PARISH MAGAZINE The Edge, Pitchcombe,

Harescombe & Brookthorpe

October 2010 75p

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Events around the Villages Harescombe: 3 November: Ladies Group Meeting, The Old Mill 13 November: Casserole Supper, Village Hall Pitchcombe: 9 - 10 October: Harvest Festival, Village Hall and Church 15 October: Debate on Assisted Dying, Church 22 October: Curry Evening at Resthaven Edge: 1 - 2 October: Jewellery Valuation, Village Hall 16 October: ‘Edge has got Talent!’ Competition, Village Hall 29 October: End of Summer Wine & Cheese Party, Village Hall 10 November: Autumn Quiz Night, Village Hall Brookthorpe: 12 November: Musical Evening, Village Hall Mobile Library: Thursday, 14 & 28 October 10:40am - 11:00am Edge, near Bus Shelter, Whiteshill Road 11:10am - 11:20am Four Mile House Inn, Brookthorpe Mobile Police Station: 4 & 19 October 14.15pm - 14.40am Edge Village Green 14.50pm – 15.05pm Brookthorpe Village Hall Other Local Events: 8 October: Cheltenham Literary Festival starts

Cover image: Autumn colour at St. John the Baptist’s Church, Pitchcombe, by Anne Buckland-Smith. Other entries welcome.

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Introduction Dear Friends, I begin this letter by welcoming Michael Buckland-Smith as our Editor. Like you, I'm sure, I will be looking forward to the ideas he will bring to the magazine in the next few months. As you may know, I have recently returned from taking three months out of ministry to spend more time with Stewart. It has given us time to do things together and be with our family. I have enjoyed just being around the house and garden and spending time with our grandchildren. It has struck me forcibly during this time that our life is made of days and it is in the 'days and moments' of our life that we find peace and healing, as we are invited to see, touch, taste, dance and feel our way into the heart of life. I have done all of these things at a slower pace than I have for a long time and it has been good to reflect on what does lie 'at the heart of life'. The other thing that I have picked up on again is how life changes and how we change in the process. Change is all around us and 'change' is taking place in our church communities. In October, we have changes in the service pattern for Edge and Pitchcombe which affects Harescombe too. Ten years ago we began 'Toddlers Praise' in Edge which has proved to be very successful. All this has taken a lot of dedicated work and I want to thank Judi Barr, Cheryl Gobey, Joyce Ryan and Janet Ryan who had the original vision for 'Toddlers Praise'. When the toddlers grew up, the service became 'Children's Praise' and our thanks must go to Joyce, Janet and Mary Slinger for organising each service with much care and thought. Thank you too to all the parents who have played their part in this venture, faithfully bringing their children each month and helping to lead the services. We have also had a monthly Family Service led by Ann Kennett and Diane Ravenhill and I have helped too. My thanks must go to them for their deep thought and care in putting the services together. Now, the children are growing up and it is time to combine the

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two services into one Family Service from 17 October. At the same time, there has been a feeling in Pitchcombe that they would also like a Family Service and that will take place on the first Sunday of the month at 10am. Of course, these arrangements affect the monthly rota for each church and for Harescombe too (please see further details in this magazine). So we are looking forward to these changes and pray that they will bring great blessings to each village and to all who partake and attend the services. Finally, another innovation coming as a result of the reorganisation of the service rota is that we are having a service of Compline on the Wednesday evening before the first Sunday of the month. Last month, it was at 8pm on 29 September and the one after that will be at 4 November, possibly at 9pm. Compline is a short evening service of tranquillity and reflection and is a lovely ending to a busy day. I do hope you can join us. I spoke earlier about peace and healing. I just want to draw your attention to the Healing Service that is being held in Edge on 24 October and to encourage you to come along. We all need God's healing touch – to be healed of the many things that wear us down – regrets, memories, physical and emotional problems that sit on our shoulders. St Luke, the physician, understood what true healing entails and we read his views in the stories he tells in his Gospel. We are so obsessed today with health but uncertain what it is. What is healing? Modern medicine? Or something more? So many of us seem to be fine outwardly but inside ???? Why not give it a try?

With every blessing, Elizabeth Ward [I shall be asking other members of our community to join Elizabeth in writing the introduction to future editions. Ed]

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HARESCOMBE HERALD Congratulations to Charles Hutton and Katy Brown who were married in Dedham Church, Essex on 11 September. Valerie Anne and Rob held a pre-wedding ‘At Home’ on 4 July at The Grange. Katy’s parents were among the large gathering of friends and family present and the Browns’ vintage car on a trailer in the drive was much admired. A Mayo Wedding: Rob Mayo, younger son of Conway and Margaret May, married Jane Davis on 12 June. The service was taken by the Rev. Elizabeth Ward. The church with floral decorations by Judy Boddy was packed. A reception was held at the Holiday Inn, Barnwood. Congratulations also to Margaret Mayo, who celebrated her 80th birthday on Wednesday, 15 September.

Ann Bailey & Carol Smiles

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A Trip To India I have recently returned home after spending three weeks in Bangalore, known to many as the ICT capital of India, and what a truly amazing experience it was. We landed in Mumbai after our nine-hour flight, hovering over the slums and it was then that it hit me exactly where I was going, the poverty was horrible! After a turbulent two-hour internal flight, we landed in Bangalore and were greeted by a sudden culture clash! I can’t explain how strange it was to be driven on crazy roads, with people, cows, rickshaws, dogs and cars all trying to get to different places in a rush - with a lot of beeping of the horn. In Bangalore it was never quiet! We stayed in the Bishop’s guest house, which was a guarded compound with westernised toilets - something of a luxury! Bangalore is a developing city, with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. The very poor sleep on the streets and beg for money, whilst others live in slums and work in sweatshops, whilst the lucky ones are able to sustain jobs in ICT and education. There is such a contrast between, sometimes you would see slums stood side by side with brand new guarded flats - not very nice to see! We compacted so much in the three weeks (I couldn’t write it all down!), visiting hospitals, a disabled school, boys and girls hostels and so much more, as well as fitting in a weekend retreat to the Indian hills of Kodaikanal to see some amazing sites and views. One amazing place was the MAK hostel for boys. Most come from rural areas by train. Some of the children’s parents may have died, they may have been thrown out of their own homes because their parents couldn’t afford to keep them (there are no state benefits in India) or they may have entered a prostitution ring. However they came to attend the hostel one thing is for sure, they have come to a wonderful place where they are all loved and cared for, as well as being given an education. One boy who has been at the hostel for most of his life is due to go to university in the next few years to study history - what an achievement! This is the place where we

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spent most time in Bangalore and all of the team fell in love with it. It was full with infectious smiles and laughter.

Whilst at the boys hostel, we danced and sang with them, taught them to play cards and played cricket (India v England – guess who won?!!), but most of all showed them love and attention. They loved our cameras and once you got them out you wouldn’t see them for the rest of the day, so the team thought it would be a lovely gesture to put money into a pot and buy the hostel a camera. This way we can see the hostel’s progress via email but they can also have a lot of fun with it! With the extra money I raised, I have decided to send it to the boys hostel. The man who runs it, Sheikh, is truly amazing and I know it will be put to good use. Saying goodbye was truly heartbreaking but I went home knowing that the hostel was a truly brilliant place. Whilst we were in India, we met some wonderful, welcoming people, inviting us (a group of twelve) into their homes and giving us plenty of food. Seeing the sights of Bangalore, Chickbalapur and Kodaikanal was incredible and I have learnt so much from the experience. I have learnt to be

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so much more grateful about everything I have, as well as how lucky we are as a nation to have stable jobs, state funding and the NHS. Some children and adults I met had nothing, yet were still happy - a lesson within itself! I hope I will get the opportunity to go again and visit the boys and people we left behind.

Thank you to everyone who supported my fundraising efforts. Claire Ratcliffe

[Our first selected article for the annual Prize Draw – see page 38, Ed.]

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Ladies Meeting: The next meeting will be held at ‘The Old Mill’ at 8 pm on Wednesday, 3 November. Christmas Quiz: Village Hall on Tuesday, 28 December.

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CASSEROLE SUPPER

HARESCOMBE VILLAGE HALL

7 FOR 7.30

SATURDAY 13 NOVEMBER

£6 (£3 for primary school age children)

A two course meal of a selection of casseroles with

jacket potatoes, followed by cheese and biscuits

(Bring your own liquid refreshment)

Report of Harescombe Parish Council Motorway Service Area: It now looks like there will be an independent review funded by BP and Road Chef through Savills. We will understand further within a few weeks. In addition, it has now appears that a secondary plan is being put together to extend plans which are in the approval loop with SDC to bring the MSA up to the same level as Tebay in Cumbria. This would include a hotel and holiday apartments! Gloucestershire Gateway Trust which is proposing the MSA has been seeking funding. Roads: We received warnings two weeks ago to expect three inches of rain during storms expected that evening. I did a tour of all our drainage in the village which had been cleared recently. The rain came but not as much as expected. The system coped well, confirming that work that had been carried out since the floods two years ago has helped the system. We shall be reviewing all grit bins in the village and making sure that all is correct and full of grit for the coming winter. Contacts: If you have concerns or questions please contact me or any of the Parish Councillors.

Brian Stanley Chairman, Harescombe Parish Council

01452 813753 - 07790 886307 Brians319@aol.com

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PITCHCOMBE POST Birthday greetings to Danielle Dyte of Orchard Bungalow, Cheltenham Road, on 1 October and to Esme Davenport of Greyston Cotttage, Pincot Lane, on 24 October. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Groves of Chestnut Rise, Cheltenham Road, who celebrate 68 years of marriage on 17 October. Welcome to Robert and Elizabeth Little with their family Eloise, Billy and Thomas, who moved into Pitchcombe House in August: for Robert, a return to his place of birth. Robert went to the Croft School in Painswick and Marling School in Stroud. Eloise started at the Croft in September. Michael and Joan Little have moved to Star Farm. Best wishes to Jonathan and Katherine Shaw and their children Amelia and William, who have moved to Guernsey where Jonathan is Vice Principal at Elizabeth College, St. Peter Port. He is the son of Nigel and Jean Shaw. Best wishes to Emily Tarbuck of Greenbank, Catbrain, who started a four-year degree course in English and Spanish at Nottingham University in September. Best wishes to Dave Partridge recovering from successful hip surgery followed by unexpected complications. Dave is home and making good progress. Village Walk and Cream Tea, 15 August Walkers and dogs met at Pitchcombe Village Hall on a beautiful sunny afternoon. It was a walk known to many, but everyone nevertheless appreciated the lovely views of our countryside. About twenty-four sat down to a cream tea with an assortment of jams to try. Margaret and Lynne would like to thank all those

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who helped in any way on the day, made scones and helped clear up. A profit of £60.50 was made for village hall funds.

17 August - 4 September 2009 That was the time, only a year ago when the inside of the church resembled a builder’s yard: scaffolding everywhere; tools of every description; hoists to move the heavy slate tablets from the vestry to the inside of the church and layers of dust in abundance. At the same time was the installation of the new organ. And yet all was in apple pie order for the bishop’s visit and the concert given on 12 September 2009 by the Cappella Singers, who returned a year later on 18 September. They gave us another superb concert in aid of church funds.

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Harvest Weekend begins on Saturday morning decorating the church with flowers, fruit, vegetables and greenery gratefully received and in the village hall decorating and laying the tables, food preparation and apple pie making for the Saturday evening harvest supper. At 6.30pm in the church there will be a harvest theme of music and readings to suit everyone before going across to the harvest supper in the village hall. Sunday morning is our Harvest Festival. A busy weekend? Yes. A challenge and invitation. Do come and join in.

Mary Morse

P.V.G To Reinforce Conservation Society Members of Painswick Valley Group (PVG) held an Extraordinary General Meeting last month at Pitchcombe Village Hall to consider how best to meet any new threat of development in the unspoilt Painswick Valley. The Group was formed in 1997 to resist proposals by Stroud District Council to allocate land for the development of up to 2,000 houses in the heart of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Following generous support from many local people, who gave freely of their money and time, PVG employed legal and planning professionals to oppose these allocations. They were

HARVEST IN PITCHCOMBE Saturday, 9 October

A Miscellany of Music and Verse A short entertainment in Pitchcombe Church at 6.30pm

Harvest Supper In the Village Hall at 7.30pm

Tickets available from Mike Foran: 01453 763330 Adults £9; Children £5

Harvest Festival A Service of Thanksgiving

Sunday, 10 October In Pitchcombe Church at 11.00am

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withdrawn at a fairly early stage in the process and the Local Plan was finally adopted, without any such proposals, in 2006. After a lively discussion, the meeting decided to dissolve the Group and strengthen the Painswick Conservation Society by giving it half the remaining funds and encouraging all PVG supporters to join the Society. It was proposed that the Society should be asked, at its next AGM, to change its name to Painswick Valley Conservation Society, to re-affirm its commitment to oppose inappropriate development throughout the Valley. The rest of PVG’s remaining funds will be given to the Stroudend Tithing Educational Trust, a local charity which promotes research into the history of the Stroudend Tithing, an historical area lying between the Wyk Stream and the Slad Brook from their confluence with the River Frome as far north as Bulls Cross. For further information visit www.lhi.org.uk.

Michael Little For further information, contact 01452-813604 or littlemj@btinternet.com

Resthaven Curry Night

In Aid of the Resthaven Residents Act ivity Fund

Friday, 22 October 2010 at 7 .00pm In the Dining Room, Resthaven Nursing Home

Al l Welcome – Tickets £10 pe r pe rson which wil l inc lude an

assortment of Indian curries & cuis ine and a dr ink

To purchase t i ckets , p lease contact Kay on 01452 812682

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Pitchcombe Church are proud to announce that they are now committed to supporting two charities, one local and one more far-flung. Each week, kind people leave tins of food, pennies and clothes at the back of the church for the homeless of Stroud without which many would be cold and starving. Now the door is unlocked from 10am – 4pm each day and the weather is getting colder, please could everyone try and drop off a small something as often as they can: a tin of beans, mince or soup, an old pair of socks, a fleece or anything you can spare. Hamela is a 4-year old child from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia whom we have pledged to support by giving £18 each month to World Vision. This will go to her school and community so that many will benefit. Come and hear more about her at our children's service in October. Please save your 5p pieces towards her sponsorship and gifts and give to Rosemary Jones on 01452 813103 or Pippa Sagar on 01452 814783.

This photograph is being sent to Hamela, to signify the beginning of a caring, loving relationship. Pippa Sagar

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Pitchcombe WI Our September meeting was great fun, as we had Joyamy Wigham who gave us a taster drama class. We had to do lots of things that some of us thought that we wouldn’t be able to manage, so it was quite a challenge, but really good fun. We all went home feeling that we had achieved something and really enjoyed it. Our next meeting is on Monday, 11 October, at 7.30pm at Pitchcombe Village Hall - activity yet to be decided. We welcome any new comers.

Sue Taylor, Secretary (01453 759826)

EUTHANASIA

(Now known as Assisted Dying)

• Do you believe you have the right to choose between life and

death?

• Is mercy killing acceptable?

• Is life a gift to be preserved at all costs?

• Is there a compromise?

Join the ethical debate, listen to our two renowned speakers and put forward your views. The Reverend Professor Paul Badham from Dignity in Dying and Dr Cath Blinman, Consultant in Palliative Care Medicine, will face each other and the audience. Come and have your say!

Pitchcombe Church Tickets: £3 to include a glass of wine.

7.30pm, Friday, 15 October Available from: Pippa Sagar: 01452 814783

Sally Goodman: 01452 812990 Ann Kennett: 01452 812669

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Edge Express Birthday greetings to William Parsley who is 6 on 31 October. Best wishes to Alexandra Chamberlain-Webber and Rosalind Wilkes who started school in September. Best wishes also to the older children who started new schools this term - Daniel Needham, Eric Robinson and James Slinger. Friday Group Children’s Play Group The Group met each Friday during the school summer holi-days. Although numbers were disappointingly low, we still en-joyed fun activities including painting, decorating fairy cakes (and eating them!) and making nature pictures.

Children’s Picnic in the Church by Ann Kennett

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The highlight of the holiday was our annual day out this year to Cattle Country at Berkeley. The heavy downpours did not spoil the fun on the mini tractors, willow maze, bouncy pillow and boating lake. The play barns with climbing activities, ball pits and huge slides provided a welcome shelter from the rain.

Our next meeting will be on Friday, 29 October at Edge Village Hall between 9.30 and 11.00am. We hope to have a Halloween theme, fancy dress optional. For details, please contact Jill Alder on 01452 813329 or Sarah Slinger on 01452 812787.

Sarah Slinger

Coffee morning on Saturday, 2 October, to raise funds for Stroud Conservative Association, at the Old Farm, Gloucester Road, Edge. 10.30am to 12.30pm, Neil Carmichael MP will attend. £4.00 on door.

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Childrenʼs Competition On 17 October at 10am, the Edge Children's Praise and Family Service are coming together. We thought it would be a good idea if the children re-named this service, so we are having a competition to suggest a new name. All entries please to: Diane Ravenhill (di.ravenhill@hotmail.co.uk), Mary Slinger (mslinger75@gmail.com), or Ann Kennett (a.kennett279@btinternet.com). Thank you to all who have supported us in the past. We look forward to seeing you at the new combined service.

Ann Kennett Jazz Picnic in the Park Twelve villagers from Edge (Carole Eskell and Rob Hargroves, who made the arrangements, with John and Carolyn Luke, Pam and Malcolm Hollingsworth, Anne and Michael Buckland-Smith, Viv and Roger Barrett, and Rod and Shirley Carpenter), set off for a fund-raising event at Campden House on a particularly autumnal day early in September. Fortunately, the rain stopped as we arrived and grouped the three ‘covered wagons’ together, but warm jackets and coats remained the order of the day. We walked the grounds and gardens, taking in a children’s assault course, play area, skittles, ‘name the sheep’ competition, vintage cars and Morris dancers along the way, before settling down to our picnic lunch. After suitable refreshment, we were drawn to the large marquee inside which music was provided by ‘Spats’ Langham and his Hot Combination. They play well known classics as well as some rarely heard hot syncopated jazz tunes. ‘Spats’ Langham was described by the late

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Humphrey Littleton as ‘a Jazz Archaeologist’. Throughout the performance, the musicians demonstrated virtuosity and versatility with solo performances on guitar, banjo, piano and ukulele. Campden House owner Philip Smith (of W.H. Smith fame) guested on guitar and vocals towards the end of the musical performance, after which we went back to the cars for coffee and cakes before heading home. Carole and Rob won a meal for two at a local restaurant in the raffle, and we add our thanks to them for the invitation to a very enjoyable afternoon. The event was well supported and proceeds went to the Campden Home Nursing Trust.

Roger Barrett

Edge Women’s Institute I attended the Edge WI’s September meeting to hear Patrick Furley’s talk on ‘The Amazing Magic Lantern Show'. To those male readers marveling at my audacity, I shall merely observe that the occasion was a good deal more decorous than several Village Hall Committee meetings I have attended! Mr Furley proved to be an expert on his subject, with a fine, dry sense of humour, which had us all

laughing along. It was interesting to learn that the magic lantern, a forerunner of cinematography, was invented by an Austrian priest, Ananasius Kirchner, as early as 1560. It was fascinating to follow the development of the key illumination technology from candles, various carbide compounds and paraffin to limelight. Before the advent of cinemas, itinerant magic lantern men would wander the towns and villages giving nightly shows, often to people reluctant to leave the warm, friendly interiors of village halls and the like, to return to their own, damp and cold homes. However, limelight is an intense illumination created when an oxy-hydrogen flame is directed under pressure at a cylinder of quicklime (calcium oxide) heated to about 2572°C. This combination in unskilled hands could cause fire and even explosions, so accidents were not

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uncommon. Patrick Furley also brought along several early examples of magic lanterns and treated us as well to a thirty-minute show of remarkably well-preserved old slides. We saw early scenes of Gloucester, Stroud, London and Painswick, images

of the Titanic, pictures of Queen Victoria and the Coronation of King George V and several amusing animated cartoons. Edge Women's Institute is one of the longest running in the country and celebrated its 90th year in November 2009. Meetings take place at 7.30pm on the third Thursday of the month, with a programme of speakers, demonstrations, theatre visits and outings. Visitors (male and female) are most welcome and membership includes receiving a monthly magazine. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided and wine is available. This year’s programme can be found in the Edge & Pitchcombe online calendar at http://tiny.cc/diZcw. Next year’s will be published in the magazine in due course. There is a visitors charge of £2.00, but potential members may attend for free. For further details, contact Rosemary Ricketts on 01452 813910.

Ed.

Would you help with the Open The Book assemblies held once a week at Kingsway Primary School, Quedgeley, on Wednesdays? All you need is an ability to act, take part in assemblies already prepared and give the Christian message to children in a fun way. For details, contact Judy Barr on 01452 814311 or Ann Kennett on 01452 812669.

Autumn Quiz Night is 10 November in Edge Village Hall. Our twice-yearly quiz nights are always full of fun, laughter and intellectual challenge, so why not set about organising a team of four, ready to engage in battle with all comers? We even have teams from the other villages trying their luck! As space is limited, please book with Pete Dickinson on 01452 812675 or e-mail pete.dickinson@lineone.net as soon as possible.

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Edge Reels Programme 2010 – 2011

‘Edge Reels’ are our own celebrated Scottish Country Dancing group, based at Edge Village Hall, who are extremely good and very popular, but still keen to encourage new members. They normally meet on the third Monday each month at 8.00pm, except as advertised below. They usually dance for a couple of hours, with a short break for drinks in the middle. Singles and couples welcome. For details: www.edgereelers.care4free.net.

18 October 15 November 27 November: St. Andrew’s Night at Amberley 20 December: Christmas Party (starts 7.0pm) 21 January: Burns Night at Chavenage 28 January: Burns Night at Amberley 21 February 21 March 16 April: Thistle Ball 18 April 16 May 20 June: Summer Party (starts 7.30pm) Tony Milne

Fairgame Theatre Company returns to Edge Village Hall on 20 November with a new production of ‘Cinderella.’ Not your traditional panto, but a beautifully rich tale of family relationships, grief and first love, all deliciously jumbled up with dangerously big flares and Disco. Cinderella’s timeless story, combined with a lyrical script, diamond-encrusted tunes and a live band on stage, ensure a high-energy, unforgettable evening. Price £7 adults £3.50 children. For tickets, contact John or Carolyn Luke on 01452 814139.

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Report of Painswick Parish Council (inc. Edge) The Council meeting on 15 September considered several planning applications put forward since the last meeting. Members of the public came to question the arrangements for the proposed allotments site at the Mop Tree field by the Golf Club (eg. car parking, narrow roads, flying golf balls, insurance). Gloucestershire Library Service still declined to inform the Council whether we have a library until it comes out on their website. We also discussed the possible actions required to seek to improve local Broadband Speeds. We are now moving forward with our second Parish Plan, as the first one has run its time. We are looking into forming groups with parish councillors and community volunteers to bring the plan forward. The Council also discussed the outcome of a meeting with County Highways, took note of a response from Gloucestershire Association of Parish and Town Councils (GATPC) on future parish council funding and agreed various payments in accordance with the budget. If you have concerns or questions please contact me:

Martin Slinger Parish, Parish Councillor for Edge Ward. 01453 763105

slinger781 @ btinternet.com Brookthorpe Bugle On 12 November in Brookthorpe Village Hall, we have a Musical Evening with the Cate Cody Quartet, entitled ‘The Great American Songbook’. On 10 December, we have our annual Carol Service in St. Swithun’s Church at 7.00pm. This will be followed by a Social Evening in the Village Hall. Contact Nigel Bone on 01452 812629 for further information, or check our website at www.brookthorpe-with-whaddon.co.uk.

Chris Brent-Smith

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Rural Jottings As we head into October, we find most of the harvesting completed in the fields and holdups on our roads due to grain, potato and straw trailers fade away. My cattle have been up on Rudge Hill (aka Edge) Common since the beginning of August, to be joined (rather late this year) by Bazza, the Bazadais bull (owned and bred by local vet Bill Stewart), so hopefully his offspring will be popping up next May and June. I was amazed this year that having taken them off on the evening of 31 March, by 6.30am the next morning two had calved and another in the afternoon. Obviously, they preferred calving in the privacy of their own home! They all seem to be eating off the grass and doing well at present. Three have had ‘New Forest Eye’ infection, which hopefully has now cleared up. Seasonal colour is being provided by the Scabious, Eyobright, Autumn Gentian (Felwort), Harebell and the occasional Common Centaury wild flowers.

Paul Griffiths

There are eleven wild species of thistle in the British Isles. We all know some, like the Creeping and Spear Thistles. However, there’s one I like which is very prickly called the Stemless Thistle, better known as the Picnic Thistle. This is because when you put the blanket down for a picnic to sit on, you can get up quickly after a short time having sat on a thistle, as this plant stays level with the ground! When I go to feed the lambs each day, they hear me coming in my van. I don’t know how they recognise it, but they do. There is one old ewe who’s sole job every morning is look out. I know it’s her, she has got a broken ear tag and she gives out a bleat and that’s when 140 sheep come thundering down to feed!

Martin Slinger

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Praying with Science

It’s the penicillin moment for cancer. According to a paper in the scientific journal ‘Nature’, geneticists might have found the ultimate way of beating cancer. A new drug, PLX 4032, has been shrinking tumours in patients suffering from malignant melanoma. "We've entered an end game in which we are going to complete our understanding of what causes cancer" says Professor Mark Stratton, joint head of the Cancer Genome Project at Cambridge. This is a remarkable moment, combining the human genome and DNA sequencing to potentially "sequence cancer genomes in their thousands and tens of thousands to find all the mutations within them". Let’s hope such new potential for treating cancer works out. But does that mean science has made God useless? Should we still pray for loved ones who are ill? During our ‘Think Twice’ series of events, science has appeared three times. Last month, we tackled evolution and issues raised by Richard Dawkins. This month, we look at the science of Global Warming and the issues raised by assisted dying or euthanasia, with Rodney Green, Bishop John and others (10 October at St Mary’s, Painswick at 7.00pm). Assisted dying is fast becoming a huge issue. Modern science and new drugs mean more people live longer, but people often only do so in long-term pain with little mobility. Should doctors or next of kin help the person to die? Do come to Pitchcombe Church on Friday, 15 October, to take part in the debate (see Pitchcombe Post above for details).

On Sunday, 17 October, St Luke’s-tide, at Cranham and Painswick (the following Sunday at Edge), we are holding a Communion Service with prayers for healing. Luke was a doctor, as well as an evangelist. Come to these services with your struggles and try to hold both science and faith together. Hopefully your engagement with these issues over the last month will inform your faith and cause you to pray with even more diligence for those on your heart, as much as for yourself.

Revd. John Longuet-Higgins

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Changes in the order of services in the Benefice:

1st Sunday, 3 October: Pitchcombe Family Service,10am Edge: no service. Harescombe Family Communion, 11 2nd Sunday, 10 October:Edge Holy Communion, 9.30am Harescombe Holy Communion, 9.30 Pitchcombe Harvest Festival, 11am 3rd Sunday, 17 October: Pitchcombe Holy Communion, 9.30am Edge Family Service, 10am Harescombe Morning Prayer, 11am 4th Sunday, 24 October: Edge, Three Parish Communion for

Healing, 10am 5th Sunday, 31 October: Painswick, Benefice All Souls Service,

4pm These new arrangements take into account that the two family services at Edge are combining into one new service on the third Sunday each month. A new family service has started at Pitchcombe on the first Sunday of each month. The combined three parishes service is now on the fourth Sunday of each month with a fifth Sunday service at Painswick. Edge is starting a Compline service at 8pm on the Wednesday before the first Sunday of each month (if there is not another service that day).

Ann Kennett

Weekday Services Wednesday, 6 October: Pitchcombe Holy Communion, 9am Monday, 11 October: Resthaven, 11am Tuesday, 19 October: Brookthorpe Hall HC, 11am Wednesday, 20 October: Edge Holy Communion, 9am

Andrew Leach

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October News from your Village Agent

I’d like to start with an apology: the information in last month’s article about Scottish Power was out of date and I am grateful to the gentlemen who let me know. I am also happy to say that one of my clients managed to get a substantial reduction in his bill which was back-dated, so it is worth investigating if you think you meet the criteria set by the energy companies. Scottish Power run a scheme called Fresh Start for people over 60 and on certain benefits, which can give a reduction of up to 15% off and 5% off a direct debit account. The telephone number for this through the Care Free department is 01415 686182. Last month, we looked at the different schemes the energy suppliers run to help with the reduction of ever-increasing fuel bills and I thought it might be helpful to continue with the theme of how to reduce costs. Winter Fuel Payments are paid to those over 60 and can be between £125 and £400 depending on circumstances. If the temperature drops below 0°C for seven days running, a cold weather payment is also available for those who qualify for a winter fuel payment. To check for eligibility, call the Winter Fuel Payments Helpline below. Bills can be reduced and the home made warmer by improving the insulation. There are a number of schemes provide grants or partial grants toward insulation and heating measures. Warm Front is a Government funded grant scheme. If you own your own home or rent from a private landlord, you may be eligible for a grant of up to £3,500 (or £6,000 where oil, low carbon or renewable technologies are recommended) under the Warm Front Scheme. Gloucestershire’s own energy efficiency grant scheme is called Warm and Well. The scheme has been running for nine years and has helped over 27,000 households. Clients who are not eligible for Warm Front grants may be eligible for free or partial grants toward loft and/or cavity wall insulation and/or heating system replacement. For details about these grant schemes or to be referred for a free, no obligation survey, contact the Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre.

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What about the actual costs of running all those appliances we have in our home? Learning how much energy use costs is key to understanding how to use less and save money. You can make these calculations yourself if you know how much a unit (kilowatt hour - kWh) of electricity costs you. This information will be displayed on your bill, or as an option on your prepayment card/key meter. You may need a calculator and you will also need to know what the power rating of your appliance is. This will usually be displayed on a label on the appliance itself. If the label says 2kW, it would use 2 kWh if it was left on for an hour. Sometimes, the power rating is displayed as Watts and it is easier to convert this to kW. This is simple as there are 1000 Watts in a kW. Here is a formula: Watts ÷ 1000 (to get kW) × Minutes ÷ 60 = Consumption then × Unit Cost (e.g. 14p) For a 2000 Watts (2kW) oil radiator running for 1.5 hours, the sum would be: 2000 ÷ 1000 × 90 ÷ 60 = 3 × 14 = 42p. So running this radiator for 1.5 hours will cost 42p! Over a week, this would cost £2.94 and a month £11.76 Useful contact numbers The Winter fuel payments helpline is 0845 915 1515.

Energy Saving Trust: Contact your local Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre for referrals into grant schemes for insulation and heating measures, energy saving advice and impartial advice about renewable energy choices. 0800 512012  

Benefit Enquiry line: Confidential advice for people with disabilities, and their carers and representatives, about social security benefits and how to claim them. 0800 882200

Bristol Debt Advice Centre: Provides specialist debt advice and advocacy for people living in Gloucestershire by telephone. As a registered charity, there is no charge for help. 0117 9543990

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Citizens Advice Bureau helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice. 01453 762084

Care & Repair (Stroud) offer a range of schemes to help people with housing related problems in the area covered by Stroud District Council 01453 753471

Source: SWEA Your Village Agent is here to help older people in the community access services, support, information and advice. We are employed by GRCC (Gloucestershire Rural Community Council) and funded by Gloucestershire County Council and the Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust. Please call me on the number below to arrange a home visit.

Lou Kemp 0777 6245767

Anne’s Photographic Competition

Shaun Phillips of Edge was the first reader to identify the picture on the left in last month’s edition as the mains water tap box at Edge Church. Shaun wins a place in the annual Prize Draw announced on page 38. Do you know where the petrified feline on the right is located? Answers by email to

me at pw@aramis.demon.co.uk.

Anne Buckland-Smith Other mystery photos within the four villages gratefully received. Ed.

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Rapport Curtains @ Blinds

Made to Measure Choose from a wide selections of designs and colours in the comfort of you own home. Call Karen on Tel: 01452 810736 Mob: 07884 185605

Dynamic Yoga Classes at Pitchcombe Village Hall

All ages and abilities welcome 7- 8.30pm

For more info contact Rob on 01452 503262

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BISLEY ROOFING PAUL BEER Craftsman Specialists in traditional Cotswold Stone roofing and building renovation

For a Free estimate call Paul Beer 01452 770646 Andrew Beer mob: 07879811287

Wayne Lee Painter and Decorator

Free estimates and advice All aspects of decoration Interior & Exterior Expert paperhanging No job too small For friendly profession service please call

01452813511 mobile O7721881445 wayne.lee12@btinternet.com

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For Adults, Children & Infants For Non-manipulative, non-invasive treatment options

Complimentary to Medical Practice at F21A, The Old Convent, Beeches Green, Stroud, Glos GL5 4AD

Injuries, Trauma, Stress, Anxiety, Autism Babies: Colic, Reflux, Allergies, Birth & Post Operative trauma

Millie Wood Swanepoel Craniosacral therapist & Reiki master

Information & bookings: Tel: 01452813837 or 07754182082 Email: info@milliewoodswanepoel.com /

www.milliewoodswanepoel.com

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PROFESSIONAL CARER AVAILABLE

Fully trained, caring, friendly and reliable female with six

years experience of the elderly, Alzheimer’s, physical disabilities etc.

Short visits or long calls

Tailored packages to meet all your care needs Even if you simply require companionship, shopping trip etc.

PLEASE CONTACT: 07518 030814

Mini-ads maximum 50 words, payment £1 to be received with the advert to the editor at Rudge Hill House, Edge, Gloucestershire GL6 6PQ. Parish and local charity events no charge, space permitting. We cannot accept cheques for small amounts. For commercial advertising, please contact Rosemary Alder on 01452 813997.

Avoid small font sizes. House style is Arial size 16.

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158 Bodiam Avenue Tuffley GL4 0XL Tel / Fax: 01452 412275 Mobile: 07949 213946 Email: sberry@tesco.net

SAY YES TO FAST, FRIENDLY, EFFICIENT WORK WITH MODERATE FEES Limited Companies, Partnerships, Sole Traders, Individuals FOR ALL YOUR ACCOUNTING, TAX & BUSINESS ADVICE Contact Roland Boggon Chartered Accountant, Moorea, Pitchcombe, Stroud, Glos. GL6 6LJ Tel: 01452 812075 Phone now

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Building Creations working in partnership with J. S. Electrical Services

Excellent references and portfolio of works completed. Building and Electrical work. Kitchen and Bathrooms Complete Electrical Installations UPVC Windows and Doors Electrical Testing Complete Renovations Part P Registered All aspects of carpentry

Total Project Management Solutions Chris Saunders Tel: 0758 1550131 J.Buildingcreations@googlemail.com James Stewart Tel: 07816679576 J.S.Electrical.services@googlemail.com Hill Farm, Edge, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL6 6PH Tel: 01452 812984

IRONEASY

Professional Ironing, Dry Cleaning and Laundry Service

FREE Collection and Delivery

From your area

Tel: 01452 740129 Mob: 07952 006820

Price list at www.ironeasy.freeuk.com

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N. T. Boothroyd Plumbing & Heating Engineer

Plumbing & Heating Engineer All Plumbing & Heating Work

Undertaken

Boiler & Fire Servicing Landlord Certificates & Safety Checks System Cleaning By Power Flushing Complete Central Heating Systems Radiators & Thermostatic Valves Tap Washers & Ball Valves Taps, Toilets, Baths, Basins & Sinks Shower Installations Leaks, Burst Pipes & Pipe Lagging

No Job too small - please give me a call! Tel: 01242 250497 Tel: 01452 552192

Mobile: 07816 103709 Email: ntboothroyd@hotmail.co.uk

Gas Safe Reg-

istered & Over 20 Years

Experience

Painswick Dog Training Club has moved to the Painswick Church Rooms, meeting every Thursday. New members welcome. Puppies at 9.30am, then Intermediate and Advanced Classes. Professional trainer. For more details, contact Fiona Chapman on 01452 812462. Fees are £7 per annum and £3 per session. Tea, coffee and biscuits provided.

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Pete’s Periodical Posers 1. What can a lycanthrope do ?

2. Which crop rescued the Virginia settlement in the early 1600s and contributed to Britain’s expanding wealth and power?

3. Which two countries signed the treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 (endorsed by the Pope) dividing the entire world between them?

Pete Dickinson

Disappointingly, no-one replied to last month’s posers, perhaps because there was no inducement. From now on, therefore, the first reader to email all three correct answers to me will be identified in the next edition and entered into the Prize Draw mentioned on page 38. Ed.

Answers to September’s posers:

1. Substitutes were permitted for the first time in the 1965-66 season.

2. ‘Synaesthesia’ is the name of the phenomenon for hearing colours or seeing sounds.

3. The three song titles from ‘An American Werewolf in London’ were ‘Blue Moon’, ‘Moon Dance’ and ‘Bad Moon Rising’.

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From The Editor

My thanks to everyone who told me they liked the new look. As Anne’s cover drew particular praise, Rosemary and I have decided to go on experimenting with colour, so long as funds hold out. We are grateful to Edge Village Hall Committee for agreeing to help subsidise this.

I’ve decided to move the deadline back to the 20th of the month, to enable more late events to be covered. However, while all contributions are welcome, please help by using Arial 16 or equivalent: smaller fonts sizes becomes hard for some to read when shrunk to A5. Photographs may be in colour, but should be high resolution to avoid pixellation and without red-eye. A Challenge for keen photographers: interesting photos taken within the four villages may be selected for use as front covers but, if the subject is a person, please indicate their agreement.

This edition has an interesting new section on Rural Jottings, by Paul Griffiths and Martin Slinger. I am still waiting for recipes, local history articles and someone to act as Gardening Correspondent. As an added inducement, I have decided to run an annual Prize Draw, for all cover photographs, winning quiz answers, selected articles and amusing novelties judged worthy of inclusion, with the winners awarded a bottle of wine each, or a box of chocolates and featured in the magazine.

A Doggerel

I have a dog who’s brown and tall, Who begs and nags to throw his ball And if you don’t, he’ll sulk and pine, Come light or night, or rain or shine.

But if you do, he’ll run and run, In starlight, storm or summer sun, Until you drop, too tired and sore,

Then begs “don’t stop, I want some more!” Those soulful eyes, that pleading paw,

For evermore, oh what a bore! Ed.

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Up There

On Cotswold edge there is a field and that Grows thick with corn and speedwell and the mat Of thistles, of the tall kind; Rome lived there, Some hurt centurion got his grant or tenure, Built farm with fowls and pigsties and wood-piles, Waited for service custom between whiles. The farmer ploughs up coins in the wet-earth-time, He sees them on the topple of crests gleam, Or run down furrow; and halts and does let them lie Like a small black island in brown immensity, Till his wonder is ceased,

and his great hand picks up the penny. Red pottery easy discovered, no searching needed... One wonders what farms were like,

no searching needed, As now the single kite hovering still By the coppice there, level with the flat of the hill.

Ivor Gurney Ivor Gurney was born in Gloucester in 1890 and is recognized as one of the best Great War poets, although his poems about Gloucestershire are also celebrated. This poem is reproduced by kind permission of Andrew Kennett from his anthology published in 1993 for the Edge Cotswold Arts Festival:

‘Gurney’s Dog’

poems by

Ivor Gurney, F. W. Harvey, David Ashbee and others Ed.

British Summer Time Ends

Remember the clocks go back one hour from British Summer Time to Greenwich Mean Time at 2am on Sunday, 31 October.

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Benefice Details

Clergy: Revd. John Longuet-Higgins 01452 812334 Revd. Jeff James 01453 882481 Revd. Elizabeth Ward 01452 812188

Readers: Stewart Ward 01452 812188 John Turkington 01494 677892

Churchwardens: The Edge Rod Carpenter 01452 812812 Pitchcombe Rosemary Jones 01452 813103 Mary Morse 01452 813824 Harescombe Jolyon Boddy 01452 812204 with Brookthorpe Kath Pritchard 01452 812831

Curate Andrew Leach, Parish Office 07564 448692 & Benefice Administrator

Village Hall Bookings

Brookthorpe Sue Bracey 01452 812681 Edge Bobby Kaye 01452 813567 Harescombe Anne Bailey 01452 813514 Pitchcombe Mike Foran 01453 763330

Other Useful Contact Details

Brookthorpe Parish Council 07575 623 044 Harescombe Parish Council 01452 813753 Painswick (Edge) Parish Council 01452 812722 Pitchcombe Parish Council 01452 424245 Stroud District Council 01453 766321 Stroud Police Non-Emergencies 0845 090 1234 Edgenet edgenet@aramis.demon.co.uk Pitchcombe Net pitchcombe@yahoogroups.com

Copy deadline: 20th of each month to pm@aramis.demon.co.uk

Editor Michael Buckland-Smith 01452 813202

Correspondents: Brookthorpe Chris Brent-Smith 01452 812258 Harescombe Anne Bailey 01452 813393 Pitchcombe Mary Morse 01452 813824

Subscriptions, Rosemary Alder 01452 813824 Advertisements & Distribution