Bernard Maguire

Friday Knights French trip 2022

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KEEPING UP THE TRADITION

As has been the practice for many years, The Friday Knights took their October meeting in France. At one time the outing looked difficult to arrange, the cost of coach hire was prohibitive and anxieties of an early start, late finish and mobility was a deterrent to some members.

However, the memories of past excursions, the special cuisine of ‘Chez Jules’, the post meal gathering at ‘Hamiot’ in the harbour of Boulogne and the bonhomie with friends on the ferry, proved too good to lose.

So a smaller group of ‘pilgrims’ decided to travel by car (non-drinking drivers deserve special thanks) and the traditional October meeting went ahead. It was good to have some of the younger Knights with us, all safely back in Shirley before 10pm. We hope when we repeat the visit next year, that a few more of our regulars re-join in the special event of the FK calendar, together with new members from the St John’s congregation.

Our November meeting will be a Wine experience. Eight wines to sample and identify in the Tamberlin Room on November 11th. New-comers especially welcome.

Footnote: I pinned the photos on the Tamberlin Room notice board and took down a note from a 2019 trip to France when we had 36 Knights on the coach. The report by Chris Wood also noted the previous year when we had an illegal immigrant found hiding under the coach and our usual traditional singalong on the return coach journey.  bm

A new Cherub has arrived

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As you enter St. John’s churchyard from Spring Park Road you will see on your right a refurbished memorial, now mounted by a cherub.

It is timely and appropriate that this cherub should appear this autumn, as we are about to launch the new “Churchyard Trail” highlighting Trees and Biblical planting which has been undertaken this year. Appropriate because Cherubim (second highest ranking of angels, following Seraphim), are mentioned in the Bible, (Genesis 3.24), as guardians of the Garden of Eden.

 It is a fortunate co-incidence really because the stone masons we use at St John’s carried out the refurbishment on the same day that they attended to undertake some essential health and safety work on unstable memorials in the churchyard.

It is worth noting that we have a regular programme of inspection of the stability of the headstones to fulfil our insurance public liability within the churchyard. The headstones and grave plot maintenance remain the responsibility of the families of those buried here. However, many graves are very old and it is often difficult to trace these families and as a safety measure until they are identified we are advised to lay down any hazardous stonework. 

Bernard

A Shropshire Lad

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Photo by Lottie Maguire Easter 2020 St John’s Churchyard

A Shropshire Lad  2: Loveliest of trees, the cherry now

By A. E. Housman

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now

Is hung with bloom along the bough,

And stands about the woodland ride

Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now, of my threescore years and ten,

Twenty will not come again,

And take from seventy springs a score,

It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom

Fifty springs are little room,

About the woodlands I will go

To see the cherry hung with snow.

I Watched a Blackbird By Thomas Hardy

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Bernard

Bernard has Shared this with us.

I watched a blackbird on a budding sycamore
One Easter Day, when sap was stirring twigs to the core;
        I saw his tongue, and crocus-coloured bill
        Parting and closing as he turned his trill;
        Then he flew down, seized on a stem of hay,
And upped to where his building scheme was under way,
As if so sure a nest was never shaped on spray.

Thanks

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Sheila would like to send thanks to all those who donated to the cancer charities recently

Male Voice Choir

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Concert at St Johns – Saturday 13th April

Raising funds for Demelza Hospice Care for Children at 7.30pm

For more information on the Demelza Hospice please look at the website https://www.demelza.org.uk/

Tickets £10 include a glass of wine or juice. Available at the door

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