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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 7 8 right. Slaidburn is up the hill and gives the impression and even more so on a wet grey day of a very dour place with very dark almost black buildings in the centre. There are two roads north, one passed about two miles back on the right which goes to Clapham crossing the Stocks Reservoir, and the other is a right turn in the centre of Slaidburn going to High Bentham and Ingleton. High Bentham has a cattle market which operates from about four o'clock and on into the evening, contrary to most markets. I discovered this when I stayed on a farm just outside Ingleton not far from Westhouse a few years ago. These two roads are passing through wild country, much of it treeless moorland with little forest which belies its name and reaching 8-900 feet at the highest points and little evidence of good grassland. This is a really different landscape to the Carboniferous Limestone country further east on the other side of the A65. The B6478 turns more or less south at Slaidburn towards Clitheroe. Before following this route, it is worth taking the minor road due west to Dunsop Bridge which is an attractive village right beside the River Hodder and the River Dunsop itself. Here there is the village store and teashop which on the occasion I was there provided good fare for walker, cyclist and motorist; a good place to tarry a while on a fine day! Puddleducks is the name of this cafe in the heart of the Trough of Bowland with its duck filled village green. Interestingly from here is the other wild road over Bowland going in a west north west direction climbing all the time to the highest point at Westfield House with a viewpoint before a steep drop to the village of Quernmore (the name of a road near Stationers'), the River Conder and Lancaster. Let us return to Slaidburn to continue our journey to Waddington which is a very attractive village with a stream flowing through the centre following the road from north to south with a charming bridge and green. There is a village pub and cafe in the main street. No great distance is Clitheroe, a very pleasant town in the Ribble Valley with a Norman castle overlooking the town. This is a bustling town which serves this whole area. Two places of interest further downstream are Ribchester and Whalley with its abbey, founded by Cistercians. The main route back north east is the A59 which joins Preston to York via Skipton and Harrogate, a very attractive route through some very pleasant scenery. The Ribble Valley here separates the Bowland Forest from the highland of Pendle Hill to the east at a height of 1827 feet. The return from Clitheroe can be made through Chatburn and a visit to Sawley Abbey and Bolton by Bowland, another very attractive village on the west side of the Ribble which has a teashop in the main street. From Bolton by Bowland one can return to Settle along the A59 to Gisburn, taking a left turn on the A682, following the Ribble upstream or following the minor road to Holden and returning to Wigglesworth. This sortie into the Forest of Bowland is not on most peoples agenda but it is well worth a visit for two or three days. Ed Waddington 40
A YEAR iN THE LiFE oF THE ViCE PRESiDENT oF THE METHoDiST CHuRCH When I left the staff of Stationers' in 1975, it was to teach in a rural school in Sierra Leone under the auspices of the Methodist Church. Looking back, the three building blocks of education, a world view, and the Church have shaped much of my life. Most of my 25 years of teaching was actually spent in Hertfordshire comprehensives, followed by 14 years in the employment of the Methodist Church as a lay person - involved in developing relationships with the 65 self-governing Partner Churches that want to be involved with the Methodist Church in Britain. It certainly enabled me to travel to some extraordinary parts ofthe world and, more importantly, it meant that I met some fascinating people from all walks of life. Just when I was moving into 'retirement mode', I was asked to put my name forward as Vice-President of the Methodist Church and was elected for 2012/13. The Methodist Church in Britain {MCB)still has nearly 5000 chapels and churches open, has nearly a quarter of a million members, and probably plays host to four times that number each week. It has always been heavily involved with those in need, and indeed the Salvation Army springs from Methodist roots. Therefore, it was both an honour and a wonderful opportunity to be elected as VP for 12 months. In the Methodist Church organisation, power is vested in an annual Conference of just over 300 elected representatives. It is very democratic and every year a President (Ordained) and Vice-President (either a deacon or a lay person) preside or chair the Conference business that lasts nearly a week. For the rest of the year, the joint Presidency act as the figureheads of the Conference, having authority, but no power! So for me it was a year that actually started in February 2012, representing MCB in New Zealand, to be in solidarity with people at the anniversary of the Christchurch earthquake, before going on to Tonga and Samoa. Since then, it has meant many weekends visiting Districts from Newcastle to the Isles of Scilly, preaching at various anniversa ry services, speaking on a variety of topics, and visiting some inspirational work amongst the most needy in the land - T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 7 5 NEWS oF FoRMER STAFF from asylum seekers to the increasing numbers helped by Foodbanks. Inevitably this brings religion into the political arena and being VP meant attending Autumn party conferences, signing various letters to politicians on behalf of the Church, as well as many meetings. I was given one of the best seats in Canterbury Cathedral for the Archbishop's enthronement, and also access to a shelter for homeless men in Preston; a reception with politicians in Northern Ireland, as well as visiting Methodist primary schools in Swaledale; preaching from John Wesley's pulpit in City Road, and also involved in extraordinary cross-cultural worship in Roath, Cardiff. It was quite a year. It was a real privilege to serve the Methodist Church in this way. In July I handed over to this year's VP, Daleep Mukarji, until recently the Director of Christian Aid. For me, it's been an exciting journey since teaching in Hornsey forty years ago! Michael King CLiVE BLECKiNSoP One evening last month I was playing darts with a few friends in the Haringey Arms, Crouch End when in came a face from the past. It was Clive Blenkinsop who taught at the school in the late 60's and 70's. Although Clive never taught me, I stayed in touch with him for several years through a drinking group that met at the Wrestlers pub in Highgate on a Sunday lunch time. As it is probably 40 years since we last met I am pleased to say I still recognised him even without the pint in his hand. We reminisced about all aspects of the school, particularly the roll call of good and bad teachers and the impact of the "comprehensive" experiment! He chuckled as I recalled my first physics lesson when Holly suspended a bar magnet from the ceiling which steadfastly refused to point to magnetic north which everyone in the class knew was directly in line with Alexandra Palace clearly visible from the window. Clive mentioned that he had a couple of photos taken in the staff room which represented the inner sanctum and being out of bounds for all pupils, is probably the only part of the school building that I had never seen. He sent me these pictures which include Read and Topley playing lunch time chess, Gus Thomas having a siesta, Clive with the Guardian and the German set of 66-67. The pictures were taken by Werner Konig the German assistant at the time. Clive has supplied an accompanying note which is published below. (addendum - Clive is now supplementing his pension with regular winnings from the Thursday night quiz at the Royal Oak, St James Lane, Muswell Hill which coincidentally is run by old stationer, Chris Pollikett!) Tim Westbrook Below: Gus Thomas asleep in the staffroom 41
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