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STEEP AND STROUD
NEWSLETTER
NO 531 MAY 2015
Those who keep in touch with the
Bedales Arts programme through its
termly brochure, or monitor the en-
tertainment pages of the local
press, will be aware that Bedales
Gallery celebrated its twenty-fifth
anniversary in January.
Bedales Gallery came about through
an initiative of the Heads of Art &
Design at Bedales, George Hatton
and Martin Box, who persuaded the
then Headmaster and Governors
that the new Design building, de-
signed by Jon Barnsley, should in-
clude a purpose-built gallery for tem-
porary exhibitions. The intention was
to have a worthy space for exhibiting
the students’ work but also to pro-
vide inspiration for the students and
the wider school community through
presentation of professional work
across a wide range of arts and
crafts disciplines. There was also a
very clear wish to open more of the
School’s facilities to the local com-
munity. Of course, local friends of
BEDALES GALLERY
CONTENT
25 YEARS AGO page 3
DIARY DATES page 4
USEFUL CONTACTS page 6
STEEP/STROUD NEWS page 7
CHURCH NEWS page 18
SERVICE TIMES back page
2
the school had attended concerts
and plays for many years but the
opening of the Gallery started to
move this engagement with the cul-
tural life of the wider community to
a new level.
The Gallery has celebrated local
connections, for example in its exhi-
bitions of furniture from the Edward
Barnsley Workshop and the special
exhibition by Alan Peters, another
distinguished furniture designer and
maker, originally from Petersfield
and trained at the Froxfield work-
shop.
Many local artists and makers have
exhibited over the years, including
William Pullen, Mary Herdman and
Anita Gellatly, alongside group
shows proposed by consortiums of
artists and makers from across the
region.
The Gallery’s wide brief across art
and design has also been well-
served by links with local individuals
and businesses. An exhibition on
the Principles and Practice of Flight
enjoyed the support and participa-
tion of a number of local clubs, soci-
eties and individual experts. Roy
Aylieff, late of Steep and Langrish
Tooling Products, masterminded a
memorable exhibition on the Design
and Technology of the Racing Bicy-
cle. Paul Martin, of Paul Martin De-
sign in Petersfield, initiated a distin-
guished series of exhibitions and
lectures by internationally acclaimed
designers and artists, including Alan
Fletcher, Richard Seymour, Quentin
Blake and David Gentleman.
In this way, Bedales hopes that it
has helped to enrich the life of the
local community for all who are in-
terested in sharing this work, which
also extended to great names such
as Picasso, Kollwitz, Hockney and
Goya, among others, in the visiting
Hayward Gallery touring exhibitions.
An almost unbroken series of term-
time exhibitions has been open free
of charge on weekday afternoons
and Saturday mornings in a Gallery
conveniently situated on the outer
fringe of the campus, by the main
car park.
Having dipped its toe in the water
with the Gallery in 1990, the Be-
dales Arts programme was well and
truly launched with the opening of
the Theatre in 1996. But that is an-
other story…
John Barker
Arts Programme Co-ordinator
Bedales
3
25 YEARS AGO DID YOU SEE any of the London Marathon on Sunday
22nd [1990]? Somewhere among the 25,450 runners
where Ivan Marshall, the Chef at Bedales, and Da-
vid Laws, Bedales Lab. Technician. Ivan’s time
was 3 hrs. 23.49, nearly 30 minutes faster than
last year, and he hopes to have raised about
£1,300 towards the cost of a portable ultrasound
scanner for Queen Alexandra Hospital. David’s
time was 3 hrs. 59.40, with a sponsorship total
of over £400 for Imperial Cancer Research Fund.
Well done both runners! H.E.G.
STEEP SCHOOL We are pleased to welcome the new
Head Teacher of Steep School, Mrs. Helen Wilson.
Mrs. Wilson has already met many of the parents
on her visits to the School, and hopes to meet
everyone at the Summer Fair on 12th May.
A NEW CRICKET SEASON is upon us, and Steep will
have played the first home game before this ap-
pears in print. Much work has been taking place
at the ground during the close season, including
the provision of a permanent net wicket. The
League, Sunday and ‘Village’ teams will be cap-
tained by Rudi Antrobus, Andrew Wilson and Phil
Gibbs respectively. They, or the Club Chairman,
Rollo Wicksteed would welcome news of local play-
ers or supporters of the Club.
The League team has home matches on May 5th
and 19th. Sunday games are against Buriton, South
Bersted and Chawtoon. Stamford Veitch’s XI are
the visitors on May 26th. If the weather’s right
why not come and watch? H.E.G.
4
STEEP FILM SOCIETY Saturday 2 May GRAVITY staring
George Clooney and Sandra Bullock
as a doctor and engineer left adrift
in orbit following an accident.
Friday 15 May is THE IMITATION
GAME. Benedict Cumberbatch stars
in the story of Alan Turin’s achieve-
ment and untimely death.
Saturday 30 May - WHAT WE DID ON
OUR HOLIDAY. David Tennant and
Rosamund Pike play the put-upon
parents of three kids in Scotland.
Start 8pm at Steep Village Hall.
Cash bar from 7.30pm.
Tickets from Sheila Fairley -
269339. ALL WELCOME
but must book ahead
WHITE HORSE WALKS 2015
On Sunday 3rd of May - see page 17
BEDALES OLIVIER THEATRE
8.00pm Tuesday 5 May
Jazz series - THE PRINTMAKERS
Norma Winstone – vocals
Nikki Iles – piano
Mike Walker – guitar
Mark Lockheart – sax
Steve Watts – bass
James Maddren – drums
7.30pm Tuesday 2 June
KATHAKALI
A vibrant, sensuous feast of ancient
and culturally significant dance the-
atre performed by a company of
renowned international artists from
Kerala, the home of Kathakali in
India, visiting the UK after major
tours of the United States and
France. [email protected]
PLANT SALE AT
LITTLE HAWSTEAD
On Saturday 9th May there will be a
Plant Sale in aid of Steep Flower
Show. This will be at 69, Church
Road, 10.30 - 12 noon. The aim is
to provide a good array of bedding
plants, vegetables, shrubs etc. Come
and enjoy this social event with refresh-
ments available. Any plant donations
gratefully received at Little
Hawstead on Thursday 7th May.
Frankie North - 263435
CHRISTIAN AID COFFEE
MORNING To raise funds for this vital charity
there will be a Coffee Morning on
Tuesday 12th May at Tithe Barn,
102 Church Road, Steep. Please do
come and meet your friends and
enjoy the garden if fine. 10.00 to
12.00.
David Storey - 265591
DIARY DATES
5
STROUD EVENING WI 12 May - Annual Meeting and
Resolutions at Steep Village Hall at
7.30 p.m.
Enquiries: Pauline Cook - 263406
WELCOME CLUB Thursday 14th May - 3.30pm at the Village Hall. Games followed by tea and chat.
Thursday 28th May - Tea with Jane Jonathan at Sheet House. Meet at 3.15pm at Steep Village Hall to car share.
Heather Maybury - 266855
& Judy Thompson - 267362
THE HANGERS GARDEN CLUB Monday, 18th May – a visit to Jo
Dunbar’s herbal garden – 19 North
Stroud Lane. Jo Dunbar is a Medi-
cal Herbalist who founded Botanica
Medica in 2003.
Contact - Jocelyn Hooton - 261339
STROUD PARISH COUNCIL
MEETING
Stroud Parish Council Meeting and
AGM – Tuesday 19 May 2015 at
7.30 pm at Langrish School Hall.
PLEASE NOTE NEW VENUE
COPY FOR THE JUNE NEWSLETTER
by midday on Wednesday 20 May To David Dobson at Downgate Cottage, Steep Marsh, GU32 2BE
Or [email protected] and [email protected]
FOR STROUD to Jeremy Mitchell at Fairlands, Finchmead Lane,
Stroud GU32 3PF or [email protected] - tel. 267214
The format will be sharing a meal
together in various homes in Steep,
in small groups of six or eight.
Groupings of guests and venue will
change with each course, and eve-
rything finishes at the Vicarage with
puddings and coffee. The aim is
that we get to know each other a
little better and enjoy sharing hospi-
tality.
Tickets will be £10 per head, and it
is planned to contribute profits to
charity. Tickets will soon be on sale
and all are most welcome.
Jane Owen - 264282
STROUD AFTERNOON WI 21 May - AGM and Resolutions
Details Georgina Cowdrey - 300816
Steep Safari Supper
6
BEDALES OPEN EVENING FOR
STEEP COMMUNITY – 9 JUNE Bedales School is holding its fourth
annual Open Evening for Steep resi-
dents on 9 June 2015 at 7pm. All
members of the local community are
warmly invited. The event will take
place in the school’s Orchard Build-
ing and refreshments will be provid-
ed.
Keith Budge, Headmaster and Rich-
ard Lushington, Bursar, will provide
short updates on developments and
future plans at Bedales Senior, Prep
and Pre-prep Schools, and there will
be ample opportunity for questions
and discussion.
The school encourages all local resi-
dents to come along to find out
more about the Bedales Schools.
FROXFIELD CHOIR
Froxfield Choir’s annual Summer
Concert will be on Saturday
13th June at 7.30pm at Holy Trinity,
Privett. The programme includes
John Rutter’s Gloria, in celebration
of the composer’s 70th birthday, as
well as Songs and Sonnets with mu-
sic by George Shearing and words
by William Shakespeare and Mo-
zart’s Spatzenmesse. Enjoy drinks
outside before the performance and
during the interval. Tickets available
from One Tree Books, Petersfield.
£15 (£12 students).
www.froxfieldchoir.co.uk
SAVE THE DATE – STROUD
REVELS
This year’s Revels will be held on
Saturday 27 June at New Buildings
Farm, with the kind permission of
the Winscom family. Whilst it will be
hard to beat the success of last
year’s event, Stroud’s finest are
working hard to come up with an
equally attractive programme that
will appeal to all.
USEFUL CONTACTS Newsletter: David Dobson 261344 [email protected]
Steep Village website: www.steepvillage.com
Steep Parish Clerk: Jenny Hollington 267784
Stroud Parish Clerk: [email protected]
Stroud Village website: www.stroudvillage.co.uk
Village Hall: Rachel Goodchild Swan 264150
7
STROUD IN A REGIONAL
CONTEXT
In view of other Roman / Romano-
British sites in the region there is
the possibility of a joint project in-
volving members of Petersfield Ar-
chaeological Group and Liss Archae-
ological Group to include Stroud,
Liss, Colemore, Queen Elizabeth
Country Park and Froxfield within a
circle of investigation. This will start
with a research project to gain a
better understanding of the relation-
ship between all of the Roman mon-
uments within that radius, to give us
a greater insight into the level of
importance of each site and putting
each in a wider regional context.
With regard to Stroud, this could
involve taking a look over the
stream to the south of the Villa site
to establish whether there is a road
running past the south entrance of
the Villa, and if there is a connecting
road running north south from the
entrance. It will also be interesting
to know whether any remains were
not detected by Moray-Williams,
particularly behind the bath-house
and around the north western en-
trance of the Villa. This can be
looked at with geophysics, but some
background archive work will also
be necessary as part of the project.
Within the wider circle of other sites
such as the roman site at Ridge-
hanger Lane, a possible banjo en-
closure (so called because of its
banjo-like shape) and the nearby
bank and ditch system known as the
Froxfield entrenchments, as well as
the Roman site in the Queen Eliza-
beth Country Park, can also be re-
searched. It would be good to able
to see if there is a road connection
from the Stroud and Liss sites up
over the South Downs towards the
Roman site at Colemore.
As part of this investigation one of
the immediate areas of research
would be to create a photographic
record and survey of the sites as
they currently look. Some compari-
son can then be made with some of
the sites that are mentioned in the
Williams-Freeman 1915 edition of
‘Fieldwork in Hampshire’.
There is a farm to the north of the
Roman villa which may have an Iron
Age connection. This could be inves-
tigated as another possible banjo
enclosure to establish any possible
connection it has to Stroud.
As part of this research area it will
also be necessary to look at the
STEEP AND STROUD NEWS
8
more recent past and investigate
the size and siting of the brickworks
and the prisoner of war camp that
existed in Stroud during WWII.
With regard to the geophysical in-
vestigation, initial contact has been
made with both English Heritage to
gain permission and to Liss mem-
bers to help with the Geophysical
aspect of the investigation. Once the
requisite permissions have been
acquired a date can then be fixed.
It will be an exciting, wide-ranging
piece of research that can involve a
great deal of participation and from
it we can expect to gain a much
greater idea of what has been going
on in our district in the past.
Jeremy Mitchell would also like to
hear from anyone interested in as-
sisting in the project when it gets
going, and further details will also
be published on the village website
in due course.
With thanks to Peter Price
(Petersfield Archaeological Group)
who wrote most of this article.
STEEP FLOWER SHOW. 30TH
AUGUST 2015
The Flower Show may still be be four
months away but it is time to start
planning. There are some changes
to the schedule, and to give you a
chance to start thinking, here are
the details. In the pot plants, pelar-
gonium replaces begonia and in the
novelty section we have a black
flower instead of a green one. In
flower arranging the subjects are,
The Magna Carta (max.60 cm), an
Arrangement in a Teacup, and for
men only an arrangement entitled
"Rugby World Cup". In the Domestic
Section classes 77 to 80 will be an
open French apple flan, a lemon
drizzle cake - round, 4 crumpets and
for men only 4 Welsh cakes.
For photography the three subjects
are Opulence, Time and Trees and
for children 16 years and under,
Summer Holiday.
In the children's classes 104 is re-
placed by a belt, 105 - a decorated
flower pot, 108 - sprouting seeds in
an interesting container and 110 - 6
cheese straws.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Joint Secretaries,
Susie Cave 263702
and Judy Thompson 267362
9
COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S
REPORT FOR APRIL
Hampshire County Council has tak-
en action over the last few months
to help to alleviate the pressures on
the local hospitals by supplying ex-
tra funds to provide additional nurs-
ing home beds, occupational thera-
pists and physiotherapy staff to ac-
celerate recuperation and recovery.
This is on top of extra money for
social care packages. In the last
year the County Council teams dealt
with 14,000 hospital discharges.
However, discharge from hospital is
a very complex problem, which re-
quires a number of agencies work-
ing together.
Despite 700 voluntary redundancies
last year, the County Council had to
employ 900 extra employees be-
cause of work taken on from other
authorities. The Council now com-
pletes some £100 m of external
work a year, which not only helps to
keep the council teams working, but
also gives them a greater variety of
work.
Bill Murphy, who is the managing
director of next Generation Access,
responsible for the provision of su-
perfast broadband in Hampshire,
addressed the County Council last
week. East Hampshire is still the
district with the lowest coverage in
Hampshire, though the coverage
has increased from 62% to 92% in
the last few years and has almost
caught up with the other districts.
Currently the take-up is 19.4%,
which is in the top 5 local authori-
ties in the UK. Take-up is all im-
portant, since when it reaches 30%
that triggers another £2m invest-
ment from BT.
By the end of 2015, 95% of house-
holds will be able to get broadband
and there will be a satellite service
for the 1% of those remotest from
the system. Experiments are contin-
uing for those between these 2 lim-
its with smaller and less complex
connection boxes. There are also
some community self-funding
groups in Hampshire, but they tend
to need a high take-up to be viable.
The Highways Team have recently
brought two high speed patching
machines into the county for the
next 3 months, and they have the
capability to repair a pothole in a
few minutes. In this area they will be
working in Hawkley and Empshott.
Finally, by the time this newsletter is
published, Church Road, Steep
should have been resurfaced.
Vaughan Clarke 268 206
10
STANLEY SPENCER AND STEEP
John Owen’s mention of the artist
Stanley Spencer’s painting in last
month’s newsletter, caused me to
investigate the time that Stanley
spent living in here our village of
Steep.
Born in Cookham, Berkshire, in
1891, Stanley grew to be just 5 feet
2 inches tall, but was very much an
individual, showing artist prowess
from a young age. After a period at
the Slade School of Art, Stanley saw
service in WWI. In 1915 he joined
the Royal Army Medical Corps and
initially was posted to Beaufort Hos-
pital Bristol before being sent to
Macedonia. The sights he met dur-
ing the war filled his head with imag-
es, many of which later appeared in
his art. On his return to Cookham in
1919, Stanley found it difficult to
paint after his experiences.
He spent time painting in a boat
house belonging to the Slessors at
Bourne End, near Cookham and
then Stanley was invited by the war
artist Muirhead Bone to stay in
Steep. Muirhead Bone was an artist
himself, but he also acted as an
agent in commissioning work and
encouraging young artists. In Steep,
Bone lived at the junction of Ashford
Lane and Island Farm Lane, in a
house named Byways, which still
exists today. Stanley was offered the
sum of £120 to teach Muirhead
Bone’s son Stephen to paint. He
was also offered £250 to paint mu-
rals at the newly completed Steep
Village Memorial Hall. There was the
possibility of a further commission
for work at Bedales School. Stanley
duly arrived in July 1921 and stayed
with Muirhead Bone’s family until
December. While there, Stanley pro-
duced three drawings of music clas-
ses taking place in the Lupton Hall
at Bedales, intended as part of a
decorative scheme for the school.
Stanley was intensely inquisitive
and he also enjoyed talking at
length about himself and his ideas.
As a result he may perhaps have
become a little wearying as a house
guest. Matters came to a head in
the Bone household when Stanley
spotted on the hall table a post card
addressed to the Bone family. He
couldn’t resist having a look at it
and found that the card was from
artist Francis Dodd inviting the
Bones to visit Oxford and asking
them to bring Stanley with them.
Perhaps it was the last of a string of
incidents, as Mrs Bone was not
pleased by Stanley’s inquisitiveness,
accusing him of pilfering her mail.
Stanley was thus asked to leave the
Bone household. He was horrified by
the prospect of supporting himself,
but duly found lodgings elsewhere in
Steep, with a Mrs New.
11
The 1911 census lists Walter New
and his wife Elizabeth as living at
Blenheim House, in what is now
Church Road. This house is almost
opposite Steep Village Hall, where
Stanley had been promised a com-
mission. If Mrs New was still living at
this same house in 1921, it would
seem a convenient place for Stanley
to lodge while he undertook the Vil-
lage Hall painting. During his time in
Steep he worked on another paint-
ing entitled ‘The Unveiling of
Cookham War Memorial’. In a letter,
he punned, “I am still steeped in the
war memorial picture.” He also pro-
duced a Crucifixion painting, which
would have formed part of a group
at Steep Village Hall. Perhaps the
money offered was not considered
sufficient for a series of paintings in
the Steep Hall. Sadly both this and
the Bedales scheme came to noth-
ing after the falling out with the
Bone family.
Stanley eventually left Steep and
moved to Petersfield, first to live
with Flora Twort in her house above
a bookshop, then to 19 The High
Street (now Ask restaurant) and
then to 25 The Square. By the end
of 1922 he seems to have left the
area, yet he had liked the atmos-
phere of the town and in 1926, did
a painting entitled ‘The Poultry Mar-
ket’ based on that at Petersfield.
Later Stanley was commissioned by
Louis and Mary Behrend to paint the
magnificent murals at the Sandham
Memorial Chapel at Burghclere,
Berkshire, a memorial to Mary’s
brother, Lt. Henry Willoughby Sand-
ham, who had died in WWI. For
these, he used ideas he had worked
on for the Steep Hall. It is these for
which Stanley is often most well
known. He went on to produce a
number of paintings both religious
and secular,
including a se-
ries on ship
building on the
Clyde. He died
in 1959. Many
find his work
insp i r a t iona l .
Yet for those of us who remain in
Steep, we can but wonder what if
our village hall had also become the
recipient of his murals too…..
Information here obtained from a
Petersfield Museum talk given in
2014 by Chrissie Rosenthal, custo-
dian of the Spencer Gallery,
Cookham. Thanks to Ruth Whiting
for census details.
Fran Box
12
SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK
THE DARK SKIES CAMPAIGN
This year Steep Parish Council has
invited Dan Oakley, the Dark Skies
Ranger from the South Downs Na-
tional Park to speak at the Annual
Parish Assembly about the bid to
make the South Downs an Interna-
tional Dark Skies Reserve.
With settlements like Lewes, Bright-
on and Chichester casting a glow in
the sky each night, you might think
the South Downs are not the place
to enjoy a nocturnal star show. How-
ever, the South Downs shield the
north of the National Park from
these towns’ lights, and anyone who
has driven the wooded lanes around
Bepton and Petworth on a moonless
night knows how dark it gets. On
the likes of Butser Hill and Black-
down, amateur astronomers regular-
ly set up their telescopes to explore
night skies considered some of the
best in the country.
With this in mind, the South Downs
National Park set out in 2013 to
create an International Dark Skies
Reserve hoping to join the likes of
Big Island in Hawaii and wilderness
regions in Canada in being recog-
nised by the International Dark
Skies Association for the quality of
our night skies. Where the other
reserves are known for their remote-
ness however, the South Downs
National Park will be the first found
so close to towns and cities.
SDNPA started by asking residents
to look up on clear nights and see if
they could spot certain astronomical
sights that serve as markers of a
truly dark sky. They were also asked
to record the status of nocturnal
lighting in their area, so that ways
could be explored of removing un-
necessary artificial glare from the
night sky, without making it harder
to see on the ground. Some of
these improvements will soon be
underway, such as replacing street
lamp bulbs with LEDs that don’t cast
their light upwards.
As well as bringing galaxies and neb-
ulae back into view, it is hoped to
help the bats, birds, moths and oth-
er nocturnal species that depend on
darkness for survival. They are often
disoriented by too much light and
their hunt for food may get dis-
turbed. A darker sky will be one not
only filled with stars, but wildlife too.
13
14
STEEP PARISH COUNCIL
Simon Bridger - I am 42, and mar-
ried with 3 young chil-
dren. I have lived and
farmed at Ashford Farm
for 17 years, where we
have cattle, sheep, pigs, free range
turkeys and geese, which we supply
to local customers. As the farm is
spread between Steep and Steep
Marsh, this places me in an ideal
position to represent both communi-
ties. I believe in protecting and pre-
serving the beautiful countryside in
which we live and building a strong,
united community where we look out
for our neighbours.
Terry Cook - I have lived,
farmed and worked
here at Oakhurst Farm
for 48 years, milking
cows and, more recent-
ly, with beef and sheep.
I have served on the Parish Council
for 34 years and have always been
proud to do so. I have a special in-
terest in planning and landscape
issues which affect our village, with
involvement in the Village Design
Statement, the Parish Plan, Ashford
Hangers and the Common. Social
activities include the Film Club, Bon-
fire Night and, in the past, the New
Year’s Day Walk and lunch.
Peter Cruttenden – I have
lived in Steep since 1984
and served as Parish Coun-
cillor for a total of eight years.
My experience (past and current) in-
cludes senior financial management
with IBM; trustee-ship of a national
charity; and board roles with of a num-
ber of housing associations and within
the NHS. I care about our community
and its exceptional landscape, having
worked on both the Village Design
Statement and the Parish Plan. I am
committed to working for a community
consensus on matters of importance
for our future.
Graeme Fairley – I have
lived in Steep for 20
years, most of that time
as a daily commuter to
London working for Shell.
My contribution to village life to date
includes helping with the Steep Film
Society and being on the organising
committee of the Steep & Stroud
Golf Society. Now that I am retired I
have more time to focus on the local
community and I would like to have
the opportunity to serve on the Par-
ish Council in order to help maintain
and improve our wonderful village.
Nick Hurst - Living in Steep
Marsh since 1992, I am
standing for re-election to
the parish council following
my initial, enjoyable and
productive first term. The IT portfolio is
15
under my remit, and Steep PC has
migrated to a secure, parish-based
email communications system. I have
taken an active part in local events
and was instrumental in the formation
of the Steep Marsh Residents Associa-
tion. I was pleased and proud to ac-
cept a role in the development and
delivery of the Steep Village Design
Statement to EHDC. Married to a lo-
cal; I am a project manager in the IT
industry. I enjoy competitive sailing.
Jim MacDonald – I have lived in
Steep with my wife for
the last 18 years where
we have raised our two
daughters, who both at-
tended the village school
and nursery. I worked on the Village
Design Statement and the more
recent Village Plan. I have been a
Parish Councillor for the last four
years and have been vice-chair and
chair of the planning sub-committee
for the past two. I love walking and
cycling and I’m passionate about our
beautiful parish.
Jenny Martin - I have lived in Church
Road, Steep for more
than 30 years and been a
Parish Councillor for 8. I
enjoy riding my horse and
walking the dogs around
our lovely village. As a councillor
I’ve been involved in bringing about
a number of improvements to the
area’s footpaths and bridleways. I’ve
co-organised and participated in
volunteer days in and around the
hangers. I’d love to see a reduction
in the traffic in Church Road.
Luke Spurdle – I have personally lived
in Steep Marsh for 13 years while
family members have lived
in the same house for the
last 38 years. I work in IT
within the financial indus-
try in London. I have been
attending Parish Council meetings for
the last year as a member of the pub-
lic, this has given me the interest to
stand for election. I am keen to contin-
ue the work towards the maintenance
of roads around Steep and Steep
Marsh.
Peter Thackrey – I have been living
and working in Steep for the past
three years and I enjoy
living in our community
immensely. I teach
French and Russian at
Bedales School and I live on the
Bedales campus. I am involved with
the Steep & Stroud Golf Society, I
attend All Saints Church where my
wife leads the choir and I love ex-
ploring different parts of the Parish
on walks with my retired greyhound.
I am keen to play an active role sup-
porting our community through serv-
ing on the Parish Council.
16
In order to make communications
between the Parish Council and lo-
cal residents easier, the Council
plans to trial the use of Twitter over
the summer. The village already has
a Twitter account, known as a
'handle' (@steepvillage), but there is
very little usage, with only twenty or
so 'followers'.
Twitter can be used to send out very
short messages (or “tweets”) from
the Council to everyone who is a
follower. These could include notice
of upcoming events or information
on topical matters. We hope to start
in May with at least one tweet per
week. However, messages can be
also be sent to the village Twitter
'handle' by residents (or any follow-
er) about, for example, broken
stiles or issues with roads or foot-
paths. The relevant Parish Council-
lor would see the message and
could respond swiftly. There are
likely to be further benefits if the
trial is successful and the number
of followers increases significantly.
We would like as many people as
possible to take part in this trial. If
you have a Twitter account, then all
you have to do is follow
@steepvillage. If not, then you can
sign up very easily (and at no cost)
at www.twitter.com using your PC,
tablet device or smartphone. If you
have any questions on this, please
contact Ray Street (Village webmas-
ter) on 01730 892656.
IT’S SPRINGTIME – LISTEN TO THE TWEETING……!
17
WHITE HORSE WALKS 2015
On Sunday 3rd of May bring the
family along to the White Horse
Walks 2015 and enjoy a day of fun
and exercise at the beautifully locat-
ed White Horse Inn (also known as
the Pub With No Name) at Priors
Dean, near Petersfield – and it’s all
in aid of The Rosemary Foundation.
There will be breakfast, soft drinks,
tea and coffee available from 9am
if you need sustenance before you
set off.
The day commences with a choice
of three walks through the sur-
rounding countryside to suit all ages
and abilities; a 2-mile Toddle along
a pushchair-friendly route for young-
sters accompanied by an adult, a 6-
mile Stroll for walkers with slightly
longer legs and a 10-mile Trek for
those who really wish to stride out.
All walks will be guided and start
times are staggered to ensure that
everyone gets back to the Inn by
early afternoon.
Start times
10 mile trek – 10.00am
6 mile stroll - 11.00am
2 mile toddle – 12.00 noon
On return from the walks, local
band Rehab will be playing at
lunchtime whilst the White Horse
serves up a BBQ and drinks. Later
in the evening the Trevor John Band
will be playing. There will be an out-
side bar and plenty of camping
space for those who would like to
make a weekend of it. So make
sure that the 3rd of May is firmly
pencilled in your diary.
This year the aim is to raise money
for The Rosemary Foundation. Pre-
vious White Horse events have
raised over £10,000 for cancer-
related charities. As in previous
years, this year’s event is expected
to be popular. Entries in advance
are £10 per person or £12 on the
day (half price for children of 15
and under), which includes food
and a drink at the finish.
For entry forms please see either
www.pubwithnoname.co.uk or
www.rosemary-foundation.org.uk
18
EASTER
We had a wider range of services
over Easter compared with previous
years. At 2.00 pm on Good Friday we
marked at All Saints’ the last hour of
Jesus’ crucifixion and death as por-
trayed in John’s Gospel. The altar
was stripped bare down to the wood
and the Vicar explained how John
describes the occasion very differ-
ently from the other three Gospels.
There is no Simon of Cyrene helping
to carry the Cross and by embracing
death willingly Jesus becomes the
victor and not a victim.
On Easter Saturday there was an
evening Easter communion at
Stroud. The Vicar commented that
this Saturday is commonly known as
the sandwich day as it fills the void
between the dramatic events lead-
ing up to Good Friday and Easter
Sunday itself. Because of the void
with no historic action to commemo-
rate many churches do not have any
services on this day.
Then everything changed on Easter
Sunday. The altar coverings were
reinstated and All Saints’ was full of
flowers with the soft spring colours
of green, yellow and white predomi-
nating. The external arch over the
main door offered a very pretty wel-
come. The church was also full of
people with approximately 165 at-
tending. Unlike 2014 when there
was a torrential rain storm during
the service 2015 provided a balmy,
spring day and after the service
many of the congregation were able
to enjoy a glass of sparkling wine
outside in the churchyard in the sun-
shine. It was a very happy occasion.
The children were kept very busy
after the service hunting for Easter
Crosses that had been hidden all
around the southern part of the
churchyard. Many a hiding place
was found up a tree, behind a shrub
or even inside the cavern of the an-
cient yew and once all were found
there was of course a reward! This
gave parents the chance to socialise
in the sunshine with friends new and
old and enjoy the beautiful setting
that the churchyard provides.
We are very grateful to so many peo-
ple and particularly our flower ex-
perts with their mastery of beauty
through colour combinations who
worked so hard to make the Easter
festival so memorable and moving.
CHURCH NEWS
19
SUNDAY, 12 APRIL
VOX CANTAB
We were delighted that Vox Cantab,
a six person choir from Cambridge
under the direction of Louisa Denby,
were able to include the 10.30 Par-
ish Communion at All Saints’ in their
local tour. The service was enriched
both by their singing, including the
Gloria In Excelsis in Latin, and also
when they augmented the rest of
the congregation.
THE RUSSIAN LYRA SINGERS –
THURSDAY, 14 MAY – 7.30 PM
Subject to final confirmation in re-
spect of their visas the Russian Lyra
ensemble from St. Petersburg have
agreed to entertain us again on As-
cension Day, Thursday, 14 May at
7.30 pm in All Saints’ with a mixture
of sacred music, opera and Russian
folk songs.
Entry is free and please make every
effort to fill the church and to give
them a good audience.
STEEP LECTURE – SUNDAY, 14
JUNE AT 6.00 PM FOR 6.30
This year’s Steep lecture will be giv-
en in All Saints’ on Sunday, 14 June
at 6.00 pm for 6.30. The speaker
will be Sir Robert Francis, QC and
the lecture is entitled “Healing the
sick and doing no harm – 21st cen-
tury challenges for doctors and pa-
tients”. Sir Robert is very well known
for his hard hitting report into the
excessive number of deaths in the
mid Staffordshire hospital scandal
and his more recent report into
whistle blowing in the NHS. Sir Rob-
ert is also a local resident with a
house in Froxfield.
The format is unchanged from earli-
er years. Entry is by ticket only which
gives us a better idea in advance of
likely numbers but the tickets are
free and can be obtained from Rich-
ard Smith (267701), George Tullis
(262721), David Dobson (261344),
Owen Jonathan (231500) and Geof-
frey Dale (894570).
Refreshments will be supplied from
6.00 pm before the start of the lec-
ture at 6.30 and there will be a retir-
ing collection for church funds.
TED BONES
Finally a thank you to someone who
does a huge amount for the church
all the year round but largely behind
the scenes. Ted Bones has acted as
sidesman at the eight o’clock com-
munion services for the last fifteen
years. He is usually the first volun-
teer to act as sidesman at funerals
while in the churchyard he put up all
the fencing along the footpath and
led the way a number of years ago in
clearing vicious brambles.
20
CHURCH DUTIES FOR MAY
Sunday 3rd May – 10.30 AAE –
sidesmen: Mileham family, chalice:
A McConville, coffee: A Greenlee & B
Silk
Sunday 10th May 10.30 PC. Sides-
men D.and J.Dobson. Chalice
J.Selby. Server Selby Family. Coffee
M.and J.Thompson
Sunday 17th May – 6.30 EP sides-
man: R Smith
Sunday 24th May – 10.30 PC:
sidesmen: C & R Reed, chalice: H
Granlund, server: Orringe family,
coffee: S Orringe & L Young, inter-
cessions: J Thompson
Sunday 31st May Trinity Sunday –
Open Air Service at Lords Farm,
Sheet.
Susi Openshaw and Geoffrey Dale
CHRISTIAN AID WEEK
Everyone is warmly invited to a tradi-
tional Coffee Morning at Tithe Barn,
102 Church Road on Tuesday 12th
May between 10 and 12 to raise
funds to support Christian Aid. This
is in place of a Christian Aid Week
house-to-house collection. Everyone
can contribute via modern and tradi-
tional media.
www.christian aid.org.uk gets you to
the main Christian Aid website with
links to make a donation as well as
giving information about the work or
the organisation. It would be really
helpful if you could make a regular
donation but all forms of contribu-
tion can be made including by tele-
phone and text. Cheques can be
sent to FREEPOST Christian Aid (no
stamp required). Please gift aid your
donation if you can. Envelopes will
be available at the coffee morning
and in the churches if needed.
The featured country this year is
Ethiopia. Working with churches
and communities the charity seeks
out those in need. In Ethiopian cul-
ture women without cattle lose sta-
tus and care by their community.
Christian Aid provides a goat or a
cow, which in turn hopefully pro-
vides income for the woman and
hopefully another cow or goat for
another recipient. This is only one
example of many where pro-
grammes alleviate poverty and deal
with disasters caused by weather or
conflict. Please be generous for this
global charity.
David Storey
THE LAST WORD – Tombstone wit
Here under this sod and under
these trees Is buried the body of
Solomon Pease.
But here in this hole lies only his
pod;
His soul is shelled out and gone up
to God.
Falkirk, Scotland
21
ADVERTISING IN THIS NEWSLETTER AND VILLAGE WEBSITE If you would like to advertise please contact Ray Street on 892656 or
email [email protected]
Village website: www.steepvillage.com
Steep to Petersfield Bus Service 71
Enquiries call 01962 846786
Wednesdays and Fridays at : Return
Steep, Bedales School 09:35 Petersfield Tesco 12:27
Petersfield Hospital 09:42 Petersfield Square 12:30
Petersfield Railway Station 09:45 Petersfield Railway Station 12:33
Petersfield Square 09:48 Petersfield Hospital 12:35
Petersfield Tesco 09.51 Steep, Bedales School 12:42
22
Oil fired boiler specialists
Servicing, Repairs and Installations
Central Heating Upgrades
Fully Insured & Registered with Oftec
01730 823355
07920 558046
Traditional
Blacksmith
No job too small
Mobile: 07847 005956
Tel: 01730 893752
Email:
Forge: unit C1, the brickyard,
Steep Marsh
23
FMB
24
25
All aspects of tree work carried out.
Fast, reliable and efficient service.
Free quotation and expert advice
Tel: 07587 955 770
www.scetreesurgery.co.uk
26
27
28
Vicar: John Owen 264282 [email protected]
Assistant Priest: Joanna Farrell 828450
Assistant Curate: Chris Prior-Jones 894040
Reader: Caroline Hilton 263460
Churchwarden: Geoffrey Dale 894570
Churchwarden: Suzi Openshaw 231697
Church website: http://steepfroxfield.com
Parish Communion Services are in modern language
Early Sunday Services are from the Book of Common Prayer
STEEP - Every Thursday: Silent Prayer 6.30pm; Holy Communion 7pm
Choir Practice: Saturdays before Parish Communion 9:30 am
Sunday School: During Parish Communion except during school holidays
3rd May - 5th Sunday of Easter
8am Holy Communion at Steep
9.30am Parish Communion at High Cross
10.30am All Age Eucharist at Steep
10th May - 6th Sunday of Easter (Rogation)
8.30am Holy Communion at Stroud
10am Rogation Service, Froxfield Green
10.30am Parish Communion at Steep
Thursday 14th May – Ascension Day
8 am Reading & Prayers, Holy Trinity bell-tower, Privett
10 am Holy Communion at Froxfield Green
7.30pm Ascension Day Concert in Steep with LYRA, from
St Petersburg, Russia
17th May - 7th Sunday of Easter
8am Holy Communion at Steep
9.30am Parish Communion at High Cross
11am Ignite at Froxfield Village Hall
6.30pm Evening Prayer at Steep
24th May - Pentecost (Whit Sunday)
8.30am Holy Communion at Stroud
9.30am Morning Prayer at Froxfield Green
10.30am Parish Communion at Steep
31st May - Trinity Sunday (5th Sunday)
8am Holy Communion at Steep
11am Open Air Service at Lord’s Farm, Sheet for the
22nd Annual Vintage Event
6.30pm Patronal Eucharist at Holy Trinity, Privett,
followed by refreshments
CHURCH SERVICES IN STEEP, STROUD & FROXFIELD