Summer 2020

St Mary’s Woodford
Parish Magazine

Volume 11 number 2 www.stmaryswoodford.org.uk

Summer 2020

Welcome

As the member of the Ministry Team designated to write the introduction to this
edition, it is my privilege and pleasure, on behalf of the Team, to thank the
Churchwardens and Deputies for the hard work they have put into keeping our
community together on line, as to John Bradley and Viveca for their
contributions to the Sunday services, while it has not been possible for us to
meet in the flesh. A Churchwarden’s role is not an easy one, a Churchwarden’s
role in an interregnum is even more difficult but a Churchwarden’s role in an
interregnum AND a pandemic, presents unforeseen challenges. Normally it
would be invidious to single out an individual but I think we ought to be
particularly grateful to Jean Lear, who had served her three years as
Churchwarden and could have avoided this responsibility, but had extended her
service in light of the approaching interregnum.

We appreciate your kind feedback about the services but they are not all that
has been done. There has also been much essential work behind the scenes
undertaken by many people for which we are all grateful.

In the last edition of our magazine, Sheba reported on a Study Day she had
attended at Chelmsford. The theme was “Sharing the Faith” with a view to
enabling people to become more confident in expressing their belief and sharing
their experience with others, not only those with whom we worship. Indeed, she
comments, “We don’t often bring God into our conversations with each other
even when we know we’re Christians”. Sheba continues there are those who
ask,’ How can your God cause cancer, knife crime, the holocaust.............? “The
list of terrible things is endless.

Since then the pandemic has struck and will cause many, both within and
without the Church, to put the same question more urgently. On a recent edition
of “Any Questions” the team was asked, “Does coronavirus prove that God does
not exist?” Unsurprisingly the Archbishop of York replied that the answer is
“No!” , that the pandemic says more about man than it says about God.
Nevertheless this question and others will persist. It has also be pointed out that
Front cover: His finest hour? Not in that rather inadequate mask!
2

Parish Register

Funeral
18th May Heather Harston (City of
London Crematorium)

many of those who have so heroically put There is always a copy of the
their lives on the line in the service of latest parish magazine on the St
others are not believers in God, let alone Mary’s website
Christians. One answer which I give www.stmaryswoodford.org.uk
myself to that particular question, is that You can find it by scrolling down
two thousand years of Christianity have to the ‘Our Publications’ heading
bequeathed Christian values to many who
do not accept the Christian faith.

However, it is not my intention to ask
you to accept my answers or even those of
the Archbishop of York. I am urging you
to meditate, prayerfully, on such religious
questions as the present challenging
situation may present to all of us, to arrive
at answers of your own and to have the
confidence to share your thoughts with
each other and with those outside the
church when they wonder.

Should you be unable to reach any
conclusions, do not worry but remember
Mark Lewis’ reflections on St Thomas
when he stressed the importance and value
of doubts which, he says, can be “a set of
effective tools for enlarging and
deepening our faith”. We should always
seek to enlarge and deepen our own faith
and it is only by doing so that we can meet
the questions others may put to us at this
or any other time.
Rowena Rudkin

3

Life at St Mary’s

Keeping in Touch

Firstly, I do hope that ,when you read with the weekly newsletter and, I
this, despite the present restrictions in know from comments made to me
our lives, you are safe and well. how much this is appreciated. Should
you have requested this email service
Back in December last year, when in the past and not be receiving it, do
Ian announced his forthcoming contact Sheba in the church office and
departure, no-one could have she will mail you the link again for
predicted just how different and you to sign up. In addition, all of you
difficult life would become not only in should be able to receive this
terms of our personal lives but in the magazine and our youth leader Becca
life of St Mary’s too. After all, despite and Seekers leaders have been
the existence of the church for 800 keeping in touch with the young
years or more, the current period will online in various ways .
be the first time that there has been no
regular worship in its history. Even We are, however, aware that not all
when the church was largely destroyed members have access to email, so
by fire in 1969, regular worship was steps have been taken for those folk to
maintained in the Memorial Hall until receive at least the newsletter and the
the church was rebuilt, so the regular magazine by hand or by post. These
pattern of worship and fellowship are just some of the means that St
continued - until now. Mary’s is using to keep in touch.

Does it serve to remind us that, The other means of keeping in
although the church building plays an
essential role in the life of St Mary’s,
the church itself is a worshipping
community of compassionate friends -
a family. The challenge facing us now
and in the coming weeks is not only to
maintain the physical fabric of the
church but the spiritual fabric/the
fellowship of the church too and in
this we may all play a part.

To this end, you should all have
received by post since April 2nd,
details of the weekly service that the
ministry team - along with members of
the congregation - is producing each
Sunday, available via email along

4

Life at St Mary’s

touch was again outlined in the letter you the good shepherd’ and we are all
received and it relates to practical and aware that, at present, we do not
pastoral support, and this is by way of have a pastor at St Mary’s but we
updating you on how that is going. The do have each other and I firmly
first priority was to contact those believe that it’s through ‘keeping
members whom we regarded as most in touch’ via the various means we
likely to welcome offers of practical help are using that we can not only
with shopping etc. and to offer the maintain our worship to the risen
services of a team of willing volunteers Lord - the supreme pastor of his
whose names appear on the weekly flock - but each play a part in
newsletter. Needless to say, all those maintaining the family that is the
who were approached were grateful to church so that, when the time
have received the offer of help but, eventually comes for us to return to
thanks to the support they were already worship together, we will be an
receiving from family, friends and even stronger fellowship than
neighbours, with a few exceptions, most before the pandemic started.
folk said they were coping. Chris Winward

Since then, I have kept in touch with
this group on a more or less weekly basis
to check not only that they are still
coping in a practical sense but in a
spiritual/pastoral sense too because, as
the restrictions continue, I guess we can
all sense that the psychological pressure
can increase, e.g. someone told me, ‘I am
used to living alone but now I am feeling
lonely’.

I have since extended my phone
contact to nearly all our members and
have enjoyed some very interesting
conversations with so many folk some of
whom (to my shame) I have never had a
‘proper’ conversation with before. In
every case (I hope) people have been
very grateful to have been kept in touch
with the church in this way so might I
encourage you all, if you are not doing so
already, not to hesitate to phone someone
that you feel motivated to contact
because this is one of the ways that the
Holy Spirit can work.

The theme on Sunday 3rd was ‘Jesus

5

Life at St Mary’s

Two families start their own Zoom services

How we are worshipping in the Lockdown
Recently, we have been in a complicated situation, which none of us control

over. But to stay updated with lots of the Christian events, we are doing a Zoom
session every Sunday with Jano and her family.

On Sundays at around 11:00 we would set up a meeting with Jano and her
children, Charlotte and Becky. We all read and share the readings and
intercessions of the day, and my mum, Adela or Jano would lead the service
(get together). I like that instead of the parents just doing the service and
leaving us in boredom, my sisters, Verity and Lily, Charlotte and Becky and
me! all get to read out a prayer! And each week one of us gets picked to write
an inter session, so the pattern goes something like this; Josie, Charlotte, Verity,
Becky (well something like that).

Hopefully this inspires lots of people to get up off their feet and try and
accomplish almost impossible tasks in quarantine (ALMOST!)

We are missing church and hopefully everybody is safe and sound and we`ll
see you soon!
Josie Kay
6

Life at St Mary’s

The Seekers were busy during HOLY WEEK
creating fabulous pictures inspired by symbols
of Easter

Congratulations to Silvia
Clewer who celebrated
her 95th birthday recently

Ash Wednesday service at Churchfields
Nursing Home

7

Out and about locally

So what’s the chick on the right saying to the
one on the left? Something about social
distancing perhaps? Let us know your ideas.
See page 27 for some ideas.

Two gosling chicks (top right)
on Johnston’s Pond
Woodford Green with parent
Canada Goose (above) in
close attendance: photograph
by Howard Anderson

Coot and chick at Highams Park Lake:
photograph by Howard Anderson

Many of us are going for more local walks. In doing so we are finding out about
things ‘under our noses’ of which we have previously been unaware. Is that your
experience? If so do send us photographs and information of things that have
struck you as being of interest, not necessarily about wildlife. It’s good to share.
8

Out and about locally

Above: St Mary’s churchyard

Top right: this year’s display of
bluebells in Wanstead Park

Right: So where is this copse of
silver birches? This idyllic scene is
a very short distance from Charlie
Brown’s roundabout. Both north
and south of this point along the
river Roding there’s a surprisingly
wide array of flora and fauna. This
year there has been a large
number of whitethroats displaying
on arriving from sub Saharan Africa
in late April.

9

Reflections on the pandemic

Love without When you go out and see the empty streets, the
empty stadiums, the empty train platforms,
don’t say to yourself, “It looks like the end of
judgement the world”.
What you are seeing is love in action. What
you’re seeing in that negative space, is how
much we do care for each other, for our
grandparents, for our immune - compromised
brothers and sisters, for people we will never
meet.
People will lose their jobs over this. Some will
Many of the Lent reflections lose their businesses. And some will lose their
that churches recorded and lives. All the more reason to take a moment,
streamed this year focussed when you are out on your walk, or on your way
on how the Lent journey this to the store, or just watching the news, to look
year became a real journey to into the emptiness and marvel at all of that
the Cross. love. Let it fill you and sustain you. It isn’t the
end of the world. It is the most remarkable act
For the people on the front of global solidarity we may ever witness.
line in the NHS and the care
services; for those who have
lost loved ones, for those
whose jobs, businesses and finances whose life we may have saved if any.
are on the line this is very true. But I Only God knows that. But we do
am sitting in a sunny garden, with know that, by collectively staying at
plenty to eat, lots to read and a lot of home, we are saving lives. That is
good TV to catch up on. The internet quite an amazing thing to think about
has proved a life line from a in itself. But the other thing that
neighbourhood WhatsApp Group to struck me is that, a little bit like giving
virtual pub quizzes, not to mention blood, what we are doing is entirely
Church meetings and recorded without judgement. We won’t know
services. anything about the lives we are saving.
We won’t know their age, gender,
So, is there a journey to the Cross for
the majority of us who are being asked ethnicity, background or personal
to do nothing more than stay at home circumstance. We won’t know if we
for a while? Something I saw on the agree politically, or about religion.
internet made me realise there is We won’t know if we would have
something Christlike in what we are liked them, or they us. But we are
doing. saving their lives because it is the right
thing to do.
In the inset box, shaded in yellow is
what someone else has written. What So for those of us not on the front
really struck me was the phrase “for line, we have a wonderful privilege: to
people we will never meet.” By love as God loves. Without judgement,
staying at home, we will never know without any thought about merit or if

10

Reflections on the pandemic

people deserve that love in our eyes. Lockdown Story
Simply because every human being is
our brother and sister.

While John Donne wrote: While on the
“Any man's death diminishes me, phone with a
Because I am involved in mankind. lovely lady
And therefore never send to know for whose shopping I
whom the bell tolls; sometimes do,
It tolls for thee” we got chatting
about meals.
We can say: Every human life saved 'I was totally fed up with cooking the
enhances humanity because we are other night', she said, 'so I made
involved in humanity. myself a cuppa soup and a coffee.'
Viveca Dutt 'Oh reminds me of my uni days' I
said.
'And then I thought, I'll make my
soup better by adding some peas'.
'Yup, definitely reminds me of my uni
days'.
'And then I put the peas in my coffee
instead of the soup!'
'uh oh'
'So then I spent ten minutes fishing
the peas out of my coffee and
popping them into my soup'.
'Oh my', said I, 'Oh dear...you could
have used a tea strainer to 'strain' the
peas out. That would have been much
more efficient.'
'Oh no, my dear' she said wisely,
'that's the best bit about the lockdown,
- I no longer need to be efficient; I
can take as much time as I like!'

Sheba Lockley

11

Mission

May update from Tom and Verity Clare, our
Mission partners in Uganda

The first of these
restrictions came in
before there was a
case confirmed here
and taking strict
measures so quickly
seems to have
worked, with a
recent community
survey confirming
that there is no
significant
community
transmission of
COVID at all. There
have been over 200
confirmed cases of
Thank you to all those of you who around 20,000 tested, 95% of whom
have been in touch since we last are truck drivers screened at the
emailed. It's been lovely to hear your border. There have been no deaths at
news. We've somehow been in Arua all as yet.
now for just over two months, arriving Whilst this is great news to be
shortly before Uganda went into celebrated on the one hand, we are
lockdown on March 30th. The also acutely aware of the impact of
lockdown restrictions are: no lockdown on communities here.
handshakes or hugs (a big thing in this Access to hospital and health centres
part of the world), no public transport (normally relatively easy on a
carrying passengers (ie cargo only), motorbike taxi (aka boda)) has
no private cars allowed on the roads become very difficult. Boda drivers
(unless an approval sticker for key are afraid of being beaten for carrying
workers etc), nationwide curfew 7pm passengers and one boda driver was
to 6:30am, no gatherings of more than recently shot dead, in the South of the
5 people, the closure of all non-food country, by an apparently rogue
shops and non-food markets, no security officer when carrying a
religious gatherings, no exercise pregnant lady. Not only does the
outside your home. transport issue affect people who are
acutely unwell, but it also places a

12

Mission

barrier to those
needing to go to the
health centre for HIV
services, antenatal
clinics and other more
routine health issues.
Add to this the loss of
income for hand-to-
mouth workers, the
increased food prices
and the high levels of
deprivation locally and
you can easily see why
the lockdown itself
will be causing
significant problems
for so many people in
the poorer The brothers: (left to right) Simeon, Eli , Ezra and Joel

communities. The position of our compound is an
Although arriving in Uganda at
this time has made the transition interesting one and we're praying into how
more complex, we are so thankful to God wants to use us in this specific place
God for getting us here at this time. that he's provided to be our home. On one
It's been frustrating for Tom that he side we have welders and mechanics, at
can't get stuck into work, but having least a few of whom chew Khat - a leaf
him around at home to help the boys stimulant drug, local to East Africa -
as they struggle to adjust to life in a through the day causing them to get louder
new culture has been an unexpected and more uninhibited as the day goes on.
benefit for all of us. On the other side we have a carpenter's
At times, life here can feel a bit workshop and a few little shops, one of
relentless, as with four young which has a bench at the back, bordering
children there is usually at least one our hedge, where people hide away to
who's upset, getting into mischief or drink alcohol. The owner has a large
needing help with something. As speaker which blasts out music to attract
I'm sure many of you in the UK are customers anytime from 6am and often,
finding, being in lockdown with bizarrely, starts especially early on a
small children brings both real Sunday morning, broadcasting hymns and
blessings and challenges. I (Verity) a church service from one of the local
have found myself craving personal radio stations.
space more than ever before, which The front of the house is bordered by
is not really a concept that exists in one of the main roads into town, with a
the culture here. motorbike station and forest opposite,

13

Mission

where a group of where we're getting to know some
men gather to of the sellers.
smoke some kind
of drugs through We have a lovely lady, Mauri,
the day. who owns a shop outside our
house and her mother, Zilipa, who
None of this is often in charge, speaks no
seems out of the English, which has been great for
ordinary though - practising our Lugbara. We go
these things just out most days for walks along the
seem to be an dirt roads, in the neighbourhood
accepted part of behind our house and are getting
life here and we to know some regular faces as we
feel very safe become familiar with the area.
where we are. The Having a baby on my back or
position of our small person in tow is a great ice
compound means breaker as they love babies and
we don't have to small children here.
go far to meet people and begin to Verity Clare
make connections. There are a
good number of little shops up the
road, leading to a local market

Prayer points

- Wisdom for how to engage positively
with our neighbours and share God's
love with them.
- Continued peace for us all as we settle
into life here.
- Wisdom for Tom in how to spend his
time in lockdown, dividing his time
between language learning, being with
the boys and preparing for the medical
role.
- Daily-filling-up with God's love and
grace as we interact with the people
around us.
- Thanks for David and Heather looking
out for us and for the few missionary
families we've met locally who've
welcomed us and have children similar
ages to ours whom they can play with.
14

Prayer
A Prayer in Lockdown

Roberta Flynn

Lord God,

At this dark and difficult time, may The signs of hope we see in spring,
your Word be a lamp to our feet and even if we can only see them from a
a light to our path. window.
May we know in our hearts that The joy of human contact, even if
although we are separated from one only by digital means or at the end of
another, nothing can ever separate us a telephone line.
from your love. The kindness of neighbours who
May we be assured that while we offer help to the isolated and
cannot worship together in person, vulnerable.
we are still united as the Body of
Christ.

When we feel anxious, may we The spirit of goodwill that has created
remember that we can cast all our a sense of community despite physical
anxieties on to you, because you care separation.
for us. The courage and dedication of key
When we are conscious of being weak workers, whether in our health or
and powerless, may we remember that care services or any other vital field.
your power is made perfect in our The general recognition that those in
weakness. lowly-paid work are among the most
. valuable to our community.
When we fear for the future, may we And above all, the hope that when we
trust that it is in your hands, and that emerge from this dark time, we will
all things work together for good for come together to build a kinder and
those who love you. more enlightened society.
In that knowledge, let us give thanks In Jesus’ name,
for the good things that have Amen
lightened our darkness in this grim
situation:

15

Friendship

Sharing the Same Birthday: August 28th

I have known Averil Gray and Meta and of going to her
Roseneil for several years but never garden air raid
realised they shared the same birthday. shelter, but
How different their stories are despite fortunately not being
this coincidence. Avril shares her story bombed. She was
below and explains that another friend employed at the
Vera coincidentally shares the same Bank of England
birthday too. Meta was born in until leaving to raise
Frankfurt, the only child of Jewish her two sons. Then,
parents. She arrived in England with subsequently,
her parents in May 1939, although her employed on the
maternal grandparents were unable to admin staff at
leave Germany and were subsequently Loughton College.
sent to the concentration camp at Averil writes: ‘We Meta and Averil
Terezin. Meta writes ‘In Praise of have been great
Friendship.’ friends for our very happy retirement
years and found another U3A friend,
Averil grew up in Bognor Regis, Meta, with the same birthday’!
through the war, with memories of the
Battle of Britain being fought overhead In Praise of Friendship
by planes from nearby Tangmere, How do I value my friends? Let me
Merston and Ford aerodromes. As an count the ways, as Elizabeth Barrett
enthusiastic 10 year old Red Cross Browning wrote: They celebrate our
cadet she would be able to stem joys, uplift us when we are sad, always
bleeding and put on a sling! Marrying have a sympathetic ear, a cheerful
an ex glider pilot in 1952, she settled in coffee or lunch together, share a
Buckhurst Hill where she brought up problem so it can be halved, but above
three children. When they were at all good camaraderie at all times.
school she trained to teach Secretarial How fortunate am I therefore to
and Commercial subjects and was have found two special friends who not
employed, first at Wanstead High only combine all the above but also
School, then at Redbridge College. celebrate their birthday on the same
day as mine: 28th August. Now we
On retirement, she joined Epping toast this special day together,
Forest U3A and enjoyed arranging forgetting the extra year being added.
holidays for members. When In our late eighties, we ignore the years
completing a booking form with dates and raise a glass not only on our
of birth of the group she realised that a birthdays but also to treasure our
friend, Vera, had the same birthday, wonderful long-lasting friendship’.
and year, as herself! Penny Freeston

Vera grew up in Highbury, with
memories of briefly being evacuated,

16

Being ‘up front’

News From John and Sue Sainsbury at Epping

We’re enjoying our life in Epping. Our All Saints Epping Upland and St
home is on part of the old St Mar- Alban’s. We really feel that we’re part
garet’s Hospital site, so is actually in of one big Church Family and have
the Parish of St Alban’s Coopersale, made good friends through all three
part of the Epping Team of Churches. Churches and we’re both very happy
We can walk across the field opposite to be in any of the three Churches for
our house and then over the old railway our Team services. Last year we
line to the Church and this led us to joined our Rector Lee on a Pilgrimage
worship there. to the Holy Land and it was an
incredible experience that has
It could not be more different from strengthened our Christian faith and
St Mary’s. We have about 24 members understanding.
on the Electoral Roll and usually 18-20
on a Sunday. The Church is small; we But as I write, this all seems a little
have no WC or sink. We fill the kettles in the past as everything has changed
for Coffee after the service from the so quickly We often think of our
outside tap in the Graveyard! But what friends at St Mary’s. We miss you all
we lack in facilities and numbers, we and send you lots of love.
more than make up with our friend- John Sainsbury
ships, welcome, singing and our love
of God. Everyone gets very involved
and it works really well. Sue and I are
part of the “Up Front” team which
leads services and presents a Talk, one
Sunday service each month. Sue has
joined in with Sunday school and also
joined the Team Pastoral Care Group.
We are both sidesmen and on the PCC.
We also help with intercessions, read-
ings, cleaning the church and I’m a
chalice assistant, so we’re kept quite
busy.

We don’t have a Priest specifically
for St Albans, but have a Reader in
Charge, Bob Taylor who has been a
Reader for over 30 years. We’re
blessed with Bob and the Clergy Team
of Rector, Vicar, Curate and two other
Licensed Lay Ministers and a Pastoral
Assistant covering St John’s Epping,

17

A saint for the pandemic: Saint Roch

The Church of England doesn’t Fresco of St Roch in Pordenone
really ‘do’ saints someone said to Cathedral in north east Italy
me. It certainly doesn’t recognise
them in the way that the Roman One of my first encounters with Saint
Catholic Church does. Roch was during a pilgrimage to Rome
and Assisi with St. Mary’s Church
Most of us know the patron saints nearly eighteen years ago. We visited
of the four Home Nations even if we the church of Santa Maria in Vivano in
may find the rationale for the choice Frascati, outside Rome, which dated
of the patron saint of England to be back to the 9th century, although it had
a bit tenuous. What about patron been rebuilt many times since. In 1656
saints of other countries? That’s a frescoes showing Saint Sebastian and
blank for me and I suspect I am not Saint Roch were revealed. The discov-
alone in that. There are patron saints ery took place at the time of the Black
for towns, cities, occupations, Death, during which the town was
illnesses and other concerns. spared, and the two saints’ names were
added to the patron saints of Frascati.
Some of the choices seem a bit Since then I have been fascinated by
puzzling. You might expect, for the story of Saint Roch, and have seen
example, that St Malo might have a many pictures of him in Catholic
maritime connection. Not at all! He
is the patron saint of swineherds.
Less surprisingly, there is no St
Trinian for delinquent schoolgirls.

Nominated saints are much more
in the consciousness of people in
Christian countries beyond our
shores, including people without
faith. I was reminded of this when,
coincidentally, on receiving Penny’s
article about St Roch, I had just read
in the novel La Peste (the Plague) by
the 20th century novelist Albert
Camus an account of a hastily built
shrine to St Roch in the cathedral at
Oran, Algeria, the location for the
novel. Yes, Camus, though not
known to be religious, knew his
saints. So did many of his readers. It
was an authentic touch. St Roch is
the saint for plagues and pandemics.
Peter Wall

18

Saint Roch

churches all over Europe. their patron. In 1414, the plague broke
Saint Roch, also Roque, or San out again in Rome, but ceased after the
Council Fathers arranged that prayers
Rocco, was born in 1295, the son of a and public processions be held in his
nobleman from Montpellier. He was honour.
born with an unusual and deep red
mark on his chest in the shape of a
cross, and was a deeply religious Penny Freeston

child. His parents died when he was
twenty years of age; he gave his
inheritance to the poor, and began a
new life as a Third Order Franciscan, Quotations from Ian
setting out on a pilgrimage to visit and
pray at the holy places in Rome. Tarrant’s last address

During that time the Black Death
broke out across Europe, and he cured
many people by simply making the ‘No man ever steps in the same river
Sign of the Cross over them. He con- twice, for it’s not the same river and
tinued his journey healing the sick as he’s not the same man.’ Heraclitus

he went, but by the time he came to And I said to the man who stood at
Piacenza he had contracted the dis- the gate of the year:
ease, suffering from a plague sore on ‘Give me a light that I may tread
his thigh. He retreated to a remote, safely into the unknown.’
abandoned hut near the forest, where- And he replied:
upon he was befriended by a small ‘Go out into the darkness and put
dog who brought him food daily and your hand
licked his wounds. A spring arose into the hand of God. That shall be to
nearby providing him with fresh you better
water. By the time he returned to than light and safer than a known
Montpellier he was put in prison, way.’
accused of being a spy. It is said that So I went forth, and finding the Hand
God sent angels to minister to him of God,
while he was held in captivity where trod gladly into the night. And he led
he died five years later in 1327. He me towards
was later venerated and his popularity the hills and the breaking of day in
spread throughout Europe. the lone East.’

Saint Roch is often depicted as a
pilgrim with a walking stick and sea-
shell, an open sore on his leg, an angel Extract from ‘The Desert’ by Minnie
by his side and a dog at his feet with a Louise Haskins, 1908

loaf of bread in its mouth. Many of the
towns in which he executed his
healing powers have chosen him as

19

Cuckoo yet?
The bird of summer

Every spring readers of The Times feel
compelled to write letters about the
arriving cuckoos. So far The Times
has published three bound volumes of
this correspondence. The cuckoo is
deeply embedded in our lives. It has a
near human voice, only the males say
cuckoo, the females have a bubbling
liquid whinny. Chaucer and
Shakespeare (King Lear) perpetuate the abusive dispute. They disagreed on
myth that it murders what they called how cuckoos managed to get eggs into
hedge sparrows by biting off their the nests of the birds. The "swallowers"
heads! What they had seen was a small v "the squatters"! The first saying the
bird stuffing food down the vast yellow bird laid an egg on the ground,
lined throat of the fledgling cuckoo. removed one from the host's nest,
swallowed her own and regurgitated it
The Fool (to Lear in the presence into the nest. The opposition said the
of the King’s daughter Goneril) bird removed an egg and positioned her

For you know, nuncle, tail over the nest and it rolled in. Quite
The hedge sparrow fed the cuckoo so how she managed this trick on hole
long that it’s had it head bit off by it nesting birds was never
young. So, out went the candle and we explained. Observation and science
were left darkling. won in the end, after several years of
close work the female removes the egg
first and by extending her egg laying
King Lear Act 1 scene 1V vent, like a mini trunk she places the

egg, all managed in about 10 seconds,
More, it caused a mental state, 'he is regularly between 2.0 pm and 8.0 pm
cuckoo', a deceived husband, on alternate days.
‘cuckold’, it had unclean habits, all that By July the adult birds are on their
'cuckoo spit'. There is cuckoo pint way back to Africa, the young follow
growing in the hedgerows, we have their genetic imprinting and follow in
cuckoo bees. It’s endless, never mind the autumn. A life in the sun and no
all those clocks. strop from the kids, how is it possible
The London branch of the British for that to be "cuckoo?"
Ornithological Club, from which the
RSPB arose, fell into violent and Chris Whitfield

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Quiz

“O ye birds of the air, praise ye the Lord!”
There are lots of birds in the Bible. Which

ones are these?

In some versions of the Bible the 8 Luke tells
names of birds are translated us to
differently. For this quiz we are consider the
using words beginning with the r_______.
letters given. They do not
1 (From The Song of Solomon) sow or reap
“The flowers appear on the earth, yet God
the time of singing has come and feeds them.
the voice of the t_____________ is 9 In Matthew we read that Jesus is
heard in our land.” sending us out like sheep among wolves.
2 (From Job) “I am a brother of He tells us to be as shrewd as snakes and
jackals and a companion of as innocent as d_______.
o____________.” 10 (From Psalm 84) “Even the s_______
3 (From Psalm 104) “In them the has found a home, and the s______ a nest
birds build their nests; the s______ for herself.”
has her home in the fir trees.” 11 Matthew says that two s________ are
4 (From Jeremiah) “Like the sold for a penny,
p_________ that gathers a brood yet that not one of
that she did not hatch, so is he who them will fall to the
gets riches but not by justice.” ground outside the
5 (From Matthew) “ Jerusalem, Father’s care.
Jerusalem, the city that kills the 12 (From Jeremiah)
prophets and stones those who are “Even the s_____
sent to it! How often have I desired in the sky knows
to gather your children together as a her appointed
h_____ gathers her brood under her seasons, and the
wings.” d_____, the s____
6 Some of the birds we are told not and the t_____
to eat in Leviticus are e______, observe the time of
o_______, v______, k_____, their migration.”
r_____, c________, p______,
s_______ and h________. Answers on page 27
7 In Jeremiah we read that those
hoping in Jehovah will soar on
wings like e_______.

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VE Day

Victory in Europe (VE ) Day
memories from 75 years ago

VE Day in May 1945 is often Chris Whitfield was a teenager
pictured as flag waving, happy crowds working as a farm hand near
gathered in central London at the key Colchester. He recalls that the
landmarks of Buckingham summer holiday of 1944 saw a very
Palace, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly gauche 15 year old public school
Circus and Downing Street, thronged boy go to help with the
masses of happy people in uniform and harvest. Within a week it was much
civies hugging and kissing, or street more, refuel, grease and start the
parties hastily put together by happy tractor, hook up the trailer, harness
parents and children tucking into treats. the horses. I would look in on the
But for many in the services or boss having breakfast and get my
working to feed Britain it was still a orders.
regular working day. Some lucky ones VE Day: On the farm the cows still
got to go party crazy, others less so but needed milking at 0600 hours and all
still happy and relieved. that that entailed. Several thousand
Richard Walker raucous pigs hollering for
their food, the eggs to collect, the
Silvia Clewer was one of the lucky hens to feed. Finally the
ones as a young lady who got to go humans, Muesli, Gretty the farmer's
to join the dancing crowds at wife was Swiss. Bacon, home
Trafalgar Square. It was quite a party cured or ham, eggs, 2 or 3, several
she recalls, but doesn't remember too slices of home baked bread and
much else, bless her. plenty of butter and jam. I think we
John Green was a Flight Engineer traded scarce sugar for home
recently qualified on Lancasters, churned butter. Lunch by our
soon to be in training for being standards a modest affair, often cold
moved to the Far East to continue tea, good bread and
the war against Japan. John recalls cheese. Agricultural labourers were
little in way of celebration, more the allowed 14 oz. per week, standard
trepidation of what fighting in a ration 2 oz. By 4 pm milking, 80
different theatre of war might entail. Jerseys, the routine clean up and
then the main meal of the day! We
ate hugely but no one had a scrap of
fat on their bodies, we were
incredibly fit.

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VE Day Party at Derby Road

Mike Lovejoy and Dick Walker Geoff Jones was a 'bit of a
were both living on Forest precocious' youngster at home near
Approach, Mike as a small Pontypridd:. He writes:-
toddler, Dick a little older at 12
years old. A huge bonfire was lit I remember as a nine-year-old the
in the road, much too large and church bell ringing. I think we had
hot for the the glass windows that the afternoon off from school. There
cracked in the nearby Lovejoy were street parties
home. Mike's father was not everywhere. Our street had long
amused. tables laid out with all sorts of
Dick recalls:- I was happy and cakes and sandwiches we'd never had
excited. Some residents before. There was a fancy dress
organised a bonfire in the middle parade. My six-year-old brother had a
of the road in Forest Approach prize for dressing up in a bowler as a
next to the top of the big round poacher, with our dog Chum on a bit
island. It was very big and very of string. My father got ratty at a
hot. The concrete of the road was party when a young chap in the
not covered in tarmac in those village kissed my 28-year-old mum a
days and I think the surface of the bit more enthusiastically than he
concrete was damaged. I looked should. There was dancing in the
forward to the same on VJ Day, streets 'til late.
but was disappointed.

23

VE Day

John Goldsmith recalls: soot of the blitz.
I had been to see my uncle with my But the most riveting sight was the
parents, Charles and Jessie. Uncle shadow image which was projected
Bill lived in Sussex and Dad had onto the underside of low clouds
managed to find enough petrol for a overhead. They were very low but
drive there and back a couple of days not foggy. Thus they formed a
after the big celebration. I think we perfect screen for the image of the
were returning to Bow on the cross. However the most transfixing
Sunday. effect was that the underside of the
clouds, being undulating, the image

seemed to grow and
recede as if alive.
It was a magnificent
experience for a non-
religious fourteen year
old.

John Goldsmith’s depiction of St Paul’s Cathedral (Below) John and Margaret
on VE Day Goldsmith mark VE Day
this year: the bunting was
He drove through London and made by Gill Stock who
descended Fleet Street and then up tragically was knocked
Ludgate Hill. What I saw down and killed on her
absolutely amazed me. Two way to collect her
searchlights (anti-aircraft variety) grandchildren from school
had been positioned either side of last year
St Paul's Cathedral. Their beams
were trained on the cross at the top
of the dome. It shone as it never
had before despite the smoke and

24

For reflection

WAITING

Happy is the man who listens to me
(the Lord), watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors. For he who
does finds life and obtains favour from
the Lord;
Proverbs 8: 34

Patience is not simply the ability to
wait – it’s how we behave while we are
waiting.
Joyce Meyer

When told that a soloist would need six Waiting on God requires the willing-
fingers to perform his violin concerto, ness to bear uncertainty, to carry with-
the composer Arnold Schoenberg in oneself the unanswered question,
replied, "I can wait." lifting the heart to God about it when-
Each life is made up of mistakes and ever it intrudes upon one's thoughts.
learning, waiting and growing, Elizabeth Elliot
practising patience and being If an artist is any good at all, then he
persistent. or she will have a later phase that's
Billy Graham more interesting than the early one.
It is strange that the years teach us Clive James
patience; that the shorter our time, the We know that the whole of creation
greater our capacity for waiting. has been groaning in travail together
Elizabeth Taylor until now; and not only the creation,
Time and tide waiteth for no man, saith but we ourselves, who have the first
the adage. But all men have to wait for fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as
time and tide we wait for adoption as sons, the
Charles Dickens – Martin redemption of our bodies. For in this
Chuzzlewit hope we were saved.
Romans 8: 22

As an actor I am always waiting for my They that sow in tears shall reap with
luck to run out. shouts of joy.
Psalm 126 verse 5
Tom Hanks

25

Frustrated plans The sonnet reflects on the spiritual
A poem from the consequences for poet John Milton on
1650ies for becoming blind at an age when he was
lockdown at the height of his powers.

When I consider how my light is The Parable of the Talents, to
spent, which the poem alludes, tells us that if
God gives someone a skill or ability,
Ere half my days, in this dark then God expects that they will use it
world and wide, profitably. If they fail to do so they
will incur God’s wrath. But Milton’s
And that one Talent which is blindness seems to have made this
death to hide impossible for him. Through
something beyond his control he has
Lodged with me useless, though been stopped in his tracks. This is a
my Soul more bent situation many can relate to in the
To serve therewith my Maker, and current lockdown.
present
Permeating the poem’s first eight
My true account, lest he returning lines is a sense of deep frustration,
chide; bordering on a sense that God may be
unfair. For a devout puritan like
“Doth God exact day-labour, light Milton, this was a blasphemous
denied?” position for several reasons. He would
have been in danger of thinking that
I fondly ask. But patience, to he knew better than God. He also was
prevent in danger of assuming that the only
That murmur, soon replies, “God way to please God is through good
doth not need works, a position Milton associated
with Roman Catholicism to which he
Either man’s work or his own was very strongly opposed .
gifts; who best
A new voice enters the poem,
Bear his mild yoke, they serve ‘patience’. This allegorical figure
him best. His state makes two arguments. The first is that
Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding God doesn't require human work or
speed human gifts. Instead, the best way to
secure salvation is simply to obey
And post o’er Land and Ocean God. Secondly ‘patience’ suggests that
without rest: this obedience is mild and, crucially,
flexible. It means different things for
They also serve who only stand different people: while some ‘speed …
and wait.” o’er Land and Ocean,’ others ‘stand
John Milton: Sonnet on his and wait’. Yet both are, or can be,
blindness forms of service.

26

Frustrated plans

Performing great works is thus Commonwealth as for being a poet.
perfectly acceptable to God, but it's Although he felt he was doing God’s
not the only way to please him. It is will there were plenty of others who
just as effective simply to wait for felt he was doing the opposite . Some
God's commands, perhaps forever. muttered that his blindness was God’s
The action either way, as judged by punishment on him for his support of
usual human standards, is not those who had ordered Charles 1’s
crucially important. What really execution. I would rather not go there.
matters is the way that it is performed Be that as it may, the future for Milton
and whether it is an expression of was not as bleak as he had imagined.
faith in God and God's will. His most substantial poems, Paradise
At a single point of time these very Lost and Samson Agonistes date from
differing possibilities seem to present well after this period in his life, during
a rather stark contrast. Yet, over time, the reign of Charles 11.
‘standing and waiting’ may not be For us today who knows what is in
permanent. Other possibilities may the future. But like Milton we should
emerge. surely prayerfully reflect on what is
Today we know Milton as a poet. the right course for us in what may
However, at the time of his writing well be very different circumstances.
this poem he was at least as well
known for being THE leading Peter Wall
propagandist for Cromwell’s

Quiz : answers to Caption suggestions for the photograph on
questions on page 21 page 8
1 ‘How long would it take us to get to the
1 turtledove river at Barnard Castle’?
2 ostriches 2 ‘Next week we can meet in groups of 6’
3 stork
4 partridge 27
5 hen
6 eagles, ospreys,

vultures, kites,
ravens, cormorants,
pelicans, storks,
herons
7 eagles
8 ravens
9 doves
10 sparrow, swallow
11 sparrows
12 stork, dove, swift,

thrush

fFoamcilyus Smiling and laughing with others yousee
Doesn’t need you to be close by
Even from two whole metres away
You can still say a friendly ‘hi’
Kindness is catching

Mummy said kindness is catching You can say ‘Well done!’ You can say
But I didn’t know what she meant ‘Great idea!’
I thought we were trying not to catch You can say ‘You’re a good friend to
things me!’
Everywhere that we went And even from all the way over there,
You can help others feel so happy

I have to go back to school, Mummy says Smile at the children who pass by you
But it won’t be the same as before Tell them ‘Everything’s going to be
I might not be with my teacher fine’
There’ll be tape all over the floor! Say ‘Even though your face is sad,
I won’t be allowed to wander around Please share the smile on mine’
I’ll have to stay sat in my seat If someone is crying and feeling upset
I might not be in my classroom They want to go home for a cuddle
And she’s not sure where I’ll eat Remind them of all the friends they
My Daddy says I can’t give out hugs have
I have to give everyone space In your lovely little bubble
I might not be with my teacher You can make sure that your teacher
And I must not touch my face Knows just how lucky they are
So I said ‘Back to school sounds scary, To have you in their special team
I don’t think I want to go’ What a superstar!
And Mummy said ‘Listen sweetheart, Sometimes in life things shift and
There’s something I want you to know.’ change
You will probably all feel a bit wobbly It’s tricky when they do
Children and teachers too But how you handle the ups and downs
As strange as it will be for you all Is totally up to you
There IS something you can do

28

You might feel sad and it might feel
odd
But only at the start
For you can make a difference to all
With the goodness in your heart
So now I see that even though
We’re trying to not catch infections
There are lots of ways I can have a
good day
By making special connections
It’s hard when stuff happens that we
can’t control
It’s scary to lose our way
But now I know that I CAN change
the world
With the things that I do and say
We’re all in this together
And we don’t know what’s to come
But for now I want to be the one
Who helps others have lots of fun
Mummy says kindness is catching
So even if my wellbeing is low
I’m going to spend every day from
now on
Helping the kindness to grow
Emma Fenemore

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News from Chris Meikle

Coronavirus in the
Rhondda Valley,
South Wales

2020 is the Year of Pilgrimage Like the rest of the country, the
in the Llandaff Diocese. My local Rhondda Valley has witnessed the
church, St. Illtyd’s, was invited to worst and the best of human behaviour
send representatives to attend in a crisis. We’re only just recovering
Evensong at Llandaff Cathedral from the recent flooding in my local
in early March and I had the area (several streets still have the
privilege of reading the second sandbags outside their houses) and
lesson at that Service. That week community support has been
I also attended the St. David’s tremendous. Now people are
Day Eisteddfod at my grandson’s volunteering all over again. Local
Primary School. Little did I know small shops are delivering food and
that these would be the last public other essentials. There’s a lot to be
events I would enjoy before grateful for.
normal life would become less
normal. Wishing all my friends, at St.
Mary’s and around South Woodford,
Let’s remember the positives. well for the months to come.
How lucky were we with the Chris Meikle
weather!? For the first week or two
anyway. Self-isolation, but the sun
shone and we were able to go out for
daily exercise. I made an effort to go
out for an hour-long exploration of
quiet side roads and mountain paths
every day. It was worth it. (I also
washed everything in sight and took
pleasure in seeing it blowing on the
washing line in the sunshine.)
I’m not a huge computer fan but it’s
been useful for finding Services which
have been streamed from various
churches and I’ve overdosed on
Facebook to keep in touch with distant
friends.

30

Obituary

various settings. Some of the boys that
she taught kept in touch with Heather
Heather Harston throughout her life. At this time, she

took part in an exchange year at Boys
Base in Florida and drove a VW Beetle
Heather was born in 1923 and in 1934 from there to New York to visit her
won a scholarship to Parliament Hill brother.
school. In 1941,she went to Bedford In ‘retirement’, Heather worked at
College to train as a PE teacher and Wormwood Scrubs assisting the prison
played hockey and tennis for her chaplains, befriending prisoners who
county. She married in 1946 and had 2 included ‘the Birmingham 6’. The
children, Jill and David but, sadly, the chaplains held her in the highest regard.
marriage ended in divorce and Heather In later years, Heather pursued her
had to bring up her children as a single interests in painting and sculpture and
parent - unusual in those days. She played the clarinet. The walls of her
needed income so started work as a PE home were covered with her paintings
teacher at Braeside School from where and pictures of her precious family-her
she went on to Southgate Grammar and 2 children her 6 grandchildren and her
4 great-grandchildren and most of them
and some of her friends are proud
owners of pieces of pottery that she
made locally at a ‘sculpture clay class’
which she really enjoyed.
Heather clearly had a great love for
her family and a love for her church
too and her faith underscored the love
that she showed to all throughout her
life. She was a loyal and devoted
member of St Mary’s for many years
particularly during the incumbency of
The former premises of Southgate Rector and friend Canon Bob
Grammar School, now flats. Birchnall.

witnessed its change to a When she was no longer able to
comprehensive which experience she attend church, a few of us were pleased
recorded in a book entitled ‘You must to visit her at home and she often spoke
be crazy’. to me of her hope of a future life in the
She then felt called by God to train next dimension and it was fitting that,
to be a teacher of ‘maladjusted boys’ at her funeral, having given thanks to
and ran a unit in the East End of God for her long and valuable life, she
London. She recorded this experience was committed into His eternal care.
in another book entitled ‘You don’t
know nothing Miss’ and often related Chris Winward (with
amusing episodes from her book in acknowledgment to David Harston)

31

A big
thank you

to everyone submitting
contributions and photographs to

this edition

Please keep them coming, as without them we wouldn’t have a parish
magazine. Articles, prayers, book reviews, favourite music,
recipes, gardening tips etc.

We would love some children’s drawings as well: the choice is yours!
Email directly using a subject heading to:
[email protected]

or pass to Penny Freeston who will type up your handwritten copy.
Our next copy date is
10th August 2020

Magazine team: Penny Freeston, Cheryl Corney,
Sam McCarthy, Peter Wall.

32