The Parish Magazine May 2021
Serving the communities of Charvil, Sonning and Sonning Eye since 1869
Serving the communities of Charvil, Sonning and Sonning Eye since 1869
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 1<br />
<strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Parish</strong><br />
<strong>Magazine</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> John King Trophy and Gold Award<br />
Best <strong>Magazine</strong> of the Year 2018<br />
National <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> Awards<br />
Best Overall <strong>Magazine</strong> 2020<br />
Best Editor 2019<br />
Best Print 2018<br />
Best Content 2016<br />
Best Overall <strong>Magazine</strong> 2015<br />
Serving the communities of Charvil, Sonning & Sonning Eye since 1869<br />
<strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> — Pentecost<br />
Church of St Andrew<br />
Serving Sonning, Charvil & Sonning Eye<br />
the church of st andrew, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF<br />
CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY
2 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
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Serving the communities of Charvil, Sonning & Sonning Eye since 1869<br />
Church of St Andrew<br />
Serving Sonning, Charvil & Sonning Eye<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 1<br />
<strong>The</strong> John King Trophy and Gold Award<br />
Best <strong>Magazine</strong> of the Year 2018<br />
National <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> Awards<br />
Best Overall <strong>Magazine</strong> 2020<br />
Best Editor 2019<br />
Best Print 2018<br />
Best Content 2016<br />
Best Overall <strong>Magazine</strong> 2015<br />
information — 1<br />
Contents <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
THE VICAR'S LETTER, 5<br />
THE PARISH NOTICEBOARD<br />
— A passion for prayer, part 2, 7<br />
— For your prayers in <strong>May</strong>, 7<br />
— On Reflection: Esther, 9<br />
— From the editor's desk, 9<br />
— David Duvall RIP, 10-11<br />
— STAY, 13<br />
— Easter Scavenge, 15<br />
features<br />
— <strong>The</strong> month of the child? 17<br />
— 100 years of the 'Legion', 19-21<br />
— Pentecost, 22-23<br />
— Claude met the Queen, 25<br />
around the villages<br />
— PACT seeks key workers, 27<br />
— Pet picture offer, 27<br />
— Sonning Show date, 27<br />
— Charvil ladies to sing again, 27<br />
— Pearson Hall AGM, 27<br />
HEALTH<br />
— Dr Simon Ruffle writes, 29-31<br />
the sciences<br />
— Sharing your feelings, 31<br />
HOME & GARDEN<br />
— Recipe of the Month, 33<br />
— Bible Garden topia, 33<br />
THE ARTS<br />
— From sun to Son, 35<br />
— Fashionable music, 35<br />
— Poetry Corner, 37<br />
— George Webster, 37<br />
PUZZLE PAGE, 38-39<br />
This month's FRONT COVER<br />
<strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> — Pentecost<br />
<strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Parish</strong><br />
<strong>Magazine</strong><br />
the church of st andrew, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF<br />
CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY<br />
<strong>The</strong> lighting of the new Paschal candle,<br />
traditionally lit from the Easter fire after<br />
sunset on the eve of Easter day, began<br />
an emotional first Communion service<br />
of Easter. <strong>The</strong> flames of the Easter fire<br />
symbolise the Holy Spirit who, seven weeks<br />
after the resurrection of Christ, came upon<br />
the first Christians at Pentecost, a worldchanging<br />
event that we celebrate this month<br />
on Sunday 23 <strong>May</strong> — see pages 22-23<br />
Picture: Indy Biddulph<br />
EDITORIAL DEADLINE<br />
<strong>The</strong> editorial deadline for every issue<br />
of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is 12 noon on<br />
the sixth day of the month prior to the<br />
date of publication.<br />
<strong>The</strong> deadline for the June<br />
issue of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is:<br />
Thursday 6 <strong>May</strong> at 12 noon<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> online<br />
This issue can also be viewed online at:<br />
http://www.theparishmagazine.co.uk<br />
Earlier issues from 1869 onwards are<br />
stored in a secure online archive. If you<br />
wish to view these archives contact the<br />
editor who will authorise<br />
access for you:<br />
editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 3<br />
Services at<br />
St Andrew’s<br />
IN-PERSON WORSHIP<br />
As we went to press in April the ministry<br />
in-person worship had been resumed in<br />
accordance with Church of England and<br />
UK government guidance. It is planned<br />
to hold the following services in <strong>May</strong>, but<br />
please check the details on the website or<br />
weekly sheets nearer the time.<br />
Sunday 2 <strong>May</strong><br />
— 8.00am Holy Communion<br />
— 10.30am Family Communion<br />
Sunday 9 <strong>May</strong><br />
— 8.00am Holy Communion<br />
— 10.30am <strong>Parish</strong> Eucharist with<br />
Sunday Club and STAY<br />
Ascension Sunday 16 <strong>May</strong><br />
— 8.00am Holy Communion<br />
— 10.30am Family Communion<br />
Pentecost Sunday 23 <strong>May</strong><br />
— 8.00am Holy Communion<br />
— 10.30am <strong>Parish</strong> Eucharist with<br />
Sunday Club and STAY<br />
Sunday 30 <strong>May</strong><br />
— 8.00am Holy Communion<br />
— 10.30am <strong>Parish</strong> Eucharist with<br />
Sunday Club and STAY<br />
OTHER REGULAR SERVICES<br />
Mid-week Communion in <strong>The</strong> Ark<br />
will be held every Wednesday at<br />
10.00am<br />
Morning Prayer in <strong>May</strong> will be in<br />
Church at 9.30am every Tuesday and<br />
once a month on a Friday — this<br />
month it will be on 7 <strong>May</strong>.<br />
Compline on Zoom will be sang<br />
every Wednesday evening — full<br />
details about how to login from Rev<br />
Kate (contact details on page 42)<br />
children's page, 41<br />
information<br />
— Church services, 3<br />
— From the registers, 3<br />
— <strong>Parish</strong> contacts, 42<br />
— Advertisers index, 42<br />
From the registers<br />
Funerals<br />
— Tuesday 16 March, Stephen Andrew Mark Bennett, burial in the churchyard<br />
— Thursday 18 March, Simon Carl Indge, funeral service, Reading Crematorium<br />
— Thursday 22 March, Alan Jeffrey Richards, funeral service, Easthampstead Park
4 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
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<strong>The</strong> vicar's letter<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 5<br />
Dear friends,<br />
<strong>The</strong> place of music within our parish life has been much on my mind<br />
recently. In the build up to Easter we were playing something of a<br />
guessing game in terms of planning services without knowing what might<br />
or might not be allowed. This was followed by the sad news of our former<br />
organist's sudden death. David Duvall served the parish in that voluntary<br />
role for 37 years and he was a well-liked and respected presence who<br />
contributed so much to our musical life.<br />
We then learned of our current director of music's decision to retire<br />
after 44 years of service at the organ, the last 6 years spent with us. Chris<br />
Goodwin has done much to enhance the ministry of music here and we<br />
will rightly honour that in August when he and Helen leave us.<br />
We plan to advertise for his replacement this month and there is<br />
no doubt that with the legacy of David and Chris, a new organ, choral<br />
foundation, funded and ready to be launched with the goodwill and<br />
full backing of the PCC, this will be an attractive post. It is quite an<br />
exciting time to recruit for this role as Covid has changed so much of the<br />
landscape for us at St Andrew's. <strong>The</strong> new director of music will have a<br />
pivotal role in shaping what happens as we ease out of all the restrictions<br />
and it is important that we appoint the right person. I ask all church<br />
members to be praying about this.<br />
Finally, what a joy it was to hear the adult choir and full organ on Easter Sunday and then to lead the whole<br />
congregation out to the beautiful setting of <strong>The</strong> Ark garden where we all joined in singing, at the top of our<br />
voices, 'Thine be the glory'. It was such a contrast to Easter 2020 with the miserable sight of a locked church and I<br />
felt we were turning a corner. I pray that I am right!<br />
PASTORAL MINISTRY<br />
All institutions have much to reflect on as they begin to look to the future after these difficult months.<br />
Things that might have once seemed important are perhaps now seen in a different light. Last year our church<br />
council was supposed to begin the process of establishing priorities for the next five years, something that<br />
proved impossible during the pandemic. It is just as well as we would probably be ripping them up now as the<br />
landscape has changed so much. One such area is in the field of pastoral care. A parish church like ours, which<br />
serves three communities and has worshipping members from 20 other towns and villages week by week, faces<br />
a challenge and it is one we take seriously. In light of this, the PCC has formed a subcommittee, chaired by Rev<br />
Kate, to look at all aspects of our pastoral ministry and to see how we might improve on what we already offer.<br />
<strong>The</strong> former Archdeacon of Berkshire, Norman Russell, once said in a sermon during the financial crisis<br />
of 2008/9 'never waste a crisis'. I recall those words now as we look to the future. While the pandemic has<br />
presented many challenges to the church both nationally and locally, we also need to be sensitive to how we<br />
can creatively use this situation to become more like the church God wants us to be. We should not just seek<br />
to restart everything and hope everything goes back to normal. Perhaps we are being called to assess our<br />
priorities and we might be surprised as new ones emerge. Who knows?<br />
One such priority which I believe has emerged in our home situations is the need for human contact. Those of<br />
us blessed with loved ones at home have — mostly — greatly valued having them around during lockdown.<br />
For those who live alone, the past year has no doubt been tough and because of the stringent rules, there has<br />
not been a great deal we as a church have been able to do to alleviate this. Well, just as soon as we are able,<br />
Rendezvous lunch club will restart, the Friday Youth Club has already made tentative steps to get back to<br />
normality, and Messy Church will not be far behind. But I wonder what more we can do? Suffice to say, we take<br />
this very seriously and commit to reaching out in new and imaginative ways in the time to come. We will keep<br />
you posted!<br />
Warm wishes,<br />
Jamie<br />
PRIORITIES<br />
HUMAN CONTACT
6 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
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the parish noticeboard — 1<br />
A passion for prayer — Part 2<br />
By Rev Kate<br />
Last month, I wrote about the importance of prayer in sustaining and nurturing our<br />
relationship with God. As any relationship needs communication in order to grow,<br />
it is no different when it comes to God. I wrote about the benefits of a rhythm<br />
of prayer, and looked at how there are many different ways to pray. This<br />
month I want to suggest different and more creative ways to pray, to address<br />
some of the difficulties with prayer and what we can learn from the Bible.<br />
CREATIVE PRAYER<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are many interactive and<br />
creative ways to pray and I have a lot<br />
of experience of introducing some of<br />
these to young people. However, many<br />
adults and children find it helpful to<br />
pray in different and creative ways,<br />
often using symbolic actions. While<br />
these are some suggestions, there are<br />
many more. Different ones appeal to<br />
different people.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are simple ideas such as<br />
lighting a candle or hanging a prayer<br />
on a prayer tree — I use many of these<br />
ways at school. I have bought a prayer<br />
tree for St Andrew’s which I will install<br />
later this month and there will be leaves<br />
to write prayers on and hang on the<br />
tree — you are all welcome to do this<br />
although due to restrictions we cannot<br />
provide pens, so bring your own!<br />
For saying sorry to God, some<br />
people like to write their prayer with<br />
their finger in sand and then smooth<br />
over it to symbolise God’s forgiveness.<br />
Another idea for saying sorry and<br />
asking for forgiveness is to say the<br />
prayer while holding a stone and then<br />
hold the stone under running water.<br />
A stone can also be used if we are<br />
feeling burdened by worries — hold the<br />
stone as we pray for the situation and<br />
For your prayers<br />
God of majesty, give rest to your<br />
servant Philip who, having served<br />
his Queen and country, has died full<br />
of years yet strong in spirit. As we<br />
give thanks for his life, as Prince and<br />
husband, as consort and family man,<br />
we pray that all that he has done may<br />
continue to bear fruit in the lives of<br />
individuals and the life of this nation,<br />
to your honour and glory,<br />
through Jesus Christ<br />
our Lord. Amen.<br />
Indy Biddulph<br />
then place it at the foot of a cross to<br />
symbolise handing your burden to God.<br />
You may find your own creative way<br />
of praying; as I have said many<br />
times before, there is no right way<br />
to pray that will work for everyone.<br />
Trying things and seeing what feels<br />
comfortable is the best way to start.<br />
PRAYING STRUGGLE<br />
When I talk, or preach, about prayer,<br />
I feel as though there is an elephant<br />
in the room, the elephant being that<br />
prayer can be a struggle. One reason<br />
is that people do not know where to<br />
begin. Another is that our prayer can<br />
sometimes feel insignificant, perhaps<br />
in light of bigger issues in our world.<br />
For others, we can doubt that God is<br />
listening or even doubt he is there at all.<br />
One thing that can help when<br />
prayer is a struggle is to look at what<br />
the Bible tells us about it. <strong>The</strong>re are<br />
many Biblical examples of prayer and<br />
I would like to look at a few which can<br />
help. Obviously, there is the Lord’s<br />
Prayer, which are the words that Jesus<br />
gave to his disciples when they asked<br />
him how they should pray. While being<br />
a prayer in its own right, some people<br />
use it as a pattern for their personal<br />
prayer.<br />
When Jesus prayed he often<br />
took himself away from others to be<br />
alone. For many praying alone is their<br />
preferred way to talk to God. But the<br />
Bible also gives examples of the power<br />
of praying with others — Jesus says<br />
that when two or three are gathered<br />
together in his name, he is there in the<br />
midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)<br />
If life feels tough, then a good place<br />
to start in the Bible is the psalms. Not<br />
only do they talk about prayer, they<br />
remind us that life is full of ups and<br />
downs. <strong>The</strong> psalms contain prayers of<br />
thanksgiving, joy, anguish, doubt and<br />
pain. <strong>The</strong>y remind us that in prayer<br />
God meets us as we are and is there<br />
with us in the messiness of life.<br />
A very famous passage about prayer<br />
is in 1 <strong>The</strong>ssalonians where the writer<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 7<br />
Thai Noipho, dreamstime.com<br />
says ‘Pray without ceasing, give thanks in<br />
all circumstances.’ This passage is easy<br />
to misunderstand. It doesn’t mean that<br />
we should literally be in a constant<br />
conversation with God. Neither does it<br />
mean that life will always go smoothly<br />
if we pray.<br />
I see it as encouraging prayer to<br />
be woven into our life; in the big and<br />
small, in the ups and downs. One<br />
way to think about this passage is to<br />
imagine prayer as our every breath;<br />
being aware of God’s presence with us<br />
as we go about our daily lives.<br />
AN INVITATION<br />
Another help when prayer is a struggle,<br />
is to talk to someone about it. Last<br />
month I invited people to get in touch<br />
if you would like a conversation about<br />
prayer or faith in general, and I am<br />
delighted that I had some response. I<br />
would like to reiterate this invitation,<br />
so please email me and it would be good<br />
to meet with you.<br />
For a starting point, there is<br />
nowhere better to start than the words<br />
Jesus taught us to pray:<br />
Our Father, who is in heaven,<br />
hallowed be thy name;<br />
thy kingdom come; thy will be done;<br />
on earth as it is in heaven.<br />
Give us this day our daily bread.<br />
And forgive us our trespasses, as we<br />
forgive those who trespass against us.<br />
And lead us not into temptation;<br />
but deliver us from evil.<br />
For thine is the kingdom, the power<br />
and the glory, for ever and ever.<br />
Amen.<br />
New director of music<br />
At the time of publication, the final<br />
details are being worked on but the<br />
post will fall vacant at the end of<br />
August following Chris Goodwin’s<br />
decision to retire. <strong>The</strong> post will<br />
be advertised this month and full<br />
details will appear on our website<br />
and Facebook page, as well as being<br />
advertised in the Church Times and<br />
on other websites.
8 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
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the parish noticeboard — 2<br />
On reflection . . . By Elizabeth Spiers<br />
Esther: Being placed where and<br />
when God wants us placed<br />
When I was younger I visited Morocco. I hadn’t travelled<br />
outside the UK before that, and it was a culture shock.<br />
<strong>The</strong> clothes, the food, the language, the smells — they<br />
were all different to anything I had known.<br />
Esther, a young Jewish orphan living in Persia (now Iran)<br />
was being raised by her older cousin Mordecai. Esther was<br />
beautiful, and at that time, if a girl was a beautiful, young,<br />
virgin, she could be snatched off the street and sent to<br />
marinade in perfume and spices for a year before being<br />
offered to the king.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Bible doesn’t suggest that Esther protested when<br />
this happened to her. It tells us that she won favour with<br />
everyone, which suggests she accepted her fate, whatever she<br />
thought of it. And King Xerxes was so pleased with her that<br />
she went from being a nobody to being the Queen of Persia!<br />
But another story was unfolding. Mordecai had refused<br />
to bow down to Haman, the king’s most highly honoured<br />
official. Esther Chapter 3 says: ‘Having learned who Mordecai’s<br />
people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead,<br />
Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the<br />
Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.’<br />
PLACED WITH PURPOSE<br />
Painting Mordecai and the Jewish people in a bad light,<br />
Haman gained the king’s permission to destroy them<br />
completely. On hearing about this, Mordecai sent a message<br />
to Esther asking her to plead their case to the king. He was<br />
literally asking her to risk her life because approaching the<br />
king without invitation could easily mean death.<br />
Esther was very naturally afraid. But Mordecai was<br />
uncompromising in telling her that she shouldn’t think she<br />
would survive just because she was queen. He told her, ‘And<br />
who knows but that you have come to your royal position for<br />
such a time as this?’<br />
It’s easy to think that we are placed at random on the<br />
planet. That our birth is a matter of chance. But the truth is<br />
that God places us where and when he wants us. He allows<br />
events that seem shocking or overwhelming at the time<br />
because they shape us and make it possible for us to be at the<br />
heart of what God is doing. And so, who knows but that we<br />
have come to where we are for such a time as this?<br />
From the desk<br />
of the editor<br />
editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk<br />
Thinking about<br />
communications<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 9<br />
Judging from much of the material that has crossed my<br />
desk recently, the pandemic has given lots of people,<br />
including some working on the front-line, the time to<br />
think about almost every aspect of our lives. High on the<br />
list is thinking about what life might be like when Covid is<br />
under control and takes its place alongside other diseases<br />
that have threatened, and still threaten, the world.<br />
Where we do our thinking depends on our individual<br />
lifestyle — most of mine has always been in the early<br />
hours when lying awake in bed.<br />
From what is arriving on my desk, one of the most<br />
popular thoughts is about how we communicate and<br />
how would we have coped without the technology that<br />
certainly, for my generation, was science fiction in our<br />
childhood. Like many of my generation, I often find myself<br />
asking our grandchildren how to use modern technology,<br />
and this is despite having studied electronic engineering<br />
at the time when most of the world had never heard of the<br />
silicon chip, and when a computer with less power than a<br />
mobile phone would fill a huge building.<br />
<strong>The</strong> fact that I ask our grandchildren for help is not<br />
surprising really, even in those days I struggled with the<br />
practical side of electronics, although I did discover that<br />
I could write about the work of those who could. Hence I<br />
became a journalist.<br />
FREE, BUT NOT OPTIONAL<br />
Throughout my career I met many amazing engineers<br />
and scientists whose contributions to the communications<br />
industry have been vital, yet their names have long<br />
been forgotten. I suspect that many of those working to<br />
defeat Covid will never be recognised in years to come.<br />
But that is the way of the world, even if their names and<br />
achievements have been well documented.<br />
<strong>The</strong> evidence I use for this assumption is that the<br />
greatest communications tool we have had since time<br />
began is still not recognised by everyone, everywhere. This<br />
is despite it being freely available to every person in the<br />
world and, unlike anything our scientists and technologist<br />
create, it never fails — although it may not always work<br />
the way we want it to!<br />
Technology, however advanced and well designed, can<br />
never be relied on 100% of the time because accidents, as<br />
Claude Masters reminded us in last month's magazine, do<br />
happen however well protected we may be.<br />
Hopefully you have worked out that this unique<br />
communications tool that the world often chooses to<br />
ignore, is prayer. It has been with us since the beginning<br />
of time, and it is up to us to make sure that it will be used<br />
until the end of time. As Rev Kate reminded us in last<br />
month's magazine, 'Prayer is not optional for Christians.'<br />
Please use God's free communications gift wisely!
10 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
the parish noticeboard — 3<br />
Many local people will be saddened by the news that David Duvall died peacefully in his sleep in the early<br />
hours of Wednesday 10 March, aged 72. He, and his wife, Ann, were well known in St Andrew's Church, and<br />
throughout the Oxford diocese, the local community and schools. On the facing page, Richard Duvall, one of<br />
their four children, all of whom were baptised in St Andrew's, has written an excellent summary of his father's<br />
life, and below is a tribute based on the archives of this magazine to which David contributed regularly.<br />
David Duvall — 'glorious, fresh,<br />
enthusiastic and energetic'<br />
<strong>The</strong>re must be something about St Andrew's that inspires organists and choirs — and I am not just<br />
saying this because our present vicar is an accomplished musician! Looking through '<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong><br />
<strong>Magazine</strong>' archives, which go back to the first issue in 1869, it soon becomes apparent that music has<br />
always been a fundamental part of our parish life, and that we have been blessed with some highly<br />
respected musicians, including David Duvall who served the parish well for 37 years, writes Bob Peters.<br />
<strong>The</strong> first time the name Duvall appears in the<br />
magazine is <strong>May</strong> 1977 when the baptism of Ann and<br />
David's first child, Christopher, was recorded. <strong>The</strong><br />
name, Duvall was soon to make regular appearances.<br />
In December the previous year, Rev George Stokes,<br />
the vicar of Sonning, had announced that after '25<br />
years of devoted service' the St Andrew's organist,<br />
Archibald Lusty, was retiring: 'He has been playing<br />
church organs and coaxing choirs to sing for more than<br />
64 years. He had a distinguished musical career in many<br />
fields and has been a teacher of organ, piano and singing.'<br />
Elsewhere, Archibald was a highly respected<br />
church musician and was an honorary life member<br />
of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, and the<br />
Incorporated Association of Organists.<br />
TEAM SPIRIT<br />
After Archibald's retirement, Tom Feak, the<br />
village school's headmaster, with the help of one or<br />
two other local musicians, volunteered to play the<br />
organ while the search went on for a new organist<br />
and choirmaster. One of these volunteers was David<br />
who soon attracted the attention of the vicar who<br />
wrote 6 months later: 'I have appointed David Duvall as<br />
organist and choirmaster. He is young and enthusiastic<br />
and we very much appreciate his expressed wish to give<br />
his services to the Church!<br />
In the July 1977 issue David wrote the first of what<br />
would be a regular contribution to this magazine. It<br />
was always written in his own frank and witty style:<br />
Dear Editors, You may well think that I make quite<br />
enough noise already at the organ on Sundays without<br />
sounding off in <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> as well. But perhaps<br />
you’ll allow me a few column inches to say a few words<br />
of thanks .... it was most gratifying to me as an amateur<br />
musician, after taking over as acting organist while<br />
the post was being advertised, to be asked to take it on<br />
myself, I can but try to make up in enthusiasm what I<br />
lack in formal qualifications: I’m qualified all right, but<br />
as a chartered accountant rather than as a musician!<br />
... a big thank you to the choir for all their support and<br />
excellent team spirit—and I hope that this means they are<br />
enjoying themselves as much as I am. I can tell you that it’s<br />
marvellous to be looking after a choir which can boast all<br />
four parts — a great improvement on my previous parish.<br />
Before I was married and came to live in this area three<br />
years ago, I was organist in a delightful little Hampshire<br />
village where the choir consisted of 10 children of various<br />
ages and various degrees of tone-deafness, plus one<br />
ancient lady — 80 in the shade — who possessed a voice<br />
like a circular saw trying to cut through sheet steel . . .<br />
David was enthusiastically welcomed by the<br />
congregation: In <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>, November<br />
1977, 'OW' wrote: What a glorious, fresh, enthusiastic<br />
and energetic organist we have in David Duvall and how<br />
infectious is his personal enjoyment as he literally bounds<br />
around from organ seat to the front of the chancel steps to<br />
conduct the choir in a particular anthem, or join in quietly<br />
with them as he plays. It is all most refreshing and most<br />
enjoyable. Since writing this we have heard the choir sing<br />
a composition by him of Psalm 150 which was stirring and<br />
attractive. It is also good to see so many recently joined<br />
young choristers.<br />
When I served with David on the PCC and the<br />
Sonning Deanery Synod, it became clear how well<br />
respected he was as a musician throughout the<br />
Oxford Diocese. In 1990 he was appointed president<br />
of the Berkshire Organists Association, a society that<br />
was founded in April 1921 by none other than his<br />
predecessor, Archibald Lusty!<br />
David's enthusiasm for choral music never waned<br />
throughout the 37 years he was at St Andrew's. He<br />
often told me that he could teach anyone to sing,<br />
even me — it is one of my regrets that I never took up<br />
his generous offer.<br />
His willingness to help others never waned either.<br />
He was a school governor, a willing pair of hands at<br />
many Sonning village events and parties, organised<br />
fund-raising concerts and played piano at Churches<br />
Together services in Twyford.<br />
After David and Ann retired in July 2014 to<br />
Dorset, St Andrew's went through the familiar<br />
pattern of testing some professional musicians before<br />
appointing Chris Goodwin as director of music, a<br />
post he has held for the past 6 years, and during<br />
which he continued to develop the choirs, especially<br />
our young choristers.<br />
Chris, however, has just announced his retirement<br />
from church music, having been playing for 47 years,<br />
so the search is on again for a new enthusiastic and<br />
energetic musician to continue the St Andrew's<br />
Church tradition for choral and church music!<br />
David and Ann at their St Andrew<br />
David Duvall at the organ benc
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 11<br />
'Did I just hear that?'<br />
By Richard Duvall<br />
h<br />
's farewell party<br />
Olivia Duvall<br />
David Woodward<br />
From his organ bench David Duvall kept a close eye on the timing at weddings<br />
David John Stewart Duvall was born in Farnham on<br />
16 August 1948. He was a talented child, although<br />
he didn't speak until he was nearly three years old<br />
— when he started speaking in full sentences!<br />
After primary education, David went to Cumnor<br />
House Prep School before becoming a Queen's Scholar<br />
at Westminster School in 1961. As a Queen's Scholar,<br />
he was an usher at royal events in Westminster Abbey<br />
such as the service of thanksgiving for the Abbey's<br />
900th anniversary in January 1966. He was also<br />
allowed to sit in the House of Commons gallery, and<br />
remembered seeing Winston Churchill there.<br />
He was awarded a classical scholarship at<br />
Peterhouse, Cambridge where, after 4 years, he<br />
gained a 2:1 in classics, and a masters degree. In 1969<br />
he trained as a chartered accountant and worked for a<br />
London company — he lived in a flat in Brook Street,<br />
a couple of doors from Jimi Hendrix. David remained<br />
an accountant throughout his working life, ultimately<br />
settling at a company in Reading and teaching other<br />
accountants how to spot fraud. This was how David<br />
earned money. But it is not how David lived his life.<br />
GET TO CHURCH ON TIME<br />
He was an incredibly kind and generous man,<br />
giving up a huge amount of time for good causes,<br />
ranging from doing the accounts for organisations to<br />
holding a collection bucket outside a supermarket.<br />
When at school, David had learned to play the<br />
piano and organ and he was involved with numerous<br />
choirs — I'm not sure there will ever be a definitive<br />
answer as to how many — as a chorister, choir<br />
master and/or organist. It was through one of these,<br />
<strong>The</strong> Bach Choir, that he met Ann Scrivenor in 1973.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y married on 1 June 1974 and shared nearly 47<br />
years together. <strong>The</strong>y settled in Woodley and had<br />
four children: Christopher, Olivia, Richard and<br />
Camilla. <strong>The</strong>y also joined the St Andrew's Church<br />
choir, with David taking over as choirmaster more<br />
or less immediately. It was a role he served entirely<br />
voluntarily for the next 37 years.<br />
Many guests at the hundreds of weddings he<br />
played at will have witnessed what happened if the<br />
bride was late! <strong>The</strong> background organ music would be<br />
Chris Easton<br />
interspersed with a few bars of other tunes. Guests not<br />
expecting it might well have had a passing thought<br />
of 'Did I just hear that?' For those who experienced it<br />
many times, it was possible to hear portions of Why<br />
Are We Waiting, Get Me To <strong>The</strong> Church On Time and<br />
Abide With Me. You knew the bride was pushing her<br />
luck when you heard <strong>The</strong> Day Thou Gavest, Lord Has<br />
Ended played unashamedly in full!<br />
David had an incredible musical talent. He had<br />
perfect pitch, and could play more or less any tune by<br />
ear. It was an utter pleasure to hear him play either<br />
set pieces or his unique form of improvisation. He<br />
performed in many different settings, for thousands<br />
of people, and had nothing but encouragement for<br />
those trying to get somewhere with music.<br />
PROUD GRANDFATHER<br />
For his family, my Dad, was more than that. He<br />
was kind, loving and supportive. He didn't always<br />
understand and he didn't always approve. He did,<br />
however, always allow us to choose our own course,<br />
and when we fell down, he would always be there to<br />
chat and have a pint with. He rarely drank to excess,<br />
the only time I remember him being a few sheets to the<br />
wind, was when he was celebrating after he had proudly<br />
given his youngest daughter away at her wedding.<br />
Another side to my Dad was that he was an<br />
extremely loving and proud grandfather of Daisy,<br />
Eddie, Ben, Max, Toby and Bella. He played with<br />
them, read to them, and showed them the basics of<br />
playing the piano — and they were amazed at his own<br />
ability. <strong>The</strong>y will undoubtedly remember, with most<br />
fondness, the rides around the garden on his sit-on<br />
lawn mower. He was their 'Papa' and he was utterly<br />
devoted to them. <strong>The</strong>ir devastation at his death is a<br />
testament to their feelings for him.<br />
Dad would hate to have been very old and infirm,<br />
and he would have hated being a resident in a care<br />
home. He never had to give up his independence: he<br />
could still drive long distances, he could still play the<br />
organ better than many people, and he could still<br />
pick up his grandchildren. It is in this spirit that I am<br />
grateful he died suddenly without pain. He will be<br />
remembered and missed by many.
12 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 13<br />
the parish noticeboard — 4<br />
STAY<br />
St Andrew's Youth by Westy<br />
STAY on Sunday<br />
We completed the Alpha youth<br />
video series and moved on to a<br />
new series of topics chosen<br />
by the young people. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
included: friendship,<br />
money, mental health,<br />
the LGBTQ+ community,<br />
[Q stands for questioning],<br />
football and technology.<br />
It was suggested that we<br />
send a weekly scripture to<br />
our WhatsApp group that<br />
relates to the Sunday's<br />
topic. For example, here's<br />
the friendship passage: Westy reliving his youth!<br />
STAY in Schools<br />
It makes such a difference<br />
being back in schools in<br />
person. However, it means<br />
I’m having to test myself for<br />
Covid twice a week, but this<br />
only helps with empathising<br />
with the young people also<br />
having to test twice weekly.<br />
My mentoring list of students<br />
is now at 27 across both local<br />
secondary schools each week.<br />
I’ve also been able to deliver<br />
some pre-recorded assemblies<br />
on topics such as the parable<br />
of the weeds and the parable<br />
of yeast.<br />
Step by step<br />
Guide for<br />
the STAY<br />
Bird Box<br />
STAY Bird Box Building Project<br />
Local young people and their families have been given<br />
the opportunity to build a bird box during Easter in<br />
partnership with Sonning local hero, Ali Driver. We have<br />
20 bird boxes being built and put up in the churchyard and<br />
around the village.<br />
STAY Detached Project<br />
In partnership with Grace Church Caversham and Reach<br />
Schools Work Trust, we have continued to offer detached<br />
youth work in Emmer Green, Charvil and Sonning.<br />
Each week we meet between 15 and 50 young people and<br />
engage in positive conversations and we are sometimes<br />
known to relive our youth and lark about on skateboards!<br />
As always, please get in touch with any ideas, questions or<br />
just to chat. Cheers, Westy!<br />
0794 622 6735<br />
youthminister@sonningparish.org.uk<br />
<strong>The</strong> Persecuted Church<br />
Open Doors is a well-known advocacy organisation whose<br />
worldwide ministry in support of the persecuted church<br />
began in 1955 with the visionary work of Brother Andrew.<br />
This year Open Doors started the 'See.Change.' campaign<br />
and explained that millions of Christian women around<br />
the globe face a double persecution — for their faith<br />
and gender. And the persecution is being exacerbated by<br />
Covid-19 pandemic.<br />
A film on the Open Doors website cites examples of<br />
worrying cases of persecution — in Egypt, one woman’s<br />
neighbour threatened her with rape for being a Christian,<br />
then later led a mob that attacked her in the street.<br />
In India a woman was imprisoned by her own family<br />
because of her faith. Without action, the persecution<br />
of women from religious minorities will continue to<br />
increase, unacknowledged.<br />
More stories are on http://www.opendoorsuk.org<br />
including that of a woman in Syria who had become a<br />
Round-up of news items, features, and links by Colin Bailey. Please read for<br />
awareness, and support by prayer and any further support — financial or otherwise.<br />
Christian and how this was considered deeply shameful<br />
in her Muslim neighbourhood. Locals told her father that<br />
she had disgraced him. Men who came to her family’s door<br />
said she should be killed.<br />
To help, please send a message to your MP. This will<br />
ask them to sign a letter to the Minister of Women and<br />
Equalities and the Foreign Secretary to ensure the double<br />
vulnerability is recognised and effectively included.
14 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
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the parish noticeboard — 5<br />
150 scavengers<br />
found our eggs!<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 15<br />
On Easter Saturday, 3 April, the St Andrew’s youth and children’s team<br />
organised a parish Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt for the families of Charvil and<br />
Sonning. Over 150 children and young people signed up, and with the help of<br />
their families had a great, socially distanced, time.<br />
'<strong>The</strong> buzz was amazing at both locations,' said St Andrew's youth minister,<br />
Westy. '<strong>The</strong>re was a real sense of community and people coming together, while<br />
remaining physically distanced, for a morning of utter fun and enjoyment.'<br />
Gazebos and tables at both locations were set up with a wonderful display<br />
of chocolate eggs, Easter flyers, Easter word searches and Easter colouring<br />
activities. <strong>The</strong>re were 15 clues to find and solve such as:<br />
— What animal is on the Charvil Piggott school logo? (A lion)<br />
— How high is the yellow banner? (6 feet)<br />
— Which century was the parish of St Andrew founded? (7th)<br />
— Name three activities you can do at STAY on Friday youth club? (donut wall, laser<br />
tag, dodgeball, air hockey, pool, football or xbox)<br />
Once the search was completed, and their clue sheets checked, the scavengers filled<br />
their Easter bags with their favourite chocolate egg and mini chocolate treats.<br />
Sonning pictures by<br />
Indy Biddulph<br />
Charvil pictures by<br />
families
16 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
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feature — 1<br />
<strong>May</strong> maybe a child’s special<br />
month or <strong>May</strong> may not be . . .<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 17<br />
A quick online search for children’s events in <strong>May</strong> will reveal that this<br />
month could be renamed ‘<strong>The</strong> Month of the Child’. <strong>May</strong> has many special<br />
educational, fun and fitness days aimed at recognising the importance of<br />
caring for our children. It is also the month to remember missing children.<br />
Caring for children is something that<br />
Jesus made a point of teaching in an<br />
age where it was hard to be a child,<br />
their only value was to be an asset for<br />
the future. Children were considered<br />
to be insurance for your old age –<br />
they would be there to work and care<br />
for you.<br />
Today, perhaps, some parents may<br />
be too protective of their children,<br />
while at the other end of the scale,<br />
others need reminding that children<br />
should be valued as Jesus valued<br />
them.<br />
National Children's Day UK<br />
(NCDUK) on Sunday 16 <strong>May</strong> is all<br />
about the importance of a healthy<br />
childhood and how we need to<br />
protect the rights and freedoms of<br />
children to ensure that they can grow<br />
into happy, healthy adults.<br />
Two special events this month<br />
are linked with school: National<br />
Bike to School Day on 5 <strong>May</strong>, and<br />
Walk to School Week, 17-21 <strong>May</strong>.<br />
Living Streets website which is linked<br />
with the National Walking Month<br />
campaign explains more about these.<br />
For younger children there is<br />
International Mother Goose Day on<br />
1 <strong>May</strong>, and a National Baby Day is<br />
being celebrated on social media on 2<br />
<strong>May</strong>. Mother Goose Day was founded<br />
in 1987 and aims to introduce young<br />
children to reading literature by<br />
starting with nursery rhymes. While<br />
Baby Day aims to ‘celebrate the<br />
smallest and newest members of our<br />
species and reflect on all the wonders<br />
and joys they will face as they grow up’.<br />
While there is a lot of fun,<br />
adventure and thanksgiving to<br />
celebrate children in <strong>May</strong>, we must<br />
not forget the teaching of Jesus who<br />
cares for all children, especially the<br />
abused and deprived.<br />
CHILLING FACTS<br />
<strong>The</strong>re can be nothing sadder<br />
for a family than children who go<br />
missing. International Missing<br />
Children’s Day on 25 <strong>May</strong> aims ‘to<br />
place a spotlight on the issue of<br />
child abduction, educate parents on<br />
safeguarding measures to protect<br />
their children, honour those who<br />
have never been found and celebrate<br />
those who have.’<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are some chilling facts about<br />
missing children on the Perpetual<br />
Paul Hutton on unsplash.com<br />
Fostering website which says that<br />
last year 68,944 reports were made<br />
to the police in England and Wales<br />
about missing children.<br />
As we enjoy celebrating children<br />
in <strong>May</strong>, please remember in your<br />
prayers the families of their missing<br />
young ones, and the children<br />
themselves. If you need help with<br />
this there are some prayers at<br />
Ineedaword: Here’s one of them:<br />
Dear God,<br />
All the missing children are entrusted<br />
to your capable hands. Defend them.<br />
Return them to their family.<br />
You are the Lord who rescues the<br />
poor and the helpless.<br />
Offer them the ability to appreciate<br />
the complete and rich life that they<br />
have for them.<br />
Let them return home and have<br />
normal existence, like other<br />
individuals.<br />
Deform the Devil’s plots to cut their<br />
lives short.<br />
It is you alone who know their future<br />
and you have positive dreams for<br />
them. Amen. Amen!<br />
Links for the events above named in BOLD text:<br />
http://www.nationalchildrensdayuk.com<br />
http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/<br />
https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/<br />
https://www.cclg.org.uk/WalkThis<strong>May</strong><br />
https://www.cute-calendar.com/event/mother-goose-day/38101.html<br />
https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/baby-day/<br />
https://perpetualfostering.co.uk/insights/missing-children-statistics-uk-2020/<br />
https://ineedaword.org/prayer-for-missing-children/
18 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
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feature — 2<br />
<strong>May</strong> is a special month for the Royal British Legion. 100 years ago, on 15 <strong>May</strong><br />
1921, the British Legion was founded in the aftermath of the First World<br />
War. It aimed to provide support to veterans of the British Armed Forces,<br />
their families and dependents. 50 years later, on 29 <strong>May</strong> 1971, it was granted<br />
full 'Royal' appellation. As well celebrating 100 years this month, the Royal<br />
British Legion will also be leading the nation in remembering VE Day on<br />
Saturday 8 <strong>May</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 19<br />
Celebrating 100 years of the Royal British Legion<br />
<strong>The</strong> Legion was created when 2 million<br />
people were unemployed and more<br />
than 6 million had served in the war.<br />
Of those who came home, 1.75 million<br />
had some kind of disability, with half<br />
of those disabled permanently.<br />
Four organisations came together<br />
at the instigation of Lancastrian<br />
Lance Bombardier Tom Lister, who<br />
was angered at the government’s<br />
unwillingness to help, and Field<br />
Marshal Earl Haig, who had been<br />
commander in chief of the British<br />
forces. <strong>The</strong> Legion campaigned for<br />
fair treatment of those who had given<br />
everything for their country, and it<br />
continues this work today.<br />
ROYAL TITLE<br />
In 1922, the Legion’s poppy factory<br />
opened in Old Kent Road, London,<br />
with 40 disabled men making 1,000<br />
poppies a week. <strong>The</strong> first Poppy Day<br />
was held that year.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Festival of Remembrance, for<br />
which the Legion is best known today,<br />
began in 1927.<br />
In <strong>May</strong> 1971 it celebrated its golden<br />
anniversary with the news that the<br />
Royal patronage which it had enjoyed<br />
since 1925, was now being recognised<br />
with a 'Royal' title.<br />
10 years later in 1981, the<br />
membership was extended to all<br />
serving members of Her Majesty's<br />
Forces, as well as ex-service people.<br />
EVERYONE WELCOME<br />
Today, the Royal British Legion<br />
welcomes everyone to join its 230,000<br />
members, the minimum commitment<br />
is to subscribe from £17 a year. This<br />
annual subscription varies according<br />
to the local branch. In our parish, the<br />
Royal British Legion is known as the<br />
'Sonning Branch'.<br />
A century ago, the altruistic<br />
original aim of the Legion had<br />
affected the residents of Sonning and<br />
on 4 February 1924 a public meeting<br />
was attended by 28 people and the<br />
Sonning Branch was born.<br />
Colonel Anderson was the first<br />
chairman and at the first meeting<br />
on 21 February 1924 a membership<br />
fee of 2s/6d was set — today that is<br />
equivalent to about £8.<br />
<strong>The</strong> meeting also agreed the first<br />
function to be held on 5 March 1924<br />
—a smoking concert!<br />
Arrangements were made<br />
later for Remembrance Sunday in<br />
November, for which it was agreed<br />
that all members would give 3d<br />
towards the cost of the wreath. By<br />
the year end, the branch had 41<br />
members.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Remembrance Sunday service<br />
remains the main focus of the year<br />
for Sonning Branch. It is when St<br />
Andrew's Church has it's largest<br />
congregation with representatives<br />
from the armed forces, police, the<br />
Baden-Powell movement, local<br />
schools, church members, and many<br />
visitors from far and near.<br />
Traditionally a parade, organised<br />
by Sonning Branch, marches<br />
through the village led by the<br />
Reading Salvation Army band. <strong>The</strong><br />
parade assembles inside St Andrew's<br />
where the focus is on remembering<br />
the service personnel listed on the<br />
2014: <strong>The</strong> 'Legion' parade for Remembrance<br />
Tom Farncombe<br />
Royal British Legion colours in St Andrew's<br />
Tom Farncombe<br />
parish war memorial. <strong>The</strong> proceeds<br />
of the collection made during the<br />
service go to the Poppy Appeal.<br />
WORLD WAR II<br />
Fund raising through social<br />
events became a feature of the<br />
Branch's life from the beginning. <strong>The</strong><br />
first New Year's Eve dance set the<br />
pattern for the future.<br />
In 1938, with the threat of war,<br />
Sonning Branch made plans about<br />
serving the local communities in<br />
the hard times ahead. High on the<br />
list were air raid precautions, the<br />
training of wardens, and the use<br />
of gas masks that were stored in a<br />
hut in Woodley that was owned by<br />
Sonning Branch.<br />
Hanging on the wall of Pearson<br />
Hall today is a war-time planning<br />
map that clearly shows the location<br />
of the hut.<br />
By October 1939, some members<br />
of Sonning Branch had been recalled<br />
and supporting them became<br />
another high priority.<br />
MAGNIFICENT SUM<br />
Following World War II, social<br />
activities were again well supported<br />
and relatively large donations were<br />
raised for the national Poppy Appeal.<br />
<strong>The</strong> amounts raised during the post<br />
war years seem to have been lost in<br />
time until the 1970's onwards when<br />
it rose from about £1,000 per year to<br />
a magnificent sum of over £15,000 in<br />
2011 when Malcolm Geater was the<br />
appeal co-ordinator.<br />
turn to page 21
20 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
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from page 19<br />
feature — 3<br />
100 Legion years<br />
Up until the 1990's whist drives,<br />
dances, and dinners were high on<br />
the agenda for fund raising events,<br />
as was the well being of local service<br />
personnel. <strong>The</strong> November 1946 issue<br />
of this magazine highlighted this:<br />
A highly successful reunion dinner for<br />
ex-service men and women of Sonning<br />
took place at the White Hart Hotel<br />
[now called the Great House] on Friday<br />
evening, 4 October.<br />
In the regretted absence through<br />
indisposition of Bri-Gen E J Phipps-<br />
Hornby, VC, Mr Clement Williams<br />
presided and proposed the toast of the<br />
evening — 'Welcome Home.'<br />
General Sir Andrew Thorne replied<br />
on behalf of the guests, and emphasised<br />
the effect on the morale of the serving<br />
soldier of the knowledge that his home<br />
was a happy one and that his family were<br />
being well looked after. He also made an<br />
appeal to young returned service men<br />
and women to join the British Legion.<br />
Dinner was followed by an excellent<br />
conjuring entertainment and community<br />
singing, and the party dispersed to the<br />
strains of 'Auld Lang Syne.'<br />
LEGION HOUSE<br />
In the 1970's, the Sonning Branch<br />
began supporting Somerset Legion<br />
House in Weston-Super-Mare by<br />
funding the Sonning Room. This<br />
meant local members of Sonning<br />
Branch were able to make use of the<br />
facilities offered by the Legion there.<br />
In November 2019, the Royal British<br />
Legion sold the property. A new<br />
Legion House was bought. <strong>The</strong>re is<br />
not now a Sonning Room, although<br />
a painting of Sonning is displayed<br />
prominently in the new house.<br />
SONNING LADIES<br />
Many of the social activities had<br />
strong support from the ladies of the<br />
parish, so much so, that a women's<br />
section was formed in 1928. While the<br />
ladies pursued different social and<br />
craft activities from the men, they<br />
did, however, have their own standard<br />
bearers and paraded separately.<br />
<strong>The</strong> women had a tradition that<br />
their colours are always carried by the<br />
same family — today it is carried by<br />
the grandson of the first bearer.<br />
Both Sonning sections continued<br />
in harmony for nearly 70 years, but<br />
the changing shape of society and of<br />
Images from<br />
the archives<br />
the roles of men and women, slowly<br />
changed. In March 1999 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong><br />
<strong>Magazine</strong> reported:<br />
<strong>The</strong> Royal British Legion - Women's<br />
Section: Readers may be aware of the<br />
regretted disbanding of the section after<br />
70 years of service. Despite every effort,<br />
no-one could be found willing to accept<br />
administrative duties, so there was<br />
no other course to follow. <strong>The</strong> monthly<br />
meetings which were always enjoyed by<br />
everyone will be greatly missed. However<br />
it is hoped that those who participated<br />
in this special role of the Legion's charity<br />
work will continue to support it, especially<br />
in the Poppy Appeal. Some members<br />
have now joined the Sonning Branch -<br />
incorrectly known as the 'Men's Branch',<br />
and been gratefully accepted either in<br />
ordinary or associate status. Out of this<br />
adversity a new aspect of the Legion in<br />
Sonning may emerge.<br />
And it did. Today there is no<br />
division between male and female<br />
membership and all work together to<br />
serve the continuing needs of exservice<br />
men and women.<br />
CHANGING SOCIETY<br />
As memories of wartime faded,<br />
it was natural that the combined<br />
membership also slowly reduced<br />
and in 2001, it became apparent that<br />
Sonning Branch could no longer<br />
sustain a viable committee to meet the<br />
legal requirements of the Royal British<br />
Legion's national charter. However,<br />
a solution was found by becoming<br />
a sub-group of Wargrave Branch.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 21<br />
This arrangement allowed Sonning<br />
Branch members to meet, parade on<br />
Remembrance Sunday with its own<br />
colours, and to collect for the annual<br />
Poppy Appeal in the name of Sonning.<br />
Thus, for all intents and purposes<br />
Sonning Branch continued to serve in<br />
the local community and contribute<br />
substantially to the important national<br />
effort of the Royal British Legion.<br />
However, the Branch is now fully<br />
operative in its own right with a full<br />
and active committee led by Mark<br />
Green as chairman.<br />
VE & VJ DAYS<br />
Today, organising the annual<br />
Poppy Appeal is still the major<br />
activity for Sonning Branch as, of<br />
course, is the Remembrance Sunday<br />
parade and service which remains<br />
extremely well supported. <strong>The</strong><br />
Sonning branch has also been at the<br />
forefront of all the other wartime<br />
anniversary's particularly VE & VJ Day<br />
commemorations.<br />
Typical of these events was a service<br />
of commemoration and celebration<br />
held in St Andrew's Church in July<br />
2005 to mark the 60th anniversary of<br />
the VE and VJ Days combined with<br />
the 10th anniversary of signing the<br />
twinning accord with Ligugé, France.<br />
This article is based on material held in the<br />
archives of Sonning Branch and <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong><br />
<strong>Magazine</strong>, and our thanks go to Grp Capt<br />
Colin Pierce, President of Sonning Branch,<br />
for his help — editor.
22 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
feature — 4<br />
<strong>The</strong>re's much more to the number<br />
seven than being lucky<br />
It probably won't surprise you to hear that the number seven is the world's most popular lucky number but<br />
the Bible reveals there is much more to this special numeral. It is clearly one of God's number's that are a<br />
feature of his creation. This month we celebrate Pentecost, a feast day that has its roots in seven.<br />
Seven is not only important for Christians, it is held<br />
in high esteem in many religions and cultures, for<br />
example there are the seven heavens of Judaism and<br />
Islam, and the Chinese belief of the seven elements<br />
of the world — water, fire, earth, wood, metal, yin<br />
and yang. It's why the traditional Jewish menorah<br />
has seven candle sticks — not to be confused with<br />
the nine candlesticks of the Hanukkah — and why<br />
Muslims walk seven times around the Holy Kaaba in<br />
Mecca.<br />
GOD'S NUMBER<br />
<strong>The</strong> Roman Catholic teaching of Pope Gregory I<br />
in the 6th Century identified the seven deadly sins<br />
which are now widely recognised as: pride, greed,<br />
lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are many natural features of the world<br />
where seven plays a part — surfers will tell you that<br />
they surf in sets of seven waves, the seventh being<br />
the largest. Others include the seven colours of the<br />
rainbow, the seven continents of the world, and the<br />
seven wonders of the world.<br />
In the Bible, from the creation stories in Genesis,<br />
to the end of time in Revelation, the number seven is<br />
mentioned over 700 times — is this a coincidence? —<br />
hence, it is often referred to as God's number.<br />
God created the world in six days, and when<br />
his work was complete, he rested on the seventh<br />
day, thus seven is symbolised in the Bible as<br />
completeness.<br />
A menorah depicted in a mosaic at the Israeli parliament<br />
spiroview, dreamstime.com<br />
In the Old Testament book of Isaiah (11.2) we<br />
read about the seven spirits: the spirit of the Lord,<br />
wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge,<br />
and the fear of God.<br />
In Deuteronomy 7 the Israelites are told: When the<br />
Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering<br />
to possess and drives out before you many nations — the<br />
Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites,<br />
Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger<br />
than you.<br />
But it is the New Testam<br />
writings of John that seven<br />
the Gospel of John we find<br />
of Jesus. For the Jewish peo<br />
name for God that they wer<br />
write — in Hebrew YHWH<br />
in Exodus 3:13-15. It is trans<br />
such as 'I am who I am', 'I am<br />
am and will be'.<br />
When Jesus says: I am t<br />
the Light of the world; I am<br />
Shepherd; I am <strong>The</strong> Resurre<br />
<strong>The</strong> Way, Truth and <strong>The</strong> Life<br />
he is implying that he is the<br />
NO LIMIT TO F<br />
In his gospel, John also<br />
completeness demonstrated<br />
seven miracles that he calls<br />
changing water into wine, h<br />
son, healing a paralytic, fee<br />
on water, healing a man bor<br />
Lazarus to life.<br />
John's book of Revelatio<br />
Christ writing to seven chu<br />
and objects that appear sev<br />
candlesticks, trumpets, pla<br />
While seven is used to s<br />
multiples of seven are used<br />
even higher degrees of com<br />
aim for. In Matthew 18:21, 2<br />
came up and said to him, 'Lord<br />
brother sin against me, and I<br />
seven times?' Jesus said to him<br />
times, but seventy times seve<br />
Basically, Jesus is tellin<br />
to the number of times we s<br />
Muslims pilgrims walk around the Kaaba seven times in Mecca<br />
Abdul Razak Abdul Latif, dreamstime.com<br />
ULTIMATE COM<br />
It is, however, generally<br />
ultimate completeness is se<br />
is, 49. Before his crucifixion<br />
that God would send someo<br />
namely, the Holy Spirit. Jes<br />
before the Jewish Passover<br />
from around the world visit<br />
them would stay there for t<br />
after which, on the 50th da<br />
day of Shavuot which was a<br />
first fruits of the wheat har<br />
Pentecost by some Jews.<br />
It was on this feast day t<br />
promised by Jesus arrived a<br />
with the wisdom and know<br />
to join them in living the w<br />
perfect timing. <strong>The</strong> thousan<br />
Jerusalem became follower
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 23<br />
ent, particularly in the<br />
comes into its own. In<br />
the seven 'I am' sayings<br />
ple 'I am' was the sacred<br />
e not allowed to say or<br />
. God told Moses his name<br />
lated in a variety of ways<br />
that I am', or 'I am who I<br />
he Bread of Life; I am<br />
the Gate; I am <strong>The</strong> Good<br />
ction And <strong>The</strong> Life; I am<br />
; and I am the true Vine,<br />
Son of God.<br />
ORGIVENESS<br />
writes of Christ's<br />
to the world through<br />
the seven signs of Christ:<br />
ealing a royal official's<br />
ding the 5,000, walking<br />
n blind, and raising<br />
n, which begins with<br />
rches is full of events<br />
en times, for example,<br />
gues and seals.<br />
ymbolise completeness,<br />
in the Bible to emphasise<br />
pleteness that we should<br />
2, we read: <strong>The</strong>n Peter<br />
, how often shall my<br />
forgive him? As many as<br />
, 'I do not say to you seven<br />
n.'<br />
g us that there is no limit<br />
hould forgive someone.<br />
PLETENESS<br />
accepted that the<br />
ven times seven, that<br />
, Jesus told his disciples<br />
ne to watch over them,<br />
us was crucified just<br />
festivities when Jews<br />
ed Jerusalem. Most of<br />
he next seven weeks,<br />
y there would be the feast<br />
thanksgiving for the<br />
vest. It came to be called<br />
hat the Holy Spirit,<br />
nd filled the disciples<br />
ledge to encourage others<br />
ays of Jesus. It was<br />
ds of people present in<br />
s of the risen Christ and<br />
gayatri-malhotra, unsplash.com<br />
returned to their homelands with the good news of<br />
salvation. New churches sprang up around the world.<br />
<strong>The</strong> work of Jesus on earth was fully completed<br />
49 days (seven times seven) after his crucifixion<br />
and resurrection at Easter. Surely this must be the<br />
ultimate example of why seven is much more than<br />
a lucky number, it is God's number, a number that<br />
demonstrates his completeness in all things physical<br />
and spiritual.<br />
Since it was launched on 1 March, thousands of<br />
Christians from all denominations have registered<br />
to say that they will be 'in one accord' as part of the<br />
UK and Ireland's largest online Virtual Pentecost<br />
Prayer Gathering taking place on Sunday 23 <strong>May</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 'In One Accord' events will unite Christians<br />
and churches in two virtual gatherings — a church<br />
service in the morning and a national virtual<br />
celebration style event in the afternoon. <strong>The</strong> call<br />
this coming Pentecost Sunday is to unite the church<br />
around praying for revival, unity and healing for our<br />
communities as we emerge from the pandemic.<br />
When the world<br />
changed forever<br />
Pentecost window in Bayeux<br />
<strong>The</strong> first Pentecost took place on the Jewish festival<br />
of Firstfruits, which was observed at the beginning<br />
of the wheat harvest. It was seven weeks after Jesus<br />
was crucified, or 50 days including Easter Sunday,<br />
hence 'Pentecost' which is a name derived from the<br />
Greek 'Pentēkostē' which means fiftieth.<br />
A feast day to celebrate the country’s wheat harvest<br />
does not sound exactly world-changing, but that year,<br />
it became one of the most important days in history.<br />
It was the day that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, the day<br />
the Christian Church was born.<br />
Jesus had told his disciples that something big<br />
was going to happen, and that they were to wait for it<br />
in Jerusalem, instead of returning to Galilee. He had<br />
plans for his disciples, but knew they could not do the<br />
work themselves. <strong>The</strong>y needed God's help.<br />
REVERSED CURSE<br />
Jorisvo, dreamstime.com<br />
<strong>The</strong>y waited in Jerusalem, praying together with<br />
his other followers, and then on that fateful morning<br />
there was suddenly the sound of a mighty rushing<br />
wind. Tongues of flame flickered on their heads, and<br />
they began to praise God in many tongues, to the<br />
astonishment of those who heard them. <strong>The</strong> curse of<br />
Babel (Genesis 11: 1- 9) was dramatically reversed.<br />
That morning the Holy Spirit came to indwell<br />
the disciples and followers of Jesus. <strong>The</strong> Church was<br />
born. <strong>The</strong> Christians were suddenly full of life and<br />
power, utterly different from their former fearful<br />
selves. <strong>The</strong> change in them was permanent.<br />
Peter gave the first ever sermon of the Christian<br />
Church that morning, proclaiming Jesus was the<br />
Messiah. His boldness in the face of possible death<br />
was in marked contrast to the man who had denied<br />
Jesus 49 days before. 3,000 people were baptised.<br />
It was not the first time the Holy Spirit had acted<br />
in this world. Throughout the Old Testament there<br />
are accounts of how God’s Spirit guided people and<br />
strengthened them. But now, because of Christ’s<br />
death and resurrection, He could indwell in them<br />
giving every Christian have the confidence that Jesus<br />
was with them constantly.
24 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
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feature — 5<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 25<br />
<strong>The</strong> day Claude took off his muddy boots for the Queen!<br />
Claude explains to the Queen why he was there<br />
<strong>The</strong> first time I saw the Queen was<br />
in the early 1950’s when she was a<br />
princess, writes Claude Masters.<br />
I was at a scouting rally in Windsor<br />
Great Park and walking along a<br />
footpath with my good friend, Tojoe,<br />
we heard a vehicle approaching from<br />
behind and moved to the side to see<br />
a large black limousine with the two<br />
princesses sitting high up in the open<br />
topped back.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y were clearly meant to be seen<br />
as they were heavily made up and<br />
looked like two painted dolls. I suppose<br />
we should have sprung to attention<br />
and saluted but we just stood and<br />
gawped. I did catch Princess Margaret’s<br />
eye though.<br />
ATTENTION!<br />
<strong>The</strong> next time I saw Her Majesty<br />
was in 1955 when, as a National Service<br />
aircraftsman, I was one of those lining<br />
the route she took when she visited<br />
Southport.<br />
We had not long been issued with<br />
brand new uniforms and for this<br />
event they were individually bespoke<br />
tailored, our new boots were re-heeled<br />
and we wore white webbing. So with<br />
peaked cap and rifle at 'Present Arms'<br />
I was standing smartly to attention<br />
when the Queen passed by this time.<br />
Queen Elizabeth II was crowned<br />
on 2 June 1953. A lot of effort was put<br />
into making it a big day and festive<br />
decorations were put up everywhere. I<br />
was keen on photography and sought<br />
out the best of them. Everyone was<br />
looking forward to a warm June day<br />
but it was a cold and wet one. However<br />
that did not stop crowds gathering<br />
Reading Railway Station decorated for the Queen<br />
Heelas, one of Reading's best decorated shops<br />
at nationwide bonfire beacons in the<br />
evening.<br />
In 1978 the Queen officially opened<br />
the Hexagon theatre and the nearby<br />
Civic Offices in Reading.<br />
<strong>The</strong> hexagonal office block, now<br />
demolished, was of unusual design<br />
with a large open core which had four<br />
lifts and stairs.<br />
NOMINATED<br />
<strong>The</strong> offices were open planned and<br />
the floors were set spirally around it<br />
so you were able to walk from the staff<br />
canteen at the top, down through each<br />
level to the ground using short flights<br />
of stairs without going through any<br />
doors or using the core.<br />
This is what the Queen did when<br />
she visited the Hexagon. <strong>The</strong> plan was<br />
that she would be welcomed by the<br />
manager of each department but the<br />
chief architect, who was expected to<br />
greet her in our offices, had republican<br />
tendencies and had taken the day off.<br />
I had been nominated by my<br />
colleagues to be in the office while<br />
the Queen was visiting so I stood by<br />
an empty desk near the steps waiting<br />
for her arrival.<br />
OPEN MOUTHS<br />
When the Queen came down<br />
the steps and saw no one to greet<br />
her she asked 'Where are we now?'<br />
Surprisingly no one in her entourage<br />
of councillors, officials and press men<br />
knew and looked anxiously at one<br />
another with open mouths.<br />
After a moment of embarrassing<br />
silence, I, having been told to speak<br />
only if spoken to, said 'You are in the<br />
architects department Ma’am'<br />
Her Majesty then approached me<br />
asked what I did so I told her how I<br />
came to be there when I normally<br />
worked on a muddy building site!<br />
Fortunately, a photographer<br />
recorded the meeting, but when one<br />
of my granddaughters was shown the<br />
photo she didn’t recognise either of us!<br />
Reading's Victorian town hall
26 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to advertisements<br />
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around the villages<br />
PACT seeks key worker adopters<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 27<br />
Would you like a<br />
picture of your pet?<br />
Adoption charity Parents And<br />
Children Together (PACT) is<br />
appealing for people from key worker<br />
professions to consider adoption.<br />
<strong>The</strong> agency would like to hear from<br />
key workers — nurses, teachers,<br />
police officers, social workers,<br />
doctors, ambulance staff, child<br />
minders and care workers — because<br />
their professional experience and<br />
skills typically make them strong<br />
adopters. <strong>The</strong>y are also valued by local<br />
authorities when looking for a good<br />
home for children in care.<br />
PACT began helping families over<br />
100 years ago when Bishop Francis<br />
Paget held a passion to address the<br />
vulnerabilities of needy families<br />
living in the Oxford Diocesan area in<br />
1910. Today it is rated by Ofsted as<br />
outstanding. Last year it placed 89<br />
children with 66 families through its<br />
adoption services.<br />
INCREASING NEED<br />
Throughout the Covid pandemic,<br />
children have continued to be placed in<br />
care and the need for adoptive families<br />
is increasing.<br />
PACT is open to couples or single<br />
people, those from the black and<br />
minority ethnic communities and<br />
LGBT+ who can consider adopting<br />
children over four years old, sibling<br />
groups of two or more, children with a<br />
black or minority ethnic background<br />
and children who may have physical or<br />
learning disabilities.<br />
PACT holds regular information<br />
events where anyone considering<br />
adoption can find out more about<br />
what’s involved in the adoption<br />
process and hear from an adopter<br />
about their own experiences.<br />
To book a place, call: 0300 456<br />
4800. For more information about<br />
PACT: http://www.pactcharity.org<br />
Ben Wickes on unsplash.com<br />
New project to start<br />
for local female voices<br />
From September there will be a new<br />
choral venture for female voices<br />
led by local music teacher and choir<br />
director, Suzanne Newman. '<strong>The</strong><br />
Project Singers' will undertake a<br />
series of choral projects starting<br />
with A Night at the Movies. This will<br />
run from September to March 2022<br />
and culminate in a concert at Norden<br />
Farm Centre for the Arts on 26<br />
March. Songs include: City of stars,<br />
We have all the time in the world, Deep<br />
in the meadow, God help the outcasts,<br />
Hopelessly devoted to you and Fame.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re will be a junior group for<br />
girls, 10-18 years, with rehearsals<br />
on Sunday evenings, 6.15-7.45pm, in<br />
Charvil Village Hall.<br />
<strong>The</strong> senior ladies group will<br />
rehearse in the hall on Mondays,<br />
8-9.30pm.<br />
Auditions for both groups will be<br />
held on Zoom in <strong>May</strong> and June. For<br />
more details, contact Suzanne on<br />
0118 934 0589 / suzanneynewman@<br />
btinternet.com<br />
Sow for victory!<br />
It's time to sow and plant this year's<br />
prize winning vegetables — that's the<br />
message from the Sonning Village<br />
show organisers who are planning<br />
this year's show on Saturday 11<br />
September at Sonning CofE School.<br />
Let's hope for good growing weather<br />
and bumper crops. <strong>The</strong> show schedule<br />
will be published in about two months.<br />
Pearson Hall AGM<br />
<strong>The</strong> Pearson Hall Annual General<br />
Meeting will be in the committee<br />
room on 30 June <strong>2021</strong>, at 6.30pm for<br />
a 6.45pm start. Everyone who uses<br />
Pearson Hall is welcome to attend.<br />
Janette Crouch has been using<br />
lockdown to take up her paint<br />
brushes again and has been painting<br />
other people's special pets, some of<br />
which are shown above. In return<br />
the owners have made donations to<br />
charity. Janette is now offering to do<br />
the same for people who would like a<br />
painting of their favourite pet. She<br />
suggests a £30 minimum donation<br />
for St Andrew's Church. You can<br />
contact her on:<br />
janette.crouch1@btinternet.com
28 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
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As I write this, there is controversy across the UK and<br />
Europe about the risk of thrombosis and the use of<br />
Coronavirus vaccines, but there is sunshine ahead.<br />
Thrombosis in humans is a very common cause of death.<br />
1 in 4 people die from conditions related to blood clots.<br />
60% of clots occur within 90 days of hospitalisation.<br />
<strong>The</strong> NHS introduced surveillance and prevention<br />
programmes in 2007 and deaths have reduced 20% since<br />
this intervention. This is actually a remarkable, yet, under<br />
reported success, but 'red tops' don’t sell on good news<br />
stories!<br />
<strong>The</strong> vaccine has been implicated in cases of Venous<br />
Thromboembolism (VTE). <strong>The</strong>se are clots in the veins<br />
rather than arteries. Heart attacks are caused by clots and<br />
blockages in the coronary arteries.<br />
To understand this further we have to know what<br />
the incidence of the disease is and not confuse this with<br />
prevalence. <strong>The</strong> incidence of a disease is the number of<br />
cases over a specified time, where as the prevalence is the<br />
total number of patients with the disease, new or existing.<br />
<strong>The</strong> incidence of VTE per year in the UK is 2 in 1,000 of<br />
the population.<br />
Clot in the deep veins of the leg (DVT) is the most<br />
common form and problem from this is when ‘bits’ from<br />
these clots break off and travel through the blood stream<br />
to the heart where they get passed into the arterial system<br />
of the lungs then block small arteries. <strong>The</strong> clotting system<br />
— a balanced mechanism that protects us from bleeding<br />
out or clotting our blood internally — now harms us as<br />
further clots build up. This is Pulmonary Embolism (PE)<br />
and the clot formation infarcts — blocks the blood supply<br />
— to the lung. <strong>The</strong> lung tissue, ironically, cannot receive<br />
oxygen from its blood supply and dies. Smaller clots can<br />
pass through and can trigger stroke. <strong>The</strong> annual incidence<br />
of PE is 7-8 in 10,000.<br />
30 cases of VTE after vaccination with the Astra Zeneca/<br />
Oxford (AZ/O) vaccine have been reported. On its own<br />
this statistic is very concerning, however the subsection<br />
title is less sensational and is more useful. <strong>The</strong>re have<br />
been 18 million doses of AZ/O given. <strong>The</strong>refore, if we<br />
blame the vaccine it causes one person in 600,000 people<br />
receiving the vaccine to have VTE. <strong>The</strong> annual incidence<br />
of VTE in 18 million people would be 36,000/year. As our<br />
American colleagues would say, ‘do the math!'<br />
31% of patients on intensive care units have VTE events1<br />
in one study, overall the figure is 21%. Mortality of these<br />
patients was 74% higher than non-VTE patients with<br />
Covid.2<br />
If we can skip any complicated mathematics or deep<br />
understanding of epidemiology, the AZ/O vaccine is<br />
recognised to be over 80% effective in preventing serious<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 29<br />
HEALTH — 1<br />
Dr Simon Ruffle writes . . . about Thrombosis<br />
VTE<br />
DVT<br />
30 : 18,000,000<br />
31%<br />
<strong>The</strong>re's sunshine ahead — spring magnolia<br />
disease from Covid infection. Thus, a case for claiming<br />
that being vaccinated will prevent and not cause cases of<br />
VTE. I know the logic in this is stretching causation and<br />
correlation but this does not diminish the fact that the<br />
vaccination saves more lives.<br />
MMR<br />
We’ve been here before with vaccination. In 1998 cause<br />
and correlation got confused with MMR vaccination,<br />
bowel disease and autism. <strong>The</strong> graph below shows the<br />
increase in diagnosis of autism and the rise in organic<br />
food sales in the US. It is, of course, statistically correct!<br />
DESIRE<br />
Simon Ruffle<br />
Humans desire certainty and avoid uncertainty. This need<br />
to find cause in events is hard wired in us. Who can rest<br />
when 2m tall grass is rustling in front of us? It’s either<br />
food or the lions!<br />
Would we blame the vaccine if we were unfortunate<br />
enough to have an accident on the way home from having<br />
one?<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is no doubt that vaccinations, medicines and<br />
surgery have unwanted side effects; some of these are<br />
serious or fatal. This has to be balanced against the overall<br />
outcomes. A bit of carriers advice — if you cannot live<br />
with uncertainty do not go into medicine as a career. <strong>The</strong><br />
turn to page 31
30 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
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HEALTH — 2<br />
from page 29<br />
Thrombosis<br />
early symptoms of deadly illness often mimics minor<br />
illnesses and the classic patterns of progression can be far<br />
from ‘classic.’ Looking at events after they have occurred<br />
is often fraught with assumption and accusation.<br />
RECOGNITION AND PREVENTION<br />
DVT often starts with calf pain. This can feel like a<br />
muscular strain; and calf strain is far more prevalent than<br />
DVT. DVT will cause the leg to swell, so will a strain, but<br />
less so. <strong>The</strong> calf may feel hot and tender, so can a strain.<br />
Inflammation may cause the skin to be red, less likely<br />
in a strain. If there is history of injury, the likelihood<br />
of a strain increases. Recent surgery, active cancer or<br />
immobilisation increases the chance of DVT.<br />
A combination of these factors gives us a Well’s score.3<br />
Blood tests and ultrasound will give us more certainty.<br />
Prevention of DVT is via anticoagulation after surgery,<br />
compression of the legs where mobility is reduced — flight<br />
socks! — and being normal weight and having diabetes<br />
and other medical conditions well controlled or absent.<br />
Pulmonary embolism can present with minor<br />
symptoms. Chest strain, cough and feeling a little short<br />
of breath are symptoms of pleurisy or chest infection as<br />
well as pulmonary embolism. Often, PE presents acutely<br />
(ie suddenly). Awareness of the other precipitating factors,<br />
the same as for DVT, is vital in being suspicious of the<br />
diagnosis.<br />
BREAKING THE GLOOM<br />
This article has been a bit stodgy and gloomy. However the<br />
success of the NHS prevention programme is a fantastic<br />
result. <strong>The</strong> roll-out of the vaccine is also tremendous with<br />
75% of all vaccinations being given in the community by<br />
primary care/GP services.<br />
When it is your turn, please have the vaccination. <strong>The</strong><br />
chances of being seriously ill from Covid will be with us<br />
for years to come and the vaccination is safer than driving<br />
to and from the centre where you get vaccinated.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is sunshine ahead and if we continue to get the<br />
jabs rolled out and continue Covid safe practices — hands<br />
space, face and fresh air — we will all be able to get out<br />
and enjoy a more normal life.<br />
THANKS!<br />
Twyford, Wargrave and the Woodley practices are<br />
enormously grateful for their staff and their communities,<br />
in Sonning, Charvil and surrounds, for the effort and<br />
volunteering that has made it possible to deliver the<br />
vaccination. You know who you are! Much love and<br />
gratitude to you all.<br />
References<br />
1. BTS Guidance on Venous Thromboembolic Disease in patients with<br />
COVID-19 V3.0 8 February <strong>2021</strong><br />
2. www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30383-7<br />
3. patient.info/doctor/wells-criteria-for-dvt<br />
the sciences<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 31<br />
Sharing your feelings with God<br />
Jay Mullings on unsplash.com<br />
By Dr Ruth M Bancewicz, Church engagement director at <strong>The</strong> Faraday<br />
Institute for Science and Religion in Cambridge.<br />
<strong>The</strong> question of suffering comes up regularly in<br />
discussions about science and faith. I once visited a<br />
school to speak to some of the older teenagers. One of the<br />
pupils had sadly died from cancer a few weeks before and<br />
his classmates asked, 'How God could let this happen?'<br />
<strong>The</strong>se young people’s questions about where God was in<br />
this situation were important. But the chaplain also gently<br />
reminded the class that their friend’s family were Christians,<br />
and that they were finding that their experience of loss had<br />
brought them even closer to God than before.<br />
One way that grief can bring us near to God is when we<br />
tell him exactly how we feel. <strong>The</strong> Biblical writers had no<br />
scruples about expressing themselves to God, giving vent<br />
to emotions we often hold back in a church context.<br />
As my colleague, Roger Abbott, has written in his book<br />
on 'Unanswered’ Prayer': Let us not confuse reverence with<br />
spiritual prudishness. Perhaps honesty, the way it feels, is<br />
precisely what God is waiting to hear from us.<br />
OUTPOURING OF SADNESS<br />
About one third of the Psalms express some form of<br />
grief. <strong>The</strong> book of Job is a series of responses to one man’s<br />
suffering as he loses his children, property and health in<br />
quick succession.<br />
Lamentations is also one long outpouring of sadness at<br />
what happened to Israel under the Babylonians. Some of<br />
the prophets, especially Jeremiah, also express their pain<br />
at these sorts of events — events which reflect something<br />
of God’s own feelings at the suffering of his people.<br />
Most of these Biblical authors would have had access to<br />
scriptures that encouraged them to turn to God whatever<br />
the circumstances. Emboldened by their knowledge of his<br />
character and promises, these divinely inspired writers<br />
even express their anger to God about the things he lets<br />
happen, or complain that he seems to act unfairly or<br />
ignore them in their plight.<br />
Not only do these people let out all their feelings<br />
without fear of reprisal, but they also clearly expect a<br />
helpful answer. Some record a resolution to their troubles<br />
— often simply because God speaks to and comforts<br />
them, enabling them to keep going.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Biblical writers demonstrated that God can handle<br />
pretty much anything — anger, blame, bitterness — if<br />
we are actively looking to him for help. As Pete Greig of<br />
the 24-7 prayer movement has written: Pain that is not<br />
expressed can never be transformed.
32 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
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HOME & GARDEN<br />
Recipe of the month<br />
Cheesy spinach bake<br />
From BBC Good Food Guide<br />
Ingredients*<br />
— 200g pack feta cheese<br />
— 2 x 250g tubs ricotta<br />
— 50g parmesan , grated<br />
— 1 egg<br />
— good grating nutmeg<br />
— 100g breadcrumbs<br />
— 2 tbsp olive oil<br />
— 6 sheets filo pastry<br />
— 3 x 100g bags baby spinach, chopped<br />
— 1 bunch spring onions, finely sliced<br />
*For an option add some ham.<br />
Bible garden topiary<br />
Like many people, gardeners or not, I have looked in<br />
awe of some amazing topiary over the years and always<br />
thought that I would like to try it. Topiary is an art form<br />
that is believed to have started in ancient Rome. <strong>The</strong> name<br />
‘topiary’ derives from a Latin word for an ornamental<br />
landscape gardener, ‘topiaries’, someone who creates topia<br />
or places.<br />
<strong>The</strong> first written evidence of topiary is said to be from<br />
44BC. It was through the Roman empire that the art form<br />
spread around the world and became established in the UK,<br />
especially in grand stately gardens.<br />
It seems unlikely that topiary existed in Israel during<br />
Biblical times, although it certainly can be found there now.<br />
However, one of the best plants for topiary is the Box which<br />
is mentioned in Isaiah 41:19, although any evergreen shrub<br />
or tree can be used.<br />
IMAGINATION<br />
On this weak connection, I ambitiously decided to include<br />
some topiary in my Bible garden by cultivating some existing<br />
evergreen plants. I have also planted some small box plants<br />
which are slowly becoming established.<br />
By chance, and with a great deal of imagination — and<br />
much mirth from my family — I decided that one established<br />
plant would make a great camel, and three of the others<br />
could become magi. I knew nothing about topiary and<br />
know little more now! I have discovered that the experts<br />
<strong>The</strong> topiary camel and (inset) a box moth hungry caterpillar<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 33<br />
Method<br />
Heat oven to 180⁰C/160⁰C fan/gas 4.<br />
Mash feta in a large mixing bowl, add the ricotta and<br />
mash again to thoroughly mix. Stir in the spinach, spring<br />
onions, Parmesan, egg, nutmeg and plenty of seasoning<br />
with half the breadcrumbs.<br />
Brush a 20 x 30cm tin with a little oil.<br />
Layer in half the filo sheets, brushing each with oil before<br />
adding the next. Scatter remaining breadcrumbs evenly<br />
over the base. Spoon in the ricotta filling and gently<br />
spread, so as not to dislodge the breadcrumbs. Cover with<br />
remaining filo, brushing with oil as you go, then score into<br />
portions. Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden and crisp.<br />
When cool, freeze in individual squares.<br />
Defrost overnight in the fridge and eat cold, or warm in a<br />
microwave.<br />
Work in progress: three magi are slowly taking shape<br />
nowadays use computers and special cutting tools to create<br />
their works of art. I used, and still do, a pair of garden shears,<br />
a pair of secateurs and a great deal of trial and error. It is<br />
probably about 7 years since I started this project, and there<br />
is probably another 7 years to go, but they are now beginning<br />
to take shape and I can honestly say that every Bible garden<br />
needs topiary!<br />
If you try your hand at topiary, give yourself plenty of<br />
time and keep an eye out for box blight and the box moth<br />
which can destroy what are normally hardy, strong plants.<br />
I had been given a tip by a friend that should the box blight<br />
strike the best treatment is to feed them regularly with<br />
a strong solution of Miracle Gro. A few weeks later when<br />
visiting a plant nursery, I saw the devastation box blight<br />
can cause and so last year when some of my new box plants<br />
showed signs of it, I got out the Miracle Gro and applied it<br />
regularly. This spring the plants are looking much healthier.<br />
While the box moth has not been a problem for me, it is<br />
in the neighbourhood — it has been causing problems, or<br />
rather, its caterpillars have, in a neighbour's garden.<br />
Hopefully the small box plants will survive and one day<br />
they will be large enough to create a topiary Nativity scene!
34 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
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THE ARTS — 1<br />
From the sun to the Son<br />
By Rev Michael Burgess<br />
From time immemorial people have placed the sun at the<br />
centre of life and worship. As Christianity spread, it took<br />
over ceremonies and practices associated with that belief,<br />
but moved the focus from the sun to the Son, Jesus.<br />
In <strong>May</strong> we celebrate the goodness and fruitfulness of nature<br />
brought by the sun with maypole dancing, the crowning of<br />
the <strong>May</strong> Queen, and games and sports, just as the Romans<br />
went dancing in the fields, rejoicing in the gifts of Flora, the<br />
goddess of nature, and druids greet the sun on a high place.<br />
That custom persisted for several centuries, particularly at<br />
Magdalen College in Oxford. In 1840 Dr John Bloxam revived<br />
it. Holman Hunt*, one of the group of artists known as the<br />
Pre-Raphaelites, visited Oxford in 1851 and so enjoyed the<br />
Christmas festivities that he decided to honour the college<br />
life in one of his paintings. It took many years to reach the<br />
canvas: his painting of <strong>May</strong> Morning on Magdalen Tower<br />
(above) is one of his last complete works in 1890.<br />
We can identify the choristers gathered to greet the<br />
rising sun in music and song. Amid the clouds and blue sky,<br />
the birds are flying and the floor where the choir stand is<br />
bedecked with flowers. It is a glorious celebration of the<br />
fruitfulness of <strong>May</strong> and summer: God’s creation bringing so<br />
many gifts. <strong>The</strong> college president is the man with the dark<br />
beard at the right, and Dr Bloxam is beside him.<br />
WELCOMED TO SHARE<br />
commons.wikimedia.org<br />
But there is an unusual character there — a Parsee,<br />
an ancient worshipper of the sun from Persia, perhaps<br />
representing not only those who look to the light of the<br />
sun, but are also searching for the light of truth. <strong>The</strong> young<br />
chorister in the middle looking out at us holds a lily, the<br />
symbol of Mary, the mother of God’s Son.<br />
All creation is gathered to greet the dawn and the rising<br />
sun of <strong>May</strong> with the birds above and people below, young and<br />
old, Christian and non-Christian — all united to proclaim<br />
the goodness and renewal promised by the sun.<br />
Holman Hunt said that he wanted to represent ‘the spirit<br />
of a beautiful, primitive and in a large sense eternal service.’<br />
Here is a vivid reminder the faith we profess opens our eyes<br />
to God’s goodness and glory symbolised in the rising sun, and<br />
that he welcomes everyone to share in those gifts.<br />
*William Holman Hunt (1827-1910), lived in Thames Street, Sonning,<br />
during the last part of his life. His ashes are interred in St Paul's Cathedral.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 35<br />
From the organ<br />
bench<br />
As a further tribute to David<br />
Duvall — see pages 10-11 —<br />
we republish his contribution<br />
to our October 1992 issue . . .<br />
Fashionable music?<br />
Like many other things, poetry and music for the most<br />
part come in and out of fashion. Some blessed souls<br />
achieve permanent favour, such as Shakespeare and<br />
Mozart: others appear briefly and are then forgotten.<br />
Who remembers Alfred Austin and Zdenek Fibich? <strong>The</strong><br />
former succeeded Tennyson as Poet Laureate, the latter<br />
was a Bohemian composer, a contemporary of Dvorak<br />
and Smetana and in his day as famous as both.<br />
But the popularity of most writers and composers<br />
depends on what is and isn't in favour. At the recent<br />
Royal British Legion re-dedication service we sang a<br />
fine example of a hymn which is unpopular with many<br />
modern churchmen because of its apparent unthinking<br />
patriotism: I vow to thee, my country.<br />
THE WISDOM OF GOD<br />
Sir Cecil Spring-Rice wrote these words in 1918 when<br />
he was the British Ambassador to the USA.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y were a recasting of an earlier poem which<br />
reflected on how we are citizens of two countries, our own<br />
and the kingdom of heaven. In the earlier version he had<br />
apparently glorified war, but in the final version Spring-<br />
Rice makes his last line a quotation — actually with a<br />
word altered — from the glorious passage from Proverbs 3,<br />
about the wisdom of God:<br />
'And her ways are ways of pleasantness<br />
and all her paths are peace'<br />
<strong>The</strong> third line of the poem, <strong>The</strong> love that asks no question,<br />
is the one that many people object to, on the reasonable<br />
grounds that love shouldn't be uncritical. It should be<br />
especially if it is the love of one's country. To say that a<br />
country, or government, is always right is jingoism.<br />
But Spring-Rice meant that we should love our country<br />
enough, whatever a government might or might not do,<br />
to make a sacrifice for it — because this is what Christ did<br />
for us. He said in a speech soon after finishing the poem:<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cross is a sign of patience under suffering,<br />
but not patience under wrong.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cross is the banner under which we fight...<br />
different in form, in colour, in history,<br />
but the same spirit, the spirit of sacrifice.<br />
Unlike some composers whose music is used for hymns<br />
without their knowledge, Gustav Holst was proud to set<br />
the main theme from Jupiter, part of his planets suite,<br />
to these words, and he called the tune Thaxted after the<br />
village in Essex where he lived.<br />
I vow to thee, my country is one of the finest matchings<br />
of words and music that one could find, and is a favourite<br />
hymn of a great many people, not least the Princess of<br />
Wales who chose it for her wedding.
36 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
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the ARTS — 2<br />
Poetry corner<br />
Having read Rev Michael<br />
Burgess' article about the<br />
'Ecce Ancilla Domini' painting<br />
(right) in our March <strong>2021</strong><br />
issue — and the editor's<br />
request for contributions —<br />
Steven Rollings of Woodley<br />
offered this poem/hymn that<br />
he has written to the tune of<br />
Woodlands (‘Tell out my soul’)<br />
and is based Luke 1:26-38.<br />
‘Ecce Ancilla Domini’, it be<br />
‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord I be’<br />
Said Mary, when the angel Gabriel<br />
Came to her, and the announcement did tell<br />
Would tell that she not fear, but has favour<br />
With God, and would bear for us our Saviour<br />
His name would be JESUS, He shall be great<br />
Son of the Highest, of royal estate<br />
<strong>The</strong> Lord God shall give unto Him the throne<br />
Of His earthly ancestor, David, known<br />
And He shall reign for ever and ever<br />
His kingdom endless and ceases never<br />
And here displayed in purity of white<br />
Mary, a virgin, trembles at the sight<br />
A small dove seen, the Holy Spirit, He<br />
By His power the child’s Father would be<br />
Here feet of flames of angel painted, see<br />
And white flower offered to Mary be<br />
A tapestry in foreground, Rossetti<br />
A scene revealed, contemplativity<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 37<br />
Local artists<br />
say farewell<br />
to president<br />
George<br />
Sonning Art Group<br />
are sad to record the<br />
the death of their long<br />
serving president and<br />
founder, George Webster<br />
(pictured left).<br />
A difference of opinion among a group of local artists in<br />
the early part of this Millennium led to the Sonning Art<br />
Group being formed as a separate body from the Sonning<br />
Art Club, both of which met in <strong>The</strong> Pearson Hall. George,<br />
a founder member of the Sonning Art Group, became<br />
chairman and successfully guided them for the next 10<br />
years with 'charm, humour and enthusiasm', said Magee<br />
Hollidge.<br />
'Everyone,' continued Magee, 'was assured of a warm<br />
welcome and was valued and encouraged, no matter<br />
how great or small their experience and talent. He<br />
got the whole group involved in his many ideas and<br />
projects which included painting murals for a care home,<br />
supporting the Sonning Show and the Scarecrow Trail'<br />
In 2010, when George was 80 years old, Sue Bell,<br />
became chair and George was elected president. He<br />
continued to paint until recently.<br />
Throughout his life, George was often among<br />
the winners of local art competitions and he will be<br />
remembered by many for his unique and colourful works<br />
of art, such as the example below which was part of a<br />
larger project for a care home.<br />
So her response, behold, I the handmaid<br />
Of the Lord, let the angel’s words be made<br />
Steadfast, and so be it e’en as you say<br />
I Him shall humbly trust, serve, and obey<br />
SPREAD<br />
YOUR<br />
WORD!<br />
With lockdown hopefully coming to an end and you or your<br />
club, organisation or charity wants to tell every household in<br />
Charvil, Sonning and Sonning Eye about your achievements<br />
or plans for the future tell us and we will spread the word!<br />
<strong>The</strong> deadline for your news and stories is always 12 noon on<br />
the sixth day of the month before the publication date. For<br />
example, the June issue deadline will be 12 noon on 6 <strong>May</strong>.<br />
Send your stories and pictures to:<br />
editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk<br />
With the easing of lockdown restrictions and many<br />
of the group now receiving their second vaccine, Sonning<br />
Art Group is hoping to start meeting in Pearson Hall<br />
again early in July. In the meantime, like most clubs and<br />
associations throughout the parish and the country, they<br />
continue to meet online to discuss and share their works<br />
of art.
38 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
PUZZLE PAGE ANSWERS IN THE NEXT ISSUE<br />
CROSSWORD<br />
Across<br />
1 Chance concurrence of<br />
events (11)<br />
9 Swift (5)<br />
10 Epoch (3)<br />
11 Short choral composition (5)<br />
12 Music with a recurrent<br />
theme (5)<br />
13 Device for spraying paint (8)<br />
16 Morally compel (8)<br />
18 Manner of writing (5)<br />
21 Looked at open-mouthed (5)<br />
22 Sort; kind (3)<br />
23 Sculptured symbol (5)<br />
24 Stargazers (11)<br />
Down<br />
2 Public speakers (7)<br />
3 Bring up (7)<br />
4 Urges to act (6)<br />
5 Senior figure in a tribe (5)<br />
6 Sequence (5)<br />
7 Camaraderie (11)<br />
8 Endorsed (11)<br />
14 Cotton fabric (7)<br />
15 More cheerful (7)<br />
17 Subatomic particle such as<br />
a nucleon (6)<br />
19 Bonds of union (5)<br />
20 Keen (5)<br />
CODEWORD<br />
1 2 3 4 5 6<br />
7 8<br />
11<br />
13<br />
18 19 20<br />
22 23<br />
24<br />
Across<br />
1 - Chance concurrence of events (11)<br />
9 - Swift (5)<br />
10 - Epoch (3)<br />
11 - Short choral composition (5)<br />
12 - Music with a recurrent theme (5)<br />
13 - Device for spraying paint (8)<br />
16 - Morally compel (8)<br />
18 - Manner of writing (5)<br />
21 - Looked at open-mouthed (5)<br />
22 - Sort; kind (3)<br />
23 - Sculptured symbol (5)<br />
24 - Stargazers (11)<br />
9 10<br />
16 17<br />
14 10 20 3 22 22 3 17 26 10 6 6<br />
10 10 19 10 10 25<br />
2 10 19 17 20 22 15 16 14<br />
2 10 19 19 10 26 3 13 18 3<br />
22 10 22 22 9 16 14 11 1<br />
13 1 6 15 17 3 26 6 10 26<br />
3 15 6 22 12 3<br />
13 6 10 20 3 24 23 3 13 18<br />
10 19 3 5 6 1 24 13 22<br />
26 16 20 1 14 3 13 10 10 17<br />
21 22 3 26 6 14 8 18 5<br />
3 19 10 10 22 4<br />
7 13 3 15 15 10 20 20 10 17 11 23<br />
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z<br />
SOLUTIONS FOR THE APRIL PUZZLES<br />
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13<br />
X<br />
12<br />
14 15<br />
21<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
6<br />
7<br />
8<br />
9<br />
10<br />
11<br />
12<br />
13<br />
Down<br />
2 - Public speakers (7)<br />
3 - Bring up (7)<br />
5 - Senior figure in a tribe (5)<br />
17 - Subatomic particle such as a nucleon (6)<br />
19 - Bonds of union (5)<br />
X<br />
SUDOKU<br />
Each of the nine blocks has to contain all the<br />
numbers 1-9 within its squares. Each number can<br />
only appear once in a row, column or box.<br />
WORDSEARCH FOR ROGATION SUNDAY<br />
HISTORY QUIZ<br />
CROSSWORD CODEWORD SUDOKU WORDSEARCH<br />
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26<br />
F I F E N O T I C I N G E N M I T Y T W E L V E<br />
1 Battle Tof Hastings<br />
F<br />
R O C R N T A N A I S E A L<br />
2 King William II<br />
3 King Richard I<br />
4 Signing of the Magna Carta<br />
5 King Edward II<br />
6 <strong>The</strong> Black Death plague<br />
7 William Caxton introduced<br />
printing into England<br />
8 King Henry VIII<br />
IN THIS ISSUE QUIZ?<br />
1. When did the Queen open the Hexagon? 4 - Urges to act (6)<br />
2. Where would you find the Holy Kaaba?<br />
6 - Sequence (5)<br />
3. When is the virtual Pentecost prayer meeting?<br />
7 - Camaraderie (11)<br />
4. What does a Parsee worship? 8 - Endorsed (11)<br />
14 - Cotton fabric (7)<br />
5. About how many Psalms are about grief?<br />
15 - More cheerful (7)<br />
6. Who was Haman?<br />
7. What cat needed sleeping pills?<br />
8. When is Missing Children's Day ? 20 - Keen (5)<br />
U N I C O R N S E E D S<br />
C S L A T R H<br />
T O T A L I T A R I A N<br />
O A E U T B<br />
S T R O B E S C H E M A<br />
E E O T T S<br />
O V E R E S T I M A T E<br />
O E A E O W L<br />
S P R A T T O N N A G E<br />
L T O S S K S<br />
O B S E R V E D L E N S<br />
14<br />
15<br />
16<br />
17<br />
18<br />
19<br />
20<br />
21<br />
22<br />
23<br />
24<br />
25<br />
26<br />
T<br />
F<br />
A<br />
B<br />
C<br />
D<br />
E<br />
F<br />
G<br />
H<br />
I<br />
J<br />
K<br />
L<br />
M<br />
N<br />
O<br />
P<br />
Q<br />
R<br />
S<br />
T<br />
U<br />
V<br />
W<br />
X<br />
Y<br />
Z<br />
J U J I T S U A I I<br />
O E L P A R A D O X<br />
I S S U E E I I<br />
N T R N A D I R<br />
I U S I N G O<br />
B U C K S M M O<br />
A H P G R I E F<br />
T O R P E D O A N F<br />
E A R S Q U E A L S<br />
A F E E Z N E<br />
U N T I D Y S E P T E T<br />
Find 20 words from the text below<br />
<strong>The</strong> first Sunday in <strong>May</strong> is Rogation Sunday. This is when<br />
many parishes still ‘beat the bounds’. Rogation means<br />
an asking of God for blessing on the seed and land.<br />
<strong>The</strong> practice began with the Romans, who processed<br />
around the cornfields each Spring, singing and dancing,<br />
sacrificing animals, in order to get rid of evil. About 465AD<br />
the Western world was suffering from earthquake and<br />
storm. Mamertius, Bishop of Vienne, aware of the pagan<br />
custom, ordered that prayers should be said in the ruined<br />
or neglected fields. Thus ‘beating the bounds’ became<br />
a Christian ceremonial. It arrived in England early in the<br />
eighth century. Each Spring, led by the priest, a little party<br />
from the parish would set out with a Cross to trace the<br />
boundaries of the parish. <strong>The</strong>y’d implore God to keep<br />
their corn and roots and boughs in good health, and bring<br />
them to harvest. In the days when maps were scarce,<br />
‘beating the bounds’ helped remind everyone just where<br />
the boundaries were. Do you know yours today?
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 39<br />
BIBLE BASED CROSSWORD<br />
Across<br />
1 Sense of right and wrong (1 Cor 8:7) (10)<br />
7 Coming (John 11:17) (7)<br />
8 All I have is — , (John 17:10) (5)<br />
10 Smarten (Acts 9:34) (4)<br />
11 Hold back (Job 9:13) (8)<br />
13 Member of the Society of Friends (6)<br />
15 At ague (anag) (6)<br />
17 Citizen of the Greek capital (8)<br />
18 So be it (Galatians 6:18) (4)<br />
21 20th Century poet T S — (5)<br />
22 Empowers (Philippians 3:21) (7)<br />
23 Imposing (1 Samuel 9:2) (10)<br />
Down<br />
1 Healed (Luke 7:21) (5)<br />
2 Central space in a church (4)<br />
3 Co-founder of Spring Harvest,<br />
Clive — (6)<br />
4 Moses killed one when he saw<br />
him beating a Hebrew labourer<br />
(Exodus 2:12) (8)<br />
5 Bravery (Acts 4:13) (7)<br />
6 It interrupted Paul and Silas<br />
singing in jail (Acts 16:26) (10)<br />
9 Transgression (Psalm 36:1) (10)<br />
12 Dublin is in this Irish province (8)<br />
14 Same hit (anag) (7)<br />
16 <strong>The</strong> Spirit of God was hovering<br />
over the — (Genesis 1:2) (6)<br />
19 Author of the immortal stories<br />
of Winnie the Pooh, A A — (5)<br />
20 Cab (4)<br />
THE BIBLE ACCORDING TO DIKKO<br />
FREE BINDER OFFER!<br />
Would you like to keep your<br />
favourite copies of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong><br />
<strong>Magazine</strong> in a binder that<br />
holds 12 copies. We have a<br />
small number available free<br />
of charge on a strictly first<br />
come, first served basis. To<br />
request a binder, email your<br />
name and address to:<br />
editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk<br />
Planning Your<br />
Traditional Wedding?<br />
<strong>The</strong>n you might like to<br />
discuss the possibility of<br />
marriage in our ancient and<br />
beautiful parish church.<br />
If so, call the vicar, Jamie<br />
0118 969 3298<br />
He will be pleased to help!<br />
EASTER ANAGRAMS<br />
1. Good Friday<br />
2. Easter Eggs<br />
3. Palm Sunday<br />
4. Crucifixion<br />
5. Hot Cross Buns<br />
6. Last Supper<br />
7. Judas Iscariot<br />
8. Crown of Thorns<br />
9. He is Risen!<br />
BIBLE CROSSWORD<br />
In addition to the stunning and historic location in Sonning,<br />
we will work hard to provide you with a memorable and<br />
moving occasion. We can provide a choir, organ, peal of<br />
eight bells, beautiful flowers, over 100 lit candles set in<br />
ornate Victorian chandeliers and the use of our beautiful<br />
churchyard as a backdrop for your photographs.<br />
the church of st andrew SERVING CHARVIL,<br />
SONNING & sonning eye since the 7 th century<br />
Church of St Andrew<br />
Serving Sonning, Charvil & Sonning Eye
40 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
Local Trades and Services<br />
ACG SERVICES - LOCKSMITH<br />
Locks changed, fitted, repaired and opened<br />
Door and window locks fitted, UPVC door lock expert<br />
Checkatrade member - Which Trusted Trader<br />
Call Richard Homden: 0149 168 2050 / 0771 040 9216<br />
Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to advertisements<br />
CHIROPODY AND PODIATRY<br />
Linda Frewin MInstChp, HCPC member<br />
General foot care and treatments<br />
25 Ashtrees Road, Woodley RG5 4LP<br />
0118 969 6978 - 0790 022 4999<br />
CLARK BICKNELL LTD - PLUMBING & HEATING<br />
Qualified Plumbing and Heating Engineers Gas Safe<br />
25 years experience - local family run company<br />
Office: 0118 961 8784 - Paul: 0776 887 4440<br />
paul@clarkbicknell.co.uk<br />
COMPUTER FRUSTRATIONS?<br />
For jargon free help with your computer problems<br />
PC & laptop repairs, upgrades, installations, virus removal<br />
Free advice, reasonable rates<br />
0798 012 9364 help@computerfrustrations.co.uk<br />
INTERSMART LIMITED<br />
Electrical Installation and Smart Home Automation<br />
intersmartuk@gmail.com<br />
Elliott — 0777 186 6696<br />
Nick — 0758 429 4986<br />
HANDYMAN & DECORATING SERVICES<br />
Reliable and affordable<br />
Small jobs a speciality!<br />
Call Andy on 0795 810 0128<br />
http://www.handyman-reading.co.uk<br />
JAMES AUTOS<br />
Car Servicing, Repairs and MOT<br />
Mole Road, Sindlesham, RG41 5DJ<br />
0118 977 0831<br />
james_autos@hotmail.co.uk<br />
ALL AERIALS<br />
A local business based in Sonning. TV - FM - DAB aerials etc.<br />
Sky dishes. Communal premises IRS systems, TV points.<br />
Free estimates - All work guaranteed<br />
0118 944 0000<br />
MC CLEANING<br />
We are a family business with excellent references<br />
and we are fully insured<br />
All cleaning materials provided<br />
For free quote call: Maria 0779 902 7901<br />
THAMES CHIMNEY SWEEPS<br />
0779 926 8123 0162 882 8130<br />
enquiries@thameschimneysweeps.co.uk<br />
http://www.thameschimneysweeps.co.uk<br />
Member of the Guild of Master Sweeps<br />
PROFESSIONAL HOME VISIT WILL SERVICE<br />
Thames Valley Will Service<br />
Also Lasting Powers of Attorney and Probate Service<br />
We are still working during the pandemic period<br />
0134 464 1885 tvwills@yahoo.co.uk<br />
AJH ROOFING Co (READING) Ltd<br />
Tiling, Slating and Flat Roofing specialists<br />
36 Chatteris Way, Lower Earley, RG6 4 JA<br />
0118 986 6035 0794 447 4070<br />
ajhroofingco.co.uk info@ajhroofingco.co.uk<br />
WANT HELP WITH AN ‘ODD JOB’?<br />
For local odd jobs please call Phil on<br />
0118 944 0000<br />
0797 950 3908<br />
Thames Street, Sonning<br />
BIG HEART TREE CARE<br />
Reliable and friendly service for all tree care<br />
NPTC qualified — Public Liability of £10million<br />
0118 937 1929 0786 172 4071<br />
bighearttreecare.co.uk info@bighearttreecare.co.uk<br />
SMALLWOOD<br />
Landscaping, garden construction,<br />
patios, lawns, fencing, decking etc<br />
0118 969 8989<br />
info@smallwoodcc.co.uk http://www.smallwoodcc.com<br />
BEECHWOOD CARPENTRY & CONSTRUCTION SERVICES LTD<br />
All types of Carpentry, Kitchens, Renovations<br />
Built-in Cupboards & Wardrobes, Flooring & Doors<br />
78 Crockhamwell Road, Woodley 0776 276 6110<br />
http://www.beechwood-carpentry-construction.co.uk<br />
CARER — COMPANION<br />
Experienced lady carer who is local to this area<br />
offers live-in support at competitive rates<br />
Excellent references provided — Contact Louise<br />
0784 226 2583 lasheppard61@gmail.com<br />
PAINTER and DECORATOR<br />
Roger McGrath has 25 years experience<br />
Restoration painting work of any size undertaken<br />
For a free quotation call<br />
Roger 0742 332 1179
CHILDREN'S PAGE<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 41
42 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when replying to advertisements<br />
information — 2<br />
<strong>Parish</strong> contacts<br />
Ministry Team<br />
— <strong>The</strong> Vicar: Revd Jamie Taylor*<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> Office, Thames Street, Sonning, RG4 6UR<br />
vicar@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298<br />
*Day off Friday<br />
— Associate Vicar: Revd Kate Wakeman-Toogood<br />
revkate@sonningparish.org.uk / 0746 380 6735<br />
On duty Tuesday, Friday and Sunday<br />
— Youth Minister: Chris West (Westy)<br />
youthminister@sonningparish.org.uk / 0794 622 4106<br />
— Licensed Lay Minister: Bob Peters<br />
bob@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 377 5887<br />
Children's Ministry<br />
— Alison Smyly office@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298<br />
Churchwardens<br />
— Perry Mills perry@oaktreeoffice.com / 0786 035 5457<br />
— Stuart Bowman sdbowman73@aol.com / 0118 978 8414<br />
Deputy Churchwardens<br />
— Liz Nelson liz.nelson1@ntlworld.com / 0118 934 4837<br />
— Simon Darvall sdarvall@businessmoves.com 0793 928 2535<br />
— Sue Peters mail@susanjpeters.com / 0118 377 5887<br />
— Molly Woodley (deputy churchwarden emeritus)<br />
mollywoodley@live.co.uk / 0118 946 3667<br />
<strong>Parish</strong> Administrator<br />
— Hilary Rennie<br />
office@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298<br />
Parochial Church Council<br />
— Secretary: Hilary Rennie 0118 969 3298<br />
— Treasurer: Richard Moore 0118 969 2588<br />
Director of Music, organist and choirmaster<br />
— Chris Goodwin MA (Cantab), ARCO (CHM), ARCM, LRAM<br />
music@sonningparish.org.uk<br />
Sacristan<br />
— Helen Goodwin 0134 462 7697<br />
<strong>Parish</strong> Website: http://www.sonningparish.org.uk<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>: http://www.theparishmagazine.co.uk<br />
— Editor: Bob Peters<br />
editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk / 0118 377 5887<br />
— Advertising and Distribution: Gordon Nutbrown<br />
advertising@theparishmagazine.co.uk / 0118 969 3282<br />
— Treasurer: Pat Livesey<br />
pat.livesey@yahoo.co.uk / 0118 961 8017<br />
— <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is produced by St Andrew’s PCC and delivered<br />
free of charge to every home in Charvil, Sonning and Sonning Eye.<br />
— <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is printed in the United Kingdom by <strong>The</strong> Print<br />
Factory at Sarum Graphics Ltd, Old Sarum, Salisbury SP4 6QX<br />
— <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is distributed by Abracadabra Leaflet<br />
Distribution Ltd, Reading RG7 1AW<br />
— <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> template was designed in 2012 by Roger<br />
Swindale rogerswindale@hotmail.co.uk and David Woodward<br />
david@designforprint.org<br />
Advertisers index<br />
ABD Construction 24<br />
ACG Services Locksmith 40<br />
ADD Plumbing 12<br />
AJH Roofing 40<br />
All Aerials Sonning 40<br />
All Waste Clearance 34<br />
Barn Store Henley 16<br />
Beechwood Carpentry and Construction 40<br />
Big Heart Tree Care 40<br />
Blandy & Blandy Solicitors 14<br />
Blinds Direct 26<br />
Blue Moose 8<br />
Bridge House 43<br />
Bridges Home Care 14<br />
Bright and Fresh Cleaning 26<br />
Bull Inn 8<br />
Carer Companion 40<br />
Chimney Sweep, Thames 40<br />
Chiropody, Linda Frewin 40<br />
Chris the Plumber 32<br />
Clark Bicknell 40<br />
Complete Pest Solutions 16<br />
Computer Frustrations 40<br />
Cruz Kitchens 34<br />
DAC Mobility Services 34<br />
David Shailes Plumbing & Decorating 26<br />
Design for Print 28<br />
Freebody Boatbuilders 6<br />
Fields Pharmacy 32<br />
French Horn 44<br />
Gardiners Nursing 8<br />
Graham Blake Soft Furnishing 6<br />
Great House Sonning 26<br />
Handyman, Decorating 40<br />
Haslams Estate Agents 2<br />
Hicks Group 16<br />
Intersmart Electrical Installations 40<br />
James Autos 40<br />
Jones & Sheppard Stone Masons 16<br />
Just Brickwork 20<br />
Kingfisher Bathrooms 18<br />
MC Cleaning 40<br />
Mill at Sonning 4<br />
M & L Healthcare Solutions 12<br />
Mortgage Required 18<br />
Muck & Mulch 28<br />
Newgate Car Finance 20<br />
Odd Jobs 40<br />
Painter and Decorator 40<br />
Pearson Hall Sonning 30<br />
Pennymatters Finance Advice 24<br />
Q1 Care 30<br />
Reading Blue Coat School 18<br />
Richfield Flooring 14<br />
Sabella Interiors 36<br />
Shiplake College 20<br />
Signature Cliveden Manor Care Home 28<br />
Sonning Golf Club 32<br />
Sonning Scouts Marquees 32<br />
Smallwood Garden Services 40<br />
Style by Julie 24<br />
Sunrise of Sonning Senior Living 34<br />
Thames Valley Water Softeners 24<br />
Thames Valley Wills Service 40<br />
Tomalin Funerals 30<br />
Velvaere Studio 6<br />
Village Hamper 20<br />
Walker Funerals 12<br />
Water Softener Salt 28<br />
Window Cleaner 30
Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding this advertisement<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 43<br />
BRIDGE HOUSE<br />
of TWYFORD<br />
Because you deserve<br />
the very best<br />
Welcome to Bridge House Nursing Home<br />
Established for 35 years, the elegant Georgian Grade II listed Bridge House has extended its facilities to<br />
include a beautiful, light-filled and airy purpose built nursing home.<br />
Our philosophy is built upon helping residents maintain their independence and dignity, whilst ensuring<br />
their needs and expectations are fully met. We believe that being independent means having the freedom<br />
of choice and flexibility over how the day is spent. Working closely with families and professionals<br />
is fundamental in delivering and maintaining the required level of health and wellbeing.<br />
At Bridge House, our comprehensive facilities and care provision is designed to deliver skilled,<br />
professional and individually planned care in an unobtrusive manner.<br />
Call 0800 230 0206<br />
Visit www.bridgehouseoftwyford.co.uk<br />
INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • NURSING HOME<br />
190821 - Bridge House Ad <strong>Parish</strong> Mag v01.indd 1 21/08/2019 18:06
44 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> Please <strong>2021</strong> mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding this advertisement<br />
<strong>The</strong> French Horn,<br />
Sonning. Quality.<br />
A continuing commitment to<br />
wonderful food and wine.<br />
0118 969 2204<br />
www.thefrenchhorn.co.uk