Ashwell Village News- August

£1

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Front Cover Artist enough to have been presented to Prince Harry
and the Duke of Kent. The most daunting thing
When you are asked to write something about with these projects has not been the designs
you and your art, it makes you examine the themselves, but what to wear when meeting the
why’s, when’s and how’s! I loved to draw as a various dignitaries! I loath clothes shopping and
child and even now get a twinge of excitement have been fortunate to have been able to borrow
when I open a new paint box or a tin of pencils various outfits from people in the village!
neatly lined up in their colours . My mother
started late in life as a professional artist and My husband and I moved from Hertford to
was very successful selling a lot of her paintings Ashwell six years ago and discovered a new way
through the Royal academy summer exhibition, of life. I joined the life drawing class and it was
ironically when I was offered a place at Hornsey a re-awakening, not only do I now have a
Art College she didn’t allow me to go, it was like reason to frequent Tim’s art shop in Hitchin, but
being hit by a sledgehammer so I just stopped the lessons are tutored as well. Since starting to
painting . draw again, encouraged by my Aunty Roman and
a book she sent me on how to unblock your inner
Fortunately I managed to find an alternative artist called “The Artist Way”, I now allow myself
outlet for my creativity and have been a garden time every day to draw or paint. I try all subjects
designer for thirty years. I paint with flowers and and my husband Johnny often ends up as my
textures instead, and becoming a fully accredited unwilling muse ( he can’t keep still for five
member of the Society of Garden Designers. minutes).
It has been my honour to have designed four
different gardens for the Lord Mayor of London at I have enjoyed this opportunity to draw the front
the Guild Hall in London and through my work for cover of the VJ edition of the Ashwell news and I
the Army Benevolent Fund I have been lucky hope you enjoy my efforts.

Gianna Dellow.

Front Cover

We hope you are enjoying the new front cover art from local artists.
We have now permanently moved to a colour cover format. We welcome a selection of local

artists and subjects for future editions including from our younger artists.
Please contact us if you wish to be involved.

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AUGUST EDITORIAL

July edition saw the launch on an on-line Ashwell and even form new
Village News (eAVN). We hope you have utilised alliances, such as the
and enjoyed this free service. Remember most of European union.
the web links are now clickable and take you
straight to the website mentioned, including Circumstance demanded
advertisers. Of course, both hard copy and elec- something new, not more
tronic formats will continue. The material content of the same.
will be the same.
Change takes courage,
With 4th August being VJ day and a postponed VE open mindedness and
day, August edition includes a few articles to usually a move from
reflect this. Our front cover also gives an artist’s recent truths.
nod to this subject with a cockerel, a dove, some
bunting and a sunrise. So, what did you think So, what are our
this represents? challenges now? Perhaps
our environment shines through as fundamental,
Maybe centre stage a cock crows in victory after we only have one planet after all. We will try to
great cost and fortitude. The Allied forces review our local part in this.
defeating the peoples from the land of the Rising
Sun, with the triumph of Democracy over Maybe in a small and connected world, the move
Fascism? from us and them to something better. To
maintain hard won personal freedoms but not
Perhaps the cock crows instead as a celebration forget consideration, responsibilities and
of a new dawn. A new opportunity to be compassion for others, including to those who
embraced, symbolised by the diminutive dove of disagree with us.
peace, for all of mankind.
Perhaps we should even consider some
Or is the cockerel oblivious to all these possible pre-industrialisation wisdoms, before possessions
meanings and is simply going about his life and were a main driving force, truth comes in many
announcing a new day. Maybe the artist just likes forms.
to draw cockerels? I have not asked.
So, what are your new challenges?
What is your interpretation from this? Is there
only one answer or can differing views all have We hope in a very small way to discuss the new,
some merit? Which of these answers is the right rather than the previous paradigms. To consider
one? and even enjoy surfing the tsunami of change
around us all. Inevitably this includes the on-line
The end of WW2 brought great changes, world.
hardship, mass death from disease, but also new
opportunities. How are you taking us forward? We would love to
hear about it.
The UK welfare state was formed shortly
afterwards in order to attempt to tackle disease, Either way, hope you enjoy the front cover art-
want, squalor, ignorance and idleness. Countries works and we look forward to the new adventure.
once enemies also had the chance to reconcile
James Boyle

Editor

Ashwell Village News MOVES ON-LINE!

https://tinyurl.com/Ashwell-Village-News

Yes, you can now see every new edition of AVN on line FOR FREE.
Just go to the above link. All editions from April 2020 onwards are there to view.
Just turn the pages on your devices, including mobile phones.
Clickable* links to advertisers.
Forward to your friends and family for free.
Of course, hard copies will remain available ongoing from the usual outlets.

Enjoy eAVN anytime, anyplace, anywhere for FREE
*subject to advert format

St Mary’s Ashwell - if you like to join our online ZOOM services please
email:

[email protected]

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The Parish Church Revd. Robert Evens

Dear Friends 40.3 million people are estimated to be
trapped in some form of modern slavery
Slavery has been much in the in the world today.
news recently. Mostly this has
focussed on the transatlantic 136,000 potential victims estimated in
slave trade between the 16th the UK (according to the Global Slavery
and 19th Century. Slavery Index).
was not new at this time. it
had existed for thousands of At the core of this crime is deception. Survivors
years. of modern slavery tell stories of being sold a
better life. They are often vulnerable, coming
It is referred to in the bible. from areas where there is little possibility of
In Colossians we are told work. They are offered a job, a chance to make
“Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; money and to build a new life for themselves.
and do it, not only when their eye is on you and Those who offer these opportunities may even
to curry their favour, but with sincerity of heart organise their travel to a different country,
and reverence for the Lord.” controlling every aspect of their trip.

It would be nice to think that after 25th March The Clewer Initiative enables Church of
1807, when the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act England dioceses and wider church
entered the statute books that slavery, at least in networks to raise awareness of modern
the British Empire ceased. After the work of slavery, identify victims and to help
William Wilberforce and like-minded people, provide victim support and care. The
surely it must have. Not so, the slave trade Mothers’ Union is working with the Clewer
continued until 1811 and the owning of slaves Initiative in order to end modern slavery
was not made illegal until 1833. That of course by 2030.
must mark the end of slavery!
The initiative is headlined by the phrase
The United Nations’ International Day for the “We see you.” For more information of
Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its what to look out for and what to do go to
Abolition is annually observed on August 23 to https://www.theclewerinitiative.org/ and contact
remind people of the tragedy of the transatlantic cards are available in Church
slave trade.
Every blessing
So that’s it! except
Robert

St Mary the Virgin Mill Street, Ashwell, SG7 5LY No Services until further notice.
(Church of England) 01462 742277
109 High Street, Ashwell, SG75PQ [email protected]
Rector: Revd. Robert Evens
Antje Brandtner 01462 743922
Parish Church Office & Parish Office, Parish Church Room [email protected]
Parish Church Room Hire Swan Street, SG7 5NY
Mark Eaton [email protected] 01462 743451
Reader & Treasurer David Richards 01462 742434
Churchwarden

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This is the second of our occasional countryside walks nearby. This one starts at Tadlow and is a
4.5 mile circuit taking in the panoramic views of South Cambridgeshire. The ramble takes a
leisurely 2 hours, with the option of an extra mile to see if you can find the remains of medieval
Clopton on the ploughed ridge.

To get to the walk, drive to Tadlow 7 miles
away, SG8 0ES by Satnav. Turn off the
main road (B1042) into High St (Tadlow’s
only road!) You can park almost
immediately on the right opposite the
phone box.

Use the map to help you navigate the
walk. Cross over the main road you have
just turned off. At the large road sign,
there is also a small footpath sign, go
through the gate onto that path. After 100
yards the main path curves off left to
St Giles Church, hidden in the trees. But
we carry straight on, wiggling around for a
few yards before heading diagonally left
across the middle of the field (slightly
uphill). At the corner of the field, carry
straight on for 1 more field and you come
to a crossroads (0.3 miles from the start).
Turn right onto a public bridleway called
the Clopton Way. After a mile you reach a
crossroads with a farm track.

Here the main walk goes left (uphill)
towards Top Farm. You can extend the
walk by going straight on if you wish. This
takes you to the site of Medieval Clopton,
an Anglo-Saxon village mentioned in the
Domesday Book, when 18 peasants lived
there. During the 13th Century Clopton
boasted a Friday market and a Parish
Church. A greedy London lawyer purchased the land in 1489 and evicted the villagers to give
himself more farmland. By 1520 Clopton was under the plough, and you need quite a vivid
imagination to picture that a settlement was ever on the ridge. If you have done the walk
extension (half a mile each way), retrace your steps to the crossroads, where you will take a right
turn up the hill.

At the top, immediately after the barn, turn right and stay on the clear track that goes straight on

with buildings on either side. Soon you pass another house with a concrete pig in the front garden!

Straight on for another 0.1 mile, then turn left, just the other side of the hedgerow. The bridleway

basically carries straight on for a mile, with a few doglegs as shown on the map. (Shortly after the

dogleg round the edge of the small wood, the path crosses to the other side of the hedgerow, but

continues in the same direction). The ground falls away and then rises again. As you reach the top,

you are aiming for the corner of a wood called Buff Wood. When you reach Buff Wood turn left, and

follow the wide path slightly downhill keeping the tree line on your right. After another 0.8 mile, the

bridleway bends right and right again, and is clearly marked at this point. Shortly, just before the

bridleway goes over a metal footbridge, turn left

Artisan Cheese onto the footpath labelled Clopton Way once

again.
Stay on Clopton Way, head for the tall trees and

Special cheeses from turn left at the paddock. Then follow the path
southern England & Wales. through the farm buildings. After these, at an-
other Clopton Way signpost, carry straight along
the minor road, slightly uphill. After a while you

are back at the point you first joined the Clopton

Free Local Delivery Way over an hour ago. Retrace the final 0.3
miles back to where you parked the car. When

Ring/text Meril on 07871 752753 or email we did the walk, we saw loads of birds and sev-
[email protected] eral hares running across the fields. The whole
walk gives panoramic views of South Cambs,

www.artisancheese.co.uk and for two thirds of the walk, you can see the
red windsock up at Top Farm, your constant
friend during the walk.

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A very few words from
ASHWELL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

The Elders of the church met in early July to After prayerful discussion, the Elders’ conclusion
discuss the future of the chapel and hall. They is that, with appropriate Covid-19 ‘controls’ in
have asked me to write a ‘letter’ to the place, we would like to try holding services in
community explaining our situation. the chapel on perhaps two Sundays a month,
starting later in the autumn. Many of our local
Thames North Synod of the URC requires us to preachers fall into either the ‘Critically
undertake a comprehensive risk assessment of Vulnerable’ or Vulnerable’ categories. Finding
conditions and activities in both church and hall preachers for every Sunday may not be possible
to help us assess if the church can return to for the foreseeable future.
holding worship in the church and to providing a
meeting venue for village groups, as we have However, the church cannot at the
been until ‘lockdown’ in March 2020. moment, without additional help on a very
regular basis, continue letting the hall to
As many of you know, we are a very small our user groups. We believe the hall would, in
fellowship – and most of us range in age any case, be too small for the numbers in, for
between 65 – 80! Several of the Elders have example, the Horticultural Society to sit at safe
been running the church for 20-30 years. We no spacing.
longer have the physical resources to undertake
the quite onerous routine cleansing and The Elders would be pleased to hear your
monitoring activities that would be necessary in thoughts about the future of the Church, how
order to return to ‘normal’ church and hall you see it surviving during the next few months
activities. We have few younger people to help (and in the future) and whether you could do
us maintain an active worshipping community. something to help this happen.

It seems that we have four possible options: Thank you Chris

 To close Ashwell URC altogether; Tel: 01462 742684

 To delay returning to worship / hall rentals Email: [email protected]
for several more months until the outcome
of the pandemic is more clear – or a
vaccination becomes available;

 To offer the use of church and hall to
another community/faith group who could,
for example, take on the responsibility for
maintenance from the Thames North
Synod Trust (who own our buildings and
churchyard);

 To continue the life, mission and worship
of Ashwell URC meeting as a ‘house group’
in a private home – or another community
room in the village.

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Desert Island Discs

Each month we will be interviewing someone and asking
them to tell us their 8 tracks they would want on to have
with them whilst they are stuck on their own on a desert
island. This month, we spoke to Ni Button.

Ni’s Desert Island Discs

Ni was born in Ealing where she spent her childhood
before heading to university in Edinburgh. Growing up
she has fond musical memories of her parents being big
Elvis fans and her own love affair with the boy band
Bros. In Edinburgh, she met her future husband Chris and they have three daughters; Sophia (14),
Eloise (11) and Isla (8). They have lived in Ashwell since 2013. Chris was brought up in the villages
of Cambridgeshire and when the time came to move out of London with a young family they visited
Ashwell when Ni says “I fell in love with the village”.

Ni is a GP in Biggleswade. When she can, she loves getting her trainers on and going running.

These are her music choices:

Track one is It’s a Sin by The Pet Shop Boys. This was a song from my teenage years. I
remember seeing the Pet Shop Boys perform the first time I was allowed to go to the Capital Radio
Junior Disco with my friends. I feel a little disloyal not choosing a Bros song as they were a big part
of my teenage years but in all honesty I wouldn’t choose to listen to their music now!

Track two is We have all the time in the world by Louis Armstrong. This was one of the first
CDs that Chris bought me, and we played it as our first dance at our wedding.

Track three is Born Slippy by Underworld. This track was taken from the film Trainspotting
which was hugely popular while I was in Edinburgh. Much of the film was filmed in the city so
everyone would go crazy when this song was played in the clubs.

Track four is Firestarter by The Prodigy. Another classic from my university days. The Prodigy
features heavily on my running playlist and always gives me a much-needed boost if I am flagging.

Track five is I am the Resurrection by The Stone Roses. Every Thursday night we used to go to
a club in Edinburgh called “Maaadchester”. As you can guess the music was mainly from bands like
The Stone Roses, Blur, Oasis, The Verve, The Charlatans, The Happy Mondays. There was little
dancing, mainly jumping around with my friends!

Track six is Linger by The Cranberries. Chris and I went interrailing around Europe in the
mid-1990s and this song was being played and sung very loudly by a big group of people in a bar in
Prague. Memories of this trip always come flooding back when I hear this song.

Track seven is Symphony No. 3 by Gorecki. I know this is a bit leftfield but when I was pregnant
with my eldest daughter (and we had time to sit and listen to music and not do much else!) we
came across this piece of music. She used to kick like mad whenever we played it. The version we
had was sung by someone called Sofia. It was one of the reasons we chose our daughter’s name.

Track eight is Chandelier by Sia. This is such an anthem. She has such an incredible voice, but
my girls run for cover when I attempt to sing it!

Thank you Ni – some great music there with lots of memories for you. For those of you who want to
listen to Ni’s chosen tracks, visit https://tinyurl.com/y8qln5fu on Spotify along with other playlists of
previous Desert Islanders.

As well as your 8 tracks you can have a luxury item and a book. The Bible and the complete works
of Shakespeare are already on the island waiting for you.

Can I assume I am already wearing my running trainers?! I just love my running so it would have to
be my Garmin running watch. I have never been a great sleeper so about 5 years ago when I was
lying wide awake at 5am I decided to go for a run and I have been running ever since. I have run 2
marathons and several half marathons and continue to drive Chris a bit mad with my early morning
wake ups!

My chosen book would be Perfume by Patrick Suskind.

If you had to save one track from the waves above all else what would it be?

It must be Chandelier by Sia. If I am feeling a bit blue or lacking in motivation during a run, this
song picks me right back up. If I’m on the island on my own this would be just what I need.

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8

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Remembering VJ Day. instincts changed to gentleness. Although he felt
it was too blasphemous to use Christ’s words
Kohima Epitaph “Father, forgive them,” he experienced the grace
of forgiveness at that moment. After eight
When you go home tell them of us, and say. months he was released back to Changi—one of
the few who survived. For the rest of his life he
‘For your tomorrow, we gave our today’. emphasised in his speaking and preaching the
importance of forgiveness. It was precisely
The words of the because of Wilson’s attitude and courage that
one of his guards became a Christian and
Kohima Epitaph have repented of all that he had done.

now, thankfully, One of the particular areas of thanksgiving for
us today is the way in which people cared for
become better known one another as friends, in spite of the
degradation the Japanese inflicted. Wilson
and more widely used recalled how hungry they always were. “I do
not know how many of you know what real
in recent years. We hunger is, but the temptation to greed is almost
come on August 15th to overwhelming. Here again we were helped.
There was a young Roman Catholic in the cell.
commemorate VJ Day. He was a privileged prisoner; he was allowed
It will be the 75th food from the outside. He could have eaten all of
it and more than all of it, but never a day
anniversary and there passed without his sharing it with some people
in the cell. It was a small amount we got, but
will not be many alive what an enormous difference it made. It raised
the whole tone of our life and it made it possible
today who lived (half for others to follow his noble example and to
learn to share with one another.” All veterans
lived) through the have experienced depths of suffering beyond
what most of us can imagine. We honour the
horrors of that time. sacrifice of all those who died fighting the
Japanese, those who died during their
The men and the imprisonment and all those who have died since
the liberation after years of further physical and
women, who returned emotional pain. Bishop Wilson went on to
become Dean of Manchester and then Bishop of
home from fighting and losing, internment Birmingham. After seventy five years, there are
not many veterans still with us; but their great
camps, years of hardship, punishments, forced courage must not be forgotten. After all it was
for our tomorrow they gave their today. A useful
labour, didn’t talk very much about their information page about VJ Day is available on
The British Legion web site at
experiences. Perhaps they were just too injured
https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/
physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually remembrance/remembrance-events/vj-day-75

to be able to make sense of, or to even mention Revd Canon Lindsay Dew

the horrific experiences of deprivation and Chairman of the Ashwell Branch of The Royal
British Legion
cruelty. It was simply too horrid and horrible to

recount because even though they relived those

experiences every day of their lives in their

hearts, perhaps they knew that to talk about

them meant the reality being faced yet again.

Just to simply survive, personal memories were

buried – to be left undisturbed for the rest of

their lives. Some were shared by a few, and

when we hear of them we are quite rightly

horrified that such atrocities could have

occurred.

We can only imagine the daily, hour courage of
those who were determined not so much to
survive as to sustain some element of human
dignity by helping others and by sustaining a
quiet resistance to the Japanese. One of the
people who exemplified this was Bishop Leonard
Wilson, who had become Bishop of Singapore in
1941. He was accused of being a spy and found
himself being tortured savagely. Often he had to
be carried back to the crowded, dark and filthy
cell. He recalled “Without God’s help I doubt
whether I should have come through”. In the
middle of that torture they asked me if I still be-
lieved in God. He asked himself then how he
could possibly love these men with their hard,
cruel faces, who were obviously enjoying the
torture they were inflicting. As he prayed he had
a picture of them as they might have been as
little children, and it’s hard to hate little
children. But then, more powerfully, his prayer
was answered by some words of a well-known
communion hymn which came to his mind:
“Look Father, look on his anointed face, and
only look on us as found in him.” In that
moment he was given a vision of those men not
as they were then, but as they were capable of
becoming, transformed by the love of Christ. He
said he saw them completely changed, their
cruelty becoming kindness, their sadistic

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When VJ Day (Victory in Japan Day) Doesn’t Feel Much Like a Victory.

15 August 2020 is the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, marking both the surrender of Japan and the end
of the Second World War. The Burma campaign was one of the longest fought by the British during
the Second World War. In a land very far away from home, and mostly ignored by the press, it
became known as the 'Forgotten War' the troops serving there were the 'Forgotten Army'.

My mother’s brother was part of that Army but has definitely never been
forgotten. James Wakelam (Jimmy) signed up as soon as the war started in
1939, he was a Private in the 130th Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery. He
was evacuated at Dunkirk. The regiment was one of those rare units that
between 1939-1945 that fought the Italians, Germans, Vichy French and the
Japanese!

As the War was drawing to its

conclusion the British and their allies

fought a bitter war against the

Japanese in Burma, which was to

become the last battle of Jimmie’s

life. The fighting took place in malaria

ridden jungles during drenching

monsoon rains, on a remote tropical

Island in searing heat against an

often brutal enemy. The purpose of

the enemies campaign was to

safeguard the oil, rubber and other

raw materials that the Japanese needed. The overall goal for

them, was to build an economically self sufficient

Japan that could be defended until the Allies tired VJ Day in Ashwell from the
of the War.

The allied plan was to attack the coastal Arakan Royston Crow August 1945

Region of Burma and capture the enemy airfields There were no specifically Ashwell
on Akyab Island. The Japanese crossed mountain mentions for VE Day but there were a few
terrain, rivers and jungle which were considered reports of events brought about by the
impassible by the Allies, to reinforce their army.

The Japanese were able to attack the allies ending of hostilities.
exposed flank and the exhausted British were Notably the good news of soldiers coming
unable to hold. By March 1943 the position was home having been released from POW
considered untenable and they were forced to camps in the Far East. Julian Eustace Hill
withdraw.

In March 1943 Jimmy was killed during an had already returned but Gunners F Crump

enemy counter battery shoot, he was the and R Bonnet were ‘in Allied hands’ awaiting

“layer” (Gun Laying is the process of aiming an repatriation.
artillery gun) for F Troops’ number one gun and Mr and Mrs Dunkerley were saying goodbye.
it sustained a direct hit from a Japanese shell. They came from London with their
evacuated school and stayed for the entire
Jimmie died and was buried where he fell but his war while he took on the role of
name is memorialised on Face Three of the
Taukkyan War Graves Cemetery Wall, Rangoon -

Burma. Jimmy left behind his wife Edith and his headteacher at Ashwell School.

two children Peter and Valarie ages three and The VJ Day Celebrations in Ashwell started
five. In one of life’s ironies, my husband Jacks’ with a dance in the old Market Square which
Father was teaching at the US Naval Academy was the area where the road widens outside

during World War

2 and as a the Village Stores. The streetlights were

weapons expert, switched on again after the long blackout.
Younger revellers were excited by the
was seconded to illumination of the red lights in the eyes of
the bull’s head over Mr T J Dennis butchers
the Oppenheimer shop. There was a bonfire with fireworks on

team that

designed and

developed the

firing mechanism high ground in Bear Lane, this would have

for the atomic been before the Dixies Close houses were
bomb dropped on built. Even more was to come with sports at
Japan causing the the Rec and finally a dance in the Village
final capitulation. Hall. The three days of events all passed off

Jo Auckland well with ‘no injuries or damage’.

11

Updates on Conservation at St Mary`s Ashwell

Re-ordering of Church Facilities:

Discussions about improving the kitchen and toilets in the church began as long ago
as 2013. Our church architects, Freeland Rees Roberts of Cambridge presented a
number of schemes to upgrade the facilities, some involving new installations in the
west end of the south aisle and others replacing the existing ones in the west end of
the north aisle. As almost every member of the congregation had differing ideas, little progress was
made and the project was shelved. Another attempt was made in 2016 to include an internal lobby
inside the north door, with toilets on either side. Again, opinion was divided and little was achieved.

However, by mid-

2019 agreement

was reached on a

scheme and a fac-

ulty application

was made to the

Registrar at the

Diocese in St

Albans. A faculty is

a sort of ecclesias-

tical planning

permission. This

ran in to all sorts of

objections but

eventually a faculty

was received in

June 2020. The

Fabric Action Group

(FAG) of the PCC

was already in de-

tailed negotiations

with the four

specialist builders to reduce the price of the tender to stay within our budget. We have received a

large donation from an anonymous parishioner and funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation

and the Friends of St Mary`s. All the necessary funding is now in place. Lodge and Sons, who did

most of the recent restoration on the chancel submitted the successful tender at £153,688.75

+VAT. Additional costs include architect`s fees at 12.5%, ecologist`s fees,

archaeology fees, CDM fees (Health and Safety), etc. We can recover most of the VAT. Total costs of

the project will be in the region of £200,000 depending upon provisional sums for any unexpected
problems with the construction. August 10th is the planned start date, with completion due before

Christmas.

We at the Fabric Action Group are really excited about the new facilities. The new kitchen will make
catering for all sorts of events much easier, with a full-size hob and oven, dishwasher, twin sinks
and double drainers, refrigerator and lots of cupboard space. The large servery hatch will make
dispensing refreshments easier and faster. There is a separate sink and drainer for the flower
arrangers, who will also have an adjacent walk-in storage cupboard close by off the new north
lobby. Floor level warm -air heating in the kitchen will make the area much more comfortable,
especially during the winter months. Having two toilets will ease congestion during intervals at
events such as concerts. The disabled toilet also contains a fold-down baby-changing unit and both
toilets will be individually heated. The new internal north door lobby will help seal off the church
from the cold in winter. The floor of the north porch will have an integral ramp and the lobby door
will have a button at wheelchair- height, making access easier. The whole package will make
St Mary`s a much more useful and user-friendly venue for the whole community. Can`t wait!

Tower Restoration Project:

Because of the Covid 19 emergency, the National Lottery Heritage Fund has suspended accepting all
“Committee Level” grant applications until at least October. The Tower Restoration Group is
continuing the preparation of our First Phase application for a grant in the region of £2,800.000 and
this will be submitted as soon as the NLHF decides to accept grant applications once again.

Mike Taffs, Chair – Fabric Action Group - St Mary`s Ashwell Parochial Church Council

We really appreciate the vigilance of our neighbours and others within the village with respect to lead thieves
and we are the more vulnerable to this when work is being undertaken on the church and there are contractors

vehicles on site. The contractors (Lodge and Sons) will not be accessing the roof and will only be working
between 7.30 am and 4pm Monday to Fridays from 3rd August until Mid December. If you spot anyone on the
roof or any suspicious activities, particularly outside these hours, please do report them to the churchwarden

David Richards (742434) or the Treasurer Mark Eaton (743451). Many Thanks

12

CLIMATE CHANGE is now part of our way of life, so we need to reduce carbon emissions.
The BIG CLIMATE FIGHT BACK is a Woodland Trust campaign to make us more aware of this
GLOBAL CRISIS with a target of planting 1 MILLION TREES. So, what can we do in our village. GREENING

ASHWELL is a way of not only helping to restore some of the natural features of our
community but also improving sustainable biodiversity to our surroundings.

The environment is now a major topic of conversation as we are all re-assessing our priorities. Natural
capital, the stock of our natural assets from geology, soil, water to all living things derive a wide
range of ecosystem services which support human life. This may sound very technical but on a local
level it basically means having thriving nature and wildlife can help to support healthy living with
economic benefits. Ashwell has many of these “green assets” which it is important to ensure they are
not only retained but managed for wildlife as well as public enjoyment.

There are a surprising number of
wooded copses in the village, on
first glance a mixture of trees
and shrubs with some herb layer
but closer inspection reveals
over shading has reduced the
ground flora to a few hardy pio-
neers (ground elder, ivy) and the
main trees and shrubs are often
sycamore and elderberry. So,
what is the problem you may
ask. These species have few
invertebrates associated with
them unlike say the oak so by
reducing these invasive plants
and encouraging more diverse
flora increases biodiversity. Greening Ashwell has identified such areas in our Greenscape Map where
we will be engaging with the owners on how to improve them (increase natural capital). We are also
looking at sites for” tiny forests” which can increase our green assets in very small areas.

Increasing natural capital involves all of us from leaving verges to become wildflower meadows,
planting native trees / shrubs in our gardens to creating a natural pond (where frogs appear from
nowhere). Ashwell is noted for its sports provision with the central recreation grounds and other
facilities at Small Gains. But does all the grass have to be short turf or can the boundaries /verges not
be left for nature (cut twice a year) and a native hedge planted at the back. Does the cycle and tennis
clubs at Small Gains need wall to wall grass.

We know that engaging children in nature and the outdoors in
general can have lasting benefits for conserving and protecting
the environment. Greening Ashwell sees this as an important
objective and we will be encouraging the young to help in the
planting, sowing wild flowers, growing native seedlings at
home and taking part in monitoring areas to see how their
biodiversity improved over time. We may even encourage a
little “gorilla gardening”, (impromptu planting of flowers /
bulbs like around the base of street trees, seen in London), or
scattering “seed bombs” (wild flower seeds in a soluble ball) in
scruffy corners.

At a larger scale increasing natural capital should include our
surrounding farm land where the Government is promoting the
planting of at least 30,000 hectares and the CPRE is emphasising the need to restore derelict woods
and plant more native hedgerows. By engaging as many of the villagers as possible Greening Ashwell
can become a significant force for improving not only the visual appearance of the village as well as
increase our natural capital for future generations.

KEN COYNE on [email protected] or phone 01462 743723 / 07857844745
GREENING ASHWELL Coordinator

13

Christianity in Art types for good measure. The scene resembles a

Our Gospel Reading for 2nd August is Matthew’s courtly picnic rather than a New Testament parable.
account of the Feeding of the 5000. This is one of
the best-known stories in our Gospels and The women wear jewels in their hair and few look
interestingly it is only one of two, outside the
passion narratives, which occur in all four even remotely hungry. Despite this, Christ stands at
gospels, the other being the story of the woman
who anoints Jesus feet with the costly ointment. the centre of this unusual
There are a range of portrayals of this story by
great artists and despite my concern that late multitude and with
renaissance and baroque artists tend to over-adorn
biblical accounts in their painting I have chosen the exaggerated elegance, takes
depiction by Tintoretto to portray this. Tintoretto
(1518-1594) was the last of the trio of great a loaf from the basket of the
Venetian painters of the late renaissance the earlier
two being Titan and Veronese. He was born Jacopo young boy who provided the
Robustiin. His father, Giovanni, was a dyer, or
tintore; hence the son got the nickname of Tintoret- food and gives it to his
to, "little dyer", or "dyer's boy".
His best-known works are his numerous paintings disciple, Andrew, to
for the walls and ceilings of the Scuola Grande di
San Rocco in Venice undertaken between 1565 and distribute. The landscape
1588. Of these the finest and best known is his
vast depiction of the Crucifixion in the Sala Grande. behind is painted in the same
He also painted a number of important large scale
works for the Doge’s Palace. Many of his works are iridescent tones as the
on a grand scale. The Crucifixion measures 17ft
high by 40 ft wide. figures.
Like all the leading Venetian painters his main
medium was oil on canvas. Frescos (painting As in many of his works
onto wet plaster), which predominated further Tintoretto infuses into it an
south, did not survive in the harsh, damp climate of instability and compositional
Venice. Oils allowed the Venetian painters much tension which create a sense
more freedom in their painting style and to deploy of restless energy. Almost
much deeper and richer colours than were possible everybody appears to twist or
in fresco. The leading Venetian artists were also move in some fashion; even the trees seem
masters of painting textiles – not least because animated. The paining is designed to be viewed
many of the wealthy patrons were cloth merchants from below, suggesting this long rectangular canvas
and wanted their merchandise to appear in their would have been hung high on a wall. The picture is
commissions. It is a bit like Marks and Spencers known to have been made as a
commissioning a Madonna and Child for a church companion work to “Christ Washing the Feet of the
and stipulating that the figures had to be dressed Disciples” (today in the Art Gallery of Ontario) Both
entirely from their clothing range. subjects relate to the sacrament of the
Tintoretto painted his “The Miracle of the Loaves Eucharist.
and Fishes “around 1545–50 for an unknown church
in Venice. It now hangs in the Metropolitan Museum Tintoretto worked almost entirely in Venice yet his
of Art in New York. Tintoretto often infused his art, including this work, reveals a multitude of
imagery with some of the festive atmosphere of his influences: The Venetian focus on colour and
city. The multitude is depicted not as a group of the atmosphere; the Florentine sense of form; the
humble early Christians but as an assortment of well-muscled figures and passionate energy of
well-dressed Venetians with some cherubim-like Michelangelo; the complex human drama and
babies with a few elderly, white-bearded prophet strong emotion of Titian. To this, Tintoretto
added his own unique sensibility for sharp colour,
lighting and unusual perspective.

However much Tintoretto has perhaps over-adorned
the scene, the central message of this miracle is
that Jesus reveals here a caring God, a God who is
concerned for our well-being and our wants, both
physically and spiritually, and who wants us to be
fed both physically and spiritually. The miracle is
not just about multiplying food however, it is about
creating a caring community where people are
genuinely concerned for one another as we have
seen admirably demonstrated recently by the team
in Ashwell have set up and run the parish pantry.

Dr. Mark Eaton

Reader, St Mary’s Church

14

Neighbours helping Neighbours

In a corner of St Mary’s church, under a
marquee, sits Ashwell’s newest community
project – the Ashwell Pantry. It was started by a
group of volunteers in the village with the aim of
helping to put food on the tables of those in need
within in our local community.

If you would like to support your neighbours,
please add a few items into your weekly shop
and drop them off at the donation boxes in the
Ashwell Village Store or at the Church. We have
been running short of key items recently, and
can use products such as long life meals; tinned
meats, fruits and vegetables, jars of pasta
sauce, biscuits, long life juice, packets of
microwavable rice, coffee and tea, as well as
toiletries and cleaning products. All donations
should be unopened, unexpired, non-perishable
and shelf-stable. If you would like to donate
money that can be used to buy shortage items,
or if you would like to get involved, please contact: [email protected].

If you are someone who needs a helping hand, you can visit The Pantry any day from 9am to 5pm
and help yourself to what you need.

The Pantry has been real success so far, and it has already touched many lives. We are grateful to
those who respond to the posts asking for donations on sites like

A little kindness can go a long way.

Ashwell Mums, and we have received many notes of thanks from those who are using The Pantry.

Farming today- Bluegates Farm August

With harvest now in full swing, Oil seed rape safely in the shed, we are now
harvesting our wheat.

The wheat we grow goes to two different end users, the majority to make animal feed. We also grow
250 acres of high-quality wheat, which will go for milling, to make flour for bread.

Whilst we are harvesting, we are also planting next year’s
oil seed rape crop. Over the last few years, we have had
increasing pressure from a pest called “Cabbage stem flea
beetle” (pictured) regularly referred to as “Flea beetles” its
favourite food is OSR, especially as the crop emerges . The
numbers of these beetles are so high in the eastern
counties, that they can decimate crops overnight. This
can be very disheartening with all the work that goes into
establishing a crop. Along with a very large financial loss.

If you manage to get the OSR passed this stage, and have
some crop remaining, the beetles then like to dig into the
stem, and lay their larvae that will eat the plant from the
inside out causing a condition called stem canker where the
plant stem snaps when crop is mid maturity. With all these
issues many farmers have given up with growing the crop
hence when driving around in the spring, you will see far
fewer yellow fields than in years gone by.

Hopefully going forward a seed breeder or chemical
company will find a way of making the crop not such a
favourite of the flea beetle! Meanwhile we are trialling
cultural controls, such as using “companion cropping”, This
means planting another crop alongside the OSR, such as
clover, to act as a disguise, to deter the flea beetles.

We are also going to try leaving longer stubble heights
when harvesting the previous wheat crops, all to try and
confuse the beetles from their normal lifecycles. Hopefully
allowing the OSR to progress through its early growth
stages without being eaten.

James Mitchell,Manager, Bluegates Farm

15

16

Strictly Come Costume Designing

A group of students spanning year 7-9 have been meeting every week to explore costume design.
Mrs Harper selected a character and the group were tasked with developing design ideas set in an
era of their choosing.

Below are examples of moodboards created when considering Titania from
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare.

Titania is a strong female character in the play, so I wanted to
display this on her clothing, with titanium grey, cream, and blue as
the most prominent colours. The bodice is stiff, whereas the skirt is
maneuverable, to give the effect of an almost Victorian dress,
though in places like the skirt, the material moves easier, and is less
heavy. The dress and the play for me is set in the 15th, and I have
tried to incorporate that- the headdress on her head portrays this.
Regarding my moodboard, I tried to find dresses and materials that
fit my overall design, so it would help with
inspiration- in the end, I included a little bit of it all. Overall, in my
eyes, the dress looks like something Titania would wear, which was
my main goal for this outfit.

Esme

Jenny created her
moodboard with a
medieval era in
mind.

Summer’s moodboard took inspiration SCARS
from bold, modern colours.
By Georgia Simpson, Year 10

Our own little history,
every dimple, every line
etched, not just in memory,
surrounding us, like a vine.
A map of identity -
a compass, pointing northward,
yelling, calling silently;
only seen, and never heard.
Clusters of constellations;
but not a sign of weakness.
built up from your foundations,
a blessing of uniqueness.
So please, never be afraid
to show what you have been through
although they will start to fade,
they don't make you any less
you.

17

The Garden House Hospice News

One of the best things about being part of the hospice is the support we receive from local

people in so many forms. In the past month, we have had many offers of help - everything from

the use of a farm building for storing donated items for the shops to beautiful handmade

facemasks. Many more young people are now volunteering, helping out while some of our older volunteers have had to

take a step back. When no one is quite sure what is going to happen next, these acts of kindness and support are cherished.

By the time you read this we hope to have our new furniture store in Queensway in Stevenage up and running. We have

resumed our furniture collection service, so if you know if anyone wanting to donate furniture, please call us on

01462 678 076 or email the distribution center on [email protected] .

All of our existing shops are open now open and donations are being taken at our Distribution Center in Green Lane on

Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. The response to reopening has been tremendous. At the moment, it would help us

greatly if you could make your donations to us gradually so that our space is not overwhelmed. Do ring ahead on 01462 678

076 we are always delighted to receive donations when capacity permits. Finally, if you have unwanted paper that we can

use to wrap and pack delicate items of bric-a-brac for transport to our shops, do let us know. Susan Greenbank

Started by the community - Supporting the community - Sustained by the community

The Royal British Legion Ashwell & District Branch

We would like to say a big THANK YOU to Howard who on VE day cooked and sold ‘fiery
spitfire’ pizzas from his pizza cabin in the Rose & Crown garden, resulting in a donation of
£115 being made to our branch. A really kind and thoughtful gesture, for which we are truly
grateful.

Help needed….

We remain hopeful that the Poppy Appeal house to house and street collections will take place this autumn. If you
could help us with this very worthy and vital fund raising event, please contact Jo Huggins on 742454 who would
be delighted to hear from you.

Thank you in advance of your support

Rita Lewis, Treasurer

18

Youth News

School, scouts & celebrations

Creative kids

This year we have commemorated the anniversaries of VE day, VJ day and the Battle of Britain so

this imaginative piece from Freddie, aged 10 is particularly timely and evocative:

The Blitz

I’m riding through London Park on a fine summer’s day – everyone is lying in the grass, chatting.
Then… “BOMBS! BOMBS!”

The air raid sirens buzz with noise. Then everything goes quiet. It seems like London has been
muted for that split second. But soon, everyone is clumsily running around while trying to

desperately secure their masks. We are looking in horror at the sky as it turns black with

swarms of Messerschmitts. As the bombs smash the roads of London, I feel ripples of wind shove

me around.

They are hunting us down, choosing me, seeking me out of everyone, I’m sure of it. I’m

shouting, “The planes are coming!” If I am lucky, one person might notice me. Most ignore me.

The planes are coming closer, closer. They are circling over us, like birds of prey over a bunch of

worms. I’m like a sitting duck to those planes. There is a slim chance of my survival. I’m still

fumbling around with my mask, trying to lift it from my face. I sprint looking for a safe place to

hide. The yellows gas drifts in the sky, picking out its victims. While checking for a space to take
shelter, I stumble over a man. I fall but luckily block my mask from the fall. I roll over onto a
sewerage lid. I lift it and climb in. My plan - to wait it out, although I don’t think I have it in me
when the freezing waste washes past my feet.

Finally, it goes quiet. They have passed. Time to get out. I strap my gas mask back on (just in
case.) When I lift the lid up, bodies are sprawled out everywhere.

My bike is in sight! So I’m riding home now. I am alive! I survived. By Freddie Carling

A celebration of colour

Meanwhile, Freddie’s sisters have been experimenting with
colour and artistic techniques. Nina, aged 8 made this lovely

collection of
marble paint
pictures and
Phoebe aged
5 created a
striking tie-
dye T shirt.
(below)

Cute characters

Daisy aged 8 loves to
paint and draw, here
are a couple of her
cartoons.

19

In an English country garden…

I often think of the herbaceous climbing rose types, whose
perennials in my garden as old great potential is only
friends who return each year, so achieved through careful
I was intrigued to hear from a pruning and training. Then
(human) friend that she sees her there are those who require
plants more the light of the right environment; like
co-workers. In her day job, she acid loving plants, they need
is the Head of Learning and the right medium in which to
Development in a law firm, and grow or they will go off-colour
often has to consider how a and underperform. Other
person will fit into the people are like ferns, thriving
organization, and what training in shadier spaces where others
and direction they require to perform to the best would not cope, who are at their best with
of their ability. She views her plants in rather people of a similar mindset, like ferns in a
the same way, what they bring to the garden fernery. Some are tough enough to withstand
and what they need to thrive. So, for example, the prevailing conditions, whatever they may be,
some people are like pansies: given adequate while the more delicate flowers in the team may
sunshine and water, they will bloom away need extra protection or training, the equivalent
merrily without too much attention. We all of a spell in the greenhouse. And then there are
recognize the big-headed show-offs like the fussy ones who, no matter what you do,
Agapanthus, who thrive under pressure and never live up to expectations!
perform in a crowd. By contrast, there are the
Susan Greenbank

Yo! Finally, after that epic battle against pests, diseases, natural elements etc etc the fruits of my
labours are starting to be reaped. Courgettes are ballooning like balloons – they will over inflate if
left for even a couple of days too long. Cucumbers, much more flavoursome than in the

supermarket, are prolific in the greenhouse. Juicy, sweet tomatoes
(in grow bags, hanging baskets and raised beds) are ripening,
including a not-tried-before variety
called Shimmer bought last year at
one of the RHS flower shows
(remember them?) which produces
somewhat pointy fruit. And the
beans (runner and French), which
started appearing last month, are
now podding all over the place.

Of course, there’s no let up on the

weeding. What makes the

vegetables grow also works for

weeds and this is particularly true

where a bare patch is left from

harvesting a crop. ‘Nature abhors

a vacuum’ and so do weeds apparently, so this year I sowed

phaecelia – a green manure - after the onions were lifted in late May. With any luck this will

outcompete other plants and then be dug back in next month to improve the soil structure.

Meanwhile, the brassicas are still getting established. On the plus side, so far there have not been
any whitefly (perhaps the marigolds are deterring them after all); the netting has kept off the
pigeons and butterflies; and most of the snails have fallen into the beer traps. On the less-than-
positive side, within days of planting, those precious seedlings were swamped by a fuzzy mass of
blackfly. Squirting with soapy water blasted some of them off but also distorted the new leaves.
There is light however: after a couple of weeks a cavalry of ladybirds arrived and is finally keeping
the dratted things under control. Thank goodness for nature!

The challenge for August is what to do with all the produce, so now it is a question of finding
innovative recipes, pickling and freezing. Anyone for (yet more) courgette cake?!

The Reluctant Weeder

20

21

ASHWELL PARISH COUNCIL

Office at Bear Farm, 6A Back Street, Ashwell, Baldock, Herts, SG7 5PE
Mon-Thurs 08.30 -13.00 ( 01462 743706
Clerk: Jane Porter * [email protected]
Deputy Clerk: Laura Brooks-Payne * [email protected]
Chairman: Mark White (07977 099951
The Parish Council meets every month on the first Wednesday at 8pm. From May until further notice this is via Zoom. All are
welcome to join and will have the opportunity to speak in the ‘Open Forum’ session at the beginning of the meeting. Sign-up
to the website for updates and to join meetings. www.ashwell.gov.uk

‘Your Parish Council Matters’- from the meeting held on 1st July

(full minutes on www.ashwell.gov.uk)

Overcrowding at the Springs has resulted in issues of overflowing litter bins, inconsiderate
parking, and flaunting of the social distancing rules. Our local police have been making regular
patrols.
Cllr Martin Hoffman gave an update and expressed his concerns; he commended the local police on
their regular attendance. It was noted that problems had been associated with large number of
visitors from outside the village; reports on social media highlighting the attractiveness of the site
had obviously encouraged people to come. Measures had been put in place to deal with the excess
of rubbish; fourteen bags had been collected on one day. Cllr Martin Hoffman reported that,
although the police had the power to close the site, and to address issues of parking, social
distancing, etc, it was not within the power of the Parish Council to do this. County Councillor Steve

Jarvis agreed to
investigate the situation
re closure and the
public rights of way that
ran through the site.

The Alms Lane verge
has been cleared and
replanted as a small
village herb garden by a
group of volunteers. All
involved were
commended and
thanked for their
efforts.

Highways matters
were reported by our
County Councillor Steve
Jarvis.

Potential additional sites
for yellow lines were
being investigated.
Drawings of the
proposals for the West
End chicane had now
been produced and
consultation with local
residents would be
undertaken.

Installation of the new
yellow zig-zags for the
rear entrance to the
school was scheduled
for some time in this
financial year.

Mark White,
Chairman.

22

There are many book clubs in Ashwell, here are some of the
books our small club has considered.
Each month we take turns to suggest 3 books, below are the August
suggestions.
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante.
Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels have become undisputed modern classics famed for their
meticulous characterisations and richly evoked atmosphere. My Brilliant friend begins the epic
coming of age not just of Elena and Lila but of the Italian nation itself.
Made into a Sky Atlantic series.
https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-brilliant-friend/elena-ferrante/ann-
goldstein/9781787702226
Hitman Anders by Jonas Jonasson.
Featuring one violent killer, two shrewd business Brian’s and many crates of
Moldovan wine Hitman Anders is an outrageously zany story with as many laughs
as Jonasson’s multimillion copy bestseller, The Hundred Year Old Man Who
Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared.
https://www.waterstones.com/book/hitman-anders-and-the-meaning-of-it-all/
jonas-jonasson/9780008152079
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney.
An historical epic set in Canada 1867, weaving adventure, suspense and humour
into an exhilarating thriller, a panoramic romance.
https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-tenderness-of-wolves/stef-
penney/9781847240675
Finally one of our favourites
Once Upon a River by Diane Settlefield.
An exquisitely crafted multi layered mystery brimming with folklore ,suspense
and romance.

Hope you enjoy them.

23

Some music to listen to—by Bene’t Coldstream

Just a little reminder that I categorise my choices a bit by length so you know
what you’re letting yourself in for. S is short, M is medium and L is long. No big
intro this month—saving my words for the music.

L’Ascension—Messiaen - this is an orchestral piece in four sections. Described
by the composer as four meditations, but do not fall into the trap of thinking this is
all ethereal. Messiaen had a unique composition style, incorporating complex
rhythms, harmony and melodies. The work was also arranged for organ a year af-
ter its original composition date (of 1933). The organ version includes a different
third movement “Transports de joie” which it is certainly worth finding should you try the orchestral
version first. I would encourage that. (M)

C Minor mass—Mozart - Otherwise known as the Great Mass in C minor. This is a missa solemnis
(rather than the shorter missa brevis) in Latin of course. Large scale orchestra, 4 soloists, it is
oratorio-esque in its size. It is incomplete today as various movements have not survived the
passage of time (latter portions of the Credo and the Agnus Dei). Various editions thereafter
reconstructed the lost music but it isn’t Mozart (like half of the Requiem). I have so many favourite
moments, but I will leave you with a quick plug for the “Et incarnates est” (mezzo soprano solo).
(L)

Concerto for two trumpets— Vivaldi - one of very few brass solo works of this era (early 1700s).
Why? Baroque trumpets. These were natural at this time i.e. valveless—and different notes are
achieved through lip control (as with a modern bugle). Putting it simply, they were extremely hard
to play and required great skill. Vivaldi starts off with a sparkling opening movement—very typical
Vivaldi—you get the briefest of second movements in a calm languid way, and then more brilliance
from the trumpeters at the end. The standard orchestral trumpeter of today would play this on the
valved trumpets of the modern era, I rather suspect the natural trumpeters of the early 18th
century would call that cheating. (S)

Vespers— Rachmaninoff - apparently Rachmaninoff lost his love of the church at or around the
time he composed the Vespers (1915 when the composer was 42).Rachmaninoff, like his great
predecessor Tchaikovsky, was critical of his own music but the Vespers he considered one of his
favourites. This is Russian Orthodox church music and it can’t fail to move and stir emotions,
whether one is religious or not. The Nunc Dimittis is astonishing in so many respects. I ought to

single out the tenor solo, but actually the bit I
like most is the end—can you believe how low
the basses go? Bottom B flat is the answer.(L)

Tota pulchra es - Plummer - ten out of ten if
you knew this one. I have gone a bit obscure.
Plummer was an English composer during the
reign of Henry VI (so 15th century). Not much of
Plummer’s music survived. During his lifetime
(c1410—c1483) his music did get known widely,
including as far as (the present day) Czech
Republic where this piece itself was copied into
Codex Specialnik (Czech Songbook—around
1500). Plummer’s music is unaccompanied
sacred vocal music. Just listen. (S)

Salve Regina—Melgas - to those of you who
adore sacred unaccompanied choral music, I
offer you this possibly less well-known gem also.
Melgas, a Portugese composer(1638-1700),
wrote this for four equally active parts, each of
which takes the initial plainsong motif at the
opening. The true glory of this piece lies in the
skilful interplay of the motivic material through
parallel writing, sequences, repetition,
suspensions and hocket (an interrupted effect
produced by dividing a melody between two
parts—extraordinary). (S)

The flocks shall leave the mountains from
Acis and Galatea—Handel - Soprano, Tenor
and Bass trio from Handel’s “masque” Acis and
Galatea. The jealous Polyphemus (bass)
interrupts the love between the mortal Acis
(tenor) and sea-nymph Galatea (soprano).
Do listen to the whole work if you have time. (S)

24

100 Years Ago - August 1920

August was the month for the Ashwell Church Choir to have their annual seaside outing. In 1920 the
ventured to Southend-on-Sea. While the rector, Rev Panajotti Webb was off on his holiday he was
replaced by the Rev Hugh & Mrs Hodgson. They were making a welcome return to Ashwell as his
father, the Rev Henry Hodgson, was rector from 1851 to 1892.
Sport for the month of August was as you might expect filled by cricket matches. Ashwell beat
Stotfold away but the 2nd XI lost at home to Radwell. One of the Radwell players needed stitches to
a chin cut and was attended by Dr Woodforde. The first team were beaten by Arlesey and
Biggleswade but had victory over their old adversaries Kryn & Lahy from Letchworth. They ended
the season runners-up in the league. Meanwhile the Football Club was gearing up to their new
season by publishing all the fixtures that had been arranged for the First and Second XIs.
The Ex-Servicemen’s Association AGM was finally held at Three Tuns, after many postponements.
The serious business was sweetened by a programme of entertainments.

Two deaths occurred during the month. Gertrude
Elizabeth Bullock was only 43 and left behind a
family and husband who was a porter at Ashwell
Station. Louise Hollingsworth was a popular
figure who reached the age of 80. She lived in
Gardeners Lane and had been a dressmaker for
many years. The Royston Crow says she was
formerly a Bryant but modern research suggests
her maiden name was Huffer. Her son Fred
served in WW1 despite being already in his 50’s.
The W.I. were again highly active and very well
reported. The proceeds from the Garden Fete
they had held at Bury was divided between the
Nursing Association and the purchase of a piano
and chairs for the village. The monthly Meeting,
at the invite of Mr Page in the garden of
Westbury House, was a feast of games and
entertainment enjoyed by all.

RT HON SIR OLIVER HEALD QC

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
FOR NORTH EAST HERTFORDSHIRE

If you have any concerns please contact me
Email: [email protected]
Telephone : 01462 486074
or look on www.oliverhealdmp.com

25

Ashwell Bees The last statistic I heard was that 10 percent of the
population swelled up badly when stung. I was one of these.
Dear budding beekeepers
There are very few who are in danger of a full blown shock,
This is the end, my last contribution to our second son turned out to be one of them. We were
this excellent newsletter. It all started at loading our hives on to the car roof rack (a beetle vehicle is
some date around 14 years ago when I not a suitable car for beekeeping) when he complained of
volunteered to write a monthly article on being stung on his foot. I thought he was not pulling his
beekeeping. Well, that time has come to weight so I pushed him back into the car and lifted his clothes
an end, which is more to do with my own to see his body covered in piebald patches. I knew what to
aches and pains than it is to do with the do so I fastened the hive on top of the car and set off as
bees. The general condition of the bees is another matter - tenderly as I could for Good Hope Hospital in Birmingham,
both for my bees and for national and international bees. As where we then lived. I parked outside A and E, and was
far as my bees are concerned, I made a bad mistake earlier on greeted by a beautiful young lady who asked me to complete
in the season by trying to make 2 split colonies into 2 viable a form. I said, “He needs an adrenalin injection” but it didn’t
colonies instead of uniting them to make one strong one. So get through. Then she asked for his religion etc, etc. He was
now I think I have 2 hopeless colonies, one stronger one and in hospital for 2 nights but he survived and was another loss
no queen. to beekeeping.

I could start again and buy another nuclear hive but I would We have had several such escapades transporting bees and
have to pay in gold or I could buy a queen (less gold). But a quickly learned the vital principle of “get a trailer and keep
new career doesn’t fit well with my advancing years so I’ll call the car windows closed.” Dorothy has always helped– she is
it in and pedal my bike round the village instead. a good safety officer.

I will just tell you two of my life with the bees. In the beekeeping world I’m known as Sam and in my youth
and in school even by some of the teachers. My brother
It started with our third son’s eighth birthday. The older two David is called Bill. We don’t Know how it happened.
were good sportsmen so they and me were easily entertained
or kept busy. Number 3 had other horizons – mainly girls and Enjoy the honey
music but beekeeping came a close third. All was going well
until he got stung and he hasn’t been near a beehive since. Sam
Fortunately, I’m stubborn and kept going. I got into trouble
with the stings enough to land up in A and E once or twice.

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Contact List

A revised contact list will be published in the September edition. This will take on board data
protection issues and be for “community” contacts. Any commercial contacts should be included in
advertising going forward. The list will be a periodically one (as we are now oversubscribed each
month) hence should be cut out, or kept, for those who wish to refer to it ongoing.

What’s on - Events

As Ashwell returns to its normal level of activity both online and in person, the Ashwell Village News
will once again be listing “What’s On” for its readers. What’s On will be created from the online
Ashwell calendar found at http://localendar.com/public/AshwellCalendar. This means that if
you would like your event or class featured in What’s On, you must first enter your event into the
online calendar - a simple process much like entering a date/reminder on your mobile phone.

Once you go to the link above, you’ll see the calendar and a button labelled “Add Event”. Click on
the Add Event button. Add your email so you can get the confirmation email that allows you to edit
your event. The “Title” box is what will show in the online calendar – make it catchy! In the
“Description” box, enter the details including a description, drink & food information, ticket prices(!)
and contact information. You can also copy and paste your logo and QR code into this space.

Below the Description box is the very important information: the Location, the Date and the Time of
your event. Please make sure you use the am or pm option for setting your time.

Below the Time section are three optional menus, the most important being “This event
repeats”. You can use this to set a repeat by day-of-week, week & month as well as fill in when to
skip a repeating event (such as holiday time).

Publication

Ashwell Village News (AVN) is published by All volunteers can be reached by using the email:
St Mary’s Church, as a service to the
community. [email protected]

Correspondence, articles and advertisements in Deadlines for September’s final article
this magazine are not to be taken as submission:
representing the views of either St Mary’s
Church or of any of the volunteers who produce Ashwell Village News Deadline 15th August
the AVN.
Advertising Deadline 10th August

Our AVN Team of volunteers are: [email protected]

James Boyle Editor Suitable article slots are to be agreed with the
editor at least 2 weeks prior to submission and
Julia Mitchell Advertising preferably the preceding month. Guidelines will
be given to contributors in-line with the 4 Aims
Richard Young Distribution of the Ashwell Village News published in May.
The general subject matter needs to be agreed
Antje Brandtner Layout in advance to prevent repetition across articles.

Mark Eaton Finance

Elizabeth Coldstream What’s on

Want to Advertise?

 All adverts are now automatically in hard copy and on line (eAVN)
 No additional costs to advertisers for eAVN
 eAVN gives clickable* links DIRECTLY to your website from July 2020
 eAVN Bookcase holds all copies from April 2020

 https://tinyurl.com/Ashwell-Village-News

 Free article about your business with every new 6 monthly booking.
Contact Julia Mitchell via [email protected] to find out more.
*subject to advert format

27

The First NYPD Policewomen were
Undercover Sleuths

The Mothers’ Union invites you hear Lizzie Evens speak
about the women of the New York Police Department and
their undercover work in the 1910 and 1920s. Policewomen like Isabella Goodwin, who disguised
herself to surveil a female suspect; posing as a maid; she served three meals a day and scrubbed the
floors, all the while conducting policework by listening “through the keyhole.” Goodwin’s work solved
the $10,000 bank heist and in 1912, she became the first female detective in the US. Using newly
unearthed policing archives, Lizzie tells the fraught histories of women who extended the state’s gaze
into spaces that eluded male officers. On the one hand, the male-dominated profession exploited its
female members, yet on the other, policewomen extended the surveillance of some of the most
marginalised women in society in pursuit of professional advance. Women like Eve Adams, who ran
a queer tearoom in Greenwich Village, which policewomen investigated and raided in 1926.

Lizzie is a PhD candidate and Wolfson scholar at University College London and recipient of the
University of Oxford’s Olwen Hufton prize. Hear the stories of Isabella, Eve and others at

Join us at 10.30am on Thursday 10th September in St Mary’s Church.

What is healthy eating? lie about what they/we eat, both to ourselves and
to researchers. But fundamentally, the problem
With many diet-related conditions among the risk seems to lie with sustainability. Most people, most
factors for causing Covid-19 to become very of the time, simply cannot stay on any diet long
serious, healthy eating is in the spotlight. But what enough to have any real positive impact on their
is healthy eating really? Everyone has an opinion weight or health.
and your results may vary.
Why’s that then?
Diet-related risks
A toxic food environment
According to the World Health Organisation and
many national health bodies around the world, The problem appears to be focused on what passes
having a high body mass index (BMI) of 40+, heart for “food” in the 21st Century. Most of what people
conditions, diabetes and some liver diseases put an eat these days is processed and manufactured,
individual at higher risk from the virus. constructed of carefully balanced mixtures of sugar
(and other simple carbs such as reconstituted
This whole episode is putting “healthy eating” in the potato starch and other unknown substances with
spotlight of course, but it’s also highlighting that the long names), salt and artificial fats (“vegetable”
experts don’t all agree and the advice has been oils). They are blended together in such a way as to
changing over the last five years. One of the more be irresistible. We are all addicted to this food
interesting developments has been the creeping making it impossible to stop eating it.
acceptance by the medical establishment that
dietary fat isn’t the risk factor once thought, for If you don’t believe me, just try going 24 or 48
example. But with all the claims and counter claims, hours without any sugar. Good luck, read labels,
what are normal people to do? there are 50+ sneaky names for sugar in our food,
and your cravings will kick off in just a few hours.
Decision time
Talking about “whole” foods
A lot goes into an individual’s decision about what
to eat, taking into consideration health, money, the Most nutrition authorities and diets do tend to agree
environment and moral decisions around eating on one thing then: we should all eat less processed
animal products. This article can only really address and manufactured foods, regardless of being
the health portion of this calculus, as other vegetarian/vegan, low carb, high carb,
considerations are personal decisions. I’m happy to Mediterranean, GI etc. My solution (and again this is
discuss those at the pub, when they open! not advice), has been to completely and radically
give up on all processed foods.
A basic guiding principle: n=1
I mainly eat whole vegetables, some whole fruits
I do get asked a lot about my diet and approach to (no modern sugary hybrids, only wild fruits like
health since I lost all the weight over five years ago berries) and healthy unprocessed (often wild) meat.
now, and have managed to keep it off. Specifically “Processed” for me includes anything that’s milled,
people ask if there is rule of thumb that anyone can blended or otherwise processed, such as flour, fruit
follow. In a word, no. The research is suggesting an juices, sugars/syrups and so on. I generally only eat
incredible diversity of human metabolism levels and truly “whole” food most of the time (except on my
reactions to dietary changes. No two people will ev- birthday, Christmas and sometimes on holiday) in
er respond the same to any given approach to diet its unprocessed natural state. Reducing processed
or exercise. So you have to conduct an foods is something anyone on almost any diet can
“n=1”experiment (where you are the only subject) do to improve their health. I lost 23 kg in fat when I
on yourself to find out what works for you. You can did this, with improvements in several health
always go to nutrition professional that can test you markers from blood pressure to cholesterol to liver
and guide you to an approach that will match your function. I’ll never go back, that’s for sure.
metabolism.
Ask your GP
The research available suggests that the overly
simplistic notion that all you have to do is “eat less As always, if you are ill or in any way vulnerable,
and move more” may not work for some people … consult your doctor before making any big changes
perhaps most. Nutrition research is really hard to do to your diet.
without locking people up because they/we tend to
Andy Skeen

28

Ashwell St Mary

Creation of The Tower Flood Lighting

It was in the early 1980's the Rector, the Rev. John Mullett, the Church
Warden Peter Pidduck, and Eric Gurney were in discussion with regard
to the possibility of flood lighting the Church Tower. There was one
question, 'How might it look?'

This is were I, Peter John Gates became involved since I was in
Professional Photography and had the knowledge, therefore they asked
me to create a flood lit image of the Tower.

On an October Friday evening, choir in full throttle rehearsing, Eric and
I stood in the churchyard, in the dark beside Church Path. People
walking through must have wondered what we were doing in the
Churchyard, there were no lights on us! The images you see are those
that I produced at that time.

The photographs were taken before the arrival of digital cameras,
therefore I used my faithful 1926 Thornton Pickard wooden half plate
camera, 61/2'x43/4'inch film size, and for lighting I used one 800w
Redhead flood light. This lamp would also allow me to use it as a semi
spot light which meant I could concentrate some of the light to the top
of the Tower.

Initially we placed the lamp to light the East face of the Tower. I was
therefore able to see the subject, so under a darkcloth I could look at it
on the ground glass screen which was the view finder, and focus the
subject with the aid of a magnifying glass to make sure the photograph
would be sharp.

Then I put the film in the camera - only one chance with these
cameras!

Finally I was in a position to take the picture, exposure calculated by
experience to be 20 minutes at f16 using a 120mm wide angle lens.
Having got to 20 minutes, without touching the camera I went to the
Redhead lamp and moved it to light the South face of the Tower. A fur-
ther 20 minutes later I went back to the camera and closed the shutter.

The photograph was taken, and yes it did take 40 minutes.

After which the 4 of us got into a car and drove up to Newnham Hill to look at the Tower flood lit,
instant reaction, 'Yes'.

Meanwhile behind closed doors re-fitting has CALL GEORGIE: 07925 061914
been going on so when you can come again it
will be a new experience. Recently I have
been putting clocks back on the wall which
has led me to think about this month’s object.
It is something that is rather mundane but
typifies cottage life and would be lost to our
knowledge if we did not collect them.

Object of the Month:

American Clock

So called American Clocks were very popular in the later part of the 19th
Century. Comparatively inexpensive they were often given as wedding gifts
and every cottage aspired to one. The internal movements were mass
produced in the United States. The five we have in the museums were all
made by the Ansonia Brass Co. Connecticut. Imported to the UK they were
assembled into appropriate wooden cases often with handpainted glass fronts.

29

Basically Bikes

This is the third Ashwell Village News article on cycling, the aim is to
chat about various aspects of the sport/pastime and is aimed at those
with families and/or who are relatively new. I’ve started out with
aspects of bike maintenance and route planning, as well as some
advice on kit. I will develop these themes further and also talk about the wider sport.

Punctures are a part of cycling and shouldn’t be viewed as a catastrophic end to a trip out. When one
occurs on a ride I’d hope that you’ve got a spare, new, tube in your saddle bag, tyre levers, tools to
take the relevant wheel off and tyre levers. This is all part of the preparation to go cycling. The first
step is to find somewhere safe to work, away from traffic and if possible where you can sit down. Bus

shelters, church yards and parks are good for this. I’ll write more about
what to do in later issues but for now you should know how to remove
either wheel from your bike including how to release the brake to allow the
tyre to pass through, so that the wheel comes cleanly away from the bike.
Releasing the wheel is either by releasing the quick release lever or
undoing, but not removing the two retaining nuts.

Quick Release Lever The jury is ‘out’ on how to position your bike during this first part of the
operation. Some years ago a blog was started in the States on which it’s

members discussed ‘How to Look Good Whilst Cycling’. This evolved into a

number of ‘rules’ of which Rule#49 is relevant here but I would say at this

stage it’s okay to put your bike upside down but please be aware that rough

sufaces can damage your saddle and handle bar covering. The rules are in

the link below, they are very much tongue in cheek, and I don’t agree with

some of them. Be aware there is a small amount of bad language.

Tyre Levers http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/comment-page-8/

My second off road route is a short but more testing one than last month.

Starting at the back of the school take the footpath along Ashwell Street which runs next to an past

the new small housing development and onto the Ashwell Street track proper. At the end turn left,

uphill. About half way up turn right across the field towards Arbury Banks. The Bridleway passes to

the rear of the iron age fort with great views across three counties. After a short descent there is a

junction in pathways, Take the Bridleway that passes above the small wood and follow this until the

end of the trees. Turn right and go downhill, past the farm buildings and down to the road. A quick

left and right sees you pedalling hard up hill to the junction in pathways where you turn right to start

your return to the village. Rejoin the road the road at the junction of Hinxworth Road and Newnham

Way, cross the junction and go up hill to re join Ashwell Street where you originally came out.

If you have any ideas on topics for this column or questions, please send them to
[email protected] and I’ll try to include them in my articles.

Richard M.

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