Pitcombe News - May 2018

PITCOMBE PITCOMBE

news news View online at hall.pitcombepc.org.uk

MAY 2018

In this issue: The Happy Cooker Recipe - pg 10 Pitcombe Fayre Appeals - pg 11 3 September 1939 - pg 22 Project Trust Programme - pg 25 ...and more MONTHLYMAGAZINE MAGAZINE FOR FOR THE MONTHLY THE PARISH PARISHOF OFPITCOMBE PITCOMBE

What’s on...

...LATER

...THIS MONTH

Pitcombe News

Page 2

Friday 4

Black bin collection

Saturday 5

Annual Plant Sale and Coffee Morning

Sunday 6 - 11.00am

Benefice Service

Saturday 12 - 9.30am

Plant Sale & Coffee Morning

Sunday 13 - 11.00am

Matins

Tuesday 15 - 7.00pm

The Annual Parish Meeting, HVH

Friday 18

Black bin collection

Saturday 19 - 7.30pm

25th Anniversary Gala Concert

Sunday 20 - 11.00am

Holy Communion

Sunday 27

Visit of Prayer Book Society

Sunday 27 - 5.00pm

Talk on Street churches

Sunday 27 - 6.00pm

Evensong with Bruton Choral Society

Saturday 16 June - 12.00pm

Pitcombe Village Fayre

welcome

May 2018

PITCOMBE NEWS

G

reetings from the African bush, where your intrepid editors have been on safari. Andy and Alison Dawson have heroically stepped in to ensure this month’s edition is produced in good order, along with the indefatigable Max Doughty, our design specialist.

The ‘Big Five’, made up of lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo, have always been the hoped-for sightings on any safari, and this we joyously achieved in the first two days.The ‘Royal Seven’, with the addition of wild dog and cheetah, was also accomplished, rounding off a most successful and exciting trip.

Meanwhile, in this edition of the Pitcombe News, we have advance notice of a number of forthcoming attractions. Our Parish Fayre on 16 June is advertised on the back cover, which promises to be just as much fun as last year. Book your dogs in for the Dog Show and enjoy the wide variety of stalls and events available on the day. There is a page in this edition dedicated to appeals for contributions to the Plant, Clothes, Home Produce, bric-a-brac and bottle tombola stalls. So, scour your attics and pantries for donations.

The Parish Council Report draws your attention to its Annual Parish Meeting, scheduled for 15 May and on 27 May, the Prayer Society will visit St Leonard’s and be addressed by Father Justin Bailey on the history of the church before the service.

Elsewhere, Ken Chamberlain, inspired by a viewing of the recently released film ‘The Darkest Hour’, writes movingly about the start of World War Two, to which he was witness, aged 11.

contribute

Editors: Jane and Anthony Hodges Layout and design: Max Doughty

The next edition will be June 2018.Please send any articles or advertisements to the Editors by 15 May at the latest. Our contact details can be found in the Parish Directory in the centre of this magazine.

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Pitcombe News

S LEONARD’S

May Services 6 - 11.00am Benefice Service at St Mary the Virgin, Bruton (no service at Pitcombe) 13 - 11.00am Matins with Fr Justin Bailey 20 - 11.00am Holy Communion with Rev Dan Richards 27

Visit of Prayer Book Society

27 - 5.00pm Talk on Street Churches with Fr Justin Bailey 27 - 5.30pm Tea 27 - 6.00pm Evensong with Bruton Choral Society

T

O

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n the first Sunday in May all the congregations of the Benefice are joining together at St Mary’s in Bruton for a service to install Justin Bailey as our Rector. You may wonder why this is happening after he has been here for seven years and you are not alone because so does he. It is the idea of the new Archdeacon of Wells, Dr Anne Gell, who has decided that, as he has never been formally installed, it’s better late than never.

You may be interested to know that Dr Gell, aged 55, read Mathematics at Oxford and qualified as a doctor from the Royal Free Hospital before being ordained in 2001. She is married and has three adult children so she ought to have something interesting to say. 27 May is Trinity Sunday and we are being visited for evensong by members of the Prayer Book Society.

They want to hear something of the history of the church so Justin Bailey is going to address this at 5.00pm before tea at 5.30pm and the service at 6.00pm, as usual. Barbara Jenkinson is kindly bringing some singers from the Bruton Choral Society to augment our singing and to sing an anthem so it will be a different sort of occasion. There is a special peal of bells which it is apparently traditional to ring on Trinity Sunday and a band of visiting ringers will perform this before the service.

Charles Brook Churchwarden

May 2018

The Parson’s Pulpit M

ay – when the Green Man (and Woman) can at last – we hope - come out to play. People are inclined to think that there is something subversive about a green man in a medieval church. As if the masons slipped them in without the clergy noticing! What a ridiculous idea. Unlike our society, medieval people were not in denial about the shadow side. The Green Man is surely that – the frank recognition of the wild side of life. Ancient and medieval cultures had safe ways to express the wild side. To acknowledge its power without allowing it to overwhelm ordered society. That was May Day before it was tamed and emasculated.The twentieth century saw many experiments in giving the Green Man the ‘green light’ – saying yes to the instinctive side, believing naively that only good could come from throwing off restraint.

Christ is I believe the true ‘Green Man’. In the New Testament he is the new Adam, meaning human nature reborn, and here’s a fancy word – re-pristinated.

On Easter morning, Mary Magdalene takes him to be the gardener. And he is – the gardener of creation. In a poem contained in the Letter to the Colossians, we read, ‘He is the first-born of all creation, for in him were created all things in heaven and on earth’; ‘He exists before all things and in him all things hold together’. Also, ‘He is the Beginning, the first-born from the dead’. Creation has begun afresh, with the hope that brings.Thus, Christ is the Cosmic Man, an idea we may be familiar with in Hinduism, but not one we expect from Christianity.

Why is that? I’m afraid the Church in trying to make Christianity accessible to our society has dumbed it down. One dumbing-down is to focus solely on morality: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’. The other is to boil it down to a demand for allegiance: ‘The heart has only to believe, if we are to be justified; the lips have only to make confession, if we are to be saved.’ Using St Paul’s reassuring words out of context only makes Christianity sound imperious and unreasonable.

Because faith is ultimately about the unity of all that is.The truly religious person knows this – that the goal is communion with all that is.To be ‘in Christ’ is to be united, to be in ‘the unity’. As things come to life this spring, we can sense again this Holy Communion.

Fr Justin Bailey benefice@stmarysbruton.org Page 5

Cole Manor Tea Rooms Can it be true? Am I actually writing this whilst the sun is shining, the birds are singing and people are having a cream tea in the garden? And, so we’re told, the coming week is going to bring summer to Somerset – oh the joy!

Like so many who knew and loved Hamish Craig we will miss him very much. Both Hamish and Gill contributed hugely to our lives since we moved to Cole twenty-two years ago. We do know that he and his Heavenly Father will be spending eternity discussing the finer points of Creation and having a marvellous time.

It was fun to have Hannah and Becca with us over the Easter holidays. We look forward to Uni finishing for the year and having them back as part of the team for the summer.

May brings two bank holiday Mondays when we will be open as usual.

Our opening hours remain the same: Tuesday – Sunday 10.00am – 5.00pm. Booking for Sunday roasts and ‘Posh Teas’ need to be made at least 24 hours in advance. Call us on 01749 813676.

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PITCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL May 2018

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gain, planning considerations occupied the majority of our meeting.An amendment to a previously approved application for the change of use of Shatwell House into a hotel had raised concerns with some local residents due to the re-siting of the access driveway and its consequent greater visibility. Following lengthy discussion, Parish Council supported the application with the proviso that, if approved by SSDC, it should be conditioned, specifying a boundary treatment to the driveway agreed as acceptable to all parties including the applicant and neighbouring residents. Council raised no objections to the erection of a boundary wall at Hadspen and also supported the application for internal and Contact us! Find House external alterations to include a single storey rear extension our details in the at Priddles Hill House but with the recommendation that the Conservation Officer gave further consideration to the Lime Parish Directory Wash render finish of the new building in relation to the other buildings on Lime Kiln Lane which of local stone.

Councillor Alan Wells confirmed that he was in discussion with County Highways regarding remedial works to Pitcombe Rock and Mill Lane following the damage to verges caused by heavy traffic resulting from the recent extended closure of Strutters Hill. We were grateful to Paul Rawson of Emily Estate for updating us on the progress of road widening works on the A359 opposite the old quarry to facilitate a right turning lane into the estate and the forthcoming construction of the underpass on A371 and the re-alignment of the road as a result. This work will form a communicating access track from the Shatwell House development to the main facilities at Hadspen House. Our Next meeting: clerk is contacting County Highways to seek action to deal 15 May at with the large quantity spring water flowing onto A359 opposite Sexey’s school.

7.00pm in

the Village Thanks to the local, volunteer effort of Charles Brook, Alan Wells and Robin Currie (and myself) a new Bristol Gate and kissing gate have been installed on footpath WN 22/7 (just beyond the Church and onto Pitcombe Hill) to provide improved walker access.

Hall

PLEASE NOTE that our next meeting will be The Annual Parish Meeting on 15 May at 7.00pm at the Village Hall.This date is a week later than our usual format.This meeting will be immediately followed by the Parish Council Meeting.

(Full approved minutes of all Parish Council Meetings may be viewed on the Parish Website - pitcombepc.org.uk)

John Knight Chair Page 7

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May 2018

BRUTON CHORAL SOCIETY W

ith summer around the corner all our energies are concentrated on our 25th Anniversary Gala Concert and Celebration of the Royal Wedding, to be held at King’s Bruton on Saturday 19 May at 7.30pm.

We are all proud of keeping alive the tradition of choral singing: this concert aims to be a celebration of our choir, with an added royal twist.

We will be joined by an orchestra to perform Handel’s Coronation Anthem: My Heart is Inditing. Other works will include a piece specially commissioned for the occasion by local composer,Andrew Moore: Song’s Eternity, Rutter’s Birthday Madrigals and an eclectic mix of songs by Scott

Joplin from his opera Treemonisha.

We welcome back soprano soloist Catherine Greenwell to perform Handel’s Let the Bright Seraphim and there will also be a Concerto for three trumpets by Telemann. In addition there will be some audience participation! Tickets £10 to include a glass of bubbly from Bruton Pharmacy, Church Bridge Stores, by phoning 01749 812281 or online at b r u t o n c h o r a l s o c i e t y. o r g . u k .

Accompanied children free. It would be wonderful to see all our loyal friends and supporters as well as some new faces at this uplifting celebration of live music in the community.

GILBERT & SULLIVAN EVENING 7.00 pm Saturday 13 OCTOBER 2018 HADSPEN VILLAGE HALL This is an entertaining talk by ROBERT PRANCE, who will share his in-depth knowledge of Gilbert & Sullivan with film-clips and also sing some of the well-known “patter” songs. A cheese board will be available with a glass of wine and guests are invited to bring their own liquid refreshment to enjoy while we are entertained.

Tickets £7.50 to include cheese & biscuits & a glass of wine - available from Jean Constantine on 01749 813103 or wjcon@talktalk.net

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Pitcombe News

THE HAPPY COOKER

GRANNY’S DATE SHORTIES INGREDIENTS For the filling: • 170 g dates • 1 medium-sized cooking apple For the crumble: • 110 g plain flour • 110 g semolina or ground

rice • 110 g margarine or butter • 85 g caster sugar To Sprinkle on top: • Granulated sugar

METHOD

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1. Preheat oven to 190 °C, Gas mark 5. Grease and line an 18 x 28 cm tray.

2. Chop dates. Peel, core and slice apple. Place in a saucepan with 5 tablespoons of water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and pulpy. Cool.

3. Place flour and semolina in a bowl; rub in the margarine or butter. Stir in the caster sugar.

4. Place half the crumble mixture into the tray, and press down lightly. Cover with the apple and date mixture.

5. Place the remaining mixture over the top and press lightly.

Sprinkle with granulated sugar.

6. Cook in the centre of the oven until golden brown (25 – 30 minutes).

7. Leave in the tin until cold and then cut into fingers.

May 2018

PITCOMBE VILLAGE FAYRE APPEALS BRIC-A-BRAC

W

e would be very grateful for donations of good quality items for our stall. Please contact Penny Mounsey (01963 359488 or

email penny.mounsey345@btinternet. com), who will be happy to receive or collect any suitable ‘trash or treasure’ you can spare. Many thanks in advance.

BOTTLE TOMBOLA It’s that time of the year again when we come knocking asking for your help by donating a bottle or two to our Bottle Tombola. Anything you would like to receive yourself which comes in a bottle will be gratefully received and much appreciated. Wines, oils, vinegars, fruit juices, toiletries etc. and bottled items suitable for children, the

list is endless.

The only thing we would ask is that they are unopened and in date please.

Any queries or for collection of items please email Carole Wyatt at carolewyatt@icloud.com or tel 01963 350222. Many thanks.

HOME PRODUCE We are running the Home Produce Stall at the Pitcombe Village Fayre on 16 June and would be very grateful for offers of cakes (large and small),

tea loaves, pickles, chutney, jams and marmalades. Please contact Moira Knight on 01749 813635 or email moira.knight@me.com. Thank you!

PLANT STALL The Plant Stall at The Pitcombe Fayre on 16 June would be delighted to receive any self sown or divided plants you might have. If you would

like them collected please contact Jane on 01963 351429 or email janebatchelorhodges@gmail.com.

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Pitcombe News

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BRUTON FLOWER CLUB

ust a short entry to remind you that Bruton Flower club meet at Bruton School for Girls generally on the first Monday evening of the month at 7.30pm.We enjoy a wide range of floral activities including demonstrations, hands on practice and garden visits.

Last month some of our talented ladies (thank you Wendy, Jackie and

Margaret) gave us a demonstration and Ellen showed us how to make flowers from flower ribbon. Please don’t forget our coffee morning on 5 May at the community hall. If you would like any further information about Bruton Flower Club do contact me on 07788 311191.

Judy Hayter

FREE TRAMPOLINE

O

ur grandchildren are growing up so our 3.66 m (12 ft) trampoline needs a good home.

Contact Charles Brook at Hadspen Farm, 01963 351492, c.brook@ucl. ac.uk.

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Your local, independent oven cleaning service.

01936 441697 www.ovencor.co.uk Email: contact@ovencor.co.uk

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The Flower Shop Beautiful fresh flowers Bespoke country style bouquets Range of jugs, pots, gifts and vases Weddings, funerals, events Family run business Local deli delivery 8 High Street Bruton, Somerset. BA10 0AA Telephone: 01749 812465 Email: jo@theflowershopbruton.co.uk www.theflowershopbruton.co.uk

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Pitcombe News

PITCOMBE PARI

PARISH COUNCIL Chair

pitcombepc.org.uk

John Knight

Secretary Zoe Godden ST LEONARD’S CHURCH The Rector Justin Bailey Benefice Office Bell-ringing

Asiong Crombie Tina Harley

Church Flowers Roster

Tina Harley

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL Secretary Carole Wyatt Churchwardens

Charles Brook Wendy Crane

FRIENDS OF ST LEONARD’S Secretary Cathie Brook HADSPEN VILLAGE HALL Chair Steven Wheadon Bookings Secretaries

Penny Mounsey Jan James

Secretary

Carol Wintle

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH Co-ordinating Officer Sue Chamberlain

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01749 813635 stationmasterknight@me.com pictombepc@gmail.com church.pitcombepc.org.uk 01749 812616 frjustin@btinternet.com benefice@stmarysbruton.com 01749 813262 tina.harley@btinternet.com 01749 813262 tina.harley@btinternet.com 01963 350222 carolewyatt@btinternet.com 01963 351492 c.brook@ucl.ac.uk 01749 813005 wendycrane@btinternet.com 01963 351492 catherinebrook@aol.com hall.pitcombepc.org.uk 01749 814980 steve@longman-cheese-sales.co.uk 01963 359488 penny.mounsey.354@btinternet.com 01963 350464 janet.james945@btinternet.com 01963 350632 carollw1950@gmail.com 01963 350616 sechamberlain@btinternet.com

ISH DIRECTORY PITCOMBE NEWS Co-Editors

Jane Hodges

Anthony Hodges SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB Secretary Carole Wyatt U3A Bridge

Kate Mair

Patchwork

Jan Wilcox

History

Bruce Bower

May 2018

01963 351429 janepamelahodges@hotmail.com anthony.hodges@hodgesassociates.org 01963 350222 carolewyatt@btinternet.com 01963 351544 kateandbillmair@hotmail.com 01747 840335 mail@janwilcox.plus.com 01747 840335 bowersxb@btinternet.com

PILATES Shirley Rutter

07733 085077 shirley.rutter@outlook.com

Jane Onslow

01963 351544 janeonslow@theretreatsc.co.uk

BRUTON ART CLASS

POLICE, AMBULANCE OR FIRE EMERGENCIES Police Non-emergencies HEALTHCARE Bruton Surgery Wincanton Health Centre Shepton Mallet Treatment Centre LOCAL COUNCIL District Councillor Mike Beech County Councillor Roads and Transport

Anna Groskop

999 (or 112) 101 01749 812310 01963 435700 01749 333600 01749 812335 mike.beech@southsomerset.gov.uk 01749 812520 anna.groskop@southsomerset.gov.uk 0845 3459155 roadsandtransportSD@somerset.gov.uk

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May 2018

VILLAGE HALL P

PITCOMBE SUMMER FAYRE

reparations for the Summer Fayre on Saturday 16 June are progressing at pace with all hands to the pump! An advert for the Fayre appears on the back page and all community members are encouraged to invite local residents, relatives and friends to come along to what promises to be a fun day with lots of activities, stalls and refreshments available as well as professional live music something for all. Please note the appeals from the bric-a-brac, home produce, bottle tombola and plant stalls which appear on page 11.

A feature of the event will be the Fun Dog Show so all dogs (and their families) will be very welcome and this year we promise that the show will proceed regardless of any intervening weather events.

We would remind all that the Fayre will commence at 12.00pm from when delicious BBQ food and a full bar will be available. Entrance and parking will be free to all.

As ever, we would be grateful for volunteers to help out with running the stalls and the setting up and taking down before and after the event. Please get in touch with one of the key contacts below if you feel the urge to assist: Anthony Hodges - anthonyhodges@hodgesassociates.org - 01963 351429 Chris Mounsey - penny.mounsey345@btinternet.com - 01963 359488 Mark Tilley - mntilley@btinternet.com - 01963 359526 We look forward to seeing you on the day.

CAR PARK EXTENSION By the time you receive your Pitcombe News the car park extension will be completed and should be operational. The extra parking has been a long time coming and should make things a lot easier for all hall users and is a major improvement to the overall facilities. We are intending that the majority of users will park in this new area unless additional capacity is required.

Hadspen Village Hall Committee Page 17

Pitcombe News

WINE CLUB AGM AND PRESENTATIONS ON 2 FEBRUARY

(WITH APOLOGIES FROM THE EDITORS FOR THE LATE PUBLICATION OF THIS REPORT)

T

he Hadspen Wine Club held its AGM on 2 February and the Chair acknowledged the hard work of the Committee and the various members who had contributed to the series of entertaining and informative presentations during 2017. An interesting programme was proposed for the year ahead and the rude health of the Club was generally acknowledged.

A number of guests have attended the meetings throughout last year and their presence has contributed to the enjoyable and welcoming atmosphere which the Club seeks to maintain.

Following the AGM the first meeting of the year was a departure from the traditional structure. Each Committee member had agreed to present one bottle of wine, of their choice, with the simple brief to use their own style of presentation.We had a broad selection of three white wines, a rose, two reds and fittingly a port to close the evening.

The members were supplied with a simple score sheet on which to record their own notes and impressions about each wine and to estimate the retail price of each bottle presented.This last demonstrated in most cases just how subjective pricing wine can be as most of us were pretty wide of the mark.

Richard Waller opened the batting with a Sauvignon Blanc 2016 from the Marlborough district of New Zealand Page 18

– produced on the Ara single estate in the Wairau valley this was a classic sauvignon (13%) with sharp fresh grapefruit flavours redolent of the cool area of production. One entertaining fact we learned is that whereas the Wairau valley has virtually identical rainfall to Hadspen (700 mm pa) there is a massive contrast in hours of sunshine: 2450 pa compared with approx. 1500…I’ll let you guess which enjoys the most! Watch out for this on offer in Waitrose.

Helen Parker next introduced us to a delicious white wine – the white Bogle Viognier 2014 which was a sweeter mouthful and really transported us across to California the land of endless sunshine and oranges. It was quite powerful stuff at 14.5% and sourced from Great Western wines. Quite simply this is one of Helen’s favourite wines to drink.

Next our President Ken Chamberlain regaled us with memories of a happy recent holiday with Sue in Italy which culminated in the Gavi region. At their hotel Ken selected a local white to accompany dinner and in his own words he was astonished by the flavours of the wine which was like no Gavi he had tasted before. The wine had an interesting combination of honey sweetness and more astringent notes which everyone enjoyed.

May 2018

We moved on to Jane Hodges’ choice of a 2016 rose from Provence.

Jane introduced this as their ‘house rose’ which suggests frequent consumption…a delicate rose colour and very drinkable flavours. The wine from Les Oliviers vineyard is produced from a combination of Cinsault and Grenache grapes. This is available in Majestic wines.

Our Chair David Bates then evoked memories of a snowy night many years ago when he chanced upon a bottle of Lebanese wine being sold at discount in a branch of the late lamented Victoria Wine shops. This happy accident introduced David and Barbara to the exceptional Chateau Moussa red which he shared with us – a bottle of 2006 vintage. This astonishing wine producing area survives in exceptionally challenging circumstances politically and geographically surrounded as it is by conflict and instability. David has been enjoying this lovely wine ever since.

John Knight was the recipient of a superb Christmas present from one of his grandsons – a bottle of red wine indicating a close relationship with grandpa! The resulting discovery for John of Ca’ Marrone Rosso 2016 a rich ruby red at 14.5% was a revelation – especially when you consider a penniless student had forked out for this. The wine comes from the Puglia region of southern Italy made in the Appassimento method which is

the Italian term for drying harvested grapes, traditionally on bamboo racks or straw mats, for a few weeks up to several months to concentrate the sugars and flavours. The surprise of the evening for me was exactly how reasonably priced this wine proved to be for the quality it offers. John quoted one reviewer: Is there a better bargain out there in the high street than this Italian stallion of a wine?

Finally we sailed into the safe havens of Portugal for a relaxing glass of port presented by Alison Tilley who has done much research on the subject – including visits to various Portuguese vineyards and port producers. She presented Churchill’s 10 year old Tawny Port. Ruby in colour it has a full flavour and accompanied by a piece of Barber’s 1833 cheddar all was well with the world and even the relentlessly depressing TV news was forgotten. Interestingly Alison shared with us that 10 year old ports are not 10 year old wines…they are blended from a variety of aged wines to a 10 year port taste by the expertise of the producers…what a job that must be.

So our evening drew to a close and it was agreed by all present that the innovation had been a success and should be repeated in future. We had toured the world in pleasant company and learned something along the way – what better way to spend a Winter evening?

Page 19

Charles Dowding Day courses at Charles Dowding's garden: There are dates for 2018 on the website, book early to secure a place as they mostly sell out well beforehand.

10.30am to 4.00pm at Home Acres, Alhampton BA4 6PZ £135 includes the best vegetable lunch in Somerset. www.charlesdowding.co.uk Homeacre’s garden is open on the first weekend of June (2nd – 3rd) 12.00pm to 4.30pm, in aid of NGS. Charles is on a tour of northern UK in late January and early February.

Charles' latest book is a bestseller, reprinted and 2000 already shipped to the USA: No Dig Organic Home & Garden.

Grow, cook, use and store your harvest.

By Charles Dowding and Stephanie Hafferty Check out his Diary too!

Available on the website and at Bailey Hill Bookshop.

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May 2018

CASTLE CARY GARDENING ASSOCIATION NEWS

T

he March meeting fell victim to the brief and thorough winter.The speaker will be back so watch out for next year’s programme!

April’s talk on Wildlife in the Garden was beautifully presented by Dr Anne and husband John Bebbington. The information and the photographs were spellbinding and Anne’s botanical drawings, sold as cards for the Somerset Wildlife Trust, were utterly wonderful. The packed crowd were spellbound.

to encourage them will be useful for any gardeners.

Saturday 5 May is our Annual Plant Sale and Coffee Morning at the Market House in Castle Cary until midday.We have a selection of annuals, vegetables and perennials. Happily the beekeepers will be there as will the Tools for SelfReliance folk selling their wonderfully refurbished hand tools.

we have Paul “Newman (not

that one) giving us a talk on reptiles and amphibians

We meet for 7.30pm in the church rooms beneath the Methodist church in Castle Cary. Annual On 5 May we have Paul Newman (not that one) giving membership is £7, the benefits of us a talk on reptiles and amphibians which include discretionary discounts called ‘Herps for the Hignorant’. at Dave Marsh and Julian Shave as well Herpetology is the study of these as the annual discount trip to Castle animals in case you were worried by Gardens. A visitor for the evening is the title! Toads and frogs eat flies, slugs only a £1. and snails so any information on how

”

DAFFODILS IN PITCOMBE

A

fter a long, cold, wet winter, planted them for cheering us up when what a joy to see the daffodils we needed a little lift. What a cheerful in Pitcombe. Thank you to whoever celebration of spring.

Wendy Crane Page 21

Pitcombe News

3 SEPTEMBER 1939

“T

he Darkest Hour” is a very fine film that I hope all of you have seen. It presents the situation of Britain at the time Churchill became Prime Minister. The whole audience was moved, particularly people like me who were alive at the time. It brought back memories that I did not know I still had. Many of them relate to the declaration of war on 3 September 1939. I was 11 years old.

“I regret that on the instructions of my Government, I have to hand you an ultimatum for the German Government,” he said with deep emotion, and then, he read out the British ultimatum. ‘More than twentyfour hours have elapsed since an immediate reply was requested to the warning of September 1, and since then the attacks on Poland have been intensified. If His Majesty’s Government has not The Nazi occupation of received satisfactory assurances of Czechoslovakia in March 1939 the cessation of all aggressive action defied the Munich agreement and against Poland, and the withdrawal of ended Neville Chamberlain’s policy German troops from that country, of appeasement. It was thought that by 11 o’clock British Summer Time, Poland might be the next country hit. from that time a state of war will exist This was of major concern to Britain between Great Britain and Germany.’ since we and France had previously signed a treaty to go to the aid of The stipulated conditions were not Poland should it be attacked. met and at about 1.30pm when most people were eating Sunday lunch, the At 9.00am on the morning of 2 Air Raid sirens sounded. We knew it September, Sir Neville Henderson, was not another practice warning, Britain’s ambassador to Germany, it was the real thing. People rushed delivered an ultimatum stating that if into the streets wearing gas masks hostilities did not cease by 11.00am, and peering into the sky to see if any a state of war would exist between German bombers were approaching.

Great Britain and Germany. Germany Fortunately, they were not. did not respond and at 11.15am on the morning of 3 September 1939, Britain was not ready to confront a full Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, in Nazi attack and everyone knew it.The a broadcast to the nation, announced Channel was our one hope. Knowing that Britain was at war with Germany. this and not knowing when and where an attack was going to come created Page 22

May 2018

Hurricanes was a top priority. He went to work in the early evening, worked through the night and got home at about 9.00am. He went straight to bed, had dinner at about 4.00pm and was off to work again by 6.00am. He In preparation for what might come, had very little time me to spend with thousands of children were evacuated us. to the countryside. Also, the first Barrage Balloons went up, gas masks The workers worked hard and the were issued to those who did not rest looked to see what they could do have them and Anderson shelters to help.The Home Guard was created were delivered to houses with suitable at the start of the war to provide local support and 1.5 million volunteers gardens. joined. These were mainly those that The biggest shock for me was finding were ineligible for military service, that the recreation ground where my and those too young or too old to friends and I played cricket and kicked join them. footballs, had trenches dug out at intervals across it. Councils had been Then Hitler postponed his attack on told that this had to be done through Britain but that, is another story. all such fields. a very strange atmosphere. Rumours added to the tension. My grandfather and I were glued to the radio so as not to miss any news bulletin and I am sure that was the same elsewhere.

We did not know how much time we had before they attacked. Hitler was busy in Poland and there were Belgium and France to deal with before his army could attack Britain but, their air force was ready to start immediately and did.

Fear was in the air but there was no panic. People worked even harder to do their part in preparing for what was to come. My father was working for Hawker Aircraft and building more

Ken Chamberlain

Page 23

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May 2018

A

ANNABEL BAINBRIDGE, PROJECT TRUST PROGRAMME

nnabel is the grand-daughter of Charles and Cathie Brook and was selected by the Educational Charity, Project Trust, to work on a teaching project in South Africa, as a gap year assignment. Some of the Pitcombe community supported Annabel in her efforts to raise money to realise this opportunity and she has sent us a report about her experiences to date.

I have been living in Zithulele for over two months now and am having a really fascinating time. Zithulele village is centred around Zithulele Hospital and is very remote with the nearest town (Mtatha) over an hour away. The Oliver Tambo District, in which the hospital lies, is one of the poorest rural areas in South Africa and unemployment is at 38%. As a result, the village is also home to a number of charitable organisations ranging from Axium, a charity providing after school lessons to local students with potential, to Grace Vision, an NGO screening and treating a variety of eye conditions. This leads to a very interesting dynamic between the local and NGO communities as the notion of integration is constantly considered and striven for.

I am spending most of my mornings working alongside local teachers in the village preschool. I often lead the morning circle before working with smaller groups of children on different activities such as introductions to numeracy. A Montessori curriculum is being gradually introduced into the school and most of the teachers have just completed their qualification for this. I have also been spending time in the Independent School, initially established as a retention strategy for long term hospital and NGO staff. At the school, I have been teaching English, maths and music to

students aged from 5 to 8. My afternoons are divided between giving piano lessons and the library, where children attend every afternoon to participate in a range of craft activities. Recently, we have been cataloguing the library books using the Dewey decimal system in order to prepare local students for this system at university. My timetable is very varied so whilst my project is based around music and English in early education, I have also had the opportunity to work with some of the teachers on English language and IT skills as well as visit local homes to talk to mothers about how to educate their children. In addition, I have spent time reading with children on the paediatric ward at Zithulele hospital and have helped organise a spelling competition for local schools!

I live in a house with four other Project Trust volunteers. The house is owned by Jabulani Rural Health Foundation, the charity I work for, but is rented from the Church due to its placement on Mission land. We can walk to Lubanzi beach and have already spent weekends at Coffee Bay, Hole in the Wall and Mtatha!

In the next few months, I am hoping to improve my Xhosa in order to communicate more effectively with my students and to play a more active role in planning and giving lessons in the Preschool and library.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support of my project. I look forward to updating you further with news of my time here!

Best wishes, Annabel

Page 25

Pitcombe News

BRUTON & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

I

n March we visited Forde Abbey for a guided tour round the house followed by a delicious lunch and other refreshments in their cafe. We then wandered independently around the grounds which were only partially snow covered but there was still ice on one of the ponds. The snow had flattened the millions of crocuses but in the rockeries and beds the heathers, cyclamen and snowdrops provided very colourful carpets and were not too damaged. One or two iris and primrose were out plus a few daffodils and the beginnings of tulips.

Photos of the visit are on the Gallery page of our website.

plants for sale.

Our autumn & spring talks are in Bruton Community Hall on Mondays at 7.30pm, where you would be very welcome. Come to a few meetings, then if you’d like to become a member, the £6 sub will ensure you get our newsletter with our programme, and other benefits such as discounted seeds. Details of our summer visits are on our website. You are welcome to come on visits but booking is essential as they often include refreshments.

snow “had theflattened the millions of crocuses

Steph Hafferty gave us a talk on perennial kitchen gardening which gave us plenty of good ideas not only on what to grow but how to prepare it. We look forward to sampling Steph’s dishes at our annual garden supper on 2 July at Charles Dowding’s garden.

On 12 May we are holding our plant sale & coffee morning in the Community Hall at 9.30am. Members will be bringing all sorts of interesting Page 26

”

Alison Shingler 01749 812393 brutonhorticultural.org.uk

Your Health & Wellbeing

by Sarah Crossman *** Hand and Feet Reflexology *** Reflexology Lymph Drainage

** NEW ** Beautiful gift vouchers ready for the gifting season Treat your loved one to something special Available from Life Reflexology or visit Made in Bruton 13 High Street.

Sarah Crossman CRM5 MAR CNHC Tel: 07531 831 553 sarah@lifereflexology.co.uk www.lifereflexology.co.uk Pitcombe, Bruton.

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