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ODELL VILLAGE NEWS

April 2009

All Saints’ Amblers

Eaten too many Easter Eggs? – work it off by joining us for a walk in the country followed by a pub lunch on Saturday April 18^th.  Meet outside The Bell at 9.45am - transport provided to start of walk if needed.  Everyone welcome, including children and dogs on leads! 

Odell Fete Saturday June 13^th 2009

The theme this year is a’ Fanfare of Flowers’. We are asking all those helping at the Fete to decorate stalls and side shows with flowers and there will be a winner for the best display.  We would be delighted if any children or young people came to the fete dressed up as flowers; there will not be a competition for best outfit, but the fete would be very colourful!

 Help will be needed to set up fete stalls on the afternoon of Friday 12^Th June, and then dismantle everything after the fete has ended on Saturday 13^th.  Please come and join in.

Fete Committee Painting Day

Painting of signs etc. for the fete will take place at Jim and Doreen Wheeler’s, Linden House, High Street, Odell, on Monday 4^th May from 10.00am. 

There will be a lunch time bar-b-q for helpers – please let Doreen know (720358) if you wish to stay for this.  Bring your own meat; salad and puddings will be provided

St Patrick’s Day celebrations at The Bell: Sheryl and Gill enter into the “leprechaun” spirit! 

Don’t forget The Wode Hill Jazz Band will be playing in The Bell on Wednesday 1st April from 7.30pm.

Songs for a Summer Evening

at All Saints’ Church, Odell

Saturday May 16^th  at 7.30pm

An evening of light music will be presented by The Ouse Valley Singers with soloists Naomi Hudson (soprano) and Senthuran Bhuvanendra (tenor). 

Refreshments and a glass of wine are included.

Programmes £7.50 will be available from Ann Hudson Abigail House, 117 High Street, Odell 720587, Jill Cheadle, Rectory Farm, High Street, Odell 720261 and Steve Robinson, Horsefair Lane 720113. 

Birthdays in April

Happy birthday to:

Rebecca Causton 4 years old on the 3^rd

Tania Fulford 13 years old on the 5^th 

And Alex Swift on the 11^th   

Round and About  

All For A Cuppa 

Have you ever wondered about the dangers and perils that went into bringing that very English cup of tea to your breakfast table this morning?  I can assure you it reads like James Bond, complete with special agents and acts of derring do. 

All the following details have been taken from a book written by Sarah Rose and entitled "For all the Tea in China" and highlighting the deeds of a Scottish botanist called Robert Fortune....let me tell you a story. 

Tea was first introduced into this country in the mid 17th.century.  It was very expensive and hard to come by.  The reason for this being that the tea plant was only to be found in China, a very closed society and not inclined to part with any of its secrets.  The result was that our tea traders could only obtain tea from China at whatever price they fixed and by the time it had been shipped to England only the very rich could afford to buy it.  Households kept their tea locked away in little boxes and in the sole keeping of the mistress of the house.  The traders were not happy with this situation and so they came up with a ploy.  They wanted the tea - so what did the Chinese want?  There was really only one answer.  They wanted opium.  With this in mind the traders started growing opium in India and trading the opium with the Chinese for tea.  Not very ethical perhaps, but that is how trading was done in those days!  This happy situation continued for about 200 years when the Chinese suddenly decided they would now grow their own opium, they soon became self-sufficient and our tea traders were left with nothing else to do but pay the full price.  They were not happy at being out-manoeuvred in this way....and neither was the British Government. 

The British decided on a tit-for-tat operation.  They would set up their own tea plantations.  Agents were sent in to China and they smuggled out a quantity of tea plants which were planted in the foothills of the Himalayas, duplicating the growing conditions in China.  Their first attempts ended in total disaster. 

Although the plants thrived the British had little idea of how to turn the tea plant into those precious little tea leaves.  The East India Company decided to embark on a scheme which today would be called industrial espionage.  Someone would have to go into China, under cover, spend time there learning the industry and bring the information out.  This was not going to be easy.  If the Chinese located their agent he would be shown no mercy and killed. 

The Government suggested Robert Fortune - the man who probably knew more about China than anybody.  He was a botanist who spent his time going to exotic places and bringing home specimens for sale on the British market.  He had already spent a lot of time in China where he managed to pass himself off as Chinese.  His last expedition had been made on behalf of the Royal Horticultural Society.  He had come back with plants and flowers never before seen in this country.  Although he took all the risks his contract did not protect him and the RHS took all the credit...to say nothing of all the money.  This then was the man chosen to go into China and risk his life for a cup of tea.  He had done it all before.  He shaved his head at the front and wore a long pigtail.  With a knowledge of several dialects and wearing Chinese clothes he passed himself off as a Chinese mandarin.  If questioned about his appearance he explained he had come from a distant land beyond the Great Wall.  He always paid handsomely and he was never betrayed. 

He travelled to China under the name of Sing-Wa.  Financially

supported by the East India Company he agreed to get them what they wanted, but he contractually tied them into allowing him to keep the financial proceeds from any horticultural specimens that he obtained. He travelled up the Yangtze in a flat-bottomed river junk stopping off along the way to collect seeds and plants.  He discovered many secrets about tea on this journey, including that black and green tea were not separate plants but plants that had been treated differently: one being fermented and the other not.  He discovered to his horror that the Chinese frequently dyed their tea by dipping the leaves into a solution that contained arsenic.  He roamed the terraces of the tea plantations selecting soil samples, plants and seeds.  These he carefully packed away into crates using all the latest Victorian technology.  He placed the seeds into sealed glass cases he had brought with him.  As long as no-one interfered with these sealed containers on their long journey to India the seeds would arrive healthy and sprouting - ready to grow. 

With all his careful planning it was all to go wrong when the cargo reached Calcutta.  The tea traders were anxiously awaiting the shipment and had planned VIP treatment for the sealed crates.  However, on arrival a nosey customs official was deeply curious and broke open the crates.  Wondering what was in the glass containers he broke their seals.  Finding all the little plants he decided they needed water - and lots of it - before sealing everything up again and sending them on their way.  On arrival everything was rotten and gone to mush.  What’s more, the port official, proud of his initiative, sent a covering letter to tell them what he had done! 

Word got back to Fortune.  Everything was lost.  He had to start again.  Things were not going well in China, however.  Chinese officials had picked up on his trail and he had to move quickly.  Moving westwards he arrived in the Wuyi mountains where black tea was produced.  This was difficult territory, full of war lords and peasant uprisings.  He kept going, adding to his collection.  Finally he ended up in a temple filled with monks in saffron robes.  They were gentle and hospitable people and they introduced Fortune to the art of making tea.  He plucked and dried the leaves with them, noting their rituals and learning the ways of the tea planter.  All he had to do now was to get his purloined treasure and know-how out of the country and back to India. 

One jump ahead of Chinese officialdom he made his escape bringing thousands of germinating tea seeds with him.  When he reached India the seedlings were ready for planting.  This time, accompanying his cargo, he made sure they were not interfered with.  Soon his plants were reproducing in the Himalayas and, to cap it all, he had succeeded in smuggling out eight Chinese tea experts to start the fledgling tea industry in India.  The result was a triumph - the Chinese monopoly was broken.  In one generation India's Himalayan tea industry would outstrip China's in quality, volume and price. 

As a result the price of tea came down.  No longer only available to the rich, tea became the favourite beverage of the masses.  As for Robert Fortune ... that is what he did.  He made his fortune.  The East India Company recognising his expertise sent him back to China on further forays.  He also went to Japan.  He finally died in 1880 a wealthy man. 

When you are next preparing your tea, whether you brew it or stew it, mash it or hash it, sip it or sup it  -  spare a thought for the stirring deeds undertaken to bring to your table ... the humble cup of tea. 

Barbara Corley

 W.I. News

We were pleased to welcome Wendie Lovatt from Home Start to our March meeting.  She helps organise the Home start teams to be found in North and Mid Bedfordshire.  Home Start is a national charity which recruits and trains volunteers to help families with at least one child under five.  The volunteers who are all parents support other parents by visiting them in their own homes for three hours a week.  The families they assist are finding it hard to cope for a variety of reasons like illness, disability, post natal depression or their social circumstances.  She then gave examples of the people they were supporting at the present time and stressed that they try and match families with volunteers who have had to cope with similar circumstances and can therefore speak from personal experience. An interesting and illuminating presentation from a person very committed to her work.

NEXT MEETING

Our April meeting will be in the Village Hall on Tuesday 14^th April at 7.30.  Mandy Sharpe is going to show us how to create stir fries from a wide variety of ingredients.

COMPETITION

A spring posy

HOSTESSES

Our April hostesses are Margaret Jones & Joyce Knight

Rachel Halton 720572

Considering Sending Your

Child to Pre-School?

...then don’t miss the

Harrold Pre-School Open Morning

When?      Wednesday 29^thApril

Where? The Harrold Centre (opposite Oakley Arms pub)

Time?       9.30-11.30am 

Feel free to drop in at any point during the morning with your child to see the Pre-School in action, have a cup of coffee, pick up a prospectus and ask any questions.  We take children from 2½ years.   

Look forward to seeing you!

Harrold-Odell Country Park

Carlton Road, Harrold Bedford MK43 7DS

Friends of Harrold-Odell Country Park Conservation Tasks

Come and join in with the practical work to enhance the Park for wildlife and visitors on the following dates, from 10.00am – 3.00pm: 

Monday 27^th April, Monday 18^th May.

Wear appropriate clothing and footwear.  Drinks provided.  Come for an hour or two or stay as long as you like.

Health Walks

We are running health walks from 10.30am on every second Thursday, from the Visitor Centre Café.  Dates are as follows:

April 2^nd, 16^th, 30^th.

May 14^th, 28^th

June 11^th, 25^th.

Each walk lasts just over half an hour and is guided by a trained leader.  The aim is to improve your physical health and mental wellbeing.  Walking regularly can reduce your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes and depression. 

You can book beforehand or simply meet at the visitor centre in the park on the day.  Please contact us at the park on 01234 720016 or e-mail walk leader Ed at ed.burnett@bedscc.gov.uk.  To reach the park follow road signs to Harrold and we are on the Carlton Road, postcode MK43 7DS. 

Email: hocp@bedscc.gov.uk  Website: www.hocp.net  Tel: 01234 720016 

Village Hall

Events

If you have an idea or can help with these let us know, and if you would like a venue for a private function, the very reasonable hire fee helps us maintain the hall. 

April:

Book early for the popular Quiz night

Date: 18^th April

Time: 7:30 for 8:00

Tickets: £2.50 per person

Contact Rob  tel.720730-to book a table, 6 per table (limited numbers)

The Mill Theatre,

Sharnbrook

The Secret Garden  15^th  – 23^rd May, 7.45 pm, Matinée Saturday. 23^rd May 2.30 pm

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Book & Lyrics by Marsha Norman; Music by Lucy Simon, based on the original novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. 

This charming Classic Book, brought to life with delightful music, tells the story of orphan Mary Lennox, who travels from India to her uncle’s home in England.  She struggles to fit in to her new home and family, until the discovery of the Secret Garden… 

Tickets (£10-£12) will be available from:

 Sharnbrook Post Office (in person)

Bedford Central Box Office 01234 269519

10% discount on 10 or more in the same party (excl. Charity Gala performances)

Tickets will be available from the above about a month before first night 

Parking for Disabled; Lift Access, Two wheelchair spaces – please book through Bedford Central Box

Thank you to all -

- who visited The Mill Theatre for our Special 30^th Anniversary Open Day on Sunday 22nd February… for the first time or as a regular member of our audience.  We hope you had a fascinating insight into ‘all we are about’.  If you require more information or are interested to become

involved in any aspect, - as a Chair holder or performer, Youth Theatre, Front of House team or ‘behind the scenes’ set-building,  wardrobe -please contact our Hon. Secretary Ann Gibbons (01234) 781161, visit our website as above, or email: info@sharnbrookmilltheatre.co.uk  

Diary

April

1st  7.30pm  Trad Jazz in the Bell

2^nd 10.30am Health walk HOCP

2^nd 8.00pm Parishioners’ Meeting, All Saints’ Church

 8.15pm Annual Parochial Church Meeting, All Saints’.

6^th     7.30pm ‘Christ in the Passover’ at Harrold URC

7^th  8.00pm Meditation and compline at St. Mary’s, Carlton

8^th 10.30am Meeting Point at Jill’s, Rectory Farm, Odell.

8^th     8.00pm Meditation and compline at All Saints’, Odell

9^th     8.00pm Holy Communion for Maundy Thursday, St. Peter’s, Harrold

10^th   10.00am Good Friday Holiday Club, Carlton Village Hall.
10^th     2.00pm ’An Hour before the Cross’ at All Saints’, Odell

An Hour before the Cross at St. Mary’s, Carlton

11^th    10.00am Church decorating All Saints’.

11^th 2.00pm Café in the Tower, All Saints’ Church

12^th   6.00am Dawn Service at St. Mary’s, Carlton
10.00am ‘Worship Together for Easter’ at All Saints’, Odell

12^th 2.00pm Café in the Tower, All Saints’ Church

13^th    2.00pm Café in the Tower, All Saints’ Church

14^th   7.30pm W.I., Odell Village Hall.

16^th 10.30am Health Walk HOCP.

18^th   9.45am All Saints’ Amblers meet at The Bell.

18^th   7.30pm Quiz night, Village Hall.

22^nd 10.30am Meeting Point at Eileen’s, 24 Church Hall Road, Rushden

25^th Harrold Pit Run

27^th 10.00am Conservation tasks, HOCP.

29^th 9.30am Harrold Pre-school open morning.

30^th 10.30am Health walk, HOCP.

People willing to supply lifts to and from surgeries.

Below is a list of the people currently willing to give lifts, to and from surgeries, to people who can’t otherwise get there:

Kim Beardow 721246

Jill Cheadle 720261

Jonathan Harrison 721115

Steve Robinson 720113

Marion Senn 721176

Linda Tringham 720120

If anyone else is willing to be a volunteer please contact Jill on 720261. 

Magazine Deadline

Please send all entries for the May 2009 magazine to Tricia Hudson (mag1 at odellbeds.net) or Catherine Corkery by April 12^th 2009 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. 

Do you look after someone who is frail, ill or disabled?...

 ...that makes you a carer. 

For information, support and advice you can now ring the Bedfordshire Carers Helpline: 0300 0123435

Great local pubs

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Last revised: March 29, 2009.