Ludlow Tower March 2021

2

CONTENTS

March often feels like a positive, Make the most of Lent 5
optimistic month when we finally start 7
putting winter behind us and look Looking forward to saying yes 9
towards lighter evenings, rising
temperatures, spring flowers and the Introducing - Victoria, Jo and 9
joy of Easter, the first big religious, and Graham
secular, holiday of the year. This year 11
the Covid-19 lockdown made February Eco Church award for Hereford
seem even more drab and tedious than Cathedral 13
usual, and tougher for some of our least 13
widely acknowledged front line workers Money, Money, Money - Parish
(p7). One of the few features of Giving Scheme 13
February is Shrove Tuesday, ushering in 15
Lent, a season normally associated with PCC meeting summary - January 16
abstinence and self-denial. 17
A Field Guide to the English 21
Now, with the vaccination programme Clergy - a review
in full swing and the promise of a road 23
map to recovery, we are trying to look From the registers
on the bright side. Archdeacon Derek 25
Chedzey urges us (p5) to put Lent to The last Rector of Warleggan
positive use. We are assured that, at 27
the end of it, we will be able to hold Sunday services in Ludlow 27
Easter services and are hopeful that 29
other aspects of life will be closer to Ludlow local listing - small ads
normal. For now we keep smiling with 31
one of the more eccentric members of What’s on at St Laurence’s in
the clergy (p15) and take advice from March 33
Uncle Eustace on how to get the best 34
from your staff appraisal. (p31). Wear your daffodil and unite in
memory
Lesley Harling (Editor) 01584 318309
Education, Education, Education -
This month’s cover: Christian Aid

Photograph: Richard Orttewell Notes from St John’s
Snowdrops
The Shop at St Laurence’s
Graphic design: Nicky Luck
[email protected] A challenge for Fairtrade
Fortnight
Printing : ABC Print Group
Moreton-on-Lugg, Herefordshire Uncle Eustace - How to deflect
those staff appraisals

Children’s page

Parish directory & copy deadline

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.

3

4

MAKE THE MOST OF LENT

As I write this we are approaching the such
start of Lent. Easter this year falls very branches are
early and it feels like only yesterday that picked up,
we finished celebrating Christmas. One thrown into
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is the fire and
that time can feel somewhat stuck. It burned. If
reminds me of the film ‘Groundhog Day’ you remain
where the main character is trapped in a in me and my words remain in you, ask
world where he simply repeats February whatever you wish, and it will be done
2nd over and over again! If we are not for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that
careful our spiritual lives can get stuck you bear much fruit, showing yourselves
too; with little opportunity to worship to be my disciples.’ (John 15 5-8)
together in church and limited social
interaction, we can very easily become To be effective disciples, we need our
dislocated from our faith and each other lives to be rooted in Jesus. We have to
learn not just to listen to Jesus’ words
Lent traditionally has been seen as a but to live them out. I think one of the
time of self-examination, self-discipline reasons many of us find the pandemic
and fasting, taking its form from the 40 restrictions so hard is that the Christian
days Jesus spent in the wilderness faith is primarily lived out in the
following his baptism. It also marked the community and is not a solitary or
traditional beginning of Spring; the word individual activity.
Lent is based on the old English word
for ‘spring season’. As part of that To make the most of Lent we need, as a
preparation and self-denial, we have church, to rediscover a communal faith
traditions of giving up things and of which looks outwards; to put our faith
abstinence. More recently we have been not in an institution called ‘church’ but in
encouraged, to take up something of the person of Jesus who longs to change
spiritual benefit to ourselves or general us into the people God created us to
benefit to others instead. We have be.
perhaps lost sight of Lent as a season of
spiritual generosity and almsgiving. However you use these coming weeks,
why not discipline yourself to spend a
This Lent is a prime opportunity to set few minutes each day to reflect on your
time aside to realign our spiritual lives. spiritual journey and your relationship
In his Gospel John gives us a wonderful with God, to offer yourself to Him that
picture of the vine and its branches. we might become more like Him? As
Jesus says to his disciples:‘I am the vine; CS Lewis said:
you are the branches. If you remain in
me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; ‘We must lay before Him what is in
apart from me, you can do nothing. If us, not what ought to be in us.’
you do not remain in me, you are like a Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer
branch that is thrown away and withers;
Derek Chedzey Archdeacon of Hereford

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6

LOOKING FORWARD TO SAYING ‘YES’

We have heard and read a lot in the last adapted brilliantly and it's all working so
year about front-line workers and well. And while fewer mourners can
expressed our appreciation for the many attend in person, many people are
ways they have helped us through the opting to use the online facilities offered
pandemic – NHS staff, supermarket by all crematoria and some churches,
checkout staff, teachers, bus drivers, allowing people to attend virtually from
delivery people, foodbank volunteers. anywhere in the world.
One group of front-line workers has
been missing from most of such lists – But the biggest change, and the hardest
funeral directors and crematorium part, is trying to provide our normal
workers. And this despite the daily friendly, personal service under these
reporting of the heart-breaking number restrictions, having to say ‘No’ when we
of deaths due to coronavirus. always aim to give people whatever they
want for the funeral of their loved one.
We spoke to Victoria
and Jo from a local When do you have to
funeral service to find say ‘No’?
out how Covid-19 has
affected them and their Sadly, at present we're
work. unable to invite families
to come and say their
Has your work load final goodbyes in our
increased? Chapel of Rest but
people are very understanding and we
Oddly we’re handling only slightly more hope to be able to offer this again soon.
funerals than normal at this time of year. We're also doing much of the arranging
Local Covid-19 levels are low and there by phone and email to keep everyone
is much less seasonal flu. But we are safe and we really miss the special
having to do things rather differently. connection you make with families by
actually spending time with them. All of
So what has changed? this applies in every case; we treat all
deaths the same, whether or not they
We have reduced the number of staff, are Covid-related, to avoid any stigma.
who now work in ‘bubbles’, introduced a
strict sanitising regime for staff, premises The real ‘job satisfaction’ for a funeral
and vehicles and even bought a special director is being able to help and
power pack so that we can provide support people at a very difficult time -
music outdoors and in all weathers. it’s so frustrating not to be able to give
Services are shorter and simpler with people a hug, to hold a hand, perhaps
numbers restricted by the two-metre share a joke to help them relax. It's
social distancing requirement . amazing how much communication
takes place non-verbally and masks are
Are there any bright sides? something of a barrier. We look forward
to the day we can look people in the
One positive developments is a much face properly – and say ‘Yes’.
more efficient process for registering
deaths. All the agencies involved have

7

8

(continued from p7)

So what brought you all to the job Jo: I came to funeral services after 25

in the first place? years in marketing, in the travel industry.

Victoria: It was what I always wanted It was a lovely life and I got to travel the
world but I was ready for a change.
to do. My grandfather was a funeral Moving to the area from Leicestershire, I
initially took an administrative job in a
director in Kidderminster and I can (different) funeral home before moving
to Victoria's business. I just love it
remember playing among the coffins, because it was all about helping people.

aged four or five. When I left school I I am trained in
counselling and am
was told firmly that it wasn’t a suitable
a Grief Recovery
job for a girl so I did Specialist. Being a
co-founder of the
an English degree Good Grief Cafe in
and spent some Ludlow has been
Bradley, Victoria Allen especially rewarding.
time as a chairside
chiropody assistant.

Eventually I did start

training with a local

funeral business and L to R: Jo Shield, Graham
14 years ago I set up

on my own. As the business has grown, Graham: our third qualified funeral

I've enjoyed training and developing director is a retired fireman, formerly

other members of the team to share the Ludlow’s chief fire officer, and a retired
workload. We've now got three fully JP who has also worked as a hospital

qualified funeral directors - myself, porter and had years of experience with

Graham and Jo - and a fantastic team of another funeral service business before

operatives, ushers and bearers. joining Victoria Allen.

Conservation charity A Rocha UK has The Cathedral, one of over 3000
announced that Hereford Cathedral is churches to register for Eco Church,
the recipient of its Eco Church scheme’s shares eco-lifestyle tips during school
1,000th award for creation care. visits and in its weekly church notices,
including suggestions on personal
“Hereford Cathedral demonstrates that consumption and carbon footprint
even historical buildings can make great reduction. They have altered the heating
progress towards being more and lighting across the church buildings
sustainable. The Cathedral land includes to improve efficiency and are actively
both gardens within the cathedral researching how best to install water
complex and some farms in the local harvesting systems in the future.
area which are managed in a sustainable
way.” This is a critical year for the climate,
ahead of the UN COP26 climate
negotiations scheduled to take place in
Glasgow in November

9

LUDLOW CAR CLUB

SAFE AFFORDABLE
TRAVEL

Our club is a community run,
not-for-profit enterprise
We operate low emission Toyota
hybrid cars
Cars cleaned regularly using a
powerful anti-bacterial product
Hire a car for as long as you need
from 30 mins to several days
Personal or business use
Smart card technology - book
online or by phone
You pay only an hourly charge
plus mileage
Rates include fuel, insurance, road
tax and breakdown cover
Students, under 21s and older
drivers welcome

Join at:
http://www.co-wheels.org.uk/shropshire

Local contacts: 01584 875017
or 01584 875501

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MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

It is a sad fact that the PCC has to • Donations are collected on the 1st of
spend quite a lot of its time thinking
about money, when it would much the month and passed back to the
rather focus on mission and ministry. As named parish by the 10th of the
custodians of a Major Church with a month
rich history and Grade 1 listed status
but no financial endowments we have • Any eligible Gift Aid goes straight to
always been immensely grateful for the
generosity of regular donors, and never the parish as soon as it comes back
more than in the past year when many from HMRC
of our other sources of income (visitors,
shop sales, concerts, special services) • Donors have the option to increase
have dried up.
Encouraged by the positive experience their gift annually in line with
reported by individual parishes across inflation (currently the RPI)
the country the PCC has decided that
St Laurence’s should join the Parish • Donors have the option to be
Giving Scheme (PGS) and will be
launching it later this year. anonymous to the parish

What is PGS? What are the advantages of PGS
to St Laurence’s as a parish and to
• a Direct Debit system supported you as a donor?

and financed by most UK Dioceses • Existing donors signing up to PGS

• a professional and effective donation have a good opportunity to review
their giving
management system to help parishes
fund their mission and ministry • Regular gifts can be made inflation-
How does it work?
proof, thus avoiding static giving
• Donors sign up to make payments
• Non-regular church attendees and
by direct debit monthly, quarterly or
annually others wishing to support the
church via a national well-regulated
• Each donation is restricted to a administration can participate

parish church chosen by the donor • PGS is a free service designed to

reduce the administrative burden of
processing donations and Gift Aid
freeing up the Parish to focus on
other important priorities

The PCC is aiming to help all those
already making stewardship donations
to transfer to PGS by late spring/early
summer.

Look out for more information in the
next issue of the Ludlow Tower and in
the weekly notices. If you would like to
know more now, give Richard Wilkins a
call on 01584 318163.

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Alexandra House
Diamond Life Healthcare

Fully trained carers provide high-quality
personalised care

We can now provide
24-hour Live-in Care

Domestic Care
Garden Care and Handyman services

We are always looking for reliable caring staff
Please ring and speak to our friendly team
01584 872233

12

PCC meeting Field Guide to the

25 JANUARY 2020 English Clergy

Summary of main points A Compendium of
Diverse Eccentrics,
10 members of the PCC attended. Prelates, Pirates and
Adventurers
 Resolutions: to adopt two-phase
programme to repair and re-instate By The Revd Fergus
St Leonard’s churchyard (Clive) arch Butler-Gallie
and to withdraw appeal against DAC Oneworld Publications,
requirement for full re-instatement; ISBN 9781786074416
to authorise conveyance of Linney
Gate; to grant Ludlow Town Council On the evidence of this irresistible
licence to install data relay book, C of E might well stand for
equipment on church tower Convocation of Eccentrics. In an age of
more disciplined uniformity, rigorous
 Policies: Health & Safety reviewed episcopal oversight, not to mention
and updated safeguarding, there is perhaps less scope
for the various manifestations of
 Discussions: offer of St Laurence’s outrageous individualism celebrated in
as vaccination hub if required; these pages. The teaching profession
revived pastoral calling system; has similarly been purged of its
proposal to move defibrillator from memorable mavericks. It is a beautifully
Church Inn to church (rejected;) written, meticulously researched
appreciation for Life & Learning @ bedside gem, the perfect antidote to
Ludlow lecture programme and Brexit Blues or Covid Gloomsterism.
support for committee’s decision on Fact truly is stranger and more
future (suspend or wind up); use of entertaining than fiction.
north west corner as mission space
Ian Barge
 Date of next meeting: Monday 22
March 2021 Ed: Turn to p15 for a taster to whet your
appetites in what we hope will become an
A copy of the two latest sets of occasional series.
confirmed PCC minutes is available on
the noticeboard in church. All previous FROM THE
minutes can be viewed in the church
office, by arrangement REGISTERS

BAPTISM
24 January Billy James Thomas

13

Expensive Mistakes

Nestled in the heart of Ludlow,
specialising in selling pre-loved,

top-name designer and
superior high street fashion at

affordable prices.
11 Market Street, Ludlow SY8 1BP

tel:
01584 877911

14

The rector of warleggan

The Revd Frederick Densham (1870– vicars – a collection he liked to call his

1953) took up the living of Warleggan, a ‘congregation of ghosts’. After the

tiny windswept hamlet of 168 souls on service each week, he would dutifully fill

the edge of Bodmin Moor in 1931. His in the attendance register, often adding

first ‘improvements’ project was to paint little comments. One such annotation

the ancient interior of St Bartholomew's reads: Sunday – no wind, no rain, no fog,

church, largely untouched since the no congregation. The lack of

Reformation, in garish primary colours congregants was unsurprising given that

(an act later painstakingly reversed by he spent much of his time installing
order of the Bishop). Other projects increasingly elaborate locking

included the total abolition of the mechanisms on the church doors.

hDopteTwhSefpbccPdooahohuxkoeereliffnhreaseeoeunnpnpempsehnrnpwfrdeeegeuoosaosrcmisorrocfalnnherriuheaettmyttfurggeiaahorrtwsgtiaslacmaSomdwyadlatanomahidlc’tgnivsaronihaefipleapeso(osdirgnodovmvnurmsdtnneowiies,tandnoennaungoeangcmecdiglypg‘stneatcahasahritintmatcoktntcsaohnilahnhoee.neinaedvidrbaraitgdnglemimoytesaghaastldijniwinueitdhunnwussidsigaeansghtgsse.hhittsemabnr‘,tteamtiouhgie,nf.gresehnatnfhebatebctfloereo.udRmcehvehddeFlrilet’)d, erickhtchmtDohhoiseeinussndpipnsgpiihkichlteaoaatromltlc,.sfs.ef,Wuti‘ilThvlpioaeenprmdglvlipfIitiDWtcaaLieeirnmnoettihclnougasnohmnasuraawgraanfyriocarectrrtidarogevsowacniaeim,CneinDgihassengDdwn!ahtgtnaiosse!ewecof,’ters'iafhr)tetnnwC-neoiihGn.hnbfnedsddoeouisioeiwlhtcIotsuroehncnonotvhhahsesoShoazldtemy.ttrremeaabuhnhonrbeitctnHtnalveiatfhsdaamhoinherbgmtApeerelkehyndrietablossbelldetadivadcsecue.nnerpr.agiaethdWpcisdgsbtte.emuta-epeiusfaawar(roitle,tnnliJtacleuriohegsghrlssd.ediest,

Densham would hold services at of Vaseline. Alas, the Luftwaffe lost its

deliberately difficult times in order to nerve and bypassed Warleggan.

attend the village's Methodist chapel as a He told a journalist in 1952 that he had
member of the congregation. The good no intention of giving up ‘as they all
people of Warleggan, steeped in high come back to me in the end; I take all
church tradition, refused to attend He the funerals!’ He died a few months
paid no attention, instead replacing his later.
absent parishioners with cards on which
he had written the names of former Ian Barge with manifold
acknowledgements to Rev Butler-Gallie)

15

SUNDAY SERVICES in Ludlow

Arrangements for all activities in St Laurence’s including services, are subject to
change, depending on the latest government regulations, CofE guidance and PCC risk
assessments.

We continues to hold only one public service a week at 10am on Sundays. This
service is normally be live-streamed for those who do not wish to attend in person.
You will find details of how to access the livestream and updates on services as
circumstances change on the website: www.stlaurences.org.uk

St Laurence, College Street 10.30am Sunday worship service
on Zoom or in church by
Every Sunday reservation only if permitted
10.00am Parish Eucharist
Attend in person or via live-stream Contact
Contact [email protected]
[email protected]
01584 872073 Living Waters

St John, Gravel Hill Sunday services on Zoom
for members only
Every Sunday
10.00-12.00 Open for private prayer Contact [email protected]

For information on any services which Ludlow Methodist Church
may be held.
Contact 10.30am Sunday worship
[email protected] live on Zoom - follow link
07786 625565
Ludlow Baptist Church https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83675471538
or by telephone dial 0203 481 5237 and
enter ID - 836 7547 1538

Contact
[email protected]

Many of us will unable to spend time God could not be everywhere, so he made
with our mothers on Mothering Sunday mothers.
this year(14 March) but we can still
think of them. Here we share some Life doesn’t come with a manual - it comes
anonymous thoughts about mothers. with a mother.

A mother understands what a child doesn’t
say.

Mothers are like buttons - they hold
everything together.

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LUDLOW LOCAL LISTING

You can advertise in this listing for one We also accept advertising from clubs,
year (12 issues) for just £30. societies and social groups - perfect for
publicising your group’s activities and
With 600 copies circulating in Ludlow attracting new members.
every month, free of charge, this is an
ideal way of publicising your business, All entries must fit the standard 4-line
shop or service. box (approximately 40 words).

To discuss details or to place an advertisement please contact the parish office on
01584 872073 or email [email protected].

Artwork

Ludlow Castle Gallery

Quality affordable picture framing & original objects. Fast friendly service. Gifts & cards
by local artisans. Find us in the Castle, just before the tea rooms or contact on

01584 878527 [email protected] www.ludlowcastlegallery.co.uk

Alterations

Marie’s Alterations Repairs & Haberdashery

Friendly & experienced staff always willing to help. Coffee Shop Upstairs with locally
sourced cakes and artisan coffee in a unique setting. Please call in or contact us on:

01584 318185 [email protected] The Stables, Station Dr Ludlow

Books & Stationery

Castle Bookshop

5 Castle Street Ludlow
Booksellers and Stationers
Free ordering service 01584 872562

Fitness and Sport

Ludlow Runners www.ludlowrunners.org

A small friendly running club catering for all running abilities; meets every Thursday at 7pm
at Ludlow Leisure Centre; regular ‘Walk to Run’ courses; respected races; teams in county

Cross Country leagues; new and visiting runners always welcome; regular social events.

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.

17

Floral services

Twigs

Flowers and gifts for all occasions
4 Old Street, Ludlow Call in or telephone 07522139928

Local home consultation also available

Property services and maintenance

Carpentry

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]

Chimneys & Stoves

Smokerite Chimney Service

For all your chim’needs.
Call Jerry Street 07968 282078 or Jorden Street 07920 832164
Email: [email protected]. Website: www.smokerite.co.uk

Ludlow Stoves www.ludlowstoves.co.uk 01584 878552

Showroom with over 50 stoves & cookers, fireplaces, flue systems, electric & gas stoves.
Boilers, biomass & full central heating systems installed. Chimney sweeps. Stove mainten-

ance. Fully insured inhouse local engineers, reliable. Hetas & Gas Safe registered.

Cleaning

Hydroclean Services
Carpet & Upholstery cleaning : Leather cleaning : Hard floor cleaning and stone polishing :
Gutter cleaning : Fully insured, fast response, reliable and local. Members of the National

Electrical

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]

Gardening

Dan Pritchard Garden Maintenance
Fully insured - reliable - experienced - competitive. Lawn mowing / hedge cutting / tree
surgery / pruning / turfing / planting / landscaping. Call Dan on 07779182636. Covers
Ludlow and surrounding areas.

18

IT Services

Matthew Lenthall IT Services
Computers, phones and all things technical. Support and maintenance.
12a Corve Street, Ludlow 07828 081163 or 01584 877946
[email protected]

Medical 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.

Organic food

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.

Picture Framing

Frames by Sebastian

Bespoke picture framing
6a Pepper Lane

Tel: 07815 111554

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS, CLUB OR SOCIETY
HERE

Contact the Parish Office on 01584 872073 or
[email protected]

ADVERTISING RATES 2020-21 (for 12 issues)

Full page - £280 Quarter page - £90

Half page - £170 Eighth page - £55

Classified - £30

Rates for part-year available on request

See above for contact details.

19

20

WHAT’S ON at st Laurence’s IN MARCH

All events are subject to Covid-19 Notable dates in March
regulations. If there is no further
tightening, or loosening, of restrictions 1 March St David’s Day
arrangements for church opening will 14 March Mothering Sunday
continue as below. 17 March St Patrick’s Day
25 March Lady Day - The Annunciation
Please check the website https:// 27 March Palm Sunday
stlaurences.org.uk for the latest 28 March British Summer Time begins
news.

Every day Open for private prayer

Sun, Mon,Wed, Fri 11am-1pm

Tue,Thur, Sat 1pm - 3pm

Sundays Parish Eucharist 10am

Also available to view as a livestream
or a recording on YouTube - go to
https://stlaurences.org.uk/livestream
for the link.

Celtic Prayer Easter Services

An Evening Liturgy The Church of England has confirmed
that we will be able to hold all our
Sunday 21 March at 6pm on normal services for Easter, although
Zoom there will have to be a number of
changes.
A simple service in a style
used by the Iona Community Final decisions will not be made until the
government has announced details of
To join the service go to the the road map for easing coronavirus
Services page on the website restrictions. So look out in the next
https://stlaurences.org.uk/ issue of the Ludlow Tower or visit

Call Pat Helm 01584 877683
for more information

www.stlaurences.org.uk
21

RIBA

Trevor Hewett

A R C H IT E CT

▪ 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

3 Parkway, Off Corve Street, Ludlow,
Sy8 2PG

22

Wear your daffodil and
unite in memory

Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end-of-life This year will be
care charity will this year celebrate their even more special
35th annual Great Daffodil Appeal, which as the charity
is held every March across the UK. The encourages the
money raised from this appeal enables nation to come
the charity to continue their vital work together to reflect,
providing care and support to people grieve and remember for a National Day
living with a terminal illness and their of Reflection. Tuesday 23 March 2021
families. will mark one year since the UK first
went into a nationwide lockdown and
The coronavirus continues to have a Marie Curie is inviting the nation to
devastating effect on Marie Curie’s unite and remember those who died
fundraising, as activities up and down the and show support and solidarity for
country have had to be cancelled. those who have been bereaved. The
However, there are still lots of ways charity knows how important it is for
people can get involved, with things like people to grieve and the emotional and
the Step into Spring Challenge in March psychological impact of not being able to
where people walk 10,000 steps a day, say goodbye properly and grieving in
they can host a virtual collection or buy isolation can have.
and wear one of the charity’s iconic
daffodils in memory of a loved one. Due to the pandemic, Marie Curie won’t
have their normal collections on the
street, so donations are more important
than ever. To support the Great Daffodil
Appeal, you can donate at

www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil

or you can buy your daffodil pin in store
at a number of high street stores
including Superdrug and Spar.

A German Shepherd, a Doberman and a cat had died and gone to Heaven where
they are faced with God, who wants to know what they believe. The German
Shepherd says,‘I believe in discipline, training and loyalty to my master’. God says,
“Good, sit down at my right hand side.’ Then God asks the Doberman what he
believes in. The Doberman says,‘I believe in the love and care and protection of my
master.’ ‘Ah,’ says God,‘you may sit at my left hand side.’ Then God looks at the cat
and says,‘And what do you believe in?’ The cat answers,‘I believe you are sitting in

my chair’.

23

24

EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION

During the parliamentary debate on the Girls from disadvantaged families were
proposed cut in overseas aid (see Janu- missing significant spells of education,
ary Ludlow Tower p23) Andrew Mitch- whether through poverty or prejudice.
ell MP, speaking against the cuts, con- The pandemic has created even more
tended that it would mean 7 million barriers to education. As many as 1.6
women losing access to family planning billion children around the world are
and contraception, 100,000 children dy- estimated to have faced school closure
ing from preventable diseases and prob- - a staggering number.
ably a million girls unable to go to
school. Yet improving girls' education
worldwide is acknowledged as the best
Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants way to lift communities out of poverty.
global education to be a key theme of The benefits are enormous: children
COP26, the 26th UN Climate Change whose mothers can read are 50% more
Conference taking place in November likely to survive their first 5 years, and
2012 in Glasgow. Education can change twice as likely to attend school
the futures of communities, as well as themselves; every extra year a woman
individuals. spends in school increases her earnings
by up to a fifth. Girls are the key to
Lent lunches improving the health, wealth and
are cancelled security of the poorest countries.
again this year.
If the threatened cuts in overseas aid go
St Laurence’s ahead the aid charities will be there to
was due to do their best to close some of the gaps.
host the lunch on Friday 5 March so we Even if they are cancelled we must
are holding a retiring collection on work hard to make further progress.
Sunday 7 March, hoping to raise as The future is as challenging as ever.
much as we would have given at the
Lent lunch. Claire Wilcox (01584 877199)

Please come to the service prepared to
make your donation on that day, or on
14 March. If you cannot be in church
please put by your donation to give to
me later, or add it to your Christian Aid
Week donation, or give me a cheque
(to ‘Christian Aid’) or give directly via
the website. Let us be grateful for all
we have, delight in giving and remember
in our prayers the efforts of all
development workers.

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Proud to have built The Shop at St Laurence’s

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from st john’s March is the month when spring arrives,
Easter is on the way and the days are
With Covid rules only allowing one lengthening - all great news and signs of
benefice church to run any services an slow, but inexorable, change in our
during this lock-down period, St John’s lives, though all we really want to know
has only been able to open on Sunday is when can we reopen. The answer
mornings for private prayer. We are seems to be ‘no time soon’ although
grateful to Mike Beazley for opening the there is talk of Easter.
church on these mornings to enable For now we can only encourage you to
access for members to enter the browse our selection of goodies online,
building for personal worship in their call us for any help and remember that
familiar sacred house. all purchases do benefit St Laurence’s.

On Sunday 7 With spring in the air and wondrous
February, after hopeful, spring flowers appearing what
approaching the main could be more agreeable than a simple
door by way of the vase with a posy of such blooms? We
new tarmac path, have various styles and sizes of vases
smooth, safe and available on-line - simple glass, white
good to look at, it porcelain and some splendid works of
was a pleasant art disguised as vases.
surprise to open the
door to be greeted by Mike and a warm As always, our telephone is manned and
interior in contrast to the striking chill messages to our website and emails will
to which we had become accustomed be answered. Do keep us in mind if you
up until that point in time. The are shopping.
installation of the heating system had
been almost completed in the autumn www.theshopatstlaurence
of 2020 but it had never worked Mobile: 07833 866485
properly, because the contractors had
gone bankrupt and had left the site
before the work had been signed off by
the architect.

What with all that has been happening
with the building work and the lock-
downs we anticipate, with perhaps
some understandable hesitation, the
days when it will be possible to develop
the life and meaning of St John’s again in
its attractive, but now also welcoming
and warm interior.

John French

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A Challenge for Fairtrade Fortnight

Fairtrade Fortnight Purple Panda are offering 10% off
It’s Fairtrade Fortnight! Running until their range of ethically sourced
Sunday 7 March, this year’s Fairtrade products over Fairtrade Fortnight.
Fortnight highlights the growing Visit their website and enter the
challenges that climate change poses for code FTF21: https://www.kaboodle-
farmers and workers in developing diverseworld.co.uk/
countries.
 Learn more about Fairtrade in
You can take part by joining the
Fairtrade Foundation’s first ever Virtual Ludlow and get involved! Visit
Festival. There will be all sorts of virtual https://ludowfairtrade.com, email
events, from meeting producers to a live [email protected] or
cook-along, to a Fairtrade quiz night. phone Jenny Hume, Chair of Ludlow
Find out more and sign up by visiting Fairtrade Town Group on 01584
http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/festival 831654

Your Fairtrade Fortnight challenge “Fairtrade is freedom, it’s communication,
Take one step….. it’s sustainability, it’s empowerment, it’s
This Fairtrade Fortnight, why not give everything for us in a world that’s so
Fairtrade a go? You won’t regret it! You competitive.”
can….
Diomides Rodriguez, Banana farmer,
 Donate to the Fairtrade Foundation Coobana banana co-operative, Panama

or Traidcraft Exchange to support Have an ethical Easter
their mission to make trade fair:
https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get- As well as fairly
traded store-
involved/donate/ cupboard staples,
https://action.traidcraft.org.uk/donate gifts and furnishings,
Traidcraft stocks a
 Buy Fairtrade:When you do your wide range of Easter
products - get yours
next shop, switch two items on your now!
list for Fairtrade. Co-op and Myriad
have a wide selection. You can even You are welcome to place an order by
buy Fairtrade bananas, chocolate and arrangement with Penny:
tea bags from Tesco!
[email protected] or
phone 01584 876992

Or order direct from the Traidcraft
website where you will find information
about their products & much more!
https://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/

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Victoria Allen

Funeral Services

An Independent Family Business
Pre- Paid Funeral Plans

Home Visits Always Available
24 Hour Service

01584 879035

Ludlow Landscaping

Excellence in Garden Design and
Construction

Fencing, Stonework, Structures, Turfing,
Block Paving, 3-tonne & Micro Digger
Compact Tractors with Operator

Tel: 01584 874214 or 07973 842029

[email protected]

www.ludlowlandscaping.co.uk

K & J Davies Gas Services

NATURAL AND LPG GAS BOILERS & APPLIANCES SERVICED AND
INSTALLED

RADIATORS AND HEATING INSTALLATIONS
AND SMALL PLUMBING WORK UNDERTAKEN

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On HOW TO DEFLECT THOSE STAFF
APPRAISALS

This letter from Revd Dr Guy Bowness’s Your vicar is also bound to want to see
‘Uncle Eustace’ was written before the the congregation increasing. This is not
pandemic. sustainable, and you should put a stop to
such ambitions at once. It is easily done.
The Rectory All you have to do is to approach your
St James the Least friends at the local football club and
bribe them with your homemade beer
My dear Nephew Darren, to come along to church several Sunday
mornings in a row. If you give them
So, your vicar has introduced staff enough beer BEFORE the service, they
appraisal for all the officers who work will be likely to make just enough muted
for your church, including yourself. It disruption as to leave your vicar a bit
seems a very dangerous innovation; as rattled, and thinking that perhaps after
far as I am concerned, ministry is only all,‘less’ is ‘more’ when it comes to the
successful when parishioners have no congregation.
idea what the clergy get up to.
But whatever you do, make sure that
I imagine that he will look at the number you never preach a better sermon than
of services you take in a year. Funerals he does. You don’t want anyone
can only be increased if you resort to thanking you at the door for your ‘so
murder, which is likely to be frowned on interesting sermon’ in front of him, when
– although I have been sorely tempted they have been sleeping through his
during endless PCC meetings. Perhaps if sermons for years. If you offend the
you take a flask of water wherever you vicar this way, he will take swift revenge,
go and if you find a baby unattended, you and ask you to organise the parish
could resort to a spontaneous baptism. summer fete.
That would get your numbers up, even if
returning mothers may marvel at the Your loving uncle,
highly localised and brief shower that
seems to have taken place over the Eustace
pram.

Visiting targets are easily increased.
Compile a list of when parishioners will
be out and call on those days; a card
through their letterbox will prove to
your vicar that you were there. Should
they happen to be in, mention that you
are collecting for the organ fund and
they will immediately excuse themselves
for an important appointment. You are
then free to move on to clock another
visit.

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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 weekdays 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

Assistant Priest Revd Prebendary Ann Barge 01584 877307

Ludlow St Laurence Ludlow St John
Parish Office
Parish Office 01584 872073 Churchwardens Grace Johnson 07432 563545
Office Administrator Nicky Luck Mike Beazley 873570
Finance Manager Peter Nield Treasurer Anthony Sibcy 874331
Gift Aid Secretary Michael Hunt PCC Secretary Peter Phelps 873179
Director of Music Michael Oakley Electoral Roll John French 876142
Custodian Matthew Lenthall Organist John French 876142
Colin Reeves 875608
Conservation Trust Chair Sylvia Turner

PCC Ashfords Benefice

Churchwardens Dick Franks 892019 Rector Revd Lynn Money
Parish Office Clare Bicker-Caarten
Lesley Harling 318309
01584 831585
Deputy Churchwardens

Michael Davies 07970 434822 Bromfield Benefice

Carole Perrett 879406 Rector Revd Justin Parker
Parish Office Grace Johnson 07493 247184
Electoral Roll Officer Dick Franks 892019

Safeguarding Officer Dick Franks 892019

PCC Secretary Nicky Luck 872073

Bible Reading Penelope Bridstrup COPY DEADLINE FOR THE
NEXT ISSUE
Fellowship 876992
TUESDAY 9 MARCH
Flowers Sue Thornley 872292
There is no guarantee that material
Monthly Prayer Sandi Burley 873155 submitted will be included.

Group Please send articles by email to
[email protected]
The Table Sandi Burley 873155
We are happy to receive contributions
Tower Captain Tony Greatrex and suggestions for inclusion in the
magazine. Please limit items to no
01568 780764 more than 400 words, except by prior
agreement with the editor.
Ludlow Tower editor Lesley Harling 318309

Find this and previous issues
of the Ludlow Tower on line at

www.stlaurences.org.uk

Parish of Ludlow Saint Laurence Registered Charity No 1132703

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