PARISH MAGAZINE

The Edge, Pitchcombe,

Harescombe & Brookthorpe

October 2010 75p

Events aroun d the V ill ages

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.

2
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]

4
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

5
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

6
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
7
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.

8
 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
9
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
10
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.

11
 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

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
12
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

Frid ay, 22 October 2010 at 7.00p m

In the Dinin g Room, Resthaven Nu rsing Home

All W elco me – Tickets £10 per pers on which will include an

assort ment of Indian curries & cuisine and a drink

To purch ase tickets, please cont act Kay on 01452 812682

13
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

14
 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

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)

15
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

16
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.

17
 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
18
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
19
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.

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.

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.

20
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.

21
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
22
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

23
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

24
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

25
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.

26
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

27
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.

28
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

29
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

30
 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

31
 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.

32
 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

158 Bodiam Avenue

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

33
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34
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35
 N. T. Boothroyd
 
Plumbing & Heating Engineer
    Plumbing & Heating Engineer
All Plumbin g & Heat ing Work
  Gas Safe Reg-
   
Undertaken
   
istered &
 Boiler & Fire Servicing
    Over 20 Years
 Landlord Certificates & Safety Checks
     System Cleaning By Power Flushing Experience
     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

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.

36
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’.

37
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.

38
 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.
39
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

40