People and Parish - In this issue . The Summer of 21 Britain's First Christian Martyr The struggles of a small parish - St. Leonard's ...
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People and Parish
July/August 2021
In this issue...........
The Summer of 21
Britain’s First Christian Martyr
The struggles of a small parish
70p or £6 per year
The Parish Churches of St Leonard
Heath and Reach
with St Michael, EggingtonTeam Rector: Revd. Cate Irvine
The Parish of St Leonard, Heath and Reach with
St Michael’s Eggington
www.saintleonardschurch.com
Team Vicar Revd. Noel McGeeney, The Vicarage, 2 Reach Lane,
LU7 0AL, 01525 237633
saggart@yahoo.com
Church Wardens Mr Richard Page 01525 373869
Mrs Jane Dempster Mason 01525 237449/07803253476
Secretary Mrs Ann Gomersall, 173 Cotefield Drive, LU7 3DT, 01525
376572
Treasurer Mrs Jill Thomas, 46 Redwood Glade, LU7 3JT,
01525 374175
Freewill Offerings Mr Tony Mellodey, 12 Holts Green, Great Brickhill,
MK17 9AJ, 01525 261552 / 07771 686005
Administrator and Church Mrs Corinna Washbrook, St Leonard’s Parish Office,
Hall Bookings St Leonard’s Church Hall, Leighton Road LU7 0AA.
07502 320025 stleonardheath@gmail.com
Office hours: 10.30am—12.30pm Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES
Choir Sundays at 10.15am in Church, Contact: Jane Newman, 01525
237421
St Leonard’s Amateur Players, Contact:
SLAP
Mrs Nicole Waldock, 01908 608304
Men’s Breakfast Group Termly, Saturdays at 8.30am. Contact Neil Forsyth on 01525
377047
Holiday Club See ‘Happenings’. Contact Vera Paul 01525 375095/Rosemary
Young 01525 237345
Magazine Editor Neil Forsyth, 01525 377047 , stleonardsmag@gmail.com
Magazine Advertising Contact Parish Office 07502 320025
2
All copy to reach Editor by 15th of the month, pleaseThe summer of 21
The phrase, the summer of 21, reminds me of the rock classic by
Brian Adams, ‘The Summer of 69’, he reminisces, “those were the
best days of my life”; the build up to the summer of 21 feels like
that. Full of possibility, freedom, and days without end. June
21st, the summer of 21, is the day lockdown ends, or so we be-
lieve at the time of writing. By the time you are reading this in
July there will be a greater appreciation for the things we took
for granted before the pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns. We will not forget Hands
-Face-Space, as indeed it is good advice all the year round. We will have a greater
appreciation for a visit to or from our families, days away, holidays when possible, and
seeing the extra ordinary in the ordinary events of our lives. I have started back visiting
care homes, having to do a lateral flow test before I go in. Thankfully I can do the test
at home!
I am looking forward to visit St. Alban’s Cathedral and to visiting the Ramryge chapel
especially. For me it is the best kept secret. Within it there are a set of six sculpted and
etched Perspex angel figures depicting emotional stages in the bereavement journey,
designed by Claudia Ashley-Brown for the empty statue niches. You can buy a picture
set in the bookshop each card depicting a stage in the grief process. Denial, Anger, Bar-
gaining, Depression, Acceptance, Peace. I have referred to the Ramryge chapel as a
place of pilgrimage at several funerals over the past year, a place to sit with the angels,
to be present and find peace.
By the time of reading, I will have had a two-week camping holiday in Scotland, and a
real hope to hop over to Ireland to visit family by the end of July. By mid-August I hope
to say, “those were the best days of my life”! Of course, we can say with the psalmist,
‘this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it’. Today is the best day
of our life; It is, when you have companionship, people to share the day; It is all well
and good to be resilient, but we need company; The word companion comes from two
Latin words, ‘com’ meaning with and ‘panis’ meaning bread, so a companion is one
with whom I share the same bread. As Christians and Church goers we are companions
on a pilgrimage together building the Kingdom of God in the world. The Eucharist is our
bread of life. We do not need to know more than that, for the summer of 21, to be the
best days of our life.
Noel McGeeney
3St Alban, Britain’s first Christian martyr
Alban was the very first Christian martyr in Britain - or at least the first we know of. A
‘martyr’ is someone who has died for the faith - the word literally means ‘witness’. He
was probably killed during the persecution under the emperor Diocletian in the early
years of the fourth century, in the late stages of the Roman occupation of Britain. His
martyrdom took place in the amphitheatre outside the Roman city of Verulamium,
which is now St Albans, in Hertfordshire.
The church historian Bede, writing six hundred years after Alban‘s death, records that
Alban was a Roman citizen (possibly a soldier) who gave shelter to a priest who was
being hunted by the Romans. During the priest’s stay in his home, Alban was converted
to the Christian faith. When the soldiers eventually tracked the priest down, they ar-
rived at Alban’s house and insisted on searching it. What they found was Alban dressed
in the priest’s clothes, while their real prey escaped. They arrested Alban and de-
manded that he make a sacrifice to the Emperor - a common test of loyalty. He refused.
He was then condemned to death and taken into the amphitheatre, which still stands in
the fields below St Alban’s Abbey, to be put to death. One of his executioners was con-
verted, Bede claims, but the other one took a sword and beheaded him.
He was buried nearby, on a site where a shrine was later erected. In the early fifth cen-
tury two Continental bishops, Germanus of Auxerre and Lupus of Troyes, were sent to
Britain and record that they visited the shrine of Alban at Verulamium. The date of their
visit was given as 429.
The martyrdom of Alban is a reminder that Christianity was planted first in these islands
during the Roman occupation, though it was all but extinguished in England in the dark
centuries that followed, until people like David, Cuthbert and the other Celtic mission-
aries restored the faith in many parts of the land - especially in the north. The fact that
his shrine existed and was venerated right through to the time of Bede also demon-
strates that the faith did not die out completely, even in the south of England.
Not a great deal is known about Alban apart from the story of his martyrdom, but what
we do know is probably enough to give him a substantial claim to be the patron saint of
England ahead of the foreigner St George!
A vicar was planning an Easter pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and was aghast when she
found it would cost her £50 an hour to rent a boat on the Sea of Galilee.
She protested to the travel agent that the cost was ridiculous.
“That might be true,” replied the travel agent, “but you have to take into account that
the sea of Galilee is water upon which our Lord himself walked.”
“Well, at £50 an hour for a boat,” she replied, “I’m not surprised!”
4The Parish Registers
Funerals
10th June David Woolmer
11th June Rodney Glover
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6St Nicholas, Hockliffe
by Geoff Marchant
It is 36 years ago that I first drove through the village of Hockliffe on my way to the
Estate Agents in Leighton Buzzard. Hockliffe would become a signpost for Sue and me
as we frequently journeyed between our parents’ homes in North West London and
our first home in Leighton Buzzard. It is a leap of faith when, overnight, you have the
confidence as a young couple to say you are coming home, even though a few months
previous, home was with our parents 40 miles south down the M1.
Hockliffe would become familiar surroundings very quickly as our first cat spent his
holidays at Dick Whittington’s Cattery. The White Hart would host many family celebra-
tions during the 1980’s/90’s. Yet, in those early years when Revd. Peter Whittaker and
Revd. Canon Anthony Hulbert were vicars of Hockliffe, my connection with St. Nicholas’
Church was incredibly through the Saints Alive article, and, the occasional stewardship
event before the establishment of the Ouzel Valley Team. (Some of you may remember
the gathering in Brooklands Middle School one Sunday afternoon – though the year has
slipped my mind now) What a change!)
Christian mission in Hockliffe for the community of faith here has become a massive
challenge in recent years when you consider the PCC members now account for almost
50% of the Electoral Roll. It is patently clear from our recent APCM that the fabric of
our little church building is going to occupy our agenda and MAP in the years ahead.
From my teenage PCC experience ‘fabric’ matters competed with the London Diocesan
Quota, the ‘high’ liturgy and worship style and the charitable giving. The quota and
fabric will be a balancing act as we face the future at St Nicholas.
No sooner had I joined the Electoral Roll at All Saints than my PCC experience there
would bring home the magnitude of the restoration following the catastrophic fire in
1985. Since then, my involvement on the Fabric Committee oversaw the splendid resto-
ration programme culminating in the reconsecration in May 1990. Many parishioners
call All Saints their second home and there is no less emotion felt by the parishioners
for their church building in Hockliffe.
As an Ex-Officio member of St Nicholas PCC ,it is frustrating to see the workload of our
prevailing Quinquennial when we have insufficient funds to progress the works that are
a priority. In nine years’ time we will be expected to have a church that has a zero-
carbon footprint, let alone running water and toilets.
So yes, the call is for serious prayer for God’s guidance and the power of the Holy Spirit
to inspire us. We can dream dreams of the vision we have of a versatile, re-ordered
church building, with fabric priorities behind us, a ‘hub’ that provides for the commu-
nity 7 days a week, where the glory of God in our worship continues to be streamed for
the wonder of all.
7KINGSWOOD FARM
BOARDING KENNELS
AND CATTERY
BRICKHILL ROAD
HEATH AND REACH
Telephone: 01525 237 777
Proprietors:
Anne & Bob Reeve
89
MOT Testing • Servicing • Car Repairs
We are pleased to announce our well established family run motor mechanic business
(Est 1976) in Luton is now serving Heath & Reach and surrounding areas. This has
been made possible by the recent introduction of a FREE car collection service for resi-
dents of Heath & Reach village.
We invite you to join our loyal long-standing customer base. All of our services are pro-
vided with honesty and integrity at very competitive prices.
Call us now on 01582 725917 asking for Roddy or Fiona to find out more about our
business, services, current offers or to arrange a booking.
10St Christopher - patron saint of motorists
The legend goes that St Christopher was a Canaanite who lived in the 3 rd century. He
was a giant of a man, of fearsome appearance. At first he decided to serve the devil,
but when he discovered that the devil was afraid of Christ and His Cross, Christopher
decided to serve Christ instead. A nearby hermit instructed Christopher in the Christian
faith and assigned to him a place near a river: Christopher’s job was to help travellers
cross it safely.
All went well, and Christopher helped lots of people on their way until one day a child
came along and asked to be carried across. Christopher put him on his back and set off,
but was soon staggering under the astonishing weight of this child. The child then told
him that He was in fact Jesus Christ, and that He carried the weight of the whole world.
The Christ-child then told Christopher to plant his staff in the ground: the next day it
bore flowers and dates – confirmation that the child was indeed who He claimed to be.
After some time more of helping travellers cross the river, Christopher went to the city
of Lycia, where he preached the gospel with such success that the Roman emperor
(Decius?) had him arrested and imprisoned – especially when Christopher refused to
sacrifice to the gods. Two women sent into his cell to seduce him came out converted
Christians instead. So Christopher was beaten, shot with arrows and finally beheaded.
Christopher has been well-loved of the English down the centuries. Many wall-
paintings of him have been placed on the north wall of churches, opposite the porch, so
that he would be seen by all who entered. There was good reason for this: as patron
saint of travellers, it was believed that anyone who saw an image of St Christopher
would not die that day. As the ancient saying goes: ‘Behold St Christopher and go thy
way in safety’.
A kind of daily insurance policy against death – this was so good that in due course St
Christopher became the patron saint of motorists. There is even a church in the Javel
area of Paris where Citroen cars are made, that is dedicated to St Christopher. In mod-
ern times, with the increase in air and motorway travel, Christopher has remained
popular. When in 1969 the Holy See reduced his feast day, there was a sharp protest in
several countries, led in Italy by a number of popular film stars. If you ever travel in a
taxi on the Continent, look out for a little St Christopher hanging from the rear-view
mirror beside the driver. Now you know why it is there!
A father was reading Bible stories to his young son. “The man named Lot was warned
to take his wife and flee out of the city, but his wife looked back and was turned into a
pillar of salt.”
His son looked up, concerned. “What happened to the flea?”
1112
13
A Sunday School Treat
(by Geoff White ‘Villager’ - from the archive, September 2015)
Around the start of the 20th Century, Sundays were a day of going to church with no
work done and a day of peaceful contemplation. All the churches had well-attended
Sunday Schools and prayer and singing were enjoyed by many.
Once a year was the Sunday School’s treat and on Monday, August 7 th in 1871, it was a
fantastic affair, organised and sponsored by Mr William Brantom, a local household
furnisher. All members of the Sunday Schools of the village, with teachers and friends,
were invited to a day out at Longslade Meadows, between Woburn and Woburn Sands,
where swings were suspended from the branches of magnificent elm trees. The teach-
ers and friends paid one shilling to go but if they had their own conveyance, the cost
was only sixpence each to partake of the tea. This sounds easy but in those days there
were no motor cars, so horses and carts were the means of transport and about 750
persons wished to go, which involved a cavalcade consisting of a total of 60 horses and
52 conveyances. This included some given by local farmers and gentlemen from the
neighbourhood. For example, F. Bassett gave a horse and cart, T. Swinstead 2 horses
and Mr Brittain a wagon. Even so, some were hired, including an omnibus and pair
from Mrs Bushell at the Swan Hotel.
The cavalcade left Heath & Reach at nine o’clock in the morning and arrived at the
Meadows at eleven o’clock. Music was provided by the Leighton Temperance Drum
and Fife Band both during the journey there and back and the Woburn Band joined
them later. All the band members, drivers and some friends were provided with a good
luncheon, including ham, and a cartload of ginger beer was distributed to all, including
the children. Then games were played, cricket, bat and trap and French tag, after
which many rested under the shade of the trees as it was a very hot day.
At three o’clock, the whole of the children, numbering about 320, were gathered to-
gether to a good supply of tea, bread and butter and plain and currant cake, eating and
drinking to their heart’s content. At four o’clock, the teachers and friends, numbering
about430, sat down to a similar tea, anything left being packed up to take back for
those unable to be present. At 6.30pm, preparations were made to return home, the
bands played some music, including the National Anthem and three cheers were given
to Mr Brantom.
The report of the outing read, “We only hope the benevolent gentleman in whose heart
was found this good thing, and by whose laudable exertions it was so successfully car-
ried out, may, by the blessing of God, so far recover the expense connected therewith –
for they must have been great – as to feel induced to repeat the same in the summer of
1872.”
It is a sobering thought that with the closure of the village chapels and the much-
reduced Church Sunday School since those days, we would not need to use many
‘carriages’ to go on a day out, and a few burgers would suffice for lunch!
1415
A churchwarden’s tale.
Hello friends,
Well that’s six months in the job, a bit older and a lot wiser. Jane and I took on our task
as wardens and felt we had been thrown in the river, not knowing whether to swim to
the bank and call it a day, swim against the current or swim with it. We chose the latter
and we are still happy to drift wherever the flow takes us.
It’s Thursday 29th May and I have just returned from my walk, on the first real day of
the year with the feeling of spring in the air. I could sense the harmony in the country-
side, birds were singing at the top of their whistles. It’s wonderful to hear the sound of
joy in their individual notes.
There is a song that we sing on a Thursday evening with my other choir, “The Grand
Union Singers,” which goes “All God’s Creatures got a place in the choir some sing low
and some sing higher, some sing high on the telephone wire” That was going on in my
mind while I was walking. Problem is it keeps going round and round in your head for
the rest of the day. I’m sure you have experienced this; they call it an ear worm.
There were not as many fellow walkers on route this morning. I guess many of us were
using a walk over the fields as a daily exercise during lockdown and now we have more
freedom we can pack the car and head for the coast. I don’t mind the solitude though.
Even when I am alone on the moor I feel a sense of peace, and I stop for a moment just
to soak it up. A time to reflect. Today I pondered on all people that had passed on,
family, friends, workmates and school friends, some that played only a small part in my
life but left a lasting memory. Then I count my blessings for being part of God’s plan for
such a long time. Being older and perhaps wiser, I can appreciate running clean water
from the tap, carpets, central heating, a toilet in the house. I daresay you can think of
many more things. I am fortunate that I am part of that generation that takes nothing
for granted. Today’s generation I feel are not as fortunate with modern day pressures.
My daily walk takes me up hill for about two miles and I use that for exercise; then
reaching the top and looking down into our lovely Ousel valley, I am greeted with the
carpet of forty shades of green and poking out through the top of the tree line is our
dear All Saints spire and to the left our other landmark, the turbine. This is where I stop,
catch my breath and soak up the beauty of our countryside. The turbine is stationary.
No zephyrs to power its blade. Somewhere down there is where I grew up, spent my
childhood at school, went to work for fifty years and now I am enjoying all the benefits
of retirement. Living in a country that looks cares for its elderly, I feel I have brought
the winning ticket in the lottery of life.
Looking over to where the old farm house used to be, I catch a glimpse of a kestrel hov-
ering above a field that had been left for pasture. I recognised it as one of a pair that
was nesting close by. The sight of a hovering kestrel always stops me in my tracks. Its
old country name was appropriately “Windhover”. Can you remember the Ken Loach
film from 1969 called Kes?
16Adapted from a novel by Barry Hines entitled “A kestrel for a knave”, about a young lad
from a working class background. He finds a chick, raises it and teaches it to come to
hand as the falconers do. Boy and bird built up a bond and the kestrel became his rea-
son for living. Of course it doesn’t end well as you may know, if you don’t know, my
apologies but it is well worth watching. The book is a classic too. It so reminds me of
my childhood. The young lad was played by Dai Bradley, he is still acting as far as I know
but will always be remembered first for his role in Kes.
Recently, St Leonards held its plant sale. The forecast was for showers. They held off
long enough for us to sell most of the vast quantity of plants donated by kind parishion-
ers. Richard had provided us with a good stock of summer bedding which we had on a
sale or return basis. We are so fortunate to have his support and it provides us with a
huge variety of plants for our customers. I was delighted with the help we had from
villagers who are not Church members and I find this a growing trend. We are tradi-
tionally the Village hub, but over the years that image has faded somewhat but we are
working hard to retrieve the vision of St Leonard’s offering the spiritual support for
those in need, friendship for the lonely and a community spirit that is second to none.
It is a sad fact of our modern times that we can be surrounded by people in our busy
lives but still feel we are on our own.
Our little wildlife garden at the back of the Church is working. I was thrilled when a
young lad brought me a small toad in from the cemetery. He and his family had dis-
turbed it while tending a grave. I immediately took on my David Attenborough persona
and together we found a large rock in the garden for “Toadie” to shelter. One more
welcome resident for our little oasis! I agree it’s looking a bit tatty with work in pro-
gress but Lorna is soon to start work on our mural now our dear old “ SLOBS” have
painted the shed. Lesley has donated a water butt and hose. The Gladioli that Jane
had provided us with are doing well. We have nesting robins and blue tits busy on the
feeders collecting food for their chicks and filling the garden with song. I love to sit for
ten minutes on Angela and Derek’s bench by the church and just watch, listen and feel
the peace. I would love for you to do the same if you have the time. It certainly works,
until you notice another job that needs doing!
Bless you all for reading my ramblings and stay safe.
Warden Richard
*Saint Leonard’s Old Boys.
Dear Lord, please keep your arm around my shoulder....and your hand over my mouth.
Sign seen outside a church: “Come and work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours
are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world”
17Doubting Thomas
If you have ever doubted aspects of your Christian faith, St Thomas is the saint for you.
His feast day is on 3rd July.
Thomas, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples, was deeply devoted, but also very honest whenever
he got confused. When Jesus spoke of going to his Father (John 14), Thomas was not
afraid to ask Him where His Father was. As for the Resurrection, that really baffled Tho-
mas. He demanded to see the risen Jesus for himself - and touch the wounds in His
hands and feet. When Jesus appeared, Thomas’ immediate response was one of wor-
ship: “My Lord and my God” (John 20).
Thus, Doubting Thomas’ honest doubts, turned to honest faith, have become a reassur-
ance for thousands of us down the centuries who also sometimes doubt Jesus. In
Doubting Thomas’ complete affirmation of faith, after meeting the risen, crucified
Christ, we can find support for our own faith in Him.
Thomas Honest Resurrection Support
Confused Saint Baffled Touch
Father Doubt Demanded Wounds
Afraid Faith Risen Hands
Where Feast See Feet
Response Worship Lord My
God
18Thomas More, Reformation Martyr
These days, lawyers and politicians are held in the lowest esteem by the public, along
with tabloid journalists and estate agents. St Thomas More was both a lawyer and poli-
tician, who is today much admired for holding steadfastly to his faith-based principles.
He lived in dangerous times, when anyone, even queens, who displeased King Henry
VIII could find themselves in a condemned cell in The Tower of London.
Sir Thomas More held the office of Lord High Chancellor and at one time was the king’s
most trusted adviser. But when King Henry took personal control of the Church in Eng-
land in order to divorce his first wife, More courageously opposed him.
Thomas More was a social philosopher and the author of ‘Utopia’. This book described
an imaginary republic governed by an educated elite who employed reason rather than
self-interest for the general good of everyone. He was himself one of the pre-eminent
scholars of his age. As a Christian theologian he supported orthodox doctrine, vigor-
ously opposed heresy and argued strongly against the new Protestant ideas taking hold
in Europe. Although holding the highest political and legal office he was far from being
a pragmatic politician and opportunist lawyer. In every matter he was a man who held
firmly to what he believed was right in God’s eyes.
When Thomas More fell from favour with the king, as a result of his unflinching views,
he was falsely accused of taking bribes. When this charge failed, his enemies accused
him of supporting a celebrated seer of the times who was strongly critical of the king.
This too failed. He was then required to swear to the Oath of Supremacy, acknowledg-
ing Henry’s position as head of the Church of England. This he could not do in con-
science. He was put on trial and condemned to be hung, drawn and quartered for his
treason, a punishment later changed to beheading.
He died in 1535 and on the scaffold his final words were ‘I die the King’s good servant,
but God’s first.’ He has been officially declared a martyr saint by the Roman Catholic
Church.
His Saint’s day is 6th July
Saying goodbye
An inexperienced curate was sent to do a graveside burial for a homeless man with no
family of friends. Not knowing where the cemetery was, he made several wrong turns
and got lost. When he arrived, the hearse was nowhere in sight and the workmen
were sitting under a tree next to the open hole, eating lunch.
When the curate looked into the open grave and even found the vault lid was already
in place, he felt very guilty. The homeless man deserved something, even though it
was late. And so the curate delivered an impassioned burial service, sending the de-
ceased into the great beyond in some style. The workmen looked on in silence but as
the curate returned to his car, he overheard one of the workmen remark: “I’ve been
putting in septic tanks for 20 years and I ain’t never seen anything like that before!”
1920
THE SILVER LINE
A helpline for older people
0800 4 70 80 90
“Like child abuse, loneliness carries a stigma, especially for an older genera-
tion too proud to ask for help. I hope by creating a helpline for older people
The Silver Line will enable them to break through the stigma of loneliness, and
thus save lives and comfort and protect older people in need.” Esther Rantzen.
The Silver Line is a free confidential helpline which provides; information and
signposting to services, community and voluntary support across the country; a
friendship service to combat loneliness; and a means of empowering those
who may be suffering abuse.
If you are feeling isolated or lonely, there is not only the helpline, but a tele-
phone befriending service, where you are matched to a trained volunteer,
who will phone on a weekly basis for friendship at a time convenient to you.
So if you feel that you would benefit from the services of The Silver Line,
please do not hesitate to call our 24/7 helpline on 0800 4 70 80 90.
‘If you think it is for you, it is for you’.
St Leonard’s Parish Prayer
Living God, you have given us St Leonard
as an example of one who extended himself
to relieve the difficulties of others;
help us to know in our hearts the love you have for us all
so we may reach out in genuine empathy
to those in our community
who feel lonely, isolated, or overwhelmed by grief or loss.
Help us to grow together as a people
united in concern for each other and love for you. Amen
21STEP IN TIME LINE DANCING
LINEDANCING CLASS
ST LEONARD'S CHURCH HALL
EVERY MONDAY
BEGINNERS 7.00-8.00 pm
IMPROVERS/INTERMEDIATE 8.00-9.30
pm
COME ALONG IT'S EASY IT'S A FUN
ENJOYABLE WAY TO KEEP FIT
£4.50 per session
Make a note in your diary
Enquiries:Text or phone Lyn 07960 952 391 or
01908 641069
lynda.bass@btinternet.com The most competitive prices in
Beginners/Improvers in Southcott Community the area
Hall
Every Wednesday 7.30pm-8.30pm
LU7 2QY Tel: 01525 237687
Mrs Emma Smith
For all your painting
and decorating
needs …
J.M.Wyatt
Painter and Decorator
4 St Leonard’s Close
Leighton Buzzard
Beds
LU7 3DF
Tel. (01525) 379520
Call for free quotation and
advice
22St Michael’s Church
Eggington
CREAM TEAS and
TREE DEDICATION SERVICE
On
Sunday 18th July 2021
3.00pm to 5.00 pm
Come and enjoy the scones, cream
and jam in our beautiful churchyard
Payment by donation
Saturday 30th October
MEN’S BREAKFAST
St Leonard’s Church Hall
08.30am
Saturday 27th November
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
St Leonard’s Church Hall
From 1 pm
For more information on any of these events,
phone 01525 377047
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Facebook.com/on77yx
St Leonard’s Visiting Team
We are a small group who enjoy meeting people and
having a chat (maybe over a cup of tea!).
If you or anyone you know is housebound, or might
enjoy some company occasionally, please call Corinna
on 07502 320025 and she will put us in touch.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Anne Chapman
24Tea and Craft Afternoon
St Leonard’s Holiday Club
Come and have a Cuppa/Piece of Cake, Biscuit and Chat
St Leonard’s Church Hall on
Saturday 4th September Between 2 & 4pm
Craft stalls - Woodwork Creations, Garden Furniture & Plants,
Doodle Dot Art Designs for you to browse.
RAFFLE
Entry & Refreshments FREE – But Donations gratefully
received for St Leonard’s Holiday Club
Looking forward to seeing you
For more information contact:
Rosemary Young 01525 237345 or Vera Paul 01525 375095
25Walk the walk
.....And another thing about the pandemic! We were given the advice to keep fit and
get plenty of fresh air, with walking being the approved method to achieve it.
Alas, I am not a walker!
If the good Lord had meant us to walk, he would not have given us the wheel and its
various methods of transporting us. Why walk, therefore, when there are skates, bikes,
scooters trains, planes and automobiles?
My ambulatory prowess being near zero, having spent a lifetime avoiding exercise, I
was horrified at the insistence of my wife to accompany her on her daily walk! Never-
theless, diplomacy being the ‘in thing’, I agreed.
Apparently, however, walking ‘quickly’ is the norm for walkers, a rule which was not
pointed out, and of which I was unaware. Subsequently, I have spent my ‘walks’ about
two yards behind my wife, somewhat like a stalker.
You will recognise us walking by noting the robustness of the walk leader versus the
complaining, wheezing, tottering, breathless object (me), struggling to keep up. Any
increase in speed by me, valiantly trying my best to keep up, is replicated by my
‘leader’, on the assumption that I have decided to accept the challenge of the ‘race’.....
I have lost my self-esteem, my speed, my alertness, my sense of direction and my will
to live! I have gained a brain-imprinted map of my wife’s rear, a hatred of walkers, and
the love of a lunchtime nap.
I am still as heavy and no fitter than I ever was!
Derek Hardman
2627
Worship at St Leonard’s
and
St Michael’s
Unless otherwise stated, services are at St Leonard’s
All services will also be broadcast via “Zoom” until further notice.
4th July 5th Sunday of Trinity
10.00am Parish Communion (Hockliffe)
7th July
07.00pm Holy Communion
11th July 6th Sunday of Trinity
10.00am Parish Communion (Eggington)
14th July
07.00pm Holy Communion
18th July 7th Sunday of Trinity
08.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Parish Communion
21st July
07.00pm Holy Communion
25th July 8th Sunday of Trinity
10.00am Parish Communion (Hockliffe)
28th July
07.00pm Holy Communion
1st August 9th Sunday of Trinity
10.00am Parish Communion (Eggington)
4th August
07.00pm Holy Communion
8th August 10th Sunday of Trinity
08.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Parish Communion
11th August
07.00pm Holy Communion
15th August 11th Sunday of Trinity
10.00am Parish Communion (Hockliffe)
18th August
07.00pm Holy Communion
22nd August 12th Sunday of Trinity
10.00am Parish Communion (Eggington)
25th August
07.00pm Holy Communion
29th August 13th Sunday of Trinity
10.00am Parish Communion
If you would like a link to join any of the services via Zoom, please email the
vicar at saggart@yahoo.com and ask to be added to the circulation.
28You can also read
