SMA WINTER 2010 KPN

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:44 Page 1

kpn Kensington Parish News

Free

www.stmaryabbotschurch.org

St Mary Abbots Christ Church St Philip’s

Winter 2010

Advent in the Parish Plus: Tony Rudd on the Battle of Britain, World Aids Day – a reflection by Rev’d Ijeoma Ajibade, The Bell Ringers, The Christmas Bazaar, school trip to Sayers Croft, report from Christ Church

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:44 Page 2

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:44 Page 3

Winter 2010

Contents 4 Vicar’s Voice - Fr Rob Marshall in Bethlehem 6 World Aids Day by the Rev’d Ijeoma Ajibade 8 Looking Ahead at Christ Church, by Adrian Weale 11 A reflection on Advent Quiet Day 14-15 Remembrance Day. A poem by Annie Henry and an interview with Tony Rudd.

16-17 Rachel Titmus brings us news from the bell ringers 18 Ross Welford reports from the SMA Christmas Bazaar 19 Book club favourite reads by Ailsie Corble 20-23 Isabella and Orlando’s diary of the year 6 trip to Sayers Croft 24-25 Parish Directory, Classifieds and Regular Worship Would readers wishing to submit articles for our next issue (Winter 2010) please email kensingtonparishnews@googlemail.com If you would like to advertise in the KPN (all proceeds to the Church), please contact Fiona Braddock on 07802 761 822 Editors: Fiona Braddock and Kira Jolliffe Printed by Prontaprint, Kensington. Distributed free through our three parish churches.

Copyright remains the property of the respective authors.

Heartfelt thanks, as always, to all our contributors.

1

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:44 Page 4

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:44 Page 5

RAFFETY & WALWYN BRITISH AND CONTINENTAL ANTIQUE CLOCKS AND BAROMETERS Established in Kensington for many years, buying and selling to residents of the Borough and clients worldwide.

We have a carefully chosen stock of 17th and 18th century grandfather and bracket clocks as well as barometers and marine chronometers.

Either come and see our current stock In a specially recreated period room setting or view our website: www.raffetyantiqueclocks.com or e-mail us on: raffety@globalnet.co.uk Member of the British Antique Dealers’ Association 79 Kensington Church Street, London W8 4BG Telephone: 020 7938 1100 Fax: 020 7938 2519

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:44 Page 6

Vicar’s Voice

Vicar’s Voice Fr Rob Marshall accompanies 150 pilgrims on four coaches to Nazareth, Bethlehem, Galilee and Jerusalem, covering the whole life of Jesus.

I

t is the wall separating the "Little Town of Bethlehem" from the rest the Holy Land which stands as one of the greatest contemporary examples of man's inhospitality to man.

It is grotesque. A white, concrete graffiti covered monument to the failure of the world community to nudge Israel and Palestine towards a kind of transformative peace which would have implications across the world.

Bethlehem's Christian population is dwindling. We arrived, a few days before Christmas, in Manger Square and, to be honest, the air was more peaceful than in previous times. But we are still in the territory of the people cut off from the rest of civilisation in the name of reducing civilian deaths after decades of random attacks in mainland Israel.

The Christian Guide's refrain echoed that of the angels throughout our pilgrimage despite the inherent sense of indignity he felt at the treatment of his fellow pilgrims in this land.

"Do not be afraid" he kept saying - mirroring an oft quoted phrase in the Old and New Testaments where the love of God confronts head on the sinfulness of human kind. "Do not be afraid".

We stooped low to enter into this centuries old church and wandered through the Orthodox and Catholic parts before beginning our descent to the star marking the place since Constantine where Jesus was born.

Our pilgrims from Britain, the US and South Africa were visibly moved as the 4

knelt in homage to the king of kings and lord of lords in this most unexpected of places. "Do not be afraid".

We lit candles, sang songs, shared the peace and prayed for the peace of Jerusalem and for the City of David Bethlehem.

For those not able to travel to the place of Jesus' birth it is worth noting that it remains in the spotlight not only for the momentous events which happened when Mary and Joseph arrived for the census 2000 years ago - but for the ongoing implications which real peace in this town would have for the rest of the world.

Please pray for us. That is a refrain often heard from the people of Bethlehem.

Believe me, they need our prayers. Do not be afraid. The Lord is with you.

The star marking the place of Jesus’ birth in the Church of Nativity, Bethlehem

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:44 Page 7

St Philip’s

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:44 Page 8

World Aids Day December 1st was World Aids Day. The Rev’d Ijeoma Ajibade, the new non-stipendiary minister at St Philip’s, volunteers to support people living with HIV. Here she calls on churches to respond with compassion to those who are affected by HIV and Aids

H

uman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the immune system which means that people have no defence against disease. As time goes by, and the immune system weakens, a person with HIV is likely to experience a range of illnesses and infections. When a person has HIV it is generally known as being HIV positive, or living with HIV. Unless a person has access to anti-retroviral drugs which prevent the progression of the virus, they will, sometimes several years after infection, become seriously ill and die. It is at this point that they are said to have AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).

Every year on the 1st of December, the UN publishes global and regional data showing the impact of HIV and AIDS across the world. This year the figures showed that approximately 33.3 million people in the world today have HIV, a number that continues to increase.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 60 million people have been

6

infected with HIV and nearly 30 million people have died. One in four AIDS deaths is caused by tuberculosis, a preventable and curable disease. Approximately 16.6 million children under eighteen have lost their parents to AIDS.Here in the UK around 83,000 people are HIV positive. Of this total, 22,000 people are undiagnosed and do not know that they have the virus. An estimated 35,000 of these people live in London. There is still no cure for HIV. In this country there are drugs which prevent the disease from developing into full blown AIDS, which means that very few people die from it, but in other countries these drugs are not widely available and people are still dying.

People do not like to talk about HIV. It is a highly stigmatised condition that can lead to social isolation and alienation for people who are infected. There is a lack of understanding within society about the nature of the virus and how it spreads. It can be caught through sexual contact, by babies in

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:44 Page 9

Africa it leaves the care of young families to grandparents, many of whom struggle to provide for these young children. In the UK it diminishes life through stigma and discrimination, inducing both fear of disclosure and silence. At its root it challenges the notion of a God who is love and a God who is good.

St Philip’s

the womb if their mother has it, and through the use of contaminated needles.

Because a major mode of transmission is through sexual intercourse, it is sometimes assumed that people living with HIV are promiscuous and immoral. In actual fact the HIV pandemic illustrates the fault lines of social injustice. In many countries, the people most vulnerable to HIV infection are often those who are marginalised. HIV flourishes wherever there is poverty, gender inequality, civil unrest, homophobia and human rights violations. In some countries – especially those with generalised epidemics – HIV affects every aspect of life including economic, political, social and the spiritual.

T

here is much we can do, but at the very least we are called to remember.

God calls us to remember. We are called to remember all those who have been affected or infected by this disease. We are called to find out more about it and above all we are called to compassion and to love.

This remembrance and compassion should move us to prayer.

It is fitting that World Aids Day falls in Christians have traditionally been at the Advent. Advent reminds us to hope and as forefront of social action campaigns, for we reflect on World Aids Day we should do example bringing about justice through the so with hope. There is much that can be abolition of slavery and apartheid. More done to prevent people contracting HIV. contemporary social justice campaigns There are also many courageous people include the sustainability of the environwho are working to ment, addressing globsupport the lives, al poverty and health and dignity of responding to develop“ ... there is still a great positive people ment needs. These are all very commendable silence from the Church throughout the world.

There are many HIV and play a key part in on HIV ... ” positive people who the mission of the are Christian, and they Church, however in enable us to see the respect of HIV, many presence of Christ, even in the midst of the churches have failed to recognise that this most tremendous suffering. This does not is also a struggle against injustice. It is not that the issue is being ignored, but more the by any means excuse the difficulties of life with HIV, but makes us aware of the sacred case that there is still a great silence from and their lives show the reality of hope. the Church on HIV. This is slowly beginThis year and in this season of Advent, I ning to change although there is still much hope to we can see the start of a new undermore that could be done to address the standing about why World Aids Day challenge that HIV and AIDS presents. matters and how we can respond to this Developing a response to HIV is key for disease. Above all let us remember to pray the ministry and mission of the church, not and when we pray, reflect or speak about just in terms of the care of people with HIV and Aids let us do so with hope and HIV, but in terms of the message of the compassion.

Gospel to all. The struggle against HIV is one of life against death. It prevents human flourishing in so many different ways. In

7

Christ Church

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:44 Page 10

Looking Ahead Deputy Church Warden, Adrian Weale, brings us the latest from Christ Church

O

n the evening of 21 November, ducting the process of finding a suitable Christ Church celebrated the Feast successor. There is much detailed work to of Christ the King at our annual be done but we are hopeful that we can find Patronal Festival Evensong. We were someone who will continue Christ Church’s delighted to be joined by members of the traditional Anglican ministry and bring in a congregations of both St Mary Abbots and new generation to benefit from it.

St Philip’s, together with the children of The second big change will be to the Thomas’s School Choir, led by their physical fabric of the church. In January Director of Music, Richard de la work will start on a project to refurbish the Boutilliere, to augment the Christ Church west end of the church, including modChoir under Rupert Perkins. Canon Andrew ernising the kitchen area and installing a Pearson was joined by the Vicar, Father disabled lavatory. We are able to do this Gareth Wardell, Father David Walsh and thanks to a generous grant from the Friends Father Rob Marshall, who preached an of Christ Church, the independent trust set excellent sermon reminding us that Christ’s up to raise funds for just such major works. message was not about kingship or dominaThis will be just part of a rolling protion, but about gramme of buildlove. ing work which “ ... next year will be a time of we hope to Although we were reminded by change for Christ Church ... ” accomplish over our Patronal the next few Festival that years. The next Christ Church has been ministering to the major project will be to re-roof the nave spiritual needs of the residents of the and chancel; and this will be followed by a Victoria Road area for nearly 160 years, the complete re-wiring and a redesign of the next year will be a time of change for the lighting scheme within the church to church for several reasons. replace the current temporary system.

The most important of these is that Of course, all of this costs a large amount Canon Pearson has announced his intention of money. The Friends of Christ Church to retire as Priest-in-Charge at Christ stage regular fund-raising events at the Church next summer. We will be paying church, including concerts, talks and other proper tribute to the work that Andrew has ‘entertainments’ and we hope you might done at Christ Church in future issues of come along to some of these. Alternatively, the KPN, but suffice to say for the present if you do have large sums of money burnthat he will be an extremely hard act to foling a hole in your pocket, please get in low. Over the coming months the Wardens touch with me, and I will point you in the and Council at Christ Church will be conright direction!

8

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:44 Page 11

BAYSWATER COUNSELLING PRACTICE Confidential, individual, affordable counselling/psychotherapy in the Bayswater/ Notting Hill area.

Tel: 07909 584 598 www.bayswatercounselling.co.uk

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 12

Cathy’s Mobile Hair Service Would you like your hair done in your own home by an experienced stylist?

To make an apointment call

07507 120 693

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 13

A Time for Judgement?

I

am deeply grateful for the Quiet Days at St Mary’s Convent in Chiswick, led by our Vicar, in these welcoming and peaceful surroundings. The garden is an inspiration, winter and summer. There have now been five Quiet Days each with its special theme to suit the time in the church’s year. The theme of our last Quiet Day was judgement, the second of the four last things which the church traditionally focuses on during Advent: Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell.

In three sessions of silence, each introduced with a talk by Fr. Gillean, we meditated on ‘Judging Others’, ‘Judging Ourselves’ and ‘ God’s Judgement’. To our surprise, this sombre diet for reflection proved particularly fruitful for the group.

We discovered this in brief feedback sessions at the end of each period of silence.

The Quiet Days are always silent throughout, including during coffee and lunch breaks. Does the silence enhance the flavours of the wonderful food provided by Alison? We found the silence profound and satisfying in the midst of our busy lives.

The celebration of the Eucharist in the beautiful chapel was a focus for the whole day. or one of us, a poem grew out of the session on ‘God’s Judgement’ in which we perceived that, when we finally find ourselves in God’s presence, there is only the wonderful love of God and our response to it ….

F

Quiet Day

A reflection by one of the participants in our Advent Quiet Day

I dreamed I died And met my pride personified.

In angry hatred of my God In terror thought all hope was gone for my salvation.

God waits in patience as I strive to keep the self He made alive.

Would seem God was my enemy.

In truth He is my only friend And doesn’t mind if I am slow To see the love I need to know.

Lord, make me patient just like you, with my said self And all who stand in this great need.

anon

11

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 14

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 15

Reservations: 020 7937 6513 12 St.Albans Grove W8

Lunch: Monday -Friday 12.30 -2.30 Dinner: Monday -Sunday 7 -11.15

Remembrance Day

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 16

One Red Poppy A tribute to Martin Fletcher by his neice, Annie Henry He had time, time to hear and see the splatter of flak, the flames tonguing the fuselage of his splintering shroud; time calmly to order his crew out as he battled with the sinking plane to pause time so they could leap beyond that daylight death.

Thought slowed and he saw in his mind his killer's focused eye as he squeezed the trigger, their youthfulness mirrored.

But for the madness of war, they might have enjoyed a beer together, eyed the same girl, but for the madness of war.

Heart thudding, now too low to jump, he died instantly in fracturing white light as metal and bombs roared into estuarine mud; watched by the crew as they drifted down from a January sky, swearing, praying, weeping, holding close their given gift of life. ŠAnnie Henry, 2006

14

Martin Fletcher, my uncle, a Rhodesian RAF pilot, died on a 1941 daytime bombing raid. Writing from a German Prisoner of War camp, one of the survivors of the crash described Martin's calm courage with deep gratitude. A gentle, thoughtful man, Martin was 23.

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 17

Remembrance Day

Former RAF navigator, Tony Rudd, marked the Battle of Britain’s 70th anniversary this year with an online blog about this great battle of the skies. The blog charts the build-up to its outbreak followed by a day-by-day account of its progress from July 10th to October 31st 1940. It’s also published as a book, ‘Winged Victory’. Tony Rudd spoke to the KPN.

A Spectacle Victory KPN What gave you the idea of this ?

TR The Battle of Britain seemed a natural subject for a blog because it lasted so long – 114 days. This meant we could give the blog the feeling of the battle unfolding over time which brought it alive.

KPN Who was reading the blog?

TR Mainly people of the ‘next generation’ in their 40s and 50s, whose fathers took part. Plus some of the handful of about seventy men who flew in it and who still survive. We got about 1000 hits a day.

KPN What is it about the Battle of Britain that fascinates you?

TR It was different from anything before because it was fought in England, not in France or Germany. If you lived in the right place you could watch it in the skies. It was the ultimate spectacle victory.

It took the country by the throat; people realised their future was at stake and tuned into the news every night to hear the ‘score’. You could hear cheers in the pubs when the ‘score’ was announced, rather like a football match. The football analogy is good because the battle was fought by a tiny minority on behalf of the nation.

KPN The numbers involved were indeed tiny weren’t they?

TR Yes, 3000 pilots in total of whom 450 were killed. Experience kept you alive. The inexperienced were often dead within two or three days.

KPN You joined the RAF two years after the Battle of Britain. Do you wish you could have fought in it?

TR Of course! I was 18 when I joined (in 1942) and I didn’t make pilot grade. I became a navigator but because I flew I was able to appreciate what those guys went through.

KPN You were helped by Dr Zoe Bagley, a historian who worked at the RAF Museum in Hendon and you used published and unpublished sources. What was your most surprising discovery?

TR One element that has been missed in most of the written work is the importance of the five years of preparation – the modernising of Fighter Command, inventing radar and the building of a control system for example. We were ready and in our forecast of what might happen we got it 100% right.

To buy a copy of ‘Winged Victory’ go to www.battleofbritainblog.com 15

Bell Ringers

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 18

Behold the Peal Boards The peal boards, proudly recording details of the length, date and ringers of peals, are at last on show at St Mary Abbots, reports Rachel Titmus

Left: The Ringing Chamber; Right: The peal board for three peals rung in 2002 A peal is an elaborate, magnificent performance of bell ringing, recognised by the Central Council for Church Bell Ringers

T

he St Mary Abbots bellringers have recently repositioned the peal boards in the ringing chamber. This now means that more of the boards can be seen and there are only a few in storage. Hence, for the first time, the stunning peal board commemorating three peals rung in 2002 by members of the St Mary Abbots Guild can now be seen, taking pride of place in the ringing chamber.

Peals are rung to commemorate many occasions, including royal events (coronations, funerals, jubilee celebrations, etc), significant events (eg a peal was rung on hearing the news of the relief of Mafeking on 19 May 1900), to celebrate religious festivals, to mark notable achievements for the local band (such as the first peal by a band of St Mary Abbots ringers - which ironically took place in another bell tower!) and notable events for the church of St Mary Abbots.

The peal boards also include a couple from the previous tower of St Mary Abbots: 16

the current tower was built in the early 1870's with the last peal in the old tower (Grandsire triples, rung on 24 June 1869) and the first peal in the new tower (Stedman Caters, rung on 18 January 1882) being achieved by members of the Royal Society of Cumberland Youths.

Not all peals are commemorated with a peal board. However, a peal book is maintained which records all the peals rung in the tower.

The ringing chamber is situated in the tower of St Mary Abbots just above the choir practice room and is where the ringers pull on the ropes to ring the bells.

The bells are hung higher up in the tower – roughly where the large windows with louvres are if you look from outside.

If you would like to take a closer look at the peal boards, visitors are welcome to come up the tower on practice nights (most Thursdays from 7.30 pm to 9.15 pm) or on Sunday mornings when we ring prior to the 9.30 am service.

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 19

London’s two ancient and elite rival bellringing societies, the Ancient Society of College Youths and the Society of Royal Cumberland Youths have both elected members of the St Mary Abbots Guild of Bellringers as their respective Masters.

By Rachel Titmus

P

hilip Goodyer’s appointment as Master of the College Youths, and Peter Harrison’s coincident appointment as Master of the Cumberland Youths represent remarkable achievements for two of our ringers. Peter is also the fifth member of the St Mary Abbots band to be elected as Master of the Cumberland Youths in recent years.

The Ancient Society of College Youths has established a reputation over 373 years of excellence in bellringing, most recently winning the 2010 London 12-bell striking competition. The College Youths regularly ring the bells of St Paul’s Cathedral as well as many other London bell towers. The Society of Royal Cumberland Youths is a century younger but has a similar reputation for excellence, and is most closely associated with St Martin-in-the-Fields,

Trafalgar Square. Both societies elect members on the basis of proven ability, and have active members not only in the United Kingdom but also the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

English bellringing (campanology) is a cross-over musical art form, team sport and mathematical science, in which a band of bellringers swing church bells from ropes in precise rhythm through sequences of permutations for anywhere from a few minutes to many hours. Each ringer works from memory, swinging his or her own bell through a full-circle rotation – a bell which might weigh two tons or more.

It’s an obsessive hobby, but a hugely enjoyable one. The St Mary Abbots ringers would welcome any congregation members interested in learning to ring our bells.

PHILIP GOODYER learned to ring in the 1960s at St James, Turramurra in Sydney tagging along with his parents and 4 ringing siblings to practices.

He rang his first 3hour peal in 1968 at the age of 12, and first rang at St Mary Abbots in 1986. He became a permanent member of the band in 2000.

PETER HARRISON learned to ring in 1995 as parishioner at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral. A year 12 student at Mercedes College at the time, he rapidly became a highly skilled bellringer. He succeeded Philip as Tower Captain at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral until his move to London in 2002. He has served at Deputy Ringing Master of the St Mary Abbots Guild for 2 years and Master for 3 years.

Bell Ringers

Ringing Pride

17

Christmas Bazaar

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 20

Christmas Bazaar Ross Welford reports from the St Mary Abbots annual fundraiser

O

utside it was bitterly cold. Inside the church hall, though, the annual St Mary Abbots Christmas Bazaar was warming up nicely.

We’re still waiting for the final figures – there are always a few expenses that people suddenly remember, and the odd donation that comes in late – but it looks as though the final figure will be well over £8,700. In these austere days of recession and considering the freezing weather on the day, this is a really marvelous figure A big contribution to the total was made by the Silent Auction of Promises – an innovative fundraiser organized by Tammie Bishop, one of the indefatigable Children on Sunday parents who lend manpower and enthusiasm to so many church activities.

The Silent Auction is simple: anyone may enter an advance bid for a range of goodies donated by local businesses and individuals, from luxury spa treatments to dinner for two at a top restaurant. The latter was secured with a generous bid by the Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea, Cllr James Husband.

Elsewhere, it was two floors of fun - and 18

fundraising. St Mary Abbots’ congregation stalwarts by now know everything there is to know about running bric-a-brac stalls, bottle tombolas, book sales, and the everpopular tea shop – so upstairs was alive with the sound of cash, and quiet munching on home-made cakes and scones.

Downstairs, the Kids’ Zone, originally conceived as a modest “baby-sitting” area to allow parents to spend their money in peace upstairs, has grown into a busy and lucrative addition to the day. Face painting, tattoos (fake, probably) cup-cakes, toys and games created a busy and fun atmosphere.

We all missed the Centre manager, Terry Pritchard, who was ill on the day, but Jonathan Evans stepped in brilliantly as his deputy. Thanks to his and everyone else’s efforts, the Christmas Bazaar has once again been a huge success.

Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea, Cllr James Husband, bidding in the Silent Auction.

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 21

Great Book Club reads of the year by Ailsie Corble

W

e are never quite sure how or why the books are chosen for the St Mary Abbots book club but we have enjoyed such a wide variety of titles over the past 12 months and each book has brought something different.

So if you have the odd Book Token to spend over the holiday period or are just wanting to catch up with some of the titles we have read, here are one or two suggestions: Lucy Winkett’s Our Sound is Our Wound is, in fact, our most recent book. Read as an Advent devotional book it sets out to show how we try to live a life of faith against a backdrop of noise. Using her vast experience of music and liturgy Lucy explains how the sounds, noise and music against which we live out our lives have spiritual implications for the way we live. It is a challenging and clever read.

In complete contrast, we studied Marina Lewycka’s Two Caravans - a fast moving and insightful study into the lives of migrant workers who find themselves variously picking crops or working in a chicken farm in a very different United Kingdom to the one we might experience.

There are Chinese, Poles and Ukrainians amongst this ad hoc group

Book Club

Such a Choice who have to work (long hours), live, eat and have a bit of fun (?) on the way. It’s well worth a read and we enjoyed the novel.

Another highlight of 2010 was a rather solemn read – Herta Muller’s The Land of Green Plums. This novel paints a grim picture of life in Romania at the height of the Ceausescu regime – the darkness, brutality and uncertainty all brought together in the lives of a group of young students.

Finally – Kate Clanchy’s novel Antigona & Me was described by The Independent as “funny, clever, tragic” and it is indeed all of these.

Two women, who share rather a lot of conversation over coffee, develop a relationship which reveals rather more than either of them ever imagined it would.

Do keep a look out for the titles the Book Club are reading in our weekly notice sheet. Even if you can’t come along to the Book Club you can certainly read along with us!

19

School Trip

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 22

Sayers Croft, a Journey Every year, Year 6 at St Mary Abbots School spend four days together on an inspiring trip.

Isabella and Orlando tell us more

S

ayers Croft was an amazing experience and a once in a life time opportunity for class 6. We were tested in: stamina, courage, sportsmanship and teamwork. And managed to achieve the victory of climbing to the summit of the most terrifying hill in history‌Pitch Hill.

Monday We all managed to get to school efficiently and on time, arriving at 8:00am sharp.

Luckily, the coach was not late (as it was last year) and we were on the road by 8:30am, all singing happily. When we finally got there, 2 hours later we were all full of energy and had we not had heavy bags I think we would have been very difficult to control.

ZoĂŤ, our instructor was there to meet us 20

Finally made it to the top of Pitch Hill at the car park and she led us to Holmbury, our dorm.

We were all very eager to have lunch; we had heard from previous years that the food was very good! The omnivore choices were: Lasagne or Spaghetti, and the Vegetarian choices were: 3 bean medley or Vegetarian Lasagne.

After lunch the activities began: Woods Compass and Orienteering. In Woods Compass we had to follow a trail of posts, each marked with a different compass direction. e.g. SW (South West). In Orienteering we had a map and we had to walk around Sayers Croft, labelling the buildings on our map. That evening we wrote letters home and drank hot chocolate.

We were exhausted by the time we got to bed.

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 23

School Trip

Tuesday Wednesday We had breakfast, (cereal, cold toast and We climbed Pitch Hill. It took about 5 orange juice) and then went outside to hours in total and we were all completely become Nature detectives. We looked for shattered when we got back, it was unbeanimal tracks, animal droppings, and signs lievable! The hike up took 2  hours up of their habitation and listened hard to hear and 1  down, with half an hour for us to their calls. We successfully found an intereat our lunch. The trip could be easily esting array of insects and droppings; we described in three words – challenging but found hedgehog droppings which are some- enjoyable! what rare.

We set off at around 9.30 am, and we After lunch we all went to the ropes and started off going through a few fields till climbing wall. For the ropes we were in we got to a small town at which point we pairs. Partner 1 got strapped into a harness, set off through another long field (going in had a hard hat plonked on their head and single file to avoid getting barked at by the was sent to the beginfarmer!) We then pro“That evening we wrote ceeded in going up an ning of the rope course. Partner 2 just extremely muddy track letters home and drank and stood and watched, then round the corthen followed their ner into, guess what, hot chocolate” partner to the beginanother field. Except, ning. Ellie was asked to demonstrate by this field was good; we were allowed to eat Zoë, Cordelia was her partner. First, we had the biscuits we had in our packed lunches. to clip our harnesses onto a rope and walk When we got to the top we were all shatalong a beam. Then we walk along a rope tered and in need of a rest. We had lunch bridge. After that, we flew the Tarzan immediately in a clearing right at the top of Swing into a net. Next, we walked along a the hill, which was probably the windiest rickety rope with a rope above our heads place in the whole of England! As we ate a that we held onto. Afterwards we zip-wired few of us nearly got blown off. to a platform, made a jump, walked through When we got back to Holmbury we a net and TA-DA we were finished. Then relaxed in our separate dorms (boys and partner 2 had a go. Finally we went over to the climbing wall where a lady called Helen taught us how to keep someone safe when they’re climbing and then we all had a go.

The very last activity of the day was a visit from Graham Cornick, the ‘Animal Man’. He had 3 owls: Marty the Barn Owl, Mr Johnson the Eagle Owl, my personal favourite, and Harriet the Tawny Owl. He also had: three rats, one hedgehog and one ferret (which tried to go up Omar and Harry B’s trousers!).

Being nature detective in the woods of Sayers Croft

21

School Trip

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 24

Making the most of Wellington boots!

girls) and nearly went to sleep. We should hoop-the-hoop, Twister, oversize Connect have had some well earned rest, but instead Four, big snakes and ladders, building we had more activities – Maze and bricks and finally, hoops. Anyone in their Blindfold Trail. Luckily we all loved this right mind would have loved it. We all activity especially the Blindfold Trail! We played there for a couple of hours. were split into two groups, one doing the Finally we went to bed and fell asleep Maze, the other group doing the trail. We very quickly, since it was a very tiring day! were split into pairs and one of the partners had to wear blackened goggles that they Thursday could not see through, and a blue safety Definitely our most jam-packed day of helmet. Then one partner held the rope activities (and film watching) but it was which led us through the course, and used certainly great. In the morning we all did their other hand to protect us from the trees, pond dipping, first we all got a bucket and all the while, telling a net in between our us what to do. For partners and went to “We found hedgehog the pond for about half example when we got to the tunnel our an hour and caught our droppings, which are partner would have pond creatures and then somewhat rare” said, “OK, now bend found out what they down.” were and looked at Once we all had a them more thoroughly. go doing this we had our supper and then After this we went to a designated area of went off to another of the buildings in the woods for Natural Art and made models Sayers Croft to play big games. This was and sculptures out of the leaves, twigs and our last activity of the day so it was very small logs. This was great and we all made calming. There was nine pin bowling, fantastic models!

22

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 25

School Trip

After a great lunch we split into three That evening, after supper, with the groups, rather than the usual two. In turn sweets we brought from the Tuck Shop on we all did: shelter building, making clay Tuesday, we watched the film Bedtime sculptures and the Challenge Course. To Stories, starring Adam Sandler and Russell build a shelter we needed to find: a readyBrand. It was very funny, but had its flaws. built structure (if you’re a cheater, which most of us were), lots of big sticks, a waterFriday proof sheet and a safety helmet in case you By this time we were all extremely excited get hit with a log, this happened. All our to be going home, seeing our families and shelters were pretty great, but when they boasting about this great week to our sibwere tested with water we all got soaked! lings, but first we had to go to the charming To make a clay model, first, we had to village of Ewhurst. We compared this small get our ideas flowing, so we imagined ourtown to Kensington. We found many major selves as gardens. differences and some Some of us were full minor similarities, of rubbish and had such as: There are “We were all extremely many overgrown plants and more people and weeds everywhere; excited to be going home, shops in Kensington they hadn’t been where as Ewhurst seeing our families and doesn’t even have a cleaned for years.

Some others were perboasting about this great local doctors’ surgery. fect gardens, they were We also went to the week to our siblings” well kept, and rainbow graveyard, and saw Pegasus danced from the oldest gravestone, tree to tree. Once we dating from 1738. had our imaginations sparked off we got to After this interesting trip we went back to work with the clay. Some made animals, Sayers Croft and had the last of our delisome made household objects, and some cious meals. Straight after that we packed made random things. our bags and hopped on the bus back to Finally, our last activity of the day was London. We were all really excited to be the Challenge Course. We had to work as a back with our families. We were back home team, all the way. Mr Wallace had flooded by 3:30. the world with lava, and we had to infiltrate Sayers Croft was a wonderful experience his evil lair to get to the lava evaporating and we learnt a lot from it. machine and save the world, still working as a team.

23

Parish Directory

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 26

Parish Directory Clergy, wardens, vestry and office THE PARISH The Rev’d Gillean Craig (Vicar of the Parish) 020 7937 6032 gillean.craig@stmaryabbotschurch.org Parochial Churchwardens Susan Lockhart 020 7602 6073, Adrian Weale 0207 937 0765 Children’s Advocate Karsten Alva Jorgensen 020 7361 1505 Electoral Roll Officer Sally Bessada 020 7727 3210 sally@bessada.co.uk Parish Office Secretary Susan Russell 020 7937 2419 admin@stmaryabbotschurch.org ST MARY ABBOTS The Rev’d Gareth Wardell (Associate Vicar) 020 7937 2364 gareth.wardell@stmaryabbotschurch.org Non-Stipendiary Ministers The Rev’d Rob Marshall 020 7937 2259 The Rev’d Peter Stubbs 020 8868 8296 Deputy Churchwardens Carole-Anne Phillips 020 7937 3448, Thomas Williams 07768 166 422 Director of Music Mark Uglow Contact via Vestry St Mary Abbots Vestry George MacAllan 020 7937 5136 george.macallan@stmaryabbotschurch.org St Mary Abbots Centre Terry Pritchard (Manager) 020 7937 8885 manager@smacentre.com Stewardship Secretary Simon Baker 020 7937 2203 Children on Sunday Lesley Bilinda children@stmaryabbotschurch.org Friends of St Mary Abbots Steven Atack (Chairman) 020 7402 1531 St Mary Abbots Bellringers Rachel Titmuss (Secretary) -rt-@live.co.uk CHRIST CHURCH The Rev’d Canon Andrew Pearson 020 7476 6730 Deputy Churchwardens Adrian Weale 020 7937 0765, Philip Witheridge 0207 937 5184.

ST PHILIP’S The Rev’d David Walsh (Assoc Vicar St Philip’s) 020 7603 4420 vicar@specr.org Non-Stipendiary Minister The Rev’d Lesley Perry 020 7938 1367 lesley.perry@specr.org The Rev’d Ijeoma Ajibade ijeoma.ajibade@specr.org Deputy Churchwardens Tim Whitfield 07852 732 364 tim.whitfield@specr.org, Callum Stewart 07860 579 838 callum.stewart@specr.org Licensed Reader Rupert Steele 020 8747 1556 rupert@specr.org Membership Secretary Stephen Tutcher office@specr.org Director of Music Rebecca Taylor Rebecca.Taylor@specr.org

24

Visit our website on:

www.stmaryabbotschurch.org

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 27

Regular Worship ST MARY ABBOTS

LARGE ROOM IN A PRIVATE HOUSE SOUGHT to teach advanced singing, 2 days per week, 18pm, in Kensington or Notting Hill. A piano will be provided. Contact Paula Anglin

Sundays 8.00 am 9.30 am 11.15 am 12.30 pm 6.30 pm

on 07759 177392.

WELL-TRAINED PIANO TEACHER and student at the Royal College of Music offers piano lessons to all ages and levels. Contact Neus Giuriout at 07852691914 THE SINGING PAINTER/DECORATOR! Member of the church choir for painting and decorating. Chris Moore 07931590289 teaboychris@coplanco.com ANYONE FOR TENNIS? You book the court and ace player LTA rating 8.2 (Fr Gillean's stepson Tim Edwards) will give you a splendid game and, if you want, expert advice. Contact edwards.t3@sky.com to arrange.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY ALISON STEEL, SMA A J Painting & Decorating Services, W10 Interior/Exterior specialist, Free estimates 07931 323 668

Mondays 7.10 am 8.30 am 12.30 pm 1.05 pm 5.30 pm Tuesdays 7.10 am 7.30 am 8.30 am 9.15am 11.30am 5.30 pm

Holy Eucharist SUNG EUCHARIST (with Crèche & Sunday Schools) Choral Matins & Sermon Holy Eucharist Evensong with Sermon & Holy Eucharist (1st Sunday in month: Taizé Prayer & Holy Eucharist) Morning Prayer Morning Prayer Holy Eucharist Sunday on Monday service Evening Prayer Morning Prayer Holy Eucharist Morning Prayer Informal Holy Eurarist Holy Eucharist (Book of Common Prayer) Evening Prayer

Regular Worship, Classifieds

CLASSIFIEDS

Wednesdays 7.10 am Morning Prayer 7.30 am Holy Eucharist 2.00pm 3rd Weds in the month: Holy Eucharist with Laying-on of Hands & Anointing 5.30 pm Evening Prayer Thursdays 7.10 am Morning Prayer 9.30am St Mary Abbots School Eucharist (in term time all welcome) 5.30 pm Evening Prayer Fridays 7.10 am 7.30 am 5.30 pm

Morning Prayer Holy Communion Evening Prayer

Saturdays 9.40 am Morning Prayer 10.00 am Holy Communion 5.30 pm Evening Prayer On MAJOR FEASTDAYS additional Services also offered: see the Bulletin & Noticeboard.

CHRIST CHURCH

RELIABLE, AFFORDIBLE HANDYMAN For all those niggly little jobs around the house:

Sundays 8.00 am 11.00 am

painting, decorating, picture-hanging, small electrical repairs, unscrambling flat-packed fur-

11.00 am

niture. Very highly recommended, extremely reasonable prices. Call Gareman on 07825

St Philip’s

588240.

Sundays 8.30 am 10.30 am

Holy Communion (on 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays in the month & on major Feasts): SUNG EUCHARIST with Sermon (with Sunday School) (on 2nd & 4th Sundays in the month): Sung Matins with Sermon (with Sunday School)

Holy Eucharist SUNG EUCHARIST (with Sunday School) 1st Sundays: all-age service with Eucharist

25

kpn winter 10:St Mary's 07/12/2010 23:45 Page 28