2 Care Fee Countdown in Ludlow JP Estate Planning Ltd give us the low down on care fee costs... What are the costs? Care fees in the Ludlow area can be as much as £1,750 per week, which is £91,000 a year per person. This means a couple could easily end up paying £182,000 a year in care fees alone. You can see how easily your assets – including your family home – could be swallowed up. Can you give away assets and family home to your children? You can, but they will likely still be included for care fee assessment purposes. There are rules about deliberate deprivation that mean you are not allowed to give away assets to avoid paying for care fees. If you were allowed to do this, then everyone would do it and the government would have to pay for everyone’s care. What can you do to protect your assets? Some people use asset protection trusts, but these can be a dangerous tool in estate planning. The very name of the trust can imply it is there to avoid paying for care fees and where a home is in an asset protection trust, it can miss out on inheritance tax reliefs. Instead, We suggest having a private consultation with one of our fully trained consultants. Is there anything you can do to protect assets? Thankfully, yes! Although you really do have to be careful on which strategy your chosen professional uses. We have often seen certain trusts being set up and used in a way which is not efficient for inheritance tax and do not avoid the deliberate deprivation rules. Unfortunately most people only find this out after someone has died or entered care and they end up losing money which could have been avoided if done correctly. Final thoughts? If you have had trouble with or are concerned about this subject, JP Estate Planning are always happy to help. Give us a call or send an email (see advert below) and we can help you to get the correct solutions in place or review your existing plans for suitability.
3 February is not just the shortest but possibly the most anonymous month of the year, unable even to decide whether it belongs to winter or spring. Lacking any major calendar events, apart from St Valentine’s Day, it sometimes seems merely to fill the space between the end of the Christmas season at Candlemas (p37) and the start of the Lent season (p7 and p11). This issue of the Ludlow Tower marks another end, the final article in our long -running series tracing the history of the many ‘lost places of worship’ in Ludlow. And the identity of the twenty second, and last, of these buildings may well come as a surprise (p13). As an antidote to the gloom which often settles in February we try to look on the bright side (p5), meet the most forgetful man in England (p35), learn how many men it takes to carry a ladder from Corve Street to St Laurence (p36) and take lessons from Uncle Eustace’s flock in how to cope when it gets cold in church (p41). Lesley Harling (Editor) 01584 318309 This month’s cover: Photograph: Lesley Harling Jubilee Garden gargoyle Graphic design: Nicky Luck [email protected] Printing : Signworx Hereford Moreton-on-Lugg, Herefordshire Always look on the bright side 5 Prayer made simple? 7 Introducing Keith Goode 9 Beloved Dust 11 The Quaker Meeting House 13 Notes to St John’s 15 From the registers 15 Putting a figure on humanitarian aid 17 Twinning - a unique experience 19 Sunday services in Ludlow 20 Ludlow local listing - small ads 21 What’s on in February 25 Ludlow Palmers Quiz Night 27 Monmouthshire Church Crawl 27 Helping to save lives in Ludlow 29 If you go down to the church Tuesday 31 Matthew, Mark, Luke and John 33 The most forgetful man in England 35 Old Parish Tales - book review 36 Time to amass the candles? 37 Fairtrade Fortnight 39 A Week of Accompanied Prayer 39 Children’s page 40 Why rural churchgoers like to freeze 41 Parish directory & copy deadline 42 CONTENTS Opinions expressed in contributed articles in this magazine are those of the contributor and do not necessarily represent the position or opinions of the PCC or Editorial Committee.
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5 Another year passes, another year older. Many of you will recognise that feeling of cruising through your seventies - or watching others do so and feeling ever more, just slightly, vulnerable. So, I consider the possibility that I am a pessimist. Don’t despair read on … Walking the dog in the snow I watch my 60-something neighbour get in her car and drive smartly up the hill out of the village. A voice inside tells me I should do that too - shopping to get in Ludlow. Eeyore, standing in the corner, fixes me with a baleful eye. So, I consider again. Walking in the snow this week doggo and I had a choice to walk down the road, or to go over a field. The gate was open, there were boot prints - large, male, wellington-clad boot prints - someone had passed this way before. So, I followed, put my feet in each footprint and my mind jumped the tracks: ‘O let me see your footmarks, And in them plant my own; My hope to follow truly Is in your strength alone.’ The familiar words came back, not just in memory, but in the present, here, now. I am experiencing that sense of following a safe path, a pilgrim path and not alone. Sitting at home I turn to BBC4 and discover ‘Winter Journey: Winterreise’, Benjamin Appl singing, beautiful music, a stunning setting and story. I know, not gung-ho joyous but feeding the mind and the soul, enriching the wonder at the human spirit. What else? The kindness of strangers. Travelling on a train (remember them??) to London I fall asleep, mildly bored, rather warm. I wake to someone gently touching my hand, a soft quiet voice – ‘Did you want to get out at Birmingham?’ Too right I did! I depart in a rush and with profuse thanks. The kindness of strangers. Eeyore is still in the corner but I look at him with amusement. Eric Idle was right. Always look on the bright side of life … you never know what you might see, all those things that delight, comfort, intrigue, stimulate … If you don’t look, they’ll be missed. Sylvia Turner Always look on the bright side of life
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7 We may all know, instinctively, that prayer is important but most of will have some experience of struggling to work out where and how to start actually doing it. This year’s Lent Course, run by Wayne and Lawrence, aims to help us to feel more confident in prayer and to deepen our relationship with God. The sessions will be based on materials from the 24-7 Prayer Course and the book, ‘How to Pray’ by Pete Greig, reassuringly subtitled ‘A Simple Guide for Normal People’ The course will be held every Wednesday in March in the daytime at St John’s, Gravel Hill, with each session repeated in the evening at St Laurence’s if enough people would like this. The day-time sessions will repeat the pattern of last year; following the 11.30am Communion Service at St John’s, there will be a light lunch of soup and bread followed by the course itself, starting at around 1pm. All are welcome for any part, just the Communion, just the lunch, just the course or any combination of the three. The evening session will follow the 6.00pm Communion Service in St Laurence’s. This year’s course will dovetail with the Diocesan ‘Year of Prayer’ which Bishop Richard is leading for the whole of 2023. As part of this there will also be a special event in St Laurence’s on Wednesday 29 March where Bishop Richard will be joined by Pete Greig, the author of our Lent study book, and his wife Sammy (see details below). To find out about ‘The Prayer Course’ visit https://prayercourse.org/sessions/ For more information or to book please contact Wayne or Lawrence. We do need to know numbers in advance - to be sure that there is enough lunch for the day-time course and that there are enough people (six minimum) to make the evening course viable. PRAYer MADE SIMPLE? Bishop’s study day St laurence, ludlow Wednesday 29 march 9.30AM - 3.00PM All welcome. To book your place go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bishopsstudy-day-how-to-pray-led-by-pete-griegtickets-477271530997
8 Celtic Prayer An Evening Liturgy St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow Third Sunday of the month 6pm A simple service in a style used by the Iona Community Call Pat Helm 01584 877683 Helen Blyth 01584 875041 Sunday 19 February Hot dogs, pool table, air hockey, Mario Cart and more Conversation, play, food and a simple sharing of bread and wine Contact [email protected] 12 February 3:30pm Come and join us @ St Laurences Ludlow Verger Keith Goode Wednesdays at St John’s There is always a warm welcome at St John’s Church on Gravel Hill on Wednesday mornings. Why not come along, meet the clergy and see for yourself? 9.30am Daily Prayer 10.00am Tea & Toast Open house for anyone in the community to drop in for a chat and a cuppa 11.30am Holy Communion Informal service We would love to see you for the whole morning or just a part.
9 Please tell us a bit about yourself. I am Keith Goode. I grew up in rural Worcestershire, always making things and mending things. I was not academic and left school at 15 but knew I had found my niche when I walked through the door of Walsall Art School. My first job was in industrial ceramics design but I took up the offer of a sales job in the US at the Boston Music Corporation but was soon repairing musical instruments (18th century violins and bows, Yale University’s drums, the Clancy Brothers’ flute). Later I bought a farm in Maine. It was all great fun but I came back to the UK to set up the Walsall College of Art’s 3D Design department, seeing it grow from one cardboard box to a two-storey building with 16 staff. When I ended up spending my time at a desk doing admin I left to buy an Victorian leather works where I could return to the metal working I had loved at college. I worked in silver, gold, copper and brass as well as making ceramic garden ware. What brough you to Ludlow? I wanted out of the city. I had known Ludlow as a boy. Anne was perhaps less keen but the carillon was playing Home, Sweet Home as we arrived to take a look …We bought a decrepit house on Old Street which I renovated while running a silversmithing business and Anne commuted to Halesowen. And to St Laurence’s? Later, working on my own all day I used to come in for a chat. One day I noticed a nail sticking up in one of the pews and asked David Lloyd, church warden at the time, if he would like me to hammer it in … I soon found myself being paid to do more little jobs – from clearing roof gulleys and storm drains to making keys. Eventually I was walking 11 miles a day round the building, often with Rhydian as a baby on my arm, with the formal title of verger and I loved every minute of it. First impression of St Laurence's? I remember clearly Pat Perry leaning down to greet a ten-year-old me. What is your role at St Laurence’s? Possibly the longest serving welcome steward - I have been doing it on and off for 25 years. In my time, as well as verger, carpenter and general dogsbody I have been on the PCC and the Fabric Committee, rung the bells, as Tower Captain overseeing the fundraising and augmentation of the bells in 2012. Which one feature of St Laurence's which is special for you? The tower – I have spent hours up there one way and another. How do you spend any spare time? Building a 10mm steam locomotive in my garden, repairing clocks, doing up an antique Land Rover. What might we surprised to know about you? At New Year Anne and I set all our clocks to chime. We have about 36 including seven longcase clocks. INTRODUCING
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11 One of the most moving services I have ever attended took place on Ash Wednesday 2009, in Westminster Abbey. I was an ordinand, in training for ministry, and was on placement at the Abbey. As the choir sang the achingly beautiful setting of Psalm 51 “Miserere mei, Deus” (Have mercy on me, God) by Allegri, complete with perfectly piercing top C from the chorister given the solo that year, we all went forward. The Dean said the solemn words, “Remember you are dust, and to dust you will return,” as he marked my forehead with the sign of the cross, using ashes from the previous year’s palm crosses. It was a new experience to me, as the imposition of ashes hadn’t been part of the tradition I’d known up to then. I confess I was overwhelmed - by the depth of my human sinfulness, the depth of God’s mercy and the depth of the love of Christ in going to the cross for the sin of the world, including mine. Far from being frightening, or leading me to despair, those words, ‘Remember you are dust, and to dust you will return’ seemed in that moment to be strangely comforting. They reminded me of words from Psalm 39, where the Psalmist says to God, ‘Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is’. We, humans, are frail and fragile creatures of the creator – a truth we don’t always recognise or accept. To dwell on that truth during Lent, holding it together with the equal and opposite truth that we are, as the title of a book says, ‘Beloved Dust’ seems to me a good spiritual discipline for these 40 days. For by the grace of God in Christ, we are both fragile and strong, mortal and immortal. We are dust, and to dust we will return, yes. But that’s not the end of the story, for from dust we shall rise, clothed with life and immortality, to live with God eternally. As we move through Lent together, I invite you to take time to meditate on these paradoxical truths: that we are creatures, limited, finite and weak, and that we are held in the hands of an unlimited, infinite and strong God; that our time in this life is brief and that our time with God in the world to come is eternal; that we are as humans deeply flawed and we are deeply loved – and that in the cross with which we are marked in baptism, and may be marked on Ash Wednesday, all of that comes together. Ven Fiona Gibson #archdeacon of Ludlow BELOVED DUST
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13 The quaker meeting house In the final article in his series on lost places of worship in Ludlow Nick Ford traces the peripatetic history of Quaker meeting rooms in the town. We are indebted to him for some fascinating insights into an all but forgotten aspect of our town’s rich past. There are various references to Quakers in Ludlow from the 1680s, although no venues for meetings are mentioned, but in 1731 Thomas Story, a visiting Quaker, held a meeting in Ludlow Castle. The present continuity of Quaker meetings in Ludlow dates from 1947, when Arthur Reynolds and his family came to Ludlow to start a small furniture factory in Broad Street, near Ludford Bridge. They were joined by other Quaker craftsmen, Frank Burlingham and Frank Gregory, with their respective families. All three families lived in Dinham House (then divided into separate apartments) and it was here that the first meeting for worship took place on 11 May 1947. After Arthur Reynolds’ death in 1960 the Reynolds family moved from Dinham House, and the Meetings were held for some years in the Friary Hall (next to Smithfield car park, now demolished). During cold winter months, the Friends took refuge in the Burlinghams’ subsequent home in Wheeler Road, as the Friary Hall was poorly heated. From 1965 until 1977, meetings were held in various rented rooms, a doctor’s waiting room in Broad Street, the library of the old Grammar School in Mill Street and finally the Women’s Room in Church Street. None was really satisfactory and in October 1977 the meetings were held at the invitation of Garth and Julia Reynolds in the barn next to their home in St Mary’s Lane. In 1986, the Friends were able to purchase the barn and convert it into the present Meeting House. Nick Ford Dinham House (Source: https://commons. wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Dinham_House,_Ludlow_-_IMG_0211.JPG) Ludlow Friends Meeting House St Mary’s Lane
14 Alexandra House Diamond Life Healthcare Fully trained carers provide high-quality personalised care We provide Domiciliary Care 24-hour Live-in Care Domestic Care We are always looking for reliable caring staff Please ring and speak to our friendly team 01584 872233 Email - [email protected] Website - www.diamondlifehealthcare.co.uk
15 A note to st john’s from your curate As I write this, I am reflecting on a joyful Christmas season at St John’s, a season that included the wonderful carol service on 19 December. At this service we were delighted to welcome the Ludlow Concert Band who played beautifully, both their own pieces and in leading us all in the singing of some wonderful carols. Then, just after Christmas, we held our patronal festival, celebrating our dedication to St John the Evangelist. This was a benefice service and it was lovely to welcome so many of our brothers and sisters from St Laurence’s. As has become traditional, Carla and her helpers organised mulled wine and mince pies which were very much appreciated by all who were there. As we now look towards Lent we are planning to host the benefice Lent course each Wednesday following our morning communion service and a Lent lunch. Please see the piece on p7 for further details. Other forthcoming events include plans for a special informal family communion service to celebrate Mothering Sunday on 19 March, which will be suitable for all ages, particularly aimed at being fun and informative for children and young people. Work also continues on the planned improvements to the building with detailed plans for a new kitchen currently being drawn up – more information on this exciting development to come shortly. Later this year, as you may well have heard, I will be leaving Ludlow to take up my new post as Priest in Charge of the Tenbury Team Ministry. My last service at St John’s will be on Sunday 4 June and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support and prayers which mean so much to me and to my family. Lawrence FROM THE REGISTERS FUNERALS 16 December Richard Alexander Strachan Memorial service 19 December Elizabeth Anne Nixon 5 January Glynis Lloyd Shrewsbury crematorium 11 January Joyce White St John’s 13 January Joy Elizabeth Lewis
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17 Putting a figure on aid When I heard the Taliban had banned female international aid workers from entering Afghanistan, I knew that there was only one way to start this month’s article – with the statement from Christian Aid: ‘Christian Aid condemns the Taliban ban on female NGO staff. Millions of people in Afghanistan are on the verge of starvation. There are reports that some families are so desperate they've been forced to sell their children to buy food, leaving them utterly heartbroken. Imposing a ban on female aid workers will only curtail our ability to help the growing number of people in need, and risks compounding the dire humanitarian crisis that women and girls face. This ruling will deeply trouble families relying on the income of female aid workers amidst Afghanistan's severe economic crisis. Christian Aid is rapidly seeking clarity on this announcement, urging the authorities to reverse the ban ... unfortunately, we are pausing the work of our programme’. The UN too has spoken out. Please pray for all in Afghanistan and follow the news about the situation. Christian Aid exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. Here are some numbers relating to its work in 2022: 4,500 First Aid kits, 100 oxygen machines, 34 baby incubators and 1,500 doses of neonatal medicine delivered to Ukraine 38,446 people in South Sudan reached with essentials such as food, bedding and cooking equipment 2 health centres in rural Sierra Leone refurbished to provide services to more than 2,000 people 1.5 million people received humanitarian aid thanks to Christian Aid 257 projects implemented in 14 countries through 240 partners 7,000 plus signatures on Christian Aid's latest climate justice petition hundreds of supporters delivered climate justice events 20 people became local climate campaign organisers And this in the year in which Hurricane Ian cost $100 billion, floods in Pakistan killed more than 1,730 people and displaced seven million and drought in the Horn of Africa affected 36 million. The figures illustrate that unimaginable human suffering, loss and destruction are occurring in countries and regions which bear the least responsibility for the climate crisis, the least industrialised parts of the world. ‘Without major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, this human and financial toll will increase.’ (Patrick Wall, CEO Christian Aid). This is an enormous challenge at the beginning of 2023 but everyone can play a part, however small. Let’s do it! Please note that the Lent lunch hosted by St Laurence’s will be on Friday 3 March. I do hope you can be there. Claire Wilcox
18 5 The Angel, Broad Street, Ludlow, Sy8 2PG R I B A Trevor Hewett A R C H I T E C T ▪ Planning applications ▪ ▪ Listed building consent ▪ ▪ Building regulations ▪ ▪ Alterations and extensions ▪ ▪ Church inspections ▪ ▪ Green building ▪ The Architecture Studio 135 Corve Street Ludlow SY8 2PG Tel: 01584 877992
19 Those of us of a certain age will be familiar with the concept of twinning, a movement which began in the 1920s but largely took off in the wake of World War II. The need to build relationships between warring nations may have become less urgent but twinning remains a great and unique experience for people of all ages. Over thirty years ago, a small group of Ludlovians set out to find a twin town in France and the Ludlow French Twinning Association was born. Since then, hundreds of people from our town have made the journey to the Normandy town of La Ferté-Macé and have welcomed French guests back to their homes the following year. During those three days a year, new friendships are forged, and old ones are strengthened, not just between the French but between Ludlovians, too. A few of our members have been visiting the same French families, now close friends, for over three decades. Young families have joined us in recent years, giving children the opportunity to glimpse a new culture, try out snippets of a new language and meet French people of their own age, all within the safety and security that comes from knowing that parents or grandparents are close at hand. Last year Philip Adams published a book, ‘Bonjour’ about the Ludlow French twinning experience, with anecdotes and photos from both sides of the Channel over the last 30 years. Between annual visits, there are opportunities to get to know fellow members, at our New Year Meal and fundraising events or on our UK coach trips. We also run monthly French films, always with English subtitles, in the Blue Boar on the first Wednesday of each month. If you are interested in joining us, whether as a single person, a couple, a family with children or grandparents who would like to take their grandchildren on a great new experience, please see the contact details below. No knowledge of French is required. Cost of membership is £12 per couple or family. Our fundraising efforts throughout the year mean that children under 18 travel to and from Ludlow to France free of charge. Website: www.ludlowfrenchtwinning.co.uk Phone: Grace Wilkins 07990 526203 or Email Pauline at [email protected] ‘Bonjour’ by Philip Adams is available from the Castle Book Shop Ludlow 01584 872562. Twinning - A Unique Experience French visitors arrive in Ludlow on the Town Twinning visit in May 2022
20 Anglican St Laurence, College Street 8.30am Holy Communion (BCP) 10am Parish Eucharist For livestream/recording - link at https://stlaurences.org.uk/live-stream 11.30am Choral Matins 3rd Sunday only 3.30pm The Living Room 2nd Sunday 3.30pm Choral Evensong 1st Sunday only 6pm Celtic Prayer - evening liturgy 3rd Sunday only 9.30pm Compline (on Zoom) For details contact [email protected] 5th Sun Joint benefice service with St John’s Contact [email protected] 01584 872073 St John, Gravel Hill 9.45am 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays Holy Communion 2nd & 4th Sundays Morning Prayer 5th Sun Joint benefice service with St Laurence’s Contact [email protected] 07786 625565 St Giles, Ludford 11.15am 1st Sunday Family Worship 2nd & 4th Sundays CW Holy Communion 3rd Sunday Lay-led Worship Contact [email protected] Ludlow Baptist Church 10.30am Sunday worship Contact [email protected] Ludlow Elim 10.30am Service at Elim 11.30am Online. Contact www.ludlowelim.com 07791 483284 [email protected] Ludlow Methodist Church 10.30am Sunday worship Contact [email protected] Ludlow Quakers 10.30am Meeting for worship Contact Cynthia Prior 01584 831855 St Peter's Roman Catholic Church Mass 11.00am Sunday 9.30pm Monday-Friday 6.00pm Saturday (Sunday Vigil ) Morning prayer 9.15am Monday-Friday 9.45am Saturday Contact [email protected] SUNDAY SERVICES in Ludlow
21 You can advertise in this listing for one year (12 issues) for just £30. With 600 copies circulating in Ludlow every month, free of charge, this is an ideal way of publicising your business, shop or service. We also accept advertising from clubs, societies and social groups - perfect for publicising your group’s activities and attracting new members. All entries must fit the standard 4-line box (approximately 40 words). To discuss details or to place an advertisement please contact the parish office on 01584 872073 or email [email protected]. LUDLOW LOCAL LISTING Ludlow Castle Gallery Quality affordable picture framing & original objects. Fast friendly service. Gifts & cards by local artisans. Find us just before the Castle Café or contact on 01584 878527 [email protected] www.ludlowcastlegallery.co.uk Artwork Books & Stationery Castle Bookshop 5 Castle Street Ludlow Booksellers and Stationers Free ordering service 01584 872562 [email protected] Myriad Organics 22 Corve Street 01584 879373 myriad-organics.co.uk Ludlow’s widest range of organic produce. Specialists in vegetarian, vegan & gluten-free food, natural bodycare & natural remedies. Waste-free shopping & refills for your cleaning products. We also offer a free local delivery service and organic box scheme. Paul’s Fresh Fish Ltd Home delivery of fresh and smoked fish from our family fishmongers based in Gloucestershire. Price list available. Tel: 07527 898767 or email [email protected] Food If you use the services of any of our advertisers please mention that you found their details in the Ludlow Tower.
22 Fitness and Sport Pearce Cycles Friendly, knowledgeable and experienced - your local bike shop for all your cycling needs. Fishmore Road, Ludlow, SY8 3DP. Tel. 01584 879288; [email protected]; www.pearcecycles.co.uk. Open Mon-Fri 9.00am to 5.30pm. Bike sales - repair - hire. Reynolds of Ludlow furniture Wanted by local collector and researcher; any condition considered; will collect. Good prices offered. Tel: 07967 134116. Wanted by collector Frames by Sebastian Bespoke picture framing 6a Pepper Lane Tel: 07815 111554 Picture Framing Matthew Lenthall IT Services Computers, phones and all things technical. Support and maintenance. 12a Corve Street, Ludlow 07828 081163 or 01584 877946 [email protected] IT Services Teme Valley Insurance Brokers For your Home, Car, Business or Farm quote Call Mark or Sue on 01584 290055 Insurance Services Acupuncture 07816 303742 Are you in pain, not sleeping, or anxious? Don’t ignore it, it can be relieved. Qualified insured therapist, Samuel Jones, offers remedial massages and acupuncture treatments for a variety of conditions. See www.massageludlow.co.uk for details. Medical services
23 Property services and maintenance James Mackenzie Carpentry & Joinery Reliable / High Quality Work. Building Services, Gosford Cottage, Little Hereford, Ludlow SY8 4AR Call 01584 711326 or 07870428948. Email [email protected] Carpentry Cleaning Hydroclean Services [email protected] Carpet & Upholstery cleaning : Leather cleaning : Hard floor cleaning and stone polishing : Gutter cleaning : Fully insured, fast response, reliable and local. Members of the National Carpet Cleaning Association. www.hydrocleanservices.co.uk 01568 630000 Paul’s Window & Gutter Cleaning Service We also clean fascias and soffits if required For a quote call 07891 862744 or email [email protected] Ken Dodd & Son Chimney Sweep Rotary sweep and vacuum-assisted. Cowls/bird guards supplied and fitted. Woodburners serviced and bricks supplied and fitted. Fully insured and certificates issued. Available for weddings. 01584 873178 • 07702 102044 www.kendoddandsonchimneysweep.co.uk Chimneys & Stoves M. Davies & Son, Property Maintenance Service Flooring, Glazed tiles, Painting, Decorating & General repairs. 5 Bitterley Close, Ludlow, SY8 1XP Call: 01584 873907 General Maintenance Steve Wilson Painting and Decorating Internal and external work carried out. Please telephone Steve on: 07818 400764 Email address: [email protected]
24 ADVERTISING RATES 2021-22 (for 12 issues) Full page - £280 Half page - £170 Quarter page - £90 Eighth page - £55 Classified - £30 Rates for part-year available on request See above for contact details. ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS, CLUB OR SOCIETY HERE Contact the Parish Office on 01584 872073 or [email protected] Send those special greetings to your loved one HERE for just £7.50. To book email Dan Pritchard Garden Services Fully insured - reliable - experienced - competitive. Lawn mowing / hedge cutting / tree surgery / pruning / turfing / planting / landscaping. Call Dan on 07779182636. Covers Ludlow and surrounding areas. Gardening Ian Mackay Quick response, local and reliable. No-obligation fixed quotes. Domestic installation and repairs. Landlord & homeowner safety inspections. Condition reports for house sales. Contact Ian Mackay on 07736 303297 or email [email protected] Electrical
25 Midweek Daily prayer Mondays 9.30am Tuesdays 9.30am Thursdays 9.30am Holy Communion Wednesdays 6.00pm Intercessory Prayers 10.30am Fourth Thursday in month Tower bells practice Mondays 7.30-9.00pm Handbells practice Tuesdays 6.00-7.15pm Choir practice Thursdays 6.00-8.30pm And at st JOHN’S Daily prayer Wednesdays 9.30am Fridays 9.30am Tea and toast Wednesdays 10.00am Holy Communion Wednesdays 11.30am FEBRUARY Wednesday 1 2.00pm Lucton Prep School Christingle Service Sunday 5 Choral Evensong 3.30pm Monday 6 3.00pm Open Tea Saturday 11 7.30pm Edge Choir Spring Concert - Earthwise Sunday 12 3.30pm The Living Room - informal service Sunday 19 Choral Matins 11.30am Celtic Prayer 6.00pm Wednesday 22 Ash Wednesday service 7.00pm Thursday 23 Monthly Intercessory Prayers 10.30am Sunday 26 Parish Eucharist 9.45am with baptism WHAT’S ON At st LAURENCE’S For the latest news go to https:// stlaurences.org.uk/google-calendar/ OPENING HOURS From Saturday18 February Shop at St Laurence 10am to 5pm Church 10am to 5pm Icon Coffee 10am to 4.30pm
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27 ludlow PALMERS The Conservation Trust for St Laurence Ludlow (Ludlow Palmers) are holding a Quiz Night on 1 March in the Ludlow Brewery with quiz master Jonathan Ormond. Everyone is welcome to join us for an evening of head-scratching and fun. Please book your place and order your supper in advance by contacting Lesley - 01584 318309 or [email protected]. On Thursday 13 April you are invited on a Monmouthshire Church Crawl. The itinerary, expertly planned by Andrew Pike, will take Palmers and friends first to Abergavenny. After a coffee stop we will visit the Priory Church of St Mary, with its huge 15th century wooden figure of Jesse, misericords and monuments. The next stop will be St Mary the Virgin, Llanfair Kilgeddin, famous for the Arts and Crafts-style sgraffito interior decoration. After lunch at the Castle Inn in Usk we will visit St Mary’s, the church of Usk Priory, which boasts fine perpendicular screens and an extraordinary organ, before moving on to Bettws Newydd church which has a spectacular rood screen, loft and tympanum, ‘probably the most complete rood arrangement remaining in any church in England or Wales’. Please register your interest in joining this trip as soon as possible so that we can book the coach and work out the cost. Contact Roy - 07967 134116 or [email protected]
28 Ludlow Curtain Company The Stables, Station Drive, Ludlow SY8 2PQ Tel 01584 875533 [email protected] Here for all your soft furnishing needs, from curtains and all types of blinds to cushions, upholstery and curtain poles. Fabrics now available on the roll. Garden maintenance Michael Doyle Plantsman Over 30 years’ experience 07855 930641 Skip Hire, Waste Management & Recycling Tenbury Wells, Ludlow, Leominster, Craven Arms and K & J Davies Gas Services NATURAL AND LPG GAS BOILERS & APPLIANCES SERVICED AND INSTALLED RADIATORS AND HEATING INSTALLATIONS AND SMALL PLUMBING WORK UNDERTAKEN 01547 528642 Victoria Allen Funeral Services An Independent Family Business Pre- Paid Funeral Plans Home Visits Always Available 24 Hour Service 01584 879035
29 Helping to save lives in ludlow This month we come to the third of the charitable projects being supported by St Laurence’s outward giving in 2022. One third of the sum allocated goes to an international charity (Cafod – see p 27, December Ludlow Tower) and one third to a national charity (Crisis – see p19, January Ludlow Tower). The remaining 40% is going to a local charity, LudlowDefib4You. Suggestions for an international, national or local charity to support in 2023 will be welcome please contact the Parish Office. LudlowDefib4You is a life-saving community scheme, set up in 2012 by local councillors. It purchases and maintains public access AED (automated external defibrillator) equipment in and around Ludlow, organises training and provides support and supervision of volunteers as well as raising funds. Combined with abnormality of the heart’s electrical rhythm called ventricular fibrillation which stops the heart beating and blood circulating available during opening hours, now located downstairs so as to be easily accessible to treat an unconscious person not breathing normally. This device is in fact the very first AED purchased by the West Midlands Ambulance Service in 2012 and originally sited outside Ludlow Assembly Rooms. Its battery is now coming to the end of its life so the funding from St Laurence will replace the current device with a new iPAD (not a tablet computer but an intelligent Public Access Defibrillator). Training is a major part of the work organised by LudlowDefib4You. Anyone can use a public access AED but with training they can be more confident in its use and know how to handle an emergency situation where it is needed. Thanks to generous donations and grants from Ludlow Hospital League of Friends, many local firms and grantgiving bodies, Ludlow has 12 AEDs, all registered on the National Defibrillator Network. On dialling 999 the caller is notified where the nearest AED is located. Our great band of volunteers regularly checks the AEDs and completes a status check on the Circuit. For more information please get in touch with LudlowDefib4You, especially if you are interested in joining Numbers Plus, the callout scheme or giving a hand in other practical ways. Penelope A Bridstrup 01584 876992 Mob: 07747025798 [email protected]
30 Teme Players Do you fancy acting? Would you like to join the Teme Players in an Evening of Satirical Comedy? No luvviedom, I promise! Ring: Ian Barge on 01584 877307. Open tea at st laurence First Monday in the month at 3pm. All welcome. Monday 6 February.
You might get a sound surprise; If you go down to the church Tuesday, There’s no need to be in disguise … because it’s not teddy bears picnicking in St Laurence on Tuesday mornings, but a recorder consort playing music in the Lady Chapel. We call ourselves ‘Licensed to Trill’, and are Andrew Body, John Burley, Andrea Weston and Colin Weston. The music we play ranges from Renaissance polyphony to the present day, and includes traditional songs and ragtime as well as ‘serious music’ Much of it was not written originally for recorders, but has been arranged for the four main members of the recorder family, which range from the high descant, through the treble and tenor, and down to the bass. Some of the arrangements are by our very own Andrew. Tuesday mornings are officially our time for rehearsing and building a repertoire, but really we’re there just because we love playing! You will be welcome to come and talk to us because we are very interruptible. In 2022 we played at the summer Christian Aid coffee morning, and we would have performed at the Festive Fair in November if Covid hadn’t struck 50% of us just at the wrong moment! Maybe this year … If you go down to the church Tuesday... Licensed to Trill with their recorders L to R: John Burley (bass), Andrew Body (tenor), Colin Weston (treble) and Andrea Weston (descant)
32 LUDLOW CAR SHARE Join at: http://www.co-wheels.org.uk/ shropshire Local contacts: 01584 875017 or 875501 Cut your travel costs and help beat climate change Our club is a community run, not-forprofit enterprise We operate low emission, automatic Toyota hybrid cars Book a car for as long as you need from 30 mins to several days Smart card technology - book online or by phone You pay only an hourly charge plus mileage We pay fuel, insurance, road tax and breakdown cover As a member you can book Co-wheels cars across the UK No age limit with valid licence – introductory teach-in if required Cars parked at Ludlow Foyer close to Train Station LOCAL MAN wishes to buy Antiques, Bric à brac, Collectables and Deceaseds’ Effects Please call 01584 892128 07508 809710 H S Builders EST. over 30 years All aspects of building works Renovations. Conversions. New builds Extensions. Brickwork. Groundworks [email protected] Tel: 07870 883413
33 West window Matthew, mark, luke and john The authors of the Gospels are called the four evangelists and, in order to tell them apart, each has been given his own special symbol. Matthew is usually shown with an angel, or winged man, while Mark has a winged lion, most famously seen in Venice where Mark is the patron saint. Luke’s attendant is a winged ox while John is usually shown with an eagle. There are excellent stone carvings of them on the reredos behind the high altar at St Laurence’s. John’s eagle is shown holding an inkhorn in its beak, helping John to write his gospel. St John is always easy to identify as he’s the only well-known saint without a beard. So where do these symbols come from? The answer is quite surprising. They have no historical connection to the individual evangelists at all, first appearing 600 years or so before Christ. In a vision the prophet Ezekiel saw four creatures with four faces. In chapter 1:10 he says As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Interestingly, the four creatures reappear in Revelation 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. In St Laurence’s, the four evangelists also appear in a window in the tower, easily seen from the nave. Here their symbols are shown separately, below them. Quite often the evangelists are just represented by their symbols, and they can be seen in this form at the top of the ‘Three Marys’ window in the south aisle, and surrounding Christ in glory in the west window. Hugh Wood Reredos - L to R Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Tower crossing window Three Marys window
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35 The Most Forgetful Man in England Revd George Harvest, Rector of Thames Ditton (1728-89) Immortalised was George, not as the Rector of Thames Ditton, But unrivalled undeniably as 'the most forgetful man in Britain'. Just how this reputation was assured may shake all your conviction, But rest assured, my friends, for fact indeed upstages fiction. Let's take our George's doomed attempts to find himself a wife, Comfort, companion, confidante to share his chequered life. Not once, but twice he paid the price for congenital amnesia By forgetting his own wedding – a fate not made any easier, Since his first fiancée, Louisa May, was the only darling daughter Of the Bishop of London, whose rage and wrath knew neither bounds nor quarter! So up in smoke went any hope of George's quick preferment, Or, as the bishop put it, ‘Harvest, this is your clerical interment!’ On the morning of his nuptials, our hero had set out On a fishing expedition, tempting gudgeon, tench or trout, Quite forgetting, so it seemed, a crucial prior arrangement Related to his bride-to-be's long-standing pre-engagement. A lesson learnt the painful way, it might well be assumed, But no! Dear George's marital hopes were finally entombed When a second luckless lady love, adorned in bridal halter, In Richmond church, left in the lurch, abandoned at the altar! Too drunk to ride to join his bride, alas, this Harvest Supper All nuptial hopes for hapless George did absolutely scupper. Time and space there is, I hope, for further evidence Of George's absent-minded aberrations from good sense. Thames Ditton was the sylvan scene, the time - one Sunday morn, As Harvest sauntered past his church, he said he could have sworn He heard a noise cacophonous within that sacred space, A sacrilegious Babel rout, devoid of reverence or grace. Quite unaware, of course, of the service he was down to have taken, The Rector drew his musket to confront the God-forsaken, Only to find a restive and rebellious congregation, Who sang a ‘Song of Harvest Home’ with shouts of acclamation! Ian Barge I am greatly indebted to Fergus Butler--Gallie for his delightful book ‘A Field Guide to the English Clergy’.
36 Old Parish Life: a guide for the curious 626 pages; £20; Bunbury Press From Mediaeval to Victorian times English parish churches were at the centre of life in every community. The churches bound the people together and guided individuals from baptism to burial. This book is a fascinating, unexpected book about the life of the churches, but from an unusual source --- – the records of the parish churchwardens over the centuries. The book looks at every aspect of the upkeep of the buildings – rather than the structures themselves -– from candle sticks and altar cloths to bells and masonry. The editors have included sections specifically looking at the impact that major historical events – the Reformation, Civil War and the Plague – had on the life of the communities. The records are very factual – so, no opinions – leaving the readers to form their own views. The book covers English parishes from Cornwall to Northumberland and (as you might expect) there are a lot of Ludlow references. In 1541, two men were paid 16d for two days’ work ‘for soping of the walls of the church’. Whereas in 1624, in Leominster, a Thomas Howton was paid 3s 4d to sweep away the spiders … Back in Ludlow in 1573, it cost 7s ‘for mending the glass in St Johns chauncell being broken by a lunatik’ (some things don’t change …). In 1607, 9s was paid for a long ladder, and it cost 1s 10d to pay eight men to carry it from Corve Street. Did you know that in the 16th century dogs (and animals generally) were not wanted in or near churches so whippers were employed to keep dogs out of the church. Ludlow’s records tell of purchasing a whip for 1d, but 4d was paid to add two bells to said whip to alert the dogs and stop them approaching. Now of course the jar of gravy bones attracts dogs and their owners. There is mention of payments for bell ringers ringing for a new priest and ‘a pint of gooseliker’ being used to lubricate the bells. In 1609, 4d was paid to gather horse dung, and in 1662, 2d was the fee for pulling up nettles. Our ancestors walked and talked, prayed and misbehaved, all over the country and it’s all here. This is a book to dip into again and again, and even to take when you are travelling around England and look at before visiting parish churches around the country. Mima Lord Ed’s note: Copies of this book are available in the Shop at St Laurence.
37 Time to amass the candles Candles feature in worship and celebrations in many religions. At Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Light, candles are lit in front of statues of the Buddha to represent the light of his teachings. The Jewish Menorah features seven lights, each representing a branch of human knowledge. On 2 February Christians celebrate Candlemas, the day 40 days after His birth when Mary presented Jesus to God at the temple, and traditionally the end of the Christmas season. Jesus is known as the Light of the World so over time it became customary for the Church to bless at Candlemas candles used in ceremonies and services throughout the year. Candles have been used for millennia, possibly by the ancient Egyptians using reeds dipped in fat. Certainly there is evidence that the Romans used wickcentred candles in 500BC and they also gave us the name - candela in Latin means torch. Candles may look simple but they are remarkably ingenious. Set fire to the wick and heat travels down to the wax beneath, which has a low melting point so it instantly turns into a hot liquid and vaporises, funnelling up around the wick, the vapour catches light and burns sending a flame high above the wick. Candles have been made from all sorts of materials: beeswax (favoured by the elite), tallow (smelly animal fat), spermaceti (from whales), yak butter (in Tibet), paraffin and (more popular) plant wax (soya). Modern candles are often scented, to provide not only a pleasant aroma but also ambience and in some cases a feeling of wellbeing from their essential oils. The Shop at St Laurence has a vast selection, from standard ‘dinner’ candles in very bright, far from standard colours to small beeswax candles designed to provide twenty minutes of peaceful reflection, with scented options as well. Beefayre scented candles are made with 100% plant wax. The large candle has a fifty-hour burn and the company is committed to giving a percentage of profits to bee conservation and research. Cotton & Grey have designed delightful small boxes of 100% beeswax mini candles with a small ceramic stand, intended to give twenty minutes of calm – specifically packaged to work as an alternative to a greeting card for friends and family. So, amass those candles and create an atmosphere of calm and reverence. The Shop at St Laurence Mobile: 07833 866485 www.theshopatstlaurence.co.uk
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Fairtrade Fortnight runs from 27 February to 12 March 2023. This year's theme is a simple but urgent plea: choose Fairtrade now and help save our favourite foods. Climate change means that many of the commodities we take for granted, such as bananas, cocoa and coffee, could be harder to grow. Combined with deeply unfair trade, the communities growing these crops will be pushed to the brink. This makes Fairtrade even more vital – for all of us. As always, we need your support to protect these communities from climate change and unfair trade. Keep an eye out for local events taking place during Fairtrade Fortnight, and in the meantime for more information visit https://www.fairtrade.org.uk Save your favourite foods Do you ever… ask yourself ‘is this really prayer?’ want to explore ways of praying feel ‘I’d like to draw closer to God’ wonder ‘how can my prayer be more real?’ long for a deeper personal relationship with God? wonder about the connection between faith and daily life? sometimes find it difficult to pray? A Week of Accompanied Prayer is an opportunity to explore these things… by giving time to pray by giving time to talk about your prayer time with someone who listens and helps you recognise how God is with you through different ways of praying using Scripture, and life experience A WEEK OF ACCOMPANIED PRAYER Closing date for booking: 12 February If you have any questions contact Pat Helm [email protected]
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41 This month’s letter from Uncle Eustace may strike a chord with some at St Laurence’s ... The Rectory St James the Least My dear Nephew Darren Winter certainly exposes the difference between those of you who live in cities and us rural folk. While you bask in your centrally-heated flat, with every modern convenience complaining about the half inch of slush that makes your life so inconvenient, we country folk wear overcoats in our houses, open all doors and windows to let the heat in and battle through snow drifts, measured in feet, to get the morning paper. Colonel Wainwright has acquired a new toy: a snow blower, of sufficient power that I believe it could clear the Antarctic. He kindly volunteered to clear the paths around the church. Working outwards from the church door, the path to the church soon became snow-free. Sadly, he only realised as he finished that the blown snow then formed a five-foot drift under the lychgate. We now have to climb over the churchyard wall and negotiate buried gravestones before we can reach his pristine paths. Miss Margison, ever helpful, decided to unfreeze the pipes in the church hall. A blow torch was not the ideal solution, although the resulting burst did make some attractive ice sculptures round the kitchen equipment. The badminton players who use the hall have changed sport, temporarily, to ice hockey. Inevitably, our congregation has soared these past few weeks. There is nothing like adversity for making people want to prove they have the moral fibre to overcome it. Much satisfaction seems to be obtained on discovering who has not dared venture out, which is taken as judgement on their strength of character. The Prentices upstaged most people by arriving on a sleigh. Mr Prentice was warmly wrapped in a travelling rug, while his wife pulled it. As her husband explained, he couldn’t possibly let the pony work in such conditions. What I momentarily thought was applause during my sermon was merely people keeping their hands warm and the hymns were drowned out by the stamping of feet. Our organist complained that the cold made his fingers so numb that he couldn’t play properly – although I didn’t notice that things were much different from normal. No, my dear nephew, you continue to fret about your church heating dropping to temperate, and a few flakes of wet snow obliging you to close your carpark for health and safety reasons. We shall continue to triumph heroically over adversity and return home after Matins, feeling we have proved our Christian commitment by being utterly uncomfortable. Your loving uncle, Eustace On why rural churchgoers like to freeze in church
42 Ludlow St Laurence Parish Office 01584 872073 Office Administrator Nicky Luck Finance Manager Peter Nield Gift Aid Secretary Michael Hunt Director of Music Michael Oakley Custodian Matthew Lenthall Conservation Trust Chair Ian Marshall PCC Churchwardens Dick Franks 892019 Lesley Harling 318309 Assistant Churchwarden Michael Davies 07970 434822 Electoral Roll Officer Dick Franks 892019 Safeguarding Officer Dick Franks 892019 PCC Minutes Secretary Jacs Higgs 872073 Bible Reading Penelope Bridstrup 876992 Fellowship Flowers Sue Thornley 872292 Monthly Prayer Group Sandi Burley 873155 Tower Captain Richard Bracher 811514 Ludlow Tower editor Lesley Harling 318309 Find this and previous issues of the Ludlow Tower on line at www.stlaurences.org.uk Ludlow St John Parish Office Nicky Luck 872073 Churchwardens Mike Beazley 873570 Treasurer Mike Beazley 873570 PCC Secretary Mike Beazley 873570 Electoral Roll Sue Thomas 0792990671 Ashfords Benefice Rector Revd Lynn Money Parish Office Sarah Davies 01584 319381 Bromfield Benefice Rector Revd Justin Parker Parish Office Martin Scott 07493 247184 COPY DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE TUESDAY 31 JANUARY There is no guarantee that material submitted will be included. Please send articles by email to [email protected] We are happy to receive contributions and suggestions for inclusion in the magazine. Please limit items to no more than 400 words, except by prior agreement with the editor. Parish of Ludlow Saint Laurence Registered Charity No 1132703 PARISH DIRECTORy Ludlow St Laurence Parish Office, 2 College Street, Ludlow, Shropshire. SY8 1AN Telephone: 01584 872073 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.stlaurences.org.uk The office is open to the public on Tuesdays between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm. Rector Revd Kelvin Price (available Sunday-Friday) 07799 243867 Curate Revd Lawrence Gittins (available Sunday-Friday) 07786 625565 Pioneer Curate & Intergenerational Missioner Revd Wayne Davies 07545 438892
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