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Calendar for August 2001

Services in Kingscote

Services in Horsley

• No Taize worship meeting will be held in August.
• Members of the parish and other readers are reminded that there is still time to contribute to the leaving gifts for the vicar, which will be presented at a reception in the Lady Chapel after his last service on Sunday 12th August. Please give generously in gratitude for the five years of faithful ministry which John has given us. Monies may be given to any PCC member, but since the Treasurer will be away for the next few weeks it has been agreed that H.Tubbs (Churchwarden) will act as 'banker' for this collection.
• Clergy have been engaged for all of the normal Kingscote services in August. However this may not always be possible in future months. When it is clear that we cannot find a minister for a future service, this will be indicated in the Forerunner. The editor will try to ensure that the services in Horsley are correctly advertised, so that if there is not a service in Kingscote then parishioners can attend there in confidence.
• Forerunner Internet Site www.geocities.com/forerunneruk/
• Diocesan Internet News Site >www.glosdioc.org.uk

The Vicar's Letter

Dear All,

This is the last letter of mine which will be published in the magazine whilst I am your vicar.* As I write, many memories of the past few years in the Benefice come flooding back. When I arrived in October 1996, I was originally only supposed to be here for three years. Those three years have grown into virtually five. It has been, and continues to be, a time of mixed emotions - of the joy of sharing in the life of the parishes and meeting such wonderful friendly people; the frustration shared by many in the rural ministry of ministering to decreasing congregations in an age when there are so many other things to do on a Sunday; the insecurity felt in knowing that I would have to move soon and the parishes be joined with Nailsworth, but not knowing exactly when. The move itself is tinged with both excitement and sadness; excitement at moving on to the challenge of all the work in a new group of parishes, and sadness at having to say goodbye to friends at Horsley and Kingscote.

Many people have helped me in many different ways since I arrived, too many to mention by name, but I am extremely grateful for the support everyone has given me over the years.

Now I am surrounded by packing boxes and the days are racing by. The countdown to the move has well and truly begun. There still seems to be so much to do and not enough hours in the day. I had almost forgotten how stressful moving can be - not something you want to do too often. It seems that even the wonders of modern technology only add to, rather than diminish the stress !

When I needed to ring the Gas Board a while ago to ask a straightforward question, I was furious at constantly getting through to their automated service. Then being told that I was held in a queue. It took me two days to get a human being on the other end of the line. I was bemoaning this fact to a friend a little later and she sent me this snippet from the magazine ?Country Way - Life in Rural Britain?. I?ll sign off, leaving you with these thoughts:

* NB John has left a couple of other letters, which were already in the pipe-line, with the editor.

Imagine praying and hearing this:

"Thank you for calling God?s house. Please select one of the following options: Press 1 For Requests, Press 2 for Thanksgiving, Press 3 for Complaints, Press 4 for All Other Enquiries."

What if God used the familiar excuse:

"I?m sorry, all of our angels are busy helping other sinners right now. However your prayer is important to us and will be answered in the order in which it was received, so please stay on your knees".

Can you imagine getting these responses as you called God in prayer ?

" If you would like to speak to Gabriel, Press 1; Michael, Press 2; for a directory of all other angels, Press 3. If you would like to hear King David sing a psalm while your are holding, please Press 4. To find out if a loved one has been assigned to heaven, Press 5, enter his or her National Insurance number, then press the hash key. If you get a negative response, try area code 666. For reservations in God?s house, please enter J_O_H_N , followed by 3-1-6. For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs, the age of the earth, and the location of Noah?s Ark, please wait until you arrive here."

Or perhaps, " Our computers show that you have already prayed once today. Please ring off and try again tomorrow so that others may have a chance to get through. The office at God?s house is closed from 5 pm on Friday, all day Saturday and Sunday. Please pray again on Monday after 9.30 am. If emergency assistance is needed, contact your local parish priest (assuming that you still have one)."

Once again, thank you for your support. It has been a privilege serving here. I wish the Benefice well for the future.

God bless,

John Newcombe

July 29th and Aug 5th Mrs A. Wooldridge

Aug 12th and Aug 19th Mrs K. Candy

Aug 26th and Sept 2nd Mrs L.Marsh

Sept 9th and Sept 16th Mrs T. Pool

As usual, no meeting in August.

Our next meeting will be in the church at 2.30 pm on Wednesday 8th Aug.

I think I speak for all of the congregation of Sunday 8th July when I say a big thank you to all of the children who conducted such a wonderful service, budding musicians too.

Also congratulations to Elin and Janet who are doing such a wonderful job in guiding these youngsters to develop into kind and thoughtful people.

The sun smiled on us for our day out to Kidderminster where we boarded a lovely old steam train bound for Bridgenorth. It was a tranquil feeling just chugging along at a leisurely pace, and we found Bridgenorth to be a pleasant little town where we had a midday meal and a stroll. All of the little stations on the route had colourful little gardens and hanging baskets. Kidderminster station was very interesting , where an Air Raid Wardens? dug-out had been preserved, together with a clock dial with adjustable hands which pointed each evening to the ?black-out? times. Memories came flooding back.

Our next meeting will be on 31st July when Jane Bateman will be our Hostess for a barbecue evening starting at 6.30 pm at Bumper?s Isle.

Vida Sutton

Those who attended the visit to the garden at Highgrove on Friday 20th July will wish to join in thanking Richard and Gina Waller for organising this event. It was fascinating to see the many original and beautifully executed horticultural and architectural features which Prince Charles and his team have introduced.

NB: CDC special offer on compost bins continues (Tel. 01285 643 643).

The editor

This event seems to go from strength to strength. The weather leading up to it was foul and we ?garden openers? started to mutter about our roses being past their best and that maybe this was the wrong time of year to be opening: gloom mounted. The day itself dawned damp and dreary - "this is it", we thought over the final tweakings and mowings, "nobody is going to come".

A few hours later it was a different story: the sky brightened, the sun appeared like magic and, Oh did those visitors come ! In their hundreds, from as far away as Cheltenham and Swindon. All afternoon, a tide of appreciative people flowed through Kingscote, round the nine open gardens and into the Village Hall for tea, stretching the tea team to the limit. An extra army of washers-up had to be recruited and helpers could be seen rushing round the village bearing plates of cakes raided from freezers and snatched from family parties. The Winstons? ice cream van passing through struck gold. The parking situation threatened to get out of control, despite Hunters Hall letting us use their car park, but Sam Pride did a great job directing traffic from his bike.

Comments from visitors were overwhelmingly favourable. They seemed to enjoy the good variety of gardens on view, all of them interesting and attractive, from the two lakes at either end of the trail to the smaller scale cottage gardens en route. Most had heard of us from the local press - a colour photo and write up in the Journal and Gazette undoubtedly helped - but also Kingscote is (rightly!) getting a reputation for its excellent gardens and teas to match.

So, apologies to residents who were inconvenienced by the invasion, but I hope you feel that the results made it worthwhile - £1537.67 goes to the RED CROSS from the ticket and plant sales, and £413.57 goes to the church Fabric Fund from the teas, with a donation to the Village Hall.

Finally a huge thank you to all garden openers and the many other helpers who made it such a successful and enjoyable occasion.

Sue Bradley-Jones.

As you will be aware the number of events held in the Village Hall has risen significantly in the last couple of years. This increase reflects the commitment of the Village Hall Management Committee to the promotion of local activities. The public response has been excellent with all three events this year attracting a ?full house? and much positive comment. In addition the introduction of a table tennis table has encouraged the use of the Hall by younger members of the community. The issue facing the Committee is where do we go from here ? If the progress made to date is to be maintained we need to strengthen the Committee as increasingly a very small group of people are being asked to give more and more of their time to organise events and look after the Hall.

The future of our village hall can only be secured if people are willing to get involved. Without this input there is no guarantee that the present positive outlook will be maintained. The Committee believes that the events hosted at the Hall have an important place in the life of the Parish as they offer an invaluable opportunity for local people to get to know each other.

Please come along.

Kingscote Village Hall Management Committee.

1. Come and use the tennis court at Ashcroft House. It is well out of anyone else?s sight ! Just give us a ring to make a booking.
2. Pitch your tent for the night or the week and have a barbecue in a field far from any houses.

Parishioners of all ages welcome; give us a ring when the weather looks right for what you have in mind.

Ben and Georgina Harford

Groups, village halls or individuals who are interested in showing films or starting up a film club in their village should contact Caroline Edwards for information on what assistance is available through the GRCC. Tel: 01452 528 491 or e-mail caroline @ grcc.org.uk

Tetbury Leisure Centre and the GRCC are organising summer skate sessions on 22nd August in Tetbury and on 23rd August in Didmarton. They will run from 9 am to 11 am for 12 years old and under, and from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm for 13 years and older. All abilities welcome, boards and pads can be provided. Contact Tetbury Leisure Centre for more information on 01666 505 805.

Caroline Edwards

Mobile Library

The mobile library will be by The Walled Garden from 9.40 am to 9.55 am on Thursdays August 9th and 23rd.

The boxes will be emptied as follows:

Newington and Bagpath - Mon. 6th and 20th August.

Kingscote - Tues. 7th and 21st August.

Contributions for the next issue please by 20th August to Harry Tubbs, 3 The Walled Garden, Tel. 860 194, Email .

The PCC thanks all who are keeping the churchyard tidy during what is proving to be a fast growing season. Fingers crossed that the mower keeps going !

(We have some space to spare this month so the editor has added the material below for your interest)

Extracts from: The Diary of a Cotswold Parson, Rev F.E.Witts,

1783-1854, Edited by David Very, Sutton Publishing.

The Rev. Witts was Rector of Upper Slaughter and a magistrate in Gloucester. His diaries give a fascinating insight into life in Gloucestershire at that time.

December 2nd 1834:

Dispatched a packet with a letter to the Bishop of Gloucester, containing Mr. Lawrence?s little pamphlet on the management of cottage gardens, with a copy of the rules on which the Allotment system is here conducted. His Lordship proposes this Autumn to assign a few acres of land close to Gloucester to poor families to be cultivated by spade husbandry.

June 8th 1835:

A very brilliant hot day. After a very early breakfast, left home for the Metropolis, and drove to Stow where at 6.00 am I ascended the roof of a branch coach, which makes Oxford at 10 o?clock in time to transfer such of its passengers as proceed to London, by the Blenheim coach. I engaged my place from Stow to London: the coach to Oxford is drawn by two horses, but is well appointed: from Oxford the conveyance is by an excellent and long established four-horse coach. Travelled to London by the Wycombe road (M40?) and reached the Coach Office in Oxford Street by four o?clock. Was much struck by the luxuriant crops of a new clover, the Trifolium incarnatum, near High Wycombe. This beautiful scarlet plant has long been cultivated for ornament in flower gardens; but in France is cultivated as a productive and nutritious grass.

April 4th 1837:

My son had ridden to Sudeley to be present at the annual Cheltenham Steeple Chase, and returned to dinner. He reported the result; that an immense crowd of carriages, horsemen and pedestrians had been congregated, that fifteen horses started, of whom five were placed, the stakes being won by Capt. Lamb?s Vivian. ??.. It is the mania of the day thus to tempt Providence. The ground selected was in the valley stretching from Winchcombe to Charlton Abbots, a course of five miles with the due proportion of fences, walls, hill, dale, brook and roads to cross etc. The scene must have been very animated.

April 24th 1837:

A beautiful spring day. Much alarmed about mid-day by a sudden fainting fit which deprived Mrs. Backhouse of all consciousness?? Dr. Hayward recommended some alteration of diet; but Mrs. B is so particular in her dislike of many things which would be good for her, and in partiality to food unsuitable, that it is doubtful if his advice will be closely followed.

July 12th (Wednesday) 1837:

A beautiful day. Wrote to London Fishmonger to order fish for a dinner party on Friday.

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