inseparable brothers who loved to play on was his love of honey each day on his the beach, cycle round the Lakes or drive their Riley Speedster to Scotland. Alan Elizabeth Davies – has retired from the porridge - a whole jar every two weeks. bred the first tortoiseshell mouse role of assistant Churchwarden and given He was a modest unassuming man with a (immortalised on a Pathé newsreel). up her position on the Parish and Local twinkle in his eye; a gentleman with an Selling the mice countrywide at age 16, Church Councils. Elizabeth thanks enquiring mind and always wanting to triggered Alan’s life-long love of business. everyone for the generous donations on help others. st her retirement and reminds us that she At 19 Alan was conscripted to the 51 It’s been a joy and privilege to share your will still look after the churchyard and Highland Division. As part of a small force life. We love you forever. left behind to hold back the Germans at continue with other church duties. If Dunkirk, he was captured and marched anyone would like to help out with church 800 miles in 3½ weeks to be imprisoned flowers or cleaning, call her on 748 664 or From the Parish Council in Stalag 20A in Poland. After 6 years email [email protected] Dog Waste Bin – Following a request Alan was repatriated via Odessa, having Joyce Williams – who has been the from the Parish Council, Hambleton DC escaped both the Germans & Russians and endured the atrocities of organist at St. Radegund’s Church for have installed an additional dog waste bin concentration camps. On arriving home, many years, is retiring. Her playing has at the eastern end of Common Lane. the door was shut in his face by his enhanced services and her willingness to mother who thought he was dead and did go way beyond what was expected, play Leaf Clearing – The Parish Council is grateful to Kevin Procter, who kindly not recognise him. The housekeeper had at other events and occasions and tackle to persuade her to let him in! difficult musical requests with grace and volunteered to sweep up leaves on the skill has been much appreciated. We village green. Alan married Hilda in 1949 and they would like to thank her for her contribution started a bakery business, having trained to the life of the church and the village in Lucerne, his wedding cakes were legendary. Alan became a trouble- and wish her well in the future. shooter for various companies, spending 30 years as a Director for Rank Hovis Church Services McDougall. In retirement he ran Due to Covid-19 there are no services at businesses with his son well into his present, but the church is open for private nineties and (as the story goes) perhaps even gave the idea of oven ready chips to prayer.