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ALLESLEY
PARISH MAGAZINE
CHRISTMAS 2011
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3
Non-Emergency
To report
0345 113 5000
0800 555 111
Allesley
0844 477 3885
0500 834 333 email coventrydirect@coventry.gov.uk
All Saints Rector
Rev Robin Trew
024 7640 2006
All Saints Curate
Rev Lynda Edwards
024 7671 3235
All Saints Churchwardens Neil Howes
Michael Jones
024 7646 9045
024 7669 2734
All Saints Bell Ringers
Ian Thompson
024 7641 1522
All Saints Cell Groups
Becky Clarke
024 7626 9909
All Saints Church Hall
Bookings
Angela Taylor
024 7640 4032
All Saints PCC Secretary
Elly Williams
024 7627 9263
All Saints Readers
Colin and Fey Holtum
024 7672 9996
All Saints Reader
Muriel Stubbins
024 7633 4331
All Saints Verger
Angela Taylor
024 7640 4032
Allesley Afternoon W I
Tina Eve
024 7640 2353
Allesley & Coundon
Michael Faldon
Wedge Conservation Soc.
024 7640 3230
Allesley Country Market
Judit Naughton
024 7633 4210
Allesley Festival
Lyn Rotheram
024 7626 9040
Allesley Flower Arrangers
Dawn Reynolds
024 7640 5167
Allesley Literature Class
Jennifer Smith
024 7640 2030
Allesley Parish Chairman Cllr. Mr W Shakespeare
Council
Clerk Diane Weir
024 7633 2104
015 6478 2549
Allesley Village Hall
Bookings
024 7640 2618
Romaine Wardle
Allesley Women’s Institute Mavis Jeffery
024 7640 3797
Age Concern
Friendship Group
Rev Robin Trew
Lesley Grove
024 7640 2006
024 7640 2067
Bereavement Group
Bill Newton
024 7640 2567
Children and Youth
Paul Payne
Louise Tandy
024 7640 2017
077 0490 0074
Melody Makers
Pauline Sutherland
024 7641 1850
Meriden Young Farmers
Stephanie Elliott
078 1784 8230
Pilates
Lisa Reid
079 9942 5526
Rainbows
Sabrina Mower
024 7667 4901
Rummikub
Mavis Jeffery
024 7640 3797
Saints Drama Society
Vicky Bevan
078 7549 6037
Toddler Group
( 0 - 5 yrs)
Jane Evans
Alison Glover
024 7626 9974
024 7671 7971
4
A. M. Terry
In my bedroom hangs this motto,
And its place is near the door,
So that it may e'er remind me,
God all else must be before!
Till I kneel for just a moment,
And in earnest, secret prayer,
Place myself and all my goings
In my Heavenly Father's care.
Never do I cross the threshold:
Than the motto seems to say .....
"Just a word with God thy Father
Ere thou goest on thy way."
Nightly, too, the motto speaketh,
When for rest I would prepare,
Then it whispers its sweet message,
"First God go and meet in prayer."
When I'm dressing in the morning,
As I see it hanging there,
It reminds me of my duties,
Help for which I seek in prayer.
Yes, 'GOD FIRST' must be our motto
If we would succeed each day;
Wish we all our ways to prosper,
Then about them we must pray.
Duties, burdens, worries, troubles,
All may come to me this day.
How can I prepare to meet them?
How, I ask, except I pray?
Dear friend, won't you have this motto
Put up in your room as well?
That to you its own sweet message,
It may daily, hourly, tell.
When I plan for fresh undertakings,
Then the motto seems to say:
"Don't in thine own strength begin it,
First of all, about it pray!"
Yes, let 'GOD FIRST' be your motto,
Let it help you to prepare
For life's duties, cares and pleasures,
By a word with Him in prayer.
When I'm ready dressed for walking,
Perhaps with little time to spare,
Still I cannot leave my bedroom,
When I see the motto there ....
I have told you how it helps me,
It will help you, too, I'm sure;
Fruit through it will be abundant,
Fruit which ever will endure.
5
These words from the prophet
Jeremiah 31:3 are included in
Scripture to encourage each of us
that,
no
matter
what
our
circumstances, with whatever we
might be struggling, God loves each
one of us. We are all "precious,
honoured and
dearly loved".
When human
beings do not
show that kind
of
unconditional
love it makes it
hard to see how
God can love
us. Yet he loves
us as we are,
not
as
he
knows we can
be. The prodigal son returned and his
father not only ran to meet him and
threw his arms around him but told the
servants to put on the best robe and
sandals for his feet. He did not wash
him first. He took him straight from
feeding pigs - imagine the smell! That
is how our Heavenly Father accepts
us. He is just longing to welcome each
of us home.
Our Heavenly Father did not even wait
for us to return. He gave us a very
special gift, a Christmas gift, the gift of
Himself in the person of His Son,
Jesus Christ. Jesus is the very best gift
we could ever want or need; He is a
gift that lasts a lifetime and beyond.
Jesus not only came at Christmas as a
human baby, He was human, yet
divine. He grew up knowing no sin. He
lived and died a cruel and humiliating
death on a cross, in our place. He did
this so that all we have done wrong
might be completely wiped out and
that we might be brought into
relationship with
God as our
loving Heavenly
Father.
Christmas to so
many is just
glitter and tinsel,
fairy lights and
expensively
wrapped
gifts
which can leave
a legacy of debt
in the New Year.
God gives us
the gift of His Son Jesus, who is alive
and active in this fallen world.
Perhaps this Christmas Jesus is the
gift you can give to others. Give to
those who cannot afford presents for
their children - maybe a food parcel for
those who will not have money for
food. Give a gift to a lonely or
housebound person who you know
will be alone. By these thoughtful acts
of kindness people who would
otherwise have nothing, feel unwanted
and unloved, can know something of
that "everlasting love".
At the Story Service at my family's
church in Cheshire they sing: "Love is
something if you give it away .... you
end up having more."
6
is using small groups to strengthen
the lives of Christians. It is also proving
fruitful in impacting the community
through love and service.
The second major milestone passed
this year is the translation of our
smallest brochure (Heart of Cell) into
Kiswahili . This means that those out in
the remote bush areas with low levels
of
education
and
unable
to
understand English can now be more
fully involved.
Asante Sana (thank you very much)
Michael and all our friends in Allesley.
The Camino Walk passed many
milestones and also raised over
£2,700. This money, together with the
advancements made in Kenya over
this past year through the Cell ministry
initiated by Colin and Fey Holtum of All
Saints Church have helped us also to
pass several milestones.
Most of the money raised through the
walk has enabled us to pass our first
milestone by employing a Kenyan
Pastor, David Kimeli, for two days a
week as Kenya Cell Network Coordinator. Previously without paid
employment, Pastor David is now not
only able to feed his family but also
forward the Cell ministry in a way that
was not possible before. The Cell work
The third milestone is the appointment
of Clinton and Pahtyana Moore from
the US. They will join the Holtums in
Cell ministry, extending the work into
schools, (33% of the population is
under 15) and in strengthening the
network further until it is totally in the
hands of Kenyans.
It is important to evaluate whether this
work is making any significant
7
difference in peoples’ lives. Here are raised funds for him to get basic
some stories to illustrate how it has furniture.
made an impact.
A young girl isolated through the
shame of sexual and physical abuse
has now found healing by being part
of a caring Cell community.
Mathare slum is smaller than Kibera
but “darker”. Ezekiel was a “nogooder” turned into a Pastor with a
heart for those still struggling in
poverty and low self-image. He used
Cell principles to transform the lives of
some poverty stricken youths high on
drugs. A year later the small group has
grown into people with purpose and a
church with 70 people.
Pastor Patrick plans to reach Maasai
and Samburu tribes using Cell. These
nomadic groups are often hard to
follow-up but after training them
Patrick intends to mentor them using
the widespread “cell phone” network.
This exists even the wildest places in
Kenya giving further encouragement
as they use Cell groups to bring hope
into their communities.
Do you want to continue your support
for the work of Colin and Fey by an
individual response or an Alternative
Christmas gift?
£10 will provide another day’s work for
Pastor David Kimelli
£240 will enable the book containing a
year’s Cell outlines to be translated
into Kiswahili
£5 will print 25 Kiswahili “Heart of Cell”
booklets for remote communities
60 year old Kigo, an alcoholic four
years ago, is now a purposeful
member of his community. The
change in his life came when a Cell
group showed love to him by
replacing his leaking wooden shack
with a dry, tin roofed, two-roomed hut. Cheques should be made to SIM (UK)
The young people in the church then and may be sent to All Saints Church.
8
Thank you to all those who visited the Christmas Card and Gift Sale on
Saturday, November 5th. There was a goodly crowd and all the charities
involved were pleased with their takings. This was my last time in charge of this
event but it will carry on - next year’s date is Saturday, November 3rd. Look out
for further information. Thank you for all you support.
Very many thanks to everyone who
has helped to maintain the churchyard
this year. Whether young children or
“the young at heart” we have had help
with weeding, planting, hedge cutting,
mowing, collecting the grass, edging
and sweeping the paths. A special
mention to those who have maintained
the equipment and those who have
kept us fed.
Dates for next year will be published in
the Easter edition and in the weekly
bulletin. We may do an additional
“one- off” tidy early in the New Year to
prepare the lower churchyard for the
forthcoming year.
We look forward to working with you
and of course sharing breakfast!
We are taking a break over Christmas and the New Year and resume classes
on Thursday January 19th.
New members are always welcome to join us and can phone Elizabeth on
76 402030 for further details.
Allesley All Saints have a Home Communion Team
who are enabled to visit communicants in their homes
to give Communion.
If you are interested, or know someone who might be,
please contact either
Robin Trew (Rector) 7640 2006
or
Frances Seeley 7640 3809
P.S. This service is available all year round, not only at Christmas
9
Following a bad fall from my previous
horse I was taken to casualty. The
attending doctor said to me - “My
dear, when you get to a certain age
you no longer bounce. If I were you I
would take up something a bit safer!”
I took the heartbreaking decision to
sell my horse, as I had lost my nerve
to ride again. This turned out to be the
best decision I had ever made.
In May 2006 I went to the Kenilworth
Gypsy Horse Fair with a friend “Just to
look”.... and there he was.... tied to a
lorry with three or four other gypsy
horses, looking very bored BUT very
handsome!
As soon as we showed an interest we
were surrounded by a group of
travellers telling us what a good horse
he was - but we already knew that!
They drove a hard bargain but we
sealed the deal with the traditional
gypsy handshake (spitting in the palm
of the hand) and paid over the cash.
I borrowed a trailer and took him home
- the best thing I have ever bought.
This was the start of my carriage
driving experience which opened up a
whole new world to me. We now
spend hours driving round the lanes of
Allesley, Corley and Fillongley,
enjoying the peace and quiet of the
countryside. We love watching the
wildlife - the buzzards calling and
circling in the sky - the rookery in
Pikers Lane. We love the nice chats we
have with people out walking, who
want to know all about my lovely boy.
They all agree “What a great way to
travel”.
We have had a great year in
competition carriage driving this
season. We won the Private Driving at
Fillongley Show and came Reserve
Champion at the Kenilworth Show.
I hope the winter is kinder to us this
time and am looking forward to next
year with my Big Fat Gypsy Cob.
10
The Coventry Branch of the
Warwickshire Beekeepers Association
(CBKA) hold their winter meetings on
the 3rd Monday of the month, from
September to April. The meetings are
held in Allesley Church Hall, they start
at 7.30 pm and last about
two hours.
Every
winter
we
endeavor to provide
speakers to give a good
mix of talks for our
members on aspects of
beekeeping and related
subjects.
We
have
already had a fascinating talk from our
Chairman, Dave Bonner, who has
made several visits to help teach
beekeeping skills in Uganda as part of
his work with the charity Bees Abroad.
There has been a large amount of
interest in the media over recent years
about the plight of the honey bee and
its importance as a pollinator of crops
and this has prompted many new
beekeepers of all ages to take up the
hobby. We have
been
able
to
welcome lots of new
members to our
Branch and provide
information
and
support whilst they
get to grips with this
fascinating hobby.
The Branch runs a weekend
Beginner's Beekeeping Course each
spring and this year the course will
take place at the British Beekeeping
Association HQ at Stoneleigh on the
31st March and 1st April. At £75 this is
Forthcoming meetings will include a real bargain and would provide an
talks on
, excellent Christmas gift for someone
and
. interested in taking up Beekeeping.
Visitors are always welcome to come For any information regarding the
along to either our winter or summer CBKA please contact our secretary
meetings.
cbka.secretary@hotmail.co.uk
During the summer months we meet
at 3.00 pm on the 3rd Sunday of the
month at the Coventry Branch apiary
which is located at Ryton Organic
Gardens. We have several beehives
there which are used for 'hands on'
teaching purposes and also provide
honey for the Branch to sell to raise
funds.
11
Ingredients to make two large or three
medium braids:
2 packets yeast
½ cup sugar
½ cup butter
2 eggs
1 cup scalded milk
1 cup candied peel or candied fruit
1 grated lemon rind
4 cups bread flour, sifted
Pinch of nutmeg
½ tsp salt
Finely ground almonds or walnuts
Red and green glace cherries
8. Punch down and divide into half or
thirds. Allow dough to rest for five
minutes.
9. Roll out and spread with softened
butter. Sprinkle with ground nuts, if
desired. Fold in half and reshape into
rectangle. Slash and braid.
10. Allow to rise until doubled.
11. Bake at 375 0 F, 190 0 C or gas
mark 5 for 25 minutes.
12. Cool.
13. Frost with icing sugar flavoured
with a drop of almond essence and
lemon juice if wished.
14. Decorate with red and green glace
1. Mix yeast and 2 tablespoons sugar cherries.
(from the ½ cup), with warm milk. Stir This bread freezes well. Microwave for
until yeast dissolves.
15 seconds after thawing it to create
2. Add 1½ cups flour (from the 4 cups) freshly baked bread!
and beat until smooth.
Happy Holidays!
3. Add butter and remaining sugar
and beat.
4. Beat in 1 egg at a time. Add fruit and
lemon rind.
5. Mix remaining flour, salt and
nutmeg together. Add some to the
mixture and beat until smooth.
Continue adding until the dough
becomes hard to manage.
6. Turn dough out onto floured surface
and knead until smooth and elastic,
adding flour as needed.
7. Allow dough to rise until double in
size.
Allesley Country Market will be holding two special Christmas Markets
On Wednesday 14th December 9.45 am -11.30 am a morning market and
on Thursday 15th December 6.30 pm - 8.00 pm an evening market.
Mince pie tasting on both days!!
Allesley Country Market is open every Wednesday from 9.45 am till 11.00 am,
in Allesley Village Hall.
12
Hello. My name is Doreen Agutter. I
am interested in farming and church
history,
especially
in
North
Warwickshire, from c 1300 to c 1650. I
grew up in Meriden and each quarter I
write an article for the Meriden “Mag”.
I am also researching for another book
on the history of Meriden.
Late one evening I put ‘Hollyberry End’
in ‘Google’ and to my surprise a photo
appeared on ‘Flickr’ of a cottage there.
The person submitting the photograph
asked for information. I was excited
and replied. Guess what - it turned out
the picture belonged to your magazine
editor! E mails exchanged, she asked
me if I would write something about
the history of the cottage and perhaps
Allesley’s other charities.
This is Allesley’s oldest charity: a
fabric fund for the church, needed as
much in the past as now. Its origins
are lost in the passage of time but we
learn from a deed of 1531 that it was
already in existence. In that year the
manor of Alspath was divided between
the four daughters of Thomas Botiler,
gentleman, who died 1522 and their
husbands. This deed of partition
mentions, “rents allotted from….Auslie
church grove..” (a small wood) and
“2d rent from the croft (small field)
belonging to Allesley church.” It is not
possible to discover which tenants
rented the grove and croft or if there
was a cottage as early as this but
someone possibly living in Meriden,
perhaps
with
Allesley
links,
bequeathed these rents to “All Souls
Church”, Allesley’s dedication at that
time. This type of gift was not unique:
Meriden church shares a similar
charity, whose origin we do not know,
with Great Packington.
Trustees cared for the charity and
there are several descriptions over the
years.
In 1730 John Latham of Meriden
rented ” a cottage, garden and close
of two acres adjoining the lane leading
to Hollyberry End”. He and his wife
Katherine both died there within a few
days of each other in January 1733 at
the time of a smallpox epidemic. In
1735 Henry West, a Meriden labourer
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obtained a 21 year renewal of his lease
for “a house and two acres” from the
seven trustees. Martha Eborne’s
marriage settlement to James Wigley
in 1746 described it as “a messuage
(house) with closes and a homestead”.
When in 1754 Joseph Lant, an
important Allesley land owner, handed
over his trust to James Wigley and nine
others the description adds “the close
was next to the cottage, on the road to
Hollyberry End”; the rent was 4/-.
When West died his widow became
the tenant until 1787. William Priest
then rented it but not for himself.
Meriden’s Enclosure Act 1785 made
changes. William Priest’s lease in 1833
said as well as the cottage there were
two little fields and a garden
measuring in all 1 acre 3 roods 14
perches with an annual rent of £3.10.0.
In the C19th the Earls of Aylesford
rented the premises for estate workers.
In the 1871 census Thomas and
Hannah Slater from Long Itchington
lived here with six of their eleven
children. They had moved about 1869
when Thomas became employed as a
woodsman to Lord Aylesford.
The cottage backed on to the Shafts
an important area of ancient woodland
that, like the cottage, still stands. In the
1920s it was rented as a farm cottage
for agricultural workers at Pointons of
Hollyberry End Farm, which was easily
reached by a footpath across the field.
It is now in private ownership after the
Church trustees sold it in 1950 for
£700.0.0
There were other charities in Allesley
benefiting the church. These were
rents for seven cottages and gardens,
a small field known as Bell or Church
Meadow indicating its rent was once
used for a bell or bell ropes - (the ropes
must have needed replacing often to
have required such an income!). This
is likely to have been another medieval
gift.
Churches elsewhere benefited by
purchasing property in the parish and
renting it out. The parish of Holy Trinity,
Coventry joined Allesley parish on the
Coundon side. As early as 1550s it
acquired a farm, several closes, a
coppiced wood and some land farmed
in the ancient manner.
14
Thank you to all donors who have kindly given their support towards the repairs
to the roof of All Saints Church, Allesley.
Work has commenced on the roof thanks to the offer of a substantial interest
free loan of £8,000. That said we still need to continue our fund-raising to repay
the loan.
The recent Christmas card sale in the Village Hall enabled us to sell just over
£150 of Christmas cards. There are still plenty remaining and these will
continue to be on sale in the Post Office and at the back of church.
The Bereavement Group also held their annual Commemoration Service on
Sunday 31 October and the collection of over £450 was given to the Raise the
Roof Appeal. A big thank you to Isabel and Bill who organised the service.
We would like to draw your attention to the current e-petition which aims to
amend the Scrap Metal Merchants Act 1964 to prohibit cash transactions, so
that any payment for scrap metal would be by cheque or directly into a bank
account. This would be a significant component in reducing metal theft. You
can add your voice to this campaign by clicking on:
http://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/406
Naturally we would be delighted to receive further donations. If you would like
to help us to recover gift aid, please complete the form below. To review the
progress to our target, please look at the dedicated notice board at the back
of the church.
Thank you from the Raise the Roof Team
---------
---------------------------
.............................................................
........................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
.....................
I am a UK Taxpayer intending tax to be reclaimed on the enclosed donation
to the Raise the Roof Appeal, made under the Gift Aid Scheme
......................................................................
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15
Well done everyone and thank you to
Bill Parkinson for inviting us all to
What a party! The cast
and crew did us proud with their
excellent interpretation of the 1970’s
classic. The set really transported us
back to that era.
In February 2012 we will be
investigating
a comedy by David Tristram
with Chris Smith and Gary Swain
reprising their roles as the Inspector
and his faithful sidekick PC Plod. Five
new members will be making their
acting debuts in this production along
with some familiar faces. We look
forward to seeing you all in our
audience to share in the mirth and
mayhem. The play will run from
Although not Coventry born, Roger
spent well over 50 happy years living
in the same Butt Lane house in
Allesley with his beloved wife Mary.
Over those years, in addition to his
professional life as a teacher and
deputy head at Wyken Croft Primary
School, he involved himself fully in the
life of the village.
Roger’s name is synonymous with
‘The Saints’ having joined the group in
1961, two years after Mary (a founder
member). He was latterly our
President and always there to give
everyone in the society a sense of
belonging. Roger was a mentor to
many of us, teaching stagecraft and
even paperhanging and painting on
the set. He was marvellous on stage;
significant roles being Archie Rice in
and Otto Frank in
and there were
many more. Roger also directed
memorable and often challenging
plays over the years. Those of us lucky
enough to have worked closely with
Roger will always remember his calm
encouragement. He always found the
best in people: a rare quality.
Roger would be delighted to see that
the group is still thriving, having been
significantly assisted by the guidance
and stability given during his long
stewardship.
We could write volumes in tribute to
Roger but suffice it to say “Thank you Roger for being there - we
will never forget you.”
in Allesley Village Hall. Tickets will be
available from Marie Hudson when
booking opens in January. Watch out
for the posters.
From
, Mark Treen will be
directing
a thriller by
Michael Sloan. More details in the next
issue.
Season’s greetings from the Saints.
16
We start slowly, our delegation
members consist of several men, a
handful of women and a sprinkling of
children. As we walk out of the
Palestinian village of At-Tuwani the
procession grows - women cutting
across fields, children scrambling
down hillsides. Some of the boys carry
hoes, the women swing buckets - a
young child waves a Palestinian flag.
We are on our way to a small olive
orchard in the valley to take part in a
healing ritual but the conversation, in
Arabic, sounds chatty, neighbours
exchanging the titbits that make up
daily life. A few of the children try to
bring us into the loop with their
schoolroom English - we try a few
Arabic phrases.
When we reach the orchard, we
pause. I know in my head that Israeli
settlers who live across the valley from
At-Tuwani sometimes sneak down at
night and chop down the villagers’
olive trees. However seeing the
wounded trees myself cuts very
deeply. The breaks are jagged,
branches twisting off the trunk, the
silver-green leaves curling in the dust.
Ten trees have been hacked off, an
attempt to chop down Palestinian life
in the South Hebron Hills.
The settlements in the West Bank,
built on Palestinian land, are largely
populated by Israelis who believe all of
this land should be part of Israel. They
are squatters, protected by the Israeli
military. We witness this as we
approach the orchard. Two, then
three, then four military jeeps appear;
soldiers carrying automatic weapons
hop out. One person on the CPT team,
on alert for potential violence,
positions himself between the villagers
and the soldiers. A youthful
Palestinian shoots some video, part of
a recent campaign to document the
occupation.
We work together to stack the severed
limbs. With the hoes, people etch
trenches around the wounded
stumps. A woman opens a nearby
cistern and pulls up a bucket of water.
The water flows into the trenches,
nourishing the trees. Even though it
will be at least five years before the
trees can bear fruit again, I feel the
healing beginning, in the trees and in
the villagers. I am honoured to be
walking with this community on a hot
May morning, a community with deep
roots in this land, roots that sustain
them in the daily struggle to maintain
their homes and livelihoods.
17
On Tuesday the 22nd November the
Allesley Festival Committee held its
annual presentation evening in the
Village Hall. Guests were treated to a
glass of mulled wine, tea, coffee and a
minced pie and shared in the very
humbling but proud experience of
donating the surplus funds made from
the annual Festival.
There are several reasons for hosting
this event. Firstly it provides the
Committee with the opportunity to let
the local community know the amount
of money and how it was raised. This
year the surplus was £6,424 of which
£4,550 was donated to various
charities/local causes. Much deserved
thanks are conveyed to all those who
contribute to the success of the
Festival. They may be the organisers,
volunteers, sponsors, advertisers,
local businesses and by no means
least of all those who purchase tickets
or just turn up to support the many
events - people such as yourselves. A
representative from each of the
recipient organisations came along. All
gave very interesting accounts of the
needs of their organisations and the
importance of these donations. The
funds enable them improve the quality
of life for so many people and their
families.
The Allesley Festival is a wonderful
community event and one in which
everyone should feel a sense of pride.
A big thank you to all of you from the
Allesley Festival Committee.
‘Musicals’ was the 36th Allesley Festival
and sadly the first where there was no
street procession. Most people were
bitterly disappointed. The decision
taken to axe the procession was the
right one given the circumstances
prevailing at the time. However, never
say die. Our impassioned plea for help
has been met with a groundswell of
support and everything will be done to
reinstate the procession in 2012.
We now have a full Committee who are
all bursting with new ideas and
enthusiasm, so 2012 will see some
fresh events taking place as well as the
old favourites. Ten days of events is
still a huge responsibility and workload
with many volunteers needed to help
out on the day. This is not just about
the procession and marshalling but
other events such as the Art Exhibition.
To mount the beautiful pictures on
display, very heavy and bulky fencelike framing is used. Owing to its size
this framing is stored in a loft space in
the church hall. Every year the Art
Exhibition organisers are faced with
the task of climbing into this loft and
dragging these frames out and then of
course, having to reverse the
procedure at the end of the event. The
organisers, we are sure will not mind
us saying, are not youngsters and find
this task particularly daunting. What
they need are three or four lads/men in
their prime just to go and give a hand.
We are in the process of developing a
web site which will give all kinds of
information regarding the Festival and
will also enable people to register as
volunteers. If you think you can help
please sign up.
18
The planning for 2012 has been
underway for some time and the
theme is ‘The Olympics’. This is a
most exciting time for our country and
we intend to make it a most exciting
time for the 37th Allesley Festival. The
procession will include individuals
carrying an Olympic Torch and an
Olympic Closing Ceremony to include
sporting events, displays, a hog roast,
fireworks and a live band. Of course
many details have to be confirmed but
the Committee are very committed to
providing a family extravaganza. This
event is likely to prove quite costly but
one that it is hoped will appeal to many
- thereby making it financially viable.
The dates for the 2012 Allesley Festival
are 6th to the 15th July.
As we said the web site is only at stage
one of its development and will be
expanded in the next few months.
However, please log on to see which
organisations benefited from the
Allesley Festival 2011, details of the
Allesley Festival Committee and in the
future to register for volunteering and
to check what will be happening in
2012.
The web site address is
Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year to one and all.
Meriden Young Farmers with their big German tractor
Tom Bragg, Jack Upton, Steve Kelsey, Becki Beaty and Mike Hansford
19
Meriden Young Farmers is a warm,
welcoming and friendly club. We meet
every Wednesday evening at Allesley
Scout Hut and take part in various
activities. Our age range is from 11-25
years old and we welcome anyone to
come along whether from a farming
background or not. Our members do
not just live in Meriden but also come
from Allesley, Barston, Coundon,
Fillongley, Hampton-in-Arden and
Kersley.
The club has been re-running for eight
years now after closing for a short
break due to lack of support. However,
I am pleased to say we now have a
very strong and young club who
thoroughly enjoy meeting new people
and taking part in different activities.
Our meetings each week vary from
talks, such as from Red Wings Horse
Sanctuary and the BBC news team,
visits to museums and police stations,
farm walks and sporting events such
as bowling, rounders and football.
Each year we take part in a county
rally competition. This involves
competing against other clubs in
Warwickshire.
The
competitions
include; stock judging, tractor and
trailer driving, flower arranging, still-life
drawing, baking cakes and metal and
wood work. There really is something
for everyone!!!
We hold events throughout the year to
raise money for charity. Our charity
this year is Cancer Research UK.
Some of our fund-raising activities
include; discos, a ‘duck’ race, a tractor
pull and our annual 48-hour
ploughathon. For the latter we plough
our local farmer’s fields continuously
for 48 hours – very tiring but good fun
is had by all!
For more information please contact:
Steph Elliott (secretary) 07817848230
or Tom Bragg (chairman)
07730622032
Meriden Young Farmers’ Club raised
£1,100 through their Annual Charity
Fund-Raising Ploughing Marathon on
16th-18th September.
The ten-strong team from the local
YFC took it in turns by four-hour shifts
to plough non-stop from Friday
evening to Sunday. Night ploughing
was effected by making full use of the
tractor’s generous array of lights. They
completed just over 130 acres at
Hollyfast Farm, Allesley.
This year the YFC’s chosen good
cause was the National Association of
Colitis and Crohns’ Disease (NACC).
They hope that their efforts will also
help to raise awareness of this lesser
known charity.
The marathon had been threatened
with cancellation at the eleventh hour
when the tractor that the Young
Farmers’ had arranged to use became
unavailable. However a last minute
phone call secured the loan of a brand
new Deutz-Fahr tractor direct from the
manufacturers.
20
On Saturday 5th to Sunday 6th
November 2011 a group of us from All
Saints Church did a 24 hour
sponsored silence, with no mobile
phones, Facebook or Twitter. It was a
big challenge and we achieved it! We
did various activities during the day
such as a litter pick and photo
challenge around Allesley village.
charity Open Doors who are working
alongside these Secret Children.
Rika is one of many Secret Children.
Rika roams the streets with her baby
brother. She begs or sells Barbie
colouring books. Rika is on the streets
because she was born into a Christian
family and as Christians they are the
lowest of the low in Pakistan. That
means she was born into poverty too.
The money we were raising is going to She is also at risk of violence and
help one of our young people, Jess sexual abuse.
Duncan, raise some of the funds she
needs to go on a Christian leadership From the 5th November till Christmas
training course next academic year, Eve we are encouraged by Open
with Soul 61.
Doors to pray for these children … so
please join the young people and
The other half is going to help millions remember these children in your
of Secret Children living in the most prayers.
hostile and restricted places on earth.
Thirty million children pay a price for For more information about the Secret
their faith - suffering, hurt, alone and Children go to
criminalized for being Christians. The http://blackout.opendoorsuk.org/
money for this project will go to the
21
22
Have you heard of the Rainbows? We
are the youngest section of Girl
Guiding for girls between the ages of
five and seven.
Each Rainbow unit is responsible for
their own planning but we use the
same principles:
- We encourage the Rainbows to
look around them and to be curious.
We have treasure hunts and go for
walks to look for signs of the seasons.
- We have lots of different
themes, so far this term we have learnt
about Jewish New Year, Apples,
Diwali, Daffodil Bulbs and Turkey.
- Every week we play games
and have fun together.
- We encourage the girls to get
on well together, to say thank you to
their parents for Christmas and
holidays and to help others by
sometimes raising money for charity.
Using these four themes we try to have
a varied and enjoyable programme so
that all of the Rainbows enjoy the
meetings.
If you think your daughter would like to
experience this you may need to get
her name down on the waiting list so
that she can start when she is five.
Phone Sabrina Mower on 7667 4901
for more information.
The
Girls’
Brigade
provides a time for
friends, fun, games,
laughter and in the midst
of it all we recognise
God. That is the essence of Girls’
Brigade (G.B.).
Girls’ Brigade are an international,
interdenominational,
uniformed,
Christian organisation for girls. Our
motto is ‘Seek, Serve and Follow
Christ’.
Our new programmes are fun, relevant
to the needs of today’s girls and
young people, action packed and fast
moving. Many of our members have
no church connection, so we are an
important part of the mission of the
church.
Girls of five years old and upwards can
join us and at the age of fourteen they
can train to be Young Leaders who
help with the younger girls.
There are four G.B. groups which
meet on different nights in different
areas of Coventry and others in
Warwickshire. If you or someone you
know would like to join G.B. or you
would like to know more, please look
at our website www.girlsb.org.uk
email p.parsons@talktalk.net
or phone Pat on 7641 3081.
We would love to have the opportunity
to get to know you.
23
At our AGM in November we were
joined by Federation Chairman Sheila
Davies who guided us through the
business of our meeting.
Several
of
our
longstanding
Committee members decided they
would like a break and we must thank
Sheila Staples, Doris Turner, Muriel
Cuthbert and Angela Taylor for all their
hard work and enthusiasm in
organising the Institute over so many
years. I am sure our 2012 Committee,
with President Mavis Jeffery will still be
calling on their experience in an
informal way.
We start our programme on January
17th with a most welcome return by
Dixie Atkins who has a new talk on
Richard III. Dixie is always an excellent
speaker and manages to educate us in
an entertaining way. On February 21st
Jenny Jones will discuss medicinal
herbs and herb gardening, so we will
all be busy planting in the Spring. In
March Di Castledine will give us a lighthearted insight into learning to drive
for those of more mature years, or
what we like to think of as late youth.
Looking even further ahead our Spring
Coffee Morning is on March 31st when
we look forward to welcoming
members and friends for a pleasant
get-together before Easter.
We meet in Allesley Village Hall on the
3rd Tuesday in each month at 7.30 pm
and are always delighted to greet
visitors and new members. Do join us
- we are sure you will enjoy your
evening.
The President and Committee wish
everyone a Happy Christmas and a
Peaceful New Year.
Your Parish Council is made up of a
number of Councillors who meet
regularly to make decisions on the
work and direction of the Council. As
elected bodies, Parish Councils are
responsible to the local community.
Residents are more than welcome to
attend a Parish Council meeting.
Meetings are held approximately every
six weeks on Monday evenings in the
Bree Room, All Saints Church Hall,
Allesley, commencing at 7.30 pm.
Meetings are advertised on the parish
notice board in Oak Lane.
The Parish Council hopes to have a
link on Coventry City Council's website
very shortly and its own website in the
next financial year.
The Parish Council members are:Cllr. Bill Shakespeare, Chairman
Cllr. Norman Slater, Vice Chairman
Cllr. Allan Jeffery
Cllr. Mrs Vicki Smith
Cllr. Ken Bell
Cllr. James Nunn
Cllr. Thomas Burton
There is a vacancy for a Parish
Councillor which will shortly be
advertised. If you are interested in
representing your local community
please
contact
the
Clerk
at
allesleypc@hotmail.co.uk
or 01564 782549.
24
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Peace on Earth
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace...”
Luke 2:14
There are lots of opportunities for giving at Christmas. Giving cards.
Giving presents. Giving to charity. Giving hugs and kisses. Giving food
and drink. Giving-in to temptation too, sometimes - “Oh go on - it’s
Christmas!”. Giving is a Christmas thing. Why does it make you feel
better? Well, it is nice to be appreciated but it is also part of living a holy
life. Giving is part of God's loving nature. The posh word for God's giving
is
That is the sort of sacrificial giving that we see in the gift of
God's only Son in the stable at Bethlehem and on the cross at Calvary.
Giving up yourself in order to benefit others. It springs from a love that
is way, way beyond anything the recipient deserves or has any right to
expect. It is costly, often undervalued and asks for no reward.
So when we push the boat out and spend too much on someone we
love; when we give up that luxury in order to give to charity; when we
make up for a lack of funds by doing something really special for
someone - we feel some pale echo of the heart of God who gives all the
love He has in Jesus.
When we open that surprisingly, embarrassingly, ostentatiously
generous present on Christmas morning (ever hopeful!) our
astonishment foreshadows the joy that we will know when we see Jesus
face to face when He comes in Glory.
So, if you want to know that real, lasting joy – try it for yourself. Think
about God's gift to us of His only beloved child who came to save us
from certain destruction whatever the cost. Take hold of that gift for
yourself. Then see if you can do likewise.
Giving all the love you have
Getting more than you deserve
Robin
Rector of Allesley
Tel: 024 76402006
Sundays
8.00 am Book of Common Prayer Communion
Quiet and Traditional
10.00 am Informal Sunday Worship
with Children and Young People's Groups
Noisy and Relaxed
6.00 pm Evening Prayer alternated with Holy Communion
C of E - Allesley style
7.30 pm 3-point-turn, for under 25's
Music - Lights - Action
Morning Prayer at 9.00 am Tuesday - Friday
Small Cell Groups meet in people’s homes
on most days or nights of the week
Allesley is a
generous place.
We collect
loads of food
for the Coventry
Foodbank
helping local
people in
difficulties.
We support Fey
and Colin Holtum from Allesley, working with churches across Kenya. In
2011, we quickly collected enough money to install two new bells to the
glory of God. We help the Church Missionary Society with those who work
in difficult areas of the world for Christians. We send toys to Coventry City
Mission who take them to disadvantaged children. We have a real link with
the World Vision project in Lidetta, Ethiopia and many people sponsor
children throughout the world. When the lead thieves struck at Allesley our
community helped us to raise enough money to repair the roof – to improve
it so that it will last
(and there is no
lead to steal any
more!)
People give up
time and energy
in celebrating our
Allesley Festival.
It is all giving
It is all good
It is all part of
God's plan as He says
“Be kind to one
another”
Thank You
Allesley
31
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35
PETE THE GARDENER
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37
Celebrate the
Festive Season
at the
For festive fun, fabulous food
and fantastic entertainment
bring your party to our party!!!
It is sure to be a night to
remember. Guests are invited
to arrive from 7.00 pm and
dinner is served at 7.45 pm.
The price includes the festive
menu, novelties and disco
until the close of the party at
1.00 am (bar closes 12.45 am)
Why pay for the taxi home?
Take advantage of our special room
rates of only £24.50 per person
including VAT and full English
breakfast (based on 2 persons sharing)
Cream of leek and potato soup
Fillet of smoked mackerel
Fan of melon(v)
Roast supreme of turkey
Roast leg of lamb
Festive nut roast
Classic Christmas pudding
Baked vanilla cheesecake
Fresh fruit salad(v)
Freshly brewed coffee or tea and
chocolate mints
COVENTRY
COVENTRY
38
39
All Domestic Work Undertaken
A reminder that the
RSPB Garden Birdwatch
takes place on
Saturday 28th or
Sunday 29th January 2012.
Commercial/Industrial Work
also available
156, Hawkes Mill Lane
Allesley
024 7640 2371
Established 1986
For more information go to the
RSPB website link:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/
where bird identification
and counting sheets
may be downloaded.
40
There will be very few readers who are a grave or memorial which many
not familiar with the work of the cannot visit personally.
Initially the project’s brief was confined
to
Commonwealth
graves
or
memorials for WWI and WWII but the
scope is now widened to include all
nationalities and all conflicts providing
the casualty died in service.
Currently the website contains well
over a 1.7 million images taken from
23,000 cemeteries or memorials in
over 150 countries. Photographing the
beautifully
maintained
CWGC
cemeteries is one thing, tramping
through the undergrowth of oftneglected churchyards or vast
corporation cemeteries looking for a
single - or scattered headstones - is
another story altogether as volunteers
can testify with many a frustrating or
amusing story.
Commonwealth
War
Graves The project has over 900 volunteers
Commission (CWGC). It is not so well worldwide from all walks of life. All that
known that working in association with is required is motivation, a digital
them is The War Graves Photographic camera and the CWGC location data
Project (TWGPP), a voluntary group supplied by the project’s coordinators.
whose aim is to extend the work of the It is probably a fair assessment to say
CWGC by photographing every war that this is a project which owes its
grave and memorial worldwide. This ultimate true worth to modern
joint venture was formally announced technology: the facility to download
in November 2007 with the TWGPP from camera to computer to website
website going live in February 2008
with comparative ease and speed.
The ethos of TWGPP is very simple: to Requests are dealt with on a daily
enable families and researchers to basis by Project Request Coordinator
obtain, via its website, a photograph of Sandra Rogers; the success rate is
41
high given the numbers in the archive
and the numerous letters of thanks are
both poignant, heartwarming and in
many instances heartbreaking. These
can be viewed on the site ‘Thanks’ tab
http://twgpp.org/thanks.php
Some of the best moments are when
TWGPP appear alongside the CWGC
at the
shows
in
London
or
other
Genealogical events. In February
(2011) the Project attended their third
event where the team re-named it the
‘Oh Wow!’ show because that was the
general reaction of those to whom
they were able to show a photograph
of great grandfather’s or uncle’s
headstone or memorial inscription. A
box of tissues always comes in handy!
Adding images to the website is an
ongoing task. Ultimately the archive,
when complete, will form a lasting
record of all those who paid the
ultimate sacrifice and will be
deposited with the CWGC to
complement its own archive in due
course.
Further information about the Project,
can be viewed at www.twgpp.org
All Saints Church Sunday Worship
continues throughout the week. Many
people meet in Cell Groups around
the parish to worship
together.
Thus
each
member of All Saints
congregation
has
an
opportunity to experience
a closer fellowship, making
it possible for everyone to
feel valued and supported.
All Cell Groups welcome
neighbours, neighbouring
churches and people new
to the parish. Many of the
groups support local, national and
global charities and missionaries as
part of their worship. If you would like
to come along to a Cell Group you will
find a warm welcome.
In addition to Cell Groups many other
groups meet at All Saints
Church during the week.
There are flower arrangers,
cleaners, gardeners, bell
ringers and many more.
Every one is welcome to join
any of these.
All these groups have come
together to create a Big
Banner to show our unity in
worship and the sharing of
fellowship with each other
and the community.
For more details of Cell Groups near
you ring Becky Clarke. Tel. 7626 9909
42
Our aims are to
preserve our pleasant
countryside and built
environment, now and
for future generations.
We also hope to provide a forum for
discussion and action for local
residents. Membership of the Society
is only £3 per annum per household or
£12 for 5 years on our
offer. Please apply through the above
web site, at one of our meetings, or by
post to ACWCS, c/o Allesley Village
Hall, 118 Birmingham Road, Allesley,
Coventry CV5 9GX. All members
receive four free newsletters per year.
We hold monthly meetings, from
September to May, on the first
Wednesday of the month, at 7.45 p.m.
in Allesley Village Hall and all are
welcome. Look out for our posters on
the Village Hall and Post Office notice
boards or in the windows of local
shops. Light refreshments are served
after the talk providing an opportunity
for a chat with like-minded friends. We
invite a small donation (minimum £1
per person) to help cover the costs of
the evening.
Our programme is as follows:
Dixie makes a welcome return after
quite a few years following a number
of recommendations. She is a retired
head teacher and drama teacher. She
also performs and directs at Priory
Theatre in Kenilworth. Dixie writes
historical novels and has had nine
published. We look forward to her light
touch insight into the Bard.
Rob and his wife Shirley are from Toft
Alpacas. Toft Farm, situated in rural
Warwickshire, is centred upon a long
established pedigree herd of prizewinning alpacas. They say that they
are not quite a visitor centre but
provide everything one would want
from a day out meeting alpacas
including farm walks and shopping for
alpaca products. These include
knitting yarns and luxury alpaca
knitwear. This evening they will bring
all of this to us in the Village Hall
except for the Alpacas!
Sheila and Joan gave part one of this
most interesting talk, about their 2007
visit to China, after the 2011 AGM.
This evening we look forward to part
two, which will complete the account
of their journey, which took them to
the Yangtze River basin. They first saw
the ancient tomb of a nobleman,
recently
discovered
during
a
43
construction project – a total contrast
to the Three Gorges Dam, built to
supply hydro-electric power to millions
of people in China. They then
embarked on the Yangtze Princess,
and spent five days on board,
travelling through the magnificent
scenery of the Three Gorges, before
finishing in Chongquing, the fastestgrowing city in China
Branch of the Western Front
Association and a former committee
member of Stretton on Dunsmore
History Society. He is also a former
resident of Allesley. The story is an
unusual and moving tale of the time
spent by the “Incomparable” 29th
Division in Warwickshire, in the early
months of 1915, before their departure
for Gallipoli. The monument in
question is at the intersection of the
A45 and Fosse Way near Stretton on
Dunsmore and it commemorates not
Chris is a former Head of History at just the Division’s war record but also
King Henry VIII School, currently their stay in the Warwickshire area.
Chairman of the Heart of England
As I am sure all the reports for this
magazine are saying – where has the
year gone?!
October saw us listening to a speaker
who discussed the advantages of
organic gardening to wildlife. Later in
the month we spent an interesting day
at Denman College, the training centre
for the WI.
At our November AGM our committee
was strengthened by two members
joining it and our thanks go to Norma
and Tina for taking on that role. My
personal thanks go to this year’s
committee who have supported me so
well and worked so hard for the group.
In the New Year we start January with
our social meeting. February 1st sees
John Paskett talking to us about
“Cruising to Japan – on a cargo
boat!!?” Returning to the local area on
March 7th Ray Starkey talks to us on
“A Walk Round Earlsdon”.
We meet at 1.45 pm in the Village Hall
on the first Wednesday of the month
for our more formal meetings and
again on the third Wednesday of the
month for ‘something different’ –
rambles, lunch, crafts, games etc –
anything members ask for we try to do!
P.S. If the weather is bad over the next
festive period, just for fun you could do
our February competition to see how
many words of four letters or more
you can make using the letters in
‘cargo boat’. The use of the internet is
not allowed!
44
Keeping a few laying hens in your
garden has never been so popular
and one reason for this surge is the
work of the British Hen Welfare Trust
(BHWT). Over the past five years their
volunteer teams have found pet
homes for over 260,000 commercial
laying hens and an incredible 31,000
of these ‘Lucky Ladies’ were homed
by our local Warwickshire and the
West Midlands team who are actually
based in Allesley.
Despite this success however,
hundreds more hens will be looking
for homes at the end of the month.
The ban on the old, barren, battery
cages finally comes into force in the
UK this New Year’s Day. This is great
news for the future but sadly means
that any hens still in the old style cages
on this date will be sent to slaughter.
Working with the farmers, the BHWT
are planning to find homes for as
many of these ‘Girls’ as they can in the
week before the New Year’s Eve
deadline.
The weather may not be ideal and it is
a busy time of year for everyone but it
will be "now or never" for these little
birds. They will not be there in the
Spring.
The re-homing day in Allesley will be
on Wednesday 28th December so, if
you have always wanted some
chickens (or have room for a few more
Girls!) please do get in touch with the
Trust. You can register your interest
via the web page www.bhwt.org.uk by
emailing hens@bhwt.org.uk or by
phoning 01769 580310.
Advice sheets are available on hen
care and of course coping with the
weather if it is very cold.
The hens are just a year and a half old
and may be laying five eggs every
week rather than an egg every day.
While this is not enough for our
farmers, it is more than enough for
most
families.
These
"spent
hens" would normally be sent for
processing into cheap human and pet
foods but the lucky ones that the
BHWT buy and re-home become
friendly
and
productive
pets
themselves!
45
The hens themselves are usually
scruffy rather than entirely bald and
basically sound and healthy. They will
have had all of their vaccinations, be
salmonella tested and are unlikely to
have any genetic problems (as they
have been selectively bred for years
and kept indoors all their lives).
Hens require relatively little work to
keep; a warm, dry coop or converted
shed/stable in which to sleep and lay
eggs. Fresh food and water and a
secure wired run area for when you
are not around (they can free range in
your garden when you are home but
foxes are a constant threat day or
night, so best keep them safe.)
While they have spent most of their
lives in a small cage, the ‘ex-bats’ get
used to life "on the outside" very
quickly. They are soon incredibly tame
and will follow you about the garden
(and into your kitchen!) pecking at
your feet. They know no fear of other
animals and happily get on with all
pets - cats, dogs, horses and even
llamas!)
Northbrook AC, based at the Jaguar Sports and
Social Club in Browns Lane, offers a friendly
welcome to road and cross-country runners of all
abilities. Whether you are an experienced athlete or
relatively new to running you will find a group to suit
your level.
Over the past six years our annual 10k road race
has raised over £8,000 for local organisations and national charities. Our 5k
race has exclusively supported the annual Allesley Festival.
For 2012 we will be organising our 10k race and Junior Fun Run in conjunction
with the Allesley Festival, so make a note in your diary for
Keep an eye on our website for details.
Find out more by visiting
You will be sure of a warm welcome.
46
Those who drive around the lanes of
Allesley will be familiar with the sight of
a Coventry City Council Land Rover,
often parked alongside a hedge or on
the verges. Not far away will be found
Simon Holloway, the City of Coventry
Countryside Project’s Field Officer.
For the last ten years Simon has been
working for the Project improving the
footpaths and environments close to
footpaths within the City boundaries.
With Allesley Parish and particularly
the Ancient Arden area, having so
many of these footpaths, Simon
spends much of his time here.
The Countryside Project’s work
includes landscaping, tree and hedge
planting,
advising
on
farm
conservation
and
grant
aid,
environmental education and more.
The replacement of old or damaged
stiles and kissing gates is presently
keeping Simon and Mike, his assistant
for the next six months, busy.
“Looking after the countryside gives
me the most pleasure” said Simon,
when I caught up with him and Mike,
replacing a kissing gate on Brick Hill
Lane. “Seeing everything opened up
for people to get out and enjoy the
countryside is very rewarding. I
certainly know the area well after all
these years.” Simon began as a
trainee in 1994 and progressed on
through various areas of the Council
groundworks team. He was eventually
offered the position of Field Officer,
which he has held since.
The work is varied and he needs a
wide range of skills to cover all
aspects of the work. These include
digging out old rotten timbers of stiles
and fence posts, fitting the new
galvanised ‘medium mobility’ kissing
gates for easier access to the elderly
and disabled, using a chain saw to cut
down any fallen trees on public rights
of way, planting new trees and hedges
alongside footpaths and liaising with
local farmers who have public access
on their land.
“I must have
planted 15 –
20,000 trees
and hedge
plants over
the years”,
he adds as
a massive
block
of
concrete is
eventually
dug out of
the ground. The new gate is lowered
carefully into position, where it will
enable dog walkers, ramblers and
those who want to enjoy a short walk
through the fields, access easier than
climbing over wooden stiles. The selfclosing gates are stock proof, which
makes life easier in particular for
sheep owners, who are often wary of
kissing gates which can allow sheep
to escape.
More information on walks in the
Allesley area can be found on the
websites - www.acwcs.org.uk and
www.coventry-walks.org.uk/coundonwedge-2.htm
47
48
have made an amazing difference to
people’s lives. Between January and
October over 33 tonnes of food has
been collected and 3,700 people have
been fed. About half of these were
Poverty and hardship is a global issue children.
and is happening right here across the
city. All Saints is part of a city-wide Think of the people who would benefit
network of collection points for food to from your kindness, especially in
help people in Coventry who for a colder months when fuel bills are high
variety of reasons are unable to afford and the choice for many is “heat or
eat”. When you go shopping, buy one
their own.
or two extra things or scour your
During the week and especially on cupboards for those extra tins and
Sundays, local people bring food packets you are not going to need in
donations to the church. This is taken the foreseeable future. Put them in a
to one of eight centres in Coventry for bag and drop them off at the church
distribution to people who have been on any Sunday morning. The building
referred by care professionals such as is open from 7.30 am to 12.00 noon or
health visitors, social workers and thereabouts (services are from 8.00 to
police. Trained volunteers meet each 9.00 am and 10.00 to 11.15 am).
individual over a cup of tea or a hot
meal and select three days supply of Please donate non-perishable items
emergency food, according to the within sell by date. You might consider
tinned soup, pasta sauce, UHT
needs of the individual
(carton) milk, fruit juice, tea bags,
Over a third of people are needy due coffee, sugar, chocolate etc…..
to delayed benefits. This could be as a
result of a fresh claim, change in
circumstances or being new to the
area. Most of these only rely on the
Foodbank until their situation has
improved and for most this is a last
resort. A robust system is in place to Further information:ensure that only genuine cases Contact Coventry Foodbank enquiries
024 7663 3500
receive help.
All over Coventry, churches, schools, or visit
community groups, supermarket www.coventrycentral.foodbank.org.uk
collections and corporate donations
49
Our innovative programmes feed
hungry children only when they
are at school. That way we feed both
their bodies and their minds.
We give them food today and they
learn the skills to help them build a
better tomorrow.
Joyce is one of 180 teenage girls in
Gulu, Uganda who were abused by
rebel forces during abduction and
were living in IDP camps. She is now
back in school today because of
“Food and Future”.
Every day in the classroom, these
former drop-out students are given
1kg of posha and 0.5 kg of beans.
After a full week at school, these girls
“earn” enough food to make a real
contribution to their family's welfare.
In Ethiopia, Taradeltul is one of 300
little ones now attending Global Care's
three “Food and Future” Primary
Schools. At school the youngsters eat
a nutritious meal every day and take
their first steps in the world of
education. In a culture which
traditionally uses children to tend the
animals and fields and fails to value
education, this is no mean step.
In the first six months in Gulu the girls
achieved a stunning 98% attendance
rate.
In Ethiopia at the end of the first year
the children were healthier. Their
application to learning and their
behaviour had improved. It is giving
them the chance of an education for
the first time in their lives.
The whole community is committed to
ensuring their success.
Building on our success we are now
expanding in many other desperately
needy parts of the world.
To help please contact ….....
Global Care
2 Dugdale Road,
Coventry,
CV6 1PB,
024 7660 1800
or visit www.globalcare.org.uk
AND ..... IT IS WORKING !
Councillor John Gazey is still your established City Councillor who deals with
all matters relating to Bablake Ward including Allesley.
He can be contacted on 024 7633 3780 or johngazey@coventry.gov.uk
or will visit you if necessary.
A Happy Christmas and an enjoyable New Year
Councillor John Gazey
50
There can be few choral works that
have captured the public imagination
as has the Verdi Requiem. The
dramatic and powerful music, so often
used as background in films and
television, will be instantaneously
recognisable, although some may
possibly struggle to name the work.
It does not seem to matter how many
times concert audiences have heard
the piece it is always a “must-have”
ticket. The BBC Proms performance of
2011 sold out within hours of the
booking opening. Any choral singer
will confirm that even after many
performances the sheer thrill of
singing the work never diminishes.
The privilege of taking part in the Verdi
Requiem is an opportunity rarely
forgone.
The University of Warwick Chorus and
Symphony Orchestra will be giving
their
performance
of
Verdi’s
masterpiece in the Butterworth Hall at
Warwick Arts Centre at 4.00 pm on
Sunday March 4th 2012.
Tickets from the Arts Centre Box Office
024 76524524.
Our weather keeps breaking records.
We had the warmest September for
100 years, the 1st October was the
warmest October day on record and in
the Midlands the 12 months ending on
the 31st October was the driest since
records began in 1910.
temperatures. On the 1st it registered
13.2 o C, on the 2nd 4.9 o C, on the 27th
10.1 o C and on the 28th minus 2.8 o C.
I hope we are going to break another
record and have the mildest winter on
record. However I expect that not
having ice in November could mean
we will get some hard weather after
Christmas.
Whilst rain continues to swamp the
North West and Scotland, water levels
in the Midlands and East Anglia are
seriously low. The brook in Pikers
Lane is completely dried up. I have
never seen it like that in November.
In the last three months I have only
recorded 98 mm of rain. We do need
to have some significant rainfall this
winter.
Perhaps February will live up to its
name “February Fill Dyke”
I am so pleased that the “voices of
doom” have been proved wrong. We
were forecast to have Arctic weather in
October and Siberian weather in
November. It just proves that you
cannot forecast more than five days
ahead. However, November did have
some large variations in night
51
Coventry Diocesan Guild
Allesley, West Midlands
All Saints
Sunday 18 September 2011 in 2 h 41 (12)
5056 Cambridge Surprise Major
Composed: Johnson's Variation
1 Richard I M Thompson
2 Ruth M Border
3 Geoffrey W Randall
4 Ian D Thompson
5 Andrew F Alldrick
6 Nigel A L Mellor
7 Simon P Rogers
8 Michael Chester (C)
First peal on the bells since their restoration by Taylors.
Remembering Frank and Everard Perrens and Janet Thompson in whose
memory the replacement third and fourth bells were donated.
The ringers are delighted that the new
chiming system has now been
installed. The historic fourth bell, now
hung separately from the ringing bells,
can be chimed by means of an
electrically operated hammer. This can
be controlled by means of a switch
from either the tower or the church.
The early service and other occasional
bells will now be rung by this means.
Consequently the ringers can finally
dispense with the inconvenient
wooden toggle on the belfry floor, by
means of which the
chiming bell was
previously attached.
The system is to be
dedicated to the
memory of Ray
Winter who died in
2008. Ray rang at Allesley for over 50
years, until he and his wife Beverley
moved to Worcester in 2004.
During those years of regular and
reliable service to the tower Ray held
the office of both Tower Captain and
Steeple Keeper. His expertise in the
belfry is still very much missed.
52
Until a few years before the war it was
a New Year’s custom in Coventry to
make and sell three-cornered pastry
cakes filled with special mincemeat.
The three sides of the cake were
unequal, two being longer than the
third and the cake was slashed across
the top to reveal the mincemeat.
These cakes were called God Cakes.
Coventry is dedicated to the Holy
Trinity and it is thought the cakes were
symbolic, especially as they were
given with a blessing by godparents to
their godchildren on New Year’s Day.
The custom of giving God Cakes is
very ancient. It is mentioned by
Chaucer in 1390 and by Thomas
Tyrwhitt
(1730-1786).
Yet
in
September
1856,
when
a
correspondent sought information
through a paper devoted to such
matters, he received no reply. Later, in
1891, God Cakes from Coventry were
shown at an exhibition of local cakes
at the International Congress held by
the Folk Lore Society in London.
In the days when they were popular in
Coventry they were sold in the streets
by men who rang a bell, similar to the
muffin man in London.
225g (8oz) Puff Pastry
110g (4oz) Mincemeat
1 Egg White
2 tsp Rum or Brandy [Optional]
Caster Sugar
Pre-heat oven to 220°C: 425°F: Gas 7.
Roll out the pastry thinly on a lightly
floured surface.
Cut into 10 cm (4 inch) squares. Cut
each square in half on the diagonal to
produce two triangles.
Mix the mincemeat with the rum or
brandy (if used).
Place a spoonful of mincemeat on half
of the pastry triangles.
Cover each with another triangle,
moisten the edges with a little water
and press firmly down to seal.
Beat the egg white.
Brush with the beaten egg white.
Cut three small slits in each with a very
sharp knife and sprinkle with caster
sugar.
Place on a greased baking sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes or until well risen
and golden.
Cool on a wire rack and eat as fresh as
possible.
53
Every Monday
7.30 pm
Saints Amateur Dramatics
Village Hall
Every Monday 7.00 & 8.00pm Jujitsu
Allesley Primary School
1st Monday
Church Hall
1.30 - 3.00 pm Rummikub
Every exc. 3rd Mon.
7.00pm Pilates
Church Hall
3rd Monday (winter) 7.30 pm Coventry Beekeepers
Church Hall
3rd Tuesday
7.30 pm
Village Hall
Every Tuesday
7.30 pm Melody Makers
Church Hall
Every Tuesday
7.30 pm Bell Ringers
Church Bell Tower
Every Tuesday
5.15 pm Brownies
Village Hall
1st Wednesday
1.45 pm Afternoon WI
Village Hall
1st Wednesday
7.45 pm ACW Conservation Society
Village Hall
Every Wednesday
9.45 am
Allesley Country Market
Village Hall
All Saints Tots
Mites and Minders
Church Hall
Meriden Young Farmers
Scout Hut
Term Time
Wednesday
Every Wednesday
1st Thursday
10.00 am
1.15 pm
7.30 pm
WI
10.00 am Allesley Friendship Group
Church Hall
Every Thursday
7.30 pm
Saints Amateur Dramatics
Village Hall
Every Thursday
7.00 pm
Allesley Literature Class
Church Hall
Every Thurs. 7.00 & 8.00 pm Jujitsu
Allesley Primary School
Every Thursday
7.00 pm
Allesley Hotel
Every Friday
10.30 am Bereavement Care Group
Every Friday
Allesley Flower Arrangers
5.00 pm Rainbows
Church Hall
Church Hall
Allesley Parish Magazine is published three times a year and is delivered free
to all homes in Allesley Parish. This and all past copies can be viewed on
www.allesley-church.org.uk
Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editorial team.
The editor cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information submitted for publication.
Your views, comments and contributions are always welcome.
Special thanks to our proof reader Juliet Amery.
Your Editorial Team:
Amanda Slater 024 7633 3117 pikerslanefarm@btopenworld.com
Annelie Jones 024 7669 2734 anneliejones@hotmail.com
Denise Littlewood 024 7659 8247 neeze37@talktalk.net
54
Eva Dominguez
Alexander Edward Davis
Ellen-May Ruth Littlewood
Anton Courtney Campbell
18 September 2011
8 October 2011
20 November 2011
20 November 2011
Kieran O’Toole & Katy Kinsella
Lee Fairbrother & Ruth Livsey
Nicholas Mullin & Emma King
Adi Smith & Donna Suthers
James Holmes & Nickola Eby
Adam Pinney & Laura O’Toole
Andy Houston & Beccy Hill
Ian Kightley & Georgina Townsend
James Morgan & Gemma Rowan
6 August 2011
12 August 2011
1 October 2011
7 October 2011
15 October 2011
29 October 2011
11 November 2011
25 November 2011
26 November 2011
.
Peggy Ann Burgess
Lorraine Grace
Margaret Joan Pierson
Derek Drake Handford
Roger Martyn Rushworth
Josie Ennis Davies
Dorothy Margaret Kelland
Raymond Paul Grinsell
Eva June Davies
Carol Joy Walker
Maureen Lilian Rowley
Christine Harvard Cooper
Ethel May Bayliss
Annie Hilda Stynes
89
62
78
83
85
82
90
49
88
67
73
61
93
100
8 September 2011
14 September 2011
20 September 2011
5 October 2011
9 October 2011 (ashes)
12 October 2011
27 October 2011
28 October 2011
15 November 2011
16 November 2011
22 November 2011
22 November 2011
24 November 2011
7 December 2011
55
Allesley artist Tony Coles has won an
award for his portrait of local character
Fred Griffiths. The mixed media
painting was part of the Consortium
Exhibition held at the Herbert Art
Gallery earlier this year.
Fred seen here at the gallery was born
in South Normanton; he came to
Coventry during World War II.
He has been in Allesley village for over
50 years. He worked in the
experimental department at Jaguar
Browns Lane and he was also
Chairman of the Butt Lane Allotments
Association for many years.
Fred is a very well known character,
and is always willing to help.
He still has an allotment in Butt Lane
which he visits every day, even though
he is in his 92nd year. He also likes to
sit on the bench in the village and talk
to the people as they pass by going
about their daily business.
After a successful career in advertising
about fifteen years ago Tony started to
concentrate on his painting and has
spent most of that time trying to
express himself through his work. His
main subjects are landscape and
seascape; those subjects show a
much looser style. The portrait and
figure work are still a relatively new
venture. He says his style is still
developing.
Tony also helps organise the Allesley
Art Exhibition - a two-day exhibition
held every year as part of the Allesley
Festival.
56
Florence Weston came to Coventry
from Battersea in 1907. She was the
daughter of an engineer and wife of
T.D. Weston. He had moved to the
City in pursuit of work opportunities.
Florence was a student at Coventry
School of Art around 1907 and from
1927 lived at 38 Coniston Road. In
1912 she became a founder member
of the Coventry & Warwickshire
Society of Artists, with whom she
exhibited into the late 1930s. She was
also a founder member of
the Coventry Sketch Club.
She was well remembered
for her constant attendance
at the club’s outdoor
sketching headquarters at
Leasowe's Farm and Mount
Nod Farm, where she
inspired everyone with her
unbounded enthusiasm.
Her best known paintings
were of old Coventry. She
was even known to have
scaled a tall ladder to make
tracings of some of the
City’s medieval glass.
Florence published a book
of
line
drawings
of
Coventry and subsequently
a series of ten postcard
views of the City which
were sold at Ward's art
shop in Broadgate and at
Winifred King's studio shop
in Old Palace Yard.
Nine watercolours of old Coventry
were bequeathed to the City by the
artist on her death in 1942 and further
watercolours have subsequently been
acquired as part of the collection at
the Herbert.
The
painting,
“Allesley
Village
Warwickshire” hangs in the committee
room at Allesley Village Hall. It is on
loan from the Allesley Evening WI to
whom it belongs and with whose kind
permission we publish the image.