VICAR’S LETTER
My dear friends
Last month I illustrated what I wanted to say by finding a moral in the good
behaviour of my ducks. This month I want to use them again for quite another
purpose. Besides the laying duck, I managed to hatch out eight little ones,
which are growing up nicely. One has to take quite a lot of care of them when
they are small; plenty of water, regular meals, exercise and a clean house,
etc. And then came the day of the church fete, and everybody from the vicarage
was out. We came back to find only six little ducks. A few days later I went
out on a Saturday afternoon to Lydney to play cricket—and came back to
find five little ducks. Of course there are all sorts of ways in which they
could disappear, and I hate to think they were stolen, but it is strange that
the disappearances took place on days when there was nobody about to watch
them, and strange that no trace of feathers, etc. remained to show they had
been killed.
So to my moral! My little ducks are no more nor less valuable to me than the
birds or animals, of some kind, which almost everybody keeps in the country.
Some of my readers have probably had similar experiences. At this time of year,
people who possess fruit trees know how tempting a bait they are to children
(and some people seem to continue to be children for a very long time!).
In fact it is surprising how many people, who would hate to be called a “thief
and who would not attempt to burgle a house, or steal on the large scale (which
involves, I suppose, much more courage as well as risk of being caught) will
be guilty of such petty stupid little thefts and dishonesties.
I believe it is a sign of the times. Partly because we are hedged about by
so many restrictions, so many controls and rationings etc, that we are tempted
to get round them if we can! Partly because the love of adventure is natural
in most normal people. But small things lead to bigger, and it is only a few
steps from taking apples from a tree to robbing a bank—and the newspapers
constantly remind us of the great amount of theft, dishonesty and similar crimes
which happen today.
What can we do about it? Two things, I think. The one is to realise that “juvenile
crime” ought generally to be called “parental crime.” The
child “criminal” is usually a boy or girl who gets into trouble
for want of something better to do. It is the responsibility of parents especially,
but also of all grown-ups, to help children to make good use of their natural
zest for adventure and excitement, by helping them to find suitable outlets
for it.
Secondly, we who profess to be Christians must realise that we have a great
responsibility to resist temptations to little dishonesties. It is often very
difficult. But if we stand firm, we can help those who are wavering, by setting
them a better example. It may be difficult, but when we pray “Thy will
be done” we must realise that God’s will is not being done, and
His law is being broken on a very wide scale in these ways today. As Christians
we must strive to keep His laws of honesty and truth, and by doing so we shall
help others to follow suit more than we can possibly realise.
Yours sincerely in Our Lord,
Charles Vernon, vicar.
FROM THE PARISH REGISTER
HOLY BAPTISM
July 31.—John Nelmes, Saunders Green,
Aug. 7.—Terence Malcolm Phillips, Aylburton Rd., Lydney.
Aug.14.—.Jeanette Hilda May Nyland, 2, Bowson Road.
Aug. 21, .— Ann Rees, The Eaves.
Aug.21.—Glyn Richards, 35, Parkend Road.
HOLY MATRIMONY
July 23.—Russell Kenneth Preece (Woodside, Bream) and Iris Markey (Lydney).
July 30.—Maurice Burford (Coleford) and Iris Lilian Baker (The Tufts.
Bream).
HOLY BURIAL
July 24.—Carnation Johns of Horrill Hill House, aged 83.
July 29.—Tom Yearsley, of Clements End, aged 59.
Aug. 4.—Jane Jenkins, of Parkend Road, aged 77.
Aug. l2,—Esme Clare Eacott, of Stroud, aged 30.
SACRED CONCERT AND CHURCH SERVICE AT THE SCOWLES
Now Bream has, its own male voice choir once again, and, under the very
able leadership of Mrs. Davies and with a keen muster of members, it
is rapidly becoming a very good choir, of which the village may be proud.
By the time this is printed, the choir will have taken part in the open
competition in Lydney. I hope it will do well, but I hope it will not
be disappointed if it does not; building up a good team is the secret
of any success, and that must take a little while, and with patience
I am sure that the future prospects are bright.
Therefore I am very glad that the choir are coming to give their services,
together with church choir and congregation, at the service and concert at
the devil’s chapel on August 28th. Given fine weather, it should be a
very inspiring occasion. It is true that we are holding it rather late in the
summer this year, but that is only a start, and I hope very much that, continuing
the happy and friendly relationships between church and choir, we shall make
this an annual event for many years to come. C.V.
OUTINGS
Though the weather for our fete was so unfortunate, we could not have wished
for better days for the Sunday school and choir outings.
The Sunday School outing was to Barry Island once more, Nearly 150 of us packed
into four coaches, and the journey was carried out safely and without delay
both ways. The standard of singing in the writer’s coach was not very
high, but quite energetic. The others probably held their own. We reached Barry
Island to find the tide low, and plenty of room on the sands for all of us,
as well as several thousand other people who shared the same idea. Most of
us had a very good tea together at Rowe’s cafe, and having spent the
afternoon mainly on the beach, swimming, paddling, making castles and burying
father in the sand, most of the children found their way to the amusement park
after tea. The choir nearly earned themselves a new vicar, by giving the present
one a heart attack on the scenic railway. Various prizes were won on the sideshows
and stalls, nobody got seriously lost, and we all started for home in good
spirits which prevailed to the end.
The Choir outing, on the following Thursday, was equally enjoyed. We reached
Cheltenham in time to visit the swimming pool before tea, and were then entertained
at the Theatre, especially by the clever thought-reading of Mr. Fogel, and,
as usual, came home singing.
CHURCH FETE
It was unfortunate that, after rejecting various earlier dates which clashed
with other local events, we eventually chose a date which happened to be
one of the wettest of this summer!
All the more credit to the many people who worked so hard and so successfully
to make a success of what might easily have been a failure.
So the net profit was £42 l0s and despite the weather we had a very enjoyable
afternoon. Just as the first organisers reached the field at about 2.30 the
rain began; and it needed little local knowledge to see that it was likely
to continue. It was hopeless to postpone so much good food would have had to
be wasted, and the children would have been disappointed, so we were grateful
to Mr. and Mrs. Hancocks for offering the use of their skittle alley. It did
not take long to carry everything over, and the stalls and sideshows, though
rather cramped, managed to carry on very well. At intervals, when the rain
cleared a little, we managed to have some of the children’s races and
competitions outside on the Tump, and the skittles competition organisers were
kept busy well into the evening.
Well done everybody. Let us hope for better weather next year!
RECEIPTS
£ s. d.
Nigger minstrels ..............................7 18 7
Draw for sherry and cigarettes .........3 6 6
Lucky wheel .. .. .............................7 14 2
Penny-board ...................................2 3 3
Skittles ...........................................6 17 8
Refreshments , ................................4 6 9
Gate money .. .. .............................1 14 0
Fancy and cake stall ......................18 12 0
Sundry draws and Competitions ....13 17 0
Sales ..............................................2 8 10
Donations .......................................1 0 0
__________________
£69 18 7
EXPENSES
Prizes for competitions races, etc.12 18 0
Refreshments ...............................1 7 10
Baby prize
Mowing field. ..................................10 6
Hire of tent ....................................8 0 0
Skittles prize .................................1 0 0
Hire of tables ...................................7 6
Hire of loudspeaker.................... 1 14 8
Sundry expenses ...........................19 9
___________________
Nett profit £69 18 7
HARVEST THANKSGIVING
Harvest Thanksgiving services this year are planned as follows:—
Thursday, September 22nd. Holy Communion 7.30, Evensong 7.0. Sunday, September
25th. Holy Communion 8.0, Sung Eucharist 10.0, Children’s Service 3.0,
Evensong 6.30.
Gifts and decorations should be brought to the church in good time on Wednesday,
21st. or Saturday 24th.
Parents are asked to encourage the children to bring a harvest offering to
the special children’s festival service in the afternoon. The children
will join in procession at the church gate and carry their goods into church
to present them at the altar.
Sunday School arrangements for September:
Sept. 4 in church;
Sept, 11—18 at day school;
Sept. 25 (festival), in church
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