ALL SAINTS' ODELL CHURCH NEWS - September 2013
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Dear Friends,
It’s been a real treat to be able to enjoy the good weather we’ve had this summer, to be able to eat outdoors even into the evening. One recent highlight was the coffee morning at The Rectory on 7th August, when about 35 of you turned up to sit in the sunshine, sample the refreshments, and most of all chat. Several people remarked on how they had been able to chat with others who live in the village, but who they don’t see regularly.
After last month’s letter (what’s happening to our community spirit?) it was very pleasing to know that so many of you do enjoy meeting one another if you get the chance. It made me wonder if some kind of café event on a more regular basis is called for – let me know what you think!
Good also to hear that the Village Hall committee are planning to hold another coffee morning, on Saturday 14th September, when there will be opportunity to have you say about future village hall events. Watch out for the note that will be popping through your letter-box.
In many villages the annual Harvest Supper is an event that brings people together, where the focus is on thanksgiving for all the good things we enjoy, and when there is opportunity to give generously to a project that benefits some of the poorest people in the world. This year, we will be supporting The Honey Project – which provides a sweeter deal for bee-keepers in Africa.
The crucial importance of bees and the need to protect and nurture them is attracting a lot of attention at the moment. It’s a well-known fact that if the bees disappear, the impact on food production would be so serious, that our days would be numbered. We’ve invited Harry Inman, a local bee-keeper, who has also had experience of keeping bees in Africa, to be our after supper speaker. It promises to be an interesting evening, as well as an opportunity to meet up again with others in the village, and to support a worthwhile cause to help others less fortunate than ourselves.
Tickets for the Harvest Supper are available from Nikki Freeman ((720893) or Jill Cheadle (720261) for Saturday 5th October, at 7pm in the Village Hall. Supper is a ‘bring & share’ so please let Nikki and Jill know what food you will be bringing along to share with others. Drinks will be available at the bar. Hope to see you there! Christine
Prayer Group
What is the Prayer Group? It is made up of members of All Saints’ Church who undertake to pray regularly, on an individual basis, for people who ask us for prayer support.
Who do we pray for? Anyone whom we are asked to remember; these might be people from our church, from our local community or others known to us.
What do we pray about? Anything which you would like brought before God; maybe anxiety due to illness, stress or loneliness. You can also tell us of a special day you wish to be remembered – perhaps for an interview or an exam. Any information will be treated in strictest confidence.
How can you let us know if you would like us to pray for you? You can either telephone Christine (720234), or drop a note through the Rectory door.
Meeting Point
September
Wed 11th 10.30am at Eileen Nottage’s, Heydown Cottage, High St.
Wed 25th 10.30am at Catherine’s, 40 High Street, Harrold.
All Saints’ Amblers meet outside The Bell, 9.45am on Saturday 14th September for a walk in the country followed by a pub lunch. Children and dogs on leads welcome to join us.
‘Bring & Share’ Harvest Supper
7.00pm Saturday 5th October, Odell Village Hall
This year we are supporting ‘The Honey Project’ - delivering a sweeter deal to people in Ethiopia. Donations to the project are welcomed.
Guest Speaker – Harry Inman on ‘Why bees matter – here & in Africa’
Phone Jill on 720261, or Nikki on 720893 to order your ticket (£2 each to cover expenses – under 18s free) and say what food you can bring. Licensed Bar
Harvest Thanksgiving Service
Sunday 6th October, 10.30am at All Saints’ Church.
Gifts of produce can be brought to the Church at the service, or on Saturday 5th between 10-12 noon, or drop them off at the Rectory. These will be distributed to older residents in Odell after the service.
Church Decorating for Harvest
Saturday 5th from 10.00am
Create autumn displays with flowers and fruit
All Saints’ Church Charitable Giving for the months of September and October is to Mercy Ships,
an American Christian charity providing free operations, sending teams of dentists to local hospitals, talks for local villages about aids, teaching projects and projects to help women help themselves, building new schools/orphanages, and follow-up nursing for ex-patients. All who work on the ships contribute financially.
See the notice board in the church for more information on the amazing work done by this charity.
Muriel
Hall 1925 -
2013
Muriel Wildman was born in 1925 in Poddington, in a cottage next door to the Chapel which her parents attended regularly. Later the family moved to Hobbs Green Farm in Odell where Muriel and her brothers and sisters helped on the farm. Muriel drove the tractor and took an interest in all things mechanical ….she was a keen biker (motor-bike) and later in life became the proud owner of a sports car.
Frank and Muriel met at a dance in Bromham and were married in Odell Church, in the snow, in February 1947. In their younger days she and Frank would go everywhere on the bike, Muriel driving, Frank riding pillion. Once on a return journey from Cambridge they took a wrong turn or two, drove across the Fens and ended up in Clacton! But it didn’t matter, they enjoyed the ride.
Early married life started in London when Muriel worked at Woolworths, becoming a supervisor, while Frank worked as a conductor for London Transport. But after a couple of years they decided to return to Odell and lived in a tiny cottage in Church Lane. Then the houses in Horsefair Lane were built as part of the celebrations for the Festival of Britain, and Frank and Muriel managed to secure the last one.
These were happy days, joining in with village events, local dances and amateur dramatics - often they would catch the train to London and while Frank went off to get a good deal on theatre tickets Muriel loved to go shopping, and enjoyed buying her clothes in London
In her late 30’s Muriel decided to take up hairdressing and took herself off to London to be trained. She started by offering to do people’s hair at her home, not worrying about whether she was paid or not, but just enjoying herself.
Soon Valerie (now Osborne) asked if she could come and learn, and even Frank got involved too – making tea for customers. The business grew and eventually they set up the salon in Harrold, above the butcher’s shop, where they were to stay for next 26 years. Even then, Muriel wasn’t in it for the money, deliberately charging low prices, so everyone could enjoy a hairdo. Each customer was welcomed and treated as special, with many becoming friends.
In their mid-60s Muriel and Frank decided to retire, donating all their top-of-the-range equipment to the Princess Marina hospital. Typically, Muriel continued for a while to go to the hospital to train up the staff, so they could do it properly.
As well as bringing up her own daughter Jackie, Muriel always had time for children and young people whose company she enjoyed right up to the end. For many years, every child in Odell received a card and present on their birthday, and as bonfire night drew near, the boys next door were always given money to go and buy the biggest rocket they could find – and from her bedroom window Muriel would watch the firework fun.
A resourceful and hard-working lady, with a twinkle in her eye, one who knew her own mind and lived life positively, Muriel is remembered with very great affection.
On Wednesday 31st July 2013, the bells of All Saints’ Church were rung open in thanksgiving for the life of Muriel Hall of Odell, by members of the Bedfordshire Association of Bell Ringers.
1260 Plain Bob Minor was rung by the team of six:
1
Patrick J S Albon (C)
2 Simon H Sweeney
3 Jenny S Thompson
4 Richard Entwistle
5 Ken C Wildman
6 Robert P Wood
Muriel was Aunt to team members Jenny and Ken.
Message of thanks from Frank Hall
I want to thank everyone who drove me in and out of Bedford Hospital whilst Muriel was ill and who helped us in so many different ways, popping in to see us and doing shopping. Special thanks to Christine and the Lee family. You have all been so kind. Frank Hall
CHURCHES TOGETHER HARROLD & CARLTON WITH ODELL
Supporting DROP INN MINISTRIES (ISLE OF MAN)
Registered Manx Charity Number 886.....
Belarus and Ukraine Humanitarian Aid Christmas Shoe Box Appeal 2013
Once again, following eleven successful years of this campaign, here in our villages and beyond, we are asking for your support for the Shoe Box and Humanitarian Aid appeal. It is a fact that the people of Belarus and Ukraine live in areas still highly contaminated since 70% of the radioactive fall-out from the Chernobyl explosion fell on their land. Many have no access to clean food or water, and their industry and farming communities were decimated, hence there is also extreme poverty.
Each year we send our filled shoe boxes to these areas in Drop Inn Ministries’ huge lorries, and with volunteers mainly from the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and Scotland, the boxes are handed out to children living in Children’s Homes and orphanages, where the conditions are mostly extremely bad, and also into the very poorest communities, where there is simply not enough money to feed and clothe the families. Also the charity goes to hospitals giving care and medical assistance to children affected by the living conditions and poverty.
There is no light at the end of the tunnel for these children, as when they leave school their job prospects are negligible and many turn to drugs. Rather than lethargy and apathy the people we meet are full of life despite being surrounded by sickness, poverty and death. These are real people whom your donations and actions will be helping. You can help in this appeal and make a difference to the lives of the children, as they then realise that they are not forgotten rubbish, but precious souls. Each year the customs’ restrictions become tighter and tighter, and if you can support this appeal, please read carefully the instructions, and fill your box accordingly.
Collections: Boxes, donations and gifts can be left with Revd. Christine Clark at Odell Rectory, during September, or with Mrs Sue Brown at 32 Rectory Close, Carlton, MK43 7JT. (Tel. 01234 720442) All boxes must be received before the end of October, 2013 for our box checking/customs lists etc.
WHAT DO I DO?
· Get an average size shoebox and wrap it with Christmas paper, Please wrap the box and lid separately.
· Choose who you’d like to receive your gift – a boy or a girl, in one of three age groups: 4-6, 7-10, 11-15
· Fill your box with appropriate gifts.
· If possible stick £2 inside the lid, to help with transport costs.
· Close the box with an elastic band, but please don’t seal it with tape as we (and customs) need to check it.
Take your box to All Saints’ Church, Odell or The Rectory for collection by Monday 23rd September.
WHAT CAN I PUT IN MY BOX?
Please put in a selection of small gifts from the options below (but out of respect for the children we ask that all items be new, or good as new)
· TO WRITE – Items for school – like a pen, pencil, copy book, paper, colouring book, felt pens, sharpener, eraser, solar calculator.
· TO WASH – Some hygiene items – toothbrush and toothpaste, soap (wrapped please) facecloth, hairbrush, comb.
· TO WEAR – Small items of clothing – a hat, scarf, gloves (No other items even socks and underwear)
WOW – A treat – sunglasses, game, sweets (must be in date until at least March 2014), make up, a small musical instrument, toys like a doll, a car, cuddly toy, skipping rope, yo-yo, finger puppet etc.
VERY IMPORTANT -PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:-
Food (apart from sweets), any chocolate items, medicines of any kind, war related items, clothing items, anything breakable, any liquids that could spill or freeze, sharp items, scary things (like Halloween stuff) books with any words, as they only read “Cyrillic” script in Russian.
And finally, make a label as to whether it is appropriate for a girl or boy, and the age group, between 4-7, 8-11, or 12-15, and secure the label under the elastic bands around the box.
Very many thanks for your support.
Happy Birthday to
Christy Vyvyan – who will be 14 on 13th ,
Sarah Jane Holden-Postles , 10 on 19th
and
Daniel Bridgman whose birthday is on 25th
...And to everyone with a birthday in September!
All Saints’ Flower Rota
September
8th St Mary’s patronal festival
15th Jill Cheadle
29th Nikki Freeman
Christian Aid
Christian Aid North Bedfordshire raised £5327.03 in the recent collection. Many thanks to all who donated money to this worthwhile cause.
Diary
September
7th 7.30pm Cantamus perform at St. Mary’s Church, Carlton
8th 11am Festival Eucharist, St Mary’s, Carlton
8th 2-4pm Tea, cakes and Tower open, St. Mary’s, Carlton
10th 7.30pm W.I., Village Hall
11th 10.30am Meeting Point at Eileen Nottage’s, Heydown, High Street
12th 10.30am Health Walk, HOCP
14th 10am Odell Village Hall coffee morning - come and discuss its future
14th 9.45am All Saints’ Amblers meet at The Bell
14th 9.45am All Saints’ Amblers meet at The Bell
14th 10am Coffee Morning Village Hall
21st 10am-4pm Charity Antique Valuation Day, Harrold Centre
21st 7.30pm Quiz, Village Hall
25th 10.30am Meeting Point at Catherine’s, Manor Cottage, Harrold
26th 10.30am Health Walk, HOCP
30th 10am Conservation Tasks Day, HOCP
October
5th 10am Decorate Church for Harvest
5th 7pm Harvest Supper, Village Hall
6th 10.30am Harvest Thanksgiving Service, All Saints’ Church
Magazine Deadline
Please send all entries for the October 2013 magazine to Tricia Hudson (ed at odellbeds.net) or Catherine Corkery by September 12th at the latest. May we remind you that the editorial team exercises the right to edit, shorten or alter any items that are submitted. Also, the opinions expressed in the articles are those of the contributors and are not the responsibility of the editorial team.