Upton St Leonards
Church News
May 2007
May Diary
1.
TUES. ST. PHILIP &
ST JAMES.
6.
SUN. EASTER 5.
Holy
Communion
All
Age Communion
Evening Service
7.
MON. Upton
W.I.
9.
WED. Junior Quiz.
10.
THURS. M.U.Holy
Communion
13. SUN. EASTER 6.
Holy
Communion
All
Age communion and Traidcraft Stall
14.
MON. ST. MATHIAS.
Twyver
W.I. 7.30p.m.Village Hall.
16.
WED. Junior Quiz 6.30p.m.Village
Hall.
17.
THURS. ASCENSION DAY. Please look on Church Notice Boards and Pew
News for details of service.
20. SUN. EASTER 7.
Holy
Communion
All
Age Communion
Evening
Service.
23.
WED. Junior Quiz
24.
THURS. Get-together
Club outing. Coach leaves Village Hall.
27.
SUN. PENTECOST - WHIT SUNDAY.
Please look on Church
Notice Boards and Pew News for details of services.
31. Thurs Visit of the B.V.M. to
Contributions for the
June edition of Church News should reach Mrs. Rumsey, 16 Perry Orchard by 10th
May please.
May
The Easter Season is an exciting time of new beginnings; of celebrating
new life and starting out afresh. For our Cluster this is a very exciting time
when we hope that
The period when we have not had a full compliment of Clergy for the
Cluster has highlighted a problem in that we cannot offer support for one
another as we all have our main Service at
I hope everyone enjoyed the Lent, Holy Week and Easter Deanery events.
The Bishop's Lent Course was very popular and it was good to see so many from
We look forward too to
celebrating the Feast of Pentecost with a special Celebration Eucharist and
meal all at the School when we can all get together once more to pray and
celebrate the continuing growth of faith in our community!
Paul
If you would appreciate a visit from the Parish Priest
or someone from the Church please let us know, either in person at one of the
Services, in writing to The Rectory, 12 Bondend Road, Upton St Leonards, GL4
8AG or by phone (01452 627828) or e-mail: rev_leckey@blueyonder.co.uk
From the Churchwardens:
Benjamin
Franklin once said ‘Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and
taxes’
This is
partially true but it is also considered that change is a certainty and
essential to continue with life. I am sure that you will appreciate that some
of us as individuals are not the same as we were 20 years ago and speaking for myself this is not necessarily a bad thing. As you will no
doubt have noticed over the past few years, the Church of England is going
through a period of change and we at
Another
thing that is also certain in life is the need for maintenance. For those of
you with physical responsibilities such as houses and gardens each year brings
new issues of maintenance such as painting the fence, mowing the lawn and
trimming the hedges. There are always things that need doing no matter where
you look and there is only so much time that you have in a day to do them. This
is also true at St Leonards. Many of you will have read the information about
the Quinquennial Inspection of the Church that was undertaken late last year.
This report now needs to be carried forward, a plan of action prepared and work
completed in a timely manner. A request for assistance was added to the
Churchwarden report in Aprils Church News. To date nobody has come forward
offering to help out and be part of a team that will essentially undertake the
very necessary maintenance required on the Church building and surrounding
property. Please do consider this. Your help will be very much appreciated by
the Parishoners, now and in the future years to come. Please contact a
Churchwarden for more details.
There is
one part of the Quinquennial Inspection yet to be undertaken. St Leonards
Church requires a full electrical survey to ensure that it meets current
standards. The reason for the delay in having this actioned is rather simple.
The costs involved in just getting a survey completed are, to put it rather bluntly,
astronomical. Not forgetting that after this survey is completed there will be
the additional financial burden of any work necessary to bring the electrics up
to the legal requirements. Any electrical work must be undertaken by a fully
qualified electrician so this is not an area in which we can ‘make do’ and so
must pay commercial rates to have the work completed. At this moment in time we
have one quote for the electrical survey which involves 2 electricians spending
2-3 days testing all the wiring and electrical items. This amount of time
equates to a costing of in excess of £1000 plus VAT; quite a substantial amount
of money by anyones standards. You may now appreciate the delay and also the
sorts of running costs involved in keeping the Church building in order.
Please
therefore continue to support the Church in the fundraising events being
planned for the coming months. Tell your friends and families about them and
join in if you can. I am sure that the Call My Bluff Wine evening being held on
21st April was a fun event. Thanks to all those who worked hard to
make it possible.
As I
write this article the warmer days are getting longer and the trees are
beginning to bud. New life is all around us and the children are enjoying their
new found freedom of playing outside in the early evening. Easter Sunday seems
a distant memory now but is still remembered in many ways – speaking personally
I have a couple of eggs yet to eat. Summer is almost here – I for one am really
looking forward to the coming months.
In the
meantime, take care and keep well and healthy and see you all soon.
Tower Sponsorship Details
March
The
lights were kindly sponsored by Ruth Edgington and her family on the 24th
March and 28th March. This was to mark the late Michael Edgingtons
birthday and their wedding anniversary.
A
gift has also been received in memory of Mrs. Lavina Robinson whose ashes were
interned in the Churchyard in March. The last of the family
of Mr & Mrs White of Upton Hill.
Her late husband, parents, bothers, grandparents and great-grandparents
are also buried in the Churchyard.
April
The
lights were kindly sponsored on the 26th April by David and Sue
Moore in celebration of their late daughters 30th birthday.
May
A
donation has been received from the Upton St Leonards with Brookthorpe and
Harescombe Conservatives to assist with the running costs of the Church Tower
Floodlighting.
Thank
you to all those who have kindly made a donation or sponsored the lights at St
Leonards. Your gifts are gratefully received.
If you or your family
wish to have the lights sponsored in celebration of a birthday or anniversary
or for a loved ones life then please contact Matthew.
There is no set amount
for this, just what you would like to gift to the Church in order to help cover
running costs. If you are able to gift aid any donation this will help us too.
If you would like to
sponsor the Church Tower Flood Lights then please contact
Upton St Leonards Mothers
Dates for May
10th. Holy Communion
21st. Ladies Group meet Church Room
Speaker: Cottia
Howard.
Head Teacher of Upton St. Leonards School
A REPLY
In last month's Church News, Matthew said a lot of
very kind things about people who work for the church, which were much appreciated,
but he missed out one person who works supremely hard. He is a key man when
decisions have to be made, is brimful of ideas and initiatives, makes sure
everything is in place for the service, cares for the building and the
churchyard, produces most professionally made posters and documents, set up the
church website, welcomes visitors, is heavily involved with administration, and
does a host of other things behind the scenes too numerous to mention. I have
on more than one occasion seen him working hard in the churchyard in pouring
rain! What is more, he carries out all his
duties with the utmost
cheerfulness and good humour, I am sure that everyone has by now recognized the
person to whom I am referring. It is, of
course, our churchwarden
K.H.
Christian
Aid Week 13-19 May
This
Christian Aid Week you can help poor communities grow out of poverty.
Please give
generously using the envelope through your door, and if you pay income tax,
increase the
gift by signing the gift aid declaration on the envelope.
If you are
able to help with the door-to-door collection in the village, call Andy
Russell, 610002
To
help boost the funds of this very worth-while cause there will be a
COFFEE
MORNING
in the
CHURCH ROOM on WEDNESDAY 16th MAY
FROM
Bring
& Buy. Raffle.
Admission 50p.
Please
do come along and support us.
Organised by The Stitchers.
MOTHERS
The Mothers
Union members have had a very busy month and I would like to express my sincere
thanks to everyone who has supported and helped at the events.
2nd March - the Womens World Day of Prayer was
hosted this year by Upton St. Leonards, we were fortunate to have the Upton St.
Leonards Primary School to lead the singing.
Refreshments
were served by M.U.members.
18th March - Mothering Sunday, thank you to the
members who made posies, which were presented to the children to give their
Mums, and then we were able to give one each to the ladies who didn't have one.
On this day Ruth
was
baptised and we all had a glass of wine served by M.U.members.
25th March - Songs of Praise - this is the 2nd year we
have held this service. We welcomed the Choir, Orchestra and Hand Bell ringers
also readers from Upton St. Leonards Primary School, another wonderful service,
and we thank Helen their Music Teacher for all the hard work and time she puts
into training them, and Miss Cottia Howard, the Headmistress for allowing the
children to attend, and to Greg the Organist. Refreshments were served
by
M.U.members and helpers. Thank you to everyone who provided and served cakes
and tea
RACHEL HALL.
GET TOGETHER CLUB
On
Thursday 24th May we are having our Summer Outing Leslie and her Committee have
fixed for us to go to the
We
will have a short visit to the Museum, to be followed by tea. The cost of the visit
will be £6.45 per head.
The
coach will leave the Village Hall at
This
will be our first visit to the Museum, so I feel sure we will have a splendid
afternoon.
If
you were not at the April meeting, please phone Meg on 616309 to ensure your
place on the trip.
please continue to collect odd foreign coins for use by the Club
later in the year.
MEG
JAMES.
Meet a Vicar?!
Every Friday evening between
It also gives people a chance to see the inside of the
Church and spend quiet time if they so wish, or have a friendly chat.
GFWI
Upton St. Leonards.
An evening of
inspirational ‘Chocolate Delights’ expounded by Guido Guidetti the Italian
‘Master Craftsman’. Born in Switzerland of a Swiss Mother and Italian Father,
but having NO SWISS passport, Guido grew up in the restaurant business, serving
his Swiss apprenticeship at 15 years old, trained at College, also working
under he guidance of of top Swiss Chocolatiers, his knowledge and skills
developed until he could equal his Masters.
Recipes, always carefully guarded secrets were stored in his memory.
Guido began by saying
the cocoa bean is the size of a melon, grows on the cocoa tree in the tropics,
mainly the
mass and dark chocolate 70/75 even 82 cocoa mass, but it
is a matter of taste. Demonstrating in a
dry heat special container called a 'Kettle' or 'Calibat' to temperatures of 48
to 100 boiling, Guido used cocoa callats or
buttons, sugar, milk powder, full cream or skimmed milk with
a trace of lecithin 1 from soya bean emulsifier and vanilla pod, originally an
orchid. Telling anecdotes in between
stirring how one boss, the best in the business in Basle, kept his recipes
secret, but Guido using stealth and guile entered the kitchens at different
times observing the ingredients being used, later using to his own advantage,
his boss questioned how he discovered the recipe even suspecting his own wife!.
During this time Guido’s patient wife Angela and son Emmanuel were
preparing a ‘Chocolate Easter Bunny', we
were all intrigued – this Bunny will be raffled at the next meeting.
All ladies warmed to
this family and thanked them with a loud applause. Daphne Brown gave a warm
vote of thanks.
Fascinating as the
demonstration was Judy welcomed 3 new ladies, the News
letter was read and various notices given out.
Kathy Quant gave a
report on the recent A.C.M held at the Town Hall,
Please note our next
meeting is on MAY DAY Mon day 7th May, in Upton St. Leonards Village Hall. 7.30pm. 'A FUN EVENING'.
Everyone is warmly
invited - see you there!
KATHY QUANT
Upton St Leonards Flower Show Committee
A
note for your diary
The next flower show is to be held on
Saturday:-
Flower
Section:-
One vase
of Lavatera - 3 stems
Pansies, 6
blooms
Vase of Asters,
6 blooms
Roses, 3
blooms with foliage attached, 3 distinct varieties
FIoribunda
Roses, 3 stems
Roses, 3
blooms with foliage attached, 1 variety only
Rose, one
single bloom to be judged on fragrance only
Roses -
one vase of one variety, one bloom at each of 3 stages,
bud,
exhibition, and blown. Bud to be in colour.
Three
different sprays of shrubs in a suitable container
Dahlia,
Decorative 3 blooms.
Dahlia.
Cactus/Semi Cactus, 3 blooms 1
Dahlia,
Pompon, 3 blooms
Dahlia,
Waterlily, 3 blooms
Dahlia,
Ball, 3 blooms
Chrysanthemuirn,
3 sprays
Gladioli,
3 spikes
Bowl or
vase of garden flowers - maximum space 24 x 24"
(610mm x
610mm).
A
succulent
A cactus
One pot
plant in flower (NOT fuchsia)
One pot
plant for foliage
One pot fuchsia
(internal diameter of pot not to exceed
8”/200mm)
One pot
African Violet (internal diameter of pot not to exceed
4”/100mm)
One pot
coleus, 6”/150mm pot
One pot
pelargonium, 6”/150mm pot
A planted container, max. dia. 18”/450mm
Novice Classes :-
Rose - one
single bloom
Dahlia -1
bloom of any kind
One pot
plant, any variety
Gladioli -
one spike
Please support the Annual Flower Show
UPTON ST. LEONARDS VILLAGE HISTORY GROUP.
On
March 8th in the Village Hall, Mr. D.H. Aldred gave a talk illustrated by colour
slides on Lost Villages in Gloucestershire. He talked mainly on the area around
Winchcombe and he said you have to study what is on the ground. Humps in fields are the give away to where
these lost villages existed. Sometimes as much as a Church and a farmstead still exist but the
surrounding cottages and lanes have long disappeared.
When
sheep and wool became the main wealth for this area many small cottages and
farms were cleared. The ridge and
furrows which you can still see in the fields are indications of the
strip system of farming before the enclosure acts and hedges were grown to
enclose fields.
By
means of colour slides he showed many examples of the above in the
Gotherington,
Winchcombe, Sudeley, Toddington and Stanway area.
Altogether a very informative evening.
The
next meeting is on May 10th and the subject is the Birchall Family.
DAVID
CHAVE.
MEET YOUR MP.
Your local MP, David Drew will be holding an informal
meeting in
You are cordially invited to come along and discuss any
matters
of local interest with David,
Refreshments will be provided.
Please contact Campbell Smith (01452 614968) if you require
further details.
2007 SPRING SHOW.
The Village Hall Social Committee would like to thank everybody
who gave up their time and
energy helping us on the day, there was a
good community atmosphere. This event
would not happen if we did not have your support, both entries and
spectators. Thank you, to the
craft stall holders which added another dimension
to the show.
The Trophy winners were:-
FLOWERS. Mrs.
Karen Eley.
HOME PRODUCE. Mrs.
Julie Winstanley
HANDICRAFTS. Mrs.
Alison Easton-Skinner
CHILDREN'S
PHOTOGRAPHY
BEST in SHOW Iris Griffiths.
Mrs. Barbara Sproston very kindly presented the awards this
year.
MARILYN BANNISTER.
JUNIOR
QUIZ COMPETITION
Don't
forget the Junior Quiz nights.
Under
9's...... Wed. May 9th.
Under
12's..... Wed. May 16th.
Under
15's..... Wed. May 23rd.
You
will need a Team name, 4 in a team entry fee £1. each.
The
Quiz nights will start
Parents
are welcome to come along and watch.
Team
entry forms from M. Bannister. 610670.
These
quiz nights are arranged for YOU,,
Get
organising NOW !!!
MARILYN
BANNISTER
UPTON ST.
LEONARDS BADMINTON CLUB.
National Badminton
Week a few months ago inspired members of the club to take advantage of
coaching sessions held locally in the county.
Recently the club
swapped their usual meeting place of the village hall for the heady ceiling
heights of GL1.
They spent the evening
being coached by a Northampton County player where not only did they brush up
on skills already known and used but learnt about new tactics and rules in the art
of playing badminton. All the members felt that it was a very worthwhile
exercise and this will probably be an event that the club will repeat in the
coming years.
Upton St. Leonards
Badminton Club meets every Tuesday at
There is no membership
fee. Players of all ages, (from 16+) & abilities are welcome to attend.
First evening is free. This is a non-league club the ethos being fun, friendship
and fitness. Club members regularly enjoy social evenings at other establishments
in the county.
For further details
ring Glos. 611611.
F, RODWAY.
The UpStagers Amateur
Dramatic Society
Present at
Upton St Leonards Village
Hall
Love Begins at
Fifty
(A farce in 2 acts by Raymond Hopkins)
Performances
3rd/4th/5th May 2007
Doors
open 7-00pm. Performances commence 7-30pm
Tickets
£7-00, £6-00 (Concessions) Refreshments
available for tickets
please call Jackie Lord on 01452 613246
book now to avoid
disappointment
PLANT
Offering you a wide range of hardy shrubs, perennials and
bulbs,
many of which will not be found in garden centres
UPTON ST LEONARDS
VILLAGE HALL
SATURDAY
19™ MAY
Annette Ward – 01531 650208
A DATE TO REMEMBER
!!!
GLOUCESTERSHIRE KEEP FIT
ASSOCIATION
ARE HOLDING THEIR ANNUAL
GARDEN
PARTY
AT
'WYNDEL', THE STANLEY
UPTON ST. LEONARDS
IN AID OF
COUNTY AIR AMBULANCE
GATES OPEN AT 10. a.m.
Entry: 50p to include a coffee
Children 1Op
STALLS
RAFFLE
LUNCHES AT COMPETITIVE PRICES